Sunday, December 30, 2012

RSGB Centenary 2013

http://www.rsgb.org/aboutrsgb/rsgbcentenary2013/?id=rsgb-centenary-home
RSGB Centenary 2013






RSGB Centenary Morse Key

As part of the RSGB Centenary celebrations we are producing a special RSGB Centenary Morse Key to commemorate the event

Made by Vibroplex, one of the world’s leading Morse key manufacturers since 1890, this model is not available elsewhere. Based on the popular Iambic paddle key design, this unique key will be fully functional and a handsome addition to anyone’s shack.

Member’s Price: £159.00
Non-member’s price: £189.00

RSGB Centenary 2013

The Society is celebrating its Centenary with a programme of exciting events; the following links will provide background and details of the full range of events.

RSGB Centenary 2013 Events
Gx100RSGB Special Event Station
RSGB Centenary Award 2013
Construction Competition
Centenary “Convention-on-the-Road”

Events to be announced nearer to the time
Anniversary Day commemorative event, Friday 5 July 2013
BBQ-on-the-air – a country wide event, linked by radio
Centenary kite aerial events
Centenary lecture at the IET
Centenary events at DARC HamRadio, Friedrichshafen
RSGB Centenary Convention, 11-13 October 2013
National Hamfest, 27 and 28 September 2013

Events for January 2013

The Centenary Year will be inaugurated by our President, Dave Wilson, M0OBW, operating G100RSGB from Region 3 (North West England) where a number of affiliated clubs will operate G100RSGB or GD100RSGB during the Region’s 28 day period.

Further details of these operations on these pages.

Events for February and March 2013

At the moment, we are seeking more applications for these periods.

Clubs or groups who would like to operate the GM100RSGB or G100RSGB station from Scotland North and the Northern Isles in February 2013 and North East England in March 2013, please contact your Regional Manager or Rob Harwood, Chairman of the Centenary Working Group, directly.

We need to submit the full details to Ofcom before Christmas.

The “Convention-of-the-Air” selection of talks, etc, should be available.

Contact information
For further information or for volunteering to help develop or support any of the above events please contact John Gould, G3WKL on centenaryrsgb.org.uk


http://www.rsgb.org/aboutrsgb/rsgbcentenary2013/?id=centenary-special-event-station

RSGB Centenary Special Event Station


Ofcom have agreed to what is a very special arrangement for the use of the Special Event Station call sign Gx100RSGB, where x is replaced by the secondary location identifier, M, W, I, D, U and J, etc.

The very special nature of the SES is that we are allowed to operate the call at a number of different locations in sequence through the year.

The licence plan approved is for thirteen 28 day periods, allowing each RSGB Region to operate the Special Event Station against a rota, see the table below;
DatesRegionDescription
1st Jan - 28th Jan 3 NW England & Isle of Man
29th Jan - 25th Feb 2 North Scotland
26th Feb – 25th Mar 4 NE England
26th Mar – 22nd Apr 11 SW England
23rd Apr – 20th May 10 S & SE England & Channel Islands
21st May – 17th Jun 7 South Wales
19th Jun – 15th Jul 9 London & Thames Valley
16th Jul – 12th Aug 12 East of England & East Anglia
13th Aug – 9th Sep 6 North Wales
10th Sep – 7th Oct 13 East Midlands
8th Oct – 4th Nov 5 West Midlands
5th Nov – 2nd Dec 1 South Scotland
3rd Dec – 31st Dec 8 Northern Ireland

Within each 28 day period in a Region, the SES may be operated by different clubs or groups, again on a fixed rota that is agreed with Ofcom at least 28 days in advance.

To add some fun to the operation contacts we have a related Centenary Award that will create some fun and activity throughout the year.

To help you contact or listen to the Special Event Station we will maintain a Gx100RSGB Calendar, showing the dates, locations, who is operating the station and likely bands and modes.
Applying for a position in the Gx100RSGB rota


RSGB Centenary Award 2013

The purpose of this Award is to encourage every Radio Amateur to get on the air and celebrate the RSGB’s Centenary in 2013.

The Awards are offered in four categories, a Basic and an Advance award for both the VHF/UHF bands and the HF Bands. Each award requires you to work the Gx100RSGB Special Event Stations (SES) in a given number of RSGB Regions. Only one SES contact per Region counts towards this aspect of the award. There are a total of 13 RSGB Regions.

The Award requirements have been set as follows:
VHF/UHF Basic = 3 Regions
VHF/UHF Gold = 6 Regions
HF Basic = 7 Regions
HF Gold = 10 Regions

In addition to the minimum SES Regional contacts each award requires you to gain a number of points which are collected by working other stations. Points are available as follows:
The first contact with Gx100RSGB in each Region (1 point). Any band within either the VHF/UHF or HF category may be used, but subsequent contacts with the SES in the same Region does not count as an additional Regional contact, but such contacts may qualify for a different UK IOTA, UK Locator, UK DXCC, etc.
The first contact with a UK IOTA entity on each band (1 point).
On VHF/UHF only
o First contact with a UK DXCC entity on each band (1 point)
o First contact with each IARU Locator Square on each band (1 point)
On HF only
o First contact with each Commonwealth Country on each band (1 point)
o First contact with each of the ITU Zones on each band (1 point)

So, your first contact with a UK station on VHF will give you 1 for the UK IOTA, 1 for the UK DXCC and 1 for the Locator Square = 3 points. Work the same station on another band and that is another 3 points. Work another station in the same IOTA and DXCC but a different Locator = 1 point. Work that station again on another band and you have another point.

This may seem a little complicated but once you have made a few contacts it will all become very clear. A spreadsheet will be available to record your contacts. This will have columns for each of the various points and it will add up your cumulative score as you go.

The Awards are available for SWLs—where the rules below stipulate contacts please read as reception reports for SWL claims.

Single band entries will be accepted providing the applicant makes the required point totals. All entrants can use either multi-mode or single according to choice and certificates will be endorsed accordingly. Note that 60m and bands at 23cm and above are excluded from the challenge.

Activity check sheets in MS EXCEL Spreadsheet format have been created with some “help” comments to enable easy application. In addition an entry spreadsheet for each scoring group by band is provided to enable easy crossing checking throughout the year-long award period.No QSL card confirmations are required.

Further detail on the scoring
VHF/UHF guidance
HF guidance


RSGB Centenary HF Awards

HF Bands from 160m through 10m (exc 60m) may be used in accordance to your licence conditions. This award adds additional scope for progressing with the existing RSGB lifetime achievement Commonwealth Series and the Worked ITU Zones Awards.

Each HF Award uses contacts with the
Regional SES Gx100RSGB in each of the 13 Regions
24 UK IOTA Islands
138 Commonwealth Call areas
77 ITU Zones

Basic HF Award

This award requires the claimant to have accumulated 250 points; scored on the basis of 1 point per QSO with any UK IOTA Islands, any Commonwealth Call areas and ITU Zones on any mix of bands, and must include QSOs with the Regional SES in at least 7 different Regions.

Gold HF Award

This more challenging award requires the claimant to have accumulated 450 points, as for the Basic award, but including QSOs with the Regional SES in at least 10 different Regions.



RSGB Centenary Award – HF Scoring Guidance


The Basic and Gold HF Awards both require the collection of contacts (or reports for SWLs) with the Gx100RSGB as it moves between the RSGB Regions and any combination of points gained from multiple band contacts with UK IOTA Islands, Commonwealth Countries and ITU Zones.

To demonstrate how thie works let’s assume that our first contact in 2013, was with a fictitious VE3XZY. This contact, which was made at 0034z has the leading zeros omitted in the time column. The contact will score a point for a new CCC on 160m as well as a new ITU Zone (Zone 4) on 160m. The total score is thus two: hus two:



For the next contact, we will assume that we have worked the Gx100RSGB SES on 80m:

Here, since it is our first contact with the Gx100RSGB SES we can claim our Regional point (as it will have operated from RSGB Region 3 between 1st and 28th Jan), but we can also claim for an 80m UK IOTA (assumed EU-005), an 80m CCC and and 80m ITU Zone (Zone 27). Bringing the total score to six.

The next contact is the fictitious MM9AAA, which we assume for this example operates from the Shetland Isles, so can claim a point for a new 80m UK IOTA (EU-012) as well as new CCC (GM), bringing the score to eight:score to eight:

The next contact is another contact with G100RSGB, which by then will be operating from various locations within RGSB Region 4 (North East England). Thus, we can claim a point for Region 4, as well as a point for a new 20m UK IOTA (EU-005) – our earlier contact with EU-005 was on 80m – and also similarly points for the 20m CCC and 20m ITU Zone 27. This brings the total score to 13:

The final example is the contact with the station in Guernsey:

Here, we can claim a point for a new 80m UK IOTA (EU-114) as well as a new 80m CCC, but not a new ITU Zone, as Zone 27 was previously claimed for 80m with the G100RSGB contact on 1st Jan. This brings the total to 15 points.

Further help

Further help can be gained by completing the relevant Check Sheet, where one is able to keep a tally of the Regions contacted, as well as the Locator Squares, IOTA and DXCC entities that have been work on a per band basis.

It may seem complex, but you’ll soon get the hang of it, and it should keep you occupied throughout the year, especially to gain some of those final RSGB Regions!

Queries, etc, can be directed to awardsrsgb.org.uk

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Radio Story

http://www.granta.com/New-Writing/Radio-Story

Radio Story

The Commonwealth Short Story Prize has announced the five regional winners from Africa, Asia, Canada & Europe, Caribbean, and the Pacific regions. In partnership with Commonwealth Writers, Granta will publish each of the winning stories online this week. This selection introduces some of the most exciting emerging talents in the world, writers who bring a thrilling and essential glimpse of the world and the worlds that are within Britain. Today we publish the winning entry from India, ‘Radio Story’ by Anushka Jasraj. You can also read an interview with the author below.

Photo by suvodeb.

Bombay, 1939.

My wife is happiest on Sunday afternoon, when I leave the house. We have been married five years – too soon for us to take pleasure in each other’s absence. The boys at the Irani Cafe do not share this sentiment. They believe love and marriage are separate institutions.

Rustom, my best friend, is unmarried; his opinion does not count in these matters. Edalji is older than the rest of us, but his views are biased, since he is trying to find a suitable husband for his nineteen-year-old. Gieve, the fourth member of our amateur radio club, will go to great lengths to get away from his wife. He is not a licensed radio operator, but he always brings a flask of Black Label to our weekly meetings. The boys call me LK, because my radio call sign is VU2LK. After lunch, we go home and converse only in Morse code, on a frequency no one else has access to. We have voice-capable radio transmitters, of course, but this feels more intimate; our own private language.

These Sundays have no purpose other than food and conversation. We talk about the war, the weather, poetry, women, and occasionally one of the boys will ask me to build or fix a piece of equipment. After lunch, we go home and converse only in Morse code, on a frequency no one else has access to.I run a small radio and acoustics shop, where I sell radios, gramophones, and guitars. The shop does good business. In fact, some months back I was able to hire a young man, who sits in the shop, so I have more free time. Why do you need more free time to do nothing? my wife asks, when I spend my days at home, fixing equipment that doesn’t require fixing.

This particular Sunday was different. The authorities had recently sent notices to every radio operator, revoking our licenses, and asking us to relinquish all our equipment.

What’s the plan, Rustom asked, looking at Edalji.

The plan is to do as we are told, and call ourselves amateur poets or amateur something else.

Professional drinkers club, Gieve said.

My daughter was four, and my wife had become pregnant again two months before. I agreed with Edalji. Rustom taught literary theory at the university, and living without a wife or children left him with too much space in his head. He suggested hiding the equipment. We could disassemble our rigs, and hide the individual parts. He had given this some thought.

And to what purpose, Edalji said.

I don’t know, Rustom said, and proceeded to tell us about Maya, a colleague of his at the university – a pro-independence protester who had shown interest in establishing an underground radio station to transmit uncensored news. We had emptied the contents of Gieve’s flask by this point, and Rustom added that Maya was a very fine item.

Edalji sighed, the way elderly people do, when they have grown tired of explaining things over and over to those younger than them. Baba, I will find you a nice Parsi girl. Don’t worry. Find something else, meantime.

Rustom came to my flat later that evening. When I saw him through the peephole, standing outside my door, I considered pretending I wasn’t home, and asking my wife to make an excuse for me. But my wife, the chartered accountant, is unwilling to lie for me. She does not compromise when it comes to these things. She measures her deeds – varying degrees of good and bad – by adding and subtracting numbers in a notebook labeled Karma. Why should I be the proxy for your sins, she would say.

I opened the door to Rustom, sure that I was going to be found out, arrested, and sentenced to solitary confinement for what he was about to convince me to do.

Mr. Graham Bell has this invention called the telephone, I said.

I don’t read the papers, Rustom said.

That’s why you’re still smiling.

My wife is fond of Rustom. She emerged from the kitchen to ask if he wanted chai-pani. Two cups chai please, bhabhi. My friend will also be joining us, he said.

I gave Maya your address, so she should be here soon, he said to me. All I said was, We can talk in my workshop.

Ours is a small two-bedroom flat on the second floor of a five-storey building. We have electricity, running water, and a private bathroom. My wife shares a room with our daughter, and I have my equipment in the second bedroom, which is also where I sleep. I like to call it my workshop, because this sounds more impressive than just saying that it is my room.

Rustom did not say much until Maya arrived, and even then, he was subdued. The only other person to have this quieting effect on Rustom is his mother. But Maya was not an outspoken Parsi woman like Mrs. Printer. She was a frail Gujarati woman; the kind my wife would affectionately force-feed samosas and kachoris. She wore a salwaar-kameez, and was not particularly well endowed.

This could really be something, she said.

This? I said, having forgotten a majority of words.

If you really think you can build a forty-metre AM transmitter. This is more than anything I expected.

I’ll need to contact some people, and find out if I can get the necessary parts. We’ll need money, and you’ll have to shift base each week, to avoid being tracked.

We have funding. It will be difficult finding locations, but I think we will manage.

Everything she lacked in physicality, Maya more than made up for when she spoke. It didn’t matter what she said; it was the way her hands moved, as if her fingers were orchestrating words. I felt nervous, but I attributed it to the plans Maya spoke of, and nothing else. Before leaving, Maya shook my hand and said Have faith. A strange thing to hear, from a professor of philosophy.

I called one of my suppliers, without thinking, and asked if he could deliver a transistor for a forty-metre. This was a noticeably large order. He said it would take two weeks, maybe longer. Those two weeks went by with Rustom and me dismantling our rigs and hiding the parts – in the hollow spaces inside our beds, in jewellery boxes, in the large tin cans filled with kilos of rice and sugar – but mostly I spent that time imagining what Maya would say when I next saw her.

The authorities arrived at our houses – unannounced, but not unexpected – and we handed over the relics of our rigs from years ago, in order to appease them and not arouse suspicion. They conducted a requisite inspection of our cupboards and rooms, found nothing, and left. Edalji, as we later discovered, had given them all his equipment and wanted no part in this. If they catch you, they’ll break your fingers, and you won’t be able to turn the radio’s knobs, let alone your own knob, he said to Rustom and me.

We’re going to call it the All-India Radio operation, Maya said. Two weeks had passed. We talk about the war, the weather, poetry, women, and occasionally one of the boys will ask me to build or fix a piece of equipment.She and Rustom were at my flat, waiting for the supplier. I resisted the urge to kiss Maya’s fingertips. Only snippets of her sentences registered in my brain. Communications have been cut off between party workers . . . across the country . . . people do not know . . . state of affairs. In the midst of this, the phone rang, and my supplier expressed his remorse. Next week, surely, he said.

When Maya and Rustom were about to leave, I offered to teach Maya the basics of ham radio. There was a pause, and she looked at Rustom, before saying, Rustom has already been teaching me some things. Maya gave me two hundred rupees to cover the costs of building the transmitter. We decided to meet once the supplier had delivered.

My wife knew what was going on – that I was undertaking something completely illegal – and chose to ignore it. They will not touch a pregnant woman. You do what you want, she said. But I noticed that she went to the temple more often, and the numbers in her notebook labeled Karma grew larger. More unbalanced.

The day I was expecting the transistor, two policemen arrived at my door. They spoke politely to my wife. Routine check, routine check, they kept repeating, as they upturned furniture, and violently sifted through cupboards. Everything they found was heaped in the centre of the living room, as if they were planning a bonfire. My wife yelled, cried, and feigned dizziness. They asked me to accompany them for questioning.

I was stripped down to my underwear, made to lie on a giant block of ice, and told that I was going to be left there until I had more information to give,which I didn’t. My body took a long time to go numb, and when it did, I imagined I was in one of those dreams where you keep falling, but never feel the impact of the fall. When they realized I was telling the truth, and didn’t know who else was involved in this underground movement, they moved me to Arthur Road Jail, where I spent nine months. My wife sent letters written in pencil. Some of the words worn out, or erased:
Dear LK,
Without you, life is xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. The house feels xxxxxxx. Why is this xxxxxxxxxx? Nalini asks about you, and I xxxxxxxxxxx. She believes you have been taken by the xxxxxxxxxxx fairy. The baby is xxxxxxxxxxx. I stand outside the xxxxxxxxxxxxxx gate sometimes, with the other xxxxxxxxxx, hoping xxxxxxxxx from a xxxxxxxxxx window. Do you xxxxxxx my letters? This waiting is xxxxxx.
Xxxxxxxx terrified, but I cannot xxxxxxxxxxx.
Love,
Dear LK,
I xxxxxxxxx your presence, your voice, your xxxxxxxx. Our daughter still thinks xxxxxxxxx. What can I xxxxxxxxxx? I heard more xxxxxxxxx and were arrested. I am sorry for xxxxxxxxx, I should have been xxxxxxxxxxxxxx. Look at me, talking as if xxxxxxxxxxx, but I know we’ll xxxxxxxxxxx again. It cannot xxxxxxx otherwise. I am always xxxxxxxxxxxxx.
Dear LK,
We have xxxxxxxxx. She is xxxxxxxxxx. Her remind me of you. I pray that xxxxxxxxxxx, and we will xxxxxxxxxxxx. I have not lost xxxxxxxxxxx, I still xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.

When I was released, I went home, expecting nothing to have changed. I discovered that I had a three-month-old daughter. For a week, I could not bring myself to hold her.

Maya came to see me. It was the third time we had ever been in each other’s presence, but something between us felt familiar. She told me what had happened: After my arrest, Rustom found a more reliable source for transmitter parts, and built the forty-metre. They broadcast every Friday, for three months, on a frequency of 43.5 Mhz, until an unknown person reported their whereabouts, and everyone was arrested. The saddest part,she said, was finding out that Rustom had told them everything there was to know about the workings of our operation, and in exchange he was allowed to leave the country. Maya would be tried in court the next week. After speaking for two hours, she stopped, and we sat next to each other in silence – Maya recovering from the talking, and me from the information.

We heard my daughter’s wails coming from the other room. What’s her name? Maya asked. I don’t know yet, I said. My wife had not yet named our second daughter because she had been waiting for me to return. I kissed Maya, not knowing what else to do. She did not stop me, and we kissed while my daughter cried in the next room. It was not sexual, and it felt as if we were assessing each other like insects, with our lips acting as feelers. She stopped me when my wife’s voice came through the wall, singing a lullaby to our daughter.

I’m not going to say anything in court. I don’t know what my sentence will be. You take care. Maya said this as if the past five minutes had not happened, and then she left. Perhaps this is how karma propagates – you are betrayed, and you betray someone else, and that someone else does the same, ad infinitum.

That night, my wife came into my room, and lay down next to me on the bed. Her hands were cold against my skin. You were away for a long time, and you have needs, she said. I The authorities arrived at our houses – unannounced, but not unexpected – and we handed over the relics of our rigs from years ago, in order to appease them and not arouse suspicion.told her I was hungry, but she didn’t respond. She left the room, and stopped speaking to me. We named our daughter Gita, which means song. My wife communicated with me through Gita, who would gurgle appreciatively, because she did not yet comprehend words, only the tone of voice: Gita baby, will you ask your father what he wants dinner? Gita, my raja, someone’s on the phone for your father. Gita, my doll, do you think your father knows that we have barely any money left? When Gita started going to school, my wife would have to speak to me by addressing inanimate objects, or by talking at her own reflection in mirrors and shiny objects.

My shop had been searched and shut down when I was arrested. After independence, I procured a loan, and reopened. I re-hired the young man who used to sit in the shop; he was no longer young, only younger than me. On most days I sat in the shop with him, and he told me about his deaf brother who painted portraits of creatures that were half-man, half-bird, and half-tiger. I wondered how one creature could have three halves. Tragic incidents excited him, and I let him recount to me things I had already read in the papers. It gave him a peculiar pleasure. I did not reapply for my ham radio license, even though by this time it was possible to do so. The young man tried to ask me questions about my year in solitary, but in this I did not indulge him.

The young man had been telling me about his neighbour’s three-legged dog, when an old man entered the shop. It took me some moments to recognize this man as Gieve, but he didn’t look at me, and enquired with the young man about the price of a guitar.

Depends on the make, the young man said, preparing to begin his usual sales pitch about how a guitar was like a mistress.

Never mind. I was just wondering, Gieve said, cutting him off.

Gieve? I said, but he didn’t acknowledge me, until I repeated his name louder, and the young man, thinking Gieve must be partially deaf, yelled Uncleji, and motioned toward me with his head. Gieve finally turned his face to me. He placed his hand over my hand, which was resting on the wooden countertop, as if to confirm that I was made of solid matter. Has old age affected your hearing, I said.

LK. I wasn’t sure. I thought you were dead. I’m taking a new medication. For my joints. He paused between sentences, as if he wanted to be interrupted.Last month. On the radio. They said you were dead. They said VU2LK is a silent key.

My radio call sign had been assigned to someone else, since I had not reapplied for it. I told Gieve this, and his laugh made me nostalgic.

What’s your name? The one your parents gave you, he asked.

My real name is Agam, I said.

We spoke for a long time, about everything that had occurred in the past years, except Rustom. Gieve told me what he knew about my namesake – the other VU2LK had been close to my age when he died of an unknown illness. I hoped it wasn’t a mere bureaucratic error on the part of the deities that controlled death. Perhaps, like Gieve, they had gotten someone else confused with me. I did not voice these thoughts until much later in the evening, when I was eating dinner with my wife, who still would not speak to me. Her face did not show any signs to suggest she had heard me, and sometimes I think she has developed an ability to block the sound waves specific to my voice from entering her ears.

VU2LK is a silent key, I said, the words uncomfortable like sticky toffee in my mouth. This means the call sign is available again. I could apply for it.

When I said this, my wife’s fuse finally ran out. She exploded.

What is wrong with you? It’s bad luck to take a dead man’s belongings. I’m sorry, I said.

She asked me if I wanted another roti, and that night we slept in the same bed.

It was 1961. Jawaharlal Nehru was still the Prime Minister. Mughal-e-Azam was topping the box office. It was the year of dreams in which my body was encased in a glacier stranded somewhere on the Atlantic. It was the night we conceived our third daughter, Gul.

Over the years, snow collects on a glacier, weighing down on it, until every last air bubble has been compressed, leaving the glacier airless and blue. The first time I saw Gul, she had just emerged from my wife’s body. She struggled for air. She looked blue like a child-god from Hindu mythology. At first I thought Gul was the glacier from my dreams, in which I was encased. It was only much later that I realized I was the snow, in which the glacier was encased.

Mumbai, 1996.

At LK’s cremation, no one says anything to me. Gita cannot be seen talking to me, and Nalini won’t; even though, or especially because, he is dead now. People always behave that way at funerals - as though the dead guy is still watching, still judging them. At least Gieve uncle smiles at me. He opens his

mouth to say something, but when he sees I brought my husband with me, he changes his mind. The last time I saw LK was at Maya’s funeral. We hadn’t spoken in ten years, and when I read Maya’s obituary in the newspaper, I fantasized about a reunion with my father, where I would comfort him, and he would forgive me, and I would stop myself from saying I haven’t done anything that requires forgiving.

My husband is from a Muslim family, and even though my parents adored him when they thought he was just a friend, allowed me to have Ramzaan dinner at his house, and invited him to spend Holi with us; when I told them that we were in love and engaged, they stopped acknowledging my Over the years, snow collects on a glacier, weighing down on it, until every last air bubble has been compressed, leaving the glacier airless and blue.existence, once they realized that I wasn’t asking for permission, I was making a declaration. I was still living with them, and when I finally moved out a month later, my mother broke the silence momentarily to give me a box of my things – photographs, awards for being the fastest sprinter at school, pictures of blue houses I had drawn as a child. I thought it was a gesture of tenderness, until she said, we won’t be needing these any more, as if the memory of me could be returned, like an ill- fitting dress. She died so suddenly, that we didn’t have the chance to say different last words to each other. Mine were: Whatever. At least my husband is faithful to me. In the movie of our lives, this would be the cue for a slap, but she pretended not to hear me. Everyone knew LK was having an affair with Maya. Only Gita, with her selective knowledge of the world, seemed oblivious – a cause, or consequence, of the fact that she was our father’s favourite.

Nalini looks at me in a way that reminds me of our mother. I know what she thinks – I brought Saleem to the funeral for spiteful reasons; but I want to tell her that he’s here so I don’t collapse from crying, and embarrass myself, the way I did at our mother’s funeral. I try to remember the lines from that Gulzar poem LK loved; something about time – how you don’t see it coming, going, or passing by, but it accumulates in people.

At the house, his dentures sit close-mouthed in a glass of water next to his bed. It is too soon to start packing his things – first there will be thirteen days of mourning. I will live here, in our childhood home, with Nalini and Gita, even though Nalini will not speak to me, and Gita will say the bare minimum of words necessary to peacefully co-exist: Lunch. Dinner. Towels, top shelf. More Tea? Flowers. Mouse. Doorbell. I wonder what happens to a dead person’s dentures; I don’t think they can be recycled or donated, and I doubt anyone would want to keep them. I remove LK’s teeth from the water glass, and dry them with a hand- towel. I have an overwhelming urge to make the teeth talk; to make the upper and lower jaw dance, like a chattering-teeth novelty toy, but I cannot bring myself to do it. As if in response to this desire, the dentures slip from my hand, and land on the floor. When I bend down to retrieve them, I find a typewriter and a shoebox under the bed. I open the box, and find it empty. All I find is a page jammed into the typewriter; the words packed together on both sides:
My favourite word is zaum. It was invented by Russian word scientists because they needed a word that had no meaning. I used to imagine them in a large laboratory surrounded by buckets of paper pulp and billions of little vials with words in different colours, and letters in every font lining the walls, and even the gates would be a grid of alphabets. I wanted to be a word scientist. I thought that maybe I could invent the perfect word and it would cure my muteness. Then I found out that the word scientists were just linguists, and most of them worked from home. So I decided to make radios instead.
Radios use frequencies that are below visible light. I imagine them as white rainbows travelling everywhere at the speed of sound. I like to think of my silence as white light, below the frequency of audible sound, but holding the entire spectrum of words. Except I can’t speak, even when it rains, so I write stories sometimes when there’s a thunderstorm. On sunny days I like to read under the mango tree in the backyard, or tinker with radio parts in my workshop.
People call me Sig - as in ‘Cygnus Olor’ the mute swan. There is nothing wrong with the swan’s vocal chords, it is even known to let out the occasional snort, but it remains silent for most of its life, and sings one achingly beautiful song right before it dies. I like to think of my stories as swan songs; if I can write something beautiful enough then maybe I’ll be able to find it in me to finally speak out loud.
I'm not the only one with problems though. My best friend Gieve has a hole in his heart. He says it's only a physiological hole, and it hasn't affected his ability to love. But people are scared of holes, and they're always falling into them, while trying to learn more about them, like manholes or black holes.
I once asked him if he thought there was an entire galaxy residing in his heart, and he told me to stop taking things so seriously. Gieve learned sign language so that he could understand me. It was funny at first, when he kept getting the signs mixed up. He apologized to me for a week, and then I realized that he was trying to say he loved me.
It mystifies me when people don't say things out loud, even when they have a voice. My parents never said things out loud. They always said what they didn't mean, in strained voices, but if I had my voice I would say everything out loud. I would buy a dictionary and speak every word.
The girl I love is Maya, and she loves nobody, or so she claims. I wrote to her that I was nobody, and she just laughed. I think she's scared that nobody will ever love her, because her nose is too big.
At night when we can't sleep, we talk through our radios. I built her one that can only talk to my radio. She tells me little fibs in the guise of stories, and I tap out a response to her in Morse code, even though neither of us knows Morse code. It comforts her, the tap-tap- tap---tap-tap---tap.

I sit on the floor with the empty shoebox, the typewriter, and the dentures, reading LK’s last words – looking for clues to an unknown puzzle. It is futile, like the mute swan’s last song, or like trying to find a name for nothingness. Perhaps it is best this way, I think, remembering what LK said to me once:Sometimes it is better if you cannot find the right words. In some religions, everything can be destroyed with a word.

Everything?

Everything.

What word is that?

No one knows.

Gita interrupts me. Tea, she says.

Look what I inherited, I say, holding up the shoebox and the piece of paper.

Gita takes the page and reads it. You know he stopped speaking after she died?

I want to ask if she means Maya, or our mother. But I already know. ■

Interview with Anushka Jasraj:

How much do you feel a connection in your stories to Britain and its Commonwealth ties?

Honestly, not much. Writing in English is a de facto connection, but it’s not something I consciously think about. I wrote ‘Radio Story’ because I was fascinated with the story of the Secret Congress Radio - I thought it would lend itself well to fiction. I wasn’t concerned with the larger context at the time.

Does having a global readership alter the way you approach writing stories?

I’ve never really had any readership, apart from fellow writers who have been forced to read my stories in writing workshops, so I’ve always written without an audience in mind because I didn’t expect to get published. Bombay is like my narrative palaceBut even when I’m writing for a classroom of mostly Americans, it doesn’t alter my approach, unless I’m using obscure cultural references which Google wouldn’t be able to explain. And even that is quite rare – everyone is familiar with Indian culture these days. No one asks if I keep an elephant in my backyard at home.

Is place, the landscape and language of where you're from, something that has a bearing on your writing voice?

Yes, definitely. I grew up in Bombay, and I’ve always lived here – growing up in such a multilingual environment has probably affected my prose. My stories are usually situated here as well, but often it’s not the physical reality of Bombay as much as the emotional – and linguistic – landscape. You know how people have memory palaces? Bombay is like my narrative palace: It’s the place most easily available in my imagination when I need to tell a story.


J8/W6HGF, Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

http://www.qsl.net/w6hgf/J8-index.html

Kingstown,Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Loc: FK93jd
       IOTA: NA-109  CQ Zone: 08 
WLOTA-Ref: 0492   ITU Zone: 11  IARU Region: 2  Time Zone: UTC  -4
Location:  13.1608Deg N, 61.2261Deg W

Flag

J8/W6HGF

Check to see if you are in the log.

Clublog
https://secure.clublog.org/logsearch/J8/W6HGF
With OQRS active after the expedition finishes.

Below is a view from the shack.
View



QSL Info:  Direct or LOTW or ClubLog OQRS Direct.

Direct: Please include SASE, or a self addressed envelope and $2.  No IRC's will be accepted now the US has decided to stop using IRC as of  2013.

Direct QSL Address ***

J8/W6HGF
Al Danis
PO Box 220164
Chantilly, VA 20153-0164
USA

Bureau:  I will accept bureau cards but they are very, very slow for me to get to, expect at least a year or more delay.


This operation will be conducted from  January 9 to Jan 24 near Kingston on the Island of Saint Vincent.  I plan to operate all bands with a granite states dipole, and a superantenna travel beam.  I will concentrate on RTTY, but may use other modes if the demand for RTTY is not there.  It will be best to follow me on the cluster.  Watch for me in the RTTY sub-bands somewhere above .80 on most bands plus or minus the other users.  I will try to use 3 Khz of space above my frequency for listening split, and will try to always operate split.  I will try to use the highest frequency that is open, and work down the bands as evening passes ending on 80 or 160 if the noise allows it.   You are welcome to spot me on the cluster, except during contests. 

UPDATES:
25 December, Packing all the equipment and checking it as I go.

Equipment:
Icom IC-7000
Tokyo Hy-Power HL-1.1Kfx

Antennas:
Granite State Cobra Ultralite Sr.

DXCode 
We support the DX code of conduct, Please read it, and use the principals so we all can have lots of fun DXing.

Links.
Sign Our Guestbook

Many thanks to QSL.NET for hosting this webpage, and also to Michael G7VJR and his team for the great work with ClubLog.    Please make sure you are in the log before sending QSL's.

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

17th STEW PERRY TOPBAND DISTANCE CHALLENGE

http://www.kkn.net/stew/

Boring Amateur Radio Club
Stew Perry Topband Distance Challenge

17th STEW PERRY TOPBAND DISTANCE CHALLENGE
1. Contest period:  1500Z December 29th to 1500Z December 30th, 2012.
   Operate for a maximum of 14 hours.  Off times are 30 minutes minimum
   and a maximum of four off periods are permitted.

   A separate warm-up event will be held on October 20th/21st with the 
   same time period and entry categories.  A Summer event will be held
   on June 16/17th - again with the same time period and categories.

2. Bands and mode: 160 meters CW only.

3. Categories: Single operator or multi-operator; high, low or QRP power.
   Low power is 100 watts or less output.  QRP is 5 watts or less output.
   High power is 1500 watts output or whatever you can legally run in your
   country - whichever is less.

4. Exchange: Four character grid square (i.e. CN85).  RST is optional.

5. QSO Points: The number of QSO points for each contact depends on the
   distance between the two stations.  This is computed by taking the 
   distance between the centers of the two grid squares.  Count a minimum 
   of one point per QSO and an additional point for every 500 kilometers 
   distance.  For example, a QSO with a station 1750 kilometers away will 
   count for 4 QSO points.  No additional distance for long path is allowed.  

   QSO Points are multiplied by 2X if you work a low power station and 4X 
   for working a QRP station.  This is done based upon received logs and
   is computed automatically during the log checking process.

   Do not worry if your logging software does not compute the QSO points.  
   Our automated log checking software does this.  

6. Welcome to Rule 6.  We will try our best to describe what you can and can't
   do for each of the categories.  We realize that the beat of technology does
   not stop - even for the TopBand.  Because of this, we will try to start 
   with a statement expressing the intent of these rules, to give the reader
   something to go on if some previously distinct line is blurred due to 
   advances in technology.

   If you are single-op - we intend for you to not be assisted by other humans
   during the event.  Any communication with humans other than the exchanges 
   that take place over the air can be assistance.  Obviously, you can ask
   your wife to bring you a sandwich - and say hello to an old friend who 
   happens to call in.  But - if the assistance starts to do things like 
   telling you that VK6VZ is on 1829.3 kHz, then that is going too far.

   So - packet spotting is right out.  Using a chat room for setting up skeds
   is out.  This is the "boy and his radio" category.  Furthermore, the 
   technology has advanced to the point where it can give assistance that is 
   on par with a human.  Having a skimmer, or reverse beacon network, or 
   whatever people come up with in the future that can tell you that VK6VZ is
   on 1829.3 kHz is also viewed as assistance.  Use of this technology is not
   allowed in the single-op category.  We do realize band scopes can show that 
   someone is on 1829.3 - but since they don't tell you who is actually there, 
   that is okay.  We suppose this allows the use of "blind skimmers" but we 
   would really like to encourage you to turn off the skimmer and enjoy the 
   contest the way we did back when Stew Perry was around.

   We do realize that some stations use remote receivers to eliminate their
   local QRN issues.  We wish to include them in the contest - but need to 
   put some kind of limit on it as we do not intend for people to have remote
   receivers on the other side of their country - or in other continents.  
   That would totally destroy the concept of awarding extra QSO points for
   copying QRP stations. Therefore, remote receivers are okay as long as 
   they are not more than 100 kM form your transmitter site.  This equates
   to roughly a grid square.  

   If you are multi-op, you can get assistance from other humans in your
   shack.  We still do not want to encourage the use of packet during the
   contest, so would rather you not do that.  If you have a skimmer - go
   ahead and use it.  Remote receiving sites within the 100 kM are okay.  
   If a networked connected skimmer is within 100 kM of you, go ahead 
   and use it (perhaps that is what is known as a Reverse Beacon Network,
   but we get very concerned when we see "Network").

   If you want to do something that doesn't fall into one of these two 
   categories (and still want to get on and make QSOs) - this is still a 
   good thing and you can submit your log as a check log.  We will still 
   process your log and print your score.  You can explain what you were
   doing in your soapbox comments for all to see.  Perhaps if enough people
   are submitting logs that are doing the same thing you were - we will 
   consider creating a category for that type of operation.

   We are sorry that this rule is so long.  We really wanted to keep this
   simple, but that didn't seem possible anymore.  If you have any questions
   after reading this - please let the Boring Amateur Radio Club know and we
   will be happy to add a few more paragraphs.

   Oh - we should mention cheating isn't allowed either - in case that was
   not clear.  This includes operating more than 14 hours and trying to make
   it look like you operated only 14.  It means running more power than you
   are supposed to in your category and/or country.  It also isn't nice to use
   QRZ.COM to fill in those missing or questionable grid squares.  This is a
   RADIO contest and you should put in your log what you heard during the 
   contest - not what you found on the internet afterwards!!

   Thank you for reading rule six.
   
7. Score: Final score equals the total number of QSO points.  There is 
   no multiplier for different grids worked.  Stations running more than
   5 watts, but no more than 100 watts multiply their score by 1.5.  
   Stations running less 5 watts or less multiply their score by 3.  Scores 
   will be grouped by category.

8. Reporting: Your log can be sent via the internet to TBDC@CONTESTING.COM 
   using the Cabrillo format within 30 days of the contest.  You can also use
   the form provided by WA7BNM on the web to enter your ASCII or paper log
   data - http://www.b4h.net/cabforms/stewperry_cab.php.

   Paper entries will only be accepted for logs with fewer than 50 QSOs in
   them and must mailed to BARC 15125 SE Bartell Rd; Boring, OR  97009.  

   No paper logs will be accepted for the warm-up or summer events. 

9. Plaques will be awarded for categories we have sponsors for.  To 
   volunteer to sponsor a plaque, contact Lew Sayre, W7EW at w7ew@arrl.net.  
   A list of the plaques sponsored can be found on the web at 
   http://www.kkn.net/stew/plaques.txt.

   There are no plaques or other awards for the warm-up or summer events.  
                      
   To "apply" for a plaque such as a first time entry - or other special 
   category, please include this information in your SOAPBOX fields on the 
   Cabrillo log.  Information contained elsewhere in your e-mail may not 
   be seen by the log checkers.

   Only one plaque can be won by any station for a specific contest.  BARC 
   will make decisions about which plaque you will win in cases where you 
   qualify for more than one.

   Stations may enter two categories (i.e., QRP and High Power), but must
   use a different callsign for each operation.

   Results are published on the web in the spring.  Look for an announcement 
   on the topband and contest reflectors.  Warm-up results will be published 
   before the real event in December. 

http://www.kkn.net/stew/

WORLD WIDE IRON HAM CONTEST, Dec 29 to 30, 2012





WORLD WIDE IRON HAM CONTEST, Dec 29 to 30, 2012

1. PURPOSE

The WORLD WIDE IRON HAM CONTEST is a unique world-wide contest intended to promote the multi-mode skill of the ham contest community in one single 24-hour period competition. The GADX Araucaria Dx Group together with the majority of the Brazilian Contest and DX Clubs (list attached), based upon the success of the IRON MAN and some other multi-sports competitions, are sponsoring a different contest alternative where the competitors must use several alternatives to test their skills in different ham radio modes on all bands around the clock for 24 hours.

The Liga de Amadores Brasileiros de Rádio Emissão (LABRE) is officially supporting the contest in line with the joint effort Brazilian tradition.

The objectives of the contest:
To promote the union of all radio amateurs in the world;
To promote, CW, PHONE and DIGITAL modes to the entire ham radio community;
To promote the integration of different mode operators around the world. To promote the integration of IT technologies with the Ham Radio competition.
To promote and stimulate the ability for contest planning
To drastically shorten the time for log submission and results publication
To create contest alternatives for ham competition.

2. PERIOD

The last full weekend of December for 24 hours starting Saturday 12:00 UTC and ending Sunday 11:59 UTC.

3. MODES, BANDS & PERIODS

Mode: CW, PHONE & RTTY
Bands: 80m, 40m, 20m, 15m and 10m;
The 24 hours contest is organized to have 8 hours of operation on each mode in periods no shorter than one hour. So if the participant SOAB or M/2AB  start  an  operation  in  one  specific  mode  the  operator(s) must remain on this mode for at least one hour.
During each period no shorter than one hour, a station (SOAB or M/2AB)
may only use one mode.
Each participant should operate no more than 8 hours on each mode, independently of the number of periods no shorter than one hour he takes

Totally free band change
Contacts must be made within the modes and sub-bands assigned. Contest planning is a must for this contest

4. CATEGORIES

4.1.SOAB Single Operator All bands
For all Single Operator categories, only one person (the operator) can contribute to the final score during the official contest period.

Definitions

4.1.1 Single Operator: Those stations at which one person performs all operating, logging, and spotting functions.
4.1.2 Single Operator participants may change bands without restrictions. Only one signal can be transmitted at any given time. Total output shall not exceed 1500 W
4.1.3.  Transmitters  and  receivers  must  be  located  within  a  500-meter diameter  circle.  All  antennas  used  by  an  entrant  must  be  physically connected to the transmitters by wires (feeders).

4.2. M2 AB – Multi-operators two Transmitters

4.2.1. Only two transmitted signals at  any given time. More than two different transmitters can be used but only two may be active at any given time. The competitors in this category must prove that they have used a mechanism which prevents more than two signals being transmitted at the same time during all 24 hours. The organizers will use special means to check this rule.
4.2.2. If the SOAB, or M2AB participants works a station on a different mode than the chosen mode, the QSOs will count 0 points without penalties. Please do not delete these QSOs as it will aid in the log cross- checking process. Such contacts will count for the station worked in accordance with the present rules.
4.2.3.  Due  to  the  character  of  this  contest,  there  are  no  separate categories for single-band operation or other limited band/mode operation. However,  we  encourage  participation of  stations  with  restricted  mode operation and restricted band operation
4.2.4. Mode Operation Periods
Each mode, CW, SSB, RTTY, can be used for a maximum of 8 hours, in periods of time no shorter than one hour each.  If only 1 or 2 modes are used, consequently the total participation time is limited to respectively 8 or 16 hours.

4.3. Packet Cluster & IT Technologies:
DXCluster - The use of DXCluster network is allowed for all categories. The participants can receive information from DXCluster, however is strictly prohibited to seft-spot or request, by any means, that others announce you during the contest.

Promoting a gradual enlargement of the integration between contests and new IT technologies the WORLD WIDE IRON HAM CONTEST will, in the future, create new categories to motivate remote operation or other new technologies.

5. CONTACTS

All same-mode-two-way contacts between stations in the same Entity (country) or  different  Entities  (countries)  and  Continents  are  allowed  and  valid.  For definition of Entities, the official DXCC lists applies. The same station can be contacted on all bands and all modes.

6. CQ MESSAGE

We suggest the use of IRON HAM, or IH for the contest, but it is allowed to use simply “CQ test” and from time to time an indication that is IRON HAM Contest.

7. EXCHANGE

All stations: send RS, or RST + CQ ZONE

8. POINTS

8.1. For all participants:
QSO with same Entity: 1 point;
QSO with other Entities on same Continent: 2 points; QSO with other continents: 3 points.

9. MULTIPLIERS

The multiplier is the number of entities and zones worked by mode independently of the band.
Multipliers are counted once per mode but not per band Entity and zone multipliers are according to the DXCC list. The /MM stations are not multipliers but count 3 points.

10. FINAL SCORE

The  sum  of  points  obtained  on  a  specific  mode,  multiplied  by  the  sum  of multipliers (Entities + Zones) for that mode is the final score for that mode.
The total score is the sum of the scores for each mode.

11. DISQUALIFICATION & PENALTIES

Excess of unique calls, wrong calls, not in log, will be penalized according to the well known UBN log checking system as described on section 15.

Apart from that penalties terms mentioned above, the following is also forbidden: Using any IP net for the remote transceiving, including web radio stations; Self-spotting and soliciting contacts by any non-amateur means during the contest;
Using any other call sign than the participation call sign for;
Holding the operating frequency on other bands or making schedules; All other self-spotting manners.
Our aim is to maintain a fair competition and prevent unfair and unsportsmanlike
operations and/or procedures. The decisions of the contest committee are final.

12. DUPES

Dupes are contacts made with the same station on the same band and mode. If the first contact between stations is valid, dupes have 0 points value. If the first contact is not valid, a second (dupe) contact is accepted.
Dupe contacts are not penalized;
There is no need to mark them in the log submission.
Moreover, entrants are strictly recommended to leave DUPES in the log. DO NOT DELETE DUPES!

13. GENERAL LOG SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

We need electronics logs! The WORLD WIDE IRON HAM CONTEST requires electronic logs for every possible high-scored entry.
Submit your log in the CABRILLO format created by all major logging programs;
All times must be UTC;
All sent and received exchanges are to be logged;
Filename for the log should be your_call.log and must be sent as an attachment;
Logs submitted as plain-text email are also acceptable;

In the header of the electronic log submission you MUST specify the category of participation and the full postal address for dispatch to the participant the results, trophies, awards and certificates. A written declaration is not necessary;
Points and final score calculations are not necessary, calculations are done by our software;
Logs must be submitted to the contest sponsors within 72 hours. We will recognize and additional time for DX-pedition or areas where internet is not available.
Electronic logs must be submitted via e-mail to: wwih@araucariadx.com Be sure to put the station call sign in the "Subject:" line. The server will automatically acknowledge your e-mail log within 48 hours;

14. IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATION: RECORD THE ENTIRE CONTEST

All competitors whose are competing for the top 5 scores, or records in each category must maintain availability of a digital recording of all 24 hours of the contest. The judging committee reserves the right to request such file at any time during the log checking procedures.

15. CONTEST- RELATED INFORMATION

All " WORLD WIDE IRON HAM CONTEST and related information (Rules, claimed/confirmed scores, FAQ, additional information) will be posted at the website of the GADX - ARAUCARIA DX GROUP http://www.araucariadx.com  and the other Brazilian Contest Clubs web addresses accordingly with list attached.
The results will be published at our above web address.
All participants, who send a Cabrillo log via e-mail, will receive a UBN-list with the claimed/confirmed results listed separately by mode period and a QSO list, containing errors and errors by worked stations.
Penalties consist the loss of the invalid contact including multiplier credit plus the removal of triple QSO points, and are assessed accordingly:
Incorrectly logged calls (Bad Call) Incorrectly logged exchange numbers
QSO not present in the other station log (NIL) QSO are neither counted nor penalized for the following:
Other station incorrectly logged entrant's call
Other station incorrectly logged entrant's exchange number
QSO time in entrant's log and other station's log difference is more than 3 minutes (except systematic computer errors).
QSO bands or modes in entrant's log and other station's log differ. Dupe QSO which is not in the other station's log.

16. TROPHIES, PLAQUES AND CERTIFICATES

16.1. World Champion SOAB
The highest SOAB score independently of Continent will receive a special trophy, the IRON HAM.

16.2. World Champion M2AB
The highest M2AB score a special trophy. IRON HAM TEAM

16.3. Plaques
The highest score for each Continent and Category will receive a special plaque.

16.4. Certificates
All highest scores in each category and each Country will receive a certificate mentioning the score and position in his Country and Continent.

16.5. Results:
THE WORLD WIDE IRON HAM CONTEST has a firm commitment to gradually reduce the timing for results publication. We will start in the 2012 Contest with an objective to announce the results within 60 days. The results are going to be published on the GADX web page  http://www.araucariadx.com and also in the other Brazilian DX Clubs pages accordingly with list attached.

17. Special Internal competition:

We will use the WORLD WIDE IRON HAM CONTEST to promote other aspects of the competition. We will annually and gradually add new aspects of competition and recognition.
In 2012 we will issue special certificates for
Best mode period score SOAB and M2
Best hour QSOs rate for each mode period (CW,PHONE & RTTY)   for
SOAB M2

18. Special prize:

The WORLD WIDE IRON HAM CONTEST is offering to the SOAB winner and one representative of the M2 winner a special prize of 4 days free accommodation in any Brazilian City with a Contest Station combined with total free  contest participation. Before  the  contest we  will announce a  list  of  the city/stations available and the winners can make their choice accordingly.

CAIXA POSTAL 48 – CEP 88.010-970 – FLORIANOPOLIS – SC – BRASIL
E-mail:  Py5eg@iesa.com.br
Visite nossa home page: www.araucariadx.com


Monday, December 24, 2012

9U4U, Burundi DXpedition, February 2013

http://www.9u4u.be/

9U4U, Burundi DXpedition, February 2013


FREQUECY LIST

Frequencylist for the US

BandSSBQSX SSBCWQSX CWRTTYQSX RTTY
160m
-----
-----
1828.5
1833-1838
-----
-----
80m
3773
3805-3810
3503
Up
-----
-----
40m
7083
7187-7192
7003
Up
7044
Up/Down
30m
-----
-----
10123
Up
10142
Up/Down
20m
14183
Up 5-10
14033
Up
14088
Up/Down
17m
18153
Up 5-10
18083
Up
18104
Up/Down
15m
21283
Up 5-10
21033
Up
21082
Up/Down
12m
24963
Up 5-10
24903
Up
24924
Up/Down
10m
28493
Up 5-10
28033
Up
28108
Up/Down
We will also be listening to the US "novice" licences on 20m, and will check 14.225 and above

Frequencylist for JA
BandSSBQSX SSBCWQSX CWRTTYQSX RTTY
160m
-----
-----
1828.5
1815-1820
-----
-----
80m
3773
3802
3503
Up
-----
-----
40m
7083
7187-7192
7003
Up
7044
Down
30m
-----
-----
10123
Up
10142
Up/Down
20m
14183
Up 5-10
14033
Up
14088
Up/Down
17m
18153
Up 5-10
18083
Up
18104
Up/Down
15m
21283
Up 5-10
21033
Up
21082
Up/Down
12m
24963
Up 5-10
24903
Up
24924
Up/Down
10m
28493
Up 5-10
28033
Up
28108
Up/Down

Overall frequencylist
BandSSBQSX SSBCWQSX CWRTTYQSX RTTY
160m
-----
-----
1828.5
1833-1838
-----
-----
80m
3773
Up 5-10
3503
Up
-----
-----
40m
7083
Up 5-10
7003
Up
7044
Up/Down
30m
-----
-----
10123
Up
10142
Up/Down
20m
14183
Up 5-10
14033
Up
14088
Up/Down
17m
18153
Up 5-10
18083
Up
18104
Up/Down
15m
21283
Up 5-10
21033
Up
21082
Up/Down
12m
24963
Up 5-10
24903
Up
24924
Up/Down
10m
28493
Up 5-10
28033
Up
28108
Up/Down
EQUIPMENT





Tranceivers:
- 4 K3 Elecraft tranceivers

Amplifiers:
- 3 expert 1k-fa linear amplifiers
- 1 homemade solid state PA (500w)

Other gear
- 4 HEIL headphones
- 5 Laptops with WinTest software
- 2 sets of Dunestar filtering
- 4 Microkeyers MK2
- 2 sets of "Ice" filtering
- 1 set of high power bandpass filters
- 800m coax
- 3 km wire
- And alot more.......

Antennas:

Band
TX antenna 1
TX antenna 2
RX antenna
160m
26m Vertical
80m
18m Vertical
40m
4 square
30m
Fased array
20m
HEXbeam
Vertical
17m
HEXbeam
Vertical
15m
HEXbeam
Vertical
12m
HEXbeam
Vertical
10m
HEXbeam
Vertical



DIRECT & BUREAU QSL INFORMATION:

Please direct your QSL requests Via M0URX with the following route options:
Direct QSL information:
Important... QSL requirements are US$2 or 1 x IRC.
Send your QSL to:

Mr Tim Beaumont M0URX
P.O. Box 17 Kenilworth
Warwickshire CV8 1SF
ENGLAND

Please also include a Self Addressed Envelope 114mm x 162mm .
NO Euro coins please !!!
Outside UK... NO postage stamps accepted.
Due to many SASE being under paid, will be sent Via Bureau,
Online DIRECT QSL Request Via Paypal:
OQRS Direct
Paypal: OQRS direct is 2 Euros
(We pay 43c PayPal charge on every transaction)

eQSL:
Sorry, no eQSL

Buro QSL:
If you require a QSL via the bureau please use the QSL Request Form of M0URX and provide your QSO details to request a QSL to be sent via the bureau.

LOTW (Logbook of The World):
LoTW upload will be done at the earliest opportunity

Please remember we do not require YOUR QSL card Via the Bureau. Please help save Bureau costs. Only use the Online QSL Request System (OQRS).

"QSL Via M0URX" Via Bureau only for those who do not have access to Internet.