Sent by Lion Ajoy, Bangalore / Arasu VU2UR
Shravanabelagola, Jan 30: The Special Event Amateur (Ham) Radio Station with the unique call sign 'AT6MM' is functional from Shravanabelagola''s Bahubali College of Engineering and Shree Bahubali Polytechnic Hostel in connection with this millennium''s first ever 'Mahamastakabhisheka'.
The modest amateur radio station,is set up with transceivers, lent by Lions Clubs International Ham Radio Station VU2LCI of a maximum power output of 100 watts, using very simple wire dipole/inverted vee antennas.
In about one week starting from the inauguration, i.e. January 22 till January 28, 2006, 600 two-way contacts been carried out so far from this station, all the continents and Antarctica have been logged, with just three Amateur (Ham) Radio volunteers working mainly on Morse Code called as CW (Continuous Wave - Charlie Willey ) and Voice.
The Digital modes and VOIP using Internet called Echolink is yet to be started and expecting to be operational by the second week of February 2006. Though there has been a lack of electrical powers at the above setup going on and off, the present conditions of Radio Propagation have been erratic and unfavorable, the perseverance of the operators have made it possible to make over 600 amateurs round the world to visit various internet web pages to learn about Lord Bahubali, Jainism, message of peace, non-violence, and many other topics. Very few so far knew about the existence of this monolithic 57-foot, 1025-year-young statue.
The list of countries worked goes something like this: European and Asiatic Russia, Germany, Thailand, Ukraine, Spain, Japan, Serbia and Montenegro, Czech Republic, Italy, Sri Lanka, Australia, Armenia, Poland, Slovakia, Antarctica, Bulgaria, Denmark, Hungary, Kazakh Rep, Sweden, France, Greece, Oman, Slovenia, Madagascar Island, Finland, South Africa, Israel, Rep of Korea, Malaysia, Reunion Island, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Botswana, Austria,Scotland, Canada, Hawaii, Indonesia, Croatia, Lithuania, Romania, United Kingdom, Estonia, Wales, Uzbek Rep, Netherlands, Belarus, Canary Is, Somalia, Zanzibar Is, Cambodia, Mauritius is, Rodrigues Is, Kirghiz rep, Azerbaijan, Argentina, Brazil, Hong Kong, Latvia and Singapore.(and more to come in the next few days).
Those who contacted this special event station (or Short Wave Listeners who submit log of hearing AT6MM making contact with any other station) are anxiously waiting to receive the special acknowledgment card (also called QSL card), which proves their claim of having contacted us from Shravanabelagola during the period of Mahamastakabhisheka. These QSL cards are very necessary for many awards and claims of achievements, as the prefix 'AT6' has been issued for the first time by the ministry of communications, government of India.
Issuance of Special QSL Card is proposed and it is yet to have the financial approved from information department, government of Karnataka. As this Special Event Station AT6MM would be active till February 2006, the Ham radio enthusiasts expect creating a record number of contacts from Shravanabelogola where Amateur (Ham) Radio Station is put up for very first time. (AT6MM)
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