[ADXA] VU4 UPDATE # 3

[LennyK5OVC at wmconnect.com]

Subj:   VU4 Update # 3  
Date:   12/27/2004 8:16:06 AM Central Standard Time 
From:    dxadmin at dxpub.com (Carl Smith)
To:  dxadmin at dxpub.com
    
    


Hello DXers:

Just received a new update from James, 9V1YC.  It will speak for itself....

"Date: Mon, 27 Dec 2004 11:40

More news from the VU4 team this evening:

1.    They were allowed back into the damaged building this afternoon, and 
despite continued aftershocks Barathi is bravely operating on the 5th floor 
using the yagi.  Local telephones in the building are also working again.

2.    Commercial power is coming back slowly, but they are still using 
battery 
power most of the time.

3.    The island authorities have asked the DXpedition team for relief 
communications help. They have asked them to set up one station at the 
deputy commissioner's (DC) office in Port Blair, and another one out on the 
remote Nicobar Islands  The army will be flying VU2MYH and VU2DVO out to 
the Nicobar Islands tomorrow with 3 days food, one rig, batteries and an 
inverted vee.

4.    VU2RSB will be manning the station at the DC's office in Port Blair, 
and 
Barathi will be manning the station at the current DXpedition site until 
further notice.

5.    Nobody on the island is sleeping indoors anymore because of continued 
aftershocks. They had another large 6.3 tremor this morning as we spoke.

6.    They are suspending the DXpedition for the time being, but Barathi is 
still promising to hand out the contacts once the emergency communications 
work is finished.

7.  They have asked the authorities for an extension of the DXpedition, but 
so far this has not been granted.  This decision may change due to the 
relief communications work they are supplying.  Barathi will be leaving on 
1 Jan regardless, and if any extension is granted RSB and MYH will stay 
behind for another week.

73
James 9V1YC"

Please feel free to convey this information to others so that the DX 
community can be aware of the situation with the team and their work 
providing emergency communications for the government authorities.  This is 
far more important than anything else at this time.

73,
Carl, N4AA