Israeli stations to honour Maccabiah Games June 21-July 21 (Jun 2, 2005) The Israel Amateur Radio Club is sponsoring a special Amateur Radio operation honoring the largest Jewish sport event in the world -- the 17th Maccabiah Games -- to be held in Tel-Aviv July 10-21, 2005. 14 Israeli stations with letters in their suffix from which MACCABIAH can be spelled will be active for 30 days starting June 21. A special Award will be available for stations having at least 6 valid QSOs with the participating Special Event stations. The operation is valid for all radio amateurs and SWLs around the world. More details can be found at the Maccabiah Games page or via www.iarc.org. -- IARC (ARRL News Service)
Great Britian...Ofcom Recognises the Importance of Amateur Radio (May 29 2005) On the launch of the consultation on a proposal to reform amateur radio licensing, the RSGB welcomes the statements made by Ofcom recognising the important role amateur radio plays in providing the stimulus for technical careers and the part radio amateurs play in radio communications research and development. They also pay tribute to the work of radio amateurs during emergencies such as the Boxing Day tsunami in South-East Asia. This is a very welcome change of tack by Ofcom, who earlier this year failed to recognise the role amateur radio and radio amateurs play in the field of technology and in the service they provide to the community at large. The consultation runs until 18 August and whilst urging all amateurs to take part in the consultation, the RSGB also asks amateurs to take some time to digest the contents of the document before responding to Ofcom. The RSGB will be providing guidance notes to assist amateurs. These notes will be published on the RSGB website shortly. Note: Ofcom is the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries, with responsibilities across television, radio, telecommunications and wireless communications services. (RSGB2)
Japan to relax Morse code licensing requirements (May 27, 2005) The Japan Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications acted May 24 to relax Morse code requirements for Amateur Radio licensing, but it did not eliminate them altogether. Effective October 1, 2005, the MIC will reduce the requirements for First and Second Class licenses to 5 WPM--solid copy for two minutes. The previous code requirements for these licenses were 12 and 9 WPM respectively. The MIC will drop the Morse requirement, now 5 WPM, for the Third Class license.--submitted by Joe Speroni, AH0A (ARRL News Service)
South Africa...Western Cape Emergency Communications Exercise (May 29 2005) 25 HAMNET members in the Western Cape took part in the first ever joint Military/HAMNET emergency radio communications exercise, called Exercise Double Barrel. The exercise commander was Dr. Johan Johnson, ZR1JHN, 2IC 71 Signal Unit and the participants were trained and briefed by Flight Sergeant Pierre Tromp, ZR1PDT, the training NCO of 71 Signal Unit. The scenario was played out in the Winelands area, with an earthquake devastating the area. Four joint Military/HAMNET callsigns were deployed to Tulbach, Prince Alfred Hamlet, Worcester and De Doorns, with the exercise being driven and managed by Fire and Rescue Officers and the Joint Operations Centre situated in Rawsonville, while being supported by Tactical Headquarters Western Cape. The exercise provided the ideal platform for military signallers and HAMNET members to operate side-by-side and learn from each other. This exercise was also authorised by ICASA, allowing military mignallers the opportunity to operate on amateur radio frequencies while being supervised by radio amateurs for the duration of the exercise. The exercise was also monotored by members of Disaster Management. During the debrief is was felt that we had exceeded our objectives and all are looking forward to the next event. (SARL News)
Jun. 3 2005 Tad Cook K7RA Solar Update
For this weekend, the predicted planetary A index for June 3-6 is 15, followed by 10 for Saturday through Monday. After June 3 predicted solar flux should drop below 95 and possibly stay there until around the end of the month. The Prague Geophysical Institute sent a forecast showing active conditions on June 5-6, unsettled on June 3, 4 and 7, quiet to unsettled on June 8, and quiet conditions on June 9. Roy Erismann, HB9BJJ sent news of a new book on propagation. It is titled "Space Weather and Telecommunications," by John M. Goodman. The book is very expensive, so I am trying to get it locally via interlibrary loan. If anyone has read it and would like to comment, I'd like to hear any reviews. Larry Lilly, N3CR of Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania (grid FN20) wrote in with 6-meter news. Thursday, May 26 there was a big opening on 6-meters, and Larry found openings in both the morning and the evening, with stronger signals in the later period. He worked stations in Michigan and Wisconsin, and the band stayed open until 10:30 PM EDT (0230z). Larry runs low power, and with 10 watts on May 30 he aimed his 2 element quad to southeast and worked VP9/N0JK in Bermuda on the first call. Larry's antenna is mounted 20 feet high. Larry is enjoying 6-meters, getting on "after a 10-year absence battling 49 MHz baby monitors." Dave Greer, N4KZ of Frankfort, Kentucky was hearing 6-meter beacons last Saturday (May 28) "from all over North America, but very few live stations." Within a few minutes of each other Dave copied beacons or live stations from W1, C6, Arizona, North Dakota, Florida and Wisconsin. He worked stations on 6-meters in New Mexico, Wyoming and North Dakota. Eric Christensen, KF4OTN in Greenville, North Carolina (FM15) worked VA2LGQ (FN15) in Ottawa, Ontario on 6-meters on May 26. Eric was mobile using 100 watts on 50.125 MHz USB. Al Olcott, K7ICW in Las Vegas on May 27 worked several Salt Lake City area stations on 6-meters, with Utah stations running 10-20 watts into vertical whip antennas and coming in very strong. He wrote, "This is not too unusual where there are dense E clouds. We were also simultaneously hearing New Mexico stations at 500 miles." Al also says that several Salt Lake stations (410-450 miles from him) attempted 2-meter contacts, "but all that was recognized was very weak tropospheric mode." He also wrote, "It is typical that 350-450 mile 6M paths are accompanied by 2M Es openings, but at a distance beyond what is heard on 6M, and the same general direction." Woody Ebersold, KC0THS of Joplin, Missouri heard plenty of 6-meter activity on May 29 and said WJ0F in Arizona was so strong, "he dominated 50.135 MHz for over a half hour." The day before, May 28, Woody was on 2-meter FM and using a vertical he worked several stations on simplex as far away as Flagstaff, Arizona. Now that May has turned to June, we can look at some monthly averages in an attempt to discern a trend. The trend overall of course is down, but May was actually pretty good with higher sunspot numbers and solar flux compared to recent months. The average daily sunspot numbers for the months September 2004 through May 2005 were 50, 77.9, 70.5, 34.7, 52, 45.4, 41, 41.5 and 65.4. So May 2005 had higher average daily sunspot numbers than any month since November. Average daily solar flux for the same months was 103, 106, 113.7, 95, 102.3, 97.2, 89.9, 85.9 and 99.5. May's average daily solar flux values were higher than any month since January. But this is just one of those bumps on the long slide down cycle 23, and we are probably still on track to see a sunspot minimum around the end of next year. The report in last week's bulletin about Larry Bishop, KB9WLM on 6-meters should have read, "he worked Columbian station HK3JRL at 2320z on 50.135 MHz." This generated a ton of mail, because as everyone pointed out, HK is for Columbia, not South Korea (HL), and it was HK3JRL, not an HK2 call. 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, http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html. An archive of past bulletins is found at, http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/. Sunspot numbers for May 26 through June 1 were 72, 51, 71, 55, 76, 79 and 95 with a mean of 71.3. 10.7 cm flux was 90.4, 95.5, 92.5, 92.7, 94.9, 96.3 and 94.3, with a mean of 93.8. Estimated planetary A indices were 4, 4, 13, 22, 67, 17 and 8 with a mean of 19.3. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 1, 1, 9, 16, 32, 10 and 5, with a mean of 10.6. (ARRL News Service)
Europe June 4 2005 Solar and propagation report,
Flare activity has mostly been low, although there have been occasional smallish M-class flares. The solar flux showed little daily variation, beginning at 93 and ending at 95, with an average of 94 - an improvement of 8 over the previous week. The 90-day average is 93. X-ray flux levels also showed little daily variation, averaging B1.7. The geomagnetic field moved from a quiet Ap index of 4 on the 27th to 22 on the 29th and then a stormy 67 on the 30th, due to coronal hole activity. It subsided into mildly unsettled single figures during the second half of the week, but there were more active spells on the 4th. Solar wind speeds increased from 275km/sec last weekend to 540km/sec on the 30th, and then settled back to under 400km/sec towards the end of the week. Particle densities, which reached 25 per cubic centimetre on the 28th and 29th returned to low single figures. The geomagnetic storm on the 29th and 30th resulted in degraded HF propagation but some excellent VHF auroral working, particularly on the 30th, when the event lasted through much of the day. 144MHz contacts were made well into Central and Eastern Europe, including Slovenia and Hungary. Good sporadic-E occurred on several days, mostly on 50 and 70MHz. Mostly notable was the 144MHz opening on the morning and afternoon of June 1st. The band was open to much of Europe, including contacts deep into Ukraine, presumably by double-hop - a relatively rare occurrence on this band. Now the prospects for the week ahead. Flare activity will mostly be low but there is a reasonable chance of occasional M-class flares. The solar flux may rise a few points above current levels but seems likely to turn slowly down towards the weekend. The geomagnetic field will be fairly active during the present weekend, due to a high-speed coronal stream. Aurora may occur at high latitudes. By the 7th quiet-to-unsettled levels will return, though there is a possibility of higher levels arising from a coronal mass ejection. MUFs at equal latitudes should reach 19MHz in the south and 16MHz in the north. Darkness hour lows will be around 11MHz. Paths to the Middle East should have a maximum usable frequency in the region of 24MHz. The optimum working frequency, which should be workable almost every day, will be around 18MHz. The path should be in good shape between 0900 and 1800UTC. And a reminder that this month should bring the peak of the sporadic-E season. Openings are to be expected on most days. During the better openings double-hop contacts may occur at 50MHz with the Eastern Mediterranean and North America. This report was prepared by Neil Clarke, G0CAS, and Martin Harrison, G3USF.
ARISS Seeks School Involvement in "SuitSat" Project (Jun. 3 2005)
"The ARISS team has received permission to include a special compact disk onboard this spacesuit with school artwork included," Bauer said. As a result, participating schools will have an opportunity to 'fly' their artwork as part of the spacewalk." Schools that want to get onboard must act fast, however. ARISS wants a single 8-1/2 by 11-inch page of artwork that "uniquely represents your school" by June 15--so time is tight. Schools may deliver their artistic contributions electronically in JPEG format, with the file size not to exceed 2 MB. No other file formats can be accepted. "This could be an artist's representation of the school, a list of student names, student signatures, a school science project summary or a school mission patch," Bauer explained. "This artwork should be primarily developed by the students. The goal is for you to use your imaginations." Hard-copy artwork can be mailed to School Spacewalk, c/o AMSAT, 850 Sligo Ave, Suite 600, Silver Spring, MD 20910-4703. JPEG images using the naming format <schoolname_location.jpg> may be e-mailed to schoolspacewalk@comcast.net. Artistic contributions to fly aboard SuitSat will be put onto a compact disk that will be delivered to Russia later this month. It will go into space as part of the cargo on a Progress supply rocket flight now set for August. "The ARISS team looks forward to your artwork and is pleased to provide this opportunity to school students around the world," Bauer said. "On behalf of the ARISS team, we look forward to some real excitement as SuitSat gets ready for deployment this fall." Bauer says ARISS will be releasing additional details about SuitSat in the near future. ARISS-Russia's Sergei Samburov, RV3DR, proposed the SuitSat concept at last fall's ARISS International Team meeting, quickly sparking a wide-ranging brainstorming session among the delegates. With diminishing stowage space aboard the ISS, several Russian Orlan spacesuits used for spacewalks have been declared surplus. Samburov's notion was to have an ISS crew equip one of them as an Amateur Radio satellite--possibly including a camera in the helmet area--and launch it during a space walk. A second Orlan space suit is expected to become available for possible deployment as a temporary satellite in 2007. ARISS says plans call for launching SuitSat during a spacewalk currently planned for mid-September. Once deployed, SuitSat is expected to orbit the planet for several weeks before burning up when it enters Earth's atmosphere. A summary of the "School Spacewalk" project is available on the AMSAT Web site. (ARRL News Service)
SSETI Express Launch Date Announced (Jun. 3 2005) The launch date for SSETI Express and three ‘cubesats’ has now been confirmed as 25 August, with the next day, the 26th, as a back-up. The satellite has now completed all its pre-launch tests and is presently back in the clean room where everything is having a final checkout and where the cubesats are being loaded into their launchers. Current plans show that the satellite will be packed and ready for despatch to the launch site during the last week of June. SSETI Express will automatically downlink general telemetry at 9K6 on 70cm and it will also be possible for amateurs to request specific downloads. It is planned that the 38K4 telemetry transmitter on 2.4GHz will also be available for amateur voice operation as a Mode U/S transponder after initial tests on the satellite have been completed. AMSAT-UK provided the 2.4GHz transmitter for the satellite and a presentation on SSETI Express will be given at the AMSAT-UK Space Colloquium to be held from 29 to 31 July at the University of Surrey in Guildford. All amateurs and SWLs are welcome to attend. (RSGB2)
Funds urgently needed to manufacture Amateur radio antennas for the ISS (May 29 2005) Columbus is the name of the European laboratory module to be attached to the International Space station. For the Amateur Radio service exclusively, two UHF antennas and two L/S-band antennas are to be fixed on the Meteorite Debris Panels which protect the hull of the Columbus module. If ever a MDP would be hit by an meteorite and be replaced, the antenna would be lost. Therefore the antennas are doubled and fixed on different panels on the nadir, facing the earth. This does not influence the cost considerably. The ARISS patch antennas will be installed on the nadir of the Columbus module in September - October 2005. The European Space Agency has already contributed over 100.000 euro for the installation of the ARISS antennas. Special feedthroughs for the coaxial cables have been installed on the conical end of the module and coaxial feedlines will run to the antennas on the nadir. The antennas are being developed by Pawel Kabacik, professor at the Institute of Telecommunications and Acoustics, Wroclaw University of Technology, Poland. Pawel Kabacik and his team also developed the antennas for the SSETI satellite. The antennas shall be delivered in September and installed before end of October, last limit. The antennas will be manufactured in Poland under supervision of the University. The antennas for the SSETI satellite have cost 70.000 euro. The Columbus antennas will cost 80.000 euro. Facing the difficulty to raise 80.000 euro, we have asked the Wroclaw University to consider two separate contracts, one for the UHF antennas and one for the L/S-band antennas. Building the UHF antennas will cost 52.000 euro (latest evaluation). This includes the purchase of materials that can also be used for the L/S-band antennas which will then cost 25.000 euro. The contract for the UHF antennas has to be signed by ARISS before the end of June and 55.000 euro paid. The contract fo the L/S-band antennas can be signed later, if funds are available. FUNDING So far we have collected about 32.000 euro. Donations received :
Donations pledged :
You can see the list of donations on www.ariss-eu.org/columbus.htm CALL FOR DONATIONS As Bernardo Patti, ESA General Manager for Columbus, stated: "It would be a shame if ARISS would not be able to provide the antennas in due time, whereas the European Space Agency has already spent more than 100.000 euro for the installation of the Amateur Radio antennas". We still need to collect 20.000 euro in the next three weeks to gather the 52.000 euro necessary for the UHF antennas. We call on all possible donors to help ARISS fill the gap. (Thanks to Gaston Bertels, ON4WF, ARISS Vice chairman) (RAC News Service)
Amateur Radio to be Fitted On Board ISS Columbus Module (May 29 2005)
The availability of the new frequencies will permit wideband and video operation for the first time, including ATV facilities for school contacts and, additionally, continuous transponder operation. The new ARISS antennas will be installed in autumn this year. The European Space Agency has kindly agreed to cover the entire cost of installation, but a sum needs to be raised quickly to cover the cost of development and manufacture of the antennas. Further details can be found on the ARISS-Europe website: www.ariss-eu.org/columbus.htm Thanks to Gaston Bertels, ON4WF, the ARISS-Europe chairman, for this news story. (RSGB2)
It's Not Really "Zero Gravity" on Space Station, Astronaut Tells Youngsters (May 26, 2005)
Full Story: http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2005/05/26/1/?nc=1
University students' first Amateur Radio balloon mission a success (May 27, 2005) Members of the University of Tennessee Amateur Radio Club (AA4UT) launched their first balloon carrying Amateur Radio equipment on May 14. The team used APRS to track the balloon--designated UX-1--which had ATV equipment on board to provide a video feed back to Earth. The balloon reached an estimated altitude of approximately 52,000 feet (the GPS units would not read above 32,000 feet) and covered some 90 miles before bursting and descending by parachute. The balloon payload was recovered intact. Mike Coffey, KJ4Z, and Dan Bowen, K2VOL, were the prime movers behind the project. "This is an outstanding effort by young Amateur Radio operators in pursuit of their hobby," commented Tennessee Assistant Section Manager David Bower, K4PZT. Bower says the UT ham club has greatly benefited from the support of local radio amateurs dedicated to promoting Amateur Radio to younger licensees and prospective licensees. "Thanks to these local hams, they have an excellent HF amateur radio station at the University of Tennessee, including a tower and HF beam," Bower said. "We in East Tennessee are all very proud of them." Another launch now in the works for June 4 may get media coverage by CNN. There's much more information, videos and photos on the UX-1 Web site: http://www.arrl.org/"http://sunsite.utk.edu/~mcoffey/ux-1/ (ARRL News Service)
AMSAT-UK Colloquium set for late July (May 4 2005) The AMSAT-UK Colloquium for 2005 will take place Friday through Sunday, July 29-31, at the University of Surrey, Guildford, UK This year's event marks the 20th colloquium. Attendees do not have to be AMSAT members. AMSAT-UK invites presentations about space-related Amateur Radio activities and papers for the conference Proceedings. Final presentation documents must be submitted by mid-June. Send papers for presentation at the conference and/or for inclusion in the Proceedings to Jim Heck, G3WGM , or via surface mail c/o AMSAT-UK, Badgers, Letton Close, Blandford, Dorset DT11 7SS, UK. AMSAT-UK also invites anyone to submit program topic requests to G3WGM. The colloquium will include sessions specifically for amateur satellite beginners. Registration details and more information are on the AMSAT- UK Colloquium Web pages. Immediately following the AMSAT-UK Colloquium, the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) International Team will meet Monday and Tuesday, August 1-2. Although primarily for ARISS delegates, the meeting is open for anyone to attend as an observer and offers an excellent opportunity to get acquainted with the ARISS program. (ARRL News Service)
AO-51 to be configured in Mode V/S for Field Day (May 2 2005) For Field Day 2005, the AMSAT "Echo" (AO-51) satellite will be configured as an FM repeater in Mode V/S. The uplink will be 145.920 MHz with the 67 Hz tone enabled. The downlink will be 2401.200 MHz. To give users the opportunity to test their Field Day stations, AO-51 will be configured in Mode V/S during two periods leading up to Field Day. From May 19 until May 24 the satellite will be in Mode V/S in support of satellite demonstrations at Dayton Hamvention. From June 18 until June 26 (ie, the weekend and entire week before Field Day) AO-51 also will be in Mode V/S. These operating sessions will give Field Day participants an opportunity to check out their Field Day satellite stations ahead of time. The AO-51 team says working the Mode S downlink on AO-51 does not require expensive equipment nor even a satellite dish. Some operators have successfully copied the AO-51 S band downlink with minimal antennas, such as patch antennas, dipoles with corner reflectors or a simple 3.5-turn helix. If your downconverter's IF is on VHF (which most are), a handheld transceiver or mobile FM rig will work fine as a downlink receiver. The uplink antenna can be any good omnidirectional mobile system. If you have not worked the S band downlink on AO-51 previously, a few passes monitoring the downlink and practicing Doppler correction will be very helpful. The Doppler shift on an AO-51 pass is approximately ±50 kHz. There's more information available on setting up to use Echo on Field Day on the Web site of AMSAT Vice President for Operations Mike Kingery, KE4AZN. (ARRL News Service)
CQ Kids Day (Jun. 18 2005) Mark down Saturday, June 18th as your next chance to participate in the Kid's Day operating event. That's the twice a year ham radio holiday intended to encourage young people - be they licensed or not -- to enjoy Amateur Radio. How do you take part? That's simple. From 18:00 to 24:00 hours U-T-C, simply open your home station to some local kids. Invite them over. Call CQ Kids Day and let them talk to whomever responds. The idea of Kids Day is to inspire an interest among these youngsters in ham radio through a hands-on on-the-air experience. And who knows, one or two might even develop enough interest to pursue getting a license. Even if none if those who visit your shack never become hams, they will at least know what amateur Radio is and what it can do for the community. Again, the next Kids Day operating event Takes place on Saturday, June 18th. More information can be had by joining the Kids Day Reflector at http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/kids (ARNewsLine)
ARRL encouraged by new Motorola BPL Technology (May 28 2005) The ARRL this week said it was encouraged to learn of Motorola's just-announced Powerline LV system--a BPL system that takes radio interference concerns into consideration from the outset. The Powerline LV system avoids using medium-voltage power lines and introduces broadband signals only on the low-voltage side of the power transformer, greatly reducing the system's radio interference potential. "We know that medium-voltage power lines are no place for broadband energy, since there is overwhelming technical evidence that radio interference from BPL is unavoidable if MV lines are used," said ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ. "By confining their Access BPL system to low-voltage lines and by adding hardware notch filters for additional protection to Amateur Radio frequency allocations, Motorola has addressed our interference concerns." Sumner explained this week that until Motorola Powerline LV came along, opposing BPL and opposing BPL interference were essentially one and the same. During product development, Motorola invited ARRL's suggestions and welcomed its input. Sumner said he hopes other BPL system providers now will see the benefit of cooperating with the ARRL that Motorola is now enjoying. "However, we can and should remain critical of the FCC's Report and Order, which makes no effort to distinguish between good and bad ways of pursuing BPL," he added. Sumner says the League is looking forward to seeing the first Powerline LV system in operation. The ARRL will continue to work with Motorola "to ensure that their new product is indeed the first BPL system that is a solution, not a problem," he said. There's more information about Motorola's Powerline LV system on the
company's Web site
(ARRL News Service)
ARRL Field Day 2005 publicity information available (Apr 1, 2005) Field Day 2005 is the weekend of Saturday and Sunday, June 25-26. Per rule 7.3.2, 100 bonus points are available to FD stations in all classes for bona fide efforts to obtain publicity for your Field Day operation from local media. ARRL Field Day 2005 publicity information now available for public information officers and clubs includes sample news releases and information on publicizing your participation in Field Day 2005. The page also includes publicity information for "National Take your HT Radio to Work Day" June 21, when hams are encouraged to clip their handheld transceivers on their belts or place them on their desks to raise awareness and prompt inquiries about Amateur Radio from co-workers. Amateur Radio Week 2005 is June 19-26 (ARRL News Service)
QRP TAC Sprint Contest--CW, SSB & PSK31, sponsored by EPA QRP Club, from 1800-2359Z Jun 4. Frequencies: 80-10 meters. Categories: QRP (<5 W), QRPp (<1 W), Tactical (portable with temporary antennas), Homebrew, Classic (pre-1985 radios). Exchange: RST, name and telephone area code (TAC), DX send area code or prefix. PA stations send × after the area code. QSO points: CW--4 pts, SSB--3 pts, PSK31--2 pts. For more information: www.n3epa.org. Logs due Jul 12 to tac@n3epa.org or EPA QRP Club, c/o Ron Polityka, 3050 Elm Rd, Reading, PA 19605-2343. World Wide Major Six Club Contest-- CW/SSB, sponsored by the Six Meter World Wide DX Club, from 2300Z Jun 3-0300Z Jun 6. Frequencies: 50 MHz only. Categories: SO only. Exchange: Grid square. QSO points: own country--1 pt, diff country (incl KH6 and KL7)-- 2 pts. Score: QSO points × grid squares (counted only once). For more information: http://6mt.com/contest.htm. Logs due 30 days after the contest to w4wrl@aol.com or to Wayne Lewis Sr, Six Club Contest Director, 3338 S Cashua Dr, Florence, SC 29501-6306. IARU Region 1 Field Day--CW, sponsored by IARU Societies, from 1500Z Jun 4-1459Z Jun 5 (SSB--Sep 3-4). Frequencies: 160-10 meters. Categories: SOAB (LP, QRP), MS (HP, LP). Exchange: RST and serial number. QSO points: EU to EU fixed stations--2 pts, non-EU to EU-3 pts, with portable EU stations--4 pts. Score: QSO points × DXCC and WAE entities counted once/band. See IARU Region 1 society Web sites for more information. Send logs to the appropriate national societies (NA hams to RAC or ARRL). ANARTS WW RTTY / Digital Contest--sponsored by Australian National Amateur Radio Teleprinter Society (ANARTS), from 0000Z Jun 11-2400Z Jun 12. Frequencies: 80-10 meters. Categories: SO, MS, and SWL, SO and SWL only operate 30 hours. Exchange RST, CQ zone and Time (UTC). QSO points are determined by an exchange table available from ANARTS. Score is QSO points × DXCC entities + VK, JA, VE and W call districts + continents (counted only once, not incl Antarctica). For more information: www.users.bigpond.com/ctdavies. Logs due Sep 1 to ctdavies@bigpond.net.au or Contest Manager Colin Davies, VK2CTD, PO Box 93, Toongabbie, NSW 2146, Australia. Asia-Pacific Sprint--SSB, from 1100Z to 1300Z Jun 11. Frequencies: 20 and 15 meters only (see Feb QST, p 99 or http://jsfc.org/apsprint/aprule.txt). ARRL June VHF QSO Party--from 1800Z Jun 11-0300Z Jun 13 (see May QST, p 99. EU EME Contest--any mode, sponsored by DUBUS and REF, from 0000Z Jun 11-2400Z Jun 12. Frequencies: 432 MHz, 5.7 GHz (see Apr QST, page 103). Portugal Day Contest--SSB, sponsored by Rede dos Emissores Portugueses (REP), from 0000Z-2400Z Jun 12. Frequencies: 80-10 meters. Categories: SOAB only. Exchange: RS + serial number or CT district abbreviation. QSO points: different country--3 pts, CT stations--6 pts. Score: QSO points × CT districts counted once per band. For more information: www.rep.pt/dia_de_portugal.htm. Logs due Sep 1 to REP-Rede dos Emissores Portugueses, Award/Contest Manager, PO Box 2483, 1112 Lisboa Codex, Portugal. GACW WWSA CW DX Contest --sponsored by Grupo Argentino de Radiotelegrafia (GACW), from 1500Z Jun 11-1500Z Jun 12. Frequencies: 80-10 meters. Categories: SOAB and SOSB (QRP <5 W, LP, HP >100 W), MS, MM. Exchange: RST and CQ Zone. QSO points: own country--0 pt (mult credit only), different country--1 pts, diff continent--3 pts, non-SA to SA--5 pts. Score is QSO points × zone + countries from DXCC/WAE/GACW lists. For more information:http://gacw.no-ip.org. Logs due Jul 15 to uranito@gacw.no-ip.org or GACW DX Contest, PO Box 9, B1875ZAA Wilde, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Kid's Day Operating Event--from 1800-2400Z Jun 18 (see www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/kd-rules.html). West Virginia QSO Party--CW/SSB, sponsored by the West Virginia State Amateur Radio Council, from 1600Z Jun 18-0200Z Jun 19. Frequencies: 80-10 meters, CW--35 kHz from band edge, Phone--35 kHz from General class band edge and Novice/Tech 10 meter segment. Categories: SO, MM and Mobile, all categories may be HP, LP (<100 W), QRP (<5 W), Phone, CW, or mixed mode. Work stations once per band/mode and WV stations from each county (WV mobiles keep separate log for each county). Exchange: RS(T) and WV county or S/P/C. QSO points: Fixed stations: CW--2 pts, SSB--1 pt; Mobiles: CW-- 3 pts, SSB--2 pts; Bonus--100 pts for QSOs with W8WVA once per band/mode, WV mobiles add 100 points per county activated with minimum of 1 QSO. Score: QSO points × WV counties (+ S/P/C for WV stations), add bonus to final score, multipliers count only once. For more information:www.qsl.net/wvarrl. Logs due Jul 20 to WA8WV@aol.com or Dave Ellis, WA8WV, 610 Hillsdale Dr, Charleston, WV 25302. All-Asian DX Contest--CW--sponsored by the Japan Amateur Radio League from 0000Z Jun 18-2400Z Jun 19. (SSB--Sep 3-4). Frequencies: 160-10 meters (160 is CW only), incl 10-min band change rule. Categories: SOAB, SOSB, MO, Low Power (Asian stations only), Junior (JA stations <20 years), Senior (JA stations >70 years). Exchange: RS(T) and a two digit number denoting the operator's age. YL stations may send 00. QSO points for non-Asian stations: 40-15 meters--1 pt, 80 and 10 meters--2 pts, 160 meters--3 pts. Score: QSO pts × Asian prefixes (WPX rules). For more information and Asian station QSO points-- www.jarl.or.jp/English/. Logs due Jul 31 (Oct 31 for phone) to aacw@jarl.or.jp (SSB logs to aaph@jarl.or.jp) or JARL, All Asian DX Contest, 170-8073, Japan. SMIRK QSO Party--sponsored by the Six Meter International Radio Klub, 0000Z Jun 19-2400Z Jun 20. Frequencies: phone QSOs within the lower 48 states and Canada above 50.125 MHz; only DX QSOs between 50.100 and 50.125 MHz. SO category only. No repeater QSOs. Exchange: SMIRK number and grid square. QSO points: SMIRK member--2 pts, nonmember--1 pt. Score: QSO points × grid squares. For more information: www.smirk.org. Logs due Aug 1 to contest@smirk.org or Dale Richardson, AA5XE, 214 Palo Verde Dr, Kerrville, TX 78028. Quebec QSO Party--CW/Digital/Voice--sponsored by the Radio Amateurs du Quebec from 1700Z Jun 18-0300Z Jun 19. Frequencies: 80-2 meters, no repeater contacts. Categories: SOAB (150 W max), MO, QRP, VHF (QRP and VHF are VE2 and NA stations only). Exchange: RS(T) and Quebec region or S/P/C, /MM send ITU zone. QSO points: Voice--1 pt, CW/Digital--2 pts, VE2RIO--10 pts. Score: QSO points × VE2 regions and ITU Zones counted once per band and mode. For more information: www.raqi.ca/qqp. Logs due Aug 24 to qso-log@raqi.ca or Radio Amateur du Quebec (QQP), 4545 Av Pierre-de-Coubertin, CP 1000, Succursale M, Montreal QC, Canada, H1V 3R2. Spanish Islands Contest--CW/SSB/RTTY, sponsored by the Diploma Islas Españolas (DIE), from 0600Z-1200Z Jun 19. Frequencies: 80-10 meters. Exchange: RST + DIE number or serial number. QSO points: Island stations 2 pts/QSO, otherwise 5 pts/QSO. For more information: www.ea5ol.net/die. Logs due 60 days after the contest to ea5aen@ea5ol.net or EA5AEN, PO Box 11055, Valencia, Spain. ARRL Field Day--1800Z Jun 25 to 2100Z Jun 26 (see May QST, page 100}. His Majesty King of Spain Contest--SSB--1200Z Jun 25-1200Z Jun 26; see May QST, page 99). QRP ARCI Milliwatt Field Day--1800Z Jun 25-2100Z Jun 26. Follows ARRL Field Day rules; see www.qrparci.org/contest.htm for more information. Marconi Memorial HF Contest--CW, sponsored by ARI, from 1400Z Jun 25-1400Z Jun 26. Frequencies: 160-10 meters, according to IARU band plan. Categories: SO -LP (<100 W) and -QRP (<5 W), and MO. Exchange: RST + serial number. QSO points: 1 pt/QSO. Score: QSO points × DXCC entities counted once per band. For more information: www.qsl.net/ik6ptj/marconi.htm. Logs due 30 days after the contest to ik6ptj@qsl.net or ARI sez. di Fano, PO Box 35, I-61032 FANO (PS), Italy. (ARRL News Service)
1800Z Jun 2-1500Z Jun 5, Spruce Knob, WV. Northern Virginia Astronomy Club, K4S. NOVAC--Almost Heaven Star Party. 28.460 21.360 14.260 7.260. QSL. John Singleton, N4AJR, 43207 Ribboncrest Terrace, Ashburn, VA 20147. www.novac.com/AHSP/index.php. 1700Z-2359Z daily Jun 3-Jun 5, Vancouver, WA. Clark County Amateur Radio Club, W7AIA/75. Commemorating the club's 75th anniversary. 28.450 21.350 14.250 7.260. Certificate. Clark County ARC, PO Box 1424, Vancouver, WA 98685. www.w7aia.org. 1300Z-2000Z Jun 4, Ashboro, NC. Randolph Amateur Radio Club, NC4ZO. War Bird Air Fair D-Day Commemoration. 28.400 21.320 14.240 7.240. Certificate. Butch Simpson, WS4H, 6747 King Mtn Rd, Asheboro, NC 27205. 1300Z-2100Z Jun 4, Slippery Rock, PA. K2BSA Amateur Radio Association, K2BSA/3. Order of the Arrow Section NE-4B Conclave at Camp Bucoco. 14.250 7.250. Certificate. Ronald J. Dambaugh, KA3WIK, 221 Country Lane Rd, Prospect, PA 16052. 1400Z-2000Z Jun 4, Union, IL. Illinois Railway Museum, W9T. Amateur Radio Day at Illinois Railway Museum. 21.350 14.250 7.250 7.050. QSL. Larry Zacharias, 1031 Pershing Dr, Wauconda, IL 60084. 1400Z-2100Z Jun 4, Badin, NC. Montgomery Amateur Radio Society, NC4MC. Loss of the "Badin Bomber" on June 8, 1944. 28.450 21.350 14.250 7.255. Certificate. Montgomery Amateur Radio Society--NC4MC, c/o Eric Luther, 3224 Panther Mountain Rd, Asheboro, NC 27205. http://members.carolina.net/ki4dh/. 1400Z-2200Z Jun 4, Tylertown, MS. Southwest Mississippi ARC, KD5QNC. Walthall County Dairy Festival. 14.270 7.270. QSL. KD5QNC, Southwest Mississippi ARC, 1545 Friendship Lane NW, Brookhaven, MS 39601. 1700Z-2100Z Jun 4, Manchester, VT. Burr and Burton Amateur Radio Club, K1BBS. Celebrating Burr and Burton Academy's 175th anniversary of excellence in education. 14.225 7.225. Certificate. Chris Kochenour, 18 Valley Pass Rd, Manchester Center, VT 05255. 1800Z-2200Z Jun 4, Olathe, KS. Johnson County ARES, KSØJC. Honoring Marshall and Loretta Ensor code teachers. SSB 14.250; CW 10.115. Certificate and QSL. Dan Reed, 29545 W 152nd Ter, Gardner, KS 66030. www.w9bsp-w9ua.org. 1400-2000Z daily Jun 4 and Jun 5, Mississauga, ON. Mississauga Amateur Radio Club, VE3MIS. 32 Streetsville Founders Bread & Honey Festival. 21.315 14.240 28.480 7.227. Certificate. MARC, c/o Michael Brickell, VE3TKI, 2801 Bucklepost Cres, Mississauga , ON, Canada L5N 1X6. www.marc.on.ca. 1400Z Jun 4-2400Z Jun 7, New Orleans, LA. Jefferson Amateur Radio Club, W5D. 61st anniversary of D-Day from the National D-Day Museum. 21.250 14.250 7.250. Certificate. W5GAD, PO Box 73665, Metairie, LA 70033. www.w5gad.org. 0000Z Jun 4-2400Z Jun 12, Wyabdotte, OK. The Bunker D-Day Reenactment Club, N5D. Re-enactment of D-Day landing with 4000 paintball players. 14.235 14.035 7.225 7.035. Certificate. Larry Strain, N7DF, 10 Mountain Vista, La Luz, NM 88337. www.oklahomadday.com. 0400Z Jun 4-0359Z Jun 19, Atkinson, NH. Atkinson Amateur Radio Club, K1D. Celebrating Kid's Day & Amateur Radio Awareness. 28.370 21.370 14.270. QSL. Peter Schipelliti, W1DAD, 7 Dearborn Ridge Rd, Atkinson, NH 03811. 1800Z Jun 10-0200Z Jun 12, Worthington, MN. Worthington Okabena Windsurfers, WØW. Annual Windsurfing Regatta and Unvarnished Music Festival. 21.375 14.275 7.275 3.875. QSL. Randy Shirbroun, 1745 N Douglas Ave, Worthington, MN 56187. www.wgtn.net/wow/index.htm. 1300 Z -1700Z June 10 and 1400Z-2200Z Jun 11-Jun 12, Fond du Lac, WI. Fond du Lac Amateur Radio Club, W9EBV. Walleye Weekend. 21.375 14.325 3.975. QSL. Dave Witt, WD9W, 1600 S Park Ave, Fond du Lac, WI 54935-8032. www.fdlhams.org. 1700Z-2300Z Jun 11, Stanhope, NJ. Nutley Amateur Radio Society, W2GLQ. Waterloo Village. 28.350 21.275 14.350 7.250. QSL. Nutley ARS, 169 Chestnut St, Nutley, NJ 07110. http://hometown.aol.com/kc2aup. 1200Z Jun 11-2100Z Jun 12, Hamilton, OH. Butler County VHF Association, W8P. Ohio Covered Bridge Event. 14.250. QSL. John DelaCroix, W8WCQ, 67 Woodcrest Dr, Middletown, OH 45044. www.qsl.net/w8cci/bc07004.html. 1200Z Jun 11-2400Z Jun 12, Cambridge, OH. Cambridge Amateur Radio Association, Inc, W8G. Ohio's Covered Bridges On The Air Weekend. 7.243. QSL. Cambridge Amateur Radio Association, Inc, PO Box 1804, Cambridge, OH 43725. www.w8vp.org. 1200Z Jun 11-2400Z Jun 12, Norwich, OH. Cambridge Amateur Radio Association, Inc, W8D. Ohio's Covered bridges On The Air Weekend. 7.243. QSL. Cambridge Amateur Radio Association, Inc, PO Box 1804, Cambridge, OH 43725. www.w8vp.org. 1400Z Jun 11-2200Z Jun 12, Camden, NJ. United States Power Squadrons and Battleship New Jersey Amateur Radio Station, NJ2BB. National Safe Boating Week from the Battleship New Jersey. 28.367 21.367 14.267 7.267. Certificate. Donald R. Stark, N3HOW, 65 Stark Spur, Eighty Four, PA 15330-2547. Jun 11-Jun 12, 1500Z-0000Z, Marshfield & Wausau, WI. Marshfield Area Amateur Radio Society and Wisconsin Valley Radio Association, W4S. Central Wisconsin Walk for Sarcoma Relay Event. 14.268 7.268. QSL. Jerry Graebel, 624 E Bridge St, Wausau, WI 54403-3566. 0000Z Jun 13-2359Z Jun 26, Great Falls, MT. Great Falls Area Amateur Radio Club, W7M. Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Commemoration. SSB 28.350 21.350 14.250 3.855 CW up 35 kHz on CW bands. QSL. W7ECA, PO Box 1763, Great Falls, MT 59405. www.w7eca.org. 1500Z Jun 17-0300Z Jun 19, Indianapolis, IN. Indianapolis Motor Speedway Amateur Radio Club, W9IMS. United States Grand Prix. 21.340 14.240 7.240 3.840. QSL. Indianapolis Motor Speedway ARC, PO Box 18495, Indianapolis, IN 46218. www.w9ims.com. 1500Z Jun 18-2100Z Jun 18, Effingham, IL. National Trail Amateur Radio Club, K9UXZ. The Historic National Road (America's first interstate). 14.240 7.240. Certificate. K9UXZ, PO Box 903, Effingham, IL 62401. www.nationalroad.org. 1400Z Jun 18-1800Z Jun 19, Dalton, PA. Northeast Pennsylvania DX Club, N3XK. 33rd anniversary of Hurricane Agnes. 21.350 14.250 7.250 3.860. QSL. Brian Mennig, KM3X, RR1 Box 308, Dalton, PA 18414. 1500Z Jun 18-2000Z Jun 22, Chicago, IL. Rotary International--Rotarians of Amateur Radio (ROAR), W9R. Celebrating 100 years of Rotary service to mankind. 21.310 14.293 7.280 3.955. Certificate. ROAR - W9R, c/o John Maier, W8AUV, PO Box 797832, Dallas, TX 75379-7832. www.ifroar.org. 1400Z-2200Z Jun 24, Sault Ste Marie, MI. U.P. Net/Wexaukee Amateur Radio Club, N8S. 150th anniversary of the St Marys River Soo Locks. 21.255 14.255 7.255 3.921. Certificate. Al Robertson, PO Box 202, Stevensville, MI 49127-0202. 1400Z -1800Z Jun 25, Emerson, AR. PurpleHull Pea Amateur Radio Club, K5PEA. Commemorating 16th Annual PurpleHull Pea Festival. 14.240 7.240. QSL. PurpleHull Pea Amateur Radio Club, PO Box 273, Emerson, AR 71740. www.purplehull.com/hams. 1800Z Jun 25-1800Z Jun 26, Rusk, TX. A Group of Texas Amateurs, W5R, N5R. Texas State Railroad operation during Field Day. 14.250. QSL. Stephen Hicks, N5AC, 900 Carnegie Ct, Allen, TX 75002. www.FieldDay05.com. 1800Z Jun 25-2100Z Jun 26, Brigantine, NJ. Shore Points Amateur Radio Club, W2HRW. Field Day 2005. 14.280 146.520 446.600 224.900. QSL. Shore Points Amateur Radio Club, PO Box 142, Absecon, NJ 08201. (ARRL)
Les Moxon, G6XN, Inducted to ‘Amateur Radio Hall of Fame’ (Jun. 3 2005) The American CQ Amateur Radio magazine announced on 22 May the induction of 17 new members of its Amateur Radio, Contesting and DXing ‘Halls of Fame’. Among the 14 new members of the ‘Amateur Radio Hall of Fame’ are the late Les Moxon, G6XN, well-known antenna experimenter and author of HF Antennas for All Locations, and Phillip Smith, 1ANB, the inventor of the Smith Chart. (RSGB2)
ARRL accepting VU4RBI/VU4NRO cards for DXCC credit (Jun 1, 2005) ARRL DXCC Manager Bill Moore, NC1L, says that despite reports to the contrary, the League is accepting VU4RBI/VU4NRO Andaman and Nicobar Islands DXpedition QSL cards for DXCC credit. "A few cards have been rejected on the basis of incomplete information on the cards," he notes. "We apologize for any misunderstanding." Moore says that in the case of QSL cards bearing less-than-complete data (call sign only, missing time and/or date, etc) DXCC must see the actual card at ARRL Headquarters. "This is usual procedure," he explains. "Blank cards and cards missing information are always subject to inspection at Headquarters." He advises operators holding such cards to not attempt to fill in the missing information themselves. "Simply send us the card, and we will try to obtain the fill," he said. DXpedition team leader Bharathi Prasad, VU2RBI, has agreed to supply additional VU4RBI/VU4NRO log information to DXCC. "As always we strive to maintain the highest integrity possible in the DXCC program," Moore said. He advises patience to those expecting a direct QSL. (ARRL News Service)
CQ introduces “iDX” Award (May 27, 2005) CQ Amateur Radio magazine has announced the introduction of the “iDX Award,” the final component of its three-part “Waking Up DXing” program designed to encourage more DXing activity. “The iDX Award brings back and updates an old concept of introductory-level awards to help bring newer hams into the sport and mindset of DXing,” explained CQ Editor Rich Moseson, W2VU. The CQ iDX Award recognizes confirmed contacts with 25 to 100 different countries--or entities--made using remote bases or repeaters linked with Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) networks such as IRLP or EchoLink. Because virtually all new hams today come into Amateur Radio as Technicians operating VHF and UHF, Novice awards have been largely discontinued,” Moseson noted. “The iDX Award brings the concept of the Novice award to where newer hams are operating today.” CQ DX Awards Manager Billy Williams, N4UF, says the demarcation between wired and wireless communication has been blurred by modern integrated systems employed by public safety agencies and commercial users. "This blurring of the line between wired and wireless has already reached Amateur Radio in several ways--using the Internet to collect and distribute DX spots, propagation data and location information, to link existing VHF and UHF repeaters over great distances and to access an HF remote base station.” Williams says the CQ iDX Award will focus on the last two activities. “The CQ iDX Award recognizes the changing landscape and its inevitable effect on where Amateur Radio will be in 2020." Contacts must use radio on at least one end of the link to count for the award. Computer-to-computer contacts, while possible on such systems as EchoLink, will not count toward this award. Contacts for the new award may be made starting January 1, 2006. Complete details are in the June 2005 issue of CQ and on the CQ Web site. CQ previously introduced the CQ DX Field Award and the CQ DX Marathon as the first two parts of its “Waking Up DXing” program. (ARRL News Service)
Rockall Over the World (Jun. 14-21 2005) A new website has been set up by the radio amateurs who plan to put Rockall, the final never-activated IOTA island group in Europe, on the air next month. There is a link from the RSGB’s site at www.rsgb.org It is planned that MS0IRC/P will be on the air from Rockall between about 14 and 21 June, weather permitting, operated by David Wood, MM0ALM, and James Cameron, MM0CWJ. (RSGB2)
June 2 2005 ARRL DX News This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by MM0BQI, QRZ DX, the OPDX Bulletin, The Daily DX, 425DXnews, DXNL, WA7BNM and Contest Corral from QST. Thanks to all. UNITED NATIONS HQ, 4U_UN. Subject to the availability of the station, look for W1CX and KT1J to be QRV from 4U1UN on June 5. Activity will be on the HF bands using RTTY and PSK, and possibly on 60 meters. QSL this operation via HB9BOU. DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, 9Q. 9Q0AR has been QRV on 20 meters around 1900z and 6 meters from around 1900 to 2100z. QSL via SM5BFJ. TONGA, A3. Elizabeth, VE7YL and Gwen, VK3DYL are QRV as A35YL from Nuku'alofa, IOTA OC-049, until June 8. Activity is on 40 to 10 meters using CW and SSB. QSL via VK3DYL. TAJIKISTAN, EY. Nodir, EY8MM is usually QRV on 20 meters from about 0130 to 0230z. QSL via K1BV. SCOTLAND, GM. Jim, MM0BQI is QRV as MM0BQI/p from Lunga Island, Treshnish Isles, IOTA EU-108, until June 5. Activity is on 80 to 10 meters, including the newer bands, using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL to home call. SOUTH KOREA, HL. Stations HL2EJT, HL1OJQ, HL1OYF, HL1SRJ, HL1VAU, DS1KOQ, DS1NMA, DS3MLG, DS4NMJ, DS4NYE and HL2AGG are QRV as homecalls/4 from Chu'ja Island, IOTA AS-084, until June 5. QSL via operators' instructions. ITALY, I. Special event station II1TPG is QRV until June 5 during the IX Paralympic Winter Games. QSL via IZ1CCE. SARDINIA, IS0. Vittorio, IK4CIE, Lorenzo, IK4XQM and Mirco, IZ4GJJ are QRV as homecalls/IS0 until June 7. Weather conditions permitting, they may also be QRV as homecalls/IM0 from Tavolara Island, IOTA EU-165. QSL via operators' instructions. NORWAY, LA. Ric, DL2VFR will be QRV as LA/homecall from Otroy Island, IOTA EU-056, from June 4 to 11. Activity will be mainly CW. QSL to home call. LUXEMBOURG, LX. Operators from the Scouting Radio Spijkenisse will be QRV as LX/PI9SRS from Wiltz on June 4 and 5. Activity will be on 80 to 10 meters, including 17, 12 and 2 meters, using CW and SSB. They will also have an APRS beacon. QSL via operators' instructions. FINLAND, OH. Members of the Oulu University Radio Club will be active as OH8T/p from Hailuoto Island, IOTA EU-184, during the IARU Region 1 CW Field Day. QSL via the bureau. POLAND, SP. Special event station SN0LED is active until June 5 for the IX Youth Meeting at Lednica. Activity is on all bands using CW, SSB and FM. QSL via SP3POH. GREECE, SV. Mike, SV1RK, Stavros, SV3CUJ and Kostas, SV1AER are QRV as J48SI from the Sapientza Lighthouse on Sapientza Island, IOTA EU-158, until June 5. Activity is on 40, 20, 17 and 15 meters. This is the first time amateur radio is active from this island. QSL via operators' instructions. PALAU, T8. Yasu, JA6BJV and Toshio, JA3IFT are QRV as T88AG and T88AH, respectively, until June 6. Activity is on all bands, but mainly on 40 meters and higher, with Yasu using CW and Toshio using SSB. QSL to home calls. ASIATIC RUSSIA, UA0. Operators UA0BA, RU0BB, UA0BFN, UA0BIV, UA0BJB, RW0BG and UA0BHC will are QRV as homecalls/p from Mount Medvezh'ya until June 5. Activity is on 40 to 10 meters. QSL to home calls. They will also participate in the IARU Region 1 CW Field Day as RK0BWW/p. QSL contest call via RW0BG. GIBRALTAR, ZB. Adrian, G0KOM is QRV as ZB2/G0KOM for the UKSMG 6-Meter Contest and is here until June 6. He is active primarily on 6 meters, but will also be active on all HF bands, except for 160 meters. QSL to home call. THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The VK/Trans-Tasman 80-Meter CW Contest, IARU Region 1 CW Field Day, UK Six-Meter Group Summer Sporadic-e Contest, QRP TAC Sprint, World Wide Major Six Club Contest and the WorldRadio Friends' Day QSO Party are all scheduled for this weekend. The Summer Six Meter Digital Rally runs until June 5. Please see June QST, page 93 and the ARRL and WA7BNM contest websites for details. (ARRL)
Jun. 2- 24 2005 I.C.P.O. Bulletin Islands, Castles & Portable Operations - I.C.P.O. 02/06/2005: EU-108 MMØBQI/P LUNGA ISLAND -
02/06/2005: ZB2/G0KOM GIBRALTAR -
02/06/2005: 9M8 SARAWAK -
03/06/2005: AS-084 H.C.'s/P CHU'JA ISLAND -
04/06/2005: DCFP:C-067 CS7MA CASTLE OF MARVÃO -
04/06/2005: DFCF F6AEW/P FRENCH CASTLES -
04/06/2005: EU-056 LA/DL2VFR OTROY ISLAND -
07/06/2005: NA-094 CY9SS ST. PAUL ISLAND -
10/06/2005: EU-170 9A/I6GFX CROATIAN ISLANDS -
10/06/2005: EU-145 CS0RCL/P CULATRA ISLAND -
10/06/2005: EU-101 OH6M MOLPE ISLAND -
11/06/2005: WAIL:LI-006 IU1PV PUNTA VAGNO LIGHTHOUSE
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11/06/2005: EU-138 SM7/DL8AAV/P ASPO ISLAND -
12/06/2005: RDA:YR RK3UWK/3 RUSSIAN DISTRICTS -
12/06/2005: VP5/H.C.'s TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS -
13/06/2005: RDA:IV RK3UWK/P RUSSIAN DISTRICTS -
14/06/2005: LA5WJA/MM & LA7DFA/MM NORWAY GRID SQUARES
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14/06/2005: EU-New! MSØIRC/P ROCKALL ISLAND -
14/06/2005: RDA:YR RK3UWK/3 RUSSIAN DISTRICTS -
17/06/2005: AS-066 UEØLBI BEL'TSOV ISLAND -
17/06/2005: UEØLPI PETROVA ISLAND -
18/06/2005: NA-057 HR9/H.C.'s UTILA ISLAND -
18/06/2005: VE3RCR/P KINCARDINE LIGHTHOUSE -
19/06/2005: CIsA VE3TPZ/P ISLANDS & LIGHTHOUSES
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19/06/2005: NA-108 J6 ST. LUCIA -
24/06/2005: NA-024 J3/K5AND ISLAND OF GRENADA -
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
Nebraska Bill Would Effectively Prohibit BPL (Jun. 3 2005) Nebraska's unicameral legislature has passed a bill supported by telecommunications interests to ban "agencies, political subdivisions and public power suppliers" from providing any broadband, Internet, telecommunications or video services. This would include broadband over power line (BPL). The "Unicam," as it's called, approved the measure, LB 645, by a vote of 37-8-4. "So it's time for rejoicing, ARRL Nebraska State Government Liaison Bob Mitchell, WB0RJJ," said. "BPL is dead in Nebraska for this year!" ARRL Nebraska Section Manager Matthew Anderson, KA0BOJ, hailed the bill's passage as "great news." He also extended congratulations to the Nebraska Section team for its work in securing passage for the measure. "All of our contacts, letters, e-mails, phone calls and personal visits have paid off," he said. "This is indeed a great day for ham radio in Nebraska." Mitchell said even if LB 645 is overturned next year, he believes BPL by then "will have been superseded by superior technology that will not pollute the RF environment." The measure now goes to Gov David Heineman for his signature. Mitchell said it's unlikely that the governor would veto the bill. The legislation also creates a Broadband Services Task Force to study--among other things--"The need and necessity for the provision of wholesale broadband services, Internet services, telecommunications services or video services by agencies or political subdivisions of the state and public power suppliers." The task force will report to the legislature, the governor, and the Unicam's Natural Resources and Transportation and Telecommunications committees by December 1, 2006. The "final reading" text of the bill is available via the Unicam's Web site: www.unicam.state.ne.us (ARRL News Service)
ARRL and United States Power Squadrons Join Forces in Education (Jun. 3 2005) The ARRL and the United States Power Squadrons (USPS), a national boating and educational organization, will formally ratify a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on June 4. The MoU spells out areas where the two organizations can work together in educational activities of overlapping or mutual interest to their respective memberships. "ARRL and USPS have long and distinguished histories, both dating back to 1914, but both organizations have their focus on the future," said ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ. "It is a pleasure to be working together." Sumner signed the MoU on behalf of the League, while Chief Commander G. Leslie Johnson signed for the USPS. Among other things, the MoU calls for the League and USPS to assist each other in marketing, developing and promoting educational materials specific to the dual interests of the recreational boater and the Amateur Radio operator. In addition, the two organizations have agreed to collaborate in the development and distribution of promotional materials and to develop products to serve boaters who are also Amateur Radio licensees. With a mission of promoting safe boating through education, USPS--"America's Boating Club"--has more than 50,000 members organized into 450 squadrons across the continental US, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Japan. Local squadrons offer public boating safety courses on a regular basis. Successfully completing a USPS boating course qualifies boaters to meet the educational requirement for boat licensing and operation in most states. It's also a requirement to become a local Power Squadron member. Organized in 1914 as a non-profit boating organization, USPS is a world leader in speaking out for and promoting the needs of all recreational boaters. USPS teaches classes in seamanship and navigation to help our members improve their boating skills, confidence and performance on the water. In addition, through a cooperative program with the US Coast Guard, squadron members conduct vessel safety checks to make sure boaters have all Coast Guard-required equipment aboard. "This is a great way to introduce boating education to the thousands of ARRL members," said Don Stark, ham radio operator and USPS member. "Many hams are also boaters and see the value of continuing boating education. The USPS advanced and elective courses are a natural for this kind of study." Stark says USPS on-the-water events often are coordinated using Amateur Radio, so the match of boating and Amateur Radio operations and a good fit. "It's also a great way to introduce boaters to Amateur Radio," said ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP. "Time and again hams have shown that Amateur Radio gets emergency messages through when other systems fail or are overloaded. The ability to have such a resource on board would make any skipper safer and better able to render aid if needed." A new Amateur Radio Learning Guide for boaters--a cooperative effort by USPS and ARRL--has just been released. The publication will be available from USPS and ARRL as well as through major book retailers. "This new publication is a great reference for anyone interested in ham radio operation, ashore or on the water," said Darrell Allison of USPS marketing. He cited GPS, APRS, radar and marine electronics among the common interests between hams and boaters. The USPS/CPS Amateur Radio Net meets Saturdays, 1700 UTC, on 14.287 MHz. A once-a-month 10-meter net takes place on the first Saturday of each month at 1800 UTC on 28.357 MHz. (ARRL News Service)
Eastern Mass ARES To Assist In The Operation Atlas Boston Logan Airport Drill The Drill (Jun. 4 2005) The Eastern Mass ARES Assistance Requested By The Massachusetts Bay Red Cross For The Operation Atlas Boston Logan Airport Drill... The Drill Is Rescheduled For Saturday June 4th 2005 With A Raindate Of Sunday June 5th 2005 Has Been Defined As Well... The Massachusetts Bay Red Cross Chapter Has Requested Eastern Mass ARES To Assist In The Operation Atlas Boston Logan Airport Drill The Drill Is Being Conducted By The Department Of Homeland Security And The Red Cross Has A Role In The Drill To Provide A Disaster Mental Health Services Team, Mass Care Team, And Will Have Boston And Waltham Offices Active For This Exercise. The Red Cross Has Requested Communications Assistance From Eastern Ma ARES Fro This Drill. Currently We Are Anticipating A Need For 15-20 Amateurs. The Town Of Bridgewater EOC(emergency operations center) Will Setup As Net Control Center Similar To What Was Done At The DNC Demacratic National Convention. Amateurs Will Be Needed At The Boston And Waltham And Boston Red Cross Chapters And Several Amateurs Will Be Needed On "Go" teams that will be going into the city or To the airport itself. Home Stations Will Also Be Needed For This Exercise. Please Contact Your DEC If Interested in this exercise. Please note that deployments to the Red Cross and as go teams for the Red Cross will have requirements set fourth by ARES staff. For Net Control Duties In Bridgewater, please contact Carl Aveni-N1FY at: caave@peoplepc.com or Rob Macedo-KD1CY at: rmacedo@rcn.com |
