December 20, 2007 by kb3ljm.

The solar physics community is abuzz this week. No, there haven’t been any great eruptions or solar storms. The source of the excitement is a modest knot of magnetism that popped over the sun’s eastern limb on Dec. 11th, pictured below in a pair of images from the orbiting Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO).

It may not look like much, but “this patch of magnetism could be a sign of the next solar cycle,” says solar physicist David Hathaway of the Marshall Space Flight Center.

For more than a year, the sun has been experiencing a lull in activity, marking the end of Solar Cycle 23, which peaked with many furious storms in 2000–2003. “Solar minimum is upon us,” he says.

The big question now is, when will the next solar cycle begin?
Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Miscellaneous | Comments Off

December 20, 2007 by kb3ljm.

Ameritron builds the most popular RF linear amplifiers on the market today. Come with us behind the scenes to see what’s inside them and how they are built. It’s the Ameritron Amplifier factory tour, where you will learn all about these tube type and solid state amplifiers.

Enjoy this 28:30 of Ham radio fun for your Christmas holiday viewing.

Episodes may be downloaded or watched at either Google Video, Youtube or: http://www.amateurlogic.com

http://www.eham.net/articles/18223

Posted in Miscellaneous | Comments Off

December 20, 2007 by kb3ljm.

The ARRL DXCC Desk is pleased to announce the addition of St Barthelemy (FJ) to the DXCC List, making the island entity number 338 with an effective date of 14 December, 2007. Cards with contacts dated December 14, 2007 or after will be accepted for DXCC credit. New card submissions for St Barthelemy will not be accepted until January 1, 2008 in order to allow time for administrative adjustments.

http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2007/12/19/100/?nc=1

Posted in DXCC, ARRL Web Extra | Comments Off