JJ5IZX !!

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

I was issued the call sign TF3JB on January 14, 1974; license No. 80 in Iceland. From January 2007 to July 2012 I was QRV as TF2JB, but as of August 2012, I became TF3JB again. Privileges include all bands, all emission types and full RF power.
I have been a member of our national association, Icelandic Radio Amateurs (Í.R.A.), more or less since 1973. During that time I have had the opportunity to participate in various activities of this great hobby and recently finished serving as the association's president (2009-2013).
I was granted a reciprocal license by the FCC when we lived in the United States (1990-1995). During that time I completed my postgraduate studies in NYC and CT. Helga María (my XYL) also earned her academic degrees during that time. We both loved the time in the States.
A QSL card is sure via bureau or direct for TF3JB and TF2JB. If you QSL direct, kindly include a self-addressed envelope with an IRC or 2 USD. Please note that I do not use E-QSL, LoTW or the QRZ Logbook system. My grid square is HP94bc. When QRV as TF3JB/1 (at the summer house in Grímsnes) the grid square is HP94ma.
73 de TF3JB.

Member of Rotarians of Amateur Radio

PHOTO 1 The TF3JB operating position.
Equipment for HF.

ICOM IC-7600 100W HF/50 MHz Transceiver.
LDG M-7600 External Meter for the Icom IC-7600.
HEIL PR-40 Dynamic Microphone with original Heil accessories.
ICOM HM-36 original hand microphone (brilliantly modified by AB5N).
W2IHY 8 Band Audio Equalizer and Noise Gate and W2IHY EQplus Adjustable Compressor.
ASTRON RS-35M Linear Power Supply.
SOUNDS SWEET Communications Base Station Speaker.
DAIWA CN-801P 1.8-200 MHz Cross-Needle SWR/Power Meter.
ETM-4C C-MOS-Memory Keyer by Hermann Samson (DJ2BW).
M.P. PEDERSEN original hand key (not to be confused with the near identical Amplidan Model 50713)

Equipment for VHF/UHF.

ICOM IC-2820H 50W VHF/UHF FM Transceiver.
ICOM PS-300 Linear Power Supply.
ICOM HM-133 and HM-154 hand Microphones.
PALSTAR SP-30 base station communications speakers (for the simultaneous reception on VHF and UHF).
DAIWA CN-801V 140-525 MHz Cross-Needle SWR/Power Meter.

Other equipment.

ICOM IC-7410 100W HF/50 MHz Transceiver (for back-up and for use at TF3JB/1).
COLLINS 75S-3C Receiver (round emblem).
YAESU FRG-100 Receiver.
YAESU FP-1030 Linear Power Supply.
ASTRON SL-11A Linear Power Supply.

PHOTO 2 With John Devoldere, ON4UN,

renowned radio amateur, contester and author in Reykjavík Iceland on August 4, 2011. What a great guy!

PHOTO 3 With David G. Sumner, K1ZZ,

ARRL CEO, in Friedrichshafen Germany on June 22, 2012.

PHOTO 4 With Hans Blondeel Timmerman, PB2T,

President of IARU Region 1 in the Í.R.A. headquarters in Reykjavík Iceland on May 5, 2013.

(Thanks to Hans for the many enjoyable QSO's).

PHOTO 5 With Timothy St. John Ellam, VE6SH,

President of IARU in Friedrichshafen Germany on June 29, 2013.

PHOTO 6 TF3JB is the authorized Check Point for CQ Magazine Awards in TF (as of April 16, 2009).

TF8GX was the first to hand in an award application on May 19, 2009; an application for the CQ WAZ Award.

PHOTO 7 In 2010 we commemorated that 30 years had passed since a record was set in the 1980 CQ WW DX PHONE CONTEST by our contest group from TF3IRA, in the Multi Operator Single Transmitter category.
The photo below was taken in the TF3IRA operating room and replicates the photo taken of the group during the actual contest (by TF3AC). It is TF3CW who holds the photograph from 1980. In the frame there is also a photocopy of CQ Magazine's cover page of the contest article published in the September 1981 issue of the magazine. Our record was finally broken 32 years later (in 2012) by TF3W.
From left: Yngvi Harðarson TF3Y (ex. TF3YH); Jónas Bjarnason TF3JB; Sigurður R. Jakobsson TF3CW; and Óskar Sverrisson TF3DC.

PHOTO 8 In 2008 we commemorated that 30 years had passed since the TF6M DXpedition to "Klaustur" (East Iceland). Almost 11.000 QSO's were made in the July 1978 operation on CW and Phone (on HF) and via the AMSAT Oscar 6 and 7 satellites; a total of 149 DXCC entities were worked.
Participants (from left): Kristinn Andersen TF3KX; Baldvin Þórarinsson TF3-033; Sæmundur E. Þorsteinsson TF3UA; Sigurður R. Jakobsson TF3CW; Jónas Bjarnason TF3JB; Gísli G. Ófeigsson TF3G (ex. TF3US); Mathías Hagvaag TF3MHN; and Yngvi Harðarson TF3Y (ex. TF3YH).

PHOTO 9 The TF4F DXpedition to Flatey Island (West Iceland) took place in July 1977. Despite almost "black-out" conditions we managed over a thousand QSO's on CW and Phone (on HF) including QSO's via the AMSAT Oscar 6 and 7 satellites. Photographs of the participants can be seen below on the special QSL card made for the expedition.
From left: Brynjólfur Jónsson TF5B (ex. TF5BW), Jónas Bjarnason TF3JB, Baldvin Þórarinsson TF3-033, Sæmundur E. Þorsteinsson TF3UA andKristinn Andersen TF3KX.

Amateur Radio in Iceland, in Brief.
THE COUNTRY. Iceland is a republic. We became independent on June 17, 1944. Prior to that we had been subjects of the King of Denmark (and earlier, of the King of Norway). Population is currently approx. 335.000 (spring 2014). Total land area is 103.000 square kilometers. Much of the country is uninhabitable because of glaciers, volcanoes and sand deserts. The native language, Icelandic, is most closely related to old Norse.
View from the TF3JB/1 summer house at Swan lake QTH in Grímsnes in July 2013.
1. BANDS. In addition to the "usual" bands we have the following band privileges:

630 meter band (472-479 kHz); as of January 16, 2013 (on primary basis).
160 meter band (1850-2000 kHz) in addition to 1810-1850 kHz; as of January 6, 2011, with full power (1kW) during contests.
60 meter band (5260-5410 kHz) on CW and USB; as of January 2, 2008. And, PSK-31, as of June 12, 2012.
4 meter band (70.000-70.200 MHz); as of February 19, 2010.

2. LICENSING. There are two license classes based on the HAREC requirements. The basic license is an N-license and the full license is the G-license. A basic TF license holder can easily be identified, since the suffix of the call sign will always have three letters ending with the letter "N". For example: "TF3XXN". The N-license class is limited to 100 Watts and less band privileges. G-licensees have all bands, all emission types and and full RF power (1kW).
3. NUMBER OF LICENSEES. Just over 450 TF call signs have been issued to date (spring 2014) by the Icelandic PTA since the first amateur radio regulation took effect on February 7, 1947. The corresponding number of licensees is approx. 350.
4. Í.R.A. Our national association is Íslenskir radíóamatörar (͍.R.A.), founded on August 14, 1946. Currently, we have approx. 200 members; YL's are 3% of the membership. The association's headquarters is located in Reykjavík (the capital) and we have an open house for members and guests every Thursday from 20:00 hours.
5. IOTA, CQ AND ITU ZONES. There are 3 different IOTA numbers allocated to Iceland. Firstly, EU-021 for the country itself. Secondly, EU-168, that is allocated to the many islands around Iceland, except for Vestmannaeyjar (and surrounding islands), that have the special allocation: IOTA EU-071. Iceland is located in CQ Zone 40 and ITU Zone 17.
6. CALL AREAS. Further down this page, our call areas are explained. In addition, there is brief information about the activity to be the expected from each of them.
7. DX ACTIVITY FROM TF. Further down the page, you will find a discussion about DX activity from Iceland.

There are 10 call areas.
Iceland is divided into 10 call areas. Prior to 1981, the prefixes TF1, TF8, TF9 and TF0 were not in use. At that time, some of those call areas were also differently allocated, geographically. For example, the current TF8 call area used to be TF2 call area, etc. Most activity is to be expected from the TF3 call area which is Reykjavík (and the surrounding capital region), but approximately 70% of the population lives in that geographical area.

The enclosed map depicts the TF call areas (courtesy of TF2MSN).
In the list below, call signs of TF stations potentially QRV (in spring 2014) is shown by call area.

TF1 TF1BT, TF1EIN, TF1FR, TF1GC, TF1JI, TF1KIN, TF1KK, TF1MMN, TF1OG, TF1VG and TF1XT.
TF2 TF2CL, TF2CT, TF2LL, TF2OS, TF2MSN, TF2SUT, TF2SX and TF2WIN.
TF3 Too many to list (approximately. 200).
TF4 TF4M and TF4X.
TF5 TF5AD, TF5B, TF5BY, TF5DZ, TF5PX, TF5SLN, TF5TA and TF5VJN.
TF6 TF6GE, TF6JZ, TF6KZ, TF6PZ and TF6RXN.
TF7 TF7GGE, TF7THT and TF7VM.
TF8 TF8BAG, TF8FP, TF8GX, TF8IIN, TF8KD, TF8PB, TF8RON, TF8SM, TF8TL and TF8VET.
TF9 Currently, none.
TF0 The uninhabited highlands (mostly "/M" activity).

New: TF stations most active in DX.

INTRODUCTION
In April 2014, there were almost 130 TF call signs registered on QRZ.COM. Of that number, 35 call signs had more than 10.000 lookups. Supposedly, these are the stations most active in DX from Iceland. Taking a closer look, I was able to extract the data displayed below.⁽¹⁾Although the conclusions drawn are accurate, the outcome of this exercise should be regarded as an indicator, since it is not a scientific study.
The following variables were examined: (1) Type of primary transceiver; (2) Type of primary linear amplifier; (3) Type of primary antenna; (4) Primary activity by emission mode; (5) Age of licensee; and (6) QTH by TF call area.

The TF3IRA SteppIR 3E Yagi antenna photographed in winter sun in December 2012.

RESULTS

Type of transceiver. The transceivers favored are from Icom and Yaesu; each brand has a 33% stake. Other brands: Kenwood (18%), Elecraft (15%), FlexRadio (3%) and Other (3%).
Linear amplifier. It turns out that 78% of this group use/own a linear amplifier. The most popular brands: Acom, Yaesu and Other (surplus, homebrew, etc.); each with a 12% stake. Ameritron, AMP Supply and SPE have each a 6% stake. Other brands: Alpha, Dentron, Drake, Emtron, Heathkit, Icom, Kenwood and OM Power.
Antennas. 52% use directional antennas, 27% wire antennas and 21% verticals. The most popular directional antennas are from SteppIR, OptiBeam and HexBeam. Other directional antennas (in primary use) are from Fritzel, Hy-gain, UltraBeam, XY antennas or homebrew. The most popular wire antennas are Cobwebbs, Deltas/loops and Long wires. Verticals: Butternut, Cushcraft, New-tronics Hustler, SteppIR, Zerofive and homebrew.
Mode of emission. SSB is the favored mode with a 41% stake. Digital modes (RTTY, PSK, etc.) have a 33% share, and CW has a 26% share.
Operator age. Average age is 58 years. Broken down, most operators are between 50-59 years of age, or 47%. About 20% are between 60-69 years; 17% are between 70-84 years; and 16% are between 24-49 years of age.
Call areas. Most operators reside in the TF3 call area (70%). DX activity is though also to be expected from TF2, TF4, TF5 and TF8 call areas.
Approx. 24% of this group of active DX-ers in TF have acquired the DXCC Award. A similar percentage has acquired the WAZ Award.
Points of interest:

A DX station is most likely to encounter a TF station operating on SSB.
The TF station will either use an Icom or a Yaesu transceiver;
use/own a linear amplifier;
use a directional antenna;
live in the TF3 call area; and
the operator age will be between 50-59 years. (Currently, there are no TF YL's that have over 10.000 lookups on QRZ.COM).

Questions and/or comments on this text are welcome. E-mail address: jonas.bjarnason.hag@gmail.com
73 de Jónas, TF3JB.

(1) Additional data needed was acquired from sources outside the QRZ.COM website.

MY 1ST QSL CARD
When I passed the Novice license examination back in December 1973, I discussed with my father that I would need a QSL card once I got on the air. He suggested that I should pay a visit to an artist friend of his, Mr. Halldór Pétursson (1916-1977) who happened to have his art studio close to our home. He then called Mr. Pétursson, and it was arranged that I could visit him the next day.
I was received warmly by the artist. He asked me what kind of a drawing I would like for my QSL card; but I had no idea at the time. Then he asked me to tell him all about amateur radio and DX'ing. So I told him about the hobby and ended by saying that QSL cards were exchanged to confirm contacts made over the airwaves.
I guess it took me some minutes to explain things and while I was talking, he finished the drawing you can see on my QSL card above. I have always been pleased with this drawing. I still have the original artwork and nowadays I could probably sell it since his work is much appreciated. Although this was a simple drawing, he did put his initials on it, "HP.73". This artwork will however never be up for sale.
I still have a few hundred of these cards left but have, in the years gone by, had a more basic card made for TF3JB operations; almost identical to the one I had made for my TF2JB activity when I was lived at the Hvanneyri QTH (2007-2012). Feel free to request the original card if you send your QSL via direct.
73 de Jónas, TF3JB.

PHOTO CREDITS
Photo of TF3JB on top of the page - Mrs. Guðrún Jónsdóttir (Borgarnesi).
Photos 1, 2, 4, 7 and 8 - Mr. Jón Svavarsson, TF3JON.
Photos 3 and 5 and 6 - Mr. Erling Guðnason, TF3EE.
Photo 9 - TF3JB.
Photographs included the text about amateur radio in Iceland if brief are by TF3JB.
The map of TF call areas was designed by TF2MSN.

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MT0WCB(Isle of Man) on 20m USB!!!

MT0WCB(Isle of Man) on 20m USB!!!


MT0WCB Isle of Man Isle of Man [+] Mailing label
Lookups: 1708
QSL: VIA M0TGN

20140513 1651UTC 14236kHz MT0WCB
Date : 13/May/2014 1651UTC
Freq : 14236kHz USB
Rig : SDR(PI4THT)
ANT : Mini-Whip(PAORDT)
PC recording

Lookups	1708 (2249)
QRZ Record#	1951458
QRZ Admin	IU8AIB
Last Update	2014-05-13 10:32:15
Geo Source	From DXCC
Bearing	337.2° NNW (from JJ5IZX)
Distance	5890.4 mi (9479.7 km)
Long Path	18966.4 mi (30523.5 km)
Sunrise	04:19:10 UTC
Sunset	20:09:55 UTC
QSL Info	VIA M0TGN
QSL by Mail?	Yes (e.g. Will this ham QSL by Postal Mail?)
QSL by eQSL?	Yes (e.g. Will this ham QSL with eQSL?)
Uses LOTW?	Yes (e.g. Does this ham use ARRL's LOTW ?)
Apply for a new Vanity callsign...

906343 Last modified: , 0 bytes

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

EM90WF(Ukraine) on 17m CW!!!

EM90WF(Ukraine) on 17m CW!!!


EM90WF Ukraine Helen Goncharsky UR5WA p.o.box 41 Lvov 79000 Ukraine [+] Mailing label
Lookups: 6350
Email: Use mouse to view.. QSL: UR5WA

20140513 1444UTC 18075kHz EM90WF
Date : 13/May/2014 1444UTC
Freq : 18075kHz CW
Rig : SDR(PI4THT)
ANT : Mini-Whip(PAORDT)
PC recording

Lookups	6350 (8608)
QRZ Record#	1936758
QRZ Admin	US5WE
Last Update	2014-03-05 19:31:23
Class	1
Latitude	49.853333 (49° 51' 11'' N)
Longitude	24.040000 (24° 2' 23'' E)
Grid Square	KN29au
Geo Source	User supplied
Bearing	321.4° NW (from JJ5IZX)
Distance	5263.0 mi (8470.0 km)
Long Path	19593.8 mi (31533.2 km)
Sunrise	02:42:37 UTC
Sunset	17:57:46 UTC
ITU Zone	29
CQ Zone	16
Born	1956
QSL Info	UR5WA
QSL by Mail?	Yes (e.g. Will this ham QSL by Postal Mail?)
Uses LOTW?	Yes (e.g. Does this ham use ARRL's LOTW ?)
Apply for a new Vanity callsign...

Special call to commemorate 90-th birthday anniversary of

Vladimir "Ham Dad" Goncharsky U5WF SK

The ?U5WF-90? memorial award to commemorate the 90-th birthday of famous Ukrainian amateur, World War II veteran Vladimir N. Goncharsky ?Ham Dad Vlad? U5WF (UB5WF) SK is available to all radio amateurs.

The award is issued by:

Public organization ?Fund for amateur Radio Service? (FRS), Lvov, Ukraine
International organization ?Foundation for Amateur International Radio Service, Inc? (FAIRS), Floyd, VA
To qualify the applicant has to prove making two way contacts during the year 2014 on different amateur bands (1.8 ? 432 MHz) using different modes of emission, including:

QSOs on CW, Ham Dad Vlad?s favorite mode
at least one QSO with any of the three memorial stations EM90WF EO90WF EN90WF.

QSOs with the following stations are valid for this award:

Special memorial stations EM90WF EO90WF EN90WF;
FAIRS club station N4USA, Floyd, VA;
FRS club station UR4WXW, Lvov, Ukraine;
Vladimir N. Goncharsky ?Ham Dad Vlad? U5WF (UB5WF) SK family members:
Helen Goncharsky �UR5WA/KT4RP,
Julia Goncharsky UR5WDX
Victor Goncharsky �US5WE/K1WE/UW5W
FAIRS President David Larsen KK4WW (J79WW)
FAIRS director Gaynell Larsen KK4WWW (J79WWW)

Basic Award Rules.
European hams need to make QSOs on 7 different bands, including 3 QSOs on CW.

Overseas hams need to make QSOs on 4 different bands, including 2 QSOs on CW.
�
All contacts must be made by the holder of the callsign.
Contacts may be made from any location in the same DXCC country.
Credit will be given for two way contacts on the same mode and band (one QSO per band, regardless of mode), i.e. not cross-mode or cross-band. Contacts through active repeaters are not valid.
European hams, which made QSOs on 9 bands including 4 QSOs on CW are able to apply for the special memorial plaque.
Overseas hams, which made QSOs on 7 bands including 3 QSOs on CW are able to apply for the special memorial plaque.
Application.
Only electronic plain text applications will be accepted at us5we@yahoo.com�
Logs of all ?U5WF-90? memorial participants will be uploaded to LoTW and used to cross check the applications by the award manager.
Each application must include the following signed declaration: ?I declare that all the contacts were made by me personally from the same DXCC country and in accordance with the terms of my radio transmitting licence?.
Award and plaque price.
The ?U5WF-90? memorial award is free. Electronic PDF versions will be available for downloading from FAIRS site.
The laminated paper version of the award is an option and costs $5, including postage.
The wooden memorial plaque ?U5WF-90? costs $50 including postage.
The payment details will be published at www.fairs.org

EM90WF license

906793 Last modified: 2014-05-12 22:21:21, 4910 bytes

JJ5IZX !!

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

CN8QN(Morocco) on 20m USB!!!

TF3JB(Iceland) on 20m CW!!!

MT0WCB(Isle of Man) on 20m USB!!!

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

EM90WF(Ukraine) on 17m CW!!!


CN8QN Morocco Achab Bouchaib Lissasfa 3 bloc d n81 route el jadida 20190 Casablanca 20190 Morocco [+] Mailing label
Lookups: 73916 Ham Member
Email: Use mouse to view.. QSL: FRAN EA7FTR


TF3JB Iceland Jonas Bjarnason Alandi 3 108 Reykjavik Iceland [+] Mailing label
Lookups: 103886 Platinum Subscriber
Email: Use mouse to view.. QSL: DIRECT OR VIA BUREAU