KB6NU's Ham Radio Blog

KB6NU's Ham Radio Blog

Special Events

Special event operating tip: ID once an hour when using a 1×1 call

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On the CWops mailing list, we’ve been talking about the use of special event callsigns. One fellow noted:

Operators using US 1×1 calls are required to identify with their own call periodically … every hour I think.

I honestly didn’t know this, so just to be sure, I looked it up. Here’s the rule:

Section 97.119 (d). When transmitting in conjunction with an event of special significance, a station may substitute for its assigned call sign a special event call sign as shown for that station for that period of time on the common data base coordinated, maintained and disseminated by the special event call sign data base coordinators. Additionally, the station must transmit its assigned call sign at least once per hour during such transmissions.

You learn something new every day….

To be completely honest, I haven’t complied with the rule. Last summer, for example, I used W8L when I operated from the Pointe aux Barques Lighthouse. Anyone know the statute of limitations on violating a Part 97 rule?

National Weather Service Honors Ham Radio Operators Dec 4

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This is an edited version of a press release from the ARRL……Dan

Newington, CT Nov 17, 2010 — The National Weather Service’s annual SKYWARN Recognition event will take place Saturday, December 4. Cosponsored by the National Weather Service (NWS) and ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio, SKYWARN Recognition Day is the National Weather Service’s way of expressing its appreciation to Amateur Radio operators for their commitment to keep communities safe.

While the 2010 hurricane season has been fairly quiet in the US, amateur radio operators are also deeply involved with the Hurricane Watch Net (HWN). The HWN, which organized in 1965, began as an informal group of amateurs that has developed into a formal relationship with the National Hurricane Center in Miami via its Amateur Radio station WX4NHC. Ham radio operators and volunteers at Miami work together when hurricanes threaten, providing real-time weather data and damage reports to the Hurricane Center’s forecasters.

Over 100 National Weather Service regional offices will be participating in this year’s event to recognize the community service of ham radio people.

For full information see the NOAA website.

Frequently Asked Questions about SKYWARN Recognition Day

What is SKYWARN Recognition Day?
SKYWARN Recognition Day (SRD) was developed in 1999 by the National Weather Service and the American Radio Relay League. It celebrates the contributions that volunteer SKYWARN radio operators make to the National Weather Service. During the day SKYWARN operators visit NWS offices and contact other radio operators across the world. Information regarding SRD is updated at http://hamradio.noaa.gov.

Why are the National Weather Service and the American Radio Relay League cosponsoring the event?
The NWS and the ARRL both recognize the importance that amateur radio provides during severe weather. Many NWS offices acquire real time weather information from amateur radio operators in the field. These operators, for example, may report the position of a tornado, the height of flood waters, or damaging wind speeds during hurricanes. All of this information is critical to the mission of the NWS which is to preserve life and property. The special event celebrates this special contribution by amateur radio operators.

When is SKYWARN Recognition Day?
This year SKYWARN Recognition Day begins at 0000 UTC on December 4, 2010. It will last 24 hours.
How many NWS stations are participating in the event?
It is estimated that around 100 NWS stations will participate this year.

Is this a contest or what?
No, this is not a contest, so no scoring will be computed. This is simply a group of stations transmitting from NWS offices during the same time. Similar event occurs every year on the amateur radio calendar. For example, hams operate from lighthouses across the world during one weekend and from naval ships/submarines during another.

QST magazine usually lists Special Event stations in a compiled list every month. Will our station be listed there?
If you want your individual station to be listed in the Special Event section of QST magazine, you must submit your information following the ARRL submission policies. You can go to www.arrl.org/contests/spev.html for complete information on how to do this. Remember, though, the deadline to get this information to QST is fast approaching.

We would like to publicize the event in the media. Can we do it?
You bet.

Is there a national point of contact?
Yes, there are three points-of-contact. Contact either:
Matt Mehle ([email protected]) Dave Floyd ([email protected]) Scott Mentzer ([email protected])

Is this an annual event?
Yes. This is the 12th consecutive year that the event has been held.

This is HOPE?

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The conference Hackers on Planet Earth takes place this weekend in New York City. It looks like a lot of fun.

There will be a ham station there, using the callsign N2H. According to the Make: magazine blog, they will be operating on:

  • 28.370 MHz,
  • 14.270 MHz,
  • 7.260 MHz, and
  • 3.885 MHz

Apparently, there are no CW hackers in the bunch. (I’ll have to try to figure out how to change that.

Here’s the cool QSL card designed specifically for N2H:

N2H QSL

Saturday Night on 40m

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Yesterday night, propagation was exceptional on 40m. The band seemed open to just about everywhere. I made six contacts on 40m, including one in PA, one in MO, and four in Europe. I could also hear stations from Central America, but didn’t get a chance to work them.

Of the four European contacts, two were notable:

  • OL22ASE. This is a special event station at the ASE XXII Planetary Congress, an international congress of astronauts organised by Association of Space Explorers (ASE). This station will be on the air until October 15.

    The ASE is an international nonprofit professional and educational organization of over 325 individuals from 35 nations who have flown in space. Founded in 1985, ASE’s mission is to provide a forum for professional dialogue among individuals who have flown in space, support space science and exploration for the benefit of all, promote education in science and engineering, foster greater environmental awareness, and encourage international cooperation in the human exploration of space.

  • LZ44WFF. This is a special event station of the “World Flora Fauna” (WFF) expedition to the Biosphere Reserve “Srebarna” (LZFF-016, WW. Loc. KN34MC). WFF is an International Award Program (an International ecologo-edicational and nature conservation action on supporting of protected areas), organized to attract attention of the world community to the problems of protected areas, to provide them with feasible practical support, to waken a feeling of pride in the minds of the Earth’s inhabitants for natural and cultural heritage, for visiting National Parks and Nature Reserves and making QSO contacts with them.

I thought it was kind of amusing that both stations had two numbers in their callsigns, and that they were operating within 2 kHz of one another on Saturday night.

Ham Radio at the Inaugural

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The District of Columbia Amateur Radio Society is proud to announce the operation of W3A in honor of the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama.

W3A will be on the air during the week of January 17-24, 2008. The greatest amount of activity will from January 17 through January 19.

We will attempt to be active on all bands, although the majority of activity is expected to be on 20, 40 and 80 meters. Check the various spotting networks for our status.

QSL information:

  • Direct to W3DQ with SASE
  • Via the bureau
  • Via LoTW

A certificate may be available. If so, an announcement will be made on the NW3DC webpage on QRZ.COM