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Thu Mar 8 06:28:51 EST 2007

black hole is a deep, deep bass?  In fact, its 57 octaves below middle 
C.  It is and Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, has more:

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The Chandra X-ray Observatory has picked up sound waves for the first 
time from a cluster of galaxies 250 million light years away.  
Astronomers at the Institute of Astronomy in Cambridge, England, 
discovered the sound waves while analyzing the Chandra images of the 
Perseus cluster.  This is an immense grouping of galaxies held in 
formation by the powerful tug of a super massive black hole.

Andy Fabian is a professor at the Institute of Astronomy.  He says that 
a close study of the fine detail collected by Chandra shows ripples in 
the X-ray pattern that are caused by sound waves excited by the energy 
from the black hole.  

Fabiam says that the sound produced by the black hole is a B flat, the 
same pitch as a key near middle C on the piano.  But the song of the 
Presses Black Hole is 57 octaves below that middle C.  This is a tone or 
frequency more than a million, billion times deeper than the limits of 
the human ear,.  Fabian says that makes it the lowest note known in the 
universe.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, in New Zealand.

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Scientists expect more insight on this as the experiments progress.  
(Science Today)

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EMERGING TECHNOLOGY:  NEW FRACTILE ANTENNA DESIGN

Engineers at Pennsylvania State have developed innovative design methods 
for a new class of antennas.  One composed of an array of fractal-shaped 
tiles that offer anywhere from a 4 to 1 to 8 to 1 improvement in 
bandwidth compared to their conventional counterparts.  

According to Space Daily, the new broadband antennas are composed of 
irregular but self-similar, repeated fractal-shaped unit tiles called 
"fractiles."  These "fractiles" cover an entire plane without any gaps 
or overlaps.  

While fractal concepts have been used previously in antenna design, the 
Penn State research team are the first to introduce a design approach 
for broadband phased array antenna systems.  One that combines aspects 
of tiling theory with fractal geometry.  (ANS, Space Daily)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  AMSAT UK DONATES TO LAUNCH FUNDS

AMSAT-UK is funding the development of two new amateur radio satellites 
by donating œ10,000 to each of two projects in the USA and Germany.  In 
accordance with their constitution, at their meeting on Saturday October 
25th, AMSAT UK decided to make an immediate donation of œ10,000 to the 
AMSAT North America's Project Echo Launch Campaign Fund.  

Also at the meeting AMSAT U-K decided to earmark another œ10,000 for 
transfer to AMSAT Germany to support the Phase 3 Express project.  This, 
when a suitable component for funding can be identified.

Project Echo satellite is due to be launched next March 31st.  The Phase 
3 E Express ham satellite is likely to get a ride to orbit in the 2005 
to 2006 time frame.   (ANS)

**

BEACON NEWS:  UK PROP BEACONS BACK ON

If you are a microwave D-X'er, listen up.  This one is for you.  It 
comes from the United Kingdom and says that two of that nations highest 
frequency beacons are back in full time operation.

Both are part of the South Coast microwave beacon complex.  GB3SCX 
operates on 10 GHz and GB3SCK on 24 Ghz.  The two units are again 
operational following a major rebuild.  Both have had their output power 
increased, raising them at least 10 dB above their previous levels.  And 
there's more.  

GB3SCK has been retuned to transmit on 24,048.905 MHz in order to comply 
with the new 24 GHz bandplan, which will come into force at the 
beginning of 2004.  Also, the GB3SCC which is on 5760.905 MHz has had 
its keying duty cycle adjusted.  It now transmits callsign and location 
details, followed by plain carrier for a total of 45 seconds.  It then 
stops transmitting for 15 seconds to permit cooling before resuming its 
operation.  Reception reports on any of these beacons go to John Fell, 
G0API, at his Callbook address.  (GB2RS)

**

DX

In D-X, MW0USK reports over QRZ.com that M1DAZ, who is on active duty 
with the British Forces Broadcast Services in Iraq,  has obtained 
official authority to operate with the callsign YI9DAZ.  Darran will be 
active around the bands for the next couple of weeks using a Yaesu FT-
100 and Atas aerial from the Southern part of the country.  Most of his 
operation will be on P-S-K 31 so that he does not disturb his room mate 
who is the presenter of the early morning radio show.  QSL direct to 
M1DAZ at his home address.  (qrz.com)

F6BUM will be active on CW, SSB and RTTY from various regions of Peru.  
This, between the 5th of November and the 5th of December.  He will be 
using the callsign OA, followed by a district number, stroke F6BUM.  
(GB2RS)

Also, three operators from Japan will be active from Kathmandu, Nepal, 
between the 16th and 22nd of November. The callsigns will be 9N7AU, 
9N7LN and 9N7SZ. They will operate on 40 to 6 metres using two HF rigs 
and a 6-metre rig.  (GB2RS)

And, a VHF DXpedition to La Palma in Square IL18, should be active 
through November 19th.  This, with DJ6JJ and DL1EJA operating during the 
ARRL EME Contest and scatter during the Leonids meteor shower. Their  
station is reportedly using use high power to four 12-element Yagis with 
full elevation control.  For all of these operations please QSL as 
directed on the air.  (GB2RS)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  THE TECH SIDE OF THE NYC MARATHON

And finally this week a look at two other ham radio aspect of the New 
York City Marathon.  The way hams organize and the technology that they 
use.  Here's Henry Feinberg, K2SSQ:

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Last week Communications Coordinator Steve Mendelsohn, W2ML, told us 
that it takes 411 radio amateurs to keep the New York City Marathon 
moving along.  This week W2ML says that it also takes a lot of well 
organized ham radio networks to keep the messages flowing:

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Audio only.  Hear the newscast in mp3 at www.arnewsline.org

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According to Mendelsohn, ham radio communicators are aided by a lot of 
modern technology.  Its science that literally gives them a leg up on 
the contestants:

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Audio only.  Hear the newscast in mp3 at www.arnewsline.org

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And this year ham radio expanded the use of its own kind of digital 
positioning technology:

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Audio only.  Hear the newscast in mp3 at www.arnewsline.org

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According to Mendelsohn, it's human beings -- trained ham radio 
communicators that makes for a smooth race.

In New York, I'm Henry Feinberg, K2SSQ, for the Amateur Radio Newsline.

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Next week,  how it all gets put together.  Please be with us.  
(ARNewsline)

**

NEWSCAST CLOSE

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