Jonboy [Jonathan] Walton - VK4CY
Home Page data - This page & data are updated weekly.
Greetings from 'down-under'.
"Chilean Earthquake"
Attention All Amateurs.
IARU Region 2 and Radio Club de Chile Request Amateurs to Keep Emergency Frequencies Clear (Feb 27, 2010)
A massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake hit Chile today at 0634 UTC, triggering a potential tsunami. IARU Region 2 and the Red Chilena Nor Austral de Servicio (RECNA) have suggested Amateur Radio operators monitor the following emergency communications
frequencies for traffic pertaining to the earthquake and tsunami: 3.738, 3.750, 7.050, 7.100, 14.200, 14.350, 21.200, 21.350, 28.300 and 28.500 MHz. IARU Region 2 Area Emergency Coordinator Jorge Sierra, LU1AS, reports that there is now traffic at frequencies
of 40 meters from people seeking information from people in Chile: "We would appreciate if amateurs would leave free the frequencies used by RECNA, as well as the usual IARU Region 2 frequencies on in 20, 40, and 80 meters." In addition to the above frequencies,
you may also want to listen to the worldwide emergency communication Center of Activity frequencies: 14.300, 18.160 and 21.360 MHz. Other suggested monitoring frequencies are 3.720, 7.045 and 7.060 MHz. Hawaiian Amateur Radio operators on the lookout for a possible
tsunami are monitoring 7.088 and 3.888 MHz. -- Thanks to Radio Club de Chile's (RCC) Emergency Coordinator Aldo Oppici, CE3WAD, and W2VU, KI6SN, K3ZO, PY2ZX, PY5YA and El Grupo Argentino de Radiotelegrafia for the information.
[Info. ARRL - 27FEBRUARY.2010 relayed to VK4CY 01MARCH.2010 - for attention of all Radio Amateurs]
Doctor Galdino Besomi CE3PG Radio Club de Chile (RCCH) president informs us via the RAC that soon after the earthquake, their Emergency Net was activated throughout the whole country, first on VHF and them in HF. All the board and club members are actively
working in close coordination with civil and military authorities. The request for news about people in the affected countryside areas is one the main activities occupying the radio amateurs. IARU Region 2 Area Emergency Coordinator Jorge Sierra, LU1AS reports that
traffic on the 40m band has included health and welfare inquiries with people seeking information about the well-being of their relatives and friends in the affected areas of southern Chile. The death toll following the 8.8 Richter scale magnitude earthquake is about
800 with authorities expecting to rise further as rescue crews dig into more collapsed buildings and find bodies.
More than 500,000 structures were destroyed and millions of people displaced or left homeless. At the request of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) and the Red Chilena Nor Austral Servicio (RECNA), all Radio Amateurs are requested to keep all IARU Centre of
Activity Frequencies clear until further notice as health and welfare traffic is being passed to and from Chile.
As well, the RECNA requests that their call frequencies be avoided.
28300, 28500,
21200, 21350,
14200, 14350,
7050, 7095,
3738, 3750 kHz.
(Doug Mercer VO1DTM and Reinaldo Leandro, YV5AMH President - Executive Committee - IARU Region 2 and Jim Linton IARU Region 3)
[Info. WIA News [Region 3] 06MARCH.2010 - for attention of all Radio Amateurs]
SOLAR ACTIVITY - CYCLE # 24
After a reasonable period of sunspot activity, we are in a period of 'quiet' with the solar disc being void of sunspots. As a consequence, the solar flux indicii is down around the '76' mark. It has been good to see all bands open at various times with Europeans starting to 'boom' in !! Some VK/ZL to JA activity has occured on 6m too. Equinoxial periods should be interesting to say the least for first time in years.
For the latest data see my "LINKS" page under "SOLAR CYCLE24" for the 'official' data.
[Info. SOLARCYCLE24 website - 10MARCH.2010]
JESSICA WATSON on "PINK LADY"
is now in the western Indian Ocean having rounded Cape Aghulas/Cape of Good Hope - South Africa - next stop Tasmania then Sydney. Wow.
Must admit being a trifle puzzled at who is advising her to travel northwards into the Indian Ocean especially when the known 'pirates' will have been monitoring her progress. These guys
obviously have a 'mother vessel(s)' hence their ability to range far and wide - why they [the mother vessels'] haven't been sorted out defies description. Not happy guys as I'd hate to (a) think of the price of ransom and (b) all the other ensuing problems. By the way, if some of you think piracy is a thing of the past, think again as it is very much alive in the 21st Century and not just confined to Eastern Africa.
To check out her current location, click on her name in 'green' Jessica Watson,
and view her tracker site/blog sites etc. or you can access her site via the "LINKS" page access
[Updated comment by VK4CY - 08MARCH.2010]
FIFTY YEARS of RAILWAY PRESERVATION [UK] - BLUEBELL RAILWAY
2010 sees the UK's Premier Preserved Railway Line celebrate 50 years. CONGRATULATIONS. To check their promotional video, click on to the Society's name in 'green' scroll down and follow the prompts.
Bluebell Railway, Congratulations to all concerned. Their website is second to none. Always updated, full of 'good things' and
an example to what the rest of the UK should be endeavouring to do.
If you have the time and patience, check out their website Bluebell Extension, showing the latest progress being made in spite of the terrible UK winter of 2009/2010 with track work on the Imbercombe viaduct and sleepers
covering the entire structure PLUS platform building at East Grinstead too. Brilliant - 'Well done' to everyone associated with this national treasure - Bravo.
[Info. & link(s) - Bluebell - 12JANUARY.2010][Updated comments by VK4CY - 02MARCH.2010]
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
VK4CY WEBSITE STATS.
A completely new system of hosting is currently in place.
'Aboutime Communications' provide 'hosting' including stats. data for this website.
Stats. re-commenced on 04FEB.2010 with 547 hits.
Best figures since re start are 01MAR.2010 with 1767 hits.
Best figures this past week so far are 04MAR.2010 with 1049 hits.
Daily 'average' with 590 hits
The Flag Counter, as suggested by VK4FJAR, has produced some interesting results.
Since 04FEB.2010 have had people from Australia, Belgium, Belize, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Cook Islands, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Holland, Isreal, Italy, Japan, Norway, Russian Federation, Spain, UK, USA, checking in.
Since the 'upgraded' [26FEB.2010] and automatic reset; visitors from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, UK, USA have had a look/see - nice to have all on board - thanks for visiting.
[Info. VK4CY 10MARCH.2010]
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
A big thank you to the following for additional data and encouragement:
E75MC [TNX QSL], G1JWL, I1JQJ, PD2RKG, SM4YOE, VK2MHB, VK2TVW, VK4/SWL Colin, VK4AP, VK4RV, VK4AAR, VK4EPR, VK4FAC, VK4FJAR, VK5AH, VK6KPH, W7EXY,
Deborah, Dushan & Lily Babish, Allan Dean, Courtney, Greg Meecham, Julio Scaletta, Lyle Stacpoole,, David Swift,
Happydaze 'n 73s de Jon VK4CY - 10th March 2010.
"VK4CY"
Jon VK4CY Ex G3PLQ etc. photo. circa 2007 by Brian Alexander
Resume
Creoso y Jonbach - [Jonathan] Walton VK4CY currently located on Bribie Island, Queensland, Australia, [IOTA OC001] - GL QG62ow.
Ex G3PLQ, VK2AFD, VK2CFD, VK4CFD & associated /MM's. Was /MM Opr from 1955-1991 plus shoreside operator with GKA, GLD, VIB, VIS, VIT. Was AMSA GMDSS Radio Inspector based Brisbane from 1994-2001. Now retired.
Holder of UK PMG 1st Class. Certificate, Australian General Certificate, Australian GMDSS Certificate, UK BOT Radar Maintenance Certificate plus associated STCW Certificates which has been superceded owing to demise
of Radio Officers, Operators with the advent of the GMDSS system. Validation of the UK and Australian General Certificates are valid until further notice - validation received when operating at UK Maritime Coast Station
[Portisheadradio]. Valid and Current Radio Amateur Certificate for operation as VK4CY are also held.
Enjoy this website and please be aware it is constantly being updated.
73s 'n Happydaze
QTHR - QSL's via PO Box 508 Bribie Island Qld. 4507 Australia.
 >
VK4CY's latest QSL card [2010] - printer ODXGs VK4FW
|
