From bmarx at bellsouth.net Wed Apr 1 16:20:54 2015 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Wed, 01 Apr 2015 16:20:54 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] FCC to reinstate Morse Code test* Message-ID: <551C5326.3040507@bellsouth.net> FCC to reinstate Morse Code test* *April 1, 2015* *Washington, D.C. - April 1, 2015 - Today, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission or FCC) approved Report and Order 14- 987 which reinstates the Morse Code test for General Class and Amateur Extra Class licensees. "It was a big mistake eliminating the Morse Code test," admits Dotty Dasher, the FCC's director of examinations. "We now realize that being able to send and receive Morse Code is an essential skill for radio amateurs. As they say, it really does get through when other modes can't."* *Not only will new applicants have to take the test, but General Class licensees who have never passed a code test will have one year to pass a 5-wpm code test. Similarly, Amateur Extra class licensees that never passed a code test will have one year to pass a 13-wpm test. Those amateurs that fail to pass the test will face revocation of their operating privileges. Materials for administering the examinations will be distributed to Volunteer Examiner Coordinators by the end of April, so that they can begin the testing on May 1, 2015.* *"This isn't going to be one of those silly multiple-choice type tests," noted Dasher. "We're going to be sending five-character random code groups, just like we did in the old days. And, applicants will have to prove that they can send, too, using a poorly adjusted straight key."* *Technician Class licensees will not be required to take a Morse Code test, nor will a test be required for new applicants. "We discussed it," said Dasher, "but decided that since most Techs can't even figure out how to program their HTs, requiring them to learn Morse Code seemed like cruel and unusual punishment." *When asked what other actions we might see from the FCC, Dasher hinted that in the future applicants taking the written exam may be required to draw circuit diagrams, such as Colpitts oscillators and diode ring mixers, once again. "We're beginning to think that if an applicant passes an amateur radio license exam it should mean that he or she actually knows something," she said.* *For further information, contact James X. Shorts, Assistant Liaison to the Deputy Chief of Public Relations for the FCC .* From bmarx at bellsouth.net Thu Apr 2 10:35:30 2015 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Thu, 2 Apr 2015 10:35:30 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] =?utf-8?b?VGhlIEZDQ+KAmXMg4oCcSGFt?= =?utf-8?q?_Guy=2C=E2=80=9D_Bill_Cross=2C_W3TN=2C_to_Retire_on_April_3?= Message-ID: <84FCB3A5-75DF-49A0-93B0-156A1A4FD3CE@bellsouth.net> http://www.arrl.org/news/the-fcc-s-ham-guy-bill-cross-w3tn-to-retire-on-april-3 Sent from my iPhone From bmarx at bellsouth.net Fri Apr 3 08:30:31 2015 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Fri, 03 Apr 2015 08:30:31 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] A Message from Jeff In-Reply-To: <20150403005704.C070C20DB548@bmail.arrl.org> References: <20150403005704.C070C20DB548@bmail.arrl.org> Message-ID: <551E87E7.7090907@bellsouth.net> Greetings to all, March has been a busy month for ham radio in SFL. I attended the Palm Beach County Hamfest on the 14th and the Southern Florida Section Convention held in conjunction with the Stuart Hamfest on the 21st. We were pleased to visit with SE Division Director Doug Rehman, K4AC and Sean Kutzko,KX9X, our Media and Public Relations Manager from ARRL HQ, at the convention. It was good to see so many SFL members supporting both events. The SFL Section Convention in 2016 will be hosted by the Ft. Myers ARC. Our new Gold Coast District EC Charlie Benn, WB2SNN, Monroe County EC Chris Vasilenko, K4FLL and I traveled to Cudjoe Key to visit with members of the K3ML Repeater Club and the Florida Keys ARC on March 28th. On the way south, Charlie and I visited with members of the Boca Raton ARA for their annual open house picnic at their clubhouse in West Delray Beach. Congratulations to Kai Siwiak, KE4PT, the winner of the March 2015 QST Cover Plaque award for his article ?An Off Center Fed Dipole for Portable Operation on 40 to 6 Meters.? I will have the pleasure of presenting Kai with his award at an upcoming club meeting in Broward County. April events in SFL: 4/11/2015 Broward County Club Council Dunkin Donuts, 9170 SR 84, Davie at 1:00 PM Info: Marty Falk, KI4IQZ 04/18/2015 | Flamingo Net / UMARC Free Flea Location: Coral Gables, FL Type: ARRL Hamfest Sponsor: Flamingo Net ARC & University of Miami ARC Website: http://FlamingoNet.8m.net 4/25/2015 SFL Section wide ARES and Cabinet meeting Palm Beach County EOC at 9:00 AM Info: Larry Zimmer, W4LWZ, SFL SEC The AREC Repeater Group of West Palm Beach is our latest ARRL Affiliated Club. Welcome to the ARRL Club family ! For more info on how your club can become an affiliated society, contact our Affiliated Club Coordinator Steve Lowman, N4SGL at n4sgl at arrl.net or visit http://www.arrl.org/affiliated-club-resources You can follow the SFL Section on Twitter at arrl_SFL. Check it out! Thanks to Barry Porter, KB1PA, Palm Beach ARES Training Coordinator for setting this up. If you are in range of the 145.290 repeater in Boca Raton, check in to their ?New Hams Info Net? on Monday evenings at 7:00 PM. Hope it is a huge success as we need more of these type of support nets around the Section. If your club or ARES group publishes a newsletter, please add me to your mailing list. This info will keep me better informed on Section activities. Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2015 Introduced in Congress "The Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2015" - H.R.1301 - has been introduced in the US House of Representatives. The measure would direct the FCC to extend its rules relating to reasonable accommodation of Amateur Service communications to private land use restrictions. US Rep Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) introduced the bill March 4 with 12 original co-sponsors from both sides of the aisle - seven Republicans and five Democrats. Kinzinger also sponsored "The Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2014, which died at the end of the 113th Congress. H.R. 1301 is an essentially identical piece of legislation. "The introduction of H.R. 1301 with so many original co-sponsors, so early in this session of Congress, is very encouraging," said ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN. "Several additional members of Congress already have agreed to be co-sponsors. This bill has momentum, but introduction is only the first step. Many of the next steps will be taken as ARRL members contact their US Representatives urging co-sponsorship and thanking them as they sign on to the bill." If Congress approves the legislation, and it is signed by the president, H.R. 1301 would require the FCC to amend its Part 97 Amateur Service rules to apply the three-part test of the PRB-1 federal pre-emption policy to include homeowners' association regulations and deed restrictions, often referred to as "covenants, conditions, and restrictions" (CC&Rs). At present, PRB-1 only applies to state and local zoning laws and ordinances. The FCC has been reluctant to extend the same legal protections to include such private land-use agreements without direction from Congress. H.R. 1301 has been referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Rep Greg Walden, W7EQI (R-OR), chairs that panel's Communications and Technology Subcommittee, which will consider the measure. The League had worked with Walden on the 2014 bill during the 113th Congress. Among H.R. 1301 initial co-sponsors is Rep Joe Courtney (D-CT), who attended the ARRL National Centennial Convention last summer to speak with League officials and those attending the event about the earlier bill. Craigie encouraged ARRL members to urge their US House members to sign on to the bill as a co-sponsor. The ARRL has an H.R. 1301 resources page on its website at, http://www.arrl.org/hr-1301 . If the House member is already a co-sponsor, call the member's local office or send an e-mail via the member's official website to express their thanks. She called on League members to encourage other hams to do the same, and to be sure to refer to the bill by its number, H.R. 1301. "Remember what those pile-ups on the W1AW portable stations sounded like last year?" Craigie said. "Let's be that avid in calling for even greater support in Congress for this essential legislation." ARRL Centennial Points Challenge, W1AW WAS Awards Application Window Open The window to apply for ARRL Centennial Points Challenge and W1AW Worked All States awards is now open! The ARRL Centennial operating events were hugely successful, with participation way beyond anyone?s expectations. ?This was the biggest on-the-air operation in the history of Amateur Radio,? ARRL Chief Operating Officer Harold Kramer, WJ1B, said. More than 5.5 million Centennial event contacts were recorded in Logbook of The World (LoTW) during 2014. That number includes contacts with W1AW portable operations as well as those with individual ARRL members and Field Organization volunteers. W100AW completed about 70,000 contacts. For most applicants, the process will be simple and largely automated, explained Norm Fusaro, W3IZ, Assistant Manager, Field Services and Radiosport Department. ?The form will auto-populate, if we have your information on file, and the form can be edited to update name and address information only,? Fusaro said. ?The system will select the awards for which you qualify. Certificates will be printed daily, so fulfillment will be ongoing, while plaques will be shipped directly from the supplier.? Fusaro said ARRL Headquarters has hired extra staff members to handle the added workload. Certificates will be available for the Centennial Points Challenge Award, while W1AW WAS Award participants will have the option of a certificate or a plaque. Certificates are $16, and plaques are $60. Fusaro said the task of checking and double-checking electronic logs, entering paper logs into LoTW, and resolving various anomalies put an unexpected burden on staff resources and delayed the opening of the awards window. ARRL Headquarters also had to recalculate all submitted scores to come up with final tallies. ?It?s been a very time and staff-intensive process, researching busted call signs and running down claimed contacts and mode discrepancies for operators,? Fusaro said. Centennial Points Challenge logs must have been submitted through LoTW by January 22, but participants may apply for Centennial operating awards indefinitely. The system automatically looks for points-qualifying QSOs from submitted logs and applies them to each participant?s Centennial Points Challenge total. While most Centennial QSO Party participants entered their contact information into LoTW, operators do not have to use LoTW to apply for Points Challenge certificates or W1AW WAS awards. Qualifying for the Top Level Award requires 15,000 points. The Third Level Award requires 7500 points, while the Second and First Level awards require 3000 and 1000 points, respectively. Point totals will be printed on certificates. US stations that worked W1AW/p and W100AW during the Centennial may request QSL cards via the Incoming QSL Service on the Centennial QSO Party web page. This is a one-time only use of the QSL Bureau for this purpose, and those who want to receive cards via the Bureau should ensure that their accounts are sufficiently funded, because cards will not be held. Cards destined for stations outside the US will be sent via the QSL Bureau. Participants also may request cards directly, providing one SASE for up to six cards per envelope. W1AW/p and W100AW will not confirm every contact on the traditional paper QSL cards, but will confirm QSOs for each mode and on most bands on a single card for each weekly operation. World Amateur Radio Day is April 18! On Saturday, April 18, radio amateurs worldwide will take to the airwaves to celebrate World Amateur Radio Day (WARD) 2015. It was on April 18, 1925, that the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) was founded in Paris, with ARRL Co-Founder Hiram Percy Maxim, 1AW, as its first president. The primary purpose of World Amateur Radio Day is to highlight Amateur Radio and its benefits to countries and communities. The IARU said World Amateur Radio Day is an opportunity for IARU member-societies to demonstrate Amateur Radio to the public and make friends with other amateurs around the world. Special event stations will be on the air over the April 18-19 weekend to highlight World Amateur Radio Day and the IARU?s 90th anniversary. ?Since its founding, the IARU has worked tirelessly to defend and expand the frequency allocations for Amateur Radio,? the IARU said in marking World Amateur Radio Day. ?Thanks to the support of enlightened administrations in every part of the globe, radio amateurs are now able to experiment and communicate in frequency bands strategically located throughout the radio spectrum.? The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has recognized the IARU as representing the interests of Amateur Radio. Amateur Radio is more popular than ever today, with more than 3 million enthusiasts around the world, the IARU has estimated. As 2015 also will mark the 150th anniversary of the ITU, the IARU has adopted the theme, ?ITU & IARU: Celebrating 150 years of Advancing the Telecommunication Art? for World Amateur Radio Day 2015. >From 25 countries in 1925, the IARU has grown to include more than 160 member-societies in three regions. IARU Region 1 includes Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Northern Asia. Region 2 covers the Americas, and Region 3 is comprised of Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific island nations, and most of Asia. ?April 18 is the day for all of Amateur Radio to celebrate and tell the world about the science we can help teach, the community service we can provide, and the fun we have,? the IARU said. On the Air Activity World Amateur Radio Day special event stations on April 18 will include A43WARD in Oman ? 0500-1700 UTC; KP4FD in Puerto Rico ? 0000-2359 UTC, and World Radio Network on IRLP, 1600-1730 UTC via the World Conference Server (IRLP Node 9251) and the Hi-Gate Server (IRLP Node 9250). The IARU encourages groups to promote their World Amateur Radio Day activities on social media, using the hash tag #WARD2015 on Twitter and Facebook. To have your World Amateur Radio Day activity listed on the IARU WARD page, contact ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Sean Kutzko, KX9X. Silent Keys- It is with deep regret that we report the passing of the following SFL members: Charles I. ?Chuck? Baer, W4ROA of Sunrise. Chuck was a long time ARRL SE Division Assistant Director and a very active member of the Broward County amateur radio community. John W. Coffey, Sr., KK4FCU of Jensen Beach. John was a member of the Martin County ARA. Well, I guess that?s about it for now. My thanks for all that you do for Amateur Radio. Get on the air, Elmer a new ham, support your local club and ARES group but most of all, have fun. Vy 73, Jeff, WA4AW -------------------------------------------------------------------- ARRL Southern Florida Section Section Manager: Jeff Beals, WA4AW wa4aw at arrl.org From bmarx at bellsouth.net Fri Apr 3 09:19:39 2015 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Fri, 03 Apr 2015 09:19:39 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] Cy Harris Free Flea Message-ID: <551E936B.4070107@bellsouth.net> Spring Cy Harris Free Flee Canceled for April. This was due to Management changes at the Collins Center. No date could be scheduled that was acceptable. There will be a November Free Flea. Bill W2CQ From bmarx at bellsouth.net Fri Apr 3 09:24:50 2015 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Fri, 03 Apr 2015 09:24:50 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] The ARRL Letter for April 2, 2015 In-Reply-To: <20150402214808.A7E9C21E80CC@bmail.arrl.org> References: <20150402214808.A7E9C21E80CC@bmail.arrl.org> Message-ID: <551E94A2.2060904@bellsouth.net> Preview If you are having trouble reading this message, you can see the original at: http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/?issue=2015-04-02 The ARRL Letter April 2, 2015 Editor: Rick Lindquist, WW1ME ARRL Home Page /ARRL Letter/ Archive Audio News Ad * The FCC's "Ham Guy," Bill Cross, W3TN, to Retire on April 3 <#toc01> * Oklahoma Amateur Radio Volunteers Activate Net to Track Severe Weather <#toc02> * Puerto Rico ARES Takes Part in Caribe Wave/LANTEX 2015 Exercise <#toc03> * Utah Group Puts Broadband-Hamnet to Work for Food Project <#toc04> * Amateur Radio to Have a Presence, Special Event at Preparedness Summit 2015 <#toc05> * Two More Radio Amateurs Join International Space Station Crew <#toc06> * ARISS School Contact Proposal Window Open Until April 15 <#toc07> * Amateur Radio "EduTeam" Wows the Crowds at Georgia Super STEM Event <#toc08> * Amateur Radio Television Pioneer Don Miller, W9NTP, SK <#toc09> * In Brief... <#toc10> * The K7RA Solar Update <#toc11> * Just Ahead in Radiosport <#toc12> * Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions and Events <#toc13> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *ARRL Headquarters Will Be Closed on Good Friday, April 3*: ARRL Headquarters will be closed on Good Friday, April 3. There will be no W1AW bulletin or code practice transmissions and no /ARRL Audio News/ on that day. ARRL Headquarters will reopen Monday, April 6, at 8 AM Eastern Daylight Time. We wish everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The FCC's "Ham Guy," Bill Cross, W3TN, to Retire on April 3 Amateur Radio's point man at the FCC is retiring. Bill Cross, W3TN, officially a "program analyst" in the Commission's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB), is stepping down on April 3, after nearly 4 decades at the FCC. Many radio amateurs have had the opportunity to meet Cross when he conducted the once popular Dayton Hamvention Amateur Radio forum, which has since fallen victim to FCC budget trimming. *Bill Cross, W3TN, at his station. [Jennifer Burton Cross, photo]* "Most people [at the Bureau] know me as 'The Ham Guy,'" Cross quipped in an interview with ARRL, "and they send anything relating to Amateur Radio to me -- as quick as they can." Cross said he did consider making April 1 his retirement date but, "I didn't want to take any chances." Cross started with the Amateur Radio Group in what was then the Private Radio Bureau. That morphed into the WTB when other services were added in 1989. Prior to that, he worked in the Common Carrier Bureau -- now the Wireline Competition Bureau -- and his academic background in engineering and economics came in handy. A ham since 1968, the married father of two said he's still active on the air, strictly on HF SSB and CW, and he hopes to expand his time for ham radio once away from the daily grind. He has achieved DXCC Honor Roll and actively participates in the Islands on the Air program (IOTA). When he arrived at the FCC in 1976, Cross didn't anticipate making it a career. But in time, his hobby became his work, and over the years he witnessed considerable change in Amateur Radio. The Commission's 2007 decision to drop Morse code as a requirement for obtaining an Amateur Radio license was one example. "We heard that fabric of the universe had become unglued," he said, "but it didn't." CW seems to be used much more than it was before 2007, he said, and some DX or IOTA stations are CW only. Cross acknowledged that Amateur Radio rule making proceedings at the FCC move with seeming glacial torpor but pointed out that the Amateur Service competes with an incoming barrage from other services and bureaus. "Amateurs have a view that the Commission has three bureaus -- the Bureau of Ham Radio, the Bureau of All Other, and the Bureau of Administration," he said. "I understand why they wish it was that way, but it's not." Looking ahead, Cross said he can see a day when there may be only one Amateur Radio license class. "Do we really need three license classes anymore?" he asked. "I can see in the future the number of license classes decreasing again -- to two or maybe one -- because the differences really are not that much." Among the disappointments for Cross has been the rise in questionable on-the-air behavior, including intentional interference with DXpeditions, which he believes reflects such less-desirable societal trends as road rage. "People lose perspective," he said. "No one lives or dies, if they don't work Navassa Island." FCC budget cutbacks will lead to less enforcement, he said, and with stretched resources, "something's gotta give." That applies in Cross's own Bureau. When he steps down on April 3, no new "Ham Guy" is standing in the wings to replace him. "The plan is to divide up my work among other staff members, based on topic," he said. Waxing philosophical, Cross said people choose to get into ham radio as something enjoyable and fun. "When the joy and the fun go out of it, and it becomes a frustration, it might be time to take a step back," he advised. "Find a new aspect of the hobby. If it doesn't make you happy, there's something wrong. There's something for everyone. Just have fun." And Bill Cross plans to do just that. Oklahoma Amateur Radio Volunteers Activate Net to Track Severe Weather Amateur Radio SKYWARN volunteers in Oklahoma went on alert March 25 as severe thunderstorms sparked tornadoes. The Southwest Independent Repeater Association (SWIRA ) and Tulsa Region SKYWARN nets were active in support of tornado warnings in both the Oklahoma City and Tulsa Metropolitan areas. No Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) activation was required, however. "March 25 was a busy afternoon and evening in Oklahoma," ARRL Oklahoma Section Manager Lloyd Colston, KC5FM, told ARRL. Oklahoma Section Emergency Coordinator Mark Conklin, N7XYO, said that ARES-OK Tulsa Region was put on standby. "No communication support was requested by served agencies," he said. "Other than some local cell service overload, normal communications were up and working." The WX5TUL Tulsa National Weather Service SKYWARN Net activated on VHF and UHF, with approximately 25 stations checking in. Weather spotters reported four tornadoes, two causing major damage and injury, along with large and frequent severe hail, minor street flooding and significant damage due to straight-line winds, causing widespread power outages. The severe weather has been blamed for at least one death. Colston said the SWIRA net control stations received reports -- at times under challenging conditions -- that were relayed to the National Weather Service office in Norman. "Both the Tulsa and Norman offices have Amateur Radio stations," he pointed out. "Both encourage SKYWARN and Weather Ready Nation initiatives in their service areas." Colston said that as the storm progressed across the Tulsa Metro area, many of the early damage reports were passed to the Tulsa Area Emergency Management Agency via Amateur Radio. "Oklahoma Section radio amateurs reported on this storm system until it exited the state late that evening," he said. Colston and Conklin noted that many early "ground truth" and tornado observations came from SKYWARN spotters. Conklin said that the Tulsa Amateur Radio Club (TARC ) UHF Superlink System is used for SKYWARN traffic outside the Tulsa Metro area, while TARC's VHF repeater handles SKYWARN net traffic inside the Tulsa Metro area. A preliminary damage assessment from the National Weather Service Office in Norman confirmed more than one tornado, the most severe being in Moore. The NWS survey rated damage from the tornado as "high-end EF1." Widespread damage also resulted from winds of from 70 to 80 MPH, the NWS said. Read more . Puerto Rico ARES Takes Part in Caribe Wave/LANTEX 2015 Exercise Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) volunteers in Puerto Rico took part in the 2015 Caribe Wave Large Atlantic Tsunami Exercise (LANTEX ) -- an annual tsunami drill for the US East Coast, Canada, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Basin. The exercise involved some 50 nations. The aim of the March 25 exercise was to test the reliability of communication systems and protocols between centers of tsunami alerts and to help emergency management agencies to improve their preparedness in the event of a tsunami alert. Since 2010, Amateur Radio operators have played a role in the exercise, executed in conjunction with the Puerto Rico Seismic Network (RSPR), the Caribbean Warning Tsunami Exercise (Caribe Wave), FEMA, the Puerto Rico Emergency Management Administration (PREMA-AEMEAD ), and NOAA. This year, Puerto Rico Amateur Radio Emergency Service, under the direction of Section Emergency Coordinator Carlos A. Rosado, KP4CAR, took part for the first time. This year's exercise offered two possible scenarios: An earthquake-generated tsunami off the north coast of Panama, and a sub-marine landslide off the coast of Florida. The Puerto Rico Seismic Network chose the Panama scenario. At 10:04 AM Eastern Time, the Emergency Alert System (EAS) was activated on broadcast and cable TV outlets to announce the "situation" -- with reminders that it was only a drill. An hour later, siren systems were tested to verify how well they performed in coastal areas. Also, many government, public, schools, and senior institutions in different cities ran their own evacuation drills to test their preparedness in getting people to the nearest local refuge. The PREMA activated all 12 of its zones. Each zone is equipped with a Kenwood TS-2000, funded through a federal grant. The main responsibility of radio amateurs was to gather reports from other amateur stations around the island regarding how they were alerted: Broadcast radio, TV, cable, or other means, such as sirens. The information was delivered to PREMA Headquarters for post-exercise evaluation session that will involve all of the involved agencies. *(L-R) ARRL Puerto Rico SEC Carlos A. Rosado, KP4CAR; Jos? Rodriguez, KP4SE; Juan J. S?nchez, a Zone 6 PREMA radio operator, and Jos? M. R?os, WP4KUY, the Zone 6 Director of Communications. [Carlos A. Rosado, KP4CAR, photo]* The exercise made use of two repeaters -- one in Jayuya, the highest point on the island and equipped with emergency power, and the other in Cayey. Tito Col?n, WP4CBC, and Johnny Figueroa, WP4CXG, served as net control stations, and many hams throughout Puerto Rico participated in the exercise -- helping to renew their interest in emergency communication. PREMA Director Miguel A. R?os Torres called LANTEX 2015 a great success, with performance within parameters established by the agency. /-- Thanks to Angel Santana, WP3GW, Puerto Rico Section Public Information Coordinator/// Ad Utah Group Puts Broadband-Hamnet to Work for Food Project A small band of Amateur Radio volunteers in Utah's Salt Lake Valley successfully used a broadband Wi-Fi network set up on the 2.4 GHz amateur band to help coordinate the Boy Scouts of America's (BSA) "Scouting for Food" project on March 21. Scouting for Food is the Boy Scouts' annual community service event, in which Scouts collect items *Brendan Bauman, KG7RWO, at his BBHN node, monitors the progress of the food collection project, just outside BSA Headquarters.* for donation to a food bank. Local radio amateurs provide both voice and digital mode communication. This year for the first time they used a Broadband-Hamnet ? (BBHN) system that coupled modified wireless router gear operating on amateur frequencies to create a peer-to-peer Wi-Fi network to share audio and video over a generous patch of real estate. BBHN is a descendent of the former ARRL High Speed Multimedia (HSMM) Working Group efforts , earlier known as the "Hinternet" and pioneered by John Champa, K8OCL (SK), and others in the early 2000s. "[W]e would call it Wi-Fi on steroids!" said David Bauman, KF7MCF. The Utah hams linked 13 nodes across the valley to form a network "that is like a mini private Internet," Bauman explained. They then used this network to send live video and audio back to the BSA Headquarters, showing them what was happening at food drop-off sites and at the [truck dispatch] headquarters. Bauman called it "a huge step forward in technology from the old days of Morse code." Retired clergyman Robert Jelf, KG7OHV, of Magna, headed up the team. Just outside BSA Headquarters near the University of Utah, Brandon Bauman, KG7RWO, was able to watch via his laptop as volunteers miles away dropped off canned food items and as YRC freight dispatched trucks to pickup sites around the valley. Brandon was part of an Amateur Radio group that assists the Boy Scouts in the Scouting for Food Project each year by providing communications. This marked the first time BBHN technology was used to support the project in the Salt Lake Valley. Their Wi-Fi network, known as a wireless mesh network, was able to cover a large portion of the valley. "The farthest point from our hub site was 8.5 miles across the city through a narrow path lined with lots of manmade objects for signals to bounce off," Jelf said. "While the mesh group was used to show video of the dispatch of trucks and of truck trailers at collection points within the hub site path, collection took place throughout the Wasatch Front area and elsewhere in Utah." Read more . Amateur Radio to Have a Presence, Special Event at Preparedness Summit 2015 Amateur Radio will be part of the program when Preparedness Summit 2015 convenes April 14-17 in Atlanta. Special event station N4P will also be on the air from the conference location. The theme of this 10th Preparedness Summit is "Global Health Security: Preparing a Nation for Emerging Threats." "Global health security preparedness issues such as protecting against infectious disease, the health effects of climate change and extreme weather, and cybersecurity threats to critical infrastructure, impact all levels of governmental public health and healthcare agencies," a Preparedness Summit 2015 announcement explained. The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO ) organizes the event, which attracted 1600 participants in 2014. Preparedness Summit 2015 will once again offer an Amateur Radio licensing prep session on April 14, with testing the following day. A ham radio demonstration, "When All Else Fails, Amateur Radio Gets Through," will take place on April 14 as well. Special event station N4P will be on the air from the Preparedness Summit 2015 venue. Listen for N4P on or around 7.265, 14.265, 21.365, and 28.36 MHz. EchoLink activity using the Georgia Tech Radio Club's W4AQL call sign also will take place. A commemorative QSL card will be available for stations working N4P. The complete Preparedness Summit agenda and more information are on the conference's website./-- Thanks to Chuck Motes, K1DFS/ Two More Radio Amateurs Join International Space Station Crew The ISS ham radio population expanded to three, following the arrival of NASA astronaut Scott Kelly and Russian cosmonauts Mikhail Kornienko, RN3BF, and Gennady Padalka, RN3DT, on March 28 (UTC). Kelly, 51, and Kornienko, 54, will remain aboard the ISS for 1 year -- the longest space mission ever assigned to a NASA astronaut. European Space Agency Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, IZ0UDF, will head back to Earth in May, after Kjell Lindgren, KO5MOS; Oleg Kononenko, RN3DX, and Kimiya Yui arrive at the ISS as part of a scheduled crew rotation. Cristoforetti has conducted several Amateur Radio on the International Space Station school contacts during her ISS duty tour. Ad ARISS School Contact Proposal Window Open Until April 15 The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS ) program coordinator is seeking proposals from schools and organizations that are interested in hosting an Amateur Radio contact with a member of the International Space Station crew. The US ARISS contact proposal window will remain open until April 15. ARISS is seeking formal and informal educational institutions and organizations, individually or working together, to host an Amateur Radio contact with an ISS crew member between January 1 and June 30, 2016. Crew scheduling and space station orbits will determine the exact contact dates. ARISS is looking for organizations that have the potential to draw large numbers of participants and can integrate the contact into a well-developed educational plan. Details on expectations, audience, proposal guidelines, proposal form, and dates and times of information sessions are on the ARRL website. Contact ARISS with any questions. Amateur Radio "EduTeam" Wows the Crowds at Georgia Super STEM Event Members of the North Fulton Amateur Radio League (NFARL ) EduTeam in Fulton County, Georgia, offered students and other members of the public an opportunity to experience ham radio. The EduTeam hosted an Amateur Radio booth at the Sandy Springs Education Force's Super STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) Event on March 5 at North Springs Charter High School . "The theme of this year's STEM Event was Communications Technology, so we were a perfect fit," said Martha Muir, W4MSA. "Waves of the North Springs students flooded our booth from the morning until early afternoon. Then it was time for students from the local middle schools." That evening, Muir said, officials from the Sandy Springs Education Force as well as other members of the community visited. "Our booth was busy all day, tantalizing and educating our visitors with various aspects of Amateur Radio," she said, "especially about how much fun it is, and how easily it fits into STEM classrooms." Mike Cohen, AD4MC, and Wes Lamboley, W3WL, installed an antenna at the school, so visitors could make voice contacts on 20 and 10 meters. Chuck Catledge, AE4CW; Sam Wolff, KK4NVJ; Megan Brown, KM4HFY, and Eli Musgrave, KM4HFZ -- all Mill Springs Academy students -- assisted the guests in getting on the air. *Between sessions with the North Springs students, Mill Springs student Megan Brown, KM4HFY, makes contacts on the HF station under the supervision of Chuck Catledge, AE4CW, and Wes Lamboley, W3WL (seated).* John Kludt, K4SQC, set up his Mars Lander Amateur Radio Robotics Exploration Activity (MAREA) robot to simulate how NASA scientists use radio signals to control the movement of the Mars rovers. "John's MAREA clearly stood out with the students and other visitors to our booth," Muir said. He also showed a video of the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS ) contact at Mill Springs Academy. "We received rave compliments from the students, parents, teachers, and administrators who visited our booth," Muir said. "Several students from both the high school and middle school expressed interest in starting Amateur Radio programs at their schools." Muir said she hoped the positive feedback would help enlist teachers and schools to form ham radio clubs and help more students to become licensed. Read more . Amateur Radio Television Pioneer Don Miller, W9NTP, SK Amateur Radio television pioneer and past ARRL Central Division Director Don C. Miller, W9NTP, of Waldron, Indiana, died March 22. He was 91. An ARRL Life Member, he was licensed in 1943. In the 1960s, Miller was instrumental in developing slow-scan TV (SSTV) for ham radio, working with Cop MacDonald, VY2CM, and others. Miller wrote several articles on SSTV for /QST/. In 1972, Dayton Hamvention^? honored Miller as Amateur of the Year. Miller served as the Central Division Director from 1977 until 1980. *Don Miller, W9NTP.* During World War II, Miller served in the US Army Signal Corps before being recruited to work at the Trinity atomic weapons test site in New Mexico as part of the Manhattan Project. "I went to work one day and finally figured out that we were building a nuclear bomb. But that's all I knew about it," Miller told /The Rushville Republican/ newspaper in 2007. Miller said he worked with J. Robert Oppenheimer, who oversaw the Manhattan Project. Miller also was a collector of Native American and other historical artifacts, and in 2014, FBI agents raided his Indiana home and confiscated objects alleged to have been collected in violation of federal and state laws and of several treaties. Miller's collection included artifacts from all over the world. He told investigators that he had began collecting as a youngster. In 1984, Miller and his wife, Sue, W9YL (SK), founded Wyman Research Inc, which developed and marketed Amateur Radio SSTV and ATV equipment. Wyman Research engineered the SSTV gear used onboard the Russian /Mir/ space station./-- Thanks to/ The Shelbyville News ; The Daily DX ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ad In Brief... *Young Ham's First Contact is via OSCAR Satellite*: Eight-year-old radio amateur Hope Lea, KM4IPF, in Virginia, made her first radio contact just 45 minutes after her call sign appeared in the FCC database. The contact with K4YYL via the FO-29 satellite took place on March 11. Hope's older sister Faith, WA4BBC, and her brother Zechariah, WX4TVJ, also worked K4YYL. The older siblings had earned their Technician tickets in February and upgraded to General a couple of weeks later. The youngest sibling is studying for her license./-- Thanks to AMSAT News Service via AMSAT-UK/ *W7FG.net and Trueladderline.com Change Hands*: Brian Duerr, WB2JIX -- operating as WB2JIX LLC -- has acquired the assets of W7FG.net and TrueLadderLine.com in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, formerly operated by Charlie Redding, K5JYB (SK). "I look forward to carrying on the 20-year tradition of manufacturing and selling the original W7FG open wire-fed dipoles and accessories," he said. "I am adding several items to the website, so purchasers can find everything needed to use this efficient and affordable antenna."//Duerr notes that the antennas and ladder line are assembled by individuals with disabilities through an Oklahoma program that provides a place for job training, sheltered employment and a supervised work environment. "They all take pride in their work, care about what they do for us, and appreciate your support," he said. Contact Brian Duerr , WB2JIX, for more information. *Astronaut Mark Vande Hei is Newest Astro-Ham*: NASA Astronaut Mark Vande Hei is now KG5GNP. He attended license classes on March 11 and 12, passed the Technician exam the following day, and his call sign showed up in the FCC ULS database on March 24. Vande Hei is a member of the 20th NASA astronaut class and has qualified for a future flight assignment. /-- Thanks to AMSAT News Service via Kenneth Ransom, N5VHO, and ARISS/ *Nigel Cawthorne, G3TXF, is Single-Op Cass Award Recipient*: Nigel Cawthorne, G3TXF, is the winner of the 2014 Single-Operator Cass Award . The Cass Award encourages DXpedition operating excellence. While operating as ZD9XF from the island of Tristan da Cunha in September 2014, G3TXF worked 9314 individual stations during the first 14 days of his one-person DXpedition, demonstrating an outstanding effort to log as many DXers as possible and setting a new Single-Operator Cass Award record. ClubLog founder Michael Wells, G7VJR (right in photo), presented Cawthorne with his plaque and prize at the CDXC Annual Dinner on March 21. The annual Cass Award encourages DXpeditions to maximize the number of DXers worked with a $1000 prize for the Single-Operator DXpeditioner who works the most discrete call signs over a 2-week period. This award's namesake is Cass Cassidy, WA6AUD (SK). /-- Thanks to /The Daily DX *Rich Hallman, N7TR, Named Technologist of the Year*: Well-known Nevada contester Rich Hallman, N7TR, has been named Technologist of the Year by Nevada's Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology (NCET ). The award honors exceptional individuals who have demonstrated innovative and effective use of technology in support of their organizations' strategic initiatives. "I'm honored to be named NCET's 2015 Technologist of the Year and to be part of a company that has been recognized by NCET for the third year in a row for its technological advancements," said Hallman, who is chief information officer for Employers Insurance. He'll receive the award on April 9. /-- Thanks to Tom Taormina, K5RC/ // ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The K7RA Solar Update Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: This week's numbers have average daily solar flux and sunspot number averages headed in opposite directions. For the March 26 through April 1 period, average daily sunspot numbers fell 6 points to 77.9, and average daily solar flux increased 13.3 points to 135.7, compared to the previous 7 days. Geomagnetic indices were quieter, with average daily planetary A index declining 10.7 points to 8.7, and average daily mid-latitude A index dropping 6.6 points to 7.7. We saw four new sunspot regions over the past week, one each on March 26, 28, 29, and April 1. The latest short term prediction for solar flux has 130 and 135 for April 2-3, 125 for April 4-6, 130 for April 7-8, 140 for April 9, 145 for April 10-13, 140 on April 14, 135 for April 15-18, 130 on April 19, and 125 for April 20-22. Then solar flux sinks to a low of 120 for April 23-25 and hits a high of 150 on April 28 before declining again. Predicted planetary A index is 12, 20, and 15 for April 2-4, 8 for April 5-8, 5 for April 9-11, then 15, and 30 for April 12-13, 20 for April 14-16, 15 on April 17, 20 for April 18-19, 12 on April 20, 5 for April 21-22, 8 for April 23-24, 25 on April 25, and 29 for April 26-27. At 2328 UTC on March 31, the Australian Space Forecast Centre issued a geomagnetic disturbance warning. Increased geomagnetic activity is expected due to a high-speed solar wind from a coronal hole. The geomagnetic activity forecast is for active conditions on April 2 and unsettled conditions April 3. This weekly "Solar Update" in /The ARRL Letter/ is a preview of the "Propagation Bulletin" issued each Friday. The latest bulletin and an archive of past propagation bulletins is on the ARRL website. In Friday's bulletin, we will track solar cycle progress with some new averages ending March 31. It looks like the 3-month moving average of sunspot numbers centered on February 2015 (containing all data from January 1 through March 31) puts us back at the August 2013 level. The highest monthly average sunspot number for this cycle was 174.6 in February 2014. For March 2015 the average was 61.7. Send me /your/ reports and observations. /-- Tad Cook, K7RA/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Just Ahead in Radiosport * April 3 -- NS Weekly RTTY Sprint * April 3 -- NS Weekly Sprint (CW) * April 3-12 -- Lighthouse Spring Lites QSO Party * April 4 -- LZ Open 40 Meter Contest (CW) * April 4 -- Missouri QSO Party * April 4-5 -- QRP ARCI Spring QSO Party (CW) * April 4 -- PODXS 31 Flavors Contest * April 4-5 -- Texas State Parks Contest * April 4-5 -- Mississippi QSO Party * April 4-5 -- SP DX Contest (SSB, CW) * April 4-5 -- EA RTTY Contest * April 4-5 -- Montana QSO Party * April 6 -- Low Power Spring Sprint * April 6 -- Easter Contest (SSB, CW) * April 6 -- OK1WC Memorial Contest (SSB, CW) * April 7 -- ARS Spartan Sprint (CW) See the ARRL Contest Calendar for more information. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions and Events * April 4 -- West Central Florida Technical Conference , Sebring, Florida * April 4 -- North Carolina State Convention , Raleigh, North Carolina * April 4 -- Arkansas State Convention , Fort Smith, Arkansas * April 11 -- Delta Division Convention , Bartlett, Tennessee * April 11-12 -- Communications Academy , Seattle, Washington * April 17-19 -- International DX Convention , Visalia, California * April 17-19 -- Eastern VHF-UHF-Microwave Conference , Manchester, Connecticut * April 24-25 -- Southeastern VHF Society Conference , Morehead, Kentucky * April 25 -- Aurora Conference , White Bear Lake, Minnesota * May 1-3 -- Nevada State Convention , Verdi, Nevada * May 2 -- South Carolina Section Convention , Spartanburg, South Carolina * May 15-17 -- Dayton Hamvention^? , Dayton, Ohio * June 5-7 -- Northwestern Division Convention (SeaPac), Seaside, Oregon * June 6 -- Georgia State Convention , Marietta, Georgia * June 12-13 -- West Gulf Division Convention (Ham-Com), Irving, Texas * June 13 -- Tennessee State Convention , Knoxville, Tennessee Find conventions and hamfests in your area . ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *ARRL *-- *Your One-Stop Resource for * *Amateur Radio News and Information* . . . * Join or Renew Today! ARRL membership includes /QST/ , Amateur Radio's most popular and informative journal, delivered to your mailbox each month. * Listen to /ARRL Audio News/ , available every Friday. Subscribe to... * /NCJ / /-- National Contest Journal/ . Published bi-monthly, features articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA Sprint and QSO Parties. * /QEX/ *//*/-- A Forum for Communications Experimenters/ . 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 to the /ARES E-Letter/ (monthly public service and emergency communications news), the /ARRL Contest Update/ (bi-weekly contest newsletter), Division and Section news alerts -- and much more! Find ARRL on Facebook ! Follow us on Twitter ! Ad Ad Ad Ad Ad ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 48 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/arrlletter/. Copyright ? 2015 American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved www.arrl.org From bmarx at bellsouth.net Fri Apr 3 15:41:39 2015 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Fri, 03 Apr 2015 15:41:39 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] Ten Tec and Alpha sold to RKR Message-ID: <551EECF3.80003@bellsouth.net> From QRZ: http://forums.qrz.com/showthread.php?474716-Ten-Tec-and-Alpha-sold-to-RKR Ten Tec and Alpha sold to RKR Press release at http://tentec.com (April 2, 2015) RKR Designs, LLC of Longmont Colorado has announced that they have acquired the assets of Alpha Amplifier and TEN-TEC brands from RF Concepts. RKR plans to expand the product line, while continuing to service their customers that have enjoyed their products over the years. The principals of RKR Designs are Richard Gall, Ken Long and Rich Danielson (Gall and Danielson of QSC Systems, Longmont, Colorado have been a successful contract manufacturer, for over 20 years). Ken Long, N0QO has over 20 years in the electronics and amateur radio industry. Long will be President and CEO of the new company. QSC has been building Alpha amplifiers for over 5 years. They have also been building boards for TEN-TEC since their purchase by RF Concepts last year. Mr. Long said ?QSC has always been a fantastic contract manufacturer, and has the expertise and knowledge that will allow us to bring down costs, while increasing quality and reducing manufacturing times.? When asked for comment, Michael Seedman, AA6DY said ?I can?t think of a more capable group of people to take over the 45 year Alpha Amplifier/TEN-TEC legacy. Ken Long has been involved with the industry for years, and has a great feeling for products and operations. He has the manufacturing and engineering resources available to deliver quality products that our customers demand?. Mr. Seedman went on to say ?Alpha and TEN-TEC have always had a warm spot in my heart, and I am thrilled that RKR Designs will be able to continue the operations of the business. I wish them the best?. Ken, Richard and Rich have been working very close over the past several years and feel that this new relationship will benefit the company and customers moving forward. This closer relationship to the contract manufacturer will allow a more consistent process and delivery of quality products along with significant cost benefits. RKR Designs LLC is privately held, and terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. From n8pr1 at bellsouth.net Sun Apr 5 13:00:47 2015 From: n8pr1 at bellsouth.net (Pete Rimmel N8PR) Date: Sun, 5 Apr 2015 13:00:47 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] For Sale In-Reply-To: <1927612122.108741.1428251843065.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> References: <1927612122.108741.1428251843065.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <9BBC62E447E74020AE34E5088EF58402@PeteRGateway> CONTACT SELLER DIRECTLY --> .Leo, N3GD in Davenport I assume he is good in QRZ.com DO NOT contact N8PR who is forwarding this list... In the works of Sgt. Schultz "I Know Nothing" -----Original Message----- From: Leonid Turkadze via FCG Sent: Sunday, April 05, 2015 12:37 PM To: Fcg >> Florida Contest Group Subject: [FCG] Sale from restricted area "No ham radio usage" IC-706 MK IIG, kept for reserve - $600. IC-2720H for VHF+UHF, installed in the car - $200 .Interface microHAM micro Keyer II which worked with FT-1000MP MARKV - $200. Tuners: SG-237 Smarttuner was used abt 4 years with a big 270' loop on 2 trees using all bands, 1.8-50 MHz - $250 .AH-4 used 1 year with IC-706 - $200 .Antennas: 7-Band OCF Dipole with 6:1 Balun(not used) $250. Super Hi-Q Loop Antenna 10-30 mHz, MFJ-1786, good for digital communications, now is used CW - $350 .End-fed antenna for 20-40 m; can be used in any position: as Inv.V, LW, from balcony - $150. Vertical: DXE-MBVE-1-4PBR with DXE-BAL200-H10-AT including 32 radials each 65' on 4 reels ready for home and field quick installation - $500. Interfaces: UCW-100 USB Interface - $50; USB Universal Rig Interface(HamGadgets) - $50; RIGblaster pro, not used - $300; Radio Boss USB - $100; DCU-1 for HAM-IV and T-2X - $200. ATAS -100 Antenna Controller for IC-706 - $50. Power supplies: Switch. PS 13.8 v 6 A - $100; Reg. DC PS RPS1204 13.8v 6A;Reg.PS SE-600-27 30 v 22.2 A - $150. Coaxial Cable 50 Ohm high quality BELDEN 8267 150'x2 - each $100 .Comet Antenna: G:8.5dB(146mHz); 11.9dB(446mHz)P: 200w; Zo: 50 Ohm; V.SWR Less 1.5L: 5.15m; W: 2.6 kgComet co., LTD Japan $200 Not used JARC-anTennA-Launcher Kit $150 Not used View on www.joplin-arc.org Spiderbeam HD 12m fiberglass pole (12m/40ft) $150 4 guy wires broken up with insulators (calculated on formula), turnbuckles,thimbles, cable clamps. Were used 8 months in 2003-2004 with SKYHAWK computer optimized, stainless steel 3X10 tri-bander, which is now for sale by Blake, N4GI. - $150. Thrust bearing - $50 .Leo, N3GD in Davenport. From bmarx at bellsouth.net Wed Apr 8 08:40:38 2015 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Wed, 08 Apr 2015 08:40:38 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] The ARRL Contest Update for April 8, 2015 In-Reply-To: <20150408100047.EEF202015924@bmail.arrl.org> References: <20150408100047.EEF202015924@bmail.arrl.org> Message-ID: <552521C6.8060207@bellsouth.net> Preview If you are having trouble reading this message, you can see the original at: http://www.arrl.org/contests/update/?issue=2015-04-08 The ARRL Contest Update April 8, 2015 Editor: Ward Silver, N?AX /Contest Update/ Archive Contest Calendar ARRL Home Page Ad IN THIS ISSUE * 3-1/4 meters - 144 and 222 MHz VHF Sprints <#Contests> * Sino-wavelengths - Worked All Provinces of China <#Contests> * The Color of Contesting - FQP <#News> * Striking News from NASA <#Newsweek> * Station Planning Webinar <#Sights> * CQ WW SSB - Results Released <#Results> * Tech Portal for Proto Techs <#Tech> * SimSmith Summary <#Techweek> * Oh, Nothing... <#Conversation> NEW HF OPERATORS - THINGS TO DO Have you been licensed three years or less? If so, put some "shack time" on your calendar for April 19^th and the ARRL Rookie Roundup 's SSB edition. Everybody will be looking for the "rookies" so call "CQ Rookie Roundup" and see who answers! Or tune around and call if you'd rather jump in that way. For those of us OTs (Old Timers), we'll be calling "CQ Rookies". BULLETINS Beginning with the June /QST/, there will be a new trail boss in the Contest Corral as Bruce Draper, AA5B takes the reins. Contest managers, please note that Bruce will be collecting data directly from the online WA7BNM Contest Calendar services so make sure your information is correct on that website. BUSTED QSOS Dick K4XU notes that the FOC (First-class Operator's Club) Spring and Fall QSO Parties are open to anyone. It's only the FOC Marathon (first weekend in February) that is restricted to members-only. CONTEST SUMMARY Complete information <#Contests> for all contests follows the Conversation <#Conversation> section *April 11-12* * Japan International DX Contest--CW * Straight Key Weekend Sprintathon * New Mexico QSO Party * Georgia QSO Party * Yuri Gagarin DX Contest--CW * International Vintage Contest * VHF Spring Sprints (Apr 13) * NAQCC Monthly QRP Sprint--CW (Apr 15) *April 18-19* * */ARRL Rookie Roundup--Phone/* * Holyland DX Contest (Apr 17) * TARA Skirmish Dig Pfx Contest * ES Open HF Championship * Worked All Provinces of China * CQMM DX Contest--CW * Nebraska QSO Party * Michigan QSO Party, * EA QRP Contest--CW * North Dakota QSO Party * Ontario QSO Party * Feld-Hell New Member Sprint * YU DX Contest--CW * Run For the Bacon--CW (Apr 20) * VHF Spring Sprints (Apr 21) NEWS, PRESS RELEASES, AND GENERAL INTEREST An orange ogre? No gear, no rage - a goner! The Florida QSO Party will once again be featuring what is becoming a popular activity within state QSO parties - the 1-by-1 Spelling Bee. Contact Florida 1x1 stations and spell "Orange" for extra fun. Orange you glad their state isn't known for raising cauliflower? (Thanks, Chris WF3C) The rules for the ARRL June VHF Contest have been updated to reflect the changes which now allow self-spotting for ARRL VHF+ contests. There is also an FAQ to help explain the changes and what information can and cannot be exchanged online. (Thanks, ARRL Contest Branch Manager, Matt W1MSW) Come in, Mom, hello, Mom - I am QRPU and need a priority check-in with Net Control! (Thanks, Dan K7SS for the scan of this old photo from yesteryear.) The 2015 Dayton Hamvention Contest University course schedule has been posted. This all-day series of courses covers everything - technical, operating, ergonomics, ethics...everything a contester needs to know! The friends-of-CW organization, FISTS, has a new web URL for their North American chapter. You can find links to FISTS chapter around the world at www.fistsna.org/links.html . The Delaware QSO Party recently changed dates to the same weekend at the regional 7QP (7^th District QSO Party) and NEQP (New England QSO Party) as well as the Indiana QSO Party. If you work Delaware stations, be aware that the Delaware sponsors require a /separate /log without contacts from the other contests mixed in. Also, the county abbreviation NEW can be confused with counties from the other contests. Both issues should be resolved for the 2016 contest. (Thanks, Rich WD3C) The 21st Annual PNWVHFS Conference is now accepting online registration for the October 10-11 event to be held in Issaquah, Washington. (Thanks, Barry K7BWH) Dave W9PA reports that after changing his popular TELNET server domain from w9zrx.net to w9pa.net in 2012, he has dropped the w9zrx.net domain, effective 30 March. Thus, cluster users will no longer be able to log on to dxc.w9zrx.net for spots. He requests that logging software authors and those who maintain lists of cluster servers please drop w9zrx.net and update their information to the new w9pa.net. Sprechen sie Deutsch und English? If you have some time to translate an article or two from the DARC magazine /CQ DL/, there are a few which would make good projects for topics for the /ARRL Handbook /or /ARRL Antenna Book./ Please contact the book's editor (N?AX) if you are interested in helping out. Now that's a hot spot! If you want to take a look at what's in store for you during lightning season, this NASA map (see story at left) shows where lightning can be found. (Image courtesy of NASA) Dick K6KR was outside when the FedEx delivery man drove up and asked about the tower - Rohn 55 with 4 monobanders and 70 feet tall. After Dick said it was antennas for amateur radio, the delivery man thought a moment and asked, "what does a professional one look like?" *Web Site of the Week* - No flash in the pan, NASA has published a new lightning map for those of you interested in putting up some towers. Be glad you don't live in the Serengeti! WORD TO THE WISE */Muntzing/* - the practice of removing components until the device stops working as a way of production cost-cutting. Madman Muntz was famous for selling TVs for less than $100 "back in the day" when the usual set cost significantly more. And generally lasted considerably longer without a visit from the TV repairman, but let's not quibble. Ad SIGHTS AND SOUNDS The World Wide Radio Operators Foundation is presenting a webinar by Craig Thompson, K9CT on "Planning Your Contest Station," on April 15^th at 0100 UTC. (That's Tuesday evening in North America.) Craig will reveal lessons learned from building the K9CT contest station through the process of finding land, selecting the antennas, and the shack layout. Craig's wisdom is a must for anyone looking to build a contest station or improve their existing station. (Thanks, Ken K4ZW) In case you didn't make the trip to Finland for the Contest Club of Finland's annual holiday DX and Contest Cruise, you can still view some of the great presentations online on the OH DX club's website . Jukka OH6LI takes on contest stations of 2020, there is a presentation on WRTC-2018 by the German delegation, plus some solar savantry by OH1ZAA and OH6BG. (Thanks, Jukka OH6LI) RESULTS AND RECORDS The April 2015 issue of /CQ Magazine/ containing the results for the 2014 CQ WW DX Contest SSB is now available for electronic subscribers via Zinio. The scores are available from the online database on the CQ WW web site. (Thanks, CQ WW DX Contest Director, Randy K5ZD) I'm sure you can spot the current sunspot cycle out of this rogue's gallery but take a look at the Solar Activity Report website for a lot more about this and other cycles. If you have old contest logs on paper or in spreadsheet format and would like to convert them to ADIF for logging programs, including Logbook Of the World, W8TN has written /BasicLog / to ease the process using a spreadsheet. (Thanks, Paula K9IR) I've seen lots of posts on various reflectors, blogs, and personal media pages about receiving a plaque for one's contest efforts - hip-hip-hooray! Now take a minute to send a note of thanks to the plaque sponsor. Thank-you notes are apparently so rarely received that when one does show up, it is remark-worthy. Don't skimp on showing your appreciation to that someone who made your day! OPERATING TIP Get radioactive! The Contest Club of Ontario offers the sCCOre Award to its members based on a yearly tally. All eligible contest scores from January 1 to December 31 count towards the award for that year. Initial sCCOre awards and endorsements are processed once a year and are cumulative. This is a great way to encourage and sustain interest and activity - check it out! Another great year-long activity enhancer is the "QSO every day" approach typified by the Hampden County Radio Association's Q-a-Day Contest. Whatever you choose to do, keep the fun building by encouraging folks to get on the air frequently. Activity breeds more activity and better operating skills. (Thanks, Mike VE3GFN and Tom K1KI) Ad TECHNICAL TOPICS AND INFORMATION So - you have interested someone in ham radio through your description of technical adventures on the airwaves. There are lots of individual specialty websites - here's a new tech portal from the ARRL that opens doors to many ARRL technical resources, even for non-members. Its goal is to introduce ham radio from the techie's perspective while not drowning them with a "ham radio firehose" - at least not right away. Send those proto-hams right over! From the latest ARRL Propagation Bulletin , ARLP014, comes this link to a graphic comparison of the latest four solar cycles. The site has plenty of solar analysis, data, and images to keep the most ardent and solar-philic ham enthralled. Not more than a click away, you can also find this interesting site which maintains a worldwide digital ionogram database . Check the station list for the location of each project or facility. (Thanks, Perry WY1O) To be sure you follow rules about self-spotting via a /CW Skimmer /, both /CW Skimmer/ and /Skimmer Server/ software have built-in protection against self-spotting, so long as you enter your call sign on the Operator tab in either program. Because of the change in the design of /RTTY Skimmer Server/, this easy solution is not available. Happily, there are two quick and easy solutions: (1) Enter your own call in the Bad Call list on the Filters tab of the Aggregator and (2) Add your call to the black.lst text file found in C:Users[your login]AppdataRoamingAfreetReference (Thanks, Pete N4ZR) In the latest issue of the DKARS Magazine shares news of /RXGen/, a signal source with stable and calibrated output, flat from 2MHz to 2400MHz with an absolute level accuracy of +/-0.5dB. This is a valuable aid for aligning receivers and preamplifiers, cable and accessory testing, filter response measurement and more. Just in time for the Field Day Festival of Cable Snarls comes this snarl-stopper for ac power cords - a do-it-yourself extension cord reel seen below. And when you're repairing (or decommissioning) a gadget which didn't make it home alive, consider pointing this Instructable on de-soldering through-hole parts at someone just getting into electronics through the take-apart door. Made from a spare wire spool and some hardware-store electric outlet parts, this extension cord holder from Instructables is the reel thing! On the subject of making your CQ and exchange audio messages as clean and effective as possible, you might want to check out an audio editing program, such as /Audacity/. Jim K9YC posted a video how-to for using /Audacity/ in this way so there's no reason to let badly recorded audio cut your intelligibility and, consequently, your QSO rate! (The video is a 300 Mbyte download, so it might not be a good choice for a dial-up connection...) After you do record crisp messages, Bill K4XS points out that you should listen to your transmitted audio with a second receiver - not the RF monitor in the transmitting radio. You can transmit into a dummy load at low power and listen to what you sound like on the air. Adjust your audio channel controls until your signal sounds clear and does not splatter. If your MFJ-259B antenna analyzer took a hit or required repair, Tom W8JI posted this set of instructions on calibrating these popular units. Using microwave oven high voltage (HV) diodes is an inexpensive way to make a high-voltage rectifier for a homebrew amplifier but how do you test them? Using the diode test function of a multimeter won't work because the HV diodes are usually made from a string of 1kV diodes. Every regular silicon diode creates a 0.6V of forward voltage drop, totaling 3 V or more from typical units. This causes the multimeter to read "open." Use a forward power source of 10 V or more, limited with a 1 kohm resistor, to test these rectifier strings. (Thanks, Val LZ1VB) Rohde & Schwarz has released another detailed, informative application note, "Intermodulation Distortion Measurements on Modern Spectrum Analyzers ". While most of us don't make such measurements on a regular basis, the introductory sections on the theory of intermodulation and spectrum analyzer architecture are excellent resources for the interested reader. *Technical Web Site of the Week* - The free Smith Chart software /SimSmith / is now up to version 11.3. The new software has improved its on-screen markers and plotting functions, sweep functions, and new error and text-editing windows. If you haven't tried this software, check it out! CONVERSATION Oh, Nothing... Every parent knows that phrase, the usual response to "What are you/they doing down/in/over there?" Come to think of it, so do most spouses of hams! While sometimes nothing = getting into trouble, it can just as easily be nothing = tinkering. Ah yes, tinkering, defined as screwing around with something mechanical, electrical, buildable, re-programmable, or disassemble-able, or just about anything-else-able that holds an interest for us. Recently, Tom K1KI sent me a link to the /New York Times/ article "Learning through Tinkering ," presenting some ideas about how kids learn better and more broadly when not led too closely through pre-planned activities. The basic idea is to teach them how to use some tools and train them on certain skills, then give them a problem and let them figure out the rest on their own. Many of us grew up more or less in that environment; a shop, a garage, at a computer terminal, in a basement, in a barn - you get the idea. Although the idea doesn't work for everyone, it frees the kids to explore if they wish and doesn't seem to hurt those more comfortable with step-by-step learning. There needs to be some of both - kids and learning processes. Ham radio is no different: building a step-by-step Heathkit was for many the launch pad to low orbit of building things from magazine directions. Escape velocity to the design-and-build reaches of outer space sometimes followed. Team of students + general requirements + freedom to innovate = rather unique robot design. (Photo by N?AX) I am not suggesting that we throw out traditional instruction in favor of "free-range self-teaching" - both are necessary for certain stages of growth. In fact, an alternating sequence of open-ended exploration followed by closely focused instruction is a great path to follow. Growing minds (of any age) need guidance just like they need room to maneuver. The high-school students in the Maker Space club I mentored were happy to just take things apart for a while. Soon I pointed out to them there were enough parts to make a dc power supply - but that took some equations and some instruction and some Heathkit-style hand-holding. Then it was back to unsoldering components for a while. The robotics competition I mentioned in the previous issue provides fertile ground for the student teams to stretch their mental legs while getting some focused direction from mentors and judges. The students didn't have to have any engineering training or background - just a willingness to work through a problem. Ham radio can be a lot like that, with interest building gradually from "that looks like fun" through, "How does that work?" to getting a license and on to station-building and operating. The Elmers among us are responsible for supplying guidance as needed but not so much as to stifle the natural creative tendencies and turn what should be play into an adult-sanctioned (and dominated) chore. What comes out the other end? Projects like those of a Boy Scout who put the local airport comm channels on a low-power AM broadcast channel so folks could listen to the traffic from their cars in the parking lot. It really doesn't have to be all about ham radio - just get them going however you can. Teach them the basics, turn them loose, then answer questions and feed them resources - even stuff to just tear apart. And maybe you'll hear that classic response to your curiosity between bursts of static, drilling noises, and the rattle of tools on a bench - "Oh, nothing..." 73, Ward N?AX Ad CONTESTS *8 April through 21 April 2015* An expanded, downloadable version of QST's Contest Corral in PDF format is available. Check the sponsor's Web site for information on operating time restrictions and other instructions. *HF CONTESTS* */ARRL Rookie Roundup/*--Phone, from Apr 19, 1800Z to Apr 19, 2359Z. Bands (MHz): 3.5-28. Exchange: Both calls, name, check, S/P XE# or "DX". Logs due: See web._Rules _ Japan International DX Contest--CW, from Apr 11, 0700Z to Apr 12, 1300Z . Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: RST, JA prefecture or CQ Zone. Logs due: 30 days._Rules _ Straight Key Weekend Sprintathon--CW, from Apr 11, 1200Z to Apr 12, 2359Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50, Monthly on the Saturday following the 6th of the month. Exchange: RST, QTH, name, member nr if member. Logs due: 5 days._Rules _ New Mexico QSO Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from Apr 11, 1400Z to Apr 12, 0200Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50, CW-1.82,3.55,7.045,14.05,21.05,28.05,50.095; SSB-1.85,3.815,7.26,14.28,21.38,28.38,50.13 MHz. Exchange: Call sign, name, and NM county or S/P/C. Logs due: 14 days._Rules _ Georgia QSO Party--Phone,CW, from Apr 11, 1800Z - See website. Multiple time periods. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50, CW 1.815,3.545,7.045,14.045,21.045,28.045,50.095; Phone 1.865,3.810,7.225,14.250,21.300,28.450,50.135 MHz. Exchange: RS(T), S/P/C or GA county. Logs due: May 15._Rules _ Yuri Gagarin DX Contest--CW, from Apr 11, 2100Z to Apr 12, 2100Z . Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: RST, ITU Zone. Logs due: May 14._Rules _ International Vintage Contest--Phone,CW, from Apr 12, 1200Z to Apr 12, 1800Z. Bands (MHz): 3.5,7. Exchange: RS(T), 4-char grid square. Logs due: May 30._Rules _ NAQCC Monthly QRP Sprint--CW, from Apr 15, 0030Z to Apr 15, 0230Z. Bands (MHz): 3.5-14. Monthly on 2nd Tuesday or 3rd Wednesday local time (alternating). Exchange: RST, S/P/C, and NAQCC mbr nr or power. Logs due: 4 days._Rules _ Holyland DX Contest--Phone,CW,Digital, from Apr 17, 2100Z to Apr 18, 2100Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: RS(T), serial or Israel district. Logs due: May 31._Rules _ TARA Skirmish Dig Pfx Contest--Digital, from Apr 18, 0000Z to Apr 18, 2359Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50. Exchange: Name, prefix. Logs due: May 16._Rules _ ES Open HF Championship--Phone,CW, from Apr 18, 0500Z to Apr 18, 0859Z . Bands (MHz): 3.5,7. Exchange: RS(T), serial, dupes OK once/hour. Logs due: May 1._Rules _ Worked All Provinces of China--Phone,CW, from Apr 18, 0600Z to Apr 19, 0559Z. Bands (MHz): 3.5-28. Exchange: RS(T) and serial or province abbreviation. Logs due: 7 days._Rules _ CQMM DX Contest--CW, from Apr 18, 1200Z to Apr 19, 2359Z. Bands (MHz): 3.5-28. Exchange: RST, continent, and category. Logs due: 30 days._Rules _ Nebraska QSO Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from Apr 18, 1200Z to Apr 19, 2300Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50+, CW 1.805 and 35 kHz above band edge,Nov/Tech--10 kHz above band edge; Phone--1.915,3.865,7.265,14.265,21.365,28.465,146.460 MHz. Exchange: RS(T), NE county or S/P/C. Logs due: May 31._Rules _ Michigan QSO Party--Phone,CW, from Apr 18, 1600Z to Apr 19, 0400Z . Bands (MHz): 3.5-28. CW 45 kHz from band edge,Phone 3.825,7.200,14.250,21.300,28.450 MHz. Exchange: Serial and MI county or S/P/C. Logs due: 30 days._Rules _ EA QRP Contest--CW, from Apr 18, 1700Z to Apr 19, 1300Z . Bands (MHz): 3.5-28. Exchange: RST, category, M if EA QRP member. Logs due: 30 days._Rules _ North Dakota QSO Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from Apr 18, 1800Z to Apr 19, 1800Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50,144, CW 1.850, 3.550, 3705, 7.050, 14.050, 21.050, 28.050; Phone 1.870, 3.850, 7.250, 14.270, 21.350, 28.450; VHF+/Digital per band plan. Exchange: RST and ND county or S/P/C. Logs due: May 15._Rules _ Ontario QSO Party--Phone,CW, from Apr 18, 1800Z - See website. Multiple time periods. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50,144, CW 30 kHz above band edge; Phone 1.870,3.735,3.860,7.070,7.260,14.130,14.265,21.260,28.360; VHF-SSB: 50.130,52.540,144.205,146.550 MHz. Exchange: RS(T), S/P/C or Ontario QTH. Logs due: May 19._Rules _ Feld-Hell New Member Sprint--Digital, from Apr 18, 2000Z to Apr 18, 2200Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50, Monthly on 3rd Saturday. Exchange: RST, S/P/C, Feld-Hell member nr. Logs due: 7 days._Rules _ YU DX Contest--CW, from Apr 18, 2100Z - See website. Multiple time periods. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: RST and ITU zone. Logs due: 30 days._Rules _ Run For the Bacon--CW, from Apr 20, 0200Z to Apr 20, 0400Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Monthly on 3rd Sunday night (local). Exchange: RST, S/P/C, Flying Pig nr or power._Rules _ *VHF+ CONTESTS* VHF Spring Sprints--Phone,CW,Digital, from Apr 13, 7 PM to Apr 13, 11 PM. Bands (MHz): 144. Exchange: Grid square (6-char preferred). Logs due: 14 days._Rules _ VHF Spring Sprints--Phone,CW,Digital, from Apr 21, 7 PM to Apr 21, 11 PM. Bands (MHz): 222. Exchange: Grid square (6-char preferred). Logs due: 14 days._Rules _ Straight Key Weekend Sprintathon--CW, from Apr 11, 1200Z to Apr 12, 2359Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50, Monthly on the Saturday following the 6th of the month. Exchange: RST, QTH, name, member nr if member. Logs due: 5 days._Rules _ New Mexico QSO Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from Apr 11, 1400Z to Apr 12, 0200Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50, CW-1.82,3.55,7.045,14.05,21.05,28.05,50.095; SSB-1.85,3.815,7.26,14.28,21.38,28.38,50.13 MHz. Exchange: Call sign, name, and NM county or S/P/C. Logs due: 14 days._Rules _ Georgia QSO Party--Phone,CW, from Apr 11, 1800Z - See website. Multiple time periods. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50, CW 1.815,3.545,7.045,14.045,21.045,28.045,50.095; Phone 1.865,3.810,7.225,14.250,21.300,28.450,50.135 MHz. Exchange: RS(T), S/P/C or GA county. Logs due: May 15._Rules _ TARA Skirmish Dig Pfx Contest--Digital, from Apr 18, 0000Z to Apr 18, 2359Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50. Exchange: Name, prefix. Logs due: May 16._Rules _ Nebraska QSO Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from Apr 18, 1200Z to Apr 19, 2300Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50+, CW 1.805 and 35 kHz above band edge,Nov/Tech--10 kHz above band edge; Phone--1.915,3.865,7.265,14.265,21.365,28.465,146.460 MHz. Exchange: RS(T), NE county or S/P/C. Logs due: May 31._Rules _ Ontario QSO Party--Phone,CW, from Apr 18, 1800Z - See website. Multiple time periods. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50,144, CW 30 kHz above band edge; Phone 1.870,3.735,3.860,7.070,7.260,14.130,14.265,21.260,28.360; VHF-SSB: 50.130,52.540,144.205,146.550 MHz. Exchange: RS(T), S/P/C or Ontario QTH. Logs due: May 19._Rules _ Feld-Hell New Member Sprint--Digital, from Apr 18, 2000Z to Apr 18, 2200Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50, Monthly on 3rd Saturday. Exchange: RST, S/P/C, Feld-Hell member nr. Logs due: 7 days._Rules _ LOG DUE DATES *8 April through 21 April 2015* * April 8 - ARRL International DX Contest, SSB * April 9 - ARS Spartan Sprint * April 9 - SARL 80m QSO Party * April 9 - QRP Fox Hunt * April 10 - Wisconsin QSO Party * April 11 - FOC QSO Party * April 11 - QRP Fox Hunt * April 11 - CWops Mini-CWT Test * April 12 - NCCC RTTY Sprint * April 12 - NCCC Sprint * April 12 - Montana QSO Party * April 13 - RSGB 80m Club Championship, CW * April 14 - F9AA Cup, SSB * April 14 - Idaho QSO Party * April 14 - QCWA QSO Party * April 14 - Louisiana QSO Party * April 14 - LZ Open 40m Sprint Contest * April 15 - RSGB Commonwealth Contest * April 15 - Virginia QSO Party * April 16 - NRAU 10m Activity Contest * April 18 - Texas State Parks on the Air * April 19 - UBA Spring Contest, 6m * April 19 - PODXS 070 Club PSK 31 Flavors Contest * April 19 - QRP ARCI Spring QSO Party * April 19 - SKCC Weekend Sprintathon * April 20 - CLARA Chatter Party * April 20 - 15-Meter SSTV Dash Contest * April 20 - EA RTTY Contest * April 21 - RSGB RoPoCo SSB ARRL Information Click here to advertise in this newsletter, space subject to availability. Your One-Stop Resource for Amateur Radio News and Information *Join or Renew Today!* ** ARRL membership includes /QST/ , Amateur Radio's most popular and informative journal, delivered to your mailbox each month. Subscribe to /NCJ/ - the National Contest Journal . Published bimonthly, features articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA Sprint and QSO Parties. Subscribe to /QEX/ - A Forum for Communications Experimenters . 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 to The ARRL Letter (weekly digest of news and information), the ARES E-Letter (monthly public service and emergency communications news), Division and Section news -- and much more! /ARRL offers a wide array of //products/ //to enhance your enjoyment of Amateur Radio. Visit the site often for new publications, specials and sales. Donate to the fund of your choice -- /support programs not funded by member dues!/ Reprint permission can be obtained by sending email to permission at arrl.org with a description of the material and the reprint publication. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ARRL Contest Update wishes to acknowledge information from WA7BNM's Contest Calendar and SM3CER's Contest Calendar . Ad Ad Ad Ad Ad ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 ? 2015 American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved www.arrl.org From bmarx at bellsouth.net Wed Apr 8 10:23:23 2015 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Wed, 08 Apr 2015 10:23:23 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] Little trick for De-Soldering through hole components... In-Reply-To: <55252FF9.1080308@bellsouth.net> References: <55252FF9.1080308@bellsouth.net> Message-ID: <552539DB.60508@bellsouth.net> I saw this small note on the ARRL Contest Update and thought it might be of interest to some. But I must say his comment on find the part is a bit odd Hi. It's still a clever idea. Bill W2CQ Have you ever felt frustrated trying to desolder a component from a board, wishing you had one more hand? This trick can help you with some of the components. Specifically through hole components that are mounted with a little clearance below them. By little clearance I mean at least enough room to put a paper clip wire through. And they also should not have their legs remarkably bent on the other side of the board - this method does not work if you need to use force for bending them back. This worked nice for transistors, vertically mounted resistors and diodes and some capacitors depending on their exact mounting position. http://www.instructables.com/id/Little-trick-for-desoldering-through-hole-componen/ From bmarx at bellsouth.net Wed Apr 8 14:08:39 2015 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Wed, 08 Apr 2015 14:08:39 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] POSTAL INCREASE - April 26 2015 In-Reply-To: <552546F2.2090803@verizon.net> References: <552546F2.2090803@verizon.net> Message-ID: <55256EA7.5030006@bellsouth.net> The United States Postal Service (USPS) announced a postal rate increase effective April 26, 2015. First Class one ounce letters will remain at 49 cents, while each additional ounce will go from 21 cents to 22 cents and post cards will go from 34 cents to 35 cents. Airmail rates (also known as "letters to all international destinations") will go from $1.15 to $1.20. A complete listing of the changes in postal rates can be found at: http://about.usps.com/news/national-> releases/2015/pr15_004.htm From bmarx at bellsouth.net Wed Apr 8 14:09:24 2015 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Wed, 08 Apr 2015 14:09:24 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] POSTAL INCREASE - April 26 2015 In-Reply-To: <552546F2.2090803@verizon.net> References: <552546F2.2090803@verizon.net> Message-ID: <55256ED4.9030609@bellsouth.net> The United States Postal Service (USPS) announced a postal rate increase effective April 26, 2015. First Class one ounce letters will remain at 49 cents, while each additional ounce will go from 21 cents to 22 cents and post cards will go from 34 cents to 35 cents. Airmail rates (also known as "letters to all international destinations") will go from $1.15 to $1.20. A complete listing of the changes in postal rates can be found at: http://about.usps.com/news/national-> releases/2015/pr15_004.htm From bmarx at bellsouth.net Tue Apr 14 12:13:23 2015 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 12:13:23 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] FLORIDA CHAPTER (FX) OF THE MORSE TELEGRAPH CLUB Message-ID: <552D3CA3.6020305@bellsouth.net> *I never heard of this group so I looked it up. An interesting site and group. Here is what I found- Bill W2CQ http://www.floridamorse.com/index.html * We are a group, men and women, old and young, interested in preserving the history and knowledge of Morse Telegraphy. Some of us once earned a living as telegraphers, others are amateur radio operators, some are both, while still others are just interested in the historical aspects of the craft. In other words, there is room for anybody with any level of interest. We invite you to join us in our effort. Click on the "JOIN" button to go to an application to be printed and mailed with your dues, which are $15.00 per year and include a subscription to Dots & Dashes, the quarterly journal of the national club. If you live outside the Southeastern United States, you will be directed to the chapter for the area in which you live. There are 30 chapters throughout the United States and Canada. From bmarx at bellsouth.net Tue Apr 14 12:16:25 2015 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 12:16:25 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] Morse Day In-Reply-To: <1764530173.3791908.1429026910454.JavaMail.zimbra@comcast.net> References: <1764530173.3791908.1429026910454.JavaMail.zimbra@comcast.net> Message-ID: <552D3D59.3000502@bellsouth.net> Just received the following brochure. You might drop by the Museum if you have the time and interest... Morse Telegraph Day Plantation Historical Museum 511 North Fig Tree Lane Plantation, FL 33317 (954) 797-2722 (Note: Enter the library parking lot and drive past the library to the second building which is the museum) The Plantation Historical Museum and the Florida Chapter of the Morse Telegraph Club celebrate Samuel F.B. Morse's invention on the anniversary of his birthday with: MORSE DAY Saturday, April 25th, 2015 10:00am - 3:00pm * See working telegraph equipment * Actual live communication by telegraph to and from another city * Learn about the telegraph and how it changed our world * Try your hand at sending Morse Code * Use of telegraph during World War ll 73, Dan, AI4CJ .- .. ....- -.-. .--- From bmarx at bellsouth.net Tue Apr 14 14:38:54 2015 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 14:38:54 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] FLORIDA CHAPTER (FX) OF THE MORSE TELEGRAPH CLUB In-Reply-To: <552D3CA3.6020305@bellsouth.net> References: <552D3CA3.6020305@bellsouth.net> Message-ID: <552D5EBE.2030006@bellsouth.net> > *I never heard of this group so I looked it up. An interesting site > and group. Here is what I found- Bill W2CQ > > http://www.floridamorse.com/index.html > > * > We are a group, men and women, old and young, interested in preserving > the history and knowledge of Morse Telegraphy. Some of us once earned > a living as telegraphers, others are amateur radio operators, some are > both, while still others are just interested in the historical aspects > of the craft. In other words, there is room for anybody with any level > of interest. We invite you to join us in our effort. Click on the > "JOIN" button to go to an application to be printed and mailed with > your dues, which are $15.00 per year and include a subscription to > Dots & Dashes, the quarterly journal of the national club. If you live > outside the Southeastern United States, you will be directed to the > chapter for the area in which you live. There are 30 chapters > throughout the United States and Canada. From bmarx at bellsouth.net Wed Apr 15 18:45:45 2015 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2015 18:45:45 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] US Amateur Radio Numbers Reach an All-Time High Message-ID: <552EEA19.8010105@bellsouth.net> US Amateur Radio Numbers Reach an All-Time High Amateur Radio growth in the US continues to soar. At the end of 2014, the total number of radio amateurs in the FCC?s Universal Licensing System (*ULS* ) database reached an all-time high of 726,275. The trend has continued in the first 2 months of 2015, which saw the ham population rise to slightly more than 727,000. The figures exclude expired licenses that are within the 2-year grace period, and club station licenses. Outside of a little dithering last fall, growth in the Amateur Radio Service in 2014 was steady, according to *figures* compiled by Joe Speroni, AH0A, on his FCC Amateur Radio Statistics web pages. Over the past decade the number of Amateur Radio licenses in the ULS database grew by some 8.1 percent. But 2014 also was a banner year for the ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC). ?For the first time in the ARRL VEC program?s history, we have conducted more than 7000 Amateur Radio exam sessions in a year, an important milestone,? said ARRL VEC Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM. ?A total of 7216 ARRL-sponsored exam sessions were administered in 2014, compared to 6823 in 2013.? Somma said the number of new licensees spiked to more than 33,000 in 2014, up by about 15 percent from the previous year. Successful license upgrades rose last year by an unprecedented 13 percent over a year earlier. At the end of 2014, there were 136,405 Amateur Extra, 169,524 General, and 357,236 Technician class licensees ? all record numbers, Somma pointed out. While the number of Amateur Extra licensees grew in each month of 2014, the number of Technicians and Generals ? and of licensees overall ? faltered a bit last July and September. Last year?s overall upward trend quickly recovered, however, during the final quarter of 2014. The General population also dipped briefly in May 2014, before rebounding. Somma believes the July and September dips may have been a result of applicants? adjusting to the new Technician question pool that went into effect last July 1. ?We always expect an adjustment period when a new question pool is introduced to the public, as VEs, teachers, and candidates must prepare new study and exam materials,? she said, calling the dips ?a normal part of the question pool cycle.? Technician licensees comprise a little less than one-half of the US Amateur Radio population. As of December 31, some 51,000 Advanced and 12,000 Novice licensees remained in the FCC database. The FCC no longer issues Advanced and Novice licenses, and their numbers continue to decline. Once again, California far and away was home to the largest number of licensees among the 50 states, with 102,806 at the end of February. Texas was a distant second, with 51,022, Florida came in third, with 40,743, Washington was fourth, with 30,511, and Ohio was fifth at 28,256. With the exception of Ohio, the licensing trend in these states has been through the roof. In Ohio, ham radio numbers have begun to flag after holding steady for about the past 4 years. The state with the fewest number of Amateur Radio licensees in 2014 was North Dakota, with 1477, but in an overall upward trajectory since around 2009. Others with small ham populations include Delaware (1715 and growing), Rhode Island (1926 and drooping), Wyoming (1868 and headed up), and Vermont (2101 and slipping after a bump in 2013 and 2014). The numbers may go a long way toward explaining why these are rare multipliers in the ARRL November Sweepstakes and other events. Club station licenses in the US number 11,501, according to Speroni?s web pages. /? Thanks to Joe Speroni, AH0A; FCC ULS licensing statistics / /http://www.arrl.org/news/us-amateur-radio-numbers-reach-an-all-time-high / From bmarx at bellsouth.net Thu Apr 16 16:37:18 2015 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Thu, 16 Apr 2015 16:37:18 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] Florida QSO Party next weekend (April 25-26)! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <55301D7E.6060607@bellsouth.net> Hello Contesting Friends, The 2015 Florida QSO Party is only 8 days away; we sure hope you'll join us. */PLEASE forward this announcement to your club members - tnx es 73!/* *The Florida QSO Party* Object: Everyone works Florida, Florida works Everyone Activate and work ALL Florida counties Have as much FUN as possible! When: *April 25 - April 26, 2015* Two ten hour operating periods, with a ten hour break: Saturday, April 25 1600Z (Noon EDT) - 0159Z (9:59 PM EDT) Sunday, April 26 1200Z (8 AM EDT) - 2159Z (5:59 PM EDT) 20 Hours total Exchange: RST and County (Florida stations) RST and QTH (State, Province or Country for non-FL) Where: 10, 15, 20 and 40 Meters CW : 28.035, 21.035, 14.035, 7.035 SSB: 28.485, 21.335, 14.260, 7.195 (Approximate center frequencies; lots of activity spreads out from there!) At least 15 Mobile stations will be on and most can be found here: CW: 7.025-7.035, 14.040-14.050, 21.040-21.050, 28.040-28.050 MHZ SSB: 7.180-7.190, 14.265-14.275, 21.340-21.350, 28.480-28.490 MHz If you are not mobile, *please* refrain from calling CQ in these windows. Categories: Single Op, Multi Op, Multi-Multi, Mobile, Technician and School. Three power levels: QRP, Low, and High Power. Use CW, SSB or both. *18th Anniversary Special Event Award- 2015 FQP Spelling Bee! * Contact all six 1x1 stations during the 2015 FQP whose suffixes spell ?*ORANGE*? The callsigns and hosts are: K4O ? W4UH/PAL K4R ? N4WW/ORA K4A ? K1PT/MRT K4N ? K1TO/MTE K4G ? K5KG/SAR K4E ? W4MLB/BRE All six stations will be on both modes full-time and should be very accessible. QSL the six 1x1 calls active in FQP via KK3Q direct or via bureau. Prizes: Beautiful color Certificates for top participants Plaques for top finishing entrants. *Web Site:*http://www.floridaqsoparty.org/ Detailed rules, mobile routes, past results, plaques, county maps and much more! Logs to logs at floridaqsoparty.org or via US mail to WD4AHZ, please. Any questions or feedback? Please feel free to reply to my e-mail: cqdenx4n at gmail.com THANK YOU in advance for making the 2015 FQP another terrific event! 73, Chris, NX4N, on behalf of: Dan, K1TO President, Florida Contest Group, proud sponsors of the FQP since 1998 *And for our friends in Zones 8-13:* (Lo siento, yo s?lo hablo un poco de espa?ol , sin portugu?s): Estimado Radio-Aficionado Amigo, Vamos a tener una fiesta y esperamos que nos acompa?es! * La competici?n ?QSO Party de la Florida (FQP)? del 2015 va a acontecer el 25 y 26 de Abril; Sab 1600Z - 0159Z y Dom 1200Z - 2159Z. *Podes encontrar las reglas de la competici?n, los resultados de a?os anteriores, comentarios ?soapbox?, lista de multiplicadores, los resultados records de cada pa?s, programas para entrar tus logs y otros muy ?tiles consejos en la FQP website:*http://www.floridaqsoparty.org/* Patrocinado por el Grupo de Competici?n de la Florida (Florida Contest Group -FCG - http://www.floridacontestgroup.org ), el FQP son 20 excitantes horas de HF mixed-mode que no solo es divertido para las estaciones de la Florida sino para las de afuera de la Florida tambi?n. FQP es la segunda m?s grande competici?n con cientos de estaciones fijas en la Florida y docenas de estaciones m?viles que viajan a trav?s de los 67 condados de la Florida. Vos podes QSO cada estaci?n de la Florida v?a cw y ssb en cada banda y tambi?n QSO las estaciones m?viles cada vez que ellas cambian de condado. Por favor, lee las reglas para m?s detalles. Y definitivamente, apreciamos el multiplicador de tu pa?s! La raz?n por la cual me estoy contactando contigo es porque yo estoy patrocinando* una placa* de FQP para el ?*Top Caribbean/Central America/South America Score*? (CQ zonas 8,9,10,11,12 y 13). La estaci?n que marque el mayor puntaje en el ?rea del Caribe, Centro Am?rica o Sud Am?rica ganar? esta placa. Realmente quer?a patrocinar una especie de ?Copa Am?rica? de FQP en honor a Uds., nuestros DX vecinos amigos! Por supuesto, hay otros FQP premios para los operadores participantes, incluyendo un certificado por del patrocinamiento del FQP. Por favor, entra al website de FQP para ver la lista de todos los premios que se ofrecen. D?jame saber si tienes dudas respecto a las reglas de FQP tratar? de ayudarte. Y_ por favor_, pasa esta invitaci?n especial a los miembros de tu club y otros operadores amigos. Espero que nos acompa?es en el FQP para disfrutar el entusiasmo y entretenimiento de la competici?n ? te veo en la fiesta! 73, Chris, NX4N cqdenx4n at gmail.com From bmarx at bellsouth.net Thu Apr 16 19:22:33 2015 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Thu, 16 Apr 2015 19:22:33 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] Saturday, April 18, is World Amateur Radio Day (WARD). The event Message-ID: <55304439.5000102@bellsouth.net> Excerpt from the ARRL Letter: Special Event Stations to Mark World Amateur Radio Day on April 18 Saturday, April 18, is World Amateur Radio Day (WARD). The event *In preparation for the KP4FD IARU World Amateur Radio Day special event operation, Carlos Colon, WP4U, was changing the rotator for a 40 meter antenna on April 11, when a solar halo formed. [Luis Gonzalez, NP4RA, photo]* celebrates the founding of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU ) on April 18, 1925, in Paris, with ARRL Co-Founder Hiram Percy Maxim, 1AW, as its first president. From the 25 countries that formed the IARU in 1925, the IARU has grown to include 160 member-societies in three regions. Radio amateurs worldwide will take to the airwaves to mark the occasion with special event stations. A listing is on the IARU WARD page . The IARU encourages groups to promote their World Amateur Radio Day activities on social media, using the hash tag #WARD2015 on Twitter and Facebook. From bmarx at bellsouth.net Wed Apr 22 19:17:41 2015 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2015 19:17:41 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] AMP Lady Laura Krupp, WB2YL Message-ID: <55382C15.7060309@bellsouth.net> Has anyone been in recent contact with The AMP Lady Laura Krupp, WB2YL? I have some friends trying to reach her but she has been unresponsive. Her phone is not being answered... Bill W2CQ From bmarx at bellsouth.net Thu Apr 23 16:40:42 2015 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2015 16:40:42 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] [SFDXA] AMP Lady Laura Krupp, WB2YL In-Reply-To: <55382C15.7060309@bellsouth.net> References: <55382C15.7060309@bellsouth.net> Message-ID: <553958CA.2060605@bellsouth.net> I was sent another phone number for her(Cell?), and that number is disconnected. I see there must be a problem. If anyone gets any information please let me know. Bill W2CQ On 4/22/2015 7:17 PM, Bill wrote: > Has anyone been in recent contact with The AMP Lady Laura Krupp, > WB2YL? I have some friends trying to reach her but she has been > unresponsive. Her phone is not being answered... > Bill W2CQ > ______________________________________________________________ > South Florida DX Assoc. "SINCE 1974" > SFDXA WebSite: http://www.SFDXA.com > SFDXA Repeater 147.33+ 103.5 Tone > To Post: mailto:SFDXA at mailman.qth.net > To UNSUBSCRIBE/EDIT: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/sfdxa > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > From bmarx at bellsouth.net Fri Apr 24 08:41:42 2015 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2015 08:41:42 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] The ARRL Letter for April 23, 2015 In-Reply-To: <20150423213857.9393E200A579@bmail.arrl.org> References: <20150423213857.9393E200A579@bmail.arrl.org> Message-ID: <553A3A06.4060901@bellsouth.net> Preview If you are having trouble reading this message, you can see the original at: http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/?issue=2015-04-23 The ARRL Letter April 23, 2015 Editor: Rick Lindquist, WW1ME ARRL Home Page /ARRL Letter/ Archive Audio News Ad * Amateur Radio Heads into WRC-15 "With Every Possibility of Success" <#toc01> * FCC Proposes to Make Past Amateur Radio Address Information Private <#toc02> * Amateur Radio Volunteers Activate Emergency Nets Following Chile Volcano Eruption <#toc03> * ARRL "Ham Aid" HF Gear Arrives in Micronesia in Wake of Tropical Cyclone <#toc04> * Spratlys DX0P DXpedition Participant Evacuated for Medical Emergency <#toc05> * Participants May Apply Anytime for Centennial Points Challenge, W1AW WAS Awards <#toc06> * ARRL 600 Meter Experiment Coordinator Recommends Renewing Experimental License <#toc07> * Australian Ham's "PicoSpace" Balloon Circumnavigates the Globe <#toc08> * IEEE 2015 International Microwave Symposium to Include Amateur Radio Presence <#toc09> * CQ DQs Two Dozen CQ World Wide DX Contest SSB Participants <#toc10> * ARRL Teachers Institute Sessions Still Accepting Applications <#toc11> * Amateur Radio Special Events to Mark International Marconi Day <#toc12> * NCDXF Announces Major DXpedition Grants <#toc13> * The K7RA Solar Update <#toc14> * Just Ahead in Radiosport <#toc15> * Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions and Events <#toc16> Amateur Radio Heads into WRC-15 "With Every Possibility of Success" The recently ended second World Radiocommunication Conference 2015 (WRC-15) Conference Preparatory Meeting (CPM15-2 ) left Amateur Radio "with every possibility of success" heading into WRC-15 this fall, said ARRL Chief Technology Officer Brennan Price, N4QX. Price was on the US delegation at CPM15-2, which wrapped up on April 2. The 2-week-long meeting addressed a variety of spectrum-related matters, including several dealing with Amateur Radio. Its /Report to WRC-15/ focuses on technical, operational, and regulatory matters that ITU member-states will consider in developing their proposals to WRC-15. More than 1250 participants from 105 ITU member-states attended. "Through our combined efforts, methods favorable to Amateur Radio were included in all appropriate places within the CPM report," Price said this week. "Amateur Radio will enter WRC-15 with every possibility -- although no assurance -- of success." In addition to Price, those representing Amateur Radio at CPM15-2 included International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) President Tim Ellam, VE6SH/G4HUA; Bryan Rawlings, VE3QN (Canada); Ulrich Mueller, DK4VW (Germany); Ken Yamamoto, JA1CJP (Japan); Hans Blondeel Timmerman, PB2T (The Netherlands), and IARU Vice President Ole Garpestad, LA2RR (Norway). Delegates to CPM15-2 okayed text for WRC-15 agenda item 1.4, dealing with a secondary Amateur Radio allocation at 5 MHz. "The methods proposed in the text, as expected, are all over the map -- ranging from no change to an expansive allocation of 5275-5450 kHz, with explicit suggestions of 15 kHz and 100 kHz in between, and a few methods with details to be filled in later," Price explained. "In short, there is a wide divergence of opinion, and no certainty as to the outcome." Text for other Amateur Radio-related agenda items "appropriately reflects our concerns," Price said. "Text for agenda item 1.1 correctly notes that no compatibility studies between Amateur Radio and mobile *ARRL Chief Technology Officer Brennan Price, N4QX, will be a part of the US delegation to WRC-15.* broadband applications have been conducted for the bands under consideration in which there is an Amateur Radio allocation." He said a method for agenda item 1.6, proposing to authorize Fixed-Satellite Service operation in the 10-10.5 GHz band, was removed from the final text, while a method was added to agenda item 1.12 at the request of the US to provide appropriate protections to the Amateur Satellite Service at 10 GHz, "to supplement the high degree of compatibility that proposed Earth Exploration Satellite Service operation has demonstrated in the band," he added. WRC-15 will get under way on November 2 in Geneva, and will conclude on November 27. World Radiocommunication Conferences are mandated to review and revise the /Radio Regulations /, the international treaty governing the use of RF spectrum and satellite orbit resources. Fran?ois Rancy, Director of ITU's Radiocommunication Bureau, said the outcome of CPM15-2 "represents a major step in the preparations for WRC-15." FCC Proposes to Make Past Amateur Radio Address Information Private The FCC is seeking comments on a /Notice of Proposed Rule Making/ (/NPRM/ ) in WT Docket 15-81 that would restrict routine public inspection of an Amateur Radio licensee's address history. The proposal, released March 31, calls for removing from public view in the Universal Licensing System (ULS ) Amateur Radio licensee address information not associated with a current license or pending application. "We believe that these steps will enhance Amateur Radio operators' privacy without undermining the public interest in knowing who is authorized to operate on amateur spectrum," the FCC said in the /NPRM/. The proposed change would not affect public access to a licensee's current address information, which would remain available. "We believe that publicly available licensee address information facilitates the Amateur Radio community's self-regulation and maintains the distinction between the Amateur Service and other radio services," the FCC said in the /NPRM/. The Wireless Bureau also solicited public input on whether it should extend the same approach to individual licensees in any other radio services. The FCC said that it has, in recent years, received occasional requests from amateur licensees to remove their address information from public access in the ULS. "These requests are not granted, because Section 0.453(d)(4) requires that the information be available for public inspection in ULS," the Commission explained. The FCC noted in the /NPRM/ that the ULS includes not only current authorizations and pending applications, but expired, canceled, or terminated licenses; archived versions of active licenses, and applications that have not been processed. "Information available on ULS includes a licensee's name and address, and technical information about the authorization requested or granted," the /NPRM/ explained. The FCC pointed out that an Amateur Radio licensee is not required to provide a home address, just a valid mailing address. "Those who are concerned about their residential address appearing in ULS may use, among other alternatives, a post office box, a business address, the address of another property the licensee owns, or the address of a friend or relative as their mailing address," the /NPRM/ suggested. The FCC acknowledged that for a licensee whose residential address may already appear in ULS, this approach "offers only a partial solution," the /NPRM/ said, "because replacing the address on a current license does not remove the old address information from archived licenses and processed applications, and it remains publicly viewable even if the license expires or is canceled or otherwise terminated." Comments are due in the proceeding by June 16, with reply comments due on July 16. Amateur Radio Volunteers Activate Emergency Nets Following Chile Volcano Eruption Southern Chile's Calbuco volcano erupted this week for the first time in more than 40 years, forcing the evacuation of an area of some 12 miles around the volcano. Approximately 5000 residents have been relocated, and ash has been reported from as far away as Argentina. The eruption of the Calbuco volcano. "Nature strikes our Chilean brothers one more time," said International Amateur Radio Union Region 2 news editor Joaqu?n Solana, XE1R. IARU Region 2 reports that emergency nets are in operation on 7050 kHz, 14,250 kHz (alternate), and 3,738 kHz (alternate), and requests that other users keep those frequencies clear for emergency traffic. According to Chile's National Mining and Geology Service, the column of ash measures nearly 7 miles. The agency said volcanic activity was diminishing but that the state of emergency remains for the affected region. NPR quoted correspondent Lourdes Garcia-Navarro, who reported that local officials are saying people are very frightened. "The immediate concern is the volcano's eruption could trigger snow melts and cause flooding," she said. According to NPR, the volcanic activity "seems to have caught Chile's geologists by surprise." No injuries have been reported so far. ARRL "Ham Aid" HF Gear Arrives in Micronesia in Wake of Tropical Cyclone An ARRL "Ham Aid " kit of HF gear has arrived in Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) as part of a relief effort in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Maysak. The Ham Aid equipment accompanied a shipment of radio gear, tools, and supplies that John Bush, KH6DLK/V63JB, took from Hawaii to FSM last week. Tropical Cyclone Maysak ravaged many of the nation's islands in late March and early April, wreaking major damage and causing some deaths. ARRL Hawaii Section Manager Bob Schneider, AH6J, said he spoke with Bush via a phone patch established through the station of Richard Darling, AH7G, and Barbara Darling, NH7FY. "John is now on Falalop Island, which is part of Ulithi Atoll, in Yap state," Schneider reported. "John said the Ham Aid kit was next to him in the shack, so it made the trip all the way. He plans to deploy it at the dispensary." Bush serves as technology coordinator for the Federai Elementary School in Ulithi. Schneider said Bush stopped first on Yap Island, spending a couple days talking to government and civil authorities concerning recovery planning and the school situation. Bush told Schneider that Yap Island suffered little damage. Bush reported that the airport on Falalop Island was damaged but operational. "He reports most buildings -- including his own -- were destroyed," Schneider said. "The operations building at the airport, high school, and a couple others had damage but were stronger than most buildings. The high school lost its roof and the computer lab was flooded, along with all the computers." Bush told Schneider that there is a massive amount to debris all around. Bush was able to borrow two 60 Ah batteries on Falalop, and replacements are in one of the cargo shipments coming from Guam. He also has two small, sealed batteries that he was able to transport on his flight. Suitcase solar panels that Bush transported from Hawaii have worked very well, Schneider said, adding that Bush suggested that the ARRL obtain a couple of these units as power backup in isolated areas, as part of the Ham Aid package. *John Bush, V63JB.* Bush told Schneider that the HF equipment was working well and that he prefers to operate during daylight, since electrical power has not yet been restored on the island. "The power company is replacing poles, and it may take some time to get commercial power back," Schneider said. Schneider said Bush had not yet made his way to any of the other islands in Ulithi Atoll, such as Federai. "Second-hand reports from those are grim," he said, and responders have been in short supply. With a population of about 103,000, FSM is comprised of four states over 600 islands -- about 1800 miles from end to end. Typhoon Maysak struck Ulithi Atoll with 160 MPH winds, with gusts to 195 MPH -- a Category 5 storm. A major storm surge of unknown height also hit, and infrastructure on most islands, including schools, homes, and the power and telecommunication systems, suffered major damage or were destroyed altogether. Schneider has requested that the Amateur Radio community listen for relief traffic on HF, but not to interrupt if vital communications are in progress. Ham Aid kits containing both HF and VHF/UHF gear had been shipped to Hawaii last fall, as the massive Puna volcanic lava flow threatened some communities on the Big Island of Hawaii. It includes both HF and VHF gear. Only the HF gear was sent to FSM. Read more . Ad Spratlys DX0P DXpedition Participant Evacuated for Medical Emergency One of the participants in the just-ended DX0P DXpedition to the disputed Spratly Islands was airlifted from Pag Asa Island after suffering a medical emergency. Chito Pastor, WW6CP, became ill just as the DXpedition was starting to wrap up on April 20. "The Medevac just arrived half an hour ago!" DXpedition leader Leo Almazan, WA6LOS, told ARRL early on April 23. "Chito is on his way to the hospital!" Almazan said that he and four other team members were able to return to the Philippines on another flight. The remaining team members will remain on Pag Asa until a Philippines Navy Nomad aircraft picks them up on April 24. ">From what I heard, they were all busy snorkeling all day," said Almazan, who is now at his Angeles City home in the Philippines. He said he plans to fly stateside next month for Dayton Hamvention?. According to Amateur Radio DX.com , an Adventist Medical Aviators Services aircraft that picked up Pastor landed safely in Puerto Princesa without incident. Members of the Mabuhay DX Group went to Pag Asa Island earlier this month and operated for about 5 days, logging some 5000 contacts. All of the DXpedition participants have roots in or reside in the Philippines. *The DX0P DXpedition logged about 5000 contacts during its 5-day Spratlys operation.* A Philippines TV news account posted on the InterAksyon.com website on April 22 reported that Pastor developed kidney problems from drinking from the highly saline water supply on Pag Asa after the DXpedition's drinking water supply ran short. According to the InterAksyon report, a Chinese naval vessel had "harassed a Philippine Air Force patrol flight in the Spratlys" by firing an illumination round on April 21. Almazan told ARRL that the Philippines military later backed away from that account, but the incident caused the postponement of future flights to Pag Asa Island, including the Philippine Navy flight that was to evacuate Pastor. The aircraft set to pick up Pastor later developed mechanical problems, causing further delay, and the Adventist flight was subsequently cleared to make the medical mission on April 23. The InterAksyon report noted that China "has embarked on an aggressive reclamation and construction spree" in the Spratlys, which are claimed in whole or in part by China, the Philippines, Vietnam, and other countries. The Philippines National Telecommunications Commission issued the DX0P license. Spratly Island is number 75 on the ClubLog DXCC Most Wanted List . Almazan headed a nine-member team to Pag Asa Island. "I can write a novel about this DXpedition!" Almazan told ARRL. Participants May Apply Anytime for Centennial Points Challenge, W1AW WAS Awards The window to apply for ARRL Centennial Points Challenge and W1AW Worked All States awards has been open for a month now, and the initial rush of applications has been processed. Participants' Centennial Points Challenge logs must already have been submitted via Logbook of The World (LoTW ) -- the cut-off date was January 22 -- but the League will continue to accept award applications indefinitely. With little to no backlog in the queue, it's anticipated that processing will be prompt. The ARRL Centennial QSO Party and W1AW/portable activities in 2014 represented the biggest on-the-air operation in the history of Amateur Radio, with more than 3.5 million Centennial event contacts recorded in LoTW. W100AW operation accounted for some 70,000 contacts. Most applicants will find the process simple and largely automated. The form will auto-populate, if ARRL has the applicant's information on file. The form may be edited to update name and address information only. The system will select the awards for which the applicant qualifies. Certificates will be printed daily. Plaques will be shipped directly from the supplier. Certificates will be available for the Centennial Points Challenge Award, while W1AW WAS Award participants can order a certificate, a plaque, or both -- ordered separately on the website. Certificates are $16, and plaques are $60. Qualifying for the Top Level Centennial Points Challenge Award requires 15,000 points. The Third Level Award requires 7500 points, while the Second and First Level awards require 3000 and 1000 points, respectively. Point totals will be printed on certificates. ARRL 600 Meter Experiment Coordinator Recommends Renewing Experimental License ARRL 600 Meter Experiment Coordinator Fritz Raab, W1FR, said the mission of the multi-station experimental operation "has actually been accomplished," but since the US still has no medium-frequency (MF) Amateur Service allocation, he believes the Experimental license ought to be renewed. Raab commented in his most recent quarterly status report on the experiment, prepared with John Langridge, KB5NJD, and Warren Ziegler, K2ORS. The interim report said the WD2XSH operations have demonstrated that the Amateur Radio community is interested in MF operation. "Amateurs with ordinary facilities can use the band; exotic antennas are not required," the report said, adding "QSOs from 500 to 1000 miles are routinely achieved, and longer distances are possible." According to the report, WD2XSH operations continued throughout the winter, although transatlantic reception reports "seem[ed] to be down slightly from the previous winter." The FCC has yet to act on the ARRL's 2012 /Petition for Rulemaking/ asking it to create a domestic Amateur Radio allocation at 472-479 kHz, known variously as 600 meters and 630 meters. Delegates to the 2012 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-12), approved a 7-kilohertz-wide secondary Amateur Radio allocation at 472-479 kHz, with a power limit of 5 W EIRP (or 1 W EIRP, depending on location). Radio amateurs in Canada and in several other countries already have allocations there. Canadian 630 meter operators held a cross-band event on February 14, listening on 160 and 80 meters for US stations. The WD2XSH license is set to expire in August, Raab noted in his report. "This is therefore a good time to look at what WD2XSH has accomplished and to consider whether it should be renewed," he said. "Following the WRC-12 decision to create an amateur 630-meter band, most of us expected the FCC to approve access for US amateurs," Raab's report said. "Had this happened, there would not be further need for the WD2XSH license. Over 2 years have passed since the ARRL petitioned the FCC to consider this band, and the FCC does not appear to be in any hurry to do so." *Patrick Hamel, W5THT, is one of the ARRL 600 Meter Experiment participants.* According to the report, which covered WD2XSH operations through February 28, the experiment also has demonstrated reliable regional ground-wave communication. "This will make possible regional beyond-line-of-sight emergency communications that is available at all times of day and is not subject to whims of the ionosphere," the report added. The report also pointed out that in 179,000 hours of operation, "there has not been one complaint of harmful interference from either other radio services or utility power-line communications." The FCC cited concerns about possible interference to utility power-line carrier (PLC) systems in deciding not to adopt its own 2002 proposal for an LF allocation in the vicinity of 137 kHz. Raab said the ARRL "should have a continued presence in our quest for a 630 meter amateur band" and recommended renewing the license. Read more . Australian Ham's "PicoSpace" Balloon Circumnavigates the Globe A foil, party-type balloon carrying a ham radio payload has circumnavigated the globe. Launched on April 6 by Australian radio amateur Andy Nguyen, VK3YT, of Kensington, Victoria, Australia, the balloon, designated PS-41 , completed its round-the-world journey on April 16. It remained aloft until April 22, when Nguyen reported that it had gone down near South America. Along the way, it has been tracked by a network of Amateur Radio operators. Nguyen has been trying since early last year to have one of his launches go full circle. *A map depicting PS-41's trip around the world in 10 days. The dark green icons indicate where the balloon's transmissions were heard.* "PS-41 crossed the starting longitude of 144.903 at 11:20 AM AEST (0120 UTC) this morning, completing the first PicoSpace around-the-world trip," Nguyen posted on April 16. "Thanks to everyone for assistance with tracking and providing encouragement for the project; the trip would not have been possible without you." In January, Nguyen's PS-30 balloon went down in suspected poor weather off the east coast of Africa near Madagascar. The solar-powered, helium-filled PS-41 balloon carried an HF payload, sending /WSPR/ spots and /JT9/ telemetry on 30 and 20 meters from a 25 mW transmitter. The high-attitude PS-41 took a path over Tasmania, then south of New Zealand, the southern tip of South America, directly over the South Georgia and South Sandwich islands, well south of Africa, and back across to Australia. Nguyen's companion PS-42 balloon made its way to the South Pacific between New Zealand and South America, but it went down at about the same time PS-41 completed its round trip. The balloons were extensively tracked via /JT9/ by a network in Australia, New Zealand, South America, South Africa, and Ireland. /WSPR/ spots were received from all over the world. /-- Thanks to Jim Linton, VK3PC/ Ad IEEE 2015 International Microwave Symposium to Include Amateur Radio Presence If Dayton Hamvention? doesn't satisfy your need for wireless exuberance, the so-called "World Series of RF" will convene in Phoenix, Arizona, the following week -- May 17-22. The annual IEEE International Microwave Symposium (IMS ) attracts thousands of professional and academic RF specialists every year -- many of them radio amateurs. And ARRL will have a seat at the table, so to speak. For the third year, the ARRL exhibit will be in "student row" to introduce Amateur Radio to conference attendees. The potential audience includes students of all interests, as well as educators interested in applying the hands-on nature of ham radio to help students gain practical experience. This year, ARRL will focus on the three themes: Gaining experience, career development, and the wealth of spectrum that ham radio offers to anyone interested in RF and RF technologies. More than 500 exhibitors will be at IMS 2015, along with materials and services vendors, top of the line equipment manufacturers, and exotic new startups looking to publicize their technology. Don't let the word "microwave" intimidate you. There is something of interest starting below the AM Standard Broadcast band all the way to the millimeter wavelengths. *The IMS promotes Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics and includes fun activities for younger visitors, including a scavenger hunt on the exhibit floor.* Part of the IMS fun is a significant academic presence. Hundreds of students and educators participate in workshops, design competitions, and the presentation of papers and posters. Along the way, they exchange ideas and get acquainted with other programs from universities and colleges around the world. This year's 16 design competitions range from wideband baluns to SDRs to high-efficiency power amplifiers and high-sensitivity receivers. Post-secondary interest in communications and wireless technology has never been higher. If you're an RF professional and plan to attend IMS 2015, the ARRL invites your help to explain and promote Amateur Radio to show visitors. Contact the ARRL's IMS booth manager, Ward Silver, N0AX, and find out how you can share your stories of how ham radio has helped spark your interest and sustain the arc of your RF career! /-- Thanks to Ward Silver, N0AX/ CQ DQs Two Dozen CQ World Wide DX Contest SSB Participants The CQ World Wide Contest Committee has disqualified 2 dozen entrants in the 2014 CQ World Wide DX Contest (SSB) last October. Another six received warnings. The committee said that it has warned contesters to play fairly and to obey the rules. The vast majority of the disqualifications were for "unclaimed assistance." "The CQ WW Contest Committee takes its job as referee for the contest very seriously," the Committee said in a web blog post. "Each year a group of dedicated members spends many hours poring over logs, listening to SDR recordings, and following up on input from the contest community. We do not always have perfect information, and it is difficult when each entrant is operating from their own station without any outside observer. Even so, the logs and recordings often tell us a clear story. It is our job as referees to call them as we see them." Disqualified entrants are given 5 days to respond. "We do this to allow everyone the opportunity to present an explanation of what appears in the log," the Committee said. /CQ/ received 8283 logs containing more than 5.2 million contacts for the CQ WW SSB. Contest participants represented 223 different countries. Log checking for the 2014 CQ WW DX Contest CW is now complete and have been sent to /CQ/ Magazine. Official results will appear in the May 2015 issue of /CQ/. ARRL Teachers Institute Sessions Still Accepting Applications The ARRL Education & Technology Program is still accepting applications for all four sessions of the ARRL Teachers Institute this summer. Apply now! The deadline is May 1. ARRL is offering three sessions of its "Introductory Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology" (TI-1) during the summer of 2015. Topics covered in the TI-1 course include basic electronics, radio science, microcontroller programming, and basic robotics. ARRL will also offer an advanced Teachers Institute (TI-2), "Remote Sensing and Data Gathering," open to applicants who have completed TI-1. "If you are a past participant of the Teachers Institute we hope that you have found many ways to use the ideas, training and resources you received and are interested in spreading the word to other teachers," said ARRL Education Services Manager Debra Johnson, K1DMJ. "Consider signing up for the advanced TI-2, /'/Remote Sensing and Data Gathering.'" The March /QST/ article, "The ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology," includes the schedule and course descriptions. More information is on the ARRL website. Amateur Radio Special Events to Mark International Marconi Day April 25 is International Marconi Day (IMD ), organized by the Cornish Radio Amateur Club in Cornwall, UK. IMD recognizes the anniversary of the birth of wireless pioneer Guglielmo Marconi, born on April 25, 1874. Participating stations are expected to be on the air during the period 0000 to 2400 UTC (ie, starting the evening of Friday, April 24, in US time zones). The occasion offers an opportunity to contact historic Marconi-related radio sites around the world on HF. Among stations planning to be on the air is VP8VPC in the Falkland Islands. The VPC suffix recalls the call sign of the Marconi spark transmitters in Stanley. The 150 kW transmitter built in 1915 fed seven 305-foot masts and operated on 60-70 kHz. It was the most remote and most powerful station in the Royal Navy's First World War network of stations. After the war, VPC handled commercial message traffic to South America. IMD certificate information and additional details are on the IMD website. Ad NCDXF Announces Major DXpedition Grants The Northern California DX Foundation (NCDXF ) has announced a $50,000 grant to the VK0EK Heard Island DXpedition, planned for November 2015. In the wake of the recent Navassa operation, Heard Island has moved up to number 5 on the ClubLog DXCC Most Wanted List . The NCDXF also has donated $20,000 to the just-announced KH5 Palmyra Atoll DXpedition, planned for January 2016. Palmyra is number 10 on the ClubLog DXCC Most Wanted List. Within the last year, NCDXF has given $175,000 in grants to DX operations in Iran, Andaman, Navassa, Eritrea, Tromelin, South Sandwich, South Georgia, Chesterfield, and Heard. /-- Thanks to Glenn Johnson, W0GJ, NCDXF Vice President/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The K7RA Solar Update Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Average daily solar flux increased from 132.5 to 150.4 over the forecast period. The day with the greatest geomagnetic activity was April 16, when the mid-latitude A index hit 28, the planetary A index was 43, and the high-latitude college A index in Alaska was 57. These are high numbers! Predicted solar flux for the near term is 150 and 145 on April 23-24, 140 on April 25-30, 135 on May 1, 130 on May 2-5, 135 and 140 on May 6-7, 145 on May 8-9, 140 on May 10, 135 on May 11-16, and 150 on May 17-18. Predicted planetary A index is 15, 8, 12, and 5 on April 23-26, 8 on April 27-30, 12 on May 1, 8 on May 2, 5 on May 3-5, 8 on May 6-8, 5 on May 9-11, then 8, 15, 20, 12, 8, and 12 on May 12-17, and 5 on May 18-19. You can download and examine my archive of these forecasts, updated daily, for flux values and Ap index (click the "Download this File" button; files are /Excel/ spreadsheets). This weekly "Solar Update" in /The ARRL Letter/ is a preview of the "Propagation Bulletin" issued each Friday. The latest bulletin and an archive of past propagation bulletins is on the ARRL website. Look for reports from readers in Friday's bulletin. Send me /your/ reports and observations. -- /Tad Cook, K7RA/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Just Ahead in Radiosport * April 25 -- Florida QSO Party (SSB, CW) * April 25 -- QRP To The Field (CW) * April 25-26 -- Ten-Ten Spring Digital Contest * April 25-26 -- SP DX RTTY Contest * April 25-26 -- Helvetia Contest (SSB, CW, Digital) * April 26 -- BARTG 75 Sprint (RTTY) * April 29 -- VHF Spring Sprints (SSB, CW, Digital) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions and Events * April 24-25 -- Southeastern VHF Society Conference , Morehead, Kentucky * April 25 -- Aurora Conference , White Bear Lake, Minnesota * May 1-2 -- West Coast Military Collectors Group Convention , San Luis Obispo, California * May 1-3 -- Nevada State Convention , Verdi, Nevada * May 2 -- South Carolina Section Convention , Spartanburg, South Carolina * May 15-17 -- Dayton Hamvention^? , Dayton, Ohio * June 5-7 -- Northwestern Division Convention (SeaPac), Seaside, Oregon * June 6 -- Georgia State Convention , Marietta, Georgia * June 12-13 -- West Gulf Division Convention (Ham-Com), Irving, Texas * June 13 -- Tennessee State Convention , Knoxville, Tennessee * July 4 -- Eastern Pennsylvania Section Convention , Harrisburg, Pennsylvania * July 10-11 -- Northern Florida Section Convention , Milton, Florida * July 13-16 -- Mobile Amateur Radio Awards Club Convention , The Villages, Florida * July 17-19 -- Montana State Convention , East Glacier, Montana * July 23-26 -- Central States VHF Society Conference , Westminster, Colorado * July 24-25 -- Oklahoma Section Convention , Oklahoma City, Oklahoma * July 31-August 2 -- Rocky Mountain Division Convention , Bryce Canyon, Utah Find conventions and hamfests in your area . ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *ARRL *-- *Your One-Stop Resource for * *Amateur Radio News and Information* . . . * Join or Renew Today! ARRL membership includes /QST/ , Amateur Radio's most popular and informative journal, delivered to your mailbox each month. * Listen to /ARRL Audio News/ , available every Friday. Subscribe to... * /NCJ / /-- National Contest Journal/ . Published bi-monthly, features articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA Sprint and QSO Parties. * /QEX/ *//*/-- A Forum for Communications Experimenters/ . 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 to the /ARES E-Letter/ (monthly public service and emergency communications news), the /ARRL Contest Update/ (bi-weekly contest newsletter), Division and Section news alerts -- and much more! Find ARRL on Facebook ! Follow us on Twitter ! Ad Ad Ad Ad Ad ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 48 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/arrlletter/. Copyright ? 2015 American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved www.arrl.org From bmarx at bellsouth.net Sat Apr 25 07:46:53 2015 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2015 07:46:53 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] Southeastern Division Spring Update In-Reply-To: <20150425011524.0B8B720353A9@bmail.arrl.org> References: <20150425011524.0B8B720353A9@bmail.arrl.org> Message-ID: <553B7EAD.1000506@bellsouth.net> Although it really feels more like summer in Central Florida, we're well into Spring. I've been quite busy professionally, so this update will cover a lot of ground! ************************************************************* First off, congratulations to Ellen White, W1YL for being featured in an excellent interview article in the May/June National Contest Journal (NCJ). Ellen, her late husband Bob (W1CW), and her late son Jim (K4OJ) were part of the ARRL Headquarters staff family for many years. ************************************************************* Congratulations to Kai Siwiak, KE4PT, for winning the Cover Plaque Award for his article "An Off Center End Fed Dipole for portable Operation on 40 to 6 Meters? in the March 2015 issue of QST. SFL Section Manager Jeff Beals, WA4AW, and I had the privilege of presenting the 2013 Doug DeMaw, W1FB, Technical Excellence Award to Kai at the Melbourne Hamfest last year. ************************************************************* Congratulations to the Orlando Amateur Radio Club (OARC) for being named Club of the Year by the Dayton Hamvention?. "The Orlando Amateur Radio Club (W4PLB) is the largest and oldest Amateur Radio club in Central Florida with a membership base of more than 300. An ARRL Special Service Club, it sponsors the annual Orlando HamCation?, the second largest ham radio gathering in the US." ************************************************************* The Florida QSO Party (FQP) is this weekend?Saturday, April 25 1600Z (Noon EDT) - 0159Z (9:59 PM EDT) Sunday, April 26 1200Z (8 AM EDT) - 2159Z (5:59 PM EDT). There is an 18th Anniversary Special Event Award- 2015 FQP Spelling Bee: Contact all six 1x1 stations during the 2015 FQP whose suffixes spell ?ORANGE? The callsigns and hosts are: K4O ? W4UH/PAL K4R ? N4WW/ORA K4A ? K1PT/MRT K4N ? K1TO/MTE K4G ? K5KG/SAR K4E ? W4MLB/BRE All six stations will be on both modes full-time and should be very accessible. QSL the six 1x1 calls active in FQP via KK3Q direct or via bureau. See http://www.floridaqsoparty.org/ for detailed rules, mobile routes, past results, plaques, county maps and much more. ************************************************************* ARRL Teachers Institute Sessions are still accepting applications for all four sessions of the ARRL Teachers Institute this summer. The deadline is May 1. More information about the program and the application can be found at: http://www.arrl.org/teachers-institute-on-wireless-technology ************************************************************* Want to know when hamfests will be held near you? Visit: http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/search There are numerous search options to choose what area you want to know about. Upcoming Conventions in the Division are: 6/6: Georgia State Convention (Atlanta Hamfestival) 7/10: Northern Florida Section Convention (Milton Hamfest) 8/15: Alabama State Convention (Huntsville Hamfest) 10/9: Florida State Convention (Melbourne Hamfest) 11/7: Georgia Section Convention (Stone Mountain Hamfest) 12/11: West Central Florida Section Convention (Tampa Bay Hamfest) ************************************************************* The Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2015 -- H.R.1301 -- has been introduced in the US House of Representatives. The measure would direct the FCC to extend its rules relating to reasonable accommodation of Amateur Service communications to private land use restrictions. US Rep Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) introduced the bill on March 4 with 12 original co-sponsors from both sides of the aisle -- seven Republicans and five Democrats. HR 1301 would require the FCC to amend its Part 97 Amateur Service rules to apply the three-part test of the PRB-1 federal pre-emption policy to include homeowners' association regulations and deed restrictions, often referred to as "covenants, conditions, and restrictions" (CC&Rs). At present, PRB-1 only applies to state and local zoning laws and ordinances. The FCC has been reluctant to extend the same legal protections to include such private land-use agreements without direction from Congress. The following Representatives from districts within our Division have already signed on as co-sponsors: Rep Pierluisi, Pedro R. [PR] Rep Rooney, Thomas J. [FL-17] If you live in their districts, please thank them by sending a letter or email to them. If your Representative isn't listed above (and most aren't!), please consider writing a letter to them. For more information on H.R.1301, including how to identify your Representative and a sample letter, please see: http://www.arrl.org/hr-1301 ************************************************************* We are seeking a volunteer for the Division Legislative Action Chair (DLAC). The person will need to have time available to be able to commit to it. The DLAC appoints, trains and manages one or more Legislative Action Coordinators (LAC) for each state in the Division. The two documents available at http://www.arrl.org/resources-1 describe the ARRL's grassroots program in detail and there is also a training video on that web page. The DLAC position can be done electronically via email, telephone, and web meeting; the DLAC is not required to physically travel around the Division. If you are interested in the DLAC position, please email me at k4ac at arrl.org. Please include if you have prior experience that would help in the DLAC position such as grassroots campaigning/organizing or management in a volunteer organization (or whatever you believe would be beneficial) ************************************************************* Please share this update as widely as possible (club newsletters, club reflectors, etc.)! ************************************************************* Thanks & 73 de Doug, K4AC, and Mike, AA6ML -------------------------------------------------------------------- ARRL Southeastern Division Director: Doug Rehman, K4AC k4ac at arrl.org -------------------------------------------------------------------- From bmarx at bellsouth.net Sat Apr 25 13:09:59 2015 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2015 13:09:59 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] Club Station Trustee - Clarification In-Reply-To: <654993EDEB47B4448397D060F0FD05B8172FE620@EXCHANGE.ARRLHQ.ORG> References: <654993EDEB47B4448397D060F0FD05B8172FE620@EXCHANGE.ARRLHQ.ORG> Message-ID: <553BCA67.3010108@bellsouth.net> Here is a clarification of the use of a Club Call Sign: "A club call has NO operating privileges so it is irrelevant of the class of the trustee. A club call does not "carry" the privileges of the trustee. It can be used to the extent of the privileges of the control operator. The rules do not require the callsign of the control operator to be used in addition to the club call. If there is an issue, the FCC will ask the trustee who was the control operator at a given time, which is the responsibility of the trustee to know. It would be at that point that any out of license class of the control operator issue is resolved. But again, a club callsign has no operating privileges and does not have the privileges of the trustee. 73, Chuck Skolaut K?BOG" Field & Regulatory Correspondent ARRL The national association for Amateur Radio k0bog at arrl.org This means simply that the person operating a station using a Club Call sign with a Trustee, must stay within his/her operating class priveledges. Just because a Trustee holds an Extra Class License, does not mean a Technician Class can operate using the Trustees Extra Privileges. Bill W2CQ From bmarx at bellsouth.net Sat Apr 25 17:10:50 2015 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2015 17:10:50 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] Happy Birthday Guglielmo Marconi In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <553C02DA.6050807@bellsouth.net> From Tony N2MFT: 25 April, happy birthday Guglielmo Marconi!!! Posted about9 hours ago|0 comment Guglielmo Marconi, 1st Marquis of Marconi (Italian: 25 April 1874 ? 20 July 1937) was an Italian inventor and electrical engineer, known for his pioneering work on long-distance radio transmission[1] and for his development of Marconi?s law and a radio telegraph system. He is often credited as the inventor of radio, and he shared the 1909 Nobel Prize in Physics with Karl Ferdinand Braun ?in recognition of their contributions to the development of wireless telegraphy?. An entrepreneur, businessman, and founder in Britain in 1897 of The Wireless Telegraph & Signal Company (which became the Marconi Company), Marconi succeeded in making a commercial success of radio by innovating and building on the work of previous experimenters and physicists. In 1929 the King of Italy ennobled Marconi as a Marchese (marquis). source: wikipedia Guglielmo_Marconi_1901_wireless_signal https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guglielmo_Marconi From bmarx at bellsouth.net Sun Apr 26 08:37:02 2015 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2015 08:37:02 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] Springtime is Project Time! In-Reply-To: <1120859851395.1103600790276.3415.0.521904JL.1002@scheduler.constantcontact.com> References: <1120859851395.1103600790276.3415.0.521904JL.1002@scheduler.constantcontact.com> Message-ID: <553CDBEE.4010805@bellsouth.net> Having trouble viewing this email? Click here * Springtime is project time . . . and we're here to help! Check out our books, CDs and DVDs below - you're sure to find a project idea or the project guidance you've been looking for! * *//* Spring's milder weather brings that undeniable urge to start a project! Whether an indoor or outdoor project, many of our books, CDs and DVDs are here to help! We're restocking our most popular titles to provide some of the insight and guidance needed to get you started and see you though both quick and easy and challenging projects! Below you'll find a sampling of some of the great titles offered in CQ's Online Store! *Product Quicklinks* Sloper Antennas, Reflections III, Building & Using Baluns & Ununs <#LETTER.BLOCK6> Shortwave Propagation Handbook, W6SAI HF Antennas & McCoy on Antennas <#LETTER.BLOCK8> Quad Antennas, 33 Simple Weekend Projects, HamRadio on CD and more! <#LETTER.BLOCK14> */Sloper Antennas, Reflections III and Understanding, Building & Using Baluns & Ununs/ * * Sloper Antennas Book or CD * sloperjpg By Juergen A. 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Discover easy-to-build construction projects. 6 X 9 Paperback: $17.95 *Short Vertical Antenna and Ground Radial* short vertical by Weigel, OE5CWL Small but solid guide walks you through the design and installation of inexpensive, yet effective short HF vertical antennas. 6 X 9 Paperback: $10.00 *Getting Started DVDs * GS Dvds * 3 Paks to Choose From On Sale -Only $16 each! ***CQ Ham Radio Welcome Pak DVD contains 3 programs: Ham Radio Horizons Getting Started in Ham Radio Getting Started in VHF **CQ HF Specialty Pak DVD contains 2 programs: Getting Started in DXing Getting Started in Contesting **CQ VHF Specialty Pak DVD contains 3 programs: Getting Started in Satellites Getting Started in VHF Getting Started in Packet When purchased together you save even more! Get all 3 DVD Paks - a total of 8 programs for only $15 each. Buy All 3 Paks for Only $45 * /HamRadio/ Anthologies * 4 ants * On Sale! Only $16 each * Enjoy collections of the best material published in Ham Radio magazine, conveniently arranged by subject and original publication date . Buy All 4 for only $60! Homebrewing Techniques - $16 Test Equipment & Repair Techniques - $16 **Antennas 1968 - 1972 - $16 ** **Antennas 1973 - 1975 - $16 * Buy all four anthologies and save an additional $4 * * Click here to visit CQ's Online Store! * Forward email This email was sent to bmarx at bellsouth.net by d.kehrwieder at cqcomm.com | Rapid removal with SafeUnsubscribe ? | Privacy Policy . CQ Communications, Inc.| 25 Newbridge Road| Hicksville| NY| 11801 From bmarx at bellsouth.net Sun Apr 26 18:19:46 2015 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2015 18:19:46 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] The AMP Lady Laura Krupp, WB2YL? In-Reply-To: <553CE426.40607@bellsouth.net> References: <553CE426.40607@bellsouth.net> Message-ID: <553D6482.4090205@bellsouth.net> Her email mailbox is full. I've received other phone numbers for her, aside from the one on her website, and those are not working or disconnected. So I would say be careful, to anyone sending their Amplifier for repair unless you have spoken to her directly, and confirmed she is still in business. Others have, and they cannot reach her to retrieve their Amplifiers. I would pass this information along to others. Bill Marx W2CQ From bmarx at bellsouth.net Wed Apr 29 08:26:26 2015 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2015 08:26:26 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] HF RADIOS FOR SALE AT CHEAP PRICES. CAREFUL!!!!!! Message-ID: <5540CDF2.9040202@bellsouth.net> This email is making the rounds on various Yahoo Groups lists. It contains all the latest and greatest radios for too good to be true prices. The actual owner of the callsign is deceased and was a Technician Class. It is a HOAX and may contain Malware. See post below from another list. Never click on unknown links or things that look to good to be true. Bill W2CQ HF RADIOS FOR SALE AT CHEAP PRICES.( n1two at yandex.com ) ******************** BE VERY CAREFUL!!!!!! **************** The CALL SIGN is a malicious computer virus: N1two(dot)e x e is a stealthy malicious program code installed by other mischievous threats without your consent or knowledge. N1two.exe may appear after downloading free media tools or pornographic content images and videos. N1two.exe may monitor your system actions and change or damage system files. From bmarx at bellsouth.net Wed Apr 29 12:33:32 2015 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2015 12:33:32 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] ARLB016 FCC Proposes to Permit Amateur Access to 2200 and 630 Meters In-Reply-To: <20150429144022.5CD54207D378@bmail.arrl.org> References: <20150429144022.5CD54207D378@bmail.arrl.org> Message-ID: <554107DC.80809@bellsouth.net> SB QST @ ARL $ARLB016 ARLB016 FCC Proposes to Permit Amateur Access to 2200 and 630 Meters ZCZC AG16 QST de W1AW ARRL Bulletin 16 ARLB016 >From ARRL Headquarters Newington CT April 29, 2015 To all radio amateurs SB QST ARL ARLB016 ARLB016 FCC Proposes to Permit Amateur Access to 2200 and 630 Meters Amateur Radio is poised to gain access to two new bands! The FCC has allocated a new LF band, 135.7 to 137.8 kHz, to the Amateur Service on a secondary basis. Allocation of the 2.1 kHz segment, known as 2200 meters, was in accordance with the Final Acts of the 2007 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-07). The Commission also has proposed a new secondary 630 meter MF allocation at 472 to 479 kHz to Amateur Radio, implementing decisions made at WRC-12. No Amateur Radio operation will be permitted in either band until the FCC determines, on the basis of comments, the specific Part 97 rules it must frame to permit operation in the new bands. Amateur Radio would share both allocations with unlicensed Part 15 power line carrier (PLC) systems operated by utilities to control the power grid, as well as with other users. In addition, the FCC has raised the secondary Amateur Service allocation at 1900 to 2000 kHz to primary, while providing for continued use by currently unlicensed commercial fishing vessels of radio buoys on the "open sea." The allocation changes, associated proposed rules, and suggested topics for comment are contained in a 257-page FCC Report and Order, Order, and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking addressing three dockets - ET-12-338, ET-15-99, and IB-06-123 - which affect various radio services in addition to the Amateur Service. The FCC released the document on April 27. With respect to the new LF sliver band at 135.7-137.8 kHz, the FCC concluded that Amateur Radio and PLC systems can coexist there. "Since the Commission last considered this issue, amateurs have successfully operated in the band under experimental licenses without reported PLC interference," the FCC said. "We are also encouraged by the fact that numerous fixed radionavigation beacons, which operate at much higher powers, share spectrum with PLC systems without reported interference." In 2003 the FCC turned down an ARRL proposal to create a 135.7-137.8 kHz Amateur Radio allocation, after utilities raised fears of a clash between Amateur Radio and PLC systems operating below the AM broadcast band. This time, the FCC said, "It is clear that we will have to establish appropriate requirements for amateur use of the band, if we are to ensure compatibility with PLC systems." WRC-07 set a maximum effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP) limit of 1 W, which is what the FCC is proposing. The FCC said it "explicitly" rejects the suggestion that it choose one use of the spectrum over the other. "Our objective is to allocate spectrum on a secondary basis to amateur stations in a manner...compatible with existing PLC systems," the FCC said. "However, we also expect to permit amateur operators to make use of the allocation in a manner that is less burdensome and more productive than they are currently afforded under the experimental authorization process." The Commission said that if it concludes, after considering the record, that Amateur Radio and PLC systems cannot coexist, it would "defer the adoption of service rules, and amateur users will have to continue to use the experimental licensing process to operate in the band." With respect to the proposed 630 meter allocation, the FCC has proposed limiting amateur stations in the US to a maximum 5 W EIRP. In the US, 435-495 kHz is allocated to the Maritime Mobile Service on a primary basis for federal and non-federal use, and to the aeronautical radionavigation service on a secondary basis for federal use. The ARRL submitted a Petition for Rule Making in 2012 asking the FCC to allocate 472-479 kHz to the Amateur Service on a secondary basis and to amend the Part 97 rules to provide for its use. Several countries, including Canada, already have access to the band. The ARRL has pointed out that during its extensive course of experimentation in the spectrum around 500 kHz, no interference reports have been received. The FCC said that the "cornerstone" of the technical rules it's proposing for both bands is "physical separation between amateur stations and the transmission lines" carrying PLC signals. "Such a separation, in conjunction with limits on the amateur stations' transmitted EIRP and antenna heights, will enable PLC systems and amateur stations to coexist in these bands," the FCC asserted. "In addition, we propose to limit amateur stations to operations at fixed locations only, to ensure that this separation distance can be maintained reliably." The FCC said it wants to hear from both PLC system users and radio amateurs regarding technical requirements it would have to put into place to permit both users to operate comfortably and without compromising the PLC systems. The Commission suggested that other requirements might include limits on antenna heights, transmitter power limits, and operating privilege limits based on license class or mode. The ARRL will file comments in the proceeding. The FCC will accept comments for 60 days following publication of the Report and Order, Order, and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register. Reply comments would be due 30 days after the comment deadline. NNNN /EX