View Full Version : P5-No More
W5KRM
11-25-2002, 03:51 PM
From the latest info on the P5 on again/off again operation from North Korea:
Friday evening, 2002 November 22, Ed (P5/4L4FN) was called into a
meeting with the "Radio Regulation Board" without any
explanation, he was politely asked to quit all transmissions
and pack all his radio equipment. Saturday, he spent all day
on the roof disassemblying his antennas and packing boxes.
At 2:30pm on of the government officials came by, sealed
all the boxes and when he leaves on December 10 for his two
weeks R&R he is to take everything with him out of the
country.
One has to wonder what "authority" he really held to operate to start with and now to be told to shut down.
Could possibly be a political issue with the recent tensions with N. Korea again.
In any event, this on again/off again operation is now off, permanently.
Just goes to show you, like I always say, if someone says not to worry, guy will be there through June 2003, you had better work him now because you never know.....
FYI
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif
North Korea is one of those countries that needs to mix a little fiber into its diet now and then. An occasional laxative or high colonic would probably help too.
W5KRM Says:
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">One has to wonder what "authority" he really held to operate to start with and now to be told to shut down.
[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Well, I'd guess that he was operating under the same authority that we ALL do.
Radio operation is not a right, it is a privelege granted by the governments that we live under.
If the US government, in the guise of the FCC, mandated a shut down of any indivual station or even of Amateur radio as a whole, I think that we would shut down.
Ask the fellows on here who experienced exactly that during World War two.
Those who have been able to work Ed in North Korea should be thankful that he was allowed even that small operation. The NK's are very paranoid, and I think that there is a better than even chance that the very popularity of the P5 operation led to it's demise. All that new radio gear coming into the country, operation with the dreaded "Morse Code", etc..
Personally, being very closely associated with South Koreans, I can tell you that to this day, when Koreans hear Morse, they immediately call it "Spy Radio"! This association goes way back to the Korean War, and believe me, I can see the NK's closing Ed down on that premise alone.
Well anyways, congratualtion to those who worked the P5 and the rest of us will simply have to wait. Somehow, life goes on...
73 Gary, WG7X
PS: DX Is!
KD7LDH
11-25-2002, 10:31 PM
SRI,
I am a stupid tech and I hear about this P5 stuff....
Can someone gove me some backround information on this P5 stuff and what makes it so special
KD7LDH Sez:
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I am a stupid tech and I hear about this P5 stuff....
[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Whoa.. Dude!
Don't be so hard on yourself.
P5 simply refers to the call sign prefix allocated to North Korean Hams. South Koreans have HL and DS.
Japanese are JA's Germans have DL, English hams callsigns begin with G.
All countries have been allocated callsign prefixs beginning with various letters and numbers. This information will be at the ARRL web site: http://www.arrl.org
Check it out.
73 Gary WG7X
N7CPC
11-25-2002, 11:00 PM
W3SY......North Korea doesn't have a diet to add fiber to. Even their millitary is starving.
However, the disturbing underlying point of the origonal post is the total disreguard for the man's personal safty. The only thing to upset this poster is the lack of opertunity to work a P5. Shame on him and anyone else who discounts the political situation in that third world hell, and puts the safty of a foreign national operating in a country where his life means nothing to anyone but himself distantly below a rare DX QSL!!!
N7CPC
CPC:
Hear, hear! DX is fun to chase, but it isn't everything, for Pete's sake.
LDH:
North Korea, prefix P5, is one of the most rare DX entities out there. Rare, in this instance, means a lack of licensed amateurs in any significant number. North Korea lacks amateurs in general. There is still some doubt (someone more knowledgable please correct me if I am wrong) that the gentleman in question had any sort of formal authority from the government of North Korea to operate. There was some other controversy, some of which appeared on this board, about the modes to which he limited himself. Search the ARRL website with the term "North Korea" and you'll get some background on this operation.
73 de Drew N0XU
W5KRM
11-26-2002, 01:21 PM
CPC/XU
Get a grip!
The post info was taken from the P5 website. #Whether I worked it or not, is of no consequence.
Yes, he was off and on, frequently for weeks at a time. #It was and is frustrating to many individuals who never got the chance to work him due to the erratic and infrequent operating regardless of the published schedules and notices of frequencies and times he would supposedly operate. His on the air time is a non-issue (any time on was appreciated!http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif. #
However, when individuals constantly charge others to "don't worry, he will be there for another year", is very presumptuous. #Climates and tensions change from day to day, week to week. Never assume something (especially remote areas like this) are so accessible day to day.
As to Ed's safety, that wasn't the issue stated in the post (operate regardless of safety). Where you read that into the post I have no idea. Regardless, #when you, or I or anyone goes to some remote location to operate, SAFETY COMES FIRST! #We have seen this many times (i.e. Spratley, Uganda, etc.). #Safety is always a major issue. #I think you are reading something that isn't there. #Neither myself nor many others (I am sure) cherish a "QSL" more then the op's safety and well being.
As to Ed's operating, I do honestly have to wonder what "real" authority he had to start with (never saw anything posted or published on his "authority to operate"). #It seemed very mysterious to me that such a restrictive location (P5) would even allow amateur radio operation, i.e. contacts with countries they are not "friendly with". Political tensions in that part of the world can allow you to operate one minute and at gun point, tell you to cease a short time later. #Who knows. #It was never really presented just exactly what authority he had to operate from such a restrictive country. #I am just glad Ed wasn't taken at gun point and thrown into a prison as a spy or similar such accusations. #It has happened before.
In any event, I am grateful Ed did get the chance to operate, put the "new one on the air", give out QSLs, etc., albeit, infrequently. I can only hope that others can also operate from there in the future.
For those that chase DX, this is a major disappointment. #Especially since many individuals touted he will be there until middle 2003 (who can honestly make that statement without seeing into the future??). #To those that don't DX, well, to them, it's just another day in the life of Amateur Radio.
Try not to read into posts what aren't there. #You might enjoy the forums more!
If you aren't into DXing, then this kind of post probably won't interest you much!
LOL
KA4DPO
11-26-2002, 01:49 PM
Whats the big deal, the guy was foolish to take radio equipment there in the first place. NK is a "COMMUNIST" country, they can do whatever they want and even shoot you if you don't like it. They've done this to little old ladies for far less.
Like I always say, don't screw around with commies and you won't get hurt.
P.S. Ever smell real down home Korean chow?? YUCH
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (W5KRM @ Nov. 25 2002,07:21)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">CPC/XU
Get a grip![/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
KRM:
I have a grip, thank you! I realize that DX is just a HOBBY.
Drew N0XU
KA4DPO Sez:
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">P.S. #Ever smell real down home Korean chow?? YUCH [/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Yeah...
No doubt it's an acquired taste. My first exposure to Korean food was in the Army Barracks in Korea. One of the Korean GI's who shared the barracks with us decided to grill his dried squid on the barracks stove. Oh my gosh! What an odor!
There is also a soup made from the left-over soy bean curd that remains when soy sauce is made. The name translates roughly into English as "Smells-bad" soup. Supposedly tastes pretty good, but I can't get past the "smells-bad" part!
To be fair, there are plenty of other places where the foods smell plenty bad. Limburger cheese anyone?
In the main, there are plenty of things on the Korean food menu that not only smell good but taste good too. It can be an acquired taste though, because most Korean food is fairly spicy.
Gary WG7X
W5KRM
11-26-2002, 03:42 PM
Right on Gary!
And did you know, at least some time ago, dog was a favored menu item?
Talk about "hot dogs". Don't think I could handle a fido burger, no matter how hungry!
Culturual thing but not my thing!
W8FAX
11-26-2002, 10:47 PM
Kim chee......ahhh yes. Nothing like climbing on a bus at 0530 in the morning nursing a hangover, with 120 Koreans who have lived on the stuff all their lives. In order to "get a breath" you hang yer head out the window at the next stop, only to have papa-san park his "honey bucket" cart next to the bus.............'course, they say we smell like meat so I guess it all works out........
(BTW..kim-chee is the "national" food of Korea. It is cabbage mainly, and whole garlic cloves put in a sealed clay pot and buried in excrement, for the heat, until it ferments just the right amount. Many GI's tried it and some liked it. It was too hot and smelly for me. Waaaayyyy too much garlic and spice) But some of their other foods were great.......
n0xas
11-26-2002, 11:01 PM
I don't know about your recipe, but mine doesn't involve whole garlic cloves or water buffalo poo. #The Koreans in the countryside buried the kimchi pots to keep them from overheating, I think, but I'm not sure. #Where I spent my year defending liberty and freedom they just sat outside the hooch with the cover on.
Start with the kimchi cabbage, or Chinese cabbage, or bok choi if you've got nothing else. #It's more like leaf lettuce than cabbage. #Anyway, as I recall we soaked it in brine until limp, rinsed several times in cold water, and potted it with dill, cayenne, chopped green onions and a few other odds n ends and left it on top of the fridge for a week or so until it was just right. #Yes, it's kind of an acquired taste, but not anything nasty, just spicy. #No magic rot or anything. #But we had a running debate as to whether Koreans ate so much rice because of the kimchi being so hot, or made the kimchi so hot because they ate so much rice. #Either way the morning run with the ROK Army and Katusas was... #interesting.
Kaegoki is indeed bar-B-Q pooch, never had it. #I am told it's considered a delicacy, and is for men only. #Maybe the women are just too smart for the Fido feast!
Some of the food there is really, really good. #Some is unbelieveably horrid looking... #ever see an alarmed sea cucumber? #Not something you want to contemplate eating when hung over, trust me. #And as for getting hung over, I still have a bottle of Soju in my garage... #it's there in case I ever get REALLY depressed and want to off myself, I think it will work for that. #Or spot remover. # http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
73, Dale - N0XAS
HHC DISCOM 2ID, Camp Casey ROK '82-'83
Dale, N0XAS has it right...even got the spellings correct!
Nothing like a good Kimchee Chigea to get your blood boiling! (Kimchee Casserole)
Kaegoki is a frowned-upon dish these days. We were watching the food network last month when they were on a search for it. Hard to find these days because the government has suppressed it. That's your western influence speaking there.
Foods that people eat in different countries is fascinating. One man's pet is anothers dinner. Thank goodness for variety!
73, Gary WG7X
W8FAX
11-27-2002, 01:23 AM
Dale....I wonder if different areas used dif ingrediants? I know they put garlic in the "mix" when/where I was. This was part of the smell that came from it. The "cabbage" WAS fermented and I believe the burying it was for the heat. The little pots were had the lids sealed with wax that was melted. Hence the word "kimchi pot". The stuff that was bought in the stores (canned) was quite different, and I don't remember it having any smell at all. I was there in the early 60's in the far south near Kunsan. Also spent a little time at Kimpo near Seoul. I DID notice that the food was quite different from the country folks compared to city folks. Of course, the villages did not have refrigerators at that time, and often only had electricity in one or two buildings in the whole area. Often it was turned off at night, or only available for a few hours in the day time.....
KD5UJZ
11-27-2002, 02:49 AM
The soju brings back memories. My roomate in california had a girlfriend that was working in South korea as an MP. She brought back a bottle of soju. It came in a sports water bottle. there were rumors it contained fermaldahyde but I still dont belive that. I think it was some sort of gin. Anyway, it did not have an alocohol taste to it but would get you pretty buzzed. I belive ther is an american version that is only 10-20 proof. I do not know what proof the korean kind was, I dont read tic-tac-toe.
n0xas
11-29-2002, 05:16 AM
W8FAX: Well, of course you were getting different stuff, being back with the women and children that far south! # http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif # I was there quite a bit later and farther North, past Uijongbu up by TDC and Toko-Ri. #We had some pretty strong stuff. #And there may have been garlic in it too, will have to drag out the recipe one of these days. #Of course, kimchi in Korea is like BBQ or chili in the States... #there are a million different ways to make it, from mild to unbelievable.
KD5UJZ: We were told during our in-processing when I passed through Seoul that formaldehyde is a byproduct of the fermentation process, normally separated or distilled out, but soju is so low quality that it has quite a bit of it left in. #I don't know if that's true or not (I bet there are beer & wine home-brewers and moonshiners out there who'd know), but the "good stuff" was OK. #Jinro soju, you can tell by the toad. I think it's 40% or 80 proof, could be wrong. #You probably don't want to drink some of the other stuff.
BTW, the Korean alphabet is actually pretty simple, 24 characters. #They're grouped into syllables. #I used to be able to read just enough to figure out about half the shop signs (cigs, beer, food, hotel, that kind of stuff). #Long time ago though, I only remember a few words now.
Dale
My second wife liked to eat kimchee on special occasions... Oh, what a treat THAT was... I slept on the coach on those rare occasions!!
She was a Portogee/Puerto Rican raised in Hawaii... She had been eating that stuff from birth and made her own... I didn't ask what was in it...didn't want to know...
We're not married any more! hehehehe
Harry N0PU
KD5UJZ
11-29-2002, 09:15 PM
N0ZAS,
The Soju taht my roomate had was either from north or south korea. The only english on the bottle was the website. at first I thought it was a water bottle. I had about half a glass full. It will make you sick quite quickly. We found some at the local store that was the Soju Ginro or vice versa. This was very weak compared to the other.