DX Syria 2001 Press Release

For Immediate Release

December 31, 2000

The Cinco Nueve Contest Group (CNCG) and the Willamette Valley DX Club
(WVDXC) are sponsoring a DXpedition to Syria. "DX Syria 2001" is a
non-profit organization formed for the promotion and organization of
this expedition. The Syrian government and local Syrian hams invited 
an American team of 8 operators for a February, 2001 DXpedition at the 
Syrian Telecommunication Establishment (STE) site in Damascus. The 
group will leave the US on Feb. 1, 2001 and hopes to be on the air 
Feb. 3rd. The group will be active for 9 days. The STE operating site 
is the same one used by the 1994 YK0A expedition.

The group has been assigned YK9A and plans to be QRV on 6 through 160 meters
on CW, SSB and RTTY. Team members will include Ron Vincent, WJ7R;
Dick Moen, N7RO; Bob Eshleman, W4DR; Rosalie Eshleman (YL), N4CFL;
Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA; Vicky Luetzelschwab (YL), AE9YL; Jim Wise, W4PRO
and team leader Al Rovner, K7AR.

The team will be equipped with four IC-756 PROs, which were graciously
loaned by Icom America, and three AL-811H amplifiers. Three stations will be
active on the HF bands, with the fourth station monitoring 6 meter beacons and
activity. The 6 meter station will become active during band openings.

Antennas will include a Battlecreek Special (40, 80, 160), wire antennas
for 160 and 80 meters, a 40 meter beam, (2) beams for 10-20 meters, a R5
vertical for general use, and a 6 meter Yagi.

Syria ranked # 74 on the 1999 ARRL DXCC Most Wanted list. Syria ranks # 24
in the US on The DX Magazines 1999 Most Wanted list. In the Eastern Time
Zone it ranks 35, in the Central Time Zone 20, in the Mountain Time Zone 18
and in the Western Time Zone # 26. In Japan Syria ranks high on the most
wanted list. With this in mind a major emphasis will be put into working
stations from the US and Japan. The expedition intends to focus on low band
operation especially looking for long path openings to the west coast of
North America, and short path openings to the east coast and midwest. The
group will erect low noise receiving antennas for 160 and 80 meters to aid
low band reception.

DX Syria 2001 will have three pilot stations, which will be in contact
with the YK9A team. Dick Wolf, N6FF, ([email protected]) will handle the western
half of the US while Bernie McClenny, W3UR, ([email protected]) will handle
the eastern half. Mr. Ueki, JH3VNC, ([email protected]) will be the 
Japanese pilot station.

The DX Syria 2001 web site can be found at www.qsl.net/k7ar and will include 
pre-trip news, setup news, propagation conditions, updated daily online logs 
and suggested operating frequencies.

QSL cards will be handled by K9LA, Carl Luetzelschwab, 1227 Pion Road, Fort
Wayne, IN 46845, USA.

Sponsors for DX Syria 2001 include the Willamette Valley DX Club, the Cinco
Nueve Contest Group, INDEXA, ICOM America, HAL Communications, WriteLog 
Software, the Central Virginia Contest Club, Mark Perrin, N7MQ, K0FF, W8LRL,
W8UVZ, K8GG, W0CD and Lance Johnson Engineering..

For more information please contact Al Rovner, K7AR at [email protected]