Merry Christmas and Happy new year 2008 de SV2DCD

Christmas with snow and very low temperature here in Kastoria.
Martti OH2BH and Olli OH0XX still working from FJ St Barthelemy and the pileups are big.
These days we have nice tropo conditions on VHF,UHF ans SHF.Very nice site why plenty of info about these frequencies is www.ok2kkw.com .You will find many interesting info.
Good news also for the 4m operators.
ES2NJ Mart reports the follows :


"To VHF-community of Europe
We are very happy to announce that from December 23, 2007 the 70 MHz (4 m) band is officially allocated for regular amateur radio use in Estonia on secondary status. The band may be operated by all national licence classes (A, B and D).
A foreign radio amateur, who is the holder of a valid CEPT licence, can also use his amateur radio station on 70 MHz during a temporary stay (up to 3 months) in Estonia without any extra registration, application or charge – like it is the case with other amateur bands in the country.
The secondary status of the band however means that it can be operated on non-interference basis to other communication services in Estonia. The transmitter’s RF power output limit is set to 20 dBW (100 W) for the national classes A & B and to 10 dBW (10 W) for the class D (entry level). All modes (CW, SSB, AM, FM, MGM) are permitted. In general, using a horizontally polarized antenna is recommended.
The band plan of the new allocation shows, that the lower limit for operation is at 70.140 MHz – perhaps there is a hope that it can be shifted down in the future, but currently we have to be pleased also with this permission.
There may have been some preliminary notices of the new band allocation from Estonia also before, but at that stage they were more rumours and did not carry actual official data. Herewith we are glad to say that all official paperwork has now been finished, corresponding permission has been issued by the Ministry of Economy and Communication and after almost 5 years of hard work ES should be soon heard on the 4 m band!
With Season’s Greetings
Mart, ES2NJ
ERAU VHF Manager"


And about the Estonian readynes on 4m band ??
ES1CW reports :
"At this time we have a "wild white field" around 70 MHz, only some 10-12 (mods needed) pieces of FT-847 in use in whole country. But at the same time our activity on the Six are OK - in example, I had wkd over 100 different ES-stations (with IC-706xx, IC-7400, IC-746, IC-756, FT-100, FT-817, FT-857, FT-847,FT-897, FT-920, TS-2000 etc now) on the Six during this year. And perhaps, many 6m 10...15 W transverters are still OK for a 4 m conversion items... And a vy new "everybody one" must be constructed in the "Estonian fashion", lot of work on the horizon...
Merry Xmas and HNY 2008
73! de Arvo, ES1CW
ERAU Technical coordinator"


I wish to all of you many DX and Happy new year 2008.
de SV2DCD Leo