eHam.net News

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Radio Station (W9E) Created for Solar Eclipse 2017:

Posted: 23 Jan 2017 04:02 PM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/38488


WSIL -- You may not be able to see in the darkness of the Solar Eclipse on
August 21st, but local amateur radio operators are making sure you can hear
everything you need. The FCC licensed Thom Beebe with a special events
license for a radio station that will talk all things eclipse, with the
call name W9E. "The license is good from August 17 after one minute after
midnight until 11:59 pm on the 21st. So what we hope to be able to do is to
be operating continuously throughout that entire time," Beebe said. Bruce
Talley said he will use his ham radio expertise to help during the eclipse
as well. "What I'm trying to do is to match up with the public service
agencies in their time of need," he said. Saturday, Beebe and Talley held
an informational meeting to recruit volunteer ham radio operators. Talley
said with the tens of thousands of people expected to be in the area during
the eclipse, they will need volunteers positioned all over.


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'Doomsday' Solar Sorms Could Knock Out Power for Two Thirds of America:

Posted: 23 Jan 2017 04:02 PM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/38487


Solar storms could cause massive blackouts across America and cost the
country up to $41.5 billion a day, a shocking new study has found.
Researchers carried out an unprecedented study examining the economic
impact of huge solar flares it is feared could knock out power to entire
regions. It is the firm to estimate the cost to not just the blackout
zones, but indirect costs. Unlike the energy and x-rays produced in a solar
flare - which can reach Earth at the speed of light in eight minutes -
coronal mass ejections are giant, expanding clouds of solar material that
take one to three days to reach Earth. Once at Earth, these ejections or
CMEs can impact satellites in space or interfere with radio communications.