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 Previous: Surfin': ARC-5s and . . . |  Next: AO-40 Recovery Continues |
January 3, 2001
(In alphabetical order:)
ARRL DXCC Desk announces new 17-Meter Award: The ARRL DXCC Desk now is accepting applications for its new 17-Meter Single Band DXCC Award. The 17-Meter DXCC certificates will be dated but not numbered, and 17-meter credits also will count toward the DeSoto Cup competition for 2001. To determine prior credits on 17 meters, contact DXCC for an update to help avoid duplicates and additional costs. Copies of DXCC records are available (in Adobe PDF format) by contacting the DXCC Desk at dxcc@arrl.org (if requesting via US mail, include $1.50 for postage or an SASE with $1.50 in postage). For more information, contact DXCC.
ARRL President Emeritus George Wilson, W4OYI, QRV on 30 meters: Former ARRL President George Wilson, W4OYI, relaxed over the Christmas holidays in his shack in Owensboro, Kentucky. President Emeritus Wilson resigned in 1995 after suffering a serious stroke. He can be found on the air on or around 10,110 kHz.--Gary Johnston, KI4LA
Austrian stations permitted to use special prefix: During 2001, Amateur Radio stations in Austria have been authorized to use the special prefix OE75 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the OEVSV--Oesterreichischer Versuchssenderverband (Austrian Experimental Transmitter Union)--the Austrian International Amateur Radio Union member-society. Several awards will be issued by the OEVSV. For more information, visit OE8CIQ's Amateur Radio page.--Bernie McClenny, W3UR/The Daily DX
Christmas Eve killers also may have stolen radios; hams asked to monitor: According to news reports, the seven Texas prison escapees still at large and now wanted in connection with the murder of police office Aubrey Hawkins, KC5USI, also may have stolen radios from a Houston Radio Shack store. The radios are said to include Amateur Radio 2-meter H-Ts as well as Business Radio Service (programmed for 156.400 MHz) and Family Radio Service (462.5625-467.7125 MHz) radios. Hams have been asked to monitor those bands and report any suspicious activity any hour of the day to the Huntsville Command Center, 936-437-6735, and to their local law enforcement agency. Police advise that anyone spotting these suspects not try to approach them but contact local authorities immediately. More information on the escapees is on the Web.--Jerry Karlovich, KD5OM
[ARRL Photo] |
Dale Hatfield, W0IFO, to be honored at WCAI gathering: Retired FCC Office of Engineering and Technology Chief Dale Hatfield, W0IFO, will be honored January 18, 2001, at the Wireless Communications Association International Technical Symposium. Hatfield, who retired in December, will receive WCAI's award for lifetime vision as a regulator. Among highlights of his career was his work in the private sector as a consultant devising what became known as "The Hatfield Model" for compensating carriers for traffic in a competitive environment. More recently, Hatfield revived a strong technical focus on decision-making within the FCC. One method has been to encourage emerging and established technologies to assist the Commission with technical support, including that for a Technological Advisory Committee. The award will be presented by a member of that committee, Dandin Group CEO Dewayne Hendricks, WA8DZP, an innovator in his own right.--WCAI newsletter
FCC levies fine for illegal amplifier sales: The FCC has fined Stephen Fowler, doing business as Exports R US in Pineville, Louisiana, $7000 for marketing an unauthorized external radio frequency power amplifier. The FCC's New Orleans field office issued a Notice of Apparent Liability last September against Fowler d/b/a/ Exports R Us; the FCC says Fowler has not responded. The forfeiture is due within 30 days of the Forfeiture Order, adopted December 28, 2000.
Gracey to grace LDG: Amateur Radio industry veteran Everett L. Gracey, WA6CBA, of Reno, Nevada, has joined LDG Electronics Inc of St Leonard, Maryland, as its worldwide Amateur Radio dealer sales representative. LDG Electronics makes automatic antenna tuners, digital wattmeters and other amateur products that are available through the dealer network. Gracey has a long career in the Amateur Radio business. In addition to being the author of several books (including My 20 Years of RV Adventures), Gracey co-founded Mirage Communications in 1979 and co-founded RF Concepts in 1986.--LDG news release
Hams, REACT members fill communications gap: Amateur Radio and REACT radio operators provided emergency communication service to the Schenectady, New York, area after the Verizon telephone office was flooded December 28, 2000, by a water main break. Telephone service was disrupted to 60,000 customers in Schenectady, Saratoga, Fulton, and Montogomery counties in upstate eastern New York. A state of emergency was declared. ARES Schenectady County Emergency Coordinator George Chapek, N2AIG, reports that Amateur Radio operators from Schenectady ARES/RACES staffed the Schenectady Emergency Operations Center. The Schenectady County Emergency Communications Net was called up on a local repeater and remained in continuous operation for about eight hours. In addition to staffing the EOC station, Amateur Radio and REACT operators also deployed mobile stations to 14 strategic locations in Schenectady, displaying signs indicating that they had the capability to relay emergency calls for the public. Communications were carried out on amateur VHF and UHF bands plus GMRS and 11-meter CB. More than 75 hams and REACT operators volunteered time and equipment to the effort, some of them traveling from surrounding counties to help.--George Chapek, N2AIG
Lew E. Tepfer, W6FVV, SK: Well-known SSTVer Lew E. Tepfer, W6FVV, of Weed, California, died December 22, 2000, as a result of an auto accident. He was 79. An ARRL member, had recently announced that he was stepping down after 20 years as the head of the International Visual Communication Association. Well-known in the amateur Slow Scan TV community, he was awarded a plaque inscribed to "Mister IVCA" at the Dayton Hamvention a few years ago. His wife, Lila, survives.
New Bahamas reciprocal rules now in effect: Richard Long, W4AKE/C6AKE reports that the Public Utilities Commission in the Bahamas has taken over responsibility for radio licensing. He said renewing a valid reciprocal license requires sending your license and an International Money Order for $6 (or $6 for each year since the license was last renewed). He says that if the latest payment was not recorded on the back of the license, you should include a copy of that receipt. He recommends keeping a copy of your license (front and back) plus any receipts you send. To apply for a new Bahamian amateur reciprocal license, send a copy of your valid US license, a copy of identification (passport photo page, birth certificate), a letter of request, and an International Money Order for $6. Allow one to three months for processing and mailing. You may only renew by mail or in person in Nassau; there are no PUC offices in the family islands. The Nassau PUC office is at Agape House, fourth terrace east off Collins Avenue on the south side of the ridge, south of Doctors Hospital, tel 242-322-4437/9; fax 242-323-7288. Ask for the Radio Licensing Department. The mailing address: is Executive Director and Secretary, Public Utilities Commission, P O Box N.4860, Nassau, Bahamas. Long says he'll be happy to answer any questions about Bahamian licensing. Contact him at w4ake@att.net or call 954-463 2281.--Richard Long, W4AKE/C6AKE
Outgoing QSL Service tops 1999 stats: ARRL Outgoing QSL Service Manager Martin Cook, N1FOC, reports that in 2000 the bureau shipped 1,868,895 QSL cards to various QSL Bureaus around the world. This is 15,025 more cards than during 1999.
Peter J. Gellert,W2WSS, SK: National Traffic System veteran Pete Gellert, W2WSS, of New York City died December 23, 2000. He was 74. An ARRL member, Gellert was manager of the Empire Slow Speed Net for more than 25 years. Veteran traffic handler and ARRL Official Relay Station Gary Ferdinand, W2CS--himself a former NTS net manager--says Gellert's monthly bulletin always contained words of encouragement and interesting commentary on the art of traffic handling. "I know of no other single individual who has contributed so much to nurturing traffic handling and who has affected the lives and operating habits of so many others," Ferdinand said.
David Clark, KB6TAM, and Mickey. |
Round-the-world ham-sailor reaches South Africa: Round-the-world sailor 76-year-old David Clark, KB6TAM, has arrived in Cape Town, South Africa, aboard the sailing vessel Mollie Milar. His wife, Lynda, reports that he and his sailing companion, Mickey the dog, arrived just before Christmas and have been relaxing and getting acquainted. "Several repairs are needed, and David will be playing his clarinet for the people of Cape Town to earn monies to accomplish these repairs," said Lynda Clark, in an e-mail posting over the holidays. Clark plans to stay in Cape Town until mid-February. He's hoping to make it back to Ft Lauderdale, Florida, in mid-May. For more in formation, see "Rime of the Ancient Maritime Mobileer" that appeared on The ARRLWeb Extra Members' Only feature page September 15, 2000.--Lynda Clark
RTTY by WF1B now a free program: Just in time for the ARRL RTTY Roundup January 5-7, (see the 2001 ARRL RTTY Round-Up Rules in December QST, page 111) Ray Ortgiesen, WF1B, has changed the way his RTTY contest software is distributed. From now on, RTTY by WF1B will be available free via the Internet. Users will pay a fee for support, however. WF1B is making the program's source code available and is soliciting suggested changes from programmers. For details, visit the RTTY by WF1B Web page.
Second ARISS school QSO set: The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station Group reports the second ISS school contact is set for Friday, January 5, starting at 2034 UTC. Pupils at the Armstrong Fundamental Elementary School in Hampton, Virginia, hope to have a chance to speak with the Space Station Alpha Expedition 1 crew at that time. For the latest developments and changes, check the ARISS Web site. The 145.800 MHz FM downlink should be easily readable along the eastern US coastline, and real-time audio is expected to be available via the Internet. The MSNBC Web site includes a story describing the first ARISS school contact in December. --ARISS
SKN junk box fix: Anne Fitzgerald, KB1CQQ, of Lamoine, Maine, says she participated in the recent ARRL Straight Key Night after "fixing" her radio. Two switches on her ICOM transceiver would not stay connected, and she discovered that he had no power output. Her "quick fix" (see photo) consisted of a bungee cord and a piece of a kids painting set that her son, now 26, had when he was two. "Nothing like an Amateur Radio Pack Rat!" she says. "It worked fine for the whole evening."--Anne Fitzgerald, KB1CQQ
There's nothing wrong with your set. 3Y0C is not a DXpedition: If you're not hearing 3Y0C on Bouvet or seeing him spotted 24/7, that's because operator Chuck Brady, N4BQW, is fitting in operation whenever he has time. Mac McIntire, WA4FFW, the 3Y0C QSL manager says DXers need to understand that 3Y0C is not a DXpedition. Brady is working as part of a scientific research team on Bouvet and doing Amateur Radio in his spare time. He is logging by hand, and the logs will not be available via the Web. He's not able to check his log over the air, and DXers are being requested to not ask him if they're "in the log." WA4FFW will not have the 3Y0C logs until after the operation is over in a few months. "Remember that Chuck is a one-man show," McIntire says. "He's putting up the antennas, operating when he has time and he does have other duties." Brady will be on Bouvet until mid-March. --Bernie McClenny, W3UR/The Daily DX
Bouvet update--Jan 4: Mac McIntire, WA4FFW, reports the generator on Bouvet has developed a mechanical problem. In addition to supplying power, the generator also is necessary for recharging batteries. The group is in contact with Norway and hopes to be able to resolve the problem. N4BQW also has reported problems with the transceiver and amplifier.
Tromelin QSLs are in the works: If you're awaiting a QSL from the FR/F6KDF/T Tromelin DXpedition, the card soon will be in the mail. Word is that more than 10,000 cards are ready to mail, and the first QSLs will go out around January 15.--Gil, F5NOD
W. Scudder Georgia Jr, KD3P, SK: W. Scudder Georgia, KD3P, of Bethesda, Maryland, died December 26, 2000. He was 86. He became an Amateur Radio operator while he was a teenager. During World War II as a covert communications officer, Georgia trained clandestine radio operators behind enemy lines for the Office of Strategic Services. Georgia retired from the CIA in 1973 after 25 years of service. He spent his retirement years in volunteer and community service jobs. The Washington Post reported that Georgia's wartime work for the OSS "often involved jumping out of airplanes alone at night for clandestine meetings with underground operatives deep in enemy-held territory. His mission was to set up secret radio stations to report troop movements and other developments to Allied intelligence units." As a civilian OSS officer, he received the Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, for his wartime service. He continued after the war as a covert operative for the CIA and played what the Washington Post described as "critical communications roles" during the failed CIA-sponsored Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba in 1961 and in the aftermath of the Kennedy assassination in 1963. At 74, Georgia took up scuba diving, and he celebrated his 78th birthday with a 78-foot dive in the Caribbean. On his 80th birthday, he parachuted out of an airplane in Delaware. Survivors include his wife, Gladys, and three children, Willis, Jeffrey (N1DZT), and Jennifer.
W2MTA ends tenure as NTS Eastern Area Staff chair: Bill Thompson, W2MTA, has announced that he will not seek another term as chairman of the National Traffic System Eastern Area Staff. An ARRL Life Member, Thompson has served in that position since 1989. Thompson says he plans to continue as an NTS Official, managing operations related to the Second and Thirteenth Regions of the National Traffic System (Atlantic Region Net). Nominations for Eastern Area Staff chair for the next two years go to Steve Ewald, WV1X, sewald@arrl.org at ARRL Headquarters.
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