KD8BIG / jinglemonster

I really love it when a fellow blogger finds my site. It is even more gratifying when they ask me to help promote their site.

Their Blog is located in my blog list~ Check them out.

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Hi,

I came across your blog, KD8BIG, while reading another radio blog. It’s a really cool site. Nice work!
I help run a blog on a jingles website, where we do have plans to regularly feature different radio stations. You can check out our first featured radio station here.
Since we do share a common interest for radio, I was wondering if you could help us out by putting a link on your site? We can return a link to yours if you'd like?
Please let me know if you’re interested.
Cheers!

www.jinglemonster.com.au
http://jinglemonster.com.au/our-blog/

VETERANS DAY 2011

"To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations."

Asteroid 2005 YU55

2005 YU55, an asteroid larger than an aircraft carrier, is expected to pass by Earth at 6:28 p.m. EST today, but NASA says there is no chance it will collide with the Earth or moon.
NASA radars are monitoring 2005 YU55, an asteroid the size of an aircraft carrier, as it heads for a flyby of the Earth-Moon system later today. There is no danger to our planet. At closest approach on Tuesday, Nov. 8th, at 3:28 pm PST (23:28 UT), the 400m-wide space rock will be 324,600 kilometers away, about 85% the distance from Earth to the Moon. Professional astronomers are eagerly anticipating the flyby as the asteroid presents an exceptionally strong radar target. Powerful transmitters at Goldstone and Arecibo will ping the space rock as it passes by, revealing the asteroid's shape and texture in crisp detail, and pinpointing its orbit for future flyby calculations.

Asteroids this big have passed by Earth at similar distances many times before, but this is the first time astronomers have known about the flyby in advance. For instance, a similar encounter occurred in 1976 when 2010 XC15 split the distance between Earth and the Moon. Researchers didn't discover that space rock until 24 years after the flyby. The Nov. 8, 2011, passage of 2005 YU55 thus represents a rare opportunity for asteroid research.

Experienced amateur astronomers should be able to photograph 2005 YU55 as it zips through the constellations Aquila and Pegasus glowing like an 11th magnitude star. Even under the full moonlight of Nov. 8th, such a bright asteroid is within reach of mid-sized backyard telescopes. The timing of the flyby favors observers in western Europe and eastern parts of North America. Check Sky & Telescope for observing tips or go straight to JPL for the object's ephemeris.

Thai Amateurs Respond to Floods, Ask that 7.060-7.063 MHz Be Kept Clear

Authorities in Thailand continue to battle the country’s worst floods in decades, with the death toll rising to almost 300. While Thai hams are mostly using 2 meters to communicate, IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee Chairman Jim Linton VK3PC, is asking all radio amateurs to keep 7.060-7.063MHz clear from unnecessary traffic, as Thai hams are also using 40 meters during the flooding that is affecting millions of people in North and Central Thailand.

“Amateur Radio has been assisting with flood relief communications, helping victims in the affected areas, said Tony Waltham, HS0ZDX, the Radio Amateur Society of Thailand’s (RAST) International Liaison Officer. “Operators are using RAST’s club station call sign HS0AC, and a special flood relief center with the call sign HS0AB has been established at Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport. Please be formally advised that Thai radio amateurs are standing by on 144.900 MHz, 145.000 MHz and 144.9375 MHz, as well as on frequencies of 7.060-7.063 MHz in the 40 meter HF band.” Waltham noted that RAST has posted a video (in Thai) to YouTube, showing the activities at the special flood relief Amateur Radio station at the airport.

Despite sandbags, Bangkok -- the country’s capital -- is under threat of flooding. In outlying areas, the floods have destroyed crops, inundated factories and damaged the homes or livelihoods of millions of people. About 110,000 people have sought refuge in shelters. It is expected for the flooding to continue for a week. The high tide will prevent the floodwater's escaping to the sea for a day or two, while the recovery efforts may take a year.

According to Linton, nearly three million people are affected by the floods, and the disaster has caused serious damage to the country`s agriculture and other industries, with Japan’s Toyota, Sony and Honda, along with USA’s Western Digital -- and many other factories to the north of Bangkok -- suspending production until the situation improves. Damage so far has been assessed at more than 20 billion baht ($65,295,400 USD). Waltham said that 26 out of the country’s 77 provinces are affected, and Bangkok is bracing for a large amount of run-off water that will coincide with the seasonal high tides, making it harder for the flood waters to flow out to sea

Comet Elenin

Today the world will not end! The supposed “Doomsday” comet Elenin will pass by, but at 35 million km or 90 times the Earth Moon distance, it will have NO effect on us at all.

It is about 3-5km wide and has the consistency of a slushee or snowy dirtball. It is so feeble that a strong solar storm in August appears to broken it into smaller pieces. Rising in the east very early in the morning at magnitude 10 it is not visible to the eye or even moderate sized telescope. An image by Michael Mattiazzo can be seen at:
http://members.westnet.com.au/mmatti/sc.htm

KD8BIG

Whoa, it has been nearly 4 week’s sine my last post.
It is amazing how fast time can escape you.
The last 4 weeks have not been good to me; I had a battle with Bacterial Pneumonia, the passing of a couple of friends, sick daughter & wife & other issues.

The good news is I/we are feeling better and I am ready to blog, play radio and catch up on some of my collections.

How about those Detroit Tigers~ (MLB) Oh yeah, they have a chance. If not that is fine, they had a great season and I look forward to next year.
I am glad that Football (NFL) & Hockey (NHL) are underway.

The weather has turned here in Michigan; most of the leaves have peaked and dropped in my region. The temps are now 50’s (10º c) for the high and mid to upper 30’s (1.6ºc) for the lows.
My son and wife have already begun the leave removal process. Most of the summer lawn furniture has been stored and I think we are ready for the long and cold winter months that are fast approaching~

I have made some upgrades to the shack, added some new equipment and also hope to upgrade my license very soon. I was to do that a few weeks ago but was very sick.
73,
de KD8BIG Mark

New Swarms of Earthquakes off the coast of Honshu Japan

I have received a message in regards to my thoughts about the current Earthquake Swarm off the East Coast of Honshu Japan.

In the last week they have had 13 earthquakes at 5.0 magnitude or larger.

I am an avid hobbyist in the Geophysics field. I have studied Climatology, Earthquakes and Earth Structure, Environmental Geophysics, Global Coastal Change, Many areas of Geology, Seismology, and Volcanology.
I do not hold a job in these fields. It is all an extensive hobby, one of many hobbies that I have.

This is my personal opinion.

So I was asked in this message if this is something to be concerned with?
In My Humble Opinion~ anytime there are swarms like this people should be concerned. Dose it mean the BIG One is going to happen again? No, not necessarily.
Earthquake Swarms are not unusual and happen all around the globe.
It is a good idea to be prepared. The March Japan Earthquake should have taught many lessons about preparedness.

By 5 September 2011, Japan had experienced over 900 aftershocks after the magnitude 9.0 (Mw) earthquake on March 11, 2011 with about 60 aftershocks being over magnitude 6.0 and three over magnitude 7.0. For conciseness, only earthquakes with magnitudes greater than 7.0 or an intensity greater than lower-6 on the shindo scale are listed here. Mw or Mw refers to the moment magnitude scale, while Mjma, Mjma, or Mj refer to the JMA magnitude scale.

On my blog before the March 11th Quake I had posted my concerns over the swarm then.
You can see my post;

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Friday, March 11, 2011
In the early morning hours of Friday, March 11, 2011, I was awake with a friend talking on the Amateur Radio when the Earthquake occurred,
I started at the moment the USGS e-mail came in, posting updates and working all my tools and resources to provide information.
That’s what we Amateur Radio Operators do in the event of a disaster.

You can see all the post in the month of March; Click Here

Here is a list of Earthquakes in the region 5.0 and larger from the dates
9/12/11 thru 9/18/11

9/12/11 -
5.0 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
9/13/11 -
5.0 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
9/15/11-
6.2 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
9/16/11 -
5.7 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.7 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
6.0 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.2 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.5 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.0 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
6.7 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
9/17/11 -
5.2 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.6 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
9/18/11-
5.7 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN

Here are some more links of the current Earthquakes;

Latest Earthquakes Magnitude 5.0 and Greater in the World - Last 7 days

Google News

I got a New/Used Book this Morning

My wife found this book at a yard sale this morning.
Shortwave Receivers Past & Present: Communications Receivers 1942-1997 [Paperback]
VOA is heard by more than 93 million people in more than fifty languages. This book is an "insider´s story", reflecting the transformation of VOA from a propaganda organ to a more respected source of information, from shortwave in World War II to multimedia in the twenty-first century.
The author, Alan L. Heil, worked at the VOA as foreign correspondent, senior manager, and deputy director from 1962 until his retirement in 1998.
Buy this Book Today!
or read more about it...

The Bird Feeder Antenna

Shortwave antennas are large and trying to hide one can be like trying to hide an elephant. Many listeners try different configurations, snap together antennas, wires, and flag poles to conceal their antennas. Some work out, but most get caught in the end.
First, let's look at what you can and can't have. Most restrictive housing areas have a long list of items you can't have. Clothlines, TV antennas, sheds, flags, BBQ grills, etc. And most of all, the all important shortwave antenna. It has something to do with nice surroundings.
So, what to do?
Make a list of all forbidden items and place them in a column on the left side of the page.
Next, list what you can have and list them in the center of the page.
Finally, list the items that are readly available in the area of your home. Such items are trees, gutters, vents, fences, etc. Look closely and don't leave anything out.

A hidden shortwave antenna must be just that: Hidden.
I should not be visible to the naked eye, even at a point blank range.
So, list the areas that you have a ready access to.
If you can get to the roof, write it down.
How about the attic, basement, trees, etc, especially without much notice by your neighbours.
Most shortwave antennas are discovered not because of their design or placement, but rather a neighbour spies the listener installing the antenna - or at least doing something out of the ordinary.
For example creeping around on the roof, on a Saturday afternoon, is going to draw attention. Flinging wires over trees is sure to draw some attention.

The big point here is not to install the antenna by looking like your installing an antenna or doing something out of the ordinary.
There are some new designs out on the market such as PVC vent pipe antennas for 2m. But for now we'll stick to shortwave. Most contracts for condo/PUD dwellers will allow bird feeders. And even apartment dwellers on the bottom floor can benefit from this design.

The Bird Feeder

The Bird Feeder shortwave antenna is a vertical cage wire antenna.
A What? you might ask.
Imagine if you will eight flexible wires, evenly spaced in a circular pattern, much like a ground plane. Draw these wires vertically to form a wire 'tube' and connect them together with a ring at the top. Now imagine these wires inside a telescoping PVC mast. Top that off with a bird feeder. Now, instead of a ground plane system with radials you have to put in (the neighbours are watching), you have this 'wire tube' constructed as a vertical dipole. At 10m, the Bird Feeder antenna is a mere 17' tall when raised.
What would the neighbours say?
Or for that matter the manager?
"I raised it up for the birds to get into and it keeps the squirels out too. And look, I can take it out when I'm not using it or the weather is bad. Boy, I really like watching the birds from my window. Did you know that ..."
And then go on about some rare, but not unbelievable birds that frequent the feeder. Buy a book on the subject with some pages tagged to show them what you've seen so far. At worst, they'll think you're a flake and leave you alone. Next, go in and tune up 10m and catch some rare DX instead.

What do you have to actually put into the ground? Your coax and a PVC pipe to hold the mast up. Make it low in the ground and cap it so the mower doesn't take it off. For the most part, you can leave it up.
But do remember to put some seed in the feeder once in a while...

Bird Feeder Antenna - the details

This design sounds a bit far fetched, but it works. The vertical dipole, inside the PVC push-up, is invisable. It moves up and down and can be removed without drawing attention to the fact that it contains an antenna. The flagpole design has some problems. Not all PUDs, condos, or apartments allow flagpoles. They represent a permanent fixture. Not all associations or managers are that patriotic.
Although you can pack a good vertical in a flagpole, there is the problem of radials. You can run the vertical without radials, but that's another compromise.

The design for the Bird Feeder Antenna is very simple:
You can build the vertical dipole without much trouble. The dipole consists of up to 16 wire 1/4 wave elements. There are eight on each leg of the dipole. You may use less, it's up to you. You know the bandwidth of a wire dipole and you know the band spread on 10m. If you are a general or above, you will want the extra wire elements to give you the bandwidth you need.

First, let's look at the PVC tubular mast / bird feeder support. Most hardware and home improvement center have PVC tubing. Like the steel counterparts, the mast will be graduated (large at the bottom and smaller at the top. I'm not going to recommend any sizes here as availability at your store is going to dictate what sizes you will need. I will state the the top tube should be 2" in diameter or better. You will need that size to support the bird feeder and give the mast some strength.

___
 | | <-------  Attach upper ring
 | |           inside
 | |
 |_| <-------  Attach ring inside
|   | 
|   |
|   |
|___| <------- Attach ring inside
and continue two more times

The wire elements are attached in a ring format, evenly spaced, in a 360 degree pattern. Locations are noted in figure one. This allows the dipole to be folded up when the mast is lowered. More than eight wires on each leg of the dipole tends toward snags when raising and lowering.
Dipole wire element sizes are calculated by 246/f Mhz. But I recommend shorter lengths if eight elements are used. A balun can be inserted, but is not necessary. I feeder coax is needed from the dipole feed to the base of the mast. A UHF bullet (female to female) to attach your coax to.

Installing the Bird Feeder

The base piece for the bird feeder mast should be one size larger than the bottom section of the mast. The mast should be able to side in a snug fashion, but not too tight. Since you are installing a 'bird feeder', you shouldn't have any problem explaining what you are doing. Simply lay the bird feeder and mast right out in the open. Your nosey neighbors will know exactly what you're doing (almost). The coax is the tough part.
Trenches are out of the question. Use a sidewalk edger (manual) and make a thin cut in the grass. If you have other obsticles, you will have to deal with that when you come to it. The object is to do it when the neighbors are not going to notice. The thin cut in the lawn will not be seen and will 'heal' quickly. A tricky technique is to use a wheelblade on a handle. It will look like you are using a measuring device. The cable can be laid into the cut at dawn, when you are filling the bird feeder. Stepping on the cut lawn on the way back seals the cut. Now you're in business.

GEOMAGNETIC STORM

GEOMAGNETIC STORM: A CME hit Earth's magnetic field on Sept. 9th, and the impact ignited a geomagnetic storm, in progress. Northern Lights have since been spotted in the United States as far south as as Michigan, Montana and North Dakota. This could be the first of several hits from a series of CMEs expected to reach Earth during the weekend, so more geomagnetic activity is in the offing~

Remember, Geomagnetic storms can cause difficulties in communicating over long distances

Many communication systems utilize the ionosphere to reflect radio signals over long distances. Ionospheric storms can affect radio communication at all latitudes. Some radio frequencies are absorbed and others are reflected, leading to rapidly fluctuating signals and unexpected propagation paths. TV and commercial radio stations are little affected by solar activity, but ground-to-air, ship-to-shore, Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, and amateur radio are frequently disrupted. Radio operators using high frequencies rely upon solar and geomagnetic alerts to keep their communication circuits up and running.

Some military detection or early-warning systems are also affected by solar activity. The Over-the-Horizon Radar bounces signals off the ionosphere in order to monitor the launch of aircraft and missiles from long distances. During geomagnetic storms, this system can be severely hampered by radio clutter. Some submarine detection systems use the magnetic signatures of submarines as one input to their locating schemes. Geomagnetic storms can mask and distort these signals.

More info; http://www.arrl.org/news/the-k7ra-solar-update-181

Special Events Stations 9/ 8-12/ 11

09/03/2011 | 18th Annual Tennessee Soybean Festival
Sep 3-Sep 11, 1400Z-0200Z, K4S, Martin, TN. Weakley County TN ARES. Various times, modes and bands through the week from various QTHs. QSL. Roger Elmore, KJ4AJP, 426 Jowers Rd, Martin, TN 38237. Check Web for schedule ares.mambm.com/event

09/07/2011 | West Alexander Fair
Sep 7-Sep 10, 1320Z-1320Z, WA3COM, Washington, PA. Washington Amateur Communications Inc/WACOM. 14.265 7.240 3.910 18.125. QSL. Ed Oelschlager, N3ZNI, 60 Carl Ave B2, Eighty Four, PA 15330. Display and operation of amateur radio in action at a local county fair. www.wacomarc.org

09/08/2011 | Hebron Harvest Fair
Sep 8-Sep 11, 0800Z-2000Z, NA1RL, Hebron, CT. Newington Amateur Radio League. 28.350 18.150 14.250 7.250. QSL. Richard Lawrence, KB1DMX, 335 Lloyd St, Newington, CT O6111. No SASE needed. www.narl.net

09/09/2011 | Old Mulkey Meeting House Special Event
Sep 9-Sep 11, 1500Z-0200Z, K4Y, Tompkinsville, KY. Monroe County Amateur Radio Group. 28.415 14.280 7.230 3.945. Certificate & QSL. Old Mulkey Meeting House State Park, 38 Old Mulkey Park Rd, Tompkinsville, KY 42167. This will be our 3rd annual Old Mulkey Meeting House Special Event. It is the burial site of Hannah Boone Pennington (Daniel Boone's sister).
E-Mail ~ kd4qhg@yahoo.com

09/09/2011 | Guardians of Freedom Airshow
Sep 9-Sep 11, 2300Z-2300Z, N0L, Lincoln, NE. Lincoln Amateur Radio Club. 28.450 21.365 14.330 7.282 3.982. QSL. Lincoln Amateur Radio Club, PO Box 5006, Lincoln, NE 68505. Operating times: 2300Z Sep 9 to 0300Z Sep 10; 1400Z Sep 10 to 0300Z Sep 11; and 1400Z to 2300Z on Sep 11. k0kkv.org

09/09/2011 | Operation Pigeon Link
Sep 9-Sep 10, 2200Z-2200Z, W5CCH, Oklahoma City, OK. Oklahoma City-County Health Department Amateur Radio Club. 14.265 7.265 14.070.15 (PSK). Certificate. Dave Cox, Oklahoma City-County Health Department, 921 NE 23rd St, Oklahoma City, OK 73105. www.occhd.org/w5cch

09/10/2011 | National POW/MIA Recognition Day
Sep 10-Sep 18, 0000Z-2359Z, K4MIA, Loxahatchee, FL. PBSE Radio Society. 21.300 18.150 14.265 PSK 14.070 7.185. QSL. Michael Bald, 6758 Hall Blvd, Loxahatchee, FL 33470. SASE required. We are trying to operated from 68-16425 UH1H Huey helicopter at the VA Hospital. Please take time to honor our POWs/MIAs on Friday Sept 16. qrz.com/db/k4mia

09/10/2011 | 26th All-Horse Parade - Delaware, Ohio
Sep 10-Sep 18, 0000Z-2359Z, K8H, Delaware, OH. Delaware Amateur Radio Association. 21.340, 21.040 14.340, 14.040 7.240, 7.040 3.840, 3.540. Certificate. Online Special Event Certificate Only , See Web site for details, NA. www.k8es.org

09/10/2011 | Always Remember 10th Anniversary of the Attacks of 9/11/2001
Sep 10-Sep 11, 0200Z-0400Z, N1Y, Hancock, NY. Symbol Technologies Amateur Radio Club. 50.135 14.070 7.240 3.911 D-Star REF10C. QSL. STARC, One Motorola Plaza, B-13, Holtsville, NY 11742. Reading one name of the fallen with every QSO. Special Event QSL with #10 SASE.
E-Mail ~ w2sbl@motorolasolutions.com

09/10/2011 | The Home Depot Air Show
Sep 10, 1300Z-2100Z, W8Z, Zanesville, OH. Muskingum Valley Ham Radio Club. 7.250 146.610 W8ZZV Repeater. Certificate & QSL. Jim Mayercak, WX8J, 971 Somers St, Zanesville, OH 43701. www.qsl.net/n8hr/index.html

09/10/2011 | First Nuclear Powered Aircraft Carrier USS Enterprise (CVAN-65) :Launched 1960; US Air Force Birthday 1947
Sep 10, 1700Z-2359Z, NI6IW, San Diego, CA. USS Midway (CV-41) Museum Radio Operations Room. SSB 14.320 7.250 PSK31 14.070 D-STAR 012C 2 m 70 cm SOCAL rptrs. QSL. USS Midway Museum Radio Room, 910 N Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101-5811.
E-Mail~ kk6fz@arrl.net

09/10/2011 | Route 66 On The Air Special Event
Sep 10-Sep 18, 0001Z-2359Z, W6A-W6Q & W6T, San Bernardino, CA. Citrus Belt Amateur Radio Club. 21.366 14.266 7.266 3.866. Certificate. Citrus Belt Amateur Radio Club, PO Box 3788, San Bernardino, CA 92413. 12th Annual Route 66 On The Air Special Event; rules and other info see www.w6jbt.org

09/10/2011 | 3rd Annual Brutus Bash
Sep 10-Sep 11, 1000Z-1800Z, K0B, Pittsburg, KS. 4State QRPGroup. 14.285 14.060 7.285 7.040 7.030 3.985 3.560 qwatering holes on 15 and 10. Certificate & QSL. Bart Lawson, 711 E 31st St, Pittsburg, KS 66762. www.4sqrp.com/index.php

09/10/2011 | Indiana Parks on the Air
Sep 10, 1600Z-2359Z, N9D, Indiana Dunes State Park, Chesterton, IN. Lake County Amateur Radio Club. SSB and CW. QSL. Lake County ARC, PO Box 90, Crown Point, IN 46308. Indiana Parks on the Air see www.inpota.com. www.lakenetnwi.net/member/lcarc

09/11/2011 | 9/11 10th Anniversary Station - Fort Totten, New York
Sep 11, 1500Z-2300Z, NW2C, Bayside, NY. Northeast Wireless Radio Club. 14.250 14.080. Certificate & QSL. Northeast Wireless Radio Club, NW2C, 213-37 39th Ave, Suite 175, Bayside, NY 11361. Donation of $2 is asked for to partially cover the cost. www.NW2C.org/911.html

09/11/2011 | Pentagon Tenth Anniversary Commemoration of 9-11 Attacks
Sep 11-Sep 12, 1100Z-0100Z, K4AF, Arlington, VA. Pentagon Amateur Radio Club. 21.290 14.240 7.190 3.815. QSL. Pentagon Amateur Radio Club, PO Box 2322 , Arlington, VA 22202. Active operating frequencies posted during event at www.k4af.org. Operation to honor all those lost on 9-11, with special remembrance of the 184 people who lost their lives at the Pentagon and on board American Airlines Flight 77. www.k4af.org

09/11/2011 | York County,SC 9/11 Monument Dedication
Sep 11, 0800Z-1400Z, N4Y, Rock Hill, SC. Bethesda Volunteer Fire Department Amateur Radio Club. 14.240. QSL. Bethesda Volunteer Fire Department, PO Box 8022, Rock Hill, SC 29732.

09/12/2011 | St Cyrus Shutter Telegraph - Over 200 Years
Sep 12-Sep 16, 0700Z-2100Z, GB5SCT, Honiton, ENGLAND. RSGB. 14.200. QSL. Via Buro or John Wakefield, 'Oakhurst', Lower Common Rd, West Wellow, Romsey, Hampshire SO51 6BT, ENGLAND. www.qrz.com/db/gb5sct

This Weekends Special Event Stations & Contest-9/1-5/11

This Weekends Special Event Stations

09/01/2011 | Fort Bridger Wyoming Mountain Man Rendezvous
Sep 1-Sep 5, 0800Z-2200Z, W7R, Fort Bridger, WY.
Local Ham KF7ELU. 14.270 14.245 14.240 14.070. QSL. Clayton Lowther, PO box 201, Fort Bridger, WY 82933. This is a Special event Station that will be operating throughout the Duration of the Annual Fort Bridger Rendezvous. The Rendezvous is a celebration of the Fur Trade Rendezvous Era that occurred in the Rocky mountains Between 1825-1840. It is one of the largest mountain man Gatherings in the Nation. Custom Full Color QSLs are available please send your QSL and a SASE or 1 Dollar with your QSL.

09/02/2011 | World Championship Barbecue Goat Cook-off
Sep 2-Sep 3, 2300Z-1900Z, WA5HOT, Brady, TX. Heart of Texas Ham Operators Group (HOT-HOG). 14.213 7.213 3.813. Certificate. Heart of Texas Ham Operators Group, 1103 S China St, Brady, TX 76825.
www.hothog.org

09/02/2011 | Dragon*Con with the Atlanta Radio Club
Sep 2-Sep 5, 1200Z-2359Z, W4D, Atlanta, GA. Atlanta Radio Club. 7.270 14.270. QSL. Atlanta Radio Club, 227 Sandy Springs Pl - Ste D-306, Atlanta, GA 30358.
www.atlantaradioclub.org

09/03/2011 | Ghost Town of Paradise
Sep 3-Sep 5, 1900Z-1900Z, K7RDG, Paradise, AZ. Cochise Amateur Radio Association.. 21.315 18.115 14.315 7.230. Certificate & QSL. Cochise ARA, PO Box 1855, Sierra Vista, AZ 85636. 8x10 SASE; 32nd Anniversary of Club operating from ghost town of Paradise, AZ.
www.k7rdg.org

09/03/2011 | 18th Annual Tennessee Soybean Festival
Sep 3-Sep 11, 1400Z-0200Z, K4S, Martin, TN. Weakley County TN ARES. Various times, modes and bands through the week from various QTHs. QSL. Roger Elmore, KJ4AJP, 426 Jowers Rd, Martin, TN 38237. Check Web for schedule
ares.mambm.com/event

09/05/2011 | Celebrating Labor Day
Sep 5, 1215Z-1800Z, K1R, Northfield, MA. 72 Rag Chew Net. 7.271 (8:15-9AM) 7.272 (9-2PM). Certificate. Robert Lobenstein, WA2AXZ, 1985 East 36 St, Brooklyn, NY 11234. www.ragchewers.net

09/07/2011 | West Alexander Fair
Sep 7-Sep 10, 1320Z-1320Z, WA3COM, Washington, PA. Washington Amateur Communications Inc/WACOM. 14.265 7.240 3.910 18.125. QSL. Ed Oelschlager, N3ZNI, 60 Carl Ave B2, Eighty Four, PA 15330. Display and operation of amateur radio in action at a local county fair.
www.wacomarc.org

This Weekends Contest

QRP Fox Hunt	Sep 2
NCCC Sprint Ladder	Sep 2
International G3ZQS Memorial Straight Key Contest	Sep 2-4
All Asian DX Contest, Phone	Sep 3-4
Russian RTTY WW Contest	Sep 3
Wake-Up! QRP Sprint	Sep 3
Colorado QSO Party	Sep 3-4
Brazil Independence Day BPSK31 CDX Contest	Sep 3-4
AGCW Straight Key Party	Sep 3
CWops Mini-CWT Test	Sep 3-4
RSGB SSB Field Day	Sep 3-4
IARU Region 1 Field Day, SSB	Sep 3-4
QCWA Fall QSO Party	Sep 3-4
DARC 10-Meter Digital Contest	Sep 4
Tennessee QSO Party	Sep 4-5
MI QRP Labor Day CW Sprint	Sep 5-6

LY37 Special Event Stations

I just got this info from a European friend a week ago. I forgot all about it until my friend (KE9V) on Twitter reminded me.

Lithuanian Amateur Radio Society - Lietuvos Radijo Mėgėjų Draugija (LRMD) organizing special event stations operation on the air from 2011-08-31 till 2011-09-18 to mark 37th European Men's Basketball Championship in Lithuania.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EuroBasket_2011, http://www.eurobasket2011.com/
It's big event in Lithuania where basketball most popular game.

http://www.lrmd.lt/apdovanojimai_en.htm

International CW Z Signals

New CW "Z Signals" Recently Approved for Use on ham bands

By international convention, CW operators have developed a list of standard three-character groups to improve brevity and comprehension on CW. Here are the most commonly used Z signals. (Z signals take the form of questions when followed by a question mark.)

ZRB I'm tuned up on the wrong band. Can you copy me anyway? You're tuned up on the wrong band, but I can copy you anyway.

ZRC Do you make cow sounds when you tune up on phone? I make cow sounds when I tune up on phone.

ZRD Are you in charge of donuts for your Amateur Radio club? I'm in charge of donuts for my Amateur Radio club.

ZRE Do you have to go eat now? I have to go eat now.

ZRG Are you going to Dayton? I'm going to Dayton.

ZRH Is it hot enough for you? It's hot enough for me.

ZRM Is your wall map laminated? My wall map is laminated.

ZRO Has your XYL/OM told you to get off the air yet? My XYL/OM says I have to get off the air.

ZRS What kind of chair are you sitting in? My chair is a ___________.

ZRT Were you just tuning across the band and decided to give me a shout? I was just tuning across the band and decided to give you a shout.

ZRW When was the last time you went outside? I went outside________ (1) last week, (2) this week, (3) can't remember.

ZSB Am I boring you to tears? I'm boring myself to tears.

ZSC What did you say your call sign was? I can't remember my call sign, or yours.

ZSD Do you know what all the buttons and dials on your rig are for? I don't know what all these buttons and dials on my rig are for.

ZSE What are you having for dinner? I'm having_________ for dinner.

ZSH Do you have a hat with your name and call sign on it? I have a hat with my name and call sign on it.

ZSK Do you tell new hams not to kerchunk, then do it anyway to demonstrate? I tell new hams not to kerchunk, then I do it anyway to demonstrate.

ZST Did you watch last week's episode of __________ on TV? I watched last week's episode of __________ on TV.

ZSY Can you make your voice real high so DX will think you're a YL? I can make my voice real high so DX will think I'm a YL.

ZZZ Are you starting to nod off? I'm starting to nod off.

CW Abbreviations You May Not Have Heard Of

When operating on CW, it's faster and easier to use universally understood abbreviations to stand for routine words and phrases that are exchanged often. Although abbreviations help to cut down unnecessary transmission, as a rule, don't abbreviate unnecessarily when working an operator of unknown experience.

BFS Box Full of Stuff

BFST Breakfast

CFE Coffee

CFSD Confused

CFT Confounded Fool Thing

CTH Colder Than Heck

DHK Doohickey

DNR Dinner

DNT Doughnut

DT Dinnertime

ET Eat

FUD Food

GOH Get Outta Here

HC Holy Cow

HLR Holler

HMD Humdinger

HMF Hamfest

HTH Hotter Than Heck

HNL Have a Nice Lunch

HWD Howdy

LCH Lunch

LSW Lifetime Supply of Wire

LT Lunchtime

NF No Fooling

NTD Nothing To Do

NTV Nothing on TV

OC Obsolete Computer

OCP Obsolete Computer Parts

SNK Snack

SYWT Say What?

TH Telegraphic Giggle (Tee Hee)

TRO Tie the Ribbon On it

TTE Time To Eat

TVT TV Tray

UCP Unidentifiable Computer Parts

UF Unknown Function

UGLI Ugly

UJP Unidentifiable Junk Parts

WCI Watchamacallit

WPO Wife Angry

YAL Y'all

74 Best wishes to yours for a long and prosperous life , a nice house, a good job, beautiful family, happy holidays, and enough DX to make you jump with joy!

89 I hope your family members change their minds and come home.

Ya gotta love CW~