Happy New Years Noise Maker

Here we are again, some more Red Green. New Years Noise Maker

Happy New Year!!!!

de KD8BIG; Merry Christmas

Santa Claus Net

This is a re-post reminder

This was distributed to me via the
WestMichiganHams
yahoo group.

On December 24, 2010 @ 2200 hrs local time.

Gather your children, and grandchildren, around your radios for the annual Santa net.

While Santa is delivering presents around the world, the children can call for Santa, KD8DEG, and Santa will ask each child if they have been good little boy's and girls, and what they would like for Christmas.

Elf Radar Frank, N8UVI, will be giving Santa's location using NORAD, along with Elf Techno Dave, KC8PCL, scribing, both located at Santa's communications center at the North Pole.

You can find the "Santa Net" on the Lowell repeater 145.270 pl 94.8; also use IRLP: node 9617; & Echolink: Michigan Conference node 96170 .

73

The originator & Elf - N8UVI Frank
Santa - KD8DEG Tom
Elf - KC8PCL Dave

Please note the changes for the IRLP and ECHOLINK Node numbers. We have been given permission to use the Michigan Conference and IRLP nodes for the Santa Net. This enables the net to run Nationally and World Wide.

An Amateur Radio Christmas

A nostalgic look at the amateur radio operator's Christmas Holidays.

Amateur Radio Christmas Calls

Amateur Radio Christmas Calls.
-- G1FT -- **KR1S -- KR1NGL -- **NØEL -- N1CK--RE1NDR
**Issued Calls

de KD8BIG; Thank You

I just want to thank all of you who continue to stop by and read my little blog.
Yesterday I hit 10,000 visits on my blog.
Here is some of the break down;
631 =1-5 Returning Visits
315=5-10 Returning Visits
64 = 10+ Returning Visits
According to my site tracker 51% of my visitors are return visits. Not bad for an amateur. I realize much of my post are from others and I am just passing along the info. It still gives me something to do.

Thanks again

You can also follow me on Twitter.
http://twitter.com/#!/KD8BIG

SO-67 FM Suspended

Slow day for me today. Getting ready for the Christmas Holiday. The kids are home from school and the DX bands are already showing some congestion.

Got this in the E-Mail box this morning

Johann Lochner, ZR1CBC, reports that the FM Amateur Radio transponder on SO-67 is being temporarily suspended due to a probable radiation event.

On the AMSAT bulletin board he writes:

Last week the flash boot memory of a CAN controller on Sumbandila was corrupted by a probable radiation event. It does not affect satellite health but prevents activation of the amateur radio repeater, as the particular script detects an anomaly and aborts.

The same problem also occurred in October of 2009 and was corrected. However, the fix requires time consuming effort, which cannot be exerted immediately.

SO-67 repeater activations are therefore suspended. We apologize for any disappointment and hope to return to normal operations somewhere in January.

73 de ZR1CBC, Johann.

AMSAT Bulletin Board AMSAT-BB
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/tools/maillist/

Southern African Amateur Radio Satellite Association (SA AMSAT)
http://www.amsatsa.org.za/

Rare Lunar Eclipse of Dec. 21st , 2010 (Up-Dated)

This is a Re-Post of my Dec. 10, 2010 post With update
Rare Lunar Eclipse of Dec. 21st , 2010
This eclipse is rare, only one previous instance of an eclipse matching the same calendar date as the solstice, and that is Dec. 21, 1638, the next one will be on Dec. 21, 2094, 84 years from now.
The eclipse begins on Tuesday morning, Dec. 21st, at 1:33 am EST (Monday, Dec. 20th, at 10:33 pm PST).
When to Look; The total eclipse lasts more than an hour from 02:41 am to 03:53 am EST on Tuesday morning, Dec. 21st. Any time within that interval is a good time to look. For other time zones, consult Shadow & Substance's animated eclipse.


More info; click here
and; click here

Preseus SDR info

I have received a few e-mails inquiring what I know about the Perseus by Microtelecom s.r.l. I do not have any experience with this item nor do I know of anyone who owns one.
What I have read thus far is that the Preseus is a software defined VLF-LF-MF-HF receiver based on an outstanding direct sampling digital architecture.
It features a 14 bit 80 MS/s analog-to-digital converter, a high-performance FPGA-based digital down-converter and a high-speed 480 Mbit/s USB2.0 PC interface.

The best I can do is providing you some links to which you may have already found. I think the yahoo group, (linked below) might be the best place to interact with those who have this interesting SDR Receiver.

Microtelecom Preseus page; click here
Microtelecom Preseus Software page; click here
E-ham reviews; click here
Universal Radio Inc/ Preseus; click here
Preseus Yahoo Group; click here

Desk Top Mic

My wife and kids asked me what last minute idea I had from my wish list under 200 dollars. Right away, the vision of The Fin came to mind. So, with any luck, I might have a pretty cool stocking stuffer coming my way.

The Fin, exhibiting a remarkable, natural, clear sound and designed especially for live sound, recording and broadcast applications. The exceptional performance is achieved by the use of a special magnet structure with a large 1 1/18" aluminum low mass voice coil assembly similar to the Heil PR 20. The frequency response is 60 Hz - 18kHz with that traditional Heil Sound mid range 'bouquet' at 4kHz, which presents incredible brilliance and presence. The Fin exhibits a tight linear cardioid pattern. The chrome finish is a special 'showchrome' where the steel body is copper plated and then double chrome plated producing a deep chrome finish. A blue molded internal foam windscreen inside the grill covers the large diameter Heil dynamic microphone element mounted in a specially tooled Sorbothane c shock mount.

The fun part of The Fin is the four blue L.E.D. lamps mounted inside. These can only be illuminated when using The Fin into one of the 3 pin balanced XLR inputs of a professional mixing console that supplies a + 48 volt d.c. phantom voltage down the balanced mic line. A small slide switch on the bottom of The Fin must be switched to 'ON'.


The Fin, by Heil; click here

Morse Code from Washington DC

This is cool. We have an amateur radio operator in the U.S. House of Representatives. I have often wondered how many amateur radio operators are in elected office.
The really cool thing about Rep. Greg Walden is that he is a very Conservative Republican. I think as US citizens we are fortunate to have him in Washington DC. He is representing the state of Oregon well.

Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) announced Thursday on Twitter that he will chair the House Commerce Committee's Communications subcommittee — using what appears to be Morse code.

The tweet from @repgregwalden: .-- .. .-.. .-.. / -.-. .... .- .. .-. / -.-. --- -- -- / .- -. -.. / - . -.-. .... / ... ..- -... / --... ...-- ... / .-- --... . --.- ..

Using a handy (in some very rare instances) online Morse code translator, that equates to this: "WILL CHAIR COMM AND TECH SUB 73S W7EQI."

continue reading; click here

Christmas Gifts

This is funny. It has nothing to do with Amateur Radio. Red Green is a great Michigander.

Amateur Radio Beacons

I was talking to some friends today about beacons and the MFJ-890 DX Beacon Monitor.
I know of three Amateurs that have the MFJ-890. They all say it is a great conversation piece and also make the shack look cool.
My friend Bryce sent this e-mail to me.

The Northern California DX Foundation (NCDXF)operates eighteen beacons on five continents which transmit in successive one-minute intervals on 14.100, 18.110, 21.150, 24.930 and 28.200 MHz.

The NCDXF beacon call sign and the first dash is sent at 100Watts. The remaining dashes are sent at 10Watts, 1 Watt and 0.1 Watts. Very handy info for QRPers!

Almost all ten meter beacons transmit between 28.190 MHz and 28.300 MHz. You will find a comprehensive list at this URL

TEN METER PROPAGATION BEACONS

Six meter beacons are mostly found between 50.0 MHz and 50.1 MHz, with a concentration between 50.06 MHz and 50.08 MHz.

One example is W4CLM/B transmitting 30 Watts continuously into a vertical on 50.065 MHz (+/-) from location EM74 (Atlanta, GA.).

FCC; Amendment of the Amateur Service Rules

New rules affecting vanity and club station call signs within the Amateur Radio Service were published in the Federal Register. These new rules will go into effect on February 14, 2011. Thirteen months ago, the FCC announced its intention of modifying Part 97 as it applies to the vanity call sign system and club station call signs, aligning the rules to prior Commission decisions. Last month, the Commission released a Report and Order (R&O), outlining its decision. Along with the changes to the call sign rules, the FCC made “certain minor, non-substantive amendments” to portions of Part 97. (ARRL - FCC)
Read the full report; click here

HIGH SCHOOL -- 1957 vs. 2009 (OT)

OK, this is not amateur radio related. I like to throw somethings off topic (OT) every once in a while.
de KD8BIG

HIGH SCHOOL -- 1957 vs. 2009
Scenario 1:
Jack goes quail hunting before school and then pulls into the school parking lot with his shotgun in his truck's gun rack.

1957 - Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack's shotgun, goes to his car and gets his shotgun to show Jack.

2009 - School goes into lockdown, FBI called, Jack hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors called in for traumatized students and teachers.

Scenario 2:
Johnny and Mark get into a fist fight after school.

1957 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins.. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies.

2009 - Police called and SWAT team arrives -- they arrest both Johnny and Mark. They are both charged with assault and both expelled even though Johnny started it.

Scenario 3:
Jeffrey will not sit still in class, he disrupts other students.

1957 - Jeffrey sent to the Principal's office and given a good paddling by the Principal. He then returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.

2009 - Jeffrey is given huge doses of Ritalin. He becomes a zombie. He is then tested for ADD. The school gets extra money from the state because Jeffrey has a disability.

Scenario 4:
Billy breaks a window in his neighbor's car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt..

1957 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college and becomes a successful businessman.

2009 - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy is removed to foster care and joins a gang. The state psychologist is told by Billy's sister that she remembers being abused herself and their dad goes to prison. Billy's mom has an affair with the psychologist.

Scenario 5:
Mark gets a headache and takes some aspirin to school.

1957 - Mark shares his aspirin with the Principal out on the smoking dock.

2009 - The police are called and Mark is expelled from school for drug violations. His car is then searched for drugs and weapons.

Scenario 6:
Pedro fails high school English.

1957 - Pedro goes to summer school, passes English and goes to college.

2009 - Pedro's cause is taken up by state. Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that teaching English as a requirement for graduation is racist. ACLU files class action lawsuit against the state school system and Pedro's English teacher. English is then banned from core curriculum. Pedro is given his diploma anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.

Scenario 7:
Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from the Fourth of July, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle and blows up a red ant bed.

1957 - Ants die.

2009 - ATF, Homeland Security and the FBI are all called. Johnny is charged with domestic terrorism. The FBI investigates his parents -- and all siblings are removed from their home and all computers are confiscated.
Johnny's dad is placed on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.

Scenario 8:
Wally falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee. He is found crying by his teacher, Nancy. Nancy hugs him to comfort him.

1957 - In a short time, Wally feels better and goes on playing.

2009 - Nancy is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces 3 years in State Prison... Wally undergoes 5 years of therapy.

Amateur Radio Society GETS the BOOT

Wow, what am I to say?
"Regulations governing child welfare can make it difficult for a school to manage certain situations in which outsiders use the premises, while at the same time ensuring the school remains fully compliant with regulatory requirements".
What a bunch of Hooey!!!!
I am so tired of this, all the school needs to do is operate this practice as they do during regular school hours or follow guide lines that the Boy Scouts of America operate by.
No wonder the Middle Eastern Countries are out performing the United States.
Read the full story here. It's over and out for the radio amateurs.
http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/news/It39s-over-and-out-for.6661140.jp

THE SANTA NET Dec 24th

This was distributed to me via the
WestMichiganHams
yahoo group.

On December 24, 2010 @ 2200 hrs local time.

Gather your children, and grandchildren, around your radios
for the annual Santa net.

While Santa is delivering presents around the world,
the children can call for Santa, KD8DEG, and Santa
will ask each child if they have been good little boy's
and girls, and what they would like for Christmas.

Elf Radar Frank, N8UVI, will be giving Santa's location using
NORAD, along with Elf Techno Dave, KC8PCL, scribing, both located
at Santa's communications center at the North Pole.

You can find the "Santa Net" on the Lowell repeater 145.270 pl 94.8;
also use IRLP: node 9617; & Echolink: Michigan Conference node 96170 .

73

The originator & Elf - N8UVI Frank
Santa - KD8DEG Tom
Elf - KC8PCL Dave

Please note the changes for the IRLP and ECHOLINK Node numbers. We have been given permission to use the Michigan Conference and IRLP nodes for the Santa Net. This enables the net to run Nationally and World Wide.

The ever Active Sun

A global eruption on the sun has shattered old ideas about solar activity. Researchers presented their surprising findings at a press conference Monday at the American Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco. Get the full story from Science@NASA.
Hoping it will make the DX better.

A Great Book about Amateur Radio

I got a book from a friend a few months ago and I just finished reading it. I am a discouraged with myself for letting this incredible book sit on my desk untouched for so long.
The book,
The World of Ham Radio, 1901-1950: A Social History
by Richard A. Barlett

During the first fifty years of the twentieth century, ham radio went from being an experiment to virtually an art form. Because of the few government restrictions and the low monetary investment required, the concept of ham radio appealed to various people. More than just a simple hobby, however, ham radio required its operators to understand radio theory, be able to trace a schematic and know how to build a transmitter and receiver with whatever material they might have available. With the advent of World War II and the increased need for cutting-edge communications, the United States government drew upon the considerable knowledge and skill of these amateur ham radio operators, validating the fact that ham radio was here to stay.

This book explores the history of ham radio operators, emphasizing their social history and their many contributions to the technological development of worldwide communications. It traces the concept of relays, including the American Radio Relay League, from contacts as close as 25 miles apart to operators anywhere in the world. The book highlights the part played by ham radio in many of the headlined events of the half century, especially exploration and aviation "firsts". The ways in which these primarily amateur operators assisted in times of disaster including such events as the sinking of the Titanic and the 1937 Ohio River flood, are also examined.

A CW Story.

Back when the telegraph was the fastest method of long-distance communication, a young man applied for a job as a Morse Code operator. Answering an ad in the newspaper, he went to the office address that was listed. When he arrived, he entered a large, busy office filled with noise and clatter, including the sound of the telegraph in the background. A sign on the receptionist's counter instructed job applicants to fill out a form and wait until they were summoned to enter the inner office.

The young man filled out his form and sat down with the seven other applicants in the waiting area. After a few minutes, the young man stood up, crossed the room to the door of the inner office, and walked right in. Naturally the other applicants perked up, wondering what was going on. They muttered among themselves that they hadn't heard any summons yet.

They assumed that the young man who went into the office made a mistake and would be disqualified. Within a few minutes, however, the employer escorted the young man out of the office and said to the other applicants, "Gentlemen, thank you very much for coming, but the job has just been filled." The other applicants began grumbling to each other, and one spoke up saying, "Wait a minute, I don't understand. He was the last to come in, and we never even got a chance to be interviewed. Yet he got the job. That's not fair!"

The employer said, "I'm sorry, but the last several minutes while you've been sitting here, the telegraph has been ticking out the following message in Morse Code: 'If you understand this message, then come right in. The job is yours." None of you heard it or understood it. This young man did. The job is his.

Snow Collapse of Minneapolis Metrodome

Wow, what a mess for Brett and the boys.

Distracted Driving Legislation

I have heard of laws being passed throughout the world and it seems they are getting ever close to reality here in the U.S.A. at times. Well this is what is going on with our northern neighbor.

Distracted Driving Legislation Continues to be on Provincial Agendas; New Brunswick introduces Legislation Banning Cell Phone and Two Way Radio Use

Most provinces [eg. Nova Scotia, Manitoba, BC, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador to name five] have chosen not to restrict the operation of mobile amateur radio equipment during driving. These governments have recognized the value of amateur radio to their citizens. Amateur radio has served the citizens of Canada during such emergencies such as floods, dangerous weather and ice storms, in support of public events such as Marathons and in support of agencies such as the Red Cross and a variety of provincial and municipal agencies across Canada. The support provided by amateur radio is frequent, freely given and in the highest standard of public service.
continue reading

Rare Lunar Eclipse of Dec. 21st , 2010

Rare Lunar Eclipse of Dec. 21st , 2010
This eclipse is rare, only one previous instance of an eclipse matching the same calendar date as the solstice, and that is Dec. 21, 1638, the next one will be on Dec. 21, 2094, 84 years from now.
The eclipse begins on Tuesday morning, Dec. 21st, at 1:33 am EST (Monday, Dec. 20th, at 10:33 pm PST).

More info; click here
and; click here

I will Re-post this on the 20th as a reminder for those of you who RSS

A Ham's Night Before Christmas

A pleasant video to share with your amateur radio friends. Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

How to Use MUF

Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) describes, in radio transmission, using reflection from the regular ionized layers of the ionosphere, the upper frequency limit that can be used for transmission between two points at a specified time. This index is especially useful in regards to shortwave transmissions.

Note: MUF is a median frequency applicable to 50% of the days of a month, as opposed to 90% cited for the lowest usable high frequency (LUF) and the optimum traffic frequency (FOT).

Operating near the MUF often gives excellent results because of absorption is lowest just below the MUF. Low takeoff angles also raise the MUF because the signals will need less bending to complete a hop. Here are two examples;
*If the MUF over a certain path is 19MHz, the best band for that path is 17 meters.
*If the MUF over a certain path is 25MHz, the best band for that path is 12 meters.

source used; Federal Standard 1037C, titled Telecommunications

Amateur Radio Vendors & Sales

I have updated my Amateur Radio Vendors and Sales section at the bottom this page. Feel free to contact me if a site is not linking or out of business.
If you have a link you wish to be added please send me an e-mail. I will check out the site and if it meets my status I will post a link there.

Thanks for the e-mails and visits.
73,
de KD8BIG

CW TOUCH KEYER

A few of us were rag chewing about Keyers over the weekend and one of my friends suggested I look at these keys.CW TOUCH KEYER. He owns 2 and loves them.
I do not know if I will purchase one of these, the price seems to be consumer friendly with the economy like it is.
Here is a video of one of there products.

The Alinco DR-235 TMK III

I’m hoping to purchase an Alinco DR-235 TMK III in 2011. Why you may ask? Just because it is the only mobile rig that dose the 1.25 meter band (220 MHz). The 220 MHz is a portion of the VHF radio spectrum allocated for amateur radio use in ITU Region 2, comprising frequencies from 222 MHz to 225 MHz in the United States (with the addition of 219–220 MHz on a limited, secondary basis) I’m still needing to research the meaning of that.
It just seems to me that 2 meters is very crowded and 440 gives me heartburn, so I am gonna try 220MHz.

The Alinco DR-235 TMK III features;

Frequency range RX; 216-278 MHz (after modification: RX/TX 200-299.995 MHz depending on VCO alignment)

TX; 222-225 MHz

Modulations;
RX FM / N-FM
TX FM / N-FM

Sensitivity;0.25 µV (12 dB SINAD)

Selectivity;
FM: 12 kHz (-6 dB), 28 kHz (-60 dB)
N-FM: 6 kHz (-6 dB), 14 kHz (-60 dB)

Aerial; 50 Ω, SO-239

RF-Output; High: 25 W, Medium: 10 W, Low: 5 W

Memories;101 channels in 1 banks

Power requirements;13.8V DC

Current drain RX; Max 600 mA

TX; Max 8 A

Dimensions (w×h×d); 142 × 40 × 174 mm (5.59 × 1.57 × 6.85 in)

Weight; 1000 gr (2.2 lbs)

Features;
CTCSS, DCS and DTMF. 1K2/9K6 TNC option. Theft alarm Digital voice board option (requires at least two similarly equipped radios)

Amateur Radio Antennas and Radiation

My neighbors’ family members asked me about my antennas. After I explained that they are Amateur Radio Antennas I could see the fear in their eyes.
The very first question I was asked about was, “Will the antennas cause cancer and our hair to fall out?”

If there is a word guaranteed to cause apprehension, it is “radiation”. Amateur Radio uses the word in a much broader sense--radiation pattern, feed line radiation, antennas radiate--and that can be confusing to the layman. It is true that radio frequency energy is a form of radiation, but it is far different from the radiation used for cancer treatment or emitted by radio active materials.
Radiation from antennas is not the same as ionizing radiation from radioactivity. Radio frequencies are not nearly high enough for a photon of radio energy to cause an electron to leave the atom (ionize) as discussed when talking about ionospheric propagation. That is the difference between ionizing and non-ionizing radiation of which radios waves are the latter type.
Before radio ways can be considered ionizing, their frequency would have to be increased far beyond microwaves, through visible light and on the upper reaches of the ultraviolet and x-ray spectrum. The radiation from radioactivity is carried by atomic particles such as the nucleus of a helium atom (alpha radiation), an electron (beta radiation), neutrons, or gamma-ray photons with frequencies even higher than ex-rays. These are billions of time more energetic than the radio waves cause by Amateur Radio Operators.
Biologic (athermal) effects such as genetic damage have never been observed at amateur frequencies and power levels. That requires the energy of ionizing radiation. The only demonstrating hazard from exposure to RF energy is heating (thermal effects) and that occurs only in very strong fields. RF “burns” are caused by touching conducting surfaces that have a high RF voltage present and are a very localized instance of heating that carries no more risk than thermal burns from hot objects.

So, if you are ever approached by a neighbor or some local authority this would be your best explanation to give.
Not only is it true but they will walk away scratching their heads.

Busy Time of Year

Busy day for me today and yesterday.
Yesterday I was hoping to work some DX and spend to time doing everything Ham Related.
Well, that did not happen.
Today was spent Christmas shopping. Got it all done, except for me.
I just wrote a short review on the FT-897-D this afternoon on the Radio Reference web.site.
I also joined the North American QRP CW Club last week, I'm NAQCC # 5102.

I'm hoping to get some radio time this weekend. Hope to hear you on the bands.
Remember, you can follow me on twitter.

My Week So Far

Wow, the week is flying by. We got about 4 inches of snow today. I was hoping to spend time working DX and time on the computer. Neither has happen. I got my Vibroplex Iambic Deluxe today. I have not done anything with it other than look at it and show the wife and kids.
I imagine that I will make the adjustments and get it on the air tomorrow.

Stay tuned for updates and photos.