6O3A Somalia 10-20/2/2012

[IK0ZCW]

From February 10-20, 2012, Darko J28AA will operate from Hargeisa, Somaliland. License has been granted and call sign to be issued upon arrival. He will use an FT-857d with multiband vertical antenna 40-10m.
Note this is a vacation trip whereby Darko will also try to teach local radio amateurs in Hargeisa and perhaps to establish a radio club. He will donate a shortwave transceiver IC-735 with appropriate antenna.

[IK0ZCW]

Callsign 6O3A pending.

[IK0ZCW]

Darko arrived Somalia approx 08:30UTC. Today (Friday) is a holiday. Tomorrow he’ll meet with the Minister for COMM where his license & call will be issued. Possibly operational as 6O3A..

[IK0ZCW]

Freddy J28RO reports that Darko met with the Minister of Telecom yesterday, but was unable to get a license. He is to return tomorrow to give a live demonstration of operating (probably on 15 or 20 SSB) whereby his license and call will be granted. Freddy mentions that Darko has high QRN levels on all bands due to electrical installations, with no grounding, above his hotel room. He will try remedy this for Monday activity.

[IK0ZCW]

6O3A now QRV. Activity also expected in ARRL CW Contest weekend.

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Suad DK6XZ mentions Darko updates daily on his progress to BHCC.

6O3A now QRV. Activity also expected in ARRL CW Contest weekend.

[IK0ZCW]

From BHCC

Darko will be ending his trip on Monday, with the flight back to Djibouti at around 2:00 AM local. So Sunday night (early Monday morning – if good condx permit) is the last opportunity to work 6O3A , then he would need some time to disassemble the antenna on Monday morning.

The Minister for Post and Telecommunication of Republic of Somaliland spoke about granting the following licences ( 6O3B , 6O3C , 6O3D etc) to locals, who may at the beginning have some difficulties in accustoming to the amateur radio spectrum and traffic. We will follow developments through Darko, E70A/J28AA