February 2, 2011

Crisis in Egypt - and Ham Radio

From a wiki site (http://werebuild.eu/wiki/Egypt/Ham_radio) covering Egypt and ham radio comes some interesting information on how the so-called "old technology" of ham radio - specifically CW, or morse code, is being used to get "the word out" from Egypt.  Following are some verbatim quotes from the wiki site as well as intercepted messages from Egypt:

In line with Telecomix's mission of supporting communications whenever needed, we are currently attempting to provide ham to ham contacts for emergency assistance.  Ham radio activists are receiving signals in morse code from Egypt. When countries block web, we evolve. 

Receive: 40m band 7050-7100, 20m 1400-14050
We always listen on hamradio 7080.8 kHz CW transmit frequency. We may call CQ SU, best time 18h-20h UTC. Please spread. 
  
Received messages

  • [2011-01-28 10:50]
"internet [not] working, police cars [burning]"
  • [00:30 UTC 7078.70 - 7079.88 kHz]
"test time" 7079.88 kHz 
"net time, [...] dark skies, bloody [moon]" 7079.55 kHz
"didn't catch that, [repeat]" 7079.55 kHz
CW
"su32 will be [well] known" 7079.55 kHz
"all but one" 7080.23 kHz
"dial not working," 7080.23 kHz
"airports [being shut] down" 7080.23 kHz
"2 miles -- no, [1 miles] away" 7080.23 kHz
"have you been [able] to get a hold [of a] american?" 7080.23 kHz
"have you contacted [anyone] yet?" 7080.23 kHz
"americans, the americans" 7080.23 kHz
"everything is happening, everything we thought" 7080.23 kHz
"I got a contect [from] germany" 7080.66 kHz
"alert to germans" 7080.66 kHz (very faint)
"tomrrow [should] be interesting..." 7080.66 kHz
~00:30 UTC 7078.70 - 7079.88 kHz
  • [2011-01-29 15:09 UTC]
UNVERIFIED
hellow is anyone there?
americans, the americans
7072.0 khz
7072.00 khz?
104
104." 

Interesting stuff!  This reminds of of the time - in 1979 I think - when I was in QSO with a Nicaraguan ham during their
revolutionary activity, and could hear gunfire in the background of the other ham's transmission.  Let's hope the current revolution
ends with a minimum of bloodshed.