Wake atoll - 2013

Press Release #6

The Wake Atoll Commemorative DXpedition team has been approved for entry onto Wake Atoll. Our equipment is already on Wake and in safe storage awaiting our arrival. The 12-Operator team includes: Joe -AA4NN, John-K6MM, Craig-K9CT, Mike-K9NW, Ralph-K9ZO, Lou-N2TU, Jim-N9TK, Mark-NA6M, Dick-W3OA, Joe-W8GEX, Hal-W8HC, and Jerry-WB9Z. 

The plan is for the team to assemble in Hawaii on 30-October, depart 01-November, arrive on 02-November and immediately erect antennas and set-up the stations. There will be two CW and two SSB stations on the air. The CW site will be located across from the Arrivals terminal and the SSB site will be housed in a "beach house" near downtown Wake.

We are planning on being QRV 03-November through 15-November (Wake time). If there are any changes, they will be posted on our website. http://wake2013.org/pages/bandplan.html

Logs will be uploaded to ClubLog as time and internet access allows.

This is a commemorative DXpedition. Our prime objective is to honor the lives and contributions of the Forgotten 98 civilian contractors who lost their lives on Wake during WWII. Some of these men have yet to be identified. If you know any of the Forgotten 98 or their relatives, modern DNA testing may identify their remains and provide for a proper burial. Please take a moment to look through their names. http://wake2013.org/pages/forgotten98.html

Wake Atoll is an active military base and access is extremely limited. The Team is most grateful to the United States Air Force for allowing this Commemoration to take place.

Also, Team wants to thank the DX community, including generous worldwide Foundations, Clubs, Individuals, Equipment manufacturers and outlets for their outstanding support of the Wake commemorative efforts. These DXpeditions are extremely expensive and could not be accomplished without the support of the entire DX communityVisit the website to view our sponsors and make your personal donation. http://wake2013.org/pages/sponsors.html

Please note! A few other DXpeditions will be on the air during the Wake operation. To avoid the dreaded "not in the log", please be sure which DXpedition you are working! Our operators will announce the K9W callsign often to help identify your contact.

Please check our website frequently for updates. http:/wake2013.org/

And don't forget to sign our guestbook!

73,

K9W Wake Atoll Management Team


Many thanks to Joe, W8GEX for sharing it to us. I wish good luck all team members.

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

RSGB 5MHz consultation

Increased spectrum within the 5MHz band was made available to Full Licence Holders by way of new NoVs at the beginning of 2013. After 8 months of operation on the new frequencies, the RSGB is interested in users’ views on the band and any issues, both positive and negative that may have been observed. A discussion forum has been set up and all amateurs are invited to give their views. Please see www.rsgb.org/consult/5mhz.

Ivory Coast on 60m by Jan, DJ8NK

Hello,

TU5AX, TU5XV and TU5NK are the respective callsigns for Chris (F4WBN)(ex TL0A), Paul (F6EXV) and Jan (DJ8NK) for this solidarity radio operation which will take place from 17. - 30.Nov. 2013.

Activity will be on SSB, CW and RTTY, from 160 to 6m. QSL to home calls, via bureau, direct or OQRS (Clublog).

The 3 operators will support the clubstation TU2CI and will leave equipment behind (radios and antennas), install it and train the local operators to use it, in order to revive the Abidjan radio club, and assist some local hams who have strongly suffered from the civil war that hit the country some time ago.

Tks Paul/F6EXV

Thanks to Paul, F6EXV and all guys for activity. Its not so far from EU so it should not be big issue but maybe challenge from USA. 

I will be happy for Your reports by email w/comments about Your DX hunting to Africa...

73 - Petr, OK1RP

.../-.-

60m band in 4X - update by Dov, 4Z4DX, Amos, 4Z1AB and Isaac, 4Z1TL

Hello,

Here's a summary of the information that Amos, 4Z1AB, the IARC - Israel Amateur Radio Club (national society) President has given:

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The Israeli regulator - the Ministry of Communications - (IMOC) has decided to grant 5 MHz/60m temporary permission on an individual application basis.

8 Channels are available to General and Extra Class licence holders.

The channels are as per the list below (the number represents USB  dial frequency) -for CW 1.5 kHz above. There is some flexibility on Digi modes with 2500 Hz out of the 3kHz channel width. No split operation

 
Channel 1    5298.5    USB CW RTTY PSK

Channel 2    5330.5    USB CW
Channel 3    5357.0    RTTY PSK CW USB
Channel 4    5366.5    USB CW RTTY PSK

Channel 5    5371.5    USB

Channel 6    5398.5    CW USB RTTY PSK
Channel 7    5403.5    USB RTTY PSK CW
Channel 8    5407.0    USB RTTY PSK CW

Power - 100W PEP measured at the TX (not EIRP)

The IARC's main goal is as always to experiment for local  short range emergency communication readiness and the long distance activity is a side product of this.

The validity is from application approval date until mid March 2014 but it appears this could be extended. Operation is on a secondary status of course and was coordinated with the spectrum committee of the IMOC representing some other relevant organizations.

The IARC have had some flexibility in the choice of frequencies and in doing so have endeavoured to coordinate these with 5 MHz/60m amateur frequencies and activities already in existence. It is hoped that as IMOC gain confidence in 5 MHz/60m activity by Israeli amateurs as Secondary status users, then further frequencies may be made available Amos, 4Z1AB, the President of the Israel Amateur Radio Club concluded his news by saying "We are all excited to work 60 metres with the ham community - wishing all 73 and 'Shalom' from the Holy Land"

Many thanks for Paul, G4MWO for his effort in order to share all of the important informations about 60m band activity > thanks to his 5MHz Newsletter! 
I hope that we will have chance to work friends from 4X quite soon and often on 60m band. 

73 - Petr, OK1RP  

Joe's, W8GEX email news on 60m

Hello,

there I am posting the emailed news from Joe, W8GEX...

Chris ZS6EZ will be on again tonight and tomorrow night at about 0400z. He'll TX on 5.260 and listen on 5.403.5

Last night he was happy to work Bernard CT7/F7IE for # 16. Remember it's winter time in South Africa and the best time for Chris to operate the 60 meter band. Tomorrow night will be his last night of getting up early to be on the band. He reported: I've been calling CQ every day this week at sunrise. Not a single QSO so far! I think I'll sleep in next week. Regards Chris, ZS6EZ 

Larry K5RK reported - 5W1SA worked at 0836 UTC today (13 June) on 5405 kHz. He was also spotted the previous day by W2RS at about the same time. Atsu has a good signal into SE Texas and was calling CQ off and on for at least a half hour with few takers.QSL via JA1DXA.73 de Larry K5RK

Thank You to Joe for his excellent effort!

73 - Petr, OK1RP

CT7 by Bernard, F9IE on 60m

Hello,

I am forwarding the message which is going thru different channels about activity from CT7 on 60m.

Bernard F9IE is now active as CT7 from Algarve in IM67GE / Portugal.
 
He has worked a few UK stations already and he is running 100 watts to a dipole inverted Vee antenna with apex 6 / 7m. He will be there for about 2 weeks and he is using common frequencies:

ssb     5403.5  and   5371.5
cw      5405     and   5373

Good luck ,

73 - Petr, OK1RP

South African regulator ICASA approves two 5 MHz frequencies !

Hello,

today I received very good news from my friend Paul, G4MWO about the 60m band approval from SARL in South Africa as follows:

Hi All,

You may be interested to hear that South Africa is our latest entrant onto 5 MHz. As this info has been embargoed (naturally) until its release first to all SA radio amateurs via the SARL News system this Sunday, 14th April, it is only now it can be made public.

From the information I have currently available, I am led to believe that the two frequencies allocated are 5250 and 5260 kHz, but at present I am awaiting further details on which channels are to be used for which purpose, power, bandwidth, modes etc.

ICASA (The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa) is the SA equivalent of our Ofcom.

The SARL (South African Radio League) News Bulletin for Sunday 14th April 2013 reads as follows:

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"The ICASA Council has last week approved two 5 MHz frequencies for the South African Radio League to carry out propagation research. This is in response to the SARL's application for two channels to collect information about countrywide propagation conditions on 5 MHz. The SARL expects the licenses to be issued next week.

The SARL applied for access to 5 MHz in 2010, 2011 and again in 2012. The licences are being issued for an 8-month period at a license fee of R2 900. At the end of the period, the SARL can apply for an extension.

In the application, the SARL told ICASA that while the propagation of signals are fairly well known for high power broadcasting, there is still quite a lot that can be learned by radio amateurs, especially on "inland" work away from the coastline.

Some years ago the then SOEKOR observed that on the Cape South-coast seawards of Mossel Bay in the late afternoon and early evenings 5 MHz will provide E-layer propagation for about an hour or two. This also occurred "up and down" the Outeniqua coastline. Propagation modelling showed that the E-layer at those times was between 110 and 80 km above the Earth, much lower than the F layer. As the signal path was much shorter, very strong signals could be obtained with relatively low ERP (effective radiated power). It would be interesting to see how far and wide this propagation mode does actually occur in South Africa.

The SARL is in the process of creating a special webpage for the project. It is planned to schedule transmissions on one channel from various parts of South Africa at various times and radio amateurs will be requested to send in reception reports. The SARL is looking for volunteers in all parts of South Africa to transmit Amateur Radio Today at various times. If you like to be a transmitting station, please send your details to artoday@sarl.org.za.

The second channel will be available for individual QSOs. To use the 5 MHz band, it will be required to register with the SARL. Details will be available on the web by next weekend.

There is an item on the WRC15 agenda requesting a permanent secondary allocation for amateur radio in the 5 MHz band. The SARL hopes through its propagation research project to contribute to the body of knowledge and to lobby for support by the delegations of South African, SADC and African Union countries to support the call for the new allocation."

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More details as they become available
Cheers
Paul G4MWO, Editor, The 5 MHz Newsletter

Thanks to Paul for this information. It sounds like another rational decission is coming from South Africa contrary to some of the Eastern block countries...

There is link for regulator ICASA:

https://www.icasa.org.za/

Although it is the 8 months period application approval only > it can be extended so it is good starting point I guess.

So we can expect ham radio friends from South Africa on two channels (probably 5250kHz, 5260kHz) soon.

I wish to all of You good luck on 60m band.

73 - Petr, OK1RP