434 MHz balloon goes around the world

The 434 MHz solar powered party balloon B-64, launched by radio amateur Leo Bodnar M0XER, is approaching the UK at the end of its record breaking journey around the world

Leo launched his balloon from Silverstone in the UK on 12 July 2014. It traveled over east across Asia, the Pacific and the Americas completing the final transatlantic crossing arriving over Cornwall after 400 hours, completing over 25,000km

Using the amateur radio APRS network the balloon has been tracked over Europe, Siberia, a brief sojourn across North Korea before heading out over Japan. From here it briefly entered the States before swinging north into Canada.

Radio amateurs and listeners should be able to receive B-64's Contestia 64/1000 signal on 434.500 MHz USB with the usual pips. When it is over the UK it will alternate the Contestia transmission with APRS also on 434.500 MHz running 10 mW output.

Track of B-64 - http://spacenear.us/tracker/?filter=B-64

Leo Bodnar M0XER balloons - http://www.leobodnar.com/balloons/

Download the dl-fldigi software - http://ukhas.org.uk/projects:dl-fldigi

Beginners Guide to Tracking using dl-fldigi - http://ukhas.org.uk/guides:tracking_guide

GB100ZZ

Poldhu Amateur Radio Club will be running the unique call sign GB100ZZ during the month of August 2014.

ZZ was the call sign used by Poldhu from the early-mid first decade of the 1900s. It was used to send news bulletins, weather bulletins and safety/danger messages to merchant ships. This usually took place from midnight and into the early hours. For danger and safety messages they used the prefix TTT with emphasis on the length of the Morse T.

ZZ was the call sign used to send the Admiralty message announcing the declaration of WW I to merchant vessels.

David G3PLE has obtained the call sign on behalf of the Radio Officers Association to recognise the work and sacrifice of all Wireless Operators during the Great War and the Club has readily agreed that it should be run from the site where the message was originally sent. This joint enterprise will greatly enhance the standing of our club,

The call sign is available for the whole of August and should attract massive pile-ups.

The declaration of WW I was made on 4th August 1914 and the call sign will be officially opened by the Mayor of Helston at 11am on 4th August 2014.

Club members are asked to operate using this unique call sign and assistance will be given to those who may be wary of operating big pile-ups.

GB100ZZ - http://www.500kcs.org.

Panama Canal Special Event

Panama celebrates its 100th anniversary of the Panama Canal this August 2014.

On 15th August 2014, the Panamanians will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the inaugural transit through the Panama Canal.

To mark this occasion, radio amateurs of the Republic of Panama have organised a  special event station, and will be operating as HO 100 CANAL until 15 August 2014.

Activity will be on 160-10 meters using CW, SSB, PSK and RTTY.

The QSL Manager for the operation is HP 1 AVS.

More information - http://www.qrz.com/db/HO100CANAL