Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to the most Amazing Lady I know.
My wife. Melissa.
She is my Best Friend, Lover and Soul Mate

Christmas Trilogy

We just got our "Trans-Siberian Orchestra" box set in the mail today. "The Christmas Trilogy". The kids,wife and I can not wait to see them in 2 weeks.

WHEN AURORAS COLLIDE

A continent-wide network of all-sky cameras has photographed a never before seen phenomenon: colliding auroras that produce explosions of light. The must-see images have solved a long-standing mystery of Northern Lights. Get the full story from Science@NASA.
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CURIOUS EVENTS IN NEBRASKA

"Last night, Dec. 16th at 9 p.m. CST, a very bright meteor lit up the completely overcast sky like lightning in southeast Nebraska," reports Trooper Jerry Chab of the Nebraska State Patrol. "It flashed for approximately 2 seconds and was followed by sonic booms and ground shaking, which prompted many calls by the public to law enforcement in a three county wide area." Meanwhile, the USGS says there was a magnitude 3.5 earthquake near Auburn, Nebraska, at 8:53 pm, about the same time and place as the fireball. This map shows the nominal epicenter:

"If the earthquake is confirmed, as it appears to be, I think we have the most cosmic of coincidences: A large fireball around the same time of an earthquake," says Chab. "I am simply amazed!"

One possible interpretation of these events is that a small asteroid hit Earth's atmosphere and caused the ground to shake when it exploded in mid-air. However, the timing might not be right. The quake seems to have preceded the fireball. Several readers have pointed out studies that associate lightning-like phenomena with earthquakes: #1, #2, #3. So, the earthquake might be responsible for both the shaking and the light show. Or it might be a big coincidence just as Chab suggests.

More reports could help sort out the possibilities. Readers in Nebraska with photos or eyewitness accounts are encouraged to submit their observations.

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My Net Control Experience

Tonight I held the Net on the W8ZHO repeater, 146.94- (94.8) W8ZHO is the repeater owned and operated by the MUSKEGON AREA AMATEUR RADIO COUNCIL, MAARC.
We had 7 checking tonight and the topic I chose to do was,
HF Radio Propagation and Sunspots
- an overview of the basics of the effects that sunspots have on HF radio propagation and radio communications in general including two way radio communications, maritime mobile radio communications, mobile radio, radio broadcasting and amateur radio communications.

The NET started out fine until about 5 minutes into it my doorbell rang, the dogs were going nuts. I grabbed my HT and made it to the living room where I discovered that our church was here to treat us to some Christmas Caroling. OH BOY………..
I did not know what to do. The wife was out getting groceries and the kids were involved with an X-Box game. I unlocked the front door and yelled to my son, "Tell them Mom is gone and Dad is unable to talk/visit."
How rude was I?
I made it back to my room and continued with the Net. Mean while, I could hear the church singing, my son stood there by himself with the door open, the dogs got loose and I was committed to doing the net.
The wife made it home in time to see the church group get into there van and to see my son chase the dogs. She opened her truck door and the dogs jumped in.
I did not know the dogs had gotten loose until I was done with the net. Whew…….I got through another Net.

Saturday Dec. 12 2009

You can see where the snow is in Michigan. Not a cloud in the sky right now.

What a beautiful day it is so far.
It's Saturday, got a busy day planned with the family. First, the wife is making a big breakfast right now, then we are off to do some shopping for more Christmas Decorations, gonna stop and visit the parents, then off to down our Christmas Tree. Tonight the tree should be up. I hope I can do this all with out my mid morning nap.

Hawaii; Biggest Waves in Five Years

This is a cool article. It also has some really awesome photos. I'd rather float on an iceberg rather than sitting on a stick in fifty foot waves.
Cool Photos

Thousands of spectators and surfers are flocking to Hawaii's beaches to see the biggest waves in years crash ashore.

Heavy traffic backed up for miles yesterday along roads leading to Oahu's North Shore. Some of the world's most daring surfers took on the powerful and dangerous waves, which forecasters say could reach heights of 50ft (15 metres) by tomorrow.

The surf grew so large that a few beaches on Oahu and Maui were closed because lifeguards feared inexperienced sightseers could drown, according to state officials.

Surf's up as biggest waves in five years come to Hawaii after North Pacific storm

Winter Storm December 8, 2009

It looks like we are going to see some weather over the next few days. This afternoon the wife and kids are going to put up the outdoor Christmas Lights. Hope they get it done before the storm hits. Remember to check your local weather for updates, listen to your weather radio. I am not a metorolgist, just a weather nut so seek professional weather reports. I have many links on my blog, I do not take responsibility if they are wrong or do not know what they say.

ICOM IC-706MKIIG Is to be No Longer

Amateur Radio Victoria reports that the Icom IC-706MkIIG transceiver will definately cease production.

In a news report just received, they say:

Despite deniers in the USA, it has been confirmed that Wednesday 9 December is the last day that the ICOM plant in Wakayama, Japan will produce the IC-706MKIIG transceiver.

ICOM Australia said it has checked with Japan and been reassured that the earlier advice received that the popular transceiver has been discontinued is correct.

The reason is that some components used in the IC-706MKIIG are no longer available and the model had to cease production.

For more on this story see the news section of the Amateur Radio Victoria website

My "No-Excuses" 160 Meter Vertical

I now have all the materials need to make my 160 meter vertical. I plan on starting this project with my son this Friday evening. Not for sure how long it will take, I plan on having it in use a week from now.
I will try to document our progress with photos and plan on posting them here.
Here are the plans that we will be using.
We may change a few things. Stay tuned.

The DX Zone

This is cool; my blog site is now listed on the USA : Ham Radio/Blogs/USA portion on the DX Zones blog list.
The DX Zone is a very helpful site with tons of information. I have a widget box on my side bar also.
When you’re on my blog give me a rating, the rating box is also on the side bar. If you give me a poor rating please let me know via guest book, e-mail or use the comments section.
Thanks to all of you for visiting.
73

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving.

He's Home

I am so happy, my dad was released from the hospital this afternoon. He still has a long road of recovery ahead. Thanks all for your support.

Hurricane Watch Net Event this Weekend

Hurricane Watch Net to Hold On the Air Event
Dave Lefavour, W7GOX, Manager of the Hurricane Watch Net, has announced that the HWN will be holding a two-day, on-the-air special event. “This event, which we’re calling ‘HWN/44,’ celebrates our 44th consecutive year of service. Our members will be using special event callsign K4H on 11/29 and 11/30. We’ll be operating on 14.325 MHz, of course, but, we’ll also have stations active on or near 7
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Myself, Looking forward to making the contact. Hope to hear you on HF.

ISS gets New Amateur Radio Antenna

New Ham Radio antenna installed on the ISS
New Ham Radio antenna installed on the ISS ARISS US Hardware Manager Lou McFadin, W5DID says that all the teamwork and effort to expand the ARISS amateur radio station aboard the ISS were successful this weekend when the new dual band 2m/70CM antenna was installed on the outside of ESA's Columbus module. Lou congratulated the team, "This is an example of what can be achieved by volunteer ham
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I like working the ISS. Always lots of fun working the birds.