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In 1978,
ROARS joined the IARU, thus cementing the ties between
Oman’s national society and those worldwide. From 1979
onwards, special events have been held annually, as well
as field days, contests and anniversary celebrations.
One of the Society’s notable achievements was the
setting up of a field station in Salalah in late 1979. A
year later, the Society participated in a journey from
Muscat to Canton in China, recreating the voyages made
by the legendary Omani seaman Sindbad the sailor around
1,000 years ago. The 8,000-mile journey was completed in
nine months, with ROARS members checking in daily to the
amateur station on board. |
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The
Society celebrated its tenth anniversary in 1982 – the
year designated by HM Sultan Qaboos as the Year of Youth. Young people from around the world were invited
to join their Omani brothers and sisters to commemorate
the country’s 13th National Day. During these
celebrations, ROARS set up portable stations at Youth
Camps, and amateur radioactivities were introduced to
both local and foreign youth. The young people were
given the opportunity to exchange greetings with their
countrymen, and for ROARS, the event was another
milestone both locally and internationally.
Local
club contests were held throughout 1984 and 1985, with
members from all corners of Oman participating using
portable low power stations with simple wire antennas.
Lucky winners of the contests were presented with
Awards.
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In 1986,
the Society participated in a ten-day 17th Arabian scout
jamboree camp, which was held in Salalah. Members
introduced aspects of the hobby and explained the basics
of communication technology to the new generation. At
the camp, boys were given opportunities to talk on the
VHF radio as part of their training programme. |
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The
Society celebrated its fifteenth anniversary in 1987. A
camp made of traditional barasti palm leaves operated
for four days, during which time more than 150 countries
were contacted. Among the foreign visitors to this
occasion was President of the International Amateur
Radio Union (IARU) Mr. Dick Baldwin, WIRU. Mr. Baldwin
was impressed with what he saw as a very organised and
developed society. |
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In late
1989, active members of the Society formed what is known
today as the A4 DX Group, with the aim of promoting its
activities in the interior, and bringing amateur radio
to the more unknown areas of Oman and its outlying
islands. In February 1990, the group made its first
expedition to activate Mahwat Island, located 500 km
southeast of Muscat. For the first time, the island was
introduced on the air, and added to the IOTA list.
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Immediately after Mahwat, the group decided to take on a
bigger challenge – to re-activate Kuria Island, now
known as Hallaniyat. The island was first put on the air
By British Royal Air Force amateurs in 1963, and since
then as remained one of the most desirable Asian islands
on the IOTA list. With the full support of the Society’s
President H.E. Ahmed bin Suwaidan A41FK (Former Minister
of Posts, Telegraphs and Telephones), plans and
schedules were prepared and announced world-wide in
March 1990. On 16th May 1990, the first batch of four
expeditioners left Muscat, and as scheduled on 17 May
1990, the callsign A43KM was put o the air. The team was
later joined by the next batch of four who completed the
mission. By the last day, 24 May 1990, 8,000 contacts
had been made on SSB/CW and FM modes.
In October 1990, members of the
Society joined the historic Silk Route
Maritime Expedition organised by UNESCO, with
a view to initiating an in-depth study of the cultural
relations between east and west.
Nearly 60
scholars from different countries participated in
discussions and exchanges while they followed the path
of the ancient silk route on board the Omani Royal Yacht Fulk Al-Salamah (Ship of Peace), which was personally
contributed to the project by HM Sultan Qaboos bin Said.
The ship embarked on an international cultural mission
starting in Venice, Italy, concluding in Osaka, Japan,
and calling at twenty ports along the way. |
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Twelve
radio amateurs were involved in the six-month
expedition. During that time, they introduced the
project to radio amateurs world-wide, kept in touch with
ROARS headquarters in Muscat, and provided a
communication service and relays to scholars on board
when required.
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In July
1992, members of the Society headed the first oversees Dxpedition from Oman to the islands of Zanzibar and
Pemba in East Africa. The aim of this expedition was to
introduce amateur radio to the islanders and the islands
to the world in general. This was achieved admirably,
with thousands of stations activated in over 200
countries.
Another
one-week DXpedition was held in April 1994 to activate
the Sultanate’s Daymaniyat Islands (A43DI). Again this
island was new for the IOTA list. In April 1995, Al-Ghanam
(Goat) Island (A43GI) was activated and added to the
IOTA listing. Members operated for one week, despite bad
propagation and weather disruptions. |
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In
September 1995, the Society sent a team (A41KT and
A41KW) to participate for the first time in the European ARDF Championship organised by the International Amateur
Radio Union Region 1, and held in the Slovak Republic.
ARDF Amateur Radio Direction Finding – is a technical,
sporting activity, and is an exciting branch of amateur
radio that attracts people of all ages. |
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In November 1995, the Society’s
president, H.E. Ahmed bin
Suwaidan Al-Bulushi A41FK was presented with the
International Amateur Radio Union’s Region 1 Medal.
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Continued ... |
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