-Aug. 15 2003....Belguim joins the No Code Brigade

  Belgium has become the latest country to allow CEPT Class 2 amateurs access to the HF bands. A news story on the Belgian national amateur radio society - the UBA - website says that Belgian Class 2 amateurs, who hold ON1 callsigns, may start using the HF bands from the 4th of August. It is expected that more countries will follow suit shortly.

To obtain an upgrade, class 2 license holders in Belgium only need to send a request with all of the relevant data and a 5 Euro stamp for each license to be processed.

(RSGB)

***********************

-Aug. 15 2003.....German CEPT Class 2 Amateurs Gain Access to the HF Bands

Another week, another country . . . Following Switzerland, the UK, and Belgium, Germany is the latest country to announce that it is abandoning the Morse code test as a requirement for HF band operation. According to the website of the German national amateur radio society, DARC, from the 15th of August radio amateurs in Germany with a CEPT Class 2 licence will be allowed to use the HF bands using their existing callsigns. Further details were to follow, the website said.

***********************

-Aug. 16 2003....New Prefixes for the Netherlands

From the 7th of August new prefixes came into effect in the Netherlands. On the HF bands, PA, PB, PC, PF PG and PI callsigns can be heard with one, two or three letter suffixes, while on VHF and above, PD, PE and PH are the prefixes, again with one, two or three letter suffixes. For example, Peter, formerly PB0AIU, who sent in this news story, is now PC2A.
 

***********************

-Aug. 15 2003......The Wireless Institute of Australia

   The Wireless Institute of Australia - the W-I-A - says that it will seek and end to Morse testing. This based on decisions made at the recently concluded 2003 World Radiocommunications Conference held in Geneva Switzerland.  Ernest Hocking, VK1LK, is Federal President of the Wireless Institute of Australia:

Hocking:  "On Sunday 13 July the WIA held a teleconference to discuss a number of matters including the official WIA response to the removal of the Morse testing requirement after WRC 2003. At this time the ACA has indicated to the WIA that it intends to use the licence reform process referred to above as the single reform of the Licence Conditions. This would have the affect of delaying the adoption of the WRC recommendations until early 2005.

At the teleconference the WIA council voted unanimously to actively promote the immediate removal of the current Morse testing requirement. This has already happened in a number of other countries such as for example the UK, and Switzerland with the administrations in these countries simply issuing an administrative order recognising that the Morse Code test is not longer required."

The initial response from the Australian Communications Authority has indicated that it does not expect to vary its current position but will at least review the situation.

(Q-News)

*********************

-Croatia  gain 4-metre Band

Last week we reported that Danish amateurs had been given access to the 4-metre band.  Now, G8TOK reports that Croatia is about to give its hams access to the same band.

According to Derek, Croatian amateur 9A2EY says that following negotiations with the Croatian Ministry of Maritime Affairs,
Transportation and Telecommunications, amateurs in that nation will also soon gain access to the 4 meters.  Also, that an announcement is to be made in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Croatia.

It is expected that the first 4 meter licenses will be issued at the end of September. The band will be 70.000 to 70.450 MHz with Secondary Status. Modes permitted will be A1A, J3E, F1B and F2D modes at a maximum of 10 watts Effective Radiated Power.

(RSGB)

***********************

Aug. 15 2003.....UK TO Denmark on  4 Meters

Darrell Mawhinney, GI4KSO, is claiming what is probably the first England to Denmark contact on 4 metres.  This foloowing the opening of the 70 Mhz allocation to OZ hams.

Mawhinney says that he worked OZ3ZW on 70.100MHz SSB at 09:55 U-T-C on the 22nd of July.  He also reports reception of the OZ7IGY beacon on 70.021MHz on the same day.

But theres more.  G8TOK, reports that S53X worked OY9JD in the Faeroe Islands on 4 metres on the 19th of July.  This means that the newly granted permission obviously extends to Danish overseas territories including, presumably, also Greenland.

(RSGB)

**********************

Aug. 15 2003....Korea:  RKI at 50

  Radio Korea International is inaugerating a special web site on August 15th to mark the stations 50th anniversary.  The cyberspace home page will feature a look at the past, present and future of the station. Radio Korea International  first took to the airwaves as the Voice of Free Korea on August 15, 1953.

(ASWLC)
 

-From RAC HQ.......RAC web site a victim of Power blackout

  The massive power failure, beginning shortly after 4 PM on Thursday August 14th, which affected Ontario  and the Northeast US, also denied access to the RAC web servers for many users. At this time it is not known whether the problem was related to the servers, or to the local connection to the Internet.

Some users of  RAC callsign e-mail addresses may also have experienced a delay in mail delivery, or may have had some messages rejected. All appears to be back in working order as of Saturday morning August 16th. Rotating blackouts are still in effect in the Ottawa area however, and the system may go down again.

Ken VE3PU

*********************

-From RAC HQ....Morse survey update

  This is just a short report to let you know how the survey is going. We are getting a lot of responses, and some excellent comments. There are very few duplicate or deliberately falsified replies.

However, it is still too early to announce any results for the following reasons.

- There are still some regions of the country from which the response is very low.

- We don't want to bias the opinions of those who have not yet responded by announcing how others are voting.

- We need to get a minimum number of replies before the statistics become meaningful. After a while, the averages settle down and each new response does not change things much. That stage has not yet been reached.

So, if you have not yet taken the time to fill out the survey, please do so, and please ask your friends to do so as well. If they don't have personal access to the internet, see if there is any way you can help.

The responses will be passed on to the RAC Directors to help them decide how to advise Industry Canada on possible changes to both the Morse requirement, and to the content of the written exams. They will be adding the results of this web site survey to what they have learned from clubs, fleamarkets, on-the-air comments, and any other inputs that they have available.

If you get the chance, you should still approach your Regional Director with your opinions and suggestions.

What happens in Canada will be very strongly influenced by the wishes of Canadian amateurs, and every opinion counts.

Ken VE3PU
 
 

-Baccalieu Amateur Radio Klub Inc....Club meeting

Thursday, August 21,2003 @ 7:00PM, Royal Canadian Legion, Carbonear. All Hams Welcome

Website:  www.baccalieu-ark.cjb.net

-West Island Amateur Radio Club...Club meeting

Aug 18 2003..Meetings are on the 3rd Monday of each month at 7pm (official start is 7:30). We meet at the Lakeside Heights Baptist Church , 275 Braebrook in Pointe-Claire (western end of the Island of Montreal).

The club welcomes all visitors, so if you are going to be in Montreal and have some time, come down and join us.

Website:  http://shell.pubnix.net/~wiarc/

-Aug. 15 2003....Canadian Red Cross Responds to Ontario Power Blackouts

In response to the state of emergency called by the Province of Ontario, the Canadian Red Cross is advising people affected to do the following:

-Turn off all appliances, electronic equipment and tools to prevent injury, damage to equipment and fire; as power is more easily restored when the system is not overloaded;
-Have flashlights and batteries on hand;
-Use a battery-powered radio to get updates on the situation;
-Have a first aid kit available;
-Have a three-day supply of drinking water and non-perishable food on hand; and
-Check on any family, friends or neighbours who may be vulnerable as a result of the power blackouts.

Currently the Red Cross is operating reception/cooling centres in Toronto, Ottawa, Windsor and Woodstock. At the reception/cooling centres, some 100 Red Cross disaster response volunteers are providing people with water, first aid and other services. They are also assisting anyone who may rely on electricity for a medical reason, such as patients using oxygen pumps.

“The Red Cross is in regular contact with the municipal governments of the communities affected by the power blackouts to determine the level of assistance our disaster response teams can provide,” says Don Shropshire, National Director, Disaster Services, Canadian Red Cross.

More than 500 Red Cross disaster response volunteers are on stand-by across the province to assist where needed.

Website: www.redcross.ca

*********************

-August 23 2003 ...Victoria-Haliburton ARA Hamfest 2003 - Manvers Township, Ontario
Location: Manvers Arena, Corner of Hwy. 35 & 7A (20 km south of Lindsay, Ontario and 35 km north of Newcastle, Ontario).
Times: Vendors 07h00, Tailgaters and Public 09h00 to 15h00
Admission $5.00 Vendor Tables $10 includes 1 admission, Tailgaters $5 includes 1 admission
Talk-in: VE3LNZ 147.195 (+)
Informaton/Reservations: Don Hutton, VA3AFE via e-mail at donray@netcom.ca, Telephone at (705)-374-4154 or via mail to:VHARA Hamfest 2003, 74 Maple Avenue, R.R. #3, Kirkfield, Ontario, K0M 2B0

Web page: http://yodeler.myftpsite.net/vhara

*********************

-Aug. 13 2003...... ODXA Picnic and Visit

   I want to thank Dario Monferini and Roberto Pavanello for coming to Toronto and visiting us at Bluffers Park to do some DXing and socializing while they are on their cross Canada trip.

We had wonderful weather and some good US DX on the FM band. They made a number of loggings with the help of our FM experts Saul Chernos and Wayne Plunkett. Harold brought along a vertical challenged radio which sounded great on FM (from an estate sale, not his own).

We were able to spend over 5 hours in the park and still had time to get them to the bus station for the long trip to Thunder Bay.

Again, thanks to the Play-DX Travelling Team and we look forward to your next visit to Canada in a few years.

Brian Smith - am740@rogers.com
Chair - Ontario DX Association
www.odxa.on.ca

*******************

-Aug. 25 2003...Jim Jutte VE3JNJ is getting ready to bike ride across Ontario

   Jim Jutte VE3JNJ is getting ready to bike ride across Ontario starting in Windsor on Mon. August 25 and finishing in Ottawa on Tue. Sept. 2.  Further details will be found on Jim's web site for this event. Please review and plan how you can be available to help along the Toronto section of the route. http://jimjutte.freewebpage.org/index.html

As in Jim's previous events, Toronto ARES members will be helping Jim and cheering him on. Further details re times and locations in Toronto will be posted as they become available

Toronto ARES Group
www.ares.meskes.ca

*******************

-Aug. 12 2003....Larry Mullin VE3RLM....Silent Key

It is my sad duty to inform the Ontario Phone Net that R.L. Larry Mullin VE3RLM of Kingston died suddenly at his home on August 03, 2003 and was buried last week..

Note: The Ontario Phone Net airs daily at 7pm on 3.742Mhz.

Rod VA3RP
Net Manager Ontario Phone Net
 
 

-Aug. 15 2003....Saskatchewan Repeater Directory now Online!

The Saskatchewan Repeater Directory has been updated to reflect recent changes in repeaters across Saskatchewan.  Please feel free to print this out for your reference.  You will require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view.

www.qsl.net/ve5ufo/repeater/directory

******************

-Aug 24 2003......Annual Central Alberta Radio League BBQ

  Come on out to the Annual Central Alberta Radio League BBQ. This year to be held at the Burbank Campground (site of our annual picnic). Date - Sunday, August 24 at 2:00 p.m. The club will supply corn on the cob, hamburgers, buns and fixings. Please bring your own cutlery and plates. And bring a "pot-luck" if possible (not necessary). Hope to see you there.

Website:  http://users.rttinc.com/~carlclub

-August 16, 2003.....From Tad Cook, K7RA

The average daily sunspot number for the week was about the same this week as last, and daily solar flux was only slightly higher. Solar flux is expected to peak over the next few days, such as it is in this declining phase of the solar cycle. Expect solar flux values around 135 for Saturday, August 16 and then solar flux is expected to gradually decline to below 100 around August 24. Geomagnetic indicators should be unsettled to active today (Friday), but should quiet down over the next week. The predicted planetary A index for Friday through Monday is 20, 15, 10 and 10.

Currently there is just one sunspot group facing earth, and it seems to be growing fast as it moves into optimum position for
earth-directed radiation. This presents a wild card for conditions over the next couple of days, since it could be the source of
increasing solar wind.

Some editions of last week's bulletin contained a claim that in 57,617 BC Mars was only 34.62 miles from earth, which of course was not the case. So, this error calls for a visit to a news item on the Bad Astronomy web site at  www.badastronomy.com/bad/news/index.html .

Phil Plait of Sonoma State University in California runs the Bad Astronomy site to help dissuade and debunk some misconceptions that creep into films, television, popular culture and even science textbooks. In an August 13 item he talks about the excitement over Mars being close to earth, and points out that it will be only about 1 percent closer than it was in 1971.

Bruce Irving of Eagle, Idaho was K7ISM many years ago, and he wrote this week asking about some ghosting he saw on his television set after 0200z on Sunday, August 10. He wasn't able to ID the station, but noted that the image of a musical group performing wasn't on any of his other local channels in the Boise area. He asked if this could be skip from a channel 2 station out of his area, and I believe his hunch is correct. He noted that channel 2 is just about the 6-meter ham band, and being the lowest frequency television broadcast channel it is the one most likely to experience long distance propagation. In this case, it was probably some summertime E-layer propagation.

For more information on propagation and an explanation of the numbers used in this bulletin see the Propagation page on the ARRL Web site at www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html.

Sunspot numbers for August 7 through 13 were 121, 111, 107, 112, 118, 114, and 112, with a mean of 113.6. 10.7 cm flux was 137, 132.9, 130, 131.1, 129.2, 123.3, and 130.8, with a mean of 130.6. Estimated planetary A indices were 15, 32, 15, 12, 11, 25, and 17, with a mean of 18.1.

Europe

Solar report and propagation forecast by Nail Clarke, G0CAS, and Martin Harrison, G3USF.

  Solar flare activity varied only between low and very low, with no flares reported on the 9th and 11th.  The solar flux moved sideways, starting the week at 130 and finishing at 131, to average 129 - a rise of three points. The 90-day average was also up three points at 127.  The X-ray flux showed a rather greater movement, starting at B3.4 and reaching C1 on the 14th, before falling back to B6.8 on the 15th. Geomagnetic activity displayed considerable variation too. The field was predominantly unsettled, with the Ap index in fairly low double figures, but the 12th was active, with an index of  25 units. Solar wind speeds were mostly above average, though below the figure of 830km/sec reported on the 8th.  Particle densities remained below 10 particles per cubic centimetre.

HF propagation was rather disappointing for much of the WAE contest last weekend. Even so, numerous contacts with North America and Japan were made as high as 28MHz. These were reported as not being on a direct beam heading. That means they probably involved side-scatter, with signals scattering in the one case from the South Atlantic and the other from the Indian Ocean. VHF sporadic-E is now less prolific than last month, but openings were reported on most days, including a number of double-hop 50MHz contacts to the Middle East. A short 70MHz opening to Slovenia occurred on the morning of the 15th. The continuing heat-wave across the UK and much of continental Europe again brought good extended tropospheric propagation at VHF and UHF.

During the coming week the quieter side of the sun will rotate onto view. Flare activity should be mostly low but could well increase to moderate in the course of the next day or so. There are no current indications of major flares. The solar flux may go a shade higher than its current 130 or so, but will then decline. It could well be down to around 100 by next weekend. Geomagnetic activity will remain rather unsettled over the next day or so but is expected to increase after midweek owing to the effects of a coronal hole.  MUFs at equal latitudes should reach 21MHz in the north and 18MHz in the south. Darkness hour lows should be about 11MHz.  Paths to eastern North America should have a maximum usable frequency, with a 50 per cent
chance of success, of about 20MHz.  The optimum working frequency, at which there is a 90 per cent chance of success, will be about 15MHz. Openings are most likely between 1400 and 2200UTC.

And that's all for another week from the propagation team.

-Roy Neal K6DUE SK

  Roy Neal, K6DUE  passed away, August 15. He was recovering from heart surgery that was performed on August 12.

Roy played a pivotal role in bringing amateur radio on-board human spaceflight vehicles. Through his extensive contacts in NASA, he was instrumental in convincing NASA management to fly amateur radio on-board the Space Shuttle. Roy's successful negotiations with NASA management led to the first on-orbit amateur radio operations by astronaut Owen Garriott, W5LFL, on the STS-9 Space Shuttle Columbia flight in November 1983. He was the leader of the Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment (SAREX) working group and he was instrumental in the formation of the international team that represents Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS). For the ARISS program, Roy served as moderator of the ARISS international meetings. K6DUE's extensive experience as a newsman was put into practice as he utilized these talents to keep the ARISS team on-track and focused during these critical, concensus-gathering meetings. Roy loved the amateur radio hobby in general and continued to be on-the-air until the last few weeks of his life. He provided substantial support and guidance to amateur radio organizations such as AMSAT, ARRL and amateur radio news organizations such as Newsline.

The paragraph above was written by  ARISS Chair, Frank H. Bauer KA3HDO

For a more complete story on Roy and his accomplishments, see the full message from , Frank which I have placed on the satellite news page at: http://www.rac.ca/news/spacenws.htm

I first met Roy in 1996 at the founding meeting of ARISS at the NASA Manned Spacecraft Centre in Houston Texas. He chaired that meeting. Since that time I have met him at numerous ARISS meetings and teleconferences. He was a good friend, and we will all miss him. I was on his regular mailing list, and much of the satellite and space oriented news that I have distributed on the ARISS web site over the years came from Roy.  The last message I received from him last week, was sent as he went into hospital. He knew the operation would be risky, and wished us all goodbye in the event that things did not go well.

Ken Pulfer, VE3PU

**********************

-Aug. 15 2003.....UK Primary Schoolers, Science Campers talk with ISS via Ham Radio

   Youngsters at two locations in England got to speak via ham radio with NASA International Space Station Science Officer Ed Lu, KC5WKJ, this month. Pupils at Neston Primary School in Wiltshire talked with Lu--at the controls of NA1SS--on August 6. A group of somewhat older space campers--aged 11 to 13--at Soar Valley College in Leicester had the same
opportunity two days later. Both successful contacts were arranged via the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program   www.rac.ca/ariss

The primary schoolers, who took time away from their summer holiday to participate in the space contact, prepared a list of 20 questions for Lu and got to ask all of them during the roughly 10-minute direct 2-meter contact.

A couple of the pupils asked about the construction of the ISS. "What was the reason for building the ISS?" one asked.

"I think the big reason is to help us learn the things that we need to learn before we start flying off to much further destinations--like to Mars, back to the moon, the asteroids and to explore our solar system," Lu responded. "There's a lot of things that we really need to learn--and learn much better--before we're ready to go do that."

Lu explained that the ISS was still under construction, and he didn't expect it to be completed for another five years--although even that timeframe remains uncertain with the shuttle fleet still grounded.

At the Soar Valley College Science Camp, several students posed questions about the food available aboard the ISS. One youngster asked if the menu of canned and packaged meals ever got boring

"We probably have a couple of hundred different varieties of food that we can choose from up here," Lu said. "So, pretty much every day you can eat something different." Gone are the days when space travelers have to suck liquefied meals through a tube, however. "What we've got right now is a pretty good-sized area where we can eat," Lu said. The ISS galley includes
a table and food warmers and a supply of water to rehydrate meals. "Almost nothing that we eat actually comes out of a tube anymore," he added.

While being in zero gravity can be fun, Lu told the science campers that it has its advantages and disadvantages. "Sometimes, having no gravity up here is great," he said. "You can fly places, you can move extremely heavy objects." At other times, it's difficult to do certain tasks because of no gravity. Lu said the crew needs to always remember to secure items to keep them from floating around in the cabin, he said. "It's just a mindset you have to get used to."

ARISS is an international project with participation by ARRL, NASA and AMSAT.--some information provided by Gaston Bertels, ON4WF

**********************

-Aug. 10 2003......ISS commander takes a bride by proxy:

   In a space travel first, International Space Station Expedition 7 commander Yuri Malenchenko, RK3DUP, took a bride right on schedule August 10. The twist, of course,was that Malenchenko was circling the globe some 240 miles in space, while his betrothed, Ekaterina Dmitriev, stood on Earth next to a cardboard cutout of her husband. The bride and groom blew kisses via videophone during the private ceremony for family and friends at Johnson Space Center. Under Texas law, a proxy can stand in for one or both of the parties in a wedding. Associated Press reported that the life-sized cutout of the groom greeted guests at the wedding reception, which was held at a restaurant decorated with silver stars and mannequins dressed as astronauts. The couple plans a more traditional church wedding after Malenchenko returns to Earth in late October. The couple reportedly plans a honeymoon in Hawaii. AP says Malenchenko wore a bow tie with his blue space garb for the ceremony. Dmitriev, who just turned 27, is a US citizen and lives in Houston. She and Malenchenko--a Russian Air Force colonel--have been dating for about a year. Malenchenko is 41. Fort Bend, Texas, County Clerk Dianne Wilson issued the marriage license July 17.

Malenchenko arranged to have a wedding ring flown up aboard a Progress cargo vehicle that arrived at the ISS in June. ISS NASA Science Officer Ed Lu, KC5WKJ, served as best man during the Sunday ceremony and played the wedding march on his electronic keyboard. NASA so far has remained mum on the marriage. At one point, Russian space officials tried to get
Malenchenko to call off the nuptials until he returned to Earth, but, apparently, love ultimately won them over.

*************************

-Aug. 16 2003.....Ham Radio in Space...Happy Birthday AO-40

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 208.01 From AMSAT HQ

  Its time to celebrate the launch anniversary of an important ham radio satellite. Beginning September 16th, at 0000 UTC and ending November 17th at 0000 UTC AMSAT is sponsoring an on-the-air bash to celebrate A-Oh 40's 3rd Birthday.

All hams worldwide are welcome to participate in this on-air bash. The only acceptable modes are SSB, CW and digital operations and the AO-40 command team requests that CW and digital operations be performed with minimal power to keep the AGC down.

More information can be found at www.amsat.org and click on the words AO-40 Birthday Bash.

-Highlights of the new Yeasu FT-857 HF-VHF-UHF Transceiver by Jerry King VE3GK

  The FT-857 is an ultra compact radio measuring 155 x 52 x 233 mm (6.1 x 2 x 9.2 inches). It is the smallest full-power HF/VHF/UHF multimode transceiver available today. The output power is as follows; 160 to 6M, 100w, 2M, 50, watts, UHF 70 CM 20, watts. Actually, one can use the service alignment menu to adjust the power output to within the width of the needle on a good watt meter. Advances from the compact FT-817, the new FT-897 and the1000MP MARK 5, plus solid ideas from the FT-1000D are incorporated is this little guy. I can report on two of the accessories at this time, the Collins 500 HTZ CW mechanical filter, the DSP board. The radio size is a little deceiving from the above image, with the standard microphone lying on top. At first I thought the radio was the FT-817 on steroids, it’s that and much more.  Please note that I am reporting on my radio in ambient noise and inter-mode conditions present in Ottawa

Full Story:  www.ve3gk.com/indexl.html

*********************

Aug. 15 2003...The Show Must Go On

   Plans are moving ahead at warp speed for the 2004 Dayton Hamvention.  This, even  though  the initial 2003 dollar totals showed a  loss.

According to the latest R-F Carrier newsletter, 2003 Hamvention expenses were $570,420 while income was a bit shy at $568,080.  The net loss of $2340.  While significant, that's still allot better than the anticipated $20,000 shortfall that many were expecting.

The loss did prompt a call by one or two members for the clubs Planning Council to cancel Hamvention 2004 and all subsequent shows due to the failure of 2003 to provide a suitable return.  That motion was handily beaten back with the Planning Council apparently taking seriously an old show business adage.  The one that says:  "The show must go on."

(RF Carrier)

******************

-Aug. 15 2003....You can run but you can't hide...Mexico and RFID

  Shades of George Orwell's novel 1984.  According to a story in the Washington Post, Mexico is considering the radio frequency I-D chip as an answer to crime and as a tool to help the medical profession keep track of health histories.  Up to 10,000 radio frequency I-D tags may be implanted in Mexico's citizens in the coming year.

The R-F-I-D "Verichip" can be tracked for a distance of 5 to 8 kilometers, but Mexican officials are looking toward an implant that can be tracked by satellite, and a Global Positioning System implant that could aid in  locating kidnap victims.

Full Story: www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6440-2003Jul17.html

(CGC)

*******************

- Ham Radio Music...CQ Serenade

   The name of the song is CQ Serenade and we found it sometime back while trolling the world wide web.  After downloading it, our curiousity got the best of us so we decided to find out more.  Our search finally lead us to Jean-Guy Renaud, VE2AIK, who supplied us with allot of information.

According to VE2AIK, CQ Serenade was composed sometime between 1965 and 1970 by Maurice Durieux, VE2QS.  Durieux was orchestra conductor employed by Radio Canada who had emmigrated fromm France. Assisting Duriux in the creation of the song was F9KT.

CQ Serenade was first recorded with French lyrics by Raymond Girerd.  An English language version written by VE2QS and by Georges Brewer, then VE2BR, of Montreal.  It was later covered by songstress Joyce Hahn. Both versions were available on 45 RPM long playing records under the rather apropos QSO Records label.

Today, those discs are probably true collectors items and all but impossible to find.  But don't dispair.  Thanks to the magic of MP3 audio and the Word-Wide-Web, CQ Serenade is still around to hear and enjoy.

You can download the MP3 version of C-Q Serenade
www3.sympatico.ca/ddufault/cq-serenade/cq-serenade.htm

Note:  Our sincere thanks to VE2AIK for the information contained in this special report.

Bruce Tennant, K6PZW,  Los Angeles

Aug 16-17  North American QSO Party SSB  www.ncjweb.com

Aug 16-17  New Jersey QSO Party (1) CW SSB   www.qsl.net/w2rj

Aug 17   SSA Portabeltest Höstomg. CW   www.sk3bg.se/contest/smp.htm

Aug 17  SARTG WW RTTY Contest (3) RTTY   www.sartg.com

Aug 17   SSA Månadstest nr 8 SSB  www.sk3bg.se/contest/mt.htm

Aug 23-24   TOEC WW GRID Contest CW  www.qsl.net/toec

Aug 23-24   Ohio QSO Party CW SSB   www.qsl.net/mrrc
 

SPECIAL EVENT STATION GB4CEB
The Signallers Club of Canada
Amateur Radio Station GB4CEB
Canadian Military Communications Centennial 2003

Aug. 13 2003

   Sam Kennard, GB4CEB has closed down GB4CEB, with the final tallies as follows: Contacts-800 : Countries-70 : RSARS Members contacted-252:  the stats are darn good considering the poor HF conditions of late.

Sam, who's other callsign is G4OHX, lives in Norfolk,UK, and is a retired Regimental Sergeant Major of the British Signals Airborne, Sam is a member of the Signallers Club of Canada. You will probably hear him on the air using a /VE call for the next 4 weeks as he is due to arrive in Calgary on 15 Aug, visit some hams in BC, fly to Toronto and visit that area and arrive in Kingston on 28 Aug to help us celebrate 100 Years of Military Communications on the Labour Day weekend.

  During the Celebrations we will have a visit from Princess Anne,the Colonel-In-Chief,of the Communications and Electronics Branch, and Sam has been selected to meet her (as Sam said ,"she still owes me a pint"). You can be sure when Sam is in Kingston he will be operating from VE3RCS/VA3SIG, at the Museum. Sam is a very capable CW operator, so listen closely and maybe you will catch him, maybe even using the "special callsign prefix"  "XM"  &  "XL"

Terry Murphy XL3TRM(VA3TRM)

******************

Tawas City, MI: Hazel Park Amateur Radio Club, K8S. 0000Z Aug 16-2359Z Aug 18. International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend from Tawas Point Lighthouse (#USA 837). 28.370 21.370 14.270 7.270. Certificate. Gary Sklar, K8IKW, 7296 Green Farm Rd, West Bloomfield, MI 48322.

Sioux City, IA: Sooland Amateur Radio Association, K0TFT. 1800Z Aug 17-2359Z Aug 20. 100th Anniversary of the death of Sergeant Floyd. 146.52 21.360 14.260 7.260. Certificate. Jim Rhodes, K0XU, 429 E 26th St, South Sioux City, NE 68776.

Bay City, MI: Baysail, W8A. 0000Z Aug 17-2400Z Aug 31. 2003 Tall Ships Challenge from schooner Appledore IV. 28.370 21.370 14.270 7.270. Certificate. Mark Mowery, 1764 E Garrison Rd, Owosso, MI 48867.

Albuquerque, NM: Duke City Hamfest, N5M. 2300Z Aug 22-2100Z Aug 23. Duke City Hamfest and NM State ARRL Convention. 28.560 21.360 14.260 7.260. QSL. Tom Lea, W5LEA, 1009 Clancy Dr NE, Albuquerque, NM 87112.

Des Moines, IA: DMRAA, W0AK. 1300Z-2100Z Aug 23. Annual Dragon Boat Races. EVENT CANCELLED

Pittsburgh, PA: South Hills Amateur Radio Club, KS3R. 1300Z-2300Z Aug 23. Celebrating club's 10th anniversary. 28.430 21.375 14.270 7.235. Certificate. South Hills ARC, 211 Gerrie Dr, Pittsburgh, PA 15241. http://www.sharc.net/.

Shelbyville, IN: Blue River Valley Amateur Radio Society, W9JUQ. 1700Z-2100Z Aug 23. Bears of Blue River Festival. 14.250 7.250. Certificate. James Hilderbrand, KB9ZYC, 405 S Main St, Waldron, IN 46182.

Wausau, WI: Wisconsin Valley Radio Association, W9SM. 1600Z Aug 23-2100Z Aug 24. Return of the Pan-Am Games to Wausau's Whitewater Park. 28.460 21.360 14.260 7.260. QSL. Wisconsin Valley Radio Association, PO Box 363, Wausau, WI 54402-0363.

-Aug 14, 2003.....DX Newsletter

ALAND ISLANDS, OH0, EU-002 Vincenzo,OH0/IZ0FKE, will be active from Aug 16-23. QSL via IZ0FMA.

ARGENTINA, LU LT7W will be the callsign of the Grupo Titan from the lighthouse Punta Delgada (ARG-015) during the Lighthouse Weekend. More details can be found on their website http://www.LT7W.tk.

AZERBAIJAN, 4K   Lutz,GM0GNY, writes that he will sign 4K0GNY from the drilling platform Chirag-1 in the Caspian Sea (LN50OC) for 28 days starting on Aug 20. He will work in SSB/CW mainly on 40/20/17m from 1500-1800 UTC. QSL via GM0GNY. Check his website at: http://www.qrz.com/4k0gny.

BALEARIC ISLANDS, EA6, EU-004    Juan,EA6LP, Gori,EA6YW, Biel,EA6DD, and Herbert,DK4TP, will sign ED6LGH from the lighthouse Cap Salinas (BAL-070) at the southern tip of Mallorca. QSL via bureau.

BARDSEY ISLAND, GW, EU-124   The North Wales Radio Rally Club will be active as GW0NWR/p in SSB/CW on 80-6m from the lighthouse LH-0685/WAL-001 from Aug 17-23. QSL via GW0DSJ, unfortunately only direct!

BRAZIL, PY    ZV7AA hits the airwaves from Tamandare lighthouse (BRA-102, PE-07). QSL via PY7AA.

CANARY ISLANDS, EA8   The Gran Canaria DX Group is signing ED8LPA in SSB/CW on all bands activating the lighthouse Punta de La Aldea (CAI-032, D-2814.7) on Aug 16/17. QSL via EA8AKN, bureau ok.

CROATIA, 9A, EU-136  Marco,IK1ACX, will hit the airwaves from Losinj Island (EU-136) from Aug 16-23.

DODEKANES, SV5, EU-001   Hubert,SV5/DK9NCX, will work in SSB/CW with QRP from Aug 20 till Sep 3. QSL via bureau.

EAST MALAYSIA, 9M6, OC-133    Members of the Kinabalu Amateur Radio Transmitting Society will sign 9M6KM and 9M6KTC from the Tiga Islands (OC-133) on Aug 16/17. QSL via http://www.qrz.com.

ENGLAND, G  Lighthouse Pendeen (ARLHS ENG-100) will be the place of GB5PW on Aug 16/17. QSL via G0CAM, bureau ok.

FALKLAND ISLANDS, VP8/f, SA-002 VP8LGT is working from the lighthouse at Cape Pembroke (FAL 001). QSL via VP8ON.

FINLAND, OH, EU-173 OH1F/p will be QRV from Sappi Sebbskar (EU-173,LH 0612) from Aug 15-17. QSL via OH1AF.

FRANCE, F   Francis,F6HKS, and Jean Claude,F6HDH, are working from the lighthouse Contis (FRAU-088, PB-060). QSL via bureau.

GERMANY, DL   Following German stations will be QRV during the Lighthouse Weekend:  Poel Island (EU-008), lighthouse Timmendorf (FED-236) DL0SH (YLs only);  lightship Fehmarnbelt (FED-141), DL0FFF (op DL2RPS); lightship Laesoe Rende (FED-142), DF0DA (op DL1WH); Usedom Island (EU-129), Peenemuende (LH 2520), DK0KTL; Greifswalder Oie (EU-057, LH 0114), DF0WLG; Hiddensee Island (EU-057), Leuchtfeuer Dornbusch (FED-026), DL0RUG; Germany's southernmost lighthouse Lindau at the lake Bodensee, DF0WAT.

GIBRALTAR, ZB2 Carl,ZB2/GW0VSW/p, can be found in CW and SSB on 7030, 7055, 10106, 14060 and 14255 kHz from Aug 15-29. QSL via GW0VSW.

GUANTANAMO BAY, KG4, NA-015  Cory,N1WON (KG4CM), and David,WA4ET (KG4DP), plan to become QRV in SSB, RTTY and PSK on 80-6m from Aug 14-21.

ICELAND, TF, EU-021  After staying on the Faroer Islands Karl,DK4ARL, is now signing TF/DK4ARL from Iceland from Aug 14-21. QSL via bureau.   TF1IRA is activating lighthouse Knarraros during the Lighthouse Weekend

ISRAEL, 4X  Dov,4Z4DX/LH, activates the lighthouse in Jaffa (ISR-005).

ITALY,    Mario,IZ8DBJ, visits the lighthouse San Vito lo Capo (WAIL SI-026,  ARLHS ITA-155) from Aug 20-31. QSL via bureau.  IQ3TS puts the lighthouse Vittoria (WAIL FV-001, ITA-174) on air during  the Lighthouse Weekend. QSL via IV3LNQ, bureau ok.

MALAWI, 7Q  Nick,G4FAL, is operating as 7Q7NT from Blantyre and works mainly in CW and SSB on 20 or 15m from Aug 13-30.

MARSHALL ISLANDS, V7, OC-new  Buzz,N5UR, and John,W5RQ, are on their way to Taongi (OC-new) to activate this atoll for four days starting on Aug 18. They will work in CW and SSB on 10-40m, mainly in CW on 17m, 20m and 30m. QSL via N6AWD.

POLAND, SP  HF8IL (Ignacy Lukasiewicz, via SP8PJG) is QRV from Aug 20 until Sep 10.

PORTUGAL, CT, EU-040 Marq,CT1BWW, Jaime,CT1ECT, and Carlos,CT1CSY, are going to a lighthouse on Bugio Island (EU-040) on Au 16/17. Their callsign will be CS5E.

RUSSIA, UA  The Russian Robinson Club plans a DXpedition as R3RRC/9 operating from the northern Ural from Aug 14-25. QSL via UA3SGV.

SCOTLAND, GM, EU-123 Derek,GM0HLV, and Chris,GM3WOJ, are signing GS2MP/p from ligthouse Stroma (EU-123, SCO-228) during the International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend. QSL via N3SL.

SOUTH AFRICA, ZS, AF-06   ZS1ESC will be on the air from Robben Island (AF-064, LH 0025) from Aug 15-17. QSL via homecall.

SOUTH COOK ISLANDS, ZK1/s, OC-013   Team Vertical (Bill,K6KM/ZK1TOO, Mark,AG9A/ZK1KAT, Ralph,K9ZO/ZK1ZOO,  and Kenny,K2KW/ZK1TTT) is visiting Rarotonga (OC-013) from Aug 18-27.  They will work in CW and SSB on 10-40m and will look for Europeans  especially. QSL via WA4WTG.

SOUTH KOREA, HL   The Gwangju DX Club activates Choyak Island (AS-060) as 6L0NJ/4 from Aug 15-17. Operation is planned in CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK31 on 160-6m. QSL via DS4AEN.

SPAIN, EA  EA1EEY activates Vidio lighthouse (SPA-055, FEA D-1641). QSL via EA1CS.

SWEDEN, SM  Following stations will be QRV during the Lighthouse Weekend:  8S6LGT from Maseskar Island (EU-043, LH 1347), QSL via SM6PVB. 8S6BAS from lighthouse Bastungen (SWE 434), QSL via SK6DW, bureau ok. SK2AU from Gasoren Island (EU-135, LH 0433), QSL via bureau.

THAILAND, HS  Choon,E20HHK, is going to Samui (AS-101) from Aug 14-17.QSL via E21EIC.

TURKEY, TA  Berkin,TA3J/4, activates the lighthouse Antalya Bababurnu (TUR-???).  QSL via bureau. More information available at http://www.qsl.net/ta3j.

TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS, VP5, NA-002  Paolo,IK2QPR/VP5, is going to Providenciales (NA-002) from Aug 16-23.  He will work in SSB and CW mainly on the WARC bands.

URUGUAY, CX  CX1TCR will operate from the lighthouse Cabo Santa Maria (URU-004) next weekend. QSL via CX2TL.

USA, W  The international lighthouse activity will put these stations on air: Grand Havens South Pierhead Inner (USA-1077) and Outer Lighthouses (USA-1078), Michigan: W8DXI; Ausable Pierhead Lighthouse (USA-929), Michigan: Ray,KB8ZYY; Tucker's Island Lighthouse (USA-911), W2T, QSL via N2OO. Cedar Key Lighthouse (WLH 2741, USA 745) on Seahorse Key (NA-076), Florida: W4L, QSL via W4DFU.

***********************

-Islands, Castles & Portable Operations

18/08/2003:  EU-004  EA6/IK6PTH  MELLORCA - Look for Lorenzo, IK6PTH, to be QRV as EA6/IK6PTH from Mallorca, Baleric Islands (IOTA EU-004, DIE E-021) August 18th to 24th. QSL via home call. [Tnx 425DXN]

18/08/2003:  OC-New  V63  TAONGI ATOLL - Buzz, N5UR, and John, W5RQ, will activate Taongi Atoll (OC-???), Marshall Islands, starting on August 18th for four days. The callsign will be announced at the start of the operation, which will take place on 40 through 10 meter CW and SSB, with an emphasis on 17, 20 and 30 meters. QSL via N6AWD. [TNX 425DXN]

18/08/2003:  OC-013  ZK1's  RAROTONGS, S. COOK - Bill/K6KM (ZK1TOO), Mark/AG9A (ZK1KAT), Ralph/K9ZO (ZK1ZOO) and Kenny/K2KW (ZK1TTT) will operate from Rarotonga (OC-013), South Cook Islands between August 18th and 27th. Two stations will be active when snorkeling permits on 40 through 10 meter CW and SSB. The team will make extra efforts to work Europeans. All QSLs via WA4WTG. [Tnx 425DXN]

20/08/2003:  WAIL:SI-026  IZ8DBJ/P  SAN VITO LO CAPO - Look for Mario, IZ8DBJ/p, to be QRV August 20th to 31st from the lighthouse at San Vito lo Capo (WAIL SI-026, ARLHS ITA-155). QSL via home call, direct (Mario Pesce, P.O. Box 15, 80070 Bacoli - NA, Italy) or bureau. [Tnx 425DXN]

20/08/2003:  RR-06-29  RM1P  MESTNYJ ISLAND - Based on information from Alexej, UA1PAC, starting from August 20th (weather conditions permitting) RM1P will be QRV from Mestnyj Island (RR-06-29 New One). QSL via operator's instructions. [Tnx WRC/RRA Bulletin]

22/08/2003:  USI:UT-003L  K7LMM/P  FREMONT ISLAND, UT - Look for Mac, K7LMM/p, to be QRV August 22nd to 24th from Fremont Island (USI UT-003L, Box Elder county), Utah. Tentative operating times: 22-23 August 18:00 UTC to 04:00 UTC, 23-24 August 14:00 UTC to 04:00 UTC and 24 August 14:00 UTC to 18:00 UTC. Activity will be on 20 and 40 meter CW, SSB. Weather may force us to operate from Antelope Isladn (UT-001L, Davis county), Utah. QSL via home call, direct or bureau. [Tnx USI]

22/08/2003:  RA/6  CASPIAN SEA ISLANDS - In honor of 10th Aniversary of the RRC Foundation, Gen RU3BY (ex UA6LGW), Toly UA6NY, Max UA6LGR and Ivan UA6MF will be QRV August 22nd and 28th from Chechen' Island (RRA New One RR-18-07, RDA DA-01) and Chechenskij lighthouse (RLHA New One, ARLHS ERU-293), and, possible, from Tyuleniy Island (RRA RR-1801, RDA DA-30) and Tyuleniy lighthouse (RLHA New One). Possible calls: RI6WCI, UE6WTI and R3RRC/6. Also, it's possible they will use homecalls/6. Activity will be on 40 through 10 meter CW and SSB, with 2 stations. QSL via operator's instructions. [Tnx WRC/RRA Bulletin]

73 and Good Hunting!
Dave Raycroft - VA3RJ

Home of ICPO:  www.qsl.net/va3rj
Mirror: http://webhome.idirect.com/~va3rj
Join ICPO e-Group:  www.qsl.net/va3rj/icpo.html
E-mail: va3rj@rac.ca
 

****************************************

Note: A complete list of  Prefixes assigned by International Telecommunications Union can be found on the Trans Provincial Website:  www.tpn7055.ca/callsign.html

-Aug. 16 2003....Rippling Down the Grid

  It seems almost unbelievable that an electrical grid whose reliability had supposedly been bolstered after severe blackouts in 1965 and 1977 nevertheless failed in a matter of seconds on Thursday, leaving much of the Northeast, upper Midwest and Canada without electricity. Whatever the initiating event may prove to be — experts think the collapse started in the Midwest — the most disturbing failure was the inability of the system to isolate the damage before it could spread. It is not enough to dismiss the blackout as a rare event or a freak accident. The grid clearly needs better protection against catastrophic failures or, in an age of terrorism, against a deliberate act of sabotage.

The best guess now is that the blackout started when a power plant or transmission line failure in the Midwest caused an enormous, instantaneous reversal of the power flow that had been moving from west to east, causing some lines to be overloaded and shut down. That in turn triggered a cascade of failures as dozens of lines and about 100 power plants took themselves out of service. In one sense, the system worked as it was supposed to, with lines and plants shutting down to prevent damage. But the system is supposed to isolate the problem in a limited area, not propel it onward.

There are plenty of theories about factors that may have contributed to the fiasco. One is that there are simply too few transmission lines to pick up the slack if some lines close down in an emergency. Although a lot of new power plants have been built in recent years, there has been no comparable increase in transmission capacity. The system is also antiquated, relying mostly on 1950's-era technology. Finally, the grid is so complex — with hundreds of companies operating power plants or transmission lines around the country — that it is extremely difficult to coordinate actions quickly.

The North American Electric Reliability Council, which was set up after the 1965 blackout to help prevent a recurrence, has only the power of persuasion. The investigations into this latest blackout must examine not only the technical factors that allowed it to happen but also whether the government needs to step in to ensure the reliability of the nation's power supply.

NY Times

*********************

-Aug 15 2003....Hams a bright spot during Power Blackout

   When a power blackout struck at least a half dozen eastern states August 14, many Amateur Radio operators were ready and able to provide whatever assistance they could. Hardest hit were metropolitan areas like New York City, Detroit and Cleveland. In New York, residents and commuters found themselves stranded in electricity-dependent elevators and subway or rail cars while visitors ended up stuck at airports, which were forced to shut down. With the cellular systems overloaded or out altogether, the incident turned into a test of Amateur Radio's capabilities to operate without commercial power.

"It was a good drill," said New York City-Long Island Section Emergency Coordinator Tom Carrubba, KA2D. But, he adds, it was a cautionary tale too. "The lesson is that everybody gets a little complacent," he said. "Have emergency power backup and make sure it's working!"

By and large, Carrubba said, ARES members did what they were trained to do. "It's going to show the worth of Amateur Radio," he said of the blackout response. "There were people on the air immediately."

Diane Ortiz, K2DO, the Public Information Coordinator for NYC-Long Island was one of them. When power went down in her Suffolk County community, she started up an informal VHF net. Over the next 20 hours or so, it passed some 500 pieces of what Ortiz described as largely "health-and-welfare traffic."

"People are getting on and helping," she said. In addition to handling messages for people stranded in the city, amateurs also relayed useful information, such as which stores or filling stations were open and operating. With many radio and TV stations dark, and hams were able to help fill the information void, Ortiz said.

In the Big Apple itself, ARES teams provided communication support for Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs) set up at main transportation centers in Manhattan. ARES members also accompanied ERVs on fire calls.

RACES activated in most Greater New York City area counties after a state of emergency was declared. Some ARES teams--including a few across the Hudson River in New Jersey--activated or remained on standby to help if called upon. In New Jersey, a net linked the Red Cross lead chapter's N2ARC in Princeton with other New Jersey ARC chapters.

Michigan Section Manager Dale Williams, WA8EFK, reports scattered ARES activations. Williams, who lives in Dundee south of Detroit, was without power August 15 and relying on his emergency generator. Some Michigan ARES teams assisted emergency operations centers and the Red Cross.

In Ohio, Section Emergency Coordinator Larry Rain, WD8IHP, reports that all ARES organizations in northern Ohio were activated after the power grid went down. Still going strong at week's end were ARES teams in Cleveland and Akron. "ARES is handling communication support for Ohio Emergency Management in the affected cities and communities," Rain said. Ohio VHF and UHF nets and the Ohio SSB net on HF have been handling blackout-related traffic.

Nancy Hall, KC4IYD--who lives 20 miles west of Cleveland--said she's glad she'd taken the ARRL Emergency Communications Level I class. "I have to say that being a ham and knowing about emergency preparedness did make life easier for me and my family," said Hall, who's now signed up for the Level II class.

New England states were far less affected by the blackout. ARES/RACES operators in the region were on standby after the blackout. Only Connecticut and sections of Western Massachusetts reported significant outages, and ARES nets activated in both states.

Bill Sexton, N1IN/AAR1FP, an Army MARS member, said his emergency power capability permitted him to check into the Northeast SHARES (National Communications System HF Shared Resources Program) net and maintain e-mail contact after Berkshire County lost power.

"The experience proved once gain the great strength of ham radio in an emergency," Sexton said. "It is self-starting, and it is everywhere."

ARRL Newsletter

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