From bmarx at bellsouth.net  Wed Jul  3 08:37:04 2013
From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill)
Date: Wed, 03 Jul 2013 08:37:04 -0400
Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] The ARRL Contest Update for July 3,
	2013
In-Reply-To: <20130703044011.8412624BCC@bmail.arrl.org>
References: <20130703044011.8412624BCC@bmail.arrl.org>
Message-ID: <51D41AF0.50102@bellsouth.net>



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If you are having trouble reading this message, you can see the original at:
http://www.arrl.org/contests/update/?issue=2013-07-03

The ARRL Contest Update

July 3, 2013
Editor: Ward Silver, N?AX <mailto:rate-sheet at arrl.org>
/Contest Update/ Archive <http://www.arrl.org/contests/update/>
Contest Calendar <http://www.arrl.org/contests/calendar.html>
ARRL Home Page <http://www.arrl.org/>
Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=cu&i=2013-07-03&t=t>
IN THIS ISSUE

  * HQ Mania - IARU HF Championship <#Contests>
  * CQ Germany - DL DX RTTY and DARC Digital Corona <#Contests>
  * WRTC2014 Practice Run in IARU <#News>
  * Go Fly a Kite <#Newsweek>
  * 29 Alpha - Yes, I Said 29! <#Sights>
  * Oceania DX Contest 2012 Results <#Results>
  * Polyphaser - Where Are They Now? <#Tech>
  * The Fix Is In <#Techweek>
  * My Favorite (Field Day) Things <#Conversation>

NEW HF OPERATORS - THINGS TO DO

There is a new way to enter the CQ World Wide Contest this fall if you 
has been licensed for three years or less. The Rookie Overlay category 
is a great opportunity for new operators to compete with others who are 
also learning. Rookie-category operators have the same opportunity to 
compete in the CQ WPX Contest, building their skills each year and 
making significant efforts in their final year of eligibility. Check out 
the news item about updated CQ WW rules below!

BULLETINS

The only bulletins in this issue are to wish my fellow Americans a happy 
Independence Day and our northern neighbors a happy Canada Day.

BUSTED QSOS

No particularly noteworthy errors in the last issue, either.

CONTEST SUMMARY

Complete information <#Contests> for all contests follows the 
Conversation <#Conversation> section

*July 6-7*

  * MI QRP July 4th Sprint--CW
  * 070 Club Firecracker PSK31 Sprint
  * Venezuelan Independence Day Contest
  * DL DX RTTY Contest
  * DARC 10-Meter Digital Corona
  * QRP ARCI Summer Homebrew--CW
  * ARS Spartan Sprint--CW (Jul 9)
  * OK1WC Memorial Contest (Jul 9)
  * CWops Monthly Mini-CWT Test (Jul 10)

*July 13-14*

  * */IARU HF World Championship/*
  * NS Weekly Sprint--CW (Jul 12)
  * FISTS Summer Sprint--CW (Jul 12)
  * Straight Key Weekend Sprintathon--CW
  * VHF+ Alaska QSO Party
  * CQC Great Colorado Gold Rush--CW

NEWS, PRESS RELEASES, AND GENERAL INTEREST

The IARU HF Championship (July 13-14) will be the home of WRTC2014 next 
year and this year will bring another "tune-up 
<http://www.wrtc2014.org/competition/2013-station-test/>" operation 
during this year's contest as in 2012. The current plan is for 25 
stations to be active, although plans are still firming up for some 
teams. If 30 stations are assembled, there will be around 200 people 
involved in the setup and operation. That makes you realize how big 2014 
will be with 65 stations!! The WRTC2014 committee is offering awards for 
the stations that work the WRTC test stations on the most band-modes - 
such as an official WRTC shirt. (Thanks, Randy K5ZD, Co-Chairman, WRTC 
2014)

Phil Gildersleeve W1CJD certainly knew how to capture the spirit of 
Field Day with his classic /QST/ covers like this one from June 1956. 
The punch line usually followed in June!

A listing of IARU HF Championship HQ stations 
<http://www.dailydx.com/iaru-13.htm> that have reported they will be QRV 
has been published by the Daily DX. The list will be updated as 
additions are received. If your country's HQ station is not listed, 
email the Daily DX editor, Bernie W3UR <mailto:bernie at dailydx.com>. Note 
that you still have to copy what the stations actually send...sometimes 
things change between the plan and the performance!

The final rules for the CQ World Wide DX Contest 2013 
<http://cqww.com/blog/?p=178> are now available. CQ WW Director, Randy 
K5ZD (does he ever sleep?) expresses "Thanks to everyone who contributed 
to the process. The comments and

feedback during the review process were extremely helpful." CQ WW RTTY 
Director, Ed W?YK notes, "The 2013 CQ WW RTTY rules are in this month's 
issue of CQ magazine <http://www.cq-amateur-radio.com/>. They are 
independent of the CQ WW CW/SSB contests and rules - they do /not/ 
include the two new overlay categories (Rookie and Classic) but if these 
categories are successful in CQ WW CW and SSB, they will be added to 
RTTY in 2014.

Besides Reverse VUCC (or VUCC/R as the Society also calls it), the 
Central States VHF Society <http://www.csvhfs.org/CSVHFTST.HTML> also 
sponsors an award for annual VHF & Up activity in which everyone starts 
anew on July 1st (through June 30th of the following year). Rather than 
Grids, though, it is States and Provinces that count (even though only 
"States" are referenced in the name). (Thanks, John K9JK)

Here's a photo of the new Cyclone 40 from the 4 State QRP Group, 
designed by NM?S. There is already a user's group 
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cyclone40/join> for the radio if you are 
interested. (Photo by K5DCM)

Sighted in the latest K9YA Telegraph 
<http://www.k9ya.org/k9ya_telegraph1.htm>, Dave NM?S has developed a new 
QRP rig based on his entry in the QRP ARCI's 2010 "72-part Challenge 
Design Contest". The Cyclone 40 <http://www.4sqrp.com/kitIndex.php> is 
an enhanced version of the original design with 98 components and even 
better performance. The kit features all through-hole parts and easy 
assembly. The receiver is a superhet design with very good sensitivity 
and selectivity, tuning the entire 125 kHz CW segment of the 40-meter band.

The U.S. Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and 
Technology (NIST) and National Telecommunications and Information 
Administration (NTIA) today announced plans to establish a national 
Center for Advanced Communications 
<http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/releases/nist-ntia-mou-061413.cfm> 
in Boulder, Colo. A key focus of the center will be to promote 
interdisciplinary research, development and testing in radio frequency 
technology and spectrum sharing for public safety and commercial 
broadband applications. Gary W9XT of Unified Microsystems 
<http://www.unifiedmicro.com/> has two new products: one is the ML-6, an 
LED replacement for the lamps in Hy-Gain rotor boxes that keep burning 
out. The other is a 16-line I/O expansion shield for Arduino fans.

The Twin Cities DX Association (TCDXA) publishes an online newsletter, 
/The Grayline <http://www.tcdxa.org/Newsletters/June2013Grayline.pdf>/, 
that is endorsed by member Scott KA9FOX. The last issue included stories 
like K?AD's story of choosing a new contest radio, KM?O's story of his 
involvement in the 9M4SLL DXpedition to the Spratly Islands, W?JX's 
story about various low band receiving antennas and a profile on W?RX.

Despite the storms elsewhere around the country, the Palo Alto Amateur 
Radio Association was blessed with this great weather during Field Day! 
(Photo by K6MM)

Would you like to try a little RTTY contesting without committing to a 
whole weekend? Dean NW2K notes that the weekly 30-minute NCCC RTTY 
Sprint on Thursday evenings (in North America) is perfect for all RTTY 
contesters to try new hardware and software as well as to hone their 
skills. Specific information is posted weekly on the RTTY List 
<http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/RTTY>. Sprint rules are 
located on the NCCC website <http://nccc.cc/>.

Why do engineers confuse Halloween and Christmas? Because OCT 31 = DEC 
25. (Thanks, Rich N8UX)

If you are a new ham or know one, perhaps you should point them at the 
Icom America Amateur Tool Kit 
<http://icomamerica.com/en/amateur/amateurtools/default.aspx>, 
consisting of several downloadable maps and a ham jargon dictionary.

*Web Site of the Week* - Are there any experienced Field Day 
participants who haven't considered using a kite-supported antenna? 
Richard G3CWI of SOTAbeams has the bug, too. "Flying antennas using 
kites is great fun. It's the kind of activity that all the family can 
enjoy. I have been doing it off and on for over 30 years. To get others 
started I have put together a page of tips and links 
<http://www.sotabeams.co.uk/kites-faq/> for anyone that might be 
interested in having a go."

WORD TO THE WISE

Searching old issues of the /Contest Update/ is easy if you use the 
site: function of Google's search engine. For example, to find more than 
a half-dozen tips and tricks for working with copperweld, enter 
"copperweld site:arrl.org/contest-update-issues" into the search window. 
Yes, this searches the older /Contester's Rate Sheet/ issues, too!

Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=cu&t=i&i=2013-07-03&p=0>
SIGHTS AND SOUNDS

29A...how do they do it? This photo album 
<https://plus.google.com/photos/113377229989105009863/albums/5892819733748088273?authkey=CImrjoefg7LWjQE> 
will give every Field Day participant pause - and some ideas! (Thanks, 
Alan N3ALN)

The biggest thing on the desktop is no longer the Operating Aid No. 6! 
Operating at the Palo Alto ARA Field Day, K6MM has become fully one with 
the flat-panel LCD era of Field Day. (Photo from K6MM)

The International Space Station (ISS) ham radio shack has a new feature 
- SSTV! It's easy to receive the images - you don't even need to connect 
your rig to a PC and the software to view them is free. Read more about 
how it's done in this AMSAT-UK story 
<http://amsat-uk.org/2013/07/02/iss-ham-radio-slow-scan-tv-active/>.

Remote controlled lightning protection? Well, maybe not for a direct 
strike but this video <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kcHPvUrNK4> shows 
an interesting approach that could be useful for protection of remote 
stations against nearby strikes and surges. Either way, it's a neat job! 
(Thanks, Zoli HA1AG)

Hovering is so 20^th -century...but hovering upside down? While 
supercooled in liquid nitrogen? View the slot car set of the future 
<http://gizmodo.com/a-mobius-strip-track-makes-magnet-hovercrafts-even-cool-618712302>! 
(Thanks, Bill WA6ITF)

RESULTS AND RECORDS

The Oceania DX (OCDX) contest committee announces that the results of 
the 2012 OCDX contest <http://www.oceaniadxcontest.com/2012_Results.htm> 
are now available. They were pleased to see a substantial increase in 
the number of phone logs from Australian and Indonesian stations. This 
additional activity from Oceania stations is encouraging for attracting 
more participation from stations outside Oceania. This year, a number of 
new records were set as well. The 2013 OCDX contest 
<http://www.oceaniadxcontest.com/rules.pdf> will be held on the first 
two full weekends of October - 5/6 October for Phone and 12/13 October 
for CW. (Thanks to the OCDX Committee - VK3MI/ZL1AZE, VK3TZ, ZL3GA, 
VK7GN, VK2HN, VK4TS, and VK6DXI)

Results of the February 2013 CQ WPX RTTY Contest 
<http://www.cq-amateur-radio.com/cq_highlights/2013_cq/2013_07_cq/2013_07_cq_Num1_WPX_RTTY_SCORES.pdf> 
have been posted. (Thanks, Daily DX <http://dailydx.com/>)

Thanks to the efforts of John N2NC, the CQ WW online score database 
<http://www.cqww.com/score_db.htm> now goes back to 2003. (Thanks, Randy 
K5ZD, CQ WW Director)

OPERATING TIP

One of the new CQ WW rules for the Classic overlay category specifies 
that break periods be a minimum of 60 minutes. It is important to note 
that for most contests, "60 minutes" means 60 consecutive "empty" clock 
minutes during which no QSO was logged. (Seconds are usually not 
included in the Cabrillo log QSO: lines and so would not be considered 
in log checking.)

This is a valid 60-minute off time in a log:
1358Z QSO
1359Z QSO
- first empty minute at 1400
- last empty minute at 1459
1500Z QSO
1501Z QSO

This is /*NOT */a valid 60-minute off time in a log:
1358Z QSO
1359Z QSO
- first empty minute at 1400
- last empty minute at 1458
1459Z QSO
1500Z QSO

There must be 60 consecutive "empty" minutes. The "time B minus time A" 
gap of 1459 - 1359 = 60 does /not/ meet the 60-minute test because only 
59 consecutive minutes are actually "empty" - the last "empty" minute is 
1458, not 1459. Leaving a gap of the minimum number of "empty" minutes 
is always the safest way to be sure of complying with the off-time 
minimum-break rules since the requirement is rarely stated exactly, nor 
are the consequences of a violation spelled out. This is also good 
practice for the 10-minute band change rule. Be safe and don't lose a 
multiplier or a big chunk of your log because you were one minute too 
quick to make a QSO!

Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=cu&t=i&i=2013-07-03&p=1>
TECHNICAL TOPICS AND INFORMATION

Long-time readers and station builders will recognize the name 
Polyphaser as a provider of both quality EMC products and technical 
literature. Polyphaser is today part of the Protection Group 
<http://www.protectiongroup.com/> that offers other familiar brands. The 
technical literature is still there - just click the Knowledge Base tab 
and browse to what you need.

All it takes is a minute's inattention when band-changing or a little 
irrational exuberance when calling a rare multiplier and a bandpass 
filter section is toast! Field repairs hinge on having exactly the right 
part on hand to repair the damaged filter - usually a precision 
capacitor. You can't just throw in any old 0.01 ?F ceramic and expect it 
to work! Before the next contest, open up your filters and record the 
exact part values, then obtain a spare set of whatever you think you 
might need to effect repair. Bear in mind that matched components are 
often needed for symmetrical filter sections that act the same 
regardless of the direction of power flow. (Thanks, Steve N2IC)

Here's a handy tip from Make Magazine reader Bradd Libby, "Wet your 
soldering sponge with tea. It's slightly acidic and will give the 
soldering iron a wonderfully clean tip." I wonder if Bradd hails from 
the U.K.? Online, there is a whole page of tips 
<http://makezine.com/2013/06/21/wise-tips-from-make-readers/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Make%20Newsletter%20Special%20Edition&utm_content=Make%20Newsletter%20Special%20Edition+CID_3a0a19cec1dd30905dd22ad4be39fd3f&utm_source=Email%20Campaign&utm_term=here> 
for your enjoyment, as well. Sibling website, Instructables, features 
this interesting cord attachment gadget 
<http://www.instructables.com/id/Rapid-Cord-Attachment-3xO/>, and a 
guide to repairing LCD monitors 
<http://www.instructables.com/id/Repairing-LCD-monitor-how-NOT-to-become-planned-o/>, 
too.

While trying out my own advice for site-specific searching (see *Word to 
the Wise* above), I stumbled upon this gem at just the right time of 
year for antenna builders. Copperweld Rasslin' -- is there anything that 
strikes quicker terror into the hearts of hams? ("Just shinny up that 
mast," comes to mind, but I digress.) The ability of the stuff to stay 
coiled is legendary and has ambushed many a wire-hanger. Tom NU7J 
contributed the following idea for getting it straight right off the 
spool. "The trick is to build a straightening die. Drive eight 4-inch 
nails into a plank so that the nails hold the spool in place. Four nails 
guide the inside of the spool and four guide the outside. I used a 2x8 
that's approximately five feet long and heavy enough to prevent the 
board from sliding when you pull the wire through the die. Drive three 
additional nails into the plank so that the wire coming off the spool is 
fed through the nails in an "S" pattern (/opposing the natural curve of 
the wire -- Ed/). The first nail should be four inches from the spool. 
The second nail is 1-7/8 inches from the first, and offset 3/8 inches. 
The third nail is 3-3/4 inches from and in line with the first nail. 
Hold one end of the wire firmly and steadily pull the wire from the 
spool through the nail pattern. It also helps to hold one foot on the 
end of the board, when pulling the wire. The resulting straight wire is 
a pleasure to work with."

Mike VE3GFN went out with the Oakville, Ontario club, VE3HB, and learned 
a few new things, such as how to get antennas into trees. "One of their 
members has a huge model helicopter and flew our antenna lines up over 
100-foot trees, so we had great elevation for our dipoles and such. Sure 
put my slingshot to shame!" See VA3MW's QRZ.com <http://qrz.com/> web 
page and you can see the helicopter in question, in the air, showing a 
trailing line, and the weight he uses, complete with red ribbon for 
visibility.

Lots of hams use the free, non-commercial version of EAGLE /CadSoft/ 
<http://www.cadsoft.de/>. The latest release is Version 6 and this 
companion book will explain how to get started.

A friend of Mark PA5MW's <http://pa5mw.com/> recently built an NCDXF HF 
beacon monitoring receiver system. "During the first few weeks of 
operation we noted a large difference in s/n receiving performance 
between his site (antenna between low buildings in the open country) 
versus my location (a tiny back garden in a city)." You can see the 
day-to-day differences <http://monitorstation.ccms-best.nl/> online, too.

What's Joe K1JT been up to lately? A recent memo from Joe to users of 
his WSJT-X software in development brings us up to date. "For those with 
transceivers that can support it, the maximum displayed bandwidth has 
been increased from 1 kHz to 5 kHz. My TS-2000 is a good example of this 
capability: it works well at 4 kHz bandwidth. That's enough so that I 
can set the dial frequency to 14.076 and see essentially all the 20m 
activity on both JT65 and JT9. (/Joe has also posted an example of the 
resulting waterfall display 
<http://www.physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/wsjtx_1.1a.png> - Ed./) My 
plan is to allow the operator to choose JT9 or JT65 decoding, or both. 
If you choose both, all messages will appear on screen. The mode will be 
indicated with a single-character flag, or perhaps a distinct color, or 
some such scheme. If you double-click on a JT9 message, you'll transmit 
JT9. If it's a JT65 message, you'll transmit JT65." Joe observes also 
that, "JT9 has essentially the same (actually about 2 dB better) 
sensitivity, while requiring less than 10% of the bandwidth. That means 
ten times as many stations will fit into each kHz of spectrum!" Thanks, 
John W9SE

*Technical Web Site of the Week* - We have all heard plenty about the 
makers and the DIY movement. How about the "fixers" and FIY (Fix It 
Yourself)? Hams are plenty flexible and resourceful, particularly as 
concerns repairs and "making do". This Wired article 
<http://www.wired.com/opinion/2013/06/qq_thompson/> hits the nail on the 
head, so to speak, ending with the never-truer observation, "We started 
off upgrading a machine -- and wound up upgrading ourselves." (Thanks, 
Tom K1KI)

CONVERSATION

We all have our favorite Field Day things but this video 
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HW4g68Iv4gE> adapting the classic, "My 
Favorite Things", to our favorite not-really-a-contest ham event is a 
new favorite. A tip of Doctor Beldar's cap to lyric bender, Russell 
WP2AHG and vocalist Janet Clark. (Thanks, John K6MM and others)

*A Few of My Favorite Things About ARRL Field Day 2013*

Dipole antennas strung all through the trees
Yagis on crank-ups that sway in the breeze
Verticals reaching right up to the sky
SPF50 or you're gonna fry!

Working hard in much rainier conditions than you might expect in 
Wyoming, our Field Day host and your Rocky Mountain Division Vice 
Director, Dwayne WY7FD prepares to put up the low-band dipole on a soggy 
Friday atop Warren Peak, looking down on Devil's Tower National 
Monument. (Photo by N?AX)

Gensets are holding and tube sets are glowing
Wrist rockets launching and spud cannons blowing
Satellites passing right over our head
QSOs, QSL, and QRZed.

Pileups on stations in far-off locations
Talk about how we love TWIT and Ham Nation
How many points we'll get on the air
Transceivers melting, I don't even care!

When the rain comes
When the bands close
When mosquitoes bite
I simply remember the contest is on
And I can stay up all night!

Ice-cold libations are Red Bull or soda
Taking a break at the station for GOTA
Barbecued brisket or burgers and dogs
Eat, drink, and nap but fill out all your logs.

Things were a little drier and a whole lot more pleasant - although 
still windy - at the WY7FD site on Sunday morning. CQ Field Day! (Photo 
by N?AX)

J-poles with twin-lead and good propagation
Baluns and bug-spray and DXing stations
FM and SSB, RTTY
PSK31, give it a try!

Emergency power and portable towers
Keying for hours and could use a shower
Why do hams do this and go so berserk?
Cause when all else fails, ham radio works!

When the storms come
When the phones die
When it's all berserk
We simply remember that when all else fails
The Amateur Radio...works!

73, Ward N?AX

Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=cu&t=i&i=2013-07-03&p=2>
CONTESTS

*3 July through 17 July*

An expanded, downloadable version of QST's Contest Corral in PDF format 
<http://www.arrl.org/contest-calendar> is available. Check the sponsor's 
Web site for information on operating time restrictions and other 
instructions.

*HF CONTESTS*

MI QRP July 4th Sprint--CW, from Jul 4, 2300Z to Jul 5, 0300Z. Bands 
(MHz): 1.8-28, 50. Exchange: RST, S/P/C, and QRPMI number or power. Logs 
due: 30 days. Rules <http://www.miqrp.org/>

070 Club Firecracker PSK31 Sprint--Digital, from Jul 6, 8 PM to Jul 7, 2 
AM. Bands (MHz): 7. Exchange: RST and S/P/C. Logs due: Jul 20. Rules 
<http://www.podxs070.com/>

Venezuelan Indep Day Contest--Phone,CW,Digital, from Jul 6, 0000Z to Jul 
7, 2400Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: RS(T) and serial. Logs due: Jul 
31. Rules <http://www.radioclubvenezolano.org/concurso.htm>

DL DX RTTY Contest--Digital, from Jul 6, 1100Z to Jul 7, 1059Z. Bands 
(MHz): 3.5-28. Exchange: RST and serial. Logs due: Aug 9. Rules 
<http://www.drcg.de/>

DARC 10-Meter Digital Corona--Digital, from Jul 7, 1100Z to Jul 7, 
1700Z. Bands (MHz): 28. Exchange: RST, serial. Logs due: 14 days. Rules 
<http://www.darc.de/referate/ukw-funksport>

QRP ARCI Summer Homebrew--CW, from Jul 7, 2000Z to Jul 7, 2359Z. Bands 
(MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: RST, S/P/C, QRP number or power. Logs due: 14 
days. Rules <http://www.qrparci.org/contests>

ARS Spartan Sprint--CW, from Jul 9, 0200Z to Jul 9, 0400Z. Bands (MHz): 
3.5-28. Monthly on the first Monday evening. Exchange: RST, S/P/C, and 
power. Logs due: 2 days. Rules <http://www.arsqrp.blogspot.com/>

OK1WC Memorial Contest--Phone,CW, from Jul 9, 1600Z - See website. 
Multiple time periods. Bands (MHz): 3.5, 50, 144, First through fourth 
Monday of each month; see website for bands. Exchange: RS(T) and serial. 
Logs due: 7 days. Rules <http://www.hamradio.cz/ok1wc>

CWops Monthly Mini-CWT Test--CW, from Jul 10, 1300Z - See website. 
Multiple time periods. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Twice monthly on 2nd and 4th 
Wed, 18 to 28 kHz above band edge. Exchange: Name and member number or 
S/P/C. Logs due: 2 days. Rules <http://www.cwops.org/onair.html>

NS Weekly Sprint--CW, from Jul 12, 0230Z to Jul 12, 0300Z. Bands (MHz): 
1.8-14. Exchange: Serial, name, and S/P/C. Logs due: 2 days. Rules 
<http://www.ncccsprint.com/>

FISTS Summer Sprint--CW, from Jul 12, 2000 EDT to Jul 12, 2400 EDT. 
Bands (MHz): 3.5-28. Exchange: RST, S/P/C, name, FISTS number or pwr. 
Logs due: 30 days. Rules <http://www.fists.org/operating.html#sprints>

IARU HF World Championship--Phone,CW, from Jul 13, 1200Z to Jul 14, 
1200Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: RST and IARU zone. Logs due: 30 
days. Rules <http://www.arrl.org/contests>

Straight Key Weekend Sprintathon--CW, from Jul 13, 1200Z to Jul 14, 
2359Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50. Exchange: RST, QTH, name, member nr if 
member. Logs due: 5 days. Rules <http://www.skccgroup.com/>

CQC Great Colorado Gold Rush--CW, from Jul 14, 2000Z to Jul 14, 2159Z. 
Bands (MHz): 14. Exchange: RST, serial, category, CQC member nr. Logs 
due: 30 days. Rules <http://www.cqc.org/contests>

*VHF+ CONTESTS*

VHF+ Alaska QSO Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from Jul 13, 1800Z to Jul 14, 
2359Z. Bands (MHz): 50+. Exchange: Call sign and 4-char grid square. 
Logs due: 2 weeks. Rules <http://www.kl7yk.us/akqso.htm>

MI QRP July 4th Sprint--CW, from Jul 4, 2300Z to Jul 5, 0300Z. Bands 
(MHz): 1.8-28, 50. Exchange: RST, S/P/C, and QRPMI number or power. Logs 
due: 30 days. Rules <http://www.miqrp.org/>

OK1WC Memorial Contest--Phone,CW, from Jul 9, 1600Z - See website. 
Multiple time periods. Bands (MHz): 3.5, 50, 144, First through fourth 
Monday of each month; see website for bands. Exchange: RS(T) and serial. 
Logs due: 7 days. Rules <http://www.hamradio.cz/ok1wc>

Straight Key Weekend Sprintathon--CW, from Jul 13, 1200Z to Jul 14, 
2359Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50. Exchange: RST, QTH, name, member nr if 
member. Logs due: 5 days. Rules <http://www.skccgroup.com/>

LOG DUE DATES

*3 July through 17 July*

  * July 4 - ARS Spartan Sprint <http://www.arsqrp.blogspot.com/>
  * July 6 - Feld Hell Sprint
    <https://sites.google.com/site/feldhellclub/Home/contests/sprint-rules>
  * July 7 - WAB 50 MHz Phone
    <http://wab.intermip.net/Contest%20Rules.php#OtherRules>
  * July 8 - RSGB 80m Club Championship, CW
    <http://www.rsgbcc.org/hf/rules/2013/r80mcc.shtml>
  * July 9 - REF DDFM 6m Contest
    <http://concours.ref-union.org/reglements/actuels/reg_ddfm50_fr_201303.pdf>
  * July 10 - ARRL June VHF Contest <http://www.arrl.org/june-vhf>
  * July 15 - Kid's Day Contest <http://www.arrl.org/kids-day>
  * July 15 - His Maj. King of Spain Contest, SSB
    <http://www.ure.es/contest/431-sm-el-rey-contest-english-version.html>

ARRL Information

Click here <mailto:ads at arrl.org> to advertise in this newsletter, space 
subject to availability.

Your One-Stop Resource for Amateur Radio News and Information

*Join or Renew Today!* <http://www.arrl.org/join>**

ARRL membership includes /QST/ <http://www.arrl.org/qst>, Amateur 
Radio's most popular and informative journal, delivered to your mailbox 
each month.

Subscribe to /NCJ/ - the National Contest Journal 
<http://www.arrl.org/ncj>. Published bimonthly, features articles by top 
contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA Sprint and QSO Parties.

Subscribe to /QEX/ - A Forum for Communications Experimenters 
<http://www.arrl.org/qex>. Published bimonthly, features technical 
articles, construction projects, columns and other items of interest to 
radio amateurs and communications professionals.

/Free of charge to ARRL members:/ Subscribe 
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the material and the reprint publication.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ARRL Contest Update wishes to acknowledge information from WA7BNM's 
Contest Calendar <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal> and SM3CER's 
Contest Calendar <http://www.sk3bg.se/contest>.

	Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=cu&i=2013-07-03&t=r&p=0>
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The ARRL Contest Update is published every other Wednesday (26 times 
each year). ARRL members may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by 
editing their Member Data Page as described at 
http://www.arrl.org/contests/update/.

Copyright ? 2013 American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved

www.arrl.org <http://www.arrl.org/>




From bmarx at bellsouth.net  Wed Jul  3 08:44:42 2013
From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill)
Date: Wed, 03 Jul 2013 08:44:42 -0400
Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] Icom's Amateur Tool Kit
Message-ID: <51D41CBA.4070204@bellsouth.net>

 From ARRL Contest Update

http://icomamerica.com/en/amateur/amateurtools/default.aspx

From bmarx at bellsouth.net  Wed Jul  3 11:01:10 2013
From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill)
Date: Wed, 03 Jul 2013 11:01:10 -0400
Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] For Sale: 4 Camera ZMODO Indoor TV
	Monitoring system
Message-ID: <51D43CB6.7070604@bellsouth.net>

For Sale:
Keep your house and shack monitored from your iPhoneor the Internet.

I have an Extra 4 Camera ZMODO Indoor TV Monitoring systemwith the DVR. 
It was not installed. Still with Original Boxes.. $100

Bill Marx W2CQ
I can bring it to the SFDXA Meeting next week

From bmarx at bellsouth.net  Thu Jul  4 08:34:53 2013
From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill)
Date: Thu, 04 Jul 2013 08:34:53 -0400
Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] =?windows-1252?q?The_Most_Important?=
 =?windows-1252?q?_Radio_Station_You=92ve_Never_Heard_of=2E=2E=2EWWVB?=
Message-ID: <51D56BED.5090304@bellsouth.net>


  The Most Important Radio Station You?ve Never Heard of Marks 50 Years
  on the Air


http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/07/wwvb-time-radio/

From bmarx at bellsouth.net  Thu Jul  4 08:45:54 2013
From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill)
Date: Thu, 04 Jul 2013 08:45:54 -0400
Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] The ARRL Letter for July 4, 2013
In-Reply-To: <20130704120328.539F026D73A@bmail.arrl.org>
References: <20130704120328.539F026D73A@bmail.arrl.org>
Message-ID: <51D56E82.2060102@bellsouth.net>



Preview

If you are having trouble reading this message, you can see the original at:
http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/?issue=2013-07-04

The ARRL Letter

July 4, 2013
Editor: Rick Lindquist, WW1ME <mailto:ww1me at arrl.org>
ARRL Home Page <http://www.arrl.org/> 	
	/ARRL Letter/ Archive <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/> 	
	Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/>

Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&i=2013-07-04&t=t>

  * /On the Air/: Strong Geomagnetic Storm Enlivens "The Magic Band"
    <#toc01>
  * /Emergency Radio/: Colorado ARES Supported Emergency Communication
    in Wildland Fire Response <#toc02>
  * /Emergency Radio/: Hams in India Support Emergency Communications
    Following Flood Disaster <#toc03>
  * /Ham Radio in Space/: HamTV Project to Open "A New Era" for ARISS
    <#toc04>
  * /Education/: The ARRL Foundation Announces 2013 Scholarship
    Recipients <#toc05>
  * /People/: New AMSAT Director of Field Operations Hopes to Revive
    Field Organization <#toc06>
  * /People/: N4HY Co-Advises Virginia Tech DARPA Spectrum Challenge
    Team <#toc07>
  * /People/: Nobel Laureate Featured at W9DXCC Convention and Banquet
    <#toc08>
  * /Ham Radio on the Road/: Flying With Spare Rechargeable Batteries
    May Require Preparation <#toc09>
  * Phishing Scam via ARRL.net E-mail Addresses Reported <#toc10>
  * Noted DXer, DXpeditioner Joseph D. Duffin, W2ORA, SK <#toc11>
  * DXCC Honor Roll Member Ivy "Keith" Luke, W5AV, SK <#toc12>
  * This Week in Radiosport <#toc13>
  * Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events
    <#toc14>

*ARRL Headquarters is closed today, July 4, for Independence Day. There 
will be no W1AW bulletin or code practice transmissions. Headquarters 
will be open for business tomorrow, Friday, July 5. We wish everyone a 
safe and enjoyable holiday!*

/On the Air/: Strong Geomagnetic Storm Enlivens "The Magic Band"

That strong geomagnetic storm over the weekend may have trashed the HF 
bands, but stations along North America's Eastern Seaboard took 
advantage of the resulting aurora to score some DX on 6 meters. On 
Saturday, June 29, stations were able to work into Alaska during a 
period of auroral propagation. WK3N in Pennsylvania reported working his 
first two Alaska stations, AL7RT and KL7NO, for his #100 on 6 meters. 
WK3N called the episode "the most intense solar storm in the

last five years." He pointed his beam north, turned on his amp and 
started calling "CQ." He worked into several regions of the US and 
Canada. K8OM reported a 6 meter opening into Eastern Iowa at 1645 UTC 
Sunday, June 30, when the geomagnetic storm had begun to wind down. He 
worked OH1ND, OH1XT and ES6RQ, all on CW.

"That may not be all that great for East Coast guys, but for us out here 
in the middle of the country, it was rather exciting!" he said. 
Spaceweather.com <http://www.spaceweather.com/> reported early Saturday 
morning that a strong geomagnetic storm was in progress as Earth passed 
through a region of south-pointing magnetism in the solar wind. The 
storm generated auroral displays as far south as Kansas. The NOAA Space 
Weather Prediction Center <http://www.swpc.noaa.gov> indicated the storm 
was a G3 level event. NOAA says that in a G3 level storm, HF radio may 
be intermittent. Over the weekend, the A index rose to 22, and the K 
index ranged from 5 to 7. Generally an A index at or below 15 or a K 
index at or below 3 is best for HF propagation. /-- Thanks to //The 
Daily DX/ <http://www.dailydx.com>/, Spaceweather.com, NOAA/

/Emergency Radio/: Colorado ARES Supported Emergency Communication in 
Wildland Fire Response

Colorado Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES 
<http://www.arrl.org/ares>) volunteers mustered to support emergency 
communications after wildland fires broke out in June.

"For the second summer in a row the entire state of Colorado seems to be 
on fire," said North Central Colorado Region ARES Emergency Coordinator 
Perry Lundquist, W6AUN. "Currently there are 16 wildfires burning within 
Colorado."

Several Colorado ARES districts activated in the wake of the Royal Gorge 
and Black Forest fires June 11. Members provided communication support 
for sheltering activities. Later the same day,

the Black Forest Fire erupted close to the Waldo Canyon area in Colorado 
Springs, where a similar wildfire caused widespread destruction last 
year. "The Black Forest Fire has now become the most destructive fire in 
Colorado history," Lundquist said. It ultimately consumed 14,280 acres 
and 507 homes and caused two deaths.

During the fire's peak, eight shelters were opened for both people as 
well as animals large and small, Lundquist reports. More than 35,000 
residents had to evacuate, he said, which placed a very heavy burden on 
the American Red Cross, which immediately requested ARES communication 
support between its eight various shelters and the Pikes Peak Red Cross 
headquarters. ARES volunteers responded by providing around-the-clock 
radio operators for several days.

Lundquist said in late June that several Jefferson County ARES members 
were still working on other fires within the state where their ARES 
members are assigned individually as National Wildfire Coordinating 
Group (NWCG <http://www.nwcg.gov/>) certified communication technicians 
and radio operators. "Colorado Section and Regional ARES leadership has 
worked closely to support the local ARES districts and to provide ARES 
mutual aid in the form of communications equipment and ARES-trained 
manpower resources wherever and whenever needed," he said. /-- Thanks to 
Perry Lundquist, W6AUN; Colorado SM Jack Ciaccia, WM?G, and Rick Palm, K1CE/

/Emergency Radio/: Hams in India Support Emergency Communications 
Following Flood Disaster

Amateur Radio volunteers provided emergency communications in the 
flood-stricken state of Uttarakhand in northern India, after unusually 
heavy early seasonal monsoons caused flooding and mudslides in June. At 
least 800 people have died. Jim Linton, VK3PC, who chairs the IARU 
Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee, says the disaster caught 
everyone by surprise.

"The emergency communications provided by radio amateurs are well known 
to disaster authorities and the government, through their preparedness 
drills and other presentations," Linton said.

India's National Coordinator for Disaster Communication Jayu Mbide, 
VU2JAU, who is with the Amateur Radio Society of India (ARSI), told 
Linton that he had been in contact with two Amateur Radio stations 
active in the disaster area at Dehradum and Uttarkshi. "They have been 
sending messages via coordinating stations in Gwalior, New Delhi and 
elsewhere," he said. Linton said emergency communication support was 
expected to continue "for some time." Linton added.

According to the BBC <http://www.bbc.co.uk>, the early monsoons may be 
the heaviest in 80 years. "Swollen rivers have swept away entire 
villages in Uttarakhand, where there were many travelers in what is peak 
tourist season," the broadcaster reported. "Nearly 100,000 people have 
been evacuated from the affected areas in the Himalayan mountains." 
Government rescue efforts have included military helicopter drops of 
food, water and medical supplies to those trapped by the flood. -- /Jim 
Linton, VK3PC, with Jayu Mbide, VU2JAU; BBC/

Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&t=i&i=2013-07-04&p=0>
/Ham Radio in Space/: HamTV Project to Open "A New Era" for ARISS

The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS 
<http://ariss.rac.ca/>) program hopes an Amateur Radio digital TV system 
will be up and running aboard the International Space Station by later 
this year. A project initiated by AMSAT-Italy <http://www.amsat.it/>, 
HamTV would provide one-way video and audio from the ISS to complement 
the FM radio voice link used for ARISS school group radio contacts. 
According to an overview paper <http://www.ariss-eu.org/Ham%20TV.pdf>

drafted by ARISS-Europe Chairman Gaston Bertels, ON4WF, a DATV downlink 
on S-Band (2.4 GHz) is under development to place aboard the ISS 
Columbus module in August. Columbus already sports the necessary 
antenna. As a debate between the merits of analog versus digital TV 
aboard the ISS continued, Bertels says, the digital system got a big 
boost from Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli, IZ?JPA, who had conducted 
ARISS school contacts in 2010 and 2011, when he was aboard the ISS.

"At the initiative of AMSAT Italy, an Italian manufacturer, Kayser 
Italia <http://www.kayser.it/index.php/exploration-2/ham-tv>, presented 
a project for an Amateur Radio DATV transmitter to ESA 
<http://www.esa.int>'s [European Space Agency] educational services," 
Bertels explains in his paper. ESA accepted the proposal in 2012 and 
contracted with Kayser Italia to develop and manufacture a 10 W EIRP 
"Ham Video" DATV transmitter for S-Band.

Receiving the DATV signal will be far more demanding than receiving VHF 
or UHF, Bertels notes in his overview paper. He said a study conducted 
by Piero Tognolatti, I?KPT, shows "that DATV decoding should be possible 
for a ground station equipped with a 1.2 meter dish, when the ISS is 
within a range of about 800 to 1000 km," limiting the DATV reception 
window to about 3 or 4 minutes during a favorable pass. According to 
Bertels, Kayser Italia is to provide five ground stations for siting in 
Europe. "It is hoped that amateurs will support other ground station 
'chains' in other countries, as multiple stations are needed to provide 
up to 15 minutes of video in support of school contacts," Bertels 
explains in his paper. He says ARISS anticipates that similar chains of 
ground stations will be set up on other continents, to expand the 
system's flexibility.

"A new era opens for Amateur Radio on the International Space Station," 
Bertels concludes. /-- Thanks to AMSAT News Service; Kayser Italia/

/Education/: The ARRL Foundation Announces 2013 Scholarship Recipients

The ARRL Foundation <http://www.arrl.org/the-arrl-foundation> Board of 
Directors has announced the scholarship recipients for 2013. In 2013, 
the Foundation awarded 82 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-foundation-awards-82-scholarships-in-2013>annual 
scholarships 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-foundation-awards-82-scholarships-in-2013> to 
young Amateur Radio operators. The scholarships, valued at $110,600, are 
awarded through 58 funds that the Foundation administers. Individual 
awards range from $500 to $5000. Foundation Secretary and ARRL Chief 
Development Officer Mary Hobart, K1MMH, says the scholarship program has 
grown substantially over the years with the addition of new awards.

"Amateur Radio organizations and individual donors have enriched the 
program to reward high academic achievement and community service," 
Hobart said. "I am constantly amazed at what young radio amateurs 
accomplish in their young lives, even as they work hard to perform 
academically at the highest levels. Congratulations to all the 
applicants who demonstrate the best that Amateur Radio has to offer!"

In addition to the 82 winners, there are currently four holders of the 
William R. Goldfarb Memorial Scholarship, which assists recipients in 
receiving a four-year undergraduate degree in engineering, science or in 
the medical or business-related fields. As announced in June the 2013 
recipient -- and the 10th Goldfarb Scholarship winner -- is Calvin P. 
Darula, K?DXC, of St Bonifacius, Minnesota.

The application period for 2014 ARRL Foundation Scholarships opens 
October 1, 2013, and closes February 1, 2014. Descriptions 
<http://www.arrl.org/scholarship-descriptions> of all available 
scholarships and selection criteria as well as application instructions 
and forms <http://www.arrl.org/scholarship-application> are on the ARRL 
Foundation website <http://www.arrl.org/the-arrl-foundation>. Inquiries 
regarding the scholarship program should be made via e-mail 
<mailto:foundation at arrl.org>.

/People/: New AMSAT Director of Field Operations Hopes to Revive Field 
Organization

AMSAT's new Director of Field Operations Patrick Stoddard, WD9EWK, of 
Scottsdale, Arizona, is hoping to return AMSAT's Field Organization to a 
place of prominence within the satellite organization.

"I look forward to reviving the Field Organization and re-establishing a 
line of communication with those who want to represent AMSAT at the 
local level," Stoddard said upon his appointment. "I will be reaching 
out to those that have assisted us in the past to ascertain their 
current level of interest in helping AMSAT as well as encouraging others 
to join our team."

Stoddard will work closely with AMSAT President Barry Baines, WD4ASW, as 
he begins the process of breathing new life into the Field Operations 
organization. As director of field operations, he will be

responsible for managing AMSAT's corps of area coordinators, who 
represent AMSAT locally. Area coordinators serve as the "Ambassadors of 
AMSAT." This may include staffing AMSAT booths at hamfests, giving 
local/regional club presentations on AMSAT and satellite operations and 
serving as Elmers to those seeking information about operating through 
satellites.

At one time more than 100 AMSAT members were on the list of area 
coordinators in the US and Canada.-- /AMSAT News Service/ 
<http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/news/>//

Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&t=i&i=2013-07-04&p=1>
/People/: N4HY Co-Advises Virginia Tech DARPA Spectrum Challenge Team

Former AMSAT director and vice president for engineering Bob McGwier, 
N4HY, is advising one of two Virginia Tech <http://www.vt.edu/> teams 
named as finalists in the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency 
(DARPA <http://www.darpa.mil/>)

Bob McGwier, N4HY

Spectrum Challenge <http://www.darpa.mil/spectrumchallenge/>. McGwier, 
who chairs the ARRL software defined radio (SDR) working group, is 
director of research at Tech's Hume Center 
<http://www.hume.ictas.vt.edu/> in Arlington, Virginia. He shares Hume 
Center Team advising duties with Charles Clancy, an associate professor 
of electrical and computer engineering and director of the Hume Center.

The Hume Center and Wireless at VT teams qualified among 15 finalists out 
of 90 competitors in the DARPA Spectrum Challenge qualification round in 
an international competition to develop strategies for clear 
communication in the presence of interference on a radio channel. They 
will compete with the 13 other teams for $25,000 in top prizes in the 
preliminary challenge in September and $50,000 in top prizes in the 
final challenge next March.

The DARPA Spectrum Challenge was organized in response to the problem of 
growing interference among wireless devices that function in an 
increasingly congested radio spectrum. The challenge tasks teams with 
generating SDR protocols that transmit data quickly and accurately 
despite interfering signals. Both Virginia Tech teams include Amateur 
Radio licensees. -- /Virginia Tech/ <http://www.vt.edu/>

/People/: Nobel Laureate Featured at W9DXCC Convention and Banquet

Nobel laureate and /WSJT/ <http://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/> 
developer Joe Taylor, K1JT, will be the banquet speaker at the 61st 
annual W9DXCC Convention and Banquet <http://www.w9dxcc.com/>, Saturday, 
September 21, at the Holiday Inn, Elk Grove

Joe Taylor, K1JT

Village, Illinois, sponsored by the Northern Illinois DX Association.

Among the presentations <http://www.w9dxcc.com/program.html>, Eric Hall, 
K9GY, will speak on his T6MO Afghanistan operations; Carl Luetzelschwab, 
K9LA, will discuss Cycle 24 propagation; Jerry Rosalius, WB9Z, and Craig 
Thompson, K9CT, will offer a preview of the Amsterdam Island FT5ZM 
DXpedition, and Mike McGirr, K9AJ, will report on the H44AJ DXpedition 
to Sikaiana Atoll in the Solomon Islands.

An ARRL forum will feature Central Division Director Dick Isely, W9GIG, 
Vice Director Kermit Carlson, W9XA, and ARRL DX Advisory Committee 
member Jim O'Connell, W9WU.

For more information, contact Kermit Carlson, W9XA 
<mailto:W9XA at yahoo.com>. The W9DXCC DX University Program will take 
place Friday, September 20, 9 AM to 5 PM. The program, "DXing from the 
Black Hole 2," is intended for new and seasoned DXers alike. For DX 
University information, contact Jack Hudson, W9MU 
<mailto:jack at W9MU.net>. Hospitality suites will be open Friday and 
Saturday nights.

/Ham Radio on the Road/: Flying With Spare Rechargeable Batteries May 
Require Preparation

FAA regulations let you travel with dry cells in either your carry-on or 
checked baggage, but prohibit /loose/ lithium batteries in checked 
baggage. But what about rechargeables in carry-on luggage? Stu Martin, 
K2QDE, reports that he ran into a small hitch when attempting to carry 
his spare hand-held transceiver battery in his carry-on bag. A notice 
within his boarding pass declared: "Lithium Batteries: Carriage of spare 
lithium batteries is not permitted in checked baggage. If you put a 
portable electronic device in checked baggage, you may still do so with 
the batteries installed in the device. Spare lithium batteries in 
carry-on luggage must have the terminals insulated and must be placed 
inside a protective case or plastic bag." Martin taped the battery's 
terminals and stowed it in a bag.

The FAA rules apply to "consumer-sized lithium ion batteries," including 
"larger, extended-life laptop batteries." The FAA adds this caveat, 
however: "Even if an item is generally permitted, it may be subject to 
additional screening or not allowed through the checkpoint if it 
triggers an alarm during the screening process, appears to have been 
tampered with, or poses other security concerns. /The final decision 
rests with TSA/ on whether to allow any items on the plane." More 
information 
<http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ash/ash_programs/hazmat/aircarrier_info/media/airline_passengers_and_batteries.pdf> 
is available on the FAA Web site.

Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&t=i&i=2013-07-04&p=2>
Phishing Scam via ARRL.net E-mail Addresses Reported

Several ARRL members have reported that someone posing as "Arrl.net 
Online Services" is prompting members to provide personal information. 
These e-mails ask the user for his or her username and password.

These e-mails do /not/ come from the ARRL. The League would never ask 
you for this sort of information in this fashion. The best course of 
action is to ignore such requests and, as a general precaution, never 
send personal information via e-mail.

Noted DXer, DXpeditioner Joseph D. Duffin, W2ORA, SK

ARRL Charter Life Member, DXer and DXpeditioner Joe Duffin, W2ORA/EI8GT 
(ex W3SWL), of Moorestown, New Jersey, died June 16. He was 87. He was 
an alumnus of the 1978 Navassa Island DXpedition (N?TG/KP1 and 
W?RJU//KP1 )./-- //The Daily DX/ <http://www.dailydx.com>

DXCC Honor Roll Member Ivy "Keith" Luke, W5AV, SK

The ARRL has learned that ARRL and DXCC Honor Roll member Ivy "Keith" 
Luke, of Brandon, Mississippi, died April 11. He was 85. Licensed in 
1950, Luke was a life member of the Jackson Amateur Radio Club, the 
Magnolia DX Association and the ARRL A-1 Operators Club. He was a #1 
ARRL DXCC Honor Roll member with 381 entities confirmed in the DXCC 
(mixed) standings.

This Week in Radiosport

  *

    July 6-7 -- Venezuelan Independence Day Contest

  *

    July 6-7 -- DL-DX RTTY Contest

  *

    July 6-7 -- Original QRP Contest

  *

    July 6-7 -- PODXS 070 Club 40 Meter Firecracker Sprint

  *

    July 7 -- DARC 10-Meter Digital Contest

  *

    July 7 -- QRP ARCI Summer Homebrew Sprint

  *

    July 10 -- NAQCC-EU Monthly Sprint

  *

    July 10 -- RSGB 80 Meter Club Championship, SSB

Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events

  *

    July 6 -- Eastern Pennsylvania Section Convention
    <http://hrac.tripod.com/HAMFEST_FLYER2013.pdf>, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

  *

    July 19-21 -- Montana State Convention <http://www.gwhamfest.org/>,
    East Glacier, Montana

  *

    July 25-27 -- Central States VHF Society Conference
    <http://www.csvhfs.org/2013conference/>, Elk Grove Village, Ilinois

  *

    July 26-27 -- ARRL Oklahoma State Convention
    <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/oklahoma-state-convention-ham-holiday-1>,
    Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

  *

    August 2-3 -- ARRL Texas State Convention
    <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/texas-state-convention-austin-summerfest-2013>,
    Austin, Texas

  *

    August 2-4 -- Pacific Northwest DX Convention
    <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/pacific-northwest-dx-convention-2>,
    Spokane Valley, Washington

  *

    August 3 -- Great Lakes Division Convention
    <http://arrl-greatlakes.org/convention.html>, Columbus, Ohio

  *

    August 9-11 -- New Mexico State Convention
    <http://www.arrl.org/Events/view/21836>, Albuquerque, New Mexico

  *

    August 17 -- ARRL West Virginia State Convention
    <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/west-virginia-state-convention-3>,
    Weston, West Virginia

  *

    August 17-18 -- ARRL Alabama State Convention
    <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/alabama-state-convention-huntsville-hamfest-1>,
    Huntsville, Alabama

  *

    August 18 -- ARRL Kansas State Convention
    <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/kansas-state-convention-3>, Salina, Kansas

  *

    August 25 -- ARRL Western Pennsylvania Section Convention
    <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/western-pennsylvania-section-convention-3>,
    New Kensington, Pennsylvania

  *

    August 31-September 1 -- North Carolina Section Convention
    <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/north-carolina-section-convention-shelby-hamfest>,
    Shelby, North Carolina

    Click <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests-and-conventions-calendar> to
    find a convention or hamfest near you!

------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Subscribe to...

/NCJ <http://www.ncjweb.com/>//-- National Contest Journal 
<http://www.ncjweb.com/>/. Published bi-monthly, features articles by 
top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA Sprint and QSO 
Parties.

/QEX <http://www.arrl.org/qex>//**-- A Forum for Communications 
Experimenters <http://www.arrl.org/qex>/. Published bi-monthly, features 
technical articles, construction projects, columns and other items of 
interest to radio amateurs and communications professionals.

Free of charge to ARRL members: Subscribe 
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www.arrl.org <http://www.arrl.org/>




From bmarx at bellsouth.net  Thu Jul  4 08:58:51 2013
From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill)
Date: Thu, 04 Jul 2013 08:58:51 -0400
Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] Radio Lights
Message-ID: <51D5718B.6000703@bellsouth.net>

This is one of the Ads on the ARRL Letter. An interesting gadget.
Need one?

http://www.radio-lights.com/en/

From bmarx at bellsouth.net  Fri Jul  5 06:10:15 2013
From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill)
Date: Fri, 05 Jul 2013 06:10:15 -0400
Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] Big Sunspot Turns Toward Earth
In-Reply-To: <LYRIS-775776-1786932-2013.07.05-00.17.06--bmarx#bellsouth.net@www.spaceweather2.com>
References: <LYRIS-775776-1786932-2013.07.05-00.17.06--bmarx#bellsouth.net@www.spaceweather2.com>
Message-ID: <51D69B87.3090000@bellsouth.net>


Space Weather News for July 5, 2013
http://spaceweather.com

BIG SUNSPOT: One of the biggest sunspot groups of the current solar cycle has emerged in the sun's southern hemisphere.  AR1785 has an unstable magnetic field that harbors energy for strong solar flares, and it is turning toward Earth. Check http://spaceweather.com for more information and updates.



From bmarx at bellsouth.net  Sun Jul  7 08:50:43 2013
From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill)
Date: Sun, 07 Jul 2013 08:50:43 -0400
Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] SFDXA Meeting This Wednesday July 10th
In-Reply-To: <517D98F7.5000507@bellsouth.net>
References: <517D98F7.5000507@bellsouth.net>
Message-ID: <51D96423.5090706@bellsouth.net>


SFDXA will hold its July Meeting this Wednesday. All are Welcome!

We are very privileged to have as our Speaker this meeting, Rich Rosen 
K2RR. Rich is a Member of the SFDXA.
He has been a ham since 1958 and he says at 70 he is still a kid in a 
candy store in Amateur Radio.

Many don't know Rich's extensive background. He has been an active 
Electronics Engineer since 1961 and also a Merchant Marine Radio 
Electronics Officer. He wrote a popular program called "From Beverages 
To Oscar" (FBTO) in the 1980's. He has worked in the Electronics 
Industry in R&D Aerospace, Navy Subs/Surf, CBS Tel Net, Hughes A/C 
Microwave-Terrestrial/Sat.

He has worked inside VOA. He was Editor In Chief of Ham Radio Magazine 
and wrote articles on RF Design.

Rich will give us an Inside View of VOA from his Perspective. He will 
also give us an update on From "Beverages To Oscar" and his latest work.

To Start off the Meeting Norm W4QN and Dave W4DN have collaborated to 
give us a pictorial of The Dayton Hamvention 2013 with an interesting 
slide show.

Come join us for Dinner after 6. Dinner is a $7 donation to the club. Go 
to the Cafeteria. They close around 7 so get there early and join us in 
the Auditorium. Meeting starts at 7:33. Please join us at the Florida 
Medical Center on Oakland Park Blvd just west of State Rd 7. Bring your 
friends. Come early and meet the DXers and Hams in this area. Meeting 
starts at 7:33. We gather before to Rag Chew, meet friends and make new 
ones.

Bill Marx W2CQ




From bmarx at bellsouth.net  Mon Jul  8 09:45:25 2013
From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill)
Date: Mon, 08 Jul 2013 09:45:25 -0400
Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] Enroll in ARRL's Public Service
	Training Today!
In-Reply-To: <20130708132231.D599D26CB63@bmail.arrl.org>
References: <20130708132231.D599D26CB63@bmail.arrl.org>
Message-ID: <51DAC275.2060507@bellsouth.net>




*Amateur Radio Emergency Service 
<http://www.arrl.org/online-course-catalog/>ARRL offers online training 
for hams who want to participate in the Amateur Radio Emergency Service. *
*/The time for training is before a disaster...not during one./
Two courses make up the ARRL ARES? training program. Enroll Today!*/*
*/
The former Amateur Radio Emergency Communications (AREC) series of three 
training courses has been reconfigured into two courses: An introductory 
course and a course for leaders and managers.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Introduction to Emergency Communication *(#EC-001)

Revised in 2011, this is an update of the former Level 1 course. It is 
designed to provide basic knowledge and tools for hams who want to serve 
as a Public Service volunteer. It provides an opportunity for non-hams 
who rely on communications in emergency situations to learn about 
Amateur Radio and its unique role in emergencies.

The course is offered online using the Moodle learning platform. The 
/Introduction to Emergency Communication/ course has six sections with 
29 lesson topics and a 35 question final assessment. Participants should 
plan on completing the course in approximately 45 hours over a nine week 
period. This is a mentored course, in which you may work according to 
your own schedule. Cost is $50 for ARRL members and $85 for non-members.

For start dates, registration deadlines and 
more**visit*www.arrl.org/online-course-catalog 
<http://www.arrl.org/online-course-catalog>*
*Now Accepting Enrollments for July and August Sessions.* *Register Today!*

*The Introduction to Emergency Communication Course Book 
<http://www.arrl.org/shop/The-ARRL-Introduction-to-Emergency-Communication-Course/>**Th**e 
Introduction to Emergency Communication Course* *Book* -- 4th Edition
An introductory course designed for Amateur Radio volunteers who want to 
serve as part of an ARES? response team. Please note: this book is the 
course transcript for the /Introduction to Emergency Communication/ 
course (EC-001) and is an optional resource.

*Special Offer! Only $19.95* (retail $24.95) -- Order Now 
<http://www.arrl.org/shop/The-ARRL-Introduction-to-Emergency-Communication-Course/>
Enter *Coupon Code ARES* prior to checkout .Valid through *Sunday July 
21**, 2013*
Cannot be combined with other Coupon Code offers and is not applicable 
towards course enrollment.
Book and courses are separate transactions. Book is purchased through 
the e-store at www.arrl.org/shop <http://www.arrl.org/shop>.


*Public Service and Emergency Communications Management for Radio 
Amateurs *(#EC-016)

Launched in 2010, this course is designed for Amateur Radio operators 
who will be in leadership and managerial roles, organizing other 
volunteers to support public service activities and communications 
emergencies. Participants will learn how radio amateurs prepare to 
support local community events and, when working in coordination with 
governmental and emergency response organizations, how to deploy their 
services. This is a self-study course. For more information and to 
register visit www.arrl.org/online-course-catalog. 
<http://www.arrl.org/online-course-catalog/>

*ABOUT THIS E-MAIL*
Participation in ARRL Publication Announcements and Special Offers is 
voluntary. If you have an ARRL Web site user account, you can manage all 
of your e-mail preferences at www.arrl.org/myarrl 
<http://www.arrl.org/myarrl>.

*ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio?*
225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111-1494 USA
www.arrl.org/shop <http://www.arrl.org/shop>





From bmarx at bellsouth.net  Mon Jul  8 21:40:15 2013
From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill)
Date: Mon, 08 Jul 2013 21:40:15 -0400
Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] Reminder! - SFDXA Meeting This
	Wednesday July 10th
In-Reply-To: <51D96423.5090706@bellsouth.net>
References: <51D96423.5090706@bellsouth.net>
Message-ID: <51DB69FF.5070405@bellsouth.net>


SFDXA will hold its July Meeting this Wednesday. All are Welcome!

We are very privileged to have as our Speaker this meeting, Rich Rosen
K2RR. Rich is a Member of the SFDXA.
He has been a ham since 1958 and he says at 70 he is still a kid in a
candy store in Amateur Radio.

Many don't know Rich's extensive background. He has been an active
Electronics Engineer since 1961 and also a Merchant Marine Radio
Electronics Officer. He wrote a popular program called "From Beverages
To Oscar" (FBTO) in the 1980's. He has worked in the Electronics
Industry in R&D Aerospace, Navy Subs/Surf, CBS Tel Net, Hughes A/C
Microwave-Terrestrial/Sat.

He has worked inside VOA. He was Editor In Chief of Ham Radio Magazine
and wrote articles on RF Design.

Rich will give us an Inside View of VOA from his Perspective. He will
also give us an update on From "Beverages To Oscar" and his latest work.

To Start off the Meeting Norm W4QN and Dave W4DN have collaborated to
give us a pictorial of The Dayton Hamvention 2013 with an interesting
slide show.

Come join us for Dinner after 6. Dinner is a $7 donation to the club. Go
to the Cafeteria. They close around 7 so get there early and join us in
the Auditorium. Meeting starts at 7:33. Please join us at the Florida
Medical Center on Oakland Park Blvd just west of State Rd 7. Bring your
friends. Come early and meet the DXers and Hams in this area. Meeting
starts at 7:33. We gather before to Rag Chew, meet friends and make new
ones.

Bill Marx W2CQ


From bmarx at bellsouth.net  Tue Jul  9 07:33:06 2013
From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill)
Date: Tue, 09 Jul 2013 07:33:06 -0400
Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] ARRL Urges Denial of Petition to
	Permit Encryption
In-Reply-To: <11b974.32803149.3f0cd2f5@aol.com>
References: <11b974.32803149.3f0cd2f5@aol.com>
Message-ID: <51DBF4F2.3060800@bellsouth.net>


ARRL Urges Denial of Petition to Permit Encryption of Some Emergency 
Communications

    The ARRL is calling on the FCC to deny a /Petition for Rule Making/
    <http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7022424684> (RM-11699)
    seeking to permit the encryption of certain amateur communications
    during emergency operations or related training exercises. Don
    Rolph, AB1PH, of E Walpole, Massachusetts, petitioned the Commission
    in March to suggest an additional exception to ?97.113, which
    currently prohibits ?messages encoded for the purpose of obscuring
    their meaning.?

    ?While Mr Rolph has concisely stated his argument, it is ARRL?s
    considered view that there is no factual or legal basis for the
    assumption that encryption of transmissions?is necessary in order to
    continue and enhance the utility of Amateur Radio emergency and
    disaster relief communications,? the League said in its comments
    <http://www.arrl.org/fcc-documents>, filed today with the FCC. The
    ARRL also turned away Rolph?s assertion that the current prohibition
    in ?97.113 ?has impacted the relationship of Amateur Radio
    volunteers and served agencies and significantly limited the
    effectiveness of amateurs in supporting emergency communications.?
    The League said it?s unaware of any evidence that served agencies
    have been reluctant to utilize Amateur Radio as part of their
    emergency or disaster relief communications plans because of the
    encryption restrictions in Part 97. The Amateur Service rule is
    based on a similar prohibition in international telecommunication
    law, the ARRL noted.

    The League characterized as ?erroneous? and ?unfounded? Rolph?s
    assumption that encryption of certain information may be required
    under the provisions of HIPAA ? the Health Insurance Portability and
    Accountability Act. ?This mistaken assumption leads to the
    conclusion that the inability of Amateur Radio operators to encrypt
    the content of their transmissions in order to obscure the meaning
    of the transmissions renders Amateur Radio less (and decreasingly)
    useful to served agencies than it would be if encryption of those
    transmissions was permitted,? the ARRL said. The League also said it
    was unaware of any instance in which state statutes have been cited
    by any served agency or group as a reason not to employ Amateur
    Radio for emergency communication.

    Radio amateurs, the ARRL countered, are not ?covered entities? under
    HIPAA, which applies only to health care providers, health plans and
    health care clearinghouses. And, the League added, there is no
    expectation of privacy in Amateur Radio communications.

    The ARRL said it?s not possible to determine the validity of the
    claim ?that health care agencies subject to HIPAA are or might be
    unwilling or reluctant to utilize Amateur Radio in emergency
    communications and disaster relief planning? because of any lack of
    privacy inherent in Amateur Radio. ?Permitting encryption might
    remedy the concern as a practical matter, if the concern exists,?
    the League continued, but ?the complete dearth of even anecdotal
    evidence of the existence of that concern? makes it impossible to
    justify the proposed rule change on that basis.

    ?It is extremely important to insure that Amateur Radio remains
    useful to served disaster relief and emergency communications
    agencies, which include health care facilities,? the League
    stressed. ?It is just as important to insure that regulatory
    impediments to that volunteer work be minimized /to the extent
    consistent with the nature of the Amateur Radio Service/.? Amateur
    Radio?s utility to served agencies in supporting emergency
    communication, the ARRL continued, ?is high indeed, and is at the
    present time unfettered by the inability to encrypt transmissions.?

    However, the ARRL said that should it become necessary in the future
    for radio amateurs to protect the privacy of individuals whose
    medical data may be transmitted by Amateur Radio during or after an
    emergency or disaster, ?the Commission may be asked to revisit this
    matter.?

    ?It is urgent that Amateur Radio continue to be an essential
    component of disaster and emergency communications planning,? and
    that served agencies, including medical facilities, perceive the
    utility of Amateur Radio as unhindered by regulations that prohibit
    encryption, the League emphasized.

    More than 200 comments were filed on RM-11699, most of them tending
    to support the ARRL?s arguments.




From bmarx at bellsouth.net  Tue Jul  9 08:30:38 2013
From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill)
Date: Tue, 09 Jul 2013 08:30:38 -0400
Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] Hurricane Tracking Florida
In-Reply-To: <51DC01EC.7010303@bellsouth.net>
References: <51DC01EC.7010303@bellsouth.net>
Message-ID: <51DC026E.8060709@bellsouth.net>

Storm Tracking Sites

National Hurricane Center Map
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

Forecast Track
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/graphics_at3.shtml?5-daynl#contents

Satellite Imagery
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/satellite.php

Atlantic Loop
http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/goes/east/tatl/loop-vis.html

Miami Loop
http://radar.weather.gov/ridge/radar.php?rid=amx&product=N0R&loop=yes










From bmarx at bellsouth.net  Tue Jul  9 09:29:31 2013
From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill)
Date: Tue, 09 Jul 2013 09:29:31 -0400
Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] Installing Ground Rods the Easy Way.
Message-ID: <51DC103B.1010701@bellsouth.net>



http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/8vKszm

From bmarx at bellsouth.net  Tue Jul  9 09:31:06 2013
From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill)
Date: Tue, 09 Jul 2013 09:31:06 -0400
Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] Installing Ground Rods the Easy Way.
In-Reply-To: <51DC103B.1010701@bellsouth.net>
References: <51DC103B.1010701@bellsouth.net>
Message-ID: <51DC109A.1050009@bellsouth.net>

This one from the original site is easier to read....

http://www.rogerhalstead.com/ham_files/ground.htm


http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/8vKszm


From bmarx at bellsouth.net  Wed Jul 10 08:37:02 2013
From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill)
Date: Wed, 10 Jul 2013 08:37:02 -0400
Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] Night of Nights - An Historic event
	this Friday July 12th
In-Reply-To: <51DD410D.8070304@optonline.net>
References: <51DD410D.8070304@optonline.net>
Message-ID: <51DD556E.1000500@bellsouth.net>



http://tinyurl.com/llmqlr6
The U.S. Coast Guard will participate in an historic return to the air 
of several maritime coastal radio stations.
Marvin
K2VHW

NIGHT OF NIGHTS 2013 FINAL INFORMATION
FLASH!
USCG WILL PARTICIPATE IN NIGHT OF NIGHTS!

Event Date: 12 July 2013 Pacific Daylight Time
First Transmission form MRHS Stations: 5:01pm Pacific Daylight Time 12 
July, 0001Z 13 July

Historic coast stations KPH, KFS and KSM will return to the air

RCA "H Set" Transmitter 298 to be on the air

USCG Coast Stations NMC and NMQ will be on the air


Historic Stations WLO and KLB may join the event

K6KPH will be listening for calls and signal reports

Join us in person or on the air

  Morse code.

It's just beeps in the air. Yet on 12 July 1999 some very tough looking 
grizzled old radio pioneers had tears in their eyes as the last 
commercial Morse code radiogram was sent. It was the end of an era. And 
as the last beeps faded away into the static they witnessed the end of 
the career to which they had devoted their lives.

These men - and some women - had stood watch over the airwaves on shore 
and at sea. Theirs was mostly the business of maritime commerce. But 
when their ship was in peril they were called upon to send the most 
electrifying three letters in radio, S O S, knowing that all their 
fellow radio operators would press their earphones close to get every 
scrap of information and bring aid to their stricken ship.

Once, our coasts were dotted with great Morse code radio stations, all 
communicating with ships at sea. They're all gone now... all except one, 
the one they called the Wireless Giant of the Pacific, located at Point 
Reyes.

On that sad day in 1999 another event took place. The Maritime Radio 
Historical Society (MRHS) was formed. We made it our life's work to 
honor the men and women of wireless by restoring that wireless giant. 
One year and one minute later the giant's voice once again spanned the 
oceas as we picked up the thread and kept the faith with our colleagues 
of the air.

Every year since, in an event that became known as the Night of Nights, 
Morse code station KPH has returned to the air, joined by KFS and the 
station of the MRHS, KSM.

This year our friends and colleagues at USCG station NMC have labored 
mightily to bring that storied call sign back to life on Morse code for 
the evening along with NMQ in Cambria, CA.

We hope that stations WLO and KLB will join us again as hey have in 
years past.

This is a global and local event.  Hundreds of listeners around the 
world will be waiting with their earphones on, waiting for the signals 
of the great station to once again arc over the dome of the Earth to 
their receivers.

You can be with us in person!

Dozens of people will join us at the RCA receiving station in the Point 
Reyes National Seashore to watch as the signals are transmitted by hand 
using vintage telegraph keys.

A guest operating position will be available so bring your key and 
'phones or use ours and operate K6KPH.  No license required!  So if 
you're an ex-commercial op who never became a ham here's your chance to 
sling some Morse again.  Or if you hold a current commercial 
radiotelegraph ticket you can operate KPH, KFS and/or KSM and have your 
license endorse to that effect.

Date: Friday 12 July 2013 Pacific Daylight Time

Location: RCA receiving station, 17400 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Point 
Reyes National Seashore

                 Click HERE for a map of the location from Google Maps

Time: Doors open at 3:00pm pdt, first transmission 5:01pm pdt (0001gmt 
13 July)

Refreshments: Served

Photographs: Encouraged

Tours: Given

None of this would have been possible without the trust and vision of 
the Point Reyes National Seashore.  The only reason these facilities 
were spared the bulldozer that visited all the others is that they are 
on park land.  And the only reason they have been restored to operation 
is that the PRNS staff understood their importance and trusted the MRHS 
to restore them to life.

THIS IS THE MOST ACCURATE AND COMPLETE NIGHT OF NIGHTS 2013 INFORMATION 
AVAILABLE AT PRESS TIME BUT LAST MINUTE CHANGES MAY TAKE PLACE
This year we will send last minute changes and signal reports by 
Twitter.  You can join Twitter free at:
https://www.twitter.com
and follow us at @Radiomarine
MRHS Stations
Sixteen transmitters will be on the air from the MRHS transmitter site 
in Bolinas.  That doesn't include transmitters held in ready reserve in 
case of failure. Members of the crack MRHS Transmitter Department and 
the H Set Team will be on hand to assure that all goes well.

 > KPH:

Frequency            Transmitter                  Antenna

500/426                Henry MF-5000D        Marconi T
4247.0                  RCA K Set                  Double Extended Zepp
6477.5                  RCA K Set                  Double Extended Zepp
8642.0                  RCA L Set                  Double Extended Zepp
12808.5                RCA L Set                  H over 2
17016.8                RCA L Set                  H over 2
22477.5                RCA H Set                 H over 2

The restoration of the H set has been chronicled in past issues of the 
Newsletter.  It will return to revenue service for the first time in 
decades for Night of Nights.  See Newsletter No. 38 for information 
about and photos of this magnificent transmitter.

FLASH!  We have just confirmed that Point Reyes National Seashore 
superintendent Cicely Muldoon will press the button to formally dedicate 
H Set Transmitter 298 and put it on the air for Night of Nights!

 > KFS

Frequency            Transmitter                     Antenna

12695.5                Press Wireless PW15    H over 2
17026.0                Henry HF-5000D            H over 2

 > KSM

Frequency           Transmitter                     Antenna

500/426               Henry MF-5000D            Marconi T
8438.3                 Henry HF-5000D            Double Extended Zepp
12993.0               Henry HF-5000D            H over 2
16914.0               Henry HF-5000D            H over 2

 > K6KPH

Frequency           Transmitter                    Antenna

3550.0                 Henry HF-5000D           Double Extended Zepp
7050.0                 RCA L Set                     Double Extended Zepp
14050.0               Henry HF-5000D           H over 2
21050.0               Henry HF-5000D           H over 2

 > Reception Reports

Reception reports and verification requests for the MRHS stations listed 
above may be sent to:

Maritime Radio Historical Society
PO Box 392
Point Reyes Station, CA 94956
USA

 > Station Telephone

The receive site may be contacted by phone on +1 415-669-9646

USCG Stations

 > NMC (Transmit Bolinas, Receive Pt. Reyes)

Frequency            Transmitter                  Antenna

448.0                    Nautel ND2500TT/6    173' monopole tower
472.0                    Nautel ND2500TT/6    173' monopole tower
500.0                    Nautel ND2500TT/6    173' monopole tower
6383.0                  Harris RT-2200            Conical omni-directional
8574.0                  Harris RT-2200            Conical omni-directional
17220.5*               Harris RT-2200            Conical omni-directional

 > NMQ (Transmit Cambria, Receive and Control Pt. Reyes)

Frequency            Transmitter                  Antenna

448.0                    Nautel ND2500TT/6    173' monopole tower
472.0                    Nautel ND2500TT/6    173' monopole tower
500.0                    Nautel ND2500TT/6    173' monopole tower


 > Reception Reports

Reception reports and verification requests for the USCG stations listed 
above may be sent to:

Attn: OSCS Phil Marsh
USCG CAMSPAC Point Reyes
17000 Sir Francis Drake Blvd.
Point Reyes Station, CA 94956
USA

Shipcom LLC Stations

The participation of Shipcpm LLC stations WLO and KLB was unconfirmed at 
press time but the stations used these frequencies for previous Night of 
Nights events.  We list them so you can make them part of your listening 
scan - just in case!

But Wait!  Just before pressing the Send button we received word that 
WLO and KLB will be on the air for Night of Nights 2013!

 > WLO

2055.5
4343.0
8658.0
12992.0
16968.5

 > KLB

488.0
500.0
8582.5


 > Reception Reports

No information is available for the Shipcom LLC stations


 > Calling Channels

All commercial and USCG stations listed above will listen for calls from 
ships on 500kc and on ITU Channel 3 HF:

4184.0
6276.0
8368.0
12552.0
16736.0
22280.5

Listen on these frequencies if you want to copy both sides of ship to 
shore contacts.

From bmarx at bellsouth.net  Fri Jul 12 18:07:49 2013
From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill Marx)
Date: Fri, 12 Jul 2013 18:07:49 -0400
Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] K2BSA To Be On the Air from 2013
	Nationsl Scout Jamboree
References: <8ec3f.58140e91.3f11c5bf@aol.com>
Message-ID: <207D30C6-0FA6-4B67-99AC-90BB2296DFD6@bellsouth.net>


> K2BSA To Be On the Air from 2013 National Scout Jamboree
> 
>  
>  
> Amateur Radio will be a part of the 2013 Boy Scouts of America National Jamboree, July 15-24, when some 40,000 Scouts and leaders are expected at the Summit Bechtel Reserve in Mount Hope, West Virginia. K2BSA will be on the air, primarily on SSB and PSK31, as a demonstration station and to offer radio merit badge training and other activities. The West Virginia reservation will become the permanent home of the Jamboree, held every 4 years, so any ham radio installations on the site can remain available for use during future Jamborees. Icom America, through its sponsorship of Radio Scouting, is providing three repeaters at the Summit to serve the Jamboree and other programs held there, as well as the local community. Icom also is providing all Amateur Radio transceivers for the Jamboree and is the exclusive Amateur Radio transceiver sponsor for the 2013 event. For additional details on National Scout Jamboree 2013 and Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) 2013, see ?Jammin? and Hammin? with the Scouts,? by Jim Wilson, K5ND, in the June issue of QST. Get more Jamboree 2013 information

From bmarx at bellsouth.net  Sun Jul 21 14:05:24 2013
From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill Marx)
Date: Sun, 21 Jul 2013 14:05:24 -0400
Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] The Teenage Radio Enthusiasts Who
	Helped Win World War II
References: <51E9DBAF.7020209@optonline.net>
Message-ID: <773170B4-8DEB-4438-A880-856F80FDE042@bellsouth.net>

BBC News - The teenage radio enthusiasts who helped win World War II.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23162846

From bmarx at bellsouth.net  Mon Jul 22 13:20:14 2013
From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill Marx)
Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2013 13:20:14 -0400
Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] =?utf-8?q?WRTC_2014_Station_Test_?=
 =?utf-8?q?=E2=80=9CA_Valuable_Experience=2C=E2=80=9D_Organizers_Say?=
Message-ID: <FB6663BC-19C2-4FCE-8C58-FDD5E731FE2B@bellsouth.net>

WRTC 2014 Station Test ?A Valuable Experience,? Organizers Say

 
World Radiosport Team Championship 2014 (WRTC-2014) organizers say the 2013 station test held during the IARU HF World Championship July 13-14 went very well. The 25-station trial run was the second such test in advance of next summer?s international competition in New England. The results of the unofficial competition are on the WRTC-2014 website.

?We accomplished our main objectives of exercising our processes around building and operating the stations,? said WRTC-2014 Board Vice President Randy Thompson, K5ZD. ?We had some more lessons learned around equipment, processes and people. The volunteers did a fantastic job of constructing 25 stations in one day. No one got hurt.?

The periodic WRTCs run concurrently with the IARU HF World Championship, and the 2014 event will see 65 stations on the air from various New England locations. The goals of the 2013 station test, organizers said, were to expand the pool of experienced teams for station setup, evaluate proposed site locations, confirm logistics and procedures and gather log data under competition conditions. A similar test was conducted in 2012, and organizers say that the just-completed test will be the final one before WRTC-2014 next July. All of the test stations were in Eastern Massachusetts.

The test stations were active on CW and SSB on 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters, and many of them followed the equipment configuration and scoring rules that will be prevail for the actual event. ?Conditions were not the best, but these operations will provide valuable log and propagation information to the WRTC 2014 competitors,? organizers said. As part of the effort to establish a level playing field for the competitors, operating teams took part in a coordinated signal comparison check using the Reverse Beacon Network (RBN). The event attracted some local media attention, and an article appeared in The Lowell Sun.

The exercise relied heavily upon more than 100 volunteers, who were able to construct, operate, and take down all 25 stations over the 3 day test period. ?We will need more help for next year with 65 stations to construct,? Thompson stressed. ?Volunteers can come from anywhere, as long as they can be here for the necessary days ? Thursday, Friday and Sunday.? Prospective volunteers can sign up on the WRTC-2014 website.

The 2013 station test included a successful beta test of a real-time WRTC scoreboard system, with 10 of the test stations reporting their scores on a near contact-by-contact. Others texted their scores by SMS. ?The real-time scoreboard will be an exciting way for friends and family to follow the competition as it unfolds,? organizers said.

?It will be a fantastic event next year,? Thompson predicted, ?just one week before the ARRL National Convention ? a double treat for anyone who can come to New England next July.?


Sent from my iPhone

From bmarx at bellsouth.net  Thu Jul 25 18:37:07 2013
From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill Marx)
Date: Thu, 25 Jul 2013 18:37:07 -0400
Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] Fwd: The ARRL Letter for July 25, 2013
References: <20130725200516.9789E26C72F@bmail.arrl.org>
Message-ID: <A2FF503A-BC35-43A4-97E1-399F7E60600E@bellsouth.net>


> 
> If you are having trouble reading this message, you can see the original at:
> http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/?issue=2013-07-25
> 
> 
> 
> July 25, 2013Editor: Rick Lindquist, WW1ME
> ARRL Home Page		ARRL Letter Archive		Audio News
> 
>  
> 
> Your League: ARRL Board Names Award Winners, Okays LoTW Initiatives
> FCC: Receiver Immunity Standards Unnecessary, Impractical for Amateur Service, ARRL Says
> Ham Radio in Space: Boy Scout Jamboree Hosts Space Station Ham Radio Contact
> Radiosport: WRTC 2014 Station Test "A Valuable Experience," Organizers Say
> DX: Wake Atoll K9W DXpedition Preparations On Track
> People: Hams Win International Association of Emergency Managers Awards
> Conferences: Papers Due July 31 for 32nd Digital Communications Conference
> Public Service: More Than 400 Attend 2013 ARRL Hurricane Webinar
> Youth: BSA Troop Club Station KT5BSA Achieves DXCC
> Solar Update
> Getting It Right
> This Week in Radiosport
> Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events
> 
> Your League: ARRL Board Names Award Winners, Okays LoTW Initiatives
> 
> ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, opens the July Board meeting. ARRL First Vice President Rick Roderick, K5UR, is to her right.
> 
> At its second meeting of the year, July 19 and 20 in Windsor, Connecticut, the ARRL Board of Directors confronted a broad agenda that included the naming of ARRL award winners, the efforts of the Ad Hoc LoTW (Logbook of The World) and Symbol Rate Rule Modernization committees, creation of a new field appointment for youth, and the procedure for eventual ARRL CEO succession.
> 
> LoTW
> 
> ARRL Dakota Division Director Greg Widin, K?GW, reported on the work of the Ad Hoc LoTW Committee. The Board resolved, on Widin's motion, to authorize $75,000 in order to procure outside professional services with the goal of improving LoTW's database implementation. The Board also okayed the hiring of a full-time Headquarters staff member with "strong IT development and architectural skills" to address LoTW improvements.
> 
> Symbol Rate Rule Modernization
> 
> On the motion of ARRL West Gulf Division Director Dr David Woolweaver, K5RAV, on behalf of the Ad Hoc Symbol Rate Rule Modernization Committee, the Board directed ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, to prepare a Petition for Rule Making with the FCC seeking to modify ?97.307(f) to delete all references to "symbol rate." The Petition would ask the FCC "to apply to all amateur data emissions below 29.7 MHz the existing bandwidth limit, per ?97.303(h), of 2.8 kHz."
> 
> The committee determined that the current symbol rate restrictions in ?97.307(f) "no longer reflect the state of the art of digital telecommunications technology," and that the proposed rule change would "encourage both flexibility and efficiency in the employment of digital emissions by amateur stations." The committee was dissolved with the thanks of the Board. (In his September 2013 QST "It Seems to Us" editorial, ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, explains the Board's action on symbol rate regulation.)
> 
> New Section Level Youth Field Appointment
> 
> ARRL Rocky Mountain Division Vice Director Dwayne Allen, WY7FD, acting on behalf of Director Brian Mileshosky, N5ZGT, who was unable to attend, presented the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Youth in the Second Century. A highlight of the report was the proposed creation of a Section Youth Coordinator as a section level appointment in the ARRL Field Organization.
> 
> The Board subsequently resolved, on Allen's motion, to adopt the committee's recommendation to establish the Section Youth Coordinator (SYC) position, to replace the current Assistant SM for Youth. The Board further resolved to have the Program and Services Committee and ARRL staff define the roles and responsibilities of the SYC, considering the recommendations in the Ad Hoc Committee on Youth in the Second Century's report to the Board.
> 
> CEO Succession
> 
> 
> No immediate retirement plans: ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, calls the roll at the July ARRL Board meeting.
> 
> The Board devoted considerable time and discussion throughout the meeting to the issue of CEO (chief executive officer) succession. While current CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, has no immediate plans to retire, he is approaching his normal retirement age. That prompted the Board to put in place a procedure for naming a new CEO when the time comes. The Board agreed to establish a CEO Candidate Screening Committee consisting of five directors and elected an initial committee. Among its first responsibilities, the new committee will establish CEO search criteria. The committee may employ an independent management consultant and is to recommend at least three CEO candidates to the Board for consideration at the appropriate time.
> 
> Award Winners
> 
> The Board named the winners of two prestigious awards. Dr Robert S. Dixon, W8ERD, of Delaware, Ohio, was awarded the 2013 ARRL Technical Service Award. He was recognized "for numerous technical contributions" to Amateur Radio and for sharing "his abilities and enthusiasm" for Amateur Radio. A QST author, Dixon designed and created one of the first tactical communications bridge systems for his local ARES team.
> 
> Well-known microwave experimenter Brian D. Justin, WA1ZMS, of Forest, Virginia, is the winner of the ARRL Doug DeMaw, W1FB, Technical Excellence Award. The Board recognized Justin for his "distinguished lifelong Amateur Radio career," which has included expeditions that garnered Justin the first VUCC Award on 47, 76, 122, 145 and 241 GHz. Justin was further commended for developing and building several millimeter-wave stations and for operating several repeaters, from 146 to 1200 MHz. Read more.
> 
> FCC: Receiver Immunity Standards Unnecessary, Impractical for Amateur Service, ARRL Says
> Responding to an FCC call for comments based in part on recommendations in a Technological Advisory Council (TAC) white paper, the ARRL this week told the Commission that establishing so-called "harm claim threshold" (HCT) standards for receivers would not work in the Amateur Service. HCTs, expressed in field strength or power flux density, would specify the level of radio interference that receivers should be expected to tolerate before a radio service could claim harmful interference. Limits would be established throughout a service's assigned frequency range as well as within certain frequencies outside that range. The ARRL argued that there is a need for minimum, perhaps even mandatory, receiver performance standards for home electronic devices, but the Amateur Service should not be subject to receiver immunity standards.
> 
> 
> "Any performance standards for Amateur receivers would be purely arbitrary, and would compromise the experimental purposes of the Service," the ARRL told the Commission. "Amateurs have the technical knowledge to differentiate between interference from spurious or out-of-band emissions from nearby transmitters and that caused by receiver deficiencies."
> 
> In the Amateur Service, the League continued, station-to-station interference issues are typically resolved cooperatively without FCC intervention and are "essentially not a problem." The issue for radio amateurs, the League said, is "protection from spurious and out-of-band emissions from other services."
> 
> Early last year then-FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski tasked the TAC with studying the role of receivers "in ensuring the efficient use of spectrum and to provide recommendations on avoiding obstacles posed by receiver performance to making spectrum available for new services." In late April, the FCC released a Public Notice (ET Docket 13-101), detailing the recommendations of the TAC's working group on receivers and spectrum in a white paper called Interference Limits Policy -- The use of harm claim thresholds to improve the interference tolerance of wireless systems. A General Accountability Office report in February recommended that the FCC "consider small-scale pilot tests and other methods to collect information on the practical effects of various options for improving receiver performance." The FCC accepted comments on both the TAC white paper an

From kenw8ek at gmail.com  Thu Jul 25 20:00:47 2013
From: kenw8ek at gmail.com (Ken Simpson, W8EK)
Date: Thu, 25 Jul 2013 20:00:47 -0400
Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] ARRL e-mail addresses
In-Reply-To: <A2FF503A-BC35-43A4-97E1-399F7E60600E@bellsouth.net>
References: <20130725200516.9789E26C72F@bmail.arrl.org>
	<A2FF503A-BC35-43A4-97E1-399F7E60600E@bellsouth.net>
Message-ID: <51F1BC2F.8030107@gmail.com>


Hello everyone,

We are getting more and more e-mail addresses for our members.  For 
this we thank you all.

Just to digress for a minute, if you know of a QCWA member that we do 
not have an e-mail address for, maybe a chapter member and maybe not, 
could you please send that e-mail on to us?

However, I would like to alert you to some potential problems that we 
are having.  Many of you use callsign at arrl.net as your e-mail address. 
  The idea for this is that it will be the same, even if you change 
ISPs or e-mail addresses.  Unfortunately, this has presented several 
problems.

1) It is necessary that the ARRL member keep ARRL notified of the 
proper "real" e-mail address to forward to.  QCWA has had a problem 
with this.  We send an e-mail to callsign at arrl.net, and that arrl.net 
address is good.  But the underlying "real" e-mail address bounces. To 
put it another way, the ARRL member has not kept ARRL informed of the 
correct forwarding address.  Of course the result of this is that the 
QCWA member does not get the e-mail, and there is nothing QCWA can do 
about it.

2) The arrl.net servers go down.  This has happened for extended 
periods of time recently.  ARRL farms this service out to another 
entity, so they have no control over it.  It is hard to tell when this 
will happen again.

3) Apparently there is a limit on the size of attachment that arrl.net 
addresses will forward.  It may be related to the forwarding address, 
or it may not.  It does not appear to be consistent.  Why is this a 
problem?  It often happens when you request certificates.  As you know 
the certificates are e-mailed to you.  Depending on what certificates, 
and how many, it is possible for the attachments to approach a 10 Meg 
size.  Sometimes these work fine, and sometimes not.  In some cases, 
the membership card that is attached (about 300K in size) does not 
make it thru.  Most of the time it does.

4)  In most cases, trying to post on our mailing lists from an 
@arrl.net address presents problems.  In many cases you think it has 
posted, but it has not.

So what can we do about these things?

We would like to have the underlying "real" e-mail addresses to use. 
We will list these in our data base as primary and use it for most 
correspondence.  We will also continue to list your @arrl.net address, 
but it will be secondary, to use if your "real" e-mail address does 
not go thru.

What would we like you to do?  We would like you to send us your 
"real" e-mail address, if you presently have an @arrl.net address on 
file with QCWA.  We will then make changes to our data base.

I appreciate your help and cooperation with this.  It should make it 
better for all concerned.

Thanks, 73,

Ken, W8EK

Ken Simpson, W8EK
QCWA Director and Executive Administrator
E-Mail to ExecAdmin at qcwa.org
QCWA Phone (352) 425-1097




From bmarx at bellsouth.net  Fri Jul 26 17:28:24 2013
From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill Marx)
Date: Fri, 26 Jul 2013 17:28:24 -0400
Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] ARLP030 Propagation de K7RA
References: <20130726212628.C7C692527D@bmail.arrl.org>
Message-ID: <3699D4EA-FC4B-4B92-BE3D-655A9831F12D@bellsouth.net>


> SB PROP @ ARL $ARLP030
> ARLP030 Propagation de K7RA
> 
> ZCZC AP30
> QST de W1AW  
> Propagation Forecast Bulletin 30  ARLP030
> From Tad Cook, K7RA
> Seattle, WA  July 26, 2013
> To all radio amateurs 
> 
> SB PROP ARL ARLP030
> ARLP030 Propagation de K7RA
> 
> At 2330 UTC on July 24, Australia's IPS Radio and Space services
> issued a geomagnetic disturbance warning.  Increased geomagnetic
> activity is expected due to a coronal mass ejection.  They predict
> quiet to unsettled conditions on July 25, active to minor storm on
> July 26, and active conditions on July 27.
> 
> As this bulletin nears release early Friday morning, the planetary A
> index was 4 on four recent readings, followed by 2 on the last one.
> But the mid-latitude K index was 4 on three recent readings, then 5
> on the last two.  Geomagnetic activity is increasing, as expected.
> 
> Over the past reporting week, compared to the previous period (July
> 11 to 17) average daily sunspot numbers decreased by less than four
> points to 73.4, while average daily solar flux declined slightly
> more than three points to 110.6.
> 
> NOAA/USAF predicts Planetary A Index at 18 on July 26, 12 on July
> 27, 8 on July 28, 5 on July 29 to 31, 8 on August 1, 5 on August 2
> to 8, 8 on August 9 to 11, 5 on August 12 and 13, 8 on August 14 and
> 15, 5 on August 16 and 17, 10 on August 18, 15 on August 19 to 22,
> and then 8, 5 and 8 on August 23 to 25.
> 
> The outlook for solar flux calls for 105 on July 26 and 27, then
> 110, 115, 120, 125, 130, 135, 130, 125, 120, 125, 120 and 125 on
> July 28 through August 8, 120 on August 9 to 12, 115 on August 13,
> 120 on August 14 to 17, 125 on August 18, 120 on August 19 and 20,
> and 125 on August 21 to 23.  The latest projection shows a short
> term solar flux peak at 135 on September 4 and 5 after a minimum of
> 100 on August 27 and 28.
> 
> OK1MGW from the Czech Propagation Interest Group sees quiet to
> active geomagnetic conditions on July 26 and 27, quiet to unsettled
> July 28 and 29, quiet on July 30 and 31, quiet to unsettled August
> 1, quiet to active August 2, active to disturbed August 3, quiet
> August 4, mostly quiet August 5, active to disturbed August 6 and 7,
> quiet to unsettled August 8 to 11, quiet August 12 and 13, quiet to
> active August 14 and 15, and quiet to unsettled August 16 and 17.
> 
> Juan Carlos, CO8TW lives in Santiago de Cuba, about 600 miles
> southeast of Havana.  He put up a new propagation web site that has
> many useful features and an interesting mix of information.  Check
> it out at http://www.qsl.net/co8tw/pro.htm.
> 
> Another interesting propagation page I ran across recently is at
> http://qrzcq.com/page/propagation.
> 
> G4CJC has a 10 meter report at
> http://www.southgatearc.org/bands/10metres/.
> 
> The NOAA/NWS Space Weather Prediction center has a Facebook page at 
> https://www.facebook.com/pages/NOAA-NWS-Space-Weather-Prediction-Center/232532740131296.
> 
> Note the July 16 article about the K index,and a map of North America showing
> how high the planetary K index has to be in order to see aurora borealis from
> any location.  For my location near Puget Sound, it seems to say a K index at 8
> or higher would be good.  But for Northern Minnesota and North Dakota a K
> index of only 4 seems adequate.  Of course on Facebook is the always
> timely and useful page from NW7US titled "Space Weather and Radio
> Resources at HFRadio.org", at
> https://www.facebook.com/pages/NOAA-NWS-Space-Weather-Prediction-Center/232532740131296.  
> 
> David Moore sent an interesting article from The Guardian about the
> Met Office now offering coverage of space weather.  Met originally
> was short for meteorological but now is the official name for the
> British weather and climate service.  Read it at
> http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/2013/jul/23/met-office-space-weather-forecasting.
> 
> There also is yet another article about the current solar cycle
> being the weakest in the past 100 years, this time from Sky and
> Telescope: http://www.skyandtelescope.com/news/The-Weakest-Solar-Cycle-in-100-Years-216752671.html.
> 
> Jeff Hartley, N8II of Shepherdstown, West Virginia wrote in response
> to the comment last week about the lack of 6 meter openings into
> DM04.  Jeff is in FM19, and wrote on July 20, "It has not been a
> good Es season from here, but we have had several multi-hop openings
> since July 1 mostly out into Arizona and New Mexico along with one
> to Oregon, Washington, and VE7.  Only once did I catch Europe and it
> was only to France and Portugal.  So, I am not too surprised that
> many are disappointed with their 6 meter openings this year.  Even
> the 20 meter E-skip is much less frequent than normal this year."
> 
> "Today, July 20 there was a Russian sponsored contest and in a few
> short minutes I heard/worked strong stations from HS, YD, BH8, UN,
> and UA9 on 15 meter CW around 1245Z.  This was the best shape in
> which I have heard 15 in some time."
> 
> On July 19, Jon Pollock, K0ZN of De Soto, Kansas wrote, "Even though
> sunspot numbers have been modest, I was on last night (July 18)
> between about 0130-0330 UTC (on 17 meters) and from my QTH in
> Eastern Kansas I worked several stations in the Central Pacific
> including E51AND in the Cook Islands and some ZL's, all on CW and
> with decent (but not strong) signals.  Interestingly, on both ends
> of these QSO's we were running high power into basic unity gain
> antennas and only netted about S-5 signals, so path loss was
> moderately high.  But, the bottom line is, 18 MHz was open into the
> Pacific from Kansas well into the late evening.  I still find that
> if 17 meters sounds 'dead' with low noise, it is usually open with
> very long skip and the main problem is a lack of activity, not a
> lack of propagation."
> 
> Good point, Jon.  You can also listen for beacons if you suspect a
> quiet band is not actually dead (or make some calls.), or get a
> trial account at QupNow (see http://q-upnow.com/) and click on HF
> Availability.  This relies on up-to-the-minute global measurements
> of TEC (Total Electron Content in the ionosphere), and allows you to
> test propagation on any path, but only for the current time.  It
> shows the relative signal strength all long that path, from your QTH
> to the target location and continuing on out the other side over the
> great circle route.  Note that it also works on 160 meters.  You can
> either enter coordinates for both locations, or it may be more
> convenient to use the grid square entry method.
> 
> Don May, N5DN of Houston, Texas pointed out that on July 25,
> Spaceweather.com ran an article about the weak solar cycle titled
> "Underwhelming".  "Kinda makes a DXer want to cry.", weeps Don, and
> we can all certainly empathize.  But, there is still room for hope.
> The article also said, "Solar physicist Dean Pesnell of the Goddard
> Space Flight Center thinks Solar Cycle 24 is double peaked--and the
> second peak is yet to come."  If you can't find the article and
> accompanying graphic, go to http://www.spaceweather.com/ and enter
> July 25 in the Archives drop-downs in the upper right.
> 
> Chip Margelli, K7JA of Garden Grove, California (DM03) wrote
> "Although 6 meters has been terrible this year, I did just work
> KH6HME (KH7Y operating) on 144.276.5 MHz on SSB and CW.  Fred
> started at 5x1 and came up to about 5x5.  Time was 1857 UTC on 25
> July.  Good to hear Fred activating Paul Lieb's memorial callsign."
> Chip notes that Fred was running 80 watts and an 8 element Yagi from
> Mauna Loa.  Chip was running 100 watts using a TS-2000 and an 8
> element LFA Yagi ten feet above his roof.
> 
> For more information concerning radio propagation, see the ARRL
> Technical Information Service at
> http://arrl.org/propagation-of-rf-signals. For an explanation of the
> numbers used in this bulletin, see
> http://arrl.org/the-sun-the-earth-the-ionosphere. An archive of past
> propagation bulletins is at
> http://arrl.org/w1aw-bulletins-archive-propagation. More good
> information and tutorials on propagation are at http://k9la.us/.
> 
> Monthly propagation charts between four USA regions and twelve
> overseas locations are at http://arrl.org/propagation.
> 
> Instructions for starting or ending email distribution of ARRL
> bulletins are at http://arrl.org/bulletins.
> 
> Sunspot numbers for July 18 through 24 were 112, 94, 57, 49, 53, 84,
> and 65, with a mean of 73.4. 10.7 cm flux was 114.8, 113.6, 112.5,
> 109.4, 109.9, 106.7, and 107.6, with a mean of 110.6. Estimated
> planetary A indices were 15, 14, 6, 5, 6, 5, and 5, with a mean of
> 8. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 16, 13, 6, 4, 6, 5, and 6,
> with a mean of 8.
> NNNN
> /EX
> 

From bmarx at bellsouth.net  Fri Jul 26 17:39:23 2013
From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill Marx)
Date: Fri, 26 Jul 2013 17:39:23 -0400
Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] Fwd: 2013 Huntsville Hamfest
References: <20130726154429.C57F226CCBE@bmail.arrl.org>
Message-ID: <7236913F-031C-443E-BE2F-E89203B9594E@bellsouth.net>


> You are invited to attend the Huntsville Hamfest, the 2013 ARRL
> Convention that will be held August 17-18, 2013 at the Von Braun
> Center, downtown Huntsville Alabama.
> 
> The Huntsville Hamfest is an all indoors, all air-conditioned venue
> where you will enjoy thousands of friends, hundreds of dealers, vendors
> and flea market tables, several equipment manufacturers, high quality
> forums, youth lounge, hospitality suites and much more.
> 
> At the Hamfest you will have the opportunity to participate in
> activities such as, the 2013 Young Ham of the Year presentation, ARRL
> forums, the Annual Sunny South Contest Suite hosted by the Alabama
> Contest Group and attend the North Alabama DX Club Banquet.
> 
> Bring the family to also enjoy the World Famous U.S. Space and Rocket
> Center, Museum and theme park and many other attractions in
> Huntsville.
> 
> Go to http://www.hamfest.org to find out about hotel specials and
> everything the Huntsville Hamfest has to offer.
> 
> Mark your calendar and plan to attend now!
> 73,
> Greg Sarratt, W4OZK
> ARRL Southeastern Division Director
> 
> Jim Millsap, WB4NWS
> ARRL Southeastern Division Vice Director
> 
> http://www.southeastern.arrl.org
> 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> ARRL Southeastern Division
> Director: Greg Sarratt, W4OZK
> w4ozk at arrl.org
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> To unsubscribe from messages, go to:
> http://p1k.arrl.org/oo/c6d426536bcf9d30bf3ea9a9d3be35a8

From bmarx at bellsouth.net  Mon Jul 29 09:07:12 2013
From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill Marx)
Date: Mon, 29 Jul 2013 09:07:12 -0400
Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] The Yasme Foundation Supports
	Developer of VIEWPROP
Message-ID: <37A3363A-92ED-413D-B00E-7CB240108622@bellsouth.net>

The Yasme Foundation Supports Developer of VIEWPROP

The Board of Directors of The Yasme Foundation is pleased to announce that it has made a grant to support further development of
ViewProp (zl2ham.wikispaces.com), a new utility for propagation visualization developed by Rick Kiessig, ZL2HAM. ViewProp integrates
information from the Reverse Beacon Network and worldwide spotting networks with station location information from QRZ.com and
mapping through DXAtlas.  The result is a real-time, worldwide view of amateur radio signals and operation.  ViewProp also supports
a ?playback? function to review historical data and provides the user with a number of options to configure both the input data
stream and the way in which the information is displayed.  Currently in beta testing by a global user?s group
(groups.yahoo.com/group/viewprop), the Yasme grant will enable ZL2HAM to complete development with appropriate networked software
tools and release it for public use.


ViewProp is a tool that allows you to view and analyze propagation in real-time by plotting the geographic location of open paths in DxAtlas as determined from Skimmer and cluster spots. It can help you with planning by providing charts showing a history of activity over the previous day, and it also lets you view and optimize antenna pointing directions.

http://zl2ham.wikispaces.com/

From bmarx at bellsouth.net  Mon Jul 29 09:26:26 2013
From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill Marx)
Date: Mon, 29 Jul 2013 09:26:26 -0400
Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] Fwd: Hams Aid Crew of Foundering
	Vessel
References: <12faeb.a146316.3f27b68c@aol.com>
Message-ID: <6C2B78D6-F8CE-49EC-86B0-AF5AFA721F8C@bellsouth.net>

From Chuck W4ROA

> Hams Aid Crew of Foundering Vessel:
> 
>  
> According to news reports, hams in Hawaii and California played a role July 23 in efforts to rescue the two-person crew of a sailboat stranded on a reef more than 3500 miles away in Micronesia. The US Coast Guard continues to monitor the situation. The vessel C?est la Vie, a 53-foot sailboat reported running aground on a reef in western Chuuk Lagoon. When the situation developed, Big Island Amateur Radio Club member Richard Darling, AH7G, was in contact with John Bush, KH6DLK/V63JB, and friends in the Federated States of Micronesia. Bush won the 2012 ARRL International Humanitarian Award for promoting the development and welfare of the population of the Island of Federai in the Ulithi Atoll, FSM, in part through establishing communication infrastructure and promoting ham radio. On July 23 he was in Northern California testing a new antenna to help him keep in better touch with his contacts within the FSM. During the contact, Darling and his wife Barbara, NH7FY, heard the distress call, in which the crew reported the vessel was taking on water. The Darlings were able to hear    the signal well and pass along important information about the sailboat?s location and the severity of the crew?s situation, which the Darlings relayed to the Coast Guard. The crew had told the Coast Guard they thought they could walk ashore on the reef and had a life raft and safety gear. On July 24, the Coast Guard said the vessel?s radio had gone silent, and Bush and the Darlings ?were mostly playing a waiting game,? the Hawaii Tribune-Herald reported July 25. The paper ran an article about Bush?s ARRL award in May.

From bmarx at bellsouth.net  Tue Jul 30 10:57:36 2013
From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill Marx)
Date: Tue, 30 Jul 2013 10:57:36 -0400
Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] Spacecraft Sees Giant 'Hole' In the
	Sun...
Message-ID: <AFE1EEE4-94C6-42EC-9668-3F173FADF4CB@bellsouth.net>

http://www.space.com/22059-sun-hole-photo-nasa-video.html



From bmarx at bellsouth.net  Tue Jul 30 14:56:22 2013
From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill Marx)
Date: Tue, 30 Jul 2013 14:56:22 -0400
Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] Ham Radio YL's - The Ladies of Ham
	Radio
References: <51F8069C.50102@optonline.net>
Message-ID: <84FFA4C1-05F5-4910-A302-23F7670F0EE3@bellsouth.net>


> The YL's of ham radio..
> 
> https://plus.google.com/photos/115747543308902188110/albums/5129542509375048385?banner=pwa
> 

From bmarx at bellsouth.net  Wed Jul 31 08:29:33 2013
From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill Marx)
Date: Wed, 31 Jul 2013 08:29:33 -0400
Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] FPARC Hamfest Saturday, August 10,
	2013 Fort Pierce
References: <e3e2.6e0527a7.3f2a4c8e@aol.com>
Message-ID: <5306B92F-84D6-4E25-A43C-3EDD32159A32@bellsouth.net>

Fort Pierce

> FPARC Hamfest 2013SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 2013 Indian River State College3209 Virginia AvenueFort Pierce, Florida 34981
> AT THE KSU STUDENT UNION CAFETERIA
> 
> Treasure Coast's Largest All In-Door Hamfest.FPARC HAMFEST Door Prizes ICOM ID-880H
> ICOM ID-80
> BOFENG Dual Band HT
> Plus other Misc Door Prizes
> and 50/50FPARC Hamfest 2013
> 
> What to expect.Testing
> DXCC Card Checking
> Fourms
> Indoor Tailgate - reserve a table
> 9AM QCWA Presentation
> 
> 10AM East Coast DX ClubD-Star Seminar 11AM High-Speed Multi-MediaARRL Forum

