MARCO Grand Rounds for 12/31/2006

From Warren, KD4GUA:

This Sunday we will discuss "Dizziness" and "Tinnitus" if we have time. Also, about the Eplex maneuver to relieve postural vertigo.

Need the check-in list for last week.

MARCO Grand Rounds for December 24, 2006

From Warren, KD4GUA:

This Sunday we will attempt to conclude the discussion on Polonium 210 and the Russians. Harry WB9EDP will be net controller as I will be in Washington D(amn)C(crowded). Should be a good won [sic].

Radiation Detectors

From Chip, N5RTF:

Enjoyed the talk this morning on radioisotopes. As a sideline, I enjoy building geiger counters and usually have a couple quietly clicking away at home. They are sometimes illuminating. I was once able to detect a leak from a local nuclear plant 2 days before it was announced publicly. It is also interesting to observe counts go up when it starts raining.

If any MARCO members would like to build their own counters, I recommend Charles Wenzel's web site:

http://www.techlib.com/science/geiger.html
Tubes can be purchased from LND incorporated at: http://www.lndinc.com/

His circuits are impressive, in that they can be built mostly out of a junk box and draw only about 1 ma. in operation. Output from the detector can be modified to drive any number of devices: lights, speakers, digital counters, software, etc.

Be the first in your neighborhood to know you've been nuked!

MARCO Grand Rounds as of December 8

From Warren, KD4GUA:

Last week we tried to discuss Polonium 210 but were snowed by a pile-up. Harry WB9EDP will again try and explain the murder of the Russian agent by radioactivity.

If we have time, we will also hit on the new program "Isabel" that is coming into vogue.

So far, our Sunday net is holding up fairly well being at the bottom of the sun spot-cycle. Below are averages for Sundays of each year:

1998, average check-in was 14.45 members 2003, average check-in was 28.63

1999, average check-in was 15.95 members 2004, average check-in was 29.50

2000, average check-in was 20.25 members 2005, average check-in was 29.17

2001, average check-in was 22.6 members 2006, average check in was 28.96

2002, average check-in was 26.15 members.

MARCO Grand Rounds - an Addition

From Warren, KD4GUA:

With the second reported poisoning with Polonium 210 in Europe, our physicist, Harry WB9EDP has promised to give us a brief description of this radio-active substance prior to our discussion of "Isabelle" this upcoming Sunday. You might read Peter Zimmerman's fine article in the Wall Street Journal of Dec. 1 concernng this gruesome death.

Tune in, should be interesting.