Archive for March 2008

Satellite Shorts From All Over [AMSAT]

March 28, 2008 by kb3ljm.

AMSAT Notes Passing of Arthur C. Clarke

March 28, 2008 by kb3ljm.

This week marked the passing of Arthur C. Clarke, author of more than 100 published books in which he foresaw the future of technology, promoted the possibilities of human innovation and exploration and combined these with the ability to explain these to non-scientific readers.

The most famous example is from 1945, when he first proposed the idea of communications satellites that could be based in geostationary orbits, which keep satellites in a fixed position relative to the ground.
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Iowa airport offers free phone calls

March 28, 2008 by kb3ljm.

From USA TODAY’s Airport Check-in column: “Last fall, Iowa’s Sioux Gateway Airport gave up trying to jettison the SUX airport identifier code and embraced it. T-shirts, caps and, now, coffee mugs, luggage tags and bumper stickers sport the ‘Fly SUX’ slogan. There was even a Valentine’s Day ‘Luv SUX’ T-shirt. ‘People have been buying this stuff online, at a downtown store and at the gift shop in the airport,’ says airport director Rick McElroy, who adds that the airport allows 30 minutes of free parking to accommodate shoppers.”

“Now, the airport has removed all seven of its leased payphones and replaced them with four phones that let callers make free local and toll-free calls. ‘No one was really using the pay phones anyway,’ McElroy says. ‘These days, most people use their cellphones. But now people are using the free phones for local calls instead of burning up their cell minutes.’ ”

http://blogs.usatoday.com/sky/2008/03/airport-chec-11.html

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FCC Fines Colorado Company for Selling “Non-Certified CB Transceivers”

March 28, 2008 by kb3ljm.

On Friday, March 21, the FCC released a Forfeiture Order in the amount of $7000 to CB Shop and More in Loveland, Colorado for “willful and repeated violations of Section 302(b) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (Act), and Section 2.803(a)(1) of the Commission’s Rules.” According to the FCC, CB Shop and More was selling a “non-certified Citizens Band (’CB’) transceiver.”

http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2008/03/26/10025/?nc=1

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Motorola To Split Into Two Companies

March 28, 2008 by kb3ljm.

Motorola Inc. on Wednesday said its board of directors OK’d a plan to break the conglomerate into two independent, publicly-traded companies. One company will focus on its mobile devices business, and the other will specialize in broadband and mobility solutions. Based on current plans, the creation of the two stand-alone businesses is expected to take the form of a tax-free distribution to Motorola’s shareholders, subject to further financial, tax and legal analysis. “Our decision to separate our Mobile Devices and Broadband & Mobility Solutions businesses follows a review process undertaken by our management team and Board of Directors, together with independent advisors,” said Greg Brown, Motorola’s president and chief executive officer. “Creating two industry-leading companies will provide improved flexibility, more tailored capital structures, and increased management focus - as well as more targeted investment opportunities for our shareholders.”

http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/industries/technology/article/motorola-split-companies_534005_12.html

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HF with FFT-TV

March 28, 2008 by kb3ljm.

From: http://www.southgatearc.org/news/march2008/fft_tv.htm

I received an email a very interesting email from WA6NUT. I had never heard of FFT-TV until he brought it up. Here is his email:

Hello Bryon, N6IFU,
Congratulations on your ATV Newsletter (I look forward to each issue). And your “Everything you Wanted to Know…” book on ATV is very helpful, too. Read the rest of this entry »

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N2Y / N2J Special Event with a Hitch!

March 21, 2008 by kb3ljm.

N2Y and N2J will be the Special Event call signs used for this year’s special event honoring the precious lives that were lost and giving thanks to the world that stood by us in time of need while this tragic event shattered lives throughout the globe. Let us not forget the lives that were taken during the first attack on the World Trade Center in 1993. This is for them as well!
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Microsoft posts free service pack for Vista fixes

March 21, 2008 by kb3ljm.

Microsoft posted a major package of updates and security fixes for its Windows Vista operating system for download starting Tuesday.

People whose PCs run the newest Microsoft operating system can use Microsoft’s Windows Update tool or visit its Download Center website and download the free Service Pack 1. In some cases, computer users may need to download older updates before they’ll be able to install SP1.
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ARRL DX Bulletin 2008 #13

March 21, 2008 by kb3ljm.

SVALBARD, JW.
Operators PE1L and PA0ZH are QRV as JW/home calls until June 15. Activity is on 6 meters. QSL via operators’ instructions.

APPROVED FOR DXCC CREDIT.
TX5C, Clipperton Island. VP6DX, Ducie Island. Both are 2008 operations.

http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/dx/2008-arld013.html

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Emirates says it’s the first airline to allow cellphone calls

March 21, 2008 by kb3ljm.

Emirates says in a press release this afternoon that it has become “the first airline in the world to commercially launch an in-flight mobile telephone service, affording even greater convenience to passengers wishing to stay connected while traveling. The first authorized mobile phone call made from a commercial flight was made today at 30,000 feet en route to Casablanca, onboard an Emirates Airbus A340-300 aircraft — the first in the airline’s fleet to be equipped with the AeroMobile system.” Emirates CEO Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum says: “As the world leader in innovation for our customers, we are delighted to now offer them the choice of using their own mobile phones to contact friends, family or colleagues while flying with us.”
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