Ham Radio Operators Serving During California Firestorms

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Ham Radio Operators Serving During California Firestorms

As the firestorms across Southern California continue to threaten millions of residents, trained amateur radio operators are serving critical volunteer roles to help officials spot fires before they get out of control. Dry conditions and wind gusts of 100 miles per hour have fuelled days of devastating wildfires. Entire neighbourhoods have been levelled by infernos.

The Eaton fire burned to the top of Mount Wilson, a critical logistical post for broadcast radio and television stations, as well as communications across the Southland. Federal agencies, air traffic control, local emergency responders, radio amateurs, and others all share tower space on the mountain.

While the main fires have been burning north and northwest of the central section of Los Angeles, just to the south, hams are standing watch. Orange County Fire Watch (OCFW) is a program locally organized by the Orange County Parks Department and the Irvine Conservancy.

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Ham Radio Ireland, The Digital Magazine, Is Back

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A popular online ham radio magazine is returning for readers in Ireland - and around the world. Ham Radio Ireland is back. After a period of inactivity late last year, the free independent downloadable newsletter resumed online publication in late January.

Shortly after its creators launched its predecessor, the Connacht Regional Newsletter, in 2022, they realised it held appeal beyond its initial readership in western Ireland and it was renamed Ham Radio Ireland. Authors volunteered sharing their expertise on QRP, satellite operation, VHF/UHF, home construction, keyboard modes and other topics. According to Steve Wright, EI5DD, editorial contributions eventually slowed to a trickle, making continued publication a challenge. By last September, production had stopped.

John Tubritt, EI3HQB, from Collective Communications, and Steve Wright, EI5DD are on the editorial team to revive the magazine in a new format. Initially the best site for downloads will be via the Facebook page of Ham Radio Ireland. Links will soon be available on other social media platforms.

Authors anywhere in the world are welcome to send stories and pictures relevant to ham radio and their experiences. They can be sent directly to Steve at wright14@gmail.com

Girls Missed the Bus - Helped by Hams

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Situational awareness is always key for hams doing emergency communications - and it was never more important than at a recent religious pilgrimage in India, where one observant radio amateur intervened to help find two missing children. Jim Meachen ZL2BHF brings us that story.

Hams around the world who were making DX contacts with AU2WBRC, the West Bengal Radio Club, were no doubt happy to log a QSO from the second largest religious gathering of Hindus in India, the Gangasagar Mela in West Bengal. They may not have realised that one member of the team made another important contact - off the air - with the cooperation of a drone operator in the area. A 9-year-old girl and her 3-year-old sister had boarded a departing bus, expecting their mother and grandmother to follow, but the adults failed to join them because the massive crowd at the bus stand had got in their way. The bus pulled away with the unaccompanied children.

“...key in completing the search operation in such a short time.”
— Local Newspaper

Saborni Nag Biswas, VU2JFC, was at the festival to assist with the radio club's DXpedition and public safety work. She told Newsline she was near the bus stand, assisting others who had lost their way in the crowd, when the frantic mother approached her after the bus pulled away. The mother could not recall the bus' identifying number. Knowing that there were drones flying over the island for security purposes, Saborni telephoned the drone operators to see if any footage captured from the air could identify the departed vehicle. After the bus was identified, located and stopped, she accompanied Kolkata police to the bus and the girls were returned to their mother and grandmother.