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.