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
.../-.-