ARRL: Hurricane Watch Net Activates

The National Hurricane Center's Hurricane Watch Net posted this information on August 31:

"Sunday, August 31 the net plans to activate at 1500EDT (1900UTC) for the purpose of establishing a list of available reporting stations along the northern Gulf Of Mexico shores beginning Monday morning as extremely dangerous hurricane Gustav is forecast to make landfall in that area. At this moment it seems for sure that we will activate again at first band opening on Monday morning (0800 EDT, 1200 UTC)."

The Hurricane Watch Net is using these frequencies during the Hurricane Gustav emergency:

* 20 meters: 14.325 MHz USB
* Main frequency during Hurricanes -- 40 meters: 7.268 MHz LSB
* Water Way Net (secondary frequency) Maritime Mobiles Net -- 80 meters: 3.815 MHz
* Caribbean Net (alternates: 3.950 North Florida / 3.940 South Florida)

Amateur Radio EchoLink/IRLP

* EchoLink Conference "WX-TALK" Node 7203
* IRLP Node 9219
* West Gulf Emergency Health and Welfare Net: 7.290 LSB Day, 3.395 LSB Night

Please respect the Nets and do not transmit if you have nothing truly important to contribute. There is a 72 hour moratorium on inbound Health and Welfare traffic.

Hurricane Gustav - Emergency Frequencies

Hurricane Gustav - Emergency Frequencies
Mark Lacy, W5TXR asked us to post the following bulletin:


Could you post on your front page for folks to stay off of 7.285, 7.248, 3.873 & 3.975 For the duration of Gustov
These are the Texas ARES & RACES Frequencies.

The State of Texas RACES will commence operations on 01 SEP 09 at 12:00 Z


Thanks - Mark A. Lacy


W5TXR
Mark A. Lacy
ARRL Official Emergency Station
ARRL Technical Specialist NTX
Texas ARES/RACES/Skywarn

eHma.net: It's Not Your Microphone, It's You!

Those of us who foray into the “phone” bands have all heard some G-dawful modulation.

There are the “wi-fi audio guys” who, to me, sound like fingernails scratching a chalkboard, but I'll admit some like the way that stuff sounds. I don't, but that's neither here nor there.

There are the overprocessed guys who have fallen victim to AKTR* Syndrome, and as long as they believe what they do, will never, ever sound good.

(*AKTR = All Knobs To Right. This is a method where the operator simply turns all the knobs on his transmitter fully clockwise, keeping adjustments very simple.)

more at http://www.eham.net/articles/19996

M0KHZ’s Blog: Cartoon time : Hertz

Engineering content can be a little dry sometimes. To add some spice to this world of precision, Agilent commissioned Rand Kruback to create his artistic view of some common EE terms and phrases. These cartoons should lighten your day!

Brought to you every few days while I’m downunder, remember normal homebrew activities resume mid October.

End of update.

eHam.net: Learn CW Online!

Welcome to LCWO.net - Learn CW Online!

At LCWO you can learn Morse telegraphy (CW) online in your browser. You don't need to install a program on your computer, and you always have your personal settings available, from any computer on the globe with an internet connection. You can also easily track your progress by means of different statistical functions.

Sign up for a free account (or use username "test", password "test" to play around) and start learning or improving your CW today
Features

More at http://lcwo.net/

ARRL: Ohio State Parks on the Air

Have you ever looked at contest schedules and thought it seemed like every format had already been tried and that the good ideas had already been used? That if your club wanted to sponsor a new contest, there just wasn't any room for something original?

The board of the Portage County Amateur Radio Service (PCARS) had the chance to ponder those questions recently. We wanted to create a contest that would have particular appeal to hams in the Ohio Section. The contest would have a unique format that had not been tried before yet still be relatively simple to score and have low hurdles for participation. That is, almost anyone could take a shot at it.

What we came up with is a contest that not only met those requirements but combines some of the best elements of Field Day and a state QSO party, provides public demonstrations of in-the-field communication abilities and rewards the ability to make contacts within your own section/state. Even better, it is a template that can easily be adopted in any other state or section or even used for a nationwide event.

More at http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2008/08/25/10281/

W0VB - 2 Meter Weak Signal Station, Part 2

W0VB - 2 Meter Weak Signal Station, Part 1

W3JK-Flexradio

W3JK-Flex-Radio Remote Demo Part 2

W3JK-Flex-Radio Remote Demo Part 1

How and WHY to Solder Correctly

Soldering Iron Wattage vs. Temperature

Soldering Tutorial

Surface Mount Soldering 101

Basic Soldering

WA7BNM: 8-Day Contest Calendar

SARTG WW RTTY Contest: 0000Z-0800Z, Aug 16 and 1600Z-2400Z, Aug 16 and 0800Z-1600Z, Aug 17

ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest: 0600 local, Aug 16 to 2400 local, Aug 17

Russian District Award Contest: 0800Z, Aug 16 to 0800Z, Aug 17

Keyman's Club of Japan Contest: 1200Z, Aug 16 to 1200Z, Aug 17

North American QSO Party, SSB: 1800Z, Aug 16 to 0600Z, Aug 17

New Jersey QSO Party: 2000Z, Aug 16 to 0700Z, Aug 17 and 1300Z, Aug 17 to 0200Z, Aug 18

Run for the Bacon QRP Contest: 0100Z-0300Z, Aug 18

NCCC Sprint: 0230Z-0300Z, Aug 22

Hawaii QSO Party: 0700Z, Aug 23 to 2200Z, Aug 24

Ohio QSO Party: 1600Z, Aug 23 to 0400Z, Aug 24

Get the complete calender at http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/weeklycont.php

Radio_Sport: CQWW Puts CW Skimmer In Assisted Category

By Jamie Dupree NS3T radio-sport.net
Posted August 18, 2008

After months of very public battling over new rules for the controversial CW Skimmer program, the final decision by the CQ WW DX Contest Committee to allow its use in the Assisted category generated only a few negative reviews.

"The new rules for the basic single operator category are crystal clear," said Stan Stockton K5GO, who led an internet petition drive to completely outlaw the Skimmer from all contest categories.

"What is allowed and what is not allowed in using a remote Skimmer is not so clear, and the rules are subject to interpretation," Stockton told radio-sport.net

The new rule, which can be found at the CQ WW website, is fairly succinct:

"QSO alerting assistance of any kind (this includes, but is not limited to, packet, local or remote Skimmer and/or Skimmer-like technology, Internet) places the entrant in the Single Operator Assisted category."

"I think it is the right decision," said Pete Smith N4ZR, who has done beta testing of the software program for developer VE3NEA.

Now that CQ WW has made its decision, other contests are expected to follow suit. For now, the ARRL has only made a short term decision on Skimmer usage.

"Skimmer will be allowed for use in the Single Operator Unlimited category in the 2008 CW Sweepstakes," said ARRL Contest Branch Manager Sean Kutzko, who announced that plan at the W0DXCC Convention earlier this month.

"As with the 2008 IARU HF Championships, the use of Skimmer in Sweepstakes should be viewed as an isolated incident and NOT a reflection of general policy towards Skimmer," Kutzko told radio-sport.net

The long term decision of what to do with the Skimmer rules-wise for ARRL contests is for now still in the hands of the Contest Advisory Committee.

In recent days, CAC Chair Dick Green WC1M was asking questions about Skimmer use again on the Skimmertalk reflector.

"I'm going to avoid expressing any public opinions until after the CAC has competed its study of CW Skimmer," wrote Green.

As for other CQ Magazine contests, no one was ready to say that they would accept the final version of the CQ WW rules as yet.

"I think the story for now is the CQWW contest rules announcement," said CQ WPX Contest Director Randy Thompson K5ZD.

"WPX will announce any rules changes later this year," he added.

Also looking to possibly embrace the Skimmer change is the CQ 160 Contest. Updated rules for 2009 for that contest are currently under review as well.

You can read previous stories about the CW Skimmer:

more at http://www.radio-sport.net/skimmer_cqww.htm

SolderSmoke #90

http://www.soldersmoke.com

August 17, 2008

August in Rome, Italian beaches, Circeo
Hardrock Cafe, My Sharona, The Knack
The Planet Mechanics
VK6DI on QRSS
Listen to me talking to Jean Shepherd (1976)
SolderSmoke (sort of) in Australia in 1944
Herman Munster is not an appliance op...
Book Review: "The Science of Radio"
August QST: KD1JV's rig, pneumatic switching, QRP WAS
Conrad's Garage, KDKA, K4HU (SK)
Kits and Parts by W8DIZ
Working on 80 meter DSB rig
Computer fixed, counter still dead
MAILBAG:
7J1AWL in Vietnam
Jerry, NR5A, gets a Drake 2A
KB1DRK recommends Spitfish
SM5QU on Apollo Backpack Radios (AM!)
AC7ZN reports WB8LZG has aerielitis
W8NF on Dorkbot (Knack? or no Knack?)
G0FUW to speak at Basingstoke 1 September
M0JRQ on the meanings of "knackered"

SolderSmoke: Conrad's Garage -- Birth of KDKA -- K4HU, SK

Harry Mills, K4HU, passed away recently. Harry was 100 years old and was active on the ham bands right up until the end. National Public Radio featured Harry and his ham station in an "All Things Considered" segment about early radio. It came out in 2001. I don't know how I missed this one -- it is really great. Have a listen: NPR program on KDKA, K4HU

ARVN: D-STAR and Digital Voice for Amateur Radio (PREVIEW)

W2LJ: An investment of "self"

A friend and I have been privately corresponding over the past week about the decline of the retention of "Newbies" to Amateur Radio; and the increase in the popularity of QRP. We have been engaging in philosophical arguments as to whether not the two phenomena are somehow linked.

Personally, I think that the explosion of the popularity of QRP and the decline of "Newbies" staying interested in Amateur Radio are totally non-related and are 180 degrees apart in the spectrum.

My personal opinion is that for many, QRP hearkens back to the "Golden Age" of Amateur Radio. The tradition of building, homebrewing, operating on a shoe string is very akin to Amateur Radio of the 20s, 30s and 40s. Back in those days, it was very rare for a Ham to open up some boxes, plug a few things in and get on the air. Back then you had to scavenge, scrounge and build. Getting on the air was the end step of an entire process. Back then, after you took your test, you waited six weeks or more for your license to come and you used that time to make final preparations. When you got on the air, you knew how and why your station worked. Heck, you built most of it yourself, including the antenna. Fortunately, there still seems to be a large segment of the Amateur Radio population that shares that ethic and wants to enjoy it, again.

Today things are different - radically different. Without getting into arguments, the process today is more akin to this:

1) Take a multiple choice test
2) Find out your results within 15 minutes of completing your exam
3) Go to the FCC Website within a week and get your callsign.
4) Use that week to order and receive a fancy new "box" and antenna from HRO or AES.
5) Open the boxes, plug a few things in and get on the air.

Where's the romance in that? Where's the anticipation in that? Where's the pride of a "job well done" in that? Where's the "magic" in that? Is it any wonder then, that so many of today's new licensees are losing interest?

Amateur Radio was so popular way back when; and retained its newly licensed because they had made a major investment of "self". It WAS harder back then! It took a lot of effort, discipline and self motivation to study, scrounge, build and get on the air. The words "instant" and "gratification" hadn't even been linked together yet! After all that study, building, effort, blood, sweat and tears, you would have looked like a bloody idiot to go through all that only to say, "Nah, this isn't for me".

Today's "plug and play" society makes it easier to walk away. The "investment of self" has turned into an "investment of money". Open some boxes, throw some stuff together and get on the air. It turns Amateur Radio into a (yawn) "been there, done that" kind of thing. And even the 'investment of money" isn't a total loss; because if you find out that Amateur Radio isn't your "thing", then there's always eBay.

73 de Larry W2LJ

Herman the Ham?

eHam: Lightning Safety

Lightning-human encounters cause burns, trauma and electrical interference with physiological processes, often with fatal results. This article addresses personal safety concerns with lightning. Antenna and grounding practices are covered quite well in recent QST articles as well as ARRL and other literature and are therefore not iterated here. Lightning protection for backpacking and blue-water sailing are not covered comprehensively in this article.

More at http://www.eham.net/articles/19773

USA ARDF (Radio Fox Hunt) PREVIEW (ARVN)

BBS News: Morse code alive and well

Morse code has been proving popular with a group in the North West, showing it still has a future despite the mobile phone.

See the video here http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/7544147.stm

ARRL: N9GL's RF Safety Column: Hijacking Science

It appears that scientists who do not like the results produced by good scientific investigation are attempting to bypass accepted procedures to propagate the results that they believe should be shown. For a number of years, it has been apparent that certain scientists have strong beliefs that exposure to RF energy harms people. Unfortunately for them, well designed and performed scientific studies have not confirmed their beliefs; however, rather than accepting what science shows, these people stubbornly cling to their beliefs. Some of them have designed studies that are likely to have the results that they would like them to have. The latest and most disturbing occurrence is that these people are spreading rumors among their colleagues who accept the word of their trusted colleagues as truth and further propagate the mistruths.

More at http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2008/08/05/10249/

CQ YouTube

Soldersmoke: SolderSmoke #89

http://www.soldersmoke.com

August 3, 2008
Positano on the Amalfi Coast
QRSS: An Idea for More N. American Activity
Argo's bandwidth: .34 Hz
The New SolderSmoke Audio Filter
Knackered? Translating American to British
Kanga USA helps in Lake Michigan rescue
Google's "Back to the Moon" contest
Russia's Mars sample return mission
Apollo 11
Lasers from San Diego to the Moon
N0TU's slideshow (with Tuna Tin Two)
MAILBAG: K4QO on clubs without rules.
G0WAT names me "Hodeghog #4"
VE7SL ID's Mystery Military Radio
ZL2GX finishing Ph.D.
KC0PET gets EMRFD
N5XL reports Tantalum shortage
G3WOE on Shep and 20 new BITX20s
W8OAJ is now N8WQ, building MEPT

AMSAT P5-A to MARS

QRZ.com: Morse code ringtone generator

Fancy a Morse code ringtone ?

AndyB M1RGZ has a free Morse to Midi web page.

The web page says it converts text into a morse code ringtone playable on most mobile phones. If your phone can play 'polyphonic' or 'poly' ringtones it should work fine.

If your phone has WAP internet access you should be able to download ringtones (for free) directly from this site.

You can also play them back and/or save them on your PC or MAC, or use the Morse2Email feature to send morse messages to other people via email.

AndyB M1RGZ Morse code ringtone generator
http://www.planetofnoise.com/midi/morse2mid.php