Ham Spots
“Ham Spots” is a web page for digital mode enthusiasts to set up skeds and report current on air activities and “spots”. Internet sites such as this one, and Andy (K3UK)’s site are very nice way to sort out all the modes and QSO searching.
Tech Classes Nov ‘09 at AMRE
The following is the text of an email I sent to ARRL-VEs and past instructors for the Technician License classes in Whatcom County.
Hello VE’s and Instructors!
This morning N7BA, AE6K and I met with representatives of the American Museum of Radio & Electricity in Bellingham to work out the details of their offer to host classes and exams for new Technician Licensees. The following is a summary of our plans.
+The classes will be the same format as we have done in the past- Two consecutive Saturdays of question drill PowerPoint presentation followed by the ARRL-VE exam immediately on the second Saturday (at 3 pm).
+Instructors will be local volunteers from the Amateur community (usual folks and/or new folks- join the fun!)
+Registration and payment for the class/books will be handled by the Museum staff. Payment for the exam will be handled by the Exam Coordinator (probably me but the job is yours if you ask nice 
The exams will be open to all (not just the Tech students).
+The cost will be $30 for the class and book (W5YI as we have used in the past). No separate museum admission or membership is required to take the class. The exam fee is $15 as dictated by the FCC/ARRL. Books are available in the Museum library if the student can’t afford the cost.
The first of hopefully many regularly scheduled class/exams will be 9am-3pm NOVEMBER 14 & 21 with the exam time at 3PM on the 21st. You may register in person, by email, or by telephone with Anne at the AMRE 360-738-3886 Anne@AMRE.US
WHY are we doing this???????????????
1) We all love to teach and share our enthusiasm for the Amateur Radio hobby but dealing with payments and book orders is a CHORE. I am happy to pass that off to the folks at the AMRE.
2) The Museum will have books in stock so interested parties can stop by and buy one any time.
3) The American Museum of Radio and Electricity is an amazing resource that we are lucky to have in Bellingham. A relationship between the Amateur Radio community and the museum is really a “no-brainer” that can only benefit both groups. We are looking forward to more joint activities.
4) The facility has lots of room and will give us the ability to physically separate the exam graders from the examinees. People who completed the exam will have a lot of neat stuff to look at instead of hanging around (and distracting) the remaining examinees.
5) There is a complete working HF station, VHF/UHF station, and more visual aids and doo-dads than you could possibly haul to any other class location.
6) Lunch options have always been miles away from our other class sites- there are several choices within a block of the museum.
- The only negative I can think of might be the parking. The meters are NOT used on Saturdays so parking is free, but spaces might be limited- I don’t know how busy it is on Saturday before 9 am so I hope it won’t be too troublesome.
We are limiting the class to 25 participants to make sure we are not overwhelmed. I am sure we will fill that number and be in need of every VE that can attend on Nov. 21st so please mark your calendar now and come down to the Museum at about 1430 on that date.
Thank you for your help and 73,
Brian / KNØN
N3QQ Trip Notes
by Yuri Sushkin, N3QQ
Our 35' Vessel "Julia Anne"
My passion is travel to remote places + radio = DXpeditions.
It takes good amount of planning, but sometimes all stars just “align right”.
This year our trip started on June 7th, when me and Johnny KE7V met Yuri Zaruba UA9OBA at Sea-Tac airport and flown to Adak, Alaska. 2938 nautical miles from Seattle.
Upon arrival in Adak we learned our planned vessel is out of commission and shipment with most of equipment/supplies will not arrive till June 11th.
Adak is ex military base with housing and infrastructure for > 4000 families now occupied by ~50 people. Scary town at night. Local only bar’s name is “COLD ROCK CAFE”.
Johnny KE7V - Bad WX!
But people extremely nice and on a minute’s notice we found new vessel and missing equipment.
It was much more risky: 35′ vs 100′ vessel, 100 nautical miles West on the border of Pacific Ocean/ Bering Sea (so called birthplace of weather).
We just couldn’t wait for another week for mechanic to fly in from Anchorage, try to fix bigger boat.
Missing foods from shipment has been purchased at local store in Adak. For about $120 “Seattle prices” foods our total was $537. Milk is $18/gallon. Still do not know what we paid for potatoes, may be $10/lb, unknown.
Good WX Ops
Weather was great and we made 12 hour journey to Ogliuga island from Adak June 9th.
First few days we even got sun burns! Yuri’s Zaruba girlfriend may have questions, where he actually been in Alaska or Mexico? Hi Hi
During this break we saw Gareloi volcano which is located 10 miles North from us, made few pictures, now they added to historical file for Gareloi and published on Alaska Volcano Observatory website:
http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/volcimage.php?volcname=Gareloi
Yuri UA9OBA
Our camp was located right on the beach, tent was protected ~180 degrees from wind.
Then real Aleutian’s weather kicked in with strong winds and 24 hours/day rain. Our radio operating position was outside of tent, just a tarp on top protecting equipment/operator from elements.
Ogliuga island during WW2 was an emergency airfield, we walked to “cabins” on the map, only parts of foundations now remain. Right next to our landing spot we almost stepped on a live mortar. Location is marked and US Corps Of Engineers will take care of it coming August.
Speaking of radio, HF propagation was excellent, total about 6200 contacts during week long expedition. We even had an opening on 6 meters and worked about 50 Japan stations.
Yuri N3QQ Metal Detecting - WW2 Mortar
Pile-ups has been enormous. Most disciplined stations and pleasure to work with are from US and Japan. Let’s point a finger, Italians even took me off the chair, I had to say “Tea break, 73″ and take headphones off for 20-30 minutes. They where still calling when I came back!
Our return boat was rescheduled several times because of bad weather. We had no direct contact with Adak and asked Dick N7RO over HF radio to call Captain’s friend. Captain does not have a phone, he does not need it in Adak!
Our “stockpiles” of food/water have been exhausted, no sugar or butter for few days, water ended ~24 hours upon vessel’s arrival. Vodka? We had one bottle for whole expedition which was gone in ~15 minutes after landing.
On a positive note, our team worked as a team for one goal, maximum possible contacts, to give opportunity to everyone contact this new-one IOTA island NA-233. No one knows when next DXpedition will go to NA-233, and we worked very hard for each and every weak call, unless it is received in full, no other contacts has been made.
How Sudden Valley may have any connections to Adak?
L to R UA9OBA, Capt. Ridgley, N3QQ, KE7V @ Adak Airport
I was surprised, In Valley Market, someone saw Yuri Zaruba’s hat with Aleutean Islands/Akaska, it was a descendant of Shelikhov, (big name from Russian American Company times ~1780s or so), we had a nice chat and he lives here in Sudden Valley.
Also my younger son’s friend Christina’s babysitter Barb was raised in Adak!
Please visit for pictures and more details www.na-233.ucoz.com
If you remember Sierra On-line games, founder of this company, Ken Williams and team just arrived in Adak today. They have a “wrong way guys” A.K.A. officially “Great Siberian Sushi Run” on 3 pleasure boats from Seattle to Japan.
Here is a link to his blog:
http://www.kensblog.com/aspx/blob2/blobpage.aspx?msgid=463430&beid=31996
73,
Yuri Sushkin
N3QQ
MBARC Field Day Update
This info has been added to the FIELD DAY page on the banner. Set-up and Tear-down helpers please note.
Berthusen Memorial Park on the W. Badger Rd.,
FIELD DAY SETUP on Friday, June 26th from 12 noon – 6pm
FIELD DAY “OPERATIONS” on Saturday, June 27th from 11am – 6pm
Events- Technician Classes 900-1600When: Sat Nov 14, 2009 9am to Sat Nov 14, 2009 4pm PST Where: Bellingham Museum of Radio Event Status: confirmed
- Digital Group Meeting 7pm-8:45pmWhen: Tue Nov 17, 2009 Event Status: confirmed
- Blaine ACS 7pm-8pmWhen: Wed Nov 18, 2009 Event Status: confirmed
- Sudden Valley ARC at SV FirehallWhen: Thu Nov 19, 2009 6:30pm to 8pm PST Where: SV Firehall Event Status: confirmed
- Technician Classes 900-1600
