The Illuminator

The monthly newsletter of the Carbon Amateur Radio Club

December 2002


 


December Meeting

 

The next regular meeting of the Carbon Amateur Radio Club will be held on Thursday, December 19, at 7:30 p.m. at the EOC in Nesquehoning.  Rob, KB3BYT, will be performing a demonstration of the Hellschreiber mode, an early facsimile format that has been revived in recent years, and has been quite popular.  See you there!

 

 

Treasurer’s Report

By John, W3MF

 

Previous Balance

972.77

Receipts (dues)

0.00

Subtotal

972.77

Disbursements (newsletter)

7.03

Final Total

 965.74

 

 

Rock Mite Nite

By Lamar, N3AT

 

Rock Mite Nite has been a great success! Twelve persons, representing 4 clubs participated in the project, working together on Rock Mite kits at the Monroe County Vo Tech School near Bartonsville. Working from 7 to 10 PM, they were able to almost finish installing the parts on the pc board. Those involved were from Carbon Amateur Radio Club, Pocono Amateur Radio Club, East Penna. Amateur Radio Association, and Delaware-Lehigh Amateur Radio Club. The group will meet again on Monday, Nov. 24, to install the completed boards in an Altoids mint tin, or in some other suitable enclosure builder's choice.

 

The Rock Mite is a complete transceiver, built on a pc board that is 2 by 2 1/2 inches.  There are 70 parts to install on the board, including one surface mount chip. The rest of the parts are thru-the-board resistors, capacitors, transistors, diodes, etc. We provide help in installing the surface mount part, and other help if it is needed. Kits are available for 40 or 20 meters. They are crystal controlled, but a push button makes possible small shift in frequency. And there is a built-in electronic keyer included on the board.

 

Several people have expressed an interest in doing a similar Rock Mite Nite program in the DLARC area. If there is enough interest, we may set up a schedule for a RM nite after the holidays.  We would need at least 10 participants to get group prices for the hardware necessary to install the board in an enclosure. The cost is minimal $25 for the basic kit, and $5 for the hardware. If you are interested, contact Lamar, N3AT, at [email protected].

 

 

Congress Adjourns; HR 4720 Expires Without Action

(From the ARRL Letter)

 

The US House of Representatives officially adjourned for the year November 22 at 2:33 PM.  The US Senate wrapped up its business earlier this week, so the 107th Congress is officially in the books. With adjournment go any hopes of passage of HR 4720, the CC&R bill introduced by New York Democrat Steve Israel earlier in the year. ARRL members are requested to wait until a new CC&R bill — with a new bill number — is introduced in the next session of Congress before seeking cosponsorship support from members of Congress.

 

 

WRC-03 Conference Preparatory Meeting Under Way

(From the ARRL Letter)

 

The Conference Preparatory Meeting (CPM) for next year's World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-03) opened in Geneva, Switzerland November 18. Some 1000 delegates are attending the worldwide gathering.

 

"The objective of the CPM is to approve a 500-page CPM Report to WRC-03 that will provide a technical basis for consideration of administrations' proposals for changes in the international Radio Regulations," explained ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ. Sumner is attending in his role as International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) secretary. He says 174 "input documents" to the CPM offer comments on the existing draft CPM Report text and propose additions, deletions, and changes.

 

Chairing the CPM is Germany's Eberhard George, DL7IH. At the day-long opening plenary, George and the chairpersons of the various working groups provided an overview of the meeting's structure and the major issues facing WRC-03.

 

"Several of the working group chairs were quite candid in their remarks," Sumner said. "Music to many ears including amateurs' was the assessment by New Zealand's Alan Jamieson regarding so-called little LEOs — mobile satellites operating below 1 GHz." According to Sumner, Jamieson said there was no congestion in their existing bands, and sharing studies had been unfavorable. Sumner predicted that the likely outcome at WRC-03 would be the suppression of an existing Resolution that invites sharing studies on the basis of an "urgent need" that no longer exists.

 

A thornier issue is 7-MHz "harmonization." The IARU backs a 300-kHz worldwide allocation in the vicinity of 7 MHz. "At this stage, we have six methods to address the agenda item," Sumner said — including no change in the status quo. The item is in Working Group 5 (WG5) "We can't say for sure that the six methods will be in the CPM Report until WG5 takes another pass at the revised draft text and it's approved in plenary."  That's not supposed to happen until next week.

 

Substantive work of the CPM will be wrapped up November 28 — Thanksgiving in the US, but just another work day in Geneva.

 

In addition to Sumner, those representing the IARU at the CPM include President Larry Price, W4RA, and Region 1 Executive Committee member Wojciech Nietyksza, SP5FM. IARU Vice President David Wardlaw, VK3ADW, is on the Australian delegation and ARRL Technical Relations Manager Paul Rinaldo, W4RI, is on the US delegation.

 

Several other amateurs are on their national delegations, either to represent the amateur services or in professional capacities.

 

 

Jonathan Adelstein Sworn in as FCC Commissioner

(From the ARRL Letter)

 

FCC nominee Jonathan Adelstein was sworn in this week to fill the Commission's remaining open slot. The nomination of Adelstein, a Democrat and a protégé of South Dakota Sen. Tom Daschle, had been held hostage for most of this year because of political wrangling over several judicial nominations. Adelstein will finish out the term of former Commissioner Gloria Tristani, which ends in June.

 

The only other Democrat on the FCC, Michael J. Copps, called it "a happy day" for himself and the FCC. Copps said Adelstein will make "an exceptionally fine new colleague" whose addition will bring the FCC up and running at full complement.

 

Okayed last summer by the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, Adelstein was confirmed by the Senate November 14 in a procedural floor vote.

 

Earlier this year, Adelstein's FCC nomination appeared dead for the year as Senate Republicans and Democrats squabbled over judicial nominations, and some Republicans, placed anonymous holds on Adelstein's nomination.  The election and the change in Senate control obviated the issues involved, however.

 

 

ARRL DX Bulletin

 

DX Bulletin 49  ARLD049
From ARRL Headquarters 
Newington CT  December 5, 2002
To all radio amateurs  

This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by Tedd, KB8NW, the OPDX Bulletin, DXNL, 425DXnews, QRZ DX, The Daily DX and Contest Corral from QST.  Thanks to all.

ITU HEADQUARTERS, 4U.  Ivan, OM3CGN plans to be QRV from ITU club station 4U1ITU in the ARRL 160 Meter contest.  QSL via operator's instructions.

TANZANIA, 5H.  Ralph, 5H3RK has been QRV around 1821 kHz about 0300z.  QSL to home call.

SAMOA, 5W.  Atsu, 5W1SA has been QRV using RTTY on 15 meters between 0630 and 0900z.  QSL via JH7OHF.
              
BAHRAIN, A9.  Gus, A92ZE has been QRV on 80 meters just after 0200z.

THE GAMBIA, C5.  The C53M team will be QRV during the ARRL 160 Meter contest.  QSL via OH3RM.

PHILIPPINE, DU.  Jon, DU9/N0NM has been QRV on 160 and 80 meters around 2100z and 1030z.  QSL via W4DR.

TAJIKISTAN, EY.  Edi, EY7AF has been QRV on 80 meter CW between 1230 and 1330z.

MAYOTTE, FH.  FH/DL5CF has been QRV using RTTY on 20 meters around 1900z.  QSL to home call.

OGASAWARA, JD1.  Toshi, JA1ELY is QRV as 8N1OGA has been QRV on 80 meters between 1120 and 1300z and again from 1830 to 2115z.  QSL via JA1MRM.

BANGLADESH, S2.  Takeda, JF1EQA is QRV as S21YY from Dhaka and has been active using RTTY and SSTV.  QSL via JM1HXU.

COCOS ISLAND, TI9.  Jose, TI2JJP will be QRV as TI9JJP from December 10 to 25.  QSL to home call.

ASIATIC RUSSIA, UA0.  Alex, UA9YAB is QRV from Zone 18 and has been active on 80 meters around 1230z.

CHRISTMAS ISLAND, VK9X.  Kunio, JA8VE will be QRV as VK9XE from December 7 to 14.  Activity is mainly on 20 and 15 meters using SSB.  QSL via JA1KJW.
 
INDIA, VU.  Pai, VU2PAI is usually QRV on 160 meters around 1900 to 2100z, especially on the weekends.

CAMBODIA, XU.  Dick, N6FF is QRV as XU7ACB until December 18.  He may try some RTTY and PSK31 activity on the higher frequencies.  QSL to home call.

ASCENSION ISLAND, ZD8.  Jim, N6TJ is QRV as ZD8Z until December 17.  This includes an entry in the ARRL 160 Meter contest.  Outside the contest, he is active on all HF bands, including 6 meters.  QSL via VE3HO.

SOUTH AFRICA, ZS.  Special event station ZS6SOL is active until December 7 to cover the upcoming total eclipse of the sun in the Limpopo Province.  QSL via ZS5WI.

 

 

ARRL Propagation Forecast Bulletin

 

Propagation Forecast Bulletin 51  ARLP051
From Tad Cook, K7VVV
Seattle, WA  December 6, 2002
To all radio amateurs

Average sunspot numbers were up a bit this week, and average daily solar flux barely changed. Geomagnetic indices were quieter.

Now that December is here, let's review average daily solar flux and sunspot numbers for November, and compare them with previous months.  Here are monthly averages for solar flux and sunspot numbers for this year. From January through November, 2002 the average daily sunspot number for each month was 189, 194.5, 154.3, 144.4, 146, 183.5, 191, 206.4, 153.9 and 159.8. Average daily solar flux for the same months was 227.3, 205, 179.2, 141.4, 148.7, 174.4, 183.9, 175.8, 167 and 168.7.

This weekend is the ARRL 160-Meter Contest. It would be good to have low geomagnetic activity for this contest. Right now the predicted planetary A index for Friday through Monday is 12, 15, 20 and 15.  This indicates unsettled to active conditions on Saturday and Sunday due to coronal hole effects. There is a chance of moderate solar flare activity over the next few days. Solar activity is likely to be low. Predicted solar flux for the next few days is 160-175.

Chester, KD5TFK wrote in to ask, "How much longer can we expect great propagation on 10-meters?" He assumes we are on the downside of the current solar cycle.

One way to look at this is to compare likely conditions for the 10-meter contest coming up the weekend of December 14-15. Last year the average daily solar flux around the time of the contest was about 228. This year it is likely to be about 175. If we check the
weekly Preliminary Report and Forecast of Solar Geophysical Data from the NOAA SEC web site at http://www.sec.noaa.gov/weekly/index.html, they run an occasional prediction for smoothed sunspot and solar flux numbers. The last prediction was at the end of the November 5 issue. The smoothed flux value they are predicting for December 2003 is about 41 points lower than for December 2002, so let us use a value of 134 for December of next year. Next try plugging these dates and values into W6Elprop (see the site, http://www.qsl.net/w6elprop/ ).

If I do a 10-meter prediction for last December from Seattle to Japan using a flux value of 228, I show a good predicted opening from 2230-0130z with a relative dB level of 21. Run the same test with a solar flux of 175, and the period shortens to 2230-0030z. Do
it again with 134 for the solar flux, and it shows a possibility of an opening around 2300z.

Try it again on 10-meters from Dallas to Brazil. Last year has a strong opening from 1300-0030z, this year 1330-2330z, and next year 1400-2200z. The solar activity will gradually decrease, and 10-meters will be affected.

Sunspot numbers for November 28 through December 4 were 124, 107, 150, 97, 155, 135, and 144, with a mean of 130.3. 10.7 cm flux was 139.7, 141.3, 146.2, 149.6, 146.1, 145.9, and 148.7, with a mean of 145.4. Estimated planetary A indices were 15, 14, 16, 16, 11, 11, and 12, with a mean of 13.6.

 

 

P5/4L4FN QRT

(From www.amsatnet.com)


W
ord from Ed, P5/4L4FN, is that the unfortunate and worst possible thing has just happened.

Friday evening, 22 November 2002, Ed was called into a meeting with the "Radio Regulation Board" without any explanation, he was politely asked to quit all transmissions and pack all his radio equipment. Saturday, he spent all day on the roof disassembling his antennas and packing boxes. At 2:30 pm one of the government officials came by, sealed all the boxes and when he leaves on December 10 for his two weeks R&R he is to take everything with him out of the country.

This really hits the ham community hard. Many were looking forward to a satellite contact on AO-40. I know that many of you were still awaiting your first QSO.

Ed will keep all the equipment for his next duty station. Any money received from now on will be donated to help ZL1AMO's emergency air ambulance trip from Fiji back home.

 

 

Amateurs Aid in Wake of Connecticut Ice Storm

(From the ARRL Letter)

 

Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) members got to work quickly the morning of Sunday, November 17, as an ice storm knocked out power to almost 130,000 Connecticut homes and businesses, mostly in the northwestern part of the state. The statewide alert — and the resulting ARES activation — lasted 48 hours. Connecticut Gov John Rowland toured the region and visited the ham station set up at the Torrington Emergency Operations Center.

 

Connecticut Section Emergency Coordinator Allen Pitts, W1AGP, said about 30 hams from all over The Nutmeg State headed into the affected area, mostly in northwestern Connecticut. He characterized ARES members' efforts as "wonderful." Pitts said Connecticut ARES had been drilling informally in conjunction with ARES teams in Eastern New York and New Hampshire, and the effort paid off. "The drills covered a very similar situation," he said. "The level of coordination and cooperation was incredible."

 

ARRL staffer Brennan Price, N4QX, was among those taking a turn as net control of the Connecticut Phone Net on 3965 kHz. "The good thing about this particular situation was with such a small part of the state hit, there were a lot of others in the state able to help out," he said. "It all came together quickly and was nicely pulled off."

 

West Hartford-Area EC Harry Abery, AB1ER, said most of the work hams did was in Torrington area shelters. That Litchfield County community was among the hardest hit.

 

Connecticut ARES linked 10 VHF and UHF repeaters in Torrington, Vernon, Naugatuck, Meriden, New Milford and Washington. Separate resource and tactical nets were run on other 2 meter repeaters.

 

Dutchess County, New York, EC Adam Nowik Jr, KC2DAA, said amateurs in Eastern New York activated their own net, and more than a half dozen New Yorkers arrived in the Torrington area within three hours of the activation. "Our net was kept active in the event the Connecticut section had need for additional communications or had a complete communications breakdown," Nowik said. Frank Stone, KB2YUR, served as a liaison between Abery and the hams in Eastern New York for the duration of the incident.

 

After 27 hours, the Connecticut Phone Net's Emergency session on HF was able to stand down the afternoon of November 18, as temperatures rose into the 40s. But 20 minutes later, the net was back up after a trunk line from New York went down and more people lost power, Pitts said. Relief efforts by area radio amateurs continued into the evening of November 18, when the statewide ARES alert was terminated. "We did not shut down statewide until we were sure everyone was off the roads, home safe and checked in," Pitts said.

 

Pitts credited greater professionalism and proficiency over the past several months to the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Communications courses <http://www.arrl.org/cce/> offered on-line. "We're seeing a real difference, and the quality of operations is definitely up," he said.  Thanks to a $33,000 grant from Hartford-based United Technologies Corporation, up to 250 Connecticut amateurs will be able to take the ARRL Level I Amateur Radio Emergency Communications course (EC-001) free of charge.

 

 

DXCC Legend, Bob White, W1CW, Silent Key

(From the ARRL Letter)

 

Former ARRL Headquarters staff member Bob White, W1CW, died November 22 in Florida from complications arising from pneumonia. He was 83. White was an ARRL Life Member and had belonged to the League for 62 years.

 

Known to many as "Mr. DXCC," White was the manager of the ARRL's DX Century Club program from 1952 until 1976, establishing the award — and its stringent standards — as Amateur Radio's premier DX achievement. White codified the rules for the DXCC program and oversaw the checking of some 250,000 QSL cards submitted yearly, often working as many as 90 hours a week to ensure that the job got done right. White also oversaw the ARRL QSL Service from 1976 until 1978.

 

"Dad was the guy who made DXCC what it was," said White's son, Jim White, K4OJ, in a posting to the CQ Contest reflector. "He didn't cut any corners — everyone was held to the same high standard — and this is what made holding DXCC meaningful."

 

Introduced to Amateur Radio in his youth by his stepfather, Gordon Brown, W6APG, White was first licensed in 1938. He served as a radio operator in the US Navy during World War II.

 

White was an avid DXer, contester and CW enthusiast whose fist was familiar to thousands of hams. Active in the First-Class CW Operators' Club, White was inducted into the CQ DX Hall of Fame in 1998. He also was a member of the A1 Operator Club.

 

Survivors include his wife Ellen, W1YL, and his son Jim, K4OJ, both former ARRL staff members.

 

Friends may send condolence messages via e-mail <[email protected]> or to 6607 Flicker Ct, Seffner, FL 33584. The family invites memorial donations to the W1CW Memorial Fund-Florida Contest Group, c/o Frederick M Perkins Jr, 3437 Lake Josephine Dr, Lake Placid FL 33852 USA. Per White's request, there will be no public service.

 

 

For Sale

 

Lamar, N3AT, has a West Mountain Radio Rigblaster for sale.  This is an interface that enables one to easily connect a radio to a computer sound card.  If interested, contact Lamar at [email protected].

 

166 MHz PC, complete with 15-inch monitor, Windows 95, CD/R-W, 64 Meg RAM, and Office 97.  Contact Ed at [email protected].

 

Alinco DR-150 2-meter mobile transceiver.  Also, Heath HW-2 2-meter HT (sorry, but it doesn’t have PL).  Lastly, I have two spare 19-volt 3-amp laptop power supplies.  Contact Bob at [email protected].

 

 

Helpful Hints

 

International master criminals: Tell your guards to shoot James Bond in the head at the first opportunity.  Under no circumstances give him a guided tour of your base, tell him your plan, or leave him in the custody of attractive women in bikinis.

 

 

Shallow Thoughts

 

What was the best thing before sliced bread?

 

 

 

Check out http://incolor.inetnebr.com/n0ujr for other cartoons and to purchase N0UJR’s book, “N0UJR and His Friends.”

 

 


 

Carbon Amateur Radio Club – 2001-2002 Officers

 

President: Anthony “Goody” Good, K3NG, [email protected]

Vice President: Rob Roomberg, KB3BYT, [email protected]

Secretary: Larry Lilly, N3CR, [email protected]

Treasurer: John Schreibmaier, W3MF, [email protected]

W3HA Callsign Trustee: Bill Dale, WY3K

W3HA Repeater Trustee: John Bednar, K3CT

Public Information Officer: Bill Kelley, KA3UKL

 

Directors

 

 Bob Schreibmaier, K3PH, John Bednar, K3CT, Bert Rex, W3OWP

 

Illuminator Staff

 

Editor: Bob, K3PH [email protected]

DX: Bob, K3PH

Foxhunting: open

Propagation and Commentary: open

Newsletter Printing, Folding, and Mailing: Bob, K3PH

 

Services

 

W3HA Repeater: 147.255 MHz + PL 131.8

 

CARC Website: http:/www.learnmorsecode.com/carc/ 

Webmaster: Rob, KB3BYT [email protected]

 

CARC Email Reflector: see www.qth.net CarbonARC list for details

 

CARC Membership Information

 

Regular Membership is $15.00, which includes autopatch privileges.

 

All amateur radio operators are invited to join the CARC ARES / RACES net held 21:00 local time every Wednesday on the W3HA repeater at 147.255 MHz + offset, PL 131.8.  Any amateur radio operator or anyone with an interest in ham radio is welcome to attend our monthly meetings which occur the third Thursday of each month at 7:30 PM at the Carbon County EMA Center on Route 93 in Nesquehoning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Text Box: Carbon Amateur Radio Club
C/O Bob Schreibmaier K3PH
P. O. Box 166
Kresgeville, PA 18333-0166