NIAR Silver Jubilee HF Award :

National Institute of Amateur Radio (NIAR), the premier Amateur Radio organization in India is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2008.

For the first time both Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshdweep, the rare DXCC entities of India are to be activated simultaneously as part of NIAR Silver Jubilee celebrations.

"NIAR Silver Jubilee HF Award" certificate will be issued by NIAR to Amateurs who makes contacts with both these Islands plus one more station from mainland India.

The full details are as follows:

Total Contacts: 3 (Andaman & Nicobar: 1 QSO, Lakshadweep: 1 QSO, Mainland India: 1 QSO)

Dates of QSO: October 25 2008 to November 4, 2008.
Band: Any Band
Mode: Any Mode
Award Fee: 5 IRCs for DX stations, Rs.50 unused postal stamps for VU stations.
SWLs can also apply for this Award for monitoring the above mentioned 3 QSOs.
The full details of contact (Callsign, Date, Time, Band, RST) is to be sent by post to:

National Institute of Amateur Radio
Raj Bhavan Road
Hyderabad 500082, India

Last date for application: May 31, 2009.

Source: NIAR India

More Photographs of HFI-2008 :

HAMFEST 2008, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India

Click here: More Photos

CS1RAD & NA1SS Amateur Radio Contact :

ISS SSTV :

The ISS SSTV pictures are transmitted on 145.800 MHz FM. They should be receivable on an Amateur Radio 2 metre handheld or a scanner radio connected to an external quarter wave groundplane or discone antenna. If your radio has different filter settings for 12.5 kHz and 25 kHz FM then select the 25 kHz filter for best results.

Free Slow Scan TV Software MMSSTV:
http://mmhamsoft.amateur-radio.ca/

Free IZ8BLY Vox Recoder that enables you to record the ISS SSTV pictures on 145.800 MHz while you're away at work
http://xoomer.alice.it/aporcino/VoxRecorder/

AMSAT Online Satellite Predictions (enter ISS):
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/tools/predict/

Google Earth Satellite Tracking:
http://www.n2yo.com/

Satscape Satellite Tracker:
http://www.satscape.co.uk/

SatSignal
http://www.satsignal.eu/

Ham Radio Deluxe
http://www.ham-radio-deluxe.com/

ISS Fan Club:
http://www.issfanclub.com/

AMSAT Bulletin Board AMSAT-BB
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/tools/maillist/

ARISS:
http://www.rac.ca/ariss/

Source: QRZ forum

INDIAN INSTITUTE OF HAMS :

IIH will meet all the HAMS / SWLS at HAM RADIO STATION, SREE KANTEERAVA OUTDOOR STADIUM, BANGALORE on SUNDAY, 26TH OCTOBER 2008 AT 10 A.M.
Agenda

1. YERCAUD HAM MEET scheduled on 25th and 26th January 2009.

2. Discussion about HAMFEST 2009 "ALL INDIA CONVENTION OF HAMS" Mega Festival for Hams to be held at Bangalore.

3. Promotional aspects of Ham Radio. Any other subject.

Source: OM Sathyapal, VU2FI,Director.

It happens only in HAMFEST :

Thanks to my friend VU2WSM, OM Satheesh for taking this wonderful snap. Two JPN's together VU3JPN, OM Jalpesh with VU2JPN, OM Jaiprakkash...........

What next :

After getting your amateur radio transmitting licence, What are your plans?

Any aims and objectives are on the board to be achieved? Any specialization planned?

There are many challenges for those interested in DX hunting. There are the achievements to be accomplished which take time and equipment capability and your skill.

In this category, you have to achieve by hard work, one or many of the following achievements awards. To get the wall paper (certificate), you have to spend considerable money in terms of US dollars or IRC's.

1. DXCC (DX Century Club) of ARRL, with a minimum of 100 countries confirmed to the end which is Honor Roll No: 1.
2. IOTA (Islands on the air) of RSGB, with minimum of 100 islands, to over 1200 to be achieved.
3. RDA (Russian District Awards) of Tambov Amateur Group, Russia, with a minimum of 100 Districts to over 2500 for Honor Roll and the maximum possible is about 2700 plus.
4. WPX (Worked Prefixes Award) of CQ Magazine, minimum 300 plus to maximum (which is increasing everyday).
5. WASA (Worked All Grid Squares Award), JARL. This also has a minimum of 100 and keeps on going up.
6. Antartic and Artic Awards, which are many. Chasing Expeditions in the polar region is very challenging. There are many awards for Antartic and Artic QSL's earn.
7. WAB (Worked All Britain) Award, where you have to work the many squares in UK.
8. Holyland Award of Israel, wherein, there is a real challenge of working amateurs operatin from the lowest levels of the Dead sea coast.
9. WAZ (Worked All Zones) of the world, is available from CQ magazine of USA.
10. An impossible achievement, which no one has done so far, is getting QSL's from all the VU's you have worked. Hi

JCC, JCD, DLD, Oblasts award, SPPA, WALA, OHA, DIG awards etc., ad infinitum....are also available.

Then there are the contesting awards, where you achieve positions like the Number 1 in the world or Number 1 in you continent or Number 1 in your country etc. In this area of contesting, your equipment, skill, an excellent antenna and experience counts a lot. Almost every week end, you have some contest or the other. You can take part in contests where you may use only SSB, CW, RTTY or some mode. The combination's are also too many, and the most challenging one is contesting in 160M band (called top band).

The famous contests are those organized by ARRL, RSGB, CQ Magazine, JARL, DARC, ARR, IOTA, IARU etc and many other societies.

Unlike the achievement awards, the contest awards and certificates, come FREE of cost, but you must have sent your log to the contest committee in time in Carbrillo format, which is the standard contest log format these days.

If not the above, if you have enough money, time and intrest, go to DXpeditions to the Coastal islands of India. In this category, Islands of Andhra Pradesh, Orisaa, Goa, Gujarat are still waiting for you, with the world amateur fraternity, eagerly looking for some action. Interested groups have activated coastal islands of Karnataka, West Bengal, Kerala, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. You may even attempt Expeditions in Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep, Minicoy and other distant islands of India. Those who were expeditioners earlier from VU land, may share their experiences with you and help with their guidance.

If you are a keen social worker, then get into the Emergency Communications providing group of amateur radio operators, who are ready to move to the disaster affected area, at the shortest notice with their equipment and antenna, to help the Town, Taluka, District, State or the Centre. There are a few dedicated groups to this type.

Research and inventions, if they in your blood, try designing new equipments, antennas, modes of communications and inscribe your name in the annals of scientists. After Acharya JC Bose, India is yet to produce someone who is yet to achieve that height.

Thus, if you want to take some challenge and do things not usually done by the other VU's here is the chance, We can always guide you to the various areas, mentioned above. You are lucky to have few VU's still alive, who have already tried their hands at some of the various topics mentioned and have made a mark for themselves in the world.

Source: VU2UR, OM Arasuji

Golden Jubliee and HFI 2009 :

Greetings from the Garden City of India, which is also the HAM RADIO CAPITAL OF INDIA

We the Hams of Bangalore are proud to be the Host of the forthcoming Hamfest India 2009 and Golden Jubilee Celebrations of Bangalore Amateur Radio Club VU2ARC - the oldest Ham Radio Club of our country.

In Ham Radio - Bangalore City has highest number of Ham Radio Licensees, City with highest number of VHF repeaters, Ham Radio clubs, Societies, Institutes including ARCs in Schools. First VHF repeater of our country - courtesy VU2RSB i.e Repeater Society of Bangalore.

Bangalore alias Bengaluru needs no intro being one of the fastest growing cities of our country with lots of Call Centers, MNCs, Hospitals, Shopping Malls, Largest Multiplex of Indian, you name it we have it. Lots of People, Traffic Jams making the city widen roads, built fly overs, add Metro Trains plans for Mono Rails

Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike states Urban Population to be 6.8 Million and Area as 800 Sq Kms with City roads of 1500 Kms, Total water supply 950 Million Liters per day. City Summer Temp 18 to 38 C and Winter Temp 12 to 25 C

Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation KSTDC conducts several tours ranging from half day city sight seeing tour to south india tours which is ideal way to see Bangalore/Karnataka State in General. http://kstdc.net/ is the web link there are several agencies as India Tourism and many more private agents which we will be posting
info shortly.

On behalf of all the Hams of Bangalore both as individuals and clubs, I personally take pleasure to invite you all to Bangalore - the true Ham Capital of India.

Best of 73's and 88's

de Lion Ajoy - VU2JHM
Hon Secretary - Golden Jubilee Year,
Bangalore Amateur Radio Club - VU2ARC

Source: Hamfestindia (egroup)

HAMFEST INDIA-2008, Gandhinagar :

Banner of HFI-2008

Town Hall Venue

The Gujarat Institute of Amateur Radio (GIAR) came into existence soon after the destructive earthquake over the year’s, GIAR has widened its reach well beyond the state of Gujarat. Be it 2003 HAMFEST INDIA or at the time of devastating earthquake in 2001, Tsunami at Andaman & Nicobar island’s 2004 and also provided assistance at the time of flood in Surat 2005. Since its inception the institution has grown with the support of Gujarat HAM community and the dedicated effort of the government of Gujarat, NGO’s and well-wishers. The institute spreads awareness and enriches interest of HAM radio in the society.

Inauguration

Gujarat Assembly Speaker Ashok Bhatt inaugurated the event.To popularize Ham radio activities in the state, over 325 Ham Radio operators from across the country did participate in a two-day national event, HAMFEST INDIA-2008. From Mumbai & Thane itself we were almost 30. Engineering students, particularly those studying communication and information technology were invited to attend the event. The operators demonstrated innovative techniques of radio communication, and also present their technical papers.

Top left : VU2PYC, VU2CDP,VU2UGO,VU2HDC,VU2UBQ,VU3SLJ,VU2AY,VU2WSM,VU3JOY
Sitting: SWL,VU2LNZ,VU2JPN

Day I - 11th October 2008 :

1. Inauguration by Gujarat Assembly Speaker Ashok Bhatt
2. Joy Of Home brewing PPT by Prof. S.P.Bhatnagar, Bhavnagar University
3. HMY2KB- A Multi Band HF Transceiver PPT by Dr. Rajasekhar, VU2HMY
4. Satellite Communication - Basics & Application PPT by Scientist Vilas Palsule
5. DX & Propagation Lecture by Dattatry Deogaonkar, VU2DSI
6. BGAN (Broad Global Area Network) PPT by Jinofer Bhujwala, VU2JJJ
7. Global ALE High Frequency Network PPT by Sarath Babu , VU3RSB
8. Live Snake Show by Dharmendra Trivedi, VU3DJT
9. Cultural Dance program

Day II – 12th October 2008 :

1. Winlink2000 PPT by Gopal Madhavan, VU2GMN
2. Amateur Radio Video by GIAR
3. Price Distribution
4. Concluding Ceremony by Governor of Gujarat Nawal Kishore Sharma

VU2NG,OM Narendra
Nanda harmonic of late Sh. Guljarilal Nanda

Winners of HAMFEST INDIA-2008 :

1st Dr. Rajasekhar, VU2HMY
2nd Prof. S. P. Bhatnagar
3rd Dattatry Deogaonkar, VU2DSI

VU3RSB & MYSELF

Winner of Eyeball Contest:

Sarath Babu , VU3RSB (with 156 contacts)

HFI-2008 winner :

VU2HMY, Dr Rajasekhar of Nellore got the first place for the best powerpoint presentation and innovation of HMY2K8 Multiband HF TRX from Sri Pandit Naval Kishore Sharma Governer of Gujarat at HFI 2008. Gandhinagar on 12.10.2008. Let us all congratulate him for his project. Few PCB's are available of the HF TRX with him. Whoever wants can contact him on email :vu2hmy@yahoo. co.in

World Scout Frequencies (JOTA) :

• 80 meters -- 3.690 and 3.940 MHz (SSB), 3.570 MHz (CW)
• 40 meters -- 7.090 and 7.190 MHz (SSB), 7.030 MHz (CW)
• 20 meters -- 14.290 MHz (SSB), 14.060 MHz (CW)
• 17 meters -- 18.140 MHz (SSB), 18.080 MHz (CW)
• 15 meters -- 21.360 MHz (SSB), 21.140 MHz (CW)
• 12 meters -- 24.960 MHz (SSB), 24.910 MHz (CW)
• 10 meters -- 28.390 MHz (SSB), 28.180 MHz (CW)
• 6 meters -- 50.160 MHz (SSB), 50.160 MHz (CW)

First Chinese Amateur Radio satellite:

Michael Chen BD5RV reports that the first Chinese Amateur Radio satellite has been renamed from CAS-1 to XW-1 and is planned to launch next June.

On the AMSAT Bulletin Board Michael writes:

I just came back from a hamvention and met Alan, BA1DU there. The 1st Chinese amateur satellite is now going smoothly. This satellite was formerly named CAS-1 and is now XW-1. It takes a beacon and three cross band transponders: FM, linear, and digital.

The satellite is planned to be launched in June 2009 by a CZ-2C rocket in Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in North China.

Here are some details about upcoming Chinese XW-1:

Orbit: Sun Synchronous Orbit
Altitude: 499km
Inclination: 98 degrees
Period: 94 minutes

Weight: 35kg
Size: 550mm * 350mm
Temperature: -20 to +45C
Power: Li ion battery: 16Ah
Long-term maximum power: 8W
Short-term maximum power: 18W

Payload:
Amateur radio payload: 5.2kg
Youngster's experiment payload: 1.6kg
CMOS camera: 0.2kg

About amateur radio payload:
Beacon: 435Mhz, CW 20dBm
Linear transponder: RX: 145Mhz, TX: 435Mhz, 40KHz, 30dBm
FM Transponder: RX: 145Mhz, TX: 435Mhz, 16KHz, 30dBm
Digital store and forward transponder: RX: 145Mhz, TX: 435Mhz, 16KHz, 30dBm

145Mhz RX Antenna: 2dBi, 135 degree, LHCP, unpacked by remote control after entering the orbit.
435Mhz TX antenna: 2dBi, 135 degree, RHCP, unpacked by remote control after entering the orbit.


Michael, BD5RV/4

Source: QRZ forums

VU4 and VU7 to be activated again :

Dear friends, greetings to the Ham world from India.

It gives me a great pleasure in informing you that VU4 and VU7 will be activated again this year as part of NIAR Silver Jubilee Celebrations in October 2008.

The necessary clearances have been obtained; the formal permission letter for VU4 and VU7 activity will be issued shortly. The callsigns will be VU4MY, VU4RG, VU7NRO and VU7SJ.

I would like to thank all the applicants who have supported us and joined hands to strengthen amateur radio activity in India. The VU4 and VU7 will be activated by teams of foreign and Indian amateur radio operators. Names and other operational details will be given by the respective teams.

We profoundly thank the all the concerned government agencies like the Ministry of Defence, Home Affairs and External Affairs as well as the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology for their continuous support to amateur radio activity in the country.

It is the third time for three years in a row that the Government of India has extended its full support to foreign and Indian radio amateurs to operate their amateur radio stations from remote Islands of Andamans and Lakshadweep. The simultaneous amateur radio activity from these two Islands is a path breaking achievement for NIAR during the year of Silver Jubilee.

We wish all hams to join us to support our vision and mission to strengthen amateur radio promotion in India.

Look forward to meet you on the band.

Thanking you.

With Regards,

S.Suri, VU2MY

Founder & Chairman,
NIAR Web site: www.niar.org

PL-259 Installation Made Easy for RG213 :

Tokyoflash morse code watch :

Click here : To visit the site

Blankest Year of the Space Age :

Sept. 30, 2008: Astronomers who count sunspots have announced that 2008 is now the "blankest year" of the Space Age.

As of Sept. 27, 2008, the sun had been blank, i.e., had no visible sunspots, on 200 days of the year. To find a year with more blank suns, you have to go back to 1954, three years before the launch of Sputnik, when the sun was blank 241 times.

"Sunspot counts are at a 50-year low," says solar physicist David Hathaway of the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. "We're experiencing a deep minimum of the solar cycle."

Source : NASA

AT8WFF :

AT8WFF - Love and Kisses from World Flora and Fauna.

Greetings from Bannerghatta National Park,

On occasion of 54th Wildlife Week - October 1st to 7th, 2008 we would be operating this special station setup at Bannerghatta National Park and First such National Park operating station under the guidelines of World Flora and Fauna. More details http://www.wff. qrz.ru/wfeng.html

Nine Amateur Radio Operators would be on the air working this special callsign AT8WFF

Bangalore Amateur Radio Club - VU2ARC had conducted its field day at Barber's Rock many years ago, well then this was outside National Park, now the same is within National park !!!

Bannerghatta is also now known for Worlds Biggest Butterfly Park inaugurated in 2006 costing Rupees Five Crores in a area of 7.5 acres.

Do work this station and send us Self Addressed Stamped envelop if you are VU Ham/SWL and for DX Hams it is SAE plus 3 IRCs for postage and other expenses.

Wish you all the very best of 44s

Yes, it is 44's meaning "Flora and Fauna"

Source : de Lion Ajoy - VU2JHM
Secretary, Bangalore Amateur Radio Club - VU2ARC