Jan 16, 2002
(In alphabetical order: )
ARRL
Foundation scholarship deadline looms: The deadline is fast approaching to apply for ARRL Foundation-sponsored
scholarships. Individual awards range from $500 to $5000. Don't delay! Send
scholarship applications with academic transcripts to The ARRL Foundation, 225
Main St, Newington CT 06111. The February 1, 2002, postmark deadline is
firm--there are no exceptions! For an application, visit the ARRL Foundation
Scholarship Programs Web page.
 Left to right, San Diego City Council member and Trolley Board Chairman Harry Mathis; Miller; San Diego Trolley President Langley Powell. [Evelyn Miller, N6EVE, Photo] |
ARRL Vice Director Receives Distinguished Service Award: ARRL Southwestern Division Vice Director Tuck Miller, NZ6T, of National City, California, has received the Distinguished Service Award of the San Diego Trolley system. While operating his trolley last October, Miller was asked to help a passenger who was unable to breathe. Immediately recalling his first aid training, Miller applied the Heimlich maneuver and successfully dislodged food blocking the passenger's airway. This act saved the passenger's life and earned Miller the highest civilian award conferred by the City of San Diego. Miller's actions were recognized at a ceremony at San Diego Trolley Headquarters on December 6, 2001.
Call for papers for Southeastern VHF Conference: The Southeastern VHF Society has issued its first call for papers for the sixth annual Southeastern VHF Conference. The conference will be held April 26-27 in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Registration, program details, hotel and travel information is available on the Society's Web site. The conference will include presentations from accomplished VHF-UHF Amateur Radio enthusiasts. In addition, the program will include antenna gain measurements, pre-amp gain and noise figure measurements, the Friday evening flea market with vendor displays, the Saturday afternoon auction and the Saturday evening banquet. To submit a paper for inclusion in the Conference Proceedings, contact Skip Coppola, KG4QDZ, kg4qdz@arrl.net. The submission deadline is March 1, 2002. Proceedings of the 2002 Southeastern VHF Society Conference will be available from ARRL.
Cambodia, Guinea operations approved for DXCC credit: Supporting documentation for theXU7ABZ, XU7ABW, XU7ABY and XU7ACA operations from Cambodia and the 3XY6A and 3XY8A operations from Guinea has been received and reviewed. The ARRL DXCC Desk has announced that these operations now are being accepted for DXCC credit. Those who submitted cards previously for any of these operations and were denied credit may contact DXCC and have their records updated without having to resubmit cards or include cards with your next submission. For more information, contact Century Clubs Manager Bill Moore, NC1L.
Continuing Legal Education Seminar set for Miami Tropical Hamboree 2002: ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, will conduct a Continuing Legal Education Seminar on February 1 in Doral, Florida, in conjunction with the Miami Tropical Hamboree. The session will be held at the Doral Hampton Inn from 1 to 5 PM. The $75 cost of the seminar includes a copy of Antenna Zoning for the Radio Amateur by Fred Hopengarten, K1VR--a $49.95 value. Those who have already purchased Hopengarten's book may attend for $25. The seminar will cover in-depth state and local antenna regulation, with a focus on amateur issues and other legal topics affecting Amateur Radio. Advance registration is required. Contact Linda Mullally, 860-594-0292, lmullally@arrl.org, to register. More information on Miami Tropical Hamboree 2002 is available on the Hamboree Web site.
 A cover of the old CQ VHF, which stopped publication in 1999 after three years. The publication returns as a quarterly in May. |
CQ VHF to return as a quarterly: CQ VHF will resume publication this spring as a quarterly magazine, publisher Richard Ross announced today. The magazine ceased publication in 1999. Longtime CQ magazine "VHF-Plus" Editor Joe Lynch, N6CL, will be editor of the new quarterly. The first issue is due out in May. In announcing the publication's return, CQ Communications noted that the "overwhelming majority" of US hams have license privileges that primarily permit operation above 50 MHz. "However, the prime focus of the current ham magazines remains HF," CQ Communications said in a news release announcing the change. CQ Communications said the revived CQ VHF was designed with marketplace realities in mind and "will rely primarily on subscription revenues to meet expenses." CQ Communications said CQ VHF "will retain the friendly, conversational, look and feel of the original, but its technical content will be somewhat higher-level." Other staffers will include former CQ VHF Editor and current CQ Editor Rich Moseson, W2VU, as editorial director. CQ Managing Editor Gail Schieber, K2RED, and CQ Advertising Manager Arnie Sposato, N2IQO, will handle those duties for CQ VHF. The magazine will be available by subscription for $25 per year in the US and over the counter at ham dealers.
Craig Mellinger, N2MNA, SK: Veteran satellite enthusiast and DXer Craig Mellinger, N2MNA, of Parsippany, New Jersey, died January 10, 2002. He was 71. Mellinger reportedly suffered from Parkinson's disease. "Craig was a good and loyal friend," said Jim Kelly, KK3K, "and remained an active ham as long as he was able." An ARRL member, Mellinger once authored a column in the OSCAR Satellite Report. Chip Margelli, K7JA, said Mellinger "was a great help to many satellite enthusiasts over the years, and really had his heart into everything he did." Mellinger's family has suggested donations to the Parkinson's Alliance organization, 211 College Rd East, Third Floor, Princeton, NJ 08540.--AMSAT News Service
 Dick Rutan, KB6LQS, explains the EZ Rocket engine during a press conference. |
Dick Rutan, KB6LQS, tests inexpensive rocket prototype: CNN reports that flight legend Dick Rutan, KB6LQS--the first person to fly non-stop around the world without refueling--this month conducted another test flight of a rocket prototype that, the report says, "could lead to relatively easy and inexpensive flights into space." The EZ-Rocket vehicle is a modified build-it-yourself hobby plane with twin 400-pound thrust engines and costing some $500,000 to make. The vehicle burns isopropyl alcohol and liquid oxygen. CNN says XCOR Aerospace of Mojave, California--the maker of the plane and the rocket-- "sees the test vehicle as the first step toward providing cheap, easy access to orbit for civilians." Rutan is the company's test pilot.
 The EZ Rocket in flight. [Mike Massee/XCOR Aerospace] |
The EZ-Rocket is not capable of reaching space, but the company is using the
launches to help raise the millions it will need to build its next-generation
vehicle--a supersonic design that can reach the edge of space. Rutan reportedly
took the plane up for a flight that lasted until the fuel ran out. He then
glided the vehicle back to the desert floor. Rutan used ham radio as his
primary means of communication during his round-the-world flight.
Hello, ARRL clubs! We hope 2002 is going well for you so far! We still have not heard from some clubs via our questionnaire on the ARRL Field and Educational Services "Club Companion" page. If you haven't already done so, take a few moments to fill out and return your comments to us. The deadline for submissions is February 14, 2002, Valentine's Day. Another reminder: Club Vanity E-mail is a wonderful benefit that all ARRL clubs should take advantage of. Instructions are available on the ARRL E-Mail Forwarding Service page. More than 250 ARRL-affiliated clubs now are using this service.
Help available for viewing and filing FCC comments: The ARRL Web site now offers help for those planning to file comments electronically with the FCC on petitions for rulemaking and other FCC proceedings that invite public comments. Visit the "How to File Comments on FCC Proceedings" page. Information on the page explains about the FCC's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) and includes practical tips on how to use it. The page also decodes some of the FCC's acronyms, such as NPRM, NOI and R&O, and explains their purpose in the regulatory process.
J. Dawson Ransome, W2SAI, SK: ARRL member John Ransome, W2SAI, of Ocala, Florida, died January 9. He was 81. Ransome served in the US Air Force in World War II and later was chief executive officer for Ransome Airlines. J. Dawson, as he liked to be called, was captain of the 1972 World Championship US Aerobatics team. He also was a long time member of the Frankford Radio Club. Survivors include his wife, Maryann, five children and three grandchildren.
 Don Lloyd, KD7BA, installs the NOAA Weather Radio antenna on Quarry Ridge in Park City, Utah. |
Olympic site is NOAA Weather Radio-ready, thanks to hams: With the help of local Amateur Radio operators in the Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah, area, the Olympic village in Park City has 24-hour NOAA Weather Radio coverage. "There was absolutely no weather radio coverage in Park City due to the mountain range between our SLC transmitter and Park City," said Joe Lachacz, KF6NHD, a NOAA Weather Radio Specialist. Steve Mainwaring NZ6Z, Don Lloyd, KD7BA, and Greg Lundell, K7UHP, installed the NOAA Weather Radio on Quarry Ridge in Park City. Olympic venues in Park City include bobsledding, luge and downhill skiing.--Joe Lachacz, KF6NHD
 Valley RACES members assist from the RACES communications van. |
Pennsylvania RACES members activate for nursing home fire: Hams responded December 15, 2001, after fire broke out at Cedarbrook County Home in South Whitehall Township. The blaze soon was upgraded to a four-alarm fire. Dispatchers notified local Emergency Management Agency Coordinator James Kelly, KA3UQP, and Lehigh County EMA Director John Conklin, and Kelly began opening temporary shelters in anticipation of the evacuation of the 515 residents. He also notified the South Whitehall EMA team that included Jeff Kelly, N3MFT, who is the Township EMA Communications Officer, Lehigh County Emergency Coordinator and RACES Radio Officer. It was agreed that RACES would be activated to staff the shelters and provide additional support. Deputy RACES Officer Bruce Bobo, KB3FIH, also was notified to assist and a net was established. RACES members were deployed to the scene as well as at shelter locations and the local trauma center. Bobo directed operations from the county's mobile command center at the fire scene. Over the next 24 hours, more than two dozen RACES members helped to provide communications until temporary shelters had shut down and residents transported to appropriate care. On December 17, Lehigh County EMA contacted Kelly for RACES to assist in coordinating the return of patients to the facility, which received smoke and water damage. Bobo said RACES was called back in to help because it was determined that the amateur system had the best communications coverage over the four-county area where patients had been sheltered temporarily. Bobo set up a mobile command center at Cedarbrook. Kelly called in additional help from the Northampton County RACES team via RACES Officer Dick Deck, KA3MOU, and Deputy RACES Officer Jeff Keller, N3QZT. More than 20 RACES members from Lehigh and Northampton counties provided support for the safe return of all 515 residents. Authorities expressed appreciation to the RACES teams and for use of the W3OI 146.94, W3OK 146.70 and N3MFT 448.775 MHz repeaters.--Jeff Kelly, N3MFT
Team USA forming for 2002 ARDF World Championships: The Slovak Amateur Radio Association (SARA) will host the 11th World Championships of Amateur Radio Direction Finding September 2-7 in the Slovak Republic. Participants are divided into five categories for men and four categories for women, in accordance with newly approved ARDF rules of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU). Each country may have up to three members per category on its team. The US$300 per-person entry fee includes hotel accommodations (double occupancy), meals, local transportation to the Championships events, and fees for the cultural program. The fee is US$150 for entrants arranging their own camping accommodations and providing their own meals. IARU societies for each participating country must submit a Letter of Intent with tentative team size by January 31. ARRL and IARU Region 2 ARDF coordinator Joe Moell, K0OV, says he needs a preliminary head count of interested radio-orienteers as soon as possible. Those interested in competing as part of Team USA at the 2002 ARDF World Championships should notify Moell via e-mail immediately. Include full name and mailing address, home telephone number, and date of birth. Entry fees are due in full to the organizers by July 15, 2002. Team member selection will be based on performances in the first USA ARDF Championships last August and the second USA ARDF Championships in Atlanta this April. For more information, visit the World Championships Web site. For more information on Team USA, radio-orienteering in the USA, and the upcoming USA Championships near Atlanta, visit Moell's "Homing In" Web site.
UNHCR seeks telecommunications technicians: The office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the UN refugee agency, seeks consultant telecommunication technicians to work in remote and difficult locations. Candidates must hold a recognized Telecommunications Technician's Certificate gained through an examination--or have gained an equivalent qualification through military service--and have a minimum of three years of work experience, ideally, working in a similar field environment. Candidates must have practical experience installing HF and VHF/UHF radio equipment and be willing to work on towers at heights of up to 30 m (approximately 100 feet). Alternatively candidates may have equivalent experience installing and maintaining fixed satellite Earth-station equipment, with a minimum dish diameter of 2.4 meters. Among other skills and capabilities, candidates should have experience troubleshooting and repairing digital and analog surface-mount PC boards, and good computer skills (Windows), as well as practical knowledge of electrical power distribution and safe working practices. Employment is on a short-term contract basis of up to 11 months. An application form (P.11) may be obtained via e-mail. The closing date for completed applications is January 21. Return applications to UNHCR (ref: GP) Vacancy Management Unit, UNHCR, CP2500, Geneva 2 Dépôt, CH‑1211 SWITZERLAND or fax (+41 22) 739-7322. Acknowledgments will be sent to candidates under serious consideration.
Wisconsin SM issues call for support of pending antenna bill: Wisconsin Section Manager Don Michalski, W9IXG, is asking hams in the Badger State to contact their legislators to encourage support for the pending Amateur Radio antenna bill, AB-368. The bill would incorporate the essence of the limited federal preemption known as PRB-1 into Wisconsin law. "In the near future, it is due to go to the Senate floor for vote," Michalski said this week. "This is one of the final steps necessary for passage." Michalski asked Wisconsin hams to contact their state lawmakers to prompt senators Chuck Chvala and Fred Risser to hear the bill on the Senate floor. "Sen Chvala is the gatekeeper, so we need his acceptance to at least put it to vote by the Senate," Michalski explained. Risser is managing the bill in the Senate and supported AB-368 at the Senate hearing. Michalski circulated a sample letter drafted by Wisconsin Section Government Liaison Jim Lackore, AD9X, for hams to use as a model in contacting their lawmakers. The letter notes that there are 12,000 amateurs in Wisconsin and urges the recipient to "encourage the Senate leadership to schedule AB-368 (Amateur Radio FCC PRB-1 Amateur Radio Antenna Protection Act) for consideration as soon as possible during the upcoming session of the Legislature and to support its passage." AB-368 was passed by the Assembly and favorably reported out of the Senate Government Operations Committee last fall. The sample letter points out Amateur Radio's public service contribution in emergencies and disasters. If approved, AB-368 would require that ordinances or resolutions affecting the placement, screening or height of Amateur Radio antennas or support structures have a "reasonable and clearly defined aesthetic, public health or safety objective." Such an ordinance or resolution also must represent "the minimum practical regulation" necessary to accomplish the locality's objectives and must reasonably accommodate Amateur Radio communication. A copy of the pending legislation is available on the Wisconsin Legislature Web site.
WRTC
2002 announces wild card teams: After a review of applications and other information, the WRTC 2002
Organizing Committee has announced the selection of 16 wild card teams. The
following teams have been invited to compete at WRTC 2002 in July: Wolfgang
Klier, OE2VEL, and Carl Maurer, OE9MON; Frank Grossmann, DL2CC, and Wilfried
Gottschald, DJ7AA; Igor Booklan, RA3AUU, and Andrei Karpov, RV1AW; Krzystof
Sobon, SP7GIQ, and Kazimierz Drzewiecki, SP2FAX; Tine Brajnik, S50A, and Franc
Bogataj, S59AA; Tomi Ylinen, OH6EI, and Kari Lehtimäki, OH2XX; Chris Burger,
ZS6EZ, and Bernie van der Walt, ZS4TX; Ivo Pezer, 5B4ADA, and Marios Nicolaou,
5B4WN; Vladimir Vinichenko, UN9LW, and Alex Sytov, UN7LAN; Vladimir Umanets,
UA9BA, and Nickolai Perminov, RN9AO; Dale Green, VE7SV, and Andrew Ponzini,
VE7AHA; Tim Duffy, K3LR, and Patrick Barkey, N9RV; Rich Smith, N6KT, and Glenn
Rattmann, K6NA; James Neiger, N6TJ, and Richard Norton, N6AA; Claudio Gabriel
Fernandez, LU7DW, and Martin Monsalvo, LW9EUJ; Sergio Lima de Almeida, PP5JR,
and Marcelo Gomes da Silva, PY1KN. The WRTC Organizing Committee has reserved
the right to add teams, should circumstances dictate. WRTC 2002 will take place in Finland from
July 9-16, 2002. The on-air competition
will be held in conjunction with the International Amateur Radio Union
(IARU) HF World Championship. During WRTC
2002, 50 two-person teams representing top operators from more than 30
countries will vie for gold, silver and bronze medals in both on and
off-the-air events. More information is available on the WRTC 2002 Web site--WRTC 2002 Organizing Committee
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