Courage Center's Handiham World Weekly E-Letter for the week of 25
June 2008
This
is a free weekly news & information update from Courage Center's Handiham
System.
Please do not reply to this message. Use the
contact information below, or simply email handiham@courage.org.
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http://www.handiham.org/audio/handiham.mp3
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Contact us at:
Courage
Center - Handiham System
3915 Golden Valley Road
Golden Valley, MN 55422
Toll-Free: 1-866-426-3442
Email: hamradio@courage.org
Website: http://handiham.org
Welcome to Handiham World!I understand that you're looking for vintage QSL's. This one may be of interest since you are using Barry's S-Line. Barry was recovering the last men on the moon from the USS Ticonderoga. Worked him on 15 meters. He was using a Swan 500 & dipole, as I recall. I keep this one with my WZ6C/ST4 "camel mobile" card!
73, K0JS
We thank Jeff for sending in this wonderful vintage QSL card. "Vintage" ham radio operators like me and Avery certainly remember Senator Barry Goldwater, K7UGA, who was a very active amateur radio operator and had a large, well-appointed station at his home QTH in Arizona. What makes Jeff's card unique is that Barry was not at his home QTH when this contact was made, but out to sea on a recovery mission to pick up astronauts who had just made the trip back from the moon. In those days, the 1970s, there was no Space Shuttle and the astronauts had to "splash down" into the ocean, which provided probably the softest, safest way to get the Apollo capsule back onto the surface of the planet. Naturally, United States Navy ships like the Ticonderoga were needed to proceed to the most likely area that the capsule would splash into the ocean and be ready to pick up the astronauts and the Apollo capsule itself. What a thrill it must have been to work a station like K7UGA running Maritime Mobile!
You can read an interesting history of the USS
Ticonderoga, which even includes a paragraph about picking up Apollo 16, on the
United States Navy website:
http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/ships/carriers/histories/cv14-ticonderoga/cv14-ticonderoga.html
We will bet that you have vintage QSL cards, too. If you can send a scan or photo of your vintage QSL cards, we will feature them here. What the heck - the HF bands are still pretty poor, so we might as well keep ourselves busy with vintage cards! Please send the images to wa0tda@arrl.net along with a few words, if you wish, explaining the card or perhaps recalling those days when you were sending lots of these out. We will also feature your comments and callsign in the story.
Patrick Tice
wa0tda@arrl.net
Handiham Manager
We have had reports of members not getting their weekly e-letter or Friday lecture notices. Report problems to wa0tda@arrl.net. Always check your spam or junk mail filters.
As of this week, we have decided to move the e-letter mailing list to a new handiham.net location on the N1XTB server farm. I am working with K9HI on this project, which is underway as of today. We are testing the system before bringing it online. It should be working by next week, but this week's mailing is still going out under the old, broken system. Sorry about that!
Members Only login has changed completely. Your old
password will not work unless you have specifically requested it to do so
already. To get a members only password, you MUST be a Handiham member. Go
to the "Create New Account" link,
http://www.handiham.org/user/register
and enter your HAM RADIO CALL SIGN and email address that you have already
registered with us when you joined Handihams. Your request for a password
will be reviewed and your callsign or email address will be checked against
the ones you already entered in our database. Non-members will be rejected.
If you get an access denied message when you use the above link, it means you are already logged in to the website. Thus, you already have a user name and password and do not need to use the link.
Finally, thanks to SP9QLO for pointing out some broken links on the website. These happen when directory names get changed, but the links are not updated. I appreciate your help pointing these out. You may email wa0tda@arrl.net with suggestions or bug fixes.
Don't forget that ARRL Field Day is this coming weekend, the last full weekend during the month of June. Although you may not be able to make a commitment to operate the entire contest, you can help your radio club by signing up to operate at least one block of time. There are plenty of other opportunities if you want to help, including helping with setting up antennas and stations, logging during the contest, helping with food service, keeping the emergency power up and running, and finally taking everything down after the contest is finished. Many of us have participated in all kinds of different Field Day activities over the years, and I have to say that these bring back some of the fondest memories I have of being an amateur radio operator. This year, because of family commitments, I will be unable to operate with my local club, the Stillwater Amateur Radio Association, which will be running station W0JH from Andersen Scout Camp near Hudson Wisconsin. I feel bad about that, but I can help by publicizing the operation on the club's website and by helping with the setup Friday afternoon. That's the thing about Field Day; no one needs to feel obligated to do everything. If each club member helps with something, the job will get done! Here's hoping that you will have fun with your local radio club this coming weekend as you operate ARRL Field Day.
Image: Avery, K0HLA, outdoors at Courage North, where we set up a mock Field Day to teach campers how to participate in the real thing.
Welcome once again to my Humble QTH:
Since Field Day is coming up this weekend, I got to thinking about some past Field Days, and how a wrong choice can have an impact on your score in the contest, on participation, and on the overall success of the event. One thing in particular comes to mind, and that was the time that we operated field day but simply chose the wrong station callsign for Morse code operation. I belonged to a club called "SMARTS", which stood for "Southwest Metro Amateur Radio Transmitting Society" here in the Twin Cities area. The callsign that we used was KB0CQ, Stan Gunn's, which is a perfectly fine one, except not for use with Morse code on Field Day. The bands were very busy, which (unfortunately) created the perfect conditions for confusion with "CQ" being part of our callsign. It seemed like we spent all our CW time trying to explain that KB0CQ was the call we were using and that it was not some special way of calling CQ. We operated some SSB as well, and the callsign was easier to explain on the phone. In any case, on CW it turned out to be a mess and a waste of time, so we learned our lesson and I don't think we will use a call with "CQ" in it again on Field Day.
Of course plenty of other things can happen, some of which are outside your control. If the weather turns dangerously bad and there is lightning, you will have to take shelter and stay off the air. The mistake can come in if your group plans only for nice, sunny weather and has no "plan B" if the weather turns nasty. This is the sort of thing that your group needs to think about ahead of time so that you are not caught in a downpour of rain in an area that could easily be cut off by flooding or where protecting expensive electronic equipment from moisture is not possible. What I recommend is that your club's Field Day committee actually visit and familiarize themselves with potential Field Day sites so as to be aware of places to take shelter in severe weather. Planning for rain should be automatic, but amazingly enough people are still caught without plastic sheeting to cover thousands of dollars worth of radio gear and computers. While a summer storm may shut the Field Day operation down for a while, if you are prepared, you can simply pick up where you left off once the storm passes.
Another easy way to mess up a Field Day is to not use a check list. Even though you think you might be able to remember everything, invariably you will arrive at the Field Day site, many miles from nowhere, at the same time all of the mosquitoes do and you will have forgotten the bug spray. A check list is a simple way to make sure that you are packing all of the essentials. If different people handle different parts of the station equipment, food, and other supplies, each should have a check list.
Different clubs have different kinds of Field Day experiences. Some of them are highly competitive, and are looking for the highest score possible. These clubs will want operators who are focused on the job at hand: working as many stations as possible as fast as possible and making sure that contacts are logged efficiently and correctly. Other clubs care little about the ultimate score but are trying to simulate emergency operating conditions by practicing station set up and the use of emergency power off the grid. The social and family picnic atmosphere of some Field Day operations couldn't be more different from the highly competitive operations! Needless to say, you have to find the kind of Field Day experience that suits you best. If you are the kind of person who likes the social aspect of Field Day more than intense competition, you are going to be disappointed if you try to be part of a club Field Day that is focused on high scores. I think it is important for each club to make it clear to potential participants what their particular Field Day is all about. I hope you find the right Field Day for you!
So, until next time 73 & DX from K0HLA, Avery.
You can reach me at:
763-520-0515
avery.finn@courage.org
ARRL Section List - In simple single-column text
If you are like most hams, you probably don't think too much about ARRL Section abbreviations, except once a year at Field Day. Wouldn't it be handy to have a simple, single-column list of sections and their abbreviations, especially if you are blind and don't want to navigate through a PDF multi-column list? You are in luck, thanks to K1EIC and KF6BKR! Here it is, just in time for your pre-Field Day review:
http://www.handiham.org/node/118
This week at Headquarters
As many of you already know, we have been working on an upgrade to the way we deliver accessible study materials and other ham radio related information to our members who cannot read regular print. Last Monday Handiham volunteer CJ (K0CJ) installed the DAISY book production software called "eClipseWriter" on our main ham shack computer at headquarters in Courage Center. The software is a product of IRTI in California, and was recommended to me by a number of tech-savvy blind users. I will let you know more about how the system works later on, but for now here are the basics:
***
Headquarters Closed next week:
Handiham headquarters will be closed the week of June 30 through July 4, 2008. This will be a vacation week for handiham staff. Courage Center will be open every day next week except Friday, the United States Independence Day holiday. We hope that you will have a pleasant, relaxed summer week.
New in Manuals Section: Tutorials from Scott, N7ZIB, on the Motorola GP300 VHF or UHF HT. You can read reviews of this radio on eHam: http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/2635, or log in to members only and go to the manuals link, then the Motorola folder. You will also find Scott's first tutorial on the Motorola MaxTrac radio in the same folder. Scott is a frequent checker-inner on the Handiham Echolink net, and is located in Margie, MN, way up in far northern Minnesota, near the Canadian border, eh.
***
There are still places open for campers at Minnesota Radio Camp! Handiham members who pass their Technician license exams at Radio Camp this summer will receive new handheld radios. If you know a person with a disability who would enjoy ham radio, please send them our way. We want to get those new hams on the air! Camp begins on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 and finishes on Wednesday, August 27. Both Wednesdays are travel days.
***
Stay in touch! Be sure to send Nancy your change of address, phone number changes, or email address changes so that we can continue to stay in touch with you. You may either email Nancy at hamradio@courage.org or call her toll-free at 1-866-426-3442. Mornings are the best time to contact us.
Letters
Dear Handihams,
I
got a surprise in the mail last weekend from QCWA...The
President's Award! I wanted you to know so that you can see that the QCWA
appreciates our (yours as well as mine hi, hi) efforts over the past two years
or so. You deserve as much thanks for all the work done by you and the Courage
system to afford them this broadcasting platform.
Bob Zeida, N1BLF
n1blf@comcast.net
The QCWA President's Award was given by John B. Johnston, W3BE, outgoing Quarter Century Wireless Association President, and was announced in the Summer 2008 issue of The QCWA Journal, page 3. Of course Handiham members know Bob from his many readings of magazine articles, books and study materials, and even from his teaching at California Radio Camp one year. A tireless volunteer for the Massachusetts Talking Information Service, his local schools, and Courage Center's Handiham System, he has read the QCWA Journal digest for over two years, providing access to hams who cannot read regular printed materials. His kindness and dedication to helping people who cannot access print materials, from schoolchildren to adults, is simply amazing.
We are so grateful to have Bob as a volunteer!
Thank you, Bob, for all that you do.
RekkyTec Links
Neospeech voices, used in many accessibility
products (and other products) where very clear, easy to understand computer
speech is needed:
http://www.neospeech.com/
QCWA, the Quarter Century Wireless Association, open
to those who have been licensed at least 25 years:
http://www.qcwa.org/
Free screenreader via the web:
http://www.accessibilityisaright.org/
KNFB Reader:
http://www.knfbreader.com/products-mobile.php
Elmer is off this week, probably packing for Field Day.
You can write to Elmer with your questions:
elmer@handiham.org
Reminder:
Handiham
renewals are now on a monthly schedule - Please renew or join, as we need you to
keep our program strong!
Image: Meet our new dues collection agent! A huge alligator grabs Pat, WA0TDA. "Sure wish I'd renewed my Handiham dues sooner."
For years Handiham membership renewals were done each July. This year, we are going to a monthly system. If you renew in March, your membership goes until the following March, for example. You will have several choices when you renew:
Return your renewal form and get entered in a drawing for a free Handiham coffee mug! There is a postage paid envelope provided, and of course we will do a drawing from each month's returned renewals. And you won't get a visit from you-know-who.
Your support is critical! Please help.
The Courage Handiham
System depends on the support of people like you, who want to share the fun and
friendship of ham radio with others. Please help us provide services to people
with disabilities. We would really appreciate it if you would remember us in
your estate plans. If you need a planning kit, please call. If you are wondering whether a gift of stock can be given to Handihams, the
answer is yes! Please call Nancy at: 1-866-426-3442 or email:
hamradio@courage.org
Ask for a free DVD about the Handiham System. Its perfect for your club program, too! The video tells your club about how we got started, the Radio Camps, and working with hams who have disabilities. Call 1-866-426-3442 toll-free.
DONATE USED HAM GEAR
1-866-426-3442 toll-free Help us get new hams on the air.FREE! Get the Handiham E-Letter by email every Wednesday, and stay up-to-date with ham radio news.
Handiham members with disabilities can take an online audio course at www.handiham.org:
Beginner
General
Extra
Operating Skills
That's
it for this week.
73 from all of us at the Courage Handiham System!
Pat,
WA0TDA
Manager, Courage Handi-ham System
Reach me by email at:
patt@courage.org
ARRL is the premier organization supporting amateur radio worldwide. Please contact Handihams for help joining the ARRL. We will be happy to help you fill out the paperwork!
The weekly e-letter is a compilation of software tips, operating information, and Handiham news. It is published on Wednesdays, and is available to everyone free of charge. Please email wa0tda@arrl.net for changes of address, unsubscribes, etc. Include your old email address and your new address.
