eHam.net News for Saturday 1 November 2014
 

eHam.net News

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Boy Scouts Get Their Hands On 'Ham' Radio in Cheltenham:

Posted: 31 Oct 2014 05:13 PM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/33462


Cadewryn Fletcher, 11, a Boy Scout from Upper Marlboro said he was nervous
to step up to the mic Saturday night and talk to a stranger over amateur
radio. But with encouragement from his mother and brother, Cadewryn sat at
a picnic table with amateur radio operator Kenneth Greenhouse, 68, of Upper
Marlboro and chatted about his favorite color with a Boy Scout in
Saskatchewan, Canada. "I think it's awesome," said Cadewryn's mother, Renea
Fletcher, 47, "I guess for so many years you tell them, 'Don't talk to
strangers,' and now it's time to talk to strangers." Boy Scouts and Cub
Scouts from Prince George's County gathered at the American Legion Southern
Maryland District Youth Camp in Cheltenham on Oct. 18 for the 57th annual
Jamboree-on-the-Air, an amateur radio event that connected scouts all over
the world. Amateur radio, also known as "ham" radio, started out as an
experimental communication technology that is now used primarily for
emergency situations, said Kenny Courtney, 74, of Clinton, a member of the
American Legion Post 275 Amateur Radio Team in Glenarden. "Amateur radio is
your last point of communication," Courtney said. "If you have a
catastrophe, the first thing that will go down is phone lines. Amateur
radio still stays up."


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Water District OKs Ham Repeater:

Posted: 31 Oct 2014 05:12 PM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/33461


The Point Roberts water district has given the go-ahead for the Point
Roberts Auxiliary Communications Service (ACS) to install a radio repeater
on the water tower behind Baker Field.
"We really need a repeater so we have a little more power for everyone and
a higher antenna to get to Bellingham," said ACS president Thomas Bailey at
the October 14 water district meeting.
Judson Meraw, another ACS member, explained their group is a subcommittee
of the Point Roberts Emergency Preparedness (PREP) group, and connects ham
radio operators, who would provide backup for emergency services in case a
disaster or emergency knocked out or hampered official communications
lines. The group has established ties with other organizations in Whatcom
County and secured frequencies to use. Now all they need is a location for
the equipment.
"It's a great idea and certainly seems a prudent thing to do," said water
district commissioner Scott Hackleman.


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Propagation Forecast Bulletin #44 de K7RA:

Posted: 31 Oct 2014 09:45 AM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/33460


Strong solar activity continued this week, with average daily
sunspot numbers rising 36 points to 119.9 and average daily solar
flux up 24 points to 198. The X-Ray background flux from GOES-15 has
ranged from C1.2 to C2.6 since October 19. RWC Prague predicts a
range from B2.0 to C1.5 from October 31 through November 6.