V7 - Republic
of Marshall Islands
Ham Radio in V7:
Operating from V7 needs to be broken down into two categories: 1) Operating from Kwajalein 2) Operating from all other islands.
For licenses, contact Mr. Anthony Muller on Majuro Email: rmimotc@ntamar.com FYI - replies are typically slow in coming. Another good web page for the Marshal Islands National Telecommunications Authority can be found at: http://www.ntamar.com/
Kwajalein Island:
Kwajalein is a U.S. Army base, and is fundamentally closed to all visitors. Visiting Kwajalein Island, and operation from the (well equipped) club station, is possible only with official business, or sponsorship by U.S. personnel living on Kwajalein. For the casual visitor, Kwajalein is fundamentally closed. U.S. licensed hams can operate on Kwajalein using homecall/V7 without any paperwork.
OTHER ISLANDS
Majuro Island
Ham Friendly Hotel: Marshall Outrigger Resort
Visited by Rolf, DK2ZF in April, 2004
Comments-> I moved from Robert Reimer’s Resort after one week because of
poor takeoff. Using Vertical all the time. Found a much better hotel with
excellent takeoff at Outrigger Hotel. No problem with antennas. Best wing is
the "east wing" have been in room Number 157 with easy access
direct to the antenna just 20m of cable. No interference - nothing just
amateur radio !!! 73 V73ZF
Comments by Dave, V73UX:
There are a number of hotels on Majuro, but I don't have information if they are Ham Friendly - though I suppose it wouldn't be much of a problem. There is also a rumor of a club station on Majuro, but this needs further research. The airline Continental Air Micronesia flies through V7 a few times a week, and Aloha Air may also have flights. Majuro is IOTA OC-029, and Kwajalein is IOTA OC-028. Of the two, Majuro is the rarer IOTA.
Bikini and Ebeye Island
There are hotels on some of the smaller islands: Bikini Island (IOTA OC-028), and Ebeye Island (caution, intermittent power is typically a problem on all islands, especially the smaller ones).
Enewetak Island
Dave, V73UX just took a group
to Enewetak for a week in 2001 and operated as V73E and made about 18,000 QSOs
from OC-087.
Traveling to Enewetak is possible, but it takes a lot of coordination. You have to contact the
Enewetak Government which have representatives on Majuro. I can find a
snail-mail address for them if you wish. Enewetak is suited for a small
operation of 4 or less. Power and rooms with A/C are available.
Limited space on the weekly plane in/out of Enewetak is a major limiting factor
in determining what you can take. You
must bring your own food.
Ujelang Island
Dave, V73UX reports that
Ujelang is possible for someone who had the time and financial backing to do
it. The same people in the RMI Gov't oversee Ujelang, so we know the right
folks. As I understand it, there are buildings, but the place in
uninhabited. This IOTA has not yet been activated and would surely be a
sought after IOTA. To get there one would have to charter a boat, bring
generators, fuel, food, drinking water, etc. The scope of an operation
like this is beyond my reach at the moment, but I would be more than glad to
help anyone interested in going. I will try to get you some names and addresses, but trying this
w/o someone in the Marshalls to help coordinate would be much more difficult.
A good web page for learning about the Marshall Islands is can be found at: http://www.rmiembassyus.org/index.html
The Marshal Islands Tourism Information Fact Sheet can be found at: http://www.cenpacdive.com/marshall.html
Do you have more information on places to
operate in this country?
Use the handy feedback form to send me information.