Table of Contents

SANS Emergency Communications Network		Military Sealift Command		Astatic
HamAnalyzer		Regen Receiver		Hobbies 4 Healing
Maritime Mobile Service Net		Super Antennas		Pro SisTel

First, let me apologize for so long a lapse between issues. I've been just a bit under the weather, which has been a real pain in the neck, quite literally speaking, HI!   However, as things go, we're about back to 80% now, so I've been trying to get back in the swing. We've got an expanded issue this time, with some nine sites to review; in addition, I've added a couple more propagation sites, so you should have quite a read this time. Enjoy!

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What's Old Sol up to today?

WWV Propagation Forecast.		WWDX Propagation Service Center (PSC)

More Propagation Links

N6RT Propagation Report		NW7US Propagation Center

SANS Emergency Communications Network

Whoa!   Got the "HTTP 404 - File not found" error, eh? Well, so did I. It's CQ Magazine's error, gang...sorry! Actually, you can get to SANS at http://www.sans.org/, so the entire URL wasn't in error. I wonder if just maybe SANS made a change in the site after the magazine article was submitted? Which article? Well, check back in your October issue of CQ, pp. 73-78. This is Bob Josuweit [WA3PZO] on Public Service, his monthly column. There, Bob discusses threats to network and internet security. This issue obviously was in production before the attacks of September 11 took place, so it doesn't address those issues. However, some of the issues raised in Bob's piece are very worthwhile and we may come to see our resources called on to help in scenarios like those he posed. As part of the article, Bob did highlight the SANS Emergency Communications Network, thus my link here. There are loads of articles on the SANS website, including one labeled "SANS Forum," so this probably is where Bob got his info. If you're a network administrator, or are intrigued by the intricacies of digital networks, I strongly suggest that you check out http://www.sans.org/ and bookmark it. Under the SANS Forum heading, lo and behold, you do find a link to Emergeny Communications Network, which is a "proposal-in-progress" for an amateur radio support network working with the SANS organization. Their "out-of-band" reference does give me a chill, however. This link also includes numerous discussion postings about just how such a network might be operated. You just have to check this one out!!!   By the way, it appears that the reference to out-of-band actually has nothing to do with amateur bands; rather, it seems to refer to operations out of the typical realm of a digital network--glad that got cleared up!!] This is definitely a good read.

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Military Sealift Command

Intrigued, I checked out the website. As the opening page states, MSC is the ocean transportation provider for the Department of Defense. Well, okay, but what's the connection with ham radio? I didn't see anything on the home page about amateur radio, so I used the site's search engine; nothing! Entering ham radio resulted in 58 hits, but a review of almost half of those pages failed to produce any actual ham radio tie-ins. START HERE I've sent the site webmaster an email. Maybe we'll get some info to pass along, HI!

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Astatic

Ah, the good old days, right? Sri, OM! Those days are drifting by more quickly than we'd like to admit. Just check the November issue of QST. Yup, Astatic announces that it's retiring the venerable D-104!!! I know......I know, it's sad, indeed; but what's a ham to say? Well, visit Astatic for one. Click on the lower image in their "movie" (flash animation). Or, if you do not have flash installed and don't want to, go to World Famous Radio Mics. You can read the Astatic story here, or click on the "details" area to the right of the mic to go to a specifications page. Loads of info on that page! The site also includes a "User's Forum" where you can post a question or participate in a discussion of Astatic products. Gee, I thought that, given the D-104's prominence in the communications industry, and that it was being discontinued, that there would be a bit more fanfare here. All we seem to get is "Final Edition." I'd say that this venerable mic deserves a wee bit more than that! Ah, well, back to my '58 Handbook I guess, HI!

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HamAnalyzer

ARRL's Steve Ford, WB8IMY, did such a bang-up product review of HamAlyzer in November's QST that I just had to take a look at their website. Just a note here:   Apparently the URL was updated since Ford wrote the article, because that URL takes you to a rediret page. The URL I've listed takes you directly to the website. That's life on the web, I guess, HI! At any rate, we're there now, so let's get moving! "What will they think of next...." seems to be the ever-growing query regarding how our PC sound cards can be put to expanded use. Well, here's yet another task:   'Scope/spectrum analyzer. Used to be, most old-timers had an ocilliscope squirreled away somewhere on their test bench; but all too often, it's capabilities were soon outstripped by the march of technology. Sure, you could use a spectrum analyzer, but checked the price of those lately? Yikes!! HamAlyzer 2.0 has an answer -- putting your PC's sound card to work, as we've noted above. This site offers loads of descriptive info on how the software works, as well as screen shots; they differ from the QST article, so I assume that Ford installed the program and created his own sreens. Here's the fare from the HamAlyzer menu: Features User's Comments Screen Shots Registration FAQs Connecting Your Rig The HAM Page Version History And, you can download a free, 10-day fully-functional trial copy from the site. I didn't do that, simply because I know that I won't be able to try the package at this time. However, I did read the FAQ page and suggest that you do so as well. Seems that Windows Installer doesn't handle installation in quite the manner that HamAlyzer should be handled. FAQ also answers the "How much" question:   $25 to register your download. If you are a builder, enjoy adjusting your own gear, or just can't resist learning the newest in software, HamAlyzer is one package you won't want to miss.

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Beginner's Regenerative Receiver

This is just a URL change. Charles KitchinAgain emailed me a little while ago to say that the original URL was not working properly. We reported on this site back in mid-January. The new URL is http://www.electronics-tutorials.com/receivers/ regen-radio-receiver.htm .

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Maritime Mobile Service Net

A service of long standing, the Maritime Mobile Service Net is exactly what its name implies. The Net meets daily from 1200 hrs to 2200 hrs Eastern Time on (1700 - 0300 UTC) on 14,00 KHz. Need more background? Check the About Us page. This site is well organized! Although nothing was posted at the time I checked, there is a Net Notices page, which is an excellent way to get the word out. Why doesn't it surprise me that MMSN has its own Newsletter? The only thing that does surprise me here is that the newsletter seems to have languished a bit...It appears that the most recent story update has a dateline of March 26, 2001. Now, here's a neat link, 'tho it does take you off-site:   UTC Time! And, it claims accuracy to within 0.4 seconds! That's close enough for my needs, HI!! Check the MMSN Weekly Schedule, effective 22 Oct. 2001. Be sure to check out this site. There are dozens of pages and links to keep you busy for quite awhile, HI!

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Super Antennas

I checked out the Super Antennas Product Review in the November issue of QST and I think you should too! Sounds like a neat product; here's what the site comprises.... There's quite a lot to see here, but, to be honest, I think the home page is a bit misleading. I mean.... the feature that first catches your eye is the tower and multi-element beam, but that's not what this site is about! But then, that's only me, HI! I opted to check out the Products radio button, which takes you to images of the MP-1 and MP-2. You might go the route of MP-1 Details Here!. Both take you to info on the MP-1, but not to the same pages. Honest opinion? Take the Products radio button; you'll get more detail, with more support pages to back them up. You also will discover the MP-2 via this path; this version is a motor-driven version of the MP-1, and, you'll be happy to learn that if you've purchased the MP-1, it can be modified to an MP-2 for greater ease in operation. Go to Accessories to check on the 80 m loading coil, tripods, and the 817 bracket assembly. To round out your visit to Super Antennas, check out About Us for a brief synopsis of W6MMA's activities. You also can Order online. Nice site, Vern!

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Check out Pro SisTel Rotators

Going in the other direction, let's look at really BIG antenna rotators Pro SisTel. Just a word of explanation:   There appear to be 2 boxes or flags below the masthead of this page. To access the site in English, select the Union Jack box. The box to the right accesses the site in Italian. The "Back" button near the bottom of the page takes you to an index page, which seems to be the same page. Selecting the Union Jack takes you to the actual Big Boy Rotators website, unless you wish to access the Italian version, HI! Here you can select info on each of the 5 rotators: PST641 PST2051 PST51 PST61 PST71 There also are links to other info, such as Elevation, Controllers, Software, a photo gallery, and Dealers. But, I thought that the link to Comparison Table might be useful to highlight. Here you'll find specs on 11 rotators with comparisons to the Prosistel counterparts. So, if you're in the market for a new rotator, or are contemplating that LARGE array of your dreams, I think you'll find what you need here. Good luck!

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Well, that wraps it up for today. Please, drop me an email and let me know what you think about The Ham Weblog, ok? Also, I'm always open to ideas and suggestions for other content to publish on this site. What do you want to read about? It's easy; just Email K3LBP!

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