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 Previous: Next SAREX Mission to Test DSP Hardware |  Next: 1999 Dayton Hamvention Posts Slight Attendance Increase |
June 22, 1999
FCC sets new vanity fee; Vanity update; No question pool changes--yet; W1AW on air for Field Day; 146.52 MHz FM simplex off limits for FD; Next SAREX mission to fly July 20; A PSK first?; Louisiana PRB-1 bill clears legislature; Oscar Morales Tur, CO2OM, SK; In the current issue of QEX; Central Ohio Severe Weather Net Praised; Thirteen-year-old amateur wins physics award; W9R Great Circus Train special event certificates; Mobile DBS radio; G3TWS becomes WACRAL president; W1BB call sign changes trustees; FCC upholds decision, fine in pirate radio case
FCC sets new vanity fee: The fee to apply for an Amateur Radio vanity call sign will increase from $13 to $14 starting September 10, 1999. The FCC has released its FY 1999 fee schedule which rounded down the proposed $1.42 per year fee.--FCC
Vanity update: The FCC in Gettysburg reports it has processed vanity call sign applications received through May 28. On June 10, the FCC issued 92 grants. Another 88 applications landed in the work-in-process (WIPs) stack.--FCC
No question pool changes--yet: No Amateur Radio examination question pool or question changes for any license class--including Advanced--will occur July 1. Last September, the National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators' Question Pool Committee announced that all question pool updates were being put on hold until after the FCC had acted on Amateur Radio restructuring (officially known as the Part 97 Biennial Review). Until the September NCVEC QPC announcement, the Advanced class question pool had been scheduled to expire June 30, 1999. Current examination questions and ARRL study materials now remain valid until further notice.
W1AW on air for Field Day: Maxim Memorial Station W1AW will be on the air for Field Day from its regular station location. With the exception of the Field Day message transmission, W1AW will operate continuously during the Field Day period. HQ staff members will serve as operators.
146.52 MHz FM simplex off limits for FD: ARRL Contest Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, reminds Field Day participants that ARRL contest rules prohibit the use of the national simplex channel, 146.52 MHz, to solicit or make Field Day contacts. Henderson further points out that the "General Rules for ARRL Contests on Bands above 50 MHz "(which includes Field Day), Rule 1.8 states "Use of the national simplex frequency, 146.52 or immediate adjacent guard frequencies is prohibited." Rule 1.8.2 further states "The intent of this rule is to protect the national simplex frequency from contest monopolization."
Next SAREX mission to fly July 20: Word from NASA is that the next Space Amateur Radio EXperiment mission--and the only one scheduled for 1999--has been scheduled to launch on July 20 at 0436 UTC aboard shuttle Columbia mission STS-93. The shuttle mission, which will carry the Chandra Observatory into orbit, has been delayed several times already. The STS-93 Mission Commander is Eileen M. Collins, KD5EDS. Also aboard will be Mission Specialist Michel Tognini, KD5EJZ, and Mission Specialist Catherine G. Coleman, KC5ZTH. Students at five schools--in Texas, Rhode Island, Virginia, and Florida--are on the list to talk to the STS-93 crew via Amateur Radio.
A PSK first? On June 10, a possible world's first 24-GHz PSK communications contact was achieved by ON4AOD and DB2OS during a Phase 3D transmitter final checkout and antenna adjustment period at the Phase 3D Integration Lab in Orlando. Phase 3D Project Leader Karl Meinzer, DJ4ZC, was reported to be "delighted" by the sound of the 400 bit/s PSK transmission and detection of the signal.--Lou McFadin, W5DID
Louisiana PRB-1 bill clears legislature: The Louisiana state Senate has passed HB 2088, which limits the control of local jurisdictions to regulate Amateur Radio antennas. The bill now is on its way to Gov Mike Foster for his signature. Louisiana Section Manager Lionel "Al" Oubre, K5DPG, expressed his thanks and appreciation to Dan Whelchel, K5IQZ, who spearheaded the Louisiana PRB-1 effort, and to Rep Victor Stelly, who authored the bill. Oubre also thanked the Louisiana hams who contacted state lawmakers urging support of the bill.
Oscar Morales Tur, CO2OM, SK: Well-known Cuban DXer Oscar Morales Tur, CO2OM, died June 16. He was 79. First licensed in 1935, Morales topped the DXCC standings among operators in Cuba with 328 DXCC entities confirmed. He was the founder of the Cuban DX Group and remained its national coordinator. Survivors include his son Oscar Morales Jr, CO2OJ.--Oscar Morales Jr, CO2OJ
In the current issue of QEX: Look into new technologies with QEX. In the July/August issue you'll find articles on 3D antenna patterns--KF6DX explains how to plot three-dimensional radiation-patterns using QuickBasic 4.5; Satellites--OE3JIS presents a setup to receive the Phase 3D 10.4-GHz downlink; PSK31--Learn the technology behind this popular new RTTY mode from its creator, Peter Martinez, G3PLX; Switching Supplies--a switching power supply beginners can build; Multiband Wire Antennas--W7SX explores several multiband antennas based on extended double Zepps; Contest Filters-W3NQN presents new band-pass filters with attenuation centered on adjacent ham bands. It's a great help to multi-multi operations; Thin Mobile Whips?--They make your signal thin too! KM5KG tells us why. Plus diplexer filters, high-voltage power, and constant-current sources. For more information, visit http://www.arrl.org/qex.
Central Ohio Severe Weather Net Praised: The National Weather Service has commended the Columbus, Ohio, Airport Authority for its support of the Central Ohio Severe Weather Net. The Amateur Radio net provides the NWS with real-time severe weather reports from trained weather spotters. The Port Columbus International Airport serves as a home to the COSWN. At a June 1 ceremony at the airport, the NWS presented a plaque and award letter to the Authority in recognition of its support to COSWN. "Severe weather reports received from spotters during the tornado events of April 9, 1999, in Southeast Indiana and Southwest Ohio played a vital role in the warning process," said Meteorologist in Charge Kenneth J. Haydu. "The Central Ohio Severe Weather Net helps serve as the eyes and ears of the NWS in central Ohio" and helps the NWS to confirm what it sees on radar or as a basis for warnings. Haydu said that, despite advances in radar technology, radar cannot detect all severe thunderstorms or tornadoes. COSWN President John Montgomery, N8PVC, said it takes teamwork, community spirit and the involvement of several groups to successfully carry out the Net's work. "Everyone has a vital role in this mission." Columbus Airport Authority Board Director J. Robinson McCormick assured those on hand that the Net "will always have a place at the airport."--John Montgomery, N8PVC
Thirteen-year-old amateur wins physics award: Henry Orantis, N3ZUX, of , Lanham, Maryland, won Grand Prize and Certificate of Honor for first place (8th grade) at the third annual Science Fair at Thomas Johnson Middle School. He then went on to pick up a second-place award at the Prince George's County, Maryland, Science Fair in the junior division physics category. His exhibit was a pulse frequency modulation infrared lightwave transmitter and receiver system. After researching the subject, he designed and built the receiver, transmitter and handheld electric condenser microphone. Then, he conducted and documented four experiments to determine how far the system would communicate without the use of additional material; how far it would communicate with the aid of focusing lenses; what type of materials will pass infrared light; and to determine if light would bend around objects using mirrors. When not doing extra curricular projects and homework, Henry--the youngest member of the Green Mountain Repeater Association--may be found on the 146.610 and 146.880 repeaters in the Washington D.C. area. He received his Technician license in 1997. His "Elmer" is Joseph Nunimaker, KD3VR.--Murray Green, K3BEQ
 Henry Orantis, N3ZUX, with his award-winning physics exhibit. |
![A closer look at N3ZUX's infrared transmitting and receiving gear with the devices he used in his experiment in the background. [Photos by Joseph Nunimaker, KD3VR]](b.jpg) A closer look at N3ZUX's infrared transmitting and receiving gear with the devices he used in his experiment in the background. [Photos by Joseph Nunimaker, KD3VR] |
W9R Great Circus Train special event certificates: Certificates are available for working special event station W9R aboard the Great Circus Train, July 2-5 starting at about 1400 UTC each day, 7.240, 14.240, 21.340 (one at a time), and 146.55 MHz. Those requesting a certificate should send a 9x12 SASE, three units of US first-class postage affixed (DX: 3 IRCs) to Jim Romelfanger, K9ZZ, 412-1/2 Ash St, Baraboo, WI 53913.
Mobile DBS radio: Ford Motor Company reportedly plans to install satellite radio receivers in its vehicles that can tune in up to 100 commercial-free channels delivered by CD Radio Inc. The music, news and information channels will delivered by three satellites that CD Radio will begin launching in January. The channels will be available throughout the US. Ford said it will begin producing cars and trucks with the satellite radio receivers by 2001. CD Radio plans to offer its programming for a monthly subscription fee of $9.95. CD Radio will produce the music channels and has agreements with National Public Radio and Public Radio International to produce news and information programming.--press reports
John Corbett, G3TWS |
G3TWS becomes WACRAL president: John Corbett, G3TWS, of Ross-on-Wye, England, has become the third president of the World Association of Christian Radio Amateurs and Listeners. Corbett, who's well-known for his work in satellite and HF systems to support relief and aid agencies in Africa, has been a ham since the 1960s. He is the author of the book Where There is No Telephone. WACRAL was founded in 1957 by the Rev Arthur Shepherd, G3NGF. For more information, visit http://www.wacral.org.--WACRAL press release
The W1BB Stew Perry Memorial Radio Club QSL card, designed by WA1J from an original W1BB QSL design. |
W1BB call sign changes trustees: The trusteeship of the W1BB Stew Perry Memorial Radio Club call sign has been transferred from Whitey Doherty, K1VV, to Jeff Briggs, K1ZM, of Hopewell Junction, NY, and Cape Cod. All correspondence and QSL requests concerning W1BB should be directed to K1ZM. Briggs is the author of DXing on the Edge: The Thrill of 160 Meters, which includes details of Perry's Top Band exploits. Contact Briggs at k1zm@aol.com.
FCC upholds decision, fine in pirate radio case: The FCC has affirmed a summary decision of Chief Administrative Law Judge Joseph Chachkin, ordering unlicensed broadcaster Jerry Szoka of Cleveland, Ohio, off the air and imposing an $11,000 fine. Since 1995, Szoka has been operating an FM station known as "The Grid" or "Grid Radio" at 96.9 MHz. The FCC has been attempting to get Szoka to shut down for several years. In another action, the FCC, in conjunction with the US Marshals Service and the United States Attorney's Office, recently seized radio transmission equipment used in the operation of an unlicensed FM radio station in Des Moines, Iowa.--FCC
| Previous: Next SAREX Mission to Test DSP Hardware | Next: 1999 Dayton Hamvention Posts Slight Attendance Increase |
