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 Previous: ARRL E-mail Addresses to be Available to Members |  Next: Spirit of St Louis Balloon Flight Ready to Launch |
December 23, 1998
IOY nominations due soon; NACEC conducts "Radio Round Up"; New TIS Coordinator; New OK SM; Alinco site adds product documentation; ARRL/TAPR site adds DCC highlights; Larsen gets new name; IDEA establishes scholarship; Ham helps nab road-rage suspect; New address for Director Kanode; Satellites get OSCAR assignments; Morse estate open for tours; Long Island amateurs support Santa; RAC changes; Operating in Australia; K6MD promoted to Brigadier General; K1HT appointed to contest panel; New Dutch hams can pick their own call signs
IOY nominations due soon: Nominations for the annual ARRL Instructor of the Year awards are due to section managers by January 31, 1999. It's easy to nominate an exceptional ham radio instructor, teacher, or recruiter. The nomination forms are available on ARRLWeb at http://www.arrl.org/ead/ award/application.html. Nominations may be sent to section managers via e-mail. For more information, contact Jean Wolfgang, WB3IOS, e-mail jwolfgang@arrl.org; tel 860-594-0219. Award winners receive plaques and recognition for their time and effort in service to the amateur community.
NACEC conducts "Radio Round Up": As Hurricane Mitch recovery efforts continue, the North American Center for Emergency Communications (NACEC) is conducting its first-ever Radio Round Up to acquire additional equipment for its "Mission Honduras" project. Through the Radio Round Up, individuals, organizations, and companies help by sponsoring 2-way communications gear needed in remote areas of Honduras. So far, the nonprofit NACEC says it's received contributions totaling just over $2300 targeted for Mission Mitch Honduras. The gear will help expedite recovery operations in the flood-ravaged Central American nation, where damage to the transportation and communication infrastructures has slowed communication necessary for relief. For more information, visit the NACEC Hurricane Mitch page, http://www.nacec.org/hurricane-mitch/; tel 888-746-2232; e-mail nacec@nacec.org. Contributions are welcome to "NACEC Operations Fund." Sent donations to NACEC Operations Fund, PO Box 23057, Minneapolis, MN 55423.--NACEC
New TIS Coordinator: W1AW weekend operator Al Alvareztorres, AA1DO, begins a new position as ARRL Technical Information Service Coordinator on January 4, 1999. Members having technical questions may pose them to Al at 860-594-0214; e-mail tis@arrl.org, or write TIS, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111.
New OK SM: Charlie Calhoun, K5TTT, has been appointed Oklahoma Section Manager. He replaces Coy Day, N5OK, who takes office as West Gulf Division Vice Director January 1, 1999. Calhoun's term as SM ends September 30, 2000.
Alinco site adds product documentation: Alinco has added a page to its Web site, http://www.alinco.com/pdf.files that's devoted to Alinco product manuals and other documentation. The files are in Adobe Acrobat 3.0 portable document file (PDF) format and can be viewed, downloaded, or printed. The Adobe Acrobat reader is available free from the Adobe site, http://www.adobe.com/acrobat (or you can download it via the Alinco site).
ARRL/TAPR site adds DCC highlights: The ARRL and TAPR Digital Communications Conference Web site now includes all recorded segments from the 1998 conference plus a story and photo section. Available at http://www.tapr.org/dcc/, highlights include the keynote address by Dale Hatfield, W0IFO, chief of the FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology; the APRS national symposium; presentations of technical papers; the Packet Radio Users Group of Japan technical seminar, and other sessions. Also find photos and 1998 Proceedings abstracts. The 1999 ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference will be in September in Phoenix. -- TAPR
Larsen gets new name: Larsen Electronics has changed its name to Larsen Antenna Technologies. The company says its name change "reflects Larsen's focus and commitment to excellence in antenna design" for various radio applications. For 30 years, Larsen, with headquarters in Vancouver, Washington, has manufactured portable, mobile, and small fixed-base antennas from 25 MHz to 2.5 GHz for commercial and amateur applications. For more information, visit http://www.larsenantennas.com.
IDEA establishes scholarship: The Indiana Digital Experimenters Association (IDEA) has established a scholarship through The ARRL Foundation Inc to be awarded during the 1998-99 school year. The IDEA scholarship would go to an Indiana high school senior who is a Technician or higher-class licensee planning to study electronics, communications, or related fields at an accredited Indiana school. Preference is given to academic record, financial need, and demonstrated interested in promoting both the Amateur Radio Service and community service uses of ham radio. For details, contact Mary Robertson, N7IAL, at The ARRL Foundation; e-mail mrobertson@arrl.org; tel 860-594-0230.
Ham helps nab road-rage suspect: A California ham was instrumental in helping police to nab an angry motorist who had seriously injured another motorist after being cut off on the freeway. According to an account in The Orange County Register, the angry driver followed the other driver for miles "before confronting him on a busy city street, shoving him under an accelerating big rig, and kicking him even after he had been run over." The account says that the angry driver and his two co-workers drove off. But they were caught later in the morning when Ed Greany, KB6DOL, of Corona, heard a broadcast description of the vehicle and then saw the men pass by. He notified police via ham radio, and they arrested Richard Snyder, 28 and two others on suspicion of attempted murder. The newspaper said Snyder had a string of previous convictions, and his license had been suspended. The injured motorist was reported in serious condition. According to the FCC database, the Greany household includes three hams. -- thanks to Charlie Clifford Jr, W6QMY
New address for Director Kanode: ARRL Roanoke Division Director John Kanode, N4MM, has a new mailing address, effective January 1, 1999. It's 1741 Old Chapel Rd, Boyce, VA 22620.
Satellites get OSCAR assignments: Amateur Radio's two newest satellites, SEDSAT-1 and PANSAT, have been assigned OSCAR numbers by AMSAT. SEDSAT-1 now is SEDSAT OSCAR-33 or SO-33, while PANSAT is PANSAT OSCAR-34 or PO-34. Both were launched earlier this fall. AMSAT President Keith Baker, KB1SF, congratulated members of the SEDSAT and PANSAT teams on their success in placing their respective satellites into orbit. The assignment of consecutive OSCAR numbers to new ham radio satellites dates from the launch of OSCAR-1. To qualify for an OSCAR number, the satellite must successfully achieve orbit and one or more transmitters must be successfully activated in the Amateur Radio bands. -- AMSAT News Service
Morse estate open for tours: Hams who expect to be in the vicinity of Poughkeepsie, New York, after Christmas might want to stop in to visit Locust Grove, the estate of Samuel F B Morse. The estate will be open from December 26-31, 10 AM until 4 PM, for tours and viewing of the grounds. A small admission fee is charged. Morse, of course, is credited with invention of the telegraph and the Morse code. The property, at 370 South Rd (US Route 9) in Poughkeepsie (right off I-84), will be decorated for the holidays. For more information and directions, call 914-454-4500; e-mail morse-historic-site@worldnet.att.net. -- Stu Ballinger, WA2BSS via The Hudson Loop
Long Island amateurs support Santa: Officers and members of the Suffolk County Radio Club and the Brookhaven Town ARES unit on Long Island, New York, presented Santa and his helpers to the pediatric unit of Brookhaven Memorial Hospital December 12. The ham radio crew carried presents for all the patients in the unit. Teddy bears received the biggest hugs of all. Both groups then proceeded to the Suffolk County Skilled Nursing Center in Yaphank, New York, where gifts were distributed to the residents and Santa sang Christmas carols with the residents. -- Art Weiss, N2OQI, via The Hudson Loop
RAC changes: Robert McKenzie, VE3SJQ, becomes Radio Amateurs of Canada Ontario Section Manager January 1, 1999. McKenzie was recently elected SM for a two-year term beginning April 1, 1999. He'll also complete the term of outgoing SM Larry Thivierge, VE3GT, who becomes RAC Ontario North Director on January 1. -- RAC
Operating in Australia: The Wireless Institute of Australia's QNews says the Australian Communications Authority (ACA) "remains reluctant" to change its requirement that all foreign radio amateurs visiting Australia take out a VK license. It does not appear the ACA will recognize an "international ticket," such as a CEPT license, anytime soon. The ACA recognizes licenses issued by 35 countries, including the US, and has a list of equivalent VK licenses. When it receives a request from an amateur from a country not on the list, it will issue a 2-meter FM telephony license only. For more information, visit http://www.sma.gov.au/publications/ info/visiting.htm. -- QNews
K6MD promoted to Brigadier General: Gerald Griffin MD, K6MD, has been promoted to a Brigadier General in the US Army. Griffin is a member of the ARRL RF Safety Committee, a member and past President of the Northern California DX Club, a DXCC Honor Roll member, and a member and past President of the Monterey Bay Chapter of QCWA. Congratulations! -- thanks to Jim Maxwell, W6CF
K1HT appointed to contest panel: ARRL New England Division Director Tom Frenaye, K1KI, has appointed Dave Hoaglin, K1HT, of Sudbury, Massachusetts, to serve as the New England Division member of the ARRL Contest Advisory Committee. He succeeds Kurt Pauer, W6PH (ex-W1PH) who served on the CAC for several years. "I really do thank Kurt for his long service to the contesting community!" Frenaye said in making the announcement. Hoaglin is an active contester and a member of the Yankee Clipper Contest Club. Frenaye says that Pauer and Hoaglin have a lot in common. "They operate from modest stations, understand the issues that both beginners and experienced contesters have, and they both have gained a lot of their experience with contest details by serving as YCCC scorekeepers," he said. New England Division members may contact Dave Hoaglin at dave_hoaglin@abtassoc.com. -- Tom Frenaye, K1KI
New Dutch hams can pick their own call signs: Amateur authorities in the Netherlands now permit newly licensed hams to pick their own call signs, with some limitations. Those passing the "A" exam, may choose from among PA1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, PB1 to PB5, PB7, 8 and 9 prefixes. Limited license holders can choose prefixes starting with PE2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, and 9. Novices can chose from among the prefixes PD2, 3, 4 and 5 Suffixes may have two or three letters with the proviso that, if three letters are chosen, they cannot be the same letter, and internationally recognized three-letter terms such as SOS, are not allowed. Those taking advantage pay a one-time fee to change their suffix to one of their choice.--QNews
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