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The ARRL Letter February 20, 2020
- Coronavirus Outbreak Postpones Swains Island W8S DXpedition
- VP8PJ South Orkney DXpedition Team Arrives
- KX9X Offers Five Tips on Satellite Operating Etiquette
- ARRL Podcast Schedule
- The K7RA Solar Update
- Just Ahead in Radiosport
- Emergency Communication Exercise Set in Northern Florida
- Mississippi ARESİ Emergency Coordinator Credits Training for Effective
Tornado Response
- Yasme Foundation Announces Grants and Excellence Awards
- New World Distance Record Claimed on 122 GHz
- FAA's Proposed Remote Identification Rules Would Affect Drones, Hobby Planes
- In Brief...
- Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
Coronavirus Outbreak Postpones Swains Island W8S DXpedition
-----------------------------------------------------------
The W8S DXpedition to Swains Island in the Pacific, set to take place in
mid-March, has been postponed until September as a result of travel
restrictions imposed on individuals entering American Samoa, stemming from
the recent coronavirus outbreak. The Department of Health allows
non-residents to enter American Samoa only via Hawaii after a 14-day
mandatory quarantine, and the DXpedition was unable to accommodate that
requirement.
"Everything is prepared for our DXpedition, and we are eager to go, but
unfortunately the coronavirus outbreak is out of our control," the
DXpedition team said in announcing the delay. "Although this is a
disappointment for everyone, the W8S DXpedition is not cancelled, just
postponed for later this year."
The DXpedition said it would alert the DX community as soon as it has new
firm dates for the trip.
VP8PJ South Orkney DXpedition Team Arrives
------------------------------------------
The VP8PJ South Orkney DXpedition team, on board the Braveheart, reached
Signy Island in the South Orkneys just after 1000 UTC on February 20. Team
members are now preparing to land Zodiacs and transfer equipment.
"We have ice to contend with regarding our planned landing area," the
DXpedition reported. "The ice was pushed in during the previous days, but we
are expecting the winds to change and blow the ice out. We are currently
looking for an alternate site to unload, then move the equipment to the
planned site. An alternative camp/operations area is being considered as we
evaluate current conditions."
The Perseverance DX Group-sponsored DXpedition was set to commence operation
on February 20 (UTC), but it appears that could be delayed. Team members
operated as ZL1NA/mm during their voyage, generating heavy pileups, and they
expect to continue doing so once they get set up as VP8PJ.
Operation on CW, SSB, RTTY, and FT8 (always fox/hound mode except on 60
meters) will continue until March 5 (UTC). Stations in Africa and Oceania
may call at any time, regardless of operators' directional instructions.
The VP8PJ DXpedition is the recipient of an ARRL Colvin Award grant, funded
by an endowment established by Lloyd D. Colvin, W6KG (SK). Heading the
14-member DXpedition team are Dave Lloyd, K3EL, and Les Kalmus, W2LK.
South Orkney Islands is the 16th most-wanted DXCC entity, according to Club
Log.
The DXpedition advises that DXers wait until propagation and conditions
favor their location. VP8PJ will always operate split, and operators will
indicate where they are listening.
QSL via OQRS for direct or bureau, or direct via QSL Manager Tim Beaumont,
M0URX; log search will also be available. Read more. --Thanks to The Daily
DX for some information
KX9X Offers Five Tips on Satellite Operating Etiquette
------------------------------------------------------
Former ARRL Contest Branch Manager and Media and Public Relations Manager
Sean Kutzko, KX9X, shared "Five Tips on Etiquette and Good Manners on the FM
Ham Radio Satellites" on the DX Engineering blog, On All Bands. Kutzko said
the transient nature of satellite availability can lead to "a natural sense
of urgency" among operators trying to operate through it.
"Satellite operating comes with several challenges, not the least of which
is that it is one of the ultimate shared resources in the hobby," Kutzko
wrote. "While there are now several satellites to choose from, a given
satellite is only above the horizon for a maximum of 15 minutes or so. Lots
of people trying to access a satellite during a short window of opportunity
can create problems, and that can bring out some undesirable behavior."
In terms of operating etiquette for satellites, Kutzko advised that the "big
one," is "Don't transmit if you can't hear the satellite first." He notes
that whistling or saying such things as "hello" and "check one-two" are bad
form.
"If you don't hear other activity, you're probably not going to hear
yourself, either," Kutzko explained. "Blindly calling or whistling may cause
unintentional interference to other stations that can properly hear the
satellite."
Next on the list is to wait your turn. "Given the rapid nature of satellite
contacts, you shouldn't have to wait very long for your chance during a
pass," Kutzko wrote.
Kutzko also advised to always use phonetics when operating on the FM
satellites. "Phonetics help ensure your call [sign] is copied correctly the
first time and can save a lot of precious moments during a short pass," he
said.
Also, avoid making repeat contacts with a station you've worked previously
and resist the temptation to greet an old friend. "[E]ach contact you make
with a person you've already had several contacts with prevents another
person from making a contact," Kutzko pointed out.
Finally, he said, "It may be best to let the rare station have the pass and
try to work as many stations as they can. In some cases, the rare station
may only be audible for a portion of the pass you're on, with the station
moving out of the satellite's footprint before it moves out of range for
you," Kutzko recommended.
"Satellite activity is at an all-time high, with new sats being launched on
a regular basis and more operators discovering how much fun there is to be
had," he concluded. "By being mindful of others trying to make contacts and
thinking of others on the pass, we can all contribute to a better satellite
environment for everyone."
Kutzko won the June 2018 QST Cover Plaque Award for his article, "Get on the
Satellites for ARRL Field Day." He steered satellite newcomers to his
earlier blog posts to help them get started.
ARRL Podcast Schedule
---------------------
ARRL's "On the Air" podcast's second episode (February 13) focuses on
building the ground plane antenna featured in the first issue of On the Air
magazine, a discussion of open-wire feed lines, and an interview with a
relatively new public service volunteer. New "On the Air" podcast episodes
are available monthly.
The first episode of the "Eclectic Tech" podcast (February 13) includes a
discussion of amateur radio activity on the Qatar-OSCAR 100 satellite, an
interview with Assistant ARRL Lab Manager Bob Allison, WB1GCM, about
handheld transceiver testing at Dayton Hamvention and other conventions, and
an interview with Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA, about propagation conditions.
New episodes will be available biweekly.
Both podcasts are available on iTunes (iOS) and Stitcher (Android) as well
as on Blubrry -- On the Air | Eclectic Tech.
The K7RA Solar Update
---------------------
Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: The most recent sunspot appearance was on
February 1, nearly 3 weeks ago.
The average daily solar flux over the past week declined just barely, from
71.1 to 70.9. The average daily planetary A index changed from 8.3 to 7, and
mid-latitude A index went from 6.7 to 5.1. Solar activity remains very low.
Solar flux is projected to remain very low -- 70 on February 20 - 27, and 71
on February 28 - April 4.
The predicted planetary A index is 18, 10, and 8 on February 20 - 22; 5 on
February 23 - 25; 8 and 12 on February 26 - 27; 5 on February 28 - March 3;
20, 15, and 8 on March 4 - 6; 5 on March 7 - 14; 10, 8, 10, 8, and 5 on
March 15 - 19; 10, 8, 5, 8, 12, and 10 on March 20 - 25; 5 on March 26 - 30;
20 on March 31, and 15, 8, 5, and 5 on April 1 - 4.
Sunspot numbers for February 13 - 19 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, and 0, with a
mean of 0. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 71.2, 71.3, 70.6, 70.5, 70.7, 71,
and 71, with a mean of 70.9. Estimated planetary A indices were 3, 3, 5, 3,
7, 14, and 14, with a mean of 7. The middle latitude A index was 1, 3, 4, 2,
5, 11, and 10, with a mean of 5.1.
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
------------------------
February 21 - 23 -- CQ 160-Meter Contest, SSB
February 22 - 23 -- REF Contest, SSB
February 22 - 23 -- UK/EI DX Contest (CW)
February 23 -- SARL Digital Contest
February 23 -- High Speed Club CW Contest
February 24 - 25 -- QCX Challenge (CW)
February 26 -- SKCC Sprint (CW)
February 26 -- UKEICC 80-Meter Contest (CW)
February 27 -- RSGB 80-Meter Club Championship (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.
Emergency Communication Exercise Set in Northern Florida
--------------------------------------------------------
On Sunday, March 1, dozens of amateur radio volunteers from several states
will take part in a 3-hour exercise in the northern Florida city of
Gainesville. The exercise is designed to test and evaluate skills, assets,
and strategies for emergency communication, such as those that might be
needed in the aftermath of a hurricane. The exercise is being organized by
the North Florida Amateur Radio Club (NFARC) and the Gainesville Amateur
Radio Society (GARS), as part of the third annual Amateur Radio
Communications Conference, held on Saturday and Sunday, February 29 - March 1.
This year's "Hot and Cold" exercise scenario is based on hypothetical
high-pressure natural gas pipeline ruptures and subsequent fires, as well as
a loss of electrical power during an extreme cold-weather event. The sudden
widespread event then caused telecommunications failures in undersea cables
to develop, with widespread communication systems overloading and failing.
Exercise planners used the revised and just-released Homeland Security
Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) in planning the event. The update
incorporates feedback and input from exercise planners and practitioners
across the country and ensures that HSEEP doctrine, the training course, and
corresponding documents continue to best meet the needs of communities.
Collaborating Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Conference lecturers
have created a more than 200-page manual for the multi-track training
sessions on Saturday. Participants will get to put what they learned into
practice the next day, as they fan out to seven assigned simulated shelter
locations and the Alachua County Emergency Operations Center. The club says
Alachua County Emergency Manager Hal Grieb is supporting the
volunteer-driven Homeland Security exercise and evaluation program-based
effort, and he and his staff will serve as evaluators. Former FEMA
Administrator Craig Fugate, KK4INZ, also plans to be on hand.
For the past 3 years, NFARC has published the conference proceedings, and
last year, it also published the written report of its exercise. Last year's
exercise scenario focused on a new respiratory virus that had crippled the
nation.
With the release of the updated 2020 HSEEP document, FEMA will be hosting
webinars to provide information, highlights, and changes as a result of the
review process. Webinars will continue until mid-May. Visit the HSEEP
webpage for additional dates and times. -- Thanks to Dr. Gordon Gibby, KX4Z;
The ARES E-Letter
Mississippi ARESİ Emergency Coordinator Credits Training for Effective
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Tornado Response
----------------
Amateur Radio Emergency Serviceİ (ARESİ) volunteers in DeSoto County,
Mississippi, devoted a January weekend to assisting local emergency managers
in responding to tornado damage in the region. Desoto County Emergency
Coordinator Ricky Chambers, KF5WVJ; Assistant EC Gene Adams, KF5KVL; Tate
County EC Brad Kerley, KG5TTU, and Andy Luscomb, AG5FG, reported at 3 AM on
January 11 to the DeSoto County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to open a
SKYWARN weather watch. After a tornado warning was issued for DeSoto County,
Chambers activated an emergency net on a local repeater. Ten minutes into
the net, however, the repeater went down, and the net switched to simplex.
The net subsequently moved to another operational repeater.
Initial reports of downed trees blocking roadways and an eyewitness report
of a possible tornado southwest of Hernando came in just after 5 AM. The
ARES team at the EOC began taking damage reports, answering the telephone,
and monitoring and taking calls from public safety dispatchers. When the
deputy EMA director requested traffic control in Lewisburg, three of the
ARES volunteers accompanied EMA director Chris Olson to Lewisburg. Chambers
and Kerley assumed traffic control, and Olson asked that Chambers put out a
call for ARES/RACES volunteers and EMA reservists to report to the EOC. The
ham radio volunteers also handled welfare checks.
A dozen ARES/RACES and EMA reservists returned the next day to conduct
door-to-door damage assessment. For the next 10 days, Chambers reported, the
DeSoto County volunteers assisted in handling telephone traffic in the EOC,
freeing up first responders to do their primary jobs.
"I attribute our effective response to the training we have conducted on a
monthly basis," Chambers said, noting that training included recommended
ARRL courses. "We were able to see how the Incident Command System worked on
a first-hand basis as the incident unfolded, based on the ICS training
courses we have taken. My group went from 0 to 110 MPH in seconds, never
missing a beat [and] everyone performed on a professional level." -- Thanks
to DeSoto County and EMA Reservist Coordinator EC Ricky Chambers, KF5WVJ
Yasme Foundation Announces Grants and Excellence Awards
-------------------------------------------------------
The Yasme Foundation Board of Directors announced several grants when it met
in Orlando, Florida, on February 9. Financial support will go to:
The SU8WRC/SU8X demonstration station at World Radiocommunication
Conference 2020 in Egypt.
The Youth on the Air and HamSCI exhibits at Dayton Hamvention 2020.
Contest University at Dayton Hamvention 2020, for audio/visual
equipment, student materials, and live internet streaming.
The Croatian Amateur Radio Association (HRS) to support the Youngsters
on the Air (YOTA) 2020 Region 1 annual summer camp.
The Board also announced the individual and group recipients of the Yasme
Excellence Award, which recognizes significant contributions to amateur
radio through their service, creativity, effort, and dedication. The award
may recognize technical, operating, or organizational achievement. The Yasme
Excellence Award is in the form of a cash grant and an individually engraved
crystal globe.
The latest recipients of the Yasme Excellence Award are James Sart, K2QI,
and Adrian Ciuperca, KO8SCA, for their efforts in combining the latest
state-of-the-art technology, diplomatic skills, persistence, and leadership
in reactivating United Nations Headquarters club station 4U1UN. Additional
help with gathering equipment and logistical support was provided by RA9USU,
NT2Y, NT2X, K2LE, and N2UN (SK).
The Yasme Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation organized to support
scientific and educational projects related to amateur radio, including
DXing and the introduction and promotion of amateur radio in developing
countries.
New World Distance Record Claimed on 122 GHz
--------------------------------------------
A new world distance record of 139 kilometers (86.2 miles) is being claimed
by radio amateurs in northern California. This tops the record of 114
kilometers set in 2005 by WA1ZMS and W4WWQ, according to the Distance
Records on the ARRL website.
The February 17, 2020, contact was between Mike Lavelle, K6ML, on Mount Vaca
(CM88WJ75ON) at 835 meters (2,739.5 feet) above sea level, and Oliver
Barrett, KB6BA (at 1225 UTC), and Jim Moss, N9JIM (at 1250 UTC), who were
both on Mount Umunhum (CM97BD18VJ) at 1,016 meters (3333.3 feet) above sea
level.
Lavelle reports the dew point was -11 ĝC, the air temperature was 15 ĝC, the
path loss was about 225 dB, and atmospheric loss was approximately 0.35
dB/kilometer.
"CW was used, 122 GHz signals were very weak (7 dB above the noise in 22 Hz;
-13 in 2500 Hz equivalent) with [fading] down to the noise floor," Lavelle
told ARRL. "Dishes were aligned on 24 GHz (71 dB above the noise) prior to
[moving] to 122 GHz; we heard signals right away on 122 GHz." The stations
employed 60-centimeter satellite TV dishes and ran "somewhat less than half
a milliwatt" on 122 GHz, Lavelle said.
FAA's Proposed Remote Identification Rules Would Affect Drones, Hobby Planes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing to require remote
identification of so-called "unmanned aircraft systems" (UAS), which include
drones and hobby aircraft. A growing number of radio amateurs utilize
camera-equipped drones for aerial photography purposes, to examine antenna
systems, and to operate hobby aircraft remotely on amateur radio
frequencies. Comments on the Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) in Docket
FAA-2019-11, are due by March 2.
"The remote identification of unmanned aircraft systems in the airspace of
the United States would address safety, national security, and law
enforcement concerns regarding the further integration of these aircraft
into the airspace of the United States while also enabling greater
operational capabilities," the FAA said in proposing the new requirements.
The FAA defines remote identification, or Remote ID, as the ability of an
in-flight unmanned aircraft "to provide certain identification and location
information that people on the ground and other airspace users can receive."
The FAA called the move "an important building block in the unmanned traffic
management ecosystem."
"For example, the ability to identify and locate UAS operating in the
airspace of the United States provides additional situational awareness to
manned and unmanned aircraft," the FAA said. "This will become even more
important as the number of UAS operations in all classes of airspace
increases. In addition, the ability to identify and locate UAS provides
critical information to law enforcement and other officials charged with
ensuring public safety."
The FAA said it envisions that the remote identification network "will form
the foundation for the development of other technologies that can enable
expanded operations."
With few exceptions, all UAS operating in US airspace would be subject to
the rule's requirements and would have to comply, "regardless of whether
they conduct recreational or commercial operations, except those flying UAS
that are not otherwise required to be registered under the FAA's existing
rules."
To comment, click on the "Submit a Formal Comment" button on the top of the
Federal Register page that includes the NPRM text.
In Brief...
-----------
A Down Under special event will use former Radio Australia international
broadcast antennas. Over the March 14 - 15 weekend, members of the
Shepparton and District Amateur Radio Club (SADARC) in Australia will be on
the air as VI3RA (Radio Australia), connecting their transceivers to the
curtain array and rhombic antennas at the former Radio Australia site in
Shepparton. Radio Australia ceased transmitting from the site in 2017. VI3RA
will operate on 40, 30, 20, 17, and 15 meters. "Local amateurs will be given
the unique opportunity to explore the use of high-gain antennas whilst
giving amateurs throughout the world a unique opportunity to contact a
station using such high-gain antennas," said SADARC President Peter Rentsch,
VK3FPSR (Australia's call sign structure accommodates four-letter suffixes).
"This is a rare opportunity for amateur radio operators, who are only
allowed a peak output power of 400 W in Australia when compared to 100 kW of
Radio Australia transmitters to hopefully achieve some remarkable
communication outcomes. We expect to get a gain of 15 dB on the lower
frequencies and at least 20 dB on 21 MHz." The special event is being
conducted in cooperation with BAI Communications (Broadcast Australia). More
information is on the club's website.
AMSAT reports that the pioneering AMSAT-OSCAR 85 (AO-85) CubeSat, also known
as Fox-1A, has gone silent. "Having not been heard throughout the most
recent period of full illumination, it is reasonable to believe the
batteries have deteriorated to the point of no longer being able to power
the transmitter," AMSAT said this week. "Should some future event cause a
cell to open, it is possible the satellite may be heard again, but for now,
it is time to declare end-of-mission. AO-85 was conceived as the first AMSAT
CubeSat and designed to be a successor to the popular AO-51 Microsat. AO-85
was launched on October 8, 2015. Its success led to further Fox satellites
AO-91, AO-92, AO-95, and RadFxSat2/Fox-1E, which will be launched later this
year. The Fox-1E transponder was also spun off into a radio system now in
orbit on board HuskySat-1, and soon to be in several other university
CubeSats. -- Thanks to AMSAT News Service
France has authorized use of 60-meter band. Telecommunications regulator
ARCEP has authorized the use of a 60-meter band -- as agreed upon at World
Radiocommunication Conference 2015 -- for French radio amateurs. The formal
announcement was published in the Official Journal of the Republic of France
(JORF) on February 13, IARU member-society REF (Rseau des metteurs
Franais) has reported. The 5351.5 - 5.366.6 MHz band will be available at a
maximum EIRP of 15 W.
ARISS radio telebridge stalwart Gerald Klatzko, ZS6BTD, has died. When the
International Space Station (ISS) orbit is not favorable for a direct
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with a
particular school or location scheduled to speak with an astronaut, ARISS
radio telebridge stations bridge the gap. Gerald Klatzko, ZS6BTD, of
Parklands, South Africa, was one of the "regulars" during the earlier years
of the ARISS program. He died on February 1 at age 95. Klatzko served as an
ARISS radio telebridge station in South Africa for many years until he
retired. ARISS telebridge stations establish the direct ham radio link and
feed two-way audio into a telebridge line for delivery to the contact site.
John Sygo, ZS6JON, described Klatzko as "always bright and cheerful and a
great operator," who made major contributions to the amateur service. "He
was one of the first to experiment with slow-scan television," Sygo said.
"For many years, he assisted NASA to link astronauts with their families
using amateur radio links from Mir, the Space Shuttle, and the International
Space Station. For over 2 decades, he was the co-producer and presenter of
Amateur Radio Mirror International."
Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
------------------------------------------------------
March 7 - Delta Division Convention, Russellville, Arkansas
March 13 - 14 -- North Carolina Section Convention, Concord, North
Carolina
March 14 - 15 -- Great Lakes Division Convention, Perrysburg, Ohio
March 14 -- Nebraska State Convention, Lincoln, Nebraska
March 14 -- West Virginia Section Convention, Charleston, West Virginia
March 21 -- West Texas Section Convention, Midland, Texas
March 29 -- Virginia Section Convention, Vienna, Virginia
April 10 - 11 -- Oklahoma State Convention, Claremore, Oklahoma
April 11 -- Roanoke Division Convention, Raleigh, North Carolina
April 18 -- Delaware State Convention, Georgetown, Delaware
May 8 - 9 -- Utah State Convention, Orem, Utah
June 6 - 7 -- Northwestern Division Convention, Seaside, Oregon
June 6 - 7 -- West Pennsylvania Section Convention, Prospect, Pennsylvania
June 6 -- Georgia State Convention, Marietta, Georgia
June 20 -- Tennessee State Convention, Knoxville, Tennessee
Find conventions and hamfests in your area.
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