The Illuminator

September Meeting

The next regular meeting of the Carbon Amateur Radio Club will be on Thursday, September 17, at 7:30 p.m. at the Emergency Operations Center in Nesquehoning.

We plan to continue from last month’s presentation by Rob, KB3BYT, who will now show us how to construct an inexpensive attenuator to add to our fox hunt setups. Very useful when you get close to the fox!

See you at the meeting!

CARC Elects Officers for 2009-2010

At the regular August meeting, the Carbon Amateur Radio Club elected officers for 2009-2010.

The new officers assume their duties on September 1.

President — Charlie, N3WXO (second term)

Vice-president — Brian, W3SG (second term)

Secretary — Ryan, KB3PQR (second term)

Treasurer — Steve, K4IKM (second term)

Director at Large — Brian, KC2LIT (second term)

Director at Large — Brian, KW3K (second term)

Director at Large — Rob, KB3BYT (first term)

Congratulations to all!

Treasurer’s Report

By Steve Walters, K4IKM

As of the August 20, 2009 meeting, the treasurer’s report was as follows:

Previous Balance	$527.26
Postage	- $3.08
New Balance	$524.18

Final Issue of The Illuminator

By Bob, K3PH

Yes, it really is the last issue of The Illuminator. For me, it has been a great eight and a half years, but it is time to move on. Technology has passed paper newsletters by; it is far easier and timelier to simply post any items of interest to the Carbon ARC e-mail reflector.

For those who have not noticed, many of my articles come from the ARRL Letter, which is published every week on Friday afternoons. Unfortunately, by the time these articles get published in The Illuminator, the news may be a couple of weeks old! Far better to read it directly at the ARRL web site:

http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/

The ARRL propagation forecast bulletin is another item that is regularly published in The Illuminator. It also comes out every Friday afternoon and may be found at:

http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/

The ARRL DX bulletin comes out every Thursday afternoon and may be found at:

http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/dx/

Actually, I consider the Ohio/Penn DX bulletin to be a superior source of DX information. The only reason you haven’t been seeing it in The Illuminator is that it comes out on Mondays. Since the newsletter has traditionally been published on the Friday night before the first Saturday of the month, the information could be stale by the time it was published.

In any case, you can always find the latest Ohio/Penn DX bulletin at:

http://www.papays.com/currentopdx.html

There you have it, gang! Now you know everything the newsletter editor knows!

Get Set for the 2009 Simulated Emergency Test

(From the ARRL Letter)

It's time to get ready for the 2009 ARRL Simulated Emergency Test! ARRL Field Organization leaders are planning an event that will actively involve members of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES), the ARRL National Traffic System (NTS) and many other related groups that prepare for and respond to emergencies. Public service agencies and organizations in your community, ARRL Section or state will also be invited to participate. You, too, are invited to be a part of this ARRL sponsored nationwide exercise on October 3-4, 2009, or whenever it is held in your area.

Although October 3-4 is the focal point weekend, ARRL Sections, ARES teams and nets may conduct their exercises anytime — and especially during September through December. If you don't know who to contact,

please touch base with your ARRL Section Manager and/or Section Emergency Coordinator or Section Traffic Manager for assistance. See page 16 of QST for Section Manager contact information or check the ARRL Web site http://www.arrl.org/sections/. From there, you'll find links to ARRL section pages with appropriate contact information. There can be a role for you no matter what your level of experience. After all, it is a training opportunity to try out something new under simulated emergency conditions, learn or practice useful skills in traffic handling and net operation, and observe emergency communications protocols and management.

ARRL Field Organization officials in your area and Section are planning the simulated emergency scenarios that will be used during the SET event. These scenarios are designed to help you gain valuable operating experience, or to practice what you have learned previously or to put your Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course training into action. In any emergency — real or simulated — a number of public service or public safety agencies and organizations are often also involved in the response.

ARRL Section Leaders and local or district-level leaders are encouraged to work closely with these served agencies, and the SET is a great chance to demonstrate the capabilities of Amateur Radio in the community and beyond. For more information on whom the ARRL maintains a National Memoranda of Understanding with, check this page http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/mou/. Guidelines and specific SET reporting forms for ARRL Section and Field Leaders will be posted online http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/forms. Please report your SET activities to your Section Leaders and to HQ.

Get Ready for the Upcoming ARRL September VHF QSO Party

(From the ARRL Letter)

September is here, and according to ARRL Contest Branch Manager Sean Kutzko, KX9X, that means the VHF bands are getting a workout. "If you've never experienced the fun of VHF+ operating, the ARRL September VHF QSO Party http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2009/sepvhf.html is a great place to start.

"With many HF radios now offering at least 6 meter SSB/CW capabilities — and some offering 2 meters and 70 cm as well — any amateur with a Technician class license or higher can experience long-haul communication on the VHF bands," he said. "Getting on the VHF bands is simple," he said. "If you have a radio that can transmit on both CW and SSB, that's great, but you can operate on either mode." When operating on VHF, Kutzko explained that your Maidenhead grid square is the common geographical information exchanged http://www.arrl.org/locate/gridinfo.html.

While there will be some contest activity on FM simplex (especially near large population centers), Kutzko said that most long-distance VHF+ QSOs are conducted on CW or SSB; that means horizontally polarized antennas: "A dipole for 6 meters is only 9 feet, 4 inches long and is an easy construction project," he explained. "Try to get the dipole in the air as high as possible, but even 15 feet off the ground will make some

QSOs. If you have an antenna tuner that can handle 6 meters, you can try loading up another of your antennas on 6 meters with reasonable success. For 2 meters and 70 cm, a horizontal loop will work nicely for SSB and CW contacts." You can find plans for simple VHF antennas at the Technical Information Service area of the ARRL Web site http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/other-v.html, in the Antennas chapter of The ARRL Handbook http://www.arrl.org/catalog/?item=NO-HB2009, or in the VHF and UHF Antenna Systems chapter of The ARRL Antenna Book http://www.arrl.org/catalog/?item=9876.

Kutzko advises that there are a few things to know about operating on 6 meters: In the US and Canada, there is a "calling frequency" on 50.125 MHz USB. Most SSB activity will take place between 50.125 MHz and 50.250 MHz. If conditions are exceptional, Kutzko said you may hear signals above 50.250: "CW signals can be found from 50.100 MHz to 50.080 or so. The frequencies between 50.100 and 50.125 MHz are a 'DX Window,' meaning it is reserved for QSOs between W/VE and DX stations. Please do not make stateside-to-stateside QSOs in the DX Window."

Because VHF+ antennas are relatively small, Kutzko said that many amateurs operate from portable locations, such as a hilltop or a campground. Others operate the contest as a "rover," operating from their car or truck while transmitting from multiple grid squares over the contest period. "Tracking rovers during the contest is almost as much fun as the contest itself," he said.

The ARRL September VHF QSO Party runs from 1800 UTC Saturday, September 12 through 0300 UTC Monday, September 14. Be sure to use those extra bands on your transceiver and get in on the fun you've been missing on 6 meters and up! http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2009/sepvhf.html

South African Hams to Put ZS10WCS on the Air Before, During World Cup

(From the ARRL Letter)

With World Cup soccer coming to South Africa in 2010, hams in that country will commemorate the event starting in September 2009 with a special call sign: ZS10WCS. According to the South African Radio League (SARL) http://www.sarl.org.za/, that country's IARU Member-Society, the call sign will be used in two ways: In the months leading up to the World Cup, to be held June 11-July 11, 2010, and for times during the event itself. SARL is requiring that clubs selected to use ZS10WCS before the event be on the air on weekends, Friday night through Sunday night. Clubs using the special call sign during the World Cup are expected to be on the air each day.

SARL will supply the special event QSL cards, and requests for direct QSLs will be handled by the SARL QSL bureau. Direct QSLs must include a self-addressed envelope and one IRC or US $1. Amateurs may also QSL via e-mail wcs@sarl.org.za, but those hams sending an e-mail QSL will only receive an e-mail QSL in return, and not the commemorative printed QSL.

When the World Cup was in Germany in 2006, 38 different special event stations were on the air to celebrate the event. From May 13-July 16, 26 special district stations (DQ2006A to DQ2006Z) and 12 special stadium stations (such as DR2006B and DR2006C) at the various venues were on the air. The Deutsche Amateur Radio Club (DARC) offered a gold, silver and bronze award for contacting each station; there is no word if SARL will offer an award in 2010. — Some information provided by SARL

From the DXCC Desk

The DXCC Desk approved the 2000 DXpedition to Yemen, 7O1YGF, for DXCC credit. Amateurs may also apply for DXCC credit for 7O1YGF via Logbook of The World http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/08/12/11022/?nc=1.

[Editor’s Note: Congratulations, Steve! ]

Noted in Passing…

All 2009 Field Day logs that have been received have been posted to the Claimed Scores page on the ARRL Web site http://www.arrl.org/?artid=9141.

[Editor’s Note: W3HA is there! Nice work, gang!]

Manufacturer of Texas Bug Catcher Antenna to Cease Operations: After October 31, 2009, GLA Systems — the manufacturer of the Texas Bug Catcher antennas http://www.texasbugcatcher.com/ — will cease taking orders for new antennas; according to their Web site, all orders received before that date will be filled. "Effective November 1, only orders for items that are in stock at the time will be accepted. Effective December 31, 2009, the toll free line, 1-800-588-2841, will be discontinued." No reason was given for the closure, but on GLA's Web site, owner Henry Allen, K5BUG, said. "It has been a fun 30 years, but it is time to hang it up. I would like to thank everyone who has made this experience possible."

Den Connors, KD2S (SK): The first president of Tucson Amateur Packet Radio (TAPR) http://www.tapr.org/ Den Connors, KD2S, of Pepperell Massachusetts, passed away September 3 from lymphoma. He was 58. Connors, an ARRL Life Member, conducted the first amateur packet radio contact with all-American hardware and software, using the Tucson Amateur Packet Radio Terminal Node Controller (TNC) with Lyle Johnson, WA7GXD (now KK7P), at 9:12 PM (PST) on June 25, 1982. The tests were conducted at 146.55 MHz, with both stations sending plain-text ASCII messages. "Den was instrumental in the early PACSAT work, and as TAPR's first president, led that organization from a local club he co-founded into an international organization," Johnson said in an e-mail. "His was a very cheerful, positive, can-do influence."

ARRL Propagation Forecast Bulletin

Propagation Forecast Bulletin 36 ARLP036

From Tad Cook, K7RA

Seattle, WA September 4, 2009

To all radio amateurs

This week we saw another one of those fast-disappearing sunspots. It lasted just two days, over the last day of August and the first of September. No other sunspots were observed during the month of August.

The monthly average of the daily sunspot number, January through August 2009, is 2.8, 2.5, 0.8, 1.3, 4, 6.6, 5.1 and 0.4.

The three-month moving averages of daily sunspot numbers for October 2008 through July 2009 were 4.5, 4.4, 3.6, 2.2, 2, 1.5, 2, 4.2, 5.2 and 4. This takes into account all the daily sunspot numbers for September 2008 through August 2009, and those numbers are for the center months of each of those three month moving average periods.

The latest figure, for July 2009, is an arithmetic average of all daily sunspot numbers for June through August. The previous figure, for June, is an average of daily sunspot numbers for May through July. In other words, sum all the daily sunspot numbers from May 1 through July 31, which equals 478. Divide by 92, which is the number of days in those three months, and it equals approximately 5.196, or 5.2 rounded off.

For June and July we saw the moving average drop from 5.2 to 4, and if September has no sunspots after the one on September 1, then the three-month average centered on August will be 2.

So what is coming up in the near term? Continued low solar flux and possibly no sunspots. Geophysical Institute Prague predicts quiet to unsettled conditions for September 4 and 8.

We received many tips and comments this week about the lack of sunspots, and a link at, http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/03sep_sunspots.htm to an article titled, "Are Sunspots Disappearing?"

It concerns the work of Livingston and Penn at the National Solar Observatory in Tucson, and their observation that magnetic fields from sunspots are declining. It is important to note that most of their measurements are after the peak of Cycle 23, so this may be normal during the decline of a cycle, not just this one. Also, when they say there may be no sunspots by 2015, this is an extrapolation. Since we do not know what has happened in previous cycles regarding this more accurate measurement of magnetic fields from sunspots, it may be unrealistic to assume that the trend will continue.

NW7US interviewed Dr. Penn this week in his podcast, which you can download from http://tinyurl.com/NSWARPP-E04. Very interesting interview with lots of details on his research.

Regarding sunspots disappearing, check out the comments from K6SGH on his web page, http://www.k6sgh.com/index.html.

An interesting comment came from Jim Williams, K5NN of Wichita, Kansas. Jim wrote, "As an old retired Electrical Engineer and a ham dating back to 1952, I'm wondering what the explanation for consistent long skip might be. I have been involved in an informal net on 75 meter SSB for close to 50 of those years (2 uncles and others, lots of silent keys now) before going to work-about 7AM central time. We never used to have consistent problems with long skip, now most mornings short skip is 200 miles. As I have been active through several sunspot minimums, the extended periods of long skip around daylight was never such a problem. Lately it has taken a kilowatt to be just above the noise on a hundred mile path, the path normally has been good, even at 100 watt level. Is a good plausible explanation in existence for these conditions?"

This brings to mind an August 2007 email from Jerry Reimer, KK5CA of Spring, Texas. Jerry mentioned that short skip on low frequencies depends on NVIS (Near Vertical Incidence Skywave) propagation. The propagation out to 100 miles depends on the high angle component of the antenna radiation bouncing or refracting off the ionosphere overhead. Longer skip depends on lower angle radiation. Jerry mentioned that for reliable short skip propagation, the frequency used should be only 50-80 percent of the fMUF.

Recent fMUF values from ionosonde data may be found at http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/ftpmenu/lists/iono_day.html. If I click on the Boulder (Colorado) data, I see that over the past day the fMUF above Colorado may not be high enough to support short skip on 75 meters.

Another source of real time info are the HAP (Hourly Area Predictions) charts at http://www.ips.gov.au/HF_Systems/6/6/1. Select a location from the drop down menu, and you see a map showing propagation for various frequencies from that location.

Go to http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/stp/IONO/ for more information about ionosondes.

We got a report this week from Luke Steele, VK3HJ, in Benloch, Victoria, Australia. He will soon see the Spring equinox down under (our Autumnal Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere is September 23, nearly three weeks from now), and note at the end of his comments that he echoes K5NN regarding 80 meters.

"Just thought I'd drop a line and offer a DX perspective from my modest station in central Victoria, 50 miles NW of Melbourne."

"My main antenna here is a 520 foot doublet at 60 feet, with open wire to the shack and a 1/4 wave vertical for 40m."

"Conditions the past few months have been very quiet, with very little happening on 20m and up, although I have still been working DX on CW and PSK most evenings (0800-1400z). There are nearly always Russians to be seen on 20m PSK afternoons and evenings here."

"40 and 30m provide continuing interest, particularly CW and PSK. Contacts to the Pacific Islands and S Asia and JA are available in the evenings when I get on the air. Some Indian Ocean contacts to be had, recently with VQ9JC and VQ9LA on Diego Garcia on 20 and 40m, and 4S7NE in Sri Lanka."

"75m SSB looks average for this time of year with USA on most evenings. 40m CW to USA is mostly good, and SSB is light. I've also been hearing some North America on 160m CW most evenings, and have worked a couple. Top band OK out to Western Australia, Queensland and the western Pacific Islands (out to about 2500mi)."

"Nothing much from Europe, Africa, South America and the Caribbean for some months."

"Local club nets on 80m in the evenings have sometimes been difficult, over the past few months with close stations weak, those beyond about 500mi loud. There's also DX to be had in the mornings here, but I usually miss that, not being a 'morning person'!"

"So, there is still DX to be had, but operating modes and methods need to change to suit."

Thanks, Luke!

Bob Karpinski, WB8B from Clinton Township, Michigan has been having fun running QRP on 17 meters.

Bob wrote, "There was a very sporadic opening with very good signals from the far western edge of EU on 17m from 2300-0000z from Michigan. CT1JOP was worked on 17m CW with only 1 watt on 8/27/09 2330z! He lowered his power to 5w during the QSO and we had a 2-way QRP contact with 559 signals."

Steve Ickes, WB3HUZ of Lightfoot, Virginia wrote: "Despite the lack of sunspots, I've been enjoying world wide DX on 40 meters daily. 80 meters has been more active in the last few weeks with very strong signals (5-9+20) from many stations out of Europe. It can only get better as the static begins to subside with fall coming."

If you would like to make a comment or have a tip for our readers, email the author at, k7ra@arrl.net.

For more information concerning radio propagation, see the ARRL Technical Information Service web page at,

http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html. For a detailed explanation of the numbers used in this bulletin, see http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/k9la-prop.html. An archive of past propagation bulletins is at http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/.

Monthly propagation charts between four USA regions and twelve overseas locations are at http://www.arrl.org/qst/propcharts/.

Instructions for starting or ending email distribution of this bulletin are at http://www.arrl.org/w1aw.html#email.

Sunspot numbers for August 27 through September 2 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 12, 12, and 0 with a mean of 3.4. 10.7 cm flux was 67.7, 67.9, 68, 67.2, 68.3, 69.1, and 68.2 with a mean of 68.1. Estimated planetary A indices were 5, 2, 2, 19, 5, 4 and 3 with a mean of 5.7. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 4, 2, 2, 12, 5, 2 and 2 with a mean of 4.1.

ARRL DX Bulletin

DX Bulletin 35 ARLD035

From ARRL Headquarters

Newington CT September 3, 2009

To all radio amateurs

This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by NC1L, QRZ DX, the OPDX Bulletin, DXNL, 425 DX News, The Daily DX, Contest Corral from QST and the ARRL Contest Calendar and WA7BNM web sites. Thanks to all.

SWAZILAND, 3DA0. Arnold, WB6OJB is QRV as 3DA0JK until September 8. Activity is on 40 to 10 meters using SSB. QSL to home call.

MALTA, 9H. Wim, PA2AM will be QRV as 9H3DZ from September 4 to 14. Activity will be mainly on the newer bands using CW and RTTY. QSL to home call.

BOLIVIA, CP. Rene, DF9GR is QRV as CP6/DF9GR until September 10. He is active mainly on 80 meters. QSL to home call.

FRANCE, F. Look for special event stations TM150RPC and TM0RPC to be active from September 6 to 20 in commemoration of the 150^th anniversary of the birth of radio pioneer and Nobel Prize winner Pierre Curie. QSL via F5KAZ.

GUADELOUPE, FG. Anthony, F4EUG is QRV as FG/F4EUG until September 10. Activity is on all bands and modes. QSL to home call.

AUSTRAL ISLANDS, FO. Don, G3BJ and Hilary, G4JKS are QRV as FO/G3BJ from Rurutu Island, IOTA OC-050 and Tubuai Island, IOTA OC-152, until September 16. Activity is on 80 to 10 meters using mostly CW. QSL to G3BJ.

ITALY, I. Members of the ARI Vigevano club are QRV as IY2M until January 31, 2010 in celebration of the 100th year anniversary of Marconi's Nobel Prize. QSL via IW2NOH.

JAPAN, JA. Special event station 8J7M is QRV until December 31 from Honshu Island, IOTA AS-007, in celebration of the 60 years of the Amateur Radio Morioka Club and the 120th anniversary of Morioka-city in the Tohoku region. QSL via bureau.

SVALBARD, JW. Ingrid, LA8FOA and Unni, LA6RHA and other operators will be QRV as JW1SYL from Longyearbyen, IOTA EU-026, from September 6 to 13. QSL via operators' instructions.

MARIANA ISLANDS, KH0. A group of operators are QRV as AH0BT until September 7. This includes an entry in the All Asian SSB DX contest. QSL via 7L1FRU.

LUXEMBOURG, LX. Operators PA1TK, PA5WT and PA3GVI are QRV as LX/home calls until September 7. Activity is on 80 to 10 meters using CW and SSB. This includes a 2-meter entry in the IARU VHF Contest. QSL to home calls.

FAROE ISLANDS, OY. Johan, OY2J is now QRV. QSL direct to home call.

DENMARK, OZ. Michael, DK5NA will be QRV as 5Q5NA from Romo Island, IOTA EU-125, from September 6 to 25. Activity will be on all bands. QSL via bureau.

NETHERLANDS, PA. Special event station PA75AJU is QRV until September 29 to commemorate the flight 75 years ago of the KLM Douglas DC-2 that won the handicap section of the Mac Robertson Trophy Air Race from London to Melbourne in October 1934. QSL via PA3CAL.

GREECE, SV. A group of operators will be QRV as SX2IMA from Mount Rachia on September 5 and 6 during Greek Field Day. QSL direct via SV2JAO.

DODECANESE, SV5. Members of Aegean DX Group are QRV as SX5AG from Agathonisi Island, IOTA EU-001, until September 7. Activity is on 80 to 6 meters using SSB and various digital modes near the IOTA frequencies. QSL via SV8CYR.

NAMIBIA, V5. Operators DJ2HD, DK1CE and DH3WO will be QRV as V5/home calls from September 5 to 26. Activity is on 40 to 10 meters using CW and SSB during their holidays. QSL via operators' instructions.

VENEZUELA, YV. Pasquale is QRV as YV5KAJ/YV7 from Margarita Island, IOTA SA-012, until September 11. Activity is on 40, 30 and 20 meters using digital modes. QSL via EA5KB.

THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The All Asian DX Phone Contest, Russian World Wide RTTY Contest, IARU Region 1 SSB Field Day, RSGB SSB Field Day, DARC 10-Meter Digital Contest, NCCC Sprint, International G3ZQS Memorial Straight Key CW Contest, Wake-Up. QRP Sprint, Colorado QSO Party, AGCW Straight Key CW Party and Tennessee QSO Party will certainly keep contesters busy this weekend. The Michigan QRP Labor Day CW Sprint is scheduled for September 7. The ARS Spartan CW Sprint is scheduled for September 8. The Hiram Percy Maxim 140th Birthday Celebration event runs until September 9. Please see September QST, page 78, and the ARRL and WA7BNM contest web sites for details.