The ARRL Letter July 12, 1996 (Volume 15, Number 7) You can email this page's content administrator at rlindquist@arrl.org. INSIDE STS-78 a SAREX success League receives ASAE Award of Excellence Alaska fires bring out best in hams Greg Godsey's own story DARA scholarship winners named Another well-known call sign returns Ham radio has movie roles AS-2 Fuji-Oscar and UNAMSAT-B to launch Solar flares noted QST cover plaque winners Ira Otto Rhoades, W9KPT, SK In Brief: W1AW/3 in IARU contest; NN3SI marks museum's 150th year; No packet aboard Mir; WO-18 software crashes; WO9S honored; CB Radio suspends publication; Alinco cuts prices; KF0I injured; New Collins Web site; VO1/VO2 to become new section; Kenya issues first novice ticket; RSGB has Web site; E-mail for W1 QSL bureau. STS-78 A SAREX SUCCESS STORY; STS-79 TO LAUNCH JULY 31 Shuttle mission STS-78 made history as the shuttle Columbia broke previous records for mission duration, spending close to 17 days in space before returning to Earth July 7. The flight's SAREX payload also was a huge success. The astronauts made all 11 scheduled SAREX contacts with school groups in the US, Australia, France and Canada, plus many unscheduled SAREX QSOs. Students on the ground got to directly interview the astronauts, who seemed to enjoy SAREX as much those on the other end of the contact did. The students' interest in space, math, science and technology was sparked through preparations for each contact, as well as by the answers to the 116 questions they posed to the seven Columbia crew members. Amateur Radio and the schools enjoyed substantial news media exposure with multiple television crews and several newspapers visiting nearly every contact site. Several individual stations reported making their very first SAREX contacts during the STS-78 mission. While many stations reported receiving lower-than-normal signal strength levels from the shuttle on this mission--a possible result of the unusual attitude of the spacecraft during the mission and the window-mounted antenna used-- Andy MacAllister, WA5ZIB, reported making a two-way voice contact with Columbia running 5 W into a 5/8-wave antenna, despite the competition from more powerful stations. To be sure, SAREX on STS-78 will be remembered by many in the Amateur Radio community for years to come. If you missed out, the next mission, STS-79, is set to launch July 31 on a nine-day flight. This, the fourth Mir docking mission, will use SAREX configuration "M," which is FM voice, using the shuttle-Mir 2-meter radio. Three schools--two in the US and one in England--have been confirmed for SAREX QSOs during STS-79: Andover Middle School in Andover, Kansas; Immaculate Conception Elementary School in Celina, Ohio, and The Royal School for Girls in Surrey, England. Three hams will fly aboard STS-79. They are Commander James D. Halsell, KC5RNI; Pilot/Commander Janice E. Voss, KC5BTK; and Mission Specialist Donald A. Thomas, KC5FVF. Other crew members include Pilot Susan L. Still, Mission Specialist Michael L. Gerhardt and Payload Specialists Roger Crouch and Greg Linteris. LEAGUE RECEIVES ASAE AWARD OF EXCELLENCE FOR SAREX Because of its role in the SAREX program, the ARRL has been named one of 43 American Society of Association Executives "Award of Excellence" winners. The society presents the annual awards to associations "whose work best exemplifies the leadership role of associations in creating a positive business and social climate." Educational Activities Manager Rosalie White, WA1STO, submitted an entry earlier this year on behalf of the League. She cited the 50,000 school-age children and youth and their communities affected by SAREX and the involvement of more than 2000 volunteers. The League, AMSAT and NASA cooperate in making SAREX possible. White's application points to the uniformly positive response from the educational community. She notes that the program has inspired curiosity and interest in mathematics, science and technology and that many schools have incorporated SAREX into their curricula. "Thousands of ARRL members have done legwork to make hundreds of Amateur Radio contacts with the astronauts successful," White's application states. "ARRL is proud to be a sponsor of SAREX because we know it affects the lives of thousands of youth and adults in a most positive way." White said she was thrilled that that the SAREX program won the ASAE competition. "We want it to signify a reward to the volunteers who work so hard to intrigue America's youth to learn about space, Amateur Radio and all aspects of the curricula that teachers innovatively tie in with SAREX," she added. Award of Excellence winners will be recognized as a group at an August 11 ceremony in Boston during the ASAE Boston '96 annual meeting. ALASKA FIRES BRING OUT BEST IN HAMS AND HAM RADIO Larry Strain, N7DF, president of the Anchorage Amateur Radio Club, reports that hams helped when conventional communication channels broke down during the Alaska wildfires in early June. A fire that started Sunday, June 2, was thought to be out, but high winds the next day caused it to flare back to life and take off. N7DF reports that authorities got surveillance from military satellites, and it showed that (at that point) the fire was putting out the energy of a 2- megaton nuclear burst every minute. The authorities couldn't start fighting the fire until June 6, because up until then they were too busy just keeping evacuation roads open. Larry said that before the fire, the Red Cross thought it had sufficient communication in that area, apparently depending on cellular phones. Larry said that smoke and static from the fire rendered those useless; landline communications were overloaded as well. On Wednesday, June 5, the Red Cross requested that amateurs establish a link between Anchorage and an evacuation center at Wasilla, 50 miles north of Anchorage. When he didn't hear from the Red Cross, Larry tried calling their headquarters without success, so he went there. The emergency coordinator was very glad to see him because she had been trying to contact him without success, due to the overload. Once they established the link to the evacuation center (the first amateur at the evacuation center just happened to be mobile in that area when the call went out), they started providing links to operational units. The Salvation Army set up a mobile operation capable of feeding 50 people, but ended up feeding 500 firefighters. They had no communication, so amateurs helped out with logistical communication for them and other agencies. Logistical communication was handled through June 8 when a contract caterer was brought in; the fire was out by June 9. Members of three Amateur Radio clubs were involved in the effort. GREG GODSEY, KF4BDY: WHAT REALLY HAPPENED Ever since young Greg Godsey, KF4BDY, of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, was arrested in his hometown on charges related to his hobby, rumors about the case have abounded on the air and via the Internet. Godsey, an articulate and soft-spoken youth who turned 17 in June, says he'd like to set the record straight. Godsey was detained by Hopkinsville Police on May 11 and charged with carrying a scanner that could receive police radio frequencies, with impersonating a public official and with disorderly conduct. His Radio Shack HTX-202 2-meter transceiver was confiscated, and he was bound over for trial on June 4. ARRL Regulatory Information Branch Supervisor Norman Bliss, WA1CCQ, said at the time of Godsey's arrest that the Kentucky law exempts equipment that is capable of receiving police frequencies when it's in the possession of a licensed Amateur Radio operator. Furthermore, the HTX-202 does not have expanded receive or transmit capabilities. In court on June 4, the judge dismissed the scanner charge, and Godsey's H-T was returned to him. Godsey said the scanner charge was dropped after his lawyer presented documentary evidence that the radio could not operate outside Amateur Radio frequencies. The other charges were continued until June 27, but that court appearance subsequently was postponed because the arresting officer was out of town in a training program. He has since returned to his regular duties. Godsey said he'd learned from an inside source that the arresting officer was placed on "desk duty" for a week after he arrested the teenager, but he did not know if this was related to the handling of his case. Godsey said he returned his H-T to Tandy after he discovered that the battery case had been damaged, apparently while the unit was in police custody. He said he wanted to see if it could be repaired, and he wanted additional assurances from Tandy that the unit could not be operated outside the ham bands "just in case" the question were to arise again in court. Godsey's parents, Gary and Fredericka Godsey, say their son has never been in trouble before. They've hired a new attorney to handle future action in the case. Godsey said he's not sure why he was charged with impersonating a public servant or with disorderly conduct, but he thinks the former charge could be related to his activities as the emergency coordinator for Christian County, Kentucky, a position he continues to hold. "I'm still plugging away," he said. (It was erroneously reported in The ARRL Letter, QST and elsewhere that Godsey had resigned as EC. He did turn over his net control duties to another ARES member after his radio was taken away, however.) When the officer stopped him, "I showed him my ARES identification card," said Godsey, who was riding a bicycle at the time. He said his arrest came after some youngsters stopped him and said their father wanted to speak with him. Godsey said he'd never met the people before and has no idea why they called the police. An enthusiastic ham who got his ticket less than a year ago, Godsey said he enjoys "talking up" ham radio to people he meets in and around his home town, located in farm country about an hour's drive from Paducah. Godsey is home-schooled and is the equivalent of a high-school junior. Godsey says it's frustrating for him to hear the rumors and distortions on the air. As a Technician Plus licensee, "I can't get up there [on HF] to dispel the rumors," he said. He has attempted to correct misstatements he sees posted on the Internet, however. His arrest has had at least one positive impact. "ARES membership has been going up since this happened," Godsey reports. The local ARES chapter now has 22 members in a county with 130 to 150 hams. DAYTON AMATEUR RADIO ASSOCIATION NAMES 1996 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS The Dayton Amateur Radio Association has announced its 1996 scholarship winners. Each of the eight scholarship is for $2000. Awards are based both on individual achievement and financial need. We congratulate these young amateurs and wish them success in their studies and future careers: Dakota A. Derr, AA0NB. Dakota, 18, is from Burlington Junction, Missouri, and plans to attend Northwest Missouri State University and study computer science. Dakota holds an Extra class license. Teresa M. Hensley, KA8YTO. Teresa, 19, is from New Paris, Ohio, and attends Wright State University where she studies biology and biochemistry. Teresa holds a Novice class license. She was awarded the Charles G. Fry Memorial Scholarship. Sandra K. Saunders, AB4KS. Sandra, 18, is from McDonald, Tennessee, and plans to attend Southern College of SDA and study in the field of education. Sandra holds an Extra class license. She was awarded the Dave Beam Memorial Scholarship. Lindsay L. Schoettinger, KB8ZJT. Lindsay, 18, is from Englewood, Ohio, and plans to study speech pathology and hearing audiology at Wright State University. Lindsay holds a Technician class license. Melissa E. Schweikhart, KB8EPO. Melissa, 18, is from Springboro, Ohio, and plans to attend Vanderbilt University to study biology and pre-medicine. Melissa holds a Technician Plus class license. Eric J. Shook, KF8DF. Eric, 20, is from Jackson, Michigan, and studies electrical engineering at Michigan State University. Eric holds an Extra class license. Matthew R. Thomas, N8TWF. Matthew, 18, is from Ortonville, Michigan, and plans to attend Michigan Technological University to study engineering. Matthew holds an Extra class license. He was awarded the Robert F. Zimmerman Memorial Scholarship. Kurt A. Zoglmann, KB0TMQ. Kurt, 18, is from Conway Springs, Kansas, and plans to study electrical engineering at Kansas State University. Kurt holds a Technician class license. The scholarships are initially open to high-school seniors in their graduating year. Applicants must be FCC-licensed Amateur Radio operators of any class. Applicants for the 1997 awards may request scholarship applications from Stan Kuck, NY8F, 45 Cinnamon Ct, Springboro, OH 45066. Please include a SASE. ANOTHER WELL-KNOWN CALL SIGN RETURNS TO THE AIRWAVES! Frances A. McKenney, the daughter of the late, well-known DXer and contester, Katashi Nose, KH6IJ, has been issued her father's call sign under the vanity call sign program. "A complete cycle" is how Pacific Division Director Brad Wyatt, K6WR, characterizes the chain of events. "I have been working with Frances and her mother, Matsuyo, to make this happen," he reports. The FCC reissued KH6IJ on June 24. K6WR reports that Frances, 43, had a Novice license many years ago, but let it lapse. "When her father died and the vanity call program came into being, I encouraged her to get her license again." She got a Technician ticket and the call sign WH6CUJ. The new KH6IJ lives in Honolulu. HAM RADIO HAS MOVIE ROLES Ham radio plays a part in two recently released movies. One is in the hugely popular sci-fi thriller Independence Day, reports Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R, of ARRL's Educational Activities Department. "Briefly, and without spoiling the plot, the US Space Command uses Amateur Radio to disseminate instructions for a worldwide offensive against the bad aliens," Inderbitzen explained. Commercial communication links are in a shambles in the wake of the aliens' destructive path, and their huge orbiting spacecraft have disabled or destroyed satellites. Hams spread the word using none other than Morse code. "And, straight keys and keyers were prevalently shown," he said. Inderbitzen points out that additional information about the movie can be found at http://www.id4.com/. Ham radio also figures in the plot of Phenomenon, which stars John Travolta, Robert Duvall and Forrest Whittaker (as the ham). ARRL advised a member of the movie's technical crew and supplied ham radio publications and other paraphernalia which are visible in the movie ham shack. In one scene, Travolta decodes digital-mode signals in his head. Morse code is used in another scene, reports QST Assistant Technical Editor Bob Schetgen, KU7G. JAS-2 FUJI-OSCAR AND UNAMSAT SATELLITES SET FOR SUMMER LAUNCHES Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, reports that the next FUJI-OSCAR satellite, JAS-2, is scheduled for launch on August 17. JAS-2 received a preliminary license in March, and has been assigned the call sign 8J1JCS. The satellite will carry both linear (analog) and digital (packet radio) communication transponders. Its frequency plan is similar to that of FUJI-OSCAR-20, but with some interesting additions: Analog mode Uplink: 145.900-146.000 MHz Downlink: 435.800-435.900 MHz (inverted) Output power: 1 W 1200-bps BPSK Uplink: 145.850, 145.870, 145.890, 145.910 MHz Downlink: 435.910 MHz 9600-bps FSK Uplink: 145.870 MHz Downlink: 435.910 MHz Digitalker FM voice, 25 seconds maximum Downlink: 435.910 MHz Output power: 1 W CW telemetry Downlink: 435.795 MHz Speed: 12 wpm A World Wide Web home page has been established by JARL to provide information on JAS-2. Check out http://www.jarl.or.jp/jarl/jas-2/. Meanwhile, Mexico's UNAMSAT-B is being prepared for a launch window that begins August 20. The UNAMSAT-B launch team is currently scheduled to leave for Moscow at the end of July where it will perform a set of thermal and vibration tests in preparation for the launch. UNAMSAT-B will fly on a Cosmos rocket, a type with a successful track record of nearly 600 launches. The primary load weighs 840 pounds, while UNAMSAT-B weighs 24 pounds. Those who follow amateur satellites will recall that the first UNAMSAT was destroyed when the five-stage Russian Start launcher blew up about the time of fourth-stage ignition. The new UNAMSAT is a clone of the first satellite and was built at the Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) by students and staff at the University Program for Space Research (PUIDE). The initial orbit will be circular with an altitude of 1000 km and an inclination of 83. UNAMSAT-B will fly attached to the main payload and will have to wait for separation after stabilization (4 to 8 hours) before it can be commanded to separate from the primary payload. UNAMSAT-B is expected to start sending telemetry just a few minutes after separation. Here are the frequencies for UNAMSAT-B operation: Downlinks UHF TX1: 437.206 MHz UHF TX2: 437.138 MHz (secondary) Uplinks VHF channel A: 145.815 MHz VHF channel B: 145.835 MHz VHF channel C: 145.855 MHz VHF channel D: 145.875 MHz The modulation used is the same as in previous microsats (Manchester- encoded FSK uplink, BPSK downlink). UNAMSAT-B will also carry a 40.997-MHz pulse transmitter and a wideband receiver centered on the same frequency that will look for echoes produced on the ionized trails of meteors as they enter the atmosphere. This signal can be used by ground stations to get echoes from meteors in their area when UNAMSAT-B is passing below the horizon. UNAMSAT-B has been "on the air" in Mexico City for several months, with the radar connected to a rooftop antenna. Meteors and aircraft are observed routinely. Antenna polarizations are exactly the same as in PACSAT. PACSAT ground stations will be able to function through UNAMSAT-B as well.-- SpaceNews/AMSAT News Service MAJOR SOLAR FLARES NOTED; FLUX UP TEN POINTS Solar seer Tad Cook, KT7H, in Seattle, Washington, reports major solar flares on July 8 and 9. There was no impact on the K index as of July 12 at 0900 UTC. "Sometimes there is a visible flare that isn't aimed at the Earth, so the effect isn't as great as one aimed right at us," he said. Meanwhile, Cook reports the solar flux jumped 10 points in one day. "This was not predicted because it's from a new event on the Sun, not an old area that we could expect to recur in 27.5 days," he explained. "The solar flux has been steady at 68 to 70 for a long time. A jump to 82 is quite an event." An earlier forecast from NOAA Space Environment Service Center had indicated that no geomagnetic disturbances were expected over the next month, and the solar flux had been predicted to remain right around 70. Likely effects, Cook says, are increased absorption and enhancement of north-south paths. VHFers also were hoping to take advantage of auroral propagation. Cook says the best bets during the summer for worldwide propagation are 20 meters during daylight--especially north-south paths--and 30 and 40 meters after dark. Sunspot numbers for June 27 through July 3 were 25, 24, 23, 23, 11, 13 and 13 respectively, with a mean of 18.9. The 10.7-cm flux was 71.4, 71.4, 70.9, 70.7, 70, 70.4, and 69 respectively, with a mean of 70.5. QST COVER PLAQUE WINNERS Here are the QST Cover Plaque awards for January through June, as determined by vote of the ARRL Board of Directors. Winners each receive a handsome, inscribed plaque bearing the cover of the issue in which their article appeared. January 1996 (p 46), "Remote Operation Comes Home," by Patty Winter, N6BIS February 1996 (p 39), "DSP--An Intuitive Approach," by Dave Hershberger, W9GR March 1996 (p 41), "Transoceanic Ducting at VHF and Above," by Emil Pocock, W3EP April 1996 (p 33), "Solar Power for Your Ham Station," by David C. Casler, KE0OG May 1996 (p 30), "Ill Winds Blow," by Jerry Herman, N3BDW (and Rick Palm, K1CE) June 1996 (p 38), "Electrical Safety," by Leonard VanProoyen, K8KWD IRA OTTO RHOADES, W9KPT, SK Otto Rhoades, W9KPT, of Sterling, Illinois--the international past president of the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials--International Inc (APCO)--died March 11, 1996, following several years of failing health. He was 84. Rhoades is credited with being the father of the Illinois State Police Emergency Radio Network. He belonged to QCWA and the Radio Club of America. A daughter, two sons and several grandchildren survive. The first I. Otto Rhoades Scholarship was awarded recently.--APCO Bulletin In Brief During the IARU HF World Championship contest this weekend, look for W1AW/3, operating from the QTH of Frank Donovan, W3LPL, in Glenwood Maryland. A team of East Coast contesters will handle operations. The member-society abbreviation, of course, is ARRL. (See ARRLWeb's Contest Calendar for contest details.) To mark the 150th anniversary of the Smithsonian Institution, NN3SI at the National Museum of American History in Washington, DC, will offer a special certificate/QSL for contacts August 10-11, 1996, 1400-2100 UTC. SSB, 40, 20 and 17 meters: 7250, 14250 and 18150 kHz, 5 kHz; CW, 40 and 20 meters, including 7100-7150 kHz; FM, 146.52 MHz. Additional schedule and frequency information will be announced that weekend.--Elliot Sivowitch, K3RJA The packet station aboard Mir has been confirmed as being inoperative by Shannon Lucid via voice on orbit 59150 on July 6 at 1840 UTC.--AMSAT News Service WeberSat-OSCAR-18 (WO-18) has experienced many software crashes recently. Efforts are under way by the command team to identify the cause and to make the appropriate corrections. The craft's controllers hope that WO-18 will be operational again very soon sending telemetry, photos, weekly whole orbit data (WOD), and light spectra of the Sun or Earth.--AMSAT News Service Jonathan Rosner, WO9S, was one of three University of Chicago faculty members to win a Faculty Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching. The awards honor outstanding teachers of graduate students. As a sideline to his teaching, Rosner, a professor of physics, was involved in re-establishing a club station at the university--in part to communicate with university researchers at South Pole Station in Antarctica.--Ken Hopper, N9VV CB Radio magazine has suspended publication. There will be no September 1996 issue. In letter to advertisers, Margaret Milanese, CB Radio's advertising manager, blamed "rapidly escalating production costs, particularly paper" for the move. Subscribers will get Popular Communications until publication of CB Radio resumes. Both magazines are products of CQ Communications Inc of Hicksville, New York. Price cuts are not just for cereal manufacturers anymore! Alinco has announced "sweeping price reductions to its dealers," effective July 1. The company says it's passing along savings resulting from a favorable dollar-yen exchange rate and from more efficient design and manufacturing techniques. Manufacturers suggested retail price (MSRP) cuts range from 4% to 17.5%. Maureen Pranghofer, KF0I, who'd been filling in for the recuperating Sister Alverna O'Laughlin, WA0SGJ, at HANDI-HAMS, was herself injured in an auto accident June 30. Maureen and her husband Paul both were hospitalized as a result of the mishap, which happened near Annandale, Minnesota, as the Pranghofers were returning from a family reunion. Paul broke an ankle and some ribs. They are in the same room at North Memorial Hospital, Robbinsdale, Minnesota. Maureen had just rejoined the staff at HANDI-HAMS, filling in for Sister Alverna, who was injured in an auto accident in May.--Pat Tice, WA0TDA, Manager, Courage HANDI-HAMS The Collins Division of Rockwell has opened a new World Wide Web site. The site--at http://www.cacd.rockwell.com/--includes a history of the Collins Radio Company that was incorporated by Art Collins, W0CXX, in 1933. Collins merged with Rockwell in 1973 (click on News, then History). Newfoundland-Labrador will become a new Canadian section on January 1, 1998. Earlier this year, the Radio Amateurs of Canada board announced it would make the change in an effort to address "the unique and special needs and aspirations" of the area.--RAC Kenya has issued its first novice license. The call sign 5Z4RAN went to Anand Raicha of Kisumu on June 13. The "N" suffix indicates the license class and will be dropped when the licensee upgrades. Anand's dad is Max Raicha, 5Z4MR, who has represented the Radio Society of Kenya at IARU meetings.--Radio Society of Kenya The Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) has launched a World Wide Web home page. The contents include news and information as well as an on-line book catalogue. Check it out at http://www.rsgb.org.uk/. An e-mail account, w1qsl@yccc.org, has been set up for anyone trying to reach the ARRL W1-QSL Bureau, sponsored by Yankee Clipper Contest Club. This is for incoming QSL cards only. For questions about outgoing QSLs, send e-mail to buro@arrl.org.--Tom Frenaye, K1KI The ARRL Letter is published by the American Radio Relay League, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax 860-594-0259. Rodney J. Stafford, KB6ZV, President; David Sumner, K1ZZ, Executive Vice President. Electronic edition circulation, Kathy Capodicasa, N1GZO, e-mail kcapodicasa@arrl.org. Editorial, Rick Lindquist, KX4V, e-mail rlindquist@arrl.org. Visit the ARRL Web page at http://www.arrl.org/. The purpose of The ARRL Letter is to provide the essential news of interest to active, organizationally minded radio amateurs faster than it can be disseminated by our official journal, QST. We strive to be fast, accurate and readable in our reporting. Material from The ARRL Letter may be reproduced in whole or in part, in any form, including photoreproduction and electronic databanks, provided that credit is given to The ARRL Letter and The American Radio Relay League. 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