Buoys on 10 Meters

The source of some mysterious weak signals on 29.684 MHz with an 81.9 Baud and 130 Hz shift have been located. According to the February IARU Region One newsletter, the signals came from the Spanish coastal area and were audible across all of Europe but only during band openings and only by directional antennas.

It turns out the source of transmissions by Datawell buoys. These buoys, produced in the Netherlands are used for measuring water temperatures and wave heights. They are designed to transmit with 75 milliwatts on frequencies between 27 and 40 MHz.

Dick Van Empelen, PA2GRU, of Heemstede in the Netherlands has since visited the Datawell Company and has informed them that the buoy transmissions on the amateur service 10 meter band are illegal. The operations chief promised to inform all Datawell offices about the situation. (IARU-R1)

Ten-Tec Model 238C HP Antenna Tuner

Description

Model 238C now features a large cross-needle SWR and peak reading power output meter. Model 238C uses our tried and true “L” match design used in the earlier 238/238A/238B models with a new cosmetic design, larger heavy duty tuning capacitor than the original and backlit cross-needle SWR and peak power output metering. The 238 was rated the LOWEST INSERTION LOSS of any high power antenna tuner available by the ARRL Lab in their survey article comparing the Amateur Radio tuner market (QST 2/03).

Specifications:

• CIRCUIT TYPE: Modified “L” Network
• RF POWER RATING: 2000 watts

FREQUENCY RANGE: 1.8 to 30 MHz

• OUTPUT MATCHING RANGE: At least 10:1 SWR, any phase angle,
• 1.8 to 30 MHz. 3000 ohms maximum at full power.
• INPUT IMPEDANCE: 50 ohms, nominal

CAPACITOR VOLTAGE RATING: 3500 volts

• INDUCTOR: 18 uh silver plated roller inductor
• SIZE: HWD (in inches) 5 x 12.125 x 13.5 (12.7 x 30.8 x 34.3 cm). Depth measurement includes rear panel connectors.
• WEIGHT: 16 lbs. (5.45 kg)
  

source; http://www.tentec.com/

Crossroads Hamfest 2012; Hamfest/Convention

03/17/2012 |

Crossroads Hamfest 2012

Location: Marshall, MI
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: Southern Michigan Amateur Radio Society
Website: http://www.w8df.com/hamfest.html
Learn More

Kenwood TM281 2 Meter Transceiver

A preview of the Kenwood TM281 transceiver that will be fully reviewed in the May 2012 issue of QST magazine.


• Weather Alert Radio function checks the 1050 Hz tone from NOAA (U.S.A only).
• Menu allows for easy control and selecting of various functions.
• Up to 200 memory channels to program frequencies and other various data.
• (Up to 100 memory channels if Memory Channel Names are assigned to the channels.)
• Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System (CTCSS) or Digital Code Squelch (DCS) rejects unwanted calls from other stations.
• Equipped with an easy-to-read large LCD with alphanumeric display capability.
• FM & Narrow Band FM ready

• High Power 65 Watts
• Free PC software (Memory Control Program) is available

Price $ 169.95 USD

Amateur Radio QRP on Facebook

Come and join in the conversation or just take notes if you like.
A new Facebook page, Amateur Radio QRP
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Amateur-Radio-QRP/242560105830171

QRP operation means transmitting at reduced power levels while aiming to maximize one's effective range while doing so.

Description

Most amateurs use approximately 100 watts of power, and in some parts of the world like the US, can use up to 1500 watts. QRP enthusiasts contend that this is not always necessary, and doing so wastes power, increases the likelihood of causing interference to nearby televisions, radios, and telephones and, for United States' amateurs is incompatible with FCC Part 97 rule, which states that one must use "the minimum power necessary to carry out the desired communications."

VHF/UHF Antenna

I’m looking to purchase one of the following?

CUSHCRAFT A270-10S BEAM 5ELE EA.

A270-6S 2M/440 DUBAND BEAM 3 EL. EA BAND

DB-218SAT VHF/UHF OSCAR LINK SYSTEM

Any thoughts?
73 de KD8BIG facebook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/KD8BIG/165613683505542

Next-Gen Weather Satellites to Improve Tornado Warnings

I meant to post this a couple of weeks ago.

Feb 29, 2012: When you read the following paragraph, consider the following: Tornado season hasn't even started yet. On Jan. 22 and 23, 2012, more than 37 tornadoes struck the southern USA. Ten of them tore across the Lower Mississippi Valley into Alabama. Worst hit were St. Clair and Jefferson County, Ala., where 2 people were killed, about 100 others injured, and at least $30 million in damage was done. It was a chilling reminder of the April 2011 onslaught of deadly tornadoes that took a staggering toll across southern and Midwestern states.

In southern parts of the USA, tornado season tends to peak in springtime. Yet January 2012 produced 73 winter tornadoes -- third most of any January in recorded history. Most of them struck southern states. And since over a quarter of the incredible 1,688 twisters confirmed across the US in 2011 occurred in the four-state region of Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee, residents there are becoming ever more wary of darkening skies.

"Even with our advances in science and communications, we can still be surprised by the deadliest storms," says NOAA scientist Steve Goodman. "But NOAA is working with NASA and university researchers to give more lead time in tornado warnings."

Southern tornadoes are especially insidious and challenging to track. The hilly, forested terrain in southern states makes an approaching twister harder to spot than in the flat Midwest. In the south you might not see the first evidence of an approaching tornado until it's almost in your back yard.

An Alabama resident describes the scene just before one of the April 2011 twisters struck near his home: "Suddenly, all the trees in my back yard corkscrewed violently, in unison, toward the northwest." Moments later, the storm was there.

Rain wrapped tornadoes are especially hard to see, as are night-time tornadoes. And records indicate that southern tornadoes often strike at night.

To reduce the surprise, NOAA and NASA² are developing the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-R, or "GOES-R series," with the first expected to launch in late 2015. These next-generation weather satellites bristle with state-of-the-art instruments for improved scouting of these killer storms, even at night.

Tornadoes are, by their very nature, difficult to pin down. The Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) on GOES-R will improve meteorologists' ability to assess conditions that spawn twisters. Compared to current GOES imagers, the ABI provides twice the spatial resolution, three times as many channels of information, and more than five times the update rate.

"ABI will give us a much clearer picture of the clouds – where and how tall they are, how much and what kind of moisture they hold, and how they are moving and intensifying," says NOAA research meteorologist Tim Schmit.

Most importantly, ABI can better detect the super-cold "overshooting tops" that mean severe weather is imminent. "Overshooting tops portend huge energy inside the cloud – it takes tremendous energy and upward velocity to poke through the lid of the tropopause," explains Schmit.

"During episodes of severe weather, ABI can show conditions every 30 to 60 seconds. The system in use now only shows them every 7.5 minutes. And in normal mode, ABI will send readings over the continental U.S. every 5 minutes as opposed to every 15-30 minutes."

Lightning is another key to tornadoes.

"Studies show that sudden changes in the total lightning correlate with [the onset of] tornadoes," says Goodman.

Detecting lightning is a new specialty of GOES-R.

"GOES-R's Geostationary Lightning Mapper, or GLM, will see all the lightning: cloud-to-ground, cloud-to-cloud, and inside each cloud. And since this is the first time we'll have lightning detection from geostationary orbit, it means GOES-R will constantly monitor and map the lightning across the western hemisphere."

The GLM is expected to give 7 more minutes of lead time in tornado warnings. Average lead time now is 13 minutes.

"With GOES-R you'll have upwards of 20 minutes to get to a safe haven."

That sure beats standing in your back yard, in the dark, waiting for the trees to twist.

Source: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/29feb_tornadosurprise/

KD8BIG

The last two weeks have been difficult for me.
I think I am over the rough patch for now and hope to get back to regular postings.

Yesterday I received a phone call from one of the W8ZHO Club directors; he had asked if I would be interested if I would like to be NCS once a month. I accepted the offer so now I will be NCS for the W8ZHO 2 meter net every third Wednesday of the month.

Other than that I have not done anything on the radio except some listening here and there. I hope to get back into the DX swing soon.
I am also considering eQSL, LoTW and others that are available. I will be looking into these this week and next before deciding what to do.

New Rules for 5 MHz (60 Meters)

Effective Monday, March 5th United States radio amateurs
were granted new operating privileges on the 60 meter band.
In addition to an increase in effective radiated power from
50 to 100 watts, hams can now transmit CW and PSK31. More
information on what modes can be used on what frequencies is
on-line at the ARRL website.

Venus and Jupiter at Sunset

The brightest planets in the night sky are aligning for a must-see show in late February and March 2012. You can start looking tonight.

[video]

[full story]

Livonia ARC's 41st Annual Swap & Shop; Hamfest/Convention

02/19/2012 |

Livonia ARC's 41st Annual Swap & Shop

Location: Livonia, MI
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: Livonia Amateur Radio Club
Website: http://www.livoniaarc.com/Swap.htm
Learn More

The Self Destruction Button USB Hub

The Self Destruction Button USB hub comes with four ports in the back for all your USB-connectivity goodness, but the main draw comes from all the stuff on top. There's two flickable switches, a turnable key, and a protected self-destruct button!

But don't let your imaginations go wild ... all you get by pressing the middle button is a "Kill Kill Kill" audio file from your computer. Disappointing, huh? Believe me, it is better this way. You don't want someone purposly wipe out your hard drive by pressing this attractive and inviting button, do you?

The Self Destruct Button USB hub is available online at GeekStuff4U.com for $62 plus $25 shipping

Read Also:
Self-Destruct Button USB Hub (Gizmodo)
Self Destruct Button just hooks up extra game pad (SCHI FI Tech)
Self Destruction Button USB (GeekStuff4U.com)
Self Destruct Button USB Hub (Gadget Madness)

Ham Radio Deluxe 5.1

HRD Software, LLC announces the release of Ham Radio Deluxe 5.1. This version incorporates fixes and some new features for DXers.

"This is our first release since obtaining the source code about 90 days ago," said Mike Carper, WA9PIE. "My partner, Rick, W4PC has done an outstanding job at becoming familiar with the code and developing the applications. We were fortunate to have a few key resources like Chuck, K7PT and Terry, G4POP to help us QA the builds as they're developed."

The 5.1 release is being made available at no charge to users registered on the HRD website. The focus for this release was a few items from the ToDo list – bug fixes, added rig support, and a few enhancements.

Mike said, "I think we've taken a balanced approach to getting something out quickly that satisfies a broad range of needs. I hope hams will enjoy the improvements. Obviously, this is only the beginning. We've got big plans and high-expectations for HRD in the future."

Following the 5.1 release, HRD Software intends to focus on more fixes and significant feature enhancements for v6.x with a target release at the Dayton Hamvention 2012.

As promised, version 5.1 is FREE!

HRD Downloads: http://www.ham-radio-deluxe.com
HRD Forum: http://forums.hrdsoftwarellc.com
----------------------------------------------------------------
Old News

Ham Radio Deluxe 5.1 is coming and yes, it's FREE.

New Digital Desktop for Alinco, Icom, Kenwood and Yaesu radios. Use just a USB cable for your interface with select radios or get the full version for your Kantronics or AEA/TNCs.

EmComm Ops for Packet TNCs, be ready.

The 25th anniversay PK-232 Software collectable CD, check it out at http://www.w4pcsoftware.com

Cherryland ARC Swap-N-Shop/ Hamfest/Convention

02/11/2012

Cherryland ARC Swap-N-Shop

Location: Traverse City, MI
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: Cherryland Amateur Radio Club
Website: http://cherrylandarc.com
Learn More

Amateur Radio New February 9, 2012

• + FCC News: New Rules for 5 MHz (60 Meters) To Go Into Effect March 5
• + WRC-12: Agenda Item 1.23 Passes Committee, Moves to Plenary
• + WRC-12: How Are Agenda Items Processed at a WRC?
• + WRC-12: Proposed Maritime Mobile Allocation Gets First Reading at WRC-12 Plenary Session
• + WRC-12: Nobel Laureate Joe Taylor, K1JT, Addresses Plenary Session at WRC-12, Receives ITU Gold Medal
• On the Air: The 2012 ARRL International DX CW Contest Takes to the Air Next Weekend
• ARRL HQ: Save the Date! Take a Virtual Tour of W1AW on February 12
• + ARRL Field Day: 2012 Field Day Packet Now Available
• Solar Update
• This Week in Radiosport
• Be a Star! Deadline for Second Annual ARRL Video Contest is February 29
• + Silent Key: Former ITU-R Director Dick Kirby, W0LCT/HB9BOA (SK)
• + Silent Key: Astronaut Janice Voss, KC5BTK (SK)
• Silent Key: WorldRadio Founder Armond Noble, N6WR (SK)
• Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events

+ Available on ARRL Audio News.