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~

Heil Pro Set Plus Head Set

Without question this is the best accessory in my shack. The Heil Pro Set Plus Head Set.
I can rag-chew while walking around in my shack, sitting in my recliner or while sitting at my desk. Having the HS-2 hand switch & Heil FS-2 dual footswitch was the bonus.

When rag-chewing with local friends they can tell if I am on the hand microphone or head set. The head set produces an unbelievable audio sound. The reception is also the best, wearing the head set I hear nothing that happens in my home or shack. Heck, the house could fall down and unless something fell on me I would not know.

The hand switch is great for walking around the room or sitting in the recliner, the foot switch is great while working DX or rag-chewing while working on the computer.

The Heil Pro Set Plus! is a dual mic element headset. It includes the HC-5 key element for articulate speech audio that is great for everyday rag-chewing and traffic handling. And it includes the HC-4 DX Dream Machine element designed to help you cut threw pile ups. This new "!" version features a audio phase switch. The Heil Pro Set Plus! is destined to be the new benchmark competition headset for DX and contest operators worldwide.

Switchable HC-5 and HC-4 elements
Phase Switch
Boom swings for left or right use
Self adjusting cushioned headband
Highly efficient tuned speaker cavities
Heavy duty cable system
Extremely light and comfortable
Removable cotton ear pads
Speaker Phase reversal switch
Rugged ¼” speaker swivel studs

So with all this do you want one now?
Well, you can not get a new one~ They have been discontinued.
Their replacement is the PSE-6.
The Heil Pro Set Elite series.
I will let you know what I think about that when I get it.
If it is anything like the Pro Set Plus~ Wow!

Effected by Hurricane Irene ?

Here are a list of links that may prove to be helpful~

South Carolina Emergency Management
Real-Time Water Data

North Carolina Division of Emergency Management
Real-Time Water Data

Virginia Department of Emergency Management
Real-Time Water Data

Maryland Emergency Management Agency
Real-Time Water Data

Delaware Emergency Management Agency
Real-Time Water Data

New Jersey Office of Emergency Management
Real-Time Water Data

Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency
Real-Time Water Data

NYS Division of Homeland Security & Emergency
Real-Time Water Data

Connecticut Dept. of Emergency Management and Homeland Security
Real-Time Water Data

State of Rhode Island: Emergency Management Agency
Real-Time Water Data

Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency
Real-Time Water Data

Vermont Division of Emergency Management
Real-Time Water Data

NH - Homeland Security & Emergency Management,
Real-Time Water Data

Maine Emergency Management Agency
Real-Time Water Data

Virginia ARES/RACES

Virginia Section | ARES/RACES of VA
HURRICANE IRENE

All ARES personnel should check in with their local emergency coordinator or district emergency coordinator in the EC's absence to let him/her know of your availability.

ARES personnel DO NOT SELF-ACTIVATE! Wait until your leaders or served agencies activate you. This does not prevent anyone from preparing in advance.

MONITOR your local VHF/UHF frequencies and the ODEN HF net on 3947/7240 kHz.

Ed Krom
WD4KHP
VA ARRL Section Emergency Coordinator

North Carolina ARES SEC; Re Hurricane Irene

This was e-mailed to me~

Message from;

Tom Brown N4TAB
NC RACES Officer
NC ARES SEC

ARES Update #3

Re Hurricane Irene - Not a good scenario, at all.

The track of Hurricane Irene has turned more toward the West and places significant portions of Eastern NC in a perilous situation.The trajectory, plus the forecast wind field profiles, plus the forecast storm surges portends some tough days ahead.

NC ARES/Auxcomm folks may be tasked to support our state in unprecedented ways. Attendant to the potential for communications infrastructure failures is the very real likelihood of mandatory evacuations from affected areas and that may include EM personnel as well as volunteers in our Auxcomm ranks. Once evacuated, you may not re-enter the area until Recovery is complete. That means that the folks most familiar with the affected areas may not be available to serve during the Incident and recovery. Worse is the absence of institutional knowledge, such as frequency plans in IC-205 and IC-217 formats that have been previously/recently requested. Teams sent into affected areas without that information will have to play Monte Carlo, seeking assets. It's not too late to get that accomplished - an informal email to your EB ASEC John Sprouse N4VJJ or CB ASEC Steve Misel K4WEB will be a big step in filling that need.

Timing Owing to the projected timeline for Hurricane impact upon NC, it is not likely that dangerous wind fields will have exited NC prior to sundown on Saturday. That will affect initial damage assessment and the subsequent Recovery phase of the Incident. If that process identifies significant infrastructure damage, it is likely that Strike Teams will be formed for insertion into the affected areas. Comms will be a critical part oft the Team mission and, if the State's COMMs are impaired, ARES/Auxcomm will fill that role.

Capabilities We have identified, contacted and effected initial coordination with entities that can provide record traffic communications via Winlink Transportable assets, as well as tactical communications. These will come from NC ARES, NC MARS, SC ARES, SC MARS and other groups. This is Auxcomm at it's very best.

COMMS in NC The Tar Heel Emergency Net (THEN) will be active during the Hurricane impingement period. We have real experience that, although listening to HF during a hurricane is tedious and tiring, it is essential.

This is it Folks, this is a BIG Incident. Recall/refresh your ICS concepts and be ready to plug-in. This is the reason that we, all of us, signed-up and agreed to help. Now is the time.

Please. If you don't understand or need help in putting a plan in place, contact your EC. DEC, ASEC, SD and/or me.......one single ICS trained and motivated individual can make a difference.

Final tonight. Immediately prior to the onset of Hurricane Irene's insult upon NC, the NC ARES/ NC MARS/ Auxcomm Team will communicate to all members, jointly and severally, cogent information and instructions.

Please maintain situational awareness and be cognizant of changing circumstances.

Of most importance, be safe and take care of your loved ones, first.

73,
Tom Brown N4TAB
NC RACES Officer
NC ARES SEC

ALERT: FBI Issues Hurricane Scam Warning

In light of Hurricane Irene, the public is reminded to beware of fraudulent e-mails and websites claiming to conduct charitable relief efforts.

Tips On Avoiding Fraudulent Charitable Contribution Schemes

Recently several natural disasters, including tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes, have devastated lives and property. In the wake of these events that have caused emotional distress and great monetary loss to numerous victims, individuals across the nation often feel a desire to help these victims, frequently through monetary donations.

These disasters prompt individuals with criminal intent to solicit contributions purportedly for a charitable organization or a good cause. Therefore, before making a donation of any kind, consumers should adhere to certain guidelines, to include the following:

• Do not respond to unsolicited (SPAM) e-mail.
• Be skeptical of individuals representing themselves as officials soliciting via e-mail for donations.
• Do not click on links contained within an unsolicited e-mail.
• Be cautious of e-mail claiming to contain pictures in attached files, as the files may contain viruses. Only open attachments from known senders.
• To ensure contributions are received and used for intended purposes, make contributions directly to known organizations rather than relying on others to make the donation on your behalf.
• Validate the legitimacy of the organization by directly accessing the recognized charity or aid organization's website rather than following an alleged link to the site.
• Attempt to verify the legitimacy of the non-profit status of the organization by using various Internet-based resources, which also may assist in confirming the actual existence of the organization.
• Do not provide personal or financial information to anyone who solicits contributions: providing such information may compromise your identity and make you vulnerable to identity theft.

To obtain more information on charitable contribution schemes and other types of online schemes, visit www.LooksTooGoodToBeTrue.com.

If you believe you have been a victim of a charity related scheme, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud by telephone at (866) 720-5721, or by fax at (225) 334-4707, or by e-mail at disaster@leo.gov.1 You can also report suspicious e-mail solicitations or fraudulent websites to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.IC3.gov.

1 National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) was originally established by the Department of Justice to investigate, prosecute, and deter fraud in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Its mission has expanded to include suspected fraud from any natural or man-made disaster. More than 20 federal agencies, including the FBI, participate in the NCDF, allowing it to act as a centralized clearinghouse of information related to relief fraud.

Hurricane Irene News Links

Here are some Articles of interest in regards to Hurricane Irene~

IRENE 'WEAKENS A LITTLE'...

'Little change in strength expected' before NC landfall...

HURRICANE WARNING FROM NC TO NYC...

65 MILLION PEOPLE IN PATH...

VIDEO: 8 Swept Off Jetty By Wave...

NYC BRACES FOR UP TO 12" RAIN...

BREAKING: SUBWAYS, BUSES, TRAINS SHUT DOWN AT NOON SATURDAY...

Much of East already 'super-saturated'...

New moon could make flooding worse?

UPDATE: Irene Flight Cancellations Top 1,000...

Hurricane Irene Update (#3)

If Hurricane Irene proceeds as is currently forecast, then most people of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast US States will be exposed to the worse storm conditions of their lifetime. For residents of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast US States now is the time to prepare.
The National Hurricane Center is issuing warnings on category 2 Hurricane Irene. Tropical storm force winds are expected within the southern portion of the warning area along the United States east coast by late today. Hurricane force winds are expected to first reach the hurricane warning area tonight or Saturday morning, and then spread northward in the warning area through Saturday night. The latest five day precipitation forecast confirms the direction predicted in the last HPC forecast of the hurricane's path. The forecast moves a slightly greatest density of rain fall to the south. It shows the heaviest rainfall over eastern North Carolina, eastern Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, far east Pennsylvania, east southeast New York, Vermont, western Connecticut western Massachusetts, New Jersey, and northern New Hampshire with more than 14.8 to 8 inches forecast to fall along the greatest rainfall line. The nine panel Northern Hemisphere GFSx - NH - 500mb Hght/SLP plot and US loop is continues to show a major hurricane moving off the east coast of Florida up towards a North Carolina landfall then moving up the coast, but now diverges from HPC's forecast and shows the storm moving inland at the center of Long Island and then moving towards northern Maine. Currently, Irene has maximum winds of 110 MPH, hurricane force winds of that extend out 90 miles from the center, and tropical force winds of extend out to 290 miles. Irene is expected to produce rainfall accumulations of 6 to 10 inches, with isolated maximum amounts of 15 inches, from eastern North Carolina into southeastern virgin, eastern Maryland, Delaware, eastern Pennsylvania. New Jersey, southeastern New York, long island, western Connecticut, and western Massachusetts through Monday morning. These rains could cause widespread flooding and life-threatening flash floods. An extremely dangerous storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 6 to 11 feet above ground level in the hurricane warning area in North Carolina, including the Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds. Storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 4 to 8 feet above ground level over southern potions of the Chesapeake Bay, including tributaries, and the eastern shore of the Delmarva Peninsula. Storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 3 to 6 feet above ground level along the Jersey shore. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large, destructive, and life-threatening waves.

Hurricane Irene Update (#2)

Update: NOAA, NHC say Hurricane Irene could become a Category 4 storm by Thursday. People from the Carolinas northward through New England are urged to monitor the progress of the storm.

North Carolina has declared a state of emergency as Hurricane Irene approached the East Coast Thursday. Governors in Virginia, New Jersey, and Maryland also declared states of emergency. Mandatory mass evacuations are being held in vulnerable coastal areas.
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/204009/20110825/hurricane-irene-north-carolina.htm

ALBANY, N.Y. -- New York's governor has declared a state of emergency as Hurricane Irene moves up the Northeast Coast, threatening flooding of low-lying coastal cities and towns this weekend. Thursday, August 25, 2011.
http://www.wptz.com/r/28978509/detail.html

Mark Strait de KD8BIG

Global Disaster Network

KD8BIG Blog

KD8BIG Twitter

KD8BIG Facebook

Hurricane Irene Update ( #1)

If Hurricane Irene proceeds as is currently forecast, then most people of the northeast coast will be exposed to the worse storm conditions of their lifetime. For residents of the eastern US coast now is the time to prepare.
The National Hurricane Center is issuing warnings on category 3 Hurricane Irene. A turn toward the north-northwest is expected today, followed by a turn toward the north by early Friday. On the forecast track, the core of the hurricane will continue to move over the northwestern Bahamas today, and pass well offshore of the east coast of central and north Florida tonight and early Friday.. The five day precipitation forecast shows the greatest density of rain fall over Long Island, southern Connecticut and eastern New Jersey, with more than 10 inches forecast to fall. The nine panel Northern Hemisphere GFSx - NH - 500mb Hght/SLP plot and US loop is now showing a major hurricane moving off the east coast of Florida up towards a North Carolina landfall and moving towards a second Land fall on Long Island. Currently, Irene has maximum winds of 120 MPH, hurricane force winds of that extend out 70 miles from the center, and tropical force winds of extend out to 255 miles. Irene is expected to produce rainfall accumulations of 6 to 12 inches over the Bahamas during the next 36 hours. Rains will be diminishing across the Turks and Caicos Islands with additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches possible, bringing the maximum storm total to 6 to 12 inches. In areas of onshore winds near the center of Irene, an extremely dangerous storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 7 to 11 feet above normal tide levels over the Bahamas. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves.


Florida Division of Emergency Management
Florida: Emergency Information Line: 1-800-342-3557
Georgia EMA/Homeland Security
South Carolina Emergency Management
North Carolina Division of Emergency Management
Virginia Department of Emergency Management
Maryland Emergency Management Agency
Delaware Emergency Management Agency
New Jersey Office of Emergency Management
Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency
NYS Division of Homeland Security & Emergency
Connecticut Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security
State of Rhode Island: Emergency Management Agency
Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency
Vermont Division of Emergency Management
Homeland Security & Emergency Management, NH
Maine Emergency Management Agency

Hurricane Watch Net; Activated for Irene

The Hurricane Watch Net has activated as rapidly developing Hurricane Irene makes its way through the gulf. The net is active on 14.325, information is available at http://www.hwn.org

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at4+shtml/085712.shtml?5-daynl


Irene could become major hurricane; Bahamas, U.S. at risk

2 P.M.: Hurricane Irene’s winds remained at 80 mph as the core of the storm churned just off the northeastern coast of Hispaniola.

But with little but warm water in its path, the National Hurricane Center expected Irene to continue strengthening over the next few days as it moves through the southeastern and central Bahamas. By Thursday, forecasters say it could be a major Category 3 hurricane with winds of up to 115 mph.

The storm remains a threat to much of the Atlantic coast, from South Florida to the Carolinas.

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/08/22/2369736/hurricane-irene-slams-puerto-rico.html#ixzz1Vmm6RM2F

Telegraph Exhibit & Demonstration

On Saturday, August 27, the Toledo Chapter of the Morse Telegraph Club will be demonstrating telegraphy and exhibiting telegraph instruments at the Michigan Historical Museum at Lansing, Michigan. The event will run from 10-AM to 4-PM. We will have two “land line” telegraph circuits in operation, one of which will be connected to an AP news wire and the other of which will be used to converse with retired railroad and commercial telegraphers throughout the US and Canada.

In addition to the telegraph demonstration, one can stop by to see the special US Civil War sesquicentennial exhibit entitled “Plowshares into Swords.” This exhibit includes a telegraph display developed by members of the Morse Telegraph Club in conjunction with museum staff. One can see Civil War era telegraph instruments, hear actual news bulletins from 150-years ago reproduced on the telegraph sounder, and the children can type in a brief phrase on a computer terminal and hear it reproduced in American Morse Code.

Of course, there’s plenty there for the whole family, including numerous exhibits covering the history of Michigan. More information regarding this event may be found on the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Web Page at:

http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7...9234--,00.html

The Morse Telegraph Club, Inc. is an association of retired railroad and commercial telegraphers, radio amateurs, historians, and others with an interest in the history and traditions of telegraphy. Our organization publishes an excellent quarterly journal entitled “Dots and Dashes.” In addition to constructing historically authentic telegraph exhibits for public museums throughout the US and Canada, members regularly demonstrate telegraphy at historical events, steam train excursions and so forth and present talks on the history of telegraphy and telecommunications. More information may be found at:

www.morsetelegraphclub.org

Thank you, and 73!

Contest 8/19-22/11

This Weekends Contest;

QRP Fox Hunt	Aug 19
NCCC Sprint Ladder	Aug 19
SARTG WW RTTY Contest	Aug 20-21
ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest	Aug 20-21
Russian District Award Contest	Aug 20-21
Keyman's Club of Japan Contest	Aug 20-21
CWOps CW Open	Aug 20-21
North American QSO Party, SSB	Aug 20-21
Feld Hell Sprint	Aug 20
SARL Digital Contest	Aug 21
ARRL Rookie Roundup, RTTY	Aug 21
Run for the Bacon QRP Contest	Aug 22