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Posted 9 February 2008 New ARRL Six Meter Award, Fred Fish Memorial Award

ARRL to Offer Award for 6 Meter Operations: Attention 6 meter operators -- there's a new award to work toward! The ARRL Board of Directors approved a new award honoring the late Fred Fish, W5FF, the only amateur who worked and confirmed all 488 grid squares in the 48 contiguous United States on 6 meters. The Fred Fish Memorial Award will be granted to any amateur who duplicates Fish's accomplishment. Fish was a mainstay on the VHF+ bands for many years, having achieved Worked All States (WAS) on 6 meters through 432 MHz, as well as DXCC for 6 meters. He is widely regarded as a gentleman operator and one of the finest amateurs in the VHF+ community. ARRL Contest Manager Sean Kutzko, KX9X, will oversee this award. Kutzko, an avid VHF+ operator himself, said, "We hope the new award will increase 6 meter activity throughout the US and the world. We also hope it will lead to the activation of rare grid squares in the US by encouraging the native ham population of a rare grid square to give 6 meters a try, as well as through so-called 'Grid DXpeditions.' We actively call on the 6 meter community to help educate VHF+ newcomers to the fun that is available on 6 meters." Complete details on the Fred Fish Memorial Award will be available soon.
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 27, No. 5
February 8, 2008

Posted 14 April 2006 VUCC Basic Operating Area Change

VUCC basic operating area expanded for 50 through 1296 MHz: The ARRL Membership Services Department has announced an increase in the size of the basic operating area for VUCC contacts made between 50 MHz and 1296 MHz. Effective immediately VUCC rules allow stations to submit confirmations for contacts made from different locations, provided no two locations are more than 200 km (124 miles) apart. The VUCC operating area for SHF operation remains unchanged. The change results from a recommendation of an ad hoc VHF/UHF Study Committee, appointed by the then-Membership Services Committee, chaired by ARRL New England Division Director Tom Frenaye, K1KI. The ARRL Awards Committee recently added its approval to the change.

Posted 28 March 2005 Six Meter Beacon Project

Everyone needs to check out the Six Meter Beacon Project at: http://www.6mbeacon.net/ . This worthwhile endeavor began as a collaboration between the founder of QSL.net Al Waller, K3TKJ, 6 meter DXer & propagation prognosticator Dave Craig, N3DB, and Radio Techie extraordinaire Keith Murray, KB3IWV, to make and install 6 meter beacons in a few select overseas locations in desperate need of propagation indicators. If you know of any 6 meter DX beacons in need of repair or replacement or just want to help? Let us know at

Posted 20 Feb 2004 Cuban Stations on Six Meters

The stations currently active on 6 metersmore or less listening regularly to the band
CO2KK
CO2OJ
CO8DM
Possibly also CO8LY
Trying to put more CO stations on 6 !!!
73 and DX
Arnie Coro
CO2KK
EL83TC

More Cuban Correspondence from Arnie!

OK amigo !
6 meters opens up much more frequently here after March 15 or so, according to my observations of the band since 1956 ... so maybe we can work you on 6 in a few weeks from now. I usually keep scanning between 50.000 and 50.200, and as soon as I pick up any signals from beacons or people talking on SSB or CW, my standard procedure is to start calling CQ DX...and IT WORKS !!! One problem that I am always seeing on 6 meters is that there are many people LISTENING ... and if no one calls CQ DX from time to time... How are we going to now that the band is open ??? Another thing I always do during the Sporadic E season,that starts here after April15 or so, is to keep a TV receiver tuned to Channel 2, with a half wave dipole connected to the TV set... When the local TV Channel 2 is not on the air , you can see any signs of Sporadic E immediately.. and when the local TV station is on the air, IF THE OPENING IS STRONG... then I see the ""venetian blind"" type of co-channel interference that tells me that there is an opening in progress !!! Maybe you could add these comments to the SMIRK Home Page too... OF COURSE that they are not for the old timers, but newcomers need to learn "" the tricks of the trade"" and the above are quite useful indeed... Just askCO8DM , who has followed my advice and has now worked a lot of DX on 6 meters... Douglas CO8DM is our best operator in Las Tunas province on 6 meters !
73 and DX
Your friend in Havana
Arnie Coro
CO2KK
EL83TC
100 percent QSL via W5WP QSL Manager

Posted 8 October 2003 Six Meter Most Wanted Countries NA & Carib.

I'm trying to get together a current most wanted list of North America and Caribbean area countries. Would you please post this request on the Smirk page. I will put together a list of responses and send it along to DXpeditioners who may use it as a guide for future trips. Responses should go to me at my AOL acccount. 73 Chris Patterson

Posted 29 September 2003 New VHF Page

Hello and good morning everyone.

I have been working on a site devoted to VHF - Microwave Stations that are currently on the air. Yes there are a few of these, but generally not updated well, and or just neglected. The site that I have built will include Current station capabilities, such as active bands, modes used, power pr/band, antenna & antenna height pr/band, ect....this would seem like any other web page with the same concept, but i have also incoperated PHOTOS of said stations as well!

How neet is it to see these vhf-microwave stations world wide, and see their capabilities at the same time! The way I plan to keep this site 'current' is to make a list of e-mail addresses, from which i will send a mass mailing to every month or so, asking them to check the site, and send me updates via email.

As the site starts to pic up, there will surely be a delay in how long it takes to get the submissions up and listed. As of now I have only 1 submission from the W4IY group in FM08. The more the merrier.. and I don't want this to be limited to US only stations.. EVERY one weather a casuall 6m only operator in Europe.. or the weak sig GURU in Japan, I would like any one with A Photo of their Station ( antennas or shack ), and active on at least 1 weak sig band to submit to me. In the future, I will try my darndest to incoperate a site search, where you would enter your 4 or 6 digit grid, and select from a list of pre determined distances ie. 300 miles , 400 miles, ect... and the search will spit out what stations within that radius, have submitted to the site, which will in turn tell you what bands they are active on, and what their current capabilities are.

I would like any feed back, as well as submissions!
Site address is - www.n2jdq.com
My Email is -

Ty and 73's
-Steve Raas
N2JDQ

Posted 25 Aug, 2003 SMIRK BPL Reply & CSVHF SMIRK Meeting Minutes 7/25

see BPLReply

see Minutes

Posted Aug 4, 2003 Diego Garcia Beacon

Diego Garcia Beacon, VQ9X/b The VQ9X/b is operational on 50.065 in MI62 and has been heard at JA1VOK/6. The system is a Kenwood TS-570 running 10W to a vertical dipole. The op is Larry VQ9LA. Info is via JA1VOK, and the RSGB PSC Committee.
Jim KH6/K6MIO

Posted July 8, 2003

Link to SMIRK Comments to FCC on BPL

Posted May 4, 2003 FCC Proposed Rulemaking: BPL (Broadband over powerline)

Hey Guys:

Although the FCC NOI doesn't specifically so state Chrils Imlay, W3KD, ARRL General Counsel, told me last week that the Commission is seriously considering Broadband over Power Line (BPL) for the 30 to 50 MHz portion of the spectrum. If this is the case, it could cause severe QRM to the lower end of 6 meters.

ALL U.S. SMIRK members need to get on this one. As you can read in the statements accompanying the NOI, the commissioners think BPL the best thing since sliced bread. Some points to make in your responses to the NOI:

1. Interference to the DX portion of 6 meters
a. SSB/CW operation is a weak signal mode which cannot tolerate additional interference.
2. Interference to police, fire and other emergancy communications including those associated with homeland defense.
3. Interference to many already existing cordless telephones.
4. By their vary nature, digital signals have high harmonic content. Thus interference may be presented to services other than those sharing spectrum with the BPL devices.
5. Being in the home, where amateur equipment is also located, interference from BPL devices will be far greater than for other services.

I'm sure you can come up with more. Read the FCC NOI which is cited below. Note particularly the filing procedures presented in Paragraphs 32 & 33.

73,

Bill, W3XO

FCC ACCEPTING COMMENTS IN "BROADBAND OVER POWER LINE" INQUIRY

The FCC released its Notice of Inquiry (NOI) on the deployment of "Broadband over Power Line" (BPL) technology April 28 and now is accepting electronically filed comments in the proceeding, ET Docket 03-104. The technology has raised concerns of substantial interference to the Amateur Radio HF bands. BPL would couple high-frequency RF to parts of the power grid and use existing power lines as the transmission medium to deliver broadband and Internet services.

The FCC has expressed unabashed enthusiasm for BPL. ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, says Commission members have been acting more like cheerleaders than regulators. "We were disappointed in the tenor of some commissioners' statements, but we were encouraged by the fact that in the NOI itself the FCC did point out that licensed services--including Amateur Radio--'must be protected from harmful interference' from BPL," he said.

In the NOI, the FCC acknowledges the interference risk from BPL. "The multiple-carrier transmission nature of the new high-speed BPL technology could pose increased risk of harmful interference, and thus new BPL devices may need a higher degree of oversight to ensure that authorized users are not subject to interference," the FCC said.

The major interference threat to amateurs comes from so-called "access BPL," because its signals can radiate from outside power lines--possibly for great distances. The FCC also concedes that close proximity of access BPL equipment on utility poles might affect--and be affected by--cable TV and DSL service.

Current FCC Part 15 rules limit the amount of RF energy that can be injected into the power lines, but, as the FCC concedes, "the new generation of high-speed BPL devices that use wide spectrum was not contemplated" when those rules were formulated. The FCC has invited comments on possible changes to those rules.

The FCC also seeks information on a possible access BPL standards, spectrum and bandwidth, modulation techniques and data transmission speeds. Additionally, the Commission seeks the status of BPL development and anticipated deployment in the marketplace.

ARRL Laboratory Manager and RFI guru Ed Hare, W1RFI, has cautioned that BPL deployment could mean "a significant increase in noise levels" on HF. "Right now with BPL/PLC, there are more questions than answers, and until those questions are answered, these systems should not be widely deployed," Hare said. "The time to raise and answer these questions is now. I truly hope that the NOI will provide a means for the FCC to do just that."

The ARRL Lab has prepared a comprehensive information page, "Power Line Communications (PLC) and Amateur Radio," on the ARRL Web site, http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/. ARRL Lab staff members also plan to visit sites where BPL is undergoing field testing.

The complete NOI is available on the FCC Web site, http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-03-100A1.doc. The FCC now is accepting electronically filed comments via its Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/. Under ECFS Main Links, click on "Submit a Filing." In the "Proceeding" field, enter "03-104" and complete the required fields. Comments may be typed into a form, you may attach a file containing your comments or submit them via e-mail, per instructions on the ECFS page. The comment deadline will be 45 days after publication of the NOI in the Federal Register.

Posted May 4, 2003 VUCC Fees Change!

I have received notice from the ARRL that fees have been changed for VUCC awards and endorsements, effective June 1, 2003.

VUCC initial award: $10
(includes one VUCC certificate and one VUCC lapel pin)

Each additional VUCC certificate, whether new or replacement: $10

VUCC endorsements: $10 each

73,
Mike, W8CM

Posted March 10. 2003 New Beacons in Arctic

COMING NEW ARCTIC BEACONS
JW5SIX 50,046 MHz and JW9SIX 50,049 MHz

QTH for the beacons will be JW5SIX Hopen Island (LOC KQ26) and JW9SIX Bear Island (LOC JQ94). Map: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/cia00/svalbard_sm00.jpg

Both beacons will run ABT 10W to dipole antennas.

JW5SIX will be installed by Erling JW5RIA (=LA5RIA)
(Note: Erling himself is QRV on 6M and worked at least by ES1CW.)
JW9SIX will be installed by Ronald JW9LAA (=LA9LAA)
Erling and Ronald arrived on their islands several months ago.

The beacons antennas etc have been mailed to Norway. We hope the equipment will arrive in time to be transported on a ship which leaves the Norwegian mainland on 2003-03-20 bound for Bear Island and Hopen Island.

The initiative for this project came from Arvo ES1CW. Arvo procured the transceicvers and he is the "project leader". Other contributors are ES1II: modification of transceivers, ES5PC (=SM0WCM): keyers and SM0KAK: antennas+power supplies+X-tals.

73 de Lasse SM0KAK

Posted 4 December 2002 New 50 MHz Beacon IZ1EPM/B

Hi guys,
I want to inform your bulletin that yesterday 1 Dec. after many time waiting I have turned on my 50Mhz beacon on 50.019 +/- 100Hz. I have waiting few time because I wanted to read final IARU document about 50Mhz band plan, and after S. Marino conference have sure of being in the right way. Actually beacon using my IC-746 ( in future maybe using a new PatComm PC-500 promise me from PE9PE Rob same to VR2SIX ) with 30sec. in stby cycle and 15sec of cw text, his callsign is IZ1EPM/B and the power is 10W. The stby cycle not use tone carrier because the IC-746 don't permit this condition. It's located over a hill at 50km S/E from Turin (JN34WR) at 400msl, and have a good take off at 360deg. All TROPO, ES, MS, F2 (maybe) TEP swl report are so intrest for me and can be sent directly to my email .

73's de IZ1EPM <> Freddy
*******************************
one of :
- Turin Vhf Dxers
- SixItalia
- UKSMG
- Six Meters World Wide Dx Club
*******************************
WWLoc. JN35TB
CQ Zone 15
*******************************
http://www.qsl.net/iz1epm

Posted 19 October 2002 50 MHz Spectrum Chart Project

I am in the process of charting the actual use of spectrum from 50.000 through 51.000 MHz. I have access to lists of the beacon stuff below 50.1. I am interested to know of any regular activity that you may be aware of in the rest of the spectrum. Can you help?

Along the lines of: o regularly held nets
- 50.150 Packrats Monday nights at 7:30 - ??? (please tell me what you know)

o commonly used frequencies for specialty operation - DX Window (50.100-50.125) - General SSB operation + SSB Calling frequency (50.125) + SSB Calling frequency (50.200) - PSK31 (50.290) - BEACONet^31 (50.291) - WSJT/JT441 (50.250-50.280, every 5kHz...what calling freq?) - AM Calling frequency (50.400) - BEACONet.25 (50.450) - Packet (50.620) - ??? (please tell me what you know)

Can anyone offer additional insights as to actual use of our spectrum in this frequency range?

Ev, W2EV

Posted 4 July 2002 Russian QSL Bureau Closes

Hello!
Want to inform you that UA3DX-QSL-service and p.o.box 88 will stopped service from 1 August. Therefore, please, DO NOT send QSL's to Russian bureaus during 2 or 3 months. This news received from Central Radio Club and Nick UA3DX. I will inform you about all other changing in future.
73!

Mike Tkachenko
SWL UA3-147-505/HAM RV3ECW
E-mail: UA3-147-505@narod.ru

Posted 12 March 2002 TI9 Comments

Just back from fantastic adventure on Cocos.

We sure appreciate the SMIRK donation....Matt KA0KKO did a tremendous job to get a great station up and running, and keep in going for 12 days.....about 400 contacts in the log , with two good openings to US, and one so so opening to only east coast.

This expedition will top out at over $60,000...with the 14 individuals now in for at least $3000 apiece, plus the cost of their transportation to/from CR. The donations sure help....

Matt and a few others hauled 1000 lbs of equipment, including a 150 lb generator, up a steep narrow trail to 520 feet AMSL, on a nice hill overlooking a 180 degree panarama.....perfect shot to EU, JA, and NA. Then, every day they had to carry up 10 gallons of gas, water, etc. The uphill station ran 6m and one HF SSB station. Matt had a 6 el beam and IC756 Pro II.

The last day, the generator had to come down early. Matt carried up car battery (up 52 stories!) just to keep running another 4 hours...(and there was a good opening!)....then they had to carry it all back down the mountain (tents, chairs, tables, rigs, power supplies, coax, power wire, lights, fan, tools, antenna mast, beam).....

pics at www.qsl.net/ti9m/

Bob N4CD

Posted 8 February 2002 New VHF Society in Northwest

The Pacific Northwest VHF Society was formed in Sept. to serve weak-signal VHF/UHF enthusiasts in WA, OR, ID, and BC. Details are at http://www.qsl.net/pnwvhfs.

73 - Kirk Bellar N7UK

Posted 28 May 01 New VHF Chat Room

Folks, just made a new chat for VHF freaks, fast, easy, and secure. You may create your own rooms (already 50 MHz, EME, Meteorscatter) etc etc.Works much better than the old one. Few parts are still in German language but will be translated soon. (Hard job, tons of help files...).
Try it at: http://dk5ya.de/cgi-bin/GTChat/chat.pl

'73 Udo, DK5YA

Posted May 3, 2001 Six Meter WAZ

I thought 40 zones were needed for the award, but.....
6 Meter WAZ Awards require that the applicant submit QSL cards from at least 25 zones. Endorsement stickers are issued at the 30, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and 40 zone levels. Full rules at http://www.cq-amateur-radio.com/wazrules.html.
Info IW9CER. http://www.iw9cer.com/.

From SM7AED Newsletter

Posted 2/8/01

February 7, 2001

For Further Information Contact: Martin Cook, N1FOC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Outgoing QSL Bureau Announces Rate Increase

In response to the recent postal rate increase and price restructuring, the ARRL Outgoing QSL Bureau has announced new rates for this service. It is still possible to send ten cards for one dollar, but the twenty and thirty card rates have been discontinued. The new rate is $4.00 per each half-pound or portion thereof. This rate structure helps to cover the basic cost of handling the minimum number of QSL cards in a package while actually offering a price reduction for sending a half pound of cards (approximately 75 cards) which previously cost $6.00. The new rates will go into effect on March 1, 2001. The last Outgoing QSL Service fee increase was in January 1999.