Hams Help in Earthquake Research

 

Hams in three western states, Hawaii and Mexico are being trained to use the Winlink radio e-mail platform to help the U.S. Geological Survey track and better understand the impact of earthquakes. 

The participating hams send USGS "Did You Feel It?" or DYFI, reports after an earthquake via Winlink to hams outside the affected area, who then forward the reports to USGS over the internet. This allows real-time reports to be filed even if the quake has disrupted normal internet service to a given area. 

According to Newsline, the DYFI system gathers data on macroseismic intensity, allowing researchers to more accurately determine where a quake was felt and at what intensity. The amateur radio involvement is coordinated by ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) groups in California, Arizona, Washington State, Hawaii and Mexico.

Milestones: Former ARRL Director, CQ Author, are Silent Keys

 

The ARRL reports that former Southwestern Division Director Art Goddard, W6XD, became a Silent Key on February 13 at age 78. Goddard was an electrical engineer who worked for Collins Radio and later, for Boeing, where he moved up to an executive position before retiring. He served two terms as ARRL Vice Director before being elected Director in 2001. An avid contester and DXpeditioner, Goddard operated the CQ World Wide DX Contest from 26 of CQ's 40 zones. He was licensed for 65 years.

CQ contributor L. Dennis Shapiro, W1UF, also became a Silent Key in February. Ironically, his most recent CQ article, in the January 2021 issue, was about a "bucket list" trip he'd made recently to St. Pierre and Miquelon Islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the last remaining French possessions in North America.

In Search of a Kidney Donor... Livestreams plus Special Event Station K4P (Kidney 4 Phil) March 13-20

 

From our friends at "100 Watts and a Wire" ...

    Using the power of simultaneous livestreams on both their YouTube channels and a special event station on the ham bands, two amateur radio operators are raising public awareness on behalf of a Detroit area ham who has been diagnosed with end stage renal failure. Phil Ross, AB8PR, has been told that unless a matching kidney can be located from a living donor soon, he will require dialysis, a time-consuming intervention that is not considered a cure.

    Christian Cudnik, K0STH, and Alexander Valladares, W7HU, are turning their respective channels on YouTube into venues for the “Papa Phil Challenge” in the hopes a compatible donor can be found in time.

    Cudnik’s You Tube Channel, "100 Watts and a Wire," presents a weekly amateur radio talk show that reflects on the intersection of life and ham radio. Mr. Valladares’ You Tube Channel, W7HU Alex,  livestreams the amateur radio contacts he makes -- many of them international -- from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays.

    After much discussion on ways to get the word out to the public on the immediacy of Phil’s health crisis, Cudnik, in Missouri, and Valladares, in Florida, realized they had just the right tools. “I started sharing ideas on how to help ‘Papa Phil’ find a living kidney donor,” said Cudnik, “and that is how this campaign came to fruition.” Cudnik calls his weekly Wednesday program “The Spirit of Radio,” a nod to the prominent role ham radio plays in public service.

   Valladares said: “The only thing we ask in return is those who watch our live streams post the link to Papa Phil’s video from his website on their social media pages.” For more information, please visit the “Papa Phil” website at  http://www.papaphilcan.com.

   Meanwhile, amateur radio operators around the country are joining Cudnik and Valladares to further amplify the urgent need facing the Michigan grandfather: They will be on the amateur radio bands (17, 20, 40 and 80 meters) from March 13 to March 20, sharing Phil’s story and using the special-event callsign K4P. The hams will be calling for contacts on single sideband and the digital mode FT8. Special event QSL cards and a downloadable digital certificate will be available for confirmed contacts.