eHam.net News
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UK's Amateur Radio Enthusiast Contacts Worldwide Space Station from Garden:
Posted: 20 Aug 2015 05:03 PM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/35188
The process, however, entails more than just finding the right radio signal
to contact an astronaut. Next is timing. Your best odds of making contact,
according to Gizmodo, are when the station is directly overhead. As long as
a ham radio is available, as well as the license to operate it, reaching
the space research center may be possible. Adrian Lane, an amateur radio
enthusiast, demonstrated last week that pretty much anyone can chat with
the worldwide Space Station if they know their way around a radio
transmitter.
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Limerick Radio Makes Waves In a Lighthouse:
Posted: 20 Aug 2015 05:02 PM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/35187
LIMERICK Radio Club made 923 contacts with ham radio operators in 49 other
countries from their base at Loop Head last weekend as part of the
International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend (ILLW). The Limerick radio
enthusiasts operated non-stop for 48 hours from the west Clare peninsula as
part of the 18th annual initiative. "We successfully made contact with
lighthouses and lightships as far away as Brazil and Japan, with most of
the contacts on the 14.0 to 14.250Mhz band and the remainder carried out
via Morse Code," explained Simon Kenny of the Limerick Radio Club. "We
found that Loop Head Lighthouse has been particularly suitable for long
distance radio and Morse code communications because of its isolated
location and the lack of radio interference. "This year we were delighted
to play our part in promoting Loop Head Lighthouse's status as a Signature
Discovery Point on the Wild Atlantic Way and as one of the Great
Lighthouses of Ireland through our conversations with colleagues across the
world," he said.
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Drones Are Not Exactly New:
Posted: 20 Aug 2015 05:07 PM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/35186
I have been flying model airplanes since the age of 7, joined the Academy
of Model Aeronautics in 1986, and began to compete in radio control
aircraft precision aerobatics around 1990. Won several competitions and
plenty of bling for the "me wall." That was all back when you had to build
your own models, and you really had to learn how to fly.
When the lightweight digital cameras came around in the early 2000s, I
fitted one to a large radio control airplane for the purpose of doing tower
light and antenna inspections on FM towers. Using a very lightweight model
airplane with a low wing loading, I was able to slow the plane down enough
to get very detailed (at the time) images of tower structures, antennas,
etc. With a steady headwind, I could nearly hover the model and get closer
shots of specific details. This required tremendous flying skill to keep
from damaging the models or the objects being observed. I never had an
incident. A number of years ago, the technology for FPV (First Person Point
of View) became affordable and light enough to attach to a larger electric
powered model airplane. In recent years, we have seen a tremendous rise in
use of multi-rotor radio controlled aircraft, what people now call
simply "drones." The multi-rotor radio control aircraft are usually
equipped with on-board stabilization, GPS, etc. to make them easily flown
by people with little to no skill in piloting radio controlled aircraft.
This has paved the way for nearly anyone to fly one with success. Using
radio-controlled models to inspect towers, etc. is not new. It's just now
starting to get a lot of press because they are affordable and anybody can
fly one. The AMA has been pushing the FAA to not impose restrictions on
model aircraft, and there is still no real resolution to the issue of the
federal government lumping all model aircraft in with the drones. As more
and more people buy and fly multi-rotor aircraft, and do so irresponsibly,
it creates a real problem with the way the public sees "drones" and their
usefulness. It is my sincere hope that all multi-rotor aircraft pilots
would do so responsibly and safely. Especially when it comes to flying over
people or property, like broadcast facilities.
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Lions, Tigers and Ham, Oh My-- a $22K Penalty:
Posted: 20 Aug 2015 05:04 PM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/35185
Whether you run a full-power station or a small ham operation, "rules is
rules." A Michigan amateur radio station operator has learned that the hard
way after allegedly playing music and broadcasting animal noises on his
amateur radio station. Ham operator Michael Guernsey was handed a $22,000
fine by the FCC last year, to which he submitted an appeal; but to no
avail. After reviewing his case, the FCC has not found his arguments
persuasive, and confirmed the penalty. In March 2014, the FCC's Enforcement
Bureau found that Guernsey was interfering with other amateur radio
operators and had failed to identify himself to other operators as required
by FCC rules. As a result, the bureau issued the $22,000 levy for repeated
violations.
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DX News -- ARRL DX Bulletin #33:
Posted: 20 Aug 2015 04:25 PM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/35184
This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by
HL4CCM, QRZ DX, the OPDX Bulletin, 425 DX News, The Daily DX, DXNL,
Contest Corral from QST and the ARRL Contest Calendar and WA7BNM web
sites. Thanks to all.
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Just Ahead In Radiosport:
Posted: 20 Aug 2015 04:24 PM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/35183
Just Ahead In Radiosport:
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ARISS International Delegates Meet In Tokyo:
Posted: 20 Aug 2015 04:24 PM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/35182
ARISS International delegates, officers, and team members have convened
this week in Tokyo for what is being called "a critical meeting" to
discuss strategy, teamwork, hardware, and operations. Delegates to the
August 20-23 gathering represent the five ARISS member regions -- the
US, Russia, Japan, Canada, and Europe.
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Subcommittee on VHF and Above Revitalization Seeks UHF Contest Suggestions:
Posted: 20 Aug 2015 04:23 PM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/35181
The ARRL Ad Hoc Subcommittee on VHF and Above Revitalization is
exploring ways to expand participation in the ARRL August UHF Contest.
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Home of Well-Known Contester K0RF Badly Damaged By Fire:
Posted: 20 Aug 2015 04:24 PM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/35180
A late afternoon fire on August 18 badly damaged the Boulder County,
Colorado, home of well-known contester Chuck Cullian, K0RF. George
Schultz, W0UA, who has operated frequently from K0RF, explained that
the building is roughly divided into a residential side and a
garage/ham radio shack side. He said Cullian told him that the fire
pretty thoroughly gutted the residence, leaving Cullian and his family
temporarily homeless.
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Talk of Pending P5 Operations So Far Remains Just Talks:
Posted: 20 Aug 2015 04:22 PM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/35179
Persistent optimism continues to prop up the hopes of several
individual radio amateurs and groups to mount a DXpedition to the
most-wanted and elusive DXCC entity on the globe -- the Democratic
People's Republic of North Korea (P5). To date, no recent efforts have
succeeded.
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ARRL Summer Section Manager Election Results Announced:
Posted: 20 Aug 2015 04:22 PM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/35178
An incumbent Section Manager has won his bid for a new term of office.
Ballots were counted August 18 at ARRL Headquarters in the only
contested race in the summer election cycle. In addition, one new
Section Manager will come onboard this fall. All new 2-year terms of
office begin on October 1.
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Employment Opportunity -- Chief Executive Officer:
Posted: 20 Aug 2015 04:21 PM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/35177
The American Radio Relay League (ARRL), a non-profit membership
organization with the objectives of promoting and advancing the art,
science, and enjoyment of Amateur Radio, seeks a full-time Chief
Executive Officer in Newington, Connecticut, to direct its day-to-day
activities. The League has 167,000 members, an annual budget of $15
million, 100 paid employees, a nationwide network of volunteers, and an
elected board of 15 directors. The League publishes a monthly magazine
and many books on radio topics, and it oversees training and assistance
programs for Amateur Radio activity. It also serves as Amateur Radio's
primary interface to society, especially government.
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ARES Supports 60,000 Runners for Peachtree Road Race In Atlanta:
Posted: 20 Aug 2015 04:20 PM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/35176
For the past 45 years, residents of Atlanta, Georgia, have celebrated
Independence Day by closing one of the city's busiest thoroughfares and
allowing 60,000 runners to take part in the Peachtree Road Race, sponsored
by the
Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the Atlanta Track Club.
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Undergrad Radio Amateur Uses Reverse Beacon Network In Research Project:
Posted: 20 Aug 2015 04:19 PM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/35175
A Virginia Tech undergraduate researcher and radio amateur has used
Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) and Reverse Beacon Network
(RBN) data
to study how solar flares impact HF radio propagation over the entire
dayside -- the time Earth is in sunlight -- with communication loss
related to both flare intensity and distribution.
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International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend Registration Topped 500:
Posted: 20 Aug 2015 04:18 PM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/35174
The number of registrations in the International Lighthouse and
Lightship Weekend (ILLW) reached 506, with 32
countries represented. Activity for the August 15-16 event was higher
this year from the major seafaring nations of Australia, England, and
Germany, adding to growth from Bulgaria, Canada, Cuba, France, Portugal
and Scotland, ILLW organizers reported That was down from 2014,
however, when there were 544 entrants for the operating event.
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World Digital ATV QSO Party to Mark 5th Year:
Posted: 20 Aug 2015 04:18 PM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/35173
The World Digital Amateur Television (DATV) QSO Party will celebrate its
5th year when
it gets under way August 21-22. Organizer and anchor Peter Cossins,
VK3BFG, has been busy planning for another successful event. While the
event is centered on the VK3RTV Melbourne-Geelong DATV repeater,
stations in the US, the UK, and elsewhere are welcome to join via a
local ATV repeater or via Skype.
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In Brief...
Posted: 20 Aug 2015 04:17 PM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/35172
Prices
Reduced on ARRL Operating Books and Resources: The ARRL is rolling back
prices once again! Save 20 percent on select ARRL operating-themed
publications and resources when you order online now through August 31,
2015.
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Amateurlogic 81 is Released:
Posted: 20 Aug 2015 03:41 PM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/35171
George and Tommy finally meet Peter at
the Huntsville Hamfest.
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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1973 August 21 2015:
Posted: 20 Aug 2015 05:08 PM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/35170
The following is a QST. Rockwell Collins mechanical filters are about to
become a thing of the past. In Mississippi, a hospital system decides ham
radio can be the best medicine for getting emergency messages through.
Summer school ends for public school teachers of radio science just in time
for regular back-to-school business. And we revisit the Huntsville Hamfest
one more time, celebrating the accomplishments of Anna Veal, W-ZERO-A-N-T
(W0ANT), our first Bill Pasternak Young Ham of the Year. All this and more
in Amateur Radio Newsline report 1973 coming your way right now.