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John D. Kraus, W8JK, SK
Well-known radio astronomer, antenna designer, cosmic explorer and author John D. Kraus, W8JK, of Delaware, Ohio,
died Sunday, July 18. He was 94 and reportedly was in failing health but alert to the end.
While he enjoyed a worldwide reputation, Kraus is perhaps best known within the Amateur Radio community
for his bi-directional wire beam antenna design -- often dubbed the '8JK array. The antenna has
remained popular among radio amateurs for decades. Other important Kraus antenna designs include the
corner reflector and the helix antenna, often used in amateur satellite antennas as well as in commercial
communications applications. The Michigan native was a pioneer of radiotelescope design and the father
of the so-called "Big Ear" telescope, which ceased operation in 1997 after almost 40 years of service.
First western Canada LF QSO reported
British Columbia amateurs Steve McDonald, VE7SL, Mayne Island, and Scott Tilley, VE7TIL, Vancouver, reportedly
completed the first western Canadian contact on the 2200 meter band on July 10. McDonald said
the contact between the two stations on 137.754 kHz spanned a distance of approximately 50km (about 31 miles).
"VE7TIL utilized slow-speed CW-QRSS3 mode, while VE7SL used normal CW," McDonald said. VE7TIL was running a
homebrew transmitter that ran about 1 W output, while VE7SL was using a
homebrew crystal-controlled exciter into a single FET amplifier at 100W output.
"Both of us used similar antenna systems for transmitting -- a loaded three-wire flattop 'T'," McDonald said.
Both stations also used small loop antennas for receiving. "Being the only 2200-meter activity west of Ontario,
it is hoped that our efforts will stimulate more interest in LF on the Canadian West Coast and western provinces,"
McDonald said. Both he and Tilley are working on improving their antenna systems and increasing power levels for
the winter season. For more information about 136 kHz activity and equipment, visit the VE7SL Radio Notebook
and The Radio Beacon TIL web sites.
New Zealand-Fiji LF/HF contact reported
Overnight on June 26, ZM2E, a special call sign being used by the Quartz Hill Radio Club of New Zealand,
completed a crossband 137 kHz CW/7 MHz SSB contact with 3D2KL on Fiji. The Fiji station was operated
by Laurence Howell, KL1X, with ZM2E operated by Andrew Corney, ZL2BBJ; Make McAlevey, ZL4OL, and
Bob Vermail, ZL2CA. The path between Fiji and the station located near Wellington on New Zealand's North
Island is around 2500 km (1550 miles), and signals from ZM2E were received about 1 hour before Fiji dusk.
Weather Forces Early Shutdown of Aves Island YV0D DXpedition
Disappointing news for DXers hoping to check another rare on off their lists. With bad weather headed
its way, the YV0D Aves Island DXpedition, shut down a couple of days early. YV0D went silent August 4
at 1045 UTC. Aves Island is one of the top-10 most-wanted DXCC entities. Team member Martti Laine, OH2BH,
informed the 20-meter SSB pileup early on August4 that YV0D would not be staying until August 6 as planned.
We are going QRT in the morning," he said. "The weather is very bad. A storm is coming." Despite the shorter-than-expected
operation, YV0D logged some 18,500 QSOs -- including a number of 6-meter QSOs during an opening -- in around 59 hours
of operation, according to The Daily DX http://www.dailydx.com [ARRL Letter, via eham.net]
The K7RA Solar Update (August 13, 2004)
Big sunspot 649 rotated back into view this week, and sunspot and solar flux numbers are up. Average daily
sunspot number for the week August 5-11 rose more than 35 points (from the previous week) to 77.9, and
average daily solar flux was up more than 18 points to 106.5. There were no large geomagnetic events -- only
some periods of unsettled to active conditions.
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