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.


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