The Ham Radio Wireless Repeater System under the Malabar Amateur Radio Society in Malappuram district played a crucial role in assisting district authorities in the disaster in Kavalappara, Nilambur. Within hours of the tragedy, coordinator Thajudheen Iringavur(VU2DJ) contacted the District Collector, head of the District Disaster Management Authority.

Under his direction, a temporary radio station was set up at the Collectorate and then headed by Ashraf Kappad(VU3MTY),SHAJEER(VU3EUB),SHANAVAS (VU3EUE) & Dr. Anwar(VU3LMW), few among the Amateur Radio Emergency Communication team started to the tragic site of Nilambur Kavalapara and a parallel communication system was established within minutes from the Nilambur Taluk office. Within a few hours of the disaster, all mobile and landline systems had been deactivated.Over the next two days, Nilambur Tehsildar communicated to the Collectorate through the ham radio systems only.

MARS ham radio wireless repeater station has also played a crucial role in the 2018 floods. At present, it can be connected to Malappuram, Palakkad, Thrissur, Kozhikode and Wayanad. Operating with a remote system, this repeater station is fully solar powered. The wireless transmitter repeater station was approved by the Ministry of Communications in 2010. The running expenses for the repeater station, met by the members of the Society only.

The Malabar Amateur Radio Society has received the approval of the Union Ministry of Communications for the first D-Star digital voice repeater station in India. As such it is possible to get connect Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram once the existing Analog repeater station moved to a higher location. Efforts are under way…