These Ham Links are provided by John Woodstock, K1DWU. The news items are updated daily.
The Bands “Heat Up” for the 2010 ARRL UHF Contest
ARRL - VHF/UHF weak-signal operators across North America are making the final tests on their stations in preparation for the ARRL UHF Contest, coming up the weekend of August 7-8. Most VHF+ weak-signal operation takes place on the two lowest bands of the VHF spectrum -- 6 and 2 meters; however, there is a lot of activity that takes place above 144 MHz in the UHF portion of the radio spectrum and beyo...
Government Agencies Introduce User-Friendly Federal Register
ARRL - While the Federal Register may be the ultimate record of the business of the USA’s Executive Branch, it can be a difficult document to navigate. The Register publishes approximately 80,000 pages of documents each year in the form of Notices, Proposed Rules, Rules and Official Documents; this is where all new and amended rules to Part 97, the Amateur Radio Service, must be published before they ...
Dutch Radio Amateurs in major emergency exercise
Southgate ARC - In collaboration with the Dutch Army, the Dutch Amateur Radio Emergency Service (DARES) took part in exercise 'Civil Challenge'
Powerline Communications in Electronics World mag
Southgate ARC - The August issue of the Electronics World magazine carries an article on Powerline Communications which neglects to mention the high level of radio pollution that this causes
John Robert Stratton, KE5ISX, appointed West Gulf Division Vice Director
Southgate ARC - After review of eligibility by the ARRL Ethics and Elections Committee, President Kay Craigie, N3KN, has appointed John Robert Stratton, KE5ISX, of Austin Texas, to serve as Vice Director of the ARRL's West Gulf Division for the remainder of the current term that expires January 1, 2011
Strathclyde - Offset Geostationary Orbits
Southgate ARC - Researchers from the University of Strathclyde's Advanced Space Concepts Laboratory have shown that a 25 year-old theory on offset geostationary orbits, North or South of the equator, was correct
Spanish fishery on Amateur Radio bands
Southgate ARC - The IARU Region 1 website reports that Spanish fishermen are daily abusing 3500, 3510, 3550, 3590, 7000, 14000, 21000, 21222, 21395 kHz in USB at various times
Webinar for Public Service Event Volunteers
Southgate ARC - When Dennis Conklin, AI8P, AEC for Summit County ARES in Ohio, was tasked with coordinating situational awareness for the American Diabetes Association’s 'Tour de Cure' this summer, he wanted to go beyond the paper and pencil methods he had used in the past. He turned to Depiction mapping and simulation software to get the job done
Ofcom - WRC-12 consultation responses
Southgate ARC - The UK regulator Ofcom has published a summary of responses to its consultation on the World Radiocommunication Conference 2012
Amateur satellite to investigate power line interference
Southgate ARC - Hans van de Groenendaal ZS6AKV will be giving a presentation on South Africa's first CubeSat at the AMSAT-UK Colloquium in Guildford, England, July 31- Aug 1
ARS Spartan Sprint
WA7BNM Contest Calendar - 0100Z-0300Z, Aug 3
Handiham World for 28 July 2010
K1DWU - HandiHam - Welcome to Handiham World!Update: Larry Huggins, KA0LSG, Handiham Volunteer, holds the Wouxun HT on cover of Worldradio Last week's mention of the Wouxun talking dual band handheld radio created quite a stir, so we are devoting some time to a follow up.... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 07-28]
ARRL Web Survey Amusements - Where's the Real Content?
K1DWU - K9ZW - Fun & amusing, the vast majority of website based surveys are openly acknowledged as unscientific and biased to the point of uselessness. They can be a lot of fun, and can have a great use in prompting the website visitor to think about topics and perhaps... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 07-28]
That was bad!
K1DWU - W2LJ - Tonight was my night in the barrel as Fox in the 20 Meter Summer Foxhunt. And in the 5 or so years that I have been a Fox, this had to be my worst performance, by far!
20 Meters was lousy for me tonight with some local QRN that was horrendous. I took... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 07-28]
Weather station data flow
K1DWU - AE5X - There seems to be a lot of interest in personal weather stations among ham radio ops. I started my own a little over a year ago after researching what was out there, equipment wise, and I did so thinking it would be interesting to see trends over time here... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 07-28]
Does Anyone Know Why?
K1DWU - KE9V - By now most of us have read the news touting the recent explosive growth in amateur radio.
According to the ARRL, last year was very good and the first six months of 2010 even better:
With more than 18,000 new Amateur Radio licenses issued in the first half... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 07-28]
John Robert Stratton, KE5ISX, Appointed West Gulf Division Vice Director:
eHam.net News - After review of eligibility by the ARRL Ethics and Elections
Committee, President Kay Craigie, N3KN, has appointed John Robert
Stratton, KE5ISX, of Austin Texas, to serve as Vice Director of the
ARRL's West Gulf Division for the remainder of the current term that
expires January 1, 2011. Stratton, an attorney, fills the vacancy
created when John Thomason, WB5SYT, resigned the position earlier
this month.
FCC Launches Consumer Help Center
ARRL - Beginning July 28, those who have dealings with the FCC will have a new tool that the FCC claims will put them “within one click of all the information they want” from the Commission: a new “easy-to-use” Consumer Help Center.“Our new Consumer Help Center makes it easy for consumers to learn about our work and take action,” said FCC Chief of the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau Joel Guri...
Coming Soon: More ARRL 2010 Field Day Pins
ARRL - After a higher than expected run on pins for Field Day this year, the ARRL has ordered more and expects them to arrive next month. “The pins were in stock until just before Field Day, but due to some exceptionally high interest, we were unable to fulfill a few final orders,” said ARRL Product Marketing Specialist Jackie Ferreira, KB1PWB. “We have ordered more pins, as many hams enjoy collecting...
Lessons learned
K1DWU - W2LJ - As always, FOBB taught me a few lessons,
1) Really have to get a Buddipole mast. The plastic insert on my painter's pole can't handle the weight of the Buddistick. Those 10 foot whips add A LOT of weight! It did the job yesterday; but at the end, the... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 07-27]
First WSPR qsl
K1DWU - WSPRnet - Today I received my first SWL rpt by mail from Frank Hunger from Germany.
A nice postcard and a very nice letter with ofcourse the details from his reception report. [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 07-27]
IOTA news from the Deutscher Amateur Radio Club
Southgate ARC - Weekly IOTA News - compiled by Fredy, DE0MST of the Deutscher Amateur Radio Club
Astronauts successfully complete amateur radio simulation contacts
Southgate ARC - Astronauts Ron Garan, KF5GPO, and Mike Fossum, KF5AQG, each successfully completed a simulated Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with the Challenger Learning Center of Indianapolis
Borneo Amateur Radio Festival comes to an end
Southgate ARC - The 6th Borneo Amateur Radio Festival, featuring some 300 amateur radio operators, drew to a close Sunday night in a ceremony held at Asma Hotel, Jerudong
Ofcom - changes to licence exemption for Wireless Telegraphy devices
Southgate ARC - The UK regulator Ofcom has published a consultation on the regulations it has drafted to modify licence exemption rules for a range of wireless devices in the UK
HAMNET Report
Southgate ARC - They may be on 2 opposite sides of the globe, but two weather patterns – one off the coast of China and the other approaching the Gulf of Mexico, are cause for concern. Listen to this report from Hamnet's National Director, Francois Botha, ZS6BUU
Portuguese Navy Ham Radio Club on the air
Southgate ARC - Members of the Portuguese Navy Ham Radio Club - NRA (CS5NRA) will be active on 31 July 2010 from the Fortress S. Joao Batista and Farol de Esposende (Esposende lighthouse)
Win 1,000 full-color photo QSL cards
Southgate ARC - AmateurRadio.com is offering a free prize drawing. With the help of their generous sponsor, KB3IFH QSL Cards, they ’re holding a drawing for 1,000 free full-color photo QSL cards (US$100 value)
Construction kit blues
Southgate ARC - The South African Radio League (SARL) has experienced many delays in the supply of some components required for the three construction kits on offer and has not been able to deliver kits at the RTA
SumbandilaSat SO 67 - more SA passes planned
Southgate ARC - SA AMSAT has announced that, after consultation with the CSIR Satellite Application Centre (SAC), more passes over South Africa will be scheduled
Amateur Radio World Castles Award
Southgate ARC - The youth members of club station UT7AXA (UR-QSL-CLUB) and Konstantin UR5AGR, will be active on 26 - 27 July 2010 from Molchenskiy Monastery (Fortress) in Putivl, WCA: UR-00113, UCFA: SU-003, URDA: SU-18
WOW -- Women On Wireless Celebrate The Centenary:
eHam.net News - The Australian Ladies Amateur Radio Association, ALARA, threw itself into the task for putting the WIA special callsign VK100WIA on air and did an outstanding job. Jean Fisher VK3VIP, the Victorian ALARA representative led the way, duly
facilitated by OM John VK3DQ who was the designated 'tea-boy', with operating being shared by Margaret Blight VK3FMAB and Michele Grant VK3FEAT.
Win 1,000 Full-Color QSL Cards:
eHam.net News - AmateurRadio.com is offering a free prize drawing! With the help of our generous sponsor, KB3IFH QSL Cards, we're holding a drawing for 1,000 free full-color photo QSL cards. This is a US $100 value. The drawing is open to all licensed Amateur Radio operators worldwide. No purchase is necessary. Enter now to win!
The Amateur Amateur Fills-In
ARRL - By Gary Hoffman, KB0H
ARRL Contributing EditorMy efforts to set up an APRS station (Automatic Packet Reporting System) had come to a standstill. I had installed a program called UI-View32. It was pretty slick, with volumes of data in its Help file, but there were still plenty of parts of it that I didn’t understand. It was time to find an Elmer.I won’t go into the serendipitous events that led m...
John Robert Stratton, KE5ISX, Appointed West Gulf Division Vice Director
ARRL - After review of eligibility by the ARRL Ethics and Elections Committee, President Kay Craigie, N3KN, has appointed John Robert Stratton, KE5ISX, of Austin Texas, to serve as Vice Director of the ARRL’s West Gulf Division for the remainder of the current term that expires January 1, 2011. Stratton, an attorney, fills the vacancy created when John Thomason, WB5SYT, resigned the position earlier t...
Ubuntu Linux for Hams
ARRL - This free operating system provides your PC with all of the usual features, including lots of ham radio applications.Read More
Presentations scheduled at AMSAT-UK Colloquium
Southgate ARC - A number of CubeSat related presentations will be streamed live to the web this weekend from the AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium
40m portable antenna shootout
Southgate ARC - Australia's Northern Rivers WICEN in conjunction with the Summerland Amateur Radio Club is holding a 40M portable antenna shootout at the SARC clubrooms on Sunday 19 September 2010
ARISS ham radio contact scheduled for 100th anniversary of Scouting
Southgate ARC - On the morning of July 26, Fort A. P. Hill, Virginia will be the fastest growing city in the country. 43,000 scouts and leaders will join 8,000 volunteers to celebrate 100 years of scouting in the US
Hamfest India 2010, Pollachi
Southgate ARC - Hamfest India 2010 organizing committee greets you and seek your kind attention and support to the Ham radio festival to be participated by radio hams all over India
Help Mike get on his bike
Southgate ARC - Here is an update on the activity that dashing aero-paramedic, avid dx-er and all round good guy Mike VK4MSA is currently in training fo
ICASA removes 70cm intruder
Southgate ARC - South African regulator ICASA has closed down an illegal 70cm repeater following reports from the SARL
DXpedition to Togo
Southgate ARC - The DXpedition to Togo by the Italian team lead by Silvano, I2YSB, has announced that the operation will take place between October 10-23th
History This Week
Southgate ARC - A look back at events that made history this week - compiled by the Summerland Amateur Radio Club of Lismore, NSW
RSGB RoPoCo 2
WA7BNM Contest Calendar - 0700Z-0830Z, Aug 1
SARL HF Phone Contest
WA7BNM Contest Calendar - 1300Z-1630Z, Aug 1
The 6th Borneo Amateur Radio Festival:
eHam.net News - Brunei Darussalam Amateur Radio Federation, BDARA is host to about 300 amateur radio enthusiasts from Borneo Island at the 6th Borneo Amateur Radio Festival. The three day festival took place this morning. Taking part in the festival are participants from Kalimantan, Sabah, Sarawak as well as Brunei Darussalam which is hosting the festival for the first time. The second Deputy Director, Youth and Sports Department, Awang Haji Muhammad Zamri bin Dato Paduka Haji Hamdani, in his speech said that the festival will be able to open-up opportunities for amateur radio enthusiasts to share experiences and as an encouragement to give attention towards the high technology used in amateur radio equipment.
Ham TV Is Looking For You:
eHam.net News - Do you have a idea for a amateur radio related TV show or already have one in production? HAM TV is looking for you, please send us your video.
D-STAR promotional video
Southgate ARC - An Icom D-STAR video is now available on YouTube. This video introduces D-Star (Digital Smart Technology for Amateur Radio), its features and the models available
Japanese Amateur Radio license statistics
Southgate ARC - The March 2010 Japanese Amateur Radio license figures show a total of 3,299,954 licenses, but this figure should be viewed with care
19411 km with 30W to dipole
Southgate ARC - Amateur radio low power operators have been getting very good results with the digital data mode ROS
August WorldRadio Online
Southgate ARC - The August 2010 edition of WorldRadio Online magazine is now available for download
Black box flight recorder inventor dies
Southgate ARC - The death of Dr David Warren brought to a close the very interesting life of a man who developed the black box that has played a crucial role in improving aviation worldwide
2010 ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference - call for papers
Southgate ARC - Technical papers are solicited for presentation at the 29th Annual ARRL and TAPR Digital Communications Conference to be held September 24-26, 2010 in Portland, Oregon
Ham Radio Australia
Southgate ARC - HRA (Ham Radio Australia) is now on Facebook. This is open to everyone who has a interest in 'Ham Radio' in Australia
PLT interference videos
Southgate ARC - Nige G7CNF has posted a couple of YouTube videos showing the pollution caused by PLT devices. As well as HF, the VHF 70 MHz band is rendered unusable
WOW - Women on Wireless celebrate the centenary
Southgate ARC - The Australian Ladies Amateur Radio Association, ALARA, threw itself into the task for putting the WIA special callsign VK100WIA on air and did an outstanding job
Propagation Report from Hannes Coetzee, ZS6BZP
Southgate ARC - Hannes Coetzee, ZS6BZP, reports that the solar activity is still at low levels. Sunspot 1 089, which rotated onto the eastern limb, appears to be growing into a fairly decent sunspot cluster
ARS Flight of the Bumblebees
WA7BNM Contest Calendar - 1700Z-2100Z, Jul 25
SKCC Sprint
WA7BNM Contest Calendar - 0000Z-0200Z, Jul 28
RSGB IOTA Contest
WA7BNM Contest Calendar - 1200Z, Jul 24 to 1200Z, Jul 25
QRP Fox Hunt
WA7BNM Contest Calendar - 0100Z-0230Z, Jul 28
NCCC Sprint Ladder
WA7BNM Contest Calendar - 0230Z-0300Z, Jul 30
D-STAR illegal in France - update
This Week in Amateur Radio - French Amateur Radio groups are working together to get the digital prohibition in France lifted.
Wicked weather watcher (Manitoba)
This Week in Amateur Radio - Dark skies, strong winds and heavy rains are usually a clue to take cover, but for Bill Simm of Portage la Prairie, they are a signal to get to work.
Simm is an amateur radio operator - ham - and one of Environment Canada's many volunteer severe weather watchers with the CanWarn system.
Radio Days: One man's collection lives on (Connecticut)
This Week in Amateur Radio - Radios were the late George Helmer's passion. The older the better. Taking in his radio collection in the Riverside home where his widow lives transports one back to those early radio days when families gathered around to listen to the Ozzie and Harriet show, Bob Hope or Fred Waring, or heard the deep, far-off voice of Edward R. Murrow broadcasting his vivid accounts of the London Blitz during WWII .
The 6th Borneo Amateur Radio Festival (Brunei)
This Week in Amateur Radio - The Brunei Darussalam Amateur Radio Federation, BDARA is host to about 300 amateur radio enthusiasts from Borneo Island at the 6th Borneo Amateur Radio Festival. The three day festival took place this morning.
UK: TV series invites amateur radio enthusiasts
This Week in Amateur Radio - RSGB News reports that the producers of a forthcoming TV series are inviting amateur radio enthusiasts and others to take part.
The show revolves around a souped-up double decker bus which is touring cities around Britain.
Where's he been? D-STAR and Echolink from a hotel in Madrid
K1DWU - G4VXE - I've been in Madrid for a few days, on business. I didn't have any radios with me, though I did have the laptop and a decent internet connection. I had a couple of QSOs using the DV-Dongle on D-STAR - which of course is great fun if you're stuck in a hotelroom.... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 07-25]
WIA News Podcast for Sun, 25 Jul 2010
K1DWU - Wireless Institute of Australia - WIANEWS FOR WEEK COMMENCING JULY 25 2010. - WIA Centenary Update - Share The Good News - First WIA Centenary Award Issued - Club News- ACMA CHANGES TO THE 403-520 MHz BAND. - The 440 Mhz Rock Band ? - ALL UP AND COMING IN THIS... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 07-25]
Amateur radio club ready to be called on in case of emergency (Florida)
This Week in Amateur Radio - The Lake Monroe Amateur Radio Society does more than just help plan Christmas parades and hold community education meetings.
A new system has been developed by Seminole County's ham radio enthusiasts that could mean quicker responses from the authorities - as well as knowing if your loved one is safe - after a disaster.
FCC: Vanity Call Sign Fees to Decrease August 17
This Week in Amateur Radio - On July 19, the FCC announced via the Federal Register that the cost of an Amateur Radio vanity call sign will decrease 10 cents, from to $13.40 to $13.30. The new fees take effect 30 days after publication, making August 17, 2010, the first day the new fee is in effect. In FY2010, the FCC expects to grant 14,800 vanity call signs, bringing in $196,840 from the vanity call sign program. Earlier this year, the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Order (NPRM), seeking to lower the fee for Amateur Radio vanity call signs.
Independent radio operators trade gadgets (California)
This Week in Amateur Radio - More than 120 ham radio enthusiasts gathered in Burson Saturday to browse through rare equipment, talk radio and share smoked chicken in the barrel.
ARDF Update: Radio Foxhunters Find Their Champions in Ohio
ARRL - By Joe Moell, K0OV, Contributing Editor
ARRL Amateur Radio Direction Finding Coordinator
k0ov@homingin.comNo shack potatoes here! These radio-orienteering enthusiasts took to the beautiful woods of the Buckeye State in pursuit of transmitters and medals.They came from 15 states and four foreign countries. In their suitcases were radio sets, antennas, sun block and running shoes, but they left som...
Propagation Forecast Bulletin #29 de K7RA:
eHam.net News - Sunspot activity increased recently, although it is foolish to call
this a trend because solar activity has great variability. Sunspot
group 1087 was visible for 13 days over July 9-21. In millionths of
a solar hemisphere, its size was 30, 100, 120, 130, 70, 100, 60, 50,
20, 10, 10, 10, and 10. On July 19 new sunspot group 1089 appeared
over the eastern horizon, with a relative size of 130, 150, 310 and
240 for July 19-22.
ARNewsline Report 1719 -- July 23 2010:
eHam.net News - The following is a Q-S-T. Europe gets set to host a major ham radio emergency communications meeting, more on the FCC action to permit hams to take part in emergency training drills sponsored by their employers, the ARRL says amateur radio is growing in the United States, an $8000 do it yourself ham radio satellite is detailed in the MAKE Magazine blog and ham radio honors one of the early pioneers of manned space flight. Find out more on Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1719 coming your way right now.
ARRL Argues that Oklahoma Town’s RFI Ordinance is “Null and Void”
ARRL - Saying that only the Federal Communications Commission is empowered to regulate radio frequency interference (RFI), the ARRL has notified Midwest City, Oklahoma, that its local ordinance 27-3(9), seeking to regulate radio transmissions and RFI, is “null and void.” Midwest City is in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area.Midwest City’s Ordinance 27-3(9) reads: “In addition to other public nuisance...
The K7RA Solar Update
ARRL - Sunspot activity increased recently, although it is foolish to call this a trend, since solar activity has great variability. Sunspot group 1087 was visible for 13 days over July 9-21. In millionths of a solar hemisphere, its size was 30, 100, 120, 130, 70, 100, 60, 50, 20, 10, 10, 10 and 10. On July 19, new sunspot group 1089 appeared over the eastern horizon, with a relative size of 130, 150,...
Surfin’: Searchin’
ARRL - By Stan Horzepa, WA1LOU
Contributing EditorThis week, Surfin’ searches the FCC database and finds more musical hams. New FCC Database Search ToolMike Staines, WM1KE, asked me to check out his new FCC Database Search tool, so I did.Mike says his online application “is a little different than your run-of-the-mill FCC database search.” It can search by call sign, ZIP code, within a specified radiu...
AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE™ REPORT 1719
ARN - Podcast - News for the week in Amateur Radio for the week ending 23 July, 2010.
Visit Amateur Radio Newsline's only official website at http://www.arnewsline.org
National Scout Jamboree on the Air July 26th - August 4th
K1DWU - K6RJ - The National Scout Jamboree takes place July 26-August 4 at Fort AP Hill, Caroline County, Virginia .‚ Just like the National Scout Jamborees in 1973, 1981, 1985, 1989, 1993, 1997, 2001 and 2005, the 2010 event will feature Amateur Radio.‚ A team of 17... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 07-22]
Wilco Solid Sound Festival
K1DWU - ARRL - WMA - The North Adams Police Department has asked the Northern Berkshire Amateur Radio Club (NoBARC) to help with communications for the Wilco Solid Sound Festival .Times involved are: Friday August 13 from 1900 to 2400 Saturday August 14 from 1300 to 2400... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 07-22]
W1HFN Fox Hunt
K1DWU - ARRL - WMA - The W1HFN fox has been deployed in Central Massachusetts near the Wachusett Reservoir. Frequency is 146.565, 20 second voice ID every 3 minutes. Take Rte12 South from Sterling towards West Boylston (or North from West Boylston towards Sterling). As... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 07-22]
Online documentation for QRP rigs
K1DWU - AE5X - Every now and then, a QRPer has a need for documentation of a radio or kit they bought second hand. The majority of such material exists online and is freely downloadable, much to the credit of those vendors.
Those offering it are probably under the correct‚ impression... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 07-22]
DX News -- ARRL DX Bulletin #29:
eHam.net News - This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by
NC1L, The Daily DX, QRZ DX, the OPDX Bulletin, DXNL, Contest Corral
from QST and the ARRL Contest Calendar and WA7BNM web sites. Thanks
to all.
This Week On The Radio:
eHam.net News - This Week On The Radio:
Vanity Call Sign Fees To Decrease August 17:
eHam.net News - On July 19, the FCC announced via the Federal Register that the cost
of a 10 year Amateur Radio vanity call sign will decrease 10 cents,
from $13.40 to $13.30. The new fees take effect 30 days after
publication, making August 17, 2010, the first day the new fee is in
effect.
FCC Modifies Rules To Allow Employee Participation In Emergency Drills:
eHam.net News - In a Report and Order released Wednesday, July 14, the FCC
amended Part 97.113 to allow amateurs to participate without an FCC
waiver in government-sponsored disaster preparedness drills on behalf
of their employers participating in the exercise. The FCC also has
amended the rules to allow employees to participate in non-government
drills and exercises up to one hour per week and up to two 72 hour
periods during the year.