I don't think I've seen the Internet aus.radio (Australian radio) newsgroup
mentioned as a source of propagation forecast information. I've included the
one that was issued December 6th at the bottom of this message. There have
been a few other types of messages recently, including a W1AW-like bulletin
from VK2WI.
Newsgroups:
aus.radio,ips.solar.activity,rec.radio.amateur.misc,rec.radio.info
Path:
pcnet.com!pagesat.net!internet.spss.com!hermes.oc.com!news.unt.edu!cs.utexas.
edu!swrinde!howland.reston.ans.net!news.moneng.mei.com!uwm.edu!msunews!harbin
ger.cc.monash.edu.au!news.cs.su.oz.au!metro!ipso!rwc
From: rwc@flare.syd.ips.oz.au (Regional Warning Centre)
Subject: IPS Daily Report - 06 December 94
Message-ID: <1994Dec6.232522.10795@ips.oz.au>
Followup-To: aus.radio,rec.radio.amateur.misc
Sender: news@ips.oz.au (Usenet News)
Nntp-Posting-Host: flare.syd.ips.oz.au
Organization: IPS Radio and Space Services. Sydney, Australia.
Approved: rec-radio-info@ve6mgs.ampr.ab.ca
Lines: 83
Xref: pcnet.com aus.radio:1132 rec.radio.amateur.misc:46369
rec.radio.info:6312
SUBJ: IPS DAILY SOLAR AND GEOPHYSICAL REPORT
ISSUED AT 06/2330Z DECEMBER 1994 BY IPS RADIO AND SPACE SERVICES
FROM THE REGIONAL WARNING CENTRE (RWC), SYDNEY.
SUMMARY FOR 06 DECEMBER AND FORECAST FOR 07 DECEMBER - 09 DECEMBER
-----------------------------------------------------------
1A. SOLAR SUMMARY
Activity: very low
Flares: none.
Observed 10.7 cm flux/Equivalent Sunspot Number : 78/17
GOES satellite data for 05 Dec
Daily Proton Fluence >1 MeV: NA
Daily Proton Fluence >10 MeV: 1.1E+04
Daily Electron Fluence >2 MeV: 1.5E+08 (moderate)
X-ray background: A4.7
Fluence (flux accumulation over 24hrs)/ cm2-ster-day.
1B. SOLAR FORECAST
07 Dec 08 Dec 09 Dec
Activity Very low Very low Very low
Fadeouts None expected None expected None expected
Forecast 10.7 cm flux/Equivalent Sunspot Number for 07 Dec: 80/20
-----------------------------------------------------------
2A. MAGNETIC SUMMARY
Geomagnetic field at Learmonth: unsettled to active, with a minor
storm period 06-09UT.
Estimated Indices : A K Observed A Index 05 Dec
Learmonth 22 3354 4432
Fredericksburg 15 7
Planetary 14 7
Observed Kp for 05 Dec: 1113 3212
2B. MAGNETIC FORECAST
DATE Ap CONDITIONS
07 Dec 15 Mostly unsettled to active, with brief minor storm
periods possible.
08 Dec 10 Quiet to unsettled
09 Dec 8 Quiet to unsettled
COMMENT: The disturbances noted on 6 Dec and expected on 7 Dec may
be due to a coronal hole, which was not geoeffective in previous
rotations.
-----------------------------------------------------------
3A. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION SUMMARY
LATITUDE BAND
DATE LOW MIDDLE HIGH
06 Dec normal normal fair-normal
PCA Event : None.
3B. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION FORECAST
LATITUDE BAND
DATE LOW MIDDLE HIGH
07 Dec normal fair-normal fair
08 Dec normal fair-normal fair
09 Dec normal normal fair-normal
-----------------------------------------------------------
4A. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC SUMMARY
Observed
DATE T-index MUFs at Sydney
06 Dec 31 near predicted to slightly enhanced until 19UT,
15-30% depressions observed thereafter.
Predicted Monthly T-index for December: 15
4B. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC FORECAST
DATE T-index MUFs
07 Dec -10 15 to 20% below predicted monthly values
08 Dec 0 Depressed 15 to 20%/near predicted monthly values
09 Dec 10 Near predicted monthly values
COMMENT: IPS HF communications Warning 13 will be issued today for
interval 07-08 December.
--
IPS Regional Warning Centre, Sydney |IPS Radio and Space Services
RWC Duty Forecaster tel: +61 2 4148329 |PO Box 5606
Recorded Message tel: +61 2 4148330 |West Chatswood NSW 2057
email: rwc@ips.oz.au fax: +61 2 4148331 |AUSTRALIA
-------------------------------------
E-mail: frenaye@pcnet.com
Tom Frenaye, K1KI
P O Box 386
West Suffield CT 06093
-------------------------------------
>From Steve Sample <aa9ax@iglou.com> Thu Dec 8 05:05:56 1994
From: Steve Sample <aa9ax@iglou.com> (Steve Sample)
Subject: AA4NC ARRL 160
Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.91.941208000429.4689A-100000@iglou>
On Wed, 7 Dec 1994, Clark wrote:
>
>
As you can see, Clark wrote nothing. There was a msg header and no
text. I'm always interested in reading my personal mail, so can you send
it again? Thanks & 73...Steve/AA9AX
>From D.C. Henderson" <n0dh@comtch.iea.com Thu Dec 8 06:48:29 1994
From: D.C. Henderson" <n0dh@comtch.iea.com (D.C. Henderson)
Subject: 160 2nd night
Message-ID: <Pine.SV4.3.91.941207224050.10469A-100000@comtch>
On Wed, 7 Dec 1994 fish@crl.com wrote:
> Regarding the DX window: Blaaaaa!!!
> ---
> Bill Fisher, KM9P - Concentric Systems, Inc.
>
There's a special place in Hell for you Bill and it's sounds a whole lot
like trying to work DX on 160 from WA,OR or BC in an eternity of the ARRL
160 meter contest.
All kidding aside N6TR said it best from my point of view as well, good
call Tree!
Dave
N0DH/7
Sokane,Wa
n0dh@comtch.iea.com
"The bad news...life is hard
The good news...life is short
The moral...contest often, chase Dx and women, eat desert first".
>From Field, Don" <field@btq2ec.igw.bt.co.uk Fri Dec 9 09:39:00 1994
From: Field, Don" <field@btq2ec.igw.bt.co.uk (Field, Don)
Subject: 160 Window
Message-ID: <2EE6D3AA@smtpgate.agw.bt.co.uk>
I sent the following to N0DH who made the suggestion about Europeans using
1880-1890. However, as several folks have asked for comments from our side of
the pond I will post it here as well. As it happens, and despite one message
I saw on here, there was no problem at all in hearing US stations on 160 from
Europe last weekend. We do NOT have BC QRM here - 1830-1850 is now exclusive
to amateurs, though the rest of 160 is shared with other services. The
problem was making ourselves heard.
Quite frankly, it doesn't bother me. As was stated, this is not a DX to DX
contest, so I find it quite frustrating hearing Caribbean stations, 5T5CJ,
PY0FF, etc, and not being able to work them. And I can work the US anytime.
So don't clear the DX window for our benefit - I'd just as soon stay in bed.
But if you folks want to work Europeans, then you do need to think seriously
about how you should do it, because it was very frustrating calling stations
who were S8 and endlessly CQing, and not getting any replies. I run 400 watts
out in that part of the band where we are allowed to, and was using an
inverted-L at 55ft, with a couple of thousand feet of radials. In CQWWCW I
worked 68 countries, and about 100 W/VE, so I reckon my signal is getting
across there, but just isn't as loud as all the W/VE on the band. Next year I
may just give it a miss!
Will be passing briefly through San Antonio, Chicago & Washington next week,
but probably no time to meet contesters. Maybe Dayton or Visalia next year
(anybody have the dates yet?).
73 Don G3XTT
=========
Message as sent to N0DH:
The problem is that many European countries have only 1830-1850, as the rest
of the band is used by other services (ship to shore, navigation beacons,
etc.). Here in the UK we have 1810-2000, but the power limit for most of that
remains at 10 watts. The power limit is now 400 watts between 1830-1850, as
there are now no other services in that segment with which we might interfere.
When I first started operating on 160 in 1968, the usual arrangement was for
European stations to transmit in the 1825-1830 segment, and listen 1800-1810
for DX. Once receivers started to improve, the trend was to work DX co-
channel (a bad idea in my view, but the trend has been inexorable) in the
1820-1830 range - in other words this became traditionally reserved for
intercontinental QSOs. However, as more European countries were licensed for
160 (back in 1968 it was only G, 9H, ZB, OK, HB9, OE, DL as I recall), many
had only narrow allocations above 1830 (or, when USSR stations came back on
in the 70's, only above 1850 at first), so band-planning became a nightmare.
Eventually, IARU region 1 recommended a split at 1840, with CW below and SSB
above. This works reasonably well (except in contests), though DL stations
were for many years restricted to a small slot around 1835 for SSB, and still
tend to congregate there. However, it meant that intercontinental QSOs have
tended to take place wherever a country has an allocation, leading to the
present chaos. The only realistic place to reserve as a DX window for
Europeans to transmit, to cater for most countries' allocations, would be
somewhere in the 1830-1840 range, but I simply can't see the guys at your end
buying that one.
It's certainly hard work - I called many US stations at the weekend who were
S7/8 here, but very few came back - I worked only about 30 W/VE in the end.
Much easier in CQWW CW, presumably because there are far fewer QSOs taking
place WITHIN N.America.
73 Don G3XTT
>From Karl-Heinz Merscher" <Karl-Heinz.Merscher@uvw.uni-bayreuth.de Thu Dec 8
>09:59:07 1994
From: Karl-Heinz Merscher" <Karl-Heinz.Merscher@uvw.uni-bayreuth.de (Karl-Heinz
Merscher)
Subject: Scores CQWW CW SO/SB DL6RDE
Message-ID: <C3243C6C7B@btv0g2.nov.uni-bayreuth.de>
CQ WORLD WIDE DX CONTEST 1994
Call: DL6RDE Country: Fed. Rep. of Germany
Mode: CW Category: SO/SB low power
BAND QSO QSO PTS PTS/QSO ZONES COUNTRIES
160 0 0 0.00 0 0
80 0 0 0.00 0 0
40 0 0 0.00 0 0
20 0 0 0.00 0 0
15 183 322 1.76 29 68
10 0 0 0.00 0 0
---------------------------------------------------
Totals 183 322 1.76 29 68 => 31,234
>From p_casier@eunet.be (Peter Casier) Thu Dec 8 13:44:37 1994
From: p_casier@eunet.be (Peter Casier) (Peter Casier)
Subject: multi/multi hardship hi
Message-ID: <199412081344.OAA03133@box.eunet.be>
> Dearodearodear.... At ZM2K, the only running water is from a plastic
> container, or you can stick your head in the trough outside if you are
> game enough.
>Hrumph. Luxury! This time of year at VE7ZZZ we have to chip through the
>ice in the rain barrel to get at the wet stuff. By mid-January even that
>doesn't work as the whole lot is frozen solid.
>
Let me share our smiley from over the pond: OT4A is the Belgian m/m site,
located on an old fortress near Lier. The fort, dated early 1800's or so
once was part of a defense belt to protect Antwerp from the French resp.
Germans.
3 rows of 300 ft long brick buildings, walls 6-7 ft thick, roof with 7 ft of
concrete, nothing helped much stopping the Germans. During WW1, with their
new artillery reaching further than the defense guns of the fort, they
bombed the damned place until it surrendered.
So parts of the roof are blown away (quite impressive!), but a lot of it is
still intact. Though the fort was abandonned and forgotten, the hams of Lier
spent years trying to turn the ruins into a good contest site. This involved
taking down trees and scraping 10 ft of earth from the roofs (roofs were
covered with earth as a camouflage). They installed 8, 9 selfsupporting 75
ft and 100ft towers, anchored into the roof (the roof being already 30 ft high).
Of course the last thing to be refurbished were the shacks. The first year
they were just in time for the cqww in cleaning two machine gun outposts,
for two shacks. The main kitchen was in a red cross tent, 2 bands were
sheltered in real small caravans. Mark, ON4WW and I run 10m (remember when
10 was still hot, 4 years ago?) from a van.
That first cqww contest weekend, it rained cats and dogs the whole time,
turning the area into a marsh. Water roose to 10 inches around our van. If
we wanted to go to the shacks sheltered on top of the roof, we had to climb
30 ft up a real steep mud hill, sliding down more than going up (have you
seen the movie 'Hamburger hill'? Well...). At that time, we had not
discovered computers nor networking yet, so every mult passed to another
band, had to be 'handcarried' up the hill. By the end of the contest, we
were all covered with mud, tired from belly sliding down the hill, but happy.
The next year, it was a priority to get the shacks straightened out. Mark
and I were going to run 10m again, and found what looked a pretty dry old
gun powder storage room. Preparing for the contest, we dug our way in, as
the place was filled with 3 ft of earth and cleaned it up. One week before
the contest, it started raining, and the water leaked through the roof. We
installed wooden palets on the floor, and hang thick large plastic tarps
against the walls and under the roof. By the time the contest started, 200
liters of water was stacked on the tarps, hanging above our heads, ready to
come down any time... hi.
The same weekend as the cqww, the indoor shooting range in the same
building, had a contest too. The shooting was soo loud it triggered our
voxes and kept us from sleeping.
The worse part nevertheless was that we did not get our high power license
in time, so that contest, we run m/m with 100 Watts. Imagine that. Low power
m/m.
The next year was better. 10m run from an old shack, once used to sell
french fries on the streets (what a smell!). 40m run from a tent inside the
building, and 20m had a new shack, heated by a woodstove, spitting out ashes
all over the equipment. Had a high power licence then, but 3 amps and 5 rigs
were taken out when lightning hit the area at T minus 5 minutes. This must
have been around the same time when the 80m crew was sitting in an
inflatable dingy, in the middle of the ditch, surrounding the fortress,
trying to get some beverages over the water. The guys got so scared because
of the lightning, that they cut through the rubber and found themselves in
the water in no time.
A few years have gone by, and by now the OT*A gang all have decent shelters.
I even heard they have toilets now, and running water. And we, we run OT*T
from a warm and comfortable home with the only inconvenience being 'getting
too hot because of the amps'...
Those were the days.
Are we having fun yet? Am curious to read more war stories from other sites. hi.
Peter
ON6TT.
p_casier@box.eunet.be
>From Wirzenius Jari <HATJWI@HATMAIL.HATFI1.msgw.kone.com> Thu Dec 8 23:51:00
>1994
From: Wirzenius Jari <HATJWI@HATMAIL.HATFI1.msgw.kone.com> (Wirzenius Jari)
Subject: ARRL 160 m contest
Message-ID: <2EE79C71@msgw.kone.com>
I feel a lot same as did G3XTT. Although I run only 100 W to N4KG special I
have made many contacts with JA with strong signals, but US seems very hard
to work. This may partly indicate that my antenna is radiating best towards
JA and the reason maybe the good grounding towards JA. As I have abt 30
straight groundwire towards my house which is to the JA direction from the
tower and around the house I have 60 m loop of ground wire.
But when the band is not too crowded I have made so far few state side QSO's
on 160 m. In the both CQ WW and ARRL contest I tried to call the loudest US
stations with S 7-9 sigs (I listen with my N4KG special too, no beverages or
small loops yet). They would not answer. Normally the signals should go
through, but I think most of US stations with loud signals would need a
hearing aid. I know stations from OH who worked with full legal (600W)
power, and they did not get through either. So there must be some serious
problems with hearing.
There was no trouble for me to copy the loudest signals. PY0FF was booming
to EU as well as 9X5EE in CQ WW, but my little pistol was not enough.
73's Jari, OH2BVE
jari.wirzenius@kone.com
>From Fred Cady ieefc@msu.oscs.montana.edu" <fred_c@ece.ee.montana.edu Thu Dec
> 8 12:51:02 1994
From: Fred Cady ieefc@msu.oscs.montana.edu" <fred_c@ece.ee.montana.edu (Fred
Cady ieefc@msu.oscs.montana.edu)
Subject: C6AHX CQWW SCORE
Message-ID: <009889F8.E97B8220.2@ece.ee.montana.edu>
Sorry it's so late.
CQ WORLD WIDE DX CONTEST -- 1994
Call: C6AHX Country: Bahamas
Mode: CW Category: Multi Single
BAND QSO QSO PTS PTS/QSO ZONES COUNTRIES
160 272 562 2.07 14 37
80 730 1607 2.20 21 72
40 1433 3401 2.37 29 101
20 1287 2945 2.29 32 91
15 1019 2615 2.57 25 92
10 255 627 2.46 19 64
---------------------------------------------------
Totals 4996 11757 2.35 140 457 => 7,018,929
Operator List: _WM2C, WS4E, NF6S, K0PP, N7HKW, KE7X _______________________
QSL FOR C6AHX WA4WTG
>From Morao Esteban <z801183a@bcfreenet.seflin.lib.fl.us> Thu Dec 8 14:53:37
>1994
From: Morao Esteban <z801183a@bcfreenet.seflin.lib.fl.us> (Morao Esteban)
Subject: X-mas!
Message-ID: <Pine.3.89.9412080932.A16078-0100000@bcfreenet.seflin.lib.fl.us>
*
***
*****
*******
*********
***********
*************
***************
***
***
*** Merry Christmas
*** And
*** Happy 1995
From: Steve W4/YV5DTA
z801183a@bcfreenet.seflin.lib.fl.us
>From Bob McGwier <n4hy@ccr-p.ida.org> Thu Dec 8 16:08:26 1994
From: Bob McGwier <n4hy@ccr-p.ida.org> (Bob McGwier)
Subject: N2RM Operation
Message-ID: <199412081608.LAA00402@wahoo.ccr-p.ida.org>
>rather than operate with that clique-ish N2RM crowd. I'm sure any more
>operators there
I didn't notice any smiley's here so I can only assume you are serious. Are
you really kidding? Every time I have operated there, more than one operator
is there that has not operated a contest before, and is not a member of
a contest club. If you mean they give some preference for FRC folks (so
the score for the FRC is bolstered), then you're probably right, but so what?
Bob
Dr. Robert W. McGwier | n4hy@ccr-p.ida.org: ham radio, scouts,
Center for Communications Research | astronomy, golf (o yea, & math!) ASM
Princeton, N.J. 08520 | Troop 5700, ACM Pack 53, Sanhican #2 WWW,
(609)-279-6240(v) (609)-924-3061(f)| District and Council Activities Chair.
(609-443-8963 (h) | I used to be a Buffalo . . . NE III-120
| proud parent in Brownie Troop 196
>From Dick Dievendorff" <dieven@almaden.ibm.com Thu Dec 8 17:36:23 1994
From: Dick Dievendorff" <dieven@almaden.ibm.com (Dick Dievendorff)
Subject: Dayton/Visalia dates?
Message-ID: <9412080936.ZM24131@penguin.almaden.ibm.com>
A friend in the UK wants the dates for the Visalia DX convention and the Dayton
Hamvention in 1995. All I know is "April". Can someone provide the correct
dates?
Dick Dievendorff, dieven@almaden.ibm.com
AA6MC
>From sellington" <sellington@mail.ssec.wisc.edu Thu Dec 8 13:43:10 1994
From: sellington" <sellington@mail.ssec.wisc.edu (sellington)
Subject: ARRL 160 m contest
Message-ID: <9412081945.AA22021@ns.PacBell.COM>
The stateside QRM level during the contest was incredible. One thing
that's really important is accurate zero-beating. About the best one
can hope for is a 400 Hz clear spot centered on the transmitter, and
there was always a loud station calling CQ right next door. So, if
the station calling is 200 Hz off, he's buried under a very loud
signal. That happened to me many times.
Every once in a while, I check my transceiver with a separate receiver to
make sure it transmits exactly on the receive frequency, as most of
them can drift around a bit.
Scott K9MA
sellington@ssec.wisc.edu
>From jholly@hposl42.cup.hp.com (Jim Hollenback) Thu Dec 8 20:29:46 1994
From: jholly@hposl42.cup.hp.com (Jim Hollenback) (Jim Hollenback)
Subject: Callsigns
References: <Pine.SGI.3.90.941208130240.1463F-100000@eagle>
Message-ID: <9412081229.ZM12539@hpwsmjh.cup.hp.com>
On Dec 8, 1:09pm, Steve Harrison wrote:
> Subject: Re: Callsigns
> On Wed, 7 Dec 1994 W7NI@delphi.com wrote:
>
> > Anyway, on 27MHz there are no offical callsigns these days. You can
> > use just about anything you want including your ham call. In fact, you
> > can use anybody's ham call you want. I wonder how long it would take
> > to change that rule if N4RH started showing up a lot on 27 MHz?
> >
> WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!!! Somewhere, I can't remember exactly where, the FCC
> regulations specifically PROHIBIT the use of US ham calls in anything
> other than a ham band. This question came up just a couple of months ago
> in connection with another thread, I mentioned I had read in one of the
> beginner's columns of QST that you cannot use your call on any other
> telecommunications service,
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Ahhh, then it should be okay to use your ham call on CB frequencies. CB
is not a telecommunications service. It is a sewer pipe.
Don't you have a copy of part 97? Should be able to look up the revelent
section yourself, right?
Jim, WA6SDM
jholly@cup.hp.com
>From Samoian, Richard J" <rsamoian@msmail2.hac.com Thu Dec 8 20:33:01 1994
From: Samoian, Richard J" <rsamoian@msmail2.hac.com (Samoian, Richard J)
Subject: Virus Warning
Message-ID: <9412082033.AA22884@igate1.hac.com>
Just got a note at work to watch out for a new Virus that has been going
around America Online, and by now could be on other services also. Beware,
if you receive anything that's called "Good Times" don't read or store it,
delete it!!!!! It is a virus that will erases your hard drive.
This is not a joke!!!!!!!!!!!
>From oo7@astro.as.utexas.edu (Derek Wills) Thu Dec 8 20:38:30 1994
From: oo7@astro.as.utexas.edu (Derek Wills) (Derek Wills)
Subject: Virus Warning
Message-ID: <9412082038.AA07395@astro.as.utexas.edu>
Just got a note at work to watch out for a new Virus that has
been going around America Online, and by now could be on other
services also. Beware, if you receive anything that's called
"Good Times" don't read or store it, delete it!!!!! It is a
virus that will erases your hard drive. This is not a joke!!!!!!!!!!!
Of course it's a joke. Ask Craig Shergold.
Dave Rhodes, posting from the account of
Derek AA5BT, G3NMX - oo7@astro.as.utexas.edu
>From Victor Burns-KI6IM <vburns@netcom.com> Thu Dec 8 20:56:33 1994
From: Victor Burns-KI6IM <vburns@netcom.com> (Victor Burns-KI6IM)
Subject: Callsigns CB'ers etc.
Message-ID: <Pine.3.89.9412081253.A1884-0100000@netcom16>
On Thu, 8 Dec 1994, Steve Harrison wrote:
> On Wed, 7 Dec 1994 W7NI@delphi.com wrote:
> > Anyway, on 27MHz there are no offical callsigns these days. You can
> > use just about anything you want including your ham call. In fact, you
> > can use anybody's ham call you want. I wonder how long it would take
> > to change that rule if N4RH started showing up a lot on 27 MHz?
> WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!!! Somewhere, I can't remember exactly where, the FCC
[STUFF DELETED]
> reference in Part 97. Irrespective of WHATEVER other services do or are
> allowed to do, YOU ARE, BY HAVING ACCEPTED YOUR HAM OPERATOR'S LICENSE,
> REQUIRED TO FOLLOW THE RULES AND REGULATIONS UNDER WHICH THAT LICENSE IS
> GRANTED!
But that would only apply to a licensed amateur using (his) callsign, so
in theory you could use someone elses or some shmo CB'er could sign
whatever he wants, as he has NOT accepted an amateur license! Perhaps a
contest on 11 Meters would be fun, we could all sign the same call
(WN4KKN for example), with of course a 4 watt output limitation.
>From Joel B Levin <levin@BBN.COM> Thu Dec 8 21:02:17 1994
From: Joel B Levin <levin@BBN.COM> (Joel B Levin)
Subject: Virus Warning
Message-ID: <5332.786920537@bbn.com>
Sorry to fill the CQ-C airwaves, but this needs to be quashed. I'll
try to excerpt.
U.S. DOE's Computer Incident Advisory Capability
___ __ __ _ ___ __ __ __ __ __
/ | /_\ / |\ | / \ | |_ /_
\___ __|__ / \ \___ | \| \__/ | |__ __/
Number 94-04 December 6, 1994
...
Welcome to the fourth issue of CIAC Notes! This is a special edition to
clear up recent reports of a "good times" virus-hoax. Let us know if you
have topics you would like addressed or have feedback on what is useful and
what is not. Please contact the editor, Allan L. Van Lehn, CIAC,
510-422-8193 or send E-mail to ciac@llnl.gov.
...
THE "Good Times" VIRUS IS AN URBAN LEGEND
In the early part of December, CIAC started to receive information requests
about a supposed "virus" which could be contracted via America OnLine, simply
by reading a message. The following is the message that CIAC received:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Here is some important information. Beware of a file called Goodtimes. |
| |
| Happy Chanukah everyone, and be careful out there. There is a virus on |
| America Online being sent by E-Mail. If you get anything called "Good |
| Times", DON'T read it or download it. It is a virus that will erase your |
| hard drive. Forward this to all your friends. It may help them a lot. |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
THIS IS A HOAX. Upon investigation, CIAC has determined that this message
originated from both a user of America Online and a student at a university
at approximately the same time, and it was meant to be a hoax.
CIAC has also seen other variations of this hoax, the main one is that any
electronic mail message with the subject line of "xxx-1" will infect your
computer.
...
As of this date, there are no known viruses which can infect merely through
reading a mail message. For a virus to spread some program must be executed.
Reading a mail message does not execute the mail message. Yes, Trojans have
been found as executable attachments to mail messages, the most notorious
being the IBM VM Christmas Card Trojan of 1987, also the TERM MODULE Worm
(reference CIAC Bulletin B-7) and the GAME2 MODULE Worm (CIAC Bulletin B-12).
But this is not the case for this particular "virus" alert.
If you encounter this message being distributed on any mailing lists, simply
ignore it or send a follow-up message stating that this is a false rumor.
Karyn Pichnarczyk
CIAC Team
ciac@llnl.gov
...
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>From mraz@maverick.aud.alcatel.com (Kris I. Mraz) Thu Dec 8 21:22:42 1994
From: mraz@maverick.aud.alcatel.com (Kris I. Mraz) (Kris I. Mraz)
Subject: Virus Warning
Message-ID: <9412082122.AA00750@maverick.aud.alcatel.com>
>
> Just got a note at work to watch out for a new Virus that has been going
> around America Online, and by now could be on other services also. Beware,
> if you receive anything that's called "Good Times" don't read or store it,
> delete it!!!!! It is a virus that will erases your hard drive.
> This is not a joke!!!!!!!!!!!
>
FYI. [I've deleted the attributions for clarity]:
> >Welcome to the fourth issue of CIAC Notes! This is a special edition to
> >clear up recent reports of a "good times" virus-hoax. Let us know if you
> >have topics you would like addressed or have feedback on what is useful and
> >what is not. Please contact the editor, Allan L. Van Lehn, CIAC,
> >510-422-8193 or send E-mail to ciac@llnl.gov.
> >THE "Good Times" VIRUS IS AN URBAN LEGEND
> >
> >In the early part of December, CIAC started to receive information requests
> >about a supposed "virus" which could be contracted via America OnLine, simpl
y
> >by reading a message. The following is the message that CIAC received:
> >
> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >| Here is some important information. Beware of a file called Goodtimes.
|
> >|
|
> >| Happy Chanukah everyone, and be careful out there. There is a virus on
|
> >| America Online being sent by E-Mail. If you get anything called "Good
|
> >| Times", DON'T read it or download it. It is a virus that will erase your
|
> >| hard drive. Forward this to all your friends. It may help them a lot.
|
> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> >THIS IS A HOAX. Upon investigation, CIAC has determined that this message
> >originated from both a user of America Online and a student at a university
> >at approximately the same time, and it was meant to be a hoax.
> >
> >CIAC has also seen other variations of this hoax, the main one is that any
> >electronic mail message with the subject line of "xxx-1" will infect your
> >computer.
> >
> >This rumor has been spreading very widely. This spread is due mainly to the
> >fact that many people have seen a message with "Good Times" in the header.
> >They delete the message without reading it, thus believing that they have
> >saved themselves from being attacked. These first-hand reports give a false
> >sense of credibility to the alert message.
> >
> >There has been one confirmation of a person who received a message with
> >"xxx-1" in the header, but an empty message body. Then, (in a panic, becaus
e
> >he had heard the alert), he checked his PC for viruses (the first time he
> >checked his machine in months) and found a pre-existing virus on his machine.
>From tree@cmicro.com (Larry Tyree) Thu Dec 8 21:04:07 1994
From: tree@cmicro.com (Larry Tyree) (Larry Tyree)
Subject: Crowded bands
Message-ID: <9412082104.AA24698@cmicro.com>
I K9MA writes:
> So, if
> the station calling is 200 Hz off, he's buried under a very loud
> signal. That happened to me many times.
Something that I had happen about 5 times is calling someone and having
two people answer me (the intended station and the station once "channel"
away). This is something you should try to fix by sending the callsign of
the person you are working (I cheat and send his name most of the time).
That way when you call the other station, he won't think you are a dupe.
> Every once in a while, I check my transceiver with a separate receiver to
> make sure it transmits exactly on the receive frequency, as most of
> them can drift around a bit.
This is an excellent idea. The modern rigs have a sidetone that tracks
the offset, but if the alignment isn't perfect, it will be off. One of
the things I really enjoy with my Drake C line is knowing for sure what
my offset sounded like.
Tree N6TR
tree@cmicro.com
>From k3lr <k3lr@telerama.lm.com> Thu Dec 8 22:01:35 1994
From: k3lr <k3lr@telerama.lm.com> (k3lr)
Subject: WW CW
Message-ID: <199412082201.RAA13330@asia.lm.com>
K3LR 1994 CQ WW CW Multi-Multi
Notes following my all time favorite contest:
160 meters: IC-765 with 8877 amp. 3 ele vertical inline beam
W3YQ op
Nice EU run the 1st night. No VK or JA QSO this year.
It was hard to keep YQ's interest after European sunrise.
I think we can improve the front-to-back of the
antenna by tuning the relectors.
80 meters: IC-781 with 8877 amp. 4 square vertical array
K8CX op
1st time for CX on 80 at LR. Band was pretty poor so
no real runs this time. 5X came back to a CQ and nice
Sunday QSO with A71CW. New double stubs (-68 dB)
allowed 40 meters to get very close to the 80 meter
2nd harmonic.
40 meters: IC-781 with 8877 amp. 4 ele/ 4 ele @ 190'/100'
K3LR op 2 ele @ 140'
My 2nd year as the 40 meter op. I love this band!
Nice hours at the start. 1st 4 hours were 63, 91, 87, 61.
At 0900z the 1st day the top 4 element 40's rotor breaks.
The antenna is now stuck at 290 degrees. So the 100' and
140' beams pick up the slack. After a rest for a few hours,
I went up to 190'and had WR3G release the brake, then pushed
the beam to 45 degrees where it sat for the rest of the
weekend. This year we are not 400 qsos behind the other
multi multi operations. I am happy with the new antennas!
At least KR0Y can't say "Who was the shmuck on 40?" again
this year.
20 meters: IC-781 with 8877 amp 5 el/5 el/5 el @ 170'/110'/50'
NA8V op 5 el @ 120'
Greg wore his red stocking cap the entire 48 hours. Nice
2nd hour of 72 into JA. Best hours to Europe were
16Z (86) and 17Z (87) the 1st day. No hour was better than
39 during the 2nd day.
15 meters: IC-765 with 8877 amp 6 el/6el/6 el @ 120'/80'/40'
WR3G op 5 el @ 50'
Scotty started off with a nice JA run the 1st hour.
Shame condx were punk to Europe. Best hour to EU
the 1st day was 25. 2nd day best hour was 117 with
one hand tied to the amplifier. Problems with the
blower in the amplifier meant Scotty had to keep
his left hand on top of the amp. the entire contest.
Otherwise all RX sigs had AC buzz on them.
Very strange! Replacing a bypass capacitor and the
blower fixed the problem! (After the contest!)
10 meters: IC-765 with 8877 amp 7el/7el/7 el @ 99'/66'/33'
K3KO op 1st day 6 el @ 199'
WD8IXE op 2nd day
1st time at a multi multi for K3KO. Brian did a nice
job on the dead band. Small EU opening gave us 23 qsos
during the 15Z hour the 1st day. FB op, Steve WD8IXE,
fresh from his trip to J6DX during WW Phone drove in
for 2nd day action and worked 25 new mults.
Band QSOs Zones Countries
160 166 18 59
80 347 25 88
40 1020 38 128
20 1343 38 134
15 633 33 111
10 125 19 59
3634 171 579 = 7.6 meg
Nice 20 meter score from K1KI! We are having lots of fun
and I think we are getting better. CU in Feb. ARRL DX CW.
73,
Tim K3LR
K3LR@telerama.lm.com
>From Kim Culhan <kimc@w8hd.org> Thu Dec 8 22:11:35 1994
From: Kim Culhan <kimc@w8hd.org> (Kim Culhan)
Subject: Good Times
Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.91.941208170452.17147C-100000@w8hd2.w8hd.org>
Hmm.. just heard about the Good Times virus:
Just got a note at work to watch out for a new Virus that has
been going around America Online, and by now could be on other
services also. Beware, if you receive anything that's called
"Good Times" don't read or store it, delete it!!!!! It is a
virus that will erases your hard drive. This is not a joke!!!!!!!!!!!
Have been watching for virus activity for some time now.. nothing so far.
The drive has been modified with a vacuum relay across the
record current generator for full-breakin-speed response.
Please report any more sightings and let me know if you need the schematic
for the relay circuit.
kim
--
kimc@w8hd.org
>From sellington" <sellington@mail.ssec.wisc.edu Thu Dec 8 16:15:26 1994
From: sellington" <sellington@mail.ssec.wisc.edu (sellington)
Subject: Crowded bands
>Something that I had happen about 5 times is calling someone and having
>two people answer me (the intended station and the station one "channel"
>away).
Sometimes, of course, one can work them both at once. (As long as the
exchange doesn't have a serial number, of course.) On the other hand,
there are always a few times I call someone, he says I'm a dupe, but
he's not in my log. So I wonder how many of those are stations I didn't
even hear, but who thought I was working them earlier. I usually just assume I
copied the call wrong the first time, or whatever, but the sensible
thing would be to just work him again. It's to his advantage too, as the
first "contact" may not be valid.
>From k8mr@barf80.nshore.org (Jim Stahl) Thu Dec 8 20:33:02 1994
From: k8mr@barf80.nshore.org (Jim Stahl) (Jim Stahl)
Subject: VHF FM Contest Times & Freqs
Message-ID: <R081wc1w165w@barf80.nshore.org>
The December 1994 QST contains two items promoting the use of FM
in VHF contests: "FM Contesting on Taylor Mountain" (P.71) and a
description in the June VHF QSO Party results of the K6MEP effort
to encourage FM contacts with members of its unnamed club (p.
114). I applaud such efforts to expand awareness of and
participation in contests.
But these two reports, as well as the recent K3MQH/Gaithersburg
Hamfest controversy, highlight a fundamental consideration in FM
contest operation: that some planning and promotion of
frequencies and times is needed to sort the potential contest
activity from the much larger volume of casual contacts and dead
air. It's not enough just to say try FM. Specific frequencies
and suggested times need to be established.
Just as all smaller HF contests publish suggested frequencies and
in some cases suggested times (for example for 160 meter
operation) the QST VHF contest announcements should list several
suggested FM frequencies per band and times to check them. The
frequencies should be spaced across the band to minimize adjacent
channel interference. (For example, 146.43, 146.58, one or two in
the 147 slot, and perhaps one in the 145.5-145.8 slot). Specific
times to check FM should be included (such as even GMT hours, on
the hour).
Such recommendations appearing with the contest announcements
would do much to promote FM QSOs with contest participants other
than those connected with large clubs or with friends hanging out
at conveniently located hamfests.
It's too late to publish any information for the VHF SS, but this
idea could be tried in January by timely use of the ARRL Official
Bulletin System. There is nothing to lose except the likeihood
of keeping a lot of FM only hams ignorant of the fun of VHF DX
and contests.
Jim Stahl K8MR k8mr@barf80.nshore.org
----------------------------
Jim Stahl
InterNet: k8mr@barf80.nshore.org
Basic Amateur Radio Frequency, BARF-80 +1 216/237-8208
"Totally devoted to Amateur Radio" - 24 Hrs a day 8/N/1 14.4k-300 baud
>From Steven Affens <k3sa@access.digex.net> Thu Dec 8 22:33:22 1994
From: Steven Affens <k3sa@access.digex.net> (Steven Affens)
Subject: Virus Warning
Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.91.941208173147.7387A-100000@access4.digex.net>
There was a story in the Washington Post here today about this. The
conventonal wisdom is that reading a TEXT file can not cause any problems
that are virus related. So just ignore it.
Steven C. Affens
K3SA@ACCESS.DIGEX.NET
On Thu, 8 Dec 1994, Derek Wills wrote:
> Just got a note at work to watch out for a new Virus that has
> been going around America Online, and by now could be on other
> services also. Beware, if you receive anything that's called
> "Good Times" don't read or store it, delete it!!!!! It is a
> virus that will erases your hard drive. This is not a joke!!!!!!!!!!!
>
> Of course it's a joke. Ask Craig Shergold.
>
> Dave Rhodes, posting from the account of
> Derek AA5BT, G3NMX - oo7@astro.as.utexas.edu
>
>From k2mm@MasPar.COM (John Zapisek) Thu Dec 8 23:19:34 1994
From: k2mm@MasPar.COM (John Zapisek) (John Zapisek)
Subject: VHF FM Contest Times & Freqs
Message-ID: <9412082319.AA05553@greylock.local>
> [Jim/K8MR] QST VHF contest announcements should list several suggested
> FM frequencies per band . . . For example, 146.43, 146.58 . . .
Here in the SF-Bay area, 146.58 is a coordinated PacketCluster frequency.
Strange but true. With the current huge differences among regional
bandplans, I think suggesting specific simplex frequencies on a national
basis could be problematic.
73. --John/K2MM
|