[CVRC] The ARRL Letter for December 3, 2009

Thu Dec 3 17:08:37 EST 2009

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December 3, 2009
Editor: <mailto:k1sfa at arrl.org>S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA
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    * + Advocacy : ARRL CEO, General Counsel 
Present ARRL's Stance on BPL to FCC Commissioners
    * + Operating : From One End of HF to the 
Other: The ARRL 160 Meter and 10 Meter Contests
    * + Operating : ARRL's Logbook of The World Reaches New Milestones
    * + The Doctor Is IN : The Fun -- and Challenges -- of Topband
    * + Now You Know! : A Brief History of Modern Day 160 Meters
    * + ARRL Recognizes : A. Robert Patzlaff, 
W9JQT , Wins November QST Cover Plaque Award
    * + Silent Key : Jerry Sevick, W2FMI (SK)
    * Solar Update
    * This Week on the Radio

+ Available on <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/>ARRL Audio News
+ Advocacy: ARRL CEO, General Counsel Present 
ARRL's Stance on BPL to FCC Commissioners

ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, 
and General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, made the 
rounds of the five FCC Commissioners' offices 
during November to acquaint them with the ARRL's 
position on the regulation of interference from 
Broadband over Power Lines 
(<http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/>BPL) 
systems. The meetings were conducted in 
accordance with the rules governing ex parte 
communications in pending rulemaking proceedings, 
in this case the Further Notice of Proposed Rule 
Making (FNPRM) in ET Docket No. 04-37. Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/12/03/11230/?nc=1>here.
+ Operating: From One End of HF to the Other: The 
ARRL 160 Meter and 10 Meter Contests

Get on the air and have some fun!

Both MF and HF offer a lot of breathing room for 
all interests in Amateur Radio. As the 2009-2010 
Contest Season continues, two single-band events 
in December will highlight the magic of the 
opposite ends of the shortwave spectrum: the ARRL 
160 Meter Contest (2200 UTC Friday, December 4 
through 1559 UTC Sunday, December 6) and the ARRL 
10 Meter Contest (0000 UTC Saturday, December 12 
through 2359 UTC Sunday, December 13). Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/12/01/11222/?nc=1>here.
+ Operating: ARRL's Logbook of The World Reaches New Milestones

To date, more than 30,000 hams have entered more 
than 250 million QSOs into Logbook of The World 
(LoTW), the ARRL's online logging program. At 
this time last year, 22,959 hams had made just 
more than 192 million QSOs, marking an upswing in 
both users and QSOs of about 24 percent. The LoTW 
system is a repository of log records submitted 
by amateurs from around the world. When both 
participants in a QSO submit matching QSO records 
to LoTW, the result is a QSL that can be used for 
ARRL award credit. While US amateurs do not need 
to be members of the ARRL to use LoTW, only 
members can use LoTW to apply for ARRL awards, 
such as DXCC and Worked All States (WAS). Some 
awards, like the Triple Play Award, only use LoTW 
credits instead of traditional QSL cards (foreign 
amateurs do not need to be ARRL members to apply 
for ARRL awards). Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/12/03/11229/?nc=1>here.<http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&t=i&i=2009-12-03&p=0>
+ The Doctor Is IN: The Fun -- and Challenges -- of Topband

By ARRL News Editor S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA

I have been fascinated with the 160 meter band 
even before I upgraded to General back in 2007 -- 
it amazes me that amateurs can use radio waves 
that stretch out that long. I've also been 
working on getting my CW skills up to speed -- 
while I can send fairly quickly and cleanly, I 
know that my receiving skills need some work. The 
idea of combining my favorite band with a new 
(for me) mode of operating -- in a contest, no 
less -- is very titillating, to say the least. 
Can you tell I'm itching for the 
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2009/160-meters.html>ARRL 
160 Meter Contest to get here now?

So the other day, the Doctor and I got to talking 
(his clinic is right next to my office, so we 
have quite a few conversations about Amateur 
Radio during his office hours). I asked him if he 
knew why the 160 meter band has what some might 
consider "special properties" during the North 
American winter. And when I get on the air this 
weekend for the contest, is there anything I should watch out for?

The QTH of ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, 
with one of his 160 receive array short verticals in the foreground.

The Doctor -- who was in between patients at the 
time -- told me that atmospheric noise tends to 
increase with decreasing frequency -- since there 
is generally much less noise in winter, 160 
meters is much more usable in the colder months. 
Our current position in the sunspot cycle makes 
the maximum usable frequency quite low on most 
days. The combination of these factors makes 160 
a great spot -- just in time for the upcoming contest.

The key challenge, he told me -- and perhaps the 
most important factor for success on topband -- 
is antenna design and deployment. Since 
horizontal antennas need to be hundreds of feet 
high to provide useful low angle performance, the 
successful 160 meter DX operator will use 
vertical antennas. While arrays of full size 1/4 
wave (126 feet) verticals are feasible for some, 
most use shortened antennas, either as a single 
element or in multi-element arrays with 
reasonable success. Recent QST articles have 
provided a variety of designs of such elements, 
some almost invisible. Improved reception can be 
obtained using special receive antennas that 
reduce noise pickup faster than reducing signal 
reception. The resulting weak signal generally 
has a higher signal-to-noise ratio than that from the transmitting antenna.

Wow! If you haven't tried 160, a contest like the 
ARRL 160 Meter Contest provides an abundance of 
signals to let you know what your station can do. 
Do you have a question or a problem for the 
Doctor? Send your questions via 
<mailto:doctor at arrl.org>e-mail or to "The 
Doctor," ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111 
(no phone calls, please). Look for "The Doctor Is 
IN" every month in <http://www.arrl.org/qst>QST, 
the official journal of the ARRL.
Coming up in QST : Look for the January Issue of QST to Arrive Soon

Click 
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZGs12TPGws>here 
to get a sneak peek of the gear in January's Product Review in QST.

The January issue of <http://www.arrl.org/qst>QST 
-- our first-ever DIY edition -- is jam-packed 
with all sorts of news and information that 
today's Amateur Radio operator needs. With a 
focus on "do it yourself" projects that you can 
build in as little as a couple of days (or even 
an afternoon!), the January issue also includes 
product reviews, experiments, public service and 
on-the-air activities -- something for just about 
everyone. Click 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/12/02/11228/?nc=1>here 
to discover what's in store for you in the 
January issue of QST, the official journal of the ARRL.
ARRL in Action: What Have We Been Up to Lately?

This feature -- including convenient Web links to 
useful information -- is a concise monthly update 
of some of the things ARRL is doing on behalf of 
its members, such as holding elections for the 
two positions on the ARRL Board of Directors and 
10 Section Managers, providing support for 
affected Sections during Tropical Storm Ida, 
conducting a frequency measuring test, sending 
out certificates and plaques for various ARRL 
contests and more. This installment covers the 
month of November. Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2009/12/01/11225/?nc=1>here.<http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&t=i&i=2009-12-03&p=1>
+ Now You Know!: A Brief History of Modern Day 160 Meters

By ARRL News Editor S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the ARRL 
160 Meter Contest. In 1970, the ARRL Board of 
Directors authorized this new event at their 
meeting in May. According to the 
<http://p1k.arrl.org/cgi-bin/topdf.cgi?id=63900&pub=qst>announcement 
that appeared in the October 1970 edition of 
<http://p1k.arrl.org/cgi-bin/topdf.cgi?id=63900&pub=qst>QST, 
the ARRL Contest Advisory Committee 
(<http://www.arrl.org/contests/cac.html>CAC<http://www.arrl.org/news/files/LimitationsFor160_1979.pdf>) 
and "numerous 'top banders'" provided the 
guidance for the contest; based on their 
recommendations, they created its initial format.

This chart, found on page 147 of The Radio 
Amateur's License Manual: A New and Complete 
Study Guide (published by the ARRL in 1979) shows 
each state's power limitations by 25 kHz segments 
for day and night for 160 meters. Click 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/files/LimitationsFor160_1979.pdf>here 
for a larger image.

Those licensed prior to May 1981 can surely 
remember the limitations on 160 meters due to the 
LORAN-A (Long Range Aid to Navigation) stations. 
These stations -- developed during World War II 
-- used signals that were transmitted on 
frequencies in and around our present-day 160 
meter band. The LORAN-A stations were responsible 
for reduced Amateur Radio operations -- including 
frequency and power limitations -- on 160 meters in the United States.

If you look at license manuals from this time, 
you will find a chart (Part 97.61, Authorized 
Frequencies and Emissions) that dictated how much 
power amateurs could use on topband. This was 
broken up into band segments of 25 kHz, going 
from 1800 kHz up to 2000 kHz. In band segments of 
25 kHz, it lists each US state and dictated how 
much power could be used during the day and 
during the night. For example, amateurs in 
Connecticut on 1844 kHz could use 100 W during 
the day, but had to go down to 25 W at night; 
Connecticut hams were not even allowed on during 
the day or night between 1850-1975 kHz! 
Conversely, Oklahoma hams had daytime topband 
privileges of 1000 W and could use 200 W at night on 1800-1825 kHz.

"Mr Top Band" Stew Perry, W1BB, devoted much of 
his life to demonstrating what was possible 160 
meters, receiving DXCC #1 for 160 on November 1, 
1976. Through his W1BB 160 meter bulletins -- 
which he circulated to others for free -- he 
encouraged interest in the band until his death 
in 1990. Click <http://www.k1zm.com/w1bb>here to 
read more about Stew and 160 meters. [Photo courtesy of Jeff Briggs, K1ZM]

On May 21, 1981, US amateurs got some good news 
when the FCC lifted most of the restrictions on 
1800-1900 kHz: For the first time, kilowatt 
powers were authorized for both daytime and 
nighttime use as the LORAN-A stations were being 
phased out. In 1979, the Coast Guard began 
replacing the LORAN-A stations with LORAN-C 
stations. These newer stations operate on 100 
kHz, enabling the restrictions on 160 meters due 
to LORAN functions to be dropped.

Most amateur transceivers didn't even begin to 
include 160 meters until the influx of Japanese 
imports began in the 1970s. As a result of that 
-- as well as the elimination of the HF LORAN 
system -- 160 meters has grown in popularity over 
the past couple of decades. Now in its 40th year, 
the ARRL 160 Meter Contest is still growing. From 
the first running in 1970 with 270 logs 
submitted, to 2008 with 1280 logs submitted, more 
amateurs are becoming fascinated with all that 
topband has to offer. If you've never been on 160 
before, try making a few contacts. If you're a 
topband veteran, this is the chance to strut your 
stuff. For more information on 160 meters, check 
out <6354.htm>DXing on the Edge: The Thrill of 
160 Meters by Jeff Briggs K1ZM. Now you know!
+ ARRL Recognizes: A. Robert Patzlaff, W9JQT , 
Wins November QST Cover Plaque Award

The winner of the QST Cover Plaque Award for 
October is A. Robert Patzlaff, W9JQT , for his 
article "The Rockless, a VFO Controlled Low Power 
Transceiver." Congratulations Robert! The winner 
of the QST Cover Plaque award -- given to the 
author or authors of the best article in each 
issue -- is determined by a vote of ARRL members 
on the 
<http://www.arrl.org/members-only/QSTvote.html>QST 
<http://www.arrl.org/members-only/QSTvote.html>Cover 
Plaque Poll Web page. Cast a ballot for your 
favorite article in the December issue by Thursday, December 31.
+ Silent Key: Jerry Sevick, W2FMI (SK)

Jerry Sevick, W2FMI (SK)

Jerry Sevick, W2FMI -- renowned for his research 
and publications related to short vertical 
antennas and transmission line transformers -- 
passed away on Sunday, November 29. He was 90. In 
2004, Sevick, an ARRL Technical Advisor, received 
the ARRL Hudson Division Technical Achievement 
Award; in 2005, he received the Dayton Hamvention 
Technical Excellence Award. The Hamvention Awards 
Committee noted that Sevick's April 1978 QST 
article on short ground-radial systems "now 
serves as the world's standard for earth 
conductivity measurements." Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/12/01/11226/?nc=1>here.<http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&t=i&i=2009-12-03&p=2>
Solar Update

The Sun, as seen on Thursday, December 3, 2009 
from NASA's SOHO Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging 
Telescope. This image was taken at 304 Angstrom; 
the bright material is at 60,000 to 80,000 degrees Kelvin.

Tad 
"<http://englishhistory.net/keats/poetry/fancy.html>The 
snake all winter-thin cast on sunny bank its 
skin" Cook, K7RA, reports: The recent sunspot 
activity, which ended on November 22, pushed up 
the moving average we've been tracking for 
several years. Because we have all the data for 
November, we now know the 3-month average of 
daily sunspot numbers centered on October. For 
2009, the 3 month moving average (centered on 
January through October) was 2.19, 2.02, 1.49, 
2.01, 4.23, 5.2, 4.0, 4.0, 4.64 and 7.1. The 
latest value is the highest since April 2008, 
when it was 8.89. The monthly averages of daily 
sunspot numbers are also rising, although not as 
smoothly as the three month average. The monthly 
averages for March through November 2009 are 
0.77, 1.27, 3.97, 6.6, 5.07, 0.39, 6.6, 7.0 and 
7.7. The November average is the highest since 
March 2008 when it was 15.87. Geophysical 
Institute Prague predicts quiet to unsettled 
conditions December 4, unsettled December 5 and 
quiet December 6-10. Current projections show a 
steady quiet planetary A index of 5 for December 
3 and 4, then 8 for December 5-6 and back to 5 
through the end of the month. Solar flux 
predictions show December 3-7 at 71, 72 on 
December 8-10 then 75 on December 11-23. The 
predicted solar flux value of 75 seems to 
correspond to the return of an active region that 
we can see emerging from the dark spot on STEREO. 
An area that looked promising a few days ago has 
moved over the horizon and not produced any 
sunspots. Look for more information in the Solar 
Update, available on the ARRL Web site on Friday, 
December 4. For more information concerning radio 
propagation, visit the 
<http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html>ARRL 
Technical Information Service Propagation page. 
This week's "Tad Cookism" brought to you by John 
Keats' <http://englishhistory.net/keats/poetry/fancy.html>Fancy.
ARRL Publications: Two New Products -- Just in Time for the Holidays!

If you're still looking for that "just right" 
stocking stuffer for the ham in your life (or 
maybe you want to treat yourself), look no 
further than the ARRL Online Store. This holiday 
season, we are proud to present two new items: 
the ARRL holiday ornament and the Pocket Ref by 
Thomas Glover. Check them out 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/11/30/11223/?nc=1>here.
This Week on the Radio

Tim Duffy, K3LR, shown operating 160 meters 
during a recent contest, calls topband his 
"absolute favorite band." Duffy won the ARRL 160 
Meter Contest in 1980 as a single operator and in 
1992 as part of a multioperator team with W3YQ 
and WR3G. [Photo courtesy of Tim Duffy, K3LR]

This week, the 
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2009/160-meters.html>ARRL 
160 Meter Contest is December 4-6 and the 
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2009/eme.html>ARRL 
International EME Competition is December 5-6. 
The TARA RTTY Melee and the Wake-Up! QRP Sprint 
are December 5. The TOPS Activity Contest is 
December 5-6, the ARS Spartan Sprint is December 
8 and the NAQCC Straight Key/Bug Sprint is 
December 9. Next week, the 
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2009/10-meters.html>ARRL 
10 Meter Contest is December 12-13. The Feld Hell 
Sprint is December 12. The MDXA PSK DeathMatch 
and the International Naval Contest are December 
12-13. The NA High Speed Meteor Scatter Winter 
Rally is December 12-16. The SKCC Weekend Sprint 
and the CQC Great Colorado Snowshoe Run are 
December 13. All dates, unless otherwise stated, 
are UTC. See the 
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/>ARRL Contest 
Branch page, the 
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/update/>ARRL 
Contest Update and the 
<http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html>WA7BNM 
Contest Calendar for more info. Looking for a 
Special Event station? Be sure to check out the 
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/spev.html>ARRL Special Event Station Web page.
ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration

Registration remains open through Sunday, 
December 27, 2009, for these 
<http://www.arrl.org/cep/student/>online course 
sessions beginning on Friday, January 8, 2010: 
Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level 1; 
Antenna Modeling; Radio Frequency Interference; 
Antenna Design and Construction; Ham Radio 
(Technician) License Course; Propagation; Analog 
Electronics, and Digital Electronics. To learn 
more, visit the 
<http://www.arrl.org/cep/student>CEP Course 
Listing page or contact the 
<mailto:cce at arrl.org>Continuing Education Program 
Coordinator<http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&i=2009-12-03&t=r&p=0>.

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