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The ARRL Letter April 16, 2020
- Remotely Administered Amateur Exam Systems Showing Promise
- New Volunteer Monitor Program is Up and Running
- Greater LoTW Database Accuracy is the Goal of TQSL Update(s)
- ARRL Announces New Benefits for Members
- ARRL Podcasts Schedule
- The K7RA Solar Update
- Just Ahead in Radiosport
- ARRL Rookie Roundup SSB Edition Considers Social Distancing
- HAM RADIO in Friedrichshafen, Germany, Announces Cancellation of 2020 Show
- ARISS Altering its Approach in Light of COVID-19 Pandemic
- In Brief...
- Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
COVID-19 Impact & News
Find the latest news and information on the impact of the coronavirus
pandemic to ARRL members and our global amateur radio community.
Remotely Administered Amateur Exam Systems Showing Promise
----------------------------------------------------------
Facing a growing demand for amateur radio exam sessions in a time of social
distancing and stay-at-home orders, sponsors of some Volunteer Examiner (VE)
teams have risen to the challenge and are developing systems to remotely
proctor test sessions.
"Many of our VEs and VE Teams have been working on remotely proctored exam
session ideas, employing both video and in-person components -- following
social distancing protocols," ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC)
Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, said. "We have been receiving interesting and
innovative suggestions, and we appreciate the dedication and ingenuity our
examiners have shown."
The Spalding County Amateur Radio Club in Georgia is among those that have
come up with plans to remotely administer amateur exams while complying with
ARRL VEC testing standards during COVID-19 stay-home mandates and social
distancing guidelines. Current systems leverage Zoom video-teleconferencing
technology, the "Fill & Sign" feature of Adobe PDFs, reliable email,
appropriate computer equipment and internet connection, and no volunteer
examiners (VEs) present at individual remote test sites. The Georgia club
collaborated and shared ideas with the Emergency Amateur Radio Club (EARC)
in Hawaii, which has successfully conducted sessions since 2011 with its own
remote testing system, initially with paper exams with a proctor on site and
now with fillable PDFs, with no on-site proctor.
The Georgia club obtained ARRL VEC approval to administer video-supervised
exams. "We have started with testing just one candidate at a time, but are
planning to ramp up to multiple candidates -- probably two or three --
simultaneously," club member David Robinson, K4WVZ, told ARRL. "Before we do
that, we want a few more single sessions under our belt and a few more Video
VEs trained."
The club's procedures entail a pre-exam video interview with candidates to
ensure they understand all the requirements and procedures. Following the
exam, the VEs score the test and sign off on the paperwork, with the VE Team
Leader submitting the application online and by mail, per ARRL VEC
instructions.
New England Amateur Radio Inc (NE1AR), an affiliate of New England Sci-Tech,
(NESciTech), has taken it one step further, Somma said. It got the approval
of ARRL VEC to begin trials of what it describes as "completely online
testing with strict rules and protocols for maintaining the integrity of the
testing environment." NE1AR is limiting candidates to one exam per session,
due to the current candidate backlog and the "difficulty of administering
exams online." Candidates must agree to a list of protocols, which include a
cell-phone camera scan of the entire room and exam area "to show that there
are no materials or people [in the room] that could aid in taking the exam."
"We began a series of trials on April 1 under ARRL VEC review and have now
been asked to help train more VE teams on the process," NE1AR President Bob
Phinney, K5TEC, told ARRL. "We have now tested 12 applicants and are still
working on streamlining the process. We are working with the software
developer of the exam delivery system to help them adapt the system for
video-supervised testing."
With pressure continuing to build to provide testing compatible with
COVID-19 guidelines and stay-home orders, ARRL VEC Manager Maria Somma has
asked the amateur radio community to be patient. "Please remember that with
the introduction of significant new processes such as these, that there
should be proof of concept, establishment of protocols and procedures, and
beta testing, before expanding to a larger audience," she said this week.
Somma said video-supervised exam sessions require a different skillset than
in-person exam administration, and not all teams will be equipped to deliver
video exams right away.
"ARRL is pleased to be one of the leaders in providing an opportunity,
although limited initially, for video-supervised exams in this time of
social distancing and isolation required by the current health situation,"
Somma said. Read more.
New Volunteer Monitor Program is Up and Running
-----------------------------------------------
After kicking off on January 1, the new Volunteer Monitor Program has ramped
up to operational status. A "soft rollout" of the program began on February
1, designed to familiarize Volunteer Monitors (VMs) with issues on the bands
and to put into practice what to report -- and what to ignore, based on
their training. The VMs will not only be looking for operating
discrepancies, but for examples of good operating. The VM program has, at
least for the moment, put Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, back in the center of
amateur radio enforcement as the Volunteer Monitor Coordinator (VMC). He was
brought aboard to get the program up and running, and ARRL will eventually
take over the VMC function.
Hollingsworth is using a system called VMTRAC -- developed by a VM -- to
measure the work of VMs and determine instances that qualify for good
operator or discrepancy notices, referral to the FCC, or follow-up with FCC
requests to the VM program. Hollingsworth reported that during March, the
165 active VMs logged upward of 2,300 hours of monitoring on HF, and nearly
2,000 hours on VHF-UHF and other frequencies.
"I am extremely pleased with the number of hours devoted to monitoring this
early in the program," Hollingsworth said. No stone is being left unturned.
Two VMs constantly monitor FT8 watering holes and have developed programs
that alert them if a licensee is operating outside of privileges accorded to
that license class or if a license has expired. "We have 30 open cases, five
of which are good operator cases," Hollingsworth said. "Regarding open cases
relating to rule violations, none have yet had to be referred to the FCC."
He said he's experimented with letters, telephone calls, or emails to the
subjects of discrepancy reports where they could be identified. While he's
still waiting for replies to his written correspondence, he has received
responses to his calls and emails, and the violations have either stopped or
were explained. "They were violations such as expired licenses, Technicians
operating on General frequencies, unauthorized use of a call sign, and
deliberate interference," he said.
One case "being groomed for FCC referral," he said, involves long-standing
interference to a repeater in the Philadelphia area by someone using an
unauthorized call sign. Hollingsworth said he worked with net control
operators of nets on 75 and 40 meters that had been suffering serious
interference, and so far the solutions are working.
"It is becoming apparent that if informal contact can be made by the VMC
with a known offender, the problem can sometimes be stopped," Hollingsworth
said. "We do not want to call upon the FCC unless absolutely necessary."
Read more.
Greater LoTW Database Accuracy is the Goal of TQSL Update(s)
------------------------------------------------------------
The recently released TQSL version 2.5.2 application for uploading logs to
Logbook of The World (LoTW) tightens requirements for data consistency, with
the goal of improving the integrity of the LoTW database. Starting with TQSL
version 2.5.2, discrepancies in submitted logs are now flagged, especially
when it comes to the Amateur Data Interchange Format (ADIF) files frequently
uploaded to LoTW. This has prompted questions and concerns, however, when
the system fails to accept a user's uploaded contact or log.
ADIF exists precisely to help ensure the accuracy of "data interchange"
among amateur radio applications -- different logging programs, for example.
TQSL uses ADIF file data for cross-checks that help to keep inaccurate or
incomplete information from contaminating the LoTW database, and that's
where some user issues have arisen. For example, the OPERATOR field, which
should be a call sign, sometimes shows up as a name. Occasionally, operators
have reversed their ITU and CQ zones. Another issue is in the MY_STATE
field, which should show a US Postal Service two-letter state abbreviation.
Anything else is a problem.
"The value of the checks added to TQSL is that it lets operators know when
the data they're handling in their computer-based logs is correct," said
TQSL Developer Rick Murphy, K1MU. "It's important to make sure that when a
ham submits a log to LoTW that the content of that log accurately captures
the details."
Some help is on the way. Murphy will soon release TQSL version 2.5.3, which,
among other things, skips over the OPERATOR field check. "We have found that
some of the checking performed for TQSL 2.5.2 was incomplete in some cases
-- for example, allowing incorrect zone information to pass, and overly
strict in other cases -- for example, the STATION_OWNER tag," Murphy said.
"We've made great strides in improving the way logs are checked to ensure
that checking is more complete while not raising false alarms."
The problem is not always with the user. The initial implementation of
cross-checks in TQSL 2.5.2 revealed that not all logging applications
conform to the ADIF standard. TQSL 2.5.2 has offered support for operations
from several locations, as well as the ability to detect uploads that
contain incorrect location data.
"Operators have a right to insist that the logging applications they use
conform to the standards agreed upon by the ADIF collective," said Greg
Widin, K0GW, the chair of the ARRL LoTW Committee. "Those who find that
their logger is out of conformance should demand an update." Read more.
ARRL Announces New Benefits for Members
---------------------------------------
ARRL members will now receive digital access to four ARRL magazines
beginning with their May/June issues. Joining QST and On the Air magazines
on a digital platform will be the bimonthly editions of QEX -- The Forum for
Communications Experimenters and NCJ -- National Contest Journal. QEX
includes articles, columns, and other features ranging from construction
projects to more advanced technical information in radio theory and
practice. NCJ, published since 1973, targets radio amateurs active in
radiosport. NCJ includes scores, technical articles, contributions from top
contesters, and advice for beginners and seasoned radiosport enthusiasts
alike.
"Feedback from ARRL members and our readership surveys has shown that our
magazines are one of the most valued member benefits," said ARRL
Publications Manager Steve Ford, WB8IMY. "Our investment in digital access
provides another channel through which we can deliver content to our members
across the expanse of interests and activities in amateur radio. All members
can enjoy specialized content and a high-quality reading experience whether
at their desk or on the go. Offering this suite of digital magazines is an
opportunity for us to give members more of what they want while adding value
to ARRL membership."
ARRL's digital magazine editions provide replicas of the printed editions
with added functionality, allowing users to fully search issues, enlarge
pages, share articles, and more. The free ARRL Magazines app also supports
downloading complete issues onto your mobile device or tablet for offline
reading.
Members who have elected to receive a printed QST or On the Air as part of
their membership benefits will continue to have this service. Members may
not substitute a print subscription of QEX or NCJ as their delivered
magazine member benefit. Print subscriptions of QEX and NCJ will continue to
be available at additional cost for those who want to receive them.
All four magazines are easily accessed through any web browser from
members-only links. The free ARRL Magazines app is available for iOS and
Android in the Apple App Store and Google Play. If you're already an ARRL
member and previously created an arrl.org website account, your username and
password will provide you access to the digital editions, whether online or
in the app. Members who have not previously registered will need to create a
new account. If you've forgotten your password, visit
www.arrl.org/forgot-password, or email circulation@arrl.org for assistance.
Previous and prospective members can join ARRL and take advantage of this
and other membership benefits.
ARRL Podcasts Schedule
----------------------
The latest episode of the On the Air podcast (Episode 4) focuses how to
create a family emergency communications plan and includes an interview with
Dino Papas, KL0S, about attaching coaxial connectors with crimping tools.
The latest episode of the Eclectic Tech podcast (Episode 5) includes an
interview with ARRL Laboratory Manager Ed Hare, W1RFI, about wireless power
transfer technology, as well as a discussion of digital meteor scatter and
an interview with Michael Lavelle, K6ML, about the new distance record at
122 GHz.
The On the Air and Eclectic Tech podcasts are sponsored by Icom.
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: Sunspots are gone again. We are at the
bottom of the solar cycle, so conditions should only get better. The last
sunspot disappeared on April 5, so weekly average daily sunspot numbers
declined from 5.1 last week to zero this reporting week, April 9 - 15.
Average daily solar flux went from 70.2 to 69.5.
Geomagnetic indicators also remain quiet, with the average daily estimated
planetary A index going from 6.6 to 6.1, and mid-latitude numbers went from
5.3 to 5.
Predicted solar flux is 68 on April 16 - 23; 70 on April 24 - May 8; 68 on
May 9 - 20, and 70 on May 21 - 30.
Predicted planetary A index is 8 on April 16 - 20; 5 on April 21 - 25; 10 on
April 26 - 27; 5 on April 28 - 29; 8 on April 30; 5 on May 1 - 4; 12, 5, 8,
and 8 on May 5 - 8; 5, 5, 5, and 10 on May 9 - 12; 8 on May 13 - 16; 5 on
May 17 - 22; 10 on May 23 - 24; 5, 5, and 8 on May 25 - 27, and 5 on May 28
- 30.
Sunspot numbers for April 9 - 15 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, and 0, with a mean
of 0. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 70.3, 69.2, 70.6, 70.8, 70.3, 68.9, and
68.4, with a mean of 69.5. Estimated planetary A indices were 5, 5, 6, 7, 5,
8, and 7, with a mean of 6.1. The middle-latitude A index was 5, 4, 4, 5, 4,
7, and 6, with a mean of 5.
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
------------------------
- April 17 - 18 -- Holyland DX Contest (CW, phone, digital)
- April 18 -- ES Open HF Championship (CW, phone)
- April 18 -- QRP to the Field (CW, phone)
- April 18 -- EA-QRP CW Contest
- April 18 -- Feld Hell Sprint
- April 18 - 19 -- CQMM DX Contest (CW)
- April 18 - 19 -- All Texas State Parks on the Air (CW, phone, digital)
- April 18 - 19 -- Michigan QSO Party (CW, phone)
- April 18 - 19 -- Worked All Provinces of China DX Contest (CW, phone)
- April 18 - 19 -- YU DX Contest (CW, phone)
- April 18 - 19 -- Ontario QSO Party (CW, phone)
- April 19 -- ARRL Rookie Roundup
- April 20 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)
- April 22 -- SKCC Sprint (CW)
- April 22 -- 432 MHz Spring Sprint (CW, phone)
- April 23 -- RSGB 80-Meter Club Championship, Data
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.
ARRL Rookie Roundup SSB Edition Considers Social Distancing
-----------------------------------------------------------
The SSB edition of the ARRL Rookie Roundup returns on Sunday, April 19 at
1800 UTC and continues through 2359 UTC. For the purposes of this operating
event, a "Rookie" is any radio amateur licensed within the current calendar
year or in the previous 2 calendar years. You can also be a Rookie if you
haven't made any contacts on the contest mode (SSB, CW, or RTTY) before the
Rookie Roundup contest.
The goal of Rookie Roundup is to encourage recently licensed operators in
North America -- including territories and possessions -- to operate on the
HF bands and experience competitive amateur radio operating. Experienced
operators are encouraged to participate and help new operators. In the past,
this assistance has come on the air and in person. This year, however, ARRL
is strongly discouraging the in-person component of the event to comply with
social distancing guidelines (excepting household members). A Non-Rookie can
help mentor a Rookie via phone, Skype, or desktop-sharing software such as
TeamViewer or NoMachine, however.
Opportunities abound for newer hams to participate. Single-operator
participants are more than welcome to join in the fun, either as Rookies, if
they qualify, or as Non-Rookie veteran operators making contacts with
Rookies. Team entries may be submitted containing up to five different
single-operator entries. Team registration is available via the Rookie
Roundup webpage and will close 15 minutes before the event begins.
Rookies can work anyone in the contest, while Non-Rookies are only allowed
to work Rookies. New operators will benefit from working veteran operators
and could be their first HF contact. Non-Rookies are encouraged to
participate and report their contact totals using the online score reporting
form on the Rookie Roundup web page.
All score summaries (no logs are required or accepted) must be submitted
within 72 hours of the end of the event. For complete rules, visit the
Rookie Roundup webpage.
HAM RADIO in Friedrichshafen, Germany, Announces Cancellation of 2020 Show
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
The annual HAM RADIO show in Friedrichshafen, Germany, has decided to cancel
its 2020 show due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the announcement,
HAM RADIO acted in accordance with an April 15 decision by federal and state
authorities that no major events are to take place until August 31. HAM
RADIO 2020 was set for June 26 - 28. The event is Europe's major ham radio
show, attracting some 15,000 visitors from around the world each summer,
including a contingent from ARRL. This year's show would have been the 45th
HAM RADIO.
"Our members, domestic and foreign guests, and we ourselves have been hit
hard by this decision, which now became necessary to make on short notice,"
said Deutscher Amateur Radio Club (DARC) President Christian Entsfellner,
DL3MBG. "Until we get together again in Friedrichshafen, we as amateur radio
operators are looking forward to keeping in contact with one another using
amateur radio."
On the HAM RADIO website, exhibitors, including DARC, will offer a virtual
show.
ARISS Altering its Approach in Light of COVID-19 Pandemic
---------------------------------------------------------
ARISS International President Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, has outlined how ARISS is
transforming its activities as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Our primary objective in these challenging times is to protect all
students, faculty, astronauts, and our volunteer team in all we do," Bauer
said. "Each one of us, around the globe, is dealing with the COVID-19 virus
in one way or another. And the situation in each location is changing
rapidly."
ARISS has postponed school/group contacts in Georgia, Tennessee, and
California, as well as in South Africa and Romania. At least one
school/group contact in the UK has been canceled altogether.
"ARISS needs to be prepared for a longer term effect -- months," Bauer said.
"As a result, we have instituted an immediate response effort followed by a
more strategic, longer term, initiative to protect all."
Bauer said that over the short term, ARISS mentors will work with each
school or organization in the ham radio contact queue "to determine the way
forward." He said ARISS would rely on local government COVID-19 policy for
guidance in deciding whether to cancel or postpone a contact or to modify
the contact schedule. "But in each case, we are encouraging all to put
health and safety first," he said.
Several initiatives are in the works over the longer term "to transform how
we interact with students and host educational institutions in light of
COVID-19 by engaging with students and educational institutions virtually,"
Bauer said. One possibility he suggested is ARISS "virtual school" contacts,
employing ARISS telebridge ground stations around the world to link
individual students at home with audio and streaming video. "ARISS plans to
transition into this model in the next couple of weeks," Bauer said. ARISS
also is planning several slow-scan television (SSTV) sessions, during which
images from the ISS would be transmitted to at-home students.
Bauer characterized the ARISS long-term approach as "a huge pivot" for the
organization, but said ARISS considers it "a great strategic move" going
forward. Read more.
In Brief...
-----------
The claimed transatlantic record on 2 meters has been extended to nearly
4,760 kilometers (2,951 miles). "The incredible tropo conditions between
Cape Verde Islands and the Caribbean continue to amaze with transatlantic
contacts on 144 MHz and 432 MHz being made," John Desmond, EI7GL, said in a
blog post. The April 8 FT8 contact was between D4VHF in the Cape Verde
Islands and PJ2BR on Curacao. The distance covered was some 300 kilometers
greater than the previous transatlantic record, set last summer by D41CV and
NP4BM. The new 2-meter transatlantic record distance is about 10 kilometers
short of the IARU Region 1 tropospheric propagation record on that band,
Desmond said. On April 7, an operator at D4VHF and Burt Demarcq, FG8OJ, on
Guadeloupe completed the first direct transatlantic contact on 70
centimeters, spanning 3,867 kilometers (2,398 miles) using FT8.
Amateur radio operators affiliated with the American Red Cross will conduct
a nationwide communication drill on May 30. The drill will simulate the
types of message traffic that are typical of a national disaster response,
such as a hurricane or wildfire. Hams will utilize digital modes to move a
variety of Red Cross data, with special focus given to methods that do not
require infrastructure, such as a repeater or the internet. The drill
features a local option where ARES organizations can work with local Red
Cross chapters to drill local and regional functionality. For more
information, contact ARRL Rhode Island Section Emergency Coordinator Paul
Silverzweig, W1PJS. -- Thanks to Brian S. McDaniel, N4AE, executive
director, American Red Cross of the Illinois River Valley
The ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference (DCC) will be held online
this year, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Originally planned for
Charlotte, North Carolina, the 2020 ARRL-TAPR DCC will take place as an
online virtual conference on the same dates, September 11 - 13. Details of
the virtual DCC will be announced in the coming months as event plans are
finalized. Plans call for holding the 2021 DCC in Charlotte.
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.
- May 9 - MicroHAMS Digital Conference 2020, Woodinville, Washington
- June 6 -- Georgia State Convention, Marietta, Georgia
- June 6 - 7 -- Western Pennsylvania Section Convention, Prospect,
Pennsylvania
- June 12 - 13 -- Ham-Com, Plano, Texas
- June 20 -- Tennessee State Convention, Knoxville, Tennessee
Find conventions and hamfests in your area.
ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for
Amateur Radio News and Information.
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- Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday.
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Free of charge to ARRL members...
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