Many people are unaware that Amateur Radio (or ham radio operators) aren’t hampered by many of the communication infrastructure breakdowns - phone lines, cell towers etc.
Every licenced Amateur Radio operator follows a code of ethics - and do not receive money for what they do. They are kind of like the Salvation Army of communication - they give of their skills to assist others without making noise about their work.
This Canadian page gives you an idea of of how Radio operators are able to connect up with other radio operators in different kinds of disasters and assist with replacing or sending new equipment. Amatuer radio operators have been working with military, government and others in providing communication in Southeast Asia and Africa since December 26th quake.
The VU4 team continues to pass traffic and occasionally hand out QSOs. It is fortuitous that this DXpedition took place during this time fame. If there is a positive aspect to this disaster, it may very well be that the Indian government (and others) realizes the ability of Amateur Radio during these difficult times.
VU2MUE, Sandeep Baruah, reports there are now two emergency Frequencies that have been established.
VU4NRO, the team at Port Blair, will be QRV on or near 14190. The club station (VU2NRO) in Hyderabad back on the mainland will be taking QSPs for Port Blair.VU2DVO, D.V.R.K. Murthy, and VU2JOS, Jose Jacob, are now in Port Blair. Reports now indicate that some phone lines are working but there is still no water or electricity at the Hotel Sinclair, home of the VU4 station.
The most devastated area is Car Nicobar and up until this point has been totally “cut off”. It is possible that Amateur Radio operators may be traveling to this area, after obtaining “clearance” from the local authorities. VU2HFR, club station VU2NCT and VU2MUE are all helping with the efforts to pass emergency traffic to Port Blair.
For those of you asking about Charley, K4VUD, he is now reportedly back on the Indian mainland.
V is the prefix call letter assigned to Canada.
Update: Treaties and emergency latitude regarding frequencies etc can be found at Industry Canada and RAC
Published 3 years, 6 months ago
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The American Radio Relay League has an article on their website that reads in part:
“Amateur Radio organizations and individual amateurs in several of the countries affected by the December 26 earthquake and consequent tsunamis in South Asia have begun emergency communication activities. The death toll from the disaster has been estimated at more than 50,000 lives, and health authorities now worry that thousands more may die from disease, due in part to a lack of potable water. Relief organizations and governments around the world have rallied to assist the victims, many of whom are homeless. DXer Charly Harpole, K4VUD/VU3CHE, was visiting the National Institute of Amateur Radio (NIAR) VU4RBI/VU4NRO DXpedition in Port Blair on Andaman Island when the earthquake struck. He said the team suspended DXpedition operation and shifted quickly to emergency mode.”
Many Hams are running emergency operations right now, trying to get traffic through.
UMCOR is also collecting money for relief. Many airlifts of material have been airlifted, and there will be more going hourly.
You can give on-line at:
http://www.methodistrelief.org
Thank you for that.
The Canadian ARC is also in emergency mode with several members in southeast asia.
I haven’t seen anything from the national Canadian site about collecting donations, but many hams in the Southeast are donating their time, equipment, teaching and repairing towers etc when necessary.
It’s great to hear ARO are in emergency mode in several parts of the world and are doing what they can.
Our Canadian hams may want to help their US friends with contributions to http://www.methodistrelief.org in Canada or the US.
73
Thanks for the reminder of the role Amateur Radio plays in disasters.
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