Sunday, September 18, 2011

New Swarms of Earthquakes off the coast of Honshu Japan

I have received a message in regards to my thoughts about the current Earthquake Swarm off the East Coast of Honshu Japan.

In the last week they have had 13 earthquakes at 5.0 magnitude or larger.

I am an avid hobbyist in the Geophysics field. I have studied Climatology, Earthquakes and Earth Structure, Environmental Geophysics, Global Coastal Change, Many areas of Geology, Seismology, and Volcanology.
I do not hold a job in these fields. It is all an extensive hobby, one of many hobbies that I have.

This is my personal opinion.

So I was asked in this message if this is something to be concerned with?
In My Humble Opinion~ anytime there are swarms like this people should be concerned. Dose it mean the BIG One is going to happen again? No, not necessarily.
Earthquake Swarms are not unusual and happen all around the globe.
It is a good idea to be prepared. The March Japan Earthquake should have taught many lessons about preparedness.

By 5 September 2011, Japan had experienced over 900 aftershocks after the magnitude 9.0 (Mw) earthquake on March 11, 2011 with about 60 aftershocks being over magnitude 6.0 and three over magnitude 7.0. For conciseness, only earthquakes with magnitudes greater than 7.0 or an intensity greater than lower-6 on the shindo scale are listed here. Mw or Mw refers to the moment magnitude scale, while Mjma, Mjma, or Mj refer to the JMA magnitude scale.

On my blog before the March 11th Quake I had posted my concerns over the swarm then.
You can see my post;

Tuesday, March 8, 2011


Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Friday, March 11, 2011
In the early morning hours of Friday, March 11, 2011, I was awake with a friend talking on the Amateur Radio when the Earthquake occurred,
I started at the moment the USGS e-mail came in, posting updates and working all my tools and resources to provide information.
That’s what we Amateur Radio Operators do in the event of a disaster.

You can see all the post in the month of March; Click Here

Here is a list of Earthquakes in the region 5.0 and larger from the dates
9/12/11 thru 9/18/11

9/12/11 -
5.0 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
9/13/11 -
5.0 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
9/15/11-
6.2 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
9/16/11 -
5.7 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.7 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
6.0 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.2 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.5 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.0 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
6.7 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
9/17/11 -
5.2 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.6 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
9/18/11-
5.7 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN

Here are some more links of the current Earthquakes;

Latest Earthquakes Magnitude 5.0 and Greater in the World - Last 7 days

Google News

Friday, September 16, 2011

I got a New/Used Book this Morning

My wife found this book at a yard sale this morning.
Shortwave Receivers Past & Present: Communications Receivers 1942-1997 [Paperback]
VOA is heard by more than 93 million people in more than fifty languages. This book is an "insider´s story", reflecting the transformation of VOA from a propaganda organ to a more respected source of information, from shortwave in World War II to multimedia in the twenty-first century.
The author, Alan L. Heil, worked at the VOA as foreign correspondent, senior manager, and deputy director from 1962 until his retirement in 1998.
Buy this Book Today!
or read more about it...

Thursday, September 15, 2011

The Bird Feeder Antenna

Shortwave antennas are large and trying to hide one can be like trying to hide an elephant. Many listeners try different configurations, snap together antennas, wires, and flag poles to conceal their antennas. Some work out, but most get caught in the end.
First, let's look at what you can and can't have. Most restrictive housing areas have a long list of items you can't have. Clothlines, TV antennas, sheds, flags, BBQ grills, etc. And most of all, the all important shortwave antenna. It has something to do with nice surroundings.
So, what to do?
Make a list of all forbidden items and place them in a column on the left side of the page.
Next, list what you can have and list them in the center of the page.
Finally, list the items that are readly available in the area of your home. Such items are trees, gutters, vents, fences, etc. Look closely and don't leave anything out.

A hidden shortwave antenna must be just that: Hidden.
I should not be visible to the naked eye, even at a point blank range.
So, list the areas that you have a ready access to.
If you can get to the roof, write it down.
How about the attic, basement, trees, etc, especially without much notice by your neighbours.
Most shortwave antennas are discovered not because of their design or placement, but rather a neighbour spies the listener installing the antenna - or at least doing something out of the ordinary.
For example creeping around on the roof, on a Saturday afternoon, is going to draw attention. Flinging wires over trees is sure to draw some attention.

The big point here is not to install the antenna by looking like your installing an antenna or doing something out of the ordinary.
There are some new designs out on the market such as PVC vent pipe antennas for 2m. But for now we'll stick to shortwave. Most contracts for condo/PUD dwellers will allow bird feeders. And even apartment dwellers on the bottom floor can benefit from this design.

The Bird Feeder

The Bird Feeder shortwave antenna is a vertical cage wire antenna.
A What? you might ask.
Imagine if you will eight flexible wires, evenly spaced in a circular pattern, much like a ground plane. Draw these wires vertically to form a wire 'tube' and connect them together with a ring at the top. Now imagine these wires inside a telescoping PVC mast. Top that off with a bird feeder. Now, instead of a ground plane system with radials you have to put in (the neighbours are watching), you have this 'wire tube' constructed as a vertical dipole. At 10m, the Bird Feeder antenna is a mere 17' tall when raised.
What would the neighbours say?
Or for that matter the manager?
"I raised it up for the birds to get into and it keeps the squirels out too. And look, I can take it out when I'm not using it or the weather is bad. Boy, I really like watching the birds from my window. Did you know that ..."
And then go on about some rare, but not unbelievable birds that frequent the feeder. Buy a book on the subject with some pages tagged to show them what you've seen so far. At worst, they'll think you're a flake and leave you alone. Next, go in and tune up 10m and catch some rare DX instead.

What do you have to actually put into the ground? Your coax and a PVC pipe to hold the mast up. Make it low in the ground and cap it so the mower doesn't take it off. For the most part, you can leave it up.
But do remember to put some seed in the feeder once in a while...

Bird Feeder Antenna - the details

This design sounds a bit far fetched, but it works. The vertical dipole, inside the PVC push-up, is invisable. It moves up and down and can be removed without drawing attention to the fact that it contains an antenna. The flagpole design has some problems. Not all PUDs, condos, or apartments allow flagpoles. They represent a permanent fixture. Not all associations or managers are that patriotic.
Although you can pack a good vertical in a flagpole, there is the problem of radials. You can run the vertical without radials, but that's another compromise.

The design for the Bird Feeder Antenna is very simple:
You can build the vertical dipole without much trouble. The dipole consists of up to 16 wire 1/4 wave elements. There are eight on each leg of the dipole. You may use less, it's up to you. You know the bandwidth of a wire dipole and you know the band spread on 10m. If you are a general or above, you will want the extra wire elements to give you the bandwidth you need.

First, let's look at the PVC tubular mast / bird feeder support. Most hardware and home improvement center have PVC tubing. Like the steel counterparts, the mast will be graduated (large at the bottom and smaller at the top. I'm not going to recommend any sizes here as availability at your store is going to dictate what sizes you will need. I will state the the top tube should be 2" in diameter or better. You will need that size to support the bird feeder and give the mast some strength.

___
| | <------- Attach upper ring
| | inside
| |
|_| <------- Attach ring inside
| |

| |
| |
|___| <------- Attach ring inside
and continue two more times

The wire elements are attached in a ring format, evenly spaced, in a 360 degree pattern. Locations are noted in figure one. This allows the dipole to be folded up when the mast is lowered. More than eight wires on each leg of the dipole tends toward snags when raising and lowering.
Dipole wire element sizes are calculated by 246/f Mhz. But I recommend shorter lengths if eight elements are used. A balun can be inserted, but is not necessary. I feeder coax is needed from the dipole feed to the base of the mast. A UHF bullet (female to female) to attach your coax to.

Installing the Bird Feeder

The base piece for the bird feeder mast should be one size larger than the bottom section of the mast. The mast should be able to side in a snug fashion, but not too tight. Since you are installing a 'bird feeder', you shouldn't have any problem explaining what you are doing. Simply lay the bird feeder and mast right out in the open. Your nosey neighbors will know exactly what you're doing (almost). The coax is the tough part.
Trenches are out of the question. Use a sidewalk edger (manual) and make a thin cut in the grass. If you have other obsticles, you will have to deal with that when you come to it. The object is to do it when the neighbors are not going to notice. The thin cut in the lawn will not be seen and will 'heal' quickly. A tricky technique is to use a wheelblade on a handle. It will look like you are using a measuring device. The cable can be laid into the cut at dawn, when you are filling the bird feeder. Stepping on the cut lawn on the way back seals the cut. Now you're in business.

Saturday, September 10, 2011

GEOMAGNETIC STORM

GEOMAGNETIC STORM: A CME hit Earth's magnetic field on Sept. 9th, and the impact ignited a geomagnetic storm, in progress. Northern Lights have since been spotted in the United States as far south as as Michigan, Montana and North Dakota. This could be the first of several hits from a series of CMEs expected to reach Earth during the weekend, so more geomagnetic activity is in the offing~

Remember, Geomagnetic storms can cause difficulties in communicating over long distances

Many communication systems utilize the ionosphere to reflect radio signals over long distances. Ionospheric storms can affect radio communication at all latitudes. Some radio frequencies are absorbed and others are reflected, leading to rapidly fluctuating signals and unexpected propagation paths. TV and commercial radio stations are little affected by solar activity, but ground-to-air, ship-to-shore, Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, and amateur radio are frequently disrupted. Radio operators using high frequencies rely upon solar and geomagnetic alerts to keep their communication circuits up and running.

Some military detection or early-warning systems are also affected by solar activity. The Over-the-Horizon Radar bounces signals off the ionosphere in order to monitor the launch of aircraft and missiles from long distances. During geomagnetic storms, this system can be severely hampered by radio clutter. Some submarine detection systems use the magnetic signatures of submarines as one input to their locating schemes. Geomagnetic storms can mask and distort these signals.


More info; http://www.arrl.org/news/the-k7ra-solar-update-181

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Special Events Stations 9/ 8-12/ 11

09/03/2011 | 18th Annual Tennessee Soybean Festival
Sep 3-Sep 11, 1400Z-0200Z, K4S, Martin, TN. Weakley County TN ARES. Various times, modes and bands through the week from various QTHs. QSL. Roger Elmore, KJ4AJP, 426 Jowers Rd, Martin, TN 38237. Check Web for schedule ares.mambm.com/event

09/07/2011 | West Alexander Fair
Sep 7-Sep 10, 1320Z-1320Z, WA3COM, Washington, PA. Washington Amateur Communications Inc/WACOM. 14.265 7.240 3.910 18.125. QSL. Ed Oelschlager, N3ZNI, 60 Carl Ave B2, Eighty Four, PA 15330. Display and operation of amateur radio in action at a local county fair. www.wacomarc.org

09/08/2011 | Hebron Harvest Fair
Sep 8-Sep 11, 0800Z-2000Z, NA1RL, Hebron, CT. Newington Amateur Radio League. 28.350 18.150 14.250 7.250. QSL. Richard Lawrence, KB1DMX, 335 Lloyd St, Newington, CT O6111. No SASE needed. www.narl.net

09/09/2011 | Old Mulkey Meeting House Special Event
Sep 9-Sep 11, 1500Z-0200Z, K4Y, Tompkinsville, KY. Monroe County Amateur Radio Group. 28.415 14.280 7.230 3.945. Certificate & QSL. Old Mulkey Meeting House State Park, 38 Old Mulkey Park Rd, Tompkinsville, KY 42167. This will be our 3rd annual Old Mulkey Meeting House Special Event. It is the burial site of Hannah Boone Pennington (Daniel Boone's sister).
E-Mail ~ kd4qhg@yahoo.com

09/09/2011 | Guardians of Freedom Airshow
Sep 9-Sep 11, 2300Z-2300Z, N0L, Lincoln, NE. Lincoln Amateur Radio Club. 28.450 21.365 14.330 7.282 3.982. QSL. Lincoln Amateur Radio Club, PO Box 5006, Lincoln, NE 68505. Operating times: 2300Z Sep 9 to 0300Z Sep 10; 1400Z Sep 10 to 0300Z Sep 11; and 1400Z to 2300Z on Sep 11. k0kkv.org

09/09/2011 | Operation Pigeon Link
Sep 9-Sep 10, 2200Z-2200Z, W5CCH, Oklahoma City, OK. Oklahoma City-County Health Department Amateur Radio Club. 14.265 7.265 14.070.15 (PSK). Certificate. Dave Cox, Oklahoma City-County Health Department, 921 NE 23rd St, Oklahoma City, OK 73105. www.occhd.org/w5cch

09/10/2011 | National POW/MIA Recognition Day
Sep 10-Sep 18, 0000Z-2359Z, K4MIA, Loxahatchee, FL. PBSE Radio Society. 21.300 18.150 14.265 PSK 14.070 7.185. QSL. Michael Bald, 6758 Hall Blvd, Loxahatchee, FL 33470. SASE required. We are trying to operated from 68-16425 UH1H Huey helicopter at the VA Hospital. Please take time to honor our POWs/MIAs on Friday Sept 16. qrz.com/db/k4mia

09/10/2011 | 26th All-Horse Parade - Delaware, Ohio
Sep 10-Sep 18, 0000Z-2359Z, K8H, Delaware, OH. Delaware Amateur Radio Association. 21.340, 21.040 14.340, 14.040 7.240, 7.040 3.840, 3.540. Certificate. Online Special Event Certificate Only , See Web site for details, NA. www.k8es.org

09/10/2011 | Always Remember 10th Anniversary of the Attacks of 9/11/2001
Sep 10-Sep 11, 0200Z-0400Z, N1Y, Hancock, NY. Symbol Technologies Amateur Radio Club. 50.135 14.070 7.240 3.911 D-Star REF10C. QSL. STARC, One Motorola Plaza, B-13, Holtsville, NY 11742. Reading one name of the fallen with every QSO. Special Event QSL with #10 SASE.
E-Mail ~ w2sbl@motorolasolutions.com

09/10/2011 | The Home Depot Air Show
Sep 10, 1300Z-2100Z, W8Z, Zanesville, OH. Muskingum Valley Ham Radio Club. 7.250 146.610 W8ZZV Repeater. Certificate & QSL. Jim Mayercak, WX8J, 971 Somers St, Zanesville, OH 43701. www.qsl.net/n8hr/index.html

09/10/2011 | First Nuclear Powered Aircraft Carrier USS Enterprise (CVAN-65) :Launched 1960; US Air Force Birthday 1947
Sep 10, 1700Z-2359Z, NI6IW, San Diego, CA. USS Midway (CV-41) Museum Radio Operations Room. SSB 14.320 7.250 PSK31 14.070 D-STAR 012C 2 m 70 cm SOCAL rptrs. QSL. USS Midway Museum Radio Room, 910 N Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101-5811.
E-Mail~ kk6fz@arrl.net

09/10/2011 | Route 66 On The Air Special Event
Sep 10-Sep 18, 0001Z-2359Z, W6A-W6Q & W6T, San Bernardino, CA. Citrus Belt Amateur Radio Club. 21.366 14.266 7.266 3.866. Certificate. Citrus Belt Amateur Radio Club, PO Box 3788, San Bernardino, CA 92413. 12th Annual Route 66 On The Air Special Event; rules and other info see www.w6jbt.org

09/10/2011 | 3rd Annual Brutus Bash
Sep 10-Sep 11, 1000Z-1800Z, K0B, Pittsburg, KS. 4State QRPGroup. 14.285 14.060 7.285 7.040 7.030 3.985 3.560 qwatering holes on 15 and 10. Certificate & QSL. Bart Lawson, 711 E 31st St, Pittsburg, KS 66762. www.4sqrp.com/index.php

09/10/2011 | Indiana Parks on the Air
Sep 10, 1600Z-2359Z, N9D, Indiana Dunes State Park, Chesterton, IN. Lake County Amateur Radio Club. SSB and CW. QSL. Lake County ARC, PO Box 90, Crown Point, IN 46308. Indiana Parks on the Air see www.inpota.com. www.lakenetnwi.net/member/lcarc

09/11/2011 | 9/11 10th Anniversary Station - Fort Totten, New York
Sep 11, 1500Z-2300Z, NW2C, Bayside, NY. Northeast Wireless Radio Club. 14.250 14.080. Certificate & QSL. Northeast Wireless Radio Club, NW2C, 213-37 39th Ave, Suite 175, Bayside, NY 11361. Donation of $2 is asked for to partially cover the cost. www.NW2C.org/911.html

09/11/2011 | Pentagon Tenth Anniversary Commemoration of 9-11 Attacks
Sep 11-Sep 12, 1100Z-0100Z, K4AF, Arlington, VA. Pentagon Amateur Radio Club. 21.290 14.240 7.190 3.815. QSL. Pentagon Amateur Radio Club, PO Box 2322 , Arlington, VA 22202. Active operating frequencies posted during event at www.k4af.org. Operation to honor all those lost on 9-11, with special remembrance of the 184 people who lost their lives at the Pentagon and on board American Airlines Flight 77. www.k4af.org

09/11/2011 | York County,SC 9/11 Monument Dedication
Sep 11, 0800Z-1400Z, N4Y, Rock Hill, SC. Bethesda Volunteer Fire Department Amateur Radio Club. 14.240. QSL. Bethesda Volunteer Fire Department, PO Box 8022, Rock Hill, SC 29732.

09/12/2011 | St Cyrus Shutter Telegraph - Over 200 Years
Sep 12-Sep 16, 0700Z-2100Z, GB5SCT, Honiton, ENGLAND. RSGB. 14.200. QSL. Via Buro or John Wakefield, 'Oakhurst', Lower Common Rd, West Wellow, Romsey, Hampshire SO51 6BT, ENGLAND. www.qrz.com/db/gb5sct

Friday, September 2, 2011

This Weekends Special Event Stations & Contest-9/1-5/11

This Weekends Special Event Stations

09/01/2011 | Fort Bridger Wyoming Mountain Man Rendezvous
Sep 1-Sep 5, 0800Z-2200Z, W7R, Fort Bridger, WY.
Local Ham KF7ELU. 14.270 14.245 14.240 14.070. QSL. Clayton Lowther, PO box 201, Fort Bridger, WY 82933. This is a Special event Station that will be operating throughout the Duration of the Annual Fort Bridger Rendezvous. The Rendezvous is a celebration of the Fur Trade Rendezvous Era that occurred in the Rocky mountains Between 1825-1840. It is one of the largest mountain man Gatherings in the Nation. Custom Full Color QSLs are available please send your QSL and a SASE or 1 Dollar with your QSL.

09/02/2011 | World Championship Barbecue Goat Cook-off
Sep 2-Sep 3, 2300Z-1900Z, WA5HOT, Brady, TX. Heart of Texas Ham Operators Group (HOT-HOG). 14.213 7.213 3.813. Certificate. Heart of Texas Ham Operators Group, 1103 S China St, Brady, TX 76825.
www.hothog.org

09/02/2011 | Dragon*Con with the Atlanta Radio Club
Sep 2-Sep 5, 1200Z-2359Z, W4D, Atlanta, GA. Atlanta Radio Club. 7.270 14.270. QSL. Atlanta Radio Club, 227 Sandy Springs Pl - Ste D-306, Atlanta, GA 30358.
www.atlantaradioclub.org

09/03/2011 | Ghost Town of Paradise
Sep 3-Sep 5, 1900Z-1900Z, K7RDG, Paradise, AZ. Cochise Amateur Radio Association.. 21.315 18.115 14.315 7.230. Certificate & QSL. Cochise ARA, PO Box 1855, Sierra Vista, AZ 85636. 8x10 SASE; 32nd Anniversary of Club operating from ghost town of Paradise, AZ.
www.k7rdg.org

09/03/2011 | 18th Annual Tennessee Soybean Festival
Sep 3-Sep 11, 1400Z-0200Z, K4S, Martin, TN. Weakley County TN ARES. Various times, modes and bands through the week from various QTHs. QSL. Roger Elmore, KJ4AJP, 426 Jowers Rd, Martin, TN 38237. Check Web for schedule
ares.mambm.com/event

09/05/2011 | Celebrating Labor Day
Sep 5, 1215Z-1800Z, K1R, Northfield, MA. 72 Rag Chew Net. 7.271 (8:15-9AM) 7.272 (9-2PM). Certificate. Robert Lobenstein, WA2AXZ, 1985 East 36 St, Brooklyn, NY 11234. www.ragchewers.net

09/07/2011 | West Alexander Fair
Sep 7-Sep 10, 1320Z-1320Z, WA3COM, Washington, PA. Washington Amateur Communications Inc/WACOM. 14.265 7.240 3.910 18.125. QSL. Ed Oelschlager, N3ZNI, 60 Carl Ave B2, Eighty Four, PA 15330. Display and operation of amateur radio in action at a local county fair.
www.wacomarc.org

This Weekends Contest

QRP Fox HuntSep 2
NCCC Sprint LadderSep 2
International G3ZQS Memorial Straight Key ContestSep 2-4
All Asian DX Contest, PhoneSep 3-4
Russian RTTY WW ContestSep 3
Wake-Up! QRP SprintSep 3
Colorado QSO PartySep 3-4
Brazil Independence Day BPSK31 CDX ContestSep 3-4
AGCW Straight Key PartySep 3
CWops Mini-CWT TestSep 3-4
RSGB SSB Field DaySep 3-4
IARU Region 1 Field Day, SSBSep 3-4
QCWA Fall QSO PartySep 3-4
DARC 10-Meter Digital ContestSep 4
Tennessee QSO PartySep 4-5
MI QRP Labor Day CW SprintSep 5-6


My Stamp Collecting Blog

Counter Added January 1, 2011

free counters

HOW TO READ PROPAGATION NUMBERS

The A index [ LOW is GOOD ]

  • 1 to 6 is BEST
  • 7 to 9 is OK
  • 11 or more is BAD

Represents the overall geomagnetic condition of the ionosphere ("Ap" if averaged from the Kp-Index) (an average of the eight 3-hour K-Indices) ('A' referring to amplitude) over a given 24 hour period, ranging (linearly) typically from 1-100 but theoretically up to 400.

A lower A-Index generally suggests better propagation on the 10, 12, 15, 17, & 20 Meter Bands; a low & steady Ap-Index generally suggest good propagation on the 30, 40, 60, 80, & 160 Meter Bands.

SFI index [ HIGH is GOOD ]

  • 70 NOT GOOD
  • 80 GOOD
  • 90 BETTER
  • 100+ BEST

The measure of total radio emissions from the sun at 10.7cm (2800 MHz), on a scale of 60 (no sunspots) to 300, generally corresponding to the sunspot level, but being too low in energy to cause ionization, not related to the ionization level of the Ionosphere.

Higher Solar Flux generally suggests better propagation on the 10, 12, 15, 17, & 20 Meter Bands; Solar Flux rarely affects the 30, 40, 60, 80, & 160 Meter Bands.

K index [ LOW is GOOD ]

  • 0 or 1 is BEST
  • 2 is OK
  • 3 or more is BAD
  • 5 is VERY VERY BAD

The overall geomagnetic condition of the ionosphere ("Kp" if averaged over the planet) over the past 3 hours, measured by 13 magnetometers between 46 & 63 degrees of latitude, and ranging quasi-logarithmically from 0-9. Designed to detect solar particle radiation by its magnetic effect. A higher K-index generally means worse HF conditions.

A lower K-Index generally suggests better propagation on the 10, 12, 15, 17, & 20 Meter Bands; a low & steady Kp-Index generally suggest good propagation on the 30, 40, 60, 80, & 160 Meter Bands.

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