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N9PMO > LETTER 10.11.19 17:30l 541 Lines 26124 Bytes #999 (0) @ ARRL
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ARRL Creates New Online Groups for Members to Communicate with Leadership
New ARRL Handbook and ARRL Antenna Book Editions Available in Your Favorite
Format
New Antenna Concept Uses Saltwater and Plastic Instead of Metal Conductor
The Doctor Will See You Now!
IARU Secretary David Sumner, K1ZZ, Offers Amateur Radio Perspective on
WRC-19
Pitcairn Island VP6R DXpedition Proving Popular; Injured Operator Evacuated
FCC Turns Down Petition to Amend Amateur Radio Identification Rules
The K7RA Solar Update
Just Ahead in Radiosport
MARS Members to Work with Radio Amateurs during SET and DOD COMEX 19-4
Arizona Club Takes vantage of Low Bands to Support 100-Mile Endurance Run
Getting It Right!
Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
ARRL Creates New Online Groups for Members to Communicate with Leadership
ARRL's Committee on Communication with ARRL Members has opened new online
forums where all radio amateurs -- ARRL members and non-members alike -- can
discuss issues and topics in two-way conversation with ARRL leadership. The
new groups are aimed at enhancing communication among ARRL leadership,
staff, members, and prospective members, in a manner that enables timely
updates and collegial discussion.
This project was based on the success over the past several years of the
ARRL-LoTW (Logbook of The World) Group in responding to Amateur Radio
operators' questions and generating discussion on ways to improve that
program. "The LoTW initiative has clearly demonstrated the effectiveness of
online Groups as a means of achieving the desired interaction," ARRL said in
announcing the new groups.
ARRL has added three online groups:
ARRL-Contesting -- Moderated by ARRL Contest visory Committee Chairman
Dennis Egan, W1UE.
ARRL-Awards -- Moderated by ARRL Radiosport and Field Services Manager Bart
Jahnke, W9JJ.
ARRL-IARU -- Moderated by IARU Secretary Dave Sumner, K1ZZ.
The existing ARRL-LOTW group, which has about 4,750 members, remains hosted
by Groups.io but has moved.
Everyone who subscribes to an ARRL Group is also automatically subscribed to
the "ARRL Groups" group. This administrative feature will allow ARRL to
convey routine announcements relevant to subscribers of all ARRL groups.
ARRL IT Manager Michael Keane, K1MK, worked with Groups.io to set up the new
groups. Since these new groups are hosted on a Groups.io platform, those
wishing to subscribe must use a Groups.io username and password, if they
have one, or create a Groups.io account if they don't.
In the months ahead, the Committee envisions creating more online groups to
support two-way communication focusing on areas of additional interest to
radio amateurs, including ARRL activities, services, initiatives, and
policies.
ARRL currently hosts members-only online forums that include Awards and
Contesting. While these forums will continue to operate, participants will
be encouraged to post new threads in the appropriate new groups.
Participants will be expected to adhere to some basic ground rules:
All questions are welcome, no matter how many times they have already been
asked and answered, or how obvious the answers might be in the
documentation.
Neither personal attacks nor foul language will be tolerated. Violators will
immediately be placed on "moderated" status, meaning their subsequent posts
will require Moderator approval until the Moderator's trust has been
regained.
Individuals posting are reminded that these forums are open to everyone,
including prospective hams and operators who are not ARRL members but may be
thinking about joining. Civility and courtesy are expected, even when you
may take issue with a post or thread topic. Read more.
New ARRL Handbook and ARRL Antenna Book Editions Available in Your Favorite
Format
Now shipping, the latest editions of The ARRL Handbook for Radio
Communications and The ARRL Antenna Book for Radio Communications are
available in formats that best suit your needs. The 2020 edition of the
Handbook offers three choices -- traditional softcover, a six-volume,
shrink-wrapped book set (not a boxed set), and eBook digital editions. The
24th edition of the Antenna Book now is available as a four-volume boxed
set, in addition to the traditional softcover version, and eBook digital
editions. The Handbook and the Antenna Book also are available in Kindle
editions.
The 2020 Handbook
The ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications limited-edition six-volume set is
workbench friendly. Grab the volume you need without having to retrieve the
entire Handbook. Volumes are divided by major topic areas.
ARRL introduced the first edition of The Radio Amateur's Handbook in 1926.
Ever since, the Handbook has been recognized as a benchmark for radio
communications learning and applied knowledge. This 97th edition is a
complete guide to radio experimentation, discovery, and innovation.
New Handbook projects and content include an analysis of Solar Cycle 24, and
discussion of what we can expect from Cycle 25; an easy-to-build RF choke
that can squelch the line noise from your ac generator; a guide to compare
rotator ratings and how to choose, install, and maintain rotators; an annual
transceiver survey (don't buy your next radio before reading it), and
supplemental content, such as a high-voltage switching power supply, a
tunable RF preamplifier, a 10 W audio amplifier, and more, available for
download.
Both Handbook formats include a unique code so you can download and install
a fully searchable digital edition of the printed book, as well as expanded
supplemental content, software, PC board templates, and other support files.
The Handbook six-volume book set, ARRL Item No. 1137, ISBN
978-1-62595-113-7, is $59.95 retail. The Handbook softcover edition, ARRL
Item No. 1076, ISBN 978-1-62595-107-6, is $49.95 retail. Order from the ARRL
Store, from your ARRL Dealer, or call 860-594-0355 or, toll-free in the US,
888-277-5289. The Handbook Kindle edition comes in six separate volumes,
automatically delivered to your Kindle, for $9.99 per volume (Vol 1, Vol 2,
Vol 3, Vol 4, Vol 5, Vol 6).
The ARRL Antenna Book, 24th Edition
ARRL introduces the limited-edition Antenna Book as a four-volume boxed set,
divided into manageable volumes and including a hard slipcase for easy
storage and access. Just reach for the volume you need without having to
retrieve the entire Antenna Book. The four volumes are divided by major
topic areas.
Showcasing 80 years of antenna know-how, this 24th edition of the Antenna
Book represents persistent pioneering development by radio amateurs, for
radio amateurs. You'll find new and time-tested antenna projects for nearly
any conceivable circumstance.
New Antenna Book projects and content include info about the highly popular
HF transmitting loops; an all-new chapter on VHF/UHF antennas; some new MF,
HF, and 6-meter antennas; the importance of ground and bonding; how to
troubleshoot your antenna tuner quickly and easily; getting the most out of
your antenna analyzer, and designing a high-performance "Band-Optimized Log
Periodic Dipole Array."
Both editions of the Antenna Book include a unique code that lets you
download and install a fully searchable digital edition of the printed book
and offers expanded supplemental content, software, PC board templates, and
other support files.
The Antenna Book four-volume boxed set, ARRL Item No. 1144, ISBN
978-1-62595-114-4, is $64.95 retail. The Antenna Book softcover edition,
ARRL Item No. 1113, ISBN 978-1-62595-111-3, is $49.95 retail. The Antenna
Book eBook edition, ARRL Item No. 1113MLD for Mac/Linux or ARRL Item No.
1113WD for Windows is $49.95. Order from the ARRL Store, from your ARRL
Dealer, or call 860-594-0355 or toll-free in the US, 888-277-5289. The
Antenna Book Kindle edition comes in four separate volumes, automatically
delivered to your Kindle, for $9.99 per volume (Vol 1, Vol 2, Vol 3, Vol 4).
Read more.
New Antenna Concept Uses Saltwater and Plastic Instead of Metal Conductor
A new antenna that uses saltwater and plastic instead of metal could make it
easier to build VHF and UHF networks, an IEEE Spectrum article asserts.
Michelle Hamson says, "Being able to focus the energy of a radio signal
toward a given receiver means you can increase the range and efficiency of
transmissions," in her article, "New Antenna Uses Saltwater and Plastic to
Steer Radio Beams." According to the article, beam-steering or beamforming
on a large scale is one of the key underlying mechanisms behind the rollout
of 5G networks. The configuration of the saltwater antenna allows 360°
beam-steering and works for frequencies between 334 and 488 MHz.
In a recent publication in IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters,
Lei Xing and her colleagues at the College of Electronic and Information
Engineering at Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics in China
have proposed a new saltwater-based antenna that achieves 12 directional
beam-steering states, and one omnidirectional state.
"The proposed design consists of a circular ground plane, with 13
transparent acrylic tubes that can be filled with (or emptied of) salt water
on demand. One tube is located in the center to act as a driven monopole.
Surrounding it are 12 parasitic monopoles," the article explains. "The 12
remaining monopoles, when filled with water, work together to act as
reflectors and give the broadcasted signal direction."
"The attractive feature of using water monopoles is that both the water
height and activating status can be dynamically tuned through microfluidic
techniques, which has a higher degree of design flexibility than metal
antennas," explains Xing.
One limitation of salt water-based antennas, she notes, is that that the
permittivity of salt water -- i.e, how it interacts with electrical fields
-- is sensitive to temperature variations.
The Doctor Will See You Now!
"Beverage Antennas" is the topic of the new (October 24) 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.
IARU Secretary David Sumner, K1ZZ, Offers Amateur Radio Perspective on
WRC-19
Writing in a special World Radiocommunication Conference 2019 (WRC-19)
edition of ITU News Magazine, International Amateur Radio Union (IARU)
Secretary David Sumner, K1ZZ, offers an overview of conference agenda items
and issues pertaining to amateur radio in his article, "Views of the
International Amateur Radio Union on WRC-19 Agenda Items." WRC-19 gets under
way on October 28 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, and continues until November
22.
Sumner noted that the IARU has participated in ITU conferences since 1927
and is a member of the ITU Radiocommunication and Development sectors.
According to Sumner, the IARU's overall objectives for WRC-19 are global
harmonization of the amateur 50 - 54 MHz allocation; maintenance of existing
spectrum access for amateurs, and strengthening protections for
radiocommunication services against interference from other RF generators.
"When new technology is developed that generates radiofrequency energy, it
is essential that adequate protection of radiocommunication services be
included in the system design," Sumner said. He concluded by noting, "No
future agenda items for new or harmonized spectrum allocations for the
amateur services are being sought at WRC-19. This position does not preclude
seeking specific allocations in the unallocated spectrum above 275 GHz, if
allocations to other services are considered. IARU is carefully monitoring
proposals for future agenda items that may impact existing amateur and
amateur-satellite allocations." Read more.
Pitcairn Island VP6R DXpedition Proving Popular; Injured Operator Evacuated
At mid-week, the Pitcairn Island VP6R DXpedition reported some 35,000
contacts in the log, including what team leader Glenn Johnson, W0GJ, called
"a lot of activity" on 12 and 10 meters. VP6R also has been taking advantage
of FT8 digital protocol, operating in fox/hound (F/H) mode. The team arrived
at the South Pacific island on October 17 and at the home of Andy Christian,
where the DXpedition's equipment had been shipped well in advance.
The team is down to 12 operators after one individual fell and suffered
several fractures. "Our evacuated team member has made it to the hospital in
Papeete, French Polynesia," Johnson said in a mid-week update. "DXpeditions
to remote places are not without risk, and medical care is quite limited at
best," he pointed out in an earlier report. The injured operator is not
being identified for privacy reasons.
By Saturday, the DXpedition team had settled into its operating routine from
two sites -- one at Christian's home and the other at an old radio station
site that is serving as VP6R's primary low-band site. "Pitcairn has power
from 8 AM until 10 PM," Johnson explained. "After 10 PM, we switch to
generators until morning. The 'radio site' is 100% generator powered."
Johnson stressed that those attempting to work VP6R on FT8 in F/H mode must
use a frequency above 1,000 Hz; the DXpedition is transmitting somewhere
below 500 Hz. "The software will move your transmit frequency down
automatically when your turn comes up in the queue, if you have F/H mode set
up properly," he said. "If you see your FT8 contact confirmed with 'RR73,'
you can be assured that you are in the log."
VP6R is active around the clock on 20 meters on more than one mode. The
DXpedition team will be on all bands during the CQ World Wide DX phone
contest, October 25 - 26. The VP6R logs are periodically uploaded to Club
Log.
Third-graders at Dorothy Grant Elementary School in Fontana, California, and
their teacher Bev Matheson, WA6BK, are following the Pitcairn Island
DXpedition teams travels and amateur radio operation, using the school's
club station, K6DGE. They will talk with DXpedition team members and learn
about Pitcairn Island, some geography, a bit about early explorers,
navigation, the oceans, ecology, different customs and heritages, and
communication skills. "We are thrilled to have these kids following us and
expanding their world through amateur radio," the VP6R team said on its
website.
FCC Turns Down Petition to Amend Amateur Radio Identification Rules
The FCC has denied a Petition for Rule Making (PRM) to amend Part 97 station
identification rules to better accommodate and simplify station
identification during emergency nets, drills, or activations. ARRL member
Robert A. Dukish, KK8DX, of Canfield, Ohio, had sought a change to Section
97.119(a) of the rules to allow a single point of transmission for station
ID on those occasions. He proposed permitting a net control station or other
designated participant to announce the call signs of every station taking
part in the net or exercise, when tactical call signs often are in use, at
10-minute intervals, using automatic CW identification.
In turning down Dukish's petition, Scot Stone, the Deputy Chief of the
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau's Mobility Division, said commenters
overwhelmingly opposed the proposal.
"They argue that the current rule strikes the appropriate balance between
the need to identify the source of transmissions and ease of communication,"
Stone wrote. "Commenters state that, in their years of experience with
amateur emergency communications, the station identification requirement has
not proven to be a burden or obstacle, and that the current procedure
actually contributes to efficient operations by providing a clear indication
that a communication has ended and the channel is available."
Stone said some commenters asserted that Dukish's proposed procedure would
be unworkable and cause confusion, while others characterized his proposal
as a solution in search of a problem.
"The purpose of the station identification requirement is to make the source
of transmissions clearly known to those receiving those transmissions,"
Stone wrote. "Separating the call sign from each transmission would defeat
this purpose." Moreover, he said there's no evidence that the current
station ID requirements have hindered amateur radio emergency
communications.
The K7RA Solar Update
Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: On Monday, October 21, the 10.7-centimeter
solar flux sank to its lowest level in recorded history. The solar flux was
64, just slightly lower than the 64.4 flux value recorded on July 2, 1954,
at the start of Solar Cycle 19, which was by far the biggest solar cycle
ever recorded. I understand that the solar flux dipped to 64.2 in 1906.
Over the October 17 - 23 reporting week, the average daily solar flux was
65.3 -- 2 points lower than last week. The average daily planetary A index
dropped from 6.4 to 4.7, while the average daily mid-latitude A index
declined from 5.1 to 3.1. And, of course, no sunspots showed up.
Predicted solar flux for the next 45 days is 66 on every day from October 24
through December 7.
The predicted planetary A index is 22 and 30 on October 24 - 25; 15 on
October 26 - 28; 8 on October 29; 5 on October 30 - November 16; 15, 8, and
5 on November 17 - 19; 20 and 24 on November 20 - 21; 15 on November 22 -
23; 12 and 8 on November 24 - 25, and 5 on November 26 - December 7.
Sunspot numbers for October 17 - 23 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, and 0, for a mean
of 0. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 66.1, 66.1, 66, 65, 64, 65.6, and 64.5,
for a mean of 65.3. Estimated planetary A indices were 6, 6, 5, 6, 5, 3, and
2, with a mean of 4.7. The middle latitude A index was 4, 4, 3, 4, 4, 2, and
1, with a mean of 3.1.
A comprehensive K7RA Solar Update is posted on Fridays on the ARRL website.
For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the ARRL Technical
Information Service, read "What the Numbers Mean...," and check out K9LA's
Propagation Page.
A propagation bulletin archive is available. Monthly charts offer
propagation projections between the US and a dozen DX locations.
Share your reports and observations.
Just Ahead in Radiosport
October 26 - 27 -- CQ World Wide DX Contest, SSB
October 30 -- UKEICC 80-Meter Contest (CW)
October 31 -- RSGB 80-Meter Autumn Series, SSB
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.
MARS Members to Work with Radio Amateurs during SET and DOD COMEX 19-4
During October and corresponding with the ARRL Simulated Emergency Test
(SET), Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS) members will be reaching out
to the amateur radio community to continue building working relationships
and improving interoperability. As part of this effort, MARS will be
promoting the use of a serial phase-shift keying protocol, Military Standard
188-110 (M110), on the 60-meter interoperability channels. Radio amateurs
are authorized to use this digital mode on the five 60-meter interop
channels, although M110 exceeds the allowable symbol rate that radio
amateurs may use on all other HF bands.
Starting on November 2 and continuing until November 17, the MARS community
will be executing Department of Defense (DOD) Communications Exercise
(COMEX) 19-4. MARS members will use the exercise to continue training and
refining their operator skills to provide situational awareness information,
such as county status reports and weather observations.
To announce the kickoff of the exercise, WWV and WWVH will broadcast voice
announcements starting on or about October 31. WWV will transmit the
announcements at 10 minutes past the hour, while WWVH will transmit them at
10 minutes before the hour.
The communication exercise will culminate on the evening of November 16 with
military stations sending M110 messages to the amateur community on 60-meter
channel 1 (5330.5 kHz USB).
Arizona Club Takes vantage of Low Bands to Support 100-Mile Endurance Run
The Coconino Amateur Radio Club (CARC) provided safety and coordination
communications for the 100-mile Stagecoach Line Run over the September 21 -
22 weekend. This 31-hour endurance run from Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon
takes place every September. Supporting the event requires planning and
commitment. Because of the geographical coverage required, the club's
amateur radio support even took advantage of 160 meters, which is not a band
typically associated with public service communication.
The Hull Cabin checkpoint, south of the Grand Canyon, with Bill Smith, KQ1S,
and Hannah Seidler on duty. [Photo courtesy of Bill Smith, KQ1S]
"Because we are in a solar minimum, a combination of bands and communication
methods were required in order to track and maintain contact with the
numerous stations," said Dan Shearer, N7YIQ, the club's Public Information
Officer. "What worked well at 3 o'clock in the afternoon was not going to
work at 2 in the morning." The club's communication infrastructure required
a combination of HF and VHF/UHF equipment that included setting up portable
repeaters and stations powered by generators and other power sources.
"When you add in the cold weather of the high desert in September and the
possibility of rain and snow, this becomes a test of what Amateur Radio may
be called upon to do to support a disaster somewhere in the nation," Shearer
said.
CARC members invested more than 300 hours of their time in planning and
supporting the race, helped by a few additional volunteers from Glendale and
Prescott. Nineteen club members staffed eight sites, where volunteers set up
camps and kept vigil through the night to track and make sure runners were
accounted for throughout the race.
A typical race checkpoint. This one was north of Flagstaff. [Scott Downard,
N7SMD, photo]
In addition to tracking runners into and out of each aid station, net
control entered these times into an online spreadsheet as they progressed
through the race, allowing runners to be located easily in case they did not
make it to the next checkpoint.
During the event, CARC members helped locate two missing runners and helped
save the life of another who developed severe asthma. Medical care and
treatment during these types of extreme events poses a significant
challenge, as EMS responses are delayed. "Much of the area between Flagstaff
and the Grand Canyon is US Forest Service land, and travel through these
areas by vehicles is slow," Shearer explained. "Severe emergencies can only
be handled by aircraft, if conditions permit."
During the race, 75 meters worked well during the day, but 160 meters was
put into play after dark. Cross-band repeaters were placed at remote sites
to allow access to existing repeaters. Although VHF and UHF were used, these
links at times became unusable, and alternate forms and bands were required
to maintain contact.
Getting It Right!
The item, "PACTOR Developer SCS Announces Monitoring Software," which
appeared in the October 17 edition of The ARRL Letter, included some
inaccurate language. The story should have said, "The issue of message
transparency arose in recent months with respect to renewed attention to
ARRL's so-called 'symbol rate' petition for rulemaking (RM-11708) and the
accommodation of automatically controlled digital stations (ACDS) -- many of
which employ Winlink. Some commenters on ARRL's petition have asserted
incorrectly that PACTOR facilitates de facto message encryption, which would
violate FCC Amateur Service rules." (Neither Winlink nor PACTOR are
encrypted.)
Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
October 26 -- South Carolina Section Convention, Conway, South Carolina
November 2 - 3 -- Georgia State Convention, Lawrenceville, Georgia
November 16 -- Indiana Section Convention, Fort Wayne, Indiana
December 13 - 14 -- West Central Florida Section Convention, Plant City,
Florida
January 4 -- New York City-Long Island Section Convention, Brookville, New
York
January 17 - 18 -- North Texas Section Convention, Forest Hill, Texas
January 19 - 25 -- Quartzfest, Quartzsite, Arizona
January 24 - 26 -- Puerto Rico State Convention, Hatillo, Puerto Rico
January 25 -- ARRL Midwest Conference (Winterfest), Collinsville, Illinois
Find conventions and hamfests in your area.
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