1998 VHF DX EXPEDITION TO OD5 (OD5RAK)

This is my last report from my OD5 VHF DX expedition during June 1998.

Preparation

In 1993, I met Samir, OD5SK, and I have tried to be in touch with him for the next coming.

Unfortunately, he went to HZ to work and it was not possible to organise something with him.

In 1996, I met Rami, OD5SB, and I have planned again to organise something.

1997 was not possible because of my job activity.

On January 1998, I decided to go.

So, I contacted the RAL, OD5SB, OD5SK, OD5JQ to get some information especially about the amateur radio licence.

Unfortunately, it is still very difficult to get a temporary licence in Lebanon (more difficult than 3 years ago : the Lebanese cant get a callsign even if they had passed the exam : no amateur exam since 1993).

In 1993 there was nothing for foreign amateur radio. The Lebanese PTT had said to me 'take the OD5/F6FLV callsign : but no paper available'.

But now it seems to be totally illegal to use OD5/ without a legal paper. Many Lebanese Hams, have passed her exam on 1994 and they are still waiting a license = why it should be more easy for a foreign amateur radio to get it ?

The licence

For me, to be legal and to pass through the customs with my equipment, it was necessary to have a full authorisation.

According to OD5CN (RAL president), OD5JQ and OD5SB, the best solution was to use the OD5RAK callsign and to activate the radioclub station.

So, Rami (OD5SB) sent to me the OD5RAK licence and the autorisation, from OD5ZZ (OD5RAK President), to operate the radioclub station during June.

The equipment

On 16 May 98 I sent by flight cargo my antennas (5el for 6m + 17 el for 2m) and 25 m of very low loss coaxial cable for the 2m. I added with that shipment a 5el for 6m gave to OD5SB by the Italian amateur radio.

The antennas arrived in Beyrouth on the 23 May and I was very happy as all seems to be very easy.

On the 3rd of June, I took the plane with my equipment (IC706, 350W - 2m power amplifier, 75A/14V power supply, DTR for MS, Super CMOSIII keyer(very nice), SWR-meter, 30 m of RG214, ...). Because of the 20kg excess weight, I was obliged to pay 1000 FF more at the airport.

Unfortunately, I forgot my visa card at home and I arrived in Beyrouth at 21pm with only $ 20 in my pocket.

I did not have any trouble with the customs, with my ATA file : French and Lebanese Customs put a seal on my ATA equipment list and all was OK.

At the airport I was received by F4AFG (Thierry, working in Lebanon for 2 years), who gave me the lift to Tripoli, up to the radioclub (9th floor of a very nice building, 500m from the sea).

All was prepared for me and the premises of OD5RAK are very nice. We eat a pizza with Thierry and Rami (OD5SB) and I took my IC706 out of my case, just to test if I can receive OD5SIX (200 m from there) on a single 1/4 lambda 2m antenna at the windows.

The beacon was at saturation and suddenly, on the middle of the 6m band, 'F1BHB' was calling CQ DX with a report rear 59 (on a 2m GP antenna!!). What was that ? (it was 23h30 local time).

We tried to call him but the SWR was to high and I was afraid to break the TRX.

Later, I tested the HF 3 el beam : SWR was strong but I can QSO in QRP with G4GRK (first contact 559/559) and something started with a few others G stations.

After that Thierry and Rami had left, the main power went off and I was obliged to go to the bed on the dark, without any shower and with the company of the mosquitoes.

I was so excited to setup the antennas asap, by the propagation, by the main power break, by the hot weather and by the mosquitoes that I did not slept at all that night.

Later, as the building is saved by a generator, I learned to use it, in case of a new main power break.

Installation and trafic

04/06/98 = First day

As the sun has started to give some light, I opened my cases and I setup the 2/6-m stations using the FT736 of the radioclub and with a 200AH battery as a backup. F4AFG has installed a PC-computer to be able to connect the DX-cluster on 2m through the 5B4 or OD5RAK-8 gateways.

As the 3el HF beam seems to work a little on 6m, I connected it until the evening, as my antennas will be there ; And a GP antenna at the window for the 2m.

About the antennas, I would like to write a large book as the story was so strange with a lot rebound. Imagine that every day, until the last day of the DX expedition, the antennas were expected for the next day. Even at this time (2-July), the antennas are not delivered at the radioclub in Tripoli. If I had known that I should have started to built a yagi the first day.

Imagine that the transit forwarding agency in charge to get the antennas in Beyrouth is managed by OD5KM and OD5FH and that they spent a lot of time and energy to try to get them from the customs. Imagine what will be happen if the forwarding agency was not managed by the Hams !

Imagine also that some Hams have friends in the right places and you can understand as the situation is complex.

I understand that after 17 years of war, the government try to establish some laws and rules. The war is finished for more than 5 years but the administration is still in the disorganised. However, I am very optimistic for the future of Lebanon because the country is booming with the building construction and because the police start to give some fines to the car drivers (incredible in that country, where it is usual to meet a car going in the opposite way of the highway).

So, do not try to understand why it is possible to import 40 kg of TRX/amplifier/electronic and not possible for 30kg of aluminium and cooper pieces.

The coaxial cable seems to be the must critical : it was necessary to give the schematic diagram of all the antennas, to get the signature of the PTT department, of the defence department, of the Lebanese army, .... (do not expect to have a signature on the day : a full week is possible if you have the chance = so, for a few signatures ....).

Finally the antennas were delivered in Tripoli on the 8-July 98 (I left on 1-July). The tax was 450.000 LL ($300) for the radioclub, without any notice (equipment + shipping already paid).

0600z = 6m open : QSO with UT/ YU/ SM/ 9H/ YO/ 9A/ F9DI/ IT9/ I2-4-8/ OK/ LZ/ S5/ G

1000z = 2m Es No1 = QSO with 9A4NF and 9A3EI. Opening during 30mn, using only 25W on a 2m GP antenna at the window.

Next on 6m again / I0-4-5-8/ 9A/ YO/ EU1AB/ SP/ OH1AYQ/ F6AUS/ ON4ANT/ ON4GG/ ON4KST/ DL8SET/ OK/ UT8/ mnyDL/ F5MUX /GD0TEP/MnyG/GW3JXN

Last QSO with G4SEU at 2245z (0145am local time)

During that day, I had a short break to buy candles and something to kill the mosquitoes, and naturally to eat and drink something.

I would like to explain what was the propagation during the firsts two weeks : the propagation was so good that the 6m seems to be open all the time, even during the night.

During the first two weeks I have slept only 3 hours per night. The complement during the day, as I was so tired : one time OD5SX(Nabil) came to the station, saw me asleep and has worked itself a dozen of HA/OK on 2m Esporadic. F4AFG saw me asleep also a few times, as the keyer was calling CQ !

Most of the days, the strong video carriers (from ex-USSR) were received when the sun start to give some light and the last QSO made near midnight and up to 2am on the morning : incredible !!!. What should it be with a true antenna !!!

I have counted only 5 days without any propagation on 6m, but even that days, every days, there was something looking as FAI at the sunset, with a QRB near 3000km, one hope only, with G, ON, PA, SP, DL and OZ/SM : very strange = no propagation but signals near 51 at the sunset, during 10mn up to a few hours.

Second day : 5/6/98

0619z : SP/ OE/ US5/ 9A/.../I1-2-6-8/ OZ/ F6FRR/ F6GNP/ F1MXE/ F1ACK/ EH1BLA/ EK6AD/ SV/ CT1DYX/ EH1EH

So, 120 QSOs : Last QSO at 2050z with DL4MDQ (but band still open with video carriers)

All in QRP (5W), using the 3el HF beam.

To be ready for the next Es 2m opening I setup a temporary half-9el on 2m (but fixed at a QTF of 300), gave by OD5SB (but no rotor available).

Third day : 6/6/98

0516z : SP/ YO/ I0-8-9/ 9H/ 9A/ LZ/...

15h45 : 2m Es No2 : 9H1CD-GB/ 9H5L/ 9H1PA

I was very excited because I heard so mny mny mny stations during the contest on the evening, but I was not able to work them in QRP with a so bad antenna (5W on the HF beam). (The antennas have to be there at night !!!! Saturday is a working day in Lebanon).

07/06/98

0550z : 9A/ YO/ YU/ I/ M/ F9IE/ US/ GW/ mnyG/ SV/ SP/ ER/ ON/ DL

As propagation was still strong and the antennas not there, I decide with OD5SX (Nabil) to set up a dipole on 6m to not miss the end of the contest.

So, after some experience with the Murphy law, the dipole was running quiet well, with 10 to 40W output, but with some SWR as the dipole was near the shrouds of the iron tower.

120 QSOs again : YU/ PA/ ON/ I/ SP/ G/ GJ/ LX/ OZ/ YO/ S5/ DL

last QSO at 15h10z with OZ4LP (I do not know what happen after as I was so tired)

With that propagation and a good antenna I am sure that OD5RAK could have win the contest, probably with more than 400 QSOs and a lot of countries and squares.

08/06/98

0417z : YO/ UT/ EK/ LZ/ SV/ YU/ I/ Z3/ CT3FT/ 9H/ SP/ S5/ OE/ 9A/ IS0/ G/ EH3-7/ CT3HF/ F5MMF

1705z : 2m Es No3 : IW5DAN/I5RUR

next on 6m : OE/ I0-1-2-5-7-8/ EH6/ EH7/ YT/ HB9SJY/ EH5-2/ SP/ IS/ F8VQ/ CT

So 160 QSOs with the dipole

Last QSO at 2100z with IW5BML

09/06/98

Only strong video carriers during the morning.

1000z I/9H/ a lot a G/ ON/ DL/ OK/ GW/ LA/ GM4DGT not completed

So, my first logbook (45 pages, 18 QSOs per page) was full !!!!!!!! (after 5 days !!!!!).

10/06/98

100 QSOs on 6m (with CT3s again, F6ECS, 4L5O/ G/ PA/ ON/ I/ S5/ 9A/ SP/ I/ DL/ YU/ SM3BIU/ OZ/ YO/ LZ/ SM3EQY/ EH3

Last QSO at 2035z with DJ1OJ (but band still open), QSO started at 21h48z with F6BQX

10h15z : 2m Es No4 : YU7MS, YU1OK, YU7VA, YZ7MON, (YO7VS heard me)

11/06/98

0557z S5/ 9H/ EH7-1-2/ YU/ DL/ SV/ LZ/ CT/ UR/ 9A/ I................

Last QSO at 2116z with LZ2NW

1500z : 2m ES No5 = very strong and long opening with HA/OK/SP : HA8UG, HA5CW, HA5OV, HG7JAL, HA8MV, OK2ITN, HA5CBA, OM5KM, HA7RF, HA5CBA, HA9UL, HA5RQ, OK1AMI, OK2KQQ and mny uncompleted as SP9EWO, OK2ZZ, ......

but as the HA stations are still not disciplined (I have experienced that with them from C31 DX expe) we missed a lot of QSOs : why do you call when we request a report or a locator from an other station ? Why do you answer when we give the micro to another ?

13/6/98

120 QSOs on 6m starting at 0543z (F5QT/ F1BHB/ F5LNU/ F5JKK/ F6HRP/ F8OP/ F1DVO)

12-14-15-16-24/6/98

The propagation not very good (or open to desert areas) but something like FAI at the sunset.

Some days with only strong video carriers from the morning up top the night.

17/6/98

60 QSOs : IT/ UX/ 9H/ YO/ SM/ EH7-1/ SP/ F1BBK/UR/ UT/ EI/ G/ GW/ F1MXE/ OM/ I/ F5CBQ/ /UI EH3/ SV/ F8VQ/ F1AKE/ F6HRP/F5LNU/DL/PA/HB9 : last at 0014z with EH3ADW

18/06/98

80 QSOs : UT/ SV/ IT9/ EH3/ F6FRR /5B4/ SV9/ HB9/ F6HTJ/CT/ F8ZW/ 9H/ SP/ LZ/ DL/ F1DVO/ UR/ SQ/ EH1/ YO/ G/ GW/ PA/ OH/ mnyOZ/ SM/ LY/ SM3JGG

On the evening, the propagation was very good but during a week I had a very strong local QRM at 59+, starting near 16h00z up to the next morning.

19/6/98

6m open at 0330z !!!!!!!!!!!!

100 QSOs : mny G/ GW/ SM/ EI/ UT/ OZ/ F5QT/ SP/ YO/ EH1/ DL/ OE/ F1AMZ/ F1BHB/ S5/ SV

last QSO at 1442z because of the strong local QRM

20/6/98

30 QSOs but with mny OH/ ES/ US/ 9H/ LZ/ EH7/YO/YU/.... last at 18h35z with CT3HF in the middle of my strong local QRM.

21/6/98 = 30 QSOs

22/6/98 = 40 QSOs

23/6/98 = 30 QSOs

25/6/98 = 40 QSOs

26/6/98 = 40 QSOs (7Q7RM at 2030z)

27/6/98 = 30 QSOs

28/8/98 = 30 QSOs

Conclusion

It is too long to detail the countries but worked :

F5DE, F8OP, F6ARQ, F1MXE, F6BQX, I heard F1YJ calling cq, EH9, 7Q7RM not competed, GJ4ICD mny times, PA0OOS and DL7QY too, T9, one /MM station near Rabat, TA, rx 4X but not possible to contact because of the OD5 law,

Every day : DL/ G/ SP/ I/ ...........

why no GI, GM, EH8 ?

The 2 last days were used for visiting a new part of Lebanon (ZAHLE), to check again if something is possible at the Snow Land Hotel (QANAT BAKICHE - 2400m asl), to swim on the sea, and to get the minimum bronzing before starting the job.

I made around 1500 QSOs (2 full logbooks), worked near 52 DXCC countries and 225 squares on 6m, with only a dipole antenna made of electric cable.

I worked 5 Es opening on 2m with only a GP antenna and later a 5 els fixed antenna.

I missed 7Q7RM (he called me, but qso not completed as that direction was closed by the tower).

Probably I missed :

• 2 openings with S-America (signal on 10m from PY/LU/OA/YV were at saturation on my 6m dipole on the evening). The dipole at the opposite side.

• 1 opening with the US, but not worked as I was so stressed by the EU pileups to the US, and powerless with my poor dipole.

• a few openings by TEP to S-Africa, as the ZS1-6 10m beacons were very strong sometimes , but the tower was a mask for the dipole.

Even with the normal trouble of a DX expedition, that experience was very successful and, as the antennas are now in OD5, I plan to be active next year from KM73 and/or KM84 : not at the sea level but from 1000 to 2400m asl, and up to 3000 m if possible, just in front of the sea (not for tropo : only for iono).

As the propagation was so strong and as the openings were so long, that kind of DX expedition is very difficult with a single operator, to be efficient during 30 days, 24h a day, and to be active also on 2mMS and 2mEs.

First, I would like to thanks my wife (F1TFF) : she permits to me to go on holidays alone during a full month.

I would like to thanks F6CER and F1CXX for the help to complete the antennas equipment (special coaxial connectors and the 2m dipole).

I would like to thanks very very very much OD5SB (Rami and his wife OD5QE hanan) for the arrangement with OD5RAK, the time lost and the stress to help me for the logistic (antennas, rotor, ...) and the also OD5SX(Nabil and his wife) and F4AFG (Thierry and his wife Zoe) for the technical help, the company and the spirit help during that activation.

For Rami, it was the first experience to welcome a foreign amateur radio in the radioclub, for a long spell. He is ready to answer to any other proposal for the activation of OD5RAK on VHF or HF. With the experience, the trouble with the customs could be avoided. Please, do not hesitate to contact him : od5sb@inco-tr.com.lb

Special thanks also to OD5ZZ (Walid) for the authorisation to operate from the radioclub OD5RAK (OD5RAK - PKRS - President KARAMI Radio Society, PO BOX 782 TRIPOLI-LEBANON)

Thanks also to the RAL (OD5CN) and OD5JQ (John) for the advises, and a special one to OD5KM and OD5FH for the long fight with the customs and the administration to get the antennas.

Lebanese radio amateur are very very welcoming, and ready to do everything to help you.

The OD5SIX beacon was stopped during June as it was too close from the radioclub (QRM).

The QSL information is (only for QSO with OD5RAK during June98) :

F6FLV - Jean-Pierre Malezet
9 rue E.J. Marey
78390 Bois d'Arcy - France
Email :

When I was back again to France, my letterbox was full of QSL cards. The OD5RAK qsl cards have been already sent to them.

Special thanks to ICOMS about the solidity of the IC706, has my personal IC706 was working 24h/day during the full month and as it was in contest all the time : I was obliged to put 3 fans under it as it was so hot !. so a IC706 turbo !!!

That expedition was done without any donation of a company or retailer.

At this time, the amateur radio list that could be active on 6m (all in KM74) is :

• OD5SB (Rami, QRV 6m with 8W on a GP, will be QRV soon with its 5el from Tonna)

• OD5SX (Nabil, QRV 6m with 10W on a GP, could be QRV also with a 5el from Tonna)

• F4AFG (could be QRV 6m with 100W, using OD5RAK callsign, if he get the schematic of a 2el yagi or HB9CV to build it: very good clearing for Europe, at 10 m from the sea on a building).

• nobody seems to be QRV on six from KM73 neither QRV SSB 2m

• nobody QRV frm KM84 for 6m neither for SSB 2m.

As 5 years ago, the 2m band is still full of mny FM things, as local music/religious broadcast, ambulance, trucks, restaurants, links for telephone, probably hundreds of 2m handy TRX for something as the CB, some companies have official repeaters on the amateur 2m band : nobody do something.

During June, I was permanently QRM by the YK people on 144300.

See you next year on the magic band.

73, Jean-Pierre, F6FLV

• Report from OD5 expedition 1993

• Report from OD5 site survey 1996

• Report from OD5RAK/F6FLV VHF DX expedition Six/2m SSB/CW June 1998 (french version)

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