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 Previous: QRP with W6TOY: Dayton, and Watching Your Kids Grow Up |  Next: Hams Keep Cool in Wake of Air Show Crash |
June 21, 2000
(In alphabetical order:)
[Fred Perkins, K4LQ] |
Bob White, W1CW, marks 60 years as ARRL member: At a recent Florida Contest Group meeting, Ellen White, W1YL presented her husband, Bob, W1CW, with his 60-year ARRL membership plaque. Ellen and Bob both are past ARRL HQ staffers, and Bob is a CQ DX Hall of Fame member. Ellen White also edited the How's DX column in QST for many years. The White's son Jim, K4OJ, also is also a former ARRL HQ staffer and well-known contester. The Whites live near Tampa.
Californian sentenced for QRMing police radio frequencies: The Associated Press reports that 64-year-old Jack Gerritsen of Bell, California--near Los Angeles--has been sentenced to five years in prison for interfering with police radio frequencies. The AP also referred to Gerritsen as an Amateur Radio operator. Although a Jack W. Gerritsen is in the FCC's Amateur Service database, it does not appear to be the same individual. Gerritsen was arrested last December after a lengthy investigation by the California Highway Patrol and the FCC. One of Gerritsen's transmissions is said to have disrupted the pursuit of a suspect who eventually escaped. He also is said to have routinely interfered in person with police activities.
CQ names new ad manager: CQ Communications has appointed Jon Kummer, WA2OJK, as the new Advertising Sales Manager for CQ Magazine. He succeeds Arnie Sposato, N2IQO, who has resigned to pursue other opportunities in other fields. A ham since 1970, Kummer has sold advertising space since 1980 for a wide variety of magazines including Modern Electronics, Electronics Servicing & Technology, and Microwaves & RF. In addition to his Amateur Radio interests, Kummer collects and restores antique radios and television sets. His fully operational collection numbers about 100 pieces. Kummer made his first appearance as a member of the CQ team at the 2000 Dayton Hamvention.--CQ Communications news release
Putnam County Amateur Radio Emergency Service members Bill Ronay, KM4LS (left), and Ted Hart, W5QJR, operating HF portable and 2-meter packet during the county's dairy festival. (Note the Frequency movie poster and world globe with all of the DX pins in it.) |
Dairy show duty: The reorganized Putnam County ARES team in Georgia recently pulled dairy show duty as a way to get back into the swing of things. The hams provided communication and put Amateur Radio and themselves on display during the Putnam County Dairy Festival on June 3. A dozen participants handled communications for the annual Tar Baby (5K) Torture Run Road Race and the Dairy Parade. The project was a joint effort with the Milledgeville Amateur Radio Club. Putnam County is the home of Joel Chandler Harris, author of the famous Tales of Uncle Remus.--Bill Ronay, KM4LS
DXCC announces new 15 meter award: The ARRL DXCC Desk has announced the addition of a 15-meter single band, standalone DXCC award. As of June 1, DXCC printouts were set to reflect credits on 15 meters. The award will become available starting July 1. Fifteen Meter DXCC certificates will be dated but not numbered. Deleted entities do not count towards this award. Those who have an active 5 Band DXCC that was processed prior to DXCC computerization and do not have 100 entities on 15 meters will be allowed to submit enough credits on that band to bring their DXCC record to the first 100 needed for this award with no per QSO fee. Simply include postage and the award fee. The award fee is $10. Applicants should note their 5BDXCC award number and original issue date on the application form in the block specified. Those uncertain about their 15-meter DXCC credits should contact DXCC for an updated report, prior to submitting further credits. (This helps both applicant and DXCC in that it will avoid duplicates and additional costs, since QSL costs over the limits noted in DXCC Rule #15 are $0.15 per QSO.) DXCC records are available as Adobe PDF files. Applicants may contact DXCC at dxcc@arrl.org for a copy. Hard copies are available from DXCC, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111 for $1.50 for postage (or an SASE with $1.50 in postage affixed). The records of those who have not submitted since the later part of 1991 are not in the computer and will need to request a hard copy. For more information, contact the DXCC Desk at dxcc@arrl.org.--DXCC Desk
eHAM.net adds features: eHAM.net has added one new feature to the Amateur Radio site and improved upon another. The all-new "Calendar" feature lists information submitted on club meetings, hamfests, DXpeditions, and other events hams want to know about. Users can search the Calendar database in many different ways. In addition, there's easier access to "Elmer's Forum," and the new "Ask the Experts" section offers an easy way for users either to ask questions of the eHam.net community or to provide answers. Anything goes--from electronic theory to FCC rules.--Randy Thompson, K5ZD
Hy-Gain breaks ground for expanded facility: Hy-Gain broke ground June 1 for a 5000 square foot expansion at its manufacturing facility in Starkville, Mississippi. MFJ Enterprises purchased Hy-Gain in May 1999 from Telex. The 60 by 80-foot expansion to Hy-Gain's current 10,000 square-foot-building was needed to accommodate three punch presses Hy-Gain will use to produce antenna, rotator and tower parts. Hy-Gain's current building is 10,000 square feet. The expansion will also be used to store aluminum tubing for antenna manufacture. (To schedule a tour of the Hy-Gain plant, call 800-647-1800.)--Hy-Gain news release
Illinois declares Amateur Radio Awareness Month: The State of Illinois has declared the month of June as Amateur Radio Awareness Month. Gov George H. Ryan has signed a resolution noting that the more than 23,000 hams (and 63 Amateur Radio clubs) in Illinois put the state among the top five in the number of amateurs. "Hams have demonstrated their value in public assistance by providing emergency radio communications networks," the proclamation notes. It also points to amateurs’ use of HF, packet, satellites and DSP, and, last but not least, mentions that Field Day is the weekend of June 24-25.--thanks to Rob Orr, KB9RST
Iridium bailout efforts continue: US Bankruptcy Court Judge Cornelius Blackshear has ordered a June 21 status conference to review the two competing offers for Iridium assets by Venture Partners and Castle Harlan, a venture capital firm. Gene Curcio, a California-based telecommunications entrepreneur, heads the Venture Partners $50 million bid to acquire the assets of the failed Iridium satellite constellation. Blackshear also acknowledged that the no-strings-attached Venture Partners bid would be preferred if it could produce the money needed to match the non-binding $50 million offer for the Iridium assets from Castle Harlan, Curcio said. Venture Partners' bid calls for General Dynamics to replace Motorola as the operator of the Iridium constellation and revamp the service. Motorola has set a June 30 deadline for bidders to emerge and begin paying to operate the 66-satellite constellation. Otherwise, the company plan to start deorbiting the $5 billion-plus system July 1.--Satellite News
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KB7UV gets Emmy Award: Andy Funk, KB7UV--along with several of his colleagues--received the first Technical Achievement Emmy awarded by the Atlanta Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Funk, who's Assistant News Operations Manager for Atlanta's FOX5 TV station, is responsible for the newsroom's live capability. As part of FOX5's live coverage of the 1999 Peachtree Road Race, the station devised a live "RunnerCam," operated by station personnel who actually ran in the race. The microwave antenna pointed as close to straight up as possible to a helicopter above, so the RunnerCam's signal could be relayed to the studio. The achievement was recognized June 10 at the Southern Regional Emmy Awards. For more information, visit Funk's Web site.
ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP (left), and Atlantic Division Director Bernie Fuller, N3EFN, pose in front of BSA National Headquarters. |
League officials visit BSA HQ: ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, and ARRL Atlantic Division Director Bernie Fuller, N3EFN on June 15 visited the National Headquarters of The Boy Scouts of America in Irving, Texas. The meeting with Associate Director Ray Moyer, WB8JKV, was to emphasize the League's interest in the Scouting program and the Jamboree On The Air (JOTA) events held here in the United States and around the World. Haynie and Fuller also discussed the radio merit badge offered by the Boy Scouts. Haynie encouraged cooperation among League members and Scout leaders.
ARRL Vice President Kay Craigie, WT3P, addresses the Public Service forum at Dayton. [Rick Lindquist, N1RL] |
Public Service Don'ts and Dos: ARRL Vice President Kay Craigie, WT3P, presented a portion of the "Public Service Wants You!" forum at the Dayton Hamvention-ARRL National Convention 2000 on May 20. "Public Service Don'ts and Dos" looks into what motivates Amateur Radio operators to volunteer for public service activities. Now, she's sharing her notes and Power Point presentation on the ARRL Public Service Web Page,
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Rainscatter record? On June 17, ARRL First Vice President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, and noted VHF-UHFer Al Ward, W5LUA, completed a 515 km (321 mile) rainscatter QSO on 10 GHz. The contact could be a record for that mode of propagation. Details are at http://www.ntms.org. Harrison says the trick was to keep a sharp eye on the weather radar, looking for very strong, appropriately positioned storm cells. "We have tried this a few times before," Harrison reports, adding that the pair once managed a 5.7 GHz rainscatter contact. "This time, everything fell into place!" Harrison says the longest distance he's aware of for a 10 GHz rainscatter QSO is 240 miles.
Sudan is QRV! After a year of waiting, Jeff Hambleton, G4KIB/5B4YY/KF9BI, in Khartoum, Sudan, reports he's finally obtained what he's calling "the first Amateur Radio license" in Sudan, ST0P. "I am not the first amateur, but the first licensed amateur," he says. Hambleton has an IC-746 transceiver and a G5RV and a delta loop for antennas. He reports he's licensed to operate 40, 20, 15 and 10 meters and expects to be on the air (SSB and PSK-31 only) after 1700 UTC on days that he's active. Hambleton says he'll be QRV as ST0P until August. QSL information: http://www.qsl.net/5b4yy (and later http://www.qsl.net/st0p).
SUNSAT amateur transponders temporarily off-air: The Amateur Radio FM and digital transponders aboard SO-35 have been turned off while the spacecraft is in a solar orbit (continuous sunlight). This orbital situation, according to SUNSAT's Johann Lochner, ZR1CBC, leads to higher internal spacecraft temperatures and more demanding control requirements. SUNSAT will remain in sunlight until November. Experiments to ensure its survival during this testing period are continuing. Lochner says an announcement will be made when SO-35 resumes Amateur Radio services.--SpaceNews
Tandy name change: Shareholders of Tandy Corp have voted to change the firm's name to Radio Shack Corporation. The Fort Worth-based company, which began as a family-owned leather business, acquired the then-nine-store Boston-based Radio Shack chain in 1963.
Top 10 most wanted: The 1999 ARRL DXCC Yearbook now has hit the streets, and North Korea remains the most-wanted DXCC entity. Some observers believe that a thawing in relations between North Korea and South Korea could lead to more activity from P5, however. The other nine are: (2) BS7H, Scarborough Reef; (3) BV9P, Pratas Island; (4) A5, Bhutan; (5) VU4, Andaman and Nicobar Islands; (6) 7O, Yemen; (7) E3, Eritrea; (8) 3Y, Bouvet Island; (9) FR/T, Tromelin Island; and (10) VU7, Lakshadweep Island.
Understanding WRC-2000: Ken Pulfer, VE3PU, who attended WRC-2000 in Istanbul representing Radio Amateurs of Canada as part of the Canadian delegation, has posted a synopsis of the meeting that focuses on issues of importance to amateurs. The World Radiocommunication Conference took place from May 8 to June 2. Topics covered include 70 cm Synthetic Aperture Radar; possible changes to the International Regulations; third-generation cellular telephones; HF broadcasting; Little LEOs; and possible changes to 40 meters. Visit the RAC web site for more information.--RAC
Vote on QST Cover Plaque Award: The winner of the QST Cover Plaque Award for June were Howard Teller, KH6TY, and Dave Benson, NN1G, for their article "A Panoramic Transceiving System for PSK31." Congratulations, Howard and Dave! ARRL members are reminded that the winner of the QST Cover Plaque award--given to the author(s) of the best article in each issue--now is determined by a vote of ARRL members. Voting takes place each month on the ARRL Members Only Web site. As soon as your copy arrives, cast a ballot for your choice as the favorite article in the July issue of QST. Voting ends July 15.
A workman removes deteriorated grout in the brickwork on the W1AW building's north side. |
W1AW getting a facelift: Workers from the Bridgeport Restoration Company have been attending to some much-needed masonry repair on the W1AW building on the ARRL Headquarters campus in Newington, Connecticut. Other refurbishing will include replacing the copper flashing. Built in the 1930s, the W1AW structure was dedicated in 1938 in a ceremony that was nationally broadcast on the CBS Radio Network.
Werner Haas, DJ5QK, SK: AMSAT-DL (Germany) pioneer and technical expert Werner Haas, DJ5QK, died June 13 following a lengthy illness. He was 68. A former AMSAT-DL vice president, Haas built the transponders for five satellites in which AMSAT-DL had a leading role and was involved in the Phase 3D project. Although already ill, Haas traveled to Orlando to perform the final acceptance tests for P3D. AMSAT-NA President Keith Baker, KB1SF, praised Haas. "I feel privileged to have known and worked with such a wonderful and talented person," he said. Past AMSAT-NA President Bill Tynan, W3XO, said, "We have all lost a good friend and a great contributor to Amateur Radio."--AMSAT News Service
Wichita hams participate in terrorist bombing drill: Hams in the Wichita, Kansas, area participated in a simulated terrorist bomb attack June 15 that was organized by Sedgwick County Disaster Management. Mike Afton, K0PY--president of the Intra-City UHF Club and local RACES HF officer--reports that the incident simulated the release of a mustard-gas type agent that could damage eyes, skin and airways by direct contact. Afton said that in addition to the many law enforcement, disaster management, paramedic, fire, US Army, and FBI personnel, two Amateur Radio Operators were stationed at the "bomb" site and another was in the county EOC. "Two large parking lots were taped off, and there were people lying on stretchers and others running around screaming [and] rubbing their eyes simulating being victims," Afton said. He says that ICUC member Mike Jennings, KB0BJS--who's also the Sedgwick County RACES ATV officer--drove the RACES emergency van to the site and operated one of the two ATV stations there. Afton deployed his own ATV-equipped vehicle. Using the club's ATV repeater and simplex frequencies, the two hams worked side-by-side to maintain a direct, live link from the simulation site to the EOC, staffed by Roger Teachman, KD0ME, who also was running the local RACES net. "The exercise was a success for ham radio and the community," Afton said. "We are here to serve in any way we can." Afton says ICUC club members equipped with mobile ATV are planning to provide live weather feeds to the EOC during weather-spotting for RACES operations. The ICUC also will deploy an ATV station at its Field Day operation this weekend.--Mike Afton, K0PY
| Previous: QRP with W6TOY: Dayton, and Watching Your Kids Grow Up | Next: Hams Keep Cool in Wake of Air Show Crash |
