PROUD TO BE A HAM

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PROUD TO BE A HAM

HAM Radio means Hertz, Armstrong and Marconi. The first letters of these three scientists combined to form HAM. Most of the common people do not know what a HAM radio is? In India the awareness is very limited when to the developed countries. Become a HAM is very simple, for this one has to undergo simple training and getting license from the Govt. of India by writing simple exam. A HAM can be able to develop a own radio station and he should work within the rules and regulation of international telecommunication union. It’s just like a licensed hobby. But it can also be used for disaster management. Its hobby filled with responsibility. Unless it’s a hobby with responsibility, HAM cannot be an alternative national resource. In India the services rendered by HAM were great. It’s a great honor to be a HAM. Every HAM should feel the honor and should work accordingly.

Amateur (HAM) Radio is truly a hobby but often one that makes a difference especially in emergency or disaster situations. It is an activity of Self Learning, Inter-Communication & Technical Investigation carried on between Amateur Radio Operators. Amateurs talk to local friends over the radio waves using a hand-held transceiver, communicating digitally with packet radio to exchange personal messages or vital information in an emergency, talking to other hams anywhere in the world, or engaging in contests with other Radio Amateurs over the airwaves there is something for everyone.

A HAM is not an ordinary person having the instinct to serve the humanity. He is technically skilled and thrust for knowledge and service. A HAM has global awareness and have the knowledge regarding weather conditions and early warnings and predictions of natural calamities.

Even though the present day technology has improved, we cannot deny HAM. When compared to the advanced technology HAM radio is a simple basic tool. But we cannot deny the services rendered for the past many years.

India has got the second place in population. But it has got last place in having HAM population. But it has less awareness compared to the other developed countries. It is the need of the hour to get proper awareness regarding the increase of HAM population. How can it be achieved? It is not a great problem. In my opinion it can be achieved through visiting schools and colleges and making the students awareness inculcating the idea of licensed and technically skilled serviceman ship among them.

If it can be achieved, the disaster management will become easy. When disasters occur, we need not to search for HAMs. If it can be achieved the disaster may not be a disaster. We can minimize the loss of lives and property.

Indian Red Cross Society has rendered its services in disaster management. It used and recognized the services of HAM radio. It also created a platform for HAM radio in its disaster services and had given training for the enthusiastic volunteers. Many volunteers are looking forward to get the training. It is a good sign.

I am a HAM, do you too? I am proud to be an Indian and a HAM. HAMs are national resource. Come my friend it is not too late to become a HAM.

Mr.VSSRK Prasad,

HAM Radio Operator and Resource Person,

Life Member of Indian Red Cross Society,

AP State Branch, Hyderbad.

E-mail: vu3nyd@gmail.com,

Mobile : 9866202123

Call Sign : VU3NYD

A HAM IN RED CROSS

Hai! HAM’s

I am V.S.S.RamaKrishna Prasad Call sign VU3NYD want to share my feelings and aspiration to you on this special occasion.

Being a HAM and having voluntary spit I was attracted to participate in several events and disaster relief activities such as Gujarat Earthquake in 2001, many Cyclone relief activities in costal Andhra Pradesh, Government events like National games, Pushkarams, and Sensitizing programmers conducted by Andhra Pradesh Science and Technology. I have gained more experience.

In January 2009 the India Red Cross Society organization started its one year duration Disaster Management Center (DMC) project supported by American Red Cross. In that project I was selected as a HAM Radio Operators because of my experience and voluntary spirit. During my stay in Red Cross I have learned a lot through varies trainings like 1) Mental health and Psychosocial support in emergencies and Psychological first aid.2) Essentials of disaster management and community based first aid. 3) Sphere minimum standards and monitoring & evaluation. 4) WATSAN and Emergency communications. I was given various kinds of training and also, I was gave HAM Radio training to Red Cross staff and volunteers. We purchased and installed HAM Radio equipment for two stations, one is at Hyderabad and another one is at Vijayawada. I collected the data of active HAM’s across Andhra Pradesh and placed it in Red Cross data base. Some of the members from the above were enrolled as Red Cross members by me. For this I got merit certificate from Andhra Pradesh Governor.

There was a big flood occurred in Krishna River in the month of October 2009. Then immediately rushed to Vijayawada and started relief services involving all voluntary HAM’s along with Red Cross HAM’s under my leadership almost all HAM’s rendered their whole hearted services forgoing their personnel comforts also. The HAM’s job was commendable for that we received appreciation letters from State Secrecatary A.P. Red Cross and appreciation from National Red Cross teams also.

The one year project ended in December 2009. I have received Certificate of Appreciation from American Red Cross Indian delegation, Head of India office New Delhi. Even though the project ended I wish to work as a Red Cross volunteer. Because I was influenced and inspired by the seven fundamental principles of the Red Cross, they are Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary service, Unity and Universality.
This is my sincere appeal to all HAM’s to draw inspiration from me and enroll yourselves in Red Cross and render your voluntary support.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

World Blood Donor Day

On 14 June 2011, countries worldwide will celebrate World Blood Donor Day with events to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products and to thank voluntary unpaid blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood.

The theme for World Blood Donor Day 2011 is, "More blood. More life." This theme reinforces the urgent need for more people all over the world to become life-savers by volunteering to donate blood regularly.

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Did you know that the rain forests generate about 40 % of the world’s oxygen? When we have more forest, we have more oxygen and a longer life expectancy!

Don't forget Today plant a tree. Let’s Celebrate WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY -05 JUNE. Have a nice day.

VSSRamakrishna Prasad.VU3NYD.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Impact Of Radio Frequency Radiation From Mobile Phones On health :

An Inter-Ministerial Committee was constituted by the Department of Telecommunications to examine adoption of safety limits for exposure to radio frequency energy produced by mobile handsets i.e. Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) levels of exposure from a mobile hand-set. Inter-Ministerial Committee in its report has indicated that most of the laboratory studies were unable to find a direct link between exposure to radio frequency radiation and health. The scientific studies as yet have not been able to confirm a cause-and-effect relationship between radio frequency radiation and health. The effect of emission from mobile phone is not known yet with certainty.

(1) Telecom Commission has adopted International Commission on Non-ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) guidelines for mobile handsets imposing basic restrictions in terms of SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) value limiting to 2 W/Kg (averaged over 10g tissue) localized for head and trunk in the frequency range of 10 MHz to 10 GHz. Thereafter

i) Indigenous manufacturers of mobile handsets have been instructed to comply with ICNIRP guidelines and furnish self certificate.

ii) Mobile handsets manufacturers have also been instructed to indicate the level of radiation on the product itself and to clearly communicate the potential danger of mobile phone radiation and exposure.

(2) To regulate indigenous as well as imported mobile phones, Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) has been requested to frame standards for mobile phones under BIS Act 1986.

(3) Inter-Ministerial Committee constituted by the Department of Telecommunications in its report has made the following recommendations:

(i) Adoption of mobile sets having low SAR value of 1.6 W/Kg averaged over a 6 minutes period and taken over a volume containing a mass of 1 gram of human tissue;

(ii) Mobile handsets manufactured and sold in India or Imported from other countries should be checked for compliance of SAR limit and no handsets of SAR value above the prescribed standard adopted in India should be manufactured or sold in the country;

(iii) Display SAR value information in the handset;

(iv) Information of SAR values of different mobile phones made available on manufacturer’s website and Government website; and

(v) The manufacturer’s mobile handset booklet should contain various Dos & Don’ts for safe use of cell phones.

The report of the Inter-Ministerial Committee has been placed on the Department of Telecommunications’ website calling for feedback from stakeholders. Thereafter, it will be examined for appropriate action.

The reply also stated the details of the mobile phone subscribers during past three years and current year which are as under:

Sl. No	Year (As on 31st March)	No. of Mobile Telephones ( in million)
1.	2007-08	261.08
2.	2008-09	391.76
3.	2009-10	584.32
4.	2010-11 (upto December 2010)	752.20

This information was given by the Minister of State for Communications & Information Technology, Shri Sachin Pilot

Amateur radio operators to help weather service

It Happen's South Central Nebraska and North Central Kansas.

During the recent spats of severe weather, the National Weather Service in Hastings has had another hand on deck to help gather information on the ground.

The local National Weather Service has renewed a cooperative effort with area amateur radio operators to bring in more reports when severe weather hits.

Mike Moritz, warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Hastings, said the two groups worked closely together in the past, but the relationship lapsed for some reason.

Now, the cooperative effort has been reforged.

Moritz said it allows meteorologists access to more information from residents in the area to add visual confirmation about the characteristics of a storm that might not be apparent to weather forecasters in the office. By getting additional reports of estimated wind speed, hail, cloud formations and other details, meteorologists can decide what kind of weather watches and warnings need to be issued.

“The No. 1 reason is to get more information about the storm,” he said. “We think, in the long run, it’s going to really be a benefit for everyone involved.”

The National Weather Service has a work station set up where an amateur radio operator can gather reports from other operators within range.

Listening to HF via on the Web

A WebSDR is a Software-Defined Radio receiver connected to the Internet, allowing many users to listen and tune it simultaneously.

SDR technology makes it possible for all listeners to tune independently, and thus listen to different signals; this is in contrast to the older Internet connected receivers that can only be tuned by one person.

The WebSDR.org site lists Internet SDR receivers all over the world that you can use. If you ever wondered what your 40m signal sounds like in Atlanta then tune in one of the SDR's listed at http://www.websdr.org/

VU3NYD