It gives me new opportunity to discover
this new band.
Although not many Europeans countries using this band, it is always
interesting to get new VHF band!
Please, have a look on the band allocation plan, and you can understand,
that is not possible
to get DXCC Award on that band. The band allocation picture is published by
Bo, OZ2M on the site:
http://www.70mhz.org
International 70 MHz allocations
Published on 1 February 2012 by Bo OZ2M
Look like to start on this band quickly is not so easy.
First of all I even did not know nothing about International 70 MHz
allocation, how to
operate and what to expect from band, which is between well known 50 and 144
MHz...
And so on, and so on....
All answers I found on the great WEB resource
http://www.70mhz.org
Another thing is the equipment.
Because practically no commercially manufactured RIG and amateurs must to
build transverters
and power amplifiers.
But I was much lucky!
I have YAESU FT-847, which was modified for a proper job on 70 MHz band.
The modification was quiet easy. It was very well described by Mark, PA1O
and it has been done
during 1 weekend. As a result, I've got 60 watt output on TX, but RX has not
enough sensitivity.
So, friend of mine, Hellar, ES1II did installed 1 stage peamplifier (3SK121)
inside FT-847.
Also I plan to build the transistor's PA. To get at least 100-150 watts and make
"more easy life"
for transceiver's PA.
Antenna. After learning all materials on the site
http://70mhz.org, I decided to try 5 element
yagi
by Popa, YU7EF. It was also easy to build, because Popa was so kind and
recalculated all elements
dimensions regarding to my materials.
(measured by miniVNA)
I installed that antenna on the mast, below the group of 8 x 19 el. yagis
for 432 MHz.
(picture made on 12.05.08)
Here is list of my
completed initial (first time worked) QSOs on 70 mhz.
And
here is table the "Firsts" on 70 MHz regarding to Estonia.
(Published on
http://www.70mhz.org/firsts.htm), standing on
03-08-2012
