What happened to Heathkit

What happened to Heathkit:

"First let me clear up an apparent misconception about the Heathkit Company.
The Company never went out of business. It is true that they no longer make kits, but one of the long-time product groups still remains.

Perhaps its easier to think of Heath Company as the building in St. Joseph, Michigan itself. Heath Company encompassed several sub-companies known as the Heathkit Company (the kit line), Heathkit Educational Systems (the educational line, which started out as Heath Scientific Instruments), and Veritechnology (the retail store program).

Eventually, the Heathkit Company developed a very popular home computer that was available as either a kit or assembled product. This was the product line that caught the eye of Zenith Radio Corporation (ZRC), which later bought the Heath Company. "

73 fer nw,
Bob AD5VJ(AAR6VM)
Visit My Ham Blog
http://www.n5iet.com/

10X# 37210, FP#-1141, SMIRK#-5177
Code may be taking a back seat for now,
but the pioneering spirit that put the code
there in the first place is out front of it all.

FCC Continues Enforcement Drive

FCC Continues Enforcement Drive:

"'...the Briarcliff Manor BPL system fails to comply with Part 5 rules requiring permittees to cease transmissions 'if harmful interference to an established radio service develops...'

It seems absurd that the rules would provide for someone to shut down their business if it interferes with an established radio service AFTER the system is in operation. It's a great idea, but I can't imagine any corporation complying after they have subscribers.

Seems to me a system should be field tested and certified as interference-free BEFORE it is permitted to operate full-time. Sort of like certifying a broadcasting station is in compliance with its construction permit before granting a license.

All I can say to the ARRL lawyers and the hams in the area is, SIC 'EM! "

73 fer nw,
Bob AD5VJ(AAR6VM)
Visit My Ham Blog
http://www.n5iet.com/

10X# 37210, FP#-1141, SMIRK#-5177
Code may be taking a back seat for now,
but the pioneering spirit that put the code
there in the first place is out front of it all.

Quantum encryption inches closer to reality | Tech News on ZDNet

Quantum encryption inches closer to reality | Tech News on ZDNet:

"Quantum encryption inches closer to reality
By Michael Kanellos
URL: http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1009_22-5204725.html

A team of researchers has set a speed record for a type of quantum encryption, a sign that the theoretically uncrackable system for encrypting documents could find a home commercially.

Researchers from Acadia Optronics working with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) said they have come up with a system that can transmit a stream of individual photons at a rate of 1 million bits a second. That's about 100 times faster than comparable quantum encryption systems. At that rate, it becomes practical to send encrypted video or other protected material, according to NIST.

Quantum encryption involves sending data by way of photons, the smallest unit of light. The photons are polarized, or oriented, in one of four different directions. Eavesdroppers cause detectable changes in the orientation, which in turn prevents them from getting secret information. "

73 fer nw,
Bob AD5VJ(AAR6VM)
Visit My Ham Blog
http://www.n5iet.com/

10X# 37210, FP#-1141, SMIRK#-5177
Code may be taking a back seat for now,
but the pioneering spirit that put the code
there in the first place is out front of it all.

Hurricane symposium reveals getting gas No.1 hurdle after storm: South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Hurricane symposium reveals getting gas No.1 hurdle after storm: South Florida Sun-Sentinel:

"Hurricane symposium reveals getting gas No.1 hurdle after storm
S. Florida cities discuss response woes after Wilma
By Ken Kaye
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Posted April 21 2006

One of the biggest nightmares for local officials trying to respond immediately after Hurricane Wilma last October was obtaining enough fuel to run their vehicles.

The reason:
Police escorting the tankers out of Port Everglades steered them away from city fuel pumps to areas they deemed more in need."

73 fer nw,
Bob AD5VJ(AAR6VM)
Visit My Ham Blog
http://www.n5iet.com/

10X# 37210, FP#-1141, SMIRK#-5177
Code may be taking a back seat for now,
but the pioneering spirit that put the code
there in the first place is out front of it all.

AP Wire | 04/20/2006 | FCC steps up investigation into radio payola allegations

AP Wire | 04/20/2006 | FCC steps up investigation into radio payola allegations:

"FCC steps up investigation into radio payola allegations
HOPE YEN
Associated Press
WASHINGTON -

The Federal Communications Commission is stepping up its investigation into alleged payola practices at four of the nation's largest radio corporations after attempts to reach a settlement stalled.

An FCC official with direct knowledge of the investigation confirmed the agency had requested documents this week from Clear Channel Communications Inc., CBS Radio Inc., Entercom Communications Corp. and Citadel Broadcasting Corp.

The agency wants to learn more about accusations that radio programmers received gifts, cash and other items in exchange for playing certain songs at radio stations without publicly disclosing the deals.

The FCC requests, known formally as 'letters of inquiry,' are the next step in investigations that could result in sanctions ranging from financial penalties to the revocation of stations' licenses."

73 fer nw,
Bob AD5VJ(AAR6VM)
Visit My Ham Blog
http://www.n5iet.com/

10X# 37210, FP#-1141, SMIRK#-5177
Code may be taking a back seat for now,
but the pioneering spirit that put the code
there in the first place is out front of it all.

Your station is one-of-a-kind

Your station is one-of-a-kind::

"The Station Notebook
By Wayne Greaves, W0ZW
mailto:w0zw@arrl.net
April 20, 2006

Your station is one-of-a-kind.

Do you have a record of how it's put together? Here's how to capture important details about your station for future reference.

The W0ZW station notebook.

There is a station accessory that no Amateur Radio shack should be without. It works with stations that operate HF, VHF, UHF, microwave and even moonbounce.

It is useful to both 'Big Gun' and QRP stations, casual operators, contesters, DXers and rag chewers alike. It doesn't matter if you operate phone, CW or data modes.

Best of all, it is readily available and costs under five bucks. This amazing addition to your shack is the Station Notebook. Every ham should maintain one for his or her station. Here's what it is and how to use it.

Quite simply, the station notebook is a collection of technical or operational details specific to your station that you document in a journal.

The Station Notebook is a living document that grows over time as your station evolves.

What kind of information goes into the Station Notebook?

Some examples include:

Station block diagram
List of equipment models and serial numbers
Antenna descriptions and dimensions
Record of measured SWR versus frequency for each antenna
Document radio memory settings for stored frequencies and other variable settings
Station RF exposure evaluation
Results of tests and experiments
Description of changes, additions, or modifications to equipment

Your notes can be as simple or as detailed as you want, but the important thing is that they get written down!

My concept of the Station Notebook is based on the engineer's notebook.

73 fer nw,
Bob AD5VJ(AAR6VM)
Visit My Ham Blog
http://www.n5iet.com/

10X# 37210, FP#-1141, SMIRK#-5177
Code may be taking a back seat for now,
but the pioneering spirit that put the code
there in the first place is out front of it all.

Thompson urges identification of hurricane shelters now

Thompson urges identification of hurricane shelters now:

"Thompson urges identification of hurricane shelters now

PEARL, Miss.

Mississippi Congressman Bennie Thompson is urging emergency responders to identify American Red Cross shelters in their communities before the hurricane season begins June first.

Thompson says only Red Cross-certified shelters can receive cost reimbursements from the federal government.

When Katrina hit the Gulf Coast last August, thousands of people sought shelter space inland. Many churches opened their doors, along with residents, ...."

73 fer nw,
Bob AD5VJ(AAR6VM)
Visit My Ham Blog
http://www.n5iet.com/

10X# 37210, FP#-1141, SMIRK#-5177
Code may be taking a back seat for now,
but the pioneering spirit that put the code
there in the first place is out front of it all.

Chron.com | Next hurricane season looms over energy in Gulf

Chron.com | Next hurricane season looms over energy in Gulf:

"April 19, 2006, 10:28PM
Plenty of repairs still to go
Next hurricane season looms over energy in Gulf
By JIM KENNETT
Bloomberg News

Six weeks before this year's hurricane season begins in the Gulf of Mexico, the oil and gas industry is far from finished repairing the damage done by last year's storms.

Divers have yet to inspect half of the platforms hit by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Dennis. Some crews that are usually available to fix platforms and oil rigs are permanently shutting smaller wells that aren't worth restoring."

73 fer nw,
Bob AD5VJ(AAR6VM)
Visit My Ham Blog
http://www.n5iet.com/

10X# 37210, FP#-1141, SMIRK#-5177
Code may be taking a back seat for now,
but the pioneering spirit that put the code
there in the first place is out front of it all.

Digital City Expo Opening in Washington DC - the Nations Largest Event Solely Focused on Municipal Broadband: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance

Digital City Expo Opening in Washington DC - the Nations Largest Event Solely Focused on Municipal Broadband: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance:

"Digital City Expo Opening in Washington DC - the Nations Largest Event Solely Focused on Municipal Broadband

Thursday April 20, 8:00 am ET
Digital City Expo Press Conference Monday, April 24, 2006, 6:00-8:00 pm
WASHINGTON, April 10 /PRNewswire/ --

WHO THIS IS FOR:
Reporters covering the DC Area, Technology, Government, the Internet, WiMAX, Broadband, Local Events, New Businesses, New Science, and Future Technology.
WHEN:
Monday, April 24, 2006, 6:00-8:00 pm http://www.digitalcityexpo.com

WHERE:
The Hyatt Regency Reston Hotel, 1800 Presidents Street Reston, VA 20190"


73 fer nw,
Bob AD5VJ(AAR6VM)
Visit My Ham Blog
http://www.n5iet.com/

10X# 37210, FP#-1141, SMIRK#-5177
Code may be taking a back seat for now,
but the pioneering spirit that put the code
there in the first place is out front of it all.

Christian Public Relations | WDC Media

Christian Public Relations | WDC Media:

"WDC MEDIA NEWS
Christian News and Media Agency

Major TV Networks Sue Government for Indecency Crackdown
By Gudrun Schultz -- Lifesitenews.com
2006-04-19 -- WDC Media News

Four major television networks have filed lawsuits against the Federal Communications Commissions recent rulings on the use of profanity and sexually explicit material during prime time viewing.

Fox, CBS, NBC and ABC networks have filed two joint appeals against fines imposed by the FCC on a total of 123 stations for airing, among other concerns, a scene depicting group sex among teenagers.

Concerned Women for America issued a press release today expressing their outrage over what they call frivolous lawsuits that are out of touch with American families.

All four broadcast networks last week announced their decision to continue their assault on the FCC�s authority to regulate the airwaves against profanity and sexual content, said Lanier Swann, CWAs Director of Government Relations.

The action illustrates how out of touch television moguls are with American families."


73 fer nw,
Bob AD5VJ(AAR6VM)
Visit My Ham Blog
http://www.n5iet.com/

10X# 37210, FP#-1141, SMIRK#-5177
Code may be taking a back seat for now,
but the pioneering spirit that put the code
there in the first place is out front of it all.

Quad-Cities Online

Quad-Cities Online:

"FCC gives pirate radio station list of violations
By Darla M. Wiese, dmwiese@qconline.com

A representative from the Federal Communications Commission paid a visit to pirate radio DJs Jason Duncan and Matthew Britcher of Power 103.3, Tuesday afternoon, according to Mr. Duncan.

Mr. Duncan and Mr. Britcher have been operating the station since last week under an FCC code they believe warrants them operation without a license in times of war.

'He asked to see the studio but once we found out he didn't have a warrant, we said no,' Mr. Duncan said. "

73 fer nw,
Bob AD5VJ(AAR6VM)
Visit My Ham Blog
http://www.n5iet.com/

10X# 37210, FP#-1141, SMIRK#-5177
Code may be taking a back seat for now,
but the pioneering spirit that put the code
there in the first place is out front of it all.

The Sun Herald | 04/19/2006 | Radio lifeline

The Sun Herald | 04/19/2006 | Radio lifeline:

"Radio lifeline
Ham operators among Katrina's unsung heroes
By JEAN PRESCOTT
jtprescott@sunherald.com

Ham radio operator Raymond Taber GULFPORT -
Tom Hammack says he knew it was going to be bad. His ham radio colleagues did, too, but none of them knew how bad. How could they?

Forty-some hours before Hurricane Katrina inundated the Mississippi Coast, Hammack, John Moore, Glover Hayden and Raymond Taber hunkered down in the Emergency Operations Center of the Harrison County Civil Defense headquarters in Gulfport.

They went through a familiar drill, one they hadn't executed in recent memory.

They prepared for any communications "

73 fer nw,
Bob AD5VJ(AAR6VM)
Visit My Ham Blog
http://www.n5iet.com/

10X# 37210, FP#-1141, SMIRK#-5177
Code may be taking a back seat for now,
but the pioneering spirit that put the code
there in the first place is out front of it all.