31 Jul 2020
A REPORT ON “HAM (AMATEUR) RADIO IN PRESENT TECHNOLOGIES AND COMMUNICATION CRISIS MANAGEMENT”
Date: 31.07.2020
REVA HAM Radio Club Coordinators: Dr. R. Venkata Siva Reddy, Prof., School of ECE
Dr. Bharathi S H, Prof., School of ECE
IEEE Student Branch Counsellor: Dr. M.Devanathan, Asst. Prof., School of ECE
Online Platform: MS TEAMS
Session Link: https://web.microsoftstream.com/video/65e82346-721d-4797-9e91-ef3de79d349b
Total Number of Participants: 65
School of Electronics and Communication Engineering & REVA HAM Radio Club in association with Indian Institute of HAMS and IEEE Student Branch, REVA University had organized a webinar on “HAM (Amateur) Radio in Present Technologies & Communication Crisis Management” dated 31.07.2020 from 10:00am to 11:00am IST.
Objective: The session aimed at giving an introduction to HAM (Amateur) Radio and the insights like its activities, practices, licensing, modes of communication, role of HAM Radio in present technologies, role of HAM Radio during natural calamities/disasters and also the role of HAM Radio during the present Covid-19 pandemic. The session also aimed at creating awareness among the students about the benefits of having a HAM license through live demonstration of the HAM devices such as the handheld walkie talkie and HAM transceiver kit.
The detailed Session report is given below:
SESSION REPORT:
Date: 31/07/2020
Speaker: Dr. Shankar Sathyapal (VU2FI) Director, Indian Institute of HAMS, Bengaluru
Speaker Bio: Dr. Shankar Sathyapal – Director, Indian Institute of Hams (One of the premier institutes in India), got the Ham licence in the year 1990 bearing the Callsign: VU2FI and Lc No. 23271 valid upto 30-4-2042. He is also the a)Officer Commanding (Communication), Civil Defence Corps, Government of Karnataka, b) President for Rajiv Gandhi Radio Repeater Foundation of India c) Governing Council Member at National Institute of Amateur Radio, Hyderabad (Apex body for Ham institutes in India) d)Chief Communication coordinator for Many National Championship Motor Rallies in India, e)Rendered voluntary service by providing Ham Communication during Orissa Super Cyclone, Gujarat Earthquake, Tsunami, Chennai Floods. Coorg Floods recently, provided Communication for North Karnataka Floods with Departments of Posts, f)Director at ESM India g)President for National Road Safety Organisation.
He has got more than 10,000 Ham members licensed and many from Bangalore and he also claims that “Bangalore is the Ham Capital of India”. He received Rajiv Gandhi National Award for two consecutive years 1995 & 1996 for the best promotion of Amateur Radio in India, Award was given away by Smt. Sonia Gandhi. He also Received Gold medal from Disaster Emergency Response Association, USA and many honours on promotion of Ham Radio activities in India. He also received ENGINEERS EXCELLENT AWARD on Engineer’s Day which was honoured by REVA University in the year 2018. He has attended many National and International Ham Conventions. Recently Ham Convention in Tokyo, Japan. Currently he is working on COVID-19 Communication Coordination in Department of Information and Public Relations, BBMP, Government of Karnataka, extending Ham Communication link to State Government since 24th March 2020. Also Dr. Shankar Sathyapal sir has completed his BE. In Electronics, MBA, Doctorate in Management Studies and completed specialization in communication management
Topics Covered: What is HAM Radio?, How can we attain the HAM license, What do HAMs do: a)Setup own private radio station, b)Communicate with other HAMs located in any part of 300+ countries to develop global friendship, c)Conduct radio experiments with different antennas and study radio propagation, d)Provide communication during sporting events like ASIAN Games, Motorsport Rallies etc., e)Provide communication network during natural calamities and major festivals, f)Participate in the adventurous Radio Direction Finding (RDF) Sports.
Definition of “Amateur Radio”, Syllabus for the HAM license exam, discussion on callsign and license grades i.e. restricted and general grades, Frequency bands that HAMs operate on (VHF, UHF and HF), Guidelines and Restrictions of HAM Radio operators, a brief insights on the workshops conducted by
Indian Institute of HAMS, introduction to HAM devices such as hand held walkie talkies, HAM Transceivers and different antennas used. Introduction to “Echolink” a PC/Smartphone software which allows licensed Amateur radio stations to communicate with one another over the internet using voice-over-IP (VoIP) technology.
Talk around the world: a) Digital: Introduction to Qatar-OSCAR 100 (QO-100) Satellite and how to establish communication link with 40 countries using a ground station setup from our home using HAM transceivers with suitable antennas, b)Voice, c)Morse Code: A code used for communication wherein audio signal is transmitted in form of DIT(short duration), DAH(long duration) and space.
Some of the prominent HAM operators in India and their HAM station setups: Mr. Nitin (VU3TYG), Ms. Bharathi (VU2RBI), Dr. Kiran (VU2MIK) and many more, A brief introduction to the contests organized by amateur radio society all over India such as Radio Direction Finding (RDF) and the basic requirements and rules of the competition. Insights on the 2-Day visit to Kemmangundi by the HAM members of the REVA University and discussion on the various activities conducted during the 2 days.
Role of HAM Radio and the service they offer during natural disasters such as floods, tsunami etc., communication crisis, disaster preparedness, and the current role of Indian Institute of HAMS, Bengaluru during the Covid-19 pandemic and the steps taken by them to ensure safety and well-being of the society.
Introduction to the HAM expos, conventions organized all around the world. A look on some of the very popular and young HAM operators from around the world, conclusion and Q&A session with the students.
Outcome: The webinar created an awareness among the students and faculties about the HAM (Amateur) Radio, its activities and benefits of holding a HAM license. This session has certainly motivated the students to take up the HAM license exam and have a HAM license and callsign for themselves and explore into the HAM world. As a part of School of ECE, the attendees are certainly willing to learn more about the transceivers, antennas and various other aspects related to setting up a HAM station and establishing communication link with other HAM members.
We thank our Director, School of ECE, Dr. R C. Biradar sir for his guidance to conduct such webinars and motivating speech during the welcome address and also we thank the REVA HAM Radio Club Coordinators Dr. R Venkata Siva Reddy sir, Dr. Bharathi SH mam for hosting this wonderful webinar on HAM communication through REVA HAM CLUB.
We thank our Assistant Director Dr.K.M. Sudharshan sir for providing support in all aspects to conduct such events and also we thank all our ECE faculty and Staff members for the support and encouragement. We extend our greetings to the IEEE Student Branch REVA University for the technical support to conduct this webinar.
