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N9PMO > LETTER 06.06.14 02:02l 812 Lines 37633 Bytes #999 (0) @ ARRL
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Radio Amateurs Are Principal Players in Effort to Resurrect
36-Year-Old NASA Spacecraft
Ham Radio Helps Get Medical Attention for Mobile Operator in Distress
ARRL Vice Director Agrees to Conditions to Resolve
Conflict-of-Interest Situation
Southern Florida Gets New Section Manager
FCC Releases Warning Notices to Several Radio Amateurs
The ARRL June VHF Contest is June 14-16!
Hundreds of Clubs Register their FD 2014 Sites on the ARRL Field Day
Locator!
"We Are Ready!" 2014 WX4NHC On-the-Air Station Test a Success
ARRL Foundation Awards 79 Scholarships in 2014
Centennial Operations Now in Alabama, Louisiana to Shift States on
June 11 (UTC)
D-Day Special Event Stations to be Active
Huntsville to Host GAREC 2014
King Juan Carlos of Spain, EA0JC, to Step Down
IARU Region 3 Directors to Attend Asia-Pacific Telecommunity Meeting
Honor Roll DXer, Assistant ARRL Director H.O. Townsend, K5CX, SK
A Century of Amateur Radio and the ARRL
In Brief...
The K7RA Solar Update
Just Ahead in Radiosport
Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events
Radio Amateurs Are Principal Players in Effort to Resurrect
36-Year-Old NASA Spacecraft
Not even an earthquake kept the ISEE-3 Reboot Project from contacting
the 36-year-old International Sun-Earth Explorer 3 spacecraft -- later
repurposed, redirected, and renamed the International Cometary
Explorer (ICE) -- on May 29 from the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto
Rico. The ISEE-3 Reboot Project is a private crowd-funded group of
engineers, programmers, and scientists -- including several radio
amateurs -- that is trying to fire the old spacecraft's engines to
redirect its path. And that has to happen by June 17, according to
Dennis Wingo, KD4ETA, one of the team members and the CEO of
California-based Skycorp Incorporated. Wingo has not ruled out the
possibility that ICE could crash into the moon, but just commanding
one of the spacecraft's transponders on 2.042 GHz by radio marked a
major milestone.
"[W]e have successfully contacted the bird!" Wingo enthused in a June
1 project update. Wingo was at Arecibo Observatory on May 29 when a
magnitude 5.8 earthquake rattled the region. Wingo said he and his
colleagues were in a safe area when the earthquake occurred.
Surviving the earthquake experience aside, Wingo said, the "first
miracle" was to command the spacecraft. The second task was to
interpret data received back from the spacecraft. The group is hoping
to place ISSE-3/ICE into a gravitationally stable spot some 930,000
miles from Earth -- essentially its original orbit -- where it could
again study the effects of solar weather on Earth's magnetosphere (the
project's slogan is "Make me do science again!"). But, it has a lot of
work to do before that is possible. The group has obtained NASA's
approval to communicate with the satellite.
"One of the major problems that we have...is to update the range to
the spacecraft, so that its position, velocity, and trajectory into
the Earth-Moon system can be properly plotted," Wingo said. If the
team can fire the spacecraft's thrusters this month, ISSE-3/ICE will
fly by the moon at an altitude of some 50 km on August 10.
Newer digital signal processing (DSP) techniques have made it possible
to develop and apply software solutions to address problems that would
have required extensive hardware a decade earlier. The project has
purchased DSP peripherals from Ettus Research, founded by Matt Ettus,
N2MJI, to implement modulator and demodulator programs.
More information and updates are available on the ISEE-3 Reboot
Project Facebook page and the ISEE3 Returns Community Facebook page.
The project also has a ISEE-3 Reboot Project Google+ page. Read more.
Ham Radio Helps Get Medical Attention for Mobile Operator in Distress
In this era of nearly ubiquitous cell phones, Amateur Radio still
offers a way to summon help in an emergency. Ron Smith, N1PXX, of
Marshfield, Massachusetts, is living proof. Over Memorial Day weekend,
on May 24, Smith, who's in his 60s, broke in on a conversation on the
N1ZIZ 146.685 MHz repeater in Plymouth to say he was having a medical
problem.
"Ron had pulled over on the highway and was having a tough time
talking on his radio," said ARRL member John Williams, KB1EVY, the
president of the Genesis Amateur Radio Society President, which owns
the N1ZIZ repeater. The Genesis ARS is an ARRL Special Service Club.
One of the two stations that had been on the repeater, ARRL member
Kevin O'Donnell, K1KOD, acknowledged Smith's call and asked for his
cell phone number. With some difficulty -- and with assistance from
the second station, David Blackford, KB1QJX, who was visiting the Cape
Cod area from Connecticut -- O'Donnell was able to call Smith and
establish that he needed prompt medical attention.
O'Donnell cleared the repeater and requested priority for a medical
emergency. "Using both the radio and the cell, Kevin kept talking with
Ron. He called 911, [and] gave Ron's location to the State Police,"
Williams said. O'Donnell let Smith know that an ambulance and police
were en route. Smith reported that he saw the police pass by, but the
cruiser did not stop
ARRL Life Member Dave Ring, N1EA, joined the conversation at this
point, and assisted K1KOD. "N1EA was instrumental in making calls to
the State police, who got back to Kevin that they had picked up Ron
and were heading for South Shore Hospital," Williams recounted. Once
Smith was on his way to the hospital, O'Donnell secured the brief
emergency net. Williams said that in addition to the Massachusetts
State Police, the call brought mutual aid from the Pembroke and
Marshfield police departments and ambulance.
"Ron is still in the hospital and doing okay," Williams said later. "I
talk with him once a day. He is so grateful for what was done for him!
I would like to say, 'a job well done' by Kevin, K1KOD; David, N1EA,
and Dave, KB1QJX." Read more. -- Thanks to John Williams, KB1EVY, and
ARRL Eastern Massachusetts SM Phil Temples, K9HI
ARRL Vice Director Agrees to Conditions to Resolve
Conflict-of-Interest Situation
ARRL Rocky Mountain Vice Director Dwayne Allen, WY7FD, has agreed to
stipulations spelled out by the ARRL Board of Directors to address a
conflict-of-interest situation arising from the employment of his
wife, Katie Allen, WY7KRA, by CQ Communications Inc. Emphasizing that
there had been no allegations of impropriety on the part of either
Dwayne or Katie Allen, the ARRL Ethics & Elections Committee
determined on April 24 that Katie Allen's March 28 appointment as
Sales and Marketing Manager for CQ Communications Inc created a
conflict of interest for her husband that would disqualify him from
continuing to serve as a Vice Director. Katie Allen is the former ARRL
Membership Manager and a past volunteer member of the ARRL Public
Relations Committee.
On April 25, written requests were made by more than five directors to
have the board review the Ethics & Elections Committee's decision.
ARRL Rocky Mountain Vice Director Dwayne Allen, WY7FD.
Informal discussion among directors and volunteer officers culminated
in a May 22 meeting by teleconference of the full ARRL Board. A
majority of board members concurred that a "potential conflict of
interest exists under current ARRL By-Laws resulting from the familial
relationship" between Dwayne and Katie Allen. With some dissent, the
board approved the motion of ARRL Hudson Division Director Mike
Lisenco, N2YBB, to manage the potential conflict of interest by
calling upon Dwayne Allen to agree to certain stipulations. The
agreement allows him to remain in office while isolating him from any
ARRL matters that would conflict with his wife's professional
activities.
Under the agreement, to which Dwayne Allen must adhere as long as his
wife is employed by CQ Communications, Allen "will diligently recuse
himself" from portions of any Board, Committee, or other ARRL meeting
-- including any discussion or votes -- that pertain to ARRL
advertising and marketing matters as well as to the ARRL Financial
Plan as it relates to advertising and marketing matters. Allen also
must recuse himself from "any other discussion or vote where a
conflict of interest might arise" and abide by ARRL non-disclosure
requirements.
According to the resolution, the board "may revisit the issue of a
conflict of interest" involving Dwayne Allen, if the Ethics &
Elections Committee feels he has failed to comply with the terms of
board resolution.
The Ethics & Elections Committee's April 24 action marked the first
application of a conflict of interest policy, adopted by the Board in
July 2006 and contained in Bylaw 45, to a situation involving an
elected ARRL official already in office.
Southern Florida Gets New Section Manager
Jeff Beals, WA4AW, of Loxahatchee, has assumed the office of Southern
Florida Section Manager, following the resignation of SM David Fowler,
K4DLF, of West Palm Beach. The change was effective on June 1. Fowler
announced plans to step down at the end of May, due to recently
increased work responsibilities. He had been at the helm in Southern
Florida since October 1, 2010.
Beals will complete the current term of office, which runs through
September 30. SM vacancies between elections are filled by
New Southern Florida SM Jeff Beals, WA4AW.
appointment, and Fowler recommended that Beals succeed him. ARRL
Membership and Volunteer Programs Manager Dave Patton, NN1N, consulted
with Southeastern Division Director Doug Rehman, K4AC, before making
the appointment.
An ARRL Life Member, Beals has been licensed since the early 1960s. He
has served as an Assistant Section Manager, a District Emergency
Coordinator, and a Public Information Officer in the Southern Florida
Section. He was the ARRL Southeastern Division Vice Director from 2009
until 2011.
A solicitation is underway for nominations for the next 2-year term of
office for the Southern Florida Section Manager's position.
Nominations are due at ARRL Headquarters by Friday, June 6, at 4 PM
Eastern Time. Further details are on the ARRL website.
FCC Releases Warning Notices to Several Radio Amateurs
The FCC Enforcement Bureau has made public several warning notices
issued over the past few months to radio amateurs. A couple of the
letters from Special Counsel Laura Smith involved alleged infractions
on 20 meters. On April 15, the FCC wrote Larry S. King, KI8NGS, of
Owosso, Michigan, regarding failure to properly follow station
identification rules on March 21. Smith told King that he was
monitored by staffers at the FCC High Frequency Direction Finding
Center (HFDFC) "operating your Amateur Radio on 14.313 MHz for 20
minutes without identifying in a timely manner." Smith said the HFDFC
used direction-finding equipment to confirm that the transmissions
were coming from his location. She said the Center recorded the
transmissions.
"This incident constitutes a failure to properly transmit your
assigned call sign, in violation of the Commission's rules," Smith
wrote. "Your operation as described is contrary to the basis and
purpose of the Amateur Radio Service, as set out in Section 97.1 and
is a violation of Section 97.11(a) of the Commission's rules."
On March 31, Smith sent a warning notice to Daniel G.Churovich, N9RSY,
of Ripley, Tennessee.
"On Friday, March 28, 2014, you were heard by staff at the
Commission's High Frequency Direction Finding (HFDF) Center
communicating repeatedly on 14.313 MHz with an individual who you
identify only as 'cowboy,'" Smith wrote. "This individual failed to
provide his call sign during your conversation, a fact that you were
aware of as you repeatedly demanded that he provide his name, call
sign, and location. Despite being aware of the rule violation on the
part of this other individual, you continued communicating with him
for an extended period of time."
Smith told Churovich that the incident constituted "unauthorized
transmissions" in violation of Commission rules that permit radio
amateur to engage in two-way communications with "other stations in
the Amateur Service."
"There is no evidence that the individual with whom you were
communicating with on March 28 was an Amateur Radio operator, as he
failed to provide his call sign as required by Commission rules,"
Smith pointed out.
Smith also wrote Amateur Radio licensees in Tennessee, Michigan, and
Wisconsin on March 31, alleging they all had failed to comply with
formal written requests not to use local repeater systems. Smith
advised four licensees that the FCC expected them to "abide by the
request of the trustee and/or control operator that you stay off [the
repeater] -- and any other similar requests to cease operations on any
other repeaters by any other repeater licensees, control operators or
trustees." Read more.
Ad
The ARRL June VHF Contest is June 14-16!
One of the most popular VHF/UHF events on the contest calendar is the
ARRL June VHF Contest, which gets underway at 1800 UTC on Saturday,
June 14, and continues until 0259 UTC on Monday, June 16. The object
for participants in the US and Canada (and their possessions) is to
work stations in as many different 2° x 1° Maidenhead grid squares as
possible, using authorized frequencies above 50 MHz. Stations outside
the US and Canada (and their
WA9PIC took to the high ground to operate in the 2013 June VHF
Contest.
possessions) may only work stations in the US (and its possessions)
and Canada. Stations in KH0-9, Alaska, KP1-KP5, CY9 and CY0 count as
W/VE stations and may be worked by DX stations for contest credit.
You don't need a big station or an elaborate antenna farm to enjoy
operating in the June VHF Contest, and you don't have to be a
contesting "pro" either. Just get on the air and see what you can
work. Six meters -- the so-called "Magic Band" -- often yields
surprising openings to various parts of the US and Canada and beyond.
DX contacts are even possible on 6 meters.
The June VHF Contest occurs at the start of the summer sporadic E
season, and intense openings on 6 meters and even 2 meters are
possible. It's a whole new world of propagation possibilities that
also include tropospheric ducting, aurora, and even meteor scatter and
moonbounce.
There are several entry categories, including portable -- for those
who enjoy operating low power from a portable power source and using
portable antennas -- and rover, for mobile operators who enjoy
traveling from one grid square to another to hand out contacts.
There's even an FM-only category (50 144, 222, and 446 MHz at a power
of 100 W or less).
Even with a modest station, it's possible to work hundreds of miles on
the VHF bands during a good opening. You can find plans for simple VHF
antennas at the Technical Information Service area of the ARRL
website, as well as in the "Antennas" chapter of the ARRL Handbook or
in the "VHF and UHF Antenna Systems" chapter of the ARRL Antenna Book.
Direct any questions via e-mail to the ARRL Contest Branch.
Hundreds of Clubs Register their FD 2014 Sites on the ARRL Field Day
Locator!
ARRL Field Day 2014 is just ahead -- June 28-29. Let the world know
about your ARRL Field Day Operation via the ARRL Field Day Locator.
It's easy to use. The web page is intended to show only public Field
Day sites that members of the public and media can visit. So far, some
800 clubs have registered their Field Day information. Registration is
optional, but it is a good way to help generate interest in a group's
participation. If you're planning to operate from a private and/or
residential location, do not add your site to the map.
The 2014 Field Day packet is available on the ARRL website. A Spanish
version of the Field Day rules is available too.
Last year, the League received more than 2500 Field Day entries,
representing participation by more than 36,000 radio amateurs who
completed in excess of 1.2 million individual contacts on CW, phone,
and digital modes. For more information about Field Day 2014, e-mail
ARRL Headquarters or call (860) 594-0236.
"We Are Ready!" 2014 WX4NHC On-the-Air Station Test a Success
The National Hurricane Center's WX4NHC May 31 annual on-the-air
Station Test was a success, according to WX4NHC Amateur Radio
Assistant Coordinator Julio Ripoll, WD4R. WX4NHC conducts the event
each year in preparation for hurricane season, which began June 1 and
continues through November.
"We had the best annual Station Test that I can remember," Ripoll said
this week. "Hopefully we will not have to activate for a hurricane
this
Julio Henriquez, AD4Z,was among the operators at WX4NHC for the 2014
Station Test. [Courtesy of Julio Ripoll, WD4R]
season, but it is good to know that our equipment worked well, in case
the need arises. We are ready, not just for us in sunny South Florida,
but for everyone along the US East Coast and in the Caribbean. Thank
you for your support."
WX4NHC made 308 contacts during 9 hours of operation, with contacts
ranging from local VHF/UHF stations in South Florida and the Florida
Keys to as far away as Guam. Surface reports were received from 25
states as well as from several countries, including Bermuda, Canada,
Cuba, Curacao, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Honduras,
Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela, Ripoll said. WX4NHC even spoke
with FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, KK4INZ, via EchoLink.
Ripoll said it helped that one of the WX4NHC operators was Dominican
Republic native Julio Henriquez, AD4Z, an internationally
The National Hurricane Center in Miami is home to WX4NHC. [Couortesy
of Julio Ripoll, WD4R]
recognized DXer and contester. Henriquez will compete in the World
Radiosport Team Championship (WRTC-2014) next month in New England.
WX4NHC was tested on various bands and modes. The Center also checked
out its Winlink, EchoLink, IRLP, and APRS capabilities, among other
communication systems. All radio equipment and antennas performed
well, and WX4NHC logged "the most contacts made during this event in
memory," Ripoll said, despite poor HF propagation and the fact that
WX4NHC also was testing equipment, training operators on new modes,
and "tweaking" its computer software.
Ripoll expressed appreciation to SKYWARN volunteers and to ARRL
Emergency Preparations Manager Mike Corey KI1U, for supporting the
annual exercise. Read more.
ARRL Foundation Awards 79 Scholarships in 2014
The ARRL Foundation Board of Directors has announced the scholarship
recipients for 2014. Each year, the Foundation's Directors have the
honor and privilege of selecting Amateur Radio operators who will
receive monetary assistance to further their undergraduate or graduate
education. For 2014, the Foundation awarded 79 annual scholarships
through 58 funds to young Amateur Radio operators, valued at $106,250.
In addition, the Foundation Board selected 17-year-old Padraig
Lysandrou, KC9UUS, of Bloomington, Indiana, as the 2014 recipient of
the William R. Goldfarb Memorial Scholarship. Goldfarb Memorial
Scholarship awards vary based on the college or university the
recipient attends, other awards received, and other financial factors.
Lysandrou is the 12th Goldfarb Scholarship recipient.
The application period for ARRL Foundation Scholarships opens October
1 each year and closes on January 31 at midnight the following year,
with awards announced in May. Descriptions of all the available
scholarships and selection criteria, as well as application
instructions and forms are on the ARRL Foundation web pages.
Centennial Operations Now in Alabama, Louisiana to Shift States on
June 11 (UTC)
The ARRL Centennial W1AW WAS operations taking place throughout 2014
from each of the 50 states are now in Alabama and Louisiana. They will
relocate on Wednesday, June 11 (Tuesday, June 10 in US time zones) to
Arkansas (W1AW/5) and Minnesota (W1AW/0). During 2014 W1AW will be on
the air from every state (at least twice) and most US territories, and
it will be easy to work all states solely by contacting W1AW portable
operations. Some schedule changes have been made, and the W1AW WAS
list has been updated to reflect these.
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the ARRL, the ARRL Centennial
QSO Party kicked off January 1 for a year-long operating event in
which participants can accumulate points and win awards. The event is
open to all, although only ARRL members and appointees, elected
officials, HQ staff and W1AW are worth ARRL Centennial QSO Party
points.
Working W1AW/x from each state is worth 5 points per mode/contact,
even when working the same state during its second week of activity.
To earn the "Worked all States with W1AW Award," work W1AW operating
portable from all 50 states. (Working W1AW or W100AW in Connecticut
does not count for Connecticut, however. For award credit,
participants must work W1AW/1 in Connecticut.) A W1AW WAS certificate
and plaque will be available.
The ARRL has posted an ARRL Centennial QSO Party leader board that
participants can use to determine how many points they have
accumulated in the Centennial QSO Party and in the W1AW WAS
operations. Log in using your Logbook of The World (LoTW) user name
and password, and your position will appear at the top of the leader
boards. Results are updated daily, based on contacts entered into
LoTW.
Ad
D-Day Special Event Stations to be Active
Several special event stations will be on the air to commemorate the
70th anniversary of D-Day -- the Allied invasion of the Normandy Coast
of France in World War II -- on June 6, 2014 (this list is not
comprehensive).
In France, TM70JUN will be on the air from June 6 until June 20. Modes
will be SSB, CW, PSK, RTTY, and JT65 on HF and 6 meters.
Special event station TM70BMC will operate from Mont Canisy June 5-8.
TM70DD will be active from June 5 until June 19.
The TM70UTAH operation on HF and VHF, SSB, CW, and digital modes is
underway and will conclude June 12.
W9D will be active on SSB, CW, and AM on HF through 6 meters June 6-8
from the First Division War Museum in Winfield, Illinois.
The Riverway Amateur Radio Society will sponsor special event station
GB70DDL from June 1 until June 28 from the Sea Cadet headquarters in
Stafford, England.
VC3JUNO from Canada will be on the air from June 6 until July 31 to
commemorate the 70th anniversary of D-Day; "Juno" was the code name
for the beach where Canadian forces landed.
F/PA70DDAY will be from the "Nan Green Sector" of Juno Beach in
Normandy. This operation is already underway and scheduled to conclude
June 9. Operation will be on 80, 40, and 20 meters, SSB.
F/ON6JUN/p will take place June 4-8 from Ranville in Normandy.
On June 6, 1944, 160,000 Allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch
of heavily-fortified French coastline to fight Nazi Germany on the
Normandy beaches. The attack was a major turning point in the war.
More than 5000 ships and 13,000 aircraft supported the invasion, in
which more than 9000 Allied soldiers were killed or wounded.
Huntsville to Host GAREC 2014
The 2014 Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Conference
(GAREC-2014) will take place Thursday and Friday, August 14-15, in
conjunction with the Huntsville Hamfest in Alabama. The Huntsville
Hamfest, August 16-17 at the Von Braun Convention Center, is the
Southeastern Division Convention and a Regional ARRL Centennial Event.
The GAREC conference will focus on the application of advanced
technologies in emergency communication. All public service-minded
Amateurs Radio operators and emergency communication professionals are
welcome. This will mark the second time a GAREC Conference has been
held in the US.
The conference agenda and programs are still under development.
The first Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Conference in
2005 was organized on the initiative of Seppo Sisatto, OH1VR, and held
in Tampere, Finland. Following the success of that event and increased
interest in international and regional cooperation on emergency
communication, GAREC conferences have become established annual
events. For each conference, an organizing committee works with a
local host, and International Amateur Radio Union (IARU)
representatives participate in the event.
Register for GAREC 2014 on the ARRL website. Contact Greg Sarratt,
W4OZK, for additional information. Read more.
King Juan Carlos of Spain, EA0JC, to Step Down
King of Spain Juan Carlos de Borbón, EA0JC, announced June 2 that he
will abdicate his throne after 39 years in favor of his son, Crown
Prince Felipe. The king turned 76 in January.
Prince Felipe, a former Olympic yachtsman, is the father of two
daughters. He's married to Letizia Ortiz, a former TV news anchor. In
addition to Spanish, he is fluent in English, French, and Catalan and
studied in Canada for a year.
He holds a degree in law and has earned a master's in international
relations from Georgetown University.
King Juan Carlos ascended the throne upon the death of dictator
Francisco Franco in 1975, winning the respect of his subjects by
guiding the country into an era of democratic rule.
IARU Region 3 Directors to Attend Asia-Pacific Telecommunity Meeting
International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Region 3 directors plan to
attend the third meeting of the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT)
Conference Preparatory Group for World Radiocommunication Conference
2015 (WRC-15), June 9-13 in Brisbane, Australia. APT will organize the
meeting, which is being hosted by the Australian Communications and
Media Authority and supported by the Australian Department of
Communications.
Among other things, attendees will consider the results of
International Telecommunication Union-Radiocommunication Sector
(ITU-R) study groups and develop preliminary APT views on WRC-15
agenda items, based on member input. It is one of a series of regional
gatherings at which the IARU is seeking support for an allocation at 5
MHz (WRC-15 Agenda Item 1.4 will consider a possible new secondary
Amateur Radio allocation within the band 5250-5450 kHz, in accordance
with WRC-12 Resolution 649. (Five 60 meter channels are available in
the US, Canada, and other countries.)
"The IARU is able to input an Amateur Radio view on matters being
discussed and decided," said Jim Linton, VK3PC, who chairs the IARU
Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee. Read more. -- Thanks to
Jim Linton, VK3PC
Honor Roll DXer, Assistant ARRL Director H.O. Townsend, K5CX, SK
ARRL Life Member Howard O. "H.O." Townsend, K5CX (ex-WA5MLT), of
Naples, Texas, died on May 30. He was 69. Townsend was a retired
software designer and a US Army veteran.
H.O. Townsend, K5CX.
An Honor Roll DXer, West Gulf Division Assistant Director, and past
Section Emergency Coordinator, Townsend participated in the W1AW/5
Centennial QSO Party operation from Texas (12 meters SSB).
ARRL West Gulf Division Director Dr David Woolweaver, K5RAV, said
Townsend's obituary fails to capture Townsend's importance as an
advisor to him and to past West Gulf directors. "He was active in
several clubs and continually promoted Amateur Radio," Woolweaver
said. "He leaves a big hole in the Amateur Radio community."
The family has requested memorial donations to the ARRL Education and
Technology Fund (ETP), 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111-1494.
Ad
A Century of Amateur Radio and the ARRL
A VHF-and-above ham license had been discussed and debated for years.
When the FCC changed the Amateur Radio license structure on July 1,
1951, it established the Technician class license. It required passing
a Morse code test of 5 WPM; the written exam was the same as the
General class test.
The purpose of the Technician license was to allow electronics-minded
people to get on the air easily to experiment on 220 MHz and higher
frequencies, at a time when major advances were taking place on those
amateur bands. As it turned out, the number of experimenters in the
Technician ranks was fairly small; most Technician licensees wanted to
be communicators. The FCC responded to this fact by progressively
granting additional operating privileges to Techs.
In 1955, Technicians got privileges on 6 meters; in 1959, they
obtained
ARRL Life Member Jim Pickett, K5LAD, got his Technician ticket not
long after his Novice, holding both licenses simultaneously. The FCC
cancelled his Tech license after he upgraded to General. Some Novices
who had trouble passing the 13 WPM Morse test got Technician licenses
to "hold" their call signs beyond the 1-year Novice term. [From K5LAD
- 50+ Years of Ham Radio Memories]
privileges on 145 to 147 MHz; in 1972, 145 to 148 MHz; in 1978, all
privileges above 50 MHz, and in 1987, a small subband for 10 meter
SSB. In 2000, Technicians who had passed a 5 WPM code test were
allowed to operate CW on the Novice segments of 80, 40, and 15 meters,
and to use all modes on 10 meters.
Experimentation and advances in the state of the Amateur Radio art on
VHF-and-above remained, for the most part, the domain of higher-class
licensees, although a fair percentage of Technicians contributed too.
As communicators, Technician licensees have proven to be a great asset
to Amateur Radio during disasters and emergencies, for which the
VHF/UHF bands have become primary. The proliferation of mobile
stations on VHF and above also has played an important role in
providing public service and emergency communication support.
As the FCC intended, both Technician and Novice licensees spurred the
growth of Amateur Radio in the US. In 1950 there were about 90,000
hams; by 1956, there were more than 140,000; by 1963, more than
250,000, and today there are some 723,000 licensees.
Joe Speroni, AH0A, has compiled ham radio licensing statistics from
June 1997 to the present. -- Al Brogdon, W1AB
In Brief...
Chinese Publishing Representatives Visit ARRL Headquarters:
Representatives of China's Posts and Telecommunications Press (PT
Press) visited ARRL Headquarters on May 30 to present an award
honoring the ARRL's involvement in publishing Amateur Radio books in
China. PT Press publishes more than 20,000 titles as well as 13
magazines. In partnership with the ARRL, PT Press has translated and
published several League titles, such as the current edition of The
Antenna Book, The ARRL Handbook, and Getting Started in Amateur Radio.
First Call for 2014 AMSAT Space Symposium Papers: AMSAT-NA has issued
its first call for papers for the 2014 AMSAT Symposium and General
Meeting, set for the weekend of October 10-12 in Baltimore, Maryland.
Proposals for papers, symposium presentations and poster presentations
are invited on any topic of interest to the Amateur Satellite
community. AMSAT requests a tentative presentation title no later than
August 1, and final papers and presentations must be submitted by
September 15 for inclusion in the printed proceedings. Send abstracts
and papers to Dan Schultz, N8FGV. -- AMSAT News Service via 2014
Baltimore Symposium Committee
Hams Invited to Submit Papers for Digital Communications Conference:
Radio amateurs are invited to submit technical papers for presentation
at the 33rd annual ARRL and TAPR Digital Communications Conference
(DCC), set for September 5-7 in Austin, Texas. These papers will also
be published in the Conference Proceedings (you do not need to attend
the conference to have your paper included in the Proceedings). The
submission deadline is July 15. Send or e-mail papers to Maty
Weinberg, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111. If you must e-mail
ZIP files, add "ZIP FILE ATTACHED" to the subject line. More
conference information is on the TAPR website, or call (972) 671-8277.
Nevada Governor Declares June as "Nevada Amateur Radio Month:" Nevada
Governor Brian Sandoval has declared June "Nevada Amateur Radio
Month." In a May 12 gubernatorial proclamation, Sandoval noted
Nevada's sesquicentennial and the ARRL centennial this year and cited
the public service participation of Nevada's nearly 7000 radio
amateurs. "Silver State hams demonstrate their creative,
technological, and emergency operational prowess in public view all
across Nevada during the annual Field Day," the governor added.
DX-World, Northern California DX Club Announce New Partnership:
DX-World.net has announced a new partnership with Northern California
DX Club. NCDXC has agreed to sponsor and donate all future DX World --
DXpedition of the Year trophies. The DX World -- DXpedition of the
Year survey takes place every December and is considered the most
comprehensive and prestigious global poll of its kind to determine
teams worthy of the title. -- DX-World.net via MM0NDX
The K7RA Solar Update
Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Boy, has solar activity declined
this week, and the near-term outlook has dimmed as well.
Average daily sunspot numbers for May 29 through June 4 dropped from
103.3 (for the previous 7 days) to just 60.1. Average daily solar flux
declined from 110.3 to 104.1. Last week the predicted solar flux for
Field Day weekend was 108 and 110, and on June 2 that changed to 95
and 110.
Predicted solar flux for the near term is 105 on June 5-7, 110 for
June 8, 115 for June 9-10, 110 for June 11-12, 120 for June 13-15, 115
for June 16-17, 110 for June 18-20, 105 for June 21-23, then dipping
to 95 for June 26-28 before peaking at 120 for July 6-12.
Predicted planetary A index is 8, 5, 8, 10 and 8 for June 5-9, 5 for
June 10-17, 8 for June 18-19, 5 for June 20-24, 8 for June 25-26, 5 on
June 27, 8 on June 28, 5 on June 29, and 8 on June 30.
This weekly "Solar Update" in The ARRL Letter is a preview of the
"Propagation Bulletin" issued each Friday. The latest bulletin and an
archive of past propagation bulletins is on the ARRL website.
In tomorrow's bulletin look for an updated forecast and reports from
readers, including a dramatic recording of unusual backscatter on 10
meters made by Eric Guzman, NP3A, during the WPX CW Contest.
Send me your reports and observations.
Just Ahead in Radiosport
June 6 -- NS Weekly Sprint
June 7 -- LZ Open 20 Meter Contest (CW)
June 7-8 -- Ten-Ten Open Season (Digi)
June 7-8 -- Digifest
June 7-8 -- SEANET Contest (SSB, CW)
June 7-8 -- UKSMG Sporadic E Contest
June 7-8 -- IARU Region I Field Day (CW)
June 7-8 -- Alabama QSO Party
June 11 -- NAQCC Monthly QRP Sprint (CW)
June 14 -- Asia-Pacific Sprint (SSB)
June 14-15 -- DRCG Long Distance Contest (Digital)
June 14-15 -- Australian Shires Contest (SSB, CW)
June 14-15 -- Portugal Day (SSB, CW)
June 14-15 -- GACW WWSA CW DX Contest
June 14-15 -- QRP ARCI QRP Shootout (SSB, CW)
June 14-15 -- REF DDFM Six Meter Contest
June 14-15 -- West Virginia QSO Party
June 14-16 -- ARRL June VHF Contest
June 21 -- Kids Day
June 28-29 -- ARRL Field Day
Visit the Contest Calendar for details.
Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events
June 6-8 -- Northwestern Division Convention (SeaPac) -- Regional ARRL
Centennial Event, Seaside, Oregon
June 7 -- Georgia Section Convention (Atlanta Hamfest), Marietta,
Georgia
June 13-14 -- Ham-Com -- Regional ARRL Centennial Event, Plano, Texas
June 14 -- Western Pennsylvania ARES Emcomm Conference, Johnstown,
Pennsylvania
June 14 -- Tennessee State Convention (Knoxville Hamfest), Knoxville,
Tennessee
June 27-29 -- HAM RADIO International Exhibition for Radio Amateurs,
Friedrichshafen, Germany
July 5 -- Eastern Pennsylvania Section Convention, Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania
July 9-12 -- Mobile Amateur Radio Awards National Convention, Visalia,
California
July 17-19 -- ARRL National Centennial Convention, Hartford,
Connecticut
July 18-19 -- Arizona State Convention, Williams, Arizona
July 18-20 -- Montana State Convention, East Glacier, Montana
July 24-27 -- Central States VHF Society Conference, Austin, Texas
July 25-26 -- Oklahoma State Convention, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
August 1-2 -- Texas State Convention, Austin, Texas
August 7-9 -- Young Ladies Radio League Convention, Vancouver,
Washington
August 8-10 -- Rocky Mountain Division Convention, Albuquerque, New
Mexico
August 16-17 -- Southeastern Division Convention, Regional ARRL
Centennial Event, Huntsville, Alabama
August 17 -- Kansas State Convention, Salina, Kansas
August 23 -- West Virginia State Convention, Weston, West Virginia
August 23-24 -- JARL Ham Fair, Tokyo, Japan
August 24 -- Western Pennsylvania Section Convention, New Kensington,
Pennsylvania
August 30-31 -- North Carolina State Convention (Shelby Hamfest),
Shelby, North Carolina
Find conventions and hamfests in your area.
ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for
Amateur Radio News and Information
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