3 years ago, I went to Lebanon (OD5 land) for 2 weeks in august. So, I brought a 25W 2m SSB transceiver and a 9 elements yagi. I worked a long E'sporadique with North Italy and ex-Yougoslavia the 7/8/93 (up to 2430 km QRB). Conditions were very bad because of the power supply (only 4h/day), and I was not able to travel across Lebanon. So, from 14/8 to 22/8/1996 I went again in Lebanon to get a good VHF accommodation to make a DX expedition there. I rent a 4x4 car and (alone) did a trip across locator KM74/KM84/KM73 to get the best site as possible to do 6m and 2m transmission with Europe. Now the country seems to be quiet and I think tourism can work. You can travel without any danger, except some hot place as South Lebanon. NOW, I'm planning to do something on June 1997, during a full month, 144 MHz and 50 MHz QRV 24/24 hours and 7/7 days. I'm not sure at present time of the date and equipment but I'll inform you soon, because I know KM73/74/84 are needed by a lot of VHF Ham. Minimum will be 25W/9el on 2m, 10W/5el on 6m, 50W/long wire on VHFnet. Presently, I'm giving you some informations for those who want to do VHF on Lebanon, especially for European contacts. During my trip, I was looking a 1200 to 3084 m-asl VHF QTH because :
I choose few places (be sure there is no publicity there) : 1) QORNET ES SAOUDA : CAMPING : 3084 m asl : locator = KM84BHThis is the roof of the Middle East : 120 km by road from BEIRUT.It took about 1,5 hours by 4x4 starting from the city of EHDEN (1500 m) : you can meet only goats, sometime a nomad, but no house during the way. The road need a 4x4 (you cannot use a normal car), but is easy and not dangerous. The top, full accessible by 4x4 is 360 dg clear to very long tropo distance. Although, as I tested it, this place don't work very well for tropo (to high for dayligh propa) but a wonderful place to work ionospheric (Es, F2, FAI) and tropo (night) propagation (as I would like to do = Esporadic and Meteor Scatter). For example, I received the SV9C repeater (QRB 1200 km) RST=53 with a 9 elements, as 53 at 1500m with a small pocket antenna, indoor hotel (it depends on the propagation at a time). At 3084 m, temperature was about 25C daily, and less the 10C at night : no wind, no cloud 'at all' in summer. You can see some patch snow even in August. A WONDERFUL LANDSCAPE. NO TREE and NO electricity AT ALL. Unfortunately, you cannot stay a long time there without any security protection. The problem is : this mountain is not easy to control (is at 2 hours by jeep). So it is the paradise for gangs villages who shoot themselves with guns and...like you can watch on US fiction pictures. You can also meet some savage animals (foxes, dogs and wolves). To do a long expedition there YOU NEED informations of the OD5RAK radioclub, who can help you. Camping is normally forbidden but you can arrange something with the help of 'OD Hamradio'.
2) 'MASTER'S HOTEL' in EHDEN city : 1500 m asl : KM74XG100 km from BEIRUT by good road, a new hotel (second floor is not ended).This hotel is just at the beginning of the small road to go at QORNET ES SAOUDA. This hotel is lonely (no TVI or interference problem). Full clearance is from 270 to 360 dg azimuth. Strong flat roof to put any big antennas (over the second floor). The director accept Hamradio and give a full electricity 24/24 hours. The cost of the accommodation is 55 US$/day with breakfast. You can have 40% reduction if you stay a long time. The profit of this location is that you can activate easily two squares. Tel.: 6_660924 or 3_727711 3) FARAYA MZAR city : TELECOM TOWER : around 2000 m asl :KM73WX50-60 km from BEIRUT by good road. I met Samir, the guardian of this tower. The tower is used for 2 GHz high power international telephone (big dishes for thousands telephone lines) and 900 MHz normal broadcast GSM with panels antennas.No interference problem with telecom system and nearly. You can arrange something (as camping conditions) with bed/full foods/electricity/shower possibility with Samir with 200 US$/month/man. Antennas can be put just behind the telecom house with the necessary mast, .... (on the ground). Clearance is from 240 to 350 dg azimuth. Contact : Mr. SAMIR TORMCHE (speak French, English, German, ...) tel.: 9_720411 There is an another telecom tower at 2400 m asl, with a guardian also. Clearance is better, and it's possible to go there using 4x4 car.
4) FARAYA MZAR : '3S COTTAGE' or 'CHALET' : around 1900 m asl :KM73WX3S COTTAGE is a big accommodation : 4 buildings 'A,B,C and D', with many flats (1 room and more), at the center of the village.Clearance is from 240 to 350 dg azimuth as the telecom tower. Strong flats roofs to put any big antennas. Building 'A' have a strong collective television reception station with dish and yagi. So be careful of the TVI : you can bring few TV filters, and before get the authorization of the hotel technical service. The starting price of the accommodation is 500 US$/month during summer for a single room with kitchen and bathroom (without any foods). Sorry, I lost the phone number but it is easy to get it (1997 infos : radio not allowed).
'PERSONNAL CHALET'Contact OD5JQ (Johnny) who can arrange a 500 US$/month for a flat with a full 7 chambers + 5 bathrooms + kitchen : I haven't seen it but it's no expensive for a strong expedition.The clearance there is bad, so you can put your station near the telecom tower of FARAYA, at 500 m from the house. Contact by Internet : 'jjman@dm.net.lb'
5) 'SNOW LAND HOTEL' at in QANAT BAKICHE : 1800 m asl : KM73VWThis hotel, at 40 km by road from BEIRUT, is lonely (no TVI or interference problem). It have a wireless system at 450 MHz (25W) for international telephone, with a small yagi direction Cyprus (Warning with 432 MHz).I spoke with the maintenance service of this system : no problem at all to put antenna and use HF, 2m, 6m, .... Full horizon clearance is from 210 to 360 dg azimuth. There is electricity 24/24 hours. You can put antennas on the roof or attached on the balcony of the THIRD FLOOR, with a 3m mast. Accommodation is 40 US$/day with breakfast. If you stay 1 month, it cost 500 US$/month with breakfast and good dinner. Tel : 3_340300 - 3_345300 - 1_870077 - 1_894620 - fax: 1_870518 I'll probably choose this location next year if a weak expedition.
TO RENT A CAR :You need the international licence.Renting cost start at 25 US$/day for a small car, 60 US$ for a 4x4 car. Petrol is not expensive. CUSTOMS :Now is difficult to bring Hamradio station.To not have problem, bring with you the Hamradio Lebanon licence. HAM RADIO LICENCE :Don't contact the telecom Minister : they will require 5 months staying in Lebanon to get a Ham licence.You can arrange the licence with OD associations :
VHF in LEBANON :Except OD5SB (Rami) QRV on 6m, there is NO SSB activity in Lebanon.I met Rami, who is, as me, very interested by VHF 2m and 6m. OD5SK (Samir) is now working in HZ land : but the beacon OD5SIX is still working on his QTH in TRIPOLI (50.078 Mhz 10 WATTS WITH GP). The last Hamradio Lebanese exam was on October 1993 (3 years ago). In FM : many repeaters (OD, 4X, TA, 5B4, SV9). You can heard them but bring a CTSS and DTMF FM transceiver because many of them are protected. You can still heard a lot of pirates as I wrote 3 years ago. Few time I was hearing 4X1IF calling CW on 144300 : goods news !!!! TOURISM :
That is all the story. Good DX and see you soon from 'KMsomething' soon on 6 and 2m.
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