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 Previous: FCC Enforcement Case Highlights FCC Amplifier Certification Rules |  Next: FCC Inquiries Focus on 160-Meter Band Plan |
October 3, 2001
(In alphabetical order: )
AMSAT-NA Symposium to feature special event station: Special event station W4O will be on the air from the 2001 AMSAT-NA Symposium and Annual Meeting, October 5-7, in Atlanta. Conference Chair Steve Diggs, W4EPI, says W4O will be active on HF, satellite, local FM voice and APRS. Kenwood National Sales Manager Paul Middleton, K4NUH, will speak at the Saturday night banquet on October 6. The subject of his presentation will be "Amateur Radio--Hobby and Industry." Additional details about W4O and the 2001 AMSAT-NA Symposium in Atlanta, Georgia, are on the AMSAT-NA Web site. Proceedings of the AMSAT-NA 19th Space Symposium and AMSAT-NA Annual Meeting are available from ARRL for $20. Visit the ARRL Products Catalog.
Antenna articles sought: ARRL Antenna Compendium Editor Dean Straw, N6BV, is seeking additional, fresh antenna articles for volume 7 of the Compendium. The popular Compendium book series features previously unpublished articles dealing with antennas, transmission lines and propagation. The deadline to submit manuscripts is January 31, 2002. For more information or to submit article manuscripts, contact Dean Straw, 5328 Fulton St, San Francisco, CA 94121; n6bv@arrl.org.
Clarence E. Sharp, K5DX, SK: Internationally known DXer and contester Clarence E. Sharp, K5DX, of Highlands, Texas, died September 3 following a long illness. He was 80. A native of Burkburnett, Texas, Sharp's interest in radio began in his teens, when he built his first crystal radio and developed a love for constructing antennas. After serving in the US Army Air Force during World War II, he studied mechanical engineering at the University of Houston. First licensed in 1946 as W5NMA, Sharp--who became known by his last name--soon was chasing DX with homebrew transmitters and antennas and a military surplus receiver. His welding skills--developed from his years as a machinist--came in handy when he built his own 80-foot freestanding tower from scrap steel pipe. Later antenna designs involved multi-element, multi-band cubical quads and towers up to 140 feet. His antenna farms of the 1950s and 1960s are the stuff of legend in DX and contesting circles. Sharp was on the DXCC Honor Roll with 379 entities (mixed). An ARRL member, Sharp also was an accomplished contester on SSB and CW, plying his skills in various operating events, including ARRL November Sweepstakes, the ARRL International DX contest, and Field Day. Sharp was a member of the Texas DX Society, where he served as president in 1979, and of the Texas VHF-FM Society. "Sharp exemplified and embodied the very meaning of everything it is to be a ham radio operator and DXer," said Steve Smothers, W9DX, a friend and fellow TXDXS member. "He was an 'Elmer' to all who needed one, and his quiet strength, leadership, and experience will be missed by all who knew him." Survivors include his wife, Erma, and two sons and a daughter.
CORES/FRN "mass conversion" planned for ULS registrants: Before the switchover to mandatory Commission Registration System (CORES) registration on December 3, 2001 (see "FCC Registration Number Becomes Mandatory in December"), the FCC plans to do a "mass conversion" from its Universal Licensing System database. "Anyone who has a TIN (Taxpayer Identification Number--typically an individual's Social Security Number) registered with us and a valid license will get a FRN (FCC Registration Number), and it will show in our license database," an FCC Wireless Telecommunications Bureau spokesperson told ARRL. Amateur Service licensees who are not already registered in the ULS are encouraged to register their TINs soon, so they can save the step of a second CORES registration after December 3. To register, visit the FCC's Universal Licensing System Web site and click on "Register TIN/Call Sign." (NOTE: The Universal Licensing System will be down for scheduled maintenance from 10 PM Eastern Time Friday, October 5, until 8 AM Eastern Time Monday, October 8.) The FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau concedes that a lot of issues concerning the implementation of CORES/FRN for the Amateur Service remain undecided. For more information on CORES/FRN, visit the FCC CORES Web site.
FCC to dismiss filings submitted on outdated Form 605: The FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau has announced that, starting Monday, October 15, it will dismiss all submittals it receives on Form 605 Quick-Form Application for Authorization in the Ship, Aircraft, Amateur, Restricted and Commercial Operator, and General Mobile Radio Service that bear edition dates prior to March 2001. This change does not affect applicants filing on-line via the Universal Licensing System (ULS). WTB encourages applicants to use ULS to speed application processing and to have access to the other information available via the ULS. An FCC announcement advises that amateurs can avoid problems by submitting on-line application via the FCC's Universal Licensing System Web site. To obtain a current copy of Form 605, visit the FCC "Forms" page. Paper copies of Form 605 also are available from the FCC Forms Distribution Center, 800-418-3676.--FCC
Hosts sought for 2002 USA Amateur Radio Direction Finding Championships: The final call has been issued for clubs, club councils and non-club groups interested in hosting the second USA ARDF Championships in 2002. "This call comes now, because the event must take place in the spring or early summer, in order to serve as a qualifying event as Team USA forms for the 2002 ARDF World Championships in Slovakia," explained ARRL ARDF Coordinator Joe Moell, K0OV. One proposal already been received for a "weekend championship" next April. Other proposals are welcome, and preliminary indications of intent should be submitted by October 15 via e-mail or US mail to Joe Moell, K0OV, PO Box 2508, Fullerton, CA 92837; homingin@aol.com. The first USA Amateur Radio Direction Finding Championships were held August 1-3 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For more information on Amateur Radio Direction Finding, visit Moell's Homing In Web site.
 The W3KY 1933-vintage ham station is among the items on display in K2TQN's Old Radio Museum. |
Mobile Old Radio Museum to make New England swing: QST "Old Radio" columnist John Dilks, K2TQN, plans to have his mobile Old Radio Museum on display during the Hosstraders Hamfest in Hopkinton, New Hampshire, from around noon, Friday, October 5 until noon Saturday, October 6. For more information on Hosstraders, visit the Hosstraders Web site. The Old Radio Museum will be at the ARRL Connecticut State Convention and Nutmeg Hamfest off Exit 15 of Interstate 91, Wallingford, Connecticut, 9 AM until noon on Sunday, October 7. For more information, visit the Nutmeg Hamfest Web site. For more information on that event, visit the Good Old Days Web site. You can also visit Dilks' Old Radio Wireless and Radio History Web site.
Most wanted countries survey now available: The DX Magazine's annual "Most Wanted Survey" is now available on the DX Publishing Web site. Results of the worldwide 2000 Survey are posted under "DX News". The continental/mode breakdown was published in the January-February and March-April issues of The DX Magazine. "Some of the totals in recent years indicate errors in marking the survey form," said Publisher Carl Smith, N4AA. He suggests that hams responding to the survey be especially careful to mark the correct boxes.
New URL for ARRL Northwestern Division Web site: The ARRL Northwestern Division Web site has a new address, effective this week. Glenn Moore, N7VBW, is the Webmaster.
Playing AO-40 uplink/downlink roulette made easy: Mirek Kasal, OK2AQK, has generated a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet that can calculate corresponding AO-40 uplink and downlink frequencies. The spreadsheet file and additional information are on his "AO-40 Frequency Calculator" Web page.
RCA-Victor W2VTM 100th anniversary special event: The Victor Amateur Radio Association (VARA) W2VTM will sponsor a special event October, November and December to celebrate the 100th anniversary of communications in Camden, New Jersey. The event will recognize such corporate names as the Victor Talking Machine Company, the Radio Corporation of America, General Electric Aerospace, Martin Marietta, Lockheed Martin and L-3 Communications that have been or still are located in Camden. The event will begin at 0000 UTC on October 23 and end at 2400 UTC December 23. Participating stations will include W2VTM (Victor Amateur Radio Association, formerly RCA Amateur Radio Club) as well as RCA heritage radio clubs such as WB2JQR, W3RCA, N2RE, and W9RCA, and current or former employees of RCA/VTMC heritage companies and VARA. Details are available on the VARA Web site, or e-mail.
Scouts invited to operate via balloon-borne station: Scouts in Colorado participating in the annual Jamboree On The Air, October 20-21, are invited to use balloon-borne special event station W0J to contact other JOTA participants. Edge Of Space Sciences will launch a balloon carrying a "standard" payload of amateur repeater, ATV, APRS and temperature probe and using W0J as a call sign. Launch is scheduled for October 20, 1500 UTC. The event is part of the "JOTA Space Exploration 2001" theme being promoted by the BSA Ute District. Scouts can study anything from radio propagation to atmospheric profiling as the balloon ascends to 100,000 feet. Pikes Peak Radio Amateur Association of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Mountain Amateur Radio Club of Woodland Park, Colorado, and EOSS, of Denver, Colorado, are the primary sponsors of the area's JOTA event. Balloon frequencies are listed on the EOSS site. For more information, visit the UTE District-Pikes Peak Council Web site. For information on JOTA, see the ARRL Web site and Scouting or contact KB0PPM.
Sertoma Club presents Service to Mankind award to W3PYF: ARRL Life Member Clarence Snyder, W3PYF, of Easton, Pennsylvania, was the recipient of the 42nd Service to Mankind Award from the Sertoma Club of Easton. Snyder, 81, was honored for his 53 years of service as Northampton County Emergency Radio Officer. His reaction? "Made the old man feel pretty good," he said. Snyder previously received the General Electric Edison Radio Amateur Award for work done in the blizzard of 1990 and the flood of 1955. In 1995 the American Red Cross inducted Snyder into the Clara Barton Society--its highest honor. "We do service for nearly everyone," Snyder said of his club, the Delaware-Lehigh Amateur Radio Club. Snyder continues to edit the club newsletter, W3OK Corral. Snyder's son, Mel, is W2FLO; his son-in-law, Bob, is WB2YNF.
Several countries announce WRTC 2002 pairings: These experienced contesters have been nominated to represent their countries in WRTC 2002. Canada: John Sluymer, VE3EJ, and Jim Roberts, VE7ZO; Finland: Timo Pohjola, OH1MDR, and Pasi Alanko, OH1MM; Germany: Walter Skudlarek, DJ6QT, Ulrich Weiss, DJ2YA, Roland Mensch, DK3GI, and Stefan von Baltz, DL1IAO; Sweden: Dan Hultgren, SM5IMO, and Gunnar Widell, SM3SGP; Ukraine: Yuri "Jerry" Onipko, UT4UZ, and Sergey Vasilenko, UT3UA; Yugoslavia: Robert Homolja, YU7BW, and Milanovic Milan, YU1ZZ.--Ari Korhonen, OH1EH
Special event featured at Northern New York Hamfest: The kickoff for the Northern New York Amateur Radio Association Hamfest October 13 at the Horse Show Grounds in Lake Placid, New York, will feature special event station N2Y. The activity will commence around 9 AM Eastern Time Saturday, October 13, on or around 14.275 and 7.275 LSB, and on VHF, 146.58 simplex and 145.310 repeater (127.3 CTCSS). On-air activity will continue until around 2 PM.--Tom Dick, KF2GC
Ten-Tec marks successful hamfest, grand opening: Ten-Tec Amateur Radio Products Manager Scott Robbins, W4PA, says about 1000 visitors turned out for the company's hamfest September 28-29 at the Ten-Tec factory in Sevierville, Tennessee.
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Ten-Tec Vice President Gary Barbour, AC4DL (left), and designer (and QEX Editor) Doug Smith, KF6DX, with the soon-to-be-released Ten-Tec RX-350 receiver. | Ten-Tec product manager Scott Robbins, W4PA, with a Ten-Tec Jupiter transceiver in the company's recently opened full-line retail store. |
 Under the "Big Top" at Ten-Tec's hamfest and grand opening celebration were displays by local clubs and several HF operating positions. [ARRL Photos] |
Ten-Tec used the occasion to celebrate the grand opening of its new Amateur Radio retail store, which carries not only Ten-Tec's full line but a variety of ham radio products and accessories from other manufacturers. Robbins says the store is adding items almost daily.
Texas ARES/RACES teams activate following bridge collapse: Disaster struck in South Texas early on the morning of September 15 when a 240-foot section of the Queen Isabella Causeway between South Padre Island and Port Isabel, Texas, collapsed after barges slammed into the bridge supports. The mishap sent several vehicles plummeting into the water 80 feet below and claimed 11 lives. The Texas Department of Public Safety contacted John Teer, AK5Z, to request Amateur Radio assistance with communications, because all phone lines between South Padre Island and the mainland had been severed. "I called around to get volunteers to place on the Island EOC and the Port Isabell EOC," Teer reports. The DPS provided boat transportation to the Island for an operator. "We provided 2-meter communication for government and Red Cross officials on Saturday and Sunday until landline telephone and cell phone communications could be re-established," Teer said. Participating in addition to Teer were Pat Patterson, N5SLI, Virginia Scarth, KC5SAM, Ed Scarth, W8AHU, and Gregg Sargent, KA0ARS. Teer said the bodies of all victims have been recovered from vehicles in the water. Three others were able to escape their vehicles and were rescued by fishermen, Teer said.
 The burrowing owl. [Joe Moell, K0OV, Photo] |
Time again to track the burrowing owl: Amateur Radio operators and VHF monitoring enthusiasts again are being asked to help researchers study the migratory patterns of the burrowing owl. The fall 2001 migration period for burrowing owls is getting under way. In addition to owls from the plains of Saskatchewan--which hams have listened for since 1998--volunteers now are being asked to monitor for 30 owls that were tagged near Moses Lake in eastern Washington. "Vicki Garcia of the University of Arizona wants our help, because it is uncertain if these birds spend the winter in California, or Baja California, or they go eastward to Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico or even to Texas," says ARRL Amateur Radio Direction Finding Coordinator Joe Moell, K0OV. The Canadian owl tags transmit in the 172 MHz range, while the Washington owl tags transmit in the vicinity of 150 MHz. Transmissions consist of very short pulses that can be picked up with a scanner or multi-mode receiver. "If you live in a central state from North Dakota to Texas, or in any state to the west of that line, and you have sensitive monitoring equipment for these frequencies, your help is needed," Moell says. He has posted monitoring and frequency information on his Homing In Web site. The site includes the history of the project, equipment suggestions, all frequencies, and what to do if you think you hear a radio tag.
Vertex Standard donates loaned gear to Virginia ARES: Vertex Standard (Yaesu) has donated several pieces of Amateur Radio gear to Virginia ARES. The manufacturer had arranged to loan an FT-7100 transceiver with power supply and the three VX-5 hand-held transceivers during the Virginia ARES response to assist the Salvation Army at the Pentagon attack site. When Virginia SEC Tom Gregory, N4NW, e-mailed to thank Vertex Standard and to inquire about returning the equipment, Vertex Standard Executive Vice President Mikio Maruya, WA6F told him that Virginia ARES was welcome to keep it on hand for future emergencies. "We hope it will provide you with long and lasting use for all your emergency needs," Maruya said. "We were happy to assist in this emergency effort." Gregory said the Vertex Standard gear "allowed us to meet the needs of providing continuous Amateur Radio support to the Salvation Army." The Woodbridge, Virginia, Ham Radio Outlet store cooperated in providing the Virginia ARES team with the needed equipment on September 13.
Whaddaya mean you can't find a ham radio test session? It's easy to find an Amateur Radio exam session near you. Sessions are offered throughout the US and even in some places you might not even suspect. For example, if you happen to be in Antarctica on October 21, you can just drop by the Amundsen-Scott Galley Building at South Pole Station at 3 PM, and the VE team will fix you right up. Search for an Amateur Radio volunteer exam session near you on the ARRL Exam Session Search page. You can review the material ahead of time using the Amateur Exam Question Pools page.
Wisconsin antenna bill clears Assembly: The pending Wisconsin Amateur Radio antenna (PRB-1) bill, AB-368, was approved by the Wisconsin Assembly October 2 on a voice vote. There was no debate. The measure now heads to the Wisconsin Senate. Many Wisconsin hams reportedly had called or e-mailed their Assembly representatives prior to the vote. The bill's Senate sponsor is Sen Fred Risser. The measure will be referred to a Senate committee and another public hearing will be held. Information on how to contact Wisconsin lawmakers is available via the Badger State Smoke Signals Web site. A copy of the pending legislation is on the Wisconsin Legislature Web site.
ZK1NDK North Cook Island operation now good for DXCC credit: ARRL DXCC Manager Bill Moore, NC1L, has announced approval of ZK1NDK, North Cook Island, for DXCC credit. Documentation now has been reviewed and okayed for DXCC credit. Those who submitted ZK1NDK previously and were denied credit may contact DXCC, and have their records updated without having to resubmit cards.
| Previous: FCC Enforcement Case Highlights FCC Amplifier Certification Rules | Next: FCC Inquiries Focus on 160-Meter Band Plan |
