14.198 Mhz - DX'peditions only.

[G7HEU]

All

I enjoyed an hour of 20Mtr mobile operating this afternoon. I was calling CQ on 14.198 and a voice said 'This frequency is for DX'pedition only'.

I asked him for his call and he just repeated his original sentence. I then said 'This is DX'pedition M0HEU/M calling CQ DX'. and worked a very nice guy in Iceland - cool!

The call-sign free band cop cleared off.

BUT, here's my question - I've never heard about that frequency being so allocated and it's not marked as such on the band plan from the R.S.G.B. Have i missed something? Opinions please.

Thanks,

Steve.

[WB2WIK]

Just another frequency cop.

However, be aware that there are "posted operating frequencies" for various DXpeditions, and it is a gentlemanly thing to do to simply stay off those frequencies so that others trying to work the DXpeditions have a chance of hearing them. The recent FT5 expedition is a great example. It's 11,000+ miles from me (in Los Angeles), a bit closer to you, but still far and their signals are weak most of the time. From a mobile you could easily just not hear them at all, but locals to you having beams might be trying to work them.

If they post "QRV 14.198 QSX 14.208" or something on the DX cluster, the nice thing to do would be to stay off 14.198 and 14.208, unless you're specifically trying to work the expedition.

If you don't check, you don't know. If somebody tells me to please stay off a DXpedition frequency, I usually immediately stop transmitting there and get on the web to see if the frequency I was on is listed somewhere as the one being used by an expedition. No "laws" involved, just good manners.

WB2WIK/6

[G7HEU]

Steve / WIK - thanks for your comments.

If I may quote you:

' From a mobile you could easily just not hear them at all, but locals to you having beams might be trying to work them'.

Yup, good point. I had done it 'by the book' though and listened for some minutes first and asked i.t.f.i.u? a few times before calling.

I had assumed the 'cop' was just a fool because of his lack of call sign but I wanted to check with you guys here that I wasn't ignorant of a special band plan 'window'.


Also your point about checking on the web is interesting. At home I'm quick to check the cluster, look somebody up on QRZ.com etc. Of course that isn't so easy from my car. That's a not a 'dig' at your comment - I'm just saying that I find the mobile or camping experience much different to operating at home with an ADSL link. It makes a new prefix much more exciting by the time I've flipped through a load of papers to find out where the guy is.

As an aside I know you've done your share of operating from the remote locations. From my location today I was struck by the lack of noise. I had next to none and my pal a few miles away ( but in town about 900' nearer to sea level ) had S7 on his doublet. I can see I'll be doing more of this /M thing.

There, I even managed to take my own thread off topic!

Best wishes,

Steve.

[WB2WIK]

Quote[/b] (G7HEU @ Mar. 28 2005,13:22)]Yup, good point. I had done it 'by the book' though and listened for some minutes first and asked i.t.f.i.u? a few times before calling.
Steve, well, you can't do much more than that.

Asking if the frequency is in use three or more times before calling CQ or another station is good practice. I always do the same thing.

Noise certainly varies a lot from place to place, and so do S-meters! So much hash on HF is man-made it's often difficult to tell that from "atmospherics." One way I tell is to see if the noise has any peaks or nulls across a given band: If the noise peaks up stronger on some frequencies than on others, chances are it's locally generated.

73 & happy mobiling!

Steve WB2WIK/6

[KC9ECI]

Yes, and another tip...work 14.225 and up and you open yourself up to more hams. Seems all the good DX plays where I can't go yet.

[G7HEU]

Quote[/b] (WB2WIK @ Mar. 28 2005,14:26)]Noise certainly varies a lot from place to place, and so do S-meters! #So much hash on HF is man-made it's often difficult to tell that from "atmospherics." #One way I tell is to see if the noise has any peaks or nulls across a given band: If the noise peaks up stronger on some frequencies than on others, chances are it's locally generated. #

73 & happy mobiling!

Steve WB2WIK/6
Steve

It wasn't an S meter thing. I believe it was a combination of being out of, and above town and using a (small ) vertical.

On the short drive home the noise increased to about 3 'S' points. When I reached home and checked the band from the 'shack' with my doublet the noise level across the band was about S7 - same as my pal.

Houses are pretty close to each other here and gardens are tiny. You previously mentioned beams - PAH! The planning police had a fit when I put up a 30' pole.

Over here beam antennas are for lottery winners with acres of land and no neighbours.

Steve.

[KG4ZQZ]

- have had the same thing happen to me... was operating portable QRP and had finished a nice QSO on 14.195 when an unidentified station came on and complained of an anticipated DX contact (i had asked more than once if the freq was in use *before* operating)...

- no problem really, as i was getting ready to fire up the camp stove to have a cup of coffee...

- but i found it interesting that a DX freq cop thought a QRP op might interfere!

- no one 'owns' a frequency, but it's good to be accommodating...

- BTW, listening on the freq for the next two hours: NOTHING heard! NO ACTIVITY!

[G7HEU]

Quote[/b] (KC9ECI @ Mar. 28 2005,14:27)]Yes, and another tip...work 14.225 and up and you open yourself up to more hams. #Seems all the good DX plays where I can't go yet.
Hey KC9ECI

Well, I always enjoy working the U.S.A. from any location. It mostly seems that on 20Mtrs I manage that a little below 14.200. That recollection might be chance, habit or even poor memory though!

Can somebody post a link to a basic out-line of what different license classes can use in the U.S?

ECI - any time you would like to try a sked please let me know. My home station is modest but I'm pretty active on H.F. at all sorts of times so you can always try an e-mail during band openings - as long as you don't regard that as cheating.

Best wishes,

Steve ( Just worked FM5DN on 40Mtrs SSB @ 00:04 local).

[KC9ECI]

How about a 2 meter Sked this summer Steve? #I'll be in Lincs for a few weeks at some point. #Just need to get the travel dates sorted out. #Was originally supposed to be in July, for the in-laws 50th wedding annivesary, but now the date is up in the air. #Seems the FIL is planning a surprise of his own and taking his wife to Rome for the event. Might also be in County Meath, Ireland for a week as well.

Here is a link to the ARRL, where you can see where different classes of amateurs here are allowed to opereate: http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/allocate.html

[G7HEU]

Quote[/b] (KC9ECI @ Mar. 28 2005,16:54)]How about a 2 meter Sked this summer Steve? #I'll be in Lincs for a few weeks at some point. #Just need to get the travel dates sorted out. #Was originally supposed to be in July, for the in-laws 50th wedding annivesary, but now the date is up in the air. #Seems the FIL is planning a surprise of his own and taking his wife to Rome for the event. #Might also be in County Meath, Ireland for a week as well.

Here is a link to the ARRL, where you can see where different classes of amateurs here are allowed to opereate: #http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/allocate.html
'ECI

Well, Lincs might be a bit of haul on 2 even on this little island, ( please note previous comments about planning police and antennas). Can't you bring some H.F. gear with you? And no excuses about the wife please - that picture on my QRZ profile was taken when I was on honeymoon.

If you can't manage H.F. what about ( dare I mention it? ) Echo-link? I don't use it much but it would be nice to have a QSO with you. I understand there is quite a good repeater linked network here.

Another thought - how will you travel to Ireland? I'm in Swindon, Wiltshire. If you are driving to a ferry departing from west Wales you might pass within my local repeater - GB3WH.

Most of all though try to bring H.F. If there's anything I can do at this end to help with phone calls or letters please let me know.

Thanks for the link. I'll look at it tomorrow - 01:12 here.

Steve.

[KC9ECI]

Planning on bringing my Icom IC-703. QRP, but it's HF. I'd love to bring the 6 meter rig, but I have to draw the line somewhere. I figure I'll sneak my HT and small mirage amp along with as well.

[G7HEU]

'ECI

When I travel by aircraft I don't mind taking a radio along but I'm always a bit wary of the potential security hassle caused by having masses of wire in my suitcase. About the only place to buy coax and plugs around here is the Maplin chain of stores.

E-mail me nearer the time with an address and I'll post you a wire dipole for say 40 and 20Mtrs to your in-laws house. I'll include some coax and a PL259.

Must go to sleep ZZzzzzzzzzzz...

Steve.