New York Times article on Ham Radio :

Below URL displays an article in the New York Times on this weekend's US Amateur Radio Field Day. Click here for full article.

Designing 4S7SV QSL card :

May be more than one year ago I had a QSO with 4S7SV, OM Samith on 20m band. After that I had frequent QSO's with him regularly on the same band. Last week when I was chatting with Samith on internet he asked me if I can design his QSL card. In return I told him that I will be more than happy to do it. I would like to share it with you all guys. Thanks to amateur radio hobby that I got a DX friend like Samith.

Interesting links on VU2LK, OM Bob :

From left to right
Elder harmonic Harsh, VU2LK & Younger harmonic Varun

Having a eyeball with VU2LK, OM Bob and that too with both of my harmonics and XYL was a great feeling. As I had promised Bob that I will visit him with my family one day. Harmonics did enjoyed it and when my younger harmonic asked Bob do u know English on return he asked them in English which school they are studying and hearing it both harmonics were literally shocked. After reaching home I started internet surfing as usual, searched for VU2LK and got some interesting links on India's living legend which I would like to share with you all.

http://www.qsl.net/wa2lqo/nlapr03.html (must read)

http://www.tannas.org/bob/ (webpage designed by Bob's grandson)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Tanna

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nariman_Printer

Article in The Hindu, Metro Plus , Bangalore :

Came across this article on Amateur Radio and BARC (Bangalore Amateur Radio Club) in The Hindu ( Metro Plus , Bangalore Edition) daily dated 23/06/09

For link : Click here

Courtesy : VU3BWB

Club Station & Eyeball Meet Of TARA :

(Click on the TARA banner for photo Album)

Long time awaited eyeball meet was finally done with the inauguration of Thane Amateur Radio Association (TARA) club station. HAM's and SWLs from Thane, Mumbai, Nerul & Panvel were present, it was like a mini HAMFEST.

On 21st June around 11.30am, VU2IZO OM Micky welcomed all HAM's and gave a brief information on TARA club station and its achievements. Then a self introduction session was conducted along with tea and some biscuits.

TARA club station is well equipped with both VHF & HF base along with good antenna set up. Next to the club station room, a big air conditioned hall with a capacity to accommodate more than 150 people which will be used by the club for future classes and seminars.

Club thanked each and everyone for making the eyeball meet and Club Station possible. Club be grateful to VU2ATV, OM Ashutosh for donating coaxial cables and lighting protectors for both Matheran repeater and club station . VU2KIB, OM Jagdish bhai donated HAM related books for club station also was appreciated. In between delicious lunch was also arranged at the same venue and the Eyeball meet ended around 4pm.

Mystery of the Missing Sunspots, Solved :

This is an interesting new article if you are wondering where the sunspots have gone....

Click here

New Spiderbeam 26m high fiberglass pole :

Latest addition of high quality fiberglass poles: The incredible 26m pole has arrived !

http://www.spiderbeam.com/product_info.php?info=p233 for more details.

After extensive testing on the Baltic sea cost, they will exhibit first 26m pole on the upcoming HAM RADIO show in Friedrichshafen next week, booth number is A1-413.

They are currently manufacturing the first series run and plan to have this new pole available for sale in September 2009. They are taking orders now and will ship immediately when we have the poles in stock and keep you updated.

Courtesy : Cornelius, DF4SA

All Asian DX Contest :

CW: 0000Z, Jun 20 to 2400Z, Jun 21

Mode: CW

Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m

Exchange: RST + 2-digit age

Work stations: Once per band

QSO Points: (see rules)

Multipliers:
Asian Stations: DXCC entities once per band
Non-Asian Stations: Asian prefixes once per band

Score Calculation: Total score = total QSO points x total mults

Submit logs by: July 31, 2009

E-mail logs to: aacw[at]jarl[dot]or[dot]jp

Mail logs to:
JARL,
All Asian DX Contest, CW
170-8073
Japan

Find rules at:
http://www.jarl.or.jp/English/4_Library/A-4-3_Contests/2009AA_Rule.htm

100 Years of Aviation in the Netherlands :

Members of the VERON section 54 (PI4ETL) will activate PH100EL between June 18th and July 12th, 2009. This special call celebrates the 100th anniversary of the first flight of the aviation pioneer Charles count de Lambert.

QSL via PD0PVQ.

More info at : http://www.qrz.com/db/PH100EL

TARA Club Station Invitation :

Thane Amateur Radio Association (TARA) is pleased to announce the setting up of a club station within the city of Thane. An open invitation to all HAM. Those interested in operating club station are most welcome, provided he should be a licensed HAM.

You all are specially invited, Station is fully operational on HF & VHF.

Eyeball on 21st. June, at 11.30 am.

(Click on the image to view)



Club Station Address :
2nd Floor, Panchpakadi Fire Station,
adjacent to Nitin Co. Signal Jn., Eastern Express Highway, Thane(W).
Nearest Landmark : Nitin Company (service Rd.)

R.S.V.P To : vu2izo@yahoo.com or saailin@gmail.com

SP DX Club Anniversary :

Members of the SP DX Club (The Long Distance Radio Communication Club of Poland) have activated the special event station SP5ØDXC through June 30th, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the SP DX Club.

TV programme on amateur radio :

As part of a technology program, NDTV HINDU, a new channel, is broadcasting a program on amateur radio this evening (12 June 2009) at 2130 HRS.

Courtesy : VU2GMN, OM Gopal

Floods - 2009 Mumbai :

Floods in Mumbai are attributable to simultaneous occurrence of rainfall and high tides. If the rainfall is in excess of 200 mm in a day (24 hrs) the floods can occur anytime irrespective of the tides. However, if there is moderate rainfall but the tides are in excess of 4.50 meters at the same time, the city of Mumbai is sure to get flooded.

Accordingly, heavy floods are anticipated on the following days in Mumbai, if there is excessive rainfall at the time of high tides, since the tides are extremely high on these days: -

(Click on the image to view)

BMC has already planned to keep the schools closed on 24 July 2009 since the tide level is going to be a record high of last 100 years on this day.

Mumbaikars are, therefore, requested to cooperate with the administration by restricting their movements and certainly not to take their vehicles out on the roads on these days.

Also, please advise your friends and relatives outside Mumbai not to plan a trip to Mumbai on these days.

Pre-warning helps one to be prepared for emergencies. Emergency Preparedness helps in preventing personal disasters. Be prepared to take care of your family, especially the children.

Kindly dissipate the Flood Warning given here to as many Mumbaites, Navi Mumbaites and Thaneites as possible.

Courtesy : VU2PIC, OM Parin

Tanzaree 2009 :

Tanzania National Scouts jamboree, Tanzaree 2009 will be held at Mbeya Region, southern part of Tanzania as from 12th till 19th June 2009.

5H3TSA will be on air on 20 meters and 15 meters at 14290Mhz & 21360.

Demo at Koyna Dam on HAM Radio :

A demo on HAM radio is organised at Koyna Dam.

Date -- 09 June 2009,Tuesday.
Time--- 1030 UTC (1600 IST) to 1230 UTC (1800).
Frequency--- --7030 KHz & 14145 KHz.

All technical personnel are going to participate. Please try to come on the bands. As propagation is not at all good your response is very much appreciated.

Contact : Datta 09422083073

Courtesy : VU2DSI, Datta Deogaonkar

6 Yr Old Ham-Radio Operator :

Weekend Contest :

VK Shires Contest: 0600Z, Jun 6 to 0600Z, Jun 7

Mode: CW, SSB
Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m

Classes:
VK Single Op (Rover/Fixed)
VK Multi-Two (Rover/Fixed)
DX Single Op

Exchange:
VK: RS(T) + Shire
NON-VK: RS(T) + CQ Zone

Work stations: Once per band per mode

QSO Points: 1 point per QSO

Multipliers: Each VK shire once per band per mode
VK: Each CQ zone once per band per mode

Score Calculation: Total score = total QSO points x total mults

Submit logs by: September 1, 2009

E-mail logs to: contest[at]vkshires [dot]info

Find rules at:
http://www.vkshires.info/rukes.htm

FYI: "Shire" in VK is the same as "County" in G land.

------------------------------------------------------

SEANET Contest: 1200Z, Jun 6 to 1200Z, Jun 7

Mode: CW, Phone, RTTY
Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m

Classes: Single Op, M/S

Exchange: RS(T) + Serial No.

Work stations: Once per band

QSO Points: 1 point per QSO

Multipliers:
SEANET: Each DXCC country once per band
NON-SEANET: Each SEANET DXCC country once per band

Score Calculation: Total score = total QSO points x total mults

Submit logs by: July 31, 2009

E-mail logs to: kops02[at]hanmail[ dot]net

Mail logs to:
SEANET CONTEST 2009
c/o HL1IWD, Lee, Sung Ki
KDXC, CPO Box 162
Seoul 100-601
Korea

Find rules at:
http://www.sabah.net.my/seanet/the_contest.htm

Courtesy : ARSICOM, VU2TS Ganesh

Field Day at Nandi Hills :

BARC Golden Jubilee Field Day at Nandi Hills : 27 & 28 June 2009

Nandi Hills or Nandidurg is a hill fortress of southern India, in the Chikkaballapur district of Karnataka state and was one of the summer retreats of Tippu Sultan. It is located just 16 km (till base) 24 km (top of the hill) from Chickballapur town and approximately 60 km from the city of Bangalore. It is 4851 ft. (1478 meters) above sea level. It is located in close proximity to the newly constructed Bangalore International Airport. Nandi Hills was popular with the British too, who built bungalows and laid out gardens here. Today of course, it is a hot favourite among Bangaloreans who find this an ideal get-away for weekends.

Hamfest India 2009 & Bangalore Amateur Radio Club (VU2ARC) have organised a Field Day at this location on 27 & 28 June 2009 to mark the Golden Jubilee Year of BARC.

The club station VU2ARC will be active on 27 & 28 June from the field day location. The event commences from arrival of participants on Saturday from 2 pm onwards. There will be a welcome high-tea at 4.30 pm. Various technical and general activities have been planned for the evening for hams/SWLs and their families. Arrangement for Buffet dinner is made from 8 pm onwards. Sunday morning, there will be breakfast followed by some general activities. The event will conclude with lunch on Sunday afternoon.

Two HF Stations & One VHF Station are proposed to be operational from the location from Saturday morning till Sunday noon. The callsign will be VU2ARC/operator. Hams are encouraged to bring in their own equipment / stations to operate from the field day location. This is an ideal location for VHF hill-topping. Stations with beam antennas can try working long distance stations across south India from here.

The participation fee for this event is Rs.250/- per participant. Non-hams/SWLs & accompanying family members have to pay full fee. Children below 5 years of age are exempt from fee payment. The amount can be handed-over by cash to VU2JHM / VU3PKE / VU3VRL / VU2NTA / VU2LU / VU2FI / VU2GGM / VU2DKV / VU2YZ or can be sent by cheque in favour of "Hamfest India 2009" to the following address:
Hamfest India 2009
C/o Linux Learning Centre (P) Ltd.
No. 635, 6th Main Road, Adj. to Bank of India,
Hanumanthnagar, Bangalore 560019.

The accommodation for Saturday night is limited and will be allotted on first-come-first- serve basis on additional payment. Please contact Kiran VU3PKE (9845056177) for accommodation details. The participants have to make their own arrangements for transport to reach and return from the location. Details of public transport (buses) is available from Ajoy VU2JHM (9845355773) .

You are encouraged to bring along with you, your family and friends and make this "BARC Golden Jubilee Field Day" a grand and successful event.

Courtesy :VU2LU,Ramesh Kumar

Disaster Field Trip Exersise - Lonavla :

The monsoons are right round the corner and like every year this year too, we hams will stand-by for any disaster communications required during the monsoon in case the normal means of communications fail.

But before that we need to prepare ourselves a little bit to be able to put in our best, in-case a disaster strikes.

For this we, "HAMS" have jointly organised a 1 Day Disaster Team Field Trip Exercise at Lonavla on the 6th June(Evening Departure) and 7th June (Evening Arrival).(Saturday & Sunday).

The Location is intentionally chosen as it is easily accessible and close to Mumbai City.

The main reason behind organising this field trip is to see your preparedness for the disaster and also we plan to have a lot of discussions and practical sessions of Homebrewing antennae, making power supplies for our equipment using computer SMPS, On air VHF and HF sessions, Tips on Disaster Communications from our senior Hams, Using your batteries efficiently, Battery backup for your base station and other Disaster communications related discussions.

All " HAMS " willing to contribute their bit for the Mumbai City are welcome to join this Disaster Communications Support Exercise. It is OPEN TO ALL HAMS.

We request all the hams who are or were a part of the Amateur Radio Emergency Services to spare this day for US, for HAM RADIO , for Mumbai. It will be a great to have you share your experience with us.

SWL’S are also welcome.

We will very soon post more information regarding Stay QTH, Food, Exact Departure & Arrival time, Stuff to carry, Means of Transport, Expences, etc.

In the Mean time we will request you all to confirm your attendance for this Field Trip Latest By Wednesday , 3rd June Evening with Vu2SXF or VU2AXN.

Contact Details:

Vu2AXN – Ankur Puranik - 9323153504

Vu2SXF – Sandesh Kamat - 9869457597

Or Email on disaster.ham.support@gmail.com

Courtesy : cqmumbai@yahoogroups.com