These Ham Links are provided by John Woodstock, K1DWU. The news items are updated daily.
Tony's 10-metre band report
Southgate ARC - Up/down propagation this past week. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday slow-ish, Thursday pretty good, Friday poor, with Saturday and Sunday being monsters for the ARRL Contest. As is usual LU1HF beat the rest into a pulp and has done for the past few years
ARRL Requests Support for Senate Bill 1755
ARRL - Senate Bill 1755 -- The Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Enhancement Act of 2009 introduced in October 2009 by Senators Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) and Susan Collins (R-ME) -- has unanimously passed the US Senate and has been sent to the US House of Representatives for consideration and now sits in the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. The ARRL is asking its membership to contact the leadership of the Energy and Commerce committee, requesting support and action on moving S 1755 through the committee. S 1755 accomplishes the same things as HR 2160; HR 2160 was introduced in April 2009 by Rep Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX-18). Since S 1755 has already been approved by the Senate, moving it forward in the House will simplify the process.
ANZAC Day equals AM
Southgate ARC - A patriotic group in Northern Australia is working to get as many Australian and New Zealand radio hams on the AM mode on ANZAC Day afternoon (April 25) as an amateur radio salute to the servicemen and women in the many conflicts
FUNcube pictures released
Southgate ARC - AMSAT-UK has released images of the Command, Control and Telemetry (CCT) board being developed for the FUNcube Amateur Radio satellite
Netherlands Antilles
Southgate ARC - Three members of the Southeastern DX Club (SEDXC) and the K5D team (Bob K4UEE, Gregg W6IZT and George N4GRN) will be on the Island of Saba (NA-145, Grid Square is FK87) between March 11-15th
Eduspace website
Southgate ARC - ESA has completely redesigned its Eduspace website which provides an introduction to Earth observation and its applications
Working the Amateur Radio Satellites from Mexico
Southgate ARC - Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK has made available videos of contacts he made during a trip to Mexico via the Amateur Radio satellites SO-50 and AO-51
Digital ATV in the UK
Southgate ARC - Radio Amateurs in the UK are increasingly experimenting with Digital Amateur Television (DATV), Charles G4GUO is one of those
GB2SPD St Patrick's Day
Southgate ARC - Amateur radio station GB2SPD will be QRV from Slieve Gallion mountain in the Sperrins, Co. Derry on St Patrick's Day March 17th and possibly up until 21st March to mark St Patrick's Day 2010
M0OCT amateur radio Intermediate course
Southgate ARC - March 24th see's the start of an Amateur Radio Intermediate course and the exam on June 30th at The Conferance Room and Training Centre of M0OCT Amateur Radio Society, North east Derbyshire
ARISS to receive Boselli Award
Southgate ARC - The 'Associazione Italiana Radioascolto' A.I.R. (Italian Radio Listeners Association) has awarded the Boselli Prize 2010 to the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program
I don't see how people do it.
K1DWU - W2LJ - Call it envy, call it wonder, call it what you will. I was listening to the local VHF repeater on the way home and was listening to a few guys discuss their latest plans to purchase new HF gear. And these guys weren't buying to replace boat anchors. ... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 03-10]
HF Multiband vertical antenna selection
K1DWU - IW5EDI - After a long research on antenna makers websites I've produced a quick reference chart to compare most popular HF multiband vertical antennas.
This table will help me on choosing my next vertical antenna.
Populatrity of antennas has been decided by v... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 03-10]
R. Henry Rice, KC9JXX (SK):
eHam.net News - R. Henry Rice, age 58, of Cambridge City, passed away on Saturday, March 6, 2010, at Reid Hospital in Richmond, Ind. He was born on March 29, 1951, in Hamilton, Ohio, to Raymond and Vernie Johnson Rice. Henry lived to assist his parents in the antique business. He was a Wayne County ham radio operator. His call letters were KC9JXX. He also loved airplanes often volunteering at Richmond Municipal Airport. He was a member of sky warning in Richmond.
K3 completed to QRP stage
K1DWU - AE5X - The K3 is almost finished. All that's left to do is install the 100-watt PA and the fans. As a QRP rig, it is complete and I've had two QSOs with it.
I'll put the PA in Wednesday after work, do final alignments and it should all be done at that point. ... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 03-09]
The magic of QRP
K1DWU - W2LJ - and good weather are an exciting combination. Please read Jim W1PID's latest QRP adventure .The past few days have been gorgeous here in NJ, too. Highs have been in the 50s and the snow from just a week ago is now just a memory, pretty much. There ar... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 03-09]
Ham Radio Using Linux
K1DWU - 9W2PJU - Ham radio and linux is my main passion right now. im writing this post to encourage all ham radio operators to consider using open source operating system for their everyday task such as controlling their rigs, logging, plotting, creating new electron... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 03-09]
Tour de Cure
K1DWU - KE7VKQ - Tour de Cure annual bike race to raise money for the American Diabetes Association. KS7TAN Stan Hamnett was the Ham Operator for rest site 2 at the Corner of Continental Road and Camino del Sol in Green Valley, Az. [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 03-09]
Radio is more fun with eyeball QSOs
K1DWU - AC7FA - I had the pleasure of meeting and greeting many of my radio friends this weekend at the large, regional Mic and Key hamfest. Having some face-to-face contact with other hams develops a covalent bond of our shared interest in amateur radio in general an... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 03-09]
The business end of QRP
K1DWU - AE5X - Years ago, a posting to QRP-L‚ announced an upcoming kit that was gonna kick ass and take names on 20-meter CW.
Its virtues were extolled far and wide. Terms like bullet-proof front-end were tossed around. It was a soon-to-be-legend. It was gonna be the... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 03-09]
Stillwater students rock the radio airwaves (Washington)
This Week in Amateur Radio - When is a retired Stillwater teacher not a retired Stillwater teacher? When the principal asks him to come back and work with the students doing Radio Roundup.
Stillwater Students Rock the Radio Airwaves:
eHam.net News - When is a retired Stillwater teacher not a retired Stillwater teacher? When the principal asks him to come back and work with the students doing Radio Roundup. Stillwater Elementary is one of a very few elementary schools nationwide that has an amateur radio program, which puts students on the air in real time. It's an activity that offers a unique learning experience which Stillwater students look forward to every year & even if the teacher is retired! This year one hundred and thirty-two students were given the opportunity to make a radio contact with someone, somewhere in the world. Third, fourth and fifth grade students made radio contacts in 24 states as well as Canada and Tokyo, Japan.
Bob Schroeder, N2HX, Awarded 2009 Bill Orr, W6SAI, Technical Writing Award
ARRL - H. Robert "Bob" Schroeder, N2HX, of Ewing, New Jersey, has been named the winner of the ARRL Foundation's 2009 Bill Orr, W6SAI, Technical Writing Award for his article "Electromagnetic Pulse and Its Implications for EmComm" that appeared in November 2009 issue of QST. The editorial staff commented on Schroeder's article, saying that "the topic of nuclear EMP is somewhat esoteric by itself, let alone discussing its impact on Amateur Radio, yet the author did an outstanding job of making the subject matter understandable even to the relatively non-technical ham. His writing is clear and to the point, offering practical advice not only for EMP mitigation as it applies to the unlikely event of a nuclear burst, but also extending the same principles to mitigation for lightning damage."
The ARRL Second Homebrew Challenge -- And the Winners Are...
ARRL - We had a good response to the Second ARRL Homebrew Challenge -- here's a quick summary.
WSPR 2.0 build on Mac ports Snow Leopard 64bit
K1DWU - VK2TPM - I've finally been able to build and run WSPR on Snow Leopard on top of the Mac Ports platform.At this stage it involved some manual modification of the ./configure generated Makefile. The show stoppers for me were:portaudio as built with mac ports exi... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 03-08]
Volunteer Fairfax Steps In
This Week in Amateur Radio - When the paralyzing February snowstorms hit the region, the American Red Cross staffed emergency shelters in the area. Oak Marr was the shelter nearest to Vienna-Oakton. Getting the Red Cross workers to the shelter was a challenge. Enter Volunteer Fairfax.
Is the Web 2.0 Community the Next Pirate Radio?
This Week in Amateur Radio - Pirate radio is illegal or unregulated radio transmission. Its etymology can be traced to the unlicensed nature of the transmission, but historically there has been occasional but notable use of sea vessels - fitting the most common perception of a pirate - as broadcasting bases. The term is most commonly used to describe illegal broadcasting for entertainment or political purposes, but is also sometimes used for illegal two-way radio operation. Rules and regulations vary widely from country to country. In countries such as the US and many countries in Europe, many types of radio licenses exist, and often the term pirate radio generally describes the unlicensed broadcast of FM radio, AM radio, or short wave signals over a wide range.
Smallest Morse Key - Field Telephone Set D.MK.V
K1DWU - VE3MPG - This small key is part of a WWII Field Telephone Set D.MK.V. As you can see the set is in very fine condition and complete. It came up at a flea market many years ago and I dug it out of storage yesterday to have a good look at it. The original fiel... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 03-07]
Catching the Buzz
K1DWU - KE9V - Several years ago I was suffering through a two-hour daily commute that left me plenty of time to enjoy various podcasts while driving through the countryside. These days my commute is considerably longer, but I make it very infrequently and so not surp... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 03-07]
iPhone on echoLink
K1DWU - WA3FKG - Here is an interesting posting from the K3MJW mailing list. For you I-Phone geeks from WPA-ARES Special operational note: On February 28, 2010 I (K3WS) used my Apple Iphone running the EchoLink Application (yes there is an App for that) connected to ... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 03-07]
My First Trip Over the Hill
K1DWU - W8TN - With the weather finally beginning to look like something less than you would find in the Arctic, I felt it was time to give the old broken leg a test and see how it could deal with the Hill behind my house. I have not been down to the tower since some... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 03-07]
ARRL International DX Contest SSB
K1DWU - K4SAC - This weekend is the ARRL International DX contest on SSB.
You can find a copy of the rules by clicking here
The contest runs for 48 hours and starts at 0000 UTC Saturday and ends at‚ 2400 UTC Sunday.
All non WARC bands 160-10 are eligible for contestin... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 03-07]
DIY helical antenna for 2m
K1DWU - G4ILO - A few weeks ago I made a rubber duck helical antenna for my TH-F7E. I didn't get around to writing about it at the time, plus it took a while to get some reports of its performance. Well, it works extremely well, and I have just added a description of ... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 03-07]
FCC Reaffirms Statement on ROS
This Week in Amateur Radio - In mid-February, European amateurs first used a new, experimental digital mode known as ROS. On February 23, 2010 -- after FCC review of the original documents provided from the developer's Web site -- the FCC made the following statements on ROS:
Radio room to be used by EMA (Illinois)
This Week in Amateur Radio - The old radio room in the Jefferson County Courthouse is getting a facelift so others can be helped in case of an emergency.
The Jefferson County Emergency Management Agency plans to use the old room as a communications base of operations during severe weather or emergency situations.
Amateur radioers keep lines of communication open (California)
This Week in Amateur Radio - Before Facebook, Twitter and text messaging, there was radio.
And when a major disaster knocks out the power, cuts off access to the Internet and scrambles cell signals, radio is once again king.
Prestigious Italian Award to ARISS:
eHam.net News - Italian radio listeners' society AIR has awarded the prestigious 2010 Boselli prize to ARISS, the Amateur Radio in the International Space Station project. The award recognises how ARISS has shown the importance of radio communications to hundreds of young students in Europe and beyond. ARISS has spread the use of radio from the forefront of science in outer space to classrooms around the world. The prize will be delivered at the AIR AGM on 8 May in Faenza, Italy.
Ham-Radio Operators Ready When Called Upon to Help:
eHam.net News - TAVARES -- Lake County lately has managed to escape the devastation that in the past has been wrought by tornadoes and hurricanes, but the possibility for the deadly storms always exists. Members of the Royal Harbor Amateur Radio Club are ready to jump in and help at any time. When dangerous weather conditions occur, ham-radio operators known as Skywarn Spotters report tornadoes, hailstorms and heavy wind conditions to regional National Weather Service offices, club member Ted Luebbers said.
The K7RA Solar Update
ARRL - Two new sunspot groups appeared on March 1, numbered 1052 and 1053. The total number of sunspot groups appearing over the last month is 11. Looking at our 3-month moving average of daily sunspot numbers, the latest for December-January-February is 22.4, for the period centered on January. The average daily sunspot number for the month of February was 31. The fact that this is higher than the latest 3-month average is a welcome trend. The current 3-month average centered on January 2010 is very close to the 3-month average centered on January 2007, which was 22.7. That moving average has not been as high since. In fact, the closest it has been was February 2007, at 18.5. It was all downhill from there, and that average was below 10 from September 2007-October 2009. It now looks like we saw three minimums, which is why it was so easy to err when trying to locate the bottom. Several times we hit some low number, decided that things were improving, and then a few months later hit it again.
F5PL Records Mars Express Fly By:
eHam.net News - On Wednesday night, we had some of the biggest ground stations in the world listening in on Mars Express, along with collaborative stations from the JIVE network. The professionals weren't the only people listening to our signal though - amateur radio operator Bertrand Pinel (F5PL) from near Castelnaudary, France, used his 3.5m dish throughout the flyby to listen to the signal from Mars Express.
ARNewsline #1699 -- March 5 2010:
eHam.net News - The following is a Q-S-T. Ham radio responds to an earthquake in Chile and a tsunami it causes across the Pacific Ocean. Find out the details on Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1699 coming your way right now.
Surfin': Using the Internet as a Public Service Radio Scanner
ARRL - This week, Surfin' discovers yet another use for the Internet in the RF world.
Propagation Forecast Bulletin #9 de K7RA:
eHam.net News - Two new sunspot groups appeared on March 1, numbered 1052 and 1053.
The total number of sunspot groups appearing over the last month is
eleven. Looking at our 3-month moving average of daily sunspot numbers, the
latest for December-January-February is 22.4, for the period
centered on January. The average daily sunspot number for the month
of February was 31. The fact that this is higher than the latest
3-month average is a welcome trend.
AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE™ REPORT 1699
ARN - Podcast - News for the week in Amateur Radio for the week ending 5 March, 2010.
Visit Amateur Radio Newsline's only official website at http://www.arnewsline.org
WIA News Podcast for Sun, 7 Mar 2010
K1DWU - Wireless Institute of Australia - WIANEWS FOR WEEK COMMENCING MAR 7 2010. [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 03-05]
A Close Encounter for AMSAT-OSCAR 51
K1DWU - While many in North America were fast asleep Monday morning, March 1, the AMSAT-OSCAR 51 satellite had a potentially dangerous encounter with another spacecraft known as Formosat 3D. OSCAR 51 is a popular Amateur Radio satellite that often functions as a cross... [Source: HamFeed / 03-05]
eQSL Awards
K1DWU - K2DSL - I just happened to notice that if I was interested in doing so I could receive the eQSL WAS and eQSL DXCC awards. ‚ I'd just have to become at least a bronze member to print out the certificates.
I upload to eQSL because it is pretty automated from my ... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 03-05]
A New Addition to the Ham Shack
K1DWU - K6RJ - My new Yaesu FT-450
I recently acquired a Yaesu FT-450 HF + 6m transceiver to replace the aging Alinco DX-70 as my back up rig in my shack.‚ I've only had the 450 for a few days but I've already discovered there is a lot to like about this little rig.... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 03-05]
Annual WARN Training Session
K1DWU - W8MRC - We've been getting lots of inquiries as to when the annual WARN spotter training extravaganza will be this year. Well, all of the details have finally been ironed out.
The annual spotter training session sponsored by the Weather Amate... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 03-05]
ARRL Seeks Input for New IARU Region 2 Band Plan
ARRL - The International Amateur Radio Region 2 conference -- held later this year in El Salvador -- brings together delegations from the national Amateur Radio Societies in the Western Hemisphere. One of the topics on the agenda will be the Region 2 HF band plan. This band plan is "harmonized with" -- spectrum management-speak for "very similar to" -- the IARU Region 1 and Region 3 band plans.
DX News -- ARRL DX Bulletin #9:
eHam.net News - This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by
NC1L, The Daily DX, the OPDX Bulletin, DXNL, Contest Corral from QST
and the ARRL Contest Calendar and WA7BNM web sites. Thanks to all.
FCC Reaffirms Statement on ROS
ARRL - In mid-February, European amateurs first used a new, experimental digital mode known as ROS. On February 23, 2010 -- after FCC review of the original documents provided from the developer's Web site -- the FCC made the following statements on ROS:
Amateur Radio Quiz: Workbench Wisdom
ARRL - Even though you might be an inveterate tinkerer and builder, it's occasionally a good idea to put down those hot irons, sweep off the workbench and turn off the test equipment. This quiz is for you!
FCC Seeks Comments for Blanket Waiver to Allow Amateur Radio in Hospital Emergency Drills
ARRL - In February 2010, the American Hospital Association (AHA) filed a request with the FCC for a blanket waiver of Section 97.113(a)(3) of the Commission's Rules "to permit hospitals seeking accreditation to use Amateur Radio operators who are hospital employees to transmit communications on behalf of the hospital as part of emergency preparedness drills." On March 3, the FCC issued a Public Notice -- WP Docket 10-54 -- seeking comments if the Commission "should grant AHA's request for a blanket waiver of Section 97.113(a)(3) to permit amateur operators who are hospital employees to participate in emergency drills that are conducted by hospitals for accreditation purposes and that are not government-sponsored."Section 97.113(a)(3) specifically prohibits amateur stations from transmitting communications "in which the station licensee or control operator has a pecuniary interest, including communications on behalf of an employer."
Tornado Drill Part Of Severe Storms Preparedness Month (Kentucky)
This Week in Amateur Radio - Even though winter continues to blast cold weather, ice and snow on Lexington and central Kentucky, spring storm season is just around the corner.The Division of Emergency Management wants to make sure you're ready. The month of March is declared as Severe Storms Preparedness Month and citizens are urged to take time out to make sure that they're prepared for what Mother Nature can dish out when warm weather comes in the spring.
A Close Encounter for AMSAT-OSCAR 51
This Week in Amateur Radio - While many in North America were fast asleep Monday morning, March 1, the AMSAT-OSCAR 51 satellite had a potentially dangerous encounter with another spacecraft known as Formosat 3D. OSCAR 51 is a popular Amateur Radio satellite that often functions as a crossband FM repeater, relaying brief conversations over hundreds of miles. Formosat 3D is part of a constellation of six remote sensing microsatellites that collect atmospheric data for weather prediction and for ionosphere, climate and gravity research. Both orbit at an altitude of approximately 500 miles.
Amateur Radio Operators Provide Communications Support in Haiti
This Week in Amateur Radio - After the 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck the island nation of Haiti on January 12, many Amateur Radio operators asked how they could volunteer their time and service to assist with communications support. When Project Medishare -- a partnership between the University of Miami Medical School (UoM) and physicians and health officials in Haiti -- needed help with their communications, Amateur Radio operators were quick to respond.
Eyes on stormy skies (Missouri)
This Week in Amateur Radio - The sky comes free.
Last week, a full moon filled the winter sky. On a clear, moonless night, at least a thousand stars can be seen. In spring, during the heightened storm season, identifying clouds in that same sky can save lives.
This Week on the Radio:
eHam.net News - This Week on the Radio:
Hamvention Awards:
eHam.net News - There are only a few days left to nominate individuals and
clubs for the Hamvention 2010 awards. While the Special Achievement
Award, Technical Excellence Award, and Amateur of the Year Award have
been given for many years, Awards Chairman Frank Beafore, WS8B, said
this a year a special award with be given for Club of the Year. That
award is tied to this year's Hamvention theme, Amateur Radio Clubs
Worldwide: The Lifeline.
Radio Club de Chile Active After Earthquake:
eHam.net News - On Monday, March 1, IARU Region 2 President Reinaldo Leandro, YV5AMH, spoke via telephone with Radio Club
de Chile President Dr Galdino Besomi,
CE3PG, regarding the 8.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the South
American nation on Saturday, February 27.
FCC Denies ARRL's Request for Declaratory Ruling:
eHam.net News - In 2005, after the State of Florida adopted statutes aimed at pirate
broadcasters and making it a felony to make a radio transmission
without Commission authorization or to interfere with a licensed public
or commercial radio station, the ARRL -- through General Counsel Chris
Imlay, W3KD -- filed a Request for Declaratory Ruling (Request) with
the FCC, seeking a declaratory ruling on portions of that statute.
Hawaii Hams Spurred to Action by Chilean Earthquake:
eHam.net News - On Saturday, February 27 -- in reaction to a tsunami warning
triggered by the Chilean earthquake -- 60 Amateur Radio operators
participated in a tsunami radio net that operated throughout the island
State of Hawaii. More than 25 real-time reports from observers around
the state were relayed simultaneously to the State Emergency Operating
Center (EOC) and the four county EOCs, providing timely information via
Amateur Radio on sea level changes to emergency management officials.
Amateur Radio in Space: A Close Encounter for AMSAT-OSCAR 51:
eHam.net News - While many in North America were fast asleep Monday morning, March
1, the AMSAT-OSCAR 51 (AO-51) satellite had a potentially dangerous
encounter with another spacecraft known as Formosat 3D. OSCAR 51 is a
popular Amateur Radio satellite that often functions as a crossband FM
repeater, relaying brief conversations over hundreds of miles. Formosat
3D is part of a constellation of six remote sensing microsatellites
that collect atmospheric data for weather prediction and for
ionosphere, climate and gravity research. Both orbit at an altitude of
approximately 500 miles.
TAPR President Emeritus Dr. David Toth, VE3GYQ (SK):
eHam.net News - Dr David Toth, VE3GYQ -- President Emeritus of Tucson Amateur Packet
Radio (TAPR) -- passed away Friday, February 26 after a long battle
with cancer. He was 55. A resident of Spencerville, Ohio, Toth served
as a Director and Executive Vice President of TAPR in the 1980s and was
elected President of the organization in September 2005.
FCC Reaffirms Statement on ROS:
eHam.net News - In mid-February, European amateurs first used a new, experimental
digital mode known as ROS. On February 23, 2010 -- after FCC review of
the original documents provided from the developer's Web site -- the
FCC made a statement on ROS. The ARRL supports -- as one of the basic
purposes of Amateur Radio -- the experimentation and advancing the
technical skills of operators.
ARRL in Action: What Have We Been Up To Lately?
eHam.net News - This feature -- including convenient Web links to useful information
-- is a concise monthly update of some of the things ARRL is doing on
behalf of its members, including holding elections for and appointing
people to League leadership positions, preparing for WRC-12,
legislative actions, providing equipment for communications support in
Haiti through the ARRL's Ham Aid program, developing on-the-air events,
investigating power line noise and more.
ARRL Executive Committee Meeting Agenda Now Available:
eHam.net News - At its January 2010 meeting, the ARRL Board of Directors decided to
make the agendas of Board and Executive Committee meetings available on
the ARRL Web site.
ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration:
eHam.net News - Registration remains open through Sunday, March 21, 2010, for these
online course sessions beginning on
Friday, April 2, 2010:
ANSR-54 Flight for March 6 Scrubbed, to be rescheduled.
K1DWU - Arizona Near Space Research - Due to very high upper level jet stream winds and their direction, the planned flight of ANSR-54 on March 6 has been scrubbed. The projected conditions and flight path predictions just made it too risky to proceed.
This flight for... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 03-04]
AT Hikers Story: Three Hundred Zeroes
K1DWU - KC8QVO - I am not one to read books. I have books from my last quarter of college that I bought new because they were the only ones left and I needed at least something to flip through, which I never ended up reading. However, I read the recent article in QST ... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 03-04]
K6MM's No Excuses 160m Vertical Antenna
K1DWU - KA3DRR - Photograph 1 depicts our first attempt at helically winding 97 feet 1 inch of AWG#14 wire on 2 inch PVC SCH40 before re-thinking our strategy. I opted for removing the long screw driver on the wire spool and approached our problem like taping a piece ... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 03-04]
Fivehead QRP SSB transceiver kit
K1DWU - G3XBM - This afternoon Ted G4NUA came around to test the receiver section of his Fivehead 20m SSB transceiver kit from Walford kits in Somerset. I was surprised how small the transceiver was. We checked the RX with a signal generator and re-did the alignment. ... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 03-04]
Handiham World for 03 March 2010
K1DWU - HandiHam - Welcome to Handiham World! As we head into the longer daylight hours here in the Northern Hemisphere, band conditions will begin to favor the higher frequencies of the High-frequency (HF) spectrum and thunderstorm static and absorption will g... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 03-04]
Time for a Single License Class
K1DWU - KE9V - Lean in close here and let me whisper a secret in your ear
Since upgrading to Extra class many years ago, I haven't paid the slightest bit of attention to the US amateur radio licensing process. I know, it sounds perfectly awful. I've never volunteered... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 03-04]
Ham-radio operators ready when called upon to help (Florida)
This Week in Amateur Radio - Lake County lately has managed to escape the devastation that in the past has been wrought by tornadoes and hurricanes, but the possibility for the deadly storms always exists.
FCC Denies ARRL's Request for Declaratory Ruling
This Week in Amateur Radio - In 2005, after the State of Florida adopted statutes aimed at pirate broadcasters and making it a felony to make a radio transmission without Commission authorization or to interfere with a licensed public or commercial radio station, the ARRL -- through General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD -- filed a Request for Declaratory Ruling (Request) with the FCC, seeking a declaratory ruling on portions of that statute. The ARRL argued that the Statute was written so broadly that one could infer that Commission-licensed Amateur Radio stations in Florida would be subject to felony prosecution if their transmissions interfered with broadcast or other radio receivers. In 2006, New Jersey adopted a similar statute and the ARRL's Request was modified to include that state. Five years and one day after the original Request was filed with the Commission, the FCC denied the Request.
Hawaii Hams Spurred to Action by Chilean Earthquake
This Week in Amateur Radio - On Saturday, February 27, 60 Amateur Radio operators participated in a tsunami radio net that operated throughout the island State of Hawaii. More than 25 real-time reports from observers around the state were relayed simultaneously to the State Emergency Operating Center (EOC) and the four county EOCs, providing timely information via Amateur Radio on sea level changes to emergency management officials.
A Close Encounter for AMSAT-OSCAR 51
ARRL - While many in North America were fast asleep Monday morning, March 1, the AMSAT-OSCAR 51 satellite had a potentially dangerous encounter with another spacecraft known as Formosat 3D. OSCAR 51 is a popular Amateur Radio satellite that often functions as a crossband FM repeater, relaying brief conversations over hundreds of miles. Formosat 3D is part of a constellation of six remote sensing microsatellites that collect atmospheric data for weather prediction and for ionosphere, climate and gravity research. Both orbit at an altitude of approximately 500 miles.
ARRL Continuing Education Online Course Registration
ARRL - Registration remains open through Sunday, March 21, 2010, for these online course sessions beginning on Friday, April 2, 2010: Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level 1; Antenna Modeling; Radio Frequency Interference; Antenna Design and Construction; Ham Radio (Technician) License Course; Propagation; Analog Electronics, and Digital Electronics.
Amateur Radio Operators Provide Communications Support in Haiti
ARRL - After the 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck the island nation of Haiti on January 12, many Amateur Radio operators asked how they could volunteer their time and service to assist with communications support. When Project Medishare -- a partnership between the University of Miami Medical School (UM) and physicians and health officials in Haiti -- needed help with their communications, Amateur Radio operators were quick to respond.
MacGyver of the Day: HAM Radio Hacker Diana Eng [DIY Week]
K1DWU - Ed. note: All this week, Senior Editor of MAKE magazine Phil Torrone is joining us to highlight a few modern day MacGyvers as we continue celebrating the DIY ethic at Lifehacker. Today's maker: HAM radio enthusiast Diana Eng.
Hi Lifehackers! MAKE is best know... [Source: Lifehacker / 03-03]
RSGB Amateur Radio Tutors Reflector
Southgate ARC - This is a Yahoo group open to Registered Instructors for the UK Amateur Radio Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced Communication Examinations