The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Coimbatore News : Amateur radio users come to their aid

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Dec 30, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore

Amateur radio users come to their aid

By V.S. Palaniappan

COIMBATORE, DEC. 29. Amateur radio users have appealed to the administration, relatives and friends of tsunami victims to make use of their services to bridge the wide communication gap.

There are several thousand amateur radio users (also known as HAM club members) in the country. The name HAM is derived from the basic founders (radio scientists) of the concept Hertz Armstrong Marconi, pointed out a radio user, N. Kalyanaraman.

The failure of communication networks, especially the landlines and cellular phones, has left a number of families and friends anxious. They do not know the whereabouts and the condition of their near and dear ones. Though relief material is pouring in, a communication gap exists between those with resources and those manning rehabilitation camps. While there is excess supply of food items, there is shortage of materials such as bedsheets, blankets, utensils and medicine.

In fact, the administration utilised the services of amateur radio users to provide connectivity.

Ensures timely despatch

It ensured timely despatch of relief materials to the worst-affected Andaman, Nicobar and Car Nicobar Islands. A number of HAM club members have already gone to the coastal districts with their equipment (both High Frequency (HF) and VHF (Very High Frequency), antenna and batteries) to keep the channels alive. Most of the VHF communication was done through repeaters in Chennai, amateur radio users pointed out. Those who want to know about their family members, friends and relatives could approach the nearest radio user who would get in touch with another radio user based in any of the coastal districts in the same frequency.

The information would be ascertained and then passed on to the seeker, Mr. Kalyanaraman said. The transmission backup is being done at the HAM Club on Avanashi Road. The amateur radio users were also doing the backup service for users from Chennai and Bangalore who had already reached the affected areas.

The HAM Club in Coimbatore run by G.D. Gopal, is abuzz with activity receiving transmissions and passing on information through phone and e-mails. Its administrator, Narayanan Nair, is available in the mike sign VU2KNK. Another HAM radio is available at VU2POP or those in need could call Bangalore 094483 32249, members said.

At present HAM radio users are available in the following HF frequencies: 7.050 mhz (plus or minus), 14.185 mhz, 14.190 mhz and 14.200 mhz. VHF repeaters can be accessed at 145.775.600 mhz.

Radio users wanting to transmit information or requiring help could call the mike sign VU2IBM (N. Kalyanasundaram) or 98422-70740. Donors could also call the radio users to get their relief materials airlifted free of cost.

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