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.


Tuesday, January 30, 2018

3Y0Z - Bouvet Isl. on 60m band

Hi all,

An international team will be active from Bouvet Island, IOTA AN - 002, in 2018 as 3Y0Z.


Planned dates 20 January - 28 February 2018 (will be determined by vessel schedule).

They will operate on 160 - 10m and also 6 and 2m EME.
Team - EY8MM, HA5AO, JR4OZR, K0IR, K4UEE, K9CT, LA6VM, LA9DL, N4GRN, N6HC, N9TK, NM1Y, PA5M, VA7DX, W7IV, W0GJ, W6IZT, W8HC, WB9Z, SM5AQD.


QSL manager for 3Y0Z DX Pedition N2OO.


Off Island Team:
Propagation - Stu K6TU.
Logos and Graphics - Dani YB2TJV.
Server-Logging Software - Dean N7XG.
EME Pilot - Chris, PA2CHR.
On the way to Bouvet Island team will be active as 3G9A/MM.



3Y0Z DX Pedition News 3Y0Z 60m

3Y0Z - Bouvet Island - 60m        
3Y0Z will transmit CW and USB modes on 5.400kHz and will listen for Europe on 5.353kHz.

We will listen for FT8 on 5.357kHz.
We will transmit low between 200 and 500Hz and listen up. PLEASE don't TX on our freq.

CW and SSB we will TX on 5.400
Will listen for NA CW on 5.405
Will listen for NA USB on 5.403.5
Will listen for Europe on 5.353


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

Monday, January 29, 2018

OK - ZL on 60m challenge opened

Hi all,

as the Kiwis mates got an experimental permission for 60m band already the OK - ZL 60m band challenge is opened.


Unfortunately the 10W/15W e.i.r.p is allowed on both sides so the question is... is it possible to work them on this band using moderate or even desperado-bad antennas?


The VOACAP says "mission impossible"...


In any case the external receiving antennas for 60m band as same as large antennas on of the sides are promising few percentages... Well I am going to try the receiving loops and if neighbors will allows then also temporary Beverage for 60m band reception.


Do you know this farm?

The worse situation is with my TX antenna as I have still only low inverted V dipole with folded legs on the post-stamp lot... even worse with 15W only.

Good luck to all on the air.


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

ZL - New Zealand on 60m band



Hi all,

NZ amateurs permitted two 60m freqs by permit/sub-licence on trial basis for a year.


Operation centers on 5353 kHz and 5362 - 5364 kHz
10W EIRP
SSB, CW and Data


Extract from NZARTS 5 MHz (60m)FAQs [RSM is the NZ telecoms regulator] –

“Q: Why is this a trial when we were given full access to the band at WRC-15? Despite a worldwide amateur allocation being made on a secondary basis, access is subject to the approval of the local regulatory authorities in each country. In ZL RSM has said that access will be subject to the approval of the primary user which in this case is the NZ Defence Force. The NZDF have asked for a trial so they can monitor amateur use to see if it can happen on a non-interference basis.”


An important is to understand that part of this band in ZL is allocated to the New Zealand military and they insisted ZL hams use SSB during the trial on 5353. Also remember that there is no region 3 band plan for 60m still...(OK1RP)

NZARTS 60m FAQs

http://www.nzart.org.nz/info/60m/60m-faq/

NZ 60m Sub-Licence Form

http://www.nzart.org.nz/assets/info/60m/60m-Sub-Licence.pdf

NZ 60m Sub-Licence Holders

http://www.nzart.org.nz/info/60m/60m-sub-licence-holders/



What makes New Zealand's natural heritage so special?
Underlying New Zealand's physical attractions--its dramatic mountains, unpolluted beaches and green countryside--is an epic survival story of unique plants and animals.



Cast adrift from the ancient supercontinent of Gondwanaland, these ancient species evolved in isolation and struggled to survive in what renowned naturalist David Bellamy has called 'Moa's Ark' (named after New Zealand's native, but now extinct, giant flightless bird, the moa).



After only 1000 years of human settlement New Zealand has lost many native species. But impressive gains have been made in recent times to protect and enhance what is left. These include removing introduced pests from island wildlife sanctuaries, the establishment of 13 national parks, three maritime parks, two world heritage areas, hundreds of nature reserves and ecological areas, a network of marine reserves and wetlands, and protection for special rivers and lakes.


In total, around 30 percent of New Zealand's land area is protected conservation land. In addition, research and management programmes have been introduced to aid the recovery of rare and endangered species like kakapo, kokako, kiwi and tuatara.


New Zealand welcomes everyone to experience and discover its unique and precious natural heritage. We ask only that you make as little impact as possible, so future generations may also enjoy it as you do.


New Zealand is a land of unique birds. The best known is the flightless kiwi, New Zealand's unofficial national symbol. Also flightless are the weka and the endangered kakapo, the world's largest parrot which can just scramble up into shrubs and small trees.

Unique flightless birds, the world's heaviest insect and a 'living dinosaur'. Eighty million years of isolation in a time capsule--the unique native wildlife of New Zealand...


New Zealand is situated in the South Pacific ocean, between latitude 34'S and 47'S. The country runs roughly north-south with mountain ranges down much of its length. Its two main islands (North and South) cover 266,200 square kilometres (103,735 square miles), about the size of Japan or California and slightly larger than Great Britain.



Samantha McClung, Miss Universe New Zealand 2015

New Zealand has a stunning variety of landforms--from spectacular alpine glaciers and massive mountain ranges to rolling green farmland and long sandy beaches...



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

Wednesday, January 24, 2018

C8 - Mozambique on 60m band by PA5X/PG5M

Hi all,

as I was informed by Johannes, PA5X they will be on 60m band during following DX-pedition...

"Next week I will be on a DXpedition with Gerben PG5M as C81G to Ibo Island in Mozambique. He is operating CW also on 60m!"


See: https://dxnews.com/c8x-c81g/

Gerben, PG5M informs dxnews.com, that Johannes PA5X/C93PA and Gerben PG5M will be active as C8X and C81G from Ibo Island, IOTA AF - 061, Cabo Delgado District, 28 January - 4 February 2018.


Sunset, Ibo Island, Mozambique. Author - Rosino
They will operate on 80 - 10m, including 60m Band CW, SSB, FT8.
They will use Yaesu FT - 5000 and Elecraft K3 transceivers, Acom 1010 and Expert 1,3K - FA amplifiers.
Antennas 5 Band Hexbeam with pentaplexer, 40/60/80m verticals and 30m VDA.


They will upload logs several times a day (internet permitting) to ClubLog.
DXCC Country - Mozambique C8, C9.
QSL info:
C8X via PA5X, ClubLog OQRS.
Ads for direct QSL:
Johannes Hafkenscheid, Riouwstraat 89A, Amsterdam, 1094 XK, Netherlands.
C81G via PG5M, ClubLog OQRS.
Ads for direct QSL:
Gerben A. Menting, Leemdobbe 19, 9472 ZR Zuidlaren, Netherlands.



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

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

XW - Laos on 60m band by Bruce, 3W3B

Hi all,

did you worked Bruce from Laos as XW4XR during last days on 60m band and it was ATNO for you? If you missed him then next chance will be in 2 months...


As Bruce confirmed me he packed up his station 2 days ago already and he is now back in Vietnam (3W3B) which is his second home.



Bruce is planning to be back in XW several times this year so not to worry. This was 1st time XW on 60m so everything was ATNO for Bruce as well. He will concentrate on that band next trip.




The plans at the moment are for a possible return end of March...


QSL: Via LoTW or E21EIC ONLY


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

TF - Iceland on 60m band - update by IRA

Hi all,

The Iceland Radio Amateurs (IRA) site says the regulator PFS has updated the Amateur Radio regulations

It would appear that Icelandic amateurs have gained the new WRC-15 60m 15 kHz wide allocation (5351.5-5366.5 kHz) limited to 15 watts but lost the 150 kHz wide allocation (5260-5410 kHz) which permitted 100 watts EIRP and had been available by special permit.





IRA site in Google English


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

OK – Czech Republic 60m band permits rules for 2018


Hi all,

I am happy to say that after long discussion about the technical topics and additional work on the 60m band allocation versions, requests forms and administrative details corrections I finally finished with Czech Telecommunication Office staffs the final wording of 60m band permits and rules for 2018 in Czech Republic.

Thanks to effort and willingness of the CTU staffs we agreed on the solution which allows OK hams to use new WRC-15 band allocation as same as the old experimental 12 channels used in the past!

There are two different permits available for OK hams in 2018:

1. The Worldwide Frequency Allocation of 5351.5–5366.5 kHz operation permit is sent to OK hams based on the ordinary request sent by these applicants to CTU - on a secondary basis (D.1 rule) according WRC-15 and National frequency Table approval.



C.3 rule - The maximum power in that 15kHz range is 15W e.i.r.p (see 5.133B NFT)

D.2 rule - In between 5351.5 – 5354 kHz allocation are allowed only narrow modes (CW, RTTY, PSK, etc.) with BW max. 200Hz. Voice mode is prohibited)

D.3 rule – In between 5354 – 5366 kHz allocation are allowed all modes with BW max. 2700Hz. In case of SSB the USB is preferred.

D.4 rule – In between 5366 – 5366.5 kHz allocation are allowed only narrow modes (CW, RTTY, PSK, etc.) with BW max. 20Hz. Voice mode is prohibited.

The validity of that WRC-15 permit is 5 years.


2. The experimental 12-channels operation permit is still available for 2018 and it is sent also to OK hams based on the request for an Experimental 5MHz band permission sent by these applicants to CTU. It is also given on secondary basis (ITU-R RR Article 4.4).
          

USB Dial (kHz)
CW Dial (kHz)
Notes
5276.0
5277.5
Added to harmonize with UK bandplan
5288.5
5290.0

5298.0
5299.5
Added to harmonize with UK bandplan
5313.0
5314.5
Added to harmonize with UK bandplan
5330.5
5332.0
US
5333.0
5334.5
Added to harmonize with UK bandplan
5362.0
5363.5
Added to harmonize with UK bandplan
5366.5
5368.0
(A Former US Frequency) - remains
5371.5
5373.0
US
5395.0
5396.5
Added to harmonize with UK bandplan
5398.5
5400.0

5403.5
5405.0


The maximum power on these 12-channels is remaining same 100W e.i.r.p (C.3 rule) and also other details are remaining same for 2018 as for preview year regarding the bandwidth etc.

B.2 rule – USB and CW modes allowed

B.3 rule – 3kHz channels spacing

B.4 rule – USB: 3kHz; CW: 150Hz BW

D.2 rule – Annual experimental operation report has to be sent to CTU no later then 31.10.2018

The validity of this experimental permit is 1 year.



The most important is to understand that even although the National Frequency Table with the WRC-15 allocation is approved already in OK it does NOT means that WRC-15 band allocation on 60m is opened automatically for all OK hams!

Until the new “Decree (Regulation) on the technical and operating conditions of the amateur radio communication service” – replacing the old 156/2005Sb will be done (including the WRC-15 allocation), approved and published - the WRC-15 band allocation is accessible ONLY with WRC-15 permit issued individually based on the ordinary request sent to CTU!


This WRC-15 permission is no more special just regular but until the old regulation will be replaced it is issued by CTU based on individual request only.

The OK ham applicants can requesting the WRC-15 permit or an Experimental 12-channels permit or (and it is the goal) it is possible to requesting both permits together. In case of both permits issuing the applicants are allowed to use WRC-15 together with old 12-channels allocation. Just be careful that there are different power limits and related rules.

This article is compiled based on the agreement with CTU staffs and the rules has been validated by CTU director already.



73 – Petr, OK1RP
.../-.-

Monday, January 22, 2018

ZC4 - Cyprus on 60m band by Bob, 5B4AGN

Hi all,

Bob, 5B4AGN received permission to operate as ZC4A from Cyprus between 5351.5 - 5366.5kHz. Bob will be on the air from 25 January to 31 January. He suggest to TX on CW around 5353 listening up 2 and 5373. In case of FT8 on 5357 split.


I hope that thanks to Bob who is an excellent CW operator the ZC4 will be on the air on CW for most people instead just "chrchr" mode...



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

Sunday, January 21, 2018

V5 - Namibia on 60m band by Rudi, DK7PE

Hi all,

Rudi, DK7PE will be operating out of Omarura/Namibia trying the low bands with a focus on 160 and 60m as V5/DK7PE in between 24Jan - 30st Jan 2018.

Rudi will be using his old Icom IC-735 which was opened for 60m band operation too.

During CQWW160CW Rudi will be on the Topband...

You may QSL direct, but please don't send any IRCs for return postage. Rudi don't need a QSL, so you can use PayPal and send him the contact details. If the QSO is OK in the log, He'll send you the confirmation.

Please use:
https://www.paypal.me/DK7PE



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

Friday, January 19, 2018

The Icom IC-735 on 60m band article revisited...

Hi all,

I decided to revisiting the old article about the 60m band modification of the Icom IC-735. Thanks to Rudi, DK7PE for letting me know about the non-functional link in that article. Also I found major mistake by copycats or even original author of the mod article on internet so I decided to completely reworking it...


https://60mband.blogspot.ch/2011/01/icom-ic-735-on-60m-band.html



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