Seven thousand mile DX on a rubber duck
By
Allen Sherwood, K6USN
It
is a little before 7 a.m. and I am standing up to my knees in the surf of the
fabled Coral Sea, at Palm Cove, Queensland, Australia. This is nearly as far as
the paved roads go in Far North Queensland. I am alone on the endless white
beach, except for a gliding albatross low on the water to the east as I squint
into the rising sun. The waves lap softly here, as the Great Barrier Reef
breaks up the big South Pacific swells a few miles off shore. There is nothing
between me and San Francisco except 7,000 miles of salt water, and the tiny
radio in my hand.
A
nearby rusty sign warns of "Esturine crocodiles" that live in these
waters and beaches, along with "sharks and marine jellyfish." While
the former prefer to chop you up in bite size pieces. the nearly invisible but
highly toxic jellyfish just brushes against you and you
are
on your way to Silent Key status before you can say "whoa, what was
tha.....”
This
was my sixth trip to Far North Queensland, or “FNQ" as the Aussies say: I
came to sightsee and dive the Barrier Reef and to explore the Daintree Rain
Forest oldest on the planet. Being an avid Ham and DX'er I endure lugging the
HF radio and associated antennas along. Or I did, until the events of 11 Sep.
2001 put a different spin on airport security. The heap of coiled antenna wire,
batteries, and strange (to non-Hams) electronic parts do nothing to enhance
express check-in at airports enroute.
I
painfully recall one recent time in the South Cook Islands (ZKI) when a local
security agent became suspicious of my “wireless apparatus" and asked me
to "turn on" what happened to be a random wire tuner. Explaining that
the tuner didn’t use power and therefore could not be made to “play"
almost caused me an indefinite stay in the local "gray bar hotel."
Worse, the Air New Zealand flights were only twice a week and mine was ready to
depart while I sweated bullets at the outdoor check in counter trying to make
my tuner "play" for the security staff.
That
earlier airport experience was in part the reason for me being in the water at
this unholy hour. In my right hand was a Yaesu FT-50R HT, and in my left was a
small cassette tape player to record this for the next radio club meeting back
home. This constituted my entire Ham radio package, along with a Diamond
tri-band VHF-UHF antenna that was attached to the HT and was about 4 inches in
length. The surf line location was selected for the ground plane enhancement of
salt water, and moved me out from under the palm and mangrove trees that lined
the beach. I had a clear shot at the Cairns repeater, VK4RCA, about 20 miles
across a small bay. The "power supply" was four AA batteries in the
HT with one watt out. Now that’s what they
call “fair dinkum simple, mate!”
As
it turned out, I could move further up the beach and still hit the repeater, but
for my first try I liked the dramatic effect of wading into the warm water of
this South Seas paradise.
The
process was delightfully simple. I keyed the PTT, and announced "VK4DSN to
use the node" and followed this with the three digit node number for the
W6RHC repeater in Chico, California followed by the DTMF key for
"zero." I then called Bill Pope, W6TKE, the control operator of the
hometown IRLP Node. and stood by.
Less
than eight seconds later, back came Bill, sounding just like the local
repeater. Over the course of the next four days we had had schedules at the
same time and all were completed "full quieting" and without QRM or
atmospheric fading. In fact, we had some round table QSOs with other hometown
Hams who were mobile in the repeater coverage area and listening in. Local
Aussie amateurs also joined in, making it a new DX experience for a lot of
them, too.
To
terminate the contact and shut down the Chico node, all I had to do was
announce “VK4DSN closing the node" and punch in #73 on my keypad. This
returned both repeaters, 7,000 miles apart, to local control. This same simple
procedure works for most IRLP nodes,
What's IRLP?
What
is Internet Radio and how widespread is it? For a quick overview of this new
“mode,” simply type in "IRLP" on your search engine (I use Google) to
access the IRLP web site and read up on the worldwide locations (nodes) in
active use and the protocol involved.
IRLP
started in Canada in 199'7 in an attempt to link Canadian repeaters across the
continent. The concept, pioneered by Dave Cameron, VE7LTD, was to be a seamless
radio link without satellites or leased lines or controllers, but interfacing
VHF/UHF repeaters with the Internet with voiceover IP software.
The
IRLP has. as of this writing, grown to
over 600 active nodes worldwide. (To see the worldwide grid of IRLP Nodes, look
up "IRLP" on your Internet Search Engine.)
In
my case, I looked up "Australia/New Zealand" and found that node 648
was in Cairns, Queensland, I e-mailed the control station, Jeff. VK4MTV and
asked if this was an open repeater and if I could access the node during my
upcoming visit. His response was "it
is open slathel; mate? which is
Aussie speak for "have a go at it!" The repeaters in Australia are
generally compatible with our 600 kHz offset, so it was easy to set up
146.95(-) on the HT and I was in business.
While I've not yet tried HT
"Dx’ing" from other countries besides Australia, the possibilities
are exciting, and offer some new opportunities to work the world with very
simple equipment. While at home, I can now use IRLP to link another similarly
equipped repeater around the world, or check into a “reflector” (Denver,
Toronto, Sydney, Las Vegas, to name a few) and wind up talking to anyone who
has access to an IRLP node in a large "round table" QSO.
If
your club repeater is not yet linked to IRLP, now is the time to look in to it,
Check the IRLP web site for information, interface hardware and freeware ·
software to get started. It should cost under $100 and does require the Linux
operating system. The IRLP is large and
growing. This is done with a lot of volunteer labor and the spirit of
cooperation with technical assistance is outstanding. Just like the "old
days" in Ham radio!
As
a new IRLP user and "non-techie” I am amazed at the simplicity of
operation and the fact that this can be accomplished with a simple, low-power
HT and rubber duck antenna. Internet Radio Linking should breathe some life
back into ail those local repeater systems sitting mostly idle out there, and
hopefully be a good bridge for attracting new Hams and potential DX'ers.
If
you are going to operate IRLP overseas, you will in most cases need a license
from the host country. The ARRL web site will give you details on applying. In
my case, 15 minutes in the Cairns regional office of the Australian
Communications Authority and the payment of a small fee, and I was reissued my
old call, VK4DSN. Don't underestimate the thrill of checking into your local
repeater from 7,000 miles away -- and with a DX call!
Standing
in the Coral Sea up to your knees at sunrise is however, optional.
Proposal for a North American school radio day
By
Ginger C. Eldridge, KC5MTI
While
the young people in our hobby are enthusiastic, Amateur Radio is not a younger generation hobby. While there may be
many reasons for this, I believe the main reason is our youth have not been
exposed to this wonderful pastime. Experts tell us it takes three or more
positive experiences before a person will 'warm up' to a new pursuit. From
visiting
with young Hams, this certainly appears true for Amateur Radio.
Many
clubs, such as the one I belong to (Valencia County Amateur Radio Association,
NM), work hard to introduce youth to our hobby. We participate in JOTA, try to
get invited to schools to demonstrate our hobby, teach licensing classes, and
have our advertised Field Day set up in a park where the general public can
visit. Some members invite children to their shacks for Kid's Day and actively
look for other opportunities to demonstrate Amateur Radio to young people.
"The Big Project" being implemented by ARRL has already demonstrated
a positive impact on the limited number of students involved. Still,
considering the age of the Amateur Radio ranks, something more must be done to
get the younger generation interested in Amateur Radio. The annual School Club
Roundup is an admirable effort, but since its focus is on existing Amateur Radio
school clubs, it is essentially “preaching to the choir." Also, the
contest nature of the Roundup does not lend itself to generating interest from
those getting their first exposure to Amateur Radio. I believe a North American
School Radio Day could be a great way
to get more young folks hamming
it up,
From
our club's experience with demonstrations to youth groups, we knew the
excitement and interest comes when the youngsters are able to talk to others on
the radio, especially if those con acts are around the nation.
Unfortunately, our experience is that
we have to have several operators standing by on local repeaters since few Hams
are listening for, or respond to, our HF CQs. Pondering this situation led me
to thinking about having a School Radio Day,
during which Amateur Radio would he demonstrated in schools throughout
the United States and Canada. With many
schools on the air, and with many Amateur Radio operators knowing this and
visiting with the students, each year we could introduce Amateur Radio in a
positive way to a large number of school age children, and their teachers,
Local
clubs could set up School Radio Day stations in schools in their communities:
In addition to HF and VHF rigs, most setups would probably include CW
demons[rations, maps to locate contacts, propagation information, the role of
Amateur Radio during emergencies, QSL card displays, preparation of QSL cards
for contacts, ARRL handouts and more. I envision this being most beneficial in
middle schools, The station could be set up in one teacher's room with each of
her classes seeing the demonstration and having a chance to get on the air.
Alternatively, the station might be set up so different teachers would bring a
class to the station during each class period. In either case, about 100
students would get a hands on Amateur Radio demonstration. Some clubs may be
able to activate two stations; either stations in two different classrooms or
in two different schools. When I was teaching at the middle school level
(before quitting to become a stay at home mother) many of my colleagues and
school principals would have welcomed such an activity.
I
believe this would he beneficial to everyone involved. Teachers would have one
more way to drive home the relevance of the material they are teaching. After
all, as ARRL's "The Big Project" has demonstrated, our hobby ties
into the curriculums of science, math geography, English. languages, and
computers. Students would benefit from the demonstration of the relevance of their
studies to an exciting bobby. The exercise would help bridge the 'generation
gap' that seems to exist between youth and adults. Since schools are
traditional locations for emergency evacuation centers, the Amateur Radio clubs
would have an opportunity to practice in a place they might one day be asked to
provide emergency communications. The Amateur Radio community would benefit
because some of these students will decide to take their interest further and
pursue a license. Schools and teachers would be more receptive to becoming part
of "The Big Project" and more school club stations would spring up.
All of this would make for a win-win situation for all involved.
The
public relations possibilities of an annual North American School Radio Day
should not be overlooked. All of have the local television stations and
newspapers visit when good things were happening. A few suggestions from the
club as arrangements are being made will probably generate news releases to the
local media and result in favorable coverage for the schools, the clubs and
Amateur Radio in general Participation
in
School Radio Day and the resulting publicity would foster community
relationships with the club and Amateur Radio as a whole. Meeting the teachers
of our children and our neighbors as we demonstrate Amateur Radio capabilities
will help generate community trust and support for our ARES and RACES roles.
While
clubs have been mentioned, I believe that one Ham could put on a School Radio
Day operation with one radio in one classroom. In fact, this could be much more
personal and very effective, especially in an elementary school environment.
Teachers who are Hams will also begin to set up radios in their classrooms for
School Radio Day.
Using
the smallest numbers I can imagine let me demonstrate the impact this could
make. If only 25 percent of the nearly 2,000 active ARRL affiliated clubs
listed participated with just one station in one school, we would reach 50,000
students and their teachers each year. Using Congress's method of presenting figures,
this would be over 500,000 students in just ten years. It would seem
participation by the Amateur Radio community might start near this level and
expand with time. The demand could become so great that a Fall mid Spring
School Radio Day might become necessary.
Careful
consideration should be given in setting the date for School Radio Day.
Certainly a day when the frequencies would not be busy with other events would
be desirable. Some communication with our children's educators may identify
other considerations, such as just before a holiday when the students are a bit
less attentive to normal class room activities. It might be desirable to have
it on a Friday just before a big contest so the contest stations could stop in
for chats as they checked out propagation and equipment.
Talk
it up to your fellow Hams and at your club meetings. It will probably take the
ARRL and/or Worldradio to generate the critical mass of School Radio Day
Stations and individual operators required to make the event successful and an
annual event, So mention it to your contacts there too. I'm hoping to catch all
of you on the air next year during the first annual North American School Radio
Day, either assisting the students or visiting with them.
Reprinted
from WORLDRADIO January 2003 issue
GRUMMAN AMATEUR RADIO CLUB
MINUTES OF GENERAL MEETING – 2/19/03
By Pete, N2PYV
The
meeting was called to order by Gordon at 5:40 p.m. Pat was absent. All present
introduced themselves.
Finances
continue to be in good shape.
REPEATER REPORT –
Gordon, KB2UB
The
tower cables on the Plant 14 roof have been repaired. We have to wait for
better weather to get the antenna functional and the repeater back on the air.
The
owner of the Hauppaugue tower wants to meet with us on Friday (2/21). Gordon
will go. They are installing a new generator and it is believed that they are
planning to install a new tower.
NET REPORT –
Zack, WB2PUE
The
40-meter Net on Sunday was good. Today’s 20-meter net was good with seven
check-ins. We need more people to check-in on the Thursday night 2-meter Net.
VE REPORT –
Bob, W2ILP
There
were seven VE’s present but no applicants.
No
Activity
Gordon, KB2UB
Northrop
Grumman was closed because of the snow conditions on Tuesday.
Joseph
K. Bizzaro, WJ2B, Extra was voted in as a Sustaining Member
John
Caruso stated that he had many older radio parts that he would like to give to
anyone that could use them. Call him at (516) 731-7406. He also gave a brief
history and status of the Grumman Memorial Park, encouraging people to buy
bricks for the walk there. He mentioned that there is a group planning an air
show at the Calverton field on September 20 & 21, 2003.
Tom
Provost, AG2A gave a very interesting presentation on communicating via meteor
scatter.