YI9DXX Internet Remote Base on the air from Iraq

Keith Lamonica, W7DXX, has announced that the YI9DXX Internet remote base (IRB) station is on the air from Baghdad, Iraq, controllable via the Internet from the US and elsewhere.

Lamonica says he made the first contact by talking with himself to and from YI9DXX. The YI9DXX gateway is a closed system.

"The Baghdad remote is available only to those who have contributed toward the equipment and/or sent equipment," Lamonica says.

He has no plans to charge dues or membership fees but does ask participants to help defray expenses. Live streaming audio from both W7DXX and YI9DXX remotes may be available from the W7DXX Internet Remote Base Web site. Lamonica holds the license for YI9DXX, issued by Iraqi authorities.

"This is truly amazing," raved Jim Brookmon, WA4PXP, after using the IRB. ARRL DXCC Branch Manager Bill Moore, NC1L, points out that DXCC Rule 9 stipulates that while
the location of the transmitter defines a station's location, for award purposes, "remote operating points must be located within the same DXCC entity as the transmitter and receiver." In practice, this means a contact with YI9DXX counts toward DXCC only if a properly licensed control op is
operating the YI9DXX IRB from within Iraq.

Articles in the November 2001 and 2002 issues of QST detail the concept and technical aspects of an IRB.

Source: ARRL Letter - courtesy of The American Radio Relay League