eHam.net News

///////////////////////////////////////////
American Legion Birthday to be Celebrated March 12, on Shortwave Radio:

Posted: 02 Feb 2016 04:39 PM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/36096


INDIANAPOLIS - March 15 is the designated birthday of The American Legion.
It is the day in 1919 when the first American Legion caucus, held by
members of the American Expeditionary Force, convened in Paris. Much as
the birthday of the United States is celebrated on July 4 - for the day in
1776 when rebelling patriots declared the independence of the British
colonies and the spirit of America was born - March 15 is the day on which
the Legion came to life.


///////////////////////////////////////////
Ham Operators to Network International Fleet Review:

Posted: 02 Feb 2016 04:38 PM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/36095


VIJAYAWADA: As many as 22 Ham Radio operators from two Telugu speaking
states - Andhra Pradesh and Telangana - will be connecting all the
important key points of International Fleet Review scheduled to be held in
Visakhapatnam from February 4 with the Ham radio communication network.
They will deploy their personal modern all mode communication equipment
(single unit capable of functioning in multi modes like HF, VHF and UHF)
that have ability to transmit in the ranges of both global and local.
Further, they will be deploying VHF repeater for linking all the
walkie-talkies in the vicinity of Visakha City. According to A Ramesh Babu,
coordinator at Ham Radio Training Centre in Vijayawada, efforts are being
made to interlink repeater communication with the internet using eco link
technology extending communication to global range making accessible to all
Hams even with a small handset. Some of the Ham radio operators are even
carrying software defined radio, the latest in Ham radio communication
technology.


///////////////////////////////////////////
Students to Take Giant Leap When 'Radio Science Day' Culminates in the Fall

Posted: 02 Feb 2016 04:37 PM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/36094


In the fall, students in the outlying districts of La Paz County will get
to do what very few people could ever dream of. They will talk with
astronauts on the international space station. It will all be the
culmination of a project that began on Jan. 13 when students from
Ehrenberg, Salome, Quartzsite, Bouse and Wenden were bused to the
Quartzsite Community Center and met people involved in radio communication
as part of Radio Science Day. "This is such a great opportunity for these
students and we are glad to assist in this project," said Heather Caton,
who led the day's classes with Gordon West.


///////////////////////////////////////////
All Saints Students Prepare to Contact International Space Station:

Posted: 02 Feb 2016 04:37 PM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/36093


MIDDLETOWN -- During recent years, a shifting focus on science and math
education in the U.S. has meant a surge of new programs and educational
opportunities available to elementary and middle school students. In Rhode
Island, where the term STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and
Math) education has become commonplace among many educators, younger
generations are working with everything from iPads to LEGOs in the
classroom, all in the pursuit of groundbreaking technology. However, this
spring, a Rhode Island Catholic school will mark a new milestone in the
state's science education programs. In May, All Saints Academy will become
the first school in Rhode Island -- and one of only six schools in the
country -- to make contact with the International Space Station. "I'm
thrilled beyond belief that the school is able to do this," said Principal
Anita Brouse during an interview at the school. "When I heard that we were
going to do it, I thought to myself, what a tremendous benefit that the
children could see all this in their learning. They'll remember being able
to talk to the astronauts in space." The school was chosen from
approximately 6,000 applicants worldwide to participate in Amateur Radio on
the International Space Station, an international educational initiative
that arranges scheduled ham radio communications between educational
organizations and astronauts aboard the ISS. Other recent contacts include
schools in Nepal, Italy, the United Kingdom and, closer to home, Frederick
W. Hartnett Middle School in Blackstone, Mass. "I think it's great that we
are the first school in Rhode Island to speak with the International Space
Station," said Paula Peréz, an eighth-grader and member of the school's ham
radio club, which will lead the student body in the historic
encounter. "It's a one of a kind opportunity for such a small state."


///////////////////////////////////////////
Want to Connect with People All Over the World? Try Using a Ham Radio:

Posted: 02 Feb 2016 04:36 PM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/36092


Kilo (K) Alpha (A) One (1) Sierra (S) Kilo (K) Yankee (Y) -- Those words
strung together probably don't mean a whole lot to you, but in the world of
ham radio, that's the call sign of The Sky is Not the Limit Amateur Radio
Club at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center. It's their way to connect
with the rest of the world - and the way other amateur radio enthusiasts
can identify who they're speaking with. They use the phonetic alphabet
because it's recognized internationally - although some use different words
for letters. You see, every Friday morning, you'll find a few members
hanging out by the club's desk and small wall closet in their little corner
of the Discovery Center listening closely as their radios pick up people
from countries all over the world - including some you've never even heard
of. They have two radios connected to four antennas that if pointed in the
right direction, will capture conversations from right around the corner in
Concord to as far away as outer space. What are they listening so closely
for? We're glad you asked, because that's kind of the reason for our visit
last week. They're listening for CQ's (which is the ham radio way of
saying "seek you") for a chance to strike up a conversation with someone
that they otherwise never would. A person on the other side of the radio,
who could be in England, France or a tiny island in the middle of
fill-in-the-blank ocean, will say CQ followed by their call sign. KA1SKY is
the call sign for the club and is what they would use to respond, after
repeating the call sign the just heard, to make a potential contact. Once a
connection is made, they'll respond with a report consisting of the
strength of the signal and the quality of the audio, along with their
location (which as you can guess is always the Discovery Center). "That's
all that's required for an established contact," said club member Frank
Ross.