The average daily sunspot numbers for the week rose nearly 13 points to 38.3, while the average daily solar flux was up more than four points at 78.4. On September 2, one new sunspot group emerged, numbered 1105, joining sunspot groups 1101, 1102 and 1103. On September 4, group 1102 faded away, and then 1101 and 1103 vanished on September 6. Group 1105 went over the western side of the Sun by S...

In many states and localities, it is illegal to talk on a cell phone (without a hands-free device) while behind the wheel -- doing so can result in a ticket and possibly a large fine. But on May 30, 2010, when a New York ham was talking on his mobile rig, he didn’t think he was doing anything wrong. Except that the officer who pulled him over and cited him with a $100 fine didn’t quite see it t...

By Stan Horzepa, WA1LOU
Contributing Editor

This week, Surfin’ looks at the results of one year of codesmithing on the digital voice front.

One year ago, David Rowe, VK5DGR, decided to begin work on a free, low bit rate speech codec with an initial target of communications quality speech at 2400 bit/s.

One year later, David announced the Version 0.1 alpha release: “Codec2 is an open source, low bi...

In May, as a partial implementation of its National Broadband Plan, the FCC adopted amendments to its rules for Wireless Communications Services in the 2.3 GHz band to permit mobile broadband services, in addition to fixed services, in the bands 2305-2317.5 and 2347.5-2360 MHz. The Report and Order (R&O) in WT Docket No 07-293 was published in the Federal Register on August 2, 2010, triggering ...

In June the FCC opened a proceeding -- WT Docket No. 10-119 -- “to simplify, streamline, and update the Part 95 rules to reflect technological advances and changes in the way the American public uses the various Personal Radio Services.” The Citizens Band (CB) Radio Service is one of several Personal Radio Services regulated by Part 95. Three of the CB-related issues raised in the Notice of Pro...

The 2010 Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Conference (GAREC) -- supported by the ARRL, the IARU and all three IARU Regions -- is scheduled for October 11-12 in Curacao, one of five island territories of the Netherlands Antilles. With its theme of Learning through Practicing, this year’s conference is an opportunity for emergency communicators to discuss recent events, technical sol...

A fire that began on Monday, September 6 in Emerson Gulch located in Four Mile Canyon -- just northwest of Boulder, Colorado -- has members of Boulder County ARES® providing communications support to the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office and the American Red Cross. According to a 911 call, the fire was started when a vehicle collided with a large propane tank.

“Amateur Radio operators are located ...

This month, the ARRL and the Amateur Radio community celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service®, or ARES®. To help commemorate this milestone, the ARRL has introduced an anniversary Challenge Coin. The die-struck, 1.5 inch brass coin depicts the ARES 75th anniversary logo in gold with red, white and blue color fill, while the reverse shows the ARRL diamond logo again...

Robert Macedo, KD1CY, ARES SKYWARN Coordinator and Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator, provided this report on the afternoon of Friday, September 3:

The following is a situation report from the Eastern Massachusetts ARRL Section on Hurricane Earl. The good news is that Earl has weakened to a Category-1 hurricane. The other good news is that its track remains on target with ...