Courage Center Handiham System

Courage Center Handiham World Weekly E-Letter for the week of Wednesday, 21 July 2010

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:

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http://www.handiham.org/audio/handiham.m3u

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http://www.handiham.org/audio/handiham.mp3

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RSS feed for the audio podcast if you use other podcasting software:

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Welcome to Handiham World: 

A volunteer summer continues as Larry Huggins, KA0LSG, makes the cover of Worldradio

Larry Huggins, KA0LSG, is right there on the cover of the latest Worldradio magazine. Way to go, Larry!

The photo is from Handiham Radio Camp, where Larry volunteered as an instructor. In the Worldradio article, you can read about the blind-accessible HT that Larry demonstrated to our Operating Skills group. The article is my annual accessible radio roundup, a quick overview of radios and their accessibility features.  It is entitled "What’s New for the Operator With Disabilities", and is a feature of my regular "With the Handihams" column. 

"Regular readers know that from time to time I devote a column to what’s new in amateur radio equipment and software that is accessible to people with disabilities. Most of the questions I get have to do with what is blind-accessible, both for radio hardware and computing. Our largest single accessible technology user group is amateur radio operators who have some kind of reading disability, usually blindness or some degree of vision loss. I think this is probably a long-term trend as more baby boomers encounter age-related deterioration of their eyesight. Macular degeneration is relatively common in older folks and because of its onset late in life can catch them off guard and leave them wondering if they can still use a computer or even get on the air effectively anymore."

There are always questions about accessible handheld radios, so this part of the article is timely:

"Handiham volunteers Larry Huggins, KA0LSG, and Ken Silberman, KB3LLA, both found the new Wouxun 2m/70cm KG-UVD1P HT at Dayton, and Larry actually had his radio along to demonstrate to us at Handiham Radio Camp."

Read more on the Worldradio website:

http://www.worldradiomagazine.com

Our thanks to CQ Publications for helping us get the word out about accessible technology. 

For Handiham World, I'm...

Patrick Tice
wa0tda@arrl.net 

International Living with a Star (ILWS) meeting ponders solar WX prediction science

16 July 2010: At the International Living with a Star (ILWS) meeting in Bremen, Germany, representatives from more than 25 of the world's most technologically-advanced nations have gathered to hear what scientists studying in the field have to say.

"The problem is solar storms—figuring out how to predict them and stay safe from their effects," says ILWS Chairperson Lika Guhathakurta of NASA headquarters. "We need to make progress on this before the next solar maximum arrives around 2013."

Read more on the NASA Science News website:
http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2010/16jul_ilws/

QSL cards

Since it is strictly "slow news" for ham radio this time of year, how about telling us about some favorite QSL cards you have either sent or received over the years?  A photo or scan would be helpful, if you have one.

This old card is from W0MGI, Marv Mahre, who is a member of my radio club, SARA, the Stillwater Amateur Radio Association.  Marv ran a printing business for many years, and produced beautiful QSL cards. Retired now, he enjoys radio club nets, and is often heard on the "top band", 160 meters, on 1.902 MHz.  What I like about this card is that it is not a cookie cutter style;  it has a cartoon drawing of Marv pounding a J-38 Morse code key with his clenched fist, a big smile on his face. He also tells us about his interest in railroading and calls himself a "Railfan", a railroad hobbyist. Why not use your QSL card to convey some interesting information aside from the details of a contact on the air? That's what makes Marv's card memorable.

So what do you have?  Send it to wa0tda@arrl.net with your comments. 

Feedback

Joe, KA9OPL, writes about his TS-480 audio tutorials:

When you have time, check out my tutorial (3 parts) at: 
http://www.joeleah.com/ts480.html 

73, Joe, KA9OPL

John, K7VE, writes about the Wouxun radio review in Worldradio:

Nice review in WorldRadio -- you may not be aware or just failed to mention, the KG-UVD1P also can be purchased in a 144/222 version. It is dual band, but there is a choice between 144/440 and 144/220 -- I own the 144/220 version and use it for local repeaters and it performs very well. The 222 capable version can be purchased at a couple of places including www.wouxun.us (no affiliation other than purchasing my radio from this vendor).

John D. Hays Amateur Radio Station K7VE 
http://k7ve.org 

Old spark gap transmitters explained

In this video, now silent key Bruce Kelly, W2ICE, explains how spark gap transmitters work in the Antique Wireless Association museum. We think they really mean it when those signs say "high voltage" and "danger". The audio is self-explanatory, so if you are blind you can still enjoy the 4 minute presentation:

http://www.handiham.org/node/891

This week @ HQ

• Pat, WA0TDA, says: I will be at Camp Courage HANDIHAM HQ on Thursday, July 22 working on station infrastructure as we continue our remote base project. I will be out of phone and email contact for most of the day.
  
• Tonight is net night!  The Wednesday evening EchoLink net is at 19:30 United States Central Daylight time, which translates to +5 hours, or 00:30 GMT Thursday morning during North American Daylight Time. In the winter, the GMT schedule is +6 hours. Connect from any Internet-enabled computer in the world, and come out on Twin Cities repeater N0BVE on 145.450.
  

  EchoLink nodes:

  KA0PQW-R, node 267582
  N0BVE-R, node 89680
  HANDIHAM conference server Node 494492 (Our preferred high-capacity node.)

  Other ways to connect:

  IRLP node 9008 (Vancouver BC reflector)
  WIRES system number 1427

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@couragecenter.org  or call her toll-free at 1-866-426-3442. Mornings are the best time to contact us. 

Supporting Handihams

Now you can support the Handiham program by donating on line using Courage Center's secure website.

It is easy, but one thing to remember is that you need to use the pull-down menu to designate your gift to the Handiham program.

• Step one: Follow this link to the secure Courage Center Website:
  https://couragecenter.us/SSLPage.aspx?pid=294&srcid=344

• Step two: Fill out the form, being careful to use the pull-down Designation menu to select "Handi-Hams".

• Step three: Submit the form to complete your donation. If the gift is a tribute to someone, don't forget to fill out the tribute information. This would be a gift in memory of a silent key, for example.

We really appreciate your help. As you know, we have cut expenses this year due to the difficult economic conditions. We are working hard to make sure that we are delivering the most services to our members for the money - and we plan to continue doing just that in 2010.

Thank you from the Members, Volunteers, and Staff of the Handiham System

Patrick Tice, WA0TDA, Handiham Manager
patt@couragecenter.org

Handiham Membership Dues

Reminder: Handiham renewals are 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:

• Join at the usual $10 annual dues level for one year. Your renewal date is the anniversary of your last renewal, so your membership extends for one year.

• Join for three years at $30.

• Lifetime membership is $100.

• If you can't afford the dues, request a sponsored membership for the year.

• Donate an extra amount of your choice to help support our activities.

• Discontinue your membership.

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 Walt Seibert at 763-520-0532 or email him at walt.seibert@couragecenter.org. 

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.1-866-426-3442 toll-free -- Help us get new hams on the air.

Get the Handiham E-Letter by email every Wednesday, and stay up-to-date with ham radio news. 

You may listen in audio to the E-Letter at www.handiham.org.

Email us to subscribe:
hamradio@couragecenter.org

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 Handiham System

Reach me by email at:
patt@couragecenter.org

Nancy, Handiham Secretary:
hamradio@couragecenter.org

Radio Camp email:
radiocamp@couragecenter.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.