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To our readers: May this year be a good one, where we see some of the faults of the past repaired and a positive direction achieved.

And on the ham front… a year in which each of us enhances our ham activities. Maybe we’ll explore a new band or mode, or put up a new antenna getting us out better than before. May we feel a self-renewal in our activities.

May it be a year where our contacts on the air spread happiness and create friendship. May we come away from our stations after an on-the-air session with a smile and a warm feeling.

THE TSUNAMI DISASTER

Hardly a country wasn’t touched by the unfathomable tragedy. Once again, ham radio proved itself as a communications link that works when everything else is down.

Arieh Sourkiss 4X6UO and Tsachy Lindenbaum 4Z4TL were interviewed on local radio programs, and they explained amateur radio and its importance.

Israeli radio amateurs worked in co-operation with the “situation room” of the Foreign Ministry, who co-ordinated the search for information about Israelis in the disaster areas. Over 50 names of persons missing in Andaman Island were passed on to the amateurs who were active on the emergency frequency.

The keynote of the operation was co-ordination, with the Israel Amateur Radio Club playing a key role.

It was interesting to note that at the time of the disaster, a DXpedition by Indian hams to Andaman was underway, and their station became the only communications available to the area.

T H E 4 X 6 K J R E P O R T

DXing:

While on a family visit in the month December 2004, I had the opportunity of some HF contact. Operating as W2/4X6KJ, using an Icom 725 transceiver into a vertical R5 antenna from Cushcraft, I managed some nice QSO contacts with States, like for example Wyoming, the Dakota’s (North or South) which I do not often hear in my home QTH.

Such QSO’s go far beyond the regular “your 5 by 9 QRZ”. Instead, they mostly turn out to be a real exchange of information and a “question and answer” session.

Sometimes a European station is mixed up, as they try to figure out the call, it takes a few repeats (again) of call sign, until it is understood.

I had hoped to work the special event station 4X0MS but unfortunately, I did not even hear them. This is to blame on the bad propagation

DXCC:

As mentioned in the previous issue, DXCC cards can now be “field checked” at home. (in Israel). A few local hams have taken advantage of this new service. Your DXCC cards can be send to 4X6KJ, P. O. .Box 873, Kiriat Ono, 55108. Alternatively, they can be brought to the IARC Office in Tel Aviv. On request, I can e-mail the necessary forms and ARRL price list.

Licenses:

The Ministry of Communications (MoC) has mailed the “payment” slips; they should be paid as indicated on the paper.

Upon payment, a new license will be mailed. Those that for some reason have not received the renewal “payment” slip should inform the MoC as soon as possible. The new license is valid for a period of 5 years and the payment is 78 shekels.

Membership:

IARC membership payment is also due again, the fee for the year 2005 is the same as years gone by, 220 Shekel for an individual call sign, 275 Shekel for a family or club.

For the early birds, for those that have paid before the middle of February 2005, and have paid their obligation to the MoC, and providing that we have your picture on our database file,

Those members will be receiving a new credit card size license. This little license card comes very handy, especially when traveling overseas. This is one more benefit of being a member of IARC.

Ham Radio Friedrichshafen:

This year 2005, it will be the 15^th time that yours truly will be present again at the “Ham Radio” in the southern city of Friedrichshafen (Germany)

This amateur radio fair, combined with computer paraphernalia etc. is a three-day event. IARC will as usual have a booth at the fair, fully equipped with Israeli products. Every self-respecting amateur should make the “pilgrimage” to this event at least once in his amateur radio career.

For those interested, and planning; information can be obtained by 4X6KJ.

In addition, while we are going to press with this issue, we have still a number of rooms at the 4X delegation hotel at bargain prices. Those planning hurry up, as hotel space is at a premium in this picturesque vacation town, the fair is being held 24, 25 and 26 of June 2005.

73 de Joe, 4X6KJ

OPERATIONS FROM DOWN UNDER

With pleasure we publish another picture of the intrepid duo, Eli 4Z5NB and Dov 4Z4DX during their Dead Sea operation in late November.

And, not quite down under, as although its on the edge of the Dead Sea, the historic Massada fortress is elevated above sea level…

Castle Activity - Massada 4X0MS

In the picture:
Jan 4X1VF, Ilya 4Z1UF, Shalom 4Z4BS, Mark 4Z4KX, Ruben 4Z5FI, Ruslan 4Z5LA and Yuli 4X6HP operating from the famous historical site – Masada, reportedly the first time activating this site in 16 years. The special callsign 4X0MS was used for this event in the Castle Activity, where famous castles all over the world went on the air
from Friday, December 24th to Sunday, December 26th.

4X0MS was on the air for 51 hours operating with Icom 746 PRO and 728 transceivers, backed up by Yaesu FT100 and Icom IC706. Antennas were an R5 vertical, HF beam, and dipoles for 160 and 80 metres. In addition a computer network was set up to co-ordinate the logging in real time. 3392 CW and 1265 SSB contacts were made with 79 countries.

Rubin 4Z5FI did an outstanding job taking care of accommodations taking care of even the smallest details. Jan 4X1VF excelled at the cooking.. Many tourists visited the stations and the celebration was complete. Good weather conditions, good will of the participants coupled with good planning and high spirits made the operation a success.

IARC COMMITTEE HIGHLIGHTS

(Read well – herein is the nitty-gritty stuff)

NOVEMBER:

Matan 4Z7CGB, the communications officer of the rescue organization outlined its activities: Today there are 9 units of volunteers spread nation-wide from the Golan Heights to Eilat. He sees importance in co-operation with the IARC, citing its technical expertise in providing aid in emergencies

Itzik 4Z5RV, clubs officer, intends to present the IARC with a report on radio club activities. The Amishav club was recently opened and has 4 pupils studying for their license under 4Z5RG.

Tidhar 4Z5CA reporting on the activities at the Science Museum in Haifa, said that there are few visitors on Saturdays. There is geat participation in the different clubs there, and a lot of interest of the visitors in the amateur radio station. At present there is no radio license class. During the Succoth holiday, the museum organized an event in a grove close to Rosh Ha`Ayin in cooperation with the Society for the Protection of Nature, and the HF station there caused much interest.

Amnon 4X1DF said that we suffer from a problem of “marketing”. In a visit in Lucerne Switzerland at the local science museum, he was greatly impressed by their “selling” methods, leading to widespread activity in their radio club.

He mentioned that the Civil Defense Corps has had amateur radio frequencies burned into their radios for use in the Emergency Network.

Mark 4Z4KX reported on the new club station in Ashdod aided by Rafi 4X4FR and Leopold 4X6PO. 35 people were present at the opening ceremony.

The committee passed resolutions to freeze the activity at the Haifa Science Museum until a new program has been crystallized.

The proposal to operate the amateur radio forum on the Internet server of Slava 4Z5MU was passed unanimously.

DECEMBER

The committee thanked the organizers of the Massada operation, 4X0MS, which was exceptionally good: 4Z4KX, 4Z4BS, 4X1VF, 4Z1UF, 4X6HP, 5Z5LA and 4Z5FI.

Arieh 4X6UO reported 60 new members joining the IARC in this past year.

Moshe 4Z1PF reported the Amateur Radio Forum on the Internet http://www.qrz.co.il/phorumiarc/ to be working flawlessly.

Amnon 4X1DF reported on further progress with the Emergency Network, and stated that there are a number of amateurs in contact with Bharati, VU4RBI, in Andaman and the control staions in India and Thailand to help locate missing persons in the Tsunami disaster.

Mark 4Z4KX reported on the Massada operation… see article above.

Resolutions: Life and honorary IARC memberships will be awarded at the annual general assembly.

The IARC Internet forum will be budgeted.

2200 shekels will be refunded to the Massada expedition for receipts submitted.

Equipment not supplied by the Civil Defense Command will be budgeted at 600 shekels.

Amnon 4X1DF will draw up the qualifications needed for the amateur who will go abroad with the Civil Defense Command delegation.

All activities requesting the monetary blessings of the Committee will have to present a budget program before their activity.

BPL (PLC) DEALT BLOW IN EUROPE

On 20 January 2005, Europe has a new law that may become the global turning point against radio frequency pollution from Broadband over Power Lines systems.

Europe enters 2005 with some very positive news indeed that the European Union has amended its 1989 Electromagnetic Compatibility or EMC Directive. Its new Directive includes protection against electromagnetic disturbance for both radio broadcast reception and the amateur radio service – clearly against the hopes of the BPL lobby. This is an important first step in the battle against BPL emission pollution in the radio spectrum.

The International Amateur Radio Union Region 1 EUROCOM Working Group, in its efforts, also gained a much broader definition of Electromagnetic Disturbance.

It was a long process for the Working Group that included meeting with and working through Members of the European Parliament to have amendments submitted to the European Parliament Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy.

Arguments put by the Working Group stressed the role of amateur radio including its safety and emergency communications and the human right to have access information including that provided through radio broadcasts. And of course the inherent protection for radio services from harmful or substantial interference provided by the International Telecommunications Union radio regulations.

The BPL lobby has been trying to have European, and other regulators, let them off the hook in relation to radio frequency interference caused by BPL systems. Its tactic has been to try and categorize amateur radio and other radio services as being "less important" and not that worthy of being protected against harmful interference generated by BPL systems.

There is no cause for satisfaction by BPL lobby in the new European EMC Directive that will be European Law on 20 January 2005 binding on the 25 member states of the European Union.

Congratulations to all involved with the IARU Region 1 EUROCOM Working

Group - a job well done.

-Jim Linton VK3PC amateurradio.com.au Amateur Radio Victoria

Abe Nagel 4X4IX, Silent Key

WITH GREAT SADNESS WE MOURN THE PASSING OF ABE NAGEL, 4X4IX.

THE ISRAEL AMATEUR RADIO CLUB JOINS THE FAMILY IN ITS HOUR OF GRIEF.

Your input, comments and feedback are always welcome.

Best wishes into 2005.

73 de Ahron and Ron

HAGAL INTERNATIONAL

Israel Ham News

February 2005