Nov 12, 2003
(In alphabetical order: ) AMSAT-NA president seeks support for ECHO launch; Contest Club Finland extends invitation to contesters, DXers; First US QSO above 400 GHz claimed; Former HQ staffer George Hart, W1NJM, turns 90; Ham radio statistician teases out data on Morse petition comments; Ham-Com announces 2004 chairman; Hams go on "Goblin Patrol" for Halloween; Jack Meehan, N6FJK, SK; Kentucky Section leaders lobby for PRB-1 declaration; Letha Dangerfield, W0OUD, SK; Morsum Magnificat to cease publication; New York City Marathon is old home week for SATERN volunteers; NT3V to chair Young Ham of the Year Award committee; Southern Florida Section adds 2-meter SSB net to ARES schedule; Two wildlife tracking projects under way; Vote on QST Cover Plaque Award
AMSAT-NA
president seeks support for ECHO launch: AMSAT-NA President Robin Haighton, VE3FRH, says the
launch of the new OSCAR-ECHO satellite, set for launch March 31, 2004, will
cost $110,000. During the recent AMSAT-NA Symposium and Annual
Meeting in Toronto, Haighton announced the ECHO Launch Fund Campaign. "We
have to raise that amount before we can think of any further activity on EAGLE
or other satellites," Haighton said in a recent President's Letter. "With AO-27
and UO-14 no longer in service, ECHO will be fulfilling that operation as a low
Earth orbiting satellite." Donations may be sent to AMSAT-NA Headquarters.
He said AMSAT would develop a schedule of initial operations for ECHO this month.
The new satellite has three transmitters aboard, and two can be on the air at
any one time. "I look forward to trying to work ECHO with my handheld and a
whip antenna--it should be possible under the right conditions, perhaps even
with a rubber duck!" said Haighton, who was re-elected as AMSAT-NA president at
the October gathering for what he said was his final term. He has served in
that role for four years and previously was executive vice president for two
years. "I feel that next October will be the right time to retire and let
others with new ideas take over the leadership of the organization," he said.
For more information on OSCAR-ECHO,
visit the AMSAT-NA Web site.--AMSAT News Service
Contest
Club Finland extends invitation to contesters, DXers: Contest Club Finland (CCF) has extended an invitation to
contesters and DXers to attend the ninth International Contest/DX meeting in
Finland January 16-18. In addition to a great time and a chance to socialize,
the session promises insightful and interesting contest and DX-related
presentations by world-class class contesters and DXers, and the agenda is
still open for additional presentations for those having something to offer.
Following a Friday evening social, Saturday, January 17, will be the day of
presentations and an evening party. Sunday's activities will include local
sightseeing tours. Those planning to attend should contact Pasi Luoma-aho, OH2IW. There's more information on the CCF Web site.
 Brian Justin, WA1ZMS, during testing of his 47-GHz setup. |
First US QSO above 400 GHz claimed: Microwave enthusiast Brian Justin, WA1ZMS, reports what he believes is the first QSO above 400 GHz in the US. On November 11 at 0215 UTC, WA1ZMS/4 worked Peter Lascell, W4WWQ, on a frequency of 403 GHz over a distance of 0.521 km (approximately 1709 feet) in Virginia. Justin says Michael Kuhne, DB6NT, last year snagged the first QSO in this part of the spectrum by completing a 50-meter contact on 411 GHz. Justin, who set new North American records on 241 and 322 GHz last December, reports the weather conditions at the time of the WA1ZMS-W4WWQ 403-GHz QSO were a temperature of 3.9 C, dew point of 1.1 C, relative humidity of 82 percent and barometric pressure of 1006 mb. "The weather conditions result in a total atmospheric loss of 14.4 dB per km!" he said. Justin said the pair used the same basic gear that had been put into service for their record-making 241-GHz QSO last year, but with new 30 cm parabolic dishes. "When colder and drier winter weather arrives, we have hopes of trying to break the 1 km distance barrier," Justin said. He said he hoped to post photos and audio files on the Mount Greylock Expeditionary Force Web site.
 George Hart, W1NJM, at a recent dinner honoring ARRL staff members with at least 10 years of service. [Rick Lindquist, N1RL, Photo] |
Former HQ staffer George Hart, W1NJM, turns 90: Retired ARRL Communications Manager George Hart, W1NJM, celebrated his 90th birthday November 1. A Full Charter Life Member of the League, Hart spent four decades as a member of the ARRL Headquarters staff and continues to be an active amateur and regular participant in Field Day as a member of the Newington Amateur Radio League. First licensed in 1929 as W3AMR in Pennsylvania, he began his ARRL career in 1938 as a second operator at the then-new W1AW Maxim Memorial Station. He spent two years in the US Army during World War II, during which the government silenced Amateur Radio, and retired in 1978 as communications manager. He was a frequent contributor to QST and authored hundreds of articles, most recently a letter "First Field Day" that appeared in the "Correspondence" column of the October 2002 issue. Well wishers may contact Hart at 66 Highland St, Newington, CT 06111 or via e-mail. Happy birthday, George!
Ham radio statistician teases out data on Morse petition comments: Ham radio's unofficial statistician Joe Speroni, AH0A, in Honolulu has tracked the responses to the most recent batch of Morse code-related petitions for rule making to the FCC. "I was following the FISTS petition, RM-10811, and not only were the number of comments high, there was a strong pro-code vote," he reports. Speroni says that after removing the duplicate and nonamateur comments--most of which were pro-code, he says--833 comments remained. That's a substantial percentage of the nearly 1900 comments filed on the seven Morse code-related petitions. Of those 833 comments on RM-10811, Speroni says 747, or 89.7 percent, favored retaining the Morse code requirement. "A total of 726 supported 5 WPM or higher for General, and 747 supported 5 WPM (127) or higher (620) for Extra," he said. Speroni has posted his breakdown for RM-10811 on the Kauai Amateur Radio Club Web site.
Ham-Com announces 2004 chairman: The chairman of Ham-Com 2004 will be Barry Goldblatt, WA5KXX. An ARRL member and a ham since 1998, Goldblatt is president of the Plano Amateur Radio Klub and a net control station for the Collin County Amateur Radio Emergency Service. He mentored a successful Collin County Community College Tech Camp series from 2000 until 2002 that helped license more than 1550 middle and high school students. His article about the project appeared in QST for February 2001. Goldblatt also maintains a ham radio Web site. Ham-Com, which takes place June 18-19, 2004, at the Convention Center in Arlington, Texas, will serve as the ARRL West Gulf Division convention. Ham-Com has been a fixture on the hamfest circuit since 1978 and is expected to draw upward of 5000 visitors in 2004. More information about the event is available via the Ham-Com Web site.
Hams go on "Goblin Patrol" for Halloween: Sixteen members of the Great Falls Area Amateur Radio Club in Montana participated in the third annual Goblin Patrol on Halloween. "The purpose of the Goblin Patrol is to insure the safety of small children as they go from house to house celebrating the trick-or-treat tradition," said club spokesperson Cameron Smith, N7NBB. "Patrolling hams also kept a watchful eye out for any mischief or vandalism." Hams also visited with youngsters and passed out small bags of treats that also contained a note that explained the Goblin Patrol program, information about ham radio and the club. Mobile hams were in communication with other amateurs deployed at the permanent Amateur Radio installation in the local Emergency Operations/911 Dispatch Center. "Although single-digit temperatures most assuredly reduced the number of children out for the evening, the Goblin Patrol reported quite a few children braving the cold in search of the ultimate 'sugar high,'" Smith said. "Most children were walking in groups or were with one or more adults." He said the evening went largely without incident, although the patrolling hams did request police to check on three young men on bicycles darting out into the street in front of approaching traffic. Goblin Patrol was initiated in Great Falls by Brent Fitzpatrick, N2YYP (SK). The event is coordinated with local police prior to Halloween, and officers are aware of the assistance provided by the Amateur Radio Goblin Patrol. Several spouses and potential amateurs also played a part in this year's patrol. The club estimates that participants logged a total of some 48 work hours and 300 miles during the event.
Jack Meehan, N6FJK, SK: James J. "Jack" Meehan, N6FJK, of Santa Cruz, California, died October 25. He was 84. A native of Brooklyn, New York, and a self-taught engineer and a World War II pilot, Meehan was a pioneer in the early days of the US missile and space program. In the late 1940s, he was involved in the design and testing of the navigation and control system for the secret Viking rocket project. The Viking was a precursor to the Vanguard, the rocket used in the initial attempt to launch America's first satellite in 1957. (The first US satellite, Explorer I, was launched in January 1958 using a Jupiter-C vehicle.) He went on to work on satellite testing for Lockheed-Martin. He also served as a civil servant and elected official in Santa Cruz. "Throughout his life he compiled an extraordinary record of devotion to his family, his community and our nation," said US Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), who had met Meehan in the mid-1990s. Two sons and a daughter are among his survivors.
 ARRL Kentucky SM John Meyers, NB4K (left), presents Gov Paul Patton with a Certificate of Merit for his support of Amateur Radio. |
Kentucky Section leaders lobby for PRB-1 declaration: ARRL Kentucky Section Manager John Meyers, NB4K, and Assistant SM Fred Jones, WA4SWF, visited September 17 with Kentucky Gov Paul Patton. "We were trying to get the governor to enact a PRB-1 law by proclamation before he leaves office, which is legal in Kentucky," Meyers explained. Ernie Fletcher will replace Patton next year. PRB-1 is the limited federal preemption that requires local governments to "reasonably accommodate" Amateur Radio communication. "We still have hope, be it slim to none, that he'll still come through," Meyers said. He's encouraging Kentucky hams to contact Gov Patton by USPS mail (Gov Paul Patton, 700 Capitol Ave, Suite 100, Frankfort, KY 40601) or e-mail and "tell him what PRB-1 means to you as a ham and how it would be helpful." Also attending the meeting was Clyde Johns, a gubernatorial staff member whom Meyers called a "very big supporter of amateur radio" and instrumental in getting the audience with the governor. Meyers said the meeting went well, and he was still awaiting a decision on the matter. He pointed out that Patton, while he was Pike County Judge Executive, donated $5000 toward the purchase and installation of a 2-meter repeater system. "Gov Patton has made sure that Amateur Radio is included in the emergency contingency plans in Kentucky," he added.
Letha Dangerfield, W0OUD, SK: Missouri Traffic Net legend Letha A. Dangerfield, W0OUD, of Joplin, Missouri, died October 31. She was 93. "She handled traffic using CW, which she copied on her Braille typewriter," said Jim Johannes, N0ZSQ. "She was also a net control operator for the Missouri Traffic Net. At one time, Letha won a CW receiving contest at 49 wpm." Although partially blind as a result of a childhood illness, she graduated third in her class from Joplin High School. Soon after, her eyesight failed entirely. An ARRL member, she also belonged to the Joplin Amateur Radio Club and the Joplin Service Club of the Blind, and she sat on the board of directors for the Joplin Association for the Blind, serving many years as secretary. Dangerfield also was a published poet. A service was held November 4 in Joplin.
Morsum Magnificat to cease publication: The Morse code publication Morsum Magnificat has announced plans to cease publication early in 2004 unless a new publisher/distributor can be found. "I am sorry to announce that, unless someone else can be found to take it over, Morsum Magnificat will close with issue 89," said an announcement from the magazine's editor Zyg Nilski, G3OKD. He said he's having "considerable difficulty" producing the remaining issues to meet deadlines but promised they would be delivered to subscribers. Issue 87 was sent off to subscribers on November 8. "Professional Morse at sea is about to end and Amateur Morse, visualized as the last bastion of Morse operating, is under longer-term threat. MM speaks out for Morse, and nothing else," a note on the Morsum Magnificat Web site declares. A ham since 1960, Nilski has had a life-long interest in CW that encompasses line telegraphy as well as the history of telegraphy and Morse technology. An international publication, Morsum Magnificat contains articles about the history of Morse Code and its instruments, including telegraph keys, sounders and radio equipment. First published in 1983 in Dutch as a quarterly by the late Rinus Hellemons, PA0BFN, the magazine now is published every other month. Nilski took over the magazine in 1999 from Tony Smith, G4FAI. There's more information on the Morsum Magnificat Web site.--thanks to Theodore K. Phelps, W8TP
 SATERN volunteer Mark Griggs, KB8YMN, assists during the ING New York City Marathon. |
New York City Marathon is old home week for SATERN volunteers: The ING New York City Marathon Sunday, November 2, proved to be old home week for some Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN) volunteers. SATERN New York City Liaison Jeff Schneller, N2HPO, reports that among the more than 400 Amateur Radio volunteers was Mark Griggs, KB8YMN, of Ohio. Schneller and Griggs first met when Griggs took two weeks off from work and came to New York to assist SATERN in the wake of the September 11, 2001, World Trade Center terror attacks. "Several of us made new and lasting friendships with other amateurs from around the US during the WTC operation," said Schneller. "We get together with Mark and others each year at Dayton, and this year Mark contacted me to see if he could work the Marathon with us." Amateur Radio volunteers provide communications during each year's race, which this year drew a record 34,703 participants. Griggs and Mike Gomez, N2WGC--whom Griggs also befriended during the WTC response--handled communications at the Pulaski Bridge between Brooklyn and Queens, the halfway (13.1 mile) point in the New York City Marathon. Schneller says he joined the pair after his own mile-point station closed, and they spent some time catching up. "We met through a disaster with Amateur Radio as the common denominator," Schneller said, "and we meet every year at an amateur radio event and he drove over nine hours to do an Amateur Radio public service event with us." The New York City Marathon is the premier event of New York Road Runners. Some 12,000 volunteers--including Amateur Radio operators--help to support the annual race, which attracts some two million spectators.
NT3V to chair Young Ham of the Year Award committee: Amateur Radio Newsline has announced the appointment of Mark Abramowicz, NT3V, to chair the Young Ham of the Year (YHOTY) Award Committee. Abramowicz replaces Larry Zettwoch, KR4IF, who chaired the selection panel for nine years. Abramowicz is the father of 2002 Young Ham of the Year Josh Abramowicz, KB3GWY. A news reporter and anchor at KYW radio in Philadelphia, Abramowicz is known professionally as Mark Abrams. He is also is an adjunct professor at Temple University, where he teaches courses in writing for the mass media.--Amateur Radio Newsline
Southern Florida Section adds 2-meter SSB net to ARES schedule: Southern Florida Section Emergency Coordinator Jim Goldsberry, KD4GR, has announced that the Southern Florida Amateur Radio Emergency Service Net (SFAN) will add a 2-meter SSB net to its schedule starting Thursday, December 4. The net will be held weekly on 144.210 MHz. at 8:30 PM local time. The SFAN high-frequency net--established December 1, 1991--meets Saturday mornings at 8 AM local time on 3.940 MHz. "I hope this new 2-meter SSB session will provide a way for our many Technician class ARES members to participate in a regular section net for the first time," Goldsberry said. He said he made the decision to include the 2-meter SSB net in the weekly schedule after good participation during the statewide Florida Simulated Emergency Test (SET) on October 4.
 An American woodcock. |
Two wildlife tracking projects under way: Since 1998, ham radio and VHF monitoring volunteers have helped scientists track the movements of endangered and threatened species. ARRL Amateur Radio Direction Finding (ARDF) Coordinator Joe Moell, K0OV, says that hams and monitoring monitoring enthusiasts with scanners or extended-range handheld receivers and outdoor antennas could make a valuable contribution by participating. "The biggest volunteer monitoring project to date is now under way," Moell said this week. He reports that Nick Myatt of the Arkansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research unit has radio-tagged 360 American woodcock in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. "The woodcock migration has begun, and he is seeking reports of tags heard so he can attempt to do pinpoint tracking from a fixed-wing aircraft," Moell said. Possible stopover and destination states for these birds include Southern Minnesota, Southern Wisconsin, Southern Michigan, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Eastern Kansas, Eastern Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, and Eastern Texas.
 A sandhill crane. |
Hams or monitoring enthusiasts living in or traveling through any of these states can get more information from Moell's "Homing In" Web site, which contains a list of active frequencies--all between 150 and 152 MHz. Moell says that Dave Sherman, a biologist with the Ohio Division of Wildlife, also has requested monitoring assistance in tracking two radio-tagged sandhill cranes that are now part of a larger flock migrating from Ohio. Additional information, including frequencies, is available on the Homing In Web site, including how to identify the special characteristics of a radio tag signal.
Vote on QST Cover Plaque Award: The winner of the QST
Cover Plaque Award for October is Del Schier, K1UHF, for his article "The Ins
and Outs of a Sound Card." Congratulations, Del! 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 November issue of QST. Voting ends November 30.
 Previous: Operating 1x1 for the Tour de France |  Next: Electric Utility Reaches Out to North Carolina Hams on BPL |
