[NEWS UPDATE] – Here’s a preview of the EZ/DL7ZM QSL card courtesy of DX-World’s “Land of QSLs“.
[JULY 19] – Thanks to Pasquale IW0HEX for the following :
In order to give more news about recent the EZ/DL7ZM experimental / demonstration activity from Turkmenistan by David DL7ZM from May 28 to June 3, I would like to mention this page. We are confident that ARRL will give a positive feedback about this activity.
[MAY 30] – David was again active today briefly (for about 15 mins around 14:00z). Here’s his signal, recorded by IK0OZD.
Meanwhile, David has updated his QRZ.com page:
There is a lot of confusion on EZ/DL7ZM. This is not a DX Expedition. Not at all. I do not expect more than a few hundred QSOs. Many QSOs is not the goal. The goal is to demonstrate radio propagation and the technology together with my partners here. I also like to show that this investigations can help young students to become more interested in studying electrical engineering, for the good of Turkmenistan. These contacts and tools like reverse beacon, dxmaps etc. are tools that help to understand propagations. Further, contacts between technical interested partners in differenent countries create frienship and help with peace.
[MAY 29] – Earlier today, David EZ/DL7ZM was active on 10m CW. His signal, as he suggested, was mainly weak, but strong enough for some QSOs to be made between 1108z to 1215z.
It had a 3/5 signal with QSB, that was understandable but the propagation was going up and down. I have to say that I was able to complete the QSO without any problem. hope that the QSO can be credited and that @ARRL gives positive confirmation. 73 Salvo @it9idr
— Salvo IT9IDR (@it9idr) May 29, 2023
[MAY 28 @ 1800z] – David says his location today was rather bad and hopes to be at a better QTH tomorrow between 16:00 – 18:30. No promises, however. Please understand this is a propagation study, so he may just call “test, test, test” and let the faculty and students observe on DX maps or reverse beacon etc. David says please do not be angry. EZ is not the most easy country to include into a propagation study that includes 4L, 4K and 7O.
If you hear David’s signal, please record and send to DX-World – thanks.
[MAY 28 @ 1300z] Similar to his 7O activity from Yemen, we got word that David, DL7ZM is going to QRV from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan as EZ/DL7ZM. Activity to be on 10m CW, lasting until June 3. Possibly 6m activity too. Grid: LM97.
NOTE: Ham radio has been banned in Turkmenistan since 2006. Perhaps David will help to open doors.
I am certain that ARRL will make Davisd’s activity as successful as EZ/DL7ZM’s. Fingers crossed for this rare country. Compliments David for his business and profession. 73 de IT9IDR Salvo
There were sceptics when David got the special 6m permission in Azerbaijan as 4K6/DL7ZM
Then came the unique 6m activity from Yemen 7O/DL7ZM.
Now EZ/DL7ZM is on the air and again the sceptics, especially the old Soviet style ones, are questioning the validity of this special permission.
Those sceptics have done nothing for decades to get EZ on the air, but it was David Pommerenke who did it – BRAVO!
I’m sure David will provide all necessary documents to ARRL and sceptics will be put to shame again.
I had the pleasure and fortune of being able to contact him at 11:25 UTC yesterday. I heard him called cqcqcq. The signal was low, 3/5 with QSB and the propagation went up and down. But I must say that in some moments it was very understandable and luckily I was able to close the QSO with a good signal. There were many hams who called him, but after 15/30 min the signal disappeared for me. Of course for me it is an absolute ATNO. Hope ARRL can confirm and credit EZ now Country Rare. We squeeze our fingers and good luck to David for his activity in Turkmenistan and his tenacity. 73 de Salvo IT9IDR
I was in contact with EZ8CW today. He stated that the local club has no information about this activity and strongly recommends that the operator contact him or EZ8AD. Relations between radio amateurs in the country and officials are not easy, and dubious activity can exacerbate them even more. I can give a direct mobile phone number to EZ8CW to be contacted.
It is impossible to obtain official permission in Turkmenistan. He is at great risk of being arrested and imprisoned. The best thing for him is expulsion from the country. Whether it will be counted for the DXCC is a question to ARRL. Most likely yes, as it was done with some activities from P5
73 de (ex) UH8/RW3AH
Slow steps…
EZ is not CEPT member, ham radio is banned since 2006. Obviously it won’t be valid for dxcc.