Z60A - Kosovo

[4L5A]

PRISTINA, KOSOVO, OCTOBER, 25, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

REPUBLIC OF KOSOVO, Z60A

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.

[4L5A]

During the 2018 Visalia DX Convention Banquet held on Saturday April 21st Z61VB, Vjollca Belegu-Caka; OH2BH, Martti Laine; and K9JF, Jim Fenstermaker; presented the Z60A story. The presentation was very effective and indeed for me at least an emotional one" reported W9KNI, Bob. During the banquet a special treat was the Kosovo national anthem. There was no QRM as the DXers stood silently and respectfully for a new one! Bob mentioned "how well it was received by the banquet attendees" and one that he "will remember [for] for rest of [his] days". Newly appointed Hudson DXAC Representative N2AJ, Steve Hass, was on hand and videoed the event.

[4L5A]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Z60A DIRECT QSL MAILING

Following the LoTW upload of April.01, the first Kosovo, Z60A QSL card arrived in the U.S. during the past week to 92-year old Frank, K4BVQ, allowing him to reach the DXCC sticker #385. Former INDEXA president Gary Dixon, K4MQG made a special personal delivery, delighting Frank, a serious DXers and supporter of the DX segment of Amateur Radio. Following this special delivery, all U.S. direct requests, whether ClubLog or through direct mail will be released locally in San Francisco at the end of this week.

The donor QSLs for the rest of the world are in process, while other direct requests will start surfacing during the week of May.01. The card is a 4-page full color affair, giving a detailed description of this unique mission.

DX is not simply collecting LoTW points. The QSL card is also an educational piece aimed at the wide world and the issues behind the radio contacts. Better yet, you may meet three representatives of the Z60A activation; Vjollca, Z61VB, Jim, K9JF and Martti, OH2BH at the Visalia DX Convention over the weekend of April 20/22 and hear their fascinating stories. DX Conventions typically offer these personal and emotional meetings. While in California they may also visit some young DXers who were successful in contacting Z60A.

73 Wayne, N7NG

[4L5A]

FROM THE DESK OF MISSION GOODWILL KOSOVO

Helsinki, Finland, 23, March.2018

Z60A LOTW AND QSL RELEASE It is now 10-days from the last QSO made at Z60A, the Republic of Kosovo's first activation. Because this is an overall new DXCC entity, it has resulted in many requests for checking missing QSOs due to pirates, a variety of logging errors and busted calls. We have extended this period for another week as we try to enter the cleanest possible QSO data to LoTW.

The magic day for the complete LoTW upload will be the Fools-Day, April.01, 2018. We will continue processing log errors for another 7-days prior to the upload. Queries can be made at z60a@sral.fi

While waiting, you may have a look at the Z60A four-page QSL layout at to capture the essence of the Mission Goodwill Kosovo. These papers cards are at the printer, and we expect to have them here around April.01 as well. We will proceed with mailing as fast as we can.

MISSION GOODWILL KOSOVO STORY IN VISALIA

The Mission Goodwill Kosovo is ever thankful and delighted to have been invited to present the heartbreaking -- and regrettable -- story of "The Republic of Kosovo and Z60A" at the Visalia International DX Convention over the weekend of April, 20 thru 22. The trio of Vjollca, Z61VB, Martti, OH2BH and Jim, K9JF will be the Saturday evening Banquet speakers, presenting the latest DXCC country, number 340.

[4L5A]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MARCH.13.2018

KOSOVO Z60A WENT QRT LAST NIGHT WITH 98.450 QSOS

The Z60A activation went QRT at 2020 UTC last night after 30-day-long initial activation of this latest new DXCC entity. A total of 98,450 QSOs included 30,541 individual callsigns from 174 DXCC entities. The delegates to a variety of support functions and radio operating represented twelve (12) countries. They worked well together in a real ham’s spirit and assisted local Kosovar hams in many ways now that they will be on their own among the global amateur radio community. We welcome them most heartily to our family.

The Mission Goodwill Kosovo would like to thank those twenty-eight people who came from near and far, flying and driving to spend these thirty wonderful days together in the Republic of Kosovo:

Z61DX, Z61FF, Z61VB, Z62FB, Z63DBB, DD2ML, DJ5IW, DL3DXX, DL5AXX, DL5CW, DM5TI, ES2RR, G3TXF, IK0FVC, K9JF, OG2M, OH0XX, OH2BH, OH1MA, OH3JR, OM3PC, OM5RW, PB2T, OZ1IKY, S50A, S51F, S57AW and VE7NY

We also would like to thank those people who supported the mission at different points of the long process: 9A5W, K0IR, K1ZZ, K3ZJ, K3ZO, K4MQG, K5FUV, K6RV, K6TA, K8ZTT, K9JF, N0AX, N4MM, N7NG, W3UR, W5IZ, W6SZN, W9KNI, G3BJ, G3TXF, MD0CCE, OH2BH, OH2BN, OH2BUW, PB2T, VE6SH, YV5AM, Mr. Nicholas Cendrowicz of the European Union and Mr. Kreshnik Gashi, ARKEP of Kosovo.

Just on the day of finishing the mission - today - there was a telephone call from Mr. Kreshnik Gashi, Chairman of the Kosovo Telecom administration to OH2BH indicating that just today the new ITU country code +383 and related routing was activated and Kosovo was standing on its own. It did not bother the spirit even if the minute cost of the initial call exceeded USD 25.00 and worked one-way only.

The Mission Goodwill Kosovo faded into the horizon with many fond memories of the past 10-years.

Thank you for being part of it! A LoTW upload will be done soon and QSLs are at the printers next week.

[4L5A]

PRISTINA, MARCH.09.2018

IMMEDIATE RELEASE FROM THE REPUBLIC OF KOSOVO

FAREWELL WEEKEND FROM Z60A

Since the original activity from Kosovo was much hampered by a high noise level at both locations particularly on low-bands, a team led by Pertti, OG2M, Miro, OM5RW and Rudy, OM3PC and Driton, Z61DX has put all its effort into hoisting full size verticals for this weekend from a quiet location beyond the city noise. Beverages have been built for the U.S and Japan. They are using a local cell site tower as their supporting structure.
The trio will have two signals on the air throughout the next three (3) nights, on 160, 80, 40 and 30M. In addition, they will still penetrate the 20M openings above 14025 KHz for U.S. Advanced and Generals.
Last night they were able to reach the U.S on 160M and even the West Coast on 80M with only 100 watts thanks to N6TQ and others. Tonight they will have full power.
Early this week also marked another happy occasion as six (6) more Kosovar youth took their exams for amateur radio license. On Tuesday next week the group at Z60A will start taking apart their two sites, while the towers and beams will soon be QRV with the locals. This first radio activity of the Mission Goodwill Kosovo will soon be history.
The QSL design is in the works, and cards should start coming out by mid-April.
Thank you for interest in Kosovo and its evolving Amateur Radio.

73 Wayne, N7NG

[4L5A]

While DL5AXX, Ulf, and OH2BH, Martti, are busy in the ARRL DX SSB Contest this weekend, working the Americans and Canadians, OH3JR, Henry, will be focusing on 20 Meters, from another QTH with a focus on working North American stations on CW between 1300 and 1800Z.

There should be plenty of Z60A activity. Next OG2M, OM3PC and OM5RW will concentrate on the low bands until March 12th, when the "activity will be closed".

QSL Z60A via Club Log and OH2BH.

[4L5A]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MONDAY 26. FEBRUARY, 2018

MORE KOSOVO AND Z60A AT A GLANCE

The Z60A organizers OG2M, OH2BH and OH3JR will be activating this newest DXCC entity again from this Wednesday Feb, 28 onward on low-bands and in the ARRL DX (SSB) Contest, as their previous operating sites are still fully furnished with towers and beams.

They were previously disappointed as they were not able to achieve clean receiving on the low bands, thus locals Z61DX, Z61AS and Z62FB have been working hard to find the noise sources.

It now looks like both 80M and 40M are relatively clean, while 160M is still a challenge. The operators will try beverages located as far as possible from the noisy electricity lines, and they are also considering going to the middle of nowhere with their Spiderbeam radiator.

It will be another Arctic mission though, as the temperatures are estimated to reach minus 17C / 1F, and permanent snow is covering the scene as they are 700m ASL.

Additionally they will carry two complete stations for SHARK, to be put on the air by the locals. You can expect even more activity soon.

DX Engineering (DXE) has made a sizeable antenna/cable donation to boost the local activity, While David, W9CTJ has donated Yaesu FT450D for one of the local operators to be announced soon.

[4L5A]

Z60A News 19 February 2018.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE THE REPUBLIC OF KOSOVO - INITIAL OPERATION CLOSING DOWN Pristina, Kosovo - Monday morning, February 19th, 2018
ES2RR, OG2M, OH1MA, OH2BH and Z62FB left Pristina and crossed the Albanian border at 2PM today on their way to their Albanian homes.
They plan to work on antennas at ZA1EM and ZA1F tomorrow before finally heading to their respective countries on Wednesday.
They left a piece of their hearts, and left their Kosovo operating sites in intact for their return over the weekend of the ARRL DX (SSB) Contest in two weeks.
The first Kosovo activation resulted in 81,478 QSOs with 26,487 individual callsigns. Of the total number of QSOs, some 22% (17,876) were from North America and 10% (8255) were with DXers in Asia.
Europe was obviously dominating with 66% (53,725) QSOs.
Delegates from ten (10) different countries were part of the initial activity.
They returned home with many fond memories of this now 10 year old Republic, which was finally granted DXCC status on January 21, 2018.
The festivities surrounding Kosovo’s 10th anniversary were warm and memorable.
The entire country - particularly the capital Pristina - were the party grounds, with the main street full of people listening to the open-air street concerts, featuring the famous British singer Rita Ora, a Kosovo native.
The evening was cold - below the freezing mark - but the warmth of the occasion overrode the cold February night at 650 meters above sea level. In the comfort of the city center, the Government of Kosovo offered a memorable reception and luncheon marking Amateur Radio’s past ten years toward this memorable day.
Martti Laine, OH2BH of Project Goodwill Kosovo and Hans Blondeel-Timmerman, PB2T of the International Amateur Radio Union were personally awarded plaques commemorating their support in making this day happen.
Kosovo’s good name is now carved in stone, and many Kosovar voices will continue to penetrate the radio spectrum.
A new DXCC counter was born!
Please kindly look at your QSOs in Club Log and at QRZ.com (Z60A).
In the case of errors, please allow the group look at problems and correct them accordingly.
For a next three weeks, errors will be worked out and the log will be entered into Logbook of the World (LoTW).
Early donors will receive their direct QSL cards with others to follow immediately thereafter.
Thank you for being part of the first (Z60A) Kosovo activation.
N7NG

[4L5A]

Z60A Kosovo News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February, 11th, 2018
LATEST FROM THE REPUBLIC OF KOSOVO
The weather has been warming up in Kosovo lately and is currently above the freezing mark.
Many are wondering why it isn’t possible to eliminate the noise by setting up camp in the quiet open field.
The underlying fact is that Pristina is more that 650m above the sea level, and this winter has been particularly cold with -13C temperatures experienced during the activation period.
There are prospects in place for the final and upcoming week to operate from a better place.
Driton, Z61DX, has been testing the location and reception is dramatically better than at Z60A.
Considering that Kosovo will stay on the DXCC map and that this is the very first activation, not all noise and other challenges are expected to be resolved.
However, a remote location for RX/TX is underway and the first tests may be done this week.
Bill, AA7XT, has donated an XR9 antenna to this application and it is now used at a temporary location by Z61DX - soon to be moved to the remote site. The project seeks a reasonably priced pair of second-hand TS590 rigs for remote implementation.
Please contact N7NG or OH2BH.
The purpose of this first activation was to bring in delegates from as many countries as possible.
This helps Kosovar hams in expanding their network of friends into many interesting countries – something that had not happened over the past years of “none” status.
During this coming week Toivo, ES2RR, will boost the number of delegate countries to ten (10).
The departing German/Slovenian team of DJ5IW, DM5TI, DD2ML and S57AW did a fantastic job while introducing the data modes (RTTY & FT8).
They made up to 10,000 digital QSOs (some 4000 in the WPX RTTY), with the Z60A project total now reaching 70,000.
Driton, Z61DX, and his brother Agim, Z61AS, were also QRV all day Saturday on FT8 as a result of the past week’s work by Ulli, DD2ML, and others.
During this RTTY weekend the SHRAK HQ location was exclusively activated on 20M SSB by locals: Z61VB, Z61FF, Z62FB and Z63DBB.
The DX community has been generous to their fellow hams in Kosovo.
All donations are temporarily marked for SHRAK needs and will be managed by the Yasme Foundation directors Martti, OH2BH, and Hans, PB2T, together with Pertti, OG2M, and SHRAK president Vjollca, Z61VB.
The “early LoTW with fast paper QSL” concept will continue to March 15th, 2018.
Thanks also to Jyri, OH2KM, for managing all related data operations.
The final jubilee week is now starting.
An international delegation will participate in the ceremonies celebrating the 10th anniversary of Independence.
In addition, they will give out new DXCC contacts to those who still have an “ATNO” need and be active in the ARRL DX CW contest.
The team includes Z61DX, ES2RR, OG2M, OH1MA, OH2BH and others.
Regards from the vibrant city of Pristina, with many new prospects underway!