KI4LMZ's Hamified Harley

I thought some of you might be interested in seeing the progress of the 'Hamified Harley.'

The photos are of my 2004 Harley-Davidson Classic and how I have installed a Yaesu 8800R for use as a Mobile/MC. The 8800R is a perfect radio for this application. The removable control faceplate fits perfectly into the center windshield bag of a triple bag rack, a readily available accessory for most Harleys with faring and windshield.

The body of the 8800R, with the built-in fan for cooling, is mounted in the rear tour-pak with, as you can see, a clasp dog collar. This makes for quick and easy removal if necessary. A separate battery, also in the tour-pak, will be used for the radio to avoid the embarrassing prospect of having to push an 800 pound motorcycle home with a dead battery.

The control cable and external speaker wire was 'snaked' out of the rear tour-pak, under the seat and under the center gas tank panel. The control cable then fished up through the faring under the windshield and up through a hole drilled in the bottom of the center windshield bag. The speaker cable used the same route but instead of coming up under the windshield a small hole in an extra auxiliary toggle switch cover made for a relatively neat install. A 'mono' plug on one end (radio) and 'stereo' plug on the other (Harley sound system) allows radio audio to be heard through both speakers via the on board sound system. No extra gear to mount on the handlebars!

When not in use, the windshield bags close to protect the 'head' and microphone from the ravages of global warming (aka; normal weather).

All that is left to do is mount the Larsen ground plane antenna and then you will hear me sign as KI4LMZ/MC

The Spirit of Knoxville

This is the story of how a local group of amateur radio operators quietly made history by guiding a balloon into the jet stream and sending it almost all the way across the Atlantic Ocean.

The project began in March 2005. Members of the University of Tennessee Amateur Radio Club were looking for something "interesting" to do.

Amateur radio, also known as ham radio, dates back to the 19th century, but it really took off as a hobby in the 1920s, when amateur radio enthusiasts in the United States and Europe made the first transatlantic contact.

Wireless communication isn't the thrill it once was. Bored with Morse code and international chats, Bowen says younger amateur radio operators are expanding the scope of their hobby. Groups have loaded balloons with radio tracking equipment just for the fun of locating it.

"They wanted to play with it," Project Manager Dan Bowen says. "Send it up and down and chase it. We wanted to accomplish something."

The Knoxville group chose to be the first to attempt an "autonomous transatlantic balloon project."

"Others had talked about it," Bowen says. "Suddenly, they realized we were serious and were going to try to do it. Very quickly, others tried to accelerate their plans to reality."

But it was the Knoxville team that made it. Well, almost made it. The Spirit of Knoxville IV, launched in February, went down in the ocean about 200 miles from the coast of Ireland. (The 40-hour flight covered approximately 3,330 miles).

"If we had had two more hours of daylight we would have made it," says Mike Coffey, a project founder and key member of team.

"We needed one more pound of ballast to make it," Bowen says.

Still, Bowen and Coffey are satisfied. They proved the flight was possible. Their niche community has crowned them with glory (during the flight there were 13 million hits at www.spiritofknoxville.com).

Visit From US Senate Subcommittee Officials

Representatives of the US Senate Subcommittee on Science and Technology visited with officials of the Jackson-Madison County Emergency Management Agency, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and officers and members of WTARS and ARES/RACES this afternoon, May 21, 2008.

This visit was part of a "case study methodology" to examine the status of emergency communications, under the auspices of the Senate Subcommittee on Science, Technology and Innovation chaired by Senator John F. Kerry.

The preliminary research objectives of this study are to:

1. Determine the primary vulnerabilities to the nation's emergency communications systems used by first responders, and to

2. Assess actions by federal stakeholders to address these vulnerabilities.

The Memphis, Tennessee area and the New Madrid earthquake is one of the scenarios used to illustrate the complexity and challenges of emergency communication among first responders in the event of a catastrophic disaster. They wanted to meet with the some of the people involved in the planning and execution of emergency communications to learn more about communications infrastructure and equipment on-hand to coordinate first response efforts in the event of the earthquake scenario.

They spoke with us about the following topics:

1. Emergency communications infrastructure and equipment used by local agencies and Amateur Radio operators, including capabilities, resiliency, and vulnerabilities.

2. Our views on the Federal Communications commission, Department of Homeland Security (including FEMA), and other federal agencies' efforts to support emergency communications systems.

As short notice of this meeting was given us, I would like to thank the following WTARS and ARES/RACES members (in no particular order) who were able to attend and help make a very impressive presentation to the members of this delegation, as well as Madison County Mayor Jimmy Harris:

Randy Bennett - KD4RIP
Greg Flannagan - KE4FTA
Chris Wray - KD4MPN
Robert McLaughlin - KI4WKW
Jeremy Blankenship - KI4FYQ
Chris Brazzell - KF4WNB
Scott Pearce - KD4OZT
Bobby Thompson - KI4KVA
Mark Hollomon - KD4MJA (TEMA West Tennessee)
Mike Winslow - KI4LMZ

Thank you and 73,

G. Michael Winslow, President
WTARS

Red Cross Scales Back Background Checks

American Red Cross Responds to ARRL Concerns Regarding Background Checks

In November 2007, ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, wrote to the American Red Cross (ARC) regarding concerns voiced by ARRL volunteers. In 2006, the Red Cross stated it would implement background checks that included, among other things, a credit check and a "mode of living" check for its staff and volunteers, including ARES volunteers providing services to the Red Cross during disasters.
ARRL saw these portions of the background check as unneeded and inappropriate for ARES service.

In a letter dated May 8 of this year, Armond T. Mascelli, ARC Vice President for Disaster Response Services replied to President
Harrison: "I can now report back to you that [these] actions have been completed and changes have been instituted which I trust resolves the concerns detailed in your letter. This effort took considerably more time and attention than originally envisioned, but I believe the results will now benefit our respective organizations.

"A new background consent form now [is] to be used by all Red Cross chapters for ARRL members and other partner organizations. The form and related process is limited to the name and social security number verification of the individual, and a criminal background check.
References and suggestions to other related investigative possibilities have been stricken."

From: The ARES E-Letter
May 21, 2008
=================

Welcome AWARA

As President of WTARS, I attended the May meeting of the Area Wide Amateur Radio Association last night (May 19th) in Trenton, TN. I brought greetings from WTARS and our offer of support and cooperation in all things Ham Radio.

As we voted at our last meeting, on behalf of WTARS, I joined AWARA and they, in turn, voted to join WTARS as an 'associate club' member. I officially extended our offer for them to participate in our 50th Anniversary Field Day activities June 28-30 at Jackson Fairgrounds Park. They voted unanimously to accept the invitation. They will set a Club table with us and will have a ARRL table also.

So, please join me in welcoming AWARA as a 'sister' club and into the World of Amateur Radio.

Many thanks to AWARA President Carl - KI4PCW and the members of AWARA for their hospitality and welcome.

G. Michael Winslow, President
WTARS

Tennessee Valley ARES Simplex Net

Tennessee Valley ARES Simplex net. 146.550 every Tuesday night at 7pm.

The net is to teach amateur radio operators "ARES or not" how to relay information and messages via simplex. NCS is K9ATF in Carroll County. Assistant NCS Steve KB9IWS in Gibson County and assistant NCS Charles KI4ROF in Henderson County.

The NCS's call different counties within their range then relay all check in's back to net control.

Warren Rainey - KI4WRM

ARRL INTRODUCES "FIFTH PILLAR" AT DAYTON HAMVENTION

On Saturday, May 17 at the Dayton Hamvention, ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, plans to announce that the League will expand its identity program to include greater emphasis on technology. Harrison explained that "Ham radio operators, and particularly ARRL members, closely identify with current and emerging radio technology. Today, we are naming 'technology' as ARRL's new fifth pillar." ARRL's other four pillars, the underpinnings of the organization, are Public Service, Advocacy, Education and Membership. "For hams, expanding the four pillars to include technology will reinforce one of the organization's guiding principles -- that ham radio is state-of-the-art, innovative and relevant," he said.

"Radio amateurs have entered a new era. More than a dozen Amateur Radio satellites are presently in orbit with more to come. Software is expanding the capabilities of their radio hardware and communication by digital voice and data is expanding rapidly among hams," Harrison said.

In addition to the new fifth pillar, the ARRL has launched a year-long ham radio recruitment campaign emphasizing the Amateur Radio Service as a scientific national resource. The campaign invites newcomers to discover ham radio in the 21st Century -- where hams are using science, technology and experimentation to explore the radio spectrum. "For more than 90 years, the ARRL has been at the forefront of technology, encouraging experimentation and education through its license training resources, publications and periodicals. ARRL provides its members with top-notch technical information services, trusted product reviews and radio spectrum advocacy," Harrison said. "The ARRL Laboratory is a centerpiece of ham radio technology, contributing to radio electronics experimentation, spectrum development and advocacy, and radio frequency engineering."

Harrison also noted that many hams attribute their affinity to "Amateur"
Radio as launching their professional careers in radio engineering, satellite communications, computer science and wireless communications.

"This is less about defining a new course for Amateur Radio, but simply recognizing a course that has always been a precept of radio amateurs and the ARRL," he said. Referring to the federal rules and regulations for Amateur Radio, Harrison explained that one of the defining principles of the Service's very creation by the government is the amateur's proven ability to contribute to the advancement of the radio art. Harrison remarked, "Today's technology is nothing new to ham radio!"

From -- The ARRL Letter
Vol. 27, No. 19
May 16, 2008