December 1996 Stories
  • Automatic Antenna Tuner for QRP Rigs
    Press release, 26 December 1996
    LDG Electronics introduces an automatic antenna tuner kit for QRP rigs.

    FCC Proposes Changes to Experimental Radio Service
    FCC NPRM, 24 December 1996
    Part 5 of the FCC's rules covers the Experimental Radio Service (ERS) which permits individuals and organizations to apply for low power licenses (up to 4 watts EIRP) for technology experiments. The FCC is proposing a number of changes to the ERS including a more liberal availability of licenses to students and schools, and authorization to use the Amateur allocations at 2402-2417 MHz, 10.00 to 10.05 GHz and possible use of the 5.7 GHz allocation.

  • FCC Extends Compliance Period on New RF Safety Rules
    Ham Radio Online and FCC, 24 December 1996
    In August 1996, the FCC established new standards for RF safety that apply to all Amateur Radio stations operating at 50 watts or more power output. Acting on petitions filed by the ARRL and many other organizations, the Commission has postponed the January 1, 1997 compliance date to January 1, 1998. (See also FCC Rule Change Affects Amateur Radio.)

  • ECHELON: Exposing The Global Surveillance System
    Reprinted with permission from CovertAction Quarterly, 19 December 1996
    Echelon is a secret surveillance system deployed by national security agencies to intercept and monitor nearly all radio, telephone, email and FAX communications worldwide. Enough bits and pieces in the story check out to make great food for conspiracy theorists and it certainly makes for an interesting read.
  • NTIA Recommends Changes in HF Amateur Frequencies
    ARRL Bulletin, 18 December 1996
    The U.S. National Telecommunications Adminstrations is recommending changes in the HF Amateur frequency allocations that could result in an expansion of HF frequencies available to ham radio.

  • TAPR To Publish Digital Frequency Directory
    TAPR Bulletin, 18 December 1996
    The ARRL is discontinuing the publication of packet radio digipeater frequencies in the ARRL Repeater Directory. Instead, the Tucson Amateur Packet Radio group will take over publication of digital directory information in a new electronic directory available on the Internet.

  • New Novel Covers Radio and Ham Radio
    16 December 1996
    A new fiction book being published by St. Martin's Press in early 1997 features the history of broadcast radio, and includes a scene involving ham radio.

  • Story of the 1996 Polar Bear DXpedition
    By Laird Solomon, VE3LKS, Canada, 12 December 1996
    Treat yourself to this wonderful story of the Polar Bear DXpedition onboard the Ontario Northland Railroad to northern Canada.
  • European YL To Operate From Vietnam
    By Unni Gran, LA6RHA/JW6RHA, Norway, 9 December 1996
    Unni Gran may be operating from 3W6AR in Vietnam starting December 30th.

  • African HF Broadcasters To Switch To Digital Satellite Broadcasts
    Via link to www.dbsdish.com, 5 December 1996
    African shortwave broadcasters plan to use lower cost digital satellite broadcast technology in 1999. Direct broadcast digital satellite signals will not have the fading and noise characteristics of shortwave signals. Simple to use portable receivers will receive the satellite directly. Receivers are expected to cost from U.S. $50 to U.S. $100 with price dependent on the size of the market. This is another sign of the dramatic changes underway in worldwide radio communications.

  • Guatamala to Eliminate All Amateur UHF and SHF Spectrum
    From SpaceNews by KD2BD, 4 December 1996
    All Amateur UHF and SHF bands will soon be lost to commercial interests in Guatemala. Of particular concern, 430-440 MHz has been re-allocated to commercial interests and the spectrum will be auctioned. This spectrum is used by Amateur satellites and could result in potentially serious interference problems to the spacecraft.

  • AMSAT Phase 3-D to Launch in April 1997
    AMSAT, 2 December 1996
    AO-13 may have reached the end of its life, but AMSAT's Phase 3-D will represent a new era in Amateur-built communications satellites. Click on the title to read an overview of Phase 3-D, its capabilities, its design and its frequencies of operation. Visit AMSAT to learn the latest news on Amateur satellites. Also see the previous Ham Radio Online story Discovery Channel Filming at AMSAT Labs - with exclusive photos. Update: P3D Launch rescheduled for July 1997.

  • DX Pedition to Koh Chang Island 12-15 Dec
    By Ray Gerard, 9M2/G3NOM, Malaysia, 9 December 1996
    For the first time IOTA will be operating from the Gulf of Thailand North East Group. Operation is planned for the period 12 - 15th December 1996. Activity should start around 0500z on the 12th December 1996 with possibility of some operation starting at 1100 UTC on 11 December 1996. Read the 12 December update.

    November 1996 Stories
  • AO-13 Satellite Ceases Operation
    by Ham Radio Online and reports, 24 November 1996
    AO-13 ceased transmitting at 05:38:16 UTC on 24 November 1996, according to reports from Australia and later from AMSAT spacecraft command stations.

  • A.E.A. Reportedly Out of Business
    Ham Radio Online Exclusive, 19 November 1996
    According to numerous reports we've received, including one from a former employee and one from a ham radio dealer, A.E.A. has suspended business operations and its employees laid off. In other news AVVid takes over the Amateur Radio Service department of the former Tucker Electronics and Pinpoint Communications is out of business.

  • New 2.3 GHz Radio Service Proposed
    ARRL Bulletin, 16 November 1996
    The FCC has proposed to create a new Wireless Communications Service (WCS) in the 2305-2320 and 2345-2360 MHz bands and to award licenses on the basis of competitive bidding. The bands include a 5 MHz segment that Amateur Radio had been sharing with government services between 2305 and 2310 MHz.

  • Global Satellite Navigation Technology
    by Ham Radio Online, 16 November 1996
    Since the late 1980s, the use of spaceborne global navigation systems has become widespread. Amateur radio operators are using global navigation systems technology in conjunction with the Automatic Packet Reporting System or APRS to produce real-time map displays of events as they happen. This month we introduce the "GPS" and "GLONASS" navigation systems.

  • Lightning Strikes and Ham Radio Meets A Critical Challenge
    By Richard Perez, Home Power Magazine, 6 November 1996
    A fierce lightning storms strikes a rural area on the Oregon/California border, miles from backup support, and rural residents use ham radio to alert each other to a forest fire and then proceed to fight the fire themselves. Lightning also knocks out their commercial grade radio telephone link and Richard points out the tremendous importance of having backup communications like ham radio.

  • Telecom Disaster Recovery in 1871
    By Pat Townsend, Telecom Digest, 6 November 1996
    125 years ago on October 8th, 1871, the Great Chicago Fire destroyed over 17,000 buildings and left 90,000 people homeless. Telegraph communications played an important role in alerting the nation to the catastrophe that had struck this major U.S. city.

  • Youthnet NEWS Survey
    By Alexis Leynes, N9KYJ, 2 Nov 1996
    If you are a young person in ham radio or know a young person in ham radio, please help out by filling out this survey and returning to Alex.

    October 1996 Stories

  • Ham Radio Online is 1 Year Old!
    by Ham Radio Online, 31 October 1996
    Ham Radio Online first appeared on the Internet on 30 October 1995. Today represents our first full year of continuous "electronic publishing". Learn more about how we got started, answers to your web site access questions, and more.

  • 4th Demonstration and Amateur Radio Operation From Myanmar
    by Ray Gerard, G3NOM, 26 October 1996
    An operation from Yangon (Rangoon) Myanmar (Burma) will take place from 25th October 1996 until 4th November 1996 by the "JA1UT" DX Group. This will be the 4th demonstration/operation in the series linked to Visit Myanmar Year 1996. Special Update from Ray Gerard: The call sign XY1U was used only during the CQWW SSB contest - please QSL to JA8RUZ. For the rest of the operation until 4 November we will use our previous call-sign XY1HT with QSLs to LA7JO.

  • Digital Mobile Phone Technology: Part 1 - GSM
    Ham Radio Online, 25 October 1996
    Mobile phone technology has pushed back the envelope of digital radio communications. GSM, short for "Global Standard for Mobile" communications is digital mobile phone technology deployed throughout the world. Competing technologies include D-AMPS (TDMA-based) and CDMA (we will explain these terms in the future). Please follow the following links to excellent articles at Ericsson and BellSouth to learn more about GSM mobile phone technology:

  • Station SAQ To Operate Historic Station on 17.2 Khz on 23 October 1996
    Telemuseum, Sweden, 21 October 1996
    Beginning in 1924, radio station SAQ in Sweden served as a major communications link from Europe to North America using the unique Alexanderson Alternator extremely low frequency radio. On October 23, 1996, from 09:00 to 09:30 GMT, SAQ will activate the Alexanderson Alternator CW radio transmitter on 17.2 kHz. You can also read about the Swedish inventor Ernst F.W. Alexanderson who conducted the world's first broadcast transmission with music in 1906 and lived until the age of 97, passing away in 1975.

  • U.S. Hams to Lose 5 Mhz of Spectrum
    ARRL Bulletin, 16 October 1996
    The U.S. Congress has directed the FCC to auction off the Amateur frequencies at 2305-2310 MHz to the highest bidder. Because this is a direct act of Congress, the time to make comments to elected officials was passed long ago. The band will be put up for auction early in 1997.

  • Rockwell and Others Announce 56 kbps Modems
    Ham Radio Online, 17 October 1996
    Our goal is to report on many aspects of telecommunications, not just ham radio. Rockwell, USR, Motorola and other modem manufacturers have announced that they will be shipping 56 kbps modems in 1997. These modems compare to today's 28.8 kbps or 33.6 kbps modems and will provide fast Internet access over ordinary phone lines at modem pricing. MSN and AOL have both announced that they will provide 56 kbps access lines. The link above takes you to a technical "white paper" on the technology behind the 56 kbps modem.

  • The ZK1AAU Rarotonga Cook Islands DXpedition Report
    by Bruce Lallathin, AA8U & ZK1AAU, South Cook Islands, 14 October 1996
    Rarotonga is a gorgeous volcanic island almost straight south of Hawaii and is only about 7 km across at its widest point. From July 10th through July 21st this past summer the husband/wife team of Stan, K8MJZ, and Marilyn, AG8W, plus the husband/wife team of Bruce, AA8U and Diana, KA8KZJ formed the DXpeditionary team to the South Cooks where they operated as ZK1MJZ, ZK1AAG, and ZK1AAU. The effort is described in this great DX story.

  • Update on the XY1HT/XY1U DXpedition
    by Ray Gerard, G3NOM, 1 November 1996
    The operation from Myanmar continues through 4 November. Read more in this "live" on-the-scene report from G3NOM operating XY1HT.

  • Homecoming Trip 1997 to Banaba Island
    Announcement, Australia, 14 October
    The Banaban's homeland island Banaba or Ocean Island has suffered from one of the greatest environmental disasters this century after 80 years of phosphate mining. Join the 1997 Banaba Homecoming Trip for a shipboard tour to Banaba and other Islands, providing opportunities for some interesting radio operations.

  • Build Yourself an HF Mobile Antenna
    by Bill Gilmore, KO6HL, 6 October 1996
    Bill Gilmore provides technical drawings of his "screwdriver" type mobile HF antenna construction project.

  • Ham Radio Mailing Lists
    6 October 1996
    The Internet is more than just web sites and newsgroups. For a long time, the Internet has been used to distribute messages to groups using electronic mail. Email lists were created to enable groups to make announcements or engage in discussions through email. Here's information on joining over 50 email discussion groups on numerous ham radio related topics.

  • U.S. DoD MARS Dropping CW Effective October 1
    ARRL Bulletin, 1 October 1996
    The U.S. Department of Defense has long operated the Military Affiliate Radio System, or MARS, in which a large number of Amateur Radio operators volunteer their time and equipment. Effective 1 October 1996, the MARS system is discontinuing all CW ("Morse code") traffic and CW traffic will henceforth be prohibited on MARS frequencies.

  • TAPR To Pursue Amateur Digital Spread Spectrum Technologies
    TAPR Release, 1 October 1996
    The Tucson Amateur Packet Radio group is famous for the development of popular packet radio technologies. Recently, TAPR's Board reaffirmed their commitment to the pursuit of digital spread spectrum communications techologies. Digital and spread spectrum technology represent the future of all communications systems, including future Amateur Radio communications systems.

    September 1996 Stories

  • October 19th - Scout's Jamboree-On-The-Air!
    Press release, 25 September 1996
    On Saturday October 19th, keep your ears ready for the October 19th Scouting Jamboree-On-The-Air.

  • Washington State Eases Proposed Wireless Radio Restrictions
    Ham Radio Online EXCLUSIVE REPORT, 21 September 1996
    The Washington State Patrol was planning to hold a public hearing on October 9th regarding a proposal that would have required the State Patrol to certify all wireless devices used in motor vehicles. Ham Radio Online contacted State Rep. Brian Thomas and Captain Tim Ericson of the State Patrol. As a result, the impact of the proposed ruling has been reduced to address the use of headphones in mobile cellular phone installations only.

  • 50th Anniversary of the Northern California DX Club
    Press release, 17 Sep 1996
    On October 10, 1996 the Northern California DX Club will celebrate its 50th anniversary, kicking off a year of on-the-air events for NCDXC members and DX stations worldwide.

  • IOTA EU-150: The 1996 Insua Island DX'pedition
    by Jose de Sa, CT1EEB, Portugal, 10 September 1996
    A group of ham radio operators from Portugal activates CQ2I on Insua Island at their IOTA EU-150 1996 DX-Pedition. This article includes high resolution pictures. Take a look!

  • ARRL Petitions FCC Over RF Safety Rules
    ARRL Bulletin, 10 September 1996

  • Mexican UNAMSAT-B Launched From Russia!
    ARRL Bulletin, 10 September 1996
    Only 3 weeks after the successful launch of JAS-2 comes the successful launch of UNAMSAT-B, the first Mexican Amateur Radio satellite, launched into orbit from Plesetsk, Russia on 5 September 1996.

  • Using the HP Palmtop with Ham Radio
    by Phillip Nichols, KC8DQF, 5 September 1996
    Phillip Nichols describes this interesting application - using an HP 200LX handheld computer for packet radio and other amateur radio applications. With the HP200LX, a tiny Tigertronics packet modem, and his 2 meter handheld, he can check into a packet BBS from anywhere, which is exactly our idea of some of the neat kinds of high visibility, useful applications you can perform with Amateur Radio (also see this month's Opinion section about Software Radios and Digital Bits).

  • 14 Year Old Japanese Sailor Has Not Been Heard
    By Ham Radio Online and Masa Sakamoto, KN6RJ, 11 September 1996
    Elsewhere in Ham Radio Online we reported the story last month of Subaru Takahashi, JH0YCG. Unfortunately, he has not been heard from since 18 August 1996. BULLETIN: 14 Sep 1996 - Subaru was located just off the California coast by the U.S. Coast Guard and he is now safe at harbor in the San Francisco Bay. He made it! Please check the "we reported" link for more information.

  • Upcoming Novel Features Ham Radio
    1 September 1996
    Author Don Keith, N4KC will have his next novel, Wizard of the Wind published by St. Martin's Press late this year. The novel is the story of a young man who develops an interest in radio from listening to distant radio signals and goes on to create a broadcasting empire. One of the main characters is a ham radio operator.

    August 1996 Stories

  • MSN Amateur Radio Forum Back Online
    Bulletin (no story text), 24 August 1996
    A month ago, we reported that Microsoft's MSN Network removed the Amateur Radio forum from its offerings. Rick McMillion, WB7UGZ, the forum adminstrator advises us that the forum has been brought back and is open for business.

  • Newsline Names Young Ham of the Year
    Amateur Radio Newsline, 23 August 1996
    Toby Metz, a 16 year-old amateur radio operator from Meridian, Idaho and Agoura Hills, California, has been named the 1996 "Young Ham of the Year" by Newsline, Yaesu and CQ Magazine.

  • U.S. West Coast Power Outage and Ham Radio
    by Peter Coffee, AC6EN, 23 August 1996
    On 10 August 1996, the lights went out all over western North America as a power grid control failure interrupted electrical service from Mexico north to Canada. Peter Coffee reports on the situation from Los Angeles where Amateur Radio operators provided support communications to public safety agencies.

  • 14 Year Old Japanese Boy is Sailing Solo Pacific Crossing
    by Michiko Inoue Gibbons, Japan, 20 August 1996
    14 year old Subaru Takahashi is making a solo crossing of the Pacific Ocean from Japan to the United States - in a 30 foot yacht. He keeps in touch with his family and supporters via daily ham radio contact. Visit this web site to check his progress. As of 18 August 1996, he's crossed the International dateline.

  • Cellular Phones, PCS Base Antennas, and Human Health
    by John Moulder, Ph.D., 20 August 1996
    Early this month, the FCC issued RF Safety Guidelines that apply to Amateur Radio stations operating more than 50 watts. John Moulder maintains a list of Frequently Asked Questions About Cellular Phones, PCS Base Antennas, and Human Health that is of interest to the Amateur Radio community.

  • Hurricane Fran Communications Emergency Declared
    ARRL Bulletins, 6 September 1996
    Hurricane Fran is slamming into the eastern seaboard of the U.S.; the FCC has declared a communications emergency and Amateur ARES/RACES nets are activated. According to USA Today on 5 Sep 1996, "Amateur radio reports from Abaco Island in the Bahamas indicated 70 mph winds raked the island Wednesday and Wednesday night." According to an ARRL Bulletin, the FCC declared communications emergency has been terminated now that the hurricane is over.

  • JAS-2 - Newest Ham Radio Satellite in Orbit!
    ARRL bulletin, 18 August 1996
    JAS-2, the first Amateur Radio satellite launched in 1996, is in orbit. Early Saturday morning, August 17 (UTC), an H-2 rocket blasted off from Japan's Tanegashima Island space center carrying the JAS-2 Amateur Radio satellite.

  • Atmospheric Icing and Tower Collapse in the United States
    by James Cohen, PE, 19 August 1996
    A survey including both collapse and general unserviceability of iced towers, is being conducted by the Committee on Telecommunications Facilities of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Your contributions are essential for improving the safety and performance of freestanding and guyed towers.

  • Decode SSTV and FAX on Your PC
    by CombiTech, Holland, 18 August 1996
    MSCAN is a software product for you PC, that when used with low cost hardware interfaces, enables you to decode and display black & white or color SSTV images, including FAX images, on your personal computer screen.

  • Digital ATV!
    by Ned Mountain, WC4X and Mike McCombs, KM4YW, updated 18 August 1996
    From the ATV mailing list comes word of what may be the first ever Amateur all-digital ATV transmissions.

  • Ham Radio's Best Kept Secret: ATV
    by Bruce Forsberg, WB6IZG, 12 August 1996
    Amateur TV (ATV) enables hams to transmit standard full color and sound television signals. All you need is a Technician class license (no-code okay) to begin transmitting television signals.

  • FCC Ruling Prohibits Unreasonable Restrictions on TV Antennas
    by Ham Radio Online, 7 August 1996
    In a major ruling, the FCC declared void local laws prohibiting or restricting the use of small wireless dish antennas. More significantly, the FCC declared that use of small dish antennas and television receiving antennas can not be restricted by "any private covenant, homeowners' association rule or similar restriction on property within the exclusive use or control of the antenna user". Under the federal pre-emption, all homeowners must be allowed to install TV antennas.

  • FCC Rule Change Affects Amateur Radio
    by Ham Radio Online, 5 August 1996
    The FCC has issued new rules regarding the evaluation of RF emissions and health effects from all transmitters. If you transmit over 50 watts, you may have to perform an RF emissions safety survey of your Amateur station. Under the new rules, Amateur radio operators will be required to certify as part of their license application, under an as yet unspecified mechanism, that they understand the FCC rules on this issue.

  • Franklin Institute Station Becomes W3AA
    Press release issued 1 August 1996, added 4 August 1996
    Amateur radio station W3TKQ at The Franklin Institute Science Museum in Philadelphia has become W3AA.

  • FCC Updates Guidelines for Evaluating RF Emission Effects
    by FCC, 4 August 1996
    The FCC has adopted new guidelines and methods for evaluating the environmental effects of radiofrequency ("RF") emissions from FCC-regulated transmitters, such as cellular and PCS antennas and telephones, radio and television broadcast antennas and satellite communications antennas.

  • Radio Communications At the Olympics
    updated 4 August 1996
    We were curious about the radio communications systems in use at the Olympics so we went searching the web for some information. We found a page of links at Motorola's web site about their technology. Of course it is self promotion on their part (it is their web site!) but at least it provides some background to the scope of the problems they had to solve and the scope of the tens of thousands of radios, cellular phones and pagers in use at the Olympic Games. CNN Interactive has this story about the wireless communications systems.

  • AMSAT Phase 3D Satellite Launch Update
    by American Radio Relay League, 1 August 1996
    The AMSAT Phase 3D satellite may launch in February of 1997.

    July 1996 Stories

  • High Altitude Balloon Launch With ATV - JULY 28th
    25 July 1996
    The Amateur Radio and Television Society, a group of a western NY ATV operators, is launching another high altitude balloon carrying an Amateur Television payload. The planned launch time of WESTERN NY-3 is 10:00 am from the Batavia, NY Hamfest July 28th 1996.

  • Predicted Solar Sunspot Numbers To Year 2005
    20 July 1996
    The Space Environment Center has produced predictions of solar sunspot activity from today through the year 2005, updated with 1996 data. The situation looks grim for HF propagation through 1996 but takes a significant turn for the better in 1997.

  • In the Eye of Hurricane Bertha!
    by Steve Marks, KE4FCW, 17 July 1996
    Here is a first hand account of emergency amateur radio communications in the midst of Hurricane Bertha. Rain, wind, power outages.

  • FINAL UPDATE on the Polar Express!
    by Laird Solomon, VE3LKS, Canada, 15 July 1996
    Here's the final information update on the upcoming PolarExpress - a unique operating event "Expedition" on board the Ontario Northland Railroad.

  • To Be a Ham
    by Steven Myers, WB7SON
    Original poem by Steven Myers captures the essence of Ham Radio. Check it out!

  • 10 Meter Beacons - The Heard List
    by W. Keith HIbbert, WB2VUO, 15 July 1996
    This is a list of actual 10 meter beacons that have been heard, as compared to numerous beacon lists that are currently out of date or inaccurate.

  • 10.4 GHz ATV Record Set?
    by Tom O'Hara, W6ORG, 15 July 1996
    Art McBride, KC6UQH at Gaviota Pass (north of Santa Barbara CA) and Ray Clancy, N6RE at Torry Pines (near San Diego CA) establish a 10.4 GHz ATV link for a distance of 204.4 miles.

  • Hurricane Bertha Amateur Radio News Reports
    by Ham Radio Online and sources, 14 July 1996
    Hurricane Bertha swept through Puerto Rico and other Carribbean islands and, then lashed into North Carolina and other coastal areas of the U.S. East Coast. Here are reports from North Carolina and elsewhere. If you have news to report on this developing situation, please write to us at vbook@vbook.com.

  • MSN Online Service Drops Amateur Radio Forum
    by Ham Radio Online, 10 July 1996
    According to Rick McMillion, WB7UGZ, the former forum adminstrator, the MSN online service has dropped the Amateur Radio Forum.

  • RACES Activated To Help Fight Southern California Blazes
    by Richard Hall, KE6GFA, 9 July 1996
    During wildfires in southern California, the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) is activated to provide emergency communications support to Federal, State, local and other disaster relief agencies.

  • Product Review: Voyageur Radio Database
    by Ham Radio Online, 8 July 1996
    Voyageur is a comprehensive database of thousands of broadcast stations covering long wave, medium wave and shortwave broadcasters and comes with over 10,000 database entries logged.

  • Update on the Polar Express!
    by Laird Solomon, VE3LKS, Canada, 3 July 1996
    Here's the latest information the PolarExpress - a unique operating event "Expedition" on board the Ontario Northland Railroad.

    June 1996 Stories

  • Amateurs Locate Police Jammer in Oregon
    by John Mackey, KA0SSF, 29 June 1996
    During the SeaPac Ham convention in Seaside, Oregon, an individual began jamming the Seaside Police dispatch frequency and is quickly located by a anti-interference Amateur Radio team from Portland. The police arrest the suspect who is also wanted in Roseville, California for similar misdeeds.
  • XY1HT Myanmar Operation
    by Ray Gerrad, HS0/G3NOM, Thailand, 29 June 1996
    Here is an excellent recap of the operation from XY1-Union of Myanmar, first activated on the air in late 1994, with a second demonstration operation in mid 1995, and big DX operation in late 1995.

  • Field Day On Board the Space Shuttle?
    By ARRL, 13 June 1996
    Ham radio astronauts may operate during the 1996 Field Day event from earth orbit!

  • PACTOR Talk at Dayton Hamvention
    By Phil Sussman, KB8LUJ, 13 June 1996
    Phil Sussman, the editor of PACTOR News, presents his "State of PACTOR" speech at the Dayton Hamvention. PACTOR is now one of the most popular forms of data communications on the HF bands.

  • Survey of Amateur Radio Operators- You can Help!
    By Bella Romain, N4ILQ, 8 June 1996
    Bella Romain, N4ILQ is conducting a survey of Amateur Radio operators who are involved in public service or emergency communications work for use in a Master's thesis. You can help with her research by filling out the survey form and mailing to N4ILQ.

  • Update on CY0AA DXpedition
    Added 8 June 1996
    CY0AA will activate Sable Island on HF, VHF and UHF bands beginning in late June.

  • The Polar Bear Express DXpedition!
    by Laird Solomon, VE3LKS, 5 June 1996, Major update 8 June
    Laird describes the upcoming Polar Bear Express DXpedition to northern Ontario, Canada, on board the Northern Ontario Railway. Definitely a unique Amateur Radio operating adventure!

  • Product Review: The Yaesu FT-50R Dual-Band HT
    by Mike Ellerson, KS4JU, 1 June 1996
    Mike presents a detailed overview of how he came to purchase the FT-50R, its features, use and general observations. This is a nice write up for the FT-50R.

  • Low Power EME Data Collection Experiments
    by Mike Cook, AF9Y, 1 June 1996
    Mike Cook reports on his first experiments at conducting Earth-Moon-Earth (EME) communications using low power transmitters modulated with narrowband spread spectrum and multi-tone FSK. For the modulation step he uses PC software driving a PC audio/sound board - you can download his software from his web site, as described in the article.

  • The FCC Creates a New Family Radio Service At UHF Frequencies
    1 June 1996
    The FCC has established a new Family Radio Service, operating similar to "CB" but using low power handheld UHF radios at 460 MHz. The service is designed to provide low powered, short range communications for families participating in activities such as hiking, visiting amusement parks, sailing or what have you. Here is the complete Report and Order establishing the new radio service.

    May 1996 Stories

    April 1996

    March 1996

    February 1996

    January 1996

    November-December 1995 Stories