Astrakhan: Radio on the Edge of the Caspian

At the southern fringe of European Russia, where the Volga fans into the Caspian Sea, the Astrakhan branch of the Union of Radio Amateurs of Russia keeps its aerials pointed both inland and out to sea. Its mailing address — P.O. Box 200 — is modest, but behind it is a tightly knit council led by Sergey Ekimenko (R6UAC), a voice as familiar on the airwaves as in the Saturday morning clubroom at 5th Kerchenskaya Street.

Leadership with Saltwater in the Air

Ekimenko’s deputy, Anatoly Nazarov (UA6VY), co-hosts the Saturday 3.685 MHz net at 07:30 and the Wednesday VHF roundtable on 145.750 MHz, both staples of the regional calendar. The council is a mix of veterans — from Oleg Markin (UA6UCK) to Yuri Kamensky (RU6UR) — whose call signs carry the rhythm of decades spent on the bands.

QSL and Qualification

The QSL bureau operates from the same address, with Kamensky at the helm. Qualification matters fall to Alexander Savelichev (RA6UF) and his commission, who meet quarterly under the same roof.

On-Air Routine

• HF Net — Saturdays, 07:30 MSK on 3.685 MHz.

• VHF Net — Wednesdays, 21:00 MSK on 145.750 MHz.

• Repeater RR6UA — Astrakhan, 145.750/145.150 MHz, 45–50 km coverage.

Open Door Policy

Every Saturday, from 10:00 to 11:00, the second floor of the DOSAAF building on 5th Kerchenskaya Street comes alive: QSL cards change hands, licences are checked, and over cups of tea, the week’s DX is dissected. The same hour is shared by the qualification and bureau teams, ensuring that even a short visit can tick several boxes.

Here, at the delta’s edge, amateur radio is less about chasing distant stations than about keeping a scattered region in sync — a habit as practical as the tides.