eHam.net News

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Hams in Space: Project OSCAR:

Posted: 14 Jan 2016 04:19 PM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/35982


In early December 1961, a United States Air Force rocket took off from
Vandenberg Air Force Base in California carrying a special payload. The
main payload was a Corona surveillance satellite, but tucked just aft of
that spacecraft was a tiny package of homebrew electronics stuffed into
something the looked like a slice of cake. What was in that package and how
it came to tag along on a top-secret military mission is the story of OSCAR
1, the world's first amateur radio satellite.


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DX News -- ARRL DX Bulletin #2:

Posted: 14 Jan 2016 09:54 AM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/35981


This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by
QRZ DX, 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: 14 Jan 2016 09:54 AM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/35980


Just Ahead In Radiosport:


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ARRL Asks FCC for 'Minimal But Necessary Changes' To Correct Error:

Posted: 14 Jan 2016 09:53 AM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/35979


The ARRL has petitioned the FCC to fix a "shortfall in available
RTTY/data spectrum" the regulator created when it reapportioned 80 and
75 meters a decade ago. The League's January 8 Petition for Rule Making
asks the FCC to
shift the boundary between the 80 meter RTTY/data subband and the 75
meter phone/image subband from 3600 kHz to 3650 kHz. The ARRL's
Petition points out that the proposed change has received strong
support from the ARRL membership and was adopted as policy by the
League's Board of Directors in July 2015. At that time the Board also
agreed to seek RTTY and data privileges for Technician and Novice
licensees within the portion of the 15 meter band where they now may
operate CW and to do the same on 80 meters, contingent upon the 80/75
meter subband revision.


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Subcommittee Chair, H.R. 1301 Sponsor Testify on Behalf of Radio Parity Act

Posted: 14 Jan 2016 09:52 AM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/35978


During a January 12 Capitol Hill hearing, US House Subcommittee on
Communications and Technology Chair Rep Greg Walden, W7EQI (R-OR),
called the Amateur Radio Parity Act "a commonsense bill" and urged his
colleagues to support it. H.R. 1301 was one of four telecoms bills to
come before his panel. Walden told the subcommittee that, as a ham,
he's "acutely aware" of the passion Amateur Radio possess for the
service.


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ARRL President, N3KN, Concluding Nearly 3 Decades as a League Official:

Posted: 14 Jan 2016 09:51 AM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/35977


Now completing her third term, ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, will
be handing off the baton to her successor this week. The ARRL Board of
Directors will elect the League's next president -- its 16th -- when it
meets January 15-16. President Craigie said it has been her privilege
to serve during the ARRL Centennial in 2014 and to help usher in
Amateur Radio's second century.


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National Parks On the Air Update:

Posted: 14 Jan 2016 09:49 AM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/35976


Although the ARRL's year-long National Parks on the Air (NPOTA) event
began just 2 weeks ago, Larry Burke, K5RK, of Alvin, Texas, already has
confirmed more than 120 NPOTA units.


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New Section Manager Appointed In Missouri:

Posted: 14 Jan 2016 09:50 AM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/35975


The ARRL's Missouri Section has a new leader. Cecil Higgins, AC0HA, of
Pittsburg, Missouri, has been appointed as ARRL Missouri Section
Manager, effective January 11. Dale Bagley, K0KY, had stepped down
because of family commitments after having served as Missouri's SM
since June 1999. Bagley recommended Higgins for the post.


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Orlando Amateur Radio Club Donates to ARRL Spectrum Defense Fund:

Posted: 14 Jan 2016 09:49 AM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/35974


At the January meeting of the Orlando Amateur Radio Club (OARC), President
John Knott, N4JTK, presented ARRL
Southeastern Division Director Doug Rehman, K4AC, with a check for $2500,
designated for
the ARRL Spectrum Defense Fund.


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UK Astronaut Tim Peake, KG5BVI, Notes Death of Space Oddity's 'Major Tom:'

Posted: 14 Jan 2016 09:50 AM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/35973


In his Twitter feed, UK/ESA Astronaut and ISS crew member Tim Peake,
KG5BVI, tipped his space helmet to rock legend David Bowie, whose 1969
hit single "Space Oddity" was covered in space by Canadian Astronaut
Chris Hadfield, VA3OOG/KC5RNJ. Bowie died on January 10. In the somber
"Space Oddity," Bowie assumes the character of "Major Tom," an
astronaut who becomes stranded in space.


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First 'Principia Mission' ARISS Contact:

Posted: 14 Jan 2016 09:49 AM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/35972


Meanwhile, a brand-new ham was the first to speak with Peake when
students at Sandringham School in Hertfordshire, England, enjoyed a
January 8 Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact.


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Hamvention Seeks 2016 Award Nominations:

Posted: 14 Jan 2016 09:48 AM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/35971


Dayton Hamvention 2016 is soliciting
nominations for Amateur of the Year, Special Achievement, Technical
Excellence, and Club of the Year awards. All Amateur Radio
operators/clubs are eligible, with winners recognized at Hamvention
2016, May 20-22 at Hara Arena.


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YASME Foundation Announces Supporting Grants:

Posted: 14 Jan 2016 09:47 AM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/35970


The Yasme Foundation Board of Directors has
announced several grants to Amateur Radio organizations and activities.
Beneficiaries include the Amateur Radio on the International Space
Station program, the ARRL Teachers
Institute on
Wireless Technology, and the Reverse Beacon Network (RBN).



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GlobalSET 2015 is a Wrap, With Lessons Learned:

Posted: 14 Jan 2016 09:48 AM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/35969


More than three dozen countries took part in the 2015 Global Simulated
Emergency Test (GlobalSET) last month, organized by IARU Region 1 and
designed in part to measure the disaster readiness of Amateur Radio.
IARU Region 1 Emergency Communications Coordinator Greg Mossop, G0DUB,
pointed out that the 2015 event differed from other GlobalSETs held
since 2006, which emphasized message handling and setting up stations
in the field.


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In Brief...

Posted: 14 Jan 2016 09:46 AM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/35968


Ramsey Kits Calls it Quits: After more than 40 years as a purveyor of
inexpensive electronics kits for hobbyists, the Ramsey Hobby Kits group
has announced that it's
thrown in the towel, effective on January 1.