I was issued the call sign TF3JB on January 14, 1974; license No. 80 in Iceland. The call sign changed to TF2JB when we moved to west Iceland in 1995, but changed to TF3JB again moving back to the capital in 2012. 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 most recently finished serving four terms as the association's president (2009-2013).
When we lived in the United States (1990-1995) I was granted a reciprocal license by the FCC (one of the last such licenses issued before CEPT). During our stay, I completed my postgraduate studies in NYC and CT along with Helga María, my XYL. We both loved the time in the States.
QSL cards are important. A QSL card is sure via bureau or direct for TF3JB and TF2JB. If you QSL direct, kindly include a self-addressed envelope with:
- 1 IRC or 2 USD for countries in Europe.
- 1 IRC or 3 USD for countries outside Europe. (2 USD will still suffice for 2nd class mail, but may take 5-6 weeks, or longer).
Direct cards are attended to and mailed off the same day received by First Class Air-Mail.
I upload my log to LoTW, but I do not use E-QSLs or the QRZ logbook.
The grid square is HP94bc. When QRV as TF3JB/1 (from the summer house) my grid square is HP94ma.
73 de Jónas, TF3JB.
Member of Rotarians of Amateur Radio
PHOTO 1 The TF3JB operating position.
Equipment for HF:
- Transceiver: ICOM IC-7600 & ICOM IC-7410 (for the summer house and back-up).
- Transceiver accessory: LDG M-7600 External Meter for the IC-7600.
- Microphone-1: HEIL PR-40 Dynamic Microphone with original HEIL accessories.
- Microphone-1 accessories: W2IHY 8 Band Audio Equalizer & Noise Gate and W2IHY EQplus Adjustable Compressor.
- Microphone-2: ICOM HM-36 hand microphone (brilliantly modified by AB5N).
- Power supplies: ASTRON RS-35M, ASTRON SL-11A & YAESU FP-1030A linear power supplies.
- External speaker: SOUNDS SWEET Communications Base Station Speaker.
- Metering: DAIWA CN-801HP HF/VHF Cross-Needle SWR/Power Meter.
- Electronic keyer: ETM-4C C-MOS-Memory Keyer by H. Samson, DJ2BW (excellent quality keyer).
- Hand keyer: M.P. PEDERSEN original hand key (not to be confused with the near identical Amplidan Model 50713).
Equipment for VHF/UHF:
- Transceiver: ICOM IC-2820H VHF/UHF FM Transceiver (with the optional ICOM UT-123 D-STAR & GPS unit).
- Power supply: ICOM PS-300 linear power supply.
- Microphones: ICOM HM-133 & HM-154 hand Microphones.
- External speakers: PALSTAR SP-30 base station communications speakers (simultaneous reception on VHF and UHF).
- Metering: DAIWA CN-801V VHF/UHF Cross-Needle SWR/Power Meter.
PHOTO 2 John Devoldere, ON4UN.
With ON4UN, renowned radio amateur, contester and author in Reykjavík Iceland on August 4, 2011.
PHOTO 3 David G. Sumner, K1ZZ.
With K1ZZ, ex. ARRL CEO and IARU International secriteriat, in Friedrichshafen Germany on June 24, 2016.
PHOTO 4 Hans Blondeel Timmerman, PB2T.
With PB2T, the president of IARU Region 1 at Í.R.A. headquarters in Reykjavík Iceland on May 5, 2013.
(Thanks to Hans for the many QSO's).
PHOTO 5 Timothy St. John Ellam, VE6SH.
With VE6SH, the president of IARU in Friedrichshafen Germany on June 28, 2013.
PHOTO 6 Ole Garpestad, LA2RR.
With LA2RR, the vice-president of IARU in Friedrichshafen Germay on June 24, 2016.
PHOTO 7 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 WAZ Award.
PHOTO 8 In 2010 we commemorated that 30 years had passed since this group set a record in the
1980 CQ WW DX PHONE CONTEST from TF3IRA; the Multi Operator Single Transmitter category.
The photo was taken in the current TF3IRA operating room and replicates the photograph taken of the group
during the actual contest in 1980 by TF3AC and published in the September 1981 issue of CQ Magazine.
TF3CW holds the framed photograph and the CQ Magazine contest cover page. Our record was broken in
2012 by TF3W (32 years later).
From left: TF3Y (ex. TF3YH), TF3JB, TF3CW and TF3DC.
PHOTO 9 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 July 1978; a total of 149 DXCC entities were worked.
TF6M participants: TF3KX, TF3-033, TF3UA, TF3CW, TF3JB, TF3G (ex. TF3US), TF3MH and TF3Y (ex. TF3YH).
PHOTO 10 The TF4F DXpedition to Flatey Island (West Iceland) took place in July 1977. Despite almost "black-
out" conditions we managed over one thousand QSO's.
TF4F participants: TF5B (ex. TF5BW and TF5BWN), TF3JB, TF3-033, TF3UA and TF3KX.
Amateur Radio in Iceland, in brief
By Jónas Bjarnason, TF3JB.
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, the King of Norway. Population was 332.529 on January 1, 2016. Total land area is 103.000
square kilometers. Much of the country is uninhabitable (particularly the highlands) because of glaciers, volcanoes and sand
deserts. The native language, Icelandic, is closely related to old Norse. Weather-wise, Iceland benefits from by the Gulf
Stream and has a temperate climate despite a high latitude just outside the Arctic Circle.
BANDS. In addition to the "usual" bands we have the following band privileges in TF:
- 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, 1kW in contests (1).
- 60 meter band (5260-5410 kHz); as of January 1, 2008 (2).
- 4 meter band (70.000-70.200 MHz); as of February 19, 2010 (3).
(1) A special application is needed (must be renewed annually).
(2) An experimental permit; a special application is needed. This permit will end on December 31, 2016 (CW, USB and PSK-31 allowed).
(3) An experimental permit; a special application is needed that is granted for a period of one year at a time: (renewable).
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 licensee is easily identified, since the suffix of such a call sign will always have
three letters, ending with the letter "N". For example: "TF3XXN". The basic licensee is limited to 100 Watts and has less
band privileges. G-licensees have all bands, all emission types and and full RF power (1kW).
NUMBER OF LICENSEES. The first regulation on amateur radio took effect in Iceland on February 7, 1947. Since then
almost 500 individual TF call signs have been issued (as of June 1, 2016).
Í.R.A. Our national association is Íslenskir radíóamatörar, Í.R.A. It was founded on August 14, 1946. We will thus
commemorate our 70th anniversary this year, 2016.
As of January 7, 2016 Icelandic hams are permitted to substitute the call area number in their call signs for the number
"70" to commemorate the 70 years of our national association. For example, TF3JB would thus become TF70JB, etc.
This is an individual choice for TF hams and we can use this special prefix the whole year, until December 31, 2016.
Currently, our association has approx. 200 members. We are proud of our YL's who now have their own TF-YL chapter
(founded in May 2015). The Í.R.A. headquarters is located in Reykjavík and we have an open house for members and guests
every Thursday, from 20:00 hours.
CQ ZONE, ITU ZONE AND IOTA NUMBERS. TF is located in CQ zone 40 and ITU zone 17.
There are 3 different IOTA numbers for TF:
- EU-021 is allocated to Iceland (the country itself).
- EU-071 is allocated to Vestmannaeyjar (and surrounding islands).
- EU-168 is allocated to all other islands around Iceland (except of course for The Vestmannaeyjar Islands).
TF call areas
Iceland is divided into 10 call areas. Prior to 1981, the call areas (and prefixes) TF1, TF8, TF9 and TF0 were not in use. At that
time, the call areas were differently allocated, geographically. For example, the current TF8 call area used to be known as
TF2 call area, etc. Most activity is to be expected from TF3 call area (Reykjavík and vicinity).
The map depicts the ten TF call areas and also shows the three IOTA numbers for TF (i.e. EU-021, 071 and 168). The call
areas are geographically based on municipality boundaries. Thanks to TF2MSN for the map.
My first QSL card. The artwork was especially made for TF3JB in December 1973 by Icelandic
artist Halldór Pétursson (1916-1977).
VISITS TO HAMVENTIONS
Ham Radio in Friedrichshafen, Germany. Years visited: 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2016.
Looking forward to a visit to ARRL HQ and the Dayton Hamvention next year, 2017.
(My last visit to HQ was in 1990).
Photograph below:
From Ham Radio 2016 in Friedrichshafen, Germany. The photograph was taken at
the Bavarian Contest Club (BCC) dinner on Saturday, June 25.
From left: Gulli, TF8GX; Elli, TF3EE; and Jónas, TF3JB.
Photo by Nigel, G3TXF.
GENERAL PHOTO CREDITS
Photo of TF3JB on top of the page: Ms. Guðrún Jónsdóttir (Borgarnesi).
Photos 1, 2, 4, 7, 8 and 9: TF3JON.
Photos 3, 5, 6 and 7: TF3EE.
Photo 10: TF3JB.
Zambia
