January 12, 2005 / le 12 janvier, 2005 Welcome to the January 2005 edition of the Radio H.F. Internet Newsletter. Bienvenue a l'Edition de janvier 2005 de "Radio H.F. Internet Newsletter". Sheldon Harvey Owner, Radio H.F. Editor/Publisher, Radio H.F. Internet Newsletter **************************************************** RADIO H.F. CANADA'S SPECIALIST IN SHORTWAVE, SCANNING, AMATEUR RADIO, ANTENNAS, ACCESSORIES AND PUBLICATIONS SINCE 1995, BRINGS THIS NEWSLETTER TO YOU, FREE OF CHARGE. CONTACT RADIO H.F. AT: RADIO H.F. P.O. Box 67063-Lemoyne St. Lambert, Quebec J4R 2T8 HOURS OF OPERATION: Monday to Saturday, 10 AM to 5 PM (Eastern) CLOSED Sunday TELEPHONE & FAX: (450) 671-3773 TOLL FREE IN CANADA ONLY: 1-800-463-3773 E-MAIL: info@radiohf.ca WEB PAGE: http://www.radiohf.ca VISA & MASTERCARD ACCEPTED RADIO HF GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE **************************************************** THE RADIO H.F. INTERNET NEWSLETTER VOLUME 7 NUMBER 001 -- JANUARY/JANVIER 2005 Edited and Distributed by Sheldon Harvey Greenfield Park, Quebec, Canada Copyright 2004 Radio H.F. Publications E-MAIL: hfnewsletter@yahoo.com Please visit the new Radio HF web page at: http://www.radiohf.ca Previous issues of this newsletter can be found at the following URL: http://www.anarc.org/cidx/radiohf/index.html THE NEW RADIO H.F. INTERNET NEWSLETTER YAHOO GROUP http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hfnewsletter/ Subscribers may join the Radio H.F. Internet Newsletter Yahoo Group. You will find a monthly posting of the latest Newsletter, plus you can exchange information, chat, post photos, links, etc. in this group. Simply go to the Group page, click "Join this Group", complete the steps, and you're a member! ***************************************************** As subscribers to this free Newsletter, you are encouraged to contribute to future editions. All contributors of web sites used in the Radio H.F. Internet Newsletter are entitled to a 2% discount on their next purchase from Radio H.F. The e-mail address for all contributions, comments, and subscription requests for the Newsletter is: hfnewsletter@yahoo.com DISCLAIMER: The content and comments included in the web sites featured in this newsletter are those of the individuals, groups or organizations responsible for each web site. They do not necessarily represent those of the editor, unless specifically noted. TO REMOVE YOURSELF FROM THE DISTRIBUTION LIST OF THIS NEWSLETTER, SIMPLY CONTACT ME BY E-MAIL. THE DISTRIBUTION LIST IS PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL. **************************************************** Welcome to the January 2005 edition, the first of our seventh year of publication. I trust that everyone had a very happy and healthy holiday season. I look forward to another great year of web sites! Unfortunately, many of us probably awoke the day after Christmas to hear and see the devastating and shocking news from Asia of the 9.0 earthquake and resulting tsunamis which killed well over 100,000 people plus injured and displaced millions. This is just another example of the power of nature and our inability to control its force. Relief efforts have sprung up in hundreds of countries around the world. As photos, video tapes and eye-witness reports continue to come in from some of the most remote parts of the affected areas, the true scope of the disaster continues to grow. Our Monthly Special Zone for January will focus exclusively on this natural and human disaster. If you haven't taken the time to contribute to one of your local or national relief organizations, please do not hesitate. The impact of this event is far-reaching and will alter the face of this region of the planet, and its people, for years to come. We'll learn a little about the various countries in the region as well as explore sites which explain more about earthquakes, tsunamis and other forms of natural disasters that can strike without warning. *************************************************** CONTENTS THE MONTHLY SURVEY THE COMMENTS ZONE THE CONTRIBUTORS ZONE THE MONTHLY SPECIAL ZONE THE JANUARY ZONE THE RADIO ZONE THE GENERAL ZONE THE FUN & SERVICES ZONE THE HAMFEST/FLEAMARKET AND SPECIAL EVENTS ZONE THE RESOURCES ZONE *************************************************** THE MONTHLY SURVEY LAST MONTH'S SURVEY I thought that last month's survey question, "Who is your choice for the "2004 Person of the Year 2004", would draw a large reaction for our readers. Wrong! Only 12 people took the time to respond. Very disappointing. The number one choice, with a stellar number of 3 votes was President George W. Bush, with a few others mentioned such as Colin Powell, Bill Gates, Alexander Putin, Lance Armstrong, David Brudnoy and Barak Obama. THIS MONTH'S SURVEY We'll keep trying to spark reaction, this time with our focus on New Year's Resolutions. Many of us make a resolution, or two, for the New Year. Unfortunately many of them are broken before the New Year is a few days, perhaps hours old! Our question is: What was your 2005 New Year's Resolution-- (and, have you kept it so far), that is if you made any at all. Please send your response, by e-mail, to hfnewsletter@yahoo.com **************************************************** THE COMMENTS ZONE David Norrie, Auckland New Zealand: Enjoy your news letters very much although I don't have time to contribute. Gilles Letourneau, Montreal, Quebec: I have to send you my annual thank you for the great work on the HF Newsletter. It is very appreciated by me and my sister. We go through it every month, discovering great new web sites. I would really enjoy seeing more people send in web sites. It's not very hard, and makes the newsletter even more pleasant! ***************************************************** THE CONTRIBUTORS ZONE Down to just 8 contributors this month. Thanks to all our regulars for their continued support and efforts. Let's hear from more of you, particularly some of our new subscribers for 2005. Violet Harrison, Nelson, New Zealand Sheldon Harvey, Greenfield Park, Quebec Janice & Steve Karlock, Dorval, Quebec Gilles Letourneau, Montreal, Quebec Jerry Proc, Toronto, Ontario Richard Sim, Goose Bay, Labrador & Newfoundland Elmer Standish, Courtenay, British Columbia Eric Wolfe, Lebanon, Pennsylvania Yahoo Weekly Picks ***************************************** THE MONTHLY SPECIAL ZONE 2004 INDIAN OCEAN EARTHQUAKE http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Indian_Ocean_earthquake UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY -- EARTHQUAKE HAZARDS PROGRAM http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqinthenews/2004/usslav/ CIA WORLD FACT BOOK: INDONESIA http://cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/id.html CIA WORLD FACT BOOK: SRI LANKA http://cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ce.html CIA WORLD FACT BOOK: INDIA http://cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/in.html CIA WORLD FACT BOOK: MALDIVE ISLANDS http://cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/mv.html CIA WORLD FACT BOOK: THAILAND http://cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/th.html ASIAN TSUNAMI VIDEOS http://www.asiantsunamivideos.com/ TSUNAMI: BEFORE AND AFTER http://homepage.mac.com/demark/tsunami/ VIA Richard Sim, Goose Bay, Labrador & Newfoundland YAHOO NEWS -- ASIAN TSUNAMI DISASTER http://news.yahoo.com/asiadisaster +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ THE JANUARY ZONE This month, I'm changing the resource for the Monthly Zone information. Each month we will feature the monthly page from Wikipedia, the free, on-line encyclopedia. Each month's page will feature an overview of the month, plus feature some background and general information on the month itself. The actual monthly calendar, clickable day by day, gives a list of special events in history, famous birthdays, anniversaries, etc. for each day. Here is the link for the month of January. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January **************************************************** **RADIO H.F. PUBLICITY ZONE** CUSHCRAFT ANTENNAS http://www.cushcraft.com/ Cushcraft Corporation, a world leader in the manufacture and development of communications antennas has been committed to total customer satisfaction for more than four decades. Cushcraft has become the world leader in antennas for Wireless LAN, ISM band, and small cell applications. Cushcraft also has a strong presence in RFID and Data Collection, Land Mobile Radio, Specialized Mobile Radio, Cellular, Security, Wireless MAN, Amateur Radio and other applications. Some of the best performing and most popular antennas in use in the amateur radio community come from Cushcraft. For complete details on the latest models available, including specification, please visit the following Cushcraft amateur products webpage at: http://www.cushcraft.com/amateur/thumbs.asp Please contact Radio HF for complete details on pricing and availability of Cushcraft products. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ THE RADIO ZONE POST TSUNAMI NEWS COVERAGE RAISE HAM RADIO PROFILE http://www2.arrl.org/news/stories/2005/01/04/2/?nc=1 VIA Eric Wolfe, Lebanon, Pennsylvania From the ARRL, an article, and links to other articles, about how ham radio came to the aid of the tsunami victims. 18TH ANNUAL WINTER SWL FESTIVAL http://swlfest.com/ VIA Sheldon Harvey, Greenfield Park, Quebec This convention is the largest gathering of listeners to the radio spectrum -- longwave, mediumwave, shortwave (broadcast, utilities, pirates), VHF/UHF, FM, scanners, television and satellites -- in the United States, perhaps the world, held in Kulpsville, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia. About 200 persons from around the world attend each year. It is a nice way to break out of the doldrums of the northern hemisphere winter. Broadcaster representatives, clubs, and vendors attend. This year's event will be held March 11 & 12. For complete details, and a registration form, please visit this website. PUTTIN' ON THE HITS http://www.oidar.com/POTH.htm VIA Sheldon Harvey, Greenfield Park, Quebec A true story about Top 40 radio in the 60s and 70s, by John Long RADIO LINKS http://www.radiolinks.net/ VIA Sheldon Harvey, Greenfield Park, Quebec Welcome to RadioLinks.net, the links directory designed for people in Radio! We are building the most complete directory of links especially selected for people who work in the radio industry. Help us build this directory by adding your favorite links. Feel free to e-mail us with suggestions for new or expanded categories. We hope RadioLinks.net will be your favorite source for links to radio oriented web sites! The site now has over 2900 links in 19 categories. MEDIA RADIO http://www.mediaradio.ca/cgi-bin/liveradio.cgi VIA Elmer Standish, Courtenay, British Columbia Mediaradio.com offers to you the radio stations of the world broadcasting live on the Internet, helping you rediscover the local radio stations and their unique programming. Mediaradio.com, a.k.a. Live Radio! began modestly in 1995 as a support for teaching Internet technologies by Dr. Denis Hamelin, then professor in Computer Science at the University of Quebec at Chicoutimi (Canada). Its accidental discovery by a few regular users at first and by more and more later lead to its official launching on May 14th, 1997. On October 1st, 1999, Live Radio became part of the new Mediaradio.com domain to become its flagship site. I LOVE RADIO.ORG http://radio.blogware.com/ VIA Janice & Steve Karlock, Dorval, Quebec This is Tod Maffin's page of all things radio, classified by various subjects, keeping readers up to date on developments in radio. Maffin says this page was created "because television is for those who lack information". ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ **RADIO H.F. PUBLICITY ZONE** KIWA ELECTRONICS Kiwa Electronics specializes in accessory equipment for the radio enthusiast. Their products include Filter Modules to improve receiver performance, a High Performance Medium Wave Air Core Loop Antenna for improved broadcast band reception, the Pocket Loop Antenna, the Earth Monitor, BCB Rejection Filter and Broadband and SW Preamps. They also offer numerous performance upgrades for popular receivers. For complete details of the unique line of high quality and specialized products available from Kiwa Electronics, please visit their web page at: http://www.kiwa.com/ Kiwa Electronics products are available from Radio HF. Please contact Radio HF for pricing and availability. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ THE GENERAL ZONE SEISMIC MONITOR http://www.iris.edu/seismon/ VIA Elmer Standish, Courtenay, British Columbia Seismic Monitor allows you to monitor global earthquakes in near real-time, visit seismic stations around the world, and search the web for earthquake or region-related information. You can also view seismograms and make dataset requests via its WILBER interface. Be sure to read the "About" page for complete instructions on how to use this information. DIRECT RELIEF INTERNATIONAL http://www.directrelief.org VIA Yahoo Weekly Picks Since 1948, Direct Relief International has worked to improve the quality of life for people in need. We focus on health -- by providing essential material resources to locally run health programs in poor areas around the world and during times of disaster. Direct Relief International is a non-profit, non-political, and non- sectarian organization that provides assistance without regard to race, ethnicity, political or religious affiliation, gender, or ability to pay. We are committed to making every dollar count -- less than 1% of our support goes to administrative and fundraising expenses. HISTORY OF NATIONS http://www.historyofnations.net/ VIA Violet Harrison, Nelson, New Zealand This site has a history of every nation in the world. Each country is covered by a brief essay which gives the highlights of each nation's history. All information is based on content from the US State Department with new material added. ENCYCLOPEDIA TITANICA http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/index.php VIA Jerry Proc, Toronto, Ontario Welcome to Encyclopedia Titanica, a unique resource for anyone interested in the Titanic. Here you can read over 2,100 individual passenger and crew biographies, browse the regularly updated passenger and crew listings, read exclusive articles by leading historians or join in discussions about Titanic research in our ever expanding message board. REGRET THE ERROR http://www.regrettheerror.com/ VIA Yahoo Weekly Picks Regret The Error reports on corrections, retractions, clarifications, and trends regarding accuracy and honesty in North American media. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ **RADIO H.F. PUBLICITY ZONE** NEW FROM THE A.R.R.L.: ARRL PERIODICALS CD-ROM 2004 -- FOR WINDOWS AND MACINTOSH! ARRL's popular journals are available on a compact, fully-searchable CD-ROM. Every word and photo published during 2004 is included! -- QST The official membership journal of ARRL -- NCJ National Contest Journal -- QEX Forum for Communications Experimenters Also included! The 2004 version includes Section News and ARRL Contest Results-- with individual scores and Contest Soapbox. SEARCH the full text of every article by entering titles, call signs, names--any word. SEE every word, photo (most in color), drawing and table in technical and general-interest features, columns and product reviews, plus all advertisements. PRINT what you see, or copy it into other applications. CD-ROM, requires Microsoft Windows or Macintosh. -- 2005, published by The American Radio Relay League, Inc. (ISBN: 0-87259-939-6) #9396 - $27.95 CDN. Shipping Feb 1. Order Today! HINTS & KINKS FOR THE RADIO AMATEUR--17TH EDITION -- Looking for a new way...a better way...or another way-- QST`s popular column, Hints & Kinks, brings together the best of Amateur Radio tips and techniques--antennas, weekend projects, shack accessories and operating. This 17th edition of Hints and Kinks for the Radio Amateur includes all of those contributions published from 2003 and 2004 QSTs. In addition, you'll find articles included from the columns The Doctor is IN and Hands-On Radio. Use these items to learn more about a new mode, or to find your next construction project! 160 pages. -- 2004, The American Radio Relay League, Inc. (ISBN: 0- 87259-936-1) #9361 -- $24.95 CDN. Now Shipping! THE ARRL DXCC LIST - JANUARY 2005 EDITION The official source of DXCC information! Record the DXCC Entities you've worked and QSLed! This new edition includes a complete listing of DX Century Club rules including the latest changes and clarifications. It contains information about each entity on the DXCC List, deleted entities, and recent DXCC Entity additions. Also included are a prefix cross-reference, the list of international call sign series, and much more. Descriptions of all DXCC awards are covered, and information about how to get numerous DXCC items, such as pins and plaques. This is a "must have" for every DXer. January 2005 edition, -- 2004, The American Radio Relay League, Inc. (ISBN: 0-87259-935-3) #9353 -- $7.00 CDN. Now Shipping! THE ARRL EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION HANDBOOK. -- Intended for all hams that volunteer their skills in public service applications (or who are interested in doing so). Includes details on basic emergency communication skills, message handling, and more. Understand what to expect and what to take along. This book encompasses the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course--Level I manual, but adds a substantial amount of additional material. The book also includes a large appendix with more useful information about the ARRL Field Organization, the WinLink 2000 system and much more! 176 pages. -- 2005, The American Radio Relay League, Inc. (ISBN: 0- 87259-938-8) #9388 -- $27.95 CDN. Now Shipping! Details of new ARRL and RSGB publications can be found at the ARRL web site at: http://www.arrl.org/catalog/?category=What%27s+New All A.R.R.L. publications, as well as those of the Radio Society of Great Britain, Radio Amateurs of Canada, etc. are available from Radio H.F. Please contact Radio H.F. for complete details, by e- mail at info@radiohf.ca ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ THE FUN & SERVICES ZONE STOOGE BOOK http://www.stoogebook.com/ VIA Eric Wolfe, Lebanon, Pennsylvania I just wanted to let you know about a great Three Stooges site I found called StoogeBook.com. They have a newly updated Three Stooges book called "The Three Stooges: The Triumphs and Tragedies of The Most Popular Comedy Team of All Time" that you might want to check out. SIGNS OF LIFE http://signsoflife.goose24.org/ VIA Yahoo Weekly Picks A collection of photographs of various road signs, billboards, etc. AM I RIGHT? http://www.amiright.com/ VIA Sheldon Harvey, Greenfield Park, Quebec This page includes misheard lyrics, song parodies, band name origins, etc., seemingly constantly updated as well. OBSOLETE COMPUTER MUSEUM http://www.obsoletecomputermuseum.org/ VIA Gilles Letourneau, Montreal, Quebec This web site for those old computers, if you ever had a Commodore 64, Atari, Apple II or TRS-80, well this site will bring back a lot of memories. It has many old computer exhibits. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ THE 2005 HAMFEST/FLEAMARKET AND SPECIAL EVENTS ZONE Each month we list upcoming events, including hamfests, predominantly in Canada. NOTE: All times quoted are local. (Compiled by Vernon Ikeda VE2QQ, Pierrefonds, Quebec, and Radio Amateurs of Canada) Saturday, February 5 Niagara Peninsula Amateur Radio Club Big Event 27 - St. Catharines, Ontario Location: Canadian Auto Workers Hall, 125 Bunting Road, St. Catharines, ON Vendors 07h00 - Public 09h00 to 13h00 Admission $6.00, Tables $20.00 (includes 1 admission) Talk-in: VE3NRS 147.240 (+) For tables please call Dave Wilson at 905-262-5588. E-mail: ve3bbn@rac.ca For all other information John Boswell, VA3BOZ at va3boz@rac.ca or Jim Servos, VE3VLS at 905-680-6303 Web Page: http://www.nparc.on.ca Saturday - February 26 Burlington Spring Fleamarket - Burlington, Ontario Location: Royal Canadian Legion - 828 Legion Road, Burlington, Ontario Vendors 07h00, Public 09h00 - 12h00. Admission $6.00 Tables $10.00 Talk-in VE3RSB 147.210 (+) Information and Table reservations: Ken Robinson, VE3WN at 905-637- 0772. Mail reservations and cheques to Ken Robinson at 1389 Olga Drive, Burlington, Ontario L7S 1L1 E-Mail: ve3wn@rac.ca Web page: http://www.barc.ca ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ *****RADIO H.F. PUBLICITY ZONE***** RADIO H.F. NATURE BOOKS DIVISION The new Radio H.F. Nature Division is now fully operational. Hundreds of books in the fields of birding, animals, plants, etc. are now available. A complete listing of the titles is available on the new Radio H.F. web page at http://www.radiohf.ca. Simply click on the Canada Goose! All ARRL, RSGB, Radio Amateurs of Canada, Radio Amateurs du Quebec Inc. publications, and hundreds of other specialty radio communications publications, CD Roms and software are available from Radio H.F. An updated catalog may now be viewed by going to the Radio H.F. web site at http://www.radiohf.ca, and clicking on "Publications". ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ THE RESOURCES ZONE The following is a listing of clubs, groups, and radio broadcasts that I am actively involved in. THE CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL DX CLUB (CIDX) CIDX is Canada's national radio monitoring club, serving radio hobbyists since 1962, entering our 43rd year of operation. Our monthly newsletter, Messenger, covers all aspects of the radio monitoring hobby. Our January 2005 edition is now available. Sample copies are available for $2 each, in Canada or the U.S., or $3 overseas. Membership is open to radio hobbyists worldwide. Visit the CIDX web site for complete information, as well as special features and web site profiles, or for a membership application. http://www.anarc.org/cidx/ SPECIAL NOTE FROM CIDX: The club Board of Directors has decided that we will shortly be converting our hard-copy monthly bulletin "Messenger" into an electronic newsletter, distributed in .pdf format, to our members. More details to follow next month. THE INTERNATIONAL RADIO REPORT The International Radio Report, now in it's 17th year on CKUT-FM Radio McGill, 90.3 FM in Montreal, is available via the Internet on RealAudio, live streaming, and on the airwaves of CKUT, Sunday mornings at 10:30 AM Eastern (1530 UTC). The show's co-hosts, Janice and Steve Karlock, present a weekly half-hour of news, information and developments in radio broadcasting. Visit the Radio McGill web page for full CKUT programming: http://www.ckut.ca You may listen to archived editions of the programme through the Radio McGill web site, and thanks to the initiative of Ricky Leong, of Brossard, Quebec, you can find the most recent edition of the programme archived at: http://members.fortunecity.com/crazyaboutradio/ Send your comments or questions to the International Radio Report, by e-mail, to radioreport@yahoo.com RADIO CANADA INTERNATIONAL When you travel abroad, take Canada with you, with Radio Canada International on shortwave. The new Radio Canada International webpage is available at: http://www.rcinet.ca That is all for this month. Radio H.F. is a mail order, telephone and on line business, with great products, great prices, and personalized service, serving the radio community since 1995. Be sure to visit the new Radio H.F. web site at http://www.radiohf.ca Remember that Radio HF Gift Certificates are now available. Please feel free to submit any information for the Newsletter by e- mail to hfnewsletter@yahoo.com. All previous editions of the Newsletter can be found at: http://www.anarc.org/cidx/radiohf/index.html CONTACT RADIO H.F. AT: MAILING ADDRESS: RADIO H.F. P.O. Box 67063-Lemoyne St. Lambert, Quebec J4R 2T8 HOURS OF OPERATION: Monday to Saturday, 10 AM to 5 PM (Eastern) CLOSED Sunday TELEPHONE & FAX: (450) 671-3773 TOLL FREE IN CANADA ONLY: 1-800-463-3773 E-MAIL: info@radiohf.ca WEBPAGE: http://www.radiohf.ca Best wishes and 73 from Sheldon Harvey, VE2SHW Owner - Radio H.F. Canada's specialist in radio communications http://www.radiohf.ca President-Canadian International DX Club Canada's national radio monitoring club since 1962 http://www.anarc.org/cidx/ -- 30 --