30 Metre Modes in EI-Land
Dáithí GI7OMY, who is the award manager for the 30 metre digital group for WISE (worked Wales, Ireland, Scotland and England) has pointed out that he has had
to reject several applications recently where one of the submitted QSOs showed an EI station operating PSK on 30 metres, because Irish regulations allow Morse
only on the 30 metre band.
While the IARU band plan shows "digimodes" from 10140 to 10150, the regulations for EI experimenters do not allow digimodes on this band. We plan to ask ComReg whether the restriction for EI experimenters is really necessary, given the provisions of the band plan, but pending any change in the regulations, EI experimenters should stick to CW only on 30 metres
Revised 40 Metre Band Plan
At the recent IARU Region 1 Conference in Cavtat, Croatia, a new advisory band plan was adopted for the 7MHz band to be effective from 29 March 2009. This is the date by which broadcast stations should have vacated the 7.1 to 7.2MHz segment. It then becomes an amateur primary allocation in accordance with the decision of WRC 03.
Stolen Rig
VU3HPF is currently staying in Feltham, Middlesex. The house was broken into and a few items were stolen including a Kenwood TH F7A radio, the 3-band American version. They left the rubber ducky and the charger behind. If anyone comes across a similar radio up for sale, it will be greatly appreciated if they could e-mail vu3hpf@gmail.com.
KP5, DESECHEO ISLAND
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has notified the team that February 12-26, 2009, will be the dates allocated for the radio operation. These dates are coordinated with other USFWS research activities scheduled on other parts of Desecheo Island as well as scheduling USFWS security personnel for the camp. Fifteen operators will be allowed on the island at any given time.
A total of 6-8 stations will be operational, including 160-6 meters.
A reconnaissance trip to Desecheo is scheduled for Friday, December 19th.
Three team members, USFWS personnel and an UXO (unexploded ordnance) expert will sweep and clear the assigned area of UXO and other hazards.There will be no radio operations.
The 15-man team will assemble in Puerto Rico on February 8, 2009, for mandatory UXO training. The next three days will include team operations training, and last minute preparation and staging of the several tons of equipment for transport. On February 12th, landing will commence and two stations will be immediately activated. Likewise, stations will continue to operate until the final moments before departure on February 26th.
Halfway through the operation, on February 19th, approximately half of the operating team will be replaced with fresh operators for the final week.
The team has been diligently planning antennas and propagation paths to take advantage of every possible band opening to Asia, where Desecheo is #2 on the Most Wanted List and to Europe, where it is #3 on the Most Wanted List.