SARL now National Body for South Africa Amateur Radio (Jun. 11 2005) The Department of Communications has officially appointed the South African Radio League (SARL) as the National Body for Amateur Radio. While always having been regarded as the national body, amendments to the radio regulations, promulgated earlier this year, required the official appointment of a national body. "While many viewed this as a formality, it required that we had to go through the legal process with the Department of Communications", Graham Hartlett, ZS6GJH, said. "The SARL is much indebted to Dr Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri and her department for the support given to amateur radio and its future development." In terms of these new regulations, the SARL will now be able to handle the upgrading of restricted amateur radio licences from ZR to ZS. "We have already registered a number of assessors who are qualified to evaluate candidates for upgrades," Graham said Full details of the upgrading process can be found on the SARL web at www.sarl.org.za. (SARL News Service)
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)
Don, VK3DZM Silent Key (Jun. 4 2005) It is with regret that I announce that Don, VK3DZM became a silent key on the 4th June, 2005. Don over many years was a very keen, well known and liked operator on the 80 metre phone DX scene who will be sadly missed by all of his many amateur friends, his friends in general and his family. Don was on his flight home after having just spent time touring and staying with amateur friends in the USA, paying a visit to relatives in Great Britain and a short stay in Paris when he had to leave his flight at Singapore because he was not well and died shortly afterwards from a major coronary attack. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him. (George, VK5ALS)
Jun. 17 2005 Tad Cook K7RA Solar Update
A Coronal Mass Ejection on June 9 caused a geomagnetic storm on June 12, when the arrival of the ejection and solar wind was met with a south-pointing interplanetary magnetic field. When the field points north, it helps protect the Earth from the effects of solar wind. But when it points south, the Earth is vulnerable. On June 13 the field again pointed north. Currently we are experiencing effects from a coronal mass ejection which swept over Earth around 0900z on June 16. This was a weak disturbance, but it is followed by a moderate solar wind. The expected planetary A index, a measure of geomagnetic stability world wide, is expected around 25, 15, 10 and 8 for June 17-20. Solar flux is expected to remain below 100 until the end of this month. Currently there is a large sunspot detectable on the far side of the sun. A large sunspot, number 779, which only emerged this week is currently at the center of the visible solar disk, directly facing Earth. Now let's look at ARRL Field Day, a very popular activity which generates a great deal of interest and mail this time of year. The dates are June 25-26, and recurring coronal holes and a high speed solar wind are expected to result in active to minor storm levels around June 24-27. It is difficult to predict with real accuracy this far out, but according to the U.S. Air Force the expected planetary A index for June 24-27 is 15, 20, 20 and 15. Solar flux around that weekend is expected around 85-90. By the way, I found an interesting article titled, "Air Force Space Weather Troops," which is about a solar observatory the Air Force operates in Puerto Rico. The article can be found on the web at, http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/milarticles/blweather.htm. Next week we'll revisit Field Day in the hours leading up to next weekend. Meanwhile, this weekend in addition to other activities is the All Asian DX CW Contest, SMIRK 6-meter Contest, and the Kid's Day Operating Event. For Kid's Day info, check http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/kd-rules.html. Next week is also the summer solstice, the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, June 21. This day gets really long the farther north one moves in the Northern Hemisphere. For instance, on June 21 in Los Angeles the sun will rise at 5:50 AM and set at 8:01 PM, a 14 hour and 11 minute period. But in Seattle, the sun rises 29 minutes earlier at 5:21 AM and sets a whole hour later than L.A. at 9:01 PM, a 15 hour and 41 minute period from sunrise to sunset. Another email arrived concerning 6 meter openings. Eric Hall, K9GY was operating on Saturday, June 11 from grid square FM08rp at 3,500 feet elevation west of Shenandoah National Park in northeast Virginia. He was mobile with a 6 meter whip on his car top, and heard VP5/N4VHF in FL31 (Turks and Caicos Islands). Eric feels he nearly worked him when the other station asked for a repeat from the Yankee station. He worked stations in FN11, FN20, FN21, FN00, FN01, FN30, FN31, FN32 and EM96. If you want to locate those grid squares, check the Grid Square Conversion site at http://www.amsat.org/cgi-bin/gridconv. It will give you latitude/longitude coordinates for any grid square, and also works with the more precise 6 character locator. Running it to find my grid square from map coordinates, I discovered my 6 character locator is at CN87uq. 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 June 9 through 15 were 99, 103, 85, 85, 73, 44 and 64 with a mean of 79. 10.7 cm flux was 116.1, 114.3, 108, 103, 91.8, 93.8 and 94.5, with a mean of 103.1. Estimated planetary A indices were 5, 5, 6, 35, 33, 10 and 21 with a mean of 16.4. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 3, 2, 6, 23, 17, 8 and 14, with a mean of 10.4. (ARRL News Service)
Europe June 19 2005 Solar and propagation report,
Solar flare activity remained low. A few C-class flares were reported. The largest flare was an M4 on the 16th. The solar flux began the week at 108 and ended at 91. The average was 97, a drop of ten points. The 90-day average shed a point to 93. The X-ray flux, showing little daily variation, averaged B1.4. The geomagnetic field was initially quiet, with a reading of only 6 on the 11th. However, a coronal mass ejection arrived early on the 12th. When the interplanetary magnetic field turned strongly south around 1600UTC a minor storm followed. The Ap reading for the 12th was 35 and for the 13th 33. The 14th was quieter but further coronal mass ejections brought led to active or minor storm periods on the 15th, 16th and 17th. The average for the week was 21 units. Solar wind speeds were initially low, with 284km/sec recorded on the 11th. Higher levels subsequently prevailed, with 718km/sec the high point on the 17th. Particle densities were briefly up to 27 per cubic centimetre on the 15th but mainly were in low single figures. The combination of geomagnetic disturbance, modest levels of solar flux and seasonal factors made for disappointing F-layer propagation for most of the week. 14MHz was reasonably consistent but other predicted values were not generally achieved. However, VHF fared much better. The 11th and 12th brought excellent 50MHz openings to the Caribbean and the northern fringe of South America by way of multihop sporadic-E. Countries worked included Puerto Rico, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Trinidad, Venezuela and French Guyana. There was a weak opening to Newfoundland around mid-day on the 16th. The storm that wiped out much HF propagation on the 12th brought an excellent auroral event which arrived during the afternoon and continued until after midnight, covering the entire UK at its peak. The event included a rare 50MHz auroral contact between GM4WJA and VE5UF at 2245 on the 12th. During the coming week flare activity is likely to continue low, although occasional M-class flares are possible. The solar flux will probably remain around current levels - between 80 and 100. On the 19th the geomagnetic field may become active as a result of a coronal mass ejection but it should subsequently be quieter than during recent days. On the quiet days MUFs at equal latitudes will be about 20MHz in southern Britain and around 3MHz lower in the North. Darkness hour lows will be11MHz. The main DX opportunities are likely to be at 28MHz and VHF, by way of sporadic-E. Frustratingly, there is no way of specifically predicting sporadic-E but, historically, the chances of multihop openings or of events reaching 144MHz, have been best during the second half of June. As we reach the longest periods of daylight in the northern hemisphere, sporadic-E may occur at any time from early morning until midnight. And that's all from the propagation team for another week.
Ham-Astronaut testifies before Congress from space (Jun 15, 2005) NASA International Space Station Science Officer John Phillips, KE5DRY, made history June 14 by becoming the first person to testify before Congress while in orbit. The Expedition 11 flight engineer appeared via satellite before the House Science Committee's Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, chaired by Rep Ken Calvert (R-CA). Phillips answered questions from subcommittee members about what it's like to live and work in space, focusing on the space station's role in preparing humans for longer-duration missions outlined in NASA's Vision for Space Exploration. "We constantly learn new lessons up here," Phillips said, while traveling through space at five miles per second. "The experiences we gather will enable us to establish a long-term station on the moon and to go on to Mars." Two other astronauts, Peggy Whitson, KC5ZTD--who served on the ISS Expedition 5 crew in 2002, and Expedition 9 crew member Mike Fincke, KE5AIT, testified in person before the subcommittee. For most of the lawmakers, their interview of Phillips marked their first opportunity to speak directly with a space traveler on orbit. In response to members' questions, Phillips talked about the tremendous view from 220 miles up, floated around the ISS and talked about the hard work he's doing. ""The most important thing up here is that we are the experiment; we are learning how to fly in space," Phillips told the subcommittee." For more information about the ISS, visit the NASA Space Station Web site: www.nasa.gov/station (ARRL News Service)
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)
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)
Amateur Radio Begins ‘Podcasting’ (Jun. 19 2005) ‘Podcasting’ - in which broadcasts are downloaded from the Internet for later playback on Ipods - has been much in the news recently. You won’t be surprised to hear that there is now an amateur radio podcast. If you have a broadband Internet connection, you may want to give it a try. Type www.podcast.net in your web-browser, and type 'Amateur Radio' in the search field and you will see a list of the latest 'This Week in Amateur Radio International' bulletins. Click on the links and make sure your speakers are turned on. (RSGB2)
Award-Winning Freeware Author Peter Halpin, PH1PH, is Silent Key (Jun. 19 2005) Peter Halpin, PH1PH and formerly PE1MHO, has become a Silent Key. Three years ago Peter was given a short time to live after being diagnosed with cancer. He defied all the doctors and lived for an active three years longer than was expected. He will best be remembered by his contribution to the 'Ham Radio Deluxe' software and his successes on 6 metres. (RSGB2)
Ten-Tec Co-Founder Al Kahn, K4FW, SK (Jun 17, 2005) Albert R. "Al" Kahn, K4FW, of Cassopolis, Michigan, died June 15. He was 98. An ARRL member, Kahn--with Jack Burchfield, K4JU, co-founded Ten-Tec following his retirement from Electro-Voice, which he'd also founded and served as president. Kahn remained a member of the Ten-Tec Board of Directors until his death. Kahn's daughter, Carol Bieneman, said her father had continued his regular CW schedules with his old friends until just a few days before he died. Full Story: http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2005/06/17/6/?nc=1 (ARRL News Service)
CB'ers ask Hams the help find Jammer (Jun. 17 2005) Australian CB operators have asked the assistance of the ham radio commununity in trtacking down a jammer. The Queensland Coordinator for the Australian Citizens Radio Emergency Monitor has asked for help, and in particular from the Sunshine Coast Amateur Radio Club in tracking down the location of a person causing severe disruptions to the operations to an emergency repeater. (WIA) (ARNewsLine)
Retirement Villages and Ham Radio (Jun. 10 2005) For an increasing number of senior citizens they face a decision of moving out of their home and into other accommodation. A veteran radio amateur has rightly highlighted a shortcoming in the design of retirement villages, as Jim Linton VK3PC reports. "For many radio amateurs our hobby is an integral part of their lifestyle, and with retirement it's a time for them to look forward to having even more enjoyment from amateur radio. In the letters page of Victorian Senior newspaper, Rodney Champness VK3UG says he would be reluctant to move into a retirement village. This is because some of his personal interests are not adequately taken into consideration. Referring to floor plans of some retirement units, he describes them as having an inadequate single vehicle garage to suit a retiree with a mechanical hobby. They are simply too small to include work benches and storage areas. Any active retirement age bloke like myself, says Rodney, has virtually their hobbies taken away from them if they go into such accommodation. He asks: "Is this fair, and isn't the aim of the government and others to encourage retirees to remain active?" He also mentions that he enjoys amateur radio, which involves the installation of external radio antennas. These are forbidden by many retirement villages. Rodney makes the plea that retirement villages be more attractive to those with mechanical hobbies. If the retirement village industry takes heed of what Rodney Champness VK3UG says they're likely to find it provides them with a marketing advantage - because one size does not fit all retirement needs. (Jim Linton VK3PC) (W1ANews)
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)
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. 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)
EGYPT, SU. Gab, HA3JB will be QRV again as SU8BHI from
July 01 to December 31. He will be active on all bands using
CW, RTTY, SSTV, PSK and some SSB during many of the major upcoming contests.
QSL direct only via HA3JB (Kutasi Gabor, P.O.
Box 243, H-8601 Siofok, Hungary).
CY9SS DXpedition on the air after rough landing (Jun 9, 2005) The Daily DX relays a report from Robby Robertson, VY2SS, that the CY9SS StPaul Island DXpedition crew had a very rough landing this week. While coming ashore, the team lost a generator and three tower sections, and the landing craft’s captain hurt his leg. High wind and rain also hampered efforts to set up camp, but CY9SS has been up and running since early on June 8 on 80, 40 and 20 meter SSB (listening up). The DXpedition, scheduled to continue until July 7, hoped to be active on all bands by June 9. Logs will be posted to the Internet. A second wave of CY9SS operators is currently working its way north. CY9SS plans 6-meter operation. Listen on or about 50.103 MHz. QSL CY9SS via VY2SS, 57 Tranquility Ln, Bloomfield, PEI C0B 1E0 CANADA (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 16 2005 ARRL DX News This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by QRZ DX, the OPDX Bulletin, The Daily DX, 425DXnews, DXNL, WA7BNM and Contest Corral from QST. Thanks to all. CROATIA, 9A. Special event station 9A10KC is QRV through the end of 2005 in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Community for the Technical Culture of the City of Koprivnica. QSL via 9A7K. MOZAMBIQUE, C9. Carl, SM0EPU is QRV as C91EP from Maputo and is here until July 2. Activity of late has been on 20, 17 and 15 meters during his spare time. QSL to home call. Meanwhile, Maggie, C91MJ and her husband Ken are permanently stationed at Muapula. She is QRV on 40, 20, 17, 15 and 12 meters. QSL via operator's instructions. SPAIN, EA. Josep, EA3GM, Rafael, EA3QA, Mai, EA3EGC and Miquel, EC3AMR will be QRV as ED3MED from Isla Meda Grande, IOTA EU-078, on June 19. They will also be active in the Spanish Islands contest on 40 meters using SSB and CW. QSL via EA3RCG. FRANCE, F. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the National French Ham Railwaymen Group, special event station TM5RAC is QRV until June 28. QSL via operators instructions. LIECHTENSTEIN, HB0. Look for HA-LZ team members LZ5AV, LZ1PJ, HA0HW, HA4DX and HA4XG to be QRV as HB0/homecalls from Malbun from June 19 to 26. Activity will be on all HF bands, including the newer bands and 6 meters, using CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK31. QSL to home calls. JAPAN, JA. 7L3ATQ/8 will be QRV from Teuri Island, IOTA AS-147, June 18 and 19. QSL to home call. SVALBARD, JW. Oyvind, LA2TOA is QRV as JW2TOA until November. QSL to home call. MARIANA ISLANDS, KH0. JA6CNL and JA6AGA will be QRV as KH0N and WH0C, respectively, from Saipan, IOTA OC-086, from June 18 to 22. Outside the All-Asian DX Contest they will also operate on the newer bands and 160 meters using CW. QSL to home calls. GUAM, KH2. Yoshi, JE2EHP is QRV as K1HP/KH2 until June 19. Activity is on 160 to 6 meters using CW and SSB. QSL via bureau. BANGLADESH, S2. Dave, EI3IO is in Dhaka and hopes to be QRV on 6 meters using SSB and CW from the QTH of S21AM until June 19. QSL via operator's instructions. SWEDEN, SM. Martin, SM0DTK will be QRV as SM0DTK/1 from Gotland Island, IOTA EU-020, from June 18 to August 28. QSL to home call. TURKEY, TA. Goran, YZ1SG will be QRV in his spare time as TA4/YZ1SG from Bodrum Island, IOTA AS-098, and from Karaada Island, same IOTA, as TA0/YZ1SG. QSL direct to home call. ASIATIC RUSSIA, UA0. A group of eight operators are QRV as UE0LBI from Bel'Tsov Island, IOTA AS-066, until June 21. They also plan to be QRV from Petrova Island, which is not an IOTA, as UE0LPI. QSL both calls via IK2DUW. CANADA, VE. Doug, VA7DP is QRV as VA7YVET until July 4 to commemorate the Year of the Veteran. QSL direct to home call. TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS, VP5. Bob, VP5/K7LAY and his son Harry, VP5/K7LAZ are QRV from Caicos, IOTA NA-002, until June 24. Activity is on all bands using mostly CW. QSL to home calls. SYRIA, YK. Hikmat, YK1AM is QRV from Damascus and has been active on 20 meters after 0300z. QSL direct. ASCENSION ISLAND, ZD8. Ian, G8WVW and his family are living here until March 2006. He plans to be QRV as ZD8I and active on 80 to 6 meters using SSB. While here, he may try to visit the Falkland Islands. QSL via G4LTI. THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. Kid's Day Operating Event, SARL Kid's Day, NCCC Thursday Sprint, All Asian DX CW Contest, SMIRK 6-Meter Contest, AGCW VHF/UHF Contest, West Virginia QSO Party, Quebec QSO Party, Spanish Islands Contest and the Run for the Bacon QRP CW Contest will certainly keep contesters busy this weekend. Please see June QST, page 93 and the ARRL and WA7BNM contest websites for details. (ARRL)
Jun. 17- July 15 2005 I.C.P.O. Bulletin Islands, Castles & Portable Operations - I.C.P.O. 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
-
19/06/2005: NA-108 J6 ST. LUCIA -
24/06/2005: NA-024 J3/K5AND ISLAND OF GRENADA -
24/06/2005: RR-14-05 UAØ CURRENTS ISLAND -
25/06/2005: NA-096 HI7/HB9OAB DOMINICAN REPUBLICA
-
25/06/2005: NA-024 N8UAS/P ISLE ROYALE -
26/06/2005: NA-067 WA3WSJ/P OUTER BANKS, NC -
27/06/2005: IIA:LE-019 IZ7's/P ISOLA DELLA SCOGLIERA
-
27/06/2005: EU-001 SV5/HB9XCL/P KOS ISLAND -
01/07/2005: EU-005 GB2CD SANDIWAY SCOUT CAMP -
01/07/2005: NA-052 N4M MARCO ISLAND -
01/07/2005: AS-154 TA1ED/Ø, TA3BN/Ø GIRESUN ISLAND
-
01/07/2005: Zone 2 VD2X LABRADOR 6 METER DXPEDITION
-
01/07/2005: VE9GLF/M/P, VE9MY/M/P CANADIAN ISLANDS -
03/07/2005: EU-042 DL7AT/P FOEHR ISLAND -
03/07/2005: NA-062 N3LLT KEY LARGO, FL -
07/07/2005: SA-058 YW4C CARABOBO STATE ISLANDS
-
08/07/2005: AS-117 JAØ AWA ISLAND -
08/07/2005: NA-052 K5MI, N1DL MARCO ISLAND, FL
-
08/07/2005: USI CO-New K0YY/P BRIDGE ISLAND, CO
-
08/07/2005: USI NM5RC/P CA, ID, OR, MT & WA
ISLANDS -
09/07/2005: 3DAØ SWAZILAND -
15/07/2005: AS-147 H.C.'s/8 REBUN ISLAND -
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
ARRL warns against spurious, virus-infected e-mails (Jun 16, 2005) Some ARRL members have recently reported receiving e-mail messages that purport to be from ARRL. These messages suggest that the recipient's account has been used to send "a large amount of unsolicited commercial e-mail," that their password has been changed or some other action was going to be taken regarding their arrl.net "account." The e-mail may be signed by "The ARRL Support team" or "The arrl.net team." Some messages also may show up as e-mail bounces from "Postmaster" or "Mail Administrator." These messages, which include a file attachment, are bogus. They do not originate from ARRL, and recipients of such messages should never attempt to open the attached file. Outside of routine correspondence, the ARRL only sends e-mail to members who specifically request mailings, such as W1AW bulletins and The ARRL Letter. Opening the attached file on one of these spurious messages could unleash a nasty computer virus. As a defense against these kinds of viruses, ARRL strongly recommends installing virus-protection software on all personal computers and updating virus definitions on a regular basis. (ARRL News Service)
US Senate version of Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act Introduced (Jun. 17 2005) A US Senate version of the Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act of 2005 has been introduced with bipartisan support in the 109th Congress. Sen Michael Crapo of Idaho sponsored the measure, S 1236, on June 14. The wording of the bill is identical to the House version, HR 691, introduced earlier this year by Rep Michael Bilirakis of Florida. Joining Crapo as cosponsors of the Senate bill were Senators Christopher Bond of Missouri, Max Baucus and Conrad Burns of Montana, and Daniel Akaka of Hawaii. The bill has been referred to the US Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee of which Burns is a member. ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, said the League is pleased that Crapo has agreed to once again sponsor this legislation at ARRL's urging. "We are grateful for Sen Crapo's demonstration of support by introducing the Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act of 2005," Sumner said. "His sponsorship of this bill shows his appreciation for the value and utility of Amateur Radio to the US public, especially in times of emergency." Like previous versions of the proposal, the House and Senate measures would require the FCC to provide "equivalent replacement spectrum" to the Amateur Radio and Amateur-Satellite services in the event of reallocation to other services of primary amateur spectrum or the diminution of secondary amateur spectrum. The bill also would cover additional allocations within Amateur Radio bands that "would substantially reduce" their utility to Amateur Service licensees. In a letter this week, ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, also thanked Crapo continued support for the Spectrum Protection Act. "As you know, this legislation is vital for ensuring that the Amateur Radio Service, the only 100 percent fail-safe emergency communication capability, remains a viable public safety option," Haynie said. "The ARRL looks forward to working with you on successfully passing this legislation during the 109th Congress," he said. The legislation references Amateur Radio's role in providing "voluntary, noncommercial radio service, particularly emergency communications," and it points out that hams have "consistently and reliably" provided communication support in the event of emergencies and disasters including tornadoes and hurricanes, chemical spills, forest fires and rail accidents. As the measure notes, FCC actions already have led to the loss of at least 107 MHz of spectrum to radio amateurs. Efforts will continue--now in both chambers of Congress--to attract additional cosponsors for S 1236 and HR 691. The League encourages its members to urge their congressional representatives and senators to sign aboard. There's more information on the ARRL Web site at, http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2005/06/17/5/. (ARRL News Service)
FCC says no to GPS re-transmission (Jun. 17 2005) The Federal Communications Commission's Enforcement Bureau has sent citations to a group of retailers for selling the a device kbnown as a GPS re-radiator Antenna. This is a combined an antenna and amplifier which can either connect directly to a GPS unit and boost the signal, or re-transmit it. For automotive use, it could be mounted outside the car and retransmit into the GPS unit inside. I t is this latter mode of operation that is problematic. This is because GPS operating frequencies fall into the restricted frequency bands of the FCC's Part 15 rules for unlicensed intentional radiators. Only low level signals caused spurious emissions may be unintentionally radiated in these restricted bands. Therefore, this type of a device could not be in compliance with FCC's rules and receive a certification grant. (VK4ZZ) (ARNewsLine)
The FCC's Riley Hollingsworth: "Get Involved in the Good Things in Amateur Radio!" (Jun. 14 2005) FCC Special Counsel for Enforcement Riley Hollingsworth told the Dayton Hamvention FCC Forum May 21 "all you need to know to enhance your radio service--in one simple lesson." Drawing upon his nearly seven years' experience as the FCC's point man for Amateur Radio enforcement, Hollingsworth told his audience "what I personally think you need to do to make the Amateur Radio Service thrive and to enjoy the incredible opportunity" to have fun and engage in public service activities. "The point is, it isn't about enforcement," Hollingsworth said, adding that he'd like to pass along a few lessons regarding behavior that extend into the realm of Amateur Radio. "Number one: The world is ugly enough as it is. You don't have to add to the ugliness. Use the VFO!" He said that if the FCC had wanted everyone on the same frequency, it would have assigned everyone the same channel in the first place. "I can't change mentality; I can't change personality. Just use the VFO and go somewhere else." Hollingsworth said he wished he got a better sense that more amateur licensees were happy to use their privileges and appreciate them. "It doesn't matter whether you're on 2 meters in California--in which case, God help you--or 2 meters in Florida or HF, you're being heard all over the world because of the technology and because of the tourists coming to America from all over the world." For those on the air and not enjoying Amateur Radio, Hollingsworth reiterated: "Use the VFO! Don't waste your time trying to talk sense into an operator who's bitter or angry or who hates everything." Enforcement can't put such operators under adult supervision, Hollingsworth added. Enthusiasm and happiness on ham radio are contagious, he asserted, and amateur licensees themselves are responsible for creating and maintaining a hospitable operating environment. "Overall, amateur compliance, I think, is very, very good--I'm really happy with it," although, he said, "we still have a good distance to go" in certain areas. His "problem children," Hollingsworth said, by and large continue to be Advanced and Extra class licensees, not Technicians. Hollingsworth said complaints have been continuing to decline over the past year. "For a solid year now, we've had a steady decline," he said. "I think that's a good sign." He also predicted the trend would continue. The most high-profile recent enforcement case--involving former amateur licensee Jack Gerritsen in the Los Angeles Area--"is not technically an amateur case," Hollingsworth explained, although it does involve complaints of interference to amateur repeaters. While Gerritsen has bonded out of jail pending trial on "very rigorous" conditions that include house arrest and electronic monitoring, plus no access to radios, Hollingsworth said, "I don't think we'll be hearing from him again." Hollingsworth pointed out, however, that the FCC is looking to determine who supplied Gerritsen with Amateur Radio equipment and "encouraged him." Among the good things going on in ham radio, Hollingsworth elicited a round of applause by singling out Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, teacher Sean Barnes, N3JQ, whose classes have helped 60 youngsters to obtain Amateur Radio licensees over the past three years. "I'd love to track what they contribute to society and to science and technology over the next few years," Hollingsworth said. His final admonishment: Good amateur practice means "not operating so that whoever hears you becomes sorry they ever got interested in Amateur Radio in the first place." But for those who "insist on getting the air acting stupid, hiding behind the microphone, just go to Toys R Us and get your equipment," he joked. "And then you can say, 'I saved a ton of money by switching my equipment to Toys R Us.'" He urged hams to look to the future and "get involved in the good things in Amateur Radio" and spread the word among to acquaint the public and even legislators, lawmakers and government officials. "It's not about enforcement. It's about your obligation," he said. Enforcement can't cure all Amateur Radio's ills. "It's all about you and what you're doing with [Amateur Radio]," he concluded. "Look beyond enforcement." Hollingsworth told the gathering that it was important that he get his message across now, because he didn't expect to be around much longer to preach it. "I'll be dead and for one good reason: Hamfest hotdogs," which, he teased, get recycled from one event to the next. (ARRL News Service)
President names Scott Redd, K0DQ, to head counter-terrorism center (Jun 13, 2005) President George W. Bush has again called on retired Vice Adm John "Scott" Redd, K0DQ, to take on an important assignment. Bush announced June 10 that he was tapping Redd, a well-known DXer and contester, to direct the new National Counter-Terrorism Center. A former commander of US naval forces in the Middle East and a 36-year Navy veteran, Redd, 60, was executive director of the Silberman-Robb presidential commission on US intelligence failures in Iraq. Redd previously served as deputy administrator and chief operating officer of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Baghdad, for which he received the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service. Pending Senate confirmation, Redd will report to National Intelligence Director John Negroponte. He'd replace interim director John Brennan. The National Counter-Terrorism Center is to be the central organization for analyzing and integrating all foreign and domestic intelligence on terrorism and will carry out "strategic operational planning" for domestic and foreign counterterrorism operations. (ARRL News Service)
Hurricane Watch Net, WX4NHC activate in advance of Tropical Storm Arlene (Jun 13, 2005) The Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) and WX4NHC at the National Hurricane Center in Miami announced activations Saturday, June 11, around midday UTC, a few hours before Tropical Storm Arlene made landfall along the western Florida Panhandle and southern Alabama. The storm, which produced considerable rainfall, never did reach hurricane status, although it had been expected to. After making landfall, the storm quickly dissipated into a tropical depression. Arlene caused scattered power outages affecting several thousand customers in the Florida Panhandle. The HWN activated on 14.325 MHz to gather ground-level weather data to relay via WX4NHC to hurricane forecasters. HWN Manager Mike Pilgrim, K5MP, reports the HWN secured operations at 1830 UTC on June 11. The first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, Arlene had been sporting maximum sustained winds near hurricane force--70 MPH--with higher gusts before coming ashore. WX4NHC monitored the HWN as well as EchoLink and IRLP 9219 via the WX_Talk Conference Room. As of Monday, June 13, remnants of Arlene were continuing to drop heavy rains well into the US Midwest. (ARRL News Service)
ARRL, IARU to be represented at first global EmComm conference (Jun 8, 2005) The ARRL and the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) will be represented June 13 and 14 at the first Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications conference (GAREC 2005) in Tampere, Finland. ARRL International Affairs Vice President Rod Stafford, W6ROD, will represent both the League and IARU Region 2. Chairing the gathering will be IARU International Coordinator for Emergency Communications Hans Zimmermann, F/HB9AQS. Conference participants will explore all aspects of Amateur Radio's emergency communication role, then prepare and adopt a statement to the International Telecommunication Union 2005 World Summit of the Information Society (WSIS). An initiative of the Finnish Amateur Radio Society (SRAL), the conference's location in part pays homage to the Tampere Convention on the Provision of Telecommunication Resources for Disaster Mitigation and Relief Operations. The convention, which became effective January 8, largely eliminates roadblocks to moving telecommunications personnel and equipment into and within disaster-stricken areas. GAREC 2005 will be held under the patronage of Former ITU Secretary-General Pekka Tarjanne. GAREC 2005 Organizing Committee Chairman Seppo Sisättö, OH1VR, was among the speakers at ARRL EXPO 2005 during Dayton Hamvention. The conference will include presentations by the Amateur Radio emergency communication services of various countries as well as reports of involvement in recent major disasters, including last December's earthquake and tsunami in South Asia. The RSGB reports that a remotely controlled MT63 HF station will be on the air from the conference site using OH2PO or OH3AG. There's additional information on GAREC 2005 on the IARU Web site: www.iaru.org/emergency/garec.html (ARRL News Service)
Field Day Alert K6KPH to transmit W1AW FD bulletin for West Coast (Jun 8, 2005) For Field Day 2005 participants on the West Coast, the Maritime Radio Historical Society's K6KPH will again retransmit the W1AW Field Day bulletin this year on Field Day weekend, June 24-25. K6KPH CW frequencies will be 3.5815, 7.0475, 14.0475, 18.0975 and 21.0675 MHz. In addition to sending the FD bulletin on CW, K6KPH will make digital transmissions both days on RTTY and AMTOR on 40 meters only (7.095 MHz). A Field Day bulletin transmission schedule, which will be updated as necessary, plus full information on Field Day 2005 are posted on the ARRL Web site. (ARRL News Service)
|
