Venue: AISSMS College of Engineering, Pune Date: Saturday, 18 April 2026 Theme: Advancing the Spirit of Amateur Radio Through Innovation
Fox Hunt Activity
The celebrations began with a thrilling Fox Hunt. Ten enthusiastic teams participated, guided by Manish VU3IFQ, who explained the rules and regulations before flagging off the event.
A Raspberry Pi‑based transmitter (the “Fox”) was cleverly hidden inside a shopping bag placed on a tree branch within the campus. Using radio direction‑finding techniques, participants raced to locate the signal.
- The first team successfully detected the Fox within 25 minutes.
- A total of three rounds were conducted, adding to the excitement.
- Winners were announced by Indrajeet VU32GO, who also crafted a special trophy presented by Chief Guest & DEMA President Mr. Shirish Deshmukh.
- All participating teams received certificates and trophies in recognition of their efforts.
Technical Highlights & Presentations
- OM Virendra VU33VK emphasized the World Amateur Radio Day 2026 theme, highlighting amateur radio’s role in technological innovation, emergency communication, and global collaboration.
- Manish VU3IFQ conducted a SSTV demo, showcasing practical applications of amateur radio.
- The day also reflected on the contributions of radio amateurs in emergency relief, technical innovation, and fostering global friendship.
Youth‑Focused Activities
Pune Hams outlined several upcoming initiatives to engage students and young operators:
- Antenna and LARCSet SDR Transceiver Making Workshop (10 May 2026).
- VHF Yagi Antenna Workshop held the previous week, where students built 14 Yagi antennas and measured parameters using R&H Network Analyzer and NanoVNA.
- A student presentation on Yagi antennas demonstrated deep understanding of design and measurements, with highly positive feedback encouraging new Hams.
Participation
A total of 9 Hams and SWLs from VU2RCP actively took part in WARD 2026:
- VU2VPR Vilas
- VU3IFQ Manish
- VU32GO Indrajeet
- VU33VK Virendra
- VU3IZK Ranga
- VU32OK Omkar
- VU3FML Aniruddha
- SWL Vijay & Hitesh
Acknowledgements
Special thanks to the students and faculty of AISSMS College of Engineering, including:
- Dr. Bormane Sir (Principal)
- Dr. S.B. Dhonde (HOD, ENTC)
- Dr. Rajeshri Itkarkar Madam
- Dr. V.S. Navale Madam
for their active support and encouragement, which made the WARD 2026 celebrations a resounding success.
📡 For more details, visit: www.vu2rcp.in
73’s, Vilas Rabde VU2VPR Pune Hams VU2RCP 9822502078