CQ CQ CQ .. calling all amateur radio operators
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BlueEyesInLevis
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LOL.... good one!linuxgeek said:
linuxgeek
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Disasters spark interest in radio
February 14, 2005
Central Florida ham radio operators have had quite a year.
During this past summer's hurricanes, many stayed in shelters providing backup communications to American Red Cross officials. And one, University of Central Florida professor Charles Harpole, helped provide communications in the wake of December's deadly tsunami.
Amateur radio operators from the Southeastern United States gathered this past weekend for HamCation. Attendance -- an estimated 8,000 people -- was up from the previous year, when about 6,000 attended.
The hurricanes might have renewed some ham radio operators' interest in their hobby, said Cindy Radice, chairman of this year's event.
"People who have been in radio who perhaps were tired of it a little bit, it's renewing their interest," she said.
Ham radio operators use two-way radio stations to make contacts around the world, communicating by voice, computers and Morse code.
Many of the amateur radio operators attending this weekend's event appeared to be in their 50s, 60s and 70s. Attracting new generations of amateur radio operators can be "a bit of a struggle," Radice said, particularly with so much newfangled technology attracting younger people.
But Harpole, who conducted a seminar on Saturday about his experience after the tsunami, said young people overlooking ham radio are missing out.
Amateur radio provides a challenge, a way for people to meet people from other cultures and provide community service, he said.
"The thing I wish we would do more is appeal to the idea of adventure and secret communication," he said.
Harpole said he had originally planned to set up a ham radio operation when he visited the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, in the Bay of Bengal between India and Thailand, in December.
Harpole never got the chance to train anyone in ham radio operations. Instead, he helped provide communications after the earthquake and resulting tsunami.
For about 20 hours, he and his fellow ham radio operators -- sometimes using car batteries to run their radios -- relayed information to the mainland, helping survivors contact relatives and friends.
It wasn't Harpole's first experience pitching in after a natural disaster. As a teenager, Harpole said, he helped with communications after a flood hit Southern Illinois in the late 1950s. During the summer's hurricanes, Harpole got eyewitness reports from the Caribbean before the storms headed to Florida, and he relayed the information to the National Hurricane Center.
Many ham radio operators tend to have adventurous spirits, Harpole said, mentioning how a group of ham radio operators are on an expedition to a remote island off the coast of Antarctica.
But ham radio operators are savvy about other types of communication as well.
When asked how he'd heard about the Antarctica expedition, Harpole smiled.
"The Internet," he said.
Disasters spark interest in radio
February 14, 2005
Central Florida ham radio operators have had quite a year.
During this past summer's hurricanes, many stayed in shelters providing backup communications to American Red Cross officials. And one, University of Central Florida professor Charles Harpole, helped provide communications in the wake of December's deadly tsunami.
Amateur radio operators from the Southeastern United States gathered this past weekend for HamCation. Attendance -- an estimated 8,000 people -- was up from the previous year, when about 6,000 attended.
The hurricanes might have renewed some ham radio operators' interest in their hobby, said Cindy Radice, chairman of this year's event.
"People who have been in radio who perhaps were tired of it a little bit, it's renewing their interest," she said.
Ham radio operators use two-way radio stations to make contacts around the world, communicating by voice, computers and Morse code.
Many of the amateur radio operators attending this weekend's event appeared to be in their 50s, 60s and 70s. Attracting new generations of amateur radio operators can be "a bit of a struggle," Radice said, particularly with so much newfangled technology attracting younger people.
But Harpole, who conducted a seminar on Saturday about his experience after the tsunami, said young people overlooking ham radio are missing out.
Amateur radio provides a challenge, a way for people to meet people from other cultures and provide community service, he said.
"The thing I wish we would do more is appeal to the idea of adventure and secret communication," he said.
Harpole said he had originally planned to set up a ham radio operation when he visited the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, in the Bay of Bengal between India and Thailand, in December.
Harpole never got the chance to train anyone in ham radio operations. Instead, he helped provide communications after the earthquake and resulting tsunami.
For about 20 hours, he and his fellow ham radio operators -- sometimes using car batteries to run their radios -- relayed information to the mainland, helping survivors contact relatives and friends.
It wasn't Harpole's first experience pitching in after a natural disaster. As a teenager, Harpole said, he helped with communications after a flood hit Southern Illinois in the late 1950s. During the summer's hurricanes, Harpole got eyewitness reports from the Caribbean before the storms headed to Florida, and he relayed the information to the National Hurricane Center.
Many ham radio operators tend to have adventurous spirits, Harpole said, mentioning how a group of ham radio operators are on an expedition to a remote island off the coast of Antarctica.
But ham radio operators are savvy about other types of communication as well.
When asked how he'd heard about the Antarctica expedition, Harpole smiled.
"The Internet," he said.
linuxgeek
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ARES/RACES drill participation draws FEMA praise (Feb 15, 2005) -- Calhoun County, Alabama, ARES/RACES participated February 9 in a communication drill in which the scenario was a nerve gas release, and Amateur Radio the only communication system available to the local emergency operations center (EOC). The exercise, the annual Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP) conducted by the Anniston Army Depot and the Calhoun County Alabama Emergency Management Agency, was aimed at checking the coordination of communications at the EOCs. Calhoun County Emergency Coordinator Randall Landers, KG4EUD, managed his team's activities from the EOC, while Alabama Section Emergency Coordinator Jay Isbell, KA4KUN, and staff headed up communications at the US Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Noble Training Center at Ft McClellan. A mission of the Anniston Army Depot is to incinerate stockpiles of chemical weapons. In the exercise scenario, 36 land mines exploded releasing VX nerve agent into the county. The ARES/RACES team provided updates and deployed volunteers to hospitals and schools and to Emergency Activation System radio stations, where they disseminated official news releases. "A FEMA Region 4 representatives said that the Amateur Radio group was the best they have evaluated, and that their knowledge of radio and communications was excellent," reported Alabama Section Manager Greg Sarratt W4OZK.
linuxgeek
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Special call sign on air for Kuwait National and Liberation Day (Feb 21, 2005) -- Each February 25 and 26, Kuwait celebrates its National and Liberation Day. To mark the occasion this year, members of the Kuwait Amateur Radio Society (KARS) will be on the air with the special call sign 9K44NLD. Operations will take place from the KARS headquarters. 9K44NLD will be active on all bands and modes starting at 0000 UTC on Friday, February 25 (February 24 in US time zones) and ending at 2359 UTC on Monday February 28 (February 27 in US time zones). QSL via Faisal Al-Ajmi, 9K2RR, PO Box 1124, 80000 Al-Farwania, KUWAIT.--The Daily DX
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Ham Radio Saves a Ham in Alaska
Two Alaskan hikers who were on a day outing in the rugged mountains of Chugach State Park near Anchorage had their afternoon turn into something entirely unexpected on February 12. One of them, Jesse Jones, KL1RK, unfortunately slipped and fell more than 200 feet down a steep ravine, losing his snowshoes in the process. Jesse found himself unable to move forward or back, trapped between a low overhang on one side and a swift moving winter stream on the other. His precarious position was made worse by the fact that his descent could have continued into the water at any moment, and since snow depth exceeded 10 feet, the loss of his snowshoes meant he could not walk out. Since the outside air temperature at that time was near -10 degrees F, falling into the water would likely have meant immediate hypothermia followed by freezing death shortly thereafter.
Fortunately, Jesse had brought along his 2 meter handheld transceiver. He tried several local repeaters with no luck, because his signals were being swallowed up by the mountainous terrain. Finally, he was able to access one of the wide-area machines, the WL7CVG repeater atop Mt Susitna, almost 40 miles distant. This repeater, owned by the Anchorage Amateur Radio Club and used primarily as the area ARES repeater, had been installed atop the 4400 foot mountain just last summer. It was the only system he could access with his low-power handheld.
The Rescue Begins
As a control operator for the repeater, I heard his weak Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! call just a few minutes after 4 PM local time. I immediately called 911 and was placed in contact with the local fire department rescue coordinator. I was able to pass on Jesse's messages to the local rescue coordinator, including coordinates from a GPS unit Jesse was carrying. The rescue coordinator's office called out the local mountain rescue group and the Alaska State Troopers, who immediately left for the scene with a search team and snow machines.
The rescue team met with Jesse's climbing partner, who had been able to hike out to a place he could assist the rescue team. Jesse was able to keep in touch via 2 meters to tell the rescuers his condition, including the fact that he was uninjured but very cold. His extremities were becoming numb after being forced to remain in one position in the sub-zero conditions. Complicating the issue was the fact that Jesse's hands were so cold he was having trouble operating the PTT button. On top of all this, his signal was very marginal, sometimes fading out altogether.
At about 6 PM, after the rescue operation had been running for almost 2 hours, the first rescue team made contact with Jesse. After some observations and a few attempts, the rescuers came to the conclusion that they would not be able to get Jesse out without additional assistance. At this point, the local Air National Guard unit was called. They at once began warm-up of an HH-60 "Pave Hawk" rescue helicopter. After a brief but complete preflight check, the helicopter left for the scene. The crew arrived on scene about 15 minutes later, at 6:45 PM local. Unfortunately, the presence of a high voltage power line directly above Jesse's position made it impossible to lift Jesse out in the normal way. Instead, they had to lower some para-rescue jumpers to a nearby location, and from there they rappelled down to Jesse's position.
The para-rescue team then worked with others on scene and were able to bring Jesse out of the canyon by about 10 PM. After some on-scene checks by paramedics, Jesse was taken to a local hospital for observation. He was released just before midnight, cold and a bit hungry, but otherwise almost as good as new.
A Team Effort
Several local hams also assisted the effort, either directly or by their connection with local emergency service groups. They are Dave Cloyd, KL7M; Raymond Taber, KL7UHF, and others who stood by, ready to help if needed. Among those directly involved were Msgt Mike O'Keefe, KL7MD, with the Alaska Air National Guard, and Heather Hasper, KL7SP, and John Ramsey, KD6YKS, both with the local American Red Cross emergency response team. Also assisting was Bruce McCormick, KL7BM, who was involved with the event as a member of the Alaska Mountain Rescue Group.
Just last fall, both the Alaska Mountain Rescue Group and the American Red Cross of Alaska received a large grant for communications equipment from the Anchorage ARC. Little did any of the club members know that this very equipment would have a part in the rescue of one of their own.
As an interesting and somewhat odd coincidence, Jesse is employed by a local TV station, KYES Channel 5. That station owns and operates a TV translator atop Mt Susitna, where the WL7CVG repeater is located. The station owner, Jeremy Lansman, has graciously allowed the Anchorage club to mount their repeater antennas on the KYES tower. This is apparently yet another case where goodwill and cooperation among the community has come back in an unexpected way.
Ham Radio Saves a Ham in Alaska
Two Alaskan hikers who were on a day outing in the rugged mountains of Chugach State Park near Anchorage had their afternoon turn into something entirely unexpected on February 12. One of them, Jesse Jones, KL1RK, unfortunately slipped and fell more than 200 feet down a steep ravine, losing his snowshoes in the process. Jesse found himself unable to move forward or back, trapped between a low overhang on one side and a swift moving winter stream on the other. His precarious position was made worse by the fact that his descent could have continued into the water at any moment, and since snow depth exceeded 10 feet, the loss of his snowshoes meant he could not walk out. Since the outside air temperature at that time was near -10 degrees F, falling into the water would likely have meant immediate hypothermia followed by freezing death shortly thereafter.
Fortunately, Jesse had brought along his 2 meter handheld transceiver. He tried several local repeaters with no luck, because his signals were being swallowed up by the mountainous terrain. Finally, he was able to access one of the wide-area machines, the WL7CVG repeater atop Mt Susitna, almost 40 miles distant. This repeater, owned by the Anchorage Amateur Radio Club and used primarily as the area ARES repeater, had been installed atop the 4400 foot mountain just last summer. It was the only system he could access with his low-power handheld.
The Rescue Begins
As a control operator for the repeater, I heard his weak Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! call just a few minutes after 4 PM local time. I immediately called 911 and was placed in contact with the local fire department rescue coordinator. I was able to pass on Jesse's messages to the local rescue coordinator, including coordinates from a GPS unit Jesse was carrying. The rescue coordinator's office called out the local mountain rescue group and the Alaska State Troopers, who immediately left for the scene with a search team and snow machines.
The rescue team met with Jesse's climbing partner, who had been able to hike out to a place he could assist the rescue team. Jesse was able to keep in touch via 2 meters to tell the rescuers his condition, including the fact that he was uninjured but very cold. His extremities were becoming numb after being forced to remain in one position in the sub-zero conditions. Complicating the issue was the fact that Jesse's hands were so cold he was having trouble operating the PTT button. On top of all this, his signal was very marginal, sometimes fading out altogether.
At about 6 PM, after the rescue operation had been running for almost 2 hours, the first rescue team made contact with Jesse. After some observations and a few attempts, the rescuers came to the conclusion that they would not be able to get Jesse out without additional assistance. At this point, the local Air National Guard unit was called. They at once began warm-up of an HH-60 "Pave Hawk" rescue helicopter. After a brief but complete preflight check, the helicopter left for the scene. The crew arrived on scene about 15 minutes later, at 6:45 PM local. Unfortunately, the presence of a high voltage power line directly above Jesse's position made it impossible to lift Jesse out in the normal way. Instead, they had to lower some para-rescue jumpers to a nearby location, and from there they rappelled down to Jesse's position.
The para-rescue team then worked with others on scene and were able to bring Jesse out of the canyon by about 10 PM. After some on-scene checks by paramedics, Jesse was taken to a local hospital for observation. He was released just before midnight, cold and a bit hungry, but otherwise almost as good as new.
A Team Effort
Several local hams also assisted the effort, either directly or by their connection with local emergency service groups. They are Dave Cloyd, KL7M; Raymond Taber, KL7UHF, and others who stood by, ready to help if needed. Among those directly involved were Msgt Mike O'Keefe, KL7MD, with the Alaska Air National Guard, and Heather Hasper, KL7SP, and John Ramsey, KD6YKS, both with the local American Red Cross emergency response team. Also assisting was Bruce McCormick, KL7BM, who was involved with the event as a member of the Alaska Mountain Rescue Group.
Just last fall, both the Alaska Mountain Rescue Group and the American Red Cross of Alaska received a large grant for communications equipment from the Anchorage ARC. Little did any of the club members know that this very equipment would have a part in the rescue of one of their own.
As an interesting and somewhat odd coincidence, Jesse is employed by a local TV station, KYES Channel 5. That station owns and operates a TV translator atop Mt Susitna, where the WL7CVG repeater is located. The station owner, Jeremy Lansman, has graciously allowed the Anchorage club to mount their repeater antennas on the KYES tower. This is apparently yet another case where goodwill and cooperation among the community has come back in an unexpected way.
linuxgeek
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Amateur Radio workshop set for National Hurricane Conference (Feb 27, 2005) -- The 27th annual National Hurricane Conference March 21-25 will include an Amateur Radio workshop, "Preparing for a Communications Blackout. The ham radio session will take place Tuesday, March 22, 1:30 until 5 PM. The 2005 National Hurricane Conference--the national forum for education and professional training in hurricane preparedness--will be held at the Hilton Riverside in New Orleans. Workshop speakers will include Florida EMS Communications Engineer Randy Pierce, AG4UU; the Florida Emergency Communications Center's John Fleming, WD4FFX; Hurricane Watch Net Manager Mike Pilgrim, K5MP; Dan Sullivan, KO1D, of the WMD Exercise Support Team for Community Research Action, Alexandria, Virginia, and ARRL Emergency Communications Course Manager Dan Miller, K3UFG. Jerry Herman, N3BDW, will serve as moderator. Amateur Radio operators are welcome to attend this workshop at no charge; conference registration is not required. ARRL's presence at the National Hurricane Conference is made possible through a grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). The ARRL's Amateur Radio booth will be open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of the conference, and radio amateurs will be on hand to discuss Amateur Radio emergency communication and answer questions. Conference details and directions are found on the conference Web site.
landslider
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Breaker, ten four. Wait, that's CB.
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ZCZC AG07
QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 7 ARLB007
>From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT March 1, 2005
To all radio amateurs
SB QST ARL ARLB007
ARLB007 Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act of 2005 Introduced
At the urging of the ARRL, Rep Michael Bilirakis (R-FL) has introduced The Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act of 2005 into the US House of Representatives. The bill, designated HR 691, has been referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee where Bilirakis serves as vice chairman. Like previous versions of the proposal, the current measure would require the FCC to provide ''equivalent replacement spectrum'' to Amateur Radio if the FCC reallocates primary amateur frequencies, reduces any secondary amateur allocations, or makes additional allocations within such bands that would substantially reduce their utility to amateurs.
ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, says the legislation ''is vital for ensuring that the Amateur Radio Service, the only 100-percent fail safe emergency communication capability, remains a viable public safety option.''
HR 691 references Amateur Radio's role in providing ''voluntary, noncommercial radio service, particularly emergency communications,'' and it points out that hams have ''consistently and reliably'' provided communication support in the event of emergencies and disasters including tornadoes and hurricanes, chemical spills, forest fires and rail accidents. As the measure notes, FCC actions already have led to the loss of at least 107 MHz of spectrum to radio amateurs.
Rep Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD) has signed on as the bill's first co-sponsor.
Efforts now will focus on attracting additional cosponsors for the legislation. The League is encouraging members to urge their congressional representatives to sign aboard HR 691. More than 100 lawmakers agreed to cosponsor similar legislation in the 108th Congress, where it was designated HR 713. Work is proceeding to have identical legislation introduced in the US Senate.
The text of HR 691 is available on the Government Printing Office Web site http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_cong_bills &docid=f:h691ih.txt.pdf
NNNN
/EX
QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 7 ARLB007
>From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT March 1, 2005
To all radio amateurs
SB QST ARL ARLB007
ARLB007 Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act of 2005 Introduced
At the urging of the ARRL, Rep Michael Bilirakis (R-FL) has introduced The Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act of 2005 into the US House of Representatives. The bill, designated HR 691, has been referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee where Bilirakis serves as vice chairman. Like previous versions of the proposal, the current measure would require the FCC to provide ''equivalent replacement spectrum'' to Amateur Radio if the FCC reallocates primary amateur frequencies, reduces any secondary amateur allocations, or makes additional allocations within such bands that would substantially reduce their utility to amateurs.
ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, says the legislation ''is vital for ensuring that the Amateur Radio Service, the only 100-percent fail safe emergency communication capability, remains a viable public safety option.''
HR 691 references Amateur Radio's role in providing ''voluntary, noncommercial radio service, particularly emergency communications,'' and it points out that hams have ''consistently and reliably'' provided communication support in the event of emergencies and disasters including tornadoes and hurricanes, chemical spills, forest fires and rail accidents. As the measure notes, FCC actions already have led to the loss of at least 107 MHz of spectrum to radio amateurs.
Rep Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD) has signed on as the bill's first co-sponsor.
Efforts now will focus on attracting additional cosponsors for the legislation. The League is encouraging members to urge their congressional representatives to sign aboard HR 691. More than 100 lawmakers agreed to cosponsor similar legislation in the 108th Congress, where it was designated HR 713. Work is proceeding to have identical legislation introduced in the US Senate.
The text of HR 691 is available on the Government Printing Office Web site http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_cong_bills &docid=f:h691ih.txt.pdf
NNNN
/EX
linuxgeek
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http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2005/03/02/2/GlobalFlyer-logo.gif Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer special event on the air (Mar 2, 2005) -- Special event station K0KSU will be on the air from Kansas in conjunction with the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer round-the-world solo flight by Steve Fossett, who took off from Kansas February 28. The aviation adventurer is expected to return to Kansas sometime on March 3. A spokesperson for the Kansas State University-Salina Amateur Radio Club told ARRL that K0KSU is operating during daylight hours only on 20 and 15 meter SSB (K0KSU has been worked at 14.259 MHz). QSLs will bear the likeness of the GlobalFlyer, with permission from Virgin Atlantic. The club is hoping to revitalize the university station with this event.
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Emergency communications volunteers watch over California marathon (Mar 3, 2005) -- While most of Huntington Beach, California slept early Sunday morning, February 6, a team of Huntington Beach Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) radio communications volunteers began to deploy along the 26.2 mile course of the Pacific Shoreline Marathon. The mission of the radio volunteers: To help ensure a safe and fun event for all participants and spectators. For the fourth consecutive year, RACES and CERT personnel were on-hand to provide instant communications to authorities in case an emergency happened during the marathon. Improvements in the Amateur Radio "safety net" for this year's race included having a communications volunteer "shadowing" medical personnel in the medical aid tents. (Photo: Pacific Shoreline Marathoner number 119, John Cerecedes, KE6OAQ, passes Mile Mark/water station 15. Cerecedes is a member of the Huntington Beach RACES emergency communications team.)--Wayne Yoshida, KH6WZ
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Amateur Radio at the International Pathfinder Camporee
Similar to Scouts, Pathfinders is a co-ed organization of young people ages 10 through 15, and is sponsored by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Over 32,000 attended the International Pathfinder Camporee at the EAA field in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, August 10-14, 2004. This large event is held every five years, and this was the second time the Adventist Amateur Radio Association had been at EAA.
Several months before, the organizers contacted us regarding the possibility of offering Amateur Radio classes at the Camporee. Many other classes and activities would be provided as well--it was important to keep the kids busy!
Intro to Amateur Radio
Of course, it is impossible to teach Amateur Radio in a very short time and give the Technician class test, so we came up with a 50 minute course we entitled "Introduction to Amateur Radio." Thus, many more people could be exposed to the ham radio "bug." Our curriculum covered a few basic electronic principles, a little on rules and regulations, Morse code and a demonstration of our working stations. We were located in the back corner of Hangar B, where it was quite easy to string up a G5RV antenna just outside the building.
Our classes started at 9 AM and continued until 5 PM. Sometimes we hardly had a break for lunch! We were rewarded with having given our class to around 300 folks, including the kids and their leaders. By the end of the class period, my wife had a lovely certificate ready to hand to each one, plus a packet of materials including an order blank for ARRL's Now You're Talking. In addition, we logged in about 130 licensed hams who came by our booth, and conducted a brief net at 5 PM on one of the local repeaters.
Our team consisted of Jim Hummel, KC5BSJ; David Anderson, KA3OZK; Vera Hoffer; Jim Hoffer, KW8T, and Erwin Bishop, WB7ATT.
http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2005/03/05/1/Hoffer_AWE_A.jpg
About 32,000 people attended the Pathfinder Camporee in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
Amateur Radio at the International Pathfinder Camporee
Similar to Scouts, Pathfinders is a co-ed organization of young people ages 10 through 15, and is sponsored by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Over 32,000 attended the International Pathfinder Camporee at the EAA field in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, August 10-14, 2004. This large event is held every five years, and this was the second time the Adventist Amateur Radio Association had been at EAA.
Several months before, the organizers contacted us regarding the possibility of offering Amateur Radio classes at the Camporee. Many other classes and activities would be provided as well--it was important to keep the kids busy!
Intro to Amateur Radio
Of course, it is impossible to teach Amateur Radio in a very short time and give the Technician class test, so we came up with a 50 minute course we entitled "Introduction to Amateur Radio." Thus, many more people could be exposed to the ham radio "bug." Our curriculum covered a few basic electronic principles, a little on rules and regulations, Morse code and a demonstration of our working stations. We were located in the back corner of Hangar B, where it was quite easy to string up a G5RV antenna just outside the building.
Our classes started at 9 AM and continued until 5 PM. Sometimes we hardly had a break for lunch! We were rewarded with having given our class to around 300 folks, including the kids and their leaders. By the end of the class period, my wife had a lovely certificate ready to hand to each one, plus a packet of materials including an order blank for ARRL's Now You're Talking. In addition, we logged in about 130 licensed hams who came by our booth, and conducted a brief net at 5 PM on one of the local repeaters.
Our team consisted of Jim Hummel, KC5BSJ; David Anderson, KA3OZK; Vera Hoffer; Jim Hoffer, KW8T, and Erwin Bishop, WB7ATT.
http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2005/03/05/1/Hoffer_AWE_A.jpg
About 32,000 people attended the Pathfinder Camporee in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
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http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2005/03/05/1/rotary-logo.gif
Rotary International special event set (Mar 7, 2005) -- The Rotary Club of Midrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, will sponsor special event station ZS100RI in commemoration of 100 years of Rotary International, a global network of community volunteers. Rotary International President Glenn E. Estess Sr will inaugurate operation of ZS100RI on Saturday, March 12. The station will operate through February 2006 on all major modes on HF, VHF and UHF. All stations working ZS100RI will receive a commemorative QSL card. For more information, contact Craig Bergsteedt, ZS6CKB. QSL via ZS6CKB, PO Box 5124, Halfway House, Midrand 1685 Gauteng, South Africa.
Rotary International special event set (Mar 7, 2005) -- The Rotary Club of Midrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, will sponsor special event station ZS100RI in commemoration of 100 years of Rotary International, a global network of community volunteers. Rotary International President Glenn E. Estess Sr will inaugurate operation of ZS100RI on Saturday, March 12. The station will operate through February 2006 on all major modes on HF, VHF and UHF. All stations working ZS100RI will receive a commemorative QSL card. For more information, contact Craig Bergsteedt, ZS6CKB. QSL via ZS6CKB, PO Box 5124, Halfway House, Midrand 1685 Gauteng, South Africa.
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http://www.arrl.org/news/images/ariss-newlogo-th.jpg
ISS Crew Commander Addresses Litter, Space Station "Tilt" in Ham Contact
NEWINGTON, CT, Mar 8, 2004--Littering the galactic highway and a curious International Space Station (ISS) "tilt" phenomenon were among topics ISS Expedition 10 Commander Leroy Chiao, KE5BRW, addressed in a ham radio contact with Bentley School in Oakland, California. The February 28 QSO with NA1SS was arranged by the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program. Chiao opened the contact by greeting Bentley's students and teachers as well as his sister Sandy, who visited the school for the event. One Bentley youngster worried that space would becoming as polluted with trash as Earth. Chiao acknowledged that while rubbish is thrown from the ISS "every now and then," and even garbage went overboard from the now-defunct Russian Mir space station. But he assured the youngster that littering in space can be an acceptable disposal method.
"That's really not as big of a problem as you might think, because what happens is that over the course of a few days, the orbit decays, and it burns up in the atmosphere, so it's really not a long-term problem," Chiao explained. "But we do have to be careful to throw things off in the proper direction and at the right speed so that it won't come back and hit us."
ISS crews also dispose of trash and unneeded items by stowing them in Progress supply rockets after they've unloaded the cargo, then sending the vehicles into Earth's atmosphere where they incinerate.
Responding to other questions, Chiao told the students that the ISS can accommodate a maximum crew of six or seven people, although the current crew increment is just two--Russian Cosmonaut Salizhan Sharipov and himself. He said the ISS now weighs 200 tons, and it will tip the scales at more than 250 tons--Earth weight--when it's finally completed in a few years.
Another youngster said he and his schoolmates had read that the ISS tilts when the astronauts go on space walks. He asked if Chiao knew why this happened.
"That is kind of a mystery," the astronaut answered. "We're not really sure why during some of the space walks we do--including the one that Salizhan and I took a few weeks ago--the space station ended up tilting a little bit and we believe it's because of the forces we're putting into the station while we're working."
Chiao said speculation is that when the crew members are outside the ISS holding onto handrails, every time they turn bolts or have to do something that applies some force on the spacecraft, it causes a physical reaction by "tilting" the ISS.
Chiao said he views the current space mission as a "stepping stone" to future, longer space missions to Mars and beyond, and he expressed the hope that one of the Bentley Students could be on a future deep-space mission. Replying to the oft-asked "food question," he said that space chow has improved greatly since the days of the NASA Gemini missions decades ago. His favorites are teriyaki beefsteaks and mashed potatoes with onions. In all, students got in 15 questions before the ISS went out of radio range.
Handling Earth-station duties for the event was Nancy Rocheleau, WH6PN, at Sacred Hearts Academy in Honolulu, Hawaii. Two-way audio for the contact was teleconferenced compliments of MCI. In addition, contact audio went out to some 80 stations connected via EchoLink.
Teacher Carol Roach coordinated the students at Bentley School, while Kerry Banke, N6IZW, mentored the contact and Will Marchant, KC6ROL, served as the moderator. ARISS is an international educational outreach with US participation by ARRL, AMSAT and NASA.
http://www.arrl.org/news/images/ariss-newlogo-th.jpg
ISS Crew Commander Addresses Litter, Space Station "Tilt" in Ham Contact
NEWINGTON, CT, Mar 8, 2004--Littering the galactic highway and a curious International Space Station (ISS) "tilt" phenomenon were among topics ISS Expedition 10 Commander Leroy Chiao, KE5BRW, addressed in a ham radio contact with Bentley School in Oakland, California. The February 28 QSO with NA1SS was arranged by the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program. Chiao opened the contact by greeting Bentley's students and teachers as well as his sister Sandy, who visited the school for the event. One Bentley youngster worried that space would becoming as polluted with trash as Earth. Chiao acknowledged that while rubbish is thrown from the ISS "every now and then," and even garbage went overboard from the now-defunct Russian Mir space station. But he assured the youngster that littering in space can be an acceptable disposal method.
"That's really not as big of a problem as you might think, because what happens is that over the course of a few days, the orbit decays, and it burns up in the atmosphere, so it's really not a long-term problem," Chiao explained. "But we do have to be careful to throw things off in the proper direction and at the right speed so that it won't come back and hit us."
ISS crews also dispose of trash and unneeded items by stowing them in Progress supply rockets after they've unloaded the cargo, then sending the vehicles into Earth's atmosphere where they incinerate.
Responding to other questions, Chiao told the students that the ISS can accommodate a maximum crew of six or seven people, although the current crew increment is just two--Russian Cosmonaut Salizhan Sharipov and himself. He said the ISS now weighs 200 tons, and it will tip the scales at more than 250 tons--Earth weight--when it's finally completed in a few years.
Another youngster said he and his schoolmates had read that the ISS tilts when the astronauts go on space walks. He asked if Chiao knew why this happened.
"That is kind of a mystery," the astronaut answered. "We're not really sure why during some of the space walks we do--including the one that Salizhan and I took a few weeks ago--the space station ended up tilting a little bit and we believe it's because of the forces we're putting into the station while we're working."
Chiao said speculation is that when the crew members are outside the ISS holding onto handrails, every time they turn bolts or have to do something that applies some force on the spacecraft, it causes a physical reaction by "tilting" the ISS.
Chiao said he views the current space mission as a "stepping stone" to future, longer space missions to Mars and beyond, and he expressed the hope that one of the Bentley Students could be on a future deep-space mission. Replying to the oft-asked "food question," he said that space chow has improved greatly since the days of the NASA Gemini missions decades ago. His favorites are teriyaki beefsteaks and mashed potatoes with onions. In all, students got in 15 questions before the ISS went out of radio range.
Handling Earth-station duties for the event was Nancy Rocheleau, WH6PN, at Sacred Hearts Academy in Honolulu, Hawaii. Two-way audio for the contact was teleconferenced compliments of MCI. In addition, contact audio went out to some 80 stations connected via EchoLink.
Teacher Carol Roach coordinated the students at Bentley School, while Kerry Banke, N6IZW, mentored the contact and Will Marchant, KC6ROL, served as the moderator. ARISS is an international educational outreach with US participation by ARRL, AMSAT and NASA.
linuxgeek
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http://www.arrl.org/news/images/echo-logo-th.gif
Echo team establishes AO-51 Operations Group (Mar 10, 2005) -- AMSAT-NA has announced that the Echo (AO-51) Command Team has set up an AO-51 Operations Group to help monitor the satellite and develop operational schedules. Members were selected based on their interest and participation in the varied modes available via Echo and on their active membership in an AMSAT organization. Current members are Mike Kingery, KE4AZN; Drew Glassbrenner, KO4MA; Clare Fowler, VE3NPC, and Roy Welch, W0SL. The AO-51 Operations Group invites users' requests or suggestions on the Echo schedule, preferably before the team begins work on the next schedule. The team typically starts setting up the next schedule two weeks before the end of the previous month. Contact the AO-51 Operations Group via e-mail ao51-modes@amsat.org.--AMSAT News Service
Echo team establishes AO-51 Operations Group (Mar 10, 2005) -- AMSAT-NA has announced that the Echo (AO-51) Command Team has set up an AO-51 Operations Group to help monitor the satellite and develop operational schedules. Members were selected based on their interest and participation in the varied modes available via Echo and on their active membership in an AMSAT organization. Current members are Mike Kingery, KE4AZN; Drew Glassbrenner, KO4MA; Clare Fowler, VE3NPC, and Roy Welch, W0SL. The AO-51 Operations Group invites users' requests or suggestions on the Echo schedule, preferably before the team begins work on the next schedule. The team typically starts setting up the next schedule two weeks before the end of the previous month. Contact the AO-51 Operations Group via e-mail ao51-modes@amsat.org.--AMSAT News Service
linuxgeek
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src
Amateur Radio is "Poster Child" of Homeland Security Grantees Gathering
NEWINGTON, CT, Mar 11, 2005--Amateur Radio earned high marks and frequent praise during a gathering of Corporation for National & Community Service (CNCS) homeland security grant recipients. ARRL Chief Development Officer Mary Hobart, K1MMH, and Field and Educational Services Manager Rosalie White, K1STO, represented the League at the series of meetings March 2-5 in Washington. ARRL--a special volunteer program--was the recipient of a 2002 CNCS grant to subsidize Amateur Radio emergency communications courses, now available on three levels. The League was among 29 CNCS homeland security grantees attending.
"I wish that every ham--whether or not public service is their primary interest--could have been at these meetings to celebrate this grant and the reputation ham radio enjoys among these volunteer service organizations," Hobart said. "It really validated Amateur Radio's contribution. There is new and rekindled appreciation for the sustained public service that Amateur Radio operators are able to provide nationwide."
Indeed, at the opening session, USA Freedom Corps Director Desiree T. Sayle used Amateur Radio and the success of the League's CNCS training grant as a prime example of a successful program. White says she was amazed to hear Sayle recite the exact number of ARRL emergency communications course graduates and talk about their continuing work in disaster preparation and response.
Noting that the CNCS grant tuition subsidies--now in their third and final year--will expire in June, Hobart strongly urged anyone considering taking the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Communications courses to sign up now. "This meeting would have convinced them how important Amateur Radio is--not just in homeland security but in other areas, including community safety and emergency and disaster relief.
In that vein, White noted the comments of CNCS Executive Director David Eisner, who told the CNCS grantees: "Jump aboard a moving rain, rather than find fuel for a new train that hasn't left yet."
Hobart and White said that during the various conference sessions, it was not unusual to see attendees nodding in assent whenever the discussion turned to Amateur Radio's positive role in their communities. "During one session, a comment was made that some programs are not always needed year round, and for some, volunteers lose interest because emergencies don't happen all year long," White recounted. "But it was roundly acknowledged that Amateur Radio operators are always needed--for assisting in the wake of blackouts, floods, earthquakes, fires and other emergencies."
Hobart said that in every session were representatives of volunteer organizations who are working with Amateur Radio and recognize it an integral component of what they do. "More than I could have ever imagined three years ago," she added.
Basking in the "afterglow" of the national conference, White says there are several steps hams can take to keep the momentum going. "If you are a Section Manager, Section Emergency Coordinator or District Emergency Coordinator, make sure your state and local emergency management teams know who you are," she said. "If you are a club president or ARES team leader, please encourage your members to enroll in the grant-funded emergency communications course before it's too late."
"The successful conclusion of ARRL's final-year grant will pave the way for possible future funding for Amateur Radio," she added. To date, more than 4000 radio amateurs have taken advantage of the grant-subsidized ARRL emergency communications courses.
Hobart also noted that two of the volunteer programs represented at the CNCS meeting expressed interest in the ARRL Education and Technology Program. "The reception Amateur Radio received at this meeting was like a welcome for a good friend," she summed up.
The gratitude and goodwill cut both ways. The ARRL delegation expressed the League's thanks to Eisner and CNCS for "taking a chance on a non-traditional organization" when it awarded the 2002 emergency communications training grant. Hobart and White assured Eisner that radio amateurs are proud of the program's success and "have voiced the renewed commitment of Amateur Radio to provide emergency communication whenever and wherever needed."
Amateur Radio is "Poster Child" of Homeland Security Grantees Gathering
NEWINGTON, CT, Mar 11, 2005--Amateur Radio earned high marks and frequent praise during a gathering of Corporation for National & Community Service (CNCS) homeland security grant recipients. ARRL Chief Development Officer Mary Hobart, K1MMH, and Field and Educational Services Manager Rosalie White, K1STO, represented the League at the series of meetings March 2-5 in Washington. ARRL--a special volunteer program--was the recipient of a 2002 CNCS grant to subsidize Amateur Radio emergency communications courses, now available on three levels. The League was among 29 CNCS homeland security grantees attending.
"I wish that every ham--whether or not public service is their primary interest--could have been at these meetings to celebrate this grant and the reputation ham radio enjoys among these volunteer service organizations," Hobart said. "It really validated Amateur Radio's contribution. There is new and rekindled appreciation for the sustained public service that Amateur Radio operators are able to provide nationwide."
Indeed, at the opening session, USA Freedom Corps Director Desiree T. Sayle used Amateur Radio and the success of the League's CNCS training grant as a prime example of a successful program. White says she was amazed to hear Sayle recite the exact number of ARRL emergency communications course graduates and talk about their continuing work in disaster preparation and response.
Noting that the CNCS grant tuition subsidies--now in their third and final year--will expire in June, Hobart strongly urged anyone considering taking the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Communications courses to sign up now. "This meeting would have convinced them how important Amateur Radio is--not just in homeland security but in other areas, including community safety and emergency and disaster relief.
In that vein, White noted the comments of CNCS Executive Director David Eisner, who told the CNCS grantees: "Jump aboard a moving rain, rather than find fuel for a new train that hasn't left yet."
Hobart and White said that during the various conference sessions, it was not unusual to see attendees nodding in assent whenever the discussion turned to Amateur Radio's positive role in their communities. "During one session, a comment was made that some programs are not always needed year round, and for some, volunteers lose interest because emergencies don't happen all year long," White recounted. "But it was roundly acknowledged that Amateur Radio operators are always needed--for assisting in the wake of blackouts, floods, earthquakes, fires and other emergencies."
Hobart said that in every session were representatives of volunteer organizations who are working with Amateur Radio and recognize it an integral component of what they do. "More than I could have ever imagined three years ago," she added.
Basking in the "afterglow" of the national conference, White says there are several steps hams can take to keep the momentum going. "If you are a Section Manager, Section Emergency Coordinator or District Emergency Coordinator, make sure your state and local emergency management teams know who you are," she said. "If you are a club president or ARES team leader, please encourage your members to enroll in the grant-funded emergency communications course before it's too late."
"The successful conclusion of ARRL's final-year grant will pave the way for possible future funding for Amateur Radio," she added. To date, more than 4000 radio amateurs have taken advantage of the grant-subsidized ARRL emergency communications courses.
Hobart also noted that two of the volunteer programs represented at the CNCS meeting expressed interest in the ARRL Education and Technology Program. "The reception Amateur Radio received at this meeting was like a welcome for a good friend," she summed up.
The gratitude and goodwill cut both ways. The ARRL delegation expressed the League's thanks to Eisner and CNCS for "taking a chance on a non-traditional organization" when it awarded the 2002 emergency communications training grant. Hobart and White assured Eisner that radio amateurs are proud of the program's success and "have voiced the renewed commitment of Amateur Radio to provide emergency communication whenever and wherever needed."
HybridCrow
Literotica Guru
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Hey! Forgot what my zone number is, but you have a Technician No Code HAM Radio operator here. I haven't operated in awhile, but I'm looking to set up a radio in my car sometime in the near future.
73's!
73's!
HybridCrow
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linuxgeek said:
Well my dad passed away last May, I think it was, and my step-mom let me have his radio from the garage that I have always wanted to have when he was using it. Umm... I've got it stored somewhere for safekeeping until I can actually take it out and hook it up.
I can't remember what radio it is, but it's perfect for the license I have. I know it's an older model, but not too old. I'll try to look for it sometime when I feel like dragging out my storage bins.
linuxgeek
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Just noticed this on QRZ.COM
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src
The Second Annual Sacred Summits Bicycle Tour ( http://www.sacredsummits.org/ ) will be held Sept 9-11, 2005 on the Blue Ridge Parkway in NC from Blowing Rock near Boone, to Lake Logan near Clyde.
This 3 day tour will spend the first night at the Orchard at Altapass near Spruce Pine ( http://www.altapassorchard.com/ ) and the second night on the grounds of the Biltmore Estate near Asheville ( http://www.biltmore.com/ ). Radio operators are needed for safety and coordination radio support at rest stops, in sag cars, and at start and end points.
Spend a three day weekend in the Blue Ridge Mountains doing radio work while enjoying the beauty of the mountains.
For more information, contact David Houser WA9OTP WA9OTP@arrl.net
http://www.qrz.com/uploads/post-2-61216-SacredSummits.jpg
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src
The Second Annual Sacred Summits Bicycle Tour ( http://www.sacredsummits.org/ ) will be held Sept 9-11, 2005 on the Blue Ridge Parkway in NC from Blowing Rock near Boone, to Lake Logan near Clyde.
This 3 day tour will spend the first night at the Orchard at Altapass near Spruce Pine ( http://www.altapassorchard.com/ ) and the second night on the grounds of the Biltmore Estate near Asheville ( http://www.biltmore.com/ ). Radio operators are needed for safety and coordination radio support at rest stops, in sag cars, and at start and end points.
Spend a three day weekend in the Blue Ridge Mountains doing radio work while enjoying the beauty of the mountains.
For more information, contact David Houser WA9OTP WA9OTP@arrl.net
http://www.qrz.com/uploads/post-2-61216-SacredSummits.jpg
linuxgeek
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- Feb 1, 2004
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src
http://www.arrl.org/news/images/ares-cl.gif
Amateur Radio to Have Role in Largest-Ever Mass Casualty Exercise
NEWINGTON, CT, Mar 21, 2005--Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) members in Connecticut, New Jersey and several other states in the Northeastern US are preparing to take part in what's being characterized as the most comprehensive terrorism response exercise ever conducted in the US. Sponsored by the US Department of Homeland Security and intended as a realistic test of the nation's homeland security system, the exercise--TOPOFF 3--gets under way Monday, April 4, and continues through the week. ARES primarily will support the American Red Cross--the only nongovernmental organization with a formal role in the recently released National Disaster Plan. The Red Cross has main responsibility for mass care under the plan. Connecticut Section Emergency Coordinator Chuck Rexroad, AB1CR, is in the process of lining up the 100 or so volunteers he estimates will be needed in the region for the mass casualty drill.
"We're still looking for volunteers in all four types of positions needed," Rexroad told ARRL. "People who can staff a permanent position, people who can set up a temporary position, people who can do shadowing and--the big one we're missing right now--people who can temporarily put a radio in a mobile Red Cross van."
The TOPOFF 3 scenario will depict a complex terrorist campaign beginning in Connecticut and New Jersey and leading to national and international response that will include Canada, where the exercise will be known as "TRIPLE PLAY," and the United Kingdom, where it will be called "ATLANTIC BLUE." Rexroad anticipates that ARES will be providing its traditional "backbone" communication support among Red Cross mobile feeding stations, the organization's temporary stationary facilities and other Red Cross units. ARES also will be ready to provide back-up communication support the Connecticut Office of Emergency Management, he said.
Connecticut Section Manager Betsey Doane, K1EIC, and Rexroad have been preparing for this drill for more than a year, and both hope the ARES role in TOPOFF 3 will provide an opportunity for graduates of the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Communications courses to put into practice what they've learned--on a national stage.
While governmental agencies will comprise the majority of those taking part in TOPOFF 3, Amateur Radio's cooperation with and assistance to Red Cross will be under scrutiny, Rexroad says.
"We've been assigned evaluators and judges who will be watching what we do and how we do it to determine our suitability for such things in the future," he explained.
Rexroad says ARES participation in an exercise of this scale is an opportunity for the Amateur Service to put on display what it does best. At the TOPOFF2 exercise a couple of years ago, he noted, evaluators pointed to massive communication problems that Amateur Radio could have helped to resolve, Rexroad said. "So we do hope that this will show that we are very relevant in responding to a disaster situation."
A participant in the post-September 11, 2001, response at the Pentagon, Rexroad said cellular telephones and other conventional communication systems broke down there for about one week, and Amateur Radio proved to be the sole means to support The Salvation Army's on-site communications.
At last report, Rexroad had commitments from nearly three-quarters of the necessary volunteers. "The sections surrounding Connecticut have all offered to provide assistance, and we're looking forward to support from Eastern and Western Massachusetts, Rhode Island and possibly even some people from New York," Rexroad said. "We're definitely looking forward to that support from out-of-section."
TOPOFF 3 ARES volunteers will need to be comfortable with a high-security environment, realistic-looking "injuries" and military aircraft flying overhead, Rexroad says. In terms of equipment, he says most operation will take place on VHF and UHF, with an HF link to the National Traffic System only. He said handheld transceivers are acceptable, but he highly recommends headsets to contend with a potentially noisy environment. Volunteers will wear matching vests that say "Radio Communications" on the back and "ARES" on the front.
Due to security requirements, all volunteers must register with ARES in advance of the exercise. Prospective volunteers should contact Rexroad directly for additional information on how to sign up. "We appreciate all the help and support we can get!" he says. Information on the exercise and how to volunteer is on the Connecticut ARES Web site.
http://www.arrl.org/news/images/ares-cl.gif
Amateur Radio to Have Role in Largest-Ever Mass Casualty Exercise
NEWINGTON, CT, Mar 21, 2005--Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) members in Connecticut, New Jersey and several other states in the Northeastern US are preparing to take part in what's being characterized as the most comprehensive terrorism response exercise ever conducted in the US. Sponsored by the US Department of Homeland Security and intended as a realistic test of the nation's homeland security system, the exercise--TOPOFF 3--gets under way Monday, April 4, and continues through the week. ARES primarily will support the American Red Cross--the only nongovernmental organization with a formal role in the recently released National Disaster Plan. The Red Cross has main responsibility for mass care under the plan. Connecticut Section Emergency Coordinator Chuck Rexroad, AB1CR, is in the process of lining up the 100 or so volunteers he estimates will be needed in the region for the mass casualty drill.
"We're still looking for volunteers in all four types of positions needed," Rexroad told ARRL. "People who can staff a permanent position, people who can set up a temporary position, people who can do shadowing and--the big one we're missing right now--people who can temporarily put a radio in a mobile Red Cross van."
The TOPOFF 3 scenario will depict a complex terrorist campaign beginning in Connecticut and New Jersey and leading to national and international response that will include Canada, where the exercise will be known as "TRIPLE PLAY," and the United Kingdom, where it will be called "ATLANTIC BLUE." Rexroad anticipates that ARES will be providing its traditional "backbone" communication support among Red Cross mobile feeding stations, the organization's temporary stationary facilities and other Red Cross units. ARES also will be ready to provide back-up communication support the Connecticut Office of Emergency Management, he said.
Connecticut Section Manager Betsey Doane, K1EIC, and Rexroad have been preparing for this drill for more than a year, and both hope the ARES role in TOPOFF 3 will provide an opportunity for graduates of the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Communications courses to put into practice what they've learned--on a national stage.
While governmental agencies will comprise the majority of those taking part in TOPOFF 3, Amateur Radio's cooperation with and assistance to Red Cross will be under scrutiny, Rexroad says.
"We've been assigned evaluators and judges who will be watching what we do and how we do it to determine our suitability for such things in the future," he explained.
Rexroad says ARES participation in an exercise of this scale is an opportunity for the Amateur Service to put on display what it does best. At the TOPOFF2 exercise a couple of years ago, he noted, evaluators pointed to massive communication problems that Amateur Radio could have helped to resolve, Rexroad said. "So we do hope that this will show that we are very relevant in responding to a disaster situation."
A participant in the post-September 11, 2001, response at the Pentagon, Rexroad said cellular telephones and other conventional communication systems broke down there for about one week, and Amateur Radio proved to be the sole means to support The Salvation Army's on-site communications.
At last report, Rexroad had commitments from nearly three-quarters of the necessary volunteers. "The sections surrounding Connecticut have all offered to provide assistance, and we're looking forward to support from Eastern and Western Massachusetts, Rhode Island and possibly even some people from New York," Rexroad said. "We're definitely looking forward to that support from out-of-section."
TOPOFF 3 ARES volunteers will need to be comfortable with a high-security environment, realistic-looking "injuries" and military aircraft flying overhead, Rexroad says. In terms of equipment, he says most operation will take place on VHF and UHF, with an HF link to the National Traffic System only. He said handheld transceivers are acceptable, but he highly recommends headsets to contend with a potentially noisy environment. Volunteers will wear matching vests that say "Radio Communications" on the back and "ARES" on the front.
Due to security requirements, all volunteers must register with ARES in advance of the exercise. Prospective volunteers should contact Rexroad directly for additional information on how to sign up. "We appreciate all the help and support we can get!" he says. Information on the exercise and how to volunteer is on the Connecticut ARES Web site.
linuxgeek
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http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2005/03/22/100/MikeGriffin-1-th.jpg
Radio amateur tapped to head NASA (Mar 22, 2005) -- President George W. Bush has announced his intention to nominate Michael Griffin, NR3A, to be the next administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). He'll succeed Sean O'Keefe, who departed NASA earlier this year to become chancellor of Louisiana State University. Griffin currently heads the Space Department at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. Prior to that, he was president and chief operating officer of In-Q-Tel Inc, served in several positions within Orbital Sciences Corporation and was NASA's chief engineer. In 2003 testimony before the US House of Representatives' Future of Human Space Flight Committee on Science, Griffin described himself as "an unabashed supporter of space exploration in general, and of human space flight in particular." expressed his belief that the human space flight program "is in the long run possibly the most significant activity in which our nation is engaged." His academic resume is extensive and impressive. In addition to a bachelor's degree in physics from Johns Hopkins, holds master's degrees in aerospace science, applied physics, business administration, civil engineering and electrical engineering and a doctorate in aerospace engineering. The US Senate must confirm Griffin's appointment, which is said to enjoy bipartisan support.
Radio amateur tapped to head NASA (Mar 22, 2005) -- President George W. Bush has announced his intention to nominate Michael Griffin, NR3A, to be the next administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). He'll succeed Sean O'Keefe, who departed NASA earlier this year to become chancellor of Louisiana State University. Griffin currently heads the Space Department at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. Prior to that, he was president and chief operating officer of In-Q-Tel Inc, served in several positions within Orbital Sciences Corporation and was NASA's chief engineer. In 2003 testimony before the US House of Representatives' Future of Human Space Flight Committee on Science, Griffin described himself as "an unabashed supporter of space exploration in general, and of human space flight in particular." expressed his belief that the human space flight program "is in the long run possibly the most significant activity in which our nation is engaged." His academic resume is extensive and impressive. In addition to a bachelor's degree in physics from Johns Hopkins, holds master's degrees in aerospace science, applied physics, business administration, civil engineering and electrical engineering and a doctorate in aerospace engineering. The US Senate must confirm Griffin's appointment, which is said to enjoy bipartisan support.