- Results of the SARL YL Sprint
- Austrian Amateur Radio YL activity for International Women's Day 2020
- Romanian Frontier-women conquers Summits
- The YO SOTA Marathon
- 1st YL Mountain Goat in Romania.
- Romanian yl Éva YO6EVA active on Argentina Mountain
- Aconcagua Background & 1st Radio Activation
- Silent Keys KC3LCX, AB5YL , CE7NSX ex-ZS6BDB Dot Faber
- Contact & Calendar
S. African Radio League - 8 March 2020. 16 logs received (yls x 10 ; om x 6)
1st Alta Gaybba, ZR3PA and Sonet de Wet, ZS3SW – 196 points
3rd Karin Andrew, ZS6MMA – 173 points
4th Denise van Vuuren, ZS1DS – 163 points
5th Adele Tyler, ZS5APT – 161 points
6th Simone Jones, ZS6SIM – 152 points
7th Valerie Wagner, ZS5VAL – 100 points
8th (om) Theunis Potgieter, ZS2EC – 40 points
9th Dienie Schnetler, ZS6DNI – 39 points
10th Heather Holland, ZS5YH – 36 points
11th (om) Sybrand Cillie, ZS1SJ – 34 points
12th (om) Johan van Zijl, ZS4DZ – 26 points
13th (om) Gary Ingle, ZS5GI – 25 points
14th (om) Brian Best, ZS5SB – 24 points
15th (om) Phillip van Tonder, ZS6PVT – 18 ponts
16th Veronica Kotze, ZR6TVK – 5 points
Austrian Amateur Radio YL activity for International Women's Day 2020
11.03.20, Marion Stouy, OE3YSC
The International World Women's Day took place on March 8th, there were many events on this occasion, and we YLs (Young Ladies) were also strongly represented on all amateur radio bands on this day. There was a special "Dia da Mulher" award from the YLs amateur radio ladies Portugal, and there were also diplomas for the International Women's Day from the women from Italy and Argentina.
The DARC's YL presentation organized a YL activity that took place from 1600-2000 LT on the 20-40-80m bands. The activity runs like a contest, where 3 points and 1 point per OM are awarded for each YL worked. The evaluation of this YL activity is carried out by my very good radio friend Karin DL2LBK from Kiel.
There is also a very nice participant diploma here!
You can find out more about this in the March QSP announcement!
As a YL consultant at AMRS, I also participated in this YL activity and was able to log 186 stations, including many young ladies from Austria, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Scotland and Belgium.
From OE I had contact with OE6BID Barbara, Elfi OE6YFE and some OM´s.
Tina, OE3YTA, I heard with a quiet signal on the 40m band, the distance between us was too short, so no QSO between us.
On the 40 and 80m bands we women were very well represented, the VFO knob was turned a little and the next YL could be heard.
I also have a lot of fun calling myself, and there was always a pile-up that had to be worked through. The 11-year-old Sophie DO4QB recently passed her amateur radio exam and was already actively participating in this activity. Many stations wanted to contact young Sophie! Very remarkable, she works calmly through the calling stations one after the other!
In conclusion, it was a lot of fun again, thanks and appreciation to the ladies of the DARC YL unit for the great activity!
vy 33 + 73 + 88 de Marion, OE3YSC YL consultant at AMRS (Austrian Military Radio
https://www.oevsv.at/oevsv/aktuelles/YL-Aktivitaet-zum-internationalen-Weltfrauentag/?fbclid=IwAR1A5v3kjr44Qrf9iLaUIBdWy
Österreichische Versuchssenderverband (ÖVSV) Austrian Amateur Radio AMRS
Frontier-women conquers Summits
Women usually go to the hairdresser, go shopping, and usually do "feminine" things when they have time off. Éva Gajdó, a teacher of computer science at Tivadar Puskás Vocational High School, who teaches programming on CNC (computer-controlled) machines, does not like this. She climbs mountains. And up there on the summit, she transmits radio signals. It may seem a strange combination at first, but it is recognised as a sport. Established for less than a decade and a half, it is already gaining in popularity and Éva Gajdó has accomplished something very big in this sport in a short time. Her success is the envy of her fellow men, which as she is a Szekler, does not often happen. (The Székelys derive their name from a Hungarian expression meaning "frontier guards".)
Éva Gajdó has been roaming the mountains since she was a child. She became a true lover of climbing when one of her teachers took her on an expedition. Then life sank into the ordinary course of events: she got married, the children came and there was little opportunity to conquer the peaks.
Several years ago however, talking about childhood dreams with a group of friends, Eve recalled that when she was sixteen, she was determined to climb Mont Blanc. But it seemed it would remain just a dream. Then, a few days later, a friend told her that the Szeklers were hiring amateur climbers and heading to Mont Blanc.
"I didn't think, I called Tulit Sombor, and applied," says Eve.
Two months of tough training was unsurpringingly not enough to qualify for the team. She also found her gear was unsuitable. She hiked in velvet pants and her ancient boots caused problems; the two months were agonizing. But Sombor reassured her that she had all the skills and with a little training, could climb Mont Blanc. It became a passion and she has not missed a weekend in five years and even celebrated New Year's Eve on top of a mountain.
She applied for another expedition, but unfortunately before her departure she sprained an ankle. She was able to climb this year, but couldn't use the radio.
In order to understand why Eve should have been broadcasting radio signals from the highest peak in the Alps and what activation means we need to introduce the sport called SOTA.
The acronym comes from 'Summits on the Air', this radio competition was launched in 2002 by radio amateurs who combined there passion with mountaineering.
The competition consists of climbing the designated peaks - at least 150 meters above its surroundings - by hiking, and from the 'summit' the hiker must establish at least four radio links with other radio amateurs around the world (meaning activation).
The peaks score between 1 and 10 according to their height and can be activated once per year. The map provided by NASA to radio-operators in Romania has about two hundred SOTA peaks, of which 250-300 can be climbed under normal conditions, ie on a more or less well-marked path. A walkie-talkie can achieve the necessary score if it is successfully activated, that is, it has been climbed and a minimum of four mandatory contacts made. After earning a thousand points, the title 'Mountain Goat' and trophy will be awarded to the competitor. Achieving a thousand points usually takes several years to complete. Eva did a special job here too.
Eve met a man in Jezer (Bosnia and Herzegovina) on a hike, while trying to establish a radio connection at the summit. He was interested in the subject, because there is a radio club at Puskás Tivadar Vocational School, Budapest, and he was wondering how to create something new and interesting for the students. At that time, he had no plans to start radioing himself, or that hiking would become a competitive climb. He asked a teacher at Transilvania University in Brasov, Csaba-Zoltán Kertész, if he would come and introduce SOTA to the children.
Since January last year, Csaba has gone to St. George every Tuesday, trying to infect students with the radio virus. Because amateur-radio amateur is well-suited to the younger generation, SOTA is becoming more and more popular, including foxhunting, but knowing the basics of radio is essential.
Eve had no childhood dream of becoming a radio amateur but her dedication to teaching led her there. Csaba Kertész enthusiastic for the Tuesday afternoon classes included taking the students on several trips, where they could experience "live" what walking radio was about.
Eva thought that if Csaba couldn't come for some reason, it would be a good idea if someone could take care of the children. But to do that she needed a radio license.
- You have to take a very tough exam: electronics, knowledge of frequencies, first aid. You have to learn the phonetic alphabet that is used in radio, to know what phrases can be heard and what are not, so there are ethical rules as well. She passed and received her radio callsign: YO6EVA.
(YO = Romania ID, 6 represents the area, and EVA unique, individual)
I'll do it in a year
- As I had passed my exam, I went with Csaba to a SOTA marathon. It was staged in the Bihari Mountains, Romania, and was worth exactly one thousand (1000) points for someone who had done it for six or seven years. I told Csaba, as I go to the mountains, I could earn a thousand points in a year.
In the beginning it was really hard because I didn't know anything about radio, I didn't have any equipment, I borrowed a walkie-talkie, which had only 300 meters range I went up the mountain and couldn't activate it. I persuaded Csaba to come with me to collect points, but the points accumulated very slowly. Finally, I bought a serious radio, and then the "party" started.
- Has a thousand points been reached in one year?
- Not easily, but it was. I went to Nagykő (Transylvania, Romania) alone and for the first time spoke on the radio and I was so scared I switched it off. There was bad weather at Nagyhagymás, I went up four times, but never activated it; in minus ten (-10) degrees activating radio was not a lot of fun. Disappointed I told Csaba it wouldn't work for me, but with the support of friends, somehow I hung on and continued. The biggest challenge was to get to the summits that I would not have gone to otherwise, I had to cut through a sign or path like in the jungle. Finally a thousand points were reached, 131 different peaks in a year.
- 131 peaks in a year, one average every three days.
- Most were the four eight-point peaks in a single day, 40 kilometres of walking at 3500 metres.
What's next?
With her unique performance, Eve has earned the envy of many of the male walkie-talkie operators, She reached a thousand points in May - since then, the number of activations in Romania has increased, with another SOTA marathon being organized by December 1, interest in the sport has revived..
Although Eve has achieved what she set herself to do, she does not intend to stop walking but not as intense as before. Also because all of the closest peaks have been activated and new ones are usually a two-day hike away - She would like to climb the highest peaks in Europe, but she would need to take another license before she could broadcast abroad.
Eve talks enthusiastically about everything, but when it comes to the mountains, her eyes shine the most. What does mountain climbing, mean to her?
- Its an obsession with me, an addiction. The mountain has given me so much, I try to pass that on to the students. Everything revolves around the mountain, I don't go to the beautician or to the shops, and my daughter says you have seven pairs of hiking pants, but you just don't have anything to go to school. SOTA has exposed a whole new side of climbing and fox hunting.
Author: Péter Váry O. Publication date: 2018-12-29
Háromszék (Romanian publication in Hungarian) Saturday, December 29, 2018, Report
Szekler at the summit https://www.3szek.ro/load/cikk/119391/szekely-a-csucson
* * * * * * * *
The YO SOTA Marathon is a mountain hiking and amateur radio event that takes place every year in the beautiful Carpathian mountains of Romania, being supported by the “Romania’s Radioclub” Association (ARR). The purpose is to operate radio equipment from mountain tops in the Summits On The Air award scheme, and is open to anyone interested in amateur radio. It lasts about a week (during August) and presents the chance to gather a large number of points in the award scheme.
https://qrpblog.com/yo-sota-marathon/
1st YL Mountain Goat in Romania.
YO6EVA Eva Kelemen Gajdo reached a thousand points in May 2018 becoming the first YL Mountain Goat in Romania. An admirable achievement, showing great dedication and a nice example to follow. What is truly amazing, that she achieved this goal in just under a year after obtaining her HAM license, learning all about what it takes to operate a radio while hiking around the summits of Romania, whatever the conditions or difficulties. Hail, the rain, bad propagation could not deter her in achieving her target.
https://reflector.sota.org.uk/t/eva-yo6eva-newest-mountain-goat-in-romania/17546 May '18
Summits on the Air (SOTA) Background Information:
It is a fun and challenging activity for Radio Amateurs and shortwave listeners that encourages portable operation in mountainous areas. SOTA has been designed to make participation possible for everyone – you don’t have to be a mountaineer! There are awards for activators (those who hike to the summits) and chasers (those who operate from home, a local hilltop, or another summit). There are no fees and you can participate on your own schedule. More info: https://www.sota.org.uk
yl from Romania - YO6EVA Éva Gajdo and Csaba YO6PIB with colleagues from Sota Mendoza, Argentina, activated SOTA (LUM/PC-004) Jan. 2020
Éva Gajdó YO6EVA and Csaba-Zoltán Kertész YO6PIB came to climb and activate Aconcagua during the first two weeks of January 2020. Aconcagua (LUM/PH-001) is the highest summit in the SOTA programme, altitude.6960m. However they could not reach the summit due to very high winds. They began their descent as per schedule feeling very disappointed, especially regarding the Mendoza radioclub friends who had supported the expedition, prepared to 'chase' (on air) and even to make 'summit-to-summit' contacts. They made 2 attemps and spent 3 nights at over 6000m.
On their arrival back in Mendoza, Eva and Csabone had one day left before catching their plane home to Romania. Tthe Argentina SOTA group was also disappointed and it was decided to activate another summit where they could communicate in VHF and HF as originally planned.
The route was chosen so that Eva and Csaba could enjoy seeing animals from the local Villavicencio reserve, mostly guanacos.Tthe group was also lucky enough to see several condors flying over the activated peak in the Paramillos area.
The group were surprised by the number of active stations that made contact. Many operators were keen to communicate their enthusiasm at contacting the visitors and to wish them a safe journey back to Romania. Unfortunately propagation conditions for HF were not good, although some contacts were achieved.
The Argentinas were happy that Eva and Csaba had managed to activate an Argentine summit and although it was not Aconcagua, that they had enjoyed the local hositality of Mendoza.
LUM/PC-004, Paramillos 3356m This peak is not well known and does not have a name, near Termas Villavicencio, Mendoza (Argentina) Value 8 SOTA points,
YouTube by LU1MAW Alejandro Ciro Weber https://youtu.be/mxC0kf5kIGk
See Éva Gajdó Facebook: Album Acongaua 6700 méteren
Aconcagua is a mountain in the Principal Cordillera of the Andes mountain range, in Mendoza Province,. east of Argentina’s border with Chile. Aconcagua is the highest mountain outside Asia, at 6,961 meters (22,838 feet)
The mountain and its surroundings are part of the Aconcagua Provincial Park. Aconcagua Provincial Park is 185 km away from the city of Mendoza, near the border with Chile.
The mountain has a number of glaciers. Aconcagua is arguably the highest non-technical mountain in the world, since the northern route does not absolutely require ropes, axes, and pins. around 3,500 climbers tackle Aconcagua each year with a success rate of about 60%. Aconcagua has one of the highest death tolls of the world’s highest peaks.
There are severe winds and low temperatures, but it’s Aconcagua’s altitude that presents the greatest problem. Every year sees several deaths on Aconcagua – mainly people who underestimated the task and help may take several hours to arrive. Climbing the mountain will require on average of around 21 days.
The official visiting season is from November 15 to March 15. During the summer, the temperature at night above 5,000 meters (16,400 feet) is about -20°C (-4°F), and the usual temperature at the summit is -30°C (-22°F). In the rain shadow of the Andean crest, the park is one of the most barren parts of the Andes, with only a discontinuous cover of prostrate shrubs and grasses. At the highest altitudes, it is almost pure scree and snow.
CONTACT US:
Tom Rudzinski, SQ9FVE, from Poland made Summits on the Air (SOTA) history on February 16, 2019 by activating Aconcagua in Mendoza, Argentina.; the highest mountain of the entire amateur radio program LUM / PH-001
Tom planned the expedition carefully, including all necessary support. He began his ascent to the summit nearly two weeks ahead of his activation, setting up camps and acclimatizing to the elevation en route.
5 qso on 2 Meters FM were made, all with Argentine hunters located 90 km away.
KC3LCX, Pamela S. Saalbach, 17 July 1953 - 10 September 2019
Became a Silent Key on September 10, 2019 Pamela attended the OKC Convention in 2018.
AB5YL Sallie Margaret (Baker) Howard of Austin TX (USA) age 72 passed on Monday, March 9, 2020. Born October 28th, 1947. She grew up in Westlake. She met her lifelong husband of 48 years, James Deroy Howard on a month long trip around the world organized by their church. They married on November 26th, 1971. She is survived by her husband and two children, James B. Howard and Sarah E. Howard of Austin, Texas.
She was part of the TYLRUN group and attended the IYL convention in 2016.
CE7NSX Maria Alicia Pineda Rojas Q.E.P.D. Radio Club Melipulli, Chile
recently died in Quilpué where she was with her children.
María Alicia lived for many years in Lincanray and later in Puerto Montt, actively participating in many radio amateurs' meetings. Puerto Montt RC Ce4ylc Chile 12/3/2020
ex-ZS6BDB Dot Faber, became a Silent Key 15 March, 2020. She was the Vice-Pres 1982 - South African Womens Radio Club (SARL news 29/03/2020) -=-=-=-=-=-=--
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Calendar April 2020
APRIL II4FTX 1st transatlantic radio signal transmission (1901) http://www.arifidenza.it/
April 2 SARL 80 m QSO Party
April 5 Palm Sunday
April 8 Passover begins at sunset
Abril 10 Dia de la Ciencia Actividades del GRUPO YL AÑO 2020
April 10-13 Easter
April 11-12 CQWS World Scouts - HF 2020 – Contest (Brasil)
April 12 JLRS YL CQ Day
April 14-15 MRD 2020 Maritime Radio Day, 14th (12.00 UTC) until 15th (22.00 UTC)
Apr 16 Passover ends at sunset
Apr 16 2020 OX80HM, Greenland & OZ80HM, Denmark (all public celebrations cancelled)
HM Queen Margrethe II of Denmark 80th birthday
April 18 World Amateur Radio Day; and Autumn QRP contest
April 19 ZS4 Sprint (RSA)
April 21 DWD - Digital Women’s Day 2020 (Paris, France) 8th Edition
April 23 International Girls in ICT Day every 4th Thursday of April ITU "Information and Communication Technologies."
April 25 SARL 95 40 m Club Sprint (RSA)
April 25 CQMM DX CONTEST 3rd full weekend April. 09:00 UTC, Sat; 23:59 UTC, Sun
CANC.April 3- 4 SARL National Convention, AGM
CANC. April 3 – 6 1s yota subregional camp in the balkans near Belgrade, capital of Serbia.
CANC.April 10-13 Nordics on the Air, Norway Easter 2020. Killingsholmen, islet sw of Oslo
CANC.April 17-19 27th International Grand Eyeball (IGEB) 2020 Chali Beach Resort,.Cagayan de Oro, Philippines
CANC. International Marconi Day 2020. 25th April, Saturday closest to Marconi's birthday
POSTPONE 2020 ALARA meet in Bendigo NSW, Australia, postponed to October 2021
