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.


Sunday, December 29, 2013

Useful "related 60m links" to remember

The most important and most useful link is to the
famous 60m band web site managed by Dan, K3ZXl here

http://www.60metersonline.net/

You can find over here complete information about the
60m band activity, allocations, countries lists, scores
as same as other interesting news.

The other related links You can find in following list:

60m band activity
http://www.reversebeacon.net/dxsd1/dxsd1.php?f=163


UK 60m Band Utilization
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/wadei/UK_60m_band_utilization.htm


A place for seeking skeds on 60M any mode
http://www.obriensweb.com/sked/index.php?board=60meter


http://hflink.com/5mhz/
http://bandplans.com/index.php?band=60
http://www.mail-archive.com/dx-chat@njdxa.org/msg01513.html
http://rental-shack.com/t80w/licensing_information_and_60m_band_information.html
http://www.qsl.net/ok1if/5mhz/5mhz.htm
http://ok1if.c-a-v.com/5MHzOK/5mhz_pokusy.html
http://www.solen.info/solar/
http://www.dxsummit.fi/CustomFilter.aspx?customCount=50&customRange=5100
http://dxworld.com/60mlog.html
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/60meter/
http://147.231.47.3/latestFrames.htm
http://sites.google.com/site/ok1has/pasmo-60-m
http://www.iaru-r1.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=183&Itemid=136
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/60-meter_band
http://folk.uio.no/tomvs/la4ln/Worldwide%2060%20m%20frequency%20chart_v10.pdf
http://www.dxwatch.com/dxsd1.php?f=5
http://www.netronic.co.uk/mm1rah/freqs.htm
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ukfivemegs
http://hamspots.net/60/
 

http://hflink.net/60meters
http://www.amateurradiotoday.com/forum
http://www.davesergeant.com/fivemegs/fivemegs.htm

Friday, December 27, 2013

Studies of Ionograms show supremacy of the 5MHz band

ICASA has extended the SARL 5 MHz license till the end of January 2014. This follows SARL application for ICASA to review the license and grant facilities up to at least the start of the WRC 2015. Currently  the SARL holds a pilot license for 5 250 and 5 260 kHz. While the SARL applied for extension of the license for a further period it also appealed to the Chairperson of ICASA, Dr Stephen Mnube, to consider issuing the SARL with a long term authority to use these two frequencies to continue propagation research till at least the WRX15 conference.

The SARL is currently analysing the results of the special weekend 5 MHz activity event held in early November. The winner of the book prize is Barry Newton ZS2NF of Uniondale.

 

STUDIES OF IONOGRAMS SHOW SUPREMACY OF THE 5 MHZ BAND


The ionograms generated by the South African ionosonde network clearly illustrate the supremacy of the 5 MHz band for short range, near vertical incidence  skywave (NVIS) communications under certain conditions. These typically happens during the morning and late afternoon when the 7 MHz band does not support short range, sky wave communications and the 3.5 and 1.8 MHz bands suffer from high noise levels. 
During the middle of the day the 7 MHz (and 10 MHz during high solar activity) band is typically the most effective medium for short range, sky wave communications.

Permanent access to the 5 MHz band will ensure that the amateur radio community can efficiently contribute to emergencies requiring short distance communications beyond line-of-sight as typically required in hilly and mountainous terrain.

The South African ionosonde network is unique in Africa and place South African radio amateurs in the very fortunate position to monitor reigning, short range propagation conditions and to improve their skills and experience accordingly.

An article by Hannes Coetzee illustrated with ionograms is available for download  here

Sunday, December 22, 2013

New WebSDR receiver available on 60m by Salvador, C31CT

Hello,

today I found the comment from Dezo, OM5NA about the WebSDR receiver with 60m band information coming from Salvador, C31CT as follows:

Salvador, C31CT informed me that since 22th December the Ardam ham radio club WebSDR receiver, at Ordino, Principality of Andorra was extended by another receiver monitoring the 60m band. Currently there are 4 FunCubeDonglePro+ receivers on 20m, 40m, 60m and 80m, connected to a dipole antenna direction East/West. This WebSDR is aviable at:

http://ardam-andorra.no-ip.org:8901/

TNX Salvador, C31CT for that information.

73, Dezider OM5NA


Thank You to both for this news. It can be helpful in order to check the propagation, band opening, checking if channels are occupied etc.

best regards,

73 - Petr, OK1RP
.../-.-

Saturday, December 21, 2013

EA - Spain on 60m by Javier, EA7OP - updated

Hello all,

as Javier, EA7OP informed the very good news is coming

from Spain...

The SETSI allowed EAs to operate on 60m band from Jan - July 2014

on channel basis. 

Allowed channels [kHz]:

5268
5295
5313
5382
5430
5439

The bandwidth to be used is 3kHz. 

Power output 100W. Modes CW/SSB. 

So it´s great news and we will be happy

to meet EAs on 60m band in 2014. 

Updated 23-Dec-2013:

Thanks to great job of Paul, G4MWO and his confirmation gotten from guys at URE the Spanish national society its confirmed that posted new channels are CENTRE - i.e USB dial frequencies are 1.5 kHz below the stated frequencies. 
 
CENTRE(CW)                USB DIAL
 
5268.0                    5266.5
5295.0                    5293.5
5313.0                    5311.5
5382.0                    5380.5
5430.0                    5428.5
5439.0                    5437.5
 
Split operation allowance is not confirmed yet. 

Many thanks to Paul as same as URE guys!


73 - Petr, OK1RP

.../-.-