29th VU Antarctic Expedition :

VU3BPZ, OM Bhagwati Prasad Semwal, is heading back to Antarctica again, as he will be part of the 29th Indian Antarctic Expedition, which will begin on November 15th,2009 until March of 2011. He will be located at Maitri Base and operating with his VU3BPZ callsign as well as special call AT10BP.

Courtesy : OM Sarath, VU3RSB

Tracking Oceansat :

Yes, hams can track and receive all these four cubesats, as they are using amateur frequencies for beacon and telemetry down link. The orbit chosen is a sun-synchronous polar orbit, i.e. always the satellites will appear at the same place at the same time with respect to a particular sun aspect angle. In this mission, the Oceansat in particular, would be exactly crossing the equator right below the Sun. So every day, Oceansat would make a first appearance in its south bound pass over Bay of Bengal and around 99 minutes later, over Arabian sea. And of course, all the cubesats would follow this only for few days and their timing and synchronization would be little off course due to drag and decay and these cubesats are not carrying any propulsion system for orbit correction unlike Oceansat.

However for our interest, these cubesats would be available over India twice around every noon and twice every late night. Try these sats using ORBITRON.

Including these four cubesats, PSLV has so far launched 15 satellites carrying amateur radio as payloads, beacons and telemetry transmitters on-board. PSLV/ISRO would soon make a record for having launched highest number of satellites by a single Space agency for amateur radio services. There are few more cubesats lined up to be launched in the forth coming PSLV launches.

The following are the frequencies and modes:

1. BEESat

CALL-SIGN:DP0BEE

Beacon:436.000 Mhz CW

Downlink:436.000 Mhz
Modulation: GMSK

Data Rate: 4800/9600 bits/s

2. UWE-2

CALL-SIGN: Nil

Beacon: Nil

Downlink:437.385 Mhz
Modulation: 1200 bits/s AFSK 9600 bits/s FSK

Data Rate: 1200/9600 bits/s

3. ITUpSat 1

CALL-SIGN: Nil

Beacon: 437.325 CW

Downlink:437.325 Mhz
Modulation: GFSK

Data Rate: 1200 bits/s

4. SWISSCUBE

CALL-SIGN: HB9EG

Beacon: 437.505 CW

Downlink:437.505 Mhz
Modulation: FSK

Data Rate: 1200 bits/s

Happy Hamming through sats !!

Courtesy : OM Mani, VU2WMY

Oceansat 2 & Ham Radio :

The following news item is from today's Hindu newspaper is on "SwissCube" cubesat launched by ISRO, India by the PSLV-C14 yesterday along with Oceansat 2.

"Dr. Ivanov said the satellite would pass three to four times a day, with 10 minutes of signal reception time, over Switzerland. Amateur radio frequency would be used for the two-way radio link. Besides the higher sensitivity antenna at the ground station in the EPFL, amateur HAM radio operators can also tune in from homes to track the satellite on a
continuous basis."

Read the full story in :
http://www.thehindu.com/2009/09/24/stories/2009092460211000.htm

Conway Reef :

A group of eight ham radio operators will beon from Conway Reef (IOTA OC-112). Based on the crew that activated Chesterfield Islands as TX9 in 2004 Hawa (DK9KX, ex 3D2CR) formed a new crew, which will operate during the period of Oct. 1st to Oct. 10th 2009.

Earthquake early warning system :

VU3PAT, OM Patrick have been doing some thinking lately and going from the frequent earthquakes in the region where he lives, an earthquake early warning system was what crossed my mind many times. A system that would need the regional support and some financial assistance from the ham radio community and government so that the general public could be warned seconds before an earthquake passes their vicinity.

He says, Its a very simple idea really. All we need are eager (perhaps active will be nice) ham radio operators in India (and Andaman), Bhutan, Burma who can offer space for the installation of geophones. Each geophone will run on solar power and batteries, with an HF Transmitter that will transmit tremor warnings from any location on different bands. Each Indian state will have two or more geophone points with the second or more geopoint confirming a warning with the second or more geophone point(in split seconds)before transmitting the confirmation to other states that may be on the path of the quake. We will not use computers in our system as software's take time to cause the hardware to react from a warning and processing adds to the delays and seconds are precious to a 21000 kmph impending disaster. Everything is analog and simple with the entire system running 24 X 7 X 365. The system will then be tied up with an audible early warning system at co-operating ham radio shacks country wide unless the government intervenes and provides a place or places where such audible warning could be heard by the public. But don't rely too much on your local neta (politicians) or the government. If he likes your face fine, if he doesn't that's just fine too and we'll move along fine anyway doing things on our own. The system also requires periodic drills and checks by hams to ensure that the system works at all times. Cost per location pegged at Rs.7000 (Geophone, homebrew Multiband QRP 5W- multiband AM TX and small 10W solar panel with MH battery).

Anyone who would like to get into this project and discuss the finer technical nuances of the project may contact him at 9863316487 or patrick_pugh2000@yahoo.com.

Accomodation Assistance - HamfestIndia 2009 :

Fellow Hams & SWLs,

The 18th Hamfest in India, HamfestIndia 2009, is being held in Bangalore on 7th & 8th November 2009. We welcome you all to participate in this annual event for the simple joy of meeting other hams and SWLs from all parts of our country.

Bangalore has a fine weather and can be a little rainy and cold during November. Those hams who are coming from other towns need to carry warm clothing.

As Bangalore is becoming more and more cosmopolitan, there are more and more travellers in to Bangalore, and hence more demand and rush for hotel accommodation. You can use our assistance in booking accomodation for you and your family, may it be dormitory, hotels of all categories or PG accommodation.

We can assist you for a confirmed booking only if we receive the payment towards this during your delegate registration. Further information on this payment is provided in the Delegate Registration Form. Form is download able from http://www.hamfestindia.com/

Help us to help you. Register early.

73 and Happy Dusserah

Ramesh Kumar
VU2LU
Member, Organising Committee
HamfestIndia 2009

A45WH/P From AS-014 :

Sangeeth (SAN) VU2CEO – A45WH, along with his friends OM Manoj VU2MCJ, SWL Renosh and SWL Safeer. He will be operating from Masirah Island, Oman IOTA AS-014 Location: 17.93N - 23.00N / 56.33E - 59.92E on 22nd to 24th of September 2009.

Callsign: A45WH/P.

They Will be QRV ON Top bands 40m,30m and 20m bands.

MODES:CW, Digital & Phone.

He has also plans for 2meter Dxing (experimenting) from this island to VU land on call frequency.

145.500, I request all the Indian hams on west coast to monitor the call channel between 4.30 to 9.30 IST on the above dates.

Planned Rigs: ICOM 756ProIII/YASEU FT897D, Amplifier KENWOOD TL-922.

Antenna: 60 feet homebrew vertical for 160/80 and 40, Beverage for RX homebrew GP FOR 20meter, Cushcraft 26B2 for 2m.

QSL INFO: QRZ.COM DIRECT ONLY.

Repeater Station VU2DFD :

The District Amateur Radio Club Pathanamthitta Kerala is operating a repeater station for the past few months. The club is conducting a morning net at 7.00 AM and evening netat 21.00 hrs everyday.The frequency is 144.475 + 600 khz.

More details can be had from the website http://www.vu2dfd.com/.The club is active throughout day and night. The club will be conducting a field day at Gavi near Moozhiyar Power station on 27th and 28th of September.

For details contact OM George kutty, VU2JEA vu2jea@gmail.com

OD5F - Special Event Station :

Lebanon will be hosting the Sixth Francophone Games, which will be held in Beirut from 27th of September to 6th of October 2009.

The Radio Amateurs of Lebanon (RAL) will be sponsoring a special event Amateur Radio Station “OD5F” for the duration of the event.

The Francophone games are held every 4 years, with the participation of 3,000+ athletes, youths and artists from 56 French speaking countries and 14 observer countries. It is a popular sports and art festival.

RAL will have a special QSL card for the event. QSL is via the buro.

Visit the official Francophone games site on http://www.jeux2009.org/Page_accueil

Visit RAL Homepage on http://ral.org.lb/ for more information.

2009 Simulated Emergency Test :

It's time to get ready for the 2009 ARRL Simulated Emergency Test! ARRL Field Organization leaders are planning an event that will actively involve members of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES), the ARRL National Traffic System (NTS) and many other related groups that prepare for and respond to emergencies. Public service agencies and organizations in your community, ARRL Section or state will also be invited to participate.

You, too, are invited to be a part of this ARRL sponsored nationwide exercise on October 3-4, 2009, or whenever it is held in your area.

Although October 3-4 is the focal point weekend, ARRL Sections, ARES teams and nets may conduct their exercises anytime -- and especially during September through December. If you don't know who to contact, please touch base with your ARRL Section Manager and/or Section Emergency Coordinator or Section Traffic Manager for assistance. See page 16 of QST for Section Manager contact information or check the ARRL Web site . From there, you'll find links to ARRL section pages with appropriate contact information. There can be a role for you no matter what your level of experience. After all, it is a training opportunity to try out something new under simulated emergency conditions, learn or practice useful skills in traffic handling and net operation, and observe emergency communications protocols and management.

ARRL Field Organization officials in your area and Section are planning the simulated emergency scenarios that will be used during the SET event. These scenarios are designed to help you gain valuable operating experience, or to practice what you have learned previously or to put your Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course training into action.

In any emergency -- real or simulated -- a number of public service or public safety agencies and organizations are often also involved in the response.

ARRL Section Leaders and local or district-level leaders are encouraged to work closely with these served agencies, and the SET is a great chance to demonstrate the capabilities of Amateur Radio in the community and beyond.

For more information on whom the ARRL maintains a National Memoranda of Understanding with, check this page http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/mou/

Guidelines and specific SET reporting forms for ARRL Section and Field Leaders will be posted online http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/forms

Please report your SET activities to your Section Leaders and to HQ.

The Contesting Compendium :

Want to know all about contesting?

Pete N4ZR, a well known contester, is leading the effort to create an online reference about contesting. It covers a lot of practical aspects of station setup and contesting operating techniques.

The Contesting Compendium may be found at http://wiki.contesting.com/index.php/Main_Page

Multi-Mode Emergency Communications Kit :

The May-June 2009 issue of TCA included the article “A Compact, Versatile, Multi-Mode “Grab & Go” Kit for Emergency Communications by John Brodie, VA7XB. The article is available as a pdf file at the following link: http://rac.ca/tca/SEPAR.pdf

Scandinavian Activity Contest 2009 :

The Norwegian Radio Relay League (NRRL) invites you to participate in the 51st Scandinavian Activity Contest, taking place during the following two weekends:

CW – September 19th-20th 12.00-12.00 UTC
SSB – September 26th-27th 12.00-12.00 UTC

Specail QSL's :

For serious QSL collectors and award Hunters only.

If you are attending HAMFEST 2009 at Bangalore on 7th and 8th November 2009, please read through:

QSLs for VU QSOs in all the special event operations with calls like AT6MM, AT8ESP, AT7CD, AT8WFF will be available for exchange with your very precious QSL cards. All these special QSLs carry more
points for the WRI award. Kindly bring your cards for all such QSO's and take away the special cards from us.

If your friend in your city who is unable to attend the Hamfest 2009, but, is keen to take his special l QSLs, let him send his QSLs through you and collect the cards, in absentia. No problem.

If you dont have a QSL, or tell us that your QSL is with the Printers and is soon to be delivered, even then, we know the value of our QSLs and you can take cards from us. After you return to your QTH, please be kind enough to send the cards due to us. That will be very much appreciated.

Likewise, if you have not received QSLs from any amateur who may be attending the Hamfest 2009, then bring your cards for him, and you can request for an exchange of QSL cards, in the eye ball QSO.

These are not "EYE-BALL QSO" cards, but, real QSL cards, in multi colour and the DXers are after these, for various awards.

We also know that some of you, only like to receive cards, and never send one from your side. We do not disppoint even these boys. We keep our specail cards ready Hi. Hope this will make them, take more interest in QSLing in future.


Courtesy : OM Arasuji, VU2UR.

The Assembly Of Eggbeater Anetnna :