Category Archives: Amateur Radio

Amateur Radio, ARRL, Contest, Event, News

NASA announces year long amateur radio event beginning in December

NASA was created on July 29, 1958 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The first lunar mission was in 1968. Elements of the International Space Station were first launched in 1998. NASA is asking amateur radio operators to participate in these and other events for the entire year of 2018.

Beginning in December of 2017 and running through December of 2018, various NASA clubs and stations will be listening and calling via phone, CW and digital methods of the amateur radio hobby. The ARRL web site announced that the event starts Monday, December 11 UTC.

The club stations at the various NASA centers and facilities plan to be on the air with special events to celebrate these milestones and are offering commemorative QSL cards and a special certificate indicating how many centers you worked on various bands and modes may be downloaded. QSL instructions are available on the QRZ.COM site for each individual club station.

NASA plans to have a web-based system for you to check your points total and download a certificate at the end of the event in December 2018. Points will be awarded for each center worked on each band and mode.

The event will run from December 2017 through December 2018 with the following key dates:

  • Apollo 17 45th anniversary – 11-14 December 2017, beginning of event
  • NASA founded 60th anniversary (act signed by President Eisenhower) – 29 July 1958
  • ISS First Element Launch 20th anniversary – 20 November 1998
  • ISS Node 1 Launch 20th anniversary – 4 December 1998
  • 50th anniversary of Apollo 8 – launch 21 December 1968, splashdown 27 December, end of event

Note that there may be other special event operations by the various centers commemorating specific events, but those listed above will include participation from all the centers. All operating modes are fair game including satellites, repeaters, EME, ISS APRS, etc.

In addition, NASA stations hope to be on the air for casual contacts and contests as well. It is a good time to consider getting an amateur radio license.

Please check their web site for updates as the program is developed.

Amateur Radio, Amateur Radio Organizations, Event, News, Skywarn

SKYWARN Recognition Day is Saturday, December 2

A heads up: SKYWARN™ Recognition Day (SRD) will take place this year on Saturday, December 2 from 0000 until 2400 UTC (starts on the evening of Friday, December 1, in US time zones). The event begins at 5 p.m. local time. During the SKYWARN Special Event, ham radio operators will set up stations at National Weather Service (NWS) offices and contact other radio amateurs around the world.

Participating Amateur Radio stations will exchange a brief description of their current weather with as many NWS-based stations as possible on 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6, and 2 meters plus 70 centimeters. Contacts via repeaters are permitted.

SRD was developed jointly in 1999 by the NWS and ARRL to celebrate the contributions SKYWARN volunteers make to the NWS mission — the protection of life and property. Amateur Radio operators, which comprise a large percentage of SKYWARN volunteers, also provide vital communication between the NWS and emergency managers, if normal communications become inoperative.

ARRL article

Amateur Radio, Emergency Communications, Event, Military Auxiliary Radio System, News

Communications Interoperability Training with Amateur Radio Community Set

Elements of the US Department of Defense (DoD) will conduct a “communications interoperability” training exercise November 4-6, once again simulating a “very bad day” scenario. Amateur Radio and the Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS) organizations will take part.

“This exercise will begin with a national massive coronal mass ejection event which will impact the national power grid as well as all forms of traditional communication, including landline telephone, cellphone, satellite, and Internet connectivity,” Army MARS Program Manager Paul English, WD8DBY, explained in an announcement.

During the exercise, a designated DoD Headquarters entity will request county-by-county status reports for the 3,143 US counties and county equivalents, in order to gain situational awareness and to determine the extent of impact of the scenario. Army and Air Force MARS organizations will work in conjunction with the Amateur Radio community, primarily on the 60-meter interoperability channels as well as on HF NVIS frequencies and local VHF and UHF, non-Internet linked Amateur Radio repeaters.

Again this year, a military station on the east coast and the Fort Huachuca, Arizona, HF station will conduct a high-power broadcast on 60-meter channel 1 (5330.5 kHz) on Saturday from 0300 to 0315 UTC. New this year will be an informational broadcast on Sunday, on 13483.5 kHz USB from 1600 to 1615 UTC. Amateur Radio operators should monitor these broadcasts for more information about the exercise and how they can participate in this communications exercise, English said.

“We want to continue building on the outstanding cooperative working relationship with the ARRL and the Amateur Radio community,” English said. “We want to expand the use of the 60-meter interop channels between the military and amateur community for emergency communications, and we hope the Amateur Radio community will give us some good feedback on the use of both the 5-MHz interop and the new 13-MHz broadcast channels as a means of information dissemination during a very bad day scenario.”

Contact Paul English for more information or questions about this exercise via email at, mars.exercises@gmail.com .

Amateur Radio, Amateur Radio Organizations, ARES, Coconino Amateur Radio Club, Education, Emergency Communications, Flagstaff, News

Alternate Emergency Operation Center Activated for drill

Corrected 10/21/2017 @ 21:10
—
FLAGSTAFF – On Thursday, October 19 the Alternate Emergency Operation Center was activated in Flagstaff, Arizona. The Coconino Amateur Radio Club ARES members were a part of the activation. The Emergency EOC is located near Buffalo Park.

I was able to participate in the set up and operation. I was also able to see how the emergency center would be set up in the event of an actual emergency. It is set up in standard FEMA format with the Incident Commander, Finance Section, Logistics Section and so-forth. The amateur radio group is a component of logistics.

Emergency centers are divided into modular units and only those needing to be activated are. The purpose of the activation was mainly to acquaint member of the teams with computer equipment and programs they would be using.

On the amateur side, we were given the opportunity to test communication with various areas of northern Arizona and the emergency center in Phoenix. We were given a small break room to use which proves that it doesn’t take much room to operate emergency communications. Hopefully we’ll be able to add CW in the future.

We had to arrive early to set up the Alpha Delta DX DD dipole and Diamond X-50NA vhf/uhf antennas. We tested HF frequencies and communications to repeaters.

My main contribution was to test the 146.780 repeater on Bill Williams repeater maintained by the Bill Williams Mountain Radio club. I contacted Todd Hitzeroth N6ZXJ who happened to be traveling west on I-40 at the time. It is interesting who you meet on amateur radio.

Overall it was an enjoyable and educational experience. Unfortunately it was conducted when many people had to work. I was able to rearrange my schedule to participate in the event. There are ways in which people can participate without having to travel to the center itself. In fact, boots on the ground are as important as the people in the center. The people in the small room in Flagstaff cannot see what is happening in Valle, Williams, Ash Fork and other northern Arizona areas.

If you live in Valle, Parks, Williams, Ash Fork or any other area where you can reach a repeater or have HF capability, you can listen in and make reports concerning the condition of your area. If you hear of the activation of the EOC in the future, contact someone involved and let them know you are available.

Joe Hobart, W7LUX, ARES District Emergency Coordinator (DEC) and ARA Tech Rep.

The report from Joe W7LUX reads:

Thanks to:

Glen KG7YDJ
Janice KI6WCK
Ken KF7DUR
Lina KE7QFE

who set up and operated HF and VHF/UHF amateur radio equipment at and during the full scale activation of the alternate EOC.

Thanks to:

Bob WA6OJY Greenhaven/Page
Doug K7YCA/N0DAJ Yavapai County ARES/RACES
Earl AD7EO Indian Wells (Navajo County)
Erv KE7QFI Southwest Flagstaff (Army MARS representative)
Gary K7GH Scottsdale (Representing Arizona State EOC)
Lee KF7YRS Saint George
Jeremy KG7HZA Page (Sheriff’s substation)
Vince WB7UWW Page (Home and sheriff’s substation)

for helping Coconino ARES meet the goals of good communications around Coconino County, with Yavapai County (also conducting an exercise), and with the state.

Also, thanks to:

AC7AJ Mingus Mountain
K6DWP Good test of 40 meter short skip Flagstaff to Cottonwood
KF7WOT Prescott
N6ZXJ Williams Area
W7YRC Yavapai Club

for providing additional signal reports and Community Status Reports.

Frequencies and modes used were:

3990 KHz LSB
7252 KHz LSB

146.780 MHz FM Repeater
146.980 MHz FM Repeater (ARA)
147.140 MHz FM Linked Repeater (ARA)
448.875 MHz FM Linked Repeater (ARA)

40 meter propagation was much better Thursday than during the Alternate EOC practice setup on 10 October. 75 meter propagation was adequate, but long paths were becoming weak by 1100. The new dipole antenna at the EOC worked very well. The Northlink and Rimlink linked repeaters also worked well.

Special thanks to Vince, WB7UWW, for making an unscheduled trip to the Page sheriff’s substation to conduct 40 meter radio checks.

Amateur Radio, Event, Flagstaff, License Examinations, News, Williams

Amateur Radio Classes set for October in Williams

The Williams Fire Department and Coconino Amateur radio club have combined to bring amateur radio classes to Williams in preparation for the exam on October 21. This is the last exam for the Amateur Radio Technician license this year and the last using the current Technician license question pool. Next year another exam pool will be used. The exam will be held at the North County Healthcare Clinic at 2920 N 4th Street Flagstaff, AZ 86004.

The courses will be on Tuesday and Thursday nights from the 3rd to the 19th beginning at 6 p.m. The courses will be held at 515 Rodeo Road next to the Bob Dean Rodeo Grounds. The courses are outlined in the calander following.
These courses are based on the ARRL Ham Radio License Manual 3rd Edition. You can probably pass by just going to the classes, but it is less likely. Some of the nights will go by fast because the information is easy. Others you will need to concentrate. We recommend that you read the sections the day before each class and go over them again on Friday and Saturday. Except, of course, for exam day.

There are other items that will help you pass the exam. You can download the ARRL Ham Test Prep app for Android and continually test yourself. This app also has the question pool for the General and Extra exams and is continually up-to-date.

The Ham Whisperer courses are also quite helpful. If you watch these videos, you will probably be able to pass the exam on your own.

For more information, you can email kg7ydj@arrl.net.

OCTOBER CLASS SCHEDULE

TUES

WED

THUR

SAT

3

Chapter 1 – Introduction and Welcome to
Amateur Radio

 Chapter 2 – Radio Waves and Signals

 Chapter 2 – Modulation and Bandwidth

GLEN KG7YDJ

4

5

Chapter 3 – Electricity

Chapter 3 Ohms Law, Power and the Metric
System

Chapter 3 Electronic Components

Chapter 3 – Types of Radio Circuits

PHIL AE7OH

7

10

Chapter 4 – Propagation

Chapter 4 – Antennas and Feed Lines

Chapter 4 – Practical Antenna Systems

JACK KD7RCJ

11

12

Chapter 5 – Basic Amateur Radio Equipment

Chapter 5 – Power Sources and Interference

RON KG7OH

14

17

Chapter 6 – Communicating with Other
Hams Part 1

Chapter 6 – Communicating with Other
Hams Part 2

Chapter 7 – License Regulations and License
Privileges

GLEN KG7YDJ

18

19

Chapter 7 & 8

Call Signs and Operating Regulations Part 1

Chapter 8 – Call Signs and Operating
Regulations Part 2

Chapter 9 Safety and Amateur Radio

GLEN KG7YDJ

21

License Exam,

North Country Health Care facility at
2920 N 4th Street, Flagstaff, AZ
86004

24 New licensees begin using radio.

25

26

28

31

 
Amateur Radio, Federal Communications Commission, News

FCC opens up 2,200- and 630-meter bands

On March 29, 2017, the Commission adopted rules permitting fixed amateur radio operations in 135.7-137.8 kHz (2200 meter) and 472-479 kHz (630 meter) bands. These bands are allocated to the amateur radio service on a secondary basis.

1 The Commission adopted a minimum horizontal separation distance of one kilometer from power line carrier (PLC) systems, which operate in the 9-490 kHz range.
2 Amateur operators must notify the Utilities Technology Council (UTC), which maintains a database of PLC systems, of their intent to operate in the 135.7-137.8 kHz and/or 472-479 kHz bands prior to commencing operations.
3 These rules become effective on September 15, 2017, after approval of the information collection under the Paperwork Reduction Act. This Public Notice sets forth the procedure for notifying UTC of planned operations.

Amateur licensees planning to operate in the 135.7-137.8 kHz and/or 472-479 kHz bands must use the online form at http://utc.org/plc-database-amateur-notification-process/ to provide their contact information, including the operator’s name, email address, and telephone number; technical information, including the call sign, intended frequency(ies) or band(s) of operation, and geographic coordinates of the antenna location; and date of notification. UTC will respond via email regarding whether the proposed site is within one kilometer of a PLC system operating in the same or overlapping frequencies, and will request that the amateur operator acknowledge receipt of the response. UTC may telephone amateur operators from whom no acknowledgment is received.

Amateur operators may commence operations in the 135.7-137.8 kHz and/or 472-479 kHz bands if UTC does not respond within 30 days, or if UTC responds sooner that the proposed site is not within one kilometer of a PLC system operating in the same or overlapping frequencies.4 They may not commence operations in the 135.7-137.8 kHz and/or 472-479 kHz bands if UTC responds that the proposed site is within one kilometer of a PLC system operating in the same or overlapping frequencies, but they may submit a notification to propose a different site.

Amateur Radio, Antenna, Equipment, Review, Technical

Not much you can do with a 2-meter whip

Nagoya NA-771 15.6″, Dual-Band, about $17 dollars
Diamond SRJ77CA 15″, Dual-Band, about $28 dollars
Nagoya NA-24J 16″, Dual-Band, about $18 dollars

As you have gathered by my series of articles, I’m pretty much relegated to going cheap. I use Baofeng, for the most part. You know the rubber duck antenna that comes with most radios are not great. That is putting it politely. Thus the after market whips.

Nagoya is the official antenna for Baofeng. They are designed to fit all models of Baofeng and work on the new GMRS V-1 by BTech—which is really Baofeng by another name. I saved my pennies and recently purchased the Diamond SRJ77CA which has a reverse SMA to fit Baofeng.

When I originally bought the UV-82, I purchased the Nagoya NA-771 15.6″ whip. I used it on UV-5rs, the BF-F9 and the UV-82HP and GMRS V-1. It works good on each and much better than the rubber duck that comes with the radio. I’ve not been nice to the antenna but it seems to have held up good for over a year.

The next purchase was the Nagoya NA-24J. It is a very pliable antenna. The problem is that the audio reports with it were not as good as the NA-771. It did not seem to have the range of the 771. I tried it as a scanner antenna, but it seemed to pick up a lot of noise.

Recently I purchased the Diamond SRJ77CA 15″ with it’s claimed 2.15 dbi gain. Amateurs know what “dbi gain” means. If it had any gain over the NA-771, I did not notice it. It performs as good as the NA-771, though. I’ve closed the car door on it a couple of times and can’t find a nick on it.

In summary, if you want the Diamond name, go ahead and spend the money. The NA-771, however, performs just as well and is cheaper than the other two. I cannot recommend the NA-24J.

Amateur Radio, News, Phoenix, State Legislation

Arizona Senate considers amateur radio license plate fund

The Amateur Radio Council of Arizona is encouraging amateur radio operators to support Arizona S.B. 1132 which would create the Arizona Amateur Radio Education and Community Involvement Fund. The fund would be developed from Amateur Radio license plates established in 1995 and would distribute $17 from the plates to amateur radio organizations the licensee chooses. The bill was introduced by Senator Nancy Barto of District 15.

A State Senate hearing on the bill is scheduled for the Senate Transportation & Technology committee on January 24 at 2 p.m. at the Arizona State Capitol Senate building.

Thomas Boza, NE7X—an amateur activist—said in an email, “I will be speaking to the Senate on Tuesday. We need to fill the balcony in the Senate building on Tuesday with as many amateur radio operators as possible.”

The Senate Fact Sheet for the bill states that S.B. 1132:

* Specifies that, of the $25 fee required for the original Amateur Radio Operator Special Plate and subsequent renewals, $8 is an administration fee and $17 is an annual donation. ADOT is required to deposit all administration fees into the State Highway Fund and all annual donations into the Fund.
*Requires the Director to annually distribute all monies in the Fund, excluding administrative fees, to a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that meets all of the following requirements:
a) is comprised of amateur radio clubs throughout Arizona;
b) has specified objectives;
c) awards scholarships to licensed amateurs; and
d) awards grants to affiliated clubs that benefit the amateur radio community.

The bill has had it’s second reading in the Senate and, if passed, would move to the Arizona House of Representatives. You can find your Senator at this link and email your support of the bill.

Amateur Radio, Amateur Radio Organizations, Amateur Radio Relay League, National Legislation, News

House introduces another “Amateur Parity Act”

ARRL News — H.R. 555—A new “Amateur Radio Parity Act” bill—has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill’s language is identical to that of the 2015 measure, H.R. 1301, which passed in the House late last summer but failed in the waning days of the US Senate to gain the necessary support.

As with H.R. 1301, the new measure introduced on January 13 in the 115th Congress was sponsored by Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), with initial co-sponsorship by Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT) and Rep. Greg Walden, W7EQI (R-OR). Walden now chairs the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, to which the new bill has been referred. H.R. 555 will get an initial airing in the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology. When H.R. 1301 came up in committee, Walden spoke forcefully in favor of the measure, which ultimately attracted 126 House cosponsors.

“Rep. Kinzinger has again stepped forward to introduce this important legislation,” said ARRL CEO Tom Gallagher, NY2RF. “His commitment stems from exposure to what the Amateur Radio community brings to the service of all communities. The ARRL and radio amateurs nationwide owe Rep. Kinzinger a resounding ‘Thank You!’ for his efforts on their behalf.”

H.R. 555 calls on the FCC to establish rules prohibiting the application of deed restrictions that preclude Amateur Radio communications on their face or as applied. Deed restrictions would have to impose the minimum practicable restriction on Amateur Radio communications to accomplish the lawful purposes of homeowners association seeking to enforce the restriction.

The ARRL Board of Directors is expected to discuss the pending legislation when it meets January 20-21.

Amateur Radio, Amateur Radio Relay League, International, News, Obituary

Past Radio Amateurs of Canada President Bill Gillis, VE1WG

ARRL News – Former Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) President William James “Bill” Gillis, VE1WG, of Moncton, New Brunswick, died December 26. He was 87. Gillis spent his career in the technical and management fields of the telecommunications industry.

He was a veteran radio amateur, having been licensed as VE1WG since 1946. He also held the call signs VE3WG and 5H3WB (Tanzania).

Gillis served as RAC president from 2002 to 2003, and during his term, he was a guest at ARRL Board of Directors meetings.

Gillis was RAC Director for the Maritimes Region and also served two terms as president of the Moncton Area Amateur Radio Club. He also belonged to the Montreal Amateur Radio Club and the Oakville Radio Club. In addition to Amateur Radio, he enjoyed the sport of curling.