Nov 21, 2001
(In alphabetical order: )
Amateur Radio will be
showcased at rescheduled TechFest: Amateur Radio will be on display December 1-2 at
the NBC 10 Family TechFest, held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in
center city Philadelphia and sponsored by
WCAU-TV, Channel 10. TechFest was postponed following the September 11
terrorist attacks. TechFest's theme is Improving Life Through
Technology. "Thanks to the efforts of Paul Sokoloff, WA3GFZ, and the ARRL,
Amateur Radio will be showcased to approximately 20,000 people expected to
attend this year's event," said Eastern Pennsylvania Public Information
Coordinator Bob Josuweit, WA3PZO. Josuweit
sees this convention as an opportunity to introduce Amateur Radio to others who
are interested in high tech. In addition to Josuweit, those organizing the ham radio aspects of the event for
the ARRL are Eastern Pennsylvania Section Manager Eric Olena, WB3FPL; ARRL Vice
President Kay Craigie, WT3P; and Atlantic Division Assistant Director Dennis
Silage, K3DS. "We're planning to introduce ham radio as a modern day hobby that
will help prepare our youth for careers in our wireless world," Olena said.
Craigie, WT3P, plans to take advantage of TechFest to talk with educators about
the ARRL Education Project--"The Big Project"--which will employ ham radio in
the classroom. Silage, recipient of the Atlantic Division Technical Achievement
Award, will coordinate a program to allow attendees to make a contact on 10
GHz. For more information on the TechFest, visit the Channel 10 Web
site.--Bob
Josuweit, WA3PZO
 ARRL Book Team Manager Jan Carman, K5MA (left), and Helen Dalton, KB1HLF, review Dalton's First Contact Certificate, while Larry Wolfgang, WR1B, displays QSLs from Dalton's first three contacts. |
ARRL HQ gains another ham: Book Team and Secretary Helen Dalton, KB1HLF, is the latest addition to the roster of hams on the ARRL HQ staff. Dalton received her Technician ticket November 19. The very next day she made her first four contacts in rapid succession. Senior Assistant Technical Editor Larry Wolfgang, WR1B, made the first lunch time 2-meter contact from his office to hers. That was followed in rapid succession by QSOs with Club and Educational Correspondent Margie Bourgoin, KB1DCO, and Educational Programs Coordinator Jean Wolfgang, WB3IOS. Dalton and 14 classmates graduated from a recent Technician licensing class at which ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, signed each student's certificate of class completion.
FAR announces 2002 scholarships: The Foundation for Amateur Radio, a non-profit organization headquartered in Washington, DC, plans to administer 62 scholarships for the 2002-2003 academic year. FAR--composed of more than 75 local area Amateur Radio Clubs--fully funds seven of these scholarships using the income from grants and its annual hamfest. The remaining 55 are administered by FAR without cost to the donors. Amateurs Radio licensees may compete for these awards, if they plan to pursue a full-time course of studies beyond high school and are enrolled in or have been accepted for enrollment at an accredited university, college or technical school. The awards range from $500 to $2500. Preference in some cases goes to residents of certain geographical areas or to those pursuing certain academic programs. FAR encouraged clubs--especially those in Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin--to announce and promote these scholarship opportunities. More information and an application may be requested by letter or QSL card, postmarked prior to April 30, 2002, to FAR Scholarships Post Office, Box 831, Riverdale, MD 20783. The Foundation for Amateur Radio is an exempt organization under §501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954. It is devoted exclusively to promoting the interests of Amateur Radio and those scientific, literary and educational pursuits that advance the purposes of the Amateur Radio Service. For more information, visit the FAR Web site.
FCC announces creation of Homeland Security Policy Council: The FCC has announced the creation of a Homeland Security Policy Council. The Council's missions are to assist the Commission in evaluating and strengthening measures for protecting US communications services; to assist the Commission in ensuring rapid restoration of communications services and facilities that have been disrupted as the result of threats to, or actions against, our Nation's homeland security; and to ensure that public safety, health and other emergency and defense personnel have effective communications available to them to assist the public as needed. The Homeland Security Policy Council will consist of senior staff from each of the Commission's bureaus and will be directed by FCC Chief of Staff Marsha MacBride. Deputy directors will be Linda Blair and Brad Berry, both deputy chiefs in the Enforcement Bureau. Peter Tenhula, Senior Legal Advisor to Chairman Powell, will serve as Special Counsel.
International Humanitarian Award nominations due December 31: How many "unsung heroes" are in the world today? December 31, 2001, is the nomination deadline for the ARRL 2001 International Humanitarian Award. This award is dedicated to those amateurs who, through Amateur Radio, are devoted to promoting the welfare of mankind. Any radio amateur or group of amateurs worldwide who has provided extraordinary service through their Amateur Radio skills for the benefit of others in times of crisis or disaster is qualified to receive the award. To nominate, send a brief description of the events and actions as well as contact information for the nominee to Jean Wolfgang, WB3IOS. The 2000 winner of the International Humanitarian Award was the Hurricane Watch Net and Net Manager Jerry Herman, N3BDW.
KD5OPQ does first space walk: International Space Station Expedition 3 Commander Frank Culbertson, KD5OPQ, and Pilot Vladimir Dezhurov conducted a five-hour space walk, or extra-vehicular activity (EVA)--as NASA calls it--on November 12. The EVA, Culbertson's first, completed the external outfitting of the PIRS docking compartment on the ISS. Flight Engineer Mikhail Tyurin monitored the activities from inside the ISS and operated the robotic arm, providing television views for flight controllers in Houston and Moscow. Science work aboard the station resumed this week. The Expedition 4 crew of Commander Yuri Onufrienko and Flight Engineers Dan Bursch, KC5PNU, and Carl Walz, KC5TIE, launches aboard the shuttle November 29. In addition to a new crew, new Amateur Radio antennas are manifested aboard the shuttle for transport to the ISS. The new antennas will be installed around the perimeter of the Service Module, allowing future operation from HF to microwave frequencies. The HF antenna is made up of a flexible tape that will work on 10-meters--and possibly 15 and 20 meters. The ISS is on orbit at an average altitude of 247 statute miles above Earth. For more information about the ISS, visit NASA's Human Space Flight Web site.--NASA, ARISS, via AMSAT News Service
 LARK President Val Alwin, W0LPG (left), accepts the ARRL 50-year Club Affiliation Certificate from Dakota Division Director Jay Bellows, K0QB. |
Lake Area club receives 50-year certificate: ARRL Dakota Division Director Jay Bellows, K0QB, recently presented the (South Dakota) Lake Area Radio Klub with a 50-year Club Affiliation Certificate. LARK president Val Alwin, W0LPG, accepted the certificate on behalf of his club.
Netherlands ARC SWL
contest to run concurrently with ARRL 10-Meter Contest: VERON,
the Society for Amateur Radio in The Netherlands will run an SWL contest
concurrently with the ARRL 10-Meter Contest December 15-16. Send SWL logs to
VERON SWL Contest Manager Lambert Wijshake.
New microwave column to debut in January QST: QST is proud to present the debut of a new bimonthly column, "Microwavelengths," starting in the January 2002 issue. The column editor is Tom Williams, WA1MBA. Williams holds a graduate degree in computer science and directs the development of imaging, software and millimeter-wave technologies as a consultant. His ham radio interests are primarily VHF, UHF and microwaves, and he is active on all bands from 144 MHz to 10 GHz from his home in Shutesbury, Massachusetts. He has done some pioneering work in the EHF bands of 120 and 145 GHz. Originally licensed as K1URO at the age of 15, Williams says he finds great satisfaction in getting on a new band and making a tough microwave contact.
Reminder: Be sure to identify properly when operating digital modes: The ARRL reminds operators who are active on the digital modes, including RTTY, PSK31, packet, PACTOR and AMTOR, to identify properly in accordance with FCC Part 97 rules (§97.119). The rules require a station (except space or telecommand stations) to transmit its assigned call sign on its transmitting frequency at the end of each communication and at least every 10 minutes during a communication. Part 97 also states: "No station may transmit unidentified communications or signals, or transmit as the station call sign any call sign not authorized to the station." Amateurs monitoring unidentified or otherwise suspicious digital transmissions should report details to FCC Special Counsel for Amateur Radio Enforcement Riley Hollingsworth. Recordings of such transmissions also are invited.
Two ARRL SMs engage in friendly, potentially embarrassing football rivalry: Either Michigan Section Manager Dick Mondro, W8FQT, and Ohio Section Manager Joe Phillips, K8QOE, have their pride riding on the outcome of the November 24 University of Michigan-Ohio State University football rivalry. Depending on who wins, one of the SMs will suffer a major embarrassment on the Internet. The Wolverines-Buckeyes rivalry is one of the longest in college football history, and the 98th outing will be played on the University of Michigan campus at Ann Arbor. Here's the wager: Should the Michigan Wolverines win, a photo of Phillips wearing a Michigan sweatshirt and kissing the cornerstone of "The Big House Stadium" at Ann Arbor will be posted on the Internet. Should the Ohio State Buckeyes win, the photo will be of Mondro, wearing an Ohio State sweatshirt and kissing a large buckeye. The University of Michigan currently leads the historic rivalry with 56 wins, 35 losses and 6 ties. More to the point, Michigan leads the series when it is played in Michigan Stadium with 29 wins, 16 losses and 4 ties. "I really don't understand how the Ohio Section Manager could be so naive as to wager on this," said Mondro. "He is going to look pretty silly on the Internet in that blue shirt with the Big 'M' on it--I hope the Ohio hams won't let him forget it." Mondro has invited Phillips to be his guest at the game.
Update: Heavy seas delay ham-sailor's arrival in Nassau: David Clark now hopes to celebrate Thanksgiving in Nassau, the Bahamas. He left Great Inagua on November 13, but information received via ham radio indicated that he had to resort to his onboard engine due to headwinds, which later became heavy. His wife, Lynda, reports he had initially hoped to be in Nassau last Saturday. "David said on the 18th that even trying to run under full power, he was unable to move in any direction except south, which would have him going the opposite direction he was trying to go," Lynda Clark said. After heaving to in rough seas for 24 hours, she said, he decided to head for George Town to wait for a shift in the weather. "David said he didn't have a chart to get into port and was using a chart on a table placemat, but was able to get a chart from a new friend, Jim, while he was there." Clark stayed in George Town for two days before departing Monday for Nassau. "When I talked to him tonight (November 20) via ham patch, he said he is now 72 miles away from Nassau and is at anchor on the Bahama Banks," Lynda Clark continued. "He will continue on under power and is still projecting his ETA in Nassau on Thursday around noon." A gala celebration is planned for Clark's arrival in Fort Lauderdale, Florida--where he departed two years ago--on December 7.
W1AW schedules transatlantic, OSCAR celebrations in December: Maxim Memorial Station W1AW will be on the air December 3-7 to honor the 80th anniversary of the 1921 transatlantic tests. Listen for W1AW/80 on many HF, VHF and UHF bands (including satellites). W1AW also will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first Amateur Radio satellite--OSCAR I--launched into orbit on December 12, 1961. W1AW will be on the air as W1AW/40 December 10-14 on as many of the active satellites as possible. A special QSL will be available for contacts or SWL reports on both events. QSL requests for W1AW/80 and W1AW/40, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111. Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope (or appropriate number of IRCs) with each request.
WRTC 2002 announces
remaining national team pairings: The WRTC 2002 committee has announced that all
national teams have now been selected for next year's event in Finland. Czech
Republic: Vojta Zeman, OK2ZU, and Karel Karmasin, OK2FD; Spain: Eduardo Satrk,
EA3NY, and Fernando Martines, EA3KU; Belgium: Mark Demeuleneere, ON4WW, and
Peter Casier, ON6TT; Poland: Bogdan Chorazyk, SP3RBR, and Andrzej Jarzabkowski,
SP8NR; France: Gerard Parat, F6GFZ, and Laurent Blin, F5NLY; Japan: Koji
Tahara, JM1CAX, and Satoshi Nakamura, JE1JKL; Italy: Stefano Brioschi, IK2QEI,
and Maurizio Panicara, I4JMY. Team Asiatic Russia has changed. The new team is
Mikhail Klokov, RZ9UA, and Gennadij Kolmakov, UA9MA. The deadline for
"wildcard" team applications is November 30, 2001. Visit the WRTC 2002 Web site for more information.
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