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VU4 Dxpedition in 2004
My VU4 Article -
Expedition Report
Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Dxpedition – Mr.Sara, VU3RSB
Subramanyam, SWL
I KNOW SARA!
I know Mr. Sarath Babu,
VU3RSB – commonly known as Sara, VU3RSB for all his HAM friends –
for a long time. My limited knowledge about the Amateur Radio is
actually because of him. I know that Late Mr. Rajiv Gandhi, VU2RG
was very much an active raised NIAR at Hyderabad. Sara won the Rajiv
Gandhi Award in 1997, 1998. The awards are received by him at the
hands of Mrs.Sonia Gandhi, VU2SON, (Wife of Mr.Rajiv Gandhi)
President of Congress Party and Chairperson of UPA Government
(Present Government). My interest has doubled after Tsunami.
Sara is working with NIAR on
a project sponsored by Dept of Information Technology, Govt., of
India to setup 10 Amateur Radio Centers in the Country.
DXPEDITION – ANDMAN AND
NICOBAR ISLANDS
In the month of November
2004, when he informed me that he is going by ship to Andaman and
Nicobar Islands, I enquired about the reason and purpose behind it.
He said that he is going for
a specific expedition which in the language of HAM, is DXpedition.
He said that it is like “Around the world in 30 days”. Virtually, he
will be moving around the world twenty four hours a day for a total
of 30 days while he was at those Islands. Contacting the HAM people
around the world non-stop is a kind of expedition for this HAM
fraternity. This is fascinating not only to me but many of my
friends and relatives. They got very much excited.
So the group which is
consisting of the 7 Members of NIAR, Hyderabad and others apart from
Sara, left Hyderabad on 27th of November 2004. The luggage
consisting of 500 kg electronic equipment like wire-less equipment,
different kinds of antennas and near about 10 km length of wire and
other material. On 28th morning they reached Chennai and the
material was kept in a security godown. On 29th the group consisting
of 4 members were on the ship which was sailing towards Andman and
Nicobar Islands on the same day.
It so happened that,
officials from Air Port Authority of India and Shipping Corporation
of India came to know about the expedition and escorted the team and
luggage as a goodwill gesture. No charges were levied for the
luggage transportation for them. And Sara said that one Mr. Shaikh
sadaqathullah VU2SDU from Chennai helped them till they settled
themselves in the ship.
INITIAL HICCUPS
Sara – as usual – went
around the ship, contacted the Radio Officer, Captain and other crew
members and informed about the expedition and enquired about the
ships movements, communications equipment and its system etc., The
crew members were so patient they explained each and every thing.
And on reaching the Islands, Mr. Dilleswar Rao, Chief Administrator,
Port Management Board, Port Blair received them and the Army Signals
group helped in shifting the material and equipment to the godown.
Mr. Anbursu, Secretary, I&PT of Islands helped the team members and
leaders with accommodation and security in different places.
In the evening at Islands,
the team met the Chief Secretary, Principal of the Polytechnic and
other officials and explained about the purpose behind the
expedition.
DX-Operation and World Tour
While Mrs D Bharati VU2RBI
started operating from Hotel Sinclair, Sara went to the Polytechnic
building and set the equipment on the main street itself as there
were some bureaucracy policies to get a room.
But erecting the Antenna was
a big problem. Sara informed me that it was the first time in the
past 15 years, he had to struggle to find the poles, leave alone the
antenna for the equipment. The temperature was above 35 degrees, and
the humidity is horrible. Heat waves were coming from the sea
directly where he opened the shop. And any change required for the
antenna means climbing about 35 meters on a steep ladder.
Bureaucrats realized that
Sara was on a mission. At last after a couple of days, the site is
changed to Hostel – and it was again a different horrible
experience. At last he has erected a Di-pole Antenna and operations
started in all modes like PSK 31, SSTV, CW etc.,
Initially started with
voice, later on it was continued with other modes. The entire
process is very interesting. You will have to study the propagation
conditions about which band can connect what country and make the
record and prepare the data and analyze the signals and distance
involved. And again prepare the schedules and note down the contact
series for future reference. It has to be done continuously, due to
the time variations between the country to the country.
Every two days, in the
evening hours the entire team members will meet at the Government
Circuit house to exchange the views, schedules, and plan for the
next two days schedules. – Its like a brainstorming session though
it is only on a dining table and just for one hour only.
On 11th day, out of 5
members, three members returned to the main land – India. Mrs
Bharati VU2RBI who created a world record in the similar kind
expedition in 1987 at the same hotel, is continuing, while Mr.
Mohan, VU2MYH is a qualified technical person and Sara is on the job
of expedition.
On 14th Mr Charless Harpole,
K4VUD from US visited them when there was a “pileup” of contacts on
the radio. Sara has interacted with Mr. Harpole, K4VUD and both
became very good friends immediately.
At this stage, another set
was installed at Science Centre as desired by the Chief Secretary of
Andaman & Nicobar Islands with STEP IR antenna donation from INDEXA.
(Thanks to Mr.Frank, DL4KQ) which was positioned towards US and the
signals were received instantly.
WHAT IS THE OBJECTIVE
It is a kind of activity
creates awareness about the Amateur Radio (HAM) around the world and
its importance particularly – “where there is no communications,
there will be HAM to communicate” In other words HAM’s idea is that
no region, area, place is left unconnected for communications.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands are required to have the constant, fault
free and reliable communication system, and the islands are
subjected to frequent cyclones and heavy rains with the ocean around
the islands, reliable communications should be ever-ready and
reachable to any body, and any body should be able to operate
without much complications – unlike internet or Cell Phone. The
whole world is divided into 335 territories / countries as they are
called. Mainland India 2) Andaman & Nicobar Islands 3) Lakshadweep
Islands are 3 different territories.
The set-up installed at
Science Centre has become a grand success and visitors were
frequenting the site and showing the interest to understand the
system and operating mechanism.
At this point another
Antenna – CUSHCRAFT from US donation from German DX Foundation, WARC
BAND with 10 Mhz beam antenna were received at the site. Specially
thanks to Mr.Frank.
And as a pleasant surprise,
Mr Suri, VU2MY of NIAR visited the islands and observed the entire
operations at different places and congratulated the team for their
good work, With that the programme of awareness has attained its
momentum. There were several articles published on Mr.Suri’s
lectures which were centered around “Natural calamity – The Role of
Ham Radio in Islands”.
From Sweden Mr.Henry, SM0JHF
has visited and took the photographs of the team.
The team erected WARC
Antenna with the support of Polytechnic Students. It was positioned
towards Europe and within an hour a good number of contacts were
established which followed by a huge pile-up.
25th Christmas – a day
before the unforgettable day
Everything is calm and
festive mood is there on every place. People were dancing on the
streets, women were shopping and different color lights were glowing
on the shops on the streets.
The team has assessed the
bands and verified the equipment and received more than 150 calls
and contacted as many of them on 30 meter band. The success of the
expedition and support of the people created a kind of pleasant mood
in the minds of the team and the public outside the Polytechnic is
busy with festivities. The night slowly engulfed the entire island
and the people who went to bed very late, slept immediately, without
an iota of knowledge or inclination about the impending calamity
which is to devastate the entire islands and also the south Asia.
TREMORS, SHOCKS AND VIBRATIONS.
It was early morning, time
was around five past ten minutes, the sun is yet to raise. Sara
finished speaking to Europe and connected to PSK Mode and was
speaking to Japan. There was a slight movement of the table. He
clutched the table tightly assuming the students were playing with
him. Then the cot on which he was sitting started vibrating. He
laughed and without turning back, asked the students not to disturb.
And then suddenly the building was shaking and the equipment started
running towards the edge of the table. He panicked and stood and
looked around. There were no students. The contacts were snapped.
The shaking was continuing with increased force and he felt a kind
of vomiting sensation, the coffee he took an hour back is in the
throat. He clutched his head and removed the equipment connections
and removed the set and kept them on the floor. Hurriedly he climbed
down three floors and there was a commotion on the streets. People,
women, children were running here and there clutching their infants
looking for a safer open place.
Every body shouting –
Quake!!! Within minutes all the occupants of the hostel were on the
outside lawn, looking bewildered and shocked. The building was
rocking like a coconut tree. People started running here and there
and Sara suddenly worried about the other team members and the
subsequent impact of the quake on the island and the course of
action to be taken. He has to discuss with the team members and set
the system for the immediate operations for any eventuality.
He started running towards
Government Circuit House. The tremors are still there. Some body
stopped him and warned him that the sea water has engulfed the
circuit house and it is better if he stays where he was. Totally
shocked and he observed at the sea, and it was unusually receding!
He took out his digital and started taking the snaps, and while it
was receding suddenly the sea started coming forward with terrible
speed and power! He took the video and started taking the snaps.
Near by people started pulling him and shouting at him asking him to
run for his life.
He came out and went towards
circuit house by crossing the water filled area. By that other 2
members of the team went to the Sea and returned back and Mrs
Bharati was very happy to see Sara alive. She has asked him about
the condition of the building and he said that it was totally
damaged – in sense, the basement is bended so the other floors are
not to be used, as it may give away at any moment.
An emergency meeting was
called by Mrs Bharathi and asked all the team members to take up the
Emergency communications by suspending the Dxpedition immediately.
Sara went to the Boys Hostel in and returned with all the
equipments. Immediately he setup the operations and turned the
antenna towards main land – India.
Mean while there was an interruption from Middle East asking for
confirmation about Tsumani. TSUMANI! It was a shocking expedition!!
Sara with other two members went to the Chief Secretary office and
informed their availability and there the Met department officials
informed him that the quake was at 8.50 at Rector Scale. That means
it was a dangerous quake. The office staff said that telephones were
working and flights were as usual, so there may not be any necessity
ham. However all the team members went on emergency communication
mode and started helping people in the hotel & others to say who
ever was safe.
And the news started
trickling down about the devastation at Sri Lanka, Indonesia,
Malaysia and Southern part of India got on TV channels by the
aftermath of 26th. There was an another query from middle east
asking for confirmation about the death of a thousand people at
Andamans. This was at 1.30 AM on 27th (26th December 2004 late
night)
That has opened real drama.
Sara immediately contacted India, Sri Lanka and other countries and
the news is coming about the severe damage the Tsumani has caused.
Tsumani – new phrase for Indians till date has become synonymous
with complete devastation.
And the telephones were
damages, roads were damaged, people died, and no communications. It
was 11 in the morning. And the entire area is like war ravaged area.
And the news and messages are still horrible and horrifying.
Hyderabad NIAR Hq and
Mr.Suri, VU2MY’s residence was already in contact immediate after
Earthquake. Again Sara contacted Hyderabad head quarters of NIAR and
requested for reinforcement. The head quarters informed him that the
damage at Southern India is yet to be quantified as the news of the
actual damage is yet to be received. However a team of 5 hams with
equipment kept ready.
By the morning of 27th
December situation has become worse. News which are coming is very
pathetic. Car Nicobar island is devastated, so an another HAM
station need to be setup. Communications about near and dear,
enquiries about relatives flooding our machines, and we need to
verify each and every death in detail to reply the main-land.
Rehabilitation and relief requirements are to be informed to main
land.
One of NIAR’s member Raja
Karthikeya (Awaiting for Ham License) flown in direct to Carnicobar,
Andaman & Nicobar Islands with the help of Army / Airforce.
The work is done
meticulously and professionally thus several media reporters/
electronic media cameras wee focusing on all ham shacks & narrate
the stories. Well it is time to pack & return – 15th January we are
at Hyderabad – A gala reception/ party to team as honor given at
Country Club by Chairman Mr.S.Suri, VU2MY
VU4 QSL Card
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