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 Previous: Project Night--a Refresher Course |  Next: The K7VVV Solar Update |
May 23, 2002
(In alphabetical order: )
Amateur Radio to help celebrate Queen Elizabeth's golden jubilee: Thanks to the efforts of the Radio Society of Great Britain, UK amateurs will be allowed to use the prefix "GQ" during the month of June to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's accession to the royal throne. The Queen officially ascended the throne February 6, 1952, but the golden jubilee will be celebrated in June--the month of her coronation. In addition, special event station GB50 (as in "Great Britain Fifty") will be on the air from Windsor Castle from May 29 until June 9, with operators from Cray Valley Radio Society operating in association with Burnham Beeches Radio Society and RSGB support. Activity is expected on 80 through 6 meters on CW, SSB, PSK31 and RTTY. QSL via G4DFI. For more information, visit the GB50 Web site.--The Daily DX; RSGB
Atlantic Division names 2002 award winners: The Atlantic Division Awards Committee has announced that, on the basis of ballots received, the 2002 Atlantic Division Amateur of the Year Award will be jointly presented to the amateurs of the Maryland-District of Columbia Section, the Western Pennsylvania Section and the ARRL Hudson Division for their participation with disaster and emergency communications in the wake of the September 11 attacks. The committee also named Bob Arnold, N2JEU, as winner of the 2002 Atlantic Division Technical Achievement Award. His work on remotely controlled receivers preceded his efforts to include both remote transmit and receive functions via the Internet. He operates the "N2JEU's Web Controlled Shortwave Receivers" Web site.
Canada authorizes special amateur prefixes: All Canadian radio amateurs have been authorized to use special prefixes to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. From May 18 through July 18 2002, the following special prefixes are authorized on a voluntary basis: XM1 for VE1; XM4 for VE4; XM8 for VE8; XL1 for VA1; XM5 for VE5; XM9 for VE9; XM2 for VE2; XL5 for VA5; XN1 for VO1; XL2 for VA2; XM6 for VE6; XN2 for VO2; XM3 for VE3; XL6 for VA6; XO0 for VY0; XL3 for VA3; XM7 for VE7; XO0 for VY1; XL4 for VA4; XL7 for VA7; and XO2 for VY2.--Industry Canada
French picosats transmitting: The two IDEFIX AMSAT-France picosats launched successfully by Ariane 4 Flight 151 have been transmitting voice and 400 baud BPSK telemetry since May 10. The battery-powered payloads remain attached to the third stage of the Ariane launcher at an altitude of approximately 800 km. Downlink frequencies are 145.840 and 435.270 MHz. Both picosats should remain working for about 40 days. The IDEFIX payloads employ cellular telephone techniques, components and energy-saving methods. Recorded voice messages are in English, French, German and Japanese. The IDEFIX 1 120 mW transmitter alternates between messages and telemetry every 12 seconds on 145.840 MHz. Among other data, IDEFIX 2 telemetry transmits mean light and temperature values, averaged over 10 and 90 minutes via its 1.2 W transmitter on 435.270 MHz. For more information and updates, visit the AMSAT-France Web site.--Jean-Louis, F6AGR/AMSAT-France; Gaston Bertels, ON4WF
Handi-Hams offering ham radio audio tape: Handi-Hams--Amateur Radio and technology for people with disabilities--now offers a ham radio promotional audio tape to members and prospective members who are visually impaired. The tape covers Amateur Radio basics--what it is and why it's a fun and useful activity. Taken in part from material available on the ARRL Web site, this tape is a useful tool to Handi-Hams members who want to promote Amateur Radio in the blind community. The tape is free to Handi-Hams members. To request a copy, contact Patrick Tice, WA0TDA, handiham@mtn.org. Visit the Handi-Hams Web site for more information.
HQ job opportunity: ARRL Field and Educational Services has an immediate, full-time opening in Newington, Connecticut, as a Field Organization Assistant. Areas of responsibility include the Official Observer program and its work with the FCC; the Volunteer Monitoring System (watches for non-ham intruders on our bands); assisting with questions on regulatory issues and Field Organization matters; and the AMTS program for 219-220 MHz. Salary is dependent on experience and qualifications. Candidates must hold a current Amateur Radio license. Requirements include excellent verbal and writing skills; good computer skills; ability to travel; experience in a customer service environment; and ability to handle multiple tasks with attention to detail. Forward a letter of application, resume, and salary requirements to Rosalie White, K1STO, rwhite@arrl.org; fax 860-594-0259, or c/o ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111. The ARRL is an equal opportunity employer.
Kolibri-2000 microsat re-enters Earth's atmosphere: The Kolibri-2000 (RS-21) Amateur Radio satellite--the Russian-Australian Scientific and Educational Microsatellite--fell from orbit May 4. That's the word from Alex Papkov at Kaluga Ground Control in Russia in a report to AMSAT News Service. The tiny RS-21 spacecraft had been in free fall for six weeks after being released by remote control from a Progress cargo rocket departing the International Space Station. Kolibri had completed more than 700 orbits of earth before it re-entered the atmosphere and burned up over the Pacific Ocean. While descending, the microsatellite has been transmitting telemetry and digital voice recordings to students and hams on Earth. It transmitted CW and FSK, primarily on 435.335 MHz with a back-up downlink of 145.825 MHz. Papkov said the mission is being considered a success. The project was a collaboration among Australian high school students, Russian high school students and Russian space scientists. Kolibri, which means "hummingbird" in Russian, was a four-foot-by-20-inch cylinder crammed with 10 pounds of scientific equipment. It recorded and transmitted data on the intensity of high-energy particles from the sun penetrating Earth's upper atmosphere. That helped the students in Australia and Russia understand what happens when solar cosmic rays interact with Earth's own radiation belts. For more information, see "Space&Beyond: Kolibri-2000 Shows Youngsters That Space is Vital to Mankind," by Tony Curtis, K3RXK or visit the Australian students' Web site or the Russian Kolibri-2000 project Web site.--Tony Curtis, K3RXK
 Lys Carey, K0PGM |
Lys Carey, K0PGM, SK: Former ARRL Rocky Mountain Division Director Lys Carey, K0PGM, of Lakewood, Colorado, died May 14. He was 77. An ARRL Life Member, Carey served as Vice Director in 1970 and 1980, Director from 1981-1986 and was elected Rocky Mountain Division Amateur of the Year in 1986. He was serving as an assistant director at the time of his death. During his tenure on the ARRL Board, he was chairman of its Membership Affairs (1983) and Membership Services Committees (1986). First licensed in 1953, he upgraded to Advanced in 1980. Carey earned the WAS, WAZ and WAC operating awards. In addition to his ARRL positions, Carey was past deputy director of Air Force MARS, a member of the Board of Directors for Denver Civil Defense and chairman of the electricity/electronics advisory board for Denver public schools. A native of Louisa, Kentucky, Carey moved to Denver in the late 1940s where he met his wife, Virginia, N0MUT, who survives him.
MediShare International seeks donations: MediShare International, a charitable program of the Medical Amateur Radio Council Ltd (MARCO) is seeking donations for a project that's not only unique in the history of MediShare but one that should resonate with the Amateur Radio community. Dr Robert Smithwick, W6JZU, one of the founders of MediShare and winner of the ARRL's 1996 Humanitarian of the Year Award in 1996 said the project will benefit Saint Paul's Mission Hospital--the only hospital in the Nchelenge district of Zambia--1050 kilometers from Lusaka, Zambia's capital. MediShare intends to fund the installation of a communications system for the central hospital and its Rural Health Centers, which serve a population of more than 200,000. The hospital receives many admissions in advanced stages of disease. Referral of patients to the central hospital is difficult because of the lack of transportation and communications, and often results in many deaths. RHC staffs have to travel many kilometers--often on foot--to order and obtain supplies, frequently leaving some RHCs without trained personnel for several days. Kenwood TK80 SSB HF radios powered by batteries/solar panels, broadband dipole antennas, lightning protection (central Africa is the lightning capital of the world), solar panels, charge regulators and batteries will be installed. The radios will not be operated in the ham bands. The project will cost nearly $27,000. MediShare--a 501(3)(c) charitable organization--cannot fund this project alone and seeks donations. Donations are fully tax deductible. Make checks payable to the Ludin Memorial Fund and mail to MediShare International, 717 Amherst Cir, Newtown Square, PA 19073.--Gene Hoenig, N3HG
New Mexico amateurs called in to help following air crash: John Strain, K0HGW, and his brother Larry, N7DF, of La Luz, New Mexico, were called in May 15 by the Burro Flats Volunteer Fire Department to assist in search and recovery efforts after a German Air Force Tornado fighter plane crashed in the mountains near Alamogordo. They used a DeLorme topographic computer map to chart the GPS coordinates of the search and rescue crews and coordinated Air Force, county sheriff and news media personnel. US Forest Service crews who were called in to fight the forest fire that developed were monitored on multiple scanners. Communications were relayed through the sheriff's dispatch office, since many on-site units could not reach their repeater stations from the canyon floor. Early on the morning of May 16, the welcome news was relayed that one crew member had been located and was being transported out with relatively minor injuries. Firefighters reaching the wreckage at daybreak discovered that the other crewman had failed to eject in time, however. During the following day, N7DF remained at the US Air Force Incident Command Post and helped pinpoint the major crash features with his portable computer and GPS. Maps were printed out and provided to the US and German Air Force for documenting the incident. Meanwhile K0HGW manned the Burro Flats Firehouse and provided support for the Forest Service firefighters. John Strain continued providing support into the weekend until the final crash recovery operations were assumed by the US Air Force.--submitted by Joe Knight, W5PDY
On-line ARRL November Sweepstakes SSB results available: On-line results for the 2001 ARRL November Sweepstakes (SSB) now are available on the ARRL Web site. Included with these are an expanded contest writeup by Kelly Taylor, VE4XT; a searchable database on the results of the Affiliated Club Competition for Sweepstakes; and other interesting sidebars and photographs.
Precision Emergency Automated Position Reporting System (PEAPRS) test set: The Air Force Research Lab, Rome (New York) Research Site, will be conducting an experiment using Amateur Radio operators as an auxiliary line of defense against aircraft disasters in conjunction with the annual Team Patriot exercise. The ARRL is co-sponsoring the test. The test will consist of two aircraft flights some time between June 3 and June 8, 2002. During these flights the aircraft will transmit a distress message, using the call sign WA2ZXS. Amateurs wishing to participate in this exercise should, upon receipt of the distress message, send an email message to peaprs@rl.af.mil detailing the time, characteristics of the message received as well as the method they used for reception (direct, via digipeater, via wide relay, Web, etc). Those who do not have e-mail available to them may participate by calling their observation info into the PEAPRS Command Center at 315-330-7444. The objective of this exercise will be to measure the timeliness and accuracy of the reports received from the amateur community. Amateurs that participate in this program will qualify for a special certificate from ARRL recognizing their participation.
 John McHugh, KU4GY, and Julio Ripoll, WD4JR, at Dayton. |
Presentation details the inside story on the National Hurricane Center: At the W4EHW National Hurricane Center Amateur Radio Operations Forum at Dayton Hamvention, Volunteer Coordinator John McHugh, KU4GY, and Assistant Volunteer Coordinator Julio Ripoll, WD4JR, at W4EHW presented "The Inside Workings of the National Hurricane Center in Miami." W4EHW is the center's amateur station. Ripoll outlined the center's and W4EHW's physical operation and 22-year history and included photographs of storm damage in recent years. McHugh talked about four ongoing weather projects W4EHW either originated or is participating in that allow participation by home weather station owners. The audience of about 100 included several members of the Hurricane Watch Net, whose members feed real-time weather data reports to W4EHW during hurricanes. The W4EHW team distributed a CD produced by WD4JR, which contains information about W4EHW as well as some interesting shareware. Other handouts included NOAA pamphlets and storm-tracking aids. For more information, visit the W4EHW Web site.--John Mc Hugh, KU4GY
Repetitious applications NPRM open for comments: The FCC is now accepting comments in WT Docket No. 02-57, a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking to prohibit the filing of applications "substantially similar" to other applications dismissed with prejudice within the previous 12 months. The FCC released the NPRM on March 20. Comments are due by June 14. Interested amateurs may file comments through the FCC's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). Reply comments are due July 1. Among the types of applications that are not currently and specifically barred are renewal applications. The FCC cited the pending application of Herbert Schoenbohm, ex-KV4FZ, as an example of a repetitious application for the same service less than 12 months after the final denial of a previous application. The FCC is expected to soon make this proceeding available for comments filed via its Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). Visit the ECFS site, click on "Search for Filed Comments" and enter "02-57" in the "Proceeding" field.
Resurrected CQ VHF debuts first issue: The inaugural issue of the new CQ VHF magazine--aimed at Amateur Radio above 50 MHz--is on newsstands and on its way to subscribers' mailboxes. The original CQ VHF ceased publication in 1999. Longtime CQ magazine "VHF-Plus" Editor Joe Lynch, N6CL, is editor of the new quarterly. The Spring 2002 issue--emblazoned with the words "We're Back!"--features a cover story on the moving of KA0Y's 42-foot dish as well as articles on the JT44 version of WSJT software for moonbounce and other weak-signal work; IRLP, contest rovers and "cheap 435-MHz antennas." The issue also includes columns on Antennas, FM, Satellites, and "Dr. SETI's Starship" by Paul Shuch, N6TX, the executive director of the SETI League. The magazine is available by subscription for $25 per year in the US and over the counter at ham dealers. Visit the CQ Web site for more information.
 ISS Expedition 5 crew members Valery Korzun, Peggy Whitson, KC5ZTD, and Sergei Treschev. [NASA Photo] |
Shuttle Endeavour launches May 30 with replacement ISS crew: NASA says the launch of the shuttle Endeavour to the International Space Station (ISS) has been set for May 30. The flight will bring to a close the longest stay yet aboard the complex for a resident crew. The Expedition 5 crew of Crew Commander Peggy Whitson, KC5ZTD, Mir veteran Valery Korzun and cosmonaut Sergei Treschev will take over for Expedition 4 Crew Commander Yury Onufrienko, RK3DUO, and astronauts Carl Walz, KC5TIE, and Dan Bursch, KD5PNU, for a four-month stay. Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) school contacts are on hiatus at least until June 23. Endeavour's liftoff on mission STS-111 will occur sometime between 4 and 8 PM EDT (a precise time will be announced about 24 hours prior to liftoff). In addition to exchanging station crews, Endeavour's multinational mission will attach a Canadian-built mobile base system to the station that will enable the Canadarm2 robotic arm to move along a railway on the station's truss to build and maintain the outpost. The multinational shuttle crew also will replace a faulty joint on the station's robotic arm and unload almost three tons of experiments and supplies. Onufrienko, Walz and Bursch have been on the ISS since December 7. They have been packing experiments and other gear in anticipation of Endeavour's arrival. With Onufrienko's assistance, Russian flight controllers recently were able to repair the Elektron system--one of several methods available to replenish oxygen aboard the ISS. The unit had been functioning only intermittently for the past two weeks, and Russian flight controllers and the crew had made several troubleshooting attempts. The problem eventually was traced to an errant sensor. NASA emphasized that oxygen in the cabin continued to be in abundant supply throughout the Elektron troubleshooting. In the Destiny laboratory, the crew wrapped up work this week with an experiment that grew the first zeolite crystals, a key element of refining processes used in the petrochemical industry on Earth. Work continued on the Biomass Production System, a plant growth experiment.
 America's Leaning Tower in Niles, Illinois. |
Sister cities ham radio special event set: Award Metro Amateur Radio Club (MAC) in Niles, Illinois, will join forces June 1-2 with the Pisa Amateur Radio Club in Italy for joint special event stations. Niles, Illinois, and Pisa, Italy, are Sister cities, and both sport leaning towers. Call signs used will be K9Y and IZ5AXT/TWR. "For decades Amateur Radio operators have enhanced international goodwill utilizing wireless communication," said event organizer Mike Dinelli, N9BOR, of MAC. "This event continues the tradition by drawing attention to two communities thousands of miles apart with something very special in common." Dinelli said the Pisa club will locate at the legendary Leaning Tower of Pisa, while the MAC group will operate from America's Leaning Tower in Niles, Illinois. Respective QSL managers are N9BOR and IK5ZTT (sorry, no electronic QSLs). Operation will be on both CW and SSB, and hams contacting both sites qualify for the Pisan Tower Award. Visit the MAC Web site for more information. `
Special event to mark British wartime propaganda station: The Crowborough and District Amateur Radio Society in the UK will operate special event station GB4ASP to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the British government wartime propaganda radio station, which was called Aspidistra. GB4ASP will be on the air--HF, 6 and 2 meters--June 1, 0800 UTC, to June 3, 0800 UTC. For more information, contact Andy Hagland, G0MSA, g0msa@btopenworld.com.
 Steve Dimse, K4HG. |
Steve Dimse, K4HG, wins EarthLink R&D grand prize: EarthLink's Research and Development department has announced that Dr. Steve Dimse, K4HG, is the grand prize winner of its open standards-based Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) device application development contest. The competition was held to explore new and future vehicle telematics applications. Dimse won the overall, grand prize for his proposal to integrate the AVL device into the existing Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS) worldwide tracking system, which he helped create. Dimse's proposal would extend the reach of the APRS by allowing it to be used by anyone with an AVL device and access to the Internet. "The far-reaching benefits of this type of service include anything from keeping up with your kids to tracking down a stolen car," said Dimse, an emergency room physician. "APRS has always been a hobby of mine, but the EarthLink open-standards AVL contest provided an affordable avenue in which to expand upon our system." He said a service now accessible just to Amateur Radio operators has unlimited potential to reach the general public. The AVL contest was created as an open source application development competition to encourage developers to submit best in-vehicle computing applications. Contestants submitted entries in the categories of navigation, directory, entertainment, security and m-commerce.
Supreme Court says states can be sued in federal court under telecom law: The US Supreme Court ruled 8-0 May 20 that states can be sued in federal court for their activities implementing the 1996 Telecommunications Act (Public Law 104-104). The high court refused requests by Maryland's regulators to shield states from lawsuits by telephone companies. The ruling means states can face potentially lengthy federal court litigation from companies who disagree with how state utility boards or other regulators are following the law. Maryland attorneys had argued that companies dissatisfied with state decisions should be restricted to challenges in state courts. The court also held that state commissioners could be sued individually. The ruling came in the case of Verizon Maryland v Public Service Commission of Maryland.
 (L-R) HB9AAQ, HB9NP and K1ZZ. |
Swiss Museum ham station a class act: "Most impressive!" was the reaction of ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, after visiting the Amateur Radio exhibit and station HB9O at the Swiss Museum of Transportation in Lucerne. Taking a Saturday break from a WRC-03 preparatory meeting in Geneva, Sumner went to Lucerne May 11 at the invitation of Fred Schulz, HB9NP.
 A touch-screen display is a key part of the exhibit. Visitors can roam the screen, can select audio samples of various amateur radio signals and can even control a live receiver that tunes most of the spectrum from 100 kHz to 1.3 GHz. |
Schulz and a team of volunteers in the Union
of Swiss Shortwave Amateurs (USKA) have devoted hundreds of hours to building
the exhibit, which was funded by contributions from individual USKA members.
USKA President Fred Tinner, HB9AAQ, also on hand for the tour, said the exhibit
at the popular museum is part of a concerted effort by USKA to increase the
awareness of Amateur Radio in Switzerland. Volunteer teams will staff the
exhibit, which will be formally dedicated in June, three days a week.
W0DX/VP2VI memorial service May 23: A memorial service for former ARRL President Bob Denniston, W0DX/VP2VI, was held May 23 in Tortola, British Virgin Islands. Memorial donations are invited to Home Care Basics and may be mailed to Robert W. Denniston Memorial, c/o Else Blok, Box 330, Roadtown, Tortola, British Virgin Islands. Denniston, who was a DXpedition pioneer, died May 13 at his radio shack on Smugglers Cove on Tortola. He was 83.--Jim Livengood, W0NB
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