Propagation: Realtime Band Conditions Web-Site

REALTIME BAND CONDITIONS WEB SITE 

Bandconditions.com is a new experimental website designed to provide 24 hour a day, 7 day a week, 365 day a year real time band condition information to SSB, contesters and other operators interested in increasing their scores. It can also be of benefit to other Radio Amateurs to determine band conditions for nets and casual QSO's. 

This information is not based on any software predictions or any kind of satellite based readings. Instead it uses a new Ionospheric sounding method called "HF Ionospheric Interferometry" which operates very similarly to the PolSAR system used by NASA. Its in cybderspace at http://www.bandconditions.com/  (OPDX)

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler to Lead Fight to Maintain Net Neutrality

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler confirmed on Wednesday, February 3rd that he intends to bring wired and wireless broadband services under utility-style rules based on Title II of the Communications Act of 1934. He said Title II would bring to end the debate over how to ensure that the Internet remains open to everyone, a concept known as Net neutrality.

In an op-ed published Wednesday on Wired.com, Wheeler said the new rules will ban paid prioritization. Thats the idea that an Internet company can pay a premium to ensure that its traffic gets to the consumer faster than everyone else's.

Wheeler also said he would reinstate rules that had been part of the previous open Internet regulation, which went into effect in 2010, but was overruled last year by a federal appeals court, leading to the current situation. The previous rules banned an Internet service provider from blocking traffic or slowing down access to content on the Internet to favor their own services.

Title II of the Communications Act holds the potential to radically change how the Internet is governed by giving the FCC unprecedented authority over it. The provision originally gave the FCC the power to set rates and enforce the "common carrier" principle, or the idea that every customer is treated fairly, on telephone service. FCC Chairman Wheeler hopes to apply that principle to Internet traffic, preventing broadband providers from favoring one bit of data over another.

Net Neutrality is important in all aspects of today's society including amateur radio since more and more emerging communications technologies are dependent on it. And in the years ahead it will be even more so.

ARRL Legislative Objectives Announced

he ARRL has made public some of its legislative objectives for the coming 114th Congressional year. 

The League says that it will continue to secure passage of legislation instructing the FCC to extend the requirement for “reasonable accommodation” of Amateur Radio station antennas to all forms of land-use regulation. The League also will continue to oppose legislation leading to the reallocation of amateur spectrum, or to sharing arrangements that reduce the utility of existing allocations. Any legislation that diminishes the rights of federal licensees in favor of unlicensed emitters, or that encourages the deployment of spectrum-polluting technologies will also be opposed by the League.

Among the other objectives, the ARRL will seek recognition of the unique resources, capabilities, and expertise of the Amateur Radio Service in any legislation addressing communications issues related to emergencies, disasters, or homeland security. 

The League says it will support complementary legislative objectives of other radio communication services, particularly the public safety and scientific services that require spectrum access and protection from interference for noncommercial purposes that benefit the public. 

Support will also be given to legislation authorizing the FCC to appoint an electrical engineer or scientist as an additional staff member to ensure the Commissioners have adequate access to technical expertise when making decisions.

The ARRL continues to oppose “distracted driving” legislation that does not clearly define the class of devices included in the regulation, so as to exclude two-way mobile radio transmitters or receivers used by Amateur Radio licensees.

Source: ARRL

Michigan: Critical Pro-Gun Legislation to Receive Hearings Today

Today, the House Judiciary Committee will hear testimony on multiple pro-gun bills at 12:00 P.M. in Room 521 of the House Office Building.  Included on the agenda are Senate Bills 34, 35 and the “Air Gun Reclassification Package.”

SB 34 and SB 35 are comprehensive concealed pistol licensing reforms which both seek to create a more efficient, expedient and uniform concealed pistol licensing process for all statutorily eligible Michiganders (i.e. individuals not prohibited under 28.425b and who satisfy all financial and submission obligations).  These two bills are replicas of last session’s Senate Bills 789 and 790, which passed the legislature with bipartisan support but unfortunately fell victim to misinformation spread by out-of-state gun control organizations resulting in a veto by Governor Snyder.  The NRA has worked to ensure that these crucial reforms once again have the opportunity to pass through the Michigan Legislature.  

As previously reported, House Bills 4151, 4152, 4153, 4154, 4155 and 4156 are a set of bills which make up the “Air Gun Reclassification Package.”  This important legislative package seeks to achieve pragmatic and much-needed reform by redefining the term “firearm” in the Michigan Code to exclude devices that propel a projectile by gas, spring or air.  The goal of this package is to relieve Michiganders, and those seeking to engage in interstate commerce with Michigan residents, from outdated and unduly burdensome restraints on the transfer, purchase and possession of most air guns.

These bills are important fixes to current Michigan firearms policy.  Please contact members of the House Judiciary Committee and your state Representative TODAY and politely request that they support Senate Bills 34, 35 and the Air Gun Reclassification Package.

House Judiciary Committee Members:

Representative Klint Kesto (R-39), Chairman
(517) 373-1799
klintkesto@house.mi.gov  

Representative Peter Lucido (R-36), Majority Vice Chairman
(517) 373-0843
peterlucido@house.mi.gov

Representative Jeff Irwin (D-53), Minority Vice Chairman
(517) 373-2577
jeffirwin@house.mi.gov

Representative Kurt Heise (R-20)
(517) 373-3816
kurtheise@house.mi.gov

Representative Joel Johnson (R-97)
(517) 373-8962
joeljohnson@house.mi.gov

Representative Martin Howrylak (R-41)
(517) 373-1783
martinhowrylak@house.mi.gov

Representative Triston Cole (R-105)
(517) 373-0829
tristoncole@house.mi.gov

Representative Jim Runestad (R-44)
(517) 373-2616
jimrunestad@house.mi.gov

Representative Rose Mary Robinson (D-4)
(517) 373-1008
rosemaryrobinson@house.mi.gov

Representative Stephanie Chang (D-6)
(517) 373-0823
stephaniechang@house.mi.gov

Representative Vanessa  Guerra (D-95)
(517) 373-0152
vanessaguerra@house.mi.gov 

Source: NRA

Isotron Antennas some Info & (My Thoughts)

I really like the Isotron Antennas.

I've used a few of them many times. They make a great field day or camping antenna and I have a few friends who use them as their base antennas at home.

I get a news letter from Isotron Antenna on a regular basis and thought I'd share the one I received today.

Enjoy.

HOW HIGH SHOULD AN ANTENNA BE?

This question is asked quite frequently. Actually what many want to know is, how low to mount the antenna to where it will still work?

There is much to learn about HF propagation. However, a few basics can help to achieve good results.

On VHF and higher you can go by the rule, "the higher the better". This is a ground wave transmission. You can liken it to line of sight. If you were to raise yourself above ground, you would see a farther distance to the horizon. So will the ground wave. On VHF, this will increase the performance in distance. Actually on VHF in particular, it is more forgiving and will bend with the terrain somewhat. This is a reason for using VHF for police and fire in rural areas. We are referring to distances of 10 to 15 miles car to car (depending on power) and as much as 100 miles through a repeater at a very high altitude.

What happens at the HF frequencies? A lot!

HF is normally used for much longer distances than the VHF ground wave. Therefore, where do you start and what factors affect it?

There is one thing to keep in mind. HF radiation rarely reflects. Due to the low frequency, there is insufficient inductance in objects to make it reflect. However, there are other factors that affect HF.

We can start with what you are walking on. The soil conditions of the earth varies per location. Conductivity and various minerals in the soil affect HF communications.

Depending on this chemistry will determine how much HF radiation will be absorbed and not leave the antenna site. What do you look for?

If the antenna is very low to the ground, you can observe the performance. Tuning of the antenna is one factor. Is the antenna reacting peculiar? Minimum SWR a bit too high? If measured, is the impedance of the antenna very low. Possibly receiving performance has deteriorated severely. 

Another check is measuring SWR at low power as compared to high power. If at low power the SWR is closer to normal and high power it increases a lot, then a nearby object is most likely having an affect. Like the earth. Radiation can be absorbed and due to a transformer affect radiate some back into the antenna or possibly the feedline laying on it. This will increase the SWR and can make the antenna very narrow in bandwidth.

If this is the case, Raising the antenna even a few feet will make a change toward normal functioning of the antenna.

We can usually use the same rule as VHF,"the higher the better". However, when you are limited in what you can do, you will want to know the minimum you can get away with. HF will start performing reasonably well if you can get sufficient height from your ground absorption factor. On the average, 20 feet will do it. Some areas are more forgiving and some areas are worse. You will get indications of it by taking note of the readings mentioned.

Next article will continue on this subject.

73,

Ralph WD0EJA

FEB. 2015

ISOTRON 20

A WORK HORSE FOR 20 METERS

PHOTO WAS TAKEN 10 MILES SW OF FLORISSANT, CO.