Sorry for mess; ISP won't let me stay connected long enough to fix N8CGM ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Q-Fiver, newsletter of Oh-Ky-In ARS, Cincinnati OH Volume 43 #1, January 2001 First issue of 21st century & new millennium!, OH-KY-IN Amateur Radio Society Inc.,Our 43d Year of Service to Cincinnati in Amateur Radio,A Special Service Club of the American Radio Relay League,(the national association for Amateur Radio),O OFFICERS & BOARD,President Eric Neiheisel N8YCL 513=598-1659 neiheisel@fuse.net,Vice President Rick Haltermon KD4PYR 859=384-3311 kd4pyr@arrl.net,Cor. Secretary Carol Hugentober WA8YL 513=661-5323 wa8yl@juno.com,Rec. Secretary Susie Scott N8CGM 513=385-5201 n8cgm@arrl.net,Treasurer Bill Simpson KI4QJ 859=384-4710 WJSJR@aol.com,Directors Brian DeYoung KE4HOR 859=635-0596 ke4hor@arrl.net, Phil Smith KG8AP 513=984-9209 kg8ap@arrl.net, Bruce Vanselow N8BV 513=251-1555 n8bv@juno.com,Trustee/Licensee Bob Frey WA6EZV 513=741-9953 wa6ezv@arrl.net,REPEATERS K8SCH/R APRS WIDE,146.67(-) 146.625(-) 146.925(-) 442.775(+) 144.39 K8SCH-10, ,Web Pages,http://www.qsl.net/k8sch/ (club) or http://k8sch.spunge.org (redirect ,address to club),w3.one.net/~bfrey/okidx.html (DX),Link in season to OH-KY-IN Hamfest page, Permanent link to Foxhunting ,page,Regular monthly meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month at ,7:30 PM local time at the Western Hills Church of Christ, 5064 Sidney ,Rd. (corner of Sidney & Covedale) in Western Hills, Cincinnati. ,isitors are ALWAYS welcome!,For membership information contact,Lynn Ernst 10650 Aspen Pl. Union KY 41091-7655 ph 859=657-6161 ,,(This remains a local call from Cincinnati but requires dialing all ,10 digits.),Permission is hereby granted to any amateur radio group to quote or ,reprint from this publication, provided proper source credit is given.,The Q-FIVER is the official newsletter of OH-KY-IN ARS, edited & ,published monthly by the following amateurs:,Susie Scott N8CGM 6351 Daleview Road 45247 513=385-5201 Editor,Jack Koch KA8JFE 2135 Central Parkway 45214 513=721-1203 Publisher, ,Keystone Printing Co.,Please send submissions for the Q-FIVER (including notice of upgrades & ,call changes) as well as circulation problems & address changes to Ye ,Ed. Susie N8CGM. These may be:, > mailed to or dropped off at 6351 Daleview Rd, Cinti OH 45247, > telephoned to 513=385-5201 any time (answerer takes up to 4 , min. dictation), > e-mailed to ,~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~,President's message,Here we are already in the year 2001! I sincerely hope everyone ,enjoyed a safe and joyous holiday season! Welcome back for another ,Oh-Ky-In year!,As you know, we had our elections last month. I want to congratulate ,the 'new' staff as listed in the front of this issue. I want to also ,extend all my thanks for all the support last year, It will be an ,honor to serve you as President of the Society one more year. As I ,said before, I am privileged to serve with a fantastic and dedicated ,bunch of people.,This year will be very busy again with Field Day, Amateur Radio Classes, ,Hamvention, etc. etc. and our fourth annual Oh-Ky-In Hamfest! We have ,many dedicated people in this club who make it all work and we all have ,a lot of work ahead of us as the challenges increase from year to year. ,We need _your_ support -- so if you would like to volunteer and help ,out in any upcoming activities, please don't hesitate to call. Premier ,with this hobby is: No experience required! If you are not sure how ,you can help, there is only one way to start -- pick up the phone!,I also want to thank Bob WA6EZV for all the work putting together a ,package to submit Oh-Ky-In to the ARRL Club 2000 awards. A great ,amount of footwork and coordination has made possible the rather ,extensive set of credentials that this club continually demonstrates ,every year. The package will be submitted by the deadline in late ,December. Congrats on a great job!,Not much else to say that hasn't been said, except there is a lot of ,work already in progress for the new year. We will be _busy_! Please ,support your society and become involved!, See you at the meeting, 73, Eric N8YCL,Next meeting,The next meeting of the Oh-Ky-In Amateur Radio Society will be held on ,Tuesday, January 2, 2001 at the Western Hills Church of Christ, 5064 ,Sidney Road, one block from Glenway Avenue.,The January program will be a show and tell by Bob WA6EZV and Dick ,WB4SUV. They will give us the pictures and stories surrounding their ,trip to Nanjing, China as members of ARDF Team USA. They promised me ,that most of the stories will be true!,To get to the club meeting, coming from town on Glenway, pass Ferguson ,Road and turn left on to Sidney between the BP station and Sebastian's ,restaurant, just before the Frisch's, then turn right at the light into ,the drive down to the church parking lot. The entrance is at the back ,of the church building. Plenty of parking is available., 73, Rick KD4PYR,January issue of 73 Amateur Radio Today includes coverage of the ARDF ,championship, with some photos credited to WB4SUV, and numerous quotes ,from him and WA6EZV. - Ye Ed.,Minutes of members' meeting, Tuesday, December 5, 2000,Eric N8YCL called the meeting to order at 7:33 PM with the Pledge of ,Allegiance and a few moments' worth of comments on the year ending. ,There were 44 present including a new member and 2 guests: Victor ,KD4JTR (new upgrade from Novice to Tech), KC8PRY (licenced through the ,St Antoninus scout troop classes organised by Bob W8CRO, which had a ,7-year-old who passed his exam) and KC8PSA. ,Nominee statements were then called for from those standing for ,election. Director candidates went first: Bruce N8BV, Phil KG8AP, Ev ,KC8JR, Lynn WD8JAW (absent), Brian KE4HOR, Dick WD8JAV. All present ,declared their intent to do their best for the club. Officer ,candidates, running unopposed, followed: Carol WA8YL, Bill KI4QJ ,(absent), Susie N8CGM, Rick KD4PYR, Eric N8YCL. Members then queued to ,receive their ballots and free split-the-pot tickets.,A short business meeting commenced at 8:12 PM as the tellers, Gene ,NU8U, Bob WA6EZV and Sam KJ8K retired to count the ballots. Eric N8YCL,thanked the "Rickettes" (Jo KD4PYS, Laurie KF4YWG and Becky KG4BDO) for ,staffing the hospitality table.,Carol WA8YL moved to accept the minutes of the last meeting as printed ,in the Q-Fiver, George N8FFV second, motion carried.,Eric announced that 21 had paid their 2001 dues prior to the start of ,this meeting. Quoting Bill KI4QJ from the preface of the e-mailed ,financial report: "There were no out of the ordinary expenses for the ,month. Liability insurance has been paid, and I believe a Certificate ,sent to Diamond Oaks for the 01' Hamfest. There are 201 members in good,standing for 2000. This will be the first December meeting I've missed ,since 1983. Wish you all a great meeting, Merry Xmas, and Happy New ,Year. As a reminder, an audit committee should be picked for auditing ,the books after I close December and 2000 financials (mid-Jan 01). 73." ,Eric said he's already filled 2 spots on the audit committee. Income ,for 2000 was $7721.78, expense $10,758.26.,Next Hamfest meeting will be Jan. 11 at Carol WA8YL's.,Bob WA6EZV reported for the DXers that they still await the QSL card ,order for the TopSail expedition. Once those come in, a meeting will be,scheduled.,Nothing to report for Silent Keys: Gene N8KOJ is visiting Africa.,Nothing to report for Workshops.,Harry WA8LOJ reported there's been discussion of buying some new books ,for the library.,He continued that the Slow Scan Net averages 7-9 check-ins; things are ,going well.,Brian KE4HOR announced in his Technical Committee report that he has a ,replacement in hand for the 440 radio, thanks to Dick WB4SUV, and plans ,to install it this weekend, as well as fix .925's audio. .67 still ,needs a new TouchToneTM board installed. Reception reports are always ,welcome.,Dennis KB8ROA reported for ARPSC that they enjoyed the Friday seafood ,buffet at Maple Knoll Village last Friday. The convention will be Feb. ,25 in the same place as last year, Hartwell Rec Center.,No WARN report.,Classes are done! Rick KD4PYR reported that 15 individuals took exam ,elements. Most passed; others in the classes had passed earlier. VEs ,were Phil KG8AP, Bob WA6EZV, Harry WA8LOJ, Ev KC8JR, Bob W8JSO, Judd ,N8RVR, Bill KI4QJ and Rick.,Harry WA8LOJ reported he's still updating the equipment list.,Old Business: Bob WA6EZV will order Sweepstakes pins and mugs next,week. ,K8SCH logged 310 QSOs due to a family situation of Bob's. Bob reported ,that we now have 19 of the 22 categories covered for the Club 2000 ,competition.,Ed Williams KC8MMY weould have won the attendance incentive had he been,present. As he was not, the sum will be $30 next month/year/century.,Sam KJ8K announced the election results. Directors for 2001 will be ,Brian KE4HOR, Phil KG8AP and Bruce N8BV.,Rick KD4PYR won $30 in the primary split-the-pot, John WD8NMV $10 in ,the secondary split.,Since the pizza had arrived, Phil KG8AP moved to adjourn at 8:30 PM. ,George N8FFV second, motion carried.,Respectfully submitted, Susie Scott N8CGM, Recording Secretary,CW Proficiency Award filing deadline nears,Work CW? You have until 11:59:59 PM Dec. 31 to make qualifying ,contacts for the John M. Hugentober Sr. Memorial CW Proficiency Award ,for 2000. (By the same token, at 12:00:01 AM you may start racking up ,contacts for the 2001 contest.) Logs of CW contacts made in calendar ,2000 are due in by Jan. 31, 2001. Copies of QSL cards for those ,contacts will help.,The scope of the 2000 CW Proficiency Award is expanded to include Tri-,State area clubs and members. It's hoped to go national/international ,for the 2001 contest.,The top 3 scoring contestants for 2000 will each receive a plaque, with,their names and call signs to be placed on the master award trophy at ,the 2001 Oh-Ky-In Awards Banquet. Recipients who cannot attend will get ,their plaques by mail. Each entrant will be awarded a participation ,certificate, and be listed in the appropriate Q-Fiver issue.,Extra leaflets/log forms may be requested from the address following, ,which is also the reception point for entries: Oh-Ky-In Amateur Radio ,Society, c/o Brian DeYoung KE4HOR, 5043 Pleasant Ridge Rd, Alexandria ,KY 41001-9716, 73, Brian KE4HOR,Board to consider Morse code policy review,The ARRL Board of Directors will review the League's position on the ,Morse code as an international licensing requirement when it gathers ,for its annual meeting in January. Because the issue is expected to ,come up at the IARU Region 2 Conference next October, the ARRL ,Executive Committee decided at its November 11 meeting in Irving TX to ,place the issue on the Board's January agenda.,The ARRL's Morse policy was formalized by Board resolution in 1993. It ,supports the retention in the International Radio Regulations of the ,provision obliging administrations to require that applicants ,demonstrate ability to send and receive Morse code before they may ,operate below 30 MHz. Consistent with that policy, ARRL International ,Affairs Vice President Rod Stafford W6ROD cast the lone dissenting vote,earlier this year at the IARU Region 3 Conference in Australia on a ,motion calling for the eventual elimination of Morse as an ITU requirement for HF operation.,In January, the Board may decide to reaffirm this policy, to modify it, ,or to seek additional input from members. In the past, a majority of ,members has supported the policy.,The Executive Committee also proposed that the Board determine a p,rocess for soliciting membership input on possible repartitioning of ,the HF bands in restructuring's wake. As part of its original ,restructuring package, the League had proposed "refarming" the current ,Novice bands to allow for more efficient use of the most crowded HF ,allocations. The FCC has declined to take up any possible ,repartitioning, however, until it's had a chance to gauge the effects ,of restructuring. Amateur Radio license restructuring became effective ,last April 15., excerpted from The ARRL Letter, Vol 19 #45, Nov. Tally hilltop Five teams came out on a brisk December morning to search for that ever elusive Fox. This time the fox was nestled high in the hills of south Newport, at the Newport Veterans Park above the Licking River. Hoping to slow down the hounds, a horizontal turnstile antenna was employed in hopes that the doppler systems would not like the switch in polarization. As it turned out, this had more effect on the quads. It made little difference in the end ,as everyone completed the course in just under 90 minutes. Here are the results: W8EH Ernie & Elaine 59 Minutes 13.4 miles WB4SUV Dick & Janie 63 Minutes 19.4 miles KB8UEZ Jim, WD6ADM Bill & Donna 66 minutes 14.5 miles KE4HOR Brian 87 minutes 30.9 miles KC8FQY Jim 92 minutes 21.7 miles Ernie gets to stump us next month. 73, Bob WA6EZV DX Extras January 2001 I hope everyone had a great Christmas Season. I know with all the holidays everyone had lots of free time to chase the DX on the bands. Also, did you get a chance to work the 10 meter contest in December? Lots of good DX for the price of a single call in most cases. DXCC the easy way! Anyway, here are a few upcoming tidbits for your DX consideration. D86 Comoros -- The February 20001 DXpedition remains on schedule. Watch the web site at www.dxbands.com/comoros A6 United Arab Emirates -- Scheduled for Feb. 13-20, 2001. 3D2 Conway Reef -- Feb. 18-27, 2001. More details later. A52 Bhutan -- Look for Glenn Johnson W0GJ and his son Mark N0MJ in January. Mt. Athos -- Apollo will switch from his special SY2A back to SV2ASP/A after December. He will still continue to operate from this rare location. P5 North Korea -- This iffy operation is still tentatively scheduled around January 7. We can only hope! Distant Future -- 3B6 Agalega -- The Mauritius government has promised both landing permits and license for the scheduled May 2001 operation. E-QSLs -- The great debate on this issue is just beginning. Currently no award program in the hobby accepts E-QSLs as a verified QSO. VK0MM Alan is using the www.eQSL.com/qslcard site for those that worked him on Macquarie. This will likely negate your chance of using the QSO for DXCC. With computers and the internet being big hitters, this will likely not be the last attempt at using E-QSLs in place of post cards. Look for lots of heated discussion on this item in the future. Postage Ouch -- Starting in 2001, IRCs will increase from their current $1.05 to a whopping $1.70 or $1.75. Also look for the Internatonal Air rate to go from 60 cents to 80 cents. A big blow to those needing lots of QSLs. Till next month, GUD DX, Bob WA6EZV Contests January 2001 1 ARRL Straight Key Night 5-7 ARRL RTTY Roundup 13-14 North American QSO Party, CW; Hunting Lions in the Air Contest 20-22 ARRL January VHF Sweepstakes; North American QSO Party, phone. See Jan 13-14. 26-28 CQ WW 160-Meter DX Contest, CW; REF French Contest, CW; UBA (Belgian) Contest, phone; Kansas QSO Party January is a time for contesters to recover and prepare for the new century, which as we all know begins on January 1, 2001, not...(the drone of snores is heard from his auditors, but a mathematician is well used to having his audience asleep.)...Happy New Year and a Happy New Millennium!! 73, Dan KF4AV December 2 VE exam results At the end of the fall Oh-Ky-In classes, there were 15 applications to take exam elements. Only two of those were for upgrades (one was successful); all the others were for initial licence qualifications, with varying degrees of success. Victor Hightower KD4JTR, a new Oh-Ky- In member, exchanged his Novice licence for a Tech w/HF (can't really call it "Tech +" any more). Other applicants were not club classes veterans. The numbers: Element 1(5 wpm) 2(Tech th) 3(General th) 4 (Extra th) Pass 2 8 1 0 Fail 1 6 0 1 Total 3 14 1 1 % passed 66 57 100(hurrah!) 0(awww!) All this resulted in 2 new Techs w/HF, and 5 Techs w/o HF. The person who passed General theory was also the one who fluffed the 5 wpm. Better luck next time! VEs working this session were Rick KD4PYR, Phil KG8AP, Bob WA6EZV, Sam KJ8K, Bob W8JSO, Judd N8RVR and Carol WA8YL. Bill KI4QJ oversaw the session. 73, Bill KI4QJ ARRL VEC to increase test fee for 2001 NEWINGTON, CT, Dec 4, 2000--The FCC has suspended its regulatory limit on the reimbursement fee for Amateur Radio examinations, and the ARRL VEC says a new $10 test fee will go into effect January 1. An FCC Public Notice released today explained that the Commission did not plan to announce a maximum reimbursement fee for 2001 since the requirement to do so no longer appears in the Communications Act. For now, the FCC says, it will suspend enforcement of the fee provision, §97.527(b), which continues to appear in Part 97 of the FCC rules. Some, if not all, of the nation's other Volunteer Examiner Coordinators are expected to follow suit, although at least one VEC charges no test fee whatsoever. ARRL VEC Manager Bart Jahnke W9JJ says the ARRL VEC's current fee of $6.65 was based on the provision in the Communications Act, adopted in 1984, that established a $4 cap on reimbursement of out-of-pocket costs with an annual adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index. The new, higher fee reflects the fact that the ARRL VEC is doing more of the work on behalf of the FCC than was originally envisioned when the provision was included in the Communications Act. That effort includes data entry for all new and upgrade license applications once done by FCC staffers."The current system is better for the applicants because they get their licenses faster, but it's also more costly for us," said ARRL Executive Vice President David Sumner K1ZZ. ARRL VEC volunteer examiners will continue to charge applicants $6.65 through the end of 2000. -- posted to Oh-Ky-In reflector by Rick KD4PYR VE exam opportunities Sat. Jan. 6 at Hartwell Presbyterian Church, Parkway & Woodbine Avs, sponsored by CRA. Registration 8:30 AM; walk-ins only! Info: Herb Blasberg WA8PBW, 513=891-7556 Sat. Jan. 13 at Indian Springs Admin Bldg, Morris & Millikin Rds in suburban Hamilton OH, sponsored by Butler Co VHF Assn. Take By-Pass 4 north to Princeton, right (east) to Morris, then left (north) to Millikin. Millikin no longer exits to Route 4 near By Pass 4; that entrance to Millikin is permanently closed and blocked off. Registration starts at 9 AM, testing on completion of registration. (This is a noisy location with conversation not curtailed. -directions & observation Fred K9OHE) Info: Ted Wilson K8TCR, 513=868-7012. Talk-in 146.97 IN ALL CASES 2 IDs (at least 1 with photo), originals (bring to exam) & photocopies (enclose with preregistration or bring to exam to file with 605 of license & CSCEs) are required. Given the recent Restructuring, best in all cases to call for info. Headphones for the CW element and photocopying available at OH- KY-IN exams but not at most other testing locations (again, call for info). Form 610 expired Feb 16, 2000; you must now use the new Form 605 (NCVEC Quick-Form, highly recommended!) Pre-registration encouraged where available (see specific exam info for where to send, enclose SASE for confirmation and NCVEC 605). $10 is 2001 ARRL/VEC exam fee; this should elimate most needs for correct change for walk-in registrations. Hamfests &c. January 2001 13 14th Annual SW OH Digital Symposium sponsored by Center for Chemistry Education of Miami Univ Middletown, DIAL Radio Club & OH Packet Council, at Thesken Hall, Middletown Campus of Miami Univ. 9 AM -4 PM. Talk-in 146.61. Free, donations for incidental expense accepted. Discussion & on-air demos of packet radio, RTTY, PSK-31, THROB (new mode), AMSAT (new Phase II satellite is finally up!), more. Info: Hank Greeb N8XX, or 513=385-8363 after 6 PM. 14 Goshen IN (maybe actually South Bend) Hamfest sponsored by Michiana Valley Hamfest Assn at Elkhart Co Fairgrounds, 17746 CR 34; US 33 to Goshen HS, E .8 mi. Free parking. Talk-in 145.29. $4 advance, $5 gate. Info: Denny Denniston KA9WNR, 21970 Kern Rd, South Bend IN 46614- 9295, 219=291-0252 7-10 PM EST Nelsonville OH Hamfest sponsored by Sunday Creek AR Federation at Hocking College. Public 8 AM-2 PM. Fleas, VE sessions at noon, walk- ins OK. Talk-in 147.15, 147.225. $5, under 12 free. Info: Russ Ellis N8MWK, 8051 Oregon Ridge, Glouster OH 45732, 740=767-2226, 28 Tusco ARC Hamfest sponsored by Tusco ARC at OH Ntl Guard Armory, 2800 N Wooster Av, Dover OH. Exit I-77 at Exit 87 (Strasburg), right at exit stop sign, south on Co Rd 74 to 1st traffic light. Carry on thru intersection, armory is on right. Set-up 6 AM, public 8 AM-1 PM. Talk- in 146.73(-). $3 donation at door. Dealers welcome, no charge other than $10/table. 120 v available, pls bring own extension cords! Food on site, restaurant next door opens 7 AM. Info: Gary Green KB8WFN, 32210 Norris Rd, Tippecanoe OH 44699, 740=922-4454, Big Ear becomes history What a nice fall day it was, with the sun shining in a clear blue sky when Carey K8DOT and I left Dayton to attend the dedication of an historic marker for The Big Ear Radio Telescope. Big Ear, as the radio telescope came to be known, was the creation of Prof. John Kraus W8JK. Built in the late 1950s and early 1960s on 4 acres of rural land on the outskirts of Delaware, the telescope had to make room for the extension of a golf course in the mid 1990s. A pioneering design and duplicated elsewhere, the radio telescope had surveyed the sky at 600 and 1420 MHz, locating 20,000 discrete radio sources. When research funds dried up, Bob Dixon suggested an automated search of the sky for signs of extraterrestrial intelligence. With the telescope put on "autopilot" and volunteer students visiting once a day for chores like changing the computer paper and periodically adjusting the flat reflector, this survey was kept up for many years. As we got closer, going north on Rt. 23, we spotted a crowd by the side of the road. We came just in time for the ceremony to begin! Coming back from the parking lot, we got a good view of the gathered crowd of about 100. Phil Barnhard, after a brief introduction, established the rules for the speakers, allotting everyone a maximum of 5 minutes. That made all the presentations very much to the point and snappy. I finally got to see Jerry Ehman, who on checking the computer print- outs for the extraterrestrial search on 15 Aug 77, came across this powerful signal and wrote "Wow" in the margin. To this day this is the only signal that with some probability might have originated from extraterrestrial intelligence. Speaker after speaker referred to the funding problems over the years and of the many volunteers putting in countless hours to keep the project going. Bob Dixon once overheard a reporter talking to a student volunteer and asking, "Why are you doing this?" The student simply answered: "Because they let me touch things!" Then the youngest member of the present team told about his experience in getting more and more computers involved, and looking forward to the new project Argus with a multitude of sensors looking in all directions at all times. Finally the plaque was uncovered, to the applause of everybody present. John Kraus, who attended the ceremony with his wife, took the microphone briefly to thank everybody for coming and in particular all the volunteers who over the years had supported the operation of "Big Ear". This was the first time I had met John and his wife in person. We exchanged a few words and I gave him a photo of the P3d satellite and some literature. A reception was held at the Perkins Observatory. I had been there before but the rooms were always closed. They have a very nice auditorium and a library with adjacent special-purpose room. Refreshments were served. Then PaulSchuch N6TX presented John W8JK with a song composed especially for him, accompanied by guitar, which in the refrain made reference to the famous W8JK beam, invented by John in the 1930s. Before we left, a member of the group invited us to look at the sun through a small telescope that he had set up on the front lawn, using, of course, a suitable filter. The filter was dark red. I had never observed the sun through a telescope like that and was quite interested. A huge sunspot was visible in the center and several more small ones. But the most fascinating part were a few flares on the periphery that I knew only from pictures. We left around 4 PM and made it back to Dayton by 5:30. Another piece of history had been made! Information: NAAPO (North American AstroPhysical Observatory), the final operators of the Big Ear Radio Telescope and now pressing project ARGUS. www.bigear.org de Gerd Schrick WB8IFM, in Dec 2000 DARA RF-Carrier * Ham help solicited in owl searches: ARRL Amateur Radio Direction Finding Coordinator Joe Moell K0OV says hams in the Central US found an unusual form of ham radio public service this fall. Many have been listening intently just above 172 MHz for brief transmissions from radio tags on 52 endangered burrowing owls. The rare birds have left Saskatchewan and Alberta in Canada for warmer weather in the south, probably in southern Texas and northern Mexico. Burrowing owls were seen in Texas in late October, according to the latest report from Canadian biologists, but no leg bands have been spotted. Now that the fall migration is complete, hams in Texas and surrounding states are being asked to monitor for the tags this winter. Meanwhile, biologist Scott Weidensaul of the Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art in Pennsylvania wants hams from Maryland to South Carolina and points west to listen for tags now being put on northern saw-whet owls. For details of both owl-tracking efforts, visit Moell's Web site, http://www.homingin.com. The site lists all of the tag frequencies as well as histories of the monitoring efforts and interesting information about these bird species, plus suggestions for equipment for monitoring and direction-finding on 172 MHz. The ARRL Letter, Vol 19 #45, Nov. 24, 2000 AO-40, where are you? Satellite's beacon goes silent AMSAT reports there's a problem aboard AO-40. The Amateur Radio satellite has not been heard from since December 13, and for the AO-40 ground crew the silence is deafening. AMSAT says the AO-40 development team is looking into the problem, but it might not have any answers until December 16. That's when the onboard computer is expected to automatically reset itself and, it's hoped, restart the beacon transmission. "All we know is we've got a problem," said AMSAT-NA President Robin Haighton VE3FRH. "I've got all my toes and fingers crossed." Haighton said the problem may or may not be related to earlier difficulties getting AO-40's 400-Newton motor to fire properly. Ground controllers adjusted the satellite's orbit earlier this week, but as a result of fuel-valve problems, AO-40 ended up in a higher-than-planned orbit. Monday's orbit-adjusting burn lasted three minutes longer than planned, sending AO-40 into a 60,000 km (37,200 mile) apogee rather than the planned 50,000 km (31,000 miles). AMSAT reports that 2-meter telemetry transmissions from AO-40 stopped early Wednesday, December 13, while work on the 400-Newton propulsion system was in progress. "A lot of people are putting their heads together," Haighton said, but until the telemetry transmission reappears, not much will be known. "It's very frustrating," he said. Earlier AMSAT reports indicated that the onboard IHU-2 computer could be responsible for the missing telemetry. The IHU-2 has suffered several crashes, and when the computer goes down, so does the telemetry, although a weak, unmodulated carrier should remain. Haighton said the IHU-2 takes a couple of days to time out and reboot, "and then we're in business, we hope." Monitors around the world are listening for any signal from AO-40. Maxim Memorial Station W1AW and other amateurs have reported hearing a weak, unmodulated carrier on the 145.898 MHz beacon frequency since the telemetry stopped. It's not known for sure if the signals are coming from AO-40, however. AMSAT says onboard software events set to occur Saturday afternoon are programmed to start a spacecraft emergency routine called "command- assist" that attempts to re-establish communication. Once communication is re-established, AMSAT says, ground controllers will have their best chance to recover any evidence of the incident that made the telemetry transmissions stop. In the meantime, it's a tense waiting game. "If we knew where the beacon was, we wouldn't have a problem," Haighton said. The next-generation Amateur Radio satellite formerly known as Phase 3D was launched in mid-November. For more information on AO-40, visit the AMSAT-NA Web site, http://www.amsat.org. ARRL's first continuing education course fills promptly Sorry, but this class is filled! All "seats" for the ARRL's introductory-level on-line emergency communications course were taken within 24 hours of opening registration. ARRL Certification Specialist Dan Miller K3UFG announced December 15 that registration for the ARRL's new on-line Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course has closed. The ARRL is the first organization to offer a Web-based Amateur Radio Emergency Communications course that qualifies for continuing education course credit. Students lucky enough to get registered have up to eight weeks to complete the interactive course, Level I: Introduction to Emergency Communications. The ARRL will award a certificate bearing a handsome, distinctive logo to those completing the course. The logo may be displayed on QSL cards or stationery. Starting in 2001, ARRL will offer its on-line course as an in-person class to be held at various sites throughout the US. Advanced courses in emergency communications also will become available next year. These include Level II: NCS and Liaison Training and Level III: Emergency Communications Management/Administration Issues. Miller says he'll announce registration for future course offerings within the next few weeks. He also will maintain a file with the names and e-mail addresses of those requesting prior notification. Anyone wishing to be added should send name, call sign and e-mail address to . Many individuals and organizations, including Red Cross national officials, have expressed keen interest in the course. In the imitation- is-the-sincerest-form-of-flattery department, REACT International has designed a similar course based on the ARRL's and tailored specifically to its members' needs -- but the REACT course is not available on-line. The ARRL Board of Directors approved the development and implementation of the self-education Continuing Education and Certification Program for radio amateurs at its January meeting. The program is aimed at inspiring amateurs to continue to acquire technical knowledge and operating expertise beyond that required to become licensed. For more information on the ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Program, contact ARRL Certification Specialist Dan Miller K3UFG, . The ARRL Letter, Vol 19 #48, Dec. 15, 2000 FCC seeks to require FCC registration number The FCC has proposed requiring that everyone it does business with obtain and use an FCC Registration Number -- or FRN. Many amateurs registered with the Universal Licensing System already have been assigned a 10-digit FRN by the Commission Registration System -- or CORES. The FCC has not made FRN use mandatory, however. The FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (MD Docket 00-205) December 1. The FCC says requiring individuals and entities to obtain an FRN will help it to better track and manage the collection of fees. The FCC proposes requiring that FRNs be provided with any filings that require payment of a fee, such as the vanity fee for amateurs. The FCC proposes to reject filings requiring an FRN that do not include the number. The Commission said its proposed rules "would make the use of the FRN mandatory in certain circumstances so that anyone not yet assigned an FRN or who has not yet obtained one must obtain one." An individual does not have to hold an FCC license to obtain an FRN. The FCC says the information collected by CORES includes the "entity name and type," Taxpayer Identification Number or TIN -- typically a Social Security Number for an individual, contact address and e-mail address. CORES information is not made public. Comments on the FCC rulemaking notice are due 30 days from the date of publication in The Federal Register (Dec.31). Reply comments are due by 45 days from the date of publication (Jan. 14). The FCC began implementing CORES earlier this year. CORES registration eventually will replace Universal Licensing System, or ULS, registration. The FRN will co-exist with the Licensee ID Number issued by the ULS, an FCC spokesperson said this week. More information on CORES is available on the FCC Web site, http://www.fcc.gov (click on the CORES registration link). The ARRL Letter, Vol 19 #47 Dec.8, 2000 What's coming in Oh-Ky-In in January 2001 Sun Dec 31 11:59:59 PM Last contacts for 2000 J M Hugentober Sr Memorial CW Proficiency Award Mon Jan 1 New Year's Day Tue Jan 2 7:30 PM Club Meeting at W HILLS CHURCH OF CHRIST, 5064 Sidney Rd Program: ARDF World Championship in China, Dick WB4SUV and Bob WA6EZV Wed Jan 3 7:30 PM Slow-Scan ATV Net, 146.67 9 PM Tech Talk, NCS Carol WA8YL Fri Jan 5 8 PM Hamilton Co ARPSC at Sheriff's Communications Ctr, Hamilton Av at I-275 Tue Jan 9 7:30 PM Technical Committee meeting if needed, location TBA Wed Jan 10 7:30 PM Slow-Scan ATV Net, 146.67 9 PM Tech Talk, NCS Dale KC8HQS Thu Jan 11 7:30 PM Hamfest Team meeting at Carol WA8YL's Sat Jan 13 10 AM Monthly fox hunt, hounds start from Mt Storm Park; talk-in to start 146.67 This month's fox: Ernie W8EH Tue Jan 16 7:30 PM DXers, probably at Bob WA6EZV's Wed Jan 17 7:30 PM Slow-Scan ATV Net, 146.67 9 PM Tech Talk, NCS Dennis KB8ROA Wed Jan 24 7:30 PM Slow-Scan ATV Net, 146.67 9 PM Tech Talk, NCS Rick KD4PYR Tue Jan 30 7:30 PM Board of Directors' Meeting at Carol WA8YL's Wed Jan 31 7:30 PM Slow-Scan ATV Net, 146.67 9 PM Tech Talk, NCS Gene NU8U 11:59:59 PM Entries due for 2000 J M Hugentober Sr Memorial CW Proficiency Award Tue Feb 6 7:30 PM Club Meeting at W HILLS CHURCH OF CHRIST, 5064 Sidney Rd Program: PSK-31 (the new RTTY?) Presenter TBA News of members and students in recent classes Our sincere condolences to KF4YMH Armando J M Bonilla's family; he was occasionally active on .67 and appears to have died in October or November AA8KK Otto Bielefeld on the death of his wife Betty in mid-December Upgrades for Christmas! KD4JTR Victor Hightower, Novice to TECH w/ HF K9OHE Fred Schneider, Advanced to EXTRA Welcome to new and returning members KC3DSE Anthony Dent KC8PRY James E Keely KD4JTR Victor Hightower KC8PSA Keith O Bower Cartoon adapted and recycled from an old realty company calendar's lead page -- Father Time with staff leads procession of alarm clock, hourglass and grandfather clock, each flourishing small triangular banner in gloved right hand. Streamers and confetti fall. In large type to left of cartoon, "Happy New Millennium!" Copy deadline for February 2001 issue is Friday, January 19 With the compliments of the season to all concerned! de N8CGM =eof=