TIGHAR

Amelia Earhart Search Forum => General discussion => Topic started by: Joshua Doremire on June 09, 2015, 11:34:17 AM

Title: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Joshua Doremire on June 09, 2015, 11:34:17 AM
From the news post. "Remembering the first Earhart Project expedition ... the only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio. Now we can just pick up the satellite telephone system."

With the interest of HAM radio: Any planned HAM radio transmissions or is the only communication going to be satellite telephone during Niku VIII?
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Krystal McGinty-Carter on June 10, 2015, 01:17:52 AM
I would think that the SAT phone would be much more reliable than a HAM radio so I don't think it would be worth the space and weight to bring, buut... I haven't seen the equipment list so I'm only speculating. Sounds like someone wants to take a listen. :)  I don't blame you!
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Joshua Doremire on June 10, 2015, 06:37:29 PM
"During the Niku VIII expedition we will broadcast simulations of some of the reported distress calls..."

Looks like something like this is in the works. I hope more specific details are provided like broadcast time and frequencies. Point me in the direction if I overlooked where this was posted please.

Stuff like this makes it fun for all of us!
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Jim M Sivright on June 11, 2015, 04:07:33 PM
Greetings all,
On the June 10th daily report, it says that calls will be made on shortwave to simulate the post-loss distress calls. Does anyone know if a website exists to listen in to shortwave messages? I realize it would not be the same as having an actual radio, but if possible, it would be fun to listen.

Jim S
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Harbert William Davenport on June 11, 2015, 11:03:02 PM
Many communities have clubs of radio amateurs, ‘hams,’ whose members have good shortwave receivers and antennas.  I wd encourage all TIGHAR Forum members to contact a local ham or club, to see whether they might be interested in accepting the challenge of picking up the TIGHAR signal from Niku.  Even if they have no prior knowledge of the TIGHAR hypothesis etc, they might find this experiment in shortwave communication intriguing and worth some time.
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Monty Fowler on June 12, 2015, 07:33:59 AM
Excellent suggestion, Harbert! The more, the merrier, and the more and better data we can collect.

I'm a little surprised that this effort wasn't discussed more prior to Niku VIII's departure - anything that generates interst and excitement, from whatever quarter, is a good thing.

LTM,
Monty Fowler, TIGHAR No. 2189 ECSP
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Matt Revington on June 12, 2015, 07:35:48 AM
There are online shortwave receivers that those of us who don't have short wave radios could use , this link  has several:

http://websdr.org
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: John B. Shattuck on June 12, 2015, 08:28:35 AM
I googled "Ham radio clubs in (name of town)" and found a club in my area.  I've initiated email contact and will see what comes of it.

JB

Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Greg Daspit on June 12, 2015, 09:05:38 AM
Regarding frequencies and newcomers who may be checking the forum: These links may be helpful since signals were heard very far away on harmonics of the frequencies that they had planned on using and that were heard by people in the Pacific area. 
Harmony and Power (http://tighar.org/Projects/Earhart/Archives/Research/ResearchPapers/Brandenburg/HarmonyandPower.htm)
Catalog and Analysis of Radio Signals During The Search for Amelia Earhart in July 1937
 (http://tighar.org/Projects/Earhart/Archives/Research/ResearchPapers/Brandenburg/signalcatalog.html)

Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Bill Richards on June 12, 2015, 01:31:49 PM
Quote from: Matt Revington on June 12, 2015, 07:35:48 AM
There are online shortwave receivers that those of us who don't have short wave radios could use , this link  has several:

http://websdr.org

Not being well versed in radio frequencies I believe that from the Nai'a radio setup they will be transmitting on 3105kHz and 6210kHz.  So how can these online receivers be used?  Most if not all indicate frequencies coverages in MHz. For example a site in Sedona, AZ lists 7.109 - 7.301 MHz, 3.858 - 3.954 MHz and 1.804 - 1.996 MHz.  Please excuse me for being a "radio dummy" 0:-)
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Clarence Carlson on June 12, 2015, 04:30:20 PM
I've been a ham radio op for a long time and realize that other (read "normal") people may not understand some of the radio information being presented. So I thought maybe a brief summary might help some who don't know about these things.

According to the latest update the expected radio transmissions will be made using an amateur radio callsign issued by the government of Kiribati: T31LP. That's what you will listen for. The time will be 0400 GMT, you will have to calculate your local time based on your timezone. The radio frequency listed is in a range of 14.280-14.310 mHz. This is in the middle of what hams call the 20 meter "phone" band. In plain language this means that nearly all of the hams will be using single side band (SSB) to communicate by voice. However I notice that this is also the small corner of the band where some operators still use a.m. telephony to communicate and I think it's possible that our folks may be intending to do this. Using a.m. would present a more authentic operation since that's what the Electra's radio used. About the frequency selection: the fifth harmonic of Amelia's night time frequency, 3.105 mHz is 15.525 mHz. This is pretty close to the frequency listed above in terms of propagation.

I hope this helps other members. I'd be happy to answer questions and I know there are other TIGHAR members who are hams who will help.
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Randy Conrad on June 13, 2015, 04:29:35 AM
With the excitement of doing a short wave radio test on the island in the coming days....Wanting to know if any of you radio buffs out there know if this is a short wave radio or not. A friends wife gave this to me after he had passed away. Its a 1937 model. It does work...needs a new cord...bout blew the breaker when I turned it on and it "does" have an awesome speaker . I found that the dials were very interesting and was wondering how many people had heard Amelia with a radio of this magnitude? Let me know...thanks!!!
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Matt Revington on June 13, 2015, 07:04:03 AM
Randy, the original ad for the radio state that it can pick up ships, foreign stations, etc so it must get shortwave
http://www.tuberadioland.com/zenith10s130_main.html

http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/zenith_10s130_10_s_130_ch1004.html
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Friend Weller on June 13, 2015, 09:08:15 AM
If they're doing AM and not SSB, then I'm hoping to hear something!
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Martin X. Moleski, SJ on June 13, 2015, 10:22:38 AM
Quote from: Friend Weller on June 13, 2015, 09:08:15 AM
If their doing AM and not SSB, then I'm hoping to hear something!

This reminds me a lot of the loopholes in Amelia's own planning for the second world attempt.

I don't see a systematic calendar of WHAT DAYS they will transmit.

The 12 June daily report (http://tighar.org/Projects/Earhart/Niku8/dailies/niku8dailies.html#n612) gives this table:

Call SignT31LP
Frequencies to listen on14.280 MHz
 14.310 MHz
Time0400GMT
Local timeGMT + 12

Is that 4:00 GMT every day?  Just twice, once on arrival and once with a jerry-rigged V-antenna?  Did we miss it already?

Life with people!   ::)
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Bruce W Badgrow on June 13, 2015, 11:10:52 AM
Randy, the dial of your radio looks like it covers the standard AM broadcast band only. It looks a lot like a Zenith Farm Radio. This radio had a vibrator type power supply which allowed it to work off a 6 volt car battery. Zenith used to sell this radio together with a wind powered generator called a Wincharger. This combination was very popular with Midwest farmers where the wind blew steadily.

Bruce W Badgrow
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Randy Conrad on June 13, 2015, 09:39:33 PM
Hey guys...go to http://livehams.com:8181/....might be interesting to see if we can hear them...
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Bob Harmon on June 13, 2015, 10:09:43 PM
I hear them now at 14295.00

Bob #4294R
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Bob Harmon on June 13, 2015, 10:12:25 PM
14295.00 USB, He's quite busy talking to other Hams.

Bob  #4294R  WB0SVU
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Randy Conrad on June 13, 2015, 10:26:43 PM
how do you change from KHZ to MHZ?
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Bob Harmon on June 13, 2015, 10:29:32 PM
Move the decimal three places to the left.
14295 Khz = 14.295 Mhz

He's got a pileup from guys all over the world.

Bob #4294R  WB0SVU
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Randy Conrad on June 13, 2015, 10:42:28 PM
I thought I heard the Denver airport call out the call signs!
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Bob Harmon on June 13, 2015, 10:54:35 PM
He's done for the night.

Bob  #4294R  WB0SVU
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Randy Conrad on June 13, 2015, 10:58:55 PM
In regards to the website I was using and you told me about the decimel point moving three places to the left...Is it supposed to change the khz to mhz..or just leave it. Anyway, you were right...there was alot of traffic tonight! I wonder in reality what it was like in 1937?
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Bob Harmon on June 13, 2015, 11:06:27 PM
I entered frequencies as Khz, 14295.00 and then I stored them into memory. The waterfall display is neat for visualizing the 20m band and seeing where signals are. I was using a WebSDR (software defined radio) located in NJ even though I'm in Cedar Rapids.
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Randy Conrad on June 13, 2015, 11:09:50 PM
So when I put 14.29500 that is the right way? I just heard San Diego!
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Bob Harmon on June 13, 2015, 11:30:17 PM
In the frequency box, type 14295 because it is expecting Khz. Go down to the Memories sections and click Store, in the blank box type 14295 again or whatever you want the waterfall display to show. Later you can just click recall and you'll be listening to 14.295 Mhz or 14295 Khz.
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Susan Powers on June 14, 2015, 07:46:24 AM
Bob, let me see if you can help me out. I am on the website you recommended, and I have typed in and stored the two frequencies we were given for the test, 14280 and 14310. I have stored them without using decimal points which I believe is in KHz. The site doesn't indicate a change to MHz when I add the decimal points. My main question is, do I need to be listening in MHz in order to hear the test? If so, is there something else I need to do to make the switch? My apologies if these are stupid questions. I am beyond green here, but I am fascinated by the website and thank you for sharing it with us!
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Martin X. Moleski, SJ on June 14, 2015, 07:51:21 AM
Quote from: Susan Powers on June 14, 2015, 07:46:24 AM
Bob, let me see if you can help me out. I am on the website you recommended, and I have typed in and stored the two frequencies we were given for the test, 14280 and 14310. I have stored them without using decimal points which I believe is in KHz. The site doesn't indicate a change to MHz when I add the decimal points. My main question is, do I need to be listening in MHz in order to hear the test?

http://livehams.com:8181/

The box in which you put the frequency is labeled "kHz", so you don't need the decimals.
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Susan Powers on June 14, 2015, 07:56:38 AM
Thank you, Marty. I am still confused about the timing of the tests but assume more information about that will be forthcoming. Thanks again.
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: John Rayfield on June 14, 2015, 08:12:23 AM
Quote from: Susan Powers on June 14, 2015, 07:56:38 AM
Thank you, Marty. I am still confused about the timing of the tests but assume more information about that will be forthcoming. Thanks again.

He was on at 04:00 UTC (used to be called GMT).  That's 11:00pm Central Daylight Time.

I was able to copy Lee, but he wasn't real strong.  The propagation between my location and Nikumaroro just wasn't good enough for him to copy me, especially through the pileup of other, much stronger, stations.  I was mobile, so my antenna wasn't nearly as efficient as a longer antenna would be.

John Rayfield, Jr.
W0PM
Springfield, MO
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Friend Weller on June 14, 2015, 08:55:40 AM
John,

Was Lee working AM or SSB?  With my old Zenith I heard several SSB folks (one really loud and several fainter signals) during 0400 UTC but being my old Zenith, it won't do SSB so all I can do is try and pick out something intelligible.  I have a friend in Ames, IA that is trying to hear Lee as well (on a much nicer, newer, neater rig).

One odd thing I heard was the sudden appearance (re-transmission?) of WWV from 0432 to 0450-ish at 14 mcs.  Came complete with a chirp as the carrier came up, overall not very loud nor stable, and certainly not "official" WWV but right there at 14 mcs.
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Jim M Sivright on June 14, 2015, 09:43:23 AM
John, if my calculations were correct, I should have heard the broadcasts at 11:oo pm CDT.(Texas time) But when Bob Harmon posted his message that he was listening, it was just after 10:00pm CDT (I think he is in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, which is CDT) I don't know if I was an hour late or what. Can someone explain?
Are they going to continue broadcasts for another several days?

Jim S.
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Greg Daspit on June 14, 2015, 09:50:15 AM
Quote from: Jim M Sivright on June 14, 2015, 09:43:23 AM
John, if my calculations were correct, I should have heard the broadcasts at 11:oo pm CDT.(Texas time) But when Bob Harmon posted his message that he was listening, it was just after 10:00pm CDT (I think he is in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, which is CDT) I don't know if I was an hour late or what. Can someone explain?
Are they going to continue broadcasts for another several days?

Jim S.
The forum clock is on an hour earlier time zone than Iowa
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Martin X. Moleski, SJ on June 14, 2015, 10:13:15 AM
Quote from: Susan Powers on June 14, 2015, 07:56:38 AM
Thank you, Marty. I am still confused about the timing of the tests but assume more information about that will be forthcoming. Thanks again.

My pleasure.

It's a great website!

You have to read the dailies and calculate GMT to figure out what is going on, I think.

June 13: "Radio note: There was no radio work last night as there was a glitch in the antenna. Lee expects to try today at 0400 GMT."

But when is "today"?  What time is it?  Beats me.  Someone more adept at figuring out the dateline and GMT offsets probably knows.
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Bruce Thomas on June 14, 2015, 10:56:31 AM
In a recording on a webpage for DX-World (https://audioboom.com/boos/3279876-t31lp-20ssb), about 4.5 minutes in length, Lee Paynter can be heard operating T31LP at about 04:00 a.m. EDT today (6/14). Towards the end of the recording there's a very clear QSO with N0UN in Colorado.

4:00 a.m. EDT today was 8:00 a.m. UTC(GMT) today and 8:00 p.m. today on Tarawa, according to this date/time converter (http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converted.html?iso=20150614T04&p1=25&p2=274&p3=675).
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Bill Mangus on June 14, 2015, 11:00:13 AM
This site:

http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/sunearth.html

may help visualize day/night and time for your location and Niku.  No lat/long lines but you can get pretty close.  I've found it helpful.

Here's another one with lat/long lines:

http://www.worldtimezone.com/datetime.htm
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: John Rayfield on June 14, 2015, 11:39:25 AM
Quote from: Jim M Sivright on June 14, 2015, 09:43:23 AM
John, if my calculations were correct, I should have heard the broadcasts at 11:oo pm CDT.(Texas time) But when Bob Harmon posted his message that he was listening, it was just after 10:00pm CDT (I think he is in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, which is CDT) I don't know if I was an hour late or what. Can someone explain?
Are they going to continue broadcasts for another several days?

Jim S.

There seems to be a lot of confusion here and it doesn't seem to be getting cleared up, so let me see if I can help.

I'm located in Springfield, MO, so I'm on Central Daylight Time.

According to the information here:  http://tighar.org/Projects/Earhart/Niku8/dailies/niku8dailies.html#n611, Lee would be on the 20 meter band, between 14.280 Mhz and 14.310 Mhz, at 04:00 GMT (GMT is the 'old' name.  Now it's called UTC (Universal Coordinated Time)).

04:00 GMT (UTC) is the same as 11:00 pm Central Daylight Time, 12:00 Midnight Eastern Daylight Time, 10:00 pm Mountain Daylight Time, and 9:00 pm Pacific Daylight Time.

Last night (6-13-15, in Missouri), I was able to hear Lee on 14.295 Mhz, SSB, at between about 11:00 pm to 11:30 pm, Central Daylight Time.  I had to run a service call (I work on commercial communications systems for a living) and I have an HF transceiver in my truck.  I tried working him, but could not, although I could hear him.  There were a LOT of other stations attempting to work him, too, with much stronger signals into Nikumaroro, which covered me up completely.  I'm sure that many of those other stations were running a lot of transmitter power, at least 1000 watts, and probably more.  My HF transceiver runs a maximum of 100 watts.  The propagation just wasn't very good, either, between my location and Nikumaroro, although it seemed to be improving slightly, as the time neared 11:30 pm CDT (which is when I reached my destination and had to leave the radio).  On an RS scale (Readability and Signal Strength, from 1 to 9, weakest to strongest), I would have given him a report of 54 to 55, with quite a bit of static on my end.

Lee stated that, currently, he's limited to the 20 meter band (14 Mhz), but that he plans on getting up antennas for the 75 meter band (3.5 to 4.0 Mhz) and the 40 meter band (7.0 to 7.3 Mhz) sometime over the next few days.

John - W0PM
Springfield, MO
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Clarence Carlson on June 14, 2015, 11:42:33 AM
I also heard Lee starting at 11 pm CDT. The signal was somewhat weak but very readable here and I heard him make contacts into Florida and Puerto Rico. He mentioned that he would be also trying the 80 and 40 meters bands later, so there will be other frequencies to look for at some point. Several contacts asked if he was going to work "split" in the future. If he does this will mean that he will be transmitting on one frequency, as an example 14.285 and will likely be "listening up" about 5 kHz or about 14.290. This moves the folks calling him away from his primary frequency making him easier to copy. In the ham radio world his presence on Nikumoro is a Very Big Deal. For most hams, this represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make a contact with the island, so expect bedlam whenever he is on in the future.
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Jim M Sivright on June 14, 2015, 11:50:13 AM
There still  seems to be some misunderstandings/miscalculations of the broadcast time issue. I am going to try and simplify and if I have my facts wrong, please correct me. First of all, 04:00GMT is 04:00 GMT, the days do not matter, it is the time of the 24 hour day. And since island time is GMT +12 all you have to do to figure out local island time, you can just change the am to pm,(04:00 is 4 hours after midnight, similar to military time.). The broadcasts are scheduled at 04:00GMT, which translates to 4:00 pm island time(+12 hours).  Now, from there one has to calculate how many hours to your location. The way I calculate, 4:00pm island time is going to be 11:00pm CDT(Texas) 12:00midnight EDT and since I guess forum time appears to be on MDT, it would be 10:00pm forum time. Bob Harmon who is on CDT(Iowa) reported hearing broadcasts at just after 10:pm which bears out my facts.
I meant this to simplify, I hope it helps.

Jim S.
#1938R
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: John Rayfield on June 14, 2015, 12:11:50 PM
Quote from: Clarence Carlson on June 14, 2015, 11:42:33 AM
I also heard Lee starting at 11 pm CDT. The signal was somewhat weak but very readable here and I heard him make contacts into Florida and Puerto Rico. He mentioned that he would be also trying the 80 and 40 meters bands later, so there will be other frequencies to look for at some point. Several contacts asked if he was going to work "split" in the future. If he does this will mean that he will be transmitting on one frequency, as an example 14.285 and will likely be "listening up" about 5 kHz or about 14.290. This moves the folks calling him away from his primary frequency making him easier to copy. In the ham radio world his presence on Nikumoro is a Very Big Deal. For most hams, this represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make a contact with the island, so expect bedlam whenever he is on in the future.

I've never run split mode, but just figured out that it's extremely easy on my Yaesu FT920.  Cool.  I'm ready!  :-)

John - W0PM
Springfield, MO
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Susan Powers on June 14, 2015, 12:23:13 PM
Thank you, Jim, John, Marty and Bruce! Your explanations have really been helpful. Not sure I will be able to hear Lee on what I have but just knowing others can pick him up is so exciting. I hope all of you who do hear the transmissions will keep the rest of us informed. Again, this is so exciting!
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Col McGowan on June 14, 2015, 01:54:19 PM
Hello to all

I run the DX-World website and think this may be of interest:

http://www.dx-world.net/t31lp-nikumaroro-island-oc-043/

After about 2:00 mins you an hear Lee well

http://audioboom.com/boos/3279876-t31lp-20ssb

Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Martin X. Moleski, SJ on June 14, 2015, 02:21:58 PM
Quote from: MM0NDX on June 14, 2015, 01:54:19 PM
Hello to all

I run the DX-World website and think this may be of interest:

http://www.dx-world.net/t31lp-nikumaroro-island-oc-043/ (http://www.dx-world.net/t31lp-nikumaroro-island-oc-043/)

After about 2:00 mins you an hear Lee well

http://audioboom.com/boos/3279876-t31lp-20ssb (http://audioboom.com/boos/3279876-t31lp-20ssb)

Wow!  Takes a trained ear to pick out what is going on. 

Nice recording.  Thanks for bringing bringing it to our attention.

Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Larissa Williams on June 14, 2015, 02:27:12 PM
Quote from: MM0NDX on June 14, 2015, 01:54:19 PM
Hello to all

I run the DX-World website and think this may be of interest:

http://www.dx-world.net/t31lp-nikumaroro-island-oc-043/

After about 2:00 mins you an hear Lee well

http://audioboom.com/boos/3279876-t31lp-20ssb

You are my hero right now! All my listening last night via http://108.35.142.166:8902/ brought me nothing from the island. I appreciate you taking the time to post this for us.
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Martin X. Moleski, SJ on June 14, 2015, 02:37:23 PM
Quote from: Jim M Sivright on June 14, 2015, 11:50:13 AM
  • 04:00GMT is 04:00 GMT, the days do not matter, it is the time of the 24 hour day.
  • The broadcasts are scheduled at 04:00GMT, which translates to 4:00 pm island time(+12 hours).
  • 4:00pm island time is going to be 11:00 pm CDT (Texas), 12:00 midnight EDT, and since I guess forum time appears to be on MDT, it would be 10:00 pm forum time.

That sounds right to me.

You can set your "Forum Time" in your personal preferences.  I have done it, so it is doable.  Our server is in Denver, I believe, so if you do not override the default, you see MDT.
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Bill Richards on June 14, 2015, 05:08:33 PM
Quote from: MM0NDX on June 14, 2015, 01:54:19 PM
Hello to all
I run the DX-World website and think this may be of interest:
http://www.dx-world.net/t31lp-nikumaroro-island-oc-043/
After about 2:00 mins you an hear Lee well
http://audioboom.com/boos/3279876-t31lp-20ssb

MMONDX - Thanks for the post and the excellent recording from NOUN.  Took me back to my military days in ATC & AWACS
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Randy Conrad on June 14, 2015, 09:52:22 PM
It's now 10:50PM in Kansas! Its nice to see a fellow Tighar (Bob Harmon) on shortwave!
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Jim M Sivright on June 14, 2015, 09:56:31 PM
Good luck guys.
Keep us posted!
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Bob Harmon on June 14, 2015, 10:12:02 PM
I hear Lee at 14280.00 USB right now at 11:12 Pm CDT

Bob
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Larissa Williams on June 14, 2015, 10:14:48 PM
Quote from: Bob Harmon on June 14, 2015, 10:12:02 PM
I hear Lee at 14280.00 USB right now at 11:12 Pm CDT

Bob

I'm listening in, but can only hear the replies to Lee so far. It's still exciting!

edit to clarify-- I had submitted a report to the logbook of the site I was listening through, thinking I was only picking up the replies. The logbook shows Central Kiribati as the point of origin, so it seems I *did* hear Lee for a bit!
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Bill Richards on June 14, 2015, 10:15:17 PM
Quote from: Bob Harmon on June 14, 2015, 10:12:02 PM
I hear Lee at 14280.00 USB right now at 11:12 Pm CDT

Bob

On the web site it looks like you are on 14296.00
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Martin X. Moleski, SJ on June 14, 2015, 10:19:47 PM
Quote from: Bob Harmon on June 14, 2015, 10:12:02 PM
I hear Lee at 14280.00 USB right now at 11:12 Pm CDT

I'm hearing bits and pieces via http://livehams.com:8181/ on 14280.00.  I could hear Denver working Lee, but not Lee.

0016 EDT (12:16 AM).

Heard a few words earlier--Gardner and Nikumaroro.

Enough for tonight!

 
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Bob Harmon on June 14, 2015, 10:38:02 PM
I believe he's operating split.
Lee is transmitting on 14290 and listening on 14280
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Bob Harmon on June 14, 2015, 10:44:50 PM
I've been monitoring both the LiveHams site as well as one in NJ. I can hear Lee better on the NJ site.
http://108.35.142.166:8902/  (can't remember how to do links...)

Bob
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Bob Harmon on June 14, 2015, 10:49:34 PM
Lee is very,very readable right now on the NJ site.
http://108.35.142.166:8902/

Bob
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Bob Harmon on June 14, 2015, 10:51:29 PM
Just listen on 14290 for Lee's call sign, TANGO THREE ONE LIMA PAPA  (T31LP)

Bob
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Bob Harmon on June 14, 2015, 10:54:21 PM
Looks like he's done for the night.
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Randy Conrad on June 14, 2015, 10:59:41 PM
Hey Bob...I have to laugh...I thought all this time that this guy was being a nuisance. Cause he kept repeating and repeating and I was thinking who is this dude. I heard him better last night than I did tonight! But, we do know now we can hear him! Like I said last night I heard the Denver tower call out his call sign, but then you couldn't hear him. I was having issues tonight with online signal wasnt the best. I heard the North Pole better than I did the boys in Sacremento California!
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Susan Powers on June 14, 2015, 11:01:54 PM
Thanks, Bob! I had much better luck with the site you suggested and was able to hear Lee. A bit scratchy (not sure that's the term) but I could pick up enough to know it was him. Really exciting!
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Randy Conrad on June 14, 2015, 11:07:55 PM
Susan...what website is that?
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Susan Powers on June 14, 2015, 11:12:34 PM
Randy, here it is... 108.35.142.166:8902 (sorry if I did not link it properly...I'm still learning). Bob gave the link in an earlier post tonight. If you scroll back, you will find it.

Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Randy Conrad on June 14, 2015, 11:17:49 PM
I'm learning too so don't feel bad. I do have a question though...On the liveham website...last night I had no problem with reception...tonight it was cutting out all the time. I also noticed that regardless that I had locked the memory to 14.295...it kept starting me off int he 14.313 zone. Don't know why it did that. It didn't do that last night!
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Bob Harmon on June 14, 2015, 11:23:20 PM
I imagine Lee will be operating split from now on as it is more efficient. Instead of Lee and his small setup on Niku transmitting and receiving on the same frequency as several hundred other guys with VERY strong transmitters (like the first night), Lee will transmit on one frequency (that everyone will listen to) and he will listen on a different one (that's the one where you hear lots of guys calling him at the same time). It makes it easier for the world to hear him. Tonight, everybody was blasting him on 14280 which he was listening to. He picks a ham's callsign out of the blast and then he starts talking on 14290 where the world is listening for him and hopefully nobody else will stomp on his small signal.

Of course the frequencies will vary a little night by night depending on how crowded the 20 meter ham band is but he should be somewhere between 14280 and 14310 per the info given out by TIGHAR.

Randy, I noticed the cutting out also, probably a web thing.

Bob
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Susan Powers on June 14, 2015, 11:36:59 PM
Randy, I'm afraid I am the wrong person to ask about any of this. Tonight is my first attempt at this stuff, and without Bob's posts, I would have lost. But I did have better luck on the NJ site than the livehams site. Also, I didn't hear Lee until Bob said that he was operating a split and transmitting on 14290. Up until then, I had been listening on 14280 and was only picking up what Lee was receiving. Gracious, until today I didn't even know what a "split" was. There is quite the learning curve on this forum!
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Randy Conrad on June 14, 2015, 11:40:57 PM
hehe...Okay What is a "split"? And please don't tell me its something you find at DQ!!!
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Dave Ross Wilkinson on June 15, 2015, 02:42:13 AM
Wow! It certainly looks like SSB communications from Niku to the mainland is quite successful, at least listening late at the night.  But most of the credible post-lost signals heard in the States were heard during daylight hours (e.g. Betty, listening after school).  And of course, on AM, not SSB. 

If this portion of the project is intended to test the harmonic theory, will the group attempt AM communication to the mainland, during daylight hours (in the States)?  And, perhaps, at somewhat reduced power to mimic the harmonic generation of Earhart's transmitter and antenna?
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Bob Harmon on June 15, 2015, 09:34:47 AM
Hi Dave - 14286 is listed as an AM calling frequency so maybe that's a possibility. That would be neat.

Bob
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Bob Harmon on June 15, 2015, 10:47:20 PM
Well tonight Lee is doing a reverse split from last night. He is transmitting on 14280 and listening on 14290. I can just barely hear him on 14280, I can tell his voice is there but that is all.
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Jim Zanella on June 16, 2015, 12:31:38 AM
I am near Seattle, WA. I could hear Lee (T31LP) who was split this evening (10 KHz) but very weak. Propagation was fairly good as I heard many European stations but not much from the west. We will keep listening and hopefully the propagation will become more favorable to the Pacific Northwest.
Jim
ka7gzr
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Randy Conrad on June 16, 2015, 05:10:52 AM
Good Morning Bob...I heard him several times at 14280.13. But, I also noticed he was on 14290 too. I do know that the Denver tower is very promininet with these transmissions...very crystal clear from where I sit. I do know that last night there were alot of people on the 14280.13 frequency and several of them were asked to go to another frequency. At times one guy was actually interfering with Lee making contact and that was really bothersome for some folks. Is there anyway Bob that someone can get Lee to do a "day" field test on the AM frequency?
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Bob Harmon on June 16, 2015, 02:20:15 PM
Hi Randy - I'm not sure what you mean by Denver tower. Most airport towers use VHF frequencies (https://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?aid=2562) around 120-135 Mhz and we are listening to Lee down at the HF frequency of 14.28 Mhz. As far as I know, planes use HF frequencies mainly when they are over oceans and even then they probably use satellite communication as their first choice. What are you hearing regarding Denver tower? Are you using one of the WebSDR sites or do you have your own receiver setup?

I'm not sure what Lee's priority is. I know he's having an incredibly fun time running T31LP from Niku. Lee's station is a very desirable contact for most hams around the world because it is such a challenge to work those distances as well as cutting through the ensuing pileup. So he's having a ball just being a ham on an island in the Pacific.

But then there is Amelia...

Is he going to attempt to reproduce some of the conditions that existed back in 1937? Will he transmit on AM rather than upper sideband? Will he transmit on other bands beside 20 meters to simulate harmonic reception? Will he transmit during daylight or nighttime? Credible signals (http://tighar.org/Projects/Earhart/Archives/Research/ResearchPapers/Brandenburg/signalcatalog.html) were heard both times.

Nothing about radio in the June 16 daily.
We'll have to just wait and see.

Bob
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Col McGowan on June 16, 2015, 03:46:39 PM
Is there a way to email Lee on TIGHAR?

I have many requests from radio ops regarding his QSL status, and will he use a QSL manager etc. Do we know if he is keeping a log?

Thanks

Col MM0NDX
DX-World.net
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Jim M Sivright on June 16, 2015, 04:04:54 PM
All this is way cool! I don't understand half of it, but it is so interesting.
The Col asked if there was a way to email Lee, and it got me to thinking. What other forms of communication is available to and from the island? Is Ric only using verbal phone to Pat? Is she recording, I can just see her furiously taking notes while Ric talks. Seems to me some kind of text, email, or typed form would be easier for Ric and others to make reports.
Did this cross anyone else's mind, or has it been discussed before?

Jim S.
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Monty Fowler on June 16, 2015, 06:32:44 PM
Satellite phone, Jim. Scroll down to the first couple of days of expedition reports, where they discuss just that.

LTM,
Monty Fowler, TIGHAR No. 2189 ECSP
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Martin X. Moleski, SJ on June 16, 2015, 09:32:27 PM
Quote from: Col McGowan on June 16, 2015, 03:46:39 PM
Is there a way to email Lee on TIGHAR?

Not while they're on the island.

So far as I know, the team does not have an internet connection.
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Bob Harmon on June 16, 2015, 09:45:40 PM
On the June 10 daily, Pat mentioned they have an Iridium Pilot Open Port broadband setup (https://www.iridium.com/products/Iridium-Pilot.aspx) that seems to provide an element of broadband data and voice so it would seem they do have some connectivity.

Bob
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Bob Harmon on June 16, 2015, 10:02:40 PM
The 20 meter ham band (14.0 to 14.35 Mhz) seems dead tonight. 40 meters (7.0 to 7.3 Mhz) seems to be better but I have no idea if Lee will use 40 meters.

Bob
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Bob Harmon on June 16, 2015, 10:09:47 PM
Lee appears to be listening on 14280 and I assume he's transmitting on 14290.
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Bob Harmon on June 16, 2015, 10:16:22 PM
Lee apparently is transmitting from the boat and not the island.
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Bob Harmon on June 16, 2015, 10:19:12 PM
If you're listening on one of the WebSDR's, you can hear Lee better if you tune to 14290 USB like normal but then click the USB-nrw button, then click the narrower button to about 1.67 khz bandwidth. Try it!
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Friend Weller on June 16, 2015, 10:21:35 PM
Hearing fragments on the website now....  I could copy N0UN easy.  Lee is in the noise floor there someplace!
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Randy Conrad on June 16, 2015, 10:54:17 PM
I agree with you Bob...The 20 meters was rather flat tonight...however I did hear Wayne from United Norway (don't ask me about that) shout out to Lee and from what I gathered sounded like a pretty interesting conversation. Anyway, I tried the 14.290 to listen to him but had no luck doing so. However, the past couple of nights have been rather interesting as I am learning so much about this trade per say. What does it mean when a short wave radio operator makes the comment "5 and 7" What are they referring too. Sounds very interesting!
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Bob Harmon on June 16, 2015, 11:02:25 PM
Hi Randy - 5 and 7 probably refers to the way hams specify readability and signal strength to give the sender an idea of how he is being received. You can read about it here. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RST_code)
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Daniel Paul Cotts on June 16, 2015, 11:34:29 PM
To Col McGowan regarding getting a message to Lee Paynter. I'm guessing one would have to contact Pat Thrasher at TIGHAR headquarters asking her to relay the message during satellite phone contact with Ric.
Phone is: 610-467-1937
E-mail: tighar@tighar.org

Possibly Pat could put you in contact with Lee's family who might know his plans.
Else, maybe you and Lee could arrange (via Pat & Ric) a commo link at a set time and frequency different from what he is currently using.

Thanks for spreading the word about Lee's life as T31LP.
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Dave Ross Wilkinson on June 17, 2015, 12:21:19 AM
Hi Bob
re:
Quote
But then there is Amelia...

Is he going to attempt to reproduce some of the conditions that existed back in 1937? Will he transmit on AM rather than upper sideband? Will he transmit on other bands beside 20 meters to simulate harmonic reception? Will he transmit during daylight or nighttime? Credible signals were heard both times.

I'm interested, too, and I have some preliminary ideas.  The easiest thing to do is to simply move transmission time to daylight hours in the USA, to try to match the times the credible post- lost messages were heard in the States.  AM would be preferable, is that is how Amelia was transmitting, and to make it easier for those unfamiliar with SSB to participate.  But, since the issue is propagation, SSB or AM would be OK.  Listeners should expect to fading, due properties of the ionosphere.  It would seem that it might take a lot of time for a listener to catch a signal, and a lot of transmission time. 

Just a thought, and for all I know, something like that is planned. 
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: John Katerenchuk on June 17, 2015, 05:43:48 AM
I live near Lancaster, PA and this morning was able to make a very good contact with Lee, T31LP.  The frequency was 7.165 MHz (this is the 40 meter band) on LSB (Lower Sideband).  He was transmitting and listening on this frequency at 5:30am Eastern +/- 15 minutes.  There is a regular managed net control operator so the contacts are much more organized and disciplined.  I suspect he will show up again at this same time tomorrow as the net manager invited him to do so and many people wished to contact him but he was tired and needed to get some sleep.

If you wish to listen then I would suggest the best option would be to use one of the free receivers on websdr.org that is located in the USA.

Regards, John K3MA
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Bob Harmon on June 17, 2015, 01:16:04 PM
Thanks for the report John - I might try listening but at 4:30 am CDT I'm just entering REM sleep :). I hope other operators keep us posted here on the forum. I do see a few reports on the TIGHAR Facebook page as well.

Here's (http://www.dx-world.net/t31lp-nikumaroro-island-oc-043/) a chance to very clearly (starting at 1:20 T31LP NOT LAND BASED) hear Lee talking to Wayne Ordakowsky, callsign N0UN, in Denver. In the ham radio world there is a little bit of concern for the fact that Lee is not standing on the island in the sand while operating his radio. He is operating from the boat as I mentioned yesterday. The boat is tied to the Norwich City wreck so there is some debate about whether he is actually on the island. None of this has anything to do with forthcoming attempts to simulate conditions and equipment of 1937, it's just a Ham Radio thing.

Bob
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Friend Weller on June 17, 2015, 01:57:04 PM
I heard Lee in passing last night but super brief on 20 meters.  I've heard Wayne more so but he IS a little closer (both to me on the set and to the NJ web server).

I'd say that as there is the ever-present risk of the Nai'a bumping into the reef which requires them to hove to off the island and having placed strobes to ensure a safe distance is maintained at night, that should count as being "on the island".  Besides, there isn't sufficient B+ in Lee's transmitter to cook crab so why run the risk of *CHOMP* !!  :D

Reminds me of the parrot, the Kon-Tiki, and the aerial....just more voltage to cook a parrot in 1947!
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Bob Harmon on June 17, 2015, 10:10:49 PM
Well I just heard an operator talking to Lee on 14290. There is no longer a "pileup" trying to call Lee. Since he is officially not on the island, the radio traffic has subsided greatly.

Bob
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Joshua Doremire on June 18, 2015, 12:33:36 AM
Quote from: Bob Harmon on June 17, 2015, 10:10:49 PM
Well I just heard an operator talking to Lee on 14290. There is no longer a "pileup" trying to call Lee. Since he is officially not on the island, the radio traffic has subsided greatly.

Bob

Looks like they need to ship Lee on shore with 100' of wire and take advantage of the Public Relations this is turning out to be. The difference and challenge between receiving a transmission from a water grounded ship and land is of clear value. 

Here we thought the ROV issues were Lee borrowing it's batteries to transmit from land...   ::)
 
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Thom Boughton on June 18, 2015, 04:30:40 PM
I don't know.  Was this really meant to be a public relations activity...or is it a proof-of-concept lending credence to those who heard the distress calls in '37?

I'm sorry that the hams have gotten their knickers in a twist...but this wasn't really about them getting QSL postcards, was it?
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Monty Fowler on June 18, 2015, 05:50:21 PM
Quote from: Thom Boughton on June 18, 2015, 04:30:40 PM
I don't know.  Was this really meant to be a public relations activity...or is it a proof-of-concept lending credence to those who heard the distress calls in '37?

Good question, Thom. Since no details were released publicly about this part of the expedition until after it was underway, I suspect the answer will have to wait until the expedition gets back.

I would caution anyone against using this demonstration as definitive proof of anything. There are too many variables in the mix for TIGHAR to make any claims that this bolsters, or detracts, from the Nikumaroro hypothesis.

LTM,
Monty Fowler, TIGHAR No. 2189 ECSP
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Bob Smith on June 18, 2015, 07:07:06 PM
Well said!
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Randy Conrad on June 18, 2015, 10:29:06 PM
Bob Harmon...Has anyone heard Lee tonight?
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Bob Harmon on June 18, 2015, 10:35:04 PM
Hi Randy - I've been listening to 20m and 40m but haven't heard anything. I think Lee had the day off from diving, not sure if that impacted his radio efforts. Not much to listen to that I can tell.
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Randy Conrad on June 18, 2015, 10:39:41 PM
Yeah! The only two people I hear are on 14295.
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Randy Conrad on June 18, 2015, 10:42:53 PM
For all you history buffs out there...is it true that Amelia had the first radio in an aircraft? I read somewhere that she had it in the Vega...but didnt know how true that was?
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Bob Harmon on June 18, 2015, 10:46:44 PM
A quick Google search found this:
In April 1915 Captain J.M. Furnival was the first person to hear a voice from the ground when Major Prince said “If you can hear me now it will be the first time speech has ever been communicated to an aeroplane in flight.” In June 1915 the world's first air-to-ground voice transmission took place at Brooklands (England) over about 20miles (ground-to-air was initially by morse but it is believed 2-way voice communications was being achieved by July 1915). In early 1916 the Marconi Company (England) started production of air-to-ground radio transmitters/receivers which were used in the war over France.
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Bob Harmon on June 18, 2015, 11:04:10 PM
Well I think it's about 6pm on the island now (midnight CDT) and I really hope we hear some good news on the ROV in tomorrow's daily. The team really deserves to have some good luck come their way, I'm sure they're exhausted.
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Thom Boughton on June 18, 2015, 11:24:49 PM
Quote from: Monty Fowler on June 18, 2015, 05:50:21 PM

I would caution anyone against using this demonstration as definitive proof of anything. There are too many variables in the mix for TIGHAR to make any claims that this bolsters, or detracts, from the Nikumaroro hypothesis.

LTM,
Monty Fowler, TIGHAR No. 2189 ECSP


Well, that was actually kind of where I was heading....

Although my brother is a ham, I myself actually know precious little about it.  (Other than a brief dalliance over 40 years ago when CB went berserk. And comparing those is apples and oranges.)  However, I DO know that the propagation properties of a signal at 3105kc and one at 20-meter SSB are hugely different.

As such, I'm afraid we're not really proving very much, are we? (...sad as it is to say that.)

However, my brother and I have been tuning in these past few days and the whole thing is really quite a gas. (...still don't understand what any real difference there is between contacting someone on an island and someone on a boat moored offshore of that island.  After tens of thousands of miles....is the last 700 meters really that big a deal?)

Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Bob Harmon on June 18, 2015, 11:33:36 PM
This is from one of the rulebooks for collecting an award for contacting 100 different countries or places. It's called DXCC. (http://www.arrl.org/dxcc-rules)
8.  All stations contacted must be "land stations." Contacts with ships and boats, anchored or underway, and airborne aircraft, cannot be counted.  Exception: Permanently docked exhibition ships, such as the Queen Mary and other historic ships will be considered land based.
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Thom Boughton on June 18, 2015, 11:37:49 PM
Well then...there you go!!!

It wasn't that AE couldn't hear Itasca...she was just ignoring them because they weren't on the island!    ;D
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Bob Harmon on June 18, 2015, 11:46:47 PM
I just sprayed my cheerios on the wall  ;D ;D
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Joshua Doremire on June 19, 2015, 05:21:39 PM
Quote from: Thom Boughton on June 18, 2015, 04:30:40 PM
I don't know.  Was this really meant to be a public relations activity...or is it a proof-of-concept lending credence to those who heard the distress calls in '37?

I'm sorry that the hams have gotten their knickers in a twist...but this wasn't really about them getting QSL postcards, was it?

Looks like it turned into Public Relations intended or not. I doubt rule 8 was thought about. IMO the plan would have been a way to bring the adventure into your home in realtime interactive HAM radio. Everyone who should get a postcard likely will have to tell TIGHAR's story of why there was someone on the island when they got the postcard. People who didn't get a postcard may wish to help fund the next trip so they may get a postcard. Sometimes you need to give the public what it wants. After all radio (or lack thereof) was a big part of the world flight and has made modern navigation possible. 

So 100' of wire for an antenna and make rule 8 apply with some shore leave!
Title: Re: 1st expedition only communication from the island back to the U.S. was ham radio
Post by: Randy Conrad on June 19, 2015, 10:36:50 PM
Over the past several days I've been staying up way past midnight and have at times heard Lee very clearly. I also have run into alot of interference. But, this is very new to me and way too interesting to go to bed. Anyway, as I've listened to Lee over the past week as many of you have...I have noticed something and it makes me wonder...was Amelia Earhart the only woman out there who was heard on short wave. As I even listen tonight I still have not heard a woman broadcast from all over the world. It's very interesting. Any insight into this?