PlanetHam.org

We're still looking at a quiet Sun, but currently a solar wind is disturbing Earth's magnetic field. 6 meter operators - after enjoying a fine season of sporadic E propagation this Summer - may see some added excitement from auroral propagation

The joint RSGB / UKuG / AMSAT-UK / BATC response to the MoD Spectrum Consultation is now available on the RSGB website

On the 26th September 2008, a new EU directive comes into force preventing the importation of Ni-Cd and other batteries into Europe

The American Radio Relay League's round-up of the forthcoming week's DX activity

The Heritage Open Days are on Saturday 13th, and Sunday 14th September and, once again, the wonderful little museum in Hemel Hempstead's Old Town will be opening its doors for visitors to enjoy the eclectic collection of early technology

Tropical Storm Hanna is expected to make landfall in North Carolina in the late afternoon/early evening Friday

A new D-Star repeater is now operational in Terceira Island, Azores

The UK Ministry of Defence spectrum consultation closes on 5th September and a number of responses are now appearing on the MoD website

This must rank as one of the worst weeks since I started writing this column. Even the weekend was really bad

The Citrus Belt Amateur Radio Club of San Bernardino, California, will host probably one of the most fun special event activities - the 9th annual 'Route 66 On The Air' special event between September 13-21st

On September 13 and 14, radio amateurs are invited to the 53rd VHF Convention in Weinheim, Germany

DXCC has announced the issue of award number 1 on 70cm EME (432 MHz) to Jan Bruinier, DL9KR

The Loughton and Epping Forest Amateur Radio Society (LEFARS) will be on the air with GB2EFF on Sunday 7th September

It is that time again to participate in DX Magazine's annual 'Most Wanted' Survey

Four years into its ten-year journey to reach a comet, the European spacecraft Rosetta has been awakened to moonlight as an asteroid probe

EICTA, the European digital technology industry Association, in cooperation with the European Broadcasting Union and WorldDMB, has launched a major initiative aimed at achieving harmonised and interoperable digital radio services across Europe

The crew of VK9DWX wants to invite two young hams who have a passion for Ham Radio, DXing and contesting to take part in the DXpedition to Willis Island in October this year

IARU Region 2 has issued a report on the recent Executive Committee meeting held in Panama City on 30/31 August

Weekly IOTA News - compiled by the Deutscher Amateur Radio Club

In August, Iran moved closer to acheiving it's own satellite launch capability

The Gatwick Radio Weekend takes place on the 6/7th September and the Vintage Operating Group (VOG) invite you join them on site or on the air

The HF Convention is being held at the Wyboston Lakes Centre in Bedfordshire in October, with 4 lecture streams covering a wide range of topics

Many have been wondering what the status with regard to the Republic of Kosovo is as of today, both in general and in amateur radio terms specifically

The counting of sunspot numbers was once an academic exercise but has today become politicised in the debate over climate

The New Zealand regulator the Ministry of Economic Development (MED) has released a consultation paper seeking views on future regulatory arrangements for high-capacity, short-haul, point-to-point linking in the 70-90 GHz band. These links are suitable for supporting high speed data rates of up to 1 Gbit/s

German criminal investigators have seized a substantial amount of electronic equipment from the Internationale Funkausstellung (IFA) in Berlin. The items seized include at least 170 TV sets, 140 MP3 players, 60 DVD recorders and 43 car radios

NODXA member Goose, W8AV, will be on the Island of Curacao (SA-006, WLOTA LH-0942) from the PJ2T Signal Point station signing PJ2/W8AV, September 3-10th

On Saturday 30 August 2008 at 13:50 UTC, the Schulehaus Feld 1 in Richterswil, Switzerland, established a telebridge contact with US astronaut Greg Chamitoff, KD5PKZ, on board the International Space Station, via the ARISS Ground Station VK4KHZ

Radio Amateurs of Canada have issued another bulletin on Hurricane Gustav, which is expected make landfall today

As a result of an initiative by the Irish Radio Transmitters Society (IRTS), Irish regulator ComReg raised the question of the inclusion of a mention of allocations to the amateur service in the region of 70 MHz in the European Common Allocations table

AO-51 continues to wow the satellite community. It is now being used as a test bed for Earth stations

The International Radio Emergency Support Coalition (IRESC) has listed frequencies in use for Hurricane Gustav relief efforts

The SARL-HMO 40-metre beacon programme is soon to end its pilot status and will be ready to be rolled out

Weekly IOTA News - compiled by OPDX

The VoIP Hurricane Net will do a call up of Northern Gulf US stations on Sunday August 31st at 8 PM ET/7 PM CT [Sept 1st 0000 UT] with full activation to commence Monday morning [ET] potentially lasting well into Tuesday

You can now download the directory of French Ham radio and a list of French Radio clubs in a single file

The five-satellite RapidEye Earth observation constellation was successfully launched onboard a Dnepr rocket from Baikonur, Kazakhstan at 0715 UT on Friday 29th August

A look back at events that made history this week - compiled by the Summerland Amateur Radio Club of Lismore, NSW

The Hurricane Watch Net is operating on 7.100, and has requested that the frequency be kept clear during Hurricane Gustav

Devices that try to use the electrical mains wiring to transfer data or provide Internet connections can cause interference to radios over a wide area. A new video highlighting this problem is now available

The South African regulator ICASA recently published the revised table of frequency allocations, a process that is mandated by the Electronic Communication Act. The SARL has studied the table and has submitted its comments to the regulator

Hundreds of ham radio lovers gathered in Denver, North Carolina on Saturday for the country's second-largest ham radio festival

In this 3-minute audio file, Dean Willis, MW6VHF, tells BBC Radio Wales' Hugh Turnbull that the internet has failed to change his life as a radio ham

On Wednesday, 3 September Radio Sweden will be celebrating its 70th birthday with special broadcasts, a panel discussion, and live music

The DX Magazine 2008 Most Wanted Survey is now up and running, but needs your input

As of Friday, although Tropical Storm Gustav is still several days away from landfall on the US mainland, disaster preparations are being rolled out along the Gulf Coast

Members of the Sands Contest Group and Workington Amateur Radio Society are combining to activate the Isle of Jura, EU-008 from the 22nd to the 29th of September this year

During the HF Convention 2008 over the weekend of 10 to 12 October, you will be able to join with other operators and listen to a simulated CW pile-up

This weekend, the RSGB competitors in the 14th ARDF World Championships fly out to Korea for the competition

For four days earlier this month, members of Asia's information and communications technology (ICT) sector convened at ITU Telecom Asia, focusing on core issues relating to ICT expansion across the region. The event featured the latest technologies and innovations -- including Amateur Radio -- as well as an extensive forum that explored key technologies, policies and applications.

DX News -- ARRL DX Bulletin #37:

ZCZC AE37
QST de W1AW
DX Bulletin 37 ARLD037
>From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT September 4, 2008
To all radio amateurs

SB DX ARL ARLD037
ARLD037 DX news

This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by NC1L, PA3DEU, TA3YJ, QRZ DX, the OPDX Bulletin, DXNL, 425 DX News, The Daily DX, Contest Corral from QST and the ARRL Contest Calendar and WA7BNM web sites. Thanks to all.

ALGERIA, 7X. Mirek, VK6DXI is QRV as 7X0DX until September 11 in his spare time while on business here. Mirek, is currently on a business trip in Algeria until September 11th. Activity is on the HF bands. QSL via DL4DBR.

PORTUGAL, CT. Look for special call CS8REP to be on September 6 and 7 during the Portugal Field Day 2008. Activity will be on the HF and VHF bands. QSL via CT1REP.

IRAN, EP. Mohammed, EP4MRG has been active on 20 meters around 0500 and then 1645z.

GUADELOUPE, FG. Dom, F6EPO will be QRV as FG/F6EPO from September 7 to 27. Activity will be on 40, 30, 20 and 15 meters using CW and QRP Power. QSL to home call.

ENGLAND, G. Nilay, TA3YJ and Berkin, TA3J will be QRV as M/homecalls from London from September 10 to 17. QSL via TA3YJ.

GUERNSEY, GU. Look for operators G3SJJ, G3SVL, G3ZQH, GU4CHY and GU4EON to be QRV as GU4CHY/p in the RSGB/IARU Region 1 SSB Field Day. Activity is on 80 to 10 meters. QSL via operators' instructions.

MARIANA ISLANDS, KH0. Satoshi, JQ1OCR, is QRV as KH0/N2QP from Saipan, IOTA OC-086, until September 8. This includes an entry in the All Asian DX Phone contest. QSL direct to JQ1OCR.

BONAIRE, CURACAO, PJ2. Viaceslav, LY4F is QRV as PJ2/LY4F from Curacao, IOTA SA-006, until September 18. QSL via LY1FF.

GREECE, SV. Dick, PA3DEU is QRV as SV8/PA3DEU/p/qrp from Alonissos Island, IOTA EU-072, until September 14. Activity is currently on 20 meters using CW. QSL to home call.

TUVALU, T2. Aki, JA1KAJ is QRV as T209DX until September 8. Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY and possibly SSTV and PSK31. This includes an entry in the All Asian SSB DX contest. QSL to home call.

PALAU, T8. JH1UUT will be QRV as T88DB in All Asian SSB DX contest. Activity is on 80 to 10 meters.
ASIATIC RUSSIA, UA0. Serge, UA9MC has been active on 30 meters around 0130z. QSL direct.

NAMIBIA, V5. Gus, V51XG has been active on 30 meters around 2100z.

CAMBODIA, XU. Yuichi, 7K3BKY is QRV as XU7YYY until September 8 and is primarily active on the newer bands. He may be an entry in the All Asian SSB DX contest. QSL direct.

TOKELAU ISLANDS, ZK3. Willi, DJ7RJ and Ulrich, DL2AH are QRV as ZK3MW and ZK3AH, respectively, for at least three weeks. QSL to home calls.

THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The North American CW Sprint, All Asian DX Phone Contest, NCCC Sprint, International G3ZQS Memorial Straight Key Contest, Russian World Wide RTTY Contest, Wake-Up. QRP CW Sprint, RSGB SSB Field Day, AGCW Straight Key Party, IARU Region 1 SSB Field Day, DARC 10-Meter Digital Contest and the Tennessee QSO Party will certainly keep contesters busy this upcoming weekend. September QST, page 76 and the ARRL and WA7BNM contest web sites for details.
NNNN
/EX

Source: W1AW Bulletin via the ARRL.

We're still looking at a quiet sun, but currently a solar wind is disturbing the Earth's magnetic field. Six meter operators -- after enjoying a fine season of sporadic E propagation this summer -- may see some added excitement from auroral propagation. Check here for updated indicators.

Sep 13-14, 2008 -- Austria -- 4U1VIC -- QSL: Auto Buro -- Source: OE3GCU (Sep 5, 2008) -- By OE1AWB OE3BLB OE1RKS OE1DWC OE3SGU OE3GCU for the WAE SSB Contest; fm the Vienna International Centre

This week, Surfin’ skims the Internet for information about CW Skimmer, an impressive Morse code decoder application.

On the 26th September 2008, a new EU directive comes into force preventing the importation of Ni-Cd and other batteries into Europe.

Ni-Cd batteries will only be available until our UK stocks are exhausted. alternative types of battery for current equipment has been available for some time, so there should be no problem in finding an subsitute. For older equipment where Ni-Cd was the only type of battery available, replacments may not be available.

Care should be taken to ensure you have the appropriate charger for alternative battery technology that is used for your equipment.

Please dispose of your Ni-Cds safely. Most municipal recycling centres have facilities for the disposal of batteries, and you may also be able to leave the defective batteries with your replacement supplier for disposal.

Should you require any further advice please email us at the address below.
Icom: info@icomuk.co.uk

Is the U.S. next?

Word on the street is that the National Institue of Standards and Technology is close to signing a Lease Management Agreement with Clear Channel Communications, Inc. for its flagship Time and Frequency station WWV, Fort Collins, Colorado.

Clear Channel Radio's consultants have demanded some changes to the sound of the station, which broadcasts time of day, standard frequency, and other information 24 hours per day, saying that the old format is "dull and predictable."

Additionally, WWV's traditional modulation level of 50 percent for the steady tones, 50 percent for the BCD time code and 75 percent for the voice announcements was deemed "not loud enough." The station will reformulate itself as "The Tick."

WWV's program director Hickory Zeitgeist says that the station has already added some snappy new announcements to the rotation, which can be heard by clicking the clock.

Hear the new WWV, at "The Tick"

This Week's Top News On Amateur Radio Newsline(tm)

* HAMS RESPOND TO THE THREAT OF HURRICANE GUSTAV
* HAM RADIO MAKES READY FOR HURRICANE HANNA
* JARL OFFERS TO HOST GAREC 2009
* AUSTRALIA TO GET NEW FREQUENCY ALLOCATION PLAN
* IARU REGION 2 MEETS IN PANAMA
* IARU REGION 3 MEETS IN JAPAN
* BANGLADESH TO SPONSOR IOTA OPERATION THIS WINTER
* A DXPEDITION TO FIGHT CANCER
* VK9WDX INVITING YOUNG HAMS ON WILLIS ISLAND OPERATION
* MEET THE TICK
* PLUS LOTS MORE.....

Get it at http://www.arnewsline.org/

News for the week in Amateur Radio for the week ending 5 September, 2008. Visit Amateur Radio Newsline at the only official website at http://www.arnewsline.org

This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by NC1L, PA3DEU, TA3YJ, QRZ DX, the OPDX Bulletin, DXNL, 425 DX News, The Daily DX, Contest Corral from QST and the ARRL Contest Calendar and WA7BNM web sites. Thanks to all.