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N9PMO > LETTER 21.06.14 01:15l 725 Lines 36659 Bytes #999 (0) @ ARRL
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Centennial Convention Friday/Saturday Forums Feature Notable Speakers,
Intriguing Topics
Matt Wilhelm, W1MSW, Named as ARRL Contest Branch Manager
New ARRL Technician Instructor E-Manual Now Available for Download
FCC Substantially Reduces Radio Amateur's Fine for CB Violation
ARRL Field Day 2014 is at Hand, and Everyone is Invited!
W1AW Centennial Operations Are Now in Alaska and Montana
Friedrichshafen Hosts 39th Annual International "Ham Radio" Exhibition
Dr David Wardlaw, VK3ADW, Receives Michael J. Owen, VK3KI, Memorial Award
Astronaut's Initial ARISS Contact Will Be with Two Schools in Different
Countries
Amateur Radio Role on Space Station Featured at ISS Research and
Development Conference
Swiss 60 Meter Beacon Now on the Air
Past Wyoming Section Manager Robert W. Williams, N7LKH, 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
Centennial Convention Friday/Saturday Forums Feature Notable Speakers,
Intriguing Topics
Amateur Radio's history, public service role, satellite programs,
utilization of computer and digital technology, and even its relationship
The Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford will host the ARRL National
Centennial Convention July 17-19.
to the Common Core education standards are on the forum menu Friday and
Saturday at the ARRL National Centennial Convention. With such ham radio
star power as Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, Martti Laine, OH2BH, Carole
Perry, WB2MGP, Gordon West, WB6NOA, and Joe Taylor, K1JT, on the forum
schedule, there's something to pique everyone's interest. The Convention,
the highlight of the ARRL's 100th anniversary celebration, takes place July
17-19 at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford. The forum schedule
includes 3 dozen presentations each day between 9 AM and 3 PM, including
youth forums and other activities.
Among the Friday forums, Chris Codella, W2PA, will talk about the role
Centennial Banquet keynote speaker FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, KK4INZ.
of hams in "The Great War" and, later, on how we got our bands, while noted
DXer Martti Laine, OH2BH, will relate his 50 years of Amateur Radio
history. Alma Ripley will discuss "Amateur Radio and the Common Core
Standards." A wide array of technical topics, ranging from HF digital
operation and electronics kit building to
PIC programming, digital voice, and the LINUX operating system, is offered
as well. Tower law and safety will be featured at other forums.
Representatives from AMSAT, WX4NHC, and the NCVEC will be on hand to talk
about their programs.
The Centennial banquet's keynote speaker Friday evening will be FEMA
Administrator Craig Fugate, KK4INZ. An ARRL Wouff Hong ceremony will follow
later in the evening.
Helping to kick things off on Saturday, former FCC Special Counsel Riley
Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, will discuss "What We Owe the Amateur Service." The
Saturday schedule also features more youth-oriented programs, including a
scavenger hunt, plus a "peek behind the curtain" of propagation
forecasting, an introduction to antenna modeling, using the Raspberry Pi
computer in ham radio projects, radio frequency interference, "lightweight"
DXpeditioning, repurposing surplus commercial radios, and operating on 160
meters. "Gazing into the Future -- DXing with Weak Signals and Beyond" will
be the focus of a presentation by Nobel Laureate Joe Taylor, K1JT. Taylor
is also Saturday's noontime speaker.
The hard part is deciding which forums to attend. The easy part is being on
hand at the ARRL Centennial National Convention. There is still time to
register!
Matt Wilhelm, W1MSW, Named as ARRL Contest Branch Manager
Matt Wilhelm, W1MSW, of Williamsburg, Massachusetts, will be the new ARRL
Contest Branch Manager. He will start work at ARRL Headquarters on July 3.
An active contester and a member of the Yankee Clipper Contest Club and the
Hampden County Amateur
Matt Wilhelm, W1MSW, will become ARRL Contest Branch Manager on July 3.
Radio Association, Wilhelm has been licensed since 2009 and holds an
Amateur Extra class ticket. He became hooked on contesting after the first
ARRL Rookie Roundup in April 2010. His expertise -- and contest scores --
have been rising ever since.
"I cannot tell you how happy I am to be the next ARRL Contest Branch
Manager," Wilhelm said. "I'll be working hard to provide the high-quality
support that contest participants have come to expect from the Contest
Branch."
A native of Dallas, Texas, Wilhelm has an IT background in help desk
operations and network security systems management. When not making contest
contacts, Wilhelm enjoys mountain biking, home projects, and spending time
with his family -- his wife, Elizabeth, and his 2-year-old daughter Ruby.
New ARRL Technician Instructor E-Manual Now Available for Download
The sixth edition of the ARRL Technician Instructor Manual -- an electronic
publication -- now is available for free download by ARRL registered
instructors. This latest edition of The ARRL Instructor's Manual offers a
course syllabus that addresses all of the topics covered by the FCC
question pool that becomes effective on July 1 for the Technician license
exam. The syllabus follows the topic presentation sequence in the ARRL
student study guide, The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual (3rd ed).
The Instructor Manual is available in four sections for online download,
and it includes PowerPoint modules to enhance classroom presentation. The
Teacher's Guide to Amateur Radio Instruction by Pete Kemp, KZ1Z, is
incorporated within the Instructor Manual as well. Users may download each
section, each lesson, or each PowerPoint module as needed.
Updated and edited by Ward Silver, N0AX, the new Instructor Manual has been
condensed into 18 lesson modules and includes additional suggestions for
demonstrations and instructional activities. Silver is the author of all
three ARRL license manuals and the Q&A study guides.
The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual for students is organized to explain some
basic concepts of radio science and electronics at an introductory level,
providing sufficient background for students to gain a fundamental
understanding of radio technology. It moves from foundation concepts to
specific details that build upon those foundations.
The student and instructor materials are intended for an in-depth class
series running about 20 hours in all. Topics may be selected for classroom
discussion and lessons abbreviated and adapted to meet time constraints.
Resources for License Instruction also are available on the ARRL website.
FCC Substantially Reduces Radio Amateur's Fine for CB Violation
The FCC has significantly reduced the fine it imposed earlier this year on
an Oklahoma Amateur Extra class radio amateur licensee for operating his
Citizens Band radio to interfere with other CBers' transmissions. Orloff
Haines, KF5IXX, had been facing a $12,000 fine. In a June 17 Forfeiture
Order, the Commission dropped Haines's liability to $1750.
"Mr. Haines does not deny that he intentionally interfered with other CB
communications," the FCC said in the Forfeiture Order. "Instead, Mr. Haines
requests reduction or cancellation of the forfeiture proposed by the
Enforcement Bureau because he cannot afford to pay it. Although we do not
cancel the fine, we reduce the monetary penalty based on Mr. Haines's
documented inability to pay."
In May 2013 an FCC agent tracked the source of a continuous carrier on CB
channel 19 (27.1850 MHz) to Haines's home in Enid, Oklahoma. Haines was not
at home, but his wife showed the agent her husband's CB station, which was
transmitting on channel 19. Haines's wife told the FCC agent that her
husband's radio was continuously transmitting on channel 19, because other
CB operators in the area had been harassing her, the FCC reported in its
March 21 Notice of Apparent Liability (NAL). The FCC said the carrier was
interfering with CB communication within an approximately 2 mile radius.
Prior to May 2013, Haines had received two written warnings from the Dallas
FCC office, advising him of the consequences of intentionally interfering
with other CB communications. The FCC had added $5000 to Haines's initial
$7000 fine, because of what it called his "deliberate disregard for the
Commission's requirements and authority" by ignoring the earlier warnings.
In its Forfeiture Order, the FCC pointed out that it has rejected
inability-to-pay claims in past cases of "repeated or otherwise egregious
violations," and it warned Haines that similar violations in the future
"may result in significantly higher forfeitures that may not be reduced"
due to his financial circumstances.
ARRL Field Day 2014 is at Hand, and Everyone is Invited!
If you have not already made plans to get on the air for ARRL Field Day
2014, tick-tock, tick-tock. It's just days away, but it's not too late to
participate. Field Day 2014 is Saturday and Sunday, June 28 and 29. Field
Day is the year's most popular operating event, and more than 35,000 radio
amateurs will be setting up stations -- sometimes multiple stations -- in
the field, at campsites, in public parks, and even on their decks or in
their backyards to get in on the fun. Think of it as the first weekend of
Amateur Radio's summer. Last year, more than 2500 stations submitted
entries.
Field Day is primarily a group activity, though, and if you're not yet on
the roster to operate from your club's Field Day site, volunteer now! If
you don't belong to a club or don't know if there's a Field Day operation
setting up in your area, check the Field Day Locator to find one. Clubs
welcome new operators, especially if they are willing to take the graveyard
(overnight) shift or other less-desirable time slots or if they bring some
special talent or expertise to the picnic table -- top-notch CW
proficiency, satellite expertise, or antenna skills.
Part of the 2013 W1TU Field Day operation. ARRL Field Day in June 28-29.
[Rick Lindquist, WW1ME, photo]
If you'd rather just stay at home, you can operate your own station as is,
and work stations in the field, or you can set up to operate from an
emergency power source, such as a generator, batteries, or solar panels,
and work everyone else. Field Day got its start in the 1930s as an
emergency communication exercise, and that tradition continues today. Some
stations will be on the air from emergency operations centers.
The object is simple: To work as many stations as possible on any and all
Amateur Radio bands -- excluding 60, 30, 17, and 12 meters -- and to learn
to operate in less-than-optimal conditions. The camaraderie is special, and
there's a place for operators at all skill levels -- from newbies and even
prospective licensees to grizzled veterans.
Find your place at Field Day 2014, and enjoy Amateur Radio to the max!
W1AW Centennial Operations Are Now in Alaska and Montana
The ARRL Centennial W1AW WAS operations taking place throughout 2014 from
each of the 50 states are now in Alaska and Montana. They will relocate at
0000 UTC on Wednesday, June 25 (the evening of June 24 in US time zones),
to Illinois (W1AW/9) and Maryland (W1AW/3). 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.
Friedrichshafen Hosts 39th Annual International "Ham Radio" Exhibition
What some consider Europe's answer to Dayton Hamvention®, the 39th
International "Ham Radio" exhibition, gets underway June 27 in
Friedrichshafen, on the shores of Lake Constance in southern Germany.
Thousands of radio amateurs and electronics enthusiasts will converge on
the Messe Friedrichshafen convention center and surrounding fairgrounds for
the event. Some 200 exhibitors and organizations from more than 2 dozen
countries, including the ARRL, will be represented in the exhibit hall. The
Deutscher Amateur Radio Club (DARC) has chosen "Creative Amateur Radio --
Build It Yourself" as the theme for this year's show.
"Building things yourself has played an important role in Amateur Radio for
a long time," said DARC spokesman Axel Voigt, DO1ELL. "Building your own
equipment has been part of Amateur Radio since the beginning. [T]he
pioneers of Amateur Radio experimented, built their own equipment,
optimized it, and laid the foundations upon which Amateur Radio operates
today."
The ARRL team will be on hand to greet international visitors and to
network with representatives of other national ham radio societies.
"We're looking forward to bringing the ARRL Centennial celebration to our
members in Europe," said ARRL Marketing Manager Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R.
The League will offer DXCC card checking at its booth -- a service very
popular within the international ham radio community. Others on the
seven-person ARRL team include ARRL International
Ham Radio always draws a large and enthusiastic crowd to Friedrichshafen.
Affairs Vice President Jay Bellows, K0QB, ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, ARRL
Regulatory Information Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, and Assistant Member
and Volunteer Programs Department Manager Norm Fusaro, W3IZ.
In its role as International Secretariat for the International Amateur
Radio Union (IARU), the ARRL will host a meeting area for IARU officials
and friends at the convention. IARU President Tim Ellam, VE6SH/G4HUA, will
head the IARU delegation, which will include Vice President Ole Garpestad,
LA2RR, IARU Secretary Rod Stafford, W6ROD, and IARU International
Representative Hans Zimmermann, F5VKP/HB9AQS
In line with the show's theme, Ham Radio for the first time will share
space June 28-29 with Maker World, as a "sister event." The pairing could
boost overall attendance, which typically runs between 15,000 and 20,000
visitors.
"The event will show off a wide range of individually designed products and
ideas for hobbyists and tinkerers," a Ham Radio news release said. "These
range from things like 3D printing to case 'modding,' when the appearance
of a computer case is [visually] improved or changed, on up to 'upcycling,'
in which everyday items which have outlived their useful lives are
transformed for a new purpose."
Among other activities at Ham Radio, an Amateur Radio transmitter hunt will
be held near the fairgrounds, and a balloon mission and a drift buoy
project will be launched, both carrying payloads to collect data from the
air and water. A ham radio youth camp will offer 100 young people an
opportunity to experience the Ham Radio show up close.
The DARC will hold its 65th Lake Constance Conference during the weekend of
Ham Radio. The Continent's biggest ham radio show will wrap up on June 29.
Dr David Wardlaw, VK3ADW, Receives Michael J. Owen, VK3KI, Memorial Award
Former IARU Vice President Dr David Wardlaw, VK3ADW, received the Michael
J. Owen, VK3KI, Memorial Award during a recent reception at Wireless
Institute of Australia (WIA) headquarters. Wardlaw, the second of the two
inaugural recipients of the honor, was recognized for his contributions to
the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU). Wojciech Nietyksza, SP5FM,
received the Michael J. Owen Award last month.
IARU President Tim Ellam, VE6SH/G4HUA, who presented the award,
IARU President Tim Ellam, VE6SH/G4HUA (left) with Owen Award recipient Dr
David Wardlaw, VK3ADW. [Photo courtesy of Jim Linton, VK3PC]
called Wardlaw "an effective representative of both Amateur Radio and the
Australian administration at the ITU."
Owen, who served as the IARU Region 3 chairman and WIA president, died in
2012. With Owen, Wardlaw was part of Australia's delegation to World
Administrative radio Conference 1979 (WARC-79), in which Amateur Radio
gained access to 30, 17, and 12 meters. In the 1980s and 1990s Wardlaw
served as an IARU Region 3 director before becoming Vice President.
Ironically, it was Wardlaw who, years earlier, got a young Michael Owen
interested in ham radio.
The IARU Administrative Council unanimously chose Nietyksza and Wardlaw
last fall as joint recipients of the Owen Award. -- Thanks to Jim Linton,
VK3PC
Astronaut's Initial ARISS Contact Will Be with Two Schools in Different
Countries
European Space Agency Astronaut Alexander Gerst, KF5ONO, will answer
questions from groups of students in two different countries on June 20,
when he picks up the NA1SS microphone for the first time as part of the
Expedition 40/41 ISS crew increment. He came aboard the ISS in late May.
One group of youngsters will be at Focus Camp in Candriai, Italy, while
ESA Astronaut Alexander Gerst, KF5ONO.
the second will be at the Euro Space Center in Belgium. The students in
Italy will ask the odd-numbered questions, while the students in Belgium
will pose the evens.
The Amateur Radio contact with the International Space Station will be
conducted via ARISS telebridge station IK1SLD, in northern Italy. Audio to
and from both event sites and IK1SLD will be handled via ground-based
telecommunication facilities. Signals from the ISS will be audible over
Europe on 145.800 MHz FM.
The event will be broadcast on EchoLink AMSAT (node 101 377) and JK1ZRW
(node 277 208) conference servers, as well as on IRLP Discovery Reflector
9010.
Focus Camp is a summertime science camp aimed at children aged 8 to 13. At
the Euro Space Center, some 150 youngsters from all over Europe taking part
in Mission X, an international education project that encourages children
to take part in a challenge, adopting a life style reflecting astronaut
training. -- ARISS
Amateur Radio Role on Space Station Featured at ISS Research and
Development Conference
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) got some
visibility this week at the third annual ISS Research and Development
Conference. The conference, organized by American Astronautical Society
(AAS) in cooperation with the Center for the Advancement of Science in
Space and NASA, wrapped up June 19 in Chicago.
ARISS International Chairman and AMSAT Vice President for Human Spaceflight
Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, was the lead presenter for a program compiled by
members of the ARISS US team -- which included ARISS International
Secretary and ARRL Delegate Rosalie White, K1STO, ARRL Education Services
Manager Debra Johnson, K1DMJ, and E. Mike McCardel, KC8YLD, of AMSAT. The
presentation, "ARISS -- Inspiring and Educating Youth through Direct
Connections with the ISS Crew," focused on ARISS and its role in education.
ARISS is the first and longest continuously running educational outreach
program involving the International Space Station. The first ARISS school
contact took place in late 2000, and nearly 900 such Amateur Radio contacts
have taken place since then.
Preparation for the ARISS experience motivates both students and teachers
to further their educations. Educators involved in an ARISS event can learn
about electronics and wireless technology through the hands-on training
provided in an ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology session --
several are held each year. In similar fashion, youngsters preparing for a
contact with an ISS crew member may learn about radio waves, space
technology, science experiments
ARISS International Chairman Frank Bauer, KA3HDO. [File photo, courtesy of
Rosalie White, K1STO]
on board the ISS, geography, and the space environment. Some 15,000
students are touched directly by an ARISS contact each year, and many more
become aware the program and its benefits either directly or via news media
coverage resulting from an event.
The ARISS presentation at this week's AAS conference provided some
historical background on the ARISS program, described the international
volunteer team responsible for making program a success, and presented an
overview of the process for schools to apply for an ARISS school contact.
It also explained how the ARISS team partnered with NASA Education Office's
Teaching from Space program to engage schools and students. It also
described some of the educational outcomes from ARISS, including data and
feedback from schools, students, and organizations.
In addition to inspiring an interest in science, technology, engineering,
and math (STEM) curricula and careers, ARISS offers an opportunity for
Amateur Radio experimentation and for evaluating new technologies. Read
more. -- Thanks to The American Astronautical Society via AMSAT News
Service
Swiss 60 Meter Beacon Now on the Air
Although radio amateurs in Switzerland do not yet have access to the 60
meter band, the Sursee Amateur Radio Club has received authorization to
operate an experimental beacon in grid square JN47be under the call sign
HB9AW. The 5291 kHz beacon, which went live on June 1, is primarily to
study 60 meter propagation within Switzerland.
The new beacon will transmit HB9AW in CW at 10 W, followed by five dashes,
with the power lowered with each dash. The first dash will be at 10 W, the
second at 5 W, the third at 1 W, the fourth at 100 mW, and the fifth at 10
mW (all power levels in ERP). The beacon will transmit every 5 minutes,
starting at the top of the hour.
The antenna is a half-wave NVIS-type dipole with its feed point 0.12 λ
above ground and its ends slightly lower. A reflector is set beneath the
dipole. "We deliberately chose this high-angle radiating antenna to study
propagation conditions in Switzerland," the club said on its website,
adding, "Conditions for DX contacts are for now only of secondary
interest."
Past Wyoming Section Manager Robert W. Williams, N7LKH, SK
Past Wyoming SM Bob Williams, N7LKH (ex-WB6ZAK), of Wapiti, Wyoming, died
June 8 following a lengthy illness. He was 89. Williams served as Wyoming's
Section Manager from April 1997 until March 2003, when he decided not to
seek another term.
He was one of the longest-licensed -- if not the longest-licensed -- radio
amateurs in Wyoming.
According to ARRL Rocky Mountain Division Vice Director Dwayne Allen,
WY7FD, Williams designed the guidance system for the Titan missile, which
became the guidance system for the Apollo/Saturn rockets.
Survivors include his wife Mary, KF7MC.
A Century of Amateur Radio and the ARRL
Continuing our look at ham radio in the early 1950s, we see that QST
reported regularly on states that offered call sign license plates for
motor vehicles. Just a handful of states offered call sign plates at first,
but the idea gained momentum as more and more states joined in. Ham clubs
-- or groups of ham clubs -- would lobby their state legislators to
introduce bills requesting a new law. One notable example was Mississippi,
where an eight-member Amateur Radio club lobbied successfully, leading to a
new state law allowing Amateur Radio call sign tags!
With the help and advice of the ARRL, governments at the federal, state,
and local levels started looking at ham radio's role in Civil Defense. The
idea was to get a CD organization in place before an emergency, rather than
waiting until afterward (as happened in World War II). By this time, the
value of hams in providing emergency communication had been demonstrated to
and appreciated by government agencies all over, so the ARRL's role was to
get things operating smoothly while in the planning stages, rather than
having to make a "hard sell."
Going mobile in the 1950s was not for the faint of heart, as can be seen in
this 1952 ARRL Handbook photo. Note the crystal poking out from the
transmitter below the dashboard.
The 1950s were, of course, the time of the "Cold War" and the threat of
all-out nuclear war. Seattle, Washington, was the scene of a massive
"A-Bomb Test," to test all aspects of emergency preparedness, should a
nuclear device hit the city, and the Amateur Radio Emergency Corps -- as
ARES was known in those days -- was a major asset during the test. On a
related note, QST carried several articles on radiological monitoring
during the early 1950s.
Following World War II, the number of private automobiles in the country
increased by leaps and bounds, as vehicle production shifted from military
to civilian needs, and as the populace became more affluent and more
mobile. In 1938, about 1.7 million American cars were built; in 1953, more
than 6 million. As a result, QST published many articles on mobile
receiving converters, mobile transmitters (single-band and bandswitching),
and mobile antennas -- particularly multiband antennas.
Other areas that received attention in QST included VHF topics, the
Military Affiliate (now "Auxiliary") Radio System (MARS), huge rotary
arrays for 10 meters, antennas for VHF/UHF, RTTY, HF receivers and
transmitters, and electronic keyers.
The ugly face of zoning restrictions first appeared in the 1950s. The ARRL
got involved in helping hams wage legal battles against overly restrictive
community limits on antenna and tower heights -- or, in some cases,
complete prohibitions of antennas. These cases were reported in QST as they
developed. Happily, the radio amateurs always won complete or partial
victories in the court cases, thereby setting precedents for future battles
of a similar nature. -- Al Brogdon, W1AB
In Brief...
Dayton Hamvention Attendance Up Slightly: Dayton Hamvention® has announced
on its website that 24,873 people turned out for Hamvention 2014. That was
up slightly from 2013, when 24,542 attended the annual, 3-day international
gathering. Hamvention 2014 was a Regional ARRL National Centennial Event.
Charles Kaiser, KD8JZR, was the 2014 general chairman. The Dayton Amateur
Radio Association (DARA) has sponsored Hamvention since 1952. Originally
called the Southwestern Ohio Ham-vention, the inaugural event, held in
March in downtown Dayton, attracted 600 attendees -- twice as many as had
been predicted. Hamvention attendance peaked at 33,669 in 1993.
JARL Has a New President: The Japan Amateur Radio League (JARL) has elected
a new president. He is Toshihiko Yamanouchi, JA7AIW. Elected as vice
presidents at the JARL's annual assembly on June 15 were Kimio Maegawa,
JA9BOH, and Yoshinori Takao, JG1KTC. Hiroyoshi Tamama, JA1SLS, will serve
as Executive Director and IARU liaison. The JARL will be among the
exhibitors at the ARRL National Centennial Convention, July 17-19, in
Hartford, Connecticut. -- Thanks to JARL International Ken Yamamoto, JA1CJP
ITU Handbook on Amateur and Amateur-Satellite Services Available: The 2014
International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Handbook on Amateur and
Amateur-Satellite Services is now available for download as a PDF file,
courtesy of the Belgian Amateur Radio Society (UBA). The Handbook, produced
by the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau (ITU-R), provides general information
about the Amateur and Amateur-Satellite services, including Amateur Radio
allocations and band plans, extracts of Radio Regulations, and ITU-R
questions, recommendations and other texts relevant to the Amateur Service.
W1AW/0 QSYs Waaaay Up to Earn VUCC on the Microwaves While W1AW was in
Minnesota as part of the ARRL Centennial QSO Party, members of the Northern
Lights Radio Society (NLRS) provided W1AW/0 with VHF/UHF Century Club
(VUCC) on four microwave bands -- 3.4, 5.7, 10, and 24 GHz. A station must
work five grid squares to earn VUCC on the bands 3.4 GHz and higher. On
June 13 Glen Overby, KC0IYT, operated W1AW/0 from EN25xb near Howard Lake,
Minnesota, and worked WA2VOI/0, W0AUS (W0ZQ op), and N0KP in five grid
squares to cap the award requirements. Of the four bands, 24 GHz was the
most challenging, because signals start to become affected by the amount of
moisture in the atmosphere.
Delaware ARES Team Receives State Council Award: Sussex County, Delaware,
ARES has received an Outstanding Service Award from the Delaware Advisory
Council on Career and Technical Education (DACCTE). Sussex County SEC and
Delaware SM-elect Bill Duveneck, KB3KYH (right in photo) headed a
delegation to Dover on June 11 to receive the award from DACCTE Chairman
Samuel Lathem. The award goes to businesses, individuals, and organizations
that provide exemplary service and contributions to the field of Career and
Technical Education and the citizens of Delaware. Recipients are nominated
by leaders from business, industry, and education, and are honored for the
significant and positive contributions they have made. Nominating Sussex
ARES was Joseph Booth, a community leader and staff member of Sussex
Technical High School, in recognition of the group's continued support of
the school's Amateur Radio club, K3STR, and student mentorship. The award
also recognized the role that ARES played in arranging the donation of a
fully equipped communications van to the school. -- Thanks to Herb Quick,
KF3BT
Summer Solstice on June 21 Inspires UK Special Event Station: Special event
station GB1JSS will be active on HF, VHF, and Amateur Radio satellites
during the summer solstice on Saturday, June 21 -- the longest annual
period of daylight in the Northern Hemisphere. On that day there will 16
hours, 38 minutes, 19 seconds of daylight. Members of the Chelmsford
Amateur Radio Society (CARS) will operate from grid square JO01FQ. GB1JSS
will be on the air on 40 through 10 meters plus 2 meters, on SSB, CW, PSK31
and RTTY. The day coincides with the first half of the 50 MHz Trophy
Contest, so there may be some 6 meter activity. Wind permitting, G3SUY
hopes to deploy a kite supported antenna to use on 160 meters.
BAOFENG Rebrands to Pofung: Chinese radio manufacturer BAOFENG is
rebranding its products under the "Pofung" label in international markets.
The company said BAOFENG -- a literal Pinyin translation of the company's
Chinese character name -- "may be difficult for a hobbyist across the ocean
to pronounce." The company said the new name, Pofung, is easier to
pronounce and more customer-friendly, while maintaining the brand's
phonetic symbolism. Products for the domestic market in China will retain
their current brand name and identity, and the company's web domain,
www.baofengradio.com, will remain unchanged. -- Thanks to Amateur Radio
Newsline, Baofeng
Special Spanish Prefixes to Mark Change of Monarch: To mark the passing of
the passing of the crown June 18 from King Juan Carlos, EA0JC, to his son,
Felipe VI, Spanish Amateur Radio operators may use special prefixes between
June 18 and September 18. EA stations may use the AM0# prefix, EB operators
may use the AN0# prefix, and EC hams may use the AO0# prefix during the
3-month period. For example EA9CD would be AM09CD, EB7DX would operate as
AN07DX, and EC1KR would be AO01CR. -- Thanks to The Daily DX
North Carolina Governor Proclaims July "Amateur Radio Recognition and
Appreciation Month:" North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory (photo) has
proclaimed July as "Amateur Radio Recognition and Appreciation Month."
Among other things, the governor recognized the ARRL's Centennial this
year. -- Thanks to Woody Woodward, K3VSA
The K7RA Solar Update
The daily sunspot number rose dramatically during this reporting period,
when it increased to 276 on June 13, but 2 days later it was back below
100. The resulting weekly average for June 12-18 (141) was actually down
2.3 points from the previous 7 days. The average daily solar flux was down
11.7 points to 134.7.
Predicted solar flux has been weakening lately, and near-term flux values
are predicted at 110 on June 19, 105 for June 20-22, 100 for June 23-24,
back to 105 for June 25-26, 120 for June 27 through July 6, 115 for July
7-12, and peaking at 130 for July 13-19.
ARRL Field Day is June 28-29, when the predicted flux value is 120. This is
the highest predicted flux value for those 2 days since May 25, when it was
also 120.
Predicted planetary A index is 8 on June 19, 5 for June 20-21, 8 on June
22, 5 for June 23 through July 10, 8 on July 11, 5 on July 12, and 10, 8,
8, and 5 for July 13-16, respectively.
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.
Send me your reports and observations!
Just Ahead in Radiosport
June 19 -- CWops Monthly Mini-CWT Tests
June 19 -- NAQCC Milliwatt Sprint (CW)
June 21 -- Kids Day
June 21 -- Feld-Hell Field Day Sprint
June 21-22 -- All-Asian DX Contest (CW)
June 21-22 -- SMIRK QSO Party (SSB, CW)
June 21-22 -- Straight Key Weekend Sprintathon
June 21-22 -- IARU 50 MHz Contest (SSB, CW)
June 21-22 -- Stew Perry Warmup Contest (CW)
June 22 -- WAB 50 MHz Phone
June 23 -- Run For the Bacon (CW)
June 26-30 -- SARL Top Band QSO Party (SSB, CW)
June 28 -- His Majesty King of Spain Contest (SSB)
June 28-29 -- ARRL Field Day (SSB, CW, digital)
June 28-30 -- Marconi Memorial HF Contest (CW)
Visit the Contest Calendar for details.
Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events
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.
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