Magazine Issues
| February 2010 |
| December 2009 |
| September 2009 |
Newsflash
| The March schedules for the W1AW and West Coast Qualifying Runs were inadvertently left out of the March issue of QST. The March schedules for W1AW are as follows: Friday, March 5 at 10 PM EST (Saturday, March 6 at 0300 UTC) for 10-25 WPM and Tuesday, March 16 at 7 PM EDT (2300 UTC) for 10-40 WPM. The West Coast Qualifying run will be transmitted by station K6KPH on Saturday, March 13 at 2 PM PDT (2200 UTC) for 10-35 WPM. The run will be transmitted simultaneously on 3581.5, 7047.5, 14047.5, 18097.5 and 21067.5 kHz. Link to this item |
The News
Written by Loyd C. Headrick
Beginning Monday, March 15, W1AW, the Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station, will alternate the digital modes used for its digital bulletin transmissions. While Baudot, PSK31 and MFSK16 still make up the digital mode complement, W1AW Station Manager Joe Carcia, NJ1Q, says that the schedule will be altered to give more exposure to PSK31 and MFSK16. "Because of time constraints and the varying lengths of digital bulletins, there were many instances where only Baudot was used," he said. "With the new schedule, amateurs preferring either PSK31 or MFSK16 will find these modes no longer secondary."
The regular callup will be made using the mode that is transmitted first. The digital bulletin times remain at 6 PM and 9 PM (Eastern Time) daily. The Tuesday and Friday Keplerian data bulletins will continue to be sent using just Baudot and PSK31.
The new digital schedule is as follows:
- Monday: Baudot, PSK31, MFSK16
- Tuesday: PSK31, MFSK16, Baudot
- Wednesday: MFSK16, Baudot, PSK31
- Thursday: Baudot, PSK31, MFSK16
- Friday: PSK31, Baudot, MFSK16
"Given time constraints and bulletin lengths, all three modes may not always be transmitted," Carcia explained. The complete W1AW schedule can be found on page 100 of the January issue of QST, or on the ARRL Web site.
Written by By ARRL ARDF Coordinator Joe Moell, K0OV
|
|
Click "Geeks in the woods!" That's how Jay Hennigan, WB6RDV, of Goleta, California, describes Amateur Radio Direction Finding (ARDF). Several times a year, Jay gets together with friends for a session of this international Amateur Radio sport -- also called foxtailing and radio-orienteering. California hams (and would-be hams!) arrive from cities as far away as San Diego, San Luis Obispo and Lancaster to these local events.
As they set out, five 2 meter "foxes" are somewhere in the woods, transmitting for one minute each in sequence. Armed with a special ARDF set or just a handheld transceiver with a measuring-tape Yagi and attenuator, they see how fast they can run or walk from the start to each transmitter in optimum order and then back to the start, or perhaps to a separate finish point. To help them navigate, they carry compasses and special orienteering maps, but they aren't allowed to have GPS displays or other high-tech navigation aids.
Standardized ARDF courses provide a good test of equipment performance and hunter skill. It's friendly competition combined with great exercise. It attracts "techies" and "jocks" of all ages, who don't need a ham license to get started. And for some, it leads to medals at national and international competitions.
Similar informal sessions take place regularly during weather-friendly months in other places around the country, including Albuquerque, Boston and Cincinnati. If there are no such opportunities in your area, why not get the ball rolling yourself? Read about the international rules and simple equipment then talk it up at your local radio club. A future championship foxtailer may be sitting there, waiting for your encouragement and support
Read more: Amateur Radio Direction Finding: Foxes, Fitness and Fun in 2010
More Articles...
Page 1 of 18
<< Start < Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next > End >>