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 Previous: Efforts to Revive HQ E-Mail System Continue | ![Next (later) Story](/images/sty-up.gif "FCC Questions Possible "Corporate Raiders" on Ham Bands"){kind=small} Next: FCC Questions Possible "Corporate Raiders" on Ham Bands |
October 11, 2000
(In alphabetical order:)
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Balloon event includes APRS: The ARRLWeb Extra's youth columnist Brian Mileshosky, N5ZGT, reports that APRS has a presence at the Kodak International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The event wraps up October 14. More than 1000 hot air and gas balloons are expected to be in the air over Albuquerque throughout the week. More than 25 of them will be tracked via APRS. An APRS exhibit will show the real-time tracks of the APRS-equipped balloons on a big-screen TV. In addition, special event station N5B is on the air on HF, VHF and UHF to demonstrate ham radio to the general public. More than a million visitors are expected to attend the event. Visit the Balloon Explorium page (click on "America's Challenge Gas Balloon Race Real time tracking!") to find out more about the APRS efforts and to track the balloons in real time.--Brian Mileshosky, N5ZGT
DARA accepting scholarship applications: The Dayton Amateur Radio Association now is accepting applications for its annual scholarships. Applicants must be graduating high school seniors in 2001 and hold a valid FCC Amateur Radio license of any class. The DARA scholarships are awarded in varying amounts up to $2000, as determined by the scholarship committee, and may be used for tuition at an institution of higher learning as outlined in the application. To obtain an application, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to DARA Scholarships, 45 Cinnamon Ct, Springboro, OH 45066. Applications must be postmarked by June 1, 20001.--Stan Kuck, NY8F
Disposable desktop PC in your future? The concept of the disposable desktop gained credibility with Hewlett-Packard's recent announcement that it plans to fold its e-Vectra and e-Brio corporate and small business PC series into a slimmed-down e-PC line. Analysts say the move ties in with an industry-wide trend toward smaller, stylized, relatively inexpensive PCs that are much cheaper to manufacture. Gartner Group predicts that 60% of PCs will be "disposable desktops" within two years. Unlike traditional desktops that let buyers add more memory or change other parts, these "disposable" computers would be resistant to upgrading and integrate components on a motherboard. Smaller size and fixed configurations mean PCs that are cheaper to make and buy, however. See C-Net for the full story.--CNet News.com
FCC set to authorize MURS: With no fanfare, the FCC is set to authorize a new Citizens Band Radio Service to be called the Multi-Use Radio System, or MURS. The service, which came about as part of the biennial review of Part 90 of the FCC's rules, will deploy five former Private Land Mobile Radio Service VHF "color dot" channels for voice, data and imaging transmissions. The channels, 151.82, 151.88, 151.94, 154.57 and 154.60--will be authorized for up to 2 W on an unlicensed basis under Part 95 of the FCC's rules. The establishment of MURS was buried within a huge Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making released this summer as WT Docket 98-182 and PR Docket 92-235. The FCC said it will "revisit" the issue of allocating additional MURS channels "at a later date should additional support develop." The effective date to deploy MURS is pending completion of the FCC proceeding.--FCC
Ham Radio University 2001 set: The second Ham Radio University--HRU 2001--will be held on Long Island, New York, Sunday, January 21, 2001. HRU 2001 is not a fleamarket or a hamfest, but a special day of education for Amateur Radio. There will be no items for sale. This year the number and length of the forums have been expanded, and there will be a special series of forums for newly licensed hams. HRU 2001 will include technical forums on all aspects of Amateur Radio. Forums will cover such topics as antennas, DXing, contesting, purchasing Amateur Radio equipment, packet FLEXNET, ARES, APRS, the new digital modes, satellite communications, low-power operating, emergency communications, a special "Ask the Experts" forum and much more. Information booths will be staffed by more than 20 participating Amateur Radio clubs in the New York City/Long Island area as well as by the ARRL and QCWA and for DXCC/WAS card checking. Ham Radio University 2001 is Sunday, January 21, 2001, at Babylon Town Hall Annex, Phelps Lane, Babylon, New York. It's open to the public from 9 AM until 4 PM. A donation of $2 is requested, and spouses and children under 12 will be admitted without charge. Ample free parking, refreshments, door prizes! For more information, contact Phil Lewis, N2MUN@optonline.net or call 631-226-0698 or visit the Web for additional details. Talk-in will be available on the Great South Bay ARC 146.685 MHz repeater (136.5 Hz CTCSS).--Diane Ortiz, K2DO
K2BSA/1 on the air from Connecticut's ScoutShow 2000: The Boy Scouts of America K2BSA station will be on the air October 13-15 from Connecticut Rivers Council's ScoutShow 2000 on the Connecticut shoreline. Nearly 7000 Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Explorers and Leaders are expected to attend ScoutShow 2000 at Hammonasset State Park. Two stations will be on the air. ARRL Headquarters staff member Larry Wolfgang, WR1B, will be among those on hand.
NCVEC sets 2001 annual conference dates: The National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators has announced plans for its 2001 annual conference. The conference will take place at the Holiday Inn-Battlefield Friday and Saturday, July 27-28, 2001. The agenda is pending.
Special event call sign authorized: The special event call sign VB2R has been authorized for use in Canada from October 21 until November 5. Carleton Styan, VE3BY, has requested the call sign to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of E.S. Rogers Sr, the inventor and creator of the Rogers Batteryless Radio.--RAC
VHF QSO Party entry deadline extended: The deadline to submit entries for the ARRL September VHF QSO Party has been extended from October 11 until October 18, 2000. ARRL Contest Branch Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, said the change was a result of the ARRL e-mail system problems that developed over Columbus Day weekend. Henderson said that contest participants who submitted logs on or after Friday, October 6, should resubmit their logs once it's been announced that the ARRL e-mail system is up and running.
WWW CQ DX Ham Coffee Shop-Net: The WWW CQ DX Ham Coffee Shop-Net meets Saturday evenings in a FireTalk hosted chat session using voice and/or text. Web The chat sessions start at 9 PM Eastern (0100 UTC Sunday), and all are welcome to participate. Among the recent participants from around the world was ARRL Public Relations Manager Jennifer Hagy, N1TDY. The discussion topic for October 14 will be APRS. More information, including instructions on downloading the FireTalk software, can be found at the Web site.
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