On the Web : March 2007

If you enjoy reading 'On the Web', your ham radio club can publish this column on an exchange basis with SJRA. Contact Ted, , for the exchange details.

Our contributions to the South Jersey Radio Association club bulletin "Harmonics" includes lengthy Web addresses. As the URL's can be difficult or a nuisance to type into your Web browser, the postings here should make it easier to get to the Web sites SJRA members are interested in. Look for the posting at w2xq.com at the time "Harmonics" is scheduled for delivery in the south Jersey area. Questions, suggestions or contributions are always welcome.

Greater Delaware Valley Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society's MS150 Bike City-to-the-Shore Ride September 29-30, 2007

From Bill Ferguson, WA3BXW: "This year I am actively involved in the MS150 bike race to be held the weekend of September 29 and 30th, 2007. We are actively looking for amateur radio volunteers for the event, and trying to publicize the need for ham operators everywhere we can. Our goal is 100 operators by June 1st and double that by event time. The (w3bxw.com) BEARS 147.345 and 146.640 repeaters are the main repeaters being used for the event this year." If you would like to help with radio operations, please click here to sign up and spread the request for communications help among your friends. If you would like to participate as a bike rider and/or donate to the MS Society, please explore the Chapter's Web site. Thanks!

Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM)

For a number of years now, international broadcasters have been experimenting with sending high quality broadcasts in a digital (12 kHz wide) format. Perhaps some readers may recall that the first live demonstration to NA audiences was carried out many years ago at the Winter SWL Festival in Kulpsville. Specifications, broadcast schedules and equipment sources can be found on www.drm.org. Initially DRM reception required a modified radio and computer software, but now some DRM-capable receivers are appearing in the receiver marketplace. And now, Kenwood has simplified the effort to listen to DRM. If you have a TS2000 transceiver, it requires a minimal modification to tap the 12 kHz output. Software is now free. Read all about it at www.arcticpeak.com/radiopages/kenwood_ts-2000_12_khz_if_output.htm and tune in.

Summit Awards

The identification of land to chase for amateur radio awards continues to amaze me. Sure, many of us licensees chase countries — disregarding the United Nations' definitions, every pile of rocks above high tide is a "country" — and states. A lesser number of hams chase counties, grid squares, and islands. But good grief, Charlie Brown, I recently learned that now you can chase summits. What's a summit? It's a mountain or hill or rise of ground, and the interational group (based in the UK) "Summits on the Air" (SOTA) has set up an empire at www.sota.org.uk. And SOTA has spread to the USA! Found on QRZ: "The USA (W2) Association, under the leadership of Andrew Pepper, KC2EUS starts on 1st March 2007. This Association covers the states of New York and New Jersey, although as yet there are no summits defined in New Jersey. Some 120 summits are already defined in New York state." This is the first SOTA group in the USA, and its Web site is www.kc2eus.org/sota. Who will take on the task of identifying the bumps in Burlington County, become an "activator" and put them on the air? -grin-

Quickies

Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) from the sun are enormous bubbles of magnetic plasma blown off the sun's surface into space. If the ejection is toward Earth, auroras occur and radio propagation is severely affected.The astronomy picture of the day for 6 February is amazing. It clearly shows the filiaments lifting off the sun. Dial up antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap070206.html and have a look. Be sure to read the picture's description and explore the links therein.

Not exactly radio-related, but (in my opinion) New Jersey residents really owe ex-Governor Brendon Byrne thanks for establishing the protected area of South Jersey known as the Pine Barrens. In this high-population density state, you can clearly see the positive effects of keeping mankind out of the woods. Take a look at the marvelous true-color picture of the eastern USA at www.truecolorearth.com/tce-eastern-US.htm and the clearly visible green areas of Burlington County and points south. Then back up to the home page and explore the rest of the True Color Earth. It's an interesting look at our blue marble.

Looking to upgrade your license? Local VEC exams are handled by K2AX and company. Check k2ax.com/vec for the current testing schedule.

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Revised 4 March 2007

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