December 15, 1998
NASA sets up school contact: A big lull looms for Space Amateur Radio EXperiment--or SAREX--school contacts. To fill the gap between now and the day astronauts will talk with schools via Amateur Radio from aboard the International Space Station, NASA is considering launching a more earthbound version of the SAREX program that puts youngsters in direct contact with astronauts via ham radio (see "Kansas Kids Test NASA QSO Project" in The ARRLWeb Extra news column). On November 24, a group of pupils at the Pleasant Valley School in Winfield, Kansas, got to chat with NASA astronaut Laurel Clark, KC5ZSU, who was at W5RRR at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Here, Miles Beach talks with Clark as John Nickel, WD5EEV, looks on. Nickel set up the portable station at the school and made arrangements for the contact with help from his wife, Karen, WD5EEU. [Photo courtesy of Kristi McNerlin.]
Sarah Littrell speaks with astronaut Laurel Clark while Kimberly Weiss awaits her turn. [Photo courtesy of Kristi McNerlin.]
The sole SAREX mission scheduled for 1999 is several months away, and construction of the International Space Station is only now getting under way. Amateur Radio is considered "required crew equipment" aboard the ISS, but the first Earth-to-ISS school contacts are at least a couple of years off.
Flood duty: Michael Ellison, AA5EJ, was one of the many hams in the San Antonio, Texas, area who helped provide emergency communication during the heavy flooding in Texas in October. Ellison lives in San Antonio. He's a member of OMIK as well as several other Amateur Radio organizations. [Photo courtesy of Michael Ellison, AA5EJ]
The coat hanger-cop connection: Jeff Johns, KF4KGQ, a reserve patrol captain with the Jefferson County, Alabama, Sheriff's Department, says he connected with the Russian Mir space station on packet (R0MIR-1) and left a message for the crew a few weeks ago using a coat hanger antenna and 5 W! His setup included an HP200LX palmtop PC, a BayPac 2M modem, and a Yaesu FT-50R H-T. The antenna was fabricated from five coat hangers and an SO-239 connector. Johns was inspired by the article "Portable Packets," by Phillip Nichols, KC8DQF, in the March 1997 issue of QST. He used STS Orbit by Dave Ranson to track the satellite on the HP200LX. "I got lucky and was able to connect to R0MIR-1 and enter a message!" he said. "It was one of the biggest thrills of my life." For additional details, visit the Tigertronics Web site, http://www.tigertronics.com/. [Photo by Randy Johns]
DXing almost without an antenna: Bill Myerson, NH6D/KH2, should be an inspiration to all of those frustrated DXers living under antenna-challenged circumstances. Myerson departed Guam earlier this fall to return home to Hawaii. But, Jim Kehler, KH2D, reports that while Myers was in Guam, he was busy working plenty of DX--a pretty good trick since he lived in a condo that did not allow antennas. "He managed to work his DX using almost no antenna," Kehler reports. Here, Myerson is shown on his condo balcony overlooking the Philippine Sea, an Outbacker Jr HF antenna behind him mounted to the balcony railing. "Using the Outbacker Jr and 100 W, Bill managed to work 174 countries during his less-than-one-year stay on Guam," Kehler said. Most contacts were on CW, but he also picked up a few new ones on SSB. He's an active (and sorely missed) member of the Mariana Islands DX Association. [Photo by Jim Kehler, KH2D]
Stamp exhibition honors Spanish ham radio pioneer: Seventy-five years ago, in October 1923, the first documented, significant Amateur Radio transmission took place in Spain. The 20 W signal on 200 meters transmitted from the Tolosa shack of Jenaro Ruiz de Arcaute, as 3XZ (later EAR6 and EA2BJ) was heard in Palencia and Madrid, 250 and 400 km away respectively. In the early years of wireless, amateurs had to experiment in relative secrecy because of government sanctions. In mid-October, The Philatelic and Numismatic Association of Guipuzcoa marked the occasion by dedicating its stamp exhibition to Arcaute, who was among the first to become officially licensed once Spain authorized Amateur Radio. His EAR6 license permitted him up to 100 W between 100 and 120 meters. [Thanks to Federico Olaizola, EA2HB, for photos and other materials!]
Jenaro Ruiz de Arcaute, EAR6/EA2BJ, shortly before his death in 1984.
A photo of Arcaute at his station, taken in 1954.
Arcaute's EAR6 QSL card. The number indicated the order the license was issued, once Amateur Radio became an officially sanctioned activity in Spain. The card indicates that Arcaute was an ARRL member. In 1925, EAR6 became the first Spanish station using quartz crystal frequency control.
Both sides the commemorative envelope for the October stamp exhibition, including some Spanish stamps.
The cover of the stamp exhibition bulletin, featuring a photo of Jenaro Ruiz de Arcaute, EA2BJ. The show included Amateur Radio commemorative stamps from several countries.
|
Say cheese! Can you believe that people still say that when snapping family photos! Well, imagine your non-cheesy, radio-related photographs on the Web! Contributions are welcome as electronic files via e-mail (please ensure optimum resolution for Web viewing) or as hard-copy prints.
We cannot guarantee that we'll use them, and photographs will not be returned unless prior arrangements are made. Please include full caption information and the name of the photographer. Do not submit copyrighted photographs from outside sources. While we wish we could, we cannot compensate you for the use of your photos. Sorry! Direct submittals to Rick Lindquist, N1RL, n1rl@arrl.org, or via snail mail to Rick Lindquist, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111. |
 Previous: H&K LiteHelpful hints from other amateurs |  Next: A QRP Christmas |