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To ensure that Amateur Radio is not an unintended victim of the growing public debate over what to do about distracted drivers, ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, has written a letter to the National Safety Council (NSC), highlighting issues regarding the use of Amateur Radio emergency communications devices in vehicles. Many states have outlawed the use of cell phones while driving; some states with these laws have ambiguous wording (such as "mobile communication devices" or "mobile electronic devices") concerning the use of Amateur Radio while driving.
On August 7, MFJ Enterprises announced they had purchased the Cushcraft Amateur Radio antennas product line from Missouri-based Laird Technologies effective July 31. According to MFJ, Cushcraft -- makers of HF/VHF/UHF vertical, beam and Yagi antennas for the Amateur Radio community -- will continue to be manufactured in Manchester, New Hampshire. "We are excited to have the Cushcraft Amateur Radio Antennas product line alongside our other five companies," said Martin F. Jue, President and founder of MFJ Enterprises, Inc. "This product line increases our ability to offer our customers a wide range of antenna options at different prices. Customers will be able to choose from Cushcraft Amateur Radio antennas, Hy-gain and MFJ antennas through one source." MFJ purchased Hy-gain in 2000 the company also owns Ameritron, Mirage and Vectronics. Jue said that the Cushcraft line will bring more than 50 new products to MFJ's Amateur Radio product line. "We will add more new products to this antenna line and will continue the Cushcraft Amateur Radio antennas name long into the future. Cushcraft Amateur Radio antenna product customers will appreciate the continued and expected top-quality manufacturing of this product in New Hampshire and the MFJ commitment to superb after-the-sale service and tech support in Mississippi," said Jue. The 120 page 2010 MFJ catalog will include the entire Cushcraft Amateur Radio antennas product line. MFJ has set up a special customer support line -- 662-323-5803 -- to handle Cushcraft antenna product technical support, parts requests and customer services.
We had some nice sunspot activity from July 3-10 -- and we were hoping for a return 27-28 days later -- but it never happened. Varying by latitude, the Sun rotates relative to Earth about every 27.5 days. If that same region was still active or the activity renewed, we might have seen something July 30-August 7, which is today. Instead, the quiet continues.
This week, Surfin' visits a blog and learns all about the Voice of America facility in southwestern Ohio.
On the night of August 11 and well into the next day, Earth will make its annual passage through the bulk of the debris shed by a comet known as Swift-Tuttle. Much of the debris is composed of dust-sized grains, but when these fragments come plunging into our atmosphere they can create a dazzling meteor display. Not only are the meteors fascinating to watch, they also leave short-lived streams of ionized gas in their wake. As hams have known for years, these meteor trails are excellent reflectors of radio waves.
On July 28, the FCC issued a Citation to The Spy Store for marketing unauthorized radio frequency devices. According to the Commission, these devices were in violation of the Communications Act of 1934, As Amended and the Commission's Rules, as well as United States Customs and Border Patrol regulations.
THE Cape Byron Lighthouse will be just one of more than 380 locations from more than 46 countries to host the 2009 International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend on August 15 and 16.
In an emergency they are always there transmitting vital information to those who need it most.
When it's not an emergency, local amateur radio enthusiasts just enjoy having fun.
RadioShack will reposition itself as "The Shack" in an expansive marketing campaign that launches this Thursday.
But the company insists the effort, which will encompass TV, print and digital media, merely underscores an existing nickname, and isn't about changing the brand.
On the night of August 11 and well into the next day, Earth will make its annual passage through the bulk of the debris shed by a comet known as Swift-Tuttle. Much of the debris is composed of dust-sized grains, but when these fragments come plunging into our atmosphere they can create a dazzling meteor display. Not only are the meteors fascinating to watch, they also leave short-lived streams of ionized gas in their wake. As hams have known for years, these meteor trails are excellent reflectors of radio waves.