Tests carried out to discover whether permanent communication between the Caucusus countries can be established
The following is a report by 4L4HE from the first attempt on June 15th 2024
For the first time in the history of Georgia and Azerbaijan, today we carried out a direct radio connection without a repeater between the cities of Tbilisi and Gedebey (near the city of Ganja). At the same time, with low power, about 7 watts. Radio amateurs from different parts of Georgia, such as Kakheti, Telavi, Rustavi and Tbilisi, participated in this expedition. And from Azerbaijan, our colleagues Mr. Rovshan and Elgun! For me personally (4L4HE) it was a huge and unforgettable experience! Thank you to everyone who participated in the expedition! Eljan Hajili
The video is on Youtube but linked here
აზერბაიჯანისა და საქართველოს შორის პირდაპირი (VHF/UHF) რადიო ექსპედიციის ვიდეო დაიდო აზერბაიჯანის რადიომოყვარულთა საზოგადეობის Youtube არხზე. ექსპედიციიდან საინტერესო მომენტები შეგიძლიათ იხილოთ ვიდეოში როგორც აზერბაიჯანულ, ასევე რუსულ ენებზე. Eljan Hajili
On 13th November 2024 a second attempt was made.
On Wednesday, November 13th 2024, amateurs from Ganja City Amateur Radio Club in Azerbaijan set out to a local mountain top – Javad Khan – to operate a sked with 4L amateurs. Due to traffic problems, the sked for 10am from Javad Khan had to be abandoned.
In the end, they were unable to reach their destination and settled for a lower site later in the afternoon. Their two objectives were realised, however. They were able to make contact with Baku city in Azerbaijan and with 4L Georgia.
Due to their lower location, their 4L contact was with only one station, 4L/G8BAG, a UK amateur who lives in Georgia. 5 x 9+ were exchanged on occasion with 5×9 a constant signal into Azerbaijan from Georgia and the 4K signals varying between 5×9 and 4×2 due to QSB on the signal. I believe the 4K station – Zokhrab 4K3ZX – was using low power from a small portable antenna, whilst Thomas 4L/G8BAG was running 30 Watts from a Yaesu 736R into a 3-element quad antenna.
After the tests were over and the Azerbaijan operators had returned to their club station, Thomas heard a signal from them with QSB and a maximum report of 5 x9+. This time the call was 4K2GG which was the club station which it had been assumed would be too weak from that location.
Mamuka Kordzakhia, NARG club president, made a comment on the Facebook group page as follows:
Praise to our Azerbaijani friends. They are a role model. They are really the first ones in the Caucasus on ultramortwaves.
Thomas 4L/G8BAG