Press Release

PARANÁ RADIOAMATEUR GROUP WORLDWIDE CHAMPION AGAIN

The Magazine CQ Amateurs Radio, March 1997, published the certification of Radioamateur Worldwide Contest - CQWW WPX SSB. Once again Araucária DX Group conducted by Paraná radioamateurs is the worldwide champion.

During this contest, the group has participated as a crew of multi operators with one single transmitter in its shack at Fernando de Noronha Island, with a total score of 23.896.640 points. The Brazilian group made 6.120 contacts during 48 consecutive hours, with 1.060 different prefixes defeating the North American group which operated in Galápagos Island, in the Pacific Ocean, by more than 2 million points.

This conquest confirms, once more, the power of Brazilian radioamateurism, represented by Araucária DX Group. The most awarded crew in the decade of 80 will probably repeat its successful performance in the decade of 90.

The Brazilian group was represented by the following radioamateurs:

PY5EG, Atilano de Oms
PY5CC, Peter Sprengel
N5FA, James Hoffmann
PY5GU, Augusto Cortes
PY0FF, André Sampaio
PY5GA, Olavo Scherrer
PU5OMS, Augusto Oms, PY5EG's son.

The shack installed by the group at the enjoyable site of Fernando de Noronha Island, 500km from the coast, in Recife, Pernambuco in the Northeast Brazil, the most complete shack in the South Hemisphere.

The North American group, vice champion, is a traditional competitor of Araucária DX Group. This time, operating in the wonderful Island of Galápagos, in the Pacific Ocean, close to Equator line, it remained 2 million points behind the Brazilian crew.

CQ Amateurs Radio published in March the records attained, along the years this contest is performed since the decade of 60, and Araucária DX Group retains the following records:

1992 ZW5B individual performance in 10-meter Band,operated by PY5EG Atilano de Oms

1995 PY9FM individual performance in 20-meter Band, operated by TY5CC Peter Sprengel

1996 ZW5B individual performance in 15-meter Band, operated by PY5EG Atilano de Oms

With the beginning of 23 solar cycle, considerable improvement its forecasted for the radio waves propagation. This event motivates the individual and group participation of Araucária DX Group, in its shacks in Paraná, and at Fernando de Noronha Island, to continue increasing the Brazilian participation in these activities, aiming the attainment of new records for the country in such contests.

Recently, Araucária DX Group based in Paraná State, has incorporated a group of radioamateurs from Santa Catarina State, forming the Araucária DX Group, Section Santa Catarina.

Santa Catarina Group, conducted by PP5JR Sergio Almeida, who previously participated in the Araucária DX Group operating several times in Paraná shacks, has conquered excellent positions in recent radioamateur worldwide contests. Its incorporation to Araucária DX Group greatly reinforces the Brazilian team, stimulating the practice of radioamateur contest in the country.

Curitiba - PR, Brazil

March 5th, 1997