Busy year in my Ham Radio world..praying for better

Spending time with Ham radio friends here in the Philippines. Attending up coming conventions and still have memories of the past ones. Last 2 months were close by to my location.

This was a super program where many put on display of the programs there into. Like satellite dxing with the ones that pass over our location. One person showing off his Arrow style antenna to work a bird on the pass. I hoped to do the same thing but not too successful yet. Need a better antenna but it hasn't stopped me from monitoring and doing the APRS system. So far I have worked 4 or 5 just on passes and even got 2 confirmed via the APRS. YB0X-1 was just such a satellite it is IO-86 which is operated by the Indonesian's for monitoring weather and maritime and more.
I monitor on 145.825 mhz daily since I got interested in the satellites again. So far have seen and worked PSAT2,IO-85(YB0X-1) AISAT, ISS, and a few others. I also listen occassionally to AO-91,92 and SO-50. Problem my antenna is not able to work the other satellites according to locals here.

Leo and Anthony 4I1AWN

Althought wasn't at the Tagaytay program we did see a model of one of the recent satellites built for the Philippines.

The antenna is home made and some time when I can I plan to get one but in the mean time have to settle with what I have in my collection. I got a Elk that needs a extra part but will work for now with some of the satellites. I also been trying to get a new battery for my FT-530 HT radio, which has been in storage for 3 yrs. Batteries for this radio is no longer sold in most stores, and have to be special purchased. I went through one place and the battery was reasonably priced,$36 but shipping was not reasonable. It was $60 in price and that was only because it was for international shipping prices. So instead of paying for the tax and postage in America, which maybe only $10 more, your paying $92 for the total package.

As stated earlier in the meantime I still listen when I can with the satellites mostly on APRS and sometimes the weather satellites.

There is a problem here in the Philippines where rules on the airwaves don't seem to apply for some unlike in America where if you have a station operating out of band or jams the stations they get nabbed by the FCC and sent notices. NTC doesn't seem to monitor violators on the bands or don't seem to know when these persons are on. I was listening to 137.100 mhz this morning and found some one using it for a form of business. Baofeng radios are easily purchase here and this maybe one of those types.

Back in November I purchased a Antenna from a local supplier which was a Comet H-422, the antenna was later installed and with the help of my son and friends we got it up on a mast near our place. The antenna looked good but later discovered the antenna wasn't tuned right. I made a mistake on the antenna. I had 2 more dipoles(wire antennas) that I made the mistake of setting in the wrong spot. I ran them across the inside of the H-422. Right in the center of the V area. Which caused great problems. It kept me off the airwaves for nearly 3 months. We took the antenna down many times to correct the problems but needed help to make sure the antenna was set right. I have an old antenna analyzer that still needs batteries and or a power supply. I asked around but people are shy to loan one out. 

After 4 months of being off HF and not having any help mainly due to the summer month heat here. I finally got back on the airwaves. The dipoles helped on that part. I worked the nets on 40m and last night worked 80m

Thanks to:

JA4KDT,JA2KVD,JA6TKY,VR6CO and JF3MKC

I will be attending another program here soon and hope to learn more on local programs, they will have programs on DMR Radios and also Ham radio related programs.

I joined Boxchip DMR radio and hope in selling the radio's I even have a Boxchip site on Facebook but the problem here in the Philippines was too many obstacles to purchase, but its still available. My partner Ella Li informed me we have new products coming out, and one radio is out of production soon. 

https://www.facebook.com/n6hpx1/?modal=admin_todo_tour

If your interested in Buying these fantastic radios contact me at n6hpx1@gmail.com

I am also on Twitter and Facebook 

https://twitter.com/du1n6hpx

https://www.facebook.com/n6hpxdu1

73 from Philippines 

I am usually on 3 different frequencies 

DX1PAR 7095 khz

DX1PRS 7165 & 145.34 mhz

Voice of Mongolia and some CW Stations

Voice of Mongolia

09:00 to 09:30 utc on 12085 khz in english only a half hour some interviews and music 

23:35 utc till  around 23:45 utc

HLW 17130 SOUL SK 23:35 UTC
HLO 16990 SOUL SK  23:45 UTC
HLW2 12923.5 
HLF  12916.5

QSL CARD FROM
VK2DON 12M 01-29-2002

IARU FROM DU PHILIPPINES

I A R U CONTEST 2013

WORKED THE FOLLOWING STATIONS FROM MANILA PHILIPPINES DURING THE IARU CONTEST 2013


40 METERS:7000 TO 7200 KHZ
W6YI             SAN DIEGO,CALIFORNIA
DV8BQI        DIPOLOG CITY PHILIPPINES
W7WA          WANNA  WASHINGTON
DX1PUP       CLUB STATION STA. MESA MANILA
YB1KI          BOGOR INDONESIA
DX1HQ        Q.C.,MANILA
8N4HQ         IARU CONTEST STATION OKAYAMA JAPAN
YG9RGA      SORONG INDONESIA
DU1IVT       MANILA PHILIPPINES

15 METERS: 21000 TO 21450 KHZ

RZ9UI       POLYSAEVO, RUSSIA
BY1LX     CHINA
JH0JDV    NIIGATA JAPAN
9M4CC    SELANGOR MALAYSIA
YE0HQ    JAKARTA INDONESIA
BY9AA    CHINA

THE PURPOSE OF THE CONTEST IS TO WORK AS MANY ITU ZONES IN A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME USUALLY 24 TO 48 HOURS. THE STATION WITH THE MOST CONTACTS DURING THE TIME PERIOD USUALLY GETS A CERTIFICATE OR AWARD OF SOME KIND, THIS CAN BE ALOT OF FUN AS IT GIVES A HAM A CHANCE TO SEE WHAT HIS STATION IS ABLE TO DO.

73 FROM MANILA PHILIPPINES

    Some of the Korean stations I hear here is not exactly Korean or English but in CW or Morse code and it was f ound around 12932 to 12919 khz, I often times listen in to CW as it gives me a different way of practicing morse as well.

   Learning it was fun but in the days I was licensed you had to do it in order to get on the airwaves and as the man on TV said No one is getting in my way.

  73 from Manila Philippines

6m opennings in Manila from Japan

Occassionally the magic band opens up for me here in the Philippines and here is one of those openings back in March 2012 . Sometimes my opennings occur in the afternoon here and this one is one of those times.

world@ruvr.ru

Dear Mr Fields,

Thank you for your letter and the information on the time you tune in to the Voice ofRussia’s broadcasts.

We hope you will include this data in your future reception reports, thank you for consideration.

Wishing you good and enjoyable listening and looking forward to hearing from you soon again.

Sincerely yours,

Elena Osipova
Letters Department
World Service
Voice ofRussia

Many stations do reply either by letter or via email and these stations sometimes wish to gather more info from you.

My mistake here was failure to mention the time of the broadcasts

Most want not only what you hear but when heard like as example

15170 khz at 0900 utc Voice of Russia followed by the program of that broadcasts which could be anything from world news or famous people or others . I did fail to mention the the time of the broadcasts, which is very important for them as well as us.

Many people wonder about what the difference is about the UTC time spot and this is very important. For example if you heard a station operating on the above time its less confusing to them as well as a Ham who mentions I will meet you at 2100. The question coming to mind is that 2100 local or international or 2100 in russia which if you live in other parts of the world could be there 3 am or 3 pm. Its better to adjust it to just 21:00 utc which is alot less confussing. You may still have to get up early to catch the broadcasts depending on what side of the world your on. But still easier than the other.

In this case they still sent me the QSL Card and sent the email telling me what I did wrong, I appreciate that as its better than not getting one or waiting 3 more months and not knowing if they did or not.

A great source of these broadcasts and others is from 3 sources

Monitoring times Magazine, Popular communications and World Radio TV Handbook. There is one more no longer in production and that Passport to world band radio and the last copy was in 2009. Look for these and you will find alot of info on shortwave, Ham radio and broadcasts.

73 and Happy Hunting

world@ruvr.ru

9:07 AM (1 hour ago)







to me







Dear Mr Fields,

Thank you for your letter and the information on the time you tune in to the Voice ofRussia’s broadcasts.

We hope you will include this data in your future reception reports, thank you for consideration.

Wishing you good and enjoyable listening and looking forward to hearing from you soon again.

Sincerely yours,

Elena Osipova
Letters Department
World Service
Voice ofRussia

 


 For several months I been traveling between Japan and Korea, mostly by ship and during that time spend my free time for a few hours a week listening to shortwave and Ham radio. Being a Ham for 30 yrs now. I was able to not only view some great receptions but also a few good sunsets at sea.

  My mornings are usually receiving around 2000 to 2100 utc and evenings around 0800-1000 utc and this is mainly shortwave. I found catches coming from the African world and some from Europe in the 2000-2200 utc time zones.

 The mornings I found coming on the airwaves and some leaving.

2000 utc 11800 khz DW Radio out of Africa with signals coming in strong in to the Korea/Japan areas at around 44455 and later hearing 11830 and 11865 khz the 11865 is somewhat covered in my area by NHK Japan and thats in Japanese. Confirmed QSL with the 11800 and 11830 khz. Both out of Africa.

2100 utc 11955 khz AWR Africa Ghana coming on in english and the words This adventists world radio Ghana and its followed by 30 minutes of music and info on Africa and gospal music. signals are strong 44455

2100 utc 11620 khz AIR in english with comments and news on India and world events

2100 utc 7205 khz China Radio english service with programs like People in the Know and this broadcasts does repeat at times in the evenings hours or later at 0800-1100 utc

I also found others as listed here.

2000 utc 15345 khz Argentina coming on at 2100 utc in German

2000 utc 10000 khz Brazilian Time station in Portugese mixing at times with the time signals of WWVH in Hawaii, at the half hour is BPM Taiwan with code.

2100 utc Voice of Korea on 15245 khz in english with comments on the great leaders.

Been here in the Philippines dodging some typhoons here and its been rainning everyday due to storms like TS Helen  this made it hard to do the antenna work I wanted to do but gave me a chance to work on my home station and be able to listen and clean the shack up. I have 2 radios dedicated here ham and shortwave and many times hunt for either ATC,Shortwave or Ham and been checking into regular to the PARA Ham Radio groups. There are thousands of members here that do good ham radio work and also some on the Shortwave bands as well.

Ob 40m I found a ham that was calling CQ CQ CQ DX and had trouble catching the callsigns of this station turned out what threw me was the call was YB67RI and the station was the 67th anniversary of the Indonesian Independence. The station alot of dx that night.

I need to point out here that if you work a station and also if you hear a shortwave broadcasts try to send a QSL Card to them on this so they will know that they are being heard around the world. No matter whether your into AM broadcasts or Shortwave or a beginner into the Ham Radio world. Its still a great hobby and they appreciate you very much. This is a great hobby and despite what others might think its not dying. The bad part is the loss of stations like Radio Netherlands which had some of the best programs around and the dx comments from others as well. I like others will miss these stations as they provided great services to the world where internet is either blocked or banned from the world, and also those who gain great knowledge of the outside world via free broadcasts receptions I always listened to Radio Romania in the mornings off japan and korea and they always provided some neat services. I heard they soon would be leaving as well. Maybe the stations dont think there being heard and thats why we as radio buffs and others should send in those cards and letters to show appreciation for the great programs they provide.

Happy Hunting to all my fellow dx chasers and 73
am on Facebook and Twitter and can be emailed at n6hpx1@gmail.com

   The past few weeks I been hanging out in southern japan area, a place called Sasebo. My ship is anchored in the harbor. Every morning I get up around 05:45 and head out on the ships deck usually armed with my morning brew of coffee and one of my 3 radios. At the moment I have on board the Yaesu FT817nd, Sangean 909(the original) and the Sony 7600gr. I been listening to mostly shortwave. I don't yet have a permit for the Japanese ham license yet but plan to get one soon.

   The propagation for my area has been mostly from Africa area.

Hearing on airwaves:

DW Radio: 11800, 11810 and 11865 khz at 21:00 utc

RNZI: 11725 khz also at 21:00 utc

CRI English: 7205 and 7405 khz at 21:00 utc

VOA English:7555 khz at 21:00 utc

AFN Guam: 13365 and 5765 khz these usually switch between at times, when it goes silent its probably switching to the other within a few minutes.

I also heard VofKorea but didn't log the frequency.

I enjoy the radio very much and usually spend my spare time in front of the rig. The one thing that is fun is to let others hear it and get involved with the catches. One thing that surprises me is when I usually hear comments from those around me saying were too far away or its probably going through a satellite. When many stations shut down like the Dutch services or others they usuaally have the same comments, no body hears us any more and usually listen via the internet. In my case the internet is considered expensive. And this is also the case for many others, no one I know of carry's a satellite receiver in there back pocket or can access the internet from sea, as its pretty expensive. The last time I price the inmarsat it was ranging around $6 per minute. I think the shortwave services just dont listen well enough to thosee who really want that over the horizon service, free from political problems. Countries like North Korea probably block or threaten there people about even hearing such services.

Ham and shortwave is alot of fun and is worth doing. If you get a chance check out Itunes and look up the Ham Nation program from Bob Heil and Gordon west. Do a google search and look up the 3rd program of that.

When you hear a station log it and send a post card to the station you heard.

73 and keep on listening the airwaves are full of surprises and alot of fun.

Larry Fields,
n6hpx1@gmail.com

Portable rig

  Am carrying a Yaesu FT817nd now as part of my gear and it seems like a great piece of equipment, I traveled from Japan to San Diego to go through some special trainning here and the class is in firefightning and water survival on the ship. The radio was always checked in the airport but unlike one other person who mentioned his was stolen, Mine went only 2 security checks. The first and last was in Fukuoka and Osaka Japan. They pulled it from the suitcase travel bag and reinstalled after the x-ray exams. I also carry a Icom 730 and a Yaesu FT5200r dual bander. This is an older unit but still has the codes for the different bands or repeaters.

While I was overseas I listened to alot of shortwave bands as well as Ham, and you could normally find me on the weather decks with the Sony7600gr or the Yaesu FT817nd doing this and I usually carry a sony cassette recorder for the programs I heard. I will post some of those in my blogs and also on my Facebook page soon. 73 to all and remember the airwaves are and always will be there for the world to hear and play with.

My listening fun and view of shortwave on Guam 2012

   Had a chance for first time in 7 months to visit the island and drove by the 2 shortwave stations that are here. KTWR and AWR which are usually within a few miles of where my ship docks and also where I do my radio ops or listening. KTWR hasnt changed neither has AWR at least on the outside. Haven't met anyone from either station but plan to do so some time soon. I took my radio gear out for a short try to work some dx but being a QRP radio I could hear but the pile ups on those heard left me in the dark. Alot of Maritime mobiles being heard on 14300 but again my transmit of 5 watts was small.

    About 4 months ago I got a Yaesu FT817nd and 15m end fed antenna but the more I think I should have broken down and gotten a monopole or something with more kick. Might try a different radio in the future and one with more power.

   73 and remember Ham and shortwave is a fun and non tiring hobby there is always something to hear and even if it dont work the first time keep on trying

http://hamspots.net/30mdg/

One of the best sites to check is this one http://hamspots.net/30mdg/, I often times visit it during my time in Manila while operating as DU1, I operate PSK31 and JT65HF which are 2 very good digital modes the difference between the 2 are simple. PSK31 allows you to do a full conversaation with a 2nd party such as me working a station from Japan or Poland where we can basically chat like what you do on Facebook, yahoo messenger or a few others. One problem is I am not sure if you can post a pic of your wife and that trip you had during the summer. JT65HF is a very short program, where you give off the basics like RSQ readiablity and short comments QSL is enroute or via hme call or where the stations Grid square is located. PK02ca or some others. If you check this site check to see who is on and who is working whom. If you do work PSK or JT comment on this site that you are seeing someone on the airwaves like DU1/N6HPX ON 14070 PSK31 this gives a person the chance to work my station or some one else who might be operating. Its a great system to view and see how the bandss are working. And remember its good also to qsl the station which gives them great pleasure that they worked a party on some remote island or country.

san diego airwaves

   The past few mornings I been listening with my sony7600gr and been picking up the Asian side of the world. I usually am working dx from that side when I am at home. I usually sit outside the office in the mornings listening to Broadcasts from other parts of the world and the past few daysbeen picking up.

Radio Veritas Philippines at 14:30 utc on 9515 khz in Bengali signals were at 44445

BBC  at 15:00 on 9740 khz

This morning catches in San Diego on March 13 2011

   This morning in San Diego I decided to carry my Sony 7600gr with me to the office and wanted to see if I could get some shortwave on the Damages from Japan. Instead of gathering alot of Shortwave I did manage to gather some ATC out of Manila and Singapore, the frequency is a popular one.

   8942 khz heard Manila trying to pass info to Cathay Pacific flight and gave alternate frequency on 6556 khz. This often done when they need to connect on a busy freq. Later I heard the same flight in transmissions with Singapore. Possibly the flight was passing in there air space.

  I found a neat web site that shows the location of flights going from point A to point B and the site I stumbled across just by Google. The site is listed  as Flight ware and it shows alot of locations of various flights, for me I check out both the Asia area and here in the States like San Diego or SFO.

  Check out the airwaves and see what you can hear. Log it and go from there.

Internet weather and disaster groups

   There are many on line to check out but here is a few of those that you can find info on disasters like that of Japan. This one in particular is from Japan itself. Check out this one.

http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/en/Services/indexe_services.html
others include NOAA,FEMA and a host of others the tsunami alert system is one to check daily.

The was word on a few site that JARL was listening and operating on 7030 khz. If you can transmit on that one at least listen in and you can get first hand idea what hams or emergency groups do.

also if you have a shortwave or your actually a Ham check out the www.satern.org website its a group of Hams who are members of the Salvation army.I heard em from my home in Manila Philippines. Some radios you can use is the Sangean 909 and Sony ssb units these radio I mention here as mention have SSB. Many of the Hams who operate on the airwaves use SSB or Digital modes. Check out the web sites of Hams and see where many are operating during this operation.

73 and Happy dx hunting

Ham Radio as a tool

Rare dx ON psk31

      Every once in a while there is what hams call Rare dx this is where a rare station is being heard either from a Remote island or remote land. In my case I often times hear a station that I have been hopeing on working for many years and have heard over several different occassions. Some times on dx contests or just pop ups on the bands. Yesterday was no exception to this as I was spending a few minutes before turning to bed.

      As I heard some PSK31 running over the airwaves I saw a call from 9A1CCB which for me is very rare to hear on the airwaves, signals were strong and I sent repeated calls back to him even tried turning up the power to 100 watts but still no luck on it. I was using a 30m end fed antenna to do the contact as my 20m double bazooka was destroyed years ago by a typhoon.here in the Philippines. No such luck with the station. My station worked a PY2 from Brazil a week before. So maybe the problem was his directional antenna, if he was using one was aimed the other way as I did see many european and states side contacts work him.

    Ham radio is full of surprises and alot of fun and you can meet many great people both from your contacts and from local clubs. Join in and as they say in ARRL GOTA(get on the air)

Chinese broadcasts on 13 mhz

    Not to uncommon to hear stations that aren't listed on the Passport or WRTH books but its unusual for stations to just sort of pop up on bands they normally dont broadcasts on as example today I am hearing Chinese broadcasts on 13970 khz at 04:00 utc I was surprised as I heard similar at 14870 khz 2 or 3 days before and it was around 00:10 utc. Give a listen around the bands and see what you hear on the radio.And if you can post it to the varuius shortwave groups like ASWLC.

JT65HF and PSK31 modes

For several years I have tinkered with other modes in Ham Radio from SSB, CW, and recently what we call the digital modes. Which is tones being sent via radio from one part of the world to the other with a computer via a radio interface like that of a Modem through software via various tech writers and off to another computer on the other side of the world.

Most of the information can be found from various websites who can help you get started., either you can do a Google or search the various sites, you even have a chance to witness it on youtube. Just type JT65hf or PSK31. And you will see alot of the subject.

I first did PSK31 after seeing a demo of this at the San Diego Six shooters Ham Club in San Diego

check out the following sites for these modes.

JT65A HF Frequencies




VFO FREQ

- 28076.0 kHz USB

- 24920.0 kHz USB

- 21076.0 kHz USB

-

18102.0 kHz USB

* 14076.0 kHz USB

* 10139.0 kHz USB

- 7036.0 kHz USB

- 7039.0 kHz USB

- 7076.0 kHz USB

- 3576.0 kHz USB

- 1838.0 kHz USB

- 1805.0 kHz USB



JT65A signal is normally about +1.3kHz to +1.5kHz higher than the VFO frequency.



Proposed frequencies for PSK31 QSO



- The plan for PSK31 activity has always been (since PSK31 started) to concentrate activity starting from the bottom edge of the IARU RTTY bandplan, expanding upwards as activity increased. The exception is in the 10mts band in order to give non full privileges ham to meet. It was defined as 150 Hz above it. Keep in mind that all you need is about 100 Hz as channel separation.

- These recommended frequencies are in accordance with the IARU bandplan for region 1. There may be differences for regions 2 and 3



1838.150

3580.150

7035.15 for region 1 and region 3, and 7080.15 for region 2 *

10142.150

14070.150

18100.150

21080.150 (although most activity can be found 10 kHz lower)

24920.150

28120.150



* This is due to the fact that the 7 MHz band is much wider in region 2 (the Americas), and the IARU bandplan reflects this.

BBC Updates

Please read the article here and its still sad the way BBC is closing its overseas services.