Radionews wrote:
Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1390 * April 2, 2004


Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1390 with a release date of
Friday, April 2nd, 2004 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a Q-S-T. Ham radio helps with a rescue at sea, the
Federal Emergency Management Agency clarifies its position on
Broadband Over Powerlines as B-P-L technology brings lots of radio
noise Manassas, Virginia. Hear it for yourself on Amateur Radio
Newsline report number 1390 coming your way right now.



(Billboard Cart Here)

**


RESCUE RADIO: VK HAM BRINGS BOAT TO PORT SAFELY - BY RADIO


A pair of Australian and American hams are credited with being a
lifeline to a storm damaged boat with six people on board. The
Australian was at his home QTHand the American was at sea on the
stricken ship. Q-News Robert Broomhead, VK3KRB, in Waverly,
Australia picks up the story from he


--


Bernie VK2ABN on March 4 was in QSO with VK2ABT/VK3ACA and heard a
weak and distorted signal, KA7MWL Shawn, who was aboard a Ukrainian
registered schooner sailing from Wellington NZ to Sydney Aust.,
sails had blown out and they were making slow progress just on 4
knots.


At that speed they had calculated that they would run out of fuel
before reaching port. Bernie VK2ABN ascertained 6 people were on
board, BUT NO EPIRB! All this information was relayed to Sea Safety
Canberra.


With the schooners satellite communication system also out of action,
the Ham aboard, Shawn KA7MWL operating around 5 watts on 7070 Khz was
the only contact.


Sea Safety Canberra QSY'd from 8176 kHz to the 40 meter band but as
their transmitter was in Charleville, SW Queensland, no contact
could be established.

Bernie arranged a for sked in 24 hours time, this time things a lot
better, radio and safety wise, the schooner expected in Sydney ahead
of previously estimated time.


As Bernie said: "I hadn't realised you can now call MAYDAY on the
various DISTRESS frequencies but nobody is listening any more. Since
the advent of GMDSS a computer scans the frequencies looking for
encoded tones. If it finds one it attracts human intervention."


VK2ABN Bernie says " It was a bit like the Tony Hancock Radio Ham
Sketch in retrospect, anyway that's what his wife thought and our
telephone sure ran hot for a couple days!"


--


According to Q-News, the Sydney Australia Water Police stayed in
contact with VK2ABN to keep abreast of the situation. With no High
Frequency facilities that could hear the stricken craft, they were
totally reliant on ham radio. (Q-News)



I wonder why they didn't just use their cell phone? ;^)


- Mike KB3EIA -