Review: 2007 Toyota Prius

Review: 2007 Toyota Prius: "Although I have a HF ham radio on the car, I can't operate most HF ham bands while the car is moving. The electrical propulsion system generates too much RFI for me to hear other stations. I've not started to work on RFI suppression yet, and the one person who has reported some success in RFI-suppressing the Prius claims to have put more than 200 hours of work into the project. Prius uses bundle shielding and thus any wire in the bundles with the power wires will radiate. VHF and UHF work fine, and I'm content to use HF while parked for now."

No-Code Came Too Late To Help Ham Radio

No-Code Came Too Late To Help Ham Radio: "I've worked quite a few international stations via IRLP, which has been fun. I have also tuned in a few satellites, which was difficult yet rewarding. I may build some antennas specifically for satellite work as a matter of fact. My most fun moment was doing an FM contact from the top of a small mountain in central Oregon to a repeater in the Coast Range - about 117 miles. Not bad for a 5-watt HT."

Amateur Radio Station Statistics

Amateur Radio Station Statistics: "Total Amateur Radio Station Licenses
(by month by class)"

Everyday People: Ham operator finds hobby fits his lifestyle

Everyday People: Ham operator finds hobby fits his lifestyle: "Whitley Smith, an amateur radio enthusiast, has found a way to incorporate his hobby into many of his other interests.

'I have one in the truck and travel trailer,' Smith said. 'I have a nifty device to put an antenna on my camping trailer - it's part of my life.'

While camping in remote places, Smith can set up a station and communicate with friends back in Hermiston and Pendleton, as well as other places, through a repeater; a person who listens for a transmission and re-transmits it.

Smith also uses his ham radio as a weather spotter for the National Weather Service."

Santa on Ham Radio Cheers up Kids at Driscoll's Children's Hospital | KIII TV3 | Local News

Santa on Ham Radio Cheers up Kids at Driscoll's Children's Hospital | KIII TV3 | Local News: "The smallest of patients got quite a big surprise today at Driscoll children's Hospital.

The kids got to speak with Santa Claus via shortwave radio. Amateur radio operators went from room to room with a radio. On the other end, the man in red, and as you'll see it was a conversation that brought smiles to each kids face."


.

ARRLWeb: Surfin': Guarding the Coasts with Our Radios

ARRLWeb: Surfin': Guarding the Coasts with Our Radios: "There are several Amateur Radio Nets that assist boaters throughout the world (to obtain a list of maritime nets, go to the ARRL net directory search page, select “Maritime Nets” and click on the “Search for Nets” button). But if you ever receive a call to contact the US Coast Guard to provide radio help, where do you begin?

Go to the Coast Guard’s Rescue Coordination Centers Web page and you will know where to go to begin. The information on this page should be available at the fingertips of every ham radio sailor and non-sailor alike."

Ham radio astronauts complete 100th station spacewalk

Ham radio astronauts complete 100th station spacewalk: "Space station Commander Peggy Whitson, KC5ZTD, and Flight Engineer Dan Tani, KD5DXE, completed the 100th spacewalk in support of station assembly and maintenance. The 6 hour and 56 minute spacewalk ended Tuesday at 11:46 a.m. EST."








*

CurryPilot.com

CurryPilot.com: "A tsunami warning for the coast of Alaska, and a tsunami advisory for the coastal areas of California, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia, Canada, were cancelled at 2:07 a.m. today (Wednesday) after alarms were sounded throughout Curry County and the West Coast in the early morning.

The National Warning System (NAWAS) cancelled both the warning and advisory after no destructive tsunami was recorded, and 'no tsunami danger exists for Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon or California.'"

Banks radio operator lends a helping ‘ham

Banks radio operator lends a helping ‘ham: "Coastal residents leaned on Columbia County to provide services, but emergency operators there soon were feeling the brunt of the storm as creeks and rivers began overflowing. At one point, 20,000 residents had no phone service.

The last line of defense? Ham radio operators.

“We were the critical communications link for the first 48"

'I was soaked to the bone, pouring sweat with nervous tension'

'I was soaked to the bone, pouring sweat with nervous tension': "In the wake of back-to-back storms, wind and rain continued to hammer the station, one of four used for Clatsop County's public safety radio transmissions. Gore, a ham radio operator, powered up the system on a generator. Meanwhile, visibility had dropped from 300 feet to about 10 atop 3,000-foot-tall Wickiup.

Climbing into a basket and getting hoisted by cable into a Coast Guard helicopter - the only way in or out because of down trees clogging roadways - was not an appealing prospect for Gore."

HIGH WIND WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY MORNING
THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON FOR THE SOUTH WASHINGTON COAST AND THE NORTH AND CENTRAL OREGON COAST
Urgent - Weather Message National Weather Service Portland OR 1207 PM PST Fri Dec 14 2007



North Oregon Coast-Central Oregon Coast-South Washington Coast- Including The Cities Of...Astoria...Cannon Beach...Tillamook... Lincoln City...Newport...Florence...Raymond...Long Beach... Cathlamet 1207 PM PST Fri Dec 14 2007

...High Wind Watch In Effect From Sunday Morning Through Sunday Afternoon For The South Washington Coast And The North And Central Oregon Coast...

The National Weather Service In Portland Has Issued A High Wind Watch...Which Is In Effect From Sunday Morning Through Sunday Afternoon.

A Series Of Frontal Systems Will Move Off The Pacific Ocean And Into The Pacific Northwest To Bring Very Gusty Winds To The South Washington Coast And The North And Central Oregon Coast. These Fronts Will Also Bring Gusty Winds To The North And Central Oregon Coast Range.

The First Front Will Come Inland Tonight With South Winds Expected To Increase To 30 Mph With Gusts 45 Mph At The North Oregon And South Washington Coast During The Evening And To 25 Mph With Gusts 35 To 45 Mph On The Ridges Of The North And Central Oregon Coast Range.

Be Aware That Trees May Weakened...And More Prone To Falling...By Previous Wind And Rain Storms In These Areas.

A High Wind Watch Is Now In Effect For The South Washington Coast And The North Oregon Coast For South Winds 35 Mph With Gusts 60 To 65 Mph Sunday As The Second...Stronger Front Approaches. These Winds Will Be Strongest Near The Beaches But May Also Affect The Coastal Communities. As That Front Moves Inland Also Expect South Winds 30 Mph With Gusts 40 To 50 Mph In The Higher Elevations Of The North And Central Oregon Coast Range. This Front Could Either Weaken Or Strengthen...And The High Wind Watch May Be Upgraded To A Warning Or Canceled As The Event Becomes More Clearly Defined. Stay Abreast Of Later Bulletins Concerning This Developing Weather Pattern.

A High Wind Watch Means There Is The Potential For A Hazardous High Wind Event. Sustained Winds Of At Least 40 Mph...Or Gusts Of 58 Mph Or Stronger May Occur. Continue To Monitor The Latest Forecasts.

Ham radio operators add to relief effort in storm-battered Oregon

Ham radio operators add to relief effort in storm-battered Oregon: "Telephone lines, power lines, Internet access and cell-phone systems were no match for Mother Nature when three massive storms struck parts of Oregon in rapid succession this week. The storms lashed the region with 120-mph winds, heavy rains and flooding.

Even as modern technologies succumbed to the weather, the long-established, reliable ham radio network was able to fill the gaps and help state and county officials coordinate emergency response efforts and communicate with one another to assist distressed residents across the region."

Energy source of Northern Lights found - USATODAY.com

Energy source of Northern Lights found - USATODAY.com: "Scientists think they have discovered the energy source of the spectacular color displays seen in the northern lights. New data from NASA's Themis mission, a quintet of satellites launched this winter, found the energy comes from a stream of charged particles from the sun flowing like a current through twisted bundles of magnetic fields connecting Earth's upper atmosphere to the sun."

Slashdot | Ham Radio Operators Are Heroes In Oregon

Slashdot | Ham Radio Operators Are Heroes In Oregon: "'We all know the impact that Ham radio can have in emergencies, but that often slips by the public and the authorities. Not so in Oregon, where a day after getting inundated with torrential rains and winds and suffering from the usual calamities those cause, Oregon's Governor called the local Ham radio operators heroes. When discussing how the storm affected communications, the governor stated: 'I'm going to tell you who the heroes were from the very beginning of this...the ham radio operators.' Kudos to the Oregon Ham operators for helping out in a bad situation, and getting the recognition they deserve.'"

Loyal Subscriber Site

Loyal Subscriber Site: "During the Loma Prieta earthquake, I was on duty for 73 hours nonstop. I was on the air for a very long time when Hurricane Iniki hit Howaii in 1992. When several quakes hit Mexico, we helped people in California to get word from their relatives in Mexico City, where they didn’t have working telephones. And it’s all volunteer work, we are prevented by law from accepting any kind of payment.” "

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station | SpaceRef - Your Space Reference

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station | SpaceRef - Your Space Reference: "Since its first flight in 1983, ham radio has flown on more than two-dozen space shuttle missions. Dozens of astronauts have used the Space Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment, or SAREX, to talk to thousands of kids in school and to their families on Earth while they were in orbit. They have pioneered space radio experimentation, including television and text messaging as well as voice communication. The Russians have had a similar program for the cosmonauts aboard the Russian Space Station Mir. When U.S. astronauts were aboard Mir in preparation for the long duration missions of the international space station, they used amateur radio for communication, including emergency messaging while Mir was in distress."

EDITORIAL:
by ron thomas KE7NIW

I've noticed that about 80 visits have happened since the inception of this BLOG (website)... Cool. However, you are not using the most interactive feature at all and that is your ability to comment on each article... At the bottom of each article is a link entitled "comment" by clicking that you will be taken to a window that allows you to share your thoughts about any article.

You need to start learning to use it because that is the way you will bid on equipment that you have for sale. That is the way you can enter into discussions. Some of you also don't understand that each article is usually just a quote from a larger story written elsewhere... If you mouse over the top of every underlined article it will hi-lite and allow you to left click and take you to the full written story on the author's webpage.

At the coming potluck I will have a computer set up to show you all the features ..including how you can email stories to the website and for sale items.

The site takes care of itself mostly but it requires an editor to keep the comments from turning nasty... Rule 1 is don't pen something hurtful... I will delete it.

Oregon emergency officials say ham radio operators the unsung heroes - NewsFlash - OregonLive.com

Oregon emergency officials say ham radio operators the unsung heroes - NewsFlash - OregonLive.com: "In fact, amateur radio operators were heralded by state emergency officials as heroes. Ham radio is more than just a hobby to some. It can set up networks for government and emergency officials to communicate when other communication services fail. 'One of the problems in this is always communication,' Gov. Ted Kulongoski said after a visit Tuesday to Vernonia and a fly-over there and other affected areas. 'I'm going to tell you who the heroes were from the very beginning of this...the ham radio operators. These people just came in and actually provided a tremendous communication link to us.'"

Oregon emergency officials say ham radio operators the unsung heroes - NewsFlash - OregonLive.com

Oregon emergency officials say ham radio operators the unsung heroes - NewsFlash - OregonLive.com: "In fact, amateur radio operators were heralded by state emergency officials as heroes. Ham radio is more than just a hobby to some. It can set up networks for government and emergency officials to communicate when other communication services fail. 'One of the problems in this is always communication,' Gov. Ted Kulongoski said after a visit Tuesday to Vernonia and a fly-over there and other affected areas. 'I'm going to tell you who the heroes were from the very beginning of this...the ham radio operators. These people just came in and actually provided a tremendous communication link to us.'"

Whittier Daily News - A closer look at area ham-radio operators

Whittier Daily News - A closer look at area ham-radio operators: "During our big fires this autumn, radio operators helped speed evacuations in Malibu and Calabasas. Numbers of FCC-licensed 'ham' operators volunteer as emergency communicators when power or telephone lines go down during disasters or emergencies."

Amateur radio operators step up when needed to keep county in touch with the world

Amateur radio operators step up when needed to keep county in touch with the world: "When twin storms hammered the coast Sunday through Monday with hurricane-force winds, snapping tree limbs like twigs and cutting power to thousands in Clatsop County, amateur radio operators didn't just bolster efforts at the county Emergency Operations Center. They were the heart of the response."

Ham radio operators add to relief effort in storm-battered Oregon

Ham radio operators add to relief effort in storm-battered Oregon: "In Oregon, about 200 volunteer ham radio operators have donated their time since last Sunday night to provide needed communications since the storms struck, said Vince Vanderhyde, emergency coordinator for the amateur radio volunteers who assist the Oregon Emergency Management Agency (OEM). 'I spoke to a woman who's been operating her radio in [the city of] Vernonia for 20 hours straight,' Vanderhyde said. 'Another guy volunteered to help communicate, then he said he was exhausted and was heading home to clean up his own house, which had been flooded with floodwaters. I have to tell you, it's the most dedicated bunch of citizen volunteers that you can imagine.'"

Newport News-Times: Emergency notification system has variety of potential uses

Newport News-Times: Emergency notification system has variety of potential uses: "This week's attack by Mother Nature, which resulted in power outages, blocked roadways and concerns of flooding in many parts of Lincoln County, was a reminder once again of how important it is to be able to get the word out among residents of potential hazards or emergency situations. "

Slashdot | Ham Radio Operators Are Heroes In Oregon

Slashdot | Ham Radio Operators Are Heroes In Oregon: "An anonymous reader writes 'We all know the impact that Ham radio can have in emergencies, but that often slips by the public and the authorities. Not so in Oregon, where a day after getting inundated with torrential rains and winds and suffering from the usual calamities those cause, Oregon's Governor called the local Ham radio operators heroes. When discussing how the storm affected communications, the governor stated: 'I'm going to tell you who the heroes were"

HIGH SURF WARNING NOW IN EFFECT
UNTIL 4 AM PST MONDAY FOR THE SOUTH WASHINGTON AND NORTH AND CENTRAL OREGON COAST
Urgent - Immediate Broadcast Requested Coastal Hazard Message...Corrected National Weather Service Portland OR 214 PM PST Sun Dec 2 2007





North Oregon Coast-Central Oregon Coast-South Washington Coast- 214 PM PST Sun Dec 2 2007

...High Surf Warning Now In Effect Until 4 AM PST Monday For The South Washington And North And Central Oregon Coast... ...Coastal Flood Warning In Effect From 4 AM To 12 PM PST Monday For The South Washington And North And Central Oregon Coast...

The National Weather Service In Portland Has Issued A Coastal Flood Warning...Which Is In Effect From 4 AM To 12 PM PST Monday. The High Surf Warning Is Now In Effect Until 4 AM PST Monday. The Coastal Flood Watch Is No Longer In Effect.

The Strongest Portion Of This Pacific Storm Will Affect The Coast Tonight And Monday Morning. With Stronger Winds The Seas Will Build To Over 40 Feet As Measured By Offshore Buoys By Late Tonight.

The Seas Combined With High Tides Monday Morning And The Strong Winds Will Be Able To Push The Ocean Into The Land. This Will Produce Flooding Due To The Ocean Water Being Past The Beaches And Damage Caused By Debris That Is Pushed Ashore By The Ocean. The Time Of Most Of The Coastal Flooding Will Be Around The Time Of High Tide.

The High Tide On The South Washington Coast At Toke Point Will Be 825 AM Monday Morning.

The High Tide On The North Oregon Coast At Astoria Will Be Around 842 AM Monday Morning.

The High Tide On The Central Oregon Coast Near Newport Will Be Around 800 AM Monday Morning.

Until Early Monday Morning The High Surf Warning Will Continue Along The Coast. A High Surf Warning Indicates That Dangerous... Battering Wave Will Pound The Shoreline. Seas Of This Magnitude Are Capable Of Rolling And Moving Large Logs. These Conditions Will Make Beaches...Jetties...And Breakwaters Unsafe. Beach Erosion Is Also Likely.

A Coastal Flood Warning Means That Flooding Is Occurring Or Imminent. Coastal Residents In The Warned Area Should Be Alert For Rising Water...And Take Appropriate Action To Protect Life And Property.

ORZ001-002-030130-
/O.CON.KPQR.HW.W.0008.000000T0

000Z-071204T0600Z/
NORTH OR COAST-CNTL OR COAST-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF.ASTORIA.CANNON BEACH.TILLAMOOK.
LINCOLN CITY.NEWPORT.FLORENCE
917 AM PST SUN DEC 2 2007

.HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM PST MONDAY
FOR THE NO. & CNTL OR COASTS.

A HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM PST MONDAY.

TWO PERIODS OF VERY STRONG WINDS ARE EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT
24 HRS ALONG THE NO. & CNTL OR COAST. THE FIRST WAS
BEGINNING THIS MORNING.WITH SO. WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH AND
GUSTS TO 75 MPH NEAR COASTAL HEADLANDS & BEACHES & 65 MPH IN
COASTAL COMMUNITIES TODAY. WINDS WILL DECREASE BRIEFLY THIS EVENING
BEFORE THE SECOND PERIOD OF EVEN STRONGER WINDS OCCURS LATE TONIGHT
AND MONDAY. BY MON MORNING WINDS WILL RISE TO 30 TO 50 MPH WITH
GUSTS TO POSSIBLY OVER 100 MPH NEAR THE HEADLANDS & BEACHES AND
80 MPH IN THE COASTAL COMMUNITIES. THE WINDS WILL DECREASE MONDAY
NIGHT ONCE THE ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT PUSHES ONSHORE.

THESE WINDS.ESPECIALLY THOSE LATE TONIGHT & MONDAY.ARE
STRONG ENOUGH TO PRODUCE SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE & CAUSE POWER
OUTAGES.

A HIGH WIND WARNING MEANS A HAZARDOUS HIGH WIND EVENT IS EXPECTED
OR OCCURRING. SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 40 MPH OR GUSTS
OF 58 MPH OR MORE CAN LEAD TO PROPERTY DAMAGE.

Weather Service to show appreciation for ham radio operators' help - Sun Journal

Editor... .Here is a chance for club members to help the weather service... We could contact the weather service and see if they have a spotter's freq for our area...

Weather Service to show appreciation for ham radio operators' help - Sun Journal: "A person must pass a test and earn a license from the Federal Communications Commission to be an amateur radio operator, Austin said. The commission licenses an operator for a specific frequency. Operators use the frequency to contact the Weather Service. Koonce said he participated in radio training after he earned his license in 1975. Soon after, he obtained a spotter number from the Weather Service. "

Coastal Flood Warning - ALERT 1

HIGH SURF ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM TO 10 PM PST SUNDAY FOR THE CENTRAL OREGON COAST, COASTAL FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY EVENING THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON FOR THE CENTRAL OREGON COAST

Issue Time: 2:08 PM PST Saturday Dec 1 2007

Valid Until: 4:15 AM PST Sunday Dec 2 2007

Back to summary HIGH SURF ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM TO 10 PM PST SUNDAY FOR THE CENTRAL OREGON COAST UNTIL 4:15AM PST Urgent - Immediate Broadcast Requested Coastal Hazard Message National Weather Service Portland OR 208 PM PST Sat Dec 1 2007 Central Oregon Coast- 208 PM PST Sat Dec 1 2007 ...High Surf Advisory In Effect From 6 AM To 10 PM PST Sunday For The Central Oregon Coast... ...Coastal Flood Watch In Effect From Sunday Evening Through Monday Afternoon For The Central Oregon Coast... The National Weather Service In Portland Has Issued A High Surf Advisory...Which Is In Effect From 6 AM To 10 PM PST Sunday. A Coastal Flood Watch Has Also Been Issued. This Coastal Flood Watch Is In Effect From Sunday Evening Through Monday Afternoon. The Initial Portion Of A Very Strong Pacific Storm Will Move Into The Central Coast On Sunday. Seas As Measured By Buoys Just Offshore Will Top 20 Feet After Daybreak On Sunday And Rise To Around 25 Feet By Midday. Seas May Drop Off A Few Feet Late Sunday Afternoon And Early Evening Before Seas Build Again With The Stronger Portion Of This Storm. Seas Will Build To Near 40 Feet Early Monday Morning And May Top 45 Feet By Later Morning. These Seas Combined With Very Strong Winds And High Tides Have The Potential To Push The Ocean Into The Land Causing Damage And Flooding. High Tide On Monday Morning Will Be 745 AM Along The Central Oregon Coast. A High Surf Advisory Means That High Surf Will Affect Beaches In The Advisory Area...Producing Localized Beach Erosion. Seas Of This Magnitude Are Capable Of Rolling And Moving Large Logs In The Beach Area. Persons Near The Beaches Need To Use Caution Near These Logs Or Beach Debris. A Coastal Flood Watch Means That Conditions Favorable For Flooding Are Expected To Develop. Coastal Residents Should Be Alert For Later Statements Or Warnings...And Take Action To Protect Property.

High Winds Forecast in County

LCSD has taken part in a briefing with Lincoln County Emergency Services regarding strong damaging winds that are probable along the coast and in the Coast Range Sunday and Monday, December 2 and 3, 2007. Winds on Sunday have a potential of 50 mph with gusts to 70. On Monday, 65 mph sustained winds are predicted, with gusts to 100.

If it is determined that schools and buses will operate as usual on Monday, no statement will be issued from the District. If buses and schools are impacted, information will be provided in the following ways:

►By 6:00 a.m. local radio stations and major Portland TV news stations will be

notified and will begin making announcements.

►A message will be recorded on the LCSD 24-hour information line: 265-4437.

►By 6:30 a.m., the LCSD website www.lincoln.k12.or.us will be updated with the

current school closure/delay information.

►If local radio stations are off the air, please tune your radio to channel a.m. 1110

out of Bend.

Power outages and/or downed power lines may make Internet access and phone messaging systems unavailable. Because of isolated inclement weather situations, some areas might close or have a two-hour delay, while other unaffected areas will remain open.

Monster storm heading our way

A system to arrive Sunday may prompt Oregon's first hurricane wind warning

Friday, November 30, 2007

STUART TOMLINSON

The Oregonian

To the extent forecasting the weather is like playing music, Oregon meteorologists Thursday were cranking up the volume.

Forecasters from the public and private sector, as well as the media, were scrambling to get their arms around a double-whammy of winter weather barreling toward the region. They expect a rare Willamette Valley snowstorm Saturday, followed by what some predict will be a once-a-decade storm packing high winds and heavy rains early next week.

The National Weather Service has said it might issue its first hurricane wind warning for Oregon in advance of the second storm.

"Everything points to this being a very strong, prolonged event," said the weather service's Ira Kosovitz. "We could see sustained winds of 90 miles per hour, if not 100."

The ingredients for snow Saturday at the lower elevations in northwest Oregon and southwest Washington are coming together, with the highest likelihood of accumulations in the area from Salem in the south to Olympia in the north.

"I think we'll see snow starting around 10 or 11 a.m. lasting for a couple of hours but with not a lot of accumulation," said Clinton Rockey of the National Weather Service in Portland. "It should change over to rain by midafternoon, but snow throughout the day in the Columbia River Gorge and the Cascades."

As noteworthy as that forecast is -- snow being rare around here -- the biggest news Thursday at the National Weather Service offices in Portland was the approaching "monster" Pacific storm that's going to bring potentially damaging winds and widespread flooding to the region Sunday into Monday and Tuesday.

The size and scope of the storm -- which has tapped into the energy of typhoons Mitag and Hagibis -- may prompt the first hurricane force wind warning, which would mean sustained winds of 74 mph or higher on the Oregon and Washington coasts.

That's a big deal, but not quite as big as the "first in history" designation might suggest.

Bill Schneider, the science and operations manager for the weather service, said the agency was given the go-ahead by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration only five years ago, in 2002, to issue such a warning "to highlight the extreme nature of rare storms that may only occur once every 5 to 10 years."

Schneider said such storms -- extratropical cyclones -- don't have the structure of a hurricane, and shouldn't be confused with an actual hurricane, but they are, in fact, larger and have a broader impact zone.

After the wind comes the rain. George Taylor of the Oregon Climate Service characterized the looming storm as a "hybrid," with traits similar to the damaging windstorm of December 1995 and the flooding rains of November 1996.

Forecast models show a plume of moisture extending from Oregon to Hawaii by late Sunday, a classic Pineapple Express that's been called an atmospheric river.

"The intensity of the winds followed by intense rains makes it a very significant storm with big-time rain," Taylor said. "We could see three to four inches (of rain) in the valley, and even more at higher elevations."

The storm is expected to combine rising snow levels with heavy rains, a recipe responsible for damaging floods.

Snow levels -- which have been below pass level this week, allowing Timberline to go to full operations, and Mt. Hood Meadows, Mt. Bachelor and Mt. Hood Skibowl to open additional lifts -- will begin to rise Sunday.

Matt Zaffino, meteorologist for KGW (8) in Portland, said the storm's deep area of low pressure is one of the strongest he's seen in recent memory, even stronger than the Columbus Day Storm of October 1962. He predicted that this storm, however, won't be as damaging as that storm because it will stay farther offshore.

Even so, Zaffino said, "This thing is an absolute monster -- it covers the entire Northeast Gulf of Alaska.

"It's huge."

Stuart Tomlinson: 503-221-8313; stuarttomlinson@ news.oregonian.com

Oregon Coast Repeater Group Weather Stations - Rockaway to Yachats

http://www.ocrg.org/telemetry_feed/ocrgwx.html

The weather station at Cape Meares had its anemometer destroyed last month in 92 mph winds. This is the second unit lost this year. Peet Brothers shipped an overnight replacement and is covering both units under warranty. It is a new design and we appreciate Daron who climbs tall towers in bad weather much too often to make repairs. Cape Meares is fully functional at this time. Anyone want to guess what wind speed will be required to make the new anemometer disappear?

We seem to be Beta Testing for Peet Brothers.

The same storm caused anemometer damage at Mt Hebo so wind speeds from there are not accurate or even showing a times. The mountain and tower crew will fix that on the next visit if the snow doesn't come too soon.

The weather station on Cape Foulweather is scheduled for a complete replacement, hopefully this year pending financial support. The wind speed on Foulweather is not accurate and the site still needs a rain gauge.

Each of the 11 sites on the above web page represents an investment of about $650 in the weather station, and another $450 or more in the v.h.f. radio, TNC, data interface, and antenna system. What you see on the Internet is sent over the air on the APRS Network and iGated through a portal in Lincoln City or one of the other cities on the network.

Listen to 144.390 MHz on 2 Meters and you will hear the data flying by.

The Oregon Coast Repeater Group is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt organization and welcomes any material or financial support.

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Up to date Repeater Maps and Lists for Tillamook and Lincoln County are available at www.ocrg.org

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Ships operating offshore can be viewed at http://www.ocrg.org/ships_feed/ships.html

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AMATEUR RADIO VE TESTING

VE License Exams are available in Lincoln City on Saturday, December 1, at Oregon Coast Community College, 1206 S.E. 48th St., Taft area of Lincoln City. Testing starts at 8:30 a.m., however, applicants need to arrive no later than 9 a.m. Advance reservations accepted. Walk-ins ok. Tests are normally scheduled at this location each month of the year on the first Saturday.

Exam test fee is $14 for one or more elements taken on the same day. Photo ID is required. New applicants will need their Social Security number. Bring two copies of your existing license if upgrading. The FCC requires your FRN number on any application for an upgrade.

The Extra Class exam question pool (Element 4) will change on July 1, 2008.

Contact VE is Carl Somdahl, W7LI, carl@oregoncoast.com, 503 965-7575

or Don Margeson, W7DS, chief@oregoncoast.com

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RADIO BREAKFAST

The hams in Lincoln City invite you to attend their breakfast on Saturday, December 1, at Sambo's Restaurant, located near the north end of town at 3262 N.E. Hwy 101. Time is 7 a.m. or when you get there. This is an informal group and we gather in the private dining room toward the back. Order off the menu with individual checks. Visitors and out of area hams are most welcome to attend. No business meetings, no dues, and a good time to gather for ham radio talk.

Please note that Sambo's does not open on Saturday's until 6:30 a.m.

The radio breakfast has been a monthly event on the first Saturday of each month for the past 30 years.

Lincoln City Amateur Radio Club - K7AM.

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The TEARS Radio Club in Tillamook meets on the third Thursday of each month at the PUD Building. Time is 7 p.m.

The meeting on December 20 changes location to the 911 Center for an informal program and walk-through at the new facility.

Quarter Century Wireless Association

Oregon Coast Chapter 175

The QCWA holiday luncheon is on December 8 in Depoe Bay. The local chapter will be sending out a notice and sign-up sheet sometime this week. If you would like to become a local chapter member, and have been licensed for 25 years or more, contact Don Margeson, W7DS, chief@oregoncoast.com for more information. Don would also like to hear from you if you are within one or two years of the magic 25 mark. There may just be an extra opening or two at the holiday luncheon.

The national web site is www.qcwa.org

At 97, ham radio operator still scanning the airwaves - News - TriCities.com

At 97, ham radio operator still scanning the airwaves - News - TriCities.com: "SPECIAL TO THE HERALD COURIER BRISTOL, Tenn. – At 97, Margaret Roberts is lucid and lively and the owner of a new pacemaker. “The doctor said they normally wouldn’t give a pacemaker to someone her age,” said her niece-in-law, Linda Bowers. “But he checked her out and said she was a good candidate.” Roberts has more than just her good health to surprise people. She has been a licensed amateur radio operator, a “ham,” since 1947 and still broadcasts today. "

Ham radio tower raises a stink with neighbor | The Bulletin

Ham radio tower raises a stink with neighbor | The Bulletin: "Rex Auker’s backyard east of Bend looks out over mountains, trees and well-kept farmland. But when he heads into his acreage to check on his horses or give his dogs a little exercise, he sees something else: a 120-foot radio tower complete with nine guy wires in his neighbor’s yard. Auker filed a complaint in April 2006 about the tower, which his neighbor, Bob Swaney, uses to operate his ham radio."

ARRLWeb: Surfin': Gobble, Gobble, Google

ARRLWeb: Surfin': Gobble, Gobble, Google: "“E-mail arrives in my inbox every week from hams who are clueless about something and are seeking my assistance. Nine out of 10 times, I am clueless, too. I don’t know the answer, but I do know where I likely can find the answer. “For example, just the other day, a fellow ham wrote to me asking if I knew where he could obtain a copy of the beta 4 version 1.20 of MSYS, which is a multi-user packet radio bulletin board system (PBBS) program. I had no idea, but I wanted to help the fellow, so I switched to my Web browser and surfed to Google, my current favorite search engine. I entered “msys” in the search field, pressed the ‘Search Google’ button and the search engine came back with the results of its hunt.”"

ARRLWeb: Hams and the National Weather Service: Working Together for SKYWARN Recognition Day

ARRLWeb: Hams and the National Weather Service: Working Together for SKYWARN Recognition Day: "'NWS offices utilize the real-time reporting of weather events to assist in warning operations, but certainly hurricanes Katrina and Rita have shown us that ham radio operators are equally important during the recovery phase of large-scale natural disasters,' Floyd pointed out. He also cited the example of the Hurricane Watch Net (HWN). He notes that the HWN, organized in 1965 during Hurricane Betsy, started out as an informal group of amateurs but has since developed a formal relationship with the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami via its Amateur Radio station WX4NHC. Ham radio operators and volunteers at Miami work together when hurricanes threaten to provide real-time weather data and damage reports to the Hurricane Center's forecasters. For more information on SKYWARN Recognition Day, including a list of participating NWS offices, QSL card and certificate information, please see the NWS Web site. Information is updated on the site each Thursday as it becomes available."

OnlineAthens.com | News | A part of ham radio's history moving to Oconee 11/20/07

OnlineAthens.com | News | A part of ham radio's history moving to Oconee 11/20/07: "A Five Points landmark that for decades connected an amateur radio operator with the world will find new purpose in Oconee County. Workers disassembled the old, metal windmill tower that rose about 65 feet above the back lot of a house on Milledge Terrace and moved it to Watkinsville, where the new owner may use it as a transmission tower for a low-power radio station."

Rendell to shake up state's emergency response hierarchy - NewsFlash - PennLive.com

Rendell to shake up state's emergency response hierarchy - NewsFlash - PennLive.com: "HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Ed Rendell said Friday he wants to restructure state government to address major emergencies as officials released a study of the state's bungled response to a February snowstorm that stranded highway travelers overnight. Adopting recommendations in the study, Rendell proposed elevating the importance of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and making its director the top emergency response official in the state, reporting directly to the governor."

Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers (SARA)

Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers (SARA)

GazetteXtra

GazetteXtra: "Fort Atkinson — No electricity? You still have options. No electricity and no phone line? Well, there’s still ham radio. Much of the ham radio’s appeal is its independence, said Dennis Rybicke, a member of the JefCARES, an Amateur Radio Emergency Service in Jefferson County. Ham radios aren’t dependent on commercial electrical power or telephone services. They can be operated on batteries and generators. Whether ham operators prefer communicating in Morse code on old brass telegraph keys, talking on hand-held radios or sending computerized messages via satellite, they all share an interest in global happenings and reaching out to help others in times of need, Rybicke said."

Hi Ron!

Hey Ron!  Here it is.

www.hamgreetings.com Amateur Radio Greetings - Home

www.hamgreetings.com Amateur Radio Greetings - Home: "'Transmitting Ham Greetings To Friends Both Near and Far.' Welcome to Ham Greetings...where you will find nostalgic and modern greeting cards and ornaments for amateur radio operators. Our boxed cards make wonderful fundraising products for scholarships or repeater expenses, but you can also purchase singles of each product too. Browse 'Our Products' link above to see more of our products, and please check back as our product line will grow to include greeting cards for many ham celebrations and events."

Video: Earthquake Rocks Chile

What will it be like?

Video: Earthquake Rocks Chile: "November 15, 2007— Residents were recovering from a major earthquake that knocked down houses and electrical wires this week in northern Chile. At least two were killed. "

ARRLWeb: Surfin': Space Cadets on the Radio

ARRLWeb: Surfin': Space Cadets on the Radio:
↑Click on the title to see the whole article. Then arrow back.
"It was a big deal around our home back then. My sister Jeanette and I were the original space cadets and my mother was our leader. Mom found out when Sputnik would be visible and I remember standing out on the lawn with my parents and my sister watching that pinpoint of light that was Sputnik cross the sky over our house. One day after work, Dad brought us home our very own Sputniks: a simple toy that some entrepreneur hastily put together to take advantage of the moment. The toy Sputnik was a simple kit consisting of a white round balloon and a handful of white soda straws. After you inflated the balloon, you attached the soda straws to the balloon to emulate Sputnik’s antennas. We were on our own with regards to a launch vehicle."

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