Happy Holidays! Best wishes to everyone during this festive time of the year. As I write this, a major snowstorm is providing plenty of 'white stuff' in the Midwest and New England, so I presume this means that we will have a white Christmas here in Massachusetts. While this is certainly a time of economic uncertainty, I also know that our members continue to make a difference for AMSAT.

A number of interesting opportunities and events have developed over the past two months for AMSAT that I would like to briefly share with you:

• ARISS Silver Anniversary. The first amateur radio two-way communication between the Space Shuttle and amateurs on the ground took place on December 3, 1983 when Owen Garriott, W5LFL made his historic flight on STS-9. There are a number of opportunities for amateurs to help celebrate this event and the ARISS International Committee, chaired by AMSAT VP-Human Space Flight, Frank Bauer, KA3HDO have arranged for some special events. Please check ANS and the AMSAT webpage (http://www.amsat.org) for the latest information and join the fun!

• AO-16 operations. As expected, performance of this spacecraft is declining as the spacecraft's temperature is dropping due to longer eclipses resulting in less sunlight and a cooler spacecraft. This drop in temperature is causing the satellite's hardware timer to reset until the spacecraft warms up (when there is at least 85% illumination). If you're interested in making two-way contacts using AO-16's unique cross mode, cross band voice repeater, with an uplink on 145.920 FM and downlink on 437.026 MHz reduced carrier AM, now is the time to try it! The satellite is expected to 'go silent' shortly when temperatures stay low enough as to not allow software configuration of the satellite before the hardware timer resets itself again.

• President's Club. A fundraising appeal letter was mailed this week to all AMSAT members. Please consider donating to the AMSAT President's Club so that we can continue our efforts to maintain amateur radio in space.

• Near Term Engineering Task Force. I announced at the AMSAT Annual Meeting in Atlanta that a group led by Bill Ress, N6GHZ had been formed to review the 'Rideshare' Proposal developed by Tom Clark, K3IO as well as evaluate AMSAT's ability to develop a modularization strategy to adapt RF packages to various structures. The committee has been diligently meeting every two weeks via teleconference to discuss future options for AMSAT and to help structure AMSAT's thinking on future spacecraft opportunities. While it is too soon for formal announcements of their findings, it is good to know that we have a formal group actively focused on engineering issues.

• SuitSat-2. Development work continues to place SuitSat-2 in service sometime in 2009. Several engineering issues have recently surfaced regarding modulation and transmission schemes and the team is evaluating several options regarding how best to resolve the issues. Several individuals have recently joined the engineering team to help overcome these challenges by developing potential alternative solutions.

• ITAR. I announced at the AMSAT Annual Meeting in Atlanta that AMSAT would actively develop a strategy concerning ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) and related export regulations. Our goal is to ensure that AMSAT is in full compliance with ITAR, develop materials to train our satellite builders on ITAR compliance, and to seek ways where we may continue to work with other AMSAT organizations on satellite projects. Since the Annual Meeting, Bill Ress, N6GHZ and I have been working with an attorney who specializes in ITAR. We hope to make a formal submission to the State Department regarding ITAR in early 2009.

• AMSAT Lab. AMSAT is actively seeking a new home for our AMSAT Lab. Unfortunately, due to changes that took place at HISS (Hawk Institute for Space Sciences) in Pocomoke City, MD over the summer, we are forced to remove our equipment and clean room from the current facility. We are in active discussions with several institutions concerning potential relocation, but no decision has been made. If you are in position to provide contacts with a not-for-profit institution that might be interested the hosting the AMSAT Lab, please contact me.

• AMSAT 40th Anniversary. AMSAT was incorporated in 1969, so this coming year (2009) is our 40th Anniversary! The 2009 AMSAT Symposium will take place the weekend of October 9 in the Washington-Baltimore area. Look for details in the upcoming AMSAT Journal. Please join us that weekend as we celebrate a significant milestone for AMSAT and build the foundation for the next 40 years of AMSAT.

As you can see, there are a number of activities that are ongoing within AMSAT. While we are challenged by the impact of current events, we continue to move forward in a number of areas.

As always, I appreciate hearing from the AMSAT membership. Should you have any questions or concerns about AMSAT, please don't hesitate to contact me. I will make every effort to respond to e-mails that I receive, but please keep in mind that I travel extensively which may limit my ability to respond quickly. Please know that I read every e-mail that I receive from AMSAT members and that I appreciate every person's willingness and time spent to share their thoughts and suggestions.

Seasons Greetings,

Barry Baines, WD4ASW
President-AMSAT

source: www.amsat.org

Nominations Sought For 2009 Dayton Hamvention® Awards

The Dayton Hamvention® is accepting nominations for its 2009 awards. Do you know an outstanding amateur in your club, community or from on-the-air contacts? Does this person excel in some phase of Amateur Radio? Do you feel this person deserves worldwide recognition? All radio amateurs are eligible. The deadline for nominations is February 18, 2009. The winners will be recognized at the 2009 Hamvention, May 15-17.

The three awards are:

• The Amateur of the Year Award -- This award will be given to the special person who has made a long term commitment to the advancement of Amateur Radio. The Hamvention Awards Committee is looking for a well-rounded individual who has contributed to Amateur Radio in some outstanding way.

• The Technical Excellence Award -- This award will be given to the person who has made an outstanding technical advancement in the field of Amateur Radio.

• The Special Achievement Award -- This award honors someone who has made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of Amateur Radio, usually someone who has spearheaded a significant project.

Awards are decided by the Awards Committee, based partially upon the information received, not the number of nominations submitted.

Documentation is beneficial. Magazine articles, newsletters, newspaper clippings, videos and such will better inform the Awards Committee of your candidate's accomplishments. These materials become the property of Hamvention and cannot be returned. Nominations may be sent via e-mail (please scan all supporting documents and send them as attachments, via fax at 937-276-6934, or US Mail to Hamvention Awards, PO Box 964, Dayton, OH 45401-0964. Nomination forms are available in either PDF format or Microsoft Word format. If you send your nomination via e-mail, the Awards Committee requests that you place your name in the subject line of the e-mail. -- Dayton Hamvention Awards Committee

source: www.arrl.org

 W3A Inauguration Special Event Station, January 17-24, 2009
                        By W3DQ, Eric Rosenberg
______________________________________________________________________

The District of Columbia Amateur Radio Society is proud to announce
the operation of W3A in honor of the inauguration of the 44th
President of the United States, Barack Obama.

W3A will be on the air during the week of January 17-24, 2009.  The
greatest amount of activity will from January 17 through January 19
and January 24

We will attempt to be active on all bands, although the majority of
activity is expected to be on 20 and 40 meters.  Our plan is to stay
in the US General Class bands to maximize our availability.  Check the
various spotting networks for our status.

QSL information:
Direct to W3DQ with SASE
Via the bureau
Via LoTW

A certificate may be available at that time.  If so, an announcement
will be made on the NW3DC webpage on QRZ.COM - www.qrz.com/nw3dc.

Namibia V5 Expedition in January 2009

DXpedition to Desecheo Gets Ready to Roll

Six members of the February 2009 KP5 Desecheo DXpedition team met in Puerto Rico the week of December 17-21. According to team co-leader Bob Allphin, K4UEE, the team visited US Fish and Wildlife Headquarters in Boqueron and met with the Chief Refuge Manager and law enforcement personnel in preparation for the DXpedition, set to start February 12.

Desecheo currently sits at number 7 on DX Magazine's Most Wanted list; the island is the second most-wanted DXCC entity in Asia and third most-wanted in Europe. Desecheo is a small uninhabited island in the Mona Passage, 14 miles off the western coast of Puerto Rico. It is part of the USFWS's national wildlife refuge system administered by the Caribbean National Wildlife Refuge Complex (CNWR).

"After an evening with local DXers and members of the Puerto Rico Amateur Radio League for dinner and a night of fellowship, DXpedition team members underwent UXO (unexploded ordnance) training," Allphin said. "On December 19, we accompanied US Fish and Wildlife law enforcement and UXO personnel to Desecheo Island. In the three hours we were there, the campsite and antenna fields were thoroughly swept for UXO and several areas were found suspicious. These areas were clearly marked, mapped by GPS and declared off limits for the DXpedition."

Allphin said that the USFWS will allow antennas on the ridge above the helicopter pad, providing a clear shot to Europe, North America and Japan. Other antennas will be located on the beach below the helicopter pad. While on Desecheo, the team conducted a test for the 2 meter link to Puerto Rico.

"Logistics and staging of equipment is ongoing and will be complete before the team arrives in Puerto Rico on February 7." Allphin said. "The team will transit to Desecheo on February 12 to begin the two week operation. Eight HF stations, plus 6 meters, will be operational. We have planned an incredible array of antennas. Transportation and logistics have been arranged for a fast deployment and quick appearance on the air. As soon as we land on Desecheo, two stations will be immediately activated. Stations will continue to operate until the final moments of departure on February 26."

Allphin told the ARRL that stepping onto Desecheo for the first time "was a dream come true. After working on this project for so many years -- to actually be there and with the blessing of the USFWS -- was truly emotional for me. The recon trip to the island was absolutely invaluable: We were able to see exactly what terrain issues we were faced with and be able to design the antenna types and locations to maximize our signals into the target areas. The amateurs in Erope and Asia will be pleased with our signals. The cooperation of the USFWS has been extremely cooperative and helpful."

Per USFWS rules, only 15 operators will be allowed on the island at one time. "We have arranged with USFWS to allow a shift change about half way through the DXpedition," Allphin told the ARRL. "This has allowed a number of hams on our waiting list an opportunity to participate in this DXpedition."

DXpedition co-leader Glenn Johnson, W0GJ, said the team will be running CW, SSB and RTTY on 160-6 meters. "We've had tremendous support from DX organizations all over the world and from numerous equipment and antenna manufacturers," he told the ARRL. "We are diligently working on the propagation studies to reach our hard-to-work areas of Asia and Europe. This plus our planned antennas, we should knock Desecheo off of the Most Wanted List for a long time to come."

source: www.arrl.org

ARRL DXCC Desk Approves T61AA Operation :-ARRL DXCC Manager Bill Moore, NC1L, reports that the license for the T61AA operation in Afghanistan has been updated. "If you had cards that were recently rejected for this operation, please send an e-mail to the ARRL DXCC Desk and you will be placed on the list for update," Moore said.

ZK2V 2009 DXpedition to the island of Niue (IOTA ref. OC-040) 16th May 2009 until 20th June 2009 (5 weeks) When the DXpedition is QRV, this webpage will have an online log-search feature, updated every few days if possible. Thanks for your interest in ZK2V 2009 - more information to follow .... 73 Chris ZL1CT / GM3WOJ ( ZL1V / GM7V) zl1ct1....at... gm7v.com Source:- http://www.gm7v.com/zk2v.htm

Hamfest India 2009, the largest annual festival of hams in India and The Golden Jubilee Year Celebrations of BARC - Bangalore Amateur Radio Club (1959-2009) is officially launched in Bangalore on 14 December 2008 at the Bharath Scouts & Guides Hq., Bangalore. Over 100 hams & SWLs were present on the occasion from all over South India.

The Hamfest India 2009 jointly with the Golden Jubilee Year Celebrations of BARC will be held on 7 & 8 November 2009 at Sri Nijagunara Kshetra, Opposite Bull Temple, Basavanagudi, Bangalore.

Several events like Field Day, Fox Hunt, HF & VHF Contests, etc will be conducted during the year 2009, concluding with the 2 day celebrations of Hamfest India 2009 & Golden Jubilee Year of BARC, on 7 & 8 November 2009.

The Delegation Fee for the Hamfest India 2009 is Rs.450/- for Hams & SWLs, and Rs.350/- for accompanying spouse and children above 10 years age.

Delegation Forms will be made available online shortly on the official website www.hamfestindia.com

Await more information on this mailing list shortly.

73

Ramesh Kumar
VU2LU
Member, Organising Committee
Hamfest India 2009
 

The information to you, your family and friends, that your Tiruchengoud Repeater Club has organized an Eyeball meet on 25th and 26th January 2009 at YERCAUD.You are cordially invited to attend with your family and friends to make it GREAT EYEBALL meet of the year. No doubt, that the First ham meet at Yercaud in January 2007 was a great success due to your valuable support, best wishes and wholehearted participation. YES, this time with the same enthusiasm and support we intend to out beat that.

YERCAUD - hill station 30 Km away from Salem with a winding ghat road, of 20 hair pin bends and 4920 ft,above mean sea level is situated in the Shevaroy hills. Its climate is cool and temperature never rises more than 30Deg Cand dip below 13 Deg c. You are amble around leisurely, do a tour of the lake in a pedal boat, or hire a car for the sight-seeing, The rocky escapements over looking the plains, Lady'Seat,Pyramid point(3Km away) once a Stone Age fortress shrine (7km away) and the Shevarayan Temple leading to an old cave temple are
some of the places worth visiting.

Some of the original forests still exist here and contains sevaral endemics species of plants and fauna.Wild life like
bison,deer,ant-eater,mongoose,patridges,the bird of paradise and many more , jack fruit,orange,guava and spices like black pepper and cardamom are the crops raised here,beside coffee. A wonderful place for rest and unwinding.

Our friends have planned lot of activities,a dx expedition,a foxhunt and many more,Efforts are being made to get a special call sign to mark the occasion. What else we need for a perfect holiday away from the maddening crowds to have an wonderful eyeball meet!.

Come Let all of us have a great pleasure of meeting each other.

VENUE;- STAR HOLIDAYS INC., YERCAUD (Near lake)
 

Registration:-
1. Ham/Guest Rs 350 each.
2. ham and xyl Rs 600 per couple
3. Hormonics above 10 Yrs Rs 250 each
4.Hormonics Below 10 Yrs Complimentary
 

Accommodation:-
Those who are interested to avail the services to book their
accomodation at yercaud(at first first served basis) may please
 

contact:- P.Panneerselvam VU2PCP.
E-mail . vu2pcp@gmail.com, Cell 9345635973

Last Date to receive the forms containing.
1.Name.2.Callsign,Name for Badge. Address, Telephone (o),( R),(M),Email,
No.of persons attending Single/couple,Guest,Children(Above 10 years)
and Below 10 years, Food Veg/Non veg

Last Date to receive the completed information along with the payment
is 10th January 2009.
 

Mail to P.Paneerselvam,
Hotel mathi,127,Annasalai,Tiruchengodu- 637 211 ( Mobile 9345635973)

73
VU2TCD

QRZ.CO.IN Website Launched on 1st January 2009 with Indian Amateur Radio Database, News & Discussion Forum etc.,

Regards Admin - QRZ.CO.IN