January 2006 - arrl-odv - reflector.arrl.org

[arrl-odv:13635] Fwd: SuitSat
by Tom Frenaye 26 Jan '06

26 Jan '06

Nice story with a link to ARRL clubs at the bottom. NASA sendsout a huge number of e-mails to their list. -- Tom >From: NASA Science News <snglist(a)lyris.msfc.nasa.gov> >To: NASA Science News <snglist(a)lyris.msfc.nasa.gov> >Subject: Disembodied Spacesuit set to orbit Earth >Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2006 14:51:29 -0500 > >NASA Science News for January 26, 2006 > >A very strange satellite is about to go into Earth orbit. It's "SuitSat," an empty spacesuit thrown overboard from the International Space Station. Using a simple police scanner or ham radio, you can listen to SuitSat when it orbits over your hometown. > >FULL STORY at > ><http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/26jan_suitsat.htm?list117970>http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/26jan_suitsat.htm?list117970 > >The Science@NASA Podcast feed is available at <http://science.nasa.gov/podcast.xml.>http://science.nasa.gov/podcast.xml. ===== e-mail: k1ki(a)arrl.org ARRL New England Division Director http://www.arrl.org/ Tom Frenaye, K1KI, P O Box J, West Suffield CT 06093 Phone: 860-668-5444

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[arrl-odv:13634] Re: Draft Minutes
by Jim Weaver, K8JE 26 Jan '06

26 Jan '06

Dave, nice job (as usual) on the minutes. Jim Weaver, K8JE, Director 5065 Bethany Rd., Mason, OH 45040 E-mail: k8je(a)arrl.org; Tel: 513-459-0142 ARRL Great Lakes Division ARRL, the Reason Amateur Radio is! Members, the Reason ARRL is! -----Original Message----- From: Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ [mailto:dsumner@arrl.org] Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2006 5:09 PM To: arrl-odv Cc: Chwat, John; Haynie, Jim (President Emeritus) Subject: [arrl-odv:13615] Draft Minutes Here are the draft minutes of the Board meeting. Please advise me of any desired changes/corrections. 73, Dave Sumner, K1ZZ Secretary <<2006 Annual Meeting Minutes Draft 1.doc>>

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[arrl-odv:13633] Re: Houston BPL story
by Jim Weaver, K8JE 26 Jan '06

26 Jan '06

Looks like a reasonably well balanced article. David's quotation was right on target as one would have expected. Jim Weaver, K8JE, Director 5065 Bethany Rd., Mason, OH 45040 E-mail: k8je(a)arrl.org; Tel: 513-459-0142 ARRL Great Lakes Division ARRL, the Reason Amateur Radio is! Members, the Reason ARRL is! -----Original Message----- From: Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ [mailto:dsumner@arrl.org] Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2006 9:20 AM To: arrl-odv Subject: [arrl-odv:13628] Houston BPL story A number of you were contacted by a Houston reporter yesterday. Here's the story that he appears to have been working on. Dave K1ZZ http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/3613035 Jan. 25, 2006, 8:03PM CenterPoint pulls back on broadband testing ------------------------------------------- Delivery over power lines not likely for now By JON PAUL MOROSI Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle Last year, residents of a Greenway Plaza-area neighborhood served as the test group for CenterPoint Energy's Broadband over Power Lines technology. It navigated the Web more rapidly than on a standard broadband or DSL connection, using modems that simply plugged into their wall sockets. The faster pace, it seems now, was only fleeting. Emily Mir Thompson, a spokeswoman for the Houston company, indicated this week that while the company is "still evaluating" this technology and will not release its findings until next month, CenterPoint is unlikely to offer it to consumers as a means to surf the Web. Other utilities have made similar decisions. "Clearly, this is a market a lot of utilities have bounced in and out of," said David Willis, chief of communications research at Gartner. "The timing in this is difficult, because they're in the midst of a price war between DSL and cable. "The best strategy for a utility company is to go where there is no competition - underserved, possibly rural areas." Others have tried CenterPoint's anticipated decision is "very common" among power companies that have ventured into this market, according to Christy Rickard, an associate analyst at Kagan Research. Those who have continued to market broadband over power lines are largely in rural areas. Rickard said four of the nation's five commercial developments in the technology are in smaller communities, including two in Virginia and one each in Illinois and Michigan. The other is in Cincinnati. North Texas will soon be home to another exception. Later this year, TXU Electric Delivery plans to begin installation of broadband-over-power-lines technology, which will ultimately become available to 2 million subscribers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. TXU's partner is Current Communications Group, which will be responsible for the retail Internet offering. Hearst Corp., the parent company of the Houston Chronicle, is an investor in Current. Carol Peters, a TXU spokeswoman, said Current will use TXU's lines "as a highway to deliver their product." And through Current's technology, TXU will be able to replace standard meters with more sophisticated automated models. CenterPoint is expected to use broadband over power lines to track the health of its equipment, an approach that would bring "a significant return on investment," said Joyce Putscher, principal analyst for In-Stat. The technology will also improve monitoring of remote meters. By using broadband to track their infrastructure, Putscher said, utility companies may prevent blown transformers and replace them at a lower cost. HAM radios affected But in some cases, this technology has had adverse effects on other forms of communication, including HAM radio. David Woolweaver, a Harlingen resident and National Association of Amateur Radio member, described the phenomenon as "a major problem." "Many BPL systems are terrible spectrum polluters," he wrote in an e-mail Wednesday. "In some cases, the spectrum pollution is so significant as to interfere with emergency and police communications." Peters, however, said Current's operation in Cincinnati has not caused any complaints in 18 months. "We don't foresee any problems from HAM operators," she said. This service is currently available to 67,000 homes nationwide, Rickard said, and between 2,000 and 5,000 subscribe. The service costs between $25 and $45. Rickard said some industry observers believe it will not become viable unless it costs less than the available broadband options. "Over the next few years, it should become more affordable in rural areas," Rickard said. "It's still a nascent technology. They're working out the kinks." Brought to you by the HoustonChronicle.com

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[arrl-odv:13632] Re: Draft Minutes
by dick＠pobox.com 26 Jan '06

26 Jan '06

26 JAN 2006 - 1145 CST Dave, I did not run my (ham radio-modified) spell-checker against the minutes text. But it appears you have covered everything we did last weekend. - Dick, W9GIG

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[arrl-odv:13631] FW: A staff departure
by Kramer, Harold, WJ1B 26 Jan '06

26 Jan '06

FYI Harold Kramer, WJ1B Chief Operating Officer ARRL - The National Association for Amateur Radio 860 594 0220 http://www.arrl.org/ _____________________________________________ From: Inderbitzen, Bob, NQ1R Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2006 10:53 AM To: HQ Staff Subject: A staff departure After completing a good and lengthy service of over 18 years, Customer Service Manager Kathy Capodicasa, N1GZO has tendered her resignation. Her last day with ARRL is Friday, February 3. She is departing to take on a new employment opportunity with RR Donnelley. Kathy has contributed in so many ways to ARRL. Most notably is her expert management of our membership and publication fulfillment operations. Kathy has given consummate attention to our day-to-day functioning, and great care to the finer details of administering membership and the circulation of ARRL periodicals. Millions of copies of QST have been delivered to member mailboxes under Kathy's watchful eyes. We'll miss her. A farewell party will be held on Thursday, February 2. More details to follow. Please join me in sharing our thanks to Kathy and our best wishes for a bright and successful future. Bob

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[arrl-odv:13630] Re: LoTW usage
by Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ 26 Jan '06

26 Jan '06

That's eminently reasonable, Henry, although it is easier to renew your LoTW certificate before it expires than after. So we encourage people to do that even if they don't contemplate making additional LoTW submissions. Dave K1ZZ -----Original Message----- From: Henry R. Leggette [mailto:wd4q@bellsouth.net] Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2006 7:32 AM To: arrl-odv Subject: [arrl-odv:13627] Re: LoTW usage My reply to not using LoTW is very simply. I have been a register user up to approximately two weeks before the 2006 Annual Board meeting and my renewal came due. I did not renew due to non usage all last year. I operate HF mobile, 2 meters, 70 cm and APRS all mobile. Rather than fill up the system with data not for awards, I decided to drop off for a while. If time premits, I will start more activity and the LoTW. Henry - WD4Q ----- Original Message ----- From: Sumner, Dave, <mailto:dsumner@arrl.org> K1ZZ To: arrl-odv <mailto:arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org> Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2006 11:08 AM Subject: [arrl-odv:13597] Re: LoTW usage I believe that what stimulated this was alleged difficulty in getting a QSL card from a Board member. The point was that if a League official is active on the air and doesn't QSL and doesn't participate in LoTW, that makes it difficult for amateurs who contact them to participate in ARRL awards programs. It is of course a leap in logic to go from that to an assumption that if one doesn't participate in LoTW, then one is inactive in amateur radio. Dave K1ZZ -----Original Message----- From: Kay Craigie [mailto:n3kn@comcast.net] Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2006 11:46 AM To: arrl-odv Subject: [arrl-odv:13596] Re: LoTW usage This fellow finds it "alarming" to learn that some Board members' idea of enjoying Amateur Radio doesn't include using LoTW. Gosh, how do you suppose he would react to the news flash that my idea of enjoying Amateur Radio doesn't include getting my socks in a knot about how other people enjoy Amateur Radio? 73 - Kay N3KN

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[arrl-odv:13629] Re: Draft Minutes
by Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ 26 Jan '06

26 Jan '06

Tnx Bill. Dave -----Original Message----- From: Bill Edgar [mailto:n3llr@earthlink.net] Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2006 11:32 PM To: arrl-odv Subject: Draft Minutes Dave, Item 40, section 2 has activities misspelled. - Bill N3LLR _____ From: Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ [mailto:dsumner@arrl.org] Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2006 5:09 PM To: arrl-odv Cc: Chwat, John; Haynie, Jim (President Emeritus) Subject: [arrl-odv:13615] Draft Minutes Here are the draft minutes of the Board meeting. Please advise me of any desired changes/corrections. 73, Dave Sumner, K1ZZ Secretary <<2006 Annual Meeting Minutes Draft 1.doc>>

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[arrl-odv:13628] Houston BPL story
by Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ 26 Jan '06

26 Jan '06

A number of you were contacted by a Houston reporter yesterday. Here's the story that he appears to have been working on. Dave K1ZZ http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/3613035 Jan. 25, 2006, 8:03PM CenterPoint pulls back on broadband testing ------------------------------------------- Delivery over power lines not likely for now By JON PAUL MOROSI Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle Last year, residents of a Greenway Plaza-area neighborhood served as the test group for CenterPoint Energy's Broadband over Power Lines technology. It navigated the Web more rapidly than on a standard broadband or DSL connection, using modems that simply plugged into their wall sockets. The faster pace, it seems now, was only fleeting. Emily Mir Thompson, a spokeswoman for the Houston company, indicated this week that while the company is "still evaluating" this technology and will not release its findings until next month, CenterPoint is unlikely to offer it to consumers as a means to surf the Web. Other utilities have made similar decisions. "Clearly, this is a market a lot of utilities have bounced in and out of," said David Willis, chief of communications research at Gartner. "The timing in this is difficult, because they're in the midst of a price war between DSL and cable. "The best strategy for a utility company is to go where there is no competition - underserved, possibly rural areas." Others have tried CenterPoint's anticipated decision is "very common" among power companies that have ventured into this market, according to Christy Rickard, an associate analyst at Kagan Research. Those who have continued to market broadband over power lines are largely in rural areas. Rickard said four of the nation's five commercial developments in the technology are in smaller communities, including two in Virginia and one each in Illinois and Michigan. The other is in Cincinnati. North Texas will soon be home to another exception. Later this year, TXU Electric Delivery plans to begin installation of broadband-over-power-lines technology, which will ultimately become available to 2 million subscribers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. TXU's partner is Current Communications Group, which will be responsible for the retail Internet offering. Hearst Corp., the parent company of the Houston Chronicle, is an investor in Current. Carol Peters, a TXU spokeswoman, said Current will use TXU's lines "as a highway to deliver their product." And through Current's technology, TXU will be able to replace standard meters with more sophisticated automated models. CenterPoint is expected to use broadband over power lines to track the health of its equipment, an approach that would bring "a significant return on investment," said Joyce Putscher, principal analyst for In-Stat. The technology will also improve monitoring of remote meters. By using broadband to track their infrastructure, Putscher said, utility companies may prevent blown transformers and replace them at a lower cost. HAM radios affected But in some cases, this technology has had adverse effects on other forms of communication, including HAM radio. David Woolweaver, a Harlingen resident and National Association of Amateur Radio member, described the phenomenon as "a major problem." "Many BPL systems are terrible spectrum polluters," he wrote in an e-mail Wednesday. "In some cases, the spectrum pollution is so significant as to interfere with emergency and police communications." Peters, however, said Current's operation in Cincinnati has not caused any complaints in 18 months. "We don't foresee any problems from HAM operators," she said. This service is currently available to 67,000 homes nationwide, Rickard said, and between 2,000 and 5,000 subscribe. The service costs between $25 and $45. Rickard said some industry observers believe it will not become viable unless it costs less than the available broadband options. "Over the next few years, it should become more affordable in rural areas," Rickard said. "It's still a nascent technology. They're working out the kinks." Brought to you by the HoustonChronicle.com

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[arrl-odv:13627] Re: LoTW usage
by Henry R. Leggette 26 Jan '06

26 Jan '06

My reply to not using LoTW is very simply. I have been a register user up to approximately two weeks before the 2006 Annual Board meeting and my renewal came due. I did not renew due to non usage all last year. I operate HF mobile, 2 meters, 70 cm and APRS all mobile. Rather than fill up the system with data not for awards, I decided to drop off for a while. If time premits, I will start more activity and the LoTW. Henry - WD4Q ----- Original Message ----- From: Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ To: arrl-odv Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2006 11:08 AM Subject: [arrl-odv:13597] Re: LoTW usage I believe that what stimulated this was alleged difficulty in getting a QSL card from a Board member. The point was that if a League official is active on the air and doesn't QSL and doesn't participate in LoTW, that makes it difficult for amateurs who contact them to participate in ARRL awards programs. It is of course a leap in logic to go from that to an assumption that if one doesn't participate in LoTW, then one is inactive in amateur radio. Dave K1ZZ -----Original Message----- From: Kay Craigie [mailto:n3kn@comcast.net] Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2006 11:46 AM To: arrl-odv Subject: [arrl-odv:13596] Re: LoTW usage This fellow finds it "alarming" to learn that some Board members' idea of enjoying Amateur Radio doesn't include using LoTW. Gosh, how do you suppose he would react to the news flash that my idea of enjoying Amateur Radio doesn't include getting my socks in a knot about how other people enjoy Amateur Radio? 73 - Kay N3KN

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[arrl-odv:13626] Re: Draft Minutes
by Dennis Bodson 26 Jan '06

26 Jan '06

Dave: Looks good. Dennis _____ From: Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ [mailto:dsumner@arrl.org] Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2006 5:09 PM To: arrl-odv Cc: Chwat, John; Haynie, Jim (President Emeritus) Subject: [arrl-odv:13615] Draft Minutes Here are the draft minutes of the Board meeting. Please advise me of any desired changes/corrections. 73, Dave Sumner, K1ZZ Secretary <<2006 Annual Meeting Minutes Draft 1.doc>>

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