Field Day Satellite Information
AMSAT Field Day 2013 – APRS ‘Droid app – AO-7
Every year AMSAT promotes a satellite version of Field Day during
the ARRL annual operating event which is held on the 4^th weekend in
June. This year Field Day will take place from 1800 UTC on Saturday
June 22, 2013 through 2100 UTC on Sunday June 23, 2013.
SaudiSat-Oscar-50 will be the only operational FM transponder
satellite this year. If you are considering only FM voice operating
for your AMSAT Field Day focus the single uplink/downlink channel
will be extremely challenging. As in prior years, this intense
congestion on FM LEO satellites drives the limitation in the rules
allowing their use to one-QSO-per-FM-satellite. This includes the
International Space Station. You will be allowed one QSO if the ISS
is operating Voice. You will also be allowed one digital QSO with the
ISS or any other digital, non-store-and-forward, packet satellite (if
operational).
If you have worked the satellites on Field Day in recent years, you
may have noticed a lot of good contacts can be made on the linear
transponder satellites including VO-52, FO-29, and AO-7. During Field
Day the transponders come alive like 20 meters on a weekend. The
transponders on these satellites will support multiple simultaneous
SSB or CW contacts.
The AMSAT Field Day 2013 event is open to all Amateur Radio
operators. Amateurs are to use the exchange as specified in ARRL
rules for Field Day. The AMSAT competition is to encourage the use of
all amateur satellites, both analog and digital.
For the complete listing of the AMSAT Field Day Rules please refer
to the documents posted on-line at:
http://www.amsatnet.com/2013fd.docx
http://www.amsatnet.com/2013fd.pdf
[ANS thanks AMSAT Director Contests and Awards, Bruce Paige, KK5DO
for the above information]
St. Louis Severe Weather Report Change
The NWS in St. louis had a direct lightning strike Saturday evening which resulted in the loss of several systems including the amateur radios used to receive reports on severe weather.
For the immediate future call the NWS directly at 636-447-1759 to report severe weather. Please forward this information to any other hams or individuals who have attended a weather spotter class.
We will update you on the status of the radios as soon as information is known.
73,
Cliff Rozar, KC0SDV
<kc0sdv@gmail.com>
Field Day Bulletin Schedule
As Field Day approaches, we will be bringing you information as it is released by the ARRL this week.
SB SPCL @ ARL $ARLX007
ARLX007 2013 W1AW Field Day Bulletin Schedule
ZCZC AX07
QST de W1AW
Special Bulletin 7 ARLX007
>From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT June 17, 2013
To all radio amateurs
SB SPCL ARL ARLX007
ARLX007 2013 W1AW Field Day Bulletin Schedule
Day Mode Pacific Mountain Central Eastern UTC
FRIDAY CW 5:00 PM 6:00 PM 7:00 PM 8:00 PM 0000 (Sat)
Digital 6:00 PM 7:00 PM 8:00 PM 9:00 PM 0100
Phone 6:45 PM 7:45 PM 8:45 PM 9:45 PM 0145
CW 8:00 PM 9:00 PM 10:00 PM 11:00 PM 0300
SATURDAY CW 7:00 AM 8:00 AM 9:00 AM 10:00 AM 1400
Phone 8:00 AM 9:00 AM 10:00 AM 11:00 AM 1500
CW 5:00 PM 6:00 PM 7:00 PM 8:00 PM 0000 (Sun)
Digital 6:00 PM 7:00 PM 8:00 PM 9:00 PM 0100
Phone 6:45 PM 7:45 PM 8:45 PM 9:45 PM 0145
SUNDAY CW 7:00 AM 8:00 AM 9:00 AM 10:00 AM 1400
Phone 8:00 AM 9:00 AM 10:00 AM 11:00 AM 1500
Digital 9:00 AM 10:00 AM 11:00 AM 12:00 PM 1600
K6KPH Field Day Bulletin Schedule
SATURDAY CW 7:30 AM 8:30 AM 9:30 AM 10:30 AM 1403
CW 5:30 PM 6:30 PM 7:30 PM 8:30 PM 0030 (Sun)
Digital 6:30 PM 7:30 PM 8:30 PM 9:30 PM 0130
SUNDAY CW 7:30 AM 8:30 AM 9:30 AM 10:30 AM 1430
Digital 9:30 AM 10:30 AM 11:30 AM 12:30 AM 1630
W1AW will operate on its regularly published frequencies.
CW frequencies are 1.8025, 3.5815, 7.0475, 14.0475, 18.0975,
21.0675, 28.0675 and 147.555 MHz.
Digital frequencies are 3.5975, 7.095, 14.095, 18.1025, 21.095,
28.095 and 147.555 MHz.
Phone frequencies are 1.855, 3.990, 7.290, 14.290, 18.160, 21.390,
28.590 and 147.555 MHz.
W1AW will transmit the Field Day bulletin using 45.45-baud Baudot,
PSK31 in BPSK mode and MFSK16.
The Maritime Radio Historical Society station K6KPH will transmit
the W1AW Field Day 2013 bulletin for the benefit of West Coast
stations on 3.5815, 7.0475, 14.0475, 18.0975 and 21.0675 MHz using
CW.
K6KPH will transmit the Field Day bulletin using Baudot, FEC AMTOR,
BPSK31 and MFSK16 on 7.095 and 14.095 MHz.
The K6KPH schedule is accurate as of June 17, 2013.
Any additional transmissions or changes in the schedule will be
posted on the web at,
<http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Field-Day/2013/2013w1awsked.pdf>.
Send a Field Day Message to the ARRL Section Manager
2013 ARRL Midwest Convention Update
This update comes to us from Ron Lowrance, K4SX
Good morning. As some of you know, I have been busy participating as a member of the convention committee for this year’s ARRL Convention, November 8 & 9, Cowan Civic Center, Lebanon, MO.
I am pleased to announce we are making terrific progress and the convention structure in place. I would encourage you to take a minute and “double click” on the weblink below and take a look at the presentation overview of the convention. Just “click” on each slide to move the presentation forward. You will see that we have an absolutely fantastic program scheduled at a terrific venue.
Oh I forgot to mention; there is NO admission charge to attend the convention! It’s FREE!
Please assist me in getting the word out by letting your friends know about the convention.
Thanks and 73,
Ron Lowrance, K4SX
<k4sx@centurytel.net>
FCC Moving to End Illegal Radio Sales
The FCC cited a Omaha, Nebraska-based online retailer for marketing unauthorized RF devices including 10 and 12 meter amplifiers capable of putting out up to 8200 Watts in violation of FCC rules. An FCC Citation and Order dated June 6 orders Enterprise Group Inc, doing business as ePowerAmps, to immediately stop advertising, marketing and selling “all unauthorized radio frequency devices, specifically modified Citizens Band (CB) radios and non-certified radio frequency (RF) amplifiers for use in the 10-12 meter bands.” The FCC says continuing to engage in such conduct could subject the retailer to substantial fines and seizure of equipment.
In response to the citation’s release, ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, says it is reassuring evidence of the FCC’s commitment to enforcement related to Amateur Radio. “It is gratifying to see the Commission’s Enforcement Bureau taking action against flagrant violators,” he commented. The Amateur Radio community has long complained about interference, mainly on 10 meters, from unlicensed CBers and and so-called “HFers.” The FCC once banned the sale of amplifiers capable of operating above 24 MHz, a move that some considered misguided and punitive to Amateur Radio licensees.
The FCC C&O described ePowerAmps as “an online retailer of CB and amateur radios, linear amplifiers, and radio accessories, which specializes in the ‘customization of radios.’” The FCC also said the retailer offered various modifications and upgrades for 35 makes and models of FCC-certified CB radios. These included swapping out the original final amplifier for a higher-powered replacement. Other mods expanded the authorized frequency range of a CB to include what it called the “26 MHz range and the upper 27 MHz range.” Linear amplifiers offered for sale varied between 120 W and 8200 W and ranged in price from around $140 to nearly $2600, the Commission said, adding none of the 50 linears offered for sale appear to have FCC certification.
The FCC called on ePowerAmps to confirm “in writing” that it has stopped marketing unauthorized RF devices and to provide certain information to the commission within 30 days of the C&O. The information request, contained in a non-public appendix to the C&O, seeks to determine ePowerAmps’ “external RF power amplifier suppliers and sales, as well as the disposition of its illegal inventory,” the Commission said. The FCC gave the retailer 30 days to respond to the C&O or challenge the FCC’s findings.
Digital Voice
This post comes to us from Ken Shubert, K0KS
During my first exposure to Ham radio, SSB was a new and misunderstood mode, somewhat like Digital Voice today. Few stations had product-detectors and most tried to copy with a BFO and a 12KHz bandwidth. The AM Ops were really opposed to this mode and said it was “A mode of transmission whereby the carrier is removed and only the distortion is transmitted. SSB stations were often jammed by AMers putting carriers right in the passband. With experimentation and improvements in equipment, SSB with reduced bandwidth, did become the standard.
So 50 years later we’re seeing the same situation. Most Hams can’t copy DV and many just operate right on top of it because it sounds like noise. Some say it’s “broad as a barn” but the truth is that it’s drastically reduced bandwidth. Even the FCC won’t accept it as a “digital mode” and it must be used in the phone band only.
Digital voice has been hampered by the lack of standards and the use of proprietary codecs making equipment between manufacturers incompatible. FreeDV finally breaks that barrier and can eventually be implemented in SDR radios with dedicated hardware/firmware. It won’t be necessary to carry a PC around with your HT! Major manufacturers oppose anything FREE when they can sell you a proprietary box that can only communicate with their brand and manufacturers don’t seem to even notice DV on HF at all.
FreeDV is operational on this computer, but I haven’t had much success. SSB wasn’t very successful the first time I tried it either, but it was a chance to pioneer a new and exciting mode.
FreeDV can be used on VHF or UHF locally for experiments, but I live in a “black-hole” for progress and nobody seems interested.
Like the Nike ads say: “JUST DO IT”
Benton County ARES Picnic
The Benton County ARES invites everyone to attend our 3rd annual picnic, to be held June 8th. The location will be the QTH of Rick Wade, KD0CNC:
18877 Baptist Ridge Road, Warsaw, MO 65355
Talk-in on the 146.925- PL 107.2 repeater.
We have lots of door prizes and give-aways, and we’ll be selling raffle tickets for a Yaesu FT-1900 mobile rig and a Wouxun HT. Everyone usually ends up with some kind of goodie! Some of our members will be flying RC planes, too.
Rick will be grilling hamburgers and hotdogs, so bring a side dish to share and a chair. The regular ARES meeting will be held around 9am and lunch will be ready between 12 and 1.
For maps and other info go to <http://www.bentoncountyares.org>
ARRL Comments on Proposed Expansion of 5 GHz Unlicensed Broadband
Observing that “a decision in the near term with respect to the addition of [unlicensed National Information Infrastructure] U-NII devices to the 5.85-5.925 GHz band would be premature,” the ARRL has commented in response to an FCC Notice of Proposed Rule Making (ET Docket No. 13-49) that proposes to authorize U-NII use of an additional 195 MHz of spectrum in the 5.35-5.47 GHz and 5.85-5.925 GHz bands. The Commission was obligated, pursuant to Section 6406(a) of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (Public Law No. 112-96), to begin a proceeding to allow U-NII devices in the 5.35-5.47 GHz band. As the ARRL comments note, “There is no legislative obligation, however, to make available the 5.85-5.925 GHz band for U-NII use.”
The Amateur Radio Service has a longstanding secondary allocation of 5.65-5.925 GHz, with an amateur-satellite uplink band at 5.65-5.67 GHz and a downlink at 5.83-5.85 GHz. In its 14-page filing, the ARRL traces the history of “a continuing series of overlays” to which the band has been subjected over the past 16 years, progressively reducing the utility of the amateur allocation. In 1999, the Commission allocated 5.85-5.925 GHz for direct vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-roadside, or “Dedicated Short Range Communications” (DSRC). Amateurs may continue to operate in this segment, but only to the extent that they do not interfere with DSRC operations. In support of its argument that the introduction of U-NII into this segment would be premature, the ARRL observes that “…a U-NII overlay at the present time requires a good deal of compatibility analysis, none of which has been completed to date.”
The full text of the ARRL’s comments is available on the web in PDF format at,
<http://www.arrl.org/files/media/News/ARRL_5_GHz_Docket_13-49_Comments.pdf>.
The comments were filed on the deadline date of May 28, 2013.
Reply comments are due by June 24.
USS Missouri Amateur Radio
Beginning 0000Z June 1 through 2359Z June 2, 2013 102 ships, including the USS Missouri (KH6BB), will be participating in the Museum Ships Weekend. The purpose of the Museum Ships Weekend is to work as many Museum ships as possible. If you work a total of 15 ships you are eligible to receive a certificate from the Sponser. Other stations include Aircraft Carriers, Battleships, Cruisers, Destroyers, and Submarines. For more details about the ships, frequencies, and certificate information visit the Battleship New Jersey Amateur Radio Club web site.
