In DX, JI5RPT will sign JD1BLY from Chichijima Island through January 2nd. Listen out for him using CW, SSB and digital modes on 80 through 6 meters. Possibly some satellite operation as well. QSL to JI5RPT.
SM6CPY, will be on the air from Rwanda in a holiday style operation signing 9X0PY through January 7th . QSL via SM6CPY.
DL1ZU is on a trip in Namibia through Jan 13th using an Icom IC-706. His primary operating modes will be CW plus PSK, RTTY and SSB. QSL via his home call.
EA1CYK/P will be operational from Deception Island in the South Shetland group during his spare time until March of 2012. He has been spotted with a good signal on 10 meters QSL via EA7LS.
G3SWH and G3OLU will be active from the Hawane Resort in western Swaziland between February 21st to the 29th. Propagation permitting, they plan to have two stations on the air for as many hours every day as is possible. Operation will be on CW only on 80 through 10 meters. QSL via G3SWH
Lastly, An international group of operators plan to visit Pitcarin Island and operate as VP6T between January 20th and February 4th. According to a web posing the operation hope to make at least 30,000 contacts while on the island. Operations will be on 160 through 10 meters including the 30, 17 and 12 meter bands. Modes to be used include CW, SSB and RTTY. The VP6T log will be uploaded to Logbook of the World during the operation if possible. QSL Manager is G3TXF. In addition to the usual routes they will also be using the new Online QSL Request Service provided by ClubLog. For more details and the suggested frequencies please visit www (dot) vp6t (dot) org.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Radio Amateur Society of Thailand Needs Our Help
Ham radio groups from around the world are being asked to assist the Radio Amateur Society of Thailand which is seeking help to rebuild its headquarters station, HS0AC. This following massive flooding that recently hit that nation not long ago.
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According to Dick Flanagan, K7VC, in Minden, Nevada, there have already several offers of equipment to the Radio Amateur Society of Thailand from members of the Northern California Contest Club. Also Rusty Epps, W6OAT, reports that the Yasme Foundation sent the Radio Amateur Society of Thailand a $2,000 donation to assist in the HS0AC rebuilding effort. But that will be only the beginning of what’s required to bring the station back on the air.
Flanagan says that what is probably needed most right now is someone or some organization to coordinate the assistance effort, solicit the offers and manage the shipping and paperwork. He speculates that perhaps that administrative role could be taken on as a cooperative effort between the Northern California Contest Club, the Northern California DX Club, the International DX Association and perhaps the ARRL.
K7VC notes that this would be a wonderful way for individuals and clubs to express their holiday feelings of generosity to our fellow hams in need, He adds that we can use this opportunity to demonstrate to our Thai ham radio brothers and sisters what a coordinated effort can do to help them rebuild their wonderful station. Those with suggestions can contact Dick Flanagan by e-mail to dick (at) k7vc (dot) com.
Photos of the devastation that the flooding brought to HS0AC at on-line at www.qsl.net/rast.
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According to Dick Flanagan, K7VC, in Minden, Nevada, there have already several offers of equipment to the Radio Amateur Society of Thailand from members of the Northern California Contest Club. Also Rusty Epps, W6OAT, reports that the Yasme Foundation sent the Radio Amateur Society of Thailand a $2,000 donation to assist in the HS0AC rebuilding effort. But that will be only the beginning of what’s required to bring the station back on the air.
Flanagan says that what is probably needed most right now is someone or some organization to coordinate the assistance effort, solicit the offers and manage the shipping and paperwork. He speculates that perhaps that administrative role could be taken on as a cooperative effort between the Northern California Contest Club, the Northern California DX Club, the International DX Association and perhaps the ARRL.
K7VC notes that this would be a wonderful way for individuals and clubs to express their holiday feelings of generosity to our fellow hams in need, He adds that we can use this opportunity to demonstrate to our Thai ham radio brothers and sisters what a coordinated effort can do to help them rebuild their wonderful station. Those with suggestions can contact Dick Flanagan by e-mail to dick (at) k7vc (dot) com.
Photos of the devastation that the flooding brought to HS0AC at on-line at www.qsl.net/rast.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Rescue Radio: Changing Times - ARMY MARS PHASING OUT WINLINK
The Department of the Army has announced that it has begun to take steps to phase out the use of the WINLINK System. This is because of possible security breaches that might be incurred in the Internet aspect of transmissions using the mode. Amateur Radio Newsline's Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, has more:
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According to the December 21st ARRL ARES E-Letter, the military chain of command that governs Army MARS feels that the Internet portion of WINLKINK leaves the system significantly open to the possibility of intrusion. To deal with this it plans to replace WINLINK with a newer military e-mail system that has extensive protection against any form of hacking or any other form of incursion.
To accomplish this, Army MARS will be expanding on the concept of a national network that is voice, RTTY and PACTOR capable under MIL-STD 110A. It says that PACTOR will become even more important as the new areas of focus will be peer to peer and keyboard to keyboard PACTOR based communications.
Amateur modes such as MT-63, OLIVIA, and WINMOR, which cannot be used by the military, will be eventually phased out as well.
The ultimate goal of this change will be to help Army MARS return to what it is really supposed to be. That of a radio-only system to relay long haul traffic as it has done very successfully in the past.
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While these changes will affect Army MARS nationally, it is not abandoning state and local served agencies. Army MARS says that it is moving away from providing them a winlink.org e-mail address. (ARRL ARES E-Letter)
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According to the December 21st ARRL ARES E-Letter, the military chain of command that governs Army MARS feels that the Internet portion of WINLKINK leaves the system significantly open to the possibility of intrusion. To deal with this it plans to replace WINLINK with a newer military e-mail system that has extensive protection against any form of hacking or any other form of incursion.
To accomplish this, Army MARS will be expanding on the concept of a national network that is voice, RTTY and PACTOR capable under MIL-STD 110A. It says that PACTOR will become even more important as the new areas of focus will be peer to peer and keyboard to keyboard PACTOR based communications.
Amateur modes such as MT-63, OLIVIA, and WINMOR, which cannot be used by the military, will be eventually phased out as well.
The ultimate goal of this change will be to help Army MARS return to what it is really supposed to be. That of a radio-only system to relay long haul traffic as it has done very successfully in the past.
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While these changes will affect Army MARS nationally, it is not abandoning state and local served agencies. Army MARS says that it is moving away from providing them a winlink.org e-mail address. (ARRL ARES E-Letter)
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
CME expected at Earth on 28 December 2011
New sunspot 1387 erupted during the late hours of Christmas Day, producing an M4-class flare and hurling a CME toward Earth and Mars. Click to view an animated forecast track prepared by analysts at the Goddard Space Weather Lab:
The CME is expected to deliver a glancing blow to Earth's magnetic field on Dec. 28th at 1200 UT and a direct hit to the planet Mars on Dec. 30th at 1800 UT. Using onboard radiation sensors, NASA's Curiosity rover might be able to sense the CME when it passes the rover's spacecraft en route to Mars. Here on Earth, NOAA forecasters estimate a 30-to-40% chance of geomagnetic storms on Dec. 28th when the CME and an incoming solar wind stream (unrelated to the CME) could arrive in quick succession.
The CME is expected to deliver a glancing blow to Earth's magnetic field on Dec. 28th at 1200 UT and a direct hit to the planet Mars on Dec. 30th at 1800 UT. Using onboard radiation sensors, NASA's Curiosity rover might be able to sense the CME when it passes the rover's spacecraft en route to Mars. Here on Earth, NOAA forecasters estimate a 30-to-40% chance of geomagnetic storms on Dec. 28th when the CME and an incoming solar wind stream (unrelated to the CME) could arrive in quick succession.
Monday, December 26, 2011
“The DIY Magic of Amateur Radio”
ARRL VIDEO TO BE RELEASED VIA DECEMBER 27th AND JAN 3rd NETCASTS
Two dates to mark down on your ham radio social calendar. The first is this Tuesday, December 27th at 8:30 p.m. Eastern time. That’s when the ARRL will present an on-line premiere screening of its new video titled The DIY Magic of Amateur Radio.
To accomplish this the League has teamed up with Tom Medlin, W5KUB, who will be streaming it from his website at w5kub.com. The video will also be released earlier that day on-line at the ARRL’s own website at www.arrl.org and on the ARRL video pages on YouTube dot com. All three are a part of a new ARRL public relations campaign to interest the nations maker and hacker community in our world of ham radio.
Then a week later on January 3rd at 9 p.m. Eastern, the shows producer Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, along with Director Dave Bell, W6AQ and writer Henry Feinberg, K2SSQ, will be the guests of Bob Heil, K9EID, and Gordon West, WB6NOA. This on their weekly TWIT dot TV video podcast known as Ham Nation.
Bell, Feinberg and Pasternak will give you a behind the scenes look at how the DIY Magic of Amateur Radio video was conceived as well as how it was put together using the very latest digital video production techniques. You will also get to see the video in its entirety.
Look for this live netcast at 9 PM Eastern on Tuesday, January 3rd at live.twit.tv. If you miss it, wait about 24 hours for it to be posted at twit.tv/hn. (ARRL, ARNewsline™)
Two dates to mark down on your ham radio social calendar. The first is this Tuesday, December 27th at 8:30 p.m. Eastern time. That’s when the ARRL will present an on-line premiere screening of its new video titled The DIY Magic of Amateur Radio.
To accomplish this the League has teamed up with Tom Medlin, W5KUB, who will be streaming it from his website at w5kub.com. The video will also be released earlier that day on-line at the ARRL’s own website at www.arrl.org and on the ARRL video pages on YouTube dot com. All three are a part of a new ARRL public relations campaign to interest the nations maker and hacker community in our world of ham radio.
Then a week later on January 3rd at 9 p.m. Eastern, the shows producer Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, along with Director Dave Bell, W6AQ and writer Henry Feinberg, K2SSQ, will be the guests of Bob Heil, K9EID, and Gordon West, WB6NOA. This on their weekly TWIT dot TV video podcast known as Ham Nation.
Bell, Feinberg and Pasternak will give you a behind the scenes look at how the DIY Magic of Amateur Radio video was conceived as well as how it was put together using the very latest digital video production techniques. You will also get to see the video in its entirety.
Look for this live netcast at 9 PM Eastern on Tuesday, January 3rd at live.twit.tv. If you miss it, wait about 24 hours for it to be posted at twit.tv/hn. (ARRL, ARNewsline™)
TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANCE: DISABILITY.GOV NOW ON LINE
www.disability.gov is the new federal government website for comprehensive information on disability programs and services in communities nationwide. The site links to more than 14,000 resources from federal, state and local government agencies; academic institutions; and nonprofit organizations.
In the Technology section, can be found information on assistive and accessible technologies, emergency communications systems; the accessibility features of new technologies like smart phones; and guidelines and standards related to technology accessibility for people with disabilities. Information is by State using the drop-down menu located on the left side of any page on Disability.gov, to find local resources that can help you pay for your assistive technology needs.
Disability.gov is managed by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy in collaboration with 21 federal agency partners, including the FCC. (FCC)
In the Technology section, can be found information on assistive and accessible technologies, emergency communications systems; the accessibility features of new technologies like smart phones; and guidelines and standards related to technology accessibility for people with disabilities. Information is by State using the drop-down menu located on the left side of any page on Disability.gov, to find local resources that can help you pay for your assistive technology needs.
Disability.gov is managed by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy in collaboration with 21 federal agency partners, including the FCC. (FCC)
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Friday, December 23, 2011
Amateur Radio Operators to host Kids Day
Kids Day is an on-air event to encourage young people (licensed or not) to have fun with Amateur Radio and takes place Sunday January 8.
The Kids Day operating event is not a contest. It’s a way to tell young people worldwide about the magic and mystery of two way hobby radio communications.
To do this, Amateur radio stations are being asked to devote this short time window to promote the terrestrial hobby and ham radio satellite operations to youngsters. This, by providing a place to make contacts with other Kids Day stations around the world.
Walworth County Today report on the Lakes Area Amateur Radio Club plans for the day at
http://walworthcountytoday.com/news/...ds-day-darien/
Further information on Kids Day is at
http://www.arrl.org/kids-day
The Kids Day operating event is not a contest. It’s a way to tell young people worldwide about the magic and mystery of two way hobby radio communications.
To do this, Amateur radio stations are being asked to devote this short time window to promote the terrestrial hobby and ham radio satellite operations to youngsters. This, by providing a place to make contacts with other Kids Day stations around the world.
Walworth County Today report on the Lakes Area Amateur Radio Club plans for the day at
http://walworthcountytoday.com/news/...ds-day-darien/
Further information on Kids Day is at
http://www.arrl.org/kids-day
Thursday, December 8, 2011
World War II Voluntary Interceptors
Here is a link to a BBC documentary on the work of Amateur Radio Interceptors during the Second World War, which some of you may find interesting.
http://www.eafa.org.uk/catalogue/5108
http://www.eafa.org.uk/catalogue/5108
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Radio Direction Finder kit (DDF2020M)
DDF2020M Radio Direction Finder kit requires minimum assembly for 10~15 Minutes
The DDF2020M DF is an economical but very sophisticated Doppler DF “kit” with a GPS input, and RS232 output to provide the ability to indicate its location and draw bearing automatically or manually on Google Earth map to find the RF transmitter more conveniently.
DDF2020M kit Includes eight assembled / tested PC boards: MAIN board, 2 Sub boards, and 1 antenna board in the main unit. Completion work is required by the user to finish the DF main unit. Guidelines for the completion work are provided.
The user must provide a NB FM receiver, 5 antennas with mounts for external DF antenna unit and a PC for DF bearing (Windows OS). DDF2020 display program further requires a GPS receiver with NMEA 4800 baud output.
VHF Doppler DF – 5 Antennas primarily for mobile DF, 100~1000 MHz
Economy, high performance DSP / micro processor design, software intensive
Sold as a kit – Main unit, antenna unit and associated cables
RS232 output for Windows PCs (Agrello format)
Uses modified Joe Moell Wideband Antenna design
9 ~ 28 VDC operation
Optional GPS Receiver available.
Specifications:
Rcvr Freq: Determined by user-provided FM receiver, range 100 to 1000 MHz
Antenna: Four elements for DF and one auxiliary element for improving sensitivity and accuracy, wave vertical with assembled
Ant Scan: Scan rate 430 Hz, rotation clockwise (viewed from above antenna)
Ant Switch: Modified Joe Moell Wideband Doppler DF antenna design
Employs Agilent HSMP3893 SMT PIN diodes
SMT / stripline circuit design, SMA output connector
Audio Input: FM receiver speaker audio, 1.0K ohm load. 25db dynamic range.
GPS Input: 4800 baud RS232 input, NMEA $GPRMC, $GPGGA and / or $GPVTG messages.
Output 1: RS232 Agrello DF message, 4800 baud, 8N2. (15 messages / second )
Ant Outputs : Four discrete active HIGH outputs for DDF 2020 Antenna ( one per antenna )
DC Power : 9 ~ 28 VDC
Voice Filter : Switched-capacitor filter, (SCF) 4 sections. Bandwidth 0.2 Hz
Multi Display
The MultiDisplay of DDF2020M provides a combined numeric and pelorus display in the main board. A high quality display, with 2 microcomputers and an RS232 input that accepts Agrello DF messages.
The pelorus display employs 36 high density LEDs, with 4 yellow LEDs at cardinal headings. Option straps allow “hold/blink” of last valid DF data, or pelorus “orbit” when data goes invalid. All LEDs briefly “flash” (2 second intervals) for enhanced nighttime viewing
3 digit numeric readout, 0.36 inch characters
36 LED pelorus display, 4 yellow cardinal LEDS
Selectable HOLD/ORBIT display for old DF data
Power-on self-test
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