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I never cease to be amazed by the number of Catholic nuns who have ham licenses. Often this comes about simply as the result of the mother superior saying to one of the sisters, "We should establish amateur radio contact with others of our order. Will you please get a license so that we can do so?" The sister complies, and before long there are several in the convent hamming away. In no sense are these women technofreaks, but neither are they intimidated by the licensing process.

If you and your friends could make good use of ham radio, why not bring up the subject next time you get together? Perhaps one of you will be willing to make the commitment and do it. (Track down a license preparation class offered by a radio club, as Curt Barnes did, or check MOTHER NO. 25 for "how to's" if you have to study by yourself.)

ENERGY NOTES

Ed Noll (W3FQJ) is a "technical writer's writer" who's had my admiration for years. He's authored a big stack of books on everything from closed-circuit TV to getting an FCC Commercial license, and contributes a superb technical column to Ham Ra dio magazine. What a gas it was to hear from him and find out that he's also a MOTHER reader, a nature buff and—as far as I know—the first ham to power a rig with solar energy. (The idea has been experimented with on and off since the introduction of transistors, according to D.S. Halacy, Jr. His book Solar Science Projects—60¢ in paperback from Scholastic Book Services—tells how to build a simple sun-powered radio.—MOTHER.) Ed successfully operates a 5-watt Argonaut transceiver and plans to describe his solar power supply in detail in a future issue of Ham Radio. He also intends to use his column to further the cause of harnessing the sun's energy.

I might mention that Ed has produced a delightful book on the lives and habits of birds, with bits of philosophical insight touching on man and our shared planet. He normally has copies for sale when he gives his free nature slide talks, but will be glad to send one to any reader of MOTHER for a buck (half price). Ed's address is Box 75, Chalfont, Pennsylvania 18914.

The Alternative Sources of Energy Net has moved to Saturday mornings on 40 meters for better coverage and less interference. The new schedule is 8:30 a.m. EDT on about 7233 kHz.

Here's what some ASE Net regulars are up to: Allen Owen (WA30WT, Montoursville, Pennsylvania) is helping a friend design a water wheel. Although the stream they plan to harness isn't very swift, falling only three feet as it crosses the property, calculations indicate the possibility of producing 200 steady watts. Ray Martin (WA5CCZ, Crosby, Texas) is powering his rig from a one-lunger, methane-fueled engine (he's also had experience with Savonius rotor wind generators).

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