The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : City ham radio to go global

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 06, 2006
ePaper

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

City ham radio to go global

M. Sai Gopal

Hyderabad ham radio to set up base in Lakshadweep Hyderabad ham radio operators will set up a base in Lakshadweep on January 15 as part of a ham fest expedition

HYDERABAD: For the first time, Hyderabad ham radio operators will set up a base in three islands of Lakshadweep on January 15 as part of a ham fest expedition taken up by ham radio operators across the globe.

After a year of intense lobbying, the National Institute of Amateur Radio (NIAR), Hyderabad, has managed to get permission from the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology to operate hams from Magatti, Bangaram and Kadmat islands of Lakshadweep. The NIAR officials have also informed that the Ministry of Telecommunications has given permission to allow functioning of foreign ham radios along with Hyderabad based ham radio operators for ten days during the ham fest in Lakshadweep islands. "Participants from 50 other countries have confirmed their representation in the ham fest at Lakshadweep. This is for the first time that Lakshadweep islands will be connected to the rest of the world through ham radios," said Founder and Chairman of NIAR S. Suri. NIAR has chosen its call sign as VU7RG, through which all the ham radio operators across the globe would be identifying with for communication. RG stands for the initials of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi while VU7 stands for the Indian subcontinent in ham radio operator's parlance. Lectures, demonstration of latest ham radio equipment and exhibition of latest technology in radio communication will also be a part of the ham fest. The participants will also be in touch with other members of their ilk through a blog facility provided in the website: www.vu7.in.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh