Vlad is back on air

Vlad wasn't much on air for about 1.5 years as he had problems with his TRX. A few local guys tried to help and repair first the IC-7410 he used until last year and than the old TS-950S he had for 20 years or so. Unfortunatly they didn't succeed yet and it may take longer.

With generous help offered by John, EI7BA, Vlad is back on air now. John sent his old TS-480HX which Vlad received a few weeks ago. Now he's back on air and is making a few QSOs almost daily. Of course he has to get used to this transceiver.

Many thanks again to John, EI7BA!

 Axel, DL6KVA

actual state of this care taking project

It's now almost 10 years since we started this financial support project for Vlad, 4K9W, to ensure he can stay at his home with a 24/7 care taker which allows him to keep working on air.

Many generous amateur radio operators around the world helped us to get that far - this is real ham spirit and I never thought it would be possible for such a periode of time.

The last few years we had only a dozen regular supporters and there support covers about 1/3 of the monthly needed money for the care taker. Everything else was covered by support received and saved in the years before. So actually we are now at a point that this project would very like to receive some more support from the ham community - no matter if regulary (the best way) or by one time donations.

As it's a monthly payment for Vlads care taker Vera (she's still doing the job since started almost 10 years ago) it sums up to a "good amount" per year.

Vlad is now 65 years old and keeps working on the bands if conditions permit.
This year he's additionally active with a special call sign 4K100W together with other ham radio operators from Azerbaijan to commemorate 100 years of Azerbaijan Republic.

Sure his operation with 100 watts and his 84m long wire depends much on the condx and we hope they'll improve now that the summer is almost gone.

If you consider to help us with this project you can use PayPal to dl6kva@darc.de for one time support or contact me per email to the same address for regular support arrangements if that would save PayPal costs.

Many thanks for helping to keep this project going!

73

Axel, DL6KVA

some information about Vlad, 4K9W

It's been a long time since I made a post here, sorry.

The reason is just that almost nothing changed with his situation over the past two years.

So that are good news as we are still able to support Vlad with the needed 24x7 caretaker. We have entered now the 10th year of support and his caretaker Valya is still with him and supports Vlad the needed way. I would never think that this is possible when we started this project of long time support in 2008.

Of course this was and is possible only because of those few long time supporters who are in this project for many years and several people who decided to help with a bigger amount.
But also those many hamradio operators who decided to support Vlad with smaller donations over the years have of course their valuable share in over 9 years of monthly support.

On the radio site I can report that after several longer time problems with the transceiver used and lately with his antenna the problems are solved now (luckly before the winter starts) and Vlad is active with a better signal on all main bands again. So he could join the WW CW crowd and make over 340 QSOs S&P. Unfortunatly his finger problems don't allow him to run pile ups on CQ these days as he was used to do a few years ago.

Vlad is happy to have his simple station (100 watts into a 84m long wire and slooper for 12m) working again so he's able to make some QSOs every day and work some DX too.

Many thanks again to all supporters, who helped and especially those who continue to help every month!

Have a pleasant Christmas time,

Axel Schernikau, DL6KVA
05.12.2017

It was quiet some time ago that I did an update on the support situation for Vlad.

Just last friday Vlad mentioned to me that it was exactly 7 years ago that his beloved mother died. That means that we're running this unique support project for Vlad now over 7 years what is a really great success!
Vlad asked me to express his gratefulness and thanks everybody who supported him so far, especially of course those few who do this on a monthly base. He is very happy to be able to be on air as much as conditions and health allow. He also continues to provide Azerbaijan as a multiplier in many contests in different modes. He loves to share the communication with his friends on the short wave frequencies.

As we know the monthly costs for his 24 hours / 7 days care taker Valentina is not that high compared to European costs but it is a monthly payment so the problem is the time factor as we have to pay this costs every month.

From todays perspective with many one time supporters in the first years and a small number of generous monthly supporters the situation is that at the end of this year 2015 we will have used all received support while the actual monthly support covers only half the costs. This is the way it goes for the last 3 years or so.

Of course it would be the best if we could find about 10-15 people who are ready to support Vlad with about 20€ per month. In the mean time any support will very much appreciated too. So we would like to ask you to thank and decide how you can support Vlad in his difficult situation.

If you decide to support this project on a monthly term please contact me directly at dl6kva@darc.de. If you want to support on a one time base the same email address can be used on PayPal - please note your callsign and that the support is for 4K9W.

We wish you all the best!
Many thanks!

Axel, DL6KVA

update on financial situation of the project

 Hello everybody,

it's time to post an update on the financial situation of this support project for Vlad, 4K9W.

Vlad continues to be very active and the current condx help him to get a good number of QSO into the log every month, mostly on the higher bands.

So far the needed 24 h / 7-day care is completly assured till end of june 2014.

As we have just a few constant supporters after that only about 25% of the needed 490€ are assured.

So it's time to try again to find some more monthly supporters as the monthly costs is the main problem. Since the start of the project at end of 2008 more than €30k were collected and payed only for the personal 24h / 7-day care needed for Vlad. Many thanks again to the 700 people around the world who supported this project in any way since 2008!

What really would help is to find about 15 people or so who are able and would like to support Vlad with about something like 20€ each month.


If you decide to support this project on a monthly term please contact me directly at dl6kva@darc.de. If you want to support on a one time base the same email address can be used on PayPal - please note your callsign and that the support is for 4K9W.


This information can be spread of course through other sources like websites and forums.


73 & gl


Axel Schernikau, DL6KVA
dl6kva@darc.de

Since my last post 10 days ago and the following public announcement on DX-World.com we received some more one time support so the needed care is assured for 4 additional months.

Main problem stays the long term support of Vlad from mid 2013.

Axel, DL6KVA

Vlad needs more support soon

Hello everybody,

with the overwelming help of many many radio amateurs and some non-amateurs from all over the world we were able to assure the needed 7 days / 24 hours care for Vlad for already more than 4 years. Of course most of the support came in after the information about his changed situation after his mothers dead was spread out through several bulletins and club reflectors in late 2008.

Many of those helpers provided one time support, some with bigger, some with a smaller amount. Several of us provide monthly support which of course is the most needed way as we need to pay for the care every month. By the way Valentina who took over this hard job 4 years ago fullfills all needs and Vlad is happy with the care she provides.

As in the past months not much came in anymore and the monthly support we receive is only about 20% of what is needed every month it is forseeable that without more support we will run into trouble in april / may 2013.

A few more guys who offered regular support earlier already promissed to be part of the monthly supporter group now. So now about 185 EUR out of 482 EUR needed every month are assured.

So hereby I would like to ask everybody to think and decide if he's able and wish to support us in providing needed care to Vlad and help him this way to be able to stay on air and be with us in our great hobby amateur radio on the bands.

Of course although monthly support (15 people per 20 EUR would do it) would be the best from a long term view every kind of support will be very appricated. The past 4 years showed how well this may help!

For any questions please contact me directly. In case You wish to make a non regular support You can use PayPal to my email address dl6kva@darc.de.

Many thanks in advance!

Axel Schernikau, DL6KVA
dl6kva@darc.de

Vlad finished operation as 4K9SONG a few days ago. He made about 2400 QSOs with 1900+ stations. QSLs were printed last week and received yesterday. All answers to already received QSL requests will go out tomorrow.

73 & gl,

Axel

Vlad's health and 4K9SONG operation

In march I took the chance to visit Vlad and stay with him for about a week (much too short). I was also active as 4K0CW during that time and took part in the Russian DX Contest.
It was great to visit him and Valentina who cares for him already more than 3 years again after my last visit in 2009.

Of course Vlad (as everybody of us) becomes older and the constant health problems doesn't help but Vlad is still in good mood and tries to be QRV every day using the chances condx give. Bands are not as good as in september / october but sometimes the higher bands (15/12/10m) can be used pretty good.

Two days ago he started to use his personal special call 4K9SONG for the upcomming European Song Contest which will be held in May in Baku, Azerbaijan. QSL for 4K9SONG will be printed and available via DL6KVA.

Many thanks again to all supporters for this long term project!

Axel Schernikau, DL6KVA

Thanks to the support from many many people we are able to guarantee the needed care for Vlad already for almost 3 years and at least till end of 2012 for now. Vlad is very happy about this and the ability to be QRV as much as possible. With improving condx You can hear him almost daily on different bands and / or modes. Vlad also takes part in many contests often providing a rare multiplier.

As there are different ways and periodicities used to provide support I decided to differ the list of supporters a bit more depending on the amount of support. The biggest support comes of course from the monthly supporters, thanks a lot to You!

As seen from the long lists of course all kind of support is helpfully to keep the needed care up and Vlad on the air.