Sunday, March 20, 2011

BY8 EME Expedition as BJ8TA


BY8 EME Expedition as BJ8TA at NL97UT and OL14KQ
LATEST NEWS from Alan Kung, BA1DU, dated 2011-03-11: AMSAT-China is organizing some enthusiasts from its members to come to southwest China for experiments of EME and amateur satellite communications.

The expedition team will use special technology experiments amateur
radio call sign BJ8TA. BJ8TA team will be Shangri-La County(NL97ut),
Yunnan Province of China during March 20-23. it will be the first
time amateur radio EME communications in grid NL, the communications
scheme on the 6m, 2m and 70cm bands, using Yagi antennas with PA of
one kilowatt. And then, the team will move to Yunnan Astronomical
Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Chengjiang county,
it is located in grid OL14kq.

The EME communications will use eleven meters diameter radio telescope antenna with gain of 29dbi on 70cm band. operations will be from March 28 to April 1. BJ8TA team will be also active on the available satellites, including AO-51, VO-52, AO-7, AO-27, FO-29, SO-50, SO-67 etc, during the expedition period.

Read more in detail: http://www.bj8ta.com

[MMMonVHF Newsletter 2011-03-17]

3D2A qrv on 6m until April 2

Eddie, VK4AN and Kenneth, OZ1IKY are QRV as 3D2A from Nadi, IOTA OC-016, until April 2. Activity is on 160 to 6 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK. This includes entries in the BARTG RTTY contest and the upcoming CQ WPX SSB contest. QSL via VK4AN. [ARLD011 DX news]

VP5/W5CW from 23 March to 20 April qrv 6m

Dave, W5CW will be active as VP5/W5CW from 23 March to 20 April. He will operate CW and SSB on 160-6 metres, and will participate in the CQ WW WPX SSB, SP DX (2-3 April), JIDX CW (9-10 April) and YU DX (16-17 April) contests as VQ51V. QSL direct to W5CW. [TNX NG3K].
[425 DX News #1037]

Saturday, March 12, 2011

S2 qrv 6m 15-29 March

Zorro, JH1AJT and other five operators will be active from Bangladesh on 15-29 March. They plan to operate, possibly as S21YX or S21YZ, with 2-3 stations on 160-6 metres SSB, CW and RTTY. [TNX The Daily DX] [425 DX News #1036]

9N, Nepal, qrv 6m



Ernst, DK7AN (9N7AN) will be active from Dhulikhel, Nepal (NL27SP) starting on 16 March. Activity will be casual and limited to 40, 30, 20 and 17 metres. Ten days later he will be joined by Heinz-Josef DK5WL, Georg DL4SVA and Franz DL9GFB, and the group will operate CW, SSB, RTTY, and PSK31 on 160-10 metres as 9N7AN (and on 2 metres EME as 9N7WL) until 8 April. QSL 9N7AN via DL4SVA and 9N7WL via DK5WL, direct, bureau and LoTW.

Further information can be found at www.160m.de/9N7AN/index.html.

On arrival they will pick up the 6 elements for 6m antenna that Pop, YU7EF, used in his last stay there as 9N7JO.



Friday, March 11, 2011

** 50 MHz activity from V4 St.Kitts in March **

Jeff, K5MV will be active as V4/homecall from the island of St.Kitts (IOTA NA-104, Grid Loc. FK87) from 10-17 March 2011. Vacation style operating, 160 through 6 metres, SSB and CW. QSL direct only to K5MV. Logs will be uploaded to LoTW.
SOURCE: tnx to Bill/NG3K direct to MMMonVHF [MMMonVHF Newsletter 2011-03-10]

PY0F, Fernando de Noronha , qrv 6m

Marcello, PY2FN will be active from the island of Fernando de Noronha (IOTA SA-003, DIB OC-01, WLOTA 1208, Grid Loc. HI36) on 2-9 July 2011.

QRV using CW only on 80-6m, with focus on the 6 m-band. QSL via PY2FN
SOURCE: tnx to Bill/NG3K direct to MMMonVHF [MMMonVHF Newsletter 2011-03-10]

** XF2P from Isla de Lobos (NA-221) **

Ismael, XE1AY and other eleven operators will be active as XF2P from Isla de Lobos (NA-221) from 29 April to 1 May. They will operate CW, SSB and RTTY on the HF bands, 6 metres and satellite (AO27, AO51 and SO50). QSL via XE1AY. SOURCE: [TNX DX World] via 425 DX News #1035 [MMMonVHF Newsletter 2011-03-10]

** 50 MHz (EME) activity in V51 in May **

Pierre, HB9QQ, will be OK to depart for V51 May the 1st. "The first few days we will install and measure everything and then we will be active during moonset from about 20° downwards. We will
have enough power and I assume we will be able to make a number of contacts. I dont know yet whether we will have an internet access, because the shack is way out in the bush (JG88am). We will start first using may own call V5/HB9QQ (license is here) and afterward the guys
down there will use other call signes"

SOURCE: tnx to Lance, W7GJ, [MMMonVHF Newsletter 2011-03-10]

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Mis primeros qsos por F2 / TEP en este ciclo solar

Hoy he trabajado los primeros contactos en 6m por capa F2 /TEP.

14.01 gmt ZS6NK (KG46) 539 cw
14.26 gmt ZS6CCY (KG45) 52 ssb (más tarde señales de s9)
18.00 gmt ZS6WAB (KG46) -10 JT65A

Entraban bien las balizas de Z21SIX, ZS6TWB, ZD9VC (que ahora mismo sigue escuchandose 539)

Por fin se ha abierto la propagación por esta latitud :-)

73 y suerte con los dx

Saturday, March 5, 2011

** CY0 - SABLE ISLAND, NA-063, qrv HF and 50 MHz **



The well planned and two times postponed DXpedition to Sable (NA-063 / GN03-FN93) is scheduled to take place from Mar 7-15.

Even the team changed since some of the originally planned operators didn't get a holiday now. The new team includes Randy N0TG, Jeff,N1NSB, and Wayne,K8LEE. They want to run three stations simultaneously in CW, SSB and RTTY on 160m-6m. They will use a "Battle Creek Special" for 40m/80m/160m, three verticals, at least one wire antenna and a yagi. All direct and bureau QSL cards should be sent to N0TG. They ask everybody to use the "ONLINE QSL REQUEST Service" (OQRS) on their DXpedition website for direct and bureau QSLs (see "How to QSL"): http://www.CY0dxpedition.com

SOURCE: [DXNL] DXNL 1717 (Mar 2, 2011) [MMMonVHF Newsletter 2011-03-03]

** HF and 50 MHz Activity, V2, ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA, NA-100 **

Bob,W4OWY, and Mark,W9OP, will be active in CW, SSB and RTTY on 160m-6m signing V25WY and V25OP from Mar 8-18. QSLs via bureau, direct, LoTW or eQSL to their homecalls.
SOURCE: [DXNL] DXNL 1717 (Mar 2, 2011) [MMMonVHF Newsletter 2011-03-03]

(EA: NO, EA8: NO, SAm: F2/tep)

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Friday, February 25, 2011

T2GJ, Tuvalu 2011 6m EME DXpedition


Lance, W7GJ, realizará este verano otra expedición para activar un nuevo pais en 6 metros EME. Esta vez estará en Tuvalu, con el indicativo T2GJ.

La operación la realizará del 23 de Agosto al 29 de Agosto. Os recuerdo que las condiciones mínimas para poderle trabajar en EME, modo JT65A, son 1 Kw y una antena de 7 elementos, además de estar en una ubicación con muy poco ruido ambiental. El estará activo con 1 Kw y una yagi de 8 el.

Fuera de EME las probabilidades de contactarlo son practicamente nulas desde EA.

Podéis leer toda la información de la expedición y más sobre esta modalidad de rebote lunar en 6m en su pagina de internet

http://www.bigskyspaces.com/w7gj/T2GJ.htm

VU4, Islas Andaman, qrv 6m

A large group of operators from the Amateur Radio Society of India will be active as VU4PB from the Andaman Islands (AS-001) on 15-31 March. Plans are to have four stations active on 160-10 metres CW, SSB and RTTY from three locations in Port Blair. They will be qrv also on 6m. Further information and details on how contribute to this expensive project can be found at http://arsi.info/dxpeditions/vu4pb-mar-2011 [425 DX News #1034]

Liberia qrv 6m


Silvano, I2YSB and his team (Vinicio IK2CIO, Angelo IK2CKR, Marcello IK2DIA and Stefano IK2HKT) will be active from Liberia (callsign TBA) from 31 March to 13 April. They plan to operate CW, SSB and RTTY on 80-10 metres with three stations on the HF bands and one dedicated station on 6 metres. QSL direct to I2YSB.

On 6m they will have a 3 el quad and may use a acom 1000. Will run a beacon on 50.103 MHz. Further information can be found at www.i2ysb.com

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

The UK Six Metre Group Summer E’s Contest 2011



Hi All, and welcome to the launch of the UK Six Metre Group “Summer E's) contest for 2011. The rules for the 2011 event are the same as last year and are presented below as follows: The exchange and scoring more closely follows the tried and tested format as used in the more familiar VHF contests in Europe, and will be compatible with the more well known logging software packages. I have still included membership numbers, but as a multiplier this year as I felt that we need to encourage more of our members to take part. Members please get on during the contest and give away some points; you could make a real difference to the overall scores. We hope you enjoy this year's contest and I we forward to hearing you on the “magic band”.

The contest will take place over the weekend of 4th-5th June 2011. Starting and ending at 1300 Z (ie. 24 hours)
The sections are:
  1. Single Operator (fixed permanent station address)
  2. Single Operator (both portable and mobile)
  3. Multi-operator (both fixed and portable)
  4. A 6 hour fixed**
  5. A 6 hour portable**
  6. Qrp 5 watts max (both Phone and CW)
  7. We welcome logs from short wave listeners who will be acknowledged
** Stations may only operate for a maximum of 6 hours. Entrants may choose between any continuous 6 hour period in which to operate (e.g. 1500-2100, or 1917-0117) or alternatively split the 6 hour period into two segments separated by at least 1 hour off time . If entering this section contest exchanges are not allowed outside the chosen 6 hour period. Serial numbers must start at 001 for this 6 hour period, and you cannot enter both this section and the full contest.

The scoring for the contest will be as follows:
1 point per Km and a weighting factor of 500 will be applied to each multiplier; score to be calculated as follows:

Total Points + (Total members x 500) + (Total DXCC x 500) + (Total Locator Squares x 500).

For example, a station with total of 145000 Km, 55 members, 34 DXCC and 120 Loc squares
Score = 145000 + (55 x 500) + (34 x 500) + (120 x 500)

Total Claimed Score = 249,500

Exchange will be RST, Serial number, Full Locator (6 figure eg IO81WX) and Membership Number if available (compulsory if a member, or if one of a multi operator station is a member).

The Rules:
  1. Use of the DX cluster and chat/forums is permitted, however, 'self-spotting' to solicit contacts during the contest is not allowed.
  2. It's not allowed to make contest QSO’s on active or passive reflectors (repeaters or EME).
  3. Meteor scatter or digital modes are allowed as long as all details are exchanged this way.
  4. Multi-op stations may use a group membership number (if any) or the membership number of one of the operators. (See UKSMG Membership number rule above)
  5. If any member of a participating station is a member of UKSMG, then a membership number must be included as part of the exchange.
  6. All licence conditions must be observed.
  7. QSO's within your own Continent must be outside the DX Window 50.100-50.130 MHz.
    Logs (electronic) must be in a legible format (ADI or plain text only).
  8. Logs (both electronic and paper based) must include a summary sheet, (Claimed Score, DXCC, Locators worked, and a list of Membership Numbers worked).
  9. Logs must include a declaration that the Rules (in your country) have been adhered to and I agree that the judges decision is final. (entries received without both will be rejected).
  10. QRP entries must declare the power used during the contest is 5Watts MAXIMUM
    Entries.

Entries by email are much preferred - please send your entry by 1st July 2011 to:

contest@uksmg.org (Please use UKSMG and your call-sign in the email title).

Entries in EDI, ADIF, Cabrillo are very much preferred. An Excel CSV file is not a preferred option but will be accepted if absolutely necessary. Anyone considering forwarding a paper log, please email the contest manager first. Paper logs will only be accepted in extreme circumstances and by prior arrangement. Properly formatted electronic logs will allow the contest manager to turn around the results very swiftly. Almost all delays are caused by non standard log formats and paper log entries.

Your entry will be acknowledged by email - if you don't get an acknowledgement within 2 days of sending your entry, please re-send.

Please indicate which section you're entering, with a list of operators/call-signs.
ALL entries must arrive by 1st July 2011.
Good Luck in the contest

http://uksmg.org/page.php?5

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Preguntas y respuestas

Algunos amigos radioaficionados han visto el blog dedicado a los 6 metros y me han preguntado que tal es la banda y cómo funciona. Si tenéis consultas o dudas hacedmelas llegar e intentaré contestarlas en el blog. También podéis dejar vuestros comentarios en el mismo blog.

Transcribo aquí la respuesta a uno de los correos recibidos desde EA8:

"Pues es una banda muy interesante. Es muy dependiente del ciclo solar. En su máximo permite hace contactos a grandes distancias como los 10 metros, pero un poco más difícil. En el mínimo del ciclo solar solo se puede trabajar en los meses de Abril a Agosto usando la capa E, las esporádicas, como en 144 MHz, pero fácilmente se puede llegar a 6000 Km por multi salto, lo que te permite trabajar Caribe, toda EU, etc.

Toda la actividad es en SSB o en CW, también hay actividad en modalidades digitales, especialmente jt6m usando meteoritos.

Ahora mismo estamos en fase de subida hasta el maximo del ciclo solar que será en el año 2013. Esta semana varios EA8 han trabajado estaciones de Brasil. Ahora mismo parece que hay condiciones allí. Si miras el cluster http://www.dxsummit.fi/CustomFilter.aspx?customCount=50&customRange=50 veras que está entrando ZD8 y ZD7 justo ahora. Posiblemente en 1 hora puedas escuchar PYs.

EA8 es una zona priviliegiada para la radio y también para los 6 m . Espero que disfrutes de esta banda.

Te recomiendo visitar la web del UKSMG UK six meters group, donde hay varias explicaciones de cómo funciona la propagación en 6m y cómo operar y el plan de banda.

http://uksmg.org/news.php

Hay tambien un Chat donde la mayoría de gente activa está para citas, saber cómo está la propagación, etc. Normalmente estoy conectado siempre que puedo estar qrv.

http://www.on4kst.com/

Repito, no es una banda para llamar y que te contesten a cualquier hora. Hay que aprender cómo funciona escuchando mucho. Los links que te paso son los mejores para estar al tanto de qué hay. Tampoco hay software para predecir aperturas. Normalmente yo uso la pagina http://dx.qsl.net/propagation/ para ver si puede llegar propagación en capa F, pero no sirve para las esporádicas. Para ello lo único que se puede hacer es vigilar el cluster o el Chat, balizas, etc."


Guantanamo qrv 6m


Varios operadores planean estar activos desde Guantánamo del 22 de febrero al 8 de marzo, KG4WV, KG4SS, KG4KL y KG4AS estarán activos de 160-6M incluyendo los 60 mts. Operarán en SSB, CW, RTTY, AM, FM, SSTV, PSK--todos. QSLs, KG4WV vía W4WV; KG4SS vía K4MIL; KG4KL vía KN4KL; y KG4AS vía N4SIA.
[info blog EA1CS]

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Dxpedition to Southern Sudan in July

The Intrepid-DX Group and the DX Friends have combined efforts to announce our next DXpedition, to the newly created country of Southern Sudan, to take place after July 9th 2011.

The Intrepid-DX Group is the group which brought you the 2010 YI9PSE, IRAQ DXpedition. The DX Friends have brought you the 2006 SØ1R DXpedition to Western Sahara, the 2008 DXpedition to Rwanda as 9XØR, the 2009 DXpedition to Western Sahara as SØ4R, the 2010 DXpedition to Palestine as E4X and the 2010 DXpedition to San Marino as T7ØA.
Once again, ICOM America has agreed to be Global Radio Sponsor, while ACOM-K1LZ has agreed to provide the venerable ACOM amplifiers for this operation.

It is hoped that the callsign STØDX will be issued this next week following our meeting with the Government of Southern Sudan Mission in America.

As with previous DXpeditions, this will be a major effort, with a target of more than 150,000 QSOs. There will be up to ten stations on the air, using amplifiers along with high performance beams and vertical dipole arrays, 24 hours a day, for almost three weeks.
Our primary objective is to activate Southern Sudan with a view to giving as many DXers as possible a first contact with this new DXCC entity and, as a secondary objective, to give as many band-slots as possible.

Thank you,The Intrepid-DX Group and The DX Friends.

More info http://www.dxfriends.com/SouthernSudan2011/news.php
50 MHz information and operating tips
* The 6 metre band will be included in this operation. Although the dates are not at the very peak of the Sporadic E season we think it is worthwhile making the effort, in spite of the long distance to Europe, Asia and North America.
* We will use a 7 element Yagi plus a kW. A second beam may be used for monitoring purposes.
* We plan to use the frequency 50.103 for both CW and SSB, although it may be changed, depending on local noise/birdies. Split operation will be used when needed.
* The main mode will be CW. If band conditions permit, SSB will be used to gain a higher QSO rate. Please do not ask for mode changing.
* Please avoid QSO duplication, give others a chance. Logs will be uploaded twice a day to our website.
* Whenever it's possible, and while the band appears closed, the station will be beaconing on the same frequency. If you hear it, feel free to send a text (SMS) saying your grid locator and report only. Our phone number will be announced.
* Our Grid Locator is KJ54TU. Please, DO NOT send your locator, it is not needed and we won't log it anyway, it wastes precious time