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Official publication of the Sooland Amateur Radio Association
December 2010
Inside this issue: 160 Contest New Satellites Web Receivers Operating Tip How’s DX Old Ad Ham Bug Space Weather Propagation Swap Shop Calendar Columns Officers Testing Meetings Contests Nets Repeaters
Merry Christmas
Warm Up Your Chilly December with the 2010 ARRL 160 Meter Contest
The ARRL 160 Meter Contest -- an all-CW event -- is tremendous fun! As the object of the contest is for DX stations to contact American and Canadian stations (and vice versa), everyone will be seeking you (especially if you live in a rare section like North Dakota, Nebraska or any of the rare sections from November's Sweepstakes contests). In this contest, Alaska (KL7) and Hawaii (KH6) count as DX, as do the Caribbean US possessions (KP1-KP5) and all of the Pacific Ocean territories (KH0-KH9). According to ARRL Contest Branch Manager Sean Kutzko, KX9X, if you don't have an antenna for 160, you should just load up whatever you have through an antenna tuner and give "top band" a try -- even a 40 meter dipole through a tuner will make QSOs. Since ARRL and RAC Sections are worth 2 points each and count as multipliers, the ARRL 160 Meter Contest is a good way to begin working -or finishing up! -- your Worked All States (WAS) award. But don't forget about those DX stations -- each DXCC entity is a multiplier and is worth 5 points. The ARRL 160 Meter Contest runs from 2200 UTC Friday, December 3 through 1559 UTC Sunday, December 5. Logs must be e-mailed or postmarked no later than 1600 UTC Tuesday, January 4, 2011. Paper logs should be sent to ARRL 160 Meter Contest, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111. Reprint from ARRL
Amateur Radio in Space: Hams Invited to Listen for New Satellites
Five research satellites were carried to orbit on November 19 aboard a Minotaur V rocket from Kodiak Island, Alaska. All the satellites use Amateur Radio frequencies and hams have been invited to participate in their missions
by monitoring and collecting data. Two of the satellites are FASTRACs -- relatively small "nanosatellites" -- built by students at The University of Texas in Austin. They enter orbit as a single spacecraft, but then separate into FASTRAC 1 (known as "Sara Lily") and FASTRAC 2 (referred to as "Emma"). Both satellites use 1200 or 9600 baud AX.25 digital communication and transmit at 1 W output, so they should be receivable with omnidirectional VHF or UHF antennas and decodable by ordinary packet radio hardware and software. After their scientific missions are complete, the satellites will be reconfigured to function as digipeater relays for Amateur Radio use, as part of the Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS). Read more here. Reprint from ARRL
Web Receivers
Sam K5OAI, Dawid SQ6EMM, and Petr, OK1RP came up with a list of several on-line "Web receivers" that can be listened to over the Internet: websdr, hb9fx-websdr, oe3mzc receivers, smeter.net, ralabs.com webradio, and globaltuners. Remember the restrictions on use of Web receivers when choosing a contest category! Reprint from ARRL
OPERATING TIP
It has been noted that 40% of the ARRL CW Sweepstakes Top Ten didn't get a sweep. 100% of the next 38 stations all got sweeps but had lower scores than the Top Ten. This might indicate it is better for your score to keep running than to go off looking for that last section. (Thanks, Rich KL7RA) Reprint from ARRL Reprint fromARRL
How’s DX
ZK2 Niue (rare on several band/modes in EU despite previous activations - mostly one-man trips); we plan to spend 2 weeks on ZK2 (20 Nov - 03 Dec including CQWW CW) as main destination; our callsign (as agreed by email) should be ZK2A. QTH is the Namukulu cottages. VK9N Norfolk Island we plan to spend 2 weeks there after ZK2: 05-19 December. QTH is the Pacific Palms. Requested call VK9NN (it may change, this is our preference only). More on Norfolk Island. From 15 November to 18 December 2010 Eric F6ICX will be active as 5R8IC From Sainte Marie Island, MADAGASCAR IOTA AF-090 http://www.qrz.com/db/5R8IC V73CF V73QQ Nov 30/Dec 1 Majuro, Ratak Chain IOTA OC-029 V73CF/mm V73QQ/mm Dec. 2-Dec 4th travel to Enewetak Atoll V73CF V73QQ Dec 5-7 Enewetak Atoll IOTA OC-087 V73RRC around Dec. 8-11 uninhabited Ujelang Atoll IOTA OC-278, new one V73CF V73QQ Dec 12-16 Enewetak atoll OC-087 After Majuro all dates are estimates, subject to transportation availability and weather. V73CF QSL via K8NA V73QQ/V73RRC QSL via N7RO Reprint from N0HR.com
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For the old-timers—Believe it or not, Schlitz is back. Do you suppose the XYL will bring you a Schlitz during the 160 contest?
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Bitten by the Ham Radio Bug
In the fall of 1959, like most 12-year-old kids, I eagerly awaited the Sears & Roebuck Christmas Catalog. My heart was set on a pellet rifle. But then, the next issue of Boy's Life had an article about ham radio & I read & re-read the article & began to dream about shortwave radio. Soon, I crossed the pellet rifle off of my wishlist & replaced it with the Knight Kit Space Spanner Shortwave Receiver for $18.95. Sure enough, on Christmas morning, I found a box with a kit full of strange parts & an instruction manual. There was a chassis along with tubes, tube sockets, resistors, capacitors, transformers, coils, etc. Solder? How do you do that? My dad could teach me to drive a nail, mow the yard, or graft a plant, but solder? This is where my Elmers (ham radio tutors) came in. Mickey Edens, K5QWT (SK), was a high school senior and I was a lowly 7 th grader when we first met. My eyes went goo-goo when I saw his Heathkit Apache HF transmitter & matching Mohawk receiver with a 3-element beam & 40' tower outside. His buddy, Rick Hoffmann K5SBU, was a college student & had a ham rig in his dorm room along with a dipole in the attic. Mickey advised me on what I needed & armed with a soldering iron, solder, diagonal cutters, needle nose pliers, and a bright light, I begin to work away on the kit checking off the completion boxes as I went. When the little regenerative radio didn't work upon completion, Mickey & Rick looked at 3tube chassis and saw where I had solder bridging between tube socket pins like tinsel on a Christmas tree.....this stuff conducts? I thought it was just like glue. Out came the soldering iron and after a little clean up, the tubes lit up & the speaker begin emitting shortwave signals from around the world. Ahhhh....there was nothing like a winter night & the soft glow of your tube filaments as the electronic circuitry magically plucked the electomagnetic signals from the ionosphere. Reprint from eHam.net (editor’s note) Make a young person’s Christmas special this year and buy a shortwave receiver instead of an X-box or Wii.
Merry Christmas
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For those looking for satellite flybys, check out: http://spaceweather.com/flybys/flybys.php?zip=51106
Space Weather News for Dec. 6, 2010
http://spaceweather.com A spectacular filament of magnetism is snaking around the sun's southeastern limb. From end to end it stretches more than 700,000 km--a full solar radius or almost twice the distance from Earth to the Moon. The massive structure is an easy target for backyard telescopes (monitoring is encouraged) and it has the potential for an impressive eruption if it happens to collapse in the hours or days ahead. Check http://spaceweather.com for pictures and updates. SPACE WEATHER ALERTS: Would you like a call when solar storms hit Earth? Sign up for Space Weather Phone: http://spaceweatherphone.com From spaceweather.com
Propagation de K7RA
Average daily sunspot numbers for the week November 25 to December 1increased only slightly from the previous seven days, 1.3 points to 25.9. Average daily solar flux rose 1.8 points to 80.9. Predicted solar flux values from NOAA/USAF for the next ten days, December 3-12, are 90, 90, 90, 88, 88, 86, 86, 85, 85 and 88. Predicted planetary A index is 10, 8, and 7 for December 3-5, 5 on December 6-10, and 7 on December 11-12. There is a possibility of geomagnetic activity today, December 3, caused by a possible coronal mass ejection. Geophysical Institute Prague predicts unsettled conditions on December 3-4, quiet December 5-6, unsettled December 7-8, and quiet to unsettled December 9. Average daily sunspot numbers for the month of November were 36.2, an increase of 1.2 points over October. Average monthly values for June through November were 18, 23.1, 28.2, 35.7, 35 and 36.2. We now know the average daily sunspot number for the past three months, centered on October, and it is 35.6, up about 2.6 points from the three month period centered on September. So the three-month moving average, centered on May through October, was16.2, 20.4, 23.2, 28.9, 33 and 35.6. Because it is a moving average, with one month increments, the average centered on September includes all the data from August 1 through October 31,and the latest centered on October includes daily sunspot numbers from September 1 through November 30. A more precise reading of the difference between the non-rounded October-centered and the September-centered averages is 2.67 points. The solar cycle continues to show improvement, but at a very slow pace. Robert Elek, W3HKK of Johnstown, Ohio reported good conditions for last week's CQ World Wide CW DX Contest. He wanted to see what he could do with 100 watts and simple antennas on 40, 15 and 10 meters, and with some casual contest operating he worked 200 stations in 31zones. Reprint from ARRL
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Newsletter Articles Wanted
Working on a new kit or homebrew project? Have you recently received a rare or interesting QSL card? Received a new DXCC award or band endorsement? Or just have a cool ham radio related photo to share? Maybe you want your turn on the soapbox. Why not consider submitting an article for the newsletter. We are always looking for material and feedback from the members. Articles from members go a long way in making the newsletter our very own. Please submit articles via email or the old fashion way, on paper. Deadline is 25th of the month.
On the Air: The Spratly Islands DXpedition Gets Wings
The 37 operators from 15 countries who make up the DX0DX DXpedition Team that will go to the Spratly Islands is finalizing preparations for the almost month-long DXpedition that begins January 6, 2011. Instead of going by boat, the team will instead fly to Thitu Island where they will set up their operation. Thitu is the second largest island in the Spratly Islands. The Spratlys are a group of more than 750 reefs, islets, atolls, cays and islands in the South China Sea between Vietnam, the Philippines, China, Malaysia and Brunei. They comprise less than 4 square kilometers of land area, spread out over more than 425,000 square kilometers of sea. Read more here. Reprint fromARRL
Editor’s Note
I have tried a different format this month, full page instead of columns. Please let me know which you prefer. It is easy to change back to columns if that is what the majority likes. As always, input is encouraged and welcomed. Sorry I am late with this edition of the newsletter. We had a bug in the computer that we had to deal with. I wish everyone a safe and joyous Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
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Swap Shop
FOR SALE ??? WANTED
Looking for a junker SB33 to be a donor for restoration of a mint SB33 missing the mixer crystal assembly. Contact: Vern W0UYF vkillion@gmail.com If any of you have a FT-301(Junker) for parts. Please contact Jim W0WWT@arrl.net
President’s Podium ???
Treasurer’s Tidbits ???
SARA Calendar
December 14 Christmas Party January 18 SARA meeting 7:30 February 15 SARA meeting 7:30
Secretary’s Script ???
FLEA MARKETS, ETC
For Flea Markets, etc, please check the following link: http://www.arrl.org/ hamfests.html#listing
Board’s Babble ???
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Officers
President Bill Tilton KC0DXE 712-277-3628 wrtilton@evertek.net Vice President Luke Comeau KC0SSU 712-490-2716 lukecomeau@yahoo.com Treasurer Harv Bomgaars KA0KUA 712-277-8850 harvdawn@cableone.net Secretary Deb Clark KC0KET 712-943-3680 ketgkd@longlines.com Board Members John Bylin 712-239-8680 K0AAR Tim Hynds 712-258-0746 N0RHH Paul Patterson 712-276-4493 KB0FVT Position Open
VE TESTING
1st Friday every month at 6:30 PM at the American Red Cross 4200 War Eagle Drive
SARA Meetings
Sara meetings are the 3rd Tuesday of the month, 7:30 PM at the American Red Cross, 4200 War Eagle Drive, Sioux City. If the meeting time or place are changed, please listen to the local nets for details.
For up-coming contests, go to: http://www.arrl.org/contests/calendar.html
ARES Emergency Coordinator Position Open KerChunk Editor K0XH k0xh@arrl.net PO Box 101 Salix, IA 51052 Deadline for articles the month. WEB SITE k0tft.org Mike Clayton 712-945-8960 712-898-8961
is the 25th of
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Local Nets Siouxland A.R.E.S Net
146.910 Monday’s 8:30 P.M. Sioux City 146.910 147.060 146.970 444.725 443.575 Le Mars 444.675 Cherokee 146.715 444.400 927.750 Beresford 147.240 Yankton 147.850 444.730 444.700 Vermillion 147.375 Norfolk 146.730 Storm Lake 146.775
Local Repeaters Tone None 110.9 110.9 110.9 110.9 110.9 110.9 110.9 110.9 141.3 146.2 None 146.2 142.6 W0OFK WA0UZI 131.8 110.9
S.A.R.A. Nets
146.970 Monday’s 9:00 P.M. 144.230 USB Sunday’s & Thursday’s 8:00 P.M.
HF NETS
3.597 3.902 3.896 3.70 3.860 3.970 3.982 3.970 3.860 3.982 3.860 3.560 Sunday Nets 7:30 AM CW Net, 3900 Club 8:00 AM Traders Net, 3900 Club 8:45 AM 3900 Club Meeting 7:00 PM SD CW Net Weekday Nets 12:15 PM SD Daily Net 12:30 PM Iowa 75m Net 12:30 PM NE Daily Net 6:30 PM 6:00 PM Iowa 75m Evening Net 5:30 PM Winter CST 6:00 PM SD Evening Net 6:30 PM NE Evening Net 5:30 PM MN Evening Net 6:30 PM TCN
K0AAR- A.R.E.S. K0TFT K0TFT K0NH KS0F KI0EO N0DFF N0DFF N0DFF KA0VHV W0OJY W0OJY N0VC
Iowa Emergency Frequency
3.990.5 This net is held on the first Monday of every month at approximately 6:45 PM after the Iowa Evening Net.
Merry Christmas
From Mike K0XH Happy New Year
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Coffee Hours
9:00 AM 8:00 AM 9:00 PM Weekdays Saturday Thursday Hy-Vee Deli, South Sioux City, NE Johnny Mars Sioux City Horizon Sioux City
S.A.R.A Membership Application
Name: Call Sign: Address: _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ Phone#: Email: _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ Please mail $14.00 along with this completed application to: Harv Bomgaars 3026 McDonald St, Sioux City, IA 51104
Newsletter Editor PO Box 101 Salix IA 51052
Postage
__________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________
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