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South Africa...Major intruder on 40 Metres identified (Nov. 25 2005) The IARU Monitoring system has identified a major intruder on 7 086,5 kHz. The station, part of Global Link, illegally uses the frequency to provide email and fax services to shipping. The advertised frequency is 7 085 KHz, but the German telecommunications authority identified the exact frequency as 7 086,5 kHz. The intruder was identified by the IARU Monitoring system. Collating reports from several corners of the world, the German IARUMS group lodged an official complaint with their Government who has taken up the intrusion with China where the station is operational. As China is now a member of the ITU, it is expected that swift action will be taken to get the station removed from the amateur allocation. Global Link is operated by Kielradio in Germany and uses Pactor III to provide a commercial email and fax service. In the October IARUMS Region 1 report there are several intruders or illegal operators reporting to be using 7 056 kHz. Several operators were monitored with strong signals into Nairobi. The stations seem mobile and speak English with a strong South African accent. They operate around 08:00, 12:00 and 18:00 CAT, some times also later in the evening. Names like Jim, Ryan, Quentin, Jeff, Chris, and Lisa are frequently used to identify the operators. The SARL IARUMS urgently request radio amateurs and short-wave listeners in South and Southern Africa to monitor the operations and report any additional information. Please make a concerted effort this week so that the SARL IARUMS group can request ICASA to intervene. While in the process of setting up an IARUMS section and Email address on the SARL web please use armi@sarl.org.za for your reports. A copy of the form setting out the required format can be down loaded from www.amateurradio.org.za/iarumsreport or send an email to armi@sarl.org with a request in the subject line to have the form emailed to you. The SARL IARUMS group will hold a teleconference on 13 December to discuss various monitoring and reporting procedures. If you would like join IARUMS as part of the SARL Divisional Advisors programme, please send the following details to hans@intekom.co.za: full names, club affiliation, email address, telephone numbers and if available on Skype your Skype ID. Please note that to take part in the teleconference a landline is required. Another interference problem has
been experienced in the Pretoria area. The interference seems widespread
and sounds like a strong 50 hertz hum. The signal is extremely strong
during the day but fades as the 40 metre band opens for DX during the evenings.
The signal originates on 7 206 KHz but spreads far into the amateur segment
of the 40 metre band. The ICASA Interference unit is investigating
the source of interference. You can help by checking 7 206 kHz and
report the signal strength at your location. Please mail your findings
to armi@sarl.org.za. Please
indicate your area, equipment and antenna.
RSGB challenge leads to new president
(Nov. 25 2005)
That advice demonstrated to the Board that a genuine error had taken place and, should the decision be formally challenged, there was every likelihood that the challenge would succeed. Accordingly, in the interests of the Society, the President requested the RSGB Board to advise the RSGB National Council of the error and invite it, at its November meeting, to set aside the May decision and to elect another person to the office of President. The advice also noted that confusion does exist with some of the meanings within the Memorandum and Articles of Association and within the Bylaws and that any anomalies should be corrected. Accordingly, the RSGB Board agreed to re-visit the Memorandum and Articles in order to bring forward to an Annual General Meeting such amendments as may be thought necessary to obtain a document more suited to the modern needs of the Society when trying to cope with rapidly changing external circumstances. Subsequently at its meeting on 19 November 2005, the RSGB National Council noted the advice given and voted Angus Annan, MM1CCR, to the position of RSGB President for 2006/7. Mr Annan will take up the position from 1 January 2006. (RSGB2)
RSGB hands over the admin baton
(Nov. 25 2005)
These roles were previously undertaken by the Radio Society of Great Britain on behalf of Ofcom and its predecessor the Radiocommunications Agency. The Society received an annual subsidy for this work and was therefore able to issue NoVs free of charge. As part of a review of amateur radio procedures, Ofcom has decided to take these roles in-house. The management will now be carried out from Ofcom's headquarters in London . RSGB General Manager Peter Kirby , G0TWW, welcomed the changes. “I am delighted with this decision. It shows Ofcom's commitment to amateur radio and will provide a slicker service to the amateur radio community as Ofcom can provide more resources than the RSGB,” he said. Peter also said that the shake-up would “allow the RSGB to revert to being a truly representative organisation able to concentrate fully on representing its members and all UK radio amateurs to Ofcom and other governmental bodies”. Ofcom's Steve Roper , G8MXZ, praised the RSGB for carrying out the administrative roles in the past and for providing a very efficient service over many years. He added: “Ofcom has a duty to manage the amateur radio spectrum and is committed to maintaining a good service for radio amateurs.” RSGB staff will work alongside Ofcom representatives to ensure the hand over of responsibilities goes as smoothly as possible. (RSGB2)
Nov. 23 2005 Tad Cook K7RA Solar
Update
Average sunspot numbers in the six days since the last bulletin were 50.3--nearly 30 points above the average reported in the previous report. The daily solar flux went just above 100 on November 17-19, the days when large Sunspot 822 was passing across the center of the visible solar disk and exerting maximum influence. Solar flux is expected to decline over the next week. Predicted solar flux over the next few days is 95, 90 and 85 for November 23-25, and 80 through the end of the month. Geomagnetic numbers (and disturbances) are expected to remain low. Expect a mid-latitude K index of 3 or less and an A index at 10 or lower until the end of the month, when we may see higher geomagnetic activity around November 30 to December 1. We received more mail this week regarding 10 meter propagation and beacon stations. Kevin Seeger, WD0AVV, in Southern California thinks more of us should pay attention to 10 meters, even though we are headed toward the bottom of the solar cycle. He says the first thing he does when checking 10 is to listen for beacon stations, which are mostly between 28.2 and 28.3 MHz. Since they transmit constantly from many locations, they offer a good indicator of openings that might only occur between your location and some particular area or region. Kevin says that on November 5 at 8 AM local time (1600 UTC) he copied these beacon stations, and at the end of the day he was still receiving most of them: K4UKB
W4TIY
K4AIS
W3HH
W4JPL
KG4YUV
WK4DS
If you look up the call sign of a beacon station on QRZ.com, you'll often find links to personal Web pages and information about the beacon operation. For instance, WK4DS, David Saylors, has links showing his 2 W beacon, which consists of a popular low-power 10-meter mobile transceiver hooked to a keyer. There are also links showing some impressive telegraph keys that David builds in his machine shop in Trenton, Georgia. Using Google you can find many resources on 10-meter beacons. The Northern California DX Foundation runs its impressive worldwide beacon network on 28.2 MHz, and here you can quickly judge worldwide 10-meter propagation. The Ten-Ten International Net, which has been energetically promoting 10 meters for more than 40 years, has an extensive list of 10-meter beacon stations. By the way, the author of this update was introduced to Ten-Ten by the original K7RA (at that time W7EXM, Homer Spence) in 1971, and obtained the member number 5569. Last week's update mentioned long nighttime propagation on 10 meters observed from New York to Oklahoma. Several people wrote in about this, including Jon Jones, N0JK, who says E-layer propagation was the most likely mode. On that same morning, November 14, strong E-layer propagation was reported on both 10 and 6 meters. He notes that at 1555 UTC N4LI in EM55 (in Tennessee) reported hearing loud 10-meter propagation all up and down the Eastern Seaboard. At 1609 UTC, W5TDN in EM22 (in Texas) reported hearing WB3ANT (FN21) and W3MEL (FN10), both in Pennsylvania. For more information concerning propagation and an explanation of the numbers used in this bulletin see the ARRL Technical Information Service Propagation page. An archive of past bulletins is on the ARRL Web site. (ARRL News Service)
Europe
The very large sunspot that featured in the last two reports has left the earth-facing side of the Sun, having influenced propagation much less than it initially seemed to promise or threaten. Flare activity has now reverted to low or very low. The solar flux, which was 102 on the 8th slipped steadily to 80 on the 25th, averaging 92 - one point down on last week. The 90-day average is unchanged at 85. The X-ray flux followed a similar course, declining from B2 on the 18th to A6.7 on the 25th. The average was A8.4, compared with B1.7. The geomagnetic field was active at times last weekend but subsequently ranged from slightly unsettled to inactive, with the Ap index averaging 8 units. The ACE spacecraft recorded solar wind speeds ranging between 296 and 505km/sec. Particle densities were in low single figures throughout, apart from a brief spell on the 19th at 15 per cubic centimetre. The HF bands continue to open a little later and close a little earlier - though the increased activity stirred by CQ WW contest once again showed that the higher bands can often sustain propagation more than casual listening at other times might suggest. 14MHz, as always the most reliable DX band, produced contacts to New Zealand and the Pacific around 0830 UTC, with long path to Japan around the same time. The low level of geomagnetic activity that aided HF propagation meant that, for VHF operators, there was next to no aurora. During the coming week solar flare activity should continue low or very low. Isolated C-class flares are possible. The decline in flux levels seems likely to continue, taking them down into the 70s. Geomagnetic activity is expected to be unsettled at times during the next few days due to a recurring coronal hole. Lower levels will probably prevail towards next weekend. MUFs at equal latitudes are tending to weaken and should be around 23MHz in the south and 20MHz in the north. Darkness hour lows will be around 7MHz. Paths to South America should have a maximum usable frequency - that's a fifty per cent success rate - of about 27MHz. However the optimum working frequency will be about 21MHz. The best time to try the path will be between 1100 and 1700UTC, though earlier or later times should be possible on the better days. Meanwhile, favourable geomagnetic levels and the longer periods of darkness in the northern hemisphere should continue to work increasingly in favour of low-band operators. Report prepared by Neil Clarke, G0CAS, and Martin Harrison, G3USF.
Students in Italy, England Entertained,
Educated via Ham Radio (Nov 16, 2005)
"I feel very humble, I feel like I'm a very small person from a planet with many billions of people and that I'm very fortunate to represent human beings--mankind--in space," McArthur said. He and crewmate Valery Tokarev will be aboard the ISS until next April. McArthur said he and Tokarev have been conducting experiments focused primarily on how people can live and work during long periods in space. He also said microgravity was "very, very comfortable," and meant the crew never had to sit down. In all McArthur managed to answer 20 questions during the nearly eight-minute contact. The contact took place over a teleconferencing circuit via Nancy Rocheleau, WH6PN, in Honolulu, because Italian radio regulations do not permit unlicensed individuals to speak over Amateur Radio. A little more than seven hours later,
McArthur was back at NA1SS, this time for a direct contact between NA1SS
and GB2FPS at Furtherwick Park School, where 16 students took part in the
event. In answer to one student's question, McArthur said the Amateur Radio
station was one of the systems
The ISS commander also allowed that he enjoyed a broad and eclectic range of music, from classical to country. "I like classical--Mozart, Beethoven,
Bach. I like contemporary music--Jet, Dispatch. I like country-and-western
music--Garth Brooks, Robert Earl Keen
"As a matter of fact," McArthur continued,
"we're going to have live music aboard the station Sunday morning from
one of Sir Paul McCartney's concerts
Several of the Furtherwick Park students'
questions were more scientifically oriented than those typically put to
ISS crew members during ARISS school
"The fluid tends to shift down from our legs, our feet, lower extremities to the upper part of your body," McArthur explained. He said there's not much astronauts can do to prepare for this occurrence, and the body responds by reducing the amount of fluid in the body. He told another student that it would be difficult to maintain a candle's flame in microgravity because the convection needed to supply oxygen to the flame requires gravity. Convection keeps a candle's flame generally vertical on Earth, McArthur explained. Microgravity also influences how substances mix, he said. ARISS is an international educational outreach with US participation by ARRL, AMSAT and NASA. (ARRL News Service)
Japan hopeful probe has asteroid dust (Nov. 26 2005) A Japanese space probe landed on an asteroid and apparently collected samples from the surface on Saturday, Japan's space agency said. Scientists believe the probe, called Hayabusa, Japanese for "falcon," succeeded in its mission on its second attempt. But they won't know for certain whether it actually collected samples until it returns to Earth in June 2007. Hayabusa landed on the asteroid on Nov. 20 and stayed for about 30 minutes, but failed to drop equipment that would allow it to collect a sample. On Saturday, Hayabusa touched down for only a few seconds, but it was long enough to collect powder from the asteroid's surface, said Kiyotaka Yashiro, spokesman for JAXA, Japan's space agency. The probe fired a small metal ball into the surface to loosen material. "The initial movements and operations look very good," Yashiro said. "The process of sampling also seems to have gone very well." It is hoped the material will yield clues to the origin of the solar system. Asteroids, unlike larger space bodies such as the moon, are believed to contain rocks that have remained largely unchanged since the early days of the solar system. The Japanese agency has named the asteroid Itokawa after the father of Japanese rocket development, Hideo Itokawa. The asteroid, 290 million kilometres from Earth, was discovered by U.S. scientists in 1998. (CBC News)
Suit Sat Deployment moved to 2006 (Nov. 25 2005) Suit Sat's deployment from the International Space Station is being delayed until early next year. This, according to Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, who is AMSAT North America's Vice President for Human Spaceflight Programs and ARISS International Chairman. In a note posted to the ARISS remailer, Bauer says that he has received information that the Russian space walk that will deploy Suit Sat, originally planned for December 8th has been delayed to late January or early February. No reason for the space walk delay was given but KA3HDO says that as more information on this E-V-A is made available it will be posted for all to read. Suit Sat is a decommissioned Russian built spacesuit given to ham radio for experimentation purposes. Its been loaded up with ham radio gear and will be placed in orbit outside of the ISS when that space walk finally does take place. (KA3HDO) (ARNewsLine)
Across the Universe (Nov. 19 2005) Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney has become the first musician in history to broadcast live music to an audience in space, thanks to the wonder of radio communications. NASA astronaut Bill McArthur and Russian cosmonaut Valery Tokarev aboard the International Space Station woke up last week to a rendition of the Beatles classic Good Day Sunshine. The song was being performed by Sir Paul in California and was transmitted live to the space station 250 miles above the earth’s surface. Sir Paul agreed to broadcast to the astronauts after he found out that NASA used the Good Day Sunshine song to wake up the crew of the space shuttle Discovery. It is a tradition for astronauts to be woken up with songs but this is the first time that they have been aroused from their slumber by live music. In addition to singing Good Day Sunshine to the space station crew, Sir Paul also played a number of his more recent tracks, including a solo rendition of English Tea. He said: “I can’t believe that we’re actually broadcasting to space. This is sensational. I love it.” Bill McArthur, who was spending his 44th day onboard the space station, showed his appreciation to Paul by doing a couple of zero gravity flips. “That was simply magnificent,” he said. “We consider you an explorer just as we are.” (RSGB2)
SSETI Express is now OSCAR 53 (Nov 10, 2005) AMSAT-NA has designated the now-problematic SSETI Express satellite as OSCAR 53--XO-53 for short. Launched October 27, the satellite, which carries an Amateur Radio package and deployed three ham radio cubesats, went silent after about five orbits. Based on telemetry received during its short period of operation, SSETI Express Project Manager Neil Melville has cited an apparent onboard power system anomaly. The spacecraft went into a "safe mode" due to an undervoltage caused by battery charging problems, Melville has said, adding that ground-based hardware tests confirm the possibility of a further failure mode of the specific component that would allow the batteries to charge and the spacecraft to resume operation. In thanking AMSAT's Bill Tynan, W3XO, and the AMSAT Board for notifying the project of the designation, Melville remained upbeat. "As you are no doubt aware XO-53, to use its new designation, has some significant problems right now," he said. "However, we remain vigilant and hopeful, perhaps it can be recovered." Graham Shirville, G3VZV, says analysis of the actual cause of SSETI Express's problems continues, and a full review will take place later this month. Shirville says a number of automated ground stations have been set up in Europe to listen for SSETI Express on 437.250 MHz. He also invites valid reception reports via e-mail from the Amateur Radio community, "and if you do hear it first we can promise you a bigger prize than just a special T-shirt!" he added. "We believe that there is a small but finite chance of recovery, so your efforts could be very worthwhile." (ARRL News Service)
Broadband over Gas Pipes BGP! (Nov. 25 2005) A a San Diego, California company
called Nethercomm is developing a way to use ultra wideband wireless signals
to transmit data at broadband
A United States company is proposing to use ultra wideband wireless signals to transmit data at broadband speeds. But here's the interesting part, the transmission medium will be the pipes that carry natural gas. The company claims its yet to be tested technology could offer 100 megabits per second to every home - more than enough to provide voice, video and high-speed Internet access. Just like the promises made by BPL promoters that they can revolutionize the power industry, the same type of hype is likely to be associated with broadband over gas pipeline or BGPL. More information is available online at : www.nethercomm.com (ARNewsLine)
Could radio waves predict earthquakes? (Nov. 25 2005) Scientists are examining the possibility of using radio waves to predict the location, time and magnitude of earthquakes. Earthquakes such as the one that struck the Kashmir region of Pakistan last month kill thousands of people each year but at present there is no method of forecasting when they might strike. Now some geophysicists believe that it might be possible to predict earthquakes by measuring either electromagnetic pulses in the earth's crust or disturbances in the ionosphere. Such pulses and disturbances have been detected prior to a number of major earthquakes. No-one is certain what causes them but Colin Price, a geophysicist at Tel Aviv University in Israel , has speculated that the ground pulses are caused by the fracturing of rocks containing magnetic particles. As these rocks crack in the seismic events prior to an earthquake, they generate ultra low frequency radio waves. Interestingly, these radio pulses are generated as much as two weeks before some earthquakes take place. By detecting these signals, therefore, it might be possible to develop an earthquake early warning system that would give people plenty of time to evacuate buildings before an earthquake strikes, saving thousands of lives every year. (RSGB2)
EA WW RTTY CONTEST
2006
R U L E S Date
Mode
Bands
Classes
Contest Call
Message
Scoring
Valid contacts Contacts between stations world-wide
are valid. Contacts between own country stations are valid. It is not necessary
to contact EA stations.
Multipliers · DXCC Entities
Notes a) Stations operating from call areas other than their call ID, must use "/x" for their actual call area. For instance, ZL2XYZ operating from ZL4 call area, must work with the following call:ZL2ZZZ/ZL4 b) Each multiplier counts as a Multi point only once a band. c) The first QSO with EA, EA6, EA8 and EA9 stations, on each band, counts for two multipliers (DXCC Entity + Province) d) The first QSO with W, VE, JA and VK stations, on each band, counts for two multipliers (DXCC Entity + call area) e) The use of cluster is allowed for all classes. SPANISH
Final score
SWL
Logs · The EA WW RTTY CONTEST DOES NOT ACCEPT PAPER LOGS · ALL LOGS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED IN CABRILLO FORMAT, either via Internet, or on diskette by post. · The Cabrillo log file must include both an accurately completed header (containing the summary information) and complete QSO log data for each contact. · Logs sent via Internet should be sent as an e-mail attachment, not in the text of the e-mail, and the filename for the log should be yourcall.log. · The Class C logs shoud include the callsign and the name of all operator involved. · A Cabrillo Converter software is available free at http://www.ure.es/ftp/plantilla.zip · The Commettee will be able to decide
at any moment to exclude from the score any log with "unique call" percentage
bigger than 5%
SWL Logs
E-mail
Mailing address
Deadline All entries must be e-mailed no later than 2006, May 12th to qualify. Trophies Plaque to winner in each Class, if the valid QSO number is higher than 50. Certificate all four Classes 1st to 3rd place. Certificate to higher score of JA and VK stations. For Class C stations, certificate to all operators involved. CABRILLO LOG Template for the EA WW RTTY CONTEST Freq mode
date time call
rst exch sent call
rst exch. recvd
CQ World Wide DX Contest--CW, from 0000Z Nov 26 to 2400Z Nov 27 (see Oct QST, p 101 or http://cqww.com). ARRL 160 Meter Contest--CW, from 2200Z Dec 2-1600Z Dec 4. (See Nov QST p 105) Top Band Sprint--CW/SSB, sponsored by QRP ARCI, from 0000Z--0600Z Dec 1. Frequencies: 160-meters only. SO-CW, SO-SSB, SO Mixed-Mode categories. Exchange: RST, S/P/C and power or QRP ARCI number--work stations once per mode. QSO points: members--5 pts, non-members/different continent--4 pts, non-members/same cont--2 pts. Score: QSO points--total S/P/C--power multiplier (see Web site). Portable using battery and temp antenna add 5000 pts. For more information: www.qrparci.org. Logs due 30 days after contest to contest@qrparci.org or ARCI Fall QSO Party, c/o Jeff Hetherington VA3JFF, 139 Elizabeth St W, Welland, ON L3C 4M3, Canada. TARA RTTY Mêlée--sponsored by the Troy Amateur Radio Assn, from 0000Z-2400Z Dec 3. Categories: SOAB-HP (>150 W), SOAB-LP (<150 W), MOAB, SWL, 10 min band change rule for MO. Frequencies: 80-10 meters, operate 16 hours max. Exchange: RS + State/Province or serial number for DX. QSO points: 1 pt/QSO. Score: QSO points--S/P/C counted once only (US and VE only count as S/P). For more information: www.n2ty.org/seasons/tara_melee_rules.html. Summary sheets (no logs) due Dec 31 via on-line submission form at www.n2ty.org/seasons/tara_melee_score.html. Holiday Spirits Homebrew CW Sprint--sponsored by the QRP ARCI, from 2000Z-2400Z Dec 4. Frequencies (MHz)--1.810, 3.560, 7.040, 14.060, 21.060, 28.060 kHz. Categories: SOAB, SOSB, SO20-10, SO160-40, MOAB, DX stations are SOAB only. Exchange: RST, S/P/C, and Power or QRP ARCI number. QSO points: members--5 pts, non-members/different continent-- 4 pts, non-members/same cont.--2 pts. Score: QSO points--S/P/C (counted once per band)--Power multiplier (<250 mW-- ×15, 250 mW-1 W ×10, 1-5 W ×7, >5 W ×1) + Bonus Points (2000 for homebrew [HB] xmtr, 3000 HB rcvr, 5000 HB xcvr). For more information: www.qrparci.org. Logs due 30 days after contest to contest@ qrparci.org or ARCI Fall QSO Party, c/o Jeff Hetherington VA3JFF, 139 Elizabeth St W, Welland, ON L3C 4M3, Canada. ARRL 10 Meter Contest--0000Z Dec 10-2400Z Dec 11. (See Nov QST, p 105, or www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2005/ 10-meters.html.) Great Colorado Snowshoe Run--CW, sponsored by the Colorado QRP Club from 0200Z--0359Z Dec 10. Frequencies: 40 meters only. Categories: SO-QRP (Antenna classes of Wires, Verticals, or Beam) Exchange: RST + S/P/C + Antenna Class + CQC no. or Power. The same station may be worked up to three times, with 30 minutes between QSOs. QSO points: 1st QSO with station--3 pts, 2nd QSO--2 pts, 3rd QSO-- 1 pt. Score: QSO points--S/P/C--CQC members. For more information: www.cqc.org/contests/snow2005.htm. Logs due Jan 17 to contest@cqc.org (ASCII only) or Colorado QRP Club, PO Box 17174, Golden, CO 80402. North American Meteor Scatter Contest--any mode, sponsored by the WSJTGROUP from 0000Z Dec 10-0700Z Dec 18 (the Geminids meteor shower). Frequencies (MHz): 50, 144, 222, 432, via meteor scatter. Categories: SOSB, SOAB, (HP, LP <200 W), Assisted or Unassisted. No QSOs with your own or adjacent grid squares, QSOs are counted as Scheduled or Random. Exchange: full call signs, grid square and QSOs must be acknowledged. QSO points, Assisted / Unassisted: 50--1 / 3 pt, 144--1 / 3 pts, 222-- 3 / 9 pts, 432--10 / 30 pts. Score: QSO points × grid squares counted once per band. For more information: www.ykc.com/wa5ufh/Rally/NAHSMS.htm. Logs due Jan 19 to mph@swcp.com or Mike Hasselbeck, 3209 Cagua Dr NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110. (ARRL News Service)
107th anniversary of the loss
of the Steamship Portland Provincetown, MA
Ten-Ten International Celebrating
43 years and 75000 members
The first Pilgrim Landing at Plymouth,
Massachusetts
The 10th anniversary of the Villages
Radio Club The Villages, FL
Skywarn Recognition Day Sacramento,
CA
Skywarn Recognition Day Chicago,
IL
Skywarn Recognition Day Grand
Junction, CO
Pearl Harbor Attack AnniversaryBaltimore,
MD
Pearl Harbor Day Baton
Rouge, LA
Winter Festival Of Lights at Oglebay
Park Wheeling, WV
15 year anniversary of Warrensburg
Area Amateur Radio Club
Green Mountain Wireless Society
25th anniversary Rutland, VT
Christmas Greetings from Nazareth
and Bethlehem PA
(ARRL)
2006's 3rd Antarctic Activity Week (A.A.W.) (Feb. 20-26 2006) Worldwide Antarctic Program (WAP)'s Staff, from http://www.ddxc.net/wap announce the launching of 3rd Antarctic Activity Week, which will be held from 00:00 GMT Febr. 20th through 24:00 GMT of Febr. 26th 2006. Purpose of this A.A.W. is to improve Worldwide interest around Antarctic Continent and its related matters, to understand and share what the Nations and Organizations are doing to protect this still non contaminated corner of the world, to share a message of peace WW. Antarctic Activity Week, is celebrating every years on last week of February, in concomitance with the 22nd of February, when the Argentines rejoice the Argentine's Antarctica Day (DIA DE LA ANTARTIDA ARGENTINA see www.marambio.aq ). This invitation, is addressed to all Radio Amateurs (OMs & SWLs) around the world, to the Clubs and Organizations who would like to join and share with us, this initiative. We are looking for Special Prefixes, with the specific request to have ANT as suffix. Some of this Calls, have already been issued and we will up date the list, from now to about 15 days before Febr. 20th . OMs and SWLs have to work as many Special Prefixes, as well as many Antarctic stations as possible. Nobody will have to give progressive numbers, nothing at all, just working an log as many stations as possible, as a DX stile. List operation are not allowed, and will not qualify for Awards request. Club stations of the Antarctic Institutes, as well as Antarctic Organizations (such as LU2CN Servicio Auxiliar de la Armada who care the Antarctic matters in Argentina, or any eventual other of such stations, are welcome to join WAP Antarctic Activity Week. So far we have received confirmation from the followings: VU2ANT by VU2UR
I know others comers are in progress; we'll keep the list updated. WAP & Antarctica a unique goal, enjoy it!
Activation of Lighthouses in the Mull of Galloway Area (Jan 30-Feb. 4 2006) Monday 30th Jan to Friday 4th Feb
I shall be around the Mull of Galloway area activating the Lighthouses
in the Area. eg. Corsewall Point, Port Logan,
Thanks once again.
Holyland DX Group (Dec. 23-24 2005) The "Holyland DX Group" will operate from the middle of the Dead Sea at the lowest dry point on the Globe, 411 meters below the sea level. The HDX Group will be active on Dec 23rd and 24th 2005 starting 0700 UTC and received special permission from the Dead Sea Works factory positioned in a very rare Holyland squares M25BS and M26BS. The call sign will be 4X411 A indicating this special point. The team of 4Z4BS, 4Z4KX, 4Z5LA, 4Z5FI, 4Z1UF and 4X1VF will run two complete stations with power amplifier on 80-10M, CW and SSB. The QSL manager will be Shalom 4Z4BS. www.4z5la.net/4x411a. (Jan 4X1VF)
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).
Nov. 23 2005 ARRL DX News This weeks bulletin was made possible
with information provided by LA4GHA, the OPDX Bulletin, The Daily DX, 425DXnews,
DXNL, WA7BNM and
TIMOR-LESTE, 4W. Jon, DU9/N0NM will be QRV as 4W3ZZ from November 24 to 28. He will be active in the CQ WW CW contest with an emphasis on 160 and 80 meters. QSL direct via W4DR. MALDIVES, 8Q. Team members UA9CLB, UA9CDC, UN9LW, and RA9CMO will be QRV as 8Q7DV from Sun Island as a Multi Op entry in the CQ WW CW contest. Before and after the contest they will place an emphasis on 160 and 80 meters. QSL via UA9CLB. CUBA, CO. Eduardo, CO8LY
will be QRV in the CQ WW CW contest as a Single Op/All Band/Low Power entry.
QSL via EA7ADH. Meanwhile,
AZORES, CU. Look for members of the Contest Club Finland and local amateurs to be QRV as CU2A from San Miguel Island, IOTA NA-144, during the CQ WW CW contest. QSL via operators' instructions. CAPE VERDE ISLANDS, D4.
Stefano, IK2JUB will be QRV from the D44TD contest station for the CQ WW
CW contest as a Single Op/Single Band
CANARY ISLANDS, EA8. A number of operators will be QRV as ED8CSC from Saint Cristobal Castle in Las Palmas, IOTA AF-004, from November 26 to 27. Activity will be on 20, 15 and 10 meters, and possibly 17 and 12 meters. They may also participate in the CQ WW CW contest. QSL via operators' instructions. ST. PIERRE AND MIQUELON, FP. Operators AC8W, K8AQM, K8DD, K8GL, K8MM and W8IQ will be QRV as FP/K8DD in the CQ WW CW contest as either a Multi/Multi or Multi/2 entry. Before and after the contest, they will be active as FP/homecalls using RTTY and PSK31 on all bands, including the newer ones. QSL via operators' instructions. SAINT MARTIN, FS. John, K9EL will be QRV as FS/K9EL from November 30 to December 7. His activity will be limited since he is on vacation. Activity will be on 80 to 10 meters. QSL to home call. SVALBARD, JW. Roger,
LA4GHA will be QRV as JW4GHA from Bear Island, IOTA EU-027, from December
1 to July 2006. Activity will be on 160
NETHERLANDS, PA. To
commemorate the 2000th anniversary of the Roman City of Nijmegen, look
for special callsign PA2000N to be QRV from
ANGUILLA, VP2E. Gordon, N5AU and Ray, KC5EA will be QRV as VP2E during the CQ WW CW contest as a Multi/Single entry. QSL via N5AU. GIBRALTAR, ZB. Jorma, OH2KI will be QRV as ZB2X in the CQ WW CW contest as a Single-Op/All-Band or Single-Band entry. QSL to home call. AUCKLAND AND CAMPBELL ISLANDS, ZL9. Richard, W5VTS plans to be QRV as W5VTS/ZL9 starting November 26 for about 24 hours. Activity will be on 40 and 20 meters using CW. QSL via operator's instructions. THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The CQ World Wide DX CW Contest will certainly keep contesters busy this weekend. Please see November QST, page 103, and the ARRL and WA7BNM contest websites for details. (ARRL News Service)
Nov. 25-Dec. 15 2005 I.C.P.O. Bulletin Islands, Castles & Portable Operations - I.C.P.O. 25/11/2005:
OC-026 KH2/JA3EGZ & KH2/JA3PPH GUAM -
25/11/2005:
TZ5A MALI -
25/11/2005:
NA-104 V47CJ ISLAND OF NEVIS -
26/11/2005:
NA-097 6Y5/KH5H JAMAICA -
26/11/2005:
OC-133 9M6NA LABUAN ISLAND -
26/11/2005:
EU-003 CU2A SAN MIGUEL ISLAND -
26/11/2005:
EU-004 EA6IB BALEARIC ISLANDS -
26/11/2005:
AF-004 EA8EW CANARY ISLANDS -
26/11/2005:
NA-105 FS/K7ZUM ST. MARTIN -
26/11/2005:
EU-116 GD6IA ISLE OF MAN -
26/11/2005:
HSØZCW THAILAND -
26/11/2005:
AF-018 IH9P PANTELLERIA ISLAND -
26/11/2005:
EU-001 J45A DODECANESE -
26/11/2005:
EU-013 MJØASP ISLE OF JERSEY -
26/11/2005:
SA-036 P4ØA ARUBA -
26/11/2005:
NA-145 PJ5NA ST. EUSTATIUS -
26/11/2005:
SU8BHI EGYPT -
26/11/2005:
NA-005 VP9I BERMUDA -
26/11/2005:
ZL1CT/MM PACIFIC OCEAN -
28/11/2005:
AS-003 4S7PAG SRI LANKA -
28/11/2005:
P4, PJ2 & PJ4 NETHERLAND ANTILLES -
29/11/2005:
SOTA:G/SP-009 G3CWI/P HAIL STORM HILL -
30/11/2005:
NA-105 FS/K9EL ST. MARTIN -
01/12/2005:
OC-097 5W WESTERN SAMOA -
01/12/2005:
SOTA:DL/SX140 DKØSOTA HOHER STEIN -
01/12/2005:
EU-027 JW4GHA BEAR ISLAND -
02/12/2005:
AS-171 4S7PAG BARBERYN ISLAND -
02/12/2005:
NA-066 H.C.'s/P SANTA CATALINA ISLAND -
03/12/2005:
EU-165 IU9LAC LACHEA ISLAND -
03/12/2005:
AS-076 JA5BEX/5, JN4MBO/5 NAOSHIMA ISLAND -
03/12/2005:
AS-076 VP5/N0VD, VP5D TURKS AND CAICOS -
03/12/2005:
SA-002 VP8LGT FALKLAND ISLANDS -
04/12/2005:
EU-113 H.C.'s/SV8 KYTHIRA ISLAND -
10/12/2005:
SOTA:G/TW-004 G3CWI/P BISHOP WILTON WOLD -
11/12/2005:
V5/IK1RAE NAMIBIA -
12/12/2005:
TR8CR GABON -
12/12/2005:
NA-005 AA1AC/VP9 BERMUDA -
15/12/2005:
6W/HA7TM SENEGAL -
15/12/2005:
AN-017 FT5YH DUMONT D'URVILLE BASE -
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 International Humanitarian Award (Nov. 25 2005) Here is a reminder that the deadline for nominations for the American Radio Relay League's International Humanitarian Award is 31 December. The award honours an individual or group devoted to promoting human welfare, peace and international understanding through amateur radio. The annual prize is usually given to amateur radio operators who have used ham radio to help others in times of crisis or disaster. Nominations must include a summary of a group or individual's actions that qualify them for the award plus supporting statements from at least two people with first-hand knowledge of the actions warranting the nomination. These statements may be from an official of a group that benefited from the nominee's amateur radio work. Selected by the ARRL board of directors, the winner of the award will receive an engraved plaque and will be profiled in the ARRL's amateur radio journal QST. Nominations and supporting materials must be submitted to the ARRL International Humanitarian Award, 225 Main St , Newington , CT 06111 USA Visit the ARRL website – www.arrl.org – for further details about the award (RSGB2)
League Says BPL Group Should Embrace, Not Reject, Recent ARRL Proposals (Nov. 23 2005) In a Reply to Opposition filed this week, the ARRL maintains that changes it recently proposed to the FCC's Part 15 BPL rules provide a golden opportunity for the BPL industry and the FCC. The League was responding to a November 2 United Power Line Council (UPLC) Motion opposing and seeking dismissal of the ARRL's Petition for a Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making, filed last month in the BPL proceeding, WT Docket 04-37. "As a general observation, it is difficult to understand the rationale for UPLC's knee-jerk response to ARRL's Petition," the League said in its Reply to Opposition. "On its face, the Petition does no more than to state a reasonable basis for a principled accommodation for all concerned with, or about, access BPL. This would include BPL operators." The ARRL contended that the UPLC "would better serve its members by embracing the ARRL Petition, rather than rejecting it" and said its proposals represent "the last clear chance to prevent substantial interference from BPL deployments." The League's October Petition suggests that incorporating three elements into the BPL rules the Commission adopted last year would essentially resolve all issues that the ARRL and the Amateur Service have with access BPL:
Calling the UPLC's opposition to its proposals "short sighted," the League said the UPLC "cannot in good faith" argue that the present BPL rules are in any way sufficient to prevent or mitigate interference to Amateur Radio. "They are not sufficient, as has been demonstrated time and time again in BPL test deployments," the ARRL contended this week. To punch up that point, the League called "pure sophistry" and "absurd and false" UPLC's claim in its Motion that BPL operators using HF on medium-voltage power lines "have been very effective in mitigating rare instances of interference to Amateur Radio users." In support of that assertion, UPLC cited a July 22, 2004, letter from Bruce Franca, then Deputy Chief of the FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology (OET), to Tom Brown, N4TAB. Franca's letter claimed that Progress Energy's BPL pilot project in the Raleigh, North Carolina, area complied with FCC rules. Responding to Franca that same day, ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, at the time noted the presence of ongoing interference and rebutted Franca's assertions. He specifically cautioned FCC to "not permit its conclusions to be erroneously represented as having given the Progress Energy trials a 'clean bill of health'"--precisely what UPLC is now attempting, he said. A copy of Sumner's letter was attached to this week's League filing. UPLC failed to mention that interference from the Raleigh system to numerous Amateur Radio operators "persisted and was not resolved until the system was shut down," the League pointed out this week. ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, thinks it's ironic that UPLC chose that particular piece of FCC correspondence to buttress its case. "Mr Sumner rebutted Franca's letter in the Raleigh situation, and Franca never responded, despite repeated promises to do so," he said. "We are now a year and four months down the road." In this week's filing, the League said its Petition seeks to create additional rules governing BPL that, with those already on the books, would "be sufficient to allow ARRL to withdraw its pending Petition for Reconsideration" in the proceeding. In addition, the ARRL reiterated its position that certain BPL systems mentioned in the October Petition "present manageable interference potential" that "can be dealt with on a case-by-case basis." Its proposals, the League said, provide the BPL industry and the FCC with the opportunity to create an RF environment that's not substantially degraded for licensed radio services and that permits BPL to develop "without the competitive handicap of fundamental incompatibility with licensed services" and removes any remaining regulatory uncertainty. The ARRL concluded by urging the Commission to "proceed expeditiously to issue a further Notice of Proposed Rule Making, adopt the proposed rules, and remove the obstacles to a responsible rollout of access BPL that were either created, or not resolved, by the [BPL] Report and Order." (ARRL News Service)
Amateur Radio Shows its Most Generous Side for ARRL 2005 Holiday Toy Drive (Nov. 23 2005) ARRL/The Salvation Army 2005 Holiday Toy Drive warehouse volunteer Joe Lowenthal, W4OVO, says donated toys now are arriving fast and furious in Memphis. On November 18, a shipment arrived containing 573 toys. The pace continued this week. "We got slammed again!" he told ARRL Headquarters about the shipment that arrived Tuesday, November 22. "Twenty-nine boxes packed with over 500 toys arrived in one day. We could not inventory it all in until the following morning." ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, says ham radio clubs and individual radio amateurs know a good cause when they see it and have been responding very generously. "I told you you'd need all 30 of your volunteers," he told Lowenthal. "Judging from the reports we are getting of the totals, we're going to need a second truck." The League has partnered with The Salvation Army for this year's effort to bring some holiday cheer to children left homeless or displaced in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Country music artist Patty Loveless, KD4WUJ, is the Holiday Toy Drive's national chairperson. At the Memphis collection site, ARRL Delta Division Vice Director Henry Leggette, WD4Q, and warehouse volunteers like Lowenthal are staying very busy. Indeed, toys have continued to arrive from all over the US, and Lowenthal is hoping that by the time all is said and done--the donation deadline is Saturday, December 10--he'll have seen a shipment of donated toys from every state in the union. "So far we have 23 states and the Virgin Islands sending in toys for this great charity endeavor," Lowenthal reported. States represented so far include Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Vermont. "Let's get toys from all 50 states, so the entire country is represented," he urged. Pitts says many non-hams have joined in the spirit after hearing that the drive was focusing on Gulf Coast children. The ham volunteers will empty the warehouse, pack the trucks and head south to The Salvation Army facilities on Thursday, December 15. One contribution of some 530 stuffed animals came from The Mid-South Presbytery. Lowenthal says Hugh Wardlaw, WB4SLI, was responsible for obtaining the donation from his Memphis/Mid-South church group, which had collected them for Katrina victims, but did not have a distribution method. Radio amateurs are invited to send new unwrapped toys for boys and girls aged 1 to 14 to: ARRL Toy Drive/The Salvation Army, 1775 Moriah Woods Blvd--Suite 12, Memphis, TN 38117-7125. Include a QSL card or a card bearing your call sign. ARRL invites its members to send cash donations, if they prefer, to: ARRL Toy Drive, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111. The ARRL asks all radio amateurs to make the holiday season a little bit brighter for kids affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Maybe it can't be a new home to live in, but knowing that someone "out there" cares is a start for these children. (ARRL News Service) |
