I agree with those who have pointed out that our current callsign system is at best frustrating regarding the geographical location of the callsign-holder.  Those days in the past when I could reasonably know that a '1' in the callsign indicated someone from the eastern side of the States were good days.  It was great hunting for stations...

Now, we rely a heck of a lot on aids like QRZ.com - good or bad, the "hunt" is just not the same.

By the way, W5PO is not a bad call.

My call, NW7US, was my first choice when I wanted to get away from my old call, N7PMS.  The PMS was just too much for many operators - it would take fifteen minutes at the start of any QSO just to get over the callsign... that grew tiresome.

Oh, and regarding "the only definitive proof of Extra-class" being the N 1x2 call... my proof of Extra is my license, and date I got it... I am an originally coded Extra. I don't need a callsign to prove it.  I am what I am.

73 de NW7US

The second edition of the weekly podcast about space weather and radio propagation has been posted, on July 25, 2009.  The NW7US Space Weather and Radio Propagation Podcast, Edition Two, is available at http://podcast.hfradio.org/.

If you wish to use the RSS feed to subscribe to this podcast, the RSS feed is available at:

http://podcast.hfradio.org/index.php?option=com_podcast&view=feed&format=raw&Itemid=59

In this episode, NW7US continues part two of the interview with Art Jackson regarding this year's Sporadic-E season, PropNET, and Art's research.  Additionally, the weekly, 'Space Weather and Propagation Week in Review' is presented.

Direct link: http://podcast.hfradio.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=103:the-nw7us-space-weather-and-radio-podcast-25-jul-2009-episode-2&catid=45:space-wx-podcast&Itemid=61

Tomas David Hood, NW7US, the current contributing editor for the propagation columns in CQ Magazine, Popular Communications Magazine, and CQ VHF Magazine, is launching a new podcast service, the 'NW7US Space Weather and Radio Propagation Podcast'. The debut of the podcast launches in July, 2009, just as the new solar cycle, Sunspot Cycle 24, shows signs of "waking up."

NW7US is producing the regular podcast that delves into the science of space weather and radio frequency propagation. The educational podcast also features information on current geomagnetic and solar events in space weather as they relate to the propagation of radio transmissions. Tomas will interview leading solar scientists, forecasters, and knowledgeable individuals in the amateur radio, shortwave radio, and broadcast engineering fields. Timely news updates and editorials will also be included in the podcasts.

Full details on the NW7US Space Weather and Radio Propagation Podcast may be found at http://podcast.hfradio.org/. Tomas provides an online forum for question submission and podcast discussion at http://hfradio.org/forums/.

Well, that seems conclusive.  Somehow in my mind it was earlier than that... but without anything to reveal an earlier date, I guess I'll go with this as my answer.

Thanks a million for the source reference... I have been exploring that site and am enjoying it.

73 de NW7US

Hi... I am trying to find which callbook I was first listed in, when I was first licensed.  Specifically, I am trying to figure out approximately when I was first licensed.  My memory is fuzzy - was it in 1989, or 1990?  Do the old callbooks list the date of license?

My original callsign is: KA1VGL

If you have one of these callbooks from 1989 or 1990 (or both years?) - would you look up KA1VGL and let me know the details?

Thanks!

NW7US

Hi,
 
I realize that many folks have moved on to WinLink 2000, etc.  I am the State Director for US Army MARS, so we cannot use WinLink 2000.  I really need to find an answer to an installation of WinLink 2.9 (3.0).  No one seems to have an answer.  I am stumped.
 
I am trying to get a WinLink install to work with my PK-232.
 
If someone here can help, I'd be VERY grateful.

Here is my working situation:
 
EPROM version is 09/13/95 - PK-232 MBX with Pactor.
 
1) Using PcPakRatt for Windows, or PakRatt for DOS, I access the PK-232 to link up in PACTOR with a distant station.  I get INSTANT link to that distant station. Perfect copy.  Works every time.
 
2) I exit PcPakRatt and start up WinLink - PACAEA module.  I am in the SAME freq., same radio, same serial port and cable.  It initializes the TNC.  I try to connect with the distant station.  The distant station rarely acks, if ever.  When the distant station operator looks at my signal and mark/space, I have a good signal and split.  But, nothing is coming through.  (No Data??) So the distant station does not respond.
 
It is the same PK-232.  Same serial cable. I've tried reseting the TNC in between the two program instances.  Or I don't reset. Tried both ways.  I tried another comm port, another cable.  Same issue.  I go back, and I make sure that things are working in the term program, with the same radio path, same radio, same everything except WinLink is the changed item.  No connect.  When the remote station attempts to connect with WinLink on my end - there is a connect.  But, ERR is reported, and NOTHING further.
 
Any thoughts as to why I cannot connect??  I've looked at the configuration - I think it has something to do with the init of the TNC by WinLink.  Something not set right??
 
Any help would be MOST appreciated.  I've spent hours and hours on this...
 
Thanks,

Tomas (AAA0WA) NW7US

Hi,

I am the newly appointed Washington State Army MARS Director (SMD).  I welcome you to ask me detailed questions that you might have about our State MARS program.

The Washington State MARS membership is a group of very helpful and friendly volunteers.  Our activities vary from daily Net activities on HF, to training exercises and finally, communications support in times of need.

The level of involvement by any member is that member's choice alone.  The Army MARS minimum requirement is 12 hours per quarter (every three months).  This is total time, on-air or off-air.  There are those members who give their support by being on daily Nets whenever they have time in their busy schedules.  There are other members who are quite dedicated to all things emergency communications related.  They go many extra miles and put in many extra hours.  The choice is totally the individual's.

Our daily Nets are informative, with training and time for fostering a closer team.  Training includes digital mode operation, communications procedures and protocols, and related topics.  Most members find this approach very helpful and inviting.

Check out our webpage, as suggested earlier in this discussion: http://wa.mars.hfradio.org/

I welcome you to get ahold of me to discuss any questions you have.

Tomas Hood
AAA0WA / NW7US

Thanks for the idea.  Great idea!

We're starting to see folks visit the website.  That's encouraging.

I'm hopeful that she will have a very educational and exciting experience.

73 de NW7US

Hi,

Clinton Herbert, AB7RG, suggested that I write in this Elmers forum about the following situation:

I'm Tomas Hood, NW7US.  My daughter is KD7QKT ( kd7qkt at hfradio dot org).  You may have heard her, or worked her in the past during various Ten-Ten and Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society events.  She's an active ham, as much as she can be as a student.  She's participated in each of the last three Field Days.  She's helped with the local 4H Ham Radio club activities over the last few years, too.  She is an Honor-roll Junior in her High School.  She is on the Association of Student Body (ASB), as the Assistant Treasurer, and is automatically the Treasurer for her Senior year.

This year, she's in German I - and has an exciting opportunity to travel with a group of exchange students from her High School German Club to Germany and a few other European countries.  As an Amateur Radio Operator, she is working hard to make contact with German Hams, having already contacted some operators via EchoLink, and others via e-mail.  Her hope is to tour a repeater site or visit Ham Radio clubs in Germany, as well as meet local Hams.  And, she has the opportunity as part of the school cultural exchange, to teach students there about her hobby.
 
Ashley is trying to find sponsors.  The Jefferson County Amateur Radio Club, and the Port Ludlow club, have already donated toward her trip fund.  All told, she must raise around $3000.00.  (Actually, that's the cost, per student, to go.  This cost includes air fare, lodging, travel (gas, rental of vans), and so forth).  She has earned and obtained donations in the total amount of just under $1000.  So, she's covered the down-payment, and the air fare.  But, she still has about $2000.00 to raise through fund-raising efforts and work.  As a part-time student worker, she won't be able to earn that much... so the rest must be obtained through sponsorships.
 
Would you or your Radio Club consider a donation for her?  She has a webpage that includes links to those clubs and organizations that have helped.
 
See http://hfradio.org/kd7qkt/trip.html for details.
 
If you or your club would consider a donation, the website includes details on her mailing address, as well as a method via PayPal to make a payment on her behalf.  If you know of someone else that might consider helping Ashley raise these funds for her trip, please let them, and me, know.
 
For Ashley, I thank you.
 
Tomas, NW7US

Hi,
 
I'm Tomas Hood, NW7US.  My daughter is KD7QKT (e-mail is kd7qkt at hfradio dot org).  You may have heard her, or worked her in the past during various Ten-Ten events, Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society events, and during Field Day events.  She's an active ham, as much as she can be as a student.  She's participated in each of the last three Field Days.  She's helped with the 4H Ham Radio club activities over the last few years, too.  She is an Honor-roll Junior in her High School.  She is on the Association of Student Body (ASB), as the Assistant Treasurer, and is automatically the Treasurer for her Senior year.

This year, she's in German I - and has an exciting opportunity to travel with a group of exchange students from her High School German Club to Germany and a few other European countries.  As an Amateur Radio Operator, she is working hard to make contact with German Hams, having already contacted some operators via EchoLink, and others via e-mail.
 
Ashley is trying to find sponsors.  The Jefferson County Amateur Radio Club, and the Port Ludlow club, have already donated toward her trip fund.  All told, she must raise around $3000.00.  (Actually, that's the cost, per student, to go.  This cost includes air fare, lodging, travel (gas, rental of vans), and so forth).  She has earned and obtained donations in the total amount of just under $1000.  So, she's covered the down-payment, and the air fare.  But, she still has about $2000.00 to raise through fund-raising efforts and work.  As a part-time student worker, she won't be able to earn that much... so the rest must be obtained through sponsorships.
 
Would you or your Radio Club consider a donation for her?  She has a webpage that includes links to those clubs and organizations that have helped.
 
See http://hfradio.org/kd7qkt/trip.html for details.
 
If you or your club would consider a donation, the website includes details on her mailing address, as well as a method via PayPal to make a payment on her behalf.  If you know of someone else that might consider helping Ashley raise these funds for her trip, please let them, and me, know.
 
For Ashley, I thank you.
 
Tomas, NW7US

> I Would like to share my experience with MARS
> membership. I filed all the relative paperwork,

Who did you file with?  In Washington Army MARS, the State Director processed these requests.  Once the temporary callsign is assigned, the State Director informs the new member of the nets, frequencies, and times.  We usually also assign an Elmer to assit the new member.

73 de Tomas, NW7US (AAR0JA/AAM0EWA)

http://prop.hfradio.org & http://wa.mars.hfradio.org

We have had good success with our website in getting a few new members.  I am also working on a way to recruit from younger amateurs - starting with school clubs and the like.  I think we need to have younger blood in the ranks.

The website is at <a href="http://wa.mars.hfradio.org/" target="marsWin">http://wa.mars.hfradio.org/</a> - I'm the webmaster, and the Emergency Operations Officer for Washington State Army MARS, AAM0EWA.

Comments are still being solicited until late summer, 2000.  See http://www.qsl.net/n9bor/restructure.htm#Petition - look for the Feb 2000 news item.  August is the new cutoff date.