TWIAR News Feed

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via HACKADAY: Junkyard Dish Mount Tracks Weather Satellites

Posted: 03 Jan 2017 07:06 PM PST
http://ift.tt/2isysUP

There’s a magnificent constellation of spacecraft in orbit around Earth
right now, many sending useful data back down to the surface in the clear,
ready to be exploited. Trouble is, it often takes specialized equipment
that can be a real budget buster. But with a well-stocked scrap bin, a few
strategic eBay purchases, and a little elbow grease, a powered
azimuth-elevation satellite dish mount can become affordable.

The satellites of interest for [devnulling]’s efforts are NOAA’s
Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellites (POES), a system of
low-Earth orbit weather birds. [devnulling] is particularly interested in
direct reception of high-definition images from the satellites’ L-band
downlink. The mount he came up with to track satellites during lengthy
downloads is a tour de force of junkyard build skills.

The azimuth axis rotates on a rear wheel bearing from a Chevy, the
elevation axis uses cheap pillow blocks, and the frame is welded from scrap
angle iron and tubing. A NEMA-23 stepper with 15:1 gearhead rotates the
azimuth while a 36″ linear actuator takes care of elevation. The mount has
yet to be tested in the wind; we worry that sail area presented by the dish
might cause problems. Here’s hoping the mount is as stout as it seems, and
we’ll look forward to a follow-up.

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FEMA Region 10 to Conduct Monthly Interoperability Communications Exercises
during 2017

Posted: 03 Jan 2017 07:06 PM PST
http://ift.tt/2hOq2rJ

FEMA Region 10 (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington) will conduct
interoperability communications exercises (COMMEX) during 2017 on the third
Wednesday of each month, 1500-2100 UTC. The initial exercise will take
place on January 18.

“The intent of this COMMEX is to test and exercise interoperable
communications (federal/state/local/tribal/amateur) during a major
disaster, where communications infrastructure would be significantly
damaged or destroyed,� FEMA Region 10 said in announcing the exercises.
FEMA Region 10 will use the call sign WGY910. Others that may participate
in this exercise include, but are not limited to, other FEMA stations,
SHARES stations, and Air Force and Army MARS stations. All stations are
encouraged to participate.

The COMMEX will use the five 60-meter channels: 5,330.5 kHz, 5,346.5 kHz,
5,357.0 kHz, 5,371.5 kHz, and 5,403.5 kHz. The area of operation is the
Continental US.

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Logbook of The World to No Longer Accept Contacts Signed by TQSL Versions
Earlier Than 2.0

Posted: 03 Jan 2017 07:06 PM PST
http://ift.tt/2i7QAjM

As of 1400 UTC on January 16, ARRL Logbook of The World (LoTW) no longer
will accept contacts that have been digitally signed by versions of TQSL
earlier than version 2.0. Users of earlier versions are encouraged to
upgrade as soon as possible, as older TQSL versions contain uncorrected
defects and display inaccurate error messages.

The current versions of TQSL for Windows, OS X, and Linux are available
online