IN THIS EDITION:

• +Alabama twisters bring out best in hams
• +NYC cabbies abandon 10 meters!
• +Virginia governor signs statewide antenna bill
• +Ham radio bumped from circus train
• KC5BTL wins coveted NASA award
• Solar update
• In Brief: This weekend on the radio; NC1L is new DXCC manager; Job opening at HQ; International Marconi Day special event; New W5 and Alaska QSL bureaus; New KH2 QSL bureau; Former Alpha/Power employees form new company

+ Available on ARRL Audio News

ALABAMA TORNADOES BRING OUT THE BEST IN HAMS

What's being described as the worst weather of its type in many years brought out the best in Alabama's ham radio community this past week. The evening of April 8, 1998, became one for the record books as tornadoes touched down in central Alabama leaving death and destruction in their wake. Upwards of three dozen people died, and many were left homeless. "To say the least, it was a long night," said Alabama Section Manager Scott Johnson, N4YYQ, of Vincent. "The hams here did a great job!"

As the severe weather approached, dozens of hams spent hours on weather-spotting nets assisting the National Weather Service in tracking the storms and relaying reports of damage, hail, injuries and relief operations. David Black, KB4KCH, president of the Alabama Emergency Response Team (ALERT) and an ARRL PIO says hams were on the air well ahead of the actual tornadoes. As the "long night" wore on, mobile and stationary spotters on the West Alabama Emergency Net and the Alabama Emergency Net on HF checked in with weather spots, damage assessments, and injury reports. As needed, hams were assigned to assist with Red Cross shelters opened to house tornado victims. A second repeater was activated to handle damage reports. Lisa Wallace, KF4C, in Tuscaloosa, served as liaison on the unofficial net and assisted in passing traffic from the West Alabama Emergency Net to the Birmingham NWS office and the Tuscaloosa Red Cross.

ALERT members activated the well-equipped ham station at the National Weather Service office in Birmingham. As former Alabama SM and current ARRL Alabama District 8 DEC Tom Moore, KL7Q, explains, the station has VHF/UHF capability to access remote bases for linking to various repeaters--and local SKYWARN nets--in the region. Those attempting to track the weather on the ground gathered information not only via ham radio nets but via an Internet/packet radio gateway developed by hams in Alabama. The digital Internet/packet gateway has an extensive wide-area dedicated RF node network and provides hard copy of severe weather bulletins, exchange of storm and damage reports, and keyboard-to-keyboard contact with supporting SKYWARN groups. Johnson said the keyboard-to-keyboard aspect worked especially well and helped to relieve voice traffic congestion. "The more I watched this system, the more impressed I became with it," he said. He's hoping other Alabama counties can be convinced to adopt a similar approach.

Weather service meteorologist Brian Peters, WD4EPR, said hams often were first with important storm-related information. "They were absolutely great," he said. "We couldn't have done it without them." Peters classified the storm as an F5--the most violent category. Winds were estimated in excess of 200 miles per hour. SKYWARN groups elsewhere in Alabama--including the capital city of Montgomery and in Northern Alabama--also were active as the severe weather ripped the state.

TV meteorologist James Spann, WO4W, had words of praise for his fellow hams. "I thought the watch and warning process was just flawless," he said. Peters, Spann and others agreed that spreading the word quickly on the approaching danger saved many lives, and hams deserve at least part of the credit.

Black says that, at one point, 14 Alabama counties were under tornado warnings at the same time. Tornadoes touched down in the Edgewater community west of Birmingham, damaging homes and other structures. More than 30 people died in Jefferson County alone, and the funnel cloud even threatened downtown Birmingham at one point. A tornado also caused heavy damage in western Tuscaloosa and St Clair counties, where others also lost their lives. Johnson said St Clair County ARES/RACES members assisted emergency services personnel and "probably did 90% of the damage assessment" in the county. Johnson says Mark Oglesby, KF4NLZ, left his home during the storm on a damage assessment foray only to return and find his own home gone in the tornado's wake.

As the extent of the damage became clear, hams in Birmingham were called upon to provide communication backup at Red Cross shelters set up for storm victims. More than a dozen shelters remained open a week later. Johnson says members of the HEART Net were very active in western Jefferson County providing shelter communication and other help as needed. Fortunately, Birmingham's repeaters remained on the air and got heavy emergency use. Hams also helped provide communication between responding agencies and volunteers searching for victims and assessing the damage from the violent weather.

Robert "RB" West, W4BAT, who lives near Montgomery and away from the disaster area, lent a hand to the Salvation Army in the storms' wake. "They are swamped with work in Birmingham," he said, "so, I gave a little help here at the Montgomery center." West said he worried about the Montgomery area as the storms approached, and he tuned to a local weather spotters' net. "I had no idea what was going on 100 miles north," he said. In the stricken zones, the Salvation Army has set up feeding centers and has been relying on hams for some logistical support.

Black passed along tales of personal heroism on the part of some amateurs. Some examples: Janice Rock, KF4PVR, Ricky Rock, KF4RRS, and Joel Booth, KF4PWA--all ALERT members and all Emergency Medical Technicians--responded and helped carry a man with a head injury nearly a quarter mile through a thicket of fallen trees to an ambulance. Lacking a stretcher, they used a door they found to carry the victim. After hours on the SKYWARN nets, Bill Heaton, KE4FBH, went around delivering water and food to victims who had not eaten all day. Walter Cooney, KF4AAG, was stationed at the Birmingham-Jefferson County EMA headquarters and became the point man for a heavy load of damage reports passed via 2 meters. Many other hams assumed less epic roles and just pitched in as needed with the work at hand.

Disaster officials called the destruction some of the worst they'd ever seen. Vice President Al Gore and President Clinton also have visited the disaster scene. Hams are expected to remain available to help as the long recovery process continues in Alabama. --thanks to David Black, KB4KCH, Tom Moore, KL7Q, Scott Johnson, N4YYQ, and others

REPORT: NYC TAXIS ABANDONING 10 METERS

Under heavy pressure from authorities and from increased Amateur Radio activity, taxicab operators in The Big Apple reportedly are moving off 10 meters in droves, says Gerry Smith, W6TER, of New York. Smith heads an ad hoc committee that's been working for more than a year in the Hudson Division to clean up the problem. "Sure, there is a straggler or two, but for the most part, the band is clean," Smith announced recently in a report published in The Hudson Loop newsletter distributed to ARRL Hudson Division hams. Smith says that he was able to work Argentina recently on 28.045 MHz, one of the frequencies most often used by the cabbies.

ARRL Hudson Division Director Frank Fallon, N2FF, says Smith contacted him in early 1997 about starting up the ad hoc group to attack the problem. "I was honestly not too hopeful that we would be able to solve a problem that was almost ten years old," Fallon conceded. "Now, I'm no longer skeptical of what can be accomplished."

Smith credited a crackdown by the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) and the FCC for the exodus and called it "the largest successful enforcement action ever." During mandatory quarterly inspections, the FCC paid a visit and warned drivers with illegal radios that future violations could result in hefty fines. For its part, the TLC mailed an industry notice to taxi owners, fleet shops and repair stations warning the cabbies of possible enforcement action. To help the process, the ad hoc committee purchased frequency counters for the TLC to use in its regular inspections and during airport raids and street inspections and is providing training in their use. The problem is potentially huge. There are some 44,000 New York City cabbies and more than 12,000 cabs. Drivers supply their own radios. Some 1500 or more illegal radios were believed to be in operation.

At its January meeting, the ARRL Board of Directors applauded actions by the FCC and the TLC to crack down on illegal use of the 10-meter band by taxi drivers. The Board urged confiscation of equipment and fines to drivers who fail to comply, as well as removal of illegal transmitters from all cabs.

Smith praised the "tremendous cooperation" between the TLC and the ad hoc committee, which also includes Fallon, RF engineer Marvin Bronstein, K2VHW, and attorney Arnold Katz, W2QK. A ham since 1954, Smith is a telecommunications consultant.

"The days of no fines are over with," he said, citing a pledge by the TLC to enforce its ban on illegal radios by imposing fines of up to $300. Smith encouraged hams to use 10 meters regularly as a way to deter interlopers and to report CB-type activity on the band.

Fallon hopes the success with the taxi radios indicates the "new mood" at FCC in enforcement. But he says hams will continue to monitor compliance. "The best part of the entire effort is to attend a New York City Amateur Radio club meeting and hear members say, 'Yea! The cabs are gone!' Fallon said.

VIRGINIA GOVERNOR SIGNS STATEWIDE HAM ANTENNA BILL

Hams in Virginia are celebrating that state's new Amateur Radio antenna bill that limits local regulation of Amateur Radio antennas. Gov Jim Gilmore signed the measure this week, and it becomes law on July 1.

Success followed an intense lobbying effort on the part of Virginia's Amateur Radio Community to get the bill approved by the General Assembly and signed by the governor. Bob Ham, KK4IY, of Vinton was the prime mover behind the bill. He, in turn, commended the bill's patron, state Sen John Edwards of Roanoke for "an outstanding job above and far beyond the call of duty." But victory did not come without some compromises.

For all areas of the state, the bill--Senate Bill 480, "Placement of Amateur Radio Antennas"--incorporates the essence of the limited federal pre-emption known as PRB-1 into the Commonwealth's statutes. It requires local ordinances involving the placement, screening, or height of antennas to impose the "minimum regulation necessary to accomplish the locality's legitimate purpose."

The original bill would have prohibited all localities from restricting antenna height to less than 200 feet above ground level "unless an Amateur Radio antenna clearly represents an unreasonable risk to human health or life." The version ultimately signed by the governor keeps the 200 feet regulatory minimum in localities having a population density of fewer than 120 persons per square mile according to the 1990 US Census, and provides for a 75 feet regulatory minimum height in more densely populated communities. Localities may not regulate the number of support structures in either case.

The new law would require "reasonable and customary engineering practices" be followed in erecting towers. Municipalities would still be able to set "reasonable requirements" on screening, setback, placement, and health and safety requirements.

The measure faced fierce opposition from the Virginia Municipal League and the Virginia Association of Counties. When it was introduced January 26 many observers gave the bill little chance of success. Now, its proponents are hoping it will serve as a model for other states.

"This legislation will be looked upon by the rest of the country, and--I am sure--will be emulated," said Virginia SEC and RACES Officer Frank Mackey, K4EC. Mackey acknowledged that the bill's success was built upon public service and emergency communication needs. "Only a small percentage of active hams are involved in this type of communications," Mackey said. "But without those hams justifying our cause there would be no rag chewing, DXing, contesting or the many other facets of our hobby."

Mackey urged his fellow amateurs to become involved in public service work.

Ham expressed "heartfelt thanks" to all who participated by sending e-mail, writing letters, making telephone calls, sending faxes, or appearing at the hearings. "Without the full support of the Virginia Amateur Radio community, this legislation would not have become law," he said. "We, as Virginia Amateurs, have a right to be proud of our efforts."

Ham has proposed forming The Virginia Association of Radio Amateurs as a non-profit entity to serve as a watchdog agency "to assure that the new law is implemented correctly and to come to the aid of Virginia Amateurs who might experience difficulties with a locality in the future."

For more information, see http://rbnet.com/~hamcotec/sb480.html.

HAM RADIO BUMPED FROM CIRCUS TRAIN

A Wisconsin ham radio tradition of more than 30 years has come to an end. Ham radio has been bumped from the annual run of the Great Circus Train. The train runs each summer between Baraboo--where the Ringling Brothers Circus got its start in 1884--and Milwaukee, the site of the annual Great Circus Parade (see "Public Service," QST, Dec 1995, page 90). ARES members rode the rails to help handle communication along the route and, once in Milwaukee, at the show grounds and for the parade itself.

In a letter to Bob Goldstein, K9KJT, of the Milwaukee's ARES group, the train's sponsors, the Circus World Museum, cited "severe space limitations" on the coaches for their decision to drop ham radio in favor of an offer of free commercial digital and analog service from PrimeCo. "We are attempting to eliminate as much clutter from the train coaches as possible this year and open up more space for our passengers," the museum's letter said.

Ham radio first came aboard the circus train in 1965 when ARES member Don Evenson, K9JYX, set up a VHF station that relayed to an HF mobile station chasing the train. In 1994, onboard HF operation was added. Wisconsin ARRL PIC Jim Romelfanger, K9ZZ--an indefatigable circus train booster--reports that over the past two years, hams aboard the circus train worked an average of 225 stations during the run--and fielded some questions about the circus at the same time. He said that without ham radio, the circus events and the museum would lose a tremendous public relations benefit that cost nothing. Romelfanger says he met a lot of the state's shakers and movers over the years through his association with the train. One time, he said, Ted Mack (of radio's Amateur Hour fame), rode the train and was interviewed by Evenson.

This year, the national governor's conference is in Milwaukee in late July. The train runs the last Monday and Tuesday in July, and the parade is August 3, Romelfanger said.

Romelfanger said the museum's decision surprised and puzzled him, and he expressed disappointment that the circus train would not carry Amateur Radio this year, when Wisconsin marks its sesquicentennial. "It was a privilege to work for the museum, the train, and the parade," he said.

NASA HAM WINS COVETED "SILVER SNOOPY" AWARD

NASA has awarded Matthew Bordelon, KC5BTL, with its coveted Space Flight Awareness Award--also known as a Silver Snoopy--for his leadership and technical contributions. The award was presented recently at Johnson Space Center where Bordelon works. Bordelon, who's the principal investigator for the Space Amateur Radio EXperiment or SAREX, received the award from astronaut Don Thomas, KC5FVF. The award letter cited Bordelon's "distinguished project leadership and outstanding technical contributions to the highly critical space shuttle orbiter upgrade effort." It also mentioned his efforts in training and mission support for the SAREX program.

Bordelon said the award pin was flown on STS-63. The Space Flight Awareness Award is given to less than 1% of NASA's civil servant and contract workers. Recipients are nominated by NASA management.

Bordelon's wife, Joanna, KC5OCI, won her own Silver Snoopy several years ago for her work at Johnson Space Center. Bordelon, a collector of Snoopy memorabilia, said he's been trying to get his wife to let him display her Snoopy in his display case. "But she said I needed to get my own," he said.

SOLAR UPDATE

Sun watcher Tad Cook, K7VVV, Seattle, Washington, reports: Solar activity has remained fairly high over the past week. Average sunspot numbers were up almost 30 points, and average solar flux was about that same, at 122. Average solar flux for the previous 90 days went up another two points from 102 to 104, and flux values were above these levels on every day, indicating a good upward trend.

April 9 saw a new high in sunspot numbers for the current cycle, when it reached 192. The sunspot number has not been that high since October 26, 1992 when it was 193.

Solar flux for this weekend, April 17-19 is predicted to be 100, 100 and 95. Through the end of the month look for solar flux to bounce around between 95 and 108, then rise above 110 after May 2, peaking around 125 about a week later. Geomagnetic indices may be unsettled April 17 and also around April 24 and 25.

Higher solar activity has extended long distance 20 meter openings well into the evening. From the author's home in Seattle, New Zealand and Australia are strong on 20 meters even as late as midnight. Look for openings on higher frequencies as well, although on 10 and 12 meters the openings tend to be over north-south paths.

Next week's bulletin will be provided by KH6BZF while the author is on Maui. Listen for us at KH6X until April 25.

Sunspot numbers for April 2 through 8 were 67, 74, 70, 82, 82, 120, and 131, with a mean of 89.4. The 10.7-cm flux was 103.4, 103.6, 110.2, 126.2, 133.4, 135.2, and 140.6, with a mean of 121.8. Estimated planetary A indices were 4, 6, 10, 4, 4, 8, and 8, with a mean of 6.3.

Sunspot numbers for April 9 through 15 were 192, 145, 132, 111, 82, 83, and 79, with a mean of 117.7. The 10.7-cm flux was 139.7, 129.7, 128.3, 117, 114.8, 111.9, and 112.7, with a mean of 122. Estimated planetary A indices were 9, 11, 12, 9, 5, 8, and 4, with a mean of 8.3.

In Brief:

• This weekend on the radio: The DXYL-NAYL Contest (CW), the Holyland DX Contest, and the Michigan QSO Party are on tap for this weekend. Just ahead: The DXYL-NAYL Contest (SSB), the Florida QSO Party, the Helvetia Contest, the Nebraska QSO Party, the Ontario QSO Party, and the QRP to the Field event are scheduled for the weekend of April 25-26. On Tuesday, April 21, it's the ARRL VHF/UHF Spring Sprint, 222 MHz, 7 to 11 PM local time. See April QST, pages 102-103, for details.

• NC1L is new DXCC manager: The ARRL Membership Services Department has announced the appointment of Bill Moore, NC1L, as Century Clubs Branch Manager, effective April 20, 1998. Bill came to ARRL in 1992 from the Otis Elevator Division of United Technologies Corp and lives in Newington, Connecticut. In his position as DXCC Assistant, he has represented the DXCC program at gatherings around the US. He has been serving as the Century Clubs Supervisor since 1996. Bill began the hobby through short wave listening, and has been featured in The New York Times, The Hartford Courant, and has been interviewed by National Public Radio. He also is a RTTY DXer. The Century Clubs Branch is responsible for administration of all Century Club Awards, including the VUCC and DXCC awards.

• Job opening at HQ: There's a job opening at ARRL Headquarters in Newington, Connecticut, for an Assistant Contest Manager to work with the Contest Manager in administering the ARRL Contest Program. Job-related qualifications include knowledge about, and interest in, the League's varied contest program. The candidate should be familiar with the ARRL DXCC List, ARRL sections and divisions, and current contesting issues. An Amateur Radio license, writing skills, PC familiarity, including DOS, Windows, e-mail, and database management skills are required. Accuracy is a must. Some travel and ability to speak in forums required. Beginning salary, $18,000 to 20,000, depending upon qualifications. Send resumes to Bill Kennamer, K5FUV, Membership Services, ARRL, 225 Main St. Newington CT 06111. No telephone calls, please. The ARRL is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

• International Marconi Day special event: The Marconi Radio Club will operate W1AA/IMD on April 25,1998, from 0000-002359 UTC. W1AA/IMD will represent the Marconi transatlantic station on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where the first two-way radio transmission took place between the US and Europe in 1903. More than 40 Marconi Day special event stations throughout the world will be on the air the same weekend, representing early Marconi station locations. This event is sponsored by the Cornish RAC of UK. A certificate is available to stations working 15 of the special event stations. For a card from W1AA/IMD, QSL direct to W1AA or K1VV (include an SASE) or via the W1 QSL Bureau.

• New W5 and Alaska QSL bureaus: Effective immediately the addresses and managers for the ARRL W5 and Alaska Incoming QSL Bureaus have changed. The ARRL W5 QSL Bureau now is the Magnolia DX Association, PO Box 999, Wiggins, MS 39577-0999; manager, Floyd Gerald, N5FG, e-mail floydgee@datasync.com. The new Alaska QSL Bureau is at PO Box 520343, Big Lake, AK 99652; manager, Roger Hansen KL7HFQ; e-mail rkh@alaska.net. The ARRL thanks former managers Les Bannon, WF5E, and John Bierman, KL7GNP, for their years of service to the amateur community. --Martin Cook, N1FOC, ARRL QSL Service Manager

• New KH2 QSL bureau: The KH2 QSL bureau now is being run by the Mariana Islands DX Association. The new address is Mariana Islands DX Association, Box 445 Agana, Guam 96932. For more information, see http://www.guam.net/pub/midxa/. --Jim Kehler, KH2D

• Former Alpha/Power employees form new company: Two former Alpha/Power employees have started up their own ham radio servicing outfit. Alpha/Power's former president and chief technical officer Dave Wilson, G3SZA/AA0RS, and former service manager Brad Focken, K0HM, have opened Frontier Engineering. "With the cost of equipment rising steadily and the amount of time to use it declining, it makes economic sense to repair or modify a rig in order to extend its working life," Wilson says. He promises outstanding service and value. Contact Frontier Engineering at Box 837, Platteville, CO 80651; tel/fax 970-785-2897; e-mail frontier@lanminds.net.