http://www.eham.net/ eHam.net Newsfeed http://www.eham.net/articles/22859 http://www.eham.net/articles/22859 Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1685 - November 27 2009: The following is a QST. Here is our producer Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF: Fri, 27 Nov 2009 17:42:23 +0000 http://www.eham.net/articles/22858 http://www.eham.net/articles/22858 The Amateur Radio Relay League is in tune with training for Madison educators and students. Teachers attended a wireless technology institute this summer, while an on-site, school-based weather station is under construction at Bob Jones High School. ARRL grants are providing "real-world application and project-based assessment to our students in physics, engineering and astronomy," Bob Jones Assistant Principal Julie Finley said. Bob Jones received a grant for equipment from ARRL with its "Stations in Schools" program, which promotes amateur radio participation among youth. "Amateur radio is voice-only but operates on many frequencies and bands," said Dave Frederick, who sponsors the Amateur Radio Club and teaches physics and astronomy at Bob Jones. Initially, the Bob Jones station will operate on HF, VHF and UHF bands. Later, the station will expand to satellite communications channels and bands. "Around-the-globe voice communications will be possible for the student operators," Frederick said. In the future, the station will be capable of operating as a weather-monitoring and reporting station. Also, the Bob Jones site will receive National Weather Service bulletins. "An important consequence of the training and equipment that ARRL has provided to Madison City Schools will be the integration of wireless technology knowledge into the science programs of all schools - from elementary grades through high school," Frederick said. An ARRL grant paid for teachers from Madison schools to attend the 2009 Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology. This training was held at various sites, including Roswell, N.M.; Rocklin, Calif.; and Tucson, Ariz. Fri, 27 Nov 2009 00:07:45 +0000 http://www.eham.net/articles/22857 http://www.eham.net/articles/22857 A RADIO mast which is more than 11 metres high at its peak has been given the go ahead in Stetton. Members of the borough council's development control committee backed the plans at their latest meeting last Wednesday. The committee heard the amateur radio mast, at a home on London Road, will be 5.5 metres when lowered and 11.6 metres at its height. It looks like a standard TV aerial. Members of Stretton Parish Council objected to the proposal based on visual impact when the mast was raised. They said it would be 'very large' and would disturb the neighbours close by. There were also four objections from neighbours who claimed it would be out of keeping with the area and could interfer with current TV reception in the area. But the committee was given expert evidence that Ofcom will regulate the aerial and that therefore it should not be a consideration. The Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) also told the planners that the erection of the aerial could be of value to the area for use in emergency situations. Fri, 27 Nov 2009 00:07:30 +0000 http://www.eham.net/articles/22856 http://www.eham.net/articles/22856 Mustang officials have not answered an attorney's letter calling the city's actions regarding amateur radio an "error" and possible violation of federal law. Maryland attorney Christopher Imlay, representing the Amateur Radio Relay League, sent a seven-page letter to Mustang city officials on Nov. 6 by e-mail and U.S. mail. Within the text, he urged the city to rescind a certified letter officials sent to Mustang Heights resident John Ripley on Oct. 30 telling him to stop transmitting from his radio tower. If no action was taken, Imlay wrote the ARRL would seek a "declaratory ruling" from the Federal Communications Commission. Imlay said he had not received any response from Mustang city officials and plans to send another letter before filing with the FCC. "It's premature," he said. "We are not going to do anything until we find out what the intention of city is." Fri, 27 Nov 2009 00:07:24 +0000 http://www.eham.net/articles/22854 http://www.eham.net/articles/22854 'Students at Armada Middle School are no strangers to ham radio. For most, their first interaction with ham radio was a question and answer session with the International Space Station last year. Volunteers with the Utica Shelby Emergency Communication Association want to help the students continue to reach all corners of the globe from their classroom or basement. Chuck Perushek and Ray Anderson, both amateur ham operators and members of USECA, came to Armada Middle School to show a group of seventh-graders the importance of ham radios in today's society and what they can do with them. "It is a great way to learn about other cultures and people," Perushek told the students. "There is a great fellowship in amateur radio." Ham radio operators are involved in emergency response scenarios, hospitals and even work with the National Weather Service. They provide information when other communication systems go down or are rendered useless based on geographic conditions. The aim of the club at the middle school is to get kids on their own ham radios to communicate outside of the state and even the country and show them the more personal use for the system. Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:15:06 +0000 http://www.eham.net/articles/22853 http://www.eham.net/articles/22853 The Mile High Radio Club (MHRC) connects the mountain in times of emergency with a network of amateur radio operators and repeaters. This system enables operators to reach all Hill communities and off-Hill locations as far away as San Diego and Santa Barbara. Celebrating their 20th year as members of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) and their 22nd year of existence, MHRC plays a key role in providing disaster communication through its financial sponsorship of the Mountain District Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services (RACES) and its maintenance of the Pine Cove repeater site. RACES is a volunteer organization directed by local, county and state emergency management agencies and operated under the auspices of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) of the United States government. RACES provides radio communications during periods of war and civil emergencies including natural disasters, victim searches, air crashes and many others. RACES communication is critical when traditional power sources fail. MHRC also plays other supportive roles throughout Hill communities, including animal rescue during natural disaster as part of the Riverside Animal Rescue System (REARS). A RACES operator is a regular part of a REARS team that consists of a truck driver with horse trailer rig and an animal wrangler or rescuer. RACES also provides course position updates for the Spring Challenge Mountain Bike Race; parade route communication and message transfer between announcer stations for the Fourth of July Parade; maintenance of a communications tent at the Idyllwild Arts Foundation's annual Jazz in the Pines event; display of portable radio communication equipment and distribution of educational materials at the annual Idyllwild Health and Resource Fair; participation in statewide events such as the Great California Shakeout annual earthquake drill; fire patrols and fire watches; and the ARRL Field Day, a national event in which MHRC sets up an emergency station on Highway 243 and, using only emergency power supplies, communicates with other off-Hill operators to test range and signal strength. Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:13:27 +0000 http://www.eham.net/articles/22852 http://www.eham.net/articles/22852 This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by HB9ERK, IK1QBT, K9WZB, NC1L, the OPDX Bulletin, DXNL, 425 DX News, The Daily DX, Contest Corral from QST and the ARRL Contest Calendar and WA7BNM web sites. Thanks to all. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:48:22 +0000 http://www.eham.net/articles/22851 http://www.eham.net/articles/22851 This Week on the Radio: Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:37:46 +0000 http://www.eham.net/articles/22850 http://www.eham.net/articles/22850 On Wednesday, November 25, the FCC issued a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) -- WT Docket No. 09-209 -- seeking to amend the Commission's Amateur Radio Service rules to clarify certain rules and codify existing procedures governing the vanity call sign system, as well as revise certain rules applicable to club stations. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:37:37 +0000 http://www.eham.net/articles/22849 http://www.eham.net/articles/22849 Ken Adams, K5KA, succumbed to cancer and passed away on Sunday, November 22. He was 64. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:36:24 +0000 http://www.eham.net/articles/22848 http://www.eham.net/articles/22848 ARRL is pleased to announce the availability of a new suite of Amateur Radio mobile software -- designed specifically for use with the Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:35:21 +0000 http://www.eham.net/articles/22847 http://www.eham.net/articles/22847 The hams who work in the ARRL Lab -- Ed Hare, W1RFI; Mike Gruber, W1MG; Zack Lau, W1VT, and Bob Allison, WB1GCM -- receive more than 100 calls each week, requesting assistance. I know that whenever I venture into the Lab, rife with deep, dark secrets of the Amateur Radio world, one, if not all four of these guys are either on the phone or on the computer, answering questions posed to them by members. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:35:03 +0000 http://www.eham.net/articles/22846 http://www.eham.net/articles/22846 On Saturday, November 21, astronauts Mike Foreman and Randy Bresnik completed the second EVA (extra-vehicular activity) -- NASA's term for a spacewalk -- of their mission. While on the 6 hour, 8 minute EVA, Foreman installed the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS antennas for 2 meters and 70 cm on the Columbus module. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:36:06 +0000 http://www.eham.net/articles/22845 http://www.eham.net/articles/22845 Three incumbent Section Managers were re-elected in races that concluded on Tuesday, November 24. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:36:43 +0000 http://www.eham.net/articles/22844 http://www.eham.net/articles/22844 On Friday, November 20, ARRL staff members started opening ballots for the Vice Director races in the Central and Roanoke Divisions. After all the ballots were counted, both the Central and Roanoke Divisions gained new Vice Directors, with their three-year terms beginning at noon on January 1, 2010. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:34:48 +0000 http://www.eham.net/articles/22843 http://www.eham.net/articles/22843 Registration remains open through Sunday, December 27, 2009, for these online course sessions beginning on Friday, January 8, 2010: Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:34:32 +0000 http://www.eham.net/articles/22833 http://www.eham.net/articles/22833 This is a brief Propagation Bulletin preceding the Thanksgiving holiday. ARRL headquarters is closed on Thanksgiving Day and the day after, Friday, November 27. Part of the reason for the brevity is because of limited internet access at the moment. I hope to have another bulletin out Monday morning to catch up with the sunspot, solar flux and geomagnetic data normally at the bottom of this bulletin. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:40:54 +0000 http://www.eham.net/articles/22832 http://www.eham.net/articles/22832 Flat Rock man says he was paid to have fun creating things: FLAT ROCK -- Inventors are made, not born, and anyone has the potential to come up with new ideas, said Jack Mandelman, a retired electrical engineer. He should know. Many people have never heard of the Flat Rock resident, but every time they turn on their computer or use a cell phone they are using products that contain his inventions. One of these contributions to semiconductor technology can usually be found within the microchip responsible for computer memory, namely the DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) chips. Semiconductor technology is the science of the structure and fabrication of microchips, also known as integrated circuits. With 405 U.S. patents to his credit, Mandelman, 63, said there is a framework for successful innovation that involves several things, including a passion for seeking solutions, working with others, "technical maturity" or gaining enough experience in one or more fields of expertise, a willingness to pursue outrageous ideas, keeping an open mind when an invention is challenged and simply being in the right place at the right time. Nearly all of his inventions took place during his years as engineer for IBM during the early 1990s. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:33:37 +0000 http://www.eham.net/articles/22828 http://www.eham.net/articles/22828 Dave Lefavour, W7GOX, Manager of the Hurricane Watch Net, has announced that the HWN will be holding a two-day, on-the-air special event. "This event, which we're calling `HWN/44,' celebrates our 44th consecutive year of service. Our members will be using special event callsign K4H on 11/29 and 11/30. We'll be operating on 14.325 MHz, of course, but, we'll also have stations active on or near 7.190 Mhz and 3.950 MHz. As trying as HF propagation has recently been, if you can't hear us on one band, try one of the others. Our net control stations/members, located around the continental US, in Canada, and, the Caribbean, will all use K4H as we pass the virtual baton from member to member." Lefavour noted that November 30 is the official end of the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:33:27 +0000 http://www.eham.net/articles/22826 http://www.eham.net/articles/22826 New regulations for antennas and transmission towers in Dixon, won't affect HAM radio operators there under a proposed ordinance to be considered by the Dixon City Council tonight. In May, during a public hearing before the Planning Commission, Dixon resident Bill Paul voiced a concern about how a proposed ordinance to set standards regarding antennas and transmission towers might affect HAM radio operators in the area. He was also concerned, according to a staff report, that a zoning ordinance that limits the area an antenna or tower can cover, might affect the type or height of antennas a HAM radio operator could construct. Commissioners recommended that the City Council adopt the proposed ordinance, subject to staff working with Paul to try and address the issues. During it's last meeting, the council tentatively approved the ordinance subject to staff removing any regulations that apply to HAM radio antennas. The ordinance includes definitions, establishes submittal requirements, needed permitting and the permitting process. bTonight, the council will hear the first reading of the ordinance, which would then be brought back to the council for a second reading and adoption. The ordinance would take effect 30 days following the second reading. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:07:07 +0000 http://www.eham.net/articles/22822 http://www.eham.net/articles/22822 Sherbrooke Community School's Emma speaks to the International Space Station through amateur radio: REACHING into outer space was more than just a pipe dream to a group of hills youngsters. The Sherbrooke Community School Students last month got the chance to speak to Canadian astronaut, Robert Thirsk through an amateur radio program. The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program allows schools from across the globe to talk to astronauts. Parents, teachers and fellow students gathered at the school on 28 October to listen into the live broadcast. Student Christopher Payne still can't believe it. He said 11 students got to take part in the nine-and-a-half minute transmission. Christopher questioned Mr Thirsk on how astronauts neutralise the static charge in space. Students also asked what the astronauts miss the most about home. "It was a great experience\& one I will cherish forever," Christopher said. Amateur radio operator Jim McNabb has been working with the school fore more than two years developing its radio club. He has been helping the students gain their foundation radio licences and was instrumental in setting up the space station interview. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:25:22 +0000 http://www.eham.net/articles/22821 http://www.eham.net/articles/22821 ARRL staff members opened ballots November 20, 2009 for the Vice Director races in the Central and Roanoke Divisions. Southeastern Division Director Greg Sarratt, W4OZK; Rocky Mountain Division Director Brian Mileshosky, N5ZGT, and ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ served as Tellers. A representative from an independent auditor was on hand, as well. Sarratt and Mileshosky are members of the League's Ethics and Elections Committee; Sarratt is Chairman of the committee. After all the ballots were counted, both the Central and Roanoke Divisions gained new Vice Directors, with their three-year terms beginning at noon on January 1, 2010. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:34:19 +0000 http://www.eham.net/articles/22819 http://www.eham.net/articles/22819 A new Amateur Radio Web Site for operators in Central New York is now available. www.CNYhams.com is dedicated to the advancement of amateur radio in Central New York. The site offers blogs and technical forums. There's a place to list gear for sale and upload photos in the equipment brag page or maybe offer your ham biography. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:17:27 +0000 http://www.eham.net/articles/22818 http://www.eham.net/articles/22818 Most of us have heard of Islands on the Air and the Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society. These organizations promote the activation and operation of Islands and Lighthouses, respectively. It is in that spirit of activity that Railroad Depots on the Air, RRDOTA, was formed. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:16:13 +0000 http://www.eham.net/articles/22817 http://www.eham.net/articles/22817 The Society has learned with great sadness that Rowley Shears BEM, G8KW, passed away on Tuesday 17 November 2009. Responsible for re-introducing amateur radio into Germany after the second world war, he was perhaps best known for his KW range of amateur equipment from the 1950s to the 1970s. Through KW Electronics and the KW2000 transceiver, he was largely responsible for popularising SSB in the British amateur community. Rowley passed away peacefully at the ripe old age of 90. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:08:38 +0000 http://www.eham.net/articles/22813 http://www.eham.net/articles/22813 Pedro Rodriguez, president of the Cuban Ham Radio Federation (FRC for its Spanish acronym) told the press that the first 600 units are ready for delivery and using them the operators will be able to ensemble new equipments or update those they already have. He added that the spreading of this operation, which requires the purchase of 15 percent of the components abroad, will depend on the country's economic possibilities, affected by the world economic crisis. During the recently concluded 8th FRC Congress, it was presented a new prototype, with the brand name "Caiguaran", designed by several specialists and manufactured at one of the MIC factories. The term "amateur" reflects the principle that Amateur Radio and its skilled operators are committed to helping communities without financial compensation; whereas Commercial Radio operates for profit. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:48:13 +0000 http://www.eham.net/articles/22810 http://www.eham.net/articles/22810 An IT manager in the US spends his spare time brushing up on his technology skills by developing amateur radio communications networks. John D Hays, who hails from Washington, said that amateur radio is important for the emergency services to transfer messages if mainstream methods of communication, such as mobile phones and the internet, go down. "Individuals with radios in the field could interconnect with the telephone system even when their cell phones are shut down by an emergency," he told ComputerWorld. He added that the medium can be used to experiment with megahertz of free bandwidth, which is available to broadcast any signal as long as the sender has an amateur radio licence. The Times-Georgian recently reported that amateur radio enthusiast Earl Todd enhanced his telecommunication skills during the annual simulated emergency test in the US state. The October 4th event lasted for two hours, with the amateur radio fan sending messages about the state of the weather in the area. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:05:49 +0000 http://www.eham.net/articles/22809 http://www.eham.net/articles/22809 A slow but steady increase is seen in the 10.7cm solar flux since late September. This is the longest sustained upward trend in the electromagnetic emissions since early 2008. It is yet another indicator that the sun continues to awaken from its pronounced solar sluggishness. Observe the black line at the top of the graph. There is a gentle, but definite upward slope from left (older data) to right (newest data). This is the 10.7cm flux reading. This further supports solar researchers' viewpoint that solar activity is climbing out of the cycle 23/24 minimum, which was the most pronounced since 1913. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:04:35 +0000