Amateur Radio / HAM Shopping scene in HongKong : A first hand experience!!!!

I recently visited Hongkong on an official trip so tried to take some time out to check for some HAM stuff and look at what items you get and any price benefit . Contrary to what people say that that are plenty of shops , technically there is only one street in Hongkong where you get some decent amateur radio stuff and that too hardly 4 to 5 shops which have the true amateur range . Offcourse for someone from India where I don't think you even have even one decent dedicated Amateur radio shop , its still felt like paradise with such wide range and display . Offcourse the overall market had items which felt like a gizmo world all together from some science fiction movie . Apliu Street runs parallel to Cheung Sha Wan Road between Yen Chow Street and Nam Cheong Street. An easy way to reach it is to get off at the MTR Sham Shui Po Station. Use the A2 or C2 exit and you will be ascending directly into Apliu Street. You can easily take a taxi and show the driver the location on map or phone. 

Apliu Street has a huge flea market containing electronics, electrical components, and related items. A shopper can find both new and used merchandise in the area. Apliu Street is well known for geek shopping, and at one time it had an unsavory reputation as a "thieves' market".

Firstly the available few shops mostly stock only some cheap Chinese brand like BAOFENG , TYT etc . Wouxun I guess is considered a high end chinese brand known for quality and hence only available if you specifically ask for and not readily displayed or stocked . A typical display in the showcase is as below with models starting from 150 HKD upwards and defenitely cheaper than you get in India , you can bargain to some extent. 

While Apliu Street is famous for electronic parts, the Golden Shopping Arcade found on the other side of Cheung Sha Wan Road is famous for computer hardware and related items.

Two shops I visited are below , first one owned by Mr.Alan and other is this lovely lady called Ms.Yu . I was looking for specific models and both were courteous and kind enough to help me with arranging those models. Spoke to both for quite some time and Ms.Yu was very pleasing in explaining various products, clarifying doubts and offcourse giving some decent discounts also. Picked up the new Wouxun KGUV8D handy plus some accessories at HKD 900.

One another shop which sells on Japanese or US make and offcourse expensive but quality stuff is CQ Shop Hongkong and has very good display and the Manager Mr.Hung is a very professional and knowledgeable person. The shop pics as below.  

CQ Shop

Mr Simon, H.K. Hung, Manager

252 Apliu St, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon, Hong Kong / HOURS: 11AM-7:30PM Mon-Sat/ CLOSED SUNDAY

(852) 2708-7161 or 2728 1180 Fax 2708-7164

E-mail: Info@CQShopHK.com
http://www.cqshophk.com/

Anybody visiting Hongkong and wanting to check out some HAM stuff can directly go to Apliu Street and visit these shops which are only true shops selling Amateur stuff in Hongkong. 

G.Vipin Shankar

VU3NKQ

ChennaiHamsBlogspot Team

Maham meet 2015 starts off!!!!

The annual casual eyeball get together for Amateur Radio operators/HAM's in Chennai got to a wonderful start this morning with good participation from Chennai HAM's as well as few who came from outstation. A quick photo profile for info , almost 120 HAM's along with XYL's , Harmonics & SWL's as well participated in this wonderful event. 

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Maha Meet is convened every year on 2nd Saturday of February with the great support of all Ham and SWL friends.  Motto : Eye ball @ low expense

VENUE: HOTEL MAHABSOPP.MAHABALIPURAM MAIN BUS STAND(TERMINUS)BEHIND- STATE BANK OF INDIA (ATM)MAHABALIPURAM. NEAR CHENNAI. TAMIL NADUMahabalipuram Ham Eye Ball Maha Meet was started by OM Vittal, VU2 VIT in 2003 in a small scale with the support of INAR/VU2INA, APPAN/ VU3MPK and ANNA VU2KBX in order to encourage Hams who cannot afford economically and school students to meet other Hams of our motherland without spending much money.

Wouxun KG-UV8D : Hands-on review

I had the opportunity to go hands-on with the new dual-band Wouxun KG-UV8D HT courtesy my recent overseas visit and I’m impressed!

VHF/VHF dual receive — for the win! This is a great feature and, at least for me, one of the most compelling reasons to upgrade to this radio. It mixes the audio from the two frequencies so you won’t miss anything. 

The text on the color screen is so much easier to read than on previous Wouxuns. There’s about twice the screen real estate and it makes the radio much more usable. Although I didn’t get a chance to play with every feature of the KG-UV8D so far , I can honestly say that this radio seems to be much easier to program from the keypad. I think that larger screen helps a lot. For the first time, I feel that I could field program one of these without the manual. Trust me, that’s saying something!

The radio seems slightly narrower and thinner than previous versions. This is a definite step up and it improves the ergonomics of the radio. The PTT button is large and segmented in a way that makes it hard to mistake it for a function button as with the KG-UV3D. The programmable buttons under the PTT are also cool. You can program it to activate the FM radio or to start scanning, for example. Very easy to customize.

The battery is different which is a little disappointing for those of us who have a collection of older Wouxun batteries, but I like the changes they’ve made to the way it slides on and off the chassis.

The rubber ducky antenna they include is OK, but for me a Smiley 270A would replace it in short order. And speaking of antennas, why can’t Wouxun figure out if they want to use SMA-male or SMA-female on these radios? I think we can all agree that they should just standardize on one or the other. This radio has a SMA-female connector while my KG-UV3D is SMA-male.

I’ve fallen in love with this little radio and I’ve only have it for few hours. Whether you’re a brand new ham looking for your first rig or you’ve been at this game for decades, you can’t go wrong with this HKD 900 / approx INR 8000 radio.

Merry Christmas & Advance Wishes for a Happy New Year 2015

LATEST AMATEUR RADIO NEW LICENSE ISSUANCE/EXISTING LICENSE RENEWAL PROCEDURES!!!!

AMATEUR RADIO LICENSE RENEWAL PROCEDURES

These steps are to help people either apply for new License after their police verification is over and they receive a letter for sending DD or for those who want renew their existing License.

1. Follow the link http://www.wpc.dot.gov.in/home.asp for all the information/details related to Amateur and other services.

2. Open the link in 'Internet Explorer browser'. It is little fast.

3. Registering your self is NOT MANDATORY at http://www.wpc.dot.gov.in/udefault.asp, but it would help to follow/track your application, later.

4. In case your licence number is present in the on-line database please complete the on-line application and include the acknowledgement slip along with the application. If your licence number is not present please mention the same in the application.

5. Take a DD for Rs. 2000/- for 'Life Time' (up to the age of 80 years ONLY) or

6. Take a DD for Rs. 1000/- for 20 years.

7. Demand Draft of requisite amount towards fees (including late fine), drawn from any branch of SBI Only in favors of 'Pay and Account Officer (HQ), Department of Telecommunication' or 'PAO(HQ), DOT' payable at Service Branch, New Delhi (code-7687). Or MICR CP CENTRE (Code 4328) [Please write your License No./Call-sign/Name/Case No etc. on overleaf of DD] (Reports are there Service Branch (Code-7687) is closed now, some of our friends send the DD payable at MICR CP Centre (Code – 4328 and got the license renewed.)

8. Life time renewal would be beneficial, particularly for the youngsters.

9. Add 'Late Fee' along with the renewal fee, if you are sending after expiry date (Applicable Late fee is Rs.100/- per every Half year or Part thereof)

10. Send in the duly filed in application form along with a 
(a) Xerox copy of your license, (No need to send your Original License)

(b) Date of Birth certificate duly attested by a gazetted officer.

(c) A covering letter requesting for the type of renewal required. 

(d) Please enclose ONE self addressed, un-stamped envelop of 23cm x 15 cm size for the 
Renewal of Amateur License, where it is required to be posted and/or enclose ONE self addressed, un-stamped envelop of 24cm x 11 cm size for all other kind of correspondence.
(Total 2 envelopes)

(e) DD as per point No. 5 or 6 towards renewal fee including late fee, if any.

11. If the renewal application is delayed more than TWO years later after expiry of license; please attach the justification of delay.

12. Write your Name, call-sign and the license number at the back of the DD and other Documents attached with the application.

13. Please write your complete recent address {Including Town, City, State and PIN and Contact No.(if any)} of correspondence on top of the letter for fast disposal of the cases.

14. Retain a photocopy of the application and documents sent by you as proof or for follow-up in case of any problem and future reference.

15. Send your application by 'Speed Post' ONLY.

16. Check the status of your application after a couple of weeks by logging on to their web site in case you have applied online successfully. En-cashment of DD indicates the process of renewal is 'ON' or in progress. May be, a phone call to WPC with your License Number would help, if undue delay is experienced.

17. Keep Logbook ready if called for. (Minimum 40 contacts per year are mandatory).

18. Normally one may have to wait atleast 2-4 months to get it cleared.

WPC address and the contact Details:
The Asst. Wireless Advisor,
Govt. of India
Ministry of Communications & IT
DOT, WPC Wing, (Amateur Section) COP section
Room No: 619, 6th Floor, Sanchar Bhawan
20, Ashoka Road, New Delhi – 110 001.

Contact No.
011-2303 6181
011-2303 6539 *
011-2337 2081
011-2335 5441
FAX No. 011-2371 6111
Website: http://www.wpc.dot.gov.in


LICENCE RENEWAL letter

From:

Full address Including Town, City, State and PIN and Contact No.(if any)

Phone: 

Date: 

To:
The Assistant Wireless Adviser to
Government of India,
Ministry of Communication and Information Technology,
WPC Wing, Amateur Cell,
616, 6th Floor, Sanchar Bhavan,
20, Ashoka Road,
NEW DELHI -110001.

Sub: Renewal of the amateur Licence No. ________ Call sign ______ expired on __________for 20 Years/Life Time.

Sir, 

I am herewith enclosing the following for renewal of my amateur license:

1. As per the new guidelines, I have searched the WPC website but my Licence No. is not present in the online database and hence I was unable to attach the On line application Acknowledgement slip. /my license No. is present in the online data base and I have registered successfully and attaching the online application acknowledgement. (Strike out whichever is not applicable.)

2. DD for Rs _______/- No. _______________dated___________ drawn from SBI in favour of 
“PAY AND ACCOUNTS OFFICER (HQ), Department of Telecommunications” / 
“PAO (HQ), DOT” payable at _______________________________________.

2. A xerox copy of the licence duly attested.

3. Two self addressed, un-stamped envelopes for correspondence.

4. Date of Birth Certificate duly attested.

I do hereby declare that I have made the requisite contacts per year and request your 
Good self to renew my licence for Life Time / Twenty years and oblige. (Strike out whichever is not applicable.)

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,

{Signature of the licence holder}

Note: You should maintain the Log book for the authorities to verify the above declaration.

Some of the ways HAMS made immense contribution to the society

Update : Chennaihams Eyeball meet conducted on 13th Dec 2014

Thanks for all who made it and very nice meeting with active participation from all on how to increase HAM activity level in Chennai. 

MOM Chennai HAM's Eyeball had on 13/12^/2014 @ Whannels Road , Egmore

19 HAMS attended the meeting which started at 1730 Hrs Ended 1900 hrs.

Following points were discussed. Purpose of this second informal meeting was basically to review action points from last meeting and further takeup fresh agendas to improve HAM activity in our city.

1.  VU3USI has successfully updated the Chennai based HAM contact database and of the 180+ email ID’s, 100 have been verified as active and correct. Further a Whatsapp group and a email ID chennaihams@gmail.com has been created for the benefit of all . A new Yahoo Groups for ChennaiHams will also be created and all ID’s added onto it.

2.  HAM activities

• .   25^th Jan 2015 has been fixed as a day for Fox Hunt. 
•     Deepan would be the Fox and would take further lead and advice details.

2.  CDV Vivek brief JOTA activities and really commendable effort on his part to be doing it continuously for so many years . For the next year JOTA announcement to be made atleast 1 month in advance and plan to cover atleast 10 schools with more participation from all Chennai Hams, etc.

3.   Frequency of such meeting to continue as bi-monthly – Every Second Saturday of the month and could be either a meeting alone or a meeting along with activity. Accordingly next meeting date is fixed for 25^th Jan 2015 along with Fox Hunt . Venue will be the Fox location itself and is will be communicated a week before the meeting by email , VHF net and WhatsApp / SMS . A new email distribution chennaihams@googlegroups.com has been created for further communication and all active email ID's will be added.

4.  It has been decided that Sunday VHF nets would special nets with additional activites like On the air quiz etc , net controllers USI & DPN to further work out on this and start from 21^st Dec 2014 Sunday. 

5.  Support for New/existing hams to come on air by providing assistance like making cable, antenna, etc , core team who volunteered would be VU2PTR, VU2GMN & VU2ABS, VU2DPN, VU2DH . ABS to also work on another bulk equipment import basis demand.

6.  SIARS Pallikaranai team lead by Sinosh & team presented on the app available on www.siars.org.in as well as the class schedules being conducted now regularly . All chennai hams would closely support SIARS initiatives also wherever needed.

7.  Assistance and support for renewal of License from WPC or any such supports – Rajesh VU2OEC@gmail.com who is ARSI rep at Delhi would provide any assistance . VU2DH would take lead on local liason with WPC Chennai monitoring station.

8.  Repeater at Madhuranthakam – A team to visit Madhurantakam shortly to further take-up and conclude the project.

9.  All HAMS were requested to be a members of ARSI and send article and photos for publishing it in their e-bulletin/news letter.

10. HFI 2014 – Almost 25 HAMS from chennai attended the HFI Hyderabad and overall Tamilnadu had the largest participation.

11. VU2GHB OM Hari & ABS Arvind presented and gave a demo on on Software Defined Radio and its functionalities 

12. ARSI Hill Toping contest likely to happen in Jan 2015 although exact dates yet to be announced.

Following are the hams attended the meeting:

VU2DPN, VU2PTR, VU3MOA, VU2CDV, VU3USI, VU2SDU, VU2DH , VU2ABS, VU2AKW , VU3CBM , VU2GWH , VU3PKQ , VU3RGK , VU2GHB ,VU2TSF, VU2VAU, SWL Vipin (Awaiting License) , SWL Suresh , SWL clement(Awaiting License)