Welcome to Tropical band

To most people the phrase "tropical bands" bring a pretty clear picture to mind - a bunch of shirtless guys playing calypso music. But to experienced shortwave DXers those two little words express the most challenging and enjoyable part of the radio hobby. The phrase kindles memories of a DXer's best catches and favorite QSLs, of exotic stations, music and of early morning listening sessions. (Don Moore)
I like the "Tropical band" name for new 60m allocation. (OK1RP)

Effective from 1st Jan 2017 please paper QSL via OM-bureau only.


Saturday, December 31, 2011

Good bye 60m...

Hi all. I would like to thanks to all of You for QSO, trials, support, effort, help, tips, hints... simply for great camaraderie which I felt on 60m band each second when I was on the air.

I am going to the SWL mode but I will try to continue improving my setup, study the condx, ionosphere behavior, phenomenons and help to each others using my experiences I got from my 60m band operation up to now.

Final score of my operation is in the end of the blog. Not bad but plenty of room for an improvement and lot of challenges in front of us is over there.

My best wishes healthy and happy New Year 2012 to all on the bands worldwide and be sure I am listening behind...

73 - Petr, OK1RP

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

ZF - DXCC #26 on 60m

Hello all,

my last QSO giving me the DXCC #26 on 60m was really not as easy as it seemed to be...

I already mentioned that not so mni hams watching down around 5260kHz channel so in that case I had to arrange sked. Eden, ZF1EJ was so nice and helpful to arrange sked on 60m last nite. As I checked the condx the band was opened very well last nite and I heard ZF stations on near 40m band with good signals so I did not expected so big troubles on 60m.

In standard case when the channel 5 is empty my noise level on the band using the Mini Diamond receiving loop around the 00:00Z is enough low and band generally so quiet that station from this distance I should hear and copy.

Unfortunately last nite exactly around 00:00Z the channel 5 was occupied. Mladen 9A4ZZ worked several stations around EU and Paul, G0HNW and Clem, G0APM worked several US stations...all together on the same channel. Its not the big problem as all ops are quite experienced and they are able to rotate on the frequency and allowing to each others to work the stations if they hear them.

The main problem was with the other US guys who did not copy EU stations and began the rag chewing with other local US station on the channel. The reception issue was also on the EU side so there were in parallel several QSOs on the channel 5. Into this chaos Eden, ZF1EJ called me as arranged at the 00:00Z.

I had not any problem to copy his signal when the channel was clean and nobody talked on the frequency. The signals came up to 55 but when the EU and US stations masked him I had the big problem.

I had to play with my K3 a lot to find as best as possible setting to be able to read Eden a bit. After few trials we got the right time to exchange the reports under them and we finished the QSO. Luckily my TX frequency on 5260 where I used CW was quiet on the Cayman Isl. so Eden read my signals even the strength was not so high. We exchanged 55/529 during this QSO and I reached my #26 on 60m band.

Interesting think is that in the beginning of the QSO I used my receiving loop as better choice but in the end the Inverted V folded into "Z" letter with 10m apex was definitely better I realized.

Also the NB setting I had to change to: dSP t3-2 and IF NAR3 (from NAR1 in the beginning) . The AVC had to be OFF for all the time as the noise level increased by 2S units when I tried to activate it. For the first time I also tried to check how it will help the MiniWhip stick which I tested some time ago on Topband. It produced as same N/S as the TX antenna just ZF1EJ signals were weaker so I did not gain from it this time.

Conclusion? I would like to ask all the friends on the 60m band to try listen as careful as possible with the best receiving antennas to avoid parallel operation or QRM on the frequency. Its also the challenge for me and my setup to improve it a lot.

Mni thanks to Eden, ZF1EJ for his effort and nice QSO.

73 - Petr, OK1RP

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

60m band in Z3 - update

Hi Petr...

Tnx for nice wishes. I wish the same to you and your family.

About the 60m band, I have to say that nothing changed from our last conversation so the qso will be invain. After new year holidays I will ask to see is there any chance for experimental licence (for example 1 week or more).

HNY 2012

73' Ven, Z39Z

This is an update I got from my friend Ven, Z39Z about the 60m band operation. In fact the situation is as same as in the countries around so we will have to wait until the communication authority and primary user will start to think about the sharing the band with amateur radio service on secondary non interference basis at least.

I wish good luck to hams in Z3 and Happy New Year 2012!

73 - Petr, OK1RP

Monday, December 26, 2011

HI - DXCC #25 on 60m

Hi all,

I would like to send my big thanks to Mike, HI8HH for his excellent effort and help allowed us to make nice CW QSO on 60m band last nite! Somebody know him as Mr. Caribbean 160m back in the 1970's maybe...

The 5371.5kHz were really noisy last nite and I was not confident that we can make QSO. After 15mins of trials I heard his clean signal coming out from the noise and I copied my callsign. Unfortunately I can not transmit over here so I tried to reply to him on 5260 CW as always. Mike tried to listen for me but after few second I lost him on 5371.5kHz so QSO was not completed. After another 10mins Mike found the way and we managed the QSO using the 5260kHz where I called him on CW. The signal on both sides was S5 and I have to say the signal came from HI8 was really nice and clean for few mins.

The K3 setup: AGC OFF, NB ON (dsp t3-1 / IF NAR2) + int. preamp ON and the noise masking by manual Notch at 920Hz.

The most important during the QSO was to beaming my antenna to right direction. Interesting is that it was not in harmony with expected angle (FK58ak grid) but aprox. 20deg down from this direction. When I beamed up then the signal came down under the noise/QRM. Unexpected signal path during the full moon phase nite? I will be happy for any comments regarding the signal path vs propagation on 60m band.

My #25 DXCC is done with Mike, HI8HH and I really enjoyed our QSO last nite. Thank You Mike.

73 - Petr, OK1RP

V4 - DXCC #24 on 60m

Hi all,

the Oct-22 was for me very lucky. The conditions were good and although the QRM on the band was high the deep fading allowed me to work another DX.

Why QSB allowed me to work long distance QSO? Simply because the QRM source came from long distance area also (I guess) and deep swing caused the level of the QRM went down and up also. During that time when QRM faded down the signals from DX station sometime went down too but sometime it went in opposite phase. In that case I was able to read the signals from the DX station for few seconds.

That is what I utilized on Oct-22 nite during our QSO with John, V47JA. John had very nice signal over here but the main issue was QRM on the band as mentioned. After many trials I copied his signals very well during the deep fading of the QRM and I was able to complete the QSO on 60m band with him as my #24 DXCC.

My setup was again K3 from Elecraft just the AGC was OFF and NB ON (dsp t3-1 / IF NAR3) and internal preamp ON only. I changed the setting of the AGC as I realized the noise came dramatically down with turning OFF the AGC loop. I am not using my external low noise / high IMD preamp by W7IUV as it is under re-designing completely according to his web page http://w7iuv.com/.

Best regards,

73 - Petr, OK1RP

Sunday, December 25, 2011

OK1RP actual scores - updated

OK1RP actual scores on 60m Tropical band (26/12/2011)

1st QSO on 60m ever: GW3UEP
1st overseas/USA on 60m ever: San, K5YY
Longest distance: 8775.4km (K5YY)
DXCC (wkd/cfm): 25/4 (GW, G, GM, OK, OZ, CT, EI, K, LA, 9A, TA, LZ, UR, DL, TF, OX, GD, OM, VP9, 4X, CU, KP4, SV, V4, HI)
WAS60 (wkd/cfm): 9/5 (AR, FL, NJ, OH, VA, NC, IL, TX, SC)
WAC60 (wkd/cfm): 3/3 (EU, NA, AS)
WAZ60 (wkd/cfm): 7/5 (14, 15, 4, 5, 20, 40, 8)
Total QSOs: 102
Initials: 70


It sounds not so bad according to current setup isn't it? Well I will have no chance to improve it so much as my permit is ending by end of this year 2011.

My enthusiasm and motivation to improve the setup went dramaticaly down but well I am still on the band and trying to study the propagation vs antennas etc.

See You on the air till 31/12/2011 my friends,

73 - Petr, OK1RP

60m band in DL - update

Hi all,

yesterday I got email from Wolf, DK5AI regarding the 60m band in Germany as follows:

Well, situation about 60m is unchanged. I just read articles about that but officials of DARC think there is no chance in the (near) future. Probably there is a very little chance for single people to apply for an experimental licenses, like we have on 70 MHz at the moment. But that is (also 70 MHz) NO amateur radio, its "Experimental Radio". That is all I have for the moment Petr. Have a happy and healthy New Year 2012, always glad to hear from you.

73 de Wolf, DK5AI

So another bad news from central EU country coming regarding the operation on the Tropical band. It seems that not only OK land but also Italy, Germany and few others has the similar troubles with 60m band.

We can wish to all of us an improvement in the near future. Thank You Wolf for Your updated information and good luck.

73 - Petr, OK1RP

60m band in Italy - update

Hi all,

according to actual updated information from Antonio, I5NQK the 60m band is still not allowed in Italy.

Currently I know about few hams in Italy listening on the 60m actively but seems no chance to get permission for at least experimental operation.

Good luck in coming year 2012,

73 - Petr, OK1RP

Saturday, December 24, 2011

The worldwide country and frequency list for the 5MHz / 60meter band

Hello,

the useful information has been posted on the yahoo group list as follows originated
by Bonnie Crystal, KQ6XA:

The worldwide country and frequency list for the 5MHz 60meter band is at:
http://hflink.net/5mhz
http://hflink.net/60meters

It has all documented channels and VFO bands.
It also contains listings of unique and reported operations or activations on 60 meters.

I hope it will help to all of us as all the information over here are nicely and systematically organized.

73 - Petr, OK1RP

Merry Christmas to all 60m band friends

Dears,

Christmas event coming quickly...

(in European countries even this evenning on 24th Dec) so I hope that You have everything arranged... and ready for Santa Claus (Noel, Jezisek etc.) visiting at Your home as he is on the way already...

I would like to wish the MERRY and HAPPY CHRISTMAS, healthy and relaxing time with family and if You was quite nice... then even some xmas gifts for You too!

Best regards,

73 and mni DXs on the band,

Petr, OK1RP

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

The 60m link and ARRL survey by Steve, WB8IMY

The news item concerning the ARRL request for input for a proposed 60-meter band plan was just posted at . . .

http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-requests-feedback-for-60-meter-band-plan

The story contains links to the survey email “box” and the online survey.

73 . . . Steve Ford, WB8IMY

Monday, November 28, 2011

SV - Greece on 60m band by Manos, SV1IW

Hello,

Manos, SV1IW emailed me good news that after another QSO on 60m band they are ready for anyone wishes to try luck with the poor antenna system for the moment. Hopefully it will be changed soon.

So if anyone wishes to try > all needed to do is an e-mail to Manos, SW1IW for sked.

73 - Petr, OK1RP

Better FCC definition of the 60m band by Bonnie Crystal, KQ6XA

USA's Federal Communications Commission released a REPORT AND ORDER on November 18, 2011with new 5MHz rules for the Amateur Radio Service.Effective date: 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.

The FCC adopted the use of the name "60 meter band",to refer to 5MHz amateur radio in the frequency range 5330.5-5406.4 kHz, but USA hams are still only allowed to transmit on 5 specific channels in the band.

The FCC changed the rules to allow:Phone (Upper Sideband), RTTY, Data, and CW;with specific limitations on the use of these modes.

Amateur radio is a "secondary user" in this band, and must not cause harmful interference to other services!Amateur Radio Service must accept interference from other primary services and other nations services.

Operators transmitting data or RTTY must exercise care to limit the length of transmission so as to avoid causing harmful interference to US Government stations.

New 60 meter band 5MHz Channel List:General, Advanced, or Amateur Extra Class license only.

Suppressed Carrier
VFO Dial freq
5330.5 kHz USB (center of channel = 5332.0)
5346.5 kHz USB (center of channel = 5348.0)
5357.0 kHz USB (center of channel = 5358.5)
New!5371.5 kHz USB (center of channel = 5373.0)
5403.5 kHz USB (center of channel = 5405.0)

Note: FCC deleted the channel at 5366.5 USB (center=5368.0)
and "replaced" it with channel 5357.0 kHz USB (center=5358.5)

The maximum allowed power level is now

PEP (ERP)effective radiated power referenced to a dipole.If another type of antenna is used, the station licensee must maintain a record of either the antenna manufacturer's data on the antenna gain or calculations of the antenna gain.


Upper Side Band Phone, Data, or RTTY transmissions may use dial (VFO) USB suppressed carrier frequency at 1.5kHz below the center of the channel.

Transmissions must not exceed the 2.8kHz bandwidth channel.RTTY modes such as PSK31 must not exceed 60Hz necessary bandwidth. Data modes must not exceed 2.8kHz bandwidth.CW bandwidth must not exceed 150Hz bandwidth and the CW frequency should be at the center of the channel.

Data stations operating under section § 97.221automatically controlled digital station, are not allowed on these 5MHz channels.

I am posting my apologize to Bonnie KQ6ZA that this article "A Better Definition of the 60m Band" was falsely attributed to Dan, K3ZXL.

Thank You to Bonnie Crystal KQ6XA, Joe KI4PEM/AE as same as to Joe, W8GEX for sharing all of these information to us.

73 - Petr, OK1RP

USA 5MHz Changes

Hi,

in oposite to OK land there is good news about changes in USA:

http://www.fcc.gov/document/amateur-radio-service-5-mhz

Replace 5368 kHz with a channel 5358.5 kHz

Increase the power limit to 100 W PEP.
Clarify antenna type. Permit three additional emission designators CW emission 150HA1A which is Morse telegraphy by means of on-off keying and data emissions 2K80J2D (PACTOR-III) and 60H0J2B (PSK31).

Posted on reflector by Trevor, M5AKA

Daily Amateur Radio News: http://www.southgatearc.org/

73 - Petr, OK1RP

ZK2 - Niue on 60m band

Joe, W8GEX shared information as follows:
---
My good friend Jan DJ8NK is going to Sierra Leone as 9L0W from w8gexBanana island. He'll be on next Wednesday the 23 and again on Thursday the 24 at 2230z on channel 5 both days. If he has QRN or QRM he'll TX on channel 4. This will be a all time NEW ONE on 60 meters. Jan will listen for Europe at his sunset.

NIUE: ZK2V Chris (GM3WOJ) now has special permission to operate on the 60m band.


He reports: This permit is from 1st December until 7th December - Niue time, which equates to 1100 UTC on 1st December until 1100UTC on 8th December 2011. I am intending to install a more 'DX' antenna than the inverted-vee I had in 2009, so hoping for some further DX.3.5MHz and 7MHz are very noisy here on the island, so I am hoping that QRN will not be a problem.

73 GL, Chris ZK2V
---

Thank You to Joe for sharing this information and good luck to all Tropical pioneers with hunting him on this lovely band.

73 - Petr, OK1RP

Thursday, November 10, 2011

60m band without OK - the reality !!!

Hello all,

please remember the 7/11/2011 as the black date for all 60m band enthusiasts in OK land. The MoD sent on 7/11/2011 morning official email to CTU (Czech Telecommunication Institute) where confirming disagreement with renewals of the 5MHz/60m band experimental licences for OK amateur radio operators for 2012!

As I posted in preview message I am trying to negotiate it with CTU and also I am going to try to launch some discussion with MoD regarding the reasons and according to that the possibilities in the future.

Unfortunatelly at this moment the OK land is going thanks to MoD and CTU against to rest of the EU and overseas countries where in harmony with positive experiences the primary users releasing the band for ham radio operation.

The 60m band without the OK land is the reality now! I am not so confident but of course I am trying to stay patient during the negotiation and all discussion with the responsible authorities.

73 - Petr, OK1RP

Thursday, November 3, 2011

60m - Tropical band without OK land in 2012 ?!

Hi all,

i have to share with all of You the current situation with the renewals of the permits for 5MHz operation in OK land for 2012.

At this moment CTU (Czech Telecommunication Institute) does not provide any renewals for OK stations for experimental operation in 5MHz band in 2012. According to information from CTU representative they are waiting officially for the statement from Ministry of Defence regarding the co-existence of primary user with our amateur radio service in 2011 and for their decission for 2012.

According to unconfirmed information the current situation is really not good. They are looking for different channel allocation cause of alleged QRM on allowed FA channel. I am very surprised as I monitored this channel really quite often over the year and I did not noticed any kind of coincidence or even collision with primary user service. We have to be prepared for the worst scenario > no OK land on 5MHz/60m in 2012...

I am in contact with CTU continuously so I will let You know in case of any news...

73 - Petr, OK1RP

Monday, October 31, 2011

News from Greece on 5MHz by Manos, SV1IW

Hello Petr,

Some more news for 5MHz activity...

Following the last information on 5MHz activity from Greece we would like to spread the word. At first the beacon is ready and it has been tested forseveral days now.

Frequency is 5398.5 MHz (CW) to avoid interference with normal use of the channel mostly in the UK. It runs 30W into a non resonant antenna for the moment. You may look for it mostly between 1900-0600z. It may be off for some days due to other HF activities at the test site so try to listen regularly. The beacon is expected to run flawlessly from the beginning of 2012.

The beacon sends the following sequence at T+15 seconds (T= minute 00, 15,30, 45 every hour)

5 seconds tone on 10% of RF power ~3W
3 seconds tone on 50% of RF power ~15W
2 seconds pause
5 seconds tone on 100% of RF power ~30W
2 seconds pause
Psk31 message : "___De SZ1SV SZ1SV beacon reports sv1iw@raag.org"
Cw message : "de SZ1SV SZ1SV SK"

The beacon can be monitored with GB3RAL.zip software from Peter Martinez G3PLX. Since the software monitors 3 time slots only the first will be used(red graph)

We will accept skeds on any mode but we prefer CW. Send email for skeds and reports or more information to sv1iw@raag.org
Remember that this is the only licensed station (SZ1SV). The band is not open for other SV stations yet.

73 Manos SV1IW
R.A.A.G. president
Manos G. Darkadakis
SV1IW
President Radio Amateur Association of Greece
National Society - Member of International
Amateur Radio Union (IARU) since 1959

Thursday, October 6, 2011

YJ0VK - Vanuatu on 60m update 6/10/2011

GM San and Petr,

Luke had 14 qsos into NA on 60m last night at 11z. I slept so I could be up at17z (4am local) for eu. 12z and 13z the radar came up and Luke had trouble hearing. I was up at 1630z (3.30am) to prep for 17z with eu. All tuned and ready with only s4 noise on band, then at 1659z the radar came up s9+10... bugger. I called for 10mins on both freqs but couldnt hear a thing. Will be on agn tonight - same routine guys.

San... confirmed calls are:
n4ch w3ur k4avc w4dr k5rk k7nn kl7hbk k3zxl k4dy w1jr k0od w3ri k5vrx kf8dx.

Not sure we can do much more about radar other than keep trying. Fingers crossed Petr for better local cx tonight at 17z. Petr and San - pls advise the guys (esp EU) that we are trying but the radar is very bad.

73 from the team YJ0VK,

Chris, VK3QB

Monday, October 3, 2011

YJ0VK - Vanuatu on 60m by VKs

A team of 8 amateur radio operators from Australia and the USA will be activating YJ0VK from Port Vila on Efate Island, Vanuatu from September 30th till October 12th 2011.

To work as many stations as possible, have some fun and enjoy a bit of a break on a beautiful Pacific Island!

60 metres: The team has now confirmed plans for 60 metre operation. Each day at local sunset (approx 0700 UTC) we will call CQ and listen on 60 metres. If there is limited/no propagation we will limit our operation to 15 mins from the top of each hour from 0700UTC until 1300UTC. This time slot should provide coverage from EU through to NA, but liaison with San K5YY via email should assist in providing feedback and fine tuning our operation. Closer to the date we’ll liaise with San and update these plans. Please email vk3qb@hotmail.com with any feedback or leave a message on our Guestbook – we are still uncertain on internet connectivity from the operating location.
If you are able to help support the costs for additional freight charges, even with a small donation, the team would be most appreciative. Please visit our Support page.
http://yj0vk.odxg.org/yj0vk2011/support/default.html

As I am in contact with Chris, VK3QB and latest setup: the best would be about 17-18z confirmed from couple of EU stations and according to VOACAP also. Also you might listen at 08z when their SS begins. Chris and the team are very good ops and willing to work as many of us on 60m as possible so they are going to listen for EU at 08z and again at between 17-18z.

Good luck to all of us and PLEASE be very disciplined in case of readable sigs on Tropical band.

73 - Petr, OK1RP


Saturday, October 1, 2011

SV - DXCC #23 on 60m

Hello,

as I announced already SZ1SV radioclub of RAAG got permisson for 60m band. The allocation is as same as OK land just one channel yet > but 5398.5 kHz in this case. For that reason our QSO was not as easy as with others like UK, OZ, TF... I was very lucky because Manos, SV1IW (President of the Radio Amateur Association of Greece) is very good operator and thanks to his effort and help it was possible to make QSO using QSX (5260/5398.5). The cross mode was not neccessary cause of the permission is for CW/SSB and Digi and Manos is good CW operator. I listened his call on 5398.5 immediatelly with 569 clean sigs. During our first QSO I used my receiving loop beaming to SV cause I worried if I will hear his sigs. As Manos said the proper antenna has not been raised yet at the headquarter station and Manos tried to use the multiband vertical with the tuner. Finally his sigs came thru very good and I heard him stable and without problem untill last transmission when another station masked his CW a bit.

So the first QSO on 60m band from SV ever done!

Manos I would like to thank You very much for Your effort and nice QSO on 60m band tonite and let me congrats to You for joining the great 60m "Tropical band" family!

I hope we will be able to hear Your radioclub station quite often over here.

73 - Petr, OK1RP


Friday, September 30, 2011

60m band activity is spotted now...

For all of those hams who are using the DX CLuster spots to reach rare countries or watching the activities on the specific bands will be useful to know that since 19-Sep-2011 the 60M Cluster spots are also available.

The 60m Cluster spots are available at http://hamspots.net/60/

It is easy to log in and watch activity or even put the spots there but please avoid the spot like "no sigs on band" or "dead tonite" etc.

73 - Petr, OK1RP

60m - Tropical band in SV

Limited 5 MHz permission in Greece achieved...

The Greek Ministry of Communication has given permission to the headquarters club, SZ1SV of the Greek national amateur radio society RAAG. The permission is for use of the single frequency 5398.5 kHz only. Modes permitted are SSB, CW and Digital with a maximum power of 100W PEP.

Information supplied by Manos, SV1IW and Cliff, SV1JG. (thanks to Joe, W8GEX and Paul, G4MWO for info also)


73 - Petr, OK1RP

5 MHz Newsletter now online by Paul, G4MWO

A new Newsletter has been launched to support the growing number of 5 MHz operating permissions globally - it's the 5MHz Newsletter

Edited by Paul Gaskell, G4MWO, one of the original RSGB 5 MHz team, it aims to be both an accurate information source of news about 5 Mhz and a platform for exchange of ideas, be they theoretical, operational, constructional or just general comments about the band.

You can freely access the 5 MHz Newsletter from Google Documents at http://tinyurl.com/6fkhcmf

Although originating in the UK, the 5 MHz Newsletter invites world-wide interest, both in readers and contributors. Understandably all that we ask is when contributing items of news concerning new 5 MHz permissions or allocations, that the contributor can provide a means of official verification of such. It is hoped to produce the 5 MHz Newsletter on a quarterly basis, its size being dependent of course on news and other relevant contributions from 5 MHz operators and listeners around the world.

For those without Internet access wishing to have a paper copy of the 5 MHz Newsletter, a Self-Addressed Envelope (SAE) of sufficient size to take folded A4 sheets, together with adequate postage (or IRCs in the case of outside of the UK) will bring a copy of the latest edition. Requests should be addressed to G4MWO, who is QTHR in the UK Callbook and on QRZ.com

Paul G4MWO
Editor 5 MHz Newsletter
http://tinyurl.com/6fkhcmf
5 MHz Yahoo Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ukfivemegs

Friday, September 2, 2011

60m community Guest Book launched

Hi,
as I am interesting in the ideas, tips, suggestions or any kind of feedback I launched the 60m band community Guest Book over here.
Just click to "Radio News" picture on the left side of this web and You will open the guest book where You can write Your appreciated comments.
73 - Petr, OK1RP


C5A - Gambia DX-pedition by OM0C in Oct/Nov 2011

Hello,

as You can find on the club web sites the members of the OM0C Contest Crew are pleased to announce another Contest DX-pedition to the Gambia. They will be active from October 21th till November 1st and November 19th till November 29th 2011 using renewed callsigns from previous DX-peditions, C50C and C5A. The special call C5A will be reserved for SSB and CW CQWW Contest.

The Gambia 2011 DXpedition will use various transceivers from ICOM. They will setup 6 full time stations that can be used simultaneously in order to take advantage of all bands openings. Most of the time they will use 3 or 4 station only. The whole setup of 6 station will be used during the CQWW SSB and CW contest only (in Multi/Multi category). NO WARC bands!!!

Transceivers & Power Amplifiers:
They will use various ICOM transceivers: 6 x ICOM IC-756PROIII and 1 x IC-7600. All stations will be equiped with OM-POWER!

Antennas:
160m - 27m high vetrical, 80m - 4square, 40m - 4square, 20m - 4square, 15m - 2 x 4square, 10m - Stack Yagi 5 over 5

Receiving antennas:
1. Receiving 4square by DXEngineering/OK1RI on 160m
2. Receiving 4square by DXEngineering/OK1RI on 80m


QSL info:
If you want a QSL card from any of our expeditions, please send it to our QSL manager Brani OM2FY. Branislav Daras, P.O.Box 6, SK-820 08 Bratislava 28, Slovak Republic.

QSLs are accepted either direct or via bureau ... direct way is faster. For Direct cards, please enclose a S.A.E. (Self Addressed Envelope) plus sufficient return postage:


Europe - 1 Euro, 1 IRC or 2 USD (price to EU is 1 Euro/1,3 USD)
Outside of Europe - 1,20 Euro, 1 IRC or 2 USD (price outside of EU is 1,20 Euro/ 1,56 USD)
Direct without a S.A.E. or without sufficient return postage - confirmations via the bureau.



Because running a DXpedition is a very expensive business, they are inviting us to donate them. If you are company, you can be a official sponsor.

I tried to contact Riso, OK8WW to gently ask him for possibility arrange some time frame for 60m band operation. As we can expect all depends to the time during/after the DX-pedition... Of course they are focused mainly to build Super Multi-Multi station for CQ WW Contest. They are bringing more then 1 ton of hardware material to Gambia so it will not be easy to manage. Riso promised to me that they will try it if "they will have rest of the power". Good luck to guys and hope to work them on the air.

73 - Petr, OK1RP

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Icom IC-7000 on 60m band

Hello,

the RX range expand mod from www.mods.dk and the TVRO & MARS Mods by Steve, N5AC (US version) for IC-7000 tcvr You can find over here IC-7000-mods

These mods will expand the RX range and provide an out-of-band mod that does TX from 0-54, 118-173, 400-470 MHz on Your own risk.

73 - Petr, OK1RP

60m - Tropical band in 9A - updated 29/8/2011

Hi,

as I got few questions regarding the actual situation with 9A stations on Tropical band there I am posting an updated information about the 60m band operation in Croatia.

Regarding licenses for 60m band operation in 9A all licenses are issued on experimental basis for one year period of time and they can bereissued again. Some of the licenses was valid until 30th May but it doesn't mean that all licenses are valid for same period of time. Each amateur radio operator in 9A can get experimental license for 60m. Of course if he/she request it from 9A Telecom authority(http://www.hakom.hr). Such experimental license is valid for one year from the date ofissuing. As far as we know there are more stations with license for 60m for example 9A9T, 9A4ZZ, 9A2EY etc.

I confirmed it with Chris, 9A5K and for example his license was valid also until 30th May 2011 but he is planing to reissue his license during September so we can expect him on 60m again during next months.

Currently: all licenses on 60m in 9A are limited to 100W. Frequencies are the same > VFO based 5260 - 5410 kHz...

Many thanks for informations and support to Chris, 9A5K ! Hope to see You Chris again on the air.

73 - Petr, OK1RP

Thursday, August 25, 2011

KP4 - DXCC #22 on 60m

Hi all, I am pleased to report that I finally catched Willem, WP3UX. Again it was not easy and again I worked cross mode/cross channel as I used CW of course whereas Willem used SSB. I have to cfm that most quiet channels for trials with weak sigs are 5371.5/5366.5 instead of 5403.5 (QRMed quite often). Also secret weapon - RX ant w/BPF and preamp was necessary! 73 - Petr, OK1RP

Thursday, August 18, 2011

60m - Tropical band in OM - updated 18/8/2011

Hi all,

today I got very good news from Dezo, OM5NA about the new allocation for Slovakia on 60m band as follows:

After several negotiation and requests the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority in Slovakia allowed finally OM stations to operate on 60m band up to 5410kHz.

According to that an entire band 5258.5 - 5410.0 kHz is allowed in Slovakia for experimental purposes as secondary service. The allowed power is max. 100 W ERP and licences are valid for 1 year as same as in OK land. In case of conflict with primary user the ham radio license holder has to take effective measures or even stop the operation. No contests are allowed on 60m band. Ham radio operator has to indicate his callsign after each trasmission.

Thank You to Dezo, OM5NA for information. Congrats to all OMs and specially to SARA and A.R.E.S. associations in Slovakia for their great job! I wish good luck to all with hunting new DXCC from Slovakia.

73 - Petr, OK1RP

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

60m - Tropical band in CU

Hi all,

as Eloy, CU3AK confirmed to me by email he is again allowed to operate on 60m Tropical band. There I am posting the more details about the 60m band allocation on Azores Isl. as follows:

The licence of Eloy, CU3AK is valid until 30 December 2011 and he can operate the following freuquencies: 5288.5 kHz, 5371.5 kHz & 5403.5 kHz. Modes allowed on 60m band are A1A (CW) & J3E (SSB). There is no power limit.

Eloy is using nice setup with Kenwood TS570D runs 100w and the antenna is the Barker & Williamson, BWD90 which operates all frequencies continuously from 1.8 to 30 MHz without an antenna coupler/tuner, allowing operation on any frequency in that range.


If You need the Azores on 60m then look for him over here...

73 - Petr, OK1RP

Sunday, August 14, 2011

NVIS - The phenomenon of last few years only?

Hi all,

did You heard about the NVIS already?

The NVIS - shortening of the Near Vertical Incidence Skywave utilizes high-angle skywave paths between stations instead of ground-wave or surface-wave in order to communicate via HF radio equipment. Although it seems to be the phenomenon of the last few years and lot of ham radio guys talking about it and using it to reach local stations the NVIS technique is definitely not new!

The NVIS was originally evaluated by U.S. Army Forces in Thailand during the Vietnam conflict in the mid of 1960's. It was found that the mobile stations using whip antennas bent parallel to the ground could communicate more reliably with their base-stations instead of standard vertical whips mounted in it's original vertical position. Signal strengths would be weaker using high-angle skywave but communications would be more reliable less subject to fading known as QSB in ham radio and consistent between all stations. This was because the intervening terrain was less of an absorber of signals. Terrain obstructions between stations such as hills, mountainous areas, jungle growth, built-up areas with tall buildings no longer become path obstructions with stations when NVIS techniques are employed.

I do not like so much the NVIS technique simply because I am looking for long distances communication on the 60m - 160m bands in general. Nevertheless I realized that I am also using the NVIS technique on 60m band to reach close areas. My half sloper originally tuned for 160m band with really bad ground system worked pretty poor over there. I was not able to work comfortably UK stations and I got very poor reports from there.

After few weeks I decided to build new antenna for 60m but unfortunatelly I had not tower or another support to put planned dipole enough high. So I installed the Inverted Z (legs are folded to Z letter) with 10m apex only. (see here http://60mband.blogspot.com/2011/01/experimental-60m-inverted-z-for-pocket.html)

Immediatelly after the installation this antenna I found that my sigs rapidly increased in nearby location. The reports gotten from UK stations from now are superior and I have no serious problem to work station around Europe. When I though about it in fact I have just 0.16 lambda apex feed point so it can be called NVIS technique on 60m band too... and it really work well for these kind of ranges.

If You are interesting more in the NVIS techniques then click over here:
http://www.tactical-link.com/field_deployed_nvis.htm

or You can read the famous presentation of Jack, W5JCK here:
http://w5jck.com/index.php

73 - Petr, OK1RP

CU - DXCC #21 on 60m

Hi all,

last week I was very delighted with getting an email from Eloy, CU3AK that his 60m band authorization arrived already...

"Hi Petr, I have received the authorization until the end of the year. The frequencies allowed are 5288.5 - 5371.5 - 5403.5 so I will call you on 5371.5 kHz and please give me the listen frequency. 73's Eloy, CU3AK"

I replied to Eloy immediatelly to congrats for getting the license for Tropical band again and we arranged the sked on 60m band. I will call on 5260 kHz on CW and I will be ready to listen Eloy's sigs on 5371.5 kHz CW/SSB around 21Z.

Well I was on the air on time but no sigs from Eloy. Just noise and sometime the QRM as usual. After few minutes I decided to call CQ on the FA channel w/QSX 5371.5 and wait until Eloy's call back. At the 21:10Z I began to be a bit nervous as I did not heard any sigs on the listenning frequency. Azores Isl. are not so far from me and using 100W into the Inverted Z dipole at 10m should be enough. I quickly checked the actual SN and SFI and also A/K indexes... All seemed to be ok and the radio blackout was not forecasted.

After another CQ I decided to tune up/dwn if I will hear atleast some weak sigs around or so. Wow, Eloy's sigs just 700Hz down were S8 and very clean. Eloy called me on CW > yes I am fool and had my K3 switched to USB and Eloy called me outside the narrow filter incidentally.

Well we exchanged reports and we made very nice QSO during next few minutes. Eloy's sigs were really nice and even tone was really beautiful. I suspect that Eloy is using TenTec tcvr...:)

I am so happy to say that my DXCC #21 is done by CU3AK, Eloy on 60 band from today (12-Aug-2011)

Thank You very much Eloy for Your effort to arrange the sked and for giving me new one on 60m band!

73 - Petr, OK1RP

Monday, August 8, 2011

60m - Tropical band in VE (... near future)

RAC Bulletin 2011-022E - Industry Canada Responds Favourably to RAC request for access to 60M. Public consultation to begin shortly.
2011-08-07

Over the last year RAC has been in discussions with Industry Canada with the objective of obtaining access to 60M. This has been a policy objective of RAC since Spring of 2010.

At the last CARAB meeting between RAC and Industry Canada on May 17, 2011, two of the major items discussed were updates to Industry Canada's regulatory documents (RBR-4 and RIC-3), and the RAC request for an assignment of certain frequencies in the 60m (5 MHz) band to the amateur service in Canada. Neither of these subjects was finalized at the time of the meeting, but Industry Canada undertook to respond to RAC on both ofthem this summer.

Industry Canada has now informed RAC that at this point is sees no reason not to respond favourably to the RAC request for frequencies at 60m on a no protection, non-interference basis.

The new frequencies would be included in the schedule of amateur frequencies in the updated edition of RBR-4 to be released for public consultation in the future. Public submissions will be considered by Industry Canada in preparation for the final version of RBR-4. Any new frequencies it contains would become available to Canadian amateurs at the time of release of the updated RBR-4. Thus, if all goes well, Canadian amateurs may expect to gain access to frequencies at 60m, basically the same as those in the US, some time this fall.

The anticipated success of this initiative is the result of many months of effort from the RAC executive and volunteers, including the HF Band Planning Committee, and also from all of those amateurs who have made observations on the use of these frequencies and relayed their comments to RAC on the need for this band in Canada. We would not have been successful without all of your help and input.

Geoff Bawden, VE4BAW
President and Chair Radio Amateurs of Canada
Co-Chair of Canadian Amateur Radio Advisory Board
---
Orig. posted by Keith, VA3QF on 60m Yahoo mailing list
In a message dated 8/7/2011 9:19:43 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time

Friday, August 5, 2011

4X - DXCC #20 on 60m... time to celebrate milestone?

Hello,

YES, it's done. Thanks to my good friend Dov, 4Z4DX I was able to reach DXCC #20 on 60m Tropical band yesterday evenning.

It was not as easy as it seams to be for the first time. Dov and I we spent almost 2 weeks with trials daily but no beeps on both sides.

The propagation on low bands and specialy high level of noise and QRN from the summer storms makes any QSO on 60m band hard. I built the new BPF centered on ch3 to eliminate the close-in wideband QRM and I hope it will improve my receiving performance a bit. (see the actual situation below just day after the QSO with Dov... :)


I was QRV daily from 20:30z on 5260 but no sigs from Dov. Even I did not hear the military "4XZ" beacon from 4X on 5159 with 3kW so it really sounded like condx were too bd. After week of trials I left for 1 week of vacation so I was not QRV.

Last nite we started again the trials and immediatelly for the first time we were lucky to make QSO.

Is it time to celebrate the DXCC #20 milestone now? Maybe a little but my target is 50 countries worked on 60m band. If it sounds easy to You guys please be mentioned that the only single channel FA (5260 +/-1.5kHz) is allowed for us in OK land and even I am CW only operator so all of my QSOs are done using CW on my side... So many cross channels and cross modes QSO must be done to make new country over here. Still sounds easy? ...no it is not.

Thank You Dov for Your effort and time You spent with me to make QSO on 60m band and hope to hear You soon again somewhere on CW

73 - Petr, OK1RP

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

VP9 - DXCC #19 on 60m

Hi all,

my new one #19 on 60m band is VP9 > my god...!

"OK Petr, Good QSO. Noise on your freq up to 9 at times but your sig had very little QSB. A good start to a new month!! 73 Ed"

I would like to thank to Ed, VP9GE for very nice QSO finally and comment on my sigs in VP9.

In fact when I hear QRMed weak sigs from Ed, VP9GE on ch5 for the first time yesterday nite I was very dissapointed and though "no it will not be possible to work him..." suddenly. After few trials we moved to ch3 where the channel seemed to be clean. When Ed replied to my call on ch3 then I was really surprised! Ed's sigs was not so strong but very nice to copy as the channel was really clean and quiet at that moment. In the end of short QSO Ed's sigs peaked to 55 with nice readability. All of the time I used my receiving loop with BPF and preamp. Also the sunset period helped to us a lot I guess.

BTW When I switched back to TX antenna > nothing except the noise and QRM over S8! So only thanks to W2PM's RX loop I was able to hear Ed, VP9GE last nite! I am recommending to make one. It cost almost nothing (except work...) and it can improve Your receiving capability and help in situation like it was last nite!

Again thank You Ed for Your effort to make QSO and for giving me new one #19 on 60m!

My best regards,
73 - Petr, OK1RP

Monday, August 1, 2011

60m - Tropical band in A9

Hi all,

Dave, A92IO (EI3IO) is very active on 5 MHz from Bahrain. Information provided by Dave about the allocations are as follows:

Amateur stations are authorized to use two specific 3.0 kHz channel assignments with centre frequencies 5 373 kHz and 5 405 kHz. The corresponding Upper Side Band (USB) carrier frequencies are 5 371.5 kHz and 5 403.5 kHz. These frequencies are assigned to the amateur service on a secondary non interference basis for propagation experiments. Such stations shall not cause harmful interference to stations of other administrations operating in accordance with the ITU Radio Regulations. The maximum mean power of any amateur station shall not exceed 27 dBW (500 Watts).

No special permits are required and all modes permitted. It is available to all General class Bahraini licensees (i.e. all 'A9' prefixes)

I am trying to catch Dave as I really want to have A9 on 60m band but FE/5 channel is QRMed quite often over here in OK land. I will need to improve my RX antennas I guess.

Good luck to all,

73 - Petr, OK1RP

Sunday, July 31, 2011

60m RSBEV vertical by Lou, KE4UYP

60m band RSBEV vertical antenna


(Orig. design and article by Lou, KE4UYP)


A 60m full-size elevated ground radial vertical would be 52 feet high with the ground radials at 8ft. above ground. It would require a square piece of land 104 feet by 104 feet on the ground. It also would have a limited range of take off angles. This greatly reduces its performance under 1000 miles.

Here is a radical new design for a wire vertical antenna it is a true self-contained vertical that is reduced size but still has high performance. At a top height of 29ft. 2"3/4 . A horizontal space at the top of 24ft. 9"1/2 and 20ft 2"1/2 by 26ft 2"1/2 at the bottom. My RSBEV's (Reduced Size Broad Elevation Verticals) have an unusually broad elevation pattern this improves short range communication quite dramatically. The elevation pattern covers from 9.8 degrees to 69.6 degrees minus 3 dB that is a total range of 59.8 degrees.

Compare that to the 60m full-size elevated ground radial vertical that only covers from 8.3 degrees to 47.3 degrees for a total range of 39.0 degrees.

But what about the gain difference well the elevated ground radial vertical
over average ground has 0.19 DBi at 25 degrees at 10 degrees it is -1.63 DBi. The RSBEV has -0.75 DBi at 30 degrees that is only 0.94 DB less than the elevated ground radial vertical. At 10 degrees it is -3.75 DBi just 2.12 DBi less.

Now for the icing on the cake the RSBEV is a direct 50 ohm coax fed antenna, with a usable band width of more than 200khz.

There is always room for improvement wire verticals have been around for decades but I believe my new design is a improvement over traditional monopole verticals.


29ft. 2"3/4 High at top
Wire 1 This Wire go's from 29ft.2"3/4 down to 5ft.1" above ground
Wire 2=20ft 2"1/2 This Wire go's from 5ft.1" down to 3ft. above ground
Wire 3&5=26ft 2"1/2 Stays at 3ft. above ground
Wire 4=24ft. 9"1/2


Lou, KE4UYP


As it is very interesting design I am posting it over here with permission of Lou, KE4UYP. It will be very useful to know if somebody tried it and with which results...


More information You can find here:
http://ke4uyp.tripod.com/60m_RSBEV_Antenna.html

73 - Petr, OK1RP

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Berlenga Island on 60m by Jose, CT1EEB

Berlenga Island 60m activity

Posted by: Jose E. Ribeiro Sa, CT1EEB
Mon Jul 25, 2011 12:30 pm (PDT)

A Team of hams, CT1BOL, CT1DZR, CT1EAV, CT1EEB, CT1ENV, CT1FFU, CT1FJL, CT1HXB and CT1IZW will be active from the 29th to the 31st of July from Berlenga Island, IOTA EU-040 (with an entry in the IOTA Contest) using the callsign CR5B. Outside the contest operators will use their own callsigns /P on all bands including the new 60m band.

I remind you that the authorized 60m band frequencies in Portugal are:

5288,5 SSB + CW
5371,5 SSB + CW
5403,5 SSB + CW

QSL portable callsigns to the home calls.
CR5B via CT1BOL.

73 Jose CT1EEB

I hope that also QSX operation with listenning down on FA channel (5260) will be provided by operators to allow us (OK, OM and other countries) work them on 60m band too.

73 - Petr, OK1RP

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

60m - Tropical band in OM

Hi all,

good news coming to all of us from Slovakia about the 60m band operation.

In Slovakia just one channel (FA) is allowed for experimental purposes.
All OM stations can use the band from 5258.5 to 5261.5 MHz which is as same as the band allocation in Czech Republic. The allowed power is max. 100 W ERP and licences are valid for 1 year as same as in OK land.

It seems that first permitted and active on the band was Jaro, OM1II.

Active callsigns from last few weeks are:
OM1II
OM3CU
OM5NA
OM8ON
OM4DX

Good luck to all with hunting new DXCC from SLovakia and CU on the air...

73 - Petr, OK1RP

Sunday, July 17, 2011

60m band CODAR - update 17/7/2011

Hello all,

I am happy to forward the great news as follows...

According to:


http://cordc.ucsd.edu/projects/mapping/maps/


the final CODAR was moved from 60M today !


We should all get on channel 4 tonight and celebrate !


Thanks to everyone that sent in reports and helped get this removed.


Richard - K6RBS

---------

Howdy all,

As of today Rutgers University CODAR team has moved all eight of their sites from 5.375 MHz which was causing us the 60 Meter interference, to 4.900 MHz thus solving the problem.

A hearty thanks to Josh Kohut, Ethan Handel and the rest of the Rutgers CODAR team for their support and cooperation in testing and taking action to solve our 60 Meter interference problem.

Thank you Gentlemen !

An equally hearty thanks goes to everyone who participated in the monitoring, data gathering and reporting that led to the success of this effort.

At the beginning of this effort I received reports from Costa Rica, Hawaii, Alaska, Wake Island and other distant locations. I'm not sure if the problem has been solved at these locations since I didn't receive monitoring information during our test periods but if you are still plagued by CODAR on 60 Meters you might try contacting the Ocean Sciences department of your local University and discuss the problem with them.

If the CODAR is no longer causing interference at the distant locations then that is evidence of the phenomena propagation characteristics on 60 Meters which we noted during our test periods.

73 & the best of 60 Meter DX to all of you.

Dan Welch - W6DFW
Official Observer Coordinator
ARRL Orange Section
Email: arrl.ooc@apex-scientific.com
============================================


I would like to send big thanks to all who contributed to solve the problem and decreassed the QRM on the 60m band, specially to:

Dan Welch - W6DFW,
Richard - K6RBS,


Thank You guys - You made great job for all of us !


73 - Petr, OK1RP

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Worldwide 60 m frequency chart_v10.pdf by Tom, LA4LN

Hi,

although it is almost 1 year old and not updated I am posting the link for this Worldwide 60 m frequency chart_v10.pdf created by LA4LN just FYI as there are also aditional useful informations below the table.

Worldwide_60m_frequency_chart_v10.pdf

I will try to drop an email to Tom, LA4LN in order to help with updating this nice sheet.

73 - Petr, OK1RP


Icom IC-703 on 60m band by Adam, AB4OJ

Hi all,

Maybe it will help to somebody...


Icom IC-703 60m band mod

Disclaimer: Performing this mod will allow an Icom 703 to transmit outside of the Amateur bands. Perform this mod at your own risk.

Adam, AB4OJ or myself are not responsible for any rules violations or damage to your radio that may result.


Click on the link below then on images to view full-size.

http://www.ab4oj.com/icom/ic703/ic703_60m.pdf


73 - Petr, OK1RP

60m - Tropical band in CT - updated 5/7/2011

Hi all,

there I am posting FYI the latest update about the 60m band operation allowed in CT which I got from my friend Jose, CT1EEB by today.

Hi Petr,
I think you would like to know that we have been authorized for 3rd frequency in the 60m band, 5288,5 kHz.
So now we have 3 frequencies:

5288,5 kHz both SSB and CW
5371,5 kHz both SSB and CW
5403,5 kHz both SSB and CW

I have initially requested Your authorized frequency of 5258,5 kHz but it was denied as ANACOM says there is too close to frequency used by the military.

Last one I worked in 60m, was OM, I do have a firsts list but it's not been updated latelly, I have to work on it, Hi!
You can find it at: http://www.qsl.net/ct1eeb/60m/60m.htm

73 Jose CT1EEB

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

60m band CODAR test

The attached email is from Dan Welch - W6DFW, Official Observer Coordinator ARRL, Orange Section. PLEASE email Dan directly with your report at arrl.ooc@apex-scientific.com

73 - Petr, OK1RP

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello,

As I believe everyone knows, the June 22 CODAR test was plagued by an Internet problem which prevented control of two CODAR sites. Now that all sites are back on-line we are going to re-run the tests this Wednesday, June 29, 2011. Test times will again be 8 P.M. EDT - 00:00z and repeated at 8 P.M. PDT - 03:00z. Your cooperation in monitoring and reporting this test again for the second time is important and appreciated. Should anything interfere with being able to control ALL sites I will send out an Email otherwise assume the test is still on.

73, TNX for your cooperation.
Dan Welch - W6DFW
Official Observer Coordinator ARRL Orange Section
Email: arrl.ooc@apex-scientific.com

Friday, May 6, 2011

60m band ham radio beacons

60 meters beacons

DARC beacon project

DARC.png

The Deutscher Amateur Radio Club (DARC) sponsors two beacons which transmit from Scheggerott, near Kiel (54.68750N - 9.791670E, JO44VQ). [8] These beacons are DRA5 on 5195 kHz and DK0WCY on 10144 kHz. In addition to identification and location, every 10 minutes these beacons transmit solar, geomagnetic and ionospheric bulletins. Transmissions are in Morse code (CW) for aural reception, RTTY (45 baud 170 Hz at HH+10) and PSK31 (at HH+50). [9] DK0WCY operates also a limited service beacon on 3579 kHz at 0720-0900 and 1600-1900 local time.

RSGB 5 MHz beacon project

RSGB-Logo.png

The Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) operates three radio propagation beacons on 5290 kHz, which transmit in sequence, for one minute each, every 15 minutes. The project includes GB3RAL near Didcot (51.56250N - 1.291670W, IO91IN), GB3WES in Cumbria (54.56250N - 2.6250W, IO84QN) and GB3ORK in the Orkney Islands (59.02080N - 3.208330W, IO89JA).

Beacon GB3RAL, which is located at the Rutherford-Appleton Laboratory, also transmits continuously on 28215 kHz and on a number of low VHF frequencies (40050, 50053, 60053 and 70053 kHz).[10]

ITU sponsored beacons

As part of an International Telecommunications Union-funded project, radio propagation beacons were installed by national authorities at Sveio, Norway (callsign LN2A, 59.60420N - 5.291670E) and at Darwin, Australia (callsign VL8IPS, 12.60420S - 131.29200E). The beacons operated on frequencies 5471.5 kHz, 7871.5 kHz, 10408.5 kHz, 14396.5 kHz, and 20948.5 kHz.[6] Since 2002, there have been no reception reports for these beacons and the relevant ITU web pages have been removed. [7]

HF Field-Strength measurement campaign

For a number of years, ITU-R Study Group 3 has been promoting a world-wide HF field-strength measurement campaign, the impetus for which arose from WARC HFBC-87 and the request for improved accuracy in HF propagation prediction. At that time, the Study Group recognised that significant improvements in HF propagation prediction methods needed a substantial body of new measurement data and to that end, administrations and organisations were invited to participate in the measurement campaign, either by installing suitable transmitters or by collecting long-term data from appropriate receiving systems. The campaign is specified in Recommendation ITU-R P.845 'HF field-strength measurement' and comprises a world-wide network of transmitters and receivers using coded transmissions on pre-determined frequencies.

The reasons for the campaign and the continuing need for participation in it, are underlined in Resolution ITU-R 27 (HF field-strength measurement campaign). So far, regular transmissions are being provided by the Administrations of Australia and Norway. Details of the transmitter in Norway, operated by the Norwegian Telecommunications Authority and Telenor Broadcasting, are given below:

Radio Beacon LN2A

  • Identification signal (Morse code): LN2A
  • Location: Sveio, Norway 59 deg 37 min N, 5 deg 19 min E
  • Hours of transmission: 24 hours per day
  • Assigned frequencies: 5471.225 kHz, 7871.225 kHz, 10408.225 kHz, 14396.225 kHz and 20946.225 kHz
  • Reference frequencies, corresponding to suppressed carrier frequencies when using suppressed carrier SSB techniques: 5470 kHz, 7870 kHz, 10407 kHz, 14395 kHz and 20945 kHz
  • Transmitter: ICOM IC 725 transceiver, IC-4KL PA
  • Transmitted power: approximately 1 kW on all frequencies
  • Antenna: 5 band trap vertical monopole
  • Mode: Suppressed carrier SSB, with the reference frequencies (suppressed carrier frequencies) 1225 Hz below the assigned frequencies, with the FSK "mark" 800 Hz above the reference frequency, and the FSK "space" 1650 Hz above the reference frequency.
  • Signal duration and format: as specified in Recommendation ITU-R P.845; 4 min for each frequency, 20 min for all five frequencies according to the following schedule:
Reference frequency (kHz) Minutes after each hour
14395 00 - 20 - 40
20945 04 - 24 - 44
5470 08 - 28 - 48
7870 12 - 32 - 52
10407 16 - 36 - 56

Administrations and organizations participating in the work of ITU-R are invited to consider the possibility of participating in the campaign, either through the provision of transmissions or by the collection of field strength measurement data, both in accordance with the specifications given in Recommendation ITU-R P.845. For further details on the campaign, including the availability of a suitable receiving system, please contact the ITU-R Counsellor for Study Group 3 (Dr. Kevin A. Hughes) at ITU Headquarters, in Geneva.

The Norwegian Telecommunications Authority and Telenor Broadcasting would be pleased to acknowledge reception reports of LN2A with a QSL card.

The contact address is:

Norwegian Telecommunications Authority (Att. AYO/TF)
P O Box 447 Sentrum
N-0104 Oslo
Norway


In addition to the DARC and RSBG beacon projects on 5195 and 5290 kHz (see below), Eddie Bellerby of UDXF discovered in March 2011 a new CW beacon on 5206 kHz, sending LX0HF, presumably from Luxembourg.[13] Further intelligence indicates that the beacon is operated by Philippe LX2A/LX7I of the Luxembourg Amateur Radio Society.[14] Two more european beacons are listed on 5 MHz, OV1BCN on 5290 kHz, operated by OZ1FJB and more or less experimental operation then real beacon by OK1IF on 5258.5 kHz from the Czech Republic on random basis.

----

Notes and references

  1. Andy Talbot, G4JNT: "Amateur Beacons", Radio User, ISSN 1748-8117, 3(5), pp.56-58 (May 2008). The article includes the following definition for beacons licensed in the Amateur Radio service: A station in the Amateur Service or Amateur Satellite Service that autonomously transmits in a fixed format, which may include repeated data or information, for the study of propagation, determination of frequency or bearing, or for other experimental purposes.
  2. Andy Talbot, G4JNT: "Amateur Beacons", Radio User, ISSN 1748-8117, 3(8), pp. 30-33 (August =2008)
  3. New IARU Region 2 bandplan introduced in January 2008
  4. Amateur Radio UK VHF Bandplan, Great Yarmouth Radio Club
  5. International Beacon Project by the Northern California DX Foundation (2008)
  6. HF 0-20 MHz beacons
  7. ITU Resolution ITU-R 27/1993: HF Field-strength measurement campaign (PDF)
  8. Aurora beacon DKØWCY by Deutscher Amateur-Radio-Club e.V.(DARC), 2004.
  9. Pat Hawker, G3VA: "The DK0WCY/DRA5 Propagation Beacons", Technical Topics Scrapbook - All 50 years, Radio Society of Great Britain, ISBN 9781-9050-8639-9, pp. 98 (2008)
  10. Mike Willis, G0MJW: "The GB3RAL VHF Beacon cluster", RadCom, 84(04), Radio Society of Great Britain, pp. 65-59, April 2008
  11. The Four meters website: 70 MHz beacon list
  12. The Four meters website: RSGB 4m bandplan
  13. Southgate Amateur Radio Club: Luxembourg 60m beacon LX0HF
  14. Luxembourg: Une balise sur 60m LX0HF Radioamateurs-Online, March 11, 2011.

Callsign Frequency Locator Details
DRA5 5195.0 kHz JO44VQ DARC
LX0HF 5205.3 kHz

OK1IF 5258.5 kHz JO40HG Recording: [1]
GB3RAL 5290.0 kHz IO91IN RSGB
GB3WES 5290.0 kHz IO84QN RSGB
GB3ORK 5290.0 kHz IO89JA RSGB
OV1BCN 5290.0 kHz JO55SI Op OZ1FJB [2]