{"conf": "radio", "generated_at": "2026-04-26T08:00:02.954878Z", "threads": [{"num": 1, "subject": "howdy folks", "response_count": 32, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Dec  4, 1996 (09:39)", "body": "My callsign is ka6atn. My sign is Sagitarius. My qth is Cedar Creek, TX. And qru?"}, {"response": 2, "author": "Preston", "date": "Fri, Dec 13, 1996 (08:36)", "body": "Hi there :) My callsign is WB9VIF. QTH is Indianapolis, IN. Try me on Webphone 3.0. Also have video capabilities. Preston http://www.a1.com/vif"}, {"response": 3, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Dec 13, 1996 (16:35)", "body": "Do you also use video with NetMeeting? I'm looking for someone that is doing this."}, {"response": 4, "author": "AB5KS", "date": "Sat, Dec 21, 1996 (14:46)", "body": "Hello, My call is AB5KS and my QTH is AUSTIN, TX. but sometimes you can find me up in the San Jose, Ca area. email me at: mailto;//ab5ks@repeator.org"}, {"response": 5, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Dec 21, 1996 (15:13)", "body": "Welcome Scott. You can create your own webpage now in topic 14."}, {"response": 6, "author": "dgbaldwin", "date": "Thu, Dec 26, 1996 (10:37)", "body": ""}, {"response": 7, "author": "dgbaldwin", "date": "Thu, Dec 26, 1996 (10:41)", "body": "Terry, I am trying to set up a home page for W3MRC the 3M Radio Club Station. I have tried logging in to w3mrc but I have never been verified. Can you suggest any thing. My email is dgbaldwin@mmm.com"}, {"response": 8, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Dec 26, 1996 (21:32)", "body": "We'll get you fixed up in email tonight!"}, {"response": 9, "author": "kk5zp", "date": "Wed, Feb 19, 1997 (19:44)", "body": "Hello, My call is KK5ZP, QTH San Antonio. Had site address e-mailed to me. First time on the page."}, {"response": 10, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Feb 20, 1997 (07:27)", "body": "Welcome Clarence! Please feel free to contribute to the other topics here."}, {"response": 11, "author": "n9kgt", "date": "Mon, May 19, 1997 (06:55)", "body": "Hi all...The Call here is N9KGT,qth is Milwaukee Wiscosin....Glad to be be aboard!"}, {"response": 12, "author": "w5rkn", "date": "Mon, May 19, 1997 (07:34)", "body": "Found a nice web page relating to ham radio, emphasis on APRS. http://www.coca.net/people/kd4rdb/aprs.htm Ron"}, {"response": 13, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, May 19, 1997 (13:06)", "body": "APRS = ? This is where you use gps devices interfaced to computers to send your position out over packet radio. Very cool new technology. And Ron is leading the way in this area."}, {"response": 14, "author": "WoodyWoodPecker", "date": "Tue, Aug 26, 1997 (18:36)", "body": ""}, {"response": 15, "author": "WoodyWoodPecker", "date": "Tue, Aug 26, 1997 (18:39)", "body": "Hi there everyone call is KC6EIK, QTH is Elroy.TX Glad to be part of the group, looks nice are to be in."}, {"response": 16, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Aug 26, 1997 (21:30)", "body": "Welcome Keith, tell us how you became a ham and about hamming in California."}, {"response": 17, "author": "KC5OJK", "date": "Sun, Sep  7, 1997 (00:53)", "body": "Hello all, Callsign here is KC5OJK. qth is Austin, TX."}, {"response": 18, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Sep  7, 1997 (01:10)", "body": "Welcome Jill, glad you're joining us. And it was cool to see your emerging website. We've just moved to what I hope to be faster bandwidth. What special areas of radio and ham radio interest you the most?"}, {"response": 19, "author": "KC5OJK", "date": "Sun, Sep  7, 1997 (02:07)", "body": "Bare with me, I'm kinda tired and was thinking of getting some shut eye as my dad would say. I am mainly interested in public service (such as ARES), contesting, and the latest find (as of tonight...err last night. man it's already 2am.) fox hunting. Gotta get some equipment for that last one though. I think it's time to buy some parts and expeirence the joy of building a quad. I also gotta locate an attenuater. (spelling?) My spelling usually lacks a little. As you could tell from my web site. :) One of my professors the other day said something really cool about spelling. (After we laughed at his speling of the word pool. He said, \"You know the relationship between spelling and creativity? They have the inverse realationship.\" After he came up with that, I don't mind spelling bad all the time. :)"}, {"response": 20, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Sep  7, 1997 (06:40)", "body": "Jill, if you'd like a shell account on the Spring, you're welcome to one. The UNIX editors there have spell checkers, for example, in 'pico' you can type control-t or ^T and it displays every misspelled word in alphabetical order and let's you automatically replace it. I'm a good speller but sometimes I try to type too fast. We have vi and joe also and I believe they have spell checkers. We don't have this on our web interface yet. Perhaps someday. Looks like we need to start a building antennas topic, what do you think Jill?"}, {"response": 21, "author": "KC5OJK", "date": "Sun, Sep  7, 1997 (10:23)", "body": "Spell checkers are wonderful things. I am not very familiar with UNIX. I basically know how to get around and use vi to edit source code and that's it. I am afraid that's about the extent of my knowledge of unix. So, if I did get a shell account from the spring, I'm afraid I'd need lots of help. About the topic addition: Sure, why not. How do I do it? Or, do you?"}, {"response": 22, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Sep  7, 1997 (10:37)", "body": "You can do it from the 'add topic' button at the top of the screen on the web and in the shell you do it with 'e'. We try and keep topics of as broad general interest as possible. The radio conference is about radio in general including ham radio, broadcast radio, etc."}, {"response": 23, "author": "KD5CMV", "date": "Wed, Dec 10, 1997 (02:07)", "body": "Hi folks: My call sign is KD5CMV and my QTH is Houston, TX. Operate an HT202 2M radio. Hope to upgrade to General as soon as I can get to 13wpm CW. I was emailed your site location. My email is kd5zro@juno.com. 73's to all."}, {"response": 24, "author": "KD5CMV", "date": "Wed, Dec 10, 1997 (02:10)", "body": "Hi again from KD5CMV. I was a little nervous when I posted my first message and I goofed on my email address. It's kd5cmv@juno.com. Thanks."}, {"response": 25, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Dec 13, 1997 (18:58)", "body": "Welcome Jean. Come visit often!"}, {"response": 26, "author": "bosse", "date": "Thu, Jul  9, 1998 (19:06)", "body": "h i terry!!"}, {"response": 27, "author": "bosse", "date": "Thu, Jul  9, 1998 (19:07)", "body": ""}, {"response": 28, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Jul  9, 1998 (22:43)", "body": "Yo bosse, what's up?"}, {"response": 29, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Sat, Jan  9, 1999 (20:04)", "body": "Howdy All Greetings from frozen Czech-cago-land! Although a native Austinite, Im hanging out in the frozen north. Why? Good Question! I split my radio interest between vintage toob gear (keeps the shack warm...), old spy radios, microwave, and satellite. When I visit the wonderful city of Austin, I can be found on the 442.150 machine. 73 de AA9IL Mike -aka- Cosmo Riff Raff #39"}, {"response": 30, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Jan  9, 1999 (20:22)", "body": "Glad you're checking in! We were just discussing riff raff yesterday on 442.15, speculating about what happened to Paul."}, {"response": 31, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Sun, Apr 25, 1999 (03:34)", "body": "Dear Radio appreciators, please take knid notice of the topic dedicated to B92, the Serbian radio station in Belgrad that was shut down by government first thing when the NATO-attacks began. B92 is not on the air anymore, but some govermently friendly folks run the place now, use their frequencies and call signs."}, {"response": 32, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Sun, Apr 25, 1999 (03:34)", "body": "Dear Radio appreciators, please take knid notice of the topic dedicated to B92, the Serbian radio station in Belgrad that was shut down by government first thing when the NATO-attacks began. B92 is not on the air anymore, but some governmently friendly folks run the place now, use their frequencies and call signs. radio conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 10, "subject": "Radio gear for sale or trade", "response_count": 16, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Dec 21, 1996 (14:36)", "body": "I have a Yaesu 10-80 meter HF amplifier. $125.00."}, {"response": 2, "author": "dgbaldwin", "date": "Thu, Dec 26, 1996 (11:58)", "body": "===== I am interested in QRP HF gear for under 50$. ===== I am also in need of crystals for my Drake TR-22C VHF transceiver. Does anyone know of a surplus holder in the austin, Texas area?"}, {"response": 3, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Dec 26, 1996 (21:47)", "body": "There's a guy in Smithville making low cost hf qrp gear. Wish I could tell you his call or name. Try on the 145.35 Smithville repeater."}, {"response": 4, "author": "lucien", "date": "Mon, Dec 29, 1997 (09:19)", "body": "Have two HF rigs for sale: Yeasu FT-900AT bought it new, so it's a one-owner. Like brand new; hardly been used. Has the built in antenna tuner.Have the manuals and the original boxes, of course. $900 Yeasu FT-757GX Bought this one used. Has the external antenna tuner (non-working). With all the filters and the original boxes and manuals. make offer. -Reason for selling: for what I do on HF, they're more radio than I need (my TS 530 is really all I need). Phone: 512-320-0048 (leave message) email:lucien@metrowerks.com Lucien S. W5QD"}, {"response": 5, "author": "N5WU", "date": "Mon, May 18, 1998 (09:36)", "body": "FS Yaesu FL-2100B. Good condition and new finals. $300 is a great price for this Linear Amp. Phone 512-441-7293 email: Sam_Stimson@dell.com"}, {"response": 6, "author": "N5WU", "date": "Mon, May 18, 1998 (09:37)", "body": "FS MFJ-1278B TNC. This is a great buy. $150. It is in great shape and has everything except the original box. N5WU Phone: 512-441-7293 email: Sam_Stimson@dell.com"}, {"response": 7, "author": "N5WU", "date": "Mon, May 18, 1998 (09:39)", "body": "FS MC-60 microphone. this is a great Kenwood desktop mic. Super price at $50. N5WU 512-441-7293 email: Sam_Stimson@dell.com"}, {"response": 8, "author": "N5WU", "date": "Mon, May 18, 1998 (09:45)", "body": "FS Alinco DR110. This is an old rig and has a problem with the mic. I used it for TNC operation without any problem. If you need a good 2m rig for TNC ops only then this thing is priced right for you $60. Comes with manual and intermittent mic N5WU 512-441-7293 email: Sam_Stimson@dell.com"}, {"response": 9, "author": "N5WU", "date": "Mon, May 18, 1998 (09:47)", "body": "FS Icom IC-281. This is a 2m tranciver with 440 Receive. It is fully operational, but does not have the manual. I did not like the audio on it, so out it goes. Priced to move at $120... N5WU 512-441-7293 email: Sam_Stimson@dell.com"}, {"response": 10, "author": "N5WU", "date": "Mon, May 18, 1998 (09:49)", "body": "Need a 5/8 2m whip? FS, Larson with mag mount $20 N5WU 512-441-7293 email: Sam_Stimson@dell.com"}, {"response": 11, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Mon, Oct 23, 2000 (08:21)", "body": "These are recommendations for great am/fm broadcast radios. The Sangean 818 acs has capability to do timed recording off the air. And the Denon TU680 NAB is legendary for it's reception, at least FM. I haven 't heard any reports on AM. I'll be looking for these at the next swapmeet."}, {"response": 12, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Mon, Oct 23, 2000 (08:23)", "body": "Sangean ATS-818ACS $219.95 RCV9 Imagine--record your favorite programs automatically with the dual-zone clock timer on any frequency from 150 kHz through 30 MHz, 87.5-108 MHz FM as well! This impressive portable has SSB and CW reception, 45 memory channels, wide/narrow filter selectivity, signal strength indicator, AC wall adaptor and more! Requires 4 D cells."}, {"response": 13, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Oct 23, 2000 (14:14)", "body": "Terry, that image takes forever to load! If I were not relocating, I would seriously consider yout gear! I love Sanjean and I am still mourning the loss of mine to the thieves..."}, {"response": 14, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Oct 23, 2000 (21:58)", "body": "Just do not buy the Radio shack look-alike. Have not been able to make the tape recorder work yet! And, have two of them!!! DX-392 is the RS model. Happy hunting!!! Got the image it to load much faster - it was my browser's settings not your fault."}, {"response": 15, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Tue, Oct 24, 2000 (07:58)", "body": "The Denon is out of production, but I hear it has awesome reception, it gets weak stations that other radios can't hear. So I'll have to look for it on the used market. Where are the best places on the web to buy used radio gear?"}, {"response": 16, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Nov  1, 2000 (19:39)", "body": "Ebay has loads of it. Mike? Suggestions??? radio conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 11, "subject": "want listings - a place to tell others what you're looking for", "response_count": 1, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "dgbaldwin", "date": "Thu, Dec 26, 1996 (11:59)", "body": "===== Looking for QRP HF transceiver covering the novice bands. radio conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 12, "subject": "The Wild Hungarian - Bob Nagy )AA5PB(", "response_count": 15, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Dec 15, 1996 (03:13)", "body": "A good place to start is Bob's website, but it's url is too convoluted to remember. You can start out at http://www.spring.com/~kreblon and follow the link. I first met Bob at the Sun Fest years ago."}, {"response": 2, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Dec 21, 1996 (14:37)", "body": "And he's no longer AA5PB. ab5n is the new call."}, {"response": 3, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Oct  7, 1999 (10:15)", "body": "Help the Wild One bob win $1,000 in a contest. Vote for his idea at http://ssl.adhost.com/icomamerica/contest/contest.cfm -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IDEA NUMBER 8: IC-756 Remote Control Submitted by Robert J. Nagy, AB5N, of Austin, Texas \"Using any of the commonly available touchtone remote base techniques available, control your IC-756 from the IC-2800H. Next, place SSTV units on both ends. Place the camera in front of the IC-756's display screen. In duplex remote operation, use one band to receive the HF audio, and the other to send HF TX audio, and the control tones, back. Have the mobile's SSTV receiver listening to your HF TX send side. When you want a shot of the IC-756's screen, send the appropriate tone, and the screen shot comes right on to the IC-2800H's display without interrupting your HF incoming audio. You get confirmation of your remote commands - as well as a spectral display of the HF band. Can't beat that!\" Check here to vote for Idea Number 8: IC-756 Remote Control. Then scroll to the bottom of this page to submit."}, {"response": 4, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Oct  7, 1999 (13:48)", "body": "I did!"}, {"response": 5, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Oct  7, 1999 (18:38)", "body": "Cool Bob , will be happy! And maybe richer!"}, {"response": 6, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Oct  7, 1999 (19:34)", "body": "Most interesting group of 'things' in that link...but no pix of Bob! I am all disappointment. (Perhaps when he is richer he will give you his slightly used ICOM...!)"}, {"response": 7, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Oct  7, 1999 (19:38)", "body": "(I guess I could prowl the pages of UT's web site...Botany Deaprtment...*sigh*)"}, {"response": 8, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Oct  7, 1999 (20:53)", "body": "This is the site he set up for his mom on our server: http://www.spring.net/~kreblon/estate/index.htm And here's Bobs home page which has his picture. http://www.biosci.utexas.edu/people/bsstaff/bnagy/default.html"}, {"response": 9, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Oct  7, 1999 (21:13)", "body": "Yes, thanks! - looked in at his mom's enterprise! Good for her! Checked out your Wild Hungarian (or should that be OUR WH???)...alas, his human relationships/obsessions link to Spring is no longer working. He is a very interesting guy...! Thanks again! 88's"}, {"response": 10, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Oct  7, 1999 (21:23)", "body": "The topic may still be there, but the link is dead."}, {"response": 11, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Oct  7, 1999 (21:26)", "body": "ah...."}, {"response": 12, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Oct  8, 1999 (10:27)", "body": "Bob is kind of the leader or our little ham radio repeater group, he built the repeater and put up an antenna at UT that reaches all over the region. He's quite a musician and creative thinker, and overtaxed at UT now that he's the newly appointed life sciences department webmaster. He modeled his home in the country after some aspects of the home I built. He was one of the first people I met when I moved to Austin."}, {"response": 13, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Oct  8, 1999 (14:32)", "body": "I have yet to meet a Ham who is not a gentleman and a most interesting individual - at least the ones from the old school who had to learn code, build a working receiver and could solder without getting their fingers joined for life. I am happy to make his acquaintance! No wonder you liked Austin if he was one of the first people you met upon arriving there. We have a few dedicated Hams here who maintain a state-wide repeater system, and an island-wide one for the state. They check in and talk briefly once a week, as does the Navy Mars group. In fact, some overlap and are on both nets. Most interesting! And most vital during a disaster. That is how my ISP got started - by Hams needing an auxillary message board to communicate with those who could not use radio but were computer capable after Hurricane Iniki ravaged Kauai."}, {"response": 14, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Wed, May 17, 2000 (10:32)", "body": "Bob has created a website for our 442.15 group at http://www.repeater.org/442.15"}, {"response": 15, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, May 17, 2000 (15:39)", "body": "um...How much over 6-feet tall are you, \"Shorty\"?! Or is this another anomaly of the Texas standard of measurment scale...? radio conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 13, "subject": "help radio stations in developing countries", "response_count": 1, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Dec 15, 1996 (12:37)", "body": "Sent from: Franz F. Feigl mailto://fffeigl@dds.nl Dear Friends, please support one of last remaining independent radio stations in Croatia. more can be found at http://www.dds.nl/~pressnow/news/961122.htm (FWD) Van: Antonijeta Paro Crnosija[SMTP:apcrno@frida.hrt.hr] This message is brought to you by the letter \"H\" (for HELP) and the number \"1,000,000\" (for the number of names we want to sign). THANK YOU. __________________________________________ Save RADIO 101 from being cancelled!!!!!! This is a petition to save Radio 101 in Zagreb, Croatia. ALL YOU DO IS ADD YOUR NAME TO THE LIST AT THE BOTTOM, then forward it to everyone you know. The only time you send it to the included address is if you are the 50th,100th, etc. Send it on to everyone you know. Croatian \"democraty\" goverment belives that this radio station is dealing against state, while this is the ONLY station left which is dealing with democraty information in Croatia! Please add your name to this list if you believe in what we stand for. This list will be forwarded to the Goverment of the Republic Croatia! If you happen to be the 50th, 100th, 150th, etc. signer of this petition, please forward to: root@r101.com.hr and www-admin@vlada.hr This way we can keep track of the lists and organize them. Forward this to everyone you know, and help us to keep this radio station ALIVE!. Thank you. ------------------------------------ SIGNATURES 1. Drago Markovic, Zagreb, Croatia 2. Sanda Petris, Zagreb, Croatia 3. Antun Sunjic, Zagreb, Croatia 4. Maja Dawidowsky, Zagreb, Croatia 5. Maja Vickovic, Zagreb, Croatia 6. Vladimir Vuksan, Albuquerque, USA 7. Bruno Scap, Chico, USA 8. Bruno Ancic,Zagreb,Croatia 9. Lovro Seder, Zagreb, Croatia 10.Nikola Fox, Zagreb, Croatia 11.Zvonko Tesic, Zagreb, Croatia 12. Neven Jacmenovic, Zagreb, Croatia 13. Daniel Kasaj, Zagreb, Croatia 14. Koraljka Haberle, Zagreb, Croatia 15. Darko Bunic, Koprivnica, Croatia 16. Lidija Kesak, Zagreb, Croatia 17. Robert Petracic, Zagreb, Croatia 18. Renata Marusic, Zagreb, Croatia 19. Mirana Koljatic, Zagreb, Croatia 20. Rima Venturin, Skjetten, Norway 21. Dario Filjar, Athlone, Ireland 22. Alan Skarica, Zagreb, Croatia 23. Dario Mavric, Sisak, Croatia 24. Drazen Stolar, Osijek, Croatia 25. Alan Jobst, Zagreb, Croatia 26. Maja Cepak, Zagreb, Croatia 27. Eta Paro Crnosija, Zagreb, Croatia 28. Maja Veldt-Poklepovic, Amsterdam, Nederland 29. Piet Veldt, Amsterdam, Nederland 30. Zvonimir Bakotin, Amsterdam, Nederland 31. Franz F. Feigl, Amsterdam, Nederland radio conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 14, "subject": "Here's the place to create your own webpage", "response_count": 4, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Dec 21, 1996 (15:04)", "body": "Mail your pictures to: Paul Terry Walhus The Spring Rt 2 Box 56R Cedar Creek, TX 78612 512.303.4000 Send any pictures to be scanned here."}, {"response": 2, "author": "AB5KS", "date": "Sat, Dec 21, 1996 (15:12)", "body": "Username: AB5KS"}, {"response": 3, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Dec 21, 1996 (15:18)", "body": "Your webpage, Scott is at: http://www.repeater.org/~ab5ks Post the stuff you want on it in this topic."}, {"response": 4, "author": "AB5KS", "date": "Sat, Dec 21, 1996 (15:37)", "body": "UserName: AB5KS I am Scott McCreight I am a Project Engineer for the simiconductor company Applied Materials in Austin Texas. I deal with Customer Engineering Special projects for the Etch product line. I travel a lot between San Jose, CA and Austin, TX my hobbies include: Scuba Diving (certs in PADI Rescue, Equipement Specialty, IANTD & NAUI Nitrox Diver), Sky Diving, Amateur Radio (Amateur Extra), Hiking and climbibg (rappelling), (more to be listed at a later time) Email me at ab5ks@repeater.org (PAGE UNDER CONSTRUCTION) radio conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 15, "subject": "Hightower radio", "response_count": 1, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Feb  1, 1997 (17:03)", "body": "Some second hand info I got from jonl at minds: Here's an interview in which Hightower discusses ABC's decision to drop his show...and other stuff. It's at MoJoWire (Mother Jones' site). Excerpt: see the ABC action as the result of what I call the three M's: my message, the merger with Disney, and marketing, or lack thereof. ABC did a terrific job of getting me an initial stable of stations--it's very unusual for someone who's never had radio experience to be able to launch a national show. But in our second year, some of the stations began to balk--I believe because of pressure from advertisers. We lost San Diego and St. Paul. At that point, ABC began to get a little antsy about what I was doing. Then came the merger, which, of course, I took on-on the air. The next thing I know I'm hearing ABC is in all kinds of budget meetings. It seems the bean counters were very focused on what was being broadcast. I think somebody higher up began to listen to the show and decided this is not a message for the new Disney/ABC, and that they didn't want to put more money into it. radio conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 16, "subject": "Freewave and wireless ip", "response_count": 35, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Feb  9, 1997 (22:36)", "body": "I asked Dave Hughes about these on the WELL and boy did I get a great answer. Dave Hughes is a real pioneer, I consider him legendary in his time. And I get to talk to him frequently. What an honor. #417 of 435: Paul Terry http://www.spring.com/yapp.html (terry) Mon Jan 13 '97 (00:46) 2 lines Dave, can you discuss the details of setting up the Freewave? What is the process of setting it up? Topic 15 [wireless]: Wireless IP: New alternatives to leased lines #418 of 435: Dave Hughes (dave) Mon Jan 13 '97 (02:39) 87 lines Piece of cake. When they ship (in pairs) FreeWave has usually set them up to talk to each other (by radio number, which is printed on the bottom of the radio), at the highest speed, both radio and port (115Kbps). To set any other way, you plug into the 9 pin port of any PC with a terminal program at 19,200 baud 8N1, and hit the reset button on the front of the radio panel. A menu comes up. It shows you, under each item, what the settings are. From memory I can't remember them all, but the key ones are: Mode - you have to have one in either P to Point Master, while other one is a slave, Point to Multipoint master, and slave, or relay. Port - you set the speed of the RS232 port, from 1200 to 115,000 as attached to your radio when the radios are operating. Call Book - you list *which* radios, by number, this radio will connect with (0r in the case of multi-point, up to 9 other radios) The rest of the items are radio and radio diagnostic, which you don't need to fiddle with, unless there are real reasons to change packet l;engths etc, and you really know what you are doing. (we have had no reason to change factory set defaults in the 10-20 radios we have set up from my front room to Mongolia). Then you hit the ESC key, its written to the chip, and you (re)set the other one. When both are set right the left green link light will come on. If not, no green. And if you are out of range, no green. If green, and you are attached to a PC at each end, then, just like typing over a plain attached serial line between computers, things work. And you will see the Clear to Send and the Transmit red lights working as data passes. The sets come with a 9 pin to 9 pin serial modem cable for each radio. (you can just buy an adapter if you attach to a Mac). And the 4 inch rubber duck antenna. I also bought a 20 foot RF cable, from them (with *their* antenna connectors on one end, an SMA connector with reverse thread, which is what makes it non-standard, and a standard END connector (female) at the other end. Together with a 12 inch coil antenna, with male END connector and mounting braket. This will give you 3Db of gain. So when the little rubber duck antennas don't reach, you can affix one (or both ends) one of these, and run the antenna into a roof cavity, our out a window on the side nearest the other radio, to get a link. This is what I had to do when hooking up a pair of FreeWaves between a classroom Mac at Evans Elementary School and the Terminal Server next to the Cisco router right in the Computer Room of Adams State College, about a half mile away, but at ground level, through about 10 homes and stone wall campus buildings. I could get a green link light with just the built in antenna from several locations at the school and in the classroom, but it wasn't solid (intermittent green). So by getting one of the omni's and cable and telling Roger Quintanilla (a really neat, imaginative, modem-net-using 5th grade Hispanic teacher) to just experiment, he worked out that the best location was on the outside wall, under the eves of the roof. Even that didn't give him the highest thruput, as measured by his doing ftp transfers and measuring (while his kids recorded the data, comparing it with phone modem transfers between the same services, and plotting graphs for our NSF Tests). So I put another omni in the computer room, which helped. But hey, this is as much an *art* as a science, expecially since diagnostic equipment is either so damned expensive (we have an HP spectrum analyzer that cost $15,000) or just doesn't cut it for spread spectrum signals! Dewayne and Glenn Tenney, whom I contracted with to go to Mongolia and set up those 8 sites with Freewaves, discovered that the closest 4 sites could be reached from inside the building with the little 4 inch antennas, and only the ones out to 10km away had to have the rooftop 20-30 foot omnis. And they never could reach the US Embassy directly from the DataCom base site. So had to configure one at the Academy of Sciences location to 'relay' to the Embassy, which is in a kind of depression, or hole. All of which was a commentary on the Soviet construction techniques for the buildings, with not much metal. Hey CIA, Russian commercial buildings pass 902Mhz rather nicely! (Oh, you already knew. Ok. Just trying to be helpful!) Dave. You're more than \"helpful\". Excellent explanation! - ptw"}, {"response": 2, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Sep 14, 1997 (10:51)", "body": "Dave Hughes sums up the challenges to the amateur radio packet community: An interesting thing passed onto me by Dewayne Hendricks, TAPR Ham and my colleage on some of the NSF wireless projects, is the suprising lack of growth in the TAPR (Tuscon Amateur Packet Radio) organization, a subset of the large AARL. I understand the rough numbers are about 300K AARL (just plain amateur radio) and only 2,700 TAPR (digital radio amateurs). With the explosion of cheap microcomputers and hackers - which has, enabled the technology of non-interferring frquency hopping or direct sequence, processor controlled, radio, I would have thought that the digital-radio branch of ham radio would have grown exponentially. Especially since hams can do things with digital radio (power, range) that others cannot. And the combination of rapidly advancing processor technology - as evidenced by the ability of this design team to use many off-the-shelf components to make one of the most advanced radios in the world, yet still *really* cheap (military radios using spread spectrum techniques cost upwards of $50,000 to produce). We are indeed going through a major revolution in radio, PARTICULARLY via spread spectrum with the stunning possibility that we can have millions of secure, reliable digital radios all occupying the same space and not interferring with each other to any practicable degree. THAT is revolutionary, and undercuts the whole mountain of assumptions (that all radios interfere with each other locally) upon which our regulatory empire (FCC) is built. (The Gilder 'unlimited spectrum arguement') Well, this little $500 'radio' being built by amateurs - most of whom, of course, are nevertheless radio engineers in big companies or very advanced small ones - may be the price/performance 'breakthrough' radio that will permit Joe Sixpack and Johnny's Little ISP to team up, bypass the telcos locally (with from $125 per month for 56Kbs, to $650 per month for T-1, and upfront costs from $750 to $1,500 just in the lowest-cost big metro areas - forget the rural costs) and generate a revolution in personal Internet access. With speeds *starting* at 300kbps (versus 28.8 modems), free for the first 20 miles. 10 years ago I got a 'business band' licence so I could communicate digitally, using a commercial analog radio, and a Terminal Node Controller (TNC) developed by TAPR, giving me no more than 9,600 baud of throughput, not secure, and requiring a licence, because two such radios would interfere with each other on the same bands, unlike spread spectrum radios (when they are built right). Now we will be able to do this. Why this prospect (with over 50 companies making commercial versions right now, albeit starting at $1,000 per radio - while consumers by the millions don't flinch as spending $1,500 for their computers, and then $20 a month for s-l-o-w web access) doesn't exite people, I don't fully understand."}, {"response": 3, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Oct 30, 1997 (21:56)", "body": "The success story of the year, from Dave Hughes! It works! Cripes, after ages of battling uncoperative telcos, cripplung FCC decisions, random distribution of mountain ridges, too laid-back] ISP owners, the physics of radio wave propegation, Frensel zone laws, and sheer distance, we now have a spread spectrum radio link allthe way from Alamosa, 30.7 MILES to the tiny burg of San Luis itself. And, typical of this self-imposed, very difficult task of trying to link the terminus of higher speed Internet lines in the valley, and its ISPs, both college and commercial, in Alamosa, to the tiny town and its school down in a hole-behind-the-ridge of San Luis in that remote and pretty damned unforgiving environment of 'El Valle' and 'La Sierra' every conceivable obstacle it seems, has been put in our way. By man, nature, and ? God ? (Remember, as lisa will, that radio tower above San Luis is just a few hundred feet from the magnificent Chapel of All Saints at the summit of the Stations of the Cross steep climb. Its as if the Spirits of a faith that measures devotion by the degree of penance, decreed that putting up that radio link would NOT be easy - very hard as a matter of fact. To teach us, me (since I was the one, two years ago who said - lets do the toughest link rural Colorado - with distance and mountains in our way, for if it is easy, what do we learn?) that it would be mind-bendingly difficult to provide a 'free' 30.7 mile Internet link while the siren song of a $1,700 a month 5 year contract with the Devil US West seems so easy. teach us a lesson to challenge the Gods of Telcos, Terrain, and Technology.) But if you ping or traceroute 209.94.82.50 - you will be travelling comfortably over the wired-fibered Internet to the town of Alamosa, into Amigo Net's premises, crossing over from a Livingston Router, to one of three of our No-Name Debian Linux routers, out the serial port into a Freewave Radio at 115kbps, up the RF cable to a just finished (as we watched) 60 foot tower to a little 3 foot long yagi antenna pointed *exactly* 271 degrees from North across the town and the Rio Grande river, across the sage and sand of the valley floor, between two ranges of hills and at *exactly* 30 miles, skimming a ridge I reported on above so long ago clearing it by under 10 feet, then to, *exactly* 30.2 miles to the 95 foot level of an old Sheriff's department radio tower (where nobody could find the key to their radio shack for weeks) then into the yagi pointed back toward Alamosa, (exactly two fingers left of that long white building 10 miles away - the only instructions we could give the guy charging $80 an hour to climb that 100 foot tower in the cold October valley wind) then down 160 feet with 6dB of line loss, into a hole in the shack, and into the *first* radio, which went 'green' yesterday for the first time, then into a somewhat questionable 286 MSDOS 640K 'router' running code Phil Karn wrote years ago, called NOS, via a serial port, and then out the other serial port to a *second* radio (which has been 'green' since spring) to an 8 foot omni antenna on the shack's roof, which overlooks the town of San Luis, the Vega (the only 'commons' in the country deeded down from Spanish Law) and to with the tiny communities of San Pablo, Chama, and San Francisco in line of sight view, then down over the rocky outcropping that we feared would stop the signal on the line to the school, but didn't, to the antenna at a crazy angle on the school's roof, down via too long an RF cable into the 'communication' room with fancy, costly LAN gear put their as a grant by MCI, into the *fourth* FreeWave radio, blinking green, downthe serial cable into our linux router, THEN via an ethernet conection into a patch panel into the school's NT 4.0 Router (which is the 209.94.82.50 address) which was bought by the US West fine money, and/or to any of the Pentium Gateway workstations, with DHCP address assignments, in the classrooms, for the little brown faced kiddies of 'El Valle' to use to access the net as readily as do the affluent kids of Cherry Creek High School in Denver. (and at a hell of a lot lower cost) The returned pings offer proof of the reality. Its not all done yet, tweaking of the routers, radios, and packet switching TCP has to be done before its ready for full web prime time. But the links work. And how do I know its *exactly* 30.2 miles from the Amigo Net tower in Alamosa to the 100 foot tower in the wilderness on the Stations of the Cross and Chapel ridge? Because I used my brand new Garmin GPSII Plus Global Positioning hand held gizmo, that accessed NINE military satellites to give us location to the nearast 15 meters, at the two points, then, with a GOTO button calculated and presented on its tiny screen the distance between. Whew! This has been a two year journey to get this difficult-but-important-for-proof-of-concept digital radio link working. Its such an electronic equivalent of the spiritual Penitenties of the de"}, {"response": 4, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Oct 30, 1997 (21:58)", "body": "Ok: !ping 209.94.82.50 PING 209.94.82.50 (209.94.82.50): 56 data bytes 64 bytes from 209.94.82.50: icmp_seq=0 ttl=106 time=647.803 ms 64 bytes from 209.94.82.50: icmp_seq=1 ttl=106 time=292.1 ms 64 bytes from 209.94.82.50: icmp_seq=2 ttl=106 time=292.988 ms 64 bytes from 209.94.82.50: icmp_seq=3 ttl=106 time=275.659 ms 64 bytes from 209.94.82.50: icmp_seq=4 ttl=106 time=299.057 ms 64 bytes from 209.94.82.50: icmp_seq=5 ttl=106 time=276.067 ms 64 bytes from 209.94.82.50: icmp_seq=7 ttl=106 time=278.422 ms 64 bytes from 209.94.82.50: icmp_seq=8 ttl=106 time=289.177 ms 64 bytes from 209.94.82.50: icmp_seq=9 ttl=106 time=269.378 ms ^Z [1]+ Suspended bbs bash$ traceroute 209.94.82.50 traceroute to 209.94.82.50 (209.94.82.50), 30 hops max, 40 byte packets 1 aus-c21.ddc.net (206.97.234.1) 5.712 ms 3.865 ms 3.786 ms 2 sat-c41-sl6-aus.ddc.net (208.128.48.5) 8.222 ms 8.41 ms 8.205 ms 3 border1-serial3-5.Houston.mci.net (204.70.36.65) 134.656 ms 90.594 ms 28.904 ms 4 core1-fddi-0.Houston.mci.net (204.70.2.97) 15.37 ms 27.364 ms 15.919 ms 5 core3-hssi-1.Memphis.mci.net (204.70.1.34) 26.067 ms 31.074 ms 26.042 ms 6 core2.Denver.mci.net (204.70.4.193) 60.408 ms 60.843 ms 69.327 ms 7 border8-fddi-0.Denver.mci.net (204.70.152.67) 65.087 ms 63.042 ms 69.13 ms 8 rocky-mount-internet.Denver.mci.net (204.70.156.6) 64.885 ms 62.499 ms 60.883 ms 9 166.93.35.1 (166.93.35.1) 63.818 ms 64.249 ms 65.868 ms 10 166.93.2.134 (166.93.2.134) 128.994 ms 128.527 ms 121.33 ms 11 * 209.94.71.30 (209.94.71.30) 149.759 ms 126.43 ms 12 209.94.82.1 (209.94.82.1) 217.643 ms 191.592 ms 201.265 ms 13 209.94.82.2 (209.94.82.2) 265.856 ms * * 14 209.94.82.50 (209.94.82.50) 235.072 ms 248.722 ms 234.67 ms bash$"}, {"response": 5, "author": "legaffe", "date": "Sat, Nov  8, 1997 (19:05)", "body": "That's groundbreaking news from Dave Hughes."}, {"response": 6, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Mar 12, 1998 (08:28)", "body": "More from Dave: Wireless DC COnference May 4,5 Started by: Dave Hughes (dave) on Wed, Mar 11, '98 0 responses so far EMERGING WIRELESS TECHNOLOGIES CONFERENCE AND WORKSHOP May 4th and 5th, 1998 Marvin Center, George Washington University Washington, DC Sponsored by National Science Foundation, IEEE, GWU, OCCC Go to www.gwu.edu/~cms/wireless or click on the top item in the http://wireless.oldcolo.com NSF Wireless Field Tests web site - for complete details, agenda, and online registration $295 if you register before April 1. $350 thereafter Includes 2 Continental Breakfasts, 2 Luncheons w/speakers Vigerous public policy, comparative economics, 3 world as well as domestic urban and rural, and educuational applications. Demonstration and displays of no-licence (no comm cost) spread spectrum Part 15 radios, newest Microwave technologies, new forms of satellite communications, the controversial issues surrounding the whole $2.25 Billion Universal Service Fund for school library telecom subsidies. And implications for the Virtual University and other educational instituions. Speakers include David Isenberg, author of the controversial \"Rise of the Stupid Networks\" in which 'smart wireless' will play a big future part in direct competition with Telephone Companies. Dale Hatfield, the Chief Technolist, Plans and Policy, FCC. Panelists wide ranging from Adam Powell (Freedom Forum) and Henry Normal (VITA) on 3d world connectivity (yeah, just call your local AT&T rep...), the MIT researcher who has proved we can have 'billions' of radios, not interferring with each other in the same space and communicating hundreds of megabits of data per second, expect to have the company now demontrating in Japan OC3 (that's 155mbps folks) radios no bigger than a dictionary there, 'distance learning' pros, Motorola and other newest satellite services folks. With a demo via satellite + ground Internet to tiny town in Montana, where 7th graders are doing real science and environmental analysis by wireless from the classroom to Big Spring Creek on Brewery Flats - field science by wireless being looked at for application to research labs and universities. And no holds barred discussions with government officials from Commerce, FCC, Dept of Education. Yeah, this aint your plain 'telco competition' and 'how to used a wired web page for Good Education' conference. Its the future, here now, and why policy makers and Congressperns otta be paying a lot more attention to these technologies rather than another self-serving tv ad by Sprint, CTIA, AT&T, or MCI... $295 including two lunches with speakers? You can't get that kind of deal in the largest hotels in DC, sans speakers. Press Passes. Dave Hughes dave@oldcolo.com"}, {"response": 7, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Mar 14, 1998 (11:19)", "body": "Dave Hughes (dave) Sat Mar 14 '98 (07:46) 24 lines Something happened while I was mosying around Alamosa before returning to Colorado Springs, touching base with the numerous people that have pioneering wireless down there. The lightbulb turned on in my head about what 'field science by wireless' project might be interesting in the continental US. What might be *very* interesting, exiting even, as well as being useful, would be to recruit the water, wildlife, environmental departments of a whole string of universities, AND schools, all of which are the closest to the 1,400 miles of the Rio Grande River from its headwaters near Creede, Colorado down past Del Norte, Monta Vista, Alamosa, La Jara, Antonito - in Colorado, then Espanola and all the towns it flows by or through in New Mexico, and then all the towns in Texas to the Gulf of Mexico - to put the kind of wirelessly connected sensors all along that watercourse that would produce useful data for the efforts being taken to preserve that 'Heritage River.' I could get interested in a sweeping project like that. On an interesting river that flows through the most interesting and remote places in the West and South West, and 95 or more percent of which is remote from all human habitation. What would it cost? A million dollars?"}, {"response": 8, "author": "PMunsel", "date": "Tue, Nov  2, 1999 (20:55)", "body": "This sounds a lot like our packet system used to, only at mega speed! Wish I could get folks over here in the Brazos Valley interested again in packet. I'm gonna be telling off, but I remember seeing packet address listed instead of Internet addresses... Maybe we as Hams can agin rule! 73, Pau; N5XMV"}, {"response": 9, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Nov  2, 1999 (21:21)", "body": "Hams rule, indeed! As long as packet stays within certain frequency bounds and all agree to it, there is no problem with it. I just hate it messing us my listening to distant frequencies when I am DXing."}, {"response": 10, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Nov  5, 1999 (18:42)", "body": "Hams rule, I'll go for that (says ka6atn)! Yep, the Internet kind of came along and made packet seem like child's play, for a while, we were the forerunners of the net with our packet networks."}, {"response": 11, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Wed, Jul  5, 2000 (22:45)", "body": "Ok, time to wake this topic up again. Ok RF net geeks, go to www.tapr.org and join some of the special interest groups for APRS, Spread Spectrum, DSP, Packet Networks, HF Digital, and Linux. Then we can chat on all fronts. Packet can rise again - especially if the high speed network back bone links are established. Yea, 1200 and 9600 baud are real yawners especially when trying to digi to California. The goal is to get the high speed spread spectrum links established and have a ham network that runs parallel to the internet. I know the microwaves can handle the bandwidth. The gauntlet has been thrown down - join the SIGs and make it happen! de AA9IL P.S. Holy Toledo - a posting on this page from none other than Senior George!"}, {"response": 12, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Tue, Jun 26, 2001 (23:14)", "body": "Its been a year since the 'wake up' post so here goes again... This time, I hope there is some followups to this thread. I have found a good url with links to many other interesting wireless net sites. There is a movement underway to bring wireless net connectivity to the grass roots level. Right now, the big problem with high speed access is still 'the last five miles' i.e. getting the high speed link from the CO (in the case of DSL) to the house. Due to my professional affiliation with the telecom industry, I can report that this bridging is progressing just a bit faster than a glacier. There are other alternatives such as cable, satellite, and wireless - its getting there but still is sloooow. In the true spirit of hacking (in the classical sense), ham radio, and the old computer revolution mindset (ala 1970's), people are setting up neighborhood high speed wireless data links that are covering that last 5 miles and then some. Check out the following: www.toaster.net/wireless/community.html These links will take you to work in progress pages of practical wireless development that is the epitome of 'free net'. 73 de AA9IL Mike radio cosmo international Hopefuly the next posting wont be a year from now!"}, {"response": 13, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Jun 27, 2001 (14:49)", "body": "Here's what the guy doing this in Oahu, Hawaii has going on: To tap into information at any time anywhere. I'd like to roam the island and be able to work at the beach with internet access cheaply. Please contact me if you would like to help me expand the network Maybe a quickcam hooked up to the telescope so you can see who is at the beach ;) . Intial Target is behind the red Truck- thats the beach. The land further out is flat island and I may get out there cause, no people, and thats where the surf is at baby , makes for a horid coffe break eh? :) This picture is zoomed in and actually things are abit further than they appear - will probably have a cam with me on the beach when I start working from there when development on project I'm slated for starts - So check out the webcams page for that when its ready. The home base transceiver and a close up Currently testing horizontal and vertical dish positions. Dang trees dang ugly trees in target zone... hope they mysteriously fall down in the night. Oh Ya, thats my 74 Bronco sport with no doors :0 - twas a very good year. The setup - Laptop card/dish and Homebase cardboard box PC and card - outside dish. When one doesnt have a drimmel tool or know what they even look like, just use the serrated kitchen knifeand some good ol electric tape. I wouldnt exactly consider these weather proof though :). Dont need to take off whole end just 1/4 inch hole from top where you see circle - thats what I did on the other card to the right and soldered with silver base there to J2 connector. Later on the layout will be repeaters every x amount of miles. Currently the cost is about $300(400?) - 140- towards 2 network cards - and $150 towards antenna. But the aviator 2.4ghz cards arent 10/100 there max is 2 and also their power output is only 100mw so distance needs to be improved with a amplifier (better cable would help too - a build it your self kit is shown here maybe to complex for your average joe though . So considering switching over to what seattle wireless is using - Hrmmmm - what could I use for a trans pacific line to them???. Some things I need to look at for next steps omni/directional antennas and how best I can utilize them. Current parabolic are ok but really end product should be omni directional. A cheap low power pc/repeater (ala crusoe or risc - motorola chip) with pcmcia card attached powered hopefully by solar panel- Ie would like to stick this on top of the mountain range (ie climb stairway to heaven ladder and leave something up there on the ridge :) ) a cheap pc/repeater but is a wearable basiscally same as above but for the man on the go http://www.equip2rip.com/wirelessnet.html Interesting stuff, I'd like to set one up out at the Cedar Creek ranch."}, {"response": 14, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Jun 27, 2001 (15:28)", "body": "I also contacted this guy: If anyone is interested in starting a similar wireless Idea in the Austin, TX area, please email me at hem@marlabs.com, I have already registered austinwireless.net, so let's boogie! I will be able to provide a similar web hosting for free, and also help with providing a location for one transmission point. Hem Ramachandran"}, {"response": 15, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Jun 27, 2001 (15:28)", "body": "How far to the beach from Cedar Creek?! Surf's up!!! That guy from Oahu needs spell-check. That isn't even good pidgin, but I think it is fascinating in possibiities!"}, {"response": 16, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Wed, Jun 27, 2001 (23:40)", "body": "Howdy Howdy Checked out the Oahu web page - now, I like the idea of working on the beach. Screw the work, just be on the beach. Anyway, the wireless card to 2.4ghz dish was a good hack. I did some checking around on broadband access in my area. ATT, Sprint, Roadrunner, etc - no service yet despite the fact that this is one of the fastest growing areas near chicago. I guess if I wanted high speed access NOW, I could shell out the bucks for a satellite link but there is something fundamentally wrong with that. Until then, the closest high speed access is the T1's at the university. A couple of the web sites I found for free net type wireless work were in areas a couple of hundred miles away. It ends up being either wait and wait or DIY. The DIY option is more fun. 73 de AA9IL Mike r c i"}, {"response": 17, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Jun 28, 2001 (05:40)", "body": "The guy who's doing the Austin wireless net called me, and he's sending me his url, apparently his website is temporarily down."}, {"response": 18, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Jun 28, 2001 (05:41)", "body": "From: Hem Ramachandran To: Paul Terry Walhus Subject: RE: austinwireless.net Hi, Paul, Austinwireless.net is hosted free right now. What it need is active participation of Austinites and have our goal for a well networked Austin. Let me know if you could be a part in that front. Hem"}, {"response": 19, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Thu, Jun 28, 2001 (21:47)", "body": "Howdy howdy I remember seeing a posting on the austin wireless network. Although I never had a chance to try them, it seems similar to the free nets and Fido net. Anyway, I hope that there is signicant progress bringing free wireless to the areas. Most of the inexpensive wireless apps are in the ISM (industrial scientific medical) bands around 900 Mhz and the shared part 15 spectrum around 2.4ghz (which is also the satellite mode S downlink frequency). Most of the real high speed commercial point to points is up in the 23 and 39ghz - look on the roof of any high rise building in chicago and you see a cluster of 39ghz dishes. Not sure if there are any part 15 allocations up there. Look forward to hearing the progress of the Austin setup! 73 de AA9IL Mike r c i"}, {"response": 20, "author": "Hem", "date": "Fri, Jun 29, 2001 (09:31)", "body": "Hi, Paul & Mike, To comment on your posting, unfortunately there hasn't been much interest in the Austin Wireless front. I have registered austinwireless.net and am still waiting for a few interested souls to come by to have this started up. The idea is similar to Seattle Wireless Network. You can visit the preliminary pages at austinwireless.net. I had 4 people respond, seeing the site. A couple of them have mysteriously disappeared!(dot com crash?) Anyway, if there is good interest, we can all come together to start cracking on it! Hem Ramachandran KB5LQD."}, {"response": 21, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Jun 29, 2001 (14:17)", "body": "Let's talk about getting started, what would I need to set up a basic household wireless network, since I live way out in the country and have a big spread out place. I'd like to cover a range of about 400' max., I could probably get by with about 300' really. What equipment and software would be required, Hem?"}, {"response": 22, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Fri, Jun 29, 2001 (19:32)", "body": "Greetings Hem and Terry Regarding local work, there are some good 2.4ghz node transceivers described on the Seattle wireless page. Believe it or not, there is even some experimentation going on with the Cybiko handhelds to convert those into simple wireless terminals for APRS work. I picked up one for $75 - although its a toy, it does something similar to what 'real' wireless data links do. As far as the Austin area, Hem, where would you get your T1 access? Would you try to get some dark fiber off of UT, St Edwards, or ACC? I figure these would be the place to look but the again, UT might not be giving away free bandwidth. Im amazed that more of the tech-geeks have not jumped on the bandwagon. Although its been ten (!) years ago, some of the folks who ran Discovery Hall and the Robot Group would seem like the group to jump start things. Also Fringeware but they vanished as well. Anyway, regarding hardware, it will primarily be Linux boxes running to data modems that follow the IEEE standard. The only minor crux is that these boxes are part 15 FCC type accepted which means low power with the intent of local area use only. In order to get to the power levels for city wide networks, you either need height and some power or lots of micro cell type nodes linked together. You can get around the power problem by building up simple repeaters. For the minimum amount of microwave hacking, then the microcells is the best but then you have the network infrastructure to worry about. The compromise would be a wider area coverage micro cell with the low power modems running to reasonably efficient omni type antennas with high gain directional antennas for the links. Anyway, food for thought. Hem, although Im not in Austin, (Austin in spirit only), I would like to keep up with the activity and throw out any microwave 2 cents if it helps. 73 de AA9IL Mike r c i"}, {"response": 23, "author": "Hem", "date": "Sat, Jun 30, 2001 (23:50)", "body": "Paul, Here is some links for you. Hope this helps better than if I try on this forum. http://consume.net/press/PR001.html http://205.159.169.11/ http://www.sflan.com/ http://seattlewireless.net http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/pulpit20010628.html"}, {"response": 24, "author": "Hem", "date": "Sun, Jul  1, 2001 (09:16)", "body": "Hi, Mike, The Austin network is still in the prelim stages. We don't have a T1 connection, planning on using a DSL connection. It gets upto 1.5 Mbits/sec, so that should be okay (I am real surprised that SWB doesn't throttle the speed for a 384 K connection!) as far as connectivity is concerned. The main idea is go the Orinoco Way ( http://www.orinocowireless.com/products.html?section=m56&envelope=92 ) Regarding roof access you mentioned, when talking to Collocation Inc in downtown Austin for our company servers, they mentioned they will give free access to the roof for customers, we were thinking about moving our servers over there, but the current economic situation warrants us to be more cautious. That would have been a good starting point. But home based ones seems to be the best way to start off with, using the products mentioned above. More opinions? Hem"}, {"response": 25, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Jul  1, 2001 (11:26)", "body": "I got a great link from Donn Washburn about converting now obsolete Dish Network dishes. http://www.wwc.edu/~frohro/Airport/Primestar/Primestar.html \"Primestar was recently purchased by Direct TV who is phasing out all the Primestar equipment. This means that the dishes are being trashed, and are available for other uses such as the one I describe here. It is easy to make a surplus Primestar dish into a highly directional antenna for the highly popular IEEE 802.11 wireless networking. The resulting antenna has about 22 db of gain, and is fed with 50 ohm coaxial cable; usually LMR400 or 9913 low loss cable is used if the source is more than a few feet from the antenna.\""}, {"response": 26, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Jul  2, 2001 (17:33)", "body": "Wait till I tell my son about that one. I love the can..."}, {"response": 27, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Tue, Jul  3, 2001 (23:10)", "body": "Howdy Howdy More tin can trivia! A three pound coffee can is also a resonant feedhorn for 1.2 - 1.4ghz A tomato paste can can be used at 3.4ghz This is the cheap and easy feedhorn for the microwave crowd. For a full description on using offset feed dishes and different types of feeds, do a google search on N1GHZ - that page has a whole section to working with dishes and different types of feeds. 73 de AA9IL Mike r c i (currently engrossed in packaging a 10ghz transverter...)"}, {"response": 28, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Jul 22, 2001 (17:34)", "body": "http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/pulpit20010712.html > >Remarkable! > >Bootleg 802.11b > By Robert X. Cringely Two weeks ago, I wrote about my adventure building a high-speed 10-kilometer wireless Internet connection using off-the-shelf 802.11b components and a telescope. I live in a very rural part of Sonoma County in the California Wine Country, and this was the only way I could find to get my bandwidth fix without the unacceptable latency of a satellite connection. Well, that column was so well received that I got e-mail from all over the world asking for more information so people could try to do it themselves. That is the purpose of this follow-up column. Understand that I am an idiot, and so I only know what I have done and not much else. My shallowness of knowledge in this area is epic, but if I can make it work, so can you. The hardest part of the job, in fact, is knocking on doors telling people you've been looking at their house through a telescope from across the valley. For all the tens of thousands of people who read this column each week, I was amazed to learn that almost n>obody knows that the \">I> >L>ike It\" button on the right side of the page leads to five Web links associated with each column. If people had known about those links two weeks ago, most of their questions would have been answered already and I'd be trying to think of something else about which to write this week."}, {"response": 29, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Jul 22, 2001 (17:34)", "body": "One question that kept coming up was about the legality of such a bootleg connection. A lot of armchair lawyers with nothing better to do told me I'd soon be headed to jail. Well, this is absolutely not so. Regulations vary from country to country, of course, but in the United States, what I did is perfectly legal under the Federal Communication Commission Part 15 rules, specifically sections 5 and 23. The rules are simple. Just don't build these gizmos and offer them for sale, and don't build more than five of them that are identical. No testing or pre-qualification is required, which was probably a surprise to the lady from Metricom who lectured me ad nauseum (and inaccurately) about this only hours before her company declared bankruptcy. For homebuilt components like these, the standard is a simple one of non-interference. Whatever mischief you do should not interfere with baby monitors or garage door openers. And the very sensible way the regs chose to validate non-interference is through a lack of"}, {"response": 30, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Jul 22, 2001 (17:35)", "body": "complaints. So if nobody complains, you are okay. If somebody complains and you are able to satisfy them by changing frequencies or modifying your antenna installation or just buying them a beer, then you are again okay. Nobody goes to jail. Many people asked about antennas. I bought mine from a local ham radio dealer, and they are Cushcraft yagi antennas, and fairly expensive at $249 each. Were I to do this again, I probably wouldn't use the Cushcrafts. This is not because they don't work, but because there are cheaper alternatives. True, the Cushcrafts are sleek and unobtrusive with their all-weather ABS enclosures, but with homebuilt alternatives running $10 or less to build, it is hard to justify paying the big bucks. In the links associated with this column (under the \"I Like It\" button, remember?) are directions for making your own yagi antenna from Pringles potato chip cans and for converting old DBS satellite antennas (like DirecTV, The Dish Network, or Primestar) into high-gain 802.11b antennas. These directions require the use of one or two large juice cans and carefully instruct that you must first drink the juice before using the cans. Ten bucks gets you not only the antenna, but also the juice."}, {"response": 31, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Jul 22, 2001 (17:36)", "body": "Most questions had to do with my use of Apple Airport Base Stations. This is one area where your results may vary -- not because of technology, but because of business decisions by companies who make this stuff. Apple Airports don't immediately connect to each other, for example. You can link computers with Airport cards to Base Stations or to each other, but not Base Station to Base Station. There are two ways to overcome this problem. If you are using Airport software prior to version 1.2, there is a lucent hub manager program that can reconfigure your Base Station to act as an Ethernet-to-Ethernet bridge. If your software is version 1.2 or later, then you need a $50 firmware upgrade from Karlnet.com that accomplishes the same thing. Now there is some controversy about this firmware upgrade, which seems to be only intermittently available. Some people claim it is no longer available. Some people claim it is available only to ISPs."}, {"response": 32, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Sun, Jul 22, 2001 (23:06)", "body": "Hi Terry and gang As soon as I post this, Im gonna go to the link and check it out. Last week I did a bit of cold calling to various satellite TV distributors in the Chicago land area to see if I could score some free stuff - no luck. I think most of them are new item dealers and if they remove a system for a new DBS system, its up to the owner to haul the dish to the curb for the trash pickup. In light of this, the larger ham fests are the next best thing to find the dishes and components - usually at a very reasonable price since the stuff is useless for the entertainment consuming masses. Also, I think if you stay within the confines of part 15 then you are reasonably safe. I have seen some postings on the free net wireless reflector of building amps which will probably go way beyond part 15 (my 1 watt 2ghz amp would ...) I guess caution and common sense prevail. Anyway, future comments once I explore the link and do a bit of reading up... 73 de Mike r c i"}, {"response": 33, "author": "hem", "date": "Thu, Jul 26, 2001 (23:04)", "body": "Here is a message from Jess. About Wireless in Austin. I hope he doesn't mind I posting it here.You can contact him at Jess Jess wrote: Okay, now that i have gotten a response here are some of the specifics about my plans. I have a 30+ foot antenna tower at my house that i have not had a chance to put up yet. When i get it up i will be tower mounting an old laptop of mine that will be running linux and have an 802.11 card and a packet interface to either 1 or two radios. I will also have a direct high speed link using either 802.11 or older wireless cards using an old primestar dish modified for the frequency of the cards i end up using. I am not currently sure where the high speed point to point link will be going because i am not sure if any of the people i have to link up with are close enough to being line of sight . for the 802.11 I will be building an omni derctional vertical colinear antenna of some sort. For the packet interface I am thinking about using MURS radios as they will provide much longer range than the 802.11 (atleast a few miles), they will only be able to do about 9600bps most likely (well, easily and legally, there is a possibility of getting upto 19.2 but requires some modifications to the radios and things which would not be legall, i shave no problem with doing the further research into this area that is required to do it though) which is slow but is beter than no link and would still be enough to let you do things like check your email. For even longer range omni directional links we could use packet with ham radio's but this poses some problems. Just for the record i am a licensed ham radio operator. The main restrictions with using ham radios is that it is not legal to encrypt anything over the link, have any profanity or use it for business purposes, so we would have to make sure no traffic was routed over these links except that of other ham radio operators, which could be handled in multiple ways and i do plan on putting up a ham radio link. I am located Just off of south congress near oltorf so with my tower i should have a prity good view of downtown, which could provide lots of opertunities. there are numerous things i need to do before the plan for my above node can become reality, -Obtain murs radios(2 1 for node one for me to connect to it), the ones they sell at radio shack list for $150 a piece but are supposadly constantly on sale for $100 -Obtain ham radio for node, I already have one to connect to it with just need one for the node, should be able to obtain for no more than $150, i am thinking about using a 5 watt 2 meter HT(Handheld Tranceiver) of some sort because that way it will have its own battery backup and the node itself will be able to stay up for a long time(atleast 5 hours) with no external power, that way even if we loose power our network can still be up and running. -Figure out best way to tower mount laptop and radios that will keep them protected from the weather without causing them to overheat. This shouldnt be to hard, just need to get the time to experiment with some things and get down to the hardware store. -actually put up my tower, should happen before to long -get the software all setup. The software will be slackware linux with wireless tools, ham radio tools, some custom scripts and possibally some other things (such as mobileIP) -find somewhere to link to, i do not currently have a permanent internet connection so i need to find someone to link to wirelessly. this is just the plan for this one node, i have plans and locations for other, just need to obtain the equipment, if you know anyone with old laptops they could donate, any ones that are semi broken like have a broken screen or keyboard will work just fine and are perfect since they are no longer good as laptops, or any types of radios or wireless cards,doesnt mater if they are 802.11 or not, start collectiong them, they will be very useful. One other issue that we need to discuss is routing, Ideally all nodes will be able to route even if they are not permenant ones or are mobile, i think i have figured out how to deal with this with just software that is available, well ive gota go so i will continue this email later. tell me what you think and feel free to forward this to anyone that would be interested. Jess"}, {"response": 34, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Aug 30, 2001 (11:38)", "body": "Intel will ship new wireless home-computing products Wednesday that support a wireless technology the giant chipmaker once competed against. Intel early last year became one of the first companies to sell technology that allows consumers to wirelessly connect their home computers and share the same Net connection. The company supported a wireless standard called HomeRF that was backed by wireless technology provider Proxim as well as giants Siemens, Motorola and Compaq Computer. But with HomeRF support sagging, Intel five months ago announced it would switch its support to 802.11b, or Wi-Fi, a competing wireless standard backed by Apple Computer, Dell Computer, Cisco Systems, Lucent Technologies spinoff Agere Systems and many others. Intel on Wednesday will announce new AnyPoint Wireless II Network products based on 802.11b that let people wirelessly link their PCs and laptops so they can share a Net connection, files and computer peripherals such as printers. The products will allow laptop users to roam around a house and surf the Web. Intel previously touted HomeRF as cheaper than 802.11b, but prices of 802.11b products have dropped considerably in the past year. Intel previously sold 802.11b products aimed at businesses and HomeRF products aimed at consumers. But Intel executives say supporting one standard will allow workers to go home and have their work laptops easily connect to a wireless home network. Analysts said the rift between companies in the home-networking market has caused a standards war similar to the VCR technology battle that pitted VHS against Betamax in the early days of videotape machines. But analysts say Intel's support for 802.11b gives the technology the edge to win out as the standard in the home. \"Intel's name carries a lot of weight for consumers and that's significant,\" said Parks Associates analyst Kurt Scherf. \"Industry support for 802.11b has been tremendous.\" During the past few months, HomeRF has needed to show new support from companies beyond its three main backers--Motorola, Proxim and Siemens--and it hasn't happened yet, Scherf said. \"They need to prove that it isn't obsolete.\" Intel's AnyPoint wireless products come in two forms: a tiny wireless device that can be plugged into a desktop computer, and, for laptops, a wireless PC card. Both, available immediately, have radio transmitters and receivers built in. Intel will ship in the coming weeks a third device, called a \"gateway,\" which connects the wireless technology to a regular Internet connection. Intel spokesman Tom Potts said the company's new wireless technology features software that makes it easy to install the home network. The product also features built-in security. \"We're trying to mask all the network complexity behind our software, so in most situations, the person installing it only has to answer three questions,\" Potts said. Intel ranks fifth in the market for wireless networking products with 5 percent of the market, according to a survey by market analyst firm NPD Intelect. In the first five months of this year, Linksys captured 28.3 percent of the $65 million spent in wireless networking, followed by Agere, U.S. Robotics, SMC and D-Link."}, {"response": 35, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Sep  5, 2001 (16:24)", "body": "Microsoft will hit Palm with a double whammy next week when it announces two new versions of its operating system for handheld computers, sources say. The software giant will announce a low-end and high-end version of its upcoming Pocket PC 2002 OS on Sept. 6 at the Demomobile conference in La Jolla, Calif., sources familiar with company's plans say. The new versions of the OS, code-named Merlin, will resemble Microsoft's upcoming Windows XP desktop OS and add 802.11b wireless networking capabilities and security. Microsoft representatives declined to comment. Although one source said the new versions of the OS are \"incremental\" upgrades to the current Pocket PC OS, another said they are exactly what Microsoft needs to stave off Palm from increasing its presence in the emerging corporate market for handhelds. Palm's OS shows up in handhelds from Palm, Handspring and Sony. Microsoft's current Pocket PC runs devices from Compaq Computer, Hewlett-Packard and Casio. The enterprise market is the brass ring that all companies in the handheld industry are reaching for. According to research data, Microsoft has the lead in that market. Palm maintains its lead in the overall handheld market, which is still largely made up of consumer purchases. But lately Pocket PC has been coming on strong in the small but growing corporate market because of prior relationships with business customers, according to analysts. The corporate market for handhelds has the potential for massive growth because businesses tend to buy devices in large volumes, compared with the single units that consumers purchase. \"Microsoft has an advantage over its competitors given that they and their partners, such as Compaq and Hewlett-Packard, have relationships built up from previous business,\" ARS analyst Matt Sargent said. \"They are a natural fit to sell into that market.\" Sargent added that corporations are more intrigued by Pocket PC-based devices because of their ability to expand beyond basic handheld functions, such as storing appointments and addresses. Santa Clara, Calif.-based Palm has been trying to build a viable strategy to attract corporate customers. In late June, Palm announced several partnerships, the biggest being with accounting giant PricewaterhouseCoopers. And earlier this month, Palm announced it will acquire the intellectual property of Be. That acquisition is expected to help beef up Palm's OS with the multimedia and communications capabilities of the Be OS. Palm was also set to acquire a mobile data management company called Extended Systems. But the deal dried up in mid-May. Microsoft may beat Palm to the corporate punch, however with the new versions of its OS. The Redmond, Wash.-based company is making an aggressive push for Fortune 500 companies, according to sources, and the upcoming OS will have more of an emphasis on business applications than the current version of Pocket PC. Microsoft apparently hasn't overhauled, but rather added specific features that corporations have been asking for, such as wireless networking capabilities and security. Enterprise customers, and specifically IT managers, tend to want gradual upgrades to avoid the hassle of making major upgrades to their networks and PCs that they support. However, Pocket PC will likely go through a major revamp if it adopts the next version of the Windows CE OS code-named Talisker. The current Pocket PC is based on Windows CE, but Microsoft representatives have declined to comment on whether Pocket PC eventually will use Talisker, which is due for release later this year. Although details regarding the differences between the two versions of Pocket PC 2002 are not clear, sources say, the two are expected to vary considerably when it comes to storage capacity. The low-end version is expected to target handhelds with 16MB of memory, while the high-end version is expected to work with devices with at least 32MB of memory. The new versions of the OS will also have software drivers to support the addition of 802.11b wireless networking cards and will include virtual private network software to ease the security concerns of IT managers, sources say. The two versions will also have a similar look and feel to Windows XP. Pocket PC 2002 will also allow Outlook users to store their e-mail on their handhelds, so they can view messages even when they aren't connected to the network. Sources say HP and Compaq will soon announce new devices that run on Pocket PC 2002 radio conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 17, "subject": "HAARP Transmitter Test on March 7th, 1997", "response_count": 0, "posts": []}, {"num": 18, "subject": "Talk Radio on the Net", "response_count": 0, "posts": []}, {"num": 19, "subject": "IC756 - state of the art in hf radio?", "response_count": 1, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Apr 19, 1997 (01:35)", "body": "This topic is also linked from http://access.spring.com/~ic756 radio conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 2, "subject": "talk radio", "response_count": 6, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Sun, Feb  7, 1999 (22:22)", "body": "Not quite sure what the talk radio environment is like in Austin but up here in Chi town, just about every radio station has to have some witty banter to compliment the drive time commute. Heck, even the 'More Music, Less Talk' radio station brought in some goober and his cult of listeners to tie up the air waves. The stations that do emphasize music have to have their DJ's in 'morning goof' mode for yuk's I guess. Needless to say, my commute consists of polka's, industrial, techno, or some indie bands on the sterio. Thank goodness for tape/cd players in vehicles.... Now, Im sure by this point, most readers have written me off as anti-talk radio. Not so. I like talk radio if there is an interesting slant to it - no just trying to shock or cater to the lowest forms of trash humor or wind bag ego stroking. There used to be an interesting radio station that was listener brokered radio - folks bought their air time and put on their own shows. Usually low budget, sometimes kinda rude, crude, and amateurish but there was that spark that made the shows fun to listen to. Not just some overpaid windbags trying to see how close they can push the limits of FCC tolerance. Of course, this station was bought out and some of the shows did propagate to another 'burb station. Of course, this new radio station also had the home shopping radio show, get rich infomercials, and 50 ways to clean your colon. Im serious! One thing I do remember during the last few weeks of the above mentioned original listener suppored radio station, some cat bought up some air time and did the 'Shatupon - The Anti Clown' show. That was probably the most surreal stuff Ive ever heard on the radio. (The last time I heard a SubGenius show was so far back I cant do a comparison...) Suffice to say that this stuff was so weird that I could not even begin to describe it. I wish other stations would take a stab at that kind of programming. Maybe not that extreme because they have to keep their sponsors, but close to that edge. The Shat show lasted maybe a week and a half before it was yanked. Too extreme? Too intense? Too close to suburban guerilla radio? Dude, Weird Soda.... Anyway, so what the hell is this rant leading up to? Well, my fave ideas for a good talk show would be: * Home grown banter with intellectual topics (i.e. alterna bands, music, exploring drain pipes under major universites, ufos, urban culture, urban legends.) * Occasional call in shows where yer mates can get on the air and just blab - no time limit as long as the conversation does not lag. * Occasional high weirdness and surreal content - and not just on programs after midnight! Some of us have to get up for work in the morning.... * Coffee house live mic nite... * Cutting edge tech talk with the occasional forray into hacking * Simulcast a rave! (not necessarily a talk show, but would be fun...) * Community topics relevant to the community Anyway, just some thoughts.... Mike aka _cosmo_"}, {"response": 2, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Aug  5, 1999 (13:37)", "body": "Art Bell rules the night. Amazing stuff he has on there...the paranoid need not tune in - they already know this stuff ..."}, {"response": 3, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Aug  5, 1999 (19:50)", "body": "What was the deal with his son? Wasn't there some big flap and he went off the air recently?"}, {"response": 4, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Aug  5, 1999 (20:11)", "body": "Ah yes! A talk show guest on short wave claimed that Art (senior) had been indited of child molestation and bribing people to cover it up. Problem one. Problem two was that Art's son (junior) was coerced into homosexual acts with a substitute teacher. The two problems are unrelated other than involving child molestation."}, {"response": 5, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Aug  5, 1999 (20:45)", "body": "Art's web site is crammed with goodies and more information on the law suit concerning the above allegations. http://artbell.com/"}, {"response": 6, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Aug  5, 1999 (20:50)", "body": "This is the original story from the Las Vegas Newspaper: http://www.lvrj.com/lvrj_home/1999/May-28-Fri-1999/news/bell1.html radio conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 21, "subject": "Art Bell - talk radio on the fringe", "response_count": 7, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "legaffe", "date": "Sat, Nov  8, 1997 (18:05)", "body": "Has anyone heard of this guy, Art Bell?"}, {"response": 2, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Nov  8, 1997 (18:44)", "body": "I listened to his show a couple of times, he had an El Nino expert on there."}, {"response": 3, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Nov 29, 1997 (21:21)", "body": "#5 of 5: Marshall Stax (coeur) Thu Nov 27 '97 (23:54) 20 lines Art Bell is a minor phenomenon who has hit upon a currently hot vein of thinking and has managed to mine that vein better than anyone else. I love his show, when he's on a subject I care about. He follows the old Larry King policy of not screening calls, so the whackos and nut cases do get on... difference is they *stay* on this show! Larry would always come back with \"He gets one call a week from the home & he calls here!\" to the caller as he hung up and went to another caller. My main problem with Art Bell is that he's on so late it's hard to find time to hear his show. You can always tape it, but that's four hours of time to find later to listen... maybe three with the ability to scan past the news & ads, but still a lot of time. I also like Art's attitude of letting the listener decide who's crazy & who's not. He gives most callers a chance to make their case, and doesn't constantly belittle and talk down to his callers. You, as a listener can do as good a job of seperating the good from the bad, and don't need a show host to do your thinking for you. Marshall"}, {"response": 4, "author": "mlevans", "date": "Mon, Dec  1, 1997 (21:56)", "body": "For me it's the guests that make the show work. The Art Bell show is one of the most entertaining shows out there! I am hard pressed to name a place where I can hear better stories than on this show. The material that they come up with is classic. I'm sure that there are Hollywood script writers just pulling there hair out when they hear this stuff. It's so great. I don't believe the stuff that goes on there, but that doesn't matter - It's fun! It always gives me that \"War of the Worlds\" feeling late at night. Favorite guest - Richard C. Hoagland, with his never-ending explanations of his \"investigation\". This is the face on Mars guy. Also favorites - Major Ed Dames, the remote viewer from a black CIA project in the '80s; Whitley Strieber, the author; Al Bielick of the Philadelphia Experiment; and the guy that \"flew into Area 51 and got shot down\"; etc. These guests could never be conjured up by a writer. It is these characters coming on the show and doing there stuff (with Art letting you, the listener, decide whether or not they're nuts) that makes the show great for me."}, {"response": 5, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Nov 10, 1998 (10:33)", "body": "Art Bell signed off October 12th with a mysterious resignation, reported over some news channels and linked to his web site. See http://www.artbell.com"}, {"response": 6, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Aug  5, 1999 (21:03)", "body": "This is the original story from the Las Vegas Newspaper: http://www.lvrj.com/lvrj_home/1999/May-28-Fri-1999/news/bell1.html"}, {"response": 7, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Aug  6, 1999 (00:22)", "body": "On a more current note, TIME magazine's August 9th issue has a 2-page spread on Art under the Radio section. It does go into a bit of the matter mentioned above. It is worth a read. Pages 64-65. radio conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 22, "subject": "IC-756", "response_count": 0, "posts": []}, {"num": 23, "subject": "World Radio Network", "response_count": 5, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "bosse", "date": "Thu, Jul  9, 1998 (19:09)", "body": "hi"}, {"response": 2, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Fri, Jul 10, 1998 (01:32)", "body": "and welcome!"}, {"response": 3, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Jan 14, 2000 (14:55)", "body": "I just checked into EuroMax and EuroMix and if you have to listen to the programming in English you have to wait till Autumn 2000 before that is possible, according to their web site. There are other alternative such as the BBC and Deutche Welle and others in Europe each with their own websites and English service. RealAudio comes with the option of chosing any or all of these foreign services and that is how I have listened to them up to now. I'd be interested in checking on WRN as soon as they speak in a language I can understand!"}, {"response": 4, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Apr 20, 2000 (14:53)", "body": "April NetRadio.com newsletter! IN THIS EDITION: Tuesday, April 18, 2000 LISTEN * Cha, Cha, Cha - NetRadio Celebrates Cinco De Mayo in Style * New Channel - NetRadio.com 80s Country! LEARN * In The Studio - A conversation with Country music programmer Joe Devine * Earth Day Spins By the Studio for Some Fresh Air BUY * We Love You, Mom - With A Special Mother\ufffds Day Giveaway * Today\ufffds Ten Still Just $9.88 ------------------------- Viva El Cinco De Mayo! ------------------------- Salsa, Flamenco, Tropicalia, Tecano; Ricky, Jennifer, Carlos, Marc and more - Latin music is all about good times and good friends. And we have the mother of all Cinco De Mayo music tributes for you. During this sizzling holiday, NetRadio.com Latin and Earthbeat channels feature the best in Latin music past and present - including the artists leading the current Latin Invasion. Be sure to tune in to NetRadio during Cinco De Mayo for enough fiesta music flavors to make your ears tingle. http://www.netradio.com/channels/latin/index.html http://www.netradio.com/channels/earthbeat/index.html -------------------------------------------------- Step on over to 80s Country, NetRadio.com Style! -------------------------------------------------- From the Urban Cowboy craze that started the decade, to the \"class of 89\" that ushered in it's end, NetRadio.com\ufffds newest channel, 80's Country, explores that eclectic decade of great country music from artists like Kenny Rogers, The Kendalls, Kathy Mattea, Randy Travis and Clint Black. http://www.netradio.com/channels/80scountry/index.html ---------------------------------------------------------- Be Nice To Your Mother, Part I. NetRadio Celebrates Earth Day 2000 ---------------------------------------------------------- From April 14th through April 26th NetRadio will be your Earth Day 2000 music headquarters. We\ufffdre proud to feature the musicians that have taken the time and energy to make a difference regarding environmental issues. This special recommendation page will give you your best chance to see who\ufffds putting their best foot forward to improve the future of our planet for our children\ufffds children. You can even find out what you do to help. Stop by! ---------------------------------------------------------- In The Studio: A conversation with NetRadio.com Country music programmer Joe Devine ---------------------------------------------------------- Joe Devine programs NetRadio.com\ufffds 80s Country music channel. A 20-plus year veteran of the music business, he has programmed country music and country music stations and worked at top country record companies with music artists like Lorrie Morgan, John Anderson, Kenny Chesney, Lonestar and Mindy McCready. We recently caught up to Joe between trips to Nashville and settled in to talk country music: What are some of the best Country albums out there now? Here are some that immediately come to mind: Shania Twain, Come On Over This album has sold 14 million, which just blows me away! The first time I heard it, I admit, I questioned it. \"Man I Feel Like A Woman\" starts off with that big drum intro and then the guitars come in and it sounds kind of like Queen. I thought, \ufffdMan, I don\ufffdt know about this one -- But it just goes to show you! Dixie Chicks, Fly They could be a group that has a definite impact on the first part of this century in country music. They write most of their songs, they\ufffdre beautiful women and they\ufffdre good. This is their second album, and it outsold their first album by 6 million, which is extremely rare, and they did it without changing much of their sound. They deserve their success. Darryl Worley, Hard Rain Don\ufffdt Last He\ufffds a brand new artist on the Dreamworks label. I just listened to his new album, and the seven tracks are just phenomenal. It's got a lot of meat and potatoes to it-A really good album. Merle Haggard, For The Record: 43 Legendary Hits Merle Haggard re-recorded 43 of his hits. These were number one songs and other big hits, and he did a few as duets, with Jewel, Alabama and others. I\ufffdm really not a big fan of reissues, since I\ufffdd rather hear the original versions of songs, but he took these songs and made them better. \"Rainbow Song\" was recorded live originally, it\ufffds a ditty, just a fun uptempo song, but with this new version-he\ufffds really having fun and you can hear it in his voice-he\ufffds even laughing along as he sings. Tell us about what\ufffds going on in country music There\ufffds a saying that country is the \"soundrack to the lives of blue-collar men and women,\" and that\ufffds still true, although not as much today as it once was. Country music has changed every decade since the 1950\ufffds, usually in response to what\ufffds happening in rock or pop music. In the 50s \"Great Balls Of Fire\" charted #1 in rock n\ufffd roll and #2 in country for Jerry Lee Lewis. Today, he\ufffds a country artist. Today most country music is recorded in Nashville, and they use session musicians. They\ufffdre great musicians, but they all have the same sound. Change is coming, fro"}, {"response": 5, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Aug 10, 2000 (15:46)", "body": "radio conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 24, "subject": "Nomadic Research Labs", "response_count": 84, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Aug 25, 1998 (16:24)", "body": "From wordy@qualcomm.com Tue Aug 25 08:30:48 1998 X-Sender: wordy@lorien.qualcomm.com Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=\"us-ascii\" Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 23:12:30 -0800 To: wordy@qualcomm.com From: wordy@qualcomm.com (Steve Roberts) Subject: Microship Status 8/24/98 (Issue #125) X-UIDL: c92a666a5e4da80e86739f146ca5c184 Microship Status 8/24/98 (Issue #125) by Steven K. Roberts Nomadic Research Labs IN THIS ISSUE: THE BUILDING IS DONE! NRL EXPANDING OPERATIONS ;-) CROSS-COUNTRY TOUR REPORT JAMMIN' ON THE DELTA NEWS UPDATES ------------------------------------- \"Don't get mad; get nomadic!\" -- Dan Burdick **************************************************************** This issue may also be found at http://www.microship.com -- click \"Latest Update\" for copy of this text with embedded links. These postings, distributed via email to about 2,500 subscribers, are archived there along with tech info and tales of earlier projects (BEHEMOTH and Winnebiko). Copyright (c) 1998 by Steven K. Roberts. All Rights Reserved. Personal forwarding and free online reposting are encouraged. Hardcopies by mail are $25 for a 10-issue subscription. **************************************************************** THE BUILDING IS DONE! I never believed we'd reach this point, actually. Eight months have passed since we rumbled out of Silicon Valley with three trucks and two trailers, bound for the mystical vision of an ideal Microship development lab near water somewhere in the Pacific Northwest. Desperate to get back to the project, we came frighteningly close to everything from a falling-down old shipyard in Blaine to a musty barn with crashable loft and rentable doublewide, but instead fell into a 6-acre slice of sociobotanical nirvana on an island in the Olympic rainshadow. We moved into a well-insulated and stylish little house and built a 3,000 square foot pole building back in the woods, with a hushed 750-foot sylvan commute connecting the two. It still seems dreamlike and surreal... like visiting the home of someone whose lifestyle makes me ache with longing. I've delayed writing this update (over 100 days since #124) because I assume that most of you would tire of hearing about the endless details of planning, building, roofing, pouring, wiring, lighting, dehumidifying, schlepping, and unpacking... at least until it was all over. I've been dragged deeply into things I know little about, written far too many checks for lumber, and sweated over building and electrical inspections. I can now stand around with neighboring homeowners, passin' the time o' day while jawin' about soffit ventilation, pros and cons of concrete vapor barriers, and what grade of gravel is best for a driveway. It's all been very interesting, I suppose, but finally we are turning on computers, organizing parts inventory, and thinking more about what will get the first Microship on the water than how to get a recalcitrant hank of 12-2 Romex around the overhead door. Flattening hundreds of boxes for the recycling pile while distributing their contents around the lab has a Christmas-like feel, but getting here was a dance through the minefield of costly gotchas. Humidity, for example, is not something I had to think about in California... but when BEHEMOTH's handgrips started growing white mold and moving limp boxes revealed damp patches on the slab below, I knew we had a problem. Not only are we dealing with the mysterious concrete-curing process, but we are also perched in deep northwest woods atop a shallow island aquifer... with no gutters or French drains yet to divert rainwater from the 4\" sponge that is our floor. Those are coming, but the first Band-aid was a 50 pint/day dehumidifier that's chugging away even as we speak, performing the ultimately hopeless task of wringing water out of the air in a forest clearing rich with mosses, ferns, nettles, and slugs. Another grand adventure in the critical path was wiring. Like most things, this follows my adage that there is an inverse relationship between the number of words required to specify a task and the amount of time required to complete it: \"Wire the building\" was one unassuming item on a 5-page TO-DO list. I should have given it its own page... We were fortunate to have consultation from a pro -- Bob Hansen, an electrician on the island, was kind enough to spend some time keeping us from doing anything that diverged too far from code. We added a new breaker at the shed, splitting incoming 200A service into two 100A branches (house and lab). 750 feet of buried cable later, power pops out of a PVC pipe through the concrete slab and into the lab's service panel. Here, ten 20A breakers feed GFI-protected chains of 4-plex outlet boxes; various 15A breakers handle some 20 fluorescent fixtures downstairs, local lighting in the offices, and a couple of 3-way circuits covering stairs and entry doors. All this is dead-simple in principle, but massive bundles of cable now adorn glue-lams, raf"}, {"response": 2, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Nov 22, 1998 (08:05)", "body": "From wordy@qualcomm.com Fri Nov 20 06:43:34 1998 X-Sender: wordy@lorien.qualcomm.com Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=\"us-ascii\" Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 21:26:00 -0800 To: wordy@qualcomm.com From: wordy@qualcomm.com (Steven K. Roberts) Subject: Microship Status 11/19/98 (Issue #127) X-UIDL: 3022a12a5ec81c51a1577a75d9805142 Microship Status 11/19/98 (Issue #127) by Steven K. Roberts Nomadic Research Labs IN THIS ISSUE: POWER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM CONSOLE MOCKUP LANDING GEAR AND RUDDER UPDATE MIMSY AND THE LINUX BOX RANDOM NEWS AND AN INVITATION ------------------------------------- \"It takes a village to build a boat.\" -- Tim Nolan, referring to the ever-growing volunteer population on the Microship project. **************************************************************** This issue may also be found at -- click \"Latest Update\" to see this text with embedded links; see the \"Microship\" section for a new overview of the entire project. These postings, distributed via email to about 2,500 subscribers, are archived there along with tech info and tales of earlier projects (BEHEMOTH and Winnebiko). Copyright (c) 1998 by Steven K. Roberts. All Rights Reserved. Personal forwarding and free online reposting are encouraged. **************************************************************** Hello from the Microship lab! Lots of progress on many fronts... with two test sails now behind us, there is a unfamiliar sense of reality that is speeding the project forward as never before. I look at the boatlet perched on her workstand amidst the fiberglass dust and strewn tools, and see something graceful and alive, poised for launch. Miss Piggy crackles heartily as she gobbles firelogs; the stereo pumps ancient familiar road tunes into this hastily-erected structure in the Camano Island woods. Pools of project detritus abound wherever you look: the zone of linux hackage in the corner, the FORTH hub and its nodes blinking away, the power management system sitting amidst bench clutter and a lineup of Fluke meters, Bob's desk awash in landing gear drawings and mechanical gizmology specsheets, a half-finished console frame model perched in the boatlab, Glass 'n Goo World a mess of 10-ounce scraps and encrusted epoxy cups, metal bits a-glitter in the machine shop, the latest fill curing in the Region of Dust, bins overflowing with parts in the Hall of Inventory, and paper scraps all over the floor of the Media Lab from a recent publication project. My office is a mess; my desk, just like every time before, has entropically degenerated into a loosely coupled 3-D information space of overlapping piles despite my constant vows to get organized. Oh well. The anal-retentive in me sees it all as a mess to be cleaned up; the adventurer shivers with anticipation... POWER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM In our last report, Tim Nolan (from Madison) had just spent a week building the controller that will spend its life surveying the on-board power scene to determine how much free solar energy is available for the thruster at any moment (assuming no emergency override). He returned last week, fresh from the Embedded Systems Conference, and dove back in... As before, he made astounding progress, nearly finishing the whole Microship power management system (Node P). Five power-cycled Microswitch Hall-effect sensors allow current measurement of both halves of the solar array (about 16 amps each), the battery, the thruster, and the console-full of system loads. In addition, it measures array voltage on the input side of the battery and thruster controllers, allowing a simple peak-power tracking algorithm to continuously \"twiddle the knob\" to maximize the product of voltage and current. All this system data is inhaled through a 12-bit A-D converter on the New Micros 68HC11 board... which actively babysits the battery via an interrupt-driven PWM algorithm, rations thruster power via a hack to the Minn-Kota controller, and reports all the gory details to our front-end server. After whipping all this out and getting it working, Tim had a couple of spare days... so he took on the next project: H-bridge control of the Minn-Kota steering motor. The thruster is deployed via this pivoting black box, into which indexes the heavy fiberglass tube that supports the motor itself and carries its power cables. The goal here was to allow manual or automatic control of thruster angle, calling, of course, for position feedback. Tim solved this neatly by gluing a couple of magnets into the nylon gear train of the steering assembly, using Hall-effect sensors to let the processor keep track of position and re-center the thrust angle if a crash ever knocks them out of synch. We're now shipping all the power components to him in Wisconsin for final refinement, transfer of circuits from proto-boards to perfboard, and algorithm-tweakage... whereupon it will all be ready to nail down in the console to establish the critical power infrastructure of the Microship. --> Minn-Kota"}, {"response": 3, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Tue, Mar  2, 1999 (21:08)", "body": "Greetings All Well, thought Id post to this topic and see if I can stir up some activity.... Any Spring folk who have been thinking about going nomadic? Or, perhaps, just adapting some mobile tech to their life styles - i.e. wearables, back pack portable OSCAR stations, high speed spread spectrum FHSS linking, etc.... Although not quite to the point going for autonomous mobile computing with on demand net access, I have been toying with some ideas for portable communications (possibly packet or satellite via the digital birds but I have to get the modems and a lap top for this...). Other crazy ideas include a suitcase dat with mixing board and two diskmans - mix my own radio shows while in transit or even do a rave thingy should the right environ and crowd converge at the proper moment. (Of course, that calls for a not-very-suitcase- portable PA system....) So any other experimenters out there trying this stuff out? Mike aka Cosmo AA9IL Riff Raff #39"}, {"response": 4, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Tue, Mar  2, 1999 (21:35)", "body": "not at the moment, no as for the future, who knows..."}, {"response": 5, "author": "ratthing", "date": "Tue, Mar  2, 1999 (22:37)", "body": "i just got a cool 2-way pager that does email. terry, OTOH, is a majorly wired geek. he has two cell phones, one of which allows for some fairly impressive internet connectivity."}, {"response": 6, "author": "stacey", "date": "Wed, Mar  3, 1999 (10:08)", "body": "Paul let me play with his email cell phone once... ooh la la! I am happily pagerless, cellphoneless, tvless... We do however have a cordless phone now (a friend lent it to us and I've taken quite the liking) --- makes me kinda mobile. I'm really to hep to the technological pissing contest... I like being \"out of range\" most of the time"}, {"response": 7, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Wed, Mar  3, 1999 (16:53)", "body": "huh-huh...I got to watch her play with it, too...huh-huh"}, {"response": 8, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Wed, Mar  3, 1999 (19:15)", "body": "Yow! Techno-voyeurism! ;-) Now, thats one of the minor debates I wage with myself regarding the whole connectivity bit. At one time, I had to wear a pager for work and I just it. There are times when I dont want anyone to be in touch with me, or be able to find me, or suss me out. Thats what 'off' buttons are for. OTOH, when Im in Austin on holiday, I usually carry 2 to 3 levels of ham gear with me to stay in touch with the local repeater. 1) A really cool little pico-walkie talkie (Icom Q7) for close in work. 2) A bit hefty-er 440 HT for those repeater fringe areas. 3) A portable Yaesu all mode 430/440 rig for mobile use - this is also my platform for satellite work once the satellite antennas get built.... As far as the wired geek thing goes... I would love to get a PCS phone with email and other net capability. That would be cool. I guess the uber-hack would be to have a wearable system with wireless connect and some kind of conformal micro keyboard or better yet a speech to text conversion routine to dictate mail. Throw in a digital camera to do those frame grabs during lunch at Shady Grove (burger and a 'Shady Thing') and zip off a few 'wish you were here' emails to fellow wage slaves stuck up in the frozen north and I would be set. Of course, once I have achieved true geek out status, then I have to do something 'nomadic'. Traipsing anound the northern IL burbs is not quite up there in the adventure category. The cool thing would be to go down to the Baja or look for the mysterious Marfa lights or do an expose at Burning Man. As stated B4, there will be times where I will want to be connected and other times I will not so all the above listed gear will include the 'off' button. Mike aka cosmo"}, {"response": 9, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Thu, Mar  4, 1999 (00:22)", "body": "amen"}, {"response": 10, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Mar  4, 1999 (06:37)", "body": "I guess the intermediate toy in all this is the new 2.4 gig cordless phone which supposedly has about a mile range. One of my ham friends, Bob Nagy, likes to mod these things with increased power and a better antenna. With a rooftop antenna attached to the base up about 50', you could have almost cellular capability with one of these new phones. Stacey was talking about my AT&T PocketNet phone, which, for $30 a month flat rate is very cool. You can surf info sites and get phone numbers and stock quotes and more, and you can send and receive any size email. I haven't \"worn\" a computer yet like the geeks at MIT, but that day can't be too far off and I'm kind of an early adopter. I geek toy of the year has to be the PalmPilot, I have a coupla dozen computers that I use 50% of the time and I have this Pilot that I use the other 50% of the time. I can't wait for the Palm VII even though I understand it will have lame Internet access and it will be limited. Someone needs to provide unlimited wireless access to the PalmPilot! Or a PalmPilot Cellphone/Pager/GPS! One of these days, we'll fire up http://www.cooltoys.net and start ecommercing some of the coolest toys we know about. By the way, Bob and I are co-hosting capzeyez on channel 10 in austin at midnight on Saturday Night. Right after Saturday Night Live, take in this Austin version of Wayne's World. He's Garth, I'm Wayne, ex cellllent, excelllent, shweeee . . ."}, {"response": 11, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Mar  4, 1999 (09:37)", "body": "2.4 gig PHONE?!?!??! damn, my computer isn't that loaded..."}, {"response": 12, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Thu, Mar  4, 1999 (16:09)", "body": "mine either...*sniff*"}, {"response": 13, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Fri, Mar  5, 1999 (19:55)", "body": "Thats funny that most computers are running at a higher frequency than my uhf ham gear. Ah, I pine for the good ol daze where memory ended at 64K, programs were loaded from teletype tape or cassette tape (after you loaded the bootloader from the front panel switches) and BASIC was TINY. .... NOT..... Anyway, there are also some TV wireless thingies that are up in the 2.4ghz range. These can be modded to yield nifty amateur ATV transmitters and receivers. Speaking of microwave, I cant wait for TAPR to finish up those microwave spread spectrum FHSS sets. mike_aka_cosmo"}, {"response": 14, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Mar  7, 1999 (11:25)", "body": "Those 2.4 gigahertz units are *too* directional. I had hoped to hook one up to a video cam for relay to the webcam but they're not really suitable for this because they have little directional dish antennas. Hey, did you catch us on on Capzeyez last night?"}, {"response": 15, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Mar  8, 1999 (14:58)", "body": "i did not (sorry) how'd it go???"}, {"response": 16, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Mar  9, 1999 (08:08)", "body": "It was funny. We'll be rerunning on the webcam this week. Check it out."}, {"response": 17, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Tue, Mar  9, 1999 (20:52)", "body": "Hey Terry Regarding 2.4ghz antennas and beamwidth, one solution is to use an omni-directional 2.4ghz antenna - radiates equally poor in all directions ;-) I should research what the FHSS 2.4ghz link in San Francisco was using for an antenna. When I visited Steve at Nomadic Research Labs near San Jose, he demo'ed web access using the link. Now, I would suspect that there had to be an omni on a mountain top and all the subscribers were using gain dishes. On to another topic - there was mention of a future Palm Pilot that would include a built in wireless modem and a capability to do text (?) web access via RF. Now, that would be pretty cool. I still would like to have something like the 'Private Eye' for my video - or even better, use the LCD view screen like the ones used in video cameras. This would at least allow graphics. One thing I need to do is hit the MIT web site for wearables and see what some of the current designs look like. I guess the biggest thing will be the RF coverage. To go back to a previous post, there would have to be extensive coverage even to places that are not highly populated - this might not seem too economical to the companies providing access. i.e. I should have perfect coverage around any big city and populated areas but Im not too sure what the coverage would be in, say, Black Rock desert or the southern tip of the Baja. (It would be interesting to see how folks at Burning Man stay in touch). For the really remote areas, it will have to be Inmarsat or Iridium to provide coverage. Anyway, blah blah blah..... mike aka cosmo"}, {"response": 18, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Mar 10, 1999 (10:14)", "body": "Our Spring partners, DDC and Mel Riser, have done an impressive wireless T-1 for the Dripping Springs area. And I'm looking to do something similar out in Bastrop. We need to kick this effort in to gear. Main stumbling block: the (necessary) day job!"}, {"response": 19, "author": "ratthing", "date": "Wed, Mar 10, 1999 (21:24)", "body": "same here. do you know that i am now working in corpus christi, TX?? YUK!!!"}, {"response": 20, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Wed, Mar 10, 1999 (21:58)", "body": "Sounds like a good plan to add the wireless T1 link's to the surrounding areas. Speaking of which, I picked up at a recent ham fest some Digital Microwave Corporation 23ghz tranceivers and their associated modems (T1). I have had thoughts of building up a 10ghz head to mate to the modems since the 23ghz components fall out of the ham bands. The modem IF is 70mhz. Most likely, there are way more modern components to build up a T1 link. I will probably gut the 23ghz components for 24ghz work and use the modem cases to house transverters. I am curious to see what will come of the FHSS project TAPR is working on. This would be a really big boost for high speed packet and net access. Up here near the Wisconsin border, I can see the Hancock building from 45 miles away at the lakefront. Line of sight is one of the basic requirements for microwave so you can imagine what kind of coverage that would be possible from the top of that building... Oh, yea, the day job is a necessary evil but it does pay the bills and finances my real engineering research. :) Mike aka Cosmo"}, {"response": 21, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Wed, Mar 10, 1999 (23:15)", "body": "...day job..."}, {"response": 22, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Mar 11, 1999 (07:42)", "body": "What's the FHSS project?"}, {"response": 23, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Wed, Mar 17, 1999 (22:29)", "body": "FHSS = Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (at least thats what I think it means....) Have not been too geeky as of late. Probably due to work burnout. What I have been doing is reading up on the micropower radio movement - picked up 'Seizing The Airwaves' when I was at Fringeware. Probably one of the better social studies on micropower radio. The next would be RadioText(e) put out by the Semiotext(e) folks (Autonomedia). Also, getting way overboard by reading 'Gone to Croatan' which appears to be this mega discussion of all the early nomadic tribes/groups in North America. And, if thats not enuf, also re-reading 'The Dharma Bums' which i find to be a nice Beat-Slacker kinda book. Its nice to do the total techno geekout with all the techie talk but its also nice to read up on the social side as well. (Perhaps someday to put to practice....) Have a groovy SXSW weekend mike_aka_cosmo"}, {"response": 24, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Sun, Mar 21, 1999 (15:14)", "body": "FYI The most recent Wired has an article about palm computers with a photo spread of all the latest geek toyz. Party On! -M-"}, {"response": 25, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Mar 22, 1999 (08:30)", "body": "I met a woman at Bruce Sterling's party who is putting up a micropower radio station in East Austin. Any suggestions to her as far as equipment. She plans on doing it legal, with the new regs going in to effect soon. If she does it, maybe I'll do one for my neighborhood in N Austin. I notice that the high school already has one that covers a few blocks. Lanier High."}, {"response": 26, "author": "ratthing", "date": "Thu, Mar 25, 1999 (08:13)", "body": "i used to run a low power pirate station (FM), terry, and i really just wired my equipment from scratch. i am guessing that if there is still a heathkit or edmund scientific still around then you could just buy a transmitter there. i would then go to radio shack for a mixer, mike, cassette player, and CD player. keep us posted here. i would like to get back into that game and maybe set up a low power station myself. legal this time!"}, {"response": 27, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Thu, Mar 25, 1999 (16:37)", "body": "Look-out for The Spring's World Domination Tour!!!"}, {"response": 28, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Fri, Mar 26, 1999 (18:11)", "body": "Check out the Free Radio Berkley page (gonna have to do a search since I dont have the URL...). Also search for key words like LPFM and micropower. There was a magazine out called Hobby Broadcasting which was dedicated to LPFM. That should be a good place to start. As far as gear goes, FRB sells kits as well as Panaxis and Ramsey. Go for it! Radio_Free_Cosmo"}, {"response": 29, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Sat, Apr  3, 1999 (22:50)", "body": "Well, this thread has been tooo quiet. Anyway, hope the microbroadcasting effort worked out. If it did, have to listen next time Im in Austin. BTW, interesting flame war on the technomads list as to just what constitutes a 'technomad'. Seems that homeless folks are getting wired and are accessing Yahoo and other services from libraries to keep up on email and such. Does anyone remember the SS Homer that was parked in town lake across from the Hyatt back in the late 80's? I guess the techno update to that story would be the same raft but with full net access on board.... Finally, just read the most recent 'Wallpaper*' rag which is published in the UK and caters to the jet setting trust fund weenies and other beautiful people. Anyway, good ol' Austin was covered in this with a short expose about where to hang and be hip. Of course, the warehouse district made the list as well as the Continental Club. I was pleased to see the GM Steak House and Ruby's as well but no mention of FringeWare. They missed The Crown and Anchor Pub as well. Oh well.... mike aka cosmo"}, {"response": 30, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Sat, Apr  3, 1999 (22:55)", "body": "ack!"}, {"response": 31, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Jan 14, 2000 (15:17)", "body": "I gave away my Dad's boat anchors to dedicated old time Hams who would know how to maintain them and would be inspired by the smell of burning Bakelite, the orange glow of the tubes, the hum of the rectifier, the charm of a butterfly condenser which had (for the smallest of them - the AVR) 110 turns from peg to peg...*sigh* My own Drake was stolen and replaced by nothing because the other person besetting me most sorely took the money and ran. When does the Spring World Domination Tour leave? His relatives arrive this afternoon. Is there time for me to get on board?! Pleeeeeeeease!!!"}, {"response": 32, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Feb 15, 2000 (16:56)", "body": "StenSat Released But Possibly Malfunctioning Little to nothing has been heard from the StenSat Amateur Radio picosat, raising fears that the tiny picosat has malfunctioned. Stensat was released February 10 by the OPAL ''mother ship,'' according to James Cutler of Stanford University. StenSat was one of two picosats released by OPAL--Stanford University's Orbiting Picosat Automatic Launcher. The other was the JAK payload. Since the deployment, stations monitoring StenSat's 436.625 MHz downlink have heard only very weak signals, or nothing at all. According to StenSat coordinator Hank Heidt, N4AFL, StenSat may be operating in an ''abnormal mode.'' The picosat was supposed to transmit a CW identifier and packet telemetry after deployment, but neither have been heard. Heidt speculated that it might be operating in FM transponder mode. Clifford Buttschardt, K7RR, reported hearing his transmissions repeated through StenSat on February 12 and 13, but signals were weak and the audio distorted. Weak StenSat signals also were reported by Johann Lochner, ZR1CBC, at the SunSat ground station in South Africa. The StenSat group asks amateurs to monitor the downlink and send reports to hheidt@erols.com. StenSat has a crossband repeater aboard that is designed to operate much like the popular AO-27 satellite. Hank Heidt, N4AFL, of the StenSat team has more information on the StenSat Web site at http://users.erols.com/hheidt/ ."}, {"response": 33, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Sun, Mar 19, 2000 (20:42)", "body": "Well, has anyone did anything nomadic lately? After another start of cleaning up large quantities of magazines and electronic junk (none of which is very portable...), thoughts of travel pop back up again. Still have not decided on what kind of travel - maybe just a bunch of short, intense, bike rides or maybe a jaunt up and down Lake Michigan - weather has to get a bit warmer for that tho... Regarding satellites, still waiting for P3D to go up which will then give me the chance to build up some neat portable uplink/downlink ham equipment to take on these proposed trips. Anything else going on out there? Mike aka _cosmo_"}, {"response": 34, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Mar 20, 2000 (12:15)", "body": "Mike, go out onto an island and you will be busier than the proverbial one-armed paperhanger. That's what they do in the Pacific and they are swamped every time they go. Check the DX information topic for the latest from AARL. I post it every week. The uplink/downlink equipment is to die for. Let us know how you are progressing while we salivate at the very notion!"}, {"response": 35, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Mon, Mar 20, 2000 (20:47)", "body": "I know that there is a group called IOTA (Islands on the Air) which activates islands for DXing. No real islands where Im at although it would be interesting to set up a station on one of the water intake stations in Lake Michigan near Chicago. The closest islands that would probably draw attention would be way up north near the Canadian/US border in the Great Lakes. Need to get back into DXing on the 'low bands' - most of my interest are up above 1GHz where working into the next grid square would be one step closer to VUCC (hence all the interest in a microwave P3D setup...) I do think it would be neat to visit some island and activate as part of a DXpedition. Guess I'll have to fire up the old HF station again..... 73 de Mike aka cosmo"}, {"response": 36, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Mar 20, 2000 (21:02)", "body": "If it has an IOTA number, you'll have them stacked so thick you cannot hear yourself respond. Out here (Hawaii) everything above sea-level has a separate IOTA number, and the annual field day for the local Hams involves setting up a remote on a little island in Hilo Bay. They are up all night and it is fun to keep track of the calls coming in. I think they works all bands except the EME ones. Looking at the freqs you work, you are into exotic areas. Fascinating! Good to see you posting, Mike!"}, {"response": 37, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Tue, Jun 27, 2000 (19:43)", "body": "Well, back again.... While taking a long lunch and goofing around downtown Chicago, I picked up a couple of 'zines that covered some aspect of nomadic travel - the first was the latest Utne reader which had a collection of articles dealing with the concept of how mobile/nomadic society has become. The other was 'blue' which was geared more towards the backpack/hostel/traveller/adventure bunch. Kinda did another quarterly evaluations (ugh - sounds like a blarmy performance appraisal...) of existance (mine) in regards to change in location. Well, the address is still the same so I guess I dont move around too much.... Anyway, back to the travel bit - started thinking about the concept of travel and where would I go under the circumstances. Senegal would probably be interesting - also the Seychelles in the Indian ocean. Figure Australia as well since that seems to be the direction at the moment. What to take? Ham rig, of course, bike, guess the laptop, nothing that resembles work, and whatever else fits in the Alice Pack. Ok, much better now.... Mike aka cosmo"}, {"response": 38, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Jun 29, 2000 (00:14)", "body": "Sounds fascinating, Mike. What an adventure. The Pacific is awash with little island ripe for IOTA pileups. Be aware that there are pirates in some waters, others just murder yachties (knew the Grahams who were murdered on Palmyra Island) and leave their bodies behind. I would suggest you either arrange for some sort of weapon to be at your disposal upon arrival, or stay in populated and friendly areas. Homework ahead of time can mean survival in the vast Pacific."}, {"response": 39, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Thu, Jun 29, 2000 (04:13)", "body": "The Grahams, was that the novel called \"The Sea Will Tell\" or something, I read that a few years ago. And it was a tv movie as well. Is this stuff pretty common out on these little islands, I mean piracy?"}, {"response": 40, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Jun 29, 2000 (10:38)", "body": "Yes, Mac and Muff Graham were the subject of both the book and the tv movie you mention. The guy and girl who did it are doing double life sentences somewhere on the mainland. It is not all that common. I listen to the Yachtie's net every evening on 14.313 MHz from 6pm till all yachts check in. Things happen. In the Indian Ocean it is even more prevalent and less reported than the Pacific. That the unthinkable happened even once is too many times. Several people have disappeared overboard. All of the situations went unprosecuted because in each case it was considered accidental. Who can tell about these thing. The piracy is very real and very active around Indonesia and west of there. I would recommend staying well away from there."}, {"response": 41, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Jun 29, 2000 (14:02)", "body": "Not sure where to pu this: Special Bulletin 10 - June 29, 2000 Antenna Designer Louis Varney, G5RV, SK Louis Varney, G5RV, who invented the world-famous G5RV antenna, died June 28. He was 89. The G5RV multiband wire antenna for HF is among the most popular of all antenna designs. Varney first described the G5RV in the November 1966 issue of the RSGB Bulletin. He employed a full-size and a double-size G5RV, both fed with open-wire feeders, at his own station. Varney remained an active radio amateur until very recently and kept regular on-the-air schedules. He was an RSGB member for 74 years and served as life president of the Mid-Sussex Amateur Radio Society. His wife Nelida is among his survivors. Services are set for July 4 in Brighton, England."}, {"response": 42, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Wed, Jul  5, 2000 (21:37)", "body": "No plans yet for the Pacific - have to make it through the Great Lakes first. Might have to look out for Wisconsin beer pirates tho.... I did hear the maritime mobile net on 20 meters this weekend. 14.313 seems to have a rep for a bunch of idiots that get on and cause QRM for the rest of the good boat folk. When I listened though, the net ran well. You would think that an important traffic frequency would be respected but there are some goofs out there. If I was out in the middle of the ocean, I would sure want to be able to check into the net without having to slog through past the cretins. Hope the net keeps going strong - its for a good cause. ok, off the soap box de AA9IL"}, {"response": 43, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, Jul  8, 2000 (17:18)", "body": "That Maritime frequence is the target of more and more disruption. However, the closer to the Pacific you are, the better it is. People make contacts and move up or down 5 to talk. It is a good system and works splendidly most of the time. I am really sorry to hear of the intereference from clods and louts on the air. Years ago one guy was so obnoxions he had his radios and licence confiscated and put out of business...which probably did not deter him for long. He just found another net to harrass. It is the only net I know of which has actually saved lives. It is most important that it continue! Staying on the soapbox - it is a worthy enterprise!"}, {"response": 44, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, Jul  8, 2000 (17:20)", "body": "Wisconsin Beer Pirates??! Your boat or your beer??? The mind reels with possibilities..."}, {"response": 45, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Sun, Jul  9, 2000 (23:06)", "body": "Actually, the Wisconsin Beer Pirates would be a good name for a sailing group. Have to figure how to work that in...."}, {"response": 46, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Jul 10, 2000 (00:23)", "body": "Yup!! Used to crew on racing dinghys in Hilo Bay, then ran the races to let some others win. Great name for a fun way to spend Sunday afternoon!"}, {"response": 47, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Aug  2, 2000 (17:51)", "body": ""}, {"response": 48, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Aug  4, 2000 (12:47)", "body": ""}, {"response": 49, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Aug  4, 2000 (12:49)", "body": "There are more lurkers out there than I knew. and I am delighted to correct anything I amy have posted incorrectly.Here is correction to the Graham saga: Concerning your coments about the Grahams.......who were murdered at Palmyra Atoll.........the \"guy\".....Buck Walker......was found guilty of murder and is serving a life sentence. The \"girl\"......Jennifer Jenkins......was found not guilty and is serving a life sentence nowhere. Just a correction........:o) Thanks Kaysman64"}, {"response": 50, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Aug  4, 2000 (12:51)", "body": "This email comment superceded the one above. I am grateful to Nickie for her tact and interest in making all of the facts known in this sordid chapter of Yachting in the Pacific: I noted in your \"Nomadic Research Labs\" correspondence (Response 40 of 46, dated June 29, 2000), that you believe Buck Walker and Stephanie Terns are both serving life sentences for the murder of Muff Graham (re: Palmyra Atol). In fact, Stephanie Terns was, through the efforts of her attorney, Vincent Bugliosi, absolved of any criminal collusion in Buck Walker's actions. Thanks, Nickie"}, {"response": 51, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Aug 21, 2000 (14:50)", "body": "Ham Radios in Space NASA Science News for August 21, 2000 Ham radio operators are notorious for their love of long-distance radio chats. Now, thanks to NASA's SAREX program, hams and students on Earth can enjoy the ultimate long-distance radio experience by contacting astronauts in orbit. FULL STORY at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2000/ast21aug_1.htm?list"}, {"response": 52, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Sat, Sep  9, 2000 (13:32)", "body": "Although not very nomadic as of late, I want to mention that I did get to drive on a couple of sections of the old 'Route 66' last week. Didnt see any weird sculptures or eating places tho. Just lots of corn fields.... _cosmo_"}, {"response": 53, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Sep 28, 2000 (23:14)", "body": "Not even any exterrestrials?? The only place I have been on Rt 66 was between Flagstaff, AZ and Meteor Crater. The Crater was amazing. Rt 66 was just another back top road. I guess the romance is gone, moved it elsewhere or only lives in fantasies. I missed out on the 'scuptures' too!"}, {"response": 54, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Thu, Oct 26, 2000 (22:13)", "body": "Im pretty sure I mentioned this in another thread but one of the places most likely to run into ET's or other strange things was in the West Texas desert near Marfa. (didnt get to see the Marfa Lights tho...) de Mike radio cosmo international"}, {"response": 55, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Oct 26, 2000 (22:36)", "body": "Interesting. I wonder why they don't hover over tehCapitol building in Washington DC... or is it that they are looking for intelligent life in the universe.?! Any geologic anomolies in the Marfa area? Curious! Have you seen anything you could not explain away that you would care to share? I must be too stupid or boring, Nuthin hovers over me except mosquitoes!"}, {"response": 56, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Fri, Nov  3, 2000 (21:59)", "body": "I have read that the Marfa lights could be caused by plasma formed from rocks fracturing under high stress. Intelligent life in Washington DC? Yea, but they were only visitng.... :) No strange objects I could not explain - have seen the aurora, iridium flares, a comet, satellites, and even heard the sonic boom from the shuttle flying over head during re-entry. I wish I could see something unidentified but no luck as of yet. I should have driven out to Area 51 when I had the chance during a Vegas visit.... Mike radio cosmo international"}, {"response": 57, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Nov  3, 2000 (22:33)", "body": "*laugh* yup about Washington DC... just could not resist. If Iwere them I'd handgout over Cheyenne Mountain. Colorado Springs is very pretty now... I understand Area 51 is now vacated and relocated elsewhere. I've seen zodiacal light and Gegenshein and loads of green flashes and one turquoise flash along with abut 20 comets and innumerable satellites. Sonic booms but not from the Shuttle. Have seen the shuttle fly over and watched the first burnout ofEarth's orbit on the first moon trip. The last was just after having had dinner with astronauts on either side of me and across the table. Fascinating guys!!! Sunset rays are also frequent here. Oh, and the southern cross. The magellanic clouds are visible from here but just a little while per year."}, {"response": 58, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Nov  3, 2000 (22:35)", "body": "Piezo-electric rocks??? What is squeezing them???"}, {"response": 59, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Nov  3, 2000 (22:53)", "body": "or is it like the wintergreen candy my father used to snap in half for me in a dark closet and we would would see the spark made thereby. Inever figured out what caused it and I am sure he never told me. Anyone know??? (I had forgotten about it till just now!) Of course, I have seen earthquake lights caused by the earth fracturing. That is more than I need to see again...! It took a 7.2 magintude one in the middle of a very dark night to cause that!"}, {"response": 60, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Nov  4, 2000 (12:17)", "body": "Interesting stuff, Marci. Speaking of Nomadic Research Labs type stuff, Jay Leno is going to have the \"battlebots\" on his show next week, they're really awesome, I saw a preview last night."}, {"response": 61, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, Nov  4, 2000 (13:27)", "body": "Oooh, also seen noctilucent clouds, and was reminded of the eclipses lunar which I have also seen. Alas, I missed the total solar eclipse HERE and the annular eclipse in California while I was there. Heavy clouds obsured even the darkening of the skies at totality in both cases. Do not come near me if you want to see things eclipse solar. The gods to not want me to see that. I did see the 3/4 eslipse many years ago in West Virginia and it was spectacular. Also another partial here for which I put up a pinhole porjector for public inspection in front of the college library. It worked splendidly. How do eclipses affect transmissions? I imagine solar totality could make for a lot of trouble on EME transmissions. Is that so?"}, {"response": 62, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Sat, Nov  4, 2000 (21:01)", "body": "Hi Marcia and gang Marcia - I have heard about the green flashes that occur when the sun goes down on the horizion - at what time did you exactly see it? That is sooo cool. Re Eclipse, Im sure there is some affect but not exactly what. I have witnessed several partials and there was a full eclipse many years ago but was too young to remember. During the partials, I would play 'Dark Side of the Moon' rather loudly on the tape deck and watch the eclipse though a SRONG IR filter combined with a welding goggle lens. I can still see so I guess it was sufficient but now I sort of know better.... I have hit my eyes with reflected HeNe laser beams and that really gets my attention - the ol' eyes survived that one too.... The one thing I do remember about the eclipse was that the light passing through the gaps between leaves in a tree caused many 'pinhole camera' images of the occulted sun to appear on the ground. The temperature dropped, birds stopped chriping, and the sky became magnificent blue. No wonder the ancient people freaked when eclipses happened. Regarding the flashes with rocks fracturing - I would suspect that the intense pressure when the fracture takes place would generate enough energy to cause plasma to form - especially if quartz is present - this is kinda getting out of my field so grasping at straws here - best to bring up on GEO. Terry - have to find out when the battle bots are on. Is that the robot battles that take place in the UK. I have a big interest in robotics and autonoma with several good publications on the subject from MIT but I can not pick up a new hobby or else I will never finish the microwave stuff. Its tempting tho.... Anyway, Marcia, have to describe your sightings regarding the flashes - plus seeing the Southern Cross is pretty cool. There was an old Crosby Stills and Nash song about the Southern Cross that I really liked. Its getting cold up north and the sky is clear now. Time for good stargazing. 73 de Mike radio cosmo international p.s. a nomadic journey to Austin is in the works and am I looking forward to that!"}, {"response": 63, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Nov  5, 2000 (07:44)", "body": "When are you coming to Austin? The battlebots will be on Leno next week. I'm not sure which night though. I'll let you know if I find out. There are three battlebots going against one they had custom built for leno, with a big image of his face and chin being used as kind of a front end scoop. There was one that looked very destructive. I also have heard about the green light, Marci. Is it more common out where you live and since you have those ocean sunsets?"}, {"response": 64, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Nov  5, 2000 (08:13)", "body": "I just reread this topic for the past year and it is one of the most interesting on the Spring! Everything from pirates to eclipses to battlebots! Maybe we should start a topic pirates of the South Pacific? Battlebots?"}, {"response": 65, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Nov  5, 2000 (13:44)", "body": "I just domup those things for which I have no other topic in to Geo 1... all things Earth. Found an interesting website about plasma last night recommended to be by one of 4 new conversats I met yesterday. I love a fascinating life online!!! http://members.nbci.com/hameltech/ scroll down for the discussion of plasma. Tlak about nomad..!!! Yes, you need a flat unobstructed horizon for the green flash and no obsucing dust particles in the air to aborb those blue and green wavelenghts. It is not an every day occurrance here but on the Kona side, fairly frequent."}, {"response": 66, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Sun, Nov  5, 2000 (17:07)", "body": "Checked out the hameltech page - now thats interesting stuff - kind of the thing you would see in the old Tesla Journals when they were being published. Re the battlebots - might have to stay up long enough to watch them in action. Kind of like Survival Research Laboratories with out the explosives. Next time Im near the gulf, have to watch for the green flashes. I have seen where the sun's rays hit mountain tops many miles away and cause a unique sunset. In the UFO news, I did see a high speed jet today at an incredible altitude - I saw the reflection against the sky. Moving fast and no vapor trail. And lastly, bolted the traveling wave tube power supply to the 19 inch rack in the basement - get this thing running and I'll have 10 watts at 10ghz - no birds better fly in front of the dish antenna during key down. 73 de Mike radio cosmo international"}, {"response": 67, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Nov  5, 2000 (18:39)", "body": "Yup, that Hameltech site is something else. I just joined a message board of people who had the oddest ideas. I will pass the best of them on to you here. I have a fresh lava flow to sell those guys. Get it while it's hot!!! Got seagulls??? If you do, one will manage to get in the way one time or another - hopefully not during keydown! Have seen plenty of intercontinental jets so far up there that not enough humidity exists to make contrails!!! The overfly Hilo regularly! Truly UFO's, but most assuredly airplanes"}, {"response": 68, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Mon, Nov  6, 2000 (07:45)", "body": "What's a traveling wave tube power supply?"}, {"response": 69, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Nov  6, 2000 (12:12)", "body": "Yeah, Mike... What IS a traveling wave tube power supply?! I thought I was the only clueless one here."}, {"response": 70, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Wed, Nov  8, 2000 (22:54)", "body": "Hi Yall A TWT (called 'twit\"...) is a type of microwave amplifier. Electrons pass as a beam through a coil (helix) under vacuum and at very high voltages. These amps have tremendous gain (1mw in and 10 - 15 watts out) At microwave frequencies, thats alot of gain. TWTA's comprise of the tube and a power supply which make up a travelling wave tube amplifier. The amp I have is telco surplus and was used for point to point stations working in the 10.7 ghz range. The plan is to use this amp for serious tropo scatter contacts at 10ghz but also, 10-15 watts is the lower limit for EME given a good sized dish. In other exciting news, one of the recent IEEE Spectrum magazines had a cover story on wearable computers - it is now possible to have a heads up display and a pentium class computer that can be worn on a belt. Only one more class in the semester then Im freeeeeeeeee! (until next semester.....) 73 de Mike radio cosmo international"}, {"response": 71, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Nov  9, 2000 (02:45)", "body": "Impressive! Thanks for the education. I wish I understood half what I know about these things... Anyway, it will not be wher I can eavesdrop on you if it is EME unless the prop is amazing when I do hear you. Have only been able to catch local guys once in a while, and that was with my Drake and an antenna switch for the unusual freqs. Notch filters help too, and alas, none inhouse have them. Next life all are on antenna switches and all have notch filters! Let us know how you fare. Ace those finals!!!"}, {"response": 72, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Nov  9, 2000 (16:29)", "body": "I posted this in Geo 35 for you, Mike, but there are some hams (one of who =m shall remain anonymons) who avoids Geo every chance he gets (*grin*) Leonid Meteor Balloon Rises Again NASA Science News for November 9, 2000 A team of NASA scientists and ham radio amateurs will loft a weather balloon toward the stratosphere on Nov. 18th to record the sights and sounds of the 2000 Leonid meteor shower. Readers can follow the balloon flight thanks to a live webcast at LeonidsLive.com. FULL STORY at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2000/ast09nov_1.htm?list89800"}, {"response": 73, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Sat, Nov 11, 2000 (19:15)", "body": "Nomadic TV Just finished watching a goofy show on access TV tonite which made me think about nomadic radio but since I rant about radio all the time, thought I'd blab TV for a bit. I would suspect that the closest I could figure to ideal pirate TV would be fashioned after the TV crew on the old Max Headroom series. Underground and punk - existing in a video autonomous zone (read TAZ - The Temporary Autonomous Zone by Hakim Bey for the full scoop on that subject). What would it be? Found video, optical collage, subliminal mind control? Not quite sure.... Although pirate radio stories abound, I have not heard too much about pirate video springing up. The closest would be some of the stuff on access which leads back to my original opening comment. I guess webcams come kind of close but then again both originators and viewers must be on the net. Until all this does come about, I will be somewhat content to surf access to see what interesting video thoughts are zipping about. 73 de cosmo radio cosmo international"}, {"response": 74, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, Nov 11, 2000 (21:34)", "body": "Can you get skip on TV under the right conditions? You have one huge ground plane in Lake Michigan!"}, {"response": 75, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Sat, Nov 11, 2000 (23:23)", "body": "I have received across the lake transmissions on VHF radio frequencies - cant say for TV since I have cable :) Now, I have received TV channels from across the Gulf of Mexico during a band opening - a Spanish speaking TV station on chan 3. Channel 2 was completely wiped out which is a good indicator of low VHF activity. (6 meters in the ham bands) - BTW, this happened when I lived near the Gulf many years ago in South Tx. After I posted the previous message I remember reading about pirate TV taking place in the old 'Eastern Bloc' - both in Russia and and East Germany. These were instances where individuals hooked up video recorders to master TV cable systems or regular transmitters. Now, Im sure there is some pirate activity in this country but only in the big cities. Now, Im sure there is some interesting programming (?) taking place in some of the remote parts of the country - Alaska and possibly the far north of Canada and the U.S. Also, there is probably some neat stuff that comes on after 2am aside from reruns of Happy Days and Three's Company. Thats one of the things about the alterna programming is that like any other unique programming is that one has to sift through the mundane to find those nuggets. mike radio cosmo international"}, {"response": 76, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Thu, Dec  7, 2000 (20:45)", "body": "Oy Another goofy weekend ahead so the projects again screech to a halt. There has been some postings on the technomads list recently about nautical doo-hickies for nomadic boat folk. And, once again, thoughts turn back to linked wearables, techie boats and the like. Good time to grab the notebook and start defining a specification rather than just obscure thoughts and ramblings. de Mike somewhat radio cosmo international"}, {"response": 77, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Thu, Dec  7, 2000 (21:16)", "body": "DDo you have some url's for us on these cool nomadic boat sites. And wearables? What's hot in wearables, cosmo? Any news on your next Austin sojourn?"}, {"response": 78, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Dec  8, 2000 (00:40)", "body": "Share the goodies with us! We promise not to tell a soul =)"}, {"response": 79, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Sat, Dec  9, 2000 (22:07)", "body": "Hey Kids Ok, cool links for all Wearables - www.wearables.org, mevard.www.media.mit.edu/projects/wearables and wearables.stanford.edu. Better yet, use ye olde google and do a search on wearables which will yield mucho pages. One thing that has caught my eye is the new PC's that have a wearable class foot print. Regarding boat goodies - go to the source www.microship.com - there will be plenty of links to other interesting pages as well as project info. Once I get these microwave transverter projects finished to a point, Im going to jump back into building up the GPS interface for APRS applications. Made significant headway on my 5.7ghz transverter today. Nothing like soldering surface mount capacitors and resistors by hand... I should have it complete enough to test out the system tomorrow. Finally - a completed project! Just have to cross my fingers and hope the HP 8551 spectrum analyzer/boat anchor fires up so I can tune up the easy way. 73 de Mike Radio Cosmo International P.S. Was in Austin over the Thanksgiving weekend. Only heard/talked to George and Mickey on the repeater. Did catch the 'Hot Club of Cowtown' at the Cactus Cafe which was just plain foot stomping fun. Also caught the Popes at La Zona Rosa with a bunch of other punkers for some loud beer slinging anarchy. Yow!"}, {"response": 80, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Dec 10, 2000 (20:36)", "body": "Mike?! You are another Punker?? Not how I imagined you, somehow... *sigh* But, that's ok. I still love ya. Keep those fingers apart and not attached to your work. It is difficult to find a good soldering iron anymore - especially for very fine work which is hot enough to do the job... Off to seach for interesting wearables for the next Spring Ball..."}, {"response": 81, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Mon, Dec 11, 2000 (08:00)", "body": "I just revisited that nomadicresearch site, I wish he some better photos of his bikes. And there are a lot of pages \"under construction\"; I guess it's hard to build web pages while you bicycling down the road. It would be interesting if he had a gps tracker that showed his position on the globe on his website. Too bad, missed you Thanksgiving, maybe next trip to Austin I'll catch you."}, {"response": 82, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Dec 11, 2000 (15:43)", "body": "Maybe he can catch this: Listen to the Geminids Space Weather News for Dec. 11, 2000 http://www.spaceweather.com GEMINID METEOR SHOWER: Scientists at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center have established a radio meteor detection system to monitor this week's Geminid meteor shower. Although the shower doesn't peak until December 13th, plenty of Geminid meteoroids are already streaking through Earth's atmosphere. You can listen to their eerie-sounding radio echoes in realtime at http://www.spaceweather.com . SUBMIT YOUR PHOTOS: The glare from this week's nearly-full Moon will substantially reduce the number of visible Geminid meteors. Nevertheless, sky watchers in rural areas will likely spot 20 or more shooting stars per hour -- a fairly pleasing shower. We invite photographers who capture images of Geminid meteors to submit their photos for display on spaceweather.com. Simply send your files as email attachments to webmaster@spaceweather.com."}, {"response": 83, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Sun, Jan  7, 2001 (19:09)", "body": "Hey Marcia, Netspring and all other wander-folk There was some new updates to the microship web page which include an object linked graph describing the major components of the boat - click on the object and you go to a more detailed description. Also, I have been finding more pages of folks who are doing the remote connectivity thing. Bikes, boats, converted school buses tricked out vans, etc... Im still doing mucho slacker pondering over remote connectivity to work but I think my efforts will be more directed to remote connectivity to phun stuff. One distinct possibility would be a kayak style Lake Michigan tour - gotta get a kayak first... On the radio front, I finally had a chance to see one of the new Yaesu almode portable radio - HF, 6 meters, 2 meters, and 432mhz in an over the shoulder portable set. Now, this is getting closer to an ideal radio for travel - digital mode ready as well so it is not a problem hooking up the radio to a TNC for APRS. Too many toys to choose from.... 73 de AA9IL Mike radio cosmo international"}, {"response": 84, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Jan  7, 2001 (23:51)", "body": "Sounds great - will search them out and post what I discover, urls too! radio conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 25, "subject": "Tech Ranch", "response_count": 5, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Aug 28, 1998 (08:40)", "body": "From the website: Why you can't find Tech Ranch on KUT Tech Ranch Testimonials. For fans of public radio--and of Tech Ranch as it appeared on public radio--this is a sad story. Fortunately, the story has a happy ending. The story begins in the late spring of this year. Springtime being the proper breeding ground for all things fresh and promising, Bazzirk gave birth to a fresh and promising idea. We would produce a radio program that would give a voice to the local technology community. The show would be issues-oriented. It would be light in tone. It would be of interest to anybody and everybody who lives a tech-focused life in our tech-crazed town, from the casual web-surfer to the CEO. To have credibility, the show would have to be scrupulously objective. It would be open to all. The primary criterion for stories would be that they be informative and entertaining in subject matter and in delivery. Bazzirk clients would have no more access to exposure on the program than any other entities in the business of technology."}, {"response": 2, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Aug 28, 1998 (08:40)", "body": "And continuing . . . To carry out this charter, we set up Tech Ranch as an independent business unit of Bazzirk, with an organizational structure that functioned separately from Bazzirk marketing services. We consciously emulated the venerable journalistic model that divides editorial from sales. For the Tech Ranch staffers, this came naturally. Our Tech Ranch producer and our lone staff reporter both have degrees in journalism and solid newspaper experience. Our Tech Ranch executive producer has a background in reporting on radio and television. Someday, we hoped and dreamed that spring, the show might grow into broadcast syndication and be able to carry its own weight as a profit center for our company. In the meantime, it would be a labor of love. We thought public radio, and KUT in particular, would be the perfect vehicle for the show. We invited the management of the station to a meeting to hear our ideas. They loved the idea! They were already planning to introduce a local news segment on the station, and they saw Tech Ranch as an ideal first element of that local coverage. They saw all sorts of advantages for KUT and for The University of Texas in new connections with Austin's flourishing technology community. We happily developed demos and played them for the KUT staff. We incorporated their suggestions into the show. And, at 8:10 in the morning on June 1, 1998, we broadcast the first Tech Ranch program on KUT."}, {"response": 3, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Aug 28, 1998 (08:41)", "body": "And still more . . . Early response was overwhelmingly--even gushingly--positive. We heard from people at all levels of technology companies of all sizes. We heard from members of the University community. And we heard from the proverbial man and woman on the street. The show was an unqualified hit. KUT's management was delighted. The powers-that-be at The University were delighted. The station began receiving unsolicited inquiries about underwriting opportunities for the show. National exposure on NPR was under discussion. The sky was the limit. Then came a troubling cloud. Inexplicably, KUT management was suddenly bombarded with e-mail attacking the show. It turned out all the mail was coming from two people. Both of them had once worked at Bazzirk, had left, together, in unhappy circumstances, and now worked, together, at a competing advertising agency. The mail threatened complaints to the FCC and to NPR. Why? Because KUT had entered into a nasty, dirty partnership with a card-carrying profit-making business enterprise. Bazzirk, that evil empire, was obviously using Tech Ranch to further its own ends. When KUT did not immediately yank the show from the air in response to these complaints (feedback from listeners was running fifty-to-one positive at this point), the complaintants escalated their attack by bringing in the media. Playing loosely with the truth, they called reporters and blew the whistle on the nasty partnership between public radio and private enterprise. One reporter, or, more accurately, one columnist--the media critic at the Austin American-Statesman--took the bait. This columnist pontificated in print that KUT should do the right thing and separate its good name from that of the high tech marketing firm that was producing its new hit program. Meanwhile, balanced, professional coverage of the situation appeared in the pages of the Austin Business Journal, and various Letters to the Editor were launched by both sides."}, {"response": 4, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Aug 28, 1998 (08:42)", "body": "But it gets better . . . The critical Statesman column seemed to turn the tables for KUT station management. Showing remarkably little backbone considering the benefits Tech Ranch had brought and was still bringing to the station, KUT made the decision to cancel the show. \"Perception\" was the only reason offered. Was there any real, FCC-like, legal question? If so, nobody could say what it was. KUT's station manager did talk to his FCC attorney, and was later quoted in the newspaper, by the aforementioned columnist, as saying that there was \"no legal issue.\" The \"perception\" word was used again in explanation. No matter that no one could demonstrate that the show was in any way biased in favor of Bazzirk clients, or in favor of anyone else, for that matter. No matter that the show was clearly focused on issues and on ways technology affects people's lives, rather than on products for sale. No matter that the show had generated a devoted audience almost overnight (the lifespan of the show on KUT was just three months), and was a clear money-maker for a station that always needs money. No matter that the technology community loved the show and didn't mind saying so. No matter. Despite all this, we have no bone to pick with public radio. Truth to tell, we love it. We tried putting time, talent, money, and energy into making our own contribution to it and things didn't work out. KUT brought our baby to the airwaves, and we're grateful for that. Now we're moving on. End of sad story. And beginning of happy ending. Tech Ranch will soon resurface on a popular commercial station in the Austin market. Watch the Tech Ranch page for details. We are in the process of re-formatting the show for commercial syndication, and have interest from several national syndicators and from individual radio stations. We are also at work on a long-form (two hours or more) version of the program for internet broadcast on a heavily-promoted broadcast web site that will premier this fall. We are particularly excited about the web broadcast, as it will allow us to examine the technology issues that interest us in much greater detail. For those who have followed and supported the show on KUT, we offer our sincere thanks. We invite you to stick with us as we make the transition to commercial stations and to web broadcasting. See you on the radio. (end quote from http://www.bazzirk.com/tech/why.html )"}, {"response": 5, "author": "jgross", "date": "Fri, Aug 28, 1998 (22:51)", "body": "It's very interesting that the reason given was one word (perception). And that it sounds like an unwillingness to say what their meaning was, their contextual meaning was, for that word. Therefore, their worries and fears could not be gone into and discussed. It's very difficult to talk about stuff that difficult to talk about. So people shift into avoidance behavior. Very defensive routines going on there that are so hard to loosen up. Result: injustice. Another result: anti-learning. Even if there is learning, and the delving into the reasoning for the perception, and even if there is a good healthy exchange among those concerned with the issue, it of course can turn out that the show would be dropped. But at least some democracy can occur. Some maturity. Some discourse. radio conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 26, "subject": "getting your ham radio license * ticket to talk!*", "response_count": 39, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Nov 10, 1998 (11:31)", "body": "The questions are available on the internet (as are LOTS of other ham-related sites). AA9PW's Amateur Radio Exam Practice Page is the best I've found: http://www.biochem.mcw.edu/Postdocs/Simon/radio/exam.html"}, {"response": 2, "author": "wer", "date": "Sun, Apr 25, 1999 (00:49)", "body": "(this is a test...had to kill this topic in another conf, wanted to make sure it still worked in here...)"}, {"response": 3, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Mon, Apr 26, 1999 (10:34)", "body": "But isn't there a difference between amateur radio and trucker's ole ham radio?"}, {"response": 4, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Apr 26, 1999 (12:59)", "body": "You mean CB, good buddy! Yep, they're night and day. CB is noisy, crowded, rude, boisterous, profane and crude. Ham (amateur) radio is much more civilized."}, {"response": 5, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Mon, Apr 26, 1999 (13:03)", "body": "I know amateur radio well (didn't know amateur=ham). My grandfather was a very enthusiastic Amateurfunker. Did you see the B92 topic? Got a contact to them; wonder if that would be topic for somebody in Austin? What do you think?"}, {"response": 6, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Apr 27, 1999 (17:34)", "body": "Mel Riser is getting his ham ticket, he's our guy at DDC who keeps our network up and running."}, {"response": 7, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Jan 14, 2000 (15:21)", "body": "ZCZC AG03 QST de W1AW ARRL Bulletin 3 ARLB003 From ARRL Headquarters Newington CT January 14, 2000 To all radio amateurs SB QST ARL ARLB003 ARLB003 Question Pool Committee Eyes February 1 Release Date A revised Amateur Radio question pool that reflects the April 15, 2000, restructuring rules could be out by February 1. Chairman Ray Adams, W4CPA, of the National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators' Question Pool Committee says workable question pools for the new Technician, General and Amateur Extra written exams will be made public by February 1 or ''very shortly thereafter.'' Adams says that a Technician class syllabus already has been drafted and approved. The various QPC members have been keeping in touch by telephone and e-mail since the FCC announced the restructuring rules December 30. Adams says that the QPC plans to further refine and update the newly configured pools in the future, after it has an opportunity to meet and formulate a plan. He said the revised question pools will follow the established format. After April 15, 2000, the FCC will only issue Technician, General, and Amateur Extra class licenses. Novice and Advanced licensees will retain current operating privileges and may renew indefinitely. Applicants desiring HF privileges will only have to pass a 5 WPM Morse code test. Current Amateur Radio study materials remain valid at least until the new rules become effective in April. There are four examination elements in the new licensing system. Element 1 is the 5 WPM Morse code test; Element 2 is a 35-question Technician test; Element 3 is a 35-question General test, and Element 4 is a 50-question Amateur Extra test. Frequently Asked Questions and other information on restructuring is available on the ARRL Web site. NNNN/EE \u001a"}, {"response": 8, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Jan 17, 2000 (15:49)", "body": "From Mobile Aeronautics Education Laboratory WHAT ARE KEPLERIAN ELEMENTS? Satellite-tracking computer software use Keplerian elements (also known as \"orbital\" or \"tracking\" elements) to pinpoint the location of a satellite at any given time. The Keplerian elements provide the software with a snapshot of a satellite's orbital track, which the computer uses to calculate the future whereabouts of the satellite. Using such a computer tracking program allows an observer to determine when a satellite is to appear about his or her horizon. AMSAT The AMSAT News Service publishes weekly bulletins containing information of interest to amateur satellite operators, including Keplerian element postings for the shuttle and popular amateur satellites. These bulletins are distributed electronically through amateur satellites, the terrestrial amateur packet radio network, and through various landline networks. Their World Wide Web site is: http://www.amsat.org . AMSAT also maintains public mailing lists (email) to deliver Keplerian elements and other information. To subscribe to one or more mailing lists from AMSAT, send a message with your request to listserv@amsat.org. Be sure to include your call sign (if any), your correct email address, and the proper names (shown below) of the mailing lists you wish to receive. Put the word \"subscribe\" followed by one of the following in the text of the message (not the subject line): ANS - AMSAT News Service AMSAT-BB - AMSAT Bulletin Board KEPS - Keplerian Elements mailing list NASAINFO - NASA related information mailing list SAREX - Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment mailing list Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) This ftp site is available 24 hours a day with current satellite keplerian elements and software. The latest elements are available in: ftp://archive.afit.af.mil/pub/space/tle.new Format of the 2-line keplerian element files can be found in their tle.doc file. NASA Spacelink NASA's electronic information system, Spacelink, carries current shuttle mission status reports and Keplerian elements for low earth orbit satellites. The internet site name is \"spacelink.msfc.nasa.gov\" with TCP/IP address 192.149.89.61. Access can be gained through any of the following: World Wide Web: http://spacelink.msfc.nasa.gov/Instructional.Materials/Software/Tracking.Ele ments This site also has Gopher, Anonymous FTP, and Telnet access. Modem line (205) 895-0028, Terminal emulation VT-100, Data format 8-N-1 Goddard ARC The Goddard Amateur Radio Club, WA3NAN, maintains a BBS which carries Keplerian orbital elements updated daily, and daily SAREX bulletins and space shuttle mission information. Modem line (301) 286-4137 telnet: telnet://wa3nan.gsfc.nasa.gov TCP/IP address 128.183.105.17 Packet radio - WA3NAN on 145.090 MHz in the Maryland/DC area Johnson Space Center ARC The Johnson Space Center Amateur Radio Club maintains a BBS with the latest element sets available during a shuttle flight. Modem line (713) 244-5625 Celestial BBS Current orbital elements for SAREX and other Amateur Radio satellites are carried on the Celestial BBS. Keplerian elements are updated daily, when possible. Documentation and tracking software are also available on this system. Modem line (205) 409-9280"}, {"response": 9, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Jan 17, 2000 (18:24)", "body": "I posted last week's Keplerian numbers on the Short Wave topic."}, {"response": 10, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Jan 24, 2000 (17:50)", "body": "ARLX001 Hedy Lamarr, actress and inventor, SK. Hedy Lamarr, the sultry, sexy screen star of the 1930s and 1940s who also conceived the frequency-hopping technique now known as spread spectrum, has died. Lamarr was found dead in her suburban Orlando, Florida, home January 19. She was believed to be 86. Born Hedwig Kiesler in Austria, Lamarr came to the US in 1937 after being signed by MGM. Among her most successful films was the 1949, directed Cecil B. DeMille classic, Samson and Delilah. In her 1992 book Feminine Ingenuity, Lamarr described how she came up with the idea of a signaling device for radio-controlled torpedoes that would minimize the danger of detection or jamming by randomly shifting the frequency. She and composer George Antheil developed the concept and received a patent for it in 1942. The concept was not developed during World War II, but when the patent expired, Sylvania put the idea to use in satellites. Spread spectrum also has found applications in wireless telephones, military radios, wireless computer links, and Amateur Radio experimentation. A more-detailed version of Lamarr's role in spread spectrum is described in the IEEE book Spread Spectrum Communications, published in 1983. NNNN /EX"}, {"response": 11, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Feb  9, 2000 (20:41)", "body": "Virginia General Assembly praises hams The Virginia General Assembly has approved a joint House-Senate resolution praising the Amateur Radio response to Hurricane Floyd. The resolution unanimously passed both chambers on January 27. A signing ceremony has been set for February 17, 11:30 AM, at the Capitol in Richmond. The resolution praises the work of Virginia's ARES/RACES members last September when Hurricane Floyd totally isolated the City of Franklin, and rising flood waters forced city officials to abandon their Emergency Operations Center, forcing the city to rely completely on Amateur Radio for communication with the outside. ''With traditional lines of communication inoperable, the Amateur Radio operators, members of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES), provided the only reliable communication into and out of the flood-ravaged Franklin area,'' the resolution says. According to the resolution, the Hurricane Floyd activation was ''the widest geographical and longest-running ARES/RACES activation in Virginia's history'' and involved nearly 150 ARES/RACES volunteers who put in some 9500 hours of duty to help coordinate emergency operations in Franklin. ''Due to the tireless efforts of amateur radio volunteers, the tragic effects of Hurricane Floyd were mitigated, the lives of those in the flood zone safeguarded, and the suffering of Franklin's residents alleviated,'' the resolution said in expressing the General Assembly's ''admiration and gratitude for the vital contributions of Virginia's amateur radio operators.''"}, {"response": 12, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Feb  9, 2000 (20:46)", "body": "My ISP was created by Hams during Hurricane Iniki which devastated Kauai. It was the only means of getting information in and out of the mess the storm left until the military managed to get in some days later. I know some of these men, personally!"}, {"response": 13, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Feb  9, 2000 (21:01)", "body": "Maxim Memorial Station W1AW will be active during the 14th Annual School Club Roundup, February 14-18. This event is geared towards young amateurs, and school clubs. Certificates are available for various entry levels. Complete information can be found on the ARRL Web site, http://www.arrl.org/contests/announcements/00/scr.html . W1AW also will participate for the first time in the annual Guides on the Air (GOTA) event, February 19-20. During GOTA, Canadian and US amateurs help young women learn about Amateur Radio by making it possible for them to get on the air and communicate with their peers via Amateur Radio. Although this event originated in Canada, it has gained popularity in the US. Invite a few Girl Scouts (Daisy Scouts to Senior Girl Scouts and leaders) to your shack for that weekend. GOTA stations will be using all HF bands plus 2 meters on frequencies that end in ''33'' and ''88.'' More information on GOTA is available on the web at http://www.guidezone.skl.com/i_ha_index.htm ."}, {"response": 14, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Feb 15, 2000 (19:04)", "body": "Georgia Amateurs Respond to Tornado Disaster Amateur Radio operators are responding in force in the wake of tornadoes that struck rural extreme southwestern Georgia this week, killing more than a dozen people and injuring many more. Georgia Section Emergency Coordinator Tom Rogers, KR4OL, reports that hams from nearby communities including Moultrie and Albany have turned out to help. Twisters late Sunday and early Monday leveled a housing development in the town of Camilla, in Mitchell County. The town was one of the worst-hit areas. The storm also tore roofs from houses and flattened mobile homes. The storm caught many residents by surprise since warnings were not issued until after they'd already gone to bed for the night. Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes has declared a state of emergency in Colquitt, Grady, Mitchell and Tift counties. Georgia Emergency Management Agency reports emergency shelters have been set up in Camilla and Moultrie. ''Shelters are open, and the Georgia Baptist Hams are setting up feeding locations and assisting with the cleanup,'' Rogers said. An HF emergency net is running on 3975 kHz to coordinate activities. Rogers advised all participating stations to monitor that frequency. If relief operators are requested, operators should coordinate through the emergency net on 3975 kHz before attempting to enter the disaster area. Thousands were left without power in Georgia and elsewhere. The storm that wreaked havoc on Georgia was part of a system that also struck Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama before moving into Georgia, Northeastern Florida and the Carolinas."}, {"response": 15, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Mar  1, 2000 (14:14)", "body": "Phase 3D Could Launch in July! The Phase 3D next-generation Amateur Radio satellite has been tentatively scheduled to launch in late July. The launch is listed in the ''Provisional Ariane Launch Manifest'' for February through July of this year appearing in the February edition of the Arianespace newsletter, ( http://www.arianespace.com/news_espace.html) . If the schedule holds, the Phase 3D satellite would be sent aloft on Ariane 507, flight V132. A specific date in July was not available. The Phase 3D satellite now is at the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. Phase 3D will be stored in its shipping container, housed in an air-conditioned integration building at the launch complex until launch preparations commence. All systems have been shut down and the batteries left uncharged. A launch contract accepting Phase 3D as a payload for the first suitable Ariane 5 launch vehicle was signed last October. For more information about Phase 3D, visit the AMSAT-NA Web site, http://www.amsat.org/ . NNNN"}, {"response": 16, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Sat, Mar  4, 2000 (04:33)", "body": "What's this bird going to do specifically for hams?"}, {"response": 17, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, Mar  4, 2000 (15:35)", "body": "Good question. I'll check and get back to you. Apparently it is (Having checked the website) it carries dial-up bulletin boards and other things exclusively for hams like packet transmissions. If you are not into those...you probably will not make much use of it. There are excellent links listed in the URLs in my last post above."}, {"response": 18, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Mar 15, 2000 (16:44)", "body": "ARRL invites input on new Certification and Continuing Education Program ARRL members are invited to offer their suggestions on the shape and scope of the new ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Program. A Web-based forum now is ''live'' to collect member input on how the program should be designed and what it should include. ARRL Educational and Technical Advisor L.B. Cebik, W4RNL, is serving as interim forum moderator-facilitator. The forum site is http://www.arrl.org/members-only/forums/index.php3 . It's being moderated to ensure that all member input is acknowledged and integrated as fully as possible into the developing program. Members are being asked to suggest specific programs and areas of study or skills development they would like to see as part of the Certification Program. The ARRL Board of Directors approved the development and implementation of the self-education program for radio amateurs at its January meeting. The program is aimed at inspiring amateurs to continue acquiring technical knowledge and operating expertise beyond that required to become licensed. The League will roll out the initial phase of the Certification and Continuing Education Program later this year."}, {"response": 19, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Apr 19, 2000 (16:58)", "body": "ARRL Bulletin 22 From ARRL Headquarters Newington CT April 19, 2000 FCC says Generals not allowed in Advanced subbands The FCC says newly upgraded General class licensees may not operate in the current Advanced class subbands under the new amateur rules. Bill Cross, W3TN, of the FCC's Public Safety and Private Wireless Division notes that no privileges changed for any license class. The Advanced class license continues to exist under restructuring, which became effective April 15, although the FCC no longer accepts applications for Novice or Advanced class licenses. Current Generals do not earn Advanced class privileges until they upgrade to Amateur Extra class, when they earn both Advanced and Extra privileges. The FCC also says General class operators may hold only Group C (1x3) or Group D (2x3) call signs, as it was under the old rules. Generals remain ineligible to apply for or hold Group B (2x2) call signs. Newly upgraded licensees were cautioned to check the revised Part 97 rules carefully to make sure they're not operating beyond their privileges. FCC Part 97 rules are available on the ARRL Web site at http://www.arrl.org/field/regulations/news/part97/ . The FCC today released the Errata to its December 30, 1999, Report and Order on restructuring. The Errata incorporate minor errors contained in the original R&O and already made in the version of the new rules that appeared in The Federal Register earlier this year."}, {"response": 20, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Wed, Apr 19, 2000 (21:44)", "body": "Not good news, for a potential upgrader like me. I was hoping to get all those extra class freqs without much sweat."}, {"response": 21, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Apr 19, 2000 (21:55)", "body": "Waited to long, Huh?! Hustle and take the exam before it goes into effect..."}, {"response": 22, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Thu, Apr 20, 2000 (09:06)", "body": "OK!"}, {"response": 23, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Apr 20, 2000 (12:08)", "body": "Wish I could be of more help than to cheer you on. It is a very hard row to hoe by yourself. I know...!"}, {"response": 24, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Fri, Apr 21, 2000 (00:13)", "body": "You can help if you run across a url to the question pool for going from general to extra."}, {"response": 25, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Apr 21, 2000 (20:15)", "body": "Gotch. I just might search for it...Google came up with all sorts of pool questions just by putting arrl pool questions on the search for line. http://www2.arrl.org/arrlvec/advanced.html is one I found..."}, {"response": 26, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Fri, Apr 21, 2000 (20:25)", "body": "\"Last updated 10:37 AM EDT on 04/19/96 \" A bit old, eh?"}, {"response": 27, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Apr 21, 2000 (20:31)", "body": "Of course, and I noted that before I posted it. I also commented that there are so many urls listed...I'll do better nex time... How often do they update the question pool? (going back to search for updated questions)"}, {"response": 28, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Apr 21, 2000 (20:33)", "body": "This is the url you want http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/pools.html This is for use after April 15, 2000 for Extra class license http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/El4-2000.txt"}, {"response": 29, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Sun, Apr 23, 2000 (19:34)", "body": "Thanks, I'll go there and see if I know the stuff."}, {"response": 30, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Apr 23, 2000 (19:43)", "body": "Good - I'll keep checking for updates, but that seems to be the current one."}, {"response": 31, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Mon, Apr 24, 2000 (08:57)", "body": "Thanks for the heads up."}, {"response": 32, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, May  9, 2000 (15:35)", "body": "FCC opens ULS to Web applications Amateurs now can file ULS applications via the Web. The FCC opened ULS to Internet filers on April 29 and formally announced the system this week. FCC Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Chief Thomas Sugrue announced that ULS users now can file applications and notifications via the Internet for all services previously only available by dial-up connection to the Commission's Wide Area Network. To access the new capability, visit the ULS home page at http://www.fcc.gov/wtb/uls and click on ''Online Filing.'' The ULS--the FCC's interactive on-line licensing application, modification and renewal system for wireless telecommunications services--was deployed for the Amateur Service last August 16. Sugrue noted that many ULS users had requested the ability to access ULS through the Internet in order to utilize their high speed Internet connectivity. He also addressed concerns about the security of transactions handled via the Internet. ''We now have the technology in place that assures the integrity and security of data transmitted over the Internet along with high speed connectivity,'' he said. ''This is another step forward in the expanding functionality of ULS.'' The FCC says that to make online payments requires that users be running the 128-bit encryption version of Netscape, Ver 4.73. The FCC currently supports only recent versions of Netscape for online filing tasks but says that support for other browsers and platforms is in the works and should be available shortly. Dial-up access continues to be available."}, {"response": 33, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, May 10, 2000 (21:32)", "body": "New Mexico amateurs assisting in evacuation Hams in the Los Alamos, New Mexico, area are assisting local authorities and relief agencies in a mass evacuation as a result of wind-driven wildfires. ARRL New Mexico Section Manager Joe Knight, W5PDY, in Albuquerque reports the National Forest Service advised the City of Los Alamos and Los Alamos National Lab on May 10 to evacuate Los Alamos city limits by 5 PM Mountain Time. Knight was not sure how many hams were directly involved in the fire emergency response at this point. ''This affects approximately 12,000 to 15,000 people who will require immediate shelter,'' Knight said. The Red Cross is requesting additional medical personnel, as the evacuation includes hospital patients and staff. Amateur Radio Emergency Service and Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service personnel in Los Alamos have been activated for the past three days as a result of the ongoing fire situation. Knight said three repeaters in the fire zone have been put into use to handle emergency traffic, although the W5PDO Los Alamos Amateur Radio Club repeater at the fire station apparently has been shut down. ARES and RACES teams elsewhere in New Mexico are on standby to assist if needed. Knight reports that winds in the vicinity are currently gusting to 40 MPH and the flames are jumping treetop-to-treetop. ''It's a firestorm,'' Knight said. ''It's a bad situation.'' Standby emergency personnel from the Albuquerque Fire Department have been called to immediate duty, Knight reports, to assist in Los Alamos some 80 miles away. Meanwhile, Knight says the City of Alto, northeast of Ruidoso, already has been evacuated, and a number of houses east of Alto reportedly have been consumed by flames. The fire is spreading rapidly northeast of Ruidoso and already has consumed more than 6000 acres of forest. Citizens have been placed on alert in the Ruidoso area. ARRL Amateur Radio emergency and section personnel will continue to monitor the fire situation in New Mexico."}, {"response": 34, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, May 26, 2000 (22:07)", "body": "FCC says ULS registration can protect license record Registering now on the FCC's Universal Licensing System can benefit amateurs, even if they have no plans to file an application anytime soon. FCC staffer Steve Linn, N4CAK, says that ULS registration ''protects your call sign within the system'' and could prevent it from inadvertently being deleted or reissued due to a filing error. Linn also pointed out that amateurs filing for a change of address should file an ''administrative update'' (AU) and not request a ''modification.'' The ULS will not renew an amateur's license unless it is within the 90-day window of expiration or within the two-year grace period after expiration. The same applies for those upgrading under restructuring. Linn said the FCC continues to work out the bugs in the ULS. He said that support for the Mac platform and other browsers, such as Internet Explorer, should be available soon. The FCC in late April opened the ULS to Web filing. Linn advised filers to use the on-line system whenever possible, since it helps users to avoid errors that will not get trapped when filing on paper and could lead to delays or errors in your FCC record. Visit http://www.fcc.gov/wtb/uls for more information or to access the ULS."}, {"response": 35, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Jun 14, 2000 (20:12)", "body": "Tentative Phase 3D Launch Date Reset The Phase 3D Amateur Radio satellite will not launch until September at the earliest. Under the latest tentative Arianespace launch schedule, P3D now could go up on the Ariane Flight 507 as early as mid-September, but the launch could be as late as the end of October. Arianespace recently announced a resumption of Ariane flights. Flight 507 had been on the schedule to go into space in July, but concerns over potentially defective thrusters had caused some major customers to delay flight preparations. AMSAT-NA President Keith Baker, KB1SF, called the Arianespace announcement ''very good news'' for the Phase 3D program. The Phase 3D satellite is at the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, awaiting the start of its launch campaign. Arianespace representatives met recently with Phase 3D representatives at AMSAT-DL headquarters in Marburg, Germany, to discuss preparations for the P3D launch campaign. The exact date of the Phase 3D mission's launch depends on the Ariane 506 launch, set for July, and the availability of the other satellites flying with P3D. A launch contract accepting Phase 3D as a payload for the first suitable Ariane 5 launch vehicle was signed last October."}, {"response": 36, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Sep  1, 2000 (16:39)", "body": "RF safety rules now in force for all amateurs ARRL Bulletin 37 - September 1, 2000 Starting September 1, every US amateur is required to fully comply with the FCC's RF exposure guidelines. The regulations, which went into effect January 1, 1998, require US Amateur Radio operators to read and understand the rules and, where necessary, perform technical evaluations to determine that their stations are compliant with the new regulations. Up until now, only hams who have had to file an Amateur Radio application with the FCC have had to certify compliance with the RF exposure rules. As of September 1, all amateurs must comply. Under the regulations, an amateur station must not exceed the maximum permissible exposure limits for transmitter operation. ''These regulations are not a major burden on the Amateur Radio Service,'' said ARRL Lab Supervisor Ed Hare, W1RFI. ''Most hams are already in compliance with the MPE requirements; some hams will need to conduct a simple station evaluation.'' A complete description of the rules is available on the ARRL Web site at http://www.arrl.org/news/rfsafety/ . The site also contains resources to make your station evaluation quite painless. Address questions about RF safety and the FCC exposure guidelines to ARRL Lab Supervisor Ed Hare, W1RFI, ehare@arrl.org."}, {"response": 37, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Sat, Sep  2, 2000 (05:07)", "body": "Marcia, you gonna radio me in Mali???"}, {"response": 38, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Sep 29, 2000 (00:26)", "body": "Alas, m'love I am a listener, not a transmitter. I climb the trees to put the antennas up and help wind transformers. However, there must be a way to interface with the internet. We MUST talk!!!"}, {"response": 39, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Jun 19, 2001 (16:49)", "body": "Amateur Morse Testing Changes Effective July 1, 2001 New Morse code exam standards go into effect July 1 for all Volunteer Examiner Coordinators. The new standards call for Farnsworth character speed in the 13-to-15 WPM range and the end of multiple-choice questions for routine Morse code exams. In the wake of restructuring and the establishment of 5 WPM as the sole amateur Morse requirement, the National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators voted last July to set up the revised standards for the administration of Morse code examinations in the US. ARRL VEC Manager Bart Jahnke, W9JJ, points out the required change to the Farnsworth protocol replaces the 18-WPM character speed ARRL VEC has used since 1989. ''Standard 5 WPM messages with 5 WPM characters are available as an accommodation,'' he said. ''Standard (non-Farnsworth) speed messages are available upon special request from the ARRL VEC for ARRL VE teams.'' In addition, the Morse exam audio frequency range should be between 700 and 1000 Hz for routine exams. Consistent with the revised standards, Jahnke said, ARRL VEC has set 15-WPM characters as its Farnsworth setting and 750 Hz as its audio-frequency standard. Code practice transmissions from Maxim Memorial Station W1AW will reflect the new Farnsworth standard. W1AW Station Manager Joe Carcia, NJ1Q, says transmissions using the new protocol will begin Monday, July 2. Code transmissions at speeds below 18 WPM will drop from 18 WPM to 15 WPM character speed. W1AW Web code practice files, at http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/morse.html , will mirror the new standards too. The new Morse examination standards also affect test administration. After July 1, Morse examinees will have to supply fill-in-the-blank answers for the 10-question Element 1 quiz. Multiple-choice type examinations no longer will be acceptable. Under the new testing regime, Morse code examinees must either correctly answer seven of the ten fill-in-the-blanks questions or correctly copy 25 consecutive characters. Changes are on the horizon for the written examinations as well. Revised Amateur Extra question pool will go into effect July 1, 2002. Reworked Technician and General question pools will become effective on July 1 2003 and 2004 respectively. radio conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 27, "subject": "Boatanchors - Big, Heavy, and Fun", "response_count": 4, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Mar 22, 1999 (09:35)", "body": "I use Yaesu's new stuff mostly, I have an 8500 for a mobile rig, or is it the 8000? And I have their handheld. Both have rs 232 ports for programming fequencies which I get from repeater.org (naturally). Boat anchors? Does my atlas 210x count? I have the drop in console and matching receiver only also. Wouldn't really call it a boat anchor though. Lots of folks are lusting over the new Yaesu FT100, have you heard about it?"}, {"response": 2, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Tue, Mar 23, 1999 (19:32)", "body": "Hey There I have seen the new FT100 Commander rig which is kinda cute in the way you get HF, 6, 2, and 440 in a tiny little box. Not quite a boatanchor but then again, you can run it off 12v without much problem. Much more tiny than the Icom 706 MKIIG but the nice thing about the Icom is that it has the coax connectors mounted to the bulkhead (solid) vs having pigtail cables coming out the back. I guess the Atlas would make a good canoe anchor. :) Here is some of the heavy metal I'm running... For general receive: Hammarlund SP600 JX 26 50+lbs of hunka hunka radio For AM: Heathkit DX 100 - 100lbs This last weekend, I fired up my Collins KWM2 and was working Europe on 20m - you could keep your hands warm over the rig too... I have some less heavy radios too. I dont think my back could take to lugging around the above mentioned sets. de Mike"}, {"response": 3, "author": "Bavarian29", "date": "Sat, Oct 19, 2002 (23:18)", "body": "First, let me admit that I not a ham. Have had the radio bug since I was 12 when someone gave me a deluxe chrystal set and when the local AM stations shut down when Allied bomber came within 200 miles, I was able to receive BBC London with that little beast. Later build my first regenerative 2-tube rig. Around 1958 I wound up with a Navy version (Black wrinkle finish - ugggh) rackmounted with all the coils and dis some serial AM and SW listeing. Due to many moves I soldl the 120+ pound rig and now having withdrawal symptoms of sort for all these years, found a HRO-50T1 in almost mint condition. Somewhere out there in cyberland I will find another HRO-50 user to compare notes about tune-up and other technical matters. Waiting for the arrival of a tube tester right now."}, {"response": 4, "author": "g7hvp", "date": "Sun, Oct 20, 2002 (19:16)", "body": "look for G3OTH Russ on the internet he is a very big fan of the HRO or any radio with bottles in. Joe G0PWE England radio conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 28, "subject": "Radio B92 (Belgrad)", "response_count": 41, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Sat, Apr 24, 1999 (16:27)", "body": "The voice of opposition has been silenced in Belgrad. The staff works to get something going on. Support B92! http://www.b92.net/ is very informative on what happens in Serbia. I'll post below stuff sent to me by B92 staff, and will make them aware of this topic here (and http://www.spring.net/yapp-bin/restricted/browse/InternationalConflicts/all , of course)."}, {"response": 2, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Sat, Apr 24, 1999 (16:28)", "body": "Subject: FW: net-aid Date: Sat, 24 Apr 1999 18:54:38 +0200 When reality doesn't work anymore, we move to virtual world. But the pain is real and it stays with us. Get together in the world where we measure what we are by what we do. NET-AID FOR YUGOSLAVIA If you are willing to participate in the Anti-war action hosted by Radio B92 (site on helpb92xs4all.nl), last years winners of MTV Europe's \"Free Your Mind\" award, you can contact us on the following adress: sonjab92@xs4all.nl We will have an Internet event very soon going on - it will be a 24 hour long concert of the artists that expressed their aim to do something against advocating the violence as a way to solve political problems. Our goal is to get together this way, as we can not by other means, and listen to the music you are playing. This is a message itself. Thank you. Keep the fate. ********* PS Those of you willing to participate should contact either: sonjab92@xs4all.nl or ambrozic@sezampro.yu, asap, so that we can check which way is the best to join the action: you can play live in the recording studio that will be our host, you can send a message of support or you can send us your specially recorded music. Exact date will be in your mailbox soon. Mailing address: HelpB92 p/a De Balie Kleine Gartmanplantsoen 10 1017 RR Amsterdam"}, {"response": 3, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Sat, Apr 24, 1999 (16:30)", "body": "Subject: FW: WILL THE REAL RADIO B92 PLEASE STAND UP! Date: Sat, 24 Apr 1999 18:54:52 +0200 from http://b92.klari.net/b92/journal/default.asp?rubriek=1&id=337&language=2 News from B92 FROM THE STAFF OF THE REAL B92! WILL THE REAL RADIO B92 PLEASE STAND UP! BELGRADE, April 13, 1999 -- The new management of Radio B92, headed by the self-styled manager, Aleksandar Nikacevic, seized control of Radio B92 from the hands of its staff on April 2, 1999, with no legal grounds to do so. Radio B92 is a socially owned company. Under Serbian law this means that the employees of the company are responsible for hiring and firing senior management. The new management was appointed by the Belgrade Youth Council, which claims that Radio B92 is its subsidiary. Ten days earlier, on March 24, the Yugoslav Telecommunications Ministry banned Radio B92, seizing essential transmission equipment to prevent the resumption of broadcasts. To justify this, the Ministry alleged that B92 had exceeded its maximum permitted transmission power of 300 W. In fact B92 had been broadcasting at between 190 and 220 W. It appears that the ban on transmission does not apply to the usurping management. On April 12, that management began broadcasting from the B92 transmitter on 92.5 MHz, using the \"B92\" call signal. The transmission power is approximately 1,000 W. Why did a group of war profiteers close to government circles get the green light to seize Radio B92 as a trophy of war? The reason most often cited is a letter from B92 Editor-in-Chief Veran Matic. The letter, which was published in the New York Times and Le Monde, protested against NATO's military intervention in Yugoslavia. It also criticised the Milosevic government. Radio B92 has been familiar to Belgraders for almost a decade. In the past three years it has become known worldwide as a champion of democracy and free speech in Serbia. All the staff of this Belgrade broadcaster have expressed the strongest opposition to the usurping management. No staff member has or will cooperate in any way with them, nor will they collaborate in ruining the reputation it has taken them a decade to build. The team of the only legitimate Radio B92 emphasises that it has no connection with the program which began broadcasting yesterday on the 92.5 MHz frequency in Belgrade. Radio B92 has traditionally been a rallying-point for the Belgrade public. Under normal circumstances we would call on that public to defend the radio they trust, the radio which rates Number One in Belgrade. However, thanks to the war and the critical situation in the country, the closure and takeover of the station have gone unreported in most media. In these circumstances the Radio B92 team is restricted to seeking redress through the courts for the unscrupulous takeover of the station and the destruction of the name and image of Radio B92, both within Yugoslavia and abroad. The legal procedures so far begun include an appeal against the court decision appointing Aleksandar Nikacevic manager of Radio B92. Charges have also been pressed against Nikacevic and the Belgrade Youth Council director, Vlada Zagradjanin, for unlawful seizure of the Belgrade premises and equipment of ANEM, the Association of Independent Electronic Media in Yugoslavia. ANEM, of which Radio B92 is a founding member, is a totally separate business entity from B92 and its takeover is not supported by even the putative court decision invoked in the case of B92. The staff of B92 will also demand the revocation of new company documents registered by the courts and used to facilitate the takeover of the station. These documents were lodged by a person not authorised to do so. The staff of Radio B92 assert that the state of war must not mean anarchy. On the contrary, it should result in the strictest respect for the law. Since the moment they first charged in and took control of our studios by force, the usurpers have taken one illegal step after another. The staff of Radio B92 are compelled to acknowledge that force is on the side of the usurping management. They emphasise, however, that law and justice are not. This is the third time in its ten-year history that our station has been banned. We shall endeavour to preserve the Radio B92 team and to begin a number of projects. These will clearly prove that the Radio B92 known to the world before this forced takeover still exists. The B92 staff have managed to preserve the station's web site under their control. This will not be updated until the radio is returned to its staff. The most radical manifestation so far of Serbia's Draconian repression of its independent media was the murder, just two days ago, of Slavko Curuvija, the owner and editor-in-chief of the independent daily Dnevni telegraf and the fortnightly Evropljanin. This appalling crime has made it almost impossible to guarantee safety and normal working conditions for independent media and journalists. In addition to the enemy within, a new enemy without has"}, {"response": 4, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Thu, May  6, 1999 (13:14)", "body": "PRESS RELEASE FreeB92 - presents NetAid Global 24-Hour Peace Netcast in aid of Radio B92, Yugoslavia When reality fails us, we move to the virtual world. But pain is real and it stays with us. A few hours before the beginning of NATO air strikes on Yugoslavia, Serbian government shut down the independent Radio B92 from Belgrade. A few days later it was completely taken over by the government-appointed new management on grounds of an illegal court verdict reinforced by brutal police force. No B92 staff agreed to ally with the new management. For 10 years Radio B92 has been the vital voice of opposition in Serbia. By using the common language of advanced popular music and culture along with professional journalism, it stood against ethnic hatred, violence and war. We have promoted human rights, freedom of expression and speech, respect of minorities and differences. We have played house, techno, drum'n'bass, jazz, hip hop, alternative rock. For our continuous struggle and commitment, we have won world-wide acclaim, including MTV's Free Your Mind award in November 1998. On 15 May, Radio B92 will have a 24-hour internet broadcast - NetAid - dedicated to the 10th anniversary of Radio B92 with participation of numerous artists from all over the world (see list bellow), HelpB92 group (Amsterdam), friends of B92, and technical support of Kunstradio (Vienna) and Radio Qualia (Australia). The broadcast will take place at 'Free B92' web site, with the basic idea to show solidarity and support B92 team which continue to keep the faith and defend the free spirit of B92 in spite of war, government repression and the latest ban on the radio station. Free B92 is a website founded by the Help B92 coalition. Free B92 website is made and maintained by the crew of journalists and associates of B92 projects that are currently situated in different parts of the world. Free B92 will primarily focus on the status of independent media in Yugoslavia, providing information on that situation to the international audience, along with diferrent art or music actions, like NetAid. NetAid will take place at the following URL: www.freeb92.net as well as at: www.helpb92.xs4all.nl. www.b92.net The artistic concept behind this project is to unite different musicians, artists, producers and DJs around the struggle for the freedom of expression. Get together in the virtual world as creation is the only possible answer to destruction. This event is announcing the age when artists will be able to react to the horrors of our time directly from their studios, bedrooms or clubs. The message is out there for the world to listen. Join in Radio B92's 24-hour global music peace netcast. Play a song or DJ live in our designated studio (in Vienna), dedicate a track or a DJ mix, or simply send a message to voice your opposition to the use of violence as a means to solve political problems. Join to send a birthday card for banned Radio B92's 10th anniversary! CDs, MDs, DATs and other music materials for this event can be sent to: ORF - KUNSTRADIO ATTN. NET-AID ARGENTINIER STR. 30A A-1040 WIEN AUSTRIA (Please, enclose a short biography/info) Voice mailbox for birthday greetings and messages of support: +31 20 4216439 For further information please contact Gordan or Sonja of the FreeB92 team: Gordan Paunovic Tel. +431 504 3110 Technical support (FTP, encoding) - Adam Hyde (Radio Qualia) Artists confirmed for 15 May NetAid so far: DJ John Acquaviva (Definitive/Plus 8) Canada DJ Miles Holloway (Paper Recordings) England Disko B family (Hell, Naughty etc) Germany DJ Charlie Hall (Vic Music) England DJ Fred Giteau (ex-POF Records) France DJ Mark Allen (Quirk) London DJ Blim (Emotif) England Davide Squillace (Cloned Vinyl) Italy Amptek (Eclectic) Italy Sonic Youth, USA Mike Watt (ex-Minutemen, ex-Firehose) USA EC8RO (Digital Hardcore Recordings) Germany Syd Griffin (Cole Porters, ex-Long Ryders) USA Boiled In Lead, USA (Balkan-music influenced band) Anastasia, Macedonia (see OST for \"Before The Rain\") Comma, USA Big Sky, USA Xchange network live stream Live stream from Belgrade: DJ Vlada Janjic (B92) DJ Boza Podunavac (B92) Teenage Techno Punks B92 birthday concert (Belgrade): Darkwood Dub Kanda Kodza i Nebojsa Neocekivana sila... Jarboli Other Voices (Echoes From a War Zone), sound piece Gordan Paunovic (B92) Kunstradio production and many more. Vienna on-site line-up will be confirmed soon. Some parts of NetAid will be broadcast on FM4 (Vienna). Check our home page for more details soon. NetAid events will be organized every month until B92 is back on air. Stay net-tuned! Keep the faith! FreeB92 team."}, {"response": 5, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Fri, May  7, 1999 (01:44)", "body": ""}, {"response": 6, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Fri, May  7, 1999 (01:45)", "body": "Why don't you line one up for the Spring, Alexander? I can also make the InternationalConflicts conference resemble the B92 site, if you'd like... (sorry I haven't responded to you much lately... this job/no job thing is keeping me tied up...)"}, {"response": 7, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Fri, May  7, 1999 (03:52)", "body": "(Send me an invitation to B92 staff to join the Spring, and I'll forward it. Belgrad itself is hard, as they sleep by day, hide by night, and then there are the power outages.)"}, {"response": 8, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Fri, May  7, 1999 (04:30)", "body": "hmmm...let me get some sleep, and I'll write you one up..."}, {"response": 9, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Fri, May 14, 1999 (18:05)", "body": "Sleepyhead! Never did! Never mind, but tomorrow is the big 24h-Netaid event!! Tell more people, this will be great!"}, {"response": 10, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Fri, May 14, 1999 (18:49)", "body": "The Program, fresh off my mailbox. NetAid runs NOW! Some house-set they play right now... Time is Central European Summer Time, now it is: 00:37 on May 15th As we listen, Belgrad radio B92 celebrates it tenth birthday - and is banned for the first time. Support Free B92 ! ************************************* NetAidShowTime is subject to sudden changes. NetAid doesn't believe in the power of clock. 00.00 le boum de luxe FM4 netaid special dj abraxas, dj electric indigo, hans wu, gordan paunovic no more bombs - rockin' house mix by dj charlie hall live ORF - FM 4 studios vienna 05.00 relaxation - vlada janjic (B92) dj set 06.10 BPM - boza podunavac (B92) dj set 07.20 re-evolution in peace - fred giteau dj set 09.20 word processing - comma text based improvisation performed as a plea for peace in kosovo 09.30 breakfast music - steve shelley (sonic youth) dj set 10.15 she - boiled in lead an original song by adam stemple to rhythms learned from balkan music. recorded live march 17 1995 in minneapolis 10.20 big sky siberia 10.30 obozavam te - les masochats psy trance paris - belgrade project for peace in balkans 11.20 slaga se sl'nce da zajde/the sun ascends to go down - anastasia recorded february 1999, skopje macedonia 11.30 corrosion belgrade 12.00 xchange - tetsuo kogawa, borut savski and r a d i o q u a l i a live japan ljubljana vienna 13.00 john acquaviva dj set - house 14.50 paper recordings presents miles holloway dj set - deep house 16.00 peaceful mix for B92 - charlie hall dj set - electro 17.00 my first - dj blim dj set - drum'n'bass 18.00 colin favor and brenda russell dj set - techno 19.30 other voices: echoes from a war zone gordan paunovic - kunst radio production 20.30 b92 birthday concert darkwood dub kanda kodza i nebojsa jarboli neocekivana sila koja se iznenada pojavljuje i resava stvar 13 may 1999, secret location - belgrade 22.30 sonic youth concert paris, spring 1999 23.30 mike watt live live columbia studios los angeles california plus 24 -hour sounds of B92 original jingles (berlin grand prix), B92 releases, bombing soundscapes and live war stream from belgrade etc. NetAid, which will soon develop into a permanent B92 international forum, is to enable artists from around the world to create or dedicate music, radio and sound art that would represent their reaction to the current events in yugoslavia. The main motto of the first NetAid event, scheduled for may 15 (the 10th anniversary of B92), is to protest against violence as a means of solving political conflicts and to raise awareness about independent media workers in yugoslavia in distress. 24-hour NetAid happening wants to bring together musicians, individuals and bands, as well as DJs, sound and radio artists, around the project which would confirm that we are together - at least in the virtual world. NetAid is announcing a new, self-conscious, interactive age. in this event, the musicians will not contribute with money, but with the most precious value of all - creativity - the ultimate denial of destruction. for B92, this project is the extension of a virtual radio, an action opening a n w field of possibilities. when radio B92 was banned in1996/97, the internet was the tool used to save the station. this is why the news we hear today on the possible internet ban on yugoslavia means that the forces of repression, which are always complementary, have started to take their toll in revoking the freedom of speech, expression and communication. freeB92 celebrates its 10th birthday on the internet, hoping that it will very soon be back on air and following our motto \"24 hours over belgrade, yugoslavia and the world\"."}, {"response": 11, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Sat, May 15, 1999 (09:03)", "body": "Major error: \"As we listen, Belgrad radio B92 celebrates it tenth birthday - and is banned for the ***third*** time.\" Right, the third time, not the first... I'm tuned in to this program, and it's really good fun! Special events this evening (CET - afternoonish in Austin) will be the Sonic Youth and Mike Watt concerts."}, {"response": 12, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Sun, May 16, 1999 (11:36)", "body": "Huh, just in time for the concerts, my ISP crashed, it seems. Still, it was fun while it lasted. This was mailed to me today: *From this evening's Wired website: Belgrade's Radio B92 Is Back by Laura Martz 5:30 p.m. 14.May.99.PDT AMSTERDAM --This weekend, Belgrade's old rock-and-roll Radio B92 is back with a vengeance, but it's on the Web. Just days after NATO began bombing Belgrade, police commandeered the B92 studio and installed a puppet station manager. The original staff quit, and now, instead of B92's alternative programming, the state-controlled station plays Balkan folk music and Serbian state news. Starting at midnight Friday, Central European Time, 24 hours of music, live performances, and messages of support for the station will go out across the world on the Free B92 Web site. B92 DJs will conduct the NetAid webcast live from a borrowed Austrian state radio studio. The site will be stored on servers in Amsterdam. The DJs will be joined by musicians and sound experimenters from around the world, including Sonic Youth's Steve Shelley, who will DJ a set at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, and Mike Watt (late of Firehose), who will close the broadcast with live music at 11:30 p.m. \"[B92] stands for a cosmopolitan, open way of life. For the time being, B92 will not be able to gather news. [But] B92 mainly has been radio, music. They embody a specific rock-and-roll spirit people recognize,\" said Amsterdam media theorist and B92 advocate Geert Lovink. Adam Hyde, of Australia's online radio station radioqualia, is helping with the webcast. Hyde said that it is intended to publicize the banning of independent media in Yugoslavia \"and to show solidarity to the many, many completely isolated and demoralized individuals.\" Julia Glyn-Pickett, a former B92 news editor, said that the webcast would \"show there are forces for peace, to show there are people who protest the use of violence to deal with political problems.\" Ex-staffers also hope that the events will kick off a series of monthly webcasts until the \"real\" B92 can return to the airwaves. Meanwhile, staffers have filed a lawsuit to get their station back. Journalistic accreditation in Yugoslavia is under tight control. When the reporters left B92, they lost permission to gather news. Currently, they're using the Free B92 site to direct readers to other news sources on the Web. \"B92's slogan has always been 'Don't trust anyone. Not even us,'\" said Glyn-Pickett. By presenting a range of media takes, \"we want to provoke people to think critically about the information they've got.\" Ousted B92 personnel have scattered to cities across Europe, including Budapest and Amsterdam, said Glyn-Pickett. NATO strikes started while she was vacationing in the United Kingdom, and she has remained in Western Europe ever since. But most B92 castaways remain in Belgrade. Many will be involved with the webcast. \"The thing about Serbia is you never know when the ax will fall and which is the straw that's going to break the camel's back,\" Glyn-Pickett said. \"If you think [of the danger], you'll never do anything.\""}, {"response": 13, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Thu, Aug  5, 1999 (13:32)", "body": "From B92 staff - great news! ******************************************************* THE FREE VOICE OF THE REAL B92 IS BACK BELGRADE, August 2, 1999 - Four months after the illegal government seizure of the premises and frequency of the award-winning independent Belgrade Radio B 92, the station's staff resumed newscasts at 08.00 CET on Monday August 2, under the name of B2-92. Radio B92 was banned by Yugoslav telecommunications authorities on March 24, but continued to broadcast via the Internet and the Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) Radio and Television Networks until its premises were forcefully occupied by a government appointee on April 2. The B2-92 news program is produced by the real team of Radio B92, all of whom refused to work for the new government management currently using the B92 name and frequency, and is broadcast on the third frequency 99.1 FM of the Belgrade municipal station Studio B. The editorial independence of Radio B2-92 is guaranteed in a contract between ANEM, of which the real B92 is a founding member, and Studio B. The B2-92 program, which is on air from 08.00 am to 20.00 CET seven days a week, has the familiar B92 mix of professional news, cosmopolitan music and culture features. A complete program schedule is available on B2-92\u2019s web site: http://www.freeb92.net The B2-92 program is part of a broader campaign to restore Radio B92 to its listeners and its rightful owners - its staff. The campaign will involve various public actions in Belgrade, cyberspace and abroad, which will be publicised on the B2-92 program and on the station\u2019s web site (address as above). B2-92 will shortly restore Real Audio web casts of its programs on its Internet site, as well as its Internet news bulletins in Serbian and in English. Listeners of the real B92 outside Belgrade will also soon be able to receive B2-92 news programming via their local stations in the ANEM Radio and Television Networks. The real B92 team would like to thank the many people who have supported and helped us during this difficult time, all of our listeners, and in particular our partners in ANEM. We hope you will stay tuned to our struggle to regain control of our B92 name and frequency, and to free all other media that have experienced similar censorship and repression."}, {"response": 14, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Aug  5, 1999 (14:16)", "body": "Alexander, this is tremendous news. Are they available on short wave yet?"}, {"response": 15, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Aug  5, 1999 (20:54)", "body": "Great news! Let us know when they throw the switch."}, {"response": 16, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Fri, Aug  6, 1999 (15:53)", "body": "Check their website - plus NetAid is on via the web every 15. of the month! I'll post anything they sent me, so stay tuned."}, {"response": 17, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Sat, Aug  7, 1999 (17:13)", "body": "we usually do!"}, {"response": 18, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Sun, Aug 15, 1999 (09:19)", "body": "From: \"Dragan\" Date: Sun, 15 Aug 1999 13:37:22 +0200 hope you're all well my computer completely crashed, and i wasn't able to reach you earlier, but net aid 4 is going on right now... check www.freeb92.net/netaid thank you dragan"}, {"response": 19, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Sun, Aug 15, 1999 (09:20)", "body": "So please visit http://www.freeb92.net/netaid and enjoy!"}, {"response": 20, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Aug 23, 1999 (15:31)", "body": "Will do, Alexander. Where have you been besides working feverishly on your next issue of SUPERSTAR?!"}, {"response": 21, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Tue, Aug 24, 1999 (13:22)", "body": "Doing just that! Plus had this event in Cologne, one of our \"meet your superstar\" festivals... Plus prepare the next \"meet your superstar\" night for September in Berlin... We're behind production schedule, so that explains some, huh?"}, {"response": 22, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Aug 24, 1999 (15:05)", "body": "That explains it all, and the reason I have held off the email urge. but I will send a short one soon to catch you up on things. It is *So* good to have you back posting your acerbic comments...I missed you!"}, {"response": 23, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Aug 26, 1999 (21:50)", "body": "...and continue to miss you. It is like talking to myself on Spring lately...*sniff*"}, {"response": 24, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Tue, Jan 18, 2000 (06:33)", "body": "B2-92 is still working towards democracy in Yugoslavia. Anybody interested in the situation there should subscribe to their daily and very concise newsletter, from which http://206.97.234.70/yapp-bin/restricted/respond/InternationalConflicts/11 or http://www.spring.net/yapp-bin/restricted/respond/InternationalConflicts/11 is a sample featuring news about one of the most publicized figures in current Balcan affairs..."}, {"response": 25, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Jan 18, 2000 (13:58)", "body": "I shall do so (subscribe)...I already get information from ARRL for Radio and from The Honolulu afternoon newspaper for instate information plus earthquake information all emailed to me. Thank you for the URL, Alexander. I shall contribute to this as I find things to post as I also have a Reuters ticker running across my desktop."}, {"response": 26, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Jan 18, 2000 (14:01)", "body": "I think that should be http://206.97.234.70/yapp-bin/restricted/read/InternationalConflicts/11 or http://www.spring.net/yapp-bin/restricted/read/InternationalConflicts/11"}, {"response": 27, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Jan 19, 2000 (14:20)", "body": "I did subscribe and received my first email from them...all about the Trilateral Commission! Trilateral Commission agrees on expanded Energy for Democracy BUDVA, Wednesday - Representatives of the international community and the Serb opposition have agreed to extend the Energy for Democracy project. The Portuguese ambassador to Yugoslavia, Antonio Tanger Correa, who chaired today's meeting of the Trilateral Commission in the Montenegrin coastal resort of Budva, told media that the meeting had given a green light to the project. The proposal will be discussed by the European Council of Ministers on Monday. Correa also said that the EU was facing a new challenge because the Serbian opposition had united, but had united behind the issue of lifting sanctions against Yugoslavia. This was not a matter for today's meeting to decide, said the Portuguese ambassador, adding that international representatives had concluded that the opposition leaders must be taken seriously on this issue. The coordinator of the Alliance of Democratic Parties, Zarko Korac said today that international representatives had displayed good will in proposing that the suspension of sanctions be discussed by the Council of Ministers on Monday. Korac said that today's meeting had been told clearly that countries which formerly opposed the lifting of sanctions were now ready to discuss it seriously in the light of the Serbian opposition's new unity. Opposition meets again BELGRADE, Wednesday - The second meeting of Serbian opposition representatives this month has been underway at the headquarters of the Democratic Party of Serbia today. The opposition parties are discussing further details of the joint strategy and cooperation agreed on at a Serbian Renewal Movement-hosted meeting on January 10. The president of the Democratic Party of Serbia, Vojislav Kostunica told representatives that today's meeting would mean the solidification of the January 10 agreement and the definition of relationships among the signatories. Kostunica added that the agreement was a strong basis for unity of all opposition parties for change in Serbia. Matic: Montenegrin Mafia killed Arkan NEW YORK, Wednesday - Underworld boss and paramilitary commander Zeljko \"Arkan\" Raznatovic was murdered by Montenegrin Mafia as part of a putsch on Belgrade, Federal Information Minister Goran Matic told the New York Times today. Matic denied rumours of the Belgrade regime's involvement in Arkan's death, saying that he was simply a criminal who had been murdered by the Montenegrin Mafia, which wanted to take over Belgrade. The minister also confirmed information published in state media that one of Arkan's attackers had been seriously wounded and was in a Belgrade hospital. Police are waiting to interrogate the suspected gunman once he recovers from surgery. Deputy Montenegrin Prime Minister Novak Kilibarda today put Matic's statement in the context of current relations between Serbia and Montenegro, telling Radio B2 92 that it was propaganda for the Serbian electorate. \"Goran Matic is an intelligent man who probably knows what he is doing,\" said Kilibarda, adding that such propaganda would keep up support for the authorities while they prepared for violent moves against Montenegro. A Federal Foreign Ministry spokesman, Rade Drobac, has also denied speculation that Yugoslav authorities were involved in Arkan's murder. Drobac told Associated Press today that Arkan was not a political personality, adding that the story had been blown up by the West, and the Federal Government was not interested in it. One of the gunmen who attacked Arkan in Belgrade's Hotel Intercontinental on Saturday was wounded in the shootout and is under police guard in Loznica Hospital, Belgrade daily \"Blic\" writes today. The unconfirmed report names the man as Dusan Gavric, 25, from the village of Trbusnica near Loznica. Gavric is believed to have been a member of Arkan's paramilitary unit and is also rumoured to have been an operative in the State Security Service. Police have not yet issued any statement on the murder. A memorial service for Raznatovic was held in Belgrade's Union House today, attended by about 2,000 people. He will be buried in Belgrade tomorrow.. Public Prosecutor demands investigation of opposition allegations BELGRADE, Wednesday - A Belgrade public prosecutor today demanded that Belgrade police investigate allegations by the Serbian Renewal Movement, the Alliance for Change and a number of their officials about the murder of underworld boss Arkan and the theft of transmission equipment from Studio B Television. The investigation should aim at determining whether the criminal offence of disseminating false information had been committed. The opposition statements allege state terrorism, anarchy, and legal and media terrorism and claim that further acts will follow in an attempt by state bodies to conceal such acts, said the statement from Public Prosecutor Milan Petkovic. Church head hospi"}, {"response": 28, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Fri, Jan 21, 2000 (15:24)", "body": "Good sources they use, too."}, {"response": 29, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Jan 21, 2000 (17:31)", "body": "This free subscription is the best deal going on the Internet. They do not cover the same subjects over and over as I was afraid they might - they are a very credible news organization which does their homework and cites their sources. Thanks for telling us about this great place!"}, {"response": 30, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Sun, Jan 23, 2000 (15:38)", "body": "That's just what I said. These people do their work with pride, and I am happy to have been able to get in touch with them and work a little bit with one or two of them. Too bad the thing that triggered this had to be a war, in which my country helped bomb theirs without any limitations."}, {"response": 31, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Jan 23, 2000 (17:14)", "body": "Look what we did to Dresden. You cannot accept the responsibililty for all of the ills of people who just might be territorially related to you. We just are required to not forget so we do not do the same thing again... B92 is indeed a great resource and I am grateful for their email every morning!"}, {"response": 32, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Mar  6, 2000 (17:58)", "body": "Attack on Studio B transmitter BELGRADE, Monday - Five men in police camouflage uniforms this morning disabled Studio B Television and Radio B292 transmission equipment in Belgrade after beating a technician and security guard. The five men gained access to the equipment after asking to use a telephone. They then tied up duty technician Mirko Slavkovic and security guard Dragan Lukovic and hit them repeatedly on the head with gun butts. They then removed essential transmission equipment before escaping in a police jeep. The Serbian Internal Affairs Ministry today denied that Serbian police had been involved, saying that the information was malicious, inaccurate and had been fabricated by Studio B in the interests of the media campaign against the police. A statement from the ministry said that police had attended the scene and were taking steps to solve the crime. The attack on the transmitter temporarily took Studio B and Radio B2-92 off the air. Radio B2 92 is now working with improvised equipment. The Belgrade District Court is expected to rule this evening on charges brought by police Brigadier-General Branko Djuric against Studio B and its editor-in-chief. Djuric has alleged that his personal rights were breached by untrue allegations on a program broadcast by Studio B on February 26. During the program Djuric was accused of having organised the escape of a truck driver responsible for a traffic accident in which four Serbian Renewal Movement officials were killed. Studio B also received notice today from the Federal Ministry of Telecommunications demanding that the company pay almost eleven million dinars in licence fees within eight days. Studio B Director Dragan Kojadinovic today denied that Studio B owed money for licence fees, saying that the company had a ten-year frequency licence, although the latest decree from the federal government did not recognise that."}, {"response": 33, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Tue, Mar  7, 2000 (10:58)", "body": "See, if they do their journalistic work, every suit against them rushes through the courts like water. But their case against the B92-takeover from one year ago... Haven't heard about that in a while."}, {"response": 34, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Mar  7, 2000 (14:01)", "body": "I was curious about that takeover and what had happened since last we have heard. I guess, nothing, or they would have reported it! Doing a proper journalistic job is the only way to go and law suits become just a minor inconvenience. Good for Radio B-92."}, {"response": 35, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Wed, Mar  8, 2000 (03:16)", "body": "Hmh, and it looks like they got some buddies, too: FreeB92 News for 03/07/2000 City of Belgrade to pay Studio B fines and fees BELGRADE, Tuesday - The Belgrade City Assembly, as proprietor of Studio B Television, will pay fees demanded by the government for frequency licences and fines imposed under the Public Information Act. Social Democratic Union President Zarko Korac last night told media that opposition leaders had met at Studio B's premises with Studio B Director Dragan Kojadinovic. Belgrade Mayor Vojislav Mihajlovic also attended the meeting. In a statement read after the three-hour meeting, Mihajlovic demanded that the authorities cease all forms of terrorism against Studio B, warning that otherwise the opposition parties would take action to defend the free media in Serbia."}, {"response": 36, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Mar  8, 2000 (11:08)", "body": "That is good news. It is always helpful to have friends in high places =)"}, {"response": 37, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, May  4, 2001 (02:18)", "body": "B92? Going strong still?"}, {"response": 38, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Jun 19, 2001 (17:07)", "body": "Where IS Alexander? My email is not returned but is not answered, either. Lots of us miss him and his pithy comments and often surprisingly gentle sentiments. just as we miss John Burnett and of course the other guy who has gone missing. B97 in Hilo is ok and John Burnett holds forth every single morning. As he does on KWXX (the latter is heard on the internet) on weekends."}, {"response": 39, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Jun 20, 2001 (10:26)", "body": "Yep, we miss Alexander!"}, {"response": 40, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Jun 20, 2001 (10:30)", "body": "What time is John Burnet on in the central time zone?"}, {"response": 41, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Jun 20, 2001 (16:13)", "body": "You are 4 hours behind us. So John Burnett comes on live at 6AM here - which is 10AM for you - on weekends and usually runs live for 4-6 hours. It is fun to email him while he plays what he is scheduled to play (most stations use satellite programming into which they insert local sound bites. I am still waiting for his better classic rock program (taped the night before and running 6-9AM Hawaiian time 7 days a week.) I will check with him as to the status of his station's transmitter. They had trouble for ong while getting back online. radio conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 29, "subject": "How to set-up internet broadcasting", "response_count": 101, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Tue, Apr 27, 1999 (08:07)", "body": "As some people here already know, superstar has a weekly radio show (more information in http://www.spring.net/yapp-bin/public/read/music/59 ). And since this taping and copying of shows is bothersome, I'd like to find a way to achieve the following goals: (A) Webcast the show live. (B) Archive the show on the web, so everybody can replay older stuff. (C) Provide a good format/medium to distribute the show to other radio stations."}, {"response": 2, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Apr 27, 1999 (16:49)", "body": "The Spring uses a realaudio server. We don't serve up video, you need a more robust server than we have for that."}, {"response": 3, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Wed, Apr 28, 1999 (08:08)", "body": "\"The Spring uses a realaudio server.\" Great, how do you do this? Would be enough for me, to stream the show to the web, plus run it into a file for archiving/rerunning/distributing it. Assume that I have a analogue audio signal to work with, and a dedicated PC (perhaps not even in the studio, but at some collaborateur's place within receiving range of broadcaster) with internet access (56k or ISDN). What software is needed? What are the lowest hardware requirements in your opinion (I have some stuff laying around here, but no budget for this)? Any special/unusual gimmicks I'd need?"}, {"response": 4, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Apr 28, 1999 (09:12)", "body": "Just get an NT box set up and download the server from http://www.real.com , there is a whole section there on how to do this."}, {"response": 5, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Wed, Apr 28, 1999 (15:44)", "body": "Right. And how does my nice sound get into the NT-Box? Does a standard line-in on any Soundblaster-card do it? And the box - any hint on what specs? I could dedicate either a PC (P133, 32 MB, 540 MB, currently Win98) or a older notebook (486DX2-100, 16MB, 1GB, currently running Win95)."}, {"response": 6, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, May 11, 1999 (16:20)", "body": "Standard line in should do, get a dual processor Pentium II box if you can. With a stable motherboard like a Gigabyte. And lot's of hard disk space if you're going to save .ra files."}, {"response": 7, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Wed, May 12, 1999 (07:25)", "body": "Huh, you talk serious money. I only got scrap hardware. \"And never the twain shall meet?\""}, {"response": 8, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Wed, May 12, 1999 (11:17)", "body": "hey, part of this conversation I completely understand and can relate to!!!"}, {"response": 9, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Wed, May 12, 1999 (14:16)", "body": "But we two, laddie, we two shall always meet again. Terry, how much diskspace - 2 GB enough?"}, {"response": 10, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, May 13, 1999 (22:37)", "body": "That would be a good minimum. You can always add more drives."}, {"response": 11, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Fri, May 14, 1999 (16:31)", "body": "Ok, get back to you when I got hold of a disk - got one, even SCSI, but you can't write to it... On Scandisk, it stops spinning, then speeds up and brakes down. Does that until it stopps; perhaps from overheating? Weird. I've got another try..."}, {"response": 12, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Mon, May 24, 1999 (08:32)", "body": "...but that baby has UW-SCSI, and my SCSI-box only does SCSI-II, so I have to wait until the shop gets an adapter and find out if my SCSI controller runs the Ultra Wide disk as regular fare, too. Hey, I've got an invitation from realnetworks to attend a seminar on their technology! As soon as our #13 is off to the printers (right now hacking last articles togetherm while already deep in production...), and I have promotion set up, I want to really get into this. Besides the weekly radio show and the occasional DJing of our superstar club rotation branch, we will have a major event in August. 5 bands on stage, DJs and good fun till sunrise! On August 19th, we'll present another of our \"meet your superstar\" festivals, again during the world's greatest music expo, Cologne's PopKomm. Only gotta figure out how to set a webcast up... Perhaps find an ISP to cooperate..."}, {"response": 13, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, May 24, 1999 (09:21)", "body": "cool!"}, {"response": 14, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Mon, May 24, 1999 (11:10)", "body": "ditto!"}, {"response": 15, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Tue, May 25, 1999 (09:11)", "body": "What, the seminar-invitation or that other thang? Or the more than vague prospect to get to see that other thang? Anyway, will post more about it in superstar's very own topic, as soon as this place has calmed down a bit. I don't want to sound off, but we got some really great bands booked... Time: -7 days to print shop."}, {"response": 16, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Thu, May 27, 1999 (02:57)", "body": "Time: -5 to print shop. Uh-oh."}, {"response": 17, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Thu, May 27, 1999 (16:36)", "body": "*drum roll*"}, {"response": 18, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Tue, Jun 15, 1999 (12:43)", "body": "Wow, the last two days were cool. I've been to the seminars by RealNetwork, maker of the RealAudio server, player and the whole shebangle. That software is WAY cool. They've shown how you can include pictures, video, static and dynamic text together with audio tracks in your webcast/site, bundling it all with their SMIL file format. Purrty impressive, I must say. If I only had the machine park and mobile means to hook the gear up... Or had a sponsor... (Actually, I met a guy there from Berlin who might try to talk his company into sponsoring us. But I'll never tell anybody about this before it's sure...)"}, {"response": 19, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Tue, Jun 15, 1999 (12:45)", "body": "(And some things I've seen there ought to be further investigated by our own Wer. I still think he's on to some project... With this stuff, you can do multimedia streaming WITH BILLING)"}, {"response": 20, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Tue, Jun 15, 1999 (13:33)", "body": "much like you, Alexander, time, money and equipment are additional necessities..."}, {"response": 21, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Wed, Jun 16, 1999 (02:44)", "body": "... of which you stand better chances to get them than I do... Right now, you got a lot of the first, don't need a lot of the second and could perhaps borrow the latter. I mean, I don't have anybody sitting here who would let me put anything I like on his machines... At least not right now... Git to it! Do a plan! Develop a prototype and git it movin', show it around, and see if you could get partnerships going!"}, {"response": 22, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Wed, Jun 16, 1999 (10:48)", "body": "you got the same person sitting around as I do... I do live closer to him than you do, granted..."}, {"response": 23, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Wed, Jun 16, 1999 (15:59)", "body": "...also that you right now might have some more time to invest than I do? Listen, I've got some very specific idea. Mail me and I tell you."}, {"response": 24, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Thu, Jun 17, 1999 (00:17)", "body": "sorta...it looks like I might be cooking again, though..."}, {"response": 25, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Jun 17, 1999 (09:43)", "body": "only do it if it makes you happy..."}, {"response": 26, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Jun 17, 1999 (10:01)", "body": "How's our Realaudio server on access doing?"}, {"response": 27, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Thu, Jun 17, 1999 (10:22)", "body": "What do you mean, Terry?"}, {"response": 28, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Thu, Jun 17, 1999 (14:58)", "body": "I get sound every time I try..."}, {"response": 29, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Jun 17, 1999 (15:55)", "body": "i rarely try... .ok damn that return key!"}, {"response": 30, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Thu, Jun 17, 1999 (18:24)", "body": "aw, do I have to?"}, {"response": 31, "author": "stacey", "date": "Fri, Jun 18, 1999 (10:20)", "body": "it's okay if you don't want to. i understand"}, {"response": 32, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Jun 18, 1999 (10:40)", "body": "What do you mean, what do I mean, Alexander?"}, {"response": 33, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Fri, Jun 18, 1999 (14:26)", "body": "Well, what does your reply asking \"How's our Realaudio server on access doing?\" mean? Is anybody (e.g. Wer) working on it, does something change,... (Perhaps it's just because I thought you of all people here ought to know the best, so... Aw, shucks, dunno... Something else - if I had a website at the spring - working at it as you know, with generous help from a certain W. -, how would I get it to play RealAudio files? Get them onto that machine \"access\" and put a link in my website to it?)"}, {"response": 34, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Jun 20, 1999 (23:24)", "body": "That would be the best way to get your files to play. We have a realaudio server there but I'm not using it currently. We need to play with it."}, {"response": 35, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Jun 21, 1999 (08:13)", "body": "We'll get you an account on access.spring.net Alexander, if you don't already have one. Just email me with username and password and I'll set it up."}, {"response": 36, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Tue, Jun 22, 1999 (08:28)", "body": "William set me up with an telnet and ftp account, so I can get at http://www.spring.net/~aschuth . Does that work for access, too?"}, {"response": 37, "author": "stacey", "date": "Tue, Jun 22, 1999 (10:24)", "body": "yup"}, {"response": 38, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Tue, Jun 22, 1999 (10:32)", "body": "Merci bien!"}, {"response": 39, "author": "stacey", "date": "Tue, Jun 22, 1999 (10:37)", "body": "danke gratis"}, {"response": 40, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Tue, Jun 22, 1999 (10:56)", "body": "Erstaunlich!"}, {"response": 41, "author": "stacey", "date": "Tue, Jun 22, 1999 (10:57)", "body": "gnutreaschion!"}, {"response": 42, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Tue, Jun 22, 1999 (12:32)", "body": "Oh, I didn't know that. I'm sorry. Had I known that, I wouldn't have ever made a single joke about that. Wirklich!"}, {"response": 43, "author": "stacey", "date": "Tue, Jun 22, 1999 (13:14)", "body": "*laugh*"}, {"response": 44, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Tue, Jun 22, 1999 (23:13)", "body": "(actually, nope...you want me to set you up the same way on access, Alexander?)"}, {"response": 45, "author": "stacey", "date": "Wed, Jun 23, 1999 (10:14)", "body": "oh lookie what I don't know!"}, {"response": 46, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Thu, Jun 24, 1999 (03:33)", "body": "See, I said I shouldn't have made fun of it... Wer, I don't have anything to put there yet, but yeah, why not. Got the RealProducer now at last, gonna try and see if the bang of my old notebook is enough to produce content..."}, {"response": 47, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Jun 24, 1999 (09:45)", "body": "Cool, what is your first project?"}, {"response": 48, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Thu, Jun 24, 1999 (10:43)", "body": "First see if my lowtech is sufficient to work with standard amp line out signal, then git on to certain tapes we've discussed. I may not be able to do realtime webcasts, but I can try stuff nevertheless."}, {"response": 49, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Tue, Jul  6, 1999 (11:03)", "body": "Please notice the article posted in a different topic of this conf concerning audio files, links to audio files - even on other servers - and MAJOR legal hustle : http://www.spring.net/yapp-bin/public/read/web/42.9"}, {"response": 50, "author": "mrchips", "date": "Sun, Aug 15, 1999 (22:44)", "body": "I'm lucky enough not to have to set up. I work weekends for a station that broadcasts on the Web, out of Hilo, Hawaii (KWXX-FM, 94.7 on air), on web at http://www.kwxx.com Can also be accessed through http://www.webradio.com I believe at the webradio site you have to go through the \"other\" format selection, then select \"ethnic.\" Our format is a mix of adult contemporary hits and Island music, which encompasses locally produced music, both ethnic Hawaiian and Hawaiian pop, Jawaiian (a Hawaiian reggae hybrid that often has ukuleles), and reggae, both Jamaican and U.K. I'm on Saturday 12 noon to 5 PM EST and Sunday 12 noon to 4 PM. It once was a career, now it's a pretty cool hobby that also puts a few bucks in the pocket."}, {"response": 51, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Aug 18, 1999 (18:07)", "body": "Post something Saturday early as a reminder if you care to, I'd like a reminder to tune in!"}, {"response": 52, "author": "mrchips", "date": "Thu, Aug 19, 1999 (00:26)", "body": "I will but it will be really early because of the time difference when I leave home and on the mainland. I don't have an operational computer terminal in the studio--it crashed and burned. We were taking e-mails and requests long distance on a 486 and the museum piece retired itself. Don't expect a great deal of personality; my boss doesn't want it. But the music should be different than what you're used to. I need to get a shortwave receiver so I can pick up B 92 Radio Belgrade, It sounds fascinati g."}, {"response": 53, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Aug 19, 1999 (00:54)", "body": "John, post it the night before. That is what I do...because it is tomorrow everywhere else but here. That is why your and my computers will be the only ones talking at the end of Y2K - we are the last to get everything...*sigh*"}, {"response": 54, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Aug 19, 1999 (00:55)", "body": "Oh, and I have a spare SW for you to use...."}, {"response": 55, "author": "mrchips", "date": "Sat, Aug 21, 1999 (03:18)", "body": "Per Terry, here is my reminder...I will be on air today and tomorrow at http://www.kwxx.com starting times 12 noon EDT 11 am CDT 10 am MDT 9 am PDT 6 am HST (Hawaii never goes on daylight savings time)"}, {"response": 56, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, Aug 21, 1999 (12:24)", "body": "I tried at 7am HST and it was not you on my house radio, and I could not get into the KWXX website and the http://www.webradio.com/kwxx/ kept telling me \"file not found\". John, where are you???"}, {"response": 57, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, Aug 21, 1999 (12:42)", "body": "I IS John on my house radio...I just may call the station and see what is wrong with the link at Webradio. But, his golden tones are on the air as I wrilte this."}, {"response": 58, "author": "mrchips", "date": "Sat, Aug 21, 1999 (17:09)", "body": ""}, {"response": 59, "author": "mrchips", "date": "Sat, Aug 21, 1999 (17:13)", "body": "If you have trouble getting webradio audio, try clearing your cache. I was on at 6 AM Hawaii time, but apparently you had your dial somewhere else (as do I from time to time). I'll be there at 6 am tomorrow also, but Sunday show is only four hours opposed to Saturday's five."}, {"response": 60, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, Aug 21, 1999 (17:13)", "body": "Well, that is as much as I heard from you on the internet this morning, and your kwxx.com link was dead. But, You sounded great on my little SW radio tuned to AM. What happened?"}, {"response": 61, "author": "mrchips", "date": "Sat, Aug 21, 1999 (17:16)", "body": "I can't speak for webradio. It's a mainland concern. But again, if problems, try cache clearing."}, {"response": 62, "author": "mrchips", "date": "Sat, Aug 21, 1999 (17:17)", "body": "Try our website direct, without going through webradio's site."}, {"response": 63, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, Aug 21, 1999 (17:17)", "body": "OK, but that is not the problem. My cache is emptied (both disk and memory) regularly during the day, and I had no trouble accessing the web broadcast during the week from KWXX. Will try again tomorrow. Btw, I think I got the Drool off of the guys' Babe sites - I opened one for ladies to list their Male Babes."}, {"response": 64, "author": "mrchips", "date": "Sat, Aug 21, 1999 (17:19)", "body": "Gee doing it in drool isn't enough for you, is it?"}, {"response": 65, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, Aug 21, 1999 (17:21)", "body": "Drool is a world of its own, and a lot of ladies are not comfortable in there. I just used a tiny corner of Babes. We won't make much noise...promise!"}, {"response": 66, "author": "mrchips", "date": "Sat, Aug 21, 1999 (17:25)", "body": "Drool has so many more entries than babes, I don't know if that dog will hunt!"}, {"response": 67, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, Aug 21, 1999 (17:26)", "body": "I dumped both caches and tried KWXX.com directly. After a few moments I get a little box telling me the server must be down and to try later. Can you access it now?"}, {"response": 68, "author": "mrchips", "date": "Sat, Aug 21, 1999 (17:28)", "body": "I could never access KWXX.com from home, but never had any trouble from Bytes and Bites. If the server is down, it will probably be down all weekend, as Chris Leonard is in Honolulu."}, {"response": 69, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Aug 23, 1999 (14:33)", "body": "Will try it later in the day. Thanks for telling me. This PC should be able to pick up everything on the net including lint..."}, {"response": 70, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Aug 24, 1999 (19:10)", "body": "John, I just tried again. Same thing...Netscape puts the name on the top of the window as though you were in, but document down show up, and the stoplight turns off. Nothing further happens. Get Chris on it. The lint is here but no KWXX.com!"}, {"response": 71, "author": "mrchips", "date": "Wed, Aug 25, 1999 (04:00)", "body": "I have the same problem, but he assures me that it is me and each time he calls up the home page, it pops right up for him. It also does the same for me at Bytes & Bites, but not here. I was able to hear the station on http://www.webradio.com/kwxx"}, {"response": 72, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Aug 25, 1999 (10:45)", "body": "The above hotlink works. I spent the weekend listening to it and wondering what the Springizens were thinking of the local-ese which sometimes creeps intoi the spoken stuff. It is like listening to a whole nuther language sometimes. *lol* Too bad they can't hear the county \"workers\" talking!!!"}, {"response": 73, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Sep 17, 1999 (19:58)", "body": "John is filling in for a DJ who is away...listen to him and some lovely Hawaiian classics and popular music from 8pm till 10pm Austin time. (He comes on in two minutes!) Today!!!"}, {"response": 74, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Sep 17, 1999 (19:59)", "body": "..or is that until 11?!"}, {"response": 75, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Sep 18, 1999 (10:49)", "body": "What's the realaudio address?"}, {"response": 76, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, Sep 18, 1999 (15:07)", "body": "Is is not on RealAudio, it is on http://www.webradio.com/kwxx/ and he is on right as I post this for the final hour of this Saturday program."}, {"response": 77, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Sep 20, 1999 (10:58)", "body": "And the next scheduled program is ???"}, {"response": 78, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Sep 21, 1999 (19:52)", "body": "his usual Saturday and Sunday morning shows. Each and every, as far as i know..."}, {"response": 79, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Sep 22, 1999 (07:46)", "body": "Will you post the url again please sometime between now and Friday? And the exact time and dates!"}, {"response": 80, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Sep 23, 1999 (16:08)", "body": "will do, as soon as i get back into windows."}, {"response": 81, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Sep 23, 1999 (16:59)", "body": "Cool."}, {"response": 82, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Oct  8, 1999 (17:00)", "body": "John Burnett's golden tones will be beamed into space tomorrow and Sunday. You can hear his net broadcast at http://www.webradio.com/kwxx/ starting times 12 noon EDT 11 am CDT 10 am MDT 9 am PDT 6 am HST (Hawaii never goes on daylight savings time)"}, {"response": 83, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Oct  9, 1999 (09:59)", "body": "I posted this on the Spring's main page."}, {"response": 84, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, Oct  9, 1999 (13:54)", "body": "Thanks for doing so (could not find it when I looked, but I will assume it is a problem with me or the Notre Dame game replaced it...That same information applies to tomorrow morning, as well."}, {"response": 85, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, Oct  9, 1999 (23:44)", "body": "Just a little reminder that John Burnett holds forth on WebRadio tomorrow: http://www.webradio.com/kwxx/ starting times 12 noon EDT 11 am CDT 10 am MDT 9 am PDT 6 am HST (Hawaii never goes on daylight savings time)"}, {"response": 86, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Oct 10, 1999 (23:48)", "body": "I turned on Realaudio and listened to John's show while I cleaned up my garage Saturday morning and really enjoyed it. I liked the Hawaiian music, it was relaxing to be transported to the islands for a while and John has a great delivery. I'm going to listen to this show regularly on Saturday mornings. It was funny to hear about the boaters who arrived early, before they got the celebration ready. Really good music selection."}, {"response": 87, "author": "mrchips", "date": "Mon, Oct 11, 1999 (01:31)", "body": "Those darn canoe voyagers, screwing things up like that! Thanks for the kind words, Terry..."}, {"response": 88, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Oct 11, 1999 (09:51)", "body": "Your program exposed me to very interesting webradio.com, I believe that was the url? And then I heard this morning that they're having an ipo very soon. This looks like a well put tegether network of radio stations. Correct me on that url, if I missed it John."}, {"response": 89, "author": "mrchips", "date": "Mon, Oct 11, 1999 (10:06)", "body": "Marcia put up the url, so I'm sure it is correct. Did you hear what the price on the IPO is?"}, {"response": 90, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Oct 11, 1999 (11:00)", "body": "I think it's around $10-11. And it's coming up \"real soon\"; I just caught a bit on a morning news show. I'll look up the url when I get home for lunch today."}, {"response": 91, "author": "mrchips", "date": "Mon, Oct 11, 1999 (11:48)", "body": "url is http://www.webradio.com"}, {"response": 92, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Oct 22, 1999 (16:49)", "body": "more precisely, it is http://www.webradio.com/kwxx"}, {"response": 93, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Oct 22, 1999 (20:23)", "body": "Wow, that's fantastic...I posted the above in telnet and when I got to windows there it was all hot link blue and everything. Isn't this stuff neat? Anyway, John is on tomorrow morning per usual from 6am till they let him go ( which is 11am Texas time till whenever.) Lately, he has been doing double shifts or several more hours than usual..."}, {"response": 94, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Oct 22, 1999 (21:19)", "body": "He has just told me he will most likely be on until Noon Hawaii time (5pm Texas time) or 2200 zulu."}, {"response": 95, "author": "dorothy", "date": "Fri, Oct 22, 1999 (21:31)", "body": "is that today or tomorrow (saturday)?"}, {"response": 96, "author": "mrchips", "date": "Fri, Oct 22, 1999 (23:14)", "body": "Hi, Dorothy. That will be Saturday. Thank you for asking."}, {"response": 97, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, Oct 23, 1999 (14:42)", "body": "John will also be on that URL on Sunday...John Dear, I am internet-listening to Penn State's game because our ABC afffilitate much prefers to show california stuff that a REAL game...BAH! HUMBUG!"}, {"response": 98, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Oct 26, 1999 (09:21)", "body": "Hi Dorothy, welcome on board!"}, {"response": 99, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Mon, Nov  1, 1999 (11:53)", "body": "Hello Dorothy! Welcome!"}, {"response": 100, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Nov  1, 1999 (13:24)", "body": "Where has she gone? I welcomed her elsewhere and nothing has been heard since. Cannot be that we were dining on garlic and did not offer her any?!"}, {"response": 101, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Nov  1, 1999 (13:30)", "body": "She'll be around. radio conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 3, "subject": "repeaters in the Austin area", "response_count": 5, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Nov 20, 1996 (10:50)", "body": ""}, {"response": 2, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Nov 20, 1996 (10:57)", "body": "I programmed the whole list into my Yaesu FT-8000 and I'm scanning around and finding out if this list works. I've made quite a few contacts lately. My most regular hangout is with that bunch of riff raff on the 442.15 machine. What a rag tag and bobtailed crew! This is the notorious and infamous AA5PB machine. They just ordered a brand new Vertex. Some of the giants on the Austin repeater scene: Joe Makeever (the 147.18 and 147.08 autopatch machines), Nick Broline (who put up one of the first ones, if not the first one), John Dahm (links to 2m, 450, 6m and full duplex autopatch), and Joe Jarrett (the Intertie network that is a vast empire). These guys are the players , they're definitely the movers and shakers on the local Austin repeater scene."}, {"response": 3, "author": "Mouzaki", "date": "Sun, Nov 24, 1996 (16:16)", "body": ""}, {"response": 4, "author": "Mouzaki", "date": "Sun, Nov 24, 1996 (16:17)", "body": ""}, {"response": 5, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Nov 24, 1996 (16:22)", "body": "radio conference | Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 30, "subject": "Classic Amateur Radio Gear", "response_count": 122, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Nov 22, 1999 (10:22)", "body": "That should be Collins not Collings above. I have an Atlas 210x with the drop in base. And I have a (not classic) MFJ tuner to go with it. It's the backup for my Yaesu FT-100, FC-20 combo. I got my G5RV antenna up this weekend and it works like a champ on 20 and 40, haven't tried the other bands yet. Oh, and I got on 80 meters at night and was able to talk to folks around Texas pretty well."}, {"response": 2, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Nov 22, 1999 (14:49)", "body": "I had for amany years an HRO (National) with all of the bands in separate \"drawers\" which plugged into a large slot at the bottom (these were big units!) This was my Dad's primary tranceiver. It was a lovely piece of equipment. Also had a war surplus AVR war surplus for which my Dad had built a metal box to house it. This went to college with me and I snaked an \"invisible\" antenna out the window on my dorm room and got called on the carpet for it. But, from central Pennsylvania, I could get the world! Terry, are you ever on when it is night in Hawaii? I'd love to hear you sometime... I have had no success in getting you in the afternoon, and in the morning I cannot turn on my gear at 3am when I share the room with a guy who already thinks I am far too interested in Texas as it is!!!"}, {"response": 3, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Nov 22, 1999 (23:55)", "body": "I don't get on during the day much, I'm on 3825 (80 meters) right now talking to a guy in Houston in a mobile. If I get on during the day, it will be on 21.332 (15 meters); that was our old Farm frequency for talking to Guatemala when we were running medical supplies and soy products to the Huichol Indians."}, {"response": 4, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Nov 23, 1999 (14:24)", "body": "The higher bands are just too noisy for me to hear you during the day - even in the dawn/dusk period. I have entered the two frequecies into the memory of my sw radio, and will be monitoring...(Was not able to get on last night. Try again, please, when it is dark here!)"}, {"response": 5, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Nov 24, 1999 (12:53)", "body": "I was on 3.825 last night for about an hour talking to Ed in a mobile near Houston."}, {"response": 6, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Nov 24, 1999 (13:19)", "body": "About what time? If it was before about 10pm your time, I cannot hear you for all the QRM."}, {"response": 7, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Nov 24, 1999 (15:34)", "body": "It was at various times though the night, there were quite a few folks on that frequency, mostly around Texas. Tell me a frequency you can hear sometime and I'll get on there and talk."}, {"response": 8, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Nov 24, 1999 (15:56)", "body": "Give me an hour and I will try for a frequency. Propagation is miserable this cycle and there is an uncommonly high amount of 'noise' even in the evenings. The 14MHz band was open at this hour 10:40am HST (2:40 Austin), but there is still a huge amount of QRM. 21.375 was and 21.393 was coming in but I could not understand either one of them. Perhaps farther into the winter we might have more success?! In order for me to hear the mainland with any clarity at all it has to be late afternoon or later, depending on the day."}, {"response": 9, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Nov 24, 1999 (16:04)", "body": "With the Rockies and the Sierra in the way it is sometimes very difficult to hear mid-America. Can hear Florida ok sometimes... Have you ever heard Hawaii? Our local ham net is on 7088 daily at 0200 zulu (4pm here). I guess if you cannot hear them I cannot hear you."}, {"response": 10, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Nov 24, 1999 (16:27)", "body": "What time is that here."}, {"response": 11, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Nov 24, 1999 (17:06)", "body": "You are four hours ahead of us so it is 8pm in Austin."}, {"response": 12, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Thu, Jan  6, 2000 (22:14)", "body": "Howdy Terry and Marcia and all Classic gear on this end is: Collins R390A (main station receiver) Hammarlund SP600 (backup) Plus an S Line and KWM2A kicking around Lots of AM activity around here in the Great Lakes region with plenty of boatanchors on the air. Hope to put the Heathkit DX100 back on the air or better yet, get hold of a 400 watt T368 military transmitter to burn up the ozone. mike aka cosmo AA9IL"}, {"response": 13, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Jan  6, 2000 (22:34)", "body": "Oooh, Mike, good stuff! I should post the updating solar image here so you can check out the sunspots and figure out whether you are gonna get some good DX or just QRM... Come and check often - as I said, it updates automatically. Aloha!"}, {"response": 14, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Jan  7, 2000 (16:50)", "body": "That's cool, the sunspots. How's the activity level on hf now and what's the prognosis for the next month or so? I see a lot of sunspots anyway."}, {"response": 15, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Jan  7, 2000 (17:25)", "body": "I'll check for you (have lots of places to check) and get back to you and post it here. Actually I could post that daily or semi-daily or weekly, even and make it a regular post. I am just as interested as you are. Today it is a little better than it has been for some time. The 14 MHz band is open but there is a bit of QRM. 18 MHz band is terrible but I can understand the discussion. the 13 M band is so quiet I cannot hear anyone using it. SW non the 13 M band is the clearest and no QRM at all. I will try later - it is noon here now and not the best time to try. Off I go to get the prop numbers and forecast."}, {"response": 16, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Jan  7, 2000 (18:10)", "body": "From: http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/2000-arlp001.html 2000 bulletins: General \ufffd DX \ufffd Keplerian \ufffd Propagation 1999 bulletins: General \ufffd DX \ufffd Keplerian \ufffd Propagation 1998 bulletins: General \ufffd DX \ufffd Keplerian \ufffd Propagation 1997 bulletins: General \ufffd DX \ufffd Keplerian \ufffd Propagation 1996 bulletins: General \ufffd DX \ufffd Keplerian \ufffd Propagation 1995 bulletins: General \ufffd DX \ufffd Keplerian \ufffd Propagation ARLP001: Propagation de K7VVV SB PROP @ ARL $ARLP001 ARLP001 Propagation de K7VVV ZCZC AP01 QST de W1AW Propagation Forecast Bulletin 1 ARLP001 From Tad Cook, K7VVV Seattle, WA January 7, 2000 To all radio amateurs SB PROP ARL ARLP001 ARLP001 Propagation de K7VVV For the first propagation bulletin of the new year, we will review some of the solar numbers for 1999. Currently we are moving toward the peak of solar cycle 23. Activity is not as high as we had hoped, and current projections place the broad peak of the cycle some time later this year. We can see a broad progression of the current cycle by reviewing annual solar flux averages. The average daily solar flux in 1996, 1997 and 1998 was 70.8, 80.9 and 117.9, and for 1999 it was 153.7. The average daily solar flux for the four quarters of this year were 136.7, 145, 157.6 and 175.2 for the quarter just ended. This indicates a steady upward trend. Monthly averages of daily flux values for September through December were 135.7, 164.8, 191.5 and 169.8. So what does the short term outlook say? Projected solar flux for Friday through Sunday is 150, 155 and 160, and the projected planetary A index is 10, 8 and 12. Beyond the weekend it looks like quiet geomagnetic conditions for January 10-19, moderately unsettled around January 20 and 21, then quiet again until January 26 through the end of the month. The most active days should be around January 27 and 28 due to recurring coronal holes. Solar flux should rise until January 16 and 17, peaking around 205, the drop below 150 by January 25. If you want to graph data from these bulletins, you should try WA4TTK's graphing program. The solar flux and sunspot database has just been updated, so it now covers 11 whole years, from January 1, 1989 to December 31, 1999. You can download the software and the data from http://edge.net/~scraig/sol.htm . Then starting with this bulletin and for every bulletin after this, you can use the WA4TTK freeware to import the data automatically from the bulletin text and display it graphically. Sunspot numbers for December 30 through January 5 were 88, 91, 69, 69, 77, 102 and 100 with a mean of 85.1. 10.7 cm flux was 135.6, 130.1, 129.9, 132.9, 133.1, 134.7 and 136.5, with a mean of 133.3, and estimated planetary A indices were 8, 27, 27, 14, 13, 12 and 15, with a mean of 16.6. Path projections for this weekend are to Japan for the JA International DX CW Contest. From Seattle, WA, 80 meters 0700-1730z, 40 meters 0600-1830z, 20 meters 2030-0430z, 15 meters 2200-0200z, 10 meters 2230-0030z. From Salt Lake City, UT, 80 meters 0700-1600z, 40 meters 0600-1700z, 20 meters 1530-1630z and 2100-0430z, 15 meters 2130-0130z, 10 meters 2230-0030z. From Omaha, NE, 80 meters 0700-1500z, 40 meters 0600-1630z, 20 meters 1500-1630z and 2100-0200z, 15 meters 2130-0030z, 10 meters 2230-2300z. From Dallas, TX, 80 meters 0630-1430z, 40 meters 0600-1500z, 20 meters 2000-0300z and 1430-1530z, 15 meters 2130-0130z, 10 meters 2200-0000z. From Newington, CT, 80 meters 0700-1330z, 40 meters 0600-1400z, 20 meters 2030-1030z and around 1630-1730z, 15 meters 2200-2300z. From Miami, FL, 80 meters 0700-1300z, 40 meters 0530-1330z, 20 meters 2100-0100z and 1230-1300z, 1430-1530z and 1630-1700z, 15 meters 2130-0000z, 10 meters around 2230z. From Cleveland, OH, 80 meters 0700-1430z, 40 meters 0530-1600z, 20 meters 2100-0130z, 0600-0900z and 1500-1700z, 15 meters 2130-2300z, 10 meters possibly around 2200z. NNNN /EX \u001a"}, {"response": 17, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Jan  7, 2000 (18:16)", "body": "I also subscribed to their bulletin via email service so I can be more prompt with the information posts."}, {"response": 18, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Jan  7, 2000 (18:26)", "body": "This web page has specific charts for specific areas of the US http://www.arrl.org/qst/propcharts/ FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 05 - 31 JANUARY 2000 SOLAR ACTIVITY IS EXPECTED TO RANGE FROM LOW TO MODERATE LEVELS DURING MOST OF THE PERIOD. OCCASIONAL TO FREQUENT C-CLASS FLARES AND ISOLATED M-CLASS FLARES ARE LIKELY THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD. IN ADDITION, THERE WILL BE AN INCREASED CHANCE FOR ISOLATED MAJOR FLARE ACTIVITY DURING 08 - 26 JANUARY WITH THE EXPECTED RETURN OF OLD REGIONS 8798 (S13, L = 171) AND 8806 (N19, L = 115). THERE WILL BE AN INCREASED CHANCE FOR A PROTON EVENT AT GEOSYNCHRONOUS ORBIT DURING 08 - 26 JANUARY. THE GREATER THAN 2 MEV ELECTRON FLUX AT GEOSYNCHRONOUS ORBIT IS EXPECTED TO BE AT MODERATE TO HIGH LEVELS THROUGH 05 JANUARY. NORMAL TO MODERATE LEVELS ARE EXPECTED DURING 06 - 27 JANUARY. FLUXES ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE TO MODERATE TO HIGH LEVELS DURING 28 - 31 JANUARY. GEOMAGNETIC FIELD ACTIVITY IS EXPECTED TO BE AT QUIET TO UNSETTLED LEVELS THROUGH 26 JANUARY, BARRING AN EARTH-DIRECTED CME. ACTIVE TO MINOR STORM LEVELS ARE EXPECTED DURING 27 - 30 JANUARY DUE TO RECURRENT CORONAL HOLE EFFECTS. 3 DAY FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY (AS OF 2000 Jan 06 2210 UT) Solar Forcast: SOLAR ACTIVITY IS EXPECTED TO BE LOW. Geomagnetic Forcast: THE GEOMAGNETIC FIELD IS EXPECTED TO BE QUIET TO UNSETTLED."}, {"response": 19, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Jan  7, 2000 (18:30)", "body": "http://hfradio.org/propagation.html was the source of the above post. If you want to see solar images under all conditions and filters: http://umbra.nascom.nasa.gov/images/latest.html"}, {"response": 20, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Jan  7, 2000 (19:41)", "body": "For today's (every today) propagation report in full with images and links to various interesting and pertinent sites: http://hfradio.org/propagation.html#today"}, {"response": 21, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Jan  7, 2000 (21:05)", "body": "I'm sorry, Wolfie, I did not know this was linked to your conference and I posted lots and lots of stuff which I should have kept in the radio conference. I promise to do better!"}, {"response": 22, "author": "wolf", "date": "Fri, Jan  7, 2000 (21:10)", "body": "it's ok!"}, {"response": 23, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Jan  7, 2000 (21:19)", "body": "At least you know today's solar flux and how to find it in the future...*grin*"}, {"response": 24, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Mar 21, 2000 (17:06)", "body": "There is God in Heaven! An old Ham-buddy of mine just presented me with my very own boat anchor - a Hammerlund HQ - 100 Communications Receiver - and the owner's manual for same! I am delighted out of my mind and cannot believe I again have a radio which is worthy of the 60' trap dipole on the roof. Happy Me."}, {"response": 25, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Mar 21, 2000 (17:08)", "body": "Oh...and propagation is off the scale (realtively) - just in: SFI=231 up from 210 | A=3 down from 4 | K=2 down from 3 at 2100 on 21 March. SAF: moderate, GMF: quiet to unsettled Aurora Level: 3 More: http://hfradio.org/propagation.html"}, {"response": 26, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Mar 21, 2000 (22:55)", "body": "The newest \"Boat Anchor\" in my life - my Hammerlund HQ 100A - is now captured for posterity on the net - but it is someone else's Looks the same, of course, but the size is deceiving. It is 9\" deep X 9 1/2\" high X 16\" long and is in a sturdy metal box the top of which is perforated to allow for cooling of the 10 tubes inside (yes, tubes!) Next comes the smoke test...!"}, {"response": 27, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Mar 22, 2000 (00:15)", "body": "Oh, yes, this lovely instrument is a tranceiver. That means I can send as well as receive - but one must have a license to send and I do not have one for these frequencies. Good old KH6ORS (old rusty submarine)! Bless his kind heart for getting this rig up and working well enough for me to operate. Take a bow, Corky!"}, {"response": 28, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Mar 22, 2000 (00:17)", "body": "I wonder if he ever got the National HRO which I inherited from my Dad on the air...*sigh* If anyone could, he could!"}, {"response": 29, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Sun, Apr  2, 2000 (00:42)", "body": "Fine business on the new boatanchor! Good luck with the HRO as well - I have an HRO 50-T1 needing some touch up work on the front panel and also a re-alignment. One thing to remember with the old gear is that you might have to replace the bypass caps and resistors. Thats in the queue.... Right now, rig number 1 to get the 'works' will be my Collins R390A - Its in reasonably good cosmetic shape but stands to get a re-alignment and some mechanical work - right now, the rig works great but I want to do the complete restoration. Second on the list will be the SP600 which will need all the paper bypass caps replaced - some of which are very challenging to get to. These old radios are great to operate and nothing sounds like AM on a tube rig. Im still looking for some heavy iron for transmitting."}, {"response": 30, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Apr  2, 2000 (01:03)", "body": "Fine Business, yourself, Mike. There is a glow and the aroma of a tube set (providing it is not of melting Bakelite) which evokes a sentiment like Mom's home cooking. Very satisfying and almost visceral in enjoyment. The sound has to be experienced to be appreciated. To me, there is no better rig than then HRO with those \"drawers\" for the bands, and fine tuning with a knurled knob which has not been excelled. That is one sweet transceiver, and was the one my Dad used every morning for a cw sked during my entire life at home as I was growing up. He took care of it amost better than he did his kids (...not really, but we never went near it unless he was there.) Cosmetics is always difficult on those black crinkle-finished boxes. This Hammerlund has what looks like cast aluminum - matte dark gray. No finish to be cosmetic. Not even any corrusion! I post ARRL current propoagation and DX information Radio topic 32 just in case you left your issue somewhere but you have your laptop on your next DXpedition. How \"heavy iron\" are you talking? What is your fantasy Rig (providing you can get a spare transmitter tube for less than your house cost)? 73's and 88's"}, {"response": 31, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Sun, Apr  2, 2000 (20:09)", "body": "Hi Marcia Those black crinkle HRO's are nice - knew a guy that had one for sale a long time ago - I bought the HRO 50 T1 from him which has the hammer-tone gray body. Out of curiosity, is your radio an HRO 5? As far as dream radios go, Im looking for a T368 which is a 400watt transmitter (am and cw) - this rig is about 800lbs and was a replacement for the old BC610. For a while, Fair Radio in Ohio was selling them for about $700. They have become very popular with the AM crowd and their price has gone up - I saw one advertised for $1600 which is kinda silly but Im sure the guy sold it.... Here in the Great Lakes region, there is alot of AM on 3885 and you will hear everything from Johnson desk kilowatts and Collins KW1's to homebrew rigs. Winters are the best time to listen to 75 and 160 around here when the OF's rag chew. Still planning on using the R390A for the main receiver. That rig is rock stable and sounds good too. Its a pain to tune around though with a mechanical MHz and KHz knob - not exactly good for spinning up and down the band. The SP600 is good for band touring with a big weighted flywheel tuning configuration that makes it easy to zip around the bands. Anyway, good luck with with all the new toys. 73 de Mike AA9IL"}, {"response": 32, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Apr  2, 2000 (22:03)", "body": "Believe it or not, when the HRO was delivered to me after my father's death it was not in working order. An old friend was given it - power supply, drawers and rig - the entire lashup. I knew if anyone could get it working again and would appreciate it, he would. He returned the favor by giving me this Hammerlund which is not as intimidating. I do not recall the model of the HRO, but I will ask KH6ORS when next I see him. If you are in the Great Lakes area, you can set up the water as a ground plane like we do here on peninsulas for field day. They get remarkable results using that method while waiting for the antenna riggers to get the long lines into the palm trees. I hope you succeed in getting your dream rig. But, talk about an boatanchor...! It figures out to about $1/pound. How big is it and are we talking rack and all? Cannot imagine an 800 pound tranceiver...so I am going to hunt it down on the net and see what I can find. E-Bay sells a load of antique and newer tube Ham radios. Have you checked there (of course, you have!)? I know about pains to tune. I also bestowed my old AVR on KH6ORS...yanked out of a WW2 boat or plane and sent to college with me years later. It had NO dial so I had to learn the position of the butterfly condenser to know where the stations were I wanted to hear. *sigh* The good old days...! 73 Marcia"}, {"response": 33, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Sun, Apr  2, 2000 (23:40)", "body": "Not sure if I have ever seen an AVR receiver. One of the old radios that I searched for was an ARC 5 receiver. It was about as basic as they came and required the gain and bfo to be built into a press- in accessory box. It ran off of 28 volts which powered a dynamotor. These sets covered 190khz to 550khz, the am broadcast band, 160meters, 80 meters, and 40 meters with each set covering one range. These sets were used in military aircraft (WWII vintage) - after the war, they were perfect novice rigs. Back in the 'good old days', there were whole city blocks of stores that sold ARC 5's, ART13's, BC348's BC610's and tons (literally)of other military surplus radios for pennies on the dollar. Of course, this was long before I got into ham radio but I was able to find my set(s) at ham fests and word of mouth. These sets are fun to operate and there is nothing like firing up a 50+ year old radio and making a contact. 73 de AA9IL Mike"}, {"response": 34, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Apr  3, 2000 (00:01)", "body": "This old AVR (I am sure of the initials but will check on the net for more info) had a long square bar on the lower left which was pushed in or yanked (Yup!)out in three steps to change from low to medium (am broadcast) to high band (that was how it was designated then)...and a bfo and volume and one tuning knob with 119 turns from pin to pin. I counted them one long night of listening with an old headset which just about covered my entire head. I could get the entire world on it and learned the fine art of dx-ing and keeping logs with it. I thought I had invented a new hobby Hi! It also had two antenna terminals on the front. They were push-in affairs which opened little holes into which you inserted the antenna wire. One for the lowest band (on which I never heard anything - ever!) and the other for the two upper bands. The first time I was handed my son's Sony digital SWR I thought it was a joke. But, he was my son and the grandson of my dad, so I knew it wasn't a joke. However, as you say, gim e a solid old tube set and fire it up to make contact. That is still a thrill. I hate when a signal comes in poorly on a digital and there is nothing to tweak. Gotta have at least 10 knobs to fiddle with before I am happy! 73 Marcia"}, {"response": 35, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Apr  3, 2000 (00:04)", "body": "The AVR did not have a \"case\" as it ws built directly into the front panel of the aircraft (I am pretty sure they were used for aircraft). My dad took sheets of crinkle black finished metal and fabricated a box for it, drilled cooling holes in the lid (which I was instructed to leave ajar if I was to listen to it for any length of time) and holes for the various knobs and toggle switches. Suddenly, I am overcome with nostalgia!"}, {"response": 36, "author": "wolf", "date": "Mon, Apr  3, 2000 (17:10)", "body": "hey, what's with all the numbers and stuff before your names? are those radio call signs? (like ham radio operators--or is that what we're talking about?)"}, {"response": 37, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Apr  3, 2000 (19:08)", "body": "Do you mean 73's and 88's? 73 = best regards; 88 = Love and Kisses. It is shorter when sending code to use those than spelling it all out. Mike's call sign as a Amateur Radio Operator is AA6IL"}, {"response": 38, "author": "wolf", "date": "Mon, Apr  3, 2000 (21:29)", "body": "yup, that's what i meant!"}, {"response": 39, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Wed, Apr  5, 2000 (07:17)", "body": "My callsign is ka6atn, the 6 means I got my ticket (license) in Calfornia, it doesn't mean I'm *from* California. I get that sometimes when I give my call around here (where there are 5 calls), \"oh, what part of California are you from?\""}, {"response": 40, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Apr  5, 2000 (16:23)", "body": "I wondered about that...but there are so many retired military out here with home calls that I was not surprised at yours."}, {"response": 41, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Thu, Apr  6, 2000 (07:36)", "body": "Yeah, I can see a lot of Calif folks migrating to Hawaii."}, {"response": 42, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Thu, Apr  6, 2000 (07:38)", "body": "with their 6 calls. What is the number designation for Hawaii?"}, {"response": 43, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Apr  6, 2000 (17:28)", "body": "Usually 6. We are in Region 13 which for novice class = KH6 or WH6 Technician/general = KH6, NH6, or WH6; Advanced Class = AH6 Extra Class = AH6, KH6, NH6, or WH6 I note by your call that Mike (aka Cosmo) is AA6IL means he has an advanced class license. My information is a few years old so this might be a little different now. I also know those who retain their old call even though they qualify for advanced class and higher calls."}, {"response": 44, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Apr  6, 2000 (17:37)", "body": "However, Looking through my log book for the local hams I know, there are N6, H6, WA6, K6, KB6 (military)WA6, KJ9U (a guy on Oahu), A6J (a guy down the street) and an occasional KA6. You would be right at home here with your call, Terry. I suspect those anololies are old calls which came to Hawaii with the retirees when they moved here. Btw, it is the young generation which leaves, like my son, to get a good job which pays a living wage."}, {"response": 45, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Sun, Apr 23, 2000 (20:52)", "body": "Hi Marcia and gang My old call from my novice days was KA5WOT which I kept even when I passed my Advanced (in Texas during my college years...). When I moved to Illinois, I passed the Extra and got AA9IL - now-a-days people can request vanity call signs but AA9IL was luck of the draw - I do have folks come up to me after hearing my call and asking how did I manage to get that call while living in Illinois. I joke that if I lived in Wisconsin, I would have to wait for AA9WI for my new call. Yea, its nothing like having lots of controls to mess with when tuning in a station. The R390A has mechanical MHz and KHz tuning knobs with a mechanical counter display. When you turn the knobs, a bunch of gears and cams turn on the inside which move coil slugs up and down and also tune the oscillator - mucho fun for the gear heads.... I wish I could find a RACAL RA17 which is a UK boatanchor in league with the R390A - it clocks in over 90lbs and has a unique tuning system as well. The RCA AR88 was another big heavy receiver that is quite rare here but would be fun to have to hold the table down. These radios have which todays modern solid state boxes just dont stack up to. I do like modern govt surplus surviellance receivers though mainly because of their 'covert spook' heritage. Something quite fun listening to VHF/UHF bands on a radio that came out of a govt listening post. BTW, just got back from a visit to Austin for a week of business/ vacation. It was nice to be home and even take in the Bob Marley fest at auditorium shores which made me feel like I was in my slacker days of old.... 73 de AA9IL Mike"}, {"response": 46, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Apr 23, 2000 (21:01)", "body": "Can you even get good gov't surplus nowadays that does not have the guts all rearranged so you cannot hear the \"good stuff\"? I have heard enough interesting stuff with an old scanner in the middle of the night in the Los Angeles area. Overheard two guys planning the removal of many TRW files from the building nearby. I had no idea where it was at that time, but never heard anything about it later. I guess they do not announce these things if they can help it - or perhaps it has not yet been discovered...! I am envious of your trip to Austin...*sigh*"}, {"response": 47, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Mon, Apr 24, 2000 (00:32)", "body": "Hi Marcia and gang You can find mil surplus radios quite often at the local ham fests. In most instances, the gear is complete but sometimes it is 'demil-ed' which means boards, EPROMS, CPU's, etc have been removed or damaged. For the most modern radios, this pretty much makes them inoperable and good luck finding any documentation or even a company that will fess up to building the set especially if it was made for the 'agency'. Modern, exotic, surviellance receivers are available on the surplus market but they can add up to several thousand dollars. These sets were made by Watkins Johnson, Racal, Harris, etc. Many times these sets are purchased surplus via govt auctions or DRMO sales - these sets will probably increase in price by a couple of hundred percent when they reach the surplus dealers. Most of the sets I have are 60's and 70's era hybrid radios that are manual tuning and comprise of tubes and transistors. The frequency range covers 20-1000mhz and some sets include a spectrum display to show a frequency span around the center frequency. Neat stuff but the Icom PCR1000 can do all the things the modern sets can do and then some - plus they do not cost $20-$40000 new. The 60's era sets are not too expensive and they still fall into the boatanchor category. 73 de AA9IL Mike"}, {"response": 48, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Apr 24, 2000 (00:47)", "body": "Thanks, Mike. Really interesting. I would not be surprised if you would not find some interesting people calling on you if you did manage to get one of the top-of-the-line surveillance equipment into your ham shack. Even more likely if you had a tower in the back yard. Gotta hand it to our military. Only the best manufacturers will do - at our expense, of course! I am all to aware of the gutted modern stuff out there. Worthless. Not even good for parts. Wouldn't we all like an Icom 1000 under the tree this Christmas (or for Mother's Day, for that matter!) *wishful thinking sigh*"}, {"response": 49, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Mon, Apr 24, 2000 (08:18)", "body": "Next weekend is Belton, Mike, are you going?"}, {"response": 50, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Mon, Apr 24, 2000 (08:58)", "body": "And what should I be looking for in the way of classic gear?"}, {"response": 51, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Apr 24, 2000 (14:55)", "body": "What is Belton? (or is it a Where?)"}, {"response": 52, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Mon, Apr 24, 2000 (18:38)", "body": "It's a town North of Austin where they have a swap meet. See http://www.repeater.org (our website) for details."}, {"response": 53, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Tue, Apr 25, 2000 (21:57)", "body": "Greetings Marcia, Terry, et.al Nope, was in Austin last weekend - if I could have only scheduled my trip for this week then I could make Belton. As far as gear goes, you cant go wrong if you find a nice big rig like a National HRO, Hammarlund SP600, or a Collins rig. R390A's are nice but, like classic Jaguars, you either need to be very mechanical or know a guy that did field depot repairs on them during their stint in the military. Hallicrafters are nice rigs too, and more common than the above and, for casual listening, are just fine. Collins and Drake are good rigs but you will have to either luck out and find a 51S1 which covers shortwave and the ham bands or be ready to buy a bunch of crystals since the rigs only cover a section of the band based on what crystals are plugged in them. Regarding the spook radios, I think my neighbors would be a bit suspicious if I put up a tower with a bunch of log periodic and discone antennas so the house would look like an embassy listening post.... 73 de Mike AA9IL"}, {"response": 54, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Apr 25, 2000 (22:07)", "body": "Oh yeah...you could get a few life-sized GI Joes armed at the four corners to make them truly paranoid..."}, {"response": 55, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Tue, Apr 25, 2000 (22:29)", "body": "Is the 51S1 a Drake or Collins? What Drake rig is the ultimate classic Drake?"}, {"response": 56, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Apr 25, 2000 (22:37)", "body": "OOoh, My faves, Drake!"}, {"response": 57, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Apr 25, 2000 (22:41)", "body": "Have any boat anchors, ka6atn?"}, {"response": 58, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Apr 25, 2000 (22:43)", "body": "uh...Mike...we're really alright. We are just having attacks of Spring Fever..."}, {"response": 59, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Tue, Apr 25, 2000 (22:48)", "body": "ATlas 210x and drop in base."}, {"response": 60, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Apr 25, 2000 (23:33)", "body": "That'll suffice very nicely..."}, {"response": 61, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Tue, Apr 25, 2000 (23:57)", "body": "The 51S1 is a Collins rig - they go from $600 up.... if you can find one.... For Drake equipment, look for an R4C - it is a ham bands rig but you can plug in different crystals to get other bands. This is the same as the Collins S line. There is a neat trick you can do with the Collins receiver with ham band only crystals - the radio uses a preselector for peaking the tuning - on some bands, if you tune the preselector at odd places, you can hit the right image and listen to short wave broadcast bands. 3's and 8's de Mike Radio Free Cosmo"}, {"response": 62, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Apr 26, 2000 (00:12)", "body": "Back to sanity for my name... Do you know how long-lived crystals are? I have some old scanners and the crystals which go with them. It has been absolute ages since they were used. Hmmm...not familiar with the 3's but I am checking (book across the room) *sigh* My Big Drake was stolen and it is through the kindness of KH6ORS, the Hammerlund replaces it - but this is a whole nuther kettle of fish."}, {"response": 63, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Apr 26, 2000 (00:15)", "body": "Ok...where did I get the 77?! 73, of course...*head on keyboard*"}, {"response": 64, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Apr 26, 2000 (00:19)", "body": "I appreciate your subtlety, Mike. I might have left that up there for an embarrassingly long time...*sigh* See? I told you all Amateur Radiomen were Gentlemen! Every last one of them! *hugs* and Mahalo..."}, {"response": 65, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Wed, Apr 26, 2000 (22:44)", "body": "-grin- no problem.... Regarding crystals - they should age and possibly detune over time - thats why radios that use crystals sometimes have a small trimmer capacitor to tweek the xtal back on frequency. Oy, I only have 3 more weeks of school then I'll have some time to fire up the R390A for long periods of time to listen. I need to fire up the SP600 too since its been dormant after I got the '390. Although, spring is finally here up north and Im gettin the hankerin to do some microwave contacts across Lake Michigan. Too many interests in this hobby.... Plus, there are some ham fests coming up as well. Time for more new junk.... 3's and 8's de Mike AA9IL Radio Cosmo International"}, {"response": 66, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Apr 26, 2000 (22:57)", "body": "That sounds great. I post the prop and dx reports weekly as arrl sends them to me let me know some time what freq's you use and I will try to hear you - even though you'd have to be up in the middle of your night - 1am your time before I could hear you (7pm our time)...but you are not in Texas, huh?! No matter how big they say it is, it is not big enough to see Lake Michigan from there!!! 3's 'n' 8's Marci"}, {"response": 67, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Wed, Apr 26, 2000 (23:42)", "body": "Actually Lake Michigan is just a bit north of Dallas (we Texans call it the Red River, tho....) WARNING! TX BS rising to dangerous levels! WARNING! Anyway,... If I am on HF, I would be found on 30 Meter CW around 10.115 to 10.125mhz or 20 Meter CW near 14.060Mhz. With the sun spots coming along, there should be good DX conditions in the early evening through the morning - plus you have to stay up late after the East Coast goes to sleep or get up real early when the west coast is asleep to work the exotic stuff. Actually, Im looking forward to Amsat P3D which should provide good DX windows to the Pacific when the satellite is parked over there. During the winter months, I hope to be running good old AM on 75 meters with the rest of the Great Lakes crowd around 3885khz. 3's n 8's de Mike AA9IL Radio Free Cosmo"}, {"response": 68, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Apr 27, 2000 (13:51)", "body": "Not going to be able to determine much about you if you just use CW other than if yor ar QLF (which I seriously doubt. You should talk to Terry via CW to get his speed up enough to to upgrade to advanced. Ever do EME stuff? How deep is the TX BS getting? And can one tell the difference between that and the normal TX stuff? Or the normal BS ?"}, {"response": 69, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Thu, Apr 27, 2000 (14:31)", "body": "Bob called a bit ago, we're going to Belton on Saturday monring for the swap meet (see http://www.repeater.org ) and we're taking my van so we can bring back a new antenna for our 442.15 repeater. I'll be on the lookout for classic gear."}, {"response": 70, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Apr 27, 2000 (17:19)", "body": "Sounds good, Terry! Say Aloha to Bob and get him posting again! We have repeaters all over the coasts and across the mountains on the islands. Line-of-sight is just about local only with these mountains. Have fun and remember stuff so you can tell us swap-meet deprived and we can dream."}, {"response": 71, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Thu, Apr 27, 2000 (21:21)", "body": "Sure, I'll try and remember stuff."}, {"response": 72, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Apr 27, 2000 (21:27)", "body": "Happy Hunting!"}, {"response": 73, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Thu, Apr 27, 2000 (21:29)", "body": "thanks, I'll keep an eye out for bargains."}, {"response": 74, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Thu, Apr 27, 2000 (23:56)", "body": "Hi Marcia and gang TX BS is a special grade above just normal old BS Regarding CW, you can tell quite a bit about a brass pounder (or a bug twitcher as the case may be....) by their 'fist' Of course, nothing beats good ol' AM - 100% modulated (plate, naturally) out of some heavy iron.... For CW, I want to master the use of my Vibroplex Blue Racer bug and get to the point where I can copy 35 - 40 wpm while drinking coffee and playing poker like the Radiomen of old. My regular key will be a an early 1900's era spark key that I will be restoring - it has a firm feel to it although my WWII era British Admiralty key has a distinct sound all of its own. Good luck at Belton and get some neat toys - I missed you and Bob on the repeater when I was in Austin - maybe next time. Also, Marcia, hope you can find a good swap fest on the Islands! 3's n 8's de Mike AA9IL Ah, to be monitoring the traffic on 500khz on a tramp freighter off the Canary Islands...."}, {"response": 75, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Apr 28, 2000 (01:09)", "body": "Your oldie - is it a sideways contact or like my Dad's old brass key from when he was in college - looked like a stapler to me but nothing came out when I tried to staple something once in my callow youth (shh...don't think he knows.) You wanna be one of those guys like the old farm wives who could churn milk with one foot, rock the cradle with the other and nurse a third while watching that supper did not scorch. Good reflexes and lots of practice is all it takes...!"}, {"response": 76, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Apr 28, 2000 (01:11)", "body": "In can monitor traffic from under a palm tree and hear both the freighter and anything else I care to grab out of the air, propagation permitting! 3's and 8's Marcia"}, {"response": 77, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Sun, Apr 30, 2000 (23:43)", "body": "Hi Marcia The bug is a semi automatic sideways key that generates dots and manual dashes. The old spark key is the traditional pump type key. I rescued the spark key at an antique store on Portobello Road in London - the previous owner 'tried' to clean the key with a steel wool pad and pretty much ruined it as a collectors item - I decided to clean up the brass properly and buff out the scratches - when Im finished, I will have a classic old key that looks good and is functional as well. Then the key will once again send signals into the airwaves. Nothing beats sitting under a palm tree. I like the old maritime radio op stuff - must have done that in a previous life..... 3's n 8's de AA9IL Mike"}, {"response": 78, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, May  1, 2000 (01:00)", "body": "In the evenings when the frangrance of the night blooming jasmine scents the air for miles and the breezes come down off of the heights of our twin 13,000-foot mountains, it is lovely, indeed. A tall cool one in the non-functioning hand and a brass pump key in the other on a sturdy table beside the boat anchor of your dreams...life can be sweet, indeed! My dad had a fine fist, indeed, and I miss old W2CWR on the air every morning at 6am to have a hal-hour sked with his college buddy W3RM. It kept them both up on their speed though they seldom used it with anyone else. My dad could read the crickets at night (or pretended to us that he could!) 3's n 8's from Hilo"}, {"response": 79, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, May  1, 2000 (03:04)", "body": "Aloha Mike, You might have some really interesting DXing mid week due to the following: It should make the propagation numbers rise dramatically! Look for Aurorae too. Space Weather News for May 1, 2000 A coronal mass ejection (CME) from a small sunspot group was recorded by the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory on April 30, 2000. If material from the eruption is heading toward Earth, as animations of the CME suggest, then the shock wave will probably arrive late on May 2nd or sometime on May 3rd. Forecasters estimate a 30% chance of active geomagnetic conditions at middle-latitudes on May 3, 2000. For more information, please visit http://www.spaceweather.com"}, {"response": 80, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, May  1, 2000 (03:11)", "body": "I post this stuff daily in Geo conference - usually topic 24 - and in New conference topic 36. I don't like to post duplicates, but lots of people think reading stuff in Geo is gonna be deadly dull. Well, I'm not, and neither is it! In fact, I have updating weather maps for all over the world in Geo 14, Earthquake maps which update, too, and solar image direct from NOAA http://www.spring.net/yapp-bin/restricted/read/geo/24.41 In fact, there are very few conferences here I have not written in - just sometimes a little naughtier in some and more serious in others. 3's n 8's Marci"}, {"response": 81, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, May  1, 2000 (03:31)", "body": "Me again Mike. I created a new Geo topic just for Hams and those to whom solar propagation is important http://www.spring.net/yapp-bin/restricted/read/Geo/33/new Btw, anyone want me to post the Keplerian Data which I get from ARRL every so often? 3's n 8's Marci who is going to bed!"}, {"response": 82, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Mon, May  1, 2000 (09:51)", "body": "Sure, post it!"}, {"response": 83, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, May  1, 2000 (13:09)", "body": "Will do so when the next set arrives. I will post it in the DX topic unless someone perfers it elsewhere...?"}, {"response": 84, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, May  1, 2000 (19:25)", "body": "The next set of Keplerian Data is due tomorrow, but I posted last week's in DX Information - Topic 32 of this conference. If you'd like it elsewhere or not at all, please let me know!"}, {"response": 85, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Mon, May  1, 2000 (23:05)", "body": "Hi Marcia This is a bit of a stray from the boatanchor thread but another interest of mine is in VLF, ELF, and down. There is an interesting club called the LWCA (Long Wave Club of America) - there is a 'Sounds of Natural Radio' section which deals with sferics, whistlers, dawn chorus, etc. There are some experimenters who monitor the SLF frequencies for signals generated by Mother Earth (earth quakes, the magnetosphere, etc...) This is much more suited for the Geo section where I can move this thread to. The only radio I have that goes down that low is a Watkins Johnson set that tunes down to 6khz. Have never heard anything down there except for Omega navigation. There is also FSK and CW signals from the Navy which uses the low frequencies to transmit to subs. I think there was once an ELF transmitter in Wisconsin who's antenna covered lots of miles. There are man made signals from 1khz down to 1hz no doubt but you do not read about them in the paper... 3's and 8's de secret agent mike"}, {"response": 86, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, May  1, 2000 (23:38)", "body": "Oooh! Great stuff, Mike! you can also hear distant lightning as it strikes the ground, with the right frequency terraphones. Love this thread and no one has discussed anything like it in Geo, though that is why I set up Geomagnetism (topic 27) wanna continue there? I'll paste these two posts there and continue. 3's n 8's Marcia, who's delighted..."}, {"response": 87, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Tue, May  2, 2000 (08:24)", "body": "Great material. I'd never heard of long wave natural signals like this before. Fascinating."}, {"response": 88, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, May  2, 2000 (13:58)", "body": "We're taking the conversation to Geo 27 when Mike can get online again (this evening, perhaps?!) That is what the GeoMagnetism is about when you asked me what it is. A whole topic full of good stuff awaits your perusal!"}, {"response": 89, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Tue, May  2, 2000 (23:16)", "body": "Greetings Marcia and all Ok, moving the whistler stuff to Geo. We will now return to the vintage radio hour, already in progress..... 3's n 8's de Mike AA9IL"}, {"response": 90, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, May  2, 2000 (23:21)", "body": "*tweaking* *ooching fine tuning* Thank heavens for old time radios one could look into and understand. Geo had her control file eradicated and I (and a magician behind the scenes)am trying to get my buttons back on and my wallpaper! Scary to have all of that programming disappear. (Spring was frozen for about 2 hrs)"}, {"response": 91, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, May  2, 2000 (23:22)", "body": "*hugs* Mike! It is good to see you!"}, {"response": 92, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, May  4, 2000 (00:09)", "body": "Aloha Mike, Reading over your posts, I neglected to follow up on your comment about marine ops. I have followed two kinds for years, the scanner CG channels. They berthed the QEII on channel 16 while I listened and stood 20 feet away from the dock edge. I also watched as a Russian freighter set out to sea. They hauled down the hammer and sickle and raised a hand-sewn new Russian flag and listened to them tell about it! It was the day of the revolution and they had gotten word of it. It was incredible! We cheered them on as they steamed away. I have listened to my dad dx the marine operators along the Eastern Seaboard, too. My sisters and I used to hold our noses and say \"Wilmington Marine Operator\" just the way they did. I can still hear it inside my head. Are they still in operation? Or are you talking about Ham bands with which the ships converse at sea with home base? I am most interested in any of these transmissions. I listened to the two Coast Guard Cutters as they traversed the North Pole (am I remembering correctly - not sure where my log is right now!)"}, {"response": 93, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Thu, May  4, 2000 (23:36)", "body": "Greetings and back to radio... Regarding marine radio ops - these are the ops who handled maritime traffic in the 600 meter band (500khz). There were also shore stations which handled traffic with the ships and also monitored the international distress frequency. On this frequency, there were mandatory silent periods to listen for distress signals. I have read in email posts that an interesting exchange would take place between the shore stations and ships - a radio op would send a single 'dit' where another op would respond with a 'dit' - soon there were a flash flood of 'dits' which would then disappear as quickly as it started. Those were the days of the real radio men. Now-a-days, its all modern satellite stuff - efficient but not very exciting. Although I completely missed that era, I try to recreate it a little bit with the classic radio collecting and operating. 3's and 8's de AA9IL Mike dit dit....."}, {"response": 94, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, May  4, 2000 (23:38)", "body": "Aloha Mike, How about generating your own lightning and amazing the kiddies on your block. Build a VandeGraf generator. They had a huge one in the British Museum of Science on Cromwell Road, and it made such a loud noise it scared my 14 yr old son until he discovered what it was. Then he wanted one of his very own. It would make a nice addition to your Foucault Pendulum and Spielhaus Space clock when you include the Tesla coil and other goodies you are planning. A room-sized orrery would be nice too. In the ceiling, of course. And, a good-sized telescope with a dome to house it in on the turreted third floor?! Sounds wonderful! 3's n 8's Marcia"}, {"response": 95, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, May  4, 2000 (23:45)", "body": "You slipped your comment about marine radio in under my fanciful thinking. You are still a little kid, then?! Is all marine ops other than the ones I mentioned done with cw? No wonder it went out of favor. I miss the person to person quailty of my early childhood (could ony hear it on vacation when we were at the shore.) You are close enough to the Great Lakes you should be able to pick up some marine voice traffic. There is still a lot out there but on the standard Ham bands or just outside of it as is the Aircrafe traffic over the Pacific. That is good listening, as well."}, {"response": 96, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, May  4, 2000 (23:47)", "body": "Gotta get off the University computers and attend this banquet. People are beginning to read over my shoulder. Aloha, Mike - I'll be back tomorrow!"}, {"response": 97, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Fri, May  5, 2000 (23:27)", "body": "Hey Marcia Better watch out for the shoulder surfers - great way to get passwords though.... Regarding radio traffic on the great lakes - there is still plenty of signls to be heard with all the shipping traffic. An interesting magazine that has alot of coverage of vintage gear is called 'Electric Radio' - there was even a story the end the use of CW for marine radio traffic. There is an email list called 'boatanchors' which has alot of good exchanges about vintage radio operating. I have been on this list since '94 or '95. There is also a neat magazine I have been reading titled 'Great Lakes Cruiser' which has plenty of history of all the shipping in the Lakes as well as the ports and maritime lore. Neat for us armchair sailors - maybe I can find an ice breaker or light ship on the surplus market dirt cheap.... 3's and 8's de Mike AA9IL"}, {"response": 98, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, May  6, 2000 (12:56)", "body": "Aloha Mike, (and all other owners of massive humidity-arcing big rigs of the wheel-less kind...) Are any of those 'zines online? I really do not need another subscription, but it sounds fascinating. My cousin was a captain on the Great Lakes (and a gratuate of New York Maritime Academy) Yup! Know about shoulder surfers - but thanks for the heads-up. They were mostly intrerested in what I was telling your about my experiences with Marine radio - but it is disconcerting and really rather rude... Just what you need to go with your boat anchors - a real boat. Even the smallest of them will take up a huge amount of room in your back yard, or if you berth it, vast amounts of money while it deteriorates. However, I think your comment was more fanciful thinking than planning. It Would be fun to have one, though!"}, {"response": 99, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, May  6, 2000 (13:02)", "body": "...and when you get your ship, make sure the Radio Room is completely stocked with the good old glow in the dark tube type radios. Gotta keep Mike busy and Happy! Let us know what happens along these lines and how the Tesla coil is coming...*grinning eagerly* 3's n 8's Me in Hilo"}, {"response": 100, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Sat, May  6, 2000 (23:10)", "body": "Greetings Marcia and shoulder surfers Well, the lightship is a bit fanciful thinking but I have had ideas of parking a boat off shore from Chicago and doing a pirate radio program in the tradition of Radio Caroline, Radio Newyork International, etc. As far as radio gear goes, most likely will have the latest marine SSB stuff - probably SGC which also transmits on the amateur bands as well. I guess for old times sake, I could have a small boatanchor radio in the corner as well - I would have to have a rather large ship to hold the really big radios I would like to own - plus they would have to be welded down so as to not tip over in the high seas (or rough Lake Superior for that matter....) The Tesla coil project is in queue for the moment, right now, the primary projects is the assembly and integration of some 2, 3, and 5 ghz transverters so I can do some propagation studies over Lake Michigan - that way, I can combine radio with a day trip to the local state beach near Wisconsin. 3's n 8's de AA9IL Mike"}, {"response": 101, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, May  6, 2000 (23:52)", "body": "Aloha Mike, The shoulder surfers have backed off 1) they do not have a clue of what we are talking about and 2) they have noticed that they have been discovered and that it is considered rude by certain people who are the prime user of the surfed screen...*grin* Actually, one older guy was just looking as he had never seen anyone use a computer, let alone a woman, let alone one he things is a babe. What can I say?! With Tesla technology can't you move your Nantucket Light Ship (midwest) to another place like Philadephia - or have you not read all about that? (betcha have!) Pirate radio... Yesssss!!!! Please email me or whatever when you get on the air. I love this stuff! (yesh, my email in here works) Weld them down so confiscating them in raids will be more difficult! Make the FCC work for their money! 3's n 8's M is sunny and balmy Hawaii"}, {"response": 102, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, May  6, 2000 (23:55)", "body": "Man! Can tell I was in the sun all day at Baseball. Musta burnt my brain. Sorry for the mistypings!"}, {"response": 103, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Sun, May  7, 2000 (19:34)", "body": "It was hot here too - must be Summer... When I was in college, you did not cruise the comp sci or engineering building looking for babes - my, how things have changed. The pirate radio gig is a bit aways - need to get a ship first. Yep, have heard about the Philly Experiment - another topic to add to Geo. Well, gonna fire up the R390A for a while to burn the cobwebs out. Might get to do some listening too once I get my silly work finished. 3's n 8's de Mike Radio Free Cosmo"}, {"response": 104, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, May  7, 2000 (19:49)", "body": "I think the Philly Experiment would fit nicely into the semi-lunatic fringe collection of Earth Mysteries, which is where the serious and taken seriously are discussed when they are not posted elsewhere... I still think we need a Sonic Earth or whatever. Would you like to create a topic which would encompass your ELF and SETI and other listening projects? Please? 3's n 8's Marcia in HOT and sunny Hawaii - summer is definitely here!"}, {"response": 105, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Sun, May  7, 2000 (23:12)", "body": "Hi There I guess I can put together something related for geo - like natural radio signals or somesuch - not quite sure if SETI would fit in there or if that is more of the science/physics or radio territory. We could group the whole thing into geo as well. Could try it there and see what the reaction is. (If it was pure radio astronomy, I would place it in the Astronomy or Radio section) 3's n 8's de Mike Radio Free Europa"}, {"response": 106, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, May  7, 2000 (23:25)", "body": "There is no astronomy conference but I do have topic 24 which is Beyond Planet Earth where I post everything extra-terrestrial... You sure you don't want a topic which is inclussive - like Auditory Earth or something which implies the Earth is emitting radio waves which can be detected... HAve at it - My conference is at your disposal and I am delighted you are interested! Eager, even! 3's n 8's Marcia the eager host in Geo"}, {"response": 107, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Mon, May  8, 2000 (21:06)", "body": "Ok, hows this for a topic name: \"Gaia Magnetosphere\" Kinda tribal rave-y with scientific overtones.... 3's n 8's Mike"}, {"response": 108, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, May  8, 2000 (21:47)", "body": "Love it - and it looks wonderful. I considered naming the entire conference Gaia, but thought it would be misunderstood. Welcome to Geo, Mike! *Hugs* of appreciation! M"}, {"response": 109, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, May 17, 2000 (17:36)", "body": "Gentlemen, how high does this Solar Flux Index go? It bgan the week below 130! SFI=262 up from 259 | A=21 up from 16 | K=2 at 2100 on 17 May. SAF: moderate, GMF: quiet to active, Aurora Level: 4 More: http://hfradio.org/propagation.html 3's n 8's Marci"}, {"response": 110, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, May 18, 2000 (01:34)", "body": "Putting this in here - if it updates, it goes in Geo 35 for mike"}, {"response": 111, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, Jun  3, 2000 (21:07)", "body": "Nope, didn't ! Did not think it would considering what it is showing...*sigh*"}, {"response": 112, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Tue, Jun  6, 2000 (22:00)", "body": "Regarding Silly Americans and Heavy UK radios Just got back from holiday across the pond. Aside from jet lag, I did manage to get a new boatanchor in the mail.... (currently gathering dust in some customs house...) It all started after a night of fierce dancing at the Wag Club near Picadilly Circus in London. Lots of cool old 60's Motown and garage bands mixed into a phat and funky beat until 2:30am. 6:30am.... Oy - I get up and plod through cold and rainy streets to the tube stop for the ride to Liverpool station. The station is pretty empty with the exception of some clubbers making their way home - got on the Great Eastern Line and made my way to Ipswich for a radio rally/car boot sale. I was too wired to sleep so I contented myself to watch the damp country side roll by. It was still pissing rain when I was close to my destination and I heard over my 2 meter radio that the boot sale was canceled but the rally would still go on with a smaller bring and buy sale inside. I put out a call for my friend Sam G4DDK to let him know I had made the journey so he could pick me up and give me a ride to the rally. Ham fests and radio rallies are kind of neat since you dont really know what kind of goodies are going to show up. Although this was a subset of the planned sale, there was still some interesting items for sale - saw an old ARC 5 receiver, a nice TCS6 receiver, and a 'Tail End Charley' test set (whatever that was...). I snatched up a 70's era Racal Squadcal military backpack radio. Of course, the prize of the trip was a Racal RA17 hf shortwave receiver in storage at Sam's QTH. After a nice visit, a drive by the BT research facility, and a viewing of Bawdsey Manor (airbourne radar R&D during WWII), the RA17 and me were dropped off at the Ipswich train station for the trip back to London. Now, comes the fun part - lugging back a 44 kilo (67 pound) tube radio. Lucky for me I brought along a luggage cart which simplified things somewhat but it was still a challenge hauling the #&%!@ heavy beast up and down stairs in the various tube stations. Finally, after a long train ride, multiple tube transfers and a half a mile walk back to the hotel, the death march mercifully ended. The radio was hooked up to the mains and fired up - it came to life and I listened to some shortwave for a few minutes. The RA 17 is a classic tube set that uses a unique tuning system. (subject of another post) Of course, its big and heavy and has lots of knobs to fiddle with. I called up the shipping company to arrange pickup, fainted from the sticker shock, and bid my new toy farewell for its journey across the sea. When I see the big wooden crate at the front door, the R390A and SP600 will have to move over a bit for the new boat anchor. 73 de AA9IL Mike"}, {"response": 113, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Jun  6, 2000 (22:25)", "body": "Oh Mike! If it had been anyone but you, I'd be envious out of my mind about your trip across the pond to the Sceptered Isle. How amazing that your Boat Anchor fired up straight away - and without a lot of snapping and zapping as the humidity is driven out of the contacts. So, a ruptured disk later and possibly a hernia as well, wans't it worth it?! Good Business! What have you discovered about the rest of the goodies you got? 3's and 8's Marcia"}, {"response": 114, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Jun  6, 2000 (22:26)", "body": "Been at this too long today.......make that Fine Business and I am going back to Geo....*sigh*"}, {"response": 115, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Wed, Jun  7, 2000 (11:08)", "body": "I'm looking forward to hearing about this \"unique tuning\". Great scores, Mike!"}, {"response": 116, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Wed, Jun  7, 2000 (22:32)", "body": "Hi All Ok, rather than me make up some stuff, here is the description from \"ShortWave Receivers Past & Present\" Second Edition by Fred Osterman: Racal RA17 description p 259 \"Ranges: 1-2, 2-4, 4-8, 8-16, and 16-30Mhz. The left tuning knob is for khz and the right tuning knob is for Mhz. The kHz dial is a 6 foot 35mm film scale yielding very high accuracy (+/- 1khz). Stability improved in later production. First communications receiver to use the famous Barlow-Wadly loop drift cancelling system. Heavy duty cast aluminum chassis. Light battleship gray.\" I will have to dig around the RA17 web sights for more detailed info. I do have a jpeg of the monster that can be added to this thread - is it a matter of copying and 'dropping' into the response box? A little bit more detail on the tuning - you set the MHZ knob to the desired range, then peak a preselector for max noise. The khz tape move across a window to indicate frequency - this type of tuning readout is similar to some of the Watkins Johnson receivers I have that use a film tape for frequency display. Last check on the tracking number is that the radio has not left the UK so my guess is its still gathering dust in some customs warehouse. Kind of reminds me of the government warehouse seen at the end of \"Raiders of the Lost Ark\" 73 de Mike"}, {"response": 117, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Fri, Jun  9, 2000 (23:06)", "body": "Its Here! Its Here! 67 pounds of hunka-hunka radio. What a boatanchor. Tomorrow, the conversion from 220v to 110v then fire it up. Details to follow..... 73 de AA9IL Mike and the Racal RA-17L"}, {"response": 118, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, Jun 10, 2000 (01:26)", "body": "Awesome, Mike!!! Light that sucker and listen for Aurora even if you can't see it....lotsa noise, as I recall!"}, {"response": 119, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Thu, Oct 26, 2000 (22:06)", "body": "Hot Dawg! Two radios away in the queue before I can send the R390A in for full factory restoration. Next come the RA17 and SP600. Three tube radios will keep the room warm during winter. (3 tube radio night....) 73 de AA9IL Mike"}, {"response": 120, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Oct 26, 2000 (23:00)", "body": "*sigh* there goes the 700MHz computer..."}, {"response": 121, "author": "Bavarian29", "date": "Sat, Oct 19, 2002 (23:07)", "body": "Hello , I just purchased a National HRO-50T1 (Table Top) that looks nearly new but I an sure that a little tune-up and replacing weak tubes would make it better than it already is. I use it mostly for short wave DX-ing (sniffing out rare stations). I would like to find another HRO-50 owner to compare notes."}, {"response": 122, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Aug 26, 2004 (09:16)", "body": "http://www.camuw.demon.co.uk/web_site/g3ynh/Racal/ra17.html radio conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 31, "subject": "restructuring: will there be a lot more extras and advanced?", "response_count": 15, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Feb  3, 2000 (15:20)", "body": "This is the latest information I have received: ARRL Seeks Partial Reconsideration of Restructuring R&O The ARRL will seek partial reconsideration on two points in the Amateur Radio license restructuring plan announced by the FCC December 30. Both points involve the way the plan deals with Technician-class licensees. The new FCC rules go into effect April 15. The League will ask the FCC to continue to maintain records that indicate whether a Technician licensee has passed a Morse code exam to earn Novice/Tech Plus HF privileges. Under the current system, the license class of Technicians is designated by a ''T'' in the FCC's amateur database, and of Tech Plus licensees by a ''P.'' Under the FCC's restructuring plan, Technician and Tech Plus licensees will all be known simply as ''Technician.'' The ARRL asserts the change will eliminate any easy way to tell which licensees have passed the Morse code exam and which have not. ''We're going to try to persuade the FCC that it made a drastic error in deciding to change all those Ps back to Ts in the database,'' said ARRL Executive Vice President David Sumner, K1ZZ. The FCC has said that it would be up to Technician licensees, if asked, to prove that they have successfully passed the 5 WPM code test. The ARRL plans to ask the FCC to stipulate that any amateur who provides proof of having passed an FCC-recognized Morse code exam prior to April 15 would be entitled to receive credit for the Morse code exam element when applying for future upgrades. The FCC has indicated to the ARRL that after April 15, code credit for Technician applicants passing the 5 WPM test would not survive beyond the 365-day term of a Certificate of Successful Completion of Examination--or CSCE. Under both the present and new rules, anyone who held a Technician license before February 14, 1991, has permanent credit for the Morse code element, but others do not. The ARRL Board of Directors approved a motion to file the Petition for Partial Reconsideration at its January 22 meeting in Memphis."}, {"response": 2, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Feb  3, 2000 (18:16)", "body": "This is interesting Marci, I was wondering about the new rules governing upgrades from General to Advanced or Extra. Have the code requirements been waived in favor of a question pool?"}, {"response": 3, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Feb  3, 2000 (18:41)", "body": "Not sure. Let me check into that. I recall hearing something about it. Your cw question is regarding upgrades? Rather than novice class? I have heard most unhappily that cw requirements are down to 5 words/mminute. Be prepared for some serious QLF...!"}, {"response": 4, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Feb  3, 2000 (18:44)", "body": "Question Pool Committee Eyes February 1 Release Date A revised Amateur Radio question pool that reflects the April 15, 2000, restructuring rules could be out by February 1. Chairman Ray Adams, W4CPA, of the National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators' Question Pool Committee says workable question pools for the new Technician, General and Amateur Extra written exams will be made public by February 1 or ''very shortly thereafter.'' Adams says that a Technician class syllabus already has been drafted and approved. The various QPC members have been keeping in touch by telephone and e-mail since the FCC announced the restructuring rules December 30. Adams says that the QPC plans to further refine and update the newly configured pools in the future, after it has an opportunity to meet and formulate a plan. He said the revised question pools will follow the established format. After April 15, 2000, the FCC will only issue Technician, General, and Amateur Extra class licenses. Novice and Advanced licensees will retain current operating privileges and may renew indefinitely. Applicants desiring HF privileges will only have to pass a 5 WPM Morse code test. Current Amateur Radio study materials remain valid at least until the new rules become effective in April. There are four examination elements in the new licensing system. Element 1 is the 5 WPM Morse code test; Element 2 is a 35-question Technician test; Element 3 is a 35-question General test, and Element 4 is a 50-question Amateur Extra test. Frequently Asked Questions and other information on restructuring is available on the ARRL Web site."}, {"response": 5, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Fri, Feb  4, 2000 (05:37)", "body": "I read this on http://www.qrz.com/callsign.html?inc=column_000117b On December 30, 1999 the FCC announced the new 5 WPM for everybody rule. Coincidentally, the QRZ web server is experiencing record traffic loads in its online exam testing section from people who are eager to upgrade. This will no doubt result in a surge of HF activity later this summer, just in time to catch the peak of the rest of the current sunspot cycle. I'm loathe to predict however, that this will be the last big surge in ham radio popularity. I say this because after this sunspot cycle fades and until it returns 11 years from now, the internet, satellite communications, cell phones and wireless handheld networking devices will have captured every last young, bright and hip person on the planet. To them, analog ham radio will have the high-tech sex appeal of a rotary dial telephone."}, {"response": 6, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Feb  4, 2000 (06:20)", "body": "This is interesting Marci, I was wondering about the new rules governing upgrades from General to Advanced or Extra. Have the code requirements been waived in favor of a question pool?"}, {"response": 7, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Feb  4, 2000 (06:22)", "body": "Response 6 was not reposted intentionally, it was caused when I left my browser window open and refreshed the page a day later."}, {"response": 8, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Feb  4, 2000 (11:31)", "body": "Amazing how that can happen, no? We all seem to have it happen from time to time if we post enough times!"}, {"response": 9, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Feb  9, 2000 (15:33)", "body": "Revised question pools now available The National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators Question Pool Committee has released revised Amateur Radio examination question pools into the public domain. The revised questions, covering the new Elements 2, 3 and 4 that become effective April 15, 2000, now are available on the ARRL web site at http://www.arrl.org . The QPC anticipates that the Element 4 question pool will remain valid until June 30, 2002, the Element 3 question pool until June 30, 2003, and the Element 3 question pool until June 30, 2004. QPC Chairman Ray Adams, W4CPA, says the five-digit numbering system used in past question pools continues to be used in the new question pools. Graphics have been integrated. Minor revisions still are possible. Current Novice, Technician, Advanced and Amateur Extra graphic sheets remain available and valid. Examinations for the new Elements 2 and 3 will contain 35 questions; examinations for the new Element 4 contain 50 questions."}, {"response": 10, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Mar  8, 2000 (13:52)", "body": "Amateur Radio Spectrum Bill Introduced in Senate The Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act bill now has supporting legislation in the US Senate. Idaho Sen Michael Crapo has introduced a bill that mirrors the house bill, HR 783. The Senate measure has been designated S 2183. ''In introducing this bill, we want to do something for Amateur Radio in return for all the good it has done the people of Idaho and elsewhere in the US by providing a reliable means of backup communication in times of emergency,'' Crapo said. He also pledged to promote the bill in the Senate. Like the House version, the Senate bill, if enacted, would require the FCC to provide equivalent replacement spectrum should it ever be necessary to reallocate Amateur Radio frequencies for some other purpose. The new Senate legislation was introduced with bipartisan co-sponsorship from Senators Daniel Akaka (D-HI), Susan Collins (R-ME), Blanche Lambert Lincoln (D-AR), Bob Smith (R-NH) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME). The bill's introduction comes on the heels of a visit to Capitol Hill by the recently elected ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, and First Vice President Joel Harrison, W5ZN. So far, the House version of the spectrum bill has drawn bipartisan support, with 140 cosponsors to date, and has met with no opposition. However, Congress, and the all-important House and Senate Commerce committees, have been preoccupied with non-telecommunications matters and the Amateur Spectrum Protection Act has not yet moved out of committee. The new Senate bill provides additional motivation for the Congress to consider the legislation. NNNN"}, {"response": 11, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Mar  9, 2000 (19:30)", "body": "US Appeals Court Upholds RF Exposure Regulations The US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has upheld the FCC's 1996 RF exposure guidelines. The court also turned away a challenge to the FCC's exclusive ability to regulate relevant radio facility operations. The wide-ranging challenge was brought by the Cellular Phone Taskforce joined by other petitioners including the Communications Workers of America. In an opinion released February 18, the three-judge panel upheld the FCC against the challenges on all points. The petitioners, in part, had claimed the FCC failed to account for non-thermal effects of RF radiation, didn't evaluate new evidence, failed to get expert testimony, and failed to account for ''scientific uncertainty'' about RF exposure in deciding to not lower the maximum permissible exposure levels below the maximum permitted thermal levels. The petitioners also faulted the FCC for adopting a two-tiered MPE level system that allows for higher exposure in ''occupational/controlled'' situations than in ''general population/uncontrolled'' situations. Additionally, the Appeals Court: * said the FCC was not irrational, arbitrary or capricious in its decision and that it did not ignore ''substantial comments'' from experts. * noted that licensees are still responsible for compliance ''and an interested person can petition the FCC for review of a site believed to violate the MPE levels.'' * disagreed that an environmental impact statement was required from the FCC. * rejected the petitioners' arguments that by not considering RF interference with medical devices, the FCC failed to take a hard look at the environmental consequences of its actions. * rejected arguments that the FCC did not enjoy broad preemption authority over state or local government under the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to regulate wireless service facilities. ARRL RF Safety Committee Chairman Greg Lapin, N9GL, credits the FCC with being comprehensive in developing its RF safety regulations and thinks the Appeals Court did the right thing. ''The FCC is not a health and safety organization, and the Commission never intended the rules to serve as a standard,'' Lapin said. Lapin pointed out that the FCC's rules are based on accepted American National Standards Institute/Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements standards, ''which, in turn, are based on mountains of research and the opinions of lots of experts,'' he said. The resulting rules take into account a consensus of expert opinion on the topic of RF safety. ''The appeals court recognized this in its decision,'' Lapin said. NNNN"}, {"response": 12, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Mar 16, 2000 (13:58)", "body": "League Files Partial Reconsideration Petition on Restructuring The ARRL has formally asked the FCC to reconsider and modify two aspects of its December 30, 1999, Report and Order that restructured the Amateur Radio rules. The League wants the FCC to continue to maintain records that indicate whether a Technician licensee has Morse code element credit. It also seeks permanent Morse element credit for any Amateur Radio applicant who has ever passed an FCC-recognized Morse exam of at least 5 WPM. The League filed a Petition for Partial Reconsideration in the WT Docket 98-143 proceeding on March 13. The League suggested that it would be less of an administrative burden for the FCC to maintain the Technician database as it has been doing. The database now identifies Technician and Tech Plus licensees by encoding the records with a ''T'' or a ''P'' respectively. The ARRL also said the inability to identify those Technicians that have HF privileges and those who do not could hamper voluntary enforcement efforts. It further suggested it would be wrong to put the burden of proof of having passed the Morse examination on licensees. The League cited the demands of fairness in asking the FCC to afford Morse element credit to all applicants who have ever passed an FCC-recognized 5 WPM code exam. The rules already grant Element 1 credit to those holding an expired or unexpired FCC-issued Novice license or an expired or unexpired Technician Class operator license document granted before February 14, 1991. It also grants Element 1 credit to applicants possessing an FCC-issued commercial radiotelegraph operator license or permit that's valid or expired less than 5 years. The League has asked the FCC to ''conform the rules'' to give similar credit to those who once held General, Advanced or Amateur Extra class licenses."}, {"response": 13, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Mar 24, 2000 (15:59)", "body": "ARRL Bulletin 18: PRB-1 Bill Introduced in New York A bill has been introduced in the New York State Assembly to codify the essence of the limited federal preemption known as PRB-1 in New York State law. Assembly bill A. 9947 would require localities to ''reasonably accommodate'' Amateur Radio antennas and would prevent localities from restricting antenna structures to less than 95 feet above ground level or from restricting the number of support structures. ARRL Hudson Division Director Frank Fallon, N2FF, says the bill represents two years of work by his Hudson Division PRB-1 Task Force, which spearheaded the bill's development as well as a strategy to get it enacted. The Task Force used other successful state PRB-1 bills as models and had assistance from ARRL Headquarters. Fallon said the bill has the support of his staff and all three Hudson Division ARRL section managers. Support also has been obtained from Atlantic Division section managers in New York, and plans are under way for a statewide promotional effort. The bill, introduced March 7, is in the Committee on Local Governments, which must vote on the measure before it goes to the full Assembly. Assuming the measure makes it past both chambers, it would go to Gov George Pataki--a former amateur--for his signature. Echoing the PRB-1 language, it would provide that any ordinance impacting the placement, screening or height of antennas ''must reasonably accommodate Amateur Radio antennas and shall impose the minimum regulation necessary to accomplish the political subdivision's legitimate purpose.'' The bill also would prohibit any local ordinance, by-law, rule or regulation, or other local law from restricting Amateur Radio support structure height to less than 95 feet above ground level or from restricting the number of antenna support structures. Fallon is urging clubs and individuals to contact their New York State lawmakers--Assembly and Senate--to cosponsor or support A."}, {"response": 14, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Mar 24, 2000 (16:30)", "body": "FCC Puts CORES and FRN on Hold The FCC has delayed the implementation of the FCC's agency-wide Commission Registration System (CORES) and the issuance of an FCC Registration Number (FRN) to each licensee. The new system, which would supplant Universal Licensing System (ULS) registration for Wireless Telecommunications Bureau-administered licensees, was to have gone into effect next Monday, March 27. The FCC said it plans to soon issue a new Public Notice ''clarifying certain issues about the new program and providing a new effective date for implementation.'' CORES registration is expected to replace ULS registration within a year. Information provided to the ARRL by FCC officials indicates that a new CORES registration form will take the place of the ULS Registration Form 606 when the new system goes on-line. Once in place, CORES will assign a new 10-digit FCC Registration Number, or FRN, which will replace the Licensee ID Numbers now issued by ULS for WTB licensees. The ULS covers Wireless Telecommunications Bureau licensees and applicants. It became effective for the Amateur Service last August."}, {"response": 15, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, May 12, 2000 (16:29)", "body": "VECs Struggle with Paperwork Mountain - May 12, 2000 Despite an infusion of temporary help, Volunteer Examiner Coordinators continue struggling to process the huge influx of exam session paperwork resulting from Amateur Radio restructuring. ARRL-VEC and W5YI-VEC continue to estimate that it is taking from three to four weeks from exam session to license grant. ARRL-VEC Manager Bart Jahnke, W9JJ, and his staff have been putting in a lot of overtime and weekend hours. Fred Maia, W5YI, cites a similar situation at his W5YI-VEC. ''We've got mail buckets everywhere,'' he said. Jahnke and Maia say processing is proceeding as fast as possible. They urge amateur applicants to refrain from contacting either their respective VECs or the FCC to inquire as to the progress of individual applications. Applicants wishing to file a vanity call sign application or to upgrade their Volunteer Examiner status cannot do so without a license grant from the FCC reflecting the applicant's upgraded class. In a few cases, applicants are awaiting first-time amateur licenses and do not even have interim operating authority. Jahnke says the ARRL-VEC has caught up with the paperwork backlog from pre-April 15 test sessions. The ARRL-VEC served nearly 35,800 applicants between January 1 and April 14. It continues to deal with the nearly 16,000 applications logged in from April 15 through April 25. Jahnke points out that while VE teams have 10 days to ship session paperwork, transit times can be as long as a week. Once keyed in and sent on electronically to the FCC, most applications are granted overnight. Jahnke says the care ARRL-VEC takes in checking VE session paperwork and applications for ''completeness, accuracy and integrity'' pays off in avoiding problems down the road. Statistics to date suggest a total of more than 13,000 new Generals and more than 10,000 new Extra class hams as a result of restructuring. radio conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 32, "subject": "DX information", "response_count": 91, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Feb  3, 2000 (15:16)", "body": "DX news...February 3, 2000 This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by Tedd, KB8NW, the OPDX Bulletin, The 599Rpt, QRZ DX, The Daily DX, 425 DX News and Contest Corral from QST. Thanks to all. GUINEA, 3X. Robert, 3XY1B0, has been QRV around 14009 kHz at 0630z. QSL via F5XX. SENEGAL, 6W. Phil, F5PHW, is QRV from Dakar during the month of February as 6W1/F5PHW. He is active using CW, SSB and perhaps RTTY. QSL via F6KPQ. UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, A6. Salem, A61AS, has been QRV on 10 meters just before 1400z. ETHIOPIA, ET. ET3AA is QRV using RTTY around 14092 kHz just after 1600z. ANGOLA, D2. Jesus, EA1BF, has been QRV as D2BF on 20, 17, 15 and 10 meters using CW and SSB. QSL via EA8EE. ISLE OF MAN, GD. Rupert, G4XRV, is QRV on all bands as GD4XRV from IOTA EU-116 until February 8. QSL to home call. TEMOTU ISLANDS, H40. Bernhard is QRV as H40MS, and may be found on 20 meters SSB around 0600z. QSL via DL2GAC. SVALBARD, JW. Rag, LA5HE, is QRV as JW5HE until February 8. He emphasizes activity on the low and newer bands. QSL to home call. LEBANON, OD. Pavel, is QRV as OD5/OK1MU, and is usually active on 160 meters just after 0400z. QSL via OK1TN. LORD HOWE ISLAND, VK9L. Yuji, JA3IG, will be QRV as VK9LY from February 8 to 15. He will be active on the HF bands, and possibly 6 meters. QSL to home call. ANTARCTICA. Lance is QRV as VK0ERZ on Davis Base and is often active on 14255 kHz just after 1200z. QSL via VK2FUN. TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS, VP5. Tak, JA1MZL, will be QRV as VP5DX from February 4 to 7. QSL to home call. CHATHAM ISLANDS, ZL7. Lothar, DJ4ZB, is active as ZM7ZB from the Chatham Hotel until March 2. QSL to home call. PRINCE EDWARD AND MARION ISLANDS, ZS8. Derek is QRV as ZS8D, and is usually active on 14260 kHz. He is here until May, 2000. THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The North American Phone Sprint, Minnesota QSO, Delaware QSO, Vermont QSO, and New Hampshire QSO Parties, FYBO Winter QRP Field Day, Ten Ten International Net Winter Phone QSO Party, YL-OM CW Contest, Spring Classic Radio Exchange and the Mexico RTTY International Contest will fill up your contest weekend. Please see February QST, page 96 for details."}, {"response": 2, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Feb  3, 2000 (15:44)", "body": "SFI=154 up from 144 | A=7 up from 6 | K=2 down from 3 at 2100 on 3 February. SAF: low, GMF: quiet to unsettled Aurora Level: 5"}, {"response": 3, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Feb  4, 2000 (20:23)", "body": "Propagation Report Average solar flux and sunspot numbers were down over the past week, and geomagnetic indices were about the same as the week before. Average solar flux was down over 10 points to 138, and average sunspot numbers were off over 36 points to 99. As projected in last week's Propagation Forecast Bulletin ARLP004, geomagnetic indices were active last weekend, with planetary A index for Friday through Sunday of 29, 25 and 11, compared to the predicted values of 25, 25 and 18. Planetary K index values were as high as 5 on Friday and Saturday, and the College K index, based in Alaska, was as high as 7, which indicates a severe geomagnetic storm. For this weekend, expect moderate planetary A indices of 7, 7 and 10 for Friday through Sunday, rising to 15 on Monday. Geomagnetic indices should stay moderate until February 23-26, when the planetary A index could reach 20. Predicted solar flux for Friday through Sunday is 155, 170 and 180, rising to 190 on Monday, 195 on Tuesday, and peaking around 205 on February 11-12. Solar flux is expected to drop below 150 again after February 18, and bottom out around 130 from February 23-25. There should be another solar flux peak around March 9-10, based on the rotation of the sun, which happens about every 27 days relative to earth. Where are we now in the current cycle? A year ago this bulletin reported an average solar flux of 123.9 and 153.9 for the week previous. The average solar flux for the month of January was 159, for December was 169.8 and November was 191.5. The latest prediction from NOAA shows the peak flux value of the current solar cycle coming up in August of this year, but the value is only about 17 points higher than the monthly average forecast for this month. W0NXS sent an interesting article from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology concerning repeatability in periods of solar magnetic fields. The article spoke of research which observed data over 38 years, and concluded that variations in solar magnetic fields repeat every 27 days and 43 minutes. The findings were published in the February 1 issue of the Journal of Geophysical Research. Additional information is at http://spacephysics.jpl.nasa.gov/pr/longitude.htm . Another interesting article appears at the NASA Space Science News site at http://spacescience.com/headlines/y2000/ast03feb_1.htm . This shows some dramatic pictures from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory detailing huge coronal mass ejections from the sun over the past week. Sunspot numbers for January 27 through February 2 were 110, 96, 81, 90, 82, 107 and 127 with a mean of 99. 10.7 cm flux was 132.4, 152, 127.7, 132.7, 138.6, 138.1 and 144.4, with a mean of 138, and estimated planetary A indices were 12, 29, 25, 11, 6, 8 and 7, with a mean of 14. This week's path projection will be from the center of the contiguous 48 U.S. states for Saturday, February 5. To Western Europe, 80 meters 2230-0930z (best 0230-0630z), 40 meters 2130-1100z (best 0030-0730z), 30 meters 2000-1230z (best 0000-0730z), 20 meters 1400-0030z, 17 meters 1400-2130z, 15 meters 1430-2030z, 12 meters 1500-1900z, 10 meters 1600-1830z. To Eastern Europe, 80 meters 2330-0700z, 40 meters 2230-0800z, 30 meters 2130-0930z, 20 meters 1400-1530z and 1900-2100z, 17 meters 1430-1830z, 15 meters 1500-1730z, 12 meters 1600-1630z. To Southern Africa, 80 meters 2330-0430z, 40 and 30 meters 2230- 0500z, 20 meters 2200-0300z, 17 meters 1930-0030z, 15 meters 1830-2330z, 12 meters 1800-2200z, 10 meters 1830-2130z. To South America, 80 meters 0000-1000z (best 0230-0900z), 40 meters 2330-1000z (best 0030-0900z), 30 meters 2330-1100z (best 0030-0930z), 20 meters 2200-0930z, 17 meters 1300-1400z and 2100-0200z, 15 meters 1400-0100z (strongest later in the period), 12 meters 1430-0030z, 10 meters 1500-2230z. To the Caribbean, 80 meters 2330-1200z (best 0130-1030z), 40 meters 2200-1330z (best 0030-1030z), 30 meters all hours, best 0030-1030z, weakest 1530-1930z, 20 meters 1330-0100z, 17 meters 1400-0000z, 15 meters 1430-2300z, 12 meters 1530- 2130z, 10 meters 1630-2030z. To Australia, 80 meters 0930-1400z, 40 meters 0930-1500z, 30 meters 0900-1500z, 20 meters 0830-1200z and 1400-1600z, 17 meters 1500-1700z, 15 meters 1530-1700z. To Japan, 80 meters 0730-1400z, 40 meters 0700-1500z, 30 meters 0630-1600z, 20 meters 1430-1730z, 17 meters 2100-0300z, 15 meters 2130-0200z, 12 meters 2200-0030z, 10 meters 2200-2330z."}, {"response": 4, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Feb 10, 2000 (17:18)", "body": "DX news This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by Tedd, KB8NW, the OPDX Bulletin, Trey, N5KO, The 599Rpt, The Daily DX, 425 DX News and Contest Corral from QST. Thanks to all. FIJI, 3D2. Paul, A35RK, and Bob, W7TSQ, are QRV from the QTH of Craig, 3D2TC. Paul is QRV as 3D2RK, and Bob as 3D2SQ. QSL both calls via W7TSQ. VIETNAM, 3W. Mal, VK6LC, is now licensed as 3W2LC. He will be QRV from February 12 to 13, and again from February 19 and 20 during his mornings and evenings. QSL to home call. GHANA, 9G. Zdeno, 9G5ZW, is active on the HF and newer bands. QSL via OM3LZ. BAHAMAS, C6. Dick, N4RP, will be QRV on all HF bands as C6AKP from Bimini, IOTA NA-048, February 11 to 23. He will use mostly CW, and some SSB. QSL to home call. ISLE OF MAN, GD. Look for DL3OI, DL4LQM, DL5AXX, DL5LYM and DL7URH to be active as MD/homecalls from February 15 to 21. Activity will be on 160 to 10 meters using mostly CW, but also some RTTY. QSL to home calls. GALAPAGOS ISLANDS, HC8. Look for HC8N to be QRV during February and March. Activity includes entries in the World Wide RTTY Contest and the ARRL International DX Phone. QSL via AA5BT. GUANTANAMO BAY, KG4. Karl, K1KO, is QRV until February 14 as KG4KO. Activity is centered on the low bands. QSL to home call. SURINAME, PZ. Ramon, PZ5RA, is QRV using RTTY, and can usually be found on 20 meters around 0300z. He is also active on 10 meters from 1130 to 1300z. PALAU, T8. Hide, JM1LJS, will be active again as T88LJ from February 11 to 14 on all HF bands using CW and SSB. QSL via JH8DEH. UZBEKISTAN, UJ. Shams, UK8CK, is often QRV on 80 meter CW around 0130z. COCOS ISLAND, VK9C. Richard, DJ4OI, Bernd, DJ3OS, and Joachim, DF6IC, are QRV as VK9CN, VK9CO and VK9CP, respectively, until February 16. QSL to home calls. CHRISTMAS ISLAND, VK9X. After their Cocos Island operation, look for DJ4OI, DJ3OS and DF6IC, to be QRV as VK9XS, VK9XT and VK9XU, respectively, from February 16 to 26. QSL to home calls. THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The North American CW Sprint, YL-OM Phone Contest, Winter Fireside SSB Sprint, World Wide RTTY WPX Contest, PACC Contest and the Novice Round-Up are all scheduled for this weekend. The 14th Annual School Club Roundup is scheduled for February 14 to 19. Please see February QST, pages 96 and 97, respectively, for details."}, {"response": 5, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Feb 11, 2000 (14:25)", "body": "Propagation Forecast Bulletin 6 Sunspot numbers and solar flux rose over the past week, with average solar flux up over 36 points and average sunspot numbers rising nearly 70 points compared to the previous week. Peak activity probably already occurred, with solar flux on Wednesday at 199 and sunspot numbers peaking on Tuesday at 198. Solar flux should decline for the near term, with the values for this Friday through Sunday at 176, 176 and 174. The next low is forecast around February 22-25 with a solar flux value around 130. The next peak is predicted for March 8-9, with solar flux near 195. Based on the 27.5 day solar rotation, the following near term solar flux minimum would be around March 20-23 at 130. There were a couple of active geomagnetic days on February 6 and 7, when the planetary A index was 24 and 25 and the maximum K index was 5. The College A index from Fairbanks was 43 and 38 on those days, with a peak K index of 7, because of the high latitude. KL7AK sent an email message asking about the College index. These readings, along with the planetary A index can be seen with your web browser at gopher://sec.noaa.gov/00/indices/DGD . The predicted planetary A index for this Friday through Sunday is 15, 10 and 20. Conditions should be quiet for February 15-22, but active again around February 24 with predicted A index of 30. March 4 and 5 may also be active, and so may March 22 and 23. Sunspot numbers for February 3 through 9 were 149, 136, 153, 173, 169, 198 and 189 with a mean of 166.7. 10.7 cm flux was 154.1 167.4, 167.8, 177.7, 181.9, 173.6 and 199, with a mean of 174.5, and estimated planetary A indices were 8, 4, 9, 24, 25, 12 and 11, with a mean of 13.3. Path projections for this week are from San Francisco, California. To Western Europe, 80 meters 0100-0830z, 40 meters 0030-1000z (best 0130-0700z) 30 meters 2330-1100z (best 0200-0730z), 20 meters 1500-1700z and 2130-2300z, 17 meters 1530-2030z, 15 meters 1600-1900z, 12 meters 1700-1800z, 10 meters around 1730z. To Eastern Europe, 80 meters 0130-0630z, best around 0230z, 40 meters 0030-0800z, best 0230-0500z, 30 meters 0000-0930z, best 0200-0530z, 20 meters 1500-1730z and 0400-0600z, 17 meters 1530-1830z, 15 meters 1630-1730z. To Southern Africa, 80 meters 0130-0430z (best 0200-0330z), 40 meters 0030-0500z (best 0200-0330z), 30 meters 0000-0530z (best 0200-0330z), 20 meters 0000-0530z (best 0100-0400z), 17 meters 2300-0300z (stronger toward the end of the period), 15 meters 2330-0300z, 12 meters 2200-2330z, 10 meters 2000-2200z. To South America, 80 meters 0130-1000z (best 0430-0900z), 40 meters 0100-1030z (best 0230-0930z), 30 meters 0030-1100z (best 0200-0930z), 20 meters 0030-1100z 17 meters 2230-1000z, 15 meters 1430-1600z and 2200-0330z, 12 meters 1500-0300z, 10 meters 1530-0200z. To the Caribbean, 80 meters 0130-1130z (best 0400-1000z), 40 meters 0000-1230z (best 0230-1030z), 30 meters 2300-1300z (best 0230-1000z), 20 meters open most hours, strongest 0200- 1030z, weakest 1300-1400z and 1630-2000z, 17 meters 1430- 0330z, 15 meters 1500-0100z, 12 meters 1530-0330z, 10 meters 1530-2330z. To New Zealand, 80 meters 0700-1500z (best 1000-1400z), 40 meters 0630-1530z (best 0800-1430z), 30 meters 0600-1600z (best 0730-1430z), 20 meters 0530-1600z (best 0800-1430z), 17 meters 0430-1200z, 15 meters 0230-1030z, 12 meters 2000- 0400z, 10 meters 1830-0430z. To Australia, 80 meters 0930-1530z (best 1100-1200z), 40 meters 0900-1600z (best 1000-1500z), 30 meters 0830-1630z (best 1000-1500z), 20 meters 0800-1700z, 17 meters 0700-1200 and 1600-1800z. To Japan, 80 meters 0800-1600z (best 0930-1030z), 40 meters 0730-1630z, 30 meters 0630-1700z, 20 meters 0500-1200z and 1500-1830z, 17 meters 2100-0530z, 15 meters 2130-0430z, 12 meters 2200-0300z, 10 meters 2200-0130z."}, {"response": 6, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Feb 17, 2000 (14:46)", "body": "DX Bulletin 7 From ARRL Headquarters Newington CT February 17, 2000 To all radio amateurs This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by Tedd, KB8NW, the OPDX Bulletin, Jim, WT9U, QRZ DX, The 599Rpt, The Daily DX, 425 DX News and Contest Corral from QST. Thanks to all. BARBADOS, 8P. Will, AA4NC, and Jim, K4MA, are QRV as 8P9JB and 8P9JA, respectively, until February 22. They are active on all bands and plan to be in the ARRL DX CW contest signing 8P9JA as a Multi/Single entry. QSL to home calls. BAHAMAS, C6. Look for AC8W/C6A and K8DD/C6A to be active from Treasure Cay, Abaco Island, IOTA NA-080, until February 25. This includes an entry in the ARRL DX CW contest as a Multi Operator entry. QSL to home calls. JUAN FERNANDEZ ISLAND, CE0Z. DL2OAP, DL3DXX, DL7UFN, DK1BT and DK7YY are QRV as CE0ZY with 2 stations on 160 to 10 meters until February 29 using CW, RTTY and some SSB and PSK31. They have special permission to operate on 30 meters. QSL via DK7YY. MADEIRA ISLANDS, CT3. Ricardo, CT3KN, will participate in both ARRL International DX Contests, from Madeira, IOTA AF-014. QSL via CS3MAD. GALAPAGOS ISLANDS, HC8. Dave, W6NL, will participate in the ARRL DX CW contest as HC8L as a Single Op/All Band entry, from San Cristobal Island, IOTA SA-004. QSL via N2AU. PANAMA, HP. Don, W4OC, and Ken, N4UK, are QRV on 160 to 10 meters as 3E1AA from Contadora Island, IOTA, NA-072, until February 22. They will be a Multi/Single entry in the ARRL DX CW contest. QSL via operator's instructions. ITALY, I. IK1LWL, I1NVU, IK1CLP and IK1QBT will be QRV as II1R as a Multi/Single entry in the ARRL DX CW contest. QSL via I1NVU. ALAND ISLANDS, OH0. Pertti, OH2PM, will be QRV as OH0B during the ARRL DX CW contest. QSL via OH2BH. ST. MAARTEN, PJ7. ND5S, KF5LG, W8EB and W8DVC, will be QRV as PJ8/homecalls from February 19 to March 12. They will also be active in the ARRL DX CW contest as PJ8A. QSL PJ8A via W9NIP. QSL all others to home calls. ST. KITTS AND NEVIS, V4. Jim, WT9U, will be QRV from V44NK's QTH as V47X during the ARRL DX CW contest. QSL to home call. CANADA, VE. Special Event call VB7GGQ will be used February 19 to 20 for the Girl Guides on the Air Event, GOTA, in Quesnel, British Columbia. QSL via operator instructions. TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS, VP5. Kenny, K2KW, is active as VP5/K2KW from North Caicio Island, IOTA NA-002, until February 22. Activity will be on all bands using CW and SSB and includes an entry in the ARRL DX CW contest as VP5TT. QSL both call via WA4WTG. THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The ARRL International DX CW Contest will certainly keep contesters busy this weekend. Please see December QST, page 99 for details."}, {"response": 7, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Feb 18, 2000 (14:54)", "body": "Propagation de K7VVV Solar flux and sunspot counts increased the week before last, fell last week, and the averages for both weeks were about the same. Average solar flux was down about 11 points last week, and average sunspot numbers were off by a little over one point. Last weekend had a surprising burst of geomagnetic activity, when Saturday's planetary A index was 52. The planetary K index was as high as 7, and Alaska's College A index, which is frequently higher because of its proximity to the pole, was 71. During a six hour period, from 0600-1200z, the planetary A index was 7 and 6 while the College A index was 8 and 7. These all indicate severe geomagnetic storm levels. What should we see over the next week? For the next five days, Friday through Tuesday, solar flux is predicted to be 155, 150, 150, 145 and 145. Planetary A index for those same days is forecast to be 5, 5, 12, 8 and 8. For best HF conditions, we want a low A index in the single digits, and rising solar flux. So Sunday, February 20 with a planetary A index of 12 could be somewhat unsettled. Solar flux for the short term is expected to bottom out near 130 around February 25, then rise to about 150 by March 1, but peak broadly and fairly low near 175 around March 4-8. The next predicted short term minimum is forecast for March 23-24. Of course these are all guesses based upon activity over previous solar rotations, which occur about every 27.5 days. Since the predicted high levels of 175 are much lower than previous rotations where solar flux was above 200, this means that the prediction is based upon sunspot regions which are currently fading. Any new sunspot areas will probably result in increased solar flux and better HF conditions. With spring coming, it would be nice to see extended worldwide openings on 10 and 12 meters again, which would accompany the high flux levels normally expected in a peak year of a solar cycle. Sunspot numbers for February 10 through 16 were 172, 184, 157, 147, 158, 158 and 182 with a mean of 165.4. 10.7 cm flux was 175.7 170.2, 163.2, 159.9, 158.7, 156 and 160.2, with a mean of 163.4, and estimated planetary A indices were 7, 13, 52, 14, 29, 11 and 5, with a mean of 18.7. Path projections for this weekend are from a place in Arizona between Tucson and Phoenix, near Eloy. To Western Europe, 80 meters 0100-0830z, 40 meters 0000-0930z, 30 meters 2330-1030z, 20 meters 1400-1600z and 2200-0000z, 17 meters 1430-2100z, 15 meters 1500-2000z, 12 meters 1600-1830z, 10 meters around 1700z. To Eastern Europe, 80 meters 0030-0630z, 40 meters 0000-0800z, 30 meters 2330-0830z, 20 meters 1330-1530z, 17 meters 1430-1830z, 15 meters 1530-1800z, 12 meters 1600-1630z. To Southern Africa, 80 meters 0030-0430z, 40 meters 0030-0500z, 30 meters and 20 meters 2330-0530z, 17 meters 2300-0100z, 15 meters 2300-0000z, 12 meters 2130-2230z, 10 meters 2000-2130z. To South America, 80 meters 0100-1000z, 40 meters 0030-1030z, 30 meters 0000-1100z, 20 meters 2330-1200z, 17 meters 1330-1400z and 2230-0500z, 15 meters 1400-1500z and 2130-0230z, 12 meters 1430-1600z and 2030-0200z, 10 meters 1500-0100z. To the Caribbean, 80 meters 0000-1130z, 40 meters 2330-1230z, 30 meters 2200-1400z, 20 meters 1300-0830z, 17 meters 1400-0100z, 15 meters 1430-0000z, 12 meters 1500-2300z, 10 meters 1530-2200z. To Australia, 80 and 40 meters 0930-1500z, 30 meters 0900-1500z, 20 meters 0830-1530z, 17 meters 0700-1100z and 1500-1630z, 15 meters around 1500z and around 0430z. To Japan, 80 meters 0800-1500z, 40 meters 0700-1500z, 30 meters 0630-1600z, 20 meters 0530-1700z, 17 meters 2100-0430z, 15 meters 2100-0400z, 12 meters 2130-0230z, 10 meters 2200-0130z."}, {"response": 8, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Feb 24, 2000 (14:23)", "body": "DX news This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by Tedd, KB8NW, the OPDX Bulletin, QRZ DX, Walt, W0CP, Bill, N2BT, The Daily DX, 425 DX News and Contest Corral from QST. Thanks to all. NEPAL, 9N. Nab, 9N1AC, is usually QRV on 40 meters CW around 2300z. QSL via KC3AJ. EASTER ISLAND, CE0Y. Vladislav, G0KBO, and his brother Victor, UA6AF, are active as CE0Y/G0KBO and CE0Y/UA6AF, respectively, until March 2. QSL both calls via G0KBO. MAYOTTE, FH. Christian, 6W1QV, is QRV as FH/TU5DX for the next 6 months from Mamoudzou. QSL via F5OGL. SCOTLAND, GM. Leo, W3LEO, will be QRV as MM/W3LEO from Portpatrick in southwest Scotland from February 29 to March 17. Activity will mainly be on 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10 meters SSB. QSL to home call. SOUTH KOREA, HL. Special event station 6K2000WFK is active until May 7 for the World Flower Exhibition in Koyang. QSL via bureau. SVALBARD, JW. Ken, LA6WEA, and LA7FD, are QRV as JW6WEA and JW7FD, respectively, until February 27. They are mainly active on the low bands, and will participate in the CQ WW 160 Meter Contest. QSL via home calls. US VIRGIN ISLANDS, KP2. Fred, K4FMD, and Wicky, W4WWT, will be QRV as K4UP/KP2 from February 28 to March 5. This includes an entry in the ARRL DX SSB Contest. Activity will be on all bands. QSL via K4UP. MOUNT ATHOS, SV/A. Monk Apollo has received special callsign SY2A to celebrate his 10th anniversary of activity from Mount Athos. He will use this call until December 31, 2000. EASTERN KIRIBATI, T32. Walt, W0CP, and Jim, KK0T, will be QRV as T32B from February 29 to March 6. This includes an entry in the ARRL DX SSB Contest. Activity will be on 160 to 6 meters, using CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK31. QSL via KK0T. COTE D'IVOIRE, TU. Martin, TU5IJ, is active using RTTY. QSL via I2AOX. LAOS, XW. Hiroo, JA2EZD, is QRV as XW2A until May 5. Activity is on all bands using CW and SSB. QSL to home call. IRAQ, YI. Peter, OM6TY, is a member of the Slovak Embassy for another 2 years and is licensed as YI9OM. QSL via OM6TX. THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The CQ World Wide 160-Meter SSB Contest, REF French Phone Contest, UBA CW Contest, YL International Phone QSO Party, RSGB 7 MHz Contest, CQC Winter QRP QSO Party and the North Carolina QSO Party are all scheduled for this weekend. Please see January QST, page 100, and February QST, page 97 for details on these operating events."}, {"response": 9, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Feb 25, 2000 (13:12)", "body": "Propagation Forecast Bulletin 8 Solar flux and sunspot activity were down last week, but heading back up. Average solar flux for last week compared to the previous week was down almost 4 points, and sunspot numbers were off about 28 points. The low point was Friday, February 18, when the three solar flux measurements for the day were 139.6, 141.1 and 140.4. The noon measurement of 141.1 is the official reading for the day. Solar flux is expected to rise, with the projection for Friday through Tuesday of 197, 197, 200, 200 and 204. Solar flux for the near term is expected to peak around 205 on Wednesday or Thursday, March 1 and 2, then decline to below 170 by March 9, and bottom out near 130 around March 23 or 24. Planetary A index has been rising, due to a well-placed coronal hole streaming charged particles toward the earth. NASA has an interesting article about this as well as a dramatic photo online at http://www.spacescience.com/headlines/y2000/ast23feb_2.htm . Also check http://www.spaceweather.com , which on Thursday had an article about a gust of solar wind at 1430z on February 24. The projected planetary A index for Friday through Tuesday is 20, 18, 15, 13 and 10. Conditions may be disturbed again around March 4 and 5, and fairly quiet between March 13-20. Based on the current solar rotation, disturbed conditions may recur around March 22-23, and possibly quiet conditions again around March 26-29, although predictions that far in the future are more of a guess. These projections are based upon sunspots and coronal holes moving across the visible solar surface, as the sun rotates relative to earth every 27.5 days. Various features grow and fade with time, and new areas appear. Some are oriented toward earth and have a large effect, while others do not. The coronal hole that is causing the current geomagnetic disturbance has been visible for the last seven solar rotations. Doug Brandon, N6RT wrote to ask about the URL for Cary Oler's Solar Terrestrial Dispatch web site, which seemed to disappear some time back. Doug did some detective work, and found that it had moved. The new site is at http://solar.spacew.com/ . George Jacobs, W3ASK has an interesting item in his propagation column in the March issue of CQ Magazine concerning equinoctial propagation. This is about the effect that occurs in spring and fall seasons when the daylight distributed between the northern and southern hemisphere is roughly equal, dependent on how close the date is to the equinox. He says that during March intercontinental openings on 160-30 meters should peak just before local sunrise and again at local sunset. 20 meter openings should peak an hour or two after sunrise and again for an hour or so after sunset. 17-6 meter intercontinental openings should peak during daylight hours. Signals on these upper bands are stronger toward the west around and after sunset, while toward the east they are stronger before noon. He notes that signals to the south are stronger after sunrise and again late in the afternoon. W3ASK has a web site at http://www.gjainc.com/ . Sunspot numbers for February 17 through 23 were 152, 146, 126, 131, 122, 129 and 155 with a mean of 137.3. 10.7 cm flux was 168.4 141.1, 144.8, 153.3, 152.1, 172.3 and 185.1, with a mean of 159.6, and estimated planetary A indices were 6, 2, 4, 5, 15, 5 and 9, with a mean of 6.6. Path projections this week are from Boston, MA, and are based on Sunday, February 27 with a solar flux of 200. To Western Europe, 80 meters 2200-0800z, peaking 2300-0000z and again at 0630z, 40 meters 2030-0900z, 30 meters 1830-1100z, 20 meters 1030-0400z, 17 meters 1130-2230z, 15 meters 1230-2130z, 12 meters 1330-2030z, 10 meters 1430-1930z. To Eastern Europe, 80 meters 2130-0530z, 40 meters 2130-0630z, 30 meters 2030-0730z, 20 meters 1730-0630z, 17 meters 1100-2300z, 15 meters 1200-2030z, 12 meters 1230-1930z, 10 meters 1300-1830z. To Southern Africa, 80 meters 2200-0430z, 40 meters 2200-0500z, 30 meters 2100-0500z, 20 meters 2030-0600z, 17 meters 2000-0030z, 15 meters 2000-0000z, 12 meters 1830-2230z, 10 meters 1900-2130z. To South America, 80 meters 2300-0930z, 40 meters 2300-1000z, 30 meters 2200-1030z, 20 meters 2200-1100z, 17 meters open all hours, strongest 2300-0500z, weakest 1300-2000z, 15 meters 1100-1300z and 1930-0300z, 12 meters 1200-0030z, 10 meters 1200-0000z. To the Caribbean, 80 meters 2200-1100z, best 0100-1000z, 40 meters 2030-1300z, best 2330-1000z, 30 meters open all hours, best 2330-1000z, weakest 1530-1800z, 20 meters open all hours, best 2300-1030z, weakest 1500-1830z, 17 meters 1130-0130z, 15 meters 1200-0030z, 12 meters 1230-2300z, 10 meters 1300-2200z. To Australia, 80 meters 0930-1130z, 40 30 meters 0900-1300z, 20 meters 1200-1330z and 0800-0830z, 17 meters 1330-1530z, 15 meters 1400-1600z, 12 meters 1500-1530z. To Japan, 80 meters 0830-1200z, 40 meters 0800-1230z, 30 meters 0700-1330z, 20 meters 0600-1430z and 2130-2230z, 17 meters 2000-0000z, 0530-0830z and 1300-1600z"}, {"response": 10, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Sun, Feb 27, 2000 (22:57)", "body": "Cut loose of the FT-100 at a swapfest, but I still have the reliable old Atlas hf rig."}, {"response": 11, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Feb 27, 2000 (23:09)", "body": "Now that propagation is way up you should fire it up and listen around!"}, {"response": 12, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Sun, Feb 27, 2000 (23:22)", "body": "Yeah, I just work strong signals anyway."}, {"response": 13, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Feb 27, 2000 (23:33)", "body": "Yup! It gets to be an old thing trying to figure out why the guy sounds like he is talking chinese - only to have him get stronger and find he REALLY is speaking in Chinese!!! Been there - done that!"}, {"response": 14, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Mar  1, 2000 (21:47)", "body": "The numbers for today are the highest I have seen in ages SFI=233 | A=18 | K=4 up from 3 at 0300 on 2 March. SAF: low to moderate, GMF: unsettled to active Aurora Level: 8 There is a guy QRZeding from \"North Pecos\" and he is shouting at me. The 14 MHz band is booming in at it is 5:30pm Hawaiian time. Terry where are you??!!"}, {"response": 15, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Mar  1, 2000 (21:54)", "body": "(Yes, I know he is QSL-ing...and he has quite a pileup. there is also a FO0AAA hitting 10 over 10. Incredible background silence, too. Fire up the rigs!"}, {"response": 16, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Mar  2, 2000 (15:53)", "body": "DX Bulletin 9 This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by Tedd, KB8NW, the OPDX Bulletin, The Daily DX, 425 DX News and Contest Corral from QST. Thanks to all. EASTER ISLANDS, CE0. Dan, XQ3IDY and CE3WDH will be QRV as 3G0Y from March 4 to 13. Activity will be on 160, 80, 40, 30, 17 and 12 meters. QSL per operator instructions. VIETNAM, 3W. Nag, JA7GAX, will be active from Saigon as XV2GAX until the end of March. While here he plans to operate from Phu-Quoc Island, IOTA AS-128, as XV2GAX/p. QSL to home call. EASTERN MALAYSIA, 9M6. Jani, YB0US, will be QRV in the ARRL DX Phone contest as 9M6US. He plans to be a Single Op/All Band entry. QSL via N2OO. URUGUAY, CX. Al, CX4SS and George, CX1SI are often QRV on 1833 kHz CW around 0000 to 0400z. CLIPPERTON ISLAND, FO. FO0AAA is now QRV from here. Activity can be found on 160 to 6 meters, including the newer bands, using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL via N7CQQ. MARQUESAS ISLANDS, FO. Alain, F2HE, is signing FO0CLA. He is here until March 20. He will then operate from Tuamotu. QSL via F6CLT. U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS, KP2. Fred, K4FMD, and Wicky, W4WWT, are QRV as K4UP/KP2 from St. Johns, IOTA NA-106, until March 5. This includes an entry in the ARRL DX Phone contest. QSL via K4UP. LUXEMBOURG, LX. Kazik, DL2SBY, is QRV as LX/DL2SBY on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. He plans to be QRV in the ARRL DX Phone contest. QSL to home call. ALAND ISLANDS, OH0. Martti, OH2BH, will be signing OH0B in the ARRL DX Phone contest. QSL to home call. GREECE, SV. SV1DNW, SV1DKL, SV1DKR and SV1DZB will participate in the ARRL DX Phone contest as SY1D. QSL via SV1DNW. GUATEMALA, TG. Luca, TG9/IK2NCJ, will be QRV in the ARRL DX Phone contest as TG0AA. REVILLA GIGEDO, XF4. Jose, XE1ZJV, Luis, XE1YJL, and Enrique, XE1LWY, will sign XF4LWY using CW and SSB on all bands from Socorro Island, IOTA NA-030, until March 8. QSL via XE1LWY. EL SALVADOR, YS. Hrane, YT1AD, will be QRV from the YS1RR QTH for the ARRL DX Phone contest. He will sign HU1A during the contest, and YS/YT1AD before and after the contest. QSL to home call. CAYMAN ISLANDS, ZF. John, KK9A, will be QRV as ZF2JB in the ARRL DX Phone contest as a Single Band entry. QSL to home call. THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The ARRL International DX Phone Contest will keep contesters busy this weekend. Please see December 1999 QST, page 99 for details. NNNN"}, {"response": 17, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Mar  3, 2000 (12:54)", "body": "Propagation Forecast Bulletin 9 RLP009 Propagation de K7VVV Solar activity really took a big jump over the past week. Average solar flux was up almost 57 points from the previous week, and average sunspot numbers were up nearly 66 points. Solar flux peaked on Wednesday, March 1, with a reading of 232.8. Geomagnetic indices were also higher. The peak day for the planetary A index was Thursday, February 24 when it was 26. Planetary K indices were mostly 4 for the day, but reached 5 at one point. Last week's bulletin spoke of a predicted near term peak in solar flux around Wednesday, but about 25 points lower. The short term forecast for this week shows a declining solar flux for Friday, March 3 through Tuesday, March 7 of 210, 210, 205, 195 and 190. Solar flux is expected to bottom-out near 145 around March 16 or 17, then rise above 200 again after March 23. Unfortunately, the outlook for the ARRL International DX Phone Contest this weekend is not positive, at least in terms of geomagnetic indices. The predicted planetary A index for Friday through Tuesday is 12, 28, 25, 20 and 15. It is a shame that the predicted A index for Saturday and Sunday is 28 and 25, but it sometimes comes with increased solar activity. Beyond the weekend geomagnetic conditions should stay quiet until March 22 and 23, then quiet down again until March 31 and April 1. Contesters this weekend can always hope, and monitor WWV for updated K indices. If the K index, which is updated every three hours, is three or lower, that is a good sign. If you want the last solar bulletin broadcast on WWV and want to use a telephone instead, dial 303-497-3235. News from http://www.spaceweather.com/ this week spoke of two intense solar flares erupting on March 2, and another piece at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2000/ast02mar_1m.htm was a story about a polar substorm caused by solar wind, which it described as a ''gale of energetic particles from the sun.'' The cause of some of the recent activity is described in an article at http://spacescience.com/headlines/y2000/ast29feb_1.htm from NASA Space Science News. Sunspot numbers for February 24 through March 1 were 181, 202, 193, 201, 186, 211 and 247 with a mean of 203. 10.7 cm flux was 192.2 210.4, 214.8, 227.3, 218.8, 219 and 232.8, with a mean of 216.5, and estimated planetary A indices were 26, 18, 12, 10, 12, 6 and 19, with a mean of 14.7. Are you in Texas, and planning on participating in this weekend's contest? Then this path projection is for you. This is for Saturday, March 4, from Dallas. To Western Europe, 80 meters 2330-0730z (best 0300-0600z), 40 meters 2300-0830z (best 0130-0630z), 20 meters 2100-0600z, 15 meters 1330-2200z, 10 meters 1500-1930z. To Eastern Europe, 80 meters 0030-0530z (best 0200-0400z), 40 meters 2330-0700z (best 0030-0400z), 20 meters 2130-0530z, 15 meters 1400-1900z, 10 meters 1600-1700z. To European Russia, 80 meters 0030-0500z, 40 meters 0000-0700z, 20 meters 2130-0530z, 15 meters 1400-1800z, 10 meters possibly 1530-1630z. To Southern Africa, 80 meters 0000-0430z, 40 meters 0000-0500z, 20 meters 2300-0530z, 15 meters 2100-0230z, 10 meters 2030-2300z. To South America, 80 meters 0000-1030z (best 0330-0900z), 40 meters 0000-1100z, 20 meters 2300-1200z, 15 meters 2030-0930z, 10 meters 1300-0300z. To the Caribbean, 80 meters 2330-1130z (best 0300-1000z), 40 meters 2230-1300z (best 0100-1030z), 20 meters open all hours, best 0030-1100z, weakest 1600-1900z, 15 meters 1230- 0300z, 10 meters 1300-0100z. To Australia, 80 meters 0930-1300z, 40 meters 0900-1330z, 20 meters 0830-1430z, 15 meters 0630-1100z, 10 meters possibly 2200-0300z. To Japan, 80 meters 0830-1330z, 40 meters 0830-1400z, 20 meters 1300-1500z and 0630-0900z, 15 meters 2100-0300z, 10 meters 2130-0130z. NNNN"}, {"response": 18, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Mar  9, 2000 (17:48)", "body": "DX Bulletin 10 This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by Tedd, KB8NW, the OPDX Bulletin, The 599Rpt, QRZ DX, The Daily DX, 425 DX News and Contest Corral from QST. Thanks to all. CHESTERFIELD ISLAND, FK. Members of Association des Radio Amateurs de Nouvelle Caledonie, ARANC, will be QRV as TX8CI from March 15 to April 1 from this new DXCC entity. Beginning March 23, they will use the call TX0DX. Activity will be on all HF bands and 6 meters, using CW, SSB and possibly RTTY. QSL all HF QSOs via OH2BN, and all 6 meter QSOs via JA1BK. VIETNAM, 3W. Nag, JA7GAX, is QRV until the end of March as 3W2GAX. QSL to home call. Meanwhile, Scott, AC3A, hopes to be QRV as 3W2SO on 40, 20 and 15 meters near the QRP frequencies. QSL to home call. SENEGAL, 6W. Marie, 6W1RB, is usually active on 20 meters. Her activity is centered between 14175 and 14190 khz after 0230z and as late as 0500z. NAURU, C2. Jack, VK2GJH, and Nev, VK2QF, intend to operate C21JH and C21/VK2QF, respectively, from IOTA OC-031 during March and April. Activity is planned on the HF bands and especially on 6 meters. QSL via home calls. BALEARIC ISLANDS, EA6. Babs, DL7AFS, and Lot, DJ7ZG are active as EA6/DL7AFS and EA6/DJ7ZG, respectively, until March 11. Activities are on all bands using SSB and RTTY. QSL both calls via DL7AFS. NEW CALEDONIA, FK. Rene, FK8CP, is QRV on 80 meters CW after 1000z. He can also be found on 160 meters at times. GUERNSEY, GU. John, G0NEB, and Ron, G4DIY, of the St. Helens Radio Club are QRV until March 13 as GP0STH and GU4DIY/p, respectively, using CW and SSB on 40 to 10 meters. QSL both calls via G4DIY. LUXEMBOURG, LX. Kazik, LX/DL2SBY, is active using CW, SSB and RTTY on 160 to 6 meters until March 11. QSL to home call. PAPUA NEW GUINEA, P2. Bernhard, DL2GAC, is QRV as P29VMS until March 29. QSL to home call. SEYCHELLES, S7. Kurt, HB9MX, is active from Mahe as S79MX until April 1. Activity is on 40 to 10 meters with a special emphasis on 6 meters. QSL to home call. REVILLA GIGEDO, XF4. XF4LWY is QRV on 28040 kHz from 1700z until 0000z each day. QSL via XE1LWY. U.K. SOVERIEGN BASE AREA ON CYPRUS, ZC4. ZC4RAF is generally QRV on 20 meters around 1930z. QSL via 5B4YX. THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The QCWA QSO Party, Wisconsin QSO Party, World Wide Locator Contest are on tap for this weekend. The CLARA and Family HF Contest is scheduled for March 14 to 15. Please see March QST, page 100 for details. NNNN"}, {"response": 19, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Mar 10, 2000 (13:53)", "body": "Propagation Forecast Bulletin 10 There was a nice surprise for participants in last weekend's DX contest. ARLB009 predicted stormy geomagnetic conditions, but it turned out that the energy from solar eruptions did not affect the earth's geomagnetic field. Instead of the predicted planetary A indices of 12, 28 and 25 for Friday through Sunday, the A index for those days was 5, 5 and 7, which is very quiet. Solar flux was 189, 167 and 181. Average solar flux was about the same last week as the week before, and average sunspot numbers were slightly lower. Average A indices have also been lower. Solar flux is expected to dip below 200 this weekend. Predicted flux values for Friday through Tuesday are 200, 195, 190, 185 and 180. Solar flux is expected to bottom out around 150 on March 17 or 18, then rise above 200 by March 23 and stay around 220 from March 25 to April 4. Geomagnetic indices are expected to remain quiet until March 22-23, then settle down again until March 31 and April 1. We are moving toward the spring equinox, which always means better HF conditions, especially with the rising solar flux. Look for more frequent worldwide openings on 10, 12 and 15 meters. Cable News Network has an email service which delivers weekly space news, and some of it concerns solar activity of interest to hams. The email service sends URL links to articles, such as the one at http://CNN.com/2000/TECH/space/03/01/sunspots/index.html . You can subscribe at http://cnn.com/EMAIL . In the mail this week was an interesting tip from a ham in Vermont, who wrote, ''This is Zach Manganello, K1ZK, I am a freshman at Middlebury College, and I just attended a lecture that I thought was absolutely fascinating, pertinent to HF propagation, and worthy of sharing with you at the ARRL. The lecture was about the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN), and these scientists have giant radar arrays at several locations near the Earth's poles which they use to study interaction of solar radiation with the Earth's geosphere and ionosphere. Check out their web site at http://superdarn.jhuapl.edu ''. NASA Space Science News has an item this week about predicting disturbances by seeing what is happening on the other side of the sun that faces away from earth. This uses the Michelson Doppler Imager on the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, on the web at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2000/ast09mar_1.htm . This is important because solar forecasts for the short term are based on calculating when known active regions will rotate back into view. If activity can be observed on the far side of the sun, then more accurate forecasts can be made which are not dependent on the last glimpse of the active region before it rotated out of view. Finally, check out http://www.solarmax2000.com/ , a site devoted to this year's peak in solar activity. Sunspot numbers for March 2 through 8 were 209, 189, 167, 181, 172, 164 and 212 with a mean of 184.9. 10.7 cm flux was 213.2 203.8, 200.2, 220.3, 222.4, 221.8 and 214.9, with a mean of 213.8, and estimated planetary A indices were 8, 5, 5, 7, 11, 16 and 13, with a mean of 9.3. The path projection for this week is from Middlebury, Vermont. To Europe, 80 meters 2200-0730 UTC, 40 meters 2100-0830 UTC, 30 meters open all hours, best 2300-0600 UTC, weakest 1330-1630 UTC, 20 meters open all hours, except 0630-0930 UTC, 17 meters 1130-2300 UTC, 15 meters 1200-2230 UTC, 12 meters 1330-2130 UTC, 10 meters 1330-2100 UTC. To Southern Africa, 80 meters 2230-0430 UTC, 40 meters 2200-0500 UTC, 30 meters 2100-0530 UTC, 20 meters 2030-0600 UTC, 17 meters 2000-0130 UTC, 15 meters 2000-0030 UTC, 12 meters and 10 meters 1900-2330 UTC. To South America, 80 meters 2330-0930 UTC, 40 meters 2300-1000 UTC, 30 meters 2230-1000 UTC, 20 meters 2200-1100 UTC, 17 meters 1100- 0400 UTC, 15 meters 2130-0130 UTC, 12 meters 1230-0030 UTC, 10 meters 1300-2330 UTC. To the Caribbean, 80 meters 2230-1100 UTC, 40 meters 2100-1230 UTC, 30 meters open all hours, strongest 2330-1000 UTC, weakest 1500- 1830 UTC, 20 meters open all hours, strongest 2300-1030 UTC, weakest 1430-1900 UTC, 17 meters 1100-0600 UTC, 15 meters 1130-0200 UTC, 12 meters 1200-0100 UTC, 10 meters 1200-0030 UTC. To Australia, 80 meters 0930-1200 UTC, 40 meters 0930-1200 UTC, 30 meters 0830-1300 UTC, 20 meters 0830-1300 UTC, 17 meters 1300-1500 UTC, 15 meters 1400-1530 UTC, 12 meters 1430-1600 UTC, 10 meters 1500-1530 UTC. To Japan, 80 meters 0900-1130 UTC, 40 meters 0800-1230 UTC, 30 meters 0800-1300 UTC, 20 meters 0730-1300 UTC, 17 meters 0630-1300 UTC, 15 meters 2100-0600 UTC, 10 meters 2130-0130 UTC."}, {"response": 20, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Mar 16, 2000 (16:10)", "body": "DX news This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by Tedd, KB8NW, the OPDX Bulletin, The 599Rpt, QRZ DX, The Daily DX, 425 DX News and Contest Corral from QST. Thanks to all. EAST TIMOR, 4W. Ross, VK8UN, has been authorized to use 4W6UN from this new DXCC entity. His activity of late has been on 20 and 10 meters. Thor, TF1MM, is now licensed as 4W6MM. QSL 4W6UN via VK3OT. 4W6MM QSL route to be announced. MONACO, 3A. Look for 3A/W8MV and 3A/WZ8A to be QRV from March 20 to 25 using CW on 80 to 10 meters. QSL to home calls. VIETNAM, 3W. 3W50K has been QRV on 10 meters using CW and SSB around 0000z. QSL via OKDXF. ALGERIA, 7X. Angel, 7X0AD, will occasionally show up on 20 meters using RTTY between 1600 and 2000z. QSL via EA4URE. MALDIVES, 8Q. Peter, HA2SX, is active as 8Q7KK until March 25 while on holiday. Operations are on 80 to 10 meters, including the newer bands, using CW, SSB, RTTY, SSTV, PSK31, Hellschreiber and MT63. QSL to home call. JUAN FERNANDEZ ISLANDS, CE0Z. OH2MXS, OH2NSM and OH3JF will be active as homecalls/CE0Z from March 17 to April 8. They will operate with three stations on all bands with an emphasis on CW and RTTY and some SSB. QSL to home calls. ETHIOPIA, ET. ET3AA is usually QRV on 15 meters around 0930z. THAILAND, HS. Kurt, HS0ZBS, is usually QRV around 28010 kHz daily starting around 0000z. SVALBARD, JW. Jan, LA5QFA will be active mainly on 160 and 80 meters using SSB as JW5QFA on March 17 to 20. QSL to home call. ANTARCTICA. Operator Dave is QRV as KC4AAA from Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station until November, 2000. Look for him on 14243 kHz around 0500z. QSL via K1IED. WAKE ISLAND, KH4. Randy will be QRV as KH9/KH7EH March 22 to 24. He will be active in his spare time, and may be found on 20, 10 and 6 meters. QSL to home call. MARKET REEF, OJ0. Seppo is QRV as OJ0VR and has been found on 80 and 40 meters using CW between 1930 and 2100z. QSL via OH1VR. SURINAME, PZ. Ramon, PZ5RA, is active on 20 meters using RTTY after 0400z. BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS, VP2V. Bill, AA7X, will be QRV from Virgin Gordo, March 25 to April 1 as VP2V/AA7X. Activity is centered around 40 to 10 meters using CW and SSB. QSL to home call. THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The Alaska, Virginia and Ohio Winter QSO Parties, and the Bermuda Contest will be contesters busy this weekend. Please see March QST, page 100 for details."}, {"response": 21, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Mar 23, 2000 (16:51)", "body": "DX Bulletin 12 *** March 23, 2000 This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by Tedd, KB8NW, the OPDX Bulletin, The 599Rpt, QRZ DX, The Daily DX, 425 DX News and Contest Corral from QST. Thanks to all. CHESTERFIELD ISLANDS, FK. TX0DX is QRV, and has been found on 17 and 15 meters using CW and SSB. QSL via operator instruction. VIETNAM, 3W. Scott, AC3A, has received the callsign 3W2SO. He hopes to operate on 20 and 15 meters as a QRP station. QSL to home call. UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, A6. Look for an entry in the CQ WPX contest from A61AJ. QSL via W3UR. MOLDOVA, ER. Slawa, ER1LW, will be QRV as ER6A in the CQ WPX contest. QSL to home call. ETHIOPIA, ET. Look for 9E1C to be QRV during the CQ WPX contest. QSL via IV3OWC. JERSEY, GJ. Craig, K3PLV, and Pete, K8PT, are QRV as MJ/homecalls, using CW, SSB and RTTY on 80 to 10 meters, including the newer bands. Their activity includes an entry in the CQ WPX contest. QSL to home calls. SVALBARD, JW. LA2RY, LA9IY and LA9GY are QRV as JW2RY, JW9IY and JW9GY, respectively, until March 27. They will be QRV as JW8G during the CQ WPX contest. Outside of the contest they will use CW, SSTV, PSK31 and Feld-Held modes. QSL via operator's instructions. BRAZIL, PY. Mario, PP5MQ, will participate in the CQ WPX contest as PV5M on 10 meters. QSL to home call. GREECE, SV. Panos, SV1APA, will be QRV as SY1A during the CQ WPX contest. QSL to home call. TURKEY, TA. YM3LZ will be a Multi/Single entry in the CQ WPX contest. QSL via TA3YJ. COSTA RICA, TI. Uwe, TI2/DL8UD, is QRV on 80 to 10 meters using CW and SSB until March 28. This includes an entry in the CQ WPX contest. QSL to home call. INDONESIA, YB. A group of YB ops will be QRV as 7A0A as a Multi/Single entry in the CQ WPX contest. QSL via YB0FMT. MACEDONIA, Z3. Mike, NN6C, will be guest operating as Z38/NN6C until April 4. He is active on all bands using CW, SSB and RTTY. He and a large group of Z3 operators will participate in the CQ WPX contest as Z30M as a Multi/Multi entry. QSL to home call. THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The CQ WW WPX Phone Contest will certainly keep contesters busy this weekend. Please see March QST, page 100 for details."}, {"response": 22, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Mar 24, 2000 (15:08)", "body": "Propagation Forecast Bulletin 12 Spring is here, and 10 and 12 meters are the place to be. A high solar flux and shifting seasons are again producing conditions where low power mobiles can work the world on the highest HF bands. Last year at this time, the average solar flux for the week was 147.5. This week it was 207.8, much higher, and almost 13 points higher than last week's average. A steady upward recent trend can be seen in the graph at http://www.dxlc.com/solar/ . Geomagnetic indices have been quite low, but this should change. Active conditions are predicted for the next few days due to recurring coronal holes and some recent flare activity. A large coronal hole that has been returning for several months has split into three groups, and one of them crosses the sun's equator and is well positioned for disturbing radio conditions here on earth. Weekend conditions for the CQ Worldwide WPX Phone Contest could be stormy. The predicted planetary A index for the next five days, Friday through Tuesday, is 25, 30, 20, 10 and 10, so it looks like the best contest conditions may be on Sunday. On March 31 and April 1 conditions may be unsettled or active again, but should be quiet until April 18. Solar flux predicted for the next five days is 230, 240, 245, 245 and 235. Flux values are expected to bottom out around 185 on April 12 or 13, then peak near 250 around April 22 or 23. The High-Energy Solar Spectrograph Imager mission was set back at least six months when the satellite was mistakenly vibrated too hard in a test on a shake table at the Jet Propulsion Lab. The deployment of the satellite, which is designed to observe solar flares in their most energetic wavelengths, was expected to coincide with the solar maximum this year. You can read about the accident at http://www.msnbc.com/news/386019.asp?0a=23232C5 and about the HESSI mission itself at the NASA web site http://hesperia.gsfc.nasa.gov/hessi/index.html and at a University of California site, http://hessi.ssl.berkeley.edu/ . Sunspot numbers for March 16 through 22 were 138, 152, 142, 208, 240, 191 and 212 with a mean of 183.3. 10.7 cm flux was 184.4, 192.4, 194.8, 208.2, 210.3, 230.5 and 233.8, with a mean of 207.8, and estimated planetary A indices were 4, 6, 7, 8, 8, 6 and 11, with a mean of 7.1. The path projections for this contest weekend are from Charlotte, North Carolina. To Western Europe, 80 meters 2330-0700z, 40 meters 2230-0800z, 20 meters 2030-0530z, 15 meters 1200-2300z, 10 meters 1530-2100z. To Southern Africa, 80 meters 2300-0430z, 40 meters 2300-0500z, 20 meters 2130-0600z, 15 meters 2100-0230z, 10 meters 2000-0000z. To South America, 80 meters 2330-1000z, 40 meters 2300-1030z, 20 meters 2200-1100z, 15 meters 1030-1330z and 2000-0700z, 10 meters 1200-0300z. To the Caribbean, 80 meters 2300-1100z, 40 meters 2000-1330z, 20 meters open all hours, best 2330-0900z, weakest 1500-1900z, 15 meters 1200-0230z, 10 meters 1400-2300z. To Australia, 80 meters 0900-1200z, 40 meters 0830-1230z, 20 meters 0800-1300z, 15 meters 1300-1500z, 10 meters possibly 1400-1500z or 0200-0300z. To Japan, 80 meters 0900-1100z, 40 meters 0830-1200z, 20 meters 0800-1300z, 15 meters 2000-0130z, 10 meters 2130-0030z."}, {"response": 23, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Mar 30, 2000 (15:44)", "body": "DX Bulletin 13 - March 30, 2000 This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by Tedd, KB8NW, the OPDX Bulletin, The 599Rpt, DXNL, 425 DX News and Contest Corral from QST. Thanks to all. SRI LANKA, 4S. John, NZ9Z, expects to be QRV as 4S7NZG from April 1 to 23 on 80 to 10 meters using CW and SSB. QSL via W9DXA. EAST TIMOR, 4W. Bernie, W3UR, is QRV as 4W/W3UR. QSL via OH2BN. Other stations include Antonio, 4W6GH, QSL via CT1EGH, and 4W6EB, QSL via CT1EEB. TOGO, 5V. Michael, DF8AN, will be QRV as 5V7MN from April 6 to 12. QSL to home call. GHANA, 9G. Zdeno, OK2ZW, is active as 9G5ZW, but will go QRT in early April. QSL via OM3LZ. PRATAS ISLAND, BV9P. Randy, W9ZR, will be joining the team of 13 DXers from Taiwan, Japan and the USA to return to Tung-Sha Dao for BQ9P operation, from April 5 to 12. He hopes to concentrate on the low bands, propagation permitting. QSL via KU9C. PHILIPPINES, DU. Roland, DU1KGJ/DU4, is planning activity from Calagua, IOTA OC-202, during the first week of April. QSL to home call. NEW CALEDONIA, FK. Dany, FK8VHY, and FK8HA, may be active as FK8KAB/p from D'Entrecasteaux Reefs, IOTA OC-058, for 48 hours beginning April 2. Activity will be on 40 to 10 meters, including the newer bands using CW and SSB. QSL via FK8KAB. AUSTRAL ISLANDS, FO0. Denise, F6HWU, is now active as FO0HWU from Tubuai Island, IOTA OC-152. She will be here until April 12. She is mostly active on CW and RTTY. QSL to home call. SCOTLAND, GM. Look for GM3POI, GM4DZX, GM0HTH and GM0HTT to be active as GB5RO from Copinsay Island on April 1 and 2. If bad weather makes the sea trip impossible on April 1, they will automatically reschedule for the following weekend. QSL via GM4DZX. SOLOMON ISLANDS, H4. Peter, G8BCG, is QRV until April 9, mainly on 10 and 6 meters as H44PT. His beacon will be on 50105 kHz. He may be QRV from Temotu Province as H40PT soon after. QSL to home call. TURKEY, TA. Hans, TA4/DL7CM, is active using CW and RTTY until April 4. QSL to home call. PITCAIRN ISLAND, VP6. Jukka is QRV as VP6BR. He now puts the emphasis of his activity on 160 to 30 meters. QSL via OH2BR. MARION ISLAND, ZS8. Deryck, ZS6DE, is QRV as ZS8D, and will be here for just a few more weeks and will operate as his schedule permits. QSL via ZS6EZ. THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The EA RTTY Contest, SP DX Contest and the 500th Anniversary of Brazil Discovery contest are all scheduled for this weekend. Please see April QST, page 100 for details."}, {"response": 24, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Mar 31, 2000 (16:58)", "body": "Propagation Forecast Bulletin 13 March 31, 2000 Last week's conditions for the CQ Worldwide WPX Phone contest turned out to be quite good. The predicted geomagnetic upset did not arrive. This is the second time recently that bad conditions were forecast for a contest weekend, and then the energy from the coronal hole or flare that was expected to disrupt propagation did not affect the earth. Geomagnetic indices did rise last Friday, the day before the contest, but even then the planetary K index rose only briefly to 4. On Saturday and Sunday the planetary K index was mostly 1 or 2, and during one period was even 0. What is really interesting is that the College K index, measured in Alaska where the geomagnetic activity is higher due to proximity to the polar region, was actually 0 over six 3 hour periods on Saturday and Sunday. Solar flux and sunspot numbers were higher this week than last, with average sunspot numbers up 54 points and average solar flux rising several points. Solar flux actually peaked for the short term during the previous week on March 22, when the noon reading at Penticton was 233.8 and the reading two hours later was 235.6. The low for week was Tuesday, when solar flux was 200.9. It may go lower this weekend, if solar flux this Sunday goes below 200. The predicted solar flux for the next five days, Friday through Tuesday, is 205, 200, 195, 205 and 210. Flux values may again dip below 200 around April 10-16, then peak near 250 around April 22 or 23. Possible days of geomagnetic upset, based on the solar rotation are April 18 and 19 and April 28. MSNBC ran another story this week on the so-called solar heartbeat. You can see the article at http://www.msnbc.com/news/389042.asp , which explains a theory concerning how layers of gas rotating at different speeds may affect the formation of sunspots and solar flares. MSNBC also ran a story about a new solar satellite that was launched last Saturday. Called IMAGE, or Imager for Magnetosphere-to-Aural Global Exploration, it will be used to study the relationship between solar wind and the earth's magnetosphere. It will deploy four wire antennas that are each 820 feet long, making it the longest artificial object in space. Read about it at http://www.msnbc.com/news/386647.asp?0a=235A162 . NASA also ran a story on the IMAGE at http://science.msfc.nasa.gov/headlines/y2000/ast27mar_1m.htm . Sunspot numbers for March 23 through 29 were 236, 230, 243, 255, 227, 232 and 238 with a mean of 237.3. 10.7 cm flux was 224.1, 218.9, 205.1, 211.3, 204.9, 200.9 and 208.8, with a mean of 210.6, and estimated planetary A indices were 11, 10, 8, 5, 5, 5 and 9, with a mean of 7.6. The author joined in on the 10 and 12 meter mobile fun this week, and here are some path projections based just on those bands. The first group of path projections is from Southern California. To Cleveland, Ohio, 12 meters 1330-0430z, 10 meters 1430-0230z (both bands stronger later in the day), to Atlanta, Georgia, 12 meters 1330-0430z, 10 meters 1430-0300z, to the Caribbean, 12 meters 1400-0300z, 10 meters 1430-0130z, to Japan, 10 meters 2030-0630z, 12 meters 2100-0630z. The second group is from Dallas, Texas. To Seattle, Washington, 12 meters 1500-0400z, 10 meters 1630-0130z, to Europe, 12 meters 1330-2330z, 10 meters 1530-2200z, to the Caribbean, 12 meters 1200-0400z, 10 meters 1230-0230z, to Japan 12 meters 2000-0500z, 10 meters 2030-0330z. The third group is from Atlanta, Georgia. To Seattle, Washington, 12 meters 1400-0400z, 10 meters 1500- 0300z, to Europe, 12 meters 1300-2300z, 10 meters 1530-2200z, to Brazil, 12 meters 1130-0400z, 10 meters 1230-0200z."}, {"response": 25, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Apr  6, 2000 (16:43)", "body": "DX Bulletin 14 ARLD014 From ARRL Headquarters This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by Tedd, KB8NW, the OPDX Bulletin, The 599Rpt, DXNL, QRZ DX, 425 DX News and Contest Corral from QST. Thanks to all. WESTERN MALAYSIA, 9M2. Richard, PA0RRS, is active until April 27 as 9M2/PA0RRS. QSL to home call. CHINA, BY. Look for BX5AA on 24923 kHz around 1550z and also BX4AF on 21089 kHz using RTTY at 1500z. CHILE, CE. Luis, CA8VOW, will operate from Cullen Tierra del Fuego, IOTA SA-008, until April 13. His license is for ten meters only and he will be on 28438 kHz from 1300 to 1500z. QSL to home call. THAILAND, HS. An IOTA DXpedition to Koh Nu in the Malay Peninsula will use callsign E29DX until April 16. Activity will be on 160 to 10 meters, using CW, SSB and RTTY, but no newer bands. QSL via HS0GBI. JAPAN, JA. Masa, JA6GXK, will be active at various times generally in his spare time from Danjo Archipelago, IOTA AS-056, until July 11. QSL to home call. JAN MAYEN, JW. Per, LA7DFA, is QRV for 6 to 12 months as JX7DFA. Activity will be on 160 to 2 meters, using CW, SSB, SSTV and digital modes, including PSK31. QSL to home call. DENMARK, OZ. Look for special event station OZ5HCA to be active until April 8 to celebrate the birthday of Hans Christian Andersen. QSL via OZ3FYN. NETHERLANDS ANTILLES, PJ. Albert, HB9BCK, will be QRV as PJ4/HB9BCK from April 9 to 22 from Bonaire Island. Activity will be on 80 to 6 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL to home call. BRAZIL, PY. Ari, PT2BW, to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Brazil's discovery by Portuguese navigators, will be active on all bands and modes as PW500A until April 30. QSL to home call. MICRONESIA, V6. Bruce, KD6WW, will be active as V63VL from Chuuk, IOTA OC-011, from April 7 to 10, and then from Pohnpei, IOTA OC-010, from April 10 to 14. He will use CW primarily and possibly some FSK. QSL to home call. LAOS, XW. Hiroo, JA2EZD, is QRV as XW2A until early May on all bands and modes. QSL to home call. SOUTH AFRICA, ZS. The ZS31ER operation from Elephant Rock continues until April 9. Activity is on 80 to 10 meters, including the newer bands, using CW and SSB. QSL via ZS1FJ. THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The Japan International DX CW Contest, QRP ARCI Spring CW QSO Party, and His Majesty the King of Spain Contest are scheduled or this weekend. On April 10, look for activity in the VHF/UHF Spring Sprints. Please see April QST, page 100 for details."}, {"response": 26, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Apr  7, 2000 (22:30)", "body": "Date: Fri, 07 Apr 2000 16:25:44 EDT From: \"ARRL Members Only Web site\" Propagation Forecast Bulletin 14 The sunspot number took a big leap this week, rising to 301 on Sunday. It has not been this high since November 12 of last year, when it was 324. Two days prior on November 10 meters the solar flux was 343, which is still the record for this cycle. The average sunspot count for the week was only up about 8 points though, and average solar flux was about the same as last week. Solar flux is a measurement of 2.8 GHz energy from the sun, measured at the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory operated by the National Research Council Canada in Penticton, British Columbia. You can visit the observatory web site at http://www.drao.nrc.ca/ . Sunspot numbers are calculated by multiplying the number of visible sunspot groups by 10, and adding the number of individual spots in all the groups. A multiplication factor is also used, and it differs for each observatory. You can see a complete explanation for sunspot numbers and their derivation at http://spacescience.com/headlines/y2000/ast05apr_1m.htm . Geomagnetic indices have been high this week, with the average planetary A index almost double last week's number. The A index was in double-digits every day, with April 4 being the most disturbed. The planetary A index was 21, with planetary K indices as high as 5, and the mid-latitude index at 6 during the same period. Coming up on Saturday and Sunday is the HF CW weekend for the Japan International DX Contest. Unfortunately, as this bulletin is being written on Thursday night, a major geomagnetic storm is raging. An interplanetary shock wave passed earth at 1730z on April 6, and Aurora have been spotted in North America as far south as North Carolina. The planetary K index for the end of thez day on Thursday was 8, and the A index was 56. The Boulder K index at 0300z on Friday is also 8. A severe geomagnetic storm began at 0100z on April 7. For the next five days, Friday through Tuesday, the expected planetary A index is 30, 20, 15, 10 and 7. The predicted solar flux for the same five days is 175, 180, 180, 175 and 170. Solar flux is expected to rise above 200 again around April 14 and stay there well into the month of May. Sunspot numbers for March 30 through April 5 were 225, 248, 287, 301, 252, 184 and 221 with a mean of 245.4. 10.7 cm flux was 205.5, 225.4, 222.9, 219.3, 215.4, 206.7 and 194.4, with a mean of 212.8, and estimated planetary A indices were 10 meters, 19, 14, 16, 12, 21 and 12, with a mean of 14.9. Path projections for this week are for the Japan International DX CW Contest. Because the contest is for 10, 15 and 20 meters only, and for international stations to work Japan, the path projections will all be toward Japan and for 10, 15 and 20 meters only. From Boston, Massachusetts, 20 meters 0930-1300z, 15 meters 2000-0000z, 10 meters possibly 2100-0100z. From New York City, 20 meters 0900-1230z, 15 meters possibly 1100-1500z (best around 1400z), 10 meters possibly 2000-0100z. From Atlanta, Georgia, 20 meters 1130-1330z, 15 meters 1930-0330z, 10 meters possibly 2030-0000z. From Nashville, Tennessee, 20 meters 1130-1400z, 15 meters 1930- 0330z, 10 meters 2100-2330z. From Louisiana, 20 meters 1130-1400z and 0630-0730z, 15 meters 2000-0500z, 10 meters 2100-0000z. From Houston, Texas, 20 meters 0700-0830z and 1130-1430z, 15 meters 2000-0600z (stronger toward the end of the period) and again around 1330z, 10 meters 2100-0030z. From the center of the contiguous 48 United States, 20 meters 1300- 1530z, 0600-0700z and again around 0800z, 15 meters 2000-0400z (weaker toward the middle of the period), 10 meters possibly around 2230-0000z. From Chicago, 20 meters 1100-1400z, 15 meters 2000-0100z. From Salt Lake City, 20 meters 0630-0830z and 1330-1630z, 15 meters 2000-0500z, 10 meters possibly around 2300-0030z. From Billings, Montana, 20 meters 1400-1630z and 0630-0830z, 15 meters 2000-0330z. From Arizona, 20 meters 0700-1030z and 1230-1530z, 15 meters 1930-0730z, 10 meters 2130-0030z. From Los Angeles, 20 meters 0630-1030z and 1300-1630z, 15 meters 2000-0730z, 10 meters 2130-0100z. From San Francisco, 20 meters 0630-1000z and 1330-1700z, 15 meters 2000-0730z, 10 meters 2200-0000z. From Portland, Oregon, 20 meters 0630-0900z and 1500-1730z, 15 meters 2030-0430z. From Hawaii, 20 meters 0530-1930z, 15 meters 1930-1200z, 10 meters 2100-1000"}, {"response": 27, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Apr 20, 2000 (14:42)", "body": "DX Bulletin 17 From ARRL Headquarters Newington CT April 20, 2000 This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by Tedd, KB8NW, the OPDX Bulletin, QRZ DX, The Daily DX, DXNL, 425DXnews and Contest Corral from QST. Thanks to all. MONACO, 3A. Henryk, SP3FYM, and Woytek, SP6PT, will be QRV as 3A2/homecall from April 26 to May 1. Look for them on 40 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL both calls via SP6PT. YEMEN, 7O. DJ7MG, DK1II, DK9KX and DL5EBE are QRV from Sanaa, the capital of Yemen using callsigns 7O1II and 7O1YGF. Activity is on all HF bands using CW and SSB. Activity on 6 meters depends on local conditions, and the team will monitor 50.204 MHz. QSL 7O1II via DJ3XD and 7O1YGF via DK9KX. SAN FELIX ISLANDS, CE0. XR0ZY is QRV from San Ambrosio Island, IOTA SA-013, on all bands, using mainly CW. QSL via OM2SA. GALAPAGOS ISLANDS, HC8. Ted, HC5K, is QRV using the callsign HC8K. His activity includes using all modes, especially data modes, including MT63 and Feld-Hell. His activity is restricted around his work hours. QSL to home call. THAILAND, HS. Kurt, HS0ZBS, is active using CW especially around 0000z on 28010 kHz looking for North American stations. QSL via the bureau. VATICAN CITY, HV. HV5PUL will be active on all HF bands, including 6 and 2 meters, from April 26 to 28. QSL via operator's instruction. ITALY, I. Claudio, IV3/IN3DEI and Antonello, IV3/IN3YGW, are active from Grado Island, IOTA EU-130, until April 25. QSL to home calls. JAPAN, JA. Kouji, JQ1HBT, will be QRV as JH1HUK/6 from Kita-Daito-Jima, IOTA AS-047, from April 22 to May 7. QSL to home call. BRAZIL, PY. Special event station PQ500BA is active until the end of April in celebration of the 500th anniversary of the discovery of Brazil. QSL via PS7ZZ. DODECANESE, SV5. John, SM0DJZ, is QRV as SV5/SM0DJZ during his 14 day vacation. He is active on 80 to 10 meters, using CW, SSB and RTTY mainly during his mornings and evenings. QSL to home call. Meanwhile, Richard, G3CWI, is active as SV5/G3CWI until May 4. He is running low power on 20 meters CW, usually around 1900z. QSL to home call. CORSICA, TK. Look for TK5PB/p to be active from Maestro Maria, IOTA EU-100, from April 22 to 24. THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The Six Meter Sprint, DXYL-NAYL Phone Contest, Low Power Spring Sprint and QRP in the Field are all scheduled for this weekend. The 432 MHz Spring Sprint is on tap for April 26. Please see April QST, page 100 for details."}, {"response": 28, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Apr 20, 2000 (14:44)", "body": "I post this information as soon as it reaches me. It has been highly irregular lately...sorry!"}, {"response": 29, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Apr 27, 2000 (16:05)", "body": "DX Bulletin 18 ARLD018 April 27, 2000 DX news BHUTAN, A5. A number of operators are scheduled to be QRV from here starting May 3. The callsign to be used has not as yet been announced. They will be active until May 12. Operations will be on 160 to 6 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL via W0GJ. CHINA, BY. Members of the Jiangsu DX Club will be QRV as BI4L from Changdao Island from May 1to 3. Activity will be on 160 to 6 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL via BY4RSA. ISLE OF MAN, GD. Ian, G0KRL, will be QRV as GD0KRL/p from April 30 to May 1 while on vacation. Activity will be on all HF bands using mostly SSB with some RTTY. QSL to home call. ITALY, I. Special Millennium and Jubilee Year station IU0PAW is active until December 31. QSL via IK0SHF. Meanwhile, look for participation on International Marconi Day from IY4IMD on April 29. QSL via IW4EEG. NETHERLANDS, PA. Club station ON4LAR is active until April 30 as PA6TXL from Texel Island on the IOTA frequencies. QSL to ON4CAO. PALAU, T8. Look for JJ1DWB, 7N1KAE and JH8DEH, and one other operator, to be QRV as T88MT, T88YH, T88LJ, respectively, on 80 to 6 meters using CW and SSB from April 38 to May 3. QSL to home calls. UZBEKISTAN, UJ. Fedor, UK9AA, has been QRV around 18074 kHz starting around 0100Z. UKRAINE, UR. Special event call EMORSE is QRV until April 30 to celebrate the 209th anniversary of the birth of Samuel F.B. Morse. QSL via DJ0MAQ. MICRONESIA, V6. JA3DAU and JA3HRV will be QRV as V63BJ and V63BD, respectively, from Yap Island from April 30 to May 3. Activity will be on 40 to 6 meters using CW and SSB. QSL to home calls. LORD HOWE ISLAND, VK9L. Ed, VK2INI, is QRV as VK9LEH from IOTA OC-004 on 40, 20, 15 and 10 meters using mostly CW until May 1. QSL to home call. NORFOLK ISLAND, VK9N. Kirsti, VK9NL, is usually QRV around 18072 kHz at 0430Z. VIETNAM, XV. A group of operators will be QRV from Cat Ba, IOTA AS-132. Look for XV5JY, XV5TK, and XV5VE from May 1 to 5 on 40 to 10 meters. QSL via JA1KJW, JA3MCA and JA8VE, respectively. THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The Florida, Nebraska and Ontario QSO Parties, County Hunters Phone Contest, the North American High Speed Meteor Scatter Contest, and QRP to the Field, are all scheduled for this weekend. Please see April QST, page 100, and May QST, page 91,for details."}, {"response": 30, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Apr 28, 2000 (19:29)", "body": "Propagation Forecast Bulletin 17 - April 28, 2000 Sunspots and solar flux were up this week. The average sunspot number was up over 40 points and average solar flux rose over 30 points over the past week. Geomagnetic indices have been mostly quiet, with April 24 the most active day. Last week's bulletin ARLP016 said that the solar flux should be up around 220 this weekend, but conditions are not cooperating. Although activity has been higher this week than last, it is not as high as expected. Solar flux is expected to hover around 175 to 185 until April 8, then dip below 170, and rise to around 200 from May 19 through 28. The planetary A index prediction indicates unsettled conditions for Friday. The A index should stay quiet from this weekend until May 6 and 7, when it may rise to 15. Predicted solar flux for the next five days, Friday through Tuesday is 180, 175, 175, 180 and 180. Sunspot numbers for April 20 through 26 were 179, 211, 226, 252, 222, 229 and 197 with a mean of 216.6. 10.7 cm flux was 180.6, 187.3, 201.8, 206.1, 205.6, 202.5 and 189.9, with a mean of 196.3, and estimated planetary A indices were 14, 10, 7, 8, 21, 6 and 4, with a mean of 10. Path projections for this weekend are from Wisconsin. To Europe, 80 meters 0100-0530 UTC, 40 meters 2330-0630 UTC, 30 meters 2230-0730 UTC, 20 meters 2100-0700 UTC, 17 meters 2000-0300 UTC, 15 meters 1330-0100 UTC, 12 meters and 10 meters possibly 1700-2000 UTC. To Southern Africa, 80 meters 0030-0430 UTC, 40 and 30 meters 0000- 0430 UTC, 20 meters 2300-0530 UTC, 17 meters 2130-0200 UTC, 15 meters 2100-0130 UTC. To South America, 80 meters 0030-1000 UTC, 40 meters 0000-1000 UTC, 30 meters 2330-1030 UTC, 20 meters 2230-1130 UTC, 17 meters 0930- 1200 UTC and 2200-0630 UTC, 15 meters 1130-1230 UTC and 2100-0500 UTC, 12 meters 1400-2300 UTC. To the Caribbean, 80 meters 0000-1030 UTC, 40 meters 2230-1130 UTC, 30 meters 2000-1330 UTC, 20 meters open all hours, best 0100-0930 UTC, weakest 1500-1900 UTC, 17 meters open all hours, weakest 0730- 0800 UTC and 1300-1530 UTC, 15 meters 1000-1600 UTC and 1730-0530 UTC, 12 meters 1200-0330 UTC, 10 meters 1530-2130 UTC. To Australia, 80 meters 0900-1130 UTC, 40 meters 0830-1200 UTC, 30 meters 0730-1230 UTC, 20 meters 0730-1300 UTC, 17 meters 0700-0830 UTC and 1130-1300 UTC, 15 meters 0600-0700 UTC and 1300-1500 UTC. To Japan, 80 meters 1000-1030 UTC, 40 meters 0930-1130 UTC, 30 meters 0830-1200 UTC, 20 meters 0800-1230 UTC, 17 meters 0600-0800 UTC and 1130-1500 UTC, 15 meters 1430-1500 UTC and 1830-2000 UTC and 0330-0500 UTC, 12 meters 2030-2200 UTC, 10 meters possibly 2000-0400 UTC."}, {"response": 31, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, May  1, 2000 (18:22)", "body": "Keplerian Bulletin 32 - April 28, 2000 Decode 2-line elsets with the following key: 1 AAAAAU 00 0 0 BBBBB.BBBBBBBB .CCCCCCCC 00000-0 00000-0 0 DDDZ 2 AAAAA EEE.EEEE FFF.FFFF GGGGGGG HHH.HHHH III.IIII JJ.JJJJJJJJKKKKKZ KEY: A-CATALOGNUM B-EPOCHTIME C-DECAY D-ELSETNUM E-INCLINATION F-RAAN G-ECCENTRICITY H-ARGPERIGEE I-MNANOM J-MNMOTION K-ORBITNUM Z-CHECKSUM AO-10 1 14129U 83058B 00111.71281053 -.00000031 00000-0 10000-3 0 6414 2 14129 26.9588 335.1191 6024509 45.1315 350.4214 2.05869894 98776 UO-11 1 14781U 84021B 00118.95033058 +.00003160 +00000-0 +51180-3 0 02811 2 14781 097.9769 082.9709 0009829 265.1701 094.8348 14.71923916864912 Mir 1 16609U 86017A 00119.69985792 .00074998 00000-0 38902-3 0 5842 2 16609 51.6483 150.7329 0002827 167.5951 192.5140 15.80331741811376 UO-14 1 20437U 90005B 00119.14248262 +.00000464 +00000-0 +19451-3 0 05296 2 20437 098.4153 187.8108 0011296 008.0329 352.1032 14.30411197535710 AO-16 1 20439U 90005D 00119.19576296 +.00000464 +00000-0 +19439-3 0 03467 2 20439 098.4477 194.0709 0011922 010.2904 349.8521 14.30474708535744 LO-19 1 20442U 90005G 00119.18769235 +.00000592 +00000-0 +24232-3 0 03444 2 20442 098.4613 197.1814 0012723 008.9832 351.1567 14.30711917535826 FO-20 1 20480U 90013C 00118.93851536 +.00000047 +00000-0 +17362-3 0 02555 2 20480 099.0448 258.7686 0540749 168.9772 192.3750 12.83271561478834 RS-12/13 1 21089U 91007A 00118.76711583 +.00000163 +00000-0 +15696-3 0 02763 2 21089 082.9257 223.1583 0027822 267.7352 092.0623 13.74191486462752 UO-22 1 21575U 91050B 00119.10933846 +.00000710 +00000-0 +24993-3 0 00304 2 21575 098.1606 149.1487 0007984 359.0088 001.1082 14.37663245460729 AO-27 1 22825U 93061C 00119.14898544 +.00000362 +00000-0 +16226-3 0 08105 2 22825 098.4148 178.0324 0009580 052.1525 308.0535 14.28119069343333 IO-26 1 22826U 93061D 00119.17052927 +.00000480 +00000-0 +20927-3 0 08076 2 22826 098.4183 178.6574 0010240 048.8942 311.3112 14.28262312343367 KO-25 1 22828U 93061F 00119.15116529 +.00000533 +00000-0 +22856-3 0 07908 2 22828 098.4133 178.8013 0011141 032.7308 327.4558 14.28656793311528 RS-15 1 23439U 94085A 00118.85535893 -.00000034 +00000-0 +25115-3 0 04612 2 23439 064.8149 261.8898 0166479 297.9387 060.4775 11.27536006219838 FO-29 1 24278U 96046B 00118.74977891 +.00000140 +00000-0 +18034-3 0 03538 2 24278 098.5887 033.2238 0351498 357.6339 002.3121 13.52718102182478 TO-31 1 25396U 98043C 00119.24280847 -.00000044 00000-0 00000+0 0 3111 2 25396 98.7235 195.2331 0003277 189.4771 170.6350 14.22631203 93559 GO-32 1 25397U 98043D 00119.16578267 -.00000044 +00000-0 +00000-0 0 03053 2 25397 098.7213 194.9629 0000866 039.5403 320.5839 14.22388614093553 SO-35 1 25636U 99008C 00119.10357134 +.00000671 +00000-0 +18932-3 0 02165 2 25636 096.4566 335.5530 0152656 339.3884 020.1193 14.41258582061875 UO-36 1 25693U 99021A 00119.44260343 -.00000126 00000-0 20177-5 0 2156 2 25693 64.5581 261.5849 0041325 304.0010 55.7204 14.73542091 54978 Keplerian bulletins are transmitted twice weekly from W1AW. The next scheduled transmission of these data will be Tuesday, May 2, 2000, at 2230z on Baudot and AMTOR."}, {"response": 32, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, May  2, 2000 (15:57)", "body": "Keplerian Bulletin 33 - May 2, 2000 Decode 2-line elsets with the following key: 1 AAAAAU 00 0 0 BBBBB.BBBBBBBB .CCCCCCCC 00000-0 00000-0 0 DDDZ 2 AAAAA EEE.EEEE FFF.FFFF GGGGGGG HHH.HHHH III.IIII JJ.JJJJJJJJKKKKKZ KEY: A-CATALOGNUM B-EPOCHTIME C-DECAY D-ELSETNUM E-INCLINATION F-RAAN G-ECCENTRICITY H-ARGPERIGEE I-MNANOM J-MNMOTION K-ORBITNUM Z-CHECKSUM AO-10 1 14129U 83058B 00121.91236578 -.00000320 +00000-0 +10000-3 0 06443 2 14129 026.9399 333.4784 6024641 047.9155 349.7122 02.05874034098988 UO-11 1 14781U 84021B 00122.96108021 +.00002995 +00000-0 +48520-3 0 02820 2 14781 097.9773 086.9047 0009729 249.2913 110.7252 14.71947684865509 Mir 1 16609U 86017A 00123.44591544 .00067054 00000-0 64765-3 0 6086 2 16609 51.6497 131.5025 0019184 265.5724 94.3077 15.65593192811968 UO-14 1 20437U 90005B 00123.19958049 +.00000418 +00000-0 +17688-3 0 05263 2 20437 098.4145 191.7332 0010987 356.7631 003.3476 14.30414507536298 AO-16 1 20439U 90005D 00123.18272729 +.00000509 +00000-0 +21167-3 0 03422 2 20439 098.4481 197.9440 0011631 359.8307 000.2870 14.30479332536316 LO-19 1 20442U 90005G 00123.17399935 +.00000522 +00000-0 +21562-3 0 03462 2 20442 098.4617 201.0615 0012327 357.9754 002.1377 14.30715655536392 FO-20 1 20480U 90013C 00122.91489047 +.00000068 +00000-0 +22042-3 0 02444 2 20480 099.0461 261.9989 0540949 159.9752 202.3490 12.83272327479342 RS-12/13 1 21089U 91007A 00123.20859043 +.00000165 +00000-0 +15892-3 0 02762 2 21089 082.9247 219.8637 0027664 254.6466 105.1632 13.74192716463369 UO-22 1 21575U 91050B 00123.07640184 .00000697 00000-0 24567-3 0 294 2 21575 98.1601 152.9138 0007835 347.1009 12.9974 14.37669101461295 AO-27 1 22825U 93061C 00123.21258732 +.00000402 +00000-0 +17849-3 0 08115 2 22825 098.4140 181.9471 0009311 043.2629 316.9283 14.28123095343915 IO-26 1 22826U 93061D 00123.16367116 +.00000446 +00000-0 +19571-3 0 08052 2 22826 098.4177 182.5062 0010204 038.4404 321.7487 14.28266085343938 KO-25 1 22828U 93061F 00123.14320377 +.00000522 +00000-0 +22447-3 0 07869 2 22828 098.4126 182.6489 0011240 021.3621 338.8022 14.28661307312094 RS-15 1 23439U 94085A 00122.84653902 -.00000027 +00000-0 +43205-3 0 04665 2 23439 064.8149 255.4348 0166747 297.3374 061.0667 11.27536123220283 FO-29 1 24278U 96046B 00123.18748990 +.00000113 +00000-0 +15272-3 0 03551 2 24278 098.5887 037.0789 0351480 346.1618 013.0077 13.52719255183071 TO-31 1 25396U 98043C 00123.25170355 -.00000044 00000-0 00000+0 0 3131 2 25396 98.7203 199.1937 0003557 194.0708 166.0379 14.22637687 94128 GO-32 1 25397U 98043D 00123.17537005 -.00000044 +00000-0 +00000-0 0 03010 2 25397 098.7217 198.9241 0000396 191.1028 169.0143 14.22392386094126 SO-35 1 25636U 99008C 00123.54675607 .00000646 00000-0 18287-3 0 1834 2 25636 96.4589 338.9202 0151885 325.3580 33.7794 14.41264305 62513 UO-36 1 25693U 99021A 00123.44677589 .00008115 00000-0 12452-2 0 2255 2 25693 64.5622 249.3902 0042553 304.5633 55.1445 14.73549831 55564 Keplerian bulletins are transmitted twice weekly from W1AW. The next scheduled transmission of these data will be Friday, May 5, 2000, at 2230z on Baudot and AMTOR."}, {"response": 33, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, May  4, 2000 (15:12)", "body": "DX Bulletin 19 ARLD019 - May 4, 2000 TUNISIA, 3V. Giovanni, I5JHW, will be QRV from club station 3V8BB during the ARI International Contest. BHUTAN, A5. A52A is now QRV. The operators are active until May 12. Operations are on 160 to 6 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL via W0GJ. JUAN FERNANDEZ ISLANDS, CE0. Eliazar, CE0ZIS, has been QRV on 17 meters around 2000z. URUGUAY, CX. During the ARI International Contest, look for CV7V, operated by CX4ACQ, CX4ACR and CX8CT using CW and SSB on 80 to 10 meters. QSL via CX4ACR. FRENCH POLYNESIA, FO. Alain, F2HE, is QRV as FO0CLA from Tatakoto Island, IOTA OC-066. He has been active on 40 to 10 meters, including 17 meters using CW and SSB. QSL via F6CTL. MARIANA ISLANDS, KH0. Hiro, JK1FNN, and YL operator Mie, 7L1MKM, will be active on 40 to 15 meters as KH0/JK1FNN and KH0/7L1MKM, respectively, until May 5. They will participate in the ''Children Day'' Contest organized by the Japan UNICEF Amateur Radio Club. QSL both calls via JK1FNN. ITALY, I. Multi operator station IO0A will be QRV during the ARI International contest. QSL via I0TIC. SWEDEN, SM. Ben, OZ5AAH, will operate as 8S7IPA from Markaryd, Sweden, from May 5 to 8. He will also participate in the US IPA contest. QSL to home call. GREECE, SV. J43O will be QRV from May 5 to 30 to celebrate the lighting of the Olympic flame in ancient Olympia, Greece. Activity will be on 160 to 10 meters using SSB. QSL via SV3AQR. EUROPEAN RUSSIA, UA. Members of the Michurinsk Contest Group will activate special event stations RP3RST, RP3RTG, RP3RTK and RP3RZK between May 5 to 9, and again from May 13 to 14 to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the Russian Victory in Great Patriotic War. This includes entries in contests. QSL all stations via RN3RQ. MACAO, XX9. Ed, K8EP, will be QRV as XX9TEP from May 4 to 8, using CW and SSB on 40 to 10 meters. QSL to home call. UK SOVEREIGN BASE AREAS ON CYPRUS, ZC4. Colin, GM0RLZ, is active as GM0RLZ/ZC4 for the next 4 weeks. QSL to home call. THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The MARAC County Hunters CW contest, ARI International DX contest, Danish SSTV Contest, US IPA contest, VHF/UHF Spring Sprint for 902/1296 and 2304 MHz, and the Indiana, Connecticut and Massachusetts QSO Parties will certainly keep contesters busy this weekend. Please see May QST, page 91, for details."}, {"response": 34, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, May  5, 2000 (14:24)", "body": "Propagation Forecast Bulletin 18 - May 5, 2000 It seems odd to view the solar disk at the peak of the solar cycle and see few sunspots, but that was the case this week. Solar flux, a measure of 2.8 GHz energy from the sun which correlates roughly with sunspots and the ionization of the particles which reflect HF radio waves, were down sharply this week. On Thursday, when this bulletin was written, the thrice daily solar flux numbers were 133, 134.5 and 134.7. Solar flux has not been this low since January. Average solar flux for this week dropped over thirty points, and average sunspot numbers were down over seventy points, when compared to the previous week. Geomagnetic conditions were fairly unsettled as well, with planetary A indices in the double-digits throughout the week, and K indices often as high as 4. There weren't any severe geomagnetic storms, but geomagnetic conditions were rarely quiet. Looking at monthly trends, the average monthly solar flux for January through April was 159, 174.1, 208.2 and 184.2. The lower activity should continue for the next few days. Predicted solar flux for Friday, May 5 through the following Tuesday is 130, 130, 135, 145 and 150. The predicted planetary A index for those days is 10, 15, 12, 10 and 10. KA5WQM wrote to remark on poor 10 meter conditions. He said that in central Oklahoma the band has been unusable since last Thursday. There are a couple of influences to consider. One is the season. Ten meters is much better right around the equinox, and we are moving every day closer to summer conditions when occasional short skip via sporadic E-layer propagation will be the norm. Of course the other factor is the lower sunspot activity and solar flux. Doing a path projection from Oklahoma to Hawaii with a solar flux of 230, there is a good bet for strong openings on 10 meters from 1800 to 2230z. Lower the solar flux to 170, and the period in which strong signals are likely over that path shrinks to 1930 to 2130z. With the solar flux at 130, communication is possible, but strong openings are much less likely. During this month 15 meters should be far better for long distance HF communications than 10. Sunspot numbers for April 27 through May 3 were 163, 238, 142, 126, 121, 108 and 113 with a mean of 144.4. 10.7 cm flux was 183.5, 183.4, 174.9, 169.5, 157.7, 152.8 and 137.3, with a mean of 165.6, and estimated planetary A indices were 13, 17, 12, 11, 14, 18 and 15, with a mean of 14.3. Path projections for this weekend are from Hawaii. To the East Coast of the United States, 80 meters 0430-1030z, 40 meters 0400-1130z, 30 meters 0330-1230z, 20 meters 0230-0730z and 1000-1330z, 17 meters 1500-1600z and 0100-0500z, 15 meters possibly 0200-0330z. To the center of the continental United States (somewhere in Kansas), 80 meters 0430-1230z, 40 meters 0330-1330z, 30 meters 0300-1430z, 20 meters 0130-1530z, 17 meters 1400-1800z and 0030-0800z, 15 meters 1600-0630z, 12 meters and 10 meters possibly 2030-2230z. To the West Coast of the United States, 80 meters 0430-1400z, 40 meters 0300-1600z, 30 meters open all hours, strongest 0530-1300z, weakest 1900-0000z, 20 meters 1330-0730z, 17 meters 1700-0730z, 15 meters possibly 1930-0600z. To Australia, 80 meters 0830-1630z, 40 meters and 30 meters 0730-1700z, 20 meters 0630-1700z, 17 meters 0430-1000z, 15 meters 2130-2330z and 0300-0900z, 12 meters 2200-0830z, 10 meters 2230-0730z. To Japan, 80 meters 0900-1630z, 40 meters 0800-1730z, 30 meters 0700-1800z, 20 meters 0530-1900z, 17 meters open all hours, best 0930-1300z, weakest 2230-0230z, 15 meters 2000-1230z, 12 meters 2130-1100z, 10 meters 2330-0930z."}, {"response": 35, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, May  5, 2000 (19:30)", "body": "Keplerian Bulletin 34 - May 5, 2000 Decode 2-line elsets with the following key: 1 AAAAAU 00 0 0 BBBBB.BBBBBBBB .CCCCCCCC 00000-0 00000-0 0 DDDZ 2 AAAAA EEE.EEEE FFF.FFFF GGGGGGG HHH.HHHH III.IIII JJ.JJJJJJJJKKKKKZ KEY: A-CATALOGNUM B-EPOCHTIME C-DECAY D-ELSETNUM E-INCLINATION F-RAAN G-ECCENTRICITY H-ARGPERIGEE I-MNANOM J-MNMOTION K-ORBITNUM Z-CHECKSUM AO-10 1 14129U 83058B 00125.79798980 -.00000043 00000-0 10000-3 0 6445 2 14129 26.9336 332.8509 6024564 48.9586 349.4872 2.05871945 99067 UO-11 1 14781U 84021B 00125.88413251 .00002750 00000-0 44596-3 0 2815 2 14781 97.9774 89.7714 0009861 239.9511 120.0706 14.71962666865931 Mir 1 16609U 86017A 00126.12672745 .00023970 00000-0 23531-3 0 6150 2 16609 51.6491 117.9041 0018725 273.5495 86.3381 15.65708256812387 UO-14 1 20437U 90005B 00125.15817591 +.00000389 +00000-0 +16589-3 0 05454 2 20437 098.4144 193.6270 0011124 350.4463 009.6505 14.30416019536570 AO-16 1 20439U 90005D 00125.14123195 .00000507 00000-0 21107-3 0 3211 2 20439 98.4480 199.8460 0011595 354.1351 5.9694 14.30481477536593 LO-19 1 20442U 90005G 00124.71257084 .00000497 00000-0 20617-3 0 3181 2 20442 98.4613 202.5584 0012348 353.2303 6.8709 14.30717110536614 FO-20 1 20480U 90013C 00124.94205661 +.00000091 +00000-0 +27139-3 0 02243 2 20480 099.0466 263.6455 0541053 155.3849 207.4137 12.83272845479606 RS-12/13 1 21089U 91007A 00124.73762337 +.00000135 +00000-0 +12768-3 0 02485 2 21089 082.9250 218.7309 0027618 250.1190 109.6990 13.74192784463575 UO-22 1 21575U 91050B 00125.09472707 +.00000666 +00000-0 +23525-3 0 00426 2 21575 098.1596 154.8282 0007800 341.5315 018.5587 14.37671817461580 AO-27 1 22825U 93061C 00125.17432270 +.00000423 +00000-0 +18695-3 0 08284 2 22825 098.4134 183.8359 0009332 037.4139 322.7689 14.28125126344191 IO-26 1 22826U 93061D 00125.12521080 +.00000432 +00000-0 +19016-3 0 08253 2 22826 098.4164 184.3932 0010132 034.0795 326.1034 14.28268007344210 KO-25 1 22828U 93061F 00126.22477105 .00000379 00000-0 16728-3 0 7835 2 22828 98.4108 185.6143 0010769 14.4562 345.6926 14.28663374312530 RS-15 1 23439U 94085A 00125.77340196 -.00000016 00000-0 75395-3 0 4593 2 23439 64.8173 250.7022 0166817 296.7639 61.6304 11.27536539220614 FO-29 1 24278U 96046B 00125.18446046 .00000110 00000-0 15036-3 0 3274 2 24278 98.5886 38.8137 0351418 341.0016 17.8285 13.52719798183348 TO-31 1 25396U 98043C 00125.22098087 -.00000044 00000-0 00000+0 0 3142 2 25396 98.7235 201.1486 0003360 192.2315 167.8806 14.22639113 94403 GO-32 1 25397U 98043D 00125.14499164 -.00000044 +00000-0 +00000-0 0 03045 2 25397 098.7215 200.8716 0000716 171.8718 188.2472 14.22393067094407 SO-35 1 25636U 99008C 00125.14352350 +.00000618 +00000-0 +17550-3 0 02033 2 25636 096.4587 340.1290 0151925 320.3168 038.6960 14.41266311062748 UO-36 1 25693U 99021A 00124.80411911 .00000717 00000-0 12933-3 0 2278 2 25693 64.5603 245.2527 0042990 304.5204 55.1842 14.73545941 55761 Keplerian bulletins are transmitted twice weekly from W1AW. The next scheduled transmission of these data will be Tuesday, May 9, 2000, at 2230z on Baudot and AMTOR."}, {"response": 36, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, May  9, 2000 (15:55)", "body": "Keplerian Bulletin 35 - May 9, 2000 Decode 2-line elsets with the following key: 1 AAAAAU 00 0 0 BBBBB.BBBBBBBB .CCCCCCCC 00000-0 00000-0 0 DDDZ 2 AAAAA EEE.EEEE FFF.FFFF GGGGGGG HHH.HHHH III.IIII JJ.JJJJJJJJKKKKKZ KEY: A-CATALOGNUM B-EPOCHTIME C-DECAY D-ELSETNUM E-INCLINATION F-RAAN G-ECCENTRICITY H-ARGPERIGEE I-MNANOM J-MNMOTION K-ORBITNUM Z-CHECKSUM AO-10 1 14129U 83058B 00128.71215948 +.00000024 +00000-0 +10000-3 0 06468 2 14129 026.9268 332.3735 6023354 049.7521 349.2631 02.05871695099121 UO-11 1 14781U 84021B 00129.48693583 .00002129 00000-0 34701-3 0 2832 2 14781 97.9788 93.3075 0009948 226.4133 133.6200 14.71975194866462 Mir 1 16609U 86017A 00130.53267369 .00046573 00000-0 48277-3 0 6330 2 16609 51.6489 95.5881 0012023 278.8846 81.0303 15.64113273813071 UO-14 1 20437U 90005B 00129.14531146 +.00000334 +00000-0 +14443-3 0 05385 2 20437 098.4142 197.4834 0010945 338.9823 021.0911 14.30418635537146 AO-16 1 20439U 90005D 00129.19812974 .00000373 00000-0 15963-3 0 3225 2 20439 98.4476 203.7853 0011411 342.2995 17.7784 14.30484236537170 LO-19 1 20442U 90005G 00128.76879864 .00000397 00000-0 16812-3 0 3198 2 20442 98.4618 206.5075 0012177 341.1115 18.9614 14.30720135537199 FO-20 1 20480U 90013C 00129.23027955 -.00000001 00000-0 64142-4 0 2246 2 20480 99.0473 267.1272 0540999 145.6857 218.0482 12.83272569480155 RS-12/13 1 21089U 91007A 00129.32471962 .00000111 00000-0 10139-3 0 2435 2 21089 82.9245 215.3292 0027457 234.9968 124.8607 13.74194007464202 UO-22 1 21575U 91050B 00129.06177136 +.00000560 +00000-0 +20003-3 0 00404 2 21575 098.1593 158.5930 0007503 329.5150 030.5595 14.37675962462153 AO-27 1 22825U 93061C 00129.16785064 +.00000335 +00000-0 +15164-3 0 08256 2 22825 098.4128 187.6834 0008928 029.8198 330.3492 14.28127598344769 IO-26 1 22826U 93061D 00129.11833870 +.00000345 +00000-0 +15529-3 0 08202 2 22826 098.4159 188.2412 0009881 024.3678 335.7970 14.28270650344785 KO-25 1 22828U 93061F 00129.16626083 +.00000352 +00000-0 +15657-3 0 07990 2 22828 098.4098 188.4470 0010525 006.3767 353.7548 14.28665821312954 RS-15 1 23439U 94085A 00130.29674002 -.00000039 00000-0 10241-3 0 4608 2 23439 64.8190 243.3885 0166857 295.9869 62.3949 11.27536205221128 FO-29 1 24278U 96046B 00129.32633102 .00000080 00000-0 11994-3 0 3281 2 24278 98.5885 42.4117 0351438 330.3017 27.8571 13.52720516183901 TO-31 1 25396U 98043C 00129.22985998 -.00000044 00000-0 00000+0 0 3164 2 25396 98.7236 205.1134 0002483 186.7232 173.3924 14.22642737 94970 GO-32 1 25397U 98043D 00129.15457256 -.00000044 +00000-0 +00000-0 0 03170 2 25397 098.7198 204.8400 0000797 166.5843 193.5356 14.22395595094970 SO-35 1 25636U 99008C 00129.72555532 .00000448 00000-0 12978-3 0 1857 2 25636 96.4581 343.5977 0151412 305.7956 52.9238 14.41270098 63402 UO-36 1 25693U 99021A 00128.74042488 +.00000242 +00000-0 +57623-4 0 02396 2 25693 064.5636 233.2641 0042827 303.5519 056.1495 14.73542207056340 Keplerian bulletins are transmitted twice weekly from W1AW. The next scheduled transmission of these data will be Friday, May 12, 2000, at 2230z on Baudot and AMTOR."}, {"response": 37, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, May 11, 2000 (15:54)", "body": "DX Bulletin 20 - May 11, 2000 This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by Tedd, KB8NW, the OPDX Bulletin, HA0HW, Mayer, QRZ DX, The Daily DX, DXNL, 425DXnews and Contest Corral from QST. Thanks to all. GUINEA, 3X. Denis, 3XY2D, has been QRV on 10 meters using SSB. QSL via VE2DPS. EASTER ISLAND, CE0. Norby, LX1NO, and Manu, LX2LX, are QRV as homecalls/CE0Y until May 18. QSL both calls via LX1NO. ETHIOPIA, ET. Joe, G3MRC, is QRV from here for about a month. He hopes to operate from the club station, using either ET3AA or ET3VSC. QSL via operator instruction. TAJIKISTAN, EY. Vlad, EY8XX, and Nodir, EY8MM, are often QRV on the bottom of the 15 meter CW band from 0100 to 0300z. WALLIS AND FUTUNA ISLANDS, FW. Nigel, G3TXF, and Roger, G3SXW, are QRV as FW/homecalls until May 23. Activity is CW only on 80 to 10 meters. QSL to home calls. MONGOLIA, JT. Special event station JU1O will be QRV from May 12 to 14 near the city of Ulaanbaatar. QSL via HA0HW. MIDWAY ISLAND, KH4. Pete, KH4/K5PZ, was QRV on 21025 kHz around 0100z. His length of stay is unknown. QSL via operator instruction. FERNANDO DE NORONHA, PY0F. Gerard, F2JD, is QRV as PY2ZDX/PY0F until May 15. He is using CW and SSB on 40 to 6 meters. QSL to home call. UKRAINE, UB. EO55HK is QRV until May 14 in celebration of the 55th anniversary of the ''Victory of Second World War.'' Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK31. There is also some satellite activity. QSL via UT1HT. COSTA RICA, TI. The TI-IOTA Group will operate as TE6U from Uvita Island, IOTA NA-155, from May 17 to 21. Activity will be on 80 to 6 meters using CW, SSB and some RTTY. QSL via TI5KD. AUSTRALIA, VK. AX3ITU will be QRV on May 17 from 0001 to 2359z to celebrate the 135th anniversary of the formation of the International Telegraph Union. QSL via the VK3 QSL bureau. WILLIS ISLAND, VK9W. VK9WI will be QRV from May 13 to 30. There will be CW and SSB activity on 160 to 6 meters with three stations. They have a beacon on 50051.5 kHz. QSL via operator's instructions. ROMANIA, YO. Jean-Michel, F6AJA, will be QRV from May 14 to 20 from the QTH of YO8FZ as YO/F6AJA. QSL to home call. THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The CQ-M International DX Contest, FISTS CW Club Spring Sprint, Nevada QSO party, Oregon QSO Party and the VHF/UHF Spring Sprint for 50 MHz is scheduled for this weekend. Please see May QST, page 91, for details."}, {"response": 38, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, May 12, 2000 (14:33)", "body": "Propagation Forecast Bulletin 19 - May 12, 2000 Solar flux and sunspot numbers were sharply lower over the past ten days, but are now heading higher. Solar flux reached a low on Saturday, May 6, when the three readings for the day were 126.3, 126.8 and 126.7. The noon 126.8 reading is the official flux for the day. Daily solar flux values have not been this low since October 2, 1999, when it was 126.3. Average solar flux for the past week was off by over 30 points when compared to the previous week, and average sunspot numbers were down by nearly 13. Another interesting number to look at is the total sunspot area visible on the solar disk. These numbers are expressed as millionths of a hemisphere, and you can see the daily value along with the solar flux and sunspot numbers online at gopher://sec.noaa.gov/00/indices/DSD . We reached a low of 130 for visible sunspot area on May 7. Sunspot area has not been this low since September 30 and October 1, 1999. This value represents a nearly spotless sun, and is actually equivalent to .013 percent of the visible surface. Contrast this with a short time back, April 23, when the sunspot area number was 2860, representing 22 times the visible area of the May 7 value. All of this does not mean that we have passed the peak of the solar cycle, however. Activity jumps around quite a bit, even during a peak year of the cycle such as this one. It is only later when viewing smoothed numbers on a graph that the progress of a cycle looks steady. For more information, read Solar Ups and Downs at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2000/ast09may_1m.htm . As this bulletin is written on Thursday evening, the solar flux seems to be ramping upward. It is measured three times per day in Penticton, British Columbia at 1700, 2000 and 2300z, and the last four values measured, from 2300z Wednesday through 2300z Thursday are 167.7, 177.7, 177.7 and 186.5. The predicted solar flux for the next five days, Friday through Tuesday, are 190, 195, 200, 200, and 205. Solar flux is expected to peak for the short term around 220 on May 18, then drop down around 130 from June 1-3. Unfortunately, this weekend there may be effects from a coronal mass ejection that occurred on May 8. Predicted planetary A index for Friday through Tuesday is 20, 20, 15, 8, 8 and 8. Sunspot numbers for May 4 through 10 were 105, 122, 111, 130, 131, 149 and 174 with a mean of 131.7. 10.7 cm flux was 134.5, 129.8, 126.8, 130.9, 137, 149.5 and 179.2, with a mean of 141.1, and estimated planetary A indices were 8, 14, 12, 7, 6, 11 and 7, with a mean of 9.3. Path projections for this week are from Chicago, Illinois and are all to DX locations from this week's ARRL DX Bulletin ARLD020. To Guinea, 80 meters 0030-0630z, 40 meters 0000-0700z, 30 meters 2300-0730z, 20 meters 2200-0830z, 17 meters 2100-0400z, 15 meters possibly 2100-0200z. To Easter Island, 80 and 40 meters 0130-1100z, 30 meters 0030- 1200z, 20 meters 0000-1300z, 17 meters 2330-1030z, 15 meters 1330-1500z and 2230-0600z, 12 meters possibly 1430-1600z or 2100-0430z. To Ethiopia, 80 meters 0100-0300z, 40 meters 0030-0300z, 30 meters 2330-0330z, 20 and 17 meters 2300-0400z, 15 meters possibly 2200-0100z. To Tajikistan, 20 meters 0000-0130z, 17 meters 2200-0330z, 15 meters 0000-0200z. To Wallis and Futuna Islands, 80 meters 0530-1100z, 40 meters 0500-1130z, 30 meters 0430-1200z, 20 meters 0400-1300z, 17 meters 0300-1400z, 15 meters 0130-0900z and 1100-1700z, 12 meters 0030-0630z. To Mongolia, 17 meters 1100-1400z. To Midway Island, 80 meters 0630-1100z, 40 meters 0600-1130z, 30 meters 0530-1230z, 20 meters 0400-1400z, 17 meters 0300-0700z and 1200-1500z. To Fernando de Noronha, 80 meters 0030-0800z, 40 meters 2330-0900z, 30 meters 2230-0900z, 20 meters 2130-1000z, 17 meters 2130-1000z, 15 meters 1930-0600z and 0830-1200z, 12 meters 1630-2130z and 0030-0300z."}, {"response": 39, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, May 12, 2000 (16:20)", "body": "Keplerian Bulletin 36 - May 12, 2000 Decode 2-line elsets with the following key: 1 AAAAAU 00 0 0 BBBBB.BBBBBBBB .CCCCCCCC 00000-0 00000-0 0 DDDZ 2 AAAAA EEE.EEEE FFF.FFFF GGGGGGG HHH.HHHH III.IIII JJ.JJJJJJJJKKKKKZ KEY: A-CATALOGNUM B-EPOCHTIME C-DECAY D-ELSETNUM E-INCLINATION F-RAAN G-ECCENTRICITY H-ARGPERIGEE I-MNANOM J-MNMOTION K-ORBITNUM Z-CHECKSUM AO-10 1 14129U 83058B 00130.65492570 -.00000047 +00000-0 +10000-3 0 06480 2 14129 026.9227 332.0572 6022829 050.2806 349.1000 02.05872361099165 UO-11 1 14781U 84021B 00132.40994384 .00001788 00000-0 29266-3 0 2842 2 14781 97.9792 96.1751 0010011 217.1546 142.8961 14.71983877866897 Mir 1 16609U 86017A 00133.66321838 .00029606 00000-0 30757-3 0 6454 2 16609 51.6495 79.7504 0012403 289.9205 70.0495 15.64275683813566 UO-14 1 20437U 90005B 00132.15314746 +.00000252 +00000-0 +11303-3 0 05308 2 20437 098.4141 200.3925 0010651 329.8856 030.1717 14.30419806537572 AO-16 1 20439U 90005D 00133.25501959 .00000314 00000-0 13703-3 0 3231 2 20439 98.4477 207.7262 0011277 330.0849 29.9687 14.30486727537750 LO-19 1 20442U 90005G 00133.24462851 .00000298 00000-0 13017-3 0 3207 2 20442 98.4630 210.8667 0011974 328.0318 32.0136 14.30722512537839 FO-20 1 20480U 90013C 00133.44050908 -.00000010 00000-0 41725-4 0 2251 2 20480 99.0479 270.5465 0540919 136.1570 228.3805 12.83272602480692 RS-12/13 1 21089U 91007A 00132.16435336 +.00000057 +00000-0 +44444-4 0 02735 2 21089 082.9249 213.2240 0027506 227.5492 132.3340 13.74193604464593 UO-22 1 21575U 91050B 00132.61122596 .00000413 00000-0 15095-3 0 311 2 21575 98.1590 161.9610 0007464 319.1298 40.9329 14.37678312462665 AO-27 1 22825U 93061C 00132.67094414 .00000090 00000-0 52920-4 0 8089 2 22825 98.4122 191.0558 0008878 16.2081 343.9407 14.28127432345269 IO-26 1 22826U 93061D 00132.13069335 +.00000303 +00000-0 +13820-3 0 08100 2 22826 098.4153 191.1435 0009580 017.2041 342.9463 14.28272453345217 KO-25 1 22828U 93061F 00132.17778092 +.00000358 +00000-0 +15906-3 0 07929 2 22828 098.4090 191.3482 0010598 357.6745 002.4374 14.28668377313382 RS-15 1 23439U 94085A 00131.80451876 -.00000032 +00000-0 +31172-3 0 04685 2 23439 064.8188 240.9507 0166792 295.7022 062.6765 11.27536300221299 FO-29 1 24278U 96046B 00132.13689121 +.00000077 +00000-0 +11766-3 0 03548 2 24278 098.5888 044.8542 0351313 323.0295 034.7087 13.52721075184283 TO-31 1 25396U 98043C 00133.23873148 -.00000044 00000-0 00000+0 0 3185 2 25396 98.7260 209.0852 0002936 169.0643 191.0610 14.22645958 95541 GO-32 1 25397U 98043D 00132.17934392 -.00000044 +00000-0 +00000-0 0 03201 2 25397 098.7199 207.8360 0001039 144.9493 215.1754 14.22396269095401 SO-35 1 25636U 99008C 00133.12737173 .00000266 00000-0 80585-4 0 1868 2 25636 96.4569 346.1714 0151396 295.0374 63.5159 14.41271473 63893 UO-36 1 25693U 99021A 00133.35540233 -.00000060 00000-0 12134-4 0 2319 2 25693 64.5600 219.2021 0043140 302.7150 56.9862 14.73541924 57025 Keplerian bulletins are transmitted twice weekly from W1AW. The next scheduled transmission of these data will be Tuesday, May 16, 2000, at 2230z on Baudot and AMTOR."}, {"response": 40, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, May 16, 2000 (18:13)", "body": "Keplerian Bulletin 37 - May 16, 2000 Decode 2-line elsets with the following key: 1 AAAAAU 00 0 0 BBBBB.BBBBBBBB .CCCCCCCC 00000-0 00000-0 0 DDDZ 2 AAAAA EEE.EEEE FFF.FFFF GGGGGGG HHH.HHHH III.IIII JJ.JJJJJJJJKKKKKZ KEY: A-CATALOGNUM B-EPOCHTIME C-DECAY D-ELSETNUM E-INCLINATION F-RAAN G-ECCENTRICITY H-ARGPERIGEE I-MNANOM J-MNMOTION K-ORBITNUM Z-CHECKSUM AO-10 1 14129U 83058B 00130.65492570 -.00000047 +00000-0 +10000-3 0 06480 2 14129 026.9227 332.0572 6022829 050.2806 349.1000 02.05872361099165 UO-11 1 14781U 84021B 00136.42054113 .00002002 00000-0 32649-3 0 2855 2 14781 97.9794 100.1103 0010229 202.0319 158.0454 14.72000280867489 Mir 1 16609U 86017A 00136.79330867 .00048886 00000-0 49762-3 0 6551 2 16609 51.6515 63.9081 0013008 300.7912 59.1817 15.64536820814057 UO-14 1 20437U 90005B 00136.14027177 +.00000284 +00000-0 +12538-3 0 05294 2 20437 098.4134 204.2472 0010748 317.6923 042.3432 14.30422526538147 AO-16 1 20439U 90005D 00136.12281592 +.00000318 +00000-0 +13825-3 0 03439 2 20439 098.4479 210.5121 0011110 321.8823 038.1574 14.30488802538163 LO-19 1 20442U 90005G 00136.18188656 +.00000306 +00000-0 +13328-3 0 03408 2 20442 098.4627 213.7254 0011739 318.9051 041.1254 14.30724560538254 FO-20 1 20480U 90013C 00135.93544596 +.00000022 +00000-0 +11467-3 0 02495 2 20480 099.0483 272.5733 0541115 130.5169 234.4385 12.83272963481016 RS-12/13 1 21089U 91007A 00136.16896228 +.00000110 +00000-0 +10066-3 0 02686 2 21089 082.9255 210.2554 0027624 216.2503 143.6784 13.74194502465141 UO-22 1 21575U 91050B 00136.64784858 .00000492 00000-0 17743-3 0 323 2 21575 98.1578 165.7900 0007179 306.1894 53.8630 14.37682730463248 AO-27 1 22825U 93061C 00136.17402331 .00000407 00000-0 18050-3 0 8097 2 22825 98.4114 194.4307 0008460 3.1028 357.0206 14.28132068345761 IO-26 1 22826U 93061D 00136.12380843 +.00000317 +00000-0 +14404-3 0 08107 2 22826 098.4148 194.9926 0009474 004.4454 355.6815 14.28275011345782 KO-25 1 22828U 93061F 00136.16979089 +.00000319 +00000-0 +14345-3 0 07902 2 22828 098.4086 195.1955 0010755 345.8956 014.1917 14.28670908313951 RS-15 1 23439U 94085A 00135.70700472 -.00000019 +00000-0 +67488-3 0 04704 2 23439 064.8173 234.6392 0166589 294.9148 063.4546 11.27536471221733 FO-29 1 24278U 96046B 00136.13085909 +.00000001 +00000-0 +39763-4 0 03484 2 24278 098.5884 048.3231 0351129 312.6957 044.5102 13.52721013184826 TO-31 1 25396U 98043C 00137.24759178 -.00000044 00000-0 00000+0 0 3209 2 25396 98.7238 213.0543 0002580 167.5223 192.6027 14.22649571 96118 GO-32 1 25397U 98043D 00136.18891661 -.00000044 +00000-0 +00000-0 0 03049 2 25397 098.7205 211.8038 0001281 131.0110 229.1182 14.22398845095972 SO-35 1 25636U 99008C 00136.73746527 .00001547 00000-0 42681-3 0 1880 2 25636 96.4550 348.9023 0150791 283.2911 75.1645 14.41278818 64418 UO-36 1 25693U 99021A 00136.13796473 -.00000168 +00000-0 -41641-5 0 02515 2 25693 064.5614 210.7242 0043170 302.4270 057.2659 14.73540461057432 Keplerian bulletins are transmitted twice weekly from W1AW. The next scheduled transmission of these data will be Friday, May 19, 2000, at 2230z on Baudot and AMTOR."}, {"response": 41, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, May 18, 2000 (16:26)", "body": "DX Bulletin 21 - May 18, 2000 This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by Tedd, KB8NW, the OPDX Bulletin, QRZ DX, The Daily DX, DXNL, 425DXnews and Contest Corral from QST. Thanks to all. VIETNAM, 3W. Mal, VK6LC, is QRV as 3W2LC from the Port of Vung Tau until November 2000. QSL to home call. Meanwhile, Tom, 3W7CW, has been QRV on 28007 kHz around 1500z. QSL via SP5AUC. EAST TIMOR, 4W. Antonio, CT1EGH, is active as 4W6GH. He can usually be found on 15 meters SSB between 1300 to 1600z, and as late as 1830z. Meanwhile, Thor, TF1MM/4W6MM, has also been active on 15 meters using CW and SSB usually around the same time. QSL to home calls. WESTERN MALAYSIA, 9M2. Johnny, G3LIV, plans to be active as 9M2/G3LIV from Pangkor Island, IOTA AS-072, from May 20 to 30. QSL to home call. Meanwhile, Tex, 9M2TO, is active on 40 to 6 meters using CW, from Perhentian, IOTA AS-073, until May 21. QSL to home call. BAHAMAS, C6. Gerd, DL7VOG, will be active as C6AKA on 80 to 6 meters, with an emphasis on CW and RTTY, from the Berry Islands, IOTA NA-054, from May 23 to 29. QSL to home call. EASTER ISLAND, CE0. Manu, CE0Y/LX2LX, has been QRV on 28457 kHz between 2200 to 2300z. QSL via LX1NO. GLORIOSO ISLAND, FR/G. Henri, FR5ZQ, is active using CW and SSB as FR5ZQ/G. His length of stay is unknown. QSL to home call. SVALBARD, JW. JW5LJA, JW7FJA and JW8LGA, will be QRV from IOTA EU-026 using CW and SSB on all HF bands from May 19 to 25. QSL via LA5LJA, LA7FJA and LA8LGA, respectively. KINGMAN REEF, KH5K. DX Group member Chuck, N4BQW, is now active as N4BQW/KH5 from Palmyra Atoll, IOTA OC-085, for the next couple of weeks. He is the first element of the Kingman Reef/Palmyra DX Group effort to activate KH5 and KH5K over the coming months. He operates as time permits. QSL via K4TSJ. DENMARK, OZ. Herb, G0WAZ, will be active as OZ7SM from Bornholm Island, IOTA EU-030, from May 21 to 29. QSL to home call. WESTERN SAHARA, S0. S05SB has been QRV using SSB around 21195 kHz just after 1930z. His length of stay is unknown. QSL via EA1BPC. GREECE, SV. Members of the Central Hellas ARC are QRV at the Lamia Exposition using special event callsigns SZ1RKE and J41RKE until May 21, operating on 80, 40 and 20 meters and 145.275 simplex using SSB. QSL via operator's instructions. TURKEY, TA. Special event station TA1ITU is active until June 2 from Istanbul during the World Radio Conference. QSL via the bureau. VANUATU, YJ. Stewart, YJ8UU, has been QRV on 18150 kHz around 0400z. THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The Major Six Club Contest is scheduled for this weekend. Please see May QST, page 91, for details."}, {"response": 42, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, May 19, 2000 (16:35)", "body": "Propagation Forecast Bulletin 20 - May 19, 2000 This has been an exciting week for sun-watching hams. In last week's Propagation Forecast Bulletin ARLP019, the forecast said that solar flux may peak around 220 on May 18. Instead, on May 17 the noon solar flux reading at Penticton, BC was 262, which is a new high for the current solar cycle 23. The previous high for this cycle was 248.5 on November 10, 1999. Prior to that the solar flux has not been this high since the last gasp of high numbers for cycle 22, when it was 271 on February 3, 1992. That was quite an active week back in 1992, when the solar flux on January 29 through February 3 was 266, 280, 303, 284, 288 and 271. Average solar flux for this week was up an astonishing 85 points compared to last week, and average sunspot numbers were up nearly 140 points, more than double last week's average. Last week's bulletin mentioned that the solar area number, counted as millionths of the solar disk, was 130 on May 7. But this week that number reached a new high for this cycle of 3510 on May 15. Along with the high sunspot counts and solar flux came some geomagnetic activity. The most active days were May 12 and 17, when the planetary A index was 22 and the K index was as high as five. This week's forecast shows solar flux values for Friday through Tuesday rising higher, at 260, 265, 265, 270 and 270. It also looks like we may experience some more days of unsettled geomagnetic conditions, with a predicted planetary A index of 12, 15, 15, 12 and 10. Given this prediction, at this point the best days for HF propagation will probably be Monday and Tuesday. Solar flux is expected to bottom out around 130 between June 2 and 3, and reach another peak around the middle of next month. WA3KFT wrote this week asking about web sites that show plots of solar indices. Some good ones are http://www.dxlc.com/solar/ , http://www.nwra-az.com/spawx/ssne-year.html , http://idt.net/~wngk19/index.html , http://www.wm7d.net/hamradio/solar/summary.shtml and http://www.wm7d.net/hamradio/solar/ . In response to some questions I had about 10 meter propagation at the equinox, K9LA, who writes about propagation for the National Contest Journal as well as Worldradio, wrote back with results of some path projections he did using MiniProp. He studied 10 meter paths from New York, Chicago and California to Europe, Japan and Australia (VK4), with both short paths and some long paths. He found that New York to Europe was best in Winter, with Fall a close second. To Japan over the short path, Fall and Spring are best, and the same for the long path, but with Summer a close second or third. To Australia Fall and Spring were best, with Winter conditions very close. For his Chicago to Europe 10 meter path, Winter was best with Fall a close second. Short path to Japan showed Fall best with Winter a close second, and for long path Fall and Spring were best with Summer close behind. To Australia Fall, Winter and Spring were about equal. For the path from California, Fall and Winter were best to Europe with Spring not far behind, and a long path projection to Italy showed Fall and Spring were best, with Summer not far behind. To Japan, Fall and Winter were best with Spring not far behind, and to Australia, Fall, Winter and Spring were about equal. Before Carl did the projections, his feeling was that 10 meters was best in the Winter. But when he thought about it more, he realized that his answer may have been based on his Midwest location and the fact that most of the DX he works on 10 meters is in Europe. For this week, with the solar flux at a new high, expect good conditions on 10, 12 and 15 meters. Over many paths 15 meters will be open during most of the day and part of the night. 10 meters should be especially strong over north-south paths. Path projections from Texas to Brazil, for instance, show 10 and 12 meters open from just before sunrise in Texas until just a few hours before sunrise in Brazil, which is late into the Texas night. Sunspot numbers for May 11 through 17 were 213, 211, 260, 263, 302, 298 and 342 with a mean of 269.9. 10.7 cm flux was 177.7, 190.4, 217.3, 232.5, 244.4, 258.7 and 262, with a mean of 226.1, and estimated planetary A indices were 6, 22, 15, 12, 16, 18 and 22, with a mean of 15.9."}, {"response": 43, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, May 19, 2000 (16:37)", "body": "Keplerian Bulletin 38 - May 19, 2000 Decode 2-line elsets with the following key: 1 AAAAAU 00 0 0 BBBBB.BBBBBBBB .CCCCCCCC 00000-0 00000-0 0 DDDZ 2 AAAAA EEE.EEEE FFF.FFFF GGGGGGG HHH.HHHH III.IIII JJ.JJJJJJJJKKKKKZ KEY: A-CATALOGNUM B-EPOCHTIME C-DECAY D-ELSETNUM E-INCLINATION F-RAAN G-ECCENTRICITY H-ARGPERIGEE I-MNANOM J-MNMOTION K-ORBITNUM Z-CHECKSUM AO-10 1 14129U 83058B 00130.65492570 -.00000047 +00000-0 +10000-3 0 06480 2 14129 026.9227 332.0572 6022829 050.2806 349.1000 02.05872361099165 UO-11 1 14781U 84021B 00139.88727102 .00003551 00000-0 57266-3 0 2877 2 14781 97.9790 103.5126 0010394 190.6836 169.4178 14.72026721867999 Mir 1 16609U 86017A 00140.36991505 .00041980 00000-0 42360-3 0 6646 2 16609 51.6524 45.8005 0011820 310.0333 49.9699 15.64844431814610 UO-14 1 20437U 90005B 00140.19733474 .00000579 00000-0 23884-3 0 5257 2 20437 98.4127 208.1697 0010498 305.4310 54.5881 14.30427514538727 AO-16 1 20439U 90005D 00139.69006621 +.00000605 +00000-0 +24861-3 0 03332 2 20439 098.4470 213.9750 0010609 310.0573 049.9707 14.30493435538675 LO-19 1 20442U 90005G 00139.74854550 +.00000791 +00000-0 +31841-3 0 03303 2 20442 098.4602 217.1920 0012224 308.7058 051.3052 14.30731313538768 FO-20 1 20480U 90013C 00139.91172746 +.00000011 +00000-0 +89593-4 0 02439 2 20480 099.0499 275.8050 0540793 121.5127 243.9974 12.83273242481522 RS-12/13 1 21089U 91007A 00139.73670293 +.00000158 +00000-0 +15137-3 0 02589 2 21089 082.9258 207.6108 0027828 205.9806 153.9955 13.74195700465635 UO-22 1 21575U 91050B 00140.12767999 .00000925 00000-0 32114-3 0 339 2 21575 98.1578 169.0938 0006890 294.2034 65.8433 14.37689781463740 AO-27 1 22825U 93061C 00140.37770883 .00000648 00000-0 27739-3 0 8107 2 22825 98.4113 198.4804 0008554 352.1135 7.9892 14.28138241346364 IO-26 1 22826U 93061D 00139.69658380 .00000647 00000-0 27611-3 0 8050 2 22826 98.4136 198.4342 0009513 354.7000 5.4078 14.28280406346294 KO-25 1 22828U 93061F 00139.67154128 .00000643 00000-0 27225-3 0 7866 2 22828 98.4086 198.5715 0010735 336.3056 23.7613 14.28676131314455 RS-15 1 23439U 94085A 00139.69818457 -.00000035 +00000-0 +21318-3 0 04697 2 23439 064.8184 228.1857 0166620 294.2486 064.1109 11.27536346222187 FO-29 1 24278U 96046B 00139.75502776 +.00000068 +00000-0 +10914-3 0 03457 2 24278 098.5885 051.4723 0350769 303.2757 053.5216 13.52721587185318 TO-31 1 25396U 98043C 00139.70916669 -.00000044 00000-0 00000+0 0 3224 2 25396 98.7265 215.4985 0004558 154.4101 205.7345 14.22650614 96468 GO-32 1 25397U 98043D 00139.70608121 -.00000044 +00000-0 +00000-0 0 03137 2 25397 098.7203 215.2853 0001898 130.4370 229.6974 14.22399973096471 SO-35 1 25636U 99008C 00139.65330775 +.00000634 +00000-0 +17994-3 0 02132 2 25636 096.4553 351.1110 0150928 274.1316 084.2653 14.41280178064832 UO-36 1 25693U 99021A 00140.54932300 -.00002084 00000-0 -29367-3 0 2378 2 25693 64.5632 197.2843 0042797 302.1131 57.5801 14.73548182 58087 Keplerian bulletins are transmitted twice weekly from W1AW. The next scheduled transmission of these data will be Tuesday, May 23, 2000, at 2230z on Baudot and AMTOR."}, {"response": 44, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, May 23, 2000 (16:17)", "body": "Keplerian Bulletin 39 ARLK039 - May 23, 2000 Decode 2-line elsets with the following key: 1 AAAAAU 00 0 0 BBBBB.BBBBBBBB .CCCCCCCC 00000-0 00000-0 0 DDDZ 2 AAAAA EEE.EEEE FFF.FFFF GGGGGGG HHH.HHHH III.IIII JJ.JJJJJJJJKKKKKZ KEY: A-CATALOGNUM B-EPOCHTIME C-DECAY D-ELSETNUM E-INCLINATION F-RAAN G-ECCENTRICITY H-ARGPERIGEE I-MNANOM J-MNMOTION K-ORBITNUM Z-CHECKSUM AO-10 1 14129U 83058B 00140.85449338 -.00000290 00000-0 10000-3 0 6487 2 14129 26.9067 330.4081 6021868 53.0229 348.3885 2.05873582 99377 UO-11 1 14781U 84021B 00143.89773159 .00003542 00000-0 57073-3 0 2883 2 14781 97.9796 107.4481 0010842 176.8247 183.2991 14.72056165868580 Mir 1 16609U 86017A 00144.00963979 .00040404 00000-0 40279-3 0 6754 2 16609 51.6506 27.3633 0012456 327.2205 32.8014 15.65157933815186 UO-14 1 20437U 90005B 00144.25438663 .00000528 00000-0 21898-3 0 5268 2 20437 98.4118 212.0912 0010293 292.0099 67.9998 14.30432044539305 AO-16 1 20439U 90005D 00143.74692262 +.00000638 +00000-0 +26102-3 0 03375 2 20439 098.4470 217.9149 0010752 298.7222 061.2867 14.30499806539250 LO-19 1 20442U 90005G 00143.73479866 +.00000599 +00000-0 +24502-3 0 03391 2 20442 098.4607 221.0784 0011612 295.0848 064.9132 14.30735738539338 FO-20 1 20480U 90013C 00143.88797569 +.00000040 +00000-0 +15451-3 0 02394 2 20480 099.0501 279.0343 0540862 112.5099 253.4157 12.83274137482032 RS-12/13 1 21089U 91007A 00143.74130824 +.00000178 +00000-0 +17287-3 0 02609 2 21089 082.9253 204.6413 0028243 194.0755 165.9599 13.74196947466181 UO-22 1 21575U 91050B 00144.51224698 .00000950 00000-0 32965-3 0 343 2 21575 98.1575 173.2548 0006690 280.2567 79.7863 14.37698458464377 AO-27 1 22825U 93061C 00143.67058921 +.00000484 +00000-0 +21130-3 0 08438 2 22825 098.4104 201.6508 0008273 343.6587 016.4321 14.28140856346835 IO-26 1 22826U 93061D 00144.18005169 .00000501 00000-0 21757-3 0 8066 2 22826 98.4127 202.7531 0009050 341.1964 18.8878 14.28285286346936 KO-25 1 22828U 93061F 00144.22380138 .00000692 00000-0 29186-3 0 7878 2 22828 98.4084 202.9596 0010291 323.3881 36.6593 14.28682845315101 RS-15 1 23439U 94085A 00143.68936352 -.00000021 +00000-0 +60578-3 0 04669 2 23439 064.8175 221.7311 0166716 293.5629 064.7865 11.27536500222635 FO-29 1 24278U 96046B 00143.74902942 +.00000101 +00000-0 +14292-3 0 03439 2 24278 098.5887 054.9440 0350711 292.8882 063.5586 13.52722359185851 TO-31 1 25396U 98043C 00143.85867170 -.00000044 +00000-0 +00000-0 0 03273 2 25396 098.7221 219.5944 0003735 144.5214 215.6231 14.22656267097051 GO-32 1 25397U 98043D 00143.71564203 -.00000044 +00000-0 +00000-0 0 03089 2 25397 098.7192 219.2456 0001743 122.5600 237.5747 14.22402722097045 SO-35 1 25636U 99008C 00144.58247180 .00000725 00000-0 20469-3 0 1925 2 25636 96.4543 354.8404 0150798 258.3953 100.0279 14.41288256 65548 UO-36 1 25693U 99021A 00143.60335110 -.00001456 00000-0 -19860-3 0 2384 2 25693 64.5593 187.9758 0043834 301.5257 58.1566 14.73536346 58533 Keplerian bulletins are transmitted twice weekly from W1AW. The next scheduled transmission of these data will be Friday, May 26, 2000, at 2230z on Baudot and AMTOR."}, {"response": 45, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, May 25, 2000 (16:26)", "body": "DX Bulletin 22 ARLD022 - May 25, 2000 TUNISIA, 3V. Hrane, YT1AD, will be QRV from club station 3V8BB during the CQ WPX CW contest. He will also be active before and after the contest. QSL to home call. PALESTINE, E4. Radek, OK1FHI, and Zdenek, OK2BZM, are QRV until May 30 as E4/OK1FHI and E4/OK2BZM, respectively, from the QTH of David, E41/OK1DTP. They will be a Multi/Single entry as E41/OK1DTP during the CQ WPX CW contest. QSL to home calls. MOLDOVA, ER. Slawa, ER1LW, will sign ER6A in the CQ WPX CW contest. QSL to home call. FRANCE, F. The Castres DX Gang will be QRV from Fort Brescou, IOTA EU-148, as F5XX/p until May 29. Activity is on 80 to 10 meters, including the newer bands. QSL via F5XX. FRENCH GUIANA, FY. A group of hams will be QRV from May 27 to June 4 from Iles du Salut, IOTA SA-020, and may use the callsign FY5HE/p. Activity will be on all HF bands, including 6 meters using CW, SSB and some SSTV. QSL via F8BXI. TEMOTU ISLANDS, H40. H40MY is usually QRV on 20 and 12 meters. QSL via JA0IXW. GALAPAGOS ISLANDS, HC8. Trey, N5KO, and Steve, K6AW, will be QRV as HC8N during CQ WPX CW contest. QSL via AA5BT. MONGOLIA, JT. Nicola, I0SNY, and other Italian operators are QRV as JT1Y for several weeks. They will sign JU1Y during the CQ WPX CW contest. QSL to I0SNY. ARUBA, P4. Carl, AI6V, will be active in the CQ WPX CW contest as either P49V or P40V. QSL to home call. GREECE, SV. Oldrich, OK1YM, is now active as SV/OK1YM and will participate in the CQ WPX CW contest as either a 40 or 10 meter entry. Meanwhile, he has been active on 20, 17 and 15 meters using CW. QSL via the OK DX Foundation. PALAU, T8. Steven, K7USJ, is QRV as T88SH until May 30, and can be found especially on 10 meter FM and CW during his morning and evening hours. QSL to home call. COSTA RICA, TI. Phil, N0KE, will participate in the CQ WPX CW contest as TI5N. QSL via TI5KD. ANTIGUA, V2. Brian, N3OC, and Bob, N5NJ, are QRV as V26OC and V26O, respectively, until May 31. They will be a Multi/Single entry as V26OC in the CQ WPX CW contest. Before and after the contest, look for them on 160, 30, 17, 12 and 6 meters. QSL to home calls. TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS, VP5. Diana, K2DO, and George, N2GA, will be QRV from Providenciales until May 30 as VP5/homecalls. Look for their VP5GA station to be a Single Op/All band entry in the CW WPX contest. QSL to home calls. THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The CQ WW WPX CW Contest, ARCI QRP Hoot Owl CW Sprint and the Memorial Day CW Sprint are all on tap for this weekend. Please see May QST, page 91, for details."}, {"response": 46, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, May 26, 2000 (16:23)", "body": "Keplerian Bulletin 40 - May 26, 2000 Decode 2-line elsets with the following key: 1 AAAAAU 00 0 0 BBBBB.BBBBBBBB .CCCCCCCC 00000-0 00000-0 0 DDDZ 2 AAAAA EEE.EEEE FFF.FFFF GGGGGGG HHH.HHHH III.IIII JJ.JJJJJJJJKKKKKZ KEY: A-CATALOGNUM B-EPOCHTIME C-DECAY D-ELSETNUM E-INCLINATION F-RAAN G-ECCENTRICITY H-ARGPERIGEE I-MNANOM J-MNMOTION K-ORBITNUM Z-CHECKSUM AO-10 1 14129U 83058B 00146.68284396 -.00000029 00000-0 10000-3 0 6496 2 14129 26.8967 329.5336 6016142 54.6384 347.9173 2.05868036 99491 UO-11 1 14781U 84021B 00146.88854930 +.00002883 +00000-0 +46598-3 0 02980 2 14781 097.9805 110.3839 0011051 167.4443 192.7054 14.72070571869020 Mir 1 16609U 86017A 00147.32946845 .00046033 00000-0 45232-3 0 6865 2 16609 51.6515 10.5387 0012845 337.6198 22.4399 15.65454710815706 UO-14 1 20437U 90005B 00146.70260163 +.00000513 +00000-0 +21324-3 0 05480 2 20437 098.4111 214.4568 0010294 285.0380 074.9658 14.30434750539652 AO-16 1 20439U 90005D 00146.75458633 +.00000638 +00000-0 +26115-3 0 03386 2 20439 098.4474 220.8371 0010685 288.7763 071.2262 14.30502843539681 LO-19 1 20442U 90005G 00146.74196472 +.00000607 +00000-0 +24824-3 0 03256 2 20442 098.4616 224.0060 0011609 285.8632 074.1270 14.30739287539768 FO-20 1 20480U 90013C 00146.92861640 -.00000003 +00000-0 +56225-4 0 02298 2 20480 099.0504 281.5039 0540980 105.6386 260.5066 12.83273813482429 RS-12/13 1 21089U 91007A 00146.65374739 +.00000169 +00000-0 +16296-3 0 02527 2 21089 082.9252 202.4817 0028516 185.5581 174.5264 13.74197788466582 UO-22 1 21575U 91050B 00146.60013129 +.00000743 +00000-0 +26083-3 0 00456 2 21575 098.1578 175.2375 0006783 274.7146 085.3253 14.37700460464670 AO-27 1 22825U 93061C 00146.68321771 +.00000373 +00000-0 +16671-3 0 08293 2 22825 098.4099 204.5515 0008307 334.6386 025.4381 14.28143169347267 IO-26 1 22826U 93061D 00146.70199635 +.00000521 +00000-0 +22575-3 0 08261 2 22826 098.4119 205.1823 0008984 333.9668 026.1059 14.28288117347292 KO-25 1 22828U 93061F 00146.67501152 +.00000568 +00000-0 +24272-3 0 07996 2 22828 098.4081 205.3213 0010279 316.7098 043.3263 14.28685475315452 RS-15 1 23439U 94085A 00147.41446242 .00000004 00000-0 13094-2 0 4646 2 23439 64.8178 215.7080 0166725 292.8936 65.4465 11.27536952223059 FO-29 1 24278U 96046B 00146.78152597 .00000040 00000-0 80422-4 0 3328 2 24278 98.5885 57.5780 0350493 285.0146 71.2457 13.52723113186267 TO-31 1 25396U 98043C 00146.74221079 -.00000044 00000-0 00000+0 0 3264 2 25396 98.7227 222.4542 0004019 137.6236 222.5269 14.22659564 97463 GO-32 1 25397U 98043D 00146.74038711 -.00000044 +00000-0 +00000-0 0 03063 2 25397 098.7208 222.2427 0001698 137.3194 222.8115 14.22407924097478 SO-35 1 25636U 99008C 00146.59579436 +.00000617 +00000-0 +17533-3 0 02233 2 25636 096.4551 356.3650 0150829 251.9963 106.4745 14.41290094065835 UO-36 1 25693U 99021A 00146.58950774 .00001013 00000-0 17400-3 0 2401 2 25693 64.5572 178.8734 0044422 301.2116 58.4636 14.73545986 58977 Keplerian bulletins are transmitted twice weekly from W1AW. The next scheduled transmission of these data will be Tuesday, May 30, 2000, at 2230z on Baudot and AMTOR."}, {"response": 47, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, May 30, 2000 (16:54)", "body": "Keplerian Bulletin 41 - May 30, 2000 Decode 2-line elsets with the following key: 1 AAAAAU 00 0 0 BBBBB.BBBBBBBB .CCCCCCCC 00000-0 00000-0 0 DDDZ 2 AAAAA EEE.EEEE FFF.FFFF GGGGGGG HHH.HHHH III.IIII JJ.JJJJJJJJKKKKKZ KEY: A-CATALOGNUM B-EPOCHTIME C-DECAY D-ELSETNUM E-INCLINATION F-RAAN G-ECCENTRICITY H-ARGPERIGEE I-MNANOM J-MNMOTION K-ORBITNUM Z-CHECKSUM AO-10 1 14129U 83058B 00150.56838595 -.00000002 +00000-0 +10000-3 0 06530 2 14129 026.8913 328.8365 6021557 055.6329 347.6670 02.05872787099578 UO-11 1 14781U 84021B 00151.51066389 .00001781 00000-0 29075-3 0 2919 2 14781 97.9818 114.9229 0011466 153.2785 206.9011 14.72086289869708 Mir 1 16609U 86017A 00151.47858887 .00029263 00000-0 28758-3 0 6987 2 16609 51.6512 349.5011 0012856 352.9148 7.1650 15.65676765816357 UO-14 1 20437U 90005B 00150.75963974 +.00000192 +00000-0 +89937-4 0 05477 2 20437 098.4103 218.3770 0010140 270.6615 089.3405 14.30436249540233 AO-16 1 20439U 90005D 00150.74147843 +.00000475 +00000-0 +19844-3 0 03344 2 20439 098.4467 224.7072 0010662 277.5218 082.4728 14.30506944540252 LO-19 1 20442U 90005G 00150.79813368 .00000333 00000-0 14358-3 0 3242 2 20442 98.4619 227.9544 0011603 273.3795 86.5997 14.30741814540344 FO-20 1 20480U 90013C 00151.21666331 .00000012 00000-0 90355-4 0 2297 2 20480 99.0511 284.9880 0541040 95.9393 270.3612 12.83274250482977 RS-12/13 1 21089U 91007A 00150.65834692 +.00000172 +00000-0 +16663-3 0 02534 2 21089 082.9265 199.5140 0028015 174.4980 185.6486 13.74199438467130 UO-22 1 21575U 91050B 00150.98467665 +.00000487 +00000-0 +17545-3 0 00964 2 21575 098.1561 179.3952 0006459 254.8471 105.2003 14.37704306465307 AO-27 1 22825U 93061C 00150.95693977 +.00000278 +00000-0 +12868-3 0 08612 2 22825 098.4082 208.6661 0007718 321.9639 038.0993 14.28145528347878 IO-26 1 22826U 93061D 00150.69506841 +.00000339 +00000-0 +15252-3 0 08277 2 22826 098.4113 209.0288 0008820 322.4924 037.5639 14.28290839347868 KO-25 1 22828U 93061F 00150.66697426 +.00000369 +00000-0 +16338-3 0 07982 2 22828 098.4076 209.1675 0010033 304.7394 055.2816 14.28688380316022 RS-15 1 23439U 94085A 00150.60740425 -.00000003 +00000-0 +11156-2 0 04794 2 23439 064.8175 210.5446 0166846 292.3724 065.9594 11.27537163223412 FO-29 1 24278U 96046B 00151.21935014 .00000019 00000-0 58536-4 0 3333 2 24278 98.5884 61.4337 0350304 273.5568 82.5576 13.52723680186861 TO-31 1 25396U 98043C 00150.89168734 -.00000044 +00000-0 +00000-0 0 03422 2 25396 098.7179 226.5607 0003838 127.7484 232.4066 14.22662728098056 GO-32 1 25397U 98043D 00150.96096669 -.00000044 +00000-0 +00000-0 0 03529 2 25397 098.7196 226.4180 0002114 119.7416 240.3974 14.22408990098070 SO-35 1 25636U 99008C 00151.17784079 .00000539 00000-0 15427-3 0 1944 2 25636 96.4541 359.8318 0150810 237.5373 121.1166 14.41295219 66496 UO-36 1 25693U 99021A 00151.27235719 -.00000408 00000-0 -40431-4 0 2431 2 25693 64.5580 164.6104 0043656 299.4640 60.2109 14.73538354 59662 Keplerian bulletins are transmitted twice weekly from W1AW. The next scheduled transmission of these data will be Friday, June 2, 2000, at 2230z on Baudot and AMTOR."}, {"response": 48, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Jun  1, 2000 (18:43)", "body": "DX Bulletin 23 - June 1, 2000 This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by Tedd, KB8NW, the OPDX Bulletin, The Daily DX, 425DXnews and Contest Corral from QST. Thanks to all. WESTERN MALAYSIA, 9M2. Keith, GM4YXI, will be active as 9M2/GM4YXI from some West Malaysian islands during the weekends between June 3 and 18. The first operation is scheduled to take place from Pulau Babi Besar (AS-046) from June 3 to 4, and possibly from Pulau Ketam (AS-074) on June 10 to 11 and 17 to 18. Operation will be on 20, 15, 12 and 10 meters, CW and SSB only. CHINA, BY. Fred, WF6Z, plans to operate with special call BT0QGL from the base camp in Xingiang Province after June 4 and as late as August 15. QSL via K6EXO. CUBA, CO. Special event station CO0CNR will be active on 40 through 6 meters on June 3 and 4, during the first Cuban National Radioamateur Convention. FALKLAND ISLANDS, VP8. Dave, VP8DBN, has been found on 28455 kHz between 1745 and 1900Z. QSL via G7BSP. JAPAN, J. Special event station 8M2000 will be active from June 2 to 4 and June 10 to 11. Activity will be on 40, 30, 20, 17, 15, 12, 10 and 6 meters, SSB and CW. QSL via the JARL Bureau. NETHERLANDS ANTILLES, PJ. Bill, K5YG, will be active as PJ4/K5YG from Bonaire, June 4 to 9. His main modes of operation will be RTTY and PSK31 on 20 and 10 meters. QSL via K5YG. UNTAET, 4W6. Antonio, 4W6GH, has been active using RTTY on 14081 kHz from 1200 to 1500Z. QSL via CT1EGH. MADAGASCAR, 5R8. Ake, 5R8FU, has been active on 14227 kHz just before 1130Z. QSL via SM0DJZ. SINGAPORE, 9V. Rin, 9V1BG, has been worked on RTTY on 14090 kHz, at 1400Z. GLORIOSO, FR/G. Henri, FR5ZQ/G, has been worked on 21010 kHz using CW. He has also been spotted on 14273 kHz around 1300Z. AZERBAIJAN, 4K. Boris, 4K9C, has been active on 14012 kHz just before 1500Z. GABON, TR. Check 17 meters CW daily from 1900 to 2100Z for Jean-Claude, signing TR8XX. THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The QRP Tactical Contest is on tap for your contesting pleasure. Please see June QST, page 104 for details."}, {"response": 49, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Jun  2, 2000 (12:11)", "body": "Propagation Forecast Bulletin - June 2, 2000 Average solar flux and sunspot numbers for last week were 158.3 and 152.7 respectively, which is down quite a bit from the week before. Average flux was off nearly 70 points and average sunspot numbers were down over 80 points when compared to the previous week. Contesters were lucky last weekend, as the planetary A index was 12 on Saturday and Sunday, but much higher on the days before and after the weekend. Polar paths were probably still difficult, as the high latitude A and K indices were still high on the weekend. For instance, while the planetary K index was two and three on Sunday, the College K index, measured at Fairbanks, Alaska was five and six, which is at storm levels. Average solar flux for the month of May was 184.5, about the same as April, which was 184.2. Average monthly solar flux numbers from May, 1999 through May, 2000 were 147.8, 169.8, 165.6, 170.8, 135.7, 164.8, 191.5, 169.8, 159, 174.1, 208.2, 184.2 and 184.5. For the next few days we should expect a rising solar flux. Predicted solar flux for Friday through Tuesday is 155, 160, 160, 165 and 165. Solar flux is expected to peak near 260 around June 12 or 13, based upon the previous solar rotation. Geomagnetic activity for the near term looks stable, with planetary A indices for Friday through Tuesday of 10, 8, 10, 10 and 10. KV4AC wrote this week asking about the path projections and software for evaluating propagation. The one I have used is W6EL's Miniprop. Unfortunately, this DOS software is no longer published, and the latest version is no longer available. But an early 1987 shareware version is available for FTP, and it works quite well. It gives signal level predictions in 2 hour increments and only does five bands at a time, whereas later versions give levels in half-hour increments and will display seven frequencies at a time. One source for this version is a link on AE0Q's web page at http://www.qsl.net/ae0q/index.html . This week, try doing your own path projections. You can check the current solar flux over the radio on WWV at 18 minutes after every hour, or dial 303-497-3235 at any time. Then after downloading Miniprop, put in your latitude and longitude for the default values, select a target, enter the letter F followed by the solar flux, and the date. You can find your exact latitude and longitude by entering your street address at www.mapblast.com. Select the Create Map option, and your coordinates will appear at the edge of the map. Take care when entering the coordinates into Miniprop, because the conventions between Mapblast and Miniprop are slightly different. In Miniprop, both coordinates for North American locations will be positive, whereas in Mapblast one is negative. Notes to the author are welcome at k7vvv@arrl.net. Sunspot numbers for May 25 through 31 were 125, 155, 161, 176, 189, 153 and 110 with a mean of 152.7. 10.7 cm flux was 172.8, 167.9, 161.8, 155.9, 149, 146.4 and 154.4, with a mean of 158.3, and estimated planetary A indices were 31, 23, 12, 12, 24, 21 and 12, with a mean of 19.3."}, {"response": 50, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Jun  2, 2000 (12:20)", "body": "Keplerian Bulletin 42 - June 2, 2000 Decode 2-line elsets with the following key: 1 AAAAAU 00 0 0 BBBBB.BBBBBBBB .CCCCCCCC 00000-0 00000-0 0 DDDZ 2 AAAAA EEE.EEEE FFF.FFFF GGGGGGG HHH.HHHH III.IIII JJ.JJJJJJJJKKKKKZ KEY: A-CATALOGNUM B-EPOCHTIME C-DECAY D-ELSETNUM E-INCLINATION F-RAAN G-ECCENTRICITY H-ARGPERIGEE I-MNANOM J-MNMOTION K-ORBITNUM Z-CHECKSUM AO-10 1 14129U 83058B 00153.48256635 -.00000060 00000-0 10000-3 0 6526 2 14129 26.8952 328.3159 6020362 56.4189 347.4746 2.05871957 99630 UO-11 1 14781U 84021B 00152.93807251 .00001724 00000-0 28167-3 0 3208 2 14781 97.9812 116.3239 0011522 148.3475 211.8427 14.72090801869917 Mir 1 16609U 86017A 00153.84011251 .00027483 00000-0 26917-3 0 7029 2 16609 51.6499 337.5264 0012467 2.0856 358.0179 15.65805577816725 UO-14 1 20437U 90005B 00153.20784940 .00000236 00000-0 10680-3 0 5280 2 20437 98.4104 220.7450 0010109 263.8663 96.1365 14.30437778540585 AO-16 1 20439U 90005D 00153.25951455 .00000275 00000-0 12202-3 0 3287 2 20439 98.4473 227.1541 0010516 269.2813 90.7164 14.30507409540617 LO-19 1 20442U 90005G 00152.82621704 .00000325 00000-0 14048-3 0 3347 2 20442 98.4621 229.9288 0011564 267.2428 92.7426 14.30743223540639 FO-20 1 20480U 90013C 00152.93187066 .00000032 00000-0 13633-3 0 2431 2 20480 99.0514 286.3818 0541064 92.0615 274.2513 12.83274568483198 RS-12/13 1 21089U 91007A 00153.20673146 .00000047 00000-0 33373-4 0 2497 2 21089 82.9259 197.6241 0028557 166.9987 193.1909 13.74198446467488 UO-22 1 21575U 91050B 00152.93336058 .00000363 00000-0 13423-3 0 539 2 21575 98.1562 181.2447 0006563 247.0399 113.0097 14.37705115465587 AO-27 1 22825U 93061C 00153.19888823 .00000334 00000-0 15114-3 0 8134 2 22825 98.4077 210.8251 0007510 314.4057 45.6509 14.28147412348190 IO-26 1 22826U 93061D 00152.72662979 .00000237 00000-0 11166-3 0 8084 2 22826 98.4110 210.9860 0008687 315.6046 44.4438 14.28291355348153 KO-25 1 22828U 93061F 00153.18821155 .00000314 00000-0 14146-3 0 7895 2 22828 98.4076 211.5978 0009762 296.6365 63.3810 14.28689676316381 RS-15 1 23439U 94085A 00152.55864682 -.00000030 00000-0 35594-3 0 4683 2 23439 64.8173 207.3893 0166810 291.9910 66.3364 11.27536951223631 FO-29 1 24278U 96046B 00152.77259587 .00000003 00000-0 42820-4 0 3432 2 24278 98.5884 62.7831 0350301 269.5090 86.5911 13.52723701187071 TO-31 1 25396U 98043C 00153.77521699 -.00000044 00000-0 00000+0 0 3312 2 25396 98.7175 229.4081 0003751 124.3341 235.8193 14.22668367 98467 GO-32 1 25397U 98043D 00152.93056811 -.00000044 00000-0 00000-0 0 3185 2 25397 98.7197 228.3660 0002186 117.6338 242.5066 14.22409651 98356 SO-35 1 25636U 99008C 00152.63576557 .00000511 00000-0 14657-3 0 2132 2 25636 96.4539 0.9347 0150801 232.9396 125.7930 14.41296581 66709 UO-36 1 25693U 99021A 00154.25852002 .00004965 00000-0 76959-3 0 2457 2 25693 64.5579 155.5048 0044349 299.5477 60.1018 14.73540073 60105 Keplerian bulletins are transmitted twice weekly from W1AW. The next scheduled transmission of these data will be Tuesday, June 6, 2000, at 2230z on Baudot and AMTOR."}, {"response": 51, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Jun  6, 2000 (18:20)", "body": "Keplerian Bulletin 43 - June 6, 2000 Decode 2-line elsets with the following key: 1 AAAAAU 00 0 0 BBBBB.BBBBBBBB .CCCCCCCC 00000-0 00000-0 0 DDDZ 2 AAAAA EEE.EEEE FFF.FFFF GGGGGGG HHH.HHHH III.IIII JJ.JJJJJJJJKKKKKZ KEY: A-CATALOGNUM B-EPOCHTIME C-DECAY D-ELSETNUM E-INCLINATION F-RAAN G-ECCENTRICITY H-ARGPERIGEE I-MNANOM J-MNMOTION K-ORBITNUM Z-CHECKSUM AO-10 1 14129U 83058B 00153.48256635 -.00000060 00000-0 10000-3 0 6526 2 14129 26.8952 328.3159 6020362 56.4189 347.4746 2.05871957 99630 UO-11 1 14781U 84021B 00156.94839248 +.00001197 +00000-0 +19787-3 0 03453 2 14781 097.9818 120.2598 0011736 136.5604 223.6527 14.72099295870500 Mir 1 16609U 86017A 00158.05210490 .00028336 00000-0 27485-3 0 7156 2 16609 51.6527 316.1649 0012681 16.5235 343.6189 15.66026130817381 UO-14 1 20437U 90005B 00157.75452087 -.00000450 00000-0 -15648-3 0 5298 2 20437 98.4018 225.1390 0010125 250.6562 109.3476 14.30438277541239 AO-16 1 20439U 90005D 00157.73601638 .00000335 00000-0 14505-3 0 3295 2 20439 98.4469 231.5010 0010544 256.0192 103.9817 14.30509910541259 LO-19 1 20442U 90005G 00156.74251165 +.00000269 +00000-0 +11919-3 0 03343 2 20442 098.4624 233.7410 0011466 255.3708 104.6203 14.30745028541195 FO-20 1 20480U 90013C 00156.90801086 -.00000034 +00000-0 -12964-4 0 02449 2 20480 099.0523 289.6129 0541037 083.0638 283.1665 12.83274191483700 RS-12/13 1 21089U 91007A 00157.57538473 .00000106 00000-0 96224-4 0 2506 2 21089 82.9240 194.3826 0029252 154.8763 205.3823 13.74199011468089 UO-22 1 21575U 91050B 00156.96991272 +.00000308 +00000-0 +11612-3 0 00527 2 21575 098.1547 185.0738 0006671 233.3636 126.6942 14.37708327466169 AO-27 1 22825U 93061C 00157.89296630 .00000166 00000-0 83703-4 0 8148 2 22825 98.4063 215.3426 0007420 298.9386 61.1043 14.28148697348866 IO-26 1 22826U 93061D 00157.21007034 .00000211 00000-0 10122-3 0 8092 2 22826 98.4103 215.3039 0008778 304.1809 55.8539 14.28293671348794 KO-25 1 22828U 93061F 00157.67040528 .00000200 00000-0 96101-4 0 7908 2 22828 98.4070 215.9162 0009529 281.6323 78.3786 14.28691698317024 RS-15 1 23439U 94085A 00156.63851704 -.00000030 +00000-0 +36727-3 0 04721 2 23439 064.8171 200.7895 0166905 291.3143 067.0035 11.27536966224095 FO-29 1 24278U 96046B 00156.76667529 -.00000124 +00000-0 -87771-4 0 03502 2 24278 098.5883 066.2527 0350241 259.1518 097.0031 13.52723315187615 TO-31 1 25396U 98043C 00156.94006169 -.00000044 +00000-0 +00000-0 0 03764 2 25396 098.7178 232.5422 0003734 115.3743 244.7824 14.22671817098915 GO-32 1 25397U 98043D 00156.94010970 -.00000044 +00000-0 +00000-0 0 03322 2 25397 098.7192 232.3317 0002235 111.0639 249.0776 14.22411862098922 SO-35 1 25636U 99008C 00158.12034985 .00000547 00000-0 15611-3 0 1977 2 25636 96.4523 5.0842 0151466 215.1555 143.9570 14.41298794 67493 UO-36 1 25693U 99021A 00156.97322460 -.00000264 +00000-0 -18634-4 0 02804 2 25693 064.5583 147.2352 0044315 299.1017 060.5641 14.73536550060500 Keplerian bulletins are transmitted twice weekly from W1AW. The next scheduled transmission of these data will be Friday, June 9, 2000, at 2230z on Baudot and AMTOR."}, {"response": 52, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Jun  8, 2000 (17:20)", "body": "DX Bulletin 24 - June 8, 2000 This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by Tedd, KB8NW, the OPDX Bulletin, The Daily DX, DXNL, 4X6TT and Contest Corral from QST. Thanks to all. FIJI, 3D2. Ron, ZL1AMO, is QRV as 3D2RW and has been active around 0300z on 21026 kHz. QSL to home call. EAST TIMOR, 4W. 4W6GH has been QRV using RTTY around 10141 kHz between 1100 and 1300z. QSL via CT1EGH. TANZANIA, 5H. Ralph, 5H3RK, likes 20 meters CW, usually around 14026 kHz between 0330 and 0400z. EASTERN MALAYSIA, 9M8. Hans is QRV as 9M8QQ and continues to show up on 21260 kHz around 1700z or so. QSL via DF5UG. CHINA, BY. Fred, WF6Z, is here until August 15 as a member of the American K2 North Ridge Expedition climbing team. He will also operate from the K2 camp base in the Xingiang Province as BT0QGL. Look for activity on 40, 20, 15 and 10 meters. QSL via K6EXO. IRAN, EP. Ali, EP2MKO, has been QRV on 15 meters CW most days between 2000 and 2100z. Look around 21007 to 21018 kHz. QSL via RU6FZ. ESTONIA, ES. Special callsign ES8SC is active until August 31 for the ''Summer Capital Award.'' QSL via operator's instructions. GLORIOSO ISLAND, FR/G. Henri, FR5ZQ/G, has been QRV on 20 and 15 meters around 1300 to 1700z. JORDAN, JY. Amir, 4X6TT, is signing JY8TT until June 11 on all bands. On the newer bands, he is concentrating activity on 18145 and 24945 kHz. QSL to home call. MIDWAY ISLAND, KH4. Bill, NH6D, has moved to Midway for several years and is QRV as KH4/NH6D. QSL via N6FF. BULGARIA, LZ. Berkin, TA3J, and his wife Nilay, TA3YJ, are QRV until June 13 as LZ/TA3J and LZ/TA3YJ, respectively. QSL to home calls. BANGLADESH, S2. Bob, S21YP, has been QRV on 21027 kHz around 0120z. UZBEKISTAN, UK. Mike, UK8OM, and Nemat, UK8GK, are usually QRV on 15 meters CW and SSB after 0200z. INDIA, VU. Raju, VU3GVR, has been QRV using RTTY on 14086 kHz around 1300z. CAMBODIA, XU. Hiroo, JA2EZD, has been QRV as XU7AAR on 15 meters just prior to 2100z. QSL via XW2A. YUGOSLAVIA, YU. Andy, RW3AH, is QRV from Kosovo as 4O8/9X0A for about a year. He is usually active from 0300 to 0500z and then from 1600 to 2300z around 14195 kHz. QSL to home call. ALBANIA, ZA. Marty, N5NW, will be QRV as ZA/N5NW from June 10 to 17 using SSB primarily on 20 and 15 meters. There may also be some 2 meter activity. QSL via KB4KA. THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The ARRL June VHF QSO party, TOEC WW Grid Contest and the ANARTS WW RTTY/Digital Contest are all scheduled for this weekend. Please see June QST, page 104 for details."}, {"response": 53, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Jun  9, 2000 (12:21)", "body": "Propagation Forecast Bulletin 23 - June 9, 2000 A large coronal mass ejection on June 6 is raising havoc with HF propagation. Geomagnetic conditions were rough on Wednesday, with K indices of 3 and 4, but the big effect was measured on Thursday, when the planetary K index was 7 at 0900 and 1200z, followed by 6 at 1500z. The planetary A index for Thursday was 53, while the College A index (in Alaska) was 79. This indicates a severe geomagnetic storm, which should disrupt HF communications but may provide interesting auroral communication opportunities for VHF enthusiasts. Regarding visible aurora effects, the chances over North America are declining on Friday morning, although earlier in the day there was an intense aurora visible over Asia. To add to the excitement, there was another coronal mass ejection on Wednesday, June 7. The latest word has solar wind providing another disruption on Saturday, June 10. Planetary A index should rise on Friday to 75, then drop to 40 on Saturday, 25 on Sunday, 18 on Monday and 15 on Tuesday. Solar flux is expected to rise over the same period, to 185 on Friday, 190 on Saturday, 200 on Monday and 210 on Tuesday. Solar flux is expected to peak over the short term around 245 on June 16. Last week's bulletin mentioned monitoring WWV for the latest solar and geophysical numbers, and both WB6RIB and W9LYN wrote to suggest the URL of ftp://ftp.sel.noaa.gov/pub/latest/wwv.txt for the latest text of the WWV bulletin that appears at 18 minutes after every hour. WB7QXU wrote to inquire about the significance of the various numbers presented weekly in this bulletin. A basic explanation is presented periodically, but has not appeared since last October. We repeat it here now. Amateur Radio operators who use HF generally like increased sunspots because they correlate with better worldwide radio propagation. When there are more sunspots, the sun puts out radiation which charges particles in the earth's ionosphere. Radio waves bounce off of these charged particles, and the denser these clouds of ions, the better the HF propagation. When the ionosphere is more dense, higher frequencies will reflect off of the ionosphere rather than passing through to space. This is why every 11 years or so when this activity is higher, 10 meters gets exciting. 10 meters is at a high enough frequency, right near the top of the HF spectrum, that radio waves propagate very efficiently when the sunspot count is high. Because of the wavelength, smaller antennas are very efficient on this band, so mobile stations running low power on 10 meters can communicate world wide on a daily basis when the sunspot cycle is at its peak. The sunspot numbers used in this bulletin are calculated by counting the sunspots on the visible solar surface and also measuring their area. Solar flux is measured at an observatory in British Columbia using an antenna pointed toward the sun tuned to 2.8 GHz, which is at a wavelength of 10.7 cm. Energy detected seems to correlate with sunspots and with the density of the ionosphere. Other solar activity of concern to HF operators are solar flares and coronal holes, which emit protons. Since the charged ions in the ionosphere are negative, a blast of protons from the sun can neutralize the charge and make the ionosphere less reflective. These waves of protons can be so intense that they may trigger an event called a geomagnetic storm. The Planetary A index relates to geomagnetic stability. Magnetometers around the world are used to generate a number called the Planetary K index. You can hear the Boulder K index updated every three hours on WWV, or by calling 303-497-3235. A one point change in the K index is quite significant. A K index below 3 generally means good stable conditions, and above 3 can mean high absorption and poor reflection of radio waves. Each point change reflects a big change in conditions. Every 24 hours the K index is summarized in a number called the A index. A one point change in A value is not very significant. A full day with the K index at 3 will produce an A index of 15, K of 4 means A of 27, K of 5 means A of 48, and K of 6 means A of 80. You can find an explanation of these numbers on the web at http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/stp/GEOMAG/kp_ap.html . The number reported here is the Planetary A index, which is a worldwide average based on the K readings from a number of magnetometers. The numbers reported on WWV are the Boulder K and A index, measured in Colorado. Generally the higher the latitude of the measuring station, the higher the K and A indices reported. This is because the effects of geomagnetic instability tend to concentrate toward the polar regions of the globe. Currently we are near the peak of the solar cycle, so conditions are generally better because of the increased ionization of the ionosphere. But along with the increased sunspots comes more solar flares and coronal holes, producing disturbed conditions. Sunspot numbers for June 1 through 7 were 128,"}, {"response": 54, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, Jun 10, 2000 (22:26)", "body": "Keplerian Bulletin 44 - June 9, 2000 Decode 2-line elsets with the following key: 1 AAAAAU 00 0 0 BBBBB.BBBBBBBB .CCCCCCCC 00000-0 00000-0 0 DDDZ 2 AAAAA EEE.EEEE FFF.FFFF GGGGGGG HHH.HHHH III.IIII JJ.JJJJJJJJKKKKKZ KEY: A-CATALOGNUM B-EPOCHTIME C-DECAY D-ELSETNUM E-INCLINATION F-RAAN G-ECCENTRICITY H-ARGPERIGEE I-MNANOM J-MNMOTION K-ORBITNUM Z-CHECKSUM AO-10 1 14129U 83058B 00153.48256635 -.00000060 00000-0 10000-3 0 6526 2 14129 26.8952 328.3159 6020362 56.4189 347.4746 2.05871957 99630 UO-11 1 14781U 84021B 00160.95868000 +.00001514 +00000-0 +24817-3 0 03270 2 14781 097.9823 124.1984 0011878 124.0997 236.1344 14.72111733871095 Mir 1 16609U 86017A 00161.43397512 .00032011 00000-0 30686-3 0 7256 2 16609 51.6503 299.0019 0013225 29.6555 330.5207 15.66243583817918 UO-14 1 20437U 90005B 00160.83226390 +.00000190 +00000-0 +89027-4 0 05334 2 20437 098.4027 228.1142 0010282 239.4225 120.5931 14.30441393541674 AO-16 1 20439U 90005D 00160.74366340 +.00000219 +00000-0 +10028-3 0 03464 2 20439 098.4463 234.4205 0010475 244.8130 115.1968 14.30510816541687 LO-19 1 20442U 90005G 00160.79866858 +.00000243 +00000-0 +10899-3 0 03353 2 20442 098.4621 237.6887 0011322 243.4666 116.5342 14.30747126541776 FO-20 1 20480U 90013C 00160.88411868 -.00000038 +00000-0 -20863-4 0 02391 2 20480 099.0525 292.8427 0541033 074.0476 291.9521 12.83274210484212 RS-12/13 1 21089U 91007A 00160.56062890 +.00000139 +00000-0 +13135-3 0 02846 2 21089 082.9236 192.1679 0029779 146.9362 213.3676 13.74199782468492 UO-22 1 21575U 91050B 00160.72807477 +.00000334 +00000-0 +12475-3 0 00447 2 21575 098.1530 188.6375 0006736 220.1649 139.9032 14.37711277466702 AO-27 1 22825U 93061C 00160.90557976 +.00000176 +00000-0 +87527-4 0 08663 2 22825 098.4058 218.2429 0007627 287.5443 072.4904 14.28150030349295 IO-26 1 22826U 93061D 00160.64269885 +.00000224 +00000-0 +10666-3 0 08252 2 22826 098.4097 218.6102 0008527 292.7055 067.3224 14.28295675349280 KO-25 1 22828U 93061F 00160.68187492 +.00000260 +00000-0 +11993-3 0 08086 2 22828 098.4064 218.8182 0009383 272.0953 087.9151 14.28693665317457 RS-15 1 23439U 94085A 00160.54099985 -.00000004 +00000-0 +10941-2 0 04686 2 23439 064.8167 194.4785 0166924 290.6436 067.6658 11.27537446224535 FO-29 1 24278U 96046B 00160.76077805 +.00000058 +00000-0 +98800-4 0 03418 2 24278 098.5880 069.7224 0350207 248.7922 107.5459 13.52724813188154 TO-31 1 25396U 98043C 00160.87853204 -.00000044 +00000-0 +00000-0 0 03569 2 25396 098.7178 236.4413 0003903 115.0902 245.0691 14.22674189099473 GO-32 1 25397U 98043D 00160.94964913 -.00000044 +00000-0 +00000-0 0 03456 2 25397 098.7191 236.3013 0002086 104.3950 255.7459 14.22412948099494 SO-35 1 25636U 99008C 00160.61965490 +.00000301 +00000-0 +89606-4 0 02142 2 25636 096.4526 006.9749 0151595 207.3101 152.0066 14.41300433067850 UO-36 1 25693U 99021A 00160.97740392 +.00000066 +00000-0 +31120-4 0 02822 2 25693 064.5572 135.0346 0044129 297.4857 062.1766 14.73538511061092 Keplerian bulletins are transmitted twice weekly from W1AW. The next scheduled transmission of these data will be Tuesday, June 13, 2000, at 2230z on Baudot and AMTOR."}, {"response": 55, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Jun 13, 2000 (17:01)", "body": "Keplerian Bulletin 45 - June 13, 2000 Decode 2-line elsets with the following key: 1 AAAAAU 00 0 0 BBBBB.BBBBBBBB .CCCCCCCC 00000-0 00000-0 0 DDDZ 2 AAAAA EEE.EEEE FFF.FFFF GGGGGGG HHH.HHHH III.IIII JJ.JJJJJJJJKKKKKZ KEY: A-CATALOGNUM B-EPOCHTIME C-DECAY D-ELSETNUM E-INCLINATION F-RAAN G-ECCENTRICITY H-ARGPERIGEE I-MNANOM J-MNMOTION K-ORBITNUM Z-CHECKSUM AO-10 1 14129U 83058B 00153.48256635 -.00000060 00000-0 10000-3 0 6526 2 14129 26.8952 328.3159 6020362 56.4189 347.4746 2.05871957 99630 UO-11 1 14781U 84021B 00163.94937344 +.00002029 +00000-0 +32988-3 0 03225 2 14781 097.9814 127.1337 0012073 115.9783 244.2667 14.72125201871532 Mir 1 16609U 86017A 00164.49635715 .00037760 00000-0 35742-3 0 7338 2 16609 51.6502 283.4599 0013043 39.4191 320.7751 15.66476684818398 UO-14 1 20437U 90005B 00163.70015781 +.00000188 +00000-0 +88596-4 0 05543 2 20437 098.4043 230.8863 0010248 230.6325 129.3943 14.30443108542080 AO-16 1 20439U 90005D 00163.75130658 +.00000493 +00000-0 +20537-3 0 03391 2 20439 098.4483 237.3472 0010296 236.0101 124.0107 14.30513058542113 LO-19 1 20442U 90005G 00163.73587963 .00000372 00000-0 15843-3 0 3275 2 20442 98.4615 240.5470 0011324 233.4236 126.5894 14.30750063542198 FO-20 1 20480U 90013C 00164.23649927 .00000020 00000-0 10981-3 0 2324 2 20480 99.0527 295.5665 0541057 66.4682 299.2306 12.83274661484647 RS-12/13 1 21089U 91007A 00163.61868285 -.00000202 +00000-0 -23028-3 0 02718 2 21089 082.9236 189.9006 0030250 138.9308 221.4132 13.74198992468913 UO-22 1 21575U 91050B 00164.20784726 .00000464 00000-0 16774-3 0 399 2 21575 98.1520 191.9381 0007051 208.7795 151.3005 14.37714522467200 AO-27 1 22825U 93061C 00163.91818823 +.00000309 +00000-0 +14092-3 0 08505 2 22825 098.4050 221.1424 0007494 278.1669 081.8648 14.28152876349720 IO-26 1 22826U 93061D 00163.65500205 +.00000252 +00000-0 +11793-3 0 08208 2 22826 098.4096 221.5124 0008438 282.6957 077.3277 14.28297503349715 KO-25 1 22828U 93061F 00163.69334188 +.00000457 +00000-0 +19850-3 0 07982 2 22828 098.4047 221.7165 0009088 266.4795 093.5349 14.28696756317888 RS-15 1 23439U 94085A 00163.55655538 -.00000039 +00000-0 +11124-3 0 04843 2 23439 064.8159 189.6026 0166929 290.0471 068.2554 11.27537183224875 FO-29 1 24278U 96046B 00164.23714971 -.00000092 00000-0 -55709-4 0 3361 2 24278 98.5875 72.7420 0350310 239.7456 116.8580 13.52724190188625 TO-31 1 25396U 98043C 00163.90271083 -.00000044 +00000-0 +00000-0 0 03486 2 25396 098.7181 239.4359 0003720 107.8375 252.3230 14.22675172099900 GO-32 1 25397U 98043D 00163.90404305 -.00000044 +00000-0 +00000-0 0 03684 2 25397 098.7188 239.2235 0002446 103.6287 256.5164 14.22413752099916 SO-35 1 25636U 99008C 00163.60493480 +.00000411 +00000-0 +11894-3 0 02177 2 25636 096.4531 009.2337 0152009 197.7538 161.8314 14.41303405068286 UO-36 1 25693U 99021A 00163.96356448 +.00000207 +00000-0 +52446-4 0 02718 2 25693 064.5596 125.9400 0044375 297.3588 062.2985 14.73542177061536 Keplerian bulletins are transmitted twice weekly from W1AW. The next scheduled transmission of these data will be Friday, June 16, 2000, at 2230z on Baudot and AMTOR."}, {"response": 56, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Jun 15, 2000 (14:55)", "body": "DX Bulletin 25 - June 15, 2000 This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by Tedd, KB8NW, the OPDX Bulletin, The Daily DX, DXNL, The 599Rpt and Contest Corral from QST. Thanks to all. WESTERN MALAYSIA, 9M2. Keith, 9M2/GM4YXI, plans to be QRV from Pulau Tioman, IOTA AS-046, beginning June 17 or 18. He will be active using CW and SSB on 20, 15, 12 and 10 meters until June 25. QSL to home call. MOZAMBIQUE, C9. Brian, C91DC, is working in Maputo until the end of September. Look for him between 0500 to 0530z around 28490 to 28495 kHz. SPAIN, EA. Special call ED3PMT will be QRV in June to commemorate the inauguration of the raising of the bridge at Port of Tarragona. QSL via bureau. SCOTLAND, GM. Jim, MM0BQI, will be QRV from the Summer Isles, IOTA EU-092, from June 16 to 18. Activity on 80 to 6 meters near the IOTA frequencies using CW and SSB is expected. He will have a beacon on 50200 kHz. DJIBOUTI, J2. Jean, F5LDY, is active as J28EW. Check around 21008 or 28008 kHz. QSL to home call. JORDAN, JY. Pete, JY9NE, is QRV everyday during the month of June mainly on 20 or 17 meters from 0230 to 0330z. QSL via N3FNE. PALMYRA AND JARVIS ISLANDS, KH5. Mike, KH6ND/KH5, has been QRV on 14029 kHz just after 1500z. QSL via K4TSJ. NORWAY, LA. Hans, SM3TLG, will be on the air as LA/SM3TLG from Helligvaer Islands, IOTA EU-062, June 17 to 20. If time allows he may also do Lofoten Islands, IOTA EU-076, between June 21 and 23. Look for him on CW and SSB. QSL to home call. SINT MAARTEN, PJ7. Andy, WA6WXD, will be QRV from June 17 to 24 as PJ7/WA6WXD on 20, 17, 15 and 10 meters using SSB. QSL to home call. GREECE, SV. Phil, SV8/G3SWH, is QRV until June 21 using CW only on 40 to 10 meters from the island of Mykonos, IOTA EU-067, during the morning and evening hours. QSL to home call. CRETE, SV9. SV9/DL8YRM, SV9/G4VXE and SV9/I2YYO are all QRV from here. QSL to home calls. AUSTRALIA, VK. Celebrating the Olympic and Paralympic Games 2000 in Sydney, all Australian stations may use the prefix AX until November 2, 2000. VANUATU, YJ. Stuart, YJ8UU, has been QRV on 18165 kHz around 0800z. QSL via ZL2HE. THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The Kid's Day Operating Event, SMIRK 2000 QSO Party, All-Asian DX CW Contest and the West Virginia QSO Party are all on tap for this weekend. Please see June QST, page 104 for details."}, {"response": 57, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Jun 16, 2000 (19:53)", "body": "Propagation Forecast Bulletin 24 - June 16, 2000 Solar and geomagnetic activity rose this week. Average sunspot number was up nearly 84 points and solar flux was up by over 13 points compared with last week. Average planetary A index was nearly double. Solar flux probably peaked at 1700z on Wednesday at 205.5. The official solar flux for that day was taken at 2000z and was 200.6. Solar flux for the near term is expected to fall, with the values for Friday through Tuesday at 200, 195, 190, 185 and 180. Flux values should bottom out around 150 from June 27 through 29, and then peak again around July 12. For the All Asia DX CW Contest this weekend expect good conditions, barring some unexpected flare and geomagnetic disturbance. Sometimes unexpected flares disrupt communication, and other times expected events do not happen. An example of this was the past weekend, when energy from a mass ejection on June 10 bypassed the earth around 2200z on June 12. AA1LL wrote to say that his web site at http://www.qsl.net/aa1ll/ shows a graph of predicted solar flux and A index from the weekly 27 day outlook from NOAA. Check it out. Sunspot numbers for June 8 through 14 were 203, 183, 165, 224, 236, 243 and 278 with a mean of 218.9. 10.7 cm flux was 174.6, 168.9, 179.6, 186.8, 192.7, 199.2 and 200.6, with a mean of 186.1, and estimated planetary A indices were 53, 8, 25, 32, 15, 16 and 23, with a mean of 24.6."}, {"response": 58, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Jun 16, 2000 (20:00)", "body": "check out Mike's webpage above - it has great links and pix of everything BUT Mike...*sigh*"}, {"response": 59, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Jun 16, 2000 (20:05)", "body": "Keplerian Bulletin 46 - June 16, 2000 Thanks to Con, W5BWF, for the following Keplerian data. Decode 2-line elsets with the following key: 1 AAAAAU 00 0 0 BBBBB.BBBBBBBB .CCCCCCCC 00000-0 00000-0 0 DDDZ 2 AAAAA EEE.EEEE FFF.FFFF GGGGGGG HHH.HHHH III.IIII JJ.JJJJJJJJKKKKKZ KEY: A-CATALOGNUM B-EPOCHTIME C-DECAY D-ELSETNUM E-INCLINATION F-RAAN G-ECCENTRICITY H-ARGPERIGEE I-MNANOM J-MNMOTION K-ORBITNUM Z-CHECKSUM AO-10 1 14129U 83058B 00167.56748663 .00000111 00000-0 10000-3 0 6545 2 14129 26.8648 326.0728 6017922 60.2020 346.2941 2.05871526 99922 UO-11 1 14781U 84021B 00167.95958226 +.00002186 +00000-0 +35460-3 0 03213 2 14781 097.9818 131.0719 0012178 103.7242 256.5325 14.72142801872123 Mir 1 16609U 86017A 00168.45122574 .00044993 00000-0 41855-3 0 7464 2 16609 51.6500 263.3801 0013803 49.4111 310.8075 15.66812902819012 UO-14 1 20437U 90005B 00167.75717287 +.00000239 +00000-0 +10797-3 0 05502 2 20437 098.4055 234.8080 0010368 218.1229 141.9174 14.30445557542665 AO-16 1 20439U 90005D 00167.73817287 +.00000385 +00000-0 +16397-3 0 03370 2 20439 098.4470 241.2158 0010683 221.7567 138.2801 14.30516821542682 LO-19 1 20442U 90005G 00168.21162418 .00000369 00000-0 15703-3 0 3289 2 20442 98.4616 244.9034 0011379 219.7956 140.2393 14.30753171542830 FO-20 1 20480U 90013C 00168.36847592 -.00000030 00000-0 -10879-5 0 2332 2 20480 99.0534 298.9244 0541059 57.1092 308.0876 12.83274387485174 RS-12/13 1 21089U 91007A 00167.98732620 +.00000214 +00000-0 +21066-3 0 02761 2 21089 082.9233 186.6612 0030545 127.1679 233.2276 13.74201459469515 UO-22 1 21575U 91050B 00168.45315755 .00000607 00000-0 21527-3 0 405 2 21575 98.1515 195.9651 0007214 194.4257 165.6728 14.37720078467813 AO-27 1 22825U 93061C 00167.91164365 +.00000252 +00000-0 +11799-3 0 08546 2 22825 098.4025 224.9882 0007584 262.7814 097.2508 14.28154451350293 IO-26 1 22826U 93061D 00167.71810275 +.00000337 +00000-0 +15199-3 0 08185 2 22826 098.4094 225.4273 0008390 270.7485 089.2736 14.28300709350292 KO-25 1 22828U 93061F 00167.68527253 +.00000847 +00000-0 +35353-3 0 07969 2 22828 098.4060 225.5674 0009851 242.1393 117.8765 14.28702487318458 RS-15 1 23439U 94085A 00167.45903861 -.00000038 +00000-0 +13816-3 0 04727 2 23439 064.8157 183.2918 0166928 289.3205 068.9735 11.27537202225318 FO-29 1 24278U 96046B 00167.78750292 +.00000107 +00000-0 +14747-3 0 03709 2 24278 098.5878 075.8282 0350404 230.5565 126.4078 13.52725437189100 TO-31 1 25396U 98043C 00168.26315007 -.00000044 00000-0 00000+0 0 3350 2 25396 98.7205 243.7551 0003704 99.4172 260.7456 14.22676369100525 GO-32 1 25397U 98043D 00167.91357647 -.00000044 +00000-0 +00000-0 0 03540 2 25397 098.7195 243.1891 0002444 093.8377 266.3100 14.22414244100485 SO-35 1 25636U 99008C 00167.63158394 +.00000800 +00000-0 +22360-3 0 02280 2 25636 096.4528 012.2799 0152134 184.9568 175.0129 14.41310173068863 UO-36 1 25693U 99021A 00167.96773765 +.00000014 +00000-0 +23369-4 0 02861 2 25693 064.5572 113.7405 0044732 296.2583 063.3922 14.73541765062121 Keplerian bulletins are transmitted twice weekly from W1AW. The next scheduled transmission of these data will be Tuesday, June 20, 2000, at 2230z on Baudot and AMTOR."}, {"response": 60, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Jun 20, 2000 (20:04)", "body": "Keplerian Bulletin 47 - June 20, 2000 Decode 2-line elsets with the following key: 1 AAAAAU 00 0 0 BBBBB.BBBBBBBB .CCCCCCCC 00000-0 00000-0 0 DDDZ 2 AAAAA EEE.EEEE FFF.FFFF GGGGGGG HHH.HHHH III.IIII JJ.JJJJJJJJKKKKKZ KEY: A-CATALOGNUM B-EPOCHTIME C-DECAY D-ELSETNUM E-INCLINATION F-RAAN G-ECCENTRICITY H-ARGPERIGEE I-MNANOM J-MNMOTION K-ORBITNUM Z-CHECKSUM AO-10 1 14129U 83058B 00167.56748663 .00000111 00000-0 10000-3 0 6545 2 14129 26.8648 326.0728 6017922 60.2020 346.2941 2.05871526 99922 UO-11 1 14781U 84021B 00171.96973882 +.00002165 +00000-0 +35106-3 0 03184 2 14781 097.9813 135.0084 0012274 091.1571 269.1039 14.72161219872710 Mir 1 16609U 86017A 00172.46910482 .00029130 00000-0 27070-3 0 7620 2 16609 51.6491 242.9674 0013570 65.2212 295.0215 15.67062919819646 UO-14 1 20437U 90005B 00171.74423177 +.00000393 +00000-0 +16720-3 0 05499 2 20437 098.4055 238.6614 0010211 206.9381 153.1273 14.30449666543235 AO-16 1 20439U 90005D 00171.72503051 +.00000526 +00000-0 +21805-3 0 03383 2 20439 098.4460 245.0862 0010925 208.0220 152.0366 14.30521360543256 LO-19 1 20442U 90005G 00172.26775699 .00000313 00000-0 13585-3 0 3296 2 20442 98.4611 248.8505 0011551 206.8589 153.1979 14.30756318543416 FO-20 1 20480U 90013C 00171.87673522 -.00000006 +00000-0 +54464-4 0 02690 2 20480 099.0538 301.7754 0541086 049.1733 315.4999 12.83274748485629 RS-12/13 1 21089U 91007A 00171.99191217 +.00000130 +00000-0 +12082-3 0 02785 2 21089 082.9233 183.6910 0030619 116.2985 244.1323 13.74201969470066 UO-22 1 21575U 91050B 00172.55926417 .00000524 00000-0 18770-3 0 419 2 21575 98.1488 199.8585 0007269 182.3223 177.7934 14.37724440468406 AO-27 1 22825U 93061C 00171.90508878 +.00000325 +00000-0 +14757-3 0 08538 2 22825 098.4025 228.8321 0007607 250.6646 109.3712 14.28158380350869 IO-26 1 22826U 93061D 00171.71114136 +.00000357 +00000-0 +16004-3 0 08181 2 22826 098.4090 229.2735 0008306 257.5402 102.4850 14.28304077350862 KO-25 1 22828U 93061F 00171.67720001 +.00000327 +00000-0 +14687-3 0 08038 2 22828 098.4058 229.4115 0009721 232.9538 127.0734 14.28703831319029 RS-15 1 23439U 94085A 00171.45021417 -.00000024 +00000-0 +52467-3 0 04832 2 23439 064.8148 176.8360 0167103 288.7094 069.5762 11.27537537225769 FO-29 1 24278U 96046B 00171.78167223 +.00000004 +00000-0 +41955-4 0 03685 2 24278 098.5879 079.2981 0350466 220.2071 137.2650 13.52725155189643 TO-31 1 25396U 98043C 00171.92027833 -.00000044 +00000-0 +00000-0 0 03490 2 25396 098.7166 247.3663 0003599 081.9115 278.2487 14.22680354101045 GO-32 1 25397U 98043D 00171.92310157 -.00000044 +00000-0 +00000-0 0 03091 2 25397 098.7192 247.1575 0002594 094.1358 266.0132 14.22415374101055 SO-35 1 25636U 99008C 00172.21361724 .00000518 00000-0 14739-3 0 2033 2 25636 96.4527 15.7461 0152379 170.4837 189.9254 14.41314648 69524 UO-36 1 25693U 99021A 00172.31126016 .00000458 00000-0 90156-4 0 2564 2 25693 64.5626 100.5018 0045137 296.9418 62.7117 14.73538649 62765 Keplerian bulletins are transmitted twice weekly from W1AW. The next scheduled transmission of these data will be Friday, June 23, 2000, at 2230z on Baudot and AMTOR."}, {"response": 61, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Jun 22, 2000 (15:22)", "body": "DX Bulletin 26 - June 22, 2000 SWAZILAND, 3DA0. Elizabeth, KA2UCA, is joining her father Frosty, K5LBU, in Swaziland. She will be QRV as 3DA0EW as Frosty as 3DA0CF. QSL both calls via K5LBU. REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA, 4L. Mero, 4L4MM, has been working US stations on 17 meters. QSL via ON4CFI. UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, A6. Jamal, A61AO, has been QRV on 15 meters SSB from 0130 to 0300z looking for US stations. QSL via N1DG. ANGOLA, D2. Gabriel, D3SAF, has been QRV on 10 meters between 1300 and 1500z. QSL via I3LLH. TURKMENISTAN, EZ. Gene, EZ8BO, can be found on 17 and 15 meters CW between 1900 and 2100z. NEW CALEDONIA, FK. Nine operators from the Japan News Network will be QRV as TX8JNN from June 29 to July 5. Activity will be on 160 to 6 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK31. Some AO-10 activity is also expected. QSL via JA1EOD. SVALBARD, JW. Tom, LA4LN, will be QRV as JW4LN from June 28 to July 11, mostly during his evenings, using CW on 40, 30 and 20 meters. QSL to home call. MARIANA ISLANDS, KH0. JA3HD, JA3APU, JH3FFJ, JA3HD and JA3AER will sign KH0/homecalls from June 23 to 26. QSL to home calls. LEBANON, OD. Jean Paul, F6FYA, is QRV as OD5/F5SQM. He will be here for another 3 months. QSL to home call. BANGLADESH, S2. Shin, S21YI, is usually QRV on 15 meters around 1820z and on 20 meters around 1900z. QSL via 7M4PTD. SUDAN, ST. Jeff, 5B4YY, is licensed as ST0P. His activity begins after 1700z, and can be found on 40, 20, 15 and 10 meters using only SSB and PSK31. He is here until August. QSL to home call. GABON, TR. Jean, TR8XX, is usually QRV on 18070 kHz around 2030z. BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS, VP2V. Jimmy, VP2V/WA6JKV, will be active in the last week in June and the first week of July on all HF bands, including 6 meters. QSL to home call. IRAQ, YI. Peter, YI9OM, has been QRV on 15 meters around 1700z. QSL via OM6TX. VANUATU, YJ. Wayne, YJ8WR, is usually active on 10 and 6 meters using SSB. QSL via VK6JR. THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The ARRL Field Day will certainly keep hams busy this weekend. Please see May QST, page 84 for details."}, {"response": 62, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Jun 23, 2000 (17:38)", "body": "Propagation Forecast Bulletin 25 - June 23, 2000 Average solar flux and sunspot numbers rose slightly this week, and geomagnetic indices were lower. Planetary and mid-latitude A indices have been mostly in the single digits. Unfortunately, geomagnetic conditions may be a bit more active for Field Day this weekend. The predicted planetary A index for Friday through Tuesday is 15, 15, 20, 20 and 12, but no major disturbance is likely. Solar flux for the same period is expected to be around 175, 175, 170, 165 and 165, and should begin rising again around July 1. The short term outlook is for flux values to slowly rise and then peak around 200 before the middle of next month. NASA has an article this week on a proposed model for better predicting the arrival time of the effects from Coronal Mass Ejections. You can see the NASA article at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2000/ast22jun_1m.htm?list and see more info from a solar physics meeting at http://www.lmsal.com/spd/Press/ . Here is a forecast for this Field Day weekend. From the East Coast of the United States to the center of the contiguous 48 states, check 80 meters 0000-1200z (best 0200-0400z), 40 meters all hours, best 0130-0900z with a peak at sunset in the Midwest around 0200z, and weakest 1700-1900z, 20 meters also open all hours, strongest around 2330z, 15 meters possibly open 0630-1400z. From the East Coast to the West Coast, 80 meters 0300-1030z (best around 0430z), 40 meters 0100-1200z (best 0430-0900z), 20 meters open around the clock, best 0400-0600z, weakest 1730-2000z, 15 meters possibly open during the early morning. From the West Coast to the Midwest, 80 meters 0230-1230z (best 0500-1030z), 40 meters open all hours, strongest 0430-1030z, weakest 1830-2030z, 20 meters open all hours, best 0400-1100z, weakest 1800-2100z. 15 meters could possibly open at any time. It looks like the best band will be 40 meters. There is also a possibility of 10 meter sporadic E skip openings during the day. Sunspot numbers for June 15 through 21 were 261, 252, 211, 250, 194, 219 and 226 with a mean of 230.4. 10.7 cm flux was 202.4, 197.5, 193.1, 187.6, 178.4, 183.7 and 188, with a mean of 190.1, and estimated planetary A indices were 20, 9, 10, 11, 9, 9 and 8, with a mean of 10.9."}, {"response": 63, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Jun 30, 2000 (14:17)", "body": "Propagation Forecast Bulletin 26 - June 30, 2000 Solar flux and sunspot numbers were down this week, with average solar flux off over 14 points and average sunspot numbers down by over 46 points compared to the previous week. Conditions over Field Day weekend were not bad, with Planetary A indices of 17 and 8 for Saturday and Sunday and middle-latitude A indices of 10 and 11 for the same days. The predicted planetary A indices from last week's bulletin ARLP025 were 15 and 20 for the weekend. N5LYG and KK5CA wrote about six meter conditions from their Field Day site in Southeast Texas from grid EM20. They used a modest setup with a 3 element beam at 20 feet, and worked 343 stations on six meter SSB. The furthest stations worked were in New York and Pennsylvania to the east and Idaho to the northwest. They had many contacts in Indiana and Illinois, but found it odd that not one California station was heard. They only worked 130 stations on 40 meters using a delta loop at 50 feet, and their group felt that 40 meter conditions were terrible. From the author's location in Seattle, 40 sounded good for the domestic contacts that are the goal in Field Day, but 6 meters was not monitored here. K9LA wrote recently with a comment about computer programs that predict shortwave propagation based upon solar indices. He reminds us that these programs are based on models that use monthly mean ionospheric parameters and smoothed sunspot numbers for the month, not daily solar flux values. He said that the daily state of the ionosphere does not track daily solar flux very well. He feels that it is best to use recent average sunspot numbers instead of the predicted solar flux for the next few days to predict conditions for the immediate future. Speaking of the immediate future, the predicted solar flux for Friday through Tuesday is 165, 165, 170, 175 and 180, and planetary A index for those days is forecast to be 8, 8, 12, 10 and 8. Last week's bulletin ARLP025 stated that solar flux should begin rising around July 1, and this still looks to be the case. Current projections show solar flux peaking around 200 from July 10-13. Unsettled to active geomagnetic conditions are expected around July 11-12. Sunspot numbers for June 22 through 28 were 187, 182, 190, 177, 180, 206 and 166 with a mean of 184. 10.7 cm flux was 179.7, 175.2, 168.3, 175.1, 177.4, 178.6 and 175.3, with a mean of 175.7, and estimated planetary A indices were 8, 23, 17, 8, 33, 18 and 14, with a mean of 17.3."}, {"response": 64, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Jun 30, 2000 (15:00)", "body": "Keplerian Bulletin 49 - June 30, 2000 Decode 2-line elsets with the following key: 1 AAAAAU 00 0 0 BBBBB.BBBBBBBB .CCCCCCCC 00000-0 00000-0 0 DDDZ 2 AAAAA EEE.EEEE FFF.FFFF GGGGGGG HHH.HHHH III.IIII JJ.JJJJJJJJKKKKKZ KEY: A-CATALOGNUM B-EPOCHTIME C-DECAY D-ELSETNUM E-INCLINATION F-RAAN G-ECCENTRICITY H-ARGPERIGEE I-MNANOM J-MNMOTION K-ORBITNUM Z-CHECKSUM AO-10 1 14129U 83058B 00181.65238477 .00000056 00000-0 10000-3 0 6568 2 14129 26.8459 323.7891 6016332 63.8887 345.1003 2.05870603100218 UO-11 1 14781U 84021B 00181.89299604 +.00001852 +00000-0 +30127-3 0 03674 2 14781 097.9829 144.7529 0012386 063.0580 297.1891 14.72197872874173 UO-14 1 20437U 90005B 00181.74682450 .00000269 00000-0 11964-3 0 5353 2 20437 98.4062 248.3294 0010574 174.9738 185.1546 14.30455295544668 AO-16 1 20439U 90005D 00181.72711715 +.00000356 +00000-0 +15271-3 0 03507 2 20439 098.4467 254.8019 0010755 178.2863 181.8355 14.30527519544685 LO-19 1 20442U 90005G 00181.70872467 +.00000344 +00000-0 +14774-3 0 03336 2 20442 098.4614 258.0403 0011811 177.5146 182.6100 14.30763844544765 FO-20 1 20480U 90013C 00181.93365822 +.00000052 +00000-0 +18683-3 0 02477 2 20480 099.0550 309.9492 0541134 026.4242 336.3406 12.83275343486919 RS-12/13 1 21089U 91007A 00182.11257629 .00000058 00000-0 45057-4 0 2565 2 21089 82.9227 176.1837 0030960 89.3711 271.0982 13.74202725471455 UO-22 1 21575U 91050B 00181.95455181 +.00000424 +00000-0 +15437-3 0 00593 2 21575 098.1500 208.7712 0007681 153.7353 206.4224 14.37732846469757 AO-27 1 22825U 93061C 00181.92370900 +.00000220 +00000-0 +10508-3 0 08820 2 22825 098.4024 238.4749 0007701 220.2949 139.7665 14.28163776352291 IO-26 1 22826U 93061D 00181.65868248 +.00000291 +00000-0 +13337-3 0 08245 2 22826 098.4082 238.8542 0008262 225.9894 134.0601 14.28310564352281 KO-25 1 22828U 93061F 00182.18223618 .00000311 00000-0 14017-3 0 7969 2 22828 98.4041 239.5304 0009566 202.6657 157.4105 14.28710526320521 RS-15 1 23439U 94085A 00181.38380596 -.00000033 +00000-0 +26527-3 0 04806 2 23439 064.8142 160.7678 0167320 287.0840 071.1821 11.27537605226884 FO-29 1 24278U 96046B 00181.76716188 .00000032 00000-0 68796-4 0 3407 2 24278 98.5876 87.9726 0350928 194.3190 164.7800 13.52726307190991 TO-31 1 25396U 98043C 00182.53997862 -.00000044 00000-0 00000+0 0 3429 2 25396 98.7180 257.8792 0003254 57.8642 302.2854 14.22688024102550 GO-32 1 25397U 98043D 00181.91171783 -.00000044 +00000-0 +00000-0 0 03406 2 25397 098.7194 257.0374 0002422 075.1998 284.9448 14.22421438102477 SO-35 1 25636U 99008C 00182.14127527 .00000600 00000-0 16909-3 0 2063 2 25636 96.4535 23.2577 0153076 139.1874 222.0903 14.41327353 70959 UO-36 1 25693U 99021A 00181.94844525 +.00000481 +00000-0 +93705-4 0 02698 2 25693 064.5612 071.1411 0045912 295.2209 064.4118 14.73540241064180 Keplerian bulletins are transmitted twice weekly from W1AW. The next scheduled transmission of these data will be Friday, July 7, 2000, at 2230z on Baudot and AMTOR."}, {"response": 65, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Jul  6, 2000 (23:18)", "body": "DX Bulletin 28 - July 6, 2000 This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by Tedd, KB8NW, the OPDX Bulletin, The Daily DX, the 599 Report, N5NT, W4WX, AI5P and Contest Corral from QST. Thanks to all. ST PAUL ISLAND, CY9. AI5P, KT1J (ex KE1AC), WA4RX and WV2B are expected to operate from July 6 to 10, on all HF bands except 160 and 80, signing portable CY9. QSL AI5P via home call, KT1J via K1WY DX Association, and both WA4RX and WV2B via N2AU. MONACO, 3A. Martti, OH2BH, was found on 10102 kHz around 2100z and 0215z. He is part of the 3A2K gang. QSL via OH2BH. VIETNAM, 3W. 3W2EZD was worked on 21282 kHz around 0400z and 14016 kHz at 2000z. QSL via XW2A. EAST TIMOR, 4W6. Thor, 4W6MM is working the digital modes. He was spotted using PSK-31 on 14070 kHz and using RTTY on 14081 kHz. TANZANIA, 5H. Members of the Royal Omani Amateur Radio Society (ROARS) and Nasser, A41KG, will be signing 5I3A and 5I3B from Yambe Island through July 10. They are using CW, SSB and digital modes on all bands. QSL via A47RS, Box 981, Muscat 113, Oman. SVALBARD, JW. Look for the LA7M Modum Group of NRRL, active from Svalbard, to possibly make a side trip to Kong Karl Island during the weekend of July 8 and 9. The group will participate in the IARU HF Championship, SSB and CW. U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS, KP2. Dave, AG8L, will be active as WP2Z in the IARU Contest. Before and after the contest he will be active as KP2/AG8L with NN6C as the QSL manager. The QSL route for WP2Z is via KU9C. KALININGRAD, UA2. The Russian HQ station will be active in the IARU HF Championship, signing R3SRR/2. QSL via the bureau. SAN MARINO, T7. Jose, CT1BOH, and Jim, N6TJ, will be active for the IARU HF Championship on CW and SSB. PALAU, T8. Nob, JA7AYE, will be active as T88AY from Koro Island between July 19 and 23. QSL via JA7AYE. MONTSERRAT, VP2M. Bill, W4WX and Larry, W1LR, will sign VP2MHX and VP2MHS, respectively, from July 18 to 24, using SSB and RTTY. QSL to home calls. The Museum Ships Weekend event will take place from 1330z, July 15 through 1900z, July 16. Suggested operating frequencies for SSB are 3860, 7260, 14260, 18160, 21360, 24960 and 28360 kHz. For CW, check 3539, 7039, 10109, 14039, 18099, 21039, 24899 and 28039 kHz. QSLs K1USN via W1QWT. QSLs all other vessels via their instructions. Bob, N5NT, notifies us that he is NOT the QSL manager for 5X1T. THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The IARU HF World Championship (April QST, page 106), QRP ARCI Summer Homebrew Sprint and the CQ WW VHF Contest (July QST, page 100) will keep contesters busy this weekend. Good luck to all."}, {"response": 66, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Jul  6, 2000 (23:20)", "body": "ARRL Bulletin 28 - July 6, 2000 ARLB028 FCC says ''no'' to SSB, digital modes in VHF CW subbands The FCC has turned down a request asking it to permit SSB and digital modes in the 6 and 2-meter CW-only subbands. The petition, filed last August by the California Six Meter Club, was assigned rulemaking number RM-9806 by the FCC. The CSMC said it requested the additional emission types because its survey of weak-signal operations indicated that the segments were hardly used. The club said most DX and weak signal work took place on frequencies above the CW subbands. In denying the request, the FCC said it did not believe the requested revisions were necessary or had support of the amateur community. The FCC concluded that authorizing additional emission types in the 6-meter and 2-meter CW subbands ''could have an adverse impact on the operating activities of other licensees.'' Additionally, the FCC said, CSMC did not show that any improvement in communications capabilities would result if the 100 kHz of spectrum was opened up for other emission types, which the FCC said were ''adequately accommodated'' under present rules. The FCC said it was ''not persuaded that there is a lack of spectrum in the 6 and 2-meter amateur service bands for transmission of data and phone emission types'' and concluded that any changes to the rules were unnecessary. The FCC action was released June 28."}, {"response": 67, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Jul  7, 2000 (18:44)", "body": "Propagation Forecast Bulletin 27 - July 7, 2000 Solar flux and sunspot numbers declined again this week. Average solar flux was off nearly 14 points and average sunspot numbers were down by seven. At least the geomagnetic indices were also lower. Sometimes when solar flux is higher the increased geomagnetic activity makes things difficult for HF operators. Last week's bulletin and the one previous, ARLP026 and ARLP025 stated that solar flux should rise after July 1. This happened as projected. ARLP026 said that solar flux should peak near 200 around July 10-13, but an updated projection shows solar flux reaching a short term maximum near 205 around July 12-13, then drifting slowly toward a minimum around 165 from July 23-26. Projections also show geomagnetic conditions as unsettled over the next month, except during a quiet period from July 12-13 when planetary A indices should be in the single digits. As we begin the second half of 2000, it is time to review quarterly averages of solar flux indices. Average solar flux for the quarter just completed, April through June, was 182.9. The same second quarter of 1999 had an average daily solar flux of 145, and the intervening average quarterly flux values were 157,6, 175,2 and 180.5. This is a good general indication of a rising solar flux. Average solar flux for the month of June was 179.8, and the January through May average monthly levels were 159, 174.1, 208.2, 184.2 and 184.5. This seems to indicate a peak of solar flux values in March, but don't bet on March being the solar max for cycle 23. Latest predictions shown in the NOAA weekly Preliminary Report and Forecast predict a peak of smoothed solar flux values at 188 for August and September, 2000 and smoothed sunspot numbers reaching a maximum of 140 in January and February, 2001. Smoothed numbers are averaged over a period of time, so we can expect peak values somewhat higher. You can see the predicted values in a pdf file at http://www.sec.noaa.gov/weekly/pdf/prf1296.pdf . Page through to the last few pages to see the tables and graphs. The URL for the index to all of the weekly reports is at http://www.sec.noaa.gov/weekly/index.html . Expect fairly good conditions for the IARU HF World Championship this weekend. Predicted solar flux values for Friday through Tuesday are 180, 185, 190, 195 and 200, and predicted planetary A indices for the same days are 15, 10, 12, 10 and 10. Sunspot numbers for June 29 through July 5 were 189, 159, 175, 185, 166, 165 and 200 with a mean of 177. 10.7 cm flux was 163.3, 159.6, 163.7, 162.4, 156.3, 158.4 and 168.7, with a mean of 161.8, and estimated planetary A indices were 12, 7, 9, 6, 10, 9 and 13, with a mean of 9.4."}, {"response": 68, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Jul 10, 2000 (20:16)", "body": "ARLX011 K1TO and N5TJ repeat as WRTC winners World-champion contesters Dan Street, K1TO, and Jeff Steinman, N5TJ (ex-KR0Y), retained its title at the World Radiosport Team Championship 2000 competition in Bled, Slovenia. Street and Steinman topped the field of 53 WRTC-2000 two-operator teams from around the world in off- and on-the-air operating events designed to test their contesting skills. Using the call sign S584M, K1TO-N5TJ racked up 969 points. The competition included the 24-hour on-air event, concurrent with the IARU HF World Championship Contest held over the weekend as well as off-air pileup tape competition held last week prior to the contest. During the 24-hour IARU/WRTC event, K1TO and N5TJ managed to put 2234 contacts into the log--1277 of them on CW--and collected 364 multipliers. Street and Steinman also topped the field of competitors at the last WRTC, held in 1996 in the San Francisco Bay area. Teams from the US took four of the top ten finishing slots in WRTC-2000. Finishing in second place with 910 points was the Russian team of RA3AUU and RV1AW, operating as S587N. Coming in at number 3 with 870.34 points was the US wildcard team of Doug Grant, K1DG, and CQ magazine contest editor John Dorr, K1AR. Grant and Dorr operated as S582A. Other US teams in the top 10 included the S519I team, Bob Shohet, KQ2M, and Daniel Handa, W7WA--at number 8, and the S531R combo of Jeff Briggs, K1ZM, and Andy Blank, N2NT--at number 10. During this third WRTC, operators competed using modest stations running 100 W on CW and SSB on 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters. All sites were equipped with three-element Yagis for 10, 15, and 20 meters, and Windom antennas for 80 and 40 meters, both mounted just under 40 feet above ground. Sponsoring WRTC-2000 was the Slovenia Contest Club. The ARRL's David Sumner, K1ZZ, served as chief referee."}, {"response": 69, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Jul 13, 2000 (18:57)", "body": "DX Bulletin 29 - July 13, 2000 This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by Tedd, KB8NW, the OPDX Bulletin, The Daily DX, DXNL, 425DXnews and Contest Corral from QST. Thanks to all. SOVEREIGN MILITARY ORDER OF MALTA, 1A0. Operators Ugo, I0CUT, Frabrizio, I0HCJ, Luciano, I0JBL, Sergio, IK0FTA, Francesco, IK0FVC, and Roberto, IK0PRG, are QRV as 1A0KM until July 23. Activity is on 80 to 10 meters including VHF/UHF using all modes. QSL via IK0FVC. MONACO, 3A. Look for 3A/OH2TA or 3A/OH9MM on 20 meters from around 2200 to 0300z. Check 14028 kHz on CW and close to 14195 kHz on SSB. QSL via operator's instructions. VIETNAM, 3W. Hiroo, JA2EZD, has been issued the callsign 3W2B. QSL via XW2A. EAST TIMOR, 4W. Antonio, 4W6GH, has been QRV using RTTY on 15 meters from 1400 to 1500z. Activity on Atauro Island, a new IOTA, is expected. QSL via CT1EGH. TANZANIA, 5H. 5I3A has been QRV using CW on 14008 kHz around 0315z. QSL via A47RS. LESOTHO, 7P. 7P8AA is usually QRV on 3505 kHz after 1800z. QSL via DL7VRO. TONGA, A3. Andy, G4PIQ, is currently QRV as A35IQ from Tongatapu, IOTA OC-049, for 2 to 3 weeks. He may also be QRV from Vava'u, IOTA OC-064. QSL to home call. CORSICA, TK. Serge, F6AUS, is QRV as TK/F6AUS until July 31. He will try to be active from IOTAs EU-100 or EU-164 in the IOTA Test. MIDWAY ISLAND, KH4. W4JKC/KH4 has been QRV on 14005 kHz just before 1000z. QSL to home call. GREECE, SV. Look for SV8/ON5CT from Samos Island, IOTA EU-049, until July 25. QSL to home call. DODECANESE ISLANDS, SV5. Nenad, SV5/VE3EXY, has been QRV using RTTY on 14084 kHz just before 2000z. QSL to home call. PALAU, T8. Nob, JA7AYE, will be active as T88AY from Koror, IOTA OC-009, from July 19 to 23. QSL to home call. CHAD, TT. TT8JLB has been QRV on 14018 kHz just around 0400z. QSL via F5BAR. MARSHALL ISLANDS, V7. Al, K3VN, is active in his free time as V73GI for one to two weeks. QSL to home call. ROMANIA, YO. Pit, YO3JW, is active as YP1W from Sacalinu Mare Island, IOTA EU-183. QSL to home call. VENEZUELA, YV. YW5LF is QRV on 160 to 10 meters using CW and SSB from Los Frailes, IOTA SA-059, until July 16. QSL via W4SO. SOUTH COOK ISLANDS, ZK1. Gerard, ZK1AXU, has been QRV on 20 meters around 0600z. QSL via PA3AXU. THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The Six Club Six-Meter Sprint, Pacific 160-Meter Contest and the North American RTTY QSO Party will certainly keep contesters busy this weekend. Please see July QST, page 100 for details."}, {"response": 70, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Jul 14, 2000 (12:01)", "body": "Propagation Forecast Bulletin 28 - July 14, 2000 Solar activity rose substantially this week. Average sunspot numbers compared to the previous week rose nearly 68 points to 244.6, and average solar flux rose nearly 39 points to 207.5. A strong solar flare around 1037z on Wednesday sent a bubble of electrified gas, or plasma, toward the earth at more than 2 million miles per hour. Effects of the blast are being felt on Thursday, and a second more powerful wind is expected to arrive on Friday. This could be bad news for the Pacific 160 Meter Contest this weekend, although possible aurora could prove interesting for the 6 Meter Sprint. There is a good chance that any geomagnetic upset may decline through the weekend though. These flares originate in sunspot group 9077, which is large and magnetically complex. It harbors energy for powerful solar flares which could erupt on Thursday or Friday. For late updates, visit www.spaceweather.com. Another URL that bears checking is www.qsl.net/w3df. Dan has put together some great links of interest to propagation and sun watchers, including a chart which compares solar cycles 19 through 23. Go to http://www.qsl.net/w3df/sol_f0.html and click on ''Cy 19-23 Comparison.'' You will see that the current cycle is not as bad as cycle 20, but weaker than cycles 21 or 22, and of course nowhere near the biggest one of all, cycle 19. The author suffered through cycle 20 as a teenaged ham in the 1960s, but as a small child heard the effects of cycle 19, which peaked in the late 1950s. Father's low band VHF FM business radio in the company car brought in unfamiliar voices from all over the country to our home in California's San Joaquin Valley. The three daily 2000z flux values reported by the Penticton observatory for July 10-12 were 244.5, 241.6 and 314.6. Because they were flare enhanced, the NOAA Space Environment Center and the U.S. Air Force collaborated to come up with more realistic solar flux numbers, which were 215, 225 and 230. The lower numbers are the ones used here in our weekly summary. The latest prediction shows solar flux peaking on Friday around 230, then drifting down below 200 by July 18, and reaching a short term minimum around 165 from July 23-26. The next expected peak in solar flux is around August 6-9. Expect geomagnetic conditions to remain active. Based on the previous solar rotation, there are no predicted days over the next month when the planetary A index is expected to be in the single digits. Sunspot numbers for July 6 through 12 were 210, 226, 260, 262, 232, 281 and 241 with a mean of 244.6. 10.7 cm flux was 174.3, 187.1, 210, 211.3, 215, 225 and 230, with a mean of 207.5, and estimated planetary A indices were 7, 8, 7, 7, 19, 31 and 12, with a mean of 13."}, {"response": 71, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Jul 20, 2000 (14:24)", "body": "DX Bulletin 30 - July 20, 2000 This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by Tedd, KB8NW, the OPDX Bulletin, QRZ DX, The 599Rpt, The Daily DX, 425DXnews and Contest Corral from QST. Thanks to all. VIETNAM, 3W. Hans, WA1LWS, is QRV as 3W2LWS until July 30. He has been granted permission to operate on 20, 15 and 10 meters, and plans to use mostly CW. QSL to home call. ZAMBIA, 9J. Bob, W6RJ, is QRV as 9J2RA. He is usually found on 15 meters SSB from 1500 to 1800z. QSL via K6SLO. MADEIRA ISLANDS, CT3. Ben, DJ8FW, will be active, probably as CT3/DJ8FW, from Madeira, IOTA AF-014, until August 20. QSL to home call. PALESTINE, E4. Gunter, OE1GZA, will be active as E4/OE1GZA from Ramallah on an almost regular basis. QSL to home call. IRAN, EP. Yar, EP3SP, has been showing up on the bottom end of 20 meters CW around 1900 to 2000z. QSL via IZ8BRI. FRANCE, F. The Council of Europe Radio Club will be active using CW, SSB and RTTY as TP2000CE from July 21 to 23. QSL via F6FQK. HUNGARY, HA. Memorial radio station HG100BAY, named after Dr. Zoltan Bay, who conducted successful moon echo experiments in 1946, will operate on 144, 432 and 1296 MHz from July 22 to 30. QSL via operators' instructions. SARDINIA, IS0. Simone, IV3NVN, will operate on 160 to 6 meters, using mostly CW, as IM0/IV3NVN from Maddalena Island, IOTA EU-041, from July 21 to 31. QSL to home call. SVALBARD, JW. Look for Unni, LA6RHA, to operate as JW6RHA from July 21 to 26. Unni will only operate 20 meters and will probably use 14222 to 14248 kHz or 14288 kHz in the mornings and late evenings. QSL to home call. MIDWAY ISLAND, KH4. NH6M/KH4 has been QRV on 15 meters around 2000z and then around 0300z. QSL to home call. SWEDEN, SM. Special event station SI9AM is active from Utanede until July 23. QSL via SM3CVM. POLAND, SP. Special event station SN0EMK is QRV from Krakow until July 30. QSL via SP9PLR. SUDAN, ST. Jeff, ST0P, has been QRV on 20 meters around 0200 to 0400z. QSL via 5B4YY. BELAU, T8. T88ME has been QRV on 15 meters around 0930z. QSL via 7N1RTO. EUROPEAN RUSSIA, UA. A group of UA6 operators will be active as UE6AAA from Sudzhuk Island in the newly created Krasnodarskiy Kray, Black Sea Coast group, from July 22 to 23. No IOTA number has as yet been issued. QSL via UA6AF. Also, Yuri, UA3BZ, Dmitry, RX3DCX, and Alex, RW3DP, will be active as R1NWS and R3ARC/1 from Kondostrov Island, IOTA EU-147, from July 25 to August 2. They will use CW, SSB, SSTV and PSK31. QSL both calls via UA3BZ. AUSTALIA, VK. Steve, VK8AM, will be operating as AX8AM, mainly on CW, from Darwin Northern Territory until November 2. He has been spotted on 20 meters CW around 0630z to 1300z. QSL to home call. HONG KONG, VR. Fernando, 4S7OF, is active as VR2OS. His length of stay is unknown. QSL to home call. SOUTH COOK ISLANDS, ZK1. Andy, ZK1AND, is active from Raratonga, IOTA OC-013, for one month. QSL via AB7FS. THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The Georgia QSO Party is on tap for this weekend. Please see July QST, page 100 for details."}, {"response": 72, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Jul 21, 2000 (12:15)", "body": "Propagation Forecast Bulletin 29 ARLP029 From Tad Cook, K7VVV Seattle, WA July 21, 2000 To all radio amateurs SB PROP ARL ARLP029 ARLP029 Propagation de K7VVV This has been quite a week for solar activity, with blasts of solar wind dominating space weather news. Saturday was the big day for HF radio blackouts and aurora, with the planetary A index jumping to an incredible 152 and the mid-latitude A index at 148. The planetary K index, updated every three hours, was at 9 for three readings on Saturday. A K index reading of 9 over a 24-hour period would be equivalent to an A index of 300. This is big, really big. These numbers are associated with an extreme geomagnetic storm that was nearly off the scale. On Friday one of the most powerful solar flares of the current cycle triggered a storm of protons directed toward earth. The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory recorded a full halo coronal mass ejection heading toward earth at greater than one-million meters per second. Check out animations of this event at http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/data/CME/ . There are only a few events of this magnitude in the average solar cycle. The only factor that probably impeded a spectacular aurora visible far down into the U.S. was that this is the summer season. A dark evening sky would reveal a rich tapestry of northern lights. Of course, it being winter in the southern hemisphere, bright displays were reported in Australia and New Zealand. The author made a weak attempt Saturday night, walking barefoot into the middle of the street and trying to peer north past city lights, but no auroral glow was visible. Seattle is north of the 47th parallel, and although there were no local reports of aurora, there were observations as far south as 40 degrees in Europe, Asia, and parts of Eastern North America. If you point your web browser toward http://www.sec.noaa.gov/info/kp-aurora.html you will see a nice map from the June, 1968 issue of Sky and Telescope which shows how far south aurora may be visible depending on the planetary K index. What is not clear from this map is whether it shows how far south the edge of the aurora extends, or how far south it is visible when looking north. Another coronal mass ejection emerged on Wednesday, July 19, but the predicted effect is uncertain because the ejection may not be aimed squarely at earth. On Thursday the planetary K index went up to 6 for several hours, but by the end of the UTC day it was 3. The planetary A index for Thursday was 43, and the College A index, recorded in Alaska, was 57. The latest forecast shows the planetary A index rising to 50 on Friday, then dropping to 20 and 15 and then 10 on Saturday through Monday. Solar flux peaked for the recent short term at 252.9 on Thursday, and is expected to drop to 245, 235, 230 and 225 on Friday through Monday. The next short term minimum is predicted around July 28 at 170, followed by another peak above 200 around August 6-9. The author has received many more inquiries recently asking for explanations of the various parameters reported in this bulletin. Although the explanations were repeated six weeks ago, it is probably time to run them again, and they follow this paragraph. Feel free to send questions to the author via k7vvvarrl.net. Amateur Radio operators who use HF generally like increased sunspots because they correlate with better worldwide radio propagation. When there are more sunspots, the sun puts out radiation which charges particles in the earth's ionosphere. Radio waves bounce off of these charged particles, and the denser these clouds of ions, the better the HF propagation. When the ionosphere is denser, higher frequencies will reflect off of the ionosphere rather than passing through to space. This is why every 11 years or so when this activity is higher, 10 meters gets exciting. 10 meters is at a high enough frequency, right near the top of the HF spectrum, that radio waves propagate very efficiently when the sunspot count is high. Because of the wavelength, smaller antennas are very efficient on this band, so mobile stations running low power on 10 meters can communicate world wide on a daily basis when the sunspot cycle is at its peak. There are also seasonal variations, and 10 meters tends to be best near the spring or fall equinox. The sunspot numbers used in this bulletin are calculated by counting the sunspots on the visible solar surface and also measuring their area. Solar flux is measured at an observatory in British Columbia using an antenna pointed toward the sun tuned to 2.8 GHz, which is at a wavelength of 10.7 cm. Energy detected seems to correlate with sunspots and with the density of the ionosphere. Other solar activity of concern to HF operators are solar flares and coronal holes, which emit protons. Since the charged ions in the ionosphere are negative, a blast of protons from the sun can neutralize the charge and make the ionosphere less reflective. These waves of protons can be so intense that t"}, {"response": 73, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Aug  2, 2000 (20:50)", "body": "Lew ''Mac'' McCoy, W1ICP, SK, Amateur Radio legend and former ARRL Headquarters staff member Lew ''Mac'' McCoy, W1ICP, of Mesa, Arizona, died July 31 following a lengthy illness. He was 84. As a member of the ARRL Headquarters staff from 1949 until 1978, McCoy gained a national and international reputation primarily for his articles in QST and his early work to combat TV interference. ''He became a hero of all the Novices and beginners because his stuff was so down to earth and easy to read,'' said retired ARRL Communications Manager George Hart, W1NJM, a good friend. ARRL Executive Vice President David Sumner, K1ZZ, described McCoy as ''one of a kind'' and ''versatile.'' Sumner said McCoy ''left his mark on future generations of amateurs as QST's 'Beginner and Novice' editor.'' When FM repeaters came along, Sumner said, McCoy made it his mission to educate his ARRL colleagues about their potential. An ARRL Life Member, McCoy was first licensed as W9FHZ and later became W0ICP. He arrived at ARRL Headquarters in 1949 to fill the job of assistant communications manager for phone. He went on to work in the Technical Department where he was able to take advantage of his ability to explain technical concepts in simple terms. McCoy earned a reputation as a tireless traveler and goodwill ambassador for Amateur Radio. He first started hitting the road in the early 1950s after TVI had become troublesome for amateurs and soon became the League's TVI expert. McCoy toured the country demonstrating TVI cures for hams and TV service personnel alike. ARRL Lab Supervisor Ed Hare, W1RFI, credited McCoy with providing the foundation for the ARRL's current RFI expertise in helping hams to deal with interference to consumer equipment and interference to hams from other sources. McCoy also was well-known for one of his projects, ''The Ultimate Transmatch,'' an antenna tuner he described in a July 1970 QST article. After leaving the ARRL Headquarters staff, McCoy continued as a QST contributing editor. He subsequently was a major contributor to other Amateur Radio publications, including CQ. During his active years on the air, McCoy was an avid DXer with more than 300 countries confirmed. More recently, he was active in the Quarter Century Wireless Association, had served as QCWA president and a board member and had just been elected again to the QCWA's Board of Directors, something his daughters never got to tell him before he died. McCoy's first wife, Martha, died in 1998. Survivors include his wife, Clara Gibbs McCoy, and his daughters, Marsha Ashurst, W1HAQ, and Sharon Armann, ex-WN1GQR, as well as grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In accordance with McCoy's wishes, there will be no funeral. The family is planning a memorial service for McCoy in early December. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting memorial donations in Lew McCoy's name to Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E Flower St, Phoenix, AZ 85014-5656. Condolences may be sent to the family care of Marsha Ashurst, PO Box 2260, Lakeside, AZ 85929."}, {"response": 74, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Aug  3, 2000 (17:58)", "body": "DX Bulletin 32 - August 3, 2000 MADAGASCAR, 5R. Conny, 5R8GS, has been QRV of late on 10103 kHz around 1700z and then on 10107 kHz at 1900z. QSL via DL1DA. Meanwhile, 5R8GR has been found on 28455 kHz from 1330 to 1430z. QSL via DK6ST. MALAWI, 7Q. Harry, 7Q7HB, is QRV during the next five months and will do the first ever QSOs using SSTV from here. QSL via G0IAS. PHILIPPINES, DU. Roland, DU1/DK3GI, has been QRV around 7005 kHz from 2000 to 2030z and then from 3501 to 3504 kHz until 2130z. QSL via DL2MY. PALESTINE, E4. Hide, JM1LJS, is on a sightseeing trip and intends to be QRV in his spare time on 40, 30, 15, 10 and 6 meters as E4/JM1LJS from August 6 to 13. QSL via JL2XUN. IRELAND, EI. Gene, NR0NR, is QRV until August 13 as EI/NR0NR/p from Ringarogy Island, IOTA EU-115. QSL to home call. TROMELIN, FR/T. Members of the Lyon DX Group DXpedition are QRV as FR/F6KDF/T until August 16. Activity is on 160 to 6 meters, including the newer bands, using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL via F6KDF. LIECHTENSTEIN, HB0. The PI4TUE team is QRV again as HB0/PI4TUE until August 16. Look for activity on 160 to 2 meters, including 23 cm. QSL via PI4TUE. SOUTH KOREA, HL. Operators from the Hanyang University Wave Research Club are QRV as HL0C/4 from Soan Island, IOTA AS-084, until August 9. Activity is on 40, 20 and 15 meters using CW and SSB. QSL via bureau. PALMYRA ISLAND, KH5. Mike, KH6ND/KH5, is back again on Palmyra and plans to be QRV daily during his spare time. QSL via K4TSJ. ALAND ISLANDS, OH0. Stefan, OH0/DL3SEM, is here on holiday until August 14. CW and SSB activity can be found on 160 to 10 meters for about five hours a day. QSL to home call. BULGARIA, LZ. Special event station LZ8NFF is QRV during August during the 8th National Folklore Festival at Koprivshtitza, Bulgaria. QSL via LZ1OF. GREECE, SV. Giovanni, I5JHW, will be active as either J48HW or SV/I5JHW from Limnos Island, IOTA EU-049, from August 9 to 23. QSL to home call. ICELAND, TF. Ed, TF/G3SQX, is QRV using CW until August 6. QSL to home call. AUSTRALIA, VK. Special event station AX3OLY is QRV to commemorate the Olympic Games. This station will later highlight the holding of the Olympic soccer games in the capital city of Melbourne. QSL via VK3WI. CHAGOS ISLAND, VQ9. Dale, W4QM, will be QRV again as VQ9QM working CW only on all bands for four or five months. QSL to home call. THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The ARRL UHF Contest, North American CW QSO Party, Ten-Ten International Net Summer Phone Contest, QRP ARCI Summer Daze SSB Sprint and the YO-DX Contest will certainly keep contesters busy this weekend. Please see August QST, page 104 for details."}, {"response": 75, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Aug  4, 2000 (20:38)", "body": "Keplerian Bulletin 58 - August 4, 2000 Decode 2-line elsets with the following key: 1 AAAAAU 00 0 0 BBBBB.BBBBBBBB .CCCCCCCC 00000-0 00000-0 0 DDDZ 2 AAAAA EEE.EEEE FFF.FFFF GGGGGGG HHH.HHHH III.IIII JJ.JJJJJJJJKKKKKZ KEY: A-CATALOGNUM B-EPOCHTIME C-DECAY D-ELSETNUM E-INCLINATION F-RAAN G-ECCENTRICITY H-ARGPERIGEE I-MNANOM J-MNMOTION K-ORBITNUM Z-CHECKSUM AO-10 1 14129U 83058B 00216.62137515 -.00000067 00000-0 10000-3 0 6692 2 14129 26.8091 318.1154 6014794 73.3552 341.6761 2.05868009100933 UO-11 1 14781U 84021B 00217.50543678 .00001864 00000-0 30206-3 0 3126 2 14781 97.9865 179.7411 0010112 314.4131 45.6244 14.72377377879411 UO-14 1 20437U 90005B 00216.72049843 +.00000311 +00000-0 +13531-3 0 05500 2 20437 098.4049 282.1324 0011836 075.1635 285.0855 14.30484500549662 AO-16 1 20439U 90005D 00217.25848276 .00000396 00000-0 16810-3 0 3434 2 20439 98.4421 289.2933 0012048 77.9627 282.2904 14.30563127549767 LO-19 1 20442U 90005G 00216.74470551 +.00000336 +00000-0 +14449-3 0 03584 2 20442 098.4606 292.1429 0013085 076.7760 283.4879 14.30798157549774 FO-20 1 20480U 90013C 00216.85983572 -.00000020 +00000-0 +34822-4 0 02521 2 20480 099.0609 338.3508 0540501 307.4327 047.8738 12.83275561491393 RS-12/13 1 21089U 91007A 00216.84298796 +.00000107 +00000-0 +97115-4 0 02739 2 21089 082.9241 150.4270 0029689 356.4422 003.6503 13.74210679476225 UO-22 1 21575U 91050B 00216.96005094 +.00000498 +00000-0 +17890-3 0 00694 2 21575 098.1474 241.9736 0008694 059.0586 301.1455 14.37778577474782 AO-27 1 22825U 93061C 00216.95345868 +.00000336 +00000-0 +15173-3 0 08334 2 22825 098.4001 272.1971 0009464 117.0092 243.2056 14.28193132357297 IO-26 1 22826U 93061D 00216.68481656 +.00000315 +00000-0 +14268-3 0 08310 2 22826 098.4046 272.5851 0009775 119.0154 241.2004 14.28341617357287 KO-25 1 22828U 93061F 00216.70830099 +.00000327 +00000-0 +14631-3 0 08119 2 22828 098.3991 272.7809 0010812 102.3330 257.9065 14.28745134325454 RS-15 1 23439U 94085A 00215.17575896 -.00000092 +00000-0 -13974-2 0 04818 2 23439 064.8181 106.1202 0167352 281.2549 076.9500 11.27536828230698 FO-29 1 24278U 96046B 00216.75314945 +.00000066 +00000-0 +10069-3 0 03552 2 24278 098.5836 118.3570 0351835 103.8218 260.2323 13.52730798195724 TO-31 1 25396U 98043C 00216.93047330 -.00000044 +00000-0 +00000-0 0 03608 2 25396 098.7237 291.9446 0000009 103.3801 256.7398 14.22716678107443 GO-32 1 25397U 98043D 00216.94197032 -.00000044 +00000-0 +00000-0 0 03694 2 25397 098.7176 291.6843 0001165 012.0562 348.0644 14.22438444107450 SO-35 1 25636U 99008C 00217.12957819 .00000620 00000-0 17424-3 0 2172 2 25636 96.4494 49.7151 0153618 29.7931 331.1901 14.41385811 75996 UO-36 1 25693U 99021A 00216.76439553 -.00000813 +00000-0 -10111-3 0 03262 2 25693 064.5609 325.0488 0047957 289.8397 069.7539 14.73537081069312 Keplerian bulletins are transmitted twice weekly from W1AW. The next scheduled transmission of these data will be Tuesday, August 8, 2000, at 2230z on Baudot and AMTOR."}, {"response": 76, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Aug  4, 2000 (20:47)", "body": "Propagation Forecast Bulletin 31 - August 4, 2000 Solar activity for last week (July 28 - August 3) was mostly at low levels. A minor M-class flare from region 9090 occurred on July 28. Several new regions (9110, 9111, 9112, 9113, 9114, and 9115) emerged later in the week. Region 9114 produced a C7 flare and associated CME on August 2. The 10.7 cm solar flux, following the sun's 27-day rotation period, decreased to a minimum of about 155 at the beginning of last week. Solar flux is forecasted to steadily climb to a maximum of about 240 around mid-August. A comment about 10.7 cm solar flux - although 10.7 cm solar flux is easy to measure because the Earth's atmosphere is transparent at that wavelength, energy at 10.7 cm is about 1 million times less energetic than the true ionizing energy. Thus 10.7 cm solar flux contributes nothing to the formation of the ionosphere. But it is an indicator of the general activity level of the sun, and smoothed solar flux values (a 12 month running average) correlate very well with smoothed sunspot numbers (SSN). Solar activity for next week (August 4 - August 10) is expected to be at moderate to high levels. Isolated M-class flares are expected, along with a chance for an isolated major flare. Historically the equinox months (September and March) give us the greatest amount of magnetic storms due to the orientation of the Earth at these times with respect to the solar wind. Thus expect an increase in storms up to mid-September, then a gradual decrease after that to a minimum in December. Cycle 23 continues its march upward, with a peak forecasted by the end of the year. For details, see the web site referenced in last week's bulletin ( http://www.sec.noaa.gov/weekly/index.html) . The latest SSN data is 113 for January 2000. The estimated SSN for the month of August is 120. Cycle 23 appears to be similar to, but just a bit higher than, Cycle 20, which peaked at an SSN of 110. This level of activity, while not approaching that of Cycles 22 and 21, will still give us excellent conditions on the higher HF bands as we progress from Summer to Fall and into Winter. Sunspot numbers for July 27 through August 2 were 174, 163, 183, 138, 123, 139 and 153 with a mean of 153.3. 10.7 cm flux was 162.4, 157.8, 153.2, 149.9, 147.9, 149.4 and 150.6, with a mean of 153, and estimated planetary A indices were 9, 30, 27, 10, 19, 15 and 14, with a mean of 17.7."}, {"response": 77, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Aug 10, 2000 (15:51)", "body": "DX Bulletin 33 ARLD033 - August 10, 2000 This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by Tedd, KB8NW, the OPDX Bulletin, G0WFH, The 599Rpt, The Daily DX, 425DXnews, DXNL and Contest Corral from QST. Thanks to all. MONACO, 3A. Jeff, VA3QSL, will be QRV occasionally until August 13 as 3A/VA3QSL/m. Activity is on 40, 20 and 15 meters. QSL to home call. LIBYA, 5A. George, UY0MF, is QRV as UY0MF/5A near Tripoli during the year 2000. He operates on 17 and 15 meters. QSL via UX5MZ. MALDIVES, 8Q. Sergio, I5NSR, will be QRV August 13 to 23 signing 8Q7SR on 40 to 10 meters, including the newer bands, using CW and SSB. QSL to home call. CHINA, BY. The Silkroad DXpedition station BT0S will be QRV on 40, 20, 17, 15 and 10 meters using CW, SSB and SSTV from August 13 to 25. The DXpedition will begin in Urumqi and end in Kashi. QSL via BA4DC. ANGOLA, D2. Hossam, SU1HM, is active as SU1HM/D2 from Luanda. He an usually be found every evening on 14160 kHz using SSB around 2300z. QSL to home call. JERSEY, GJ. Chris, G0WFH, will be QRV as GH4BJC/qrp/p from August 12 to 22. Activity will be on 160 to 10 meters. QSL via operator instruction. SOUTH KOREA, HL. HL0K/2 will be QRV from Ullung Island, IOTA AS-045, from August 15 to 19 using CW and SSB on 40, 20 and 15 meters. HONDURAS, HR. Joe, W8GEX, will be QRV as HR6/W8GEX from Roatan Island, IOTA NA-057, from August 13 to 18. He will be active on 40 to 6 meters using SSB. He plans to monitor 50125 kHz. QSL to home call. ITALY, I. Lorenzo, IZ0BVU, is QRV as IB0/IZ0BVU from Ventotene, IOTA EU-045, until August 19. Activity can be found on the HF and 6 meter bands. QSL to home call. SVALBARD, JW. Jarda, OK2PBM, is QRV as JW/OK2PBM until August 16. Look for his CW, SSB, RTTY and possible PSK31 activity on all bands. QSL to home call. PALMYRA ISLAND, KH5. Mike, KH6ND/KH5, is active on 160 meters. Look for him around 1824 kHz until his sunrise at 1643z. QSL via K4TSJ. GREENLAND, OX. Birger, OX3UB, is now QRV on 6 meters until August 18. QSL to home call. PELAU, T8. T88BX has been QRV on 14184 kHz from around 1430 to 1630z. QSL via JA6BX. INDIA, VU. From August 1 to December 31, 2000, Indian amateurs have been given permission to use 10100 to 10150 kHz and the spot frequencies of 50350 and 50550 kHz. MACAO, XX9. Ed, K8EP, will be QRV as XX9TEP on 160 to 10 meters using CW and SSB from August 17 to 21. He plans to also be active during the SEANET contest. QSL to home call. ST. HELENA ISLAND, ZD7. Barrie, ZD7MY, has been active on 15 meters SSB around 1900 and 2130z. He has also been QRV using PSK31 on 10 meters around 2050z. QSL to home call. THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The Maryland-DC QSO Party, W/VE Island Contest and Worked All Europe DX CW Contest are all scheduled for this weekend. Please see August QST, page 104 for details."}, {"response": 78, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, Aug 12, 2000 (15:24)", "body": "Propagation Forecast Bulletin 32 - August 11, 2000 Average sunspot count was up this week over last, although the average solar flux remained about the same. Solar flux for the recent short term seems to have bottomed out by the end of July, and is currently rising. The expected near term peak is around 215 on August 17, although last week, as reported in this bulletin, it looked like it would be a bit higher, around 240. The next minimum is expected around August 26-29 when flux should be around 150. Geomagnetic conditions may be unsettled to active for the Worked All Europe DX CW Contest this weekend, with predicted A indices for Friday through Monday of 12, 12, 18 and 15. Predicted solar flux for those same days is 185, 190, 195 and 200. Jim Henderson, KF7E wrote a note awhile back pointing out what great images are at the SOHO (Solar and Heliospheric Observatory) web site, which is at http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/ . He particularly wanted to direct readers toward a truly astonishing image, http://umbra.nascom.nasa.gov/eit/images/Sun_and_earth.jpg , which appears to be a dramatic coronal mass ejection. In the picture is an image of a tiny earth, just to put things in proper perspective. He also would like to direct our attention to http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/data/CME/ , an archive of coronal mass ejection images. The SOHO satellite recorded a full coronal mass ejection on August 9 from sunspot group 9114. This is significant because it was toward the center of the sun's visible disk, and aimed toward earth. There was a similar second event around 0654z on August 10, although it was reported to be slow moving. This is probably the cause of any geomagnetic instability forecast for the next few days. Scott Craig, WA4TTK, has updated the database for his free solar graphing software. This program grabs data from this weekly bulletin to update your own copy of this graphing software. You can download it at http://edge.net/~scraig/mystuff.htm for either DOS, Windows 3, or Windows 95-98 and beyond. Because the database has been updated, you don't have to go through old bulletins when installing the software to bring it up to date. Here are some path projections for the WAE contest this weekend. These are best guesses for good propagation to Europe from average stations. Results will vary. From Boston, MA, 80 meters 2300-0530z (best 0130-0430z), 40 meters 2200-0700z (best 0000-0400z), 20 meters 1830-0600z and 0730-0900z (best 0000-0300z), 15 meters possibly 1700-2200z. From Philadelphia, PA, 80 meters 0000-0530z (best 0130-0400z, 40 meters 2230-0700z (best 0000-0400z), 20 meters 1900-0900z (best 0000-0330z), 15 meters 1930-2100z. From Atlanta, GA, 80 meters 0030-0600z (best 0100-0430z), 40 meters 2330-0700z (best 0130-0400z), 20 meters 2030-0700z and 0930-1030z (best 0030-0500z), 15 meters 1530-0130z, 10 meters possibly 1230-1400z or 1630-2200z. From Birmingham, AL, 80 meters 0030-0600z (best 0130-0230z), 40 meters 2330-0700z (best 0130-0430z), 20 meters 2030-0700z and 0930-1100z (best 0000-0600z), 15 meters 1500-0130z (best 2000-2130z), 10 meters possibly 1230-1400z and 1600-2200z. From Dayton, OH, 80 meters 0030-0530z (best 0100-0400z), 40 meters 2300-0700z (best 0130-0400z), 20 meters 2000-0730z (best 0030-0500z), 15 meters 1700-0000z, 10 meters possibly around 1330-1400z and 1800z or 2000-2100z. From Chicago, IL, 80 meters 0030-0530z (best around 0200z), 40 meters 2330-0700z (best 0200-0400z), 20 meters 1930-0730z (best 0130-0400z), 15 meters 1700-2300z, 10 meters possibly around 1400z. From the center of the continental United States (in central Kansas), 80 meters 0130-0530z (best 0230-0330z), 40 meters 0030-0630z (best 0230-0430z), 20 meters 2100-0730z (best 0200-0430z), 15 meters 1500-0100z (best 2030-2200z), 10 meters possibly 1300-1400z and 1600-2200z. From Salt Lake City, UT, 80 meters 0230-0430z (best at 0330z), 40 meters 0200-0600z (best 0300-0430z), 20 meters 2300-0900z (best around 0500z), 15 meters possibly 1830-2330z. From Dallas, TX, 80 meters 0100-0600z (best 0200-0230z), 40 meters 0000-0600z (best 0200-0430z), 20 meters 2200-0800z (best 0130-0500z), 15 meters 2000-0130z, 10 meters possibly 1130z, or 1230-1400z or 1530-0000z. From Los Angeles, CA, 80 meters 0300-0500z, 40 meters 0230-0530z, 20 meters 0030-0900z, 15 meters possibly 1700-2300z. From Seattle, WA, 80 meters 0330-0430z, 40 meters 0230-0600z, 20 meters 2300-1000z (best 0300-0530z), 15 meters 1500-0200z, 10 meters possibly 1530-0100z. Sunspot numbers for August 3 through 9 were 133, 137, 161, 174, 189, 188 and 176 with a mean of 165.4. 10.7 cm flux was 154.2, 154.2, 158.6, 166, 166.9, 170.8 and 182.2, with a mean of 154.7, and estimated planetary A indices were 12, 18, 26, 18, 9, 9 and 7 with a mean of 14.1."}, {"response": 79, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Aug 17, 2000 (17:32)", "body": "DX Bulletin 34 - August 17, 2000 This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by Tedd, KB8NW, the OPDX Bulletin, The Daily DX, 425DXnews, DXNL and Contest Corral from QST. Thanks to all. GHANA, 9G. Sergei, UA3AP, is QRV from club station 9G5AP in Accra until August 23. Look for his CW and SSB activity from 0100 to 0300z and after 0600z. QSL to home call. MOZAMBIQUE, C9. Bernardo, C91AH, is usually QRV on 21310 kHz around 1530 to 1630z. CANARY ISLANDS, EA8. ED8ILO is QRV from Lobos Island, IOTA AF-004, until August 28. QSL via EA8FT. IRAN, EP. Club station EP2AC has been QRV near 18069 kHz around 1630z. QSL via operator instructions. NEW CALEDONIA, FK. Look for TX8LH to be QRV in the International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend from the lighthouse on Amedee Island, IOTA OC-033. QSL via VK4FW. HUNGARY, HA. Special event station HG8SDS is QRV until August 20 from Veszti-Magor during the ''Sarret Days.'' Activity is on 80 to 10 meters using CW and SSB. QSL via HA8PH. DJIBOUTI, J2. Houssein, J28FH, is a new ham here. He is currently QRV on 10 meters. QSL via WA2VUY. OGASAWARA, JD1. JA1OZK/JD1 is usually QRV on 17 meters using CW and SSB. JA1XHE/JD1 has been active on 20, 17 and 15 meters using CW and SSB as well. JD1BKQ has been QRV using RTTY on 20 meters. QSL to home calls. MONGOLIA, JT. Vladimir, UA4WHX, is QRV as JT1FDC, JT1FDC/4, JT1FDC/6 and JT1FDC/7 until August 24. QSL to home call. PUERTO RICO, KP4. KP4ES will be QRV from Caja de Muertos, IOTA NA-099, during the International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend. FINLAND, OH. Look for OH8T to participate in the International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend from the lighthouse at Marjaniemi on Hailuoto Island, IOTA EU-184. Activity on 160, 80, 40, 20 and 15 meters is expected. QSL via operator's instructions. POLAND, SP. Special event station HF6WR is active until November 6 to celebrate the 1000th anniversary of the city of Wroclaw. QSL via SP6ZDA. GREECE, SV. SV1ENG and SV1EFP will be QRV as SW8LH using CW mainly, from Akrotiri lighthouse on Santorini Island, IOTA EU-067, during the International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend. Outside the event, they will be QRV as SV1ENG/p and SV1EFP/p, respectively. QSL both calls via SV1ENG. DODECANESE, SV5. Bert, SV5/PA1KW, is active during his holiday here until August 29. QSL to home call. CHRISTMAS ISLAND, VK9X. Stefan, DH1SGS, and Tobias, DH1TW, are QRV as VK9XY. Activity is on 40 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL via DH1SGS. TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS, VP5. Carlo, VP5/I4ALU, is QRV using CW on all bands from the QTH of Jody, VP5JM, on Providenciales, IOTA NA-002, until August 28. QSL to home call. IRAQ, YI. YI9OM has been QRV on 17 meters around 1530z. QSL via OM6TX. VANUATU, YJ. Masa, YJ0AXC, has been QRV near 21040 kHz. QSL via JE1DXC. SOUTH COOK ISLANDS, ZK1. ZK1NNP is QRV from Raratonga Island, IOTA OC-013, and is later expected to be active from Mangaia Island, IOTA OC-159. QSL via DK6NP. THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The ARRL 10 GHz and Up Cumulative Contest, New Jersey QSO Party, The North American Phone QSO Party, The International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend and the SEANET Contest will keep contesters busy this weekend. Please see August QST, page 104 for details."}, {"response": 80, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Aug 18, 2000 (11:50)", "body": "Propagation Forecast Bulletin 33 - August 18, 2000 Last week's Propagation Forecast Bulletin ARLP032 predicted unsettled to active conditions for the weekend, but an interplanetary shock wave struck the earth's magnetosphere on August 12, triggering a powerful geomagnetic storm. As this was near the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, many observers witnessed the rare spectacle of an aurora as the backdrop for a meteor display. Planetary A index reached 60 last Friday and 109 on Saturday. The K index went as high as 8. The subject of geomagnetic activity at the peak of the solar cycle figures into a question posed this week by W8GF. He wondered why 15 meter conditions to Central Asia are worse this summer than last, even though solar flux and sunspot numbers are higher. The question was passed around, and K9LA mentioned that geomagnetic activity is higher at the peak of the solar cycle, and from W8GF in Michigan it is a polar path toward Central Asia. Polar paths are severely degraded when there is high geomagnetic activity, and K9LA notes that July 1999 had eighteen days where the planetary A index was 7 or less, but July 2000 had only 8. A look at the W8GF log shows a correlation between lower A indices and better signals from Central Asia. Over the past week average sunspot numbers were higher than the previous week by over 36 points, and average solar flux was up by nearly 33 points. Solar flux peaked this week for the short term at 1700z on Saturday when it was 195.3, although the official number for the day was the 2000z reading of 189.3. There was another peak on Tuesday when the morning, noon and afternoon readings were 192.5, 193.9 and 195. This is a bit short of last week's forecast, which called for a later and higher peak near 215 on Thursday. The previous week it looked like this week's flux would be closer to 240. For this weekend, Friday through Monday, predicted flux values are 175, 175, 170 and 170, and expected planetary A index is 10 through the next week. Flux values are expected to meet minimum near 150 around August 27-29, then peak again near September 8-10. This is getting on toward the fall equinox, which should be an exciting time for HF operators at the peak of this solar cycle. Thanks this week to Jean Bastien of Canada's Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory for providing the solar flux data. Sunspot numbers for August 10 through 16 were 141, 170, 186, 196, 266, 209 and 244 with a mean of 201.7. 10.7 cm flux was 181, 187.3, 189.3, 186, 189.5, 193.9 and 185.6, with a mean of 187.5, and estimated planetary A indices were 23, 60, 109, 16, 12, 12 and 11 with a mean of 34.7."}, {"response": 81, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Aug 24, 2000 (16:42)", "body": "DX Bulletin 35 - August 24, 2000 This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by The 599Rpt, The Daily DX, 425DXnews, DXNL and Contest Corral from QST. Thanks to all. MADAGASCAR, 5R. Ken, AD6KA, will be QRV as 5R8GQ beginning August 29. Activity will be concentrated on 20 to 10 meters using SSB, RTTY, PSK31, and some CW. QSL to home call. UGANDA, 5X. Joe, G3MRC, is QRV as 5X1P. His length of stay is unknown. QSL to home call. MALDIVES, 8Q. Roberto, EA4DX, will be active as 8Q7XX from August 31 to September 11. Activity on 80 to 10 meters, including the newer bands, using SSB is expected. QSL to home call. TAIWAN, BV. BV9W will be QRV from August 25 to 27 from P'engchia Island in the newly created Taiwan's Coastal Islands group. QSL via operator's instructions. PAKISTAN, AP. Bob, AP2JZB, has been QRV on 18120 kHz between 1500 and 1600z. QSL via K2EWB. CAPE VERDE ISLANDS, D4. Look for Angelo, D44BS, on 10 meters SSB from about 1700 to 1900z. KYRGYZSTAN, EX. Val, EX0V, has been QRV on 15 meters SSB around 0200z. GUANTANAMO BAY, KG4. Tip, N4SIA, will be QRV as KG4AS for about seven days starting August 29. QSL to home call. PALMYRA ISLAND, KH5. Mike, KH6ND/KH5, has been QRV on 12 meters CW just after 0000z. QSL via K4TSJ. NORWAY, LA. Mario, DL5ME, will be QRV as LA/DL5ME from Isle Runde, IOTA EU-079, from August 25 to 28, on 40, 20, 15 and 10 meters using mostly SSB. QSL to home call. ST. PETER AND ST. PAUL ROCKS, PY0. Look for PS0S to be QRV from August 25 to 30. CW, SSB and RTTY activity is expected on 80 to 6 meters. QSL via PY2SP. SAO TOME, S9. During his holiday, Pete, SV8CRI, is QRV as S92SV using CW, SSB and RTTY. He is here until September 5. QSL to home call. COCOS KEELING ISLAND, VK9C. Bert, PA3GIO, is QRV as VK9CQ on IOTA OC-003. He is active until September 1. QSL to home call. FALKLAND ISLANDS, VP8. Alex, CE8ABF, is QRV as VP8CQO. Check around 28460 kHz. QSL to home call. THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The TOEC WW Grid CW Contest, Ohio QSO Party and the CQC Summer QRP QSO Party are all scheduled for this weekend. Please see August QST, page 104 for details."}, {"response": 82, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, Aug 26, 2000 (00:12)", "body": "Keplerian Bulletin 64 Newington, CT August 25, 2000 Thanks to Con, W5BWF, for the following Keplerian data. Decode 2-line elsets with the following key: 1 AAAAAU 00 0 0 BBBBB.BBBBBBBB .CCCCCCCC 00000-0 00000-0 0 DDDZ 2 AAAAA EEE.EEEE FFF.FFFF GGGGGGG HHH.HHHH III.IIII JJ.JJJJJJJJKKKKKZ KEY: A-CATALOGNUM B-EPOCHTIME C-DECAY D-ELSETNUM E-INCLINATION F-RAAN G-ECCENTRICITY H-ARGPERIGEE I-MNANOM J-MNMOTION K-ORBITNUM Z-CHECKSUM AO-10 1 14129U 83058B 00237.50551943 -.00000088 00000-0 10000-3 0 6780 2 14129 26.7848 314.7321 6013596 78.9670 339.4748 2.05865503101365 UO-11 1 14781U 84021B 00237.34862262 .00002229 00000-0 35886-3 0 3184 2 14781 97.9882 199.2447 0009457 243.5086 116.5152 14.72475399882331 UO-14 1 20437U 90005B 00238.19395792 .00000215 00000-0 98729-4 0 5485 2 20437 98.4037 302.8816 0011517 15.4191 344.7339 14.30498963552735 AO-16 1 20439U 90005D 00237.19201558 +.00000289 +00000-0 +12706-3 0 03616 2 20439 098.4415 308.6433 0011908 021.7837 338.3851 14.30579258552619 LO-19 1 20442U 90005G 00237.16445829 +.00000384 +00000-0 +16262-3 0 03604 2 20442 098.4587 312.0115 0013015 019.0558 341.1105 14.30816314552699 FO-20 1 20480U 90013C 00237.20808049 +.00000038 +00000-0 +16752-3 0 02527 2 20480 099.0638 354.9050 0539745 261.3404 092.6213 12.83277068494004 RS-12/13 1 21089U 91007A 00237.15691254 +.00000107 +00000-0 +97517-4 0 02772 2 21089 082.9245 135.3647 0028100 298.5465 061.2863 13.74214138479012 UO-22 1 21575U 91050B 00237.21122025 +.00000549 +00000-0 +19579-3 0 00636 2 21575 098.1472 261.1791 0008003 004.1620 355.9633 14.37802581477690 AO-27 1 22825U 93061C 00237.20032393 .00000252 00000-0 11803-3 0 8334 2 22825 98.3990 291.6789 0009617 65.2354 294.9828 14.28206804360184 IO-26 1 22826U 93061D 00237.20976247 .00000325 00000-0 14669-3 0 8277 2 22826 98.4052 292.3505 0010100 61.2546 298.9648 14.28357739360219 KO-25 1 22828U 93061F 00237.15740507 .00000281 00000-0 12832-3 0 8092 2 22828 98.3988 292.4747 0011050 44.1161 316.0881 14.28762814328371 RS-15 1 23439U 94085A 00237.08288688 -.00000037 +00000-0 +16546-3 0 04897 2 23439 064.8158 070.6851 0167361 277.5930 080.6013 11.27537525233160 FO-29 1 24278U 96046B 00237.24093656 .00000004 00000-0 38654-4 0 3533 2 24278 98.5802 136.1389 0352065 50.8723 312.3159 13.52733468198491 TO-31 1 25396U 98043C 00238.23953591 -.00000044 00000-0 00000+0 0 3698 2 25396 98.7169 313.0046 0002040 216.8749 143.2289 14.22737631110475 GO-32 1 25397U 98043D 00237.20022897 -.00000044 +00000-0 +00000-0 0 04299 2 25397 098.7186 311.7158 0000303 309.4296 050.6855 14.22447746110330 SO-35 1 25636U 99008C 00237.53852865 .00000360 00000-0 10538-3 0 2242 2 25636 96.4497 65.1518 0152105 325.5331 33.6070 14.41406430 78938 UO-36 1 25693U 99021A 00237.19248852 -.00000490 +00000-0 -52451-4 0 03234 2 25693 064.5610 262.8162 0048094 286.5900 072.9922 14.73533837072320 Keplerian bulletins are transmitted twice weekly from W1AW. The next scheduled transmission of these data will be Tuesday, August 29, 2000, at 2230z on Baudot and AMTOR."}, {"response": 83, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Aug 31, 2000 (21:54)", "body": "DX Bulletin 36 - August 31, 2000 This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by Tedd, KB8NW, the OPDX Bulletin, The Daily DX, 425DXnews, DXNL and Contest Corral from QST. Thanks to all. VIETNAM, 3W. Mal, VK6LC, is QRV as 3W2LC and will be active during the next two upcoming weekends. QSL to home call. CYPRUS, 5B4. Dez, 5B4/G0DEZ, is active until 2003. Activity has been on 17 meters using CW and SSB around 1830 to 0300z. QSL to home call. MALDIVES, 8Q. Roberto, EA4DX, is signing 8Q7XX until September 11. He puts his emphasis on the lowbands for Europe. QSL to home call. WEST MALAYSIA, 9M2. Tex, 9M2TO/p, is QRV from Perhentian, IOTA AS-073, until September 3. QSL via JA0DMV. CHINA, BY. A team of operators from the Beijing DX Club will be active as BI2J from Juhua Island, in the Liaoning Province West from September 1 to 4. QSL via W3HC. CUBA, CO. Look for CO1OTA to be active on 80 to 10 meters using CW and SSB from Los Colorados Archipelago, IOTA NA-093, from September 1 to 3. QSL via bureau. AUSTRAL ISLANDS, FO. Mike, KM9D, will be QRV as FO0MOT from Raivavae, IOTA OC-114, using mostly CW on all bands from September 1 to 10. QSL via OM2SA. ITALY, I. IC8/IN3XUG is active on 40 to 10 meters using SSB from Ischia Island, IOTA EU-031, until September 4. QSL via bureau. POLAND, SP. Look for station HF6WR to be QRV until November 6. The station is active to celebrate the 1000th anniversary of Wroclaw City in Poland. Activity is on 80 to 10 meters, as well as 6 and 2 meters. QSL via SP6ZDA. DODECANESE, SV5. Vito, I3BQC, is QRV as SV5/I3BQC from Rhodes, IOTA EU-001, until September 15. QSL to home call. MICRONESIA, V6. Five amateurs will be QRV from Pohnpei Island, IOTA OC-010, until September 4, on 40 to 6 meters using CW and SSB. Look for JH8BKL and his wife JF8IYR, JH8MYB, and JA3UB and his wife JR3MVF, to be active as V63KA, V63MC and V63DO. Two other V6 callsigns will be issued. Activity on 6 meters will be around 50120 kHz. QSL to home calls. CHRISTMAS ISLAND, VK9X. Bert, PA3GIO, will be QRV as VK9XV from September 3 to 13. Activity will be on 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meters using SSB. QSL to home call. MEXICO, XE. Jacques, XE3/F6BUM, is QRV from Mujeres Island, IOTA NA-045, until September 8. THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The All-Asian DX Phone Contest and the Labor Day CW Sprint are all scheduled for this weekend. Please see September QST, page 102 for details."}, {"response": 84, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Sep  1, 2000 (15:33)", "body": "Propagation Forecast Bulletin 35 - September 1, 2000 Solar activity was generally lower over the past week, with average solar flux down by over seven points and sunspot numbers down by nearly 28 points, compared to the previous week. Naturally, since we are at or near the peak of this solar cycle, there is some worry that we may have already passed the peak, and solar activity may be headed down. Of course we won't know this until many months after the peak, when we can look at running averages of the previous numbers. Fortunately, solar cycles seem to decline more slowly than they rise, so if conditions have peaked, we shouldn't expect any sharp decline anytime soon. The latest projections from NOAA show the solar flux peaking in September and sunspot numbers reaching maximum around December. About once per month NOAA shows a projection at http://www.sec.noaa.gov/weekly/index.html , which you can see if you have an Adobe Acrobat reader. Select the latest Preliminary Report and Forecast of Geophysical Data, and page to the end of the report. Once per month there is a table showing past and projected smoothed sunspot numbers, followed by one showing solar flux values. The last weekly edition showing this table is dated August 8, so perhaps next week's will show an updated table as well. The average monthly solar flux for August, 1999 through August 2000 was 170.8, 135.7, 164.8, 191.5, 169.8, 159, 174.1, 208.2, 184.2, 184.5, 179.8, 200.5 and 163.1. This shows that the average solar flux for August was not only lower than August of last year, but was the lowest value since January of this year. The highest average monthly solar flux was in March, 2000, although July was not much lower. I am not sure when they made the change, but you really should check out the new home page for the NOAA Space Environment Center at http://www.sec.noaa.gov/index.html . The new layout and graphics are quite impressive. W9OL wrote to ask why 10 meters seems less reliable than last year, even though the solar flux was lower in 1999. He also remarked that often the path to South American is open (he lives in Illinois) but signals to Europe and Asia are poor. This is probably because with more solar activity there have been more solar flares and coronal holes, resulting in more geomagnetic activity. The result is poor radio paths over the polar regions, and some north-south enhancements. There is some evidence that higher geomagnetic activity does not really enhance trans-equatorial or north-south propagation, but signals over the equator appear to be enhanced by comparison because signals over the polar region are so degraded. In last week's bulletin, a link to Solar and Heliospheric Observatory images via a webcam site was mentioned. NR0A wrote to say that a better link titled The Very Latest SOHO Images is at http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/data/realtime-images.html . For the next few days, expect geomagnetic indices to settle down, and conditions to be generally quiet. The next active period, based on the previous solar rotation is September 6-8. Another active period is possible around September 25-26. Look for solar flux to decline slightly over the next few days to around 161 on September 3-4, then rising to around 185 on September 8. Expect fairly good propagation for the All Asia DX Phone Contest this weekend, with fairly quiet geomagnetic conditions and progress toward the autumnal equinox. Sunspot numbers for August 24 through 30 were 92, 101, 104, 124, 165, 175 and 187 with a mean of 135.4. 10.7 cm flux was 130.6, 133.2, 137, 150.1, 160, 163.3 and 164.8, with a mean of 148.4, and estimated planetary A indices were 10, 7, 9, 9, 21, 31 and 13 with a mean of 14.3."}, {"response": 85, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, Sep 16, 2000 (19:37)", "body": "16 September, 2000 Two full-halo coronal mass ejections (CMEs) occurred on September 15, 2000, and a third CME on September 16, 2000 has been observed as the brightest of the three. These were associated with solar flares (M5-class for the latest of the three CMEs). Due to the complex delta magnetic field in the Sunspot group 9165, there is a good chance for further eruptions. Those who wish to experience Aurora (visual as well as the radio propagation mode) should be on the lookout from this point forward. At the time of writing, the Aurora index is 10, the highest level. :ALERTS: Magnetic K-Index of 4 Warning valid from 16 September, 2000 1800Z to 17 September, 2000 1500Z. Magnetic A-Index greater than=30 Watch for 19 September, 2000Z. Magnetic A-Index greater than=30 Watch for 20 September, 2000Z. Report by NW7US More: http://hfradio.org/propagation.html"}, {"response": 86, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Sep 22, 2000 (00:15)", "body": "DX Bulletin 39 - September 21, 2000 This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by Tedd, KB8NW, the OPDX Bulletin, The Daily DX, The 599Rpt, 425DXnews, DXNL and Contest Corral from QST. Thanks to all. FIJI, 3D2. Dragan, Z32AU, is active as 3D2AU until September 26. Activity is on all bands, using CW and SSB, including 6 meters. QSL to home call. GUINEA, 3X. Dan, VE2DPS, has returned to Conakry as 3XY2D. He hopes to soon be QRV. QSL via W3HNK. KUWAIT, 9K. Bob, K4CY, will return to Kuwait, and plans to reactivate his old callsign 9K2ZZ. He is expected to be active using PSK31. QSL via W8CNL. PALESTINE, E4. Ten Japanese operators will be QRV as E44/homecalls until September 24. Activity will mainly be on 30 and 6 meters, and using mainly RTTY. QSL via home calls. FRENCH POLYNESIA, FO. Yuu-san, JA3IG, is QRV as FO0YOS and was found on 15 meters using CW and SSB. QSL to home call. PANAMA, HP. Wil, DJ7AA, Manfred, DK1BT, and Tina, DL6MYL are now active as HO1A from Contadora Island, IOTA NA-072, until October 1. Their activity will include the CQ/RJ WW RTTY Contest. Outside of the contest, they will be mainly active on CW, the newer bands and lowbands. QSL via DL6MYL. HONDURAS, HR. HQ0R is QRV from Valle de Los Angeles, with three stations using CW, SSB and RTTY on all bands. QSL via EA4URE. GUINEA BISSAU, J5. Baldur, DJ6SI, is now QRV as J5X. Look for him around 1822 to 1828 kHz. QSL to home call. MARIANA ISLANDS, KH0. JH8KYU will be active as KH0/JH8KYU from Saipan, IOTA OC-086, on September 23 to 24. He will participate in the CQ/RJ WW RTTY Contest. QSL to home call. MIDWAY ISLAND, KH4. Look for JF1OCQ and JE1RXJ to operate on 80 to 6 meters using CW and SSB, as W1VX/KH4 and NB6A/KH4, respectively, until September 24. A 6 meter beacon will be set up on 50115 kHz. QSL via home calls. GREECE, SV. Ivan is QRV using CW as SV8/G3IZD from Thasos, IOTA EU-174, until October 3. QSL to home call. Meanwhile, Eric, KU6J, is active as SV8/KU6J/p from Thira/Santorini Island, IOTA EU-067, until September 28. He is focusing on CW, primarily on the newer bands. QSL to home call. MOUNT ATHOS, SV/A. Monk Apollo, SV2ASP/A, has been QRV of late on 20 meters using RTTY at 1000 and 1500z. PALAU, T8. Shun, JH7IMX, is active as T88SW until September 24. He will participate in the CQ/RJ WW RTTY Contest. His activity before the contest will be CW, SSB and also PSK31 on 80 to 10 meters, including the newer bands. QSL to home call. THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The Scandinavian Activity SSB Contest, CQ/RJ WW RTTY Contest, Alabama Heart of Dixie QSO Party and the 2000 Fall Classic and Homebrew Radio Exchange are all scheduled for this weekend. Please see September QST, pages 102 and 112 for details."}, {"response": 87, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Sep 28, 2000 (21:23)", "body": "DX Bulletin 40 - September 28, 2000 This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by Tedd, KB8NW, the OPDX Bulletin, HA4XG, The Daily DX, 425DXnews, DXNL and Contest Corral from QST. Thanks to all. SRI LANKA, 4S. Denver, 4S7DA, has been QRV on 20 meters CW between 0000 and 0100z. QSL via W3HNK. EAST TIMOR, 4W. Jose, 4W6FK, is usually QRV on 14260 kHz just before 1130z. QSL via CT1FKN. MADAGASCAR, 5R. Ken, 5R8GQ, has been QRV on 14200 kHz just prior to 1400z. He has also been QRV using RTTY on 15 meters around 1800z. QSL via AD6KA. BOTSWANA, A2. Martin, A22BE, has been QRV on 28495 kHz between 1600 and 1800z. QSL via ZS6AKB. UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, A6. Walter, A61AJ, has been QRV using RTTY on 15 meters around 1230z. He has also been QRV on 17 meters from 1400 to 1600z. QSL via W3UR. CHINA, BY. BT20OO will be active again from IOTA AS-137 from October 1 to 4. QSL via BA4EG. BALEARIC ISLANDS, EA6. EA6/HA6NL/p is QRV using mostly CW on 160 to 10 meters during his holiday here until October 5. QSL to home call. IRAN, EP. Ali, EP2MKO, has been working on 30 meters CW from 0200 to 0230z. MAYOTTE, FY. Elio, FH5CB, has been QRV on 20 meters around 0330z. SOUTH KOREA, HL. Lee, DS4CNB, was working East Coast stations on 14024 kHz just before 1200z. MIDWAY ISLAND, KH4. NH6D/KH4 has been QRV on 17 meters around 0300z. QSL via N6FF. Meanwhile, Ted, NH4/NH6YK, has also been QRV on 20 meters SSB around 0700 to 0800z. QSL to home call. PAPUA NEW GUINEA, P2. Chip, P29CC, is usually QRV on 28479 kHz just prior to 2200z. QSL via K1WY. EGYPT, SU. Jaro, SU9ZZ, has been QRV on 3507 kHz around 0330z. QSL via OM3TZZ. CRETE, SV9. Geza, HA4XG, is QRV as SV9/HA4XG/p until October 12. He works mainly the newer bands. QSL to home call. PALAU, T8. Look for JA2AAU, JA2AIC, JR2FOR and JJ2KYT, to be QRV as T88NK, T88IC, T88FO and T88MI, respectively, from October 4 to 7. Activity will be on 40, 20, 15, 10 and 6 meters using CW, SSB, SSTV and 10 meter FM. QSL to home calls. NAMIBIA, V5. Frank, V51AS, can usually be found on 30, 20, 17 and 15 meters CW between 1930 and 2130z. Also, check 10 meters after 1530z. INDIA, VU. Special event station VU2HF2000 will be active on 40 to 10 meters using CW and SSB from September 30 to October 2 during Hamfest 2000 held in Hyderabad, India. CAMBODIA, XU. Hiroo, JA2EZD, will be QRV as XU7ABF from October 2 to 5. He has antennas for 40 to 6 meters and intends to put up new ones for 160 and 80 meters soon. QSL via XW2A. VANUATU, YJ. YT1AD and Z32AU are QRV as YJ0AD and YJ0AU, respectively, until October 5. QSL to home calls. THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The Louisiana and Texas QSO Parties are scheduled for this weekend. Please see October QST, page 100 for details."}, {"response": 88, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, Sep 30, 2000 (02:58)", "body": "ARRL Bulletin 39 - September 29, 2000 ARRL seeks monitoring reports on 10 and 12 meters In an effort to better document the extent of unlicensed operation on Amateur Radio frequencies, particularly 10 meters, the IARU Region 2 Monitoring System is surveying member societies about the extent of the problem. In order to provide statistical backing for its response, ARRL is soliciting reports from American hams to supplement its response to the survey. ARRL Monitoring System Administrator Brennan Price, N4QX, is accepting reception reports from amateurs for a two-week period, from October 1 to October 14. Observations should include date and time in UTC, frequency, mode of the transmission, language, if known, and any notes which might assist in identifying the source. Observations should also be limited to amateur frequencies, focusing on 10 and 12 meters. Price urges monitors to use caution before documenting a transmission as probably unlicensed. ''Most countries do not mandate a segregation of voice and digital modes, as the United States does,'' Price says. ''A phone transmission between 28.0 and 28.3 MHz is not necessarily illegal in the country where that transmission occurs, and if valid amateur call signs can be made out, the transmission should not be reported. However, lower sideband and AM transmissions between 28.0 and 28.1 MHz are usually unlicensed, and may be treated with suspicion.'' Reports should be e-mailed to Price at n4qx@arrl.org. All reports will be acknowledged, and respondents will receive a summary of the survey results via email."}, {"response": 89, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Oct 26, 2000 (22:09)", "body": "DX News - October 26, 2000 UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, A6. Frank is QRV as A61AJ and has been found on 7047 kHz around 2000z. QSL via W3UR. ERITREA, E3. E30TA has been QRV on 17 meters using SSB around 2300 to 0100z. QSL via DL5NAM. CANARY ISLANDS, EA8. Look for Pekka, OH1RY, to be active from the EA8AH/EA8BH contest station during the CQ WW Phone Contest. QSL via operator instructions. MOLDOVA, ER. Slawa, ER1LW, will be QRV as ER6A in the CQ WW Phone Contest. QSL to home call. SCOTLAND, GM. The North of Scotland Contest Group will be QRV as GZ7V during the CQ WW Phone Contest. QSL via operator's instructions. LIECHTENSTEIN, HB0. A group of HA ops will be active from November 1 to 8 and will be QRV in the HA-QRP Contest. Look for Laci, HA6NL, Zsolt, HA6PS, Csaba, HA6PX and Tibor, HA6ZV to be QRV as HB0/homecalls. Activity is on all bands using CW and SSB. During the QRP contest, they will be active as HB0/HA5RT/p. QSL contest call via HA5RT and all others via home calls. SOUTH SHETLAND ISLANDS. HF0POL has been QRV on 21015 kHz around 0015z. QSL via SP3WVL. KINGMAN REEF, KH5K. K5K is QRV on all bands with 6 stations. Activity includes RTTY. QSL via K4TSJ. ALAND ISLAND, OH0. Jukka, OH6LI, will be active as OH0V on 10 meters in both the CW and SSB CQ WW Contests. QSL to home call. GREECE, SV. Wolff, DJ5JH, will be QRV as J43J during the CQ WW Phone Contest. QSL to home call. TUVALU, T2. Tusti, T2DX, is now active and has been QRV on 20, 15 and 10 meters using SSB and RTTY. QSL via W4WET. UZBEKISTAN, UJ. Fedor, UK9AA, will use UK0A during the CW WW Phone Contest and will be QRV on all bands. QSL to home call. AUSTRALIA, VK. Members of the Manly-Warringah Radio Society will be QRV as AX2GAMES during the Paralympics from October 28 to 29. Activity will be mostly on 20, 15 and 10 meters. QSL via VK2PS. LORD HOWE ISLAND, VK9L. Look for VK9LEH to be QRV from October 31 to November 6. Activity will be on 20, 15 and 10 meters CW, and possibly the newer bands. QSL via AA4EH. MEXICO, XE. Doug, W0AH, will be QRV as XE3/W0AH as a Single Op/All Band entry using QRP in the CQ WW Phone Contest. QSL via W2GR. CAMBODIA, XU. Hiroo is QRV as XU7ABF and has been found on 30 meters from 2100 to 2200z. QSL via XW2A. GIBRALTAR, ZB. W6NV and K6IW will be QRV as ZB2X during the CQ WW Phone Contest as a Multi/Single entry. QSL via operator's instructions. THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The CQ WW DX Phone Contest and the Ten-Ten International Net Fall CW QSO Party will keep contesters busy this weekend. Please see October QST, page 101 for details. NNNN"}, {"response": 90, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Oct 26, 2000 (22:11)", "body": "Coming soon: First ham operation from ISS Amateur Radio is poised to mark an historic milestone. Operation from Amateur Radio's first permanent foothold in space is expected to debut soon after the all-ham Expedition 1 crew arrives November 2 aboard the International Space Station. The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station--or ARISS--initial station gear already is aboard the ISS awaiting the arrival of Expedition 1 Commander and US astronaut Bill Shepherd, KD5GSL, and Russian Cosmonauts Sergei Krikalev, U5MIR, and Yuri Gidzenko. The equipment includes VHF and UHF hand-held transceivers as well as a TNC for packet, a specially developed headset and signal adapter module plus power adapters and interconnecting cables. The Expedition 1 crew is set to blast off aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket October 31 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and will arrive aboard the ISS a couple of days later. Once on board, the crew will begin a four-month stay aboard the ISS--the first permanent occupancy of the international complex. Two US call signs have been issued for Amateur Radio operations as part of the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station program. The FCC granted vanity call signs NA1SS and NN1SS to the International Space Station Amateur Radio Club on October 11. The NA1SS call sign will be used on board the ISS, while NN1SS will be for ground-based ISS communications from Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. A Russian call sign, RZ3DZR, and a German call sign, DL0ISS, also have been issued for use aboard the ISS. Still to be determined are the frequencies for ARISS and an operating schedule. A decision on both is expected soon, along with QSL information. The initial station gear will be installed temporarily in the Zarya Functional Cargo Block of the ISS and will permit operation only on 2 meters--FM voice and packet. The ARISS Team anticipates multiband, multimode operations with the crew and regularly scheduled school group contacts. For more information about Amateur Radio on the ISS and SAREX, visit the ARISS Web site, http://ariss.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ."}, {"response": 91, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Nov  3, 2000 (23:15)", "body": "DX news November 3, 2000 This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by Tedd, KB8NW, the OPDX Bulletin, The Daily DX, 425DXnews, DXNL and Contest Corral from QST. Thanks to all. KUWAIT, 9K. 9K2LOW will be QRV from November 4 to 6 in commemoration of the extinguishing of the last oil well fire. QSL via 9K2RA. EAST MALAYSIA, 9M6. Members of the Borneo ARC are QRV with the special callsign 9M6C until November 5. Activity is on 20 and 15 meters. QSL via operator's instructions. CAPE VERDE, D4. SM0JHF, SM0JQX, EA8BYG and EA8EE are QRV as D44AC from Sao Vicente, IOTA AF-086. They are active on all HF bands, plus 6 meters from grid HK76mk, using CW, SSB, RTTY, SSTV, PSK31, Feld-Hell, MFSK16/32, MT63 and PACTOR. QSL via EA8URL. ETHIOPIA, ET. Claudio, 9E1C, is usually QRV on 40 meters SSB around 2300z. QSL via IV3OWC. AUSTRAL ISLANDS, FO. SP9FIH and SQ9LR are active as FO0WEG from Tubuai Island, IOTA OC-152, using SSB on 80 to 6 meters until November 4. QSL via SP9FIH. FRENCH POLYNESIA, FO. Bill, W1HIJ, is active using mostly CW on 20, 15 and 10 meters as FO0SCH from Bora Bora, IOTA OC-057. He also hopes to be QRV on 80 and 40 meters, using SSB, PSK31 and MFSK16/32. QSL via W6UFT. DJIBOUTI, J2. David, F5THR, is QRV as J28EX for the next two years. QSL to home call. SVALBARD, JW. Tor, LA9XGA, is QRV as JW9XGA from Logyearbyen, Spitsbergen, IOTA EU-026, until November 8. Look for his CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK31 activity on 160 to 10 meters, including the newer bands. QSL to home call. US VIRGIN ISLANDS, KP2. Bill, NU0Q, will operate WP2Z from St. Croix, IOTA NA-106, during the ARRL CW Sweepstakes. Before and after the contest he will sign KP2/NU0Q. QSL WP2Z via KU9C and KP2/NU0Q via NU0Q. BELGIUM, ON. Special event station OO4CLM is QRV on 80 to 10 meters, including 2 meters, using CW and SSB, until November 12. QSL via ON6HC. BRAZIL, PY. PV3DC is active from Fort Duque de Caxias until November 5. Activity is on 80 to 10 meters using CW and SSB. QSL via PY3AFE. MOUNT ATHOS, SV/A. Monk Apollo, SV2ASP, has been QRV around 14195 kHz from 0530 to 0600z. MALI, TZ. TZ6JA is QRV from Bamako and is active on 40, 20, 15 and 10 meters during his spare time. QSL via JA3EMU. UKRAINE, UR. Special event call UE4SMA is active until November 30 to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of Mariy-El Republic. QSL via operator's instructions. CHAGOS, VQ9. Patrick, W3PO, is active as VQ9PO until March 2001 on all bands using mostly CW. QSL via W3PO. KERMADEC ISLAND, ZL8. Jacky, ZL3CW, is now QRV as ZM8CW. He picks a frequency and stays there for hours using CW. He has been QRV on 40, 17, 15, 12 and 10 meters. QSL to home call. THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The ARRL November CW Sweepstakes, Seventh Annual North American Collegiate ARC Championship and the IPA CW and Phone Contest will keep contesters busy this weekend. Please see October QST, page 101 for details. radio conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 33, "subject": "my current radio projects", "response_count": 11, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, May  3, 2000 (12:30)", "body": "Oooh, gonna steal Mike aka Cosmo's ELF project away from Geo? That's ok, I can share..! Check Geo 24 to see what he is considering!"}, {"response": 2, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Sat, May  6, 2000 (22:28)", "body": "I think I need to clean my shack so I can actually get to my work desk (that needs cleaning too...). Current projects involve building microwave transverters for the 2, 3, 5, 10, 24 and 47ghz bands as well as put up some 2meter and 432mhz beams down near the audio end of the spectrum. I guess I need to work on that ELF whistler radio too since its going to be summer time and thats when you can hear all the transequatorial whistlers and dawn chorus. Finally, if I -ever- get some free time, I would like to build some solid state replacement components for my HP 8551 spectrum analyzer which is currently holding the desk down. 73 de Mike who has waaaaaay to many projects"}, {"response": 3, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, May  6, 2000 (23:00)", "body": "Oh Mike, You NEED many projects. It is the sign of a creative intellect and a busy mind as well as a busy man. My dad always had various equipment in various stages of repair - and he was so neat it hurt to touch any of it! When he would hit a snag in one project or need to wait for a part to arrive, he'd work on another. He aways finished them and others would take their place. You are a gentleman of the traditional school - a very good thing to be! 73's de Marci"}, {"response": 4, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, May  7, 2000 (16:03)", "body": "This is not my project - yet... http://freeweb.pdq.net/headstrong/Foxhole.htm Foxhole radios: history and construction Building a foxhole radio is rewarding and the basic setup is very simple. It is, however, difficult to adjust, and it may take several attempts to find a proper razor blade for the detector. This is a project that requires patience and much trial and error, but it will pay off once it begins to work. It will help to be versed in the construction and operation of crystal sets before building one. It will be especially helpful to read the introductory notes about the coil, detector, antenna, and other components. These sets are extremely simple in construction, but tuning and modification require some basic understanding of theory, as well as practice. All sets presented here are based on old articles, notes, and people's recollections. There are fairly major variations in design and materials among these plans. It must be remembered that these were improvised under often adverse conditions; there was no \"standard\" design. With this in mind, take this entire article as a whole, and use it a bit here, a bit there, to build towards a design that works best using modern materials."}, {"response": 5, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, May  7, 2000 (16:04)", "body": "crystal sets mentioned above are at this link http://freeweb.pdq.net/headstrong/crystal.htm"}, {"response": 6, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, May  7, 2000 (16:06)", "body": "The detailed discriptions follow the Paragraph I posted above alone with schematics to help you. Enjoy!"}, {"response": 7, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, May  7, 2000 (17:18)", "body": "Mike, take a look at this http://freeweb.pdq.net/headstrong/ind2.htm"}, {"response": 8, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Sun, May  7, 2000 (18:15)", "body": "Crystal Sets are neat. I once lashed together a set in about five minutes using a preformed B and W coil, a germanium diode and some 2k phones. Picked up Radio Nederland. Regen sets are fun as well - you would be suprised at the sensitivity and selectivity. When you visit the bookstore, look for 'Radio Receivers You can Build' in the electrical engineering section. Mike"}, {"response": 9, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, May  7, 2000 (18:38)", "body": "Fantastic idea, Mike! My Dad made me one and it was my first real radio attached to the radiator for an antenna. I got most of the immediate world on that one. Check out that other url I posted for you...Great page on http://freeweb.pdq.net/headstrong/ind2.htm if you haven't been there yet...."}, {"response": 10, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Aug  3, 2000 (16:02)", "body": "Space Bulletin 006 - August 3, 2000 ISS ham gear cleared for takeoff The way has been cleared for the Amateur Radio gear destined for use aboard the International Space Station to be launched into space. The initial amateur gear is scheduled go up to the ISS on mission STS-106 aboard the shuttle Atlantis on September 8. As part of the multinational Amateur Radio on the International Space Station project, the gear will be stowed aboard the ISS for use by the Expedition 1 crew, set to come aboard in late October. ''We have been working for years to bring the first ISS hardware to fruition,'' ARISS Administrative Chairman Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, said this week. ''It looks like the final issues that have held us back are now over, and we are moving ahead toward the launch of the initial hardware on STS-106.'' Bauer said three events over the past couple of weeks were key to moving the ARISS project forward. The first was the launch and docking of the Russian-built Zvezda Service Module that eventually will house the ARISS gear. In addition, Bauer said, a series of RF, power-up and other tests on the amateur equipment were successfully completed in Russia, thanks to Lou McFadin, W5DID, of ARISS and AMSAT and Carolynn Conley, KD5JSO, of NASA. He said NASA also signed off on the required flight safety package, giving the go-ahead to release the amateur hardware for flight aboard the upcoming shuttle mission. The Expedition 1 crew will consist of three amateurs: US astronaut Bill Shepherd, KD5GSL, and Russian Cosmonauts Sergei Krikalev, U5MIR, and the recently licensed Yuri Gaidzenko, whose call sign was not available. To be available to the first crew, the ARISS initial station gear will be installed temporarily aboard the ISS Functional Cargo Block. It will use an existing antenna that's being adapted to support FM voice and packet on 2 meters but not on 70 cm. Eventually, the ARISS gear will find a more-permanent home aboard the Zvezda Service Module. A Russian call sign, RZ3DZR, has been issued for the ISS ham radio station. The ARRL and AMSAT have been providing leadership and consulting services for ARISS. ARRL Field and Educational Services Manager Rosalie White, K1STO--a member of the Space Amateur Radio EXperiment Working Group--says this is an exciting moment for the project, which has one goal of letting students on Earth communicate with the ISS inhabitants via Amateur Radio. ''All of the hard work from the many volunteers is starting to pay off,'' she said. ''We have so many people to thank--all of the AMSAT volunteers, ARRL people, the NASA folks--so many of whom are hams. But seeing the youth of the United States and other countries benefit is our reward.'' Bauer says the astronauts and cosmonauts plan to take some time off for educational outreach contacts with schools, even during the busy years of ISS construction that lie ahead. Bauer says access to Amateur Radio also is considered a morale booster for ISS crew members who will be in space many weeks at a time. As the International Space Station takes its place in the heavens,'' Bauer said, ''the Amateur Radio community is prepared to do its part by helping to enrich the experience.''"}, {"response": 11, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Nov  1, 2000 (22:09)", "body": "Supreme Court Ends KV4FZ Renewal Saga The US Supreme Court has put an end to the high-profile license renewal case of Herbert Schoenbohm, KV4FZ, by denying his petition for certiorari. The petition was Schoenbohm's last avenue of legal appeal in the case, which stretches back to 1994. The Supreme Court's decision will put KV4FZ off the air and terminate Schoenbohm's legal efforts to get the FCC to renew his Amateur Radio license. The Supreme Court announced its latest list of orders October 30. Schoenbohm's case had been on its docket for possible consideration during the court's current term. Schoenbohm--who lives in the US Virgin Islands--petitioned the high court in August to grant a writ of certiorari calling on the justices to request the record of his case from the US Court of Appeals for review. The Supreme Court offered no comment in turning down Schoenbohm's petition. Following Schoenbohm's 1992 felony conviction on federal fraud charges, the FCC set his Amateur Radio renewal application for a hearing in 1994. The FCC subsequently turned down his application, citing his conviction and character issues. The US Appeals Court turned down Schoenbohm's request for a rehearing by the full bench after it rejected his appeal of the FCC's decision last February. Schoenbohm has said he was the first amateur to face the loss of his license on the basis of character. Schoenbohm holds the call signs VP2VFZ, VP2MFZ, VP2EFZ, and PY1ZAI, but he may not use those call signs from US territory. radio conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 34, "subject": "Buyer beware", "response_count": 15, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Wed, May  3, 2000 (04:34)", "body": "Bob came back with a Kenwood tri-bander, but his failed. It overheated after an hour of operation. He bought it from Crazy Al's Used Rig Lot, where rigs purchased are guaranteed to crap out after an hour. I had a similar experience with Crazy Al a couple of years ago. He showed me a ICOM IC24AT that worked great. At least it worked great in his house and keyed the repeater that was on his bench. But when I got outside it wouldn't key any of the local repeaters. It took me an hour of stressful arguing with Al to get my money back. And Bob had to cancel his check."}, {"response": 2, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Wed, May  3, 2000 (04:37)", "body": "The above vignette is from the Belton Swapfest, of last weekend. Bob's still having a rough time with Crazy Al, who unbelievably thinks he can get away with stiffing one of the most prominent members of the ham community in Austin. He just may have targeted the wrong guy for one of his \"deals\" this time. Because Bob is so well known and has the capacity to go ballistic if he's cheated."}, {"response": 3, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Wed, May  3, 2000 (04:41)", "body": "Bob took two precautions, that are recommended for swapfest purchase. 1. He tested the rig right away, but in this case it wasn't enough because the rig had an intermittent logic problem that caused overheating after about an hour of operation. But it's a good idea to test anything you buy. He should have run the rig all the way home from Belton. 2. He wrote a check, and was waiting in line at the Bank at 8:01 am on Monday morning when they opened to cancel it before Crazy Al could get there and cash it."}, {"response": 4, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, May  3, 2000 (12:53)", "body": "Is there any way to put Crazy Al out of business legally? Otherwise, post it on your repeater site, write to the ARRL message boards and mass email everyone you know with Ham proclivities. Sometimes, going ballistic is the only way to get your point across! Caveat Emptor"}, {"response": 5, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Wed, May  3, 2000 (14:22)", "body": "Crazy Al is putting himself out of business by these repeated attempts to cheat local hams. Word is definitely getting around."}, {"response": 6, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, May  3, 2000 (15:29)", "body": "Excellent to know! How did Bob fall for his stuff? Bob is no babe-in-the-woods; was the deal too good to pass up?"}, {"response": 7, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Wed, May  3, 2000 (18:38)", "body": "No he didn't know about my previous bad experience. And he did write a check instead of giving cash. Had he given up cash, he'd really be crying now."}, {"response": 8, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, May  3, 2000 (19:29)", "body": "Yup...and Crazy Al'd be long gone! An aggravation, but not an expensive one, fortunately!"}, {"response": 9, "author": "Bobaroo", "date": "Thu, May  4, 2000 (14:51)", "body": "Well, yea... its me! Yup, I got lightly crisped at Last week's Belton Ham fest. As Paul said, I luckily did write a check..and stopped payment (first time ever)..and am now following my lawyer's instructions fully. How did I fall for Crazy Al's amazing exploding used radio deal? Well, it was a good price..and I am a trusting and fair fellow who will give the benefit of the doubt..assuming that people are basically good until proven wrong. In Al's case, I was wrong. I must say that I have never seen a person lie so blatently...and then so aggressively(with full NYC dialect) yell at me with counter-acusations. This guy is a criminal mastermind who preys on anyone who has the mis-fortune to cross his path. It is so dis-heartening to know people like this exist. So..we will see what happens. I am sure this is not the end of this issue. Updates will follow. Bob"}, {"response": 10, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Thu, May  4, 2000 (15:18)", "body": "Lightly crisped as in \"burned\"? When I bought that ICOM IC24AT from him that he misreprented, I had to pay hell to get him to open his safe where he had greedily and hurridly stashed my cash. He aggressively yelled at me too that I was \"causing him grief\". Al is indeed a criminal mastermind looking for his next subject to prey on with one of his illicit radio deals. It's too bad, or maybe it's good, that he picked on the wrong guy this time. He didn't find a passive, silent victim in Bob, and the whole local ham community in Austin will now know what a cheat Al Amendola, WA2FXZ really is. If they haven't found out already the hard way."}, {"response": 11, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, May  4, 2000 (17:45)", "body": "Aloha, Bob! Perhaps it is in your favor that he was so evil and you so honest. How could you know? I do not think that way, either, and I suppose I am a 'sitting duck' for the greedy and nefarious. Wise man that you are, you did write a check and stopped payment on it. I wish there were a way to put these guys out of commission for life. It is totally disgusting that he is a Ham, and that angers me even more. Hams are gentlemen, all! He is a disgrace! If you need more righteous indignation on your behalf, post again and we will rally to your cause! 3's n 8's"}, {"response": 12, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Sun, May  7, 2000 (18:26)", "body": "Howdy All One line to watch out for is \"It worked the last time I plugged it in...\" (i.e. did you last plug it 5 years ago. Was the radio between you and the door... Did you plug it in, then accidently spill beer in it...., etc.) One thing about old toob sets is that they usually smell pretty bad if a capacitor or transformer blew up in it. Its not uncommon to have to recap an old set anyway. The Chicago hamfests have their fair share of bottomfeeders at the local fests so you just have to be cautious when buying stuff. I generally avoid used gear if it is shrinkwrapped but obviously used. Also, a waterline stain half way up the rig chassis is kind of an indication too.... 73 de Mike"}, {"response": 13, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, May  7, 2000 (18:41)", "body": "Waterline stain half way up... Good grief! Are you being facetious or is this something purchased from the Brooklyn swap and shyster meet?!"}, {"response": 14, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Sun, May  7, 2000 (22:18)", "body": "Har Har Nah, I once rescued some radios from a flooded out basement in Northern Illinois. Got 3 nice ARC5 receivers in the rack plus a cherry 100 watt ART13 transmitter. There was also a BC348 receiver but it had the waterline damage which was more than I wanted to deal with at the time - shame too since it was a nice WWII era radio. Also, the Brooklyn folks could probably learn a thing or two at some of the Chi swap and shyster meets! (no good deals on bridges though....) 3's and 8's de Mike"}, {"response": 15, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, May  7, 2000 (22:38)", "body": "Yeah, you're probably right. Noo Yawk is a quick change artist's paradise. Chicage does not yet own the Brooklyn Bridge (do they?) but it was the home of Al Capone who was so crafty the only thing they could get him on was tax evasion. Well, if you hear of anyone who wants cheap land in Hawaii, I gotta lava flow...Get it while it's hot!!! 3's n 8's Masha da goil frum Geo radio conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 35, "subject": "Austin and Texas Radio", "response_count": 1, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Nov  1, 2000 (19:38)", "body": "Let us know when you are appearing and you can bet I'll be listening. I'll check it out, anyway... some very dear people live in Austin and it'll always be special to me! radio conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 36, "subject": "Yaesu", "response_count": 6, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Mon, Dec 18, 2000 (11:06)", "body": "The latest, hottest rig! Bob and Pat both were the first five in line at the candy store to get these: From Yaesu's website: FT-817 The Ultimate Backpacker! Multi-mode Portable Transceiver The world\ufffds first self-contained, battery-powered, Multi-mode Portable Transceiver covering the HF, VHF, and UHF bands! For more than four decades, Yaesu has been a world leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance multi-mode base station and mobile transceivers, as well as FM handhelds. Now Yaesu breaks new ground with the introduction of the FT-817: the world\ufffds first HF/VHF/UHF self-contained battery-powered Multi-mode Portable Transceiver. Providing up to five watts of power output, the FT-817 is designed for operation on the 160-10 meter HF bands, plus the 6 meter, 2 meter, and 70 cm bands. Whether your preferred operating mode is SSB, CW, AM, FM, Packet, or SSB-based Digital modes like PSK31, the FT-817 is ready to join you on your next hiking, camping, or search-and-rescue adventure!"}, {"response": 2, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Mon, Dec 18, 2000 (11:07)", "body": "And the specs: \ufffd Product Concept: Fully Self-Contained Battery-Powered Low Power Amateur Transceiver for Portable/Camping/Mountain top Use. \ufffd TX Frequency Coverage: 160 - 10 Meters, 50 MHz, 144 MHz, 430-450 MHz, plus Alaska Emergency Channel (5167.5 kHz). \ufffd RX Frequency Coverage: 100 kHz \ufffd 56 MHz; 76 \ufffd 154 MHz; 420 \ufffd 470 MHz. (Exact frequency range may be slightly different) \ufffd Power Output: 5 Watts SSB/CW/FM with 13.8V External DC; 1.5W AM Carrier. 2.5 Watts SSB/CW/FM with 9.6V Ni-Cd Pack or 8 \ufffdAA\ufffd batteries (AM: 0.7 W); Up to 5 W SSB/CW/FM power (max.) programmable via Menu on Ni-Cd/AA cells. \ufffd Operating Modes: USB, LSB, CW, AM, FM, W-FM, Digital (AFSK), Packet (1200/9600 FM). \ufffd Digital Modes: RTTY, PSK31-U, PSK31-L, and User defined USB/LSB (SSTV, Pactor, etc.). \ufffd Case Size: 5.31\" x 1.5\" x 6.5\" (WHD) \ufffd Weight: 2.6 lb (w/Alkalines & Antenna, w/o Mic.). \ufffd Two-Color LCD Multi-function Display (Blue/Amber). \ufffd Bar-Graph Metering of Power Output, ALC, SWR, Modulation. \ufffd Optional Narrow CW and SSB Filters. \ufffd AGC Fast-Slow-Auto-Off Selection. \ufffd RF Gain/Squelch Control. o Built-in Noise Blanker. \ufffd IPO (Intercept Point Optimization) and ATT (Receiver Front End Attenuator). \ufffd Dual VFOs, Split Capability, IF Shift, and R.I.T. (\ufffdClarifier\ufffd). \ufffd Wide/Narrow FM Selection. \ufffd AM Aircraft Reception. \ufffd Dedicated SSB-based Digital Mode for PSK31 on USB/LSB, AFSK RTTY, etc. \ufffd Built-in CW Electronic Keyer and Semi-Break-In (down to 10 ms delay) Capability. \ufffd Adjustable CW Pitch; CW Paddle Normal/Reverse Connection Selection. \ufffd Built-in VOX. \ufffd Automatic Repeater Shift. \ufffd Built-in CTCSS and DCS. \ufffd ARTS\ufffd (Auto-Range Transponder System). \ufffd Smart Search\ufffd Automatic Memory Loading System. \ufffd Spectrum Scope. \ufffd Front and Rear Panel Antenna Connectors (BNC on Front; M [SO-239] on Back). \ufffd 200 Regular Memories, plus Home Channels and Band-Limit (PMS) Memories. \ufffd Alpha-Numeric Labeling of Memory Channels. \ufffd Automatic Power-Off (APO) and Tx Time-Out Timer (TOT) Features. \ufffd Rear Panel Data, Accessory, and Key jacks. \ufffd CAT System Computer Control Capability (4800/9600/38400 bps); Cloning Capability."}, {"response": 3, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, May  3, 2001 (15:52)", "body": "How sweet it is! I trust you have told your local Santa Claus and Birthday wish granter that THIS is what would please you most! That is one sweet little package and loaded for bear! Amazing what they have done with boat anchors. Turned them into toys for the Big Boys!"}, {"response": 4, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, May  4, 2001 (00:05)", "body": "It's a pretty good little rig, I got one about two months ago and hook it up to a big K5RV antenna (long inverted \"V\") at night and listen to shortwave broadcasts in bed. Just like my Grandpa Ed Frauenthal used to do in St. Louis. It has a 6 meter/450/2 meter rubber duck antenna on the front and a standard so239 connector on the back, two switchable antenna ports (bnc on the front), Bob (ab5n) did the battery mod so I can charge it up without having to buy the Yeasu battery pack, I can just use standard aaa niMh batteries in it. It's a bit underpowered, but that's adjustable also. It takes 10 hours to charge it up."}, {"response": 5, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Sun, Mar  2, 2003 (09:36)", "body": "Hi all Finally got my 817 as a birthday present from me to me - tres cool (didnt have any money left over to buy a nice 1938 Leica - waa...) Anyway, this will be the primary qrp rig with plans for pedestrian mobile (see the hfpack website) and a driver radio for the microwave equipment. Tons o' fun! 73 de AA9IL Mike"}, {"response": 6, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Mar  2, 2003 (12:02)", "body": "Cool Mike. I used to have one tand they're great rigs. Bob has a battery mod that you may want to do to it. radio conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 37, "subject": "442.15 the riff raff repeater", "response_count": 32, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Mon, Mar 19, 2001 (20:38)", "body": "Oy Veh! At long last, a haven for the riff-raff! I guess a good way to start the page would be to describe just what it takes to be considered riff-raff. I have a few things to relate - more once the statute of limitations is passed.... 73 de Mike riff-raff #39"}, {"response": 2, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Mon, Mar 19, 2001 (23:13)", "body": "#55 checking in."}, {"response": 3, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Wed, Mar 21, 2001 (21:12)", "body": "I think we should open this up to net riff-raff as well. What would constitute net riff-raff-ism? 73 de Mike"}, {"response": 4, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Fri, Mar 23, 2001 (09:01)", "body": "I think we could prequalify some folks."}, {"response": 5, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Sun, Apr  1, 2001 (20:33)", "body": "OK, I can probably come up with a few that qualify - need some definition of a net riff-raff. de Mike"}, {"response": 6, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Apr 30, 2002 (14:22)", "body": "One of our repeater guys was on the front page of the American Statesman today, Michael Dow, N1JCX. It appears his wife was found guilty of trying to hire a hit man to knock off her ex, another Austin ham, Gary Peterson. Ex-wife guilty in murder-for-hire West Austin mother of four could receive life in prison By Jason Spencer AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Tuesday, April 30, 2002 A jury will begin deciding today whether to send West Austin mother Laura Dow to prison after convicting her Monday of trying to hire a hit man to kill her ex-husband. The jury of nine women and three men could sentence Dow, 38, to probation or up to life in prison. They deliberated a little more than two hours Monday before finding her guilty of the August 2000 crime. Dow showed no reaction as she stood to hear the verdict. She remained free Monday night on $100,000 bail, despite a request by prosecutors that state District Judge Jon Wisser order her jailed until the sentencing. Michelle Hood, an Austin resident who served as an alternate juror and heard the same evidence as the 12 people who will decide Dow's punishment, said a prison sentence is appropriate. \"At least 10 years,\" said Hood, 41. \"It's the principle of the thing. At least she would be in a place where she knows that what she did was wrong. Trying to have someone killed, you just shouldn't be on probation.\" Dow and Gary Peterson married in 1983, and their five-year divorce and custody fight ended in April 2000 with each taking custody of two of their four children. Legal bills in the case topped $200,000, and each parent accused the other of sexual abuse. After the verdict, prosecutors called Dow's half-sister, Helene Schmidt, who testified that Dow had asked her to kill Peterson so she would receive all their property, including their Tarrytown home. As the trial entered the punishment phase, Peterson took the witness stand to tell jurors what life has been like since he found out several years ago that Dow was trying to have him murdered. \"You wonder when you walk out the door if someone will be waiting there for you,\" he said. \"It makes it hard to sleep sometimes at night.\" Peterson denied ever molesting their children. \"Not ever. Not at all. Not in any way,\" he said. A grand jury that had looked into the allegations declined to indict him. A Texas Child Protective Services supervisor testified Monday that she found more than 50 dogs in small cages with no water and little food inside Dow's home in March 2000. Dow was breeding the dogs to sell. \"I've been in with the department quite a number of years, and I've never smelled anything that severe,\" Kathryn Burke said of the odor inside Dow's home. In his closing argument, defense lawyer Ray Bass told jurors his client was coaxed into agreeing to pay an undercover law officer $3,000 to travel to Abilene to kill Peterson. Officers from the Texas Department of Public Safety and a woman who pretended to be Dow's friend told her she had a moral obligation to kill Peterson because he sexually abused their children, Bass said. \"This woman was ensnared and entrapped into committing this offense,\" he said. \"No matter how reprehensible you think Laura Dow is, whether you like her or not, if you have a reasonable doubt whether this poor woman was entrapped, you have to find her not guilty.\" Last week, Dow testified that while she often spoke of wishing Peterson dead, she never asked anyone to kill him. Prosecutors reminded jurors of testimony that Dow approached several men during her tumultuous marriage and divorce and asked for help finding someone to kill Peterson. \"You can't entrap somebody who had already been planning this for years,\" Assistant District Attorney Judy Shipway said. \"What DPS did was give her an opportunity to do what she was planning. Sooner or later, given an opportunity, she was going to kill Gary Peterson.\" Shipway then replayed Dow's videotaped meeting with the undercover officer at a North Austin motel, where she gave the supposed hit man a $1,000 down payment and instructions to make Peterson's death look like a suicide. Shipway turned off the television and walked to the defense table, where she dropped the stack of fifty $20 bills in front of Dow. \"Ladies and gentlemen, after you think about all of the evidence, after you think about her performance here on the witness stand, you will have no doubt that the real Laura Dow is the one on the videotape, the one who believes a human life is worth no more than that.\" jspencer@statesman.com; 445-3694"}, {"response": 7, "author": "G7HVP", "date": "Tue, May  7, 2002 (16:59)", "body": "I think the law needs changing about entrapment so they that put the sugestion into the mind of that lady get the same sentence as her maybe then the law will start looking for real law breakers and not the ones that are traped into something that is make believe. Joe G0PWE England"}, {"response": 8, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, May  7, 2002 (20:27)", "body": "Hey Joe, good to see you showing up here. (Joe's been showing up on our 442.15 repeater from Northern England and is \"one of the guys\" now, I just got done talking to hime on my commute home). I can understand your astonishment at our legal system, Joe. Hope you poke around the spring a bit more, what are your interests?"}, {"response": 9, "author": "G7HVP", "date": "Wed, May  8, 2002 (13:19)", "body": "Hi Paul My interests are WOMEN RIFF-RAFF WOMEN RADIO WOMEN AIRSHOWS WOMEN CAMPING WOMEN FISHING WOMEN plus a few more and did I say WOMEN? but do not tell my XYL about WOMEN HI. I like this setup and the way you can put your point of view on here. Joe G0PWE North East England and Proud to know the RIFF-RAFF"}, {"response": 10, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, May  8, 2002 (18:26)", "body": "Sounds like you need to go camping at an air show with some women, as long as theirs a lake nearby for fishing, right Joe? You say you're in North East England, could you give us some reference points. Have you poked around the Spring? What do you think of the drool and geo conferences?"}, {"response": 11, "author": "G7HVP", "date": "Thu, May  9, 2002 (12:10)", "body": "Hi I am from Ashington Northumberland it is 15 miles North of Newcastle upon Tyne and about 50 miles south of the border with Scotland. Ashington used to be the biggest coalmining Village in the world till the powers that be in London decided to shut all the coalmines down up here, but we still have the best county in England roving Hills, Sandy Beaches, old Roman Ruins, plenty of Old Castles from the days when the Scots and the English used to chop each others heads off as a hobby now we try to drink each other under the table. Just a small bit of info it is just in the last few years that they allowed women into our drinking clubs as a pub but the word club gives us a bit more power hi> now they rule the clubs. 73 Joe G0PWE England"}, {"response": 12, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, May  9, 2002 (15:48)", "body": "Careful about your wording Joe! \"and the English used to chop each others heads off as a hobby . . .\" see what happens if you get quoted out of context! It sounds like you are in very picturesque country there, Joe. Were the coal mines shut down for environmental reasons? There's a big controversy out in Bastrop county near Austin about shutting down the coal mines run by Alcoa, they're sucking a lot of the underground aquifer water to run the operations. So, how do you like the oddball bunch of folks you're talking to on the 442.15 repeater. You're becoming a regular."}, {"response": 13, "author": "SBRobinson", "date": "Fri, May 10, 2002 (15:57)", "body": "For the ignorant amongst us (ie; me.) Would somebody explain what 442.15 is please! btw- hello Joe. :-D Your WIDE varity of interests had me laughing Have you discovered the Babes conference? (dont actually go there myself -for all i know you post there regularly)"}, {"response": 14, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, May 10, 2002 (16:04)", "body": "It's our Austin ham radio repeater. See http://www.repeater.org/442.15"}, {"response": 15, "author": "G7HVP", "date": "Fri, May 10, 2002 (18:06)", "body": "Hi S B ROBINSON You wiil have to show me where it is it looks like your to modist to admit using the babies conferance?. 73 Joe"}, {"response": 16, "author": "SBRobinson", "date": "Fri, May 10, 2002 (19:08)", "body": "looks like your to modist to admit using the babies conferance?. LOL - as i am one of the Women you claim such a deep interest in, i hang out at Drool (where ladies drool over Colin Firth -and occasionally others), rather than Babes *grin* Have no idea how to post a link to the Babes Conference, but i'm sure Terry can provide it for you... (hint, hint, Terry!) btw- am very jealous of your location. To live so close to Scotland!!!"}, {"response": 17, "author": "G7HVP", "date": "Sat, May 11, 2002 (08:06)", "body": "Hi SB Nice to know you are a Women who can have a laugh Northumberland is in My mind one of the best countys in the UK. I would offer to show you round but my Wife of 36yrs I think would object?. cu around Joe from England"}, {"response": 18, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Tue, Jun 11, 2002 (15:41)", "body": "Hi All Glad that Joe has had a chance to witness the great minds at work on 442.150 Terry, I downloaded the software - just need to dial in and chat via the i-net. 73 de AA9IL Mike r-c-i Riff Raff #39"}, {"response": 19, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Jun 12, 2002 (04:59)", "body": "I'll look for you on echolink. Riff Raff 55."}, {"response": 20, "author": "g7hvp", "date": "Wed, Jun 12, 2002 (15:41)", "body": "I also will look for you on echolink Mike It is a great program Just like the group on 442.150 Joe G0PWE Riff Raff #??"}, {"response": 21, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Jun 12, 2002 (15:56)", "body": "Talking to Joe on Echolink is definitely worth the price of admission. He's one of our \"regulars\" now, all he needs is a Riff Raff Number."}, {"response": 22, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Wed, Jun 12, 2002 (16:18)", "body": "I think I heard Joe link in when I was driving back to the airport on my last visit down. Anyway, I picked up a microphone for the laptop today so will be able to test. I guess King George or Bob can give out the newest number since Buddy use to do that and last I heard he was in Dallas."}, {"response": 23, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Jun 13, 2002 (06:17)", "body": "I think the Riff Raff numbering list got lost when n1aac left town. Buddy might have a copy."}, {"response": 24, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Thu, Jun 13, 2002 (07:47)", "body": "Ok, got 'approved' for ilink and can now log in - will try tonight and various other evenings. 73 de Mike AA9IL"}, {"response": 25, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Jun 13, 2002 (08:26)", "body": "I just posted the new echolink software on http://www.repeater.org . It's the \"dot nine\" version that just came out. I talked to Bob Hearrell this morning, he was down at Padre Island and used to be a manager of several divisions of IBM in Austin. Neat guy. And I already mentioned the guy in Vancouver who is a union organizer and the guy in Honolulu. I'm working up a \"top twenty\" list of stations that we've especially enjoyed talking to on echolink. Too bad they don't have something for the swl'ers of the world, a \"listen only\" version."}, {"response": 26, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Aug 25, 2002 (17:45)", "body": "Debra and Mark Goldstein had a great party for George at their digs in West Austin. It was a nice backyard barbecue. The fish was good, the little boiled ptatoes were great, and it was a fun time for the guys on the repeater and George's friends."}, {"response": 27, "author": "cantorjoeocho", "date": "Tue, May 20, 2003 (22:57)", "body": "I know a lot about that Tarrytown mom that tried to get Gary Peterson hit. I didn't know that Gary and Michael both were ham radio operators though. It's amazing that you have two brothers-in-law and never know what their hobbies are. I was thinking about getting into it myself! I am thinking about writing a book about the attempted murder. You know, after she had Gary killed, she was going to come after me next!"}, {"response": 28, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, May 22, 2003 (09:08)", "body": "Details?"}, {"response": 29, "author": "admin", "date": "Sat, Jan 17, 2004 (16:30)", "body": "Talked to Jacob. Had a wreck. Heading to windsurfing. We talked servers. It was like old home week with Bob, Jacob, Mickey, Bill, and Bob."}, {"response": 30, "author": "cfadm", "date": "Mon, Jul 25, 2005 (10:03)", "body": "We're going to miss Joe Lloyd, G0PWE. Joe passed away a few days ago and today is his funeral. Joe was a steady companion on our 442.15 repeater in Austin and it's said he never got to make it to the USA to visit us. All those years of coal mining took their toll on poor old Joe. He was a great friend, a friendly voice on our airwaves. We'll miss Joe."}, {"response": 31, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Mon, Jul 25, 2005 (23:39)", "body": "Hi all I spoke to Joe and heard him a couple of times both via the internet and on the repeater when I was in Austin (years ago). 73's to Joe Mike AA9IL p.s. checked in on the repeater briefly last week while in town for work but didnt hear any one - will try again next time Im in town."}, {"response": 32, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Aug  8, 2005 (07:58)", "body": "Give us a heads up online next time. I'll get on the repeater if I know you're going to be around. radio conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 38, "subject": "Internet Radio Linking Project", "response_count": 5, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Aug  7, 2001 (10:34)", "body": "Submitted by Terry - VE7UP February 14th, 2001 Greetings from Vanderhoof, B.C. Hi, my name is Terry Paton VE7UP and I look after the Vanderhoof node VA7RDX of the IRLP system. Our node has been online for about 1 year now (Feb 2001). I first heard of the project from friends in Prince George who had installed their own node. After talking with Dave VE7LTD I decided that this was a project I wanted to take on. Working as a computer tech by day it was not long before I had a Linux box ready to go. With the help from Don Fraser VE7PGR in Prince George who helped with supplying an antenna and radio we were up an running in no time. Aside from a sound card dying the system has run flawlessly. One of the most interesting aspects of the system is it got me thinking about other applications and after talking with Dave we agreed to hire him to work with me in building a voice paging (2 tone Sequential) over IP system. It took us about 4 months but we now have a reliable paging network that covers over 40,000 sq. km. Several professional people have been in the area and have commented on the quality of the system. Needless to say, having the ability to enter 4 tones on my handheld to speak to other amateurs throughout the world has helped re-ignite the flame of interest in the hobby. I encourage all to get involved with this and other projects to promote amateur radio. 73 Terry Paton - VE7UP President - Nechako Radio Club http://www.vanderhoof.net/nrc va7rdx.sd91.bc.ca"}, {"response": 2, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Aug  7, 2001 (11:02)", "body": "Submitted by Ralph - N4NEQ February 9th, 2001 We joined IRLP and haven't looked back. We routinely are connected to other repeaters in the USA and the World. I am in Seattle and Vancouver right now and have used it many times daily to keep in touch with the folks back home in Georgia. Many of our users use it to keep up with transplanted users in other areas, and the nets we have are unbelievable. Much clearer and more responsive than the so called \"linked repeater nets\" using numerous remote bases, no IDers and hang timers constantly squawking from other repeaters, Just plain QSOs. This past Sunday and Saturday, in honor of several folks being out of their respective normal locations we had an ad-hoc \"reflector party\". The system was set up in a conference mode and over 7 machines in 3 Countries were tied together all weekend. Many new users were introduced to the system. There is a net every other Sunday night that has 15-25 systems up most times The system is so powerful, allowing simple DTMF controlled access to so many systems (50 nodes now- over 75 repeaters) that it is sometimes hard to figure out what time zone the other users are in or that they are even not local. This causes some interesting QSOs- like GA talking at supper time to users driving to breakfast in Hawaii. I can't count the number of local users who have been surprised to hear all the activity and joined in- to find that the person they are talking to is in Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, California, Washington DC or even in Europe. For me, it has brought the fun back to Ham Radio!!! I am always happy to discuss the IRLP or our system with anyone. The URL below will tell you more about our projects. Ralph Fowler N4NEQ IRLP Atlanta Node Owner Big Shanty Repeater Group http://www.bsrg.org"}, {"response": 3, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Aug  7, 2001 (11:26)", "body": "Submitted by Paul - V01HC February 9th, 2001 My most memorable IRLP contact was during January 2001 when I was doing the dad's taxi thing. It was around 5:00 PM local time and I had earlier set my radio to listen to the local IRLP (Internet Radio Linking Project) node. It wasn't long before I heard a station identify on the system, but I didn't quite catch the callsign. Being curious, I put out my call and got a response from a mobile unit in VE7 land and learned that my fellow Amateur was not too far from the coast of British Columbia. It was supper time in Newfoundland and lunch time on the West Coast. Here we were, mobile to mobile, talking from probably the most extreme distance that two Amateurs could talk across Canada, and on VHF at that (of course with more than a little help from the IRLP system). I have talked further distances on HF but with a LOT more in the way of expensive equipment, large antenna systems, and less than ideal audio many times. The IRLP contact mobile to mobile from coast to coast across Canada via VHF beat this hands down (don't get me wrong, I'm not dissing HF and I would be the last one to say that HF should be done away with in favour of the IRLP system). As one of the Central Net Controllers on the IRLP system wide net that takes place every other Sunday night, I have talked further distances on the IRLP system, with, I think, Maui being the furthest contact that I have made. I missed the German connection over the Christmas season, but, hey you can't be on all the time. It's projects like the IRLP that make Amateur Radio what it is, a great hobby. I'm not sure just how many people are involved with our node here, but I know of at least three fellow hams (besides myself) who are directly involved in the operation of the node. My contribution is donating my time every other Sunday night to be Regional Net Controller for our node and once every couple of months being the Central Net Controller. To Dave Cameron and ALL of his team that have made IRLP a reality, a great big THANKS! 73 de Paul VO1HC"}, {"response": 4, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Aug  7, 2001 (11:27)", "body": "Submitted by Tom - VE7TAJ February 8th, 2001 Aloha! Now that is a word that I have used a lot in the last two weeks. I planned a trip to Hawaii last fall and on January 22, 2001, it became a reality when I landed there for the first time in my life. There were many things I wished to see and do and I got around to accomplishing many of those goals. One of my main reasons for choosing Hawaii as a winter getaway was because there are four IRLP nodes located in the state. I had been actively involved with the Okanagan Radio Emergency Organization (OREO) in helping to make the VE7REE node in Penticton a reality but I really hadn't given the system a really good test up until now. This was my chance as I would be able to use IRLP to contact my friends back home from \"overseas\". I talked to about 15 Hams back at home in the Okanagan area. We had some very good conversations as I learned about the wintery weather conditions back home as I sunned myself in the 80 degree Fahrenheit climate of Honolulu and the island of Maui. People might wonder why in the world I would go on vacation to sit and talk an the radio when I could have fun doing other things. I felt that half the fun of the trip was being able to contact my friends while away! To think that I could pick up a handheld radio, putting out 1/2 watt, into a \"rubber-duckie\" antenna and, with the press of four numbers on the keypad, I could talk to folks thousands of miles away, with the audio sounding as if we were only a short distance apart! Yes, it is certainly possible to do this via HF but it would require more expensive gear, not to mention that it would be harder to pack in a suitcase! I did have some troubles getting into the Honolulu node in that I could not bring up the system from that end. However, the guys in Penticton and area could connect up to talk to me. The Hams in Maui were very nice to me and encouraged me to use their system. I had some great contacts via IRLP as well as in person with the local Maui Hams. So there are my views on IRLP. I was very impressed with the system and how it worked for me. Once you see this system used like this, you begin to realize it's potential. It will be very interesting to see it grow as time goes on. Tom Jacques"}, {"response": 5, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Aug  7, 2001 (11:29)", "body": "Aren't these great stories? Let's get busy and get repeater.org and our local repeaters going in this direction! Thanks to Donn for getting this going by emailing the Internet Repeater url. radio conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 39, "subject": "transom.org", "response_count": 2, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Aug 22, 2001 (14:43)", "body": "NEW AT TRANSOM.ORG a showcase & workshop for new public radio http://www.transom.org August 20, 2001 NEW GUEST NUBAR ALEXANIAN Okay, he's a photojournalist, but trust me, you'll learn something. Read his postings on documentary photography... and ponder narrative, point of view, authorship, revelation of character, ethics, creative spirit, interpreting life. Useful stuff for radio. Ask him about truth in journalism... or what digital camera to buy. NEW TOOLS COLUMN Our Tools Editor Jeff Towne says: \"Enough theory, this time we DO something, from beginning to end. This column tracks every step of a very simple production: the thirty-second promo. We load in narration and background music, edit, mix and output it as a finished promo.\" Check this one out. Graphics for Dumbbells. ProTools Free Unbound. INTERNET CONTENT RICHNESS BEYOND IMAGINING Hear the new Transom piece from two young first-time producers in Seattle about homeless kids and their dogs. Join our PRPD Internet session planning discussion. Read downloadable PDFs of essays from Studs Terkel, Sara Vowell,Tony Kahn, et. al. For all this and more, just go to our home page: http://transom.org . All the links are there. Drop in any time... Jay Allison Woods Hole, Mass."}, {"response": 2, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Nov 30, 2001 (12:25)", "body": "More stuff. all recommended... naturally. Read the Corwin quote below in light of modern radio programming practise. =============================== TRANSOM.ORG a showcase & workshop for new public radio http://www.transom.org November 29, 2001 * NEW TOOLS - Voice Editing in ProTools * Tools Editor Jeff Towne makes everything seem so clear. If you cut voice tracks with ProTools, come read Jeff's new column. I guarantee you'll pick up a good trick or two. Plus, you get to ask questions. Find a better deal for free, I dare you. * TRANSOM TALK - The Radio Rookies * The Radio Rookies of WNYC are hanging out in the Transom Discussion boards talking about their work. Listen up. \"...What I like about radio. I like the fact that for 6 minutes, or for however long your story is, you are YOU, and your listeners and THEM, and for that very moment YOU become THEM, and they become YOU, for 6 minutes you feel like a GOD.\" --Radio Rookie, Judith Rudge, The Bronx. * SPECIAL GUEST - Norman Corwin * Read and listen to his interview with Tony Kahn (see excerpt below) and then ask the Radio Bard of World War II for his advice. He's taking all our questions. Last call. \"At what stage is radio in its life now? Do you see it retiring to Florida and watching TV till someone pulls the plug?\" --Jake Warga * BENEFIT - WTC Photograph * For our \"Days That Follow\" section, Transom Special Guest and documentary photographer Nubar Alexanian has donated his remarkable downloadable, printable photo of the World Trade Center which many have requested. Nubar, in turn, requests a donation to the September 11th Fund for Joel Meyerowitz's photographic documentation of Ground Zero, a project which Transom.org and the Open Studio Project will be documenting in audio. * UPDATE \ufffd The Radio Exchange * Atlantic Public Media and the Station Resource Group are refining this darn good idea that could dramatically enhance the production/distribution relationships in public radio. Come read more at http://www.radioexchange.org and discuss the idea in the Transom Talk boards. Drop in any time. - Jay Allison Woods Hole, Mass http://www.transom.org ======================== At no time did they say, \"Well, tell us what your approach will be. Tell us who you'll cast. Tell us what the budget will be. Let us see the first twenty minutes of it.\" The first they heard of that program was when it was broadcast. Now what network, or even large independent station, would operate that way today? There would be a committee. There would be five or six officials, looking it over, and editors, and a program managers, and the marketing managers to make sure there would be nothing that would lose any listeners. --Norman Corwin, speaking about \"On a Note of Triumph\" produced for CBS in 1945 ========================= radio conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 4, "subject": "NPR - National Public Radio", "response_count": 18, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "TmrwDesigns", "date": "Thu, Feb 13, 1997 (20:04)", "body": "I love listening to NPR Terry- wonderful, in depth stories...it drives me crazy to listen to any other \"news\" updates- after I listened to NPR it was somewhat pointless to listen to only part of a story..."}, {"response": 2, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Sat, May  6, 2000 (22:20)", "body": "Figure I can wake this topic up.... Ive listened to NPR from both Chicago and Milwaukee (Wisconsin Public Radio) - Really like Wisconsin Public Radio more - they actually have topics of interest to those in Wisconsin with call ins as opposed to the Chicago radio which seems to always have the NPR feeds out of Washington or where ever they originate. I actually favor Pacifica radio but not sure if they have any distribution in the area. I used to listen to KPFT in Houston and found their programming to be very diverse and not just the 'Voice of the Beltway'. Other faves include WNUR out of Evanston (Northwestern University) which has a really good music selection as well as WLUW (Loyola University) These stations play interesting music that will never see the light of day on Top 40 radio and are very eclectic. I hope LPFM gets going so that there will be a real community voice. When I want news, I listen to the BBC or Radio Canada International. Mike"}, {"response": 3, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, May  6, 2000 (23:07)", "body": "You and me, Mike. News from BBC or Radio Australia International (very loud out here in the Pacific), but for music and interesting in-depth science stuff which does not talk down to you or snow you either, NPR does it as well as PBS. Perhaps we will attract Barrett Golding for some input - he is a big fan of Buckminster Fuller... but works for PBS, if what I read about him is correct...!"}, {"response": 4, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Sun, May  7, 2000 (11:06)", "body": "Put juice in to the Bucky topic, that will attract him."}, {"response": 5, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, May  7, 2000 (12:07)", "body": "I'll certainly try. Today would seem to be a good day to do so just in case he has the time and the inclination."}, {"response": 6, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Sun, May  7, 2000 (18:09)", "body": "Another radio station that I had a short listen to was KRBD when I was making a port call in Ketchikan Alaska - it was kind of neat hoofing it around town and listening to Reggae music on the portable. This station was part of Alaskan Public Radio - I stopped by the station store and picked up a schedule - seemed like some good local programming as well as stuff from the lower 48. I feel that a good mix would be 70/30% with the emphasis on locally produced programs and music. Although I didnt get a chance to, I would have liked to listen to some of the programming out of the community stations in Vancouver - I did pick up a program sched and it looked like a good eclectic mix of programs and music. There has been quite a stir regarding the LPFM movement recently. People/Groups would like to bring in community broadcasting and deep pocket outfits like the National Association of Broadcasters want to squash the push on the grounds that there would be lots of interference between stations. More like the LPFM's will be stealing market share with their unique broadcasts and programming. Although not 'public radio' in the NPR sense, there are shortwave broadcasters that sell airtime to the public - one example is WBCQ 'The Planet' on 7415Mhz which has a very fresh approach to interesting broadcasting - stuff you won't hear on NPR/PRI outlets. (Especially the shows dealing with black helecopters, the WTO, trilateralist, etc. Also, Radio NewYork International, Radio Free NewYork, a show dedicated to the use of tube gear, various call ins, music shows, etc...). Phun for the whole family! Mike"}, {"response": 7, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, May  7, 2000 (19:47)", "body": "Gonna check out the 7415 MHz station as soon as that band comes in with more than just noise. That particular frequency used to lease time to some really out-there religious organizations mixed with small eastern European countries which ground their political axes during the 90's and earlier. Looks like they still do from your comment about black helicopters and one world government. The were doing Art Bell world wide before Art Bell was! Are there any of these stations available on the Internet? That's about the only way I'm gonna hear most of them. Skip is lousy!"}, {"response": 8, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, May  7, 2000 (19:48)", "body": "(Mike, what is tube gear?)"}, {"response": 9, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Sun, May  7, 2000 (22:06)", "body": "Howdy again Im not quite sure of the web page but try www.wbcq.com or do a search on WBCQ. The tube gear show is all about vintage ham radios, repairing, operating, etc - one of the hosts is the Timtron who is pretty well known up and down the east coast for his AM ham activity. I listened to it once and there was a discussion about improving a Collins S Line receiver. Re the black helecopter shows, there are several shortwave broadcasters that spend 99 percent of their time covering global conspiracy/NWO topics - the WBCQ broadcasts have a bit of that since anyone can buy air time but I listen more to the home produced music/talk shows later in the evening. 3's n 8's de Mike Radio Free Cosmo"}, {"response": 10, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, May  7, 2000 (22:16)", "body": "Here I thought you were ready and suited up for SCUBA or some such. Ah...Those Tubes - how could I forget. Thanks for the link. I'll go check and post anything of interest...then check WRNO and other out of the mainline stations out there. Early evening (7pm) is the best time to catch them. 3's n 8's Marcia who is listening to Jawaiian music which is really pathetic"}, {"response": 11, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, May  7, 2000 (22:17)", "body": "Here it is http://wbcq.net/"}, {"response": 12, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, May  7, 2000 (22:18)", "body": "You'd think this would be unnecessary: WBCQ RADIO HATE SPEECH POLICY DATED MAY 27, 1999 1. WBCQ Radio shall not broadcast any speech which incites hatred against any identifying group or person where such incitement is likely to lead to their physical harm. \"Identifiable\" group means any section of the public distinguished by race, color, ancestry, place of origin, religion, marital status, family status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or age of that person or group of persons. 2. Hate speech shall be defined as any speech that promotes the destruction, in whole or in part, of any person or group of persons as stated in Paragraph 1 by advocating or promoting: a. killing of said person or group of persons. b. deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction, such as genocide. 3. This hate speech policy only refers to that speech which prescribes the strongest emotion of hatred. The hate speech cannot be an incidental byproduct of opinion, but must be willfully promoted. A client/broadcaster/caller on WBCQ Radio is shielded from the force of this policy if the alleged hate speech statements are established to be true, or if they in good faith form part of a discussion or opinion on religious matters, or if they are deemed to be in the public interest, and/or public benefit by the station manager. 4. The station manager of WBCQ Radio shall make the final determination if a violation of this policy has occurred. 5. If a client/programmer of WBCQ Radio is in violation of this policy as determined by the station manager, the client/programmer shall be afforded an opportunity to stop the offending hate speech. If this does not occur beginning with the client's/programmer's next scheduled broadcast, the client's/programmer's program shall be removed from the air and the program canceled. SIGNED BY: Allan H. Weiner General Manager, WBCQ Radio May 27, 1999"}, {"response": 13, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Sun, May  7, 2000 (22:39)", "body": "Probably not a bad idea for the disclaimer. These types of radio stations are for the community/people (or in the case of Shortwave, the world....) If I hear anything I dont agree with, I can always tune the dial up band to catch the BBC. I have heard a few broadcasts that push the risque limit but still do not match some of the talk radio garbage that pollutes the FM dial during morning drivetime in Chicago - that time is almost exclusively 'Mikes eclectic CD music show with DJ mike' which spans from Texas Swing to 140BPM techno. Depends on my mood. Sometimes I listen to the Loyola community/university station if the conditions are good otherwise I go through a stack of CDs. 3's n 8's DJ Mike"}, {"response": 14, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, May  7, 2000 (22:50)", "body": "Sound like a good plan all round. I find the more rabid on sw to be more laughable than anything else. And My set comes with two very efficient knobs as well as a whole bunch of preset-by-me buttons. I can change bands, type of waves being received, ssb or not...voice or music. No excuse for those being offended unless that is their aim in life (for some, it seems to be!) I'm with you on having the stack of salvation cds ( not in the religious sense, in the sanity sense). Unfortunately for us in Hilo, they have not yet put up the NPR repeater and with our two huge mountains, we do not get it excepting over cable with the TV signal... And, you cannot imagine the reel of cable you'd need just to drive to the store for bread and milk!"}, {"response": 15, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, May  7, 2000 (22:52)", "body": "oops, did not finish my transmission with my call - sorry! 3's n 8's Marci na Hilo Wahine"}, {"response": 16, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Mon, May  8, 2000 (19:22)", "body": "Hi there Yikes! Talk about remote broadcasts. Thats kind of like the radio translator service in Alaska - also in the mountain regions around the U.S. That stack of CD's kept me sane more than once during long drivetimes. (whatever sane is....) Re shortwave, yea, there is some pretty funny stuff on there - some of which requires a sense of humor and/or thick skin. Have not talked much NPR on this thread - might have to move this to community radio or shortwave (might be a good reason to start a LPFM/Pirate discussion) Ok, one thing sorta NPR-ish - thought of some funny NPR spoof programs: \"All things beaten to death\" \"Bar Talk with Drunk and Drunker\" \"This overly pretentious American Life\" \"Corning Edition\" (program dedicated to all things Corning Ware (TM) ) \"Fairy Home Companion\" etc... Later! (putting on Asbestos Anti-Flame Suit...) DJ Cosmo Radio Cosmo International"}, {"response": 17, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, May  8, 2000 (19:41)", "body": "*lol* (picking myself up off the floor and wiping my eyes)...they are brilliant! Now, take of your Nomex gear. (Intelligent men with senses of humor are incredibly attractive, did you know?!) Aloha! now that I have regained my eyesight and demeanor (well, sorta), comments on your comments. Yeah, sanity is always a relative term. Understood. Especially in life-threatening situations. Be happy you are not commuting on the Southern California freeways...I am happy that you are not! Yup! We're remote alright. Living on a 4000 sq mile island which is treated as though we don't exist until election time has it's drawbacks. Oh well, we love it and cherish it for those very \"virtues\" which make Honolulu's living on top of each other so repugnant. They will get the repeaters down the coast to us - was to be completed a year ago - also normal for here...*sigh* Super idea about creating a new topic. Do it and I'll meet you there! Lots more to discuss which is not NPR.... 3's n 8's Me in Hawaii"}, {"response": 18, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Fri, Oct 13, 2000 (09:21)", "body": "One of the most riveting pieces ever on NPR, about the folks that work in the Hunsville Death Row unit. http://www.npr.org/ramfiles/20001012.atc.06.ram 22 minutes of remakrable interviews. Contrast with the memory of Bush's grinning face a couple of nights ago when he held up 3 fingers. radio conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 40, "subject": "Austin Wireless Internet", "response_count": 2, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Aug 28, 2001 (00:58)", "body": "All of you Palm Piloters? Or do you use something else?"}, {"response": 2, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Aug 28, 2001 (10:05)", "body": "It wasn't really about Palm Pilots, it's mostly notebooks with wireless lan cards using 802.1 protocol. radio conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 41, "subject": "Emergency Preparedness in times of crisis", "response_count": 5, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Sep 13, 2001 (10:57)", "body": "Posted on the Public Radio technical disscussion list a short while ago: A friend of mine, Joe Perez, works at Harris in Mason, OH in the systems engineering department. He has given an excellent update as to the situation of getting several NYC FM stations (and perhaps TV) back up on running as quickly as possible. I thought those on the list might be curious as to what was happening since communications are not the best out of the city at this point: It's been a busy couple of days. As of this moment, we have three 1 kilowatt solid-state Quest series transmitters and matching ERI 2 bay 1/2 wave LPX antennas going up there on a dedicated truck. These are for WPAT, WNYC, and WKCR. Several television transmitters and antennas are also on the truck, which is headed to a secure staging facility in Jersey. Cablewave has sent a quantity of 1/2\" line along with male N connectors and N to 1-5/8 adapters. I also called Modulation Sciences this afternoon, and they agreed to send a pair of Sidekick subcarrier generators to WKCR so that they can get their aux services (a Chinese language program and a reading service for the blind) back up as well. WKCR's new studio is 95% complete, and in an ironic twist Richard had just installed a 1/2\" line from the tech room to the roof, and placed a 4' STL dish at the top of it. That dish will now come down and be replaced with one of the LPX antennas, and we will put their Quest transmitter in the racks. They have an Orban 8000 on site (which was removed from WTC last week and replaced with a new 8400) which will be used as the stereo generator. I do not have a confirmed location for WPAT and WNYC. As the situation progresses the story has changed from the WQXR tower to the muni building at 1 Center Street to the possibility of a sub-combiner at Empire, where there is rumored to be an open port on the master antenna. Our install crew in Manhattan is safe in the upper west side, and so far most of our customers are accounted for. Still no word regarding the TV engineers who were up on 110 at the time. One of them called his station immediately after the first impact, but I fear that none of them were able to make it down past the damage. I cannot even imagine what the situation up there was like, but I just pray that perhaps they got to the roof and managed to flag down a helicopter. Hal Kneller WGCU FM/WMKO Fort Myers, FL hkneller@fgcu.edu"}, {"response": 2, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Sep 30, 2001 (12:41)", "body": "Dave Hughes (dave) Sat Sep 29 '01 (12:02) 42 lines The radios are, by and large off the shelf. But the FCC Part 15 Rules limit the 'radiated power' from the antennas, not just at the radio. So one can, physically, feed the radios into large, higher gain antennas, and get much longer ranges. Which is against the FCC Rules. And one can put 'amplifiers' between the radio and the antenna, boosting radiated power. Again, getting longer range or penetrating (trees, buildings) power. Freewave of Boulder sells the Defense Department their standard 1 watt, 6 db antenna-gain radios, AND a 5 watt, inline amplifier, that kicks their range from 5-10 miles to 50 and 100. Because I was doing NSF controlled experiments for wireless for education, I legally used the amplifier between the tiny Hispanic town of San Luis, and 30 mile distant Alamosa, to connect up the school, free. (While US West wanted $2,000 a month to link them wired). But the school could not do that legally, themselves. After Clinton visited Pine Ridge Sioux Reservation, the poorest in the nation, wringing his hands about the 'digital divide', I calculated that I could connect up every single Indian family abode, wirelessly, free from the center line of the narrow reservation, at 10mbps (ethernet speed) carrying data and voice over IP, and feed it into the net, and voice US West in Rapid City, SD, for maybe $5 million total, charge maybe $5 a month per family to make it worth something, and pay running costs. And I handed the whole plan to Cisco, which had just gotton into the Wireless business and ladle's out millions (at least then) for grants, and suggested they do it pro-bono to show what could be done, not only domestically, but across the world, profitably for any US radio manufacturer, if the FCC and Dept of Commerce just pulled their head out of their a**. But they choked. So the same technology Hedy Lamarr invented in 1941 to help us win the war against the Nazis, and which is now being used in the guidance system of cruise missles, is the same technology that can link anyone on this globe to the net at ridiculously low cost (primarily the radio) and which is the same techonology I have offered in another item here in attack, to help defend us from chemical/biological attack. But there are none so blind"}, {"response": 3, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Oct  8, 2001 (18:22)", "body": "Thanks for this - Ihave been posting such things in Geo and in Radio 32. UIf this is really a topic for emergency preparedness, would someone please link it to Geo conference, please. I have much to add and will remove my topic which is similar. Thanks. I am unable to telnet or to ftp, even before I crashed Geo. Please someone fix it... PLEASE!!!"}, {"response": 4, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Sep 12, 2004 (18:49)", "body": "Author: Dave R (---.166.45.216.susc.suscom.net) Date: 09-12-04 17:59 For anyone with access to either an amateur radio HF radio (and ham license) or shortwave receiver, here are some of the frequencies that are currently being used for emergency communications into and out of the affected areas of hurricane Ivan. 1. 14.325 - Hurricane Watch Net - Weather and radio traffic into and out of the affected area. URL: http://www.hwn.org/ for additional information and http://www.hurricanecity.com for audio feeds (broadband best). 2. 14.338 - Addtional traffic for Cayman, Cuba, and Yucatan. 3. 14.283 - Caribus (health & welfare) 4. 14.300 - International Maritime Net 5. 21310.0 USB Health & Welfare (Spanish) 6. 21390.0 USB Inter-Americas (health & welfare) 7. 14265.0 USB Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio (SATERN) 8. 3950 Hurricane Watch Net (alternate) Depending on your location, propagation (signal quality) may affect the reception of your radio. An outside wire antenna is best but some shortwave radio's have antennas that will pickup even the most distant signals. Hope this information helps. Dave - Call Sign - AI9D"}, {"response": 5, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Mar  5, 2005 (13:56)", "body": "New and old radio technologies have roles in homeland security Mar 4, 2005 4:50 PM By Doug Mohney At the 2005 Homeland Security & Global Security Summit in Washington, D.C., this week, leading-edge ultrawideband (UWB) radio technology was side-by-side next to old-fashioned, but still critical, radio gear, specifically antennas. While UWB is one of the latest high-tech twists in the war on terrorism, there's a healthy demand for low-tech antennas that trace their linage back to the days of Marconi. Pulse~LINK, a start-up based in San Diego, Calif., demonstrated the ability for their UWB technology to send multiple simultaneous video streams in a secure fashion. \"Pulse~LINK is not aiming for the wireless USB market, but the video market,\" said Bruce Watkins, Pulse~LINK's President. \"We've got a much more secure and faster solution than Wi-Fi.\" Watkins had a spectrum analyzer operating in the booth and used it to point out the operation of Wi-Fi networks in the 2.4 GHz band on the show floor, as well as random RF noise from other devices. Not wishing to be named, a security analyst unassociated with the company at a nearby booth had identified five unsecured Wi-Fi networks on the show floor. \"They have the only secure network here,\" said the analyst. The demonstration network consisted of four nodes, each one constructed from the company's evaluation kit hardware and set up in a small \"pico-net\" LAN. A mixture of pre-recorded and real-time video were broadcast around the company's 20-foot-by-20-foot booth. Currently existing in bulky \"brassboard\" form requiring a double-height PC enclosure to hold a large PCI card, the technology is in the process of being streamlined and put into final form in a silicon chip set for incorporation into useable devices. Watkins said the chip set should be sampling in May or June of 2005 with \"commercially available\" silicon available in the first quarter of 2006. Currently capable of delivering around 1 Gb/s data rates, Watkins indicated that further improvements to the basic technology could easily double performance in the future. Watkins envisions the technology being used in applications where video needs to be transmitted from cameras to first responders and security personnel on laptops and even portable devices like PDAs and cell phones. \"You could have a portable TiVo,\" Watkins said. \"People would get the video downloaded [to their device], rewind it, focus on suspicious activity. It's an application you just can't do with existing [wireless] technology.\" Existing Wi-Fi networks don't have the bandwidth, he said, and it's more difficult to operate a secure application on a public network. Pulse~LINK's proprietary C-Wave\ufffd technology implementation for public safety use will be different from consumer applications, and therefore more secure. Around the corner from Pulse~LINK, CSA Wireless representative Bill Whittington was grinning from ear to ear as he talked about the booming demand for the company's HF antennas. \"With one of our antennas you can reach anywhere in the 48 states,\" said Whittington. \"Everyone had gotten out of the HF antenna business, so it's the only reason why you'll see [CSA] here. Who's going to do further R&D on a 1908 product?\" CSA Wireless got into the business in the early 1900s when Marconi turned to the ship-mast company for something to string his antennas on and started dedicated manufacture of antennas during World War II. Whittington said most people and agencies considered HF \"a black art,\" but computerized radios and the events of 9/11 had brought new life into use of the 2 to 30 MHz bands. \"You can have someone set up a radio to communicate over HF, allowing for factors such as time of day and what bands aren't usable. Once it's set up, anyone can simply turn it on and get dial tone.\" In preparation for potential Y2K \"bug\" problems, all state National Guard units setup an HF communications network. While there were no Y2K communications problems, the HF network was already built. After the 9/11 attacks, the National Guard Association in Washington D.C. used their HF equipment to communicate with personnel in New York City from http://mrtmag.com/news/homeland_security_technologies_030405/ radio conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 42, "subject": "ilink", "response_count": 21, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Feb 26, 2002 (07:19)", "body": "What is ilink? Here's Graeme: Having tried many ways of linking radio to the internet - I decided that it must have a few basic services. Users must be able to use it on a pc connected to the internet in a easy to use interface, showing which stations are active and where. Mobiles must have control over the link and be able to switch links quickly. There must be basic security features to enable logout, callsign verification and blacklist registration. The only system that came close was the IRLP project, but this did not allow users to access from the internet at all, and needs Linux to be installed - which I dont think many of us really want to do just to run a basic link , so iLINK was born in MAY 2001! Hopefully both systems will be able to run side by side as IRLP is 100% secure repeater linking. There are now many repeaters/links on the system. If you would like to set up a link or access to your local repeater goto the repeater keepers page. The software is easy to build or can be ordered ready built. Graeme, M0CSH."}, {"response": 2, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Feb 26, 2002 (07:23)", "body": "Here's what Bob Nagy set up on the 442.15 repeater in Austin: Bob sez: We are proud to announce that we are the first repeater in Austin to feature the new ILINK Internet linking system. It was implemented this week after a few days of fabrication and de-bugging of the micro-controller interface board. Here is the hardware: Basically, it is a NEC P-I 266 laptop on a 100 base T ethernet connection -running into the PIC microcontroller interface- which feeds a T-81a HT -powered by a lambda switching PS. The stubby duck only has to cover 1000 ft to the repeater down the block. The docs are really bad on this stuff, so it was not fun getting it going. The codes are as follows: 00 Random connection to simplex station 01 Random connection to Repeater -not recommended 05 Kill Ilink for 10 minutes * Play Ilink announcement # kill Ilink connection Protocall is as follows: If you hear the female announcer (at our plush studios high atop the quad towers) say \"Connected\" -that means an incoming station is connecting..please standby to listen for their incoming call. Turn-around is slower than a local QSO..so act like this is HF..take it slow. You will hear an obnoxious noise (ever changing) when they drop carrier. Keep your audio punchy and continuous... as we are on VOX going out. If you pause for more than 1 second, it will drop. To test if the system is on-line, hit the star. Before you hit 00, hit # to make sure the system is hung up from the last QSO. To get the software- go to www.aacnet.net. It's free! (the hardware costs though) This is a totally open system -as this is our policy. Please use it as if it was your own. Bob - AB5N - Trustee"}, {"response": 3, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Jun 13, 2002 (07:52)", "body": "Topic 37 of 53: 'Hawaii' Resp 307 of 307: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) Sun, Jun 9, 2002 (06:09) 15 lines I made contact with someone on Oahu, Art Neilson, his call is WH7N. We have a lot in common, he's a Sun administrator who is also in to FreeBSD. Website: http://www.pilikia.net/ We had a great QSO (conversation in hamtalk) on echolink this morning. I mentioned the geo conference and the wonderful work Marci is doing with her reportage of the Hawaii seismic/geologic scene. I recommend the \"Hiking Photos\" if you're interested in the Oahu back country! These are some great shots of natural areas."}, {"response": 4, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Jun 13, 2002 (07:57)", "body": "There has been a recent change in the configuration of the \"addressing\" servers on which EchoLink depends. When you start the program, you may receive a message about configuration changes. If you are using a version of EchoLink prior to 1.1.609, please make the following change to your configuration: From the Tools menu, choose Setup. Click the Servers tab. In the first box (marked Pref 1), enter the following: server1.echolink.org In the second box (marked Pref 2), enter the following: server2.echolink.org In the third box (marked Pref 3), enter the following: server3.echolink.org In the fourth box (marked Pref 4), enter the following: server4.echolink.org Click OK to close the window. Press the F5 key to refresh the station list. After a moment, the station list should appear. The correct settings are shown below. Thanks for your patience. Note: The names server1.echolink.org, etc. are generic names to allow dynamic server configuration via DNS. They are not meant to imply that EchoLink is operating or maintaining these servers."}, {"response": 5, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Jun 13, 2002 (07:58)", "body": ""}, {"response": 6, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Jun 13, 2002 (08:00)", "body": "New features of the 1.1.609 EchoLink Version: Current Version: 1.1.609 1.1.609 (June 8, 2002) Changed to generic names for default servers. Corrected two display issues in Conference mode. Added \"accept-only callsigns\" security option. Added name of conference host (after callsign) to conference status list. Eliminated certain additional conference-loop scenarios."}, {"response": 7, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Jun 15, 2002 (09:50)", "body": "This morning's connection: ah6ja harvey instructor at univ of hawaii electronics irlp node using this in the local communication network. motomura@hawaii.edu"}, {"response": 8, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Jun 15, 2002 (18:01)", "body": "Tony, VK3ATR (ilink 24344) has a 17 acre ranch at Mt disappointment near Melbourne Australia (at the bottom end of Australia). VK3ZTR Tony on a 17 acre ranch ilink: 24344. He worked in Boston, MA. He's in the computer business, rolling out Penpad devices for Australia's largest bank. Company's trying to move him to a new location, but he's resisting this. He might take his 6 months leave and find some contract work. He's great at product post-design. n0zpd www.qsl.net/n0zpd allows you to listen without talking with a reduced quality audio. It allows swl (short wave listeners) to listen in on ilink qso's. From Tony Wakefield's web page: http://home.primus.com.au/tonywakefield/ My interests include Ham Radio VK3ZTR (Voice and Packet radio), Electronics, Computing, Art-Painting and Stock market. I used to live in Nottingham(Kinoulton) UK and held the callsign of G8ATQ for 20 years. Suzy my partner in life and I own a small farm in Upper Plenty 50Km north of Melbourne Australia. I have worked in the computer industry for the last 32 years. Suzy is in to art and pottery."}, {"response": 9, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Jun 15, 2002 (18:07)", "body": "Note: My email address has changed to mailto:tonywakefield@iprimus.com.au tonywakefield@iprimus.com.au"}, {"response": 10, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Jun 15, 2002 (18:15)", "body": "That's Tony downing the pint of best bitter. His favorite tv show is \"Heartbeat\". He socializes with the stars in the series and stays in England at the series location."}, {"response": 11, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Jun 15, 2002 (18:25)", "body": "Hi, Paul corrections Tony, VK3ATR (ilink 24344) has a 17 acre farm at Mt disappointment near Melbourne Australia (at the bottom end of Australia). VK3ZTR Tony on a 17 acre farm ilink: 24344. He worked in Boston, MA. He's in the computer business, rolling out Pin Pad devices for Australia's largest retailer. Company's trying to move him to a new location, but he's resisting this. He might take his 6 months leave and find some contract work. He's great at product post-design. M0ZPD www.qsl.net/m0zpd allows you to listen without talking with a reduced quality audio. It allows swl (short wave listeners) to listen in on ilink qso's."}, {"response": 12, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Jun 15, 2002 (18:34)", "body": "He likes a little place there called Palm Cove, which has a nice beach. Cooks Highway runs along the beaches near him. Sounds like a nice place to vacation. He'd like to retire there and sell goods to the tourists."}, {"response": 13, "author": "vk3ztr", "date": "Sat, Jun 15, 2002 (21:19)", "body": "Hi Terry couple of more corrections. The Call is VK3ZTR. Palm Cove is 3000Km 1400 miles from here in Northern Queensland just north of Cains http://www.pdis.com.au/page5.html will give you a list of many sites in this area, enjoy the pictures. Nice to make contact today via EchoLink. Tony"}, {"response": 14, "author": "g7hvp", "date": "Mon, Jun 17, 2002 (08:31)", "body": "Hi EQSO is a great progam for the SWL who can speak in the rooms as long as a repeater or a link stion is not in that room. I wonder who Tony VK3ZTR likes best in Heatbeat ?"}, {"response": 15, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Wed, Jun 19, 2002 (09:57)", "body": "Greetings Joe Nice to meet you via ilink yesterday. I will be visiting the repeater now a bit more to visit and also hear what pontifications the great sage has to say. 73 de AA9IL Mike"}, {"response": 16, "author": "g7hvp", "date": "Wed, Jun 19, 2002 (11:14)", "body": "Hi Mike"}, {"response": 17, "author": "g7hvp", "date": "Wed, Jun 19, 2002 (11:20)", "body": "Hi Mike Yes it was Nice meeting you on the riff raff repeater last night I have my mat on the floor pointing to the center of the universe AUSTIN waiting for more teachings from the great SAGE GEORGE. Hope to see you soon Joe G0PWE"}, {"response": 18, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Wed, Jun 19, 2002 (12:36)", "body": "Hi Joe As I said yesterday, you had Screaming Lord Such on the radio and we have George. 73 de Mike HF gear in use: Hammarlund SP600 Collins R390A Racal RA17L"}, {"response": 19, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Jun 19, 2002 (12:53)", "body": "I fed some lines to Joe to pass on to George today. Like \"hook em horns\"; can you imagine that from an Englishman?"}, {"response": 20, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Jul 20, 2002 (18:48)", "body": "Talked to Joe, Mark and Debra today on Echolink. Mark's got to poke a couple of holes through his Linux firewall to get online."}, {"response": 21, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Dec  4, 2002 (12:15)", "body": "Has it finally come? Linux Echolink? What is theBridge? Thebridge is an iLink/EchoLink compatible conference bridge that runs under FreeBSD, Linux, QNX, Windows and hopefully most other Posix compatible operating systems. If you've never hear of iLink or EchoLink then this software probably won't make much sense to you. See: www.aacnet.net for iLink and www.synergenics.com for EchoLink then if you are still interested continue here. Features Compiles and runs on FreeBSD, Linux, OS X, QNX and Windows. Daemon mode program with logging to syslog. Forwards voice and text mode packets to conference members. Displays members list with indication of who's talking. Use GNU autoconfig tools for portability. Provides test feature to assist users with level settings. FAQ Q: How many users does thebridge support? A: That depends primarily on your connection to the Internet. There are no preset limits on the number of users other than the setting of MaxConferenceClients in the configuration file. Approximently 17k bits per second of bandwidth are consumed outbound per user. Since the usual case is that only one single user is talking at a time the inbound bandwidth requirements are must less. The current documented record user count is 63 on the K5JD server during the 9/11 commemorative net. With 63 users the bandwidth was 1076k bits/second. Q: Is there a Windows version? A: Yes. This question probably means you think thebridge is a DOS program and are asking if a typical Windows graphical version of thebridge is available. The answer to that question is no. Thebridge is designed to be portable and runs under FreeBSD, Linux, Mac OS X, Qnx, and yes Windows (but not DOS). I am NOT planning on creating a Windows specific version that provides a more typical GUI. Q: Is there any sound support, can I listen to the conference while I run thebridge? A: Sorry No. Currently thebridge only deals with the data at the packet level, what comes in goes right back out. The data is never decoded into audio. Thebridge is designed primarily to be a system daemon, that is a background system process that just runs QUIETLY in the background. You'll need a client program *and* multiple external IP addresses to be able to listen to thebridge. Q: How come none of the commands work? When I type on the keyboard nothing happens! A: The commands are entered from the EchoLink client on the message line, not from the host. i.e. The commands are for remote use (both by users and administrators). Unfortunately if you are running thebridge locally and only have a single IP address there's no way for you to connect to thebridge using EchoLink. You can't even run EchoLink on the same host as thebridge. Thebridge is really designed to be run as a daemon under FreeBSD or Linux. I need to do some more work to make it a bit more friendly to a Windows user. Q: How come none of the commands work? I AM typing the commands on the message line! A: All commands start with a period or dot. In addition the dot *MUST* be the very first character on the line. Try entering .Help, that is help. The commands work, honest! Commands were done this way to prevent interference with message line traffic. Q: The instructions say to find the file thebridge.dsp and double click on it but there is not any such file can you help me? A: Read the README a little slower next time. \"If you've downloaded the prebuilt version of thebridge (thebridge-x.xx-exe.zip) the following has already been done for you. Skip on to configuration...\" If you don't have thebridge.dsp you have downloaded the .ZIP file containing the prebuilt executables for Windows. If you want to compile thebridge from source download thebridge-x.xx.tgz instead. You will also need to have Microsoft Visual Studio installed on your system for double clicking on thebridge.dsp to work. Q: Who uses thebridge ? A: A survey conducted on 10/30/02 found 30 groups running thebridge, 19 running on Windows, 10 running on Linux and one running on FreeBSD. The record uptime was 29 days which is very close to the length of time that the version of thebridge they were running had been released. Details are available. Q: How do you debug thebridge ? A: I use an automatic source code inspection system to check my code before attempting to debug it. The code anomaly trapper (CAT) finds the majority of the bugs before I run it. If you don't have one I highly recommend that you download one. Wish List Time stamps for every message line - Rex, ORLANDO conference. Log the station call signs that log in and out - Rex, ORLANDO conference. {This capability is already present in the *nix versions via the syslog facility. The Windows version doesn't currently create disk logs} A way to 'allow' only certain stations to connect to the conference - John KR0Y. [Added in Version 0.42] Delay the packet transfer in the beginning of each key up lets say for 1-2 seconds to prevent bounce? Maybe a toggle with a milisecond control for the admin.... - Len N2"}]}, {"num": 43, "subject": "KUT", "response_count": 1, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Apr 17, 2002 (08:41)", "body": "Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2002 09:27:13 -0500 From: Anna Mangala Searles To: Kam Subject: The truth shall set us free. I support Kam's letter below - Dr. Singha's Natural Therapeutics has supported KUT in the past but will not be doing so at this time. I certainly don't want to stop KUT but I don't see any other way of waking them up to valuable community opinion other than by not supporting them. I guess phone calls and letters giving our thoughts would also be helpful. Please forward this to your friends. Kam has certainly not written this without much consideration. Thanks Mangala Dear friends, I'm sending you a copy of a letter I have written protesting the programming changes at KUT, and even more than the changes, the way they were made. In January, massive programming changes were instituted at KUT, and there was never, to my knowledge, any survey of the listenership to see what the people of Austin wanted, and I don't think this is the way to run a supposedly PUBLIC radio station, especially in Austin, where I think we still pride ourselves on being a community, not just an impersonal big city. I wish I had gotten this letter out sooner because KUT's spring fund drive starts this Friday, 4/19. (I'm writing this on Tuesday night, 4/16/02.) However, here it is, better late than never. I urge you NOT to contribute to KUT this spring and to let them know why you're not, and also to FORWARD THIS AROUND TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE. I addressed my letter to Ellen Wartell, Ph.D., Dean of the School of Communication. She's the boss of the KUT bosses, so I thought it would be more effective to send the message to her, and I also copied it to J. Stewart Vanderwilt, Director and General Manager; and Hawk Mendenhall, Program Director; as well as to many of the current and former on-air staff. If you have time, it would be great if you could also send a letter or e-mail. I left the e-dresses in this message so you can use them, or if you want to do it the quick way, the KUT web site is www.kut.org, and in the upper right corner of the first page is a \"Comment Now\" button you can click and then enter a message. Feel free to call me if you have any questions--440-1464. Yours, Kam ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: kamtree@juno.com To: wartella@mail.utexas.edu Cc: vanderwilt@mail.utexas.edu,hawk@mail.utexas.edu,jay.t@utexas.edu, eklektikos@utexas.edu,kamg@io.com,LM@larrymonroe.com, elainepink@austin.rr.com,paulray@utexas.edu,zow@io.com, tpittman@jumpnet.com Date: Tue, 16 Apr 2002 22:25:18 -0500 Subject: KUT Programming Changes DATE: April 16, 2001 FROM: Kathleen Magor TO: Ellen Wartella, Ph.D. Dean, College of Communication RE: KUT Programming Changes I am a long-time KUT listener and sometime member, and I am writing to let you know I am not happy with the programming changes at KUT. I have several complaints, which I will outline, but my main problem with the changes is the way they were handled. KUT is supposed to be a PUBLIC radio station, and you ask the public to support KUT, and in exchange there should be accountability to the public. I don't actually know who in particular is responsible for the changes, but I never heard of any listener or member surveys or polls to find out what the people of Austin want. I received one letter about the changes, from J. Stewart Vanderwilt, Director and General Manager, dated January 19, 2002, informing me of changes that were to take place less than a week after I received the letter. The letter told me about two new programs--Marketplace and The World--and mentioned two other changes that were being made, and then there was a schedule enclosed. The letter said NOTHING, however, about all the programs and personnel that were being disappeared. I feel this way of handling major programming changes is unconscionable. Getting rid of programs and personnel in this way with no explanation to the public amounts to a pogrom. These changes actually unconscionable. Getting rid of programs and personnel in this way with no explanation to the public amounts to a pogrom. These changes actually affect the daily lives of people who listen to KUT, and this autocratic, high-handed, top-down way of dictating a new schedule goes totally against the community spirit I and many others try to foster in Austin. I don't know why these changes were made, and there are rumors that you want to go to an all-news format and get rid of all local programming. Perhaps that's why you brought in new people from outside Austin in the last two years to take over the positions of Director/General Manager and Program Director. There were hints of this before when the World Music Show disappeared with no explanation, and when someone asked about it on Access, Bob Branson quickly evaded the question. Then, again with no explanation, the show reappeared. And what happened to Ken McKenzie's overnight program? That just seemed to evaporate some time back, and I never heard any explanation for that change. I will now g"}]}, {"num": 44, "subject": "eqso", "response_count": 4, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Jun 16, 2002 (05:39)", "body": "This is potentially a means for non-ham swl (short wave listeners) to tune in on ilink/echolink conversations. I don't yet know how this works but vk3ztr (Tony, our Australian ilinker) says: M0ZPD www.qsl.net/m0zpd allows you to listen without talking with a reduced quality audio. It allows swl (short wave listeners) to listen in on ilink qso's."}, {"response": 2, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Jun 16, 2002 (06:05)", "body": "Acutally, allthe support information is at http://eqso.org I found this about how to set up an eqso server: You need a fast permanent connection to the internet with a fixed IP, or, a dns2go type account. download and unzip the server software. Open up ports 10024 and 26000 on your firewall. enter 10024 in the server port enter eqso.dns2go.com in the web server box, enter 26000 in the web server port. this servers full name is the DNS name or fixed IP. e.g. repeater.dns2go.com, 2e1ehm.freeserve.co.uk"}, {"response": 3, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Jun 16, 2002 (06:09)", "body": "And there was this anonymous comment on the same board: That's how I got mine to work. However, I do have a web server running on the same machine that is hosting the eQso server and gateway as well. Just don't know (or don't think) that the web service is essential, as long as your ports are open, and some sort of DNS (dynamic and static) updating capability for your machine will do. One thing would like to point out, which I think lots of many users are struggling, is that you do not need dns2go.com's software to make it to work. Having dns2go.com will enable your EQSO server visible on the monitor. Otherwise, your server will be invisible from the monitor; which is kind of cool because you can keep your internet link free from compacted with un-solicited traffic. Unless you want it otherwise. EQSO is great! The best platform so far I have seen regarding to linking wide area repeaters. Linking hardware is minimal and is easy to make. The only thing I observed, and don't know if this has been provisioned in the future releases, is that there is no simple way to key up the computer from the radio link. The current implementation is via VOX, which in many cases work just fine. For some specific applications, a PTT type of keying method is more desirable. Great work from M0ZPD for what he has created. What more can we ask for such a fine piece of creation? Now I can talk with my friends around the world with my 300mW HT in the kitchen -- simplex! I have been on the EQSO platform for about a week now and noticed a significant jump on connected servers. I can't even imagine what it's going to look like a year from now. The monitor will probably have to be rewritten. ;-P Best 73's!"}, {"response": 4, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Jun 17, 2002 (08:26)", "body": "From Tony Wakefield: Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2002 20:35:14 +1000 From: Tony Wakefield To: 'Paul Terry Walhus' Subject: RE: enjoyed the chat on ilink Hi, Start the program \"Client_PCM0ZPD\" should default to room 101 and server repeater.dns2go.com port 10024 Fill in your call sign and a general id message in box to right of call sign. Click connect button Should see a list of active stations appear the one that is talking will be highlighted. Wait for a break and press space bar or click PTT repeat at end of your turn to go back to listen. If you want to go to another room click disconnect and change the room and click connect. Hope this helps The other programs are for if you want to be a server or gateway. Regards Tony radio conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 45, "subject": "Border Radio", "response_count": 3, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Jun 30, 2002 (08:02)", "body": "A great resource, someday, will be: http://www.borderradioshow.com hosted by Spring and created by Bob Nagy. In the meantime, I googled this together: http://www.spring.net/border"}, {"response": 2, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Jun 30, 2002 (11:05)", "body": "Students Working on Projects Related to the US-Mexico Border Region from http://udallcenter.arizona.edu/programs/border/directory/sociology.html These two students provided research assistance for the \"Radio Mercado\" book chapter and received grants from the university for their participation. We have invited both of them and Alfonso Morales to participate in our discussion forum. Kristen Burge--Ph.D. candidate, Philosophy at UW-Wisconsin Norma Navarro--undergraduate, Sociology Research Materials Related to the US-Mexico Border Region Morales, Alfonso. 1997. Epistemic Reflections on the Informal Economy. International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy 17(3/4):1\ufffd18. (Brief philosophical examination of distinct ways of knowing about the informal economy.) Morales developed a significant database on border radio and will apply for grant money to expand the database and develop the research to borderlands radio stations and Spanish-language radio."}, {"response": 3, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Mon, Jul  1, 2002 (09:36)", "body": "Hi all I actually heard an incarnation of XERA while driving home late one night - I only had AM in the truck and tuned around and heard the station playing the rockabilly/olde country/gospel format. The studio was supposedly in Dallas but the transmission originated in Mexico. I only heard the station one time. Of course, the usual late night AM fare was the 'regular' Mexican border stations with the dj's using an obnoxious echo and neat Conjunto music. I understand just a little.... No comprede, just a riddle.... Also would pick up a station out of Nashville playing music from the Grand Ole Opry, WLS out of Chicago, and a station out of Beaumont playing really fun Cajun music. 73 de AA9IL Mike radio conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 46, "subject": "pirate radio", "response_count": 2, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Jul  3, 2002 (10:14)", "body": "Net radio goes underground By John Borland Special to ZDNet News July 3, 2002, 5:00 AM PT Inspired by Britain's iconoclastic history of pirate radio broadcasting, Iain McLeod wants to save Internet radio. The 39-year-old McLeod, a game designer who works out of his home in England, is the author of Streamer, a new software program designed to let people create online radio stations that are difficult for the authorities to trace. Like many a Net rebel before him, McLeod says he's fighting what he sees as the big record labels' desire to control online music. Industry pressure, combined with new rules that will make it much more expensive to play music online in the United States, threatens to force independent DJs into extinction, he says. \"I've always been a fan of pirate radio and dislike badly used authority,\" McLeod said. \"How many U.S. citizens would actually vote for the wholesale closure of U.S. Internet radio if they were actually consulted? Approximately none of them, I think.\" McLeod's Streamer technology is just one sign that a large portion of the Net's Webcasting culture may be going underground or gearing up for a fight with copyright police. Three weeks ago, the U.S. Librarian of Congress set rules for the amounts online radio stations must pay for the rights to play music online. Nearly five years in coming, the fees fell substantially below what the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) had sought. But many small stations say they still can't afford the rates. Webcasting always has had a tinge of pirate radio in its genes. For every big business such as America Online's Spinner.com or Listen.com, scores of tiny stations with only a few daily listeners have defiantly broadcast their own all-Gregorian chant or bluegrass banjo stations into the digital void. A few of these have grown large enough to turn their efforts into small businesses. Most have remained labors of love or of the obsession that has always driven music fans. Under the new rules, this kind of passion will carry a price: $500 minimum to play music online plus .07 cents per listener, per song. According to a note posted on the AOL Time Warner-owned Shoutcast site, this would average out to about $7 per month, per listener for a hobbyist station. Already a handful of stations have shut down or are planning to pull their own plugs in the next few weeks. More are likely to follow, industry insiders say. San Francisco's popular SomaFM>, which drew more than a thousand listeners a day at its peak, went offline just days after the Webcasting decision. At the top of its Web site, which now gives news but no music, a short message reads: \"Killed by the RIAA. June 20, 2002.\" Tag's Trance Trip, operated by one of AOL's Nullsoft employees, went off the air just hours after the rates' release. Florida-based Good Time Oldies signed off June 30. Some efforts to combat the new fees are already under way. Reps. Rick Boucher, D-Va., and Jay Inslee, D-Wash., say they're considering legislation that would allow small Webcasters to continue. The rates can also be appealed to federal court in Washington, D.C. High-tech pirate tools Then there's the underground path. The technological pieces are falling into place for a pirate radio scene that flies in the face of industry's enforcement efforts, much as file swappers have done for years. What is far from certain is whether many people will follow would-be pirate broadcasters into the underground. As technology develops to hide Webcasters from royalty-hunters, it also will make it more difficult for them to find an audience. The technology to turn ordinary PCs into Web radio stations has existed for years. Shoutcast was one of the first simple packages to do this. According to statistics kept on the site, more than 2,800 people were broadcasting using Shoutcast technology Tuesday, with more than 47,000 listeners. Open-source technology dubbed Icecast allows people to do the same thing. Many of the hobbyist broadcasters who use these services are vowing to continue streaming in spite of the ruling. \"It's been my dream to be a DJ,\" said Pat Cook, a 27-year-old Webcaster from Harrisburg, Pa. \"I'm not letting something stupid like this stop it. If they want money, they'll have to come to my door to get it.\" Label representatives say they will come after Webcasting scofflaws. SoundExchange, a group created by the RIAA to collect and distribute the royalties to labels and artists, has an enforcement committee. It's not yet clear whether the group itself or member labels will do the enforcement activities, however. \"If people are not following the statutory license and paying royalties, it will be copyright infringement, with potentially severe penalties,\" said John Simson, executive director of SoundExchange, which is made up of label and artist representatives. \"If they're flying under the radar, who knows how long they can stay there.\" On their own, the older streaming technologies make it si"}, {"response": 2, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Dec 10, 2002 (18:35)", "body": "http://www.auschron.com : HOME: VOL.22 NO.4: NEWS : 50 WATTS OF FREEDOM 50 Watts of Freedo BY CHRIS WOMACK September 27, 2002: Radio activist Pete Tridish of Philadelphia's Prometheus Radio Project has been traveling across the southern U.S., hoping to spread the free-radio gospel by helping community groups take advantage of the Federal Communication Commission's new Low Power FM license. While typical commercial stations use 10,000 watts or more, LPFM stations broadcast at a power of only 50 to 100 watts. At a recent appearance at MonkeyWrench Books on North Loop, Tridish spoke with LPFM applicants and local radio activists -- many of them former \"pirate\" broadcasters -- about the history of LPFM, radio technicalities, and the kind of stations Prometheus hopes will emerge with the new licenses. When Congress passed the Telecommunications Act of 1996, nationwide radio station ownership limits were removed and local limits relaxed. A buying frenzy ensued, creating mammoth companies owning hundreds of stations. In response, a large number of unlicensed low-power \"pirate\" stations were created all over the U.S. by activists arguing that their actions were justified by corporate consolidation. Prometheus was founded as a pirate radio support organization, and Tridish says, \"We pledged to put 10 stations on the air for every one the FCC shut down.\" Among these upstart stations were the now-defunct Austin pirates Radio One, Free Radio Austin, and Rabble Radio, as well as KIND Radio of San Marcos, which still exists but has been ordered to stay off the air while a judge considers the station's legal arguments for continuation. In early 2000, the FCC voted to create a license that would allow -- and legitimize -- low-power noncommercial stations similar to the pirate stations. The activists believe they have effectively forced the FCC into creating the LPFM license as a bureaucratic fig leaf, because none had existed before unlicensed stations claimed space on the dial as a free-speech right. Yet a rider to the 2001 appropriations bill currently mandates greater frequency space between LPFM stations and existing stations than is required for full-power broadcasters. Tridish says that in using the licensing system, Prometheus' role has become \"to perform a little triage, to get as many good people through the process as possible.\" They are also hoping to defend the frequencies against further homogenization: Prometheus discovered numerous California applications from a group called Calvary Church, which they fear will rebroadcast the same programming on each station. \"We filed 65 petitions to deny,\" Tridish said. During a June 2001 Texas LPFM license application period, nine applications were filed for licenses in or near Austin. Bastrop, Dripping Springs, Austin, and Fredericksburg each had one applicant, while San Marcos had five applications for the same frequency. Only one application has been successful so far: On Aug. 7, the FCC granted an LPFM construction permit to Dripping Springs' Principle Broadcasting Foundation Inc. for the frequency 99.9 FM. Foundation President Phillip Sandifer, a music writer/producer and self-described radio geek, says it will take three months to have the station dousing Dripping Springs with 50 watts of \"various splinter groups, high school students interested in broadcasting,\" and anyone else interested in community programming. Of the big station owners and the FCC, Sandifer says, \"It seems like they're trying to do every neat, cool, fun thing except what radio was intended for in the first place -- which is provide a voice.\" Steve Maus and his son Brian came to Tridish's workshop to meet other radio activists and to talk about the equipment they'll need if the FCC grants the application filed by the Bastrop County Environmental Network for the 99.7 frequency. Maus hopes the high school kids and community groups they plan to put on the air will infuse radio with some variety. \"The state of radio is just getting worse by the year,\" he says. The National Lawyers Guild Committee on Democratic Communications paid for one hour of an engineer's time to help out with the technical details of BCEN's application -- now they wait for the slow grinding of the FCC official wheels. The lone Austin LPFM application -- submitted to the FCC by Our Lady's Maronite Catholic Church on East 51st Street -- apparently doesn't stand a chance. There simply isn't enough space on the local dial for the new stations under Congress' spacing requirements, which will force the LPFMs to use the fourth adjacent frequency from any other broadcaster -- meaning, a station that wants to set up at 99.9 could only do so as long as there is no other station closer than 99.1 or 100.7. (Commercial stations are limited to third adjacent, and can apply for a waiver to use second adjacent.) That's why Tridish and some of the folks at his workshop still like pirates. \"I think they're just as legitimate as they always were"}]}, {"num": 47, "subject": "My next rig is going to be a  . . .", "response_count": 2, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Jul  4, 2002 (14:06)", "body": "http://www.kenwood.net/products/index.cfm?AMA=open&ama_mob=open&radio=TM-D700A&selection=Amateur&ID=79 For current owners of the TH-D7A handheld with built-in TNC and APRS\ufffd software, the TM-D700A offers even more features and versatility. The TM-D700A is unlike any other dual-band mobile radio Kenwood has ever produced. The control head is detached and comes with remote cable for easy installation. The new radio also incorporates a 9-pin PC connection for easy hook-up to program frequencies and other APRS\ufffd mapping programs. Your TM-D700A is a full dual-band operation radio so VHF+VHF/VHF+UHF/UHF+UHF operation is possible. Full digipeater functions allow anyone to set up a digipeater location wherever needed to help fill in APRS\ufffd nationwide network. Internet gateway operation is also possible for world-wide text communication over VHF."}, {"response": 2, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Mon, Jul  8, 2002 (15:30)", "body": "Hi all The new Ten Tec Orion (DSP) is on my wish list. See www.tentec.com for details. 73 de Mike radio conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 48, "subject": "Echolink QSO Log", "response_count": 45, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Dec  3, 2002 (19:28)", "body": "I talked to VY1SK, Steve, in Vancouver who has a very soothing speaking manner. He travels the world giving talks, partily about ham radio. He's in Burnaby. He's under QRZ.com, and it shows his little minivan. \"The little van that thinks it's a 4x4! (It really isn't!) This is the little van that travels with my wife and I, as we journey to remote regions of Southeast Asia. We plan to depart for the Philippines shortly and will spend Christmas there. We work with student amateur radio candidates for licensing in the Philippines for 8 weeks and depart the Philippines for Taiwan, as the minivan is shipped via steamship to Southwest Africa."}, {"response": 2, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Dec  8, 2002 (16:46)", "body": "Talked to wd8cfs, Jack, in Hudson, Ohio between Akron and Cleveland, Ohio. He once lived in Austin and moved to Ohio when he was 17 (back in 57). He spent time in Killeen, Texas and Okinawa. He's just getting familiar with Echolink. He's 62 but he still remembers Barton Springs and the area. He's with an ink manufacturing company in Ohio for the commercial printing industry."}, {"response": 3, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Dec  8, 2002 (16:53)", "body": "We get a lot of folks like n3jmn who connect and never say anything. They must be having technical problems? Or are they just lurkers?"}, {"response": 4, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Dec  8, 2002 (17:22)", "body": "Talked to Bob, whose audio was very, very hot. kb6led live in Hayward, which is about 25 miles South of San Francisco. He's an electrical contract. 45808 is his echolink number. It will be up and down for the next few weeks while they are configuring it."}, {"response": 5, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Dec  8, 2002 (18:15)", "body": "Bob, the guy with the hot audio in Hayward, is still working on his audio. He'll get it! I looked up his echolink node number and it's 45808 . Kyle heard him on 442.15 and now he's all fired up to get on Echolink. Kyles call is kd5euo and he runs Red Hat 7.3 and also has a Windoze laptop."}, {"response": 6, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Dec  8, 2002 (18:23)", "body": "I see Joe, G0PWE, is online. Joe is 2416 on Echolink. He loves his sports, especially soccer/football. He's an ex military guy and loves the air shows. It's wintry where he is in NE England near the North Sea. He used to work in the coal mines there, tough business!"}, {"response": 7, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Dec  8, 2002 (18:29)", "body": "http://www.repeater.org/echolink/vy1sk.html is the link for Steve, the globetrotting guy who has all the gear in his minivan and in his Burnaby digs."}, {"response": 8, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Dec  8, 2002 (19:12)", "body": "Paul, kd6qdw , echolink 45655 , has a couple of good California Bay area repeaters. I was just now reading the mail as Joe was talking to him. He lives in the outskirts of the East Bay. He does refrigeration work."}, {"response": 9, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Dec  9, 2002 (16:14)", "body": "Talked to Frans, PE1LGF , Echolink 29011 . Frans is from Venlo in the Netherlands. For a long time we thought that Frans lived above a dress shop but we found that he is in fact a government worker . We like to kid him about pumping it up ! Remember the Hans and Frans skit on Saturday Night Live. He has a fine signal on Echolink, one of the best. And he has some great beer recommendations, thought I don't recall the brands he suggested specifically."}, {"response": 10, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Dec  9, 2002 (16:23)", "body": "http://www.spring.net/yapp-bin/public/read/food/11/since/-90 will get you to the beer discussion where Frans, Joe and I discuss some of the finer aspects of beerdom."}, {"response": 11, "author": "fransv", "date": "Mon, Dec  9, 2002 (16:23)", "body": "Okay you all !!!!!! This is Holland calling !!!!! Hi Paul its not posbl. to pump me up. I pump when i want to pump (HI) I live realy above a dresstore. I'm working for the goverment . About the beer : remember its BRAND beer!!!!! You have to taste it Ask George. Thanks for the signalrepp."}, {"response": 12, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Dec  9, 2002 (16:35)", "body": "I hear Frans has quite a view from his window of the town square, what are the chances of getting a picture of this view sometime Frans? I used to work with a guy named Franz who was married to a woman named Anna. But the spelling is very different. We used to joke about whether is was pronounced Frons and Onna or Frans and Anna (heavy midwestern emphasis). The guy was a great carpenter though and we built three India Import stores together in California (Redding, Santa Maria and ?). Guess it was two."}, {"response": 13, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Dec 13, 2002 (19:47)", "body": "I just had a fine qso with Franz, Joe, Bob, Bill and George. The \"regulars\". Franz downlowded the latest echolink and got it running. You can get it from http://www.echolink.org/el/download.htm It's got the cool \"explorer\" style windows. Bob went out for fish and chips at the place we used to meet them regularly on Airport. We're having our own fish and chips at home, but not quite the same! Google has some great new stuff. See Spring's main page for details, http://www.spring.net , scroll down to the end of the page, past the Ricky Williams gif. n5deb checked in earlier in the day and reminded me about \"guys and gals\" and promised to check in more often after I chided her a bit."}, {"response": 14, "author": "admin", "date": "Fri, Jan  3, 2003 (10:06)", "body": "Henry lives in Naefels, Switzerland callsign hb9ate and hb9irj Josef node echolink 40052 In a few days, Josef will be online hopefully. He speaks several languages."}, {"response": 15, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Jan  3, 2003 (12:34)", "body": "Buddy kb5elv 9534 is his echolink node number n3app-r Erie, PA Net on Conf is his repeater email Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV/3 | \"And if the ground yawned, Phone: (814) 455-7333 | I'd step to the side and say, Email: davros@ycardz.com | \"Hey ground! I'm nobody's lunch!\" http://www.ycardz.com/ | --Eddie From Ohio Welcome home, Buddy. Glad you finally made it. We have been speculating about when you would find your way back."}, {"response": 16, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Jan 14, 2003 (09:41)", "body": "I talked to Lars with db9xq listening. He's from Sweeeeden. sm7jma is Lars callsign. Kalmar is qth on the Southeast coast of Sweden very close to the \"long island\". His echolink number 26253. His email mailto://sm7jma@telia.com . . . I am sending email to Lars. He has his own homepage, http://fly.to/sm7jma . It stands for flying to as he's an old Swedish Air Force guy. He has a loud and clear signal. I will visit his home page and write in his book. I don't read Swedish though. I'll look at the photo album. He's popular on msn messenger."}, {"response": 17, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Jan 14, 2003 (09:47)", "body": ""}, {"response": 18, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Jan 14, 2003 (09:54)", "body": "Lars, I also have a Yaesu FT-51R and the same mount as you. No hf rig though. What is that book to your left, looks like something to do with flying. Do you have any amazing tales from your flying days? Are the Norwegians and Swedish peoples getting along well? What other hobbies do you have?"}, {"response": 19, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Jan 14, 2003 (09:55)", "body": "I never thought of using the mobile mount for the 51r in the shack, but you've given me an idea. How did you mount that? Is there some trick to mounting it?"}, {"response": 20, "author": "kf4eml", "date": "Wed, Jan 15, 2003 (22:33)", "body": "Hi! This is interesting. Hope to make more contacts. Right now I am conacted to node #71911 on Echolink. Looking at SM7JMA's picture, looks like he has an ht like mine (Icom w32). 73's for now. Jeremy, KF4EML Lexington, NC"}, {"response": 21, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Jan 18, 2003 (11:49)", "body": "Tahns for signing the log Jeremy. Hope to hear you on Echolink 44215 more often. Our link number is 11517. Good talkie. I have two of them but no good batteries anymore."}, {"response": 22, "author": "repeateradmin", "date": "Sun, Feb  2, 2003 (09:44)", "body": "Rich callsign g0owu echolink 65558 lives at Dudley Wren's Nest. The Wren's Nest is a huge rock. On the Eastern side of the rock there are seven large caves and he's right on top of the caverns. These caverns are called the Seven Sisters. It's all sealed off now. He asked me about using a crossover cable and I recommended that he use a switch or a hub to connect the two computers instead. That way Rich could add more computers later."}, {"response": 23, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Feb 22, 2003 (14:03)", "body": "Talking now to KC9DER, Larry, in Springfield IL. Node 82048. mailto://lhs@motion.net . . . he told me about: k9ke-r in Godfrey IL node 55580 which is the St. Louis, MO echolink repeater and it is crosslinked. \"Station K9KE-R serves the St. Louis, MO metro area via the 147.300 + repeater. It is linked to 443.350 + and 53.350 -1.7MHz. There is an open net each Sunday at 8PM Central Time. Please join in. Bob AE4TZ, will take check-ins via Echolink. I hope you can make it. This is an open repeater.\" Also, talking to k4olp who is talking to me and Dave, g0flx. I'll get my call out to k4olp in the next transmission."}, {"response": 24, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Feb 22, 2003 (14:09)", "body": "Interesting tht g0flx has a place in South Florida and k4olp is from Florida. G0FLX is node 7268, wow, low number, Dave! K4OLP is in Lake Okeechobee, Florida nad his node is 27144. \"Where else can you roundtable with stations all over the world and everybody hears everybody hears everybody else\"."}, {"response": 25, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Feb 22, 2003 (14:30)", "body": "The name was Lee and his node number is 27114. K4OLP in Lake Okeechobee. Jim, ka9dif, mailto://jedwards@joink.com or mailto://ka9dif@arrl.net directs the Youth Center in Terra Huate. His node number is 87025. I sounds like al ot of fun and very rewarding."}, {"response": 26, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Feb 22, 2003 (14:40)", "body": "OK1OGA Czech Republic. Node 69096."}, {"response": 27, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Feb 28, 2003 (11:31)", "body": "kd5fjf Rob in Bastrop. Disabled working at home. Talked to him the old fashioned way, on the repeater."}, {"response": 28, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Feb 28, 2003 (11:31)", "body": "Good to hear another Bastropian, Rob!"}, {"response": 29, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Feb 28, 2003 (12:31)", "body": "Talked to BO6MH, in Bavaria. Martin. He's near Munich in the Southern part of Germany. Kaufbeuren is his city. Echolink node 68848 F6DIH, Marcelle, France South Bordeux. Echolink node 68404. DK4EC Kurt. Berlin, Germany. His second QSO on Echolink. 89923"}, {"response": 30, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Feb 28, 2003 (12:35)", "body": "Bob, Pittsburgh, first time on Echolink. His call is kb3dnk and his node number is 85701."}, {"response": 31, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Feb 28, 2003 (12:36)", "body": "My node number is 48791 ka6atn."}, {"response": 32, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Feb 28, 2003 (16:45)", "body": "Joe Estrni, retired 87 year old past 40 years ham, equipment broken down Newmarket, Ontario VE1ELJ 73925 Ontario Canada"}, {"response": 33, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Mar  1, 2003 (20:52)", "body": "John Buckner. k6jjb. Patent Atty"}, {"response": 34, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Mar  2, 2003 (21:51)", "body": "Talked on the Magic Net on Echolink 55580. Godfrey, Illinois repeater k0kls kb9zjz bill tom ??zi granite city bob net control aa4dz kb9uce mark 2m wayne kg9me newslink ae4tz net control"}, {"response": 35, "author": "fransv", "date": "Sun, Mar  9, 2003 (17:43)", "body": "Today, 9-3-2003 no AB5N-R on air ????? To bussy with they new Mayor ???????"}, {"response": 36, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Mar  9, 2003 (18:03)", "body": "Frans, we are too busy with sxsw, South by Southwest. http://www.spring.net/sxsw is my page of the goings on and there is also http://www.sxsw.com the official site. I got a \"Gold Pass\" in exchange for doing digital video at the fest. Right now, I'm taking a break and catching up on my email, etc on one of the public Imac's. The http://www.austinmayor.com is on hold for a few days while I take in this huge event."}, {"response": 37, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Apr 12, 2003 (12:16)", "body": "Can echolink devices be used for running other audio applications such as VOIP over the net? Or speech to text conversion?"}, {"response": 38, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Apr 12, 2003 (16:09)", "body": "This is Pedja, I talked to him on Echolink while I was underwater in my pool using a special microphone and a crossband talkie. An old ICOM. Name: Predrag Supurovi\ufffd Nickname: Pedja Alias: Broker Birth date: 21.12.1969. E-mail: mailto://broker@uzice.net Phone: +381-31-510-030 +381-31-510-430 Address: Dimitrija Tucovi\ufffda 44/84 31000 U\ufffdice YUGOSLAVIA"}, {"response": 39, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Apr 12, 2003 (16:11)", "body": "Pedja, what does a web broker do?"}, {"response": 40, "author": "Pedja", "date": "Sat, Apr 12, 2003 (16:30)", "body": "Well, I am not a web broker, Broker is just my nickname. :) Term web broker actualy exists and it is an programming issue, about client server applications which use Internet for data exchange."}, {"response": 41, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Apr 12, 2003 (16:32)", "body": "Got, just a nickname. I copied the above picture you took, what is this of?"}, {"response": 42, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Apr 12, 2003 (16:33)", "body": "It looks like some kind of tunnel."}, {"response": 43, "author": "Pedja", "date": "Sat, Apr 12, 2003 (16:36)", "body": "That is photo from the tunnel in the Djetinaj river Canyon. That road is what is left after removal of the narow trach rail built in 19 century to connect Belgrate and Sarajevo. Now it is not used except by us nature lovers and bikers :) It is very lovely area, about half an hour of walk from center of Uzice, my hometown."}, {"response": 44, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Apr 12, 2003 (17:41)", "body": "It looks like some kind of tunnel."}, {"response": 45, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Apr 13, 2003 (11:36)", "body": "G3KLV Gordon radio conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 49, "subject": "Future of Radio", "response_count": 2, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, May 13, 2003 (08:29)", "body": "On June 2, the Federal Communications Commission is planning on authorizing sweeping changes to the American news media. The rule changes could allow your local TV stations, newspaper, radio stations, and cable provider to all be owned by one company. NBC, ABC, CBS and Fox could have the same corporate parent. The resulting concentration of ownership could be deeply destructive to our democracy. When we talk to Congresspeople about this issue, their response is usually the same: \"We only hear from media lobbyists on this. It seems like my constituents aren't very concerned with this issue.\" A few thousand emails could permanently change that perception. Please join us in asking Congress and the FCC to fight media deregulation at: http://www.moveon.org/stopthefcc/ After the FCC and Congress relaxed radio ownership rules, corporate giant Clear Channel Communications swept in and bought hundreds of stations. Clear Channel has used its might to support pro-war political rallies and conservative talk shows, keep anti-war songs off its stations, coerce musicians into playing free promotional concerts, and bully them into performing at its music venues. In many towns that used to have a diverse array of radio options, Clear Channel is now the only thing on the dial. Monopoly power is a dangerous thing, and Congress is supposed to guard against it. But the upcoming rule change could change the landscape for all media and usher in an era in which a few corporations control your access to news and entertainment. Please tell Congress and the FCC to support a diverse, competitive media landscape by going to: http://www.moveon.org/stopthefcc/ You can also automatically have your comments publicly filed at the FCC. Democracy is built on the idea that the views and beliefs of an informed citizenry are the best basis for political decision-making. Without access to fair and balanced news, the system simply doesn't work. And media corporations can't be trusted to balance themselves: news corporations have shown again and again that they're willing to sacrifice journalism to improve the bottom line. That's why we need many media entities -- to keep each other honest, and to provide the information and ideas that make democracy happen. Please join this critical campaign, and let Congress know you care. Sincerely, --Eli Pariser MoveOn.org May 8th, 2003 P.S. To sign up for a bulletin on this subject: http://www.moveon.org/moveonbulletin/"}, {"response": 2, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Jan 17, 2004 (16:41)", "body": "Let's start with http://accuradio.com/ Have you been there? radio conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 5, "subject": "community radio KVRX and KOOP", "response_count": 3, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "dgbaldwin", "date": "Thu, Dec 26, 1996 (11:45)", "body": "What freq. and what kind of programming?"}, {"response": 2, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Dec 26, 1996 (21:45)", "body": "KOOP celebrated it's second year on the air last week. The enticing Jenny Wong, station manager, is a good friend of my friend Bobs. Their success has been beyond all expectations. First year budget (from an article by John Herndon), was $20,000, between $70-80,000 the second year and will be over $100,000 next year. That's great support! KOOP is at 91.7 FM from 9 am to 7 pm weekdays, 9 am to 10 pm weekends. Phone: 472-KOOP. KVRX is on from 7 pm to 9 am weekdays and 10 pm to 9 am weekends. Phone: 495-KVRX."}, {"response": 3, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Feb 25, 1998 (22:03)", "body": "Anyone listen to KOOP? radio conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 50, "subject": "announcer pet peeves", "response_count": 2, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Sep 18, 2003 (06:51)", "body": "I disagree with three, because I might want to know the 2nd song in the set. Or the dj could say, \"you just heard xxxxx, and the set consisted of www, yyy, zzz, and xxxxx. Good topic."}, {"response": 2, "author": "aa9il", "date": "Mon, Sep 22, 2003 (16:10)", "body": "shallow corporate dj's that act like they are excited about the insipid music they have to play. (Oy veh, how could they listen to that crap...) radio conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 51, "subject": "web radio", "response_count": 1, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Jan 16, 2004 (16:42)", "body": "http://accuradio.com/ rocks radio conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 52, "subject": "Bastrop CEN radio 99.7", "response_count": 4, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Aug 15, 2004 (12:54)", "body": "The BCEN website is http://bcen.org but they don't, as yet, have any news about the radio station."}, {"response": 2, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Aug 15, 2004 (13:42)", "body": "http://www.austinchronicle.com/issues/dispatch/2002-09-27/pols_feature5.html is the original source of the Austin Chronicle article about the new Bastrop radio station."}, {"response": 3, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Aug 15, 2004 (13:48)", "body": "More from the same Chronicle article: Radio activist Pete Tridish of Philadelphia's Prometheus Radio Project has been traveling across the southern U.S., hoping to spread the free-radio gospel by helping community groups take advantage of the Federal Communication Commission's new Low Power FM license. While typical commercial stations use 10,000 watts or more, LPFM stations broadcast at a power of only 50 to 100 watts. At a recent appearance at MonkeyWrench Books on North Loop, Tridish spoke with LPFM applicants and local radio activists -- many of them former \"pirate\" broadcasters -- about the history of LPFM, radio technicalities, and the kind of stations Prometheus hopes will emerge with the new licenses. When Congress passed the Telecommunications Act of 1996, nationwide radio station ownership limits were removed and local limits relaxed. A buying frenzy ensued, creating mammoth companies owning hundreds of stations. In response, a large number of unlicensed low-power \"pirate\" stations were created all over the U.S. by activists arguing that their actions were justified by corporate consolidation. Prometheus was founded as a pirate radio support organization, and Tridish says, \"We pledged to put 10 stations on the air for every one the FCC shut down.\" Among these upstart stations were the now-defunct Austin pirates Radio One, Free Radio Austin, and Rabble Radio, as well as KIND Radio of San Marcos, which still exists but has been ordered to stay off the air while a judge considers the station's legal arguments for continuation. In early 2000, the FCC voted to create a license that would allow -- and legitimize -- low-power noncommercial stations similar to the pirate stations. The activists believe they have effectively forced the FCC into creating the LPFM license as a bureaucratic fig leaf, because none had existed before unlicensed stations claimed space on the dial as a free-speech right. Yet a rider to the 2001 appropriations bill currently mandates greater frequency space between LPFM stations and existing stations than is required for full-power broadcasters. Tridish says that in using the licensing system, Prometheus' role has become \"to perform a little triage, to get as many good people through the process as possible.\" They are also hoping to defend the frequencies against further homogenization: Prometheus discovered numerous California applications from a group called Calvary Church, which they fear will rebroadcast the same programming on each station. \"We filed 65 petitions to deny,\" Tridish said. During a June 2001 Texas LPFM license application period, nine applications were filed for licenses in or near Austin. Bastrop, Dripping Springs, Austin, and Fredericksburg each had one applicant, while San Marcos had five applications for the same frequency. Only one application has been successful so far: On Aug. 7, the FCC granted an LPFM construction permit to Dripping Springs' Principle Broadcasting Foundation Inc. for the frequency 99.9 FM. Foundation President Phillip Sandifer, a music writer/producer and self-described radio geek, says it will take three months to have the station dousing Dripping Springs with 50 watts of \"various splinter groups, high school students interested in broadcasting,\" and anyone else interested in community programming. Of the big station owners and the FCC, Sandifer says, \"It seems like they're trying to do every neat, cool, fun thing except what radio was intended for in the first place -- which is provide a voice.\" Steve Maus and his son Brian came to Tridish's workshop to meet other radio activists and to talk about the equipment they'll need if the FCC grants the application filed by the Bastrop County Environmental Network for the 99.7 frequency. Maus hopes the high school kids and community groups they plan to put on the air will infuse radio with some variety. \"The state of radio is just getting worse by the year,\" he says. The National Lawyers Guild Committee on Democratic Communications paid for one hour of an engineer's time to help out with the technical details of BCEN's application -- now they wait for the slow grinding of the FCC official wheels. The lone Austin LPFM application -- submitted to the FCC by Our Lady's Maronite Catholic Church on East 51st Street -- apparently doesn't stand a chance. There simply isn't enough space on the local dial for the new stations under Congress' spacing requirements, which will force the LPFMs to use the fourth adjacent frequency from any other broadcaster -- meaning, a station that wants to set up at 99.9 could only do so as long as there is no other station closer than 99.1 or 100.7. (Commercial stations are limited to third adjacent, and can apply for a waiver to use second adjacent.) That's why Tridish and some of the folks at his workshop still like pirates. \"I think they're just as legitimate as they always were -- as long as there are people that don't have a community radio station.\""}, {"response": 4, "author": "paul", "date": "Mon, Feb 27, 2006 (19:19)", "body": "Steve and several folks have formed a workgroup to pick up the pace on \"Bastrop Community Radio\" as Steve is calling it. The group is talking about doing an \"all podcast\" station with local news including high school sports, local news, and live City Council meetings. radio conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 53, "subject": "Don Imus in the Morning - MSNBC and radio", "response_count": 2, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Oct 20, 2004 (07:27)", "body": "Hot babe wonk alert. On this morning's Imus show. Fans and grumblers agree: Maureen Dowd's twice-weekly column on the opinion page of the New York Times is one of the most valuable pieces of real estate in American journalism. From that perch, she dissected the impeachment of President Clinton and won the 1999 Pulitzer Prize for distinguished commentary for her \"style, insight and faultless instinct for hypocrisy in high places.\" Democrats cringed at her take-no-prisoners assessment of the self-made man from Hope brought down by his own hubris. Now it's the Republicans' turn, as her first book, \"Bushworld: Enter at Your Own Risk,\" climbs the best-seller list. Just out from Putnam, it's a collection of columns framed by her quirky Shakespearean take on the Bush administration. The first section of the book, titled \"The Old King Is Deposed: In Which the Black Sheep Usurps the Dutiful Brother,\" opens with a 1992 column called \"Poppy Packs Up.\" A section titled \"The Regents Enter: In Which the Old King Encircles the Dauphin With His Trusted Counselors,\" includes the columns \"Freudian Face-Off, \" \"Bushfellas\" and \"A Babysitter for Junior.\" The relationship between George W. (\"43\") and his father (\"41\") fascinates her most. She has observed the two at close range since her days as the Times' White House correspondent during the first Bush administration (1989-93). In the introduction to her new book, she writes: \"With each passing day of the Bush restoration, it became clearer that we were entering the primal territory of ancient myth, in which the son must define himself by vanquishing the father.\" \"I didn't want my first book to be columns, but this was a rare opportunity,\" she said, citing what she calls the compelling \"story arc\" of the Bush family, plus what she sees as egregious behavior on the part of the current administration. \"The Bush administration had misled people so much that 80 percent of Fox viewers believed there was a link between Iraq and al Qaeda. When it turned into a dark, hyperpower, apocalyptic, bullying administration, it became a fascinating tale,\" Dowd said. \"I'd always loved Joseph Campbell's writings on myth, which is what 'Star Wars' is based on.\" (When you hear pundits refer to Vice President Dick Cheney as Darth Vader -- the dark father -- Dowd said it first.) \"This is the greatest father-son story,\" she said. \"They're going to be studying this for a long time.\" That would extend \"Bushworld's\" shelf life as an alternative history or, as Dowd sees it, a corrective. After Cheney's GOP convention speech last week, Dowd told CNN host Aaron Brown: \"Everything they say is the opposite of the truth.\" After getting an earful from eager-puppy pundits earlier in the show, Brown seemed relieved by her bluntness. \"When Bush said the war on terror was unwinnable, it was the first time he darted out of Bushworld,\" she said this week. \"But terror is a tactic and you can't win against a tactic.\" Dowd may distract with her humor, but those are boxing gloves she's wearing, and she's got a lethal left. Her coquettishness, which can put men, in particular, off guard, seems to clear the way for her to say what others are too skittish to utter. \"The son campaigned on 'compassionate conservatism' and a humble foreign policy,\" Dowd said. After he took office, she was astonished when \"he started blowing off the Atlantic alliance that his father and grandfather had worked on, instead of going after Osama bin Laden.\" Her style infuriates some and delights others, as does her free range of cultural references, drawing on everything from Shakespeare's tragedies (her college specialty) to Orwell to Hollywood comedies. A self-proclaimed \"equal- opportunity skeptic,\" she notes that the Clintons may soon be in her scopes again. \"If Bush wins, that's the beginning of Hillary's campaign,\" Dowd, 52, said by phone last week from a room at the Four Seasons in New York, where a handful of girlfriends were madly helping her groom for a post-convention TV appearance. \"I've made a lot of fashion mistakes,\" she said, noting that David Letterman recently asked her why she was dressed for the prom and Don Imus told her she looked like a Charlotte Hornets cheerleader. Her problem, she explains, is that she wears mostly vintage clothes, and that means floaty dresses and beaded sweaters. Her friend the New York Times reporter Alessandra Stanley had just called to say \"No Siegfried and Roy,\" which means no sequins. Dowd noted that to be safe, she borrowed a dress for the CNN appearance from her pal Michiko Kakutani, the Times' book critic. We had to ask: What are Bush's chances? \"I never make predictions.\" Did the Republican convention push him over the top? \"It was like watching a Doberman gnawing on a rag doll.\" from http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/09/09/DDGUT8L37R1.DTL"}, {"response": 2, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Oct 20, 2004 (07:59)", "body": "Correction, she's on *tomorrows* show. radio conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 54, "subject": "Jerry Chamkis - crazy like a spectroscopist", "response_count": 4, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Apr 29, 2005 (13:40)", "body": "From the San Antonio Current Jerry Chamkis may run conspiracy theories and hard science together, but there's no denying the gamma rays The first thing you notice upon entering the Texas Biennial art exhibition at Austin's Dougherty Arts Center, is a lush, throbbing resonance. Layers of synthesized sound wash over one another, humming and fading. These are not stereo atmospherics provided to heighten your appreciation of the artwork. The sounds emanate from a device called the Kosmophone, itself a work of art. Throughout the evening, the Kosmophone will produce an assortment of randomly distributed sounds, from trembling sitars to tiny blips, and every note you hear will surface from the depths of space, triggered by the most powerful source of energy in the universe. Mystified? Allow Jerry Chamkis, creator of the Kosmophone, to explain. \"The Kosmophone is a gamma-ray spectrometer connected to a MIDI music synthesizer,\" he says. \"[It detects] cosmic rays, very high-energy gamma rays from the depths of space ... these emissions, energetic beyond human comprehension, have originated in furious cosmic events that make our sun look like a warm cup of tea.\" Mystified still? Don't be ashamed. Chamkis, 62, is a prodigy of sorts, someone who began tinkering with electronics at a very young age, a self-taught \"amateur spectroscopist\" who obsessively measures radiation levels and would love to engage you in a two-hour conversation about the different ways in which radioactive elements decay. He is also an avid consumer of progressive media and a tireless chronicler of conspiracies, among them the U.S. military's efforts to destroy the world by scattering radioactive isotopes of uranium across the countryside. Chamkis - who is bald, wide-eyed, and usually talking - was station engineer at Austin's KOOP radio until he resigned in 1999. Now he develops and maintains microprocessing-based products from his cluttered Austin home, which he aptly describes as \"an explosion in a junk factory.\""}, {"response": 2, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Apr 29, 2005 (13:41)", "body": "In his own words: I've been an electronics designer for about 40 years and always include artistic aspects. For the past 20 years I've been building AERCO microphone pre-amplifiers which are held in high regard by sound recordists. For the last 10 years I've been building purely art-related projects in my spare time. There are three aspects of the Kosmophone that interest me: 1. It's a pretty good tool for visualizing the cosmic ray flux pattering in all around us all the time. These are the events captured by a volume of matter about the size of a fist so the constant flux through our bodies is some hundreds of times greater. Contemplating the Kosmophone has somewhat altered my view of the physical environment . I used to think of the atmosphere as a tenuous affair but now realize the column of air sitting over this 3 pound detector weighs about 100 pounds. The fact that our atmosphere provides a protective blanket is demonstrated by the rapid rise of cosmic-ray flux with increasing altitude; about 25 times greater at 40,000 feet. It has also changed the way I visualize the sun. I've gone from thinking of it as a raging fusion-furnace to a gentle golden glowing candle in the sky. 2. Since the distribution of the data are entirely random, they make for an interesting musical experience. The story 'Contact' notwithstanding, there is presumably no pattern whatsoever in the sequence of notes that are played. As with the million monkeys at the million typewriters there are short fragments of recognizable tunes but every note comes in as a total surprise with presumably no relation whatever to what has come before and what will come next. So in some strange way, it is playing every possible rhythm structure in every genre of music. I find it quite fascinating to listen for long periods of time and then find I have a keener appreciation of conventional music. 3. The particles that initiate the chain of events coming out of the speakers are coming from unimaginably distant expanses of the space-time fabric. Presumably these emissions, energetic beyond human comprehension, have originated in furious cosmic events that make our sun look like a warm cup of tea. It encourages me to mentally travel as far away from our troubled world as I know how to get."}, {"response": 3, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Apr 29, 2005 (13:42)", "body": "And from Michael Bluejay comes this: KOOP used to broadcast by sending its signal over special telephone lines to the radio tower, paying $330/month to the phone company for the phone lines. But KOOP didn't always pay the bill on time, so in mid-1996 Southwestern Bell demanded that KOOP pay a $750 deposit. The station engineer, Jerry Chamkis, suggested an alternative: Jerry would pay for and install a $13,000 transmitter system which would send our signal directly to the tower, eliminating KOOP's need to keep renting phone lines from the phone company. KOOP would pay Chamkis the $330/month that it had been paying to the phone company, and after three years of payments, KOOP could purchase the equipment for $10. Total payments would have been $11,890, and Chamkis would donate the difference in cost, plus his labor in installing the system. (KOOP volunteers also helped in the installation.) KOOP made its first payment to Chamkis in October 1996. A year later, a new Board of Trustees assumed control of KOOP, and immediately began making changes to KOOP's programming, policies, and bylaws without seeking the input of the membership (and ignoring it if it was given anyway). Thus began the struggle against the trustees that's the focus of this website. After a great deal of serious mismanagement of the station by the Trustees and their refusal to step down despite a demand by the membership for them to do so, Chamkis and KOOP underwriter Michael Zakes filed a lawsuit against the trustees in late 1998. In the meantime, the Trustees had not been making the monthly equipment payments to Chamkis regularly. Sometimes they would miss a month, and then sometimes tried to make up for that by doubling the next month's payment to $660, although in one case the $660 check bounced. Chamkis' contract with the station allowed him to remove the equipment if KOOP fell behind in its payments. After continued frustration with the Trustees' mismanagement of the station and their continued refusal to resign, Chamkis decided to end his generosity regarding the Trustees' default on their payments to him, and he removed his transmitter equipment on Tuesday, March 9th, 1999, taking KOOP off the air. Chamkis informed the Trustees that they could purchase the equipment for the remaining balance of $2484. He also offered to sell them his Emergency Alert System (EAS) which he had been letting the station use, for $1500. Board of Trustees President Teresa Taylor then directed Station Manager Marcelo Tafoya to file a false report with the police, claiming that Chamkis had stolen KOOP properly. Tafoya readily obliged and made the false police report. Chamkis then rescinded his offer to sell the equipment to KOOP for the amount of the outstanding balance. In the meantime, while listeners were calling the station and asking why KOOP wasn't broadcasting, Tafoya lied and said there was some kind of minor technical glitch they were trying to isolate. The trustees then moved to get KOOP back on the air. They asked KVRX to broadcast on 91.7 twenty-four hours a day until KOOP was back up. They then contacted Southwestern Bell and had the phone lines reconnected, getting the signal back up by Thursday evening, March 11th. The cost to reinstall the phone lines was reportedly $540, with the monthly charge being $173. (They cut the cost almost in half from the $330 it had been a few years ago by choosing to broadcast only in mono, not stereo.) This means that in less than one year, KOOP will have paid more to the phone company for RENTING their lines than it would have paid to Chamkis to finish PURCHASING all the transmitter equipment. And of course, KOOP will continue to pay $2076/year to the phone company to rent the lines (and double that if KOOP wants to broadcast in stereo). While waiting for the phone lines to be reconnected, Teresa Taylor sent a \"clarifying\" statement to the internal KOOP email list, full of lies and distortions. We address that statement here: \"Under the terms of the agreement, KO.OP has paid Jerry Chamkis $330.00 a month. To date, KO.OP has paid Jerry about $9500.00 for the equipment. On Tuesday, I asked Marcelo to research what it would cost to buy the equipment new. Marcelo informs me that new STL equipment can currently be purchased for about $3,500. This price goes up to about $4,000/$4,500 when the antenna is included. New EAS equipment can currently be purchased for about $1,500. The total current purchase price for new STL and EAS equipment is about $5,500/$6,000.\" First, KOOP paid Chamkis $8580, not $9500. Second, Taylor implies that Chamkis was ripping off KOOP by charging more than $9500 for the equipment when its true cost is only $3500. Taylor fails to mention that the $3500 transmitter is NOT the same quality as the more expensive transmitter. She also fails to mention that the costs of transmitters has come down a little in the last few years, but that Chamkis definitely spent $13,000 when he bought the equipment in"}, {"response": 4, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Apr 29, 2005 (13:44)", "body": "Jerry Chamkis pedals his pedal-powered PA system in Susan's honor. Audience from behind Marcia radio conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 6, "subject": "Is the Internet killing ham radio (and HF vs. Internet phone)", "response_count": 7, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "dgbaldwin", "date": "Thu, Dec 26, 1996 (11:46)", "body": ""}, {"response": 2, "author": "dgbaldwin", "date": "Thu, Dec 26, 1996 (11:52)", "body": "I think that the new generation of young people are anti-science. They have been taught through TV and Movies that someone who understands science or math is a geek. To get a ham license for HF voice requires learning allot of engineering for many of these young people. Also learning code puts one in the geek domain for sure. Finally, the kinds of conversations young people of today carry on is not allowed on the ham bands."}, {"response": 3, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Dec 26, 1996 (21:46)", "body": "Good points. Perhaps ham radio needs to integrate more Internet related technology to attract young folks. I wonder what the actual stats are like?"}, {"response": 4, "author": "McBruce", "date": "Wed, Jan  1, 1997 (02:47)", "body": "As someone who grew up around hams (but never got his ticket) I think it has much more to do with the general shrinking of the world and the lack of \"flash\" and immediacy. As a kid I remember listening in to conversations with Antarctica and phone patches during the Vietnam war. At that time (late 60's/early 70's) it was a thrill to hear those far away voices. Those voices don't seem so far away in today's world. Having a mobile setup was really something. Today you have cell phones. I think it's a loss of the sense of awe. Even back then I was considered a geek for studying code. In an active club my dad belonged to I was the only kid who ever attended the field days. What's probably happened is the kids who would be coming up in the ranks today are now hacking away at a keyboard instead, exploring and getting that same sense of pushing the technology envelope from their computer. Of course, the dawning of MTV didn't help either!"}, {"response": 5, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Tue, Oct 17, 2000 (07:49)", "body": "X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.6 [en] (Win98; I) X-Accept-Language: en Date: Mon, 16 Oct 2000 21:29:33 -0300 Reply-To: Telecom Regulation & the Internet Sender: Telecom Regulation & the Internet From: Robert Cannon Subject: White House on 3G Comments: To: cybertelecom-l-announce To: CYBERTELECOM-L@LISTSERV.AOL.COM >>> A Service of www.cybertelecom.org http://www.whitehouse.gov/library/hot_releases/October_13_2000_4.html THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary October 13, 2000 MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES SUBJECT: Advanced Mobile Communications/Third Generation Wireless Systems The United States and the rest of the world are on the verge of a new generation of personal mobile communications, as wireless phones become portable high-speed Internet connections. The United States Government must move quickly and purposefully so that consumers, industry, and Government agencies all reap the benefits of this third generation of wireless products and services. In less than 20 years, the U.S. wireless industry has blossomed from virtually nothing to one with 100 million subscribers, and it continues to grow at a rate of 25 to 30 percent annually. Globally, there are over 470 million wireless subscribers, a number expected to grow to approximately 1.3 billion within the next 5 years. It is an industry in which U.S. companies have developed the leading technologies for current and future systems. It is an industry whose products help people throughout the world communicate better and in more places, saving time, money, and lives. Many saw the first generation of wireless -- cell phones -- as an extravagant way to make telephone calls. Yet as with all communications systems, the value of wireless communications increased as the number of users and types of use increased. Today's second generation wireless technology increased services and information offered to users and increased competition among providers. Digital \"personal communications services\" provide added messaging and data features, including such services as voice mail, call waiting, text messaging, and, increasingly, access to the World Wide Web. These first and second generation services increased productivity and reduced costs for thousands of businesses as well as Government agencies. The next generation of wireless technology holds even greater promise. Neither the first nor the second generation of wireless technologies were designed for multi-media services, such as the Internet. Third generation wireless technologies will bring broadband to hand-held devices. Higher speeds and increased capability will lead to new audio, video, and other applications, which may create what many are calling \"mobile-commerce\" (m-commerce) that people will use in ways that are unimaginable today. Moreover, an international effort is underway to make it possible for the next generation of wireless phones to work anywhere in the world. The Federal Government has always played a crucial role in the development of wireless services. To foster the development of cellular telephone service, the Federal Government made available radio frequency spectrum that had previously been used by other commercial and Government services. For the second generation -- digital PCS -- the Federal Government allocated spectrum in bands occupied by private sector users, and ensured competition by awarding numerous licenses, while maintaining technology neutrality. The United States has also placed a high value on promoting Internet access. Government support for the development of third generation wireless systems will help combine the wireless revolution with the Internet revolution. As part of these efforts, radio spectrum must be made available for this new use. The United States has already been active by, among other things, participating at the World Radiocommunication Conference 2000 (WRC-2000) earlier this year. WRC-2000 adopted the basic principles of the U.S. position, which was negotiated by Govern-ment and industry stakeholders: (1) governments may choose spectrum from any one or all of the bands identified for third generation mobile wireless; (2) governments have the flexibility to identify spectrum if and when they choose; and (3) no specific technology will be identified for third generation services. This result will allow deployment of the best technologies and permit the United States to move forward with rapid deployment of third generation services in a way that advances all U.S. interests. The spectrum identified by international agreement at WRC-2000, however, is already being used in the United States by commercial tele-communications, television, national defense, law enforcement, air traffic control, and other services. Similar difficulties in making spectrum available for third generation mobile wireless systems are evident in other parts of the world. Because different regions have already selected different bands, there almost certainl"}, {"response": 6, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Nov  1, 2000 (19:43)", "body": "My biased opinion is that Ham Radio will always be necessary because of the fact that it is wireless and mobile. So far the internet is only limited in that capacity. Disaster relief work has shown me all too vividly what importance Ham radio has at times like those. Health and welfare is just one function."}, {"response": 7, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Thu, Nov  2, 2000 (07:47)", "body": "I agree, the tough part will be holding on to our precious and expensive frequencies against the onslaught of wireless devices like cell phones and mobile pdas. radio conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 7, "subject": "The Rush Room", "response_count": 2, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "wa5lhs", "date": "Mon, May 19, 1997 (19:40)", "body": "I think people take Rush too seriously. If you listen to him for the entertainment value, it works OK. I still start pushing buttons when he gets off on a few subjects or when he starts entrapping some little old lady liberal. He does push some buttons I enjoy seeing pushed, but I still don't take him seriously. jn"}, {"response": 2, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Mar 15, 1998 (12:17)", "body": "DrugSense FOCUS Alert #57 Limbaugh a \"legalizer\" WRITE A LETTER - HELP CHANGE THE WORLD A really incredible thing happened Thursday March 12 at 10:40 AM PST (1:40 PM EST). Rush Limbaugh came out *in favor* of legalization! Not once but three times. Many have long expressed the opinion that if and when \"legalization\" were ever proposed by either major party it would be from the conservative camp. Not only did he come out for legalization he said he believed that it was the only way we would ever control drugs in this country and that we should legitimize the cartels (somewhat tongue in cheek I believe) and capitalize on the profits and use the money for social good (a strategy some have long believed could resonate with the American public if properly presented) This was inevitable as Rush has been badgering \"liberals\" (his favorite target) about the fact that they were more interested in the money and power represented by tobacco \"prohibition\" (price raising to raise taxes vending machine prohibition, fining tobacco companies etc.) than the oft touted \"save the kiddies\" rhetoric. The dichotomy of his thinking vis a vis tobacco prohibition (which he opposes) and drugs was certainly obvious to most reformers that heard it. It was inevitable that he eventually come to terms with it. Now he apparently has. Regardless of how you view Rush this is one of the most poignant media opportunities of last few years for reform. Rush has 20 million regular dedicated listeners. Most listen 2-3 hours a day. He is the most listened to radio talk show on the planet and he holds sway among way more than a few powerful Republicans. In my opinion we need to put forth a concerted sustained encouragement to continue and broaden this discussion. Rush is on the leading edge of conservative politics and this could easily be a trial balloon to test the waters for the upcoming election and try testing a sea change opinion. I may be overstating this but I see it as a major _really_ major opportunity. Let's get to brainstorming as to how we can encourage and expand the discussion he has started. I have already sent him a personal email. For starters I suggest every member of ARO do the same if at all possible. *************************************************************************** PLEASE SEND US A COPY OF YOUR LETTER TO RUSH Please post your letters to the MAPTalk list if you are subscribed, or return a copy to me at this address by simply hitting REPLY to this FOCUS Alert or emailing to MGreer@mapinc.org THREE REASONS WHY THIS IS _VERY_ IMPORTANT 1) This is how we track and measure our success and impress potential funders. 2) Your letter will be posted - It will help motivate others to follow suit. 3) You efforts provide an example - giving others ideas on what to write about. ***************************************************************************** CONTACT INFO Please email Rush at Rush@eibnet.com Friday is \"open lines\" in which he allow talk on any subject. We should try to get a concerted call in effort going both Friday 3/13 and Friday 3/20 as well as all next week. Rush H. Limbaugh ELI BALD 17th Floor 2 Penn Plaza New York NY 10121 800 282-2882 Call in line to go on air 800457-4141 subscriptions to newsletter B Snarly Screener AB 212 613-3800 212 955-9222 Fax? If you can't get the show locally you can listen to Rush via the Internet using RealAudio. The following stations apparently carry the Rush Limbaugh show on RealAudio: (NOTE: THE STATIONS BELOW ARE ALL LINKS ON THE FOLLOWING WEB PAGE WHERE THE SHOW CAN BE LISTENED TO ON REAL AUDIO) http://www.gvn.net/~creative/rush/rushadio.htm WTAW, College Station, Texas Winston-Salem, NC. KFI, Los Angeles KLVI, Beaumont, Texas . WSYR, U of Syracuse New York . WBAL, Baltimore . WPSL, Port St. Lucie, FL . WIBC, Indianapolis, Indiana . K GUM Agana, Guam (May be best for you WESTAR folks...) I know, they say they don't carry the show on RealAudio. Some of them do not allow new connections to be made while the Rush Limbaugh program is running. However, in many cases it has been possible to connect to the Real Audio server a few minutes BEFORE Rush goes on the air; then you can remain connected during the show itself. Please give it a try, and advise me how well it works! Remember also that each Real Audio server has a maximum capacity, and enough people have emailed me asking how to get Rush on Real Audio to max out those servers several times over. If one doesn't work, try another. Trust me on this; it DOES work. \"Dan & Carol Ellis\" report: Hi Ken, You can catch Rush on the Internet live at WTAW, College Station, Texas. the URL is: www.radio.audionet.com/radio/Sports/WTAW/. You can get them on Real Audio from the web site. Rush is on at Noon EST. I'm listening to him now. Hope this is some help. This station also carries G. Gordon Lid and some other conservative talk show hosts as well as sports.PLEASE FORWARD ______________________________________________ There is a live chat on-lin"}]}, {"num": 8, "subject": "SWL - Short Wave Listening", "response_count": 22, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Aug  5, 1999 (14:15)", "body": "I cannot believe there is nothing yet written in this topic. I will soon change that. I get all of my news and information and entertainment via shortwave radio. BBc, Deutche Welle, Radio Australia and Radio New Zealand are the ones I use the most. Radio OZ had the best coverage of the Olympics in Atlanta, so I listened to their commentary under my pillow all night. At the end of the run, I wrote to them thanking them for such pleasant and unbiased professionalism. They read my letter in entirely ove the radio, and I was stunned and delighted. The world of short wave is exciting and immediate. Don't let the US controlled national press determine your values. Get a cheap (or quite expensive)set and open your mind. I currently have 4 receivers in various locations throughout the house, and a 60 trap dipole antenna on the roof to catch the signals. My pride and joy, a Drake R8A was stolen while on the mainland, and I cannot afford to replace it, yet."}, {"response": 2, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Aug  5, 1999 (14:22)", "body": "A good idea for beginners is to DX (hunt and seek) stations - evenings are the best - and keep a log of the station, the frequency and the hour. Each hour. Frequencies change from hour to hour, and also from month to month. I kept an hourly log for three years running until I could pretty well tell where I could best receive the best signal for the station I wanted. Another suggestion is to learn GMT for your area. I keep one clock set to that as that is the world standard for broadcasting. (It is 2 m in Hawaii when GMT turns a day ahead for their midnight!) If a station says it will broadcast something in which you are interested, they will say the day and at \"oh-two-hundred-hours\" If they said Saturday, I tune in at 4pm Friday."}, {"response": 3, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Aug  5, 1999 (19:53)", "body": "\"under your pillow\" My grandpa had one of those under the pillow speakers. In fact, I have one too in my box of odds and ends. Some day, if I ever get flush, I'll get a sw receiver, probably the Yaesu FT-100 which is also a ham rig for hf, uhf and vhf. It receives and transmits on just about any frequency you can imagine."}, {"response": 4, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Aug  5, 1999 (20:06)", "body": "*Drool*....*puddle*....Yes, I know it well! My Dad was a ham, and how it bypassed me I do not know, but I was the little kid who climbed trees to put the antennas high enough. I expext to hear you on the EME contests, then."}, {"response": 5, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Aug  6, 1999 (09:50)", "body": "This weekend is the big summerfest. See http://www.repeater.org I may pick up an old sw receiver if there's one cheap."}, {"response": 6, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Aug  6, 1999 (11:46)", "body": "And, for anyone else who is new to the craft, be sure your new acquisition has a BFO on it or you will not be able to understand what is being said. Good luck, Terry - let us know what you find!"}, {"response": 7, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Aug  8, 1999 (08:15)", "body": "Well, I found a used Yaesu FT-100 with the matching tunable antenna at the Swap Meet and hooked it up in the car. It works great! And the one touch tuning is awesome. I talked to a guy in Florida this morning on it. Features Frequency coverage: RX :100 kHz - 970 MHZ (Cellular/digital telephone freqencies are blocked) TX : 160~6 Meters, 2-Meters, 70 CM Power output: HF/50 MHz 100W , 2-Meters 50W , 70 CM 20W All Mode Operation: SSB, CW, AM, FM, AFSK, Packet (1200/9600 bps) Detachable and Remoteable Front Panel DSP Bandpass Filter, Notch Filter and Noise Reduction IF Noise Blanker IF Shift Optional 6 kHz, 500 Hz, 300 Hz IF Filters Two Antenna Jacks (HF/50 and 144/430) VOX Dual VFOs Built-in Electronic Memory Keyer Speech Processor Built-in CTCSS Encode/ DCS (Digital Coded Squelch) Automatic Repeater Shift (ARS) 300 Memory Channels Quick Memory Bank (QMB) Smart SearchTM Automatic Memory Channel Loading System Auto-Range Transpond System (ARTS ) Bright LCD with Multi-Function Display Menu Compatible with optional ATAS-100 Active-Tuning Antenna System Optional FC-20 External Automatic Antenna Tuner"}, {"response": 8, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Aug  8, 1999 (13:08)", "body": "Terry, What freq's do you usually use and what is your call? I'd love to be able to hear you sometime. (Salivating big time over your rig...)"}, {"response": 9, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Aug  8, 1999 (13:12)", "body": "Oh, and voice or cw? Just reread the specs on your Yaesu. 73's Marcia"}, {"response": 10, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Aug 10, 1999 (10:21)", "body": "My call is ka6atn and I've been hanging around on 7278 while I travel to town in the mornings and evenings. That band seems to be the most alive. You can probably here me there at those times. 7 am CST and 5-6 pm CST."}, {"response": 11, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Aug 10, 1999 (17:29)", "body": "Thanks for the info. Those times make interesting problems. Propagation is still not what I was hoping it would be, and anything above 14MHz is so noisy it is not usable. 7am is 2am in Hawaii (we are 5 hours behind you now) and 5-6pm translates to noon-1pm (not the best time for that band, even with local calls). However, that will not keep me from trying."}, {"response": 12, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, Aug 14, 1999 (21:30)", "body": "For commentary about what one watt can do for an eclipse from a fellow Hilo, Hawaii resident, check http://www.spring.net/yapp-bin/restricted/read/Geo/1.59 . He gave the socked-in dwellers at sea level a running commentary of the eclipse which was remarkable in the least and thrilling to those fortunate enough to listen."}, {"response": 13, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Jan  7, 2000 (19:05)", "body": "Progagation reports and such should more properly go here than elsewhere? Terry, where should I post them? For today this is the report and a fascinating link: SFI=150 | A=11 | K=1 down from 3 at 0000 on 8 January. SAF: low, GMF: quiet to unsettled Aurora Level: 6 More: http://hfradio.org/propagation.html"}, {"response": 14, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Jan  7, 2000 (22:03)", "body": "Amazingly, I was surfing for more sw things to post and found the Cedar Creek Chapter of the ARRL and an image of the array (no two use the same beam of course) Which one is yours???"}, {"response": 15, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, Jan  8, 2000 (11:08)", "body": "SFI=150 | A=11 | K=2 up from 1 at 0900 on 8 January. SAF: low, GMF: quiet to unsettled. Aurora Level: 4. More: http://hfradio.org/propagation.html"}, {"response": 16, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Jan  9, 2000 (18:46)", "body": "SFI=155 | A=4 | K=0 down from 1 at 0900 on 9 January. SAF: low, GMF: quiet Aurora Level: 3 SFI=161 up from 155 | A=2 down from 4 | K=0 down from 1 at 2100 on 9 January. SAF: low, GMF: quiet to unsettled Aurora Level: 3 SFI=161 | A=1 down from 2 | K=0 at 0000 on 10 January. SAF: low, GMF: quiet to unsettled Aurora Level: 5 More: http://hfradio.org/propagation.html"}, {"response": 17, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Jan 13, 2000 (15:20)", "body": "Should be excellent DX-ing this weekend: SFI=196 | A=8 | K=2 down from 3 at 1800 on 13 January. SAF: moderate, GMF: quiet to unsettled Aurora Level: 6 SB DX ARL ARLD002 ARLD002 DX news This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by Tedd, KB8NW, the OPDX Bulletin, 425DXnews, The Daily DX, DXNL and Contest Corral from QST. Thanks to all. ROTUMA ISLAND, 3D2. Tony, 3D2AG/p, is still on the island and can often be found on 28025 or 28495 kHz starting at 2000z. SWAZILAND, 3DA0. Andre, 3DA0WPX, is QRV on 20 meters usually between 1700 and 0000z. QSL via ZS6WPX. VIETNAM, 3W. Park, HL1ACP, is QRV as 3W6AP. QSL via HL2AQN. TANZANIA, 5H. Chris, ZS5IR, is QRV as 5H9IR from Geita, using mostly CW and SSB on 80 to 10 meters. QSL via ZS6EZ. MALDIVES, 8Q. Ronald, PA3EWP, and Rob, PA5ET, are QRV as 8Q7WP and 8Q7ET, respectively, from Kuramanthi, IOTA AS-013, until January 18. Activity is on 80 to 10 meters. QSL both calls via PA5ET. CHILE, CE. Raul, CE3RR, is active on 29600 kHz using FM. ETHIOPIA, ET. Peter, ET3BN, is occasionally QRV on 30 meters at 0500z. MAYOTTE ISLAND, FH. Christian, 6W1QV, is QRV for five months as FH/TU5AX. Activity is on 40 to 6 meters. QSL via F5OGL. MIDWAY ISLAND, KH4. Paul, NZ7Q/KH4, is QRV for two more months using CW on all bands. QSL via N6ZVA. FRANZ JOSEF LAND, R1FJ. Nick, R1FJV, is QRV daily on 20, 15, 12 and 10 meters. He is here until December 31, 2001. QSL via UA3AGS. ANTARCTICA. Mike, RW1AI, is active as R1ANP from Progress Base until the end of March. QSL via NT2X. POLAND, SP. Special Event station HF70PZK is active to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Polish IARU member society. QSL via SP3CW. EASTERN KIRIBATI, T32. Look for T32DA near 14250 kHz from 0300 to 0600z. QSL via W4ZYV. PITCAIRN ISLAND, VP6. Jukka, OH2BR, will be QRV as VP6BR, and will be active on 160 to 10 meters, including the newer bands, using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL to home call. MYANMAR, XZ. 24 members of the Arizona DX Association are QRV as XZ0A from Thahtay Kyun until February 6. Look for CW, SSB and RTTY activity on 160 to 6 meters. QSL via W1XT. THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The North American Phone QSO Party, 2000 CW QRP Contest and the Hunting Lions in the Air Contest are all scheduled for this weekend. Please see January QST, page 100 for details"}, {"response": 18, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Jan 13, 2000 (22:15)", "body": "For the first time in ages and ages the solar flux is over 200! SFI=202 | A=12 | K=3 up from 1 at 0300 on 14 January. SAF: low to moderate, GMF: quiet to unsettled Aurora Level: 7 More: http://hfradio.org/propagation.html"}, {"response": 19, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Jan 14, 2000 (12:11)", "body": "SB PROP ARL ARLP002 - ARLP002 Propagation de K7VVV Sunspot activity and solar flux were up over the past week. Average solar flux rose over 30 points to 163.8 and average daily sunspot number was up over 50 points to 136.6 compared to the previous week. Geomagnetic conditions were quieter over the past week. This is important for good HF propagation, because higher geomagnetic activity (reflected in the daily A index and the K index measured every three hours) results in higher absorption of HF radio waves. The most recent active period was from December 31 to January 6, when the planetary A index was as high as 27 on New Year's Eve day and on New Year's Day. When solar activity such as flares or coronal holes bombard the earth with protons, polar regions experience the greatest effect. As a result, daily A indices taken in Alaska on December 31 and January 1 were 40 and 44, with K indices as high as six. When the solar surface relative to earth rotates this same active region toward us about 27.5 days after the recent activity, we could see similar effects around January 26 until February 3. A recent forecast shows the planetary A index rising to 25 on January 27 and 28, then drifting down gradually to unsettled conditions with an A index of 10 on January 31. The next few days may see a rise in activity, with the A index peaking again near 20 around February 2. Solar flux has been rising this week, with a greater than 14 point rise from Monday to Tuesday and a greater than 18 point rise on Wednesday. The forecast for this weekend, Friday through Sunday, is for solar flux to rise from 205 on Friday to 210, and then 215 on Sunday, with a wonderfully low planetary A index of 5 for all weekend. HF operators should be very happy with a rising solar flux combined with low geomagnetic activity. Beyond the weekend expect the solar flux to remain high until around January 20, finally drifting down to around 135 for the period from January 26 to February 1. A group of seventh graders at Ritchie County Middle/High School in Ellenboro, West Virginia sent an interesting note and graph. They kept track of the weekly average of sunspot numbers through November and December, and at night logged AM radio stations. Their graph correlates the maximum skip distance with the rise and fall of sunspot numbers. Also arriving in this week's postal mail were some charts from NOAA Space Environment Center showing the new Space Weather Scales, which are numeric ratings for radio blackouts, solar radiation storms and geomagnetic storms. Each is rated from 1 through 5. The worst radio blackout is an R5, and the effect is described as ''complete HF radio blackout on the entire sunlit side of the earth lasting for a number of hours. No HF radio contact with mariners or en route aviators.'' It notes that there is less than one R5 event per solar cycle. For a G5 rated geomagnetic storm, which averages four days per solar cycle, it says that power system grids can collapse and transformers experience damage. Pipeline currents can reach hundreds of amps, HF radio propagation is impossible for one to two days, and the aurora can be seen from the equator. A G5 rating corresponds to a K index rating of 9! K indices of 9 over a 24 hour period would result in an A index of 400, which is not a pleasant thought for HF operators. You can see descriptions of these Space Weather Scales at http://www.sec.noaa.gov/NOAAscales/index.html . As a final note, check out the web-based Space Physics Textbook at http://www.oulu.fi/~spaceweb/textbook/Welcome.html . Sunspot numbers for January 6 through 12 were 145, 146, 106, 119, 88, 148 and 204 with a mean of 136.6. 10.7 cm flux was 144.8, 149.8, 154.7, 160.6, 163.2, 177.6 and 195.7, with a mean of 163.8, and estimated planetary A indices were 17, 8, 6, 3, 6, 16 and 9, with a mean of 9.3. Our path projection for this week is from Ellenboro, West Virginia, the home of KC8KOH, the Ritchie County Middle/High School Amateur Radio Club. To Europe, 80 meters 2130-0930z (best 0100-0700z), 40 meters 2000-1130z, 30 meters all hours, strongest 2230-0800z, weakest 1430-1800z, 20 meters 1130-2330z, 17 meters 1230-2130z, 15 meters 1300-2100z, 12 meters 1330-2000z, 10 meters 1400-1930z. To Southern Africa, 80 meters 2200-0430z, 40 meters 2130-0500z, 30 meters 2100-0530z, 20 meters 1930-0030z, 17 meters 1730-1330z, 15 meters 1630-2300z, 12 meters 1230-2130z, 10 meters 1300-2100z. To South America, 80 meters 2300-1000z, 40 meters 2300-1030z, 30 meters 2200-1100z, 20 meters 2030-0800z and 1130-1230z, 17 meters 1230-0200z, 15 meters 1200-0100z, 12 meters 1230- 0000z, 10 meters 1300-2330z. To the Caribbean, 80 meters 2200-1200z, 40 meters all hours, best 2300-1030z weakest 1600-1800z, 30 meters open all hours, best 2300-1030z, weakest 1530-1830z, 20 meters 1130-0130z, 17 meters 1200-0030z, 15 meters 1230-2330z, 12 meters 1300- 2230z, 10 meters 1330-2200z. To Australia, 80 meters 0930-1330z, 40 meters 0930-1400z, 30 meters 0830-143"}, {"response": 20, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Feb 24, 2000 (22:12)", "body": "SFI=192 | A=28 | K=3 down from 4 at 0300 on 25 February. SAF: low to moderate, GMF: at unsettled to minor storm levels Aurora Level: 8 ********** That is a propagation report, for those who do not know. The strength and clarity of distant radio signals is directly a result of those numbers. The higher the first number is( SFI = Solar Flux Index), the better. All of the others, the lower the better. Solar flux is the stuff which the Sun flings in all directions as it pulsates from internal fusion. It is seriously bad stuff for Earth. We are saved from most of it by Geomagnetism. When the ionosphere is bombarded with enough ionized particles, Auroras occur, and if it is strong enough, can interrupt long distance phones, satellites, missle defense systems and other things terrestrial. Here is a little graphic which shows how it works:"}, {"response": 21, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Feb 24, 2000 (22:13)", "body": "Oh yes, the GMF designation above = Geo Magnetic Field."}, {"response": 22, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Mar 17, 2000 (13:31)", "body": "Propagation Forecast Bulletin 11 Average solar flux was down slightly and average sunspot numbers rose over the past week. There were no really disturbed days, but the geomagnetic field was active on March 12. The spring equinox is coming up this Monday, and this is always an exciting time for HF operators. Conditions should be good this season with the rising solar flux. Solar flux has been declining this week, and is expected to reach a short term minimum near 170 from March 19 to 21. Flux values should quickly rise to another short term peak that is expected to be very broad. Solar flux should be around 220 from March 25 through April 4. The projected solar flux for the next five days, Friday through Tuesday, is 180, 175, 170, 170 and 170. Planetary A index for these same days is expected to be 8, 8, 8, 8 and 12. Upcoming dates that may be disturbed are March 22-24, March 31 and April 1, and April 18 and 19. Chip, K7JA, wrote to alert readers to fantastic conditions on 10 meters, including long path propagation. He is in Southern California, and writes ''You might want to mention in your column the tremendous LP openings on 10 meters lately. Saturday night of ARRL Phone was one, and last night (perhaps 0300z to 0800z at least, out here, earlier on Right Coast) was a doozy. The band started over the top into UA9, etc., and about 0300z went to Long Path. Loud UA9s, 3B8FG, JY9NX, A41LZ, A45XR, 5Z4WI, SU9ZZ, and stations from literally everywhere in Europe (like PA, DL, OH etc.) filled the band. I gave up at midnight, but the band was still hopping. The East Coast got into this one, as did stations in Texas and other Midwestern areas. I saw a number of spots by W3UR. Basically, about 7 PM is a good time to be watchful to the south, beaming about 90 degrees. Last night's opening, however, had a broad peak into Europe, maybe as far up as 220 degrees or so. Guess we finally have a sunspot cycle!'' Sunspot numbers for March 9 through 15 were 225, 231, 178, 188, 172, 193 and 167 with a mean of 193.4. 10.7 cm flux was 205.8 203.4, 203.2, 203.2, 188.1, 182.6 and 177.8, with a mean of 194.9, and estimated planetary A indices were 5, 10, 12, 19, 4, 6 and 3, with a mean of 8.4. Path projections for this weekend are from Elko, Nevada. To Europe, 80 meters 0200-0700z, 40 meters 0100-0800z, 30 meters 2330-0930z, 20 meters open all hours, best 0130-0700z, weakest 1200-1530z, 17 meters 1430-0030z, 15 meters 1430-2230z, 12 meters 1530-2130z, 10 meters 1700-2030z. To Southern Africa, 80 meters 0130-0430z, 40 meters 0100-0500z, 30 meters 0030-0500z, 20 meters 0000-0530z, 17 meters 0000-0300z, 15 meters 2300-0200z, 12 meters 2300-0130z, 10 meters 2030-0100z. To South America, 80 meters 0130-1000z, 40 meters 0100-1030z, 30 meters 0030-1100z, 20 meters 0000-1100z, 17 meters 2300- 1300z, 15 meters 1300-1430z and 2200-0700z, 12 meters 1330-0430z, 10 meters 1400-0330z. To the Caribbean, 80 meters 0100-1100z, 40 meters 0000-1200z, 30 meters 2300-1300z, 20 meters open all hours, best 0130-1030z, weakest 1600-2000z, 17 meters 1300-1700z, 15 meters 1330-0300z, 12 meters 1400-0200z, 10 meters 1500-0100z. To Australia, 80 meters 0930-1400z, 40 meters and 30 meters 0830-1500z, 20 meters 0800-1530z, 17 meters 0700-1700z, 15 meters 1500-1800z and 0600-0900z, 12 meters 0500-0630z, 10 meters 0430-0600z. To Japan, 80 meters 0900-1430z, 40 meters 0800-1500z, 30 meters 0730-1600z, 20 meters 0600-1730z, 17 meters 1500-2000z, 15 meters 2000-0630z, 12 meters 2100-0430z, 10 meters 2030-0530z. radio conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 9, "subject": "Jon Dahm's incredible linked repeater system", "response_count": 1, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Feb  1, 1997 (17:05)", "body": "Mostly it's Ed, Irene and Tina. Good conversation. Interesting folks. radio conference Main Menu"}]}]}