eHam.net News

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An 'Out of this World' Experience for Palmetto Scholars:

Posted: 10 Feb 2017 04:05 PM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/38635


A group of Lowcountry students have an assignment that's "out of this
world" Friday. Students in Palmetto Scholars Academy's Ham Radio Club will
talk directly to astronauts on the International Space Station. "This is an
authentic math and science experience that's unparalleled," said Kellye
Voigt, a teacher at Palmetto Scholars Academy. "How often do you get to
speak to an astronaut flying over your school?" The school was just one of
eight schools chosen for the project across the country. The entire student
body was asked to generate questions to ask the astronauts. Twenty of the
questions were selected and will be asked live to the commander of the
International Space Station, Shane Kimbrough. "You never hear about this
type of thing happening, and next thing you know, I'm a part of it," said
Max Freedman, President of the school's ham radio club. "It excites me
about space and amateur radio in itself."


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Radio Cub Has Global Reach:

Posted: 10 Feb 2017 04:04 PM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/38634


The owners of the cars are amateur radio enthusiasts, or "hams", of the
Pierre Amateur Radio Club. The club was reincorporated in 1968, with about
12 active members currently, said Jim Zaradnicek, one of the members. They
meet on the second Thursday of the month. Zaradnicek has been an active
member the longest. He's made roughly 120,000 radio contacts with people
around the world since 1995. Typically, the hams turn on their radios
randomly and make contact with other hams who are also broadcasting their
signals at the same time, Zaradnicek said. Zaradnicek said the topics of
discussion vary. "There's no limit to the things you're talking about. It's
just like visiting a friend over the telephone except everyone you meet is
a new friend," he said.


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Preparing for a Sun Shock:

Posted: 10 Feb 2017 04:04 PM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/38633


Solar scientists say it's not a matter of if the Earth will one day be in
the path of an intense blast of energy from the sun, it's when. The results
are hard to think about, power out for days, weeks, maybe even months or
years. Banks, grocery stores, gas stations, all closed. Is there anything
that can be done to prepare for a sun shock? In Thursday night's special
report, which you can find by clicking here, Newschannel 3 showed how a
single shot of solar energy aimed at our planet could have catastrophic
results. It's happened before, nearly 160 years ago our planet was directly
in the cross hairs of an X-class flare. Then, the results weren't so bad,
we didn't have electricity or depend on satellites. Today it's a very
different story.
Imagine, in an instant the sun releases a blast of energy equivalent to
millions of nuclear bombs, shooting energized particles toward the Earth at
three million miles per hour. That flare arrives in 30 hours, destroying
all of our satellites along the way, blowing out electrical transformers.
The power grid goes down, and it may stay down for a very long time. It's
happened before. In 1989 a solar flare knocked out power to millions of
people in Canada for hours. The flare could have been much stronger.


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VK6WIA -- NewsWest, 12 February 2017:

Posted: 10 Feb 2017 03:59 PM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/38632


In the news this week we have a special event
station in VK8, Foundation Courses at Ham
College, the Hills Amateur Radio Group annual
HARGfest, an update from Ex-WIA Director
Andrew VK6AS, a Morsecodians Exhibition at
Wireless Hill and a look at what sun-spots
mean to Amateur Radio.


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Foundations of Amateur Radio -- #88:

Posted: 10 Feb 2017 03:58 PM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/38631


The pimples on the Sun that erupt and make a
mess are called Sun-spots and they make it
possible for you to use your Amateur Radio on
HF for long distance communication via the
ionosphere. How does this actually work and
what is a Sun-spot actually and why are Sun-
spot numbers not the same as the numbers of
dots on the Sun. This week I investigate how
getting Sun burned is like heating the
ionosphere.


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School Club Roundup Starts Monday:

Posted: 10 Feb 2017 10:10 AM PST
http://www.eham.net/articles/38630


Objective: To exchange QSO information
with club stations that are part of an
elementary, middle, high school or
college. Non-school clubs and individuals
are encouraged to participate.