| January, 2009 |  |
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Frequency Change for Canadian Time Transmission Station CHU
After 70 years of broadcasting Canada's official time, the National Research Council's shortwave
station CHU will move the transmission frequency for the 7335 kHz transmitter to 7850 kHz. The
change goes into effect at 0000 UTC on January 1, 2009.
ARRL HQ Welcomes New Membership Manager
The ARRL is pleased to welcome Membership Manager Diane Petrilli, KB1RNF, to the Headquarters
staff in Newington. Petrilli's key areas of responsibility include programs and activities that directly
affect membership growth, engagement and retention. Petrilli is taking over the position from Katie
Breen, W1KRB. Breen left in October.
FlexRadio Donates Software Defined Radio to W1AW
Thanks to the generosity to the crew at FlexRadio Systems, W1AW, the Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial
Station, now boasts the newest in software-defined radio (SDR) -- a FLEX 5000A. FlexRadio Vice
President John Basilotto, W5GI, visited ARRL Headquarters on December 8 to present the radio.
The K7RA Solar Update
Finally! A sunspot group appeared this week, about three weeks since the last group disappeared.
The first spotless day after sunspot group 1008's last appearance was Tuesday, November 18; the last
spotless day before group 1009 emerged was Tuesday, December 9. As expected, this was another Solar
Cycle 24 group, emerging far south of our Sun's equator.
New 7MHz band plan starts 29 March
At the recent IARU Region 1 Conference in Cavtat, Croatia, a new advisory band plan was adopted for
the 7MHz band to be effective from 29 March 2009. This is the date by which broadcast stations should
have vacated the 7.1 to 7.2MHz segment. It then becomes an amateur primary allocation in accordance
with the decision of WRC 03. On the final day of the Conference, elections were held for the Executive
Committee. The new President of Region 1 is Hans Blondeel Timmerman, PB2T and the new Secretary
is Dennis Green ZS4BS The outgoing Secretary, Don Beattie, G3BJ, was awarded the Roy Stevens
trophy for distinguished service to the Region over the years. The station 9A0IARU was active over the
period of the conference. The next Region 1 conference will be held in Sun City, South Africa in
September 2011. [RSGB]
Blind Pilot Guided To Safety By The RAF
Britain has a good run of stories this month. Cessna pilot Jim O'Neill had a lucky escape. The 65-year-old was
flying solo from Scotland to Essex when he suffered a stroke that put pressure on his optic nerves, causing
instant blindness. He broadcast a mayday call and attempted to land at Full Sutton Airfield. He could not land,
so RAF Linton-on-Ouse scrambled a Tucano trainer to help him. The RAF pilot flew next to him and guided
him to the base via voice instructions over the radio. Station Commander Grp. Capt. Mark Hopkins, said to BBC News: "Shepherding aircraft in this way is something we do from time to time, but this is a very strange case. I'm proud we could get him to the ground safely." Mr O'Neill said: "I should not be alive. I owe my life - and those of dozens of people I could have crash-landed on - to the RAF. It was terrifying. Suddenly I couldn't see the dials
in front of me".
WB9MMM, Silent Key
From: John Watson
Subject: Passing of Gene Harlan of ATVQ
Hello Guys--
I was very sad to learn this morning from Bill, N3DCI, that Gene Harlan became a silent key the day before Thanksgiving. As you all know, Gene was a real friend to ATVers and was the publisher of ATVQ magazine. The information Bill, N3DCI, sent me is below:
---------
Subject: WB9MMM SK
From: Dennis G. Eksten
Gene Harlan, WB9MMM, a well known Rockford ham and known
nationally for his work in ATV, passed away early Wednesday morning.
Gunnel and I saw him his XYL Shari, N9SH, at the Rockford Amateur
Radio Association picnic this past summer. Gene had ALS (Lou Gehrig's
disease) and was in a wheel chair at that time. He tried to talk to me
but his speech was not intelligible. Later, I surmised he was trying to
tell me he was the photographer of the picture posted in QST regarding
the 50th reunion (organized by Don, AE5K) of our hamfest Field Day that
originally met in 1955. Gunnar Ohlson--K9WTS, later W6YB, originally an
SM3 from Östersund Sweden, became a Silent Key a number of years
ago--was at the original Field Day.
Last week Gary, K9LJN, told me that they had just put a feeding
tube in WB9MMM. He was only about 63 years old when he died!
Today's (Nov. 28, 2008) Rockford Register Star (www.rrstar.com
>) still has no obituary of WB9MMM's passing.
73, Dennis de W9SS, ex-W9DDL
-----
Bill also provided me with a link to another website regading Gene that had a recent picture of him (wheelchair bound) at a special tribute for him before he died. Go to:
http://www.rrstar.com/communities/x1751708055/Concert-pays-tribute-to-Rock-River-Valleys-veterans
John, NY3K
| January, 2009 | |
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