FAIRS Projects

FAIRS has projects in various countries and also individual members doing programs with their favorite group. Some examples of FAIRS projects are:

Ukraine

The Ukrainian Digital Packet Radio Network

At the present time there is no packet backbone network in the Ukraine. FAIRS Director David Larsen KK4WW and Victor Goncharsky US5WE FAIRS Director of European Operations wrote a proposal to the Eurasia Foundation for about $25,000. The proposal was funded by the United States Agency For International Development though the Eurasia Foundation in March 1995 and is currently being implemented.

The difficulty to communicate in the Ukraine is well known by anyone who tries to make telephone calls, send a FAX , send mail, or send electronic mail using the Information Super Highway Internet. The installation of the Ukrainian Digital Amateur Radio Network by FAIRS Ukraine and USA will increase the communications capability internally and internationally for thousands of Ukrainian amateur radio operators.

Today thousands of highly skilled Ukrainian ham operators can not serve their community due to the absence of modern communication equipment compatible with digital modes. Such equipment is almost impossible to build at home and Ukrainian hams are mainly using the ancient tube type equipment.

This communications capability will benefit not only the hams but the citizens of the Ukraine by allowing rapid response to emergencies/disasters for government, official and unofficial groups, and individuals.

The goal of this project is to set up a nationwide network of digital mailbox radio stations to be operated by volunteer Ham radio operators. FAIRS began in early 1991 to establish a digital amateur radio network in the western Ukraine with the help of Victor Goncharsky and other Ukrainian FAIRS members. Since 1991 in excess of $50,000 in computers, radios and other equipment has been sent and is working very effectively in the western Ukraine. It is used daily by the local Hams to communicate with each other and internationally via a single FAIRS APLINK station (U5WF) in Lvov, Ukraine.

The grant funds will allow extending the present working network from the western Ukraine to Kiev with connections to Polish, Hungarian and Czech networks allowing international communications. An interconnection into the Information Super Highway "Internet" will be installed in Lvov allowing very high speed international communications. A voice 2 meter repeater and international APLINK digital station will be added to the network in western Ukraine.

This network will provide many benefits in addition to public service communications. The installation and operation will provide training of the most modern type of communication technologies for hundreds of Ukrainians hams. The project will have a great multiplier effect on the use of grant funds by using FAIRS volunteers to install the equipment and train the operators. A number of FAIRS USA members have committed their skills to this project USA FAIRS members Gordon Garrett KC4DY, Presley Smith N5VGC and David Larsen KK4WW have already experienced FAIRS projects in the Ukraine with numerous visits. The FAIRS Ukraine members have demonstrated their expertise and capability with the installation and operation of the existing Western Ukraine network.

Bangladesh

March 1993 eight FAIRS members from Russia, Ukraine and USA spent three weeks on a training and DXpedition in Dhaka. The purpose was to expand amateur radio in a country that had less then 10 active radio amateurs and to help establish an amateur radio disaster and emergency network. 30 Bangladeshi's were trained in theory and code. 17 of those passed the USA novice or technician level exam. This was done because radio licenses are currently only issued to persons with valid amateur license from other country as no examinations are actually given in Bangladesh.

Equipment and radios have been provided and currently there are five new hams with modern hf transceivers and Bangladesh license. One amtor station has also been implemented. The official FAIRS station in S21AM licensed and operated by Manju Haque. Manju is also FAIRS Director of Bangladesh operations.

The FAIRS group led by Manju is currently training others in the use of amateur radio and working hard to establish a coastal amateur radio network. FAIRS headquarters and others are volunteering time and equipment on a regular basis to help this group grow.

Guyana

FAIRS members David Larsen KK4WW, Gaynell Larsen KD4GMV and Larry Vogt N4VA visited Georgetown and the members of the Guyana Amateur Radio Association in 1993. N4VA provided amateur radio training during a 4 week period and several new radio amateurs have been issued licenses as a result of this training. FAIRS continues to support the operations of the FAIRS group in Guyana with equipment donations and educational material. The first 2 meter repeater was put on the air in Guyana during 1995 with assistance from FAIRS. This group continues to grow and build acceptance for amateur radio with the direction of Peter Denny 8R1WD and Cleo Quashie 8R1CJ.

China

During June 1995 David and Gaynell Larsen visited members of the Tsinghua University Amateur radio club in Beijing, China and helped establish BY1QH as official FAIRS club station. Many Chinese members have resulted from this project.

FAIRS BY1QH Club Station Chief and FAIRS correspondent is Shun Yao BZ1LUV. FAIRS headquarters has helped with donations of equipment and books including an hf amplifier for BY1QH.

Individual FAIRS Projects

Many members have individual FAIRS projects and are doing good work though amateur radio and FAIRS.

Haiti and Zambia

Bob Friebertshauser W6YMR has made two FAIRS trips to Haiti to install radio communications equipment in the outlining area where telephone is not available. Bob has made three visits to Zambia to install donated equipment for use with medical clinics in the Bush. During his last visit in December 1995 he also started an amateur radio training program for about 5 prospective 9J hams. He will return one more time in 1996 to complete this work in Zambia.

Tuva

Pat Barthlow AA6EG has been working for several years to help the local schools in this remote part of Russia establish amateur radio stations. He has had a number of visitors from Tuva to his home in California. Pat is organizing a FAIRS visit for training and DXpedition to Tuva in the near future.