Spiderbeam active in CQWW CW - CR5X :

3 OPERATORS, 2 SPIDERBEAMS, 1 CALLSIGN: CR5X

CT1BWW, HA1AG and DF4SA will be active in the CQWW CW Contest operating as CR5X in the Multi/Single category. They will install two fully equipped stations using 2 Spiderbeam Yagis on 40-10m, and wire verticals on 40 / 80 / 160m using our 12m, 18m, and - for the first time of course - 26m fiberglass pole. This will be a temporary setup, installation will start 40 hours before the contest. QSL will be via DJ9MH. They will confirm all QSOs automatically via the buro. Looking forward to working you on all bands!

Courtesy : OM Con, DF4SA

21st Anniversary of BCDX Net :

The weekly BCDX Net operating on the 40 Meter Amateur Band in South India is celebrating its 21st anniversary this year.

This Net was started on Sunday November 27, 1988 by a small group of Amateurs viz. Shanmughasundaram VU2FOT, Victor Goonetilleke 4S7VK, Jose Jacob VU2JOS and some SWLs.

The whole concept of this net started when these Hams used to meet regularly on the band and exchanged DX news at various times. This later transformed into a regular net which benefited many people. This net is conducted on Sunday mornings for the advantage of those who are keenly interested in Broadcast Band Dxing and to exchange BCDX News. The unique thing about this net is that is helped Hams to become SWL Dxers and SWLs to become Hams!

The BCDX Net has been very regular all these long 20 years, thanks to the dedicated Net Controllers. Now a days it is conducted on Sunday mornings at 0830 IST (0300 UTC) on 7085 kHz LSB on 40 meter Amateur Band.

Currently the regular net controller is Sanil Deep VU3SIO and assisted from time to time by VU2JOS, VU3BGK etc.

The postal address of BCDX Net is : Box 211, Kozhikode 673001, Kerala , India.

Courtesy : OM Jose Jacob, VU2JOS

VU2RBI receives Certificate of Acheivement Award from IRESC :

Mrs. D. Bharathi Prasad, VU2RBI receives Certificate of Achievement Award from International Radio Emergency Support Coalition (IRESC).

In a message received from Mr. Carl Caracol, W2WRX the President of IRESC stated 'Your services, time, labour and support has help this team in time of disaster crises when it has arise. I wouldn't have done it without your support and all you have done for me within the IRESC organization team'.

Courtesy : OM Mohan, VU2MYH

Feild Day :

The Malabar Amateur Radio Disaster Communication Club (VU2KLP) and the Malabar Repeater Club (VU2MWW) is proposing to conduct a Field Day on the 21st of November, Saturday, from 9am till 4pm, WX permitted.

The Location is Josegiri Hills, Kannur District, very close VU3KER QTH, at an approx. altitude of 3500 feet plus, uninhabited location,with a cool WX, at present, with wide variety of Fauna and Flora for company.

The ascent to the top will be on foot only, up to the base will be 4 wheel jeep drive.On certain days we can observe wild Elephants from the top!

VU2KLP humble request to all Hams who are free, to participate by operating from their shacks and also who can access the following repeaters to stand by, if possible.

1.Mysore Repeater.
2.Kodai Repeater.
3.Nelliampathy Repeater (Palghat).
4.Calicut Repeater.
5.Cochin Repeater.
6.Yercaud Repeater.
7.Pathanamthitta Repeater.

As all the above Repeaters have been accessed at various occasions, we can hope for a 100% QSO!

A newspaper and tango victor coverage is also arranged, like the previous years.

Long Live Ham Radio!

Courtesy : VU3KER, OM Dr. A. Manoj

VU's authorized to use 7.00 to 7.20 MHz :

VU Amateur Radio operators are now authorized to use 7.00 to 7.20 MHz (previously it used to be 7.00 to 7.10 MHz). Here is an extract of a message from ARSI (Amateur Radio Society of India which represents India in IARU) :

As said by VU2GMN, OM Gopal president of ARSI "I spoke to WPC just now and they have confirmed that the extra bandwidth has been officially released to VU radio amateurs based on the petitions given by ARSI on 15 April 2009, soon after the band was to be released as per agreement in WRC2003. The notification will appear on the WPC webpage shortly VU hams can now officially use that extra band width".

They have also confirmed that the other requests made by ARSI regarding 10 MHz and 50 MHz are also under consideration, so please wait for further news.

Courtesy : VU2GMN, OM Gopal.

Solar Powered Shack :

A pair of neat solar sites I just found. I am sure you folks know about them but they fit here in this thread .

http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/yago108.html

http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/PV/pv.htm

Courtesy : Craig Palmer

AT1ØBP - soon to go on air :

The 29th Indian Antarctic Expedition - Bhagwati Prasad Semwal, VU3BPZ will be in Antarctica with the 29th IAE. The crew has just finished the pre Antarctic training & medical checks. From 15.Nov.2009 the overwintering Team will start a long term operation (till March 2011).

Bhagwati VU3BPZ will be on the air from Maitri Base (WAP IND-03, IOTA AN-016) using his personal call VU3BPZ and also a special call AT1ØBP on the way to be issued by Ministry of Communication & IT for the event. VU3BPZ has company of Dr Biswas, VU2DMT. QSL via VU3MKE.

Eyeball with VU - 0020 :

My trip to Bangalore HAMFEST 2009 really turned out to be very fruitful. I had an eyeball with Viswanathan from Tellicherry, Kerala. Viswanathan is SWL since 1998 and his SWL call is VU - 0020. Uptill now he has send 30000 plus QSL cards and has received 12000 plus in return. From the 12000 plus QSL card received it contains 290 countries and 342 islands.

He showed his album to me and I was really amazed. And the best part is he is a CW SWL. Getting QSL's are at a slow pace since he depends on the QSL Bureau, but hats off to his patience.

Some of his achievements are:
Received awards such as IOTA ( And he is the 1st VU in person to get it ), EWWA-hf-250, DDFM.DPXF, KDN, R-100_o, and nine awards from ISWL - HAS, DX Century CLUB 250, Pacific Ocean, The Americas, Continental, Commonwealth, etc and HA-VK-CA, etc. Due for many awards.

South India 80M Net :

There is a net from 2nd october 2009 on 80 meters, Frequency 3636.36 from 8.30pm (IST) every day.The maximum checking was 24 and Minimum was 11 in it.

Those who are having antenna facility for 80M are requested to check in to the net. Please do inform others also to popularize the net.

Information given by VU3PMY OM, Yaseen. Qth: Iratupetta, central part of Kerala.

Courtesy : OM Varadanji, VU3ITI

HAMFEST - 2009 Photos :

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Try ham radio :

Check out this interesting link:

http://www.thestandard.com/news/2009/10/29/want-bone-wireless-tech-try-ham-radio

Courtesy : VU2PEP, OM Paddy

Hamfest 2010 :

Hamfest India 2010 will be hosted by Pollachi Hams. Congrats & wishes to VU2WDP, OM Vijayan and his team for successful Hamfest-2010 in Pollachi, Tamilnadu.

Orissa CM Felicitates NIAR :

Hon’ble Chief Minister of Odisha Shri. Naveen Patnaik chief guest at a special program on the eve of Orissa Disaster Preparedness Day and the National Day for Disaster Reduction, 2009 organized by OSDMA at Jayadev Bhavan, Bhubaneshwar on the 29th October 2009 felicitated National Institute of Amateur Radio.

Mr. Suri, VU2MY Founder & Chairman, NIAR received a memento and a certificate of appreciation through the hands of the Chief Minister. Minister of Revenue & Disaster Management Shri Surijya Narayan Patro presided over the meeting, Chief Secretary Shri Tarun Kanti Mishra, Secretary Revenue and Disaster Management RK Sharma, Special Relief Commissioner and MD OSDMA NK Sundaray were also present on the occasion.

At this program, Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri. Naveen Patnaik also inaugurated Ham Radio Communication network of 21 stations set up along the disaster prone areas of Odisha State by OSDMA with support of NIAR.

Earlier, OSDMA conducted series of training programs in the state for volunteers from disaster prone areas in Amateur (HAM) Radio ASOC examination and also installed stations at vulnerable locations as the volunteers received amateur radio licenses issued by Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Govt. of India. Over 290 volunteers were trained in amateur radio from across the state which includes members of students, teachers, lawyers, doctors, Disaster Management officials, fire department and Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF).

Golden Jubliee of VU2ARC :

Department of Posts - India Post - Karnataka Circle has approved Special Postal Cancellation at Bangalore GPO on 7th November 2009 vide Letter No. Tech/3-7/1/2009 dated at Bangalore 1 the 4th Nov 2009 accordingly letters/post cards can be mailed at Philately Counter of GPO Bangalore whole of 7th November to get a Special postal cancellation which has Bangalore Amateur Radio Club - VU2ARC - Golden Jubilee Celebrations in Hindi and English language.

The first Special Cover with this Special Postal Cancellation will be handed over by Chief Guest on 7th to BARC's President on 7th at the Inaugural of the HAMFEST INDIA 2009 at Sri Nigigunara Kshetra.

This Special Cover would be added in every HFI delegates kit as complements from Lion Ajoy VU2JHM, International Director, Lions International Stamp Club http://www.lisc.nl

Note : Pre Cancelled Special Covers is available at BARC counter and the same can be mailed at Philatelic Counter only on 7th November 2009 and it is collector's item !!!

Speical Call - AU8JCB :

151 birth anniversary of Sir Jagdish Chandra Bose - "Father of Radio Communication". Indian Hams are going to operate with special call-signs.

VU2DSI is going to operate AU8JCB call-sign.

The details are as follows :

Call-sign : AU8JCB
Period of operation : 28 NOV to 01 DEC 2009. On all bands.
(28510,21280, 14200,14270, 7070 KHZ.)

Information : QRZ.COM & eQSL.
QSL : DIRECT