International CW Operators Hamfest 2018

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Let us get together, fellows. In spite of troubles, years and borders.
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Arrangement and accommodation




Tent camp Radiograd.


One has to plan his trip depending on the duration of stay
Those who come just for a day, without overnight stay – plan to spend Saturday with us, where main events will take place, though enough action will take place throughout the entire festival duration.
Those who come for one day only have no reasons for staying overnight, but be prepared in case you change your mind. Those who will surely stay overnight must bring sleeping bags or warm blankets. Bring tents too, it is highly desirable. Few tents will be at the site, but it may not be enough to accommodate everyone, so your own tent can save the day.
There are two log huts on Radiograd territory. By this winter they will add dozen of cottages, but they are not built yet. River, lake, pine forest and meadows with cornflowers and dragonflies are also very much in place.
One log hut is slanted for headquarters. Radio station, HAMfest headquarters containing all that office appliances and refrigerator for Perm vodka supplies will be stored there. Not much will be left to sleepovers. Another log hut, located near the lake will be converted into the hayloft or better to say, into “branchloft”: sleeping bags may be laid onto pine boughs.
If you happen to be a mermaid, they you have the opportunity settle down in the lake, with the goldfishes.
Those who attended last year – please spread the information on how things were organized and offer your advice to new attendees.
There is a hotel few kilometers away from Radiograd. So if you must stay in a more civilized environment, then can walk to the HAMfest. Or travel in a palanquin.

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Ride along for about 700 meters (the road quality there is a poor one).
Before turning to the right, notice a very beautiful lonely pine tree to your right – you just can’t miss it.
The right turn is paved with fresh gravel, the pine stays to your left side, go down another hundred meters and arrive at the entrance to Radiograd territory.
Coordinates of the destination point: 54.765057, 37.507984.
Base VHF station under control of Aleksey RA3AKF, will be on standby at 145.500 МГц and 145.580 MHz. If your car is equipped with VHF radio and you need directions to Radiograd – he will lead you in. Anyway, contact the HAMfest station as any other DX station – QSL cards will be sent out also for VHF QSOs, see the details below.
Yet the main purpose of the HAMfest is not hi-speed Morse code (QRQ) competition, prizes, goldfishes, turkeys and even fireworks. We come to see each other, to join the circle of friends, to greet one another and to talk one-to-one. Who knows when another chance to do that will occur...




Hamfest 1991. From archive of Vladimir, UA9BA.

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If the gate barrier is closed, contact Headquarters log hut on frequency 145,500 or call +7-906-646-47-14, +7-903-795-98-91.
You will then see four roads – to the left, straight, one bending slightly to the right and another one with a bigger bend to the right. The latter ends against the fence with the gates.
Take the one with the slight bend to the right and it goes up. You will pass metal box van to your right side.




Fig. 4 Gate near entry.

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Segment № 2: From the route to Radiograd (Fig. 2 and Fig. 3)
Between the road posts “112” and “113” km you have to leave the road to the right and pass under the bridge to the opposite side of the road and exit to the left.
Then you have immediately turn into unpaved road in upper right direction and move along it up to the gate barrier (Fig. 4). It is port of entry to “Your home” settlement.
Coordinates of gate barrier: Azarovka, Tula region, 54.773460, 37.495655.




Fig. 3

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Let us conditionally divide all the way into two segments:
1) From Moscow to the point of exit from the route;
2) From the route to Radiograd.
Segment № 1: From Moscow to the point of exit from the route
For car drivers:
To ride along Simferopol highway (route M2 Moscow – Tula) up to kilometer mark “112 km” (it is 92 km from Moscow Ring Road) (Fig.1).
Waymark on the navigator – Azarovka village, Zaoksky district, Tula region, Russia.
For “horseless travellers”:
Those, who have no personal car can use fixed-route taxi van. Take any of them traveling towards Tula, it will be OK.
We recommend fixed-route taxis from “Novoyasenevskaya” bus station located near metro (underground, subway) station of the same name. They leave for Tula every 40 minutes. Time of travel to the “drop point” point” is 1 hour 10 minutes.
You should go as far as the turn to “Bobrovy island” by fixed-route taxi. It is same 92nd km from Moscow Ring Road, and drivers know the place.




Fig. 2

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How to get to http://www.uqrqc.com/p/kak-doehat.html>> Radiograd.
As it is unlikely that anyone will decide to arrive to the HAMfest by military tank, submarine, helicopter or to parachute out from the airplane (though the idea sounds interesting, and in the future we could organize mass parachute jumps), the story will be about how to reach Radiograd from Moscow by car or by fixed-route taxi-van. Or for that it worth, by feet or by bicycle, but then you have to leave your home way in advance.
HAMfest will take place in Radiograd, on the territory of “Live Villages” complex, which is under construction yet, and which has the area of 78 hectares (garden plots “Miracle tree”).
At once we warn you: don’t go by train/suburban train – nearest railroad station is located too far from Radiograd.




Fig. 1

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International CW Operators Hamfest 2018 Part 1




Continuing its thirty year old tradition CW club U-QRQ-C has the honor to invite all CW and Shortwave fans to the International CW Operators HAMfest.
HAMfest will be held, as last year, in Radiograd, Moscow region, on August 24 – 27, 2018.
The HAMfest’s Lucky Charm is still a high speed QRQ HAMster, who had been running for dear life and reached his running destination.
This year the HAMfest will be held with participation and support of:
* City Sports-Technical Radio Club of Moscow;
* “Live Villages” project;
* Museum of the Industrial Culture;
* QRZ.ru Internet Portal;
* Kingdom of Bir Tawil;
* Independent international almanac “World of Short Waves”;
* UARL.com.ua Ukranian Radio Portal;
* International Amateur Radio Contest DX Club of UNO;
And other organizations whose names will be published later.
There is no requirement to operate CW (Morse Code) at QRQ speeds in order to participation in the HAMfest (it is not HST World Championship with participants selection), nor to operate CW at all, though it is highly desirable. It’s enough if you are fascinated with short waves as a whole. And then – who knows – maybe coming to the HAMfest will push you to study http://www.3w3rr.ru/2014/05/dikson-ua0bad-cw.html> Morse Code in the future. But do watch how QRQ masters do it.
Those who want to bring your entire family – you are welcome! Keep in mind, though, that living conditions will be closer to “field-style” than “city living”. So be ready. Regardless, both young participants and XYLs (wives) will have plenty to occupy themselves with. The organizers listened to one of the participant’s XYL and her wishes were considered:
Yuri, 3W8AA. reported that the following issues were tackled:
– The shower is already working.
– Negotiations with goldfishes were also conducted – they agreed to be caught with spinning rods.
– Mushrooms question is under study. Anyway, you may bring your owns and plant them under the pines.
– Registration of the participants is already open. So we could arrange everything in time, bring your country’s flag, participant certificate, your callsign badge and other “attributes”
– Do inform us in advance about your anticipated arrival.
For registration information and other matters which may arise, please contact HAMfest crew organizers either via e-mail uqrqc@mail.ru, or via Skype or telephones:
* Lilia EW7L: email: ew7l@bk.ru; Skype: lilvas1954, telephone in Belorussia & Viber: +375-29-108-30-75;
* Valery R2SA: e-mail: ru3se@yandex.ru; telephone in Russia & WhatsApp: +7-906-646-47-14
* Edward NT2X: e-mail: red@escape.com; telephone in USA +1-718-891-3535;
* Yuri 3W8AA: telephone in Russia +7-903-795-98-91.
Participation in the HAMfest is free (no fee). Moreover, your money is no good in Radiograd: HAMfest area is free of commerce of any kind. So bring anything you might need, and if you will forget anything – your new friends will help you. Bring extras and spares to share with others and it will be enough for everyone around. See the details below.