Amateur Radio "Saved Lives" in South Asia   (Dec 29, 2004)

As governments and relief organizations attempt to gauge the scale of death and devastation from the December 26 South Asia earthquake and tsunami and to aid the victims, Amateur Radio operators throughout the stricken region are offering their services as emergency communicators. The death toll from the disaster now is being estimated at upward of 60,000. Thousand remain unaccounted for, millions have been left homeless and many are without food or water. Victor Goonetilleke, 4S7VK, president of the Radio Society of Sri Lanka (RSSL), reports that "uncomplicated short wave" radio saved lives.  "Ham radio played an important part and will continue to do so," he said in an e-mail relayed to ARRL. Goonetilleke said that even Sri Lanka's prime minister had no contact with the outside world until Amateur Radio operators stepped in.

 "Our control center was inside the prime minister's official house in his operational room," he recounted. "[This] will show how they valued our services." 

Goonetilleke reports that even satellite phones failed, and only the Amateur Radio HF link remained open. One problem: Batteries were running out, and there are no generators to recharge them. 

Charly Harpole, K4VUD/HS0ZCW, now in Bangkok, Thailand, reports he's been helping to handle emergency traffic to India on 20 meters. Harpole's scheduled appearance this week on NBC's Today show apparently was scratched, although he has told ARRL that CNN has contacted him about an interview. 

Harpole had been visiting the VU4RBI/VU4NRO DXpedition in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands when the earthquake and subsequent tsunami struck. 

The DXpedition's sponsor, the National Institute of Amateur Radio (NIAR) in India, told ARRL that the DXpedition team is continuing its communication efforts at the government's request on behalf of rescue and relief operations in that region. "Ham radio is the main link from the people of Andaman Island to people all over," said S. Suri, VU2MY, the NIAR's chairman and director. 

Many radio amateurs on the Indian mainland are said to be pitching in to handle emergency and health-and-welfare traffic. Some communication has been on CW and PSK31 to overcome poor conditions and interference. 

Wyn Purwinto, AB2QV, relayed information he received via the Indonesia Amateur Radio Organization (ORARI). He notes that the government of Indonesia's Aceh province has banned Amateur Radio since the rebel uprising in that region, and he's asked the Aceh government to lift the ban so Indonesian amateurs can handle emergency traffic. Aceh was among the most severely affected regions in Indonesia. 

Some emergency communication between amateurs in the North Sumatra capital of Medan has been established with the Aceh provincial capital of Banda Aceh on 80 meters and with the east coast city of Lhokseumawe through a linked VHF repeater. 

Purwinto says YB6ZZ or YB6ZES are serving as net control stations of a national emergency net using 7.055 and 21.300 MHz as well as several linked VHF repeaters throughout northern Sumatra and along the west coast of Malaysia. He reports Anto, YD6AT, is standing by on 3.815 MHz in Banda Aceh. He reports several cities in coastal areas of Sumatra experienced power, telecommunication and water outages. 

The Wireless Institute of Australia has asked its members to monitor HF frequencies and report any requests for assistance. 

Echo (AO-51) Satellite Put into Emergency Mode 

AMSAT-NA will put its Echo (AO-51) satellite into 9k6 bps store-and-forward mode to assist in emergency communication in the wake of the earthquake-tsunami disaster. The current AO-51 schedule will be on hold for the interim, and a planned mode change to FM repeater mode in high power will not occur. AMSAT News Service says the change will occur December 30 at approximately 0305 UTC, putting AO-51 into store-and-forward PacSat BroadCast Protocol (PBBS) mode. The PBBS downlink will be 435.150 MHz, FM 9600 baud PBBS. The uplink will be 145.860 MHz. 

"The PBBS will still be open to general amateur use, but amateur operators should be ready to cease BBS operations at any moment, when we start to receive message traffic," says Mike Kingery, KE4AZN, of the Echo Command Team. "We ask that all unattended PBBS operation stop until further notice." He notes that AO-51 PBBS users may be requested to help download and forward messages. 

Boat Watch Net Seeking Missing Vessel Reports and Information 

Mike Pilgrim, K5MP, reports that the Boat Watch Net is seeking and coordination reports on vessels that have not been heard from since the earthquake and tsunami. Pilgrim has begun a listing in the "Current Watch Full Text" link of the International Boat Watch Web site. Pilgrim emphasizes that the Boat Watch Net service is strictly limited to mariners in the affected area and is not intended nor prepared to handle general health-and-welfare inquiries. 

Third Party Traffic 

Although the US does not have third-party traffic agreements with any of the countries affected by the disaster, international emergency and disaster relief communications are permitted unless otherwise provided. The international Radio Regulations as revised at World Radiocommunication Conference 2003 (WRC-03) provide that amateur stations may be used for transmitting international communications on behalf of third parties only in case of emergencies or disaster relief. 

While FCC Part 97 has not yet been updated to reflect this change, ARRL understands from FCC staff that if the government agencies responsible for the Amateur Service in India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indonesia, and other affected countries do not object to their amateur stations receiving messages from our amateur stations on behalf of third parties, the US has no objection to its amateur stations transmitting international communications in support of the disaster. 

A government may determine the applicability of this provision to amateur stations under its jurisdiction. This could include either permitting a broader range of international third-party communications, or prohibiting even emergency and disaster relief communications. 

Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN) National Director Pat McPherson, WW9E, says The Salvation Army is providing food, clothing, shelter and fresh water to victims in Sri Lanka and India. 

The Salvation Army also has issued an urgent appeal for funds. Donations earmarked "South Asia Disaster Fund," may be sent to local Salvation Army chapters, made online via The Salvation Army Web site or by calling toll free 800-SAL-ARMY (800-725-2769). 

(ARRL News Service)

Inquiries Jam Tsunami-Related Heath & Welfare Traffic (Dec 30, 2004)

Charly Harpole, K4VUD, reports from Bangkok, Thailand that incoming health and welfare queries to the huge affected area is presenting a huge problem. All channels, including ham radio, are or will be totally overwhelmed by potential incoming H&W traffic. He urges that no incoming H&W traffic be handled. For something this size, he says, it is best for those in the area to send messages out only. But even getting messages out is rather unlikely inside the areas that have been devastated, and there are many such areas. Requests for information about relatives and friends in the affected areas are jamming up the already overloaded hams. Harpole says: "This widespread disaster would require hundreds if not thousands of hams deployed over the whole Indian Ocean rim to meet the H&W need." Hams who already live in the affected areas are on the air and doing their best to help." 

(ARRL News Service)

Hams lend a helping hand

Radio Amateurs are playing an unusual but important role in tsunami relief work, reports SHONALI MUTHALALY in "The Hindu"

To read the current article click this URL: www.hindu.com/mp/2004/12/30/stories/2004123000350100.htm

(Thanks to THE HINDU, via WIA news)
___________

Another interesting article: Delhi woman is Andaman's 'Angel of the Seas'
To read the current article click this URL: http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=13640455

(Pratap Chakravarty in Port Blair)

Belgium...QRP Power Tests Announced  Dec. 26th 2004  Jan. 16th  2005
 

Sunday November 21st, , December 26th and January 16th are the dates announced of the second Belgian U-B-A 'Candlelight Tests."  In these tests, several stations transmit simultaneously on 80, 40 or 30 meters running micro power levels ranging from 100 milliwatts down to 5 milliwatts.  The challenge for participating amateurs is to copy the code words embedded in the transmitted messages.

(GB2RS)

Solar activity stayed about the same this week compared to the previous period. Average daily sunspot numbers declined slightly from 32.1 to 28. There weren't any disturbed days. Expect solar flux to stay above 100 for the next 10-12 days. Recurring coronal holes could cause a mild geomagnetic upset around January 2-3. Geomagnetic Institute Prague predicts unsettled to active conditions January 2 and 3, unsettled conditions December 31, January 1 and 4, and quiet to unsettled conditions on January 5-6.

I used an inexpensive mono-band 60-meter whip on my car, and found the noise in the city to be quite high. I also found a 2:1 SWR after adjusting the length of the whip. I listened to other stations around the Western United States, and they also reported high noise levels. I talked to a station in Arizona who said I had a good signal from Seattle, which surprised me considering how inefficient the 7 foot trunk mounted whip must be with a length of only 1/25th wavelength. The band or group of channels actually, seems to be open to many areas of the U.S. around the clock, with the strongest signals during darkness and the weakest signals around mid-day.

After testing some varying parameters with a propagation prediction program, this definitely looks like a good band for wintertime. Running the same numbers over the path to Arizona from Seattle 6 months from now shows what must be a complete shutdown for about 8 hours centered on mid-day.

Keith O'Brien, N4ZQ is using a program called DX Atlas, by VE3NEA. He asked about Effective Sunspot Number, a parameter used with this program, and wondered how it differs from just plain Sunspot Number. Over four years ago, Effective Sunspot Number was mentioned in bulletin number 38, September 22, 2000. This is a value calculated from real time ionospheric measurements. The value used to calculate this is foF2, the highest frequency that a vertically radiated
signal is refracted by the F2 layer and returned to earth.

This definition of foF2 can be found on an interesting page concerning sunspot counting methods at, http://www.kc4cop.bizland.com/sunspot%20counting%20methods.htm. The description of how Effective Sunspot Number is derived from foF2 is on the Northwest Research Associates web site at, http://spawx.nwra-az.com/spawx/ssne.html and http://www.nwra-az.com/spawx/ssne24.html.

There are a number of links to other interesting pages on the NWRA Space Weather Services web site at, http://spawx.nwra-az.com/spawx/ssne.html.

Don't forget this Friday, otherwise known as New Year's Eve, is Straight Key Night!  This casual on-air event runs from 0000-2400z on January 1, 2005. The emphasis is on having fun, ragchewing, and keeping alive the tradition of operating CW the old-fashioned way. I am going to use a beautiful old J-37 key and operate from my car. See http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2005/skn.html for details,  and for soapbox comments from participants in the 2004 event, look at http://www.arrl.org/contests/soapbox/?con_id=62.

If you would like to comment or have a tip, email the author at, k7ra@arrl.net.

For more information concerning propagation and an explanation of the numbers used in this bulletin see the ARRL Technical Information Service propagation page at, http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html.

Sunspot numbers for December 23 through 29 were 47, 42, 26, 16, 11, 27 and 27 with a mean of 28. 10.7 cm flux was 96.4, 97.2, 93, 91.7, 96.9, 105.2 and 98.5, with a mean of 97. Estimated planetary A indices were 6, 4, 12, 10, 7, 16 and 18 with a mean of 10.4. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 5, 2, 6, 9, 6, 12 and 16, with a mean of 8.

(ARRL News Service)

Dec. 18  2004  Solar and propagation report, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS,and Martin Harrison, G3USF.

Solar flare activity has been very low, with no substantial flares reported.The solar flux barely moved, averaging an unchanged 90.  The 90-day average was down a point at 105.  The X-ray flux ranged between A5.8 and B1.3, 
averaging A9 a slight rise.  The geomagnetic field was at sub-storm level on the 12th, when the Ap index reached 36 units.  It declined to quiet-to-unsettled midweek but subsequently a high-speed coronal stream active periods at the end of the week. The Ap index returned to low double figures. The solar wind speed was between 350 and 450km/sec for much of the week but increased to 661km/sec on the 17th.  Particle densities reached 12 per cubic centimetre on the 12th, then subsided into single figures. 

Geomagnetic activity on the 12th adversely affected conditions for the ARRL 28MHz contest, but failed to produce much auroral propagation. Subsequently, the HF bands were in about as good shape as could be expected at this stage in the solar cycle and this time of year. The superb VHF and UHF conditions noted briefly last week have now ended but were 
memorable while they lasted. In addition to the 144MHz contact with Ukraine mentioned earlier in this news, G3PHO in Sheffield, reported a number of QSOs at over 1000km on 23cm.  Even higher, at 10GHz, he worked OZ1FF at a distance of 660km with reports of 5 and 6 both ways. This was achieved with a portable station inside his home.  Peter added, 'goodness knows what the attenuation must have been like while beaming through the house walls or the double glazing'.  The 10GHz beacon GB3CCX in Gloucestershire, was heard at good strength in Holland and Germany.  A better-than-expected Geminids shower resulted in any good meteor scatter contacts were reported on 50 and 144MHz on the 13th.

Looking forward now.  Very low solar flare activity is likely to continue, though there is always a chance of an isolated M-class flare.  The solar flux will fluctuate within the range 80 to 110 over the next week or so.  The geomagnetic field should be quiet-to-unsettled for the next day or so, but will be more active mid-week under the influence of a coronal stream. Subsequently, quiet-to-unsettled conditions should return.  MUFs at equal latitudes will be around 24MHz in the south and 21MHz in the north. Darkness hour lows will remain around 7MHz.  Paths to the Middle East should have a maximum usable frequency of around 22MHz.  The optimum working frequency, with a 90 per cent success rate, will be about 18MHz.  The best times will be between 0800 and 1400UTC.  A reminder that the period around Christmas and New Year often brings a small increase in sporadic-E at 28 and 50MHz.  Otherwise, expect HF propagation to remain 
broadly in line with recent weeks. 

Finally, in sending seasonal greetings from the Society's Propagation Studies Committee, thanks to the Space Environment Center, the British Geological Survey, the Rutherford-Appleton Laboratory, and the ACE and SOHO spacecraft teams, for the data underpinning these reports throughout the year. Your reporters were Neil, G0CAS, and Martin, G3USF. 

(G3USF)

We doubt it will carry a ham radio station but China plans to launch its second manned space flight in September of 2005.  This, according to news reports that describe it as a five-day mission with two astronauts aboard.

And China's state radio confirms that Fighter pilot Yang Liwei, who became that nations first man in space  is among a pool of 14 astronauts in training for the new mission, to be called Shenzhou VI.  Liwei made history in October 2003 when he circled the earth 14 times aboard the Chinese built Shenzhou V spacecraft. 

(Space News)

The Voice of time signal station W-W-V has passed away. Marty Edwards, a newscaster who doubled as the voice of W-W-V, died on Friday, December 10th.  Edwards did the speech transcripts for the time checks provided by the U.S. Navy Bureau of Standards and broadcast on W-W-V from Ft. Collins, Colorado. 

(Published news reports)

Winlink 2000 Helping with Southern Asia Disaster Communications  (Dec. 30 2004) 

In the wake of the earthquake and tsunamis that hit the region December 26, Amateur Radio operators who have Winlink 2000 capability, many of them maritime, have found Winlink 2000 to be especially helpful to stay in touch with friends and family by e-mail, and to help handle emergency communications. "Since it interfaces with Internet e-mail, the Worldwide Winlink 2000 ongoing digital radio messaging network does not have to ramp up for such disaster events. It simply handles messages with a different content," Steve Waterman, K4CJX, explained. Waterman, of Nashville, Tennessee, is the Winlink 2000 network administrator, a member of the Winlink 2000 Development Team and a member of the ARRL Ad-Hoc Committee on ARES Communications. He has been monitoring the activity on Winlink 2000 in the aftermath of the tsunamis. 

"The messaging process does not change, even in an emergency. People will e-mail their families and friends, as well as handle EmComm communications and health and welfare directly, just like they e-mail on a daily basis," Waterman said. "The advantage of the direct communications is amplified because they are sending and receiving when propagation is optimal rather than having to wait for any pre-scheduled time." The Winlink 2000 team is presently assessing the status and location of its users in and around the Indian Ocean (including South Africa) in order to better assist those who need it. Winlink 2000 is one method that is being used to collect data on vessels in the southeastern Asia region on behalf of the International Boatwatch Network. 

(ARRL News Service)

UBA-SWARL 365 Day Contest--All modes--sponsored by the Royal Society of Radio Amateurs (UBA) and the Short Wave Amateur Radio Listening (SWARL) during 2004. Participants log DXCC entities on all amateur bands from 160-10 meters, including WARC bands, according to the IARU band plans. Only one category-mixed mode, including all digital modes. Each entity logged counts one point per band. Logs are due at three times during the year--March 31, June 30 and September 30--to ONL4299@skynet.be (e-mail only). For more information: www.uba.be/hf_contests/calendar/cal_pop_01.html. 

ARRL Straight-Key Night-- http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2005/skn.html

New Year's Snowball Contest--sponsored by the Activity Group of Belarus (AGB)-- www.qsl.net/eu1eu/index_e.htm. 

HA Happy New Year Contest--sponsored by the Budapest Society of the Hungarian Radio Amateur Society and the Puskás Tivadar Radio Amateur Club-- http://radioklub.puskas.hu/ha5khc/web

SARTG New Year RTTY Contest--sponsored by the Scandinavian RTTY Activity Group (SARTG)-- www.sartg.com/contest/nyrules.htm

AGCW Happy New Year Contest--sponsored by the Arbeitsgemeinschaft CW-- www.agcw.de/ . 

Kid's Day--Phone, sponsored by the Boring Amateur Radio Club from 1800Z to 2400Z Jan 2. http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/kd-rules.html

CQ Amateur Radio magazine invites Amateur Radio operators around the world to join in celebrating its 60th anniversary by taking part in an on-air event during the first 60 days of 2005. CQ's first issue was published in January, 1945.

(ARRL News Service)

Kids Day on AO-51

A-O 51 is joining the  ARRL's Kids Day operation on January 2nd.  AMSAT North America will sponsor Kids Day on AO-51 from approximately 1600 UTC on January 2nd to 0345 UTC on January 3rd.  During that time you uplink to AO-51 on 145.880 MHz FM voice using a  67 hertz sub-audible tone. Listen on 435.300 MHz FM voice. All AO-52 users are asked to give a short stand-by during this window to promote satellite operations with kids. 

(AMSAT-NA)

Atkinson, NH: Atkinson Amateur Radio Club, K1D. 0501Z Dec 26-0500Z Jan 10. Celebrating Kid's Day and Amateur Radio Awareness. 28.370 21.370 14.270 7.230. QSL. Peter Schipelliti, 7 Dearborn Ridge Rd, Atkinson, NH 03811. 

Various, England: Royal Signals Amateur Radio Society, GB6BOB. 0001Z Dec 27-2359Z Jan 23. Commemorating the Battle of the Bulge. 21.070 21.056 14.070 14.056. Certificate. Mike Humphrey, GØSWY/KF4OFR, 4 Bluebell Rd, Bassett, Southampton, Hampshire SO16 3LQ, England. www.qrz.com. 

This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by NC1L, ON4UN, SQ9FMU, TA3YJ, QRZ DX, the OPDX Bulletin, The Daily DX, 425DXnews, DXNL, WA7BNM and Contest Corral from QST.  Thanks to all.

MAURITANIA, 5T.  Yves, F6GDC, Pierre, F6CQX and Eric, F5SSM are QRV as 5T5DY until January 9.  In addition to being active on Nouakchott, they also plan to operate from Atar, Tergit and Banc d'Arguin islands.  Activity is on 40 to 10 meters using SSB, with some CW.  QSL via F6GDC.

PAKISTAN, AP.  Ijaz, AP2IA has been QRV using RTTY on 20 meters around 1300z.  QSL direct.

HUNGARY, HA.  Look for special event station HA200CVM to be QRV during January 2005 to dedicate the remembrance of poet Csokonai Vitez Mihaly.  QSL via HA0NAR.

DJIBOUTI, J2.  J20FH has been QRV on 30 meters around 1920 to 2130z. QSL via F5PRU.

BELGIUM, ON.  In celebration of the 175th anniversary of the kingdom of Belgium, and its 25th year as a federal state, during 2005 all Belgium amateurs may use the OO prefix in lieu of the regular ON prefix.  Club station ON4UBA will be active as OO175B for regular contacts, but will not be used in HF contests.  QSL via operators' instructions.

ARUBA, P4.  Ed, W0YK will be QRV as P40X from January 3 to 11.  He will be active using CW on the low HF bands and newer bands.  He will also use RTTY, which includes being an entry in the upcoming ARRL RTTY Roundup.  QSL to home call.

POLAND, SP.  Look for SQ75FMU to be QRV from January 1 to 20, and then from February 15 to March 15 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Polish Amateur Radio Union, or PZK.  QSL via SQ9FMU.

EGYPT, SU.  Mike, SU9NC has been QRV on 80 meters around 0430z and then 40 meters around 0520z.  QSL via OM2SA.

TURKEY, TA.  Berkin, TA3J will be QRV as TA3J/60 from January 1 to March 1 from Antalya.  Activity will be on 160 to 10 meters, including the newer bands, 2 meters and 70 centimeters, using all modes.  QSL direct via TA3YJ.

TURKS AND CAICOS, VP5.  Saul, WA1UKN will be QRV as VP5/WA1UKN from Grand Turk Island, and then North Caicos, from January 4 to the 28. Activity will be on 40, 17, 15, 12 and 10 meters using SSB.  QSL to home call.

THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO.  The ARRL Straight Key Night, Kid's Day Contest, HA Happy New Year Contest, SARTG New Year RTTY Contest, New Year's Snowball Contest, AGCW Happy New Year CW Contest, Original QRP CW Contest and the AGCW VHF/UHF CW Contest will certainly help ring in the New Year. The Lighthouse Christmas Lights QSO Party runs until January 2. Please see December QST, page 85, January 2005 QST, page 102 and the ARRL and WA7BNM contest websites for details.

(ARRL)

Jan. 1-8 2005    I.C.P.O. Bulletin Islands, Castles & Portable Operations - I.C.P.O.

01/01/2005:  OC-016  3D2EG, 3D2TJ  MATANGI ISLAND -
Jim, K6JAT, and his XYL Lilah, KE6EHD, will be off on vacation to Matangi Island, Fiji (IOTA OC-016), from January 1-7th. They have procured the callsigns 3D2TJ and 3D2EG, respectively. Jim plans on some casual DXing on 40-10 meter SSB with a FT-857D barefoot into a vertical or wires. QSL via their home calls. [Tnx OPDX]

03/01/2005:  AF-003  ZD8ZA  ASCENSION ISLAND -
Martin, G3ZAY, will be visiting Ascension Island (AF-003) and St. Helena (AF-022) over the Christmas period. He will be on Ascension Island (requested call ZD8ZA) January 3-7th. Martin will be on St. Helena Island between December 24th and January 1st as ZD7ZA. The activity from Ascension Island will also count for the Ascension Island lighthouse (WLOTA L-0299). QSL via home call. [Tnx 425DXN]

04/01/2004:  OC-032  FK/JA1KAJ  NEW CALEDONIA -
Aki, JA1KAJ reports that he will be QRV January 4-9th as FK/JA1KAJ fromNew Caledonia (IOTA OC-032). Activity will be on 80 through 10 meter SSB, CW, RTTY and SSTV. QSL via his home callsign, direct or by the Bureau. [Tnx 425DXN]

05/01/2005:  NA-106  CW5R  LOBOS ISLAND -
A team of operators of the Southern Group of Montevideo directed by CX2ABC, CX5BW and WQ4O with EA5KM and EA5RM come especially from Spain for this expedition, will be active under the call CW5R from Lobos Island (SA-039) between January 5th and 11th, dates which can be modified according to the climatological conditions. They will use directional antennas monoband for all the bands between the 40 and 10 meters, dipoles for 160, 80 and 30 meters. Activity will be on all modes, including digital. The antennas will be installed on the lighthouse of the island (references WLH CX-002, ARLHS URU-002, WLOTA L 0799). Any comment or sked required can be sent to cw5r@ea5rke.ampr.org. The log on line will be available once the operation is finished. The QSL manager will be CX2ABC. [Tnx F5NQL]

07/01/2005:  NA-106  H.C.'s/KP2  ST. CROIX, USVI -
Ann (W2AZK) and Brian (KF2HC) will sign homecall/KP2 from the island of St. Croix, USVI (IOTA NA-106), January 7-14th. Look for them on 160-6 meters SSB and CW with a special emphasis on the WARC bands as conditions permit. QSL to their home calls direct or via the bureau. [Tnx OPDX]

07/01/2005:  EU-166  IO9TA  LUNGA ISLAND -
Dario, IT9SSI; Gianni, IZ8CGS; Pietro, IZ8FWN; and Ant, IZ8CCW will be QRV January 7-9th, 2005, as IO9TA from Lunga Island (IOTA EU-166, IIA TP-021, MIA MI-055). Activity will be on SSB and CW, with 2 stations operating 24 hours a day. QSL via IT9SSI, direct (Dario Piscitiello, P.O. Box 27, 98071-Capo d'Orlando (ME), Italy) or through the bureau. [Tnx IZ8CCW]

08/01/2005:  SA-001  3GØYM & 3GØYP  EASTER ISLAND -
A group of operators from Norway and one operator from Denmark (former S9LA-team of 2002) will be active from Easter Island (IOTA SA-001) January 8-18th. The callsigns for the operation will be 3G0YP (SSB) and 3G0YM (CW/Digi-modes). Activity will be on 160-10 meters. QSL for both calls is via LA6EIA. [Tnx OPDX]

08/01/2005:  AS-079  JA1AMP/6  IRABU ISLAND -
Yoshiro Nishimura, JA1AMP, will be active January 8-10th as JA1AMP/6 from Irabu Island (Miyako Islands, IOTA AS-079, JIIA AS-079-002). He will operate mainly CW with some SSB and RTTY on 40-6 meters. QSL via JA1AMP (bureau) or JL3SIK (direct). [Tnx 425DXN]

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

FCC to examine the ban on using Cellphones in Aircraft   (Dec.31 2004)

The FCC has proposed relaxing its current ban on the use of cellular telephones in airborne aircraft.  Specifically, the Commission is proposing to permit airborne operation of off the shelf wireless handsets and other devices provided the devices can be made to operate at their lowest power settings under the control of a "pico cell" located in the aircraft.  This the Commission says would insure that airborne cellphone operation would not allow unwanted RF emissions to interfere with conventional ground-based cellular systems.  The Commission has asked for public comments on these and other issues.  (CGC)

More is on line at http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-255246A1.doc

(ARNewsLine)

First 2005 Kid's Day is Sunday, January 2

The first Kid's Day in 2005 will be Sunday, January 2 (the second will be Saturday, June 18). Kid's Day will run from 1800 to 2400 UTC. Suggested frequencies are 14.270-14.300, 21.350-21.400 and 28.380-28.400 MHz plus 2 meter repeaters (with the permission of the repeater's sponsor). There's no limit on operating time, and the recommended exchange is name, age, location and favorite color. Intended to encourage young people to get acquainted with Amateur Radio, Kid's Day offers a "mentoring opportunity" for experienced amateurs while giving youngsters some firsthand ham radio experience and perhaps sparking a lifelong interest. ARRL Education and Technology Program Coordinator Mark Spencer, WA8SME, hopes veteran radio amateurs will "walk the walk" by getting involved. To serve as a positive example, he'll be putting W1AW on the air for Kid's Day. Perennial Kid's Day promoters Peter and Jeanne Schipelliti, W1DAD and K1MOM, plan to be on the air from special event station K1D during the week before and the week after Kid's Day. The couple's two older children, Geena and Luciano (photo), are old hands at Kid's Day. All participants are eligible for certificates. To coincide with ARRL's Kid's Day, AMSAT-NA will sponsor its own event for youngsters on the Echo satellite (AO-51) from approximately 1600 UTC on January 2 until 0345 UTC on January 3. AMSAT asks for the cooperation of all satellite users in using the window as a way to promote satellite operation with kids and to limit contacts to stations operating with youngsters at the microphone. Note the change in uplink frequency for the event to 145.880 MHz FM voice, 67 Hz tone; downlink is 435.300 MHz FM voice.--some information via ANS

(ARRL News Service)

Subscribe to this bulletin and have it delivered to your e-mail box automatically every week, please put your name and callsign (if you have one) in the body of the text.  hfradio@look.ca