Permission to copy is granted
provided that credit is given to "W6VIO Calling."
Contents
Calendar
of Events
|
October 8 |
General Meeting, Noon - 238-543 |
|
October 18 |
[Pomona Swapmeet, DeVry Institute] |
|
October 22 |
Board Meeting, Noon - 301-227 |
|
October 25 |
[TRW Swapmeet, Redondo Beach] |
|
November 12 |
General Meeting, Noon - 238-543 |
|
November 15 |
[Pomona Swapmeet, DeVry Institute] |
|
November 26 |
Board Meeting, Noon - 301-227 |
|
November 29 |
[TRW Swapmeet, Redondo Beach] |
|
December |
JPL ARC Christmas Banquet |
|
December 20 |
[Pomona Swapmeet, DeVry Institute] |
|
December 24 |
Board Meeting, Noon - 301-227 |
|
December 27 |
[TRW Swapmeet, Redondo Beach] |
Meeting
Notice
The next regular JPL Amateur Radio Club meeting will be held
on Wednesday, October 8, at noon in building 238, room 543. Our
speaker will be Dale Winther, WB6PDL. He will share his experience
of being one of LA's first UHF repeater owners. Club Board of
Directors meetings are held at noon on the fourth Wednesday of
each month in 301-227. Everyone is welcome at both meetings;
bring your lunch. n
President's
Message
By Randy Hammock, KC6HUR
As mentioned in a previous issue, it is now time to begin
planning for the election of next year's officers. Chris Carson
KE6ABQ has volunteered to be the chair for the nominating committee.
Please consider running for office and become one of the next
movers and shakers of the club.
The Club becomes an even more important part of the JPL Emergency
Preparedness Plan! In the event of a disaster where all normal
channels of communication between JPL and Goldstone are lost,
the plan is utilize the link between JPL and Table Mountain repeaters
as a method for allowing the Emergency Operations Centers at
JPL and Goldstone to talk to each other. Radios, power supplies
and antennas have been purchased by the lab for installation
at each site.
Speaking of the JPL/TMO link, thanks to Bill Wood, WB6FXJ,
for performing a most excellent job of repairing and getting
the link back into operation in near record time. Bill is also
working on a system that we hope will reduce the amount of interference
experienced from the Mission Viejo repeater, which is co-channeled
with the TMO 223.96 repeater.
Until next month, 73! n
September
Club Meetings
By Chris Zygielbaum, N6WEI
General Meeting
The September General Meeting of the JPL ARC was held on Wednesday
September 10, 1997. Randy Hammock (KC6HUR) called the meeting
to order.
Randy reported for Bob Polansky (N6ET) on the progress made
installing the HF antenna on the Mesa. The tower preparation
is completed; the fittings are now being checked to make sure
that the pieces will go together during assembly. A work party
was planned for Saturday, September 13 to continue the preparations.
Randy provided the program for the meeting. Randy is a mentor
for the SAREX (Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment) Program with
the AMSAT Development and Operations Team. He works with schools
to prepare them for a SAREX contact with a Shuttle Mission. He
showed a video made by the 5th Grade class at Center Street School
in El Segundo when they talked to the Shuttle Columbia on the
second SAREX flight.
This contact took place with STS-94, which launched on July
1, 1997. Astronaut Susan Still answered questions posed by the
students. Susan used the call, KC5INI, which was the shuttle
commander's call. Permission has been given to the astronauts
to use a crewmember's call when transmitting from the shuttle.
The Amateur Radio Club of the Aerospace Corporation, who assembled
and built the equipment that the school needed, supported the
school. David Reeves (WA6TWF), a member of the Aerospace Radio
Club and father of one of the two students that hold amateur
radio licenses, submitted the application to NASA for Center
Street School.
The video, which was produced by the students and co-hosted
by Gordon West (WB6NOA) and a student, included an interview
with Randy. For his work on the mission, Randy received a NASA
Group Achievement Award.
Board of Directors Meeting
The BOD meeting was held on Wednesday, September 24. Walt
Diem (WA6PEA), Randy Hammock (KC6HUR), Jay Holladay (W6EJJ),
Rick McKinney (KA6DAN), Walt Mushagian (K6DNS), Scott Nolte (N6CUV),
John Norris (KE6QEZ), Bob Polansky (N6ET), Bill Wood (WB6FXJ)
via telephone, and Chris Zygielbaum (N6WEI) attended the meeting.
Randy Hammock called the meeting to order.
Bill Wood updated the group on the current effort to support
the Telecommunications and Mission Operations Directorate's (TMOD)
emergency communications link between JPL and Goldstone. Equipment
to ensure a clear signal between JPL and the high desert; transceivers
(two Kenwood 642s), power supplies, and a 220 antenna have been
ordered.
Bob reported that the work party planned for October 4 will
complete the preparation on the Mesa. The assembly of the tower
for the HF antenna will start as soon as possible thereafter.
The assembly will have to take place during working hours, because
of the availability of the cherrypicker that will be used.
Rick McKinney recruited one more club member with Autopatch
this month.
Scott had acquired some excessed radios used by the Facilities
personnel at Edwards about a year ago when the club was considering
running Space Shuttle audio on a government frequency. Because
currently it is not feasible for us to gain access to a frequency,
Scott asked if there is still a need for the radios. He has about
15 hand-helds, 8 mobile radios, and a base station. After some
discussion, it was agreed that Scott will offer the radios to
Eric Fuller, JPL's Emergency Operations Coordinator. If Eric
has no need for the radios, they will be excessed.
Walt Diem reported the need for 35' of low-loss cable (with
"N" connectors) for the WB6IEA repeater 900 MHz link.
Bill Wood suggested Texas Towers, a mail order source, where
the parts can be ordered for about $30. A motion was moved, seconded,
and passed authorizing Walt to order the parts that he needs.
Randy is putting together a nominating committee to select
radio club officers for 1998. The committee should be formed
in adequate time to have a slate of officers for the December
dinner meeting. Jay Holladay asked for program suggestions for
that meeting.
Bob Polansky noted that Sam Weaver participated in the work
party on September 13 and was invaluable to the progress that
was made that day. His help was very much appreciated by Bob
and the rest of the participants. n
DX News
By Bob Polansky, N6ET
For the first time in years, the solar flux has gone above
85. In fact, it went well above 100 for over a week! Propagation
on the upper HF bands reflected this by openings to places not
heard in years. VK9WM was workable on 80 through 10 meters and
the long path to Africa even reappeared. Look for more of the
same as winter approaches and the sun continues to wake up. Thanks
to The 59(9) DX report, the DX expectations should keep
us glued to our rigs whenever JPL doesn't keep us glued to our
desks! Now for the specifics:
GABON - TR8XX regularly hand out QSO's on 40cw at 0600Z. He
then QSYs to 30 and 20 meters and does the same thing. He's loud
and produces a large pileup!
GIBRALTAR - ZB2FX plans to operate from 30 September through
14 October. No frequencies or modes given.
GHANA - 9G5VJ or their private calls, 9G5SW and 9G5WD, will
be active from 21 November to 2 December during the CQ WW CW
Contest. Outside of the contest, they plan to work the low bands
as well as the WARC bands.
KURE ISLAND - K7K, a special call should be active for a week
starting 26 September. Look for them on 160 through 10 meters,
all modes. Specific frequencies are visible on the W6VIO shack
wall. (Just listen for the big pileup.)
LIBYA - 5A1A will be active from 25 November through 4 December
including the CQ WW CW Contest. Don't miss this one!
ST. PAUL ISLAND - The CY9DX operation that was supposed to
occur last week has been rescheduled for 23 October to 2 November.
ST. PIERRE - No call is yet available for this one, but they
will be active over the SSB Contest weekend (See parting note
below.)
TOGO - 5V7A plans to add his call to the CQ WW CW Contest
the weekend of 29/30 November.
Don't forget about the CQ WW SSB Contest from 25 to 26 October.
It's always a lot of fun and you can work many of the countries
you need to improve your standing on the DXCC roles on SSB. n
Angeles Crest
Century a Success
By Randy Hammock, KC6HUR
The Angeles Crest Century Bike Ride, sponsored by the JPL
Bicycle Club was a great success this year. While we were a little
short of help, all positions were manned. Thank you to all who
volunteered, both within the JPLARC and outside as well: Rick
McKinney, KA6DAN, Dick Mathison, KG6Y, Steve Jenkins, N6UNI,
Bob Polansky, N6ET, Rick Ebert, KE6ONX (CalTech IPAC) and David
Love, KD6TRH (Aerojet Corp.).
The course of the ride offered some challenges to the radio
operations as well as to the riders. It is a 102 mile long course
that starts at Visitor control at JPL and traverses parts of
the Angeles Crest Highway, Angeles Forest Highway and Upper Big
Tujunga with the turnaround point located at Dawson Saddle, altitude
7901 ft. There are five stops on the course that are manned by
the radio operators: Clear Creek, Shortcut, Newcomb Ranch, Buckhorn
and Dawson Saddle.
Radio operations usually take place somewhere on 2 meters;
however, there are holes where some stations cannot hear some
other stations. Therefore, Dawson saddle usually works as net
control to relay messages up and down the course, while Shortcut
is able to talk to Visitor Control via repeater or autopatch.
This year, I decided to try something different. I found out
that Dawson Saddle could hit the Table Mountain repeaters quite
easily. This meant that it would be possible to talk to Visitor
control via the TMO/JPL link on the 224.080 repeater. To make
things even easier, I configured my mobile radio to serve as
a cross-band repeater, linking the 2 meter net frequency to TMO
and vice versa. With one exception, this now meant that everyone
involved in communications could directly to each other, no matter
where they were located.
The operators on the course talked to each other via the 2-meter
frequency, which was relayed to visitor control via my truck
radio. Visitor Control could talk to anyone on the course via
the reverse link. Since my high-power radio was being used as
the cross-band link, I used my 220 HT to talk to everyone through
the TMO repeater from Dawson Saddle. By using PL Encode and Decode
on the cross-band link, I was able to expedite link turn-around
by not having to wait for the TMO repeater to drop carrier and
eliminated any interference from other users on the 2-meter frequency.
We were able to prove the viability of the TMO/JPL link as
well as show that there does exist a need to reduce the amount
of interference we get from the Mission Viejo repeater, which
is co-channeled with the TMO repeater. Thanks to Bill Wood WB6FXJ
for getting the link repeater repaired and back in service for
this event, even though we originally did not plan to use it.
n
W6VIO Work
Party
By Bob Polansky, N6ET
Your Club had a very successful work party on 13 September.
Chris Carson, Randy Hammock, Walt Mushagian, Bob Polansky, and
Sam Weaver participated. The main goal of the activity was to
prepare the new Rohn tower parts for installation on our new
tower base on the Mesa. The following items were completed:
At the next work party, we will deburr the tower segment already
vertically mounted in the cement tower base. We will also install
additional bracing for the lower thrust bearing plate. Finally,
we will glue "end caps" onto the Philystrand "ropes"
and will install "big grips" onto those ropes. Once
that's done, we're ready to start stacking tower segments vertically
on the Mesa tower base. My thanks to all participants on making
this work party a most successful one! n
La Cresenta
No-Code Class
By Joseph Sabutis, NW0A
The Crescenta Valley Amateur Radio Club will be offering an
Amateur Radio class beginning Tuesday, 30 September 1997, at
7:00 PM. The class will be held at the Verdugo Hills Hospital,
Council Room C, 1812 Verdugo Blvd, Glendale/La Canada, CA. This
seven-week course is aimed for the person with little or no electronics
background, and will cover the regulations and theory necessary
to prepare the student for the FCC's Amateur Radio No-Code Technician
License.
With this class of license, an amateur will be able to provide
essential local communications in time of emergency when normal
communication systems are not available. At the conclusion of
the class, a license testing session will be conducted at the
hospital. The class is free, although the current FCC amateur
license examination fee is $6.25, and the study manual to be
used will be available at the class for $16.
Over the past five years, these classes have produced nearly
400 licensed amateur radio operators from our area that can provide
communication services during disasters and emergencies.
For more information, please feel free to contact the instructor
for the class, Joseph Sabutis, NW0A, at (818) 247-1126. Because
seating is limited, preregistration is requested for the class.
n
Pasadena
No-Code Class
By Phil Barnes-Roberts, KE6PMZ
The Pasadena Radio Club holds Spring and Fall No-Code Tech
classes; the Fall session starts on Wednesday, October 1st, for
eight consecutive Wednesday evenings, the last one being the
exam session (all elements, all classes welcome.) It is held
at the Kaiser Permanente office complex at 393 E. Walnut (at
Los Robles) in Pasadena from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM (the exam will
start earlier.)
To register leave a message on Allen Wolff's (KC7O) pager
with the number of people and books needed (3rd edition of Now
You're Talking) - 818 603-5682 n
Special
Event Communications, Part 2
In the September issue of W6VIO Calling, we began a
two-part series of tips for properly handling communications
at special events. This article concludes the series, drawn from
a handbook published by the Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club
(SBARC). This article appeared in the October 1997 issue of the
"ARNS Bulletin", Steve Auyer-N2TKX Editor.
A Handbook for Amateur Radio
Operators
By Lou Dartanner, N6ZKJ.
Enunciation and Pronunciation:
Clear, distinct pronunciation is essential to communications,
especially over the radio. Sloppy articulation includes lazy
or mushy speech, slurring words, and running words together.
Santa Barbara has a lot of Spanish names in its heritage and
most of us learn the pronunciation by listening. When transmitting
over the radio, use the commonly used pronunciation.
Don't talk with objects or food in your mouth. It makes understanding
you very difficult. Of course, someone always calls you just
as you take a bite of that sandwich you've been waiting an hour
to eat, but take small bites so you can swallow quickly
Emotions.
It's sometimes difficult to not let your emotions show in
your voice, especially when you're tired, angry, or busy. These
emotions can be misunderstood by others. You may be very busy,
but a curt response could be interpreted as your being surly,
sarcastic, or angry, and now you have someone more concerned
about your answer and intentions than about the task at hand.
Think before you speak. Know what you're going to say before
you call Net Control.
Always wait a second after you push the mike button before
you talk. This will avoid clipping the first word or syllable
of your message. This will also allow two or more repeaters which
are "linked" together to complete the circuit before
you start. Remember "Push-2-Talk." Push the mike button,
count 1-2 (to yourself), then talk. If you have a one-word answer,
it's best to add a word or two before it. Instead of "one,"
you might say, "There is one person here." Or, "I
say again, one.")
Use expected phrases and words:
Anything out of the ordinary may result in confusion and your
having to repeat or rephrase. If your message is technical or
unusual, slow down and warn your receiver, or put the event official
on the radio to talk direct with the person he wants the message
to go to. Use common words. Don't try to be funny with some "cutesy"
phrase. Avoid slang; not everyone knows your jargon.
It's OK and in fact necessary to use specialized terminology,
but be sure your listener speaks the same "technical-ese."
Speak in whole but brief sentences. That's what your listener
expects to hear. Don't speak in shorthand. Don't ramble on and
don't repeat your message by rephrasing it unless asked. Use
plain English and no "10" codes or "Q" signals.
Remember your ABCs:
Accuracy
Brevity
Clarity
Standardization:
Standards have been developed by various organizations to
facilitate accurate, clear, and brief communications. These standards
make communications easier, faster, and more accurate.
The phonetic alphabet we use in amateur radio is the International
Phonetic Alphabet and it is used by most organizations except
law enforcement. Practice it so you can use it easily.
Numbers also have a standard of pronunciation, both as individual
numbers and groups of numbers. For example, 13 is said as "one
three," 45 is "four five," 136 as "one three
six," 500 as "five zero zero," and 1,478 is "one
four seven eight." Number groups are also given as they
are commonly written or spoken. For instance, the phone number
681-4100 is given as "six eight one" (slight pause)
"four one zero zero."
It is a good idea to learn and use 24-hour time. This avoids
confusion between a.m. and p.m. and you will find it useful in
other aspects of Amateur radio.
Prowords are also very useful in standardizing how two operators
communicate. For instance, "Say again?" replaces: "Could
you repeat that, please?" "What did you say?"
Or, "I didn't hear your last transmission." By using
a standard phrase, we know exactly what you've said and how to
respond.
Try to send any message given to you exactly as it was received.
This is why it's a good idea to have a pen and paper with you.
If it is very detailed put the official on the radio. Don't try
to paraphrase or interpret a message; you could send the wrong
information.
When you receive a message to relay to your official be sure
you have it right before you acknowledge. If something is not
clear, ask for a repeat. Write it down if you need to.
Net Control:
The job of net control is to make sure traffic flows smoothly.
Just as a traffic cop stands in the middle of the intersection
and directs vehicles, the Net Controller is placed in the middle
of an event net. Each case requires visibility to carry out the
job. A traffic officer sees cars approaching and directs them
according to the flow of road traffic. The Net Control operator
directs message traffic so it flows in a smooth manner.
Note that Net Control is a traffic facilitator. He or she
does not have all of the answers; in fact, just the opposite
is true. So don't come on and ask Net Control a question because
he or she probably doesn't know the answer. Look at your assignment
sheet for a likely contact, or briefly summarize your needs to
Net Control.
Always listen before you transmit. It is quite annoying for
someone to start talking right in the middle of someone else's
conversation; it wastes airtime, causes confusion, and makes
the Net Controller very unhappy!
Net Control operators keep written logs of everything that
occurs on the net, including a summary of everything you say.
The logs are useful as a reference during the event to answer
questions that might come up. They are also the only legal documents
kept about an incident and have been invaluable when questions
arise later about such things as accidents.
Always give the identification of the station you wish to
call first, followed by your call. For example, "Net Control,
this is Check Point Three."
Keep a copy of your event information sheet with you. This
enables you to determine what Event Communicator is assigned
to each location and/or official.
When you need to pass a message, ask Net Control to "go
direct" with that operator. For example, "Net Control,
Check Point Three, request direct with Run Director." Net
control will say, "Go ahead." You say, "Run Director,
Check Point Three." The communicator with the Run Director
answers, he says, "Check Point Three this is Run Director.
Go ahead." You then proceed with your traffic. At the conclusion
of the exchange, each Event Communicator will sign off with his
or her FCC call sign.
Net Control is frequently very busy with work on other frequencies,
the telephone, or other tasks. If you call Net Control and don't
get an immediate reply, be patient and call again in 30 to 60
seconds.
If it is an emergency, say so. If you still get no answer,
proceed with emergency traffic without Net Control. However,
the reason you don't get an answer may be that you are in a bad
location and not being heard; try moving to another spot and
try again. If you have emergency traffic, use the word "Break."
This word is for emergency traffic only! All communicators will
immediately cease use of the frequency and yield to the breaking
station.
Sometimes several stations have traffic or messages at the
same time. Net Controllers usually like to solve one problem
before moving to another. If you are asked to stand by, please
do so. The Net Controller will get to you either in the order
of your call or by the nature of your traffic.
If you must move off your assigned frequency for some reason,
advise Net Control when you leave and again when you return.
If someone is having trouble with a radio, or some other kind
of question comes up, don't jump in to help unless you are asked!
It often causes much confusion, so let Net Control handle it.
When your assignment is completed and you are ready to leave
your position, "check out" with Net Control. This insures
we can account for all our people. If you go home without telling
us, we have no way of knowing that you didn't fall down and break
both your leg and your radio!
Now go have fun with Amateur Radio! n
|
JPL ARC Repeaters |
|
Pasadena: |
|
W6VIO |
147.150 MHz |
(+) |
PL 131.8 Open |
|
W6VIO |
224.080 MHz |
(-) |
PL 156.7 Open |
|
WB6IEA |
224.700 |
(-) |
Closed Autopatch |
|
W6VIO-1 |
145.090 MHz |
|
Packet Node/BBS |
|
W6VIO-1 |
223.540 MHz |
|
Packet Node/BBS |
|
Table Mountain: |
|
WR6AZN |
145.280 MHz |
(-) |
PL 131.8 Open |
|
WR6AZN |
223.96 MHz |
(-) |
PL 156.7 Open |
|
WR6AZN |
447.325 MHz |
(-) |
PL 94.8 Open |
Classified
Section
Wanted:
The 40M, 20M, 11M and 10M elements for the Hustler Moblil
antenna system. Call Bill Westphal, WB6YPF at 213-633-3121 (Work)
or e-mail at whwestp@pacbell.com.
A50-to-80-foot self-supporting/telescoping/tilt-over tower
or towers. Can be either tubular or triangular. Need to be in
good condition. Motorized would be a big plus. Will pay for packaging
and shipping to Prescott, Arizona. Contact Brian (KW6J) at 714-896-3514
(M-F, 8 AM to 4 PM) or via Internet at stapleton@apt.mdc.com.
New or used (but in good condition) HF large mono-band beams
which were designed for high gain/good front to back ratio/good
directivity etc. Contact Brian (KW6J) at 714-896-3514 (M-F 8
AM to 4 PM) or via Internet at stapleton@apt.mdc.com.
US Tower (or Wilson) ROTATING BASE and RAISING FIXTURE for
a 40 foot tubular telescoping tower. US Tower part number for
the rotating base is MARB/40 and for the raising fixture is MAF-40.
Please contact Brian Stapleton (KW6J) at 714-896-3514, M-F 8
AM - 4 PM.
Your want ad or article for inclusion in a future issue of
W6VIO Calling. Submit either to Bill Wood, Mail Stop DSCC-33;
or email bill.wood@mindspring.com
For Sale:
Complete ICOM Handheld Set: One 2-m IC-02AT, two 220 IC-3AT's
with PL, one 440 IC-04AT, plus one 6-place Rapid Charger and
five extra Nicad's (two are new). Sell all for $600 or will neogioate
price on individual items. Call Paul Goodwin, KO6D at 818-790-5785.
Complete Heathkit HF Station. HW-5400 XCVR, HW-5400-1 Power
Supply/Clock, SB-230 Linear Amp, SB-610 Station Monitor, SA-2060A
Antenna Tuner, Desk Mic. $700.00 Call Bill Westphal WB6YPF at
213-633-3121 or e-mail to whwestp@pacbell.com
Test equipment. From Volt Meters to Oscilloscopes. Too much to list. Call for price list. Call Bill
Westphal WB6YPF at 213-633-3121 or e-mail to whwestp@pacbell.com
Only $4,500 for a US Tower Model HDX-589-MDPL 89-foot self
supporting triangular tower with heavy duty motor, pull downs,
and limit switches (original cost, over $8,100!). Tower is in
great condition and is only a few years old. Contact Brian (KW6J)
for further details (work number M-F, 8 AM to 4 PM, 714-896-3514).
Yaesu FT-470 2m/440 mobile w/tone squelch, PA-6, FNB-12 batteries,
charger and vinyl cases. Like new, $250 or best offer, + shipping.
FT-212RH 2m mobile with mike, speakers, Diamond antenna. Like
new, $195 plus shipping, or best offer. KC6CWA Geo Kendall (916)
383-1652. For more info contact W6MEO @ KJ6FY.#NOCAL or a.k.chapman@ieee.org.
n
Newsletter Deadline:
October 31 for the November issue
of W6VIO Calling. Your articles, ads, photos, diagrams, letters
to the editor, or technical material should be submitted to the
editor via email (bill.wood@mindspring.com)
or regular mail to: Bill Wood, 31094 Hemlock Ave, Barstow, CA
92311.
ARRL News
Via the ARRL Internet Home Page
Phase 3D
Looking for a New Ride
ARRL Letter Online, Volume 16, Number 36
Now that it's clear that the Phase 3D Amateur Radio satellite
definitely will not be aboard the Ariane 502 rocket later this
month, AMSAT has begun angling with the European
Space Agency (ESA) for a new launch opportunity. It's also
asking hams to hold their tongues.
This week, AMSAT made official what most observers had already
figured out for themselves-that the Phase 3D payload would not
be going up at month's end. In late July, AMSAT announced that
it would have to structurally modify the Phase 3D spaceframe
to bring it up to new mechanical standards made necessary by
a late change in ESA launch environment specifications. But,
making the changes put Phase 3D out of sync with the Ariane 502
launch schedule. As a result, ESA concluded that Phase 3D would
not be able to fly on the Ariane 502 mission as initially hoped.
The soon-to-be-completed structural changes also added $25,000
to Phase 3D's cost.
ESA's action did not go over well with some hams who posted
what AMSAT called "several derogatory comments regarding
ESA" on the AMSAT bulletin board. This week, AMSAT defended
ESA against the critics and declared that ESA "has been
very supportive of AMSAT for almost 20 years."
AMSAT pointed out that, while the first Phase 3 satellite
"was a passenger on an Ariane vehicle which, unfortunately,
ended in a launch failure in 1980," ESA has since "made
amends" by using Ariane vehicles to launch AO-10, AO-13,
the four Microsats and two UoSats, KO-23, KO-25, IO-26 and AO-27.
AMSAT says it's in AMSAT's best interests that the Ariane 502
launch goes well "even without Phase 3D aboard."
Similar sentiments were expressed August 30 during a Phase
3D Program Board meeting at the Orlando Phase 3D Integration
Lab. Participants in that meeting were Karl Meinzer, DJ4ZC, AMSAT-DL
president and Phase 3D project leader; Werner Haas, DJ5KQ, AMSAT-DL
vice president; Peter Guelzow, DB2OS, representing the Command
Station Team; Ron Broadbent, G3AAJ, AMSAT-UK Secretary; Joel
Harrison, W5ZN, ARRL vice president; Keith Baker, KB1SF, AMSAT-NA
executive vice president; and Bill Tynan W3XO AMSAT-NA president.
The Program Board called on hams to "do everything we
can to promote the successful launch of Phase 3D, particularly
being especially careful of what we say on public forums such
as AMSAT-BB or in letters to the editors of various magazines."
Meinzer is continuing negotiations with ESA representatives regarding
a launch vehicle for Phase 3D. The Board's statement stressed
that "all of us should avoid doing anything that could possibly
hinder" those talks. n
Sunspots
Top 100 For First Time in Three Years!
ARRL Letter Online, Volume 16, Number 36
Sun watcher Tad Cook, K7VVV, in Seattle, Washington,
reports: The rise in solar activity continues, and on
Monday, September 8, solar flux values peaked at 119.4. The last
time the solar flux was above this value was January 27, 1994.
On the same day the sunspot number was 101, which has been unequaled
since September 3, 1994. We are definitely through the
minimum and on the upswing of the next solar cycle!
The average solar flux for the previous 90 days rose another
two points this past week (to 77), as it had the previous week.
September 11 was the 38th consecutive day that the flux was above
the 90-day average. This greatly increased activity has brought
along some geomagnetic disturbances. The most disturbed period
over this past week was around 0600 to 0900 UTC on September
9. Recent projections from the NOAA
Space Environment Service Center show the solar flux dropping
below 100 after September 17, then rising to above 100 around
September 26, and above 115 after October 4. These estimates
are based upon the previous solar rotation, so new active regions
on the Sun could send these numbers higher.
This new activity means that DX now is possible on the higher
HF bands. Prior to now, 20 meters was the primary band for worldwide
propagation. Check 15 and even 10 meters, where openings are
now possible, especially over north-south paths. Combined with
the progression toward the Fall equinox, conditions now
and over the next month should be the best seen in several years!
Sunspot numbers for September 4 through 10 were 56, 79, 85,
84, 97, 101 and 95, with a mean of 85.3. The 10.7-cm flux was
93, 96, 97.6, 102, 119.4, 116.1 and 114.9, with a mean of 105.6,
and estimated planetary A indices were 19, 5, 7, 3, 9, 19, and
19, with a mean of 11.6. n
FCC Issues
Gate 3 Call Signs!
ARRL Letter Online, Volume 16, Number 37
Get ready to remember another batch of new call signs. Six
weeks to the day after the opening of Gate 3, the FCC began processing
vanity call sign applications. FCC personnel in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania,
had spent much of the intervening time clearing out a backlog
of vanity applications filed prior to the Gate 3 opening and
matching up payments with electronic applications.
On Wednesday, September 17, the FCC issued some 500 to 600
vanity call signs to those who had filed applications on August
6, the opening day. Applicants can check for new call signs at
http://www.arrl.org/fcc/fccld.html
or by using one of the other popular call sign databases.
Judging from the call signs turning up on the FCC database,
some Advanced class hams took advantage of Gate 3 to obtain Group
C call signs where the suffix comprised either a first name (we
spotted a Joe, a Don, a Ken, a Bob and a Gay, for example) or
a set of initials. Perhaps apropos of his QTH, Gene Uliasz of
Gun Barrel City, Texas, used Gate 3 to turn KC4WA into K5TNT.
Formerly KF6CG, Georgia A. Lawrence of Manhattan Beach, California,
obtained K6GAL. Other applicants obtained new Group B call signs,
sometimes trading one 2x2 in for another. For example, Karl Mortensen
of Wakefield, Rhode Island, swapped KE1FK for KA1RL. Still others
went for the snappy suffix. Charles Pharis of Kagel Cyn, California,
turned in KK6NE for KA6USA. Michael Amaral of Walpole, Massachusetts,
gave up W1IDP to obtain WA1AW. Along the same lines, Michael
Esposito of Germantown, Tennessee, swapped WA2VXV for WA2AW.
Yvonne Lane of Kingwood, Texas, gave up KF5MY for W5XYL.
A few, like West Gulf Director Jim Haynie, just shortened
the prefix. Haynie went from WB5JBP to W5JBP. Others went for
one appropriate for their QTH. Teriann Miner of Palmer, Alaska,
turned in her lower-48 call sign, KG0OY, for KL7AT. The Iowa
DX and Contest Club got WI0WA.
In all, it appears that the FCC received more than 1000 vanity
call sign applications on August 6. Because earlier gates remain
open, it's impossible to get an accurate count of applications
filed solely under Gate 3, however. The FCC still has not indicated
when it plans to open Gate 4, which will make the vanity call
sign program available to General, Tech Plus, Technician and
Novice licensees. n
FCC Call
Sign Update
The following is a list of FCC sequentially assigned call
signs issued as of September 4, 1997.
|
District |
Group A Extra |
Group B Advanced |
Group C Tech/Gen |
Group D Novice |
|
0 |
AB0GC |
KI0JT |
++ |
KC0BXJ |
|
1 |
AA1SP |
KE1II |
N1ZRK |
KB1CEY |
|
2 |
AB2EB |
KG2ML |
++ |
KC2CIU |
|
3 |
AA3QB |
KF3AH |
N3ZVJ |
KB3BUX |
|
4 |
AF4FF |
KU4KG |
++ |
KF4TVD |
|
5 |
AC5NS |
KM5LY |
++ |
KD5CDL |
|
6 |
AD6CX |
KQ6RM |
++ |
KF6NMB |
|
7 |
AB7WH |
KK7JP |
++ |
KC7ZCT |
|
8 |
AB8BC |
KI8DQ |
++ |
KC8ILA |
|
9 |
AA9UW |
KG9LF |
++ |
KB9RJE |
|
N Mariana Island |
NH0B |
AH0AY |
KH0GT |
WH0ABI |
|
Guam |
++ |
AH2DE |
KH2SI |
WH2ANU |
|
Hawaii |
AH7V |
AH6PD |
KH7GC |
WH6DEH |
|
American Samoa |
AH8P |
AH8AH |
KH8DK |
WH8ABF |
|
Alaska |
AL0F |
AL7QU |
KL0KG |
WL7CUM |
|
Virgin Islands |
++ |
KP2CM |
NP2JR |
WP2AII |
|
Puerto Rico |
NP3M |
KP3BC |
NP3QM |
WP4NNL |
++ All call signs in this group have been issued
in this district. n
Upcoming VEC
Examinations
The following test session information is provided by the
ARRL/VEC for the upcoming three month period. For further information,
please call the test session contact person at the telephone
number listed.
Although the test session information presented here does
not indicate whether walk-ins are accepted or not, most test
sessions do allow walk-ins. We encourage you, however, to always
call the contact person at the telephone number provided so that
the VE Team is aware that you be attending the test.
