ECO-DX is a form of amateur consistent in trying to make radio contact between geographically distant stations devices using PMR (Private Mobile Radio, Private Mobile Radio), which in Europe are allowed to operate in the 446MHz band.
radio These devices are neither more nor less than the conventional Walkie-Talkies free application that can be purchased at the electronics section of any large mall, and of course in specialty stores, and that can be operate without need for licenses, permits or additional payment of fees.
PMR walkie or also called PMR446 issued with a power of 0.5 W, power, considered the "legal power" that is authorized to issue in PMR, and is usually nominal range of about 2 km away. This distance can vary depending obstensiblemente propagation conditions, and can be reduced to a few meters if we are in a hostile environment (urban, deep valleys, wooded areas) or may increase substantially if we operate at optimum conditions.
The optimum conditions of propagation of the radio signal would be broadcast in the open and high places. Such conditions are precisely those sought in the practice of ECO-DX, becoming therefore an activity that combines and unites the love of amateur radio and the mountains.
Although, as mentioned before, the nominal range of these devices is very small (2 km), when we try to make contacts among different mountain tops and with favorable weather conditions, we can obtain a wide range up several hundred kilometers. Antonio "Somiedo" (Valladolid) and Pedro Raposo (Radio Club Bierzo de Ponferrada, León) managed to beat the national record of PMR, totaling 326 km from the Picos de Europa (Cantabria area) and Calvitero (which makes the boundary between Ávila , Salamanca and Cáceres). Our colleague Román obstenta an excellent brand with links about 304kms away.
practice ECO-DX requires the coordination of several teams of people, who positioned at different heights in a moment of time, try to complete as many contacts as far away as possible. This is what is called a chain DX.
I recently had the opportunity to participate in 2 DX chains. One of them on Sunday, January 31, and the other on Sunday February 7, 2010. For both cases transmission established my base in El Cerro de Los Angeles in the Madrid suburb of Getafe. It should be noted as a curiosity, this place is considered as the geographic center of the Iberian Peninsula. Specifically, I made my position on the viewing platform of the Basilica.
From here you get a spectacular open field north of Madrid.
And to the south.
On both occasions engaged the beginning of the chain DX between 12:00 h and 12:30 h noon. So there I was ready on time, at the time indicated to initiate appropriate contacts.
The result of the two chains DX was extremely satisfying. Sunday January 31 could establish contact with Julian, in the Cerro de San Pedro (47kms), Roman and Robert from the pitch of the head (68 Kms).
February 7 Sunday completed a more complete chain in which I could maintain communication from the Hills of Los Angeles with Antonio (Cherokee) in Chinchón (29 Kms), Jaime in Morata de Tajuña (19 Kms), Roberto in Mondalindo (64 Kms), Caesar in the Casa de Campo (14 km) and Peña Román from the Clock (Almiruete, 91 Kms), being the farthest contact made between the Cherokee and Roman dizzying distance of 102 km
For more information:
http://www.clubpmr.com/record.htm
http://www.foroware .com / noticia.asp? id = 598 & category = 8 & subcat = 57
http://www.foroware.com/noticia.asp?id=833 & category = 8 & subcat = 57
