Ham Radio demonstration programme by Vigyan Prasar at Bhimtal, Uttaranchal

The Directorate of Higher Education, Uttaranchal organized a workshop on “Science & Technology for Development of Uttaranchal” jointly with Jan Sikshan Santhan, Bhimtal on February 18 & 19, 2005 at Bhimtal, which was sponsored by the Department of Science & Technology, New Delhi. On the occasion of the programme, Vigyan Prasar organized a Ham Radio demonstration/awareness programme.

The delegates to the workshops (numbered around 100) comprised mostly of college/school teachers and coordinators of science clubs/NGOs who came from different parts of Uttaranchal.

Distinguished educators chaired different sessions of the workshop. Some of the distinguished speakers in the workshop were Dr. Sanjay Bajpayee (DST State S&T Programme, New Delhi), Dr. R.C. Fuloria (Ex-Head and founder of the Deptt. of Applied Geology/Petroleum Technology, Dibrugarh University, Assam), Prof. Pushpesh Pant (School of International Studies, JNU, New Delhi), Prof. Dr. Hemant Joshi (Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi), Prof Dr. Anil K. Pant (Department of Chemistry, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar), Prof. Dr. Vijay K. Khanna (Department of Genetics & Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, G.B. Pant University) and Dr. R. Dobhal (Senior Scientist, Council of S&T, MP, Bhopal).

Prof. Dr. Hemant Joshi (Indian Institute of Mass Communication, JNU, New Delhi) chaired the 'Ham Radio' session.

A 40m antenna was installed at the site of the workshop and communication was established from Bhimtal with Vigyan Prasar Club Station VU2NCT in New Delhi. Shri Kapil Tripathi, VU2POF operated the club station delivering on-the-air lectures and interacting with the participants.

The mobile phone, which was carried by the undersigned, did not work at the demonstration site. Taking advantage of this, it was explained to the participants that due to the non-availability of the professional mobile telephone network, it was not possible to communicate to Delhi through mobile phone. Though I could manually detect the BSNL network on my mobile, they did not give access to the Hutch connection I was having. It was explained that similar situation might be faced in the event of a large scale natural calamities also even at places where these networks were otherwise already existing. It was explained that hams are non-professionals who try to be self-reliant.

Then a call was given through the temporary ham radio setup and a very good radio contact (59+) was established with VU2NCT club station on the 40m (7.050 MHz) operated by Shri Kapil Kr. Tripathi, VU3POF. Bhimtal is some 200 kms from New Delhi. Though BSNL did not allow me an access, yet I could communicate to Delhi through ham radio. The use of ham radio and its utility as a tool for emergency communication was explained to the participants. It was also conveyed to the participants that Vigyan Prasar would help them establishing a network of ham radio stations in the Uttaranchal for disaster communication and that Vigyan Prasar thus is looking for people who are motivated to take ham radio licences in Uttaranchal and who can be trained.

The college/school teachers from different parts of Uttaranchal expressed their willingness to establish ham club stations. Dr. Asha Chandola from Garhwal University also expressed her willingness to setup a ham station at Garhwal University. She wanted a similar demonstration at Garhwal University too. Dr. Mahesh Kumar (an Ex-Scientist of ICAR, Barapani, Shillong) from Govt. P.G. College (Bageshwar) expressed similar desire. 5 copies of the guidebook on ham radio (A Guide to Ham Radio-brought out by Vigyan Prasar) along with the WPC rules & regulations/application forms (downloaded from D.O.T. web site) were given to some of the participants who showed interest in ham radio. Study materials were also provided to a representative (Ms. Smita) of the Jan Sikshan Santhan, Bhimtal.

It is felt that Vigyan Prasar is successful in creating a general awareness about ham radio in Uttaranchal through this programme on the basis of which further follow-up can be carried out.

-Sandeep Baruah, VU2MUE
Senior Scientific Officer
VIGYAN PRASAR, Department of Science & Technology
C-24, Qutab Institutional Area
New Delhi 110 016
http://www.vigyanprasar.com

VU2MUE shack getting ready for the demo at Bhimtal (Nainital, Uttaranchal)...Thanks to WPC for issuing me a temporary shifting permission	The 40m dipole getting ready for installation just by the side of a swimming pool
40m dipole getting a dip in the swimming pool prior to its installation..producing ripples of waves! !	Dipole installed!
VU2MUE giving a call to VU2NCT	Curious spectators listening to VU2NCT/VU3POF
Explaining about HF long distance communication system	Explaining about VHF/UHF line-of-sight communication
Explaining the simple wire 40m dipole antenna	Prof. Dr. Asha Chandola (Garhwal University) taking a keen interest in ham radio
Prof. Dr. Asha Chandola (Garhwal University) listening keenly	Handing over a copy of study material (A Guide to Ham Radio-brought out by Vigyan Prasar) to Prof. Dr. Asha Chandola (Garhwal University)
A section of the audience	"Hey! What's the use of my mobile if BSNL does not give me access? Oh Yeah! No problem I shall do it with my ham!"
Study Materials were provided to some of the enthusiasts
Vigyan Prasar books/charts on display	Lecture/powerpoint presentation on ham radio. Prof. Hemant Joshi (Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi) chaired the session
What's the use of this mobile if they don't allow me an access? Just two pieces of wires on top and I communicated to Delhi in the morning..That's what ham radio is....You need to be self-reliant to be a ham!	Prof. Hemant Joshi (IIMC, New Delhi) explaining the importance of ham radio in Uttaranchal
BSNL mobile network detected Bhimtal (altitude 1200m)	An access 'Requested' manually..
No Network Access ! ! ! !	And no trace of any signal too! ! !..Just 200 Kms from the Capital of the country ! !
With Dr. A.K. Paliwal (Physics Deptt., Govt. P.G. College, Bageshwar, Uttaranchal) and Dr. Mahesh Kumar (Life Sciences, Govt. P.G. College, Bageshwar, Uttaranchal)	Demo was held just by the side of a swimming pool
Prof. Dr. Pushpesh Pant (School of International Studies, JNU, New Delhi) while delivering his lecture	A section of the participants. Prof. R.C. Fuloria (extreme left)-Founder Head of the Department of Applied Geology/Petroleum Technology, Dibrugarh University, Assam
Bhimtal Lake	A lonely boat drifting at Bhimtal lake
	VU2MUE Relaxing!
Touch the sky!	... place to escape!