The Monitor

As a result of the June elections, following are the new officers for the year 2002-2003:

President:  Bill Cunliffe, VA3WRC
Vice President:  Bob Moore, VE3AVU
Secretary:  Ken Dobson, VA3DDB
Treasurer:  Paul Tourangeau, VE3IUA
Directors:  Mike Barnett, VE3BSE
                 Peter Byerlay, VE3NIX
                 Bill Thorpe, VE3WXT

On June 28th, the BARC lost a very active and good member.  Bob VE3PWF was in his 76th year and had varied interests besides Amateur Radio.  He was a member of the Brantford Writers’ Club, the Cambridge and Toronto Photography Clubs.  Bob graduated from the University of Toronto with a Batchelor of Science Engineering Physics and eventually became a well-respected physics teacher at Brantford Collegiate Institute.  This love of teaching was quite evident at our meetings, as he would often bring in little projects that he worked on, both successes and failures, and the members would learn from his experiences.  The members will not forget Bob.

This September issue will be my last as editor of this newsletter.  If you are interested in becoming the editor or co-editor, please see Bill VA3WRC as soon as possible so that this publication will continue without interruption in October.

Richard VE3RLX

Jim VE3CQM has the following items remaining from Jack Jennings’ VE3DDH estate:
FT902 DM YEASU xcvr 300.00
FT207R Handy                120.00....obo
HTX242 2mtr. xcvr          120.00
Contact Jim VE3CQM at 759 6448 if you are interested in any of the above.

CQ Amateur Radio magazine has been named the Official Journal of "The Human Race," according to Editor Rich Moseson, W2VU, and "The Human Race" Producer William Desjardins, W1ZY.  "The Human Race" is a planned educational television series in which two Amateur Radio operators will participate in a global "road rally" one heading east and one heading west with transportation limited to that volunteered by other Amateur operators that the ham competitors meet along the way.  The race will begin in Kansas City, Missouri, and end in a location roughly halfway around the world where the paths of the two bi-competitors intersect.

"The Human Race is based on the premise that Amateur Radio is inherently a human activity in which technology is a tool used by people around the world to connect and communicate with each other," explained Moseson, "and this is a premise which CQ wholeheartedly supports."

Each competitor will be accompanied by a TV production crew and tracked using GPS (Global Positioning System) and APRS (Automatic Position Reporting System), with a constantly updated website enabling hams and others around the world to follow the progress of the race. Each competitor/crew will also be outfitted with advanced communications systems, including Amateur stations.

Along the way, each racer encounters a series of pre-selected "ham hosts," who have each been chosen for an area of expertise in a particular area of Amateur Radio.  They not only play host to the Amateur, but also are interviewed by the competitor about their area of specialty and the role ham radio has played in their lives.

CQ will publish a series of articles and updates written by "The Human Race".  Producer Desjardins, and will provide updates and additional information on its website.  The tentative schedule calls for the race itself to be run between June and December of 2003, with the completed 8-part series ready to air in the fall of 2004.

For more information on "The Human Race," see the program website at http://www.home.earthlink.net/~bdesj (soon to be moved to http://www.humanrace.org).  For more information on CQ Amateur Radio magazine, see the CQ website at: http://www.cq-amateur-radio.com.

Morris Cody, Mike, Roger, Elmer, Crystal, Cap, Jack, Tip, Chip, Mica, Buzz, Skip, Kit, Guy (wire), Di (pole), Moon (bounce), Aurora, (ground) Rod, Henry, Drake, Collin(s), Kent, Phillip(s), Ken Wood, Heath, (Radio companies, I would stay away from are Icom, Yaesu and Alinco, those would be just a bit on the weird side of normal).  Isn't 'Ariel' a possibility (as in antenna).  Resist the urge to name the child "Murphy".  Millie(amp), Mo(bile) or perhaps even Mo Beal? Ray(dio), Sparky are other possibilities. And whether it's a boy or a girl, I hope its first words are "Dah Dah"

The Land Mobile Radio community has asked the Radio Advisory Board of Canada (RABC) to look into the possibility of making all or part of the 220-222 MHz portion of the 220-225 MHz Amateur band available for Land Mobile use in Canada.  The RABC will make its recommendations to Industry Canada later this year.

220-222 is already a land mobile band in the USA, and is not available to Amateurs in most parts of the world.

The remainder of the band, that is the 222-225 MHz portion is not under discussion.

In Canada, the 220 to 225 MHz band is the last Primary allocation for Radio Amateurs until 24 GHz.  The band is our source for expansion as the 144 MHz and 70 cm bands run out of frequencies for allocation to the various Amateur Radio interests.  If RAC is to defend our interests in the review that has just begun, we need to know who is using the 220-222 segments, and how we are using it.

To assist, a web site has been created on the RAC web site at http://www.rac.ca/220survey.htm. Please take a moment to fill in the questionnaire or to send information direct by e-mail to ve3iq@rac.ca, ve3pu@rac.ca and ve3byt@rac.ca.

For 220 to 222 MHz we need to know who is using the band, where, for what purpose (e.g. emergency communication, IRLP, high- speed digital, etc.,) the modes and any legacy systems.

· Your national voice, representing you and your interests at home and abroad.
 
· The RAC Field Organization, including the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and the National Traffic System (NTS).

· Your advocate for the promotion of Amateur Radio communication and experimentation, on earth and in space, all bands, all modes.

· The Canadian Amateur magazine, packed with news, columns and articles essential to Amateur Radio.

· The RAC Website, the National Outgoing QSL Bureau, the RAC Canada Day & Winter Contests, Awards, Operating & Study Materials, Support Programs.

We’re all about Amateur Radio!!

AMSAT-DL, the German amateur radio satellite organization, has announced plans to build two new amateur spacecraft, including one destined for orbit around Mars!  According to the AMSAT News Service, the so-called Phase 5-A satellite would be launched in the 2007-2009 timeframe and will include subpayloads that would be launched from the main satellite, either to the planet's surface or into the Martian atmosphere.  These devices would transmit scientific data back to the "mother ship," which would then use a repeater to relay the information back to hams on Earth.  AMSAT-DL officials said the 2000 launch of Phase 3-D (now AMSAT-OSCAR 40) showed that the basic satellite design was capable of a trip to Mars.

In addition, the AMSAT-DL board of directors gave a green light to developing a Phase 3-E earth-orbiting satellite.  This would be a more traditional amateur satellite, offering two-way communication links on amateur bands between 145 MHz and 10 GHz.  In addition, it will serve as a testbed for some technology for the Mars mission.  AMSAT-DL has been the lead AMSAT group on the past three large amateur satellites placed into orbit, AMSAT-OSCAR-10 (still operating), AMSAT-OSCAR-13 (no longer in orbit) and AMSAT-OSCAR-40.  No launch timetable has been announced for P3E, except that it is planned to be several years before the anticipated launch of the mission to Mars.

For the third time, the American contest team of Jeff Steinman, N5TJ, and Dan Street, K1TO, took top honors in the World Radiosport Team Competition, better known as WRTC.  This year’s running of the event was held in Finland.  Contesting teams from around the world operate at host stations furnished with essentially similar equipment, allowing the competition to concentrate primarily on operator skills.  Steinman and Street also won the event in 2000 and 1996.  A Russian team (RA3AUU and RV1AW) finished second while a German team (DL2CC and DL6FBL) placed third.  The Canadian team of John Sluymer VE3EJ and Jim Roberts VE7ZO finished sixth.  The wild card team of Dale Green VE7SV and Andrew Ponzini VE7AHA finished in forty-forth place.

These are from a book called Disorder in the Court, and are things people actually said in court, word for word, taken down and now published by court reporters - who had the torment of staying calm while these exchanges were actually taking place.
Some of these are excellent - don't miss the last one.

Q: Are you sexually active?
A: No, I just lie there.

Q: What is your date of birth?
A: July 15th.
Q: What year?
A: Every year.

Q: What gear were you in at the moment of the impact?
A: Gucci sweats and Reeboks.

Q: This myasthenia gravis, does it affect your memory at all?
A: Yes.
Q: And in what ways does it affect your memory?
A: I forget.
Q: You forget. Can you give us an example of something that you've forgotten?

Q: How old is your son, the one living with you?

A: Thirty-eight or thirty-five, I can't remember which.
Q: How long has he lived with you?
A: Forty-five years.

Q: What was the first thing your husband said to you when he woke up that morning?
A: He said, "Where am I, Cathy?"
Q: And why did that upset you?
A: My name is Susan.

Q: Do you know if your daughter has ever been involved in voodoo or the occult?
A: We both do.
Q: Voodoo?
A: We do.
Q: You do?
A: Yes, voodoo.

Q: Now doctor, isn't it true that when a person dies in his sleep, he doesn't know about it until the next morning?

Q: The youngest son, the twenty-year old, how old is he?

Q: Were you present when your picture was taken?

Q: So the date of conception (of the baby) was August 8th?
A: Yes.
Q: And what were you doing at that time?

Q: She had three children, right?
A: Yes.
Q: How many were boys?
A: None.
Q: Were there any girls?

Q: How was your first marriage terminated?
A: By death.
Q: And by whose death was it terminated?

Q: Can you describe the individual?
A: He was about medium height and had a beard.
Q: Was this a male, or a female?

Q: Is your appearance here this morning pursuant to a deposition notice which I sent to your attorney?
A: No, this is how I dress when I go to work.

Q: Doctor, how many autopsies have you performed on dead people?
A: All my autopsies are performed on dead people.

Q: All your responses must be oral, OK? What school did you go to?
A: Oral.

Q: Do you recall the time that you examined the body?
A: The autopsy started around 8:30 p.m.
Q: And Mr. Dennington was dead at the time?
A: No, he was sitting on the table wondering why I was doing an autopsy.

Q: Are you qualified to give a urine sample?

Q: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse?
A: No.
Q: Did you check for blood pressure?
A: No.
Q: Did you check for breathing?
A: No.
Q: So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy?
A: No.
Q: How can you be so sure, Doctor?
A: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.
Q: But could the patient have still been alive, nevertheless?
A: Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and practicing law somewhere.

Astronaut Jim Voss, recently returned from a stint on the International Space Station, told a U.S. Senate committee in July that the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station program, or ARISS, is of great value in helping to inform and educate young people about space exploration, life aboard the space station and principles of science.  According to the ARRL Letter, Voss told the Senate’s Commerce, Science and Transportation committee that ARISS and other in-flight education programs “use the unique environment of space to inspire the next generation of explorers.”  Voss is not a licensed amateur but did make frequent use of the ISS ham station, NA1SS, while in orbit (with licensed amateur crew members as control ops).

The last two Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) antennas were installed recently during a space walk.  The installation wraps up work that began last January when the first two of the four Italian-designed antennas were attached to the ISS exterior.  During the second of two space walks, two members of the Expedition 5 crew attached essentially identical VHF-UHF flexible-tape antennas to the ISS Service Module on August 26.

Installation of the new ARISS antennas on the Zvezda Service Module -- the crew's living quarters -- makes possible two separate ham stations aboard the orbiting outpost -- one for VHF operation, the other for UHF (70 cm).  Similar flexible-tape antennas for VHF-UHF and for HF were installed during January space walks by the Expedition 4 crew, although there is not yet any HF gear aboard the ISS.

The newest two VHF-UHF flexible tape antennas -- designated WA1 and WA2 -- were installed along the perimeter of the aft end of the Zvezda Service Module, near the Soyuz docking port.

Frank Bauer, the ARISS Chairman, provided additional details of the new antennas. Frank said, "There are 4 antennas on ISS.  Each of these antennas support multi-band operation.  Actually 3 of the 4 antennas are identical.  Each of these antennas can support 2 meter, 70cm, L band, and S band transmit and receive.  They also support reception of GPS and the Russian Glisser EVA TV system.  On the fourth antenna, the 2 meter/70cm whip is replaced with a 2.5-meter-long whip (vertical).  This antenna will support HF operations, particularly 10 meters."

Frank continues with an overview of future plans for ARISS radio installation, "Right now we could support 70cm operation using the Ericsson radio.  We are still waiting for the Russians to certify the use of this equipment with the new antennas.  In the near future (Phase 2), we will have a dual-band 2 meter/70cm radio along with the 70cm radio.  When these two systems are installed, we probably will hook one up to WA1 and the other to WA2.  These are the two downward facing antennas.  For a while, each radio system will use a separate antenna system. When we add additional equipment, we will evaluate the antenna uses.  For now, we don't have any L band or S band equipment under development, but several ideas are in the works.  And, of course, HF operations will use the WA4 (HF) antenna."

The International ARISS team have worked quite hard to bring these antennas to fruition.  The Russian provided the feedthroughs and supported the EVAs.  The US team did the hardware integration and certification.  The Italian team, U.S. team and Russian team all developed portions of the hardware.

Hams, CB'ers, and just about anyone with a radio system not dependent on phone lines is pitched in to provide emergency communications in Ladysmith Wisconsin.  This follows a devastating tornado on Monday, September 2nd that destroyed a major part of the town and completely knocked out the areas communications infrastructure.  Twenty people were injured.

Wireline telephone service and cellular service is spotty at best.  The personal communications teams are reportedly augmenting local law enforcement and fire services in relief efforts. Wisconsin Governor Scott McCallum declared the Ladysmith a disaster area.

He called himself Rabbit Ears on the CB radio.  He also harassed ham radio communications on several bands.  And now, Jupiter Florida Citizens Band operator William Flippo will spend a total of 15 months in federal prison.  He will also pay a $25,000 fine for jamming Amateur Radio communications and transmitting without a license.

1. Never give yourself a haircut after three margaritas.
2. You need only two tools.  WD-40 and duct tape.  If it doesn't move and it should, use WD-40.  If it moves and shouldn't, use the duct tape.
3. The five most essential words for a healthy, vital relationship....."I apologize" and "You are right."
4. Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.
5. When you make a mistake, make amends immediately.  It's easier to eat crow while it's still warm.
6. The best advice that your mother ever gave you was, "Go! You might meet somebody!"
7. If he/she says that you are too good for him/her-believe them.
8. Learn to pick your battles; ask yourself, Will this matter one year from now?  How about one month?  One week?  One day?
9. Never pass up an opportunity to pee.
10. If you woke up breathing, congratulations!  You have another chance!
11. Living well really is the best revenge.  Being miserable because of a bad or former relationship just might mean that the other person was right about you.
12. Work is good, but it's not that important.
13. And finally... Be really nice to your friends and family. You never know when you are going to need them to empty your bedpan.

A special event station K4P will operate from the Pentagon starting 0400 UTC Wednesday, September 11th through 0400 UTC Thursday, September 12th, to mark the first anniversary of the terrorist attack.  Given the added security restrictions on that day, only a handful of hams will be active there, however.  K4P will operate from the Pentagon and from other sites in the Washington, DC, area.  Activity will be on 80 through 10 meters, SSB and CW. QSL with an SASE to K7DID, PO Box 70071, Washington, DC 20024.

Milton, ON, Canada: Mississauga Amateur Radio Club, VE3MIS. 1400-2000Z Sep 21 and Sep 22. Halton County Radial Railway Museum. 28.340 14.240 7.230. Certificate. MARC, C/O Michael Brickell, VE3TKI, 2801 Bucklepost Cres, Mississauga, ON L5N 1X6, Canada.

London ARC 25th Anniversary 2002 Fleamarket
Sunday September 22nd
Western Fair Grounds, London
9:00 AM – Talkin VA3LON 147.060 pl: 114.8

Hamilton ARC HamFest 2002
Saturday October 19th
Marritt Hall, Ancaster
9:00 AM – Talkin VE3NCF 146.760 (-)

ARRL September VHF QSO Party - 1800z Sep14 to 0300z Sep16.
North American Sprint, SSB – 0000z to 0400z Sep15.

Don't forget that the autumnal equinox is arriving soon.  This year it will be on September 23 at 0448 UTC.  High frequency propagation is improving as we move from summer to fall.