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N9PMO > LETTER 14.12.18 01:58l 559 Lines 24353 Bytes #999 (0) @ ARRL
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Fox-1Cliff/AO-95 Suffers Apparent Receiver Failure
First FT8 Roundup is a Huge Hit
Hamvention Seeks 2019 Award Nominees
The Doctor Will See You Now!
ARRL 2018 Philip J. McGan Award Presented
ARRL Bill Leonard Audio Reporting Award Presented in New York City
Attorney Jane Hinckley Halprin Named as FCC's ministrative Law Judge
Broadcasters Intruding on Exclusive Amateur Radio Frequencies
Inaugural "Green Keys Night" Set for January 1
In Brief...
Getting It Right
The K7RA Solar Update
Just Ahead in Radiosport
Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
Fox-1Cliff/AO-95 Suffers Apparent Receiver Failure
The receiver on the newly launched Fox-1Cliff/AO-95 CubeSat seems to
have suffered a receiver failure that could render the satellite
unusable, AMSAT said over the weekend. Efforts continue by AMSAT
Engineering to establish the cause of the problem and determine if a
fix is possible. AMSAT Vice President-Engineering Jerry Buxton, N0JY,
reported over the weekend that the issue cropped up during efforts to
commission Fox-1Cliff/AO-95.
"After a few days of tests, analysis, and discussion, it appears that
Fox-1Cliff/AO-95 will not be commissioned as our fourth Fox-1 Amateur
Radio satellite," Buxton said. Commissioning began on December 4,
right after the CubeSat's successful launch a day earlier.
"AMSAT Engineering will continue to evaluate and test Fox-1Cliff/AO-95
for solutions to the anomaly, and your continued help in providing
telemetry is appreciated so that we can have data throughout her daily
orbits, rather than limited data over our US stations," Buxton said.
"The data, analysis, and testing could lead to a positive solution,
but at the very least will be important to AMSAT's satellite programs
in providing information that would help us and others avoid similar
situations with future missions."
In a post to AMSAT-BB, Buxton mentioned one suggestion of employing a
high-power station to see if AO-95 could hear its signal, but he added
that AMSAT Engineering would not be offering a blow-by-blow narrative
of its efforts to restore the satellite to operating condition,
"unless it is something of merit or actionable."
AMSAT Vice President-Engineering Jerry Buxton, N0JY, with a model of
the Fox-1D CubeSat.
Buxton noted that AMSAT's resources are limited, and all involved are
volunteers. "Most -- if not all -- of our remaining Fox-1 engineers
are also involved in the GOLF-TEE project, so I have asked them to
give that first priority with their available volunteer time in order
to keep the schedule," Buxton said. "AO-95 is in orbit now, and we can
vary the amount of attention on her as resources allow in order to
achieve both goals. If the results of our investigation point to a
possibility of recovery, be it partial, full, or some workaround
method, we would all like to see her working as much as the rest of
you, and that is a driver for this investigation."
Buxton said he anticipates that AMSAT Engineering will continue to
seek the cause of the apparent receiver failure, "until we have
results or reach a dead end, because of the inability to take the lid
off and look inside AO-95."
"I will certainly be keeping everyone posted when we have something
new to report," Buxton said.
First FT8 Roundup is a Huge Hit
The first FT8 Roundup over the December 1 - 2 weekend attracted some
1,300 logs from those taking advantage of the ever-more-popular
digital protocol. This, despite its having been announced on fairly
short notice and with other events such as the ARRL 160-Meter Contest
on the same weekend. More than 400 of the logs were from US radio
amateurs in the 48 contiguous states, plus the District of Columbia.
Overall, some 131,200 contacts were recorded. Participants from 91
countries submitted logs, testifying to the fact that FT8 is not just
a US phenomenon.
"The FT8 Roundup was the last shakedown for the WSJT-X 2.0-rc5 beta
software," said well-known RTTY contesting enthusiast and expert Don
Hill, AA5AU, an FT8 cosponsor with Ed Muns, W0YK. "It performed with
no major complications." The general availability release of WSJT-X
2.0 is now out, and it's not backward compatible with WSJT-X 1.9 or
earlier versions. Developer Joe Taylor, K1JT, has
Ed Muns, W0YK.
urged users to upgrade by January 1 to what now is the new world
standard. Muns, who's NCJ "Digital Contesting" contributing editor,
said FT8 Roundup participation compared favorably with that for the
ARRL RTTY Roundup, which has averaged around 1,700 logs in recent
years.
"Don and I expected the contest to be popular," Muns said, "but the
participation far exceeded our expectations. I think it bodes well for
future FT8 contesting. Don and I are pretty bullish about continuing
the FT8 Roundup on the first full weekend of December each year."
Nonetheless, Muns said he doesn't see FT8 to "really take off" and
Don Hill, AA5AU, and second op Sophie (SK).
displace RTTY until the contact rate can be significantly increased
through parallel QSO techniques.
Hill agreed on the event's popularity. "I have to say it was a huge
success," he said. "Ed and I never dreamed it would be this popular.
It didn't make sense to continue the Ten-Meter RTTY Contest during
this part of the sunspot cycle. Replacing it with an all-FT8 HF
contest was the logical choice." Hill and Muns have cosponsored the
Ten-Meter RTTY Contest.
Hill said final results of the inaugural FT8 Roundup should be out in
a few days. "After the New Year, we hope to have downloadable online
certificates available to all participants. We will definitely do it
again next year," he said.
The 2019 ARRL RTTY Roundup will permit the use of FT8.
Hamvention Seeks 2019 Award Nominees
Hamvention® is soliciting nominees for its 2019 awards -- Amateur of
the Year, Technical Achievement, Special Achievement, and Club of the
Year. Since the inception of the Hamvention awards program in 1955,
many radio amateurs have been honored for their dedication and
selfless contributions to Amateur Radio and to society.
The Amateur of the Year Award recognizes a radio amateur who
demonstrates a long-term commitment to the advancement of Amateur
Radio, a history of contributions to ham radio, and a dedication to
service and professionalism.
The Technical Achievement Award honors a radio amateur who has
achieved technical excellence in the world of Amateur Radio through
inventions, processes, discoveries, experiments, and technical
accomplishments, or through other outstanding technical achievement
that has contributed to Amateur Radio.
The Special Achievement Award goes to a radio amateur who has made an
outstanding contribution to the advancement of the radio art and/or
science. This award typically recognizes a radio amateur who has
spearheaded a single significant project.
The Club of the Year will be honored for clearly demonstrating its
involvement in varied aspects of Amateur Radio for the greater good of
their community or the nation.
Nomination forms for each award are available online and should
include the information requested. The individual(s) making the
nomination should provide contact information in case questions arise.
Submit nominations via email or via USPS mail to Hamvention Awards
Committee, Box 964, Dayton, OH 45401-0964.
The nomination deadline is February 15. The Awards Committee will
announce the award recipient after reviewing the nominations. An
honors convocation will be held on the Saturday evening of Hamvention
weekend, and presentations to award winners will take place on Sunday
afternoon, prior to the door prize awards.
Contact the Awards Committee for more information. -- Thanks to Mike
Kalter, W8CI, and Frank J. Beafore, WS8B
The Doctor Will See You Now!
"RF Safety" is the topic of the latest (December 6) 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 email 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.
Just ahead: "Ground Plane Antennas."
ARRL 2018 Philip J. McGan Award Presented
The recipient of the 2018 Philip J. McGan Award for outstanding
efforts in public relations on behalf of Amateur Radio was presented
on December 3 in South Carolina. E. Gordon Mooneyhan, W4EGM -- the
Public Information Officer (PIO) for the Grand Strand Amateur Radio
Club -- received the award plaque in a presentation by ARRL Roanoke
Division Vice Director Bill Morine, N2COP.
McGan Award winner E. Gordon Mooneyhan, W4EGM (left) receives the
award plaque from ARRL Roanoke Division Vice Director Bill Morine,
N2COP. [Photo courtesy of Bill Morine, N2COP]
Mooneyhan was credited with adapting and applying "innovative
strategies to emerging social media" in promoting Amateur Radio and
events. In presenting the award, Morine noted that Mooneyhan was
selected from among 512 PIOs for his innovative campaigns
incorporating traditional and social media. Mooneyhan expressed
gratitude to the club for its support and to the media for considering
his news releases as an opportunity to inform the public about Amateur
Radio.
The award's namesake, journalist Philip J. McGan, WA2MBQ (SK), served
as the first chairman of the ARRL's Public Relations Committee, which
helped reinvigorate ARRL's commitment to public relations. The McGan
Award is presented in his memory to the radio amateur who best
exemplifies the volunteer spirit of Phil McGan.
ARRL Bill Leonard Audio Reporting Award Presented in New York City
ARRL Emergency Preparedness Manager Mike Corey KI1U, presents the 2017
Leonard Award for Audio Reporting to Arwa Gunja, executive producer of
"The Takeaway," and to the show's staff. "The Takeaway" was honored
for its coverage of ARRL's role in supporting the American Red Cross
in the response to Hurricane Maria and its impact on Puerto Rico.
[Tanzina Vega photo]
The 2017 ARRL Bill Leonard W2SKE Professional Media Award was
presented in New York on December 6 to the producers and staff of the
radio program "The Takeaway." The program, a joint production of
Public Radio International (PRI), WGBH, and WNYC, aired a number of
stories about Amateur Radio's role in supporting disaster relief
agencies in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria.
ARRL Emergency Preparedness Manager Mike Corey, KI1U, presented the
Leonard Award for Audio Reporting. "The Takeaway" had interviewed
Corey about how radio amateurs were supporting the American Red
Cross's efforts to convey "safety and wellness" messages from the
island commonwealth to relatives on the US mainland.
Corey and ARRL CEO Howard Michel, WB2ITX, also toured the WNYC
studios, where the program is produced.
The Leonard Award is named for late CBS New President Bill Leonard,
W2SKE, an avid radio amateur and advocate for the service. The annual
award honors outstanding professional audio, visual, and print/text
journalism that highlights the enjoyment, importance, and public
service value of Amateur Radio. The ARRL Public Relations Committee
judges nominations. The ARRL Board of Directors makes the final
decisions.
Attorney Jane Hinckley Halprin Named as FCC's ministrative Law Judge
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has announced that Jane Hinckley Halprin will
serve as the agency's ministrative Law Judge (ALJ). She succeeds Judge
Richard Sippel, who retired on December 1.
"Jane has done tremendous work at the FCC, and I congratulate her on
this new role," Pai said. "The good judgment she displayed working on
ethics issues at the agency for over a decade will serve her well as
our ministrative Law Judge." Pai also thanked Sippel for his 32 years
of service as an ALJ, during which he handled several Amateur Radio
cases.
Halprin joined the FCC in 1987 as a staff attorney in the former
Common Carrier Bureau and has occupied positions in the former Mass
Media Bureau, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, and the Office
of General Counsel. For the past 14 years, she has served in the
Office of General Counsel as an Ethics Counsel and for the past year
has led the agency's ethics team as Assistant General Counsel for
Ethics.
The FCC Office of ministrative Law Judges is responsible for
conducting Commission-ordered hearings. An ALJ acts on interlocutory
requests filed in the proceedings, such as contested discovery
requests. ALJs are appointed by a vote of all Commissioners.
Broadcasters Intruding on Exclusive Amateur Radio Frequencies
The International Amateur Radio Union Region 1 (IARU-R1) Monitoring
System (IARUMS) reports that Radio Hargeisa in Somaliland has returned
to 7,120 kHz after a break of several weeks, while Radio Eritrea has
been reported on 7,140 and 7,180 kHz. Radio Sudan has been
transmitting on 7,205 kHz with excessive splatter, IARUMS said. German
telecommunications authorities have filed official complaints.
The signal of a Russian over-the-horizon radio on 20 meters. [Photo
courtesy of Wolf Hadel, DK2OM]
IARUMS has also reported digital signals attributed to the Israeli
Navy on 7,107 and 7,150 kHz. In addition, a Russian military F1B
signal was observed in mid-November on 7,179 kHz. A Russian
over-the-horizon radar has returned to 20 meters on 14,335 - 14,348
kHz. It was monitored on November 22.
Earlier this fall, IARUMS reported digital signals from the Polish
military daily on 7,001.8 kHz where Amateur Radio has a worldwide
primary allocation. Telecommunications officials in Germany filed a
complaint.
IARUMS has received reports of short "beeps" exactly 1 second apart,
as well as frequency hopping between 10,108 and 10,115 kHz and 18,834
and 18,899 kHz. The signals are believed to emanate from a site near
Chicago associated with an FCC-licensed experimental operation
involved with low-latency exchange trading on HF (see "Experiments
Look to Leverage Low-Latency HF to Shave Microseconds off Trade
Times"). Although Amateur Radio is secondary on 30 and 17 meters,
Experimental licenses may not interfere with Amateur Radio operations.
Inaugural "Green Keys Night" Set for January 1
"Green Keys Night" -- an event aimed at promoting the restoration and
use of vintage mechanical teleprinters -- will take place on January
1, 2019 (UTC), concurrent with Straight Key Night (SKN). As with SKN,
GKN is an operating event and not a contest. "Green keys" refers to
the color of the keys on Teletype Corporation machines. Participants
are encouraged to get on the air and enjoy making casual contacts on
RTTY. Call "CQ GKN."
A model 28ASR radioteletype machine. [1974 ARRL Radio Amateurs'
Handbook photo]
"The use of mechanical teleprinters is preferred, or simply get on the
air with the oldest equipment you can scrape together," said Jeff
Stai, WK6I. "Real heavy-metal teletypes to be sure, but if that isn't
available, analog hardware modems, VT100 terminals, pre-Windows
computers, etc. And vacuum tubes. And maybe fire up that boatanchor
rig that never gets enough air time."
Sponsors request no pre-recorded messages or "brag tapes," just "a
real conversation by hand typing it keyboard to keyboard." Even those
who do not own or have access to any old RTTY gear are invited to get
on the air too, doing RTTY "the old-fashioned way," keyboard to
keyboard.
Stai asks participants to let him know if they were active in the
event and to share a favorite or most interesting QSO (worked or
heard), a log, and equipment operated (including photos).
The SARTG New Year RTTY Contest runs from 0800 to 1100 UTC on January
1. Stai suggested operating in that event as well.
The GreenKeys online group is an email list devoted to the discussion
of older RTTY gear, including mechanical teleprinters, terminal units,
paper tape, gears, cams, oil, and anything else related to TTY/RTTY.
In Brief...
Several NASA Amateur Radio clubs will mark the 50th anniversary of
Apollo 8 on December 21 - 27, concluding the year-long NASA on the Air
activity. Celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, NASA was created
in 1958 through an act signed by President Dwight Eisenhower. Apollo 8
was launched on December 21, 1968, and splashed down 6 days later on
December 27. It was the first manned spacecraft to leave low-Earth
orbit, orbit the moon, and return safely. Special event operation will
be on various bands and modes, and participating stations will
self-spot on the DX cluster as well as via Facebook and Twitter.
Contact Rob Suggs, KB5EZ, at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center for
more information.
Gurudatta Panda, VU3GDP, with ExseedSat, now VO-96. [Photo courtesy of
The Hindu]
ExseedSat has been designated as VO-96. At the request of Exseed
Space, AMSAT has designated the 1U ExseedSat CubeSat, launched on
December 3 on a Falcon 9 vehicle from Vandenberg Air Force Base in
California, as VUsat-OSCAR 96 (VO-96). ExseedSat was built by a team
of Indian radio amateurs, including Ashhar Farhan, VU2ESE; George
Philips, VU2GT; Gurudatta Panda, VU3GDP; Sasi Bhushan, VU3ELR, and
Nitin Muttin, VU3TYG. Initial telemetry has been received around the
world. The downlink is 145.900 MHz for the FM repeater (CTCSS = 67 Hz)
and digipeater, plus telemetry, and 435.340 MHz for FM repeater and
digipeater uplink. Visit the IARU Satellite Frequency Coordination
page for more information. -- Thanks to Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, AMSAT
VP Operations/OSCAR Number ministrator
Jordan's first CubeSat, JY1Sat, is now JO-97. JY1Sat, launched on
December 3 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California as part of the
SpaceX SSO-A: SmallSat Express launch, has been designated as Jordan
OSCAR 97 (JO-97). The 1U CubeSat is a project of the Crown Prince
Foundation of Jordan. Telemetry has been received and decoded around
the world since the launch. The spacecraft's name recalls the Amateur
Radio call sign of Jordan's late King Hussein, JY1. JO-97 carries a
435/145 MHz SSB/CW inverting Amateur Radio transponder and a Slow-Scan
Digital Video (SSDV) system to transmit stored images. The telemetry
downlink is on 145.840 MHz, the transponder downlink passband is
145.855 - 145.875 MHz, with an inverting uplink on 435.100 - 435.120
MHz. -- Thanks to AMSAT
The Radio Club of America (RCA) has announced the appointment of ARRL
West Gulf Division Vice Director John Robert Stratton, N5AUS, as Vice
President and Co-Counsel. Stratton will coordinate duties with current
Vice President and Counsel Chester "Barney" Scholl, Jr. A specialist
in civil litigation, Stratton holds a bachelor of science in aerospace
engineering from the University of Texas and is a graduate of the
University of Texas Law School.
Getting It Right
The article "NACC a Chance for College Clubs to Compete with Each
Other," which appeared in the December 6 edition of The ARRL Letter
contained an error relating to the NCJ-sponsored North American QSO
Party (NAQP), within which the NACC will operate as "a contest within
a contest." The exchange for the NAQP is name plus state/Canadian
province/NA country.
The K7RA Solar Update
Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Our recent reporting week (December
6 - 12) had sunspots on 5 of the 7 days, with an average daily sunspot
number of 9.7 -- up from 2.3 from the previous 7 days. The average
daily solar flux rose from 68.9 to 70.7. Geomagnetic indices were
moderate, with the average daily planetary A index increasing from 7
to 8, and the mid-latitude A index rising from 4.9 to 6.4.
The predicted solar flux over the next 45 days is 70 on December 13 -
20; 68 on December 21 - 22; 70 on December 23 - January 4; 68 on
January 5 - 18, and 70 on January 19 - 26.
The predicted planetary A index is 5 on December 13 - 27; then 8, 12,
10, and 8 on December 28 - 31; 5 on January 1 - 2; 10 on January 3 -
4; 8 on January 5 - 6; 5 on January 7; 8 on January 8 - 9; 5 on
January 10 - 12; 8 on January 13 - 14; 5 on January 15 - 23, and 8,
12, and 10 on January 24 - 26.
On December 11, N0JK reported from Kansas on the ARRL 10 Meter
Contest:
"Much better conditions this year than last. On Saturday afternoon,
had E-skip to W4 and W5, which allowed links on to F2/TEP propagation
to South America. Running just 5 W, I logged CE, CX, LU, and PY
stations via Es link. Double hop Es to HK, P4 and PJ2. Single hop Es
to W4 and W5.
"Sunday the band conditions not nearly as good, but I see the
northeast states had strong Es to Florida. This in turn allowed them
to link on to South America. Also strong single-hop Es along west
coast.
"Had some weak Es in Kansas, heard CO8RH, but he faded out while I was
fiddling with my hand key. I was able to work 9Z4Y on 10-meter CW."
Sunspot numbers for December 6 - 12 were 17, 16, 12, 12, 0, 11, and 0,
with a mean of 9.7. The 10.7 centimeter flux was 69.7, 70.1, 70.5,
71.6, 71, 71, and 70.8, with a mean of 70.7. Estimated planetary A
indices were 5, 10, 10, 9, 11, 7, and 4, with a mean of 8. Estimated
mid-latitude A indices were 3, 8, 10, 6, 8, 7, and 3, with a mean of
6.4.
Share your reports and observations.
Just Ahead in Radiosport
December 14 -- UN DIGI Contest (digital)
December 14 -- Russian 160-Meter Contest (CW, phone)
December 15 -- Feld Hell Sprint
December 15 -- OK DX RTTY Contest
December 15 - 16 -- Croatian CW Contest
December 16 -- ARRL Rookie Roundup, CW
December 17 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)
December 19 -- NAQCC CW Sprint
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 email preferences.
Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
January 5 -- New York City-Long Island Section Convention, Brookville,
New York
January 12 -- Georgia ARES Convention, Forsyth, Georgia
January 18 - 19 -- Southern Florida Section Convention, Fort Myers,
Florida
January 18 - 19 -- North Texas Section Convention, Forest Hill, Texas
January 20 - 26 -- Quartzfest Convention, Quartzsite, Arizona
January 25 - 26 -- Mississippi State Convention, Jackson, Mississippi
February 2 -- South Carolina State Convention, North Charleston, South
Carolina
February 2 -- Roanoke Division Convention, Richmond, Virginia
February 8 - 10 -- Southeastern Division Convention, Orlando, Florida
February 15 - 16 -- Southwestern Division Convention, Yuma, Arizona
February 16 -- LCARC Winter-Fest, Hoxie, Arkansas
February 22 - 23 -- TECHCON Conference, Tampa, Florida
February 23 -- New Mexico TechFest, Albuquerque, New Mexico
February 23 -- Vermont State Convention, S. Burlington, Vermont
Find conventions and hamfests in your area.
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