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Handiham World for 24 June 2009
Courage Center Handiham World Weekly E-Letter for the week of 24 June 2009
This is a free weekly news & information update from Courage Center Handiham System. Please do not reply to this message. Use the contact information at the end, or simply email handiham@couragecenter.org. You can also listen to the content online: Welcome to Handiham World!
Summer is officially here, and summer heat and humidity have arrived here in the United States Upper Midwest. I call this particular season "the ham radio doldrums" because it seems as if activity on the HF bands gives way to thunderstorm static and the repeaters fall silent as people head outdoors or go on vacation. Sure enough, several recent nets that I often check into have gone without net control stations, and I only found out after the fact because I didn't show up for those nets, either. My bad! Fortunately, Amateur Radio Field Day arrives at just the right time to revive ham radio for the summer! It's more than just a "day", too - most clubs and individuals plan for months ahead of actual Field Day weekend, and Field Day itself spans the weekend of June 27-28 this year. It is always held on the fourth full weekend in June. Since Field Day is an exercise in emergency operation, it is often held in, well, a real field! Outdoors. Without access to the power grid. Or permanent shelter. It may rain or be sunny & hot. There might be bugs. Or bears. You just never know, and that's part of the adventure. The idea, of course, is to practice setting up and operating "off the grid", which is potentially valuable experience for doing the very same thing in an emergency. The thing about Field Day is that it typically combines this serious purpose with lots of ham radio fun, including on the air competition for points, camaraderie, family picnics, camping out, and just plain enjoying the summer. It's really my favorite ham radio event each year, and I plan to spend some time with the Stillwater Amateur Radio Association (SARA) Field Day crew this coming weekend. When I think about all the years I have enjoyed Field Days past, I can recall times I have operated as part of a club event and times I have operated solo. There were other times that I operated with a small group of my ham radio friends. One of my favorite early memories is of operating with the Mankato, Minnesota Amateur Radio Club on the lawn of the local vo-tech school. We had tents set up, and it was fun to operate and learn new skills by getting on the air with my friends. Once I operated Field Day from a barn, sharing the microphone and code key with my friend Don Newcomb, W0DN, who is now a silent key. Don and I would later hatch the plans for a new antenna company, Butternut Electronics. You never know what might come out of your Field Day experience! Some groups like to operate competitively, with the goal of earning that coveted high score. Points are given for each contact, and there are extra points for certain types of operation. For example, phone contacts count one point each, while CW or digital contacts count two points each. Multipliers for low power operation or operating "off the grid" help build up that score. But fierce competition has never been my Field Day cup of tea, and I tend to gravitate toward groups that place a higher priority on just having fun. One time I decided to join a Field Day group operating nearby, and was disappointed when it turned out to be a CW-only operation with only the most experienced ops allowed to take a place at the operating position. I didn't stay long there, because it wasn't my idea of fun to watch someone else log points. The lesson I took away from that year's Field Day was that I needed to do a bit of homework ahead of time to be sure I was with a group that didn't take earning points so seriously. Not, mind you, that there is anything wrong with being competitive. It's fine for those who enjoy that sort of thing, so I guess my point is that Field Day comes in many flavors, and it's up to you to shop around for one that you like. You can start on the ARRL website, since ARRL, among its many other great activities, sponsors Field Day. There is a graphic "Field Day Locator" map that allows you to put in your own address and then marks out nearby Field Day sites: http://www.arrl.org/contests/announcements/fd/locator.php You can read the Field Day rules here: http://www.arrl.org/contests/forms/fd-2009-packet.pdf And visit the official ARRL Field Day website: http://www.arrl.org/contests/announcements/fd/ If you are an operator with a disability, you definitely need to plan ahead. You will want to make sure that the Field Day site is accessible, especially if you use a wheelchair or scooter to get around. Flat is good, steep hills and rutted dirt trails are not! If you are blind, you will want to make sure you have planned ahead for a rig with a voice chip and a logging computer with a screenreader, or you can pair up with a sighted person to do logging while you operate the radio. It is all about cooperation and learning while having fun, and there are plenty of ways to be creative while helping everyone enjoy Field Day. I hope to hear you on the air this weekend! Patrick Tice, WA0TDA Avery's QTH
As an example, this comment came from TIPSnet guy John West, N1IWT: Hi Avery, Anything to get more experience is okay with me. Also, it would force more to "get on the air". Like the old Novice rules - the original "use it or lose it". It serves two purposes; practical training and casual usage. It's sad the FCC might not agree as they '"dumb down" everything that's done. So add a few votes from the TIPSnet crew. 73, John West N1IWT TIPSnet Program & Publicity Manager LettersDear Handihams, The DDXA radio club is holding PA Field Day this coming Saturday. We are trying to get in touch with Handihams in Berks County, PA in hopes they will consider joining us. I can supply transportation. Please feel free to contact me: Laura Hughes or Bridget Hughes, phone 610-944-9253 or email artforkidstv@aol.com. There is a map with directions on the www.ddxa.org website. The DDXA RADIO CLUB of Berks County's 2009 Field Day event runs from Saturday, June 27th (2 PM) through Sunday June 28th (2 PM). 73, New sunspotsSpaceweather reports two new sunspots - it's about time, right?
"NEW SUNSPOTS: Since 2007, it has been unusual to see even a single spot on the sun. Today there are two. A pair of new-cycle sunspots is emerging in the sun's southern hemisphere. This is a good opportunity for readers with solar telescopes to witness sunspot genesis in action." Visit http://spaceweather.com for links and updates. Hap Holly, KC9RP interviews Handiham Radio Club President KB3LLA Image: Hap Holly, KC9RP, works at the computer as he produces the RAIN Report, and audio news program about amateur radio. Photo courtesy www.therainreport.com. The RAIN Report, produced by Hap Holly, KC9RP, features Handiham Radio Club Present Ken Silberman, KB3LLA, talking about the Handiham program. Don't miss this 9 minute interview featuring two of the most knowledgeable amateur radio operators around, Hap and Ken! Find it on the RAIN Report website: Handiham History: The ham shack gets an inspection
In this 1969 photo provided by George LaValle, N0SBU, for the Handiham History Project, Ned Carman, W0ZSW, is pictured at the Handiham station. The caption reads: If you have any stories to share, send them to us and we'll get them to George. Now, here is a correction for the history department: "I think this is great, I remember so many of these old friends. One correction: WA0EPX was Don Johnson. Mary Amdahl's call was WA0YWA. Thanks." WA0YAH, Don Wednesday Evening EchoLink Net
Please join us and check in or simply listen in, as you see fit: When: Wednesday evenings at 19:30 hours Minnesota time (7:30 PM) Where: 145.450 MHz N0BVE repeater (Minneapolis-St. Paul) Everyone is welcome. You do not need to be a member, and the net is relaxed, friendly, and informal. By the way, our Net Manager Howard, KE7KNN, reminds us that we need net control stations for the Wednesday evening net and for the Monday through Saturday morning net. If you are in the Twin Cities, all you need is a radio that can get on the 145.45 N0BVE repeater, and if you live outside the RF area, you can still be net control via EchoLink, IRLP, or WIRES. TV tuner works with screenreaderThis comes to us from Luella, KE0RF, via Ken, KB3LLA. It was posted on the AccessComp list at Yahoo Groups. This is great information from Steven Clark of Kansas City. Hi, I got a new toy delivered today. It is also the first item I bought from www.woot.com, and doubt it will be the last. I got a Sabrent USB 2.0 Digital HDTV Tuner. This thing is great from what I've found so far. It turns your computer into a TV. It receives those cool new HD channels that are out there floating around in Kansas City and other cities as well. It comes with a small HD antenna that screws onto the device. The tuner plugs into a USB 2.0 port and will not work with USB 1.0. I've found it to be very easy to use with Window-Eyes. After installing the software and the USB hardware, it will ask to scan channels. From what I understand it will work with digital cable but since we just have standard cable, nothing to try out there. So I chose to have it scan using the antenna for channels and it found 22. A list of channels is presented in a grid format with the station letters and channel in each grid entry. It was very simple to arrow around through the channels and find the one I wanted. Once I was on the channel I wanted to watch, I pressed the context key and then enter on the first item which Window-Eyes told me is play. I knew that Nova on KCPT is described and after it started playing that channel, I pressed the context key again and went down to the audio settings. The first selection was checked and I found another audio choice below. I selected the second choice, pressed enter and I heard the TV show and the described show in my left ear. Yeah, I'm using headphones, but it sounds just as good through the built in speakers on my netbook. You can also set the audio to only be on the left or right for anything you are watching. It comes with a remote and the buttons are setup in a grid. Ruthie made me an Excel spreadsheet with what each button does. I'm very happy with this purchase and am happy to find everything so accessible. I haven't tried recording anything yet, but I did find in the options menu one can select to record both video and audio or just audio. The options menu works fine with Window-Eyes as well. I bought this great device for $29 from www.woot.com, and while shopping around to get a second one for Ruthie, I've seen them selling for about $39 or so plus shipping. Editor's note: Woot.com sells items out quickly, so you probably won't be lucky enough to locate one there, but your dedicated Handiham staff searched and found them at TigerDirect for under $40: This week at Headquarters:
Reminder: Handiham renewals are now on a monthly schedule - Please renew or join, as we need you to keep our program strong! You will have several choices when you renew:
Please return your renewal form as soon as possible. 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: Ask for a free DVD about the Handiham System. It’s 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 That's it for this week. 73 from all of us at the Courage Handiham System! Pat, WA0TDA
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.
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