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N9PMO > LETTER 29.01.15 23:57l 735 Lines 33300 Bytes #999 (0) @ ARRL
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ARES, SKYWARN Volunteers Go On Alert for Massive East Coast Winter
Storm
FCC "Paperless" Amateur Radio License Policy Goes into Effect on
February 17
ARRL Board Names Award Recipients
New Legislative Issues Advocacy Fund Gets Initial Boost from Hudson
Division
ARRL Board Elects Executive Committee, Hears Reports, Welcomes
Visitors
School Club Roundup is February 9-13!
Unlicensed Religious Broadcaster Who Used Amateur Frequencies Ordered
Off the Air
QRZ Logbook Now Offering Reciprocal Confirmation Credit and LoTW
Download
NASA Opens Application Window for Paid CubeSat, PICetSat Internships
March Issue of The American Legion Magazine to Feature Amateur Radio
RSGB Welcomes Proposed Crackdown on Interference-Producing Power Line
Data Devices
ARRL Assistant Roanoke Division Director Anthony R. "Tony" Curtis,
K3RXK, SK
ARRL Technical Advisor, Author, AMRAD President Emeritus André
Kesteloot, N4ICK, SK
In Brief...
The K7RA Solar Update
Just Ahead in Radiosport
Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions and Events
ARES, SKYWARN Volunteers Go On Alert for Massive East Coast Winter
Storm
Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) teams and SKYWARN weather
observers along the US Eastern Seaboard went on alert Monday, January
26, as a winter storm began working its way into the Northeast. The
storm, which brought blizzard conditions to some areas, shut down
transportation and kept residents at home in several states. Eastern
Massachusetts and the City of Boston may have been hardest hit, with
record or near-record snowfall amounts and storm surge flooding in
some coastal communities. ARES units on Cape Cod deployed to staff six
shelters and the Multi-Agency Coordination Center, which serves
Barnstable County. A shelter was opened on Nantucket Island, after the
entire island lost electrical power as well as most telecommunication
services, and ham radio volunteers helped to fill the gap. Amateur
Radio volunteers relayed this information to the National Weather
Service (NWS) Taunton Office, home to WX1BOX, where operations kicked
into high gear on Monday evening and continued for 27 hours.
Hurricane-force wind gusts were recorded on Nantucket Island and on
the western edge of Martha's Vineyard.
"Amateur Radio operators across Southern New England checked into
regular SKYWARN Nets and/or with WX1BOX throughout the storm, even
during the overnight hours, providing tremendous situational awareness
and disaster intelligence information for the National Weather
Service, state emergency management, nongovernmental organizations,
and the media," Eastern Massachusetts Assistant Section Emergency
Coordinator and SKYWARN Coordinator Rob Macedo, KD1CY, told ARRL.
"Several hundred snowfall total and damage reports, including coastal
flood reports, were fielded over a dozen SKYWARN nets across the NWS
coverage area."
Macedo said widespread snowfall totals of 15 to 30 inches -- and up to
3 feet in some areas -- occurred in Central and Eastern Massachusetts
and parts of Rhode Island, while up to 2 feet of snow fell in
Connecticut and Southwest Massachusetts. ARRL Headquarters announced
on Monday that it would close on January 27 in anticipation of the
severe weather.
Massachusetts' South Shore experienced flooding, as a wind-driven
tidal surge breached one seawall, flooding homes and businesses along
the Brant Rock Esplanade. Flooding was also reported in Scituate,
where streets filled with slushy seawater. Fierce winds caused some
minor structural damage. A few residents had to be evacuated.
ARES and SKYWARN volunteers elsewhere in the Northeast also relayed
ground-level weather conditions to NWS offices as the severe storm
continued its northeasterly trek. The winter storm may not have lived
up to advance hype in some areas, leaving forecasters apologetic, but
it was a significant weather event for Northern New England residents.
While the worst of the storm missed New York City, extreme Long Island
saw a couple of feet of snow. Eastern New York SEC David Galletly,
KM2O, said ARES groups in his Section stood down at midday on January
27.
"The storm track was apparently 50 to 100 miles east of the original
forecast with a very sharp snow boundary," Galletly said. "This
resulted in much less snow accumulation, especially in the Northern
District counties."
ARRL New York City-Long Island Section Manager Jim Mezey, W2KFV, said
ARES teams in his Section spent Monday preparing for a storm that was
anticipated to be of "historic proportions." By midday, he said, ARES
members were awaiting marching orders. The American Red Cross had
identified three possible shelter locations in Nassau and Suffolk
counties, where ARES might have supported communication.
"Winds were running at 25 MPH with higher gusts, creating whiteout
conditions for most of the night and early morning," Mezey said. He
reported snowfall accumulations of from 5 to 8 inches in New York
City, 13 to 20 inches in Nassau County, and more than 24 inches in
Eastern Suffolk County. By noon on January 27, ARES teams stood down
but continued to monitor the situation a while longer.
In Maine, where heavy snowfall and high winds battered eastern and
coastal communities, ARES bumped up its alert status to Level 2 --
standby. Scattered power outages were reported, mostly in southern
Maine. Temperatures remained in the teens. Maine ARES Section
Emergency Coordinator Phil Duggan, N1EP, activated ARES Weather and
SKYWARN Net sessions on HF, but no served agencies requested ARES
communication support.
More than 1 foot of snow fell along parts of the Maine coast, and
stiff winds out of the northeast caused considerable blowing and
drifting of snow. At times, visibility was less than one-quarter mile.
More snow is forecast for January 30.
FCC "Paperless" Amateur Radio License Policy Goes into Effect on
February 17
Starting on February 17, the FCC no longer will routinely issue paper
license documents to Amateur Radio applicants and licensees. The
Commission has maintained for some time now that the official Amateur
Radio license authorization is the electronic record that exists in
its Universal Licensing System (ULS), although the FCC has routinely
continued to print and mail hard copy licenses. That will stop next
month.
In mid-December, the FCC adopted final procedures to provide access to
official electronic authorizations, as it had proposed in WT Docket
14-161 as part of its "process reform" initiatives. Under the new
procedures, licensees will access their current official authorization
("Active" status only) via the ULS License Manager. The FCC will
continue to provide paper license documents to all licensees who
notify the Commission that they prefer to receive one. Licensees will
also be able to print out an official authorization -- as well as an
unofficial "reference copy" -- from the ULS License Manager.
"We find this electronic process will improve efficiency by
simplifying access to official authorizations in ULS, shortening the
time period between grant of an application and access to the official
authorization, and reducing regulatory costs," the FCC Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) said. According to the WTB, the new
procedures will save at least $304,000 a year, including the cost of
staff resources.
In comments filed November 5, the ARRL had strongly recommended that
the FCC "give serious consideration to continuing a default provision
for sending an initial paper license document to new licensees in the
Amateur Radio Service, along with detailed, simple instructions for
how to make the elections set forth in the notice relative to future
modified or renewed licenses."
Under the new procedures, a new license applicant who already has an
FCC Registration Number (FRN) and provides a valid e-mail address
under "Applicant Information" in the ULS will receive an official
ULS-generated electronic authorization via e-mail. New license
applicants lacking an FRN will receive one in the mail as well as a
temporary password to access the Commission Registration System
(CORES), but will no longer automatically receive a license document;
they must request one by changing their "Paper Authorization
Preference" in the ULS License Manager.
The ARRL and other Amateur Radio commenters also worried that unless a
license document is printed on distinctive paper stock, its
authenticity could be questioned in such situations as obtaining
vanity call sign license plates. To address this, the FCC said the
watermark "Official Copy" will be printed on each page of an official
authorization that a licensee prints out from the ULS. The WTB
recently stopped using distinctive paper stock to produce hard copy
licenses and has been printing these on "standard, white recycled
paper." The Bureau noted that the distinctive paper stock it had been
using was six times more expensive than the plain recycled paper it
now uses.
The ULS License Manager (left) now includes settings that allow
licensees to notify the WTB that they prefer to receive official
authorizations on paper. Once final procedures go into effect
designating electronic access as the default, licensees can change the
ULS License Manager setting so that the Bureau will print and mail a
license document. Licensees also may contact FCC Support via the web,
telephone, or mail to request paper licenses.
The FCC rejected as "outside the scope of this proceeding" an ARRL
argument that Section 97.23 of the Amateur Service rules be amended to
replace "licensee mailing address" with other alternatives, including
e-mail, for use in Commission correspondence. The rule, which requires
that any licensee mailing address be in an area where the licensee has
US Postal Service access, has precluded FCC issuance of
location-specific call signs in such areas as Navassa Island (KP1) and
some Pacific islands.
ARRL Board Names Award Recipients
The ARRL Board of Directors has bestowed the 2014 George Hart
Distinguished Service Award on David B. Colter, WA1ZCN, of New London,
New Hampshire. The Board may grant the award to an ARRL member whose
service to the ARRL Field Organization has been of the most exemplary
nature. The award's namesake is George Hart, W1NJM, long-time
Communications Manager at ARRL Headquarters and chief developer of the
National Traffic System.
Colter, a member of the Twin State Amateur Radio Club, was recognized
for nearly 4 decades of service to the Amateur Radio community,
including such leadership positions as Section Emergency Coordinator
and Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator.
Colter designed training and development courses for the New Hampshire
ARES community and was the prime mover behind the New Hampshire ARES
Academy -- a day-long springtime event that provides courses and
training in various aspects of public service communication. He also
served as editor of the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Communications
Course (ARECC) series and as New England Division representative on
the League's Emergency Communications Advisory Committee.
The Board also honored three professional journalists with the ARRL
Bill Leonard Award for their outstanding coverage of Amateur Radio in
video, print, and aural media. The award honors journalists for
excellence in reporting that highlights the enjoyment, importance, and
public service value of Amateur Radio. The award is a tribute to the
late CBS News President Bill Leonard, W2SKE, an avid Amateur Radio
operator and advocate.
The video award went to Christine Kim of KSNV-TV in Las Vegas, for her
"Local Heroes" profile of the Nevada Amateur Radio Emergency Service.
The print award went to Marti Attoun of American Profile magazine, for
her "Radio Active" article that profiled Amateur Radio.
The aural media award went to Steve Kraske and Beth Lipoff of KCUR-FM
in Kansas City, for their "Exploring Ham Radio in a Digital World"
interview of Brian Short, KCŘBS; Carolyn Wells, NŘCJ, and Matt May,
KC4WCG.
The Board announced the award recipients at its 2015 Annual Meeting,
January 16-17, in Windsor, Connecticut.
New Legislative Issues Advocacy Fund Gets Initial Boost from Hudson
Division
ARRL Hudson Division Director Mike Lisenco, N2YBB -- acting on behalf
of the members of his Division -- has presented ARRL President Kay
Craigie, N3KN, with an inaugural donation of $4500 to the new ARRL
Legislative Issues Advocacy Fund. President Craigie received the
contribution during the ARRL Board's Annual Meeting January 16-17 in
Windsor, Connecticut. The check, from the Long Island Mobile Amateur
Radio Club, represented contributions from members at the 2014 Hudson
Division Awards Luncheon on November 8. President Craigie generously
matched the donation. The Board's Administration and Finance Committee
established the Legislative Issues Advocacy Fund -- proposed by
Lisenco -- to educate and inform members of Congress of the importance
of issues that impact the Amateur Radio Service.
ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, receives a donation from Hudson
Division Director Mike Lisenco, N2YBB, for the Legislative Issues
Advocacy Fund. President Craigie matched the $4500 contribution.
[Harold Kramer, WJ1B, photo]
"There is an urgent need to raise money to help offset the cost of
sending our voice to Washington for legislative advocacy, and we need
to continue these expenditures into the future to achieve our goals --
including and going beyond the current CC&R legislative effort -- as
there will always be issues that require a continuing presence on
Capitol Hill," Lisenco said after the meeting.
Lisenco added that potential issues down the road could include
spectrum allocation -- and especially conflicts stemming from
broadband allocations -- revisions to the Communications Act, the
adequacy and efficiency of FCC enforcement and the use of Amateur
Radio volunteers, increased privatization of Amateur Radio
administration, FCC oversight, and radio frequency interference
concerns, "to name a few."
"We must establish a brand for Amateur Radio now, so that we no longer
have to be reactive when it comes to the relationship between the
federal government and Amateur Radio," Lisenco stressed after the
meeting.
The ARRL is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) entity. All donations to the fund
are tax deductable within the limits of the law. For information on
how to donate to the ARRL Legislative Issues Advocacy Fund, contact
Development Manager Lauren Clarke, KB1YDD (tel 860-594-0348).
Legislative Objectives Outlined
At its Annual Meeting, the ARRL Board adopted several legislative
objectives for the 114th US Congress. Accordingly, the ARRL will
continue to secure passage of legislation instructing the FCC to
extend the requirement for "reasonable accommodation" of Amateur Radio
station antennas -- a requirement that now applies to state and local
governing bodies -- to all forms of land use regulation. The League
also will continue to oppose legislation leading to the reallocation
of amateur spectrum or to sharing arrangements that reduce the utility
of existing allocations, as well as legislation that diminishes the
rights of federal licensees in favor of unlicensed emitters or that
encourages the deployment of spectrum-polluting technologies. Read
more.
Ad
ARRL Board Elects Executive Committee, Hears Reports, Welcomes
Visitors
The ARRL Board of Directors has elected members of the Executive
Committee. Chosen during the Board's 2015 Annual Meeting were New
England Division Director Tom Frenaye, K1KI; Hudson Division Director
Lisenco; West Gulf Division Director Dr David Woolweaver, K5RAV;
Pacific Division Director Bob Vallio, W6RGG, and Great Lakes Division
Director Dale Williams, WA8EFK.
International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Secretary Rod Stafford,
W6ROD, addressed the ARRL Board of Directors meeting [LJB Special
Photography photo]
The Board also chose members of the ARRL Foundation Board.
Northwestern Division Director Jim Pace, K7CEX, was elected to fill
the unexpired term of past ARRL Midwest Division Director Cliff
Ahrens, K0CA, who stepped down from the Foundation Board.
For full 3-year terms on the Foundation Board, the Board elected
Director Frenaye, Rocky Mountain Division Director Brian Mileshosky,
N5ZGT, and Martin Green, K2PLF. Frenaye, as ARRL Foundation President,
reported that the Foundation funded some 80 scholarships in 2014, and
that two new scholarships are in the process of being established.
Other Business
The ARRL Board heard reports from officers during its Annual Meeting.
Chief Technology Officer Brennan Price, N4QX, told the Board that
efforts are in full swing to build support for Amateur Radio-related
issues, in preparation for World Radiocommunication Conference 2015 in
November.
General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, pointed out in his report that
spectrum auctions continue to pose a potential threat to Amateur Radio
spectrum. He also told the Board that inadequate FCC attention to
Amateur Radio enforcement issues continues to be a concern.
Also present for the Annual Meeting were International Amateur Radio
Union (IARU) Secretary Rod Stafford, W6ROD, and Radio Amateurs of
Canada (RAC) Vice President Glenn MacDonell, VE3XRA. Stafford brought
greetings from IARU President Tim Ellam, VE6SH, and Vice President Ole
Garpestad, LA2RR, and noted that 2015 is the 90th anniversary of the
IARU. The IARU is preparing for the International Telecommunication
Union World Radiocommunication Conference 2015 this November in
Geneva.
Find ARRL on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter!
School Club Roundup is February 9-13!
School clubs are busily prepping their stations for The "Winter/Spring
Term" School Club Roundup, which gets under way Monday, February 9 at
1300 UTC, and continues through Friday, February 13, at 2359 UTC.
Stations may operate no more than 6 hours in any 24 hour period (up to
a maximum of 24 hours).
Senior Jacob Yarnell, KF5UVN, and freshman Mirah Gordon operate in the
October 2014 School Club Roundup from K5LBJ at LASA High School in
Austin, Texas.
The twice-yearly event is an opportunity for school club stations --
from elementary school to college -- to get on the air for a friendly
radio activity. Non-school clubs and individuals are encouraged to
participate too. Sponsored by the ARRL, the ARRL Hudson Division
Education Task Force, and the Long Island Mobile Amateur Radio Club
(LIMARC), the contest aims to foster contacts with and among school
radio clubs.
Stations exchange signal reports, class ("Individual," "Club," or
"School"), and US state, Canadian province/territory, or DXCC entity.
Stations may operate on all amateur bands except 60, 30, 17, and 12
meters (no repeater contacts and VHF/UHF contacts must be on
recognized simplex frequencies, except calling frequencies). Stations
may operate phone, CW, and digital modes, or a combination. The most
popular time for younger students is during after-school hours, but
older students may be on the air anytime. All groups are limited to
one transmitter on the air.
If you'd just like to get on the air and hand out contacts, enter in
the Individual category. Tune around in any mode and listen for SCR
stations calling CQ, or call CQ yourself and see who answers (call "CQ
School Clubs," if you are not a club station). Logs are due no more
than 15 days after the operating period has ended and can be submitted
online via the WA7BNM website.
The top three entries in each category -- Elementary,
Middle/Intermediate/Junior High School, Senior High School
College/University -- will receive an Award Certificate. Non-school
clubs or multiop groups and individuals are also eligible for
certificates.
See "Getting Organized for School Club Roundup" for some helpful tips!
Stay up to date on SCR by subscribing to the School Club Roundup
reflector.
Unlicensed Religious Broadcaster Who Used Amateur Frequencies Ordered
Off the Air
The FCC has ordered an unlicensed California religious broadcaster,
who sometimes broadcast on a frequency in the 40 meter phone band, to
shut down his station. On December 31, the FCC's Los Angeles District
Office issued a Notice of Unlicensed Operation to Martin K. Elliott of
Inyokern, California. The FCC said it issued the Notice in response to
a complaint of unlicensed operation on multiple HF frequencies,
including some allocated to aeronautical stations. The FCC said its
agents used radio direction-finding techniques to confirm that signals
on 6280 kHz and 11,595 kHz were emanating from a residence located
near Inyokern, and property records indicated that Elliott was the
current owner and resident.
"The Commission's records show that no license was issued for
operation of a station on either the frequencies of 6280 kHz or 11,595
kHz at this location," the FCC wrote. "Unlicensed operation of this
radio station must be discontinued immediately."
The pirate station, which identified itself as "YHWH," was not cited
for operating on Amateur Radio frequencies, although ARRL Official
Observers had monitored the station in the past on 7185 kHz LSB. One
short-wave listener said the operator of YHWH changed frequencies
regularly.
The FCC warned Elliott that operation of radio transmitting equipment
without valid authorization violates federal law and could subject the
operator to severe penalties including, but not limited to,
substantial monetary forfeitures, equipment seizure, and criminal
sanctions.
The Commission gave him 10 days to respond. The FCC said its Notice
"does not preclude this office from pursuing additional sanctions
based upon our investigation of this incident."
Ad
QRZ Logbook Now Offering Reciprocal Confirmation Credit and LoTW
Download
QRZ Logbook now recognizes contact confirmations from ARRL's Logbook
of The World (LoTW). QRZ Logbook users now can download their contacts
from LoTW directly into their QRZ Logbook. Contacts that exist in LoTW
but not in QRZ Logbook will be added to your QRZ Logbook. LoTW
automatically puts contacts made under a previous call sign into a
user's current call sign account. QRZ will automatically put contacts
into the logbook associated with the call sign used when the contact
was logged.
"Not only will this improve your confirmation rates, because you are
receiving credit for your confirmations on LoTW, but it will also
import records that exist on LoTW and not QRZ Logbook," QRZ.com said
in announcing the new service. "Those QSOs may match another record on
QRZ, resulting in even more confirmations."
In addition, all contact data in your LoTW database -- whether or not
the contact is new to your QRZ account -- will include the LoTW QSL
Received Date, as well as the LoTW Sent (Y/N) flag set in the QRZ
Logbook. Contacts confirmed in LoTW, whether or not they are new to
QRZ, will automatically be confirmed in your QRZ Logbook. Read more.
-- Thanks to QRZ.com
NASA Opens Application Window for PaiOfcom "consultation" -- similar to an FCC Notice of Proposed Rule
Making -- has invited responses by February 16. The RSGB
Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Committee has lobbied Ofcom to
assume greater authority in cases involving violations of EMC rules.
"These proposals make the regulations more resilient to evolving
technology, when it causes undue interference to wireless telegraphy
apparatus," the RSGB said. "The proposed changes aim to catch
apparatus that exceeds the permissible levels in service," The RSGB
said.
A recent news article reported that Ofcom was proposing that
individuals using power line networking equipment could face
prosecution if it interferes with radio communications. The article,
in The Telegraph, also said that GCHQ -- a security and intelligence
organization similar to the US Department of Homeland Security -- has
become increasingly concerned about PLT in recent years.
The RSGB said the Ofcom proposals would provide additional enforcement
authority with respect to a particular piece of equipment, not just a
range of devices. "These changes are essential to prevent compromising
important communication systems, particularly those that ensure public
safety," the RSGB said.
Ad
ARRL Assistant Roanoke Division Director Anthony R. "Tony" Curtis,
K3RXK, SK
ARRL Assistant Roanoke Division Director Anthony R. "Tony" Curtis,
K3RXK, of Laurinburg, North Carolina, died on January 23. He was 74.
Curtis served twice as an Assistant Director -- from 1986 until 1997
and again from 2002 until his death. Known as "Dr Tony" to his mass
communication students at the University of North Carolina at
Tony Curtis, K3RXK.
Pembroke, Curtis -- who was licensed at 14 -- was a space and Amateur
Radio satellite enthusiast and occasional guest speaker. He also
contributed to QST. An ARRL Life Member, Curtis was involved in
emergency preparedness and held ARRL Field Organization appointments
as Official Emergency Station and Volunteer Examiner.
"The department lost a valued colleague and a good friend, and he'll
be deeply missed," Dr Jason Hutchens, chair of the Mass Communication
department, said.
At UNCP, he received an Outstanding Teaching Award in 2012 and was
named the Most Valuable Professor in 2012 and 2013. He had served as
chair of the faculty senate and as president of the Friends of the
Library Board. Read more.
ARRL Technical Advisor, Author, AMRAD President Emeritus André
Kesteloot, N4ICK, SK
ARRL Technical Advisor, author, and Amateur Radio Research and
Development Corporation (AMRAD) President Emeritus André V. Kesteloot,
N4ICK, of McLean, Virginia, died on January 4. He was 77. Kesteloot
was the author of Spread Spectrum Sourcebook, published in 1991, and
he contributed to QST and QEX. A native of
André Kesteloot, N4ICK.
Belgium, Kesteloot was an electrical engineer and spent a decade in
the Middle East installing TV and radio transmitters in the 1950s and
1960s. He subsequently signed on with the Central Intelligence Agency
and spent 25 years as a CIA operative. Kesteloot was a recipient of a
CIA Intelligence Star for Valor, and he served as executive vice
president of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers.
After retiring in 1994, Kesteloot joined the faculty of Phoenix
Consulting, and trained Iraq-bound Special Forces units and
intelligence agencies. An active AMRAD member, he was a frequent
contributor to the organization's newsletter and papers. He also
assisted in taking field measurements of Broadband over Power Line
(BPL) systems in Virginia and Maryland. Kesteloot was an ARRL member
and life senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics
Engineers.
In Brief...
DXpedition Goings and Comings: As of January 26, the three-person
"boat team" heading to Navassa Island for the K1N DXpedition had made
it to Great Inagua in the Bahamas. There was no official word yet from
the Navassa Island DXpedition team as to when the other operators, now
in Jamaica with the equipment containers, would depart. The DXpedition
to one of the most-wanted DXCC entities is expected to get under way
in the next few days. "We plan to sail from Great Inagua the afternoon
of January 30," the K1N team announced January 27. The DXpeditioners
hope to start offloading their gear on January 31 and February 1.
Meanwhile, on Kish Island, Iran, the Belgian EP6T DXpedition team
finished up operations on January 27 (UTC). The EP6T operators logged
more than 68,000 contacts during 9 days on the air -- nearly 70
percent of them with stations in Europe. Just under 10 percent of the
EP6T contacts were with North American stations, although the
operators reported persistent noise issues that prevented them from
hearing many callers. -- Thanks to The Daily DX
Ralph Fedor, K0IR, to be Dayton RTTY Contest Dinner Speaker:
DXpeditioner Ralph Fedor, K0IR (photo), will be the keynote speaker at
the 2015 RTTY Contest Dinner, Thursday, May 14, at 7:15 PM, at the
Crowne Plaza in downtown Dayton. Tickets will be on sale until May 1.
No tickets will be sold at the door. The NAQP RTTY plaques will be
presented at the event. -- Thanks to Fred Dennin, WW4LL
SSTV Transmissions Scheduled from the International Space Station: The
Russian Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) team
plans to activate slow-scan television (SSTV) from the ISS on Saturday
January 31, and on Sunday, February 1. The anticipated SSTV mode will
be PD180 on 145.800 MHz with 3-minute off periods between
transmissions. Twelve different images will be transmitted during the
operational period. This is the second series of pictures to be
transmitted. The SSTV transmission are scheduled to begin around 1000
UTC on January 31 and around 0900 UTC on February 1. Transmissions
should terminate around 2130 UTC each day. -- Thanks to ARISS-EU Chair
Gaston Bertels, ON4WF
The K7RA Solar Update
Average daily sunspot numbers for the January 22-28 period rose from
61.9 on the previous 7 days to 89.1. Average daily solar flux climbed
from 126.2 to 136.8 over the same period.
There were two new sunspot regions on February 22, another one on
February 23 and again on February 25, four more on February 26, and
another two on February 28.
The average daily solar flux for January 29 through February 4 is
predicted to be 165.7 -- nearly 29 points higher than the previous
week.
Predicted solar flux is 165 on January 29, 170 for January 30 through
February 2, then 160, 155, 145 and 125 for February 3-6, 130 for
February 7-9, 125 for February 10-11, 120 for February 12-13, and 125
for February 14-16. Flux values will reach of low of 115 on February
18, then a high of 135 during the period February 26-28.
Predicted planetary A index is 12 on January 29, 15 for January 30
through February 1, 12 on February 2, 10 for February 3-4, 5 on
February 5, 10 for February 6-7, 8 for February 8-9, 5 for February
10-14, 12 on February 15, and 10 for February 16-18.
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 the Friday, January 30, bulletin expect an updated forecast for the
near term and reports from readers. Send me your reports and
observations.
Just Ahead in Radiosport
January 31 -- Feld-Hell WAAAEO Sprint
January 31-February 1 -- UBA Contest (SSB)
January 31-February 1 -- Worldwide EME Contest
February 2 -- OK1WC Memorial Contest (SSB, CW)
February 3 -- ARS Spartan Sprint (CW)
February 3 -- CWOps Weekly Mini-CWT Tests (CW)
February 6 -- NS Weekly Sprint (CW)
February 6 -- YL-OM Contest (SSB, CW, Digital)
February 6-8 -- Triathlon DX Contest (SSB, CW, Digital)
February 7 -- Straight Key Weekend Sprintathon
February 7 -- FYBO Winter QRP Field Day (SSB, CW)
February 7 -- Minnesota QSO Party (SSB, CW, Digital)
February 7 -- Straight Key Party
February 7-8 -- Vermont QSO Party (SSB, CW, Digital)
February 7-8 -- YLISSB QSO Party
February 7-8 -- Ten-Ten Winter Phone QSO Party
February 7-8 -- Black Sea Cup International (SSB, CW)
February 7-8 -- British Columbia QSO Party (SSB, CW, Digital)
February 7-8 -- XE International RTTY Contest
February 7-8 -- AM QSO Party
February 8 -- North American Sprint (CW)
February 8-9 -- Classic Exchange (Phone)
February 8 -- Milwaukee FM Simplex Contest
February 9-13 -- School Club Roundup (SSB, FM, CW)
See the ARRL Contest Calendar for more information.
Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions and Events
February 7 -- Virginia State Convention, Richmond, Virginia
February 13-15 -- Southeastern Division Convention, Orlando, Florida
February 20-21 -- Arizona Section Convention, Yuma, Arizona
February 28 -- New Mexico Techfest Convention, Albuquerque, New Mexico
February 28 -- Vermont State Convention, S Burlington, Vermont
March 7 -- Santa Clara Valley Section Convention, Del Rey Oaks,
California
March 13-14 -- North Carolina Section Convention, Concord, North
Carolina
March 14 -- West Texas Section Convention, Midland, Texas
March 20-21 -- Louisiana State Convention, Rayne, Louisiana
March 21 -- MicroHAMS Digital Conference, Redmond, Washington
March 21 -- Nebraska State Convention, Lincoln, Nebraska
March 21 -- Southern Florida Section Convention, Stuart, Florida
March 28 -- Texas State Convention, Rosenberg, Texas
Find conventions and hamfests in your area.
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