1st DXCC on 2m in GREECE !!!

Two more entities and total 103 for my friend SV8CS in the ARRL 2m DXCC list.

This brings Spiros to 5th place worldwide and 1st DXCC on 2m in GREECE

Congratulations again Spiros !!

Italy on 70 MHz during 2008

From www.70mhz.org

By Tony I0JX

The authorization for a second 70 MHz ham-radio experimental campaign in Italy has been granted on April 30th 2008. Its validity lasts until December 31st 2008. The technical parameters and the operational conditions are the same as for the year-2007 experimental cycle. The I0JX/B beacon operating from Rome on 70,088 MHz has been re-activated.


For Italy 70.100 - 70.200 and 70.300, +/- 25 Khz, 25 watt EIRP.

HAPPY EASTER

HAPPY EASTER

KALO PASXA

73 all de SV2DCD Leonidas

ARRL DXCC 2-Meters for SV8CS

My good friend Spiros SV8CS made it !!

As of 26 Apr 2008 his callsing is on the ARRL DXCC list for 2m band !

Congratulations Spiros !

SV8CS 2m EME system 4x 16JXX2

Sporadic E season is coming

Sporadic E season is coming.When will be the first ES opening on 2m band for 2008?
Well no one knows but here is when was the first ES opening on 2m band for the past 6 years

2007 was 12 May http://www.vhf-contest.com/sporadic_index07.php?date=2007-05-12

2006 was 17 May http://www.vhf-contest.com/sporadic_index.php?date=2006-05-17

2005 was 28 April http://www.vhfdx.de/es_summary_05_april_28.htm

2004 was 02 May http://www.vhfdx.de/es_summary_05_april_28.htm

2003 was 11 May http://www.vhfdx.de/es_summary_05_april_28.htm

2002 was 15 May http://www.vhfdx.de/es_summary_02_may.htm


Are you ready for this year ?
Good luck all
de SV2DCD Leo

WSPR by K1JT released

From WSJT homepage http://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/

WSPR (pronounced "whisper") stands for "Weak Signal Propagation Reporter." This program implements transmitting and receiving for a digital soundcard mode called "MEPT_JT", an acronym for "Manned Experimental Propagation Tests, by K1JT". This is the initial release of a GUI-based version of the program. Screen shot.Click here to download WSPR. Then run the resulting executable to install the program. A full manual for WSPR has not yet been written, but a Quick Start guide is available. Program changes since veraion 0.5 are described in the Changelog. A basic description of the WSPR protocol can be found at physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/WSPR_Announcement.TXT .

Please send feedback on WSPR and its use to k1jt at arrl dot net.

WSPR Suggested Frequency Matrix

Note: This table reflects current practice. I recently sent out an alternate proposal for 17m and 10m, but that is not reflected here.

Also, please note that many JT65A operators also run WSPR while on JT65A calling frequencies, particularly 7.076 and 14.076.

Band Dial TX Center

160m 1.808.6 1.810.1

80m 3.592.6 3.594.1

40m 7.074.6 7.076.1

30m 10.138.7 10.140.2

20m 14.095.6 14.097.1

17m 18.103.0 18.104.5

15m 21.095.6 21.097.1

12m 24.925.6 24.927.1

10m 28.160.0 28.161.5

6m 50.293.0 50.294.5

France on 4m band ???

From www.70mhz.org
http://70mhz.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1342

REF (France) Annual Report re 70MHz
Here is an extract from the French national society REF annual report 2008 to their membership.
Further details may be found at: http://ag.ref-union.org/2008/rapport_moral_2008.pdf

Dossier 70 MHz : Après l’ouverture de cette bande dans plusieurs pays (Monaco, Luxembourg, Italie, Gibraltar, Irlande, Slovénie, Danemark, Féroes, Afrique du Sud, Croatie, Grèce, Somalie), le REFUnion a demandé l’ouverture de cette bande en France. L’administration a souhaité un dossier pour étudier la faisabilité. Un dossier complémentaire concernant les indicatifs spéciaux préparé par la commission HF a été remis à la DiGiTip.

Depending on how good your French is there are encouraging signs for Digital, HF, 4m and 3.4GHz interests - a country where their regulator has been rather restrictive in the past.

David - VHF Manager, RSGB
G4ASR ex-G8ASR

Live Ships Map AIS Vessel Traffic System

Real time Vessels positions

This service is on air as from December 2007: http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/

Track vessels directions, find voyage-related information and see a map with current ship positions. The system is based on AIS (Automatic Identification System) which collects the current position on ships through VHF frequencies.

There is a note at http://marinetraffic.blogspot.com/ says that this is an open project and that they are inviting any volunteers wishing to install an antenna plus an AIS receiver and send the data they collect to the central server.

SV2DCD @ SP DX CONTEST

This is my result from my participation to the SP DX CONTEST during the weekend.

SP DX Contest

Call: SV2DCD

Operator(s): SV2DCD

Station: SV2DCD

Class: SOSB/40SSB HP

QTH: Kastoria

Operating Time (hrs): 10

Summary: Band CW Qs Ph Qs Mults

---------------------------

160:

80:

40: 284 16

20:

15:

10:

---------------------------

Total: 0 284 16

Total Score = 13,632

Club: Northern Greece Contest Team

New CQ WW WPX SSB world record in M/S HP category from 5D5A

My good friends IK2QEI Stefano and IK2GSC Matteo made it ! They hold a new world record for CQ WW WPX SSB CONTEST in category M/S HP.

Here is the score

Call: 5D5A

Operator(s): IK2SGC - IK2QEI

Station: CN3A

Class: M/S HP

QTH: Safi, Morocco

Operating Time (hrs): 48

Summary:

Band QSOs

------------

160: 17

80: 1007

40: 1016

20: 2043

15: 2441

10: 13

------------

Total: 6537 Prefixes = 1370 Total Score = 35,102,025

Congratulations guys !

Have to say that the contest site belongs to Stefano, IK2QEI – Matteo, IK2SGC – and Spiros, SV8CS all good friends and great contest operators ! I had the opportunity to run some contests with this team (SY8A)

I wish to the team more new records also to other contests and categories!

Interactive VHF-UHF-SHF-EHF beacon list

A very nice "interactive" beacon list is working at http://dl0tud.tu-dresden.de/~dj1yfk/baken/baken.php

You can enter a new report for a beacon or you can update an old entry.

A great tool this time of year where Tropo and Sporadic E propagation will show up

J42T @ CQ WW WPX Live web camera

You can see live the J42T team from Thessaloniki North West Greece running the CQ WW WPX contest from Vaggelis SV2BFN qth in Perea.
There are two live cameras in the shack.
The links are

http://www.mycampage.com/j42t1

http://www.mycampage.com/j42t

SV2DCD @ CQ WW WPX SSB CONTEST

I will participate in the CQ WW WPX SSB CONTEST category SOAB HP.Pse give a call if you hear me.Also good luck to anyone of you who will participate in the contest.CU

73 de SV2DCD Leonidas

SX5AI AGATHONISI ISLAND DXPEDITION***CANCELED***

I just called SV8CYR on his mobile phone to see why the SX5AI is not on the air yet.Told me that due to bad weather the team could not aproach the small island.So the dx pedition is CANCELLED.More news tomorrow.
73 all de SV2DCD

ACOM 1000 on 4m band

Check this web site from Uffe PA5DD for more info.
You can see how can you have EME power on 4m band !


http://home.hccnet.nl/uffe.noucha/log/acom1000_4m.htm

SV2C Repeater antenna broken

This is the antenna of SV2C voice repeater 145.662,5 Mhz located at Mnt Bitsi locator KN00QP 2.130m asl in NW Greece after the winter.The photos were taken today morning when the team of SV2ESV,SV2MCL,SW2NRU went to the place to check the problem.

The antenna system is going to be replaced with a new one during the next month.

More OIRT QRM expected during next Es season on 4m band

PA5DD Uffe reports :



"Apparently OIRT broadcast has started in the Netherlands


Overzicht 4,5Meter stations. (10)
Date:25/01/2008




Freq. Station Lokatie Provincie


64.50 Twinscroll WesterkwartierGroningen




64.50 Kompas Slochteren Groningen




65.00 Noname Utrecht Utrecht




65.00 Atletico Roosendaal Noord-Brabant




65.40 Felix Leiden Zuid-Holland




65.50 Gtek Leiden Zuid-Holland




66.20 Sigma FM Dordrecht Zuid-Holland




66.30 DX-500 Oosterhout Noord-Brabant




66.30 Cosmos Den Bosch Noord-Brabant




66.60Power FM Waalwijk Noord-Brabant

EXPERT 1K-FA 1 KW Solid State Fully Automatic Linear Amplifier

I own this amplifier since October 2007 and i wanted to write down a small review about it.

After 6 months of use and a couple of contests i must say that i am very satisfied.

With the CAT cable connected to the transceiver you don't need to do nothing in the linear.Everything goes automatic!This is a great deal especcialy during the contests.There is also a PC software to remote the linear from the PC.The amplifier has 4 inputs for antennas and 2 inputs for radios.The output power is as expected with low input power about 20-30 Watts.

No RFI problems in the shack at all.You can go down to HALF output power by pressing one key.The amplifier is really easy to programm.The display is big and readable.

As for the protection circuits also work excellent.The weight is only 20kg and the company gives you also a carrying bag for dxpeditions and contests !

My final conclusion is that this amplifier is worth every spent Euro!

73 de SV2DCD Leo

SV2DCD @ RUSSIAN DX CONTEST 2008

These are the results from my participation at RUSSIAN DX CONTEST the past weekend:

Russian DX Contest
Call: SV2DCD
Operator(s): SV2DCD
Station: SV2DCD
Class: SO SSB HP
QTH: Kastoria
Operating Time (hrs): 18
Summary:
Band CW Qs Ph Qs Countries Oblasts
----------------------------------------
160: 0 0 0
80: 214 38 35
40: 444 53 56
20: 646 53 68
15: 28 14 9
10: 0 0 0
----------------------------------------
Total: 0 1332 158 168 Total Score = 2,741,334

SX5C Stroggylh Island DXpedition IOTA: EU-001 - GIOTA DKS 001

SV1HER reports :



The following Greek Ham radio operators SV1JG Cliff, SV1RC Spiros, SV1RP George, SV1EEX Nikiforos, SV1GRM Theodoro, SV1HER Sotiris & SV1JCZ Daniel will be active the small island Stroggylh(IOTA: EU-001, GREEK IOTA: DKS 001) an also the lighthouse of the island named "Ypshlh": WLOTA: L-0237, ARLHS: GRE-053.


Grid square: KM46tc


Date:25 July - 04 Augoust 2008.


Bands:160m-2m.


QSL manager: SV1HER

SX5AI AGATHONISI ISLAND GIOTA DKS 063

SV8CYV reports

"SV8CYR Alexandros, SV8CYV Vassilis, SV5CJQ Vagelis all members of Aegean DX group will operate 21 to 26 March, as SX5AI from AGATHONISI island (SV5 land DODEKANISHOS IOTA EU 001)GIOTA DKS 063 for the Greek Islands On The Air award programme. ( further information at www.5-9report. gr ).Activity is planned on 20,40,80m SSB & DIGI modes mainly on IOTA frequencies.If the propagation help us will be QRV on 10&6m SSB.It is not necessary for QSL cards to be sent. All contacts will be QSL'd via the bureau or direct in response to direct request.QSL manager SV8CYV.See you in the pile up !!! "

73s de SV8CYV

J5FOUR New 4m band beacon from Guinea-Bissau

Great news for the 4m band operators.

Tony CT1FFU reports :

"After some delay the J5FOUR beacon is finaly runnig from today 10-3-2008.It is a Storno rig with 20W carrier on a 4 element yagi especialy designed by YU7EF for this project.

The yagi is beaming 20º, QTF to cover all Europe.

On the next Es season we will tnx reports from all. There is no station QRV in guiné-bissau, but this beacon will be a good tool for propagation estudies. Tnx to CT1BTP for the beacon TXr, CT1FJO for the Keyr, YU7EF for Antenna and J5JUA for beacon assembly and keapings. as soon as J5JUA return to CT, J5FOUR pictures will pe publish on this site"

Info about J5FOUR beacon :

CALL:J5FOUR/B

QRG:70.010 CW

LOCATOR:IK21EV

CONTACT:J5JUA

POWER:20W

ANTENNA:DIPOLE

5J0E New one San Andres Island DXpedition IOTA NA-033

Last day today for the 5J0E San Andres Island DXPedition.The 6 member team (WF5W, W5PF, K5WAF, NM5G, W5PR and N4AL ) where on the island from 28 of February to participate in the ARRL International DX SSB Contest.The team was using two separate stations with beam and vertical antennas.After the contest they spotted on 10m,17m,20m,40m.I worked them on 20m cw and 40m cw.This dxcc was a new one for me.QSL is via W5PF.Logs will be uploaded to the ARRL LoTW and there will be an online Log Search page at http://www.tdxs.net/hk0.html

As for TX5C team is about 50 n.miles away from the island and their plan is to be active in 2 days.Good luck to all de SV2DCD Leo

OK1DO new one on 4m band and 1st ever qso SV-OK on this band

This morning i completed ms qso on 4m band (70.230 Mhz) mode JT6M with Jiri OK1DO.It was a new one for me on this band and 1st ever qso between SV and OK on 4m.OK stations are permitted to transmit on 70 MHz. The licensing conditions are: 70,2-70,3 MHz, 10 W ERP and the temporary licenses are valid until 2008-12-31.Tnx Jiri for this qso.Good luck to any 4m operator who will try.73

VP6DX QRT since 27 February 13:59 UTC

VP6DX went QRT on February 27th 2008 on 13:59z.The team is on the way back home.Total qso's made 183.686 is the biggest number of qso's from any other dx pedition in the past !!

CONGRATULATIONS to the team and especcially to our Greek operator SV1JG Cliff.Cliff it must been a great experience right? As for my score in this dx pedition,total qso's are 14.

Many thanks to all of them.Ready now for the next dx pedition TX5C which will take place for March 7 to March 17.Are you?

73 Leo

HA-DX claimed scores list available

The claimed scores list of HA-DX 2008 contest is available on the contest home page at http://www.ha-dx.com.To see the list choose the 'Results' section in the navigation bar on the left hand side.
In my category the claimed scores for the 10 first stations are
SINGLE-OP, 20M, HIGH, SSB
-------------------------
1. EC2DX 10908 Electronic Log
2. UA1AQA 7344 Electronic Log
3. EA5EH 5584 Electronic Log
4. SV2DCD 5229 Electronic Log
5. RZ3DH 4710 Electronic Log
6. TA0U 4596 Electronic Log
7. RA3DGH 2985 Electronic Log
8. PD1DX 2964 Electronic Log
9. RX9CCJ 2700 Electronic Log
10. SE5S 2184 Electronic Log

VP6DX 2008 Ducie Island Expedition is on the air

The team is on the air.They started this morning from 40m band cw mode on 7.002.Really big signal 59+ here in North West Greece.The work split +25khz and up.I worked them on 7.029.In the team there is also a Greek operator Cliff SV1JG.I wish to him and all the others to have a nice time over there with big pileups and a safe trip back home after the end of the dx pedition.Good luck everyone with this nice DX !!! 73 de Leo SV2DCD

TI9KK DXpedition Cocos Island IOTA NA-012 on the air

TI9KK Dxpedition started yesterday around 03:00 z.The problem with the license solved and the guys are active some days later than expected.Good luck with this dx

XR7A Ascension Is. SA-043 Dxpedition

A team of CE6TBN, HA1AG, RA0FU & RV1CC are active from Ascension Island SA-043 in Chile as XR7A.Wkd this morning on 40m cw 7.012,7 qsx 1up.Signal was weak and coming better from 300 deg.Good luck with this dx

Great signals on 40m band this morning

This morning had very nice qso's on 40m band with great signals from pacific ocean.
On 7.008 E51WWA wkd up1 599
On 7.003 VP6PR was 59+5db
On 7.002 KH7XS was 529
On 7.080 nice surprise from the VP6DX crew.WA6CDR/MM wkd 59 signal very good copy from the M/V Braveheart.
Latest news from VP6DX :
"News #9 - 2008, January 31st2008 Ducie Island Expedition: VP6DX (for immediate release)Highlights: ... The M/V Braveheart continues across the Pacific, on schedule ... ... Good European signals heard on 160m during the crossing ... ... Operators preparing to leave home ... ... Today's background information: geographical balance.News: Robin WA6CDR reports from the M/V Braveheart that, as a result of the typhoon that passed through the area, seas were somewhat rough immediately after departure from New Zealand. The ship slowed down to 5-7 knots, but in the last few days sea conditions have improved dramatically. The weather has become mild, traveling over calm seas with a small long swell. Robin has been working on cables and other pre-assembly tasks that can be completed on board ship before the expedition reaches Ducie Island. For relaxing, an Elecraft K3 radio, amplifier and tuner hasbeen attached to a wire antenna strung over the ship from bow to stern. With 500 W power output, Robin has been enjoying good low band propagation. During the WW 160 CW contest last weekend many top band signal from Europe went into the log. Robin also reports the Braveheart crew is "superb", and the operators will have to be very disciplined to avoid putting on weight from all the good food! As of early Jan 30 Wed (GMT) the M/V Braveheart was at 28° S 145° E, about 1000 km SSE of Tahiti. This ship is on schedule, planning to arrive at Mangareva Atoll this coming Saturday/Sunday. The remaining 12 operators will be leaving their home countries during the next three days, converging on the Sofitel Hotel in Papeete, Tahiti, capital city of French Polynesia on Feb 3 Sun-Feb 4 Mon. On Feb5 Tue 1500z the operators depart Tahiti for Mangareva. Once at Mangareva, the operators will immediately board the ship, clear immigration/customs, and depart. During the passage to Ducie Island, the M/V Braveheart will make a midnight call at Pitcairn Island to drop off medical supplies. Longboats from Pitcairn will come along side in the dark to take thedelivery to shore, and the ship will depart immediately thereafter. This stop will not delay the schedule for Ducie Island: we will still arrive at Ducie in the pre-dawn darkness of Feb 9 Sat (weather permitting)."