Calling the world :

Four keen radio hams spent 24 hours transmitting to the world from Kildonan last weekend.

The idea is to contact as many other amateur radio enthusiasts from all parts of the globe and the hams get more points for transmitting from an island.

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Safety First :

I still cannot forget how I erected my 20M dipole antenna, it is manually rotateable made of aluminum pipes in a telescopic way with both the ends 16.5 ft each. My QTH which on a hillock is a eight storey building and I stay on fourth floor. So pulling the mast which is 20 ft 1.5 inch MS pipe "C" class was really a challenge. I did approached one local plumber in our area to help me out. We started our work early in the morning, he had brought one helper too because the pipe weight was more than forty kg. And the best part is he was hardly sixty-five kg himself.

I asked him how he will pull that mast, he told me it is easy I will stand on the parapet wall and pull it. I was shocked because he did not have any harness or pulley to lift the mast. He confidently told me nothing will happen we do it daily. I being mean because I did wanted to erect my antenna told him to go-ahead. He lifted it with ease but seeing it virtually I was somewhat not at all comfortable. Erection of antenna was not a problem. But safety measures are must.

YL. S. Yamini, VU2YAM on TV :

YL. S. Yamini, VU2YAM interview on "Vanitha" Telugu TV Channel will telecast on 29.07.2009 at 11.30 AM

Rare QSL card collection :

Check out this site for a collection of some rare cards : Click here

200th anniversary of Louis Braille :

Celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille, special callsign EG5LB will be used again on 2-9th August, 16th August, 23rd August, 29th August and 6-7th September 2009. Being 200th anniversary lots of countries coming out with stamps, mint etc.

Expect activity on SSB, CW and digital modes.

QSL via EA3RKR, direct/bureau.

Archie's comics and HAM radio :

Working satellites with HAM radio :

Just a routine check up on my email this afternoon. I got an alert from google about how to work satellites with HAM radio. I hope all u friends will be eager to know more about it, do not miss it.

Click here

Specifying your location :
Start by visiting Heavens-Above.com to check the orbit of the satellite you want to listen to and specify your location.

Repeater Society of Maisuru :

The Repeater on Chamundi Hills is back in action, thanks to VU2ETS, OM Sarav.

Freqency :
145.725 Rx
145.125 Tx

Looks like it has a better coverage than before.

The net is on at 06.45 hrs - give it a try!

Homebrew Projects :

Here is a site maintained by OM JF1OZL Kazuhiro Sunamura, which has lot of experimental projects for seasoned as well as Budding hams. Enjoy.

http://www.intio.or.jp/jf10zl/index.html

Courtesy : VU2WX, Surendra

International Lighthouse-Lightship Week :

Have you signed up to participate in the August ILLW (International Lighthouse-Lightship Week) QSO Party and be eligible to win the Yaesu 857D all-band HF/VHF/UHF transceiver? There are only 10 days left to register. This is a random drawing in which everyone has an equal opportunity of winning. The odds are extremely favorable that you will be that lucky winner of the new Yaesu. You do not have to be a member of ARLHS or the ILLW Organization, but you do have to pre-register to qualify. Full details, logging requirements, and other ILLW prizes are explained on the ILLW web site at http://illw.org and on the contest web site at http://ialhp.org .

Thanks to the Yaesu division of Vertex Standard for making the first-ever ILLW prize available.

If you have any questions, send an e-mail: administration@illw.org

Walter Cronkite, KB2GSD Silent Key :

Walter Cronkite, one of the world's most famous broadcasters and TV journalists died in New York on July 17th at the age of 92. Almost all the papers today are carrying a story on him today.

He was an avid ham radio enthusiast with the call sign KB2GSD. He also produced a very good documentary complementing the hobby of amateur radio for television. His other hobby was yachting. These facts have been missed out by the news reports. In fact he was the guy who first broke the news of John .F Kennedy's assassination and man's landing on moon.

To know more about KB2GSD : Click here

DX1DBT Eyeball :

A small eyeball of HAM's was conducted by OM Jojo Vicencio, DV1VHY at his QTH. The participants were members of the DX1DBT, the Amateur Sario Club Station. It was a great get together. The occasion was the IARU HF Championship held 11-12 July 09.

Here are some links to view photos :

Album I

Album II


Courtesy : Ham Radio Help Group

29TH A.L.A.R.A. Contest :

Contest is always on the last full weekend of August. All licensed operators throughout the world are invited to participate. Also open to SWLs.

OBJECT: Participation: YL works everyone, OMs & Clubs work YLs only.

One contest (combined phone and CW) run over 30 hours.

STARTS: Saturday 29 August 2009 at 0600 hours UTC (4pm EST)
ENDS: Sunday 30 August 2009 at 1159 hours UTC (9.59pm EST)

Bands to be used are 3.5, 7, 14, 21, and 28 MHz only.

The following are suggested frequencies :
28.380 to 28.410 21.170 to 21.200 21.380 to 21.410
14.250 to 14.280 7.070 to 7.100 3.560 to 3.590

CONTEST MANAGER:
Lesley Smit VK5HLS
PO Box 271
ASHTON 5137
S.A. AUSTRALIA

OR:
alaracontest@ wia.org.au

Weather satellite decoding :

My dear friend VU2IIA, OM Mahesh is a die hard home brewer and during monsoon season he is most wanted person. Ask me why? the answer is he decodes weather satellite images directly from NOAA. These satellite images are produced using NOAA APT home brew receiver and WXtoImg software, using complete home made automated system and uploaded to his website which will update automatically every 3-4 hrs, completely unattended that is the beauty of it.

For you all readers I am posting one of the latest images which was decoded on 15/07/2009 at 05.23 PM IST, NOAA 15, Northbound, Elev.62W.

(click on the image to see actual)

To know more about it visit his homepage http://www.vu2iia.bravehost.com/

CW typo lights city skyline :

If you look high atop the 33-storey Grant Building, you see the red neon lights flashing, in International Morse Code, a one-word message:

"P-I-T-E-T-S-B-K-R-R-H"

Read more

Courtesy : post-gazette

Special Event Station ZP15MWC :

Special event station ZP15MWC will be aired July 12-19th from Asuncion, Paraguay, to celebrate the 15th Mennonite World Conference.

QSL direct to PAØHEL

Special call AT1HQ for IARU :

AT1HQ will be the special callsign used by all 6 stations out of India representing ARSI - the national association all bands SSB and CW.

The modes,bands, stations and locations are as follows:

SSB
80 VU2PTT Bangalore
40 VU2SWS Mumbai
20 VU2SWS Mumbai
15 VU2PAI Mangalore (Ops 2PAI & 2MTT)
10 VU2PTT Bangalore

CW
160 VU2BGS Bangalore
80 VU2BGS Bangalore
40 VU2TS BR Hills
20 VU2PAI Mangalore (Ops 2PAI & 2MTT)
15 VU2PTT Bangalore
10 VU2UR Bangalore

Courtesy : Arasuji, VU2UR, Contest Manager, ARSI.

4 new QSL cards uploaded :

I have uploaded 4 new QSL cards which I have received Click here to view.

Aland Island :

Sailing out on Thursday morning under command of captain Jaakko, OH1TX, the group of Toshi, JA8BMK, Aki, OH1ZE and Martti, OH2BH will besetting the sail from the coat of Finland toward waters of Aland Islands inspite of a poor weather prediction.

You can expect their activity starting late Thursday around 14UTC.

QSL via JA8BMK.

Interesting links on homebrewing :

Today, only a minority of hams own and operate completely homebrew or kit-built amateur stations. However, there are many new ham radio kit suppliers, and the "art" of homebrewing is alive and thriving. Homebrew enthusiasts say that building one's own radio equipment is fun and gives them the satisfaction that comes from mastering electronic knowledge.

Here are some links which I found interesting:

• http://xoomer.virgilio.it/sergiocartoce ti/tech-link1.htm
• http://xoomer.virgilio.it/sergiocartoce ti/tech-link2.htm
• http://www.geocities.com/capecanaveral/hall/8701/hamlynx/hamhomeb.htm
• http://www.ac6v.com/homebrew.htm
• http://www.ac6v.com/antprojects.htm
• http://ok1ike.nagano.cz/rs2/clanky/bastleni/homebrewing.htm

IARU HF World Championship :

The second weekend i.e., 11th and 12th July, this year, the 2009 version of the IARU HF World Championship will take place.

The objective of this unique SSB and CW contest is to contact as many other amateurs, especially IARU member society HQ stations, around the world using the 160, 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meter bands.

It is open to all radio amateurs around the world.

IARU region 2, which organizes the contest, have invited IARU member societies to actively participate in this 24-hour contest with their HQ stations and confirmation has been received that many societies have identified HQ stations to participate and ARSI will also be active with several HQ stations.

All VU hams are encouraged to participate.

Courtesy : VU2GMN, OM Gopal

Portugal, CR6A :

Algarve STAR DX Team will be active from Fuzeta Est Mole Lighthouse next sunday 05th July 2009.

ARLHS POR-118 and DFFA Fa-46 (Algarve Lighthouses Award)
Team: CT1EHX, CT1FNT, CT1GFK, CT1GPQ, CT1IUA e CT2IHP.
QSL via CT1GFK (Bureau, direct or email)

CR6A last weekend (27, 28 Jun.2009)- On Arriba Fossil da Costa da Caparica Protected Landscape, WFF CTFF-24 and DPRN FF-24 by CT1CQK, CT1GFK and CT1IUA.

Video is available now on http://algarvedx.com

Subscribe our mailing list and receive all info's directly.

Courtesy : CT1GFK by Algarve STAR DX Team