By G. E. "Buck" Rogers Sr, K4ABT, via link, 28 December 1998
Interested in digital packet radio communications technology? K4ABT and the Southeastern Emergency Digital Association Networks have put together an excellent collection of information, including construction articles, on all aspects of packet radio communications. And heck, their list of "bogus awards" ("Carpal Tunnel Site of the Week" award is bogus, isn't it?) at the end of the page is itself worth a visit!
by George Gilder, via link to Forbes ASAP, used with permission, 18 December 1997
George Gilder describes where the Internet was and how it will be. Pay special attention to his comments on Page 2 for a new model of radio spectrum usage. This new model of spectrum sharing depends on technologies like SpeakEasy, the Pentagon's smart "software radios" that work on any frequency using any modulation scheme. In the near future radio engineers will spend their time writing software instead of soldering components.
by Gary Pearce, KN4AQ, 10 December 1997
Twas the night before Christmas,
And all through two-meters,
Not a signal was keying up
Any repeaters.....
(And for another version, see 'Twas The Night Before Christmas.)
by Jason Woodard, University of Southampton, linked with permission, 30 November 1997
Jason Woodard provides an excellent overview of a wide variety of "speech codecs" used in digital communications systems. When you talk on a digital cellular phone, your speech is converted into analog electrical signals, then in to a digital data stream that becomes highly compressed using a speech vocoder. Popular digital cellular systems compress speech data to a 13.3 kbps rate, with 8, 4.8 (and even 2.4 kbps) used in some situations.
By Unni Gran, LA6RHA, Norway, 15 November 1997
"Stepping out of the Hercules C-130, one day delayed, I was welcomed by the "Big Chief" himself shaking my hand. "Welcome, Unni to Jan Mayen," were his first words and that made me feel really welcome. Looking around I was surprised to see the landscape in brown and green. I had sort of expected to see much more brown lava." A Must Read! Great Story from Norway!
ARRL Bulletin, 27 November 1997
Hams now have basic guidelines and tools to evaluate their stations for compliance with the FCC's RF exposure guidelines that go into effect January 1, 1998. The FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology issued the long-anticipated Amateur Radio Supplement B on November 18. One substantial change is that the originally proposed 50 watt limitation has been raised, generally, depending upon the band of operation.
Fred Juch, N5JXO, 24 November 1997
A national ATV organization is forming in the U.S. to promote Amateur Television (ATV) in North America.
By Ray Stommel, N7QAK, 24 November 1997
Like many hams, when Ray travels, he carries along a portable amateur radio handheld transceiver. Being able to contact local hams while traveling opens up new opportunities and is a lot of fun.
By Mary Joseph, N0RTK, 16 November 1997
Members of Nebraska ARES groups were called into service to provide reliable backup communications to the Nebraska Army National Guard during their clean-up efforts in the wake of the October 1997 snowstorm.
Excerpt From the ARRL Letter, 16 November 1997
In a unique and innovative partnership, AT&T is providing substantial funding for Amateur Radio repeaters in Kentucky and eventually, Ohio, in the wake of devestating floods. The partnership leverages AT&T's cellular radio telephone network base station sites to provide Amateur radio repeaters and remote receivers.
By Paul R. Huff, N8XMS, 16 November 1997
"One of my greatest enjoyments has come from my pursuit of the ARRL Worked All States award. Even prior to getting on the air I had been excited about the possibility of earning WAS (specifically with a cw endorsement). So, after passing the Novice exam, and while waiting for my new license to arrive, I set up my station, taped Q-signal crib sheets to my desk top, stuck a map on the wall, and organized my record keeping. All the while I was dreaming about my "soon to arrive" WAS certificate! I was ready!"
By Ed Mitchell, KF7VY, Ham Radio Online, 2 November 1997
The proposed H.R. 2369 "anti-scanner" bill has been voted out of committee. In the final markup, the bill would prohibit the authorization of scanners that receive cellular, PCS and "protected" SMR communications. HR 2369 no longer bans receiving the wide set of Commercial Mobile Radio Service frequencies proposed in earlier drafts of the bill.
October 1997 Stories
via Link to ARRL, 30 October 1997
The ARRL has formed a fund for the defense of Amateur Radio spectrum allocations. Your donation can help defend Amateur Radio's access to the much in demand radio spectrum.
Via Link to the ITU, 30 October 1997
From October 27 until November 21, the Geneva International Conference Centre is hosting the International Telecommunication Union's World Radiocommunication Conference. he four-week long conference, which is held every two years, is the forum which sets the international rules for the use of radiocommunication frequencies by all types of radiocommunication services, from television and radio broadcasting to mobile telephony, maritime and aeronautical navigation and safety systems, satellite orbital slots and amateur radio services.
By Mary Williams via link to ITU, 30 October 1997
The "Little LEO" industry describes their proposed services and needs for spectrum allocations. "Little LEOs" are low earth orbiting two-way messaging satellites - sort of like two-way paging via satellite.
By Steve Altig, N7IF, 27 October 1997
"What an afternoon. Sending CQ with the sprinklers doesn't get a ham very far. It only gets strange looks from the neighbors and the occasional curious earthworm...."
By Jeffrey S. King, N1DJS, 27 October 1997
More humorous ham radio stories! "You think the repeater owner would be a lot happier if instead of talking about his cavities he just went to the dentist and got them filled...."
ARRL Bulletin & Ham Radio Online, 5 October 1997 (updated 18 October)
A functioning mini-Sputnik replica was launched from Mir November 3 (delayed from Oct 4th)- to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the launching of Sputnik 1. The transmitter outputs 100 to 200 mW into a circularly polarized antenna on Amateur Radio frequencies between 145.81 and 145.85 MHz (FM). The satellite is expected to function for about one month from launch. Inside: Includes RealAudio audio recording of the original Sputnik 1.
Nathan Johnson, KC7JHO, 16 October 1997
The Kansas Near Space Project will launch its next near space capsule (mission 97C) on October 18, 1997 at 7:00 am.
Via link to EE Times, 16 October 1997
Iridium, Motorola's global satellite network for handheld telephone calls from anywhere on the planet has successfully orbited 34 of the systems planned 66 satellites (plus six spares for a total 72). The system is expected to offer global wireless phone service starting in the fall of 1998.
By Jeff Herman, KH2PZ / KH6, 16 October 1997
Jeff Herman's true story of USCG Radio Operations continues in this final installment. "During our training at Coast Guard Radioman School (Petaluma, CA) we were advised to attempt to log everything we heard. Well, that was an impossible task due to the volume of calls passing over the seas nightly!" See the Library for previous parts.
By Bob Calkins, WA7NUU and Ed Mitchell, KF7VY, 10 October 1997
The Seattle Marathon features about 7,000 runners in the half- and full marathon. The event is held the Saturday after Thanksgiving and, as always, lots of Amateur Radio volunteers are needed. Please, if you live in the Northwestern U.S., consider helping out at this major public service event. Click on the story title to read the details. Thanks!
Ed Mitchell, KF7VY, 1 October 1997
Kevin Carey, a columnist for Monitoring Times Magazine has put together an audio cassette tape of the fascinating signals found only on the frequencies between 0 and 500 kHz. Carey's tape includes extensive commentary on the history of these signals, plus tips on listening to these signals yourself. This review includes RealAudio samples that you can download and listen to on your PC!
September 1997 Stories
From The ARRL Letter, 27 September 1997
With the Shuttle now docked at Mir, U.S. astronaut David Wolf, KC5VPF, is replacing his colleague Mike Foale, KB5UAC, aboard the Russian Mir space station. Additionally, NASA has officially added Amateur Radio to the official payload for the International Space Station - in fact, ham radio was the first payload to become official!
- Listen to a conversation with KB5UAC to WF1F on-board Mir, from July 7th, courtesy Miles Mann, WF1F. These audio download files require the RealAudio player, which is also part of many net browsers.
- Part 1 (73 kbytes - about 1 minute of audio)
- Part 2 (67 kbytes)
By Nedra Ewart, KK5PN, 27 September 1997
When you live a mobile lifestyle, whether driving a truck, traveling the U.S.A. in a camper, or cruising the ocean, one challenge you face is how to keep in touch with family and friends back home. Out on the ocean, you are subject to the vageries of nature, and family and friends worry even more about how you are and where you are. Amateur Radio offers a link that is vital to your safety on the ocean as well as a link to assure those left behind that you are safe and sound... especially when you can use Amtor/Pactor digital modes for mobile email. [Great story, take a look]
By Karen Johansen, KC5FCU, 23 September 1997
"Since we incorporated ARES of Southeast Louisiana, one of my larger concerns has been that of fund raising. After looking at all the ways a non profit organization can raise money, we decided that first we would apply for a grant from the federal government. After contacting the Congressman for our area, we discovered that there are monies available for disaster relief organizations for the purchase of telecommunications equipment.
By Bob Grove/Monitoring Times via link to www.grove.net, 9 September 1997
For U.S. Amateurs: Proposed H.R. 2369 bill is a nasty bill that, as currently proposed could make it illegal to use or sell broadband receivers and scanners - including selling your handheld HT at a local hamfest. Last winter, a U.S. Congressman's cellular phone conversation was not only monitored but tape recorded. The result was Congressional hearings and proposed restrictions on use of scanners. But H.R. 2369 goes much further than prohibitions on intercepting cellular calls - H.R. 2369 would block access to numerous frequencies scattered across the spectrum from 30 MHz to 1 GHz. Bob Grove has produced an excellent summary from the scanner enthuisiasts perspective. But H.R. 2369 has terrible consequences for licensed hams too. Also see How "Scanner Laws" Affect Us All by Peter Coffee.
By Jeff Herman, KH2PZ / KH6, 9 September 1997
Jeff Herman's true story of USCG Radio Operations continues. "As mentioned in an earlier part I always sat the 12 hour 500 kc night watch on my duty nights; I loved listening to the steady flow of calls from ships in far off waters. Even though we sat in the Central Pacific I would sometimes even copy a fluttery East Coast US shore station. Throughout the night I would hear ghostly signals, just above the noise level, that would fade in and out from who knows where...." See the Library for previous parts.
By John A. Magliacane, KD2BD, 2 September 1997
Miles Mann, WF1F, reports that the Mir crew has been quite active lately on 2-meters. Ray, W2RS, reports having a two-way voice contact with Mike Foale on 24-Aug-97 on 145.985 MHz simplex over North America using only a 2-watt handheld transceiver (Yaesu FT-50R) and a quarter-wave whip antenna. Despite a heavy work load and power limitions, the amateur radio station has been on almost continously.
By Peter Coffee, AC6EN, 1 September 1997
A law before Congress called the "Wireless Privacy Enhancement Act of 1997" would ban the sale of radios that can receive any of the frequencies allocated to any Commercial Mobile Radio Service. In addition to cellular telephones, this broad term covers paging services, commercial air-to-ground services, offshore radiotelephone, personal communication services, and specialized mobile radio services and could potentially prohibit broadband amateur radio receivers and most scanners.
By KB8SPV, 1 September 1997
On September 19th, 1997 the Metrovision ATV Club will celebrate its 25th Anniversary. 25 years ago the club petitioned the FCC for a Special Temporary Authority (S.T.A.) to put ATV on the ham band. Each S.T.A. was good for only six months and after the second S.T.A. the FCC was ready to pull the plug on ATV forever. But due to the efforts the Metrovision ATV Club, the FCC subsequently issued new rules permitting Amateur Television operation.
ARRL Bulletin, 1 September 1997
When the FCC first issued RF exposure guidelines a year ago it set a 50-Watt threshold level. The updated guidelines, announced August 25, increase that threshold level on all HF bands except 10 meters, where it remains at 50 Watts.
August 1997 Stories
Ed Mitchell, KF7VY, Ham Radio Online, 25 August 1997
Amateur radio is the public’s only direct access to the public spectrum for education, training, public service and innovation for the benefit of the American people. Yet the U.S. Congress continues to view spectrum as a source of revenue and this will continue to create significant pressure to allocate spectrum from the Amateur Radio Service to other radio services. With this in mind, Leslie Dunlop, the Legislative Director for U.S. Congressman Rick White spent two and half hours listening to a group of Amateurs discuss a variety of issues, including technical innovations in Amateur Radio, public service accomplishments and related legislative and regulatory issues.
by D.W. Burdick, 25 August 1997
Amateur radio operators or "hams" from around the globe can celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Air Force in a high-tech way, with a worldwide radio "QSO party." The party is set for 12:01 a.m. Sept. 20 to 11:59 p.m. Sept. 21 Universal Coordinated Time. The event is sponsored by the Air Force directorate of communications and information, and managed by the Razorback Radio Club of Honolulu. Its trustee, Col. Bernie Skoch (amateur radio call sign K5XS), is Pacific Air Force's director of communications and information.
Jim Menefee, WA4KKY/TT8, 19 August 1997, Chad, Africa, Ham Radio Online Exclusive
Chad has now issued call letters to us: TT8JWM and TT8JFC. According to the Chad's Minister of Telecommunications, we are the only authorized and licensed amateur radio stations in the country.
Via link to NASA, 15 August 1997
A few nights ago we were camped in the North Cascades mountains and enjoyed watching both the Perseids meteor shower and numerous satellite crossings. We wondered just what satellites we might be seeing - and thanks to NASA, you can now predict in advance when some of your favorite spacecraft may be visible, including Amateur Radio satellites. Tonight, we watched a crossing of Mir - and the prediction was right on the money. Click on the link above to use NASA's J-Pass software. You'll need a Java capable browser. If your city is not listed in the program, then input your exact longitude and latitude into J-Pass. You can listen in to 143.625 Mhz for Mir to ground communications, and amateur communications on 145.985 MHz (USA) or 145.800/200 (outside USA).
ARRL Bulletin, 4 August 1997
The September 30 launch of the Phase 3D Amateur Radio satellite has been put in grave doubt. It appears extremely unlikely that Phase 3D will be able to meet revised mechanical specifications in time to fly on schedule aboard the Ariane 502 rocket.
By Richard L. Anglin, Jr., Esq., N6KUB, 4 August 1997
Why would any amateur radio operator bother going through the often excruciating process of getting his or her repeater coordinated? As you might well imagine, the Rules of the Federal Communications Communication ("FCC") contain "carrots," "sticks" and "policy" reasons. (Part 3 of 3 parts) (See Library for other sections).
By Jeff Herman, KH2PZ / KH6, 4 August
Jeff Herman's true story of USCG Radio Operations continues. "One evening while sitting the 500kc watch and daydreaming of those lucky ops onboard their ships scattered about the Pacific my pleasant thoughts were shattered by a bcst from a Soviet ship...." See the Library for previous parts.
July 1997 Stories
By Ham Radio Online, Updated 27 July 1997
How often does a major motion picture open with an 8 year old girl calling "CQ CQ CQ..."? This is a great movie - and lots of fun for ham radio operators. Watch for the references to "Elmer" that only a ham operator will understand. Watch for the scene where 8 year old Eleanor Arroway says "I need a bigger antenna" and the scene cuts to Dr. Arroway (Jodie Foster) as an adult standing next to the Arecibo Observatory. Ah, don't we wish for bigger antennas too? Go see it!
Online Internet Resources:
- Arecibo Observatory (also see Arecibo ham radio page)
- National Radio Astronomy Observatory
- Details of the Very Large Array system
- SETI League
- SETI League's Ham Radio SETI Nets Directory
- SETI-The Planetary Society
- SETI Institute
- NASA Voyager web site
- Contact-The Movie
Via link to NASA/JPL, 27 July 1997
Deep space communications requires 24 hour support. Since the earth revolves, NASA has placed deep space communications support facilities in 3 countries, each approximately 120 degrees of arc around the world from the previous. A global data communications network ties the facilities together, to the Internet and to NASA as part of the Deep Space Network.
By Karen E. Johansen, KC5FCU, 22 July 1997
Amateur radio operators provide communications for disaster relief agencies in the wake of Hurricane Danny in the gulf states area.
By Phil Karn, KA9Q, via link, 22 July 1997
Want to do some really weak signal DX'ing at 8.24 GHz? Phil provides a lot of technical detail on the Mars Pathfinder to Earth data link system.
By John Scourias, University of Waterloo, via link, 22 July 1997
GSM is the digital cellular standard for Europe and much of the world. John Scourias details the technology of the GSM digital standard in these online reports. To learn more about GSM, you may also wish to visit his GSM web pages. This link is by permission of the author.
ARRL Bulletin, 13 July 1997
Ham radio has had a prominent role in the shuttle Columbia mission STS-94, which continues until July 17. So far, the STS-94 crew--which includes three hams--has racked up 13 successful SAREX contacts with school groups as well as random contacts with earthbound ham radio operators.
ARRL Bulletin, 13 July 1997
Astronaut Mike Foale, KB5UAC, expressed the gratitude of the Mir crew ''for all the good wishes and interest over the world, in our troubles and tribulations.'' Ham radio has also served as a convenient chat medium between the U.S. space shuttle Columbia and the Russian Mir space station in recent days as hams on the Shuttle have made direct ham radio contact with Mir.
Via link to JPL/NASA, 10 July 1997
A MUST VISIT web site! Not only has the Pathfinder and its Sojourner microrover performed outstandingly well, but the telecommunications team has put together a detailed and thorough look at the packet radio system used on the rover, including discussion of technologies for future missions. Their main web page graphic takes awhile to download but its worth it. If you want, you can instead jump directly to the Microrover Radio And Antennas page. While the system does not use Amateur Radio AX.25 packet technology, the heritage of the technology is readily apparent. (Note: This site is busy and may be hard to access right now - but its worth it).
ARRL Bulletin, 7 July 1997
Ham radio aboard the Mir has been getting some casual use again as the three-man crew continues efforts to get life back to normal aboard the Russian space station. On 6 July 1997, CNN reported that Mike Foale, KB5UAC, on board Mir, made an in-orbit contact with the Space Shuttle Columbia via Amateur Radio.
By Jeff Herman, KH2PZ / KH6, 7 July 1997
Jeff Herman's true story of USCG Radio Operations continues. "The first thing an op coming on watch does is to check his clock against WWV (ITU regs!), for certain actions on 500 have to be timed down to the second." See the Library for previous parts.
By Richard L. Anglin, Jr., Esq., N6KUB, 7 July 1997
You have bought your repeater equipment, you have secured a site lease and your repeater station has been "coordinated" by the recognized "frequency coordinator." Now what? (Part 2 of 3 parts) (See Library for other sections).
June 1997 Stories
by Ed Mitchell, KF7VY, 29 June 1997
Some photos from the Ellensburg, Washington Radio Club and Kittitas County Search and Rescue combined Field Day event. Also, Check Out the Armadillo Gang at W5LEX with photos!
ARRL Bulletin, 27 June 1997
The Mir space station was seriously damaged on Wednesday when a Progress supply ship collided with Mir during tests of a new docking procedure. US astronaut Mike Foale, KB5UAC, aboard the crippled Mir is using ham radio to provide a valuable supplement to conventional Russian and NASA communication systems. Foale has already used the ham gear aboard Mir to talk to NASA managers and fellow astronauts and exchange health and welfare news as the crew struggles to stabilize the ship after Wednesday's collision.
Track Mir in real-time at:
http://liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov/temp/mir_loc.html. Listen to Mir on 143.625 MHz, when in range.
By Len Umina, N1LU , 27 June 1997
The as yet unchallenged 'largest ham family under one roof', led by Len Umina, N1LU and Vicki, N1XYA with harmonics N1YFT, N1YGB, N1YGC, N1YHL, and N1YHO has just expanded back a generation adding KD4BCP and KF6LSG to the list of family hams. And more are on the way!
Via link to Philips, 27 June 1997
Here is a nifty and thorough summary of world-wide standards used by cellular and cordless phones, including frequencies in different countries. This is a fascinating resource from the Semiconductor division of Philips.
ARRL Bulletin, 20 June 1997
The European Space Agency, ESA, announced this week that the Ariane 502 launch carrying Phase 3D will be delayed a couple of weeks until September 30 at the earliest while the rocket gets another engine. It's the second delay announced this year for the Phase 3D vehicle.
By Ronald Zond, K3MIY, 19 June 1997 (broken link fixed 6/21)
Now that you know your characters and how to get some copying speed, it's time to learn how to send good Morse. (See previous sections in The Road to Good CW: Learning the Morse Code).
ARRL Bulletin, added 14 June 1997
Ham-astronaut Mike Foale, KB5UAC, is making good on his promise to keep Mir active on the ham bands. Foale is scheduled to spend more than four months on the space station before returning to Earth.
By Jeff Herman, KH2PZ / KH6, 13 June 1997
Jeff Herman's true story of USCG Radio Operations continues: I have researched the literature in order to find an answer to this question, but have found nothing. I tend to think that this particular wavelength, 600 meters, became the standard by accident Parts 1 and 2 of 7 parts are available in the Library.
ARRL Bulletin, 10 June 1997
Williamson County, Texas, Emergency Services Director John Sneed had high praise for the help provided by Amateur Radio after tornadoes struck that state late last month. Nearly 100 hams in Travis and Williamson counties--prepared by past practice runs--faced the real thing when devastating tornadoes swept through central Texas on May 27.
By Richard L. Anglin, Jr., Esq., N6KUB, 6 June 1997
Many amateur radio operators are confused about what "coordination" is or means. The primary source of confusion is the erroneous belief that "coordination" is somehow "owned" or the personal property right of a licensee in the amateur radio service. This article, and several to follow, will discuss the legal basis of coordination. (Part 1 of 3 parts).
By Jeff Brone, WB2JNA, 1 June 1997
You'll thoroughly Jeff's wonderful and off-beat narrative of electronic kit building: "You have to understand, the last kit I built had tubes and was powered by a crank. In the old days, parts were soldered onto solder lugs which were bolted onto the chassis. There was enough room to stand between most of the parts. I must attribute the dramatic change in the kit construction to the scientific fact that people's hands have gotten smaller over the past twenty years."
By Jeff Herman, KH2PZ / KH6, 1 June 1997
Jeff Herman's true story of USCG Radio Operations continues: "Sitting adjacent to the HF CW position was a smaller room, enclosed on three sides in brick painted off-white. The fourth side was glass, including a sliding glass door, with a small sign glued on which simply said ``MF CW''. " Part 1 of 7 parts is available in the Library.
May 1997 Stories
ARRL Bulletins, 17 May 1997
Astronaut and Amateur radio operator Mike Foale, KB5UAC, took off on the space shuttle Atlantis Thursday, May 15, and has docked with the Mir space station. Foale He is scheduled to remain aboard Mir until September and plans to be active on amateur radio saying that he will talk with anyone who speaks "English, American or Russian."
By Bill Brown, WB8ELK, 17 May 1997
The HALO "Rockoon" (rocket launched from a balloon) successfully launched on May 11th, reaching an altitude of 38 miles. The rockoon used both Amateur Television and APRS format packet radio telemetry. In accomplishing this mission, the team broke numerous records including (1) The first amateur launch of a rockoon (rocket launched from a balloon); (2), the highest launch of a hybrid rocket, and (3) the highest flying hybrid rocket to date.
By Matjaz Vidmar, S53MV, Slovenia, 13 May 1997
The article Equipment Options for Medium and High-Speed Packet Radio described techniques for for achieving 9600 and 56 kbps digital packet radio communications. Here, Matjaz Vidmar details his design of a 1.2 million bits per second digital radio for Amateur use. Also see 23cm PSK packet-radio RTX for 1.2Mbit/s user access. This is state of the art performance packet radio! (These articles are courtesy of the Zveza Radioamaterjev Slovenije (Association of Radio Amateurs of Slovenia).
Via Link to NASA, 13 May 1997
Operated by NASA in conjunction with AMSAT and local amateur radio groups, this project simulates many of the practices and remote observing challenges inherent in working with real satellites, and offers a unique hands-on experience for students in K-12 earth science, physical science, physics, electronics or aerospace classes.
Compiled by Barry McLarnon, VE3JF, via link, 9 May 1997
Here is an excellent summary of the hardware options available for constructing medium- to high-speed packet radio links (9600 bps to 56 kbps and beyond).
via link to Grand Forks Herald, 1 to 4 May 1997
The Grand Forks Herald reports on amateur radio in the flood stricken Red River Valley. Unfortunately, the article notes that new technology is overtaking ham radio - everyone in the Red River Valley seems to be carrying a cellular phone; pagers are beeping everywhere and the Internet ("you don't need to pass a regimen of federal tests", they write) is replacing ham radio for long distance communications. Only at the end do they note some specific functions being performed by RACES teams.
Also see: Cellular Telephone Usage Soars, Taxing System (via link to Grand Forks Herald).
by Mike Flaugher, N9LLX, 1 May 1997
The sun-climate connection is something that's been talked about many times. It's like everybody knows there has to be some connection but no one can prove a good case. This time the evidence seems pretty compelling and we have a better handle on Earth's climate past.
April 1997 Stories
by Ham Radio Online, 22 April to 14 May 1997
Nearly the entire city of Grand Forks, ND has been flooded; 3 city blocks are reported to have burned down in the midst of the flood; the University of North Dakota has closed its campus for the remainder of the school year; the city's infrastructure is probably destroyed. Numerous other towns are also hit hard. To read about this incredible flood disaster, visit the Grand Forks Herald.
ARRL Report: Hams maintain flood relief effort
ARRL Report: Hams scaling back flood relief operations
10,000 Phones Now Out of Service in Grand Forks (via link to Grand Forks Herald)
ARRL Report: Hams Continue Flood Relief
ARRL Report: Grand Forks, ND Amateur Radio Response
ARRL Report: Minnesota Amateur Radio Response
Phone system not likely to fail (link to Grand Forks Herald)
How To Donate To Those In Need
by Ham Radio Online Exclusive, 20 April 1997
Under terms of the Report and Order 97-114 in ET Docket 96-8, the FCC has announced that it will allow the use of high gain antennas for unlicensed transmitters operating in the 2400 and 5800 MHz Part 15 allocations. These bands are shared with the Amateur Radio Service. These bands will fill rapidly with numerous new commercial and non-commercial users.
by Elizabeth Porter, 17 April 1997
Can you help Elizabeth Porter learn more about her deceased father? He left home when Elizabeth was 10 and suffered an accidental death 2 years later. She writes, "I know little about him and am just now starting to develop a relationship with his side of my family. David S. Porter would probably be in his sixties today -- he lived in rural New Jersey and if I am correct, his Ham ID was K2BPP." More details in this story.
by Jeff Herman, KH2PZ / KH6, 15 April 1997
In July of 1977, as a 3rd Class Radioman Petty Officer for the U.S. Coast Guard, Jeff received orders to report from Coast Guard Group Monterey, CA, to Coast Guard Radio Station Honolulu in Wahiawa, Hawaii. He describes first hand the work of the Coast Guard radio operator. This is Part 1 of a 7 part series.
By Ben Kellman, WA1SYH, 5 April 1997
"Over the years I've read a number of stories and articles about CW. And I didn't really pay that much attention to them. You see, I like to talk and connect with people, and that Morse code stuff just didn't really cut it. Things change, tho." --- Great Story!
By Major James R. Sohl, CAP, WB5MPX, 5 April 1997
The main training and evaluation program for disaster relief training and planning is simulated disaster events. Most, of these, do not provide a realistic situation regarding a major event and the loss of a large percentage of public communications services. This "Internet / Cellular Communications Exercise" is designed as a self evaluation for any disaster relief agency including Civil Air Patrol and Amateur Radio units.
By Unni Gran, LA6RHA/JW6RHA, Norway, 5 April 1997
Unni Gran makes a trip to Vietnam and operates as 3W6JD.
ARRL Bulletin, 2 April 1997
In response to three petitions for rulemaking, the FCC has adopted changes to the Amateur Service rules that--among other changes--will make it easier to obtain 1x1 call signs for special event stations and harder to get a club station license.
March 1997 Stories
ARRL Bulletin, 25 March 1997
Modifications to the Ariane 5 rocket's electrical systems and software mean another delay for the Phase 3D Amateur Radio satellite.
ARRL Bulletin, 22 March 1997
The ARRL is seeking a change in FCC rules to relax regulations regarding the Amateur Radio Service and the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES). Portions of the proposal are similar to changes suggested by Ham Radio Online in recent opinion columns.
Tom O'Hara, W6ORG P.C. Electronics via ATV mailing list, 22 March 1997
Henry Radio in Los Angeles is closing its doors as of 20 March. This long time dealer of amateur radio gear will keep its amplifier and commercial manufacturing going, but its retail store is no more. This leaves Jun's as the only ATV dealer in the greater Los Angeles area.
by Albert Tamm, W4YID, 21 March 1997
This true story of a ham radio operator obtaining emergency medical aid for a distant poisoning victim occurred some time ago. But it demonstrates the unique and ad hoc manner in which Amatuer Radio can save a life.
by Paul A. Rauth, 21 March 1997
Paul put together this humorous short story as a way of remembering - and learning - the ITU phonetic alphabet - that Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo stuff. Enjoy!
Press Release, 11 March 1997
You are invited to participate in the Northern California Emergency Reponse Institute, May 17-18, 1997 in Sacramento, California. The Institute is sponsored by the Governor's Office of Emergency Service's Auxiliary Communications Service and the California Emergency Services Radio Association (CESRA). This is an important training opportunity for RACES/ARES volunteers.
ARRL Bulletin, 8 March 1997
Via Link to Garmin, Ltd., U.K., 4 March 1997
Garmin, Ltd. introduces the GPS 190, an innovative handheld radio integrated with a GPS navigation receiver, including a moving map display. This radio is manufactured for aviation use and covers the aviation voice and navigation frequencies. What a great idea!
By Ham Radio Online, 4 March 1997, updated 20 March 1997
Today, the FCC announced a Notice of Proposed Rule Making to provide for greater use of Amateur spread spectrum communications technologies. The NPRM is Docket Number WT-97-12. The complete text is now available online. Comments are due to the FCC by May 5th.
By Ronald Zond, K3MIY, 2 March 1997
Even good CW operators had to start somewhere. I'll show you how to learn the Morse characters in a week's time and then I will show how to copy in your head. Learning the Morse characters is not difficult; in fact, its quite easy if you split the alphabet into reverse and inverse Morse
By Ham Radio Online, 1 March 1997
We run Ham Radio Online entirely as a hobby activity. In spite of our professional appearance, we do this solely for fun and because we enjoy ham radio and other aspects of telecommunications. Time is at a premum and this web site is starting to take over our life! So we expect to make some changes that will enable us to focus more on articles and less on daily maintenance.
Via Link to CNN, 1 March 1997
An Ariane rocket launcher will carry AMSAT's "Phase 3D" Amateur satellite in to orbit this coming July. Let's hope this successful launch is a good sign for summer!
February 1997 Stories
Press Release from Yale University, 20 February 1997
Fewer sunspots will erupt on the sun's surface during the next decade, indicating an unexpected decrease in the activity of magnetic fields that churn the sun's hot gases, Yale University and NASA astronomers predict.
Via Link to paper by Arthur H. M. Ross, Ph.D.,, 20 February 1997
Code division multiple access (CDMA) digital spread spectrum cellular technology can offer a capacity improvement of 10 or more times than of the existing analog cellular phone networks. Additional papers on CDMA technology are available from the CDMA Development Group.
By Peter Coffee, AC6EN, 16 February 1997
Due to increasing reliance on dispersed electronic networks for communication and control, combined with plummeting prices of powerful computing and communications equipment, non-professionals have the tools to penetrate and break communications systems. Amateur Radio operators should take this opportunity to remind policy makers that we provide a a decentralized backups system virtually immune to attack at any single point, whose users and operators are one and the same: a team that can recognize and work around many modes of failure.
ARRL Bulletin, 15 February 1997
Commercial satellite interests seeking access to bands below 1 GHz--including amateur allocations at 146 and 430 MHz--now have added 220 MHz to their "wish list."
By Len Umina, N1LU, 9 February 1997
How do you get the kids away from the video games and into some kind of activity where they might actually learn something besides how to traverse the levels of Duke Nuke 'em? Well, you guessed it: Ham Radio!
ARRL Bulletin, 3 February 1997
The ARRL proposes dramatic changes to the U.S. Amateur licensing structure, including elimination of the Novice license. According to the proposal, just 1 out of 4 Novice license holders continue on in Amateur Radio suggesting that the Novice license is failing as an entry level license.
January 1997 Stories
By Simon Lewis, GM4PLM, Editor/European Microwave Newsletter, U.K., 29 January 1997
Petra Suckling, G4KGC and Charlie Suckling, G3WDG, with Ari, PA0EZ achieve a new U.K. 24 GHz distance record of 391 kilometers running just 400 milliwatts and 100 milliwatts output power.
Banquet Speech by Lyle Johnson, WA7GXD, via link to TAPR, 27 January 1997,
RealAudio audio net broadcast of this talk available.
In this thought provoking speech, Lyle asks tough questions about Amateur Radio - why do our own policies encourage wasteful spectrum "hoarding" and under utilization? Our VHF and UHF bands show inadequate use, in part, due to warehousing of spectrum via large and often closed use repeater allocations. "Now if you were a public policy maker, how would you feel about this? .... Well, now we've got this ... Little LEO controversy- the low earth orbiting guys. And they sat up there with their spectrum analyzer and noticed the same thing. So, now they've gone to the policy makers, and amongst the candidate bands ... there's two meters and seventy centimeters on the table for consideration." Lyle goes on to say, ".... if we look at ourselves objectively, we have to say that we're grossly inefficient and that we're wasteful. We've been given a precious public resource and we're not utilizing it properly."
Via Link to www.discovery.org's Articles by George Gilder, 27 January 1997
Noted economist George Gilder writes about how digital technology and economics can lead to significantly improved efficiency in the use of the radio spectrum. Especially take note of the section titled "How Digital Radios Can End The Spectrum Wars".
Link to San Jose Mercury News' Mercury Center web site, 20 Jan 1997
The San Jose Mercury News (Silicon Valley's newspaper) conducted an interview with Nolan Bushnell, founder of Atari, Inc. and inventor of the wildly successful "Pong" video game in the 1970s. Bushnell credits a neighborhood ham radio operator with teaching him about radios and electronics at a young age and kick starting his future career as an inventor and entrepreneur.
Steve Bible, N7HPR via Link to TAPR, 18 January 1997
Spread spectrum communications offers new opportunities for experimentation, spectrum sharing and high speed digital communications. Read this tutorial at the TAPR web site to learn more!
Via Link to www.dbsdish.com, 16 Jan 1997
More evidence that the world of communications is switching to digital technologies comes in this report that NBC Television has placed orders for digital TV transmitters; ABC placed an order last year. Digital TV transmissions could start up as soon as 1998.
By Ham Radio Online, 10 Jan 1997
The FCC has just approved three new bands in the 5 GHz range for low powered wireless devices, geared to high speed wireless Internet access. The new bands include changes to the rules within the shared Amateur allocation at 5.725 to 5.825 GHz. Unlicensed devices will be given more flexibility to use high gain antennas to achieve ranges measured in miles. This means that wireless high speed Internet access, bypassing expensive phone company T-1 service, will be possible (see next story for an example).
Via Link, 9 January 1996
Would you like 2 Mbps Internet access? The small college town of 26,000 in Laramie, Wyoming has wireless high speed Internet access running today using unlicensed fast wireless data technology. Wireless enables Internet users to bypass the expensive T-1 charges of local phone companies (up to $3,000 per month).
Link to San Jose Mercury News' Mercury Center web site, 8 Jan 1997
The San Jose Mercury News (Silicon Valley's newspaper) has this story on solar storms forecast for the year 2,000 which may disrupt radio communications, satellites and power systems. Long time ham radio operators are accustomed to the 11 year solar sunspot cycle and its effects. Looks like another nice sunspot cycle is in our future.
By Ronald Zond, K3MIY, 6 January 1997
Ronald Zond provides us with some insight as to where the next sunspot cycle picks up - and when to start chasing DX on upper HF frequencies.
By Jeff Brone, WB2JNA, 6 January 1997
Jeff offers suggestions, based on his own ham radio experiences, on enjoying ham radio without going broke. "Radio doesn't have to be expensive; after all, it's a hobby. The main purpose is fun, not bankruptcy. Take it from me, one of the world's cheapest people."