Jan 9, 2003
(In alphabetical order: )
California RACES team responds to gas leak:
The Huntington Beach, California, Fire Department called upon the Huntington Beach Radio Amateur Civil Emergency
Service (RACES) group December 11 after a natural gas leak
occurred. Nine fire companies responded to the alarm. The Huntington Beach
RACES team established a controlled net and initiated the RACES incident
command system. Twenty RACES members responded to the incident command center
at the scene of the leak, to the Huntington Beach emergency operations center
and to a care and reception center for displaced residents. Tim Sawyer, WD6AWP,
served as net control operator. Huntington Beach RACES Chief Radio Officer
Steven Graboff, W6GOS--a physician--responded to the care and reception center
and provided cellular, Amateur Radio, American Red Cross and fire department
radio communication. RACES communications were utilized exclusively throughout
the event, since as the city's cell phone system was not functioning. "Between
the RACES communicators and the CERT [Community Emergency Response Team]
shelter team, no additional city or Red Cross personnel were needed, and the incident
was handled very well," said Huntington Beach Fire Department Emergency
Services Coordinator Glorria Morrison, KE6ATG. "This is an example of how
volunteers can be utilized to provide emergency services to the City of
Huntington Beach at no cost and no drain to city resources." Other available
RACES members maintained radio watch on the net and prepared for a 12-hour
deployment. Within 90 minutes, the fire department advised RACES that the
problem was under control and the emergency was over. Residents were allowed to
return to their homes. No injuries were reported. The Huntington Beach Fire
Department Emergency Services Office administers the RACES team.
 [Vivian Rothwell Photo] |
K6ZT elected president of engineering honor society: ARRL Life Member Tom Rothwell, K6ZT, has been elected president of Eta Kappa Nu, the national honor society for electrical and computer engineering. Rothwell was elected to membership in 1953 while attending the University of Southern California. He is a retired Hughes Aircraft Company group vice president and division manager. First licensed in early 1947, he spent three years in the US Air Force, much of it in postwar Japan, where he held the call signs J5AAL, J2AAL and JA3AA. (He won the CQ World Wide DX CW contest for Japan in 1948 and the ARRL International DX Contest--Phone and CW--for Japan in 1949.) An Extra class licensee, Rothwell still enjoys chasing DX on CW. He lives in Los Alamitos, California. Founded in 1904, Eta Kappa Nu has some 100,000 members and chapters at more than 200 colleges with accredited curricula in electrical or computer engineering
Marine TV antennas may interfere with
navigation systems: The US Coast Guard is warning all
mariners that certain marine TV antennas may interfere with the performance of
Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers. "The interference can result in
inaccurate position information or a complete loss of GPS signals, since the
interference is not limited to the GPS equipment onboard the vessel with the
antenna," the Coast Guard said in a news release. The Coast Guard says that in
some cases, vessels up to 2000 feet away from an "active" TV antenna reported
interference. The FCC identified several antenna models as having potential
problems during investigations of GPS interference: TDP (Tandy Distribution
Products) Electronics MINI STATE Electronic Amplified UHF/VHF TV Antenna,
models 5MS740, 5MS750 and 5MS921; Radio Shack Corporation Long Range Amplified
Omni Directional TV Antenna, model 15-1624; and Shakespeare Corporation
SeaWatch, models 2040 (Code date 02A00) and 2050 (Code date 03A00). "If
mariners experience outages or degradation of their GPS receiver operation,
they should perform an on-off test of their marine TV antenna," the Coast Guard
advised. "If turning off the power to the antenna results in improvement in the
GPS receiver performance, the antenna may be the source of interference." The
Coast Guard says that in such cases, owners should contact the antenna
manufacturer and identify the symptoms. The Coast Guard also stressed that the
GPS interference problem may not be limited to the models listed and asked
mariners that identify other models with the potential for GPS interference to contact
the 24-hour Navigation Information Service at nisws@navcen.uscg.mil; 703-313-5900.--US Coast
Guard Eighth District news release
Maritime Mobile Service Network celebrates
35th anniversary: The Maritime Mobile Serice Network
(MMSN) marked its 35th anniversary on January 3. The net now operates on 14.300
MHz. According to Bobby Graves, KB5HAV, the net's original purpose was to
assist those serving in the US military during the Vietnam War. In its early years,
the MMSN saw a lot of phone patch traffic--an estimated 10,000 pieces of
traffic were handled each year during the net's first decade. "Our primary
purpose now is that of handling legal third-party traffic from maritime
mobiles, both pleasure and commercial and overseas deployed military
personnel," said Graves, who serves as the nets schedule coordinator and
Webmaster. "We also help missionaries in foreign countries as well." The MMSN
has grown from its original nine founding members to nearly 60 net control
stations and relief operators. It's recognized by the US Coast Guard and has
been instrumental in handling hundreds of
incidents involving vessels in distress. During severe weather, the net
also acts as a weather beacon for ships and relays weather warnings and
bulletins from the National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center.
"The Maritime Mobile Service Network has a legacy of serving people and will
continue to do so," Graves said. "It is due to the selfless volunteering of
amateur Radio operators who donate of their time to train and be ready to help
each and every day."
New Jersey Legislature honors Amateur Radio's
9/11 role: The New Jersey Legislature honored the role
of Amateur Radio operators in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001,
terrorist attacks. On hand to witness a joint proclamation December 12 were
ARRL Hudson Division Director Frank Fallon, N2FF, Hudson Division Vice Director
Steve Mendelsohn, W2ML, Northern New Jersey Section Manager Bill Hudzik, W2UDT,
and Bergen County District Emergency Coordinator Mike Adams, WA2MWT, who's also
a member of the New Jersey PRB-1 Task Force. "I would like to take this
opportunity to commend you for your hard work and efforts," said Assembly
Speaker Albio Sires. "During times of disaster, your group has displayed
superior service and dedication to the safety of our citizens. I applaud the
efforts of the independent radio operators and thank you for your selfless
actions on September 11, 2001. Allow me to express my sincere gratitude for
your participation with the New Jersey General Assembly on this day, December
12, 2002." On behalf of the amateur contingent, Hudzik thanked the 80 members
of the Assembly. Among the cosponsors of the resolution was Assemblyman Matthew
Ahearn, KB2PNN, a Democrat from Fair Lawn and sponsor of an Amateur Radio
antenna bill, Assembly Bill A3065. While in the state capital of Trenton, the
ham radio contingent took the opportunity to promote A3065, "The Amateur Radio
Antenna Bill," which would codify the limited preemption known as PRB-1 into
New Jersey's statutes. In addition, the measure would preclude local ordinances
or regulations that effectively prohibit an antenna support structure of 70
feet or less above ground level exclusive of any antenna upon the structure.
The measure has been assigned to the Housing and Local Government Committee
chaired by Assy Jerry Green (D-Plainfield). The text of the proposed legislation is available on
the New Jersey Legislature Web site. Search on "A3065" in the "Bill Search"
engine. Interested New Jersey amateurs may contact Ahearn via e-mail. Assemblyman Ahearn
will be seeking cosponsors in the General Assembly and the Senate. Amateurs may
contact their state lawmakers to express their opinions on the bill or to urge
their cosponsorship. Visit the New
Jersey Legislature page and look under "Members--Find Your Legislator."--Michael
Adams, WA2MWT
Packet users requested to not send e-mail messages to ISS crew: Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) International Chairman Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, has requested that amateurs refrain from sending e-mail to the ISS crew via the onboard RS0ISS Personal Message System (PMS). "The crew is not answering the e-mail, and we really don't expect them to." he said. "If things change, we'll let you know." Reports have indicated that the ISS packet mailbox is filling up with unread messages, many of them greetings to the crew or holiday greetings. The all-ham Expedition 6 ISS crew consists of Crew Commander Ken Bowersox, KD5JBP, cosmonaut Nikolai Budarin, RV3FB, and astronaut Don Pettit, KD5MDT. Pettit has been on the air making some casual Amateur Radio QSOs in recent weeks.
 Expedition 6 crewmembers, wearing Russian Sokol suits, pose for a crew photo in the functional cargo block (FGB), or Zarya, on the ISS. Pictured are Don Pettit, KD5MDT, Nikolai Budarin, RV3FB (left back), and mission commander Ken Bowersox, KD5JBP. [NASA Photo] |
Pettit to sub for Budarin during spacewalk: International Space Station astronaut and NASA Space Station Science Officer Don Pettit, KD5MDT, will fill in for Russuan cosmonaut and Flight Engineer Nikolai Budarin, RV3FB, on a January 15 spacewalk or extra-vehicular activity--EVA. Pettit and Expedition 6 mission commander Ken Bowersox, KD5JBP, will spend more than six hours in space working on the ISS. "Pettit replaced Budarin because on-orbit medical data raised concerns among US flight surgeons responsible for medical certification of spacewalk activity," NASA said this week in a statement. "This decision does not affect Budarin's other on-orbit duties. Both NASA and the Russian Aviation and Space Agency have agreed to the personnel change for the EVA." NASA said that because of privacy concerns, no further information would be made public. Associated Press has quoted Russian space officials as saying that Budarin failed to meet US standards in tests on a stationary bicycle. Budarin, 49, is a veteran of eight spacewalks. AP quoted Russian officials as saying that they were aware of the "peculiarities" of Budarin's cardiovascular system and that he is healthy enough to do the spacewalk. Until US flight surgeons delayed it, the EVA was scheduled to take place last month. Pettit, 47, himself was a last-minute fill-in for Don Thomas, KC5FVF, who was pulled from the Expedition 6 crew because flight surgeons worried about his exposure to radiation in space. During the EVA, Bowersox and Pettit will continue outfitting the newly delivered Port One truss segment. The work includes deployment of a radiator and other procedures to prepare ISS components for future assembly flights. Expedition 6 was launched aboard space shuttle Endeavour last November 23. The crew will remain aboard the ISS until March. The Expedition 6 crew also will be the first to not host any guests--either from Soyuz taxi missions or the space shuttle.
Special event from former WCC to celebrate Marconi centennial: Special event station WA1WCC will be on the air during "Marconi Week," January 11-19, from the former WCC Marconi-RCA-MCI shore station operations center in Chatham, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod. Look for WA1WCC on or about 7.040 and 14.040 MHz on CW and 7.260 and 14.285 MHz SSB. The event, sponsored by the WCC Amateur Radio Association, marks the 100th anniversary of Guglielmo Marconi's first successful wireless transmission between the US and Europe. A message was sent by the Marconi station in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, on January 18, 1903. By 1914, Marconi had built a new safer and more up to date station in nearby Chatham on Ryder's Cove. The former WCC facility will be open to the public from 9 AM until 5 PM Eastern Time. Plans are under way for Marconi's daughter, Princess Elettra Marconi, to visit Chatham January 16. She is scheduled to visit another special event, KM1CC, at the former Eastham Coast Guard station on January 18. At one time, WCC was described as the busiest ship-to-shore station on the US eastern seaboard. The Chatham Marconi Maritime Center is sponsoring a series of educational events for the public during Marconi Week.--Chatham Marconi Maritime Center Inc newsletter
 Andrew Slater with a Kent Titanic replica, a Soviet TKF military key, a Lionel J-38 and a Bendix MT-11B. Not shown was the J-37 key in a US Army Signal Corps TG-5-B telegraph set. |
Straight Key Night a hit for young ham:
Thirteen-year-old Amateur Extra licensee Andrew Slater, K4PUF, of Sandston,
Virginia, participated in the 2003 ARRL
Straight Key Night (SKN). He logged QSOs while using five different keys,
including the four shown here. Andrew is the son of proud papa Parke Slater,
N4KFT. ARRL Straight Key Night is held every New Year's Day UTC.
 [Art Goddard, W6XD, Photo] |
What's the fashion-conscious ham wearing
these days?: We all know that hams are some of the
most fashionable folks around. And if you're into pedestrian HF mobile
operations, you're bound to turn heads almost anywhere--even at a hamfest. At
the recent Superstition Amateur Radio Club hamfest in Mesa, Arizona, Bob
Kimbrell, W7KU, drew a crowd as he sauntered around the swapmeet all the while
chatting with his fellow "HFpack" cronies on 18.1575 MHz. Kimbrell's rig
consists of a Yaesu FT-817, an aluminum backpack frame, a whip antenna and a
single "radial" wire trailing behind. Stopping by the ARRL booth with his broad
smile, Kimbrell's ability to carry on two conversations allowed him to fill in
ARRL Southwestern Division Director Art Goddard, W6XD, on HFpack operation while maintaining his QSO on
17 meters. As shown by W7KU, worldwide HF communication on foot is among the
"in" things this year.
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