...

... A big thanks to K6LCS (Clint) and his Web site for all the tips and inspiration to give satellites a try ...

There's a downside to all this ... I am under investigation - AND quarantine ...

CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL For Immediate Release: April 19, 2011 Contact: U.S. Centers for Disease Control (301) 555-1212

CDC Media Relations (404) 555-3286

CDC and NIH Update - Southern California Amateur Radio Licensee Found to be Source of Influenza Strain

Health care providers across North America have been instrumental in determining the source of a new strain of influenza - "Inflenza-SAT."

It has been noted that Clint Bradford of Mira Loma, California, and amateur radio licensee K6LCS, has been promoting the concept that accessing amateur radio satellites does NOT require sophisticated equipment. His Web site further promotes this concept, resulting in the proliferation of amateur radio operators accessing the FM satellites.

From Bradford's work-sat.com Web site:

"You do NOT need 100 Watts of transmit power, nor expensive Yagi antennas, to successfully work the FM ham satellites" Bradford pronounces. "Most hams already own the necessary equipment to successfully work the birds ... "

Bradford's guidelines outline steps to eliminate common preconceptions regarding accessing the FM satellites. "It is all in this four-page tutorial," Bradford declares on his home page.

Visitors to Bradford's Web site who follow his instructions have - usually within a week's time - begin to suffer from Influenza-SAT, the symptoms of which include:

-public declarations of unjustifiable glee at making initial radio contacts with satellites

-displays of gratitude to complete strangers

-the desire to continue such radio contacts for the foreseeable future

-the desire to "spread the word" and pass on Bradford's Web site address to complete strangers

As of this date, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) have been unable to advise of a cure or antidote to this condition.

"The publication of the description of these symptoms is a great contribution to the continued improvement of quality patient care and is illustrative of the power of collaboration across government agencies and with academic institutions," said NIH Director Dr. Hiram R. Percy.

/end/