[TRCFR] Asian Tsunami and ameteur radio

[Tito]

I would like to give my condolences to all people involved in lasts 
tsunami and erathquake on Asia.

I have read some infos about how amateur radio helped to give some 
information and emergency traffic on this disaster. Here you have some 
infos from ARRL web:

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      Earthquake, Tsunamis Hit Southern Asia; VU4 DXpedition in
      Emergency Mode

NEWINGTON, CT, Dec 26, 2004--A magnitude 8.9 earthquake struck off the 
coast of the northern Indonesian island of Sumatra just before 0100 UTC 
today, killing or injuring many thousands and causing widespread damage. 
The disaster also has shut down the Andaman and Nicobar Islands 
VU4RBI/VU4NRO DXpedition--perhaps permanently. The team appears to have 
shifted into emergency mode, since one of the stations was reported on 
the air earlier today using battery power to maintain communication with 
India. The earthquake, multiple aftershocks and tidal 
waves--tsunamis--of 30 feet or higher following the initial quake 
subsequently jolted the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The US Geological 
Survey's National Earthquake Information Center 
<http://neic.usgs.gov/neis/bulletin/> reports aftershocks between 5.7 
and 7.3 on the Richter scale in the vicinity of the Andaman and Nicobar 
Islands, which are closer to the earthquake's epicenter than the Indian 
mainland.

"All of us here in the US are watching the unfolding news of the 
earthquake and tsunamis with shock and horror," ARRL CEO David Sumner, 
K1ZZ, messaged Charly Harpole, K4VUD/VU3CHE, who has been visiting the 
VU4 DXpedition. Sumner asked Harpole to relay word "that all of you, and 
friends and families affected by the tragedy, are foremost in our 
thoughts and prayers." It's not known if Sumner's e-mail got through. 
Harpole has been filing regular e-mail dispatches via The Daily DX. 
<http://www.dailydx.com>

Unconfirmed DX spots from stations hearing VU4NRO or VU4RBI after the 
earthquake indicate that the five team members of the National Institute 
of Amateur Radio <http://www.niar.org/>-sponsored DXpedition are okay. 
DX spots further indicated that power in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands 
was knocked out by the earthquake, which occurred at around 6:30 AM 
local time, and the consequent tsunamis. The VU4RBI/VU4NRO team was 
reported on the air running 20 W from battery power, working back to 
India and likely passing emergency traffic--although that has not been 
confirmed. The DXpedition had been scheduled to conclude operations 
December 31.

An /IndiaNews/ report called the destruction in the Andaman and Nicobar 
Islands "unprecedented, with the gigantic tidal waves sinking two 
civilian ships and destroying dry docks."

Hardest hit were Indonesia, southeastern India and Sri Lanka (formerly 
Ceylon). Estimates vary, but the natural disaster reportedly has claimed 
upward of 7000 lives, and the death toll continues to rise. It is the 
height of the tourist season in that part of the world, and many 
tourists were believed to have been among the earthquake's victims.

The DXpedition is headquartered in Port Blair on Andaman. News reports 
earlier today said that at least 20 people were killed and more than 100 
injured in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. There was no prior warning 
of the disaster, and an unknown number of people among the islands' 
fishing crews at sea were reported missing. Many buildings and the main 
jetty at Port Blair were said to have been severely damaged. The 
airport, while damaged, was reopened and operating, and /IndiaNews/ said 
the Indian Air Force had already sent three transports carrying relief 
supplies to the remote islands. Flights to evacuate tourists were pending.

Damage to the Port Blair jetty was hampering relief and rescue efforts 
by sea, according to Indian news media. Additional details were not 
available.

According to one news account, panic-stricken citizens of Port Blair ran 
out of their houses as the earthquake rocked the Andaman and Nicobar 
Islands. Residents were being advised to stay outdoors. The tidal wave 
caused some flooding in the city.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are in a part of the world that makes 
them extremely vulnerable to major earthquakes as well as to tsunamis 
from large local quakes and from massive distant shocks such as today's. 
No warning system is presently in place for any of the islands of the 
chain. A major earthquake in 1941 caused extensive damage in Port Blair, 
destroying many of its major buildings.

Today's earthquake off Sumatra is being called the fifth largest in history.
---------------------------------------------------------


      Radio Amateurs, DXpedition Team Handle Emergency Traffic in
      Disaster's Wake

NEWINGTON, CT, Dec 27, 2004--*/Here is an update on the current 
situation in India, /*the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Sri Lanka, 
with thanks to The Daily DX <http://www.dailydx.com/>/, courtesy of its 
editor Bernie McClenny, W3UR, and from Horey Majumdar, VU2HFR:/ News 
agencies now report estimates of more than 21,000 feared dead from the 
tsunamis (tidal waves) that took place in the Bay of Bengal December 26. 
The estimated death toll in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands ranges from 
2000 to 5000. VU2HFR reports that radio amateurs in India are handling 
hundreds of pieces of health and welfare traffic regarding people 
missing and from relatives of those living in Andaman and Nicobar 
Islands, which are closer to the earthquake's epicenter.

"There is presently no communication from Nicobar Islands," Majumdar 
reports, noting that Nicobar received more damage than Andaman. McClenny 
says the VU4RBI/VU4NRO DXpedition team continues to pass traffic and 
occasionally hand out QSOs. C. K. "Ram" Raman, VU3DJQ, reports he was in 
contact with Sarath, 4S7SW, a physician operating from the vicinity of a 
hospital in Mathara, Sri Lanka, which also was heavily hit by the 
tsunamis. "He is requesting food, clothing and medicines for relief," 
Raman reported. "He will be listening 14.195 and 21.295." Telephones are 
not working there, he said.

McClenny and Majumdar agree that it was fortuitous that the 
VU4RBI/VU4NRO DXpedition was under way when the disaster struck. "If 
there is a positive aspect to this disaster, it may very well be that 
the Indian government--and others--realize the ability of Amateur Radio 
during these difficult times," McClenny observed.

The initial earthquake off the Indonesian Island of Sumatra just before 
0100 UTC on December 26 now has been upgraded to 9.0 on the Richter 
scale. Since then, the National Earthquake Information Center 
<http://neic.usgs.gov/neis/bulletin/> has reported some 18 aftershocks 
split between the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The most recent, just 
before 0100 UTC today, registered 6.1 on the Richter scale.

Sandeep Baruah, VU2MUE, reports two emergency frequencies have been 
established. VU4NRO, the team at Port Blair, will be QRV on or near 
14.190 MHz. The club station VU2NRO in Hyderabad on the mainland will 
relay traffic to and from Port Blair.

Other emergency traffic frequencies being reported include 14.193 and 
14.160 MHz in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, 7.050 MHz in South India, 
7.055 MHz in Indonesia and 7.075 in Thailand, where stations from 4S7, 
VU2 and 9M2 were reportedly heard.

D.V.R.K. Murthy, VU2DVO,and Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, are now in Port Blair. 
Reports indicate that some telephone lines are now working, but there 
still is no water or electricity at the Hotel Sinclair, where the VU4 
DXpedition was headquartered.

In the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the most devastated area is Car 
Nicobar, which has been totally cut off. It is possible that Amateur 
Radio operators may travel to this area after obtaining clearance from 
local authorities. Club station VU2NCT and VU2MUE in Calcutta all are 
helping with the efforts to pass emergency traffic to Port Blair.

Baruah is operating club station VU2NCT in coordination with the 
National Disaster Control, New Delhi. The Calcutta VHF Amateur Radio 
Society has set up a control station from Calcutta. Majumdar is 
operating that station and has been in touch with VU4RBI in the Andamans.

Charly Harpole, K4VUD, who had been visiting the VU4RBI/VU4NRO operation 
and filing regular reports via /The Daily DX/ now is reported back on 
the Indian mainland.

Majumdar also tells ARRL that hams from Bangalore and Chennai on the 
Indian mainland are moving toward Nagapattinam to set up ham radio 
disaster communication stations at Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu--the 
worst-affected areas on the mainland. The Indian Army is assisting 
stations on Andaman by providing logistics and backup batteries.

Majumdar says radio amateurs from Bangalore, Chennai and other parts of 
South India are trying to set up stations in the affected areas of Tamil 
Nadu.

James Brooks, 9V1YC, provided additional information via /The Daily DX/. 
He says Andaman and Nicobar Islands authorities have asked the 
DXpedition team for relief communications help. They have requested one 
station at the deputy commissioner's office in Port Blair and another on 
the remote Nicobar Islands. VU2RSB will be manning the station at the 
deputy commissioner's office in Port Blair, and VU2RSI will staff the 
station at the current DXpedition site until further notice.

He reports the Indian Army will be flying VU2MYH and VU2DVO out to the 
Nicobar Islands with three days' food, a rig, batteries and an inverted V.

The VU4RBI/VU4NOR team was allowed back into the damaged hotel building 
and Bharathi Prasad, VU2RBI, "is bravely operating on the fifth floor 
using the Yagi" despite continued aftershocks. Telephones in the 
building are also working again.

Commercial power is returning slowly, but the DXpedition team continues 
to use battery power most of the time.

The DXpedition has been suspended, but VU2RBI still is promising to hand 
out the contacts once emergency communications work is finished. The 
team has asked 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," Brooks said. Bharathi 
Prasad, VU2RBI, will be leaving on January 1 regardless, he reports, and 
if any time extension is granted VU2RSB and VU2MYH will remain for an 
additional week, possibly longer.

Here in the US, the Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network 
(_SATERN_ <http://www.satern.org/>) has been monitoring HF frequencies 
for news and information in an attempt to assist with emergency 
communications as needed./--additional information from K2FF, VA3ORI and 
WA6KAH/


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      Asian Radio Amateurs Bridging Communication Gap following Tsunami

NEWINGTON, CT, Dec 28, 2004--Amateur Radio organizations and individual 
amateurs in several of the countries affected by the December 26 
earthquake and consequent tsunamis in South Asia have begun emergency 
communication activities. The death toll from the disaster has been 
estimated at more than 50,000 lives, and health authorities now worry 
that thousands more may die from disease, due in part to a lack of 
potable water. Relief organizations and governments around the world 
have rallied to assist the victims, many of whom are homeless. DXer 
Charly Harpole, K4VUD/VU3CHE, was visiting the National Institute of 
Amateur Radio (NIAR <http://www.niar.org/>) VU4RBI/VU4NRO DXpedition in 
Port Blair on Andaman Island when the earthquake struck. He said the 
team suspended DXpedition operation and shifted quickly to emergency mode.

"By that afternoon, the team had set up one rig outside with a mobile 
whip and tuner, powered by the hotel generator, and Bharathi [Prasad, 
VU2RBI--the DXpedition team leader] was taking health-and-welfare 
messages from the people standing around there," Harpole reported to 
ARRL. He is scheduled to relate his earthquake experience on US national 
television during an appearance on NBC's /Today/ 
<http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032633/?ta=y> show Wednesday, December 29.

"Many wanted to tell relatives on the Indian mainland that they were 
OK," Harpole continued, "and Bharathi established contact with many 
India ham stations in various cities as needed." He said Bharathi was 
able to relay a message to his wife via a contact with a station in 
Thailand that he was all right.

Harpole, who returned to Thailand December 27 as scheduled, speculates 
the team may resume DXpedition operation since Port Blair escaped the 
worst damage, and the aftershocks have apparently ceased. Sandeep 
Baruah, VU2MUE, reports that VU4NRO is active on 20 meters, and two 
additional hams from the Indian mainland--VU2DVO and VU2JOS--have 
arrived in Port Blair to assist.

Calcutta VHF Amateur Radio Society Assistant Secretary Horey Majumdar, 
VU2HFR, relayed information from VU4RBI today that the situation in the 
Andamans has improved considerably with power and some telephone service 
being restored, although some aftershocks were occurring from time to 
time. He also says that VU4RBI and VU4NRO were having a lot of trouble 
copying signals from the Indian mainland, in part due to RF interference 
from local sources.

C. K. "Ram" Raman, VU3DJQ, in New Delhi reports that one member of the 
VU4RBI/VU4NRO DXpedition team, S. Ram Mohan, VU2MYH/VU4MYH, has 
established a station on Car Nicobar Island, one of the worst hit areas 
that had been totally cut off. Traffic has been noted on 14.190, 14.195 
and 14.200 MHz. Raman has been operating at low power to avoid 
interfering with a nearby army communication site.

Majumdar says the VU4MYH station marks the very first Amateur Radio 
operation from Nicobar Island. "Mohan's signals were extremely weak, and 
he was in the skip zone of the Andaman stations on 20 meters," he said. 
"Improvisation was the name of the game. Hams had to switch to good old 
CW and switch frequencies from 14.190 and 14.160 MHz to 7.090 MHz." He 
said in the afternoon, signals were best on 15 meters (21.240 MHz) 
between the Andaman and Nicobar Islands stations.

"The Amateur Radio station from Nicobar is perhaps playing the most 
vital part in what is turning out to be the world's largest disaster 
operation," Majumdar said. "Hams from Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indonesia, 
Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia and even Israel are checking 
into the VU emergency nets and extending their fullest cooperation in 
the truest spirit of Amateur Radio."

Elsewhere, he reports, upward of three dozen stations on the Indian 
mainland are participating in an emergency net on 7.050 MHz. He said 
hams from South India have established stations in Tamil Nadu, the 
hardest hit area on the mainland where thousands died in fishing 
villages. Hams were handling both health-and-welfare and emergency and 
medical communications, he told ARRL.

Fragmented information continues to arrive from other areas affected by 
the earthquake and tsunami. At this point, there have been no specific 
requests for communication assistance from outside the region.

Musa Suraatmadja, YB0MOS, the secretary-general of the Indonesia Amateur 
Radio Organization (ORARI <http://www.oraripusat.net/>) responded 
gratefully to an International Amateur Radio Union (IARU 
<http://www.iaru.org>) request to assist. "So far we can still manage," 
he said. "Our ORARI members are amongst the first to go to the stricken 
areas doing emergency communication, rescue operations and other 
things." The 9.0 magnitude earthquake occurred off the Indonesian island 
of Sumatra.

Tony Waltham, HS0ZDX, vice president of the Radio Amateur Society of 
Thailand (RAST <http://www.qsl.net/rast/>) called the earthquake and 
tsunamis "truly a disaster of catastrophic proportions which has never 
before been experienced by Thailand--or by our neighbouring countries 
that share an Indian Ocean or Andaman Sea coastline." He said 
communication needs in Thailand are being met.

"The situation is now under control, with Thai hams helping to relay 
information between the affected areas along the west coast in the south 
to government agencies--mostly on VHF and 40 meters as well as by 
disseminating news and information over VHF frequencies in Bangkok." He 
said EchoLink also has been playing a role in enabling hams in Thailand 
to relay information to friends and relatives of those who had been on 
vacation in the stricken areas.

Waltham says what is needed most is help for the thousands of injured 
and homeless, and RAST now is accepting donations for that purpose to 
pass on to the Thai government. He said the best method to donate is by 
wire transfer.

Contributions are being accepted at Siam City Bank, Ratchawat Branch No 
111, Account type: Saving; Account number: 111-2-22688-4; Account name: 
RAST (Radio Amateur Society of Thailand under the Royal patronage of His 
Majesty the King).

He requests that donors send details of their support to RAST via e-mail 
dx at thai.com <mailto:dx at thai.com> "for our records and so that we can 
acknowledge this and give full credit."

The ARRL and IARU have been sharing information with other agencies and 
organization.

Salvation Army Team Emergency Network (SATERN <http://www.satern.org>) 
National Director Pat McPherson, WW9E, reports Salvation Army personnel 
continue to offer emergency disaster services aid in southeastern Asia 
and costal India. "Salvation Army personnel are based in many of the 
devastated areas and have been on the forefront of offering aid and 
relief to the people struggling after this unexpected tragedy," he said. 
"Salvation Army volunteers fed more than 1200 people in the Kanyakumari 
and Muttom areas in India and many Salvation Army facilities are being 
used as feeding sites and emergency shelters in affected communities."

Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services teams are also assisting 
government and other agencies in assessing needs and trying to find ways 
to meet them. The Salvation Army's International Emergency Disasters 
Services Office located in London is coordinating the relief operation.

*Third Party Traffic Question*

Since none of the countries affected by the earthquake and tsunami have 
third-party traffic agreements with the US, the question has been raised 
about the legality of such traffic--especially health-and-welfare 
messages--between those countries and US amateur stations. A staff 
member in the FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau points out that 
the international /R//adio //R//egulations/ as revised at World 
Radiocommunication Conference 2003 (WRC-03) provide that amateur 
stations may be used for transmitting international communications of 
behalf of third parties only in case of emergencies or disaster relief.

"An administration may determine the applicability of this provision to 
amateur stations under its jurisdiction," the FCC staff member told 
ARRL. Although the FCC has not formally adopted the changes approved at 
WRC-03, he continued, "the FCC has no objection to US stations passing 
disaster-related traffic to and from stations in the affected areas if 
the administrations responsible for the Amateur Service in those 
countries do not object to their amateur stations receiving messages 
from our amateur stations on behalf of third parties."


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      Amateur Radio "Saved Lives" in South Asia

NEWINGTON, CT, Dec 29, 2004--As governments and relief organizations 
attempt to gauge the scale of death and devastation from the December 26 
South Asia earthquake and tsunami and to aid the victims, Amateur Radio 
operators throughout the stricken region are offering their services as 
emergency communicators. The death toll from the disaster now is being 
estimated at upward of 60,000. Thousand remain unaccounted for, millions 
have been left homeless and many are without food or water. Victor 
Goonetilleke, 4S7VK, president of the Radio Society of Sri Lanka (RSSL 
<http://www.qsl.net/rssl>), reports that "uncomplicated short wave" 
radio saved lives.

"Ham radio played an important part and will continue to do so," he said 
in an e-mail relayed to ARRL. Goonetilleke said that even Sri Lanka's 
prime minister had no contact with the outside world until Amateur Radio 
operators stepped in. "Our control center was inside the prime 
minister's official house in his operational room," he recounted. 
"[This] will show how they valued our services."

Goonetilleke reports that even satellite phones failed, and only the 
Amateur Radio HF link remained open. One problem: Batteries were running 
out, and there are no generators to recharge them.

Charly Harpole, K4VUD/HS0ZCW, now in Bangkok, Thailand, reports he's 
been helping to handle emergency traffic to India on 20 meters. 
Harpole's scheduled appearance this week on NBC's /Today/ show 
apparently was scratched, although he has told ARRL that CNN has 
contacted him about an interview.

Harpole had been visiting the VU4RBI/VU4NRO DXpedition in the Andaman 
and Nicobar Islands when the earthquake and subsequent tsunami struck.

The DXpedition's sponsor, the National Institute of Amateur Radio (NIAR 
<http://www.niar.org>) in India, told ARRL that the DXpedition team is 
continuing its communication efforts at the government's request on 
behalf of rescue and relief operations in that region. "Ham radio is the 
main link from the people of Andaman Island to people all over," said S. 
Suri, VU2MY, the NIAR's chairman and director.

Many radio amateurs on the Indian mainland are said to be pitching in to 
handle emergency and health-and-welfare traffic. Some communication has 
been on CW and PSK31 to overcome poor conditions and interference.

Wyn Purwinto, AB2QV, relayed information he received via the Indonesia 
Amateur Radio Organization (ORARI <http://www.oraripusat.net/>). He 
notes that the government of Indonesia's Aceh province has banned 
Amateur Radio since the rebel uprising in that region, and he's asked 
the Aceh government to lift the ban so Indonesian amateurs can handle 
emergency traffic. Aceh was among the most severely affected regions in 
Indonesia.

Some emergency communication between amateurs in the North Sumatra 
capital of Medan has been established with the Aceh provincial capital 
of Banda Aceh on 80 meters and with the east coast city of Lhokseumawe 
through a linked VHF repeater.

Purwinto says YB6ZZ or YB6ZES are serving as net control stations of a 
national emergency net using 7.055 and 21.300 MHz as well as several 
linked VHF repeaters throughout northern Sumatra and along the west 
coast of Malaysia. He reports Anto, YD6AT, is standing by on 3.815 MHz 
in Banda Aceh. He reports several cities in coastal areas of Sumatra 
experienced power, telecommunication and water outages.

The Wireless Institute of Australia has asked its members to monitor HF 
frequencies and report any requests for assistance.

*Echo (AO-51) Satellite Put into Emergency Mode*

AMSAT-NA will put its Echo (AO-51) satellite into 9k6 bps 
store-and-forward mode to assist in emergency communication in the wake 
of the earthquake-tsunami disaster. The current AO-51 schedule will be 
on hold for the interim, and a planned mode change to FM repeater mode 
in high power will not occur. AMSAT News Service says the change will 
occur December 30 at approximately 0305 UTC, putting AO-51 into 
store-and-forward PacSat BroadCast Protocol (PBBS) mode. The PBBS 
downlink will be 435.150 MHz, FM 9600 baud PBBS. The uplink will be 
145.860 MHz.

"The PBBS will still be open to general amateur use, but amateur 
operators should be ready to cease BBS operations at any moment, when we 
start to receive message traffic," says Mike Kingery, KE4AZN 
<mailto:mkmk518 at graceba.net>, of the Echo Command Team. "We ask that all 
unattended PBBS operation stop until further notice." He notes that 
AO-51 PBBS users may be requested to help download and forward messages.

*Boat Watch Net Seeking Missing Vessel Reports and Information*

Mike Pilgrim, K5MP, reports that the Boat Watch Net is seeking and 
coordination reports on vessels that have not been heard from since the 
earthquake and tsunami. Pilgrim has begun a listing in the "Current 
Watch Full Text" link of the International Boat Watch Web site 
<http://www.boatwatchnet.org>. Pilgrim emphasizes that the Boat Watch 
Net service is strictly limited to mariners in the affected area and is 
not intended nor prepared to handle general health-and-welfare inquiries.

*Third Party Traffic*

Although the US does not have third-party traffic agreements with any of 
the countries affected by the disaster, international emergency and 
disaster relief communications are permitted /unless otherwise 
provided/. The international /Radio Regulations/ as revised at World 
Radiocommunication Conference 2003 (WRC-03) provide that amateur 
stations may be used for transmitting international communications on 
behalf of third parties /only in case of emergencies or disaster relief/.

While FCC Part 97 has not yet been updated to reflect this change, ARRL 
understands from FCC staff that if the government agencies responsible 
for the Amateur Service in India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indonesia, and 
other affected countries do not object to their amateur stations 
receiving messages from our amateur stations on behalf of third parties, 
the US has no objection to its amateur stations transmitting 
international communications in support of the disaster.

A government may determine the applicability of this provision to 
amateur stations under its jurisdiction. This could include either 
permitting a broader range of international third-party communications, 
or prohibiting even emergency and disaster relief communications.

Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN 
<http://www.satern.org>) National Director Pat McPherson, WW9E, says The 
Salvation Army is providing food, clothing, shelter and fresh water to 
victims in Sri Lanka and India.

The Salvation Army also has issued an urgent appeal for funds. Donations 
earmarked "South Asia Disaster Fund," may be sent to local Salvation 
Army chapters, made online via The Salvation Army Web site 
<http://www.salvationarmyusa.org> or by calling toll free 800-SAL-ARMY 
(800-725-2769).

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-- 
73 de Tito 30IR976
http://www.portalzamora.tk