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)


Friday, June 14, 2013

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

Monday, April 15, 2013

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:
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
 
 

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

W8GEX Newsletter - Issue 15Jan13

Hello all,

Joe, W8GEX released his latest Newsletter _ Issue 15Jan13 with very interesting news about the coming planned DX-peditions with 60m band activities ! In summary:

Bahamas C6:   Joe W8GEX as C6AJR Jan. 21 to 26

ST. KITTS  V4:  Jon, W5JON as V47JA February 20th and March 21st (2013)

GRENADA  J3:   Roy, KE4TG as J38RF from Grenada, February 6 to March 8 (2013).

Antigua V2: Tom AA9A will be V24A from Feb 11 through the 20th.  QSL to AA9A

Curacao PJ2:  by W1USN  March 8 to 22.

You can find it of course over here:

http://60metersonline.net/

Thank you Joe for Your great job. It is always enjoyable the get this newsletter into my mailbox.
On this place I would like to ask all of You guys to send any kind news from your station, area, country, region etc. regarding the 60m band operation to Joe, W8GEX. It will help to improve this newsletter for sure.


Also I am posting with the New Year also probably most known chat link > just to refresh it:

http://dxworld.com/60mlog.html


Also do not forget for Paul, G4WMO and his excellent The 5MHz Newsletter which can be found over here:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B6vz6Eyambj3Z2hBemZxWEdYZTg/edit

Paul, G4WMO is the European 60m band pioneer and he is making unbeatable job for us specialy in terms of sumarizing the news, 60m bandplans and other related agenda. Do not hesitate to send him any news specialy if it makes sense inside the EU region...


73 - Petr, OK1RP

OX - Greenland on 60m band - update 15Jan13

Hello all,

Greenland flag short update came from Peter, OX3XR regarding the 60m bandplan in Greenland as follows:

Greenland has now got following frequency band for 5MHz

5250 - 5450kHz

Peter, OX3XR will be QRV soon using the dipole from his beautiful country QTH. Peter is also using XP3A callsign. 

Do not forget that QSL via OZ3PZ


73 - Petr, OK1RP

SM - Sweden on 60m band !

Hello all,

Sweden flag very good news is coming from Johan, SM0TSC who is putting Sweden on 60 meters band ! Johan has been given an experimental license for six months. He is allowed to operate on

5310kHz,
5320kHz,
5380kHz and
5390kHz

channels center frequency + 1.5 KHz, maximum of 3 KHz bandwidth and 100 watts. If You want to make sked with Johan, do not hesitate to email him to sm0tsc@hflink.net for skeds, any mode.

Johan was already spotted on the cluster and make some QSO. His signal was very good in EU. Johan is also holder of SE0E callsign, he is QRV from Tyreso, Sweden and for Europeans it will be an easy new one. We hope that Johan will also focuse on the overseas friends in USA etc.

Thank You Johan for good job and I wish You all the best and enjoy it on Tropical band.


73 - Petr, OK1RP