New IARU Region 2 Monitoring System Coordinator appointed: (Aug. 4 2005) Bill Zellers, WA4FKI, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, has been appointed as the new IARU Region 2 Monitoring System Coordinator. He succeeds Martin Potter, VE3OAT, who stepped down in 2004. IARU Region 2 President Rod Stafford, W6ROD, announced the appointment this week. "Bill is excited about taking on the duties and responsibilities as Monitoring System Coordinator for Region 2 and assisting in the effort to keep the Amateur Radio bands free of intruding signals," Stafford said. "Join me in congratulating Bill on his appointment and wish him luck in his efforts in his new position." The IARU Monitoring System (IARUMS) is a worldwide service that works primarily to identify and initiate the necessary steps to remove from the Amateur Radio bands any non-Amateur Radio signals that are causing harmful interference through improper use. IARUMS also conducts surveys of amateur band occupancy, among other tasks. Potter says Zellers is eager to become fully engaged in his new post, supporting and coordinating the various national intruder watch programs in IARU Region 2 and working together with the IARUMS Coordinators in Regions 1 and 3. (ARRL News Service)
Serious HF service interference (Aug. 4 2005) It would appear not only are we Amateurs concerned about those HF noises on 80 and 40 meters of late. Serious HF service interference has been endured by various PNG spectrum users. An experimental Raytheon radar, developed for Australian conditions by Daronmont Technologies of South Australia has been installed on two islands in the Torres Straight. A transmitter system uses vertically polarized high power frequency agile pulses of RF to illuminate the ocean surface for several hundred kilometers to the west of the source. A separately located receiver system collects returned echoes and directs this data to another location for processing. Essentially the system seeks to surveil the Torres Straight region as an aid to border security and deterrence of poaching, illegal gun and drug shipments and people smuggling. While the intent of the service is positive, the current experiments appear to leave no section of the lower HF spectrum without interference. This is causing ongoing and frequent interference to the PNG users (and North Queensland spectrum users as well). As far as can be determined there are no "exclusion bands" as have now been developed by the Jindalee over the horizon radar system used by the Australian Defence Force. Perhaps the database that Jindalee uses could be provided to the Torres Strait system so interference could be minimized. So it appears several sources independant of each other could be the cause of these "things that go whirrr in the night!" (WIANews)
GB2RS 50th anniversary celebrations plan (Aug. 6 2005)
The plan is for GB2RS news readers to broadcast the special celebration greeting using the callsign GB50RS and then continue to read the weekly news under the normal call of GB2RS. (RSGB2)
GB2RS Launches News Bulletin on
the MT63 Mode (July 30 2005)
Brief reception reports using MT63 or voice USB may be given after the transmissions. Calls on 5MHz, by those holding the required NoV, should be made using voice USB only on 5,278.5kHz exactly. Calls using Morse code A1A may be tried anywhere between this channel lower edge frequency and 5,279kHz. The channel is known as Foxtrot-Bravo. If the channel is occupied by the primary user, then the transmission will be made on channel Foxtrot-Alpha 5,259kHz instead. This initiative is part of the build-up to the 50th anniversary of GB2RS, which is being celebrated in two month’s time. More details can be obtained from GB2RS news manager Gordon Adams, G3LEQ, on 01565 652 652. (RSGB2)
Amateur Radio in Yemen (July 27 2005) Mr. Abdulgader Ibrahim, Director
General of Frequency Management of the Ministry of Communications has made
a request for as much visual material on Amateur Radio as possible to share
with the Security Section of Yemen Ministry of Interior to provide a presentation
related to Amateur Radio to prove that;
Such material as handbooks, magazines, tapes, CD's, samples of picture QSL cards and posters, new or used to be sent to: Mr. Abdulgader Ibrahim, Director
General of Frequency Management
Mr. Ibrahim also states that there has never been a single Amateur Radio operation from Yemen and would welcome an official inquiry from any Amateur Radio Club/Organization. Only one authorization has ever been given out to a Sultan of Kuwait but the station was never set up. There have been a few other operations but they were unauthorized. A few years ago a crew of Amateur Operators were caught operating from a hotel in Aden without authorization and they were ordered to shut down, they could have just a easily ended up in prison. The Yemen Government does not understand a lot about Amateur Radio but realize the benefit the hobby can provide to the Country. They would like to establish an Amateur Radio Club at the Ministry to teach the locals and allow visitors to operate the station. 73, VB (UA4WHX)
(Thanks to KB8NW/OPDX/BARF80)
IRLP up and running in China (July 30 2005) Michael, W7RAT, who has for some time been trying to get IRLP going in China has now succeeded. The call sign is BY/W7RAT, node 3374. IRLP operators are encourged to call the node up. More informatin will be provided at a later date. Congratulations to Michael for all his efforts in getting IRLP going in China. (SARL)
Aug. 5 2005 Tad Cook K7RA Solar Update
The reporting week began with heightened geomagnetic activity on July 28, but it quieted down. Prediction for the next few days is for solar flux to remain above 100, which is expected until August 10. Current geomagnetic conditions are slightly unsettled, but after August 10 are predicted to be quiet. Barring any unexpected solar flare, expect good conditions, at least relative to recent HF propagation at this lower spot on the solar cycle. Also note that the Northern Hemisphere is about half way between the longest day of the year and the fall equinox, and fall is good for HF propagation. July ended this week, so now is a good time to look at monthly averages to see if we can spot trends. What we see is a tremendous variation from month-to-month, with a rise in average sunspot and solar flux numbers for July, due to the unusually large number of sunspots early in the month. The average daily sunspot numbers for the months October 2004 through July 2005 were 77.9, 70.5, 34.7, 52, 45.4, 41, 41.5, 65.4, 59.8 and 68.7. Average daily solar flux for the same months was 106, 113.7, 95, 102.3, 97.2, 89.9, 85.9, 99.5, 93.7 and 96.5. Looked at in isolation, the numbers since early 2005 almost suggest a rising solar cycle. The overall trend for the remainder of this sunspot cycle will be down, and it becomes more obvious when we average the numbers over a long period. Currently we are looking to reach solar minimum around the end of 2006. Our bulletin has reported this for some time now, and this is based on the table of predicted smoothed sunspot numbers that appears occasionally in the back of the weekly Preliminary Report and Forecast from NOAA Space Environment Center, found at www.sec.noaa.gov/weekly/index.html. This week's copy number 1561 at www.sec.noaa.gov/weekly/pdf/prf1561.pdf contains that table, but I noticed that looking back over the past few years shows the predicted values out to the end of 2007, just as it does today. Look at this table for predicted smoothed sunspot numbers from four years ago, in August 2001, and compare it to the table in the latest issue noted above: www.sec.noaa.gov/weekly/pdf2001/prf1354.pdf Even back in 2001 the predicted low numbers for the end of next year were the same as today's prediction. What changed are the predicted numbers for a few months from now, which are higher than predicted four years ago, and of course the actual smoothed numbers for all that time in between differ also. We must go back to 2000 to find tables that end earlier than 2007. Here is one from August 2000 which ends in 2005: www.sec.noaa.gov/weekly/pdf2000/prf1301.pdf Until I rechecked this, I thought the table was perhaps updated yearly, with another year in the future added on. I have a question in to the NOAA Space Environment Center about this, plus another question about the July 18 report of a sunspot number of -1 that we covered recently. Perhaps next week's bulletin will have more on this. Vic Woodling, WB4SLM wrote about recent VHF DX, but on the FM broadcast band, about half way between our own six and two meter bands. Vic's girlfriend lives near Haysville, North Carolina, in grid square EM85, and around noon local time on Tuesday, August 2 she heard KRKX in Billings, Montana on 94.1 MHz on her car radio. The strong signal was full-quieting, and the KRXK transmitter site is in grid square DN55, a little less than 1500 miles away. If you would like to comment or have a tip, email the author at, k7ra@arrl.net. For more information concerning radio propagation and an explanation of the numbers used in this bulletin see the ARRL Technical Information Service propagation page at, www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html. An archive of past bulletins is found at, www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/. Sunspot numbers for July 28 through August 3 were 29, 69, 62, 110, 102, 112 and 102 with a mean of 83.7. 10.7 cm flux was 95.8, 103.7, 105, 109.7, 111.2, 110.2 and 108.9, with a mean of 106.4. Estimated planetary A indices were 28, 19, 16, 9, 16, 12 and 11 with a mean of 15.9. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 18, 14, 11, 10, 18, 9 and 6, with a mean of 12.3. (ARRL News Service)
Europe Aug. 7 2005 Solar and propagation report, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS,and Martin Harrison, G3USF. Flare activity has varied between
low and moderate. An M4.2 flare on the 2nd was the largest of the week.
The solar flux rose from 104 on July 29 to 111 on the 1st of August
but fell back to 99 on the 5th. The average was 107, a gain of 18 over
the previous week. However, the 90-day average was unchanged at 96.
The x-ray flux, showing little daily variation,
What of the coming week? The more active side of the sun will be rotating out of view. Flare activity could be at moderate levels for the next day or so but should then decline. The solar flux will be in the 90s for the next few days but will fall into the 80s later in the week. The geomagnetic field will be mostly unsettled with active periods, though there should be a quieter spell around midweek. MUFs at equal latitudes will again be around 20MHz in southern Britain and 17MHz in the North. Darkness hour lows will be about 10MHz. Paths to the east coast of North America should have a maximum usable frequency, with a 50 per cent success rate, of about 20MHz. The optimum working frequency, with a 90 per cent reliability, will be about 15MHz. The best time to try the path will be between 1300 and 2100UTC. Sporadic-E should still occur on some days. And a reminder that one of the major meteor showers of the year is currently under way. The Perseids should peak around 0200UTC on Friday August 12. And that's all for another week from the propagation team.
PCSAT2 installed on ISS during Space Walk (Aug. 4 2005)
Astronaut Soichi Noguchi, KD5TVP, unfolded the suitcase-like Passive Experiment Container (PEC) holding PCSat2 and other experiments mounted atop the ISS P6 truss structure August 3 during a space walk with Astronaut Steve Robinson. Noguchi deployed the "tape measure" antennas by pulling up a couple of Mylar strips that allowed the antennas to pop out. PCSat2 is not yet available to users. Built by US Naval Academy students under the guidance of APRS guru Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, PCSat2 will operate in cooperation with the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program www.rac.ca/ariss. It will provide a 10-meter PSK31 multi-user transponder, an FM voice repeater for possible use with ISS crew members and an AX.25 packet system for use as a UI digipeater and for telemetry, command, control. Bruninga says the PSK31 transponder will not be turned on for general use until ground controllers have a better understanding of its thermal and power load. But it was enabled on August 5 over the US for a test, and the FM downlink (435.275 MHz) displayed the signal of a station transmitting on 29.402 MHz. The NA1SS/RS0ISS ARISS equipment was powered down during the PCSat2 installation, but it was back up August 4, when STS-114 crew member Andy Thomas, KD5CHF/VK5MIR, made some terrestrial contacts while the ISS and Discovery were passing over his native Australia. Bruninga says PCSat2 may be ready for use within a few days, but he asks that stations not attempt to use the system until it's been checked out and an announcement made. In the meantime, Bruninga has invited well-equipped ground stations to help capture early telemetry on the alternate downlink of 437.975 MHz. By week's end, some Earth stations were already reporting telemetry from PCSat2. Telemetry is at 1200 and 9600 baud. E-mail telemetry files to: pc2@grc.nasa.gov. Bruninga says the UHF downlink is only 1 W and will require a gain antenna to copy. Bruninga also has asked 1200 baud IGates or SATgates to monitor 437.975 MHz and feed the global APRS system live telemetry page: www.pcsat2.info/PCSat2Web/RealTime.jsp. PCSat2's primary downlink frequency is 435.275 MHz; the packet digipeater up and downlink frequency is 145.825 MHz. More information is on the USNA Web site: www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/pec/pc2ops.html. (ARRL News Service)
Amateurs to get New Satellite (Aug. 5 2005) PO-28 (POSAT-1)--Portugal's first satellite, launched 12 years ago--will be turned over to Amateur Radio use in the very near future. That was the word July 30 from AMSAT-UK Secretary Jim Heck, G3WGM, during the AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium in Guildford, England. Launched September 25, 1993, the satellite operated as a packet store-and-forward BBS (9600 baud FM FSK) on Amateur Radio frequencies for several weeks in early 1994. Over the years, PO-28's primary usage has been commercial, although plans have called for eventually shifting its operation to ham radio use. G3WGM reports that following lengthy negotiations it has been agreed that the satellite can be switched permanently to amateur frequencies. The changeover is expected to take a couple of weeks. The Portuguese satellite was built at the University of Surrey as part of a collaborative satellite technology program that involved industry and academe. Uplink frequencies will be 145.925 and 145.975 MHz. Downlink frequencies will be 435.075 and 435.275 MHz. More information on PO-28 is on the AMSAT Web site: www.amsat.org/amsat/sats/n7hpr/po28.html. (ARRL News Service)
NASA STS-114 Mission Status Report #19 (Aug. 4 2005) Space Shuttle Discovery's heat shield is cleared for the return to Earth early Monday after mission managers decided today that a fourth spacewalk to deal with a puffed out thermal blanket is unnecessary. Wind tunnel tests overnight at NASA's Ames Research Center in California showed little chance of any significant debris coming from the blanket at supersonic speeds. Further engineering analysis showed any debris released from the blanket was unlikely to hit structures on Discovery. Thursday's Mission Management Team decision put to rest the work that was being done to assess the health of the thermal protection system. The tiles and reinforced carbon-carbon on Discovery's wings and nose were cleared earlier for entry. Discovery and International Space Station crewmembers Thursday delivered a moving tribute to members of the Columbia crew and others, astronauts and cosmonauts, who lost their lives in the human exploration of space. Each crewmember, in red shirt with Columbia's STS-107 mission patch spoke during the tribute as the docked spacecraft flew over the southern Indian Ocean approaching a sunset. Station Science Officer John Phillips said: "To the crew of Columbia, as well as the crews of Challenger, Apollo 1, Soyuz 1 and 11, and to those who have courageously given so much, we now offer our enduring thanks." Mission Specialist Soichi Noguchi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency repeated Phillips' words in Japanese during the tribute, and Station Commander Sergei Krikalev spoke them in Russian. For the text of the tribute, please see: www.nasa.gov/returntoflight/crew/sts114_exp11_tribute.html After their successful Wednesday spacewalk, Discovery and Station crewmembers continued transfer activities, mostly packing the Multi-Purpose Logistic Module Raffaello with items from the Station. The pressurized cargo carrier is to be unberthed Friday from the Station's Unity Node and returned to Discovery's cargo bay for the trip back to Earth. Pilot Jim Kelly and Mission Specialist Wendy Lawrence attached the Station's Canadarm2 to Raffaello in preparation for its unberthing. Discovery Commander Eileen Collins, spacewalking Mission Specialist Steve Robinson and Mission Specialist Charlie Carmada talked with reporters from the Associated Press and NBC. A little later Collins and Noguchi spoke with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, Japanese astronaut Mamoru Mohri and others, including Japanese students. Crewmembers had an hour together for a common meal, then the seven Discovery astronauts had the afternoon off. The Station crew spent about two hours preparing equipment for the unberthing of Raffaello. (SpaceRef.com)
SOAR calls for change of law (Aug. 6 2005) A newly formed amateur radio group called SOAR - Space Observation with Amateur Radio - is aiming to get the regulations surrounding airborne experiments changed. The group wants to use meteorological balloons to carry amateur radio experiments to altitudes in excess of 90,000 feet but current licensing restrictions do not allow the use of amateur radio equipment in airborne vehicles. SOAR is currently negotiating with Ofcom and the Civil Aviation Authority to have the rules relaxed to allow experiments of this nature in balloons and other non-commercial craft. Such a change would allow the group to provide payload space for experiments by other amateur radio organisations and schools. The UK is currently the only country in the world where experiments like this are prohibited. But, as a SOAR spokesman pointed out, such projects could help build bridges between the amateur radio community and schools and colleges. “It seems a real shame that old fashioned thinking is restricting such an exciting and important project,” he said. URL: www.eham.org.uk (RSGB2)
GREATER BUFFALO
* Huge Flea Market *Club Contests
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Easy Directions to the Convention:
Talk In 147.255 + pl 107.2
The Nano-Transistor (July 30 2005) Canadian engineers have unveiled the creation of the world's smallest transistor in which electricity flows through a sngle molecule. Science Today reports that the device is only visible through a powerful microscope, but experts say it may be the biggest development so far in nanotechnology. Nanotechnology is a science with a gal of reducing computers and other devices to minuscule sizes. (Science Today) (ARNewsline)
Broadband takes to the Sky (July 30 2005) Boeing this week joined the ranks of companies offering planes equipped with Wi-Fi service with the introduction of its new high-speed Internet service, Connexion by Boeing, WIA Director and frequent flier Glen Dunstan VK4DU has more. Wi-Fi service is already available on about 70 aircraft operated by ANA, China Airlines, Japan Airlines, Lufthansa, SAS, and Singapore Airlines, though not on domestic U.S. flights. How it works Boeing uses a two-way satellite link to communicate with a network of ground-based stations. The aircraft is fitted with a standard 802.11 wireless router i.e. you must provide your own laptop with a wireless card. Connection costs US$30 on most international routes, US$20 for flights of less than 6 hours, or US$10 for 60 minutes of access, with each minute thereafter costing 25 cents. Maximum throughput to the aircraft is 20 megabits per second, which translates to a passenger average of 150 to 200 kilobits per second about three times the speed of a standard dial up connection. So is this what consumers want? Not everyone is excited about the prospect of aeronautical broadband, though. As one business traveller put it, "If you give me Wi-Fi, I will have to work. The airplane is the last place I can actually read a book during the day without guilt." And if you don't want WiFi and you haven't a good book, pretty soon you may be able to at least phone someone who has! RSGB's Jeremy Boot... Plans to lift restrictions on mobile phone use in planes could cause major disruption to radio astronomy, scientists have warned. Two US agencies the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) are considering scrapping a ban on using cell phones on planes following pressure from travellers. But astronomers including representatives from the US's National Academy of Sciences are worried that transmissions from mobile phones could drown out radio signals from outer space, jeopardising vital research into the universe. The problem is that cell phones generate radiation not only at their main operating frequency but also at multiples of this frequency. The frequency of one of these harmonics falls into the small band of the electromagnetic spectrum reserved for use by radio astronomers. Because the radio signals detected by radio telescopes are incredibly weak, having travelled many light years across the universe, they could easily be swamped by radio interference from mobile phones. Even a single phone conversation on a plane could disrupt radio telescope observations. According to one astronomer, lifting restrictions on cell phone use in planes would be tantamount to building a 40,000ft high mobile phone tower. (WIA News)
Changes announced for ARRL International EME Competition (Jul 26, 2005) The ARRL Program and Services Committee has approved the addition of a Single Operator Assisted (SOA) category for single-band and multiband ARRL International EME Competition entries. Under SOA, one person performs all operating and logging as well as equipment and antenna adjustment and alignment. The use of spotting assistance or nets (operating arrangements involving other individuals, DX-alerting nets, packet, etc) is permitted. The new category will be in play for the upcoming 2005 contest season, although it was not approved in time to make the contest announcement in August QST. This change means that single-op single-band and multiband EME event participants now may compete as unassisted or assisted. Certificates will be awarded for the new category. The EME competition cover three 48-hour weekend periods (0000 UTC Saturday through 2359 UTC Sunday). Dates and designated bands for 2005 are September 24-25: 2304 MHz and Up, and October 22-23 and November 12-13 50: MHz through 1296 MHz. For more information contact ARRL Contest Branch Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND. (ARRL News Service)
North American QSO Party--CW, sponsored by the National Contest Journal, 1800Z Aug 6-0600Z Aug 7 (see Jan QST, p 102 or www.ncjweb.com). Ten-Ten International Summer Phone QSO Party--sponsored by Ten-Ten International, 0001Z Aug 6-2359Z Aug 7, 10 meters only. Exchange: call, name, state and 10-10 number (if available). QSO points: nonmembers--1 pt, members--2 pts. Total score: sum of QSO points. For more information: www.ten-ten.org. Logs due Aug 22 to tentencontest@alltel.net or Steve Rasmussen, NØWY, 312 N 6th St, Plattsmouth, NE 68048-1302. European HF Championship--CW/SSB, sponsored by the Slovenian Contest Club, from 1200Z-2359Z Aug 6. EU to EU contacts only. Frequencies: 160-10 meters. Categories: SOAB only--CW, SSB, and Mixed Modes, HP and LP. Exchange: RS(T) and last 2 digits of first year licensed. Score: QSOs × number of different years received, counted once per band. For more information: http://lea.hamradio.si/~scc/euhfc.html. Logs due Aug 31 to euhfc@hamradio.si (Cabrillo format preferred) or Slovenia Contest Club, Saveljska 50, 1113 Ljubljana, Slovenia. TARA "Grid Dip" Contest--PSK and RTTY, sponsored by Troy ARA from 0000Z-2400Z Aug 6. Frequencies: 80-6 meters, work stations once per band, work Rovers again from new locators. Categories: SOAB only--QRP (<5 W), LP (<20 W or RTTY <100 W), HP (100 W max. or RTTY legal limit) Rover (50 W max or RTTY legal limit) operating from more than one Grid Locator, SWL. Exchange: Name and 4 digit grid locator. QSO points: 1 pt/QSO. Total score: QSO points × grid locators counted once per band. For more information: www.n2ty.org/seasons/tara_grid_rules.html. Scores due Sep 3 via on-line submission form at www.n2ty.org/seasons/tara_grid_score.html. National Lighthouse-Lightship Weekend--all modes, sponsored by the Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society from 0001Z Aug 6-2359Z Aug 7. Frequencies (MHz): CW--1.830, 3.530, 7.030, 14.030, 21.030, 28.030; SSB--1.970, 3.970, 7.270, 14.270, 21.370, 28.370. Exchange: Serial number or ARLHS member or lighthouse number, name and S/P/C. For more information: http://arlhs.com/. Logs due Aug 31 to Dave Ruch, NFØJ, PO Box 20696, Bloomington, MN 55420-0696. Worked All Europe DX Contest--CW, sponsored by the Deutscher ARC from 0000Z Aug 13-2359Z Aug 14, (phone is Sep 10-11; RTTY is Nov 12-13). Frequencies: 80-10 meters according to Region I band plan. Categories: SOHP, SOLP, MS, SWL. Spotting assistance allowed (SO stations not using spotting assistance will be noted). SO operate 36 hrs max, up to three off periods of 1 hour min. Non-EU work EU only except RTTY, where everyone works everyone. Exchange: RS(T) and serial number. Score 1 pt/QSO and 1 pt/QTC. Final score is QSOs + QTCs × weighted multipliers. Multipliers: non-EU use WAE countries, EU use DXCC entities plus call districts in W, VE, VK, ZL, ZS, JA, PY and RA8/9/Ø. (RTTY use WAE inside EU, DXCC outside EU, plus call districts.) Mults on 80 m count ×4, on 40 m ×3, otherwise ×2. A QTC is a report sent from a non-EU station back to an EU station of QSOs that took place earlier in the contest (RTTY QTC may only be exchanged between continents). A QTC contains the time, call sign, and QSO number of the station being reported (eg, 1307/DL1AA/346). A QSO may only be reported once and not back to the originating station. A maximum of 10 QTCs can be sent to a single station. The same station can be worked several times to complete this quota, but only the original QSO has QSO point value. Keep a list of QTCs sent. For example, QTC 3/7 would indicate that this is the third series of QTCs sent, and seven QSOs are reported. For more information: www.waedc.de. Logs due by Sep 15 (CW), Oct 15 (Phone) or Dec 15 (RTTY) to waedc@dxhf.darc.de or to WAEDC Contest Manager, Bernhard Buettner, DL6RAI, Schmidweg 17, 85609 Dornach, Germany. Maryland-DC QSO Party--CW/Phone, sponsored by the Antietam Radio Association, 1600Z Aug 13-0400Z Aug 14 and 1600Z-2359Z Aug 14. Frequencies (MHz): CW--3.643, 7.060, 14.060, 21.060, 28.035, Phone--1.895, 3.920, 7.230, 14.270, 21.370, 28.370, VHF/UHF--50.150, 52.525, 144.15, 146.55, 146.580, 432.15, 446.000. Categories: Club, Mobile, Novice/Tech, QRP and Standard. Work stations once per band/mode, portable/mobiles can be worked again in each county. Exchange: QTH and category. QSO points: Club--10 pts, Mobile--5 pts, QRP or Novice/Tech--4 pts, CW or RTTY or ATV--3 pts, all others--1 pt. Highest single point value applies. Score: QSO points × MD counties + Baltimore City + DC. (MD-DC stations also count SPC) For more information: www.w3cwc.org/rules.html. Logs due Sep 15 to wa3eop@arrl.net (ASCII format) or Antietam Radio Association, PO Box 52, Hagerstown, MD 21741-0052. (ARRL News Service)
Aug 4-Aug 7, 0000Z-0500Z, Hannibal, MO. Hannibal Amateur Radio Club, K9P. Masters International Shooting Championship 20 th Anniversary. 14.258 7.258. Certificate. Robert G. Mitchell, 816 Long Dr, Quincy, IL 62305. www.ewingmissouri.com/w0kem/. Aug 5-Aug 7, 1500Z-0300Z, Indianapolis, IN. Indianapolis Motor Speedway Amateur Radio Club, W9IMS. Brickyard 400 NASCAR Race. 21.340 14.240 7.240 3.840. QSL. Indianapolis Motor Speedway ARC, PO Box 18495, Indianapolis, IN 46218. www.w9ims.com. Aug 5-Aug 7, 2100Z-0100Z, Alma, MI. Michigan Masonic Radio Club, K8M. Masonic Family and Community Festival. 14.270 7.270 145.580. Certificate. Benjamin Creech, K8LHR, 416 Sunset St, Plymouth, MI 48170. www.gl-mi.org. Aug 5-Aug 8, 1400Z-0400Z, Canton, OH. Canton Amateur Radio Club, W8AL. Annual Pro-Football Hall of Fame Festival. 28.365 21.365 14.265 7.265. Certificate. Donald E. Perry, WQ8J, 968 Culverne Ave NW, Massillon, OH 44647. www.w8al.org. Aug 6-Aug 6, 1200Z-2000Z, Indianapolis, IN. Indianapolis Repeater Association, W9Z. Kids Special Event at Broad Ripple Hamfest. 28.350 21.330 14.280 7.250. Certificate. Steven Wendt, 9559 Neptune Dr, Indianapolis, IN 46229. All operators 18 and under. Aug 6-Aug 6, 1400Z-1900Z, Townshend, VT. West River Radio Club, W1RRC. Grace Cottage Hospital Day. 14.270 7.270. QSL. John Borichevsky, POB 8087, Guilford, VT 05304. www.westriverradio.net. Aug 6-Aug 7, 0001Z-1959Z, Bristol, ME. Lincoln County Amateur Radio Club, K1LX. National Lighthouse-Lightship Weekend from Pemaquid Lighthouse, US#278, ARLS#589. 14.250. Certificate. John Peters, K2LOT, 154 Boothbay Rd, Edgecomb, ME 04566. Aug 6-Aug 7, 0001Z-2359Z, Gulf Coast, TX. Central Texas Contest Group, WA5DTK. Operation from multiple Texas lighthouses--NLLW. 14.270 14.030 21.370 7.030/7.060. QSL. Barry Brewer, 603 Broken Bow Dr, Round Rock, TX 78681. Aug 6-Aug 7, 0001Z-2359Z, Port Hope, MI. Milford Amateur Radio Club, K8S. National Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend from Pointe Aux Barques Lighthouse. 28.370 21.370 14.270 7.270. Certificate. Gary I. Sklar, 7296 Green Farm Rd, West Bloomfield, MI 48322. Aug 6-Aug 7, 1200Z-2359Z, St Augustine, FL. St Augustine Amateur Radio Society, N4AUG. LH 758 celebrating NA Lighthouse Activity. 14.270 14.030 7.265 7.030. QSL. SAARS, PO Box 860084, St Augustine, FL 32086. www.saars.net. Aug 6-Aug 7, 1400Z-1600Z, Mathews County, VA. Middle Peninsula Amateur Radio Club, N4P. Commemorating New Point Comfort Lighthouse, USA-543. 21.360 14.260 7.260 3.960. QSL. William Sale, AE4RB, 6543 Belroi Rd, Gloucester, VA 23061. www.arlhs.net. Aug 10-Aug 14, 1300Z-2100Z, Sycamore, IL. Amateur Operators of the NISPC, W9S. Steam Power on the Farm. 28.390 14.290 7.270 3.990. CERTIFICATE. Bob Yurs, W9ICU, 1107 Commercial St, Sycamore, IL 60178. www.w9icu.com. Aug 12-Aug 13, 1400Z-2100Z, Angle Inlet, MN. Northwest Angle Amateur Radio Club, NW0AA. Northern most club in contiguous 48 states. 21.350 14.240 7.200 3.960. QSL. Dan Whipple, 11726 Norway St NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55448. Aug 13, 0001Z-2355Z, Indianapolis, IN. Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra/Kenneth Bandy, W9O. Commemorating 75th anniversary of Indianapolis Orchestra. 14.275 7.260 21.360. QSL. Kenneth Bandy, 1405 S Bridgeport Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46231. http://bandyrecording.com/W9O.htm. Aug 13, 1400Z-2100Z, Rush Springs, OK. W5PAA-FAA Aeronautical Center Amateur Radio Club, W5F. 2005 Rush Springs Watermelon Fest. 10-80 m CW/SSB. QSL. David Begue, K5FOZ, 2155 County Rd 1230, Tuttle, OK 73089-3112. www.W5PAA.org. Aug 13, 1300Z-2200Z, Baltimore, MD. Social Security Employees Amateur Radio Club, W3SSA. Commerating the 70th Anniversary of the Social Security Act. 14.280 7.280. Certificate. Greg Stec, K3ANG, 1624 Pickett Rd, Lutherville, MD 21093. An electronic version of the certificate is available. Aug 13-Aug 14, 1400Z-2200Z, Perry, OH. Lake County Amateur Radio Association, N8BC. Celebrating 27 years of public service in Lake County. 14.270 7.272 147.2100. Certificate. Dennis Brostek, KI8U, 7187 Maple St, Mentor, OH 44060. www.lcara.org. Aug 13-Aug 14, 1400Z-2400Z daily, Window Rock, AZ. Navajo Amateur Radio Club, N7C. Navajo Code Talkers Day. 14.265 7.265. QSL. Herbert Goodluck, PO Box 3611, Window Rock, AZ 86515. Aug 14, 1500Z-1800Z, Pikes Peak, CO. Colorado 14er Event Task Force, Various call signs. Colorado 14er Event--operating from summits of CO mountains. 14.260 147.42 147.45 446.00. QSL. Bob Witte, K0NR, 21060 Capella Dr, Monument, CO 80132. www.14er.org. (ARRL)
EGYPT, SU. Gab, HA3JB
will be QRV again as SU8BHI from July 01 to December 31. He
will be active on all bands using CW, RTTY, SSTV, PSK and some SSB during
many of the major upcoming contests. QSL direct only via
HA3JB (Kutasi Gabor, P.O. Box 243, H-8601
Siofok, Hungary).
Aug. 4 2005 ARRL DX News This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by IZ6FUQ, SU8IOTA, QRZ DX, the OPDX Bulletin, The Daily DX, 425DXnews, DXNL, WA7BNM and Contest Corral from QST. Thanks to all. NORTH KOREA, P5. Dave, KA2HTV, will attempt to operate as P5/KA2HTV from August 9-23. QSL via KK5DO. GUANTANAMO BAY, KG4. Bruce, W4OV, has rescheduled his trip and should be active as KG4OV on all bands on SSB and CW from August 19-22. ALASKA, KL7. Bill, K4XS, will be active as K4XS/KL7 until August 7. He is on Attu Island, IOTA NA-064 and uses CW only. QSL to his home callsign, direct only with SASE. There will be no bureau QSLs. GREENLAND, OX. Bo, OX3LX, will be working on Tasillaq Island, NA-151, until August 6. Look for him using CW, SSB, RTTY or PSK31. QSL via OZ1PIF. ICELAND, TF. Hector, TF/EA3EKS, will be active from August 6-13. QSL direct only. EGYPT, SU. Look for SU8IOTA on the Matruh Islands until August 9. ITALY, I. Special event station IY6GM will be active on 40-10 meters CW and SSB from Monte Cappuccini, Ancona from August 12-14. The activity will celebrate the 101st anniversary of the experiments carried out by Guglielmo Marconi from there. QSL via IZ6CRK, direct (c/o Sezione ARI di Ancona, P.O. Box 122, 60100 Ancona - AN, Italy) or bureau. ST. PIERRE MIQUELON, FP. Look for Paul as FP/K9OT on 30 or 40 meter CW between 0000 and 0200Z. QSL via K9OT. CORSICA, TK. Stefano, TK/IK5PWQ, will be active using CW and SSB until August 15. QSL via bureau. He intends to activate some offshore islands (EU-164) as well. Also, Gilberto, TK/IZ2GIL, is QRV on 80-20 meters until August 30. CROATIA, 9A. Lada, OK1LO, will activate Pasman Island (EU-170) as 9A5LO/p on 80-10 meters from August 5-15. FRENCH POLYNESIA, FO. Fred, F5INL, will be on the air as FO5INL from Papeete (OC-046) for two years starting on August 8. LORD HOWE ISLAND, VK9/L. Doug is working at the local weather station for the next three years. Listen for VK9ZLH on 30-10 meters. SWAZILAND, 3DA. Operators
3DA0GR (UT5UGR), 3DA0UJ (UT7UJ), 3DA0LL (UX0LL), 3DA0UT (UT7UT), 3DA0MC
(UR0MC) and 3DA0UY (UT5UY) are active using CW, SSB and digital modes on
160-10 meters until August
THAILAND, HS. E20EHQ, E22BH and other ops will sign E20EHQ/7 on 40, 20, and 15 meters from an art exhibition in the province Petchaburi from August 10-15. QSL via E20EHQ. USA, K. Adam, K2ARB/1, is QRV using CW on 80-17 meters from Martha's Vineyard (NA-046, USI MA-005S) until August 30. QSL via home call. FROM THE DXCC DESK. The following operation has been approved for DXCC credit: T6EE - Afghanistan, operation from September 19, 2004 to October 16, 2004. THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The ARRL UHF Contest, North American QSO Party, CW, Ten-Ten International Summer Phone QSO Party, European HF Championship, Tara Grid Dip Contest and National Lighthouse-Lightship Weekend are all on tap for your contesting pleasure. Please see August 2005 QST, page 85 for more details. (ARRL News Service)
Aug. 7 - 15 2005 I.C.P.O. Bulletin Islands, Castles & Portable Operations - I.C.P.O. 07/08/2005:
NA-112 W3HF/4 BOGUE BANKS -
08/08/2005:
OC-046 FO5INL PAPEETE -
08/08/2005:
EU-010 MMØLSB/P SOUTH UIST -
09/08/2005:
EU-065 F6HDH/P & F6HKS/P ILE D'OUESSANT -
09/08/2005:
EU-096 OH1/IZØFKE PARAINEN-PARGAS -
10/08/2005:
AS-NEW! RØK SHALAUROVA ISLAND -
10/08/2005:
EU-001 SV5/HB9IQB RODOS ISLAND -
10/08/2005:
EU-060 SV/IK8VRH KAVALLIANI ISLAND -
12/08/2005:
SA-069 3G1M SANTA MARIA ISLAND -
12/08/2005:
EU-075 J48RH/P SPETSES ISLAND -
12/08/2005:
EU-010 MMØLSB/P ERISKAY -
13/08/2005:
EU-075 SV/IK8VRH DOKOS ISLAND -
13/08/2005:
EU-001 SV5/IV3IPS/P RHODES -
13/08/2005:
TY/F6FVX BENIN -
13/08/2005:
NA-001 W1CGT/C6A SOUTH ANDROS ISLAND -
14/08/2005:
EU-047 9A/IK1ACX PAG ISLAND -
14/08/2005:
EU-045 IBØMDC PONZA ISLAND -
15/08/2005:
EU-170 9A3FO/P BABAC ISLAND -
15/08/2005:
AS-117 JFØBPT/7 O-SHIMA ISLAND -
15/08/2005:
EU-010 MMØLSB/P BARRA / VATERSAY -
15/08/2005:
EU-067 SV/IK7YTT MYKONOS -
15/08/2005:
NA-100 V25LR, V25WX ANTIGUA -
73 and Good
Hunting!
Home of
ICPO:
www.qsl.net/va3rj
Note: A complete list of Prefixes assigned by International Telecommunications Union can be found on the Trans Provincial Website: www.tpn7055.ca/callsign.html
Hundreds file comments on FCC Morse Proposal (Aug. 6 2005) Hundreds already have filed comments via the FCC's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) on the Commission's recent proposal to eliminate the Morse code requirement for all license classes. Dozens more--most brief, some detailed--are showing up daily. A formal 60-day comment period starts once the FCC's Notice of Proposed Rule Making and Order (NPRM&O) in WT Docket 05-235 appears in the Federal Register, but the FCC will accept comments filed now. Issued in response to 18 petitions for rule making--including one from the ARRL--the FCC's July 19 NPRM&O dealt only with the Morse requirement and turned away all other proposed rule changes. A random sampling of the more than 360 comments filed as of August 2 suggested the tide is running firmly in favor of the FCC's stance. Some even praised the Commission. "The FCC has finally come through," commented Doug Durrett, KC7DJI, a Technician class licensee. "Hats off and thumbs up to the 05-235 proposal. Get it done ASAP." Others, such as Jesse T. Franklin, K9GO, were just as adamant that Morse code should remain a licensing requirement for those desiring HF access. "Morse code has been the foundation of the Amateur Radio Service since the very beginning," he asserted. "I feel doing away with the Morse code testing would only weaken the service." Many pro-Morse postings raised the specter of impending chaos on the ham bands if the requirement goes away, with some suggesting that eliminating Morse testing would be "the beginning of the end for Amateur Radio." As one commenter put it, dropping Element 1 would mean "continuing down the slippery slope of 'dumbing down' the Amateur Radio Service." Another contended that passing a Morse code examination contributes to better on-the-air discipline. Still others called Morse an "important tradition," a "universal language," a "vital tool" useful in emergencies and--in the words of Jan Smoller, KC2CT-- "the one sacred bastion left to preserve the history and continuance of the Amateur Radio Service." William R. Ogden, W2WO, suggested that Morse code creates a sense of community among radio amateurs. A relative handful of commenters appear to favor keeping the 5 WPM Morse examination for Amateur Extra applicants only. Others asked the FCC to revisit the notion of creating a new entry-level license class--something else the ARRL and others sought--as well as the recommendation to stop making question pools public. Several licensees who'd gone through the old three-tiered system of Morse examination elements indicated they'd like to see the requirement disappear. "I support the removal of the Morse code requirement, even though I had to pass the 5, 13 and 20 WPM," wrote Brent Crier, N9BC, whose comments were fairly typical of that group. "CW is not going to go away like some think. If new operators want to use that mode they will learn it." Robert A. Johnson, K3MQ, was among those characterizing Morse code as obsolete, even though he says he operates CW. "Requiring amateurs to learn a system which is antiquated meets no public service need," he remarked. "I personally use and enjoy Morse code but feel it should be an option for those interested--not a requirement." Advanced class operator Marvin B. Smith, WA5PSA, said it's "time for Morse code to stand or fall of its own accord as a mode." Many, like Thomas J. Miller, W2HVK, said eliminating the Morse requirement would breathe new life into the Amateur Service. "The US could certainly use more trained radio operators considering the post 9/11 world we live in," he said. "Additional roadblocks (like CW) to upgrading to HF make no sense today." Based on a random sample of 135 comments filed by August 2, approximately 60 percent favored the elimination of the Morse code requirement for all license classes, while approximately 30 percent asked the FCC to retain the requirement. Another 10 percent endorsed keeping the Morse code as a requirement to obtain an Amateur Extra class license. The ARRL random sampling was not scientific. By week's end, the number of comments filed had nearly doubled, with comments supporting removal of the Morse requirement continuing to predominate. The comment period extends for many more weeks; an official comment deadline has not yet been established. The FCC then will consider all comments in developing a Report and Order (R&O) that spells out whatever new rules the FCC finally adopts and set an effective date. That's not expected to happen before year's end at the earliest. A copy of the NPRM&O is on the FCC Web site http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_document=6518023930 To file on-line comments in this proceeding, WT Docket 05-235, or to view others' comments, visit the FCC Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) site www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/ and click on "Submit a Filing" or "Search for Filed Comments." In either case, type "05-235" in the "Proceeding" field. Be sure to include the hyphen--but not the quotation marks. Directions for filing comments, which can be in the form of an attached document, are on the ECFS site. Click on "Getting Started" to learn more. (ARRL News Service)
Hams become "First Responders" as Conventioneers forced to evacuate (Aug. 4 2005) Radio amateurs attending the ARRL Rocky Mountain Division Convention July 30 in Bryce Canyon, Utah, were among the first to respond when release of a noxious substance felled more than 50 people. Utah ARRL Section Manager Mel Parkes, AC7CP, and other hams swung into action to assist after conventioneers and other guests near an inside pool adjacent to the convention area at Ruby's Inn lodge began complaining of nausea, headaches and difficulty breathing sometime around 11 AM. Parkes himself later suffered the effects of the substance--now believed to be pepper spray--and was among those treated at the scene before being taken to a hospital. "It was fantastic to see people go into emergency mode," said ARRL Sales and Marketing Manager Dennis Motschenbacher, K7BV, who was representing the League at the convention. "The calmest people there were the hams." Convention attendees helped to evacuate victims and direct traffic as emergency crews arrived on the scene. Among those helping to coordinate activities was Utah Section Emergency Coordinator Jerry Wellman, W7SAR. Motschenbacher said several Amateur Radio Emergency Service members grabbed their "jump kits" and rendered assistance to those suffering from the fumes. Ironically, the incident occurred as Wellman's forum, "Emergencies: What If?" was under way. When notified that he had to clear the room because of an emergency, Wellman says his first reaction was that someone was playing a joke. "Then the fellow said, 'This is the real thing, you have to evacuate,' so we ended the seminar quickly." At first, neither the substance nor its source were known. It was later determined that someone had apparently smeared pepper spray on the wall of a room in the lodge, and the fumes got into the inn's ventilation system. "As the gas began to migrate out of the initial release area into the hamfest area, more and more people began to be affected," Motschenbacher recalled. "By this time a mass evacuation was in process. Eventually the entire central complex was evacuated and roped off." In all, some 300 guests were relocated into other facilities at the inn complex. The incident "totally disrupted the convention," Motschenbacher said, but as things began to calm down that afternoon, some presenters conducted their forums outdoors. An evening banquet was also held outside and away from the affected area. After several hours, Parkes and others returned to the inn, but because authorities had confiscated their clothing for analysis, they were attired in garb donated by a local charity. "Everybody just pulled together," said Motschenbacher, who reported suffering a sore throat but did not require medical treatment. "All the authorities were very complimentary about Amateur Radio." (ARRL News Service)
Radio Amateurs Aid in Pacific Maritime Rescue (Aug. 4 2005) "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday! This is the sailboat Enamorado. Mayday, Mayday!" That's what Wisconsin radio amateurs Ed Toal, N9MW, and Ralph Henes, W9CAR, heard during a casual Sunday morning net July 24 on 14.238 MHz that also involved Dick Mannheimer, K6LAE, in Los Angeles. Toal and Henes were able to contact the operator, Ken Saijo, KC6ORF--a California retiree--who confirmed the 35-foot sailing vessel was in trouble and needed help. "All social chatter immediately stopped, and we declared an emergency in progress on frequency," Henes said. Then, while Toal gathered information from the operator aboard the Enamorado, Mannheimer and Henes both called the US Coast Guard to relay the boat's situation and position, which turned out to be in Mexican waters. Henes said the Coast Guard relayed their information to the Mexican Navy. Henes and Toal were able to copy KC6ORF well, although Mannheimer could not, and they maintained contact with the disabled boat. The Wisconsin hams learned that that Saijo was accompanying the boat's skipper, Ken Scheibe, on a trip from California to Costa Rica when they ran into a storm. As a result, the vessel lost its engine and steering and both men were injured, neither seriously. Before putting out distress calls on 20 meters, Saijo had tried without success to raise help via the vessel's VHF marine radio. Mannheimer noted that Art Rowe, K7HA, in Washington, and Tom Miller, K4IC, in Arlington, Virginia, initially kept the frequency clear. They were subsequently joined by a host of other stations in the US and Canada, some of whom were able to copy KC6ORF and help relay as needed. Toal had to leave after a couple of hours, but Henes and Mannheimer remained on frequency. About three hours into the incident, Henes again called the US Coast Guard to see if it had heard back from the Mexican Navy. It had not, so he called the Mexican Navy himself and, after what he described as "a few tense language-barrier moments," he was connected with someone who spoke English and Spanish and told that a rescue boat and helicopter were on the way. Henes also got the Mexican Navy vessel to come up on 20 meters. "Within minutes, they were on the frequency calling the stranded boat," he said. Unfortunately, neither Saijo nor Scheibe spoke Spanish fluently enough to understand the communicator on the Mexican Navy vessel. Enter Jorge Lira, XE1JP, who volunteered to serve as translator. He was able to relay the foundering sailboat's coordinates to Mexican authorities. "He saved the day," said Henes, who reports he was able to hear the rescue helicopter in the background on Saijo's transmission. Saijo and Scheibe were plucked to safety from the distressed vessel, which the Mexican Navy towed to safety. Henes said he later received an e-mail from Scheibe thanking him and the other radio amateurs for helping. Toal said later, "To me, we were just paying our dues for the right to be hams." A TV station and a newspaper in Madison, Wisconsin, were among the news media reporting the incident and Amateur Radio's role in coming to the rescue. (ARRL News Service)
Ham loses life installing Emergency Communications Antenna (Aug. 4 2005) An Ohio radio amateur died July 30 while attempting to perform a public service for his county's RACES/ARES program. Preble County RACES Radio Officer Robert W. "Bob" French II, N8EHA, of Eaton was on a tower at the New Paris fire station installing an antenna for the RACES/ARES program when an element came into contact with a power line. The shock knocked French from the tower, and he reportedly fell some 40 feet to the ground. French's son Aaron, KA8VUS, Al Stone, KB8RPO, and other members of the work party administered CPR to no avail. "Bob started back up the tower, pulling the antenna up by the feed line as he climbed," Stone recounted in a message shared with ARRL by Ohio Section Manager Joe Phillips, K8QOE. "At one point Bob thrust his hand upward to grab another rung of the tower, with the feed line in his hand. The antenna began swinging, and when he went for that last rung, the antenna came in contact with [the] power line." Stone said the ham volunteers were installing two antennas on the New Paris fire station's tower as part of a project to equip every firehouse in the county with an antenna and ham radio for emergency backup communication. French, 51, belonged to the ARRL. He was a founding member of the Preble Amateur Radio Association and very active in the club. "He was one of the biggest advocates for Amateur Radio I have known," said Gary Hollenbaugh, NJ8BB, who eulogized his friend at an August 3 service. "His leadership, organizational skills, knowledge and enthusiasm cannot be easily replaced." Hollenbaugh says French was wearing a safety belt but not a fall restraint harness. "He was still climbing the tower and not able to secure off," he said, conceding that his friend did not follow several safety rules. He also questioned why the tower was sited so close to power lines. ARES District 3 Emergency Coordinator Ron Moorefield, W8ILC, represented the ARRL at French's service. Survivors include his wife Cathy, KA8RWX, and their daughter and son. The family invites memorial contributions to the Preble Amateur Radio Association, 7810 US Hwy 35 E, W Alexandria, OH 45381. (ARRL News Service)
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