Club Station - Breaking
News! Bhutan has gone from the top of the most wanted to being
readily accessible in an extremely short time!
In the summer of 2000, a club station with 4 operating positions, rigs, (1) amplifier, towers, and Yagi antennas will be available for the visiting ham to use.
A note from the tour operator:
We are a small travel agency specializing in
the facilitation of visits and broadcasting by HAM OPERATORS from Bhutan. We
make it possible for you to visit Bhutan and can arrange your callsign, stay in
Bhutan and permits for your travel. We are also setting up the antenna (2 YAGI
AND 2 vertical) so that you do not need to bring your own system. The reason is
that the only airline that lands in Bhutan is a very small aircraft-82
seater-and therefore cannot carry antenna. We will also have transceiver and
all that is necessary for 4 operators to transmit and receive simultaneously.
Should you be interested, please contact as follows.
Information:
Sophun Tours & Treks
P.O. Box 317
Thimphu, Bhutan
www.sophun.com.bt (web site with
detailed ham information)
sophun@druknet.net.bt
Tel: +975 2 324376
FAX: +975 2 321319
They will help with all of the logistics and paperwork.
Upon hearing from you, we will e-mail / fax you
other details as permit requirements and daily government royalty for foreign
visitors. Thanking you and hoping to hear from you soon, we remain.
Your faithfully
For Soohun Tours & Treks
Kesang Namgyel
As reported in the Daily DX by Bernie, W3UR:
14 September
2001 Thimphu, Bhutan
A5ØA - Bhutan Amateur Radio Club Forms
October 26, 2001 marks the inaugural day for the Bhutan Amateur Radio
Club (BARC).
Amateur Radio was officially allowed in the Kingdom of Bhutan in early
2000 with two DXpeditions: A52A and A52JS together making over 100,000
contacts for this most needed entity. There have been several
individuals and group visits to Bhutan since.
Dr. Glenn Johnson, WØGJ, a member of the A52A DXpedtion, returned in
January 2001 for medical work and also taught Bhutan's first amateur
radio classes. A total of seven Bhutanese were officially licensed after
passing written and Morse exams!
It is not a simple matter to form an organization or club in the Kingdom
of Bhutan. The Bhutan Telecommunications Authority (BTA), also
responsible for the management of radio frequency spectrum, assisted in
establishing the Club.
The primary purpose of the club is to foster amateur radio interest in
the young Bhutanese and also to enable the club members to be active on
the air. One other purpose is to promote the understanding of radio
communications.
ICOM America has donated an ICOM 756Pro for the club and it will be used
as the main radio at the Bhutan Ham Centre for visiting hams.
An anonymous donor has donated seven complete stations for the BARC
members to check out and use.
Mr. Bob Heil, K9EID, of Heil Sound, has donated several headsets and
accessories. ICOM Japan previously donated an IC-746 during the A52A
DXpedition. The A52A team and Dr. Glenn Johnson, WØGJ, have donated
several antennas for the club.
The officers of the new club are:
President : Mr. Thinley Dorji
Director of the BTA
Ministry of Communications
Secretary : Mr. Phub Tshering,
Executive Engineer of the BTA
Member : Mr. Thinlay Wangchuck,
Ministry of Trade and Industry
Mr. Yasuo (Zorro) Miyazawa (JH1AJT) and Dr. Glenn Johnson (WØGJ) are
Honorary/Founding Members, and have been issued special lifetime
callsigns of A51A and A51B respectively.
To celebrate the formation of the Bhutan Amateur Radio Club, A5ØA will
be active as a multi-multi entry in the CQWW SSB Contest October 27-28.
A team of U.S. operators will be helping the licensed Bhutanese hams
learn to operate in a contest environment from the Bhutan Ham Centre,
operated by Yeshey Dorji, A51AA. Before and after the contest the U.S.
hams will concentrate on the low bands, WARC bands and new modes.
Expect A5ØA to be active in future contests and special events in
Bhutan.
See http://www.qsl.net/a51aa for
information on visiting Bhutan.
U.S. Operators: (October 23 - November 1, 2001)
Dave Anderson, KW4DA A52DA
Chuck Brady, N4BQW A52CB
Pat Cahill, NØADQ A52PC
Glenn Johnson, WØGJ A51B
Stewart Lewis, WØSHL A52SL
Ken Nollet, KØEN A52ED
Steve Towle, WØHT A52ST
Bhutan Operators:
Yeshey Dorji, A51AA
Kesang Namgyel, A51KC
Parop Kinley, A51PK
Pema Rinzen, A51PR
Dorji Yeshey, A51UD
Ambika Gurung, A51YL
Wangpo Dorji, A51WD
QSL information:
A5ØA Bhutan Amateur Radio Club (BARC)
P.O. Box 88
Thimphu
Bhutan
(At least two greenstamps required for return postage)
(Bhutan is not set up to handle bureau cards yet)
American Team QSL information: Home Call
Bhutan Ham QSL information: see www.qrz.com
Do you have more information on places to
operate in this country?
Use the handy feedback form to send me
information.