The 2011 Heat Wave

Whoa~ it is hot outside. I went out for 10 minutes, more than enough heat for me~ Was gonna do some antenna work, guess it will wait till next week sometime.
Stay cool all~

Loss of 2 Meter Simplex Frequencies

This is from my fellow Ham friend in Texas WX5VHF
I am spreading the word~

Loss of two meter simplex frequencies IMMINENT in Texas!

Texas two meter simplex users stand to lose a large portion of available frequencies if proposed changes to the two meter band plan are passed by the Texas VHF-FM Society.

In an effort to make room for D-Star repeater pairs, the Society has proposed a revised band plan that will take spectrum from two meter simplex users statewide.
Below is the band plan being proposed by the Texas VHF-FM Society:
146.450 - 146.490 MHz, High in/low out, 1 MHz offset, 12.5 kHz channel spacing or less, any
digital voice/data air interface technology suitable for the Amateur Radio Service that is compatible with the channel spacing. No analog transmission permitted.
145.520 Analog
145.540 Analog
145.560 Analog
145.580 Analog
145.600 Analog
145.620 Analog
145.640 Analog
145.660 Analog
145.680 Analog
145.700 Analog
145.720 Analog
145.740 Analog
145.760 Analog
145.780 Analog
146.420 Analog
146.440 Analog
146.450 Digital }
146.460 Digital }
146.470 Digital }--------------- Simplex allocations that will be lost due to proposed restructuring.
146.480 Digital }
146.490 Digital }
146.560 Analog
146.580 Analog
147.400 Analog
147.420 Analog
147.440 Analog
147.450 Digital }
147.460 Digital }
147.470 Digital }-------------- Simplex allocations that will be lost due to proposed restructuring.
147.480 Digital }
147.490 Digital }
147.560 Analog
147.580 Analog


This proposal was placed on the table at the March 1, 2008 General Meeting of the Texas VHF-FM Society and has yet to be voted on, possibly due to opposition from avid simplex users.

Contrary to public opinion, two meter simplex frequencies are regularly, and in some cases heavily used throughout the state.

A well-established group of simplex operators in north and east Texas have used the frequency of 147.420 on a daily basis since the mid 1970’s. While that frequency is not in immediate danger of being reallocated, other well used frequencies are!

A group of simplex operators around the Cedar Creek Lake area in eastern Texas that regularly use the frequency of 146.475 stands to lose that piece of spectrum.

146.500 is another frequency currently being used on a regular basis by hams from Dallas all the way down into the Waco area that is on the chopping block.

I’m sure there are many more frequencies all across the state that are in use that we do not know about! If anyone knows of other simplex frequencies in use in the state of Texas please feel free to e-mail me at WX5VHF@gmail.com

In an effort to display the utilization of these simplex frequencies I am asking for all Texas two meter simplex operators to attend and cast a vote at the Texas VHF-FM Society’s Summer Meeting that will take place at Austin Summerfest 2011. The meeting will be held Saturday, August 6th at 1:00PM in the Pecan Room of the Austin Marriott Airport South at 4415 South Interstate 35 in Austin.
In order to vote at this meeting you MUST be a member of the Society! To become a member you must download the form from the link below and send it back with $15.00. (I guess it’s sort of like a poll tax?)

http://www.txvhffm.com/images/Forms/...pplication.pdf

I believe I speak for most all avid simplex operators when I say, I am in no way anti D-Star. New technology and operating modes are the life blood of amateur radio. What I am against is reallocation of simplex spectrum as repeater pairs! D-star or analog, a repeater is a repeater and should be placed on frequencies that are already allocated for that purpose. If all of the repeater pairs are in use then get on the waiting list; just as analog repeater owners do. What is the rush?

Hams always say “Use it, or lose it” when it comes to radio spectrum. Well, this time it’s being used and we still may lose it!

Aaron Scott
WX5VHF

The Heat is On

Wow, it is only 8am and it is already 75º outside. The weather folks are saying this is gonna be one hot week. I think I will stay inside and play radio for the next few days. That and I have a lot of stamps to sort through. I just received a Stamp collection from an estate sale. Looks to have many stamps I do not have.
So, here is what my weather is looking like for the next few days.

Heat advisory in effect from 10 am this morning to 8 pm edt this evening.
Early this morning. Partly cloudy. Light and variable winds.

Today. Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 80s near lake Michigan and in the lower 90s inland. North winds around 5 mph becoming northwest late in the day. Heat index readings 94 to 99.

Tonight. Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 70s. North winds 5 to 10 mph until midnight becoming light. Then becoming west around 5 mph toward daybreak.

Wednesday. Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 80s near lake Michigan and in the mid 90s inland. Southwest winds 5 to 15 mph with gusts to around 25 mph. Heat index readings 100 to 105.

Wednesday night. Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 70s. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.

Thursday. Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 80s near lake michigan and in the mid 90s inland. Southwest winds 10 to 20 mph. Heat index readings 98 to 103.

This Weekends Contest

QRP Fox Hunt Jul 15
NCCC Sprint Jul 15
DMC RTTY Contest Jul 16-17
CWops Mini-CWT Test Jul 16-17
Feld Hell Sprint Jul 16
North American QSO Party, RTTY Jul 16-17
CQ Worldwide VHF Contest Jul 16-17
RSGB Low Power Contest Jul 17
CQC Great Colorado Gold Rush Jul 17
Run for the Bacon QRP Contest Jul 18

This Weekends Contest

QRP Fox Hunt	Jul 8
NCCC Sprint	Jul 8
FISTS Summer Sprint	Jul 9
IARU HF World Championship	Jul 9-10
SKCC Weekend Sprint	Jul 10
ARCI Summer Homebrew Sprint	Jul 10
NAQCC-EU Monthly Sprint	Jul 11

Ham Radio; STS-135

Updated

America's Final Space Shuttle Launch

The final Shuttle Launch (STS-135) is scheduled for launch tomorrow at 1526Z.
There will be two sister Special Events Stations operating for the Final Shuttle Launch.
Operations will begin five minutes after the launch (currently scheduled for 11:26 AM EST (1526Z)). If the launch is rescheduled, so will station operation.
Both stations will be offering a commemorative certificate or QSL card for the event. See the details of each station for QSL info.

Information for each station follows:

Special Events Station N4S (near the Cape in Florida) will be operating as follows:
CW 7.080, 14.050, 21.050 +/- 10kHz.
SSB 7.280, 14.280, 21.280 +/- 10kHz.
PSK 7.035, 14.070, 21.070
D-Star KJ4OXT
Cocoa repeater 145.190(-) PL 103.5
For a Certificate, send 8.5 x 11 S.A.S.E. to: North Brevard ARC, P O Box 1033, Mims FL 32754
Info: Bob Jones, N6USP, 4743 Cambridge Dr., Mims FL 32754 n6usp@bellsouth.net
Web site: North Brevard Amateur Radio Club: http://www.northbrevardarc.org/space...inallaunch.htm

Special Events Stations N5S (near White Sands Complex in New Mexico)
N5S will be operating SSB only on forty, twenty, and fifteen meters as band conditions permit.
For QSL, send S.A.S.E. to: N5S, P. O. Box 1443, Las Cruces, NM 88004-1433
Info: Mesilla Valley Radio Club (MVRC), N5BL, P. O. Box 1443, Las Cruces, NM 88004-1433
Web site: MVRC: http://www.n5bl.org

News Release Release Date:

For more information, contact:

Carl Zelich
Special Event Coordinator, The Final Launch
H. 407-977-5978 C. 407-687-8083
aa4mi@arrl.net

Amateur Radio in Action: The Final Launch

Chuluota, Florida, May 19, 2011 –

The Final Space Shuttle launch, STS-135 Atlantis, is currently scheduled for July 8!

An historic event, not to be missed, will soon occur. This will provide unprecedented photo and

media opportunities. More than 700.000 people will attend.

The Honorable Governor Rick Scott and family and Honorable Lt. Governor Jennifer Carroll and family, have been invited to visit our operating Amateur Radio Station.

Ham radio operators of Brevard County are invited to stop by our worldwide radio station to say a few words to Amateur Radio operators around the world.

Location: 1150 West King St., Cocoa FL 32922. This is on SR520 just west of U.S. 1.

"Ham radio has always been part of homeland defense and Amateur Radio operators have always acted to provide communications for their country," says Ray Kassis, N4LEM, ARES District Emergency Coordinator.

As a Special Event Station, a Special Call Sign will be issued by the Federal Communications Commission to commemorate this event.

We will be operating on:

CW 7.080, 14.050, 21.050 +/- 10kHz.

SSB 7.280, 14.280, 21.280 +/- 10kHz.

PSK 7.035, 14.070, 21.070

D-Star KJ4OXT

Cocoa repeater 145.190(-) PL 103.5

For a Certificate, send 8.5 x 11 S.A.S.E. to: North Brevard ARC, P O Box 1033, Mims FL 32754

Info: Bob Jones, N6USP, 4743 Cambridge Dr., Mims FL 32754 n6usp@bellsouth.net

Web site: North Brevard Amateur Radio Club: http://www.northbrevardarc.org/spaceshuttlefinallaunch.htm

To become involved in Amateur Radio, contact the ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio, 225 Main StreetNewington, CT 06111 or 1-800-32-NEW HAM. ARRL home page: www.arrl.org

Movie SUPER 8 to feature Amateur Radio

A new movie, Super 8, set just outside Dayton, Ohio in 1979 uses Amateur Radio in a crucial scene.

Super 8 revolves around a group of six middle-schoolers who witnesses a mysterious train crash in the fictional town of Lillian. Soon after the crash, the Air Force arrives and strange things start happening in the small town.

The kids, a group of young film makers (hence the title of the movie) begin to investigate the creepy phenomena.

One of the kids’ dads is Deputy Lamb. After the Sherriff mysteriously disappears, Deputy Lamb takes over and holds a town-wide meeting to help allay the fear. One woman thinks that all the strange goings-on are the work of the Soviet Union. But when Deputy Lamb calls on Mr McCandless to ask a question, the man complains that he is hearing strange transmissions on his ham radio. As soon as Mr McCandless mentions ham radio, the residents at the meeting just ignore him.

Read the full ARRL story at
http://www.arrl.org/news/another-hollywood-blockbuster-
features-amateur-radio

Super 8
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1650062/

Happy July 4, 2011

On this day in 1776 a group of 13 colonies broke away to found a new nation free to govern itself as it saw fit, pledging that each citizen would have the unalienable right to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”. A nation, as Americans are apt to declare without equivocation, which became the greatest on the face of the earth. Happy July 4th my Family and Friends.

Asteroid to Disappear?

Asteroid Occulatation;
On July 3rd at 11:05:30 p.m. EDT, a 10th magnitude star in Virgo will disappear. It'll be right back. Asteroid 52 Europa will pass in front of TYC 0292-00339-1, blotting it out for only 17.9 seconds in an eclipse visible across a wide strip of North America. Measurements of the eclipse could reveal the shape of the asteroid, the seventh largest in the asteroid belt. NASA is hosting a live chat and webcast to cover the event: Tune in here.

Definition of OCCULTATION

1: the state of being hidden from view or lost to notice

2: the interruption of the light from a celestial body or of the signals from a spacecraft by the intervention of a celestial body; especially : an eclipse of a star or planet by the moon

KD8BIG; This Weekends Contest

Wow, It has been a few weeks since I have posted. So sorry~
I have had some continued health issues and my children are out of school for the summer so it all takes away from the time I have for blogging and other hobbies.

This weekends contest:

RAC Canada Day Contest	Jul 1
Venezuelan Ind. Day Contest	Jul 2-3
WLOTA Contest	Jul 2-3
DL-DX RTTY Contest	Jul 2-3
Original QRP Contest	Jul 2-3
PODXS 070 Club 40m Firecracker Sprint	Jul 2-3
DARC 10-Meter Digital Contest	Jul 3
10-10 Int. Spirit of 76 QSO Party	Jul 4-10
RSGB 80m Club Championship, CW	Jul 4
MI QRP July 4th CW Sprint	Jul 4-5

K2A-K2M

Jul 1-Jul 5, 0001Z-1259Z, K2A-K2M, Eastern USA. Original 13 Colonies Operators. All HF bands except WARC and 60 m; 2 and 6 simplex encouraged; all modes. Certificate & QSL. Ken Villone, KU2US, Award Manager, PO Box 185, Conesus, NY 14435. Special certificate for contacting all 13 original colonies; see complete details at: www.13colonies.info/

Special Event Station S520SV

While playing Radio this afternoon I came across S520SV on 14.267.000
It sucks that I do not have an amplifier but I am determined to make the contact.
Why? I have no idea, maybe it is out of frustration of not having an amp and major antenna system.
Stay tuned for updates~
----------------------------------

S520SV will be on the air on all HF bands from 20. - 26. June 2011 to commemorate 20 years of independent Slovenia and 20 years of Signal corps of Slovenian Army Forces.All contacts will be confirmed via bureau or direct via S57DX with SAE and IRC or 2 green stamps.

source; QRZ.com

ECHOLINK 100 V2

This was the topic on my rag chew this morning.
Echolink 100 v2
Here is a video with a link below.


MixBASE by N8AD; click here

This Weekends Contest; June 17-20

This weekends contest opportunities. Good luck and enjoy the weekend.

NCCC Sprint Ladder	Jun 17
All Asian DX Contest, CW	Jun 18-19
SMIRK Contest	Jun 18-19
AGCW VHF/UHF Contest	Jun 18
Stew Perry Topband Challenge	Jun 18-19
West Virginia QSO Party	Jun 18-19
Kid's Day Contest	Jun 18
Feld Hell Sprint	Jun 18
WAB 50 MHz Phone	Jun 19
Run for the Bacon QRP Contest	Jun 20

FCC Fines Jammer ($24k)

FCC Takes Strong Stance Against Jamming, Issues $24,000 Fine to California Man:

On June 6, the FCC issued a Forfeiture Order http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2011/db0606/DA-11-990A1.pdf in the amount of $24,000 against Kevin W. Bondy of Encino, California, for engaging in unlicensed radio operation and intentional interference to licensed radio operations and for refusing to allow an inspection of his radio equipment by FCC personnel. Bondy -- licensee of General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm?job=service_home&id=general_mobile) Station WQGX752 -- is accused of repeatedly and intentionally jamming four land mobile frequencies assigned to The Oaks Shopping Center in Thousand Oaks, California.

In assessing the $24,000 fine, the FCC noted that it was responsible for making and enforcing regulations to prevent interference and to maintain control over the use of the radio spectrum in a manner that promotes the public interest and convenience. "Bondy's acts cut at the heart of the Commission's responsibilities to protect the nation's airwaves and regulate use of the spectrum," the Order said. "Bondy operated a radio without a license on the specific frequencies assigned and licensed by the Commission to The Oaks, for the explicit and expressed purpose of prohibiting The Oaks's use of its licensed frequencies. This type of conduct inhibits the Commission's ability to effectively regulate and maintain control over the use of the spectrum and will not be tolerated." Bondy has until July 6 to pay the fine.