9M2 Report by Jack Haden

During July 2000 I spent two weeks in Asia with the majority of the time spent in West Malaysia. During my time in Kuala Lumpur I had the opportunity to meet up with Zainal 9M2ZA from Ampang and Rashid 9M2RS from Ulu Klang, both suburbs of Kuala Lumpur. We discussed the 50MHz situation in Kuala Lumpur and I discovered that both Zainal and Rashid are both capable of working on 50MHz but lack a suitable antenna.

Part of the problem stems from a lack of awareness on how the six meter band performs as it's a totally different world from that of HF. A severe restriction that many 9M2 amateurs face on 50MHz around the Kuala Lumpur area is interference.
Interference comes from the 48.240MHz Malaysian TV which creates 'S' 8 in strength 'splash over' which virtually covers up most of 50MHz with crud making it difficult to hear any signals that are not 59 or 59 plus. A later meeting with well known expatriate DXer, Saty 9M2NK (JE1JKL), confirmed what Zianal and Rashid stated. Saty is custodian of the 9M2JKL (OJ-03uc) club station, formed by the resident Japanese expatriate community.

Saty made it clear that many operators of the club station would like to be more active on 50MHz but the severe interference from the 48.240MHz transmitter makes it very difficult to cultivate any interest at all in pursuing six meter DXing. Saty has a folded mini-beam at his apartment in Kuala Lumpur and has worked some six meter contacts from home as 9M2NK (GL: OJ03te) but can only beam off the balcony in one direction at any time.

The 9M2JKL club station is very impressive, the club has 10 members with only sporadic activity due to the fact everyone works and thus recreational time is limited. The six meter operating position is separate from the HF desk to enable two stations to be on air at one time (contest times etc). The 50MHz equipment is an ICOM IC-706 100 watts linked to a TICK-3 CW keyer via a JPS NIR-12 noise & interference reducer (essential for any activity on six from Kuala Lumpur!). The 50MHz antenna is a seven element CL6DXZ beam at around 40 feet plus rotator. A paddle key is also linked to the transceiver for six meter CW and an SMM-20 desk mike for SSB/FM.

Housed in the premises of the "Japan Club of Kuala Lumpur" in the suburb of Taman Seputeh, about 5kms from downtown KL; 9M2JKL is in a good location. Saty performed some intense monitoring of the 48.240MHz transmitter and found that it often closes down between 1630-2100z and it's in this period Saty looks for Africa, Middle East & Europe on six meters and has some contacts to his credit to these regions.

Zianal 9M2ZA & Rashid 9M2RS

Working VK/ZL from Kuala Lumpur is not an easy task, we found a lull in the interference when beaming SSE. Saty has already worked VK8 and VK6 in recent months but virtually nothing from the southern states of VK. I made him aware of 46.171MHz and 46.240MHz VKTV indicators so it's hoped in the near future, by using these indicators, Saty will possibly work some southern east coast VK's.

Procuring amateur radio equipment in Malaysia is virtually impossible, whilst the JA expat community bring their equipment in with them from JA the locals have no radio shops at all. Zianal 9M2ZA said: "The only way we have of getting equipment purchases or the servicing of existing equipment is by going down to Singapore, a seven hour train trip or six hours by express coach, we often do this when the need arises."

All in all it was a very interesting trip, especially my side trips to Suria KLCC towers, KL Tower, Sunway Resort and the Telekom Malaysia Museum amongst others. An interesting observation was of the PUTRA light suburban rail system which operates it's electric trains with no crew (no driver, no guard, no platform attendant). A fully computerised system complete with customer purchased electronic ticketing. The air pollution from nearby forest fires in Sumatra covered the "KL" skyline in a brown haze and was getting worse as I prepared to leave.

Due to the time and distance involved I failed to reach Penang and inspect the 9M2TO beacon site and the side trip to Singapore and Myanmar were also cancelled, maybe next time!

Club station 9M2JKL 50MHz antenna, a 7-element CL6DXZ at 40'

My special thanks go to: Zainal 9M2ZA, Rashid 9M2RS, Tex 9M2TX, Saty 9M2NK, Telekom Malaysia and Malaysia Airlines.

73's de Jack VK2GJH