[ADXA] VU4 info

[LennyK5OVC at wmconnect.com]

Subj:   [DX-NEWS] FW: VU4 report Dec 29 at 1330 Z   
Date:   12/29/2004 11:01:38 AM Central Standard Time    
From:    k4vud at hotmail.com (Charles Harpole)
Sender:    DX-News-owner at njdxa.org
To:    dx-news at njdxa.org
    
    


From: "Charles Harpole" <k4vud at hotmail.com>
>To: dx-news at njdaxa.org
>Subject: VU4 report Dec 29 at 1330 Z
>Date: Wed, 29 Dec 2004 15:21:20 +0000
>
>Hello DXers:
>
>I am now reporting from Samut Sakhon, Thailand, about 50 miles south south 
>west of Bangkok.  This is my father-in-law home.  IC-718 and TA-33 + 40m 
>kit at 40 feet, my call is HS0ZCW.
>
>I am in direct contact with VU4RBI and Vu4NRO as well as stations in India 
>and 4S who have called in from time to time.  VU4 is readable by me on both 
>40 SSB and 20 m almost all any day or night.
>
>I have sent 2 health and welfare queries to Bharathi that I received here 
>by email.  No answers yet.
>
>1.  Bharathi is continuing to operate in emergency communication mode now 
>and has done so virtually every minute since the earthquake shook us all 
>out of out rooms.  She and Saraha set up one of the DXpedition radios about 
>30 minutes afer the quake on a table outside the hotel... in the garden... 
>with a mobile whip and the hotel's generator for power.  When the generator 
>had to be shut down for an hour from time to time, she used an automobile 
>battery and lower power.
>
>2.  Local authorities ask for the team's help to do communications of all 
>kinds.  The first messages were H&W from the folks standing around the 
>table to the India mainland.  Many concerned people got news from loved 
>ones, often within minutes because the India mainland phones were working 
>ok (except parts of the coast, of course).  Once word spread, many others 
>showed up to request a message and were served.
>
>3.  Recently, Ram (VU2MYH) and another of the team were dispatced to one of 
>the Nichobar Islands that was hard hit.  They are there now and I am 
>listening to them pass messages now as I type this.  They are using VU4NRO 
>and batteries and one of the DXpedition radios.
>
>4.  Bharathi's Port Blair location has electric power, local phones, and 
>some international phone service now.  Despite continuing small tremors, 
>she has recently relocated her station back into the Hotel and is using the 
>larger antennas again.
>
>5. A small tremor was reported just now from Port Blair.  No damage.
>
>6.  Normal DXpedition operations have been, of course, suspended.  Please 
>do not call VU4 stations unless they call you.  The future of normal DX ops 
>is in doubt for the time being, as u can understand.  We must think months, 
>at least, before we can relax into the fun of DXing there again.
>
>7.  Delivery of H&W messages is vy difficult.  Please do not ask for same 
>unless the party is likely to have a real problem, such as disabled or on 
>medication, I would advise.
>
>8.  Based on what I have heard, Sri Lanka 4S may be in the most trouble 
>these days... horrible reports are coming out of the immediate events and 
>now the recovery is bedeviled with lack of everything.
>
>I will use the NJDXA reflector as my only ham reporting outlet.  Please 
>refer non-users to this reflector so I do not have so many individual 
>emails.  The NBC bcast shot was pushed out by a Colin Powell report.  CNN 
>will carry me live on audio tomorrow.... maybe.... spoke to them just now.
>
>EVERYONE, BE VERY CAREFUL TO REPORT ONLY WHAT YOU DIRECTLY KNOW ABOUT.  DO 
>NOT REPORT ANY DEATHS AT ALL NOR ANY INJURIES BY NAME TO THE NEWS NOR TO 
>THE GENERAL PUBLIC.  THAT IS THE AUTHORITIES JOB.  Make your reports to 
>legit authorities instead, or quote another public news source.  Think 
>about donations to established organizations like the Red Cross, Salv. 
>Army, etc. as a way to help.  Thanks to all for your notes of concern for 
>the team and myself.
>
>73,
>
>Charles Harpole
>k4vud at hotmail.com
>