Earth-Venus-Earth space bouncing :

A group of German amateur radio hobbyists has successfully bounced a radio signal off the planet Venus, over 31 million miles (50 million km) away, and received it back on Earth (Earth-Venus-Earth = EVE). Peter Guelzow (DB2OS), President of AMSAT-DL, writes : Click here

For photos : Click here

AT9RS IOTApedition (AS-177) :

Grandi Island, Goa, India (AS-177) is one of the new IOTA yet to activate and going to activate from 5th April 2009 to 8th April 2009.

The team consists with OM Sara, VU3RSB, OM Frank, DL4KQ, OM Jose, VU2JOS, YL Yamini, VU2YAM & OM Manju, VU2SMS.

The callsign for this new iota AT9RS. Grandi Island Uninhabited Island and Location: 14.92N - 15.77N / 73.67E - 74.07E. The setup would be one CW & one SSB Station with Vertical and Dipoles.

IOTA frequencies -
CW 28040 24920 21040 18098 14040 10114 7030 3530
SSB 28560 28460 24950 21260 18128 14260 7055 3765

QSL Via W3HNK for South & North America & DL4KQ for Rest of the world.The official website has been established and can be found at www.mdxc.org/at9rs holds information too.

Courtesy : IZ8CCW ANT

Hamradio from the 'Big Gun' station :

Tiruchengodu Repeater Club meet 2009 photos :

Click on the Hyperlink given below-

First

Second

Third

Fourth

Fifth

Courtesy : VU2TCD & VU2PCP

ANUSAT satellite :

ANUSAT is a 38 kg micro satellite being designed and fabricated at Anna University, Chennai. ANUSAT carries a digital store and forward payload for amateur communication. In addition, a number of technological payloads like digital receiver and turbo coder and MEMS based gyro and magnetic field sensor are planned to be in this micro satellite.

The Hindu, India's leading newspaper says that it could be launched in first week of April 2009.

http://www.hindu.com/2009/03/19/stories/2009031961121300.htm

2009 CQ World-Wide WPX Contest :

SSB: March 28–29, 2009

CW: May 30–31, 2009

Starts: 0000 GMT Saturday Ends: 2359 GMT Sunday

Find rules at: http://www.cqwpx.com/rules. htm

7100 to 7200 kHz band :

From 29th March 2009, All India Radio (AIR) and other broadcasting stations will be moving away from the 7100-7200 kHz band as per WRC 2003 decisions to pave the way for extension of the 40 Meter Amateur Band. The old and new frequencies of AIR is as follows.

These frequencies are used at various times in day time, say from 8.00 am to 5.00 pm. The frequencies between 7100 to 7120 kHz were used by AIR and other broadcast stations for decades and used to help me (and others?) as beacons to tune to the 40 meter Amateur Band while using old analog radios when I was an SWL many years back.

Let us hope that the WPC allots the 7100-7200 kHz segment to Indian Hams at the earliest.


Courtesy : Jose Jacob, VU2JOS

Demo on DRM Transmissions at Bangalore :

Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) is a new terrestrial digital sound broadcasting technology in MW and SW bands. DRM can provide wide coverage - the inherent advantage of long distance propagation characteristics of this band. Due to robust digital modulation and coding schemes employed, DRM can provide FM like sound quality to the listeners. It also has additional advantage of carrying data transmission along with the audio, easy selection of the frequency for the user etc.

World wide, DRM transmission by majority of the public service broadcasters like BBC, Deutsche Welle etc has already started. Recently, AIR too has inaugurated DRM transmission from Delhi. Expert opine that, in coming years, gradually, DRM shall replace the conventional analog sound broadcasting in MW and SW bands.

Considering the importance of DRM technology in terrestrial sound broadcasting, Bangalore chapter of Broadcast Engineering Society, has arranged a presentation/ demonstration of this technology by me on 23rd March 2009 at 1800 Hrs at BEL officers club, BEL, Jalahalli, Bangalore. Presentation will contain brief like necessity, objective, system summary, broadcast hardware infrastructure, service planning of DRM technology etc. Also, demonstration of field recorded sound of the DRM will be made.


Courtesy : Jose Jacob, VU2JOS

W3DZZ Trapped Dipole HF Antenna :

A45WH comment on Double Bazooka :

It’s not really big feat to work W land on 20M but when it comes to 40M it starts to make you think. Especially the way the sunspot cycle has been and we are at the bottom. The interesting part is that the operator was hearing me at 5/8 and I was hearing him at S8 to S9. He was using an Alpha (Should be approx 1KW) and I was running only 100 Watts with my Icom Not only did I make the contact on a Monday night but I worked him with the same results on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday as well. Always with the same results. My signal was always the strongest with less power. Goes to prove it is all in the antenna.

With my personnel experience this antenna is considered as the low cost best antenna with a less RX noise level....

73’s A45WH

Michigan Crossroads Hamfest 2009 :

Click here for photos of Michigan Crossroads Hamfest 2009

11 years old gets ticket :

PLEASANT GROVE — Most people know him as Adam Lee, but the 11-year-old Pleasant Grove boy has another identity: KE7UZK. The Barratt Elementary School sixth-grader isn't a spy or secret agent. Adam is a ham radio operator, and KE7UZK is his call sign.

For more info : Click here

Courtesy : Deseret News

Double Bazooka :

On 12th March 2009, Wednesday it was holiday for my harmonic due to Holi (festival of colours). So holiday for me too hi. At around 2.00 UTC I started my HF rig on 40M. Worked few VU's from south, as I was tuning my radio I heard a strong blasting CQ call from my good old HF friend A45WH, OM San on 7.063. San a very good operator with equally good set up too. I had many QSO with San on 20M, but this was for the first time I worked him on 40M. His signals were coming in 59 over 40db. To my curiosity I asked San which antenna is he using, he told me he is using a Double Bazooka.

After finishing the QSO I started my internet, because I was very keen on Double Bazooka. luckily I got lot of information on the same.The Bazooka antenna design was developed by the staff of M.I.T. in the early 1940's for use by the U.S. Government as a radar antenna. It was modified for amateur radio use in the 1950's. The Double Bazooka Dipole is a very efficient single band antenna which is very quite, and does not require the use of a balun. And I would like to share this wonderful antenna links with you.

Here are some links on Double Bazooka :

http://www.leeslimo.com/bazooka.htm

http://www.hamuniverse.com/bazooka.html

http://www.wb4hfn.com/Resources/BAZOOKA.TXT

http://kc27908.multiply.com/journal/item/53

http://www.qsl.net/we6w/projects/baz_std.txt

http://www.bloomington.in.us/~wh2t/bazooka.html

http://m0ezp.squirrelhouse.biz/antenna-40m/ulthm.htm

http://www.n4xy.com/PDFs/ANTs/ant_bazooka_WA4EZN.pdf

http://www.i1wqrlinkradio.com/antype/ch5/chiave610.htm

HAM Phonetics :

While doing Dxing I noticed sometimes HAM's used different phonetics so that the other station can copy him correctly. Of course the main intention of all is not doing it purposely. These are some unofficial phonetics used by many HAM's which I came through.

• A...America, Amsterdam, Abel, Adam
• B...Boston, Baltimore, Brazil, Baker, Boy
• C...Canada, Columbia, Chile
• D...Denmark, David
• E...England, Egypt, Edison
• F...France, Finland, Florida
• G...Germany, Guatemala, Geneva, Greece
• H...Honolulu, Hawaii, Hendry, Harry
• I...Italy, Isaac
• J...Japan, Joker, Jack
• K...Kilowatt, Kentucky, King
• L...London, Lima, Luxembourg
• M...Mexico, Montreal, Mother
• N...Norway, Nicaragua, New York, Nancy
• O...Ontario, Ocean, Orange
• P...Portugal, Pacific, Peter, Paris
• Q...Queen, Quintal
• R...Radio, Romania, Russia, Robert
• S...Santiago, Spain, Sweden, Sugar, Sam
• T...Tokyo, Texas, Tom
• U...United, Uruguay, Uncle, Union
• V...Victoria, Venezuela
• W...Washington, William
• X... Xavier
• Y...Yokohama, Yellow
• Z...Zanzibar, Zebra

NE7X Shack worth watching :

Friends I am forwarding 2 links of NE7X's shack and how antenna towers is erected, its really mind blowing worth watching for every HAM.

http://www.ne7x.com/New_Shack_2008.htm

http://www.ne7x.com/New_Shack_Antenna.htm

Check out my new QSL cards :

I have uploaded more QSL cards which I have received from DX do check it out on the URL

http://vu2sgw.blogspot.com/search/label/My%20QSl%20cards

Mozambique DXpedition :

Philip, ON4AEO, will lead a team of operators on a DXpedition to Mozambique and sign C91FC from April 9-13th.They hope to activate the following bands,80/40/20/17/15/12/10 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK.

For more info : http://www.c91fc.be/

Ham Radio Demo (Mumbai) :

Mumbai Amateur Radio Society will be conducting a Ham Radio Demo at Sardar Vallabhai patel college of Engg at Andheri, Mumbai on 8th March 2009 at 1700 hrs. There will be a presentation followed by live QSO on HF & VHF.

Request HAM's who are available to be on standby from 1745 hrs.
20 mt: 14.200 Mhz
40mt : 7060 Mhz
2 mt: 144.200 Mhz simplex

Courtesy : VU2SXF, OM Sandesh Kamat - vu2sxf@gmail.com

Just do it !

Herewith I am posting 2 photographs of VU2NP, OM Dossu's Shack. Truly a perfectionist, a die hard homebrewer and a very soft spoken HAM. And the best part of Dossu is he has homebrewed his own shack carpentered it by himself. Very neatly with tools area next to his shack. Antenna's farm masting is excellent something worth watching for all new budding HAM's.

From the HAM fraternity our hopes are always with you Dossu. Thanks for that wonderful eyeball, would like to have more in near future.

Good radio shack and antenna grounding may not always improve your signal and radio reception.....But it is always the safe thing to do - Just do it!

Western Sahara 2009 DXpedition :

EA1CJ, EA1KY, EA2RY, EA3EXV, EA5RM, EA7AJR, F9IE, IN3ZNR, UT7CR and UY7CW will be on the air from Western Sahara from April 12 to April 17 using S04R callsign.

Operation will be on all bands from 10 to 160 meters in SSB, CW and digital. Qsl via EA5RM.

EA5BZ will be the pilot station and additional info is available on S04R Web at http://www.dxfriends.com/s04r/

Courtesy : Antonio Gonzalez

ZL7T DXpedition :

A team of nine ZL DXers will be activating Chatham Island in the South Pacific during the next few days. The team left for Chatham Island today, March 5th at 15:30 local (02:30z UTC), landing about 2 hours later.

ZL7T should be on the air with two stations on the higher bands sometime after 00:00z tomorrow, March 6th and will probably have activated all four stations by about 08:00z. They will be active until March 10th.

For more info : http://www.zl7t.com/

iPhone companion for HAM :

FreqLoader connector is online, with a number of groups to browse through, and more to come.

FreqLoader is the perfect iPhone/iPod Touch companion for amateur radio operators, monitoring enthusiasts, shortwave listeners and anyone with an interest in the air waves.

For more info visit : http://www.freqloader.com/

Jai Bharath Net :

Jai Bharath Net will be started from 01 March 2009 on 14150 kHz at 1400 UTC that is 1930 IST. Net Controller is OM Datta, VU2DSI or alternate OM Suhas, VU2SMN. Hope you will be able to check-in every night and make it a success.

The person checking in most times in a year is to ge given a special award, as also to the one who gives regular interesting DX/QSLing/and other useful information

Courtesy : OM Arasuji, VU2UR

More updates on Kollam Hamfair :

This year, HamFair will be conducted in a Cruise Boat on 19th April 2009. Total number of registrations allowed is 100 and all are requested to do ONLINE REGISTRATION through the following QARL web site.

http://www.vu2qar.com

Registration will close on 31st March. Delegate fee is Rs. 250

Please pay in advance as DD in favour of Quilon Amateur Radio League payable at Kollam and please send it to the following address.

Mr. S. Rajendran VU2BOS
Santha Cottege
Palayamkunnu. P.O
Varkala 695 146
Trivandrum
KERALA

Mobile : 9447005185
Land phone : 04702 667249

Please use Speed Post / Ordinary post / Professional courier.

After receiving the payment, QARL will validate the registration. You can check your status at :

http://www.vu2qar.com/hamfair_registrations_master.asp

The Cruise boat will start the journey from the Jetty near Kollam KSRTC bus stand at 10 AM and will reach the same location at 3.30 PM.