 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||
|
|
 Previous: The Amateur Amateur: Upgrading Made Difficult |  Next: UPDATE: FCC Taking it Slowly on Vanity Processing; No More Runs Until Next Week |
Mar 20, 2002
(In alphabetical order: ) Christian Amundsen, LA7Y, SK;
Christian Amundsen, LA7Y, SK: Veteran DXer and DXCC Honor Roll member Chris Amundsen, LA7Y, of Oslo, Norway, died February 18. He was 82. Licensed in 1937, Amundsen was one of the most active DXers in Norway in the years following World War II. He achieved one of the early 5-band DXCC certificates and was one of the pilot stations for Thor Heyerdahl's 1947 Kon-Tiki raft expedition, which used the call sign LI2B. In his retirement, Amundsen and his wife wintered in the Canary Islands, where he was very active as EA8QO. Survivors include his wife and two sons.--Trond Olsen, LA8XM; Rag Otterstad, LA5HE
DX
operations approved for DXCC credit: Supporting documentation for the XU7ABA and XU7ABB (Cambodia); TI9M
(Cocos Island); VP8THU (South Sandwich) and VP8GEO (South Georgia) operations
has been received and reviewed. The ARRL DXCC Desk has announced that these
operations now are being accepted for DXCC credit. Those who previously
submitted cards for any of these operations and were denied credit may contact
the DXCC Desk to have their records updated without having to resubmit cards.
Operators also may include XU7ABA, XU7ABB, VP8THU, VP8GEO and TI9M cards with
their next submissions. For more
information, contact ARRL Century Clubs Manager Bill Moore, NC1L, dxcc@arrl.org.
FCC commissioner addresses World Telecommunication Development Conference: Addressing a special session of the 2002 World Telecommunication Development Conference in Istanbul, Turkey, on "Bridging the Digital Divide," FCC Commissioner Kevin J. Martin encouraged developing and developed countries to "seize digital opportunities" to bring the education, health and economic benefits of telecommunications development to their citizens. Speaking March 20, Martin outlined three strategies to maximize the benefits of new digital technologies worldwide: (1) policy makers should rely on good governance--including a transparent, reliable and speedy regulatory environment--to promote investment; (2) the private sector, which has the agility and expertise to create development solutions, should lead the pursuit of new telecommunications infrastructure and services; and (3) countries should invest in themselves in partnership with the global community by making digital opportunities available through education, training and regulatory policies that attract capital. Sponsored by the International Telecommunication Union, the 2002 WTDC seeks to establish objectives and strategies for balancing worldwide and regional telecommunications development, focusing on modernizing and expanding networks and services in developing countries.--FCC
FCC opens proceeding to mitigate orbital debris: In an action that could have implications for Amateur Radio satellites, the FCC has opened a proceeding regarding orbital debris. "Minimization of orbital debris will help maximize the usefulness of space for satellite communications and other services," the Commission said in a statement. The March 14 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposes to adopt a requirement that all FCC-licensed satellite systems submit information concerning plans to mitigate orbital debris. According to the FCC, orbital debris "consists of artificial objects orbiting the Earth that are not functional spacecraft." Other US agencies have addressed orbital debris mitigation. In general, only the FCC is responsible for authorizing nongovernment satellites and, to date, has addressed orbital debris on a case-by-case basis. The FCC says its NPRM "seeks to address orbital debris in a systematic way." The FCC said studies show that a continued increase in orbital debris "may raise concerns regarding the reliability and cost of space activities, including satellite communications." For more information, see the news release on the FCC Web site.--FCC
German vote favors retention of Morse requirement: The results of a mail-in vote of Deutscher Amateur Radio Club (DARC) members on whether to retain a Morse code requirement as an examination criterion for HF access indicates DARC members almost split on the issue. Of the 17,455 votes cast, 8530 (48.8%) favored retaining the existing 5 WPM requirement in Germany while 7781 (44.6%) favored abolishing the requirement. DARC said 1133 ballots were nullified (for a variety of reasons that included ballots from nonmembers and duplicate ballots), and 11 took no position. DARC says the fact that 33.8% of the membership of IARU Region 1's largest Amateur Radio society took part in the survey lends more weight to the decision.--Hans Berg, DJ6TJ/DARC
K8OCL to chair ARRL's High-Speed Digital and Multimedia Working Group: Dr John Champa, K8OCL, has been named to chair the ARRL High-Speed Digital and Multimedia Working Group. An ARRL Life Member from Howell, Michigan, Champa is a senior telecommunications engineer with Unisys. Working under the direction of the League's Technology Task Force, the High-Speed Digital and Multimedia Working Group will conduct a review of existing amateur digital networks--including packet systems and DX spotting networks and, in particular, high-speed systems--to gain an understanding of the current status. In addition, the Working Group will study amateur experimentation at higher speeds; consider higher speed digital and multimedia systems developed by industry; prepare a vision statement for amateur high-speed digital and multimedia systems; promote experimentation involving digital and microwave experimenters; and develop standards. ARRL Technical Relations Manager Paul Rinaldo, W4RI, has prepared a background paper on high-speed digital networks and multimedia to serve as a basis for the working group. It's anticipated that much of the working group's activities will take place via e-mail or via Web, video or teleconferencing. The ARRL encourages all radio amateurs to consider working with the group to bring this technology to a reality in every day activity in the Amateur Service. For more information, contact John Champa via e-mail, k8ocl@arrl.net.
Last call for 2002 USA ARDF Championships: The last call has gone out for participants in the second USA Amateur Radio Direction Finding (ARDF) Championships April 19-21 in Georgia. The event will take place at Franklin Roosevelt State Park near Pine Mountain, about 70 miles southwest of Atlanta. Entrants from anywhere and at any level of ARDF experience are welcome. Experts will be vying for positions on Team USA as it travels to Slovakia for the World Championships later this year. Beginners will stand to pick up the best radio-orienteering techniques from these experts and learn how to mount similar events of their own. The deadline to register for the national championships is April 6, but the Georgia Orienteering Club would like to know by March 29, so it can prepare for a picnic supper on Friday and a spaghetti dinner on Saturday. To register and get on the Championships e-mail list, visit the Georgia Orienteering Club Web site. To learn more about what it's like to take part in the ARDF Championships, check out the article "2001 USA Direction Finding Championships" in March 2002 QST. The Homing In Web site of ARRL ARDF Coordinator Joe Moell, K0OV, has more information about ARDF equipment and activities.
Maryland-DC AMSAT Meeting and Space Seminar set for May 5: Space enthusiasts and Amateur Radio satellite operators are invited to attend the upcoming Maryland-DC area AMSAT Meeting and Space Seminar, Sunday, May 5, 2002. Sessions will take place in the auditorium of the Visitor Center at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland. All seminar topics will relate to the amateur space program. Topics include Amateur Radio, homebrew electronic projects, high-altitude balloon experiments, radio telemetry, AO-40, ARISS, APRS, satellite news and satellite operating tips. This meeting is open to all. More information is available from Pat Kilroy, N8PK, n8pk@amsat.org.
Meteor scatter rally announced: Meteor scatter enthusiasts now have an operating event to call their own. The 2002 North American Meteor Scatter Rally, sponsored by WA5UFH, KM5ES, and K1JT, is aimed at promoting the use of VHF/UHF meteor-scatter communication techniques. The event is set for April 27 through May 5--to take advantage of the Eta Aquarids meteor shower. The idea is to work as many stations as possible in as many grid squares as possible via meteor scatter on the bands above 50 MHz. Rally rules and entry forms are posted on the WA5UFH Meteor Scatter Web site as well as on the WSJT Meteor Scatter/Weak Signal Group site. "We're calling this a rally rather than a contest, because the purpose is generating activity rather than 'winning,'" said Randy Tipton, WA5UFH. Scores will be posted after the event, which encourages both random and scheduled QSOs, with a premium put on random contacts. "Any communication mode may be used, so long as QSOs are made by the reflection of signals from meteor trails," Tipton said. "The honor system applies!" He suggested that high-speed modes such as FSK441 or HSCW probably would prove the most effective. E-mail or mail logs by May 31--in ASCII format to wa5ufh@ykc.com or hard copy to L. R. Tipton, 778 CR123, Edna, TX 77957. "We look forward to working you on meteor scatter."--Randy Tipton, WA5UFH
Moonbounce beacon returned to service: The SETI League's Moonbounce Beacon for radio astronomy and SETI has been returned to service, 10 times more powerful than before. Operating as W2ETI at 1296.000 MHz, the beacon reflects microwave signals off the moon's surface, and the resulting radio echoes may be received by Amateur Radio operators on Earth and used for testing Earth-based radiotelescopes. The EME beacon enables amateur and professional radio astronomers to calibrate their receiving systems by providing a stable reference signal emanating constantly from a known point in the sky. First activated a year ago, the unique research facility--built by radio amateurs and funded in part by a NASA grant through the American Astronomical Society--was used by astronomers at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico to help calibrate their equipment. It operated at a modest 15-W transmit level before being temporarily shut down in late July for the addition of a 150-W amplifier assembly. The facility has remained intermittently operational at the lower power level during the upgrade. The next Arecibo tests were scheduled for this week. For more information, visit the SETI League Web site.
Mount Beacon hamfest cancelled: The Mount Beacon Amateur Radio Club has had to cancel its hamfest, scheduled for April 21 in Poughkeepsie, New York.--Ken Akasofu, KL7JCQ
N9SH is Illinois' once and future Section Manager: Former ARRL Illinois Section Manager Sharon Harlan, N9SH, of Rockford, will return to that post starting July 1. When the March 8 deadline for receipt of nominations for the next Illinois SM term had arrived, there were two eligible candidates--Harlan and incumbent SM Bruce Boston, KD9UL. Boston subsequently decided to withdraw his name from the race, however, and Harlan now will succeed him this summer, said ARRL Field Organization/Public Service Team Manager Steve Ewald, WV1X. Boston has served as SM since 1994 and is wrapping up his fourth consecutive term. Harlan was SM from 1990 to 1994. She also served as ARRL Central Division Assistant Director and as Affiliated Club Coordinator and as an official of the Rockford Amateur Radio Club.
NA4AR appointed West Central Florida Section Emergency Coordinator: Paul Toth, NA4AR, of Seminole, Florida, has been appointed to serve as Section Emergency Coordinator for the ARRL West Central Florida Section. He replaces Doc Colburn, KD4E, who stepped down because of increased employment and personal obligations. Toth previously served as Northern New Jersey SEC and continues as a WCF Assistant Section Manager. Toth headed the successful 1999 campaign that led to the establishment of the West Central Florida Section.
New England QSO Party set for May: A combined QSO party for the six New England states--Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont--will take place the first weekend in May. It will replace the individual state QSO parties. The New England QSO Party is sponsored by The Candlewood Amateur Radio Association in Connecticut; the Framingham ARA; NH-ARRL; CTRI Contest Group in Rhode Island; the Central Vermont Amateur Radio Club, and the Yankee Clipper Contest Club. The inaugural NEQP will be held Saturday and Sunday, May 4-5, starting at 2000 UTC Saturday until 0300 UTC Sunday (4 PM until 11 PM Saturday Eastern Daylight Time) and resuming at 1100 UTC Sunday until 2400 UTC Sunday (7 AM until 8 PM Eastern Daylight Time Sunday). New England stations may work anyone. The NEQP includes mobile or fixed categories for single operator--high-power, low-power and QRP--and multi-operator, single transmitter. New England stations send signal report, county and state. Others, as appropriate, will send signal report and state/province or "DX." Certificates will be awarded to the top scorers in each New England county, US state, Canadian province and DXCC entity, and special plaques will be awarded to top scorers. For full information, visit the New England QSO Party Web site. Questions can be addressed via e-mail to info@neqp.org.
PCsat
reported in trouble: Bob Bruninga,
WB4APR, reports that PCsat could be lost if ground controllers are not able to
get the spacecraft into a positive power budget. "We ask all users to not
digipeat any packets via PCsat," he said this week. "We are trying to keep DIGI
turned off but are not successful most of the time." He said PCsat went through
15 deep discharges a day in one week--a total of more than 100 deep discharges
on the batteries. "This is killing it, unless we are successful soon," he said.
Command stations in the Southern Hemisphere--where PCsat currently just
encounters the sun and the only place where a "low power" command would have
any chance of recovering the spacecraft--are working to resolve the problem.
Bruninga said PCsat is resetting--and running the batteries dead--on every eclipse.
"There is nothing we in the Northern Hemisphere can do other than turn our
transmitters off, so as not to add to the power load," he said, adding that, at
night, PCsat packets can be heard "weak and dying as it dies in each eclipse." Built by
midshipmen from the US Naval Academy under Bruninga's guidance, PCsat is a
1200-baud APRS digipeater designed for use by amateurs using hand-held
transceivers or mobiles. It was launched last September from Alaska. Bruninga said command stations are on top of the
situation, and he discouraged outside reports.
| Previous: The Amateur Amateur: Upgrading Made Difficult | Next: UPDATE: FCC Taking it Slowly on Vanity Processing; No More Runs Until Next Week |
