Best 'DX holiday'

[M0MJH]

I'm sure some of you guys have been on a trip with the primary aim of getting on the air from a different location. Where have you been and was it a success? I'm interested in doing some travelling probably next year and am trying to come up with a list of 'ham friendly' places I might want to visit. I'm thinking of possibly doing the east coast of VK and possibly ZL. I'll probably do a bit of Europe at some point (Holland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway are on the list atm).

Anyone else got any good suggestions?

Mark
M0MJH

[N2RJ]

Whatever you do, avoid 9Y.

Getting equipment through customs, even for locals is tough.

[M0MJH]

Oh dear... There was someone on the GQRP yahoo group asking how to get a reciprocal licence in 9Y recently... I wonder if he knows how tough it's gonna be to actually get his stuff there?!

Thanks for the info Ryan. Quick question... Why the change of the callsign, didn't you used to be AB2MH? I'd have loved that call if I ever got a US licence!

73

[N2RJ]

It's more competitive in the pileups and for contests, which I plan to get into more.

Besides, it's my initials.

As for how to get a reciprocal license in 9Y, you have to go through the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago. Their telephone number is 1-868-675-8288. Ask for amateur radio licensing. The last person I spoke to there was Mr. Rudra Bidaisee (pronounced bid-A-see). That's so that you can let them know you are coming to Trinidad and maybe you can arrange for your license in advance.

Appear in person at the TATT office at 76 boundary road, San Juan. You need the following documents:

- Home license and photocopy
- Exam Certificate (eg. RAE or RSGB) and photocopy. If you passed a code test, bring proof of that too (and a copy).
- Passport and photocopy
- Form L-2 and photocopy (the form is on www.tatt.org.tt and you should list your equipment you plan to bring on it too)
- TT$100 and TT$20 application fee. Cash in TT Dollars preferred, Visa or MC may be accepted. They do not take any other credit cards. They may take US dollars or Euros, but it's best to withdraw TT dollars from the bank ATM as you get a better rate anyway.

You MUST MUST bring photocopies as they will turn back anyone who doesn't bring photocopies.

Foreigners are always issued 9Y4/homecall.

If you are going to live there, and you have valid residence papers or are a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago, you'll get a 9Y4 call if you pass 13wpm code, or a 9Z4 call if you don't pass code. The privileges are the same.

Novice and Technician licenses will get you VHF and above ONLY. One guy tried to sue TATT in court over this and LOST. General/Extra/full gets you full with HF.

As for bringing in equipment -

Talk to TATT amateur licensing. Go on the website and download the "type acceptance" form, fill it out. You may be able to fax it to them and they should get back to you. It costs nothing.

Through customs, it's a different matter. It's best to AVOID dealing with customs entirely. "Nothing to declare" is usually the best route.

If you are unfortunate enough to get sent to the "red line" i.e. customs exam table, show your license and your approval docs from TATT (else they will seize your equipment). They will make you pay a BOND equal to the value of the equipment. You may be able to retrieve this bond when you leave the country. If you have a receipt, they will use that value on the receipt (use your head...) Sometimes they may waive the bond and charge 20% Duty and 15% VAT. Sometimes they may just let you slide. Sometimes they may seize the equipment and you pick it up if it's still there when it's time to leave. After the attempted coup of 1990 they are VERY uneasy about any radio equipment that enters the country.

Incidentally, flying into Crown Point airport in Tobago usually results in less hassle than going through Piarco airport (POS).

That's it in a nutshell.

Local repeaters:

147.930MHz -600kHz 9Y4TT (North)
146.940MHz -600kHz 9Y4TT (Central/South)
147.760MHz -600kHz 9Y4TT (Tobago)
146.100MHz +600KHz 9Y4NG (Central/South)
147.705MHz -600Khz 9Y4TTL (North)

Additionally, 146.520MHz and 146.550MHz are monitored as simplex channels, with 146.550MHz having an Echolink node (9Y4NG-L).

The 9Y group meets on mornings on 14.220MHz from 1100-1200z.


Incidentally, Trinidad and Tobago is NOT party to CEPT but they are to IARP. If you have an IARP you are good to go and don't even need to apply for a reciprocal license. With a CEPT or other license, you need to apply for a reciprocal.


I've also done an extensive write up at wikitravel. Check it out.

[KA4DPO]

Nigeria except it was no holiday.

[WB2WIK]

For me probably the best holiday that included ham radio was a trip to Mallorca, Spain.

Got to use the beach, go fishing, exploring, eating, drinking and clubbing, and also operate EA6 for a week.

Not the rarest DX, but certainly a fun trip.

Downside was that I think I gained about five pounds; their food and drink is a bit too good.

WB2WIK/6

[cu2jt]

Patagonia in southern Chile. My only mistake was that I operated on 30M CW and that is a special license band (just as in Portugal). I made 15-20 contacts on 30M as CE/CU2JT and it should really have been CE7/CU2JT. We operated from a fishing camp 15 miles outside Coyhaique but the fly fishing was more exciting.

I have actually played golf in more exotic places like Reunion (FR5), Fiji (3D2) and Rarotonga (E51) but no radio from those locations...