Tuesday, January 31, 2012

SEVHFS Soliciting Papers for April Conference

Papers and other presentations are solicited The 15th Annual Southeastern VHF Society Conference to be held in Charlotte, North Carolina on April 20th and 21st. Submissions are welcomed on both the technical and operational aspects of VHF, UHF and Microwave weak signal amateur radio. The deadline for the submission is February 17th.
More is on-line at www.svhfs.org.

LoTW to support CQ Operating Awards

CQ Communications and ARRL have signed an agreement to begin providing support for CQ-sponsored operating awards by the ARRL's Logbook of the World electronic confirmation system. CQ's awards will be the first non-ARRL awards supported by Logbook of the World and will be phased in, beginning with the CQ WPX award. Additional CQ awards will follow.

The target date for beginning Logbook of the World support for WPX is April 1st. Amateurs will be able to use Logbook of the World logs to generate lists of confirmed contacts to be submitted for WPX credit. Standard Logbook of the World credit fees and CQ award fees will apply.

The ARRL’s Logbook of the World system is an interactive database recording contacts between radio amateurs was created in 2003 and has been adopted by 47,500 radio amateurs worldwide. It already has records of 400 million contacts and grows weekly.

The agreement was announced jointly on Tuesday, January 24th by ARRL Chief Operating Officer Harold Kramer, WJ1B, and CQ Communications President Richard Ross, K2MGA

Monday, January 30, 2012

Emergency Email Launches FEMA Social Media Situation Page

Emergency Email & Wireless FEMA
Social Media Situation Page Links:

Situation Page announcement:
http://www.emergencyemail.org/newsemergency/anmviewer.asp?a=1718&z=34

FEMA Social Media Twitter FEEDS Situation Page
http://www.vuetoo.com/vue1/situationpagenews.asp?sit=7759

FEMA Social Media Situation Fusion Page 2
http://www.vuetoo.com/vue1/situationpagenews.asp?sit=7761

THE EMERGENCY EMAIL & WIRELESS NETWORK
www.EmergencyEmail.org

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Anchorage VEC License Element Waiver Request

The FCC has turned away a request from Alaska’s Anchorage Volunteer Examination Coordinator for a temporary blanket waiver of Section 97.505(a) of the Commission’s Rules. This, to allow the VEC to give individuals whose amateur radio operator licenses have expired examination credit for test elements previously passed so that all former licensees could be re-licensed without retesting.

The Anchorage VEC had filed for the waiver pending the outcome of a related rulemaking petition in FCC Docket WT 11-130. That request seeks the same end but on a permanent nationwide basis.

But in its denial order the FCC noted that individuals who do not hold a current or renewable amateur radio operator license, regardless of whether they have held one in the past, must demonstrate their qualifications to be amateur radio operators before obtaining a new license. As such, the approval of the requested waiver to allow examination credit to be granted for any previously held amateur service operator license would not serve the underlying purpose of the regulatory agency’s licensing rules.

The FCC also stated that amateur radio testing opportunities are widely available. It said that Volunteer Examiner teams can administer tests at any location and time convenient to them and the examinee. As such Anchorage VEC has not shown that requiring retesting of examinees whose operator licenses expired more than two years ago, including those of advanced years, is inequitable or unduly burdensome, or that these examinees have no reasonable alternative.

But this matter is far from closed. In its conclusion the FCC also noted that the dismissal of the Anchorage VEC’s waiver request is a separate matter from the groups pending Rule Making request in FCC Docket WT 11-130. As such this action is without prejudice to Anchorage VEC’s pending rule-making petition.

The Report and Order denying the Anchorage VEC’s waiver request was issued on Tuesday, January 24th. As we go to air it’s not known if the Anchorage VEC will appeal this decision or simply wait for the outcome on its underlying Rule Making request.

Friday, January 27, 2012

Interference from India Radio

Interference from All India Radio to the 40 meter band has been eliminated.

Wolfgang Hadel, DK2OM, in Siegbach, Germany, reports via the I-A-R-U Region 1 website that back last December 1st he and Peter Jost HB9CET of Zurich, Switzerland, noticed a band of white noise like interference on 40 meters. This from 6 dot 960 to 7 dot 040MHz and also on 7 dot 820 MHz and showing up every evening.

Calculation by DK2OM showed the center of the spurious emissions was expected to be on the center 7 dot 410 MHz. From this point the German and Swiss Departments of Post and Telecommunications became involved.

Both offices filed official complaints to their counterpart in India. VU2GMN assisted by filing a personal complaint. On January 13th the transmitter located near the city of New Delhi was reported as having been repaired, and all traces of this source of interference to 40 meters was gone.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

SOPA & Amateur Radio

A follow up to last weeks story about the involvement of ham radio in halting the progress of two measures working their way through the U-S Congress. Laws that many say would have destroyed the Internet as we know it today.

While the giant QRZ dot com website took what could best be described as the amateur radio point position in helping to halt the twin bills in their tacks, it turns out that it was not alone. The Southgate News reports that at least two other ham radio websites took part in the protest. Both the amateur radio HF Link Forum and the APRS site aprs.fi were closed in the United States on Wednesday, January 18th.

The aprs.fi blog noted in advance that it would join Wikipedia and Reddit, and protest the proposed United States Stop Online Piracy or SOPA and the Protect Intellectual Property Act or PIPA legislation by closing down. The blog went on to note that if some APRS user were to post links to copyright infringing material, even when that material would reside somewhere other than aprs.fi itself, that aprs.fi could be shut down in the U.S. and there would not be much that the website owners could do about it.

As we go to air, both SOPA and PIPA have been withdrawn by their respective sponsors in Congress for retooling. That’s a fancy way of saying that enough votes had defected to make passage at this time impossible. At the same time it’s a way of keeping both pieces of legislation alive for re-introduction to the United States Federal law making process at some later date. And it’s a sure bet that content providers such as the motion picture and music industries which basically wrote these two pieces of legislation will try again.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

TAPR & iQuadlabs Announce Agreement

Tucson Amateur Packet Radio and iQuadlabs have jointly announced a sourcing agreement for the open source Software Defined Radio or HPSDR boards. These are the ones best known by their nick-names of Magister, Mercury and Pennylane.

Under the new agreement, Tucson Amateur Packet Radio will acquire inventory of iQuadLabs creating a one-stop source for all open HPSDR boards. On the other side, iQuadLabs will gain the inventory from Tucson Amateur Packet Radio to build pre-configured and tested complete open HPSDR systems.

The end result will be that Tucson Amateur Packet Radio will have all open HPSDR boards in stock, in one place, for those wishing to buy boards, kits and components. And, for the first time in the history of open HPSDR, those who wish to by a completely assembled and tested radio will have a source at iQuadLabs. Zephyr Engineering, Inc will continue to manufacture the assembled boards. (TAPR)

Friday, January 20, 2012

ARMY MARS RESUMES USE OF WINLINK 2000

The Army’s Military Auxiliary Radio System better known simply as Army MARS is back using WinLink 2000. The ARRL reports that Lieutenant General Susan Lawrence has reversed the decision to phase out the use of the global radio e-mail system by Army MARS members that was issued late last year.

Lieutenant General Lawrence stated that the Army, after reviewing its capabilities, had decided that the continued use of WinLink 2000 would be in MARS best interest. She went on to call it a valuable asset to Army MARS members and agencies that were using the service.

On January 5, 2012, the Chief of Army MARS officially notified the membership that the phase out notice had been rescinded. Army MARS members and agencies who had been using the service hailed the decision by Lieutenant General Lawrence and have resumed use of the WinLink 2000 radio e-mail system.

More about WinLink 2000 is on the web at www.winlink.org.
source ARRL

Earth-directed CME to Impact on Jan. 21, 2012

Active sunspot 1401 erupted yesterday, Jan. 19th around 16:30 UT, producing an M3-class solar flare and a full-halo coronal mass ejection (CME). The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory recorded the cloud expanding almost directly toward Earth:


Analysts at the Goddard Space Weather Lab say strong geomagnetic storms are possible when the cloud arrives this weekend. Their animated forecast track predicts an impact on Jan. 21st at 22:30 UT (+/- 7 hrs).
The cloud is also heading for Mars, due to hit the Red Planet on Jan. 24th. NASA's Curiosity rover, en route to Mars now, is equipped to study solar storms and might be able to detect a change in the energetic particle environment when the CME passes by.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

WINMOR--A New HF Digital Protocol for Winlink 2000


WINMOR stands for WINlink Message Over Radio and is a new HF radio transmission protocol by Rick Muething, KN6KB, of the Winlink Development Team. WINMOR was introduced at the 2008 ARRL / TAPR Digital Communications Conference in Chicago on September 26-28, 2008, and released from beta testing to production versions in 2010. Unlike PACTOR, only a simple computer soundcard-to-radio interface is required, and it runs as a “virtual TNC” (the WINMOR TNC application) together with host software. The protocol (not the software) is fully documented and is without restrictions or license issues which might prevent anyone from implementing the protocol in other software. The WINMOR TNC software is also fully documented as an API for developers. The software TNC can freely distributed when paired with a developer’s own host application software.

PACTOR vs. WINMOR

Users may employ either WINMOR or Pactor to transfer mail in the WL2K system, depending on their equipment. While WINMOR may not equal P2 and P3 in total performance, it provides a cost-effective means of using the system, and is more robust and faster than P1, and faster than P2 in favorable conditions. WINMOR is attractive to anyone who has trouble justifying the high cost and low utilization of a P2 and P3 modem. Cruisers, who daily use radio email for long-distance lifeline communications at sea, can usually justify the P3 modem purchase. EmComm agencies who fund equipment purchases usually are smart to opt for P3 modems for reliability and ease of use under the stress of emergency operations. Successful WINMOR soundcard operating requires skill in making multiple adjustments, and knowledge of the computer’s operating system, which often do not lend themselves to success under the pressure of an emergency situation.

RMS Express with WINMOR for Users

See the User Software page for more information and to download the RMS Express client software, which includes the virtual WINMOR TNC software, and additionally supports Pactor 1-3, AX.25 packet and Telnet protocols using a wide variety of TNCs and multimode controllers.

WINMOR TNC Software for Developers

WINMOR TNC is a Windows “helper application” that creates a virtual WINMOR HF MODEM (TNC) using a standard PC sound card. It is intended to be used by developers who create complete end user Client or Server host applications. Example of such programs are RMS Express (Radio client) and RMS WINMOR (Radio Server).

The WINMOR TNC software license is provided in the help files of the downloaded program, and is not in the public domain. Please see these files for details.

Use this link: Download WINMOR TNC

Documentation Link

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

RIGrunner 4005i


The RIGrunner 4005i enables amateur radio, emergency communications systems and repeater site operators to monitor and control their DC power distribution systems from any internet-ready mobile device or PC.
Features Provides internet based monitoring and control of 12 VDC power distribution
Delivers up to 40 amps total through 5 outlets while transmitting, 30 amps continuous duty
Each outlet features independent on/off control and user configurable current trip point, 1A to 40A
RJ45 Ethernet port standard, WiFi option available
Integrated web server for monitoring and control
Can be configured to issue alarm email when outlet trips off
Front mounted LCD display and indicator LEDs for local monitoring of status, input voltage and current draw from each outlet
Rear mounted Anderson Powerpole® connectors with locking clips
Low profile for 1U 19″ rack or horizontal shelf mounting option
Rack mounted version custom built to order, contact West Mountain Radio for details.
Includes in all Models

(4) Rubber Feet
(4) 3M Adhesive Pads
(1) 6-pair pack of 30A Powerpole connectors
(6) Retention Clips
RJ45 Ethernet Cable
Owner’s Manual

Rack Mounted Model

1U 19″ Rack Bracket and Faceplate
WiFi add-on module with antenna

Software

The integrated web server enables internet based monitoring and control of your DC power distribution system. It includes the following capabilities:

Input voltage monitor
Current draw monitoring through each outlet
Individual outlet on/off control with trip indication
Configuration of current limits for each outlet, 1 to 40 amps
Generation of alarm email in case of current limit trip

RIGrunner 4005i Owner’s Manual

Price: $279.95 USD

Link

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Pure Michigan in January

Here's what's happening in Michigan next month.
Your trip begins at michigan.org.

Auto Showcase Takes Center Stage in Detroit
See the most innovative auto designs in the world as more than 500 vehicles debut at North America's largest and most prestigious automotive showcase. Read More

Culinary Destinations Make Great Winter Getaways
Escape into a world of wine, food and fun this winter with a delightful Michigan culinary excursion. From festivals to cooking classes, every foodie is sure to find something to satisfy their appetite. Read More

Snowshoe Hikes and Lantern-Lit Winter Fun
Looking for another great winter family adventure? Michigan state parks are groomed and ready--day and night--with fun activities at an affordable cost. Read More

UP Slope Patrol
Head to Michigan's western Upper Peninsula for your next ski getaway and experience top notch resorts with all of the amenities that cater to avid downhill ski enthusiasts. Read More

Winter Events Buzz
From concept cars to sled-dog races, from ice festivals to ski jumping competitions and great museum exhibits-- Michigan stages unforgettable events all through the month of January. Read More
Link
source

Friday, January 13, 2012

Missouri Exempts Amateur Radio from Cell/ Texting Law

If you live in Missouri you might have heard, there is a new Senate Bill, SB 567, that has been introduced by State Senator Robin Write-Jones, a Democrat-St Louis to be considered in 2012 by the Missouri Senate. There is good news though in this bill if you’re a ham radio operator. The last line of the bill contains the following exemption language:

Exempt are the use of two-way radio transmitters or receivers by a licensee of the Federal Communications Commission in the Amateur Radio Service.

That means that the mobile use of amateur transceivers is for now safe in Missouri.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

OPERA Encoded Signal Travels 2000 Miles

Opera has made a big debuet on the ham radio bands. Using the new Opera data mode, Gary Taylor, G4WGT, in Lancanshire in the United Kingdom has successfully transmitted a signal on 137.5 kHz across the North Atlantic to Joe Craig, VO1NA, in Toebay, Canada. This over a distance of 3,500 kilometers or 2200 miles.

Taylor transmitted six full callsign frames in a two hour period, which is a big time saving over other slow digital modes like QRSS. Opera was created by Graham Brown, G0NBD with the actual code written by Jose Ros, EA5HVK. This as a way of providing data operations for stations that only had the CW capability. The most up to date information on this mode can be found at groups.yahoo.com.

source.
Southgate Amateur Radio News

FCC Rejects ARRL Partial Appeal on Club Callsigns

The FCC has rejected a motion for partial reconsideration of revised rules enacted by the FCC. These to limit the number of vanity calls that any individual or club can hold.

In its petition the League stated that it supports the Commission’s efforts to prevent club stations from obtaining an unfair share of desirable call signs. But it also expressed concern that the precise rule language adopted by the FCC did not preclude the abuses that the Report and Order intended to prohibit. Specifically, the ARRL believes that if a club has multiple station trustees, each of these trustees could obtain a vanity call sign for the club. That in turn could allow the club to obtain multiple vanity call signs.

But in denying the ARRL appeal the FCC said that the Leagues petition does not provide any grounds for reconsidering the Commission’s decision in the Report and Order. It said that the concerns expressed by ARRL about licensees attempting to evade the rules adopted in the Report and Order are already addressed by the Commission’s licensing rules and processes. It notes that Section 97.5(b)(2) of its rules states, in part, that a club station license grant may be held only by the person who is the license or trustee designated by an officer of the club. In simpler terms, only one vanity call sign per club. (FCC)

Saturday, January 7, 2012

ARRL SEEKING INPUT ON A 60 METER BANDPLAN

The ARRL is seeking input on a proposed new bandplan for the 5 MHz or 60 meter band.

As previously reported, last November the FCC released a Report and Order detailing new rules for the 5 MHz Amateur Radio band. This announcement brought with it a number of changes for 60 meter operators.

Changes include substituting a channel at 5 point 358 point 5 MHz for 5 point 368 MHz previously authorized. The effective radiated limit in the 60 meter band will be raised by 3 dB to 100 W Peak Envelope Power relative to a half-wave dipole. Also, three additional emission types are authorized. These are Data, RTTY and CW will be authorized as soon as an effective date for a rules change is announced.

The ARRL says that considering the expected increase in 60 meter activity when the FCC’s Report and Order finally takes effect, the League is asking for feedback to assist in crafting a Linkproposed band plan. If you’re a 60-meter operator, e-mail your suggestions to hf-band-plan (at) arrl (dot) org. You can also participate in an online survey at tinyurl.com/60-meter-plan.
ARRL http://www.arrl.org/

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Regarding new FCC rules for the US 60m amateur band:

The following URL:

http://tinyurl.com/60m-R-O-in-PR

redirects to a search of *all* US Gov't publications for FCC-11-171.
The first hit there was for the document sent from FCC to the Pres. of the Senate, which was

then sent to committee. Apparently, the new rules are being held up by the US Senate

Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation !

The Executive Communication, sent from FCC to the President of the US Senate, reads as follows:


EC–4237. A communication from the Chief
of the Policy and Rules Division, Office of
Engineering and Technology, Federal Communications
Commission, transmitting, pursuant
to law, the report of a rule entitled
‘‘Amendment of Parts 2 and 97 of the Commission’s
Rules to Facilitate Use by the
Amateur Radio Service of the Allocation at
5 MHz’’ (FCC 11–171) received in the Office of
the President of the Senate on December 5,
2011; to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation.



To search only the Federal Register for same, I created the following Tinyurl :

http://tinyurl.com/Search-FR-only-FCC-11-171

Use either of the above URLs for up-to-the-minute notification of the publishing of

the new 60m rules in the Federal Register, straight from the horse's mouth !

72,
Bill, N4QA

Friday, January 6, 2012

Mitt Romney/ Against Amateur Radio Operators

I personally do not like or care for Mitt Romney. Never have and never will.
Here is another great reason;

Mitt Romney "No, we don't need to deal with ham radio operators..."

Romney "Disses" Amateur Radio In Televised Town Meeting

Read about it here
http://ema.arrl.org/node/802

The television program can be viewed at http://www.thebostonchannel.com/video/5334306/detail.html.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Political Correctness/ Off Topic

Due to the climate of political correctness now pervading America, Kentuckians, Tennesseans and West Virginians will no longer be referred to as "HILLBILLIES."

You must now refer to us as APPALACHIAN-AMERICANS.

And furthermore ....

HOW TO SPEAK ABOUT WOMEN AND BE POLITICALLY CORRECT:

1. She is not a "BABE" or a "CHICK" - She is a "BREASTED AMERICAN."

2. She is not a "SCREAMER" or a "MOANER" - She is "VOCALLY APPRECIATIVE."

3. She is not "EASY" - She is "HORIZONTALLY ACCESSIBLE."

4. She is not a "DUMB BLONDE" - She is a "LIGHT-HAIRED DETOUR OFF THE INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY."

5. She has not "BEEN AROUND" - She is a "PREVIOUSLY-ENJOYED COMPANION."

6. She is not an "AIR HEAD" - She is "REALITY IMPAIRED."

7. She does not get "DRUNK" or "TIPSY" - She gets "CHEMICALLY INCONVENIENCED"

8. She does not have "BREAST IMPLANTS" - She is "MEDICALLY ENHANCED."


9. She does not "NAG" you - She becomes "VERBALLY REPETITIVE."

10. She is not a "TRAMP" - She is "SEXUALLY EXTROVERTED."

11. She does not have "MAJOR LEAGUE HOOTERS" - She is "PECTORALLY SUPERIOR."

12. She is not a "TWO-BIT HOOKER" - She is a "LOW COST PROVIDER."

HOW TO SPEAK ABOUT MEN AND BE POLITICALLY CORRECT:

1. He does not have a "BEER GUT" ~ He has developed a "LIQUID GRAIN STORAGE FACILITY."

2. He is not a "BAD DANCER" ~ He is "OVERLY CAUCASIAN."

3. He does not "GET LOST ALL THE TIME" ~ He "INVESTIGATES ALTERNATIVE DESTINATIONS."

4. He is not "BALDING" ~ He is in "FOLLICLE REGRESSION."

5. He is not a "CRADLE ROBBER" ~ He prefers "GENERATIONAL DIFFERENTIAL RELATIONSHIPS."

6. He does not get "FALLING-DOWN DRUNK" ~ He becomes "ACCIDENTALLY HORIZONTAL."

7. He does not act like a "TOTAL ASS" ~ He develops a case of RECTAL-CRANIAL INVERSION."

8. He is not a "MALE CHAUVINIST PIG" ~ He has "SWINE EMPATHY."

9. He is not afraid of "COMMITMENT" ~ He is "RELATIONSHIP CHALLENGED."

10. He is not "HORNY" ~ He is "SEXUALLY FOCUSED."

11. It's not his "CRACK" you see hanging out of his pants ~ It's "REAR CLEAVAGE."

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.

Terms of Service

[In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit, for research and/or educational purposes. This constitutes 'FAIR USE' of any such copyrighted material.]
I am not responsible for any thing that happens to your mental health, computer and all personal property because you visited my site.
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Thoughts expressed in my blog are just that . I give My Opinion on the many events, products and how too, reported by the media and other web-sites.
Do not use this blog site to obtain weather events or disasters information. What I post may not be correct. Always get information from the proper media, weather (NWS)(NOAA)
Pacific Tsunami Warning Center and USGS sites