PlanetHam.org

This week's bulletin is presented a day earlier than usual, due to the Independence Day holiday on Friday.

This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by NC1L, the OPDX Bulletin, DXNL, 425 DX News, The Daily DX, Contest Corral from QST and the ARRL Contest Calendar and WA7BNM web sites. Thanks to all.

Radio Shack 13.8VDC Power Supply Recall:

ARRL Audio News--OPEN--In this edition . . .; ARRL Tells Red Cross of Remaining Background Check Policy Concerns; An Era Comes To a Close as Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, Retires; ARRL Audio News ID--Satellite Update--BREAK; Philadelphia Area Hams Nail Rogue Radio Signals; Get Ready for the IARU HF World Championship Next Weekend; Check Out the July/August NCJ; ARRL Audio News--News Briefs--CLOSE

On Thursday, July 3, Special Counsel for the Spectrum Enforcement Division of the FCC's Enforcement Bureau Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH -- the man who has come to embody Amateur Radio Enforcement - will say goodbye to the FCC as he retires and begins his life as a private citizen. In May, Hollingsworth announced he would definitely retire; he had contemplated retiring in January 2008, but cited "several issues on the table that I want[ed] to continue to work through with the amateur community." While his successor has not yet been named, he was quick to point out that the FCC's Amateur Radio enforcement program will continue.

This is a very quick blog update, sharing the news that my new K2 #4620 has arrived and is now fully operational. First impressions are that I’ve made the right choice, receiver is outstanding and transmit audio reports are extremely encouraging

Now for the bad news, it’s good to have ‘true’ knobs and buttons again, but my fingers are too big! I’m sure I’ll get used to it very quickly, the bad news is (and I really hope my XYL doesn’t read this), I’m still not fully happy with the user interface, so I am going to build yet another rig, a high performance analog radio based on the work of Martein - PA3AKE’s designs, but will spend a lot of time (and learning) developing my own interface using a large graphic LCD with a touch panel interface! This is going to be a very slow build and the K2 is definitely STAYING!

End of update.

Tomorrow night Kev and Ian's students will be taking their radio exams. Good luck to Faris, who will take his Foundation exam and to Matt, Mike and Sam who will be taking the Intermediate. Anyone who is interested in any of the three levels of the examinations and wants to be tutored can contact Kev G6FKE, his contact details are available on the RSGB website and on QRZ.Com. Potential students must be willing to travel to Morecambe, Lancashire.

ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, has written to Armond T. Mascelli, Vice President for Domestic Disaster response for the American Red Cross (ARC) to identify the ARRL's remaining concerns over the background check policy for ARC partners. Harrison emphasized that the commencement of negotiation of a replacement Statement of Understanding (SOU) between the two organizations should not be further delayed while these concerns are resolved and that he looked forward to signing a new SOU once additional edits to the background check Disclosure Form and clarifications of the background check Authorization Form are in place for those radio amateurs who volunteer their service to the Red Cross.

On July 2, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with RadioShack, announced a voluntary recall of 13.8 V dc power supplies. The CPSC said that consumers should stop using these power supplies immediately, as the "power supplies are wired incorrectly, posing electrocution and fire hazards." No injuries have been reported in conjunction with the power supplies that were sold in RadioShack stores nationwide from October 2004-January 2008 for between $50 and $85. Manufactured in China, the CPSC said that the recall involves RadioShack 13.8 V DC Power Supplies, catalog numbers 22-507 and 22-508 with date codes from 08A04 through 01A08. Date code format is MMAYY where MM is the month and YY is the year. The catalog number and date code are located on the back of the power supply. Power supplies with a green dot on the product and the product's packaging have already been repaired and are not included in the recall. The CPSC recommends for consumers to unplug the recalled power supply immediately and take it to any RadioShack store for a free repair. Registered owners of the recalled power supplies will be mailed a notice. For additional information, contact RadioShack at 800-843-7422 anytime, or visit their Web site.

HAM RADIO 2008, the 33rd International Exhibition for Radio Amateurs in Friedrichshafen, Germany, was held June 27-29. This annual event, billed as Europe's biggest hamfest, focused this year on the radio amateur satellite program and included many programs and activities for youth. The event drew more than 17,000 visitors from over 30 countries. The fourth annual Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Conference (GAREC) preceded the event. A team representing ARRL attended, greeting international ARRL members throughout HAM RADIO 2008. ARRL Sales and Marketing Manager Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R, who attended the event, has posted a blog recapping the event.

This week's bulletin is presented a day earlier than usual, due to the Independence Day holiday on Friday. The weeks seem to drag on with no sunspots in sight. An image from helioseismic holography on Tuesday shows a spot on our Sun's far side. We hope it emerges in a week or 10 days on our side and hasn't died out by then. Spots emerge from time to time, but they are all old Solar Cycle 23 spots and they seem to fade quickly without much activity. Sunspot numbers for June 26-July 2 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 and 0 with a mean of 0. The 10.7 cm flux was 65.4, 66.1, 65.9, 66.6, 66.7, 65.6 and 65.9 with a mean of 66. Estimated planetary A indices were 16, 8, 7, 8, 6, 5 and 3 with a mean of 7.6. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 17, 7, 6, 7, 5, 4 and 1 with a mean of 6.7.

New England Area Ham - Electronic Flea Market *** DATES *** 2008 P 1 of 2 All events are Ham Radio/ Electronic related except ~_____~ ******************************************************************************* 2008 Contact Source ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 July Union ME PBARC @Thompson Comm Ctr Scott KB1DSW 207 354 6809 A 20 July Cambridge MA FLEA at MIT Nick 617 253 3776 9 Aug Gales Ferry CT RASON @VFD $4@9 $15/T@7 Wayne KB1NKK 206 350 3064 W 9 Aug St Albans ME PARC @SnowMobileClb $5@8 George WA1JMM 207 441 6112 W 15-16 Aug Swanton VT STARC AirportRD $5/D+$5/DTG Arn N1ARN 802 285 6457 17 August Cambridge MA FLEA at MIT Nick 617 253 3776 17 Aug Adams MA NoBARC @FG $5/B $10TG $15/T Alan K1SAV 413 358 8428 W 21 Aug Halifax NS HARC 75th Anv @StVincentUniv Howard VE1DHD 902 490 6421 W 22-24 Aug Boxboro MA FEMARA NE Conv Mike K1TWF 978 250 1235 W 7 Sept Windsor ME AARA @FG Bill K1NIT 207 623 9075 A+ 13 Sept Windsor CT VR+C Mus 115 Pierson LN @6AM Tailgate John 860 673 0518 13 Sept Ballston Spa NY SCRACES @FG @7 Darlene N2XQG 518 587 2385 W 13 Sept Montreal PQ WIARC Auction @ShrinerH $5@9 $15/T@8 VE2CWI W+ 14 Sept Newtown CT CARA @TownHall $6@8:30 $10/15@7 Joe AB1DO 203 938 4880 W 20 Sept Alton NH MASONS @Lodge @7 Tg$10 $20/inside T Bob W1GWU 603 776 0086 A 20 Sept Forestdale RI RIFMRS @VFW rt146 8A flea+auct Rick K1KYI 401 864 9611 20 Sept Alexander ME StCCARC @ElSch Rt9 Mike KB1GEO 207 427 3058 A 21 Sept Cambridge MA FLEA at MIT Nick 617 253 3776 27-28 Sept Wakefield MA Photographica @AmericalCtr ~photo~ John 781 592 2553 W 27 Sep Drummondville PQ CRADI @StBernard $5@9$15@7 Omer VE2OML 819 478 0478 R

Imagine for a moment that it’s 2012 and society has broken down due to the spiraling costs and unavailability of energy.

With gasoline prices topping $15 a gallon, when you can find it for sale, the economy is in complete shambles. The situation hasn’t been orderly and there is wide-spread looting in the cities as hungry masses look for food and a means to survive. The rural areas are safer and food is a bit more plentiful as gardens and the land offer some hope. But even in the hinterlands the power grid is down more than up and life is a constant struggle to survive.

Given that fictional scenario, would there be any value in amateur radio?

That’s precisely the online conversation I’ve been having with a number of old-timers over the last month or so. Funny thing, we all agree that it would be very worthwhile to have some low-powered transceiver that could be run from batteries charged by a wind generator or solar panel. What we can’t seem to agree upon, however, is what specific advantage would come from having that capability.

Being less practical than most, I offered up that in the absence of television and possibly broadcast radio, having some news and information from outside the local area — a connection to other hard-hit communities, could provide a spiritual and emotional uplift.

Others said that being able to determine the logistics of what was going on — where food might be available, what was the government doing in such a circumstance would be the prime reason for staying radio active.

Still others said while they wanted the ability to communicate in any circumstance, they didn’t think they would actually use it as everyone would be much too busy trying to find a way to survive to play with a radio. One fellow even likened it to the time wasted on the Internet — time that would be better spent hunting, fishing, or working the land for food.

I thought it might be interesting to get your comments on the usefulness of the amateur service in something other than a "normal" emergency, if there is such a thing. In the fictional scenario that I’ve laid out, would you want to have two-way radio capability and if so, why do you think it would be worthwhile?

73 de Jeff

The famous KK Fiske Restaurant on Washington Island (WI-001L) Wisconsin was the venue for a WI9DX Washington Island DX Club meeting.   Founding Members George W9EVT, Mac W9EVI and Myself (Steve K9ZW) welcomed member Dean K3GGN and new members John KA9USC & Mike K9ABT WI9DX DX Club was founded several years ago to promote Amateur Radio on Washington Island, [...]

Wednesday through to Sunday was very good on 10m with 4O3A a winner during the week and for the first time in a long time, a United States station, W3RJ, getting top spot at the weekend. There were some popular British stations in there too!

The Cambridgeshire Repeater Group have presented a framed QSL card from their recent DXpedition to the Isle of Mull, to Icom UK's John Turner. Find out why..

How Randy, K7AGE's weekend antenna experiment ended-up turning into a backyard field day operation

NASA is considering the development of a university-based, student-led satellite development initiative to begin passing the space exploration torch to a new generation

Here's an excellent Field Day 2008 video just posted on YouTube by N0IRS. It features clubs in and around Kansas City operating Field Day stations over the weekend

An International Space Station Expedition 17 ARISS school contact has been planned with participants from the Round Rock Texas Scout Pack #304 and Blackland Prairie Elementary School in Round Rock, Texas on 04 July

IOTA news from the Deutscher Amateur Radio Club

When I thought pedal-pushers were dead, they came back, ugly as ever, called capris. Thinking ham radio was outdated, I learned it's on the front burner of communications, as wonderful as always in times of emergencies. In fact, the Washington State Emergency Management Division and the Washington State Patrol are asking amateur radio operators to join the AMBER Alert system, which provides lickety-split child-kidnapping notifications. The agencies have asked about 27,000 licensed radio operators in our state to join the mission that quickly warns folks about abductions. But isn't ham radio as outdated as garter belts? Rob Harper, State Emergency Management Division spokesman, said hams still provide the community with a vital communications link. "It increases the range and distribution of the alert message, especially in rural areas where cell or phone service is spotty," Harper said. "The amateur radio system is very dependable and will quickly transmit alerts, in contrast to delays which can be experienced with some commercial broadcast networks." Vic Henry on Camano Island is ready to go on the air to help in times of crisis. The retired sergeant for the Island County Sheriff's Office got started in amateur radio in the Army, where he learned Morse code. Remember -- dit, dot, dash. He left the service and ham radios behind in 1962 but picked up the hobby when he retired. He is president of the Stanwood Camano Amateur Radio Club, started in 1990 to aid communication in the area. Gov. Gregoire proclaimed it to be Amateur Radio Week June 23-29. Hams (Henry said it's fine to call them hams) meet June 28 and 29 at the Twin City Sportsmen's Club in Stanwood for an annual SCARC Field Day event.

She came ashore and in a matter of time, Hurricane Rita devastated the gulf coast. Gone were homes, businesses and in some areas our communication. With phone lines down and no internet, we turned to ham radio operators. "We only communicated when we were only needed to. When the messages needed to come out, they would come to us. The Red Cross or State Police would write a message down and we would transmit it to another station," said Doug Phelps. Hurricane Rita showed us we needed to be ready for the worst. This has helped first responders and communicators to hone their skills should another storm come our way. "Emergency preparedness, that's what were all about. We are prepared to handle a emergency, get the work done that needs to be done, the communications. It's all volunteer," said Mark Holcomb.

SHELBY - The sign says it all, really. "When all else fails ... amateur radio works." Saturday and Sunday the yard of the clubhouse at Casar Park was crisscrossed with wires and generators whirred in the background. Blaze-orange drop cords snaked inside where visitors were immediately struck by the noise. At first, the noise is discordant, a mash up of tones and modulated voices. But it has a rhythm and a quality that renders it a hum of unimposing background noise. Specially trained Ham operators came together for a field day event - a fun day with a deeper a purpose. In an emergency - severe weather, wildfire, flood - amateur radio operators across the nation are ready to be activated and provide communication and relay important information. Locally, members of Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) of Cleveland County have been trained a certified to provide emergency communication.

Thanks to everyone who has submitted their log for the CQ WPX CW Contest. As of the July 1 deadline we had received over 2900 logs!

Even though the deadline has passed, we will continue to accept log submissions through the month of July (while we wait for the paper logs to arrive). Logs submitted after the deadline may not be eligible for awards, but they are extremely helpful for the log checking process. So please send your log in no matter how small.

Having trouble submitting your log? Not sure how to convert your log to Cabrillo format? Send an email to questions@cqwpx.com and one of our experts will be glad to help you out.

If you want to make sure your log was received please visit the logs received page and search for your call.

Amateur radio operators test skills and equipment Indianapolis Star - United States More than 700 ham radio operators in Hamilton County are available to provide backup communication in emergency...

Get more Ham Radio News at http://wd9t.blogspot.com

Bright sun, good friends and a clean sweep.

The FCC has posted new Amateur Radio enforcement correspondence on its "Amateur Radio Service Enforcement Actions" Web page. Special Counsel in the FCC Spectrum Enforcement Division Riley Hollingsworth sent a letters to William G. Aber Sr, N2JAI (Warning Notice), and to Gateway Coal Mine (Warning Notice) of Coulterville, Illinois. Direct all questions concerning the Amateur Radio Service Enforcement Actions Web postings via e-mail only to the FCC Spectrum Enforcement Division.

Sometimes a challenge presents in an interesting way and Yoda said something along this line in The Empire Strikes Back, "Either you do or do not."

Field Day began in earnest and Larry, W7CB presented the Extra Class examination challenge. The words of Yoda drifted through my thoughts. Either I do or I do not. No one would really care except for me and I confronted the question, "What if I do not succeed?"

Remember the scene in Empire Strikes Back when Yoda challenged Luke to lift his X-wing fighter from the swamp? And how Luke responded?

Later in the film, Yoda demanded young Luke be prepared for the next step, his confrontation with Darth Vader. In the meantime, I knew in my ham radio bones that preparedness is essential when confronting the Extra Class examination. And prepared I was not.

Too many gaps in my knowledge. Too little time in the book. What if I took the examination anyways? Certainly, a remote possibility existed somewhere in the thousands but if I did not, I would never know. Times have really changed since sitting down in the Federal Communication Commission's examination room in Buffalo, New York. That was almost 30-years ago.

I took the examination in the great outdoors while a nice northwesterly breeze made Field Day bearable in Templeton, California. I filled out the necessary paperwork and opened the exam. My testing anxiety faded giving way to, "I know that question" or "I understand that problem."

Yet the gaps in my knowledge and too little time in the book presented to big an obstacle. I felt frustrated like one is close but not close enough. And that is not good enough. I scored in the low 50-percent just like the practice examinations. Interesting but not unremarkable.

What I took away besides meeting extraordinary people who are ham radio operators during Field Day weekend? I can pass the Extra Class examination in the very near future. And I want that lower 25 kHz really bad.

73 from the shack.

This feature -- including convenient Web links to useful information -- is a concise monthly update of some of the things ARRL is doing on behalf of its members. This installment covers the month of June.

Registration remains open through Sunday, July 20, 2008 for these online course sessions beginning on Friday, August 1, 2008: Technician License Course (EC-010), Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level 1 (EC-001), Radio Frequency Interference (EC-006), Antenna Design and Construction (EC-009), Analog Electronics (EC-012) and Digital Electronics (EC-013). Each online course has been developed in segments -- learning units with objectives, informative text, student activities and quizzes. Courses are interactive, and some include direct communications with a Mentor/Instructor. Students register for a particular session that may be 8, 12 or 16 weeks (depending on the course) and they may access the course at any time of day during the course period, completing lessons and activities at times convenient for their personal schedule. Mentors assist students by answering questions, reviewing assignments and activities, as well as providing helpful feedback. Interaction with mentors is conducted through e-mail; there is no appointed time the student must be present -- allowing complete flexibility for the student to work when and where it is convenient. To learn more, visit the Continuing Education course listing page or contact the Continuing Education Program Coordinator.

My Dad bought a used bicycle when I was seven years old. It was a hopeless piece of junk that he saw sitting in someone’s front yard with a “For Sale” sign on it. Five dollars later he was loading it into the car and he brought it home and gave it to me…

We spent the next several nights stripping it down and rebuilding it from scratch. I remember hanging the frame from our backyard clothesline pole with a bent-up wire clothes hangar, and then spray painting it jet-black. We bought new tires for it and wheel bearings — I still recall packing those bearing with some white grease apparently made for such things. After adding a new banana seat, I had the sweetest “new” bike in the neighborhood and I suppose I put a thousand miles, maybe more on that bicycle over the next few years.

A few months later on my birthday, Dad presented me with a new headlight for my bike — it was the kind with the little generator that provided the power. The generator part was all metal and totally sealed except for the cable that ran to the light. It was spring-loaded in such a way that when I flipped it “down” a small wheel made contact (friction) with my front tire and the rotation of the tire spun the generator and powered the light.

Not being well-regulated, the faster I would ride the brighter the light would shine and when I was slowly coasting, it barely glowed.

I’ve been thinking a lot about that old generator and light because something like it is on my modern-day wish list.

Broadcast receivers that can be powered by hand-crank have been available for a long time — in fact, emergency radio transmitters that could be powered by a hand crank were common gear for soldiers during the Second World War.

In this silly age where just dropping the word “EmComm” gets local tax dollars sloshing out of the bucket, why can’t we order a low-powered amateur transceiver that could be powered from a hand-crank?

Better yet, with the advances in rechargeable battery technology, I’d like to have a generator that can be driven by a stationary bicycle used for exercise that could provide some useful energy around the house. For instance, recharging the battery packs used to provide LED lighting; recharging the cell-phone battery, recharging my laptop or iPod batteries, or even for recharging a battery pack that I could use with my QRP transceiver.

It might not make a dent in the nation’s electrical energy consumption, but think of the good it would do for the health of the nation if we told those overweight teens that for every hour they pedal the stationary bike they get 30 minutes of power for their television?

The real benefit of such a system would be a small measure of energy independence for each and every one of us. Just knowing that we have the ability to offset a tiny portion of our energy needs — and that we can power a few useful appliances if the grid were to ever go down for some period of time would begin to change the collective national mindset about energy.

I believe that understanding the nitty gritty of how much work is actually required to generate even a small amount of energy would fundamentally change our national energy policy — from the grassroots level.

I have to believe that there is a better way of attaching a more-efficient generator to the wheel of a stationary bicycle than the headlight generator of my youth.

Any entrepreneurs listening?

73 de Jeff

I see that Ten-Tec’s Summertime Used Gear Sale is on.  They are re-selling OMNI-VI’s and Orions taken in as trade-ins.  I’ve always liked the Omni VI.  Its a solid CW rig with a great receiver.  Sweet. I am also fresh off a weekend using an Orion on bands loaded with Field Day operators.  The Orion is [...]

Our 'roving reporter', Justin, G4TSH is back safely from his trip to the Ham Radio event in Friedrichshafen, Germany.

There's been some controversy in these parts about the amount of gear that some people are using in the Backpackers contests. The idea is that it should be possible for the gear to be carried, by hand, to the summit.

With that in mind, the following blog post from Steve, N0TU made me smile. During the recent ARRL Field Day, his equipment was carried to the summit by his two goats; Rooster and Peanut.

Look and enjoy

A new D-Star digital repeater and gateway GB7MM is due to go on air soon. Located 2km south of Wimborne in Dorset, the new repeater is to be run and maintained by a small group of enthusiastic amateurs, who are keen to play a part in the expansion of D-Star coverage in the Dorset area

Practical Wireless editor Rob Mannion, G3XFD, appeared on Tuesday's edition of BBC Radio 4's news and current affairs programme 'PM'

For the first time in the history of the International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend (ILLW) we have entries from China and India

This summer, Icom UK is to sponsor a unique radio station on the outskirts of Kent. In fact this special station called Red Sands Radio will be 8.5 miles offshore from Whitstable on the North coast of Kent in an old WWII Army Sea Fort on the Red Sands

8 special event stations with prefix LY755 from Lithuania will operate on the air from July 6 till August 6, 2008 to celebrate State Day and the 755th anniversary of the Crowning of Lithuanian King Mindaugas

The Bushvalley Amateur Radio Club have added over 80 photographs of the recent Friedrichshafen Rally to their website

Gujarat Institute of Amateur Radio (GIAR), will once again play host to HAM Fest India - 2008

It's over - the 33rd HAM RADIO in Friedrichshafen. 17,100 visitors, 180 exhibitors and societies from over 30 countries were represented at this year's show

Last year, in the wake of Federal Communications Commission decisions that did not adequately protect licensed radiocommunication services from interference from Broadband Over Power Line (BPL) systems, the ARRL went to court to challenge the FCC

SHERMAN, TX - With things like computers, satellite cable and even the iPhone, technology is at our fingertips. But what happens if disaster strikes and all of that is gone? That’s where HAM radios come in. Most of us have heard of HAM radios, but do you know what they are? Members of the Grayson County Amateur Radio Club tell us that ham radios are back-up communication relied on when everything else fails. It may seem impossible to wipe out all modern communication, but it's not, and it happened recently. "During Hurricane Katrina, they had absolutely no power, all the cell phones were down, amateur radio at one point and time was the only communications they had," says Chairman Glenn Waldrum. It's situations like that when HAM radios are most important, and that's why the Grayson County Club, like thousands of other groups around the country, took part in Saturday and Sunday's Test the Airwaves event. Glenn Waldrum, chairman of 2008's local field day, says during emergencies, you can count on ham radios for communication. "Communicating with the National Weather Bureau, FEMA, we handle message traffic. We can get a message from here to wherever in the U.S., or the entire world as far as that goes," says Waldrum. Preparing for those situations is what the annual field day is all about, trying to make contact with as many fellow HAM radio operators around the country. Running the radios on things like batteries and generators, just like in a real emergency. Wilmer Kinsey, president of the local club says HAM radios were his childhood hobby, something he is still passionate about today. "There's no question about it, it makes you feel good that you have the equipment, that you have the ability to do this, because it's very important when all other communication fails that we provide this service to the public and to the state and local officials," says Kinsey.

NICHOLSON - Amateur radio enthusiast Bob Herrin caught the bug for amateur radio 15 years ago. Herrin, in Chattanooga, Tenn., at the time, listened and watched in awe as "ham" radio operators kept communication open with emergency workers throughout the city when a blizzard blanketed the region with more than 20 inches of snow. A year later, Herrin was a licensed amateur radio operator.

“Send SOS,” one of the Titanic’s radio operators supposedly said to another after the famous ship struck that infamous iceberg. “It’s the new call and besides this may be your last chance to send it.” That “new call” is 100 years old today, and people around the world who owe their lives to that piece of Morse code may reflect this morning on its importance. In the past century, “SOS” has become a firm part of popular culture used in everything from DIY programme titles to Abba hits. But it began life in a far more serious setting after being adopted by the international community on July 1, 1908, as the globally recognised distress signal for ships at sea. At that time voices could not yet be carried across the airwaves and sailors needed a standard means of saying, in Morse code, that they were in trouble. Until then, the most commonly used distress call was the “CQD” signal, which was open to misinterpretation. After much deliberation, SOS was chosen to replace it because the signal – three dots, three dashes and three more dots – is such a clear message to send in Morse code.

Amateur radio operators celebrate Field Day Huntington Herald Dispatch - Huntington,WV,USA Amateur radio operators from the Tri-State Amateur Radio Association (TARA) set up and operated an outdoor...

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SB KEP @ ARL $ARLK050 ARLK050 Keplerian data ZCZC SK50 QST de W1AW Keplerian Bulletin 50 ARLK050 From ARRL Headquarters Newington, CT July 1, 2008 To all radio amateurs SB KEP ARL ARLK050 ARLK050...

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Ham radio operators getting their message out Pocono Record - Stroudsburg,PA,USA Amateur or "ham" radio operators have the capabilities to help out in an emergency situation and have done so for more...

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Local ham radio operators hone their skills during Field Day Log Cabin Democrat - Conway,AR,USA There are 64 members in the Faulkner County Amateur Radio Club and the group began participating in the...

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I have just received the information that the 6m beacon TG9SO on 50.011 is offline. However, in order to ensure propagation checks, a temporary beacon TG9AJR/B has been set up on 50.011. The beacon is run by Juan Carlos, TG9AJR and is located in grid EK44sl. Please send reports directly to Carlos. Alternatively report the beacon [...]

You are invited to join in to the Echolinksters Saturday Night Net at 9:00 PM EST on July 12th. As special guest speaker Jonathon, K1RFD creator of the Echolink program answers questions in regards to Echolink and its facets in the amateur radio community.

Tonight I had an interesting experience, a good friend (not an Amateur yet) just received an Icom IC-R75 receiver I had help hind for him, and had emailed that he would be listening to 14.310 USB if I had the time to call CQ and see if I could initiate a QSO he could SWL [...]

With temperatures in the 90's some days the phrase "Christmas in July" sure sounds good to me. In this case, I'm referring to the upcoming DX'pedition to Christmas Island.
According to their WEB SITE, the operation will now take place from July 14 to 21 because of a change in air transportation. Equipment consists of a Kenwood TS-480SAT, Yaesu FT-857, Alinco DX-70T, and an Acom 1010 amplifier. Antennas are a Spiderbeam and a Force 12 XK40 vertical. Modes planned are CW, SSB, RTTY, SSTV, PSK31 and FM on all bands from 80 thru 6 meters (possibly they will operate on 160-M but that is not considered too likely.) But, they plan to run THREE stations (1 high power and 2 at 100-watts.) Their goal is to give as many folks as possible a chance for a QSO for a New One. Christmas Island ranks No. 66 on the Worldwide Needed List.
Check out their web site. It is very extensive. GL to all.

Do you want keeping update about ham info while you've browse the internet? Oke, sure there're some toolbars could support you! It's call Ham Info or Ham Radio Toolbars.
It works perfectly with IExplorer, FireFox and other web browser.
My first review is Ham Radio ToolBar from N0HR, http://www.n0hr.com/Ham_Radio_Toolbar.htm he called it Ham Radio Toolbar. So richful information for this toolbars. You could get information about Ham Radio Link Directory, Blogfeeds, email notifier, UTC clock, Local WX, Ham Radio Podcast, AmateurLogic ham radio TV, Current HF Propagations forecast and sure the Propagation Indices.

Another nice toolbar was designed by John, G0DPC, it's called HamInfoBar. Very nice to work together with your favourite browser. It's compatible with FireFox, Internet Explorer. You could download at http://www.haminfobar.co.uk/ off course free.Same as N0HR's toolbars, it also provide some useful information: SWL, RSS reader, Ham Radio source, Radio & Podcast, and also email notifier.
The favourite feature is Radio, where I can listen to broadcast station such as BBC or VOA!

I've downloaded two of them and have installed on my firefox and works great.
I could see directly about propagation indices along listening to BBC or VOA!
Nice job guys, keep on the good works!