From kb9wsl at hotmail.com Fri Aug 1 09:39:46 2008 From: kb9wsl at hotmail.com (Tom Murray) Date: Fri, 1 Aug 2008 09:39:46 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] ARRL Club Newsletter Message-ID: ARRL Club Newsletter July 31, 2008 Norm Fusaro, W3IZ, Editor IN THIS ISSUE: + Above the Fold + Club Newsletters + National Preparedness Month Above The Fold I have been reading the club newsletters and from the looks of things it appears that there were a lot of successful Field day operations. The majority of clubs reported large member participation and lots of contacts in spite of poor solar conditions. All clubs reported on the excellent banquet conditions for Field Day. Remember that the Field Day soapbox is still accepting comments and photograph of your event. Incidentally, the soapbox is a primary source for photographs used in web extra and QST articles. http://www.arrl.org/contests/soapbox/?con_id=155 Speaking of newsletters, many clubs are doing a great job of informing their members about on air activities. For instance, the Glorious Society of The Wormhole club in Florida provides information about the club nets as well as an extensive list of several HF and VHF nets taking place every day of the week. The Portage County ARS in Ohio has a monthly column titled Charlie the Tuners HF Hi-Lites that provides information on upcoming DXpeditions and DX activity as well as IOTA and lighthouse activity. Other notables about the club newsletters that we receive are the number of clubs that have switched to electronic formats allowing them to produce some high quality bulletins. Because printing and postage are not a concern clubs are able to provide more detailed information as well as high resolution photographs. Here are some suggestions for producing a quality newsletter that your members will be eager to receive. Be informative. A good newsletter should contain the following basic information: - Meeting time, date and place and simple directions - List of club officers and contact information - Contact information for the newsletter editor - Contact information for the membership chairperson Be sure to include this kind of information if it applies to your club: - URL for the club webpage - Club e-mail address - Frequency pair(s) and PL tone for the club repeater - A list of nets and frequencies or other on air club activities - VE test sessions - License class schedule Other useful information could include: - Local hamfests or conventions - Other trade shows that may be of interest to the membership - Activities of other nearby radio clubs - Contests or other on air activities The personality of the club should be evident in the newsletter. A few words from the club president and recognition of member achievements are always good. Be sure to invite contributions such as announcements and articles. If you are not already doing so please send your electronic newsletters to clubs at arrl.org Printed versions can be mailed to: ARRL Attn.: Clubs 225 Main St. Newington, CT 06111 It is not necessary to send a printed edition if you send an electronic copy of your newsletter. 5TH ANNUAL NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH COMING THIS SEPTEMBER SIGN UP YOUR CLUB or ARES GROUP NOW! Groups and individuals can register to become members by visiting www.ready.gov, and clicking on the National Preparedness Month banner. WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced today that more than 1,200 national, regional, state and local businesses and organizations have pledged their support and joined the 2008 National Preparedness Month Coalition. Sponsored by the department's Ready Campaign, National Preparedness Month helps to raise awareness and promote action by Americans, businesses, and communities on emergency preparedness. "As we approach our fifth National Preparedness Month, I want to thank the hundreds of coalition members who are making a difference in their communities by helping raise the basic level of preparedness in our country," said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. "Individual preparedness is the cornerstone of emergency preparedness. Experience shows that if Americans take steps ahead of time, they stand a much better chance of coming through an emergency unharmed and recovering more quickly." The Ready Campaign and Citizen Corps (www.citizencorps.gov) are specifically encouraging individuals across the nation to take important preparedness steps. These steps include: getting an emergency supply kit, making a family emergency plan, being informed about the different emergencies that may affect them, as well as taking the necessary steps to get trained and become engaged in community preparedness and response efforts. National Preparedness Month Coalition members have agreed to distribute emergency preparedness information and sponsor activities across the country that will promote emergency preparedness. Membership is open to all public and private sector organizations. Groups and individuals can register to become members by visiting www.ready.gov, and clicking on the National Preparedness Month banner. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Joseph I. Lieberman and Ranking Member Susan M. Collins, along with House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie G. Thompson and Ranking Member Peter T. King, will serve as honorary Congressional Co-Chairs of National Preparedness Month 2008. Together, they will lead the effort to increase public awareness about the importance of emergency preparedness on Capitol Hill and throughout the country. For more information on the Ready Campaign and National Preparedness Month, please visit www.ready.gov or www.listo.gov. Information is also available by phone at 1-800-BE-READY or 1-888-SE-LISTO. February 2008 marked the Ready Campaign's fifth year at the Department of Homeland Security. Launched in 2003 in partnership with The Advertising Council, Ready is designed to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to emergencies, including natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks. It has proven to be one of the most successful campaigns in Ad Council's more than 65-year history. Since its launch, the campaign has generated more than $703.2 million in donated media support. Individuals interested in more information about family, business and community preparedness can visit www.ready.gov or call 1-800-BE-READY to receive free materials. Linking up with the Ready.gov people and participating in September's National Preparedness Month, is an easy win. The federal people are already doing all the hard work. All you really have to do is sign up. Most clubs and ARES groups are already doing activities which fit into their structure, so why not get credit for your actions? Of course if you do something more with this opportunity, so much the better! But you have to sign your group in and no one can do that for you. There are hundreds of ARES groups and clubs in the country. Wouldn't it be fun to have even 70% of them sign up and get noticed? Go to www.ready.gov, and click on the National Preparedness Month banner. Allen G Pitts, W1AGP Media & PR Manager ARRL - the national association for Amateur Radio 225 Main St. Newington CT 06111 (860) 594-0328 apitts at arrl.org ARRL Affiliation Milestones for June and July 2008 60 Year June *W4 GA Amateur Radio Club Of Augusta W4DV 75 Year June *W3 MDC Frederick Amateur Radio Club K3ERM *W8 MI Hiawatha Amateur Radio Club K8LOD 25 Year July *W1 CT Valley Amateur Radio Association W1VAR *W2 NLI Rockaway Beach JHS Amateur Radio Club K1NY *W4 SFL Palm Beach Amateur Radio Council W4SS *W6 LAX 220 MHZ Spectrum Management Association *W7 WWA Jefferson County Amateur Radio Club W7JCR *KL7 AK Moose Horn Amateur Radio Club AL7LE *W8 MI Tuscola County Amateur Radio Association KC8CNN *W0 IA Fort Madison Amateur Radio Club WF0RT 50 Year July *W2 NNJ Roseland Amateur Radio Club K2GQ *W4 TN Johnson City Radio Association, Inc W4ABR *W0 ND Theodore Roosevelt Amateur Radio Club K0ND 60 Year July *W3 EPA Delaware-Lehigh Amateur Radio Club, Inc. W3OK *W6 EB Mount Diablo Amateur Radio Club W6CX *W0 MO St. Louis and suburban Radio Club, Inc. W0SRC ====================================================================== The ARRL CLUB NEWS is published on the first Wednesday of each month by the American Radio Relay League--The National Association For Amateur Radio--225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax 860-594-0259; www.arrl.org. Joel Harrison, W5ZN, President. The ARRL CLUB NEWS is an e-mail digest of news and information of interest to active members of ARRL Affiliated Clubs. Material from The ARRL CLUB NEWS may be republished or reproduced in whole or in part in any form without additional permission. Credit must be given to The ARRL CLUB NEWS and The American Radio Relay League. Editorial questions or comments: Norm Fusaro, W3IZ, clubs at arrl.org Delivery problems (ARRL direct delivery only!): club-el-dlvy at arrl.org To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your address for e-mail delivery: ARRL members first must register on the Members Only Web Site, http://www.arrl.org/members/. You'll have an opportunity during registration to sign up for e-mail delivery of the The ARRL CLUB NEWS, W1AW bulletins, and other material. ARRL members may subscribe to The ARRL CLUB NEWS by going to the Member Data Page at: http://www.arrl.org/members-only/memdata.html?modify=1 Note that you must be logged in to the site to access this page. Scroll down to the section "Which of the following would you like to receive automatically via email from ARRL?" Check the box for "ARRL Club News (monthly news of interest to Amateur Radio clubs)" and you're all set. Past issues of The ARRL CLUB NEWS are available at http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/club/clubnews/. Issues are posted to this page after publication. _________________________________________________________________ Stay in touch when you're away with Windows Live Messenger. http://www.windowslive.com/messenger/overview.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_messenger2_072008 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080801/e654b3c6/attachment-0001.htm From kb9wsl at hotmail.com Fri Aug 1 20:39:25 2008 From: kb9wsl at hotmail.com (Tom Murray) Date: Fri, 1 Aug 2008 20:39:25 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] ARRL propagation report Message-ID: SB PROP @ ARL $ARLP032 ARLP032 Propagation de K7RA ZCZC AP32 QST de W1AW Propagation Forecast Bulletin 32 ARLP032 >From Tad Cook, K7RA Seattle, WA August 1, 2008 To all radio amateurs SB PROP ARL ARLP032 ARLP032 Propagation de K7RA July ended with no sunspots at all, save for three days, July 18-20, when one weak sunspot group appeared and faded from view. Sunspot numbers for those days were 11, 12 and 11. This brings us to our practice of presenting the average daily sunspot number for the past three months, then comparing it with a monthly 3-month moving average for the past couple of years. There were 92 days in May, June and July, and 70 out of those 92 days had no sunspots. This brings us back toward the low of 3 from last fall, centered on October. The average daily sunspot number for the last three months, centered on June, was just 3.7. Jun 06 28.9 Jul 06 23.3 Aug 06 23.5 Sep 06 21.2 Oct 06 24.1 Nov 06 23.1 Dec 06 27.3 Jan 07 22.7 Feb 07 18.5 Mar 07 11.2 Apr 07 12.2 May 07 15.8 Jun 07 18.7 Jul 07 15.4 Aug 07 10.2 Sep 07 5.4 Oct 07 3 Nov 07 6.9 Dec 07 8.1 Jan 08 8.5 Feb 08 8.4 Mar 08 8.4 Apr 08 8.9 May 08 5 Jun 08 3.7 The outlook from the US Air Force Space Weather operations for many weeks now has shown a predicted solar flux of 66, and their prediction from July 31 shows the same, for the next 45 days. This tells me that there isn't any period where we might expect more sunspot activity, or at least no way to foresee it. They predict the next geomagnetic activity of any note for August 10, with a planetary A index of 20. They predict a planetary A index of 8 for August 1, then 5 for August 2-6, then 8 again on August 7. Geophysical Institute Prague echoes that prediction with quiet to unsettled conditions for August 1 and 7, and quiet conditions August 2-6. In response to WD4ELG's comments in ARLP031, Jim Henderson, KF7E of Queen Creek, Arizona has some interesting observations. Jim writes, ''During these spotless and near-minimum flux conditions, I have seen the extreme divergence of the day-to-day propagation paths as a function of the traditional flux numbers. Allowing for seasonal trends, the differences in direction and quality of openings on a given band from day-to-day where the flux and A and K indices remain nearly unchanged for days, the openings generally show much more relationship to the intensity of the solar wind''. ''From here, the patterns of propagation, under the weak stimulation of near minimum flux, show much more pronounced linking to the dynamic wind speed and composition than to simple 2800 MHz flux measurements''. ''I believe without the positive contribution of the 'ionospheric bias' provided by even a low flux, say 80-85, even a small increase in solar wind has a profound effect on the daily paths''. ''Put another way, the good/bad effects upon propagation from minor solar wind changes (not associated with flares and CMEs) are much more observable when the flux is hovering under 68 or so than when it is higher. At that time, we feel the big effects from the major storms. But it is interesting to note the nuances of propagation (say, by observing the NCDXF HF beacons daily) during a quiescent sun''. Thanks, Jim. Maurice Picard, W6FQS of Chico, California wrote: ''I noticed a forecast on a propagation website (http://dx.qsl.net/propagation/index.html) that the geomagnetic field would be unsettled due to a solar boundary crossing. I don't recall seeing reference to this phenomena in any previous forecasts. What is this boundary crossing?'' Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA provided us with this link explaining the term: www.ngdc.noaa.gov/stp/SOLAR/ftpsectorboundaries.html. Carl will be writing the bulletin next week, for Friday, August 8, while your regular author is out of town. Carl will also be on the road, travelling to Rochester, Minnesota for the W0DXCC Convention (see http://www.w0dxcc.com) at the Rochester Amateur Radio Expo. Carl will post his bulletin from Dubuque, Iowa. Check out Carl's excellent propagation writings at http://mysite.verizon.net/k9la/index.html. Another multi-hop sporadic E report from six meters, and this was just last evening. Dave Greer, N4KZ of Frankfort, Kentucky (EM78ne) reports that beginning at 2322z on July 31, on 6 meter CW he worked EA8/DL6FAW (Canary Islands) with good signals both ways. At 2325z he worked EA8AK on CW, and at 0026z on August 1 he worked EA8/DL6FAW on SSB. Dave reports that both stations made many U.S. contacts, but also called CQ many times with no takers. He thinks this is a good example of distant six meter signals propagating to very specific areas, but not others. For instance, he saw that EA6SX in the Balearic Islands was spotted on 50.105 MHz over several hours, but Dave never heard him. He also made Canary Island contacts in summer 2006 and 2007, again working stations in pairs, but earlier in the season and earlier in the day. On June 18, 2006 he worked them around 1300z, and on July 15, 2007 around 2200z. For six years his station has been on a hilltop (on Skyview Drive.) with a very steep slope toward the East and Northeast. He notes that NW Africa is a real sweet spot for him on HF, with incredibly strong signals to and from EA8, D4, CN and CT3. This seems to be true on 6 meters as well. He runs 100 watts into a 4 element Yagi at 60 feet. His best 6 meter DX ever was in November 2001 when he worked KH2GU in Guam, using an 80 meter horizontal loop antenna at a previous QTH. Bill Reichert, N9HH of Troy, Illinois reports 6 meter propagation from earlier in the month. On July 9, at 2342z while mobile from EM58br he worked CT1HZE (Portugal, IM57nh) on 50.084 MHz using a base-loaded quarter wave whip antenna. A few days earlier around 1500z, CU2JT (Azores) called him, but QRM from the East Coast prevented him from completing the contact. This was while Bill was mobile in Collinsville, IL. If you would like to make a comment or have a tip for our readers, email the author at, k7ra at arrl.net. For more information concerning radio propagation, see the ARRL Technical Information Service at http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html. For a detailed explanation of the numbers used in this bulletin, see http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/k9la-prop.html. An archive of past propagation bulletins is at http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/. Monthly propagation charts between four USA regions and twelve overseas locations are at http://www.arrl.org/qst/propcharts/. Instructions for starting or ending email distribution of this bulletin are at http://www.arrl.org/w1aw.html#email. Sunspot numbers for July 24 through 30 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, and 0 with a mean of 0. 10.7 cm flux was 65.4, 65.8, 66.1, 66.3, 66.3, 66, and 66.5 with a mean of 66.1. Estimated planetary A indices were 11, 3, 5, 7, 7, 3 and 5 with a mean of 5.9. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 7, 2, 4, 4, 6, 2 and 4 with a mean of 4.1. NNNN /EX _________________________________________________________________ Use video conversation to talk face-to-face with Windows Live Messenger. http://www.windowslive.com/messenger/connect_your_way.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Refresh_messenger_video_072008 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080801/b106ee27/attachment.htm From kb9wsl at hotmail.com Fri Aug 1 21:02:52 2008 From: kb9wsl at hotmail.com (Tom Murray) Date: Fri, 1 Aug 2008 21:02:52 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] ARRL Newsletter Message-ID: *************** The ARRL Letter Vol. 27, No. 30 August 1, 2008 *************** IN THIS EDITION: * + Amateur Station at Smithsonian QRT after 32 Years * + German Radio Manufacturer Halts Transceiver Production * + HF Digital Voice Programs Once Again Available for Download * + Dutch Amateur Radio Satellite Now Live * + MARS Lends a Hand with Hurricane Dolly Operations * + ARRL Membership Newsletters, Bulletins and Notifications * Solar Update * IN BRIEF: This Weekend on the Radio ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration + Steve Telenius-Lowe, 9M6DXX/G4JVG, Wins June QST Cover Plaque Award + W1AW/KL7 Now QRV From the DXCC Desk +Available on ARRL Audio News =========================================================== ==>Delivery problems: First see FAQ , then e-mail ==>Editorial questions or comments only: S. Khrystyne Keane, =========================================================== ==> AMATEUR STATION AT SMITHSONIAN QRT AFTER 32 YEARS After more than 30 years on the air from the nation's capital, NN3SI , the Amateur Radio station at the National Museum of American History -- part of the Smithsonian Institution -- became silent on Thursday, July 31. Originally located in the Nations of Nations exhibit, the station first went on-the-air in 1976 in celebration of the US Bicentennial. The FCC caught the patriotic spirit, giving the station a temporary call sign -- NN3SI -- standing for Nation of Nations, Smithsonian Institution. The Commission later made the call sign allocation permanent. According to NN3SI volunteer Carl Lagoda, W3CL, a Special Event operation was planned for earlier this week, with certificates available to those who contacted NN3SI. DX Summit spotted NN3SI on 75, 40 and 20 meters SSB. NN3SI has been situated in several different exhibitions in the Museum; it was most recently housed in the former Information Age exhibit. This exhibit chronicled the birth and growth of the electronic information age -- from Samuel Morse's invention of a practical telegraph in the 1830s through the development of the telephone, radio, television and computer. The Museum has been closed since 2006 while undergoing a major renovation and is scheduled to reopen to the public this fall. The station participated in many special events throughout its history. During the dedication of the World War II Memorial on the National Mall, station operators made many contacts and taught children visiting the Museum how to spell their names in Morse code. Over the years, operators at NN3SI -- who hailed from the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia (and the occasional guest operators from various parts of the globe) -- have logged contacts with amateurs in all parts of the world and with astronauts and cosmonauts in orbit. By operating the station, NN3SI ops promoted Amateur Radio as a national resource for emergency communications, trained operators, technicians and engineers -- as well as an outstanding hobby -- to the more than 4 million people who visit the Museum each year. QSL via NN3SI, Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of American History, 17701 Bowie Mill Rd, Derwood, MD 20855. ==> GERMAN RADIO MANUFACTURER HALTS TRANSCEIVER PRODUCTION In a surprise move, Hilberling GmbH has stopped production on the much anticipated PT-8000 series of HF/VHF Amateur Radio transceivers. Apparently due to CE marking regulations , Hilberling had to make constant adjustments to the design of the radio and was unable to repeat the performance of prototypes in production models and was not able to justify the expense involved with further redesign work. The CE mark certifies that a product has met European Union health, safety and environmental requirements, ensuring consumer safety. Array Solutions -- which had been set to be the North American distributor for the transceiver series -- featured the PT-8000 at its booths at the 2008 Dayton Hamvention. Hans Hilberling, DK7LG, explained in German on the company's Web site why the company canceled production of the PT-8000 series: "Production of the PT-8000 equipment series has been halted. Due to the persistent challenges we've had to overcome in the process of bringing the official EU-wide manufacturer's model to fruition, it became necessary to make more and more adaptations in the design of this cutting-edge transceiver. The lofty design goals of the PT-8000 could be attained in some prototypes. We encountered difficulties that we could not overcome at justifiable expense in guaranteeing, without reservation, a high standard of mass production involving many suppliers. We appreciate the great interest this project has attracted over its entire course." -- Translation by Rick Lindquist, WW3DE The PT-8000 was featured in a 4-page pull-out advertisement in the May 2007 issue of QST. The ad stated that Hilberling had not yet received approval by the FCC to market the radio in the US. All digital devices -- including Amateur Radio equipment -- must be approved by the FCC, meeting the requirements of FCC Part 15 and RSS 210 (Radio Standards Specifications, Industry Canada) to ensure its compliance as an unintentional radiator and as a generic receiver. Approval was granted in May 2008. Testing was done in April and May 2008 by Professional Testing (EMI) of Round Rock, Texas. According to the QST ad, the PT-8000 was set to feature: * An automatically tuned preselector * Precision matched first and second mixers, designed by Synergy Microwave, with third intercept points at 40+ dBm * Three roofing filters at 2.7, 6 and 12 kHz * Six hybrid amplifiers from LF to VHF with third intercept points at 50+ dBm * Seven 16-pole ladder filters working in combination with DSP filters in the 10.7 MHz second IFs of each filter * 13.8 V HF MOSFETs (metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor) in the 100 W power amplifier; high efficiency (70 percent) SD3933 HF MOSFETs in the 600 W final amplifier * Three additional 70.7 MHz roofing filters in the transmitter stages for clean output * Designed with UHF and microwave transverters in mind, 1 Hz frequency resolution with the ability to connect transverters to both receivers simultaneously * Taps at the first and second IFs for analysis, monitoring and experimentation * Easily updatable firmware The price for a 10 W PT-8000 started at $12,000, going up to $16,000 for the 600 W model. Commercial and military grades were priced at an additional $10,000. ==> HF DIGITAL VOICE PROGRAMS ONCE AGAIN AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD Citing codec (coding/decoding) licensing issues, three free Windows programs for sound card-based HF digital voice were yanked from their download site for a short time recently, surprising hams who are interested in HF digital voice operation; several online groups that supported the software were also closed for a short time. WinDRM, DRMDV and FDMDV, all written by Cesco Lanza, HB9TLK, used a codec that was developed for the US Department of Defense and NATO. Rights to various forms of the codec are held by several companies. According to Gary Pearce, KN4AQ, the companies have "winked" at ham radio use for several years, but a recent complaint caused the programs to be pulled from the download site. "Lanza did a quick rewrite to use an open-source codec, and now WinDRM and FDMDV are back," Pearce said. "DRMDV, an intermediate program between the other two, has been abandoned. WinDRM could always use the open-source Speex codec, but FDMDV users will need to download the new version." Pearce said these three programs all allow hams to transmit and receive digital voice by connecting their PC sound card to an ordinary SSB transceiver: "The result has been surprisingly high quality audio, with virtually no noise -- sort of like listening to FM, but in the narrow bandwidth of a sideband signal. WinDRM, the best sounding program, uses 2.5 kHz of spectrum. FDMDV sounds a little rougher, but uses only 1.1 kHz of spectrum. They both use OFDM modulation, a set of close-spaced carriers that are each modulated with a little bit of data to add up to the final digital signal. The main problem with HF digital voice is that it needs fairly strong signals. FDMDV works better with weaker signals than WinDRM." Pearce said that none of the available open-source codecs work as well as the old one: "MELP , or Mixed Excitation Linear Prediction, was designed specifically for high-quality, low data-rate voice communication. So the on-air audio might suffer some with the new version. Digital voice users have been waiting and hoping for someone to concentrate on developing a codec optimized for ham radio use, but none has been forthcoming." FDMDV and WinDRM can both be downloaded from Jason Buchanan's, N1SU, Web site . The AOR digital voice modems and D-STAR radios both use the AMBE 2020 vocoder, and are not affected by the coding changes; the AMBE 2020 vocoder is a proprietary chip that is embedded in each unit. For more information on WinDRM, check out QST Editor Steve Ford's, WB8IMY, article ["Life Could Be a DReaM," pages 38-40] in the April 2007 issue of QST. ==> DUTCH AMATEUR RADIO SATELLITE NOW LIVE The linear transponder aboard the new Dutch OSCAR 64 satellite (otherwise known as Delfi-C3 ) is now open for CW and SSB operation. The spacecraft boots into transponder mode whenever it is in full sunlight. Ground controllers will briefly switch the satellite to either "basic" or "science" configuration once every two weeks; otherwise, the linear transponder will be the default mode. The transponder uplink passband is from 435.530-435.570 MHz with a downlink passband from 145.880-145.930 MHz. The transponder CW beacon can be heard at 145.870 MHz. Delfi C-3 was successfully launched April 28, 2008 from India aboard a Polar launch vehicle and was successfully commissioned, currently transmitting telemetry on the 2 meter amateur band. In addition to its 2 meter downlink, Delfi C-3 has an uplink on the 70 cm band. The satellite was developed by a team of some 60 students and facility members from various polytechnic schools in The Netherlands. Delfi C-3 carries two experiments -- one involving thin film solar cells developed by Dutch Space, and an autonomous wireless Sun sensor from the Dutch Government Research Institute (TNO). E-mail reports are welcome . ==> MARS LENDS A HAND WITH HURRICANE DOLLY OPERATIONS When Tropical Storm Dolly turned into Hurricane Dolly , various Amateur Radio Emergency Communications groups, such as WX4NHC at the National Hurricane Center, the Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) and the VoIP WX Net (VOIPWX), began tracking the storm. One other group -- the Army's Military Amateur Radio Service (MARS) -- also helped out with storm communications. According to Texas State MARS Director Dave Martin, MARS leadership began to track the storm while it was still in the Atlantic. MARS established a liaison with the Texas Military Forces (TXMF) and the Texas State Operations Center (SOC). An Alert Notification message was sent to all MARS members on July 18, informing Texas Army MARS that the SOC was at full operations and would announce when they would request full mobilization of all agencies. This decision was made just two days later and an additional Alert Notification was sent to the membership to begin emergency net operations on July 22 at 8 AM. "Our mission was to support the TXMF and the SOC with HF communications by expanding the normal net schedule and establishing a full-time liaison," Martin said. "In addition, requests were sent to the other MARS services in the region asking for liaison stations to participate in the Army nets. Fortunately, a hurricane exercise had been completed a week before and the exercise operations order was used to execute this mission. We reacted to the storm the same way we trained for the emergency." Beginning on July 22, Texas MARS opened E-nets at 8 AM, 1 PM, 7 PM and 10 PM, with a 6 AM net opening the next day. While the Net Control Stations were in Texas, support was received from Oklahoma and Louisiana Army MARS. TXMF was notified that Texas Army MARS had received permission from Army MARS Headquarters to deploy HF communications teams with their deploying elements as was done during a previous exercise. During the emergency, the nets had an average of 25-30 check-ins; all traffic was sent via MT63 or Winlink 2000. Martin said that all MARS stations in the affected area were off the air during the height of the storm. MARS member Tom Whiteside, N5TN/AAR6CQ, was able to facilitate the use of the Winlink network, exchanging traffic with the Harlingen Emergency Operations Center; Harlingen is about 27 miles north of the Mexican border, in Texas's southern tip. This area was one of the hardest hit areas in the state. As Hurricane Dolly approached Harlingen, Sergeant Gerald Manthey, KC6CNN, Harlingen's Director of Emergency Communications, was on duty at the EOC. Manthey has been the driving force in the Rio Grande Valley for Winlink, as well as pushing amateur voice capabilities in the area with surrounding agencies. Harlingen became the South Texas ARES' fifth EMCOMM PMBO in December of 2007 with both local VHF Packet and HF PACTOR capability. Due to a localized power failure, the EOC was soon running on generator power. During the storm, Manthey kept in touch with both the SOC and the Emergency Operations Center in San Antonio. He also kept in touch with other hams in the valley via both voice and Winlink. "Winlink is the perfect tool for this sort of thing," said Manthey. "You can send messages and get them when you have time. The system works very well even without the Internet." Manthey communicated with the City of Brownsville EOC, the Cameron County EOC, the Valley Baptist Medical Center and individual amateurs via Winlink throughout the storm. One of those hams was ARRL West Gulf Division Vice Director David Woolweaver, K5RAV, who operates a Winlink RMS Packet station in Harlingen. The AE5R station was the first test of the new RMS Relay program that provides for local message hubbing during an Internet outage. MARS emergency operations continued until 10 PM on July 24 when Kevin Lemon, the State RACES officer, stood down the Amateur Radio operation. Army MARS also ceased operations at the SOC, but remained on call in case of a flooding event. "Hurricane Dolly was a serious but not major storm," Martin said. "Even at that, there were times when communications were out due to winds or flooding. Volunteers in MARS and the Amateur Radio community provided what was needed to get through the storm and are standing by for any after effects." -- Thanks to Texas State Army MARS Director Dave Martin, K5YFO/AAA6TX, and Tom Whiteside, N5TW/AAR6CQ, for the information ==> ARRL MEMBERSHIP NEWSLETTERS, BULLETINS AND NOTIFICATIONS Did you know the ARRL offers more newsletters than The ARRL Letter? One of the many ARRL membership benefits includes other newsletters, such as the ARRL Contest Update (a bi-weekly contest newsletter), the ARES E-Letter (sent monthly, containing public service and emergency communications news), the ARRL Club News and the ARRL Instructor/Teacher E-Letter. You can also elect to receive news and information from your Division Director and Section Manager (keep in mind that not all Divisions/Sections send notices), as well as W1AW bulletins that relate to DX, propagation, satellites and Keplerian reports. The ARRL also offers a free notification service to members, letting them know when their membership and license are due to expire. Sign up for these newsletters, bulletins and notifications on the Member Data page of the ARRL Web site . ==>SOLAR UPDATE Tad "Lost in a shaft of sunlight" Cook, K7RA, this week reports: July ended with no sunspots at all -- save for three days, July 18-20, when one weak sunspot group appeared and faded from view. Sunspot numbers for those days were 11, 12 and 11. Sunspot numbers for July 24-30 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 and 0 with a mean of 0. The 10.7 cm flux was 65.4, 65.8, 66.1, 66.3, 66.3, 66 and 66.5 with a mean of 66.1. Estimated planetary A indices were 11, 3, 5, 7, 7, 3 and 5 with a mean of 5.9. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 7, 2, 4, 4, 6, 2 and 4 with a mean of 4.1. The outlook from the US Air Force Space Weather operations for many weeks now has shown a predicted solar flux of 66; their prediction from July 31 shows the same for the next 45 days. This tells me that there isn't any period where we might expect more sunspot activity, or at least no way to foresee it. They predict the next geomagnetic activity of any note for August 10, with a planetary A index of 20. They predict a planetary A index of 8 for August 1, then 5 for August 2-6 then 8 again on August 7. Geophysical Institute Prague echoes that prediction with quiet to unsettled conditions for August 1 and 7, and quiet conditions August 2-6. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the ARRL Technical Information Service Propagation page . To read this week's Solar Report in its entirety, check out the W1AW Propagation Bulletin page . This week's "Tad Cookism" brought to you by "The Dry Salvages," one of the poems by T. S. Eliot known as The Four Quartets. __________________________________ ==>IN BRIEF: * This Weekend on the Radio: This weekend, look for the the ARRL UHF Contest August 2-3. The TARA Grid Dip Shindig and the European HF Championship are on August 2. On August 2-3, look for the 10-10 International Summer Contest (SSB), the National Lighthouse Weekend QSO Contest and the North American QSO Party (CW). The RSGB RoPoCo 2 and the SARL HF Phone Contest are both August 3. Next weekend, the WAE DX Contest (CW) and the Maryland-DC QSO Party are August 9-10. The SKCC Weekend Sprintathon is August 10 and the NAQCC Straight Key/Bug Sprint is August 13. All dates, unless otherwise stated, are UTC. See the ARRL Contest Branch page , the ARRL Contest Update and the WA7BNM Contest Calendar for more info. Looking for a Special Event station? Be sure to check out the ARRL Special Event Station Web page . * ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration: Registration remains open through Sunday, August 24, 2008 for these online course sessions beginning on Friday, September 5, 2008: Technician License Course (EC-010); Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level 1 (EC-001); Radio Frequency Interference (EC-006); Antenna Design and Construction (EC-009); Analog Electronics (EC-012), and Digital Electronics (EC-013). Each online course has been developed in segments -- learning units with objectives, informative text, student activities and quizzes. Courses are interactive, and some include direct communications with a Mentor/Instructor. Students register for a particular session that may be 8, 12 or 16 weeks (depending on the course) and they may access the course at any time of day during the course period, completing lessons and activities at times convenient for their personal schedule. Mentors assist students by answering questions, reviewing assignments and activities, as well as providing helpful feedback. Interaction with mentors is conducted through e-mail; there is no appointed time the student must be present -- allowing complete flexibility for the student to work when and where it is convenient. To learn more, visit the CCE Course Listing page or contact the Continuing Education Program Coordinator . * Steve Telenius-Lowe, 9M6DXX/G4JVG, Wins June QST Cover Plaque Award: The winner of the QST Cover Plaque Award for June is Steve Telenius-Lowe, 9M6DXX/G4JVG, for his article "The FSDXA 3B7C St Brandon DXpedition." Congratulations, Steve! The winner of the QST Cover Plaque award -- given to the author or authors of the best article in each issue -- is determined by a vote of ARRL members on the QST Cover Plaque Poll Web page . * W1AW/KL7 Now QRV: Special event station W1AW/KL7 will be on the air from grid square BP56 July 26-August 10 on all bands from 160-6 meters. This ARRL 2008 Alaska State Convention Special Event Station plans to run two HF stations operating CW, SSB and digital, one satellite station and one station devoted to 146.52 MHz. The Convention itself runs from August 1-4 in Anchorage. * Notes from the DXCC Desk: Manager Bill Moore, NC1L, reports that the 5X4X operations in Uganda -- from 2007 to present -- have been approved for DXCC credit. "If you had cards rejected for this operation, please send an e-mail to the ARRL DXCC Desk to have your DXCC record updated," Moore said. =========================================================== The ARRL Letter is published Fridays, 50 times each year, by the American Radio Relay League: ARRL--the National Association for Amateur Radio, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax 860-594-0259; . Joel Harrison, W5ZN, President. The ARRL Letter offers a weekly e-mail digest of essential and general news of interest to active radio amateurs. Visit the ARRL Web site for the latest Amateur Radio news and news updates. The ARRL Web site also offers informative features and columns. ARRL Audio News is a weekly "ham radio newscast" compiled and edited from The ARRL Letter. It's also available as a podcast from our Web site. Material from The ARRL Letter may be republished or reproduced in whole or in part in any form without additional permission. Credit must be given to The ARRL Letter/American Radio Relay League. ==>Delivery problems (ARRL member direct delivery only!): letter-dlvy at arrl.org ==>Editorial questions or comments: S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA, k1sfa at arrl.org ==>ARRL News on the Web: ==>ARRL Audio News: or call 860-594-0384 ==>How to Get The ARRL Letter The ARRL Letter is available to ARRL members free of charge directly from ARRL HQ. To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your address for e-mail delivery: ARRL members first must register on the Members Only Web Site . You'll have an opportunity during registration to sign up for e-mail delivery of The ARRL Letter, W1AW bulletins, and other material. To change these selections--including delivery of The ARRL Letter--registered members should click on the "Member Data Page" link (in the Members Only box). Click on "Modify membership data," check or uncheck the appropriate boxes and/or change your e-mail address if necessary. (Check "Temporarily disable all automatically sent email" to temporarily stop all e-mail deliveries.) Then, click on "Submit modification" to make selections effective. (NOTE: HQ staff members cannot change your e-mail delivery address. You must do this yourself via the Members Only Web Site.) The ARRL Letter also is available to all, free of charge, from these sources: * ARRLWeb . (NOTE: The ARRL Letter will be posted each Friday when it is distributed via e-mail.) * The QTH.net listserver, thanks to volunteers from the Boston Amateur Radio Club: Visit Mailing Lists at QTH.Net . (NOTE: The ARRL cannot assist subscribers who receive The ARRL Letter via this listserver.) _________________________________________________________________ With Windows Live for mobile, your contacts travel with you. http://www.windowslive.com/mobile/overview.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_mobile_072008 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080801/a1832d31/attachment-0001.htm From kb9vmw at comcast.net Sun Aug 3 22:49:17 2008 From: kb9vmw at comcast.net (Tom Denton) Date: Sun, 03 Aug 2008 22:49:17 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] LAFAYETTE HAMFEST Aug 17 Message-ID: <48966E2D.8000805@comcast.net> http://w9reg.org/hamfest/index.htm -- 73, Tom Denton KB9VMW CCARC Board of Directors http://www.w9vmw.org/ Six Club #1963 http://www.6mt.com/ From kb9vmw at comcast.net Mon Aug 4 01:48:04 2008 From: kb9vmw at comcast.net (Tom Denton) Date: Mon, 04 Aug 2008 01:48:04 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] Free Morse to MIDI ringtone generator Message-ID: <48969814.6040702@comcast.net> http://www.planetofnoise.com/midi/morse2mid.php -- 73, Tom Denton KB9VMW CCARC Board of Directors http://www.w9vmw.org/ Six Club #1963 http://www.6mt.com/ From kb9wsl at hotmail.com Mon Aug 4 09:16:19 2008 From: kb9wsl at hotmail.com (Tom Murray) Date: Mon, 4 Aug 2008 09:16:19 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] Radio station construction permit sold on e-bay Message-ID: On eBay, would you bid $14,900 for a new non-commercial FM in North Platte, Nebraska? Somebody just did ? and won it. We?ve seen licensed commercial stations for sale on eBay, but this is the first construction permit I can recall ? much less one in the non-commercial band - and it drew a total of 16 bids. The bidding started at $10,000 back on July 21 and closed at $14,900, as ?Loidalvarez2008" swooped in at the last moment to make his/her only bid. The FCC database lists the current permittee for Facility ID number 174842 as RV Ministries Inc. Obviously any transfer of a license must be approved by the Commission, so this particular eBay auction process isn?t done yet. The facility will be a Class A at 90.1, with 6-kw at 16 meters above average terrain. This isn?t a typical case of a construction permit that somebody?s held onto for years and now risks losing because the three-year clock?s ticking: RV Ministries got the permit on February 19 of this year and it won?t expire until February 19, 2011. _________________________________________________________________ Your PC, mobile phone, and online services work together like never before. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/108587394/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080804/08d86e86/attachment.htm From kb9wsl at hotmail.com Mon Aug 4 09:19:38 2008 From: kb9wsl at hotmail.com (Tom Murray) Date: Mon, 4 Aug 2008 09:19:38 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] Indy radio ratings Message-ID: Arbitron Ratings Data for Indianapolis AQH Share for Persons 12+, Mon-Sun 6AM-Mid Station Format SU07 FA07 WI08 SP08 WFMS-FM Country 10.7 8.5 11.4 10.2 WIBC-FM News Talk Information * * 7.2 6.9 WFBQ-FM Album Oriented Rock 6.2 7.0 6.6 6.7 WHHH-FM Rhythmic Contemporary Hit Radio 6.7 8.2 5.5 5.9 WTLC-FM Urban Adult Contemporary 5.3 6.0 5.3 5.8 WRZX-FM Alternative 4.4 4.2 5.0 5.2 WYXB-FM Soft Adult Contemporary 5.1 6.3 4.6 4.8 WJJK-FM Adult Hits 3.9 3.6 4.7 4.5 WZPL-FM Modern Adult Contemporary 3.5 4.0 3.9 4.4 WNOU-FM Pop Contemporary Hit Radio 4.1 4.1 3.9 4.3 WLHK-FM Country 3.9 3.4 4.0 4.0 WKLU-FM Oldies 2.9 2.6 3.5 3.4 WNTR-FM Adult Hits 3.6 2.4 3.7 2.9 WTLC-AM Gospel 2.7 1.5 1.5 2.1 WTTS-FM Album Adult Alternative 2.8 2.0 2.0 1.9 WEDJ-FM Mexican Regional 1.2 0.4 1.5 1.8 WFNI-AM All Sports * * 1.5 1.3 WNTS-AM Mexican Regional 0.5 0.5 0.9 1.3 WRDZ-FM Pop Contemporary Hit Radio 1.3 1.1 1.1 0.9 WCBK-FM Country 0.8 0.5 0.5 0.8 WNDE-AM All Sports 1.3 1.5 1.3 0.7 WRWM-FM Soft Adult Contemporary * * * 0.7 WFDM-FM News Talk Information * * 0.6 0.6 WXNT-AM News Talk Information 1.0 1.3 1.1 0.6 WKKG-FM Country 0.8 0.4 0.6 0.4 WEXM-FM Soft Adult Contemporary * 2.2 * * WIBC-AM News Talk Information 6.1 6.2 * * WWFT-FM Soft Adult Contemporary 1.0 1.5 0.4 * WXLW-AM All Sports 0.8 1.0 * * WYJZ-FM New AC (NAC)/Smooth Jazz 2.8 * * * * Data are not available for this station/survey. This happens primarily in two-survey-per-year markets where data are released only in Spring and Fall. _________________________________________________________________ Your PC, mobile phone, and online services work together like never before. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/108587394/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080804/d763512f/attachment-0001.htm From kb9wsl at hotmail.com Mon Aug 4 20:55:28 2008 From: kb9wsl at hotmail.com (Tom Murray) Date: Mon, 4 Aug 2008 20:55:28 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] FW: [InHam] IN-ARRL BULLETIN 13-2008 In-Reply-To: <008101c8f644$da8bc060$242d2d0a@oldtwr> References: <008101c8f644$da8bc060$242d2d0a@oldtwr> Message-ID: > From: kb9bvn at gmail.com > To: IndyHamRadio at yahoogroups.com > Date: Mon, 4 Aug 2008 11:14:52 -0400 > CC: > Subject: [InHam] IN-ARRL BULLETIN 13-2008 > > IN-ARRL BULLETIN 13-2008 > 10:43AM EDT 4 AUGUST 2008 de KB9BVN > > Just a reminder that the nominations for the position of Indiana ARRL > Section Manager will be open until September 5th, 2008. If you are > interested in making a nomination and/or running for this position, please > visit the ARRL website and submit your nomination. The new SM will be > installeed in January 2009 and will serve for 18 months. The next SM > election will then be held in June of 2010. > > Remember, you must be a current ARRL member to run for any ARRL position, > and you must be an ARRL member to be eligible to vote in this, and all ARRL > elections. > > More information on the SM nomination/election process and procedures > are found at this link: > > http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/org/smterms.html > > So far to the best of my knowledge we only have two candidates running: > > John Poindexter W3ML - Knox Indiana > http://www.w3ml.com/ > > Ray Andrews K9DUR - West Terre Haute Indiana > http://www.qsl.net/k9dur/ > > > Brian Murrey - KB9BVN > IN-ARRL Bulletin Manager > 317-535-9887 > > _______________________________________________ > InHam mailing list > InHam at mailman.qth.net > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/inham _________________________________________________________________ Get Windows Live and get whatever you need, wherever you are. Start here. http://www.windowslive.com/default.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Home_082008 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080804/905a4811/attachment.htm From kb9wsl at hotmail.com Tue Aug 5 08:49:50 2008 From: kb9wsl at hotmail.com (Tom Murray) Date: Tue, 5 Aug 2008 08:49:50 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] contest Message-ID: The VHF-DX-Portal MMMonVHF (http://www.MMMonVHF.de) in cooperation with the magazines DUBUS invite you to take part in our new 144 MHz Meteorscatter Sprint Contest,which will take place for the first time in the 2008 Perseid shower. The 144 MHz Meteorscatter Sprint Contest will take place each year on the day of the from IMO (International Meteor Organization) announced maximum of the Perseid shower. Participants may submit all their QSOs done between 0000 UT to 2359 UT. This will be a world wide contest and all HAM's world wide invited to take part and send in their logs. Contestdetails at http://www.mmmonvhf.de/ctest.php 73's de Erwin/DK5EW MMMonVHF: Beacon Project Manager + MS SPRINT Contest Manager _________________________________________________________________ Your PC, mobile phone, and online services work together like never before. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/108587394/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080805/166b33f0/attachment.htm From kb9wsl at hotmail.com Tue Aug 5 08:57:08 2008 From: kb9wsl at hotmail.com (Tom Murray) Date: Tue, 5 Aug 2008 08:57:08 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] radio station ratings Muncie-Marion-Lafayette Message-ID: MUNCIE-MARION, IN (Radio) Survey: SP08/FA07 Pop: 168400 Intab: 1245 Survey: FA07/SP07 Pop: 169300 Intab: 1211 Demo: P 12+ Geo Area: MUNCIE-MARION, IN METRO - Std Daypart: M-Su 6:00AM - 12:00M 1 - 12 Qualitative Target: none Stations: User Selected Ranked By: SP08/FA07, AQH Share (All selected stations) FA07/ SP08/ Station SP07 FA07 WLBC-FM AQH Share 13.9 16.7 WMDH-FM AQH Share 10.4 10.1 WFBQ-FM AQH Share 7.9 7.6 WERK-FM AQH Share 4.5 4.5 WHTY-FM AQH Share 3.5 3 WBYR-FM AQH Share 3 2.5 WOWO-AM AQH Share 3 2.5 WRZX-FM AQH Share 2.5 2.5 WWKI-FM AQH Share 1.5 2 WFMS-FM AQH Share 1.5 1.5 WIBC-FM AQH Share 1 1.5 WLW -AM AQH Share 1 1.5 WZPL-FM AQH Share 1 1.5 WNHT-FM AQH Share 0.5 1 WXFN-AM AQH Share 0.5 1 WAJI-FM AQH Share 1 0.5 WDSJ-FM AQH Share 0.5 0.5 WHTI-FM AQH Share 0.5 0.5 WJJK-FM AQH Share 0.5 0.5 WJOT-FM AQH Share 0.5 0.5 WLHK-FM AQH Share 0.5 0.5 WMEE-FM AQH Share 0.5 0.5 WNTR-FM AQH Share 0.5 0.5 WURK-FM AQH Share 0 0.5 WYXB-FM AQH Share 0.5 0.5 WIBC-AM changed to WIBC-FM during or prior to Spring 2008 . Please note: The intab reported is for the full twelve weeks of the survey. Users should note that reports run on fewer than twelve weeks are based on smaller sample sizes. Stations qualify to be reported if they have received credit for five or more minutes of listening in at least 1 in-tab diaries in the survey area, Monday-Sunday Midnight-Midnight, during the most recent survey in the trend. LAFAYETTE, IN (Radio) Survey: Spring 2008 Pop: 135066 Intab: 974 Survey: Fall 2007 Pop: 135132 Intab: 957 Demo: P 12+ Geo Area: LAFAYETTE, IN METRO ? Std Daypart: M-Su 6:00AM - 12:00M 1 - 12 Qualitative Target: none Stations: User Selected Ranked By: SP 2008, AQH Share (All selected stations) FA SP Station 2007 2008 WKOA-FM AQH Share 12.8 14.1 WASK-FM AQH Share 8.8 9.6 WKHY-FM AQH Share 10.8 9.6 WXXB-FM AQH Share 8.8 8.1 WLS -AM AQH Share 1.4 3.7 WFBQ-FM AQH Share 2 2.2 WASK-AM AQH Share 2 1.5 WEDJ-FM AQH Share 0 1.5 WRZX-FM AQH Share 2.7 1.5 WFNI-AM AQH Share ~ 0.7 ~ Survey(s) excluded from station's average due to off-air status: WFNI-AM in Fall 2007. Please note: The intab reported is for the full twelve weeks of the survey. Users should note that reports run on fewer than twelve weeks are based on smaller sample sizes. Stations qualify to be reported if they have received credit for five or more minutes of listening in at least 10 in-tab diaries in the survey area, Monday-Sunday Midnight-Midnight, during the most recent survey in the trend. Estimates are derived from the diaries that provided the audience data for the Market Report and are subject to the limitations stated in that Report. Due to these limitations, inherent in Arbitron's methodology, the accuracy of Arbitron audience estimates cannot be determined to any precise mathematical value or definition. This service is not part of Arbitron's regular syndicated service. The Media Rating Council (MRC) accredits this service. _________________________________________________________________ Got Game? Win Prizes in the Windows Live Hotmail Mobile Summer Games Trivia Contest http://www.gowindowslive.com/summergames?ocid=TXT_TAGHM -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080805/20352ec3/attachment-0001.htm From k9dvl at comcast.net Wed Aug 6 17:38:11 2008 From: k9dvl at comcast.net (Dave Rothermel) Date: Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:38:11 -0500 Subject: [Ccarc] [Fwd: Re: [Inares] W9AL] Message-ID: <489A19C3.7020404@comcast.net> -------------- next part -------------- An embedded message was scrubbed... From: Dan Dahms Subject: Re: [Inares] W9AL Date: Wed, 6 Aug 2008 14:03:07 -0700 (PDT) Size: 20407 Url: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080806/84c2b4d1/attachment.eml From phil_snider at hotmail.com Thu Aug 7 13:17:11 2008 From: phil_snider at hotmail.com (Phil Snider) Date: Thu, 7 Aug 2008 13:17:11 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] hamfest tickets to raffel off for Aug 24 Danville, IL Message-ID: I received 2 tickets for the Danville, Illinois hamfest on Aug. 24. I will give them to Chuck to raffel off at the next club meeting.Phil Snider W9LVY -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080807/1fce41b1/attachment.htm From kb9wsl at hotmail.com Fri Aug 8 20:26:44 2008 From: kb9wsl at hotmail.com (Tom Murray) Date: Fri, 8 Aug 2008 20:26:44 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] =?windows-1256?q?ARRL_propagation_bulletin=FE?= Message-ID: ARLP033 Propagation de K7RA? From: ARRL Web site (memberlist at www.arrl.org) Sent: Fri 8/08/08 4:00 PM To: kb9wsl at hotmail.com SB PROP @ ARL $ARLP033 ARLP033 Propagation de K7RA ZCZC AP33 QST de W1AW Propagation Forecast Bulletin 33 ARLP033 >From Tad Cook, K7RA Seattle, WA August 8, 2008 To all radio amateurs SB PROP ARL ARLP033 ARLP033 Propagation de K7RA As mentioned in last week's Bulletin, Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA, is filling in for your regular reporter Tad Cook, K7RA. For the reporting period August 1 through August 7, solar activity was at very low levels and the geomagnetic field was at quiet levels. Solar activity is expected to be very low for the next several days. As for geomagnetic field activity, the Australian Space Forecast Centre issued a geomagnetic disturbance warning on August 6 for quiet to unsettled and then unsettled to active conditions (with possible minor storm periods) on August 8 and August 9, respectively. Other than a new-cycle magnetic dipole on August 3 that didn't turn into a sunspot region, the Sun was again blank for the entire reporting period. Kind of sounds like a recording, doesn't it? A good summary is: Here we sit at solar min Wondering when Cycle 24 will begin It seems like we've been at solar minimum forever. In fact, there have been several news releases hinting that this solar minimum period between Cycle 23 and 24 is unusual. The analysis of recent spotless days compared to historical spotless days (see science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/11jul_solarcycleupdate.htm) led Dr. David Hathaway (NASA solar physicist) to conclude that nothing is unusual about this solar minimum period. Another way to look at solar minimum is to look at the duration when the smoothed sunspot number is below 20. Historically this duration has ranged from a short 17 months to a long 96 months, with an average of 37 months. Cycle 23 descended below 20 in February 2006, and Cycle 24 is predicted to ascend above 20 in early 2009. That's around 36 months, so everything appears to be pretty normal so far and agrees with Dr. Hathaway's conclusion. We'll just have to be patient until Cycle 24 starts ramping up. The good news is that we have seen three sunspot regions tied to Cycle 24 (January 4, April 13, and May 5), so it's coming. What can you do around solar minimum? One activity would be to get on the low bands for the Fall/Winter season - the low bands should be very good. Another activity would be to take advantage of summer sporadic E (and in December, too, but it's not as prevalent). For example, last weekend provided some excellent 6 Meter propagation. And participants (your author included) in the CW running of the North American QSO Party (sponsored by the National Contest Journal) enjoyed 10 Meter and 15 Meter sporadic E openings (which likely happens a lot more than we think - a dead band may not be dead, just unoccupied). And since mid latitude sporadic E is not tied to sunspots, we can have fun throughout an entire solar cycle. Speaking of sporadic E, last week's Bulletin reported N4KZ working EA8/DL6FAW on 6m on both CW and SSB. This brought a reply from Norbert Scherer, DL6FAW. Norbert reports that he's been operating on 2m for many years, but his 6m activity is relatively new. Since 2006 he has been running 100W to a simple 5-element Yagi when in Spain. Norbert continues: ''In the first weeks I only heard North America in the middle of the day. I never expected any opening after midnight local time. But by carefully monitoring the beacons I was surprised to hear, for example, WZ8D/B late in the evening. Sometimes I started to call CQ and there was no reply at all. The following day, when I heard the beacon again and nothing else, there were ten people calling at the same time. Tim, KY5R, told me last week that I was the only signal on the band he could hear. I hope there will be more good propagation to NA in the coming weeks, although the sunspot number is Zero! I checked out some websites listing solar activity, sunspot number, K-index, solar winds, etc. for July 2008. But I couldn't find any correlation between the data provided there and my log.'' DL6FAW's attempt to correlate 6m Es to sunspots came out as expected - as stated earlier, there doesn't appear to be any tie between where we are in a sunspot cycle and the occurrence of mid latitude sporadic E. Finally, in last week's Bulletin Jim Henderson, KF7E, provided some good observations and comments about the day-to-day variability of the ionosphere. A good supporting example of his observations is the F2 region MUF over the Millstone Hill ionosonde (in Massachusetts), assuming it's the mid point of a 3000 km hop. In July, when the solar flux was for all intents and purposes constant, the 3000 km MUF varied from a low of 8.9 MHz to a high of 19.6 MHz. KF7E's comments, along with the Millstone Hill data, are in agreement with ionospheric studies showing that although solar radiation is the instigator of the ionization process, two other factors appear to be more significant in determining what the F2 region ionosphere is doing right now. These two factors are geomagnetic field activity and events in the lower atmosphere coupling up to the ionosphere. What does all that mean? It simply means plugging the daily solar flux into your favorite propagation prediction program really doesn't tell you what the ionosphere is doing today. This day-to-day variability is the reason our prediction programs were designed to be statistical over a month's time frame. We do not have daily predictions, and the developers never intended that they be daily predictions as they were aware of the unpredictability of the day-to-day variation of the ionosphere. Perhaps some day we'll figure all this out, but for now the best way to tell if one of the higher bands is open is to listen to the NCDXF/IARU beacons (www.ncdxf.org/beacons.html). For more information concerning radio propagation, see the ARRL Technical Information Service at http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html. For a detailed explanation of the numbers used in this bulletin, see http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/k9la-prop.html. An archive of past propagation bulletins is at http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/. Monthly propagation charts between four USA regions and twelve overseas locations are at http://www.arrl.org/qst/propcharts/. Instructions for starting or ending email distribution of this bulletin are at http://www.arrl.org/w1aw.html#email. Sunspot numbers for July 31 through August 6 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, and 0 with a mean of 0. 10.7 cm flux was 65.5, 66.1, 66.2, 65.5, 66.2, 66.5, and 67 with a mean of 66.1. Estimated planetary A indices were 4, 3, 3, 4, 4, 3 and 4 with a mean of 3.6. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 4, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3 and 5 with a mean of 3.1. NNNN /EX _________________________________________________________________ Get Windows Live and get whatever you need, wherever you are. Start here. http://www.windowslive.com/default.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Home_082008 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080808/0e7865aa/attachment.htm From kb9wsl at hotmail.com Fri Aug 8 20:40:12 2008 From: kb9wsl at hotmail.com (Tom Murray) Date: Fri, 8 Aug 2008 20:40:12 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] ARRL LETTER Message-ID: *************** The ARRL Letter Vol. 27, No. 31 August 8, 2008 *************** IN THIS EDITION: * + ARRL Board of Directors Names 2007-2008 Award Recipients * + NCVEC Holds Annual Conference via Telephone * + Look for the September Issue of QST in Your Mailbox * + Former ARRL HQ Staff Member Glenn Swanson, KB1GW (SK) * + Station Manager Explains NN3SI's Silence * + Fifth Annual National Preparedness Month Coming in September * Solar Update * IN BRIEF: This Weekend on the Radio ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration + New ARRL Section Manager Appointed in Nevada + Jack B. Morgan, KF6T, Wins July QST Cover Plaque Award October is Radiosport Month in QST Georgia Hams Meet with FEMA AMSAT-UK Colloquium Lectures Now Online International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend 2008 +Available on ARRL Audio News =========================================================== ==>Delivery problems: First see FAQ , then e-mail ==>Editorial questions or comments only: S. Khrystyne Keane, =========================================================== ==> ARRL BOARD OF DIRECTORS NAMES 2007-2008 AWARD RECIPIENTS The ARRL Board of Directors named six ARRL award recipients at its July 18-19 meeting in Windsor, Connecticut. The six awards conferred were the 2008 Philip J. McGan Memorial Silver Antenna Award; the 2007 Herb S. Brier Instructor of the Year Award; the 2007 Hiram Percy Maxim Award; the 2007 Doug DeMaw, W1FB, Technical Excellence Award; the 2008 ARRL Technical Innovation Award, and the ARRL Technical Merit Award. * The Philip J. McGan Memorial Silver Antenna Award The recipient of the 2008 McGan Award is Walter Palmer, W4ALT, of Lewes, Delaware. Palmer, the ARRL Delaware Section Public Information Coordinator (PIC) , has demonstrated outstanding volunteer public relations success on behalf of Amateur Radio at both the local and state levels. Palmer wrote a television script for the Sussex County (Delaware) Emergency Operations Center, providing the public with an awareness of Amateur Radio and its relationship with Emergency Preparedness. This show was broadcast on the largest television station in the Delaware market. Through his positive messages and commitment to Amateur Radio, membership in the Sussex Amateur Radio Association increased almost 200 percent, gaining 69 new members; participation in ARES grew from just one lone member to 60. The McGan award is named for Philip J. McGan, WA2MBQ (SK), the first chairman of the ARRL's Public Relations Committee. After his death, friends in the New Hampshire Amateur Radio Association joined with the ARRL Board of Directors to pay a lasting tribute to the important contributions he made on behalf of Amateur Radio. The McGan Award goes to that ham who has demonstrated success in Amateur Radio public relations and best exemplifies the volunteer spirit of Phil McGan. Public Relations activities for which the McGan Award is presented include efforts specifically directed at bringing Amateur Radio to the public's attention (and most often the media's) in a positive light. This may include traditional methods, such as news releases, or non-traditional methods, such as hosting a radio show or being an active public speaker. * Herb S. Brier Instructor of the Year Award The recipient of the 2007 Herb S. Brier Instructor of the Year Award is Doug Loughmiller, W5BL, of McKinney, Texas. Since 2003, Loughmiller has worked to bring together the Fannin County Amateur Radio Club and the Fannin County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) by creating and teaching ongoing Amateur Radio classes. Loughmiller advertises the classes and recruits students; graduates of the classes usually end up joining both clubs. He mentors his many students about the wide-ranging facets of Amateur Radio, including high altitude balloon flights and real-world emergency response in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Loughmiller's classes are so popular, it is common for licensed amateurs to re-enroll or even take his class for a first time knowing they will walk away from it having learned something new. Herb S. Brier, W9AD, long-time CQ Novice Editor, represented the spirit of effective, caring Amateur Radio instruction. The ARRL, in conjunction with the Lake County (Indiana) Amateur Radio Club, sponsors this award in his memory to recognize the very best in volunteer Amateur Radio instruction and recruitment. * The Hiram Percy Maxim Award The recipient of the 2007 Hiram Percy Maxim Award is Jim Fagan, KE7IDC, of Tucson, Arizona. Fagan, an ARRL Life Member, is the ARRL Arizona Assistant Section Manager for Youth; he also serves as secretary/treasurer of the Tucson Repeater Association. He is 13 years old. Fagan teaches the Radio and Electronics merit badges, as well as hands-on radio demonstrations and kit building in his Scouting activities. Outside of Boy Scouts, Fagan helps out with bike races, walkathons and Red Cross drills. He serves as the Tucson Repeater Council's representative to the Arizona Radio Council. Every month, he writes a Youth and Scouting article for the ARRL Arizona Section newsletter. This award, given annually to a licensed radio amateur under the age of 21, takes into account the nominee's most exemplary nature of accomplishments and contributions to both the community of Amateur Radio and the local community. * The Doug DeMaw, W1FB, Technical Excellence Award The recipient of the 2007 Doug DeMaw, W1FB, Technical Excellence Award is John Stanley, K4ERO, of Rising Fawn, Georgia, for his article "Observing Selective Fading in Real Time with Dream Software" published in the January/February 2007 issue of QEX . Stanley was first licensed as KN4ERO more than 50 years ago, gradually working his way up to Amateur Extra class. He graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a degree in electrical engineering in 1962 and did six years of graduate studies in theology and foreign languages. With Ruth, WB4LUA, his wife of 40 years, Stanley has visited 62 countries and operated from about a dozen of them while working as a broadcast engineering consultant and educator. He has taught in several universities and has worked for all of the major religious broadcasters, but spent the majority of his time with HCJB in Quito, Ecuador where he oversaw the use of a 24-element quad antenna for broadcasting on the 21 MHz shortwave broadcast band. While at HCJB, Stanley designed and built several transmitters and did major work on the 20 kW unit presently used by HCJB for SSB and Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) broadcasts. Established in 1975 as the ARRL Technical Excellence Award, the name was changed in 1997 to honor the late Doug DeMaw, W1FB, a former ARRL Headquarters technical editor and well-known Amateur Radio author. The award consists of an engraved 9 inch pewter cup. * The ARRL Technical Innovation Award The recipient of the 2008 ARRL Technical Innovation Award is Dave Bernstein, AA6YQ, of Wayland, Massachusetts. Bernstein authored and published the DXLab suite of programs for radio amateurs ; he has placed these programs in the public domain for free use and collaboration. Bernstein, an avid DXer, was one of the earliest logging program authors to investigate functions for ARRL's Logbook of The World (LoTW) , as well as programs for other developers. His DXLab suite consists of eight programs that cover every aspect of station operation. Bernstein goes beyond simply supporting DXLab; he mentors users in other aspects of programming and Amateur Radio. The ARRL Technical Innovation Award is granted annually to the licensed radio amateur or to individuals who are licensed radio amateurs whose accomplishments and contributions are of the most exemplary nature within the framework of technical research, development and application of new ideas and future systems in the context of Amateur Radio activities. * ARRL Technical Merit Award The ARRL Technical Merit Award, last given in 1976, is awarded to ARRL Laboratory Manager Ed Hare, W1RFI. Since 2003, Hare has diligently and skillfully led the ARRL laboratory staff in studying the detrimental effects of Broadband over Powerline (BPL) usage on the Amateur Radio community . Going beyond the dictates of his job, Hare conducted field studies of geographically dispersed BPL deployments in his personal HF-equipped car, interfacing with amateurs in many different areas of the country to provide them with reliable and objective technical advice in identifying and addressing harmful interference from BPL systems. Hare's extensive technical studies and solid factual data effectively supported ARRL's Court of Appeals submissions against the FCC, thus contributing substantially to the League's success in causing the FCC's flawed BPL rules to be remanded to the FCC. This action positively impacts ARRL membership and the whole amateur community. Hare has earned the respect of technical representatives in the BPL industry and standards organizations, such as the IEEE P1775 BPL EMC Committee; the IEEE EMC Society Standards Development Committee (serving as Chairman of the BPL Study Project), and the ASC 63 EMC Committee (serving as Chairman of Subcommittee 5 -- Immunity and the Ad hoc BPL Working Group). Through these committees, Hare has contributed to the implementation of advancements in BPL technology, directly resulting in the capability of current generation BPL systems to reduce interference potential to acceptable levels. ==> NCVEC HOLDS ANNUAL CONFERENCE VIA TELEPHONE On July 25, the National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (NCVEC) held their annual meeting via teleconference. ARRL VEC Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, and Assistant Manager Perry Green, WY1O, represented the ARRL VEC. Representatives from 12 of the nation's 14 VECs (either in person or via proxy), as well as the FCC's Bill Cross, W3TN, took part in the teleconference. Elections NCVEC held elections for 2008/2009. Moving up from vice chairman, Larry Pollock, NB5X, of W5YI VEC was elected Chairman, replacing Tom Fuszard, KF9PU, of the MRAC VEC; John Johnston, W3BE, of the LARC VEC, was elected as Vice Chairman. Roland Anders, K3RA, of LARC VEC, was elected as Chairman of the Question Pool Committee (QPC). The ARRL's Green, W5YI's Pollock, MRAC's Fuszard and Anchorage VEC's Jim Wiley, KL7CC, were appointed as members of the QPC; Anders, Green and Pollock are returning QPC members. The following amateurs were re-elected to their position by acclimation: Michelle Cimbala, WK3X, of LARC VEC, as Secretary and Custodian of Records; Gene Wright, WA6ZRT, of the GEARS VEC, as Assistant to the Custodian of Records; Ray Adams, W4CPA, of the WCARS VEC, as Treasurer; Willard Sitton, W4HZD, of WCARS, as Assistant to the Treasurer, and Fred Maia, W5YI, of W5YI VEC, as Rules Reporter. Question Pool Committee Wiley presented the QPC report. Wiley, who served as QPC Chair for 2007/2008, stated that the committee strived to make the questions in the Amateur Extra class license question pool easier to understand . A few changes were made after the release of the pool, and the implementations of those changes seem to be going smoothly, he said. He reminded the Conference that there will be no question pool releases in 2009. Win Guin, W2GLJ, proxy for the GLAARG VEC, asked Wiley why the QPC released a second version of the Extra class pool. Wiley replied that the QPC sent a copy of the pool to VECs before its release; only a few VECs responded with comments. Only after the release of the pool to the public, Wiley said, did the QPC receive a substantial number of comments for corrections and changes. Anders confirmed this, saying that most of the comments received after the release were not major, but there were a significant number of them. The QPC carefully reviewed the comments, and the second release of the pool was seen as a way to clarify the way the questions were worded. Pollock agreed, noting that only eight questions were removed from the pool, and about 12 typographical errors were corrected in the re-release. FCC Matters Bill Cross, W3TN, an analyst in the FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau -- Mobility Division, told the Conference that from an FCC perspective, the VEC system was working quite well. He said they had received very few complaints about test sessions or the availability of test sessions. Cross also notified the Conference that his office has received some complaints from hams who have let their licenses expire. These hams, Cross said, are upset that they have to take a new test after their two year grace period has expired. Cross then spoke of items pending in Washington that may impact exam question pools. He mentioned a petition filed by the ARRL, asking the FCC to amend rules relating to the amount of RF power that stations may use when transmitting spread-spectrum emissions. Cross said this petition is being handled by the FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology (OET); he said a decision on this petition has the possibility to affect a few questions in the pools. He also told of a petition dealing with the 5 MHz (60 meter) band; the ARRL is requesting that a channel substitution be made. If approved, this would also change a few questions. Cross said that the Commission would need to solicit comments on both petitions before a decision is reached, and a Report and Order would need to be released if the rules are changed. He said he felt that no question pool changes would need to be made before next summer at the earliest. Cross mentioned that his office has had some difficulties with club call sign applications. It seems, Cross said, that some hams are sending in applications requesting to change the trustee of a club station, but these hams are not authorized to change either the trustee or the station address. He called on Club Station Call Sign Administrators (CSCSA) to watch this carefully and try to head off any potential problems. He suggested that administrators get documentation that the person requesting the change is actually the new trustee of the club license and is acting with the authority of the club. 1x1 Call Signs Anders said he was concerned about the possible misuse of 1x1 -- or special event -- call signs, saying that he had received reports of a large number of these special call signs showing up in radiosport contests. He said in looking at the Special Event Call Sign System guidelines -- posted on the NCVEC Web site -- he did not think contests fit the FCC's definition of a special event as something of general or widespread interest. He said that if the Conference decides that it is not in their purview to provide guidance on what should be a special event, the Conference should delete the definition from the NCVEC Web site. Cross said that the NCVEC has no responsibility for the 1x1 call sign program. He told the Conference that when the FCC devised the 1x1 program, they left the definition of a special event -- an event of interest to the ham radio community -- vague on purpose. He said the Commission envisioned 1x1 call signs being used at open houses, fairs, parades, celebrations of anniversaries of local events and the like. He said a contest does not commemorate an event; rather, those with a 1x1 call sign in a contest have an advantage with a short call sign. He said contest sponsors could have a rule not allowing 1x1 call signs. Pollock said that after the 1x1 database was developed, they had to find a place to host it; as a matter of convenience, it was placed on the NCVEC Web site. Somma, Green and Pollock urged that the 1x1 database and related Web pages be moved to its own site, with Pollock heading up this project. Somma said the FCC rules state that the database must be maintained, but does not state on what Web site it is to be maintained. To clarify issues with the 1x1 call signs, language on the NCVEC Web site will be changed to reflect that the Conference has nothing to do with the 1x1 call sign program, and pages associated with the program will be moved to their own site as soon as possible. The 2009 meeting of the NCVEC was tentatively set for July 24 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. ==> LOOK FOR THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE OF QST IN YOUR MAILBOX The September issue of QST -- our annual Emergency Communications issue -- is jam-packed with all sorts of things today's Amateur Radio operator needs, with a special focus on Public Service. From product reviews to experiments to contesting, the upcoming issue of QST has something for just about everyone. Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, provides details on how hams can use APRS and GPS in Emergency Communications (and other applications) for more than simply tracking the position of another user in his article "Maximizing the Mobile Motorist Mission." William McMurray, K4SG, takes a look back at some resourceful young amateurs' radio EmComm and homebrewing adventures in his article "World War II Emergency Radio." Mike Kionka, KI0GO, tells about "Project 25 for Amateur Radio," an open digital standard used by many public service agencies. ARRL Contributing Editor Gary Pearce, KN4AQ, reviews ICOM's IC-92AD dual band handheld transceiver. According to Pearce, "The IC-92AD is a very capable radio for analog and D-STAR digital VHF/UHF operation. It's expensive compared to analog-only dual-banders, and you'll need to spend some time learning the digital features. In return, D-STAR offers many capabilities not available in the analog world." Contest season is right around the corner, so ARRL Contest Branch Manager Sean Kutzko, KX9X, takes a look at his mailbag and answers a few questions he has received in "This Month in Contesting." The results of the 2008 ARRL DX Phone Contest are in. Did you top your score from last year? How did your closest rival do? Also, find out about upcoming contests in Contest Corral. Of course, there are all the columns and features you know and love in September QST: Hints & Kinks, The Doctor Is IN, How's DX, Old Radio, Technical Correspondence, ARRL VEC and Emergency Communications Honor Rolls, Hamspeak and more. Look for your September issue in your mailbox. QST is the official journal of ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio. QST is just one of the many benefits of ARRL membership. To join or renew your ARRL membership, please see the ARRL Web page . ==> FORMER ARRL HQ STAFF MEMBER GLENN SWANSON, KB1GW (SK) Former ARRL Headquarters staffer, Glenn P. Swanson, KB1GW, of North Granby, Connecticut, died August 1 after a brief illness. He was 54. In the mid-1990s, Swanson was very active in contesting activities, and served a term as Yankee Clipper Contest Club (YCCC) Connecticut Area Manager and was a contributor to the YCCC newsletter . Swanson was extremely interested in new Amateur Radio equipment and products -- especially transceivers -- and authored several QST product reviews. First licensed in 1987 as a Novice, Swanson credited Peter Budnik, KB1HY - who became a fellow ARRL staffer -- for getting him involved in Amateur Radio. Swanson told then-QST Product Review Editor Rick Lindquist, WW3DE (ex-N1RL) in 1996 that "Peter was my best friend, and he was really into CB. I became involved, too. Later, when Peter decided to take an Amateur Radio licensing class, it was natural that I'd go along with my buddy and take the class, too!" Swanson said he and Budnik "climbed the licensing ladder together," from Novice to General. "And here we are years later, both Advanced class and both working at ARRL HQ -- in the same department." Swanson first came to the ARRL in January 1993 as the Assistant to Bart Jahnke, KB9NM, then-ARRL VEC Manager. Two years later, Swanson moved to the former Educational Activities Department (EAD) -- later merged with Field Services -- for several years. In his role in EAD, Swanson was involved with the Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment (SAREX -- the predecessor to the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station ARISS), scouting's Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) and the ARRL Instructor of the Year Award. "Glenn was an enthusiastic ARRL staff member and Amateur Radio operator," said Lindquist. "He would even stay after hours to assist me in the product review process, and he made me feel at home when I first arrived at ARRL HQ. In addition, he got me involved with YCCC and serious contesting. Glenn was a great guy." Swanson wrote more than a dozen articles and product reviews for QST between 1995 and 1997. Former EAD Manager Rosalie White, K1STO, his former supervisor, said, "I always liked Glenn and was happy to have him in the department. His death was such a shock!" Swanson left ARRL HQ in 1998, going to work for the West Hartford (Connecticut) public school system as a technology support specialist. He was employed there at the time of his death. A memorial service was held August 7 in Granby, Connecticut. ==> STATION MANAGER EXPLAINS NN3SI'S SILENCE ARRL has received numerous e-mails asking for information on why NN3SI , the Amateur Radio station at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History (NMAH) was closed after more than 32 years of operation . According to Hal Wallace, NN3SI Station Manager and Associate Curator for the Museum's electricity collections, there will be no appropriate place to house the station once the Museum reopens this fall after undergoing an extensive renovation. "NN3SI ceased operating from the National Museum of American History on July 31," Wallace told the ARRL. "As you may know, NMAH has been undergoing a renovation of the building's infrastructure and interior for some time. The renovation forced us to remove the Information Age exhibition -- the station's home since 1990. We placed the station in a temporary location for the duration of the renovation but it cannot remain there when we reopen to the public later this year. The Information Age exhibit will not be reinstalled, and since we have no other appropriate exhibition areas within the Museum, the station had to cease operations at NMAH. Various alternate locations throughout the Smithsonian have been considered but none are viable at this time." Wallace said that the station's license is valid until 2013 and its equipment will go into storage: "John Johnston, W3BE -- NN3SI's trustee -- assures me that a renewal of the license would not be an issue if we need one. Should a suitable exhibition area elsewhere in the [Smithsonian] Institution be found, we will be able to reactivate the NN3SI activity." ==> FIFTH ANNUAL NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH COMING IN SEPTEMBER The US Department of Homeland Security announced in July that more than 1200 national, regional, state and local businesses and organizations -- including several Amateur Radio groups -- have pledged their support and joined the 2008 National Preparedness Month Coalition . Sponsored by the department's "Ready" campaign, National Preparedness Month helps to raise awareness and promote action by Americans, businesses and communities on emergency preparedness. "As we approach our fifth National Preparedness Month, I want to thank the hundreds of coalition members who are making a difference in their communities by helping raise the basic level of preparedness in our country," said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. "Individual preparedness is the cornerstone of emergency preparedness. Experience shows that if Americans take steps ahead of time, they stand a much better chance of coming through an emergency unharmed and recovering more quickly." "The 'Ready' campaign and Citizen Corps are specifically encouraging individuals across the nation to take important preparedness steps," said ARRL Public Relations and Media Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP. "These steps include getting an emergency supply kit, making a family emergency plan, being informed about the different emergencies that may affect them, as well as taking the necessary steps to get trained and become engaged in community preparedness and response efforts." National Preparedness Month Coalition members have agreed to distribute emergency preparedness information and sponsor activities across the country that will promote emergency preparedness. Membership is open to all public and private sector organizations. Sign up your club or ARES group now! Groups and individuals can register to become members by visiting the Ready Web site and clicking on the National Preparedness Month banner. For more information on the Ready Campaign and National Preparedness Month, please visit or for information in Spanish. Information is also available by phone at 1-800-BE-READY or 1-888-SE-LISTO (in Spanish). According to Pitts, linking up with the Ready.gov people and participating in September's National Preparedness Month is "an easy win. The federal people are already doing all the hard work. All you really have to do is sign up. Most clubs and ARES groups are already doing activities which fit into their structure, so why not get credit for your actions? Of course, if you do something more with this opportunity, so much the better! But you have to sign your group in and no one can do that for you. There are hundreds of ARES groups and clubs in the country. Wouldn't it be fun to have even 70 percent of them sign up and get noticed?" ==>SOLAR UPDATE Substituting for Tad Cook, K7RA, Carl "The bright Suns I see and the dark Suns I cannot see are in their place" Luetzelschwab, K9LA, this week reports: For the reporting period August 1-7, solar activity was at very low levels and the geomagnetic field was at quiet levels. Solar activity is expected to continue to be very low for the next several days. As for geomagnetic field activity, the Australian Space Forecast Centre issued a geomagnetic disturbance warning on August 6 for quiet to unsettled, and then unsettled to active conditions (with possible minor storm periods) on August 8 and August 9, respectively. Sunspot numbers for July 31-August 6 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 and 0 with a mean of 0. The 10.7 cm flux was 65.5, 66.1, 66.2, 65.5, 66.2, 66.5 and 67 with a mean of 66.1. Estimated planetary A indices were 4, 3, 3, 4, 4, 3 and 4 with a mean of 3.6. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 4, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3 and 5 with a mean of 3.1. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the ARRL Technical Information Service Propagation page . To read this week's Solar Report in its entirety, check out the W1AW Propagation Bulletin page . This week's "Tad Cookism" brought to you by Walt Whitman's "Leaves of Grass." __________________________________ ==>IN BRIEF: * This Weekend on the Radio: This weekend, the WAE DX Contest (CW) and the Maryland-DC QSO Party are August 9-10. The SKCC Weekend Sprintathon is August 10 and the NAQCC Straight Key/Bug Sprint is August 13. Next weekend, be sure to check out the ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest on August 16-17. The NCCC Sprint is August 15. The Feld Hell Sprint and the ARCI Silent Key Memorial Sprint are August 16. On the weekend of August 16-17, look for the SARTG WW RTTY Contest, the Russian District Award Contest, the Keyman's Club of Japan Contest and the North American QSO Party (SSB) to be on the air. The New Jersey QSO Party is August 16, 17 and 18. The Run for the Bacon QRP Contest is August 18. All dates, unless otherwise stated, are UTC. See the ARRL Contest Branch page , the ARRL Contest Update and the WA7BNM Contest Calendar for more info. Looking for a Special Event station? Be sure to check out the ARRL Special Event Station Web page . * ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration: Registration remains open through Sunday, August 24, 2008 for these online course sessions beginning on Friday, September 5, 2008: Technician License Course (EC-010); Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level 1 (EC-001); Radio Frequency Interference (EC-006); Antenna Design and Construction (EC-009); Analog Electronics (EC-012), and Digital Electronics (EC-013). Each online course has been developed in segments -- learning units with objectives, informative text, student activities and quizzes. Courses are interactive, and some include direct communications with a Mentor/Instructor. Students register for a particular session that may be 8, 12 or 16 weeks (depending on the course) and they may access the course at any time of day during the course period, completing lessons and activities at times convenient for their personal schedule. Mentors assist students by answering questions, reviewing assignments and activities, as well as providing helpful feedback. Interaction with mentors is conducted through e-mail; there is no appointed time the student must be present -- allowing complete flexibility for the student to work when and where it is convenient. To learn more, visit the CCE Course Listing page or contact the Continuing Education Program Coordinator . * New ARRL Section Manager Appointed in Nevada: Joe Giraudo, N7JEH, has been appointed Section Manager of the Nevada Section effective August 15. ARRL Membership and Volunteer Programs Department Manager Dave Patton, NN1N, made the appointment after Dick Flanagan, K7VC, announced his resignation for health related reasons. Flanagan, of Minden, has served as Nevada Section Manager since January 2003. Giraudo, who lives in Spring Creek, will complete the current term of office that continues through June 30, 2009. A Professional Engineer and graduate of the University of Nevada, Giraudo is an experienced licensing instructor and ARRL Volunteer Examiner. He is currently Nevada Assistant Section Manager, as well as a District Emergency Coordinator; he also holds appointments as Net Manager, Public Information Officer and Official Emergency Station within the Nevada Section. Giraudo served as Nevada Section Emergency Coordinator from 1994-2000. * Jack B. Morgan, KF6T, Wins July QST Cover Plaque Award: The winner of the QST Cover Plaque Award for July is Jack B. Morgan, KF6T, for his article "Portable Two Element 15 Meter Yagi." Congratulations, Jack! The winner of the QST Cover Plaque award -- given to the author or authors of the best article in each issue -- is determined by a vote of ARRL members on the QST Cover Plaque Poll Web page . Cast a ballot for your favorite article in the August issue by Sunday, August 31. * October is Radiosport Month in QST: We here at ARRL HQ are excited over the theme of October's QST -- radiosport! In addition to feature and technical articles focusing on contesting -- ranging from the history of radiosport to a product review of a rig geared for the avid contester and DXer -- ARRL Contributing Editor H. Ward Silver, N0AX, has put together an 8 page insert focusing solely on radiosport. This section features such articles as how to interpret your Log Checking Report (LCR), guidelines for the upcoming contest season and a list of resources that no contester should be without, as well as a listing of major contests throughout the year. Of course, no issue of QST would be complete without "Contest Corral" and "This Month in Contesting." Look for an announcement by ARRL Contest Branch Manager Sean Kutzko, about how 2009 is the Year of the State QSO Party. Be sure to check out October QST -- in your mailbox in September -- to find out more about this exciting new event. * Georgia Hams Meet with FEMA: On July 30, representatives from the ARRL Southeastern Division and Georgia Section participated in the FEMA Region IV, Regional Emergency Communications Coordination (RECC) Working Group meetings near Atlanta. Southeastern Division Director Greg Sarratt, W4OZK; Georgia Section Manager Susan Swiderski, AF4FO, and Georgia Section Official Observer Coordinator Michael Swiderski, K4HBI, represented ARRL and Amateur Radio. In the meetings, Sarratt talked about ARRL, ARES, Amateur Radio and their value to FEMA, while Susan Swiderski gave a talk on MARS. "We are proud to be a part of FEMA's RECC," Sarratt said. "This will help to enhance FEMA and ARRL's working partnership. It is very beneficial to meet any of the communications leadership of FEMA and other agencies in the region. These meetings, coordination and learning about each other are critical elements before the disaster strikes. I was also very happy to meet several Amateur Radio operators attending the meeting in their professional capacity." Headquartered in Atlanta, FEMA's Region IV territory includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Region IV is FEMA's largest geographic region and the most common challenges are tornados, hurricanes and other storms that can cause flooding and flash flooding. -- Thanks to Greg Sarratt, W4OZK * AMSAT-UK Colloquium Lectures Now Online: AMSAT-UK held their 23rd Annual International Space Colloquium July 25-27 at the University of Surrey in Guildford . This annual event is a chance to talk to satellite designers and builders, as well as a place to discover how to use Amateur Radio satellites. The British Amateur Television Club (BATC) streamed the Colloquium live on the Internet and has placed videos of nine lectures on their Web site . * International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend 2008: More than 380 lighthouses in more than 51 countries -- from Argentina to Wales -- will be on the air for 2008 International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend (ILLW) organized by the Ayr Amateur Radio Group (AARG) in Scotland . The event, held for the 10th year in a row, takes place from Saturday, August 16 0001 UTC to Sunday, August 17 2359 UTC. While not a contest, the ILLW is more of a QSO Party and Amateur Radio demonstration. The ILLW aims to raise public awareness of lighthouses and lightships and the need for their preservation and restoration, promote Amateur Radio and foster international goodwill. Stations at more than 40 US lights are expected to be on the air for the event, and several stations will identify with special event call signs. Participating lighthouse/lightship stations do not have to be inside the structure or on the vessel itself; a Field Day-type setup at or adjacent to the light is sufficient. More information about the event, including a registration form, is available on the ILLW Web site . =========================================================== The ARRL Letter is published Fridays, 50 times each year, by the American Radio Relay League: ARRL--the National Association for Amateur Radio, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax 860-594-0259; . Joel Harrison, W5ZN, President. The ARRL Letter offers a weekly e-mail digest of essential and general news of interest to active radio amateurs. Visit the ARRL Web site for the latest Amateur Radio news and news updates. The ARRL Web site also offers informative features and columns. ARRL Audio News is a weekly "ham radio newscast" compiled and edited from The ARRL Letter. It's also available as a podcast from our Web site. Material from The ARRL Letter may be republished or reproduced in whole or in part in any form without additional permission. Credit must be given to The ARRL Letter/American Radio Relay League. ==>Delivery problems (ARRL member direct delivery only!): letter-dlvy at arrl.org ==>Editorial questions or comments: S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA, k1sfa at arrl.org ==>ARRL News on the Web: ==>ARRL Audio News: or call 860-594-0384 ==>How to Get The ARRL Letter The ARRL Letter is available to ARRL members free of charge directly from ARRL HQ. To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your address for e-mail delivery: ARRL members first must register on the Members Only Web Site . You'll have an opportunity during registration to sign up for e-mail delivery of The ARRL Letter, W1AW bulletins, and other material. To change these selections--including delivery of The ARRL Letter--registered members should click on the "Member Data Page" link (in the Members Only box). Click on "Modify membership data," check or uncheck the appropriate boxes and/or change your e-mail address if necessary. (Check "Temporarily disable all automatically sent email" to temporarily stop all e-mail deliveries.) Then, click on "Submit modification" to make selections effective. (NOTE: HQ staff members cannot change your e-mail delivery address. You must do this yourself via the Members Only Web Site.) The ARRL Letter also is available to all, free of charge, from these sources: * ARRLWeb . (NOTE: The ARRL Letter will be posted each Friday when it is distributed via e-mail.) * The QTH.net listserver, thanks to volunteers from the Boston Amateur Radio Club: Visit Mailing Lists at QTH.Net . (NOTE: The ARRL cannot assist subscribers who receive The ARRL Letter via this listserver.) Copyright 2008 American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved _________________________________________________________________ Reveal your inner athlete and share it with friends on Windows Live. http://revealyourinnerathlete.windowslive.com?locale=en-us&ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WLYIA_whichathlete_us -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080808/45e0d383/attachment-0001.htm From kb9wsl at hotmail.com Sun Aug 10 21:15:47 2008 From: kb9wsl at hotmail.com (Tom Murray) Date: Sun, 10 Aug 2008 21:15:47 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] SEPT is National preparedness month Message-ID: Fifth Annual National Preparedness Month Coming in September The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced in July that more than 1200 national, regional, state and local businesses and organizations -- including several Amateur Radio groups -- have pledged their support and joined the 2008 National Preparedness Month Coalition. Sponsored by the department's Ready campaign, National Preparedness Month helps to raise awareness and promote action by Americans, businesses and communities on emergency preparedness. "As we approach our fifth National Preparedness Month, I want to thank the hundreds of coalition members who are making a difference in their communities by helping raise the basic level of preparedness in our country," said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. "Individual preparedness is the cornerstone of emergency preparedness. Experience shows that if Americans take steps ahead of time, they stand a much better chance of coming through an emergency unharmed and recovering more quickly." "The Ready campaign and Citizen Corps are specifically encouraging individuals across the nation to take important preparedness steps," said ARRL Public Relations and Media Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP. "These steps include getting an emergency supply kit, making a family emergency plan, being informed about the different emergencies that may affect them, as well as taking the necessary steps to get trained and become engaged in community preparedness and response efforts." National Preparedness Month Coalition members have agreed to distribute emergency preparedness information and sponsor activities across the country that will promote emergency preparedness. Membership is open to all public and private sector organizations. Sign up your club or ARES group now! Groups and individuals can register to become members by visiting the Ready Web site and clicking on the National Preparedness Month banner. Information is also available by phone at 1-800-BE-READY or 1-888-SE-LISTO (in Spanish). According to Pitts, linking up with the Ready.gov people and participating in September's National Preparedness Month is "an easy win. The federal people are already doing all the hard work. All you really have to do is sign up. Most clubs and ARES groups are already doing activities which fit into their structure, so why not get credit for your actions? Of course, if you do something more with this opportunity, so much the better! But you have to sign your group in and no one can do that for you. There are hundreds of ARES groups and clubs in the country. Wouldn't it be fun to have even 70 percent of them sign up and get noticed?" _________________________________________________________________ Get more from your digital life. Find out how. http://www.windowslive.com/default.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Home2_082008 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080810/d605f2a9/attachment.htm From kb9wsl at hotmail.com Mon Aug 11 08:43:19 2008 From: kb9wsl at hotmail.com (Tom Murray) Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2008 08:43:19 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] DK MODS news letter Message-ID: Newsletter from MODS.DK 10. Aug 2008? From: mods.dk (web at mods.dk) Sent: Mon 8/11/08 12:59 AM To: kb9wsl at hotmail.com This is the mods.dk newsletter. Note, if you have trouble by read the newsletter then you can download a HTML version at http://www.mods.dk/0832.html In this Edition, you will find a list of all the new & updated articles now on our site. New articles. Created: 17-06-2008 Icom IC-706MKIIG Subject: Erratic operation-distorted audio etc. ICOM IC 706 MKIIG Year 2000, my new prestigious ICOM IC706 MkIIG started serving me in the HF and VHF bands without any issues. In 2005-2006, the equipment was kept ... Click here to view the article. Created: 19-06-2008 Icom IC-F33 Subject: Modification to radio Icom IC-F33 When programed for user set mode it allows access to mic gain, sql level, backlight, battery voltage. Corrected update Even though your radio may n... Click here to view the article. Created: 20-06-2008 Icom IC-7700 Subject: TX/RX Frequency expansion of IC-7700 RX frequency coverage expansion Remove D52, D53, D54 and D55 as shown below. TX frequency coverage expansion Add D51 and remove D56, D57, D58 and... Click here to view the article. Created: 30-06-2008 Icom IC-275 Subject: ICOM IC-275D to IC-275H Conversion Background The IC-275D is a popular 2 metre, 100Watt All-Mode VHF Transceiver specifically made by ICOM for the Japanese (JA) market. The ... Click here to view the article. Created: 06-07-2008 Icom IC-02 Subject: Audio modificationfor Icom IC-02, 03 and 04 Handheld Radios This audio mod works on the 02, 03 and 04AT. It increases the level of the transmit audio (i.e. the modulation), as well as rolling off some of the ... Click here to view the article. Created: 20-07-2008 Icom HM-103 Subject: Microphone mod for ICOM HM-103 This modification is to solve the low audio that gives the microphone to the transceiver, in my case the IC-706MKIIG. We must dismantle completely th... Click here to view the article. Created: 21-07-2008 Icom IC-260 Subject: Frequency expansion mod for IC-260E Directly got from ICOM Europe by support request! To enlarge the frequency range from 144 to 148 Mhz (orignial from 144 - 146 Mhz) just put an diode ... Click here to view the article. Created: 23-07-2008 Icom IC-7200 Subject: IC-7200 Band Voltage Modification If you want to connect an external unit which can be controlled by the band voltage from ACG connector, the modification is necessary as at right. Do... Click here to view the article. Created: 31-07-2008 Icom IC-2100 Subject: Modification for ICOM 2100 microphone Modification on ICOM 2100 Microphone solves the PTT fail problem. Text on pic : change this 10 K resistor for one 1 K or 2,2 K res. Click here to view the article. Created: 02-08-2008 Icom IC-706MKIIG Subject: Increasing The CTCSS Level Of The Icom IC-706MKIIG My IC-706MKIIG (and maybe all versions of the 706 radio) had very low CTCSS (Encode tone). I was dropping out of my 440 MHz repeater all the time. Wh... Click here to view the article. Created: 07-08-2008 Icom IC-92 Subject: Mars/CAP Mod for Icom IC-92AD (Simple method) Hey, DON'T TAKE YOUR RADIO APART FOR THE MOD!!! You can just take the battery pack off, take off the sticker and remove the "MU" diode without p... Click here to view the article. Created: 07-08-2008 Icom IC-2820 Subject: Proper Crossband Repeat Method for IC-2820 The information in the other article is incorrect. You don't even have to do ANY mod to the radio to make this work. Follow these instructions and... Click here to view the article. Created: 18-06-2008 Kenwood TK-8162 Subject: klaxon mod kenwood tk-8162 To activate the output of this radio on cell call klaxon you have to remove the resistor R95 from the main board first. remove top cover, remo... Click here to view the article. Created: 11-07-2008 Kenwood TR-7800 Subject: Intermittent display failure for TR-7800 The particular TR-7800 that I have has suffered with intermittent display failures for some years. I seem* to have finally traced the fault back to th... Click here to view the article. Created: 02-08-2008 Kenwood TM-431 Subject: How to change TM431 display lamps to LEDs Disassemble the front panel until you can solder the old blown 6V lamps out. Put a 220 ohm resistor and an ultra bright 3mm blue LED in series in the... Click here to view the article. Created: 04-08-2008 Kenwood TS-930 Subject: Changing meter lamps to led for TS-930 and TS-940 The blue are green leds make a great lighting system. For the TS-930 and the TS-940, it is easy to use the T3 are the T4 3 vdc led lamps in the radio... Click here to view the article. Created: 07-08-2008 Kenwood TS-820 Subject: TS-820(S) Improved receive audio (hiss reduction) I have noticed with the TS-820 series that on receive, there is a significant noise component contributed by the audio stages after the detector. I be... Click here to view the article. Created: 18-06-2008 Other MISC Subject: Level 2 menu - LSB mode activation & other functions JRC JSB-196 JRC JSB-196 is a DSP marine HF transceiver (Output Power 150W PEP). In order to use the transceiver on the lower ham bands (40,80,160m) where LSB mod... Click here to view the article. Created: 18-06-2008 Other MISC Subject: Expand TX and RX on Albrech RL-102 Expand TX and RX is possible by pressing "Lamp" and 3 while turning radio power on , this reset all memories. To return radio back to original stat... Click here to view the article. Created: 31-07-2008 Other MISC Subject: Adding Lower Sideband to the RT-320 (Racal PRC-320) The RT230 (UK/PRC 320) is a super rig for amateur use, particularly on 7MHz, where its limitation to 30WPEP is not a problem. But it is precisely on ... Click here to view the article. Created: 14-07-2008 Radio Shack PRO-2039 Subject: Operation Realistic (Radio Shack) Pro-2039 PRO-2039 Scanner (200-0462)Operation TURINING ON THE SCANNER/SETTING VOLUME AND SQUELCH Turn SQUELCH full counter-clockwise. Turn VOLUME cl... Click here to view the article. Created: 18-06-2008 Yaesu FT-950 Subject: Firmware version in FT-950 Hold GEN + 50 + ENT when Power on. Display will show firmware version. Re-power to turn it to normal operation Click here to view the article. Created: 22-06-2008 Yaesu FT-847 Subject: how to wire up a dynamic karaoke mic for a yaesu 847 To make a homebrew desk mic i used a 600ohm dynamic karaoke mic with an XLR connector on the back with extremely good results, to do this first get ... Click here to view the article. Created: 22-06-2008 Yaesu FT-920 Subject: FT-920 Filter switch board modification The FT-920 Switch Board allows the use oftwo fihers in place ofone. Either one filter or two in cascade may be selected. An amplifier with adjustable... Click here to view the article. Created: 29-06-2008 Yaesu VX-3R Subject: Intermitent and no TX audio with Yaesu VX-3R. My brand new VX-3R had an intermitent / no TX audio problem right out of the box. A fellow ham had the same problem with another VX-3R bought the same... Click here to view the article. Created: 02-07-2008 Yaesu FT-8900 Subject: Remote Mount Cable with integrated Audio cable for FT-8900 Here is a Mod to make a remote mount cable and integrated audio. What you will need is a length of CAT5 or CAT6 Network cable or some flat 8 core Mo... Click here to view the article. Created: 11-07-2008 Yaesu FT-817 Subject: FT-817 final amplifier destructive self-oscillation cured After replacing my FT-817's finals for the third time, I could take no more! So I set out to find what caused the problem. Donwload the complete ... Click here to view the article. Created: 25-07-2008 Yaesu FT-101 Subject: Unstable VFO drifting foo FT-101e FT-101e frequency drifting to fast. VCO voltage is normal FET and transistor are all ok shorted defective 650 pf silver mica capacitor loca... Click here to view the article. Revised articles since our last newsletter. Note, sometimes it can be difficult to see the changes since the update can be a little correct in the text, but sometime the update can be a new picture to the existing article. Updated: 08-07-2008 Icom IC-2820 Subject: ICOM IC-2820H Extended Transmit Modification for USA Models This modification has been tested and confirmed for USA models ONLY, including those with the most recent firmware from revisions from ICOM as of 06... Click here to view the article. Updated: 11-07-2008 Kenwood TS-440 Subject: Circuit Improvements for the TS-440S Updated December, 2002 PROBLEM: Distortion level in SSB transmitted signal not acceptable. FIXES: 1. Increase the supply V to the max rated16VDC to ... Click here to view the article. Updated: 22-07-2008 Kenwood TS-940 Subject: TS-940 fan mod This is a mod to cause the TS-940 cooling fan to come on sooner (lower temp) and to run a little faster. This helps prevent destruction of the 29v pas... Click here to view the article. Updated: 12-07-2008 Yaesu FT-1000 Subject: FT-1000 60M MARS/CAP transmit modification Thanks to Bill k0zl for the pictures. Remove power and antenna cable. Open case as explained in your "operating manual". Locate four screws... Click here to view the article. Regarding your Subscription ! If you do not wish to receive this newsletter any more, then you can unsubscribe from it, by going to http://www.mods.dk and scroll down to the newsletter field. Enter your mail address and click on the removal button. You will then receive a message that confirms you have been unsubscribed. Best regards mods.dk _________________________________________________________________ Reveal your inner athlete and share it with friends on Windows Live. http://revealyourinnerathlete.windowslive.com?locale=en-us&ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WLYIA_whichathlete_us -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080811/0ad2a5ee/attachment-0001.htm From kb9wsl at hotmail.com Mon Aug 11 22:33:36 2008 From: kb9wsl at hotmail.com (Tom Murray) Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2008 22:33:36 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] Coax connections Message-ID: [V-C-N] "COAX Connections" e-Zine | 2008-08? From: BARRINGER Wayne KB6UJW (wayne.barringer at TMQG.com) Sent: Mon 8/11/08 5:05 PM Reply-to: Wayne.Barringer at TMQG.com To: 'BARRINGER Wayne KB6UJW' (Wayne.Barringer at TMQG.com) "I would like to tell you how much I enjoy reading the articles and although many are "common sense", many I already do but there are always at least one or two that tweak a thought or an idea or just plain simple make me wonder why I had not looked at it before." -- JMJ, Ontario, Canada -- [TYPE] Plain Text (Virus Free) [FONT] Courier 10 New (Notepad) ------------------------------------------------------------------- > See bottom of page to subscribe|unsubscribe from future issuese < ------------------------------------------------------------------- :: FROM :: Volunteer Communications Network < www.V-C-N.org > :: ATTN :: Subscriber Distribution :: COPY :: Volunteer Coordinators > Served-Agencies + Disaster Relief Organizations Emergency Management Agencies :: DATE :: 2008-08M (August) :: WHAT :: "COAX Connections" e-Zine (Electronic Version) :: LINK :: Contact Information Available At Bottom of Page ------------------------------------------------------------------- "COAX Connections" e-Zine is a monthly publication distributed in a "plain text" virus-free format. Each issue is e-mailed directly to your e-mail address from TMQG.com using the "Bcc" option. Our goal is to mitigate or eliminate anti-spamming activity. We do not send images or attachments and use NO HTML coding. -- KB6UJW, Editor ----------------- INSIDE THIS ISSUE: ----------------- -A- THE PROFESSIONAL VOLUNTEER: "A Simple Tool for Stressful Times" -B- DEPARTMENTS "When Disaster Strikes..." "When Opportunity Knocks..." "A Safety Minute..." "A Sense of Urgency..." "Keep in touch..." -C- ANOTHER POINT OF VIEW: "Three Phases of Learned Proficiency" -D- VOLUNTEER COMMUNICATIONS ICS "Using NIMS/ICS for Strategic Training" -E- INTERNET RESOURCES & REFERENCES -F- CONTACTS AND FEEDBACK :: PLEASE NOTE :: We rely heavily on referrals from volunteer communicators just like you. If you know someone who would benefit from this publication, please either (1) send your copy directly to them or (2) have them sign-up at our web site: > http://www.V-C-N.org/eZ And now, this issue... -A- -THE-PROFESSIONAL-VOLUNTEER------------------------------------ < ID: V-C-N.eZ_2008-08A > "A Simple Tool for Stressful Times" by Wayne Barringer KB6UJW Things happen quickly when an incident breaks. Details come and go fast. Time passes quickly. The time and date of facts can quickly become blurred as the clock continues to tick. Some of the most simple tools are also the most convenient. That's not only true for incidents, but for other purposes as well. While it's been around for a very long time, and often used by thousands of professionals, it is often overlooked by radio operators. I am referring to the steno book, those 6" x 9" steno pad that many media professionals use because they are convenient, can be quickly stored in the a handbang or back of your pants, and then retrieved without thinking as additional details present themselves. Having just returned from the Telegraph Fire, I have the one that I used on the incident sitting in front of me. I prefer the version with the green tinted pages, gregg ruled, and 80-pages per pad. It makes it easy to track multiple days, and time-dating things is not only easy to record but just as easy to find. A simple tool? You bet! I keep several blank ones in my go kit so I always have them available. They are inexpensive to purchase and easy to store away in your kit. I use the green tint because it is easier on the eyes -- especially when working in the sun all day. Maybe I just getting old (aren't we all?), but I find the white pages produce an uncomfortable glare that is easily avoided by using the green tint version. But try on both of them and see what works for you. I start out by listing the YYYY-MM.DD/DAY on the page. When I need to reference back, it's easier to find the date. If I think I want to remember the time of an event or specific piece of information, I begin with a TTTT- entry, always using 24-hour time references. On the cover of each pad, I write in my last name/first name on the and underneath I put my amateur radio call sign. Even when I am on a wildland fire, I use the same system. Beneath my callsign, I put either the name of the incident or the date. Every incident, I begin with a new steno book. I file them away in the same manner (my wife hates all the paper, stenopads, IAPs, maps and other "stuff" I bring back safekeeping in our "forever to never be used again" storage boxes!! No matter what comes up, I write it in my stenobook. This makes it easy because it never forgets and I often don't remember, moreso as time passes by. One distinct benefit to using a steno book is for documenting daily activities on your ICS-214. I usually begin a new one each day but may not always have it "handy" or nearby as important facts happen during the day. The stenopad can be used to document other facts I need to remember, such as beginning/ending mileage, gallons put in during fuel stops, etc. Finally, when you finish demob (demobilization) and "get back" home or to civilization, review your notes and retrieve some of details you might need again in the future. I review mine for stuff like a new telephone number I wrote down, or for details that happened and I want to follow-up on. Again, it's a simple tool for stressful times, one that's proven to be reliable, accurate and most of all...easy-to-use, provided you keep it in your grasp, don't lay it down somewhere, and have to get up early in the morning to drive back 35 miles and pick it up where you left it on the table. But hey, that happened to someone else. I'm just sharing it so you can avoid that same type of experience. :-) Yea...right!! ### SOUND OFF! We want to hear from you. Click 'n send to: > mailto:kb6ujw at arrl.net?subject=[V-C-N]_eZ.2008-08A_Comment PLEASE don't change or alter the "subject" line inserted when using the link above. It identifies the article provides routing to help get it to the right individual. Link doesn't work? Use the convenient "cut & paste" info below: > Mail to: kb6ujw at arrl.net > Subject: [V-C-N]_eZ.2008-08A_Comment < /-A- END OF SECTION "A" ### /-A- END OF SECTION "A" > -B- -DEPARTMENTS--------------------------------------------------- Featuring topics or messages of interest to radio operators without regard to volunteer involvement or participation level. Now, here are the topics for this issue: -------------------------- -:> "When Disaster Strikes..." -------------------------- How much time will you have to prepare? How much time do you need? Hurricanes, floods, fires, and others often have sufficient advance warnings to take preventive or precautionary actions. A tornado or earthquake, however, may strike without any advance warning. Individuals who have "planned ahead" are "more prepared" and have a lot more options than someone who has not planned and is not ready. Ask yourself ... will you be able to: * Get out of your home or work quickly? Review your area and know the location of all exits and stairwells. Don't use the elevator in the event of fire. Does your family have a plan on how to exit and go to a "safe place" outside. Schedule a "practice session" during the summer. Remember, practice doesn't make perfect ... PERFECT practice makes perfect!! * During this month: - Check the water level in your vehicle's battery. Summer heat increases "wear & tear" and can be the cause of starting problems. - Check your first aid kits in the house, garage & vehicles and replenish any missing items. Got an idea for this section you would like to share with others in a future issue? You contribution would be appreciated. Send to: > mailto:kb6ujw at arrl.net?subject=[V-C-N]_eZ.When_Disaster-Strikes Link doesn't work? Use the convenient "cut & paste" info below: > Mail to: kb6ujw at arrl.net > Subject: [V-C-N]_eZ.When_Disaster-Strikes ----------- //END## ---------------------------- -:> "When Opportunity Knocks..." ---------------------------- Communications are always needed during a disaster to order, track and manage resources, to distribute assignments and to follow-up on their status, to share objective. It is also critical to ensuring the safety of all involved in the operation. Volunteer communicators frequently are ashamed to admit they are on the "outside looking in" while operations are ongoing and they know they "could help" if someone would "just call them" and ask. The problem for first responders (law, fire, health, haz-mat, etc.) and emergency managers is that any type of volunteer capability is, in most cases, unpredictable. Incident "need" is the only focus by first responders and emergency managers. With volunteers, however, it's about "availability" and being able to get off work, away from the family, and (usually) about getting "ready" to respond. Ask yourself ... as a volunteer communicator: * When was the last time you checked your "go" kit for missing items or those that were "used" on your last incident? * Are the batteries you use in your handheld still holding a charge the way they used to? If not, it is time to consider replacing them? * During this month: - Review and update all checklists. Replace or replenish any missing items. - Recycle all handheld batteries. Make sure they still hold a "full charge" that will last you for an initial field deployment assignment. Does your agency or organization have any individual radio operator standards to objectively evaluate proficiency? Do you have an idea or suggestion that might improve individual/group proficiency? Why not e-mail it to us and let us consider it for future issues? > mailto:kb6ujw at arrl.net?subject=[V-C-N]_eZ.Proficiency_Stds Link doesn't work? Use the convenient "cut & paste" info below: > Mail to: kb6ujw at arrl.net > Subject: [V-C-N]_eZ.Proficiency_Stds ----------- //END## -------------------- -:> "A Safety Minute..." -------------------- One area frequently overlooked and often compromised is the subject of safety. When we make safety a priority, and emphasis it in each of our operations, we communicate to others how important safety is within our organization, family, or club/group. Consider these areas during future operations: * Fuses in your vehicle may get old or become unusable because of moisture or condensation in dark areas. * Begin each field deployment with a safety message. There are lots of places to find them. Some you can use without change, but others need to be adapted for volunteer communicator use. * During this month: - Add fuses to your vehicle pre-deployment checklist if you carry them so you will check them before each deployment. - Begin to collect safety messages from different sources. Test out using them on weekly radio nets, during meetings, training sessions, and before each field deployment. [ Got A Recommendation? ] Got a safety idea for a future issue? If you don't send it, we are not able to share it with our readers. Just send it to us via your e-mail program and we'll take it from there. Please share the city and state/province where you live, along with your first/last name. > mailto:kb6ujw at arrl.net?subject=[V-C-N]_eZ.Safety_Minute_Ideas Link doesn't work? Use the convenient "cut & paste" info below: > Mail to: kb6ujw at arrl.net > Subject: [V-C-N]_eZ.Safety_Minute_Ideas NOTE: Your e-mail contact information will NEVER be shared or sent as part of our distribution. Only first name, city, state/province (and callsign if you desire) are indicated on your submission. ### ----------- //END## ----------------------- -:> "A Sense of Urgency..." ----------------------- Did you set any goals for this year? How about professional goals relating to your role as a volunteer communications specialist? If you haven't started yet or are still in the "planning" phase of the process (what THAT is...), this is a reminder to you: * This is month 08 out of the 12 available in 2008. * What have you done to prepare yourself and/or your loved ones during the last 07 month(s) of this year? * At the end of 2008, will you have 12 months of progress, or 12 sessions of repeating the same thing over and over again? * A "Goal" is just a "Dream" ... but with an ACTION PLAN. ------------------ -:> "Keep in Touch..." ------------------ R U MOVING? Let us know if you change your e-mail address. We get hundreds of rejects each issue. Click to < www.V-C-N.org/eZ > ### < /-B- END OF SECTION "B" ### /-B- END OF SECTION "B" > -C- -ONE-POINT-OF-VIEW--------------------------------------------- < ID: V-C-N.eZ_2008-08C > "Three Phases of Learned Proficiency" by Wayne Barringer KB6UJW, KAG0370 Those of you who have been reading this section from the very first issue already know there is nothing new to be learned here. So why is it included in each issue then? Because, once in a while, we need to be reminded. Most of us end a training exercise or an event with good intentions to improve or make it better the "next" time. We do not want to be in the same situation the next time. We sincerely (hopefully) want to improve. But then, things gets in the way. Life continues around us. Those "best of intentions" slowly get put aside...and are soon forgotten. Until the next training exercise or event, that is, when suddenly a switch goes off inside our head reminding us we've "been there" and "done that" before. It is those "gentle reminders" that provide us with past moments of good intentions: -- How many training exercises have resulted in lessons learned highlighting that we need to "slow down" when we speak because some poor sucker at the other end of the transmission is getting "carpel tunnel" as they try to write as fast as we talk? -- Why is it we always seem to have someone who find a colorful way to "modify" the phonetic alphabet? -- Why is it there is always someone at the last minute gets on the radio to ask for directions because they either came unprepared or forget how to get there? -- Why do we, as professional communicators, or self-proclaimed "communications specialists" continue to have a radio operator show up without a manual for THEIR OWN RADIO and without any hesitation, ask if anyone can program it for them? If one (or more) of the above has never happened to you, then I can only assume you live in a very gifted neighborhood, need to get out more often, or suffer from a terrible dose of "pinocchio disease" and opted to selectively forget rather than accurately remember! Over the years, these "pearls of wisdom" have danced across my desk on more than one occassion: > How you perform is how you will be remembered. > Good intentions do not produce good performance. > A goal is just a dream...WITH an action plan. Using that as a backdrop, I would like to offer a simple way to try and measure individual radio operator proficiency. It is not close to being scientific (if it was, I certainly wouldn't be offering it here), but over the years, it has proven to be a reliable method of evaluating basic levels or phases of proficiency...both for myself and those around me. --EXPOSURE-- This is the "awareness" phase, the most basic, introductory level. Everyone has to start somewhere, and this is that place. This is where most radio operators are with the NIMS or ICS courses. They know about it, probably have a Certificate of Completion on their wall proving they know about it, but other than that, they don't have a clue what all the fuss is about. (They are just glad they have the Certificate on the wall!!) I've got a zillion questions, and have few people with the time to give me all the answers. But the worst part is everyone is telling me to "be patient" and I'll pick it up with experience. If they would only stop speaking in the "Q" codes and just use "plain English" like I learned when I took my online ICS course!! --EXPERIENCE-- Now, I've got a radio, have become an active participant on several radio nets, and I'm getting comfortable operating my radio "solo" and without panic. Heck, I can even help those "newby" types, and am more than willing to let them know how much I know, on "OR" off the air. Others come to me with their questions, and I'm happy to share with them -- even if I don't know completely what I'm talking about (after all, I know more than they do!). Why did I even need to get that stupid Certificate of Completion for NIMS and ICS? No one in my club or group is using it. Heck, I'm just a volunteer! --EXPERTISE-- The person who was going to provide the information for this last section is at a speaking engagement because they know it all. So, I will have to make it up as I go along. These are the people who freely offer themselves as a mentor, allow you --ENCOURAGE YOU-- to make mistakes (and learn from them). They are patient, don't brag, and actually listen to your questions BEFORE they start giving you the answer they THINK you need (instead of what you want to hear). Gee...we need more experts!! Thanks for reading. ### WHAT DO YOU THINK? We want to hear from you. Click 'n send to: > mailto:kb6ujw at arrl.net?subject=[V-C-N]_eZ.2008-08C_Comment PLEASE don't change or alter the "subject" line of the message when using the link above. It identifies the article & provides routing to help get it to the right individual. Link doesn't work? Use the convenient "cut & paste" info below: > Mail to: kb6ujw at arrl.net > Subject: [V-C-N]_eZ.2008-08C_Comment < /-C- END OF SECTION "C" ### /-C- END OF SECTION "C" > -D- -VOLUNTEER-COMMUNICATIONS-ICS---------------------------------- < ID: V-C-N.eZ_2008-08D > "Using NIMS/ICS for Strategic Training" Mariposa County (CA) -- The Telegraph Fire went from 1000 acres to 16,000 acres in 10-12 hours. Fire Information Officers assigned to the incident described that kind of growth as "explosive" to media outlets covering it. The fire was not the only "explosive" growth on the incident. The same quickly became true about the resources assigned to it. I received the call the morning of Jul 26th, and was on the road to the incident within a couple hours. Six hours later, I joined many others (approximately 350) who were already there. At it's height, there were 4600+ people assigned to the incident. I was assigned to field duties (community outreach) as an IOF1 (see NWCG for more details). ICS is the only ballgame played on wildland fires incidents in the State of California. ICS was created and designed here. There is no better place to learn how or why it works so well. The size of the incident dictated the need for additional resources. When they arrived, those resources were quickly assigned because they became part of an ICS incident. There are "rules of engagement" that everyone -- regardless of your status -- is required to follow. Break the rules, and you may just find that you are not invited to another incident. The rules apply to everyone, from the prisoner who is on a crew bus to the Incident Commander(s). Everyone uses the same system. If we, as amateur radio operators, want to be included in the game, we HAVE to learn how ICS works and learn how to use it as part of a local incident. You **MUST** wait until you are ordered before you can depart. You **MUST** go through the check-in process, not only to prove you are "assigned" to the incident, but to make sure every other section knows you are there. >From there, you **MUST** go to time-keeping, so they know you are a part of the incident. You **MUST** keep an ICS-214 if you are a single resource or a strike team leader. You will probably need to have 2-3 ICS-213 forms ready, because that is the "standard" method of ordering resources and documenting what happens to resources on the incident. As a Fire Information Officer, I need to arrive fully prepared and ready to work. I need my steno-book (steno pad) available when I open the door and report in for duty. My "go kit" **MUST** be full and ready for immediate assignment. No one will ask or care if I am a volunteer or a full-time firefighter. All that matters is can I do the job. There is only one standard that applies for each ICS position. Every Type 1 (positions) are expected to have the same proficiency level. The same is true for any Type 2 position. The "demob" (demobilization) process begins as quickly as possible and can be both confusing and chaotic. We released/reassigned more than 1000 people on one day, the next 800, until five days later we were at less than 500. The Incident Command Post becomes "really" overcrowded, feeding lines become long, the weather usually is not cooperative, and you need lots and lots and LOTS of patience!! There are also some general guidelines. They are simple and easy to implement, but do require discipline and focus: 1. NEVER compromise the safety of yourself or those around you. 2. Do not make assumptions. Confirm details before taking action. 3. Only the person giving you the assignment can change it. That change must be approved BEFORE implementing it. 4. Always advise promptly when an assignment has been completed. There may be other assignments that cannot be started until yours is complete. Be timely when confirming finished assign- ments. 5. If you are asked a question, speak ONLY to your assignment. Beware of questions that ask your opinion or what you "think" regarding activities you are not assigned or the status of the incident itself. 6. Don't repeat something you've heard, state ONLY what you know for a fact -- specifically to your assignment on the incident. 7. Do not leave your assignment until you are told to do so (the ONLY exception is if that assignment threatens your safety or the safety of those around you). 8. Be care WHAT you say, HOW you say it, and WHO is around when you say it. It may be repeated at a time and place you wish never happened! ICS is an entire system of policies, procedures, forms and systems. It isn't just a single form, or a single process, or even just one section. The position qualification guide identifies positions you will find on an incident. Not all positions may be used, but the ICS system remains intact, with specific responsibilities assigned to each of the five ICS sections. The sooner we, as communications volunteers, learn how ICS works the easier it will be for us to integrate into an ICS structure. Thanks for reading. ### WHAT DO YOU THINK? We want to hear from you. Click 'n send to: > mailto:kb6ujw at arrl.net?subject=[V-C-N]_eZ.2008-08D_Comment PLEASE don't change or alter the "subject" line of the message when using the link above. It identifies the article & provides routing to help get it to the right individual. Link doesn't work? Use the convenient "cut & paste" info below: > Mail to: kb6ujw at arrl.net > Subject: [V-C-N]_eZ.2008-08D_Comment < /-D- END OF SECTION "D" ### /-D- END OF SECTION "D" > -E- -INTERNET-RESOURCES-AND-REFERENCES----------------------------- < ID: V-C-N.eZ_2008-08E > INTERNET RESOURCES & REFERENCES: 01 FORMS: FEMA Urban Search & Rescue (US&R) > http://www.fema.gov/emergency/usr/forms.shtm 02 FORMS: Incident Command System (ICS) in ".pdf" + ".doc" format > http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/planning/nist/ics_forms.htm 03 SIT REP: FEMA National Situation Reports > http://www.fema.gov/emergency/reports/index.shtm 04 ARES: Florida "Jump Team Operations" Information > http://www.floridaares.com > Jump Team Operations 05 *NEW* DHS/FEMA Comprehensive Preparedness Guide 101 "Producing Emergency Plans" -- 11 Jul 2008 > http://www.v-c-n.org/link/2/CPG-101.htm 06 *NEW* DHS National Emergency Communications Plan -- 31 Jul 2008 > http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1217529182375.shtm 07 *NEW* FEMA Course: IS-775, EOC Management and Operations > http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/IS775.asp ### SOUND OFF! Got a link you want to share? Click 'n send to: > mailto:kb6ujw at arrl.net?subject=[V-C-N]_eZ.2008-08E_Comment What? The link doesn't work? Ok, use "cut and paste" to comment: > Mail to: kb6ujw at arrl.net > Subject: [V-C-N]_eZ.2008-08E_Comment < /-E- END OF SECTION "E" ### /-E- END OF SECTION "E" > -F- -CONTACTS-AND-FEEDBACK----------------------------------------- NOTE: Please do not change the "Subject" line of the message as it will be used for processing your request. :: Issue Feedback Center :: To "PROVIDE" us with feedback on articles in this issue, just CLICK to SEND your opinions back to us: Positive Rating > mailto:kb6ujw at arrl.net?subject=[V-C-N]_+_2008.?? Negative Rating > mailto:kb6ujw at arrl.net?subject=[V-C-N]_-_2008.?? :: Subscription Management :: To "MANAGE" your subscription (add, change, remove), just click to: > www.V-C-N.org/eZ :: Convenience Links :: To "LEARN" more about this initiative and free downloads, click to: > http://www.V-C-N.org To "OBTAIN" a previous issue(s), use the "click n request" links: Jul/2008 > mailto:kb6ujw at arrl.net?subject=[V-C-N]_eZ.2008-07.Need Jun/2008 > mailto:kb6ujw at arrl.net?subject=[V-C-N]_eZ.2008-06.Need May/2008 > mailto:kb6ujw at arrl.net?subject=[V-C-N]_eZ.2008-05.Need Apr/2008 > mailto:kb6ujw at arrl.net?subject=[V-C-N]_eZ.2008-04.Need Mar/2008 > mailto:kb6ujw at arrl.net?subject=[V-C-N]_eZ.2008-03.Need Feb/2008 > mailto:kb6ujw at arrl.net?subject=[V-C-N]_eZ.2008-02.Need Jan/2008 > mailto:kb6ujw at arrl.net?subject=[V-C-N]_eZ.2008-01.Need To "SUBMIT" comments to the editor on this issue: > mailto:kb6ujw at arrl.net?subject=[V-C-N]_Comment.on.eZ.2008-00 PLEASE don't change or alter the "subject" line inserted when using the link above. It identifies the article provides routing to help get it to the right individual. Link doesn't work? Use the convenient "cut & paste" info below: > Mail to: kb6ujw at arrl.net > Subject: [V-C-N]_Comment.on.eZ.2008-00 < /-F- END OF SECTION "F" ### /-F- END OF SECTION "F" > =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= [ About This Publication ] "COAX Connections" e-Zine is created by the Volunteer Communicators Network < www.V-C-N.org >. The goals of this newsletter are to: (1) Provide timely information of interest via e-Mail, (2) Promote a regional approach to training for disasters and volunteer radio operator proficiency. (3) Provoke readers to "take action" and be active in local volunteer communications opportunities. (4) Stimulate ideas regarding toward increased disaster preparedness, field deployment readiness, and emergency communications capability. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= [ No Spam Policy ] This publication is created/distributed solely by V-C-N with input provided by participating members and supporters. Distributed via confidential e-mail ONLY. It is NOT the product of a list server. Your Internet e-mail address will NEVER be compromised or revealed to other recipients. We apologize in advance if you received this message in error or without your permission. We are, however, not able able to control any distribution by others after transmitting directly from us to our readers. -- The Staff @ V-C-N.org -- ___________________________________________________________________ www.V-C-N.org ^ //p01## _________________________________________________________________ Reveal your inner athlete and share it with friends on Windows Live. http://revealyourinnerathlete.windowslive.com?locale=en-us&ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WLYIA_whichathlete_us -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080811/6e017038/attachment-0001.htm From phil_snider at hotmail.com Tue Aug 12 06:05:53 2008 From: phil_snider at hotmail.com (Phil Snider) Date: Tue, 12 Aug 2008 06:05:53 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] KO9T is now in Lafayette (formerly in Monticello) Message-ID: I just worked KO9T in Lafayette on the 147.135 repeater at 6 am this mornting. He used to be in Monticellon and worked in Logansport. He is now retired, and just moved into Lafayette. JAMES T HAMMER3413 Equinox TerraceLAFAYETTE IN 47909USA Phil Snider"When a thought of war comes oppose it by a stronger thought of peace. A thought of hatred must be destroyed by a more powerful thought of love"- Baha'i Faith EMAILING FOR THE GREATER GOODJoin me -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080812/efb539db/attachment.htm From kb9wsl at hotmail.com Tue Aug 12 21:30:48 2008 From: kb9wsl at hotmail.com (Tom Murray) Date: Tue, 12 Aug 2008 21:30:48 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] FM receivers in cellphones A Study Message-ID: Check out this website for info on putting fm receivers in cellphones. http://www.nabfastroad.org/fmradiofeaturecellularhandsets052808.pdf Tom KB9WSL _________________________________________________________________ Reveal your inner athlete and share it with friends on Windows Live. http://revealyourinnerathlete.windowslive.com?locale=en-us&ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WLYIA_whichathlete_us -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080812/d865be3b/attachment.htm From phil_snider at hotmail.com Wed Aug 13 21:52:42 2008 From: phil_snider at hotmail.com (Phil Snider) Date: Wed, 13 Aug 2008 21:52:42 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] about digital tv and digital radio Message-ID: about digital TV and digital radio: http://www.will.uiuc.edu/digital/default.htm -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080813/ec23ae35/attachment.htm From phil_snider at hotmail.com Thu Aug 14 15:50:42 2008 From: phil_snider at hotmail.com (Phil Snider) Date: Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:50:42 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] antenna information Message-ID: antenna information: http://www.yccc.org/Scuttlebutt/Archive/80mwirebeam.htmlPhil Snider -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080814/e4acc17f/attachment.htm From phil_snider at hotmail.com Fri Aug 15 08:34:55 2008 From: phil_snider at hotmail.com (Phil Snider) Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2008 08:34:55 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] oscilloscope video Message-ID: clever osciloscope video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ac1G_5N73gPhil Snider "the earth is one country and mandkind are its citizens" - Baha'i Faith EMAILING FOR THE GREATER GOODJoin me -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080815/54dcd776/attachment.htm From kb9wsl at hotmail.com Sun Aug 17 22:31:43 2008 From: kb9wsl at hotmail.com (Tom Murray) Date: Sun, 17 Aug 2008 22:31:43 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] FWRC BULLETIN: STOLEN RIG: BE ON THE LOOKOUT! In-Reply-To: <002201c900d0$ef199ac0$e232d60c@2606272100> References: <002201c900d0$ef199ac0$e232d60c@2606272100> Message-ID: > To: NEIARC at yahoogroups.com; Inares at yahoogroups.com; jcmw9btz at gmail.com > From: renee.thomas at mchsi.com > Date: Sun, 17 Aug 2008 21:20:38 -0400 > Subject: [Inares] Fw: FWRC BULLETIN: STOLEN RIG: BE ON THE LOOKOUT! > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Steve Nardin" > To: > Sent: Sunday, August 17, 2008 8:43 PM > Subject: FWRC BULLETIN: STOLEN RIG: BE ON THE LOOKOUT! > > > FWRC MEMBERS: > > One of our local amateurs, Ron, N9GFP, has reported that his mobile rig, a > Yaesu FT-857, was stolen recently. > > Please spend the word unmoungst the ham community, so if one of these rigs > becomes available for a unusually low price, please report it to Ron or the > local police. > > Thanks, > > 73, Steve, W9SAN > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Inares/ > > <*> Your email settings: > Individual Email | Traditional > > <*> To change settings online go to: > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Inares/join > (Yahoo! ID required) > > <*> To change settings via email: > mailto:Inares-digest at yahoogroups.com > mailto:Inares-fullfeatured at yahoogroups.com > > <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: > Inares-unsubscribe at yahoogroups.com > > <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > _________________________________________________________________ Be the filmmaker you always wanted to be?learn how to burn a DVD with Windows?. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/108588797/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080817/25c0d361/attachment.htm From kb9wsl at hotmail.com Tue Aug 19 09:54:04 2008 From: kb9wsl at hotmail.com (Tom Murray) Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:54:04 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] JULY STATEWIDE TEST Message-ID: COUNTY 8OM SSB 8OM PSK-31 40 SSB 440 W9WIN 2 M SIMPLEX 146.52 PACKET ECHO LINK LOCAL NET CHECK-IN?S PHONE Adams Allen YES Bartholomew YES YES 9 Benton Blackford Boone YES Brown YES Carroll Cass YES 3 Clark Clay Clinton Crawford Daviess Dearborn YES YES 10 Decatur Dekalb Delaware Debois Elkhart YES Fayette Floyd YES Fountain YES YES Franklin Fulton YES Gibson YES Grant Greene YES YES YES 3 Hamilton YES Hancock YES Harrison YES YES 10 COUNTY 8OM SSB 8OM PSK-31 40 SSB 440 W9WIN 2 M SIMPLEX 146.52 PACKET ECHO LINK LOCAL NET CHECK-IN?S PHONE Hendricks YES YES 12 Henry Howard Huntington Jackson Jasper YES YES 8 Jay Jefferson Jennings Johnson YES YES YES 17 Knox YES YES 14 Kosciusko YES YES 20 LaGrange YES Lake YES Laporte YES YES YES YES 16 Lawrence YES YES 6 Madison YES YES YES YES 24 Marion YES YES YES YES 9 YES Marshall YES 2 Martin Miami Monroe YES YES YES YES 20 Montgomery Morgan YES YES YES YES YES Newton Noble YES YES YES 3 Ohio YES Orange YES Owen YES Parke Perry YES Pike COUNTY 8OM SSB 8OM PSK-31 40 SSB 440 W9WIN 2 M SIMPLEX 146.52 PACKET ECHO LINK LOCAL NET CHECK-IN?S PHONE Porter YES YES YES 19 Posey Pulaski Putnam Randolph Ripley Rush St. Joseph YES 6 Scott YES YES YES YES YES 8 Shelby Spencer YES YES Starke YES YES 6 Steuben Sullivan YES YES YES 2 Switzerland Tippecanoe Tipton Union Vanderburgh YES YES Vigo Vermillion Wabash YES YES Warren Warrick YES YES 3 Washington Wayne Wells YES White Whitley YES 6 COUNTY 8OM SSB 8OM PSK-31 40 SSB 440 W9WIN 2 M SIMPLEX 146.52 PACKET ECHO LINK LOCAL NET CHECK-IN?S PHONE IDHS Ham Team 2 1 2 2 1 1 1 --- 1 Total involvement 35 11 10 29 9 1 4 246 4 Coordinators Notes: First, I would like to thank the county EMA Directors, Staff and local Amateur Radio Operators for participating in this Semiannual Statewide Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Test. We tried to experiment with 2 meter Packet, as there is a need for the accuracy of digital systems at the state level and this will more then likely remain as a component of the State Test program. We did use W9WIN linked repeater system and the potential of this system is tremendous for ECOMM throughout the state. The W9WIN system is proving to be an extremely valuable asset for Emergency VHF/UHF Communications. The amateurs maintaining the system continue to add features, coverage and capabilities to this system. The 2-meter Simplex radio used was located at the Indianapolis Training center in Indianapolis; it was found that there was a receiving problem with that radio. It will be fixed for the next test. While the High Frequency Bands (40 meters and 80 meters) are normally less useful in the summer, they were especially poor on the day of the test. Despite this, we still had 35 counties check in on 80 meters, reflecting an overall increased number of participating stations this July vs. last July. This is further borne out by some of the statistics below. --Counties that participated in the test: 44 (15 in Jul 07) --Total number of amateur radio operators that participated in the test statewide: 246 (106 in Jul 07) --State ham team personnel monitored all Amateur bands, and frequencies required for the test used.: YES with eleven persons. --Local nets by counties were done on 2 meter, 440 Mhz. --Stations outside Indiana that checked in: No one for this test cycle. --Band propagation was in Very Poor Condition for HF and VHF. --Counties relayed for other counties to ensure information was passed: YES --Echo link was monitored. Site in Indianapolis was down so the IDHS Team used the site in Columbus Indiana for the test site. -- There were three phone check-ins and we have no answer for that shortfall as there should have been a call from all 92 count -- There were 97 persons involved in check-in, and taking check ins during the test. Conclusions: This was the best summer test so far and I hope we will get better in the years to come as County, State officials and the Local Amateurs work toward perfecting their communicating skills. These skills are now showing that if a disaster, either local or multi-county occurs, the different groups are capable of communicating on several levels to supply the critical information to the higher levels of government in order to save lives and property. There are still areas of concern and all groups need to look at this report, and the January 2008 report to see the growth of personnel statewide and the communications systems used. Packet Radio results show not much usage but a separate test in July 2008 at the State EOC showed Packet is an excellent mode to provide a much-needed digital means of communications between State and county agencies via Amateur Radio. If the county EOC?s do not have packet, we encourage them to consider either conventional Packet or RMS Packet it in the future. As Coordinator for this test, I observe that Indiana has come along way in building its network of communication via Amateur Radio. There is still much to do. With the support of the Amateur Radio Community, we believe County EMA Directors can expand their communications resources. One county (Johnson) set up a ?Mini-Field Day? operation in order to practice their emergency response plans. All counties are encouraged to utilize the January or July RACES Test as an opportunity to practice their emergency response plans. Hope to see the BEST Turn out ever in the January 2009 State Test. 73, Next test tentatively scheduled for 17 January 2009 Submitted by Steven Wendt KB9RDS Indiana State RACES Communications Test Manager _________________________________________________________________ Get thousands of games on your PC, your mobile phone, and the web with Windows?. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/108588800/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080819/de1b1c69/attachment-0001.htm From kb9wsl at hotmail.com Tue Aug 19 09:54:38 2008 From: kb9wsl at hotmail.com (Tom Murray) Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:54:38 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] FW: [Inares] July Statewide RACES Communications Test In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: To: dwest at dhs.IN.gov From: dwest at dhs.in.gov Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2008 08:55:40 -0400 Subject: [Inares] July Statewide RACES Communications Test All Indiana EMA Directors, cc: RACES & ARES Groups Please find attached the detailed results of the Summer Statewide RACES (RADIO Amateur Civil Emergency Service) Test conducted July 26, 2008. Executive Summary ? While we are still less than 50% participation in the summer test, participation this summer was up from 15 counties to 44 counties, nearly 200% increase. Total number of Amateurs participating was 246, vs. 106, last summer. We included Packet (Text messaging via amateur radio) in this test, but the results were disappointing. Issues contributing to the poor results were: The packet test was hastily added at the last minute, it did not include the RMS version of Packet, and much of the equipment needed to participate is still in the distribution process. We are committed to an ?error checking text messaging? format such as conventional Packet and RMS Packet, as an integral part of a viable Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Plan for Indiana. Despite the results of the ?Packet Experiment?, the IDHS RACES Team is extremely pleased with the overall results, especially considering the very poor band conditions on the High Frequency bands on that Saturday. If the participation continues to increase at the present rate, the Winter Test scheduled for January 17, 2009. (Special thanks for all the support from ARES and MARS members throughout the state.) Best regards, Don West Communications Director Response & Operations Division Indiana Dept of Homeland Security 317-232-3849 _________________________________________________________________ Get thousands of games on your PC, your mobile phone, and the web with Windows?. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/108588800/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080819/4db7ad30/attachment-0001.htm -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.gif Type: image/gif Size: 8495 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080819/4db7ad30/attachment-0001.gif -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Don West.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 641 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080819/4db7ad30/attachment-0001.vcf -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Jul 2008 statewide HF Test results v2.doc Type: application/msword Size: 145920 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080819/4db7ad30/attachment-0001.doc From kb9wsl at hotmail.com Tue Aug 19 16:21:42 2008 From: kb9wsl at hotmail.com (Tom Murray) Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:21:42 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] FW: [Inares] Fw: FWRC BULLETIN: STOLEN RIG: BE ON THE LOOKOUT! In-Reply-To: <015a01c90237$8530e240$e232d60c@2606272100> References: <002201c900d0$ef199ac0$e232d60c@2606272100> <015a01c90237$8530e240$e232d60c@2606272100> Message-ID: > To: Inares at yahoogroups.com > From: renee.thomas at mchsi.com > Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:09:43 -0400 > Subject: Re: [Inares] Fw: FWRC BULLETIN: STOLEN RIG: BE ON THE LOOKOUT! > > thanks, don :) > > > that has been asked, but the feeling was that if the serial were circulated, > it would be more likely to be removed if the thieves caught wind of that... > so they're hoping to play it coy... (advice of sheriff detectives, i guess) > (new age law enforcement) hihi > > also learned that pawn shops (not sure about how state-wide this is) are > required to fingerprint anybody bringin' stuff in to sell... and the item is > listed on the internet (i dunno where) for the police to comb through... > (saves gas/time, huh?) > > other than that, the radio is a yaesu ft857 mobile hf/vhf/uhf with: > the 59 remote mic > w4rt collins ssb filter installed > ft857 external meter mounted to the bottom with doublesided tape > LDG 2100 antenna tuner mounted to the top > diamond dualband maggotmount (and they took the coax too) > > > relayed by carl YBI > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "West, Don" > To: > Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2008 1:49 PM > Subject: RE: [Inares] Fw: FWRC BULLETIN: STOLEN RIG: BE ON THE LOOKOUT! > > > Do we have a serial number? > > > Best regards, > > Don West > > Communications Director > Response & Operations Division > Indiana Dept of Homeland Security > > 317-232-3849 > > -----Original Message----- > From: Inares at yahoogroups.com [mailto:Inares at yahoogroups.com] On Behalf > Of customgraphics! > Sent: Sunday, August 17, 2008 9:21 PM > To: NEIARC at yahoogroups.com; Inares at yahoogroups.com; John Marty > Subject: [Inares] Fw: FWRC BULLETIN: STOLEN RIG: BE ON THE LOOKOUT! > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Steve Nardin" > To: > Sent: Sunday, August 17, 2008 8:43 PM > Subject: FWRC BULLETIN: STOLEN RIG: BE ON THE LOOKOUT! > > > FWRC MEMBERS: > > One of our local amateurs, Ron, N9GFP, has reported that his mobile rig, > a > Yaesu FT-857, was stolen recently. > > Please spend the word unmoungst the ham community, so if one of these > rigs > becomes available for a unusually low price, please report it to Ron or > the > local police. > > Thanks, > > 73, Steve, W9SAN > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Inares/ > > <*> Your email settings: > Individual Email | Traditional > > <*> To change settings online go to: > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Inares/join > (Yahoo! ID required) > > <*> To change settings via email: > mailto:Inares-digest at yahoogroups.com > mailto:Inares-fullfeatured at yahoogroups.com > > <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: > Inares-unsubscribe at yahoogroups.com > > <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > _________________________________________________________________ See what people are saying about Windows Live. Check out featured posts. http://www.windowslive.com/connect?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_connect2_082008 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080819/3d9dc7fe/attachment.htm From kb9wsl at hotmail.com Wed Aug 20 11:51:14 2008 From: kb9wsl at hotmail.com (Tom Murray) Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:51:14 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] (no subject) Message-ID: As U.S. Economic Problems Loom, House, Senate Sweat the Small Stuff Members of Congress Love a Good Resolution; Watermelons and Undertakers Fit the Bill By ELIZABETH WILLIAMSON August 19, 2008; Page A1 WASHINGTON -- The 110th Congress, whose term officially ends in January, hasn't passed any spending bills or attacked high gasoline prices. But it has used its powers to celebrate watermelons and to decree the origins of the word "baseball." Barring a burst of legislative activity after Labor Day, this group of 535 men and women will have accomplished a rare feat. In two decades of record keeping, no sitting Congress has passed fewer public laws at this point in the session -- 294 so far -- than this one. That's not to say they've been idle. On the flip side, no Congress in the same 20 years has been so prolific when it comes to proposing resolutions -- more than 1,900, according to a tally by the nonpartisan Taxpayers for Common Sense. With the mostly symbolic measures, Congress has saluted such milestones as the Idaho Potato Commission's 70th anniversary and recognized soil as an "essential natural resource." As legislation on gasoline prices, tax fixes and predatory lending languish, Congress has designated May 5-9 as National Substitute Teacher Recognition Week, and set July 28 as the Day of the American Cowboy. The resolutions, which generally don't carry the force of law, can originate in either the House or Senate. However, some types of resolutions establish the federal budget, authorize the president to go to war, or condemn actions such as the genocide in Darfur. Even among the 294 laws passed thus far, many were symbolic in nature. Many of the post offices named by this Congress honor servicemen and -women killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. In the 435-member House, fully one-quarter of the workweek is typically devoted to debating and passing symbolic measures. Watermelon Month Democratic Rep. Charlie Wilson of Ohio, a fourth-generation undertaker, sponsored a National Funeral Director and Mortician Recognition Day. Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss, whose home state of Georgia has 24,000 acres planted in watermelon, pushed a resolution establishing July as National Watermelon Month. "As Mark Twain once said, 'When one has tasted watermelon he knows what the angels eat.' I encourage my colleagues to join me in acknowledging the wisdom of Mark Twain by supporting this resolution," Sen. Chambliss said on the Senate floor. The only problem: July is about 14 days late for a Watermelon Month. The crops come in in mid June. Democrats say the 294 public laws represent a solid record of achievement. Since the party took control of Congress in 2007, they've led passage of the largest expansion in college aid in 60 years, increased the minimum wage for the first time in a decade, and extended unemployment benefits. They passed the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. Congress has passed a $168 billion economic-stimulus package, a housing-rescue package providing as much as $300 billion to refinance mortgages for people in danger of losing their homes, and the most sweeping product-safety legislation in a generation. "We also recognize that we have more to do, and we will do so, both in the remaining weeks of this year's Congress and next year when we will have expanded Democratic majorities in the House and the Senate, working with President Barack Obama," says Brendan Daly, spokesman for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Democrat of California. Congress, which won't return to session until September, has yet to pass any 2009 appropriations bills, even though funding the federal budget is its official function. Before leaving town for summer break in August, lawmakers failed to establish August as Heat Stroke Awareness Month, blowing the deadline to make it official. When Democrats won control of Congress in 2006, Republicans were eager to tar them as "do nothing," an echo of Democrat Harry Truman's successful 1948 presidential campaign during which he railed against the "Do Nothing Congress" led by Republicans. "The Democrats in charge of this Congress have been heavy on fluff and light on substance," says Republican leader Rep. John Boehner of Ohio. "Resolutions are fine but why aren't we also passing legislation to lower gas prices? What about health-care reform and runaway entitlement spending?" In fact, the second-fewest number of public laws passed over the 20-year review was during the 104th Congress -- when Republicans were newly in control, with a Democratic president. Resolutions, however, are usually popular on both sides of the aisle. Perpetual Motion Critics still complain that Congress uses resolutions to pad its legislative record. "Resolutions are a perpetual motion machine," says Steve Ellis, vice president of Taxpayers for Common Sense. "Not only do you create Heat Stroke Awareness Month, every year after that you recognize the importance of Heat Stroke Awareness Month. You never move on to substantive legislation." Occasionally, resolutions stir debate that veers close to substance. In late June, House members gathered on the floor to debate a resolution establishing Pittsfield, Mass., once and for all, as home to the earliest known reference to the word "baseball." Democratic Rep. John Olver of Massachusetts, the bill's author, rose to stake Pittsfield's claim, based on the recent discovery of a 1791 Pittsfield law banning "Wicket, Cricket, Baseball, Football, Cat, Fives or any other game or games with balls" near the town's new meetinghouse. "Even back in 1791, youths were already breaking windows playing America's favorite national pastime," Rep. Olver said. "With that, the first mention of baseball was penned into history." Rep. Virginia Foxx, Republican of North Carolina whose resolution recognizing America's Christmas-tree industry remains mired in committee, said that "the origins of baseball [have] been the subject of debate and controversy." Yet she agreed that the "Broken Window Bylaw" gave Pittsfield the honor. Write to Elizabeth Williamson at elizabeth.williamson at wsj.com _________________________________________________________________ Get ideas on sharing photos from people like you. Find new ways to share. http://www.windowslive.com/explore/photogallery/posts?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Photo_Gallery_082008 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080820/45f1541d/attachment-0001.htm From kb9wsl at hotmail.com Wed Aug 20 12:10:20 2008 From: kb9wsl at hotmail.com (Tom Murray) Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:10:20 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] SK Message-ID: Phillip S. Grau Phillip S. Grau, 88, of 1729 Wabash Ave., Rochester, died at 6:21 a.m. Tuesday at Woodlawn Hospital, Rochester. Arrangements are pending at Good Family Funeral Home, Rochester. Phil was W9ZLN He was an Extra Class Licensee.... Did not know if any of you knew him or had talked with him on the air. Tom KB9WSL _________________________________________________________________ Get thousands of games on your PC, your mobile phone, and the web with Windows?. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/108588800/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080820/d3291d1d/attachment.htm From phil_snider at hotmail.com Wed Aug 20 19:13:14 2008 From: phil_snider at hotmail.com (Phil Snider) Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:13:14 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] SK In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: was that the trustee of their repeater?Phil Snider "the earth is one country and mandkind are its citizens" - Baha'i Faith EMAILING FOR THE GREATER GOODJoin me From: kb9wsl at hotmail.comTo: ccarc at culcom.netDate: Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:10:20 -0400Subject: [Ccarc] SK Phillip S. GrauPhillip S. Grau, 88, of 1729 Wabash Ave., Rochester, died at 6:21 a.m. Tuesday at Woodlawn Hospital, Rochester.Arrangements are pending at Good Family Funeral Home, Rochester. Phil was W9ZLN He was an Extra Class Licensee....Did not know if any of you knew him or had talked with him on the air.Tom KB9WSL Get thousands of games on your PC, your mobile phone, and the web with Windows?. Game with Windows -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080820/add3607f/attachment.htm From kb9wsl at hotmail.com Thu Aug 21 11:27:01 2008 From: kb9wsl at hotmail.com (Tom Murray) Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2008 11:27:01 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] Bob & Tom Radio show going to WGN TV Message-ID: Saw this on Radio Info website today: Tom KB9WSL The Bob & Tom radio show goes to television, on WGN America. Robotic cameras are being installed in the studio, and they'll turn the daily four-hour syndicated radio show into a one-hour midnight (Eastern time) Monday-Friday TV show available to the 70 million-plus households reached by the Tribune-owned cable channel. This is a three-way deal involving radio syndicator Premiere, Bob & Tom, and Tribune, and Tribune's Sean Compton says it debuts November 3. The TV deal doesn't affect the existing radio show that airs on the 150-station Bob & Tom lineup - but it certainly won't hurt, when it comes to booking guests. More at Radio-Info.com, including a link to this morning's press release. _________________________________________________________________ Talk to your Yahoo! Friends via Windows Live Messenger. Find out how. http://www.windowslive.com/explore/messenger?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_messenger_yahoo_082008 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080821/239284fa/attachment.htm From kb9wsl at hotmail.com Thu Aug 21 15:09:10 2008 From: kb9wsl at hotmail.com (Tom Murray) Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:09:10 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] WSBT TV acquiring more stations Message-ID: DIGITAL TRANSLATOR OR DIGITAL LPTV APPLICATIONS FOR ASSIGNMENT OF LICENSE ACCEPTED FOR FILING --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IN BALDTL-20080818ABO WBND-LD 168647 WBND-TV LIMITED PARTNERSHIP Voluntary Assignment of License E CHAN-49 SOUTH BEND, IN From: WBND-TV LIMITED PARTNERSHIP To: WSBT, INC. Form 345 IN BALDTL-20080818ABR WCWW-LD 168643 WCWW-TV LIMITED PARTNERSHIP Voluntary Assignment of License E CHAN-27 SOUTH BEND, IN From: WCWW-TV LIMITED PARTNERSHIP To: WSBT, INC. Form 345 IN BALDTL-20080818ABT WMYS-LD 168663 WEIGEL BROADCASTING CO. Voluntary Assignment of License E CHAN-23 SOUTH BEND, IN From: WEIGEL BROADCASTING CO. To: WSBT, INC. _________________________________________________________________ Be the filmmaker you always wanted to be?learn how to burn a DVD with Windows?. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/108588797/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080821/f1668778/attachment.htm From kb9wsl at hotmail.com Thu Aug 21 20:25:30 2008 From: kb9wsl at hotmail.com (Tom Murray) Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:25:30 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] FW: [InHam] [Fwd: [SMC] New FM net on 146.49, Thursdays 8:30pm] In-Reply-To: <48ADFA22.8050108@insightbb.com> References: <48ADFA22.8050108@insightbb.com> Message-ID: > Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2008 19:28:34 -0400 > From: dan.evans at insightbb.com > To: inham at mailman.qth.net > Subject: [InHam] [Fwd: [SMC] New FM net on 146.49, Thursdays 8:30pm] > > Think you have a "good" 2m FM station? Here is a challenge for you! > > Many folks would be surprised just how far "normal FM simplex" range is... > > 73 > Dan > -- > K9ZF /R no budget Rover ***QRP-l #1269 > Check out the Rover Resource Page at: > List Administrator for: InHam+grid-loc+ham-books > Ask me how to join the Indiana Ham Mailing list! > > > > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: [SMC] New FM net on 146.49, Thursdays 8:30pm > Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2008 22:14:33 -0500 > From: Todd Sprinkmann > To: badgercontesters at mailman.qth.net, SMC at w9smc.com, > nlrs at mailman.qth.net, cvvhf at cvvhf.org > > > > Hello again, > > While I realize this email will be reaching a lot of > stations outside normal FM simplex range, I figured it > wouldn't hurt to get this new net some publicity. > > I'm going to start running a net for the FM side. It > will run every Thursday (lightning permitting) on 146.49, > simplex, starting at 8:30pm. Just like our SSB nets, the > purpose is to stir up activity on the bands. > > I personally haven't done much work on 146 FM, save for > some contest Q's. I'd like to reach out more to the FM > side, and see how it goes. > > I don't have rotatable beams for FM. I do have a dual- > band (146 and 440) omni at about 60' and that does pretty > well on 146. I also have a 10 element beam on 146 up > about 60', fixed toward Milwaukee and Chicago. I think for > the first net, I'll try to just use the omni and see > how that goes. As time goes by, I will work the beam into > the equation, as well. > > I have been pushing for more FM participation in the > contests, and my hope is this net will eventually get some > FM ops more interested in contesting. Or perhaps other > FM nets will be created in different areas. > > I've spread word of this net to some local repeater > groups and reflectors, and I suspect we'll have decent > participation. > > What I'd like everyone reading this email to consider is > this: How can you help increase FM participation in contests? > > If this net has decent activity, I plan on running it > for at least the next several months. I'll make > some new acquaintances and hopefully the Milwaukee area > will see increased FM activity in both the September and > January ARRL VHF/UHF contests. > > Any thoughts, feedback welcomed. > > 73, > Todd KC9BQA EN63ao 40 N of Milwaukee > 50 thru 2304 > > > > +-----------------------------------------------------------------+ > SMC Web Site: http://www.w9smc.com > List Help: http://mail.w9smc.com/mailman/listinfo/smc_w9smc.com > Submissions: smc at w9smc.com Problems?Contact: smc-owner at w9smc.com > > > > _______________________________________________ > InHam mailing list > InHam at mailman.qth.net > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/inham _________________________________________________________________ Get thousands of games on your PC, your mobile phone, and the web with Windows?. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/108588800/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080821/e14a24a8/attachment.htm From phil_snider at hotmail.com Fri Aug 22 01:35:35 2008 From: phil_snider at hotmail.com (Phil Snider) Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2008 01:35:35 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] FW: [InHam] [Fwd: [SMC] New FM net on 146.49, Thursdays 8:30pm] In-Reply-To: References: <48ADFA22.8050108@insightbb.com> Message-ID: That would be 9:30 our time.Phil Snider W9LVY From: kb9wsl at hotmail.comTo: ccarc at culcom.netDate: Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:25:30 -0400Subject: [Ccarc] FW: [InHam] [Fwd: [SMC] New FM net on 146.49, Thursdays 8:30pm] > Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2008 19:28:34 -0400> From: dan.evans at insightbb.com> To: inham at mailman.qth.net> Subject: [InHam] [Fwd: [SMC] New FM net on 146.49, Thursdays 8:30pm]> > Think you have a "good" 2m FM station? Here is a challenge for you!> > Many folks would be surprised just how far "normal FM simplex" range is...> > 73> Dan> -- > K9ZF /R no budget Rover ***QRP-l #1269 > Check out the Rover Resource Page at: > List Administrator for: InHam+grid-loc+ham-books > Ask me how to join the Indiana Ham Mailing list! > > > > -------- Original Message --------> Subject: [SMC] New FM net on 146.49, Thursdays 8:30pm> Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2008 22:14:33 -0500> From: Todd Sprinkmann > To: badgercontesters at mailman.qth.net, SMC at w9smc.com, > nlrs at mailman.qth.net, cvvhf at cvvhf.org> > > > Hello again, > > While I realize this email will be reaching a lot of > stations outside normal FM simplex range, I figured it > wouldn't hurt to get this new net some publicity. > > I'm going to start running a net for the FM side. It > will run every Thursday (lightning permitting) on 146.49, > simplex, starting at 8:30pm. Just like our SSB nets, the > purpose is to stir up activity on the bands. > > I personally haven't done much work on 146 FM, save for > some contest Q's. I'd like to reach out more to the FM > side, and see how it goes. > > I don't have rotatable beams for FM. I do have a dual- > band (146 and 440) omni at about 60' and that does pretty > well on 146. I also have a 10 element beam on 146 up > about 60', fixed toward Milwaukee and Chicago. I think for > the first net, I'll try to just use the omni and see > how that goes. As time goes by, I will work the beam into > the equation, as well. > > I have been pushing for more FM participation in the > contests, and my hope is this net will eventually get some > FM ops more interested in contesting. Or perhaps other > FM nets will be created in different areas. > > I've spread word of this net to some local repeater > groups and reflectors, and I suspect we'll have decent > participation. > > What I'd like everyone reading this email to consider is > this: How can you help increase FM participation in contests? > > If this net has decent activity, I plan on running it > for at least the next several months. I'll make > some new acquaintances and hopefully the Milwaukee area > will see increased FM activity in both the September and > January ARRL VHF/UHF contests. > > Any thoughts, feedback welcomed. > > 73, > Todd KC9BQA EN63ao 40 N of Milwaukee > 50 thru 2304 > > > > +-----------------------------------------------------------------+> SMC Web Site: http://www.w9smc.com> List Help: http://mail.w9smc.com/mailman/listinfo/smc_w9smc.com> Submissions: smc at w9smc.com Problems?Contact: smc-owner at w9smc.com> > > > _______________________________________________> InHam mailing list> InHam at mailman.qth.net> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/inham Get thousands of games on your PC, your mobile phone, and the web with Windows?. Game with Windows -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080822/85e7e4d0/attachment.htm From kb9wsl at hotmail.com Fri Aug 22 08:40:05 2008 From: kb9wsl at hotmail.com (Tom Murray) Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2008 08:40:05 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] FW: [InHam] [Fwd: [SMC] 144.240 and 144.250 Wed. nite net reports] In-Reply-To: <48AE97A3.7080005@insightbb.com> References: <48AE97A3.7080005@insightbb.com> Message-ID: > Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2008 06:40:35 -0400 > From: dan.evans at insightbb.com > To: inham at mailman.qth.net > Subject: [InHam] [Fwd: [SMC] 144.240 and 144.250 Wed. nite net reports] > > fyi.........Dan > > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: [SMC] 144.240 and 144.250 Wed. nite net reports > Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2008 21:56:19 -0500 > From: Todd Sprinkmann > To: badgercontesters at mailman.qth.net, cvvhf at cvvhf.org, > nlrs at mailman.qth.net, SMC at w9smc.com > > > > Another good night for the nets, > > During the 144.240 W thru N net from 8-8:30, > we had 5 check-ins. They were: > WA9FWT Phil EN63 Sheboygan, WI 5x3 > K0MHC Jim EN25 Alexandria, MN 5x1 > N9ISN Al EN44 Eau Claire, WI 5x5 > *Al is pleased to report that water in coax issues > have been resolved on 6, 2 and 432 and he's looking > forward to the Sept. ARRL V/UHF contest. His 222 > should probably be good to go by then as well.* > WB9LYH Mark EN54 Rudolph, WI 5x5 > K9QM Tony EN54 Schofield, WI 5x5 > > During the Badger Contesters net on 144.250 at > 8:30, we had 10 check-ins. They were: > N9HZ Brent EN71 Goshen, IN 5x9 > N9WU Rick EN53 Germantown, WI 5x3 > N0PB Phil EM39 Holliday, MO 5x5 > N9NDP Harvey EN62 Kenosha, WI 20 over S9 > *Harvey reported that conditions this morning on > 144.155 were very good. A group of guys gets > together on 144.155 in the mornings, and there > was very good prop across the WI/IN/ILL/MI/OH > corridor.* > N9ISN Al EN44 Eau Claire, WI 5x7 > N8IEZ Paul EN82 Detroit area 5x2 > N9UM Mark EN52 Wauconda, IL 5x9 > W9RN Noll EN52 Franklin, WI 5x9 > *This was Noll's first check-in and he was very > loud on his vertical* > K9IJ John EN52 Lake Zurich, IL 5x3 > (Sorry, John, I skipped your turn in the comments time.) > K9KHW Ray EN63 Milwaukee 40 over S9 > *Ray has two items for sale. He still has the M2 18XXX, > which is a killer beam for DX/tropo work on 144. His also > has a specially reinforced boom for extra strength. > Ray also has 100' of LMR-600 ultraflex. It has premium > Times connectors on both ends. N on one end and PL-259 > on the other. Contact Ray direct at rayk9khw at aol.com.* > > Please standby for another email describing a new > FM simplex net I will be starting (lightning permitting) > on 146.49 on Thursday nights, again at 8:30pm. > > 73, > Todd KC9BQA EN63ao 40 N of Milwaukee > 50 thru 2304 > > > > > +-----------------------------------------------------------------+ > SMC Web Site: http://www.w9smc.com > List Help: http://mail.w9smc.com/mailman/listinfo/smc_w9smc.com > Submissions: smc at w9smc.com Problems?Contact: smc-owner at w9smc.com > > > > 73 > Dan > -- > K9ZF /R no budget Rover ***QRP-l #1269 > Check out the Rover Resource Page at: > List Administrator for: InHam+grid-loc+ham-books > Ask me how to join the Indiana Ham Mailing list! > > _______________________________________________ > InHam mailing list > InHam at mailman.qth.net > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/inham _________________________________________________________________ Talk to your Yahoo! Friends via Windows Live Messenger. Find out how. http://www.windowslive.com/explore/messenger?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_messenger_yahoo_082008 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080822/fbfa973f/attachment-0001.htm From kb9wsl at hotmail.com Fri Aug 22 08:45:57 2008 From: kb9wsl at hotmail.com (Tom Murray) Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2008 08:45:57 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] More on Bob and Tom on TV Message-ID: Bob and Tom conquer America all over again on WGN America (and maybe Chicago, too). The Chicago Tribune?s Phil Rosenthal points out that the new three-way pact involving Indy-based Bob & Tom, their radio syndicator Premiere and WGN America owner Tribune doesn?t automatically put them into the Chicago market ? unless you have DirecTV or Dish. Remember that Tribune long ago split off its WGN-TV, Chicago from the nationally-distributed cable channel, giving up the ?super-station? role for Channel 9. That?s meant mostly separate programming for the channel that the Randy Michaels gang has re-christened ?WGN America? with the slogan ?TV you can?t ignore.? Shaking up that programming is one of former Clear Channel/Premiere programmer Sean Compton?s objectives. He?s already installed Marc Chase as the on-camera host for a weekly feature movie ? and now he?s gone back to the ranks of radio for Bob & Tom. We did a morning bulletin about this signing yesterday from Radio-Info.com. Signed up for those? Just make sure ?Radio Info updates? is checked in your free-subscription page at Radio-Info.com. Here?s the gist of the Bob & Tom Deal ? and there could be further radio talent signings. For Bob Griswold and Tom Kevoian, Tribune?s installing seven robotically-controlled cameras in the studios at Clear Channel-owned WFBQ, Indianapolis. From the four-hour morning shows, they?ll distill a one-hour weeknight TV program (midnight Eastern) for WGN America. The only effect it should have on the radio show carried on 150+ stations will probably be more high-profile guests. If you?re a celeb, the chance to be in 70 million TV households might be a pretty good incentive to put Indy on your itinerary. Sean Compton says the TV version of The Bob & Tom Show debuts November 3 as part of WGN America?s new Fall lineup. See the B&T release here. And do look for Tribune to mine the radio talent field for more crossover TV possibilities. I was chatting with a talk radio expert yesterday about the people who?ve made that leap (like Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck) and the ones who didn?t, for various reasons ? including Rush, Dr. Laura, Dr. Joy Browne, Michael Savage and most recently Laura Ingraham. But that doesn?t mean their next attempts won?t be successful, with a tweak here or there. And Tribune?s definitely looking for projects. _________________________________________________________________ Talk to your Yahoo! Friends via Windows Live Messenger. Find out how. http://www.windowslive.com/explore/messenger?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_messenger_yahoo_082008 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080822/b49577bf/attachment.htm From rervin55 at msn.com Fri Aug 22 17:22:33 2008 From: rervin55 at msn.com (Rae Ervin) Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2008 17:22:33 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] Here's something of intrest to dx'ers Message-ID: Best Free Multiple Time Zone World Clock Posted: 20 Aug 2008 12:37 AM CDT Need to regularly know the time somewhere else in the world? If so check out our editors review of free world clocks. He looked at dozens of stand-alone programs, web services and browser add-ins but in the end only one product gets the coveted "Gizmo's Best" award. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080822/8dfbf6b3/attachment.htm -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: application/octet-stream Size: 43 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080822/8dfbf6b3/attachment.obj From kb9wsl at hotmail.com Fri Aug 22 19:41:25 2008 From: kb9wsl at hotmail.com (Tom Murray) Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2008 19:41:25 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] 440 mhz interfence Pave Paws radar Message-ID: Interesting reading......Tom KB9WSL. ==> ARRL RESPONDS TO CONCERNS RAISED BY CALIFORNIA REPEATER OWNERS AFFECTED BY PAVE PAWS Earlier this week, the ARRL responded to a series of concerns raised by repeaters owners regarding the ongoing PAVE PAWS interference mitigation project at Beale Air Force Base near Sacramento, California. In a lengthy e-mail dated August 20, ARRL Regulatory Information Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, addressed a series of concerns raised by Tom Naso, N6MVT, of Lafayette, California; Naso is owner or trustee to several involved repeaters. Naso's letter can be found here . Henderson's reply can be found here . "Tom raised a series of thoughtful, valid concerns," Henderson stated. "The ARRL's response to his queries, though lengthy, attempts to address them in detail. With Tom's permission, we are releasing both his original e-mail and the ARRL's response in order to get the most accurate and full information out to repeater owners and users as possible. It also gives us the opportunity to make sure a couple of other issues relating to the PAVE PAWS situation that have arisen are brought to the public's attention." Henderson said that the biggest challenge the ARRL -- and through them the affected repeater owners -- continues to face is "the balance between not being able to know full technical details of the interference and the testing techniques and the desire/need to know information. It's a tough challenge. And while there have been a few errors in identifying call signs (because of errors in databases being used by the Air Force), there were actual measurements made of signals identified by the Air Force testing group." Henderson pointed out that the ARRL continues to pursue valid concerns that can be based on fact and backed up with solid data that are raised by repeater owners. "We will continue to expect the FCC to perform its responsibilities. If a permanent shut-down order comes from the FCC, we expect that the licensee is given their full rights for due process." _________________________________________________________________ See what people are saying about Windows Live. Check out featured posts. http://www.windowslive.com/connect?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_connect2_082008 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080822/05925317/attachment.htm From kb9wsl at hotmail.com Fri Aug 22 21:49:42 2008 From: kb9wsl at hotmail.com (Tom Murray) Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2008 21:49:42 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] August meeting minutes Message-ID: Minutes of the August 16th, 2008 Meeting of the C.C.A.R.C. The meeting was called to order by Chuck, N9PMW, at 9:01 am. SECRETARY?s REPORT: The minutes of the July 19th,2008 meeting were read by Tom, KB9WSL. The minutes were approved as presented. TREASURER?s REPORT: The treasurer?s report was presented by Dave, N9WCQ. Beginning balance as of 7-19-2008 was $708.80. Check to Dave,N9WCQ for Insurance payment $230.80. Deposit of $11.00 from 50/50. Deposit of $4.00 from bumper sticker sales. Deposit of .58 cents interest. Leaving an ending balance of $493.58. The balance for the repeater controller is $125.00. The Treasurer?s report was approved as presented. REPEATER: Phil, W9LVY reported that the 147.180 repeater is working well. He said if the encoder was fixed it would prevent the 180 repeater in Chicago from getting into the machine during band openings. He also stated the back-up batteries at the 180 repeater site can be stored at his place when they need to be moved for the generator project. ARES/RACES: Chuck, N9PMW, reminded everyone again that NIMS certifications must be done by the end of September 2008. During the recent State wide Communications test, Cass county was checked-in to the state-wide Net. OLD BUSINESS: Chuck, N9PMW, reported that for Field Day 2008 the Club scored 2,760 points. He said a lot of the points came from such things as having a teaching session, having local officials visit, PR and such. As a comparison: 2008 FD 2,760 points. 2007 FD 1,358 points 2006 FD 2,000 points (approx) 2004 FD 1,078 points Chuck reported a fun time was had by all for FD 2008. Chuck also announced he will not head-up Field Day for 2009. He said it?s time for some new blood. He did say he will help whom-ever decides to take-over the project. Chuck also stated if anyone wants to teach licensing classes for new hams to feel free to organize it. He did state that Wednesday nights are not a good night to host classes at the EMA building do to schedule conflicts. However, classes could be held that night somewhere else. Also, anyone wishing to study on a favorite antenna and then make a short presentation during an upcoming club meeting, please let Chuck know so we don?t have several scheduled for a single meeting. NEW BUSINESS: Bob, K9AWH, asked if anyone had heard of LiTZ, or Long Tone Zero, to attract attention on the repeater or simplex if a ham had an emergency situation and needed assistance. A few members stated they had heard of it. There was a brief discussion of the practice. If you have an emergency, you can transmit a DTMF zero from the microphone on your radio to attract attention. The Club has heard nothing from the Boy Scouts regarding Jamboree On The Air for this year at Camp Buffalo. GOOD OF THE CLUB: Phil, W9LVY, would like to set up a work session. Dave, K9DVL also would like to get antennas checked out and put up at EMA before bad weather comes. Bob, N9RLA will check with a friend who has access to an auger and boom truck regarding getting utility poles set for an HF loop antenna at EMA. He will also check about getting wooden poles for the project. There was also discussion about installing yagi antennas on two of the poles for 6 meter,.2 meter and 440 Mhz antennas?..and for a multi band HF yagi. The club has two rotators we could use for the antennas . Phil said the White County REMC has a grant program the club might try to apply for to help with the costs. It was decided to set a tentative date of the second weekend in September to have a work session?for antennas at the EMA site. The Club had two comp tickets for the Ham-fest at Danville, IL. Phil bought one for a dollar. Another ticket is still available. The Ham-fest is Sunday, August 26th, 2008. BILLS: Dave, N9WCQ presented bills for the following: $12.30 for postage for August meeting notices. $42.50 for parts for the MFJ antenna tuner. A motion was made and seconded to pay the bills. Motion carried. OTHER: Woody, KU9F, announced he was taking down several of his antennas and is selling off most of his ham equipment. He will be selling the items at the Lafayette Ham-fest. Anything not sold there will be for sale afterwards. Contact Woody for more information. Woody stated he would remain active on 2 meters, Dan, KV9N, made a brief presentation on caged-windom long-wire antenna. He spoke about it?s design and advantages and dis-advantages. Phil, W9LVY made a presentation about a V-beam long-wire antenna. He also discussed it?s pro?s and con?s. The next meeting will be Saturday, September 20th at 9am at the Cass County EMA building. Meeting adjourned at 10:34 am. Those present were: KB9WSL, N9PMW, N9WCQ, W9LVY, N9RLA, N9ZMW, KV9N, KC9CRP, KA9BYN, K9DVL,KU9F,K9EQT,K9AWH, and guest Ali Aldrich who came with N9RLA. 50/50: $8.00 raised, winner was KA9BYN. Marion donated his winnings back to the club. _________________________________________________________________ Talk to your Yahoo! Friends via Windows Live Messenger. Find out how. http://www.windowslive.com/explore/messenger?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_messenger_yahoo_082008 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080822/72631430/attachment.htm From kb9wsl at hotmail.com Sun Aug 24 15:59:59 2008 From: kb9wsl at hotmail.com (Tom Murray) Date: Sun, 24 Aug 2008 15:59:59 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] Energy Message-ID: Right now America spends $700 billion every year on foreign oil. That's our money going overseas when it could be staying here. We have to stop this. That's why I support the Pickens Plan. Check out the website at www.pickensplan.com. If you like what you see, please join me as a Pickens Plan supporter. Tom Murray Rochester,IN _________________________________________________________________ See what people are saying about Windows Live. Check out featured posts. http://www.windowslive.com/connect?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_connect2_082008 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080824/f9e4a8f6/attachment.htm From k9dvl at comcast.net Sun Aug 24 21:19:11 2008 From: k9dvl at comcast.net (Dave Rothermel) Date: Sun, 24 Aug 2008 20:19:11 -0500 Subject: [Ccarc] Randy Lanning W9CFI 100 Birthday Message-ID: <48B2088F.6050901@comcast.net> Randy Lanning W9CFI will be celebrating his 100 th birthday on August 30 at the Calvary Presbyterian Church. It is located at 701 Spencer St. Logansport Ind. Open house from noon till 3 p.m. Come by and say Hi. For those that are too far away, could send a birthday card. His address is Randolph Lanning Room 122 c/o. Miller's Merry Manor 200 26th st. Logansport, Ind. 46947 Thank You K9DVL Dave From k9dvl at comcast.net Mon Aug 25 08:47:08 2008 From: k9dvl at comcast.net (Dave Rothermel) Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2008 07:47:08 -0500 Subject: [Ccarc] [Fwd: testing Plymouth remc monday 25 @ 7:00 pm] Message-ID: <48B2A9CC.9040408@comcast.net> -------------- next part -------------- An embedded message was scrubbed... From: Richard Basham Subject: testing Plymouth remc monday 25 @ 7:00 pm Date: Sun, 24 Aug 2008 20:10:39 -0700 (PDT) Size: 1986 Url: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080825/bb02523d/attachment.eml From kb9wsl at hotmail.com Mon Aug 25 09:46:24 2008 From: kb9wsl at hotmail.com (Tom Murray) Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2008 09:46:24 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] FW: [Inares] Ron Stier, W9ICZ, SK In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: To: Inares at yahoogroups.com From: w1idx at arrl.net Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:30:37 +0000 Subject: [Inares] Ron Stier, W9ICZ, SK Ron Stier, W9ICZ, EC for Wayne County (Richmond), died in his sleep early Sunday morning at his residence following a two-year-long illness. Ron was 71. He was born in Richmond and was a graduate of St. Andrew's Catholic School, St. Meinard High and Aurora College in Aurora, IL. He retired from Belden Corp. after working 36 years in engineering and marketing and was an Army veteran in the early 1960s with a tour in Turkey. Ron was ordained to the Permanent Deaconate of the Indianapolis Archdiocese June 28, 2008, and was a very active member of the Richmond Catholic Community. He was the past president of the Whitewater Valley ARC, a lifetime QCWA member and had been licensed since 1954. He is survived by his wife Donna of 44 years and three children. Stegall-Berheide-Orr Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Email condolences may be sent at www.stegallberheidorr.com. __._,_.___ Messages in this topic (1) Reply (via web post) | Start a new topic Messages | Files | Photos | Links | Database | Polls | Members | Calendar Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required) Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch format to Traditional Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe Recent Activity 1 New Members 1 New Links Visit Your Group Best of Y! Groups Check out the best of what Yahoo! Groups has to offer. Y! Groups blog the best source for the latest scoop on Groups. Women of Curves on Yahoo! Groups A positive group to discuss Curves. . __,_._,___ _________________________________________________________________ Be the filmmaker you always wanted to be?learn how to burn a DVD with Windows?. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/108588797/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080825/fe3e8c57/attachment-0001.htm From kb9wsl at hotmail.com Tue Aug 26 09:19:53 2008 From: kb9wsl at hotmail.com (Tom Murray) Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2008 09:19:53 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] Grant Co. Tail Gate event Message-ID: Grant County Amateur Radio Club -Tailgate Hamfest- Saturday, September 27 8:00 am ? 12:00 pm Location: Round Robin Bingo Club 4401 S. Western Ave. Marion, IN. (1/2 mile south of Wal-Mart) * Free parking lot spaces -first come basis. * Bring your own table. * Rest rooms available in the club. * Coffee and snacks _________________________________________________________________ Get ideas on sharing photos from people like you. Find new ways to share. http://www.windowslive.com/explore/photogallery/posts?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Photo_Gallery_082008 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080826/f248ccab/attachment.htm From k9dvl at comcast.net Tue Aug 26 18:17:45 2008 From: k9dvl at comcast.net (Dave Rothermel) Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2008 17:17:45 -0500 Subject: [Ccarc] [Fwd: the invitation] Message-ID: <48B48109.7020206@comcast.net> -------------- next part -------------- An embedded message was scrubbed... From: Thomas Hoffman Subject: the invitation Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2008 08:32:52 -0700 (PDT) Size: 4141 Url: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080826/d0fe7fb1/attachment.eml From bob at n9rla.com Tue Aug 26 19:23:40 2008 From: bob at n9rla.com (bob at n9rla.com) Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2008 16:23:40 -0700 Subject: [Ccarc] VHF / UHF Antenna Analyzer Message-ID: <20080826162340.a676892e39a4bf5d02e19cb9bea3a859.2d48a69152.wbe@email.secureserver.net> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080826/5091f7d3/attachment.html From bob at n9rla.com Tue Aug 26 19:38:31 2008 From: bob at n9rla.com (bob at n9rla.com) Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2008 16:38:31 -0700 Subject: [Ccarc] VHF / UHF Antenna Analyzer Message-ID: <20080826163831.a676892e39a4bf5d02e19cb9bea3a859.567a45cb35.wbe@email.secureserver.net> Good Evening, I know many of you don't know me or know me well but I'm probably the newest member of the CCARC and I live in Monticello recently relocated back from Georgia. I am trying to construct a dual band J-Pole that is encassed in common Schedule 40 1/2" PVC but tuning the antenna is nearly impossible without an analyzer.  Would anyone that has one available be willing to let me borrow a VHF / UHF antenna analyzer to perform testing on this antenna. My end result is to get it measured and tuned correctly then do an antenna build at one of the club meetings and be able to provide the members with the CORRECT dimensions so it's an easy build and inexpensive. This would be a perfect antenna for ARES or any VHF / UHF radio emergency scenario or for any new tech that needs or wants something simple built from common parts we all have that is a cheap and big improvement over the "rubber duckie" on their HT especially if they're on a tight budget. Any help would be appreciated. 73 Bob Aldrich, N9RLA www.n9rla.com (770) 519 9493 (Georgia cell number) From kb9wsl at hotmail.com Tue Aug 26 21:06:06 2008 From: kb9wsl at hotmail.com (Tom Murray) Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2008 21:06:06 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] vanity license fee hike Message-ID: SB SPCL @ ARL $ARLX008 ARLX008 FCC Vanity Call Sign Fees to Increase September 25 ZCZC AX08 QST de W1AW Special Bulletin 8 ARLX008 >From ARRL Headquarters Newington CT August 26, 2008 To all radio amateurs SB SPCL ARL ARLX008 ARLX008 FCC Vanity Call Sign Fees to Increase September 25 On August 11, the Federal Communications Commission announced that the cost of an Amateur Radio vanity call sign will increase 60 cents, from $11.70 to $12.30. Now that notice of the increase has been published in the Federal Register, the increase will take effect in 30 days, September 25, 2008. The FCC is authorized by the Communications Act of 1934, As Amended, to collect vanity call sign fees to recover the costs associated with that program. The vanity call sign regulatory fee is payable not only when applying for a new vanity call sign, but also upon renewing a vanity call sign for a new 10 year term. The notice in the August 26, 2008 Federal Register, entitled "Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2008," includes regulatory fees expected to recover a total of $312,000,000 during FY2008, encompassing all the services the FCC regulates. More information is available at, http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2008/08/11/10257/?nc=1. NNNN /EX _________________________________________________________________ See what people are saying about Windows Live. Check out featured posts. http://www.windowslive.com/connect?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_connect2_082008 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080826/2d5b615e/attachment.htm From kb9wsl at hotmail.com Wed Aug 27 01:53:55 2008 From: kb9wsl at hotmail.com (Tom Murray) Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2008 01:53:55 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] ARRL ARES E-LETTER Message-ID: Windows Live? Windows Live servicesHome Calendar Contacts Family Safety Gallery Hotmail OneCare SkyDrive Spaces All services Other Live servicesLive Search Office Live Xbox Live MSN Account Feedback Help Central Search HomeHotmailSpacesOneCare MSN kb9wsl at hotmail....kb9wsl@hotmail.com Sign outView your account Link other accounts Personalize Inbox (1) Junk () Drafts () Sent () Deleted (4) 800safe-t () AMAZON () ARES E-LETTER () ARRL NEWS () CCARC () Class of 76 () Coax Conne... () COAX E-ZINE () COCORAHS () FEMA () hoosier sa... () HSA () INARES () IN-ARES () IRW () mark () Matt () Matt Info () NOD ANTI-V... () Party () PW (2) Radio World () radiorefer... () RandL () receipts () Save Mail () SEVERE WEA... () SKYWARN () SVR WX INFO () Taylor on ... () tech tips () Turkey Run... () Manage folders Today Mail Contacts Calendar New Reply Reply all Forward Delete Junk Not junk Report phishing scam Mark as unread Move toInboxJunkDraftsSentDeleted800safe-tAMAZONARES E-LE...ARRL NEWSCCARCClass of 76Coax Conn...COAX E-ZINECOCORAHSFEMAhoosier s...HSAINARESIN-ARESIRWmarkMattMatt InfoNOD ANTI-...PartyPWRadio Worldradiorefe...RandLreceiptsSave MailSEVERE WE...SKYWARNSVR WX INFOTaylor on...tech tipsTurkey Ru... Options ARES E-Letter for August 26, 2008? From: ARRL Web site (memberlist at www.arrl.org) Sent: Wed 8/27/08 1:24 AM To: kb9wsl at hotmail.com The ARES E-Letter August 26, 2008 ================= Rick Palm, K1CE, Editor , =================================== ARES reports, other related contributions, editorial questions or comments: ;; =================================== + The View from Flagler County As this is written (Tuesday morning, August 19), Tropical Storm Fay is starting its tour of the Florida peninsula, our ARES team is on alert, the SKYWARN net is active, and our operators are deployed to the county EOC. We had an emergency meeting last night of the Flagler Emergency Communications Association (FECA), which serves as the platform for ARES here. We are not expecting a major event, but the potential for tornado activity is concerning as we will be in the right upper quadrant of the storm if the projected track turns to reality. Our new Section Manager Paul Eakin, KJ4G, has been at the State EOC in Tallahassee since yesterday, releasing his sitreps to Northern Florida DECs. A special session of the Southern Florida ARES net convened on 3940 kHz Sunday night, and demonstrated statewide communication capability with fine inter-Sectional teamwork. Our Northern Florida ARES Net will start on 3950 kHz this morning at 0900 EDT, and Eakin will provide an update to check-ins. He will have additional announcements on the Florida Midday Net on 7242 kHz, and similarly on the Northern Florida Traffic Net on 3950 kHz tonight. Gateway stations will be manned to meet the needs of communications for local, city/county EM agencies should they lose communications with the State EOC. The well-known "Tracker System" developed during Hurricane Katrina has been revised and is now called the "Constellation System." It has been streamlined for efficiency: Requests for deployment of ARES operators will be made the same way, and the issuance of numbering will flow out from the EOC via the Northern Florida ARES staff to all hams who are deployed outside of their normal jurisdictions. Wednesday evening, August 20 -- I've just finished boarding up my house and now I'm sitting at the computer tapping out this update, monitoring the Northern Florida emergency net frequency 3950 kHz, and the local VHF ARES repeater. Outside, it's pelting rain, and my anemometer shows 16 mph wind speeds, which seems low given that the trees are rocking and rolling out there. As of now, the projection is for Tropical Storm Fay to gain strength over open water, turn back to the coast, and make landfall right here in Flagler county. (Thanks to all who have sent e-mails of concern). We're shacked up here in the house, but I've volunteered to go to the EOC, if necessary. Power is still up, but it's only a matter of time. Batteries and candles are on hand, the NOAA Weather Radio is on. Now Playing in Florida Theaters: "The Thing That Wouldn't Leave," Starring T.S. Fay. Friday morning, August 22 -- It's pouring outside, with whipping winds and debris in the yard and road. I filled sand bags last night at the locao depot, and will place them at the entrances to our home this morning. So far, we have been more fortunate than our neighbors to the south who are undergoing evacuations and water in their homes. Shelters throughout east-central Florida are open, and ARES is assisting with communications. The Crown District ARES around Jacksonville is looking for mutual aid, and SM Paul Eakin, KJ4G, is coordinating this effort. Currently, storm Fay is centered over Gainesville, but we are experiencing the rain bands and winds of the northeast quadrant. Like the Energizer Bunny, our SKYWARN/ARES Net is still running . . . and running. _____________________ In This Issue: + The View from Flagler County + September is National Preparedness Month + Minnesota County Fair Evacuated Thanks to ARES Spots + ARRL Represented at FEMA Region IV, Regional Emergency Communications Coordination Working Group Meetings + State of Connecticut Recognizes Operator + LETTERS: Care Needed When Speaking to Public + LETTERS: What is a Ham? + TIPS: PocketMod + Frequency Planning for ARES + ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration: Emergency Communications Level 1 + OEM Hosts Connecticut City Day Special Event Station + ARRL Simulated Emergency Test October 4-5 + K1CE For a Final ______________________ + September is National Preparedness Month Sign up your ARES group now for National Preparedness Month. Groups and individuals can register to become members by visiting , and clicking on the National Preparedness Month banner. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said that more than 1,200 national, regional, state and local businesses and organizations have pledged their support and joined the 2008 National Preparedness Month Coalition. Sponsored by the department's Ready Campaign, National Preparedness Month helps to raise awareness and promote action by Americans, businesses, and communities on emergency preparedness. The Ready Campaign and Citizen Corps are specifically encouraging individuals across the nation to take important preparedness steps. These steps include: getting an emergency supply kit, making a family emergency plan, being informed about the different emergencies that may affect them, as well as taking the necessary steps to get trained and become engaged in community preparedness and response efforts. Allen G. Pitts, W1AGP, ARRL Media and PR Manager stated: "Linking up with the Ready.gov people and participating in September's National Preparedness Month is an easy win. All you have to do is sign up. Most ARES groups are already engaged in activities that fit into their structure, so why not get credit for your actions? Of course if you do something more with this opportunity, so much the better. Go to , and click on the National Preparedness Month banner." + Minnesota County Fair Evacuated Thanks to ARES Spots On August 13, 3:30 PM, severe weather moved into southwest Minnesota from the north starting in Marshall. Coincidentally, the Murray County ARES team had a booth at the Murray County Fair with a mobile radio for 2 meter and HF exhibits. As the severe weather moved in, Dan Anderson, KD0ASX, District 5 EC, called a SKYWARN net on the Slayton repeater and served as net control. Five trained ARES members in the field reported in. As the storms moved south at a fast pace, the net was moved to the Worthington repeater, which is located on the Minnesota/Iowa border. This effected warnings for the operators in Iowa. The Murray County Sheriff and the County Fair board, along with 30 other people were at our booth at the fair listening to our SKYWARN observers. Based on their reports, the Sheriff evacuated the county fair. The Murray County Medical Center in Slayton was also listening to the reports, and prepared the hospital and its patients accordingly. (Three trained hospital staff are Amateur Radio operators). During a rough day with two tornado warnings, the ARES/SKYWARN team was able to provide fast weather reports to the region and warned many people. Murray County EC Kevin Haney, KC0YKX, thanked his operators, including Dan Anderson, KD0ASX, Arl Weinrebe, KD0BJW, Desirae Weinrebe, KD0DWB, Rick Hansen, KD0BJY, and the Murray County ARES team. -- Kevin Haney, KC0YKX, NREMT-B, Murray County, Minnesota EC , + ARRL Represented at FEMA Region IV, Regional Emergency Communications Coordination Working Group Meetings The ARRL Southeastern Division leadership represented ARRL and Amateur Radio in the FEMA Region IV, Regional Emergency Communications Coordination (RECC) Working Group meetings near Atlanta, Georgia. Georgia Section Manager, Susan Swiderski, AF4FO, OOC Michael Swiderski, K4HBI, and Southeastern Division Director Greg Sarratt, W4OZK, were in attendance at the all-important July 30 communications meetings. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, FEMA's Region IV territory includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Region IV is FEMA's largest geographic region, with the most common challenges being tornados, hurricanes and other storms that can cause flooding and flash-flooding. SM Swiderski gave a talk on MARS; OOC Swiderski discussed SHARES; and Sarratt talked about ARRL, ARES, Amateur Radio and the value of these assets to FEMA. Sarratt said, "We are proud to be a part of FEMA's RECC. This will help to enhance FEMA and ARRL's working partnership. It is very beneficial to meet many of the communications leadership of FEMA and other agencies in the Region. These meetings fostered coordination and learning about each other, which are critical elements before the next disaster strikes. I was also very happy to meet several Amateur Radio operators attending the meeting in their professional capacities. -- Greg Sarratt, W4OZK, Director, ARRL Southeastern Division + State of Connecticut Recognizes Operator Derby, Connecticut, June 28 -- The Connecticut State General Assembly recognized Kevin W. Cellini, N1KGM, with an Official Citation for leadership and commitment to Emergency Management communications. During her visit to the Derby Office of Emergency Management-sponsored 2008 Field Day site, State Representative Linda M. Gentile and Derby Emergency Management Director Vincent Vizzo presented the citation. Cellini is the Chief Communications Officer for both the Region 1 Connecticut Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS) and the Derby Office of Emergency Management. He is the Trustee for the CT Region 1 OEM Amateur Radio station KC1EOC. Cellini is the founder and manager of the Connecticut Regional Test Center, located in Trumbull. Since its inception in 1992, he has overseen the licensing of more than 2500 Amateur Radio operators. He is a founding member of the Greater Bridgeport ARC. Cellini is an owner of the 441.700 MHz repeater system, a key link in the State of Connecticut Emergency Amateur Radio Communications Network. He is the Secretary of the Emergency Disaster Planning Committee and a member of the Grant Writing Board for the State of Connecticut ESF-11 Committee. He has received numerous FEMA ISC Certifications, as well as being an American Red Cross Disaster Response Team member. Cellini is also certified in the Management and Planning module of the National Center for Biomedical Research and Training Academy of Counter-Terrorism Computer Aided Management of Emergency Operations (CAMEO) software suite, which utilizes the latest computer techniques to model disaster site management. He was a participant in the 2008 Hurricane Disaster Council held at Savin Rock Conference Center, West Haven. At the request of the Director of the Region 1 DEMHS EOC, Cellini and other key GBARC members organized and delivered an Amateur Radio Technician course, which successfully licensed nine Police, Fire, Animal Control, State Animal Response Team (SART), and Citizens Emergency Response Team (CERT) First Responders. + LETTERS: Care Needed When Speaking to Public While it doesn't seem to be a problem in true ARES situations, too many times in training exercises or public displays of Amateur Radio, the "spokesman" quoted in the media reports apparently has a death wish for ham radio. As a member of the national ARRL PR Committee, I see far too many reports of people saying that ham radio is "dying out," is a "graying" hobby, we are "losing licensees," etc. The facts simply do not bear this out. Amateur Radio is as vibrant and living as the ham who is doing the talking. As a community, we are adding more licenses each year than are not being renewed, and this during the absolute bottom of the sunspot cycle. Jeff Reinhart, AA6JR, coined the phrase, "Every ham is a PIO," since every ham MAY be approached during an exercise. It is vital that everyone understand the licensing situation and be aware of what they say can and will be used in the paper or on TV. The League's PR Committee is very aware of the situation and works hard to stay on top of the situations as they pop up, but if everyone would just use the knowledge that we are still growing and learning and serving, this misinformation would dwindle or stop. I commend the ARES people who have, so far, kept this from being a topic of discussion. It is unfortunate that others have such a negative view of our wonderful hobby/service. Any hobby is like a garden: You must tend it to keep the weeds away and let it grow. We are the stewards of Amateur Radio and must look out of the seed bed. -- Jim McDonald, KB9LEI, ARRL PR Committee, Muncie, Indiana Public Information Officer. When All Else Fails...Amateur Radio. Please visit: + LETTERS: What is a Ham? I saw an interesting poster at the recent Duke City Hamfest. It was an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper on which was printed the following: "Echolink is a nail in the coffin of amateur radio!" Juxtapose that with Bob Bruninga's fascinating article in the September, 2008 QST, entitled Maximizing the Mobile Motorist Mission. As he talks about all the things we can do with an APRS enabled radio (Yup, I sold most of my VHF gear and will be buying a Kenwood 710 this week), the aggregation of wired and wireless communications to facilitate amateur communications is breathtaking. These two divergent opinions exemplify the debate about what our hobby is and should be. There are self-described purists who still believe that we should withhold operating privileges from those who can't demonstrate Morse proficiency. They share our precious bandwidth with people who can communicate internationally on a hand held via IRLP. With Fay bearing down on my kids in Florida, I'm listening to the hurricane net on 14.325 (nothing heard), watching the Ham generated spotting information pop up in real time on my WXSpots application and listening to Amateur manned EOCs talk to the NHC on the WX_TALK conference room on Echolink. Licensed Amateurs are donating their time, talent and treasure via all of these applications. And as the technological arts continue to evolve, Hams will likely be at the forefront, even as the radio-only crowd contends that anything that doesn't involve an RF carrier isn't Amateur Radio. So here's my definition of a Ham: We are Communications Solutions Specialists who serve the public good by deploying robust, survivable telecommunications systems in time of need. What does this mean? It means that when disaster strikes, Amateurs are among the first on the scene to set up emergency FM repeaters, long range low band (and satellite) communications systems and wireless broadband networks to seamlessly interconnect emergency services personnel and impacted citizens with the critical resources they need to ensure health and welfare. We are the common communication mechanism that can interconnect diverse emergency services organizations. We can provide expertise on everything from prorogation to CAT-5 and we have a McGyver can-do spirit that keeps the information flow going, no matter what. In almost all disaster situations, the traditional communications and utility infrastructure is compromised. Hams have the technology and the expertise to quickly deploy applications that can re-connect effected areas with the telecom grid. It may start with FM and HF, but our HSMM laptops can relay email, pictures, video, data and voice communications even more effectively, using interfaces that are familiar and easy to operate. As WB4APR reminds us, we have our own unique text messaging infrastructure that can mirror the button punching we do on our cell phones. With an IGate, those messages seamlessly move from our spectrum to the light speed fiber optic networks that are the backbone of the Internet. When Dennis Dura, K2DCD spoke to our hamfest banquet, The ARRL's Emergency Preparedness and Response Manager cautioned us that the frequencies we use are worth billions to a government who likes to sell our resources to the highest bidder. The foundation of our small foothold in this space, he said, is Amateur Radio's unparalleled record of community service. This is the story we need to keep telling over and over. Just as spark evolved to modulated carrier, Amateur Communications in the 21st century must inevitably become an ever expanding suite of wired and wireless applications, aggregated to best serve the public interest, convenience and necessity. Our hobby has room for everyone and this definition should not stop you from banging the Vibroplex, if that's your passion. But we should change our mindset of who we are, from Amateur Radio to Amateur Telecom. Hams have been connected with every technological innovation from CW to the Internet. We will invariably be at the forefront as the paradigms of amateur telecommunications continue to shift. This is the magic that attracts new blood to the hobby. And it can be the secret sauce preserves and expands the five pillars that are the foundation of the American Radio Relay League: Public service, advocacy, education, fellowship (membership) and technology. Just as our neighbors call us first for advice on how to set up the security on their Internet routers, they can also depend on us to be there with radios, routers, antennae, solar panels, batteries and brainpower, "when all else fails". Scott Westerman, W9WSW + TIPS: PocketMod Absolutely brilliant tool! Pocketmod takes up to 8 full size pages, turns them into a single sheet of paper, which folds into a pocket sized booklet. -- Jerry Reimer, KK5CA + Frequency Planning for ARES With your ARES/RACES members having their radios programmed alike, you can count on everyone--even newcomers--to be able to get on a particular repeater or simplex frequency in a hurry. Net control can then direct operators to tune to a particular channel number or name, just like the public safety agencies do, rather than announcing a frequency, perhaps repeated two or three times, along with an offset and a PL tone. As a net control, I find names much easier to remember than frequency pairs. We have a large number of inexperienced hams. In order to standardize their radios and make operation easier for everyone, I developed a frequency plan for my county's ARES group. The document, titled "The San Joaquin County ARES VHF Frequency Plan," includes 58 channels of which 15 channels are mission critical. The other channels include 18 regional frequencies and all two-meter simplex frequencies. Channels 21-35 include three wide-coverage repeaters, designated ARES 1, 2, and 3. These are followed by 146.520 MHz, designated "CALL." There are five simplex channels, SJS1-5, the initials standing for San Joaquin Simplex. REDX is the designation for 147.420 MHz, the informal Red Cross simplex frequency. Local club repeaters round out the group. These 15 channels cover all the frequencies we are likely to use during a local emergency. I selected them after asking the clubs, talking to served agencies, and finding quiet simplex channels through computerized monitoring. Each frequency is assigned a channel number and name, never more than five characters in length, a limitation necessary for alphanumeric displays. ARES1, for example, is the primary ARES repeater for my county. LODI1 is the repeater used by the Lodi Amateur Radio Club. Their simplex channel is designated SJS3. The Manteca Amateur Radio Club's repeater is designated MAN1. The next group, the regional frequencies, uses channels 41-58. This group was based on a list provided by California State OES that includes the frequencies used in surrounding counties. These were added so that we are ready to offer mutual aid, but also because they provide a link to both San Francisco and the State EOC in Sacramento. The last group, channels 71-95, includes all the 2-meter simplex channels and was added mostly for convenience during training exercises. If people are using the channel plan, it's easy to get newcomers onto the right frequency simply by dialing up the right memory channel. All simplex frequencies in the plan encode a 100 Hz PL tone. I am not decoding it, but could do so if needed. It also helps identify radios programmed with our plan. I use tone encode/decode on repeaters, when possible, to reduce interference. Some ask why there are no UHF frequencies in the plan: Mostly because of PAVE PAWS, the government RADAR system that has forced big changes in our area's UHF repeater line-up. But also because, and this may be sufficient reason by itself, new hams could purchase an inexpensive one-band radio. Lessons Learned Before: 1. Does a plan already exist? If so, try to make the current plan work or at least use it as a starting point for a new plan. 2. Are you the right person to create a new plan? You need at least a constituency and, ideally, an official position (or several) to begin this process. If not, you're likely to end up with a great plan that nobody uses. 3. Do your research. Absent an existing plan, what frequencies are being used already? Get lists from clubs and served agencies. 4. Don't expect your plan to take a short time to complete. And once it is completed, let it age a little, then go back and make changes before releasing it. Provide for peer review. During: 1. Everything that anyone already uses needs to be included in the plan. Make a list of these frequencies and who uses them. Invite everyone to take part in creating the plan. You need as many endorsers (and eventual users) as possible. 2. Make sure you have extra simplex channels designated in your plan. Pick a PL and encode it on all your simplex channels. 3. Don't make mistakes. At least, don't make big ones, like the PL tones of your local repeaters or (as I did) including 146.580 MHz as a simplex voice channel when the band plan places digital users there. 4. Check coverage to see what can be hit from where. Document this in the plan notes. 5. Ask for permission. Local repeater owners are key supporters. Establish Memorandums of Understanding with them, if appropriate. 6. Include version notes, known issues, planned changes, etc., in the "paper" versions of your plan. 7. Build a plan with the expectation it will last for many years. After: 1. Expect to spend forever promoting your plan. Get official endorsement wherever and whenever possible. 2. Don't make changes if you can help it. I'd rather add a channel than change or remove an existing channel. 3. Make the available programming files for popular radios. I am starting to do this for a variety of mobile and portable radios. I also keep programming software for popular radios on my laptop and carry cables with me, so I can program radios for people whenever I'm asked to do so. I think it's useful for ARES/RACES groups to promote a frequency plan such as this. I hope the concepts presented will work for your group and look forward to your comments and questions so I can make my own plan better. -- David Coursey, N5FDL, Emergency Coordinator for San Joaquin County, California ARES and ACS/RACES Radio Officer for the City of Tracy, California; EMT; Mentor/Instructor, ARRL Emergency Communications Courses + ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration: Emergency Communications Level 1 Registration remains open through Sunday, August 24, 2008 for the course Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level 1 (EC-001) session beginning on Friday, September 5, 2008. The on-line course has been developed in segments -- learning units with objectives, informative text, student activities and quizzes. Courses are interactive, and some include direct communications with a Mentor/Instructor. Students register for a particular session that may be 8, 12 or 16 weeks (depending on the course) and they may access the course at any time of day during the course period, completing lessons and activities at times convenient for their personal schedule. Mentors assist students by answering questions, reviewing assignments and activities, as well as providing helpful feedback. Interaction with mentors is conducted through e-mail; there is no appointed time the student must be present allowing complete flexibility for the student to work when and where it is convenient. To learn more, visit the CCE Course Listing page or contact the Continuing Education Program Coordinator . [Also recommended are FEMA courses IS-100, 200, 700 and 800, as described in the last issue . It is essential that members be familiar with the ICS and NIMS environments. - ed.] + OEM Hosts Connecticut City Day Special Event Station The Derby, Connecticut Office of Emergency Management (OEM), under the direction of Vincent Vizzo, hosted the Greater Bridgeport Amateur Radio Club (GBARC) Special Event Station at Derby Day in southwest Connecticut. During the event, Vizzo displayed two of his mobile emergency response communications vehicles. These vehicles provide police, fire, remote television, emergency management command and HF/UHF/VHF/Packet Amateur Radio communications capabilities. Members of GBARC have been deputized as officials of the OEM's Special Communications Unit. Together they form a partnership, which provides seamless emergency communications throughout all of the first responder and Amateur Radio frequencies. During the Derby Day event, GBARC operated a special event station using their club call WA1RJI, and contacted 47 stations in 14 States. During the event, Connecticut 3rd District U.S. Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro visited the station and GBARC Public Information Officer John G. Russo, KA1JXW, and WA1RJI Station Trustee, acted as control operator and provided the congresswoman with a QSO to the state of Georgia. The Congresswoman highlighted the importance of Amateur Radio's critical public service role during natural and man made disasters. She encouraged GBARC to continue to grow its partnership with the Derby Office of Emergency Management, working to keep the lines of communications open when they are most needed. -- John G. Russo, KA1JXW, Greater Bridgeport ARC PIO + Simulated Emergency Test October 4-5 The venerable ARRL Simulated Emergency Test (SET) is slated for October 4-5 this year, although ARES groups are free to conduct their exercises anytime between September and December for convenience. All can participate. The exercise is not limited to ARES, but also RACES, NTS, SKYWARN, SATERN, and other groups. Testing your plans and capabilities is mission critical, and the annual SET is designed specifically for this purpose. Make sure to participate. Individual operators should contact their ECs for schedules and plans. See September 2008 QST, p. 82 for more information. [See the September issue also for its theme of Emergency Communications! The staff did an excellent job on this one - do not miss it. - K1CE] + K1CE For a Final My First 911 Call Ever -- As I was driving down a lonely county road to last night's ARES meeting, I saw a billow of smoke in the woods where a car had a second before crashed and ended up on its side after sheering off a large pine tree. Two male passersby ran to the car while I called 911: the dispatcher wanted to know if there were injuries and should they send med-evac and fire assets? I glanced again at the smoldering scene and told her to send everything they had. The two men were panicky, trying to get the door open, while I looked inside at the elderly couple jammed into the compacted passenger compartment (with windshield smashed, airbags deployed). The woman was moaning, and the man was bleeding at the forehead, but both were awake and alert. The door was opened, we offered assurance to the couple, and I gave my sweatshirt to the man with the instruction to apply pressure with it to the bleeding site. I was ready to assess the couple for the ABC's of CPR when EVAC and fire units rolled up and took over. A horrific scene, but I was pleased that I was able to keep calm, and think clearly about what needed to be assessed and done: Was the vehicle stable? Was there bleeding to be stopped? Were the victims' airway, breathing and circulation intact? I think the couple probably survived. Lesson Learned: ARES Operators (and everybody, for that matter) should be certified in CPR, and practice/train/practice and practice some more so that skills can be effected with a cool head during the real thing. ______ A few readers expressed concerns over the announcement in the last issue that the ARES E-Letter would be published in an HTML format. Harold Kramer, WJ1B, the ARRL's Chief Operating Officer answered with the following: "A plain text version of the newsletter will still be available. The ability to run pictures, diagrams and graphics greatly increase the amount of information that we can convey to the readers. We do not embed the images in the newsletter. They are downloaded separately. This is done to improve mailing and download time. Must browsers render our HTML very consistently. If someone is running a very old OS and browser, there might be a problem." Hope this allays some of the concerns! See you next month! 73, Rick K1CE ====================================================================== The ARES E-Letter is published on the third Wednesday of each month by the American Radio Relay League--The National Association For Amateur Radio--225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax 860-594-0259; . Joel Harrison, W5ZN, President. The ARES E-Letter is an e-mail digest of news and information of interest to active members of the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES). Material from The ARES E-Letter may be republished or reproduced in whole or in part in any form without additional permission. Credit must be given to The ARES E-Letter and The American Radio Relay League. Editorial questions or comments: Rick Palm, K1CE, k1ce at arrl.net Delivery problems (ARRL direct delivery only!): ares-el-dlvy at arrl.org To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your address for e-mail delivery: ARRL members first must register on the Members Only Web Site, http://www.arrl.org/members/. You'll have an opportunity during registration to sign up for e-mail delivery of the The ARES E-Letter, W1AW bulletins, and other material. ARRL members may subscribe to The ARES E-Letter by going to the Member Data Page at: http://www.arrl.org/members-only/memdata.html?modify=1 Note that you must be logged in to the site to access this page. Scroll down to the section "Which of the following would you like to receive automatically via email from ARRL?" Check the box for "ARES E-Letter (monthly public service and emergency communications news)" and you're all set. Past issues of The ARES E-Letter are available at http://www.arrl.org/ares-el/. Issues are posted to this page after publication. ====================================================================== Have a fast connection and want more features? Try the full version to see message previews in your inbox. (It's free, too.) ? 2008 MicrosoftPrivacyLegal Help CentralAccountFeedback {0} _________________________________________________________________ Talk to your Yahoo! Friends via Windows Live Messenger. Find out how. http://www.windowslive.com/explore/messenger?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_messenger_yahoo_082008 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080827/7e0359a4/attachment-0001.htm From kb9wsl at hotmail.com Wed Aug 27 20:17:53 2008 From: kb9wsl at hotmail.com (Tom Murray) Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:17:53 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] FW: [InHam] [Fwd: [SMC] 144.240 and 144.250 SSB nets ON tonight] In-Reply-To: <48B5D265.2040401@insightbb.com> References: <48B5D265.2040401@insightbb.com> Message-ID: > Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:17:09 -0400 > From: dan.evans at insightbb.com > To: inham at mailman.qth.net > Subject: [InHam] [Fwd: [SMC] 144.240 and 144.250 SSB nets ON tonight] > > > > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: [SMC] 144.240 and 144.250 SSB nets ON tonight > Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:55:39 -0500 > From: Todd Sprinkmann > To: badgercontesters at mailman.qth.net, CVVHF , > nlrs at mailman.qth.net, smc at w9smc.com > > > > Hello, > > Good weather in east-central WI (actually, we could > use some rain) means the nets are ON tonight. > > 144.240 is from 8-8:30pm, looking only west thru north > from EN63ao, or 40 miles north of Milwaukee. Purpose is > to stir up activity in W and N WI, adjacent portions of IA, MN, > and the UP of MI. I hope that activity continues in those > regions after I have to QSY -- anyone can create activity. > > 144.250 is the regular Badger Contesters net at 8:30pm. > I start by looking south, then swinging beams a full 360, going > SW, W, NW, etc. Usually get back to south about 8:45-50pm > and then we start the net. > > Also, I know that SSB is the rule in these clubs, but I did > have a very successful response to a new FM simplex net > on 146.49 last Thursday, at 8:30pm. I'll be running that > every week, weather permitting. > > Had 17 check-ins, all within a 50-mile range. My 146 FM > antenna is a dual-band Diamond vertical, up about 60'. > > The response has been very good to the SSB nets, so I > figured I'd start learning more about the FM side, and host a > net there as well. Meet some new voices, as it were. > > I am also hoping that as time goes by, some of these FM'ers > will try some contesting. If FM stations ever realized the concept > of "strength in numbers", those in metro areas could really make > a splash in the contests. They wouldn't have to work out 100-150 > miles like the SSB'ers, simply because they'd have dozens and > dozens of local and semi-local stations to contest with. > > And yes, I'd sure as heck welcome another 25, 50, 100 Q's > in any contest. If several rovers went to the Milwaukee grid > square intersection of EN62/52/63/53 and just drove around > for a few hours, they'd get a real taste of contesting, without > the hassle of long-haul driving or an all weekend commitment. > > Has anyone else ever tried to recruit or encourage the FM > stations? Feedback would be appreciated. > > 73, > Todd KC9BQA EN63ao 40 N of Milwaukee > 50 thru 2304 > +-----------------------------------------------------------------+ > SMC Web Site: http://www.w9smc.com > List Help: http://mail.w9smc.com/mailman/listinfo/smc_w9smc.com > Submissions: smc at w9smc.com Problems?Contact: smc-owner at w9smc.com > > > > 73 > Dan > -- > K9ZF /R no budget Rover ***QRP-l #1269 > Check out the Rover Resource Page at: > List Administrator for: InHam+grid-loc+ham-books > Ask me how to join the Indiana Ham Mailing list! > > _______________________________________________ > InHam mailing list > InHam at mailman.qth.net > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/inham _________________________________________________________________ Get ideas on sharing photos from people like you. Find new ways to share. http://www.windowslive.com/explore/photogallery/posts?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Photo_Gallery_082008 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080827/dcbd0819/attachment.htm From kb9wsl at hotmail.com Thu Aug 28 11:54:31 2008 From: kb9wsl at hotmail.com (Tom Murray) Date: Thu, 28 Aug 2008 11:54:31 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] FW: [InHam] [Fwd: [SMC] 144.240 and 144.250 net reports] In-Reply-To: <48B67745.6070009@insightbb.com> References: <48B67745.6070009@insightbb.com> Message-ID: > Date: Thu, 28 Aug 2008 06:00:37 -0400 > From: dan.evans at insightbb.com > To: inham at mailman.qth.net > Subject: [InHam] [Fwd: [SMC] 144.240 and 144.250 net reports] > > > > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: [SMC] 144.240 and 144.250 net reports > Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:46:48 -0500 > From: Todd Sprinkmann > To: nlrs at mailman.qth.net, badgercontesters at mailman.qth.net, CVVHF > , smc at w9smc.com > > > > Good nets tonight -- Prop was especially good to the > south and southeast, so the 144.250 net prospered. > > 144.240 net check-ins were: > KC9IGB -- Butch EN54 Chilton, WI 5x9 > *Butch just got on 2m SSB and was happy > to hear his M2 omni-loop was getting out* > K9BZ -- Brad EN45 near Rice Lake, WI 5x9 > KC9FQD -- Dave EN54 Stevens Point, WI 5x9 > N0PB -- Phil EM39 Holliday, MO 5x7 > > We did look hard at the EN37 area; even had time to > have KC9FQD look that way at 8:20-25, but we couldn't > raise anyone. Next time... > > > 144.250 net check-ins were: > AK9F -- Howard EN61 Kankakee, IL 5x5 > N9WU -- Rick EN53 Germantown, WI 5x5 > NT9E -- Dave EN52 McHenry, IL 10 over S9 > W9RN -- Noll EN52 Franklin, WI 20 over > WB9MXX -- Nick EN62 Pleasant Prairie, WI 20 over > N9NDP -- Harvey EN62 Kenosha 40 over > *Nick and Harvey were as loud as I've ever heard them* > W9THB -- Tom EN61 Crown Point, IN 5x9 > *Tom was a new check-in on a vertical @ 20'. He could > hear most every check-in, that's how good prop was* > N0PB -- Phil EM39 Holliday, MO 5x9 > *Net fans be aware of Phil's net every Monday night on > 144.250. He looks east about 8:30-45, and he has a > great station, and a very popular net* > KC9IGB -- Butch EN54 Chilton, WI 5x7 > WB9LYH -- Mark EN54 Rudolph, WI 5x9 > WA9FWT -- Phil EN63 Sheboygan, WI 30 over > KC8ZJL -- Dennis EN71 NW Ohio 5x9 > *Dennis is using a 5 el quad and gets out great* > W9SUS -- Leroy EN61 Chicago - big signal 40 over > K9IJ -- John EN52 Lake Zurich, IL 5x7 > W9GA -- Ken EN53 Colgate, WI 40 over > > Most check-ins remarked that they could hear most > of the other stations. Made for a very pleasant net and > great participation. If we could have an evening like > this for a contest, it would be a blast. > > See you next Wednesday -- it will be time to discuss > contest plans for Sept. 13th-14th. Here's the link to the > rules for the ARRL Sept. VHF Sweepstakes: > http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2008/sepvhf.html > > 73, > Todd KC9BQA EN63ao 40 N of Milwaukee > 50 thru 2304 > +-----------------------------------------------------------------+ > SMC Web Site: http://www.w9smc.com > List Help: http://mail.w9smc.com/mailman/listinfo/smc_w9smc.com > Submissions: smc at w9smc.com Problems?Contact: smc-owner at w9smc.com > > > > 73 > Dan > -- > K9ZF /R no budget Rover ***QRP-l #1269 > Check out the Rover Resource Page at: > List Administrator for: InHam+grid-loc+ham-books > Ask me how to join the Indiana Ham Mailing list! > > _______________________________________________ > InHam mailing list > InHam at mailman.qth.net > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/inham _________________________________________________________________ Talk to your Yahoo! Friends via Windows Live Messenger. Find out how. http://www.windowslive.com/explore/messenger?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_messenger_yahoo_082008 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080828/548bcaf6/attachment.htm From kb9wsl at hotmail.com Thu Aug 28 11:58:19 2008 From: kb9wsl at hotmail.com (Tom Murray) Date: Thu, 28 Aug 2008 11:58:19 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] FW: ARRL Club News for August 2008 In-Reply-To: <20080828064446.075AA306C8@www.arrl.org> References: <20080828064446.075AA306C8@www.arrl.org> Message-ID: > Subject: ARRL Club News for August 2008 > To: kb9wsl at hotmail.com > From: memberlist at www.arrl.org > Date: Thu, 28 Aug 2008 02:44:45 -0400 > > ARRL Club Newsletter > August 28, 2008 > > > Norm Fusaro, W3IZ, Editor > > IN THIS ISSUE: > + Amateur Radio And The Internet > > > > Amateur Radio And The Internet > > Today the World Wide Web offers extended range for much of the > population but before the internet radio amateurs ventured beyond the > local neighborhood through the magic of radio. For decades, long > before the internet, hams would sue radio as a means to maintain > friendships, stay in touch with loved ones and help others contact > family in remote places of the globe. > > Long distance chess was once a popular on air activity. Amateur Radio > operators would set up chess boards and moves were exchanged over the > air. Each radio operator maintained their chess board according to > the moves transmitted by each other. Often these games would be > played out over the course of days or weeks during scheduled > contacts. The activity was not about finishing the game quickly as > it was it was about meeting on the air often. > > A lot of naysayers have claimed the internet to be the death of > Amateur Radio. In fact some non-radio people when asked about ham > radio will respond with "hasn't the internet made that obsolete?" On > the contrary, if anything the internet has enhanced Amateur Radio. > Think about the many ways hams use the internet. > > Radio Clubs > Club members can stay informed all the time through the use of e-mail > reflectors. Various users groups allow people to exchange ideas and > information about their favorite piece of equipment or operating > mode. If you think about it these user's groups are like virtual > specialty clubs for people with a shared interest. > Many clubs use the internet to distribute electronic newsletters and > maintain websites to keep members informed and attract new members. > > The DX Game > Some of you may remember two ringers, when your buddy would call your > house and let the phone ring two times then hang up. This code was > to let you know about some hot DX that was on the air. Of course you > would not dare answer the telephone before the second ring for fear > of someone incurring a long distance charge. Today, through the use > of the internet we can utilize real-time DX spotting networks to find > out which stations are on the air. If you have your rig interfaced > with your PC using the appropriate software the network will > automatically switch your transceiver to the DX's operating > frequency. > > The internet has enhanced the DX game in other ways by providing > Dxpedition log information on line while the Dxpedition is still in > operation. This helps eliminate the "insurance" QSOs and allows the > Dxpedition work as many stations as possible while limiting the > number of duplicate contacts. > > There are software programs available that monitor the DX cluster and > if a needed DX station is spotted you will receive an e-mail alert on > your Blackberry or other personal e-mail device. How cool is that? > Just look at it as the digital version of the two ringer DX alert. > > Contesting and Awards > > ARRL's Logbook of The World would not be possible without internet > technology. LoTW's use of public and private keys lets users all > over the world to upload electronically signed logs and when QSOs are > matched the users receive credit for their contacts to be used toward > awards. More information about Logbook of the world can be found on > the ARRL website. < http://www.arrl.org/lotw/ > > > Contest scores are now published on the internet allowing > participants to quickly sort and analyze the data. > > Public Service > > A variety of public service groups such as ARES use the internet to > call up volunteers, maintain databases of people and equipment > available for disasters and to inform the public of their services. > > Being able to transmit digital information via radio and then inject > it into the internet electronic mail system has allowed radio > amateurs to move messages much faster than was possible using the > antiquated relay system. > > Licensing and Education > > Today many people will prepare for their Amateur Radio license exam > by using one of the many practice exam websites. These sites will > randomly quiz the user from the VEC question pools and score the > results. This undoubtedly eases some of the test jitters and exposes > areas of strength and weakness. > > ARRL offers an on-line license class for those applicants who may > have scheduling conflicts with traditional classes or just enjoy > doing things at their own pace. < http://www.arrl.org/cce/Tech.html > > > In addition to licensing courses ARRL offers a series of Emergency > Communications courses (EmComm Level I, II, III) and other subjects > such as Antenna Modeling, Radio Frequency Interference and HF Digital > Communications. < http://www.arrl.org/cep/ > > > On The Air > > The Internet Repeater Linking Project (IRLP), Echolink and remote > base stations could not exist without the internet. These > technologies have opened the world of Amateur radio to a whole new > group of users as well as offered areas of experimentation to > seasoned radio amateurs. > > Adaptability > > Traditionally the Amateur Radio service has always made use of > whatever was available. Whether salvaging parts from discarded > television sets in the 1950s, repurposing surplus military equipment > in the 1960s or integrating electronic hardware today, hams have > always utilized technology in creative ways to suit their needs. An > internet connection in the ham shack is as common as the J-38 > straight key once was. The fact that you are reading this e-letter > demonstrates the positive influence the internet and computers have > had on Amateur Radio. > > > > > ARRL Affiliation Milestones for August 2008 > > > 10 Years August > > *W3 > EPA Southern PA Communications Group K3AE > > *W9 > IN Amateur Radio Club of Notre Dame ND1U > > *W7 > MT Bitterroot Amateur Radio Club W7FTX > OR Ham Operators Group K7HOG > > 50 Years August > > *W7 > ORG Barstow Amateur Radio Club WA6TST > > ====================================================================== > The ARRL CLUB NEWS is published on the first Wednesday of each month by > the American Radio Relay League--The National Association For Amateur > Radio--225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax > 860-594-0259; www.arrl.org. Joel Harrison, W5ZN, President. > > The ARRL CLUB NEWS is an e-mail digest of news and information of > interest to active members of ARRL Affiliated Clubs. > > Material from The ARRL CLUB NEWS may be republished or reproduced in > whole or in part in any form without additional permission. Credit must > be given to The ARRL CLUB NEWS and The American Radio Relay League. > > Editorial questions or comments: Norm Fusaro, W3IZ, clubs at arrl.org > Delivery problems (ARRL direct delivery only!): club-el-dlvy at arrl.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your address for e-mail delivery: > > ARRL members first must register on the Members Only Web Site, > http://www.arrl.org/members/. You'll have an opportunity during > registration to sign up for e-mail delivery of the The ARRL CLUB NEWS, > W1AW bulletins, and other material. ARRL members may subscribe to The > ARRL CLUB NEWS by going to the Member Data Page at: > http://www.arrl.org/members-only/memdata.html?modify=1 > > Note that you must be logged in to the site to access this page. Scroll > down to the section "Which of the following would you like to receive > automatically via email from ARRL?" Check the box for "ARRL Club News > (monthly news of interest to Amateur Radio clubs)" and you're > all set. > > Past issues of The ARRL CLUB NEWS are available at > http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/club/clubnews/. Issues are posted to > this page after publication. > ====================================================================== _________________________________________________________________ Talk to your Yahoo! Friends via Windows Live Messenger. Find out how. http://www.windowslive.com/explore/messenger?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_messenger_yahoo_082008 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080828/64855317/attachment-0001.htm From kb9wsl at hotmail.com Thu Aug 28 16:22:25 2008 From: kb9wsl at hotmail.com (Tom Murray) Date: Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:22:25 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] Report on TV digital transition Message-ID: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: August 27, 2008 Edie Herman at (202) 418-2035 ENTERING THE HOME STRETCH: MEDIA BUREAU RELEASES REPORT ON THE STATUS OF TV BROADCASTERS AT THE FINAL SIX MONTHS OF THE DIGITAL TELEVISION TRANSITION A report on the status of the digital build out by full power television broadcasters by the FCC?s Media Bureau shows that over 96 percent of active full power television stations are either fully operational with digital service or are on track to have their full digital service operational by February 17, 2009. In summary stations have reported the following: 1,002 stations (56 percent of a current total of 1,798 active television stations) reported in their Form 387s that they have fully constructed their post-transition DTV facilities and are ready for the DTV transition. The only step remaining for these stations is to terminate analog operations before February 18, 2009. 41 percent of stations (736) have not completed construction yet but report making appropriate progress and expect to be operating their full digital service before February 18. Approximately three percent (56 stations) will take advantage of the flexibility offered by the Commission in the Third DTV Periodic Review Report and Order and will be serving at least 85 percent of their service population on February 17, 2009, with final digital operations beginning sometime thereafter. The flexibility is available for stations needing additional time due to ?unique technical challenges,? such as top mount/side mount, weather-related issues, or coordination with other stations. One station forecasts that it will not be able to complete construction of its full digital facility until a few days after February 17, 2009 and will be dark for this brief time. Three stations have not submitted their Form 387s but have unofficially reported that they intend to be ready for the DTV transition. The numbers presented in the Report were derived from the information provided by stations in their FCC Form 387 DTV Transition Status Report and other filings. Stations are required to update their filings as they progress towards completion of the transition. The Media Bureau?s report provides a snapshot of broadcasters? overall readiness six months before the transition deadline, which is February 17, 2009. Full power stations must terminate analog broadcasting no later than 11:59:59 pm on February 17, 2009, and broadcast only digital signals as of February 18, 2009. # # # _________________________________________________________________ Talk to your Yahoo! Friends via Windows Live Messenger. Find out how. http://www.windowslive.com/explore/messenger?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_messenger_yahoo_082008 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080828/f571d5c9/attachment.htm From kb9wsl at hotmail.com Thu Aug 28 18:48:38 2008 From: kb9wsl at hotmail.com (Tom Murray) Date: Thu, 28 Aug 2008 18:48:38 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] FW: [InHam] [Fwd: [SMC] 146.49 FM simplex net is a GO tonight, @8:30pm] In-Reply-To: <48B72ADB.7080308@insightbb.com> References: <48B72ADB.7080308@insightbb.com> Message-ID: > Date: Thu, 28 Aug 2008 18:46:51 -0400 > From: dan.evans at insightbb.com > To: inham at mailman.qth.net > Subject: [InHam] [Fwd: [SMC] 146.49 FM simplex net is a GO tonight, @8:30pm] > > > > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: [SMC] 146.49 FM simplex net is a GO tonight, @8:30pm > Date: Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:40:17 -0500 > From: Todd Sprinkmann > To: badgercontesters at mailman.qth.net, smc at w9smc.com > > > > Hello, > > With a clear weather radar, the 2nd week of the 146.49 FM > simplex > net will start at 8:30pm tonight, Thursday, Aug. 28th. > > If there is lightning within 30 miles of southern Sheboygan > county > at 8:30pm, then the net is postponed until next Thursday. > > Had a big rush of check-ins at the start last week, which > was > fun! However, I'm going to be more organized this week and > take > check-ins by county. The order I'll use is: > 1) Sheboygan county > 2) Ozaukee county > 3) Washington county > 4) Milwaukee county > 5) Everywhere else, with an emphasis on listening for weak > ones. > 6) Late check-ins > 7) Call for relays from anywhere > > Please note that on 146 FM, I am omni-directional only. > > After we get everyone checked in efficiently, we'll then > start at > the top of the list and everyone will get a chance to say > hello to > the net. Name, location, equipment would be a good start. > > > When everyone has had a chance to comment, I'll call for > any late > check-ins, and after that the net will close, and everyone > will be > free to gab with each other, QSY, whatever. > > Now I need to print this out and take it with me to the > shed, so > I'll be organized. :) > > 73, > Todd KC9BQA EN63ao 40 N of Milwaukee > > > > > > +-----------------------------------------------------------------+ > SMC Web Site: http://www.w9smc.com > List Help: http://mail.w9smc.com/mailman/listinfo/smc_w9smc.com > Submissions: smc at w9smc.com Problems?Contact: smc-owner at w9smc.com > > > > 73 > Dan > -- > K9ZF /R no budget Rover ***QRP-l #1269 > Check out the Rover Resource Page at: > List Administrator for: InHam+grid-loc+ham-books > Ask me how to join the Indiana Ham Mailing list! > > _______________________________________________ > InHam mailing list > InHam at mailman.qth.net > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/inham _________________________________________________________________ Get thousands of games on your PC, your mobile phone, and the web with Windows?. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/108588800/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080828/8a9c7966/attachment.htm From kb9wsl at hotmail.com Thu Aug 28 20:55:51 2008 From: kb9wsl at hotmail.com (Tom Murray) Date: Thu, 28 Aug 2008 20:55:51 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] FW: ARLD036 DX news In-Reply-To: <20080828224923.5524330BF8@www.arrl.org> References: <20080828224923.5524330BF8@www.arrl.org> Message-ID: > Subject: ARLD036 DX news > Date: Thu, 28 Aug 2008 18:22:15 -0400 > To: kb9wsl at hotmail.com > CC: > From: memberlist at www.arrl.org > > SB DX @ ARL $ARLD036 > ARLD036 DX news > > ZCZC AE36 > QST de W1AW > DX Bulletin 36 ARLD036 > From ARRL Headquarters > Newington CT August 28, 2008 > To all radio amateurs > > SB DX ARL ARLD036 > ARLD036 DX news > > This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by > IN3VZE, KD3YK, NC1L, the OPDX Bulletin, DXNL, 425 DX News, The Daily > DX, Contest Corral from QST and the ARRL Contest Calendar and WA7BNM > web sites. Thanks to all. > > MONACO, 3A. Patrice, F5RBB will be QRV as 3A/F5RBB from August 31 > to September 10. Activity will be on 40, 20, 15 and 10 meters. QSL > to home call. > > NAMIBIA, V5. Gus is QRV as V51XG and has been active on 80 meters > around 2345z and then around 0145z. QSL via DL8AL. > > MALAWI, 7Q. Ely, IN3VZE is QRV as 7Q7CE from the Southwest shore of > Lake Malawi until September 11. Activity is mostly holiday style on > all bands, using SSB and RTTY. QSL to home call. > > MALDIVES, 8Q. Werner, DL1BKK and Gitte, DL1BKI are QRV as 8Q7KK > from Kuramathi Island, IOTA AS-013, until September 17. Activity is > on the HF bands holiday style while here during their 40th wedding > anniversary. This includes activity on 6 meters if propagation > permits. QSL via DL1BKK. > > CANARY ISLANDS, EA8. George, GM0IIO is QRV as EA8/GM0IIO from Playa > Blanca, Lanzarote Island, IOTA AF-004, until August 31. Activity is > holiday style, mainly on 20 meters using CW and SSB. QSL to home > call. > > THAILAND, HS. Chai, E20WXA has been QRV on 20 meters around 1300z. > > MARIANA ISLANDS, KH0. Satoshi, N2QP will be QRV as KH0/N2QP from > Saipan, IOTA OC-086, from September 4 to 8. This includes an entry > in the upcoming All Asia SSB DX contest. QSL direct to home call. > > ALAND ISLANDS, OH0. Peter, DL5FF and Siegfried, DL9ZE are QRV as > OH0JWL and OH0/DL9ZE, respectively, from Eckeroe Island until > September 7. Activity is on 40, 30, 20 and 15 meters using CW, SSB > and RTTY. QSL to home calls. > > NETHERLANDS, PA. In commemoration of 90 years of the history of > Corus Stahl Ijmuiden, special event call PA90CORUS will be QRV from > September 1 to 28. Activity is on all bands and modes. QSL via > PB7CW. > > FRANZ JOSEF ISLANDS, R1FJ. Jack is QRV as R1FJT and has been active > on 40 meters around 0030z. QSL via UA4RC. > > GREECE, SV. Laci, HA0HW will be QRV as J48HW and SV8/homecall from > Thassos Island, IOTA EU-174, from August 30 to September 10. > Activity will be on the HF bands using mainly CW with some SSB, RTTY > and PSK31. QSL to home call. > > SWEDEN, SM. Jorgen, SM3CXS and Sten, SM3NXS are QRV as SG3U and > SD3N, respectively, from Grimskar Island, IOTA EU-176, until August > 31. Activity is on 80 to 10 meters using CW and SSB. QSL to home > calls. > > DODECANESE, SV5. Fred, PA1FJ will be QRV as SV5/PA1FJ from Kos > Island, IOTA EU-001, from August 31 to September 9. This includes > possible activity from Lighthouse WLOTA LH 1730. QSL to home call. > > ASIATIC RUSSIA. A team of operators plan to be QRV as UE0MAC/0, > UA6LP/0 and RZ6MZ/0 from Vrangel Island, IOTA AS-027, beginning the > end of August. Their length of stay is unknown and dependent on the > Arctic weather. > > CAMBODIA, XU. Yu, 7K3BKY will be QRV as XU7YYY from Sihanoukville > from September 3 to 8. Activity will be on the HF bands using > mainly CW. This also includes a possible entry in the upcoming All > Asia SSB DX contest. QSL to home call. > > ASCENSION ISLAND, ZD8. Steve, G3ZVW is QRV as ZD8N until September > 11. Activity is on the HF bands using CW, SSB and RTTY in his > evening hours and on weekends. QSL to home call. > > CAYMAN ISLANDS, ZF. Jim, KD3YK will be QRV as ZF2JM from Grand > Cayman from August 30 to September 11. Activity will be on 40 and > 20 meters at 1030 to 1200z, and 2130 to 2300z, respectively, using > QRP power on or near the QRP frequencies. QSL via operator's > instructions. > > THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The NCCC CW Sprint, ALARA Contest, SCC > RTTY Championship, YO DX HF Contest and the SARL HF CW Contest are > all scheduled for this weekend. The MI QRP Labor Day CW Sprint is > scheduled for September 1 and 2. Please see August QST, page 74, > September QST, page 76 and the ARRL and WA7BNM contest web sites for > details. > NNNN > /EX _________________________________________________________________ Get ideas on sharing photos from people like you. Find new ways to share. http://www.windowslive.com/explore/photogallery/posts?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Photo_Gallery_082008 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080828/f9384411/attachment-0001.htm From cdhendrickson at comcast.net Thu Aug 28 20:56:46 2008 From: cdhendrickson at comcast.net (Chuck Hendrickson) Date: Thu, 28 Aug 2008 20:56:46 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] Information Message-ID: <003e01c90972$1cc739b0$2e0aa8c0@Hamshack1> Good evening all, For your information only, I will be out of town from Friday morning 8-29-2008 until mid Sunday afternoon 8-31-2008 and will be unavailable. Dave K9DVL will be available to answer ARES/RACES information in my absence or he'll hold on to the information until I return. Thanks and have a wonderful weekend. 73, Chuck Hendrickson N9PMW President Cass County Amateur Radio Club Cass County ARES Emergency Coordinator Cass County RACES Coordinator http://www.w9vmw.org ARRL Ham Radio's National Association http://www.arrl.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080828/b21a43d2/attachment.htm From kb9wsl at hotmail.com Fri Aug 29 21:36:51 2008 From: kb9wsl at hotmail.com (Tom Murray) Date: Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:36:51 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] FW: [InHam] Scouts need mentors, ISS, Sept. 13th 1, 000's attend In-Reply-To: <8039c8c40808290648q23bcb504qfe87d1036aa237c5@mail.gmail.com> References: <8039c8c40808290648q23bcb504qfe87d1036aa237c5@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: > Date: Fri, 29 Aug 2008 09:48:19 -0400 > From: briankaywalker at gmail.com > To: inham at mailman.qth.net > Subject: [InHam] Scouts need mentors, ISS, Sept. 13th 1,000's attend > > The Illini/Space Jamboree, the largest Central Region Scouting event > needs Mentors to help with the Radio and Electronics merit badges, > Sept. 13 in Rantoul IL at the Chanute Air Museum. Three Thousand > Scouts and Scouters are coming, most go to a football game but 500 are > staying to earn two of the following merit badges Radio, Electronics, > Space Exploration, and Aviation (all instruction and key events are in > doors!) > > We have a live video conference with NASA, and ISS contact, tons of other fun. > > Go to www.troop272.com and click on the Jambo Volunteers link on the > top right of the page for all the details. > > You are invited to help with the 250 QSO's we need (125 as we will > have two Scouts talking to each other), set up a station in the Ham > Radio Field (we have power). Crew 272 will have a Sat/Comm station > set up... Classes go from 8 am CST till about noon, start up at 1 and > finish at 4pm. All 3,000 Scouts and Scouters will be around to see > your station (if you want to set one up) till about 7PM. > > All the teaching will be done with Video, we need you to help mentor > the Scouts through the worksheets and projects (solderless > breadboard). > > Please email Brian Walker at briankaywalker at gmail.com to say you are > coming to help! We need an army... Just imagine showing off Ham Radio > to 3,000! > > Thanks so very much to all those that are going to come out! > Brian Walker > briankaywalker at gmail.com > 765-295-1548 > K9BKW > WB9SA trustee > Illini Jamboree Technologist > _______________________________________________ > InHam mailing list > InHam at mailman.qth.net > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/inham _________________________________________________________________ Get thousands of games on your PC, your mobile phone, and the web with Windows?. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/108588800/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080829/cfbb3027/attachment.htm From kb9wsl at hotmail.com Fri Aug 29 22:06:56 2008 From: kb9wsl at hotmail.com (Tom Murray) Date: Fri, 29 Aug 2008 22:06:56 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] FW: The ARRL Letter, Vol 27, No 34 (Friday, August 29, 2008) In-Reply-To: <20080829221905.AB1BB30CAD@www.arrl.org> References: <20080829221905.AB1BB30CAD@www.arrl.org> Message-ID: > Subject: The ARRL Letter, Vol 27, No 34 (Friday, August 29, 2008) > Date: Fri, 29 Aug 2008 17:23:14 -0400 > To: kb9wsl at hotmail.com > From: letter-dlvy at arrl.org > > *************** > The ARRL Letter > Vol. 27, No. 34 > August 29, 2008 > *************** > > IN THIS EDITION: > > * Gulf Coast Prepares for Gustav > * The September/October QEX Is Here > * Check Out the September/October NCJ > * "The Doctor Is IN" the ARRL Letter > * Solar Update > * IN BRIEF: > This Weekend on the Radio > ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration > ARRL HQ to Close for Labor Day September 1 > No ARRL Audio News August 29 > ARRL Emergency Communications Level 3 Online Course to be Revised > New HF Digital Protocol to Debut at September Conference > FCC Vanity Call Sign Fees to Increase September 25 > Hobby radio author Tom Kneitel, W4XAA, SK > ARRL and Citizen Corps Assist Schools with NOAA Emergency Radios > ARRL Applies for Expansion of 500-kHz Experimental License > > =========================================================== > ==>Delivery problems: First see FAQ > , then e-mail > > ==>Editorial questions or comments only: S. Khrystyne Keane, > > =========================================================== > > ==> GULF COAST PREPARES FOR GUSTAV > > As of Friday, although Tropical Storm Gustav is still several days away > from landfall on the US mainland, disaster preparations are being rolled > out along the Gulf Coast. ARRL Leadership Officials, with the support of > the ARRL Headquarters staff, are taking measures that will facilitate > emergency communications among ham volunteers, among hams and served > agencies such as the Red Cross, and among Leadership Officials during > the expected emergency and in its aftermath. ARRL Section Managers in > the Gulf Coast states of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and > Texas are marshaling resources and setting up procedures that will take > effect as the storm approaches the mainland. > > Support from the ARRL Headquarters staff includes referrals from local > and national media, shipment of Amateur Radio equipment via the Ham Aid > program, Section Manager liaison and referral of inquiries from Amateur > Radio operators. Two special Web sites are available for Amateur Radio > operators looking for information and volunteer opportunities: > and . > In addition, news will be updated on the ARRL Web site over the weekend > and early next week, as Gustav moves toward the Gulf Coast. > > On Thursday, as Gustav was slamming into Haiti and heading toward > Jamaica, WX4NHC, the Amateur Radio station at the National Hurricane > Center in Miami, activated at 12 PM EDT (1600Z). The NHC requested all > land based stations as well as ships at sea in the areas affected to > send them weather data (measured or estimated) and damage reports. > > A post to their Web site stated: "If you are in the affected area and > normally monitor on a local Net on VHF, 40 or 80 meters, we would > appreciate your checking into the HWN NET or EchoLink/IRLP Net once per > hour to receive the latest Hurricane Advisories and to report your local > conditions. Please do not venture outside during the hurricane to gather > weather data." > > In addition, the VoIP Hurricane Net activated Thursday at 11 AM EDT > (1500Z), according to a post by Jim Palmer, KB1KQW, VoIP-WX Net > Scheduler. > > Also on Thursday, FEMA posted a news release that said, in part: "The > Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency > (FEMA) is coordinating plans and preparatory activities of numerous > federal agencies in close communication with state, tribal and local > officials as Tropical Storm Gustav threatens to return to hurricane > strength prior to impacting Gulf Coast states. All residents in the > region are encouraged to make personal preparations. Information is > available at www.Ready.gov on how families and individuals can best > prepare before the storm. > > "FEMA and its federal partners are in close communications with states > along its potential path in order to review plans, pre-station assets > and personnel, and respond to any request for assistance. FEMA's work > with states using a Gap Analysis tool to determine in advance of storms > where federal assistance is most likely to be needed has helped federal > and state agencies to develop pre-scripted mission assignments and other > contingency plans to help improve response and recovery efforts." > > The news release also provides details on preparations now underway by > several other agencies, including the American Red Cross and the Army > Corps of Engineers. > > Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal declared a state of emergency for his > state on Wednesday, and he activated 3000 National Guard troops, with > more on call. The state of Mississippi declared a state of emergency on > Thursday. Governor Haley Barbour stated, in part: "I urge all > Mississippians to please take this storm seriously. One of the most > important lessons we learned after Hurricane Katrina was that there is > no substitute for awareness and self-help, especially in the days before > the hurricane is predicted to hit." > > ==> THE SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER QEX IS HERE > > The September/October issue of QEX is out, and it is full of theoretical > and practical technical articles that you don't want to miss. > > In this issue, Mark Spencer, WA8SME, describes a VLF receiver system > that automatically logs received signal data so we can learn about some > propagation conditions such as sudden ionospheric disturbances during > Solar Cycle 24 in "SID: Study Cycle 24, Don't Just Use It." Phil > Anderson, W0XI, gives us a detailed analysis of crystal set receiver > circuitry in "A Great Teacher: The Crystal Set." Bertrand Zauhar, > VE2ZAZ, brings us another great project that goes well beyond a simple > battery charger with his "Rechargeable Battery Cycler." > > Jim Kocsis, WA9PYH, presents "Press-n-Peel Circuit Boards," a simple, > reliable way to make your own circuit boards using Techniks, Inc > Press-n-Peel Blue etch-resist material. Henry J. Rech offers some > thoughts about, "Receiver Performance Measurement and Front End > Selectivity," and Frank Witt, AI1H, describes "Optimum Lossy Broadband > Matching Networks for Resonant Antennas," in this reprint of an April > 1990 "RF Design" article. > > Would you like to write for QEX? It pays $50 per printed page. Be sure > to check out the Authors Guide for > more information. If you prefer postal mail, please send a business-size > self-addressed, stamped envelope to QEX Authors Guide, c/o Maty > Weinberg, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111-1494. > > QEX is edited by Larry Wolfgang, WR1B, and is published six times a > year. The subscription rate for ARRL members in the US is $24. For First > Class US delivery, the rate is $37 for members, $49 for nonmembers. For > international delivery via air mail, including Canada, the subscription > rate is $31 for members, $43 for nonmembers. Subscribe to QEX today > . > > ==> CHECK OUT THE SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER NCJ > > NCJ, The National Contest Journal is what everyone interested in > radiosport needs to have in their shack. Filled with the latest news > from the contesting world, NCJ is the voice of radiosport. Whether you > are new to contesting or are a seasoned pro (or somewhere in the > middle), you will find something in NCJ just for you. > > In the September/October issue, Stan Stockton, K5GO and Bob Wilson, > N6TV, provide a dialogue on "CW Skimmer: Point/Counterpoint." To go > along with this article, Pete Smith, N4ZR, talks about "So You Want to > Skim? Practical Issues in Deploying CW Skimmer in a Contesting > Environment." Eric Scace, K3NA, writes about "Distributing Receiving > Antennas" in the first of a multi-part article. If you're a top-bander, > you don't want to miss "A Simple 2-Element Vertical Array for 160 > Meters" by John Barcroft, K6AM. > > Dennis McAlpine, K2SX, takes a look at "The Wacky World of State QSO > Parties," while Jon Platt, W0ZQ/m gives his take on "One Rover's View on > Propagation during the 2008 Minnesota QSO Party." Bill Santelmann, N1AU, > remembers his son in "A Tribute to my Son, Stuart, KC1F." Stu, a > founding member and past president of the Yankee Clipper Contest Club, > became a Silent Key in May of this year. ARRL News Editor S. Khrystyne > Keane, K1SFA, lets NCJ readers take a sneak peak at the October issue of > QST in "October is Radiosport Month in QST." > > Of course, there are all the regular columns and features you expect > from NCJ: "Workshop Chronicles," by Don Daso, K4ZA; "Contest Tips, > Tricks & Techniques," by Gary Sutcliffe, W9XT; "Propagation," by Carl > Luetzelschwab, K9LA; "VHF-UHF Contesting," by Jon Jones, N0JK; > "Contesting on a Budget," by Paul Schaffenberger, K5AF; "DX Contest > Activity Announcements," by Bill Feidt, NG3K; "RTTY Contesting," by Don > Hill, AA5AU; "Contesting 101," by Kirk Pickering, K4RO, and "Contest > Calendar," by Bruce Horn, WA7BNM. > > All this and more in the September/October issue of NCJ. NCJ is > published six times a year by the ARRL; it is edited by Al Dewey, K0AD. > Subscribe today ! > > ==> "THE DOCTOR IS IN" THE ARRL LETTER > > This week, ARRL Letter readers are in luck! The ARRL's very own Doctor, > author of the popular QST column "The Doctor Is IN," answers a question > from his mailbag: > > Question -- John Hoffman, KJ4GER, of Woodstock, Georgia, asks: I am > reading the "ARRL General Class License Manual" > . In a few places, it mentions > the 75 meter band. On my ARRL-provided "US Amateur Radio Bands" chart, > it shows an 80 meter band and a 60 meter band, but no 75 meter band. > What is the 75 meter band, and why does it not show up on the official > band chart? > > The Doctor Answers -- John, 75 meters is an designation for the 3.6-4.0 > MHz phone band, a portion of the 3.5-4.0 MHz 80 meter allocation. If you > convert 4.0 MHz to wavelength (300/4) you will find that the top end of > the band has a wavelength of 75 meters. > > Historically, 75 meters refers to the voice portion of the "official" 80 > meter band. The term 80 meters is often used to refer to the entire > band. Most HF radios have a bandswitch position for 80 meters that > covers the entire band, not one for 75 meters. Unlike any other band, > you will rarely hear anyone refer to "80 meter phone." I cannot offer > any logical explanation for the anomaly -- perhaps someone will fill us > in on how this came to be. > > If you know the answer to this question, send an e-mail to the Doctor > . Do you have a question or a problem? Send your > questions via e-mail or to "The Doctor," ARRL, 225 > Main St, Newington, CT 06111 (no phone calls, please). Look for "The > Doctor Is IN" every month in QST, the official journal of the ARRL. > > ==>SOLAR UPDATE > Tad "Heat and haze of crimson sunsets" Cook, K7RA, this week reports: > Our Sun is still very quiet, but last week's bulletin mentioned a new > sunspot emerging on August 21-22. Spaceweather.com showed the sunspot > number on those days as 11, which is the smallest non-zero sunspot > number. If we don't see any sunspots this weekend, Sunday will mark 42 > consecutive days with no sunspots. This will also bring the 3-month > moving average for daily sunspot numbers (that we present monthly) clear > down to 1.76, the lowest on this side of cycle 23. This would be the > three month average centered on July. > > The forecast for the next week is a planetary A index of 5 on every day, > indicating more of the same quiet and stable geomagnetic conditions. The > prediction for September 5 is a planetary A index of 18, probably from a > recurring coronal hole and associated solar wind. > > Geophysical Institute Prague predicts quiet conditions August 29 to > September 3, and quiet to unsettled September 4. > > Sunspot numbers for August 21 through 27 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, and 0 > with a mean of 0. 10.7 cm flux was 67.1, 67.6, 67.9, 67.1, 66.6, 66.9, > and 66.6 with a mean of 67.1. Estimated planetary A indices were 4, 4, > 2, 4, 2, 3 and 3 with a mean of 3.1. Estimated mid-latitude A indices > were 4, 2, 2, 2, 1, 1 and 2 with a mean of 2. > > For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the ARRL > Technical Information Service Propagation page > . To read this week's > Solar Report in its entirety, check out the W1AW Propagation Bulletin > page . This week's "Tad Cookism" brought > to you by Elizabeth Maua Taylor's "August." > > __________________________________ > > ==>IN BRIEF: > > * This Weekend on the Radio: This weekend, the NCCC Sprint on August 29. > The ALARA Contest, the SCC RTTY Championship and the YO DX HF Contest > are all August 30-31. The SARL HF CW Contest is August 31 and the MI QRP > Labor Day CW Sprint is September 1-2. Next weekend is the International > G3ZQS Memorial Straight Key Contest on September 5-7. On September 6, be > sure to look for the Russian RTTY WW Contest, the NCCC Sprint, the > Wake-Up! QRP Sprint and the AGCW Straight Key Party. The All Asian DX > Contest (Phone), the RSGB SSB Field Day and the IARU Region 1 Field Day > (SSB) are September 6-7. The North American Sprint (CW) and the DARC 10 > Meter Digital Contest are September 7. The Tennessee QSO Party is > September 7-8. All dates, unless otherwise stated, are UTC. See the ARRL > Contest Branch page , the ARRL Contest > Update and the WA7BNM Contest > Calendar for more > info. Looking for a Special Event station? Be sure to check out the ARRL > Special Event Station Web page . > > > * ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration: Registration remains > open through Sunday, September 7, 2008 for these online course sessions > beginning on Friday, September 19, 2008: Amateur Radio Emergency > Communications Level 2 (EC-002); Amateur Radio Emergency Communications > Level 3 (EC-003R2); Antenna Modeling (EC-004); HF Digital Communications > (EC-005); VHF/UHF -- Life Beyond the Repeater (EC-008), and Radio > Frequency Propagation (EC-011). Each online course has been developed in > segments -- learning units with objectives, informative text, student > activities and quizzes. Courses are interactive, and some include direct > communications with a Mentor/Instructor. Students register for a > particular session that may be 8, 12 or 16 weeks (depending on the > course) and they may access the course at any time of day during the > course period, completing lessons and activities at times convenient for > their personal schedule. Mentors assist students by answering questions, > reviewing assignments and activities, as well as providing helpful > feedback. Interaction with mentors is conducted through e-mail; there is > no appointed time the student must be present -- allowing complete > flexibility for the student to work when and where it is convenient. To > learn more, visit the CCE Course Listing page > or contact the Continuing > Education Program Coordinator . > > * ARRL HQ to Close for Labor Day September 1: ARRL Headquarters will be > closed Monday, September 1. Headquarters will reopen at 8 AM Tuesday, > September 2. We wish everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend. > > * No ARRL Audio News August 29: There will be no ARRL Audio News today, > Friday, August 29; ARRL Audio News will resume production on Friday, > September 5. > > * ARRL Emergency Communications Level 3 Online Course to be Revised: New > enrollments in the online Level 3 course will be suspended effective > October 1 to allow us to update the course curricula. We expect the > updated course to be available in the first quarter of 2009. > > * New HF Digital Protocol to Debut at September Conference: WINMOR, an > HF digital protocol designed for use with the Winlink 2000 network, will > be unveiled at the upcoming ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference > in Chicago September 26-28. > > * FCC Vanity Call Sign Fees to Increase September 25: The FCC will > increase the vanity call sign fee from $11.70 to $12.30, effective > September 25, 2008. > > * Hobby radio author Tom Kneitel, W4XAA, SK: Tom Kneitel, W4XAA > (ex-K2AES), died August 22 at age 75. He was a prolific author of > articles and books on monitoring, CB radio and building electronics > projects. > > * ARRL and Citizen Corps Assist Schools with NOAA Emergency Radios: ARRL > and Citizen Corps are teaming up to offer assistance to local school > districts in setting up and registering their NOAA Weather All Hazard > Public Alert Radio. > > * ARRL Applies for Expansion of 500-kHz Experimental License: On August > 22, the ARRL applied to the FCC for expansion of the 500-kHz > experimental license WD2XSH. If approved, this application will raise > the total number of stations from 20 to 40. This will provide greater > geographic coverage, including Alaska and Hawaii, and will provide more > opportunities for ground-wave testing. Also included are requests for an > expanded frequency band (495-510 kHz) and portable operation within 50 > km. The current four modulation modes (CW, PSK-31, FSK-31, and MSK-31) > are included. -- Fritz Raab, W1FR > > =========================================================== > The ARRL Letter is published Fridays, 50 times each year, by the > American Radio Relay League: ARRL--the National Association for Amateur > Radio, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax > 860-594-0259; . Joel Harrison, W5ZN, President. > > The ARRL Letter offers a weekly e-mail digest of essential and general > news of interest to active radio amateurs. Visit the ARRL Web site > for the latest Amateur Radio news and news > updates. The ARRL Web site also offers > informative features and columns. ARRL Audio News > is a weekly "ham radio newscast" > compiled and edited from The ARRL Letter. It's also available as a > podcast from our Web site. > > Material from The ARRL Letter may be republished or reproduced in whole > or in part in any form without additional permission. Credit must be > given to The ARRL Letter/American Radio Relay League. > > ==>Delivery problems (ARRL member direct delivery only!): > letter-dlvy at arrl.org > ==>Editorial questions or comments: S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA, > k1sfa at arrl.org > ==>ARRL News on the Web: > ==>ARRL Audio News: or call > 860-594-0384 > > ==>How to Get The ARRL Letter > > The ARRL Letter is available to ARRL members free of charge directly > from ARRL HQ. To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your address for > e-mail delivery: > ARRL members first must register on the Members Only Web Site > . You'll have an opportunity during > registration to sign up for e-mail delivery of The ARRL Letter, W1AW > bulletins, and other material. To change these selections--including > delivery of The ARRL Letter--registered members should click on the > "Member Data Page" link (in the Members Only box). Click on "Modify > membership data," check or uncheck the appropriate boxes and/or change > your e-mail address if necessary. (Check "Temporarily disable all > automatically sent email" to temporarily stop all e-mail deliveries.) > Then, click on "Submit modification" to make selections effective. > (NOTE: HQ staff members cannot change your e-mail delivery address. You > must do this yourself via the Members Only Web Site.) > > The ARRL Letter also is available to all, free of charge, from these > sources: > > * ARRLWeb . (NOTE: The ARRL Letter will > be posted each Friday when it is distributed via e-mail.) > > * The QTH.net listserver, thanks to volunteers from the Boston Amateur > Radio Club: Visit Mailing Lists at QTH.Net > . (NOTE: The ARRL > cannot assist subscribers who receive The ARRL Letter via this > listserver.) > > Copyright 2008 American Radio Relay League, Inc. > All Rights Reserved > > _________________________________________________________________ See what people are saying about Windows Live. Check out featured posts. http://www.windowslive.com/connect?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_connect2_082008 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080829/ce256e06/attachment-0001.htm From phil_snider at hotmail.com Sat Aug 30 21:08:02 2008 From: phil_snider at hotmail.com (Phil Snider) Date: Sat, 30 Aug 2008 21:08:02 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] Randy pictures Message-ID: Phil Snider 'the earth is one country and mandkind are its citizens' - Baha'i Faith EMAILING FOR THE GREATER GOODJoin me -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... 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Name: digital camera 2 045.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 38155 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080830/c7f86962/attachment-0005.jpg From phil_snider at hotmail.com Sat Aug 30 21:10:18 2008 From: phil_snider at hotmail.com (Phil Snider) Date: Sat, 30 Aug 2008 21:10:18 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] Randy pictures 2 Message-ID: -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080830/6319580f/attachment-0001.htm -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: digital camera 2 048.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 37781 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080830/6319580f/attachment-0004.jpg -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: digital camera 2 049.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 39036 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080830/6319580f/attachment-0005.jpg -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: digital camera 2 050.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 41348 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080830/6319580f/attachment-0006.jpg -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: digital camera 2 051.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 30861 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080830/6319580f/attachment-0007.jpg From phil_snider at hotmail.com Sat Aug 30 21:12:20 2008 From: phil_snider at hotmail.com (Phil Snider) Date: Sat, 30 Aug 2008 21:12:20 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] Randy pictures 3 Message-ID: -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080830/5ddff558/attachment-0001.htm -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: digital camera 2 047.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 40702 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080830/5ddff558/attachment-0001.jpg From phil_snider at hotmail.com Sat Aug 30 21:17:52 2008 From: phil_snider at hotmail.com (Phil Snider) Date: Sat, 30 Aug 2008 21:17:52 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] Randy picture 4 Message-ID: Phil Snider 'the earth is one country and mandkind are its citizens' - Baha'i Faith EMAILING FOR THE GREATER GOODJoin me -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080830/da5e58fc/attachment-0001.htm -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: digital camera 2 046.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 41171 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080830/da5e58fc/attachment-0001.jpg From cdhendrickson at comcast.net Sun Aug 31 15:15:50 2008 From: cdhendrickson at comcast.net (Chuck Hendrickson) Date: Sun, 31 Aug 2008 15:15:50 -0400 Subject: [Ccarc] Information References: <003e01c90972$1cc739b0$2e0aa8c0@Hamshack1> Message-ID: <019a01c90b9d$fbffb4e0$2e0aa8c0@Hamshack1> I have returned and am catching up and semi monitoring the repeater. I am also monitoring Hurricane Gustav (even from Orlando) and Tropical Storm Hanna. Thanks for everyone's support in everything. 73, Chuck Hendrickson N9PMW President Cass County Amateur Radio Club Cass County ARES Emergency Coordinator Cass County RACES Coordinator http://www.w9vmw.org ARRL Ham Radio's National Association http://www.arrl.org ----- Original Message ----- From: Chuck Hendrickson To: Remailer ; Alvin Beckman ; Dave Armick ; Steve Temple ; Vicky Cree Sent: Thursday, August 28, 2008 8:56 PM Subject: [Ccarc] Information Good evening all, For your information only, I will be out of town from Friday morning 8-29-2008 until mid Sunday afternoon 8-31-2008 and will be unavailable. Dave K9DVL will be available to answer ARES/RACES information in my absence or he'll hold on to the information until I return. Thanks and have a wonderful weekend. 73, Chuck Hendrickson N9PMW President Cass County Amateur Radio Club Cass County ARES Emergency Coordinator Cass County RACES Coordinator http://www.w9vmw.org ARRL Ham Radio's National Association http://www.arrl.org ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ ccarc mailing list ccarc at culcom.net http://ns1.culcom.net/mailman/listinfo/ccarc ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.526 / Virus Database: 270.6.11/1639 - Release Date: 8/28/2008 7:39 AM -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://ns1.culcom.net/pipermail/ccarc/attachments/20080831/679e8f14/attachment.htm