The Ham Weblog

The Ham Weblog^TM
December 23, 2000

Only ONE-and a HALF Shopping Days 'Til Christmas!!! And today's about shot!!!! Yep, that's right; we're right up agin it now. Well, we'll do our best to check out what's....nice, at least, HI! And, I apologize for not having Ham Weblog out the last ten days. I've been a bit under the WX.....so don't come too close, HI!
What's up in ham radio lately? Well, let's take a gander at Worldradio.
And, as always, I'm still looking to hear from YOU about The Ham Weblog^TM -- Is this a worthwhile endeavor? Any Suggestions? I need your input. PLEASE comment and help make this successful. Comments, suggestions, or a favorite site: Just Email Me.

**News at *WorldRadio*: Worldradio:**
Now, I could be wrong, and quite honestly, I'm not quite sure I'm right, either,....but isn't this old news? East Timor unrest -- DXer dies Deadline set for ARDF Team USA applications Amateur crowned Miss Topeka 2000 FCC levies hefty fine on former amateur Experimental operation on 5 MHz There are a number of other stories, but, moving on....
I see that Worldradio has an email subscription option. Hmmmm, maybe I'll get up-to-date info if I subscribe??? Worth a try.
Main headings off the Home page: DEPARTMENTS ARTICLES NEWS PRODUCTS SERVICES SUBSCRIBE NOTE: When I tried the Subscribe link it did not work.
Ok, so here are the department pages at the Worldradio site: AWARDS BASIC CALL SIGNS CLUBS CONTEST DX PREDICTIONS EXAMS HAMFESTS HUMOR LINKS MART CLASSIFIED QSL MANAGERS STATION APPEARANCE SPECIAL EVENTS

Hey, K3DZ just sent me a neat site for WWV Propagation.
The site's text only, but that makes it load quickly, and the info you want is text anyway, so it works out FB. In fact, the text is so short that the report I requested a few minutes ago is shown below, in full.
File "latest/wwv.txt"
:Issued: 2000 Dec 23 2109 UTC
# Prepared by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Environment Center.
#
# Geophysical Alert Message
#
Solar-terrestrial indices for 23 December follow.
Solar flux 191 and estimated Boulder A-index 16.
The Boulder K-index at 2100 UTC on 23 December was 1 (7 nT).

Solar-terrestrial conditions for the last 24 hours follow.
Solar activity was low.
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to minor storm levels.
Stratwarm Alert exists Saturday

The forecast for the next 24 hours follows.
Solar activity will be low.
The geomagnetic field will be quiet to active.

**Hey, K3DZ just sent me a neat site for WWV Propagation.**
The site's text only, but that makes it load quickly, and the info you want is text anyway, so it works out FB. In fact, the text is so short that the report I requested a few minutes ago is shown below, in full. File "latest/wwv.txt" :Issued: 2000 Dec 23 2109 UTC # Prepared by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Environment Center. # # Geophysical Alert Message # Solar-terrestrial indices for 23 December follow. Solar flux 191 and estimated Boulder A-index 16. The Boulder K-index at 2100 UTC on 23 December was 1 (7 nT). Solar-terrestrial conditions for the last 24 hours follow. Solar activity was low. The geomagnetic field was at quiet to minor storm levels. Stratwarm Alert exists Saturday The forecast for the next 24 hours follows. Solar activity will be low. The geomagnetic field will be quiet to active.

I stumbled across this next site last week, but didn't have time to include it. So, here's..... e-ham.net Reviews.
I did have to surf around a bit to find the site's focus, but at Categories, which is right at the top of the page I found the site's "goals statement":
"Here you'll find reviews of products and services submitted by members of this site -- honest, valuable reviews from real people with real opinions! There are 3951 reviews on 1176 different products and services.
"To browse the reviews or to write your own review, follow the links in the table."

There are 8 Communities:

Articles
Chat
Forums
Friends Remembered
Speak Out
Strays
Survey Question
Your Profile

There are an additional 3 Categories, each with several pages:

Operating -- 3 pages
Resources -- 9 pages
Site Info -- 7 pages

Scanning the Categories, this site is definitely visitor-oriented. The Articles are written by visitors, as are the Forums, Product Reviews, Speak Out (Op-ed), virtually all content. That is refreshing! The site is definitely worth a visit.

I was puzzled that the site offered no "News" page. Turns out that it does, but it's a bit hidden. Well, ok, not exactly hidden, but certainly not jumping out at you! On the Articles page, if you go to the "Articles by Category" window and click the arrow, you can select News, then click the "Go!" button.

**I stumbled across this next site last week, but didn't have time to include it. So, here's..... e-ham.net Reviews.**
I did have to surf around a bit to find the site's focus, but at Categories, which is right at the top of the page I found the site's "goals statement": "Here you'll find reviews of products and services submitted by members of this site -- honest, valuable reviews from real people with real opinions! There are 3951 reviews on 1176 different products and services. "To browse the reviews or to write your own review, follow the links in the table."
There are 8 Communities: Articles Chat Forums Friends Remembered Speak Out Strays Survey Question Your Profile
There are an additional 3 Categories, each with several pages: Operating -- 3 pages Resources -- 9 pages Site Info -- 7 pages
Scanning the Categories, this site is definitely visitor-oriented. The Articles are written by visitors, as are the Forums, Product Reviews, Speak Out (Op-ed), virtually all content. That is refreshing! The site is definitely worth a visit.
I was puzzled that the site offered no "News" page. Turns out that it does, but it's a bit hidden. Well, ok, not exactly hidden, but certainly not jumping out at you! On the Articles page, if you go to the "Articles by Category" window and click the arrow, you can select News, then click the "Go!" button.

Take a look at Grundig.
Nice Home Page Animation! But, makes me just a wee bit nervous...the world bouncing around like that, HI! Overall, the site is neatly designed, but a bit smaller than I expected, given the prominance in amateur publication advertising.

Check the Producs page, for links to 10 items, including the currently highlighted Satellit 800 Millennium.

The Grundig Service page lists 4 Warranty Service Centers (1 US, 3 Canadian). Out of Warranty Service Centers include 2 US and 3 Canadian sites.

**Take a look at Grundig.**
Nice Home Page Animation! But, makes me just a wee bit nervous...the world bouncing around like that, HI! Overall, the site is neatly designed, but a bit smaller than I expected, given the prominance in amateur publication advertising.
Check the Producs page, for links to 10 items, including the currently highlighted Satellit 800 Millennium.
The Grundig Service page lists 4 Warranty Service Centers (1 US, 3 Canadian). Out of Warranty Service Centers include 2 US and 3 Canadian sites.

Been to Buckmaster lately?
Well, I hadn't, so I figured I'd drop by to see what was up. It's been awhile, so maybe the site layout isn't new, but I it seems all new to me. Oh, well!
I've gotta admit, "6,522,716 successful callsign searches" is impressive!

Four sub-pages are available as soon as you read the intro:

Add / Update Callsign
Order Hamcall CD-ROM
Auctions
Write Us

Ok, I'm curious....what're the Auctions? Is this like eBay? Well......no....
Buckmast is auctioning off its own products: HamCall CD-ROM (latest disc); Copy this and Pass! 3 CD set; 5, 13, 20 WPM, etc.

You can search the Buckmaster database using their online form; allows you to search by Name, QTH, Type [individual, club, etc.], county, callsign suffix, etc. Good for those times when you just can't seem to recall all the info.

Buckmaster also lets you fill out a personal interest profile so you can broadcast to everyone all about your interests.... But, do you really WANT to do that???

**Been to Buckmaster lately?**
Well, I hadn't, so I figured I'd drop by to see what was up. It's been awhile, so maybe the site layout isn't new, but I it seems all new to me. Oh, well! I've gotta admit, "6,522,716 successful callsign searches" is impressive!
Four sub-pages are available as soon as you read the intro: Add / Update Callsign Order Hamcall CD-ROM Auctions Write Us
Ok, I'm curious....what're the Auctions? Is this like eBay? Well......no.... Buckmast is auctioning off its own products: HamCall CD-ROM (latest disc); Copy this and Pass! 3 CD set; 5, 13, 20 WPM, etc.
You can search the Buckmaster database using their online form; allows you to search by Name, QTH, Type [individual, club, etc.], county, callsign suffix, etc. Good for those times when you just can't seem to recall all the info.
Buckmaster also lets you fill out a personal interest profile so you can broadcast to everyone all about your interests.... But, do you really WANT to do that???

If you missed earlier editions, check out the Archives

Well, that wraps it up for today. Please, drop me an email and let me know what you think about The Ham Weblog, ok? It's easy; just Email K3LBP!

From my QTH to yours:

The Ham WeblogTM

Happy Holidays!!

The Ham Weblog^TM