Skip to main content

September 2010

JOTA 2010

September 2, 2010 by Arvadmin

A half a million scouts and guides around the world are getting ready for next month’s annual the Jamboree On The Air.

For the Girls Guides Association of Australia it’s their century year so JOTI and the internet based JOTI 15-17 October will be extra special.

Echolink as a mobile phone app

September 2, 2010 by Arvadmin

The suppliers of the Echolink software have developed and roll-out an application to run on an Android smartphone such as the Motorola Droid and HTC Evo.

It enables users of those phones to make contacts via Echolink if they registered with Echolink, but it does not facilitate incoming contacts to the phones. Therefore, the app can’t be used for smartphone-to-smartphone contacts.

The basic features of EchoLink are available including managing the Station List, connecting and disconnecting, and transmitting and receiving voice and text.

Connection with only one node at a time is possible and there is no Sysop mode. This is truly a convergence of mobile phone and amateur radio. What does the future hold? Echolink for app for other smartphone platforms?

Info: http://www.echolink.org/faq_android.htm

Pakistan flood disaster update

September 2, 2010 by Arvadmin

The Pakistan Amateur Radio Society (PARS) reports that emergency communications support for ham radio amateurs have been extended in the past week to three more villages.

PARS emergency communications organiser Asad Marwat AP2AUM said food and non-food items have been provided to around 1,000 families in the Charsadda and Nowshera areas.

He said that a medical camp was also established which treated almost 700 patients mainly suffering from Skin and Gastro diseases.

The United Nations estimates 20 million have been affected across Pakistan by the flood disaster and 1600 lives lost.

Asad AP2AUM said that the area is not covered under the 2-metre repeater footprint so communications have been restriction to simplex operation within the group.

He said that about 30 hams are providing help to those who have fled the flooded areas.

Additionally hand-held radios and cross band repeaters and antennas have been offered from Turkey. Once they arrive, said Asad AP2AUM, the relief operation can be successfully expanded into Inner Punjab Province.

PARS continues working in collaboration with Islamabad Jeep Club members with their 4WD sport utility vehicles delivering essential relief supplies, with medical help being provided by the Pakistan Academy of Family Physicians.

Premium Drupal Themes by Adaptivethemes