I just received the following from Aki JA5DQH. With great low-band
operators like Aki, N7NG, OH0XX, OH1RY and OH2BH, they should make a lot
of us very happy with a new one on Topband! 73, Bill W4ZV
>The Temotu Islands--A New DXCC Country!
>
>The South China Sea DX Team (SCSDXT) has extensively studied the new DXCC
>criteria which will become effective on 31 March, 1998. This research has
>led to the discovery of several potential new DXCC entities.
>
>The Temotu Islands, located in the South Pacific, collectively form the
>easternmost province of the Solomon Islands, an independent country since
>1978. Because Temotu is separated by more than 350 km from the rest of
>the Solomon Islands, it should easily qualify as a new DXCC entity. The
>SCSDXT has teamed with the Solomon Islands' IARU member organization, SIRS
>(Solomon Islands Radio Society), in organizing a full-scale DXpedition to
>Temotu, as well as preparing the application for new DXCC status.
>
>The team for this operation includes members from four continents:
>
>H44GP, H44GR, JA5DQH, N4GN, N7NG, OH0XX, OH1RY,
>OH2BC, OH2BE, OH2BH, OH2TA, W6OSP and 9V1YC
>
>In recognition of its new status, the Solomon telecommunications
>authorities have agreed to assign the previously unused H40 prefix to
>Temotu for all future amateur operations. This first Temotu DXpedition
>has been issued the special call sign H40AA.
>
>Visiting team members will begin arriving on 21 March and may be found on
>the air using their individual H44 call signs while making final
>preparations for the main event. These early operations--including
>all-band activity in the CQ WPX SSB Contest, 27-28 March--will count for
>DXCC credit as the Solomon Islands, under the current rules. The IOTA
>number is OC-100.
>
>At 2359Z on 31 March, the H40AA call sign will be debuted on the air, at
>which point QSOs will count for Temotu DXCC credit, presuming the
>application for new DXCC status is eventually approved. The H40AA
>operation will continue for approximately two weeks.
>
>H40AA operating frequencies:
>
> CW: 1824, 3504, 7004, 10104, 14024, 18074, 21024,
> 24894, 28024 and 50104 kHz
> SSB: 1824, 3775, 7045, 14195, 18135, 21295, 24945,
> 28495 and 50104 kHz
>RTTY: 14083 and 21083 kHz
>
>QSLs for H44 "warm up" QSOs (for Solomon Islands DXCC credit) will be via
>the home call of the individual operators. The H40AA Temotu QSLs will be
>handled by OH2BN:
>
>Jarmo J. Jaakola, OH2BN
>Kiilletie 5C30
>Helsinki 00710
>FINLAND
>
>SIRS has kindly requested that DXers NOT send any cards for these
>operations via the H4 QSL bureau. OH2BN will reply to H40AA requests via
>the OH bureau after the initial batch of direct requests are serviced.
>
>The team would like to especially recognize the valuable support of Yaesu
>Musen Co. Ltd., Mikrolog Ltd., FinnFet Ltd., the Northern California DX
>Foundation and INDEXA.
>
>
>See you on 160m! 73, Aki JA5DQH
>
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