The Official Newsletter of the Kansas City DX Club

KC DX NEWS AB0X-EDITOR

DX PACKET CLUSTER:144.95 MAY-JUNE 2003

IN THIS ISSUEClub News -AB0XPresidential Podium?-K0LWK0ZM Attic Radio & Redneck DXers-AB0XDayton Pictures-KB0UARRL DX BulletinCarp Tournament

NEXT KCDXC MEETING: JUNE 2 The next meeting of the KCDXC is on June 2,at 7:30 P.M. The meeting location will be theSalvation Army building at the corner of Troost andTruman Road. The address is 1110 Truman Rd..Coffee and donuts from Lamar’s will be served. . There’s a very slight chance we will have aprogram this month.

KCDXC SUITE: HIGHLIGHT OFDAYTON WEEKEND! The annual KCDXC Hospitality Suite will beheld in the old, traditional location, Suite 525, atthe Crowne Plaza Hotel on both nights of theweekend. Huge crowds turned out for the annual KCDXCPile Up Contest. It a very competitive atmospherewithin the suite. Results will be listed later in thenewsletter. Many club members did yeoman service, as usual,to make the suite operate smoothly. Thanks!!

NEW DIGITAL VERSION OFKCDXC PIN! Thanks, to W0LHK & K0XM.

THE KCDXC HONOR ROLLDXCC TOTALS

Call Mixed CW Phone RTTY 160

W0TM 352 343 334

K0JN 335

K0CS 349 254 340 198

W0NS 348

AB0X 348 331 186

N0XA 345 285

W0JLC 345 343 325 102

AK0A 343 243

K5ZQ 339

NX0I 336 190

K0HQW 331 300 331

K0ZM 322 303

KR0I 318 282 248

K0GY 315 292 313

N0UF 269 144 256

AA0MZ 269 228 248

KG0UA 268 262 109

K0XM 245 172 202 32

AE9B 250 191 224 79 44

NW0L 190 2 175 95

KD0FW 201

KI7WO 192 16 188 29 2

WD0SRI 67 8 63 3

THE KANSAS CITY DX CLUB The Kansas City DX Club is a regional, ARRL affiliatedamateur radio club dedicated to Dxing and contesting.The Club meets the last Monday of each month, exceptfor the summer months. Membership is open to anyoneinterested in DX or contesting. Contact the ClubPresident, K0LW, if more information is needed.Contributions for publication in the newsletter are alwaysappreciated and should be sent to the Editor in a text filefrom Word or WP. Contact AB0X, at 913-334-0139, ormcrabtree@kc.rr.com if you have any questions aboutthe newsletter. The KC DX News is the official newsletterof the Kansas City DX Club. Any original article, exceptcopyrighted ones, may be reprinted in another amateurradio journal as long the author and the newsletter aregiven credit.

PRESIDENTIAL PODIUM

BY K0LW, Lee Ward

Page 8

RETRACTION By AB0X

In the last issue of the newsletter your Editorused a photo of K0ZM’s Attic Radio. This photowas incorrect. My apologies to Tom, K0ZM.

Below is the correct photo of Tom’s AtticRadio Shack. It is clear why Tom does so wellfrom his attic antennas.

REDNECK DX CLUBPREPARES FOR OLYMPICS !

The Ozarks hills were alive with the sound of

Mud music recently as the Redneck DX Clubbegan preparing for the Olympics. The Free StyleMudding event is demonstrated by K0LW’s cousin,Hasty Beauford, K0HIC.

Of course, Hasty is competing in the HeavyWeight division for the radio club. Also, the grouphas petitioned the Olympic Committee for the

addition of the event of Overpass & Water TowerPainting in the 2004 Olympics. More later.

FROM ARRL Website....

De (AA0MZ)http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2003/05/15/102/?nc=1

"Logbook of the World" Enters Open Beta-TestingPhase

NEWINGTON, CT, May 15, 2003 -- The long-anticipated "Logbook of the World" (LoTW) --ARRL's secure electronic contact-confirmationsystem -- is being opened for beta testing. While aformal unveiling is set for the Hamvention DXForum Saturday, May 17, in Dayton's Hara Arena,LoTW now is available to all who wish to participatein the beta testing program, expected to last 60 days.

At the heart of the Logbook of the World conceptis a huge repository of log data provided byoperators--from individual DXers and contesters to

major DXpeditions--and maintained by ARRL.Logbook of the World Project Leader Wayne Mills,N7NG, says the system will benefit big and littleguns alike by providing quick QSO credit for awardsoffered by ARRL--and, it's hoped, those offered byother organizations as well.

Once ready later this year, LoTW will provide away for amateurs worldwide to qualify for awardssuch as DXCC or WAS without having to firstcollect and submit hard-copy QSL cards.

Visit the ARRL Logbook of the World Web site tolearn more, download the necessary software andtake part in the beta testing effort. For the purposesof the beta test, validated users are asked to submitlog data for contacts made on or after January 1,1998. Once a certificate is issued, beta testers maye-mail their log data to the LoTW database at lotw-test@arrl.org.

LoTW wrapped up several weeks of alpha testingearlier this year. That limited test run produceduseful input from actual users that drove somechanges in the beta version now ready for testing.Alpha testing also revealed some bugs in thesoftware, and ARRL Web and SoftwareDevelopment Manager Jon Bloom, KE3Z, expects

a few more to turn up in the beta version.

LoTW will be designed to accept authenticated

data--either in Cabrillo or ADIF format--directlyfrom computerized logs via the Internet. Bloomnoted that because the software still is underdevelopment, any data uploaded during the beta-testing period will be erased before LoTW "goeslive." Beta participants will have to obtain newcertification even if they've participated in earlierLoTW testing. The beta certification, Bloom pointsout, will be good only for the beta-test periodbecause there will be no verification of the user'sidentity.

Bloom also advised those who participated in anyearlier LoTW testing to uninstall the old version ofthe software and delete the directory containing theold certificates--typically c:\Documents andSettings\Username\Application Data\Trusted QSLfo r Win do ws 2 0 00 / X P us e r s o rc:\Windows\Application

Data\TrustedQSL for Windows 95/98/Me users."Once that's done the new version of the softwarecan be installed," he said.

While strict user verification will not be an issue

during beta testing, user verification will be a major

part of the security system in the final LoTWproduct.

"In the final version, there will be verification via

the mailing address in the FCC database for USusers," Bloom explained. "So make sure youraddress on file with the FCC is correct."

"Every call sign has to have a separate certificate,"Bloom emphasized. "This is true even if you've useda portable call sign from another country." For the"live" version of LoTW, non-US licensees will needto submit license documentation.

Bloom and Mills encouraged beta-test DXers andcontesters to upload their log files--the bigger thebetter--to test the robustness of the software as wellas to populate the database and create a more

realistic environment. LoTW will find and match

contacts between stations based on the log data

submitted by users, and the results will appear on theLogbook of the World Web page.

Mills says LoTW does not mean the end of theQSLing tradition. Instead, he says, it will provide anavenue for increased speed and accuracy for hamschasing awards, as well as remove some chances forhuman error that can occur in the traditional process.

"This is really a system to offer credits for awards,"said Mills, who is also ARRL's Membership Servicesmanager. "We're not replacing the whole paper QSLscheme with Logbook of the World." Mills did pointout, however, that once it goes live, LoTW will

minimize opportunities for those who want to "gamethe system" or otherwise cheat in an effort to obtainan operating award.

Registering and uploading electronic logs will costnothing; the only time a user will incur a charge iswhen applying accumulated contact credits toward anaward.

K0LW & W0MW in Dayton Flea Market

KCDXC Suite Scenes & Sign-In Sheet

AK0A & W0GJ Talk DX in the Suite

KK2DI, YZ7AA & KB0U

NX0I, K0VBU, NW0L & Friends Check Tests

MORE DAYTON...

G3SXW, Roger

W.C. Fields &European Friend

Old Ones

Young Ones....

Happy ? Drunk ?

N2OO & Friends

Even More Dayton...

“You Ever get on 160?”

QSL! QSL!

“I know K0LW.” “So?”

ARRL DX BULLETIN

MAY 15, 2003

9M2TO/p from Perhentian Island, IOTA AS-073,

until May 18. Activity is on 40 to 10 meters,including the newer bands. QSL via JA0DMV.Meanwhile, Ian, G3TMA is QRV as 9M2/G3TMAfrom Pulau Ketam, IOTA AS-074, until May 18.QSL via operator's instructions.

TAIWAN, BV. BV9AAC is QRV from PenghuIsland, IOTA AS-103, and has been active on 15meters around 1400z. QSL via BV2KI.

PORTUGAL, CT. Special event stat ionCT1RVM/p will be QRV May 18 from thePortuguese Air Force Museum. Activity will be on40, 20, 15 and 10 meters using SSB. QSL via bureau.

BALEARIC ISLANDS, EA6. Peter, DL8YR isactive as EA6/DL8YR/p until May 28. This includesan entry in the CQ WPX CW contest. QSL to homecall.

ITALY, I. Vanni, IK4RUX will be QRV asIG9/IK4RUX from Lampedusa, IOTA AF-019,from May 17 to 23. He plans to also operate fromthe lighthouse at Capo Grecale. QSL via home call.

DOMINICA, J7. George, K5KG will be active asJ75KG from May 20 to 29. Activity will be on allHF bands using CW and SSB. He also plans to beQRV as J75A in the CQ WPX CW contest. QSLvia KU9C.

NETHERLANDS ANTILLES, PJ. Jim, WI9WIwill be QRV as PJ2WI from Signal Hill in Curacaofrom May 21 to 27. QSL to home call.

BRAZIL, PY. Look for PU2OCZ, PY2HN andPY2ZX to be QRV as PV2AA from CompridaIsland, IOTA SA-024, on May 17 and 18. Activitywill be on 160 to 2 meters using CW, SSB and FM.QSL via PY2AA.

SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE, S9. Duarte,CT1CPP is QRV as S92UN for about three moremonths. He is active on 40, 17, 15 and 12 meters,generally starting around 2100z. QSL to home call.

TURKEY, TA. Metin, TA1ED is QRV as TA1ED/0from Kekova Island, IOTA AS-115. Activity is on80 to 10 meters using SSB. QSL to home call.

BERMUDA, VP9. Merv, N6NO is QRV asN6NO/VP9 until May 21. Activity is on 80 to 10meters, and possibly 160 meters, using mostly CW.QSL to home call.

CHAGOS ISLAND, VQ9. Larry, VQ9LA has beenQRV using RTTY on 20 meters starting around2200z. He will be here for about a year. QSL viaWD0HSP.

MACEDONIA, Z3. Lothar, DJ7ZG and Babs,DL7AFS are QRV as Z38Z for about 10 days.Activity is on 160 to 6 meters, using mainly SSB,RTTY and PSK31. QSL via DL7AFS.

ST. HELENA, ZD7. Desmond, ZD7DP continuesto be QRV using RTTY on 20 meters around 1900z.QSL via W1ZT.

KCDXC CARP TOURNAMENT:JULY4TH WEEKEND

The annual gala event of the Summer will be held onJuly 4th, when the KCDXC will sponsor its famousCarp Tournament. The entire day of July 4 will be setaside to celebrate our country’s independence.Festivities start at 10 AM on the sandy beach area ofthe Kaw River below the bridge on highway K-7 inBonner Springs. The XYL’s will start the charcoaland the Dxers will go fishing! To quote K0VBU “ There’s nothing better thanthe smell of grilled carp in the warm Kansas Summerair!” N0XA will be Head Judge again this year for theCarp Tournament. He reminded members that there

was only one thing to remember in the competition:“There ain’t No rules!” The competition should be keen this year. W0JMhas been bragging for quite awhile about a new secretstink bait. AE9B has made plans to use the newIllinois Saluki Spread, a cheese based bait and AB0Xand K0XM are shifting away from dynamite to theWyandotte Wallop, a cereal bait made of corn. K0LW is planning to bring a “Peculiar Bait”, whichis similar to his sense of humor. Don’t forget the Beer Can Throwing Contestright after dinner. KD0FW is favored to win again,but we all know anything can happen in this excitingsport. AK0A might be lurking in the shadows to winthis one. There will also be a new event this year at theCarp Tournament. Right after dinner and before theBeer Can Throwing Contest, there will be a CWBelching Contest, where competitors must sendtheir call in CW by Belching. This alone should be an incentive to upgrade andget a short call sign. It will take some real skill to getout the 5 “Dah” in Zero in one belch! NW0L isexpected to sweep this event. KB0U and AA0MZ have promised to present afireworks display for the kids, ala the “JackassMovie”, and demonstrate how to shoot bottle rocketsout of their asses. K0ZM will be in charge of first aid. Just a reminder to all: The KCDXC will notprovide bail money for members and weapons areoptional.

The event should be a special day! The kids canshoot fireworks all day and the DXers can fish, drinkbeer and eat carp. The only thing better than thiswould be to activate a totally new one!

The Presidential Podium The Kansas City DX Club has put another

Hamvention in the log and it was clearly a success.There were 100 participants in the Pileup Contest andthe usual winners prevailed. New this year was a few new sponsors.Bob,K9EID, of Heil Sound was kind enough to give us aprize of a new noise canceling headset along with theuse of 6 headsets for the contest. Dan, of Associated Radio, donated an FT-1000soundblaster interface for RTTY and PSK-31. John,WØJLC, of Midland donated a bunch of goodies.Charlie, NØTT, donated 2 prizes of 100 QSL cardseach. A little kicker was some tee shirts from RayNovak, sales manager ICOM, which we tossed outtowards the end of the evening. All in all it was a good time and it sets the stage foran even better Hospitality Suite in 2004. The Pileup Contest graders were the real heroes forthe club, they didn’t get to socialize and kept theirnoses to the grindstone the whole evening. Thankthem when you talk to them.The graders were:KØVBU and his XYL Carol, KBØVVT, NXØI,NWØL, and WØMW. WDØSRI used last yearsanswer sheet and gave the first 25 scores of ZERO.I’m sure they will get over that. Yes Marty, “Dayton was”KØLW