Amateur Radio/Scanner & Linux blog

My thanks to Erne, N3TXH, for the pointer to this story. If you have never ventured into the world of CW this could be an incentive. Upgrade to general class and get in on the fun when the bands start opening up again.


Sun's next 11-year cycle could be 50 pct stronger

By Deborah Zabarenko
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Sun-spawned cosmic storms that can play havoc with earthly power grids and orbiting satellites could be 50 percent stronger in the next 11-year solar cycle than in the last one, scientists said on Monday.

Using a new model that takes into account what happens under the sun's surface and data about previous solar cycles, astronomers offered a long-range forecast for solar activity that could start as soon as this year or as late as 2008.

Follow this LINK for the complete story.

It is that time of year again. Usually twice each year the gang at Skyview Radio Society gets together for a “road trip” west to Amateur Electronic Supply in Cleveland. The trip begins with a hearty breakfast at Kings in Harmarville after which the wagon train heads up and moves out on the Pennsylvania Turnpike going west. Takes a little less than two hours to be in parking lot of Amateur Electronic Supply where upon the group descends on the store like a heard of turtles.

Much time is pressing buttons and turning knobs and just general drooling over all the ham goodies found on the shelves within. After the equipment has been properly evaluated and usually a few purchases have been made everyone gets back on the road and finds a local emporium capable of supplying a proper lunch for our hearty souls. All of this while discussing what we found new at AES and what we WISH we had brought home with us.

Then it is back on the turnpike for the return trip to Pittsburgh. Let me tell you from personal experience that it makes for really enjoyable Saturday. Now for the good part. You do not have to be a member of Skyview to be welcome on this sojourn. There are only two requirements for those that wish to join in on this trip. One is enough interest in radio to want to be there in the first place. The second is that you must sign an agreement before leaving that you will swear to any spouse or significant other that no purchase made at AES by any member of the group exceeded the cost of twenty five dollars. ($25.00)

All of you who listen in on the Sunday evening scanner net and the Thursday night rail fan net are more than welcome to attend so feel free to just show up.

Departure will be this Saturday, March 11th, from Kings Family Restaurant in Harmarville near exit 48 of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The breakfast gathering begins around 07:00 so feel free to join in on the fun.

While looking for something else on Radio Shack's web site I noticed that the PRO-97 hand held scanner is once again on sale for $149.99 catalog number 20-527.


I purchased one of these the last time they went on sale for this price and I have not regretted it. This is a great radio and has become my everyday “carry” radio of preference where scanners are concerned. You can follow the link above to see the details on the radio. If you are looking for a new scanner this one is really hard to beat for this price. If you are looking for a hand held unit it is a great deal. If you do not have to have APCO-25 digital for where you live I think you will like this unit also. There was on indication on the web site how long the sale will last but my guess is it will be until the end of the month. If you are in the market, don't wait.

Hi gang. Sorry I missed the net again tonight. I had planned on being NCS and had a few items to pass along. I will hold them until next week. I see that Bill, WB3BUW, took net control for me and I really appreciate it. I won't go into all the details but basically I slept through the net and Linda didn't want to wake me at 09:00. Hope to hear you all next week.