Hams in Space!

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Number I on your FeedbKll. e-rd The Desert Voices Project An overnight success story. by Linda Reneau KAlUKM A t a de-commissioned NIKE missile site about 35 m iles southeas t of Minneapolis. Minnesota, station AARSNSF o f the De sert Voices project is bu sy handling phone pat ches , packet 885 messages. and MARSGRAM communications between U .S. Service people and thei r families and loved ones in the Middle East. The U.S. Army has recogni zed the Desert Vo ices projeer as an officially sanctioned Anny MA RS station operating under the guidance and autborizanon oftbe CONUS (Continental U .S.) MARS Director Tom Moore in Ft. Ritchie. Maryland. Edward Addy KE0EG. owner of NW Ante nna & Communications in Minneapolis. first conceived of the Desert Voices proj ect last October. By the fi rst week in November. people and resources were coming together so quickly that , accord ing to MARS Digital Communication Coordinator Paul Ramey WG0G. one of the biggest challenges was 10 make sure that everything was being put togerber in an o rderly way . ,.All we had to do was say. ' We need it: and someone would come forward with it... Although thousands of hours went into the acqu isit ion o f equipment and renovation of the site-painting . rewi ring . construction of operating positions , and installation of the mu ltiuser LAN computer systcmc-k amcy WGOG says it " came together overnight. " Addy KE0EG, whodesigncd the antenna system and communications cente r. gave much of himself, both financially and personally, Ramey said . When Addy presented his plans to othe r bu sinesses, the donations quickly started rolling in . The U .S. Bureau of Mi nes provided the lease for the Sa-acre site and the buildings. Unused for 20 years. it took many hou rs and materials to get the main bu ilding in shape. Local businesses freely donated " all the right stuff' 10 repair, repaint , rewire . and upgrade the o ld building ' s heating and electrical syste ms , Other bu sinesses provided electrical power.felephore serv ice and FAX time. carpentry skills. furniture , graphic and printing services. video documentation and training materials. and office equipment. welt-Equipped Regional Sales Manager Mik e Forsyth of Kenwood U .S.A. • who first let 73 Magazine know about me Desert Voi ces project. says that Kenwood has supported the project with thousands o f dollars worth of radio equipmenr. " We couldn't have gotten on the air so qu ickly wuhout their help," said R. Hugh Beebe WL7AIT. MARS Liaison for com- 18 73 Amateur Radio roasv » March , 1991 mand and control. Other contributors include: AEA Electronics. four TNCs; D .F. Countryman of 51. Paul. RF patch pa nel rnaterial, connectors. and RG-8/U coaxial cable; and A&C Metals of Blaine , Minnesota , heavy du ty antenna mast material . From outside the facility , you can see IWO full-size rhombic antennas for transmitting phone patches. twoa -elcment Zum monoba n ders and one 6-eleme nt monobander for 15m HF operation . a4Omdipole , and VH F amennas. Non heastem States Power Company provided the malerials and crew to install the 547' x 250' rhombics on eight 10S' taii power poles . They also donated 8000' of #2 solid copper wi re . without these antennas . Desert Voices would nOI be able to achieve reliable comm unications with the Middle East some 6500 miles away. De lmar Land Surveyors surveyed the exact location to make sure the antennas we re correctly aligned. St. Paul Tower constructed a 120 ' tower between the two rhombics . Later . they will install six antennas for communications with other MARS stations throughout the U.S. Mirage/ KL M has donated three special beam antennas for this tower . and Telex Hy-Gain is pro viding a rotator. Technical Materi als Corp. of Mamaroneck. New York, provided low-J oss, high power. precision antenna balun transformers and terminators for the rhomb ics. The project ac tually comprises th ree complete radio slation systems at the Desert Voices site . By the third week in January . the second station will be complete and the phone-patch capacity will rise 10 «XX> pe r day. It will be one of the fou r largest MARS relay stations in the world . A Priceless Service Dese rt Vo ices radio station AARSNSF went on the air December 13. 1990. With in a month, it had handled over 600 phone patches and 400 packet commun icat ions. II is directly interfaced to the gateway MARS stations on the East Coast and serves as an alternate gateway, or relay. station for Anny MARS . Thanks to volunteers from the Civil Ai r Patrol, the military (both active and reserves, including the Min nesota National Gu ard). law enfo rceme nt agency dispatchers . ando f course! - the amateur rad io commun ity , the Desert Voices station ope rates around the clock, seven days a week. There are four radio operators on duty at all limes. Ramey WG0G says thai about 150 hams have assisted the project in some way , and Addy KE0 EG confirms that 93 hams are currently on active duty at the station. "They're doing a tremendous job." Addy says . And Ramey: " It didn't take any ann-twisting." Most imponantly. says Ramey. the ham community's speedy response 10 the call for he lp proves that hams are " a reliable resource for the ir country." They have freely give n of thei r time. knowledge . and skills. Some have donated money o r equipment. At Desert Vo ices . radio operating skills and techniques. learned in fun, are put to serious. disciplined use to provide a service that " you can't put a price on." says Addy. How much is it worth 10 a mother, father. spouse. or friend 10gel in touch with a loved one who is in an uncertain and potentially da nge rous sitnation? R. Hugh W L7AIT adds that Desert Voices is not representing any political opinions about the situation in the Middle East. " We're providing a hu man service. " Ready ror th e Future All the staff interviewed at Desert Voices ag reed that there are few activities more sansfying Ihan using your abilities to benefit others. The amateur radio operators at Desert Voices are gaining that unique fulfillment you get from knowing thai you have abi lity . and are able to use it skillfully. Addy KE0 EG reminds us thai one of the basic purposes of mai ntaining the Amateur Radio Service is · ' 10 provid e a pool oftrai ned rad io operators' for the country for emergency comm unications. Entrusted with valuable rad io spectrum for their personal use. there is nonetheless the expectation that hams will be useful when the need arises. Ramey says the response shows that hams are willing and eager to " give somethi ng back" to the country thai supports the continued existence of their hobby. In his leiter to Kenwood, Hugh WL7AIT wrote that upon return of the forces from Saud i Arabia. " we envision the equipment at the Minnesota site to be returned for further humanitarian suppo n missions thai may be encountered in the future." At that time. the site itself will be returned to the Minnesota National Guard ; however. MARS pe rsonnel and members will be ready to step in to provide emergency communications whenever it again becomes necessary . Hope fully, there will always be plenty of hams who . for the sheer love of rad io communication . will be read y to do their pan, too. Author's Note: Lei us know when you, or someone you know, is involved in activities helpful to the country, community. and ....-orld. Sure , you 'd ramer stick by your rig in Continued 0fI paKr 77
Introducing the only HF amateur radio transceiver built to true professional standards Since 1915, Japan Radio Company has been dedicated to producing the world's finest radio communications equipment. The same design quality that is incorporated into our marine, satellite. broadcast and commercial systems can also be found in our amateur radio equipment, including the new JST-135HP high frequency amateur radio transceiver Discover what professionals have known for 75 years. Look to Japan Radio Company if you demand the highest quality radio equipment. For a full color brochure and current lists of prices and dealers. call JRC at (212) 355-1180. Or write to the address listed below. ~RC Co.,.fJd. Since 1915 430 Park Ave. 2nd Floor New York, NY 10022 Phone:(212)355-1180 Fox: (212)319-5227 Telex: 961114 JAPAN RADIO NYK
Page 1 and 2: I • • Hams in Space!
Page 3 and 4: MFJ, Bencher and Curtis team up to
Page 5 and 6: THETEAM PUBLISHER/EDITOR Wayne Gree
Page 8 and 9: TS-680S All-mode multi-bander • 6
Page 10 and 11: • • The SAHEX STS-37 Mission Th
Page 12 and 13: telemetry on one side and Fuji-OSCA
Page 14 and 15: Number 5 on your Feed~c:knrc! Weath
Page 16 and 17: f7 ,.. '0 ' ''~, " ~H~ '~" '" " LT(
Page 18: i • Choice Selection. Nc:M' }OU c
Page 23 and 24: Number 7 on your FHdback card Eleme
Page 25 and 26: KITTY SAYS: WE ARE NOWOPEN 7 DAYSA
Page 27 and 28: 9 Aut r y Ir vine. CA 927 18 (7 14)
Page 29 and 30: '. .COMMUNICATIONS ELECTRONICS INC.
Page 31 and 32: 0:: w>- >ffi - wO u'" U)Ul Z..J
Page 33 and 34: HF Equipment IC-16S Xevr/ps/keyer/a
Page 35 and 36: , • ALlNCO'S DR·590T DUAL BAND T
Page 37 and 38: , REMEMBER...A LOW COST POWER PACK
Page 39 and 40: z o ; ? « D April 26, 27, 28, 19
Page 41 and 42: tuning is common, and can be elimin
Page 43 and 44: VERSATILITY! MEASURE POWER FROM 2rn
Page 45 and 46: Amateur RadioToday SWEEPSTAKES Over
Page 47 and 48: OUTBACKERTM Chester QSL Cards e ·
Page 49 and 50: ................ PRESENTING .......
Page 51 and 52: AR models give you fTl()(e than 20d
Page 53 and 54: NOW IT'S ATAD SMALLER! (MUCH SMALLE
Page 55 and 56: • tions during daylight, so don '
Page 57 and 58: Photo C. Mall Flagg, a senior at Ne
Page 59 and 60: GORDON WEST RADIO SCHOOL I #04 ZI·
Page 61 and 62: Joe MoeII PE KIOV POBox2508 FullerT
Page 63 and 64: Never Say Die Continued from page 4
Page 65 and 66: SELECT 5 BOOKS for only $4 95 TlI Q
Page 67 and 68: Table 2. Sample of Packets ReceIved
Page 69 and 70:
G5RV All-Band QuicKits ' " ",,", .,
Page 71 and 72:
Heterodyne Headache #14.256 Get fas
Page 73 and 74:
~ RLC·6
Page 75 and 76:
ABOVEANDSEYOND CL Houghton WB61GP S
Page 77 and 78:
Number 20 on your Feedback card HAM
Page 79 and 80:
Desert Voices Continuedfrom page 18
Page 81 and 82:
M&N ELECTRONICS All your TEN-TEC ne
Page 83 and 84:
SIMPLEX REPEATER USE ONE RADIO T" S
Page 85 and 86:
CHIL.E Robert M. Wright X06EK Casil
Page 87 and 88:
Number 27 on your Feedback card DEA
Page 89 and 90:
0J • How 10 WOn< Ihe Competition
show all

Hams in Space!

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?