2017-12-29

Amateur Radio in the 21st Century [Ham-Comp version]

As we are now well into 2017, I am going to persuade you to make this your next new year's resolution. It is time you “built something” in your hobby.

Over the years Amateur Radio has become a tertiary hobby. Low in priority for mostly male people. It has produced an amazing amount of technology and applications in the past. The second world war might not have turned out the way it did, were it not for the amateurs of the 1930's. Your stolen car would not have been found were it not for the 'tracker' Doppler radio or APRS. You might not have had a network of appliances or an “Internet”.

 

The Raspberry Pi and the Radio Amateur

Over the last two decades, we have gone through a “digital revolution”. The “Internet” has become a 'thing we use' for our every day life. Most of us have a cell phone, some have a smart phone. Quite a few have a tablet or a Personal Computer [PC]. Some households have two or more PC's. Most of these have a “router” connecting to the “Internet”. It might well be a 'Linux Appliance' serving the connection to the via Ethernet or WiFi.


What 'Application' are you going to put on it?

Amateur Radio applications are now numbering in the hundreds. Simple hardware applications, such as 'blinking L.E.D'. A temperature sensor using a single chip and resistor. A Morse generator for practising Morse. Use a USB RTL2832 adapter to decode the weather satellite pictures of your area.

We now have the 'Internet', so you can 'search' for the blog/website for the 'app'. What 'Apps' actually 'work' on the Pi? Most do work straight after the download.

Some need compiling from source code. Yes you can do that? You don't need a degree in Computer Science! Some were written for the PC's hardware. These will need 'work'.

[This is why we have a Raspberry Pi session at the club house on the 4th Saturday. So we can 'fix' these sometimes obstinate programs. << Obsolete]

 

Now you have your Raspberry Pi What do you need to get it going?

  1. Power supply. 5 Volts stabilised 1 Amp. Connected via micro-USB plug.

  2. SD card or Micro-SD card [B+]. Don't worry too much about speed etc. It should be larger

  3. than 2GB, so an 8GB will do. 8GB were on 'special' from the CNA for R80 approx recently.

  4. You will need it [SD/micro SD] programming with an Operating System. The club or one of the group will program it for you.

  5. An Internet connection via Ethernet or WiFi. If WiFi, you will need a USB WiFi 'dongle'. That is if you haven't bought a Pi3.

  6. Some form of 'display device'. Borrow the big screen from the living room. [You may have to fight off protesting family members!] Or connect an old monitor with a composite video feed. OR connect a PC via SSH to the Pi via Ethernet or WiFi.

  7. Linux PC simply type 'ssh pi@nnn.nnn.nnn.nnn'. You must know the IP address 'nnn etc'.

  8. To find the 'Pi', you can install a utility called 'Fing' on your Windwoes or Linux PC. [Who around here has a spare MAC?]

  9. Most Pi's will talk ssh directly from booting. Some need setting up requiring plugging into Television. These days an HDMI input on the TV or display are fairly common. But you could use a video connection. You know, the yellow connector on the TV.


2017-12-06

YL.beam #53 Dec 2017

   .beam  #53  Dec 2017
 
Contents
Silent keys
Land of Santa Claus, OH9SCL
Austrian YL Christmas activation
Dutch Young Ladies Club at Ham Radio Convention
CLARA (Canadian YL's) 2016 celebration article published
Rosario ARC, Argentina celebrates 90 years & Memories of 80 Years
Local-is-Lekker: Centurion Radio Amateur Club & Pam Momberg ZS6APT
Ja-Well-No-Fine
Morse code stories research - SBS 
QRZ & Calendar

SILENT KEYS 
* ZL1BWQ Ethel Le Cornu, joined NZ WARO in 1984, and  held continuous membership in WARO, until becoming silent key on 14 September 2017
* KB0MTN Alice "Ginny" Baker   Oct. 12, 1920- Nov. 24, 2017, Age: 97 of  Hood River, Ore.
* LU2DRS  TANA SILVIA Di SILVESTRO NOCELLA  27/11/2017  BsAs.  Argentina We feel the loss of our Argentine yl friend who shared her radio news generously. 
* ZS1JEB  Jumelle Bruyns, on Monday 27 Nov2017, her key went silent after a fairly long illness.
We extend our sincere condolences to their families and friends.

Santa Claus Land OH9SCL, amateur radio station  
Will be active again in December 2017. 
Activity will be mostly on HF-bands on all modes.
OH9SCL has been operating for more than 30 years from the Arctic Circle (since December 1986) in Lapland. Lapland is the largest and northernmost region of Finland. 
Located in the Arctic Circle, the Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi is now renowned as Santa's official “North Pole” residence. 
For additional information, visit http://oh9scl.fi  
and QRZ.com - OH9SCL -  http://www.lappi.fi/en/santa-claus       
for more web-sites

Austrian YL's Christmas Event
‎AMRS Frauenreferat – YL's  Invitation to the Christmas Austrian - yl round-up
On Sunday, December 17, 2017 at 17:30 pm;  80 m band   3,740 Mhz + /- Qrm.
I'm going to take over the control center with the callsign OE3XRC all YL's are most cordially invited to participate and  I would be very happy to contact you!
After the round, all listeners and om's are loaded to the log Vy 73 from Marion Stouy , OE3YSC  (AMRS  yl Spokesperson)

Further Afield 
Dutch Young Ladies Club at Ham Radio Convention 
Posted on 04/11/2017 by pa1eng
Today the annual Ham Radio Convention was held in Apeldoorn, it is the event for everyone who likes to experiment with (amateur) radio. Besides lectures and a components market there where exhibition stands to present several organisations and VERON commissions. Search Results
(VERON - Vereniging voor Experimenteel Radio Onderzoek Nederland)
For the first time PI4YLC joined the Traffic Bureau exhibition stand. This commission promotes radioamateur activities on HF and the Dutch Young Ladies Club is part of it. 
A YL-meet was organised to give Young Ladies the opportunity to meet us. We are proud that so many women found us today and that Sjoerd PA0SHY, chairman of the Traffic Bureau, is standing behind us. This picture is the result…
 
From left to right: Bertina gPA2BTA, Claudia gPA5CT, Lisa gPA2LS, Mariëtte gPA1ENG, Barbara PB2Z, Karin PA1KBN, Sonja PD4SON, Suzan fb-PD3SZN, Magda NL13543 and Heather PD3GVQ.

CLARA (Canadian Ladies Amateur Radio Assoc.)
An  article in TCA (The Canadian Amateur) Magazine about CLARA's 50th celebration during July 2017, has been published.. In her article, Val tells of  the international group who gathered for this special celebration, of places visited, about their AGM, and about CLARA and the way forward. Please visit the website : http://www.clarayl.ca  for the full article and pictures of the occasion. posted on Facebook: 11 Nov. 2017  Val Lemko, VE5ACJ, President of CLARA  
                   -=-=-=-=
During November 2017  Radio Club Rosario (Argentina) celebrated their 90th birthday, reminding the OM and I that  we had attended their 80th anniversary while aboard our sail boat “Dalkiri' on the Rio Parana.10 years ago. While travelling on the river we had made friends with local Amateurs who  invited us to attend the club event; below is a copy of the letter sent 'home' – hope you enjoy.. 

[Rosario [32°57′2″S- 60°42′15″W]  central Argentina, is an inland port on  the Paraná River, about 550km upstream from the Atlantic Ocean and 300 km (186 mi) northwest of Buenos Aires. Ocean going ships are able to reach the city].

Rosario ARC,  LU4FM, Argentina celebrates 90 years 2017
Memories of: 80 Years of Radio (Rosario) letter written  11/26/2007 
As we raised our glasses to celebrate the 80th anniversay of the Radio Club Rosario we wondered about the original members who on 25/09/1927 got together at ´La Comedia´ Theatre. What had been their hopes and expectations? What was Rosario like in those years when trains covered the country and steam-ships crossed between continents? How long did it take for scientific journals or equipment to arrive from Europe or North America?

  One of the first institutions of its kind, RCR, together with the Rosario Municipality, was instrumental in establishing and promoting regulations dealing with extraneous transmissions, caused by, amongst others, DC motors. Such interference, atmospherics and the ´noisy´ early receivers, made the reception of medium-wave signals difficult in those early times.
 In 1971 the club acquired a permanent home when the original  premises were purchased, at 811 Calle Zeballos; in 1994 the premises were almost doubled by the aquistion of the neighbouring property.
Acquired in 1985, the antenna farm was  named after the honorary member ´Rene Francovigh´ whose weekend house it had originally been. Situated on the outskirts of Rosario in those early days, it had been surrounded by farmland. Today the area is a light industrial zone surrounded by small factories. Although the landscape has changed,  the antenna towers are clearly visible.
On Sunday 4th November 2007, we were driven to the antenna farm by Toni LU2FFD to share in the 80th Anniversary celebrations of  the Radio Club Rosario. By midday the area was crowded with people and parked cars. A marquee had been erected  for the "Hamfes"., where most  of the equipment looked newish, unlike the  WW2 and other "treasures" we were used to at South African flea-markets!
  Also outside was the asado estaca (Argentine braai/ BBQ), especially set up for the occasion. Really large racks of beef ribs were held in position by T-shaped metal frames, the points of which are thrust into the ground, around a bed of burning wood coals. The cooking process takes hours, allowing a slightly smoky flavour to be imparted to the meat. The celebration menu was the best of Argentine cuisine: empanadas (meat pasties), chorizo - sausages, asado (roast meat) and ice-cream, helped along with Argentine wine.  Lots of everything and amply enjoyed by all (yumm) in the main hall, which can easily accomodate 120+ guests.
 We were intrigued by a huge walk-in size safe (the kind banks used to use), where the club's radio equipment is kept - good security! The club's various and many all-mode transceivers, has led to an increased level of operator competance,  encouraged DX participation and resulted in several titles  It also provides a venue for hosting teams of visiting operators  and of course it is somewhere for members to meet.
  80 years of radio is not just a local event, it is a feat to be celebrated by all Radio Amateurs and a reminder of how far radio has come – what of  the next 80 years? Some hobbies do not change with the times, some decline but radio seems to attract those with enquiring minds, so the future is assured, although the direction unknown.
  We would like to thank the Radio Club Rosario LU4FM for their invitation to share their celebrations and for the opportunity of meeting many of the members. Thank you to all who contributed to this memorable occasion.
We are indebted for information about the club from their QSL card celebrating 75 years and to Toni LU2FFD our personal guide and friend.
88 - ZS6YE Heather & 73 - ZS6YOT Jess, MM in Argentina.

Spare ribs? This is an asado estaca. It takes hours of slow cooking over the coals. 
When they say Argentines like meat they are not exaggerating. RCR 80th.

 












 
Left : Jess, Heather, Right: Toni LU2FFD and asado chef Jose LU7FYO


Local-is-Lekker 
Pam Momberg ZS6APT who has lived and operated in Division 6 (SA) for 42 years  (1975 – 2017)  has re- located to Division 1 (Western Cape). During that time she has been doyen of ZA-YLs; she was part of the SAWRC (South African Womens Radio Club) has been part of every YL Sprint and is heard on bulletins and contests.
While we wish her well, selfishly we regret her departure, as must members of the Centurian AR Club, having already lost another founding member, her husband Jimmy Momberg ZS6APS (SK)
Editor – Heather ZS5YH

Centurion Radio Amateur Club & Pam Momberg ZS6APT
“I have been a Radio Amateur for almost 42 wonderful years, the same length of time that the Centurion Radio Amateur Club has been in existence.” 
After passing her RAE in 1975, thanks to OM ZS6APS Jimmy's encouragement, Pam started serving on her club committee in 1977, first as Secretary then as Secretary/Treasurer. In 2002 she became Treasurer, in 2005 Vice Chairman/Treasurer  and in March 2009 Chairman/Treasurer of the club. She held this position untill her resignation in 2017,
She was one of the founding members in 1975 of the Jakaranda Branch of the SARL. In 1980 the club amalgamated with the Impala Branch and changed its name to the Protea Branch. In 1985 it changed to Verwoerdburg Branch and in 1996 to Centurion Radio Amateur Club, call sign ZS6CEN. 
In 2005 she started assisting with compiling and reading of Sunday morning bulletins and became solely responsible from July 2012.
We hope to hear her on-air with her new callsign. 88 to Pam Momberg who has always led by example.

Ja-Well-No-Fine
We have received a letter (06 Nov 2017) from Susanne Huber-Curphey KL4MX, who has arrived in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, aboard  her yacht “Nehaj”  after making the 12th single-handed transit of the Northwest Passage - more of her incredible adventure in the new year.
We look forward to hearing from Christine F4GDI, chairman of the french YL group, who is organising an expedition to the island of Noirmoutier next year,  25-31 august 2018 (TM64YL)
And we hope to hear and share your Morse stories in response to the appeal below.
 We look forward to making new friends in 2018 and Wish all,
 Good DX and many QSOs over this Festive Season. See you down the log in 2018.
33 – 88   Editor (Eda ZS5YH)
 
Morse code stories:  SBS  (Special Broadcasting Service)  Australia 
29 Nov  2017 - Dear Ham Yl – ladies,
My name is Debra Shulkes and I'm a freelance researcher working with the Australian public broadcaster SBS (Documentary and Drama Unit). SBS is keen to produce a project about Morse code and they are currently searching for untold stories about the code. 
The team is especially looking for recent stories with an Australian element. These might be stories about 
-  relationships developed between CW operators around the globe - for example, unlikely connections, friendships and romances
- surprising discoveries or events involving the use of Morse code 
- personal reasons for learning and using the code today
- other aspects of the code that you think would intrigue viewers

I would be extremely grateful for any suggestions of stories that might fit this bill. I'd also appreciate any recommendations of individuals or other organisations that I should contact.
I'd be very happy to answer any questions about this project.
Thank you very much for your time.  Best wishes, Debra     debra.shulkes@gmail.com

If you can help please contact ALARA (Australian ladies)   
publicity@alara.org.au or Debra Shulkes 
especially looking for recent stories with an Australian element.....
(and yl.beam would like to hear and share your stories as well)
[Founded 1 January 1975, The Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) is a hybrid-funded Australian public broadcasting radio, online, and television network. The stated purpose of SBS is "to provide multilingual and multicultural radio and television services that inform, educate and entertain all Australians and, in doing so, reflect Australia's multicultural society". SBS is one of five main free-to-air networks in Australia. Wiki: ]

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also 
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Calendar December 2017
1 Dec Start of YOTA Month
3 December SARL Digital Contest [Sun]
10 and 11 Dec ARRL 10 Metre Contest
31 Dec End of 2017 CQ Marathon and YOTA month