The monthly Eyeball QSO Meet of Pune Hams (VU2RCP) started at 10:30 AM with networking over high tea, generously sponsored by VU2NAK OM Ashim Purohit in memory of his father, Late VU2NA OM Shashi Purohit, who pioneered digital communication using Winlink. Pune Hams deeply appreciates this thoughtful gesture.
Technical Presentations
- 11:00 AM – APRS Demonstration OM Ranga VU3IZK presented practical applications of APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System). Together with SWL Hitesh, he demonstrated transmission of weather station data from Garware School to a remote location at Thokarwadi Dam Farm House. Pune Hams are actively connecting weather stations across Pune District through APRS under the leadership of Prateek VU22PJ and Ranga VU3IZK.APRS is a real‑time digital communication protocol for amateur radio that shares location, weather, and tactical data. It enables operators to track stations, send messages, and view activity on a map, typically using the 144.390 MHz frequency.Special thanks to VU3FML OM Aniruddha for excellent support in explaining Digipeaters, I‑Gates, etc. Currently, three I‑Gates are operational in Pune: VU22PJ, VU3FML, and VU3ZAG.
- 11:50 AM – Automatic Antenna Tuner for QRP Sooraj VU2ZAG demonstrated an automatic antenna tuner for QRP. He began with the basics of impedance matching and antenna tuning methods, then explained his QRP tuner design with a live demo. Plans are underway to include this tuner in the upcoming LARCSet workshop.
Announcements
- Full‑Day Workshop – Sunday, 10th May 2026 Only one seat left! The workshop will feature the LARCSet –vg HF Signals kit.The LARCSet is an all‑analog SSB/CW transceiver kit that can be assembled in a single day. Developed by Ashhar Farhan VU2ESE and Sasi Bhushan VU2XZ of the Lamakaan Amateur Radio Club, it is designed to get more hams on air with inexpensive, self‑build radios that are easy to understand, fix, and extend. Complete schematics and PCB layouts are released under GPL v3.0. The LARCSet is recognized as the world’s most inexpensive SSB/CW radio.
- World Amateur Radio Day – Saturday, 18th April 2026 Pune Hams will celebrate World Ham Radio Day at AISSMS College of Engineering, Pune. WARD commemorates the founding of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) in 1925. The 2026 IARU theme is “Advancing the Spirit of Amateur Radio Through Innovation”, highlighting amateur radio’s role in technology, STEM education, and global collaboration. Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) complements this with the theme “Entering the Next Century of Amateur Radio Communications & Innovation.”
Closing
Pune Hams programs are open to all Hams and SWLs. Visiting Hams are warmly welcome.
📡 Please call us on the VU2DYQ UHF Repeater:
- Rx: 434.100 MHz
- Tx: 435.700 MHz
73, Vilas Rabde VU2VPR Pune Hams VU2RCP 9822502078