.The Canadian Amateur Radio Bulletin
The Canadian Amateur Radio Bulletin is a weekly service that brings you the latest in Amateur Radio News from around the world. Providing over 30 pages of information every week to keep you up to speed with current events on the Amateur Radio Scene, delivered to over 2400 hams every week.

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Australia....Harmonisation - a new slant

With the removal of the Morse code requirement for HF band access in Australia that  occurred on New Year's Day this year there has been a healthy increase in on air activity on those bands. However the arrival of former VHF/UHF only licensees on the HF bands has also been overshadowed occasionally by unpleasantness. Jim Linton VK3PC believes that the lack of harmony on the bands will be short-lived and results from misunderstandings of the different cultures that exist in our hobby.

The newcomers to the HF bands are often well practised operating on channels while the old hands on those bands follow the tradition of using  any frequency, so long as it is clear and not in use by others. On a few occasions the former VHF/UHF operators have queried why others are not "operating on frequency", in other words an exact rounded off frequency channel.

Some old-hands have been indignant at the suggestion they are not on a channel, and when emotions take over unpleasant references are made to no-code licensees.

The new arrivals feel quite comfortable on their 'HF channels' and there are times when a territorial approach to adopted. Those new to HF may not be aware of or even appreciate the culture that has developed over many decades on the HF bands. For example, if a 'channel' is a frequency, or close proximity to one used by a DXpedition or special event station, courtesy dictates that it should be left clear for those uses.

The rationale behind this is that DXpeditions and the like often carefully chose a frequency that is publicised worldwide to maximise their availability to those wanting a new country or commemorative QSL. Other annual amateur radio events do also publicise suggested activity frequencies on the HF bands for much the same reasons.  A greater appreciation of the different cultures within our hobby will help increase harmony between all radio amateurs and reduce the unpleasantnes and friction that has been taking place.

(Jim Linton VK3PC WIA National News)
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First Jamboree on the Air for Scouting Ireland

The worlds newest Scout Association, Scouting Ireland will participate in JOTA (Jamboree on the Air) for the first time on Saturday and Sunday, the 16th and 17th of October next.

Scouting Ireland, which was formed at the beginning of the year following the coming together of the Catholic Scouts of Ireland and the Scout Association of Ireland, has in excess of 40,000 members on the island of Ireland.

Further information regarding JOTA and setting up scheds from around the globe is available from Sean EI3IP, National JOTA Organiser of Scouting Ireland at jota@scouts.ie

(WIA News)
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Amateur Radio Features on BBC Radio and TV

This has been a week where amateur radio has received some good publicity in the mass broadcast media. Firstly, 'Unsung Heroes', broadcast by BBC Radio 4 on Saturday 4 September, was the story of the radio amateurs who provided vital communications when the World Trade Centre was attacked in New York on 9/11. The programme interviewed several amateurs who responded, and they told what they did on that fateful day. The programme highlighted the great advantages to a country of having an emergency amateur radio organisation. The American radio amateurs' actions were described as “quietly professional” and “life-saving” and the amateurs were described as “public-spirited heroes.”

Later in the week was a piece on the ‘In Touch' programme about young blind Foundation licensees. As with ‘Unsung Heroes', this was a wholly complimentary piece which treated amateur radio most sympathetically.

You can listen to both of these programmes on the Internet. Go to bbc.co.uk and follow the “Listen to shows you've missed” links.

Finally, Ian Harley, G6BJJ, from Plymouth won 'The Weakest Link' quiz on BBC TV on 7 September. Under Anne Robinson's adversarial questioning he gave a good account in two or three sentences of his interest in ham radio. Congratulations to Ian on both counts - he was clearly the Strongest Link and he portrayed the hobby in a positive light.

(RSGB)
 

QCWA Convention Oct. 15-17 2004

The Quarter Century Wireless Association is holding its International Convention, hosted by Chapter 70, on October 15, 16 and 17 in Ottawa. All Radio Amateurs are invited. Information is available at www.qcwa.org/2004convention.htm  or by contacting Don Heaslip at ve3njh@rac.ca or by phone (613) 727-2769.

(RAC News Service)
 

Sept. 18 2004     M.A.A.R.C. Amateur Radio Fleamarket
Sponsored by: The Moncton Area Amateur Radio Club
Location:  Louis J. Robichaud High School  Main Street  Shediac, NB
Opens:  Vendors 0800 am, Public 1000 am to 1300 pm
Admission:  $3.00, Tables $3.00 Commercial Dealers Tables FREE
Talkin: VE9SBR 147.225mhz (+) Shediac Bay Repeater
Note: Canteen operated by Moncton Seniors Club. International Repeater Group Meeting at 1315pm in the Library following Fleamarket. DoorPrizes etc.
For more info:
For general inquiries please contact Mike Caissie
VE9MCA at (506)381-9080 Cell
(506)383-9632 Home
Table Reservations send Email to ve9mca@rac.ca
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The Canadian Amateur Radio Bulletin is looking for an co-editor to assist in publishing news and events for the Atlantic Maritime region. If you are interested in assisting this publication please contact the editor Jim Taylor VA3KU his e-mail address is va3ku@rac.ca
 

The Thornhill Radio Amateurs Club (TRAC), with the cooperation of the York-Durham Historical Railroad (YDHR), is pleased to announce:

TRAC on Track - a mini DXpedition. This is not a trip to an exotic island or a perilous perch above an active volcano, but simply a fun trip on a train, with radios.
All are invited to contact VA3RRT on Sunday September the 26th between 11am and 6pm, listen on 7.065Mhz +/- and 14.200Mhz +/-

Full details can be found online at: www.trac.ca
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Sept. 26 2004  London Amateur Radio Club Fleamarket
Sponsored by:  The London Amatuer Radio Club
Location: Western Fair Grounds, London
Opens: Vendors Set-up: 7:30AM, General Admission 9:00AM
Cost: Tables: $10.00, Admission: $6.00
Talkin: VA3LON, 147.060 PL 114.8
Notes: Free Parking, Air Conditioned, Commercial Dealers, Snack Bar Facilities
For more info visit: www.larc.on.ca
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Ontario Swap Shop

Looking for that special piece of radio gear to finish off your ham station? Do you have extra radio gear you'd like to turn into some cash? Well the place to visit is the 'Ontario Swap Shop' held every Sunday at 12 noon on 7055 kHz and 7:00pm on 3755 kHz. Nick VE3NJG and Ken VE3YK host the hour long program and all amateurs are invited.

The Swap Shop list is posted every Monday on the Trans Provincial Net website, just steer your browser toward www.tpn7055.ca , the swap shop list can also be found on packet by calling up VE3DID

(Nick VE3NJG)
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RAC Ontario Section News

Put your Amateur Radio gear and skills to use through the Public Service aspect of our specialized hobby

The ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) in the Ontario Section is seeking radio operators who are interested in "giving back" something to their local community / district.

There is a need for folks that can tie in their "real world skills" in support of expanding, organizing, administrating, public relations, etc., not to exclude the technical aspects such as digital communications and systems linking.

You can register your station and talents with your local EC (Emergency Coordinator) or District Coordinator (DEC). There is a convienient directory of all Emergency Coordinators in Ontario listed on the ARES Ontario website at www.aresontario.ca  When you visit the site click on the Ontario Districts Map and choose the district you live in to obtain the name and contact info for your local EC.  He / She will provide the registration form and get you involved in your local group."

(RAC Ontario Section Staff)
________________

The Radio Amateurs of Canada Field Organization, Ontario Section is seeking a federally licensed Radio Amateur to fill the position of Section Emergency Coordinator for the ARES in the Province of Ontario.  This is the senior volunteer position in the province for the Amateur Radio Emergency Service, and as such oversees both policy and operational matters. Full details about this position can be found online by visiting the ARES Ontario site at www.aresontario.ca

(Rose VE3RIS  Section Manager)
 
 

Sept. 10 2004  Tad Cook K7RA Solar Update

Sunspot numbers and solar flux rose over the past week. The average of the daily sunspot number for this week compared to the earlier seven days rose nearly 30 points to 57. Average daily solar flux was up over 16 points to 106.1. Solar flux is predicted to rise over the next few days. Predicted solar flux is 135 for Friday, September 10, and is expected to remain around 140 for the next four days or so. Fortunately, the planetary A index is expected to remain low, with predicted values over the weekend, from September 10-13 at 5, 8, 8 and 10.

Bill Burrows, WA7NCL wrote in this week saying he likes to use the K index as an indicator of whether conditions will be good when he wants to operate. You can get the current mid-latitude K index from Boulder via WWV, and it is updated every three hours.

The broadcast is at 18 minutes past each hour on WWV and 45 minutes after the hour on WWVH. You can also hear it on the phone any time at, 303-497-3235, or on the web at, http://sec.noaa.gov/ftpdir/latest/wwv.txt  I checked it just now, and the mid-latitude K index at 0600z on September 10 was 0. It doesn't get any quieter than that.

Bill sent along a great resource for predictions of the K index. It is from NOAA, and is on the web at http://www.sec.noaa.gov/rpc/costello/index.html  There are several text links on the left of the page for the predictions and also some graphs for comparing recent predictions with actual conditions. The prediction itself is on the text link called "Output List." Ideally, we would like to see a low K index along with higher sunspot and solar flux values.

This weekend is the Worked All Europe DX Contest. Conditions should be good. And don't forget the autumnal equinox in less than two weeks. As we approach Fall, HF propagation will be getting seasonally better.

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

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

Sunspot numbers for September 2 through 8 were 25, 25, 28, 59, 82, 95 and 85 with a mean of 57. 10.7 cm flux was 93.9, 96.7, 99.3, 103.2, 106.5, 118.9 and 124.5, with a mean of 106.1. Estimated planetary A indices were 9, 3, 4, 7, 14, 16 and 9, with a mean of 8.9. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 8, 1, 2, 5, 9, 11 and 4, with a mean of 5.7.

Europe

Sept. 12 2004  Solar and propagation report, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS,and Martin Harrison, G3USF.

During the past week solar flare activity has been low or very low, with only a scattering of C-class flares, which had little influence on propagation. There was a welcome increase in the solar flux.  This rose, as expected, from 99 on the 4th to 130 on the 10th and averaged 116.  That was 26 points up on the previous week.  The 90-day average showed a more modest rise of 3 points to 112.  The X-ray flux rose from B1.5 on the 3rd to B5.3 on the 9th.  The geomagnetic field was mildly active at times on the 6th and 7th, but during the rest of the week was either quiet or only slightly unsettled, with the average daily Ap index a lowly 8 units.  Solar wind speeds dropped below 300km/sec on several days, though there was a peak of 495km/sec on the 7th.  Particle densities were generally below 5 per cubic centimetre, falling to under one per cubic centimetre at times.

Seasonal changes and the modest levels of geomagnetic activity brought an improvement in HF propagation, with predicted levels mainly achieved.  Openings on the higher bands were mainly over north-south paths, with southern Africa workable on 28MHz in the afternoon and good signals from South America in the evening. However, there were fairly lengthy periods when both 24 and 28MHz were effectively closed. While 18 and 21MHz were rather livelier, with a strong opening to the US and Canada on the afternoon of the 11th, the main 'work horse' band was 14MHz.  All continents were workable, with the Pacific and Japan in the morning, eastern North America around noon and the West Coast in the late afternoon with South America and the long path into the Pacific in the evening.  The low bands are now showing seasonal improvement over east-west paths.

During the coming week flare activity will again be mostly 'low' or 'very low', although there may be an occasional medium-sized flare.  The solar flux will probably stay close to present levels for another day or so but will subsequently decline to around 100 by next weekend. The geomagnetic field will mainly be 'quiet' or 'slightly unsettled'.  MUFs at equal latitudes, now rising slightly for seasonal reasons, will be around 22MHz in the south and 19MHz in the north.  Darkness hour lows will be around 10MHz.  Paths to the Middle East should have a maximum usable frequency, giving a 50 per cent chance of success, of about 24MHz. The optimum working frequency will be around 16MHz.  The best time to try the path will be between 0900 and 1500UTC.  HF propagation should be similar to the past few days.  However, the summer sporadic-E season has clearly ended - though occasional brief events are possible at any time of the year.

And that's all for another week from your reporters, Neil, G0CAS, and Martin,

G3USF.
 

NEW ORBITAL DEBRIS MITIGATION RULES WILL APPLY TO HAM SATS

New FCC Amateur Radio space station rules will impose requirements to mitigate orbital debris. The FCC adopted a Second Report and Order (R&O) in IB Docket 02-54 on June 9. The new rules, appearing September 9 in the Federal Register, affect Parts 5 (Experimental Service), 25 (Satellite Communications) and 97 (Amateur Service) of the FCC's rules and regulations. In general, they require submission of an "orbital debris mitigation plan" to the FCC with each license application. AMSAT-NA--the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation--had wanted Amateur Radio exempted from any orbital debris mitigation requirements that went beyond what the FCC initially proposed for Part 97 in 2002. AMSAT-NA President Robin Haighton, VE3FRH, said the organization is discussing the implications of the R&O but has no formal position yet.

"While AMSAT does not like to be restricted--we are free enterprise people--we do acknowledge that even space is not limitless," Haighton told ARRL. "The more debris there is, particularly in lower orbits, the more danger there is of collisions and eventually the greater the difficulty in defining launch windows."

Haighton said that between now and the AMSAT-NA Symposium and Annual Meeting in October, the AMSAT Board of Directors "will have a chance to evaluate the FCC position and try to develop our own guidelines and requirements for building AMSAT satellites."

The AMSAT-NA president said that while he personally agrees with the notion of limiting space debris, "the application of this principle may be a problem."

In its formal comments in 2002, AMSAT-NA commended the FCC for initiating the proceeding and agreed that the growing quantity of space debris "presents a potential problem to all who wish to use space" and that "methods of controlling and reducing it are called for."

The new rules the FCC has ordered will significantly expand §97.207(g) in the Amateur Service rules governing space stations. The additional provisions will require "a description of the design and operational strategies the space station will use to mitigate orbital debris" that include statements covering several specific areas. Space station license grantees will have to state, among other things, that they have "assessed and limited the amount of debris released in a planned manner during
normal operations" as well as the probability that the space station itself could become a source of debris through collisions with other debris or meteoroids.

In its comments, AMSAT took "strong exception when it comes to meteors." Those launching satellites, AMSAT said, can assess the orbital parameters of known objects but "no such information is available for meteors."

Satellite licensees also must state that they have assessed and limited the probability of accidental explosions during and after completion of mission operations. "This statement must include a demonstration that debris generation will not result from the conversion of energy sources on board the spacecraft into energy that fragments the spacecraft," a new 97.207(g)(1)(ii) rule section specifies.

Such a scenario occurred in the case of AO-40, which apparently suffered a catastrophic onboard event not long after it went into orbit in 2000. AO-40 went silent earlier this year. AMSAT has commented that as a practical matter, the objective of minimizing debris from accidental explosions "is unlikely to be met by additional failure-mode analysis."

The demonstration would have to address whether "stored energy" would be removed at the end of the spacecraft's life "by leaving all fuel line valves open, venting any pressurized system, leaving all batteries in a permanent discharged state and removing any remaining source of stored energy."

Satellite licensees will have to include a statement disclosing the "accuracy--if any--with which orbital parameters of non-geostationary satellite orbit space stations will be maintained." AMSAT has asserted that "state-of-the-art practices do not allow specification of the Keplerian orbital elements of spacecraft with sufficient accuracy to predict or avoid the collision of two space objects."

AMSAT pointed out that many smaller satellites of the type most likely to be launched for Amateur Satellite use lack propulsion systems to maintain a certain orbital tolerance or to deorbit the spacecraft when its mission is over. Most, AMSAT told the FCC, would burn up in the atmosphere.

AMSAT had suggested in its reply comments that the issue of orbital debris needed more study and broader participation by stakeholders, "because of the complexity of the matter and the economic impact regulations might have on future satellites."

The FCC has not yet announced an effective date for the new Part 97 rules.

(ARRL News Service)
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Oct. 8-10 2004  AMSAT Symposium and Annual Meeting,

The 22nd Annual AMSAT Symposium and Annual Meeting, to be held on October 8-10, 2004, is fast approaching. The symposium committee has an outstanding venue in store for you. You have a few short days to make your reservations to the meeting at the lower prices. After September 8, the registration costs for the Symposium jumps from $35 to $40. If you haven't done this or made your reservation at the Hotel, please do so immediately.

Here are some of the highlights and latest information that we have in store for you. More will be coming soon. Check the AMSAT web site often for the latest details. The web site is located at www.amsat.org

Venue

This year's meeting will be held in Arlington, Virginia. The beauty of this location is that it is directly above Crystal City, where there are hundreds of shops (including radio shack), fast food restaurants, and the Washington Metro system. Metro can take you to the many free attractions in the area.

ARISS Meeting

This years symposium will be held in conjunction with the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) international delegates meeting. The ARISS meetings will be held October 10-13. You are welcome to attend any or all of the ARISS meetings. In addition, many of the ARISS team members and international delegates will be attending and presenting at the AMSAT Symposium.

Banquet Speaker

We are pleased to announce that our guest speaker at the banquet will be astronaut Carl Walz. Carl has flown in space 4 times. Two of these missions were Shuttle/SAREX flights. His most recent trip to space was as an Expedition 4 crew member on the ISS. During his stay, Carl and Valery Korzun installed and deployed one of the four ARISS antennas on the ISS during an EVA spacewalk. Carl will discuss his ISS expedition as well as NASA's new Journey to the Moon, Mars & beyond. For more information on Carl Walz, see: http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/walz.html

Prize Drawing

The prizes are starting to roll in. To date, we have an ICOM 910H as one of the grand prizes as well as an SDR-1000/RO, Software Defined Receiver board set from FlexRadio Systems.

Sunday Afternoon Group Tour

The Sunday tour will be to the new hangar facility Smithsonian Air & Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center, where you can see hundreds of aircraft and spacecraft including the Space Shuttle Enterprise, the world's fastest plane, the SR-71 Blackbird, the Concorde and hundreds of historic airplanes. For more information, see: www.nasm.si.edu/museum/udvarhazy

Symposium Papers

The proceeding papers are now in printing. I am proud to say that we have over 30 papers in this year's proceedings. This is a significant boost in papers from previous years. As such, we will have some very interesting presentations at the symposium. Some of the presentations in store for you include the latest on Echo and ARISS, the plans for Eagle and P3E, as well as presentations on some of the university-built satellites.

We will also have some great poster/displays. While the poster/displays are still a work in progress, we expect there to be a very interesting Cubesat display that will be set up by Cliff, K7RR.

Final Note

We will have more exciting things to announce in the near future. In the meantime, please get your registration forms in ASAP so we know who will be attending. And frequently visit the symposium web page at the AMSAT web site: www.amsat.org/amsat-new/symposium

We look forward to seeing all of you at the Symposium this October.

Frank Bauer, KA3HDO and Janet Bauer
AMSAT Symposium Committee Co-Chairs

(RAC News Service)
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G3YJO Named as a Space ‘Visionary and Innovator'

Space News International on the Space.com website has named Professor Sir Martin Sweeting, G3YJO, as one of the top space ‘visionaries and innovators'. It says that Martin Sweeting “turned Surrey Satellite into the world's microsatellite builder. Under his guidance this British company has trained a new generation of spacecraft builders throughout the world helping countries like Turkey, Thailand, Korea and Chile enter the space age.”

(RSGB)
 

Note: "Hams in Action" is a new area in the bulletin and is in need of articles and stories of events from your local club or ARES Group. Submission to Hams in Action:  Bulletin Editor: va3ku@rac.ca
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HURRICANE FRANCES VS. HAM RADIO

Hurricane Frances pounded Florida with high wind and heavy rain after it smashed across the state's East coast.  Close to 4 million residents lost power and telephone service.  Cellular phone networks that survived  Frances's gale force winds quickly became overloaded.  Enter ham radio. Amateur Radio Newsline's David Black, KB4KCH has been following the story from our South-East bureau in Birmingham, Alabama:....

When Hurricane Frances hit Florida on Labor Day weekend, the storm ripped roofs off buildings, toppled trees and cut power to about 4 million people.  Also lost was part of the states telephone and cellular service.  This created a communications vacuum.

But hams affiliated with SATERN - the Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network, A-R-E-S, and the Hurricane Watch Net were expecting Frances.  Radio amateurs had been tracking this storm as it ravaged its way across the Caribbean.  And it was ham radio that let the world know of the destruction the giant  storm had caused as it hit some of the islands:...

"Roger roger.  On Elutheria Ill say about 40 percent of the structures have damage.  In the Rainbow Bay area where I live I would say about 70% of the hhomes here have structural damage.  Over."

Once a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 145 mph, Frances had weakened to a Category 2 storm as it neared Florida.   Winds dropped to a peak of 105 mph as it made landfall at Sewall's Point, north of Palm Beach, around 1 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Saturday, September 4th.  Ham radio operators affiliated with the Hurricane Watch Net tracked its approach:..

"This is KA5E with the Hurricane Watch Net.  We are currently taking measured weather reports out of the affected area for Hurricane Frances.  Do I have any stations on with pdates or signifigant weather reports. KA5E,  over."

The powerful storm hit Florida with ferocious winds and sheets of rain. The hurricane was so large and slow moving that its western outer edges had began arriving on the east coast on Saturday morning. On Sunday morning its eastern edges were still pounding the coast from which 2.5 million people had been told to flee.  Repeaters interconnected using I-R-L-P and Echolnk were pressed into service to help coordinate the latest round of evacuations:

"KC4PNC KB1CYO net control.  Go ahead sir,"

"They have called for mandatory evacuation for Hillsboro county for manufactured homes and also mobile homes.  They have not ordered a mandatory for low lieing areas but they are strongly recommendng it."

And as evacuee's poured into shelters, communications volunteers were needed.  A call was put out over the interlinked repeater network and the hams responded

"We are looking for any volunteerr Amateur Radio operators to help with shelters. We have eight shelters open right now.  Those are being manned.  However, since its a declared evacuation all of the other shelters will be opened and we are looking for vlunteers to man those shelters.  KC4PNC."

As Frances path of destruction hit Florida's central Atlantic coast counties, blinding rain squalls drove clouds of sand into the air.  At the same time high waves thundered onto the beaches.  One ham watched as his rain gage was torn away and white caps pounded ashore:

"Any kind of rainfall accumulation?"

"No, that gage blew away but I can tell you that we are in a high tide area right now and I can see the tides up about a foot and a half and I have water coming over my seawall.  But its not a problem. We are still at a much higher elevation.  The water is over the seawall along the Intercoastal Waterway."

As palm trees rained coconuts and then toppled over and buildings suffered extensive damage there was also a tragedy at sea.  And the U-S Coast Guard turned to Amateur Radio for help:

"I want to remind the net that the Coast Guard has asked us to lend assistance in the search for the Anna Marie.  It is a vessel that went down off the coast of Sarasota this evening about 10 to 12 miles out.  Any assistance or any information on the Anna Marie that went down with the crew 10 o 12 miles out of Sarasota, the U.S. Coast Guard would appreciate your assistance."

At airtime its not known what happened to the Anna Marie nor the fate of its crew.  But as the search continued, there was yet another threat.  Early on Sunday the 5th, the massive weather system  spawned  a tornado, and the warning went out over the I-R-L-P ham radio network:

"The tornado is expected to be by Bostwick by by 2:45 Eastern, Forholm by 3:00 a.m.  and thats all I have."

As that twister touching down the National Weather Service office in Jacksonville issued a tornado warning for Northern Clay County including the city of Orange Park.  Also affected were St. Johns, Clay, and Putnam Counties.  And as dawn was breaking radar picked up a developing tornado near Doctors Inlet moving West at 45 mph.  Only some damage to roofs was reported.

But reporting weather was not the only chore radio amateurs were involved in.  Another as health and welfare.  Letting worried relatives and friends know about those stuck in Frances path.  Many like this central American station who was happy to hear that the hurricane was headed away from his daughters location:

"OK.  Great. Thank you very much.  I appreciate that information.  We are here in a location where we do not have any TV or any other communication.  We are on the beach on the West coast of Panama.  So thanks very much I do appreciate it.  This is HB1XRO and the handle is Bob."

By Monday afternoon, Frances had crossed the eastern Gulf of Mexico and made its second landfall in Florida's northwest Panhandle section some 20 miles south of Tallahassee.  Now it only a tropical storm with sustained wind near 65 mph.  Damage was mainly to power and telephone lines.  At that point the forecasters were predicting the storm would move north-northwest at about 8 mph, and was not expected to regain hurricane strength.

Frances soaked Georgia, dumping 11 inches of rain in a 24 hour period in the town of Patterson.

Media reports blame Frances for at least seven deaths in Florida, including two people who were killed Saturday when the roof of he building they were in collapsed.  There were also two deaths in the Bahamas.  One of these was a teenager who was reportedly electrocuted when he tried to hook up a generator to a power mains that was still on.

With thanks to the hams who supplied the storm audio over the Internet used in this report, I'm David Black, KB4KCH at the South-East bureau in Birminham Alabama for the Amateur Radio Newsline.

(Thanks to ARNewsline)
___________

HAM RADIO PREPARES FOR IVAN

Hurricane Ivan is making its way cross the Caribbean and could strike the United States. CQ's newsdesk reports that Amateur Radio at the National Hurricane Center, WX4NHC, was to be reactivated for Hurricane Ivan at 2 PM EDT Thursday, Sept. 9, and will be active on Friday-Sunday 8 AM-11 PM EDT.  The Hurricane Center will be on the Hurricane Watch Net on 20 meters as well as the VoIP Hurricane Net,.  The latter is a combination of IRLP and Echolink stations.

The Cayman Islands and Jamaica are the next locations in the path of this extremely dangerous Category V Hurricane which now has maximum sustained winds of 160 MPH per the latest advisory issued at 5 AM EDT Thursday morning.

VoIP Net Control Station Rob Macedo, KD1CY, says they are trying to coordinate with the IRLP node owners on the Cayman Islands and Jamaica on usage of their nodes and liaisons to those affected areas.  Currently there are no Echolink or IRLP nodes in Cuba.

National Hurricane Center advisories indicate that the path of Hurricane Ivan is not clear after it passes over Cuba on Sunday. Residents in the affected area should monitor the situation closely. There is a possibility that the hurricane's forward progress could slow and emergency nets may be activated for an extended period of time. It also means that ham radio communications volunteers could have a lot more to do in the coming days.

(CQ)
 

"INTRUDER SIGNAL" ON 40 METERS REMAINS A MYSTERY FOR NOW

An unidentified signal that's been showing up on the 40-meter phone band on or about 7238 kHz has mystified amateurs in the western US and Canada, where it's been heard frequently for the past few weeks. Although it resembles a steady carrier, a closer inspection suggests that the intruding signal actually is a series of closely spaced signals. Don Moman, VE6JY, in Edmonton, Alberta, says the signal is quite loud at his QTH.

"This signal looks a lot more interesting than it would sound--just a broad tone/hum/buzz, depending on where you tune," he said. One spectrogram from VE6JY showed perhaps a half-dozen or more discrete signals. "It's certainly loud enough out here, peaking broadly south-southwest from Edmonton," he said. Moman was using a 5-element Yagi and was hearing the signal at 10 dB over S9.

That conforms with observations reported by Bob Gonsett, W6VR, at Communications General Corp (CGC). He says engineers at the CGC lab in Fallbrook, California took a quick look at the intruder September 6 at around 2120 UTC and found "several close-spaced CW carriers--perhaps from one specially modulated transmitter, perhaps from transmitters at different locations," he reported. CGC reported the signals appeared on 7238.063, 7238.150, 7238.237 and 7238.412 kHz, with the 7238.237 kHz signal being "the strongest of the group."

While no one's sure what it is, the FCC HF Direction Finding Facility has been able to determine that it's coming from somewhere north of Prescott, Arizona, and west of Interstate 17. FCC monitoring indicates the "buzz" is centered on 7238.1 kHz with a bandwidth of about 1 kHz and spikes spaced at about 90 Hz apart.

Reports to the International Amateur Radio Union Region 2 Monitoring System indicate the signal has been heard from about 1700 to 2130 UTC, although Moman reported hearing it at around 0300 UTC and said the signal even went off the air for a few seconds while he was listening to it. Jack Roland, KE0VH, in Colorado also heard the signals for a couple of evenings this week. "Something is not right there," he remarked.

High Noon Net Manager Bill Savage, N5FLD, in Albuquerque, New Mexico said several net participants--in Nebraska, Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming, Minnesota and Arizona--were able to hear the mystery signal.

(ARRL News Service)
 

North American Sprint--SSB, 0000Z-0400Z Sep 19 www.ncjweb.com

Scandinavian Activity Contest--CW--sponsored by Sveriges Sändareamatörer (SSA), 1200Z Sep 18-1200Z Sep 19 (Phone, 1200Z Sep 25-1200Z Sep 26). Frequencies: 80-10 meters. Categories: SOAB (QRP <5 W, LP <100 W, HP), MS, SWL. Exchange: RS(T) + serial number. QSO Points: EU stations--1 pt, Non-EU--1 pt on 20--10, 3 pts on 80-40. Finals score is QSO pts × Scandinavian call areas counted once per band. For more information: www.sk3bg.se/contest/text/sacnsc.txt  Logs due Oct 31 to sac@ssa.se or to SACCW or via postal mail to SACSSB, Jan-Eric Rehn, SM3CER, Lisatået 18, SE-863 32 Sundsbruk, Sweden.

Washington State Salmon Run--CW/SSB--sponsored by the Western Washington DX Club, 1600Z Sep 18-0700Z Sep 19 and 1600Z-2400Z Sep 19. Frequencies: 160-6 meters. Categories: SO (CW, SSB or Mixed Mode, QRP <5 W, LP <200 W, HP), MS, Washington Club Station, Mobile, Washington County DXpedition, SWL. Exchange: RS(T) and S/P/C or county (for WA stations). QSO Points: SSB--2 pts, CW--4 pts. Work Portables and Mobiles from each county, log county line QSOs as 2 separate QSOs. Score: QSO points × WA counties (WA stations use S/P/C + WA counties) counted once only. QSOs with W7DX add 500 bonus points for each mode--total 1000 points. For more information: www.wwdxc.org  Logs due Oct 31 to salmonrun@wwdxc.org or to Western Washington DX Club, PO Box 395, Mercer Island, WA 98040.

South Carolina QSO Party--Phone/CW/Digital--sponsored by the Sumter Amateur Radio Association (SARA), 1300Z Sep 18-2100Z Sep 19, 2004. Frequencies (MHz): CW--1.805 and 50 kHz from band edge, Phone--1.845, 3.860, 7.260, 14.270, 21.370, 28.370, 50.125, 144.200, 146.58, 223.50, 446.00. No repeater or cross-band QSOs, work stations again from each county. Categories: SOAB, SC Mobile. Exchange: Serial Number and SC county or S/P/C. QSO Points: Phone--1 pt, CW--2 pts, Digital--3 pts. Score: Total QSO points × power multiplier (<5 W ×5, <150 W ×2, >150 W ×1) × SC counties (counted only once) × SC counties activated (SC Mobile only). 300 bonus points for QSO with N2ZZ or W4GL. For more information: www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/2695/SCQSOWeb.htm  Logs due Oct 18 to SAR SC QSO Party Entry, PO Box 193, Sumter, SC 29151-0193.

Mediterranean Islands Contest--CW/SSB--sponsored by the Mediterranean DX Club, from 1200Z Sep 18-1200Z Sep 19. Frequencies: 80-10 meters. Categories: SO Island Resident, SO and MM Island Dispatch (Expedition), and SO Non- Island; CW, SSB, and Mixed (all categories except MM, Mixed only). Exchange: RST + MIA island number or serial number. QSO Points: Island stations--5 pts, otherwise 1 pt. Score: QSO points × MIA islands counted once per band/mode. For more information: www.mdxc.org/contestmia/rules.htm  Logs due 30 days after the contest to ik8vrn@mdxc.org or via postal mail to Mr. Gianfranco Lai, Corso Umberto I°, 285/G, 80034 Marigliano, Naples, Italy or Gianfranco, PO Box 5, 80034 Marigliano, Naples, Italy.

QCWA Fall QSO Party--Phone/CW/Digital--sponsored by the Quarter Century Wireless Association from 1800Z Sep 18-1800Z Sep 19. Frequencies (MHz): CW--1.810, 3.540, 7.035, 14.040, 21.050, 28.050; Phone--1.910, 3.890, 7.244, 14.262, 21.365, 28.325 plus all VHF/UHF bands, no crossband or repeater QSOs. Categories: Mixed, Phone, CW/Digital. 15 QSOs with each station maximum and only one QSO with stations in home QCWA chapter. Exchange: Last two digits of year licensed and QCWA chapter or S/P/C. QSO Points: Phone--1 pt, CW/Digital--2 pts. Score: QSO Points × QCWA chapters + S/P/C counted once per band. W2MM counts as a 3-point multiplier on each band. For more information: http://qcwa.org/2004-qso-party-rules.htm  Send logs to W2od@aol.com or via postal mail to Robert Buus, W2OD, 8 Donner St, Holmdel, NJ 07733-2004.

Fall QRP Homebrewer Sprint--CW/PSK31--sponsored by New Jersey QRP Club, 0000Z-0400Z Sep 27. Frequencies: QRP CW and PSK31 frequencies on 80-10 meters. CW and PSK31 are considered separate bands. Exchange: RST + S/P/C + output power. QSO Points: commercial equipment--2 pts, homebrew xmtr or rcvr--3 pts, homebrew xmtr and rcvr or xcvr--4 pts. Kits okay as homebrew. Power Multiplier: 0>250 mW = ×15, 250 mW>1 W = ×10, 1-5 W = ×7, >5 W = ×1. Score: QSO Points × S/P/C (counted once per band) × power multiplier. For more information: www.njqrp.org/data/qrphomebrewersprint.html Logs due 30 days from the contest to n2cq@arrl.net (text format) or to Ken Newman, N2CQ, 81 Holly Dr, Woodbury, NJ 08096.

QRP Afield--CW/Phone/Digital--sponsored by the New England QRP Club, 1500Z Sep 18-0300Z Sep 19, submit a log for the best 6 hr period of the contest. Frequencies: 160-10 meter QRP calling frequencies, work stations once per band and mode. Categories: SO and MS. Exchange: RS(T), S/P/C, and NE-QRP number or power. QSO Points: HP (>5 W) fixed station--1 pt, HP mobile or portable --2 pts, QRP fixed--5 pts, QRP mobile or portable --10 pts. QSOs with WQ1RP score triple points. Score: QSO points × SPC (counted once only). For more information: www.qsl.net/wq1rp/main.htm  Logs due Oct 15 to k1cl@arrl.net or to Chuck Ludinsky, K1CL, 6 Prancing Rd, Chelmsford, MA 01824-1922.

Collegiate QSO Party--CW/SSB/Digital, sponsored by the Collegiate Amateur Radio Association (CARA), 1200Z Sep 18-0400Z Sep 19. Frequencies: 160-10 meters. Categories: SO, MS, MM, packet spotting is allowed for all categories, no self-spotting. Exchange: Serial number and name of institution (for clubs) or operator (SO). QSO Points: 5 pts/QSO, see Web site for bonuses. Score: QSO points × clubs worked, counted once per band and mode. For more information: www.qth.com/collegiate/qsopartyrules.htm  Logs due Oct 20 to qsoparty@collegiatehams.com or to CARA, PO Box 150232, Alexandria, VA 22315-0232.
 

Hebron, CT: NARL, W1H. 1600Z Sep 9-0200Z Sep 12. Amateur Radio promotion for the general public. 28.385 21.350 14.260 7.235. Certificate. Ronald F. Cady, 110 Four Mile Rd, West Hartford, CT 06107. www.narl.net

Rochester, MN: Rochester Amateur Radio Club, W0U. 0000Z Sep 9-0000Z Sep 20. Rochester MN Sesquicentennial. 28.380 21.380 14.280 7.280. QSL. W0U Rochester 150, c/o Chuck Gysi, N2DUP, PO Box 142, Rochester, MN 55903-0142. www.RARChams.org

Findlay, OH: Findlay Radio Club, W8F. 2200Z Sep 10-1900Z Sep 12. 65th Annual Findlay Hamfest. 147.15/75 14.300 7.250. QSL. Bill Gaines, 624 S Main St, Bluffton, OH 45817.

West Alexander, PA: Washington Amateur Communications, WA3COM. 2200-0300Z daily Sep 10-Sep 12. West Alexander Fair. 21.300 14.250 7.275 3.975. QSL. Ed Oelschlager, N3ZNI, 60 Carl Ave B-2, Eighty Four, PA 15330.

Boulder, CO: Boulder Amateur Radio Club Kids Auxiliary, K1D. 1600Z-2200Z Sep 11. BARC/JR has been getting young hams on the air for 11 years! 21.310 14.310 7.310. Certificate. Richard Weingarten, 1133 Northridge Dr, Erie, CO 80516.

Hermitage, MO: Old Hickory ARC, K0A. 1300Z-2100Z Sep 11. Hermitage Fall Festival. 18.115 3.963 147.180 147.060. Certificate. Richard E. Hut KC0FDF, PO Box 96, Wheatland, MO 65779.

North Judson, IN: Starke County Amateur Radio Club, W9JOZ. 1300Z-2100Z Sep 11. Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum Open House. 14.240 7.240. QSL. Starke County ARC, 405 W Jackson St, Knox, IN 46534.

Roanoke, VA: Roanoke Valley Amateur Radio Club, W4CA. 1400Z-2100Z Sep 11. Commemorating N & W Steam Locomotives. 14.260 7.260. QSL. Ray Crampton, 1670 Catawba Rd, Troutville, VA 24175.

Plattsburgh, NY: Champlain Valley Amateur Radio Club, W2UXC. 1300Z-1600Z and 1900Z to 2100Z Sep 11. The Battle of Plattsburgh Commemorative Weekend. ±14.270. Certificate. CVARC W2UXC, PO Box 313, Morrisonville, NY 12962.

Governors Island, NY: Kings County Repeater Association and The Metropolitan 222 Amateur Radio Society, KC2RA. 1500Z-2000Z Sep 11. September 11th Memorial Station. 28.340 21.340 14.250 7.250 possible VHF/UHF. QSL. Edward Madison, W2SN, 7004 12th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11228-1404. maded@mindspring.com.

Decatur, IL: Macon County ARES, K9MCA. 0900Z Sep 11-1600Z Sep 12. Special Olympics Weekend. 21.350 14.280 7.275. Certificate. Don Wright, 134 N Westdale Pl, Decatur, IL 62522.

Henri-Chapelle, Belgium: GDV Group (Club Station ON4GDV), ON60USA. 0800Z Sep 11-1800Z Sep 12. From the WWII American Military Cemetery, honoring the memory of all men who gave their lives in WWII. 21.250 14.205 14.044 7.044. QSL. Groupe-ment Radio-Amateur de Verviers, Rue des Prairies, 8, Verviers, Belgium B-4800. www.qsl.net/on4usa

New York City, NY: New York City Transit Amateur Radio Club, K2IRT. 1000-2200Z daily Sep 11 and Sep 12. Centennial Celebration of the New York City Subway 1904-2004. 28.325 21.340 14.250 7.240. Certificate. Robert Lobenstein, NYCT-ARC, 333 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019. roloben@nyct.com.

Brooklyn, NY: Kings County Repeater Association, KC2RA. 1300Z-1900Z Sep 12. September 11th Memorial Station from Owls Head Park. 28.340 21.340 14.250. QSL. KCRA, PO Box 285, Brooklyn, NY 11228. Rain date is September 19, 2004. kc2ra.org/special.htm

Alexandria, MN: Runestone ARC, W0W. 1100Z Sep 13-2300Z Sep 24. Kensington Runestone Discovery. 21.070 14.250 14.050 7.200. Certificate. Bill Klundt, 509 Pine St S, Sauk Centre, MN 56378.

Big Rock, IL: DeKalb County Amateur Radio Operators, W9P. 1300Z Sep 15-2100Z Sep 20. 110th Annual Big Rock Plowing Match. 28.390 7.245 14.275 7.115 CW. Certificate. Bob Yurs, W9ICU, PO Box 341, Sycamore, IL 60178. www.w9icu.com

Mena, AR: Ouachita Amateur Radio Association, W5HUM. 1300-2000Z daily Sep 17 and Sep 18. Lum'n Abner radio program and 100th anniversary of museum building. 21.300 14.250 7.235 3.895. QSL. OARA, 268 Polk 36, Hatfield, AR 71945.

Freedom Township, OH: Portage Amateur Radio Club, KB8UUZ. 2100Z Sep 17-0200Z Sep 20. National POW/MIA Awareness Day. 28.375 21.375 14.235 7.245. Certificate. Tom Parkinson, 9992 State Route 700, Mantua, OH 44255.

Bennington, VT: Southern Vermont Amateur Radio Club, N1B. 1300Z Sep 18-1700Z Sep 19. Bennington Antique Car and Motorcycle Show. 14.285. Certificate. Ken Lanoue, KB1GSZ, 30 East St, Bennington, VT 05201. www.classypages.com/sovarc/

Sardinia, OH: USS Jurassic Star Trek and Amateur Radio Club, W8J. 1400Z-2100Z Sep 18. Tenth Anniversary of the USS Jurassic club. 14.280 gen portion 40/20/15m. Certificate. Carolyn Donner, PO Box 158, Hamersville, OH 45130. www.qsl.net/k8ssj

Slidell, LA: Ozone Amateur Radio Club, W5SLA. 1300Z-1000Z Sep 18. 40th Birthday of the Ozone Amateur Radio Club. 14.250 14.035 7.240. QSL. Ozone Amateur Radio Club, PO Box 553, Slidell, LA 70459.

Butler, PA: Butler County Amateur Radio Association, W3UDX. 1300Z-1800Z Sep 18. Birthday of the Jeep. General bands 80 to 10. QSL. BCARA, PO Box 1787, Butler, PA 16003.

Luray, VA: Richmond Amateur Radio Club, K4R. 1000Z Sep 18-1600Z Sep 19. Richmond Amateur Radio Club Fall Expedition Event. 14.245 7.245 3.845 144.190 50.190. QSL. Richmond Amateur Radio Club Fall Expedition Event, PO Box 35279, Richmond, VA 23235. www.rarclub.net

Waterloo, AL: Muscle Shoals Amateur Radio Club, W4JNB. 1400Z Sep 18-0200Z Sep 19. Commemorating the 1838 Indian "Trail of Tears" in SE USA. 21.360 14.260 7.260 3.860. Certificate. MSARC, PO Box 3782, Muscle Shoals, AL 35662.
 
 

Sept. 9  2004 ARLD036 DX News

This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by IN3VZE, NN9K, the OPDX Bulletin, The Daily DX, 425DXnews, DXNL, WA7BNM and Contest Corral from QST.  Thanks to all.

MALAWI, 7Q.  Ely, IN3VZE and Renato, IN3BHR are QRV as 7Q7CE and 7Q7RB, respectively, from the southwest shore of Lake Malawi, until September 23.  Activity is on all bands using SSB.  QSL to home calls.

KUWAIT, 9K.  Hamad, 9K2HN, Faisal, 9K2RR and Yasser, 9K2YM will be QRV as 9K2HN in the Worked All Europe contest as a Multi/Single entry.  QSL via bureau.

ANDORRA, C3.  Archie, C31BO has been QRV using RTTY on 20 meters from around 2130 to 2230z and then 40 meter CW around 2010z.  QSL direct.

BALEARIC ISLANDS, EA6.  Christian, DL6KAC is QRV as EA6/DL6KAC from Mallorca, IOTA EU-004, until September 28.  QSL to home call.

NEW CALEDONIA, FK.  Mike, KM9D and Jan, KF4TUG are QRV as FK/homecalls from the D'Entrecasteaux Reefs, IOTA OC-058, until September 14.  QSL both calls via OM2SA.

ST. PIERRE AND MIQUELON, FP.  Pete, NN9K is QRV as FP/NN9K from Miquelon until September 18.  Activity will be mostly on 30 meters, and possibly the other bands as well.  QSL to home call.

SAUDI ARABIA, HZ.  Ahmed, HZ1AN is QRV each Friday on 20 meters SSB from around 0400 to 0700z.  QSL Via DJ9ZB.

ANTARCTICA.  Obi, JA0WJN is QRV as 8J1RF from Dome Fuji Base until November.  QSL to home call.

MONGOLIA, JT.  Look for JT100M to be QRV until September 13 during the Mongolian leg of the Altay-Himalaya Transasian Off-Road expedition.  QSL via UA9OBA.

WAKE ISLAND, KH9.  Terry is QRV as K7ASU/KH9 and has been active on 20 meters PSK31 around 0700z.  QSL to home call.

MALYJ VYSOTSKIJ ISLAND, R1MV.  The R1MVI operation should be active from September 10 to 12.  QSL via RA3AMG.

CRETE, SV9.  Phil, G4OBK is QRV as J42004Q from Akrotiri, IOTA EU-015, until September 15.  After which, he will be QRV as SV9/G4OBK.  Activity is on 30 to 10 meters, using CW, RTTY and possibly SSB.  QSL to home call.

CHAD, TT.  Robert, TT8KR has been QRV on 17 meters around 1700z. QSL via K2PF.

MALI, TZ.  Michael, PA5M is now QRV as TZ6M until September 16.  QSL via PA7FM.

EUROPEAN RUSSIA, UA.  Special station UE0LPR is QRV until September 23 for the "Pak Rim Challenger 2004" sailing regatta.  QSL via UA0LQJ.

SOUTH GEORGIA ISLAND.  One of the British Antarctic Survey Base of Bird Island staff is QRV as VP8SGB.  He generally operates SSB only, usually on 20 meters.  QSL via GM0HCQ.

CAMBODIA, XU.  Wim, ON6TZ plans to be QRV as XU7TZG from Sihanoukville from September 11 to 28.  Look for activity on 40, 20 and 15 meters.  QSL via ON4AJV.

ASCENSION ISLAND, ZD8.  Ian, G8WVW is QRV as ZD8I until June 2006. He hopes to be active on 80 to 6 meters using SSB.  QSL via G4LTI.

THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO.  The ARRL September VHF Contest, The North American CW Sprint, YLRL Howdy Days, Worked All Europe DX Contest, ARCI End of Summer PSK31 Sprint, Second-Class Operators Club (SOC) Marathon Sprint, Tennessee QSO Party and the Swiss HTC QRP Sprint will certainly keep contesters busy this weekend.  Please see September QST, page 97, and the ARRL and WA7BNM contest websites for details.

(ARRL)
__________

Sept. 11 2004  4 2 5  D X  N E W S

4S  - Twenty-five Japanese operators will be active on all bands and modes from Sri Lanka on 18-25 September. QSL via home calls, direct or bureau. [TNX The Daily DX]

7Q  - Renato, IN3BHR has joined Ely, IN3VZE (7Q7CE) [425DXN 693] and will operate on 10-160 metres SSB as 7Q7RB from the Resort Club Makokola
(Lake Malawi) until 23 September. QSL IN3BHR via IN3BHR, direct or bureau. [TNX IN3VZE]

7X  - Angel/EA1QF, Pere/EA3CUU, Paco/EA4BT, Emilio/EA7AAW, Julio/EA7JB, Juan Lucas/EA7TL and Ramon/EB4EPJ will be active from Algeria on 2-9
October. They will operate from the QTH of 7X0AD, probably using his callsign. QSL via EA4URE.

9A  - Zik, DL/VE3ZIK (4N1DX) will be active again as 9A/VE3ZIK from Croatia on 12-19 September. It will be a holiday style operation from Bilice, near Sibenik (JN73WS). He will try to concentrate on the WARC bands and 10m FM. QSL via DL3PS, direct or bureau. [TNX DL/VE3ZIK]

9K  - The Daily DX reports that the announced 9K2F (AS-118) operation [425DXN 696] has been postponed.

CE  - A group of operators from the Atacama Desert DX Group and Radio Club La Serena will be active (on 10-80 metres CW, SSB, BPSK31 and SSTV) as XR2G from Damas Island (SA-086) on 25-26 September to celebrate the 40th anniversary of IOTA. QSL via XQ1IDM. [TNX XQ1IDM] between URE and
ARA. [TNX EA5KY]

CO  - Angel, EA1QF and Carlos, EB1AA will work on a "Radiosolidaridad" project in Cuba on 12-25 October and will operate as T42R in their spare time. QSL via EA4URE. [TNX EA5KY]

DL  - Look for Klaus, DJ4JI/p to operate on 80, 40 and 20 metres SSB from Pellworm Island (EU-042) on 12-18 September. QSL via bureau. [TNX The Daily DX]

DL  - Look for DD6VSF/P to operate PSK, RTTY and SSB from Hiddensee Island (EU-057) on 19-26 September. QSL via bureau. [TNX The Daily DX]

FK  - Mike, FK/KM9D and Jan, FK/KF4TUG [425DXN 696] expects to operate from Huon Island (OC-058), New Caledonia until around 15 September. QSL via OM2SA. Logs will be uploaded to Logbook of the World. [TNX The Daily DX]

G   - Special event station GB200CLB will be activated on all bands and modes from Cromer Lifeboat Station (JO02PW) on 30-31 October. Anyone
interested in operating, logging or helping with the station, please contact David, M0CNP (david@m0cnp.fsnet.co.uk9. [TNX M0CNP]

HA  - Laci/HA0HW (J45HW), Tomi/HA4DX (J45DX) and a third HA operator will be active (on 40-10 metres CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK31) from Rhodes
(EU-001) from 26 September to 3 October. QSL via home calls, direct or bureau. [TNX HA0HW]

HB0 - Look for Roger, HB0/ON7TQ and Marcel, HB0/ON6UQ to be active from Liechtenstein on 12-19 September. They plan to operate on 160-10 metres
SSB and CW. QSL via home calls, direct or bureau. [TNX NG3K]

I   - Biella ARI Branch station IQ1CM will be activated on 19 September during the III "BiellaRadio" fair. QSL via bureau.

I   - Special call IR0SN will be activated on 20-30 September as part of the celebrations for the 1000th anniversary of the foundation of the Abbey of Grottaferrata. QSL via IZ0BTV, direct or bureau. [TNX IZ0BTV]

I   - Nuccio, I7YKN and other members of the Strange Radio Team (Umberto/I0NZK, Christine/I7OCD, Luigi/IW8EQS, Simone/IZ0BTV, Francesco/IZ7AUH, Fabio/IZ7CRW, Marco/IZ7DOK, Oreste/IZ8EDJ and Salvatore/IZ8GGF) will be active from three EU-091 islands in early October. Expects activity from Isola del Capezzone (IIA LE 004) on the1st, Chianca D' Abramo (LE 017) on the 2nd and Grande di Porto Cesareo (LE-017) on the 3rd. QSl via I7YKN, direct or bureau. [TNX IZ8EDJ and I6YOT]

JA  - Look for Kenji, JA4GXS/4 to operate (on 80, 40, 30, 20 and 15 metres CW and SSB) from Otsu Island (AS-117, JIIA-AS-117-110) starting on 19 September around 8 UTC until 23 UTC on the 20th. QSL via home call, direct (Kenji Sasaki, 2-15 Ishikannon-cho, Yamaguchi, 753-0038 Japan) or bureau. [TNX JI6KVR]

S9  - Jorge, CT1EFV will take part in the "Latitude Zero Equatorial Challenge 2004" humanitarian mission to Sao Tome. He plans to operate as S92LZ on 19-26 September, depending on local conditions. QSL via CT1EFV. [TNX CT1END]

ST  - Dane, ST2T (S57CQ) [425DXN 684] is still in Sudan and, according to his QSL manager, will remain there for another 2-3 months. He expects to operate in the WAEDC SSB Contest during the weekend. QSL via S57DX. [TNX S57DX]

SU  - Gab, HA3JB will operate as SU8BHI from Egypt from 21 September to 20 December. He plans to be QRV on CW, PSK, RTTY and some SSB, and to
participate in the CQ/RJ DX RTTY and CQ WW DX CW contests. QSL direct only via home call (Kutasi Gabor, P.O. Box 243, H-8601 Siofok, Hungary). Logs will be available at www.qsl.net/ha3jb [TNX HA0HW]

SV  - Mike, G8VHB will operate on 40 and 20 metres SSB as SV8/G8VHB from Thira/Santorini (EU-067) on 14-20 September. [TNX OPDX Bulletin]

TT  - TT8KR is the callsign issued to Robert, S53R [425DXN 697]. Expect him to be active from N'Djamena until 14 September. He will try to operate on 160 metres, but the roof of the hotel is very low. [TNX ON5NT]

UR  - Special event call EO1WRP will be aired on all bands and modes on10-14 September. QSL via UT7WZ, direct (Miroslav Lupiy, P.O.Box 94, Lviv 79000, Ukraine) or bureau. [TNX UR5WCW]

UR  - Look for Tom (UT3IB/P), Mike (UT9IO/P), Alex (UX2IQ/P) and Igor (UY9IA/P) to be active from Berezan Island (EU-179, UIA BS-02) and Lighthouse (ULA-009, ARLHS UKR-035) on 11-19 September. QSL via UX2IQ, direct (P.O. Box 370, Yenakiyevo, 86420 Ukraine) or bureau. [TNX UT3IB]

VE  - Look for special event call VE3QCWA to be aired from 17 September through 17 October for the QCWA International Convention that will be held in Ottawa on 15-17 October. QSL via VE3IQ. Founded in 1947, the Quarter Century Wireless Association is open to amateur radio operators who have been licenced for at least 25 years (please visit www.qcwa.org for full information). [TNX VA3RJ]

VE  - Ken, G3OCA expects to be active as VE7/G3OCA from Quadra Island (NA-091) for a couple of days between 20 and 25 October. [TNX G3OCA]

VK  - The Northern Corridor Radio Group (VK6ANC) will activate the special callsign VI6175WA to celebrate the 175th anniversary of existence of the state of Western Australia. The callsign will be aired for the first time in the Oceania DX SSB Contest; after that it will be used on the HF bands by individual members of the club for the rest of October. More information will be posted on www.ncrg.org.au QSL via VK6NE, direct or bureau. [TNX VK6APK]

VK  - Paul, G0WRE plans to operate (mostly on +/- 14260 and 21260 kHz) from Magnetic Island (OC-171) and maybe from an island in the Queensland State (South Coast) North Group (OC-160). The dates are not sure as yet but it will be between 14 and 20 October. Paul will collect his licence upon arrival. Those wishing a contact with OC-171 for a new one can e-mail Paul (g0wre@blueyonder.co.uk). QSL via G0WRE (all QSOs will be confirmed automatically via the RSGB bureau). [TNX G0WRE]

XU  - Wim, ON6TZ (XU7TZG) expects to operate on +/- 7075, 14220 and 21320 kHz from Cambodia on 11-28 September. QSL via ON4AJV. [TNX The Daily DX]

Z3  - Zoli, HA1CA will be active as Z38C from Macedonia for the next two years. QSl via HA1RS. [TNX HA0HW]

ANTARCTIC TOUR ---> Mike Gloistein, GM0HCQ is leaving again for Antarctica onboard the RRS "James Clark Ross". He should be able to operate from VP8SGK (South Georgia), VP8SIG (Signy Base in the South Orkneys, Antartica Aw. G-05, AN-008) and VP8ROT (Rothera Base on Adelaide Island, - Antartica Aw. G-07, AN-001). QSLs via GM0HCQ, direct or bureau. Updates on his itinerary will be published on www.gm0hcq.com [TNX GM0HCQ]

GOOD TO KNOW

EU-163 ---> Goran, YZ1SG operated as YT2A/LGT from Katic Reef (20-22 August) and as YZ1SG/P from Sv. Nedjelja (31 August). Both count for ARLHS YUG-009 and IOTA EU-163. QSL via YZ1SG, direct or bureau. [TNX YZ1SG]

HTC-QRP SPRINT CONTEST ---> This CW only event, organized by the Helvetia Telegraphy Club (HTC), will take place (on 20, 40 and 80 metres) from 13 to 19 UTC on 11 September. Details can be found at www.htc.ch [TNX F5QNL]

MIA CONTEST ---> The Mediterranean Islands Contest, organized by the Mediterraneo DX Club, will take place from 12 UTC on 18 September to 12 UTC on the 19th. The MIA Contest software, for both licenced amateurs (thanks to IK6CAC) and SWLs (thanks to I5-1990), can be downloaded at www.mdxc.org/contestmia

QSL 4K6DI ---> Effective 1 September, W3HNK is no longer the QSL manager for Andrew, 4K6DI. The new QSL route is via DL7EDH (Alexander Spielmann, Hubertus Str. 5, D-85095 Denkendorf, Germany), who is able to confirm also past QSOs. [TNX 4K6DI]

QSL EO150JPO ---> All of the contacts with this special event station will be confirmed automatically via the bureau. Those who need a direct card should send their requests to P.O. Box 330, Sevastopol 99057, Ukraine. [TNX UT5JDS]

QSL RA0FN ---> UA9OR is the current callsign of Viacheslav Davidenko, formerly known as RA0FN. He has moved to the UA9 area and his current address is: Viacheslav Davidenko, P.O. Box 222, Novosibirsk-34, 630034, Russia. Logs and QSL cards for RA0FN are still available.

QSL VIA EA7FTR ---> Please note that Fran, EA7FTR will be the QSL manager for the 17-21 September operation by HC4CB and HC4/EA9CP from Isla Cojimies (SA-056) only. All of the other calls that Antonio, EA9CP will be using during his South America trip [425DXN 696] will be managed by EA9CP himself. [TNX EA7FTR]

SRT EVENT ---> The Strange Radio Team special event will run from 00.00 UTC on 22 October through 24 UTC on the 24th. Proceeds beyond out-of-pocket expenses will be donated to charity. Information is available at http://www.strangeradioteam.com or from the Event Manager Marco De Carlo, IZ7DOK (iz7dok@libero.it) [TNX IZ8EDJ]

+ SILENT KEYS + The Daily DX reports that Frank Turek, DL7FT passed away on 17 August. Over the years he visited and operated from many DX locations, usually with FT suffixes (e.g. TT8FT, ZK2FT, A35FT, etc). The DL7FT Post Office Box will not be closed, as Frank's wife Siegrid (DL7CN) will be handling QSL duties. Mike, ZP5YW informs that Gary, ZP5ZR passed away on 8 September. He was a well known DXer, with special interest for 6 metres and the satellite bands (www.sistemas.com.py/zp5yw/zp6m/zp5zr.htm).
__________

Sept. 12-19 2004  I.C.P.O. Bulletin Islands, Castles & Portable Operations - I.C.P.O.

12/09/2004:  HBØ/H.C.'s  LIECHTENSTEIN -
Roger (ON7TQ) and Marcel (ON6UQ) will be active as HB0/homecall from Liechtenstein between September 12th and 19th. Activity will be on 160 to 10 meter CW, SSB (maybe the WARC bands, but not sure yet). QSL via their home callsigns, to the bureau or direct. [Tnx OPDX]

12/09/2004:  NA-003  VP5/AH6HY  SALT CAY -
Dave, AH6HY, reports that he will be QRV September 23rd to October 2nd as VP5/AH6HY from Salt Cay in the Turks Islands (IOTA NA-003). Activity will be on 40 through 10 meters, SSB only. QSL via home call, direct or via bureau. [Tnx AH6HY]

14/09/2004:  WAIL:CL-009  I8/IT9MRM  CAPO SPARTIVENTO -
Albert, IT9MRM, will be QRV September 14 - 15, 2004, as I8/IT9MRM from the Capo Spartivento Lighthouse (ARLHS ITA-043 - WAIL CL-009). Activity will be on 40, 20 and 15 meter SSB, starting 14:00 UTC September 14 until 12:00 UTC September 15. QSL via home call, direct (Albert Mattei, Via E. Millo, 20 Augusta 96011 (SR) ITALY) or via the bureau. [Tnx IT9MRM]

14/09/2004:  DCI:SV-080  IZ1DXS/1  ITALIAN CASTLE -
Giorgio, IZ1DXS, will be QRV between September 14th and 20th as IZ1DXS/1 from the Tower of the Horse of Laigueglia (DCI reference SV-080, for the Italian Castles Award). He will be operating from Laigueglia, Italy (ITA reference E414 for the Italian Towns Award, WW Loc. JN43BX). Activity will be on HF, WARC, 50 and 144 MHz. QSL via home call, direct (QRZ.com) or via the bureau. [Tnx IZ1DXS]

14/09/2004:  EU-067  SV8/G8VHB  ISLAND OF THIRA -
Mike, G8VHB, a member of the International Short Wave League (ISWL: G-14020), will be active as SV8/G8VHB from the the Island of Thira (Santorini), Cyclades (IOTA EU-067, M.I.A. MG-125) between September 14-30th. He states, "It would be nice to work a few more ISWL members from another location." Mike will be active on 40 and 20 meters using 100w on SSB and using vertical antennas. He might also be able to make some short 1 day excursions by ferry to activate some of other nearby islands, depending on band conditions. [Tnx OPDX]

16/09/2004:  OC-032  FK/H.C.'s  NEW CALEDONIA -
Eleven members from the Mitsubishi Electric Tokyo ARC (JM1YGG) will be active September 16 - 19th, 2004, as FK/JM1YGG and FK/homecall from New Caledonia (IOTA OC-032, DIFO FK-001). Operators mentioned are: JA1BAB, JA1IWP, JA1RNO, JA1RTG, JR1KHM, JI1EOP, JJ1EWN, JK1EBA, JA3RAF, JR3OET, and JF3IPR. They plan to operate on 80 through 10 meter CW, SSB and FM. They are not sure about the digital mode at this time. QSL via JM1YGG, direct or by the bureau. The JM1YGG, Mitsubishi Electric Tokyo Amateur Radio Club's, address is: 2-1-1 Marunouchi, Tokyo, 100-8310 JAPAN. [Tnx OPDX]

17/09/2004:  V63KZ & V63MP  MICRONESIA -
Kaz, JA0VSH, reports that he and wife Miyuki, JG0PBJ, will be active from Micronesia as V63KZ and V63MP between September 17 and 26, 2004. Activity will be SSB and CW on 160-10 meters. QSL via their home calls. His NEW home address is as follows: Miyuki Maruyama / Kazuhide Maruyama, 1-25-49, Irima-cho, Chofu, Tokyo 182-0004 Japan. [Tnx OPDX]

18/09/2004:  AS-003  4S7DUG  SRI LANKA -
JQ3DUE/4S7DUG, will lead a group of japanese hams to Sri Lanka (AS-003) between September 18th and 23rd. Activity will be on 160 through 6 meters, with emphasis on the lower bands. They have planned to run 4 stations all day long. QSL via operator's instructions. [Tnx F5NQL]

18/09/2004:  AS-134  BA1RB/3  HEBEI/TIANJIN PROVINCE GRP -
After 4 years of silence, the Hebei/Tianjin Province Group (AS-134) will be activated by Fan Bin, BA1RB, between September 18th and 20th, as BA1RB/3. Activity will be on 20 through 10 meters, including the WARC bands. Modes will include RTTY and PSK31. Operations will be 40-48 hours depending on the weather and tide conditions. Antennas will be two sets of 2 element yagis (for 20-10 meters. w/WARC bands), a vertical and dipole. BA1RB's planned schedule (may vary due to propagation) is:
Local Time       Band
Evening, 18th     17m
Morning, 19th    12m and 10m
Evening, 19th     20m
Morning, 20th    15m
ADDED NOTE: If possible, they may test 160/80m at sunset.QSL via EA7FTR. [Tnx OPDX]

18/09/2004:  OC-052  FO/H.C.'s  HEREHERETUE ATOLL -
Look for Claudio - I1SNW, Alfio - IT9EJW and Nando - IT9YRE to be QRV September 18 - 20, 2004, as FO/home call from Hereheretue Atoll (IOTA OC-052, DIFO FO-045). They will concentrate on working Europe between 06:30 and 12:30 UTC on 20 meters. QSL direct to home calls. [Tnx 425DXN]

19/09/2004:  EU-057  DD6VSF/P  HIDDENSEE ISLAND -
Sven, DD6VSF, will be active September 19 - 26, 2004, as DD6VSF/p from Hiddensee Island (IOTA EU-057, GIA O-05 for the German Islands Award). QSL via home call, direct or bureau. [Tnx DD6VSF]

19/09/2004:  AS-117  JA4GXS/4  OTSU ISLAND -
Kenji, JA4GXS, will be active as JA4GXS/4 from the Otsu Island (IOTA AS-117, JIIA AS-117-110), September 19th (0800z) to September 20th (2300z). Activity will be 80, 40, 30, 20 and 15 meter CW and SSB. QSL via the bureau or direct to: Kenji Sasaki, 2-15 Ishikannon-cho, Yamaguchi, 753-0038 Japan. [Tnx OPDX]

19/09/2004:  AF-023  S92LZ  LATITUDE ZERO EQUATORIAL CHALLENGE -
Jorge, CT1EFV, will be a part of Latitude Zero Equatorial Challenge 2004. This challenge is humanitarian (they will be carrying medicines to deliver to the mission of the AMI), cultural (they will recoup a Portuguese school, deliver 6000 Portuguese books to the library of Sao Tome and also open new roads to impassable parts of the Island. Half of the team will make use of local communications (VHF, telephones and satellite) while Jorge will be operating the HF bands as S92LZ from the Island of Sao Tome (IOTA AF-023) between September 19 and 26, 2004, providing coditions and logistics allow. He will use a Kenwood TS50S, mounted on board a Land Rover, and will make use of G5RV antennas. QSL via CT1EFV (QRZ.com). [Tnx CT1EFV]

19/09/2004:  EU-067  SV8/H.C.'s  MYKONOS -
Look for SV8/ON4BB, SV8/ON5JE and SV8/ON5KH to be QRV September 19 to 21, 2004, from Mykonos (IOTA EU-067, MIA MG-074). QSL home calls, preferably through the bureau. [Tnx 425DXN]
 

73 and Good Hunting!
Dave Raycroft - VA3RJ

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

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

Sept. 8 2004  ARRL Gets Federal Grant to Tell Amateur Radio's Story to Communities

The ARRL has received new funding of nearly $90,000 from the Corporation for National & Community Service (CNCS) to execute a pilot program that will enlighten localities about the value of Amateur Radio to community safety and security. The one-year grant will enable ARRL to develop the Community Education Project (CEP) and carry ham radio's message to a dozen communities across the US. The CNCS also has renewed ARRL's Amateur Radio Emergency Communications course tuition reimbursement grant for a third--and final--year. The emergency training grant totals $179,600. ARRL Chief Development Officer Mary Hobart, K1MMH, says the CEP will work with Citizen Corps--the League is a Citizen Corps affiliate--and ARRL personnel.

"While our friends and major partners understand the power of Amateur Radio in an emergency, a clear understanding of what certified Amateur Radio operators can accomplish to enhance safety and security has not trickled down to the general community," Hobart said. "We know that our best work happens at the local level to keep communities safe and secure."

As examples, Hobart cited Amateur Radio assistance following the recent one-two punch from Hurricanes Charley and Frances in Florida and a spate of wildfires in the Western US. The Community Education Project will be an extension of the role hams play as individuals, within local clubs and on Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) teams, she said.

The CEP will work through local civic organizations, news media, faith-based groups, schools, food banks and a variety of other community organizations to get Amateur Radio's message across, Hobart explained.

Emergency Communications Training Grant Renewed

Hobart also said she was extremely gratified to see the third-year Amateur Radio Emergency Communications course tuition-subsidy grant come through.

"This grant award--totaling $266,599 for two programs--is a vote of confidence for what hams have accomplished over the past two years by being responsive to national security needs and in times of emergency," she said. "We're thrilled that we got this." Hobart said that in the two years since ARRL signed a Statement of Affiliation with Citizen Corps the League has increased its involvement with homeland security. She notes the ARRL amply exceeded the goals of the first two years' CNCS grants, "and we want to continue that tradition."

The third-year grant will place even greater emphasis on providing Amateur Radio emergency communications training to licensees age 55 or older. The final-year grant requires that the number of senior volunteers certified rise from 50 percent to 75 percent.

"This is a call to action to older hams who have not taken the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Communications course to enroll," Hobart said. The final-year emergency communications course grant will provide training for 1700 volunteers.

ARRL Emergency Communications Course Manager Dan Miller, K3UFG, will be traveling extensively to both Amateur Radio and emergency communications-related events and meetings to drive home the point that hams play a vital role in times of disaster and emergency, as recent events have demonstrated.

"Many members of our Field Organization are seniors--age 55 or older--and some have not yet taken advantage of this training opportunity," Miller said. "Please encourage everyone--especially seniors--to take the Level I Amateur Radio Emergency Communications course. With full reimbursement of the registration fee for ARRL members, the training is virtually free--but only for one more year." He encourages those who have already completed Level I to further their knowledge by completing the Level II and Level III courses. Tuition is reimbursable for all three course levels.

"The demand for trained Amateur Radio operators continues to grow at a phenomenal rate," he emphasized. "By completing the emergency communications training, you are reinforcing the lifeblood of Amateur Radio--emergency communications."

Level I course registration opens on the first Monday of every month. Registration is also available via regular mail. Send check or money order to ARRL, ATTN CCE, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111. In the comment section, write EC-001 (for Level I) or the designator for the course you wish to enroll in.

"If you are 55 or over, write 'senior' next to the course designator, and your name will be added to the next available class for that course," Miller said. "If you hold an ARRL Field Organization appointment, add that title in the comment section. Field appointees move to the top of the list." Registrants also should include a preferred e-mail address, telephone number, age and veteran status. Missing information will delay processing.

The CNCS grants to ARRL were among $8.7 million for homeland security volunteer projects supporting more than 32,000 volunteers and sponsored by 29 national and local organizations.

A grant from ARRL's corporate partner, United Technologies Corp, will continue to subsidize Amateur Radio Emergency Communications course training until the end of 2005.

(ARRL News Service)
 
 

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