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My challenge for the past several weeks has been to check the band changes for multi-single entries.  The rules specify “One other band may be used during any 10-minute period if the station worked is a new multiplier.”  The multi-single rule is one of the most complicated in the contest.  It requires people to make decisions on stations to work in real time.  For example, is this XY100ZZZ a new mult or not?  It’s expected that there will be mistakes.  Thus the reason we check the logs!

Unfortunately, the WPX contest rules for 2008 did not require entries to indicate which QSOs were made on the “run” band and which were on the “mult” band.  K1EA (with help from KR2Q) did a great job in the log checking software of having the computer determine a best guess for which QSOs are run or mult.  Even so, there are cases where it requires human judgment to determine what was actually going on.  That has been my job.  I probably spent 80 hours just on confirming or helping the log checking software do the right thing.

The problem for computers is that they require a very specific definition of what 10 minutes means.  E.g., when the clock starts, which QSOs are being checked by which clock, and so on.  Our log checking this year assumed the clock started when a QSO was made on a new band.

For the 2009 contest, we will be changing the rules to follow those of the CQ WW contest.  We may even add a few additional words to make the band change definitions more specific.  We know this will help us with the log checking, but we also expect it to make the competition more fair since there will be less room for interpretation by each operating team.

 

SnapCircuits are electronics kits designed for kids (although adults have fun with them, too!). Components, such as resistors, capacitors, motors, transistors, and LEDs are mounted on plastic bases that snap together. The manuals that come with the kits describe a number of different circuits that are both fun and educational.

Now, for adults there’s littleBits. The website has a short video on the concept and this text:

littleBits is an opensource library of discrete electronic components pre-assembled in tiny circuit boards. Just as Legos allow you to create complex structures with very little engineering knowledge, littleBits are simple, intuitive, space-sensitive blocks that make prototyping with sophisticated electronics a matter of snapping small magnets together. With a growing number of available modules, littleBits aims to move electronics from late stages of the design process to its earliest ones, and from the hands of experts, to those of artists, makers and designers.

Stay tuned, design files, schematics and instructions will be online soon

Ambitious, no? I do like it that the designs will be open-source and the way the modules connect magnetically, but without more detail it’s hard to say how easy or difficult it will be to use these things.

There’s also a question of whether or not there will be processor “bits” and how these processors are to be programmed. I can’t imagine they haven’t thought of that yet, but there’s such little detail on the website, it’s hard to say for sure. If they’re smart, and Bdeir is an MIT graduate so presumably she is, they’ll adopt one of the small processor designs, such as the Arduino, that’s become popular in the maker community.

Anyway, they have a mailing list, that I just subscribed to, and hopefully there will be more details forthcoming soon.  I’ll update when I know more.

Just after noon on Friday, when Aiken's Makin' was in full swing, volunteers working in the Aiken County Emergency Services' communications trailer began handing out bright yellow fliers warning vendors that high winds and heavy rains may be heading into Aiken. Bob Besley had generated those fliers from the state-of-the-art trailer after spending much of the morning monitoring Hanna's progress and answering questions for worried crafters. An amateur radio operator, Besley was scheduled to be in downtown Aiken on Friday and Saturday to assist Public Safety officials with communications when dark gray clouds started to move in, and some vendors started to get a little panicky. "They really need to know what to do, because the wind could damage their tents and merchandise," Besley said. But the communications expertise Besley brought to the event did more than help the vendors; he was able to transmit information from Aiken Public Safety to the Aiken County Sheriff's Office and Aiken County EMS. The agencies use different frequencies, but Besley can monitor them and bridge the gap, said Lt. David Turno with Aiken Public Safety.

The South African Radio League Radio Technology in Action Symposium will kick off on Saturday 13 September with a debate by various club chairmen about the future of amateur radio

14 year-old Brittany Decker, KB1OGL, has been named Youth Editor of CQ Amateur Radio magazine

Pictures from Rosetta's encounter with the asteroid Steins are now available. The first images from Rosetta's OSIRIS imaging system and VIRTIS infrared spectrometer were derived from raw data Saturday morning and have delivered spectacular results

Simon HB9DRV has been adding new features to the popular free Ham Radio Deluxe program and plans to add ISS Robot 36 SSTV support

At the end of a flawless six-month mission, Jules Verne, Europe’s first Automated Transfer Vehicle, undocked from the International Space Station at 23:29 hours CEST

Celebrating 52 years, the Shelby Hamfest usually hosts between 8,000 to 12,000 attendees annually. It is one of the largest hamfest in the United States, and certainly one of the largest in the Southeast

AO-51 experienced a software crash on August 28 and command stations have been working to reload the spacecraft software

Clubs and Interest groups are invited to exhibit at the South African Radio League's RTA event and use the opportunity to promote their activities

40 Meters was wall to wall NA QSO Party QSOs; so I ventured down to 80 Meters, not knowing what to expect with the atmospheric conditions roiling all day.

Pleasantly, there was a major lack of QRN and static crashes. Maybe Autumnal conditions are starting to make their presence known on 80 Meters once again. That would be a welcome to me as I enjoy QSOs on 80 with regularity. The G5RV does a very nice job for me on 80 and I have no complaints. I don't seem to garner much DX with it; but I have no problems having nice ragchew QSOs on 80 Meters with stations I guess could be considered "local".

And so it was tonight. Calling CQ netted a nice QSO with Bill WA1ZFE who hails out of Norwalk, CT. Bill was also QRP, running 5 Watts out of his Kenwood TS-2000 to a loop antenna. Conditions were such that we were able to give each other RSTs of 589. We were going at it nicely, comparing Hanna weather notes when IT happened.

And by "IT", I mean unannounced contest stations blasting on an occupied frequency without even so much as a complimentary "QRL?" Nothing like inconsiderate contesters to bust up a good ragchew. I understand that since I was running QRP, they might not have heard me; but even that being said, there's NO reason to just start blindly transmitting without throwing a "QRL?" out there as a courtesy. Such as it was, even turning on the K2's tight crystal filters made copy go from sublime to almost impossible in a matter of seconds - they were indeed, right on top of us.

Now I know there are many A-1 op contesters out there who are a shining example to uphold. Unfortunately, there are also "some" out there who break the cardinal rule, "Listen first before transmitting." They're the ones who give all contesters a bad reputation. I certainly don't mind sharing the bands with fans of contests; but it would be nice if they listened before jumping in with both feet.

Heck, it would be nice if EVERYONE would listen before they transmit - contesters, ragchewers, traffic handlers alike. I wonder why that's such a difficult concept for some?

73 de Larry W2LJ

Yesterday, I installed a wireless router here. Now, I not only have wireless networking throughout the house, but the two birdies around 14.030 MHz are gone! I was living with them as I didn’t want to turn off the router while operating, but now that’s a moot point.

One thing I found kind of puzzling about the birdies is that sometimes they would be stronger than others. I guess that could be the result of different amounts of traffic on the net. Any thoughts?

'hit you on your way out the door, Hanna! Good bye and good riddance!

Hanna is beginning to leave our environs. A bit more rain is expected until Midnight; but it seems the worst is over (at least that's what various radar pictures are showing).

The winds are picking up on the backside of the storm. While 20 MPH gusts were intermittent before, it seems like a 20 MPH wind is about the norm right now with some higher gusts. A few minutes ago, I went out to check my rain gauge and it looks like a total of just just a skosh over 4.5 inches.

All in all, it wasn't a devastating storm. We've had some winter time Nor'Easters that were much worse. Back in 1994 (I think that was the year) we had a December Nor'Easter blow through and later it was called a "white hurricane". Those were much worse non-hurricane storms.

Tomorrow the forecast is for a very sunny Sunday with highs in the mid 80s. What a difference a day makes! Now maybe I'll head down to the shack for a bit to see what's brewing on 40 Meters.

73 de Larry W2LJ

*************** The ARRL Letter Vol. 27, No. 35 September 5, 2008 *************** IN THIS EDITION: * + ARRL, Amateur Radio Gears Up for Hanna, Ike * + Amateur Radio Operators Were Ready for...

Learn more about radio at http://wd9t.com

the solar cycle continues to depress my fellow hams.  I have remarked to others that we should be hoping for a new Maraunder Minimum as this might revert the effects of the global greenhouse pheneoma in increasing average global temperature.  The A and K indices were high.  I heard several reports of complete band failure instead of gradual fadiing or flutter during this past week.

One of my friends, KA1EUI, just finished some tower work.  You can review some of his photos, here. I need to get some towers, going.  I would like to get a beverage or two going for 75 meters DX phone as well.

N1EY

I have no idea what Twitter is, but ARRL is there. I don't see anything on their Twitter page that isn't on the news page of their big WEB site. I guess I'm to old to get it. See if you can and get it at http://twitter.com/arrl.

As of 6:35 PM EDT, the center of Hanna is over the DelMarVa peninsula. Heavy rain bands are falling over New Jersey; and as you can see, most of the state is colored yellow. Since the beginning, some 4 hours ago, about 3 inches of rain have fallen here in South Plainfield, at least in my back yard.

Strangely enough, just across town lives another SkyWarn spotter - Marv K2VHW. He has recorded about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch more rain than I have received here.

Luckily, I live on the crest of a small rise and I am not experiencing any water problems to speak of - notwithstanding a leaky skylight here in the rec room. Many parts of Middlesex County which are lower in elevation are reporting moderate to major flooding of local roads and highways.

73 de Larry W2LJ

It has rained approximately 2 inches in the last 3 hours. More heavy bands of rain are expected until Hanna clears out sometime between 11:00 PM to Midnight. So far, winds have been very quiet; a lot more quiet than I expected. I would guesstimate no more than some 20 MPH gusts; and those not often at all. They will probably pick up on the backside of the storm.

On a lighter note, Jim W1PID went on another one of his QRP hiking adventures recently. For a recap, along with pictures of the awesomely beautiful New Hampshire scenery, please visit:

http://www.mv.com/ipusers/w1pid/piper2/piper.html

73 de Larry W2LJ

Just after noon on Friday, when Aiken's Makin' was in full swing, volunteers working in the Aiken County Emergency Services' communications trailer began handing out bright yellow fliers warning vendors that high winds and heavy rains may be heading into Aiken.

Approximately one hour ago, at 2:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time, the first of Hanna's rains have arrived in Central New Jersey.

Going out to do the grocery shopping this morning, the air felt like a sauna. This was truly a good indication of the tropical air accompanying the storm.

The radar image up top, courtesy of AccuWeather, shows the heavy rain bands across most of New Jersey.

SkyWarn has been activated, CERT is on standby and I have set out a rain gauge that will hopefully let me record total rainfall amounts that occur here in South Plainfield. Since it's a temporary gauge of my own design, I hope it doesn't blow away in the expected heavy winds to come. There have been accompanying rumbles of thunder occuring at random intervals. So I guess there will be no HF transmissions from W2LJ until they stop.

73 de Larry W2LJ

Just a reminder, as I just deleted several comments left with various political opinions, that as much as possible With Varying Frequency - Amateur Radio Ponderings Blog will remain politically neutral through this Presidential Campaign. Unless one of the candidates suddenly is found to have an Amateur Radio Position, a personal Amateur Radio Interest or secretly [...]

I'm in the prepping mode before the hour when NA Sprint CW livens our airwaves. My doublet is deployed and the supporting mast now extends toward the ionosphere. That is 33-feet of push-up fiberglass. Next is testing N1MM Logger. Followed by positioning my keyboard and Bencher paddles for an evening worth of ham radio fun.

NA Sprint CW 2008 Goal(s).

• 50 Qs.
  
• 900 points.
  
• Operate the entire 4-hours.
  
• Effectively QSY according to Sprint rules.
• Have fun.
  

I'm also on Northern California Contest Club (NCCC) Team 3 this evening. All the best to everyone and if you are not busy join the fun inside stadium Earth. It's Sprint time!

KB and contest on.

The Worked All Europe SSB Contest gives operators the world over a chance to grab more qualifying points for the World Radiosport Team Championships in 2010, while hams in North America will have two WRTC qualifiers at the same time on the second weekend in September!

On Friday, October 3, the ARRL HQ family will say goodbye to Membership Manager Katie Breen, W1KRB, as she moves away from her native Connecticut. In her short time here, Breen quickly became popular as she travelled to hamfests and conventions around the country -- as well as making videos that have been posted online -- promoting the League to members and non-members alike; she headed up the ARRL team at the 2008 Dayton Hamvention® this past May.

New England Area Ham - Electronic Flea Market *** DATES *** 2008 P 1 of 2 All events are Ham Radio/ Electronic related except ~_____~ NB ** The Windsor ME event has been changed to Saturday 6 Sept. 2008 ***** ******************************************************************************* 2008 Contact Source ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6 Sept Windsor ME AARA @FG Bill K1NIT 207 623 9075 A+ 13 Sept Windsor CT VR+C Mus 115 Pierson LN @6AM Tailgate John 860 673 0518 13 Sept Ballston Spa NY SCRACES @FG @7 Darlene N2XQG 518 587 2385 W 13 Sept Montreal PQ WIARC Auction @ShrinerH $5@9 $15/T@8 VE2CWI W+ 14 Sept Newtown CT CARA @TownHall $6@8:30 $10/15@7 Joe AB1DO 203 938 4880 W 20 Sept Alton NH MASONS @Lodge @7 Tg$10 $20/inside T Bob W1GWU 603 776 0086 A 20 Sept Forestdale RI RIFMRS @VFW rt146 8A flea+auct Rick K1KYI 401 864 9611 20 Sept Alexander ME StCCARC @ElSch Rt9 Mike KB1GEO 207 427 3058 A 21 Sept Cambridge MA FLEA at MIT Nick 617 253 3776 Third Sunday April thru October 27-28 Sept Wakefield MA Photographica @AmericalCtr ~photo~ John 781 592 2553 W 27 Sep Drummondville PQ CRADI @StBernard $5@9$15@7 Omer VE2OML 819 478 0478 R 5 Oct Queens NY HOSARC $5@9 $10/SP Stephen WB2KDG 718 898 5599 W 10-11 Oct Deerfield NH NearFest @FG Mike K1TWF 978 250 1235 W

Radio ham helps before storm Aiken Standard (subscription) - Aiken,SC,USA An amateur radio operator, Besley was scheduled to be in downtown Aiken on Friday and Saturday to assist Public Safety...

Learn more about radio at http://wd9t.com

"High Voltage Nick. This is Double-you One Aitch Vee En, Henry-Victor-Nancy, W-1-H-V-N, High Voltage Nick calling …" I remember my father's clear and confident voice as he announced himself on the airwaves. "This is W 1 High Voltage Nick." Daddy loved to talk on his Ham radio. He used a hand-held transmitter with a button on it and a long curly cord looping down to the box under the dashboard of his station wagon. He'd hold the device near his mouth, press the button, and talk into it. "Calling CQ CQ CQ." He probably also had radio equipment in the house, but my strongest memories are of the mobile unit. I watched and listened while riding beside him in the car. It sounded like "seek you, seek you, seek you." That is exactly what he was doing, seeking out someone in the invisible radio-land who might want to talk with him at that moment. "Calling CQ and waiting for a call." Beyond the fun and games, Ham operators performed important services. Nick was proud whenever Ham operators helped in emergencies or at public service events, using their skill and equipment to relay messages. Remember that this started long before cell phones became common. My father's mobile unit and his Amateur Radio license allowed him to participate in a very useful, alternative, communication network.

Miles Mann WF1F has news of planned Amateur Radio Slow Scan TV transmissions from the International Space Station in October when Richard Garriott W5KWQ arrives at the station

As recovery efforts in Louisiana and the areas impacted by Hurricane Gustav continue, yet another storm begins to shift some of the focus eastward

There are tentative plans to fly the backup spare Kenwood TM-700 from Russia to the International Space Station on this month's September 9th Progress-30 cargo rocket

Insubria Radio invites all YL, OM and SWL of the world to take part in the Varese 2008 UCI Road World Championships Award

Strathclyde RAYNET are still seeking a few additional operators for this year's Tour of Mull Rally on 10th and 11th October

All was going well with the testing of a new police communication system in the Texas cities of Cedar Hill, DeSoto and Duncanville, until it was found to be producing an unwanted side-effect in the city of Plano some 30 miles away

Australia's Gold Coast Amateur Radio Society Inc' will be hosting several Gold Coast region Scout Groups on the Weekend of October 18 and 19 for the Jamboree of the Air event

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