CQ CQ de NØUWY

Come and Join Us on the Airwaves

2012-02-20T15:47:00.001-08:00

Uploaded by andrewjohnpremiere on Sep 23, 2011

A new high quality version of this crazy video about ham radio.

World Record Balloon Attempt

2012-02-11T08:43:00.001-08:00

World Record Balloon Attempt

TAGS: amateur, balloon, good chance, international space station, maximum altitude, PM CST, radio operators,telemetry
02/09/2012
A group of Amateur Radio operators hopes to establish a world distance record for an unmanned, helium-filled balloon. The BLT-28 balloon will launch from Katy, Texas, on a journey that will take it across the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, and then on to Nanjing, China. The South Texas Balloon Launch Team plans to release the balloon at 3 PM CST (2100 UTC) Saturday, February 11.
During the trans-Atlantic crossing, when out of range of shore based stations, the balloon’s APRS beacon will operate on the International Space Station (ISS) packet digipeater frequency of 145.825 MHz.
The balloon payload package weighs only about 5 ounces and contains a high altitude GPS tracking system and a 144 MHz FM APRS Amateur Radio transmitter. To conserve weight and battery life, no camera equipment will be on board. The maximum altitude is expected to be above 19 miles, with horizontal speeds between 100 and 150 miles per hour.
You can track the progress of the flight online by entering the payload call sign KT5TK-11. Those in the southern and southeastern United States have a good chance of copying the APRS beacons directly as the balloon passes nearby.
The APRS telemetry transmitter is frequency agile to cope with different APRS standards across the globe. The frequencies used will be:
USA: 144.390 MHz
mid-Atlantic: 145.825 MHz (International Space Station packet digipeater frequency)
Europe and beyond: 144.800 MHz

-Trevor Hawkins, M5AKA, AMSAT-UK

Cowtown 2012

2012-02-04T15:57:00.001-08:00

http://www.cowtownmarathon.org/

Communicators,

The Cowtown 2012 is “just around the corner” on 25 and 26 Feburary and will be in the same general format as last year. The headquarters location will be the Will Rogers Complex, the courses have changed a little, and it is still a two day event. The short events – 5K and 10K – are on Saturday and the Marathon events – ½ Marathon, Marathon, and Ultra Marathon – are on Sunday. We will not need as many operators on each day as we did for the old one day format but the total will be at least as large. Some jobs will be the same both days but others will be different. We will definitely need more operators on Sunday for the longer events. The Saturday assignments should last from about 5:00 AM until about Noon. The Sunday assignments will go from about 5:00 AM until about 3:00 PM. As in years past, your assignment may not last for the whole period. Of course you can work both days if you want to.

When you see this notice, please go ahead and sign up if you have not already done so and help spread the word that we need more operators. We will need approximately 75 operators total. So far, we are 10 to 15 operators short. When you sign up, it would be very helpful if you would send me an e-mail listing the following information:

1. Your Name

2. Callsign

3. Telephone Number

4. E-mail address

5. Day(s) available

6. Assignment Preference – if you have one

7. Equipment available. We are especially interested in knowing if you have 440 capability or only 2 Meter capability. It is also helpful to know if you only have HTs or if you have Mobile/Portable capability

8. If you have any physical limitations.

9. T-Shirt Size.

We will use the First Monday RACES Net on 6 February for initial training and announcements. We had a couple of “rough spots” that we need to iron out so there probably will be at two more training nets held before the event. Information about event times, course maps, etc. is available in the URL at the start of this note.

I can be reached at 817-292-5633 or w5iu@swbell.net. We’re looking at another record year. Initial estimates indicate that there will be 25,000 runners this year. Let’s do our part to make this another great year.

73 – Keith, W5IU

Cowtown Communications Coordinator

CowTown Hamfest 2012

2012-01-19T17:20:00.001-08:00

“Hi Fellow Ham,
This is a reminder that the Cowtown Hamfest is this weekend in Fort Worth, Texas. You may already be aware of this event but many have not heard about it. We wanted to be sure no one was left out. The ARRL North Texas Region is holding their convention at the Cowtown this year. Many of the ARRL folks will be there. ARRL wants you to attend and remember, the West Gulf Division QSL contest coming soon. Please tell your friends about the event.
We hope you will come out and enjoy the fun. The weather is predicted to be wonderful. Have a great "Ham Radio" day!

COWTOWN HAMFEST 2012
Cowtown Hamfest, the original Hamfest in the Fort Worth Metroplex, will be held, January 20-21, 2012 at Lockheed Martin Recreation Area, 3400 Bryant Irvin Road, Fort Worth, Texas 76109.
A few sales tables are still available, but you need to order NOW! We will try to accommodate a select number of walk in requests if we have openings or tables are unclaimed. There is still a dollar discount for online admission tickets purchase, don’t be left out.
Doors will be open Friday evening the 20th from 3:00 pm until 8:00 pm. Saturday the 21st we open at 8:00 am and close at 3:00 pm. Food, including Bar-B-Q sandwiches, burgers and dogs will be available Friday and Saturday. Morning coffee and breakfast snacks will also be available.
Door prizes will be awarded through out the event. A Kenwood V71A Dual Band Mobile will be given away each day. A Bird Watt Meter Model 43 a gift for Phasecom and the grand prize, Kenwood D710 Dual Band APRS Mobile will be at the event’s end.
Volunteers are needed; free entrance will be given in return for a minimum of 2 hours volunteer time. Volunteer by contacting Ken Bush at kb5ybi@yahoo.com or David Forbes at KC5UYR@compuserve.com .
The event will feature large vendor areas, with over 100 tables, and an outdoor tailgate flea market. Several well known commercial vendors will be present. Vendors should go to the website for table availability and contact Kevin Vickers at vickersdc@aol.com.
A complete set of educational programs and meetings will be conducted through out Saturday, and license examinations will be held both Friday and Saturday.
Talk-in is 147.28, tone 110.9. Cowtown Hamfest is sponsored by the Lockheed Martin Amateur Radio Club, W5SJZ, and by LMRA. The website is located at www.cowtownhamfest.org, and personal contact can be made with the Hamfest Chairman, David Forbes, KC5UYR, KC5UYR@compuserve.com or info@cowtownhamfest.com .

Please take this opportunity to go to www.cowtownhamfest.com for information and to order your discounted admission ticket today. If you have items to sell, there are a few sale spaces left. We thank you for your past support and attendance. Your help makes the event possible and allows us to bring you vendors you desire.”

FUNcube Dongle

2012-01-11T13:33:00.001-08:00

This sounds like an interesting idea. I may check it out one day when I get a few extra dollars.

The Cowtown Hamfest–January 20-21 2012

2011-12-22T16:23:00.001-08:00

Hello Fellow Ham,
North Texas Hams are preparing to gather here in Fort Worth in January. The Cowtown Hamfest has been approved as the 2012 ARRL North Texas Section Convention.
To The Cowtown Website
COWTOWN HAMFEST 2012 and the ARRL NORTH TEXAS SECTION CONVENTION 2012
Cowtown Hamfest, the original Hamfest in the Fort Worth Metroplex, and the ARRL North Texas Section Convention will be held, January 20-21, 2012 at Lockheed Martin Recreation Area, 3400 Bryant Irvin Road, Fort Worth, Texas 76109.
Doors will be open Friday evening the 20th from 3:00 pm until 8:00pm. Saturday the 21st we open at 8:00am and close at 3:00pm. Food, including Bar-B-Q sandwiches, burgers and dogs will be available Friday and Saturday. Morning coffee and breakfast will also be available. Door prizes will be awarded through out the event. A Kenwood V71A Dual Band Mobile will be given away each day. The grand prize, Kenwood D710 Dual Band APRS Mobile will be at the event’s end.
Volunteers are needed; free entrance will be given in return for a minimum of 2 hours volunteer time. Volunteer by contacting Ken Bush at kb5ybi@yahoo.com or David Forbes at KC5UYR@compuserve.com.
The event will feature large vendor areas, with over 100 tables, and an outdoor tailgate flea market. Several well known commercial vendors will be present. Vendors should go to the website for table availability and/or contact Kevin Vickers at vickersdc@aol.com. A complete set of educational programs and meetings will be conducted through out Saturday, and license examinations will be held both Friday and Saturday. Talk-in is available at 147.28, tone 110.9.
Cowtown Hamfest is sponsored by the Lockheed Martin Amateur Radio Club, W5SJZ, and by LMRA. The website is located at www.cowtownhamfest.org, and personal contact can be made with the Hamfest Chairman, David Forbes, KC5UYR, KC5UYR@compuserve.com or info@cowtownhamfest.com.
To The Cowtown Website
Fellow Hams we have discounted pre-event hamfest tickets on the Cowtown Hamfest website, do not miss this opportunity. This is something we wanted to do for those who have supported us so well for the last five years. The prizes for attendance are some of the best ones we have ever offered. These are being offered by us in connection with Kenwood and Austin Amateur Radio Supply.
Hams please take this opportunity to mark your calendars and plan to attend the Cowtown Hamfest January 20th and 21st at LMRA. Take a few minutes to go to the website and get all the Hamfest details. You will find opportunities to purchase discounted pre-hamfest tickets and locate and purchase sales tables if you are planning to sell some of your gear. We will send an update including expected vendors in January.
All of us at Cowtown Hamfest 2012 want to thank all of our attendees and vendors for their participation. We provide the venue, our partners provide the classes, testing and items ham radio operators want to make their hobby and their place in the hobby more exciting. Please pass this information and email on to other clubs and hams so they will see the invitation.
To The Cowtown Website

Info from K6JSX on Fox-1

2011-12-06T11:38:00.001-08:00

"I've just agreed to become a member of the AMSAT "FOX-1" Satellite design team - this is an all volunteer effort. I'll be helping the team in the capacity of Electronics Test, Design, PCB-layout, Technical-review, Specification-analysis areas of this project.

Already I can tell you I've learned much just in my discussions with the AMSAT VP. Little tid-bits of info like:

Did you know 'today' it costs ~$125K per 1U-size (Fox-1/CubeSAT) to get on board a rocket for a launch to 650Km?

SAT at ~600Km (FOX-1) has about a 12yr life expediency until the orbit degrades and enters denser atmosphere burning up the SAT.

SAT at ~800Km (AO-51) has about a 100yr life expectancy.

So this indicated not only gravity but an X amount of drag on a SAT due to X amount of atmosphere at various altitudes, even if it is called 'space' implying a total vacuum/void-of-atmosphere.

As I discover/learn these tid-bits of interesting technical knowledge I'll share them with the Group. Sure looks to be an eye opening interesting experience!

Kuby, N6JSX/8, MS-EET, Owner"

The 2011 SKYWARN Recognition Day

2011-11-30T23:03:00.001-08:00

The 2011 SKYWARN® Recognition Day 24 hour event is active December 2, 18:00 (6PM) until Saturday, December 3rd, 18:00 (6 PM) CST starting in 1Days, 16 Hours, 57 Minutes, 32 Seconds

SKYWARN Recognition Day was developed in 1999 by the National Weather Service (NWS) and the American Radio Relay League (ARRL). It celebrates the contributions that volunteer SKYWARN radio operators make to the National Weather Service. During the day, SKYWARN radio operators visit NWS offices and contact other radio operators across the world. Information regarding SKYWARN Recognition Day is updated at hamradio.noaa.gov, and for the Fort Worth office at wx5fwd.org.

As in previous years, North Texas SKYWARN Amateur Radio spotters are encouraged to participate in SKYWARN Recognition Day, and make radio contacts with NWS offices and other SKYWARN ham radio spotter groups.

SKYWARN volunteers may visit the NWS Saturday. This is a special invitation to volunteers in counties where the NWS has limited or no spotter contacts. See our spotter radio coverage map, which show areas where we want more spotters and radio access. A lunch will be provided, but visitors mustRSVP before Thursday, December 1 via WX5FWD.ORG/RSVP, or send email to SRD@WX5FWD.ORG. Please RSVP including your name, email address, call sign (if you have one), and county. More details will be provided to attendees via email. Attendance may be limited.

The WX5FWD SKYWARN radio desk team will operate radio stations at the Fort Worth office on HF, VHF and UHF frequency bands, with modes FM, SSB, CW, APRS, PSK-31, and RoIP (IRLP/EchoLink). The NWS station call sign will be WX5FWD. We plan to be on the following bands, frequencies or linked systems. Radio operator contacts can print a WX5FWD QSL card from wx5fwd.org/QSL, after our logs are uploaded.

HF Frequency, Mode and other information will be published on twitter.com/wx5fwd and on the wx5fwd.org web site during the event.
145.490 85.4 Roston wide area repeater.
147.140 123.0 Bell county wide area repeater via EchoLink.
RAILS linked repeater system.
Internet Radio Linking Project (IRLP):

0010 WX5FWD SKYWARN Reflector.
IRLP 3786 radio link.
IRLP 3747 repeater.

EchoLink:

*WX5FWD* (372418) SKYWARN conference.
WX5FWD-L (70938) radio link.
WX5FWD-R (119094) repeater.

APRS WX5FWD.
We will periodically access SKYWARN repeaters in the North Texas CWA that are accessible to NWS radio desk.

Regards,
David McAnally, WD5M
Fort Worth NWS SKYWARN Recognition Day Coordinator
SRD@wx5fwd.org

Attachment	Size
2011_SKYWARN_Recognition_Day_Announcement.pdf	54.01 KB

First Emergency Alert System Test

2011-11-11T15:56:00.000-08:00

“Washington (CNN) -- Problems were reported across the country during the first-ever nationwide test Wednesday of the Emergency Alert System, designed to allow the president to address the American people during a national emergency.
Some television and radio stations did not air the planned 30-second test at all. Some that aired it stayed with the signal longer than others.
There were anecdotal reports of TV stations failing to air the message in Washington, Atlanta, New York, California and elsewhere. The message did not air on a cable channel being monitored in a Capitol Hill office and in the Capitol's radio and TV gallery…”

I had forgot that there was going to be a nation wide test. I was watching TV at the time. But I was watching a recorded show from my DVR unit. I think the system worked the way it should.
I was watching the recorded show and it kicked me out of the video over to a cable channel that had the test. So after the test I had to go back to DVR and start the video again but it had saved the location so I just started watching were I had left off.
So I would say from my point of view it was a success. I have Charter Cable service.

Not sure how long I will have Charter Cable service! The other day I got an email from Charter Internet Security that my IP address had committed a “copyright infringement.” I am not going into detail about it here. My grandson and I share this apartment and Internet service.
Well yesterday I got another email from them. It seems that whatever my grandson downloaded, not that I am saying he did download something, it took him three days to download (if he did download it). So I may get another notice about the incident.

I told my grandson about the emails and I told him not to be downloading stuff if there was any question about it. I also told him that if Charter cancels my Internet service that I will get DSL service and that it will be for me alone and that he will have get his own Internet service. He needs Internet service, well we all need Internet service, because he is taking college classes online.
Right now I have 18Mbps down and 2 Mbps up Internet service. If I have to get DSL service I think the most I could get would be 12Mbps down and 800Kbps up. That would be from AT&T.
I hope I do not lose my Internet service from Charter. My grandson loves fast Internet service. Well we all do. What I should do is just use Charter for my own use and make him pay for DSL service for his access.