A team of 16 Australian radio amateurs in V-K-3 will activate special event callsign AX3ITU on Tuesday 17th of May. This, to mark the 140th birthday of the International Telecommunications Union.

Amateur Radio Victoria aims to have the have AX3ITU on air virtually the entire 24 hours. The station will be available on CW, Phone, PSK31 and an amateur satellite on the day.

Three of the team, VK3QI, VK3ANJ and VK3YR, will concentrate on CW on the 40, 30 and 20 meter bands. Phone operation will be on the 80, 40, 20 and 2-metre bands, while PSK31 is to target 80 and 40 meters.

A commemorative QSL card will be available for contacts. Cards go direct to VK3WI or via the bureau.

Phonetic Codes

While working as a television news camerman, I arrived at an accident scene, and a cameraman from another station pulled up behind me. As I parked the news cruiser, I heard a policeman on the scanner using the radio phonetic alphabet to alert other officers. "Be aware that the Mike Echo Delta India Alpha has arrived," he said.

I approached the officer, looked him in the eye and said, "You might be surprised to know that some of us in the Mike Echo Delta India Alpha can Sierra Papa Echo Lima Lima."

- W3LAP