Newsletter January/February 2013, The Radiogram, page 2 - Official eNews of the Wireless Society of Southern Maine

2013 2 Meter FM Simplex Challenge

3rd Annual
by Tim Watson, KB1HNZ

GORHAM, ME - The 2013 Maine 2 Meter FM Simplex Challenge takes place Sunday, February 10th, and runs for 4 hours, beginning at 2:00PM local time (1900 UTC). Contacts, as always, are limited to FM Simplex on the 2 meter band. Participants may be entered as either fixed or mobile, but not as both.

The exchange identifies your location and the power level you're running. See the complete rules for details. If you've participated in previous years, please review the 2013 rules, as there's been changes made in the power level exhanges and clarifications to the mobile category, to keep the contest as competitive as possible. Certificates will be awarded to the winner in each category as well as overall.

Another 'Upside Down' Award Winner
Akira Miyai, JH3OHO
by Tim Watson, KB1HNZ

Congratulations to Akira Miyai JH3OHO, of Sakai City, Osaka, Japan, for becoming only the second radio amateur to qualify for the prestigious "Upside Down Award." Akira submitted a GCR List detailing QSO's on at least two different bands with hams who have callsigns that read the same forward as they do backward, therefore qualifying for the "Mirror Image" version of the award.

The Upside Down Award is one of a number of awards offered by the WSSM. To earn it, one must work 5 stations on at least two different bands with call signs that read the same upside down as they do right side up, (like WS1SM), or the Mirror-Image certificate, for contacts confirmed with 5 stations on at least two different bands with call signs that read the same in both directions. For more information on this and other awards offered by the club, click here.

DX News
January 10th - February 28th
by Tim Watson, KB1HNZ

2012 saw a number of rare entities activated and the now famous DXpeditions of 7O6T (Socotra Island, Yemen), A5A (Bhutan), and the recent 5T0SP expedition to Mauritania, to name just a few. Although poor propagation made QSO's with some of these more challenging than they should have been, it made it all the more satisfying to enter them in the log. After all, DX is about the chase! Looking ahead to next year, there's already been some exciting announcements about possible activations on Flinders Island (OC-261), Tonga, Escondida Island (SA-096), and one ham's efforts to reactivate Myanamar. Stay tuned for more updates and announcements as they become available.

01/03 - 01/17
01/04 - 01/13
01/04 - 01/18
01/05 - 01/18
01/07 - 01/20
01/09 - 01/14
01/09 - 01/24
01/11 - 01/14
01/11 - 01/18
01/12 - 01/20
01/15 - 01/31
01/25 - 03/10
02/01 - 02/27
02/01 - 03/08
02/06 - 03/08
02/09 - 02/13
02/11 - 02/20
02/13 - 02/23
02/15 - 02/27
02/18 - 02/28
02/20 - 03-03
02/20 - 03/21
02/28 - 03/10

V31ME
4T4RDP
V5/DJ5BQ
6W7SK
5Z4/DF3ZS
T88SM
J8/W6HGF
C6AVA
VK9L
ZF2PG
9X0PY
J5UAP
5X8C
FG/F6ITD
J38RF
KH2/5B4AGN
V24A
V63ZM
9U4U
H44KW
A31WH
V47JA
TX5K

Belize
Peru
Namibia
Senegal
Kenya
Palau
St. Vincent
Bahamas
Lord Howe I
Cayman Islands
Rwanda
Guinea Bissau
Uganda
Guadeloupe
Grenada
Guam
Antigua & Barbuda
Micronesia
Burundi
Solomon Islands
Tonga
St. Kitts & Nevis
Clipperton Island

Long Caye (NA-123) Bands: HF; SSB; QSL via DJ4EL
(also 4T4DKR) Bands: HF; on air during Peruvian leg of Dakar Rally
Bands: 80-10m; mostly RTTY
Bands: HF; mostly CW
Bands: 80-10m; SSB, RTTY; QSL via DF3ZS
(OC-009) Bands: 80-10m; CW, SSB; QSL via JA6EGL
Kingstown (NA-109) Band: HF; focus on RTTY
North Bimini (NA-048) Bands: 40-15m; mainly CW; QSL via K6VVA
(also VK9/JA3ARJ) Bands: 80-6m; CW, RTTY, SSB
Grand Cayman (NA-016) Bands: 40-15m; SSB
Bands: HF; mainly CW QSL via SM6CPY or bureau
Bands: 40-10m; mainly CW; QSL via HA3AUI
Bands: HF; QSL via F1NGP
Bands: HF; SSB and Digital; QSL via F6ITD
Bands: HF, including 60m; mainly digital w/ some SSB and CW
Bands: 80-10m; QSL via 5B4AGN
Bands: 160-10m; SSB, CW, some RTTY; QSL via AA9A
Bands: 80-10m; high power; QSL via 5B4AGN
Bands: HF
Guadalcanal (OC-047) Bands: 80-10m; CW QSL via OQRS bureau
Tongatapu (OC-049), Vavu/P (OC-064) Bnads: HF; QSL via DJ9KH
Calypso Bay, St. Kitts (NA-104) Bands: 160-6m; QSL via W5JON
By KK6EK and Int'l team; all bands; all modes; QSL via N2OO

Echolink with a Smartphone
Synergenics, LLC
by Tim Watson, KB1HNZ

The Echolink app for iPhone, and Android phones and tablets provides access to the Echolink network for validated Echolink users. Now, you can connect to the Echolink system from almost anywhere, using your smartphone or tablet.

The app is very easy to use - almost better than the PC version of the software. If you're browsing for a station to connect with, simply press "locations" and you'll see a list of regions, such as Europe, Asia, North America, etc. From there, simply drill down through the graphical menu untill you find what you're looking for.

If you're like me, you're probably used to the need to tweak the audio settings when using Echolink on a PC, but with this app, there's so far been no need to adjust anything. I connected to the Echolink test server almost immediately after installing it, and the playback audio was nearly perfect.

If you're used to the Echolink software already, the app will seem very intuitive, as nodes are listed very similarly. You'll also find quick links on the bottom bar to "Text," "Stations," "Favorites," and "Settings," as well as your current QSO. To connect to a node, simply tap on a particular call sign. Then tap on the microphone icon that appears and speak into it to transmit.

The app is free to download in both the iTunes App Store and Android Marketplace.

Echolink can also be used on an iPod Touch with an optional plug-in earphone and microphone. Please note that this application uses streaming audio, which some cellular providers treat as VoIP. Check with your cellular provider agreement for information about additional fees your provider might charge for VoIP usage.

If you're not yet registered with Echolink, please click here and follow the on screen instructions. To get started, click "download" to install the program to your PC (required). You'll be prompted to enter your call sign and email address. From there, Echolink will verify that you have a license and notify you by email with further instructions. The Echolink software (installed on your PC) requires only a built in (or external microphone) and speakers - no interface is required.

The Echolink network allows licensed Amateur Radio stations to communicate with one another over the Internet, using streaming audio. The program allows worldwide connections to be made between stations, or from computer to station, greatly enhancing Amateur Radio's communications capabilities. There are more than 200,000 validated users worldwide - in 162 of the world's 193 nations - with about 5,000 online at any given time.

Launch of CNSP-18 Transcontinental / Transatlantic Baloon Flight
California Near Space Project
by Don Ferguson, AI6RE

It was a rainy weekend in San Jose but all indications were that the weather would clear in the afternoon on Sunday, December 2nd, 2012. Almost 1 year ago, on December 11th, 2011, a latex balloon, CNSP-11, was launched from San Jose, California, and traveled across the United States, the Atlantic Ocean, Portugal and Spain. The balloon burst at 115k’ above the Mediterranean Sea and fell into the sea of the coast of Algeria.

By 2:30pm Sunday, 12/2/2012, the weather did clear and the Sun showed brightly through the clouds. The California Near Space Project team was ready to launch a second transcontinental balloon flight, CNSP-18. All the usual people, Ron (K6RPT), Lee, Frank (KA6TVU), Don (AI6RE), Jonathon (AE6HO), Michael (K6MFW), Bob (KG6TBY), gathered at Cherry Ave. and Almaden Expy.

The plan was to launch a 1600 gram Hwoyee latex balloon about 5pm on another attempt to float across the U.S.A to the East Coast and beyond. Everything progressed as planned and at 5:28pm PST on 12/2/12 local time, 12/3/12 01:28 UTC, CNSP-18 set off on its way across America. The APRS Radio callsign of this balloon was K6RPT-12. The balloon is tracked on the web at http://aprs.fi/k6rpt-12 and those interested were watching from every part of the globe, in real time.
When we fill the balloon with Hydrogen we must be very concise for a total payload lift to provide enough total ascent to attain about 102,000’ and not so much to cause it to pass through 115,000’ feet. From experience we have learned that at this time of the year there is a constant flow of the atmosphere to the East at above 100 MPH. This is way above the normal Jet Stream that airplanes use between 30,000’ and 40,000’.

When launched, the balloon ascent rate was about 350’/minute and that was right at our target so that assured us of an accurate fill. Now came the hard part. Everything we could control was over and K6RPT-12 on APRS was on its own with the whole world watching.

This balloon payload was a little different than the package on last year’s balloon. One piece of data transmitted over the APRS system is “Current Battery Voltage” and we noticed that the battery voltage would decrease at night to below 4 volts and this could cause the payload to stop transmitting good data. This year the package carried a heater module, designed by Jonathan, that was controlled by a photocell and came on at sunset to provide added warmth inside the package. This package had its own battery and appeared to be working as expected. The reported battery voltage was much more stable and did not drop below 3.9VDC for 99% of the flight.

This added weight had to be compensated for with more hydrogen in the balloon. Everything has an effect and the fill of the balloon is the critical part of the process, Lee Meadows does all of the calculations and generates the mission plan for each flight. His father, Ron Meadows, is the overall project director and makes the final decision on each flight.

Back to the flight of K6RPT-12. Everything progressed normally and the balloon leveled off at 103k’ altitude. It traveled overnight to a sunrise above Nebraska. As the sun came up so did the balloon’s altitude which rose to 111k’ and speed in excess of 210mph headed ENE at 75*. The balloon continued in daylight and left the U.S at the most Eastern point of Maine. The balloon was visually spotted at the Univ. of Maine, by Rick Eason - AA1PJ, as it faded into the night sky illuminated by the sun at 111k’.
Daylight takes a very heavy toll on the balloon as it is flying above 90% of the atmosphere and has very little protection form the harsh UV rays of the sun. While the warmth of the sun is a benefit to the payload radio and batteries it’s UV rays will also be the force that will cause the balloon to burst and end this flight. CNSP-18 continued east into the sunset just South of Nova Scotia at 180 mph, still headed for France.

At 3:54 UTC on 12-5-12, 26 ½ hours after launch, the balloon passed out of radio range of the APRS gateway 390 miles behind it in Newfoundland. It had changed course to the Southeast and slowed to 135 mph. Now we wait to see if anyone ever hears from the balloon again.

After about 8 hours of sleep we arose to see if there is any sign of the balloon. Still nothing received. As in the past we rely on the hams in Europe to retune to the USA APRS frequency from their normal monitor frequency. So hopefully this was the case today. Many have sent emails and messages to friends in Europe to please listen for our little balloon crossing such a large ocean.

After 22 hours of loss of signal it was starting to look like our balloon may not make it or had gone in a direction where no APRS repeaters could receive the small signal. There were as many ideas being sent to the web site as there were people listening for it to succeed.

At 03:40 UTC on 12-5-2012, 23 hours 44 minutes after Loss of signal in North America, the signal was received by Union de Radioaficionados de Granada, ED7ZAE, a station in Granada, Spain that showed the balloon approaching the coast of Morocco. Suddenly all the cell phones started ringing and the computer screens came alive and there it was K6RPT-12 moving at 72 mph heading ENE toward Morocco, 200 miles ahead.

At 06:37 UTC on 12-5-2012 the balloon passed over the coast of Morocco just 10 miles South of the town of Kenitra at a balloon altitude of 114,400 feet, traveling at 50 mph still heading East. K6RPT-12 would continue for another 140 miles and Burst at 118,262 feet and then fall heading South-east for another 15 miles, and the last radio signal was received at 09:22:31 UTC on 12/5/2012. The last signals were relayed by EA7FQB, Salvador Perez Lanzas, Estepona, MALAGA, on the Mediterranean coast of Spain.

I have searched for a contact in this part of Morocco but have not found any amateur radio people in this part of Morocco. For now the package is sitting at about 2500’ on the ground waiting to be found someday.

The final numbers on this balloon flight 55 hours, 54 minutes, 6092.5 Great Circle miles, 118,262’ altitude, highest speed 232 MPH.

QSL Corner

Below you'll find some recent QSL's. If you received an interesting one yourself that you'd like to show off, please send a digital image to [email protected] and we'll be sure to publish it in an upcoming issue.

1A0C - Sovereign Military Order of Malta DXpedition, 2012. 20m RTTY contact by WS1SM at 2358 UTC on July 2nd, 2012.

YO9GJY - Club member, Stefania Chiruta, Valea Calugareasca, Romania. 40m SSB contact by KB1HNZ at 0259 UTC on November 11, 2012.

W6AFA - Studio City, California. 15m SSB contact by KB1HNZ at 1642 UTC on November 18th, 2012..