Pune Hams *VU2RCP* has recently (27/28 January 2024) been organized overnight *ARSI Field Day & Hill Topping Ham Radio Contest* (24Hrs) at Rule (रूळे) village, near about 45 KMs far from the city, 600’ft above in height. The location is very close to Panshet Dam.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/kmHAdaRcf7CSR5Es8
The temporary station location of SWL Vijay Chaudhari’s farmhouse is full of natural farming for fruits, vegetables and spices.
The two-day-long program was focused on the following programs.
(1) Radio Astronomy Demo of 21cm Homebrewed Radio Telescope, by youngest Ham, OM Parth VU3ZNE.
(2) HF Antenna Analysis using Comet CAA-500 Mark II Analyser for HF Communications. -VU2XFD OM George from Kolkata
(3) Astro-photography by SWL Parimal Dave from Mahabaleshwar.
He demonstrated the latest Robotic Astro-photographic telescope, SeestarS50 
(4) Hit Pune’s VHF and UHF Repeater contest on Both the days
We gave Free entry to Student HAMs.
The following HAMs and SWLs participated
1:VU2VPR Vilas
2:VU2MSB Milind
3:VU2OOM Mangesh
4:VU3ZNE Parth
5:VU2MXE Kiran
6:VU2XFD George
7:SWL Vijay Chaudhari
8:VU2DVW Deepak
9:SWL Parimal Dave
The Team of 7 Hams left for the location from Pune city on January 27 around 9:00 AM and reached at RULE (रूळे) village around 11:00 AM.
After arrival, the young HAM members of our team Installed the G5RV, and Homebrew 49:1 End Fed HF Antennas for two HF Establishments (Rigs).
VU2XFD, OM George from Kolkata demonstrated the Antenna analyser and tuned both antennas for the practical HF Contesting on different bands.
After Lunch, the Technical sessions started.
5:00 PM onward HF Operation and Interactions with
Logging max contacts on HF bans started which continued till late at night by VU2OOM Mangesh, VU2XFD George, and VU2DVW Dipak.
Simultaneously Star Gazing & Astrophotography by Mangesh & Parimal Dave brought a lot of excitement. Parimal captured Galaxy images, Orion Nebula & Rossetti Nebula Mangesh focused with Optical Saturn and Moon we captured.
The next day, Sunday morning after bed Tea, Bird Watching around the location was amazing.
7:00 AM onward 40 Meter Band operation in different nets brought everyone together. QSOs with Ham friends across the country truly demonstrated one country one language
After Breakfast, the second session of Astrophotography started with locating Sunspots using a special filter and several images of the Sun were captured
11:30 AM onward Wind-up operation started and after Lunch, we Left for Pune with a lot of sweet memories of the ARSI Field Day and Hill topping
We thank *SWL Vijay Chaudhary* for his kind and excellent hospitality at the picturesque location.
73’s
Vilas Rabde
VU2VPR
Pune Hams
VU2RCP
