2003 - Jordan - JY/HA7TM
In 2003 the King of Jordan subsidised air tickets to encourage tourism. My friends and I, including Zoli (HA7DSZ), took the opportunity and travelled there. I rather naively thought I might be able to obtain an amateur radio licence and operate from Jordan. I had exchanged several letters beforehand and was told to visit the authorities in Amman once I arrived. Unfortunately, the personal meeting did not work out because everything was closed. Somewhat disappointed, we returned to our accommodation in Aqaba. After a lot of thought I installed my dipole on the roof of the ten-storey hotel and started operating under CEPT using JY/HA7TM. I was called by many stations, especially on 21 MHz CW.
I then noticed JY9XY warning me on the DX Cluster that foreign operators in Jordan were supposed to use a JY9 callsign. This happened on our last day, but it certainly raised the stress level, especially when we were pulled aside at the airport. My wife managed to keep the radio suitcase away from Customs. I made close to 2,000 QSOs.
Afterwards I had a lengthy correspondence with the DXCC Desk. They asked me to prove, with photographs and a witness, that I had actually operated from Jordan. That was straightforward. The DXCC Desk accepted my operation, so QSOs made with me from Jordan are valid for DXCC credit.