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N9PMO > LETTER 06.01.18 03:22l 556 Lines 25919 Bytes #999 (0) @ ARRL
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Sent: 180106/0120Z 35043@N9PMO.#SEWI.WI.USA.NA BPQ6.0.14
Thousands Getting Their Grids On!
ARRL Life Member Receives Patent for "Cloaking" Technology
The Doctor Will See You Now!
Large Donations Making Bouvet 3Y0Z DXpedition a Reality; Team Eager to
Get Under Way
"Creepy and Surreal" Urban Explorers' Video Reveals Largely Unseen
Side of Hara Arena
Second Annual AM Rally Special Event Set for February 2-4 Weekend
Philippine Radio Amateurs Activate for Weather Emergencies
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey Makes Ham Radio Debut with State's
Bicentennial Call Sign
In Brief...
Just Ahead in Radiosport
Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
Thousands Getting Their Grids On!
And they're off! New Year's Day January 1 (UTC) marked the opening day
for the ARRL International Grid Chase 2018 (IGC). Among those hitting
their grids running was newly minted General-class operator Katie
Thompsen, KI7HCX, of Mt. Vernon, Washington, who used the occasion to
embark on the Chase and to get on HF for the first time using her own
call sign. The 11-year-old comes from a ham radio family. Her dad,
Todd, is W7TAO, while her older brothers are Mason, K7MWT, 15 -- who
upgraded to Amateur Extra at the examination session where his sister
upgraded to General -- and Tanner, K7TMT, 13.
Katie Thompsen, KI7HCX. [Todd Thompsen, W7TAO, photo]
"She called CQ Grid Square Chase on 20 meters and very quickly made 44
contacts," her dad told ARRL. "She was very excited to work her first
pileup and even had two Japanese stations QSO with her. She's anxious
to continue participating in the grid square chase." Todd Thompsen
said all three young radio amateurs are looking forward to
participating in Rookie Roundup in April.
The IGC is off to a rousing start, with some 6,400 participants from
around the globe already showing up on the Leader Board as of the
morning of January 4. Point totals for the International Grid Chase
are shown for confirmed contacts only, and, while the leader boards
are not based on real-time data, they are updated several times a day.
All contacts on all bands except 60 meters are valid for Grid Chase
credit, provided both stations upload their logs to Logbook of The
World (LoTW) and get a match.
The objective of the year-long event is to work stations in as many
different Maidenhead grid squares as possible, and then upload your
logs to LoTW.
Each new grid square contact confirmed through LoTW will count toward
your monthly total. Stations do not have to exchange grid squares for
a valid contact, although it's anticipated that many operators will do
so. Some rare grid squares will be in demand. How about yours? Get on
the air, and get behind your grid! If you can, get out there, and
activate the scarce ones.
Members of the Marconi Cape Cod Radio Club KM1CC at the Cape Cod
National Seashore will activate rare grid square FN51 January 18-19
for the International Grid Chase.
Complete details of the ARRL International Grid Chase 2018 appeared in
the December 2017 issue of QST. For more information, contact the ARRL
Contest Branch.
ARRL Life Member Receives Patent for "Cloaking" Technology
Nathan "Chip" Cohen, W1YW, of Belmont, Massachusetts -- the founder of
Fractal Antenna Systems Inc and inventor of the fractal antenna -- has
been granted a patent for deflective electromagnetic shielding --
essentially "cloaking" technology to defend against detection by radar
and similar technologies.
"Ham radio experimentation can lead to some pretty cool innovations!"
Cohen said in response to a recent QRZ forum post about the patent.
"Let's keep that spirit alive in 2018."
Chip Cohen, W1YW, makes use of a Sputnik 1 satellite model during a
demonstration.
The patent covers electromagnetic cloaking/deflection of, among other
things, satellites, rockets, towers, antennas, vehicles, body
coverings, ships, spacecraft, and even people.
"Much time and effort has been devoted to the quest for so-called
invisibility machines," the patent's background information states.
"Beyond science fiction, however, there has been little, if any, real
progress toward this goal."
According to the detailed description, the technology "provides one or
more surfaces that act or function as shielding and/or cloaking
surfaces for which at least a portion of the surface includes or is
composed of 'fractal cells' (small fractal shapes, functioning as
antennas or resonators) placed sufficiently close to one another, so
that current present in one fractal cell is replicated or reproduced
to an extent in an adjacent fractal cell. Without being limited by any
theoretical explanation, surface plasmonic waves are believed to cause
such replication in conjunction with evanescent waves." The resulting
surface would deflect around an object.
In terms of backscatter, upon which radar systems depend, Cohen has
explained it this way: "The incoming wave reflects off a boundary
condition at the object. Its reflection is out of phase and
phase-cancels with the incoming wave. Bye-bye, backscatter."
Fractal Antenna Systems first publicly demonstrated "person
invisibility" in 2012 for a Radio Club of America audience. He also
has demonstrated invisibility cloaks at Hamvention® and at the ARRL
New England Division Convention. According to the company's
BusinessWire release, "Uses of the newly patented technology extend to
commercial needs such as towers, antennas, people, and shielding, but
it may also be used in defense and intelligence arenas."
Not invisible: Chip Cohen, W1YW, holds his 5BDXCC plaque at ARRL
Headquarters.
The BusinessWire release said the technology "produces the desired
effects without any requirements on special orientation, composition,
or shape of the object. The cloak/deflector can be very thin, and the
effect can happen over a wide bandwidth."
The company noted that cloaking applications concentrate on microwave
and infrared wavelengths, but the technology and patents also apply to
visible light.
"Cloaking at visible light has limited needs," Cohen has said.
"Camouflage and projection methods are easier and cheaper at making
something disappear to the eye. But at radio and heat wavelengths, the
cloaking technology is an important enabler."
Cohen, 62, applied for the patent in 2012. An ARRL Life Member and
active DXer, he has been a radio amateur for more than 50 years.
The Doctor Will See You Now!
"Keeping Cool -- the importance of maintaining proper equipment
temperature" is the topic of the latest (January 4) episode of the
"ARRL The Doctor is In" podcast. Listen...and learn!
Sponsored by DX Engineering, "ARRL The Doctor is In" is an informative
discussion of all things technical. Listen on your computer, tablet,
or smartphone -- whenever and wherever you like!
Every 2 weeks, your host, QST Editor-in-Chief Steve Ford, WB8IMY, and
the Doctor himself, Joel Hallas, W1ZR, will discuss a broad range of
technical topics. You can also e-mail your questions to
doctor@arrl.org, and the Doctor may answer them in a future podcast.
Enjoy "ARRL The Doctor is In" on Apple iTunes, or by using your iPhone
or iPad podcast app (just search for "ARRL The Doctor is In"). You can
also listen online at Blubrry, or at Stitcher (free registration
required, or browse the site as a guest) and through the free Stitcher
app for iOS, Kindle, or Android devices. If you've never listened to a
podcast before, download our beginner's guide.
Large Donations Making Bouvet 3Y0Z DXpedition a Reality; Team Eager to
Get Under Way
The 3Y0Z Bouvet Island DXpedition team announced in late December that
it had reached "yet another milestone" in its quest to activate Bouvet
Island, the second most-wanted DXCC entity (behind the Democratic
Republic of North Korea), in January and February. A dependency of
Norway, Bouvet is a subantarctic island in the South Atlantic.
This major DXpedition could get under way as early as January 23 or
24, and the crack team of operators hopes to spend 14 to 16 days on
Bouvet, depending on weather and other factors. Bouvet has not been
activated for about a decade. The DXpedition said it would transfer
nearly $500,000 to DAP, the Chilean company that owns and operates the
M/V Betanzos and the helicopters that will provide transportation.
That single outlay points up the extraordinary expense of mounting a
DXpedition such as this.
In August, the Northern California DX Foundation (NCDXF) announced its
largest contribution ever -- $100,000 -- to the 3Y0Z Bouvet Island
DXpedition. The ARRL has granted a Colvin Award to help support the
DXpedition to the second most-wanted DXCC entity. The DXpedition has
benefited from many other club and individual donations and continues
to invite contributions to defray its significant costs.
The 3Y0Z team, which consists of 20 highly experienced radio amateurs,
said it's on schedule for a January 13 departure to Bouvet Island,
"the most remote island on Earth."
Team members will gather in Punta Arenas, Chile, by January 10, attend
a day-and-a-half marine safety course, purchase last-minute supplies,
and then fly across the Drake Passage to King George Island in the
South Shetlands, where they will board the newly refurbished Betanzos
for an approximately 10-day voyage to Bouvet. "Sea ice has been
reported along a direct route to Bouvet, and that may dictate we take
a more northerly course, before turning east to approach Bouvet. That
may add day or two to our transit time," the December news release
said.
The newly refurbished Betanzos will transport the 3Y0Z team from the
South Shetlands to Bouvet Island.
Two helicopters will transport the team and gear to and from Bouvet.
"There has been a thorough review of landing procedures and shelter
and antenna layouts," the news release said. "We have three
alternative anchoring systems to secure the shelters and antennas to
the ice on the surface of Bouvet. So, the plan remains unchanged."
3Y0Z anticipates "a propagation-driven operation," with two high-power
stations on every open band using gain and directional antennas.
Primary modes will be CW, SSB, and RTTY. FT8 will be utilized if it is
the only productive mode. The Bouvet team advises FT8 enthusiasts to
read the 3Y0Z FT8 protocol on the Band Plan page. The website includes
complete information on band plans and frequencies, propagation
predictions, and QSL procedures.
The 3Y0Z team leaders are Bob Allphin, K4UEE; Ralph Fedor, K0IR, and
Erling Wiig, LA6VM. Among them, the Bouvet DXpedition leaders hold 11
DXpedition of the Year awards, have activated a dozen Top 10 DXCC
entities.
"Creepy and Surreal" Urban Explorers' Video Reveals Largely Unseen
Side of Hara Arena
Reminiscent of underwater footage from a TV documentary about the
discovery of a long-lost vessel, a recently posted YouTube video that
takes a deep dive into the innards of former Hamvention® venue Hara
Arena has been attracting notice within the Amateur Radio community.
The narrated video probe was posted on December 22 by Once Occupied,
an urban exploration group that originated in Dayton, Ohio. It's not
the first video of the derelict Hara Arena since it closed -- and
since anything thought to be of value inside was auctioned off. The
IRS put the Hara Arena complex itself on the auction block last August
to satisfy a tax lien, but there were no successful bidders.
The Hara Arena complex was closed in August 2016.
It's not clear whether the three-person Once Occupied expedition had
permission to be inside Hara Arena nor how the individuals, who do not
identify themselves, gained entry to the building complex. Among the
more fascinating revelations was how much equipment, event
paraphernalia, and just plain debris remain inside the 165,000-square
foot Hara complex, which included an apartment.
"This is creepy and surreal, but I couldn't turn it off and had to
watch the whole thing," allowed Pete Varounis, NL7XM, the QCWA's
official call sign historian, who shared the video with his colleagues
on the QCWA board of directors. "You will recognize entire areas that
teemed with activity during every Hamvention," he continued. "It looks
like raw footage from Chernobyl after the Russian nuclear disaster."
The urban explorers were a bit more mundane. "The facilities include a
bar pub, ballroom, conference center, ice rink, and four exhibition
halls. This place is huge!" the narrative posted with the more than
20-minute video clip related. As the Once Occupied team noted, Hara
Arena over the years played host to sports teams and top entertainers
-- including Elton John and the Rolling Stones -- as well as to
Hamvention, which relocated to the Greene County Fairgrounds and Expo
Center in Xenia last year after Hara closed in 2016.
Much of this particular video covers parts of Hara Arena never seen by
Hamventioneers -- including catwalks, tunnels, and behind-the-scenes
rooms and facilities such as offices, kitchen areas, and storerooms,
some of which still contained unopened goods and supplies. File
cabinets still store paper files, and abandoned computer and other
equipment is scattered about. At least one box the group encountered
contained new T shirts for a sports team that once made its home at
Hara Arena. Some areas of the building's interior seem to have been
hit by a tornado. The explorers do not appear to take anything from
Hara Arena or disturb what remained behind.
"Our passion is exploring abandoned places. We explore because we love
adventure and the thrill of the hunt," Once Occupied says on its
Facebook page. "Documenting our journeys through digital media allows
us to share the stories of the past." The group warns that such urban
exploration is not without risk and "not for everyone."
Hara Arena's future remains in limbo. An IRS staff member who was
involved in the 2017 auction told ARRL that the agency will not put
Hara Arena up for auction again but said there is "a lot of interest
in the property." She said other lien holders, including a mortgage
holder and the Town of Trotwood, eventually could get the opportunity
to put the building on auction in an effort to satisfy their liens on
the property.
Second Annual AM Rally Special Event Set for February 2-4 Weekend
The second-annual AM Rally is inviting operators to explore the
original phone mode over the February 2-4 weekend. Co-sponsor Clark
Burgard, N1BCG, said the event "is intended to be both fun and
educational." It encourages all radio amateurs to get on AM, possibly
for the first time.
"Because of resurgent interest in AM, the event is also an opportunity
for amateurs new to AM to learn about proper settings and get the most
performance out of their station, whether it's modern, vintage, tube,
transistor, software-defined, military, boat anchor, broadcast, home
brewed, or commercially made," Burgard said.
The AM Rally website includes tips and suggestions for various
transmitter types as well as links to additional information.
Certificates will be awarded for most states contacted and most
contacts overall made by stations in five power-output classes. Some
"special recognitions" will be made on an ad hoc basis, Burgard said.
The AM Rally gets under way at 0000 UTC on Saturday, February 3, and
concludes at 0700 UTC on Monday, February 5. Band include 160, 80, 40,
20, 15, 10, and 6 meters.
The 2017 AM Rally, which was held in April, was deemed a huge success,
with nearly 1,500 contacts reported on the 72 logs submitted.
Philippine Radio Amateurs Activate for Weather Emergencies
Philippines Amateur Radio Association's (PARA) Ham Emergency Radio
Operations (HERO) volunteers assisted with emergency communication
support in the wake of two severe weather events. Tropical Storm
Kai-tak -- known locally as Urduja -- hit first in the central
Philippines on December 16, leaving nearly dozens dead and forcing
others to evacuate. It was followed on December 22 by the more-severe
Tropical Storm Tembin -- known locally as Vinta -- which caused
significant damage and claimed some 200 lives in the southern
Philippines. Hundreds more are reported missing.
Roberto "JoJo" Vicencio, DU1VHY, said HERO volunteers provided HF
coordination through a national emergency net at 7.095 MHz. In
addition, local clubs embedded with government responders used
designated channels and club frequencies. According to Vicencio, TS
Kai-Tak ravaged the Central Visayas area, holding in place for nearly
3 days.
"Much rain was dumped in the Samar and Tacloban areas of the Central
Visayas region," he said. "In situations like this, most radio
amateurs in the affected areas fold into the government's
regional/provincial disaster risk-reduction management offices to
consolidate the actions of the amateur and civic groups as well as the
military and police forces."
Just two days later, TS Tembin threatened the southern island of
Mindanao. HERO reported that it was ready for the storm and able to
mobilize the assets of radio amateurs and civic communications group
as well as of police and armed forces.
NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite passed over Tropical Storm Kai-Tak
moving through the central Philippines. [NASA/NOAA image]
Vicencio reported that the wind strength and volume of rains inundated
Mindanao, taking a direct east-to-west path. Residential areas were
hit by flooding, and many lost their lives after being trapped indoors
by the fast-rising waters. The flooding also took out bridges and
roads and devastated farm fields,
"There was a shortage of communications too," Vicencio reported. "Many
major transportation arteries were affected, further stranding others
who tried to escape."
This is just the start of the annual adverse weather season in the
Philippines. Vicencio said the HERO Network is ready. -- Thanks to Jim
Linton, VK3PC, Chair, IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey Makes Ham Radio Debut with State's
Bicentennial Call Sign
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey made her Amateur Radio debut on December 14
-- the state's 198th birthday -- at the same time becoming the first
person to use the state's bicentennial call sign, AL2C. Alabama will
celebrate its 200th anniversary in 2019, and AL2C will be on the air
for 2 years as part of the statewide celebration.
On the Air: Alabama Governor Kay Ivey inaugurates Alabama Bicentennial
Special Event call sign AL2C.
"I'm very excited to see the hard work that has been in the works for
some time now to promote Amateur Radio in concert with the Alabama
Bicentennial celebration," said ARRL Alabama Section Manager JVann
Martin, W4JVM, who was at the State Capitol for the event. "It was
great to activate the brand-new call sign AL2C on Alabama's 198th
birthday, and we look forward to many more activities to come as we
build up to Alabama's 200th birthday."
The Alabama Bicentennial Amateur Radio Club set up a D-Star VHF
station in the Old House Chamber at the Alabama State Capitol in
Montgomery. After announcing the Alabama Bicentennial Schools
Initiative, Governor Ivey proceeded to the radio station, initiating
contact with the Lee County Emergency Management Agency. The governor
discussed the Alabama Bicentennial over the air, with Otto Arnoscht,
N4UZZ, the AL2C Call Sign Trustee, serving as the control operator.
On the other end of the conversation at Lee County Emergency
Management Agency was Mike Watkins, WX4AL, the District Delta ARES
Emergency Coordinator and Lee County ARES Emergency Coordinator. Read
more.
In Brief...
The deadline is January 31, 2018 to submit ARRL Foundation Scholarship
applications. All applicants must be FCC-licensed radio amateurs, and
many scholarships have other specific requirements, such as intended
area of study, ARRL Division, Section or state, and license class.
Applicants should review the scholarships and check off the ones for
which they are eligible. More information is on the ARRL Foundation
Scholarship Program page. This year, the Foundation Board of Directors
is offering several new scholarships. These include The Old Man
International Sideband Society Scholarship; The K6GO Gale Olson and
NA6MB Mike Bender Scholarship; The Harry A. Hodges, W6YOO,
Scholarship; the Homer V. Thompson, W4CWV, and Annette P. Thompson,
W4LKM, Memorial Scholarship; the Shenandoah Valley Amateur Radio Club
Scholarship; the Medical Amateur Radio Council (MARCO) Scholarship,
and The Ladies Amateur Radio Association of Orange County Scholarship.
The 37th annual ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference (DCC) will
take place September 14-16 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Reservations
are now open. The Digital Communications Conference schedule includes
technical and introductory forums, demonstrations, a Saturday evening
banquet, and an in-depth Sunday seminar. This conference is for anyone
with an interest in digital communications, from beginners to experts.
The TAPR website has more information. The conference invites
technical papers for presentation at the conference and for
publication in the Conference Proceedings. Presentation at the
conference is not required for publication. Papers are due by July 31,
2018, to Maty Weinberg, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111 or via
e-mail to maty@arrl.org. The Conference website has full details and
submission guidelines.
Nancy Yoshida, KG0YL, has been appointed as ARRL North Dakota Section
Manager, effective on January 1. Yoshida, an ARRL Life Member who
resides in Thompson, took over the North Dakota Field Organization
leadership reins from Lynn Nelson, W0ND, elected in November as ARRL
Dakota Division Vice Director. Nelson had served as North Dakota
Section Manager since 2008. Yoshida, who was North Dakota Section
Emergency Coordinator since 2011, will complete Nelson's term of
office, which continues through September. Yoshida, 67, has raced sled
dogs since 2002, and in 2009 she ran the Iditarod Sled Dog Race in
Alaska. She became interested in Amateur Radio after volunteering for
Iditarod communications in 2006, and continues to be involved.
Hamvention® 2018 tickets are now available online. "Both Inside
Exhibits and Flea Market committees are working hard to have space
sales open as soon as possible," said Hamvention spokesperson Henry
Ruminski, W8HJR. Hamvention 2018 will take place May 18-20 at the
Greene County Fairgrounds and Expo Center in Xenia, Ohio. Tickets are
$22 in advance, and $27 at the gate and good for all 3 days. In
addition to Hamvention admission, tickets cover parking, all testing
sessions, all forums and speakers, and prize drawings.
The Dayton Dinner Bell is Ringing! It's reservation time for two major
banquets held in conjunction with Dayton Hamvention -- the Contest
Dinner and the Top Band Dinner. The North Coast Contesters will
sponsor the 26th Annual Dayton Contest Dinner on Saturday, May 19, at
6:30 PM (social hour starts at 5:30 PM) at the Crowne Plaza in
downtown Dayton, home of the Contest Super Suite and Contest
University (CTU). Contest Dinner tickets are on sale exclusively via
the Contest Dinner website. The 2018 Contest Hall of Fame inductees
will be announced during the Contest Dinner. No tickets will be for
sale at the door. Tickets also are available for the 29th annual
Dayton Top Band Dinner (scroll down for reservations). The dinner is
Friday, May 18, at 7 PM (social hour at 6 PM). Read more. -- Thanks to
Tim Duffy, K3LR, Dayton Contest Dinner Chair, President, North Coast
Contesters
Just Ahead in Radiosport
January 6 -- Kids Day (Phone)
January 6 -- PODXS 070 Club PSKFest
January 6-7 -- WW PMC Contest (CW, phone)
January 6-7 -- ARRL RTTY Roundup
January 6-7 -- EUCW 160-Meter Contest (CW)
See the ARRL Contest Calendar for more information. For in-depth
reporting on Amateur Radio contesting, subscribe to The ARRL Contest
Update via your ARRL member profile e-mail preferences.
Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
January 6 -- New York City-Long Island Section Convention, Brookville,
New York
January 13 -- Georgia ARES Convention, Forsyth, Georgia
January 19-20 -- North Texas Section Convention, Forest Hill, Texas
January 20 -- GARS TECHFEST Convention, Lawrenceville, Georgia
January 21-27 -- Quartzfest Convention, Quartzsite, Arizona
January 26-27 -- Delta Division Convention, Jackson, Mississippi
February 3 -- South Carolina State Convention, North Charleston, South
Carolina
February 3 -- Virginia State Convention (Frostfest), Richmond,
Virginia
February 9-11 -- Florida State Convention (HamCation), Orlando,
Florida
February 16-17 -- Southwestern Division Convention, Yuma, Arizona
February 24 -- TECHCON Conference, Winter Haven, Florida
February 24 -- New Mexico TechFest, Albuquerque, New Mexico
February 24 -- Vermont State Convention, S. Burlington, Vermont
Find conventions and hamfests in your area.
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