ARSI organized VHF/HF Hilltop Contest Cum Field Day-2025
25-26 January 2025
Ground Report from contest location by Team Taranga Hill, Gujarat
Introduction:
Taranga is located 128 km north of Gandhinagar (our QTH) in Gujarat, and only 20 km from Vadnagar, the 3-peaked hill is significant for Buddhists and Jains. While the oldest Jain temple was built in the 12th century, Buddhist monuments dating back to the 4th century on this hill. Reaching the hilltop involves a trek. On reaching you can see small shrines dedicated to Buddhist Goddess, Devi Taranga Mata. Weathered terracotta images of Buddha and four carved images of Dhyani Buddha on a stone plate can be seen in cave formations. The Taranga Jain Temple is further up from here. This 12th century Derasar is one of the best-preserved temples in Gujarat. There is a five-metre tall sculpture of the 2nd Jain Tirthankara, Shri Ajitnath, who represents inner stillness. The Swetambar complex consists of 14 temples, but there are 5 other Digambar shrines as well.
Taranga is a Jain pilgrimage center with two compounds of Jain temples that are important examples of the Māru-Gurjara style of architecture. The Ajitnatha temple, was constructed in 1161 by the Solanki king Kumarapala, under the advice of his teacher, Acharya Hemachandra. Both the main sects of Jainism are represented, with adjoining walled compounds.
Elevation: 450 meters (about 1476 feet) above MSL. (see map) near Banaskantha Arvali Hills
Grid Location: ML63jx
Team: Gujarat Institute of Amateur Radio, (GIAR), Gandhinagar VU2TIV
Team Call Sign: VU2TIV
Team Leader – Vithal Ajamera, VU3VDC
Participants:
- Vithal Ajamera -VU3VDC
- Jagdish -VU2JGI
- Pravin Valera,-VU2CPV
- Asheshbhai, VU3APY
- Amitsinh-VU3FFU
- Hirensinh-VU3FFV
- Ruchir Purohit – VU3NZT
- Bhatnagar -VU2SPF
- Dhiren Tank – VU3HXS
On Way:
Since the location of our contest was 128 kilometers away from our QTH, we started a day before i.e. on 24th January 25. and reached to Tarang in the afternoon. Just after reaching the foothills of Tarang, we were warmly welcomed by the trustees of the temple and local people.
Installation and testing:
Two HF stations antennas for 20 and 40 meters (inverted ‘Vee’) and two VHF/UHF (5/8 double stack vertical) antennas were erected and installed and tested on the proposed site 100 meters apart – both capable of working on battery 12V with solar charging system.
Three Tents were erected to facilitate the operation & placed solar panels (for charging the batteries) at hill top.
Continuous HF/VHF/UHF operation was carried out as per ARSI timings starting from 9.00 AM 25th January to 4.30.00 PM 26th February 2025.
The temple committee was kind enough to allow us to use their private internet, which was inside the temple, for Digital Communication setup.
All contacts were logged down. Copy of the Log, duly entered in prescribed Excel sheet is sent herewith.
Equipment:
Two sets of equipment were used for the contest which include:
- ICOM IC2300H 2 Nos.
- ICOM IC-718 for HF
- ZASTONE-50 for UHF
- IC V82 – 4 Nos for internal QSO
Power Supply:
We carried two portable batteries –70 A and 30 A battery. They were charged through solar panels placed near the tent. Throughout the contest, the battery was working well as we made QSOs on low power.
Antennas:
It is worth to mention that all the four antennas we carried were home brewed. We had (1) 2 nos, 5/8 vertical antenna (2) Inverted ‘Vee’ antenna (3) UHF slim Jim antenna (4) 4 element quad with PVC boom.
QSO:
In total we made 230 contacts covering Indian and abroad stations.
Band Condition:
There were gusty winds especially after 11.00 AM. Temperature remained moderate and humid. The band condition for VHF and HF was good on both the days.
Visits:
- A group of 20 members from Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar visited our station at Taranga. Knowing about Amateur Radio, they were highly impressed. (Photographs are attached.)
- Borivali Jain Social Group, Mumbai visited.
- People from nearby villages/town also visited.
Special Thanks:
We are thankful to the trustees of the Tarang Digambar Temple. They were very cooperative and supportive. They provided us logistic support, including their internet.
Cleanliness Drive:
Before leaving the place, we took it as a drive to make the hill plastic- and garbage-free. We collected all plastics and garbage and handed over to Gandhinagar local body (Municipality) for its disposal.
Finally, we are thankful to the ARSI team for all the efforts made to success this event.
73s,
DE
Vithal Ajamera, VU3VDC
for Team Tarang Hill from Gujarat
Participant National Field Day & Hill Topping Contest organized by ARSI
