FJ/OH2AM Log Search
A log search for the December 18-26, 2007 FJ/OH2AM DXpedition to Saint Barthelemy Island has been set up by N4GN, Tim Totten. There are four different ways to search the log, including perhaps the first ever WAP search feature via a mobile phone!
Here are the four ways you can check the logs:
1) Send an e-mail to fj-log@n4gn.com and put your call sign (or up to 10 call signs) in the subject or beginning of the message body.
2) Use the web form at www.n4gn.com/logsearches/ (the result is sent to your e-mail inbox).
3) Use the WAP search feature via your mobile phone. Just open your phone's browser and go to wap.n4gn.com to get started.
4) A "traditional" Web search can be found at www.n4gn.com/fj/.
A special thanks to N4GN!
FJ – SAINT BARTHELEMY
The Caribbean Island of Saint Barthelemy (St. Bart’s) was discovered in 1493 by Christopher Columbus and was named after his brother Bartolomeo. The Island was claimed and settled by the French in 1648. Sweden purchased St. Bart’s from France in 1784 and then sold it back to the French in 1878. In 1946 Guadeloupe (FG) was granted a Department of France. This included the island of St. Bart’s.
Saint Martin (FS) was added to the DXCC list on July 1st (per May, 1955 QST) with an effective starting date of November 15, 1945 and afterwards. St. Barthelemy (FJ) QSOs have always counted as FS-St. Martin for DXCC, up until this point. On February 21, 2007 French authorities signed into law 2007-224 giving the island of Saint Barthelemy a new political status of “Overseas Collectivities”, which was then published the following day.
On July 2, 2007 the United States State Department recommended a revision of their list “Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty” list. On Friday December 14, 2007 Saint Barthelemy was added to the “Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty” public list.
DXCC Political Entities criteria 1c states: “The Entity contains a permanent population, is administered by a local government, and is located at least 800 km from its parent. To satisfy the "permanent population" and "administered by a local government" criteria of this sub-section, an Entity must be listed on either (a) the U.S. Department of State's list of "Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty" as having a local "Administrative Center," or (b) the United Nations list of "Non-Self-Governing Territories." St. Bart’s clearly meets that criteria and should be added to the DXCC list as a new counter.
Here is the info you will want to input into your logging software.
Prefix – FJ
Country Name – Saint Barthelemy
CQ Zone – 8
Start date – Probably February 22, 2007
QSL Bureau – Yes (REF France)
UTC Offset – 4 hours behind UTC
IOTA – NA-146
ITU Zone – 11
Continent – North America
Longitude – 62.83 West
Latitude – 17.92 North
Other islands that will count for Saint Barthelemy – Chevreau, Coco, Fourchue, Fregate, La Tortue, Le Boulanger, Pain de Sucre, Pele and Toc Vers.
DXpeditioners have been monitoring the status of St.
Barthelemy (FJ) for several
months. Immediately after the addition of St. Bart’s to the
United States State Department’s
Dependencies and Areas of
Special
Sovereignty list an
initial two man seasoned DXpedition team flew to the Caribbean this past
weekend.
The team instantly discovered a transportation shutdown on St. Bart's as flights and ferry passage to the new counter were shut down due to local strikes. The team then hired a local private boat for transportation to Gustavia, the islands capital city.
OH2BH,
Martti Laine, and
OH0XX/HP1WW, Olli Rissanen, will be the first two operators of the team and are
now in the process of building up two stations. Depending on conditions,
operator’s schedules and how things go the operation could continue even into
the Christmas
holidays.
The team wishes to give those who Deserve another DXCC counter a most welcome
Christmas present as they wish to pass their jubilant greetings far away from
their family’s Christmas preparations and to close another DX year the way we
all like it best.
The team plans to begin activity today, Tuesday December 18th around 1200 noon local (1600Z) as FJ/OH2AM. They will have two stations, using an FT-1000MP and FT2000MP along with Fin Fet amplifier. Initial operations will begin on 20 meters SSB and 17 meters CW. The goal of this operation will be to give as many DXers as possible a new country. Additional bands may be added as the DXpedition goes forward. Concentration will be to have one station on CW and one on SSB. QSL cards for this operation should go via OH2BN.
The following was posted on the ARRL DXCC Web Blog on December 18th
St. Martin and St. Barthelemy
Dec 18, 2007 11:46 ET
Dave Patton, NN1N
We are presently reviewing the DXCC status of these two islands.
The following is from the ARRL Web site on December 19th.
http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2007/12/19/100/?nc=1DXCC Desk Announces New Entity
The ARRL DXCC Desk is pleased to announce the addition of St Barthelemy (FJ) to the DXCC List, making the island entity number 338 with an effective date of 14 December, 2007. Cards with contacts dated December 14, 2007 or after will be accepted for DXCC credit. New card submissions for St Barthelemy will not be accepted until January 1, 2008 in order to allow time for administrative adjustments.
Background
On February 21, 2007 the French Ministry issued a decree making St Barthelemy an Overseas Collective, making its status equal to that of Guadeloupe, Martinique and other French territories currently on the DXCC List. On November 8, 2007 the President of Association Des Radio Amateurs De St Barthelemy, Philippe Delcroix, FJ5DX, contacted the DXCC Desk, requesting that St Barthelemy be considered a new DXCC entity.
The "event date" that caused St. Barthelemy to be added to the DXCC list was December 14, 2007, the date the US State Department Fact sheet was updated by the Bureau of Intelligence and Research. This update added St Barthelemy to the List of Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty with its Administrative Center in Gustavia, qualifying it under DXCC rules in Section II -- 1 Political Entities (c):
c) The Entity contains a permanent population, is administered by a local government, and is located at least 800 km from its parent. To satisfy the "permanent population" and "administered by a local government" criteria of this sub-section, an Entity must be listed on either (a) the U.S. Department of State's list of "Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty" as having a local "Administrative Center," or (b) the United Nations list of "Non-Self-Governing Territories."
St Martin
French St Martin (FS), while also added to the List of Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty, will remain on the DXCC List, but it is now considered a Point 1 Political Entity under the same classification as that of St Barthelemy.
Please direct any questions you may have about St Barthelemy, St Martin or the DXCC program to the ARRL DXCC Desk.
The following appeared in the December 21st issue of The Daily DX
______________________________________________________________________
More on FS/FJ
By K5NX (ex K5FUV), Bill Kennamer,
Former ARRL Membership Services Manager
______________________________________________________________________
I've heard from many of my DX friends today, so perhaps a short technical treatise about some of the DXCC rules might be in order.
When the DXCC 2000 rules were being considered, one of the prime considerations was to move determination of what was a Political Entity from arbitrary determination of the ARRL to internationally recognized third parties, such as the UN, ITU, and (originally) IARU. By using certain lists promulgated by these organizations, and originally selected to include as many entries as possible on the pre-1998 DXCC List, it was possible to come up with possibilities to include entities as Political. As amended, they are a) the UN Member list, b) the ITU prefix bloc assignment list, and c)(i) the U.S. Department of State's list of "Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty" as having a local "Administrative Center," or (ii) the United Nations list of "Non-Self-Governing Territories."
Also, at the time, there were reasons to determine when Entities would be added to the DXCC List. These "reasons" became defined in the DXCC List Criteria as "Events". In short form, an Event is simply what happens to make an Entity eligible to be added to the DXCC List. In the case of Political Entities, the only Event that allows a new Political Entity to be placed on the DXCC List is the addition to one of the lists listed in a), b) or c) in the preceding paragraph.
Since we now know that it takes an "Event" to trigger an addition to the DXCC List, then determination must be made as to when the Event occurred. In the case of a Political Entity the only Event that can trigger the addition is to appear on one of the aforementioned lists, thus the "Event Date" is the date that the Entity is added to one of these lists. This then becomes the "Start Date" for DXCC purposes.
It is important to remember that the DXCC rules since 1998 are in no way related to any precedents before 1998. In other words, just because something may have appeared to have been decided some way in the past does not mean there would be any application in the present or future. As the one who actually came up with many of these rules regarding addition procedures, I can say with certainty that there is absolutely no ambiguity in the procedures for adding Political Entities. These rules are meant to be followed and interpreted strictly. Thus, for Political Entities, they must be on the aforementioned lists in order to be added. If they are not, then they won't be.
Since there is now a particular case out there which seems to have caused some to be confused about how the rules work, then there is opportunity to use this situation as an example of how the DXCC List Criteria should be applied. The case is the example of French Saint Martin and Saint Barthelemy. Saint Martin was added to the DXCC List in 1955, containing the area encompassing "all French territory within the limits of 17 and 19 degrees north latitude and 62 and 64 degrees west longitude." This includes the island of Saint Barthelemy. Thus, from the addition of Saint Martin in 1955, both islands have been part of the same DXCC Entity.
The fact that Saint Martin was on the pre-1998 DXCC List becomes important when considering the current situation. In February, 2007, both Saint Martin and Saint Barthelemy changed their governmental status and became Overseas Collectives of France. This, in and of itself, made absolutely no difference in the DXCC status of either. The only thing that could make a difference would be addition of one or the other to the lists above. In fact, both were added as of 14 December to the US State Department Dependencies. This would then become the "Event Date" for a possible addition to the DXCC List. Some have questioned why one was added and not the other, or possibly why there was not a removal of Saint Martin and addition separately of both. A reading of 5. Removal Criteria reveals the reason for this, i.e., "An Entity may be removed from the (DXCC) List if it no longer
satisfies the criteria under which it was added. However, if the Entity continues to meet one or more currently existing rules, it will
remain on the List". Thus, Saint Martin was on the pre-1998 DXCC List, with no real reason given as to why it was added (but presumably separation from France), and even though its status has now changed from "grandfathered" to Political Entity, since it now still qualifies un the Political Entity Criteria, it remains on the DXCC List unchanged. This is exactly what the Removal Criteria provides for, and the purpose for this is to obviate the need to work the same geography twice without a compelling reason (and for no small reason, to lessen the workload on the DXCC Desk).
The addition of Saint Barthelemy to the US State Department Dependency list, on the other hand, did trigger an addition to the DXCC List. Again, since only the addition to the list, and not the change in status by the French government can trigger the addition, then the Event Date becomes 14 December, 2007, and the addition may be made. Since all Political Entities are added by administrative action as of their Event Date (per DXCC List Criteria), then Saint Barthelemy will be added.
Dave Patton made exactly the correct decision on this one. Again, there is no ambiguity in the DXCC List Criteria. Everything is very cut and dried. Have fun working it.
The following update is from the FJ/OH2AM team - December 20th 1845Z
I just spoke (1845Z Thursday December 20th) to Olli and Martti. They were having a lunch break and should be QRV again afterwards.
The goal of their activity is to get into as many logs as possible to give the Deserving their first QSO and a Christmas present! To continue with that goal Martti will remain on 20 meters SSB. The band seems to open just before 1100Z and here concentration is on Europe/Middle East and Africa. Once signals seem to die down to that area he picks up the Americas (NA/CA/SA). Around 2100-2200 the bands starts to open to Japan and the Far East. Once the band closes to that area he goes back to the Americas and Oceania until just after 0000Z when the band totally closes. North American stations (US included) are asked to please do not call when the operator asks for certain more difficult areas, like JA, parts of Europe and the Middle East, VK and ZL. Give them the opportunity for their first QSOs. Working VK's and ZL's has been difficult. So if a few VK's and ZL's would let me know when the FJ/OH2AM signals are peaking for you and on what band that will be relayed to the team. Olli will be mostly doing the sub bands of 40 and 17 meters, mostly on CW. Again if he asks North America to stand by please honor this request. Olli thinks the VK's and ZL's should be able to get them on 20 meters around 0400-0600 if the solar flux is high enough. Otherwise VK/ZL try 40 meters between 0700 and 1100Z. As of this moment the guys do not know when they will QRT. They can stay in their hotel until December 27th and then they must leave as all the accommodations are booked. Many have asked about on-line logs. There will be no on-line logs while on the island and might be after the operation. More on that later. Again remember there are two operators and two radios so they are a little limited and their main strategy above is to maximize the head count for first time QSOs. They are only using one callsign (FJ/OH2AM) to avoid dupes. OH2AM is the OH DX Ring club callsign. As of the moment they will not start any new bands between now and the end of the weekend (Sunday)! Activity will be on both CW and SSB on 17, 20 and 40 meters. QSL FJ/OH2AM via OH2BN. This email may be forward to your friends or club reflectors.
73
December 21 - 2100Z
The following update is from OH0XX, Olli, and OH2BH, Martti on Saint Barthelemy Island - FJ/OH2AM.
The team has three verticals up on the beach for continued operation over the next 12-24 hours on 17, 20 and 40 meters CW and SSB. Remember there are two ops and two stations. Over the next three hours or so Martti will continue on 20 SSB. This is a good time for the JAs and some Pacific Islands. Olli will start out on 40 CW. The 40 meter station will remain on the band mostly CW but maybe some SSB (probably after 0900Z). On Saturday after their sunrise watch for them on 20 and 17 meters probably simultaneously. They have an 20 meter high vertical for the 75/80 meter band which they hope to have installed and running by Sunday night (their time). So the thinking right now is Sunday night one mode and Monday night the other mode on this band. Many have asked about when the operation will end. Olli is currently scheduled to leave the island around noon (local time) on Tuesday. Martti is scheduled to leave on Wednesday early in the morning. So this should give you an idea of how much more time you have to get into their log. Remember there will be no online log search during the operation! QSL FJ/OH2AM via OH2BN. This message will be posted to http://www.dailydx.com/barthelemy.htm. You may send this email to your friends and club or DX reflectors.
73 and Merry Christmas