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I have been a member of our national association, Icelandic Radio Amateurs, Í.R.A., more or less since 1973. During that time I have had the opportunity to participate in various activities of this great hobby and most recently finished serving four terms as the association's president (2009-2013).
When we lived in the United States (1990-1995) I was granted a reciprocal license by the FCC (one of the last such licenses issued before CEPT). During our stay, I completed my postgraduate studies in NYC and CT along with Helga María, my XYL. We both loved the time in the States. QSL cards are important. A QSL card is sure via bureau, LoTW or direct for TF2JB, TF3JB and TF3JB/1.
If you QSL direct, kindly include a self-addressed envelope with:
Direct cards are attended to and mailed off on the same day received by First Class Air-Mail. Please note: Due to increased postage rates and the weaker US dollar - 2 USD are no longer sufficient for 2ND class mail outside Europe. I upload my log to LoTW, but do not use E-QSLs or the QRZ logbook.
The grid square for TF3JB: HP94bc.
The grid square for TF3JB/1: HP94ma.
The grid square for TF2JB: HP94bm.
73 de Jónas, TF3JB.
Member of Rotarians of Amateur Radio Photographs below include these hams (in alphabetical order):
K1ZZ, LA2RR, ON4UN, PB2T, VE6SH & TF3CW, TF3DC, TF3EE, TF3G, TF3JB, TF3KX, TF3MH, TF3UA, TF3Y, TF8GX and TF3-033.
PHOTO 1 TF3JB operating position. Equipment for HF:
Equipment for VHF/UHF:
PHOTO 2 John Devoldere, ON4UN.
With ON4UN, renowned radio amateur, contester and author in Reykjavík Iceland on August 4, 2011.
PHOTO 3 David G. Sumner, K1ZZ.
With K1ZZ, ex. ARRL CEO and current IARU Secretary, in Friedrichshafen Germany on June 24, 2016.
PHOTO 4 Hans Blondeel Timmerman, PB2T.
With PB2T, president of IARU Region 1 at Í.R.A. headquarters in Reykjavík Iceland on May 5, 2013.
(Thanks to Hans for the many QSO's).
PHOTO 5 Timothy St. John Ellam, VE6SH.
With VE6SH, president of IARU in Friedrichshafen Germany on June 28, 2013.
PHOTO 6 Ole Garpestad, LA2RR.
With LA2RR, vice-president of IARU in Friedrichshafen Germany on June 24, 2016.
 PHOTO 7 TF3JB is the authorized Check Point for CQ Magazine Awards in TF (as of April 16, 2009).
TF8GX was the first to hand in an award application on May 19, 2009; an application for the WAZ Award.
PHOTO 8 In 2010 we commemorated that 30 years had passed since this group set a record in the
1980 CQ WW DX PHONE CONTEST from TF3IRA; the Multi Operator Single Transmitter category.
The photo was taken in the current TF3IRA operating room and replicates the photograph taken of the group
during the actual contest in 1980 by TF3AC and published in the September 1981 issue of CQ Magazine.
TF3CW holds the framed photograph and the CQ Magazine contest cover page. Our record was broken in
2012 by TF3W (32 years later).
From left: TF3Y (ex. TF3YH), TF3JB, TF3CW and TF3DC.
PHOTO 9 In 2008 we commemorated that 30 years had passed since the TF6M DXpedition to "Klaustur"
(East Iceland). Almost 11.000 QSO's were made in July 1978; a total of 149 DXCC entities were worked.
TF6M participants: TF3KX, TF3-033, TF3UA, TF3CW, TF3JB, TF3G (ex. TF3US), TF3MH and TF3Y (ex. TF3YH).
PHOTO 10 The TF4F DXpedition to Flatey Island (West Iceland) took place in July 1977. Despite almost "black-
out" conditions we managed over one thousand QSO's.
TF4F participants: TF5B (ex. TF5BW and TF5BWN), TF3JB, TF3-033, TF3UA and TF3KX.
Amateur Radio in Iceland, in brief
By Jónas Bjarnason, TF3JB.
ICELAND IS A REPUBLIC. We became independent on June 17, 1944. Prior to that we had been subjects of the King
of Denmark and earlier, the King of Norway. Population was just above 340.000 inhabitants in March 31, 2017. Total land area
is 103.000 square kilometers. Much of the country is uninhabitable (particularly the highlands) because of glaciers,
volcanoes and sand deserts. The native language, Icelandic, is closely related to old Norse. Weather-wise, Iceland benefits
from by the Gulf Stream and has a temperate climate despite a high latitude just outside the Arctic Circle.
BANDS. In addition to the "usual" bands we have the following special band privileges in TF:
(1) A special application is needed (must be renewed annually).
(2) An experimental permit; a special application is needed. The permit has now been extended (unchanged) through December 31, 2017.
Operating privileges include CW, USB, PSK-31 and more digital modes.
(3) An experimental permit; a special application is needed that grants an operating period of two years (ending on December 31, 2018).
LICENSING. There are two license classes based on the HAREC requirements. The basic license is an N-license and the
full license is the G-license. A basic TF licensee is easily identified, since the suffix of such a call sign will always have
three letters, ending with the letter "N". For example: "TF3XXN". The basic licensee is limited to 100 Watts and has less
band privileges. G-licensees have all bands, all emission types and and full RF power (1kW).
NUMBER OF LICENSES. The first regulation on amateur radio took effect in Iceland on February 7, 1947. Since that
date almost 500 individual TF call signs have been issued (as of November 1, 2016).
Í.R.A. Our national association is Íslenskir radíóamatörar, Í.R.A. It was founded on August 14, 1946. We commemorated
our 70th anniversary on August 14, 2016. During the period January 7 to December 31, 2016 Icelandic hams were permitted
to substitute the call area number in their regular call signs for the number "70" to commemorate 70 years of the association.
Currently, our association has approx. 200 members. We are proud of our YL's who now have their own TF-YL chapter
(founded in May 2015). The Í.R.A. headquarters is located in Reykjavík and we have an open house for members and guests
every Thursday, from 20:00 hours.
CQ ZONE, ITU ZONE AND IOTA NUMBERS. TF is located in CQ zone 40 and ITU zone 17.
There are 3 different IOTA numbers for TF:
TF call areas Iceland is divided into 10 call areas. Prior to 1981, the call areas (and prefixes) TF1, TF8, TF9 and TF0 were not in use. At that
time, the call areas were differently allocated, geographically. For example, the current TF8 call area used to be known as
TF2 call area, etc. Most activity is to be expected from TF3 call area (Reykjavík and vicinity).
The map depicts the ten TF call areas and also shows the three IOTA numbers for TF (i.e. EU-021, 071 and 168). The call
areas are geographically based on municipality boundaries. Thanks to TF2MSN for the map.
My first QSL card. The artwork was especially made for TF3JB in December 1973 by Icelandic
artist Halldór Pétursson (1916-1977).
HAMVENTIONS Ham Radio in Friedrichshafen, Germany. Years visited: 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2016.
Looking forward to visiting ARRL HQ and the Dayton Hamvention in 2018.
(My last visit to HQ was in 1990).
PHOTO 11 With good friends at Ham Radio 2016 in Friedrichshafen, Germany.
The photograph was taken at the Bavarian Contest Club (BCC) dinner on Saturday, June 25, 2016.
From left: Gulli TF8GX; Elli TF3EE; and Jónas TF3JB.
Photo by Nigel G3TXF.
PHOTO CREDITS Photo of TF3JB on top of the page: Ms. S.R. Torlacius.
Photos 1, 2, 4, 7, 8 and 9: TF3JON.
Photos 3, 5, 6 and 7: TF3EE.
Photo 10: TF3JB.
Photo 11: G3TXF.
8185511 Last modified: 2017-06-27 23:24:48, 36613 bytes
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