Oct 2, 2003
(In alphabetical order: )
AMSAT-NA announces Board of Directors
election results: AMSAT-NA has announced the results
of its recent Board of Directors' election. Elected to two-year terms were Rick
Hambly, W2GPS; Robin Haighton, VE3FRH, who's also AMSAT-NA president; Barry
Baines, WD4ASW; and Gunter Meisse, W8GSM. As the fifth top vote getter, Lou
McFadin, W5DID, will assume the board seat recently vacated by the resignation
of former AMSAT-NA President Keith Baker, KB1SF. First alternate is Lee McLamb,
KU4OS. The results were announced this week by AMSAT-NA Corporate Secretary
Martha Saragovitz, who reports that 1062 total votes were cast in the mail
balloting. Haighton recently announced the honorary appointments of several
prominent AMSAT-NA members and former officers as "senior advisors." Named in
recognition of long service to the AMSAT-NA Board of Directors and the AMSAT
membership were Bill Tynan, W3XO; Perry Klein, W3PK; Dick Daniels, W4PUJ; Jan
King, W3GEY; Ray Soifer, W2RS; and Keith Baker, KB1SF. The senior advisors have a group e-mail address.
"Their individual and collective experience with AMSAT, most of it since the
early days of AMSAT's foundation, is such that their value in remaining active
with the organization cannot be overstated," Haighton said in naming the six.
"Their new title, while being honorary, will I hope signify the high esteem in
which we hold these individuals." Haighton also has named Steve Diggs, W4EPI,
as an assistant to the president. Among his first duties will be to assist at
the Board of Directors meeting in October.--AMSAT News Service
 ARRL Arkansas SM Dennis Schaefer, W5RZ (right), receives a check for the BPL Defense Fund from ARVARF President J.J. Smith, K5RPD. |
Arkansas club foundation donates to BPL
campaign: The Arkansas River Valley Amateur Radio
Foundation, Russellville, Arkansas, voted to donate $500 to the ARRL's
Broadband over Power Line (BPL) Defense Fund.
"This was after I showed the BPL test area video at a club meeting," said ARRL
Arkansas Section Manager Dennis Schaefer, W5RZ. There's more information,
including video, on the ARRL "Broadband Over
Power Line (BPL) and Amateur Radio" Web page.
 [Photo courtesy of FARA] |
ARRL Instructor of the Year Award presented: Ed Weiss, W1NXC, of Ashland, Massachusetts, received the prestigious ARRL Herb S. Brier (W9AD) Instructor of the Year Award for 2002 on September 11 at the Framingham Amateur Radio Association's "Night Out" dinner. Named for the late, long-time CQ Novice column editor, the award honors an individual who represents the spirit of Brier's effective and caring Amateur Radio instruction. Weiss's past students credit his positive attitude, dedication to ham radio and upbeat, attentive and encouraging style. Presenting a plaque and a gift certificate were ARRL New England Division Director Tom Frenaye, K1KI, and Eastern Massachusetts Section Manager Phil Temples, K9HI. Many club members testified to Ed's ceaseless and unwavering commitment to teaching Amateur Radio classes over the span of many years.
 Astronaut Don Pettit, KD5MDT, aboard the ISS as part of the Expedition 6 crew. [NASA Photo] |
Astronaut-ham kicks off NASA's "Blast Back to
School" program: NASA astronaut Don Pettit,
KD5MDT--who recently returned from a four-month mission on the International
Space Station--this week kicked off the agency's "Blast Back to School"
program. Pettit launched the initiative with students from Anne Beers
Elementary School in Washington, DC. The Blast Back to School sampler includes
a NASA notebook, stickers, ruler, eraser, pencil, pen, posters, mission
photographs, information about NASA-related careers, links to NASA educational
Web sites and classroom activities. The sampler, developed for elementary
schoolers, is an initiative of NASA's Central Operation of Resources for
Educators (CORE)--the distribution center for NASA-produced multimedia
materials. "With the "Blast Back to School" sampler, NASA has the opportunity to
reach out to students at a young age to begin nurturing what we hope will be a
long relationship that will inspire them," said Adena Williams Loston, NASA
Associate Administrator for Education. "We are looking to engage students in
NASA's unique missions and discoveries by feeding their natural curiosities
about air, space and Earth as only NASA can." Pettit and others will encourage
students to see learning math and science in a whole new light. Anne Beers
Elementary School is one of 50 competitively selected NASA Explorer Schools
(NES). NASA developed the NES program to spark innovative science and
mathematics instruction directed specifically at students in grades four
through nine. For more information about NASA CORE and to order Blast Back to
School samplers, visit the CORE Web site.
For information about other NASA education programs, visit the NASA education page.
"Big Project" pilot school thinking big: The North Garland Magnet School in Texas--an Amateur Radio Education and Technology Program ("The Big Project") pilot school--reports it's one-sixth of the way toward completing the installation of its new Amateur Radio tower. "Keeping with the whole 'Texas Size' thing, we have completed our first stage in creating a radio club with the installation of our 60-foot tower," reports North Garland High School's Assistant Principal Steve Mininger. He said Jay Terleski, WX0B, of Array Solutions--the school's ham radio advisor--has been a major help. "Not only has this project been his brainchild, but he has contributed quite significantly," Mininger said. He also expressed his appreciation to Daniel Simmons of AN Wireless for giving the school "a good deal" on the tower. "We hope to be up and running within the next couple of months," Mininger said.
Brazilian special event to mark International Disaster Reduction Day: Amateur Radio special event station ZY2A in Brazil will mark International Disaster Reduction Day October 4-5 (UTC). Activity will be on all HF bands and include SSB, CW and digital modes. Promoting the activity are the Ministry of National Integration, the National Secretary of Civil Defense, the Brazilian Amateur Radio League (LABRE--Liga Brasileira de Amadores de Radio Emissão) and the coordinators of the National Amateur Radio Emergency Network (RENER--Rede Nacional de Emergência de Radioamadores). "Natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, landslides, shipwrecks and others cause huge financial expenses and the loss of many precious human lives," an announcement said. "The consciousness of society is fundamental to prevent and minimize its effects." The sponsors noted that the importance in a disaster of having groups, such as Amateur Radio operators, organized and prepared to immediately help in the event of a disaster or emergency. Amateurs contacting and QSLing ZY2A will receive a special commemorative QSL card. The ZY2A QSL manager is Faria Franco, PT2AA.
DXCC Desk approves several Iraqi operations for DXCC credit: The following Iraqi operations are approved for DXCC credit: YI1BGD (on hold from March 18, 2003, and after. If previously rejected, contact the DXCC Desk to have your record updated); YI3DX, YI/9Y4RD, YI/4L4FN, YI/SM4UZM, YI/SM3VRO, YI/SM0URK, YI/SM5WTI and YI/SM5VOH. For more information, contact DXCC Manager Bill Moore, NC1L.
DXCC Desk urges patience in Annual List
posting: Due to the September rush, it will take some
time to log all submissions for the DXCC Annual List. This includes all mail
from September 15 through September 30. The DXCC Desk apologizes for the delay
and anticipates that all submissions will be logged by Friday, October 10, and
will appear in the "List of DXCC
Applications Received" on the DXCC Web site. All mail postmarked by
September 30 will be acceptable for this Annual List period.
FCC issues notice regarding non-compliant battery chargers: The FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) laboratory has determined that certain vehicle battery chargers manufactured and distributed in the United States by Vector Products are not in compliance with Part 15 technical standards. The FCC said its Enforcement Bureau recently obtained six Vector Smart battery chargers--models VEC086, VEC087, VEC088, VEC090, VEC092 and VEC093--from several different retailers and submitted the devices to the OET Lab for testing to determine whether they comply with Part 15. "All of the devices were labeled as being in compliance with the Part 15 rules," the FCC said in a public notice. "However, the OET Laboratory tested the devices and determined that all six models significantly exceed the emission limits set forth in Part 15." The Commission said that because the devices significantly exceeded Part 15 emission limits, "they present a serious potential for harmful interference to licensed radio services." The FCC said the Enforcement Bureau is considering "appropriate enforcement action" against Vector for importing and marketing radio frequency devices that do not comply with the FCC's technical standards in violation of §302(b) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and §2.803(a) of the rules. The FCC said its public notice was intended to warn retailers that continued marketing of the six models of Vector battery chargers it tested will constitute violations and may result in sanctions, including fines.
John W. "Jack" Pegues, W4APE, SK: A well-known and well-liked South Carolina amateur, Jack Pegues, W4APE, of Cheraw, died September 19 after a lengthy illness. He was 59. "He was so involved in Amateur Radio, that he wanted his call sign on his grave marker," said ARRL Regulatory Information Specialist John Hennessee, N1KB, a native of Cheraw who had known Pegues for years. "His wishes were for donations to go to help maintain his five repeaters, which he quietly paid himself for years so that others could use them." Repeaters bearing Pegues's call sign in Cheraw, Bishopville, Florence, Pageland and Timmonsville, South Carolina, are part of the The Palmetto Amateur Link System (PALS). Pegues and several friends linked his repeaters with four others to provide coverage from Myrtle Beach on the coast to Charlotte, North Carolina, and from Charleston to Chester, South Carolina. An ARRL member, Pegues was licensed in 1978. He served as a local National Weather Service observer for more than 20 years and was the ARES Emergency Coordinator for Cheraw. A service was held September 21 in Cheraw, and members of the Amateur Radio community served as honorary pallbearers. Survivors include his wife and son. Additional information and an in memoriam page are available on the South Carolina Web site.
 Carol Wilson, KC0DTQ, the winner of the "Kneeknocker" contest. [Pete Rawson, N3VW, Photo] |
"Kneeknocker" key puts new spin on QLF: At its annual Campfest August 24, the Mountain Amateur Radio Club of Woodland Park, Colorado, came up with a new twist on an old idea. Many conventions and other events hold a "QLF" contest to see how well contestants can send CW using their left foot. MARC members decided to "update" the contest with an iambic paddle that's operated by knee pressure. Wes Wilson, K0HBZ, came up with the design, and Dean Haskins, KA0PII, constructed the "kneeknocker" paddle--dubbed the IRK-1 (for "iambic redwood keyer-model number one"). The construction had to allow for gap, spring tension, adjustable knee height and a stable platform. "Building the Kneeknocker was harder than operating it," Haskins remarked. Carol Wilson, KC0DTQ, was the winner of the "Kneeknocker" contest.--Jeff Ryan, K0RM
 Miss Florida, Ericka Dunlap, who went on to become Miss America 2004, visited the K2BR special event in Atlantic City a few days before the final competition. [Jan Scheuerman, WA2YL, Photo] |
Miss America special event station hosts special visitor: Miss Florida, Ericka Dunlap, who went on to claim the title of Miss America 2004, was among the visitors to Amateur Radio special event station K2BR during pageant week in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Marking its 32nd year, the Southern Counties Amateur Radio Association (SCARA)-sponsored special event September 15 through 20 logged some 500 contacts by a team of 16 operators, who also got to enjoy pageant rehearsals and meet the contestants as they entered or left Boardwalk Hall. "Photo ops abounded, and we had a great opportunity to speak about ham radio when people inquired what we were hearing about the hurricane," said ARRL Southern Florida Section Traffic Manager Jan Scheuerman, WA2YL, who coordinated this year's K2BR special event. "While Isabel raged, we tried to keep one radio on the Hurricane Watch Net frequency, to keep up with the latest coordinates." K2BR also set up a message center and took radiograms from contestants and others, which were put into National Traffic System local and Section nets. SCARA members also provided communication for the Boardwalk Parade Friday, September 19. Scheuerman said she and another Florida operator, John Burik, K3QC, were delighted when their state's contestant was crowned Miss America 2004.--Jan Scheuerman, WA2YL
Newfoundland club to continue 60-meter
experimental work: Marconi Radio Club of
Newfoundland club station VO1MRC has resumed experimentation on 60 meters. Radio Amateurs of Canada had recommended
that Industry Canada grant the club's request to continue its work on the 5-MHz
band through the end of 2003. Newfoundland-Labrador RAC Section Manager Joe
Craig, VO1NA, at VO1MRC worked ARRL Senior News Editor Rick Lindquist, N1RL, in
Massachusetts on September 27 for the first Canada-US two-way amateur contact
on 60 meters. VO1MRC was operating on CW, while N1RL was on SSB. Craig reports
he was running a Canadian Marconi CH-150 at 75 W to a half-wave vertical. The
experiment is authorized to operate on a "no protection, non-interference
basis" to primary users. VO1MRC may run up to 100 W on CW or USB phone "to
compare propagation up to several hundred miles between 80, 60 and 40 meters."
Last December, VO1MRC completed a crossband (5 MHz/7 MHz) CW contact with VK7RO
in Tasmania. There more information on the VO1MRC 5 MHz Experiment
Web pages. Experimental operations on 5 MHz also continue on a limited basis in
the United Kingdom.
 [AE6MH Photo] |
Oklahoma research balloon carries Amateur
Radio payloads to new heights: The Oklahoma Research
Balloon launched September 14 reached an altitude of more than 77,000 feet --
"an Okie first," said Rich Conn, KD5JXU. The balloon lifted off at around 7:30
AM from Collinsville, Oklahoma, and was recovered about three hours later near
Tiff, Oklahoma. Onboard APRS was used to determine its altitude. In addition to
APRS, ORB-5--as it was called--carried a 2-meter FM CW beacon. "Soon we will be
launching ORB-6 expecting to reach 80,000+ feet," Conn said. The ORB-6 payload
will include a UHF/VHF crossband repeater, APRS and a CW beacon. For more
information, visit the Northeast Oklahoma
Simplex Group Web site.
PCSat celebrates two years of operation: Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, said he was ready to declare the mission a success when PCSat lasted one week. October 1 marked the start of the third year of operation for the APRS satellite, which was built using inexpensive, off-the-shelf components by students at the US Naval Academy (see "PCsat Proving that Effective Satellites Need Not Be Expensive,"). "PCSat just came over and is 'OPS NORMAL' and remains available for all users since her last recovery on 13 September," Bruninga said October 1 in a posting to the AMSAT bulletin board. "I see 50 users in the last two days." To find out more, visit the Amateur Radio Stations heard via PCSat page. Operational details are on the PCSat Web site.
 ARRL Eastern Washington SM Mark Tharp, KB7HDX, tows the "bunny" behind him as he goes about his lawn-tending duties. |
SM combines yard work, hidden transmitter hunting: At a recent Yakima Amateur Radio Club hidden-transmitter "bunny hunt," Eastern Washington Section Manager Mark Tharp, KB7HDX, managed to conflate conflicting activities--being the "bunny" and mowing his lawn. "Club members noted the signal seemed to fade, and then come back strong in a regular pattern," he said, "at about the time it takes to make a lap around the yard." An emergency locator transmitter (ELT) on a practice frequency also was used during the event for the Yakima Search and Rescue group to hunt.
Thai stations authorized to operate 80 and 160 meters for contests: Thailand's Post and Telegraph Department has authorized Thai hams to operate on 80 and 160 meters bands during all major worldwide contests in 2003. Frequency allocations are 1800-1825, 3500-3505 and 3524-3536 kHz. The authorization is for 200 W and includes Thai amateurs who hold a General or Extra class license.--The Daily DX
 In call sign order: John Proctor, KB1KJA, Pete Warner, KB1KJB, and Maria Somma, KB1KJC. [Bob Schetgen, KU7G, Photo] |
Three new hams at ARRL HQ:
Three veteran ARRL Headquarters staff members have caught the ham radio bug.
The FCC granted Technician licenses September 29 to John Proctor, KB1KJA, Pete
Warner, KB1KJB, and Maria Somma, KB1KJC. Proctor works in ARRL's Information
Services Department. Since Warner and Somma work in the ARRL-VEC, all three
examinations were administered through another VEC. Congratulations, John, Pete
and Maria, and welcome to Amateur Radio!
Tower Jack wins patent infringement judgment:
Tower
Jack Products of Mt Juliet, Tennessee, maker of a popular tower dismantling
tool, recently won a judgment against an individual who was manufacturing and
selling what the company called a "tower jack-type product." The company did
not disclose the settlement but said it was well worth the cost of the
litigation. Tower Jack Products has been in business since 1994, and its products
are covered by several US patents.
Vote on QST Cover Plaque Award: The winner of the QST
Cover Plaque Award for September was H. Ward Silver, N0AX, for his article
"Amplifier Care and Maintenance." Congratulations, Ward! The winner of the QST
Cover Plaque award--given to the author--or authors--of the best article in
each issue--is determined by a vote of ARRL members. Voting takes place each
month on the QST
Cover Plaque Poll Web page. Cast a ballot for your
favorite article in the October issue of QST. Voting ends October 31.
WX4NHC Amateur Radio team active in Hurricane
Juan: WX4NHC at the National Hurricane Center in Miami
established communications with Amateur Radio operators in Nova Scotia during
Hurricane Juan's landfall September 29 at high tide. A category 1 storm with
sustained winds of 80 MPH with higher gusts, Juan was one of the strongest
hurricanes to make direct landfall on Nova Scotia since Hurricane Hortense in
1996, said WX4NHC Amateur Radio Coordinator John McHugh, KU4GY. Landfall was
early Monday morning just east of Halifax. "Hundreds of people are reported to
have been evacuated from low-lying areas as a precaution," McHugh said, adding
that Halifax Airport recorded a wind gust of 88 MPH. McHugh said communication
was established using EchoLink. "This allows WX4NHC to connect
to local repeaters in the affected area and talk with hams using their VHF/UHF
radios to that local repeaters," he pointed out. McHugh said WX4NHC was able to
obtain surface-level reports from Nelson Burgoyne, VE1GO, who lives in near
Sydney Harbor about 200 feet from the shoreline, Bob Roper, VE1CRR, and Jim
Milner, VE1VIA. Roper reported that the Halifax area had lost many large trees
and suffered downed power lines and roof damage. Milner checked in about 10 PM
to report that power was out in Halifax and the two main bridges had been
closed. For more information, visit the WX4NHC
Web site. WX4NHC, formerly W4EHW, has operated with volunteers at the National
Hurricane Center for 23 years.
 Daniel Bradke, W2AU, operating a contest from the shack of fellow YCCC member Dave Robbins, K1TTT, in Peru, Massachusetts. |
Young ham wins DXpedition trip: Fourteen-year-old Daniel Bradke, W2AU, of Niskayuna,
New York, will operate as part of the VP5X Contest Group for the CQ World Wide
CW contest November 29-30. Bradke was the winner of a competition sponsored by
VP5X (David Kopacz, KY1V). "Daniel's essay, operating skills and enthusiasm
have moved our contest team to select him to be our first annual VP5X Young Ham
Team Member," said an announcement on the VP5X Contest Group
Web site. Bradke has held an Amateur Extra class license since age 11 and can
handle CW at 30 WPM. He's a member of the ARRL, the Yankee
Clipper Contest Club and FISTS and
regularly operates during the ARRL Straight Key Night each New Year's Day
(UTC). The trip to Turks and Caicos will mark his first DXpedition. His dad,
John Bradke, W2GB, says he urged his son apply for the call sign that had once
belonged to Paul Wandelt of W2AU balun and antenna fame (Unadilla Radiation
Products). The elder Bradke says he met Wandelt a few times in the 1960s and
never dreamed he'd have a son who would one day hold the well-known call sign.
There's more information on Daniel Bradke under his call sign listing on the QRZ.com
Web site.
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