CCARC NEWS 14-36
THE PERIODIC NEWSLETTER OF THE CENTRAL COAST AMATEUR RADIO CLUB
ISSUE No 14-36 24th October 2014
In this Issue:
- Upcoming Meetings
- November AR Magazine Now Online For Download
- ARNSW Field Day
- 2015 Edition of The ARRL Handbook
- Lots of solar flares
- High altitude balloon keeps going
- History This Week
- Broke & fixed
- Reminders
1. Upcoming Meetings
There will be a show and tell on Saturday the 25th October starting at 1300 hrs.
There will be a number of events on Saturday the 1st November. There will be a Field Day planning meeting starting at 1100 hrs, then a BBQ lunch at 1200 hrs, then a Special General Meeting at 1300 hrs followed by the Monthly Business Meeting.
2. November AR Magazine Now Online For Download
Amateur Radio is the monthly magazine produced by the Wireless Institute of Australia in both print and in an online downloadable format for the benefit of WIA members. The November edition is now online and available for members to download and read. Simply click the following Link to go directly to the October AR magazine web page.
The November edition of AR includes :
GENERAL ARTICLES
Walter King Witt XKW, Amateur radio leader, war-time contributor.
Band plans update
VHF UHF band plans – are they working?
A long time between drinks
Remembrance Day Contest 2014 Results
TECHNICAL
Arduino based VFO
Equipment Review Flexradio FLEX-6700
Equipment Review Apache Labs ANAN-100D
The UnitLoop: 7 MHz 100 watt magnetic loop for apartments and units
Easy steps to working SO-50
3. ARNSW Field Day
On Sunday the 9th of November 2014, ARNSW is having another field day for the benefit of members.
In the morning, we’ll be having a ‘New Hams’ segment for those new to Amateur Radio or those who might like a refresher.
Subjects will include control knob use, voice procedure, programming your radio, repeaters and the care and feeding of a grounded anode.
Followed by a sausage sizzle for lunch, ice cream included.
After lunch we will also have a segment on contesting from 3 experienced amateurs, each with their own slant on what works for them. We will also encourage input from all pentodes inviting their thoughts.
Attendance is by registration.
So, indicate your intention by emailing to fieldday@arnsw.org.au.
Kindly include in your email, your name, callsign, contact number and which
sessions you will be attending.
From ARNSW News broadcast .
4. The 2015 Edition of The ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications is Now Available!
The 2015 ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications is now shipping, and, while supplies last, you can get the hard-cover edition for the soft-cover price. The ARRL Handbook provides the theory, practical information, and construction details to expand your knowledge and skill as an Amateur Radio operator and experimenter.
This 92nd edition of The ARRL Handbook is at the forefront of the growing field of wireless telecommunications. The book covers not only the fundamentals of radio electronics — analog and digital — but also offers practical circuit and antenna designs as well as information on computer-aided design, digital operating modes, equipment troubleshooting, and reducing RF interference.
Many projects and construction articles are included to help enhance your station and expand your participation as an active radio experimenter.
Practical applications and solutions make The ARRL Handbook a must-have for hobbyists and technical professionals. For years now, the Handbook has been a staple on the work bench and operating desk as well as in university libraries and classrooms.
The ARRL Handbook is available in hard-cover and soft-cover editions from the ARRL Store or your ARRL Dealer. Hardcover, ARRL Order No. 0218, ISBN: 978-1-62595-020-8, $59.95 retail, special offer $49.95. Softcover, ARRL Order No. 1920, ISBN: 978-1-62595-019-2, $49.95 retail. Call (860) 594-0355 or, toll-free in the US, (888) 277-5289. Contact Publication Sales for more information.
5. Lots of solar flares
Space Weather report solar activity is high. In just 48 hours, monster sunspot AR2192 has produced a series of seven M-class solar flares of increasing intensity
The eruptions crossed the threshold into X-territory with an X1-class flare on Oct. 22nd. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory recorded a powerful flash of extreme UV radiation in the sunspot’s magnetic canopy at 14:30 UT.
Remarkably, not one of the explosions so far has hurled a significant CME toward Earth. The primary effect of the flares has been to ionize Earth’s upper atmosphere, causing a series of short-lived HF radio communications blackouts. Such blackouts may be noticed by amateur radio operators, aviators, and mariners.
Earth-effects could increase in the days ahead. AR2192 has an unstable ‘beta-gamma-delta’ magnetic field that harbors energy for powerful explosions, and the active region is turning toward Earth. NOAA forecasters estimate at 65% chance of M-class flares and a 20% chance of X-flares during the next 24 hours.
6. High altitude balloon keeps going
The record breaking 434 MHz balloon B-64 launched by radio amateur Leo Bodnar M0XER features in Hack-A-Day
Read the story about the balloon which has been flying for over 3 months
http://hackaday.com/2014/10/19/high-altitude-balloon-keeps-going/
Links for tracking and receiving balloons
http://amsat-uk.org/beginners/balloons/
7. History This Week
A look back at events that made history this week – compiled by the Summerland Amateur Radio Club of Lismore, NSW
Monday, 20 October, 2014
1797 The first successful parachute jump was made by André-Jacques Garnerin, Paris.
1824 In Yorkshire, England, Joseph Aspdin, a stone mason, patented Portland cement.
1861 First US transcontinental telegram sent ending the Pony Express.
1879 Thomas Edison perfects the carbonized cotton filament light bulb.
1915 First transatlantic radiotelephone message, Arlington, Virginia, to Paris.
1945 First ball point pen goes on sale by Laslo Biro, 57 years after it was patented.
1956 First video recording on magnetic tape televised coast-to-coast.
1960 First electronic wrist watch placed on sale, NYC.
1966 First Pacific communications satellite launched, Intelsat 2.
BROKE & FIXED
No items for Broke & Fixed this week – all CCARC infrastructure is operational.
REMINDERS
This section lists important announcements and possibly items from previous CCARC NEWS editions that are still current and may need your input:
If you experience any problems with any of the repeaters not working, please report to Repeater Chairman, Don VK2ZCZ. Do not assume that he already knows about it. As soon as problems are brought to Don’s attention, they will be fixed ASAP.
Jaycar Tuggerah & Erina will give CCARC members a trade discount – approx 10% on purchases over $25. Make sure you ask for it. Thanks Rod VK2LAX and Col VK2ZCO.
Anyone reading this on the website who is not yet a member of the CCARC, please consider joining by emailing ccarc at ccarc dot org dot au for full details.
For submissions to this newsletter from CCARC club members please email the editor news-editor at ccarc dot org dot au
For what’s coming up in the next few months at the CCARC, please check the club calendar, accessible from the header on any page on the website.
Dave VK2DLS … News & Publicity Officer …
