AMSAT - 'We're Going Back To Space'

This is one reason I love Amateur Radio. Working the birds.
During the board meeting held Oct. 8 in conjunction with the Annual Space Symposium and 40th Anniversary Celebration, the AMSAT Board of Directors adopted the Engineering Task Force recommendation that low-cost launch options be pursued immediately. The AMSAT engineering team will develop a 1U CubeSat design effective immediately. Tony Monteiro, AA2TX, Vice-President of Engineering said, "We are r
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"Where's DX?" and "Antennas in High Places"

A very informative read.
Revisiting "Where's DX?" and "Antennas in High Places" (Oct 9, 2009) -- The follow-up e-mails that Surfin' generates often expand on the topics that Surfin' originally covered.
Full Story

My Upgrade is Official

Cool, the Universal Licensing System has been updated.
Amateur License - KD8BIG - Strait, Mark D

Scouting Jamboree on the Air (JOTA)

This is a really fun event. I missed it last year but hope to participate this year.

October 17 and 18 will mark the 52nd worldwide Scouting Jamboree on the Air (JOTA). Held the third full weekend in October each year, this is the premier operating event for Amateur Radio and Scouting around the world.
Full Story

Wind Storm Update

We survived the wind storm last night. The neighbors on both sides of us loss very large tree limbs. We had the power flicker a few times but never lost power. The trees out back gave the power lines a workout though.

String of power outages from high winds happening too often for some residents

Thousands Lack Power,

Some Schools Close

Wind damage across West Michigan

Strong winds cause damage and power outages across West Michigan

UPDATE: Power outages for some may last until Friday

Companion Bill to HR 2160

Senate Introduces Companion Bill to HR 2160 -- On Tuesday, October 6, Senator Joe Lieberman (ID-CT), along with Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), introduced Senate Bill 1755, The Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Enhancement Act of 2009. Similar to HR 2160 -- also called The Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Enhancement Act of 2009 -- that was introduced this past April by Representative Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX-18), the bill, if passed, would direct the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to undertake a study on emergency communications. S 1755 points out that "There is a strong Federal interest in the effective performance of Amateur Radio Service stations, and that performance must be given -- (A) support at all levels of government; and (B) protection against unreasonable regulation and impediments to the provision of the valuable communications provided by such stations."
Full Story

Another Fall Wind Storm

Look for strong winds and occasional showers tonight with lows in the mid-upper 40s. Winds will be west-southwest wind at 25-35 mph with gusts to around 50 mph.
So far there have been reports of wind guest above 60mph.
I hope we do not lose power again. Much of Muskegon is currently without power.

Current Warnings;

Muskegon

Oceana

Ottawa

For further updates in your area visit NOAA's National Weather Service

KD8BIG / AG

I did it!

Rare September Storm Hits Michigan

We survived the storm. I was kinda cool until we lost power. We went with out power for 15 hours.
Monday evening it was fun, we sat by light of lanterns and oil lamps and played cards and board games. It took the kids some getting use to.
Once the battery life wore out on their Nintendo DS they had two choices, be board or play a game with Mom and Dad.
The house stayed pretty warm, only got down to 57º by 2pm Tuesday afternoon.
Hopefully we will have a generator for the next time we lose power.
We are looking to get a Kohler Residential Standby Generator-17 kW.
Only about 5 grand.

Here are some links from the local paper.

*UPDATE: Nearly 3,000 Muskegon County customers still without power

*Rare September windstorm whips up waves, sand and spectators

*Grand Haven police advise caution on piers and in Lake Michigan because of weather

*Residents along Lake Michigan brace for big winds

West Michigan Storms/ 9-27-09

Getting a great storm here in Muskegon.
Tonight, a strong cold front will rapidly cross Lower Michigan around midnight, preceded by a line of possibly severe thunderstorms between 7 PM to the northwest and 2 AM to the southeast. According to the Storm Prediction Center (SPC), there is a Slight Risk for severe weather with large hail and damaging thunderstorm winds the main threats. Wind gusts to 60 mph are possible with these storms and are capable of producing wind damage, including downed trees and power lines.
A gale warning has been posted for all of Lake Michigan for late Sunday through Tuesday, where waves could reach 12-18 feet.

Colder and Very Windy Monday

Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Muskegon
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Muskegon
High Wind Warning
Muskegon

Michigan Weather Updates

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

until 11:30 PM In effect for Muskegon, Ottawa, Allegan

Severe Thunderstorm Watch

until 6 AM Monday In effect for Muskegon, Montcalm, Ottawa, Kent, Ionia, Allegan, Barry, Van Buren, Kalamazoo, Calhoun

Special Marine Warning

until 12:30 Monday In effect for Ottawa, Allegan, Van Buren

Wind Advisory

2 AM Monday - 5 AM Tuesday In effect for Lake, Osceola, Newaygo, Mecosta, Isabella, Montcalm, Kent, Ionia, Barry, Kalamazoo, Calhoun

High Wind Warning

2 AM Monday - 5 AM Tuesday In effect for Mason, Oceana, Muskegon, Ottawa, Allegan, Van Buren

Football Sunday

Football Sunday. I slept through it.
I was glad to see that Brett Favre and the Vikings stunned the 49ers with a wild TD pass in the final seconds Sunday in Minnesota.
I'm a Packer fan and also a huge fan of Brett Favre. Brett is the best......

Watch: Favre stuns 49ers

New Rig is Ordered

I'm ready!!!!
I have taken all the test on QRZ and have read the book several times.
I have my new rig on order and it should be here any day.
I ordered;
FT897D HF/6m/2m/70cm W/60m
AT897 AUTOMATIC ANTENNA TUNER FOR FT897
FP1030A 30A POWER SUPPLY WITH METERS
WIRES INTERFACE NODE
150' JT2213 RG213U AMPHENOL PL259 ON EACH END

ICY SURPRISE ON MARS

In 1976, NASA's Viking 2 lander dug into the soil of Mars in search of water and came up dry. NASA has just learned that Viking 2 might have succeeded if it had dug only 4 inches deeper. Meteorites hitting the Red Planet in 2008 and 2009 have exposed subsurface deposits of ice in the general area where Viking 2 landed. According to pictures taken by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, the ice is surprisingly close to the surface in easy reach of robotic landers or thirsty human explorers. Get the full story from Science@NASA.

Seasonal flu shots and H1N1 Stir Concern

Seasonal flu shots and H1N1 stir concern - Canadian researchers reportedly have found as-yet-unpublished evidence that people who had a seasonal flu shot last year incurred a higher risk of H1N1 infection, but US and World Health Organization officials say they are not aware of any similar findings elsewhere. A series of studies in British Columbia, Quebec, and Ontario seem to suggest that people who received a seasonal flu shot last year were about twice as likely to contract the pandemic H1N1 virus. The findings are spurring an effort by some Canadian public health officials to delay, reduce, or cancel seasonal flu vaccination campaigns this fall. "Investigators in other countries have looked at their own data and whether they could find similar observations, and none of the other countries have been able to find anything like that." The findings could be real or could be the result of a study bias or other methodologic problems. Many years of experience with seasonal flu immunizations have yielded no other evidence that they cause this type of problem, but the report warrants investigation. Several infectious disease experts said that British and Australian researchers have not seen the phenomenon observed by the Canadian authors, either. One of the experts called the lack of confirmation elsewhere a "red flag."

WATER ON THE MOON

How much water can you squeeze out of a ton of moondust? About 32 ounces, according to NASA. In a press conference yesterday, the space agency announced that three spacecraft have found signs of water molecules mixed in lunar topsoil. This bodes well for future lunar explorers who could use H₂O to drink--or O₂ to breathe--or H₂ for rocket fuel to get back to Earth! Science@NASA has the full story.