Hi All,

The German telecoms regulator, BNetzA, has enabled access to the new WRC-15 60m Amateur Allocation to all German Class ‘A’ licensees as of 20^th December 2016.

The allocation is from 5351.5 to 5366.5 kHz on a Secondary basis with a maximum power of 15W EIRP and a maximum bandwidth of 2.7 kHz.

All modes are permitted and the German national amateur radio society, DARC, recommends the use of USB and the IARU Region 1 provisional bandplan for 60m.

BNetzA Notification No. 1699/2016 : https://is.gd/Gunhb3

DARC 5 MHz News Item :

http://www.darc.de/der-club/referate/hf/aktuelles/

(Tnx:  BNetzA, DARC, DJ8NK, W8GEX, Paul, G4MWO)

Best regards,

73 - Petr, OK1RP

4O - Montenegro on 60m band by Ark, UA4CC

Hello all,

maybe you noticed or even worked 4O7CC on 60m band during last few days. This operation was done by Arkadiy, UA4CC from Montenegro where he got his license thanks to help from Ranko, 4O3A over there.


After the promulgation of the Declaration of Independence in the Parliament of the Republic of Montenegro on 3 June 2006, following the independence referendum held on 21 May, the Government of the Republic of Montenegro assumed the competences of defining and conducting the foreign policy of Montenegro as a subject of international law and a sovereign state. The implementation of this constitutional responsibility was vested in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which was given the task of defining the foreign policy priorities and activities needed for their implementation. These activities are pursued in close cooperation with other state administration authorities, the President, the Speaker of the Parliament, and other relevant stakeholders.^[32]

Integration into the European Union is Montenegro's strategic goal. This process will remain in the focus of Montenegrin foreign policy in the short term. The second strategic and equally important goal, but one attainable in a shorter time span, is joining NATO, which would guarantee stability and security for pursuing other strategic goals. Montenegro believes NATO integration would speed up EU integration.^[32]

Although it only borders Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, Serbia and Croatia, Montenegro also counts former Yugoslav republics Macedonia and Slovenia as its neighbouring countries, for historical and regional reasons, as well as the neighbours of former Yugoslavia: Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and Greece.

If you are not sure that you are in log then check it here:
https://secure.clublog.org/logsearch/4O7CC

As I was informed by Ark, UA4CC he will be in Montenegro again from 4th January 2017 and he will stay here for 10 days.

So make the note into your calendar if you missed him as same as me last days on 60m.

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

VP5 on 60m band by Dave, W5CW

Hi all,

"telegraph news" coming from Dave, W5CW...

"I have been listening and calling most every evening and have not worked many stations on 60 meters. I arrived here at VP5 on Nov 21 and return home to Oklahoma next Tuesday. I will continue to check and call CQ occasionally each night beginning tonight around 00:30UTC each evening until I take the station down on Monday evening. I will be on 5405 CW and/or 5373 CW. 

 

Thanks Dave, VP5/W5CW"

Many thanks to Joe, W8GEX for sharing the info with us.

73 - Petr, OK1RP

.../-.-

OH - Finland on 60m band by Jari, OH2BU (aka OH2P)

Hi all,

Jari, OH2BU ( aka OH2P on 60 m) informs us that:

 

“On Friday Oct. 28 our PTT announced that all OH stations will get permission to use 5351.5 – 5366.5 kHz starting Jan. 1st 2017 with

15 W eirp.

The special licenses which now are valid for maximum of five years will continue to be valid till the end of each license.”

SRAL ( Finnish national amateur radio society ) 60m News Page :

http://www.sral.fi/article.php?id=2458

As the Finland has not 60m band allocation arranged until now it is good progress at least.

(Many thanks for Paul, G4MWO and Jari, OH2BU for info)

73 - Petr, OK1RP

.../-.-

CT - Portugal on 60m by Jose, CT1EEB

Hello all,

Portuguese 5 MHz prime mover Jose, CT1EEB, reports on changes to the 60m allocation in Portugal. These include some of the existing channels, plus the new WRC15 allocation!

 

“Just received my 60m band license renewal from ANACOM . I am the first station in CT1 to be allowed to use the new WRC-15 60m. frequencies. I have been authorized:

 

5371.5 kHz A1A and J3E

5403.5 kHz A1A and J3E

5351.5 kHz to 5366.5 kHz A1A and J3E (the new WRC-15 frequencies).

 

No power limit.

 

73  Jose  CT1EEB”

It is very important to notice that ANACOM understood well the situation on 60m band worldwide and preliminary WRC-15 band plan for those countries where 60m band allocation was not arranged until now.

ANACOM did not revoked the current channels in licenses and just extended it for the new WRC-15 band.

Also the unlimited power indicates that Portugal is on the right way!

(Many thanks for Paul, G4MWO and Jose, CT1EEB for info)

best regards,

73 - Petr, OK1RP

.../-.-

Cuba Active (regularly) on 60m (55m band to us) by Pavel, CO7WT

"Hi OMs.

Cuba has an assignation in the "60m" band (that our regulatory agency call it "55m band") and it was mostly empty spectrum, until now.

A group of Cuban hams are activating the band between 1700 to 2100 local (2100z to 0100z) every day possible in a informal way, we are talking about antennas/rigs/propagation/arduino/etc
(In Spanish but we can speak in english too).

We have a continuous segment between 5418 to 5430 Khz and we are using 5425 Khz USB for this informal net.

This initiative was an idea of Josue CO7RR and backed up by me (Pavel, CO7WT) as we are kind of network controllers for this experiment; since last week we have summed about 12 Cuban stations to the freq and more are interested on it.

The idea was to use the band to evaluate it for national communications in disaster situations (in the view of the recent Matthew hit), so far we have coverage for all the Cuba island just after 40m band closes for national QSOs and up to 4 hours later around 9 to 10 pm local with good to use signals (nothing big than S9+10 but quite readable ones with just S4-5 of noise floor), from this point (~9:30pm local) the propagation disappear...

That was using just regular homebred and commercial surplus radios with ~30W and 40m antennas via twin open wire feeder and Manual tuners. Of course you will hear some 100W and even 150W signals in from time to time.

Reception reports are welcomed, if you hear us and want to make a Split QSO or just report reception you can send a SMS to me (Pavel CO7WT) to my cell (+53 53 847 819) with the split details (I will TX on 5420 to not disrupt the net, and you have to send me the RX DIAL freq I have to use and the USB/LSB mode) we have a experienced CW operator on the net (CO7RR) so if you hear him and want  a CW QSO SMS me with details and I will tell him about.

73 Pavel CO7WT."
(Originaly published on 60M Yahoo Group"


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

ZS - South Africa: The ICASA frequency spectrum committee has approved 5 MHz band privileges !

Hi all,

The South African Radio League, SARL, has been in discussions with their telecom authority, ICASA, about 5 MHz band privileges.
 
They're talking about a 100 kHz wide band, with 400 watt power limit.

So far the frequency spectrum committee has approved it and now it goes to the "Operating Committee."

Continued use of 5290 kHz for the "WSPR propagation experiment" is also being considered, in addition to the expansion of a secondary allocation for 5350-5450.

http://www.sarl.org.za/

I really hope that it will be approved by ICASA "Operating Committee" soon.

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

TL - Central African Republic on 60m band

Hello,

Chris, F4WBN, is active again from Central African Republic with F9IE, TR8JLD and F5DUX in between October 19-28, 2016 as TL0A.

They are planning to operate on 80 to 6 meters (including 60m for the first time). QRV on CW, RTTY and SSB. Equipment consists of KX3 tranceivers/power amp, Spiderbeam and verticals antennas. Not connection to internet on site. QSL via F4WBN see on QRZ.com.

For the first time they were active on 60m band 22-Oct-16 in between 23:30U - 01:30U on 5405kHz CW. Unfortunately I missed them by my big mistake that night so I have to looking for them again.

TL0A Central African Republic

Christian Saint-Arroman, TL0A
Chemin de Mousteguy
64990 Urcuit
France

QSL: DIRECT ONLY

Best regards,

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

Luxembourg 60m beacon LX0HF by LX1KQ

Hi all,

today I got latest information about the LX0HF beacon on 60m band from Paul, G4MWO as it has been sent to him by Mich, LX1HQ few days ago...

"Dear Paul,

I wanted to inform you that the frequency of the beacon LX0HF was reset to 5205.25kHz.

The Luxembourg Amateur Radio Society, the RL maintain LX0HF.

Best 73 de Mich 

President of the RL 

www.rlx.lu 

--
LX1KQ
Ernzen , JN39CS

Thanks to Paul and Mich!

73 - Petr, OK1RP

.../-.-

LX - Luxembourg on 60m by Joel, LX1ER

Hello all,

good news is coming from Joel, LX1ER:

"Since today, 10th October 2016, the new 60m band is allowed to be used in Luxembourg for amateur radio use. The frequency plan of 3rd October, published in the Mémorial on 10th October, allows the use from 5351.5 to 5366.5 kHz on a secondary basis with an "Effective radiated power" of 15W.


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

YL - Latvia on 60m band

Hi all,

Radio amateurs in Latvia now have two new bands, following the introduction of their new Amateur Radio license on August 9. Access now is permitted to a new 60 meter allocation of 5351.5–5366.5kHz...

Latvian's hams are active on that band from the beginning. You can find YL2PP, YL3FW, YL2KO, YL2ON... around 5355-5360kHz.


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

CY9 - DXCC #60 on 60m band CW only...

Hi all,

after few sleepless nites which I spent on 60m band with watching the CY9C I got them 2 days ago on 5373kHz CW. It is my DXCC #60 so I can celebrate small "round" score on this band...

It was not easy as the band is really noisy during summer time with lot of storms and QRN.

I turned ON the radio around 23:30UTC as the preview activity of the CY9C team started at that time. The band was rather noisy and US stations came thru very weak.

After 1.5hrs on the air when I watched all of the channels and activities over there I got their call on 5373 at 01:00UTC. Their signal was really weak with QSB. The operator on the island Will, AA4NC is really very good! Unfortunately he was too fast this nite. His QRQ operation on CW was hard to copy due to high noise level and extraordinary QRN at my location.

I turned the receiving side to an external K9FD RX-loop with W7IUV pre-amplifier and found that it does not help so much. The band was so noisy and the s/n ratio was surprisingly not improved on this system. I noticed that the fading of the signal from CY9C coming at the different time from both antennas. So the diversity mode on my Elecraft K3 was the solution. Thanks to this feature I was able to copy their signal for longer periods.

The reply from CY9C team for my first call I catched without problem. I read my callsign and report very nice. Unfortunately the second part of QSO where they confirmed my report and ended the QSO faded down so I was not so sure if they really confirmed our QSO for few mins. When I replayed the QSO from the .mpeg file I was able to double check that it was all ok and correct.

K3 setting: dSP t3-1 / IF NAR3 / NTCH 540Hz / AGC OFF / PRE OFF / Ant beamed to 330/0 deg. / FL1 / 150Hz used.   

Thanks to Will, AA4NC and to the CY9C team for the ATNO and #60 on 60m band!


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

Another Half Wave Sloper for 60m band

Hi all,

After some time I am coming with another hint for 60m band antenna...

In general it is nothing special or unique but this kind of half wave Sloper can help to someone who has single support or enough tall tree close to house and would like to make quick and easy antenna for 60m band.

As high as possible is the key but even lower then 70ft it will work. Just the DX performace will be degraded a bit.

If you have problem with the lenght of the lower leg (45ft is a bit long) then you can fold it in 90 degs towards the support (tree or so) Just similar to the upper 20ft part on the top of the support mast or tree. The performance will be also affected but you will be able to tune it still and you are on the band!

Maybe it will help to someone to come on the 60m band and enjoy it over here.


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

St. Paul Island - CY9 on 60m band

CY9C - St. Paul Island 19 - 29 August
We plan to be partially on the air on 19 August and fully operational 20 Aug. The home page of our website has a link for those who desire to check the log. Log data will be posted LIVE. We will be using ClubLog and OQRS. Direct QSL via WA4DAN.

http://www.cy9dxpedition.com/index.html
http://www.cy9dxpedition.com/qsl-info.html

Activating 60m for the first time from St. Paul is exciting for the team.

Look for them on 5405kHz around 23:30UTC or alternatively 5373kHz and QSX down to 5366.5 etc. Follow the operator's instructions!

And, while conditions will be a challenge for 160m, the team is energized to give it a serious effort. Also, be assured we will pay attention to the long and/or difficult propagation paths on all bands when conditions are workable. We look forward to working not only the more common bands CW/SSB/RTTY, but also 6m, 2m EME and Satellite.

We appreciate the donations and support by many. Even now in these last days, support is most helpful and appreciated. Our sincere thanks to all interested and following this dxpedition. We look forward to working you.

"CY9C" DXPEDITION TEAM:
ATLANTIC COVE - OPERATION SITE (Photo Left) N0TG - RANDY - Dxpedition CO-LEADER - Waxahachie, TX
K4ZLE - JAY - Lebanon, OH
K5DHY - Bill - Murphy, TX
K8LEE - WAYNE - Lawrenceburg, IN
N8AA - JOHN - Fairfield, OH
VA3QR - PHIL - Acton, ON, Canada

NORTHEAST POINT - OPERATION SITE (Photo Left) WA4DAN - MURRAY, Dxpedition CO-LEADER - Farmville, NC
AA4NC - WILL - Apex, NC
WW2DX - LEE - Pawling, NY
W2RE - RAY- Poughquag, NY
N2IEN - PAT - Huntington, NY

Good luck,

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

New Belarus 5MHz Allocation allowed 50W !

Hi all,

from July 2016 amateurs in Belarus have had access to the new allocation from 5351.5 to 5366.5 kHz with a maximum power of 50 Watts! The SSB, CW and digital modes are permitted to Class A (top level) Licensees.


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

IARU Region 1 Agrees Provisional 5 MHz Bandplan

IARU Region 1 Agrees Provisional 5 MHz Bandplan

It is that the following pro-posed usage plan for the 5 MHz WRC15 allocation be implemented in Region 1 with a view to harmonising across all regions:

5351.5 5354 kHz 200 Hz

CW / narrow band modes

5354.0 5366 kHz 2700 Hz All modes, USB voice recommended (see diagram)

IARU Region 1 at its April 2016 Interim Conference in Vienna unanimously agreed to a paper pre-sented by the RSGB’s HF Manager, Ian Greenshields G4FSU, outlining a basic provisional Bandplan for the new 5 MHz WRC15 allocation. The plan is in tentionally very simple as the band is too narrow for any detailed planning.

5366.0 5366.5 kHz 20 Hz Weak signal narrow band modes

It is strongly recommended that frequencies within the WRC15 allocation only be used if there are no other frequencies available at 5 MHz under domestic

(ITUR article 4.4) permissions. Local nets and long rag-chew QSOs should not use the 5 MHz WRC15 allocation but should instead make use of the 3.5 MHz, 5 MHz domestic or 7 MHz bands where there is more spectrum available.

Please note the bandplan is not valid until the WRC15 frequencies are made available by your regulator.

(Tnx: Paul, G4MWO and IARU R1)
73 - Petr, OK1RP


.../-.-

The 5MHz Newsletter Edition 16 Winter-Spring 2016 by Paul, G4MWO

Hi all,

the latest 5MHz Newsletter Edition 16 Winter-Spring 2016 is released by Paul, G4MWO.

An interresting is the Honduras, HR allocation upgrade and Romania, YO band access from 8Apr2016...

It can be download here: http://tinyurl.com/zh65rb9


See you on the 60m band soon,
73 - Petr, OK1RP
.../-.-

YO - Romania on 60m by Iulian, YO3FCA

Romania Joins 5 MHz

News has broken that the Romanian telecomms regulator ANCOM has granted YO amateurs access to 5 MHz on a scheduled testing basis, starting 8 Apr 2016 for approximately a year’s duration. At the moment it is limited to the 3 kHz-wide 5363.5 - 5366.5 kHz slot, CW, PSK, RTTY and WSJT (with possibly other digimodes to follow) being permitted. Maximum  power allowed is 15W e.i.r.p. and only for those YO hams who wish to register for the testing program.

It seems that the initial testing in the YO 5MHz test allocation will take place every Thursday around 16.00 UTC, concomitantly with the YO DX QTC Net on 3750KHz. Further information can be obtained from the  website of the Romanian national amateur radio society; Federatia Romana de Radioamatorism – FRR – at

http://www.hamradio.ro/Comunicate/2004201601

(Thanks: YO3FCA/M0IPU, FRR)

LX - Luxemburg on 60m band ?

Hi,

as I realized some spots and messages on 60m chat about the activity of LX station on 60m band I decided to verify it and I am sharing the actual status over here... (tnx to Joel, LX1ER)

"Hello Peter, for the moment we are not allowed to be on 60 meters. I am receiving on 60m now only (I posted this news some days ago on chat). As I know, it is possible that we can do it in month of June this year... So see sometimes on my qrz.com page and you will see here when all is ok for 60m band operation from LX.
73 de joel LX1ER"

So avoid the pirates or fakes on 60m band with LX calls and let's wait peacefuly for the oficial permit.


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

ON - Belgium on 60m band now...

Belgium gets WRC15 5 MHz allocation

As you probably read in many bulletins the Belgian Telecoms regulator IBPT has issued a decision permitting access to the new WRC15 60m allocation for all Belgian Class A amateur licensees (also known as the HAREC licence).

The actual Belgium allocation is from 5351.5 kHz to 5366.5 kHz on a Secondary basis with a maximum power of 15W e.i.r.p.

All modes are permitted.

Links:

http://www.bipt.be/public/files/fr/21639/2016-03-01_Decision_FRERAM-15.pdf

IBPT (the regulator)

 

http://www.uba.be/fr/actualites/flash/decision-du-conseil-de-l-ibpt-du-1-mars-2016%20

UBA (national society)

 

(Tnx to Paul, G4MWO and Joe, W8GEX for their confirmation)

 

The US stations have two common channels with them:

 

5357 kHz for USB

5358.5 kHz for CW


The OK stations have two channels with them also:

 

USB Dial (kHz)

CW Dial (kHz)

Notes

 

5362.0

5363.5

Added to harmonize with UK bandplan

The UK stations covering them by these bloks:
 

5354.0 kHz	to 5358.0 kHz	(4 kHz)
5362.0 kHz	to 5374.5 kHz	(12.5 kHz)

Otherwise you will have to use cross channel operation up to channels 4,5...

 

Active stations these days on 60m band:

ON4PS ON5LGS ON7GB ON4AXU ON6ZK ON6LK ON5SE ON8KW

 

 

Best regards,

73 - Petr, OK1RP

.../-.- 

K5P - Palmyra Isl. on 60m from EU

Hi all,
 
so there is just short report about K5P on 60m band from my side...
 
After several mornings of monitoring the ch4/5 I can say that finally no beeps came thru from Jerry, WB9Z as K5P in Palmyra isl. to my QTH in Czech Republic.
 

 
Last two morning I though that some very weak sigs coming thru in between 05:00-06:00Z but finally no way to work and maybe it was more or less my wish then reality...

I found that LZ and few other EUs reported copy of K5P but I realized according to their log that no one from EU worked them on 60m band during this event.
 
I tried to use W2PM receiving loop, short - 40m long BOG as same as single element Hi-Z vertical on the garden as an external TX antenna, but no way. Even although I used K3 and tried to make all magic tricks with setting I have to honestly say, NO beeps.
 

 
If you will check the statistics of the K5P operation then you can realize that even some AF stations worked them on 60m. Great job and I am sending big congrats!

Continent By Band

Band	160	80	60	40	30	20	17	15	12	10	Total	Total %
AF	0	6	3	68	42	95	61	28	2	1	306	0.4%
AN	0	0	0	0	1	1	1	0	0	0	3	0.0%
AS	807	1260	1	3204	2556	4742	3913	4592	2899	1721	25695	34.2%
EU	21	616	0	1933	2273	2634	609	408	12	4	8510	11.3%
NA	1753	2223	192	3552	2002	8489	4487	6751	3494	1730	34673	46.1%
OC	67	168	10	558	265	712	493	610	321	257	3461	4.6%
SA	12	51	0	183	132	591	437	672	310	174	2562	3.4%
Totals	2660	4324	206	9498	7271	17264	10001	13061	7038	3887	75210

The total of 206 QSOs on 60m including the 192 NA and even 10 OC stations is an excellent job specially when we will wise up to the strong Chinese radar local QRM in their area on this band.

I would like to thanks to Jerry Rosalius, WB9Z (Crescent City, IL) for very good job and his great kind effort in order to put KH5 on 60m band as much as possible and allowing to many of DXers make new one over there!

Thank you to K5P crew for good job and hope to better condx next time from next location.


73 - Petr, OK1RP