Community Announcement from w8eeo

November 23, 2009 by w8eeo

There has been some spam from Lefora which has probably made it into your inbox.
I won't be sending any more emails from here. I don't tolerate spam. If you want to stop all mailings from Lefora log in to your account, click EDIT PROFILE on upper right of your page then click EMAIL NOTIFICATION. There you can stop any mail that you do not wish to receive.
It seems that as a member you should have been able to opt in if you wanted the mailings. I am sorry about the way this was done.

Welcome to hamchatforum

November 20, 2009 by w8eeo

Here you can communicate using text, video, or image. Hamchatforum is about ham radio and related topics. However, the forum structure makes it possible to find a category where you will be able to make just about any post you wish to make. You will even find a HUMOR category with funny jokes (well, most are pretty funny). There is also a ODDS AND ENDS category where you can make a posting that doesn't fit anywhere else. Or you may wish to write a blog (or blogs) and go to the THE HAMCHATFORUM BLOG FACTORY.
The main thing here is to have fun.
If you want to write an article, respond to other posts, or just browse the forum and read, this is the place.
If anyone has a suggestion about ways to improve the forum or make it more useful please email me. w8eeo at suddenlink dot net

Abokwa Island activation

November 18, 2009 by w8eeo

Abokwa Island activation

An Italian team of ham radio operators is now active from Busua Beach in Ghana until November 27th.
Look for the group to activate Abokwa Island (AF-084) with one station on 20 meters only during their stay.
The time of operation on the island will be planned day by day pending the sea condition and weather forecast.
Activity will be on all HF bands and modes, 80-10 meters. The callsign 9G5TT will be used from the mainland while the callsign 9G5XX will be used from Abokwa Island.
Operators are:
Alfeo I1HJT, Silvano I2YSB, Carlo IK1AOD, Vinicio IK2CIO, Angelo IK2CKR, Marcello IK2DIA, Stefano IK2HKT, and Donato IZ2CHO.
QSL via I2YSB, direct only.
For more information and updates, go to: http://www.i2ysb.com

Re: Atlantis on its way to the International Space Station 11/16/09

November 18, 2009 by w8eeo

Crew checks out shuttle and prepares for docking

On Tuesday, Atlantis' astronauts inspected the space shuttle’s thermal protection system, checked out spacesuits and prepared to dock with the International Space Station.

Much of the day for STS-129 Commander Charles Hobaugh, Pilot Barry Wilmore and Mission Specialists Leland Melvin, Randy Bresnik, Mike Foreman and Robert Satcher Jr. was devoted to inspection of the shuttle’s heat-resistant tiles and reinforced carbon-carbon surfaces on the wing leading edges and the nose.

Hobaugh, Wilmore and Melvin used the shuttle’s arm and its Orbital Boom Sensor System extension to survey Atlantis’ right wing. Bresnik, Foreman and Satcher checked out spacesuits.

After the right wing scan Bresnik replaced Hobaugh on the survey team for detailed looks at the nose cap, the left wing and other areas while Foreman and Satcher kept working with the spacesuits.

Atlantis launch video

After the inspections were complete and the boom was berthed, Melvin and Bresnik grappled the Express Logistics Carrier 1 in Atlantis’ cargo bay with the shuttle’s robotic arm to get ready for the ELC’s transfer to the station.

Toward the end of their day, crew members extended the Orbital Docking System Ring and checked out rendezvous tools. Atlantis is scheduled to dock with the station a little before 12 p.m. EST on Wednesday.
Atlantis is carrying additional Amateur Radio antennas for the International Space Station (ISS).
Astronauts will install and deploy the antennas during the second spacewalk of STS-129. A ham radio team on the ground will monitor the spacewalk activity via a NASA real-time teleconference call.
The mission also will return station crew member Nicole Stott, KE5GJN, to Earth and is slated to be the final space shuttle crew rotation flight.
See also:
More Ham Radio antennas for the space station

Become a Martian

November 18, 2009 by w8eeo

Become a Martian

NASA and Microsoft Corp. have collaborated to create a Web site where Internet users can have fun while advancing their knowledge of Mars.
Drawing on observations from NASA's Mars missions, the
'Be a Martian' Web site will enable the public to participate as citizen scientists  to improve Martian maps, take part in research tasks, and assist Mars science teams studying data about the Red Planet.
"We're at a point in history where everyone can be an explorer," said  Doug McCuistion, director of the Mars Exploration Program at NASA  Headquarters in Washington. "With so much data coming back from Mars missions that are accessible by all, exploring Mars has become a shared human endeavor. People worldwide can expand the specialized efforts of a few hundred Mars mission team members and make authentic contributions of their own."
Participants will be able to explore details of the solar system's  grandest canyon, which resides on Mars. Users can call up images in the Valles Marineris canyon before moving on to chart the entire Red  Planet. The collaboration of thousands of participants could assist scientists in producing far better maps, smoother zoom-in views, and  make for easier interpretation of Martian surface changes.
By counting craters, the public also may help scientists determine the relative ages of small regions on Mars. In the past, counting Martian craters has posed a challenge because of the vast numbers involved.
By contributing, Web site users will win game points assigned to a robotic animal avatar they select.
With a common goal of inspiring digital-age workforce development and life-long learning in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, NASA and Microsoft unveiled the Web site at the Microsoft Professional Developers Conference in Los Angeles this week. The site also beckons software developers to win prizes for creating tools that provide access to and analysis of hundreds of thousands of Mars images for online, classroom and Mars mission team use.
"Industry leaders like NASA and Microsoft have a social responsibility as well as a vested interest in advancing science and technology education," said Walid Abu-Hadba, corporate vice president of the Developer and Platform Evangelism Group at Microsoft. "We are excited to be working with NASA to provide new opportunities to engage with Mars mission data, and to help spark interest and excitement among the next generation of scientists and technologists."
To encourage more public participation, the site also provides a virtual town hall forum where users can expand their knowledge by proposing Mars questions and voting on which are the most interesting to the community.
Online talks by Mars experts will address some of the submitted questions. Other features include interactive tools for viewing Martian regions and movies about people who study Mars in diverse ways.
"Mars exploration inspires people of all ages, and we are especially eager to encourage young people to explore Mars for themselves," said Charles Elachi, director of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. "We are delighted to be involved in providing the creative opportunity for future explorers to contribute to our understanding of Mars."
"The beauty of this type of experience is that it not only teaches people about Mars and the work NASA is doing there, but it also engages large groups of people to help solve real challenges that computers cannot solve by themselves," said Marc Mercuri, director of business innovation in the Developer and Platform Evangelism Group at Microsoft.
The Mars Exploration Program is managed by JPL for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington.
To enroll as a virtual Martian citizen and start exploring, visit: http://beamartian.jpl.nasa.gov

US call signs not issued by the FCC

November 14, 2009 by w8eeo

US call signs not issued by the FCC

If you're an American radio ham, chances are that your call sign was issued by the Federal Communications Commission. A 'no brainer,' right?
Well, if you're an American radio ham who happens to be stationed at Guantanamo Bay or at one of the US bases in the Antarctic, your call sign is not issued by the FCC -- it's issued by the base commander.
Guantanamo Bay (or Gitmo as it's commonly called) uses the KG4 prefix, followed by a two-letter suffix; this block is reserved exclusively for American hams at Gitmo.
As for Antarctica, the Antarctic Treaty, signed on December 1, 1959 (and entered into force on June 23, 1961), established the legal framework for the management of Antarctica, including allocation of amateur call signs; the National Science Foundation received their block on July 1, 1959.
US military hams in Japan and Korea are also issued special call signs:
- KA2AA-KA9ZZ -- reserved for US Army-authorized amateur stations in Japan.
- KC4AAA-KC4AAF -- reserved for the National Science Foundation's use at the South Pole.
- KC4USA-KC4USZ -- reserved for US Navy-authorized amateur stations at their Antarctic bases.
- KG4AA-KG4ZZ -- reserved for US Navy-authorized amateur stations at Guantanamo Bay).
- KL9KAA -- KL9KHZ -- reserved for assignment to US personnel stationed in Korea.
- The 40 call signs having the first two letters AF, KF, NF or WF and the letters "EMA" following a numeral are available to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The FCC once issued call signs to hams who lived in the Caroline Islands and the Marshall Islands. Even though these entities -- former United Nations Trust Territories -- now have their own sovereignty (and DXCC prefixes), the FCC will not issue call signs in the following blocks:
- KC6AA-KC6ZZ -- KC6 was two DXCC entities: The Eastern Caroline Islands and the Western Caroline Islands. The Eastern Carolines became the Federated States of Micronesia (V6) and the Western Carolines became the Republic of Palau (T8).
- KX6AA-KX6ZZ -- the former Marshall Islands, now the Republic of the Marshall Islands (V73).
You can find out more on the FCC's Web site.
http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm?
job=call_signs_3&id=amateur&page=1#2&ref=

Now you know!

The American Radio Relay League

Propagation de K7RA 14 November, 2009

November 14, 2009 by w8eeo

Propagation de K7RA

14 November, 2009
ARLP046
Sunspot region 1029 disappeared after October 30, but not because it faded away. It was transiting over our Sun's western horizon on its trip around the back side. Six days after it was gone a new region 1030 appeared for several days, November 5-7.
On November 8 region 1030 had faded away and seemed like other weak spots we've seen over the past couple of years, except they appeared for one day with a sunspot number of 11. Sunspot region 1030 ran for three days with sunspot numbers of 15, 16 and 11. But then on November 9 the sunspot region re-emerged, with sunspot numbers of 14, 13, 11 and 11 through November 12.
While 1030 is passing over the western limb, we can still see sunspot region 1029 transiting the far side of our local star, and now it is approaching the eastern horizon. A short time ago this observation would have been impossible, but with the STEREO mission (see http://stereo.gsfc.nasa.gov/) our total vision of the Sun now approaches 85%.
Old region 1029 appears as a bright area of magnetic disturbance, and we can't actually determine what the sunspot number or the total area of the region might be, but it still appears to have a large and robust magnetic signature.
The 45-day Air Force and NOAA Ap and flux forecast gives us some clue about the dates it may emerge into view, and when it is most directly facing Earth.
Predicted solar flux is 73 for November 13, 74 on November 14, 75 on November 15-21, and 80 for November 22-24. After that the forecast shows it declining to 75, 72 and 70. This suggests it might reach the most geoeffective position, that is, the position where it is near the Sun's central meridian relative to the Earth, around November 22-24.
Conditions have been good, with continued weak or missing solar wind, and very quiet geomagnetic indicators. As noted in previous weeks, a check of geomagnetic data at http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/ftpdir/indices/DGD.txt shows day after day with K index values at 0, which is as low as it can go. During past times and previous cycles, it was common to see a constant K index of 3, and A index of 12-15 for mid-latitudes. Note at the bottom of our bulletin that the average daily mid-latitude A index for the past week was less than 1!
That same NOAA and Air Force prediction shows a low planetary A index of only 5 for November 13-18, 8 on November 19-20, 6 on November 21, and back to 5 again for November 22 and onward.
Geophysical Institute Prague for November 13-19 predicts quiet November 13-14, quiet to unsettled November 15, and quiet again November 16-19.
Bernie Mitchell, KD8KEO of Wayne, Michigan says he is a new amateur radio operator (about 9 months) and had good luck on 40 meters with the Nightwatch Net in the evening, but around the end of October after 0000 UTC he noted signals seemed weak.
He didn't say where the other stations are, but running some numbers through a propagation program -- such as W6ELprop -- shows quite a seasonal variation between the end of October and two months earlier, when using targets such as the center of the continental United States, or Atlanta, for example. But looking west, the propagation is better on 40 meters. Using California as a target, about 2000 miles away, propagation seems to be good day and night in August or October, whether we have sunspot activity or not.
Atlanta is only about 600 miles from Bernie, and 40 meters seems to need a longer path at this time of year, and also note that signals to the west have sunlight over the path much later in the day.
Willis Cooke, K5EWJ wrote in with a comment about backscatter. He writes, "I read with interest about the QSO between W5ZIT and AE5PW on 10/30/09."
He continues, "On 11/02/09 I found HL3ERJ at 5x7 on 17 meters SSB at 2311 UTC. I gave him a quick call in the pile and received a prompt answer with a 4x4 report. Many others across the western US were calling but he could not hear them. W5/VK2ACM came on and announced that he was in Louisiana and was the only other station to work Choi (HL3ERJ) while I was listening.
A California station asked Clint (W5/VK2ACM) to QSY up and I followed. I found that Clint was 5x9 with my beam pointed toward Korea, but disappeared when I pointed it at about 17 degrees toward Shreveport (where Clint was), 229 miles to the North. After the California station finished, I called Clint and we talked for about 5 minutes before he disappeared during one of my short transmissions. An email to Clint confirmed that he had not moved his beam from the NW and I had dropped out suddenly."
He goes on to say, "This is what I think is an E layer Ion Cloud lying over the NW US and back scatter. W5ZIT with a fixed pattern antenna would not be able to detect his path. We see this fairly often on ten meters where it is often the only mode of propagation available. It is also present on lower frequencies, but is sometimes masked by F layer propagation so the only clues are shorter than normal propagation to nearby stations. Actually, I think it is not really short when the signal bounces off a cloud 1 or 2 thousand miles away to return to Earth 1 or 2 hundred miles away. Usually back scatter signals are not so strong, but sometimes they are."
Thanks, Willis!
Jon Jones, N0JK of Wichita, Kansas dropped a short line about 10 meters in the CQ Worldwide SSB DX Contest. On Saturday afternoon, October 24, HT2N in Nicaragua and several Brazilian stations were very loud. Using 10 watts on 10 meter SSB into a shortened mag-mount CB whip on the roof of his car, he worked HT2N and PY5KD around 2100 UTC while driving around and listening.
If you would like to make a comment or have a tip for our readers, email the author at, k7ra@arrl.net.
For more information concerning radio propagation, see the ARRL Technical Information Service web page at, http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html.
For a detailed explanation of the numbers used in this bulletin see, http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/k9la-prop.html.
An archive of past propagation bulletins is at, http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/.
Monthly propagation charts between four USA regions and twelve overseas locations are at, http://www.arrl.org/qst/propcharts/.
Instructions for starting or ending email distribution of this bulletin are at http://www.arrl.org/w1aw.html#email.
Sunspot numbers for November 5 through 11 were 15, 16, 11, 0, 14, 13, and 11 with a mean of 11.4. 10.7 cm flux was 70.5, 70.9, 70.6, 70.9, 72.1, 72.8, and 72.4 with a mean of 71.5. Estimated planetary A indices were 1, 0, 1, 6, 4, 1 and 1 with a mean of 2. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 0, 0, 0, 4, 2, 0 and 0 with a mean of 0.86.
Source: The American Radio Relay League

Ghana operation- November 2009

November 12, 2009 by w8eeo

Ghana operation

A team of Italian amateur radio operators will be active from Busua Beach between November 13-27th.
The group will also activate Abokwa Island (AF-084), during their stay, with one station on 20 meters only.
The time of operation on the island will be planned day by day, pending the sea condition and weather forecast.
Activity will be on all HF bands and modes, 80-10 meters. The callsign 9G5TT will be used from the mainland while the callsign 9G5XX will be used from Abokwa Island.
Operators mentioned are: Alfeo I1HJT, Silvano I2YSB,
Carlo IK1AOD, Vinicio IK2CIO, Angelo IK2CKR, Marcello IK2DIA, Stefano IK2HKT, and Donato IZ2CHO.

QSL via I2YSB, direct only.
More information can be found at: http://www.i2ysb.com

Re: DX News from the ARRL 06 November, 2009

November 9, 2009 by w8eeo

 

DXCC year-end submissions

Bill Moore, NC1L, ARRL Awards Branch Manager, reports: "This is a reminder that the cut-off date to have submissions in for the 2009 DXCC Annual and Honor Roll Listings is December 31, 2009. Applications must be postmarked by this date.
"December is expected to be a heavy period so applicants are encouraged not to wait until the last minute to get their submissions in. Also, with the holiday season approaching mail handling will sharply increase.
"Applicants are strongly encouraged to check the 'List of DXCC Applications Received' link on the DXCC web site to assure that their applications were logged in for 2009. With the mail being heavy in DXCC, last minute applications received after December 31st, may get logged in for 2010. Also, the USPS postmarks are often unreadable so this could also affect last minute submissions.
"If you find on this page that your 2009 submission was logged in for 2010, you must contact DXCC by February 1, 2010, to get this corrected. DXCC is not responsible for 2009 applications that are logged in for 2010 after February 1, 2010.
"We expect for December that the turnaround will increase in excess of 12 weeks. This is normal for this time of year and we appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to get all 2009 applications completed.
"The 2009 DXCC Yearbook is expected to be in the mail by late May or early June 2010. Please remember that in order to receive the free copy you must:
- Be a member of ARRL
- Submit an application within the 2009 calendar year, or
- Be current on the DXCC Honor Roll (329 current entities
or higher).
"If you did not qualify for the yearbook, copies will be avaliable from the ARRL catalog. Send questions to: dxcc@arrl.org "

OPDX

Sierra Leone operation

November 9, 2009 by w8eeo

Sierra Leone operation

Members of the VooDoo Contest Group will be active during CQWW DX CW Contest (November 28-29th), signing 9L5A.
This year the operators are Ned AA7A, Nick G3RWF, Fred G4BWP, Bud N7CW and Gary ZL2IFB.
They will enter the contest as a Multi-Two or Multi-Multi category. Their activity in the contest will be on all six contest bands (CW only).
For pre-contest activity, there may also be some operations on 30/17/12 meter bands. QSL 9L5A via G3SXW (see QRZ.com).
G3RWF may also activate his 9L1NH callsign, and AA7A his 9L7NS callsign. Please QSL via their home callsigns.
There will be no daily logs, but LoTW upload will be done soon after returning home.
No cash donations are requested for this project, just the usual USD/IRC for direct cards.

New Hamradio OS

November 9, 2009 by w8eeo

New Hamradio OS

Welcome aboard the Shackbox project!
The goal of Shackbox is to provide the ham radio operator with the most complete toolbox based on a Linux live cd.
What is different about shackbox from other live cd for hamradio?
Well, Shackbox provide linux AND windows software like the famous ham radio deluxe, trunking software and a lot of other software related to electronics, antenna design and else.
Shackbox will always be in evolution, so stay tuned! If you want to participate, feel free to contact me through the forum.
http://shackbox.net/

Vy 73
de Tommy OZ1CYS

Have fun with satellites

November 8, 2009 by w8eeo

Have fun with satellites

AMSAT NA has arranged a Satellite Activity weekend from 13 to 15 November 2009.
Radio Amateurs are invited to submit logs for the Satellite Activity Weekend. The purpose of the event is to encourage new operators to join the growing fraternity of users of Amateur Radio Satellites.
AMSAT North America has specifically enabled the higher power QRP mode on AO-51 to make operation on this satellite easier for first-time users for the duration of the event.
The event will run from 16:00 UTC on Friday 13 November 2009 though to 16:00 UTC on Sunday 15 November 2009.
Operation is permitted on any operational Amateur Satellite in any mode to count for points, with the proviso that all QSOs on AO-51 have to use the QRP V/U mode (145,880 MHz uplink and 435,150 MHz downlink).
In South Africa, RF Design will sponsor the prize of a TinyTrak 4 for the operator who accumulates the most overall points and a TinyTak3 for the best portable station. If these are the same operator, the TinyTrak3 will be awarded to the operator with the second highest points tally.
Full details can be downloaded from www.amsatsa.org.za
The South African Radio League

Re: Columbus Antennas to Take to the Skies (ARRL RELEASE)

November 8, 2009 by w8eeo

Columbus module antennas ready for flight

Rosalie White, K1STO reported on the ARISS Columbus module antenna work via a feature story on the ARRL website.
She described Lou McFadin's W5DID,
work on getting the antenna shipment from Europe cleared through customs and delivered to the Kennedy Space Center.
Lou showed the astronauts the best ways for them to safely unpack and assemble the antennas and associated cables once they and the hardware reach the ISS. They reviewed how to maneuver and install the antennas during the second spacewalk of the STS-129 scheduled for mid-November.
These new antennas will increase opportunities for radio hams to make contacts with astronauts and cosmonauts.
Frequencies available for transmission to and from Columbus will be 2 meters, 70 centimeters, L-band and S-band.
To start, the two Ericcson radios (2 meters and 70 centimeters) that are already on the ISS (but seldom used) will be moved and installed in Columbus. Lou McFadin reported that the antennas are now loaded in the Shuttle and waiting for the November launch.
Lou also developed a cable that will allow the astronauts to power the Ericsson radio from a computer power brick and get a station up and operating quickly.


ARISS website
Amsat website

Kids solve DTV reception problems

November 6, 2009 by w8eeo

Kids solve DTV reception problems

If you, or someone you know, is having reception problems on your new digital television or converter box, then this week's Amateur Radio Newsline has the answer.
The problem, they say, is likely to be with the antenna.
Most rabbit ear or indoor loop antennas are insufficient for DTV reception. Unfortunately, a lot of folks are not allowed to put antennas on their roof.
With a solution, enter Naiomi and Noah Miller. They are the pre-teen children of FCC O-E-T attorney James Miller.

With a little help from dad, the two kids take you on a "Watch Mr. Wizard" like journey into how to homebrew your own indoor D-T-V antenna using the magic of science found in everyday living:
The antenna that the Miller kids built is based on the Gray-Hoverman Digital TV Antenna design but without the rear reflector. It in turn is rooted on the design of the late Doyt R. Hoverman who created and did the early work on this design long before the days of computer antenna modeling programs. More on this design can be found at
www.digitalhome.ca/ota/superantenna.
Watch the video of Naiomi and Noah Miller building their home-brew version of it here.
Trust me when I tell you that it’s a few of the best moments you will spend on-line this week.
With thanks to ARNewsline and CGC

WA6ITF retires from Fox TV after 30 years

November 6, 2009 by w8eeo

WA6ITF retires from Fox TV after 30 years

Amateur Radio Newsline's Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, has retired from Fox Television after a career that spanned close to three decades at the network's flagship station KTTV.
He started in 1980 as a bench technician maintaining 3/4 inch
U-Matic videocassette recorders used by the station's news operation.
Over the years he did just about every job one finds at a television station. He says that the last 12 years working as the engineering contact with the news department have been the ones he has enjoyed the most. There he's not only worked the technical side but also has been on the air several times as an expert on all things electronic and radio communications for news stories reported by Hal Eisner, Phil Schuman and others.
Bill tells Newsline that he's only retired from broadcasting but not from life. He says that he has a number of projects he wants to undertake including the production of a television documentary on a medical researcher and completing the script for a two act stage play.
He will also be continuing his V-H-F column in Worldradio Magazine and producing the weekly Amateur Radio Newsline reports. That, coupled with a wife, daughter, son-in-law and four very active grandkids, will keep Bill a very busy 67-year old boy.
Pictures of his surprise retirement party, put on by his many friends at KTTV, are on Bill's photo album page on the Facebook Social Networking service. Look for his album under the name Bill Pasternak - titled Saying Goodbye to KTTV after Almost 30 years.

Source: ARNewsline™

DX News from the ARRL 06 November, 2009

November 6, 2009 by w8eeo

DX News from the ARRL

06 November, 2009
This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by NC1L, PS7YL, QRZ DX, the OPDX Bulletin, DXNL, 425 DX News, The Daily DX, Contest Corral from QST and the ARRL Contest Calendar and WA7BNM web sites. Thanks to all.
SENEGAL, 6W. Stan, EI6DX will be QRV as 6W/home call from Somone from November 7 to 16. Activity will be on the low HF bands using CW. This includes being an entry in the upcoming Japan DX contest. QSL via RX3RC.
EAST MALAYSIA, 9M6. Steve, 9M6DXX and John, 9M6XRO are QRV as home calls/p from Pulau Labuan, IOTA OC-133, until November 9. Activity is on 80 to 10 meters using SSB, and 160 to 10 meters using CW and RTTY, respectively. QSL via bureau.
EASTER ISLAND, CE0. A group of operators are QRV as XR0Y from Rapa Nui until November 15. Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL via operators' instructions.
LIBERIA, EL. Chris, ZS6RI plans to be QRV as EL8RI for about one to two months. Activity will be mainly on 40, 30 and 20 meters running QRP power. QSL to home call.
FRANCE, F. Members of the Havre Radio Club are QRV using special event call TM1TJV until November 8 to celebrate the departure of some 30 trans-Atlantic sailing ships during the ''Transat Jacques Vabre 2009'' race between Le Havre, France and Costa-Rica's Caribbean coast. QSL via bureau.
CHESTERFIELD ISLAND, FK. Tomi, HA7RY and George, AA7JV are QRV as TX3A until December 6. Activity is on all HF bands with an emphasis on the low bands. QSL via HA7RY.
ISLE OF MAN, GD. Operators Ron, PA3EWP and Tom, GM4FDM will be QRV as MD/PA3EWP and GD4FDM, respectively, from November 7 to 9. Activity will be on all HF bands. QSL MD/PA3EWP via PA7FM and GD4FDM via GM4FDM.
LIECHTENSTEIN, HB0. Operators Kazik, DL2SBY, Tomi, HA4DX and Laci, HA0HW are QRV as HB0/home calls from Masessa until November 13. Activity is on the HF bands using mostly CW with some SSB. QSL to home calls.
GALAPAGOS ISLANDS, HC8. Mike, DF8AN is QRV as HC8/home call until November 7. Activity is on the HF bands using mostly CW. QSL direct to home call.
THAILAND, HS. Thailand's National Telecommunications Commission has approved a request by the Radio Amateur Society of Thailand to expand 40 meters. Effective November 6, E2 and HS stations will have primary use of 7.0 to 7.2 MHz.
ST. PIERRE AND MIQUELON, FP. Eric, KV1J and Tom, W8TOM will be QRV as FP/home calls from Miquelon, IOTA NA-032, from November 7 to 15. Activity will be on 160 to 6 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK. QSL to home calls.
US VIRGIN ISLANDS, KP2. David, N3XF, Ed, K1ZE and Rob, W1EQ are QRV as KP2/home calls until November 11. Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. This includes being active as KP2M in the ARRL CW Sweepstakes. QSL KP2M direct and all others to home calls.
DENMARK, OZ. A group of operators are QRV as 5P3WW from Moen Island, IOTA EU-171, until November 9. QSL via DL1YAW.
BONAIRE, CURACAO, PJ2. After his Galapagos operation, Mike, DF8AN will be QRV as PJ4/home call from Bonaire, IOTA SA-006, from November 7 to 16. Activity will be on all bands using mostly CW. QSL direct to home call.
BRAZIL, PY. Special event callsign PW2SIDC is QRV until November 22 from several Brazilian states, including Fernando de Noronha, to mark an international conference for civil defense to be held in Sao Paulo. QSL via PS7YL.
WEST KIRIBATI, T30. David, N1EMC and Mike, N1IW will be QRV as T30KI and T30IW, respectively, from Abatao Islet, IOTA OC-017, on the Tarawa atoll from November 10 to 16. Activity will be on 60 to 6 meters using CW and SSB. QSL both calls via N1EMC.
UKRAINE, UR. Operators Alex, UR7IRK, Vladimir, US5ID, Valery, UU1JN, Anatol, UU5JA, Elena, UV5ESZ and Roman, UY7IQ are QRV as home calls/p from Crimea on Karaby Mountain until November 9. Activity is on 160 to 10 meters. This includes being active as UU5JZA in the Ukrainian DX contest. QSL UU5JZA via UY7IQ and all others to home calls.
SERBIA, YT. Operators HA7JJS, HA6NL, HA7PL and HA6PS are QRV as YU9JJS, YU9NL, YU9PL and YU9PS, respectively, until November 8. They will also be active as YT36QRP for the annual HA QRP 80-Meter contest. QSL YT36QRP via YU7CM and all others to home calls.
VENEZUELA, YV. Members of the Caracas DX Group are QRV as YW5F from Farallon Centinela Island, IOTA SA-058, until November 9 as part of their 20th anniversary. Activity is on 80 to 2 meters using CW, SSB, FM and various digital modes. QSL via W4SO.
OPERATIONS APPROVED FOR DXCC CREDIT.
The following operations are approved for DXCC credit: Chagos Island, VQ9JC, current operation. This operation was previously rejected as a shipboard operation.
DXCC exchanged correspondence with the operator and determined that this operation was actually land-based thereby satisfying the conditions of DXCC Rule 8; Timor-Leste, 4W6AL, 2009 operation; Afghanistan, T6AG, current operation.
THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO
The ARRL CW Sweepstakes Contest, ARRL EME Contest, NCCC Sprint, IPARC Contest, Ukrainian DX Contest, NA Collegiate ARC CW Championship, HA QRP 80-Meter CW Contest, SKCC Weekend CW Sprint and the DARC 10-Meter Digital Contest will certainly keep contesters busy this weekend.
Please see November QST, page 86 and the ARRL and WA7BNM contest web sites for details.

YouTube - Satellite Power-Saving by on-board tracking

November 5, 2009 by w8eeo

YouTube - Satellite Power-Saving by on-board tracking

A video on YouTube shows how a microcontroller could be used on an Amateur Satellite to conserve power when over certain areas of the world.
The YouTube description says
This video illustrates how a small satellite or cubesat could employ an on-board micro-controller to track its own location in real time in order to change its mode or transmit power based on the region of the earth over which it is passing.
Watch On-board Satellite Mode-switching Through Self-Tracking

Pulau Labuan operation

November 5, 2009 by w8eeo

Pulau Labuan operation

Steve 9M6DXX and John 9M6XRO will operate from Pulau Labuan (IOTA OC-133, WLOTA L 0456) from 6-8 November (and possibly for one or two hours from 0000 UTC on 9 November) as follows:

9M6DXX/P 10m - 80m on SSB only;
9M6XRO/P 10m - 160m on CW and RTTY.
Stations will be using linear amplifiers to a multi-band vertical and a 160m inverted-L, both mounted very close to the ocean.
They hope it will be possible to operate on 160m CW at the same time as SSB on the other bands.
QSL both 9M6DXX/P and 9M6XRO/P via M0URX, either direct, via the bureau or LoTW.
See www.m0urx.com/ for details.

Falkland Islands DXpedition

November 5, 2009 by w8eeo

 

Falkland Islands DXpedition

Members of the CRAM and the Uruguay DX Group will be active from Port Stanley between November 14-21st.
They hope to start operations at their local sunset on the 14th, starting on 40 meters, depending on transportation matters.
The group will sign VP8BUH on SSB and VP8BUG on CW/Digital modes.
Their activity will focus on the lower bands, Digital modes and the 30/17/12 meter bands.
They plan to have 3 stations on around the clock.
Operators mentioned include: Gus CX2AM (CW), Gus CX3CE (Low-Bander), Bert CX3AN (CW/SSB), Mario CX4CR (CW, SSB and Digital), Luis CX4AAJ (Digital - CQWW RTTY Winner) and Horacio CX3BH (who is 91 years young!).
QSL Manager is David, EB7DX.
Pilot and Web master: Carlos, CX8ABF.

For more details, see:
http://www.qsl.net/vp8bug

OPDX

Re: New product review tests to begin in October QST

October 31, 2009 by w8eeo

QST Product Review preview

ARRL Test Engineer Bob Allison, WB1GCM, offers readers a 'sneak peek' at the two items featured in the Product Review column of the December 2009 issue of QST.
Get up close and personal with the ICOM IC-80AD dual band handheld transceiver, reviewed by QST Editor Steve Ford, WB8IMY, and the Ten-Tec 715 RF speech processor, reviewed by Allison. Check it out!

DX News from the ARRL 30 October, 2009

October 30, 2009 by w8eeo

DX News from the ARRL

30 October, 2009
This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by NC1L, VK5ZD, QRZ DX, the OPDX Bulletin, DXNL, 425 DX News, The Daily DX, Contest Corral from QST and the ARRL Contest Calendar and WA7BNM web sites. Thanks to all.
TANZANIA, 5H. Harald, DL7VSN will be QRV as 5H1HS beginning November 1. Activity will be on 160 to 10 meters using mostly CW and RTTY. QSL to home call.
GUYANA, 8R. Operators Edi, PU8TEP, Abilio, PV8AZ, Paulo, PV8DX, Anderson, PY2TNT, Alex, PY2WAS, Iva, PV8IG and Ivan, PY1YB will be QRV as 8R1PY from Lethem city from October 31 to November 4. Activity will be on 160 to 6 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK31. QSL via PY2WAS.
MOZAMBIQUE, C9. Mike, ZS6TAF is QRV as C91BA from the capital of Maputo. Activity is generally on 80 to 6 meters. QSL to home call.
EASTER ISLAND, CE0. Operators Marco, CE6TBN, Leszek, NI1L, Zbig, SP7HOV, Art, PA3C, Stan, SQ8X and Victoria, SV2KBS will be QRV as XR0Y from October 31 to November 15. Activity will be on all bands with three stations active simultaneously with an emphasis on 160, 80 and 40 meters using mainly CW, with some SSB and RTTY. QSL via operators' instructions.
CROZET ISLAND, FT/W. Florentin, F4DYW is QRV as FT5WO and is active until November 15. He is generally active on 20 and 17 meters between 0600 to 1300z. QSL to home call.
GUINEA-BISSAU, J5. Joao, CT2GQA is QRV from here for the next five years. He is active as J5JUA on 80 and 40 meters and J5GQZ on 20 and 17 meters. QSL to home call.
MONGOLIA, JT. Special event station JU75BSI is QRV until November 30 in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Mongolian Border Service Institute. QSL via JT1CH.
NETHERLANDS, PA. Special event call PB65BP is QRV until November 11 in celebration of the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Breda. QSL via PA1WLB.
ICELAND, TF. Rene, DL2JRM will be QRV as TF/DL2JRM/p from October 31 to November 2. Activity will be on 160 to 10 meters using CW. QSL to home call.
MALI, TZ. Mac, JA8SLU will be QRV as TZ6JA from November 2 to 23. Activity will be on the HF band using only SSB. QSL direct to home call.
AUSTRALIA, VK. Special event station VI50LZ will be QRV from October 31 to November 8 in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Elizabeth Amateur Radio Club. Activity will be on all HF bands. QSL via bureau.
MONTSERRAT, VP2M. Operators Tom, DL2RUM, Rudi, DM2XO and Jan, DJ8NK will be QRV as VP2MUM, VP2MXO and VP2MNK, respectively, from November 3 to 15. Activity will be on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL to home calls.
VIET NAM, XV. Operators Manfred, DK1BT, Wolf, DL4WK, Andy, DL5CW, Sigi, DL7DF and Frank, DL7UFR will be QRV as XV4D from Phu Quoc Island, IOTA AS-128, from November 4 to 17. Activity will be on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY, SSTV and PSK. QSL via DL7DF.
VANUATU, YJ. Tomas, VK2CCC will be QRV as YJ0CCC from Efate Island, IOTA OC-035, from October 30 to November 5. Activity will be on 160 an 80 meters using mainly CW. QSL to home call.
ZIMBABWE, Z2. Fernando, EA4BB is QRV as Z21BB and is active from Harare for two years while on work assignment. He plans to be active on 80 to 10 meters using CW and SSB. QSL via W3HNK.
OPERATIONS APPROVED FOR DXCC CREDIT.
The following operations are approved for DXCC credit: Conway Reef, 3D20CR and 3D2CV, 2009 operations; Midway Island, K4M, 2009 operation.
THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO.
The NCCC Sprint and High Speed Club CW Contest are all on tap for this weekend. The ARS Spartan CW Sprint is scheduled for November 3.
Please see October QST, page 78, November QST, page 86 and the ARRL and WA7BNM contest web sites for details.

Re: New CubeSats could launch in April

October 30, 2009 by w8eeo

CubeSat Transponders from Leijenaar Electronics

The new website of William Leijenaar PE1RAH showcases the CubeSat sized transponders that he's developed.
William PE1RAH was responsible for a 435/145 transponder currently in orbit on the Amateur Satellite VUSAT (VO-52), since then he has developed linear transponders that are small enough to fit in a CubeSat.
His 435 to 145 MHz CubeSat linear transponder for CW/SSB communications was recently demonstrated at the Tokyo Ham Fair.
Also under development are a 1260 to 145 MHz linear transponder and a credit card sized 435 to 145 MHz FM transponder.

Leijenaar Electronics
http://www.leijenaarelectronics.nl/

Re: Callsign change for Easter Island DXpedition

October 30, 2009 by w8eeo

Easter Island activation

XR0Y will be the callsign of Marco, CE6TBN, Leszek, NI1L, Zbig, SP7HOV, Art, PA3C, Stan, SQ8X, and Victoria, SV2KBS, who are planning to activate Easter Island (SA-001) between Oct 31 and Nov 15.
They have a licence for all shortwave bands but will emphasize the bands 160m/80m/40m and most of all 30m (only CW allowed).
They plan to work with three radios at the same time (two of them with amplifiers) mainly in CW but also in SSB and RTTY.
More information can be found on their homepage: http://rapanui2009.org including the possibility to request QSL cards via the Online Request System (OQRS).
They also plan to upload their log to the LoTW.

Classic QSL cards for Europe/Asia/Africa/Pacific are managed by SQ8X, via bureau or direct to SQ8X, Stan, PO Box 8,
38-600 Lesko, Poland.
All others should send their QSLs via the Chilean QSL bureau or direct to the Radio Club de Chile, PO Box 13630, 330996 Santiago, Chile.

DXNL

Re: NASA continues assessment of the next Shuttle mission

October 29, 2009 by w8eeo

Keep tabs on ISS with an iPhone

A report on The Register describes new software for the iPhone/iPod Touch that provides real time tracking of the International Space Station
The report says that on Friday NASA released an iPhone/iPod Touch application that delivers up-to-the-minute Agency news, videos, and other scienc-tastic content from the convenience of your Apple device.
Read the full The Register report at
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/10/23/nasa_iphone_app/

Re: Amateur Radio Licenses World Map

October 29, 2009 by w8eeo

More wired Chinese tuning into amateur radio

The Reuters news agency has highlighted the growing number of Chinese taking up Amateur Radio.
The article quotes Wang Ranning, a 15-year-old student, as saying
"Your signals might reach the pyramids in Egypt, the Pentagon in America, go through California or any state and finally end up in a small family in the east of the United States".
Read the Reuters report, More wired Chinese tuning into amateur radio, at
http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/
idUSTRE56J1DW20090720