Hi All,
It was a great pleasure to participate in HAM Fest India 2014. All those excitement started when in 2013, I came to know that VU2ESE, OM Ashar Farhan is convener of the HFI at Hyderabad. He is the popular homebrewer in World, with BITX and Minima TRX's designer.
My Journey Started from Berhampur, my home town on 6th November Evening. VU2AOR, Sameer sir, VU3PLP Rajesh ji and VU3UFX, Mekap sir also teamed up to visit. I boarded Faluknama Express, which was already full of HAMs from West Bengal. Our HAMs boarding from Bhubaneswar greeted me with a warm welcome, and I had some Puri Jagannath's Prasad for our fortune.
There I met VU2OKT, Dipak da, VU2AES, Anupam da, Joy Mandal, Nilendu da and many more HAMs from Kolkata. A lot of discussion on Technology happened, until we reached Vishakhapatnam.
After bringing Dinner from Station, the train was ready to depart, and despite our all efforts, the co-passengers were not co-operative to our Radio discussion. So it was Dream time.
On 7th Morning, all wake up 8'o clock, and after some nature calls, again the discussions resumed. VU3UFX was very creative to give some tips on home brewing and use of HAM Radio.
As we entering Hyderabad City via train, theVHF Handy's roared with VU2LCH Repeater signal, but unfortunately none of us from train able to trigger the repeater till we reached Secunderabad Station.
Our day 1 boarding scheduled at Railway Retiring Room, so it was a pleasure 1st time experience for us. Everything except the Timing of Rooms were comfortable.
As the day was ChadaKhai for Odia people, we all went to search for Biriyani for launch. Hotel Alfa was tasted for first time. I was in Hyderabad many years ago, but never tasted here. The quantity was real good to consumed by 3 people.
In Evening NTR Gardens, Lumbini Park, Birla Temple (Window Darshan) were some of our destinations, followed by Dinner at Paradise, Secunderabad. Sadly the restaurant has lost it's taste with Biriyani.
Finally the D-Day begin at HFI. It was a moment to eyeball with those whom I kept monitoring on Air for past 2 years. Farhan(ESE), Rajan(KNN), Sarath(RSB), Shashi(ELR), Mullick(LNA), Dillip( DPI), Shantanu(SIC), Pawan(PGU),Vijay (YVK), Ramaprabhu (DEV), Rahul (WJM), UPX (Charu) and many more on the list.
With the inauguration and welcome ceremony, the first attraction was Flea Market. Unfortunately there was nothing exciting for Homebrewers as expected. VU2PTR's PCB, Ganesan's Torroid were as usual present. But I missed VU3SUA, Sunil Lakhani's BITX kits and PCBs.
There was lot of commercial sellers. The point of attraction was Priyasloka Arya's SDR dongle. Digital entry for Analog people is very easy through this device, beside many other use of the dongle like Spectrum Analyzer, ADS-B reception, NOAA and Satellite Rx and many more.
The morning sessions on HAM Radio licensing issues was simply worst, as no body intended to talk on solution. Rather there was only blame game, praising WPC for works (Tel Malish) like thing. I simply walked out of that session.
The most precious sessions were by Very young men, and they were Farhan's Harmonics. With Raspberry-Pi and Arduino Session, Farhan's short discussion on the PCB provided for BITX-40 with HFI kit were also there.
Then the most awaiting session came with VU2ZAZ, Naidu. His SDR was far ahead from expectation. A Medic by profession, his work on SDR was remarkable, and kept us tied for almost 2 hours. The rest session were sacrificed for SDR, and it was worth it.
The Breakfast, Launch and Dinner at Venue was awesome. MJCET has really showed the quality of hospitality which was on top gossips among HAMs. The volunteers working were energetic and helpful from the Railway station to the end of HAM Fest.
The day-2 , was surprising. VU2PTI came with his PCBs bunch, which was missing on day 1. The situation was like hungry Honeybees got a garden full of flower.
Among the Technical Session, the detailed BITX 40 Session by VU2ESE and Antenna Demo by VU2ABS, Arvind was notable.
The event of auction came late in evening, with only few of items remaining unsold. Some Handy, Torchlight, Antenna base, SDR Dongle... all auctioned.
Final moment came with closing ceremony and yeah.. the next ham fest bid was unanimously bidden by Gujarat HAMs for Rajkot.
With some more times to spent a quick last minute eyeball was there, met Shri Bhogi Gondalia, whose young age was related with Odisha, and OMC. Vu2AOR was happy to see the first man who once worked where AOR is now posted, nostalgia.
With farewell to all we started journey to hotels, VU2DEV was last to bid us a 73 at the collage gate. Earlier he gifted us one of his DDS PCB for AD9833. His bhujji session was sacrificed for time lack, but he personally came describing us the Bhujji CW Tx, and it was encouraging. I will go for it as soon as I get my license.
The journey from Secunderabad station again started at night with Nanded-Vizag express, and this time all were very happy to discuss many technology till late night, as the co passenger was very co-operative. Again some tips and tricks from Sameer sir's cookbook kept us tied for few hours.
The next morning was early wake, with Mekap sir's hilarious idea for a Antenna to suite my roof space. I am really thankful to his ideas which was beautifully framed on a paper.
Our brake journey was at Vizag, and with a 1 hour break, all finished the daily works, and boarded Rameswaram-Bhubaneswar train.
It was just a 4 hours journey from Vizag to Berhampur, but somehow the train arrived earlier than right time, 30 minute before time. There was a lot of discussion again on Minima, SDR and future meets. Finally my destination arrived at 3:30 PM and bidding 73 was not easy for me. I was very interested to take them to my home, but it was not possible. Anyway, till the Rajkot 2015, I have to keep my emotions and doubts under control.
I have missed many things to write here, as time does not permit me.
The tour was full of learning.. the best was the Murphy's Law. HAHAHA..
Gurudatta
It was a great pleasure to participate in HAM Fest India 2014. All those excitement started when in 2013, I came to know that VU2ESE, OM Ashar Farhan is convener of the HFI at Hyderabad. He is the popular homebrewer in World, with BITX and Minima TRX's designer.
My Journey Started from Berhampur, my home town on 6th November Evening. VU2AOR, Sameer sir, VU3PLP Rajesh ji and VU3UFX, Mekap sir also teamed up to visit. I boarded Faluknama Express, which was already full of HAMs from West Bengal. Our HAMs boarding from Bhubaneswar greeted me with a warm welcome, and I had some Puri Jagannath's Prasad for our fortune.
There I met VU2OKT, Dipak da, VU2AES, Anupam da, Joy Mandal, Nilendu da and many more HAMs from Kolkata. A lot of discussion on Technology happened, until we reached Vishakhapatnam.
After bringing Dinner from Station, the train was ready to depart, and despite our all efforts, the co-passengers were not co-operative to our Radio discussion. So it was Dream time.
On 7th Morning, all wake up 8'o clock, and after some nature calls, again the discussions resumed. VU3UFX was very creative to give some tips on home brewing and use of HAM Radio.
As we entering Hyderabad City via train, theVHF Handy's roared with VU2LCH Repeater signal, but unfortunately none of us from train able to trigger the repeater till we reached Secunderabad Station.
Our day 1 boarding scheduled at Railway Retiring Room, so it was a pleasure 1st time experience for us. Everything except the Timing of Rooms were comfortable.
As the day was ChadaKhai for Odia people, we all went to search for Biriyani for launch. Hotel Alfa was tasted for first time. I was in Hyderabad many years ago, but never tasted here. The quantity was real good to consumed by 3 people.
In Evening NTR Gardens, Lumbini Park, Birla Temple (Window Darshan) were some of our destinations, followed by Dinner at Paradise, Secunderabad. Sadly the restaurant has lost it's taste with Biriyani.
Finally the D-Day begin at HFI. It was a moment to eyeball with those whom I kept monitoring on Air for past 2 years. Farhan(ESE), Rajan(KNN), Sarath(RSB), Shashi(ELR), Mullick(LNA), Dillip( DPI), Shantanu(SIC), Pawan(PGU),Vijay (YVK), Ramaprabhu (DEV), Rahul (WJM), UPX (Charu) and many more on the list.
With the inauguration and welcome ceremony, the first attraction was Flea Market. Unfortunately there was nothing exciting for Homebrewers as expected. VU2PTR's PCB, Ganesan's Torroid were as usual present. But I missed VU3SUA, Sunil Lakhani's BITX kits and PCBs.
There was lot of commercial sellers. The point of attraction was Priyasloka Arya's SDR dongle. Digital entry for Analog people is very easy through this device, beside many other use of the dongle like Spectrum Analyzer, ADS-B reception, NOAA and Satellite Rx and many more.
The morning sessions on HAM Radio licensing issues was simply worst, as no body intended to talk on solution. Rather there was only blame game, praising WPC for works (Tel Malish) like thing. I simply walked out of that session.
The most precious sessions were by Very young men, and they were Farhan's Harmonics. With Raspberry-Pi and Arduino Session, Farhan's short discussion on the PCB provided for BITX-40 with HFI kit were also there.
Then the most awaiting session came with VU2ZAZ, Naidu. His SDR was far ahead from expectation. A Medic by profession, his work on SDR was remarkable, and kept us tied for almost 2 hours. The rest session were sacrificed for SDR, and it was worth it.
The Breakfast, Launch and Dinner at Venue was awesome. MJCET has really showed the quality of hospitality which was on top gossips among HAMs. The volunteers working were energetic and helpful from the Railway station to the end of HAM Fest.
The day-2 , was surprising. VU2PTI came with his PCBs bunch, which was missing on day 1. The situation was like hungry Honeybees got a garden full of flower.
Among the Technical Session, the detailed BITX 40 Session by VU2ESE and Antenna Demo by VU2ABS, Arvind was notable.
The event of auction came late in evening, with only few of items remaining unsold. Some Handy, Torchlight, Antenna base, SDR Dongle... all auctioned.
Final moment came with closing ceremony and yeah.. the next ham fest bid was unanimously bidden by Gujarat HAMs for Rajkot.
With some more times to spent a quick last minute eyeball was there, met Shri Bhogi Gondalia, whose young age was related with Odisha, and OMC. Vu2AOR was happy to see the first man who once worked where AOR is now posted, nostalgia.
With farewell to all we started journey to hotels, VU2DEV was last to bid us a 73 at the collage gate. Earlier he gifted us one of his DDS PCB for AD9833. His bhujji session was sacrificed for time lack, but he personally came describing us the Bhujji CW Tx, and it was encouraging. I will go for it as soon as I get my license.
The journey from Secunderabad station again started at night with Nanded-Vizag express, and this time all were very happy to discuss many technology till late night, as the co passenger was very co-operative. Again some tips and tricks from Sameer sir's cookbook kept us tied for few hours.
The next morning was early wake, with Mekap sir's hilarious idea for a Antenna to suite my roof space. I am really thankful to his ideas which was beautifully framed on a paper.
Our brake journey was at Vizag, and with a 1 hour break, all finished the daily works, and boarded Rameswaram-Bhubaneswar train.
It was just a 4 hours journey from Vizag to Berhampur, but somehow the train arrived earlier than right time, 30 minute before time. There was a lot of discussion again on Minima, SDR and future meets. Finally my destination arrived at 3:30 PM and bidding 73 was not easy for me. I was very interested to take them to my home, but it was not possible. Anyway, till the Rajkot 2015, I have to keep my emotions and doubts under control.
I have missed many things to write here, as time does not permit me.
The tour was full of learning.. the best was the Murphy's Law. HAHAHA..
Gurudatta
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