eHam.net News

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Chatting It Up Ham Radio Style:

Posted: 28 Jul 2016 07:07 PM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/37274


Lee Collins spends hours chatting with friends and acquaintances each week
as he is nestled in a second floor room at his comfortable and secluded
home in the Lime Rock section of Lakeville. No, he's not talking to his
buddy about a game of golf the next day, or what another pal thinks about
allowing Sunday racing at nearby Lime Rock Park. The world is his oyster as
he communicates with individuals scattered around the country and, indeed,
the world. You see, Collins is what is known as ham radio operator, one of
the most interesting, enlightening and complicated hobbies a person can
have. The origins of amateur radio are said to be traced to the late 19th
century, although amateur radio that is practiced today began in the early
20th century. The term "ham radio" apparently was first used to mock
amateur radio operators with a 19th-century term for being bad at
something, like "ham-fisted" or "ham actor." It had already been used for
inept wired telegraph operators. But the ham radio community adopted it as
a fun tag. Amateur radio enthusiasts run the gamut. Many amateurs begin
with a love of radio communication. Amateur radio operators use various
modes of transmission to communicate; the two most common modes for voice
transmissions being frequency modulation and single sideband. FM offers
quality audio signals, while SSB is better at long distance communication
when bandwidth is restricted. Computer-based (digital) modes and methods
have, to a large part, replaced CW Mode (Morse code), although many amateur
radio operators still enjoy CW Mode because of its signal-to-noise ratio
advantages. Morse code, using internationally agreed message encodings such
as the Q code, also allows communication between those speaking different
languages. Linked repeater systems allow transmissions of VHF and higher
frequencies across hundreds of miles. Repeaters are usually located on high
points of land or tall structures and allow operators to communicate over
many miles using hand-held or mobile receivers. Amateur radio operators
make contact with individual hams, as well as participate in discussion
groups or "rag chew sessions," as they are called. Some join in regularly
scheduled on-air meetings with other amateur radio operators, called "nets"
that have a moderator station. Nets allow ham operators to learn procedures
for emergencies, serve as informal round tables, or cover interests shared
by a group. Some amateur radio operators participate in contests, during
which an individual, or team of operators, seek to contact and exchange
information with as many other amateur radio stations as possible in a
pre-determined window of time. In addition to contests, a number of amateur
radio "game" activities exist, such as, such as Summits in the Air, Islands
in the Air, Worked All States, and Band Jamboree on the Air.


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Hamfest Takes Place in Merley in August:

Posted: 28 Jul 2016 07:07 PM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/37273


Radio amateurs from across the region will be converging on the Cobham
Sports and Social Club at Merley on Saturday 14th August for Hamfest
2016.Hamfest was conceived by a group of local enthusiasts in 1983 as a way
to bring face to face contact between people with an interest in all forms
of radio communication. From humble beginnings in the Air Weapons range at
the Cobham Sports and Social Club -- in semi darkness -- Hamfest evolved
into the largest event of its kind along the South Coast, attracting
visitors from UK and EU countries.


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Video: Ham Radio Operator Points to Streetlight for Interference in Croydon

Posted: 28 Jul 2016 07:05 PM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/37272


Charles Dillenbeck believes new LED streetlights are interfering with his
ham radio. He is working with Croydon to resolve the issue.


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DX News -- ARRL DX Bulletin #31:

Posted: 28 Jul 2016 11:31 AM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/37271


This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by
SV1EJD, QRZ DX, the OPDX Bulletin, 425 DX News, The Daily DX, DXNL,
Contest Corral from QST and the ARRL Contest Calendar and WA7BNM web
sites. Thanks to all.


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Just Ahead In Radiosport:

Posted: 28 Jul 2016 11:30 AM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/37270


Just Ahead In Radiosport:


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FCC Proposes Rule Changes in Response to ARRL's 'Symbol Rate' Petition:

Posted: 28 Jul 2016 11:30 AM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/37269


The FCC has proposed to revise the Amateur Service Part 97 rules in
response to the ARRL's so-called "Symbol Rate" Petition for Rule Making
(RM-11708), filed in late 2013, and it has invited comments on its
recommended
changes.


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ARRL Appoints Panel to Study License Requirements, Implements New Contest:

Posted: 28 Jul 2016 11:29 AM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/37268


An ARRL Board of Directors-appointed ad hoc committee will study the
current Technician license exam requirements and recommend possible
changes, which may eventually find their way into an FCC petition for
rule making. These could include consideration of a new entry-level
license class. The panel's recommendations to the Board would be aimed
at developing "a more targeted examination with a more limited set of
privileges that would attract a new generation of amateurs."


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The ARRL Board Announces Award Winners:

Posted: 28 Jul 2016 11:29 AM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/37267


At its second annual meeting on July 15-16, the ARRL Board of Directors
conferred several League awards.


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FCC Notice of Violation Alleges Malicious Interference, Transmitting Music:

Posted: 28 Jul 2016 11:28 AM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/37266


The FCC has issued a Notice of Violation (NoV) to a
California Amateur Radio licensee, alleging that he caused willful and
malicious interference, transmitted music, and failed to identify
properly. The FCC Enforcement Bureau said in the Notice, issued on July
13 to Philip J. Beaudet, N6PJB, of Burney, that agents from the San
Francisco, California, and Portland, Oregon, offices observed the
violations on four occasions in August and October 2015. A General
class licensee, Beaudet formerly held the call sign WD6FGE.


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Updated Android Digital QST App Now Available:

Posted: 28 Jul 2016 11:28 AM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/37265


A completely rebuilt digital QST app for the Android platform is now
available from publisher Nxtbook Media, which responded to readers'
frustrations about getting the app to work properly. The fix took
longer than expected, but it is finally here! Members who have enabled
automatic updates on their devices will not have to do anything; the
application will update automatically.


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National Parks On the Air Update:

Posted: 28 Jul 2016 11:26 AM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/37264


With more than 525,000 QSOs uploaded for ARRL's National Parks on the
Air (NPOTA) event, Activators are teaming up
to share the experience of being at a park and creating new friendships
at the same time. We've seen a lot of Activators joining forces
recently, such as veteran activator Bill Jourdain, AB4BJ, who got
together with 17-year-old Ruth Willet, KM4LAO, and her mom, Sharon,
KM4TVU, to activate Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park
earlier this month.


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The Doctor Will See You Now!

Posted: 28 Jul 2016 11:27 AM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/37263


Magnetic Loops" is the topic of the latest (July 28) episode of the
"ARRL The Doctor is In" podcast.
Listen...and learn!


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Amateur Radio Alive and Well in Turkey:

Posted: 28 Jul 2016 11:26 AM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/37262


Contrary to erroneous reports making the rounds on various Internet
sites, no Amateur Radio licenses were suspended or revoked in Turkey in
the wake of the failed July 15 coup.


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Ham Radio 2016 in Friedrichshafen Attracts a Bumper Crowd:

Posted: 28 Jul 2016 11:27 AM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/37261


Attendance was up slightly this year at Europe's largest Amateur Radio
gathering -- the 41st annual international Ham Radio 2016 in
Friedrichshafen,
Germany. Officials at the venue -- Die Messe Friedrichshafen -- say
"everything went perfectly" as hams joined "makers" for the June 24-26
weekend. The "double feature" exposition attracted 17,230 visitors, up
from 17,080 last year. Die Messe officials did not break out numbers
for radio amateurs and those attending the Maker Faire Bodensee.


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UK Astronaut Tim Peake, KG5BVI/GB1SS, Heads Ham Contingent to 10 Downing St

Posted: 28 Jul 2016 11:26 AM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/37260


UK Astronaut Tim Peake, KG5BVI/GB1SS -- just back from a duty tour on
the International Space Station -- headed a contingent of radio
amateurs and youngsters invited to visit new Prime Minister
Theresa May at 10 Downing Street earlier this month.


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Past AMSAT President Doug Loughmiller, W5BL, (SK):

Posted: 28 Jul 2016 11:25 AM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/37259


Past AMSAT President and AMSAT Journal Editor
Doug Loughmiller, W5BL (ex-KO5I), of McKinney, Texas, died on July 22.
An ARRL Life Member, he was 60 and had been suffering from cancer.