I visited Japan last year and did a few SOTAs. I will be in Japan again starting this Saturday for a week. I plan on JA/KN-007 and JA/KN-026 this Sunday. The following Saturday, I will try JA/ME-011 and maybe JA/ME-012 depending on the weather.
Last year I made all my contacts with CW. How difficult would it be to do 70cm FM in English? What frequency would I use?
Jeff
JS2SBG
WX7OR
433 is the simplex calling frequency as per the band plan, but find a clear frequency, add a spot and the local chasers will find you. English would then be OK.
Jeff:
I have activated the first two summits you have mentioned on HF (SSB) and I have activated other summits in Japan using 2-meter FM. The national calling frequency for 70 cm in Japan is 433.000 which you may use to notify other HAMs that you are doing a SOTA activation but you will need to announce your activation and quickly ask others to QSY to another frequency. I am pretty sure the 70 cm band will follow the same pattern as the 2-meter band so you may want to consider 433.040, 433.240 or 433.280 as your chosen frequency. Japanese HAMs will all understand numbers in English very well so you are probably safe to get on 433.000 and say “CQ SOTA, CQ SOTA, JS2SBG, please QSY to 433.240” for example. If you notice, other than commonly understood numbers, you are only using one English word in that announcement and I am pretty sure every Japanese HAM will understand the word “Please”. As I am sure you have already experienced, Japanese HAMs will be extremely patient and understanding. I am sure it will be a wonderfully rewarding experience for you to activate by voice.
Paul
VA6MPM / JJ0WVW
Is it best to say JS2SBG or give my call sign with phonetics?
Definitely phonetics. Slow and clear as accents can impact certain parts of the phonetic alphabet (somewhat ironically).
Thanks. Maybe I pull my phonetics from here
And remember it’s
KEH - BECK
and not
QWEE - BECK
My old callsign had a Quebec in it. A typical interaction would go:
Me: “…Juliet Kay-beck Delta".
Other end: “Juliet what delta?”
”Juliet Keh-beck Delta”
”I’m not copying, go again”
”Juliet Qweh-beck Delta”
”Ahh, Qweh-beck, got you…”
I am very glad to have moved on from that callsign!
Jeff:
The Japanese HAMs will strictly adhere the NATO phonetics with the exception that often they will say “Japan” rather then “Juliet”. Speak slowly because your accent in pronouncing everything won’t be intuitive to the listener. When I give my call sign in Japan, I will often use a slight Japanese accent, but tying not to sound too patronizing. If I were to use your call sign, it would sound a bit like “Julietto Siewa Tsu Siewa Bwavo Gawf”. Don’t worry about it and just speak slowly and you will enjoy the experience.
Paul