The Antenna

finding signal in the noise

Mid Central 2023.43

An experiment in personal news aggregation.

Water Polo Coach Makes a Happy Return to Merced

date: 2023-10-24, from: Blue Devil News (Merced Community College Student Newspaper)

A teenage Johnny Bega was perfectly happy playing soccer, when his older brother ruined land-based sports for him. “Hey, you should try water polo,” Mike Bega said. “It’s like soccer,…

The post Water Polo Coach Makes a Happy Return to Merced appeared first on Merced College.

https://www.mccd.edu/news/water-polo-coach-makes-a-happy-return-to-merced/


Using Amateur Radio to Play Chess

date: 2023-10-20, from: Amateur Radio Relay League News

Playing chess using amateur radio? The concept may have begun in 1912 when a group of college students from Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) wanted to challenge chess players at The Ohio State University (OSU). Though the official origin is still debated, clippings from a 1912 issue of The Case Tech, one of CWRU’s former student newspapers, reveal that the challenge was made when the CWRU…

http://www.arrl.org/news/view/using-amateur-radio-to-play-chess


The K7RA Solar Update

date: 2023-10-20, from: Amateur Radio Relay League News

Sunspot activity dropped dramatically this week, with only two new
sunspot groups emerging, on October 14 and 16.

Compared to last week, the average daily sunspot number slipped from
144.1 to 89.4, and average daily solar flux from 159.1 to 145.1.

Average daily planetary A index changed from 7.6 to 6.4, and average
daily middle latitude A index from 8.3 to 5.

Predicted solar flux is 128 and 130 Octob…

http://www.arrl.org/news/view/the-k7ra-solar-update-800


Hurricane Watch Net Activates for Hurricanes Tammy and Norma

date: 2023-10-20, from: Amateur Radio Relay League News

The Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) is activating for Hurricanes Tammy and Norma. In an e-mail sent on the morning of Friday, October 20, 2023, HWN Net Manager Bobby Graves, KB5HAV, wrote: 

This morning, we have 2 Hurricanes threatening landfall.  

http://www.arrl.org/news/view/hurricane-watch-net-activates-for-hurricanes-tammy-and-norma


A POTA Book for Park Activators and Hunters

date: 2023-10-19, from: Amateur Radio Relay League News

ARRL  The National Association for Amateur Radio® has a new book to help radio amateurs enjoy one of the fastest growing communities within the hobby. Participants in Parks on the Air® (POTA) have built one of the most vibrant on-air communities in contemporary ham radio. Park hunters comb the airwaves for activators operating from the lawns of sprawling public mansions, stoops at urban histori…

http://www.arrl.org/news/view/a-pota-book-for-park-activators-and-hunters


Amateur Radio Supports 2023 Chicago Marathon

date: 2023-10-19, from: Amateur Radio Relay League News

On October 8, 2023, more than 140 amateur radio operators from five Midwest states assisted 2,000 volunteer medical personnel at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. This is the 15th consecutive year that amateur radio operators have helped coordinate medical responses and arrange for medical resupplies. About 49,000 runners entered this year’s event.

 

 

The city-wide marathon uses six main repe…

http://www.arrl.org/news/view/amateur-radio-supports-2023-chicago-marathon


The Great Shake Out ‼ Thursday, October 19, 2023 ‼

date: 2023-10-18, from: City of Atwater News Releases

The City of Atwater will be joining the Merced County’s Office of Emergency Services in the largest earthquake safety drill on Thursday, October 19, 2023 at 10:19am. Please see more information below.

https://www.atwater.org/the-great-shake-out-%e2%80%bc-thursday-october-19-2023-%e2%80%bc/


ARRL Website to be Unavailable Monday, October 23, 2023, for Scheduled Maintenance

date: 2023-10-17, from: Amateur Radio Relay League News

The ARRL  The National Association for Amateur Radio® website, ARRL.org, will be unavailable on Monday, October 23, 2023, due to scheduled maintenance. Those needing assistance with joining ARRL or renewing their existing memberships, as well as anyone interested in ordering products offered by ARRL, are invited to call the ARRL Member Services team at 888-277-5289 (toll-free US) or 860-594-020…

http://www.arrl.org/news/view/arrl-website-to-be-unavailable-monday-october-23-2023-for-scheduled-maintenance


Sports Science Programs Offer Hands-On Experience, Career Options

date: 2023-10-17, from: Blue Devil News (Merced Community College Student Newspaper)

Sophomore Miku Chikakane traveled more than 5,000 miles across the Pacific Ocean and the international date line to study kinesiology at Merced College. She chose to leave Tokyo, one of…

The post Sports Science Programs Offer Hands-On Experience, Career Options appeared first on Merced College.

https://www.mccd.edu/news/sports-science-programs-offer-hands-on-experience-career-options/


Jamboree-on-the-Air is on October 20 - 22, 2023

date: 2023-10-14, from: Amateur Radio Relay League News

Jamboree-on-the-Air (JOTA), the largest Scouting event in the world, takes place on the third weekend of October (10/20 - 10/22).

This annual global operating event allows Scouts to use amateur radio to connect with hams around the world. The event is supported by many local amateur radio clubs and individual operators. JOTA starts Friday and ends Sunday, but there are no offi­cial hours of oper…

http://www.arrl.org/news/view/jamboree-on-the-air-is-on-october-20-22-2023


ARRL Online Auction Now Open

date: 2023-10-13, from: Amateur Radio Relay League News

Want to get some cool stuff at a great price and help amateur radio at the same time? Bid and to show support for ARRL education programming during the 18th Annual ARRL Online Auction. The auction is open now, and bidding began on Friday, October 13 at 10 AM EDT, and continues through Thursday, October 19 at 10 PM EDT.

RT Systems, Inc. is sponsoring this year’s auction, which will feature QST Pr…

http://www.arrl.org/news/view/arrl-online-auction-now-open


Local Amateur Community Rallies to Support Collegiate Club for QSO Party

date: 2023-10-13, from: Amateur Radio Relay League News

By Todd Emmert, W9TWE

Indiana State University Amateur Radio Club, W9ISU, had a successful ARRL Collegiate QSO Party, held October 7 - 8, thanks to the support of local hams.

The club has faced challenges in recent months, including being displaced due to campus renovations and having minimal student involvement; they didn’t even have a multimode, multiband transceiver. In an effort to boost inte…

http://www.arrl.org/news/view/local-amateur-community-rallies-to-support-collegiate-club-for-qso-party


The K7RA Solar Update

date: 2023-10-13, from: Amateur Radio Relay League News

The numbers looked better during this reporting week, October 5-11.

Average daily sunspot numbers rose from 128.6 to 144.1, and average
solar flux from 155.6 to 159.1.

Average daily planetary A index went from 9.1 to 7.6, and average
middle latitude A index from 8.9 to 8.3.

For some reason the middle latitude numbers were not available from
Fredericksburg, Virginia so we used the data from Boulder, C…

http://www.arrl.org/news/view/the-k7ra-solar-update-799


‼ Traffic Advisory: Road Closure on Shaffer Road near Santa Fe (10/16 through 10/19) ‼

date: 2023-10-12, from: City of Atwater News Releases

Shaffer Road crossing will be closing for repair beginning 9am on 10/16/23. The crossing will reopen 9am on 10/19/23. See image below for more details.

https://www.atwater.org/%e2%80%bc-traffic-advisory-road-closure-on-shaffer-road-near-santa-fe-10-16-through-10-19-%e2%80%bc/


Merced College Athletes Find All the Support They Need to Thrive

date: 2023-10-11, from: Blue Devil News (Merced Community College Student Newspaper)

Merced College athletes excel academically. It’s no accident, and the key to in-class success for these Blue Devils is no big secret. “Our athletes do so well because they find…

The post Merced College Athletes Find All the Support They Need to Thrive appeared first on Merced College.

https://www.mccd.edu/news/merced-college-athletes-find-all-the-support-they-need-to-thrive/


All for One, One for All: ‘Three Musketeers’ Opens Oct. 20 at Merced College

date: 2023-10-10, from: Blue Devil News (Merced Community College Student Newspaper)

A timeless tale of adventure with epic live swordfights comes to Merced next week, as “The Three Musketeers” opens Friday, Oct. 20, at the Merced College Theater. Adapted for the…

The post All for One, One for All: ‘Three Musketeers’ Opens Oct. 20 at Merced College appeared first on Merced College.

https://www.mccd.edu/news/all-for-one-one-for-all-three-musketeers-opens-oct-20-at-merced-college/


ARRL Urges Comments to FCC on 60-Meter Band

date: 2023-10-10, from: Amateur Radio Relay League News

ARRL  The National Association for Amateur Radio® is asking that all radio amateurs urge the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to continue the existing use of the 60-meter band. A public comment period is open until October 30, 2023. ARRL encourages expressions of support to the FCC for the current 100 W ERP power limit (instead of reducing the power limit to 15 W EIRP) and continuing sec…

http://www.arrl.org/news/view/arrl-urges-comments-to-fcc-on-60-meter-band


Enjoy the Solar Eclipse—and Free Donuts—at Merced College Oct. 14

date: 2023-10-09, from: Blue Devil News (Merced Community College Student Newspaper)

Merced College invites astronomy enthusiasts and curious community members to experience the annular solar eclipse happening Saturday morning, Oct. 14, with a gathering on the lawn near the front of…

The post Enjoy the Solar Eclipse—and Free Donuts—at Merced College Oct. 14 appeared first on Merced College.

https://www.mccd.edu/news/enjoy-the-solar-eclipse-and-free-donuts-at-merced-college-oct-14/


The K7RA Solar Update

date: 2023-10-06, from: Amateur Radio Relay League News

 At 2308 UTC on October 5, the Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre issued a geomagnetic disturbance warning.

“A recent, mild CME impact, combined with the expected arrival of a coronal hole high speed wind stream on 7 Oct, gives the chance for G1 geomagnetic conditions over 6 and 7 Oct.”

Seven new sunspot groups emerged over the past week, but overall solar activity declined.

With conse…

http://www.arrl.org/news/view/the-k7ra-solar-update-798


ARRL Launches The NTS Letter

date: 2023-10-06, from: Amateur Radio Relay League News

There’s a new newsletter in the ARRL repertoire as of this week. The first issue of The NTS Letter was published on October 3, 2023. The NTS Letter is a monthly digest of all things related to the ARRL National Traffic System®. It is edited by Marcia Forde, KW1U, who is a veteran traffic handler and serves as the Section Traffic Manager for the ARRL Eastern and Western Massachusetts and Rhode I…

http://www.arrl.org/news/view/arrl-launches-the-nts-letter


WestFest STEM Event Offers Hands-On Experience

date: 2023-10-06, from: Amateur Radio Relay League News

Amateur radio was represented at the seventh annual WestFest event at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday, September 30, 2023. WestFest is a public engagement event that highlights science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) research, sustainability initiatives, and outreach programs at The Ohio State University. The event featured three behind-the-scenes tours …

http://www.arrl.org/news/view/westfest-stem-event-offers-hands-on-experience


ARRL Foundation Accepting Applications for Grants in October

date: 2023-10-04, from: Amateur Radio Relay League News

The ARRL Foundation is now accepting grant applications from amateur radio organizations for eligible amateur radio-related projects and initiatives, particularly those focused on educating, licensing, and supporting amateur radio activities. To grow amateur radio’s future, youth-based projects and initiatives are especially encouraged. The ARRL Foundation grants program accepts proposals on a …

http://www.arrl.org/news/view/arrl-foundation-accepting-applications-for-grants-in-october


Splash Park Closing October 8, 2023, for the Season💦

date: 2023-10-04, from: City of Atwater News Releases

Summer 2023 has ended, and Fall is in the air. We hope the B-52 Splash Park was a “cool” addition to your seasonal activities! The Splash Park is scheduled to close Sunday, October 8, 2023. The Splash Park will re-open Easter Weekend on Saturday, March 30, 2024, operating hours 10AM-6PM.

https://www.atwater.org/splash-park-closing-october-8-2023-for-the-season%f0%9f%92%a6/


Merced College Expanding ESL, Citizenship Classes for Local Residents

date: 2023-10-03, from: Blue Devil News (Merced Community College Student Newspaper)

Hispanic Heritage Month is upon us, and Merced College is celebrating the many ways it educates and supports Hispanic students. As a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), the college supports…

The post Merced College Expanding ESL, Citizenship Classes for Local Residents appeared first on Merced College.

https://www.mccd.edu/news/merced-college-expanding-esl-citizenship-classes-for-local-residents/