WAP Meeting nr. 15th ; another great goal for the Antarctic Hams and followers!
Organized by ARI Mondovì since its launching on 2003, WAP Meeting continue with no interruptions. WAPwebsite (thanks in particular to Floyd KK3Q) is giving the visitors (Hams, chasers, students) a chance to know more about the Icy Continet and the HF communication with people involved down there in scientific missions.
39 years of continuous work is a real great commitment .. perhaps some younger Hams can come on to give us the change!
This year, theme of the Meeting, was “ Antarctic passion and WAP Directory” ; just one click to enter almost every corner of the Antarctic, a great job provided by WAP website, but also a regret to consider that the new computerized digital systems of communication are partly supplanting SSB & CW that was a most customary habit for more than 70 years and now, slowing down years after years! Ham Radio seems to have ceased, with the exceptions of Russia, Japan, USA, Australia, Germany end few other Cuntries that are almost still active every Antarctic Summer Season.
In the future it will be probably hard to record new calls and new sites by Hams operating from Antarctica, simply because other communication systems are supplanting HF contacts between amateur radio operators, rather than propagation studies and Radio experiments,
Presentation has been done by I1HYW with the help of Betty IK1QFM and Max IK1GPG (see pic aside) in front of an audience of about hundred people, between authorities and Hams coming from different parts of Italy and few European Countries.