FJ/OH2AM – Saint Barthelemy
All info courtesy of Daily DX:
DXpeditioners have been monitoring the status of St. Barthelemy (FJ) for several months. Immediately after the addition of St. Bart??s to the United States State Department??s Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty list an initial two man seasoned DXpedition team flew to the Caribbean this past weekend.
OH2BH, Martti Laine, and OH0XX/HP1WW, Olli Rissanen, will be the first two operators of the team and are now in the process of building up two stations.
about 2 years ago
On one hand I can agree that maybe this operation stepped on some toes and should have been more observant to the real spirit of Ham Radio. Unfortunately it doesn’t take much more than a cursory listen of the pileups to see that the Ham Radio Spirit disappeared under the direction of the frequency police! If only that was the problem, it would not be so bad.
On the other hand, I too watched the spots for the local stations(FJ), and when they were spotted I went to listen and try to work them instead of the pileups. Unfortunately, I found that they were either not heard at all or too weak to bother. The FJ/OH2AM signals were always clear and strong in upstate NY!
I have only 100W and a wire so I am at a disadvantage to big beams, towers, and KW’s, so it was nice to be able to work this new one and be able to fully and clearly understand what I just worked!
Let’s keep to the spirit here and let the powers to be make the decision! Nothing that is said here is going to change that, so why cry and whine. Get on the air and make some noise so that more of us can make contacts on other HF bands and modes! That is what you need to do. I can’t get 80 or 40m meter credits from reading this forum, so get your local country men together and make a Joyfull New Years Noise, on the Ham Bands!!
73 & Happy New Year to All!
Mike W9RUK
about 2 years ago
Well, everyone I have talked to has supported Martti and Olli. You are not going to win any popularity contest behaving this way!
I hope that these “more than five dxpeditions groups” can be heard better than the locals because I have never heard them and I have been listening in more than 25 years. Martti and Olli had very good signal on all bands and they are great opereators. I don’t think these “more than five dxpeditions groups” can beat them. I hope they will be active on 160 m. I look forward to hear them!
about 2 years ago
I see there is going to be a locally supported DXpedition to FJ soon. I am glad of that. I believe it to be a good thing to involve local amateurs in a DXpedition whenever possible. However, because of this, I implore you to withdraw your protests about the previous DXpedition with the DXAC. To leave it standing leaves the impression you wish to “compete” against the previous operation on the basis of legal manipulation rather than skill of the operators, regardless of any discrepencies there may have been in the previous operations paperwork.
If there must be a competition here, let it be key against key, microphone against microphone. Not legal dancing against legal dancing.
Thank you.
about 2 years ago
Also – you will find that the “Cheif Operator of the Previous DXpedition” likes to put his picture on QSL cards. Although he may be someone with great operating skill, his picture doesn’t make the most eye-catching QSL card
You’ll have many more requests for cards if you put a picture of one of the beautiful women that come from the Leeward Islands instead 
about 2 years ago
Nothing wrong with the BS7H 2007 QSL card – http://hamgallery.com/qsl/Sexy/bs7h.jpg
about 2 years ago
Dear OMs,
Please find the addendum sent to the DXCC Committee and the ARRL Presidents.
http://arp75.free.fr/Lettreaucomitedxcc_addendum_english.pdf
It seems that call signs changes very frequently in Finland…
Anyway, this was a club-station and the owner on QRZ.COM and SRAL callBOOK was not the valid owner during the expedition dates.
If now they are going to find an homemade solution to change that…
Just make your opinion.
With my best 73
F6GOX / FJ5BL
about 2 years ago
Dear OMs
1. section 2.3 of the the CEPT TR 61-01 Nicosia 2003 states:
?2.3 When transmitting in the visited country the licence holder must use his national call sign preceded by the call sign prefix of the visited country as indicated in Appendices II and IV. The call sign prefix and the national call sign must be separated by the character ??/? (telegraphy) or the word ??stroke? (telephony). ?
You can also consult the ARRL website link here:
http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/io/
2. Use a club-station licence as call sign is not allowed.
3. Even with finnish magic tools they arrive to believe you that OH2AM “is” OH2BH, so which other idea for OH0XX operator ?
To use a multi operators stations in St-Bartholomew, you must received a special call sign, “TO” or “TX” series, with complete list of the operators and their licences to be sent to Paris, telecom administration, and pay fees for this callsign.
More, multi signals stations are not allowed in France…
Conclusion : The end…
Best 73 Laurent
F6GOX /FJ5BL
about 2 years ago
Yes, I hope this is the end of this embarrassing story. It shows total lack of HAM SPIRIT and shows how jealous some people are on other fellow hams success. Thank you Martti and Olli for nice contacts with Saint Barthelemy, hope to hear you guys soon from an other rare spot. Happy new year!!
about 2 years ago
May I suggest establishing a Pro-Bart (not Simpson) -fund to assist the local operations as it seems to be the only driver for the complaint…
Martti and Olli, Thanks for that one qso on 80 m CW . Been there, done that, but never with radios … love the beach !
about 2 years ago
Big tnx to Martti and Olli,the local hams from the isl NOT HEARD here!! where are they?
about 2 years ago
I see from your comments you plan on continuing your efforts against FJ/OH2AM.
I find that a shame. No matter what effort is put on this upcoming effort, no matter how much skill the operators demonstrate, these efforts will be overshadowed by your current actions in the minds of most hams. Your efforts in “legal wrangling” in paperwork discrepencies is what will be remembered.
Whatever problems were with the callsigns used, the problems were no doubt not due to anyone’s arrogance or ego. Why would someone with an ego use a slashed callsign of another call, rather than a slashed callsign with their OWN call? Or if that was not available, why wouldn’t they use a special prefix callsign (for the prefix hunters)? Again, to say this discrepency was the result of arrogance or ego simply doesn’t make sense.
Again, I implore you, for the sake of good sportsmanship in DXing to withdraw your complaint. If you wish to express your displeasure with any arrogance from the previous operation, this is not the way to do it. Instead, compete key against key, microphone against microphone. Many have said the previous operation was not represented well on the low bands, or in Asia. The oportunity is there for your upcoming operation to excel beyond what the previous one did.
Thank you again.
about 2 years ago
Dear Oms,
What are the limits to obtain a cross in a table namelled “DXCC” with the help of a small paper namelled “QSL card” ?
The limits are namelled “rules”. And rules are the rules, in any sports, hobby or even life, and of course in DXCC.
If we accept to understand the point of view of some writers here, why tomorrow we will not accept “DX” from a boat few miles from the coast, or even from an other island, or QSO by not licenced operator or with a non valid or limited rights licence ? And so…
There are amateur radio regulations in the World and St Barth is not a small desert rock few feet over the sea ! They learn it in late, but they know it now. For the next time.
It is clear : they do an illegal dxpedition, they do not respect the country host law on most several CEPT TR/61-01 and french points law and by the way the dxcc rules.
I hope the operators will recognize it with honesty. I can’t imagine they are trying to make up the truth with any complicity… Nobody can’t imagine that…
As I had explained with accuracy, in their positions, they can’t go outside the facts.
The goal is over a simple piece of paper. All the hams have suddently realized it.
What will be the ARRL DXCC Committee decision is that not only fot the St Barths hams are waiting, but also for all the ham community in the World.
Lights are on the ARRL DXXC Committee.
Best 73
Laurent F6GOX / FJ5BL
about 2 years ago
Laurent,
Lights are on you, too. And I am dissappointed. I have lost respect for who I once considered a great DXer. You are as petty as a girl who has lost her “man” to another. And to say the OH2AM/FJ operation was “criminal” is ABSURD. YOU are the DX CRIMINAL for your actions.
“Best 73″ Johnny
about 2 years ago
Laurent,
Why do you continue in this foolishness? Stop fighting the things that have happened and get your signal and those of the local Islanders on the air! I hear nothing from you but words in this posting. Where is the signal that I can work?! If there are so many offended locals, their signals should be filling the air waves right now. Where are they?
We had a great operation, producing strong signals, and many contacts for all including those of us without the big equipment. Your one local entry was so unreadable, that no contact was able to be made here in Upstate NY! It seems like a vertical is not the greatest antenna, so they should be able to produce even better results with a some what better antenna system.
Let’s get to work on doing that and make some noise on the bands, not on this forum!! DXCC is not given to us for reading your continuous ranting!! So grab a mic or grab a key and produce something really useful!
73
Mike W9RUK
about 2 years ago
Hi
Why is F6GOX trying to give the impression that he is an local FJ operator?
The fact is that FJ5BL was last time legally used until 1994 for some years.
A scan of the cluster data shows that there has been no HF operations by any
locals for a long time from FJ. Only on 50 MHz and up. With a such experience it is not possible to handle pileups under high demand.
It is, or least should be well known that OH2AM is the personal club owned by OH2BH.
I have not found any applicable limitations for the club operation in the international CEPT rules.
73 Huuto
about 2 years ago
If the country is an island and is a part of any other country that is not a real country. So that should not count to a “country”.
OH2AM is real call for the DX club and is valid. You can not find most OH clubs from QRZ.com. Even call signs of SRAL.
But however thanks Martti for the new one!
about 2 years ago
As P5/OH2AM is ok for DXCC I do not see how FJ/OH2AM would not be. Or do you think that they will retroactively disqualify the P5 operation. Many tried to disq. the P5/OH2AM for other reasons though…
about 2 years ago
- Begin of quote -
< f6gox said, on December 28th, 2007 at 11:25 pm
<
< More than five dxpeditions groups will appear in the next weeks on St Barths, most < of them plan to leave their equipment on the island to improve the local club station.
<
< We help them and they are wellcome??
- End of quote -
So here we found the real reason? Since local FJ guys are not able to handle pileups and collect green stamps they’d like to get their share in some way!
In addition I just wish that the forthcoming “more than five dxpeditions” are all not too much US-orienteed. There is huge amount of Europeans and Asians still needing qsos with this new country.
73
pete
about 2 years ago
Dear OMs,
I agree with MM0NDX, it is time to close the topic, there is nothing to wait others than personnal attack against I. More I never read any acute argumentations.
Only the last with the P5/OH2AM activity which tries to confuse the mind of the hams with a non CEPT area activation. This is aim for the P5 authorities.
I put on the table that this is not me who answered, but this is the french ministry of telecom authorities. They had said that this is illegal.
I invite the frustrated people to send an email to Martii and Olli to ask them why for this dxpedition they don’ t want prefer to be in the lights with official and Press as allthe time ?
I can assure you than the local hams have not the Black Death or the Leprosy…
This is my last message on this topic.
Best 73
Laurent F6GOX / FJ5BL
http://arp75.free.fr/GalerieARP/picture.php?/548/category/261
about 2 years ago
it is SO clearly visible why f5bbl attacks towards Fiinnish hams, just read between the lines.
about 2 years ago
As a French OM who contacted both FJ/OH2AM and FJ5KH last week I’d like to say that F6GOX only represents himself and in no way the French Hams.
Happy New year to you all
about 2 years ago
Some make things happen, some watch things happen, others wonder what happened…
Choose your category if you can.
about 2 years ago
Is FJ5BL a valid callsign?
It seems as the callsign FJ5BL used by F6GOX and claimed as a local operator is unvalid.
The call may not be found in the official French callbook available from the REF site.
73 Huuto
about 2 years ago
FJ/OH2AM Online logbook
about 2 years ago
Thanks for the new one, Martti, and also FJ5KH.
about 2 years ago
Sent email to ARRL DXCC desk about the validity of the FJ/OH2AM operation. The reply is that it is under review.
about 2 years ago
I don’t believe Martti has or has ever had any unselfish reasons for putting new DXCC-entities on the air. To me he is nothing but an inflated ego. He is a “performer”
that likes to strut about on the DXCC-scene like a peacock, showing his tail-feathers to
all and sundry. He is even called “The Emperor” by some and I think that hits the nail
squarely on its head.
about 2 years ago
No wonder SM1OII defends OH2BH. He is of Finnish origin himself! What Martti does is always right, regardless!
Happy New Year
Sevon
about 2 years ago
Well, i’m sure if Martti has read this, he’d be ashamed at some of the comments appearing. I say give the guy a break.
He may well like to put a show on, but without that show your all time new one (of which he has given many) wouldn’t be in your logbook.
I’ve nothing but respect for the man. He’s a good operator, handles pileups easily (even when toiling on BS7H due to heat and lack of water).
I’m sure everyone who has replied on here has worked Martti over the years from differing locations.
Perhaps this topic should be put to bed now
about 2 years ago
You never know when the ARRL will accept or reject an operation. For example, the P5/4L4FN operation. My recollection is that there was never any written documentation to support the operation, just a verbal agreement and it was accepted by the ARRL. Then there is the 7O1YGF operation, which had a verbal but no paper work and was not accepted! In both operations the operators were told to pack up and leave by the government officials
about 2 years ago
Dear Alexander,
Many thanks for your clear answer.
Best regards
Laurent BEUGNET F6GOX
Alexander Gulyaev a ?Šcrit :
> Dear Laurent,
>
> Your understanding of the situation with national and club call signes is correct.
> Club call signs are not covered by Recommendation T/R 61-01 and should be considered at the national level only.
> As you understand, classifications to join the club could be different from HAREC requirements which are associated with CEPT Licence. Club members, including the holder of the club call sign, should use their national personal call signs when abroad (in the participating in T/R 61-01 country).
>
> Regards,
> **********************************************************
> Alexander GULYAEV
> Regulatory Affairs
> European Radiocommunications Office
>
> Office: + 45 33 89 63 13
> Mobile: + 45 20 82 80 24
> Fax: + 45 33 89 63 30
> http://www.ero.dk
> ***********************************************************
>
>
> —–Original Message—–
> From: Mette J Konner Sent: 10 January 2008 10:25
> To: Alexander Gulyaev
> Subject: FW: Respect of the 2.3 cept tr 61-01 rule
>
>
>
> —–Original Message—–
> From: lbeugnet [mailto:lbeugnet@free.fr]
> Sent: 10. januar 2008 10:04
> To: Mette J Konner
> Cc: fj5dx; dxcc@arrl.org; radiocom@ficora.fi; Claude-Robert DELIME
> Subject: Respect of the 2.3 cept tr 61-01 rule
>
> Dear Sir,
>
>
> For the amateur radio stations,
>
> As the section 2.3 of the CEPT TR 61-01 Nicosia 2003 states:
>
> ?2.3 When transmitting in the visited country the licence holder must use his national call sign preceded by the call sign prefix of the visited country as indicated in Appendices II and IV. The call sign prefix and the national call sign must be separated by the character “/” (telegraphy) or the word “stroke” (telephony). ?
>
> For us, it is totally clear that a club station call sign, which is not “his” national call sign or the licence holder, can not be used because the 2.3 states than *the licence holder must use his national call sign* and by the way do not authorize the use of a club station in a visiting country other than “his” one ?
>
> The text does not mention the club station call sign *because* the text says the amateur radio visitor must use *his national call sign* .
>
> It seems there is some confusion by few amateur radio who are in charge of a club station, means chairman and not the holder of the radio club call sign which is not “his” personnal call sign.
>
> They claim to be authorize to use a club station call sign in all the cept country.
>
> Could you confirm our opinion about this rules 2.3 ?
>
> More they totally forget local rules, as each host country can used, more restricted than CEPT even if they are cept member.
>
> Many thanks for a quick reply.
>
> With my best regards.
>
> Laurent BEUGNET
> Amateur radio station F6GOX
about 2 years ago
SB DX @ ARL $ARLD003
ARLD003 Information on FJ/OH2AM
ZCZC AE03
QST de W1AW
DX Bulletin 3 ARLD003
>From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT January 11, 2008
To all radio amateurs
SB DX ARL ARLD003
ARLD003 Information on FJ/OH2AM
This operation by OH2BH and OH0XX was conducted under CEPT
Recommendation T/R 61-01. This Recommendation makes it possible for
radio amateurs from CEPT countries (and certain non-CEPT countries)
to operate in other CEPT countries without obtaining an individual
temporary license from the visited CEPT country.
Complaints were received from several individuals. The main thrust
of the complaints is that the operators used a club call for which
Laine is station trustee, rather than their individual callsigns.
The intention of the operators in using a single callsign was to
limit the number of duplicate contacts. Many DXpeditions use club or
special-issue callsigns for this reason. The Recommendation makes no
mention of club callsigns but says that the visiting license holder
“must use his national call sign preceded by the call sign prefix of
the visited country.” Other operations using club callsigns from
French territory, including in the Caribbean, have taken place under
provisions of the Recommendation and have been credited for DXCC.
Since the question was raised, checking with various CEPT
administrations and with the European Radiocommunication Office
(ERO) has revealed different views regarding the use of club
callsigns under the Recommendation. The ERO observes that the use of
a club callsign could prevent an administration from determining
whether a particular operator is qualified and concludes, “Club
members, including the holder of the club call sign, should use
their national personal call signs when abroad.”
In the case of FJ/OH2AM, the two operators clearly were qualified to
operate in St Barthelemy under the Recommendation. They utilized a
call authorized to them by their national authority. The purpose of
a radio station callsign is to identify the administration and the
licensee responsible for the operation of the station. The use of
FJ/OH2AM rather than FJ/OH2BH and FJ/OH0XX did not thwart this
purpose.
NNNN
/EX
about 2 years ago
“Selon que vous serez puissant ou mis?Šrable,
Les jugements de cour vous rendront blanc ou noir. ”
Jean de la Fontaine
dans “Les animaux malades de la Peste”, Fables, Livre VII.
about 2 years ago
yes!!!!!!!!!!! no more trouble,all is ok for the dxcc,tnx again Marrti and Ollie
about 2 years ago
Marrti has let his black marks on this island.
FJ/OH2AM operations are approved for DXCC credit. NC1L DXCC Desk
ARRL, by the DXCC Desk : Bill Moore, sign are up-side from the French laws and Rules. In this conditions, I will stop all help about any operators like to came in St barthelemy. More information later.
You came in St Barthelemy at your risk ! If you have any problem, call NC1L !
IN THE RESPECT OF THE LAW AND RULES OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC
PHIL FJ5DX
about 2 years ago
Dear gentlemen,
The ARRL DXCC committee had decided to validate a “hobby activity” even if this activity was not in agreement with the french regulations law, cept recommandations and our “ham spirit view”.
Can anybody go in a cept country and use a foreign club call sign instead of his personnal country call? The ARRL answer is “Yes”.
The settlement of DXCC, in his point III.1 shows: ?Conversely, findings by a host government indicating non-compliance with their amateur radio regulations may cause denial or revocation of accreditation.?
Why ARRL does not respect the french law and CEPT Recommandation ? Because this is not important in fact to respect the regulations in this game.
As the dxcc point III.1 says “may cause denial or revocation” that means there is a open door. Who are the gate keepers ? Where is the yellow line ?
ARRL loses the real opportunity to remember to the ham community what would be the “ham spirit attitude” in this kind of new dxcc event, specially in a country where there are hams…
DXCC committee has made his choice. There is sovereign, over the country host regulations, because I understand that ARRL is not under any regulations. They apply their own rules for a private money game named “DXCC program award”.
As in any private money game, there are champions, fair players, robbers and cheats.
I am happy for those who will receive the QSL card which is OK now for this award.
In few weeks they can put a cross in a table, sent dollars to ARRL and forget all this history.
Best 73 Laurent F6GOX
about 2 years ago
Marti! QUE PASSA? Worked you from day one down there in St. Barts — was one of the VERY early 20 SSB QS)’s with you personally. Mailed off my card with SASE (IRCs) on 1/16/2008 on the promise that my cfms would be on the way back by the end of January. Today is April 3 — and your cards are showing up EVERYWHERE — EXCEPT in my mailbox. Again, QUE PASSA amigo?? Vic
about 2 years ago
Stop moaning.. Martti and Olli were just the ones who activated this DXCC for the first time.. where were the original FJ-ops? I know you are losers.. but you dont have to whimper here because you were not there first. End of Debate! Keep FJ prefix up and running in the future… Thats what you can do from now on.. By the way.. since the martti&olli I have not been able to work FJ again… So look at the mirror!