Listen to VE0JS on her RTW sailing attempt

Jeanne Socrates - Maritime Mobile on her Round The World (RTW) Record Setting Sail 


Jeanne Socrates; VE0JS is about 3 months into her around-the-globe voyage that could set a new world record. The 76-year-old sailor set sail from Victoria BC, Canada in early October aboard her 38-foot sail boat.Jeanne is attempting to the be the oldest person to sail solo, unassisted and non-stop around the globe. She already holds the record as the oldest woman to circumnavigate the globe.

Socrates has made two attempts to be the oldest person to sail alone, but has experienced several challenges during her initial voyages. Well underway on her current attempt, Socrates officially crossed the equator on November 4th and the tip of Africa on December 20th.


If all goes according to plan, Socrates is aiming to circumnavigate the globe in eight months which would bring her back to Victoria in May of 2019. Check out her progress, radio schedule and other trip details on her QRZ link below:

Jean's QRZ page:
https://www.qrz.com/db/VE0JS/?mlab=

Check out her latest status update on her blog: 
https://svnereida.com/blog

Holiday Serenade on Sideband Set from Antarctica

Each year, volunteers at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, celebrate the holidays by serenading those at the remote, Antarctic field camps via HF radio. This year, ham radio operators and SWLs around the world are invited to listen in and email listener reports. The broadcast will be on Sunday, December 23, 2300 UTC [6pm EST] (December 24, 1200 New Zealand Time), on 7,995 kHz USB.

Email reports to Nathaniel Frissell, W2NAF. Request QSLs via W2NAF on QRZ.com.

(from the ARRL website)


McMurdo Station is a real-life U.S. Antarctic research center on the south tip of Ross Island, which is in the New Zealand-claimed Ross Dependency on the shore of McMurdo Sound in Antarctica.

McMurdo Station webcams and info:
https://www.usap.gov/videoclipsandmaps/mcmwebcam.cfm

More station info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McMurdo_Station

Tech Class Feb-2019 - Bear Bait Club - Syracuse

contact: WA2DTN@arrl.net

Canadian National Parks On The Air - 2019

Much like the NPOTA 2017 here in the USA, Canada will begin its own version on January 1st 2019.


From the CNPOTA web site:

Well hello hams from all over the world. Welcome to the Canadian version of working Parks and Historic Sites managed by Parks Canada. This is the brainchild of a small dedicated group of Hams in the Halifax, Nova Scotia area. We are all volunteers and we have a $0.00 budget to make all this happen.

We needed and received moral support from Radio Amateurs of Canada ( RAC ) and Parks Canada to welcome hams to come and operate at Historic Sites and Parks as listed elsewhere on this site. It is also very important to have Hams from all over the world chasing these adventurous operators  while operating in these Parks & Histor

More info at: https://cnpota.ca/

Shortwave News and Information - SWLing Post blog

I know a lot of people say that shortwave listening is dead, but I would tend to disagree. Though its not what it once was, there is still a lot of interesting content out on the low bands. If you want to know the real state of SWL and get the latest news and reviews, we would suggest you check out the SWLing Post blog (https://swling.com/blog/ ).

The SWLing Post is a community of shortwave radio and amateur radio enthusiasts sharing shortwave radio reviews, news, broadcasting, pirate radio, numbers stations, interviews, and much more.

They aim to provide quality content in the form of:
- Everything radio, with a focus on the HF/Shortwave portions of the spectrum
- International broadcasting news
 - Amateur radio news
- Interviews
- The internet and, specifically how it influences radio broadcasters
- The history and future of shortwave radio
- Shortwave radio reviews

Great Radio publication!

I recently received my December issue of The Spectrum Monitor (TSM). I really look forward to getting this publication each month! I am a charter subscriber since its beginning in 2014. It is very similar to the former Monitoring Times magazine which discontinued publication in 2013.
Check out TSM on their web site at: http://www.thespectrummonitor.com/index.aspx

TSM is usually around 100 pages and is packed with the latest on Amateur Radio, Shortwave, Scanning, Satellites, Radio/TV, Vintage radio, etc. The news and articles are always up to date and relevant. TSM is available only in PDF format and can be read on any device capable of opening a PDF file. I read TSM both on my tablet and PC. I also occasionally print out interesting articles that I might need for future reference in the shack.

The TSM publisher, Ken Reitz KS4ZR, is the former managing editor, features editor, columnist and feature writer for Monitoring Times. As well as a former feature writer and columnist for several other publications. TSM has some very experienced and talented writers that do a great job of covering many interesting topics each month! (learn more about the TSM staff here: http://www.thespectrummonitor.com/about-us.aspx )

Check out an older SWLing blog post review of TSM: https://swling.com/blog/2014/12/the-spectrum-monitor-only-24-for-a-years-subscription/

Winter Field Day - January 26-27, 2019

Its not too early to start planning for Winter Field Day 2019. Winter Field Day is coming up on January 26-27, 2019 and is an opportunity to hone your winter outdoor operating skills.

Purpose: To encourage emergency operating preparedness in the winter.

When: Winter Field Day runs for 24 hours during the last full weekend in January each year from 1900 UTC (2pm EST) Saturday to 1900 UTC (2pm EST) Sunday. For 2019, the dates are January 26th and 27th. On all the bands and modes, except the WARC bands.

Winter Field Day rules: https://www.winterfieldday.com/rules

We are back! The Winter Field Day Association brings you Winter Field Day.

Join Us on Saturday, January 26 at 1900z (2:00 PM EST) until Sunday, January 27 at 1900z (2:00 PM EST). 

We have changed the rules so now it will be similar to ARRL Field Day. For example the exchange will be WX4ET 1O TN, for the Multi Ops. It will be by the number of stations, for example WX4TN 10O TN.




Operate solo, in pairs, or as a team (multi) from home, a remote location, indoors, or outdoors... it's up to you! Earn bonus points for outdoor operation, non-commercial power, and remote locations. Winter Field Day is a perfect opportunity for your club or team to put together an outing.

Check us out on the web at www.winterfieldday.com and we are also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/groups/winterfieldday/

If you post on Twitter and/or Facebook, use the hashtag #WFDA19

Hope to hear you calling CQ WFD on the bands on Winter Field Day 2019 !!!!

UpstateHam site update

Our web site HTTPS settings have recently changed. All visitors are now able to view our site/blog over an encrypted (secure) connection by visiting https://www.upstateham.com. Existing links and bookmarks to this site will continue to work.

A few months ago a Google Chrome browser update started checking and identifying non-secure web site addresses. If you were using the Chrome browser you might have noticed the "Not secure" message in your address bar. We decided that we should upgrade our settings to insure a more secure connection for our visitors. You will now notice a closed padlock icon and "https" in the address.

Please email us with questions or comments at UpstateHam@gmail.com

A History of Curtis Keyers

(VA7GUR picture)

A friend; Brad Mitchell; N8YG, sent me a link to a presentation he did back in the 90's. Later he also wrote a follow up article on the history of Curtis Keyers for QST (August 2016 issue of QST). He recently annotated the presentation and shared it on YouTube. It's a pretty interesting story. Check it out! (Thanks for sending that along Brad!)




Link to the You tube video of the annotated PPT presentation from Pacificon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjsUctIE3-I&feature=youtu.be

Link to a ARRL brief article on John G. “Jack” Curtis, K6KU, SK:
http://www.arrl.org/news/curtis-keyer-chip-developer-jack-curtis-k6ku-sk

The future of tracking radio signals from above

I recently stumbled upon a few news references to a new company that is working to advance the tracking of Radio signals from above. The company; HawkEye 360 just launched their first satellite based system, named Pathfinder, on the most recent SpaceEx rocket launch.


The company expects the US military to be increasingly interested in the technology, especially considering that HawkEye 360 can deploy its sensors on airplanes and high-altitude balloons (in addition to satellites). That feature could allow for real-time tracking of drones and weak signals on a battlefield.

Another planned use of Pathfinder is more down-to-earth: The technology could detect improper use of the radio-frequency spectrum, including interference between cell-phone towers. Such interference can cause data loss between mobile devices and towers, leading to slow and unreliable internet, among other problems.

From the companies web site: "HawkEye 360 is developing a new, geospatial information solution that will use radio frequency (RF) technology to help monitor global activity across air, land and sea and assist with emergencies. Our constellation of small satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) will collect information on specific radio signals worldwide to provide high-precision radio frequency mapping and analytics that we can customize to our clients’ needs."

Read the full referenced article below for more details on their future plans.

article link: https://www.businessinsider.com/spacex-to-launch-70-satellites-radio-tracking-2018-11

HawkEye360 company web site: http://www.he360.com/

More of the story: http://www.satmagazine.com/story.php?number=2060893990

Santa Net returns on 3.916 Mhz beginning November 23rd

For the 13th consecutive year, The 3916 Nets will be presenting The Santa Net on 3.916 MHz. Good girls and boys can talk to Santa Claus, via amateur radio, nightly at 7:30 PM (Central) starting Friday, November 23, 2018. The Santa Net will run nightly at 7:30 PM Central through Christmas Eve, December 24, 2018. Link: http://www.tailgatersnet.com/santa-net.html

Pete Thomson (KE5GGY), of The 3916 Nets, commented on The 3916 Santa Net. He said, "Christmastime is our favorite time of the year on 3.916 MHz. Our group thoroughly enjoys helping young people and their families have a shared Christmas experience that they'll always remember. In addition, Santa Net has introduced a lot of young people to the magic of amateur radio."


Youngsters can talk to "Santa at The North Pole" via strategically placed operators who relay the voice of Santa. Thomson said that The Santa Net is a team effort that involves the efforts of a number of 3916 Net members. He said, "In our first year, we connected 10 kids to Santa on Ham Radio and it's grown steadily since. For 2018, we're expecting between 600-700 children to participate."
Prenet check-ins are welcome each night starting at 7:00 PM central time.

The Santa Nets are presented annually by The 3916 Nets. The Rag Chew Crew, The Tailgaters and The Freewheelers are all amateur radio nets that meet on 3.916 MHz nightly. For more information on The 3916 Nets, go to http://www.3916nets.com For more information on The Santa Net, email KE5GGY at Gmail dot com.

2018 SKYWARN Recognition Day - December 1, 2018

2018 SKYWARN™ Recognition Day - December 1, 2018 from 0000z to 2400z

SKYWARN™ Recognition Day was developed in 1999 by the National Weather Service and the American Radio Relay League. It celebrates the contributions that volunteer SKYWARN™ radio operators make to the National Weather Service. During the day SKYWARN™ operators visit NWS offices and contact other radio operators across the world.

SKYWARN Recognition Day Operating Instructions:

1. Object For all amateur stations to exchange QSO information with as many National Weather Service Stations as possible on 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6, and 2 meter bands plus the 70 centimeter band. Contacts via repeaters are permitted. SKYWARN™ Recognition Day serves to celebrate the contributions to public safety made by amateur radio operators during threatening weather.

2. Date NWS stations will operate December 1, 2018, from 0000 - 2400 UTC.

3. Exchange: Call sign, signal report, QTH, and a one or two-word description of the weather occurring at your site ("sunny", "partly cloudy", "windy", etc.).

4. Modes: NWS stations will work various modes including SSB, FM, AM, RTTY, CW, FT8 and PSK31. While working digital modes, special event stations will append "NWS" to their call sign (e.g., N0A/NWS).

5.Station Control Operator: It is suggested that during SRD operations a non-NWS volunteer should serve as a control operator for your station.

6. Event and QSL Information: The National Weather Service will provide event information via the internet. Event certificates will once again be electronic and printable from the main website after the conclusion of SRD.

7. Log Submission: To submit your log summary for SRD use the online submission form.

Deadline for log submission is January 31, 2019.



For More Information: http://www.arrl.org/skywarn-recognition-day

LARC TECHNICIAN Class - 12/15-16/18

For more information contact: training@w2cm.com

WNY/Finger Lakes DMR Net - Sunday Nights

DMR Net  - Sunday Nights - 8pm(+/-) on TG 31369

Save the date! Next CNY Ham Breakfast 1/26/19

The next breakfast is scheduled and the event is open to ALL local Hams. It will be Saturday, January 26th 10th, 2019 at 8:00 am. This is a great chance to meet up with some of the folks you talk to on the air, but possibly have never met in person. Come on all you drive time radio jockeys, "6M QCWA Netters", 220mhz NET, CNY SWAP and Hobby Net check-ins - we hope to see you all there.

Location: The "Finally Ours Diner" is at 3788 West Seneca Turnpike, at the corner with Cedarville Rd. in the Onondaga Hill area of Syracuse (see directions here: http://finallyoursdiner.com/hours-contact ).

Thanks to K2WOP; Curt for his continuing efforts to put together this excellent get together.

Questions? contact Curt; K2WOP on the 146.67 repeater.

Finally Ours Diner link: http://finallyoursdiner.com