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Old Barney Ham News
Welcome to Old Barney Ham News
These Ham Links are provided by John Woodstock, K1DWU. The news items are updated daily.
There are 94 Ham Radio News items.
Radio Caroline to replace masts on Ross Revenge
Southgate ARC - UK-based Radio Caroline says its radio ship Ross Revenge is to have a new antenna system installed
Sable Island DXpedition update
Southgate ARC - Randy N0TG, reports: Operation dates have been modified slightly due to logistics matters: October 21–29th, 2010
Denmark plans terrorism charge against Kurdish TV
Southgate ARC - The Danish government says that it backs the filing of terrorism-related charges against two Denmark-based companies behind a Kurdish television station that prosecutors accuse of promoting the PKK militant group
Win a Wouxun KG-UVD2 dual-band HT
Southgate ARC - AmateurRadio.com is offering a free prize drawing. With the help of our generous sponsor, Wouxun.us, we’re holding a drawing for a Wouxun KG-UVD2 Dual-Band HT (US$107 value)
Chelmsford Talk - The Battle for the Bridge at Arnhem
Southgate ARC - On Tuesday, September 7, Peter Best G8BLS will give a talk on the Wireless Communications issues that arose during Operation Market Garden in 1944
GB2EFF on the air from Epping Forest Festival
Southgate ARC - The Loughton and Epping Forest Amateur Radio Society (LEFARS) will be at Chingford Plain, this coming Sunday, September 5, to activate GB2EFF from the City of London Corporation’s, Epping Forest Festival
Jordanian special event station
Southgate ARC - Members of the Royal Jordanian Radio Amateurs Society (RJRAS) will activate special event station JY7P between September 17–19th
CQ magazine launches streamlined website - celebrates with special web-only offer
Southgate ARC - CQ magazine has launched a new, easy-to-navigate website, and is celebrating with a special web-only discount offer
Peter Hale, G4OAD - Silent Key
Southgate ARC - Peter Hale, G4OAD became a Silent Key 24th August 2010, aged 82 years. He leaves his wife Vera and sons Simon and Kevin
Portuguese AM Feast
Southgate ARC - Following the proposal of one of our members for a nation-wide operation using amplitude modulation on 144 MHz, the ‘Associação de Radioamadores do Litoral Alentejano’ invites everyone to participate in a special AM transmission commemoration, using the 80, 40, 20, 10 and 2 metres bands, Sunday, September 19, 2010
Win a Wouxun KG-UVD2 Dual-Band HT!
eHam.net News - AmateurRadio.com is offering a free prize drawing! With the help of our generous sponsor, Wouxun.us, we're holding a drawing for a Wouxun KG-UVD2 Dual-Band HT.
CQ Unveils New Website:
eHam.net News - (Hicksville, NY) -- CQ magazine has launched a new, easy-to-navigate
website, and is celebrating with a special web-only discount offer. The
updated site, which features a clean new look and a streamlined user
interface, completes a company-wide website upgrade for all four
magazines published by CQ Communications, Inc.
Earl Possibly to Upgrade to Category 4 Storm, US Atlantic Coast on Alert
ARRL - On August 30, Hurricane Earl intensified into a Category 4 hurricane -- sustained winds 131-155 MPH -- before leveling out back into a Category 3 storm. But even as a Category 3 hurricane, Earl is still a major storm with hurricane-force winds extending outward up to 90 miles from the center, and tropical storm force winds extending outward up to 200 miles. According to the National Hurricane C...
ARRL to Close in Observance of Labor Day
ARRL - ARRL Headquarters will be closed in observance of Labor Day on Monday, September 6. There will be no W1AW bulletin or code practice transmissions that day. ARRL Headquarters will reopen Tuesday, September 7 at 8 AM Eastern Daylight Time. We wish everyone a safe and festive holiday weekend.
Tony's 10-metre band report
Southgate ARC - Another very lean week with the weekend a little better but still not exactly jumping. I think UT7IL should get a mention for being consistently good at both spotting and making contacts. But, take Tuesday, with that DX about, why were more people not working them? It’s a mystery
Amateur Radio DXpedition to Jarvis Island - latest
Southgate ARC - On 2010 August 31 the Refuge Manager at US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) notified the Radio Expeditions Inc team that it will receive a permit to conduct the next DXpedition to Jarvis Island (KH5)
ARRL in Action: What Have We Been Up to Lately?
ARRL - Compiled by S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA
ARRL News Editor
news@arrl.orgThis feature -- including convenient Web links to useful information -- is a concise monthly update of some of the things ARRL is doing on behalf of its members. This installment covers the month of August.ARRL Sections along the Atlantic Coast are watching and monitoring the progress of Hurricane Earl, with many assisting WX4NHC...
James Garland, W8ZR, Wins August QST Cover Plaque Award
ARRL - The winner of the QST Cover Plaque Award for August is James Garland, W8ZR, for his article “The StationPro Master Station Controller.” Congratulations, James! The winner of the QST Cover Plaque award -- given to the author or authors of the best article in each issue -- is determined by a vote of ARRL members on the QST Cover Plaque Poll Web page. Cast a ballot for your favorite article in the...
Discover the Fun of 6 Meters (and Up!) in the ARRL September VHF QSO Party
ARRL - September is here, and according to ARRL Contest Branch Manager Sean Kutzko, KX9X, that means the VHF bands are getting a workout: “If you’ve never experienced the fun of VHF+ operating, the ARRL September VHF QSO Party is a great place to start. With many HF radios now offering at least 6 meter SSB/CW capabilities -- and some offering 2 meters and 70 cm as well -- any amateur with a Technician...
D-STAR Update
K1DWU - Eastern MA ARRL - Terry Stader, KA8SCP writes on PART-L:
[This came in on another mail list; some good stuff for D-STAR users.]
There are some items of interest to the D-Star user community worth making you aware of.
First and foremost, the 2 meter D-Star machine... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 09-01]
New England Area Flea Markets, Sept. 1, 2010
K1DWU - Eastern MA ARRL [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 09-01]
AMSAT at Shelby Hamfest
Southgate ARC - AMSAT Area Coordinator Bob Felt, KB5YZG and AMSAT President Barry Baines, WD4ASW will be representing AMSAT at the Shelby Hamfest on Saturday and Sunday, September 4-5
First airing for MX0GBB/P club callsign
Southgate ARC - Over the full August bank holiday weekend, members of the Brigg and District Amateur Radio Club (BDARC) operated their club call sign MX0 GBB/P for the first time. Watch the video
Spare places on Essex morse class
Southgate ARC - As well as a Foundation course, the Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society is also starting a Morse class on Thursday Sept 2
Edgware and District Radio Society - EAP 2010
Southgate ARC - Celebrate the autumn evenings with some multi-band HF activity in EAP with both CW and SSB action from Tuesday, 21st September to Friday, 1st October
GIOTA - Greek Islands On The Air
Southgate ARC - Aegean Dx Group members will be active as SV5/homecall/p on 3-7 September 2010, from Arkoi Island for the Greek Islands On The Air – GIOTA award programme
Hurricane Earl
Southgate ARC - Hurricane Earl information statement issued by the Canadian Hurricane Centre of Environment Canada at 9.11 AM ADT Tuesday 31 August 2010
IRESC press release
Southgate ARC - Salvatore C. Torres, Senior Vice President/Director of Presidents of the International Radio Emergency Support Coalition has issued this press release regarding the wide-spread flooding in Pakistan
Java Breadboard Simulator 1.11
Southgate ARC - The Java Breadboard Simulator application was designed to be a small tool which enables students to simulate circuits developed on a breadboard
BBC Radio 3 - Morse and Music
Southgate ARC - The BBC Proms concert on Monday, August 30, now on the web, featured a piece called PK, inspired by the Marconi telegraph station at Porthcurno
Amsat Symposium - poster presentation and demonstration opportunity
Southgate ARC - The poster presentation and demonstration area proved to be a popular place to visit at the Baltimore Symposium. The 2010 Symposium Committee plans to duplicate this success at the Chicago Symposium
Amateur Radio Club makes a comeback after nearly signing off (Oklahoma)
This Week in Amateur Radio - Oklahoma State University’s Amateur Radio Club is making a comeback.
Having been around since the 1920s, Amateur Radio Club is one of the oldest clubs on campus.
Ham radio can be a life saver (British Columbia)
This Week in Amateur Radio - Long before Facebook, email, cell phones and satellites, a select group of people were able to communicate across continents, often broadcasting from obscure locations using ham radios. By today’s standards it may not seem too impressive. But what happens when the next big earthquake hits us?
Gabfest attendees have chance to ham it up in Uniontown (Pennsylvania)
This Week in Amateur Radio - The Uniontown Amateur Radio Club will hold its annual Gabfest on Saturday, an event that is geared toward ham radio operators and electronics enthusiasts.
New radio lab helps students broadcast to the world and space (West Virginia)
This Week in Amateur Radio - The radio club will make use of the new applied mathematics and engineering lab in Stutzman-Slonaker, room 303.
The radio club uses shortwave and high frequency radio to broadcast on wavelengths not used for commercial or other specific broadcast purposes.
Radio men keep communications open (Pennsylvania)
This Week in Amateur Radio - During emergencies and disasters, the Clinton County Sheriff's Office relies on a vital yet obscure member of their volunteer quartet to provide emergency communications. The Clinton County Emergency Communications Team is a group of volunteer amateur radio operators who help area first responders communicate with one another when normal communications channels are broken or overloaded.
Ham Radio Can Be A Life Saver:
eHam.net News - Long before Facebook, email, cell phones and satellites, a select group of people were able to communicate across continents, often broadcasting from obscure locations using ham radios. By today's standards it may not seem too impressive. But what happens when the next big earthquake hits us? When an unexpected disaster occurs, cell phone reception and email are often quick to fail. That is when we really start to appreciate people who know what to do in the event of an emergency: the professionals and amateurs who are prepared and can relay information. It's a good thing there are ham radio clubs like the Nanaimo Amateur Radio Association and the Cowichan Valley Amateur Radio Society, which have repeater antennas located on the Island. They have a worldwide radio web that predates the Internet by more than 50 years. These repeaters allow radio communication in places where there is no cell phone coverage, or if there is a problem with cell phone towers due to earthquakes, etc. During a disaster, ham radio associations set up portable self-powered stations at emergency gathering locations. Besides sending and receiving critical disaster relief information, they are also there to send and receive short messages between loved ones and friends all over the world.
FCC Reaffirms 2×2 Call Signs Are Only for Advanced, Amateur Extra License Classes
ARRL
QST Columnist Recognized for Documenting Radio’s Past
ARRL - John Dilks, K2TQN -- who pens the “Vintage Radio” column in QST every month -- was awarded the AWA Houck Award for Documentation by the Antique Wireless Association (AWA) at their 2010 World Convention, held August 17-21 in Rochester, New York. This award is presented each year to an AWA member who has written original articles on radio development or history in the AWA Journal, AWA Review or o...
QST Columnist Recognized for Documenting Radio’s Past
ARRL - John Dilks, K2TQN -- who pens the “Vintage Radio” column in QST every month -- was awarded the AWA Houck Award for Documentation by the American Wireless Association (AWA) at their 2010 World Convention, held August 17-21 in Rochester, New York. This award is presented each year to an AWA member who has written original articles on radio development or history in the AWA Journal, AWA Review or ...
MI QRP Labor Day CW Sprint
WA7BNM Contest Calendar - 2300Z, Sep 6 to 0300Z, Sep 7
iPhone Sat Tracker
Southgate ARC - A promotional video for an iPhone Amateur Radio satellite tracker App has been uploaded to YouTube
IOTA news from the Deutscher Amateur Radio Club
Southgate ARC - Weekly IOTA News - compiled by Fredy, DE0MST of the Deutscher Amateur Radio Club
Austrian Military Radio Society - 50th anniversary
Southgate ARC - The Austrian Military Radio Society celebrates its 50th anniversary from Sep 1 until Dec 31. Several special event stations will be activated for this event
US Amateur Radio Emergency Service celebrates 75 years of service
Southgate ARC - The US Amateur Radio Emergency Service, ARES, will be celebrating its 75th anniversary from September through December 2010
Fire safety message gives food for thought
Southgate ARC - The Herald newspaper reports that the Torbay Amateur Radio Society were given a presentation on fire safety by firefighter Simon M3VTO
Indian universities aspire to launch student satellites
Southgate ARC - Calcutta News reports that 25 Indian universities aspire to launch satellites but the Indian space agency indicates current launch opportunities are limited
Jamboree On The Air
Southgate ARC - Bob, VK6POP, wishes to remind you that there's about six weeks to go until Jamboree On The Air
Netherlands Antilles
Southgate ARC - As many of you know by now, the Netherlands Antilles will likely be dissolved as a country on October 10, 2010. Several new DXCC entities will result from this change including the addition of the island of Curacao (PJ2) as a new DXCC entity separate from Bonaire (PJ4)
BBC Radio Ulster presenter offers SatNav voice
Southgate ARC - BBC Radio Ulster listeners may be used to driving along to the sounds of Hugo Duncan’s popular afternoon programme, but they can now enjoy hearing the presenter keep them on the right path any time of the day by downloading the unique voice of Uncle Hugo to their SatNav system
WIA National Field Day - Saturday 23 October 2010
Southgate ARC - Plan your participation in this great public relations event to help promote amateur radio to the public and have fun
ZS6JVT 40 metre HF Youth Spring Competition
Southgate ARC - The ZS6JVT 40 metre HF Youth Spring Competition will take place on Saturday 4 September between 10:00 and 12:00 CAT
Transmission 2010
Southgate ARC - Radio communication is a vital part of today’s world.
British Wireless for the Blind Fund invites you or your Club to take part in Transmission 2010, our annual competition to make as many contacts across the world as possible and raise money for a very worthwhile cause at the same time
Youth@HamRadio.Fun: A 2010 Youth DX Adventure
ARRL - By Duncan MacLachlan, KU0DM
ARRL Youth Editor
ku0dm@arrl.netI desperately wanted to go on a DXpedition before I turned 18. I know not many kids my age have had the opportunity to travel abroad, let alone travel abroad for the sole purpose of doing something you love. So when Don DuBon, N6JRL, first contacted me, informing me that there was a possibility that I could accompany a group of young ope...
Hurricane Earl Continues to Strengthen, Watch Nets Activated
ARRL - With Hurricane Earl now a category 2 storm -- and expected to become a major hurricane -- WX4NHC and the Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) -- activated at 8 AM EDT on Monday, August 30; WX4NHC is the Amateur Radio station at the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami, Florida. As of 8 AM (EDT) on Monday, August 30, Earl’s center is approximately 25 miles east north-northeast of St Martin in the north...
IOTA news from OPDX
Southgate ARC - Weekly IOTA News - compiled by Tedd Mirgliotta, KB8NW
Independence Day Brazil BPSK3 CDX Contest
Southgate ARC - The Cantareira DX Group (CDX) has the honor to invite the radio amateurs all over the world to participate in the Independence Day Brazil Contest (BPSK3)
Kilmarnock and Loudoun ARC - Bright Sparks Quiz
Southgate ARC - There is a change of venue for this year's Bright Sparks Quiz
Exciting papers and presentations rolling-in
Southgate ARC - As of this week, the 2010 Amsat Symposium Committee has had several exciting offers for papers and presentations
HAMNET Report
Southgate ARC - WSAR (Wilderness Search and Rescue) ran an operation at Matroosberg on the 12th and 13th of August in an attempt to recover the remains of Elaine Abrahams who fell over the edge of Groothoek Canyon at the end of June. Listen to this report from Hamnet's National Director, Francois Botha, ZS6BUU
History This Week
Southgate ARC - A look back at events that made history this week - compiled by the Summerland Amateur Radio Club of Lismore, NSW
New AO-51 schedule as satellite enters full sun
Southgate ARC - AO-51 Command Team, Mark Hammond, N8MH said this week that according to projections, the next 100% illumination period for AO-51 has begun
RaDAR Special event station PD55RADAR
Southgate ARC - Peter PD1AJJ and Elmar PD3EM will be active with the special event callsign PD55RADAR between 4 - 14 September 2010. RaDAR is short for Rapid Deployment Amateur Radio
Spanish Lighthouse WFF/FEA Op
Southgate ARC - Members of the URE, LYNX and DXCITING from the EA3 and EA5 districts will activate EG3LH from the Faro el Galacho, Punta Corballera Lighthouse between September 4-5th
Sun storm to hit with 'force of 100m bombs'
Southgate ARC - The Sun has been generating some imaginative news headlines during the summer months, an Australian news website has just covered the issue
It's time to register for the 2010 AMSAT Symposium
Southgate ARC - It is time to register for the 2010 AMSAT Space Symposium and General meeting. You can register on-line at the AMSAT Store
DXCC Country / Entity report
Southgate ARC - According to the AR-Cluster Network for the week of Sunday, 22nd-August, through Sunday, 29th-August there were 207 countries active
Tennessee QSO Party
WA7BNM Contest Calendar - 1800Z, Sep 5 to 0300Z, Sep 6
DARC 10-Meter Digital Contest
WA7BNM Contest Calendar - 1100Z-1700Z, Sep 5
WAB 144 MHz QRP Phone
WA7BNM Contest Calendar - 1000Z-1400Z, Sep 5
GB7ML 2m D-STAR node: great coverage
K1DWU - G4VXE - I noticed a D-STAR buzz on 145.6375 the other day when I was testing an analog set and a quick 'Google' showed that the GB7ML 2m D-STAR node was now operational from Tring. The coverage map at ukrepeater.net looks really impressive and showed potential... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 08-30]
WIA News Podcast for Sun, 29 Aug 2010
K1DWU - Wireless Institute of Australia - WIANEWS FOR WEEK COMMENCING AUG 29 2010. [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 08-29]
Find Hams in Your Area
K1DWU - KB6NU - I've blogged about finding hams in your area before:
How Many Hams Are in Your Neighborhood?
How Many Hams in Your Grid Square?
A recent thread on the HamRadioHelpGroup mailing list prompts me to revisit this topic, though. The replies list four different... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 08-29]
ARISS now on Facebook
Southgate ARC - The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) organisation now has a Facebook page
ARRL Director, Vice Director election update
Southgate ARC - Five incumbents have been declared elected without opposition, while there will be balloting for the Director position in the Southeastern, Southwestern and West Gulf Divisions, and for the Vice Director position in the Southeastern and West Gulf Divisions
Open Source Digital Voice Codec
Southgate ARC - David Rowe VK5DGR has released V0.1 alpha of Codec2, a full function 2550 bit/s codec for Amateur Radio digital voice
Where have our technologists gone?
Southgate ARC - It is difficult to believe that only entries from overseas have been received in the Innovation competition that is being sponsored by the SA Amateur Radio Development Trust and ICOM
From IOM to ISS
Southgate ARC - Matty, MD0MAN on the Isle of Man had a brief contact with the ISS. Listen to a recording of the qso
Mexican amateur satellite operation videos
Southgate ARC - Patrick Stoddard WD9EWK/VA7EWK has released videos showing Amateur Radio satellite operation during his recent trip to Mexico
Shrinking Atmospheric Layer Linked to Low Levels of Solar Radiation
Southgate ARC - Science Daily reports that large changes in the sun's energy output may drive unexpectedly dramatic fluctuations in Earth's outer atmosphere
ZU licence is an introduction into amateur radio
Southgate ARC - When the South African Radio League (SARL) convinced the authorities at the time that South Africa needed an introductory license to introduce teenagers into amateur radio it was with that understanding that the ZU license was introduced as a stepping stone into amateur radio for young people who had not yet reached the educational level to be able to study for the ZS or class A license
Propagation Report from Hannes Coetzee, ZS6BZP
Southgate ARC - Solar activity is still at low levels. Currently Sunspot 1 101 is big but quiet. The effective sunspot number is expected to be less than 10 for the coming week
ICQ Podcast Series Three Episode Eighteen - RSGB President (29 August 2010)
ICQ Podcast - Series Three Episode Seventeen of the ICQ Amateur / Ham Radio Podcast. News Stories include:
Hams exempt from RFI ordinance
Donated spy radio
Intern builds amateur radio station
LED technology interference
Aviation fears over powerline
Interference investigation
Radio hams support Pakistan floods
YL team for Sumburgh Head lighthouse
Nature Conservation Association needs Hams
New version of MMSSTV released
Changes at BARTG 2010
National Hamfest Award 2010
Amateur Radio Gets People Talking
NZ ATV forced digital
India's hams get 6 metres
Your feedback, upcoming events and David Wilson (M0OBW) joins us to discuss the hobby and his involvement with the RSGB
All Asian DX Contest, Phone
WA7BNM Contest Calendar - 0000Z, Sep 4 to 2400Z, Sep 5
Russian RTTY WW Contest
WA7BNM Contest Calendar - 0000Z-2400Z, Sep 4
ARRL EME Contest
WA7BNM Contest Calendar - 0000Z, Sep 4 to 2359Z, Sep 5
IARU Region 1 Field Day, SSB
WA7BNM Contest Calendar - 1300Z, Sep 4 to 1259Z, Sep 5
RSGB SSB Field Day
WA7BNM Contest Calendar - 1300Z, Sep 4 to 1300Z, Sep 5
AGCW Straight Key Party
WA7BNM Contest Calendar - 1300Z-1600Z, Sep 4
Wake-Up! QRP Sprint
WA7BNM Contest Calendar - 0600Z-0629Z, Sep 4 and 0630Z-0659Z, Sep 4 and 0700Z-0729Z, Sep 4 and 0730Z-0800Z, Sep 4
Colorado QSO Party
WA7BNM Contest Calendar - 1200Z, Sep 4 to 0400Z, Sep 5
Brazil Independence Day BPSK31 CDX Contest
WA7BNM Contest Calendar - 1200Z, Sep 4 to 1200Z, Sep 5
Pakistan Flood Disaster Update:
eHam.net News - The Pakistan Amateur Radio Society (PARS) reports that emergency communications support for ham radio amateurs have been extended in the past week to three more villages. PARS emergency communications organiser Asad Marwat AP2AUM said food and non-food items have been provided to around 1,000 families in the Charsadda and Nowshera areas. He said that a medical camp was also established which treated almost 700 patients mainly suffering from Skin and Gastro diseases.
'Bawdsey Research Station' Commemorations 2010:
eHam.net News - In recognition of the historic events that took place in 1935 and 1940 which played a significant part in Britain's war effort, Bawdsey Manor will be activated on three separate occasions during 2010. See the pdf file Saved by Thunderstorms here for the history. During its time as the radar research centre and as an operational station for Chain Home radar, it was known by the acronym BRS - Bawdsey Research Station. Special event callsigns with BRS as the suffix have been applied for to recognise this. Over the weekend of 26 to 28 Feb 2010, we were on the air on HF, 6m and VHF, operating CW, SSB and some digital modes too. The callsign was GB75BRS, since this operation was to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Daventry Experiment, which resulted in radar development in the UK being based first at Orfordness, then at Bawdsey. In June we operated GB70BRS to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the start of the Battle of Britain in 1940. We will also commemorate the end of the Battle of Britain during the weekend 11/12 Sept again using GB70BRS. Please note the change of date! Operating bands and modes will be similar to those used at the February event. The Bawdsey Radar Museum will also be open on Sunday 12 Sept.