The Monitor

Again this year, the club was asked to provide communications for this yearly event in Brantford.  Although the temperature was cool on Sunday April 21st, it did not rain and we had approximately 16 members out to help.  There were no serious incidents and net control duties were performed by Pete VE3NIX.  Things got a little anxious at the start of the race when the race organizer’s communications failed at the starting line, but the club was able to supply the needed communications to get the race started at the precise moment.  As an experiment this year, the club utilized APRS in the lead cars for the three races.  A projector was placed in the hospitality tent to display on a large screen the racecourse and position of the lead runners.  The experiment worked well until a minor power interruption caused the computer to fail and had to be reset.  I think the experiment was worthwhile and with some minor glitches ironed out, this idea should be considered for next year as well.

Thanks have to go to Ebe VE3EBH for attending the meetings with the race organizers and getting the members organized on the course.  Also, thanks to Gary VE3NCZ for the use of his trailer again this year and to Ken VA3DDB for his help getting the APRS working.

The New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters is considering pushing for a lifetime license for radio amateurs.  The Association is studying the costs and running expenses of Amateur Radio compared to other hobbies.  It is thought that the availability of a lifetime license might make amateur radio more attractive.  The matter will be put to members at June's Annual General Meeting.  If carried, the NZART will sound-out the Ministry of Economic Development with regard to the possibility of a lifetime license.

The FCC's Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, reports that Jack Gerritson, ex-KG6IRO, has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for violating parole provisions barring him from possessing radio transmitting equipment.  According to the FCC, Gerritson, who had previously been convicted and sentenced to five years in prison for interfering with the Los Angeles Police Department, was arrested January 29 after allegedly making death threats on a 2-meter repeater.

Gerritson had been paroled after serving one year of his original 5-year sentence.  One condition of that parole was that he could not have any radio transmitting equipment. At the time of his arrest in January, the FCC said Gerritson had in his home over 20 radios, 8 of which were capable of operating on frequencies in the Amateur, Marine, Land Mobile and Public Safety bands.  The FCC also said those radios included a marine radio hidden in a closet with batteries connected to it, and a length of antenna line running outside his residence.

Now you can send your comments, suggestions, offers to help, or any other RAC matters you would like to discuss, directly to your Regional Director using an on-line form on their web site.
Just fill in the blanks, and click on the send button.  You can find the suggestion box page at: http://www.rac.ca/sbox.htm

At the April 2002 meeting of RAC Directors, held in Cornwall Ontario, a decision was taken to move much of the information on their site into an area accessible only by RAC members.

This means that links to information about DX, Contests, ATV, Antennas, Amateur satellites, non Canadian equipment suppliers, VHF, UHF and microwave operation, and many others will no longer be available to readers who are not RAC members.

A new alphabetical page listing with links to the member’s pages will soon be available

Again this year Radio Amateurs of Canada will have Booth 217 at the Dayton Hamvention May 17-19.  All Canadian radio amateurs in attendance at Dayton should stop by and sign the guest book.

One announcement that did come out of the meeting was that construction has begun on a new low-earth-orbit amateur satellite.  The AMSAT News Service reported that the new satellite, scheduled to be ready for launch late next year, will be similar in size to the AMSAT microsats that have been in orbit for over a decade, but will incorporate “all new, leading edge electronics and RF technology.”  The satellite, code-named AMSAT-OSCAR-E (Echo), is supposed to contain both analog and digital VHF/UHF-FM transponders, along with as many as two yet undetermined experimental payloads.
 
Haighton also told CQ that an announcement will be made shortly concerning the "Eagle satellite" and noted, “I can assure you that AMSAT is committed to this new satellite.”

Planners of two new amateur satellites are considering including transponders capable of carrying very high-speed wideband data communications, permitting the simultaneous transmission of multiple voice, video and data signals.  The system would be known as ADCARS, or Advanced Data Communications for the Amateur Radio Service.  The AMSAT News Service says the group is looking for help from anyone experienced in similar systems in developing hardware and software, both for satellite and ground stations using the system.

On April 4th to 7th, the ARISS international team, with delegates from The USA, Russia, Japan, Canada and Europe, met at the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) headquarters in St Hubert, just east of Montreal.  The meetings were moderated by Roy Neal W6DUE, and chaired by Frank Bauer KA3HDO.

Most of the meetings were devoted to discussions of current and possible new hardware for the amateur station on the ISS.  Proposals were received from Russian, American and European members of the team, as well as from Bob Bruninga WB4APR of the US Naval Academy.  These proposals will now be reviewed in detail by the ARISS Project Selection and Use Committee, which will prepare recommendations for approval by the ARISS delegates representing the ISS partner countries.

Marilyn Steinberg of the CSA participated in presentations about ARISS school contacts and educational outreach activities, and areas of possible cooperation between ARISS and the CSA were discussed.

Between meetings, Mark Steiner K3MS and Ken Pulfer VE3PU were able to schedule a short visit with Canadian Space Agency President,  Marc Garneau.  Both had worked with Garneau in the past when he was an active astronaut.  During the discussions it was agreed that ARISS and CSA would work together to prepare an umbrella agreement covering cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

Amateur Radio is poised to hit the big screen yet again in a movie tentatively titled Phenomenon II.  Phenomenon debuted in 1996 and featured John Travolta and his ham operator friend Forest Whitaker.  In one scene, Travolta's character appears to be able to copy RTTY transmissions by ear.  For the original Phenomenon movie, ARRL provided several props for the ham radio shack. The sequel is still in the very early stages of development.  A researcher working on checking facts in the script contacted ARRL to ask if operators actually used the term "CQ" when initiating contacts.  She also told ARRL Media Relations Manager Jennifer Hagy, N1TDY, that the possibility exists for the creation of a television series based on the Phenomenon movies.

Amateur Radio Emergency Service/Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service members this week assisted the American Red Cross in New Mexico following yet another wildfire.  Tinder-dry conditions have continued to keep New Mexico ARES/RACES members busy in recent weeks.

As the fire emergency escalated earlier this week, hams quickly set up at a Red Cross shelter and other facilities near Pecos.  The New Mexico State Emergency Operations Center in Santa Fe was not activated, but EOC personnel had asked ARES/RACES to be ready if needed.

Florida Crown District Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) District Emergency Coordinator Billy Williams, N4UF, reports ARES activated April 29 to assist in the wake of a power outage.  Williams says several independent events triggered the failure which hit virtually all of Duval County (Jacksonville) along with parts of Nassau, Clay and St Johns counties.  "There was a fire at a major generator facility along with a malfunction at a second facility," Williams said, citing information from the Jacksonville Electric Authority.  "At almost the same time, a tree fell across a feeder line."  The incident took out traffic signals during afternoon rush hour, although power was restored quickly to most of the affected areas.  The Duval County Emergency Net and the Florida Crown Emergency Net both activated for a couple of hours. ARES was active from the Duval Emergency Operations Center, and operators were on standby to report to several fire stations and hospitals.  "A big problem was that there were no traffic signals during Monday afternoon rush hour," Williams said.  In addition, cellular phone systems became jammed and unreliable.  Most critical users had power back by 9 PM, although interruptions continued until midnight.  The Red Cross opened a critical needs shelter for a couple of hours, and Amateur Radio provided a link.

Colorado Section Emergency Coordinator Mike Morgan, N5LPZ, reports that hams there responded within hours after a major wildfire broke out April 23 some 40 miles southwest of Denver.  Because of extremely dry winter and spring conditions--and fanned by strong and unpredictable winds--the so-called Snaking Fire spread over more than 2200 acres within a couple of days.  Some 30 Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) operators responded, and Colorado ARES Districts 6 and 23 provided direct tactical and logistical communications support to local wild land fire responders, Morgan said.  Amateurs from additional ARES districts (including 22 and 24) as well as Red Cross communicators supported the Red Cross at shelters and the Salvation Army, which provided food and support to the more than 400 firefighters at the scene.  More than 4000 residents were evacuated from the Bailey, Colorado, area as a result of the fire.  "As in the past, Colorado hams will continue to provide critical communications support as long as needed," Morgan said.

Amateurs in West Virginia continue to assist in the wake of recent flooding.  The state has recorded nine deaths since severe thunderstorms May 2 dumped more than five inches of rain over the southern West Virginia coalfields within a few hours.

Amateur Radio involvement had been done locally on battery-powered repeaters in the affected areas.  Amateurs from the Charleston area volunteered to assist in Welch County.  Amateurs were able to handle a request from the state Emergency Operations Center to provide back-up communication from Welch to the state EOC in Charleston when a coal mine impound dam threatened to burst.  The impound was pumped down to safe levels before that could happen, however.

As we progress into summer in the northern hemisphere, expect seasonally lower F2-region MUFs.  But summer also brings the increased probability of sporadic E, so keep your ears tuned for 6-meter openings.

JARL is pleased to announce that unique callsigns, 8M1C, 8N1C, 8J1C, 8J2C, 8N3C, 8J3C, 8J6C, 8J7C, 8J8C and 8J0C have been issued for special event stations to be established to commemorate the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan.  They will be on the air from May 1 to June 30, 2002 and will be operated by local hams with the support of JARL.  They will be equipped to allow simultaneous operation on all bands from 1.9 – 1200 MHz.

JARL hopes them to make many QSO’s with radio amateurs all over the world.  Attractive commemorative cards will be sent to you from JARL Bureau (No need to send your card.)

Spartanburg, SC: Spartanburg Amateur Radio Club, K4JLA. 1400Z May 11 to 2400Z May 31. Celebrating 50 years of continuous service in amateur radio. 7.270 14.270 21.370 28.370. Certificate. Spartanburg Amateur Radio Club, 104 Garner Rd, Spartanburg, SC 29303.

St Louis, MO: American Archives Amateur Radio, KC8KGA. 1600Z May 17 to 1600Z May 19. Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of Lindbergh's Flight from New York to Paris. 14.270 7.270. Certificate. Dave Langston, KB8RAP, c/o Maritz, 1000 Town Center, Southfield, MI 48170.

Sturbridge, MA: Radio Operators for Missing Children and AMECO, KB1HGK. 1500Z to 2100Z May 19. International Missing Children's Day Searching All Four Corners of the World. General 40, 20 and 15 m band. Certificate. Radio Operators for Missing Children, KB1GK, c/o Lyceum Press & Gifts, 1 River Rd, Sturbridge, MA 01566. http://www.lyceumpress.com/.

Waite Park, MN: Saint Cloud Amateur Radio Club, W0SV. 1800Z May 25 to 1749Z May 26. Celebrating the Saint Cloud Amateur Radio Club's 80th Anniversary. 28.420 21.390 14.290 7.230. Certificate. W0SV, 401 N 4th St, Waite Park, MN 56387.

Windsor, Berkshire, UK: Cray Valley Radio Society, Burnham Beeches Radio Society and the Radio Society of Great Britain, GB50. 0700Z-2200Z daily May 29 to Jun 9. Celebrating the Queen's Golden Jubilee by Amateur Radio at Windsor Castle. 3.5 to 50 MHz CW, SSB, PSK31 and RTTY. QSL. Owen Cross, G4DFI, 28 Garden Ave, Bexleyheath, Kent DA7 4LF, Great Britain or via bureau. http://www.gb50.com/.

Tupelo, MS: Tupelo Amateur Radio Club, KK5K. 2000Z May 31 to 0500Z Jun 2. Celebrating the 4th Annual Elvis Presley Festival Special Event. 28.465 21.365 14.265 3.862. QSL. Tupelo Amateur Radio Club, 429 Goodlett St, Tupelo, MS 38804.

Russell, MA: BSA Venture Crew 510, W1W. 1400Z-2300Z Jun 1. Demonstrating ham radio to over 500 Cub Scouts in one day during "Webelos Woods 2002" at H.A. Moses Scout Reservation. 146.94 28.390 21.360 14.290 7.270. Certificate. BSA Venture Crew 510, NE1C, PO Box 562, Agawam, MA 01001.

Streetsville, ON, Canada: Mississauga Amateur Radio Club, VE3MIS. 1400Z Jun 1-2000Z Jun 2.  30th Streetsville Founders Bread & Honey Festival. 28.340 14.240 7.230. Certificate. MARC, c/o Michael Brickell, 2801 Bucklepost Cr, Mississauga, ON, Canada L5N 1X6. http://www.manrc.on.ca/.

Atkinson, NH: Atkinson Amateur Radio Club, K1D. 0400Z Jun 1-0400Z Jun 16. Celebrating Kid's Day and Amateur Radio Awareness. 28.380 21.380 14.270 7.230. Certificate. Peter Schipelliti, W1DAD, 7 Dearborn Ridge Rd, Atkinson, NH 03811.

TCA May/June 2002
HAM RADIO ON THE MOVE.  Read how the author enjoys operating QRP/Pedestrian Mobile.
PRODUCT REVIEW-VQLOG.  A good logging program for non-contest operations.

QST May 2002
THE ST. LOUIS SWITCHER.  An inexpensive bench power supply to run an HF rig for under $10.
DXING WITH POLAR BEARS.  The story of a dedicated Arctic ham-traveller.

CQ May 2002
A HAM RADIO VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY.  The story of a group of hams retracing an explorer’s route by canoe on a ten-day float trip.
THE MIRACLES HAM RADIO CAN ACCOMPLISH.  Arnie Coro CO2KK’s visit to the U.S.

Dayton Hamvention – May 17th-19th
Club Elections – June 11th
ARRL Field Day – June 22nd & 23rd
RAC Canada Day Contest – July 1st
Human Powered Speed Championships – August 5th-10th
BARC Hamfest – August 17th
Brantford Air Show – August 28th

Central Ontario 28th Annual Amateur Radio Hamfest
Sponsored by the Guelph ARC and Kitchener-Waterloo ARC
Saturday, June 8th at 8:00 AM
Fergus & District Community Centre

Ontario Hamfest 2002
Sponsored by the Burlington ARC
Saturday, July 6th at 9:00 AM
Milton Agricultural Fairgrounds

Hamfest 2002
Sponsored by the Brantford ARC
Saturday, August 17th at 9:00 AM
Burford Fairgrounds

Barrie Fleamarket
Sponsored by the Barrie ARC
Saturday, September 7th at 9:00 AM
Shanty Bay Community Center, Barrie

Edisher Giorgadze, P5/4L4FN, has returned to North Korea.  During a stopover in Beijing, Edisher collected an Ameritron AL80A amplifier that was donated by Martti Laine, OH2BH, Bernie McClenny, W3UR and Al Baker, W5IZ.  In his first contact using the increased power he contacted K4SSU who told him he was S-5 barefoot at 100 watts but an amazing 10 db over S-9 with the AL80A in line.  He says that this basically guarantees more QSO's from the skylines of Pyongyang.  Especially since he has extended his contract and will be in North Korea through June of 2003.  Also, now that his operation is fully accredited by the ARRL his QSL manager has released a full-color QSL.

Arliss Thompson, W7XU, and a few of his ham radio friends will be operating a 6-meter station from St. Paul Island in grid square FN97 from 29 June to 8 July.  Thompson says that the group will plant itself on 50.157 MHz and remain there for the duration of the DXpedition.  Both CW and SSB operations will take place on that frequency although they may run split if they get a very good opening.  The station will have a breakable beacon also on 50.157 MHz that will be running during slow times.

BELGIUM, ON.  Some special prefixes are in use until July 11 to commemorate the 700th anniversary of the Battle of the Golden Spurs. Dutch speaking amateurs may use OS instead of ON, while all Belgians may use OR instead of ON in contests.

KWAJALEIN ISLAND, V7.  Mark, W4CK intends to activate his old callsign V73BL from May 14 to 24.  QSL via operator's instructions.

CQ WW WPX Contest, CW - 0000Z May 25 - 2400Z May 26.

ARRL June VHF QSO Party – 1800Z Jun 8 – 0300Z Jun 10.

May 21st  – Speaker Mike VE3BSE, Subject: TBA.
May 28th  – Speaker Ken VEA3DDB, Subject: Computers & Amateur Radio.
June 4th  – Social Night.
June 11th – Business Meeting & Election of Officers.