Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Japan will be Launching 16 Educational Ham-Sats

The first of the new birds to be launched will be the
amateur radio satellite HORYU-2 built by students at the
Kyushu Institute of Technology.  Its mission is to take
pictures of the Earth using a small C-MOS camera called
SCAMP that was developed by the University of Surrey in the
UK.  The SCAMP camera takes a 640x480 pixel picture in the
popular JPEG format. That means from 700 km altitude, one
pixel corresponds to 1.6 km.

HORYU-2 will be followed in July by the transport of several
items to the International Space Station.  This mission will
deliver the Japanese Experiment Module Small Satellite
Orbital Deployer or JEM along with the Japanese CubeSats WE-
WISH, FITSAT-1 and RAIKO.  These CubeSats should be deployed
from the ISS in September using the JEM and robot arm.

FITSAT-1 may be the most interesting of these.  It will use
a neodymium magnet for attitude control.  It will also have
multiple downlinks.  These include CW on 437.250 MHz, AX.25
on 437.445 MHz and a 4 watt high speed data transmitter on
5840 MHz.  The latter is capable of sending a 640 by 480 VGA
JPEG image in 6 seconds.

In addition to its other experiments, FITSAT-1 will also
carry a set of high power LED's that will be driven with
100W pulses to produce extremely bright flashes.  It is
hoped, will be observable by the unaided eye or with small
binoculars from the ground.  Both the 5840 MHz and optical
downlinks have a high power consumption so it may be that
they are only activated only over Japan.

In December the TSUBAME satellite is planned to be launched
on a Japanese H-IIA booster. It will carry a CW beacon on
437.250 MHz and AX.25 packet at 1200 and 9600 bit per second
telemetry on 437.505 MHz.  The remaining satellites will be
placed into orbit on subsequent  flights.

Monday, April 23, 2012

Geomagnetic Storm Watch

A minor (Kp=5) geomagnetic storm is underway. This is probably due to Earth's passage through the wake of a CME that swept past our planet earlier today. 
SolarHam.com wrote:
ALERT: Geomagnetic K-index of 6
Threshold Reached: 2012 Apr 24 0046 UTC
Synoptic Period: 0000-0300 UTC
Active Warning: Yes
NOAA Scale: G2 - Moderate
Potential Impacts: Area of impact primarily poleward of 55 degrees Geomagnetic Latitude.
Induced Currents - Power grid fluctuations can occur. High-latitude power systems may experience voltage alarms.
Spacecraft - Satellite orientation irregularities may occur; increased drag on low Earth-orbit satellites is possible.
Radio - HF (high frequency) radio propagation can fade at higher latitudes.
Aurora - Aurora may be seen as low as New York to Wisconsin to Washington state.

Sunday, April 15, 2012

KD8BIG; Articles of Interest

Hello to all my Amateur Radio Friends.
I hope all is well.
I have been under the weather for the last few weeks.
That is the reason for the lack of postings.

Here are some Articles of Interest;

Radio club amateurs take to the airwaves

Titanic 'hotspots' in radio link with Maryport

English town honors its Titanic hero

Area amateur radio groups have common bond

Amateur radio fans ham it up in Lewes


‎‎

Thursday, April 12, 2012

CW Celebration

New York’s QSY Society Amateur Radio Club will be hosting a special event station at the Samuel F. B. Morse Estate at Locust Grove in the city of Poughkeepsie. This in celebration of his creation of the Morse Code in 1832. The operation will run from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Saturday April 14th using the special event callsign K2QS. Transmissions will be centered on 7.034 on 40 meters and 14.034 MHz on 20. Hams making contact with K2QS will be eligible for a special commutative QSL card. QSL requests go to David Ruth at 48 Hoof Print Road, Millbrook, New York, 12545.

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Yaesu FT-818


All mode, all bands 1.8-1296MHz with 5MHz and 70MHz
US version with additional 500 KHz and 5 MHz Bands
QRP 5W RF (2W 1296MHz not yet confirm)
3.5AHr Li-Ion battery pack (2hr charging)
Built in random wire and whip auto-ATU
Full color TFT display
Mulch-functionDSP noise reduction
RF Speech processor
QSK in CW

The rumors is circulating since end of 2010 but not yet clear when the new transceiver will be released…

Friday, April 6, 2012

Amateur Radio Emergency Communications

FCC Issues Inquiry on the Future of Amateur Radio Emergency Communications

The FCC is taking a look at amateur radios role in emergency communications. It also wants to know about obstacles to ham radio operations such as Conditions, Covenants and Restrictions better known as C C and R’s that keep radio amateurs from being able to fulfill their public service duties. It’s done this in a Public Notice given the identifier of G N Docket 12–91 also known as DA 12-523.
------------------------------------

Just how important is amateur radio during emergencies? What is ham radio's value to the community when disasters strike? The FCC wants to hear from you about these questions, because the Commission has a lot of homework to do for Congress. Most hams know that helping serve the community is one of the primary reasons the amateur radio service was founded.

Hams have a long history of helping during emergencies. They maintain close relationships with the National Weather Service and other public safety groups. When tornadoes raked Arkansas and Alabama in January, radio amateurs provided important communications support. They were active, as well, when a severe winter storm knocked out power and communications to villages along the Bering Sea in November, 2011.

The Commission is required to study amateur radio as part of a Public Law known as the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012. The FCC is to analyze ham radio's uses and capabilities during emergencies, and to submit its findings to House and Senate Committees.

The law also requires the Commission to analyze ham radio's importance as it relates to protecting lives and property. The Commission is to provide recommendations on how to enhance voluntary deployment of ham radio operators when needed. The law compels FCC to evaluate how best to integrate amateur radio into furthering various federal government initiatives that might require communications support.

If there are impediments along the way, the law requires that the Commission find ways to remove them. For example, the law questions whether antenna restrictions or unnecessary private land use restrictions wind up causing more problems than they solve.

In doing its study, FCC is directed to reach out to various entities including amateur radio, as well as various disaster and emergency response organizations.

The Commission has been given a list of specific questions to ask. If you want to comment, you can answer those questions, but you can also submit other comments, too, as long as they relate to the study.

The questions seek examples on various scenarios where amateur radio played a key role relating to emergency response and disaster relief.

Specific benefits ham radio provided are to be named.

Another question asks for examples of when ham radio is an advantage over other forms of communications during emergencies, and when does it complement those other systems.

Other questions cover a wide range of subjects, all involving amateur radio's role, how it can best be utilized, communications training, activities, planning and much more. One topic raised is whether existing rules governing the amateur radio service might need modifying to better facilitate emergency communications. The changes could be of an operational nature...or perhaps some technical limitations need to be addressed. The study asks whether rules changes would be a good idea to encourage development of innovative new technologies, whether voice, data or perhaps video.

In the past, some amateur radio emergency groups have expressed the desire to be able to interconnect directly with public safety and health care communications systems during emergencies. The Commission is to look into whether this should be considered, and if doing so, would enable hams to better serve the public, or whether would pose problems.

The possibility of national certification standards is mentioned as another subject to investigate.

If there are any current Commission rules that serve as impediments to what hams try to accomplish during emergencies, the FCC is told to name them and assess whether they should be changed or lifted to make it easier on hams trying to help during disasters.

If you want to submit comments, you have until May 17th to do so. You can file your comments electronically or by mail. To submit comments electronically, go to apps.fcc.gov/ecfs. Paper filings must include an original and one copy for each filing. Those must be mailed to the Commission's Secretary. The address is: Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th St SW, Washington, DC, 20554.

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

The FCC says that stakeholder entities and organizations, including the amateur radio, emergency response, and disaster communications communities, are particularly encouraged to submit comments. However the FCC says that those who do provide filings should not view this Public Notice as an opportunity to seek Commission rulings regarding specific situations. This is an overview inquiry only. And be certain to mention Docket 12-91 when you do submit your comments. The complete text of this FCC release can be downloaded in .PDF format at tinyurl.com/fcc-emcomm-study (FCC)


ARRL SAYS IT NEEDS CCR RESTRICTION INFORMATION ASAP

In a related story, if you live in a CC&R restricted community, have deed restrictions or homeowners association covenants that have prevented you from erecting amateur radio antennas then the ARRL wants to hear from you.

The League says that it is looking for input in two specific areas. These are recent amateur radio involvement in actual emergency communications and disaster relief and specific details about how CC&R’s and other private land use restrictions have impaired licensed amateurs to participate fully in these disaster relief communications.

If your ability to participate in ARES, RACES, SKYWARN, CERT, or other emergency and disaster relief communications has been limited because the inability to have adequate antennas due to such land use or owners association restrictions, you are asked to provide that information to the ARRL. Also to provide it as a narrative of your exact situation, giving as much detail as practical. Some areas for you to consider in writing your story might be:

Were there alternative properties without CC&Rs in the area you wished to reside?

The exact wording of what exactly does your CC&R’s prohibit or allow.

Have you applied for a waiver of the CC&R with the Home Owner's Association Architectural Review Committee but were denied? If so, what was the reason?

Whether you are an ARRL member or not, your information and situation are important to helping the League make the case for all amateurs. Please provide your documentation to the ARRL as soon as possible but definitely before Wednesday April 25th. It can either be uploaded to the ARRL website at www.arrl.org/ccr-study-information or they can be sent as an e-mail attachment to an email sent to CCRinfo (at) arrl (dot) org. (ARRL)

Thursday, April 5, 2012

DX News

In DX, PA7JWC and PD7DB operating stroke PJ2 will be on the air from Curacao through the 9th April. They will operate SSB, CW, RTTY and PSK on 80 through 10 meters. QSLs via Logbook of The World is preferred otherwise send paper QSL’s to their home callsigns, either direct and via the bureau.

JA1XGI will be active as A35XG from Tonga through the 9th of April on 30, 17 and 12 metes using CW, SSB and digital modes. QSL him also via his home callsign, direct or via the bureau.

ON4AEO and several other operators will be active as 3DA0FC from Swaziland from April 6th to the 10th. They plan to operate SSB, RTTY and PSK on 80 through 10 meters. QSL via ON4CJK, direct or via the bureau.

Lastly, GM6TW will be operating from the Inner Hebrides from April 7th to 13th. His main operating location will be the Isle of Jura, but he also- hopes to activate from Islay and Colonsay as well. No frequencies or modes were given. QSL via M0UTD.

DX UNIVERSITY APRIL 20 – LAST CALL TO REGISTER

The annual 'DX University' will take place in Visalia, California, on Friday, April 20th. On the program are several of the world's most renowned DXers who will share their knowledge. You will also hear some vital tips on making DXCC and on achieving Honor Roll status.

So far over 120 hams have already reserved their place at this session. There are still a few seats left. Go to www.dxuniversity.com to register.

Sunday, April 1, 2012

KD8BIG / Articles of Interest

Hello all,

I've been under the weather for the last few weeks so this is a short post~
Articles of Interest~

Google Declares “Morse Code Is Perfect” with New Gmail Tap Mail Program

On April 1, Google announced that it has unveiled a new way to use its popular Gmail e-mail system. Called Gmail Tap, it uses dots and dashes to form letters, a system of communicating that should be very familiar to radio amateurs. “Morse code is perfect,” said Gmail Tap Engineer Mitch Fedenko. “It’s just a dot and a dash. What’s simpler... [continue]

ARRL in Action: What Have We Been Up to Lately?

Compiled by S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFAARRL News Editork1sfa@arrl.orgThis feature -- including convenient Web links to useful information -- is a concise monthly update of some of the things ARRL is doing on behalf of its members. This installment covers the month of March.New privileges on 60 meters went into effect on March 5. After communicating w... [continue]

Eric P. Nichols, KL7AJ, Wins March QST Cover Plaque Award

The winner of the QST Cover Plaque Award for March is Eric P. Nichols, KL7AJ, for his article “Three Wrong Assumptions about the Ionosphere.” Congratulations Eric! The QST Cover Plaque award -- given to the author or authors of the best article in each issue -- is determined by a vote of ARRL members on the QST Cover Plaque Poll web page. Cast ... [continue]

ARNewsline Report 1807 -- Mar. 30 2012:

The following is a Q-S-T. The next Global Amateur Radio Emergency Conference to be hekd in Malaysia; 1700 South African hams let their licenses lapse, World amateur Radio Day to celebrate 50 yesrs of ham radio in space, Japan to launch five new hamsats, DXCC is going on-line and Roving Reporter Pierre Pulinmyleg returns with a truly out of this... [continue]

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Sunspots & the XYL

The sunspots were roaring and the Old Dxer was working DX night and day.
The faithful XYL had had it with his QRZing and blew her stack.
"DX DX DX - thats all you ever think about!" she groaned
"Why I'll bet you don't even remember our wedding date!!

"I mostly certainly do" was the immediate reply.
"It was June 14th, 1958 - Thats the night I worked
the XT1, the CRØ, and the P4~

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

International Museums Weekend Registration now Open

The International Museums Weekend special event operations will take place on the weekends of June 16th through the 17th and again on June 23rd and 24th. Radio amateurs are encouraged to participate in this event by setting up stations in their local museums.

The International Museums Weekend organizer Harry Bloomfield, M1BYT in Leeds in the U-K. He asks that all those intending to take part in the event to register their museum operation at www.ukradioamateur.co.uk/imw.

This is not only a fun event but one that permits you to showcase amateur radio to non-hams world wide.

Monday, March 19, 2012

Buoys on 10 Meters

The source of some mysterious weak signals on 29.684 MHz with an 81.9 Baud and 130 Hz shift have been located. According to the February IARU Region One newsletter, the signals came from the Spanish coastal area and were audible across all of Europe but only during band openings and only by directional antennas.

It turns out the source of transmissions by Datawell buoys. These buoys, produced in the Netherlands are used for measuring water temperatures and wave heights. They are designed to transmit with 75 milliwatts on frequencies between 27 and 40 MHz.

Dick Van Empelen, PA2GRU, of Heemstede in the Netherlands has since visited the Datawell Company and has informed them that the buoy transmissions on the amateur service 10 meter band are illegal. The operations chief promised to inform all Datawell offices about the situation. (IARU-R1)

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Ten-Tec Model 238C HP Antenna Tuner



Description

Model 238C now features a large cross-needle SWR and peak reading power output meter. Model 238C uses our tried and true “L” match design used in the earlier 238/238A/238B models with a new cosmetic design, larger heavy duty tuning capacitor than the original and backlit cross-needle SWR and peak power output metering. The 238 was rated the LOWEST INSERTION LOSS of any high power antenna tuner available by the ARRL Lab in their survey article comparing the Amateur Radio tuner market (QST 2/03).

Specifications:

    • CIRCUIT TYPE: Modified “L” Network
    • RF POWER RATING: 2000 watts

FREQUENCY RANGE: 1.8 to 30 MHz

    • OUTPUT MATCHING RANGE: At least 10:1 SWR, any phase angle,
    • 1.8 to 30 MHz. 3000 ohms maximum at full power.
    • INPUT IMPEDANCE: 50 ohms, nominal

CAPACITOR VOLTAGE RATING: 3500 volts

  • INDUCTOR: 18 uh silver plated roller inductor
  • SIZE: HWD (in inches) 5 x 12.125 x 13.5 (12.7 x 30.8 x 34.3 cm). Depth measurement includes rear panel connectors.
  • WEIGHT: 16 lbs. (5.45 kg)

source; http://www.tentec.com/Link

Friday, March 16, 2012

Crossroads Hamfest 2012; Hamfest/Convention

03/17/2012 |

Crossroads Hamfest 2012

Location: Marshall, MI
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: Southern Michigan Amateur Radio Society
Website: http://www.w8df.com/hamfest.html
Learn More

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Kenwood TM281 2 Meter Transceiver

A preview of the Kenwood TM281 transceiver that will be fully reviewed in the May 2012 issue of QST magazine.


• Weather Alert Radio function checks the 1050 Hz tone from NOAA (U.S.A only).
• Menu allows for easy control and selecting of various functions.
• Up to 200 memory channels to program frequencies and other various data.
• (Up to 100 memory channels if Memory Channel Names are assigned to the channels.)
• Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System (CTCSS) or Digital Code Squelch (DCS) rejects unwanted calls from other stations.
• Equipped with an easy-to-read large LCD with alphanumeric display capability.
• FM & Narrow Band FM ready

• High Power 65 Watts
• Free PC software (Memory Control Program) is available

Price $ 169.95 USD

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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