PACKET RADIO: Yugoslavia As It Was Being Invaded
(This text from the W8IZ packet radio bulletin
board. It's formatted to fit a 80 character screen.)
MSG # TR SIZE TO FROM @BBS DATE TITLE 19357 B# 4940 EURO N8XX OKIPN 910717 Packet News From Yugoslovaia Forwarding path: WB8JUI N8FIS WB8LYF KD8JR N9BAC WJ9U KA9WDJ WB9SYK W9OJ N8GTC KC8TW
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The following is from Compuserve Information Service, HAMNET. It directly concerns applications of ham radio to civil defense.
I copy it with permission.
With no further comment - 73 de n8xx hg
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Dear Friends,
Here is a message from our friend Iztok, YU3FK. The message speaks for itself.
73 de Alexander, OE3ACC
ALL @EU de:YU3FK 10.07.91 03:36 30 4508 Bytes War & hams in SLOVENIA. *** Bulletin-ID: 27315_GB7NWP *** 910710/0511 DB0LNA, 910710/0452 DB0RGB, 910710/0053z DB0BOX 910709/2252z DB0PV , 910709/2045z DB0MWE, 910709/0740Z DB0KCP 910709/0714z OE9XPI, 910709/0652z HB9EAS, 910709/0650z DB0GE 910709/0642z LX0PAC, 910709/0606z ON7RC , 910709/0802Z FD1NWB 910709/0530Z PI8MID, 910709/0507Z PE0MAR, 910709/0343Z GB7BBS 910708/1901Z GB7PMB, 910708/1854Z GB7CHS, 910708/1839 GB7NWP
Hello friends !
I stll do not beleive what happened here, it is so awfull. Anyhow, it is maybe of interest to see how HAMs responded to emergency.
When unexpected attack of YU Army to Slovenija happened, the first HAMs reaction was: be QRV, stay tuned. There was no need to help with proffesional communications, all worked OK. We only blocked military repeaters and simplex channells on 2m band; forunately most of MODS to expand RX/TX range of japanese RIGs were available on BBSes.
Later on we were requested not to make QRM on military QRGs, because we blocked channells so effectively, that YU3 intelligence could not get any information from military communications. there is not yet enough 6m equipment here, to effectively block military there, but we were of some help to YU3 police. (YU got 50 MHz band few weeks ago).
Most of HAM communications( beside those helping actively defense operations) are on helping press (some telephone lines are broken) and red cross. A lot of personal request were handled by HAMs also (like: My parents are there and there, we can not get them by telephone, are they OK ? ).
YU3 HAMs can be found on 2m and 70cm FM, also there is a net on 3.605 SSB.
Packet:
As my role was in packet, I can tell the story from first hand. First action was to check network. Everthing worked, so I send few bulletins with emergency instructions to BBSes. Packet stations on R TV stations was activated, with printer connected to C-64. I got few tlf numbers, like red-cross, direct line to news service etc. Quickly, first news reports were comming from area telephone cut. Also, i helped forward a QTC to DL radio, when international telephone lines were overloaded.
When army started bombing of TV and communication centers, where most of packet nodes were, we prepared secondary links. Few HAMs left packet stations QRV, to be used as digipeaters. Several nodes were attacked:
4N3B on mt Boc, 4N3P on mt Pohorje, several times 4N3H on mt Kum, and 4N3L on mt Krvavec. 4n3H antennas were destroyed,
thus 23cm backbone network was cut into two pieces.
But, 2m links were ready - and YU3 packet network is fully operative. No harm was done to 2m and 70cm FM repeaters, so 4n3H is the only HAM installation destroyed.
We get also some help from outside YU3 - First of all, I asked everybody to stop BBS forward and other DXing over YU3 - network is now free for emergency traffic. Also, neighbour HAMs are ready to help us with secondary links on 2m, if our current nodes are destroyed. We have a backup ready for any node. Also, they are in touch with red cross and others, if there is any need.
So far, HAMs were again playing our role in defence of our country. I hope is needed no more, but we are ready.
Packet node 4N3H is probably first HAM packet node to be destroyed in military attack. It had 4 antennas on 23cm to 38400 bd YT3MV 23cm station (4N3H-12), 2m port on 144.600 (4n3h), converse node 4N3H-3 and we were fixing also 70cm wide bandwith 19200 bd manchester user access node on 70cm.
So much about HAMs in war, I hope we would be able to make full report when war is over.
Best 73, peace to everybody, iztok YU3FK
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