Amateur Radio, Contesting, HomeBrew, Circuits, Expeditions

Normally, in a time of crisis, an "amateur" is not the first person you might call. But when communications networks go down, amateur radio operators – or hams – and their gear can get communities connected to the outside world via the radio waves. During the recent Field Day activities hosted by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), ham operators and clubs across North America spent 48 hours demonstrating their communications abilities. After a 24-hour setup period, groups had a second 24-hour window to make as many contacts as possible around the world using voice or Morse Code (knows as Continuous Wave in ham parlance) over varying frequencies. In the case of the Nashua Area Radio Club (NARC), which set up camp at Wasserman Park in Merrimack, N.H., a group made some 1,165 contacts over the 20m band, one in Australia. More important than potential bragging rights for making the most contacts, NARC and other teams participating in Field Day proved they’re ready to set up 24/7 communications sites when disaster strikes. To wit, at the Wasserman Park site the group from NARC erected two 70-foot towers complete with various antenna beams, set up tents and campers to house people and gear, and self-powered the site with a gas generator.

A PDF FAQ document published on the California Department of Motor Vehicles website clearly states that "dedicated two-way radios", which would include amateur mobile radios, are exempt from the provisions of the new Hands Free law that became effective on July 1. The document is online at:

Michael Owen VK3KI, WIA President and Peter Young VK3MV, WIA Directors met with Allan Major, ACMA Executive Manager Regulation and Compliance Branch, Dominic Byrne, ACMA Manager Compliance & Investigations Section and, by phone hookup, Gary Ryan, ACMA Acting Manager, Interference Management Section, Brisbane, on 18 June 2008. The meeting, originally suggested by Allan Major at the RadCom08 meetings, discussed compliance issues that concerned many amateurs in Australia. The ACMA representatives said that there had been an increased level of complaints about on air behaviour, some of which appeared to be breaches of the Amateur LCD and the Radiocommunications Act. The range of regulatory tools available to ACMA, from criminal prosecution to administrative action, including warnings leading to the suspension of licences, perhaps even leading to the cancellation of licences, were discussed.

It was an absolutely beautiful Memorial Day weekend. No rain, not too hot and not too cold. It was perfect for picnicking, yard work, washing your car -- whatever you wanted to do. The soggy days had departed just in time for a much-deserved and much-needed three-day weekend. Or so the weather forecast said.

The July/August issue of QEX is out, and it is full of theoretical and practical technical articles that you don't want to miss.

This week, Surfin’ considers Google Docs as an online Amateur Radio application.

More info at www.MMMonVHF.de

EB8AYA, Javier, qrv from IL18ri on 144MHz and up

UU1DX qrv in IARU Contest from rare Square KN65OR next weekend!

A new voice repeater, GB3NU, is on the air, operating from Sheringham, North Norfolk

CW seems to be increasing in poularity and participation in the amateur radio world, and this is certainly reflected in SOTA

A UK-wide national team will operate the RSGB head-quarters station GB7HQ in the IARU World HF Championship next weekend on 12 and 13 July

Not been able to get into it for weeks (months?). Callum.

Our 17 element Tonna is up for a test tonight, to ensure that everything will be working for VHF NFD event this weekend. Initial results are proving that its an extremely capable antenna and at 30 feet high, it’s just sitting over the rooftops, giving me a clear run across Warwickshire to the continent. Fingers crossed [...]

I seemed to have pressed N1KFC’s eject button when I accused him of being a policeman in Yahoo’s Ameritron Amp group. Funny - I’ve never done that before (cough, ahem!). He’s a very diligent co-moderator! Anyway, the silly oaf then put me on moderated postings, censored my posts and finally deleted my previous ones :) How [...]

Well, it had to happen. Yes, sice today I am a proud owner of Rolex Sea-Dweller, M-series (the last one). After my accident few weeks ago when my old, but perfectly perfect Citizen Skyhawk Titanium dropped to the tarmac and got unrepairably damaged, I was shopping for a replacement. I used to wear my Citizen daily [...]

I know that I do not publish many articles lately, but I have my reasons. I am quite busy working, as you all are, and also I try not to spend much time in the front of the PC at home, as I have used to do before. Still, I always try to learn as [...]

I am not dead, I have just been very busy with work and some other things. I have also been back to Slovakia to see my family. Anyway, I have got new HP ML115 at home to replace my old PC’s running various versions of linux and windows. I want to have only one PC now, [...]