With the easing of the pandemic the Finnish quartet of OH2BH, Martti, OH2TA, Pekka, OH5BM, Tapani and OH5LLR, Timo will join the gang at Amateur Radio Society of Kosovo, SHRAK; Z61VB, Vjollca, Z61DX, Driton and Z62FB, Fehmi on the air, at their HQ station Z60A, for the CQWW SSB Contest.
They will activate two stations and put them on all bands for the purpose of offering a rare Z6 multiplier from the latest DXCC addition, entity number 340.
The group is taking extreme caution, similar with other contest DXpeditions have done recently and will fly directly to their final destination. They hope that the contest community will offer them sincere prayers for safe travels and for a successful operating event, now that many brave contesters take their first steps abroad toward a new normal and a brighter future.
QSL Z60A via OH2BH.
After leaving previous post I was expecting DX-World to give it same publicity as original news so hams who did not see ITU bulletin are informed. Any comment for the sake of truth gentlemen?
What Martti & Co are going to say now? Would ARRL still accept it as legal?
IT IS A PURE BULLY AND PIRACY
—————————————————————————————————-
Interational Telecommunication Union officially confirms that use of Z6
prefix is illegal.
ITU Operational Bulletin No. 1149, June 1st 2018.
Secretary-General of ITU
Following the inquiry of the Administration of Serbia of 16 March 2018
regarding the use of Call Sign Series Z6 by amateur radio stations of
Kosovo*, I would like to provide the following statement:
Pursuant to Article 19 of the Radio Regulations, notably its
provisions Nos. 19.28B and 19.33, the management of international series
of call signs is a prerogative of ITU. Call sign series can be allocated
only to the administrations of the ITU Member States by world
radiocommunication conferences or, between radiocommunication
conferences, by the ITU Secretary-General. In this respect, the
attention of the ITU administrations is drawn to the fact that ITU has
not allocated call sign series Z6 to any of its Member States.
Consequently, the utilization of call signs series Z6 by any entity
without a formal allocation and consent of the
ITU represents an unauthorized and illegal usage of this international
numbering resource.
* This designation is without prejudice to position on status, and is in
line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ opinion on Kosovo declaration of
independence.
Any Idea when us Africans can expect a QSL card?
My Post Box Stays empty 🙁
Donovan
ZS2DL
I had so much fun at Z6 FT8 pileup and I didn’t take radio at Lanzarote missing RDXC, BARTG, WPX SSB 🙁 Local hams not interested. Boring sunshine only…
z60a and kosovo
One question for Europeans:
Do you know where is the Brussels and what kind of negotiation are being held there between Serbia and Kosovo? Why certain group of radioamateurs is lobbying and therefore violate international regulations? Politics? Is it possible in the EU to drive a car for a long time and only then to take the driving test to obtain licence? Teach me those EU positive achievement !!!
What’s going on here? This station was running split on 30m from approx 0600utc to 0720utc 12 Mar 18. 10.112MHz. He was sending the wrong callsign ZB0A, definitely NOT Z60A for at least an hour in a split pileup (up1). I assume he’s incorrectly programmed a computer or memory keyer.
I recorded this and slowed it down to check with other hams that the call being sent was ZB0A. The whole world was working him and spotting him as Z60A on the Cluster.
ALL those qso’s are invalid for DXCC!! You can’t use a Gibraltar callsign in Kosovo.
If you worked him at those times…..GET A REPLACEMENT QSO or cry later….
And where are the people of South America, they always treat us like trash.
What evidence you have to say that Albanians are treated poorly? CNN reports? US sources? Paul, we treated Albanians much better and with more respect compared to treatment Aboriginals have in Australia, THEIR NATIVE country, from settlers who took it. Do I have to remind you about native Americans destiny or slavery, African Americans rights? Australians and Americans are the last to give any argument on that matter. You better take some time and LEARN something about history and you will see that our kingdom of Serbia and our kings resided right there 1000 years a go, when Albanians were nowhere to be seen. That is a cradle of our nation and they want to take it away from us with US support. You can not compare that with VK9/VK0 or several other DXCC entities, those territories are not taken away from Australia.
Hello Pop
I have already stated above that I can understand why Serbian hams may be upset by the decision. My point is that there is nothing to be gained in venting about it here on DX World.
I should further point out that DXCC country status actually has very little connection with actual real world country status. Alaska and Hawaii are actually separate DXCC countries already but this has no bearing on their “real world” country status.
The USA (via the DXCC program) has already declared a number of Australian territories as separate countries – we have vk9s and vk0s – the DXCC status of these entities does not change the fact they are part of the Commonwealth of Australia.
As for vk7 being declared a new country, I guess my feelings would depend on why the residents of vk7 wanted to cede from Australia in the first place. If Tasmanians had been treated poorly and were of separate and distinct ethnicity I doubt I would oppose their secession request. Why force people to be part of your team if they do not want to be part of your team?
I do not pretend to be an expert on how the Kosovo situation came about but I do know that Serbia and other states were only fairly recently part of the state of Yugoslavia which in itself was an artificial construct. Should we be reconstructing Yugoslavia, should we go back even further and reconstruct the states that existed 100 or even 1000 years ago?
Where does it all end.
Cheers
Paul – vk4ma
To Paul, VK4MA: I am sure your thinking and comment will be very much different if, for instance, US foreign office would declare Tasmania as a sovereign country, without UN approval, disregarding international laws and ARRL will declare it as a new DXCC. Think about that my friend. I remind you, “Kosovo and Metohija” is part of Serbia confirmed by UN resolution #1244 and that has not changed, ITU did not assign Z6 prefix and it is used illegally and ARRL falsify ITU list … Why than they are not letting Catalonia separation? There are several similar cases all over the globe … What is ARRL doing? Supporting PIRACY for the sake of fist of dollars to be earned for new DXCC upgrades … Shame
Does anybody know if 6m operations are planned?
Any reason why there is no 12 metre activity? Band open to EU from VK around the same time as for 15 metre qsos.
Congrats to Col here in this thread for allowing free discussion and also for consistency in criticising the $20 payment requirement for immediate LOTW upload. (Yes Col, I remember your vehment criticism of the Italian DX Group when they introduced a tiny fee for LOTW so at least you are consistent in your views regardless of which DX Group is involved)
Personally I have no problem with the $20 fee – it is only a 4-6 week wait for those not wanting to make a donation which is perfectly reasonable.
I also understand the Serbian frustrations but fundamentally DXCC is an American run program and thus decisions re country status are like to reflect US foreign policy considerations. If you do not like it then I guess EU is free to put together its own DXCC program with rules agreed upon by all EU states (good luck with that).
At the end of the day I am sure a few hams operating under Z6 prefix are not going to influence Kosovo’s independence ambitions either way. Serbian venting is better directed toward UN or other international bodies who may have more influence in the decision making process going forward. It is doubtful that DXWorld or the DXCC program has yet reached the status of influencing world affairs.
Cheers
Paul – vk4ma
“Now the new week will concentrate on giving out some RTTY QSOs”….. but 17m and 15m CW only again! 🙁
Trying to break the pileup from ZS in the contest will be totally impossible – everyone will be chasing the mult – but no sign of RTTY on the bands where they ARE workable here….
de Barry ZS2EZ
Looking forward to the Z60A beam heading our way in VK!!
73, Lance – VK6DU
It’s painful and disappointing to see the ammount of hypocrisy and double standards displayed here. I would like to see you acknowledging Donetsk, Abkhazia, South Osetia as DXCC entities. As great Serbian poet once said: “Everyone is born to die once, honour and disgrace live forever”……. Do your thinking on these words……
Notice sparse SSB activity since activation. When will SSB begin in earnest? Thanks.
Jo,DL1AB : for Joe and the rest of the same !!
Please read carefully what says YU7EF.Who speaks the truth ?
The perpetration of international law is OK to you.The world is poor with the force of politics !!
Negotiations with Serbia still persist.Kosovo is Serbia. Z6 is nothing.as well as the X5 in the past
Good to see you Thanks Ken JH1TFE
CLARIFICATION OF THE Z60A LOTW UPLOAD TIMING
The complete Z60A log will be uploaded approximately four weeks after the current activation. The current activation will end immediately following Kosovo’s 10th independence anniversary celebrations on Sunday, February, 18 2018. The additional four-week window will allow for corrections and checking for potentially busted calls.
Jo, DL1AB: That hypocrisy save for yourself, this issue has a lot to do with our national feelings, if you are able to understand that Kosovo is a cradle of our nation, from where our kings lived and ruled 1000 years a go. We were happy in your case when Germany re-united, right? We have a saying “100 bats on the other’s back does not hurt”, think about that … And I must remind you again, Kosovo is not recognized by UN (read UN resolution #1244), ITU did not assign Z6 prefix, IARU R1 accepted it by few corrupt clerks so the whole activity is illegal and PIRACY inspired by greedy OH2BH & Co, supported by ARRL. Have you ever heard for HAM SPIRIT ?
Hi all,
@Bob, E77O: “KOSOVO is not an independent country !!!”
If you do this comperison, what’s about SPRATLY and/or GUANTANAMO
@ Pop, YU7EF: see the text above.
You will have reasons for different notion in this (your) region but Amateur Radio is not the plattform to work it out
My YU friends talk about Kosovo but never went there in the last 10 years of independence. ARRL just rectified mistake made long ago ignoring political reality and IARU. Marttis have done lot of good for poor Kosovo people including Serbian minority protection. Z6/S56A 500+ FT8 and 47 CW QSO from 20 – 160 m are loaded on LoTW!
I am accused for slander for telling it out loud what this “expedition” or activation actually is about …
Yes, Martti needs more money to bribe officials in ITU and other organizations so they accept non-existent country, not recognized by UN …
Totally agree.
(DX-World is supposed to be impartial, but c’mon this is nuts!)
20 USD for immediate LoTW and QSL is insane! LoTW should be uploaded for FREE.
I agree…Come on guys its radio….relax…….giving a place a new prefix means nothing in politics (if that is what you worry about)…you should know that by now…:-) who cares what prefix is given out…the more the better….what do you think who will remember Z60A in 50 years…not you, not me and probably nobody…so what is the fuss about…:-)))
Have some fun while you still can push the key and remember Morse code…but if you do not like it, turn off your radio and go collect stamps…you will be very relaxed…:-))))
73 , 88, and go get’em
I noticed that they are spending a lot of time calling only Americans, it would also be right to call the other states eu-as-af oc tnx JOE IT9ESW
It’s a hobby. Good to see new entity. Let’s have fun
Just a couple of simple comments:
– Why does the inaugural operation for a new DXCC not do any Digital Mode contacts? Especially given the difficulty they are having working NA from their present location?
– Why does the ARRL immediately recalculate Honor Roll when no one can yet process a QSL. Good old days when the list came out once a year… resulting in a grace period.
Happy with as many DXCC that the ARRL want to add to the game but I wish the phase in/inaugural activity was a bit more robust. Boy do I miss Bill Moore!
“The discussion during the Board meeting and the rule change did not address any specific entity,” ARRL Radiosport Manager Norm Fusaro, W3IZ, said. “The amendment could allow some additions to the current DXCC List of entities. It’s a good thing not only for DXCC but for all active hams.”
who believes in this must urgently go to the psychiatrist !!!
Mr Fusaro- do you have any questions about ITU !? KOSOVO is not an independent country !!!
why are you fooling us? Bob
Be careful what you write…your previous (deleted posts) had an element of slander in them.
Art, it’s an easy and simple math, 50.000+ QSO, 3$ each QSL via Club log goes to OH2BH …
“compensation would be exclusively directed to further support for evolving Amateur Radio in Kosovo”
does anyone believe it?
No LOTW QSL?
Has anyone even thought about thanking the ARRL for making this happen? To stimulate DXCC activity as it has been stagnant for much too long? How about putting aside the political comments, and be happy that a new entity is on the air? GO WORK THEM!
Thanks to Finnish crew for their efforts to make this a new DXCC entity.
#340 looks much more aesthetic then 339.
The hams from nearby countries are rarely have a chance to work you due to random short skip openings. So we would appreciate some attention to this problem. Hope for some 12/10/6m activity from the crew during the coming Spring/Summer Es season and again, working Balkans from KN29 is a real challenge.
Would appreciate the LoTW upload to apply for the mentioned #340 as soon as possible.
Remember, DXCC is just a ” game “. Let us have fun !
Good luck…hope you have a good time activating this “new one”. Hope the midwest gets more opportunities to work you…GL!
On the ARRL site, the ITU list of the prefixes does not comply with the official list of the prefixes on ITU site. Again a scam.
Poor is the team that went to work from Kosovo under the sign Z60A and cheated on thousands of radio amateurs using the pirate sign. On the official ITU page under “Table of International Call Sign Series (Appendix 42 to the RR)”, the prefix Z6 is not assigned to anyone.
It’s impossible! How can you lose so much ???
one day you lost two QSO! How can it be ???
26.01.18 at 09:05 UTC Z60A 30 m CW RST599 UY0HY
26.01.18 at 09:25 UTC Z60A 20 m SSB RST59 UY0HY
Even though ARRL behaves as a bully, changing it’s own rules to make it possible it is still a PIRATE operation – check ITU prefix allocation and you will see that Z6 is NOT allocated to so called “Kosovo” which is by United Nations resolution 1244 still and can only be “Kosovo and Metohija” Autonomy in SERBIA. Go guys, send as much money as you can to OH2BH for THOUSANDS of QSL cards that will end up worthless.
Some of the questions here (Dated Jan 25) are already answered in the article.
Any Idea if there is a problem with their logs?
Next KKTC (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus) 1B new DXCC
D1… Next?!?!? unbelievable!!!
To EA5NA, just wonder if you will be so enthusiastic to see Catalonia declared as a new DXCC ?
Good job and congratulations forma this new calle sing… 73
All I can say is shame on ARRL board …
Hello Nick – VK2DX
Based on US State Department rules and regulations (https://www.state.gov/s/inr/rls/4250.htm)!!! Its very simple!
Thanks for the link David and also to ARRL for the (little late) statement. Let’s welcome Kosovo as a new one.
Wish all operators there fun with the upcoming pile ups 😉 See you there.
Here the link.
http://www.arrl.org/news/amendment-to-arrl-dxcc-rules-will-expand-dxcc-list
if Jan. 21st is the start date of the new DXCC entity of Kosovo then it is really not understandable that DXCC committee is not able to publish an official notice about it the same day.
Can anyone provide a link where on the ARRL web page a statement of Kosovo as new DXCC entity can be found.
New DXCC? Based on … what exactly?
New dxcc entity without operators,so ‘international’ team has to
take place. Yeah,right!
I’d rather say,new pile-up practice playground, for OH2BH &CO.
Enjoy guys!
But, what’s the “start” date for QSOs to be accepted for this new Entity? Are previous QSOs with Z6 station OK? Jose CT1EEB
Source: N7NG
Has the DXCC Committee approved this for DXCC and if so the source please? Thanks