February 28, 2007 by kb3ljm.

ARRL Western Washington Section Manager Ed Bruette, N7NVP, is seeking support from his section’s members for a bill that would exempt Amateur Radio repeater owners from having to pay a substantial excise tax based on the commercial value of the repeater’s site. Bruette says the problem arose from a new interpretation of the Washington tax code by the state’s Department of Revenue that includes repeater site leaseholds.

Full story: http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2007/02/27/101/?nc=1

Posted in ARRL Web Extra | Comments Off

February 28, 2007 by kb3ljm.

The FCC Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) has announced modified hours for Universal Licensing System (ULS) Customer Support Hotline. Online customer support remains available 24/7 on the FCC Web site. The ULS includes the Amateur Radio Service licensee database. Effective March 5, customers will be able to reach the FCC ULS Customer Support Hotline Monday through Friday (excepting federal holidays) from 8 AM until 6 PM Eastern Time. Among other things, ULS Customer Support is a resource for those with technical concerns or with questions about which application purpose is appropriate for a particular filing, the information a particular ULS form or schedule requests and FCC Registration Number (FRN) password issues. Contact ULS Customer Support at (877) 480-3201, option 2 (toll-free); (888) 225-5322, option 2 (toll-free) or (717) 338-2888. TTY service is available at (717) 338-2824.Full Story: http://www.arrl.org/?artid=7242

Posted in ARRL Web Extra | Comments Off

February 23, 2007 by kb3ljm.

The Space Sciences Laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley, has signed up more than 1 million Volunteers worldwide in a search for extraterrestrial intelligence. They’ve found no aliens yet, but they have at least turned up one missing laptop. 

Full article http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/space/2007-02-21-seti-laptop_x.htm

Posted in USA Today | Comments Off

February 23, 2007 by kb3ljm.

Clive G3CWV reported that during the period 23 January to 14 February OSCAR 11 was heard with good steady signals. To investigate the on-board clock’s hour problem Clive would welcome some telemetry from different parts of the world, at times when the orbits do not pass over the UK. 

 Full article at http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/news/

Posted in AMSAT | Comments Off

February 23, 2007 by kb3ljm.

Here is a ground floor opportunity for amateur radio operators interested in experimenting with Software Defined Radio. This week TAPR announced production plans of the High Performance Software Defined Radio (HPSDR) Janus and Ozy boards.

Full article at http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/news/

Posted in AMSAT | Comments Off

February 23, 2007 by kb3ljm.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, A6.

Ghis, A61NT has been active on 30 meters around 1400z and 17 meters around 0900z. QSL via ON5NT.

COMOROS, D6.

Vlad, UA4WHX is QRV as D60VB. His length of stay is unknown. QSL to home call.

SUDAN, ST.

Jovica, ST2A plans to be active on 80 meters at varioustimes from Thursday through Saturday. QSL via T93Y.

VIET NAM, XV.

Rolf, SM5MX is QRV as XV9SW from Hanoi. Activity is mainly on 20 and 15 meters using CW. QSL to home call.

NIUE, ZK2.

Yoshi, JJ8DEN is QRV as ZK2PR. His length of stay is unknown. Activity is mostly on 30, 17 and 15 meters using CW and RTTY. QSL to home call.

Full article at http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/dx/2007-arld008.html

Posted in ARRL DX BULLETIN | Comments Off

February 23, 2007 by kb3ljm.

March 22

RSGB 80m Club Champ. SSB

Mar. 24-25

CQ WW WPX Contest, SSB

March 25

UBA Spring Contest, 2 m

March 26

QRP Homebrew Sprint

Mar 31-Apr 1

QCWA Spring QSO Party

April 2

RSGB 80m Club Champ. CW

Apr 3-5

YLRL DX-YL to NA YL, CW

April 5

SARL 80m QSO Party

Apr 7-8

SP DX Contest
Missouri QSO Party
EA RTTY Contest

April 8

UBA Spring Contest, SSB
SARL Hamnet 40 m contest

April 9

144 MHz Spring Sprint

Apr 10-12

YLRL DX to NA Contest, SSB

April 11

RSGB 80m Club Champ. SSB
NAQCC Straight Key/Bug Sprint

Apr 14-15

JIDX Contest, CW
Georgia QSO Party

April 14

EU Spring Sprint, CW

April 16

Run for Bacon QRP Contest

April 17

222 MHz Spring Sprint

April 19

RSGB 80m Club Champ., Data

April 21

ES Open HF Championship

April 21-22

Ontario QSO Party
YU DX Contest

April 25

432 MHz Spring Sprint
Apr 28-29

SP DX RTTY Contest
Helvetia Contest
Florida QSO Party

See more at http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html

Posted in WA7BNM Contest Calendar | Comments Off

February 23, 2007 by kb3ljm.

Debra Johnson, K1DMJ, has been named to the newly created position of ARRL Education Services Manager. An Amateur Extra class licensee, Johnson has worked for 4-1/2 years in the League’s Development Office, where she currently serves as operations manager. She’ll begin her new responsibilities March 12.

http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2007/02/22/103/?nc=1

Posted in ARRL Web Extra | Comments Off

February 23, 2007 by kb3ljm.

A new ARRL band chart reflecting all changes to the FCC Amateur Radio Service rules as of February 23, 2007, is available for downloading on the ARRL Web site in either black and white or color versions. Created by ARRL Senior Technical Illustrator, Dave Pingree, N1NAS, the attractive new chart represents amajor change from earlier designs. This is the same chart featured in the eight-page “Welcome” tear-out section in March QST (following page 48). The entire QST tearout also is available for downloading in PDF format.

http://www.arrl.org/?artid=7232

Posted in ARRL Web Extra | Comments Off

February 23, 2007 by kb3ljm.

The FCC has rejected the petition of Ronald W. Moody, K9RWM, of Colfax, Wisconsin, to reconsider its dismissal of his 2006 vanity call sign application. Last April, Moody sought to obtain K9RM. The Commission denied his application, however, because the Universal Licensing System (ULS) showed the call sign as unavailable because the license had expired less than two years earlier.

Full story: http://www.arrl.org/?artid=7233

Posted in ARRL Web Extra | Comments Off