Monthly Archives: November 2010

Famous Country and Western Singer Johnny Cash (movie made about him…) had that hit song “I’ve been everywhere man” – which by the way a lot of his music has been sold down the river for commercial advertising use since his death – anyway … I haven’t personally BEEN EVERYWHERE, but I can travel almost everywhere through Amateur Radio also known as Ham Radio. And this weekends ARRL November Sweepstakes Contest on H.F./SSB “Phone:” Amateur Radio really demonstrates that. It’s a contest for points: For stations in the United States and Canada (including territories and possessions) to exchange QSO information with as many other US and Canadian stations as possible on 160, 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meter bands. The link is here: http://www.arrl.org/sweepstakes. The requirements are for a particular exchange of information – which requires an actual radio contact where you can HEAR each other and exchange a contact Serial #, Precedence (your operator catagory), Check (last 2 digits of the year you were licensed), and your ARRL/RAC Section (which often consists of what U.S. State you are in).

Someone might ask: Why enter such a contest? You don’t talk but for a few seconds… probably not a full minute on most of them. Well if you’ve not been in such an H.F./SSB “Phone” Radio Contest then you might not know that there is some degree of difficulty in doing so. You tend to hone some organizing and communications skills. Those skills could be used in emergency and other urgent communications situations both on and off of amateur radio. You see there is thing called “QRM” which is interference from adjacent signals. There is also radio propagation issues. So you are trying to contact as many radio stations around the U.S. and Canada and it’s not exactly easy! You better know your ham bands, you better know a bit about radio propogation, you better know your Phonetic Alphabet for communications. Some signals are really strong … and some are weak … some are almost not readable. But we try to get them “in the log” anyway. When two or more stations (and there are tons of stations during such a contest weekend) are very close in frequency on H.F./SSB Radio they “interfere” with each other. You would find yourself turning many knobs and pusing Noise Blanker and other Noise Filter buttons … in an effort to weed “that one guy” out of the pack. And you won’t be the only calling him either. So it’s a challenge … it takes some skills (I forgot to say you better know your radio well) … some skills that are no well known (or people don’t know of…) these days. The ability to “hear” someone in a difficult signal-to-noise ratio. The ability to “Get the message through”. That’s one of the primary skills that are (or should be) taught and are the kingpins of Amateur Radio. As set for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the Part 97 Rules:

97.1 Basis and purpose.-

The rules and regulations in this Part are designed to provide an  amateur radio service having a fundamental purpose as expressed in the  following principles:

(a) Recognition and enhancement of the value of the amateur service to  the public as a voluntary noncommercial communication service,  particularly with respect to providing emergency communications.

(b) Continuation and extension of the amateur’s proven ability to  contribute to the advancement of the radio art.

(c) Encouragement and improvement of the amateur service through rules  which provide for advancing skills in both the communications and  technical phases of the art.

(d) Expansion of the existing reservoir within the amateur radio service  of trained operators, technicians, and electronics experts.

(e) Continuation and extension of the amateur’s unique ability to  enhance international goodwill.

(Okay, now I get off of my Soap Box.) But then comes the *cool* factor – of being able to say that you contacted so many states or Canadian Provinces. I came into the contest late on Sunday … so I didn’t score to well. I didn’t know about this contest until turning on my radio and discovering it that way.  But still I put 30 some contacts and quite a few more states “placemark” push pins in my Google Earth and got some more states in my log book for potential Worked All States type of awards. And maybe next year – I will already know about it in advance and will do much better.

* Some interesting contact examples are:

- A station or two near “The Sundowner Lounge” in New Mexico – where Microsoft got its start at.

- A station or two near “US Time & Frequency Division – U.S. Solar and Geophysical” in Boulder / Fort Colins, Colorado. Some of you may not be aware of the Time, Frequency, and Solar/Geophysical data being constantly broadcast by WWV on 2.5, 5, 10, 15, and 20 Mhz on the H.F. bands. But chances are your electronic clocks and computers are either directly synchronized to time.nist.gov or secondary feeds off of it from other organizations or companies. Their home page is:

http://www.nist.gov/pml/div688/

See also Nist Internet Time Service: http://www.nist.gov/pml/div688/grp40/its.cfm

“I’ve Been Everywhere”

I was totin’ my pack along the long dusty Winnemucca road,
When along came a semi with a high an’ canvas-covered load.
“If you’re goin’ to Winnemucca, Mack, with me you can ride.”
And so I climbed into the cab and then I settled down inside.
He asked me if I’d seen a road with so much dust and sand.
And I said, “Listen, I’ve traveled every road in this here land!”

[Chorus:]
I’ve been everywhere, man.
I’ve been everywhere, man.
Crossed the desert’s bare, man.
I’ve breathed the mountain air, man.
Of travel I’ve had my share, man.
I’ve been everywhere.

I’ve been to:
Reno, Chicago, Fargo, Minnesota,
Buffalo, Toronto, Winslow, Sarasota,
Wichita, Tulsa, Ottawa, Oklahoma,
Tampa, Panama, Mattawa, La Paloma,
Bangor, Baltimore, Salvador, Amarillo,
Tocapillo, Baranquilla, and Perdilla, I’m a killer.

[Chorus]

I’ve been to:
Boston, Charleston, Dayton, Louisiana,
Washington, Houston, Kingston, Texarkana,
Monterey, Faraday, Santa Fe, Tallapoosa,
Glen Rock, Black Rock, Little Rock, Oskaloosa,
Tennessee, Hennessey, Chicopee, Spirit Lake,
Grand Lake, Devils Lake, Crater Lake, for Pete’s sake.

[Chorus]

I’ve been to:
Louisville, Nashville, Knoxville, Ombabika,
Schefferville, Jacksonville, Waterville, Costa Rica,
Pittsfield, Springfield, Bakersfield, Shreveport,
Hackensack, Cadillac, Fond du Lac, Davenport,
Idaho, Jellico, Argentina, Diamantina,
Pasadena, Catalina, see what I mean-a.

[Chorus]

I’ve been to:
Pittsburgh, Parkersburg, Gravelbourg, Colorado,
Ellensburg, Rexburg, Vicksburg, Eldorado,
Larimore, Admore, Haverstraw, Chatanika,
Chaska, Nebraska, Alaska, Opelika,
Baraboo, Waterloo, Kalamazoo, Kansas City,
Sioux City, Cedar City, Dodge City, what a pity.

[Chorus]

* My www.eqsl.cc – Worked All States – Status Info. 20 states needed for Worked all U.S. States.

This award combines all eWAS credits from any of your attached accounts that are in the same state/country.
UNOFFICIAL until your application has been approved
NOTE: Only eQSLs received from users with Authenticity Guaranteed certificates are counted.
eWAS award credits for KA4UDX and attached accounts
State Mode Band Prop Mode From
CA  PSK31 20M  N6VYT (to KA4UDX)
WT6X (to KA4UDX)
N6HC (to KA4UDX)
N6QQ (to KA4UDX)
N6HC (to KA4UDX)
WD6FTB (to KA4UDX)

CO  PSK31 40M  W0LV (to KA4UDX)
W0FRC (to KA4UDX)

CT  SSB 17M  W1AW (to KA4UDX)
KB1RXA (to KA4UDX)
KB1THM (to KA4UDX)
KB1RXA (to KA4UDX)
KB1THM (to KA4UDX)

DE  SSB 20M  K2E (to KA4UDX)

FL  FM 2M  N4QV (to KA4UDX)
W6BXQ (to KA4UDX)
N4QV (to KA4UDX)
KE4PT (to KA4UDX)
K4FP (to KA4UDX)
NZ5N (to KA4UDX)
W6BXQ (to KA4UDX)
AI4OF (to KA4UDX)
N0JEF (to KA4UDX)

GA  SSB 10M  K4AAK (to KA4UDX)
KC4TVZ (to KA4UDX)
KD4BVG (to KA4UDX)

HI  PSK31 20M  KH7S (to KA4UDX)

IL  PSK31 20M  K9QDA (to KA4UDX)
N0LTM (to KA4UDX)
N2BJ (to KA4UDX)

KS  SSB 15M  W0AVE (to KA4UDX)
AC0A (to KA4UDX)

KY  PSK31 20M  AG4CZ (to KA4UDX)

LA  SSB 10M  K5AH (to KA4UDX)

MA  PSK31 20M  KB1QBW (to KA4UDX)
KA1IOR (to KA4UDX)

MD
(DC and MD count as a single state, so if you have both of these, you need 51 total states)  PSK31 20M  W3DPW (to KA4UDX)
KG3BOZ (to KA4UDX)
KB3JQQ (to KA4UDX)
N3MK (to KA4UDX)

MO  SSB 10M  WA0KLC (to KA4UDX)
WY0Q (to KA4UDX)

MS  SSB 10M  AG5Z (to KA4UDX)
N4UPX (to KA4UDX)

NC  SSB 10M  KZ3T (to KA4UDX)
K2J (to KA4UDX)
K4KCS (to KA4UDX)
N3QH (to KA4UDX)
K4IZE (to KA4UDX)
WK4P (to KA4UDX)

NE  SSB 20M  KC0JRW (to KA4UDX)

NH  SSB 20M  K2K (to KA4UDX)
W1STT (to KA4UDX)

NJ  PSK31 20M  KA2HHB (to KA4UDX)

NM  SSB 15M  W5MZM (to KA4UDX)

NY  PSK31 20M  KC2VFQ (to KA4UDX)
N3CEO (to KA4UDX)
W2HEN (to KA4UDX)
W2NCS (to KA4UDX)
N2XPW (to KA4UDX)
W2VV (to KA4UDX)
KA2LIM (to KA4UDX)

OH  PSK31 20M  WD8EBS (to KA4UDX)
K8BM (to KA4UDX)
KD8ZU (to KA4UDX)
W8GNM (to KA4UDX)

PA  PSK31 20M  N2MZZ (to KA4UDX)
WC3A (to KA4UDX)
KB3DIV (to KA4UDX)
KB3ONQ (to KA4UDX)
W1HFD (to KA4UDX)
KD3NB (to KA4UDX)
W3GLH (to KA4UDX)
WK3N (to KA4UDX)
W3GLH (to KA4UDX)

RI  SSB 20M  N1GKE (to KA4UDX)

SC  PSK31 40M  WX6Y (to KA4UDX)
K4RW (to KA4UDX)
ND4Z (to KA4UDX)

TX  PSK31 20M  K5AHL (to KA4UDX)
KE5AQD (to KA4UDX)
W5VGR (to KA4UDX)
W5VGR/5 (to KA4UDX)
W5TDN (to KA4UDX)
WX5W (to KA4UDX)

VA  FM 10M  AJ4AQ (to KA4UDX)
KD4UFD (to KA4UDX)
KO4XB (to KA4UDX)
W3CUM (to KA4UDX)
K0PT (to KA4UDX)
AJ4AQ (to KA4UDX)
NN3W (to KA4UDX)
KC2MIB (to KA4UDX)
KJ4QZB (to KA4UDX)
W4KKN (to KA4UDX)

VT  PSK31 20M  W1/E74OF (to KA4UDX)
K1LI (to KA4UDX)

WA  SSB 15M  KQ7W (to KA4UDX)

WI  SSB 20M  W9RMA (to KA4UDX)

Total of 30 States Confirmed
States Still Needed
Recommended Contacts for the 20 States you still need
- OR -
Choose individually from the list below
AK Recommended Contacts
AL Recommended Contacts
AR Recommended Contacts
AZ Recommended Contacts
IA Recommended Contacts
ID Recommended Contacts
IN Recommended Contacts
ME Recommended Contacts
MI Recommended Contacts
MN Recommended Contacts
MT Recommended Contacts
ND Recommended Contacts
NV Recommended Contacts
OK Recommended Contacts
OR Recommended Contacts
SD Recommended Contacts
TN Recommended Contacts
UT Recommended Contacts
WV Recommended Contacts
WY Recommended Contacts

—

73 de KA4UDX,

Alan Spicer

* * * *

WWV is the oldest continuously-operating radio station in the United States, first going on the air from Washington, D.C. in May 1920, approximately six months before the launch of KDKA. The station first broadcast Friday evening concerts on 600 kHz, and its signal could be heard 40 kilometres (25 mi) from Washington. On December 15, 1920, WWV began broadcasting on 750 kHz, distributing Morse code news reports from the Department of Agriculture. This signal could be heard up to 300 kilometres (190 mi) from Washington. These news broadcasts ended on April 15, 1921. ^[1]

Standard frequency signals

At the end of 1922, WWV’s purpose shifted to broadcasting standard frequency signals. These signals were desperately needed by other broadcasters, because equipment limitations at the time meant that the broadcasters could not stay on their assigned frequencies. Testing began on January 29, 1923, and frequencies from 200 to 545 kHz were broadcast. Frequency broadcasts officially began on March 6, 1923.^[2] The frequencies were accurate to “better than three-tenths of one percent.” At first, the transmitter had to be manually switched from one frequency to the next, using a wavemeter. The first quartz oscillators were invented in the mid-1920s, and they greatly improved the accuracy of WWV’s frequency broadcasts.^[1]

One of the Beltsville transmitter buildings.

In 1926, WWV was nearly shut down. Its signal could only cover the eastern half of the United States, and other stations located in Minneapolis and at Stanford University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology were slowly making WWV redundant. The station’s impending shutdown was announced in 1926, but it was saved by a flood of protests from citizens who relied on the service. Later, in 1931, WWV underwent an upgrade. Its transmitter, now directly controlled by a quartz oscillator, was moved to College Park, Maryland. Broadcasts began on 5 MHz. A year later, the station was moved again, to Department of Agriculture land in Beltsville, Maryland, where it would stay until 1966. Broadcasts were added on 10 and 15 MHz, power was increased, and time signals, an A440 tone, and ionosphere reports were all added to the broadcast in June 1937. ^[1]

WWV was nearly destroyed by a fire on November 6, 1940. The frequency and transmitting equipment was recovered, and the station was back on the air (with reduced power) on November 11. Congress funded a new station in July 1941, and it was built 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) south of the former location. ^[1] WWV resumed normal broadcasts on 2.5, 5, 10, and 15 MHz on August 1, 1943. ^[2]

Time signals

A 1940 QSL for WWV.

WWV had been broadcasting second pulses since 1937, but these pulses were not tied to actual time. In June 1944, the United States Naval Observatory allowed WWV to use the USNO’s clock as a source for its time signals. Over a year later, in October 1945, WWV broadcast Morse code time announcements every five minutes. Voice announcements started on January 1, 1950, and were broadcast every five minutes. Frequencies of 600 Hz and 440 Hz were broadcast during alternating minutes. By this time, WWV was broadcasting on 2.5, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 MHz. The 30 and 35 MHz broadcasts were ended in 1953. ^[1]

A binary-coded decimal time code began testing in 1960, and became permanent in 1961. This “NASA time code” was modulated onto a 1000 Hz audio tone at 100 Hz, sounding somewhat like a monotonous repeated “baaga-bong”.^[1] The code was also described as sounding like a “buzz-saw”. On July 1, 1971, the time code’s broadcast was changed to the present 100 Hz subcarrier, which is inaudible when using a normal radio (but can be heard using headphones or recorded using a chart recorder). ^[3]

WWV moved to its present location at Fort Collins on December 1, 1966, enabling better reception of its signal throughout the continental United States. WWVB signed on in that location three years earlier. In April 1967, WWV stopped using the local time of the transmitter site (Eastern Time until 1966, and Mountain Time afterwards) and switched to Coordinated Universal Time.^[1]

The 20 and 25 MHz broadcasts were discontinued in 1977, but the 20 MHz broadcast was reinstated the next year.^[1] The voice used on WWV was that of Don Elliott Heald until August 13, 1991, when equipment changes required rerecording the announcer’s voice. The one used at that time was that of John Doyle, but was soon switched to the voice of KSFO morning host Lee Rodgers.^[4]

The radio signals of WWV, WWVB and WWVH, along with the atomic clocks that their time signals derive from, are maintained by NIST’s Time and Frequency Division, which is based in nearby Boulder, Colorado.^[5] The Time and Frequency Division is part of the NIST’s Physics Laboratory, based in Gaithersburg, Maryland.^[6] NIST’s predecessor, the National Bureau of Standards, previously maintained WWV as a part of the Department of Agriculture; NIST is currently part of the Department of Commerce.^[