The Monitor

On Sunday February 25^th, five members provided communications for the first "Paris Run for the Heart". The day started out sunny and mild but by the end of the race, rain started to fall and the temperature dropped about five degrees. The foot race drew 175 participants and about $2,100 in pledges was raised for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. The event went off without a hitch and organizers are looking forward to planning next year’s race. Thanks to Bill VE3WXT, Ebe VE3EBH, Peter VE3NIX, Harry VE3HPH, and Bob VA3BIK for their help.

The Knights of Columbus Hall was the place to be on Wednesday February 21^st as the club hosted an open house/social to hopefully meet some old friends and attract some new members. Even though invitations were sent out to all area hams, the turnout wasn’t as good as hoped but we did sign-up one new member. Welcome to Ron VA3TV. Thanks to Mario VE3VML who came up with this idea and did most of the organizing and to the club members who showed up with their support.

QST March 2001

THE WARBLER-A SIMPLE PSK31 TRANSCEIVER FOR 80 METERS. A small and inexpensive transceiver that is packed with fun!

ELECRAFT K-1 QRP CW TRANSCEIVER KIT. This state-of-the-art home constructed QRP transceiver rivals some contemporary commercially constructed transceivers.

CQ March 2001

HIGH-FREQUENCY TRANSCEIVERS FOR 2001. A look at what’s available in the HF Amateur market.

MFJ-A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING. A behind-the-scenes look at the headquarters of one of America’s best-known Amateur radio equipment manufacturers.

On February 23^rd at about 0300 hours, I was sleeping soundly when I heard the doorbell. When I answered it I saw, with surprise, this astronaut at the door. He said:

"Sorry sir… I tried to land at Tim Horton’s on the highway to get a cup of coffee… but I could not because of hydro and telephone wires around there. Since I was flying very low and saw your antenna, I decided to land in your backyard and kindly ask if you can make me a cup of coffee."

I invited him into the house, made a coffee, and he drank it and left…

Of course this was a dream… but there is some reality to this dream because about 7 hours earlier, I made a radio contact with R3K on 20 meters (14.175 MHz). R3K is a station operated by the Russian Mission Control Centre. I was very excited about making this contact and this might have triggered the dream. R3K station had a very strong signal (5/9+10) and he gave me a 5/9. This contact was a casual one, since I just went to that frequency to listen for some of my country friends. I was surprised by the short callsign calling CQ, and when I realized who it was I did not lose any time to answer. I am glad I did because this is a rare opportunity in the life of an Amateur. My QSL is in the mail and I am impatiently waiting for a confirmation.

A QSL Manager for several DX stations has noted some Do’s and Don’ts about the Art of QSL’ing.

1. Always include a S.A.E. (self-addressed envelope with your return address) plus some method to pay for the return postage, i.e. stamps, IRC’s (International Reply Coupons), or "Green Stamps". Some countries dislike and deplore their Amateurs receiving U.S. dollars and some countries will not honor IRC’s. I would suggest using a lightweight S.A.E., perhaps a #6-3/4 "Grip-Seal" or "Press it-Seal it" or "Peel & Seal" commercial self-sealing envelope. REMEMBER: Airmail postage is very expensive in some FOREIGN countries and postage is charged in grams!

2. Never fold or crumple your S.A.E. Hint: Use a combination of #6, #7, #8 or #9 envelopes into a larger size #10 envelope. Fitting the smaller into the larger #10 envelope.

3. Always use Coordinated Universal Timer (UTC), GMT or ZULU time. These terms are all the same. UTC is a time that all Amateurs should use and be familiar with. An Amateur in Zambia probably does not know or understand OKEFENOKEE STANDARD TIME, nor cares.

4. Never send an altered QSL card, or one that is hard to read. Take pride in your QSL card as it reflects upon you. If your callsign is printed in German Bold, Fancy Script or Ye Old English Gothic, then make sure your call sign is also printed in plain, readable block print. QSL early, not later than 90-days after your QSO, practice consideration!

5. Never use metered postage. It has the appearance you are a thief and ripping off your employer’s postal machine. It is also against U.S. Postal Service Rules and Regulations to use it on return S.A.E.’s. Attempt to use COMMEMORATIVE STAMPS on your envelope, as the recipient just may be a stamp collector as well as a ham. Don’t project the appearance of your being a CHEAP SKATE! Performance counts.

6. Always use the correct amount of postage. Check with your local postal service. Can you imagine a QSL Manager, or worse yet, a foreign DX station or QSL Manager having to pay POSTAGE DUE! On the flip side, don’t over-postage your incoming envelope or your S.A.E.

7. Always use the correct QSL’ing route; i.e. Callbook address & instructions, www.qrz.com or other QSL’ing listings to which you have access. It is important for you to listen for the DX station’s QSL instructions and follow them.

8. Always put your call sign on the same side of your QSL that has the QSO data. It greatly speeds up the QSL writing process for that DX station or the QSL Manager.

9. Never use glue backed labels containing your return address. Should it drop off in transit you are out of luck. In the humid tropics, these labels have a habit of falling off, unless you use scotch tape over the glue-backed label on your SASE, i.e. Don’t lose it!

10. Last but not least, attempt to include a photo and a short note of positive interest to the DX station, QSL Manager, etc. to at least tell them why their QSL is so important to you, and to thank them for the fine help that they have given to you. A friendly, sincere "Thank You" can go a long way. Never ask for personal information from the DX station or the QSL Manager. First, it is nobody’s business, nor does the QSL Manager have the time to sit down and strike up correspondence with you. It slows down the QSL’ing process. After all, you don’t want to hold up and jeopardize the entire QSL process.

If you are not getting the QSL results you desire, then you may be making one or more of the above ten oversights. Every little bit helps. Remember that your attention to details and thoughtfulness, for the other person, is "The name of the QSL game". Your considerations will buy you the desired results you wish.

A dozen youngsters at Merivale Public School in Ottawa, Ontario, became the first Canadian students to speak with Space Station Alpha Commander William "Shep" Shepherd, KD5GSL, operating from space as NA1SS. Canada's prime minister had to miss the show, however.

Amateur Radio coordinator Steve McFarlane, VE3TBD, worked in concert with his wife, Lori--a teacher at the school--to make the contact a reality. Lori McFarlane has been working with youngsters at the school for several weeks in anticipation of the ARISS QSO. Merivale Public has an enrollment of nearly 600 students, from junior kindergarten to grade 6.

VE3TBD initially made several unsuccessful attempts to raise Shepherd. McFarlane found NA1SS on the ARISS backup frequency. The approximately 10-minute contact began around 1829 UTC on 2 meter FM.

A dozen pupils were set to ask questions of Shepherd, and all got their chance. Youngsters asked Shepherd about trash disposal and recycling aboard the ISS, procedures for dealing with a sick crewmember, and what the crew does for exercise. One-fourth grader asked why building a space station was necessary, given problems with pollution and poverty on Earth. Shepherd had a ready reply. "We live on a planet that's really kind of an island, and it's not going to last forever," he said. "And I think humans probably need to go places other than Earth even though we're all in the solar system, and if we don't have places like space station to do the research on how to do that, we'll never be able to do it."

Shepherd said the crewmembers all missed their families and friends but he said he gets to talk to his wife via Amateur Radio "every couple of days." He also said he has photos and videos of his family aboard. Responding to another student's question, Shepherd said the crew had exercise equipment aboard, and that exercising was considered essential.

Near the conclusion of the contact, the students on hand hollered "73, Commander Shepherd!" in unison. Looking on, in addition to other students and teachers were reporting teams from TV and newspapers. It had been hoped that Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien would be able to be on hand, but he was attending to a scheduled visit by British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Among those assisting McFarlane in addition to his wife were Ken Pulfer, VE3PU, George Roach, Steve Regan, VA3MGY, Eric Teutsch, and ARISS mentor Charlie Sufana, AJ9N.

On February 19^th, Laurence Mayhead, G3AQC and Larry Kayser, VA3LK completed a transatlantic QSO between the UK and Eastern Ontario on 136 kHz. The QSO began February 5^th and was completed on February 19th with the reception of VA3LK's report by G3AQC. The QSO was made using a visual adaptation of Morse, and using the visual signal-receiving program ARGO. The dits were 90 seconds long, the dashes 180 seconds long. Both stations used homebrew transmitters and a mix of commercial and homebrew receiving equipment. At these frequencies a wavelength is about 2200 metres long. The effective radiated power at G3AQC was in the order of 350 milliwatts

Finally, some good news regarding the new AO-40 ham satellite. DB2OS reports on the AMSAT DL home page that one of the bird’s sun sensors began triggering after the AO-40 came out of eclipse on orbit 147.

Also, that the satellites analogue spin rate is now showing a value of 49. This is the same value it was showing on orbit 89 when triggering was lost. DB2OS says that it’s expected that the second sun sensor will soon begin triggering as well. Once this happens it will allow satellite controllers to obtain attitude information and then re-start the magnetorquing efforts to bring the spacecraft's spin rate under control.

(via AMSAT-DL)

C.R.A.Q. (le Club Radio Amateur de Quebec) is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2001. The club will have 3 stations operating under the call sign VC2CQ on 3 bands being 40, 20 and 15. The 3 stations will be in operation on March 24 from 00.00Z to 23.59Z, 2001.

When you make contact with a special event station, you will be given a serial number, signal strength report and QTH. Your call sign, a signal report, your QTH and your name, (surname) will be requested in return.

Stations will receive a special QSL card for one contact, on any of the 3 bands. Stations who contact them on all 3 bands will receive a special certificate.

To receive the certificate you must send a card stating date, time of contact, signal strength, frequencies and the serial number you received.

All cards will be sent via the bureau. Certificates will be sent direct.

Frequencies used will end with 75 whenever possible. i.e. 14175, 21175, 21275, 7275 etc.

Special Event call sign VC4X, has been authorized to be used by Mr. Derrick Belbas (VE4VV) from March 2 to April 1, 2001 for the celebration of the 125th anniversary of the construction of Winnipeg's first City Hall in Manitoba.

Special Even Call Sign VC3X as been authorized to be used by Mr. John Hutchison (VE3CKF) for the period from March 20, 2001 to April 19, 2001 for the celebration of the 125^th anniversary of the City of St. Catherines, Ontario.

Timonium, MD: Baltimore Amateur Radio Club, W3FT, 1200Z Mar 31 to 2000Z Apr 1, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Greater Baltimore Hamboree and Computerfest. 7.260 14.310. Certificate. Baltimore Amateur Radio Club, Awards Manager, PO Box 120, Reisterstown, MD 21136.

Patuxent River, MD: NAS Patuxent River Military Recreation Station, K3NAL, 1300-2300Z Apr 1, celebrating the 58^th anniversary of the commissioning of the Patuxent River Naval Air Station. 28.450, 21.350, 14.275, 7.275. Certificate. K3EZ, 41389 Richneck Court, Mechanicsville, MD 20659.

Port St Lucie, FL: PSLARA, K4PSL, 1700-2100Z Apr 1 to Apr 14, commemorating the discovery of Florida by Ponce De Leon on April 2, 1513. 14.050 14.230 21.230 28.350. Certificate. Dr Maurice I. Sasson, W2JAJ, 8598 Florence Dr, Port St. Lucie, FL 34952.

Peoli, OH: Tusco Amateur Radio Club, W8ZX, 1501Z Apr 2 to 0400Z Apr 3, operating from Cy Young's hometown on the opening day of baseball season. 3.932 7.257 14.250 28.450. QSL. Tusco Amateur Radio Club, 3015 Larson Road SE, Uhrichsville, OH 44683.

New Orleans, LA: Jefferson Amateur Radio Club, W5GAD, 1750-2250 Apr 7, operating from the Mississippi River steamboat Natchez. 14.260 21.360. QSL or certificate ($1.50 donation requested for certificate). Jefferson Amateur Radio Club, PO Box 73665, Metairie, LA 70033.

Pine Bluff, AR: Pine Bluff Amateur Radio Club, K5DAK, 1500-2100Z Apr 7 celebrating the annual Railroad-a-Rama. 14.250. Certificate. Pine Bluff ARC, PO Box 1402, Pine Bluff, AR 71613.

Hamex 2001. Sponsored by the Peel ARC and Mississauga ARC on March 24^th at the Brampton Fall Fairgrounds 9:00 AM.

Brantford Classic Run. Sunday April 22^nd. More details forthcoming.

Paris to Ancaster Bike Race. Sunday April 22^nd. Same date as the Brantford Classic Run but maybe some of our members can participate in both as we have done in the past.

Durham Region Amateur Radio Hamfest. Sponsored by the South Pickering ARC and the North Shore ARC on April 28^th at the Iroquois Park Rec. Complex 9:00 AM.

Annual Spring Hamfest and Fleamarket. Sponsored by the Skywide ARC on May 12^th at the Westway United Church in Etobicoke 9:00 AM.

A pair of teenagers accused of killing two Dartmouth professors have been captured thanks to an alert ham radio operator. Sixteen-year-old James Parker and 17 year old Robert Tulloch who had been on the run from New Hampshire for three weeks when they made the mistake of hitching a ride with a trucker who had a CB radio.

While working his weekend patrol Deputy Bill Ward, N9RHY overheard a westbound trucker on the CB, looking for a ride for two teens hitch hiking to California. Ward had just seen a TV story about two teens wanted in the slayings of two Dartmouth College Professors.

Posing as a trucker, Sergeant Ward said he would meet the boys at the fuel desk in the New Castle truck stop. Today, two alleged killers are behind bars back in New Hampshire. Thanks to an alert deputy, who happens to be an amateur radio operator with a CB radio.

http://www.eqsl.cc/

The world's first and only eQSL exchange centre, www.eQSL.cc, started the year 2001 with a bang. On the first of December, it had blown through the 1 million-card mark, and now 2 million cards are in the central database. But instead of slowing down, the rate increased as thousands of eQSL cards were uploaded every hour.

The eQSL.cc site was launched in April of 2000, and included about 1500 hams that had been part of an earlier experiment in an electronic QSL card exchange. The "big" idea was that eQSLs should not be sent around from person to person via e-mail, but should be available at any time through a web-based exchange system and a central database.

To retrieve one of these eQSL cards, the recipient only need enter the callsign, date, and band of the QSO he wants to retrieve, and if the other ham has entered that QSO into the system, up pops the complete eQSL card, ready for printing on a local printer. Furthermore, if the recipient registers his callsign with the eQSL website, he can get a listing of all incoming eQSLs, and can just point and click to print each card received. Sending a reciprocal card back is a matter of clicking a button!

An earthquake estimated at magnitude 6.8 hit February 28th at 10:55 AM Pacific Time about 25 miles southeast of Seattle, Washington. No deaths and few serious injuries had been reported.

A state of emergency was declared in King County, Washington—the greater Seattle area. Some communities were without power. In addition, telephone lines were jammed. As a result, customers were being asked to not use their telephones. News reports indicated that King County Airport and Sea-Tac International Airport had been shut down.

ARRL Western Washington Section Manager Harry Lewis, W7JWJ was deeply impressed by the immediate response that occurred with hams coming out of the woodwork. He noted that the Red Cross, with Amateur Radio operators assisting, was already doing damage assessment, and that a temporary 2-meter net was set up for that purpose.

on that stiff cardboard with the exotic stamps that spent months in transit from the jungles of some island that is only above water for 3 weeks out of the year. Others are bothered that some amateur organizations still have "no electronic transmission" clauses in the rulebooks for their awards. Others still are spooked by the privacy issues that this interconnected new world brings up.

At the present growth rate (with the number of eQSLs doubling every month), eQSL.cc could be home to virtually all of the world's Amateur radio operators within a couple of years. Contest "big guns" will be able to "QSL 100%" within a matter of minutes, saving hundreds of hours of time and thousands of dollars in the process. DXpeditions will be able to "QSL 100%" on the spot, whether it be from that desert island with a dial-up Internet connection, or when the crew gets back to "civilization". It's just a quick log file upload, and they are done!