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The ARRL Letter January 9, 2020
- ARRL's New On the Air Magazine on its Way to Members
- Volunteer Monitor Program Coordinator Looks Forward to a Positive 2020
- ARRL CEO Challenges Members: "Dare to Imagine"
- So Now What? Podcast
- Strong Earthquake Shakes Puerto Rico; Generating Capacity Severely
Compromised
- Australian Bushfires Causing Major Telecommunication Outages, Hams on Duty
- Radio Amateurs of Canada Announces a New Section
- China Telecoms Regulator Proposing to Delete Some Current Amateur
Allocations
- The K7RA Solar Update
- Just Ahead in Radiosport
- ARISS Next-Generation Radio System Ready for Launch to Space Station
- CAMSAT Says CAS-6 Activation for Amateur Use Has Been Delayed
- In Brief...
- Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
ARRL's New On the Air Magazine on its Way to Members
----------------------------------------------------
The premiere issue of ARRL's On the Air magazine has left the printer and is
on its way to member subscribers. The magazine should be in mailboxes within
the next 10 days.
On the Air is the newest ARRL member benefit to help new licensees and
beginner-to-intermediate radio communicators navigate the world of amateur
radio. Eligible US-based members can elect to receive On the Air or QST
magazine in print when they join or when they renew their ARRL membership.
Delivered six times a year, the magazine will present articles and tips on
selecting equipment, building projects, and getting involved in emergency
communication. On the Air will also spotlight the experiences of those
involved in public service communication and casual operating.
All members will be able to access digital editions of On the Air magazine.
The first digital issue of On the Air will be available beginning January
14, supported by a new version of ARRL's digital magazine app. With one app,
members will be able to access On the Air and QST.
Volunteer Monitor Program Coordinator Looks Forward to a Positive 2020
----------------------------------------------------------------------
In a holiday season message to ARRL leadership and to members of the new
ARRL Volunteer Monitor (VM) program, its coordinator, Riley Hollingsworth,
K4ZDH, expressed his gratitude to all involved for their contributions to
getting the program off to a solid start in January.
"It will be a good year," Hollingsworth said. "We will have fun, you will
enjoy it more than you probably think, and -- thanks to the talent and
generosity of one of our VMs -- a computer program will make your reporting
much easier (there will be no need for bi-monthly reports!)," he wrote.
"This is our opportunity to help amateur radio last another hundred years
and to pay forward this wonderful avocation that joyfully occupies our
lives. This could be our legacy if we do it with all the energy and devotion
that characterized the Official Observer (OO) program for decades."
Hollingsworth said the success of the OO program convinced the FCC to trust
ARRL with the responsibilities now to be taken up by the Volunteer Monitor
program. "Those of you who are former OOs have an extra reason to be proud,
and amateur radio is grateful to you more than you will ever know,"
Hollingsworth concluded. "Thank you. It will be a privilege to work with you
this new year."
Approved by the ARRL Board of Directors in 2018, the Volunteer Monitor
program supplants the venerable OO program. The VM program represents a
formal agreement between the FCC and ARRL in which volunteers trained and
vetted by ARRL will monitor the airwaves and collect evidence that can be
used to correct misconduct. The program also will recognize exemplary on-air
operation, something not done during the OO program. Cases of flagrant
violations will be referred to the FCC by ARRL for action in accordance with
FCC guidelines.
The FCC proposed the new program in the wake of several FCC regional office
closures and a reduction in field staff. It will give enforcement priority
to cases developed by the Volunteer Monitor program without ARRL's having to
refer cases through the FCC online complaint process.
ARRL CEO Challenges Members: "Dare to Imagine"
----------------------------------------------
In his January 2020 QST "Second Century" editorial, ARRL CEO Howard Michel,
WB2ITX, challenges members to imagine what ARRL and amateur radio will look
like in 5 years and beyond and to dare to imagine change.
"Younger hams are not just younger versions of you or me," Michel writes.
"They have grown up in a different world." He points out that 75% of
non-members hold Technician licenses. "But more than license class, their
interests are different. Their demographics are different. They are
different, and they want different things," he said. His approach is to
target specific interest groups, which he calls "verticals," that will allow
ARRL to provide individual members what they want.
"We can try to mold the future generation of hams to our image, or we can
embrace new hams for what they are," Michel asserted. "ARRL needs to do the
latter."
In addition to initiatives such as the new On the Air magazine, debuting
this month in print and digital editions, and the Lifelong Learning program
to engage new licensees, Michel is proposing verticals focusing on
radiosport, experimentation, and emergency communication. He's recommending
a new family of "mini-magazines" to reach niche membership interests. "To
jump start the mini-mag revolution," he said, "We will offer NCJ and QEX in
digital form to everyone." ARRL also plans to hire a national club
coordinator this year.
"Our focus will be on developing ways, and an infrastructure, that members
can use to organize themselves in ways they want, to do things that they
consider meaningful," Michel said.
He has invited members' comments.
So Now What? Podcast
--------------------
In the final episode of So Now What? hosts Michelle Patnode, W3MVP, and Joe
Carcia, NJ1Q, will speak with ARRL VEC Assistant Manager Amanda Grimaldi,
N1NHL.
An archive of So Now What? episodes will remain on Blubrry and will be
accessible via the podcast's web page. Users can still direct questions
regarding the podcast via email.
Thank you to LDG Electronics for sponsoring the show and thanks to everyone
for listening!
Strong Earthquake Shakes Puerto Rico; Generating Capacity Severely Compromised
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ARRL Puerto Rico Section Manager Oscar Resto, KP4RF, says small tremors
continue on the island in the wake of the 6.4 magnitude earthquake that
struck the southwestern part of the island on January 7. A magnitude 5.8
quake struck a day earlier. The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA)
reported widespread power outages after generating plants automatically
activated protective shutdown systems following the earthquake. But Resto
told ARRL this week that considerable generating capacity was lost due to
earthquake damage, and that it will take at least several days before
replacement units can be brought back on line. Only about 20% of the island
has electric power at this point, he estimated.
"We have a shortage of about 1,100 megawatts of power," Resto told ARRL. "We
normally need about 2,000 megawatts for the island."
Resto cited the largely operational telecommunications network as the reason
why no Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) activations have been
necessary. "We have cell phones all over the island working," he said. Resto
told ARRL that he's been working up a list of ready and resilient amateur
radio volunteers who would be able to muster if needed to assist the
American Red Cross, with which Puerto Rico ARES has a memorandum of
understanding. "We are in continuous communication with the ARC in case
we're needed."
Resto stressed that he wants to avoid situations where volunteers activate
only to be told they're not needed.
The worst-impacted cities were Guayanilla, Pe¤uelas, Yauco, and Gu nica.
Resto said engineers have determined that 80% of the houses in the
earthquake's impact zone are uninhabitable. Residents are sleeping outdoors,
Resto said.
Puerto Rico Section Public Information Officer Angel Santana, WP3GW, told
ARRL that VHF and UHF repeaters with emergency power have carried reports of
power and water outages, the continuing aftershocks, and other information
on an informal basis. Bottled water and canned food have been in high
demand, he said. Santana said the PREMA Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
has been activated.
Resto earlier this week called the situation "scary, with houses, schools,
and roads collapsing." At least one death has resulted from the earthquake.
He said the earthquake disaster definitely was a setback for the US
territory as it continues its long recovery from severe hurricane damage in
2017. But, he added, the restored telecommunications infrastructure is more
robust, to minimize damage in future disasters.
Australian Bushfires Causing Major Telecommunication Outages, Hams on Duty
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) President Greg Kelly, VK2GPK, says the
bushfires in Australia have caused significant disruption of
telecommunication services in the states of Victoria and New South Wales.
Radio amateurs are supporting relief operations and communication.
WICEN (Wireless Institute Civil Emergency Network) in New South Wales
reports it has been active assisting in a number of multi-agency activities
during the bushfire emergency, in its role as a support squad of the NSW
Volunteer Rescue Association (VRA) operations center in Bega. WICEN teams in
NSW and in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) have sent a team to Bega
to help re-establish radio communication services, disrupted by fire activity.
WICEN and other VRA squads continue to support the Rural Fire Service (RFS)
at various Fire Control Centers and the Bushfire Information Line. Other
WICEN members remain active with the RFS and the State Emergency Service.
Kelley has asked radio amateurs in International Amateur Radio Union (IARU)
Region 3 to monitor the emergency communications frequencies, per the IARU
Region 3 band plan, whenever possible, as well as repeaters. "Amateurs
seeking to establish emergency communication should use these EMCOMM
frequencies in the first instance, or repeaters if available," he said in a
statement posted on the IARU Region 3 website.
"Radio amateurs who are volunteers for [WICEN and other emergency
communication organizations] should keep themselves updated," Kelley
advised. "Emergency communication is one of the main reasons radio amateurs
have access to RF spectrum. Please assist if and when you can."
The IARU Region 3 emergency "center of activity" frequencies are 3.600,
7.110, 14.300, 18.160, and 21.360 MHz. These are not net frequencies, but
they are recommended as starting points for emergency traffic, and activity
may extend 5 kHz above or below the designated center frequency.
South of NSW in the state of Victoria, WICEN VIC reports that the amateur
repeater network is largely off the air, possibly due to a lack of power.
"Some sites may have been directly affected by fire," WICEN VIC said on
January 4. "It could be some weeks until the sites can be reached for
inspection."
Radio Amateurs of Canada Announces a New Section
------------------------------------------------
The number of Sections needed for a clean sweep in the ARRL November
Sweepstakes (SS) will rise to 84 in 2020, with the addition of a new Prince
Edward Island (PE) Section. Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) has announced
that the new Section will become effective on April 1.
Prince Edward Island has been in the Maritimes (MAR) Section. RAC said its
Prince Edward Island members have been working for some time to create a
separate Section for RAC ARES activities there. The provinces of Nova Scotia
and New Brunswick will remain in the Maritimes Section.
In addition to Field Day and Sweepstakes, the new Section in Canada will
affect the ARRL 160-Meter Contest but not the ARRL 10-Meter Contest, which
uses individual states/provinces for US and Canadian multipliers. The change
will mean that logging software developers will have to update their
software to include the PE Section as a valid exchange element for any
affected operating events.
RAC also announced an adjustment in two of its Ontario Sections. Effective
April 1, radio amateurs in the City of Hamilton and in the Regional
Municipality of Niagara will shift to the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) Section
from the Ontario South (ONS) Section.
China Telecoms Regulator Proposing to Delete Some Current Amateur Allocations
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
China's telecommunications regulator has proposed amending the Measures for
the Administration of Amateur Radio Stations, and some amateur bands are in
danger of being eliminated. Lide Zhang, BI8CKU, told ARRL that the proposal
would prohibit amateur operation on the 2200-meter band as well as on 146 -
148 MHz, 1260 - 1300 MHz, 3400 - 3500 MHz, 5650 - 5725 MHz, and all bands
above 10 GHz.
Radio communications engineer and Chinese Amateur Satellite Group (CAMSAT)
CEO Alan Kung, BA1DU, told ARRL that government efforts to eliminate some
amateur bands are nothing new, but proposals that have been aired for a
while now are on the regulatory agency's schedule. Kung said he does not
anticipate that all of the bands proposed will be taken away, but he
conceded that the climate will "undoubtedly" become increasingly more
dangerous for China's amateur radio community.
"The attempt to crowd out the amateur radio bands has a long history
throughout the world," he said, "but it may never have become so urgent for
the amateur radio community as it is today. We all understand that radio
spectrum resources have become a bottleneck for further development." He
said today's radio communication industry "is working hard to share spectrum
resources."
Kung characterized spectrum as "the soil on which amateur radio depends."
The K7RA Solar Update
---------------------
Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Sunspots appeared recently, all indicating
that they belong to Cycle 25 due to their polarity, which is just the
opposite from Cycle 24 spots. Sunspots appeared December 24 - 26, and what
appeared to be a new Cycle 25 spot showed up on January 1. NOAA did not
report it, but Spaceweather.com reported a sunspot number of 11 for January 1.
Predicted solar flux for the next 45 days is higher than in recent
forecasts: 72 on January 2-9; 70 on January 10-11; 72 on January 12-25; 70
on January 26 - February 7, and 72 on February 8-15.
Predicted planetary A index is 5 on January 2-13; 12 on January 14-15; 5 on
January 16-25; 8 on January 2-28; 5 on January 29 - February 9; 10 on
February 10-11, and 5 on February 12-15.
Sunspot numbers for December 19-25 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 24, and 23, with a
mean of 6.7. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 69.9, 70, 70.6, 71, 72.6, 72.7,
and 72.1, with a mean of 71.3. Estimated planetary A indices were 13, 5, 5,
4, 4, 3, and 4, with a mean of 5.4. The middle latitude A index was 12, 4,
4, 2, 2, 2, and 3, with a mean of 4.1.
Sunspot numbers for December 26 - January 1 were 11, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, and 11,
with a mean of 3.1. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 72.1, 72.4, 72.2, 72, 70.9,
70.5, and 71.8, with a mean of 71.7. Estimated planetary A indices were 5,
3, 2, 2, 3, 4, and 3, with a mean of 3.1. Middle latitude A index was 3, 2,
0, 0, 2, 4, and 3, with a mean of 2.
A comprehensive K7RA Solar Update is posted 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
------------------------
January 11 -- YB DX Contest (Phone)
January 11 -- Old New Year Contest (CW, phone)
January 11 - 12 -- UBA PSK63 Prefix Contest
January 11 - 12 -- SKCC Weekend Sprintathon (CW)
January 11 - 12 -- North American QSO Party, CW
January 12 -- NRAU-Baltic Contest, SSB, CW (separate events)
January 12 -- DARC 10-Meter Contest (CW, phone)
January 12 -- RSGB AFS Contest, Data
January 12 - 15 -- Classic Exchange (CW)
January 13 -- 4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint (CW, phone)
January 16 -- NAQCC CW Sprint (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 email preferences.
ARISS Next-Generation Radio System Ready for Launch to Space Station
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) reports that its
first Interoperable Radio System (IORS) flight unit -- serial number 1001 --
has been delivered to NASA's Johnson Space Center for launch in early March.
The IORS represents the first major upgrade in ARISS equipment on the
International Space Station since Amateur Radio gained a permanent presence
onboard the ISS in 2000. In December, ARISS received approval from NASA
Safety to launch the IORS on SpaceX CRS-20 and stow the radio system on the
ISS for future installation.
"The IORS is a foundational element of the ARISS next-generation radio
system and is an incredible engineering achievement by the ARISS hardware
team," ARISS International President Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, said. "This first
element delivery will support easier radio mode transitions and enable new,
exciting capabilities for hams, students, and the general public."
The new system includes a higher-power radio, an enhanced voice repeater,
and updated digital packet radio (APRS) and slow-scan television (SSTV)
capabilities for both the US and Russian space station segments. The IORS
consists of a custom-modified JVC Kenwood TM-D710GA transceiver, an
AMSAT-developed multi-voltage power supply, and interconnecting cables.
The IORS set to launch in March will be installed in the ISS Columbus
module; a second flight unit is expected to be launched later this year for
installation in the Russian Service module. The ARISS hardware team will
assemble four flight units -- and 10 IORS units in all -- to support onboard
flight operations, training, operations planning, and hardware testing.
ARISS International President Frank Bauer, KA3HDO.
"Future upgrades and enhancements to the next-generation system are in
various stages of design and development," Bauer said. "These include a
repaired Ham Video system -- currently planned for launch in mid-to-late
2020, L-band (uplink) repeater, ground command operations capability,
LimeSDR signal reception, a microwave 'Ham Communicator,' and Lunar Gateway
prototype experiment."
Bauer said a lot of "heavy lifting" remains to prepare the IORS for
operation on the space station. "ARISS has 92 engineering requirements and
our operations Phase III safety review to complete," he explained. "The
space agencies take a position of 'trust, but verify.' Thus, these
engineering and safety 'verifications' all need to be closed out before the
IORS can be unstowed and turned on. This will be the ARISS hardware team's
focus over the next few months."
Bauer reminded that ARISS is almost entirely run by volunteers and
encouraged donations for next-generation hardware developments, operations,
education, and administrative functions.
CAMSAT Says CAS-6 Activation for Amateur Use Has Been Delayed
-------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese Amateur Satellite Group (CAMSAT) CEO Alan Kung, BA1DU, told ARRL
this week that some problems with the precise attitude determination of the
newly launched CAS-6 amateur radio satellite have delayed deployment of the
antennas. The satellite was to have been put into service within 3 days.
"If the V/UHF antennas are deployed now, additional torque may affect
determination of the satellite attitude," Kung said. "Engineers need to
modify and upload the software, which will take some time." He said that
taking into consideration the upcoming long Chinese New Year holiday, the
test work is planned to be completed sometime in late February or early
March. At that time, VHF/UHF antennas will be deployed, and the amateur
radio payload will be available for use.
Kung points out that the satellite's CW beacon has been turned on, although
the antenna has not yet been deployed. "If you have a 'big ear,' you may be
able to receive weak signal leaked from an undeployed antenna on 145.910
MHz," he said. "A polyimide cover on the antenna chassis can help to leak
some RF signal."
CAMSAT has provided CAS-6 Satellite Digital Telemetry Description and CW
Telemetry Beacon Encoding Format documents. -- Thanks to Alan Kung, BA1DU
In Brief...
-----------
ARRL San Joaquin Valley Section Manager Dan Pruitt, AE6SX, of Fresno,
California, died on December 27. He was 68 and had been hospitalized as a
result of a fall. First licensed in 1965, Pruitt had served as SJV SM since
2009 and had begun a new 2-year term last year. Assistant SM John Litz,
NZ6Q, has been appointed to succeed him. Pruitt had previously served as
Fresno County Emergency Coordinator, and his focus has been on improving
emergency communication in his region, working with the Radio Amateur Civil
Emergency Service (RACES), the National Traffic System, the Military
Auxiliary Radio System (MARS), the American Red Cross, the Community
Emergency Response Team (CERT), and the System for Administration, Training,
and Educational Resources for NASA. He had also served as SJV Public
Information Officer. Litz, an ARRL Life Member from Stockton, California,
was first licensed in 1974. He is active in many facets of Amateur Radio,
and has served as an Assistant Section Manager in San Joaquin Valley for the
past year.
Tickets for three traditional dinners held in association with the 2020
Dayton Hamvention© in May are now available. The DX Dinner, the Top Band
Dinner, and the Contest Dinner. Inductees to the CQ DX and CQ Contest Halls
of Fame will be announced at the DX Dinner and Contest Dinner, respectively.
Hall of Fame nominations are due by March 1. Read more.
ARRL West Central Florida Section Celebrating its 20th Anniversary this Year
The ARRL West Central Florida Section is marking its 20th anniversary this
year. The Section newsletter, the WCF Presser, includes information on
celebratory activities. A K4WCF special event in January will activate all
10 of the Section's counties, with additional K4WCF special events later in
the year. The West Central Florida Section website also has a new look for
the 20th anniversary celebration, its first since January 2015. West Central
Florida was ARRL's 71st Section. It includes Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee,
Highlands, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, and Sarasota
counties. Darrell Davis, KT4WX, is the West Central Florida Section Manager.
Wolf Hadel, DK2OM, stepped down at year's end as coordinator of the
International Amateur Radio Union Region 1 Monitoring System (IARUMS). IARU
Region 1 President Don Beattie, G3BJ, announced in December that, after many
years of monitoring and tracking intruders on the amateur bands, Hadel has
been awarded the IARU President's Diamond Award in recognition of his
efforts. Hadel worked for the Deutscher Amateur Radio Club (DARC) monitoring
system for more than 30 years and has coordinated IARUMS since 2005. IARUMS
Region 1 Vice Coordinator Peter Jost, HB9CET, will take over as coordinator
for the time being. Read more.
Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
------------------------------------------------------
January 17 - 18 -- North Texas Section Convention, Forest Hill, Texas
January 19 - 25 -- Quartzfest, Quartzsite, Arizona
January 25 -- ARRL Midwest Conference, Collinsville, Illinois
February 1 -- South Carolina State Convention, North Charleston, South
Carolina
February 1 -- Virginia State Convention, Richmond, VA
February 7 - 9 -- Northern Florida Section Convention, Orlando, Florida
February 14 - 15 -- Southwest Division Convention, Yuma, Arizona
Find conventions and hamfests in your area.
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