Ham Hum May 2016

Ham Hum May 2016

The official newsletter of The Hamilton Amateur Radio Club (Inc.) Branch 12 of NZART - ZL1UX Active in Hamilton since 1923

Hamilton Amateur Radio Club Inc. Serving the Hamilton Community for over 90 Years

ZL1UX

Next Meeting 18th May

Disclaimer: The Hamilton Amateur Radio Club (Inc) accepts no responsibility for opinions expressed in this publication. Where possible, the articles source details will be published. Copyright remains with the author or HARC. All rights reserved.

Contact Details Patron: Russell Richardson ZL1RWR President: “Jono” Jonassen ZL1UPJ zl1ux@nzart.org.nz Vice Presidents: Gary Lodge ZL1GA Gavin Petrie ZL1GWP 843 0326 zl1gwp@nzart.org.nz Secretary: Phil King ZL1PK 847 1320 zl1pk@nzart.org.nz AREC Section Leader: “Jono” Jonassen ZL1UPJ zl1upj@nzart.org.nz Deputy Section Leader: Phil King ZL1PK 847 1320 zl1pk@nzart.org.nz Treasurer: Tom Powell ZL1TJA zl1tja@nzart.org.nz Committee: Brett Pascoe ZL1FPG Mike Sanders ZL2MGS 855 1612 zl2mgs@nzart.org.nz Robin Holdsworth ZL1IC 855 4786 Sam Birch ZL1OBI Terry O’Loan ZL1TNO Ham Hum Editor: David King ZL1DGK 579 9930 zl1dgk@nzart.org.nz Ham Hum Printer: John Nicholson ZL1AUB 855 5435 ATV Co-ordinators: Phil King ZL1PK 847 1320 zl1pk@nzart.org.nz Robin Holdsworth ZL1IC 855 4786 Market Day Co-ordinator: harcmday@nzart.org.nz Robin Holdsworth ZL1IC 855 4786 Webmaster: Gavin Petrie ZL1GWP 843 0326 zl1gwp@nzart.org.nz Club Custodian: Currently vacant QSL Manager: Gary Lodge ZL1GA Net Controllers: 80m net—Phil King ZL1PK 847 1320 zl1pk@nzart.org.nz 2m net—Phil King ZL1PK 847 1320 zl1pk@nzart.org.nz NZART Examiners: ZL1IC, ZL1PK & ZL1TJA

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From the Editor Not much from me this month, except an apology for a even later Ham Hum than last month.

Interesting article in this issue on a D-Star, DMR, Fusion, etc “New Radio�. Makes good reading. The picture on the front cover is the handheld version with a touch screen that looks very similar to a modern smart phone.

Enjoy.

Next Committee Meetings 2 September and 7th October nd

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SB PROP ARL ARLP020 ARLP020 Propagation de K7RA There was a whopper of a geomagnetic storm on Mother's Day, May 8, when the planetary A index reached 70. In Alaska, the college A index was 117. Aurora was visible in North America well south of the northern tier states.

Average daily sunspot number dropped 15.6 points to 59.1 over the past week, and average daily solar flux declined 3.1 points to 88.8.

Average daily planetary A index over the same period doubled from 11.3 to 22.6, and average daily mid-latitude A index rose 3.9 points to 14.6.

The latest prediction has planetary A index at 5 on May 13-14, then 8, 15, 12, 6, 5, 15 and 12 on May 15-21, 5 on May 22-23, 10 on May 24, 5 on May 25-27, then 10, 25 and 10 on May 28-30, 5 on May 31 through June 1, 12 on June 2-3, then 30, 32, 25, 15 and 8 on June 4-8, and 5 on June 9-10. Planetary A index then rises to 25 on June 25, but that is a long way off.

Predicted solar flux is 95 and 97 on May 13-14, 100 on May 15-16, then 95, 93, 90 and 85 on May 17-20, 82 on May 21-22, 85 on May 23-25, 90 on May 26-30, 88 on May 31 through June 2, 85 on June 3-6, 90 on June 7-9, 95 on June 10-11, then 90 and 85 on June 12-13, 82 on June 14-18, and 85 on June 19.

Petr Kolman, OK1MGW of the Czech Propagation Interest Group says the geomagnetic field will be: Quiet on May 16-17, 25-26 Mostly quiet on May 15, 22-24, 31, June 7-8 Quiet to unsettled on May 13-14, 18, 21, 27, 30 Quiet to active on May 19-20, 28-29, June 1-2, 3, 6 Active to disturbed on May (28), June 4-5

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Increases in solar wind from coronal holes are expected on May 19-21, 28-29, June 1-6 Parenthesis means lower probability of activity enhancement.

We missed it last week, but here is the latest update on our 3-month moving average. According to our numbers, Solar Cycle 24 peaked with a sunspot number of 148.2 in the three months centered on March 2014.

Beginning with the 3 months centered on January, 2015, the 3-month moving average of daily sunspot numbers was 98.2, 78.1, 68.2, 72.4, 77.7, 76.3, 69.1, 67.5, 64.5, 64.6, 58.5, 55.4, 53.5, 49 and 45.3. The numbers reflect the steady decline of Solar Cycle 24.

According to http://1.usa.gov/1HOVlDP it looks like the next solar minima should be in 2019. These are international sunspot numbers, but the sunspot numbers we report in this bulletin are from the NOAA Space Environment Service Center, ftp://ftp.swpc.noaa.gov/pub/indices/DSD.txt .

David Moore sent this piece from Science Daily about solar wind: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/05/160511102655.htm Now here is a surprising and counter-intuitive assertion. http://bit.ly/1rJxxki claims "When sunspots are minimal, the solar magnetic field is at a maximum."

As mentioned in last week's bulletin, Carl, K9LA offers the W6ELProp installation file if you have trouble downloading it from www.qsl.net/w6elprop.

Note that the latest version of W6ELProp is Version 2.70, which was in the 2002 time frame. Thus it is likely that Shel, W6EL never checked it out with newer operating systems like Vista and Windows 7, 8 and 10. Shel, W6EL became a Silent

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Key in April 2015, and as far as Carl is aware the source code for W6ELProp was never released to anyone.

If anyone has successfully installed W6ELProp on a PC using Vista or Windows 7, 8 or 10, Carl would like to hear from you. Carl can be reached via email at, k9la@arrl.net.

Actually I have run it successfully on Windows 7 and 10, but Carl pointed out that the Maps feature doesn't work.

The Solar Plotting Utility mentioned in past bulletin doesn't run on Windows 7 or 10, but that is easily solved by running Windows Xp as a virtual machine within the newer Windows versions.

In Windows 10 it is also possible to run older programs in Compatibility Mode.

If you would like to make a comment or have a tip for our readers, email the author at k7ra@arrl.net.

For more information concerning radio propagation, see the ARRL Technical Information Service web page at, http://arrl.org/propagation-of-rf-signals. For an explanation of the numbers used in this bulletin, see http://arrl.org/the-sun-the-earth-theionosphere. An archive of past propagation bulletins is at http://arrl.org/w1awbulletins-archive-propagation. More good information and tutorials on propagation are at http://k9la.us/.

Monthly propagation charts between four USA regions and twelve overseas locations are at http://arrl.org/propagation.

Instructions for starting or ending email distribution of ARRL bulletins are at http:// arrl.org/bulletins.

Sunspot numbers for May 5 through May 11 were 55, 56, 51, 42, 68, 70, and 72, with a mean of 59.1. 10.7 cm flux was 87.1, 89.6, 88, 85.6, 88.5, 88.7, and 93.9,

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with a mean of 88.8. Estimated planetary A indices were 8, 15, 10, 70, 33, 16, and 6, with a mean of 22.6. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 7, 12, 9, 32, 21, 15, and 6, with a mean of 14.6.

Hamilton may be more at risk of quakes than first thought Hamilton might be at a greater risk of earthquake damage and liquefaction than many people previously thought.

Waikato University researchers Vicki Moon and Willem de Lange have been studying five fault lines, which were discovered during a subdivision project last year.

The latest EQC grant will fund underground seismic surveys of the Waikato River basin to identify risks to key city infrastructure.

Dr de Lange said aerial and ground-based surveys have already been carried out, and suggest the Hamilton basin has been shaped by active fault lines.

"It's looking very much as thought the hills that you see through Hamilton City and the surrounding area are not just a random distribution."

He said the 2011 Canterbury earthquakes showed areas where liquefaction has previously occurred are at greater risk of liquefaction in the future.

"Since the Canterbury earthquake we've been looking actively, and we've found a number of places now where there's clear evidence of liquefaction that has occurred."

Dr de Lange said the peat lake areas have evidence of previous liquefaction and are at risk of further liquefaction.

- Michael Sergel - Newstalk ZB

LED Street lighting – Effective and efficient but watch the noise!

The New Zealand communications regulator, the RSM warns; LED lighting can produce severe levels of unwanted RF energy.

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As City and District Councils start replacing existing street lighting with more cost effective LED equivalents, consideration must be given to the radio frequency (RF) energy LED’s can emit.

LED lighting can produce severe levels of unwanted RF energy if the circuitry has not been designed to minimise RF energy production. The RF noise created by a series of lights may be cumulative given their proximity to each other and their evaluated positions.

LED lighting imported into the New Zealand market must be tested and comply with the Australian and New Zealand Standard AS/NZS CISPR 15 Limits and methods of measurement of radio disturbance characteristics of electrical lighting and similar equipment, or EN 55015 Limits and methods of measurement of radio disturbance characteristics of electrical lighting and similar equipment.

Each fitting must be marked with the RCM mark. Councils should confirm that contracts for the supply of LED lighting contain these requirements.

It is a legal requirement to supply and use EMC certified lighting equipment.

Read more about suppliers responsibilities at: http://www.rsm.govt.nz/compliance/ supplier-requirements/how-to-ensure-your-products-comply

IARU becomes custodian of operating standards booklet Over the last eight years, the booklet 'Ethics and Operating Procedures for the Radio Amateur' has become a respected work describing the best standards of operating on the amateur bands Translated into most major languages, the booklet by John Devoldere, ON4UN and Mark Demeuleneere, ON4WW, is a valuable reference work for all radio amateurs.

The booklet can be found at http://www.hamradio-operating-ethics.org/ Mark and John recently contacted IARU, explaining that they felt it appropriate for IARU to become the custodian of the booklet into the future, with the scope to adapt and update it to ensure it remains relevant and current.

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The IARU Administrative Council accepted this offer with gratitude to John and Mark for the work they have put into the document. On May 5th 2016, Mark and John met Don Beattie, G3BJ, President IARU Region 1, in Brussels to officially hand over the document. IARU will now carry forward the work in future years to ensure its continuing relevance and currency.

IARU http://iaru.org/

Elementary school's SSTV CubeSat now set to deploy from ISS on May 16 After postponements earlier this year, the STMSat-1 CubeSat constructed by pupils at St Thomas More (STM) Cathedral School in Arlington, Virginia, now is set to deploy from the International Space Station on Monday, May 16, between 1400 and 1500 UTC. The spacecraft is equipped with a slow-scan TV (SSTV) payload that will transmit on the 70 centimetre Amateur Radio band (437.800 MHz).

The school won a NASA competition for the launch. The satellite is the first to be designed and built by grade schoolers, who have been supported by NASA technical advisors and local radio amateurs.

Transported to the ISS in December by an Orbital ATK Cygnus spacecraft, the kitbuilt satellite first had been scheduled for release in mid-February, but that event was postponed until early March, before being put on hold again.

"The STM Sat-1 mission is to perform Earth observation and engage grade-school students around the world as remote Mission Operation Centres," the STMSat-1 website explains. The satellite project is part of the school's STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) education initiatives. St Thomas More includes students from pre-kindergarten through grade 8. The project aims to engage other schools around the world as "Remote Mission Operation Centres" (http://www.stmsat-1.org/rmoc/).

NASA's Technology Demonstration Office provided the school with a mobile "clean room" to ensure that the construction phase met with strict guidelines and standards for launch and deployment from the ISS. The space agency also provided the school with an antenna, so the school can receive the SSTV images and temperature readings the satellite sends back. The students already have tested their CubeSat by sending it aloft on a tethered balloon.

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The SSTV camera onboard STMSat-1 will transmit a Martin-2 image every 30 seconds. It will not transmit a beacon signal, however. The youngsters are hoping it will send back images of Earth as seen from space. The transmitter runs 3 W, and there is no onboard data storage capability.

STMSat-1 has an estimated lifetime of at least 9 months.

Source: The American Radio Relay League

Long Delayed Echo detection automated Murray Greenman ZL1BPU has announced the release of a new version of FSQPlot, which now screens spots for Long Delayed Echoes.

These are much disputed and rarely observed unusual echoes of transmissions, from unknown sources. They have observed on all bands, but mostly on CW, but should be detectable using FSQCall soundings. The signal delay is reportedly from two to 20 seconds.

FSQPlot is a helper program which operates with FSQCall, allowing the user to see in a graphical manner what the signal-to-noise ratio has been for specified stations on a 24 hour basis. It makes use of the FSQCall Heard Log, and now, in addition to portraying activity, FSQPlot now screens the log for all LDEs. FSQCall is an amazing chat-style digital mode, popularly used as a way to keep in touch with ham friends without them needing to be in the shack or at the radio all the time. Messages are sent rather like text messages, in simple sentences, but by HF radio rather than via phone.

FSQCall, in Directed Mode, records all verified receptions in a log, along with their signal report.

As a result, it may also log echoes as close as about 6 sec from your own transmissions, and even closer from other stations. Because LDE echoes can be just a few seconds delayed, they are best detected on short transmissions, such as FSQ soundings.

To participate in the world-wide search for LDEs, you need to first install ZL2AFP FSQCall V0.32, and operate it in Selective Calling (Directed) mode on one of the established calling frequencies. These frequencies are listed on the Rules tab within the program. Set the sounding interval to 30 minutes, and Sounding ON. Then install FSQPlot V0.06 (which generates a graph of activity on the channel

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over 24 hours), and have it monitor the FSQCall Heardlog file.

The more stations we have actively sounding and listening, the greater the chance of catching a real LDE. LDE detection reports and questions regarding FSQCall and FSQPlot should be directed to zl1bpu@gmail.com.

Download both programs mentioned above from http://www.qsl.net/zl1bpu/MFSK/ FSQweb.htm.

A balloon launch for the WIA AGM PS-65, a pico party-type balloon is to take to high altitudes, hopefully floating over the South Pacific, and include a greeting message to the Wireless Institute of Australia annual general meeting and conference on Norfolk Island.

Trackers will hear payload JT9 packets with the message: ‘WIA AGM VK9WI’, from the balloon PS-65, along with the normal data of its location, altitude, temperature, and battery condition.

Andy VK3YT has prepared the flight and the software payload - the latest in his series of such pico balloons solar powered balloons that have encircled the globe.

The greeting message is in response to a request from the WIA, and Andy VK3YT humbly accepts such a challenge. He explains that the transmission schedule has the greeting message in the first packet, twice per hour, when the battery is charged.

Its travel will be tracked on Norfolk Island during the WIA AGM, and by many other trackers in VK, ZL and worldwide.

Good luck with PS-65 to be launched from Melbourne to mark the WIA AGM, members’ forum and events on Norfolk Island, May 27, 28, & 29.

Wireless Institute of Australia

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European hams announce NEW RADIO – a dual -band, multi-mode radio to support DMR, DSTAR and C4FM On May 8th, an article appeared in the ÖVSV by Kurt, OE1KBC, about a new dual -band, multi-mode mobile radio called the 'NEW RADIO' that will operate on the 2m & 70cm bands and support the most common ham digital modes, including DMR, D-STAR and C4FM (System Fusion), plus analog FM. As reported in the article, the NEW RADIO has been created by hams for the ham radio community will feature a colour touch screen display, 50W of power output, a 1.8 GHz processor, a Linux operating system, plus dual AMBE+ vocoders, allowing for full-duplex, cross-band operation.

Also, one of the biggest features of the NEW RADIO is that it will include a built-in LTE wireless modem and SIM card allowing it to be Internet connected while on the go. Apparently, with it being Internet connected, the NEW RADIO will be able to automatically download frequencies, offsets, contacts and other configuration information on the go, allowing for instant updates for users. This will undoubtedly be a much welcomed feature for anyone used to loading codeplugs into radios, as is the case with DMR. In addition to the mobile version, NEW RADIO is also working on a portable and

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base station model that features similar operating specifications using different form factors.

Read more at the VA3XPR website http://www.va3xpr.net/newradio-dual-band-multi-mode-radio/ Our thanks to Ian, G3ZHI for spotting this item

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Upcoming Happenings & Events Date

Happenings & Events

2nd May

HF Net, 3.575 MHz, 19:30

3rd May

VHF Net, 146.525 MHz, 20:00

6th May

NZART HQ Infoline

9th May

HF Net, 3.575 MHz, 19:30

10th May

VHF Net, 146.525 MHz, 20:00

16th May

HF Net, 3.575 MHz, 19:30

17th May

VHF Net, 146.525 MHz, 20:00

18th May

General Meeting

20th May

NZART HQ Infoline

21-22 May

NZART Sangster Shield Contest

23rd May

HF Net, 3.575 MHz, 19:30

24th May

VHF Net, 146.525 MHz, 20:00

29th May

NZART Official Broadcast

30th May

HF Net, 3.575 MHz, 19:30

31st May

VHF Net, 146.525 MHz, 20:00

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4-5 June—NZART AGM/Conference 11-12 June—NZART Hibernation Contest 15th June—General Meeting 17th June—NZART HQ Infoline 26th June—NZART Official Broadcast 2-3 July—NZART Memorial Contest 16th July—WIA VK/ZL Trans-Tasman Low-Band Contest 6-7 August—NZART Brass Monkey Contest 13th August—Annual Hamilton Market Day 1-2 October—NZART Microwave Contest 5th November—NZART Straight Key Night 3-4 December—NZART Field Day Contest 25-26 February 2017—NZART Jock White Memorial Field Days 4th March 2017—Te Puke Junk Sale 20-21 May 2017—NZART Sangster Shield Contest

For more information on any of the above please contact myself or any committee member.

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Club Information Contacts :Business Meeting:

1930 First Wednesday of each month except January 88 Seddon Road, Hamilton

General Meeting:

1930 Third Wednesday of each month (except Jan) 88 Seddon Road, Hamilton

Homepage: eMail:

http://www.zl1ux.org.nz branch.12@nzart.org.nz

HF Net: VHF Net:

3.575MHz LSB 1930 Mondays 146.525MHz simplex 2000 Tuesdays

2m Repeater: STSP Repeaters: ATV Repeater:

145.325MHz -600kHz split 146.675MHz -600kHz split 438.725MHz -5 MHz split Off air pending channel changes

Cover Photo: “New Radio” Handheld Transceiver. FM, C4FM, D-Star, DMR. AMBE, CODEC2. http://www.newradio.eu/? page_id=340&lang=en

Sender

Hamilton Amateur Radio Club (Inc) PO Box 606 Hamilton 3240