Tuesday, November 27, 2007

BBC World Service 75th anniversary

The Big Link Up
Wednesday 19 December
Throughout the day BBC WORLD SERVICE
BBC World Service celebrates its 75th birthday today with live outside
broadcasts throughout the day, linking audiences around the world in a
global debate on freedom of the media. The debate echoes the themes of
programming in the World Service's Free To Speak season that has
marked the anniversary over recent days.

Linked outside broadcasts spread across the world – in East Asia, from
Mongolia to Australia, the Middle East, Europe and Africa and the
Americas from North through Central America to the South – mark the
actual date of the World Service's launch 75 years ago. Regional
link-ups featuring panels of experts and audiences interact with
internet cafés, local radio stations, newsrooms and other meeting
places around the globe.

"We want to reach right around the world and use the new ways people
are communicating with each other to do this," says season
commissioner Sara Beck. "Connecting with people in places we don't
always report from will give us the chance to dissect the world
afresh, to look at how the globe is being reshaped by technology.
We'll also explore new frameworks for freedom of expression, the
effects of competition and the challenges of these new responsibilities."
Presenter/Various, Producers/Various
BBC World Service Publicity

The link about the Big Link up program is here

The great lady of SWL has been a major force in SW broadcast history

One shining example is the BBC broadcasting during the genocide in Rwanda

Broadcasting during the attack on the WTC 9/11/2001

Even Gorbachev has admitted to listening to the BBC during an August 1991 coup on his government

and one of things I think about when I listen to the BBC is the fact that the Beriut hostages in the 80's listened to the BBC

Happy Birthday to you BBC World Service!

73, Jack K4SAC

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving has come and gone and Christmas is fast approaching. It is hard to believe that another year is coming to a close.

Along with Thanksgiving, the CQ WW CW contest has also come and gone. Did you operate? Did you meet your goal? Was your goal to have fun or did you have a specific goal in mind?

Some people operate contests to get better each year, some people operate contests to get new states, or new countries for DXCC, and some operate to beat their own personal records. Whatever the reason, I hope that you achieved your goal in the CQ WW CW.

People said that CW activity would decline rapidly upon the no-code licenses. We will have to watch the activity carefully the next few years, but I feel from listening to the bands during the contests that CW activity is still flourishing.

Ham radio has so much to offer us, whether it is CW, SSB, RTTY, or one of the myriad of digital modes, there is room for everyone.

You will see posts on the list-servs every major contest, with the non-contesters complaining about the contesters, but the bottom line is that whether or not you are an active contester, contest operation helps keeps the bands active and help to keep our frequencies in our hands instead of going to the highest bidder (remember 220??)


That being said, we as contesters need to respect the non-contesters during contests. In the heat of the battle it is sometimes difficult to be courteous or respectful, and when the band is crowded with wall to wall signals and no open frequencies to QSY to, the non-contesters have to suffer along with us.

I know some contesters say that the non-contesters can QSY to the WARC bands during the contests, but with sunspots at zero, what band would be open for them to QSY to?

There are still a lot of older rigs out there that do not have the WARC bands on them, but are perfectly good radios.

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying don't contest....for I like to get in there with the best of them, but try to be cognizant of our non-contest friends, for one day, we may need their voices to help keep our bands.

Good news for Top Band enthusiasts, the 160 contest season is in full swing:
ARRL 160-Meter Contest: 2200Z, Nov 30 to 1600Z, Dec 2

If one of your interests is RTTY, the next RTTY contest is:
TARA RTTY Melee: 0000Z-2400Z, Dec 1


73,

Jack K4SAC

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

SS is over!

The ARRL SSB SS is now history. I hope that you got to get on and make a bunch of Q's.

Here is a Finnish online magazine that has some analysis of DX Contests )Adobe acrobrat reader required


Don't forget the CQ Worldwide DX Contest, CW: 0000Z, Nov 24 to 2400Z, Nov 25

and for those TopBand Buffs:

ARCI Topband Sprint0000Z-0600Z, Nov 29
ARRL 160-Meter Contest2200Z, Nov 30 to 1600Z, Dec 2


I hope all of you have a happy Thanksgiving and a great week!

73,

Jack K4SAC

Thursday, November 15, 2007

SS AWARDS

Participation Pins

The ARRL is again pleased to continue its PINS (Participation In November Sweepstakes) program for 2007. Anyone who completes 100 contacts on CW or Phone during Sweepstakes is eligible to purchase one of these attractive Participation Pins. Pins are based on claimed scores. Each pin includes the year and mode and has become a popular tradition in the November Sweepstakes event. Pins cost $6, including postage and handling and will be shipped after all entries have been processed and logs verified.
To order your pins, attach a note to the front of your summary sheet indicating the number of pins ordered along with your check. If you enter electronically, send a copy of your summary sheet with a note and your check attached to Sweepstakes PINS, ARRL Contest Branch, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111.


Clean Sweep Mugs
Commemorate working your “clean sweep” by purchasing your 2007 November Sweepstakes mug. To earn your mug, work all 80 ARRL/RAC sections during the CW or Phone November Sweepstakes. Mug awards are based on claimed scores. The price for the keepsake mug is $12 each, (including postage and handling.) If you submit electronically, send a paper copy of the first page of your Cabrillo file and indicate how many mugs you are ordering along with your check. If you log by paper, attach a note to the top of your summary sheet indicating how many mugs you are ordering and your check. All orders should be sent to Clean Sweep Mugs, ARRL Contest Branch, 225 Main Street. Newington, CT 06111. Your mug will be shipped after all entries and mug orders have been processed and verified. Supplies are limited. We only guarantee filling orders received by the Phone Submission deadline of December 19, 2007.

CREDIT:ARRL WEB SITE

Contesting--why??????

A non-contester may question what the point in contesting is?

Personal achievement is one. You may be a little pistol or pop-gun contester, that has no hope of placing in the top ten in the contest, however you can measure your worth against your peers, or your score from the previous year.

Contests are a good way to learn propagation on a band. Your QTH may have openings to areas that you don't normally see because of low activity, but during a contest, you may see new openings....for example you may have a 15 meter opening into JA land around 1am to 3 am local time...you wouldn't know that normally, but if you find that during a contest, that gives you some knowledge to check post contest and allow you to work DX easily when others are slugging it out on a lower band.

Contests allow you to get more familiar with your equipment. The HF radios nowdays have lots of functions and whistles and bells that you may not use in day to day ham radio use. Those buttons have a use, and during a contest is a good time to learn....learn how to use the PBT or the EQ, experiment and learn your radio!!!

Maybe you could care less about racking up a big score, contests are a good way to add countries to your DXCC total, counties to your county hunters total, states to your WAS, or just about any award that is out there, a contest can probably help you raise those totals.

So if you don't care about big scores, get on anyway and operate casually, add to your totals and help out the contesters! Even if you make a few QSO's please make sure and submit a log. That way a station doesn't get penalized if you only make a few QSOs.....

A lot of non-contesters will gripe about the amount of contests held.....there is some validity to this, as if you look there is usually several contests held each weekend of the year.....however, the thing non-contesters need to understand is that the contesters play a part in keeping our bands active and safer from being reallocated. With spectrum space so valuable and we lost 220 and part of 440 now with the Pave Paw Radar issue, we need to keep a healthy presence on our bands so that our frequencies are not looked at for re-allocation.

This is something all hams can play a part in, not just contesters. We need to keep active on our bands.

For myself, a contest is like an orchestra playing a song. Each person has its part in the song and each part is needed. Beautifully sent exchanges are like the conductor pulling sections in at the right time and at the end of the "concert" (contest) you have a good feeling and enjoyment.

So even if you are not a contester, dip your toes in the water and check it out. Go at your own speed, whatever makes you most comfortable. HAVE FUN

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

New to Contesting????

With the new no-code hams on the air now, there is a untapped source of new contesters. As the average age of contesters continues to climb, it is imperative that we welcome new contesters into the fold.

Many news hams fear contests. They hear CW blur by them at 30wpm or hear the guys like K5ZD working 180+ per hour and feel that they are not worthy to enter a contest. That could be farther from the truth.

Every contest needs new blood, because some people tire of contesting and drop out, or just to give people a new QSO!

If you are a new ham and want to dip your toes in the water of contesting, here are some tips from the Mad River Radio Club, a group of contesters from Ohio, Mich, and Indiana. This was taken from the Sweepstakes Handbook on their website

Getting Started In SS

The best advice for anyone seeking to learn how to operate the Sweepstakes, or any other contest
for that matter, is simply to follow the Nike slogan: JUST DO IT.

A beginner to contesting will naturally start by tuning around and finding people to call and work.

This is the basic search and pounce technique. It gives the opportunity to listen to a guy, get his
information and the rhythm of his operation before possibly embarrassing yourself. If the op is really good, you might do well to listen and observe, just soaking in how a real pro does it. But eventually you will have to speak up, or hit the key, and JUST DO IT.

When you have the confidence to make the QSO the first time, without waiting around to observe, you are ready to consider trying to take charge and call CQ. This is how good scores are made.

First, it is faster since it eliminates the tuning around time. Second, if you’re diligent with your S&P work, you will probably run out of people to call.

Conversely, there are many people, perhaps a majority of those on the bands during a contest, who don’t CQ. They are just passing out a few QSOs, checking out an antenna, or don’t have the signal or desire to slug it out for a CQing frequency. If you don’t CQ you won’t work these people.

You will need to find a clear, or relatively clear, frequency. Higher up in the band is often a good
place to look. Sometimes (especially on phone) there simply are no clear frequencies. An
experienced contester might be able to find a possibility and make one, but if you’re reading this
to learn something new, don’t bother. Keep tuning.

But if you find a possibility, JUST DO IT. Call CQ. Keep it short: a 1x2, i.e., “CQ CONTEST FROM KAY EIGHT MIKE RADIO, KILO EIGHT MIKE RADIO CONTEST”. If someone calls you, work him. If someone comes back and says “THIS FREQUENCY IS IN USE”, grab the tuning knob and move on. If nothing happens, JUST DO IT again.

Contest tip of the week: Never make a transmission longer than what
you can say in one breath. If you have to come up for air, you’re talking too long between listens.

The one exception: if you’re sweet-talking a non-contester into a QSO.

There are probably hundred of little tricks and tips, but they are best passed along over a cold one
at a club meeting or hospitality suite. But until you have done enough contesting to say that
you’ve been there, and done that, there is just one tip to remember: JUST DO IT. 􀀀

Propagation graphics

Rick, LU9DA has set up an interesting utility on his web page. He has graphics showing the current propagation for the 160,80,40,20,15 and 10 meter bands.

The link is http://lu9da.dyndns.org/www/prop.html

Check it out!

73, Jack K4SAC

Sunday, November 11, 2007

This past week.....

Well this past week, we saw the Ukrainian DX Contest:, ARRL Sweepstakes Contest, CW, High Speed Club CW Contest, DARC 10-Meter Digital Contest, OK/OM contest, KY QSO Party, and the WAE RTTY Contest, all take place as well as the NCCC Sprints.

Lots of contest activity this past week and the coming week is busy with contest activity as well.

The SKCC sprint is Nov 14th, YO International PSK31 Contest on 16 Nov, South African Field Day on Nov 17th to 18th, LZ DX Contest the 17th and 18th, Feld Hell Sprint on the 17th, All Austrian 160 meter contest on the 17th-18th, RSGB 1.8mhz CW contest 17th-18th, and of course the biggie this coming week, the
ARRL Sweepstakes SSB Nov17th-19th.

All these contests, the bands should be plenty abuzz with activity. Good luck to all of the participants!

73, Jack K4SAC

Thursday, November 08, 2007

Shuttle Audio

For those that want to hear the shuttle audio, but don't have access to a local feed, you can go to http://kscops.com/

and hear the shuttle audio.

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

ARRL SSB SS CONTEST NOV 17-19

  1. Object: For stations in the United States and Canada (including territories and possessions) to exchange QSO information with as many other US and Canadian stations as possible on 160, 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meter bands.
  2. Date and Contest Period:
    1. 2.1. CW: First full weekend in November (November 3-5, 2007).
    2. 2.2. Phone: Third full weekend in November (November 17-19, 2007).
    3. 2.3. Contest Period: Begins 2100 UTC Saturday, ends 0300 UTC Monday.
    4. 2.4. Operate no more than 24 of the 30 hours.
      1. 2.4.1. Off periods may not be less than 30 minutes in length.
      2. 2.4.2. Times off and on must be clearly noted in paper logs. Do not indicate off times in electronic log files. The log checking software calculates it.
      3. 2.4.3. Listening time counts as operating time.
  3. Entry Categories:
    1. 3.1. Single Operator:
      1. 3.1.1. QRP.
      2. 3.1.2. Low Power.
      3. 3.1.3. High Power.
      4. 3.1.4. Unlimited—Packet assisted (no differentiated power levels)
    2. 3.2. Multioperator
      1. 3.2.1. Multi-Single only
        1. 3.2.1.1. Only 1 transmitted signal is permitted at any time.
        2. 3.2.1.2. No limitation on the number of band changes.
        3. 3.2.1.3. Spotting assistance is permissible.
    3. 3.3. School Club
      1. 3.3.1. There are three divisions to this category.
        1. 3.3.1.1. College and University
        2. 3.3.1.2. Technical School
        3. 3.3.1.3. Secondary and other School
      2. 3.3.2. School clubs compete as their own category.
      3. 3.3.3. Only currently enrolled regular students and faculty/staff of the institution are eligible to operate a school club entry. Alumni may “Elmer” but may not operate the station during the competition.
      4. 3.3.4. There is no distinction between Single and Multi operator stations or power levels in this category.
      5. 3.3.5. School clubs must operate from established stations located on the campus. No portable operation from a near-by contest station is allowed. A club may operate from a member’s station only if no on-campus station exists.
      6. 3.3.6. Certificates will be awarded to the top scoring entry in each division of this category in each ARRL/RAC section and division.
  4. Exchange: The required exchange consists of:
    1. 4.1. A consecutive serial number;
    2. 4.2. Precedence;
      1. 4.2.1. “Q” for Single Op QRP (5 Watts output or less);
      2. 4.2.2. “A” for Single Op Low Power (up to 150 W output);
      3. 4.2.3. “B” for Single Op High Power (greater than 150 W output);
      4. 4.2.4. “U” for Single Op Unlimited;
      5. 4.2.5. “M” for Multi-Op;
      6. 4.2.6. “S” for School Club;
    3. 4.3 Your Callsign;
    4. 4.4. Check (the last two digits of the year you were first licensed);
    5. 4.5. ARRL/RAC Section
      (Example: NU1AW would respond to W1AW’s call by sending: W1AW 123 B NU1AW 71 CT, which indicates QSO number 123, B for Single Op High Power, NU1AW, first licensed in 1971, and in the Connecticut section.)
  5. Scoring:
    1. 5.1 QSO points: Count two points for each complete two-way QSO.
    2. 5.2. Multiplier: Each ARRL Section and RAC Section plus the Canadian NT (Northern Territories - encompassing VE8 / VY1 / VY0) with a maximum number of 80.
      1. 5.2.1. KP3 and KP4 are in the Puerto Rico Section.
      2. 5.2.2. KV4/KP2 and KG4 stations are in the Virgin Islands Section.
      3. 5.2.3. KH6 and other US possessions in the Pacific count as the Pacific Section.
    3. 5.3. Final score: Multiply QSO points (two per QSO) by the number of ARRL/RAC sections (plus NT VE8/VY1/VY0).
  6. Miscellaneous:
    1. 6.1. Work each station only once, regardless of the frequency band.
    2. 6.2. Only one transmitted signal at any time is permitted.
  7. Awards:
    1. 7.1. Certificates will be awarded to the top operator CW and Phone scores in each category (“A”, “B”, “Q”, “U”, “S” and “M”) in each ARRL/RAC section and division.
    2. 7.2. All Overall and Divisional winners will be awarded a plaque recognizing their efforts. Plaques are either sponsored by groups of clubs or by the principal awards sponsor, Icom.
  8. Submission:
    1. 8.1 Deadline for submission of CW entries is Wednesday December 5, 2007 Deadline for submission of Phone entries is Wednesday December 19, 2007. Entries emailed or postmarked after the deadline may be designated checklogs.
      1. 8.1.1. The CW and Phone mode are considered separate contests and must be submitted in separate envelopes or emails sent to the appropriate address.
      2. 8.1.2. Entries must be made on current ARRL entry forms or on a reasonable facsimile. Current forms may be downloaded in .PDF or ASCII format from www.arrl.org/contests/forms
    2. 8.2. Email entries for CW must be sent to SSCW@arrl.org and Phone to SSPhone@arrl.org
    3. 8.3. Cabrillo formatted logs can be submitted by logging onto the web application at www.b4h.net/cabforms and completing the required information.
    4. 8.4. Any entry that has been created using a computer for logging must be submitted in the Cabrillo log file format.
      1. 8.4.1. Files from word processing, spreadsheet programs or “bin” type logging program files are not valid or usable.
      2. 8.4.2. Any electronic file that is not submitted in required format will not be eligible for competition and awards.
      3. 8.4.3. A paper printout for a log that has been generated by a computer in lieu of the actual data file in the required format is not an acceptable substitute.
      4. 8.4.4. Paper logs that are entered into a logging program or computer after the contest are considered electronic logs and must include the required electronic file in the submission.
    5. 8.5. Hand written paper logs are acceptable entries. Any hand written paper log of 500 or more QSOs must include the required dupe sheet.
    6. 8.6. Logs sent via the regular mail service should be addressed to: November SS CW or November SS Phone, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111.
  9. Other information.
    1. 9.1. See “General Rules for All ARRL Contests” and “General Rules for ARRL Contests on Bands Below 30 MHz (HF)” available at www.arrl.org/contests or from the ARRL Contest Branch.
    2. 9.2. All contest queries should be directed to contests@arrl.org or by telephone to 860-594-0232. All contest rules and entry forms may be downloaded from the Contest Branch Web Page at: www.arrl.org/contests.

Participation Pins
The ARRL is again pleased to continue its PINS (Participation In November Sweepstakes) program for 2007. Anyone who completes 100 contacts on CW or Phone during Sweepstakes is eligible to purchase one of these attractive Participation Pins. Pins are based on claimed scores. Each pin includes the year and mode and has become a popular tradition in the November Sweepstakes event. Pins cost $6, including postage and handling and will be shipped after all entries have been processed and logs verified.
To order your pins, attach a note to the front of your summary sheet indicating the number of pins ordered along with your check. If you enter electronically, send a copy of your summary sheet with a note and your check attached to Sweepstakes PINS, ARRL Contest Branch, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111.


Clean Sweep Mugs
Commemorate working your “clean sweep” by purchasing your 2007 November Sweepstakes mug. To earn your mug, work all 80 ARRL/RAC sections during the CW or Phone November Sweepstakes. Mug awards are based on claimed scores. The price for the keepsake mug is $12 each, (including postage and handling.) If you submit electronically, send a paper copy of the first page of your Cabrillo file and indicate how many mugs you are ordering along with your check. If you log by paper, attach a note to the top of your summary sheet indicating how many mugs you are ordering and your check. All orders should be sent to Clean Sweep Mugs, ARRL Contest Branch, 225 Main Street. Newington, CT 06111. Your mug will be shipped after all entries and mug orders have been processed and verified. Supplies are limited. We only guarantee filling orders received by the Phone Submission deadline of December 19, 2007.

CREDIT:ARRL WEB SITE

Monday, November 05, 2007

KY QSO PARTY CONTEST

INTRODUCING THE

2007

KENTUCKY QSO PARTY

1400Z Sat. Nov. 10 to 0600Z Sun. Nov. 11

The annual Kentucky QSO Party will be sponsored by the Western Kentucky DX Association. During the party the same station may be worked only once per band and mode, unless they are mobile or portable. Stations may be worked again when they activate another Kentucky county. All mobile and/or portable stations must identify themselves as such so that fixed stations looking for new multipliers may

more easily work them.

EXCHANGE: RS(T) and QTH (county name if you are in Kentucky).

SCORING: KY contesters will work and total the following as multipliers: States, KY counties (120), and Canadian Provinces (9). All DXCC entities count as one point and not as multipliers. Stations working KY will collect counties and KY QSOs. They will then multiply the number of counties by the number of QSO points (2 for CW, 1 for SSB). Each person will add any bonus points earned to his final score. à One hundred bonus points will be earned for working our Club Station, KY4DXA, which will be moving from county to county. The 100 bonus points will be added only once to a person’s score, regardless how may times KY4DXA is worked. All additional times will earn another QSO point and another county as a multiplier. All stations are to combine CW and SSB QSO points before multiplying. Each 160 meter contact will count 2 points reguardless of mode. à Kentucky mobile and portable stations may add 1000 points to their final score for each Kentucky county activated, provided a minimum of 10 contacts are made from a county before moving on to the next county. KY stations may count KY as a state and their own county as a multiplier (provided they work a station within their state and county).

FREQUENCIES: Operation must be limited to 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters. Any portion of these bands allocated for CW or SSB may be used.

AWARDS: Certificates will go to all who submit a log with an S.A.S.E. Plaques will be awarded to the highest-scoring station in each of the following categories: KY Fixed Phone, KY Fixed CW, KY Fixed Mixed, KY Rover Phone, and KY Rover CW. One plaque will go the highest-scoring U. S. station outside KY and one plaque to the highest scoring DX station.

SUBMITTING YOUR LOG: Include with your log a summary sheet and a dupe check sheet for logs with over 50 contacts per band or mode. Also, include a large S.A.S.E. for results and certificate. Mail your log to WKDXA, P.O. Box 73, Alvaton, KY 42122 with a postmark no later than December 31, 2007. (By contest time we may be able to accept logs by email.) Please check web site www.WKDXA.com for more information.

Changes and/or updates will be posted by October 31, 2007.

Have fun and good luck to all!


CREDIT: www.wkdxa.com


Saturday, November 03, 2007

Good Luck in the Contest!!!

Good luck to all of you in ARRL SS CW contest!

73, Jack K4SAC

Thursday, November 01, 2007

Narrow Band ALE announced

Credit QRZ.com


Patrick F6CTE
has announced that a narrow band version of the popular Automatic Link Establishment (ALE) software is now available.

On the HFLink Yahoo group he writes:

For those interested in doing ALE and ARQ FAE using a narrow bandwidth (400 Hz), I have derived from the standard ALE a new ALE with a bandwidth of 400 Hz (instead of 2000 Hz) and which is called 'ALE400'.

This ALE system has exactly the same functions as the standard ALE (in Multipsk) except that the:
• bandwidth is 400 Hz (so ALE400 can be used where 500 Hz modes are permitted)
• the speed (and consequently the text throughput) is 2.5 slower,
• no fix frequency (it is as MFSK16, Olivia or DominoEX modes)
• the S/N is 5 dB better:
- 9 dB for AMD messages and Unproto
- 11.5 dB (- 13.5 dB with many repetitions) for ARQ FAE

For ARQ FAE, it has been added a compression system using a modified IZ8BLY (Nino) MFSK Varicode. So the text throughput (in ALE400) is typically 60 wpm (up to 107 mpm in bilateral and 63 characters frames).

This test version in a ZIP test package is available in my site
http://f6cte.free.fr/MULTIPSK_TEST_28_10_2007.ZIP
(copy and paste this address in Internet Explorer (or equivalent) Net address field). It contains the Multipsk test version, the help files (in English and French) and the specifications (in English) of the ARQ FAE mode (version 1.4).

Create a temporary folder (C:\TEST, for example), unzip the files in it and start C:\TEST\TEST\Multipsk.exe (the auxiliary files will be created automatically).

For the contextual help, click on the right button of the mouse, with the focus over the mode button "ALE400". Use also the button hints (wait a fraction of second over a button).

Hints:
• if you are the "Master" (initiator of the CQ): confirm the RS ID transmission in "Options" (to permit an automatic tuning for other Hams), check "Master" on the Mode panel and, afterwards, push the button "CQ"
• if you are the "Slave" (the Ham who answers): push the button "RS ID detection" (to permit your automatic tuning on CQ), check "Slave" on the Mode panel and, afterwards, push the button "Answer".
Both will push on the "AFC" button.

Note: it rings on successful connexion (on both sides).

73
Patrick


Related URL’s

HFLink Yahoo Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HFLink

HFLink
http://www.hflink.org/

MultiPSK Website
http://f6cte.free.fr/

ALE400 Software - A Test version has been available at
http://f6cte.free.fr/MULTIPSK_TEST_28_10_2007.ZIP
but like all test software it could be frequently updated.

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