My antenna against wind...

Last evening fight of my antenna at roof against 120 KM/h wind...!!!

J45K at 7th place in DXpedition category...!!!

This year the SV9 DX team and SV5BYR we are number 7   in dxpedition category!!

Thank you for the helping us to move further.

This team is getting better and better!! Hope to continue and this year to do one step more.

Also the team SY9M from Crete are in first place on fixed category!
Congratulations !!

 

Click to See some infos...

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all Ham Friends.

I'll be as more I can QRV from my alternative QTH as SV5BYR/5.

Grid Locator is KM36VC.

Bicycle QRP....!!!!

The incredible Leo.....!!!!

See also the QSO with me and Leo:

New "5-9 Report" new volume (No 120) is on-line...!!!

With this issue (No 120) a circle of 10 years of hard work with my ham friends around Greece is close and we continue as the first day....

Looking back I stiil heard the voices who told me that my  idea for an electronic publication for the Greek Ham Radio activities will be a big fiasko. Some of them they return me back some of the very first issues that I send to all known Greek ham E-mails as unwanted (!).

After 10 yeard Im proud for my ideas (5-9 Report and AEGEAN VHF Contest) and my ham friends who support them.

10m FM...

10m traffic was incredible last afternoon. Loads of signal comes across the Atlantic Ocean and after long time I try a shot to FM mode. Europeans sounds like local 2m stations and many stations of United States comes with signals around S-9. Her is the QSO video with K0JY...

5.200.000 points for J45K...!!!!

Back to KM35 (Kasos island)...

Same QTH as now. "Sunset Apartments".

My simple Setup. FT-817 and HRD for Log

My dipole (under shadow) antenna

After 2 years I'm return to Kasos island this time with J45K team mixed with SV9 and SV5 operators.
Last time was at June 16 2009 when I went to Kasos for QRL. At afternoon I was using my FT-817
and a simple dipole at 2m high and manage to work many European stations for 3 days. This is historically the first
activation of the island on 6m and 2m band.
Now we have first the challenge of IOTA contest and then right before and after the contest period, to work if is possible on 6m, 4m, and 2m.
Hope to hear you.....

SV5BYR

(one of J45K crew)  

DXpedition J48O OTHONOI ISLET 17-25 JUNE

QSPed from SV8CYV's announcement

GIOTA INS-045

Latitude: 39° 51' 54.00'' B
Longitude: 19° 25' 45.12'' E
Grid square: JM99ru

A multi team of 7 experienced operators, will be active from 17-25 JUNE 2011

from the very rare OTHONOI ISLET. Is the Northwestern place of Greece,

GreekIOTA reference GIOTA INS-045 (IOTA EU-052) and from LIGHTHOUSE KASTRI (9 days at Lighthouse) on the island.

They are planning to set up 5 stations on the island.

Modes that they will use : CW, SSB and DIGITAL (RTTY-PSK)

Planning to operate from 160m to 2m!

Focus on 6M for intercontinental QSOs using 2 different directional antennas and also focus on 2M with 8 element QUAD & 11 element YAGI.

OPERATORS

SV2FPU Giannis (Leader of the group & QSL MANAGER)

SV2CLJ Thomas

SV2AEL Savas

SV2HXV Giannis (John)

SV2HXR Marios

SV2YC Dimitris

IK0EFR Andy

J48O BAND PLAN

CW: 1823, 3503, 7003, 10105, 14003, 18073, 21003, 24893, 28003, 50093, 144053

SSB: 1843, 3799, 7060/7160, 14260, 18160, 21260, 24960, 28460, 50160, 144303

DIGI: 1841, 3581, 7041, 10141, 14081, 18101, 21081, 24921, 28111, 50201, 144138

Radios

1. ICOM IC 7000 x 3
2. ICOM IC 7400
3. ICOM IC 756 PRO III
4. YAESU FT 1000 MARK V
5. KENWOOD TS 870

Amplifiers:

ACOM 1000 x 3

Antennas

OPTIBEAM 17 ELEMENTS YAGI 10-20M

SPIDERBEAM 14 ELEMENTS WIRE YAGI 10-20M

PA8GB 2 ELEMENTS QUAD 10-20M

R8 VERTICAL

DIPOLES 30M-160M

OPTIBEAM 5 ELEMENTS 6M

PA8GB 4 ELEMENTS QUAD 6M

DK7ZB 11 ELEMENTS 2M

HOMEMADE QUAD 8 ELEMENTS 2M

Othonoi (Greek: Οθωνοί, Italian: Fanò) is an island and a former community of the Ionian Islands, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Corfu, of which it is a municipal unit. It is located northwest of Corfu. Population 663 (2001). In the 19th century the island used to be the capital of the Diapontia Islands Municipality, which consisted of the islands of Fano, Marlera and Mathrachi. Most of the island's inhabitants can trace their origins to Paxoi Island as people from Paxoi were settled in Fano beginning in the 1570’s by Venice.

Othoni is the westernmost settlement and island in Greece. The main yacht port of the island, Ammos, offers good protection only from N winds. Anchor off either inside or outside the quay. Fuel, water, provisions, ATM, tavernas, bars, medical center and post office.

During the last years the island is being slowly discovered by tourists for its crystal clear blue waters, sandy beaches and exotic caves. On the western part of the island, one can visit the cave of Kalypso , near the popular Aspros Ammos (white sands) beach is traditionally believed to have been the place where Calypso kept Ulysses captive. Another attraction on the E of the island, is the historic lighthouse built in 1872 ( N 39° 51' 48" E 19° 26' 06"). The island has four beautiful churches of Byzantine architecture.

( infos are from the J48O web site: http://www.j48o.com/ )

 

For further information about Greek Islands On The Air – GIOTA award programme please look at:  www.greekiota.gr

 

---------------------------------------------

SV5BYR  Mike

one of the Aegean DX Group

New "5-9 Report" web magazine is on-line...!!!

The new edition of our Web Magazine is on-line.

See the results of the previous AEGEAN VHF Contest and get prepare for this year.

See it HERE

TS-2000 new look....!!! ( how to make it with 6 Euros)

After my Kenwood TS-2000 blown the display lamps ( it was only 3 of 6 blown)  I decide to make the "Cool Blue LED modification" by my own without purcase the high priced kit from Internet.  

At this point I have to say that Ham Radio is SHARING of infromation and no BUSSINESS.  The cost for the "kit" is 35 USD and the whole modification it cost me only 6 Euro as the LEDs and resistors cost. (about 9 USD)

Here is the modification:

When you open the radio cover removing the 10 screws remove the upper screws that they keep the panel in place. Lose some the lower two screws and gently leave the panel to come upsidedown in front of you.
In that position free the ribbon from radio side carefully..!!!

Remove the two plugs at the left side to be seperated from the radio body.
Now you can have the front panel free to work...

Now carefully remove all knobs from the face of control panel starting with Dial knob....

and then the smaller ones...

...now you can lose the clips tha hold the plastic surface of control panel on the metal frame-base....
Four screws hold the display on the metal frame.  Free the display and prepare for the soldering work on it...

Six small lamps is used by the Kenwood to give the illumintion to display. With a small cutter carefully cut the legs of this lamps and take them out of the holes. Remove also the 3 SMD resistors ....

I use  3 resistors of 150 ohm (Brown-Green-Brown) for the LED polarization. Prepare the LEDs cuting their legs and leaving 4mm for the soldering point. Be carefull with polarization. The anode goes to te resistor side.

Finish first with resistors soldering and then make the LEDs soldering. Use soldering iron that is for SMD work.

The area you work is sensitive due to small components but is easy if you know how to do it.

A closer view with components on ....

Don't be harry at this phase. Double check the LED polarity. Take your time. Any mistake will put you back at the beggining again....  After the soldering work is time to reassemble the parts again... Put the display back and tight the 4 scews that hold it on metal base.... Check if is enough space between LED legs an metal...any shortcut is....unwanted  hi hi...

Put all back carefully....

Put the ribbon cable and two plugs on place and reassemble the front panel on the radio body. Double optical check at any step...!!!  Do not push too much the ribbon cable. !!!

Put all knobs on their place and close the radio again puting back the 10 screws.

You are finished.....  NOW is the time of trouth....

Plug your radio on 12 volts and turn it ON....!!!

and....   V  O  I  L  A....

Here is  how my radio looks after the modification that cost me only 6 Euros....!!!   and no 35 USD....!!!

If you want to try it, is on your own risk. 

73s de SV5BYR

VK2IR looking for Greece on Sunday morning....

MI5JYK on 10m FM...

Great opening to UK this afternoon and I was trying on FM mode also
As you can see is fun....

SV5BYR's new toy.....

After many years of success on 6m, 4m, 2m, 0.70m and have make all extreme modes as SAT, MS, EME etc... my favorite YAESU  FT-847 give its place to YAESU FT-2000....

The new radio is still ..."under exploring" and under full test in all bands and modes....

Im on daily operation the last 2 weeks specialy on 15m CW and RTTY...

Hope to "see" you on air....!!!