eHam.net News

///////////////////////////////////////////
Propagation Forecast Bulletin #5 de K7RA:

Posted: 03 Feb 2017 08:18 AM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/38565


Over the past reporting week (January 26 through February 1) average
daily sunspot number declined 21.1 points to 31.6, compared to the
previous seven days. Average daily planetary A index increased from 8 to
15.6, and
average mid-latitude A index rose 5 points to 11.4.


///////////////////////////////////////////
MFJ Distributing M&P Coax:

Posted: 03 Feb 2017 02:22 AM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/38564


MFJ Enterprises, Inc. has agreed to become the exclusive U.S. distributor
for
Messi and Paoloni coaxial cables. "Messi and Paoloni coax are the Pro's
choice!


///////////////////////////////////////////
Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2049 for Friday, February 3, 2017:

Posted: 03 Feb 2017 02:23 AM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/38563


The following is a QST. Radio amateurs help out during Inauguration Week.
On Maui, a Volunteer Examiner hits the milestone of 100 license exams --
and World Radio Day is coming! All this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline
Report 2049 comes your way right now.


///////////////////////////////////////////
A Yagi and a Ham:

Posted: 02 Feb 2017 04:00 PM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/38562


Talking to someone on the other side of the country, without using a
telephone, is possible if you're a ham who knows how to aim a Yagi
antennae. Ham is a nickname for a licensed amateur radio operator. In
Clearwater County, local hams gather once a month as members of the
Clearwater Valley Amateur Radio Club (CVARC). The agenda of meetings varies
from club to club -- there are many amateur radio clubs across the world --
but they often include lessons in ways hams can use their amateur radios to
do amazing things, such as call the International Space Station. Such was
the case at the CVARC's December meeting. Club president, Don Gardner, used
a purple and orange dual-band Yagi antennae to help demonstrate the way a
ham radio operator could talk to someone on the other side of the country.


///////////////////////////////////////////
Fremont: Amateur Radio Operators Gather in Central Park:

Posted: 02 Feb 2017 04:00 PM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/38561


On a bright Saturday at Fremont's Central Park, amateur radio operators
Steve Rishton and Gene Arrillaga set up an emergency communications hub,
complete with a mobile antenna setup, inside a standard tent on the grass.
Making use of solar and battery power to run their ham radio station, they
demonstrated the flexibility and reliability of amateur radio communication
during disasters or any other situation that could knock out typical modes
of correspondence, such as phone calls, wireless internet and cellular
networks.


///////////////////////////////////////////
Lost During Ganga Sagar Mela: Ham Radio Operators Help Unite Bihar Family:

Posted: 02 Feb 2017 04:00 PM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/38560


Ganga Sagar Mela, also known as Ganga Sagar Yatra or Ganga Snan, is the
annual gathering of pilgrims to take a dip in the Ganga, where the river
merges with the Bay of Bengal at Makar Sankranti in Sagar Island. His
family, long since assuming he was "lost" at the Ganga Sagar Mela, had
returned to their native Hazipur in Bihar. The district administration and
police turned to amateur radio operators for help. This year, the amateur
radio operators have helped us tremendously," said an official. When we got
to know about the case, we sent out messages to different parts of the
country -- to the network of amateur radio operators.


///////////////////////////////////////////
Changes in the Sun's Activity Could Threaten Earth's Electronics by 2050:

Posted: 02 Feb 2017 04:00 PM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/38559


Shifts in solar activity could make the sun a greater threat to electronic
devices by midcentury, according to research coming out of the British
University of Reading's Meteorology department. In addition to affecting
Earth's natural protection from solar flares, the changes in the sun's
activity mean England will likely no longer experience the Northern Lights,
one of the most remarkable phenomena in the world. Solar minimums, periods
of lesser solar activity, are normal, typically occurring once every eleven
years. Solar activity is generally measured in sunspots, which decrease
during the minimum and rise during the solar maximum.


///////////////////////////////////////////
DX News -- ARRL DX Bulletin #5:

Posted: 02 Feb 2017 10:17 AM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/38558


This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by
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.


///////////////////////////////////////////
Just Ahead In Radiosport:

Posted: 02 Feb 2017 10:16 AM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/38557


Just Ahead In Radiosport:


///////////////////////////////////////////
Connecticut Radio Amateur Endows ARRL Collegiate Amateur Radio Initiative:

Posted: 02 Feb 2017 10:17 AM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/38556


A generous donation from Dr. Ed Snyder, W1YSM, of Wallingford,
Connecticut, will endow a fund to support the ARRL Collegiate Amateur
Radio Initiative (CARI).
Snyder also has provided an additional contribution of "seed money" to
help get the initiative off the ground. Snyder said that he hopes the
"W1YSM Snyder Family Collegiate Amateur Radio Endowment Fund" will lead
to the development of a national network of college Amateur Radio clubs
under the aegis of ARRL and set up ways for these clubs to stay in
close contact and communicate on the air, in meetings, and through
other activities.


///////////////////////////////////////////
Another Outstanding Year for Amateur Radio Licensing!

Posted: 02 Feb 2017 10:14 AM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/38555


Last year -- 2016 -- was another outstanding one for Amateur Radio
licensing, says ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC) Manager Maria
Somma, AB1FM.


///////////////////////////////////////////
Transcontinental Relay Recreated for 100th Anniversary Commemoration:

Posted: 02 Feb 2017 10:16 AM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/38554


A cross-country, station-hopping relay this month recreated the January
27, 1917, route of the first formal Amateur Radio transcontinental
message traffic bound for ARRL Headquarters. This method of traffic
handling is in the DNA of the then-nascent national organization for
Amateur Radio's name -- American Radio Relay League.


///////////////////////////////////////////
The Doctor Will See You Now!

Posted: 02 Feb 2017 10:14 AM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/38553


"Meteor Scatter" is the topic of the latest (January 26) episode of the
"ARRL The Doctor is In" podcast.
Listen...and learn!


///////////////////////////////////////////
NPOTA Participation Leads to Inaugural Communication Detail for NPS:

Posted: 02 Feb 2017 10:15 AM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/38552


Jeff Dahn, KB3ZUK, of Rockville, Maryland, activated every available
NPOTA unit in the Washington, DC, area during the year-long National
Parks on the Air (NPOTA) program. That, and his prior DC-area law
enforcement experience, gave him a leg up to snag a gig during the
presidential inauguration and the Women's March on Washington as a
radio operator for the National Park Service (NPS). Dahn, an ARRL member,
spent 32 hours over the
course of 3 days as a volunteer, operating park service radios from NPS
Headquarters.


///////////////////////////////////////////
AM Rally Set for April 1-3 -- No Fooling!

Posted: 02 Feb 2017 10:13 AM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/38551


Ever wonder what that "AM" button is for on your transceiver? Well, if
you don't know about full-carrier amplitude modulation (AM) or have
never used it on the air, you'll get the chance during the AM Rally, April
1-3, on the HF bands between 160 and 10
meters (except 30, 17, and 12 meters) plus 6 meters.


///////////////////////////////////////////
Bryant Rascoll, KG5HVO, is Dave Kalter Youth DX Adventure Essay Winner!

Posted: 02 Feb 2017 10:14 AM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/38550


Twelve-year-old Bryant Rascoll, KG5HVO, of New Orleans, is the winner
of The Dave Kalter Youth DX Adventure (YDXA)
essay contest. Not only did he receive a transceiver, 50 feet of coax,
a power supply, and a vertical antenna, he'll be headed to Costa Rica
this summer to take part in the YDXA DXpedition.


///////////////////////////////////////////
New Rookie Roundup Rules Will Mean More Rookies On the Air:

Posted: 02 Feb 2017 10:12 AM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/38549


Changes to the rules for Rookie Roundup will make it possible for more
radio amateurs to qualify for the "Rookie" category. Rookie Roundup is
a 6-hour operating event aimed at radio amateurs licensed for 3 years
or less. Operators first licensed in 2015, 2016, or 2017 already
qualify as Rookies for the next Rookie Roundup, which will be the SSB
event on April 17, 1800-2359 UTC.


///////////////////////////////////////////
Veteran Volunteer Examiner Lauded for His Dedication:

Posted: 02 Feb 2017 10:13 AM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/38548


Mel Fukunaga, KH6H, of Wailuku on the Hawaiian island of Maui has been
a volunteer examiner with the ARRL VEC since its inception in 1984,
becoming accredited with the ARRL VEC in September of that year.


///////////////////////////////////////////
New York Marathon, Running Luminary Allan Steinfeld, W2TN, (SK):

Posted: 02 Feb 2017 10:12 AM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/38547


Former New York City Marathon Race Director Allan Steinfeld, W2TN, of
Bowers, Pennsylvania -- considered a founding father of the modern
running movement -- died on January 24. He was 70.


///////////////////////////////////////////
Getting It Right!

Posted: 02 Feb 2017 10:11 AM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/38546


The article, "Second Annual Midwinter 630-Meter Activity Night Set for
February 4-5" in The ARRL Letter for January 26 contained erroneous
date information. The event will take place on February 5 UTC (Saturday,
February 4, in North
American time zones), although one Canadian participant plans to begin
activity at 2130 UTC on February 4.