In Russia’s vast expanse, some amateur radio branches operate like busy metropolitan hubs — but Orenburg’s regional SRR branch takes a different approach: a steady, reliable weekly rhythm that has kept it on the air and in touch with its members for decades.
Leadership with a Personal Touch
At the center is Ivan Vasilyevich Gonchar (R9SFB), a man who wears the twin hats of branch head and council chair. His team includes Alexander Viktorovich Borzyaev (UD8S), who not only sits on the council but also chairs the qualification commission, ensuring local operators meet standards.
Oversight comes from Andrey Iosifovich Ronzhin (RC8SA), the head of the audit commission, whose home and mobile numbers are as much part of the branch’s identity as its callsigns.
QSL Cards from the Countryside
Unlike urban bureaus housed in offices, Orenburg’s QSL bureau sits in Rychkovka village, Perevolotsky District — in the hands of Vladimir Stanislavovich Vitkovsky (UA9SIV). From there, the branch’s physical connection to the world is maintained, one card at a time, serving both casual ragchewers and contest chasers.
On the Air: Local Voice Nets
The branch’s roundtables happen on Saturdays at 18:00 MSK in winter and 20:00 MSK in summer on 3635 kHz, hosted by UA9SIV and RA9SK. It’s not a daily sked, but it’s a dependable fixture — one that members can set their watches, and their rigs, by.
Physical Presence: DOSAAF and Weekly Access
The regional office operates out of DOSAAF premises on Rybakovskaya Street, 55, Orenburg, open every Saturday from 09:00 MSK. This face-to-face availability reinforces the branch’s role not just as an on-air presence, but as a physical gathering point for operators spread across the oblast.
A Conservative but Reliable Model
Orenburg’s branch is not overloaded with repeaters or high-tech beacons — in fact, its “UHF repeaters and beacons” list is currently blank. But that’s part of its charm: it relies on core HF nets, personal contact, and a well-maintained QSL exchange. For a region this wide and sparsely populated, that’s more than enough to keep the community linked.
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