In DX, word that CT2HPM is once again on the air from Angola operating
as D2CT. He plans to be there through November 15th operating PSK31 and
RTTY on 20 through 10 meters including the WARC bands. QSL via CT2HPM.
W1CDC will be operational from Guyana as 8R1A between October 13th and
November 1st. Activity will be holiday style on 80 through 10 meters
using CW and SSB. QSL via his home callsign, direct or by the bureau.
YB9WZJ and YD9RQX will be active using their home calls stroke P from
Waigeo Island between October 16th and the 22nd. Operations will be on
40, 20 and 15 meters using SSB only. QSL only via their home callsigns.
Members of the Andorran Amateur Radio Union will again be active as
C37NL from Andorra during the CQWW DX SSB Contest. The dates are
October 26th and the 27th. QSL via C37URA.
N0HJZ, will be active as C6ARW from Grand Bahama Island between October
22nd to the 29th. Operations will be on 30, 17 and 12 meters using CW
and RTTY. QSL via his home callsign, direct (with sufficient postage) or
by the Bureau.
AA1AC will be on the air stroke 6W from La Somone, Senagal
between December 8th and the 14th. No information on times or
frequencies was given. QSL direct or by the Bureau to his home
callsign.
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Thursday, October 10, 2013
The ARRL Letter, October 10, 2013
The ARRL Letter
October 10, 2013 Rick Lindquist, WW1ME, Editor
October 10, 2013 Rick Lindquist, WW1ME, Editor
- Public Service: Army MARS Seeks Partnership with ARRL, ARES
- Events: Hams Collaborate to Greet Juno Spacecraft on Flyby; Results Are Pending
- Events: Government Shutdown Prompts Changes in National Wildlife Refuge Week Special Event
- Events: Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers Issues Call for Conference Papers
- Your League: The ARRL Foundation Invites Scholarship Applications
- Your League: Nominations Due December 31 for 2013 ARRL International Humanitarian Award
- On the Air: Pacific, Asia DX Operations Announced
- On the Air: Informal Grenada Commemorative Operations Set
- Awards: Window Opens for 2014 Dayton Hamvention Award Nominations
- People: Tibet Radio Operator, Diplomat Robert W. Ford, ex-AC4RF, SK
- Solar Update
- Getting It Right!
- This Week in Radiosport
- Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events
Monday, October 7, 2013
LADEE Spacecraft goes into Lunar Orbit
NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer or LADEE
spacecraft fired its engines Sunday morning, October 6th, slowing it
enough to be captured by lunar gravity and placing it into orbit around
the Moon. Once given the green light the spacecraft will begin its
mission to study the Moon's exotic and almost transparent atmosphere,
which is highly affected by space weather. That information will be
sent by radio back to Earth for further analysis.
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Faulty Radio Communications may have led to Deaths of 19 Firefighters
An investigation into the deaths of nineteen firefighters in Arizona on
June 30th has found that inadequate communication may nave played a
significant role in their fate. The dead men, all members of an elite
unit called the Granite Mountain Hotshots died when they were overrun by
a wildfire near the town of Yarnell. Amateur Radio Newsline’s Mark
Abramowicz, NT3V, takes a look at what the report has to say:
--
It is a sobering and detailed report that investigators put together to try to ascertain what happened, why it happened and to prevent a tragedy like this from happening again.
Because there were no survivors, investigators relied on recordings of radio transmissions, eyewitness accounts of fire incident managers and neighboring crews, including pilots flying tankers dropping flame retardant and helicopter pilots.
The report's key findings on communications:
"Radio communications were challenging throughout the incident. Some radios were not programmed with appropriate tone guards. Crews identified the problem, engaged in troubleshooting, and developed workarounds so they could communicate using their radios.
And, this telling conclusion:
"Radio traffic was heavy during critical times on the fire."
Did it mean the Hot Shots trying to escape to what they thought was a nearby safe zone - a ranch - weren't able to cut in on the traffic?
Here's more, quoting from the 122-page investigation report:
"Although much communication occurred among crews throughout the day, few people understood Granite Mountain’s intentions, movements, and location, once they left the black."
The black is considered a safe zone.
Quoting again from the report:
"The Team believes this is due to brief, informal, and vague radio transmissions and talk-arounds that can occur during wildland fire communications.
"Based on radio conversations, Operations and other resources had concluded the Granite Mountain IHC was located in the black, near the ridge top where they had started that morning. This resulted in confusion about the crews actual location at the time of search and rescue."
Finally, the investigative team made some key recommendations to the state of Arizona and the National Wildfire Coordination group.
Among them, increasing resource tracking, communications and real time weather information.
And, putting together an interagency task force to conduct a further analysis of what happened, as well as examining the human factors and wildland fire communications.
--
The report describes radio communications during the time of the fire as being very challenging. (K7DB, Yarnell Hill Fire Investigation)
Reported by Mark Abramowicz, NT3V
--
It is a sobering and detailed report that investigators put together to try to ascertain what happened, why it happened and to prevent a tragedy like this from happening again.
Because there were no survivors, investigators relied on recordings of radio transmissions, eyewitness accounts of fire incident managers and neighboring crews, including pilots flying tankers dropping flame retardant and helicopter pilots.
The report's key findings on communications:
"Radio communications were challenging throughout the incident. Some radios were not programmed with appropriate tone guards. Crews identified the problem, engaged in troubleshooting, and developed workarounds so they could communicate using their radios.
And, this telling conclusion:
"Radio traffic was heavy during critical times on the fire."
Did it mean the Hot Shots trying to escape to what they thought was a nearby safe zone - a ranch - weren't able to cut in on the traffic?
Here's more, quoting from the 122-page investigation report:
"Although much communication occurred among crews throughout the day, few people understood Granite Mountain’s intentions, movements, and location, once they left the black."
The black is considered a safe zone.
Quoting again from the report:
"The Team believes this is due to brief, informal, and vague radio transmissions and talk-arounds that can occur during wildland fire communications.
"Based on radio conversations, Operations and other resources had concluded the Granite Mountain IHC was located in the black, near the ridge top where they had started that morning. This resulted in confusion about the crews actual location at the time of search and rescue."
Finally, the investigative team made some key recommendations to the state of Arizona and the National Wildfire Coordination group.
Among them, increasing resource tracking, communications and real time weather information.
And, putting together an interagency task force to conduct a further analysis of what happened, as well as examining the human factors and wildland fire communications.
--
The report describes radio communications during the time of the fire as being very challenging. (K7DB, Yarnell Hill Fire Investigation)
Reported by Mark Abramowicz, NT3V
Amateur Radio Operator Arrested for Impersonating a Police Office
An Indianapolis area ham has been arrested after he was allegedly
spotted pretending to be a cop at the funeral of a police officer who
was being laid to rest. Amateur Radio Newsline’s Jack Parker, W8ISH,
has the details:
--
News of the death of an Indianapolis police officer shot and killed while responding to a domestic dispute made headlines all last week. But, on the afternoon of his funeral another man in uniform stole the headlines. As law enforcement officers, friends, family and media gathered at the cemetery another man in blue was arrested for impersonating a police officer.
As it turns out these two men had more in common than first thought. They are both Indianapolis based Amateur Radio Operators. Arrested is 38 year old Minh Nguyen, callsign KB9WDY. He was arrested as he waited with Westside residents and other police officers as the miles long funeral procession neared the west side district headquarters when deceased officer Rod Bradway was assigned.
Rod Bradway was killed last week while attempting to save a woman and her child from an armed domestic partner. Bradways Amateur Radio call sign is KC9PFW. Authorities don’t believe the two men knew each other. The police badge and uniform was the common link to this sad commentary.
According to the arrest report, Police say Nguyen was taking photographs from a black 2012 Dodge Charger equipped with a siren, flashing lights and a two-way radio. Police found an AR 15 rifle in his car and later found guns, police uniforms and police equipment at his the home.
Police say he has had prior arrests on similar and other unusual behavior. The report said Nguyen also had “property stolen from the city of Indianapolis,” including property room slips and envelopes that the public does not have access to.
Minh Nguyen faces felony charges of impersonating a public servant and theft, which carries a sentence of six months to three years in prison. A conviction could also lead to revocation of his Amateur Radio license by the FCC if they choose to review the case.
Reporting from Indianapolis, this is Jack Parker W8ISH.
--
News of the death of an Indianapolis police officer shot and killed while responding to a domestic dispute made headlines all last week. But, on the afternoon of his funeral another man in uniform stole the headlines. As law enforcement officers, friends, family and media gathered at the cemetery another man in blue was arrested for impersonating a police officer.
As it turns out these two men had more in common than first thought. They are both Indianapolis based Amateur Radio Operators. Arrested is 38 year old Minh Nguyen, callsign KB9WDY. He was arrested as he waited with Westside residents and other police officers as the miles long funeral procession neared the west side district headquarters when deceased officer Rod Bradway was assigned.
Rod Bradway was killed last week while attempting to save a woman and her child from an armed domestic partner. Bradways Amateur Radio call sign is KC9PFW. Authorities don’t believe the two men knew each other. The police badge and uniform was the common link to this sad commentary.
According to the arrest report, Police say Nguyen was taking photographs from a black 2012 Dodge Charger equipped with a siren, flashing lights and a two-way radio. Police found an AR 15 rifle in his car and later found guns, police uniforms and police equipment at his the home.
Police say he has had prior arrests on similar and other unusual behavior. The report said Nguyen also had “property stolen from the city of Indianapolis,” including property room slips and envelopes that the public does not have access to.
Minh Nguyen faces felony charges of impersonating a public servant and theft, which carries a sentence of six months to three years in prison. A conviction could also lead to revocation of his Amateur Radio license by the FCC if they choose to review the case.
Reporting from Indianapolis, this is Jack Parker W8ISH.
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Public Radio Station Fined $12000 for 6 years of Missing Paper Work
The FCC has proposed a $12,000 fine and a shorter license renewal term
for Gallup Public Radio. This based on some missing documents from its
public file.
New Mexico station KGLP –FM admitted it was missing nearly six years’ worth of issues and programs lists from the file. In its reply to the FCC the station indicated it has now reconstructed the missing documents.
However the FCC’s Media Bureau said in its decision the station is still responsible for the lapse. The commission found the violations to be “extensive,” occurring for nearly six years of an eight-year license term. For that reason the agency raised the proposed monetary forfeiture from the base $10,000 to $12,000 and also granted the station a shortened, four-year, license renewal term.
Gallup Public Radio was given the usual 30 days from imposition of the fine to pay the amount in full or to file a further appeal.
New Mexico station KGLP –FM admitted it was missing nearly six years’ worth of issues and programs lists from the file. In its reply to the FCC the station indicated it has now reconstructed the missing documents.
However the FCC’s Media Bureau said in its decision the station is still responsible for the lapse. The commission found the violations to be “extensive,” occurring for nearly six years of an eight-year license term. For that reason the agency raised the proposed monetary forfeiture from the base $10,000 to $12,000 and also granted the station a shortened, four-year, license renewal term.
Gallup Public Radio was given the usual 30 days from imposition of the fine to pay the amount in full or to file a further appeal.
D-STAR Experimental Net on 40 Meters
If you have interest in digital audio on the High Frequency bands you
might want to tune your D-Star equipped transceiver to 7.215 MHz at noon
UTC. This to see if you can take part in a D-Star test net operating
from Australia most mornings.
The net control is Brian Farrar, VK2AH, in New South Whales who says the best contacts so far have been from his location to the city of Horsham about 550 miles away. Farrar says that net participants have tried other bands with no much success but 40 meters seems promising.
VK2AK is not only on for the net but also tries 40 meter D-Star at other times of the day as well. While operating he also monitors D-Star Reflector REF003 and does put out alerts when he is looking for D-Star contacts from his QTH down-under.
The net control is Brian Farrar, VK2AH, in New South Whales who says the best contacts so far have been from his location to the city of Horsham about 550 miles away. Farrar says that net participants have tried other bands with no much success but 40 meters seems promising.
VK2AK is not only on for the net but also tries 40 meter D-Star at other times of the day as well. While operating he also monitors D-Star Reflector REF003 and does put out alerts when he is looking for D-Star contacts from his QTH down-under.
Friday, October 4, 2013
Nikola Tesla Monument Unveiled in New York
The president of Serbia has traveled to the United States where he
recently unveiled the Nikola Tesla Monument at Tesla’s former laboratory
in Long Island. In a press statement prior to the actual ceremony,
Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic said that it was the strength of
Tesla’s vision is what influences how the public speaks about Nikola
Tesla with respect some 70 years after he died.
Nikola Tesla who passed away on January 7, 1943 was a Serbian-born and later inventor, electrical engineer, mechanical engineer, physicist, and futurist. He is perhaps best known for his contributions to the design of the modern alternating current electricity supply system.
For decades The Tesla Science Center has been trying to set up a commemorative museum at the site of Nikola Tesla’s old laboratory, Now those behind the project and who managed to raise over a million dollars in an internet crowd funding campaign can celebrate the fact that their goal is finally starting to become a reality.
Nikola Tesla who passed away on January 7, 1943 was a Serbian-born and later inventor, electrical engineer, mechanical engineer, physicist, and futurist. He is perhaps best known for his contributions to the design of the modern alternating current electricity supply system.
For decades The Tesla Science Center has been trying to set up a commemorative museum at the site of Nikola Tesla’s old laboratory, Now those behind the project and who managed to raise over a million dollars in an internet crowd funding campaign can celebrate the fact that their goal is finally starting to become a reality.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Two Amateur Radio Astronauts Depart NASA
NASA astronauts Gregory Chamitoff, KD5PKZ, and Ronald Garan, KF5GPO, are
leaving the agency. Chamitoff is joining the faculty of Texas A and M
University in College Station, Texas, and the University of Sydney in
Australia. Garan has said that he plans to work on a range of new
entrepreneurial and humanitarian efforts.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) 2013
On October 19, the Boy Scouts will be hosting their annual Jamboree
on the Air (JOTA). This fun event gives scouts the opportunity to
participate in amateur radio activities. Find a local group near you and
so see what all the fuss is about! This is a great opportunity to
showcase amateur radio to the next generation of hams. More information
is available at: http://www.arrl.org/jamboree-on-the-air-jota http://www.scouting.org/JOTA.aspx
http://www.k2bsa.net/jota/
http://www.k2bsa.net/jota/
Monday, September 30, 2013
National Wildlife Refuge Special Event
The week of October 12 - 19, will see the National Wildlife Refuge Week
annual Special Event on the air activity taking place across the US.
This event started in Michigan 6 years ago and is now nationally
coordinated. See the national coordination site for abundant tips and
checklists for having a successful event: http://www.nwrweek-radio.info/ Some
refuges have public activities going on, and this is also a chance to
meet refuge visitors and chat up amateur radio, too.
October Sky - The Rocket Boys Festival
OCTOBER SKY - THE ROCKET
BOYS FESTIVAL
The "October Sky : Rocket Boys Festival" takes place October 4th to the 6th in Beckley, West Virginia. And as a part of the celebration the Black Diamond Amateur Radio Club will be operating a special event station on October 5th with the call W8R. Frequencies to be listening on are 7.280 and 14.280 MHz. +/- 3.Khz.
More is on the web at http://rocketboysfestival.com/
The "October Sky : Rocket Boys Festival" takes place October 4th to the 6th in Beckley, West Virginia. And as a part of the celebration the Black Diamond Amateur Radio Club will be operating a special event station on October 5th with the call W8R. Frequencies to be listening on are 7.280 and 14.280 MHz. +/- 3.Khz.
More is on the web at http://rocketboysfestival.com/
Friday, September 20, 2013
New EmComm Guidebook drom DHS
A very informative guidebook authored by Ross
Merlin, WA2WDT, and titled NIFOG is
described as a great go-to compendium of
radio frequencies, channels, and other
tidbits if information that can be essential
in times of an emergency.
The guide is authored by Merlin who works in the Department of Homeland Security Office of Emergency Communications. He authored the guidebook for the agency and says that it contains page after page of frequency information, operating procedures, formulas, and rules and regulations from both the FCC and the NTIA. Specific subject material includes frequency and channel data for Fire, EMS, Police, and Law Enforcement as well as Mutual Aid channels in VHF, UHF, 700 MHz, and others. Also included is communications information for marine, aviation, NOAA weather, MURS, GMRS, FRS, and just about any radio you might encounter in an emergency.
Te guidebook is available in printed and downloadable formats. The primary Website where downloads copies are available is publicsafetytools.info. Copies printed on waterproof paper, are reportedly available free of charge from the Department of Homeland Security. Please contact NIFOG@HQ.DHS.GOV for details.
The guide is authored by Merlin who works in the Department of Homeland Security Office of Emergency Communications. He authored the guidebook for the agency and says that it contains page after page of frequency information, operating procedures, formulas, and rules and regulations from both the FCC and the NTIA. Specific subject material includes frequency and channel data for Fire, EMS, Police, and Law Enforcement as well as Mutual Aid channels in VHF, UHF, 700 MHz, and others. Also included is communications information for marine, aviation, NOAA weather, MURS, GMRS, FRS, and just about any radio you might encounter in an emergency.
Te guidebook is available in printed and downloadable formats. The primary Website where downloads copies are available is publicsafetytools.info. Copies printed on waterproof paper, are reportedly available free of charge from the Department of Homeland Security. Please contact NIFOG@HQ.DHS.GOV for details.
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Amateur Radio Responds to Colorado Floods
Ham radio was once again a first responder as
a week of torrential rainfall brought
destruction to parts of Colorado. Many of
these were the same areas that were damaged
by a series of wind-driven wildfires earlier
this year and back in 2012. At least seven
people have been confirmed as killed by
deadly flooding and efforts to locate more
than 1,000 missing people continue.
Some of the worst flooding followed the path of the High Park and Waldo Canyon fires. The 2013 Waldo Canyon fire was the worst in the state's history burning more than 18,000 acres near Colorado Springs and destroying more than 300 homes.
Jack Ciaccia, WM0G is the ARRL Colorado Section Manager. He says that as the flood waters began arriving on Thursday, August 12th, ham radio operators were ready:
Ciaccia” “The hams in the local ARES groups reported to the regional and local county emergency operations centers and manned their positions. Plus the state Emergency Operations Center in Centennial Colorado was opened and staffed by senior ARES personnel”
The unprecedented storms dealt a heavy blow to both utilities and communications. News reports say that many cellular telephone towers have either fallen, were washed away or are simply without power. This in turn cut off wireless and broadband communications to several communities. Also destroyed have been powerlines and some landline-based telephone service. This has left ham radio as the mainstay of communications into and out of these areas.
Ciaccia: “The next thing to happen was we started hearing of evacuation centers being opened kind of spontaneously because a large building in a dry area was the only criteria. And as fast as we could we needed to get communications to them because in many of the mountain areas where these evacuation centers were there was no other means of communications”
As the operation progressed, some hams were assigned to monitor the Boulder County ARES Repeater as well as the two Mountain Emergency Radio Network Repeaters located in high altitude communities. The latter turned out to be true life savers. Again, WM0G:
Ciaccia: “We were fortunate to have some hams located in some of the remote areas which is (the result) of another project that we had created in the past year since the fires called the Mountain Emergency Radio Network. This is a small network of repeaters that the ARES hams have trained upward of 60 mountain residents and who have gotten their licenses. We then repurposed a bunch of VHF radios – both handy talkies and mobiles for them to utilize these repeaters.
“And just tonight we were told by the Fire Chief in one of those remote communities that had it not have been for that MERM repeater system that there probably would have been a lot more deaths because people were able to communicate with each other as to what was happening, where the destruction was and how to get out.”
On Monday the 16th the ARES groups received new marching orders. In addition to search assistance, evacuations, shelter communications and logistics another role has been added. That of disaster assessment:
Ciaccia: “Disaster assessment teams from the Red Cross and from the counties will be mobilizing and we have been asked to provide hams, radios and also video cameras to record video of the disaster areas. So we will be taking on that assignment as well.”
According to Ciaccia so far some 200 ham radio volunteers have been deployed in and around the various flood-stricken counties with some providing communication where no other means existed or still exists. News reports say that at the height of the flooding that the towns of Estes Park, Lyons and Jamestown were relying on ham radio as their only contact with the outside world.
source (ARNewsline)
Some of the worst flooding followed the path of the High Park and Waldo Canyon fires. The 2013 Waldo Canyon fire was the worst in the state's history burning more than 18,000 acres near Colorado Springs and destroying more than 300 homes.
Jack Ciaccia, WM0G is the ARRL Colorado Section Manager. He says that as the flood waters began arriving on Thursday, August 12th, ham radio operators were ready:
Ciaccia” “The hams in the local ARES groups reported to the regional and local county emergency operations centers and manned their positions. Plus the state Emergency Operations Center in Centennial Colorado was opened and staffed by senior ARES personnel”
The unprecedented storms dealt a heavy blow to both utilities and communications. News reports say that many cellular telephone towers have either fallen, were washed away or are simply without power. This in turn cut off wireless and broadband communications to several communities. Also destroyed have been powerlines and some landline-based telephone service. This has left ham radio as the mainstay of communications into and out of these areas.
Ciaccia: “The next thing to happen was we started hearing of evacuation centers being opened kind of spontaneously because a large building in a dry area was the only criteria. And as fast as we could we needed to get communications to them because in many of the mountain areas where these evacuation centers were there was no other means of communications”
As the operation progressed, some hams were assigned to monitor the Boulder County ARES Repeater as well as the two Mountain Emergency Radio Network Repeaters located in high altitude communities. The latter turned out to be true life savers. Again, WM0G:
Ciaccia: “We were fortunate to have some hams located in some of the remote areas which is (the result) of another project that we had created in the past year since the fires called the Mountain Emergency Radio Network. This is a small network of repeaters that the ARES hams have trained upward of 60 mountain residents and who have gotten their licenses. We then repurposed a bunch of VHF radios – both handy talkies and mobiles for them to utilize these repeaters.
“And just tonight we were told by the Fire Chief in one of those remote communities that had it not have been for that MERM repeater system that there probably would have been a lot more deaths because people were able to communicate with each other as to what was happening, where the destruction was and how to get out.”
On Monday the 16th the ARES groups received new marching orders. In addition to search assistance, evacuations, shelter communications and logistics another role has been added. That of disaster assessment:
Ciaccia: “Disaster assessment teams from the Red Cross and from the counties will be mobilizing and we have been asked to provide hams, radios and also video cameras to record video of the disaster areas. So we will be taking on that assignment as well.”
According to Ciaccia so far some 200 ham radio volunteers have been deployed in and around the various flood-stricken counties with some providing communication where no other means existed or still exists. News reports say that at the height of the flooding that the towns of Estes Park, Lyons and Jamestown were relying on ham radio as their only contact with the outside world.
source (ARNewsline)
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Choke Balun (HomeBrew)
The balun described here is a sleeve balun, the ferrite cores are salvaged from the video leads from computer monitor leads courtesy of those friendly folk down at the local Council recycling center and were available just for the asking and is used to feed a trap dipole.
The other parts needed are :-
11.810" length of 0.7874" PVC conduit,
12 ferrite cores salvaged from computer monitor video leads,
15.75 UR213 cable,
3/4 PVC terminal box,
PVC tape,
PL259 plug,
Fibreglass resin,
Eyelet and brass termination bolts.
---------------------------------------------------------
1) Solder PL259 plug on one end and Strip insulation from coax as the hole in the ferrite is too fractionally too small then cover with single layer of PVC insulating tape for good fit.
2) Feed the 12 ferrite sleeves over the coax.
3) Trim tails to length and apply several layers of PVC tape over ferrite so it is a tight when the PVC conduit is fitted.
4) Fit hardware to attach aerial. note electrical connections are separate to give good connection. Tape up all joints to prevent leakage of resin.
5)Fill with resin and remove tape when hardened.
6) Completed balun note solder connecting shorting of supporting loop. Completed balun has been tested to 400W as part a 48 hour contest with no problems reported.
The other parts needed are :-
11.810" length of 0.7874" PVC conduit,
12 ferrite cores salvaged from computer monitor video leads,
15.75 UR213 cable,
3/4 PVC terminal box,
PVC tape,
PL259 plug,
Fibreglass resin,
Eyelet and brass termination bolts.
---------------------------------------------------------
1) Solder PL259 plug on one end and Strip insulation from coax as the hole in the ferrite is too fractionally too small then cover with single layer of PVC insulating tape for good fit.
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