UBABelgian Amateur Radio Society

slideshow 1

Photo: Couloir

Old "DX News" messages

Submitted by ON4AVJ on Fri, 10/07/2009 - 16:52
A new Next Generation Beacon
02-04-2013
ON4AVJ
Today, Saturday 30 March, is the 56th anniversary of OZ7IGY and also the launch date for the new 70 cm beacon based upon the Next Generation Beacon platform: http://www.rudius.net/oz2m/ngnb.

The 70 cm beacon is now frequency and time locked to GPS. The sequence is timed to start at 00 second sending PI4 followed by a short pause then CW ID sending callsign and locator, then pause and carrier until next cycle. The nominal frequency remains the same, i.e. 432,471 MHz. To decode PI4 tune your receiver to 800 Hz below the nominal frequency, just like you do when you want to decode a normal CW signal at 800 Hz. On most radios this is a USB dial of 432.470.2.

At the same time the 6 m, 4 m and 2 m beacons have also changed MGM to PI4. The CW callsign, locator and carrier remain the same.

PI4 is a digital modulation (MGM) specifically designed with beacons and propagation studies in mind.

Download PI-RX to decode PI4: http://www.rudius.net/oz2m/ngnb/pi-rx.

PI4 encoding examples in Arduino C, Atmel C, Delphi Pascal, Microsoft Visual Basic and Microsoft C++: http://www.rudius.net/oz2m/ngnb/software.htm.

PI4 online encoding and frequency calculation: http://www.rudius.net/oz2m/ngnb/pi4encoding.php.

PI4 specification: http://www.rudius.net/oz2m/ngnb/pi4.htm PI4 is a cousin of JT4, JT9 and WSPR.

OZ7IGY status page: http://www.rudius.net/oz7igy.
144 MHz Meteorscatter Sprint Contest 2013
02-04-2013
ON4AVJ
MMMonVHF[1], in cooperation with the magazines DUBUS[2] and Funk-Telegramm[3], invites you to take part in the 6th edition of the “144 MHz Meteorscatter Sprint Contest” during the maximum of the Perseids meteor shower (PER).
Based on predictions from IMO[4] (the International Meteor Organisation), this maximum will occur on August 12, 2013, between 18:15 GMT and 20:45 GMT.

RULES:
Contestperiod: August 11, 2013, 12:00 GMT – August 13, 2013, 11:59 GMT (end time last completed QSO).

Participation:
Class 1: QRP (< 1.5 kW ERP).
Class 2: QRO (>1.5 kW ERP).
Stations can participate in one class only. No difference between single- or multi-operator stations or modes.

Exchange: Full callsigns, reports (e.g. 26 or R26) and final rogers (RRRR)[5].

Scoring: For each completed QSO you receive an amount of points that equals the distance between you and the station you completed with. A worked station only counts once, so no duplicates allowed.

Final scoring: The total score is the sum of all points you received for all completed QSO’s together.

Logs: Logs can be send via E-mail or regular mail. Your log has to be received before September 15, 2013. In case you have send your log by regular mail, the postmark will count. Logs received after that date will be considered as checklogs.
Logs via E-mail can be sent to: mssprint [at] mmmonvhf [dot] de; Subject: MSSprint “Call”.
Logs via regular post can be sent to: A.F. Veldhuijsen, PA4EME, Westlandstraat 9, 6137 KE Sittard, The Netherlands.

Be sure you log contains at least the following:
  • Your call, name, address and class you want to participate in.
  • Stations in Class 1 (QRP) have to state details about the equipment they used in form of used output power and antenna gain. If no data about your station is given, you will be placed in Class 2. The power used for the calculation of the Effective Radiated Power will be the power measured at the output of your transceiver or active amplifier(s);
  • The QSO list. As there are many logging programs available nearly every format is possible[6]. But make sure that the log will show at least: date, time (to be specific: end time), call, report send, report received, locator and distance (equals points).
  • With sending your log you also declare to have operated within the limits of your chosen Class, licence and local regulations when performing any activity that could impact your submitted score. Unsportsmanlike conduct can be ground for disqualification. Also you agree to have the log open to the public which might result in publishing your log on MMMonVHF or in the magazines DUBUS and/or Funk-Telegramm.
  • Reception of a log will be confirmed in the same way it was received.
Stories and pictures are welcome for the soapbox.

Conditions to be observed: The use of DX-clusters and chat-channels during the contest is only allowed in such way that there is no exchange of reports or other data from which the status of the QSO can be extracted. Limited information on the cluster (e.g. 12:00 DK5EW PA4EME JN48MB<MS>JO20WX) or chat (e.g. 12:00 PA2DW 144.355 CQ for MS Sprint) is allowed.
Selfspotting exceeding more than once every 15 minutes will be considered as unsportsmanlike behaviour.

Winner of the contest: The winner of the contest is the station with the highest amount of points. There will be a winner in each class. If two stations have the same amount of points, the position will have to be shared.

Special scoring for outside Europe stations: There will be a separate listing for stations outside Europe.

Certificate: All stations will receive a digital certificate showing the Class and ranking achieved.

Results: The results of the MS Sprint Contest will be published on the foreseen date that DUBUS magazine no. 4, 2013 will be issued: December 7, 2013. Results will be on-line that day on MMMonVHF. Printed versions will be in DUBUS magazine no.4, 2013 and Funk-Telegramm no. 1, 2014. VHF-editors around the world are free to publish the list as well provided the source and organizers are mentioned.

Additional notes:
[1] MMMonVHF (Make More Miles on VHF): www.mmmonvhf.de.
[2] DUBUS - the serious magazine for VHF and up amateur radio: www.dubus.org.
[3] Funk-Telegramm - Magazin für Funkamateure: www.funk-telegramm.de.
[4] IMO – International Meteor Organisation: www.imo.net.
[5] Operating Procedures for Meteor Scatter QSO’s: http://www.vhfdx.de/ms_howto.pdf.
[5] Проведение MS QSO в 1 районе IARU: http://www.vhfdx.ru/ms/provedenie-ms-qso-v-1-rayone-iaru.
[6] The “144 MHz Meteorscatter Sprint Contest” is supported by at least two software programs:
- Arcom (Ham Office) : www.hamoffice.de
- Ucxlog: www.ucxlog.de
Other logging programs are allowed as well.
Italy on 70 MHz
31-01-2013
ON4AVJ

Italian Amateurs have again access to 70 MHz from February 1st till December 31st 2013.
These are the specifications:
  • All Italian stations are authorized except ones 30 km or less from Italian border with Austria, Switzerland and France.
  • Frequencies: 70,100 - 70,200 - 70,300 with 25 kHz of bandwidth.
  • All modes with a maximum bandwidth of 25 kHz.
  • Max power 50 Watt ERP.

73 Alex IV3KKW
A.R.I. - VHF & Up Manager Coordinator
IV3KKW Alessandro Carletti
Microwavedagen Heelweg 2013 (NL)
10-12-2012
ON4AVJ

Beste Microgolf enthousiast,
Op Zaterdag 19 januari 2013 bent u weer van harte welkom op onze microgolf meeting in Westendorp.

Aan het begin van weer een nieuw jaar kunnen er weer heel veel ervaringen en ideeën worden uitgewisseld. Natuurlijk brengt u allen uw zelfbouw spullen mee die vanzelfsprekend ook weer professioneel kunnen worden gemeten door het 2013 meetteam bestaande uit: PA0JEN, PE1BMC, PE1FOD, PA0EHG, PA7JB, PA3CEG, PE1FYB, PB0AOK, PE0SSB, PA1KR, PA2M, PA0RYL en PA3ACJ.

De volgende meetapparatuur is beschikbaar:
  • Sweepers 0-26 GHz.
  • Spectrumanalyzers tot 26 GHz.
  • Spectrumanalyzer 10KHz - 3.8GHz + Tracking generator ; Voor het meten van Filters, couplers, SWR en signalen.
  • Meetzender 10Khz - 3.3GHz (AM, FM, CW, en puls).
  • SWR 5MHz - 3.0GHz (RF-SWR Brug).
  • Spectrumanalyzer tot 325 GHz.
  • Vector netwerk analyzer tot 20 GHz ( neem een 3.5" diskette mee waarop de meetresultaten kunnen worden opgeslagen).
  • Tektronix Videogenerator met sin x/x signaal.
  • Tektronix VM700 video meetset.
  • Barco Receiver I en II ontvanger/videodemodulator met meetkoppen voor 23cm 13cm en 3cm.
  • NKF videodemodulator met baseband ingang voor het meten aan baseband atv modules.
  • Spectrum analyser Agilent tot 3GHz.
  • Ruisgetalmeter tot 24 GHz.
  • Ruisgetalmeter 47 GHz.
  • Powermeter tot 76 GHz.
  • Afregelunit 24 GHz Filters.
  • Signaalgenerator van 0 tot 18,6 GHZ (Mar 2031 / HP8673) FM smal- en breedband dus ook ATV.
  • Spectrumanalyzer van 0 - 26,5 (of 31,8) GHz + Tracking tot 2,7 GHz.
  • AM - 70 cm ATV generator.
  • Counter tot 24 GHz met rubidium stabilisatie.
  • Powermeter tot 250 Watt tot 2,5 GHz.
  • Rubidium en GPS based frequentie standaard 10 Mhz.
  • HP 5370 Time Interval Meter.
  • HP 3336 B Signal Generator.
  • HP 8405A Vector Voltmeter.
  • GPIB control software based on KE5FX programs.

Wat kunt u laten meten?
  • Voorversterkers: Ruisgetal en versterking.
  • SHF stralers / antennes: Frequentie en aanpassing.
  • Filters: doorlaat, aanpassing en demping.
  • Overgang coax naar golfpijp.
  • Versterkers: versterking en uitgangsvermogen.
  • Spectrumanalyse: mixers, oscillatoren zenders etc... >100 GHz.
  • IJken van zelfbouw meetapparatuur zoals powermeters, ruisbronnen, SWR bruggen, couplers, bakens etc...
  • ATV basisband:
  • Frequentiekarakteristiek, Groepslooptijd, Statische lineariteit, Kleuren vectoren, SRA gewogen en ongewogen, Brom, Reactie van PLL regellus op zwart/wit/zwart sprongen.
  • Fase en frequentie van uw GPS 10 MHz standaard.

Heeft u een speciale "meetwens"? Stuur een mail. Er is nog veel meer meetapparatuur beschikbaar!!!

Vanwege de beperkte ruimte is alleen kleinschalige verkoop van microgolf spullen toegestaan. Wilt u een tafel reserveren stuur dan z.s.m. een mail want vol is vol!

Volg onze website voor updates www.pamicrowaves.nl.
AiseKom2 balloon to be launched
29-07-2012
ON5EX
Next Sunday, July 29, AiseKom #2 will be launched in Bilbao (Spain). Onboard is a crossband UHF (up) VHF 145.950 MHz (down) repeater. The balloon is expected to rise up to 30 km, providing full coverage of Europe. The uplink data is not available at this time.

Launch time: 29/07/2012 at 08:00 UTC.
APRS: EG2EE-11.
Web info.
Twitter: #aisekom.
Facebook.
Surprise from DARC for IARU R1 VHF competitors
07-06-2012
ON4AVJ
We, the German amateur radio club, DARC, would like to invite all participants of the
  • IARU-Region-1 145 MHz September Contest 2011 (03/04 September 2011)
  • IARU-Region-1 UHF/Microwaves October Contest 2011 (01/02 October 2011)

To the award ceremony at the ham radio fair in Friedrichshafen (www.hamradio-friedrichshafen.de).

The award ceremony takes place on Saturday 23 June 2011 15:00 local time (MESZ) in the foyer (near the entrance area).

Especially the following stations, operators and crews are welcome:

5P5T, DB6NT, DF0MU, DG1BHA, DL0GTH, DL0TS, DM7A, DR9A, F5OAU,
G3XDY, OM3RM, OK1AIY, OK1MAC, OK1RF, OK1YA, OL4K, S57C, SP6GWB

Beside the cups we have some goodies for a lot of participants.

--
CU & 73 de Martin, DL5NAH
70 MHz and the fieldday
29-05-2012
ON4AVJ
On May 5th our regulator gave us a new band on 70 MHz (70.200 to 70.400 MHz) in Belgium. During this fieldday it will be possible to use this new band, if the station is working in compliance with the regulations (HAREC license) and that our regulator is informed.
50MHz band
20-05-2012
ON4IQ
Dankzij 2x Es hop en de TEP was het mogelijk om vandaag met o.a 3B8DB FR4NT te werken. Via de dubbele Es hop A92IO JY4NE 4X J28AA ST2AR.
50MHz band
18-05-2012
ON4IQ
Opnieuw een avondopening (19:30 UTC) (TEP+Es link) richting PY. Ook ZD7VC was actief en werd in Europa gewerkt.
New Beacon
07-04-2012
ON4AVJ

Thanks to the cooperation from Italian and Hungarian OM and the helpfulness of Pieter V51PJ, we have now 2 new beacons on air from Namibia for TEP observations.
They are 24h a day QRV from JG82IE.

Callsign V51VHF.

70.005 CW - 35 Watt - 6el. DK7ZB beam N.
144.430 CW - ? Watt - 10el. DK7ZB beam N.

We all hope to receive them soon.

Best 73's Alex IV3KKW
7P8EME DXpedition
06-09-2011
ON4AVJ
A lot of planning, accumulation of equipment and antenna development and cost has gone into the project over the last number of years. The total antenna systems has been re-developed and re-built by Pine, ZS6OB, since the last expedition to Namibia - that expedition was voted the 3rd best expedition world wide out of 69 expeditions for that year - no mean feat for a small group of ZS Radio Amateurs.

This will be a record setting International DXpedition for EME, as far as infrastructure, equipment, band coverage and antenna systems are concerned, which has ever visited another country - all with mobile equipment. The group will be covering all the VHF/UHF frequencies from 50 to 1 296 MHz [excluding 4 metres] on EME.

The venue will be at Ramabanta Trading Post. The Grid locator is KG30vi. The team will operate under the call sign 7P8EME.

There will also be limited HF mostly CW and 144 and 50 MHz - tropo and Meteor scatter operation to provide participation for local operators with smaller VHF and UHF stations.

The dates of the DXpedition are 14 to 26 September 2011. And the team is Pine, ZS6OB, (7P8EME); Wynand, ZS6ARF, (7P8QRO); Dick, ZS6BUN, (7P8BUN); Pieter, ZS6PA, (7P8PA); Dan, HB9CRQ, (7P8RQ) and Hermann, DL2NUD, (7P8HP).
Erika Pienaar and Lana Coats will be looking after the kitchen and feeding the team.

To support this DXpedition the South African Radio League has launched a fundraising initiative. You can assist by making a financial contribution.
Deposit your financial contribution in the SARL bank account, ABSA Account
4071 588 849. The branch code is 632 005.

When making an electronic transfer use 7P8 and your call sign as the payment reference and send an email to artoday [at] sarl [dot] org [dot] za ">artoday [at] sarl [dot] org [dot] za with details of your donation, your call sign and email address. You will receive an email acknowledgement and your call sign will be added to the list of supporters.

Your donation to the project will be appreciated and acknowledged. For more information, visit www.amateurradio.org.za/7P8.htm.
Es to 4X...
21-08-2011
ON4AVJ
On July 1st Michel, ON7EH, had the opportunity to work Andy 4Z5LY. This cover a distance of 3202 Km. Both stations where received with 59 signals.
Station details:
  • 4Z5LY:
    • KM72MS
    • 600W
    • 8el DK7ZB
  • ON7EH:
    • JO20FV
    • 250W
    • 12el M2
EME Conference Cambridge 2012
21-08-2011
ON4AVJ
Hello Folks
Today it is exactly one year from the start of the 15th International EME conference which will be held next year in Cambridge England.
The conference will start on Thursday 16th August with a tour to Bletchley Park the WW2 code breaking establishment and home of a replica of the worlds first electronic computer. The main conference takes place on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th. A comprehensive partners program is being developed. The venue is Churchill College Cambridge.
Accommodation will be available from the evening of Wednesday 15th through to the morning of Sunday 19th. To provide best value the organising committee are arranging inclusive packages to minimise those hidden extras. The details will be published and the booking web site opened by January 2012.

In the mean time more information will be posted on the conference web site at http://www.eme2012.com.
Anyone with products of interest to the EME community, who would like to promote them at the conference or by taking advertising in the conference proceedings please contact me by direct email. I'm on the list or google G4NNS.
Thank you for allowing me to take this bandwidth on behalf of the organising committee.

CU at Cambridge in 2012
Vy 73 Brian G4NNS
AEGEAN VHF CONTEST 2011
28-06-2011
ON4AVJ
We are sending you our greetings from Greece and the Aegean Sea.
The Aegean DX Group with great joy, informs you that in 2 & 3 of July 2011 the 10th AEGEAN UHF/VHF & 6m Contest will take place.
Many station with special callsigns will operate from all over Greece (J4x, SXx, SZ, SV 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7), as well as from all the Greek Islands (J4x, SXx, SZ, SV 5, 8, 9) and from all Greek Locators and of course in every mode CW, SSB, FM, RTTY, SSTV, PSK etc...
It will be a great opportunity for every radioamateur to get QSL cards from Greek stations on VHF for their VHF Awards or to simply to confirm Greece on VHF & 6m.
The Contest will be held according to the IARU Band Plan of Region-1 on 50, 144, 432 ΜΗΖ. There will be not any QSOs in FM modulation on 50 ΜΗΖ because it is restricted by the Greek authorities.
For any information please send email to SV2DCD Leonida Fiska, contest manager: sv2dcd [at] yahoo [dot] com or a letter to the following address:
AEGEAN DX GROUP
P.O. ΒΟΧ 4
Samos Isl GR83100
HELLAS

Further information and contest rules at http://www.5-9report.gr/aegean.htm.
New 50 MHz Contest
19-05-2011
ON4AVJ
This new contest is created by www.rasedx.com and the rules are very easy: only 4 hours of transmission in three sundays this spring and summer.
This is a world wide contest on 50 MHz and if the propagation is good it good be great fun on 50MHz.
For the contest rules please see http://www.rasedx.com/documentos/50raseing.pdf 
First QSO CU8-ON
17-05-2011
ON4AVJ
Dears,
I'm proud and happy to report a (actually 2) QSO on May 16th with CU8AO (HM49KL) on 144MHz via (mostly) sea tropo.
  • 21:53 CU8AO 51 51 HM49KL
  • 22:02 CU8AO 52 52 HM49KL
  • CU8DUB/B up to 549 as from 21:00

This makes a distance of 2986km and a first ON-CU on that band.

Click here to hear a recording of the CU8DUB/B beacon (144.420) and CU8AO calling CQ.

Gaëtan
ON4KHG
ArisSat
13-02-2011
ON4AVJ
ARISSat-1 is scheduled for deployment from the ISS next Wednesday Feb 16th.
It has a composite VHF downlink that will easily fit into the FUNcube Dongle receive spectrum. The telemetry is 1 kbit BPSK and can, of course, also be received with a normal SSB 2 metre receiver.

The expected signal levels from ARISSat should be similar to those we expect from FUNcube itself (and also eventually from UKube) and the team are keen to discover what will be the minimum and best type of antennas for schools to use with a FCD. Therefore user experience with the ARISSat signals will be very valuable in making this determination.

To encourage everyone to receive ARISSat signals we are offering a FUN reward for listeners!

There are a number of categories for this challenge –they include:
  1. The first FCD user, from each continent, who can post a spectrum recording of the received signal together with evidence of decoding the data using the ARISSat software and of sending it to the ARISSat data warehouse.
  2. The first non-FCD user, from each continent, who can provide evidence of having decoded the signals and of sending it to the ARISSat data warehouse.
  3. The listener, using a FCD or not, who can demonstrate satisfactory reception of the telemetry in the same ways as described above, using the "smallest" possible receive antenna. The actual closing date for this part of the challenge will be announced later.
All other entrants who can demonstrate that they have been having FUN!
Please submit your "entries", including your location, station details (including FCD serial number where applicable), postal address and reports to g0auk [at] amsat [dot] org.

Good luck,
New satellite website
14-01-2011
ON4AVJ
Our friend ON8PM, has made a new satellite website with a lot of information.
Go and visit Satellite Activity.
70 MHz in Iceland
27-12-2010
ON4AVJ
The national association of Icelandic Radio Amateurs, Í.R.A., is pleased to announce that as of December 13, 2010 continued access for Icelandic licensees has been secured on the 500 kHz, 5 MHz and 70 MHz bands. In a letter from the Icelandic Post and Telecom administration dated December 13, 2010 access to the 500 kHz and 70 MHz bands previously granted on February 19, 2010, and to the 5 MHz band, previously granted on January 1, 2008 – all due to expire on December 31, was extended for two years, to December 31, 2012.
 
Privileges and access to 500 kHz and 70 MHz remains unchanged (see below). Nevertheless, Í.R.A. is delighted to report that we have been granted 150 kHz in the 5360-5410 kHz band, as a replacement for eight fixed channels, previously permissible. Maximum power allowed on 5 MHz was though reduced from 200W to 100W (20 dBW).
 
THE 4 mETER allocation. Frequency span: 70.000-70.200 MHz. Access is granted on secondary basis. Maximum bandwidth is 16 kHz and power limit is 100W. Licensees need to apply to the PTA for a special license. The experimental license is open to both “N” and “G” license classes.
 
Dutch Amateur Contest (DAC)
16-10-2010
ON4AVJ

I am very pleased to inform you that the VERON VHF commission has decided to approve my proposal to introduce the Dutch Amateur Contest (DAC).
The first contest will be Tuesday January 4 in line with the NAC and the UKAC. The bands and dates are exact copies of the NAC.

50 MHz in Oman
13-08-2010
ON4AVJ
In a letter dated 4 August 2010, Brgd. Abdulrazak Alshahwarzi, A41JT, the Secretary General of the Royal Omani Amateur Radio Society, informs that the 6 metre band (50 – 52 MHz) has been allocated for the Amateur Radio and Amateur Radio usage by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority in the Sultanate of Oman, on a secondary basis, effective June 2010.
 
Radio amateurs in the Sultanate of Oman hope to work you on the "Magic Band."
QRP moonbounce on 5.7 GHz
14-07-2010
ON4AVJ
Hi all,

Good activity on 5,7 GHz EME was expected during the second week-end of july, thanks to the coordination of G3LTF.

I decided to have a try, using my 2,3 m offset dish and the system used normally for tropo and rain scatter.
This system consists of a transverter kit from DB6NT and a modified surplus 6 GHz amplifier, giving about 8 W output.
Noise figure of the system is around 1 dB.

The 5,7 GHz transverter has an output on 144 MHz and is followed by another transverter 144 to 28 MHz.
There are various 28 MHz outputs. One output goes to a yaesu FT840 HF transceiver.
Another output goes to an SDR, and another one to a calibrated 28 MHz receiver, allowing precise measure of sun noise and moon noise.
During operation, permanent reading of moon noise allows perfect aiming of the dish and confirms that the system is working alright.

Most EME stations use circular polarization, so a "septum feed" was built following a description by OK1DFC.
Dimensions were adapted in order to illuminate correctly the offset dish.

After optimizing carefully the position of the feed, I could measure 0,5 to 0,6 dB of moon noise versus cold sky. Sun noise was a good 10,5 dB, meaning that the receiving side was working correctly. The feed has some sidelobes and is far from perfect, but efficiency seems to be quite good.

Now the results: during the week-end, 13 stations from Europe, USA and Japan were heard.
To my great surprise, some of them were even able to decode my QRP signal and 3 good QSOs resulted !!!

Conclusion: this band offers very interesting possibilities for the experimenter.
Tropospheric propagation and rain-scatter allow surprisingly good distances even with very small set-ups.
The above results also shows that EME contacts are possible with very low power, thanks to the amazing receiving capability of some stations.

73
Eric
ON5TA
Croatian 50/70 MHz Contest
13-05-2010
ON4AVJ

Croatian Amateur Radio Association invites you to participate in the third Croatian 50/70MHz contest on Saturday, May 15th 2010 from 12.00-17.00 UTC.
Contest rules can be found at: http://www.hrvhf.net/upload/croatian_50_70mhz_rules.pdf

Prizes: The first three stations in each category PLAQUES
Logs you can put by yourself on our VHF contest robot www.hrvhf.net Contest tab > upload EDI.
It's very simple.

73
Mate 9A4M
Croatian VHF/UHF/mw manager

ON0VHF and propagation....
11-05-2010
ON4AVJ
DL7AFB wrote tu us about ON4VHF....

Dear OM's,
during last VHF contest I made a record of your beacon ON0VHF, which is always audible from my fieldday location in JO62JA, 588km away. Conditions were moderate, but the beacon was readable anyway.
Please listen to the sound sample on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neVnSNYYmNE
best regards
Bodo, DL7AFB
First contact JA-ON on 3cm
28-02-2010
ON4AVJ

Yesterday Eric, ON5TA had a first QSO with JA on the 3cm Band EME. 
Congratulations....

The QSOs needed quite a lot of preparation work, because japanese hams are only allowed to transmit on 10.450 MHz, not on 10.368 MHZ.
So a new receiving system had to be build here in order to be able to make "crossband" contacts.

We also needed a common window and the best possible moon conditions. These conditions were met yesterday, but wind could have been a problem.
The japanese hams used big 5 to 6m dishes, very sharp on 3 cm, which make aiming to the moon very difficult with the slightest wind.
As you know, we had wind here yesterday evening, but it was manageable during the QSOs

This why JA4BLC is talking about "a miracle" in his mail. HI !

A little piece of the mail of JA6CZD
Hi Eric,
Yes, QSO by ON5TA-JA6CZD is the first ever between ON-JA on 3cm EME, GREAT!
Me too very much pleased to work you. You are MY #3 on 3cm EME and good signal as well as G4KGC I worked 30minutes before.
It was miracle no wind happened during our QSO.


 

Iceland on 70MHz
22-02-2010
ON4AVJ
On February 19, 2010 The Post and Telecom Administration in Iceland granted a temporary experimental access to the 4 meter band in Iceland. The permit is valid until December 31, 2010.

Frequency span: 70.000-70.200 MHz. Access is granted on secondary basis. Maximum bandwidth is 16 kHz and power limit is 100 W.

Licensees need to apply to the PTA for a special license. The experimental license is open to both “N” and “G” license classes.
Congratulations Dirk
07-12-2009
ON4AVJ
Dirk, ON5GS, went on a Dxpedition last year november, during the BCC Meteor contest as EI/ON5GS/P. He activated the squares IO55 and IO65.

With a score of 128 QSO he is the winner of this contest in the Single OP class.
You can find the complete results on this page  
First VK-ON on 3cm..
06-11-2009
ON4AVJ

On November 5th Eric ON5TA managed to have a QSO with Charlie VK3NX.
They had both problems with the automatic moon tracking system, but the could finish the QSO. 

A few senteces from the mail received from Charlie:
 
Firstly  TU TU !!
What a wonderful signal you have.  For me it was “speaker” copy  (no need for tin cans)
I find it very hard to believe you only have 2.3m dish and 30 W.  It is a credit to your “attention to detail”. Your signal was “huge”!
I have only worked 14 initials on 10 GHz  but your’s was easier to copy than some “bigger stations”
I could only just hear my echoes today  but I heard you every period.  A few times I stopped hearing you in the middle of a sequence,  I guess wind at your end?...  or perhaps you do what I do and need to re-align on moon noise in the middle of a sked?
 
Thank you for trying again and I am very happy that we have had such good success (now  that I was looking on the right freq...Hi..Hi..)
 
Unfortunately halfway through the sked for the 1st time ever I “blew up” the regulator on my Azimuth control!...I had to operate the Az  movement in “Slow mode”  so it took a lot of effort to  keep on the moon......and also Murphy tried hard to stop me because TWTA Helix current kept “tripping” the alarm circuit  because of moisture in the air.......
 
....but none of this matters,  because of the wonderful success.  It  is a “ majic” achievement for me each time I work a new station. 
Many tnx  and hpe to cuagn on 10 GHz  and perhaps another band?
 
73  and GL
Charlie

F/ON6MG in JN04
03-10-2009
ON4AVJ
Alain ON6MG will be QRV in the Marconi contest on 07/11 and 08/11 from JN04 on 144 Mhz cw. He will use the call F/ON6MG/P département 46.
Rig 100watt and 9 el yagi antenna.
Vecchiacchi memorial day
15-09-2009
ON4AVJ
The ARI of ARI Lucca is organizing on 1th and 2th december the "Vecchiacchi memorial day".
On 5th in 2m; On 6th in 70cm 23cm 10Ghz and up.
If want more information, see www.arilucca.it.
3 cm QSOs between ON - VE
13-09-2009
ON4AVJ
A lttle 3 cm TWT amplifier was installed yesterday on the back of my 2.3 m offset dish.
I also replaced the coax relay with a waveguide switch + W/G preamp.
Have now 1.3 dB moon noise and abt 13.4 dB sun noise/cs, which is much better than before.
Contacted this morning: F2TU, OK1KIR, F5JWF (#), IQ4DF, W5LUA (#), VE4MA (#) and ES5PC (#).
These could be the first 3 cm QSOs between ON - VE and ON - ES.
Thanks to all for a very enjoyable morning !
73 de Eric
ON5TA
Meteor Scatter Sprint Contest 12 august 2009
31-07-2009
ON4AVJ
 
 
The VHF-DX-Portal MMMonVHF in cooperation with the magazines DUBUS and Funk-Telegramm (by Joachim, DL8HCZ) invited you to take part in our new 144 MHz Meteorscatter Sprint Contest,
which took place for the first time in the 2008 Perseid shower.
The 144 MHz Meteorscatter Sprint Contest will take place each year on the day of the from IMO (International Meteor Organization) announced maximum of the Perseid shower.
Feel free to download the rules in English or German
ON0VHF
27-07-2009
ON4AVJ

Translation needed

La balise ON0VHF a produit quelques perturbations dans le segment DX en VHF. Ce problème a été corrigé grâce à Pierre ON7PC et ON0VHF dispose d'un nouvel émetteur. Les rapports peuvent être envoyés à vhf [at] uba [dot] be
World Moon Bounce Day - June 27th 2009
03-07-2009
ON4AVJ
On Saturday, June 27th, many of the world’s large parabolic antennas (sometimes called dishes) will stop their normal space work and swing around to track the moon when it rises. EOA volunteers will then use the EME or Moon Bounce transmissions to link up with other dishes worldwide via the moon. Signals are literally being bounced off the moon’s surface and back to other stations on earth where they are received some 2.5 seconds later.

There has never been so many dishes pointed at the moon since the lunar landings and possibly this will even break that record.

More info:
ON7ARQ/MM is activating squares
20-05-2009
ON4AVJ

Patrick, ON7ARQ/MM will be QRV /MM on the Costa Europa between May 28th and June 8th with a Yaesu FT817 (5W max) on 50-144-432Mhz.
Dates:
  • 28/05 Savona (JN44) Italy,
  • 29/05 Barcelona (JN11).
  • Passing Balearic Islands,
  • 31/05 Casablanca (IM63),
  • 01/06 Agadir,
  • 02/06 Arrecife (IL28), Lanzarote
  • 03/06 Santa Cruz (IL18), Teneriffe,
  • 04/06Funchal (IM12) Madeira,
  • 06/06 Malaga (IM76) (UBA-contest 6m + EA-contest).
  • Passing Balearic Islands
  • 08/06 Savona - Italy.
Hope for good 6m-conditions, and participation of EA-contest June 6-7th.
Note: June 2008 on the Island of Elba (IA5) was very poor on VHF-bands.
QSL via home call.
70 MHz open in OM
14-05-2009
ON4AVJ
Since May 1st, 2009 we have an access to 70 MHz band:
  • Segment 70,250 - 70,350 MHz
  • Max. 10 W ERP
  • Extra class only
  • Each station must apply for a special permission for 70 MHz 
I hope there will be a good activity from Slovakia on 4m. 
Roman Kudlac, OM3EI 
President of SARA
IARU Region 1 50 MHz Contest
11-05-2009
ON4AVJ
Dear OM's,
 
On behalf of the IARU Region 1 we would like to invite you and your fellow radio amateurs to participate in the 50 MHz Region 1 IARU Contest. We have pleasure of informing you that this year PZK (Polski Zwiazek Krotkofalowcow- Polish Amateur Radio Union) is adjudicating 50 MHz Region 1 IARU Contest.
 
Please find all information in attached documents:
 
 
 
VHF Manager of PZK                              Vice President of PZK
 
Piotr Szolkowski, SP5QAT                       Bogdan Machowiak, SP3IQ
F5ICN JN03
21-04-2009
ON4AVJ
F5ICN will be QRV from JN03BF the first week of may (dept 65).

He will be QRV every morning on 144.265, 432MHz and 1296 MHz.



DX-PEDITION - F/ON7VA/P - IN98QL
21-04-2009
ON4AVJ

ON7VA, Eddy Claes, will be QRV all bands from 02/05/2009 - 09/05/2009.

On 02 and 03/05/2009 QRV on 2m.

SPECIAL EDITION of QSL-Card 100% for each QSO on different bands.

F/ON7VA/P - Eddy - IN98QL - QTH: CEAUCE - La Vérie -Department 61 - ORNE.
 


 

Most Wanted squares 2009
21-04-2009
ON4AVJ

Make more miles on VHF has publishe the list of the most wanted squares.
You will find the list with this link

4 meter beacon in OE
21-04-2009
ON4AVJ

We are happy to announce, that we received a license to operate a beacon on the 4 m band.
 

  • Callsign: OE5QL
  • The beacon frequency is: 70,045 MHz
  • Locator: JN78CJ
  • Height: 840m ASL
  • Antenna: Half-Wave Vertical
  •  

This is no Amateur Radio Call the Austrian PTT said, it is an Experimental Operation Radio Call.

Well, there are some restrictions:

  • Time limit is 1 June and until 31 August 2009.
  • Transmission is only 2 minutes per sequence between 04:00 and 19:47 UTC.
  • Each sequence begins at full hour +00 min., +15 min., +30 min. and +45 min, e.g. 04:00-04:02, 04:15-04:17, 04:30-04:32 and 04:45-04:47.
  • Transmission power is 1 W ERP the first minute of each sequence and 5 W ERP the second minute of each sequence.


If the beacon does not interfere with services outside of Austria, an extension is possible after August 2009 the Austrian PTT said.
Anyway after August 2009 we will try to negotiations for 24/7 duration period for the beacon.

OEVSV VHF Manager
OE5MPL