eHam.net News

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Oak Ridge 'Hams' Show Children Fun of Amateur Radio at Children's Museum:

Posted: 22 Sep 2016 05:24 PM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/37605


Children and teens from ages 6 to 16 tried their hand at Morse code
recently with ham radio operators at the Children's Museum of Oak Ridge,
learning to communicate on amateur radio as they also participated in
celebrating the 100th birthday of the country's national parks. Jim and
Ronnie Bogard, both amateur radio operators with FCC licenses, welcomed
children on a recent Sunday to the museum's Discovery Lab, where they had
set up portable radio equipment and a mobile antenna. Jim Womack (KC4RD)
also set up an amateur radio station in the museum's Living Light Solar
House. "We focus on Morse code, teaching the children to key, so they can
send messages. It is like a secret language to kids," said Jim Bogard
(KY4L). "Kids will hear two-way Morse code contacts from all over the U.S.
and can have fun sending their names in Morse code. There are also
opportunities to talk on the microphone with other amateur radio stations."


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Hams Help at Pacific Marathon:

Posted: 22 Sep 2016 05:24 PM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/37604


At 6 a.m. this past Saturday, 72 runners, age 20 to 65, took off from
Berryman Campground for a 100-mile endurance race in the beautiful, but
rugged Mark Twain National Forest in remote Washington County. This was the
fifth year for the St. Louis Ultrarunners Group'a 100-mile endurance race,
which takes place over the rocky Berryman trail, a 25-mile loop. The trails
traverse several Ozark hills and feature long, sustained climbs and fast,
rocky descents. Runners, including veterans and first timers, could opt to
run only 50 miles or 26 miles for a single marathon. Ham radio operators
were asked to be on hand for this backcountry run because of the remoteness
of the area and the sparse or no cellphone reception once runners are out
of sight of the start/finish line at Berryman Campground. Running at
different speeds, participants are spread along the wilderness trails that
were marked to guide runners. Aid stations along the way provided water and
snacks. Amateur radio operators from two local clubs set up their stations
at the Berryman Campground start/finish line and Brazil Creek Campground
halfway mark to help track ultra runners in the two-day endurance run.
Portable antennas, 26 feet tall, boosted by a crossband repeater run off
two deep cycle 12-volt batteries, allowed transmissions on radios manned by
members of the Pacific Meramec Valley Amateur Radio Club and the Sullivan
Amateur Radio Club. The two clubs are Missouri-based amateur radio
operators (hams) who are trained and dedicated to providing radio
communications for emergencies.


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US Sharpens Surveillance of Crippling Solar Storms:

Posted: 22 Sep 2016 05:23 PM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/37603


In the fight to protect Earth from solar storms, the battle lines are drawn
in space at a point 1.6 million kilometres away. There, a US National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) satellite waits for electrons
and protons to wash over it, a sign that the Sun has burped a flood of
charged particles in our direction. As early as the end of this month, NOAA
should have a much better idea of just how dangerous those electromagnetic
storms are. The agency will begin releasing forecasts that use a more
sophisticated model to predict how incoming solar storms could fry
electrical power grids. It will be the clearest guide yet as to which
utility operators, in what parts of the world, need to worry. "This is the
first time we will get short-term forecasts of what the changes at the
surface of the Earth will be," says Bob Rutledge, lead forecaster at NOAA's
Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder, Colorado. "We can tell a
power-grid customer not only that it will be a bad day, but give them some
heads-up on what exactly they will be facing." Powerful solar storms can
knock out radio communications and satellite operations, but some of their
most devastating effects are on electrical power grids.


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Why Do We Still Have Morse Code and More Questions from Our Readers:

Posted: 22 Sep 2016 05:22 PM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/37602


Are there any practical applications remaining for Morse code? Samuel F.B.
Morse's system of dots and dashes was revolutionary in the 1840s (Morse, a
portrait painter, became interested in speeding up communications after his
wife died suddenly while he was away from home), but Western Union sent its
last telegram in 2006. Now Morse code is used largely in airplane
navigational systems for identification purposes, says Paul F. Johnston,
curator of maritime history at the National Museum of American History.
Amateur radio operators also use it for fun.


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What is the Difference Between DX Radio and CB?

Posted: 22 Sep 2016 05:21 PM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/37601


Ham radio has become closer than ever before! With so many operators around
the globe, this activity has turned into a real sensation over the last
several decades. However, some beginners are still in search of some
general ham radio info to get involved in this exciting hobby with so many
interesting things to experience. Amateur radio appears actually the same
day as traditional radio was invented. Developed by European and American
enthusiasts, it has eventually took the global audience by storm forming an
in-ternational community of so-called hams. People of various ages,
genders and occupations use their DX radio stations to keep in touch with
each other from the most remote parts of our planet. Some of them set up
for exciting journeys to faraway lands aiming at establishing contacts from
unknown areas. Such journeys are also known as DXpedtions. On the other
hand, ham radio is not only about fun and entertainments. It teaches us to
be respectful and ready to help in case of emergency. You may appear to be
the only person with your radio station to let others know what is
happening around.


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Foundations of Amateur Radio -- #68:

Posted: 22 Sep 2016 05:25 PM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/37600


How to make a propagation map with just your
radio and your ears? Today I walk you through
the process and you'll be amazed at how
simple it is and why I started learning Morse
Code.


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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2030, Sept. 23, 2016:

Posted: 22 Sep 2016 05:25 PM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/37599


The following is a QST. Amateurs in Canada and Australia break a distance
record on 630 meters. Hawaii hams prep for a tsunami that's unreal -- and
the UK gets ready for its largest hamfest. All this and more as Amateur
Radio Newsline's Report #2030 comes your way right now.


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DX News -- ARRL DX Bulletin #39:

Posted: 22 Sep 2016 11:13 AM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/37598


This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by
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: 22 Sep 2016 11:13 AM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/37597


Just Ahead In Radiosport:


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Momentum Building to Urge Senate Passage of the Amateur Radio Parity Act:

Posted: 22 Sep 2016 11:12 AM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/37596


The response to ARRL's call to action urging the support of US Senators
for the Amateur Radio Parity Act, H.R. 1301, has been gratifying --
although the campaign continues. More than 50,000 e-mails have been
sent to Capitol Hill via Rally Congress, and all 100 US Senate members have
been contacted. The League continues
to encourage members of the Amateur Radio community who have not yet
done so to reach out to their two US Senators seeking their support.
Just where things stand with respect to the bill's future in the US
Senate is not yet entirely clear.


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ATT's New 'AirGig is Not Your Father's BPL:

Posted: 22 Sep 2016 11:11 AM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/37595


Recalling the earlier efforts of the FCC and telecommunications and
utility interests to roll out "Broadband over Power Line" (BPL) technology,
the
Amateur Radio community has been buzzing with questions about AT and T's
just-announced "AirGig" BPL plan to make broadband available via apparently
similar technology.
ARRL's earlier anti-BPL campaign, and market forces, eventually led to
the demise of the prior BPL initiative. ARRL Laboratory Manager Ed
Hare, W1RFI, who spearheaded the earlier effort to quantify BPL's
threat to Amateur Radio's HF spectrum and remains the resident expert
on the subject, said this newest BPL incarnation should not pose an
interference issue for radio amateurs.


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Get Set for the Set: ARRL 2016 Simulated Emergency Test is Oct. 1-2 Weekend

Posted: 22 Sep 2016 11:10 AM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/37594


The primary focal point of the 2016 ARRL Simulated Emergency Test (SET)
is just ahead -- Saturday and Sunday, October 1 and 2. The national
emergency exercise is aimed at testing the skills and preparedness of
the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and other organizations that
are called into action in actual emergency situations.


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The Doctor Will See You Now!

Posted: 22 Sep 2016 11:09 AM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/37593


"Coping with the Solar Minimum" is the topic of the latest (September
22) episode of the "ARRL The Doctor is In" podcast. Listen...and learn!


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National Parks On the Air Update:

Posted: 22 Sep 2016 11:10 AM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/37592


More than 650,000 contacts have been logged for ARRL's National Parks
on the Air (NPOTA) program. This comes from
over 12,000 different activations of over 450 eligible NPOTA units from
1,178 Activators.


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A Record Breaker On 630 Meters!

Posted: 22 Sep 2016 11:09 AM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/37591


Although US radio amateurs do not yet have access to 630 meters,
Canadian licensees do, and one of them was on the North American end of
the first two-way contact on that band between Canada and Australia.
Steve McDonald, VE7SL, in British Columbia, and Roger Crofts, VK4YB, in
Queensland, completed a contact on September 15 between 1225 and 1319
UTC using JT9 digital
mode. The distance covered was on the order of 7000 miles.


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'Cows Over the World' Dxpedition Tour to Resume:

Posted: 22 Sep 2016 11:08 AM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/37590


Tom Callas, KC0W, reports his all-CW "Cows Over the World" DXpeditions
will resume with his T30COW operation from Western Kiribati, September
25-October 24.


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FCC Updates Notice On Amateur Radio Operation In CEPT Countries:

Posted: 22 Sep 2016 11:08 AM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/37589


The FCC has updated its Public Notice on
Amateur Radio operation in European Conference of Postal and
Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT)
countries that have adopted certain recommendations regarding the US.
The updated notice, in English, German, and French, includes some
additional countries where operation is permitted. Licensees operating
in CEPT countries must have a copy of the Public Notice, proof of US
citizenship, and evidence of an FCC Amateur Radio license grant. These
must be shown to "proper authorities" upon request.


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AC2SN, Named Among Most Influential Women In Internet of Things Industry:

Posted: 22 Sep 2016 11:07 AM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/37588


The Internet of Things (IoT) Institute has named ARRL member Limor
Fried, AC2SN, of New York City as one of the 25 most influential women
in the IoT industry. IoT embraces the concept of connecting devices
from cell phones to appliances and machine components to the Internet
and/or to each other. Individuals were named on the basis of attainment
of leadership roles related to IoT, hands-on experience developing IoT
technology, outstanding research related to IoT, and social reach,
among other factors.


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World War II Norwegian Resistance Member Haakon Sorbye, LA8Y, (SK):

Posted: 22 Sep 2016 11:06 AM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/37587


World War II Norwegian resistance activist Haakon Sorbye, LA8Y, of
Trondheim, Norway, died on September 15. He was 96. In 1939, the year
after World War II erupted in Europe, Sorrbye, then an engineering
student and young radio amateur, first enlisted as a telegrapher in the
Norwegian military.


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Past ARRL Oregon Section Manager Randy Stimson, KZ7T, (SK):

Posted: 22 Sep 2016 11:06 AM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/37586


Former ARRL Oregon Section Manager Randy Stimson, KZ7T, died on
September 10, after a period of declining health. He was 82. Stimson
served as Oregon SM from 1987 until 1998. In 2003, he was appointed to
fill a vacancy in the SM post.


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In Brief...

Posted: 22 Sep 2016 11:05 AM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/37585


In Brief...