| January, 2010 |  |
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CALIFORNIA BANS HIGH ENERGY USE TV RECEIVERS
TV sets that use excessive levels of mains power will be banned from store shelves in California. This, after
state regulators voted on Wednesday, November 18th to adopt a mandate to reduce electricity demand.
On a unanimous vote, the California Energy Commission required all new televisions up to 58 inches to be
more energy efficient, beginning in 2011. The requirement will be tougher in 2013, with only a quarter of all
TVs currently on the market meeting that standard. TV sets larger than 58 inches, which account for no
more than 3 percent of the market, would not be covered by the rule. This is viewed as a concession to
independent retailers that sell high-end home-theater TV systems. However, the commission is expected to
regulate them in the future. The commission estimates that TV receivers account for about 10 percent of a
home's electricity use. The concern is that the energy draw will rise by as much as 8 percent a year as
consumers buy larger televisions, add more to their homes and watch them longer. Commissioners say
energy efficiency standards are the cheapest and easiest way to save electricity. More than 1,050 models
sold today comply with the 2011 California standards, and more than 300 comply with the 2013 standard,
according to the Energy Commission. (Published reports, via AR Newsline)
CUBA TO PROVIDE PARTS TO HAMS AND WILL MANUFACTURE 160 METER RADIO
According the Cuban news service CAN, that nations Ministry of Informatics and Communications will soon
start providing ham radio operators with the components and parts for their equipment. This, from stock
that had been left idle for some time. Pedro Rodriguez, president of the Cuban Amateur Radio Federation
told the press that the first 600 units are ready for delivery. He says that by using them his nations ham radio community will be able to assemble new stations or update those they already have. But that's not all.
During the recently concluded 8th Cuban Ham Radio Federation Congress, a prototype of a domestically
designed transceiver was shown. With the brand name "Caiguaran," the gear was designed by several
specialists and will be manufactured at one of the Ministry of Informatics factories. Jos‚ Tanquero is one of
the hams that worked on the creation of the radio. He told the news service that it Runs 20 watts out on
160 meters which it's the legal for Cuban Third Category ham radio license holders. By adding modules both
80 and 40 meters can be covered as well. The Cuban Amateur Radio Federation has over 5500 members
many of whom are involved in both severe weather watch and emergency communications operations.
(CAN, via AR Newsline)
Couple stranded 3 days after GPS leads them astray
A Nevada couple letting their SUV's navigation system guide them through the high desert of Eastern Oregon
got stuck in snow for three days when the GPS unit sent them down a remote forest road. On Sunday,
atmospheric conditions apparently changed enough for their GPS-enabled cellphone to get a weak signal
and relay coordinates to a dispatcher, Klamath County Sheriff Tim Evinger said."GPS almost did 'em in and
GPS saved 'em," Evinger said. "It will give you options to pick the shortest route. You certainly get the shortest route. But it may not be a safe route." Evinger said a Lake County deputy found the couple in the Winema-
Fremont National Forest outside the small town of Silver Lake on Sunday afternoon and pulled their four-
wheel-drive Toyota Sequoia out of the snow with a winch. John Rhoads, 65, and his wife, Starry Bush-
Rhoads, 67, made it home safely to Reno, Evinger said. The couple was well-equipped for winter travel,
carrying food, water and warm clothes, the sheriff said. "Their statement was, being prepared saved their life,"
he said. The couple had been in Portland and followed their GPS as it directed them south on U.S. Highway
97 to Oregon Highway 31, which goes through Silver Lake and Lakeview before connecting with U.S.
Highway 395 to Reno, Evinger said. In the town of Silver Lake, the unit told them to turn right on Forest
Service Road 28, and they followed that and some spur roads nearly 35 miles before getting stuck in about
1 1/2 feet of snow near Thompson Reservoir, the sheriff said. "For some reason they finally got a weak signal
after 2 1/2 days," Evinger said. "They called in. They alternated between two different cellphone numbers."
A GPS-enabled phone is able to send its coordinates to 911, and eventually one of the couple's phones sent
its location to the dispatcher's console, the sheriff said.
7:15 PM, Pikesville Library,
| January, 2010 | |
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