Thought this might be of interest to the group.
Vince Williams
N1UFG
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From: 82. USAFnews [SMTP:usafnews@AFNEWS.AF.MIL]
Sent: Thursday, 20 August, 1998 14:52
To: AFNS@AFPRODUCTS.EASE.LSOFT.COM
Subject: 21aug98 - afns
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Air Force News Service
AFNS electronic filename: 21Aug98
981244. Air Force seeks 'hams' for anniversary party
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981244. Air Force seeks 'hams' for anniversary party
WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Amateur radio operators or "hams" from around the globe
can celebrate the 51st anniversary of the Air Force in a high-tech way, with a
worldwide radio "QSO party." The party is set for 12:01 a.m. Sept. 19th to
11:59 p.m. Sept. 20th Universal Coordinated Time. QSO is ham radio shorthand
for "radio contact." Hams are licensed by their governments to develop radio
skills, improve radio science, provide disaster and public service
communications, and build international goodwill. The U.S. Federal
Communications Commission has issued such licenses to more than 700,000
people. Hundreds of thousands of citizens of other nations are similarly
licensed by their governments. Started last year as a one-time celebration of
the Air Force 50th anniversary, the QSO party has become an annual event at
the request of
hundreds of last year's participants from around the world. The event is
sponsored by the Air Force directorate of communications and information, and
managed by the Razorback Radio Club. Its trustee, Col. Bernie Skoch (amateur
radio call sign K5XS), is director of systems at the Air Force Communications
and Information Center at the Pentagon. Hams have a historical practice of
using the Morse code to communicate.
They couple this practice with modern communication techniques such as voice
communications, radio teletype, television, facsimile, and even computer-to-
computer communications over radio. Space shuttle astronauts communicate
real-time information to classrooms worldwide via ham radio. The QSO party
has been structured to make contact with Air Force veterans attractive to
participants by awarding "points" to those members who entered the Air Force
the earliest, the colonel said. "A formula will be used which subtracts the
year a radio operator first entered the U.S. Air Force from 1998," said Skoch.
"Hams compete in the contest by adding up the point values for all of their
contacts during the QSO party.
"Certificates will be awarded to the top three finishers in each U.S. state
and foreign country; a plaque will be awarded to the overall winner," he said.
For more details e-mail Skoch at k5xs@Compuserve.com or write the club at 8437
Wesley Stinnett Blvd, Chesapeake Beach, MD 20732.
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