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The ARRL Letter March 19, 2020
- Dayton Hamvention Cancels 2020 Show
- ARRL Suspending Tours and Guest Visits to Headquarters, W1AW
- FCC Levies $18,000 Fine on Louisiana Amateur Radio Licensee
- ARRL Podcasts Schedule
- ARRL Calls for Continued Coexistence in 3.4 and 5.9 GHz Bands
- The K7RA Solar Update
- Just Ahead in Radiosport
- Coronavirus May Impact Amateur Radio License Testing
- Errata to 2020 - 2024 Amateur Extra-Class Question Pool Released
- Georgia Institute of Technology CubeSat to Feature Amateur Radio Robot
Operation
- In Brief...
- Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
Dayton Hamvention Cancels 2020 Show
-----------------------------------
For the first time in its 68-year history, Dayton Hamvention© will not take
place this year, due to concerns about the coronavirus outbreak. The glum
news was not entirely unexpected, given widespread cancellations of public
gatherings and a national state of emergency.
"The Hamvention Executive Committee has been monitoring the COVID-19
pandemic. We have worked very closely with our local and state health
departments. It is with a very heavy heart the Hamvention Executive
Committee has decided to cancel Hamvention for this year," Hamvention
General Chair Jack Gerbs, WB8SCT, said in announcing the cancellation on
March 15. "This decision is extremely difficult for us, but with around 2
months until the Great Gathering we felt this action necessary. More
specific details regarding the closure will soon be posted. Thank you for
your understanding in this time of international crisis."
The Dayton Hamvention cancellation comes less than a week after the
International DX Convention in Visalia, California, called off this year's
show. The Dayton Amateur Radio Association (DARA) sponsors Hamvention.
Since 2017, Hamvention has been held each May at the Greene County
Fairgrounds and Expo Center in Xenia, Ohio. The international gathering
attracted more than 32,000 visitors in 2019.
Hamvention's announcement has caused the cancellation of other associated
events. These include Contest University, the Contest Dinner, and the Top
Band Dinner. The QRP Amateur Radio Club International's "Four Days in May"
event has also been cancelled. Presumably, the DX Dinner, sponsored by the
SouthWest Ohio DX Association (SWODXA) and AMSAT Academy have also been
called off, although no formal announcements have been made.
ARRL Suspending Tours and Guest Visits to Headquarters, W1AW
------------------------------------------------------------
As part of efforts under way to help protect the health and safety of ARRL
Headquarters employees and volunteers from the impacts of the coronavirus,
ARRL suspended all tours and guest visits to Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial
Station W1AW and ARRL Headquarters, effective Monday, March 16.
Out of an abundance of caution, this suspension will be in effect until
further notice. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause to our
members and their guests who had been planning to visit us in Newington,
Connecticut. We feel, however, that this is a necessary precaution and is in
keeping with the guidance being provided by federal and local health
professionals. We appreciate everyone's patience and understanding as we all
endeavor to deal with this difficult public health situation.
FCC Levies $18,000 Fine on Louisiana Amateur Radio Licensee
-----------------------------------------------------------
In an enforcement case prompted by complaints filed in 2017, the FCC has
imposed an $18,000 forfeiture on Jerry W. Materne, KC5CSG, of Lake Charles,
Louisiana, for intentional interference and failure to identify. The FCC had
proposed the fine in a Notice of Apparent Liability (NAL) in the case in
July 2018, and, based on Materne's response to the NAL, the agency affirmed
the fine in a March 12 Forfeiture Order (FO).
As the FCC recounted in the FO, an FCC agent "observed Materne causing
intentional interference to a local repeater by generating digital noise
into an analog radio." The agent further reported that Materne failed to
transmit his call sign, as required.
Materne disputed the FCC's findings, arguing that the NAL should be canceled
because the agent "was mistaken in his determination that the source of the
interference was Materne's station" as his radio was not capable of
operating on the repeater frequency in question, the FCC said in the NO.
Materne also asserted that he is unable to pay the fine and suggested in his
response that the FCC should be able to access his financial information.
The FCC countered that the radio the agent observed in Materne's possession
was capable of operating on the frequency in question. "We therefore are
unpersuaded...that the proposed forfeiture should be canceled because, he
alleges, he was not the party causing interference to the repeater and the
radio in his possession could not operate on the frequency in question," the
FCC said in affirming the findings of the NAL. "We are also unpersuaded by
Materne's argument that he lacks the ability to pay the full $18,000
forfeiture." The FCC said Materne failed to provide the FCC with proof of
inability to pay, as required by the NAL.
The FCC gave Materne 30 days to pay the fine, or face having the case turned
over to the US Department of Justice for enforcement.
ARRL Podcasts Schedule
----------------------
The latest (March 12) episode of the On the Air podcast focuses on how to
calculate feed line loss, real-world examples of how digital and analog FM
transceivers handle weak signals, and an interview with Rob Macedo, KD1CY,
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator and SKYWARN
Coordinator for the National Weather Service Boston/Norton office. In the
interview, Rob offers information about how hams can get involved with
SKYWARN.
The latest episode of the Eclectic Tech podcast (Episode 3) includes an
interview with JS8Call creator Jordan Sherer, KN4CRD, revisiting SSTV, and a
discussion of arc-fault circuit breakers with Bob Allison, WB1GCM.
Both podcasts are available on iTunes (iOS) and Stitcher (Android) as well
as on Blubrry -- On the Air | Eclectic Tech.
ARRL Calls for Continued Coexistence in 3.4 and 5.9 GHz Bands
-------------------------------------------------------------
In comments filed on March 9, ARRL said that while the FCC has not proposed
to alter the secondary amateur allocation at 5.850 - 5.925 GHz, changes the
FCC has proposed for other users "will constrain current and future amateur
operations" in that band, if the proposals are adopted. The Amateur Radio
Service shares the 5.850 - 5.925 GHz band on a secondary basis with
Dedicated Short-Range Communications (DSRC) systems. Amateur radio also
shares the 5.850 - 5.875 GHz segment with industrial, scientific, and
medical (ISM) applications. ARRL's comments were in response to a Notice of
Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) in WT Docket 19-138, in which the FCC said it
would "take a fresh and comprehensive look" at the rules for the 5.9 GHz
band and proposed to make the lower 45 MHz of the band available for
unlicensed operations and to permit vehicle safety systems in the upper 30
MHz of the band.
"This proceeding is of concern to radio amateurs across the country, because
many of the operations carried out in this band are similar to those
conducted in the 3.4 GHz band, from which the Commission, in a companion
proceeding, is proposing to evict radio amateur operations," ARRL said.
ARRL urged the FCC "to consider holistically" its various spectrum
reallocation proposals for mid-range spectrum, including the 5.9 GHz and 3.4
GHz proceedings as well as proposals in another proceeding that would affect
5.925 - 7.125 GHz. Those proposals would dedicate up to 1.2 GHz of spectrum
for various types of unlicensed devices.
"The spectrum must be managed carefully and additional shared spectrum
considered in order not to severely curtail amateur networks that often are
used in public service applications when similar capabilities are not
available to public service providers," ARRL said in its remarks.
ARRL noted the widespread use of 5.9 GHz in particular for amateur mesh and
amateur television networks and links that radio amateurs have engineered
into the band on a non-interference secondary basis, often for public
service purposes. "For decades, these radio amateur uses have coexisted
successfully with the primary users of the 5.9 GHz band without harmful
interference," ARRL pointed out.
"Because of the flexibility, knowledge, and dedication of many individual
radio amateurs, we can continue to operate and even grow, so long as both
the 3.4 and 5.9 GHz bands remain available for amateur radio purposes on a
secondary basis," ARRL said. "Additional sharing opportunities also should
be made available where doing so would not interfere with primary operations
and would employ otherwise unused spectrum for public benefit purposes,"
ARRL added, referencing a pending 3.1 - 3.3 GHz spectrum review by the
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), which
manages spectrum used by the federal government.
The K7RA Solar Update
---------------------
Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: On Wednesday, Spaceweather.com reported a
new emerging Solar Cycle 25 sunspot in the sun's northern hemisphere, but it
was not yet numbered. Last week, we reported sunspots on just 2 days, March
8 and 9.
Average daily sunspot numbers over the March 12 - 18 reporting week declined
from 3.6 to zero, and daily solar flux values dipped from 70.2 to 70.1.
Geomagnetic averages were quiet but higher, with planetary A index changing
from 4.4 to 5.9 and middle latitude A index from 3.6 to 4.1.
Predicted solar flux for the next 45 days is 72 on March 19 - 21; 70 on
March 22 - April 4; 72 on April 5 - 18; 70 on April 19 - May 1, and 72 on
May 2.
Predicted planetary A index is 8 on March 19; 5 on March 20 - 26; 12 and 8
on March 27 - 28; 5 on March 29 - April 5; 10 and 8 on April 6 - 7; 5 on
April 8 - 13; 8, 12, and 8 on April 14 - 16; 5 on April 17 - 22; 12 and 8 on
April 23 - 24, and 5 on April 25 - May 2.
We have been looking forward to the vernal equinox, which occurs at 0350 UTC
on March 20 -- and now perhaps with a new emerging sunspot. This is a
favorable time for HF propagation, with both the northern and southern
hemispheres receiving an equal amount of solar radiation. Space.com has some
of the finer details on the beginning of spring 2020.
Sunspot numbers for March 12 - 18 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, and 0, with a mean
of 0. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 69.9, 68.8, 68.1, 70.2, 69.8, 71.6, and
72, with a mean of 70.1. Estimated planetary A indices were 7, 7, 3, 5, 7,
6, and 6, with a mean of 5.9. Middle latitude A index was 7, 6, 2, 3, 3, 4,
and 4, with a mean of 4.1.
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
------------------------
March 21 -- Feld Hell Sprint
March 21 -- AGCW VHF/UHF Contest (CW)
March 21 - 22 -- Russian DX Contest (CW, phone)
March 21 - 22 -- Virginia QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
March 21 - 23 -- BARTG HF RTTY Contest
March 22 -- UBA Spring Contest, SSB
March 25 -- SKCC Sprint (CW)
March 25 -- UKEICC 80-Meter Contest (CW)
March 26 -- RSGB 80-Meter Club Championship, 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.
Coronavirus May Impact Amateur Radio License Testing
----------------------------------------------------
ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC) Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM,
anticipates that the number of new and upgraded radio amateurs will take a
dip in March as VE teams cancel exam sessions due to coronavirus social
distancing guidelines. She cited FCC Universal Licensing System (ULS)
figures showing that new ham licenses granted for the first half of March
totaled 1,298, while another 296 licensees upgraded. Those numbers are down
from the 1,697 new ham licenses granted during the same period last year,
which also saw 467 upgrades.
"Some sessions are still going on, because they don't have bans in place
yet. Also, some teams that only test one or two candidates every month may
be able to continue, since that is well below the number of people that most
authorities are advising should gather," Somma said. She anticipates a surge
will come after bans on larger gatherings are lifted, because examinees are
eager to take the exams they have been studying hard for.
Somma cautioned that, while March 2020 license numbers appear to be trending
downward, it's not possible to reliably predict how an entire month will
play out by extrapolating partial-month numbers. "March is the beginning of
the busy part of the year, but depending on how the weekends fall and when
licensing classes end, a month may peak at different points or be busy the
whole way through," she said. More than 764,000 US amateur radio licensees
are in the FCC database.
ARRL VEC's March VE E-Newsletter assured Volunteer Examiners that their
health and safety are top priority and that the ARRL VEC is taking the
coronavirus outbreak very seriously. "We understand that with the rapidly
changing updates on restrictions and canceled or postponed public events,
our VE teams are in different locations and should do what is best for them
and their communities," Somma said. "We urge you to stay informed, so you
can make informed decisions based on your local community's guidelines, as
each community is unique. Then use your best judgement when deciding whether
or not to conduct, postpone, or cancel an exam session."
Somma directed ARRL VEC VEs and teams to the Centers for Disease Control
(CDC) website or to local health departments for the latest information.
Errata to 2020 - 2024 Amateur Extra-Class Question Pool Released
----------------------------------------------------------------
The NCVEC Question Pool Committee has issued errata to the new (2020 - 2024)
Amateur Extra-class question pool that goes into effect on July 1. Most
changes are minor, involving typographical or style errors.
In the syllabus at the top of the pool:
E1C -- Changed "bandwith" to "bandwidth"
E3B -- In sub-element heading, deleted "grayline"
E9D -- Changed "feedpoint" to "feed point"
In sub-element 3:
Changed "41 questions" to "40 questions"
In the question pool:
E1C13 -- In answer C, changed "Utilities Telecom Council" to "Utilities
Technology Council (UTC)"
E1C14 -- In question, changed "Utilities Telecom Commission" to "Utilities
Technology Council (UTC)"
E1D03 -- In answer, choices C and D, changed "earth" to "Earth"
E2A02 -- In question, changed "inverted" to "inverting"
E3B -- In sub-element heading, deleted "grayline"
E3B08 -- Question withdrawn from pool and marked as deleted. The remaining
questions in E3B were not renumbered, leaving 11 questions.
E5B04 -- In question, changed "220 microfarad" and "1 megohm" to
"220-microfarad" and "1-megohm"
E7C09 -- In answer B, added a space between "1" and "kHz"
E8C10 -- In question, changed "symbol" to "data"
E9C02 -- In question, changed "1/4 wavelength" to "1/4-wavelength"
E9C03 -- In question, changed "1/2 wavelength" to "1/2-wavelength"
E9D -- in sub-element heading, changed "feedpoint" to "feed point"
E9E09 -- Removed brackets after answer (C).
The Amateur Extra-class question pool will be updated to reflect these
changes. Submit feedback or questions to the Question Pool Committee.
Georgia Institute of Technology CubeSat to Feature Amateur Radio Robot
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Operation
---------
The Glenn Lightsey Research Group's Space Systems Design Lab at the Georgia
Institute of Technology is sponsoring a 1U CubeSat mission that will include
a digital robot. The primary function of the GT-1 satellite is to serve as
an educational proof of concept and satellite bus demonstrator.
Georgia Tech will use this mission as an opportunity for undergraduates to
get involved in all facets of a space mission, from design to implementation
and support. GT-1 will test a prototype deployable antenna and solar panels,
which can be used for future missions derived from the same baseline design,
and with inclusion of additional experimental equipment. It will operate
with AX.25 protocol telemetry. In partnership with the W4AQL Georgia Tech
Amateur Radio Club, the satellite will also host a digital contact robot
payload, inspired by the earlier Russian RS-12 and RS-13 satellites of the
early 1990s. GT-1 will collect contact information from stations that
contact the robot as it orbits.
The satellite will also function as a standard digipeater. Plans call for a
deployment from the International Space Station in October. -- Thanks to
AMSAT News Service
In Brief...
-----------
One of two US VHF-UHF-microwave groups has canceled its 2020 conference,
while another has postponed its event. The Southeastern VHF Society (SVHFS)
Board of Directors has announced the indefinite postponement of the annual
SVHFS Conference. "Because of the health and safety concerns of our society
members and the uncertainty of time of our national emergency caused by the
coronavirus pandemic, the Society's Board of Directors elected to postpone
this year's conference indefinitely," SVHFS announced. "The Board of
Directors will be discussing alternate solutions for this year's conference,
including the determination of registrations and the publishing of this
year's proceedings. The outcome of the Board's decisions will be posted as
soon as a determination has been made. For now, please stay healthy and
safe, and enjoy our wonderful hobby." The conference had been scheduled for
April 24 - 25 in Gainesville, Georgia. The co-chairs of the 2020 Eastern
VHF-UHF-Microwave Conference sponsored by the North East Weak Signal (NEWS)
Group have announced the cancellation of the event, "because of health and
safety concerns for our attendees that has been caused by the coronavirus
pandemic and subsequent state and federal [states of] emergency." The
conference had been scheduled for April 17 - 19 in Manchester, Connecticut.
The World Radiosport Team Championship 2022 (WRTC 2022) Organizing Committee
is, at least for now, staying on course. "We understand [coronavirus] is
disrupting travel and operating plans in ways that affect different areas of
the world unequally. However, it is not realistic for us to predict the
extent and evolution of the effects of the pandemic. We have to wait and see
how the situation develops," Carlo De Mari, IK1HJS, announced on the WRTC
2022 website. WRTC 2022 will stick with the qualifying events and schedule
in the published qualification rules and is considering various options. "No
decisions have been made at this time," the announcement said. "Please
continue with your plans as best you can for now." WRTC 2022 will be held in
July 2022 in Bologna, Italy.
Red Cross-affiliated radio amateurs from many states and Puerto Rico are
planning a nationwide Red Cross emergency communications drill for May 30.
The drill will consist of two parts. Part A will be a local optional drill
held on VHF for participants to practice passing voice traffic with relay
stations set up in local EOCs or via mobile stations parked strategically
between Red Cross HQ and suburban shelters. Part B will be national in
scope, with hams passing Red Cross forms using the ARC Message Utility
technique on Winlink RF. Messages will be marked "DRILL" and will be sent to
the Red Cross Safe & Well HQ in New York City as a clearinghouse. For
further information, or to express interest in participating, contact Wayne
Robertson, K4WK. -- Thanks to The ARES E-Newsletter
IARU Region 2 Emergency Communication and Satellite workshops will be held
online. With travel restrictions and self-isolation requirements in many
countries due to COVID-19, the May 30 and 31 International Amateur Radio
Union Region 2 (IARU R2) Emergency Communication and Satellite workshops
will be online. The new format will be 3 hours for each workshop and will be
held on the same dates starting at 1800 UTC. Access will be via Zoom, an
easy-to-use online conference tool available for several platforms.
Attendees will get an agenda for each workshop and information on how to
participate in mid-May. -- Thanks to George Gorsline, VE3YV, IARU Region 2
Secretary
Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
------------------------------------------------------
Note: Many conventions and hamfests have been canceled or postponed due to
the coronavirus pandemic. Check the calendar of canceled events on the ARRL
website.
April 18 -- Delaware State Convention, Georgetown, Delaware
April 25 - Aurora Conference, White Bear Lake, Minnesota
May 9 - MicroHAMS Digital Conference 2020, Woodinville, Washington
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 12 -- 13 -- Ham-Com, Plano, Texas
June 20 -- Tennessee State Convention, Knoxville, Tennessee
Find conventions and hamfests in your area.
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