There are about 3 million amateur radio stations in the world. This figure only represents the number of stations which are actually in operation. It is no exageration to say that there is an amateur radio station in virtually every part of the world, the only exceptions being uninhabited regions.

*approx figures

The number of amateur radio stations in Japan is almost half of the total. It is truly amazing how amateur radio communications has gained popularity in Japan and also these Amateurs build their nation into an economic super power.

 

Analog Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM (PL - 67Hz)

Analog Downlink: 435.300 MHz FM

Digital Uplink:      145.860 MHz 9600 bps, AX.25

Digital Downlink:  435.150 MHz 9600 bps, AX.25

All you need is a dual bander ie. VHF/UHF capable equipment ( a handy or a base). You can even use two rigs one as a TX on VHF and the other as an RX on UHF or vice-versa.

 

 

 

                  "Everything you need to know about Amateur Satellites"

               Stay tuned to the world of Amateur Satellites, know more about HAMSAT(VUSAT) and catch up with the latest on this space. We help you get updated and keep in pace with everything you wanna know about amateur satellites.

So what are you waiting for? Get the latest amateur radio call book and keep yourself updated. To buy, you need to drop in at IIH Club Station anytime between 6:00 PM and 7:30 PM on week days or just send us your orders and we shall send it to you by VPP.

India's first amateur radio satellite is now in orbit. Blasted off into space from the Sri Hari kota Launch Range onboard ISRO's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV C6) along with co-passenger Cartosat I, hamsat is now moving around 632 x 621 km high polar orbit with an inclination of 97.8 deg with respect to the equator. President of India, Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, witnessed the launch from the Mission Control Centre. The entire ham fraternity is thankful to the former chairman of ISRO Dr. K.Kasturirangan [MP (Rajyasabha)] and Dr.Madhavan Nair (Chairman of ISRO). We also congratulate the entire hamsat project team for the successfull launch of the satellite in space.

 

Hamsat has two transponders, an Indian and a dutch transponder. The Indian transponder was developed by the ISRO and the Dutch transponder was made by William Leijenaar (PE1RAH). The number of Hams using hamsat are increasing day by day.

PSLV C6 Successfully Launches CARTOSAT-1 and HAMSAT on May 5th 2005 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 10:15 AM.

Rajiv Gandhi was drawn by its magic, Amitabh Bachchan has witnessed its 'ionospheric high', Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran is a practitioner of the science and Sonia Gandhi is a registered licence holder. Hamming, which involves a two-way communication system using the medium of radio waves, continues to be an addiction for 18,000 amateur radio operators or hams as they are popularly known in India, and for over a million of people across the globe despite the overwhelming presence of the internet and the chat room regime.

 

"We are addicts for life. The thrill and excitement of hearing a voice out there when you tune into the radio frequency and having a 'chat-on-air' is an experience that is incomparable to any," says Adolf Shepherd, a ham enthusiast who was in the city to participate in Seanet, The South East Asian Network, one of the largest conventions of ham operators. Echoing his sentiment are Vidi and Chitra, a couple who are avid fans of one of the oldest forms of communication since Marconi's discovery. "Ham is different from the net, it gives you a sense of personal deja vu, which is different from the impersonal format of the net," says Chitra. "Moreover, the assembling of your own ham equipment and the complete control over the equipment instills a personal sense of achievement," says Vidi, his eyes gleaming with pride.

 

Interestingly, the late Rajiv Gandhi, a ham operator, took great interest in assembling his own equipment during his days as a pilot. As a Prime Minister, he extensively used the ham, says a ham operator recounting a speech made by his wife Sonia Gandhi at the Seanet 1996. The former Prime Minister once picked up a call of the Red Cross from Bangladesh, which was hit by a storm, and requested the National Institute Of Amateur Radio Operators for use of their network for relief operations.

 

He was also 'on-the-air' a few hours before his assassination making a last call from Visakhapatnam, said a ham operator. "As a ham operator, the surprises in store are many. My most memorable experience is when the King of Jordan Hussein came on air and joined our conversation," says Chitra, more known by her 'call sign' (an identification code) vu2cvp.

 

Though ham was more well known for rendering service during emergencies, natural disasters and accidents, for Ron, a farmer from New Zealand, it helped learn German. "We actually used our chat-in-the-air sessions to conduct language teaching classes and in a few months I had picked up German thanks to my ham friend," he said. But the most wonderful experience for a ham operator from Australia was during the sunspot period (a time that was considered best for transmission of radio waves) when he had sent out signals only to find that his receptor had picked up his own voice back again. "It was awesome when I realised that my voice had travelled across the globe and reached back all in a matter of a few seconds," he said.

 

"You can talk to hams in different ways, you can bounce off your radio signals off a layer of the atmosphere called ionosphere, use one of the multiple Oscar satellites in earth's orbit or use the moon itself to bounce the signals. There are different methods of communication, though voice is most common, one can now also use the computer or the ancient method of Morse code," explains Shepherd. India also has Hamsat, a satellite put into orbit by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for the benefit of amateur radio operators.

 

More : http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=56632&pn=0

 
1. HAM RADIO CLASSES (Next batch starts on Dec 12th 2009)

Programme: 

        - Introduction to Ham Radio

        - Basic Electronics  (Only Theory)

        - Rules, Regulations & Operating Procedures of Ham Radio

        - Morse Code Practice (Language by Sound)

        - Live demonstration on Ham Radio

Fees:  Rs. 1200/- (For Students and retired personnel Rs 900/-)

        (includes membership, examination fee and study materials)

Eligibility: 12 years and above (Indian Citizens only)

Requirements: 1) Four Passport size photos

                      2) Date of birth certificate (Copy of SSLC Marks card, Passport, Affidavit,

                          Certificate from school principal stating date of birth as per the records). No

                          other documents are valid for examination.

                                       Saturdays - Dec 12th, Dec 19th and Dec 26th (btwn 6pm to 8pm)

                                       Sundays - Dec 13th, Dec 20th and Oct 27th (btwn 10.30am to 1pm)

Examination : Will be conducted after three months from the date of application by Ministry of Communication and I.T., Government of India for grant of HAM Operating license.

 

        - Introduction to basic electronics and components

        - PCB Design, etching, drilling and assembly

        - Assembly of electronic gadgets.

Eligibility: 12 Years and above.

Fees:  Rs. 1200/- per candidate

        (includes study materials and take home project materials)

Workshop days: Three Sundays ( 9.30 a.m. to   5 p.m.)