472-479 kHz Amateur Allocation Passes WRC-12

ARRL:

Amateur Radio Gets Secondary MF Allocation at WRC-12

02/14/2012

It’s official -- delegates attending the 2012 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-12) have approved a new 7-kilohertz-wide secondary allocation between 472-479 kHz for the Amateur Radio Service. Agenda Item 1.23 had both its first and second readings in Plenary Session on Tuesday, February 14; to become part of the ITU’s Radio Regulations, each Agenda Item must be read twice in Plenary Session. While the Final Acts will be signed on Friday, February 17 at the close of the Conference, the new allocation will not take effect until it is entered into the Radio Regulations. No date has been set for this, but it is unlikely to be earlier than January 1, 2013. In any case, no amateur can use the band until his or her national regulations are revised to implement the allocation.

...

Agenda Item 1.23 originally called for a 15-kilohertz-wide spectrum in parts of the band 415-526.5 kHz, taking into account the need to protect existing services. But according to ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, this was in conflict with the Maritime Mobile Service. WRC-12 delegates approved Agenda Item 1.10, which called for a worldwide exclusive allocation to the Maritime Mobile Service of 495-505 kHz. Discussion of this allocation to Maritime Mobile "has been in the works throughout the conference preparation (i.e. since 2008)," Sumner explained, "and was the reason why the MF amateur allocation could not be made in this band as some amateurs had hoped. That’s why we had to look elsewhere and is what put us in conflict with aeronautical radionavigation."

600-Meter Amateur Passes Committee, Goes to WRC-12 Plenary

ARRL:

On the afternoon of Tuesday, February 7 (Geneva time), Committee 4 of the 2012 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-12) approved Option 1 to satisfy Agenda Item 1.23, with minor editorial amendments to the text received from Working Group 4C. Option 1 calls for a worldwide secondary allocation to the Amateur Service at 472-479 kHz, with a power limit of 1 W EIRP, with a provision for administrations to permit up to 5 W EIRP for stations located more than 800 km from certain countries that wish to protect their aeronautical radionavigation service (non-directional beacons) from any possible interference. Option 2 was NOC (no change to the current rules).

In keeping with the rules of the Conference, Committee decisions must be read twice in Plenary session; the decision of the Conference is not final until after second reading in Plenary. According to ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, quite a few additional administrations -- mainly in the former Soviet Union and Arab states -- will be adding their country names to the Footnotes prior to consideration in Plenary.

(ITU footnotes number in the hundreds.  They are a means of achieving consensus on international radio regulations by allowing exceptions for countries with concerns which would otherwise force them to vote against an agenda item in Plenary Session.)

ARRL Announces Winter W1AW Schedule

W1AW, the League Headquarters station in CT, is good for propagation checking, solar bulletins, and testing digital software.  With the move back to Standard Time in the US, the following schedule is now in effect:

11/06/2011
With the switch from Daylight Saving Time to Standard Time, W1AW Station Manager Joe Carcia, NJ1Q, has updated the W1AW operating schedule to reflect the change. Your local standard times have not changed, but the UTC times they reference have.

Daily Visitor Operating Hours:
1500 UTC-1700 UTC (10 AM-12 PM EST), 1800 UTC-2045 UTC (1 PM-3:45 PM EST)
Station closed 1700-1800 UTC (12 PM-1 PM EST)

Morning Schedule

Time	Mode	Days
1400 UTC (9 AM EST)	CWs	Wed, Fri
1400 UTC (9 AM EST)	CWf	Tue, Thu

Afternoon/Evening Schedule

Time	Mode	Days
2100 UTC (4 PM EST)	CWf	Mon, Wed, Fri
2100 UTC (4 PM EST)	CWs	Tue, Thu
2200 UTC (5 PM EST)	CWb	Daily
2300 UTC (6 PM EST)	Digital	Daily
0000 UTC (7 PM EST)	CWs	Mon, Wed, Fri
0000 UTC (7 PM EST)	CWf	Tue, Thu
0100 UTC (8 PM EST)	CWb	Daily
0200 UTC (9 PM EST)	Digital	Daily
0245 UTC (9:45 PM EST)	Voice	Daily
0300 UTC (10 PM EST)	CWf	Mon, Wed, Fri
0300 UTC (10 PM EST)	CWs	Tue, Thu
0400 UTC (11 PM EST)	CWb	Daily

Frequencies
CW: 1.8025, 3.5815, 7.0475, 14.0475, 18.0975, 21.0675, 28.0675 and 147.555 MHz
Digital: 3.5975, 7.095, 14.095, 18.1025, 21.095, 28.095 and 147.555 MHz
Voice: 1.855, 3.990, 7.290, 14.290, 18.160, 21.390, 28.590, 147.555 MHz

Speeds
CWs: Morse code practice (slow) -- 5, 7.5, 10, 13 and 15 WPM
CWf: Morse code practice (fast) -- 35, 30, 25, 20, 15, 13 and 10 WPM
CWb: Morse code bulletins -- 18 WPM

CW frequencies include code practices, Qualifying Runs and CW bulletins.

Digital: BAUDOT (45.45 baud), BPSK31 and MFSK16 in a revolving schedule.

Code practice texts are from QST; the source of each practice is given at the beginning of each practice and at the beginning of alternate speeds.

On Tuesdays and Fridays at 2330 UTC (6:30 PM EST), Keplerian elements for active amateur satellites are sent on the regular digital frequencies.

A DX bulletin replaces or is added to the regular bulletins between 0100 UTC (8 PM EST) Thursdays and 0100 UTC (8 PM EST) Fridays.

In a communications emergency, monitor W1AW for special bulletins as follows: Voice on the hour, Digital at 15 minutes past the hour and CW on the half hour.

All licensed amateurs may operate the station from 1500 UTC-1700 UTC (10 AM-12 PM EST), and then from 1800 UTC-2045 UTC (1 PM-3:45 PM EST) Monday through Friday. Be sure to bring your current FCC Amateur Radio license or a photocopy.

Hurricane Irene Frequency List #1

3122.0 US Coast Guard, safety of flight
3130.0 US Navy FACSFAC Jacksonville, FL "Sea Lord"
3171.4 Red Cross disaster (F-92)
3573.0 (CW) Carolinas Net
3696.0 (LSB) Bahamas Weather Net
3820.0 (LSB) Maryland Emergency Phone Net
3865.0 (LSB) West Virginia Emergency Net
3907.0 (LSB) Coastal Carolina Emergency Net Dy 0000
3910.0 (LSB) Regional Emergency Primary Channel:
3913.0 (LSB) NY State
3915.0 (LSB) South Carolina Emergency/Traffic Nets
3915.0 (LSB) Massachusetts/Rhode Island
3917.0 (LSB) E Pennsylvania
3923.0 (LSB) North Carolina Evening Net
3923.0 (LSB) Tar Heel Emergency Net (alt 7232)
3927.0 (LSB) North Carolina Morning Net, ARES
3937.0 (LSB) W. Massachusetts
3940.0 (LSB) SATERN Alternate
3947.0 (LSB) Virginia health & welfare (alt 7240)
3950.0 (LSB) National Hurricane Watch, occasional night
3960.0 (LSB) Northeast Coast Hurricane Net
3980.0 (LSB) SE Virginia ARES
3993.5 (LSB) Regional Common Frequency
4003.0 Bahamas Air Sea Rescue, WX broadcasts dy 1100
4125.0 Maritime clg and distress freq, some weather info
4235.0 (Fax) USCG Boston, MA, weather fax, eve/night
4614.5 COTHEN
4780.0 FEMA
5136.4 Red Cross F-93
5141.4 Red Cross F-94
5211.0 National Emergency Coordination Net night primary
5236.0 SHARES Co-ordination Network Ch-1 (night voice primary)
5250.0 COTHEN
5320.0 USCG Groups, Miami, FL, and Portsmouth, VA; CG Auxiliary
5402.0 FEMA
5422.5 USCG Auxiliary
5696.0 USCG air-ground/safety of flight
5732.0 (ALE/USB) COTHEN
5821.0 FEMA "Foxtrot-14"
5901.0 SHARES National Net (Night Alt)
5909.5 COTHEN
6106.0 FEMA
6800.0 SHARES Coordination Network (PACTOR BBS)
6809.0 FEMA "Foxtrot-21"
6859.5 Red Cross F-95
7096.0 (LSB) Bahamas Weather Net
7232.0 (LSB) Tar Heel Emergency Net (Alt)
7243.0 (LSB) SC Emergency Net
7245.0 (LSB) NY State RACES
7250.0 (LSB) Salvation Army SATERN Sat 1700
7255.0 (LSB) East Coast Amateur Radio Svc (ECARS)
7260.0 (LSB) Virginia Emercency Net (Alt)
7265.8 (LSB) Salvation Army SATERN (Alt) Sat 1630
7275.0 (LSB) Georgia
7348.0 FEMA
7527.0 (ALE/USB) COTHEN
7550.5 Red Cross F-96 (Primary)
7632.0 SHARES National Coord Net (Night Pri)
7635.0 CAP, National Calling & Emergency
7697.0 Red Cross F-97
8156.0 Royal Bahamas Defence Force (coast guard & police)
8764.0 USCG, Portsmouth, VA, Atlantic WX
8912.0 COTHEN ALE/USB
8933.0 New York LDOC
8983.0 USCG Air-Ground/ Safety of Flight
9064.0 SHARES National Coord Net (Night Alt)
10194.0 FEMA "Foxtrot-25" ALE/USB/LSB
10242.0 (ALE/USB) COTHEN
10493.0 National Emergency Coordination Net day primary
10588.0 FEMA /USCG/ always busy in hurricanes ALE/USB/LSB
11342.0 New York LDOC
11494.0 (ALE/USB) COTHEN
11975.0 CAP Voice
12087.0 National Guard Net ALE/USB
12216.0 FEMA
12222.0 (ALE/USB) COTHEN
12290.0 USCG calling/watchkeeping (Simplex)
13312.0 (ALE/USB) COTHEN
13446.0 FEMA "Foxtrot-36" various modes
13907.0 (ALE/USB) COTHEN
13956.0 FEMA "Foxtrot-48", some NECN use (USB/LSB)
14260.0 UN Net
14265.0 Salvation Army SATERN Net Primary M-F 1400
14268.0 UN Radio Readiness Group
14270.0 Red Cross Net
14283.0 UN Relief Net
14293.0 Red Cross use
14300.0 Maritime Mobile Service Net Dy 1600
14300.0 US Coast Guard Amateur Radio Net S 1600/1700
14300.0 Maritime Mobile Service Net (daily)
14300.0 Intercontinental Net
14303.0 ARRL International Assistance & Traffic Net
14310.0 Maritime Emergency Net dy 0400
14313.0 Maritime Mobile Service Net Alternate-1
14313.0 US Coast Guard Amateur Radio Net S 1600
14325.0 Hurricane Watch Net, primary fq,
14327.0 US Coast Guard Amateur Radio Net S 1700/1800
14340.0 Maritime Emergency Net dy 0400 & 1800
14396.5 SHARES National Coord Net (Day Primary)
14450.0 FEMA "Foxtrot-41," evac heard here
14567.0 FEMA "Foxtrot-39," NECN primary in past
14582.0 (ALE/USB) COTHEN
14776.0 FEMA
14836.0 FEMA "Foxtrot-43"
14902.0 SHARES - CAP rescue and relief, all regions
15088.0 USCG Air-Ground safety of flight
15867.0 (ALE/USB) COTHEN
17314.0 USCG, Portsmouth, VA, Atlantic WX 1715
18594.0 (ALE/USB) COTHEN
20890.0 (ALE/USB) COTHEN
21400.0 Transatlantic net (amateur)
21400.0 Atlantic Maritime Net
23214.0 (ALE/USB) COTHEN
25350.0 (ALE/USB) COTHEN

COTHEN (Customs Over-The-Horizon Enforcement Network) is an interagency ALE and follow-on voice network used by USCG, ICE, CBP, and several other agencies. Much of the rescue and emergency traffic has migrated there.

14325 kHz USB Hurricane Watch Net Activates

The US Hurricane Watch Net activated for Irene at 24/1300 August UTC on its usual frequency of 14325 kHz USB. Several stations in the southeastern US have shared net control duties. Right now, they have finished passing Advisory #18, and they are looking for stations in the Bahamas with information.

Irene is on a track right up the US East Coast, meaning a few miles/km of uncertainty can cause a great difference in where landfall ultimately comes, if it ever does. Also, the storm is becoming wide, with (currently) a ~60 mile radius of hurricane force winds. At this point, just about the whole US coast from SC up to ME has to watch this storm carefully. That's a BIG area.

WX4NHC Air Test Is June 4

From ARRL:

05/23/2011

The annual WX4NHC On-the-Air Station Test from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami will take place Saturday, June 4, 1300-2100 UTC (9 AM – 5 PM EDT). “The purpose of this annual station test is to test all of our radio equipment, computers and antennas using as many modes and frequencies as possible in preparation for this year’s hurricane season,” said WX4NHC Assistant Amateur Radio Volunteer Coordinator Julio Ripoll, WD4R. “This is not a contest or simulated hurricane exercise.”

WX4NHC will be on the air on HF, VHF and UHF, plus 2 and 30 meter APRS. Suggested SSB frequencies are 3.950, 7.268, 14.325, 21.325 and 28.525 MHz, +/-QRM. Ripoll said that WX4NHC will mostly be on 14.325 MHz, but will make announcements when the station changes frequencies. WX4NHC also will be on the VoIP Hurricane Net 1700-1900 UTC (IRLP node 9219/EchoLink WX-TALK Conference) and on South Florida area VHF/UHF repeaters and simplex. Stations looking to participate in the annual station test may be able WX4NHC on HF by using one of the DX spotting networks, such as the DX Summit website.

Entire story here.

Armed Forces Day Update

Due to the flood emergency in the US, the Army Corps of Engineers has changed its plans from those shown in the original schedule for the communication tests:

A quick note - due to regional flooding in the St. Francis River basin, the WUG-231 operation from the W.G. Huxtable Pumping Plant in Marianna, AR will not be possible. Instead, look for WUG-2/B which will be operating from Memphis, TN. Frequencies will remain the same as for WUG-231 operation.

Jim Pogue - KH2AR

2011 Armed Forces Day Communication Test

The annual Armed Forces Day crossband event and other special operations are tomorrow, May 14. Again this year, these are a week earlier than the actual observance of Armed Forces Day, which comes during the Dayton Hamvention.

From the Official Bulletin:

The annual celebration features traditional military to amateur cross band communications SSB voice and Morse Code tests. These tests give Amateur Radio operators and Short Wave Listeners (SWL) an opportunity to demonstrate their individual technical skills, and to receive recognition from the appropriate military radio station for their proven expertise. QSL cards will be provided to those stations making contact with the military stations.

MILITARY-TO-AMATEUR CROSS BAND SSB & CW TEST CONTACTS.
Military-to-Amateur cross band operations will take place on the dates/times in ZULU (UTC), and frequencies listed below for each station. Voice contacts will include operations in single sideband voice (SSB). Some stations may not operate the entire period, depending on propagation and manning. Participating military stations will transmit on selected Military MARS frequencies and listen for amateur radio stations in the Amateur bands indicated below. The military station operator will announce the specific amateur band frequency being monitored. Duration of each voice contact should be limited to 1-2 minutes. The following stations will be transmitting on MARS frequencies listed below which are provided as "Window/Dial Frequency" in kHz.
Some stations will use CW to provide the opportunity to check in by Morse Code.

Army Stations
STATION: AAZ (14 May 1400Z - 15 May 0300Z)
Frequency Emission Amateur Band
4038.9 kHz LSB 80M
6913.0 kHz LSB 40M
14.402.0 kHz USB 20M
13.996.0 kHz USB 20M
18.211.0 kHz USB 17M
7577.0 kHz CW 40M
13.507.0 kHz CW 20M
7639.5 kHz RTTY 40M
13512.5 kHz MT-63 20M
Location: Fort Huachuca, AZ
Address:
Commander NETCOM/9th ASC
ATTN: NETCOM-OPE-M (MARS) (31)
2133 Cushing Street
Ft. Huachuca, AZ 85616-7070
POC: Mr. Dewayne Smith
DSN: 821-7324
Commercial: (520) 533-7324

STATION: AAC (14 May 1300Z - 15 May 0100Z)
Frequency Emission Amateur Band
3348.5 kHz LSB 80M
7363.0 kHz LSB 40M
13.910.5 kHz USB 20M
27.788.5 kHz USB 10M
Location: Lexington, KY
Address:
HQ 3RD BDE, 95TH DIV (IT) MARS STATION
Barrow Army Reserve Training Center
1051 Russell Cave Pike
Lexington, KY 40505
POC: Barry Jackson, AAR4BZ
Commercial: (859) 227-0137

STATION: ABH (14 May 1600Z - 15 May 2300Z)
Frequency Emission Amateur Band
3350.0 kHz LSB 80M
4441.5 kHz LSB 80M
4792.5 kHz LSB 80M
7360.0 kHz LSB 40M
7721.5 kHz LSB 40M
8040.0 kHz LSB 40M
14402.0 kHz USB 20M
14438.5 kHz USB 20M
14487.0 kHz USB 20M
17443.0 kHz USB 17M
17592.5 kHz USB 17M
20976.0 kHz USB 15M
20558.5 kHz USB 15M
Location: Schofield Barracks, HI
Commander, 396th Signal Company
30th Signal Battalion, 96857
POC: WO1 William Pemberton
Commercial: (808) 655-3387

STATION: WAR (14 May 1200Z - 2400Z)
Frequency Emission Amateur Band
4020.9 kHz LSB/CW 80M
7314.0 kHz LSB/CW 40M
14438.5 kHz USB/CW 20M
27991.0 kHz USB/CW 10M
Location: Pentagon, Washington, DC
Address:
Pentagon Amateur Radio Club
ATTN: AFDCBT
PO Box 2322
Arlington VA 22202
POC Mr. Gary Sessums
Station telephone:
Commercial: (703) 693-8423 DSN 223-8423

STATION: WUG-231 (14 May 1300Z - 15 May 0200Z)
Frequency Emission Amateur Band
4032.9 kHz LSB 80M
7.424.0 kHz LSB 40M
6.826.0 kHz LSB/CW 40M
14.486.0 kHz USB 20M
14.663.5 kHz USB/CW 20M
20.973.5 kHz USB/CW 15M
Location: Memphis, TN
Address:
USACE Memphis District Office
ATTN: Jim Pogue
Public Affairs Office Room B-202
167 N. Main St.
Memphis, TN 38103-1894
POC: Mr. Jim Pogue
Commercial: (901) 544-4109

NAVY/MARINE CORPS STATIONS

STATION: NAJ (14 MAY 1200Z - 15 MAY 0400Z)
NAVMARCORMARS RADIO STATION, GREAT LAKES, IL
FREQUENCY EMISSION AMATEUR BAND
4011.5 KHZ LSB/MT63 80M
7376.5 KHZ LSB 40M
14467.0 KHZ USB 20M
21758.5 KHZ USB 15M
ADDRESS: MR. DAVID OUELLETTE/NNN0ASG
6148 WEST CUTLER RD
DEWITT, MICHIGAN 48820
COMMERCIAL: (517) 515-6080

STATION: NBL (14 MAY 1200Z - 15 MAY 0400Z)
NAVMARCORMARS RADIO STATION, GROTON, CT
FREQUENCY EMISSION AMATEUR BAND
4041.5 KHZ LSB 80M
7371.5 KHZ LSB 40M
14391.5 KHZ USB 20M
20623.5 KHZ USB 15M
POC AND ADDRESS: ROBERT VETH, DIRECTOR REGION ONE
4 LANTERN LANE, CHELMSFORD MA 01824-1316
COMMERCIAL: (978) 256-5264

STATION: NNN0ASF (14 MAY 1200Z - 15 MAY 0400Z)
NAVMARCORMARS RADIO STATION, NNN0ASF
FREQUENCY EMISSION AMATEUR BAND
4014.0 KHZ LSB 80M
7394.5 KHZ LSB 40M 1200-2359Z, 0200-0400Z
7394.5 KHZ LSB PSK31 40M 0000-0200Z
13974.0 KHZ USB 20M 1200-1800Z, 2000-0400Z
13974.0 KHZ USB PSK31 20M 1800-2000Z
20997.0 KHZ USB 15M
POC AND ADDRESS: NAVMARCORMARS RADIO STATION NNN0ASF
KEN KEEHNER, PO BOX 224, BENNINGTON KS 67422
COMMERCIAL: (785) 488-2241COMMERCIAL: (978) 256-5264

STATION: NNN0CQQ (14 MAY 1500Z - 15 MAY 0400Z)
EX-USS MIDWAY MUSEUM SHIP MARS STATION
FREQUENCY EMISSION AMATEUR BAND
4003.0 KHZ LSB 80M
7351.5 KHZ LSB 40M
14463.5 KHZ USB 20M
20936.0 KHZ USB 15M
POC AND ADDRESS: JOSE GARZA, NNN0XBQ
9789 PASEO MONTRIL, SAN DIEGO CA 92129-3910
COMMERCIAL: (858) 484-0469 CELL: 858-254-0175

STATION: NUW (14 MAY 1500Z - 15 MAY 0400Z)
NAVMARCORMARS RADIO STATION, NAS WHIDBEY ISLAND, WA
FREQUENCY EMISSION AMATEUR BAND
4044.0 KHZ LSB 80M
7381.5 KHZ LSB 40M
13528.5 KHZ USB 20M
20952.5 KHZ USB 15M
POC AND ADDRESS: NAVMARCORMARS RADIO STATION
MR. DIGGER O'DELL, 260 W. PIONEER FSC BLDG.
NAS WHIDBEY ISLAND, WA 98277
COMMERCIAL: (360) 675-2823 DSN: 820-8038

STATION: NWKJ (14 MAY 1200Z - 15 MAY 0400Z)
FREQUENCY EMISSION AMATEUR BAND
4010.0 KHZ LSB 80M
7348.0 KHZ LSB 40M
14478.5 KHZ USB 20M
20994.0 KHZ USB 15M
ADDRESS: EX-USS YORKTOWN (CV-10)
PATRIOTS POINT MARITIME MUSEUM, SC
C/O FRED HAMBRECHT/NNN0GBS
129 INDIAN TRACE COURT
GILBERT, SC 29054
COMMERCIAL: (803) 657-3602

STATION: NWVC (14 MAY 1200Z - 15 MAY 0400Z)
FREQUENCY EMISSION AMATEUR BAND
4O41.5 KHZ LSB 80M
7389.0 KHZ LSB 40M
13826.0 KHZ USB 20M
20678.5 KHZ USB 15M
ADDRESS: USS LST 325
840 LST DRIVE
EVANSVILLE, IN 47713
POC: PERRY BALLINGER, NNN0VNO
COMMERCIAL: 330-932-8612/330-705-8449

Amateur High-Altitude Balloon DOES NOT Launch Tonight

The launch is postponed per ARRL:

The Project Blue Horizon 5 high-altitude transatlantic balloon flight originally scheduled for Friday, April 22 [UTC, tonight in Pacific time], has been postponed to April 27 - 29.

The Project Blue Horizon team is attempting to break current Amateur Radio high-altitude balloon records for distance (3361.81 miles) and duration (49 hours, 45 minutes). The payload will be carried beneath a 54,000 cubic foot capacity helium-filled balloon cruising between 85,000 and 100,000 feet.

During the flight amateurs worldwide are encouraged to monitor the N2XE CW telemetry beacons at 7.1023 and 10.1466 MHz. The balloon is also equipped with an APRS beacon at 144.39 MHz using the call sign KC2ZJH. Amateurs can send reports via e-mail to PBH15.data@gmail.com. More information about the program is at the Project Blue Horizon website. Launch and flight updates will also be available on Twitter.

K6HPH & KSM On-Air for International Marconi Day

K6KPH, the amateur station of the Maritime Radio Historical Society, will be on the air for this year's International Marconi Day on Saturday 30 April.

K6KPH will use the transmitters of ex-Marconi, ex-RCA coast station KPH at the 1913 Marconi site in Bolinas, California. Operators will be at the 1929 ex-RCA receive site at Point Reyes, California.

Several volunteer operators, will be manning the K6KPH operating positions. Among these will be ace operator Rick Wahl, ex-NMC, ex-KPH.

Hours of operation:

1700 - 2359GMT

Frequencies:

3550.0
7050.0
14050.0
21050.0

Transmitters will be Henry commercial HF5000D units except for 7050.0 which will be using a 1950s vintage RCA transmitter. TPO for all transmitters will be 1.5kW.

Visitors are welcome. The receive site is located at 17400 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Inverness, California (the station is actually well past Inverness but that's the town name that works with most on-line mapping programs).

Coast station KSM will also be on the air with the usual press and weather service on all Morse and RTTY frequencies.

For details on IMD see:

http://www.gb4imd.org.uk/

For details on K6KPH and KSM see:

http://www.radiomarine.org

International Marconi Day is April 30!

This year's International Marconi Day is Saturday, April 30, beginning at 0000 UTC and going until 2359. Details are at http://www.gb4imd.org.uk/ .

IMD is held annually on the Saturday closest to the birthday of Guglielmo Marconi. It provides an opportunity for amateurs around the world to make point-to-point direct contact with historic Marconi sites. An award is given for working these.

Stations operate on or near these sites. These are all around the world. Here's the organizers' list (not all are confirmed):

CW1GM Punta Del Este City, Uruguay
DA0IMD Borkum Island
EI0IMD  County Cork - Mizen Head
EI0MAR Martello Tower, Co Dublin
EI4MFT Clifden, County Galway
F5JYD/IMD Wimereux, France
GB0CMS  Caister, Norfolk
GB0MBS Dorchester, Dorset
GB0MGY Harlow, Essex
GB100MWT Sandford Mill Chelmsford
GB1PBL Portland Bill, Dorset
GB2GM Poldhu Cove, Cornwall
GB2M Lochboisdale Marconi Wireless Station
GB2MB  Haldon Hill, Exeter, Devon
GB2MD Radio Society of Great Britain
GB2MT Writtle, Essex
GB2OWM Orkney Wireless Museum
GB2SFL South Foreland Lighthouse
GB2SJ Souter Point Lighthouse
GB4FPR Fort Perch Rock.NB (On 500 KHz CW also)
GB4HMD Holyhead, North Wales
GB4IMD Nr. Falmouth, Cornwall [CRAC Station]
GB4M Daventry
GB4MBC Flatholm Island
GB4MBP Bass Point, The Lizard, Cornwall
GB4MD Waunfawr, Wales
GB4MDI Lavernock Point
GB4MHS Oxford
GB4MIW  Alum Bay, Isle of Wight 
GB4MPC Marconi Point, Cullercoats
GB5FHC Fraserburgh, Scotland
GB5LT Calshot, Nr. Southampton
GB6MD Brean Down, Somerset
GB8IMD Netheravon Camp, Salisbury Plain
GB8MD Tywyn, Wales
I0KHP/IMD Villa Dei Principi, Civitavecchia 
I4CDH/IMD Bologna
II4SM Sasso Marconi
IY0GA Capo Figari, Golfo Aranci, Sardinia
IY0IMD Forte Michelangelo, Civitavecchia
IY0ORP Rocca di Papa, Rome
IY0TC Torre Chiaruccia, Santa Marinella, Rome
IY1MR Rapallo, Genova
IY1SP La Spezia
IY1TTM Sestri Levante
IY4FGM Villa Griffone, Pontecchio, Bologna
IY5PIS Coltano, Pisa, Italy
K2NJ  Somerville, New Jersey 
K6KPH Bolinas, Point Reyes,Ca
KM1CC Wellfleet, Cape Cod, Mass.
MN0MRG Ballycastle, Northern Ireland
N2MO Wall, New Jersey
OE11M  Vienna, Austria
PA6IMD Gouda, The Netherlands
TF3IMD Hofdi, Reykjavik, Iceland
VE1IMD Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada
VE2CRD Drummondville, Quebec, Canada
VK2IMD Wahroonga, NSW, Australia
VO1AA Signal Hill,St Johns,Newfoundland 
VO1BZM Newfoundland, Canada
W1AA/MSC Nantucket Island, Mass.
W2LIS Long Island
W2MRC Somerset, New Jersey
W2RC/IMD Rocky Point, NY
W8K Elberta/Frankfort, Michigan
WA1WCC Chatham, Mass

Amateur High-Altitude Radio Balloon Launches Tonight (Maybe)

ZCZC
The Project Blue Horizon 5 high-altitude transatlantic balloon is scheduled for launch, weather permitting, at 0400 UTC (midnight EDST) Friday, April 22, from Oswego, New York. The weather forecast for launch time calls for clear to partly cloudy conditions.

The Project Blue Horizon team is attempting to break current Amateur Radio high-altitude balloon records for distance (3361.81 miles) and duration (49 hours, 45 minutes). The payload will be carried beneath a 54,000 cubic foot capacity helium-filled balloon cruising between 85,000 and 100,000 feet.

Amateurs worldwide are encouraged to monitor the N2XE CW telemetry beacons at 7.1023 and 10.1466 MHz. The balloon is also equipped with an APRS beacon at 144.39 MHz using the call sign KC2ZJH. Amateurs can send reports via e-mail to PBH15.data@gmail.com.

More information about the program, including the latest projected flight path, is at the Project Blue Horizon website at, http://www.projectbluehorizon.com. Launch and flight updates will also be available on Twitter at, http://twitter.com/#!/PBH5 .
NNNN

Egyptian Crisis On HF

People in Europe are reporting radio transmissions associated with the Egyptian crisis. The ones of most interest to us are the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). The MFA maintains a global network using a couple of teleprinting formats, often in an Arabic alphabet called ATU80.

This network is still active. Traffic is encrypted. A recent hit comes from Ary Boender, who got it from an anonymous listener in Europe. It used ARQ on approximately 9078.7 kHz. The message body was enrypted, but the preamble wasn't. It was clearly a diplomatic cable to Washington, DC, marked URGENT.

Some other known Egyptian MFA frequencies (from the log) are: 5370 6785 7759.7 7815 8022 9035 9067.7 10176.7 11056.7 14923.7 16067.7 16236.7 17434.7 18331.7 18451.7.

HF radio in general appears to be serving as a back-channel communication mode in the absence of Internet and mobile phone circuits (though these are coming back). On Friday, CW comms were reported on several 40 meter amateur frequencies. Two I recall off the top of my head are 7010 and 7076, though the latter is also a JT65A weak signal channel. I do not know if the CW was "real" or some kind of black propaganda diversionary operation.

Egypt has a secured airport that is being used by members of the upper class to flee the country. Bizjets have been heard by Allan Stern on 5517 kHz USB (their local night) and 11300 USB day. It's assumed that, since Murabak is likely holed up at his vacation home nearby, that any flight carrying him out of the country might check in here.

On the broadcast side, Gayle Van Horn has posted a Radio Cairo International schedule here. We also have a warning out from informed radio sources that a US web site purporting to be Radio Cairo is not official and should be ignored.

Still Nothing New on WebSDR

The most recent posting to the WebSDR site in the Netherlands shows no change in the problems getting the equipment back up and running:

Update 4 January:

Happy new year everyone!
Unfortunately, there's no news yet about our antenna connection.
Thanks for all the mails I got, expressing support and/or with tips on how to feed an antenna signal through a window that cannot be opened. Unfortunately, those tips are not usable: our only window is to the corridor, not to the outside. That is because our club room is in a part of the building that originally was only meant for storage, so no outside windows were installed.

Those of us who have had any experience with university amateur radio clubs, and the strange workings of the schools that support them, will be less amazed that a club dependent on outdoor antennas would be given a room with no access to same. Universities are like this.

Netherlands WebSDR Update Nov. 29

Here's the latest from the ham radio club at the U. of Twente, Netherlands, concerning the return of their WebSDR to service:

Update 26 November:

We're back -- well, somewhat.
Over the past couple of weeks, we have moved all our stuff to our new club room (although much of it still has to be unpacked), and since yesterday, we have an internet connection there.
Unfortunately though, we do not yet have any possibilities for feeding an antenna cable through the wall. It is also still very unclear how long it will take until it this will be arranged.

Background:

Since Wednesday November 3, this WebSDR receiver has been offline. This is because the radio club at the University of Twente, where this receiver is hosted, had to move to a new building, along with the entire department of electrical engineering. We knew this was coming and we were busy preparing the move (dismantling our antennas, packing our equipment, etc.). On October 29 we were told that we had to empty the old room by November 4, which is earlier than we expected. That's why we could not announce this more in advance, and could not make the transition smooth by first preparing the new room.

73, Pieter-Tjerk, PA3FWM (e-mail about this topic: qrt AT websdr.org)

Tomas Night Frequency is 3737 kHz LSB

This 80 meter frequency was just given as where the emergency work will be tonight.  The Hurricane Watch Net is still active on 14325.  One first-hand report came over the air from Cap Hatien.

Hurricane Watch Net Active for Igor

The Hurricane Watch Net on 14325 kHz USB has activated for dissemination of National Hurricane Center advisories and reception of weather observations from Bermuda. The eye of Igor is currently about 100 miles from the island, with wind about to become hurricane force. Sustained wind speed has dropped to category one, but tropical storm force extends out for a very long distance.

The Weather Channel is showing live reports from Jim Cantore and a storm chaser, both of whom are in Bermuda.

Control of the Hurricane Watch Net is currently KA5E in Texas.

Hurricane Watch Net Activates on 14325 kHz

The National Hurricane Center has requested activation of the amateur Hurricane Watch Net on 14325 kHz. This net is used for dissemination of official advisories and collection of live weather observations from affected areas. Various stations act as net control in the marathon sessions.

HWN is active for Hurricane Earl, which is nearing Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

International Lighthouse/ Lightship Weekend, Aug. 21-22

International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend

Full details here

AN ANNUAL AMATEUR RADIO WEEKEND EVENT.
CONDUCTED UNDER THE SPONSORSHIP OF THE AYR AMATEUR RADIO GROUP, SCOTLAND ON THE THIRD FULL WEEKEND IN AUGUST.
THIS YEAR'S EVENT - 21-22 AUGUST 2010

The event came into being from the Scottish Northern Lighthouses award weekend . See also the Ayr Group web site for further history and here for the original ILLW web site and 1998 list by Bob Dixon, GM3ZDH. Over the past 13 years it has grown to over 400 lighthouses in some 50 countries around the world participating in the event.

The event is always held on the 3rd full weekend in August starting at 0001 UTC on Saturday and finishing at 2359 UTC on Sunday. It also now coincides on the Sunday with the International Lighthouse Day which is an event organised by the International Association of Lighthouse Keepers whereby as many world lighthouses will be open to the public for the day.

PURPOSE

The basic objective of the event is to promote public awareness of lighthouses and lightships and their need for preservation and restoration, to promote amateur radio and to foster International goodwill.

So come and join us in the fun of the weekend, establish a station at a lighthouse, lightship or maritime beacon. The more the merrier. If you decide to join us in the fun just fill in the official online entry form with your details. This will enable other stations to be aware of who is participating in the event. You may also send you entry, or any questions regarding the rules, via the "Contact Webmaster link in the main menu.

K6KPH to Transmit Field Day Bulletin

Anyone who's operated Field Day (currently in progress) knows the importance of copying the annual ARRL Field Day Message. This is broadcast in CW and digital modes. Field Day clubs and stations earn extra points for submitting an accurate copy with their contest entries.

K6KPH, the MRHS amateur station, will once again be the west coast outlet for the Field Day bulletin message.

The Maritime Radio Historical Society station K6KPH will transmit
the W1AW Field Day 2010 bulletin for the benefit of West Coast
stations on 3.5815, 7.0475, 14.0475, 18.0975 and 21.0675 MHz using
CW.

K6KPH will transmit the Field Day bulletin using Baudot, FEC AMTOR,
BPSK31 and MFSK16 on 7.095 and 14.095 MHz.

K6KPH Field Day Bulletin Schedule

Mode Pacific Mountain Central Eastern

CW 7:30 AM 8:30 AM 9:30 AM 10:30 AM
Digital 9:30 AM 10:30 AM 11:30 AM 12:30 AM

For full information about Field Day see the ARRL Web site at:

http://www.arrl.org/field-day

Richard Dillman
Chief Operator, Coast Station KSM
Maritime Radio Historical Society
http://www.radiomarine.org