From dick at k7vc.com  Thu Jan  1 16:34:49 2009
From: dick at k7vc.com (Dick Flanagan)
Date: Thu Jan  1 17:47:52 2009
Subject: [CVRC] QSL.net & QTH.net Announcement
Message-ID: <200901012134.n01LYo3D004902@pop3.greatbasin.net>


See http://www.qsl.net/

Dick
--
Dick Flanagan K7VC
dick@k7vc.com


From dick at k7vc.com  Thu Jan  1 17:43:06 2009
From: dick at k7vc.com (Dick Flanagan)
Date: Thu Jan  1 18:56:09 2009
Subject: [CVRC] Wind Advisory for Carson City, NV
Message-ID: <200901012243.n01Mh6oS015593@pop3.greatbasin.net>

Wind Advisory
Statement as of 2:37 PM PST on January 01, 2009

...Wind Advisory in effect from 4 am to 4 PM PST Friday...

The National Weather Service in Reno has issued a Wind Advisory...
which is in effect from 4 am to 4 PM PST Friday for the
Reno...Carson City...and Gardnerville areas.

* Timing: strong gusty winds are expected to develop around
   daybreak Friday...lasting through Friday afternoon before
   diminishing as a cold front moves through the area.

* Winds: southwest winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 50 mph are
   forecast. The strongest winds will be downwind of canyon
   openings and other wind prone areas. Gusts on the higher ridges
   such as Virginia Peak may near 80 mph.

* Impacts: motorists...especially in high profile
   vehicles...should use caution and remain alert for sudden gusts
   or cross winds. Loose outdoor objects should be secured before
   strong winds start. Check our website at weather.Gov/Reno or
   listen to NOAA Weather Radio for updates on this situation

--
Dick Flanagan K7VC
dick@k7vc.com


From dick at k7vc.com  Thu Jan  1 17:38:48 2009
From: dick at k7vc.com (Dick Flanagan)
Date: Thu Jan  1 18:56:58 2009
Subject: [CVRC] RE: QSL.net & QTH.net Announcement
Message-ID: <200901012238.n01McmA2011077@pop3.greatbasin.net>


See http://www.qsl.net/

Don't panic guys, QSL.NET is merging with QTH.COM this will be an even
bigger and better site. I am approaching my 65th birthday and it is time to
let younger minds continue. There will NO change in any list other than a
small outage as we move the data from Delaware to Lansing, Michigan.  Scott
KA9FOX has an established track record with his QTH.COM site or I would not
have gone this direction.

HNY to all.

Al K3TKJ
--
Dick Flanagan K7VC
dick@k7vc.com


From memberlist at www.arrl.org  Fri Jan  2 19:31:51 2009
From: memberlist at www.arrl.org (ARRL Web site)
Date: Fri Jan  2 20:45:01 2009
Subject: [CVRC] ARLP001 Propagation de K7RA
Message-ID: <200901030031.n030VqhZ012098@pop3.greatbasin.net>

SB PROP @ ARL $ARLP001
ARLP001 Propagation de K7RA

ZCZC AP01
QST de W1AW
Propagation Forecast Bulletin 1  ARLP001
 From Tad Cook, K7RA
Seattle, WA  January 2, 2009
To all radio amateurs

SB PROP ARL ARLP001
ARLP001 Propagation de K7RA

2008 was a year of very low solar activity.  Over forty percent of
this year's propagation bulletins reported zero sunspots for their
respective weeks.  The average daily sunspot number for the year was
4.7, and in 2007 it was 12.8.

The yearly averages of daily sunspot numbers for 1999-2008 were
136.3, 173, 170.3, 176.6, 109.2, 68.6, 48.9, 26.1, 12.8 and 4.7.

Two years ago we wrote, ''This is the first bulletin of 2007, the
year we'll likely see the end of sunspot cycle 23, the beginning of
cycle 24, and the minima between cycles''.

One year ago in the first bulletin of 2008 we noted the same quote
from the previous year, and wrote ''Now a year later we might say the
same about 2008''.

This is probably still true for past year, because since early 2008
we saw cycle 24 spots, and what looks like a slow increase in
activity toward the end of the year, although a week of sunspots at
the end of December would have helped to sustain the upturn.

We've been looking at a three month moving average of sunspot
numbers, and the average for October-December, centered on November,
was 4.4, about the same as the number 4.5 centered on October.

Here are the 3-month sunspot number averages since early 2007:

Jan 07 22.7
Feb 07 18.5
Mar 07 11.2
Apr 07 12.2
May 07 15.8
Jun 07 18.7
Jul 07 15.4
Aug 07 10.2
Sep 07  5.4
Oct 07  3.0
Nov 07  6.9
Dec 07  8.1
Jan 08  8.5
Feb 08  8.4
Mar 08  8.4
Apr 08  8.9
May 08  5.0
Jun 08  3.7
Jul 08  2.0
Aug 08  1.1
Sep 08  2.5
Oct 08  4.5
Nov 08  4.4

For those readers who track the solar cycle using Scott Craig's
Solar Data Plotting Utility, there is a new data file on his website
containing 20 years of data, from January 1, 1989 through December
31, 2008.

The program can automatically suck up the data from the text of our
bulletins.  You can download the software for Windows and the update
from the WA4TTK web site at http://www.craigcentral.com/sol.asp.
The updated data file is available directly from
http://www.craigcentral.com/software/update.zip.

Mike Hoteling, KD7IBE of Colville, Washington wrote ''Just want to
report some good propagation from northeastern Washington on 160
meters late at nite.  These quiet sunspot conditions offer some
unique opportunities.  QSO into Wyoming and Texas complete with QSL
cards with the century club on 1892 kHz with 100 watts into a 75
meter dipole at 35 feet.  Don't be afraid to give it a try.''

Elwood Downey, WB0OEW of Socorro, New Mexico along with many other
readers called attention to recent news from NASA that the
ionosphere is now at lower elevation than in the past.  I suppose
this means that worldwide shortwave signals might not propagate as
far.  Read the article that Elwood sent at
http://tinyurl.com/3p2pcs.

A number of readers, including Norm Priebe, W7ISD of Alexandria,
Minnesota sent in links to articles about a big hole in our earth's
magnetic field.  Read about it at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/16dec_giantbreach.htm.
The magnetosphere helps protect us from solar wind, so if these findings
are correct, it wouldn't take strong space weather to trigger aurora.

The local newspaper in Homer, Alaska ran an article this week about
aurora borealis, which often can be seen from Homer.  Read it at
http://www.homertribune.com/article.php?aid=3733.

Dave Deatrick, WA8OLD was mentioned in ARLP051 back in December,
2006, when he told about the fun he was having on 40 meters with a
shortened dipole in a vee configuration at 30 feet.  He wrote again
on December 20, 2008 to report more fun from the far north of
Michigan with the same antenna, and about 4.8 db more power (300
watts vs. 100 watts).  He lives about a mile from the Canadian
border at Sault Ste Marie, and writes ''40 CW has been good lately,
especially from about 1000 to 1200 GMT to Caribbean and South
America.  Just worked H6VA at 1155 this morning, December 20.  Also
was able to work a AH6 same time period during CQ WW CW test''.

Finally, nothing to do with propagation, but check out this link to
a historical page dedicated to the Novice license:
http://www.novice.bappy.com/index.html.

For more information concerning radio propagation, see the ARRL
Technical Information Service at
http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html.  For a detailed
explanation of the numbers used in this bulletin, see
http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/k9la-prop.html.  An archive of past
propagation bulletins is at http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/.

Monthly propagation charts between four USA regions and twelve
overseas locations are at http://www.arrl.org/qst/propcharts/.

Instructions for starting or ending email distribution of this
bulletin are at http://www.arrl.org/w1aw.html#email.

Sunspot numbers for December 25 through 31 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
and 0 with a mean of 0.  10.7 cm flux was 69.3, 69.2, 69.4, 69.8,
69.8, 68.5, and 69.3 with a mean of 69.3.  Estimated planetary A
indices were 3, 1, 1, 2, 0, 1 and 10 with a mean of 2.6.  Estimated
mid-latitude A indices were 2, 2, 1, 1, 1, 1 and 8 with a mean of
2.3.
NNNN
/EX


From memberlist at www.arrl.org  Thu Jan  8 16:11:33 2009
From: memberlist at www.arrl.org (ARRL Web site)
Date: Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:11:33 -0800
Subject: [CVRC] ARLD001 DX news
Message-ID: <200901082111.n08LBZCw020217@pop3.greatbasin.net>

SB DX @ ARL $ARLD001
ARLD001 DX news

ZCZC AE01
QST de W1AW
DX Bulletin 1  ARLD001
 From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  January 8, 2009
To all radio amateurs

SB DX ARL ARLD001
ARLD001 DX news

This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by
NC1L, The Weekly DX, the OPDX Bulletin, DXNL, 425 DX News, The Daily
DX, Contest Corral from QST and the ARRL Contest Calendar and WA7BNM
web sites.  Thanks to all.

TUNISIA, 3V.  Members of the Provins ARC are QRV as TS7C from
Chergui Island, IOTA AF-073, until January 19.  QSL via F4EGD.

UGANDA, 5X.   Peter is QRV as 5X4X until June while working as
development aid worker in Arua.  Activity is on 40 to 10 meters
generally before 2000z.  QSL via DF5GQ.

MALDIVES, 8Q.  Andy, G7COD will be QRV as 8Q7AK from Embudu Island,
IOTA AS-013, from January 11 to 27.  Activity will be on 40 to 12
meters using CW and SSB.  QSL to home call.

CROATIA, 9A.  During the Men's World Handball Championship, special
event stations 9A2009OS, 9A2009PO, 9A2009PU, 9A2009ST, 9A2009VZ,
9A2009ZD and 9A2009ZG are active until February 1.  QSL via bureau.

TONGA, A3.  Bob, ZL1RS is QRV as A35RS from Tongatapu Island, IOTA
OC-049, until January 15.  Of late, he has been active on 2-meter
EME.  QSL to home call.

GAMBIA, C5.  Niels, OZ8KR is QRV as C56KR from Bakuto until January
14.  Activity is on 40 to 10 meters using SSB.  QSL to home call.

CHILE, CE.  A large group of Amateur Radio operators from Copiapo
will be QRV from January 11 to 25 with special event station
XR27RAID in commemoration of the 27th Raid Atacama desert trophy.
Activity will be on all HF bands using CW, SSB and various digital
modes.  QSL via CE6TBN.

LIBERIA, EL.  Ashley, EL2AR has been active on 15 meters around 1730
to 1815z.  He hopes to be active on 80 and 40 meters soon.  QSL via
EL2BA.

IRAN, EP.  Mohsen, EP3SMH has been active on 20 meters using RTTY
around 1330z and SSB around 0800z.

CROZET ISLANDS, FT/W.  Florentin is QRV as FT5WO currently from
Alfred Faure Station on Possession Island, IOTA AF-008, and has been
active on 20 meters generally around 1700z.  QSL via F4DYW.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, HI.  Simone, IZ5JNQ is QRV as HI7/IZ5JNQ until
February 5.  He also plans to be active as HI2/IZ5JNQ from the
coastal islands Saona and Catalina, both IOTA NA-122.  QSL direct to
EB7DX.

GUINEA-BISSAU, J5.  Peter is QRV as J5UAP and has been QRV on 17
meters using SSB from around 1000 to 1200z.  He has also been active
using RTTY.  QSL via HA3AUI.

ARUBA, P4.  Peter, EA5GVH will be QRV as P40PZ while on holiday from
January 12 to 28.  Activity will be on 80 to 6 meters using SSB and
various digital modes.  QSL to home call.

BRAZIL, PY.  Look for operators PY1/PY1ZV, PY1/PY2OC, PY1/PY1RY and
PY1/PY2HN to be QRV from Cabo Frio from January 12 to 17.  This
operation is devoted to the Transatlantic tests between Africa and
America.  Activity will be on 6 and 2 meters and 70 cm.  QSL via
operators' instructions.

BANABA ISLAND, T33.  Udo, DL9HCU is currently active as T33HC.  QSL
to home call.

VIET NAM, XV.  Mike, OM2DX is QRV as XV9DX and 3W1M while working
for the Slovak Republic Embassy.  He is here for three years.
Activity is on all bands using CW, SSB and various digital modes.
QSL via OM3JW.

MACAO, XX9.  Vincent, F4BKV is QRV as XX9TKV until January 12 from
from Coloane Island, IOTA AS-075.  QSL to home call.

VANUATU, YJ.  Ted, VK2EZQ is QRV as YJ0AZQ from Aneityum Island,
IOTA OC-035.  Activity is on 80 to 10 meters.  QSL to home call.

OPERATION APPROVED FOR DXCC CREDIT.  The following operation is
approved for DXCC credit:  Afghanistan, T61AA, the license for this
operation has been updated.  Anyone having this operation rejected
recently can send an email to dxcc at arrl.org to be placed on the list
for an update.

THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO.  The North American CW QSO Party, NCCC
Sprint, Hunting Lions in the Air Contest, PODXS 070 Club PSKFest, MI
QRP January CW Contest, Midwinter CW/Phone Contest, SKCC Weekend CW
Sprint, NRAU-Baltic CW/Phone Contest, Midwinter Contest and the DARC
10-Meter Contest are all on tap for this weekend.  Please see
January QST, page 82, and the ARRL and WA7BNM contest web sites for
details.
NNNN
/EX



From letter-dlvy at arrl.org  Fri Jan  9 16:07:20 2009
From: letter-dlvy at arrl.org (ARRL Letter Mailing List)
Date: Fri, 09 Jan 2009 13:07:20 -0800
Subject: [CVRC] The ARRL Letter, Vol 28, No 1 (Friday, January 9, 2009)
Message-ID: <200901092107.n09L7LGb020696@pop3.greatbasin.net>

***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 28, No. 1
January 9, 2009
***************

IN THIS EDITION:

* + ARRL Board of Directors, Standing Committees to Meet in Connecticut
Next Week
* + One Mode Down, Two to Go!
* + FCC Commissioners: Now There Are Four
* + DXpedition to Desecheo Gets Ready to Roll
* + Nominations Sought For 2009 Dayton Hamvention Awards
* + Foundation for Amateur Radio Invites Scholarship Applications
*  Solar Update
*  IN BRIEF:
       This Week on the Radio
       ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration
     + ARES E-Letter Gets New Look
     + Gary L. Robinson, WB8ROL, Wins December QST Cover Plaque Award
       The 2008 ARRL Periodicals on CD-ROM Now Shipping
       New QSL Tracking Service in Chile
       Son Charged with Murder of Florida Ham

+Available on ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/>

EARTHQUAKES STRIKES COSTA RICA, EMERGENCY HAM FREQUENCY DECLARED: Due to
strong seismic activity in Costa Rica, the Radio Club de Costa Rica
(RCCR) -- that country's IARU Member-Society -- is monitoring local
repeaters and 7090 kHz. IARU Region 2 Emergency Communications
Coordinator Cesar Pio Santos, HR2P, requests that 7090 kHz be kept clear
of non-essential traffic due to possible emergency communications
dealing with the earthquake. The ARRL encourages all amateurs to be
aware of the emergency operations on this frequency. US amateurs should
avoid interfering with Spanish language SSB while using digital modes.

===========================================================
==>Delivery problems: First see FAQ
<http://www.arrl.org/members-only/faq.html#nodelivery>, then e-mail
<letter-dlvy at arrl.org>
==>Editorial questions or comments only: S. Khrystyne Keane,
<k1sfa at arrl.org>
===========================================================

==> ARRL BOARD OF DIRECTORS, STANDING COMMITTEES TO MEET IN CONNECTICUT
NEXT WEEK

The ARRL Board of Directors holds their 2009 annual meeting January
16-17 in Windsor, Connecticut, with Directors, Vice Directors and ARRL
Board officers in attendance. The meeting will be preceded on Thursday,
January 15, with meetings of the Administration and Finance Committee
and the Programs and Services Committee.

The Administration and Finance Committee, chaired by Northwestern
Division Director Jim Fenstermaker, K9JF, studies, advises and makes
recommendations for all administration and financial matters of the
League, including recommending the annual budget to the Board, making
recommendations in regard to staff management and monitoring investment
of ARRL funds. Fenstermaker said he can report that "2008 was a
relatively good year with growth in membership and meeting the needs of
our members. The 2009 plan calls for continuing to provide existing
programs and to develop new programs, as well as provide better
communication tools. Our belief is that in difficult economic times,
members will focus even more on activities they are familiar with and
have investments in, such as Amateur Radio. We see our opportunities and
ability to serve members' needs increasing under this scenario."

The Programs and Services Committee, headed by Midwest Division Director
Bruce Frahm, K0BJ, studies, advises and makes recommendations for all
programs and services provided by the League, including Logbook of the
World, W1AW and the incoming and outgoing QSL services. "The Programs
and Services committee is pleased with ongoing work to strengthen ARRL's
Internet presence through the Web site redesign and the expansion of the
IT department. A good example is the new Triple Play Worked All States
award that is generating a lot of interest. On the Field Organization
side, we are monitoring implementation of changes brought on by the
Section Governance survey that was reported in July, as well as those
brought about by the NERPC report following Hurricane Katrina and other
large-scale disasters. Membership Services projects include receiving
studies from our Contest and VHF/UHF Advisory Committees and ongoing
consideration of awards-related matters. We're also interested in
development of the new 'PR-101' course for Public Information Officers
and our other educational offerings," Frahm said.

Per the Articles of Association <http://www.arrl.org/aabl.html>, the
ARRL Board of Directors meets twice a year, in January and July.

==> ONE MODE DOWN, TWO TO GO!

With the advent of the ARRL's Triple Play Award
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2008/12/05/10490/>, on-air
participation has reached a level of excitement not seen in recent
years. This new, exciting award is available to all amateurs who confirm
contacts with each of the 50 states using three modes for each state:
CW, phone and RTTY/digital. All 150 contacts must be made on or after
the January 1, 2009 and must be confirmed via Logbook of The World
(LoTW) <http://www.arrl.org/lotw/>. All bands -- with the exception of
60 meters -- may be used in pursuit of the Triple Play Award.

The ARRL RTTY Round Up, held January 3-4, was one of the first organized
events eligible for the award. "If the amount of activity in the 2009
ARRL RTTY Round Up is any indicator, the Triple Play is off to a
fantastic start," said ARRL Contest Branch Manager Sean Kutzko, KX9X.
"The RTTY Roundup was the first contest to take place since the award's
inception. It ended only a few days ago, and we already have received
almost 1100 logs. There's been a lot of chatter on the RTTY e-mail
reflectors about getting the Triple Play completed, and I personally
have seen numerous stations calling 'CQ Triple Play' on PSK31 since the
first of the year. People already have their 'needed list' programmed
into their PSK31 macros. There is no question that the new Triple Play
award is causing a lot of buzz in the digital community. I'm happy that
we have been able to come up with a new award that so many people are
interested in right off the bat."

According to Norm Fusaro, W3IZ, Assistant Manager for the Membership and
Volunteer Programs Department, hundreds of new LoTW certificates have
been processed each day since the first of the year. "We are excited to
see such an upswing in LoTW participation," he said. "I know what a
thrill it can be to upload my logs to LoTW right after a contest and see
the QSOs appear almost instantaneously. That's the magic of Logbook of
The World."

Those who participated in the RTTY Round Up were ecstatic over how easy
it was to use LoTW. Jose Castillo, N1BAA, of Amherst, Massachusetts,
said, "Just amazing! Just under 24 hours since I uploaded my ARRL RTTY
Round Up log and now I have Worked All States confirmed via LoTW [from
just the RTTY Round Up]. Gotta love LoTW!" Bob Garceau, W1EQ, of Putnam,
Connecticut agreed: "I'm impressed with the response to my uploaded log
to LoTW. I uploaded 728 QSOs and 50 hours after the contest closed, I
have 336 QSLs. That's a 46 percent response. Impressive! I think that
someone will get #1 Triple Play by the end of January."

Don't be too upset if you wanted to work one of the digital modes and
didn't participate in the RTTY Round Up -- other digital modes, such as
PSK31 and Hellschreiber are also eligible for the digital portion of the
award. The first ever 24 hour Hellschreiber sprint takes place January
17. According to the Feld Hell Club's Web site, all modes of Hell on any
band (with the exception of 17, 30 and 60 meters) are allowed in the
sprint <http://sites.google.com/site/feldhellclub/Home/contests>. If you
like operating digital modes and you missed the RTTY Round Up, why not
give the Feld Hell sprint a try? According to QST Editor and digital
guru Steve Ford, WB8IMY, free sound card software for Hellschreiber,
such as Fldigi <http://www.w1hkj.com/Fldigi.html>, MultiPSK (for PCs)<
http://f6cte.free.fr/index_anglais.htm> and cocoaModem (for Macintosh)
<http://homepage.mac.com/chen/w7ay/cocoaModem/> can be found online.

For SSB and CW aficionados, the North American QSO Parties (NAQP) start
January 10: The CW portion is 1800 UTC January 10-0600 UTC January 11,
and the phone portion is 1800 UTC January 17-0600 UTC January 18 (the
NAQP RTTY Contest is 1800 UTC February 28-0600 UTC March 1). Of course,
you don't have to participate in a contest to chase the Triple Play
Award. As long as you submit your logs to Logbook of The World, you're
good! LoTW is set up to calculate your Triple Play QSOs separately from
your other QSOs.

ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, warned that it can be
"addictive" once you begin making your contacts for the Triple Play
Award, and that "there are many possible variations on the theme. You
can try to be the first (or at least the first on your block) or you can
set your own pace. Think it's too easy? Limit yourself to QRP while
operating your favorite mode (or all three). Maybe you prefer to be the
quarry; it will quickly emerge which states are the most difficult to
find, offering opportunities to earn the gratitude of your mates by
activating the ones you can get to with your portable or mobile rig."

So get on the air, make contacts and submit them via Logbook of The
World. Before you know it, you'll have something new to hang up on your
shack wall.

==> FCC COMMISSIONERS: NOW THERE ARE FOUR

The term of FCC Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate, a Republican from
Tennessee, came to an end on January 3 as the 111th Congress convened
for the first time. Originally selected by President Bush to fill the
unexpired term of then-Chairman Michael Powell, Tate joined the
Commission in 2005 <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2005/11/10/100/>.
In June 2007, Bush announced his intention to nominate Tate to a full
five year term <http://www.arrl.org/?artid=7534>, but when the Senate
failed to confirm her nomination by the close of the 110th Congress,
Tate's tenure as a Commissioner came to a close.

"My term as a commissioner is at an end," Tate said, "and I would like
to express what a great privilege and honor it has been to serve our
country and the Federal Communications Commission over the past three
years. I am grateful to President Bush for his appointment and for his
confidence in my ability to make important decisions on behalf of the
American people."

Tate said that she plans on advocating for children and families both in
this country and abroad. She said she will also dedicate herself "to
protecting our stories and storytellers, and to opposing the economic
and moral harm of piracy." She also plans on launching a formal
mediation practice "that will utilize the skills I have practiced daily
at the Commission to develop resolution, consensus and collaboration in
the communications sector and beyond."

Chairman Kevin Martin thanked Tate for her service to the Commission,
saying her "good nature and distinct personality" will be missed. "Based
on her experience as an effective state commissioner," Martin said,
"Commissioner Tate demonstrated strong leadership during her tenure as
Chair of the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service, and the
Federal-State Joint Board on Jurisdictional Separations. As Chair, she
led the effort to address [these two] critical components of the
telecommunications framework set forth by Congress. Commissioner Tate
embraced the difficult task of trying to reach consensus between federal
and state members on these very technical and complex issues."

Tate thanked the Commission's professional staff, calling them "the
finest, most honorable group of civil servants in our government. They
are viewed as the 'gold standard' by our international colleagues and I
appreciate their dedication, integrity and commitment. All Americans
should be proud of their work."

==> DXPEDITION TO DESECHEO GETS READY TO ROLL

Six members of the February 2009 KP5 Desecheo DXpedition team
<http://www.kp5.us/> met in Puerto Rico the week of December 17-21.
According to team co-leader Bob Allphin, K4UEE, the team visited US Fish
and Wildlife Headquarters in Boqueron and met with the Chief Refuge
Manager and law enforcement personnel in preparation for the DXpedition,
set to start February 12.

Desecheo currently sits at number 7 on DX Magazine's Most Wanted list;
the island is the second most-wanted DXCC entity in Asia and third
most-wanted in Europe. Desecheo is a small uninhabited island in the
Mona Passage, 14 miles off the western coast of Puerto Rico. It is part
of the USFWS's national wildlife refuge system administered by the
Caribbean National Wildlife Refuge Complex (CNWR)
<http://www.fws.gov/caribbean/>.

"After an evening with local DXers and members of the Puerto Rico
Amateur Radio League for dinner and a night of fellowship, DXpedition
team members underwent UXO (unexploded ordnance) training," Allphin
said. "On December 19, we accompanied US Fish and Wildlife law
enforcement and UXO personnel to Desecheo Island. In the three hours we
were there, the campsite and antenna fields were thoroughly swept for
UXO and several areas were found suspicious. These areas were clearly
marked, mapped by GPS and declared off limits for the DXpedition."

Allphin said that the USFWS will allow antennas on the ridge above the
helicopter pad, providing a clear shot to Europe, North America and
Japan. Other antennas will be located on the beach below the helicopter
pad. While on Desecheo, the team conducted a test for the 2 meter link
to Puerto Rico.

"Logistics and staging of equipment is ongoing and will be complete
before the team arrives in Puerto Rico on February 7." Allphin said.
"The team will transit to Desecheo on February 12 to begin the two week
operation. Eight HF stations, plus 6 meters, will be operational. We
have planned an incredible array of antennas. Transportation and
logistics have been arranged for a fast deployment and quick appearance
on the air. As soon as we land on Desecheo, two stations will be
immediately activated. Stations will continue to operate until the final
moments of departure on February 26."

Per USFWS rules, only 15 operators will be allowed on the island at one
time. "We have arranged with USFWS to allow a shift change about half
way through the DXpedition," Allphin told the ARRL. "This has allowed a
number of hams on our waiting list an opportunity to participate in this
DXpedition."

DXpedition co-leader Glenn Johnson, W0GJ, said the team will be running
CW, SSB and RTTY on 160-6 meters. "We've had tremendous support from DX
organizations all over the world and from numerous equipment and antenna
manufacturers," he told the ARRL. "We are diligently working on the
propagation studies to reach our hard-to-work areas of Asia and Europe.
This plus our planned antennas, we should knock Desecheo off of the Most
Wanted List for a long time to come."

==> NOMINATIONS SOUGHT FOR 2009 DAYTON HAMVENTION AWARDS

The Dayton Hamvention <http://www.hamvention.org/> is accepting
nominations for its 2009 awards <http://hamvention.org/awards.php>. Do
you know an outstanding amateur in your club, community or from
on-the-air contacts? Does this person excel in some phase of Amateur
Radio? Do you feel this person deserves worldwide recognition? All radio
amateurs are eligible. The deadline for nominations is February 18,
2009. The winners will be recognized at the 2009 Hamvention, May 15-17.

The three awards are:
* The Amateur of the Year Award -- This award will be given to the
special person who has made a long term commitment to the advancement of
Amateur Radio. The Hamvention Awards Committee is looking for a
well-rounded individual who has contributed to Amateur Radio in some
outstanding way.
* The Technical Excellence Award -- This award will be given to the
person who has made an outstanding technical advancement in the field of
Amateur Radio.
* The Special Achievement Award -- This award honors someone who has
made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of Amateur Radio,
usually someone who has spearheaded a significant project.

Awards are decided by the Awards Committee, based partially upon the
information received, not the number of nominations submitted.

Documentation is beneficial. Magazine articles, newsletters, newspaper
clippings, videos and such will better inform the Awards Committee of
your candidate's accomplishments. These materials become the property of
Hamvention and cannot be returned. Nominations may be sent via e-mail
<awards at hamvention.org> (please scan all supporting documents and send
them as attachments, via fax at 937-276-6934, or US Mail to Hamvention
Awards, PO Box 964, Dayton, OH 45401-0964. Nomination forms are
available in either PDF format
<http://hamvention.org/files/nominations09.pdf> or Microsoft Word format
<http://hamvention.org/files/nominations09.doc>. If you send your
nomination via e-mail, the Awards Committee requests that you place your
name in the subject line of the e-mail.  -- Dayton Hamvention Awards
Committee

==> FOUNDATION FOR AMATEUR RADIO INVITES SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS

The non-profit Foundation for Amateur Radio (FAR)
<http://www.amateurradio-far.org/> is now accepting applications for 48
scholarships for the academic year 2009-2010 to assist radio amateurs
pursuing higher education.

FAR fully funds two of scholarships and administers 46 others without
cost on behalf of various club and individual donors. Amateur Radio
licensees pursuing a full-time course of study beyond high school and
accepted by or enrolled in an accredited university, college or
technical school are eligible to apply. Scholarship grants range from
$500 to $5000, and preference in some cases goes to applicants living in
particular geographical areas or pursuing certain studies. Non-US
residents are eligible to apply for some of the scholarships. FAR
encourages clubs -- especially those in California, Delaware, Maryland,
Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin -- to announce these
scholarship opportunities at meetings, in newsletters, during training
classes, on nets and on their Web sites.

More information and an application form may be requested by letter via
e-mail or by sending a QSL card postmarked prior to March 30, 2009, to
FAR Scholarships, PO Box 831, Riverdale, MD 20738. The application
deadline is May 1, 2009. Headquartered in Washington, DC, FAR consists
of more than 75 area Amateur Radio Clubs. FAR is devoted to promoting
the interests of Amateur Radio and those scientific, literary and
educational pursuits that advance the purposes of the Amateur Radio
Service.

==>SOLAR UPDATE

Tad "The spruces rough in the distant glitter of the January sun" Cook,
K7RA, this week reports: On Wednesday, January 7, a sunspot appeared
very briefly in the lower right portion of the Sun's image. It was so
brief that NOAA did not record it on the Space Weather Prediction
Center's daily solar data chart for that day. Spaceweather.com reported
a sunspot number of 11 for the day, and the magnetic polarity was
consistent with a new Solar Cycle 24 spot. Today, January 9, there is
another Solar Cycle 24 appearance, this time on the upper left of the
image. Sunspot numbers for January 1-7 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 and 0 with
a mean of 0. The 10.7 cm flux was 68.9, 69.9, 69.5, 68.8, 69.2, 68.7 and
69 with a mean of 69.1. The estimated planetary A indices were 6, 3, 9,
4, 4, 3 and 3 with a mean of 4.6. The estimated mid-latitude A indices
were 5, 3, 8, 5, 3, 2 and 1 with a mean of 3.9. For more information
concerning radio propagation, visit the ARRL Technical Information
Service Propagation page
<http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html>. To read this week's
Solar Report in its entirety, check out the W1AW Propagation Bulletin
page <http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/>. This week's "Tad Cookism" brought
to you by Wallace Stevens' "The Snow Man"
<http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5031535>.

__________________________________

==>IN BRIEF:

* This Week on the Radio: This week, the Midwinter Contest (CW) is
January 10, while the North American QSO Party (CW), the Hunting Lions
in the Air Contest and the MI QRP January CW Contest are all January
10-11. Look for the SKCC Weekend Sprintathon, the NRAU-Baltic Contest
(CW and SSB), the Midwinter Contest (phone) and the DARC 10 Meter
Contest on January 11. Next week is the ARRL January VHF Sweepstakes is
January 17-19. The LZ Open Contest is January 17. The North American QSO
Party (SSB), the Hungarian DX Contest and the UK DX Contest (RTTY) are
all January 17-18. The Run for the Bacon QRP Contest is January 19 and
the NAQCC Straight Key/Bug Sprint is January 22. All dates, unless
otherwise stated, are UTC. See the ARRL Contest Branch page
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/>, the ARRL Contest Update
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/update/> and the WA7BNM Contest Calendar
<http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html> for more info. Looking
for a Special Event station? Be sure to check out the ARRL Special Event
Station Web page <http://www.arrl.org/contests/spev.html>.

* ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration remains open through
Sunday, January 25, 2009, for these online course sessions beginning on
Friday, February 6, 2009: Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level
1; Radio Frequency Interference; Antenna Design and Construction;
Technician License Course; Analog Electronics, and Digital Electronics..
Each online course has been developed in segments -- learning units with
objectives, informative text, student activities and quizzes. Courses
are interactive, and some include direct communications with a
Mentor/Instructor. Students register for a particular session that may
be 8, 12 or 16 weeks (depending on the course) and they may access the
course at any time of day during the course period, completing lessons
and activities at times convenient for their personal schedule. Mentors
assist students by answering questions, reviewing assignments and
activities, as well as providing helpful feedback. Interaction with
mentors is conducted through e-mail; there is no appointed time the
student must be present -- allowing complete flexibility for the student
to work when and where it is convenient. To learn more, visit the CCE
Course Listing page <http://www.arrl.org/cep/student> or contact the
Continuing Education Program Coordinator <cep at arrl.org>.

* ARES E-Letter Gets New Look: The ARRL ARES E-Letter
<http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/ares-el/about.html>, published on the
third Wednesday of each month, makes the move from a plain text
formatted newsletter to an HTML format this month. The second of the
ARRL e-letters to update its look (the ARRL Contest Update switched over
to an HTML format in May 2008), the ARES E-Letter has a circulation of
33,000 ARRL members. The ARES E-Letter is a digest available via e-mail
full of news and information of interest to active members of the ARRL
Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and to hams concerned with public
service and emergency communications. E-mail newsletters, such as the
ARES E-Letter, the Contest Update and The ARRL Letter, are just some of
the many benefits available at no charge to ARRL members. To sign up for
any of the League's newsletters, go to the Member Data page on the ARRL
Web site <http://www.arrl.org/members-only/memdata.html>.

* Gary L. Robinson, WB8ROL, Wins December QST Cover Plaque Award: The
winner of the QST Cover Plaque Award for December is Gary L. Robinson,
WB8ROL, for his article "Ghost QSOs -- Olivia Returns from the Noise."
Congratulations, Gary! 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 QST Cover Plaque Poll Web
page <http://www.arrl.org/members-only/QSTvote.html>. Cast a ballot for
your favorite article in the January issue by Saturday, January 31.

* The 2008 ARRL Periodicals on CD-ROM Now Shipping: The 2008 ARRL
Periodicals on CD-ROM <http://www.arrl.org/catalog/?item=9406#top> is
now available and includes the complete 2008 fully searchable collection
of three ARRL journals -- QST, QEX, and National Contest Journal (NCJ).
In addition, the CD-ROM includes source code for software projects and
PC board patterns, Section News, as well as the ever-popular Contest
Soapbox and Contest Results. Search the full text of every article by
entering titles, call signs or names. See every word, photo -- most in
color -- drawing and table in technical and general-interest features,
columns and product reviews, plus all advertisements. Print what you
see, or copy it into other applications. System requirements: Microsoft
Windows and Macintosh systems, using the industry standard Adobe Acrobat
Reader software. CD-ROMs for other years are also available
<http://www.arrl.org/catalog/?item=NO-PER#top>.

* New QSL Tracking Service in Chile: Have you sent a QSL to Chile but
had no reply? Perhaps you had a contact with XQ, CE, CA, CD, XR, 3G or
CC that has not been confirmed. According to David Calderwood,
CE2WZ/GW4VHO, a group of Chilean amateurs has offered to try and help
obtain missing cards by carrying out searches and making enquiries in
Chile. To use this free service, please contact Jose Luis Jimenez,
CE1KR, via e-mail <ce1kr.joseluis at gmail.com>. You can write to him in
Spanish or English. Full details on this service are available on the
Hunting QSL Cards Web site <http://hunting-qsl.blogspot.com/>.

* Son Charged with Murder of Florida Ham: Robert Farley, of Lakeland
Florida, has been charged with first degree murder in the death of his
father Walter Farley, K4QE, also of Lakeland. "The Ledger," a newspaper
in Farley's hometown, reported that authorities allege that Robert
killed his father New Year's Eve during an argument over family matters.
Walter Farley was 93. Authorities said that on Saturday, January 3,
Robert Farley confessed to the killing and led detectives to a lake
where he had discarded the murder weapon; the weapon was recovered by
dive team members later that afternoon. Walter Farley served in the US
Army during World War II as a telephone and radio repairman. He fixed
tape recorders for the blind and was involved with the local historical
society. A member of the Lakeland Amateur Radio Club, Walter was active
on local Nets.

===========================================================
The ARRL Letter is published Fridays, 50 times each year, by the
American Radio Relay League: ARRL--the national association for Amateur
Radio, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax
860-594-0259; <http://www.arrl.org>. Joel Harrison, W5ZN, President.

The ARRL Letter offers a weekly e-mail digest of essential and general
news of interest to active radio amateurs. Visit the ARRL Web site
<http://www.arrl.org> for the latest Amateur Radio news and news
updates. The ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org/> also offers
informative features and columns. ARRL Audio News
<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> is a weekly "ham radio newscast"
compiled and edited from The ARRL Letter. It's also available as a
podcast from our Web site.

Material from The ARRL Letter may be republished or reproduced in whole
or in part in any form without additional permission. Credit must be
given to The ARRL Letter/American Radio Relay League.

==>Delivery problems (ARRL member direct delivery only!):
letter-dlvy at arrl.org
==>Editorial questions or comments: S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA,
k1sfa at arrl.org
==>ARRL News on the Web: <http://www.arrl.org>
==>ARRL Audio News: <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> or call
860-594-0384

==>How to Get The ARRL Letter

The ARRL Letter is available to ARRL members free of charge directly
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ARRL members first must register on the Members Only Web Site
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Copyright 2009 American Radio Relay League, Inc.
All Rights Reserved



From memberlist at www.arrl.org  Thu Jan 15 21:35:01 2009
From: memberlist at www.arrl.org (ARRL Web site)
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2009 18:35:01 -0800
Subject: [CVRC] ARLD002 DX news
Message-ID: <200901160235.n0G2Z2uN002546@pop3.greatbasin.net>

SB DX @ ARL $ARLD002
ARLD002 DX news

ZCZC AE02
QST de W1AW
DX Bulletin 2  ARLD002
 From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  January 15, 2009
To all radio amateurs

SB DX ARL ARLD002
ARLD002 DX news

This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by
NC1L, the OPDX Bulletin, DXNL, 425 DX News, The Daily DX, Contest
Corral from QST and the ARRL Contest Calendar and WA7BNM web sites.
Thanks to all.

UGANDA, 5X.  Peter, DL8SBQ is QRV as 5X4X from Arua until June.
Activity is on 40 to 10 meters using SSB.  He is active up until
2000z each day.  QSL via DF5GQ.

SENEGAL, 6W.  Tom, DL2RMC is here on holiday and is QRV as 6W/home
call until January 29.  He is active on all bands, holiday style.
This includes an entry in the upcoming CQ WW 160 Meter contest.  QSL
via DL1RTL.

ALGERIA, 7X.  Fred, ON6QR will be QRV from the Amateur Radio Algeria
club station 7X2ARA on January 17 and 18.  This includes an entry in
the Hungarian DX contest.  Activity will be on all bands using CW
and SSB as propagation permits.  QSL via 7X2ARA.

AZORES, CU.  Operators CU8AS, HB9CRV and HB9CQL will be QRV as CU8W
from Farol do Albarnaz Island, IOTA EU-089, from January 19 to 23.
Activity will be on the low bands using CW and RTTY.  QSL via
operators' instructions.

URUGUAY, CX.  A group of operators from Radio Grupo Sur will be QRV
as CV5A from Flores Island, IOTA SA-030, from January 22 to 26.
Activity will be on all HF bands and modes, with a dedicated
RTTY/PSK31 station active as well.  QSL via CX2ABC.

GERMANY, DA.  Special event station DR09ANT is QRV during 2009 from
the Upper Bavaria district for International Polar Year.  They are
active on as many bands and modes as possible.  QSL via DL5MHQ.

NEW CALEDONIA, FK.  Sam is QRV as FK8DD and has been active on 20
meters around 0900z.  QSL via LZ1JZ.

REUNION ISLAND, FR.  Daniel, F5LGQ is QRV as TO4IPA until January
31.

THAILAND, HS.  Joerg, DL1MJF will be QRV as HS0ZGQ from Koh Samui
Island, IOTA AS-101, from January 20 to February 12.  QSL to home
call.

DOMINICA, J7.  Seth, SM0CCM will be QRV as J79XBI from January 17 to
April 1 while on holiday.  Activity will be on the HF bands using
only SSB.  QSL via SM0XBI.

GUAM, KH2.  Yoshi, JE2EHP is QRV as K1HP/KP2 until January 19.
Activity is on all HF bands, including 6 meters, using CW, SSB and
RTTY.  QSL to home call.

US VIRGIN ISLANDS, KP2.  Operators JA1CJA, JA3BZO and JA3AVO will be
QRV as KP2/AE6XY, KP2/AE6YQ and KP2/W3AVO, respectively, from
January 17 to 22.  Activity will be on 160 to 6 meters using CW, SSB
and various digital modes.  QSL to home calls.

LITHUANIA, LY.  To mark the Millennium of Lithuania, a number of
club members are QRV with the prefix LY1000 until March 1.  Activity
is on all bands and modes.  QSL via operators' instructions.

BANGLADESH, S2.  Operators S21RC, S21AM, S21DM, S21RO, S21SA and
S21S are QRV as S21DX from St. Martin's Island, IOTA AS-127, until
January 22.  Activity is on 80 to 10 meters using SSB and RTTY.  QSL
direct via EB7DX.

MOUNT ATHOS, SV/A.  Monk Apollo, SV2ASP/A, has been QRV on 160
meters around 0530 to 0630z on various days.  QSL direct.

PALAU, T8.  Mike, JA6EGL, Yas, JA6UBY, Yu, JE6DND and Hiro, JA6KYU
are QRV as T88SM, T88CP, T88HK and T88HS, respectively, from Koror
Island, IOTA OC-009, until January 18.  Activity is on 80 to 10
meters using CW and SSB.  QSL direct to home calls.

TURKEY, TA.  Sadao, JA1PBV is QRV as TA7/KI6TIU until February 11.
He expects to be active from Cappadocia, Antalya, Izmir and possibly
others locations within Turkey as well.  QSL to home call.

BERMUDA, VP9.  In celebration of the 400th anniversary of the
settlement of Bermuda, amateur radio operators here will use the
special prefix VP9400 during 2009.

CAMBODIA, XU.  Hiroo, JA2EZD is QRV using calls XU7AAA and XU7ADX
until January 30.  Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using CW and SSB.
QSL via XU7AAA.

INDONESIA, YB.  Adhi, YB3MM is QRV as YB3MM/9 from Nanggu Island,
IOTA OC-150, until January 18 while on holiday.  Activity is mostly
on 17 meters using CW and RTTY.  His operating times vary.  QSL via
IZ8CCW.

THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO.  The ARRL January VHF Sweepstakes, North
American SSB QSO Party, NCCC Sprint, LZ Open CW Contest, Hungarian
DX Contest and UK RTTY DX Contest are all on tap for this weekend.
The Run for the Bacon QRP CW Contest is scheduled for January 19.
Please see January QST, page 82, and the ARRL and WA7BNM contest web
sites for details.
NNNN
/EX



From letter-dlvy at arrl.org  Fri Jan 16 16:58:21 2009
From: letter-dlvy at arrl.org (ARRL Letter Mailing List)
Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2009 13:58:21 -0800
Subject: [CVRC] The ARRL Letter, Vol 28, No 3 (Friday, January 16, 2009)
Message-ID: <200901162158.n0GLwLWJ010071@pop3.greatbasin.net>

***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 28, No. 2
January 16, 2009
***************

IN THIS EDITION:

* + FCC Chairman Kevin Martin Announces Resignation
* + Julius Genachowski Reportedly Picked as New FCC Chairman
* + Delta Division Leadership Attends Orientation Workshop at ARRL HQ
* + FCC License Activity on the Rise
* + Look for the February Issue of QST in Your Mailbox
* + As Storms Pummeled Northwestern States, Hams Responded to Local
Needs
*  Solar Update
*  IN BRIEF:
       This Week on the Radio
       ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration
     + David J. Strout Sr, W2YC, #1 Triple Play
     + ARES E-Letter Gets New Look
       Yaesu Donation
       New Section Manager Appointed in Wyoming
       Everett "Curly" Silva, K7HRW (SK)

+Available on ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/>

===========================================================
==>Delivery problems: First see FAQ
<http://www.arrl.org/members-only/faq.html#nodelivery>, then e-mail
<letter-dlvy at arrl.org>
==>Editorial questions or comments only: S. Khrystyne Keane,
<k1sfa at arrl.org>
===========================================================

==> FCC CHAIRMAN KEVIN MARTIN ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION

The Aspen Institute, a non-partisan think-tank, announced on Thursday,
January 15 that FCC Chairman Kevin Martin will join their group as a
Senior Fellow in the Communications and Society Program on Tuesday,
January 20, immediately upon his departure from the FCC. According to
the Institute, Martin will be the fourth consecutive FCC Chairman to
make the move to the group: Democrats Reed Hundt (1993-97) and William
Kennard (1997-2001), as well as Republican Michael Powell (2001-05) have
accepted fellowships with the Institute upon leaving the FCC. Julius
Genachowski is expected to succeed Martin at the FCC
<http://www.aspeninstitute.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=huLWJeMRK
pH&b=4863373&ct=6603329> (see following story).

ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, said that Martin's
resignation is part of the "usual stuff we see when a new administration
comes to office. We look forward to a positive relationship with the new
Chairman and his administration."

In his letter of resignation to President Bush, Martin wrote, "I have
had the privilege of serving at the Federal Communications Commission
for almost eight years, including four years as the agency's Chairman.
During this period, we have seen a telecommunications industry
undergoing rapid and unprecedented change. As a result of the
market-oriented and consumer focused policies we have pursued the
American people are now reaping the rewards of convergence and the
broadband revolution including new and more innovative technologies and
services at ever-declining prices."

Chairman Martin stated that his philosophy during his tenure at the FCC
"has been to pursue deregulation while paying close attention to its
impact on consumers and the particulars of a given market, to balance
deregulation with consumer protection"
<http://www.arrl.org/news/files/FCC_MartinResigns.DOC >. He said that he
"approached his decisions with a fundamental belief that a robust,
competitive marketplace, not regulation, is ultimately the best
protector of the public interest and the best method of delivering the
benefits of choice, innovation, and affordability to American
consumers."

Martin said that during his tenure at the FCC, "the Commission has
focused on establishing the appropriate regulatory environment that
achieves the right balance between two competing interests: To encourage
investment in communications infrastructure, and to make sure consumers
and innovation are not unintentionally or intentionally disadvantaged by
the owners of that infrastructure."

Martin was a strong advocate of BPL technology, as was his predecessor,
Michael Powell, but the limited number of BPL deployments show that BPL
is not the success story it was hoped to be. "The technical problems of
trying to get BPL to run reliably on wires that were never intended to
carry high-speed digital signals make BPL less reliable than other
technologies," said ARRL Laboratory Manager and BPL expert Ed Hare,
W1RFI. "When coupled with poor rules that encouraged interference
problems, BPL was given a poor start that it has never completely
overcome." The ARRL has never been opposed to BPL per se, except when
the technology causes harmful interference to the Amateur Radio Service.

Under his chairmanship, Martin said the Commission "acted to level the
playing field so that all entrants could fairly compete, facilitating
increased investment in the next generation of communications
infrastructure, [while at the same time, I] was able to push for more
open platforms to spur innovation on the edges of these networks and
deliver lower prices, improved services and greater choice to
consumers."

Executive Director of the Aspen Institute's Communications and Society
Program Charles Firestone said that "Chairman Martin has been a longtime
participant in Aspen Institute forums. We look forward to working with
him and to the advice he will give us." Martin said he, too, looks
forward to his time with the Institute: "I have long enjoyed and
respected the Communications and Society Program, and I will relish the
opportunity to reflect on the nature of leadership that I exercised in
this field for the past several years." According to their Web site, The
Aspen Institute is based in Washington, DC, Colorado and Maryland.

==> JULIUS GENACHOWSKI REPORTEDLY PICKED AS NEW FCC CHAIRMAN

Democratic sources are reporting that President-elect Barack Obama has
selected Julius Genachowski, 45, a technology executive and former
classmate from Harvard Law School, to lead the Federal Communications
Commission. If confirmed by the Senate, Genachowski would replace
current Chairman Kevin Martin (see above story).

After graduating from law school, Genachowski clerked for federal judge
Abner Mikva; he also clerked for Supreme Court Justice David Souter.
Genachowski later served as chief counsel to Reed Hundt, chairman of the
FCC from 1993-1997. After leaving the FCC, Genachowski was a senior
executive at IAC/InterActiveCorp, Barry Diller's e-commerce and media
company. He went on to found an investment and advisory firm for digital
media companies and co-founded the country's first commercial "green"
bank. According to Obama's Web site, Genachowski raised at least
$500,000 for Obama during the presidential election campaign.

Referring to the management practices of current FCC Chairman Martin,
ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, said, "We can only hope
that under the new chairman, the FCC bureaus and offices that deal with
Amateur Radio issues will be empowered to do their jobs without clearing
every detail through the Chairman's office."

Early in the Obama presidential campaign, Genachowski urged the
candidate to capitalize on the organizing power of the Internet. The New
York Times
<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/g/julius_gen
achowski/index.html?inline=nyt-per> called Genachowski "a prolific
fund-raiser and chairman of the campaign's group of technology-policy
advisers, who produced a report advocating an open Internet, diversity
in media ownership and a nationwide wireless system for emergency
personnel." The Washington Post, which described Genachowski a "local
venture capitalist," credits him with "spearheading Obama's online
campaign strategy, which used social networking and other tools to
spread Obama's campaign message and raise record campaign contributions"
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/12/AR20090
11203417.html>.

The Post credited sources close to Obama's transition team who said that
"Genachowski had been recently meeting with key Democratic lawmakers to
see if the role of Chief Technology Officer would have policy-making
authority and decided against taking the job when he realized the
definition of CTO would not include a strong regulatory role. Instead,
Genachowski expressed interest in the FCC [Chairmanship]"
<http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/12/18/_speculation_is_r
ife_in.html>.

Genachowski explained in his Obama campaign blog that he "was fortunate
to chair the group that advised Senator Obama and the [presidential]
campaign on the tech & innovation plan, a large and hardworking group
that generated terrific ideas, rooted in the great work that the Senator
and his strong Senate staff have been doing in this area for quite some
time" <http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/blog/juliusgenachowski>.


According to Bloomberg.com, the FCC may turn to expanding Americans'
access to high-speed Internet service once the pressure from the digital
television transition eases: "Obama has made universal broadband a
cornerstone of his plan to boost US competitiveness. It is
'unacceptable' that the nation ranks 15th worldwide in high-speed
Internet adoption rates, he said in a December 6 speech. House Speaker
Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, has said broadband funds will be
part of the economic stimulus package Congress intends to take up this
month."

==> DELTA DIVISION LEADERSHIP ATTENDS ORIENTATION WORKSHOP AT ARRL HQ

Just prior to the ARRL Board of Directors 2009 Annual Meeting, the newly
elected leadership team in the ARRL's Delta Division -- Director Mickey
Cox, K5MC, and Vice Director David Norris, K5UZ -- made their way to
Newington for a day of orientation to learn the "ins and outs" of the
ARRL Board and ARRL Headquarters operation. The Annual Meeting is
scheduled for January 16-17 in Windsor, Connecticut. Cox was previously
Section Manager of the Louisiana Section; Norris was Section Manager of
the Arkansas Section when he was elected to his new position.

According to ARRL Chief Operating Officer Harold Kramer, WJ1B, "The new
Board members came to Newington to learn not only how the Board
functions, but to see what each department does and how it interacts
with and serves both Amateur Radio and ARRL members, through our five
pillars: Public Service, Advocacy, Education, Technology and Membership.
I am pleased they came to see how we support Amateur Radio each and
every day here at ARRL HQ."

One of the highlights of the group's visit to Headquarters was a tour of
the ARRL Lab. Ed Hare, W1RFI, ARRL Laboratory Manager, explained the
function of the Lab and its staff: "We showed them how we support
Amateur Radio through the Technical Information Service, product review
testing, RFI issues such as power line noise, and support for spectrum
defense, including BPL issues."

Cox said, "This is my third trip to ARRL Headquarters -- I came first as
a new Section Manager in 2001, and again in 2005 to discuss lessons
learned from Hurricane Katrina. I've always loved coming to
Headquarters. I am learning a lot today about how to be a Division
Director. So far, there have been no big surprises, as it is pretty much
what I thought it would be. I'm looking forward to the meetings this
weekend and serving the amateurs in the Delta Division as their Director
for the next few years."

Norris concurred: "I first came to ARRL Headquarters in September 2005.
Like Mickey, I came to the orientation that HQ staff holds for new
Section Managers. This visit has been a little more in-depth; I've seen
more of the operational side of Headquarters this time around. From my
first visit, I had a pretty good idea of what the staff does, but now I
really get what they do for the members and the amateur community as a
whole. I think every member needs to come up here and see what exactly
goes on at Headquarters. I think they will gain a new appreciation for
the League."

==> FCC LICENSE ACTIVITY ON THE RISE

According to ARRL VEC Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, there continues to be
a heightened interest in Amateur Radio following the FCC's elimination
of the Morse code exam requirement in February 2007: "The number of new
license applicants remains strong under the new Amateur Radio Service
rules. The following table chronicles all 14 FCC authorized VEC
organizations' new license activity over the last few years." In 2008,
the total number of US amateurs rose 1.2 percent, from 655,800 in 2007,
to 663,500 in 2008:


-----------------------------------
        New Amateur Totals
    2006 through November 2008
-----------------------------------
Month       2006    2007    2008
-----------------------------------
Jan         1274    1647    1755
Feb         1605    2435    2998
Mar         2531    3478    2816
Apr         1728    2673    3090
May         2283    2607    2562
Jun         1967    2281    2402
Jul         1401    1786    2077
Aug         1623    2183    2084
Sep         1357    1462    1763
Oct         1781    2109    2303
Nov         1993    2132    2197
Dec         1569    1935    2019
-----------------------------------
Totals:   21,112  26,728  28,066
-----------------------------------

Somma said that the number of General and Extra class upgrades is also
on the rise. "When looking at 2006 totals," she said, "we see that
upgrade applications for 2007 were up 286 percent; in 2008, they were up
146 percent over 2006. Requests for new club licenses also remain
strong. In 2008, we had 671 applications for club licenses come in,
while in 2007, there were 506 applications. That's an increase of 133
percent."

Calling it a "ripple effect," Somma said that the number of amateurs who
want to be volunteer examiners and who want to teach Amateur Radio
classes is also going up. "Here at the ARRL VEC, we've seen a spike in
the number of applications from General and Extra class radio amateurs
who want to give back to their community by serving as examiners and
instructors," she said.

Somma further broke down the numbers to show the approximate number of
licensees per FCC license class:

Novice:               18,500
Technician:          322,500
General:             145,000
Advanced:             62,000
Extra:               115,500
Total US Amateurs:   663,500

"I can think back to the mid 1980s when there were approximately 450,000
US Amateurs," Somma recalled. "These are the highest numbers of General
and Extra class licensees I have ever seen." As of April 15, 2000, the
FCC no longer issues Novice or Advanced class licenses. "As expected,
the number of Novice and Advanced class licensees has decreased," she
said. "As I look toward 2009, I see Amateur Radio growing in a positive
direction."  -- Some information provided by Joe Speroni, AH0A

==> LOOK FOR THE FEBRUARY ISSUE OF QST IN YOUR MAILBOX

The February issue of QST is jam-packed with all sorts of things that
today's Amateur Radio operator needs. From product reviews to
experiments to contesting, the upcoming issue of QST has something for
just about everyone.

Rick Campbell, KK7B, presents a homebrew project in the first of his
two-part article "Designing and Building Transistor Linear Power
Amplifiers." Juan Antonio Fernandez Montana, EA4CYQ, and Pedro Perez
Alvarez-Cienfuegos, EB4DKA, look at "A Better Way to Work Low Earth
Orbit FM Satellites." If you are concerned about how to get the best
bang for your buck when it comes to your antenna system, be sure to
check out "Keeping Current with Antenna Performance" by Eric P. Nichols,
KL7J.

Speaking of antenna systems, you won't want to miss the helpful pointers
provided by Ray Fallen, ND8L, in his article, "Homeowners Insurance and
Your Antenna System." Robert Gulley, AK3Q, shows how a group of Kentucky
hams brought Amateur Radio to a young audience in his article "Amateur
Radio and Public Education Make a Bright Future." And just as hams light
the way for young people to get involved in ham radio, each year, the
ARRL offers teachers a chance to get in on the fun, too! Find out more
in "The ARRL Teachers Institute 2009," by ARRL Education and Technology
Program Coordinator Mark Spencer, WA8SME.

ARRL Technical Editor Joel Hallas, W1ZR, reviews Tele-Post's LP-PAN
Software Defined IQ Panadapter. According to Hallas, "The LP-PAN and
associated software add a high performance panadpter and interactive
computer control to the Elecraft K3 [reviewed in the January 2009 issue
of QST] at a reasonable cost for those with a radio connected PC and
quality sound interface." Be sure to check out the product reviews for
the DV Dongle D-STAR Adapter and a variety of battery operated soldering
tools, also in the February issue of QST.

If it's February, it must be time for the ARRL International DX Contest
(CW) <http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2009/intldx.html>. This is a
great opportunity to contact many stations all over the world. ARRL
Contest Branch Manager Sean Kutzko, KX9X, explains in "This Month in
Contesting" that you really don't need to win a contest to have fun. The
results of the 2008 ARRL UHF Contest are in. Find out about upcoming
contests in Contest Corral and mark your contest calendar for 2009.

Of course, there are the usual columns you expect in the February issue
of QST: Hints & Kinks, The Doctor Is IN, How's DX, Vintage Radio,
Hamspeak and more. Look for your February issue in your mailbox. QST is
the official journal of ARRL, the national association for Amateur
Radio. QST is just one of the many benefits of ARRL membership. To join
or renew your ARRL membership, please see the ARRL Web page
<http://www.arrl.org/join>.

==> AS STORMS PUMMELED NORTHWESTERN STATES, HAMS RESPONDED TO LOCAL
NEEDS

After another week of wild weather in Oregon and Washington (January
7-9), residents in those states are just beginning to see the Sun. With
an onslaught of wind, snow and rain this winter season, hams in the
affected areas have been called upon by local served agencies to lend a
hand. From providing 911 support to helping out with communications in
area shelters, Amateur Radio operators have assisted since the beginning
of the storm events
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2008/12/24/10525/>.

According to David Kidd, KA7OZO, District Emergency Coordinator for
Oregon's District One <http://www.oregonaresd1.org/main.html>, the
storms moved into his area on Wednesday, January 7 and continued
throughout the rest of the week. ARES units in Clatsop, Columbia and
Tillamook Counties were activated in advance of the storms that brought
flooding, mud slides, blocked roadways from downed trees, as well power
outages.

In Clatsop County, Kidd said that amateurs assisted in the county's
Emergency Operations Center, while in Columbia and Tillamook Counties,
the County Emergency Coordinator activated their local ARES units for
the duration of the storms. "Columbia County deployed radio teams to
four areas where they anticipated getting severe floods," Kidd told the
ARRL. "These places can flood at the blink of an eyelash, so they
pre-deployed hams to these areas."

Luckily for Oregonians, the storm tracked through Washington. "We were
spared somewhat when the storm stalled over Washington," Kidd said.
"Granted, we got a lot of wind and rain, but not like they did north of
us. All the counties here are watching their rivers go down and are in
some level of recovery mode."

In Lewis County, Washington, hams were prepared for the storms. On
Wednesday, January 7, the Lewis County Board of County Commissioners
declared the county a disaster area "due to exhausted resources and
flood level predictions at or exceeding 1996, 2006, and 2007 flood
levels." The Lewis County EOC placed Amateur Radio operators affiliated
with local ARES units on standby.

According to Lewis County Emergency Management Deputy Director Ross
McDowell, the unincorporated areas of Packwood and Randle had been
without land-line telephone service since January 7. "Repairs cannot
take place until the flood waters recede. This area is without 911
service due to all alternate facilities being under water. Ham
operators/radios will be used in emergencies [to facilitate 911
services]."

On January 10, the Lewis County Department of Emergency Management
expanded its use of RACES ham radio operators to stay in contact with
the City of Centralia EOC and to continue communication with Morton,
Randle and Packwood ham radio operators. RACES continued to provide
support throughout the storm event.

The storm brought rain and high winds to Washington, causing widespread
avalanches, mudslides, flooding and road closures, as the heavy snowfall
that buried parts of the state began to melt rapidly. More than 30,000
people were told to leave their homes in flood-endangered areas across
western Washington as authorities warned of heavy flooding.

Warmer temperatures and heavy rains were melting snow dumped on the
mountains during the weekend storm, with 10 inches of snow melting in a
12 hour period at Snoqualmie Pass, about 50 miles east of Seattle.
Throughout the state, about 60 highways were closed.

ARRL Eastern Washington Section Manager Mark Tharp, KB7HDX, reported
that hams in Kittitas and Yakima Counties were on standby during the
storms, but "Spokane is holding their own." ARRL Northwestern Division
Director Jim Fenstermaker, K9JF, said, "So far, most of the problems are
in Western Washington. We here in Seattle are cut off from the rest of
the USA by landslides and avalanches to the east, and flooding to the
south and north. All major highways are affected, as is all rail
transportation. The only way out or in is via air. We had more
unexpected rain on Thursday, but it should clear up by the weekend."

==>SOLAR UPDATE

Tad "Suns to light me rise" Cook, K7RA, this week reports: A nice
sunspot group -- number 1010 -- appeared for five days from January
9-13. Daily sunspot numbers ranged from 11 to 20, and this one was
another Solar Cycle 24 appearance. The Cycle 23 sunspots seem to be
gone, while the new Solar Cycle 24 isn't picking up very quickly. 1010
was here for five days, following a whole solar rotation -- 27 days of
no sunspots since 1009 was visible for just three days, December 10-12.
Prior to that, there were 23 spotless days since seeing sunspot 1008,
visible for eight days from November 10-17. Sunspot numbers for January
8-14 were 0, 14, 17, 20, 12, 11 and 0 with a mean of 10.6. The 10.7 cm
flux was 68.7, 69.7, 70.9, 70, 69.3, 70.5 and 71.2 with a mean of 70.
The estimated planetary A indices were 3, 4, 4, 2, 0, 3 and 5 with a
mean of 3. The estimated mid-latitude A indices were 2, 4, 2, 1, 0, 2
and 6 with a mean of 2.4. For more information concerning radio
propagation, visit the ARRL Technical Information Service Propagation
page <http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html>. To read this
week's Solar Report in its entirety, check out the W1AW Propagation
Bulletin page <http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/>. This week's "Tad
Cookism" brought to you by Alexander Pope's "An Essay on Man"
<http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/2428>.

__________________________________

==>IN BRIEF:

* This Week on the Radio: This week, the ARRL January VHF Sweepstakes is
January 17-19. The LZ Open Contest is January 17. The North American QSO
Party (SSB), the Hungarian DX Contest and the UK DX Contest (RTTY) are
all January 17-18. The Run for the Bacon QRP Contest is January 19 and
the NAQCC Straight Key/Bug Sprint is January 22. Next week, the NAQCC
Straight Key/Bug Sprint is January 22 and the CQ 160 Meter Contest (CW)
is January 23-25. The REF Contest (CW), BARTG RTTY Sprint, the UBA DX
Contest (SSB) and the SPAR Winter Field Day are January 24-25. The SKCC
Sprint is January 28. All dates, unless otherwise stated, are UTC. See
the ARRL Contest Branch page <http://www.arrl.org/contests/>, the ARRL
Contest Update <http://www.arrl.org/contests/update/> and the WA7BNM
Contest Calendar <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html> for
more info. Looking for a Special Event station? Be sure to check out the
ARRL Special Event Station Web page
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/spev.html>.

* ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration remains open through
Sunday, January 25, 2009, for these online course sessions beginning on
Friday, February 6, 2009: Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level
1; Radio Frequency Interference; Antenna Design and Construction;
Technician License Course; Analog Electronics, and Digital Electronics..
Each online course has been developed in segments -- learning units with
objectives, informative text, student activities and quizzes. Courses
are interactive, and some include direct communications with a
Mentor/Instructor. Students register for a particular session that may
be 8, 12 or 16 weeks (depending on the course) and they may access the
course at any time of day during the course period, completing lessons
and activities at times convenient for their personal schedule. Mentors
assist students by answering questions, reviewing assignments and
activities, as well as providing helpful feedback. Interaction with
mentors is conducted through e-mail; there is no appointed time the
student must be present -- allowing complete flexibility for the student
to work when and where it is convenient. To learn more, visit the CCE
Course Listing page <http://www.arrl.org/cep/student> or contact the
Continuing Education Program Coordinator <cep at arrl.org>.

* David J. Strout Sr, W2YC, #1 Triple Play: On Thursday, January 15,
ARRL officials confirmed that David J. Strout Sr, W2YC, of Williamstown,
New Jersey, is the recipient of the very first Triple Play Award
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2008/12/05/10490/>. "Strout received
the final needed confirmation -- Hawaii on phone -- just at 2004 UTC on
January 15," said ARRL Information Technology Manager Jon Bloom, KE3Z.
"He applied for the award at 2007 UTC, and it was issued by the Awards
Branch at about 2130 UTC." The Triple Play Award is available to all
amateurs who confirm contacts with each of the 50 states using three
modes for each state: CW, phone and RTTY/digital. All 150 contacts must
be made on or after January 1, 2009 and must be confirmed via Logbook of
the World (LoTW) <http://www.arrl.org/lotw/>. All bands -- with the
exception of 60 meters -- may be used in pursuit of the Triple Play
Award.

* ARES E-Letter Gets New Look: The ARRL ARES E-Letter
<http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/ares-el/about.html>, published on the
third Wednesday of each month, makes the move from a plain text
formatted newsletter to an HTML format this month. The second of the
ARRL e-letters to update its look (the ARRL Contest Update switched over
to an HTML format in May 2008), the ARES E-Letter is distributed to
33,000 ARRL members. According to ARES E-Letter Editor Rick Palm, K1CE,
"It's always scary messing with a good thing. I hope readers will like
the look -- with photos, graphics and better readability. They can
always opt for the old text version, too." The ARES E-Letter is a digest
available via e-mail full of news and information of interest to active
members of the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and to hams
concerned with public service and emergency communications. E-mail
newsletters, such as the ARES E-Letter, the Contest Update and The ARRL
Letter, are just some of the many benefits available at no charge to
ARRL members. To sign up for any of the League's newsletters, go to the
Member Data page on the ARRL Web site
<http://www.arrl.org/members-only/memdata.html>.

* W1AW Adds Yaesu's "Top-of-the-Line" Rig to Station: Thanks to the
generosity of Yaesu, W1AW, the Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station, now
boasts the Yaesu's premier transceiver -- an FTDX9000D
<http://www.yaesu.com/indexVS.cfm?cmd=DisplayProducts&ProdCatID=102&encP
rodID=28E11B5914B50E393EBF2BCAB2A6314C&DivisionID=65&isArchived=0>.
Dennis Motschenbacher, K7BV, Executive Vice President for Yaesu's
Amateur Radio Sales Division, visited ARRL Headquarters on January 13 to
present the radio. "Yaesu is very happy to present ARRL and the world
famous W1AW station with our top-of-the-line FTDX9000D transceiver,"
Motschenbacher said. "The transceiver comes loaded complete with
recently released PEP9000 performance enhancements designed to affirm
our commitment to Amateur Radio. We are very excited to know that the
ARRL will place this elite class transceiver in one of their visitor
operating studios, allowing many to have their first experience
operating one of our three models of FTDX9000 radios." W1AW Station
Manager Joe Carcia, NJ1Q, thanked Yaesu for their donation of the
FTDX9000D transceiver to W1AW: "This radio is installed in Studio One
and is available for use to Amateur Radio operators visiting W1AW. In
addition, the FTDX9000 will be used as part of the contesting station
located in Studio One. With all its additional functions and features,
the FTDX9000 will certainly improve upon an operator's ability to
participate and be a worthy contestant!" Motschenbacher, who worked at
ARRL HQ before moving to Yaesu, remarked that returning to Newington to
make the presentation "was a wonderful personal experience for me. I was
so happy to see many old friends inside HQ, friendships made during the
four and half years I spent with ARRL before joining Yaesu. It didn't
take me long to see that the staff is very busy supporting its
membership and Amateur Radio as a whole!"

* New Section Manager Appointed in Wyoming: Garth Crowe Sr, N7XKT, of
Gillette, will assume the position of Section Manager in Wyoming as he
takes over the reins from LeeAnne Sachau, WY7DTW, of Devils Tower;
Sachau, who has served as Wyoming Section Manager since August 2008, has
decided to step down. She was appointed last summer after Chris
Pritchard, WY7UPR, moved out of the Section to start a new job. Crowe
has served as Assistant Section Manager; he is currently holds positions
as Emergency Coordinator and Official Observer. According to the Rules
and Regulations of the ARRL Field Organization, Dave Patton, NN1N,
Manager of the ARRL Membership and Volunteer Programs Department, made
the appointment after consulting with Rocky Mountain Division Director
Brian Mileshosky, N5ZGT, and receiving a recommendation from Sachau.
Crowe's term of office will continue through March 31, 2011. The
nomination announcement for the next term of office for Wyoming Section
Manager is scheduled to appear in the October 2010 issue of QST.

* Everett "Curly" Silva, K7HRW (SK): Former ARRL Nevada Section Manager
Everett "Curly" Silva, K7HRW, passed away December 29, 2008 of cancer.
He was 81. A retired captain with the Nevada Highway Patrol, Silva
served as Section Manager from January 1994-June 1995. He was affiliated
with Air Force MARS and was a Net Control Station. According to current
Nevada Section Manager Joe Giraudo, N7JEH, a memorial service for Silva
will be held at a later date.

===========================================================
The ARRL Letter is published Fridays, 50 times each year, by the
American Radio Relay League: ARRL--the national association for Amateur
Radio, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax
860-594-0259; <http://www.arrl.org>. Joel Harrison, W5ZN, President.

The ARRL Letter offers a weekly e-mail digest of essential and general
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==>Delivery problems (ARRL member direct delivery only!):
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==>How to Get The ARRL Letter

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Copyright 2009 American Radio Relay League, Inc.
All Rights Reserved



From memberlist at www.arrl.org  Fri Jan 16 18:39:19 2009
From: memberlist at www.arrl.org (ARRL Web site)
Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2009 15:39:19 -0800
Subject: [CVRC] ARLP003 Propagation de K7RA
Message-ID: <200901162339.n0GNdKQM022580@pop3.greatbasin.net>

SB PROP @ ARL $ARLP003
ARLP003 Propagation de K7RA

ZCZC AP03
QST de W1AW
Propagation Forecast Bulletin 3  ARLP003
 From Tad Cook, K7RA
Seattle, WA  January 16, 2009
To all radio amateurs

SB PROP ARL ARLP003
ARLP003 Propagation de K7RA

A nice sunspot group, number 1010, appeared for five days from
Friday, January 9 through Tuesday, January 13.  Daily sunspot
numbers ranged from 11 to 20, and this one was another Cycle 24
appearance.  The Cycle 23 sunspots seem to be gone, while the new
solar Cycle 24 isn't picking up very quickly.

1010 was here for five days, following a whole solar rotation--27
days of no sunspots since 1009 was visible for just three days,
December 10-12.  Prior to that were 23 spotless days since seeing
sunspot 1008, visible for eight days from November 10-17.

This minimum looks longer and lower than the last solar minimum, but
there are many ways to slice the data.

For instance, on http://solarcycle24.com/ search the rather
cluttered home page and click the Sunspots tab to the right of Trend
Charts toward the upper right on the page, then inspect the bar
graph titled "Spotless Days vs. Cycle 23 Minimum," the second one
down from the top on the right.  Click on it to fill the page, and
see the comparison of spotless days per month for the period June
2007 through November 2008 with the earlier period June 1996 through
November 1997.

With all that red showing for spotless days in the recent period,
this certainly looks like a big difference between the recent period
and the one 11 years ago, but there is an inherent bias in comparing
May 2008 and May 1997, for instance.  This comparison might be valid
if solar cycles were precisely 11.0 years long, or in this case, 11
years from a cycle minimum to the next cycle minimum, but of course
this is not the case.  11 years is an approximation, and in fact if
you average all 23 of the previous solar cycles, the average number
is less than 11 years.

The problem becomes apparent if we look at the data and compare
spotless days for the five months prior to the beginning of this
graph, January through May.

It turns out that those months had a sixty-eight percent higher
number of spotless days back in 1996 than the same months 11 years
later.  From January 1, 2007 through May 31, 2007 there were 40
spotless days.  But January 1, 1996 through May 31, 1996 had a total
of 67 spotless days.

Data that is uncertain is in August 2008, which is listed with all
spotless days. But August 21-22 there was a brief sunspot
appearance, although it wasn't widely reported because there was
some speculation regarding whether it was big enough to be counted
as a sunspot.  Check http://www.spaceweather.com/ and on the
archives area at the right side of the page, change the date to
August 21, 2008, and note that under the Daily Sun on the left
margin, it shows the daily sunspot number as 11.  To the right of
the daily Sun you can click on the photograph under the heading New
Sunspots for a closer look.

Now check August 22, and see the same sunspot number 11.

It is easy to inspect this data and make comparisons if you download
the Solar Data Plotting utility mentioned in our first bulletin of
this year, Propagation Forecast Bulletin ARLP001, at
http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/2009-arlp001.html.  The GRAPH.dat file
for this program has sunspot and solar flux numbers since the start
of 1989, and if you copy it into your documents folder and rename
the file to graph.doc, you can page through it easily with a word
processor.  You can also take this file and load it into a
spreadsheet program.

At least with our quiet Sun the geomagnetic indices continue to stay
quiet.

Geophysical Institute Prague predicts quiet days from January 16-22,
except January 18 to be unsettled, and January 19 at quiet to
unsettled.  NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center along with the U.S.
Air Force predict quiet conditions with a planetary A index of five
for the rest of January, except 8 on January 19, 10 and 8 on January
27-28, and 8 again on January 30.

Last week's propagation forecast bulletin mentioned the STEREO
mission, and how to find out what the current satellite positions
were, relative to earth and the Sun.  John Fors, WD7Z of Capulin,
New Mexico sent a link to a page which allows you to see the
positions for any date or time at,
http://stereo-ssc.nascom.nasa.gov/where/.

John said that from February 2011 onward, STEREO should get a
detailed simultaneous view of all sides of the Sun.  This will give
a precise reading of activity soon to rotate into view.

Currently it shows the two satellites at nearly a 90 degree angle
from each other.  Six months from now the angle will be 104 degrees
and a year from now it should be at 134 degrees.  Two years from now
they will be nearly opposite each other at 177.6 degrees.  The last
date I can generate the listing of angles for is January 21, 2012
when STEREO-B is 113.669 degrees relative to earth, and STEREO-A is
107.583 degrees relative to earth.  Beyond that date users can
continue to generate the visual plots, and ideally the two
satellites and earth would all be ultimately positioned 120 degrees
relative to each other for maximum coverage.

No 6 meter reports from North America this week, but there was one
from Spain.  Joaquin Montoya, EA2CCG reported that on January 12 he
worked OE1SOW in Vienna, followed by another Austrian, then Poland,
Germany, Croatia, Slovak Republic, and Slovenia.

He used a Moxon antenna (see
http://www.moxonantennaproject.com/n2mh/n2mh.htm) that was broken
during a recent ice storm and hanging from the tower, and signals
were S5-S7 with QSB.

Joaquin said 10 meters was open on the same day, and that he could
hear European beacons.  He worked the TS7C expedition on Kerkennah
Island in Tunisia on 10 meters that morning.

If you would like to make a comment or have a tip for our readers,
email the author at, k7ra at arrl.net.

For more information concerning radio propagation, see the ARRL
Technical Information Service web page at,
http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html.  For a detailed
explanation of the numbers used in this bulletin see,
http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/k9la-prop.html.  An archive of past
propagation bulletins is at, http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/.

Monthly propagation charts between four USA regions and twelve
overseas locations are at http://www.arrl.org/qst/propcharts/.

Instructions for starting or ending email distribution of this
bulletin are at http://www.arrl.org/w1aw.html#email.

Sunspot numbers for January 8 through 14 were 0, 14, 17, 20, 12, 11,
and 0 with a mean of 10.6.  10.7 cm flux was 68.7, 69.7, 70.9, 70,
69.3, 70.5, and 71.2 with a mean of 70.  Estimated planetary A
indices were 3, 4, 4, 2, 0, 3 and 5 with a mean of 3.  Estimated
mid-latitude A indices were 2, 4, 2, 1, 0, 2 and 6 with a mean of
2.4.
NNNN
/EX



From memberlist at www.arrl.org  Thu Jan 22 18:40:27 2009
From: memberlist at www.arrl.org (ARRL Web site)
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:40:27 -0800
Subject: [CVRC] ARLD003 DX news
Message-ID: <200901222340.n0MNeS4J027540@pop3.greatbasin.net>

SB DX @ ARL $ARLD003
ARLD003 DX news

ZCZC AE03
QST de W1AW
DX Bulletin 3  ARLD003
 From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  January 22, 2009
To all radio amateurs

SB DX ARL ARLD003
ARLD003 DX news

This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by
NC1L, the OPDX Bulletin, DXNL, 425 DX News, The Daily DX, Contest
Corral from QST and the ARRL Contest Calendar and WA7BNM web sites.
Thanks to all.

GEORGIA, 4L.  Team members 4L2M, 4L5DJ and 4L4CC will be QRV as 4L0G
in the CQ WW 160 Meter CW contest as a Multi Op entry.  QSL via
operators' instructions.

UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS, 4U1UN.  Johnny, LA5IIA, will be QRV as
4U1UN in the CQ WW 160 Meter CW contest for a few hours late Friday
and for a few hours during the day on Saturday.  QSL via HB9BOU.

BAHAMAS, C6.  Tom, C6ANM is QRV until April 1.  He plans to be
active with other operators in the CQ WW 160 Meter CW contest.  He
is normally active on 160 to 6 meters.  QSL direct via WA2IYO.

CUBA, CO.  Look for Juan, CO8TW to be active in the CQ WW 160 Meter
CW contest.  QSL via HB9SVT.

MOROCCO, CN.  Team members CN8WK, IK2QEI, IV3ZXQ and IK1HJS will be
QRV as CN3A as a Multi/Single entry in the CQ WW 160 Meter CW
contest.  QSL via I2WIJ.

CANARY ISLANDS, EA8.  RD3AF plans to be QRV as EF8M in the CQ WW 160
Meter CW contest as a Single Op/All Band/High Power entry.  This
includes activity in the upcoming ARRL DX CW contest.  QSL to home
call.

ESTONIA, ES.  Operators ES5TV, ES2RR, ES2MC, ES5JR and ES5RY will be
QRV as ES9C in the CQ WW 160 Meter CW contest as a Multi op entry.
QSL via ES5RY.

WALLIS AND FUTUNA ISLANDS, FW.  A small group of operators will be
QRV as FW5RE from Wallis Island, IOTA OC-054, from January 28 to
February 17.  Activity will be on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and
RTTY with two stations active simultaneously.  QSL via HA8IB.

SAN ANDRES AND PROVIDENCIA, HK0.  Cal, WF5W, Mike, K5UO and Roberto,
HK3CW are QRV as 5K0CW from San Andres Island, IOTA NA-033, until
January 28.  This includes an entry in the CQ WW 160 Meter CW
contest as a Multi op entry.  Outside the contest they are active on
all bands using mostly CW and RTTY.  QSL via W5PF.

MINAMI TORISHIMA, JD1.  Masa, JA6GXK will be QRV as JD1BMM from
Marcus Island from January 24 to February 9.  In addition, look for
Kingo, JK1PCN to be QRV as JD1BND.  Activity is in their spare time.
QSL JD1BMM via operator's instructions and JD1BND via JK1PCN.

LUXEMBOURG, LX.  Look for DF1LON to be active from LX7I during the
CQ WW 160 Meter CW contest.  QSL via LX2A.

TURKEY, TA.  Look for TA3D to be a Single Op/Low Power entry in the
CQ WW 160 Meter CW contest.

GABON, TR.  Roland, TR50R is usually active on 30 meters during his
evening time.  QSL via F6AJA.

KALININGRAD, UA2.  Members of the UA2 Contest Club will be QRV as
RK2FWA from during CQ WW 160 Meter CW contest.  QSL via DK4VW.

BELIZE, V3.  Gerd, DJ4KW and Gisela, DK9GG are QRV as V31YN and
V31GW, respectively, until March.  They also plan to be active as
V31YN/p from Water Caye, IOTA NA-180, from February 26 to March 3.
QSL to home calls.

AUSTRALIA, VK.  Members of the Waverley Amateur Radio Society will
be QRV using special callsign VI2BV90 from January 24 to February 1
in celebration of the club's 90th anniversary.  QSL via bureau.

BERMUDA, VP9.  Jeff, N1SNB will be QRV as VP9/N1SNB from January 22
to 25.  This includes being a Single Op/Low Power entry in the CQ WW
160 Meter CW contest.  QSL to home call.

INDIA, VU.  Operators VU2FI, VU2LU, VU3ITI, VU2JHM and VU2ZUB will
be QRV as special event station AT8FD from Tamil Nadu from January
24 to 26.

MEXICO, XE.  Look for 160 Meter club station XE1RCS to be an entry
in the CQ WW 160 Meter CW contest.  QSL via operators' instructions.

UK SOVEREIGN BASE AREAS ON CYPRUS, ZC.  David, G0OAB is QRV as ZC4DG
in his spare time for about two weeks.  He is generally active on 20
meters using SSB and possibly CW after 0300z.  QSL to home call.

THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO.  The CQ World Wide 160-Meter CW Contest,
BARTG RTTY Sprint, NAQCC Straight Key/Bug CW Sprint, NCCC Sprint,
YL-ISSB SSB QSO Party, REF CW Contest, MIE 33 CW Contest, UBA SSB DX
Contest, SPAR Winter Field Day will certainly keep contesters busy
this weekend.  The SKCC CW Sprint is scheduled for January 28.
Please see January QST, page 82, and the ARRL and WA7BNM contest web
sites for details.
NNNN
/EX



From memberlist at www.arrl.org  Fri Jan 23 16:09:18 2009
From: memberlist at www.arrl.org (ARRL Web site)
Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2009 13:09:18 -0800
Subject: [CVRC] ARLP004 Propagation de K7RA
Message-ID: <200901232109.n0NL9JGp016677@pop3.greatbasin.net>

SB PROP @ ARL $ARLP004
ARLP004 Propagation de K7RA

ZCZC AP04
QST de W1AW
Propagation Forecast Bulletin 4  ARLP004
 From Tad Cook, K7RA
Seattle, WA  January 23, 2009
To all radio amateurs

SB PROP ARL ARLP004
ARLP004 Propagation de K7RA

Monday revealed another shy sunspot.  Sunspot 1011 appeared
suddenly, then it was gone.  Its configuration and location did not
identify it as a Cycle 23 or Cycle 24 spot.  On Monday, January 19
the sunspot number was 13.

Geomagnetic conditions continued to be very quiet, and yesterday,
Thursday, January 22 was another exceptionally quiet day, similar to
January 12, and December 28-30.  You can check the web site
http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/ftpdir/indices/DGD.txt to see all those
zeroes.

This bodes well for the CQ World Wide 160-Meter CW Contest this
weekend.  The Planetary A index is predicted to be at 5 until
January 27-31, when the predicted values are 10, 8, 5, 8 and 5.

Geophysical Institute Prague predicts quiet geomagnetic activity
January 23-25, quiet to unsettled January 26, unsettled January 27,
quiet to unsettled January 28, and back to quiet by January 29.

Note in our data at the end of the bulletin we do not have solar
flux resolved to a tenth of a point as we usually do.  Thursday
night and Friday morning we have not been able to access the data
from the observatory in Penticton, so these are the numbers provided
from NOAA.

Another hiccup in the data stream this week was on Thursday
afternoon, when a geo-alert message via email from Australia's IPS
Radio and Space Services (on the web at, http://www.ips.gov.au/)
turned out to be a vicious anti-Semitic screed broadcast during a
security breach.  I phoned the duty forecaster in Sydney, New South
Wales, who verified it was a security problem which their IT staff
was investigating.  You can subscribe to these alerts via their web
page at, http://www.ips.gov.au/mailman/listinfo/ips-geo-warning.

Among many interesting web pages they have is one devoted to sunspot
numbers, both past and predicted, at
http://www.ips.gov.au/Solar/1/6.

Still another reporting glitch this week was from NOAA with the
daily 45 day prediction of solar flux values and planetary A index.
These are issued daily, and are available at,
http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/ftpmenu/forecasts/45DF.html.  On some days
they will issue more than one report if their forecast changes.  But
on Tuesday, January 20 the report at 2059z had four more reports
until 0039z, and all of them appeared to contain identical data.  We
contacted Viola Raben at the Space Weather Prediction Center, who
said the Air Force (which NOAA collaborates with on this forecast)
had a glitch which caused the posting of an additional forecast
every time they tested something in their system.

Steve Friis, WM5Z of Las Cruces, New Mexico reminded us of a nifty
Firefox web browser extension that fetches solar indices
automatically and displays them in the lower-right information bar.
It is called "Propfire," and Steve notes that you can install it in
Firefox by clicking on Tools at the top, then Add-ons.

In the search field enter Propfire, and N0HR Propfire will display.
Clicking "Add to Firefox" installs it.  Firefox is an open source
web browser similar to Microsoft's Internet Explorer, but it is
produced free by a community of programmers, similar to the way the
Linux operating system is built and maintained.  You can download
Firefox at, http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/.

When I set it up, I noticed that it has an option to display current
sunspot number in addition to the usual solar flux, A and K index.

Jeff Hartley, N8II of Shepherdstown, West Virginia reported
disappointing conditions last Saturday, January 17.  He wrote, "It
seemed like the worst day I can remember for low solar activity,
long skip zones, and early closure of 20M to EU. I took part in the
HA DX contest and by about 1610Z, only a very few Europeans were
left on 20M. Before that, signals were much weaker than normal, but
some Moscow area stations were heard around 1300Z as well as
Scandinavia, so there was no big disturbance. Then, the NAQP SSB
started (North American QSO Party, sponsored by National Contest
Journal) at 1800Z and skip zones were very long, only CA/OR were
worked on 15M and 20M was the worst ever probably in NAQP with TX
about the closest state that could be worked most of the day."

Jeff continues, "I worked two very loud unfluttery KL7s on 20 and
loud VE7s, so the K had to be low. 40 was skipping over most of New
England by about 2030Z (1-1/2 hours before sunset) and the closest
signals to the south were in SC. Conditions did rebound a bit on
Sunday and there was some sporadic E to the NW at times. I was able
to work W0GXQ/M (a very hearty soul, not a necessary trip, just
putting out counties for the county hunters) on 40 thru 10M from one
county line in central ND around 16Z, and we made 15M a couple of
times. I heard MI loud around 21Z on 20M. There may have been an Es
opening on 6M in the VHF SS, but I didn't take part."

Early this morning, January 23, Jeff followed up with, "Things seem
much better this week with 2 nights of openings to EU on 30M at
sunset as opposed to nothing after 1700-1800Z from EU in quite a few
days. 160 was in great shape early Friday today with UA9MA, OY9JD
(loud), 4Z5KJ, several UA3/4s working as far as AZ, and HA3MU S9 +
15 db in the 0100Z hour, SM4CAN was also S9+. And I worked 4S7NE on
80 CW at the same time."

An interesting email about possible meteor scatter communications on
60 meters arrived from Larry Jones, K5ZRK who operates next to
Tallahalla Swamp in Sandersville, which is in southern Mississippi,
about 31.78 degrees north latitude.

Larry wrote, "I operate only 60 meters and only operate QRP! I do a
LOT of operating and run a lot of skeds, therefore propagation is
VERY important. I use a quarter-wave vertical antenna insulated from
ground, with 120 quarter wavelength radials, and all those are tied
into a 1.6 acre chain link fence surrounding my property. I also use
a 60 meter inverted-V on transmit when I am working close in
stations. I use a LOW 60 meter inverted-V on receive so that I can
reduce the noise and the preamp on my Icom 703."

Larry continues, "Frequently during skeds at night I hear what seems
to be meteor burst. I also hear these early in the morning when
working the gray line. This is not always the case so that makes me
wonder if there are meteor bursts on 60 meters."

He goes on to say, "I was an avid meteor scatter operator back in
the early 90s with my old call WB5KYK and I ran on 6, 2 and 432 but
I sit there for hours listening to this when running skeds on 60
meters. I can remember on 6 meters I would get upset when there was
E-skip during a meteor shower because the E-skip would ruin the
shower, I would be working E-skip instead of meteor scatter.  The
propagation on this band is fascinating to me, the gray line is
phenomenal on this band and running QRP (10 watts on SSB) I have
worked into Hawaii, and California is not hard.  Skeds are so
interesting on this band but this phenomenon I am observing has me
puzzled because it sounds like meteor scatter. If it isn't, then
what is it?  This can be a useful tool if I can just figure out what
it is AND to further give you something to think about.  I observe
this even more so during meteor showers and during the early morning
hours (1100-1239z which is when meteors are prevalent)."

Interesting information, and it makes sense that ionized trails from
meteors could provide a sporadic-E like propagation path, even on 60
meters.  Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA commented that meteor scatter has
been detected at 2 MHz, and pointed out a PhD thesis titled "Medium
Frequency Radar Studies of Meteors," by Stephen I. Grant, July 2003
at the University Of Adelaide Department Of Physics that describes
this.

In a subsequent email, K5ZRK wrote, "Next month there will be two
showers that are classed as medium showers. I HOPE to set up some
skeds for both. I think one of the things that is interesting about
meteor scatter on 60 meters is the antenna issue.  What would be the
best antenna for meteor scatter on this band? I feel this is
something we will learn by experience and this band is not old
enough yet for us to know what is going to work best, especially
when it comes to propagation. It seems it would be somewhere between
the propagation on 80 and 40 meters, but I have found this band to
be a totally different creature!"

Finally, Spaceweather.com has a fun tool for displaying a graph of
11 years of smoothed sunspot numbers, centered on any date you
choose, going back over 250 years. What was sunspot activity like
when you were born?  Check it out at,
http://www.spaceweather.com/glossary/sunspotplotter.htm.

If you would like to make a comment or have a tip for our readers,
email the author at, k7ra at arrl.net.

For more information concerning radio propagation, see the ARRL
Technical Information Service web page at,
http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html.  For a detailed
explanation of the numbers used in this bulletin see,
http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/k9la-prop.html.  An archive of past
propagation bulletins is at, http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/.

Monthly propagation charts between four USA regions and twelve
overseas locations are at http://www.arrl.org/qst/propcharts/.

Instructions for starting or ending email distribution of this
bulletin are at http://www.arrl.org/w1aw.html#email.

Sunspot numbers for January 15 through 21 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 13, 0,
and 0 with a mean of 1.9.  10.7 cm flux was 71, 71, 72, 71, 71, 70,
and 69 with a mean of 70.7.  Estimated planetary A indices were 4,
2, 2, 2, 9, 3 and 2 with a mean of 3.4.  Estimated mid-latitude A
indices were 4, 2, 2, 2, 7, 1 and 2 with a mean of 2.9.
NNNN
/EX



From letter-dlvy at arrl.org  Fri Jan 23 18:30:30 2009
From: letter-dlvy at arrl.org (ARRL Letter Mailing List)
Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2009 15:30:30 -0800
Subject: [CVRC] The ARRL Letter, Vol 28, No 3 (Friday, January 23, 2009)
Message-ID: <200901232330.n0NNUV2J014718@pop3.greatbasin.net>

***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 28, No. 3
January 23, 2009
***************

IN THIS EDITION:

* + ARRL Board of Directors Considers Internal and External Goals for
2009
* + Coy Day, N5OK, Resigns from ARRL Board of Directors
* + Hams Help Out with Historic Day
* + LoTW Reaches New Milestone: 200 Million QSOs
* + ARRL to Unveil New Course for Public Information Officers
* + FCC Reports Decline in BPL Customers
*  Solar Update
*  IN BRIEF:
       This Week on the Radio
       ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration
     + Officers for ARRL Foundation Elected
     + Amateur Radio Groups Help with Digital TV Transition

+Available on ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/>

===========================================================
==>Delivery problems: First see FAQ
<http://www.arrl.org/members-only/faq.html#nodelivery>, then e-mail
<letter-dlvy at arrl.org>
==>Editorial questions or comments only: S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA
<k1sfa at arrl.org>
===========================================================


==> ARRL BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONSIDERS INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL GOALS FOR
2009

The ARRL Board of Directors held its 2009 Annual Meeting on January
16-17 in Windsor, Connecticut, under the chairmanship of President Joel
Harrison, W5ZN. Radio Amateurs of Canada President David Goodwin,
VO1AU/VE3AAQ, and IARU President Larry Price, W4RA, were guests of the
Board.

The Board considered and acted on a number of organizational and
regulatory issues. Election of the Executive Committee, committee
appointments and awards were also on the agenda for the Annual Meeting.

Organizational Issues

ARRL Strategic Plan: At its July 2008 meeting, the Board voted to
develop a timeline to review and revise the ARRL Strategic Plan. The
Board directed Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, to release
the Plan's long-range goals to the membership and to solicit comments
from members "on the future direction and priorities of their national
organization." At this meeting, Sumner led an in depth led an in depth
discussion of the membership input. The Executive Committee is tasked
with developing materials for use in completing the Plan revision at the
July 2009 Board meeting.

ARRL Membership and Deployed Active Duty Military: The Board voted
unanimously to amend Bylaw 5 <http://www.arrl.org/aabl.html>, stating
that the Executive Vice President is authorized to maintain ARRL
membership privileges without charge for the duration of a member's
active military deployment outside the ARRL operating territory as
described in Bylaw 30, with or without the delivery of QST at the
member's option. Bylaw 30 delineates which states (or portions of
states) belong to the 15 ARRL Divisions. This action brings in to the
Bylaws a policy adopted earlier by the Board.

Budget: The Board voted to adopt the 2009-2010 Plan (as amended), as
presented by the Administration and Finance Committee.

Scouting: The Board voted to offer assistance to the Boy Scouts of
America and their 2010 National Scout Jamboree. By representing Amateur
Radio and participating with K2BSA at the Jamboree in conjunction with
the Boy Scouts, the ARRL plans to build on the success of past National
Jamborees where thousands of youth learned about the value and enjoyment
of Amateur Radio. Teaching the Radio merit badge program, license
classes and VE exam sessions have been parts of the quadrennial event
that attracts more than 40,000 Scouts and leaders.

Technology Task Force: This group, created in 1999, was formed to
develop a strategy and plan of work for exploring new technologies,
assessing their applicability to Amateur Radio and also developing a
plan as to how to incorporate such new technology in the Amateur Radio
Service. Since its inception, the Technology Task Force has carried out
studies and offered recommendations -- particularly with regard to
digital voice, high-speed multimedia, and software-defined radio. The
Board resolved that the exploration and promotion of new Amateur Radio
communications technologies shall continue to be an essential element of
the ARRL's mission and that the original mission of the Technology Task
Force may now be carried out more effectively by other means. With
sincere thanks and gratitude, the Board voted to dissolve the group.

IARU Member-Society Admissions: The Board voted unanimously to instruct
the Secretary to cast ballots in favor of admitting the Emirates Amateur
Radio Society and the Kazakhstan Federation of Radiosports and
Radioamateur to the IARU

ARRLWeb Redesign: A group from Fathom, a contractor based in Hartford,
presented the company's progress on a new design for the ARRL Web site.
As recommended by the Administration and Finance Committee, the Board
voted to approve a capital expenditure to move into the third phase of
the design development.

Legislative Regulatory Matters

Legislative Objectives: The Board voted to approve five legislative
objectives for the 111th Congress:
* Objective #1: The ARRL seeks legislation to extend the requirement for
"reasonable accommodation" of Amateur Radio station antennas (a
requirement that now applies to state and local regulations) to all
forms of land use regulation.
* Objective #2: The ARRL opposes legislation that encourages the
deployment of RF technologies such as broadband over power line (BPL)
systems unless adequate safeguards against interference to licensed
radiocommunication services are included in the legislation.
* Objective #3: The ARRL opposes legislation that would diminish the
rights of federal licensees in favor of unlicensed emitters, especially
unintentional emitters.
* Objective #4: The ARRL seeks recognition of the unique resources,
capabilities and expertise of the Amateur Radio Service in any
legislation addressing communications issues related to emergencies,
disasters, or homeland security.
* Objective #5: The ARRL supports the complementary legislative
objectives of other radiocommunication services, particularly the public
safety and scientific services that require spectrum access and
protection from interference for noncommercial purposes that benefit the
public.

Call Sign Allocation Study: The Board voted to instruct the Executive
Committee, with advice and input from the Programs and Services
Committee, to study the FCC sequential, vanity and special call sign
programs.

Amateur Radio and Driving: The Board noted that local municipalities, as
well as state legislatures, have made laws or are considering laws that
apply to drivers who use cellular telephones while driving. Recognizing
that this sort of legislation often inadvertently prohibits -- or can be
construed to prohibit -- Amateur Radio mobile communications, the Board
instructed the Executive Committee to develop a policy statement and
recommend language that protects the ability of licensed radio amateurs
to prudently conduct mobile amateur communications.

Other Items

Committee Elections and Appointments

Executive Committee: The Board elected the following Directors to the
ARRL Executive Committee: Bill Edgar, N3LLR, Atlantic Division; Dick
Isely, W9GIG, Central Division; Jay Bellows, K0QB, Dakota Division; Tom
Frenaye, K1KI, New England Division, and Bob Vallio, W6RGG, Pacific
Division. Members of this committee serve one year terms.

President Harrison appointed the following Board members to committees:

Administration and Finance Committee: Jim Fenstermaker, K9JF, Chairman,
Northwestern; Jim Weaver, K8JE, Great Lakes; Dennis Bodson, W4PWF,
Roanoke; Brian Mileshosky, N5ZGT, Rocky Mountain; Dick Norton, N6AA,
Southwestern; Vice Director Cliff Ahrens, K0CA, Midwest, and Treasurer
Jim McCobb, K1LU.

Programs and Services Committee: Bruce Frahm, K0BJ, Chairman, Midwest;
Greg Sarratt, W4OZK, Southeastern; Coy Day, N5OK, West Gulf; Mickey Cox,
K5MC, Delta; Frank Fallon, N2FF, and Vice Director Greg Widin, K0GW,
Dakota.

Ethics and Elections Committee: Greg Sarratt, W4OZK, Chairman,
Southwestern; Brian Mileshosky, N5ZGT, Rocky Mountain, and Jay Bellows,
K0QB, Dakota Division.

Ad Hoc Scouting: Brian Mileshosky, N5ZGT, Chairman, Rocky Mountain; Bill
Edgar, N3LLR, Atlantic Division; Jim Fenstermaker, K9JF, Northwestern,
and Staff Liaison Larry Wolfgang, WR1B.

Ad Hoc Committee on the ARRL Foundation: Vice President Rick Roderick,
K5UR, Chairman; Tom Frenaye, K1KI, New England; Jim Fenstermaker, K9JF,
Northwestern, Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, and Chief
Development Officer Mary Hobart, K1MMH.

Chairman and Liaison Appointments

Public Relations Committee: Bill Morine, N2COP, Chairman; Mike Raisbeck,
K1TWF, Liaison, New England.

Historical Committee: Vice Director Gary Johnston, KI4LA, Chairman,
Great Lakes.

Legal Defense and Action Committee: Jay Bellows, K0QB, Chairman, Dakota
Division.

Electromagnetic Compatibility Committee: Dennis Bodson, W4PWF, Chairman,
Roanoke.

Band Planning Committee: Vice President Rick Roderick, K5UR, Chairman.

Microwave Band Planning Committee: Tom Clark, K3IO, Chairman

RF Safety Committee: Greg Lapin, N9GL, Chairman.

VHF/UHF Advisory Committee: Kermit Carlson, W9XA, Chairman.

DX Advisory Committee: To be announced

Contest Advisory Committee: Dick Green, WC1M, Chairman.

Amateur Radio Direction Finding Coordinator: Joe Moell, K0OV.

Awards

2008 International Humanitarian Award: The Board selected the Amateur
Radio operators of the Sichuan Radio Sports Association, the Chinese
Radio Sports Association and the many operators from around China who
supported communications efforts in the aftermath of the May 2008
earthquake, as the recipient of the 2008 International Humanitarian
Award.

2008 Bill Leonard, W2SKE Professional Media Award: The Board selected
Ted Randall, WB8PUM, of Lebanon, Tennessee, as the recipient of the 2008
Bill Leonard, W2SKE Professional Media Award; Randall is host of the QSO
Radio Show. He was cited for his ongoing coverage of Amateur Radio
through his profiling of key figures and personalities. Randall's
reporting of their contributions "best reflects the enjoyment,
importance and public service value of Amateur Radio."

The complete Minutes of the 2009 Annual Meeting of the ARRL Board of
Directors will soon be available on the ARRLWeb
<http://www.arrl.org/announce/board.html>.

The next meeting of the ARRL Board of Directors is scheduled for July
17-18, 2009.

==> COY DAY, N5OK, RESIGNS FROM ARRL BOARD OF DIRECTORS

After more than 12 years as a member of the ARRL Board family -- 10 of
them as West Gulf Division Director -- Coy Day, N5OK, announced that he
is resigning from ARRL elected office, effective January 20. Per the
ARRL Articles of Association <http://www.arrl.org/aabl.html>, Vice
Director Dr David Woolweaver, K5RAV, has taken over as Director, and
ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, will appoint a new Vice Director.
The next election for West Gulf Division Director and Vice Director will
be in 2010.

Day, who was Chairman of the League's Ethics and Elections Committee,
and served on the Executive Committee for the past year, said, "I have
really enjoyed interfacing with and serving the membership in my term as
West Gulf Division Director. Traveling around, going to club meetings,
going to hamfests -- I've just enjoyed being with other amateurs the
most. I've also enjoyed representing the membership at the Board of
Directors meetings, talking, finding out what they need and what they
are feeling and bringing that back to the Board." Before being elected
to the Board of Directors, Day served as West Gulf Vice Director and
Oklahoma Section Manager.

"It has been a pleasure to work with Coy Day on the ARRL Board," said
ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN. "Coy's integrity is admirable and
something that everyone should model. We will miss his wisdom and smooth
manner on the Board, and wish the best for Coy and his wife Judy."

ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, concurred: "In addition
to the gentlemanly demeanor that most people who know him associate with
Coy, what I will always remember about his service on the Board are the
high standards that he set -- for himself, as well as for the ARRL
staff. This was especially evident while he was Chairman of the
Administration and Finance Committee. Coy challenged and supported the
staff in equal and abundant measure."

"I could not step down if I was not confident that David would do a
great job as Director," Day said. "He's been such a great Vice Director.
He's already served on committees and done so many things within the
West Gulf Division. David's doing a great job and I know he will
continue to do great things as Director of the West Gulf Division." Dr
Woolweaver will take Day's place on the Programs and Services Committee
for 2009.

Woolweaver called Day a "tireless contributor to Amateur Radio for two
decades," and said Day's long service "has been marked by honor and
integrity. It has been my privilege to serve with Coy for the past seven
years as his Vice Director. I know that everyone in the West Gulf
Division will join me in wishing Coy well in his retirement."

While serving on the Board of Directors, Day served on numerous
committees. "I think I served on all of them," he joked. "I was Chairman
of the Membership Services Committee -- that was before the name was
changed to the Programs and Services Committee. I was also Chairman of
the Administration and Finance Committee. My first committee was the ad
hoc Committee for Long Range Planning, back in 2001."

"I would like thank the members and the staff -- the support here at
HQ," Day said. "I also want to thank my fellow Board members -- it takes
all 15 of us working together to make things happen. It's been fun."

==> HAMS HELP OUT WITH HISTORIC DAY

On Tuesday, January 20, Barack Obama was inaugurated as the 44th
President of the United States. Numerous organizations -- federal, state
and local agencies, the staff of Presidents Bush and Obama, as well as
private agencies -- were involved in the months of planning required to
make the event go smoothly. From the very beginning, Amateur Radio
operators were involved, making sure that communications support was
available by providing backup communications in the event that primary
communications were disrupted.

According to ARRL Virginia Section Public Information Coordinator Joe
Safranek, K4JJS, the Virginia and Maryland Offices of Emergency
Management -- as well as various local jurisdictions in and around the
Washington, DC metro area -- requested the assistance of Amateur Radio
operators to provide local and short distance communications for the
inauguration and the events leading up to it.

Safranek said that ARRL Virginia Section Manager Carl Clements, W4CAC,
and ARES-RACES of Virginia Section Emergency Coordinator Ron Sokol,
K4KHZ, selected Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator Bruce Freund,
K7BC, to be the project officer for this event.

"Freund's area of responsibility covered two Virginia ARES districts
that are comprised of 14 cities and counties along the western border of
the District of Columbia," Safranek said. "These districts are managed
by Howard Cunningham, WD5DBC, and Tom Lauzon, KI4AFE. They had to ensure
that their jurisdictional Emergency Coordinators and members
accomplished the mission objectives received from event officials.
Numerous Amateur Radio operators involved with the various organizations
serving the jurisdictions in Virginia, DC and Maryland all worked
together."

Across the Potomac River, ARRL Maryland/DC Section Manager James Cross,
WI3N, and Section Emergency Coordinator Steve Beckman, N3SB, were
actively involved from the beginning with planning and preparation
efforts. If needed, Section leadership was prepared to assist within the
District. In DC, members of Radio Emergency Associated Communications
Teams (REACT) <http://www.reactintl.org/> were also part of the
planning; the organization had a representative at the very first
regional planning meeting.

Planning for communications support during the inauguration drew upon
the expertise and relationships developed through the years of planning
the annual Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) in DC
<http://www.marinemarathon.com>, Safranek said. "The marathon is our
major regional Amateur Radio event in the Metropolitan DC area," he
said. "When planning our communications support for the marathon, we use
the Incident Command Structure (ICS). We decided to use ICS with the
inauguration, too. By using a system we were all familiar with, we had a
head start."

Safranek listed some of the many ways amateurs helped out with
communications support: Nick Meacher, N3WWE, built on a template the
group used for the marathon for the compilation of the Incident
Communications Plan. Weeks in advance of the inauguration, Fairfax
County Emergency Coordinator Jeff Wilson, AI4IO, led a field test of the
repeaters planned for use for the primary Regional Coordination Net to
ensure that participating Emergency Operations Centers would be able
operate cleanly through the selected repeaters. Field tests are a key
lesson learned from MCM and identified necessary changes to the
Communication Plan. District Emergency Coordinator Howard Cunningham,
WB5DBC, serves the marathon as Special Project Officer. He prepared a
staffing approach for mutual assistance that, if needed, would rely on
the on-call ARES/RACES organizations in Loudoun, Prince William and
Fauquier counties to supplement the activated groups in Arlington,
Alexandria, Falls Church and Fairfax.

Safranek said that the area's communications equipment was well suited
to the task: "Using a combination of many systems, hams were able to
move information quickly and efficiently. The Network Engineers Repeater
Association (NERA) UHF linked repeater system <http://www.qsl.net/nera/>
supported the primary Regional Coordination Net. Local group operations
used other analog VHF and UHF systems for phone, Winlink, packet and
other modes of operation, as well as the use of a D-STAR VHF/UHF voice
and data system. Some operators monitored the Old Dominion Emergency
Net/Alfa on 3947 kHz."

On the Maryland/DC side of the Potomac River, hams were active in other
areas, including several stationed at RFK Stadium to assist with the
visitors from the more than 1200 buses that were parked there. District
EOCs in Prince Georges and Montgomery Counties also had hams providing
communications support.

ASEC Bruce Freund singled out the achievements of the Fairfax ARES-RACES
Unit, specifically the actions of Fairfax Assistant Emergency
Coordinator Tom Azlin, N4ZPT. "Tom was deeply involved in the local and
regional planning activities before the event; he serves a similar key
role in the Marine Corps Marathon leadership. But in my opinion, it was
his performance in the execution of the plan that is particularly
noteworthy. During the field testing for the Regional Coordination Net,
several jurisdictions could not reliably hit the planned repeaters, so
we made the decision to shift to the NERA linked UHF system.
Unfortunately, the Fairfax EOC VHF/UHF antenna only provides marginal
coverage into NERA. Due to the difficulties the EOC experienced when the
Regional Coordination Net opened at 4 AM, Tom put a separate liaison
channel in place to supplement the EOC's NERA link and manned it himself
while developing a watch bill to ensure coverage on this unanticipated
circuit. That liaison channel was covered solidly throughout the day and
was the last ARES-RACES circuit secured at the end of operations on
Tuesday evening. Tom made sure that the EOC was staffed beginning at 3
AM, until it was secured a little after 8 PM. While his leadership in
the planning activities is noteworthy, Tom's stepping forward to provide
leadership ensuring successful execution merits special recognition."

Fairfax Assistant Emergency Coordinator for Operations, Art Pond,
KD4FBT, worked very long days during the planning phase. Due to his job
on Capitol Hill, he was busy getting the new members' IT infrastructure
set up. "He pulled one of the six hour rotations in the EOC during what
might have been the highest activity time if there had been transport
problems inbound," Freund said. "This shows the dedication of the
volunteers in working very long days on their regular job, pulling
activation duty for the event, and then going back to their regular jobs
the very next day."

In Fairfax, one operator was on duty at the local Emergency Operations
Center at the beginning and end of the activation, while two were on
duty during the main portion of the event. EOCs in Alexandria, Arlington
and Falls Church City also had ARES/RACES operators on duty. The
Virginia State EOC was manned with a full Amateur Radio crew utilizing
HF, VHF and UHF links via voice, packet and Winlink to the inauguration
Nets. Besides providing support at EOCs, amateurs were also on duty at
Alexandria Hospital, while others were on standby to support
communications at two other hospitals in Prince William County, as well
as EOCs in Loudoun, Fauquier and Prince William Counties.

Freund is also a member of Army MARS. He served as Net Control Station
on the MARS frequencies during the event. According to Safranek, Army
MARS HQ at Ft Huachuca, Arizona, put out a directive stating an Actual
Incident Net would be established, directing the type of MARS coverage
that would be required and how Region 3 (in the DC area) would have
liaisons from other regions available to pass any necessary traffic.
ARRL Emergency Preparedness and Response Manager Dennis Dura, K2DCD,
monitored both ham radio frequencies and the ARRL HQ MARS station,
AAN1ARL. At the Virginia Commonwealth level, the Virginia Department of
Emergency Management opened their EOC where Terry Hebert, KG4GLS,
coordinated Amateur Radio activities. State EOCs in Maryland and
Virginia had Army MARS operators on premises participating in their
regional nets.

Sokol said he was pleased at the outcome of this historical event: "When
I was appointed SEC in April 2008, I told the ASECs that they are the
managers over their areas and they will be given the opportunity to do
just that -- manage operations in their designated areas. Section
Manager Carl Clements, W4CAC, totally agreed with this comment and has
been extremely supportive of efforts to delegate authority to the
intermediary managers, the ASECs and the District Emergency
Coordinators, since they are the local area experts. I am really proud
of the way in which ARES-RACES of Virginia participated in this event."

"As Virginia Section Manager, I am responsible for a myriad of items --
the emergency communications aspect of the hobby being one of prime
importance," Clements said. "With a senior leader like Ron Sokol, a
staff of ASECs like Bruce, our DECs, and our local ECs performing their
managerial and supervisory duties in an outstanding manner, there is no
wonder why our numbers are constantly growing. The Section has
accomplished a lot in less than a year, including a Memorandum of
Understanding with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. We
have been instrumental in working with a group of dedicated hams in the
western areas of the Commonwealth in building an RF link to the eastern
areas of Virginia and now we are participating in the inauguration of
the President of the United States of America. I could not be more proud
of these fine men and women as I am now."

==> LOTW REACHES NEW MILESTONE: 200 MILLION QSOS

On January 16, Vic Kean Jr, K1LT, of Carroll, Ohio, uploaded four years'
worth of logs -- about 25,000 QSOs -- to ARRL's Logbook of The World
(LoTW) <http://www.arrl.org/lotw>. Somewhere in that batch, the LoTW
counter crossed the 2 million mark. To celebrate Kean's submission of
the 200 millionth QSO, the ARRL has awarded him lifetime free LoTW
credits and free ARRL Awards as he qualifies for them.

"When I uploaded all of my contest logs since moving to my current
location," Kean said, "I was really surprised at the number of the
contacts that were immediately confirmed -- about 30 percent --
especially DXpeditions. I've been very laggard about responding to QSLs
that I get. The last batch I did was by printing some card stock on a
laser printer."

Kean, who mainly enjoys operating CW on 160 meters, said that he enjoys
what he calls "success at contesting through technological superiority,"
as opposed to superior operating ability. "In other words," he said, "I
work at improving my station with technology, and then test those
improvements in a contest. I attempt to achieve awards by trying to get
into one of the 'Top 10 boxes' in the contest results. Somewhere I have
a Worked All States certificate from my youthful days. I worked about
160 countries but never got around to submitting any cards for DXCC."
Kean said that he still intends to try and get at least one QSL card
from every country.

"Even though we knew that Logbook of The World would explode in its
popularity, 201 million QSOs in roughly the first five years of its
existence show that LoTW's concept and ideas have worked beyond our
expectations," said ARRL Membership and Volunteer Programs Department
Manager Dave Patton, NN1N. "Vic's log contributes not only to the bottom
line, but to the overall embrace of the technology and further bolsters
our commitment to continue to improve and expand the system."

Kean said that he believes Amateur Radio will certainly continue to
change as time goes on, "but I don't expect the hobby to ever completely
go away. With cognitive radio coming, there is plenty of opportunity to
experiment, even by just writing software. In the long run, I think the
rules of spectrum allocation will change, but hopefully the change will
benefit people in general, rather than corporations. If so, there will
still be a role for communications experimenters. Man versus the
ionosphere will still be interesting, no matter what the spectrum rules
are."

When asked if he would encourage other hams to try Logbook of The World,
Kean was enthusiastic: "If someone asked me about Logbook, I would tell
them, 'Don't worry about it. Logbook of The World works, and it seems to
be enjoying much greater popularity than you know.' At least, that's
what I just found out!"

==> ARRL TO UNVEIL NEW COURSE FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICERS

With the many weather events and other newsworthy items of note in 2008,
ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, said that it
was evident around the US "that the expertise, motivational level and
activities of individual Public Information Officers (PIOs) are highly
variable <http://www.arrl.org/pio/>. Some PIOs are excellent. Some
retain the PIO title but are inactive, while others are motivated, but
apparently not aware of the basic expectations of their role or the
skills involved."


Pitts equated the PIO situation to the situation that ARES faced several
years ago: "The corrective action for ARES -- that resulted in major
success -- began with the design and implementation of the ARRL EmComm
Level 1 classes (first tested in Connecticut and then expanded and
deployed nationally). They produced significant positive results in the
quality, scope and skill of ARES activities."

A similar course, "PR-101," is now being developed by the ARRL. "This
course is geared toward PIOs and others interested in Public Relations,"
Pitts said. "While voluntary, the course will be 'strongly encouraged'
for all ARRL PIOs and available for others."

Overall goals for the course are:

* To clarify the role of the PIO in the Field Organization.
* To establish a base set of expectations (job description) for a PIO to
fulfill, and peer pressure to do the job well.
* To establish, teach and verify that course graduates have the common
basic skill set needed to accomplish expectations set forth in the PIO
job description.
* To create a pool of trained PIOs who can be confidently called upon to
represent Amateur Radio in their region during breaking news events.
* To create a spirit of pride in being a trained and active PIO.
* To increase the productivity of PIOs and resultant positive media
coverage.

"There is a critical need to offer public relations training that
addresses the 21st century media landscape," said ARRL Public Relations
Committee Chairman Bill Morine, N2COP. "Since the last revision of the
ARRL PIO Handbook in the mid 1990s, domination of coverage has shifted
from newspapers, magazines and broadcast stations to cable, satellite
and Internet media outlets. The decentralization of media means there
are many more ways and formats from which the public can access
information. The PR-101 course will point ARRL PIOs in the direction
where they can best take advantage of opportunities in both traditional
and emerging media."

Saying that the League is fortunate to have a dedicated corps of more
than 450 appointed PIOs in the field, Morine pointed out the results of
a survey sent to all PIOs: "The December 2008 survey of this group
showed that the majority of PIOs are either self-appointed or were
appointed by their local club. This confirms that many PIOs are highly
motivated and eagerly want to tell the public about Amateur Radio. At
the same time, the survey revealed that most PIOs have little or no
formal training or experience in public relations, journalism or the
media in general. The overwhelming number of respondents told the survey
they would gladly participate in public relations and media training
from ARRL."

Morine said he is glad to see that more and more Section Managers are
already endorsing PR-101 for their PICs and PIOs. "The goal of the
Public Relations Committee is to raise the professionalism of our field
PIOs, just as the ARECC courses
<http://www.arrl.org/cce/activity-list.php3> have elevated the training
of ARES operators," he said.

PR-101 is expected to be first shown to the public in May at the ARRL
EXPO at the Dayton Hamvention.

==> FCC REPORTS DECLINE IN BPL CUSTOMERS

On January 16, 2009, the Federal Communications Commission released
data, as of December 31, 2007, on the services used for high-speed
Internet access in the United States. According to the data collected by
the FCC, as of that date there were 121.2 million high-speed lines
(including wireless), a 20 percent increase in just six months.

In sharp contrast to the rapid growth in mobile wireless, cable modem,
ADSL and fiber as delivery mechanisms to subscribers, Broadband over
Power Line (BPL) utilization apparently declined during the period.
According to the FCC figures, the category "Power Line and Other"
dropped from 5420 lines in June 2007 to just 5274 six months later. It
is not known how many of these are "Power Line" and how many are
"Other."

"Despite the enormous and unwarranted hype given to BPL by the FCC under
Chairmen Powell and Martin, the message from the marketplace is clear:
BPL is going nowhere as a means of delivering broadband connectivity to
consumers," observed ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ.
"Still, the FCC has unfinished business with respect to BPL. It has been
nine months since the federal Court of Appeals ordered the Commission to
correct the errors it committed in adopting rules that inadequately
protect licensed radio services from BPL interference
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2008/04/25/10064/>, yet the FCC has
made no effort to comply. With the change at the FCC helm that is about
to take place, we hope the foot-dragging will come to an end and the
Commission will fulfill its obligations to the Court as well as to its
licensees."

The 27-page FCC report may be found at on the FCC's Web site
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-287962A1.pdf>.

==>SOLAR UPDATE

Tad "Sometimes a piece of Sun burned like a coin in my hand" Cook, K7RA,
this week reports: Monday revealed another shy sunspot. Sunspot 1011
appeared suddenly, and then it was gone. Its configuration and location
did not identify it as belonging to either Solar Cycle 23 or 24. On
Monday, January 19 the sunspot number was 13. Sunspot numbers for
January 15-21 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 13, 0 and 0 with a mean of 1.9. The 10.7
cm flux was 71, 71, 72, 71, 71, 70 and 69 with a mean of 70.7. The
estimated planetary A indices were 4, 2, 2, 2, 9, 3 and 2 with a mean of
3.4. The estimated mid-latitude A indices were 4, 2, 2, 2, 7, 1 and 2
with a mean of 2.9. For more information concerning radio propagation,
visit the ARRL Technical Information Service Propagation page
<http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html>. To read this week's
Solar Report in its entirety, check out the W1AW Propagation Bulletin
page <http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/>. This week's "Tad Cookism" brought
to you by Pablo Neruda's "Clenched Soul"
<http://www.cs.rice.edu/~ssiyer/minstrels/txt/941.txt>.

__________________________________

==>IN BRIEF:

* This Week on the Radio: This week, the NAQCC Straight Key/Bug Sprint
is January 22 and the CQ 160 Meter Contest (CW) is January 23-25. The
REF Contest (CW), BARTG RTTY Sprint, the UBA DX Contest (SSB) and the
SPAR Winter Field Day are January 24-25. The SKCC Sprint is January 28.
Next week, look for the SARL Youth Day Sprint on January 31. The QRP
Winter Fireside SSB Sprint is February 1. All dates, unless otherwise
stated, are UTC. See the ARRL Contest Branch page
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/>, the ARRL Contest Update
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/update/> and the WA7BNM Contest Calendar
<http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html> for more info. Looking
for a Special Event station? Be sure to check out the ARRL Special Event
Station Web page <http://www.arrl.org/contests/spev.html>.

* ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration: Registration remains
open through Sunday, February 8, 2009, for these online course sessions
beginning on Friday, February 20, 2009: Amateur Radio Emergency
Communications Level 2; Antenna Modeling, and Radio Frequency
Propagation. Each online course has been developed in segments --
learning units with objectives, informative text, student activities and
quizzes. Courses are interactive, and some include direct communications
with a Mentor/Instructor. Students register for a particular session
that may be 8, 12 or 16 weeks (depending on the course) and they may
access the course at any time of day during the course period,
completing lessons and activities at times convenient for their personal
schedule. Mentors assist students by answering questions, reviewing
assignments and activities, as well as providing helpful feedback.
Interaction with mentors is conducted through e-mail; there is no
appointed time the student must be present -- allowing complete
flexibility for the student to work when and where it is convenient. To
learn more, visit the CCE Course Listing page
<http://www.arrl.org/cep/student> or contact the Continuing Education
Program Coordinator <cep at arrl.org>.

* Officers for ARRL Foundation Elected: During its annual meeting on
January 22 the ARRL Foundation <http://www.arrlf.org/> elected officers
for 2009: Tom Frenaye, K1KI, President; Dick Isely, W9GIG, Vice
President; Mary Hobart, K1MMH, Secretary, and Jim McCobb, K1LU,
Treasurer. Each of the officers served in 2008 "These officers have
demonstrated the leadership and commitment to the goals of the ARRL
Foundation and received a vote of confidence from the Board for another
term," Frenaye said. "In re-electing the slate of officers for another
year, the Foundation recognizes the importance of leadership continuity
in the organization's commitment to Amateur Radio."

* Amateur Radio Groups Help with Digital TV Transition: ARRL Media and
Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, said he has been getting
e-mails and phone calls from Amateur Radio operators concerning the
Digital TV conversion, currently set for February 17. "People are asking
what's happening with the DTV conversion and wondering what can we do to
help," he said. "While there is considerable confusion on a possible
extension of the date, things continue as there will be a conversion and
the technical information hams provide to their communities will be
needed -- even if the scheduled date for the conversion changes. The
role of Amateur Radio is simply to be helpful to the people in our
communities." The FCC's Sue McNeil told Pitts that she sent out a
request "for all of the [FCC] HQ and Field folks to contact the ARRL
Section Managers went out in late December; I understand that contacts
have been or are being made. In addition to Philadelphia and Hawaii, I
understand that there have been some fruitful discussions with folks in
North Carolina and California (Silicon Valley area). We have received
good feedback about contacts made in Montana and Portland, as well." If
your group or club is interested in participating, please be sure to let
your Section Manager <http://www.arrl.org/sections> know of your plans
and actions.

===========================================================
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American Radio Relay League: ARRL--the national association for Amateur
Radio, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax
860-594-0259; <http://www.arrl.org>. Joel Harrison, W5ZN, President.

The ARRL Letter offers a weekly e-mail digest of essential and general
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Copyright 2009 American Radio Relay League, Inc.
All Rights Reserved



From glennt at charter.net  Sun Jan 25 17:00:31 2009
From: glennt at charter.net (Glenn Thomas)
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 14:00:31 -0800
Subject: [CVRC] Fwd: NV County Radios stolen
Message-ID: <7.0.1.0.2.20090125135936.046ceff0@charter.net>



>On 01/17/2009 the Nevada County Sanitation had 5 radios and chargers stolen
>from the McCourtney Road Transfer Station.
>
>The Hand-Held portable radios are Motorola PR400 UHF radios. They do not
>have a front display window.
>
>The individual charger stands were also taken, along with one Motorola
>Speaker Microphone.
>
>The stolen radio serial numbers are as follows:
>
>442TFE3976
>442TFE8097
>442TGED394
>442TGED517
>442TGED504
>
>Anyone having information about the radios and/or microphone, or persons
>responsible for the theft, please call
>
>Nevada County Sheriffs Department at  530-265-7880
>
>or
>
>Bill Lewis, KG6BAJ at  530-263-1595
>
>An image of this radio can be found at :
>http://www.ncares.us/images/pr400.bmp


From memberlist at www.arrl.org  Thu Jan 29 21:12:45 2009
From: memberlist at www.arrl.org (ARRL Web site)
Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2009 18:12:45 -0800
Subject: [CVRC] ARLD004 DX news
Message-ID: <200901300212.n0U2Cjm4002503@pop3.greatbasin.net>

SB DX @ ARL $ARLD004
ARLD004 DX news

ZCZC AE04
QST de W1AW
DX Bulletin 4  ARLD004
 From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  January 29, 2009
To all radio amateurs

SB DX ARL ARLD004
ARLD004 DX news

This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by
NC1L, QRZ DX, the OPDX Bulletin, DXNL, 425 DX News, The Daily DX,
Contest Corral from QST and the ARRL Contest Calendar and WA7BNM web
sites.  Thanks to all.

AGALEGA AND ST. BRANDON ISLANDS, 3B6.  Rashid, 3B8FQ is QRV as 3B7FQ
from St. Brandon Island, IOTA AF-015, until February 12.  He is here
doing maintenance on the meteorological station, so he is active as
time permits.  Activity is on all bands, but mostly on 30, 20 and 17
meters using CW and SSB.  QSL via K5XK.

TANZANIA, 5H.  Sigi, DL7DF will be QRV as 5H1DF from Zanzibar
Island, IOTA AF-032, from February 3 to 12 while on holiday.
Activity will be on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY and SSTV.
QSL to home call.

MALAWI, 7Q.  Harry, 7Q7HB is here for the next two months.  Activity
is on all bands using mostly CW, RTTY and PSK but will also use some
SSB.  QSL direct via G0IAS.

AZORES, CU.  Operators CU8AS, HB9CQL and HB9CRV are QRV as CU5T from
Sao Jorge Island, IOTA EU-137, until January 2.  QSL via CT1GFK.

REUNION ISLAND, FR.  Gerhard, OE3GEA will be QRV as FR/OE3GEA from
February 1 to 13.  Activity will be on all bands using only CW.  QSL
to home call.

SCOTLAND, GM.  Members from the Kilmarnock and Loudoun ARC are QRV
as GB250RB until December 31, 2009 in celebration of the 250th
birthday of Scottish poet Robert Burns.  QSL via operators'
instructions.

THAILAND, HS.  Joerg, DL1MJF is QRV as HS0ZGQ until February 12.
Activity is on 40 to 10 meters using CW and SSB.  He may try to be
active as HS0ZGQ/2 for one week from Koh Samui Island, IOTA AS-101.
QSL to home call.

DJIBOUTI, J2.  Elvira, IV3FSG is QRV as J20SE until February 12.
She is active using SSB and RTTY mostly on 20 meters.  QSL via
IK3GES.

SAINT MARTIN, FS.  Members of the Buddies of the Caribbean will be
QRV as FS/homecalls from February 4 to 11.  Activity will be on 160
to 10 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY.  QSL direct to home calls.

ST. MAARTEN, SABA, ST. EUSTATIUS, PJ5.  In addition to their Saint
Martin DXpedition, members of the Buddies of the Caribbean will also
be QRV as PJ7/homecalls from St. Maarten during February 4 to 11.
Activity will be on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY.  QSL
direct to home calls.

BELIZE, V3.  Johnny, LA5IIA will be QRV as V31IA from February 2 to
6.  Activity is most likely during his morning and evenings on 80 to
30 meters using CW and 20 meters using CW and RTTY.  QSL via LA4YW.

MICRONESIA, V6.  Yuki, JH1NBN, is QRV as V63AQ from the islands of
Pohnpei, IOTA OC-010, Kosrae, IOTA OC-059 and Chuuk, IOTA OC-011,
until February 7 while on a business trip.  QSL to home call.

ANTARCTICA.  Bob, VK0BP is currently working at Antarctic Davis Base
Station, IOTA AN-016, until November 1.  Activity is on the HF bands
during his spare time.  He is generally active on 20 meters from
1500 to 1800z using SSB and PSK31.  He may also be active using
other modes as well.  QSL via VK2CA.

FALKLAND ISLANDS, VP8.  Ghis, ON5NT is QRV as VP8/ON5NT until
February 7.  QSL to home call.

SOUTH GEORGIA ISLANDS, VP8.  Lars, MM0DWF is currently on work
assignment on South Georgia Island, IOTA AN-007, and will try to be
active as VP8DIF in his spare time.  Activity will be on the HF
bands and he may try to use RTTY as well.  QSL via DJ9ZB.

BERMUDA, VP9.  In celebration of the 400th anniversary of the
settlement of Bermuda by Sir George Somers, members of the Radio
Society of Bermuda will be QRV as VP9400/xx.  The xx suffix is the
operator's callsign suffix.  QSL via operators' instructions.

BURKINA FASO, XT.  Michael, F1IQH is QRV as XT2WC from BoboDioulasso
for two weeks.  Activity is mainly on 20 meters, but also on other
bands as propagation permits.  QSL to home call.

PRINCE EDWARD AND MARION ISLANDS, ZS8.  Petrus, ZS8T has been
intermittently active on 20 meters from Marion Island, IOTA AF-021.
He is here until March 31.  QSL via LZ3HI.

THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO.  The NCCC Sprint, WAB Top Band Phone
Contest, QRP Winter Fireside SSB Sprint, EPC World Wide DX BPSK125
Contest, Black Sea Cup International 2009 and the ARS Spartan CW
Sprint are all on tap for this weekend.  Please see January QST,
page 82, February QST, page 82 and the ARRL and WA7BNM contest web
sites for details.
NNNN
/EX



From letter-dlvy at arrl.org  Fri Jan 30 20:41:48 2009
From: letter-dlvy at arrl.org (ARRL Letter Mailing List)
Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2009 17:41:48 -0800
Subject: [CVRC] The ARRL Letter, Vol 28, No 4 (Friday, January 30, 2009)
Message-ID: <200901310141.n0V1fnqj001921@pop3.greatbasin.net>

***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 28, No. 4
January 30, 2009
***************

IN THIS EDITION:

* + Laura L. Smith Named to Amateur Radio Enforcement Role
* + Michael J. Copps Named Acting FCC Chairman
* + J. John Thomason, WB5SYT, Appointed West Gulf Division Vice Director

* + Logbook of The World Now Easier than Ever
* + John Scott Redd, K0DQ, Awarded Nation's Top Intelligence Award
* + ARRL Executive Committee Approves 21 Education & Technology Program
Grants
*  Solar Update
*  IN BRIEF:
       This Week on the Radio
       ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration
     + Field Day Packets Available February 2
     + ARRL Expands Member Access to QST Archive
       Deadline to Order 75th Sweepstakes Mugs and Pins Fast Approaching
       ARRL Scholarship Applications Due February 1
       Desecheo Island DXpedition Granted Call Sign
       Amateur Radio Operations to Begin Again on Midway Atoll
       Korea Unveils Stamp Celebrating ARDF

+Available on ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/>

===========================================================
==>Delivery problems: First see FAQ
<http://www.arrl.org/members-only/faq.html#nodelivery>, then e-mail
<letter-dlvy at arrl.org>
==>Editorial questions or comments only: S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA
<k1sfa at arrl.org>
===========================================================

==> LAURA L. SMITH NAMED TO AMATEUR RADIO ENFORCEMENT ROLE

Laura L. Smith of Pennsylvania has been named by the FCC to fill the
vacancy created when Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, retired in 2008 as
Special Counsel for the Spectrum Enforcement Division of the FCC's
Enforcement Bureau. Hollingsworth served in that position for more than
10 years as the FCC's enforcement watchdog over the Amateur Radio
Service <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2008/07/03/10198>.

A 1990 graduate of the Pepperdine University School of Law, Smith began
her legal career with the FCC, working in the Mass Media Bureau and
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. She also served as Deputy Division
Chief of the Public Safety and Private Wireless Division. Smith is
currently licensed to practice in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

In 1998, Smith left the FCC to become Executive Director of Governmental
Affairs for the Industrial Telecommunications Association (ITA)
<http://www.ita-relay.com/default.htm>, now Enterprise Wireless
Alliance. In that role, she monitored FCC and legislative proceedings
and participated in all regulatory proceedings relevant to the private
wireless industry. In 2001, Smith became ITA's President and Chief
Executive Officer. While in that position, she was instrumental in the
formation of the Consensus Group, a group of public safety and private
wireless entities responsible for drafting the "Consensus Plan," a
proposed resolution for interference in the 800 MHz band; this was
adopted by the FCC in 2004.

Smith returns to the FCC after serving Of Counsel with the Maryland law
firm of Shulman Rogers. While there, she dealt with telecommunications
matters and provided counsel to numerous entities in the private radio
and public safety communities. Smith has served as an industry
consultant and written columns for a variety of trade publications
including "Mobile Radio Technology Magazine" and "The Private Wireless
Magazine."

In an October 2008 letter to then-FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, ARRL
President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, urged Martin to name a successor to
Hollingsworth: "The appointment of a replacement Special Counsel in this
position is of critical importance to the Amateur Radio Service, as the
delay in finalizing the appointment stands to undermine in very short
order an exceptionally successful and low-cost program of enforcement in
the Amateur Service."

Calling the FCC's Amateur Radio enforcement program "spectacularly
successful," Harrison reminded Martin of the "long period in the late
1980s and 1990s during which the Commission was essentially uninvolved
in enforcement in the Amateur Service. The Amateur Service, consisting
of some 680,000 licensees of the Commission, is in essence a
self-regulating service; however, due to the shared frequency
allocations in the Service and the long distance propagation of amateur
communications, a very few rule violators can cause severe disruption in
the Service. On the other hand, even a minimal Commission presence has a
very strong deterrent value."

When Hollingsworth was appointed as Special Counsel for Amateur Radio
Enforcement, Harrison said that Hollingsworth "established a visible
presence in the Service and very quickly, and with very little
investment of Commission resources, using little more than the awareness
of an enforcement presence, created strong deterrence against rule
violations."

Upon learning of Smith's move to the Amateur Radio enforcement role,
Harrison remarked that he was "very pleased to see the Commission move
forward with the hiring of a new Special Counsel responsible for
enforcement of the Amateur Radio Service rules. Ever since Riley
Hollingsworth announced his retirement, we have met with the Enforcement
Chief numerous times and corresponded with FCC Chairman Martin to ensure
this position remains intact at FCC. The Commission acknowledges the
self-regulating environment we maintain, but also understands that we
need their assistance occasionally to resolve a few situations. They
have continually reassured us that this is an important matter for them,
and Ms Smith's hiring confirms that."


==> MICHAEL J. COPPS NAMED ACTING FCC CHAIRMAN

On Thursday, January 22, President Barack Obama named current FCC
Commissioner Michael Copps as Acting Chairman of the Commission. Rumors
circulated in mid-January that technology executive Julius Genachowski
would be nominated as Chairman. Copps will serve as Acting Chairman
until a new Commissioner/Chairman is confirmed.

"I am honored to be designated as Acting Chairman of the FCC," Copps
said in a statement released by the FCC. "I thank President Obama for
his confidence in me and for this opportunity to serve. I know that I
have a truly gifted and terrific team to work with. I pledge every
effort I am capable of to help steer the Commission through its current
transition to new leadership."

ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, congratulated Copps on
his appointment. "Whenever we have sought a meeting with him or his
staff, his door has always been open to us," he said.

Currently serving a second term as FCC Commissioner, Copps began his
first term with the Commission in 2001. Before his appointment to the
FCC, he served as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Trade Development
at the US Department of Commerce, where he was previously Deputy
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Basic Industries. Copps came to
Washington in 1970, joining the staff of Senator Ernest Hollings (D-SC)
and served for more than a decade as his Chief of Staff. He has also
held positions at a Fortune 500 company and at a major trade
association. Before coming to Washington, Copps was a professor of
American history at Loyola University of the South. He received a BA
from Wofford College and earned a PhD from the University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Upon being sworn in for his second term as FCC Commissioner in 2006,
Copps said that "The last four and a half years have been tremendously
transformative for the world of telecommunications and the media. The
future holds even greater challenge. I look forward to continuing to
work with my colleagues on the Commission, with the Congress and with
all the other stakeholders to help bring the most advanced, accessible
and cost-effective communications system in the world to all American
consumers."

==> J. JOHN THOMASON, WB5SYT, APPOINTED WEST GULF DIVISION VICE DIRECTOR


With the approval of the ARRL Ethics and Elections Committee, ARRL
President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, has appointed Oklahoma Section Manager J.
John Thomason, WB5SYT, as Vice Director in the West Gulf Division.
Thomason replaces Dr David Woolweaver, K5RAV, who moved up to Director
with the retirement of Division Director Coy Day, N5OK, earlier this
month.

An Extra class licensee, Thomason has been an ARRL member for more than
20 years and has served as Oklahoma Section Manager since 2003. While
Section Manager, he supported and prompted passage of Oklahoma Senate
Bill 426. This bill allows "for the erection of an Amateur Radio antenna
or an Amateur Radio antenna support structure at a height and dimension
sufficient to accommodate Amateur Radio Service communications."
Thomason also represented the League in 2004 at the Voluntary
Organizations Active in Disaster's (VOAD) national conference. Based on
an article in the November 2007 issue of QST, Thomason, with assistance
from University of Oklahoma personnel, developed a frequency
coordination protocol that is now used at that school's home football
games.

"The opportunity and honor to serve the West Gulf Division as Vice
Director is exciting," Thomason said. "It is my desire to diligently
work with Director Woolweaver to ensure Division members are informed,
to provide input and feedback on policies and procedures pertinent to
the League's missions and to accomplish what is necessary to have the
interest and the availability to inform through developed relationships
with Division members and League headquarters staff."

"I have known John for several years," Woolweaver said. "He has been
very successful as a Section Manager, especially in the areas of
Emergency Preparedness and legislative action. His unmistakable talents
in those areas will be very useful in his new role as Vice Director."

Thomason said continuing "the excellent League service provided by my
predecessor Dr David Woolweaver, K5RAV, is humbling and enabling. His
skill set and presence at so many League functions in the Oklahoma
Section and beyond is truly a high standard to obtain. He has shown a
highly informed outreach and capacity to listen and communicate while
making the Amateur Radio Service visible through the League. He will
grow in these efforts as Director while following in the richness of
professionalism of Director Coy Day, N5OK.

"It is my hope to sustain and flourish the wonderful relationship
developed via my role as Oklahoma Section Manager. The relationships and
fondness for our fellow Amateur Radio operators and capacity therein to
enhance our public service with League strength is very important to me
in my role as Vice Director. This has developed by being active at
League events, club meetings, Nets and served agency functions. We make
a difference in Amateur Radio operators' lives by listening, caring and
expressing this passion to them. A birthday card or a handwritten note
of encouragement during family challenges clearly communicates that the
League cares for and about them as people and their contributions to
Amateur Radio. It has been stated that we meet people based on what in
common, but grow on the basis of how we are different. I feel this is
our opportunity to strengthen our collective League mission during
difficult times, be they economic or frequency threats."

Thomason is a member of the Edmond Amateur Radio Society (EARS). He has
earned DXCC and Worked All States (WAS) on CW, PSK and SSB. Thomason is
a vocational evaluator with the State of Oklahoma's Department of
Rehabilitation Services. He holds a BA in psychology and an MS in
rehabilitation counseling.

When Thomason moved up to Vice Director, Dean Feken, KL7MA, of Perry,
was appointed as the new ARRL Oklahoma Section Manager. The Rules and
Regulations of the ARRL Field Organization state that when a vacancy in
the office of Section Manager occurs between elections, the position is
filled by appointment by the Membership and Volunteer Programs Manager,
in consultation with the Director. MVP Manager Dave Patton, NN1N,
consulted with Woolweaver and Thomason in filling the Section Manager
position. Feken, an Extra class licensee, has been the Oklahoma Official
Observer Coordinator since the spring 2004 and an Official Observer
since fall 2003. Feken's term as Section Manager continues through
September 30, 2010. The nomination announcement for the next term of
office for Oklahoma Section Manager is scheduled to appear in the April
2010 issue of QST.

==> LOGBOOK OF THE WORLD NOW EASIER THAN EVER

In order to better accommodate new users as well as existing account
holders, ARRL's Logbook of The World (LoTW) has been updated
<http://www.arrl.org/lotw/>. According to ARRL Membership and Volunteer
Programs Assistant Manager Norm Fusaro, W3IZ, these improvements were
made based LoTW help questions and listening to users.

"Through the efforts of Membership and Volunteer Services Manager Dave
Patton, NN1N, and Information Technology Manager Jon Bloom, KE3Z, we
have also added an automated results table on the LoTW Users Home Page
that lists members in numeric order who have achieved the Triple Play
Award," said ARRL Chief Operating Officer Harold Kramer, WJ1B. "IT
personnel have also fixed a number of longstanding issues with Logbook
in recent weeks, and some additional enhancements are underway."

Added enhancements include:
* An LoTW User's Corner that includes quick links to log onto your
account, save or renew a certificate and ways to address PC failure.
* The GET STARTED section <http://www.arrl.org/lotw/start.html> has been
simplified with links for each of the four steps in the certificate
process.
* LoTW instructions are now available in nine languages: English, Dutch,
French, German, Italian, Russian, Slovenian and Spanish. Options to
select a language have always been available, but they have now been
moved up front to the GET STARTED page. The languages are identified
with icons of flags to represent each language.
* The GET STARTED pdf file has been updated to include new screenshots
and refinement of some of the processes.
* The software download section now consists of only three icons
representing the three operating systems for which software is
available: Windows, Mac and Linux. The user simply selects their
operating system and they are redirected to the download specific to
their system.
* A new link has been added for QSL Manager, Club Calls and DXpeditions.
This link gives details on establishing an account for these special
operations and includes a section for 1x1 call signs.
* A new PowerPoint overview is available from the LoTW site. This
presentation has also been added to our multimedia library
<http://www.arrl.org/multimedia>. The program is an overview of LoTW and
what users can expect from the service. There are screenshots of LoTW
pages, as well as a condensed version of the certificate and award
application process.

With more than 200 million QSOs submitted, ARRL's Logbook of The World
system is a repository of log records submitted by users from around the
world <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/01/22/10576/?nc=1>. 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. Yaesu is the
principal sponsor of the LoTW Web site
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2008/06/02/10138/>.

==> JOHN SCOTT REDD, K0DQ, AWARDED NATION'S TOP INTELLIGENCE AWARD

Vice Admiral John Scott Redd, USN (ret), K0DQ, received the National
Security Medal in a White House ceremony earlier this month. In one of
his last official duties as President of the United States, George W.
Bush recognized Redd for "his more than 40 years of exceptional service
to the Nation, strengthening its intelligence capabilities and improving
national security," and called Redd "an innovator, a strategic thinker,
an inspirational leader and a dedicated servant to the Nation, respected
for his vision, courage and integrity." During his remarks, the
President also thanked Redd's wife Donna for her service over many
years. The Redds' daughter and sons also attended the White House
ceremony.

The National Security Medal is America's highest intelligence award. It
is awarded to any citizen of the United States with distinguished
achievements or outstanding contributions, on or after 26 July 1947, in
the field of intelligence relating to the national security of the
United States of America. Previous recipients of the National Security
Medal include Bill Donovan, founder of the Office of Strategic Services
(OSS); J. Edgar Hoover, former FBI Director; Robert Gates, US Secretary
of Defense, and Brent Scowcroft, National Security Advisor to Presidents
Gerald Ford and George H. W. Bush.

In 1995, Redd founded and was named commander of the Navy's Fifth Fleet
<http://www.cusnc.navy.mil/>. The fleet operates in waters surrounding
the Middle East and is the only new fleet since World War II. He served
as director of strategic plans and policy on the Joint Chiefs of Staff
<http://www.jcs.mil/> from 1996 until he retired from the Navy two years
later. Redd was named Chief Operating Officer of the Coalition
Provisional Authority <http://www.cpa-iraq.org/> in March 2004, but the
White House recalled him a month later to lead the commission that
examined the intelligence failures that led up to the Iraq war. He
earlier served as Deputy Administrator and Chief Operating Officer of
the Coalition Provisional Authority in Baghdad, for which he received
the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service.

In August 2005, Congress confirmed Redd -- a 1966 graduate of the US
Naval Academy and a Fulbright Scholar -- as Director of the National
Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) <http://www.nctc.gov/>; he retired in
November 2007. The NCTC is the nation's repository for counterterrorism
intelligence and sets the nation's war plan for fighting terrorists. The
center has few employees of its own and, instead, brings together
approximately 400 analysts and other employees from agencies such as the
CIA, the Homeland Security Department and the FBI to pore over data
collected by other agencies. The NCTC houses the nation's terrorist
watch list and distributes it throughout the government nightly. It
holds video teleconferences three times a day to keep the White House
and the intelligence community informed about terrorist activity and
counter-terror operations. "We say, 'Mr. President, here's what the
intelligence community believes, and here's where agencies disagree,'"
Redd said in describing how the NCTC operates. "So now he can see what
the disagreement is and why. Because intelligence is not an arithmetic
thing, there's a lot of judgment that goes into it."

An active ham, contester and DXer for more almost 50 years, Redd -- a
native of Sydney, Iowa -- enjoys both CW and phone. In 1971, Redd, then
K0DQI, won the CQ World Wide DX Contest (phone) from Mexico as 6D1AA. He
also won the ARRL International DX Contest, both phone and CW, in 1972
from Mexico as XE1IIJ; this was the first time a single operator
surpassed 10,000 contacts in a contest. In 1973, Redd won the ARRL Phone
DX Contest from the DX side (Mexico) as 6J9AA, and in 1986, he won the
ARRL CW from the US as W3GRF. All of these wins were as Single Operator,
High Power. Redd went on to place third in his first CQ Worked All
Prefix (WPX) (CW) contest in 1995 as A92Q from Bahrain. Throughout his
ham radio career, Redd has held many DX call signs: P40Q, 3V8DQ, A92Q,
XE1IIJ, 4A4AA/1, 6J9AA, 6D1AA, 6G1AA, 6J9AA, 4C5AA and 4C9AA, just to
name a few.

In 2008, Redd was inducted into the CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2008/05/16/10100/>. The CQ Amateur
Radio Hall of Fame honors those individuals, whether licensed hams or
not, who have made significant contributions to Amateur Radio, and those
amateurs who have made significant contributions either to Amateur
Radio, to their professional careers or to some other aspect of life on
our planet.

==> ARRL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE APPROVES 21 EDUCATION & TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM
GRANTS

In December, the ARRL Executive Committee reviewed grant applications
for the ARRL's Education & Technology Program (ETP)
<http://www.arrl.org/FandES/tbp/>, awarding nearly $22,000 to 21
schools. More than 350 schools across the country have received support
from the ETP in the form of grants for equipment, curriculum and
resources, as well as teacher in-service training through the Teachers
Institute on Wireless Technology
<http://www.arrl.org/FandES/tbp/ti.html>. The Executive Committee
reviews applications for equipment and resource grants twice each year,
in December and May.

ETP Grants

ETP grants consist of Amateur Radio equipment, enabling the school to
set up a station. Schools may receive activity kits in addition to
station equipment. The following schools recently received ETP grants:

Phillip Magruder Middle School, Torrance, California: This grant
application proposed an after school program based on three pillars: To
instruct students on the basics of radio technology and allow them to
practice using the technology to communicate effectively; to allow
students to construct a radio station and take licensing classes to be
able to use their station, and to use the context of the club (ham
radio) to explore careers through related field trips and interaction
with hams in the community. The proposal is well thought out and
presented and it represents a program that has good potential for
success.

Bradshaw Mountain Middle School, Dewey, Arizona: The teacher proposes to
integrate Amateur Radio and shortwave radio into the school culture and
classroom curriculum to provide opportunities for students of all levels
during a combined in-school and after school program. Their goals are to
establish a shortwave station allowing students and teachers to listen
to transmissions from other areas, including support for Spanish
language instruction, expose students to world cultures through radio
and news broadcasts from and for other countries; students will put
together a ham radio station that will be used to support other content
areas of instruction, such as science, and to develop a portable station
capable to allow for off school site participation in local ham
activities to provide for school outreach. This is another well thought
out and presented grant application with broad goals and objectives.
This program has a good potential for success.

McDermitt Combined School, McDermitt, Nevada: This program is being
sponsored by the local County Emergency Coordinator. The school is in a
remote area and serves an at-risk population. The main theme of this
program is EmComm and it creates exposure to public service-related
career fields that are normally not considered by the students. The
program is well supported by the local ham community.

Worthington Public School, Worthington, Minnesota: The lead teacher for
this program is a Teachers Institute graduate and is a school resource
officer (a police officer assigned to the school district to facilitate
law enforcement-school connections). The teacher has developed a program
proposal based on a portable ham radio station that he can take with him
from school-to-school to support his outreach efforts.

West Elementary School, Zion, Illinois: The lead teacher (administrator)
for this program is Nathan McCray, one of the Teachers Institute
instructors. Nathan had a well established ETP program at his former
school; when he transferred to another school, he left the program in
the capable hands of his wife. Nathan is now vice-principal and is
starting up an ETP program at his new school. He is requesting only the
basic station components to get the program going at the new school.

Bayside High School, Palm Bay, Florida: The lead teacher for this
program is a Teachers Institute graduate. He articulates a program
proposal that uses ham radio in the engineering curriculum of this
magnet school. This will be a good fit and the teacher is well prepared
to execute the plan.

Malcolm Bridge Middle School, Bogart, Georgia: The lead teacher for this
program is a Teachers Institute graduate. The program presented has a
good potential of success.

Samsula Academy, New Smyrna Beach, Florida: This applicant is requesting
a basic ham radio station for the school and some curriculum materials
to support an after school ham radio class. The local ham radio club is
supporting this program in the hopes of repeating the apparent success
they have had at another local school.

Horizon Elementary School, Homestead, Florida: This school is running a
parallel program with Samsula Academy; they are requesting the same
basic ham radio station to support their ongoing program.

Progress Grants

In order for a school to be considered for a Progress Grant, it must
already be an ETP School. If a teacher attends a session of the Teachers
Institute, that school is automatically considered an ETP School. The
following schools received Progress Grants:


University of Arkansas, Fort Smith, Arkansas: The lead professor is a
graduate of the Teachers Institute and a long time ETP school. The
professor wants to begin integrating the weather satellite system that
was demonstrated during the Teachers Institute and to expand his program
to include space in the classroom content.

Westside Elementary School, Searcy, Arkansas: The lead teacher for this
program is a recent Teachers Institute graduate. She wants to include
the space exploration through robotics unit that was presented during
the Teachers Institute into her elementary school curriculum. She has
adapted the content to the grade level of her students and has an
interesting approach. The approach will use the activity to provide
basic instruction of electronics.

Olde Towne Middle School, Ridgeland, Mississippi: The lead teacher is a
graduate of the Teachers Institute. The teacher wants to begin
integrating the ham radio satellite system that was demonstrated during
the Teachers Institute and to expand his program to include space in the
classroom content. He is requesting the basic components to make up the
satellite ground station.

Ocean Lakes High School, Virginia Beach, Virginia: The lead teacher for
this program is a recent Teachers Institute graduate. He wants to
include the space exploration unit that was presented during the
Teachers Institute into his high school curriculum and is requesting the
ancillary parts of the Mars Lander activity. These parts are added to
the Boe-Bot robotics instructor's board that he received during the
Teachers Institute, including sensors, RF data link and ATV components.

Livingston High School, Livingston, New Jersey: The lead teacher for
this program is a recent Teachers Institute graduate. He wants to expand
the use of the activity board resources he learned about during the
Institute into his regular curriculum.

Petrova Elementary School, Saranac Lake, New York: This applicant is
requesting assistance in obtaining licensing resource materials for the
school radio club. The resources obtained through this grant will be
housed in a club library for multiple users. This request is in support
of an existing program that includes a radio station at the school.

East Elementary, Zion, Illinois: The lead teacher is a graduate of the
Teachers Institute. The teacher wants to begin integrating the weather
satellite system that was demonstrated during the Teachers Institute and
to expand her program to include space in the classroom content.
Additionally, she is requesting a dual-band handheld radio for use with
the FM satellites.

Great Lakes Adventist Academy, Cedar Lake, Michigan: The lead teacher is
a graduate of the Teachers Institute. The teacher wants to begin
integrating the weather satellite system that was demonstrated during
the Teachers Institute and to expand his program to include space in the
classroom content.

Sister Lakes Elementary School, Dowagiac, Michigan: The lead teacher is
a graduate of the Teachers Institute. The teacher wants to begin
integrating the weather satellite system that was demonstrated during
the Teachers Institute and to expand his program to include space in the
classroom content.

Granite Bay Montessori School, Roseville, California: The lead teacher
is a graduate of the Teachers Institute and probably the most proactive
of all the graduates to date. He is requesting support to make the
school radio station solar powered and expand the content of this
program to include alternative energy sources.

Marist School, Atlanta, Georgia: The lead teacher is a graduate of the
Teachers Institute. The teacher wants to begin integrating the weather
satellite system that was demonstrated during the Teachers Institute and
to expand his program to include space in the classroom content.

Nichols Junior High School, Arlington, Texas: The lead teacher is a
graduate of the Teachers Institute and a long time ETP school. The
teacher wants to begin integrating the use of ham radio satellites into
his curriculum as demonstrated during the Institute. He is requesting a
basic satellite ground station for working the FM satellites.

A goal of the ARRL Education & Technology Program is to improve the
quality of education by providing an educationally sound curriculum that
employs Amateur Radio to integrate technology, math, science, geography
and language arts with core curricula. Amateur Radio and an
understanding of radio science are keys to building Wireless Technology
Literacy, another important objective.

==>SOLAR UPDATE

Tad "Sitting around a secret sea, worship a secret Sun" Cook, K7RA, this
week reports: On Tuesday, January 27, we saw another one of those
"almost-a-sunspot" emerge in the Sun's low latitude, so it was probably
an old Solar Cycle 23 spot; it was gone the next day. Sunspot numbers
for January 22-28 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 and 0 with a mean of 0. The 10.7
cm flux was 69, 70, 68.8, 69.8, 69.9, 69.7 and 69.5 with a mean of 69.5.
The estimated planetary A indices were 1, 1, 1, 1, 10, 4 and 2 with a
mean of 2.9. The estimated mid-latitude A indices were 0, 1, 1, 1, 9, 2
and 1 with a mean of 2.1. For more information concerning radio
propagation, visit the ARRL Technical Information Service Propagation
page <http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html>. To read this
week's Solar Report in its entirety, check out the W1AW Propagation
Bulletin page <http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/>. This week's "Tad
Cookism" brought to you by G. K. Chesterton's "The Ballad of the White
Horse" <http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/The_Ballad_of_the_White_Horse>.

__________________________________

==>IN BRIEF:

* This Week on the Radio: This week, look for the SARL Youth Day Sprint
on January 31. The QRP Winter Fireside SSB Sprint is February 1. Next
week is the School Club Roundup on February 9-13. The Minnesota QSO
Party and the FYBO Winter QRP Field Day are on February 7. On February
7-8, look for the Vermont QSO Party, the 10-10 Winter Phone QSO Party,
the Worldwide Peace Messenger Cities, the British Columbia QSO
Challenge, the New Mexico QSO Party and the FMRE International RTTY
Contest. The Delaware QSO Party is February 7-9, and the North American
Sprint (CW) and the FM Simplex Contest are February 8. See the ARRL
Contest Branch page <http://www.arrl.org/contests/>, the ARRL Contest
Update <http://www.arrl.org/contests/update/> and the WA7BNM Contest
Calendar <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html> for more
info. Looking for a Special Event station? Be sure to check out the ARRL
Special Event Station Web page <http://www.arrl.org/contests/spev.html>.


* ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration: Registration remains
open through Sunday, February 8, 2009, for these online course sessions
beginning on Friday, February 20, 2009: Amateur Radio Emergency
Communications Level 2; Antenna Modeling, and Radio Frequency
Propagation. Each online course has been developed in segments --
learning units with objectives, informative text, student activities and
quizzes. Courses are interactive, and some include direct communications
with a Mentor/Instructor. Students register for a particular session
that may be 8, 12 or 16 weeks (depending on the course) and they may
access the course at any time of day during the course period,
completing lessons and activities at times convenient for their personal
schedule. Mentors assist students by answering questions, reviewing
assignments and activities, as well as providing helpful feedback.
Interaction with mentors is conducted through e-mail; there is no
appointed time the student must be present -- allowing complete
flexibility for the student to work when and where it is convenient. To
learn more, visit the CCE Course Listing page
<http://www.arrl.org/cep/student> or contact the Continuing Education
Program Coordinator <cce at arrl.org>.

* Field Day Packets Available February 2: Get ready for ARRL Field Day,
June 27-28, 2009. Packets will be available February 2 on the ARRL Field
Day Web site <www.arrl.org/fieldday>. Packets include the complete rules
(including changes for 2009). Other reference items that will be
available include forms, Section abbreviations, a kit to publicize your
event with the local press and more.

* ARRL Expands Member Access to QST Archive: ARRL is pleased to announce
that online access to the QST archive
<http://www.arrl.org/members-only/qqnsearch.html> will be expanded.
Beginning February 1, 2009, ARRL members will be able to search and view
QST -- from December 1915 through December 2005 right from their
computer. With an additional year -- 2005 -- added to the viewable
archive, this valuable benefit is available to all ARRL members. As an
added benefit, ARRL Diamond Club members at the Brass level and above --
as well as ARRL Maxim Society members -- will be able to get images from
the entire QST archive, right up through December 2008, an additional
three years <http://www.arrl.org/diamondclub>. According to ARRL Chief
Development Officer Mary Hobart, K1MMH, this is the first new benefit
that has been added to the Diamond Club since the Diamond Terrace opened
in 2007. "Given the popularity of the QST online archive," Hobart said,
"I hope that Diamond Club members and the Maxim Society members will
enjoy exclusive access to the most recent four years of QST with our
appreciation for their generosity. Perhaps the expanded QST viewable
archive will inspire other ARRL members to participate in the Diamond
Club and enjoy the other benefits available to Diamond Club members, as
well." The online archive was first introduced to members in fall 2008,
providing PDF copies of articles from the huge QST archive, from
December 1915 through December 2004. Since then, thousands of members
have enjoyed searching, viewing and printing their favorite articles,
projects and more. The membership benefit is a service of the ARRL
Technical Information Service (TIS) <http://www.arrl.org/tis/>. Access
to the archive is free for ARRL members. QST is the official journal of
ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio. An interest in Amateur
Radio is the only essential qualification of membership. ARRL membership
is $39 per year in the US. For a complete list of membership benefits
and dues, please visit the ARRL Membership Web page
<http://www.arrl.org/join>.

* Deadline to Order 75th Sweepstakes Mugs and Pins Fast Approaching:
Time is running out to order your 2008 ARRL November Sweepstakes mugs
and pins. If you submitted a log with more than 100 QSOs, you qualify
for a Sweepstakes Participation pin. If you submitted a log with a Clean
Sweep -- working all 80 ARRL/RAC sections -- you qualify for a Clean
Sweep coffee mug. According to ARRL Contest Branch Manager Sean Kutzko,
KX9X, all orders need to be postmarked by January 31. If you would like
to order a Sweepstakes pin or mug, you can either send a copy of your
Sweepstakes summary sheet (if you filed a paper log) or a copy of the
first page of your Cabrillo file (if you submitted an electronic log via
e-mail) with your check for the correct amount; orders need to be
postmarked by January 31 in order to qualify. Sweepstakes Participation
pins are $6; Clean Sweep mugs are $16 this year. All costs include
shipping charges. Kutzko advises that these items are not in stock. "We
will make our order to our supplier once we know how many requests we
have," he explained. "Mugs and pins will likely be shipped in late
March. The 75th running of the November Sweepstakes was a great event,
with lots of participation and fun! Be sure to commemorate your effort
with a pin or mug this year."

* ARRL Scholarship Applications Due February 1: The deadline for ARRL
Foundation scholarship applications is February 1, 2009. Applications
must be postmarked on or before February 1 and must include the
student's most recent transcript. This year, the Foundation expects to
award up to 60 general scholarships ranging in amounts from $500 to
$2500. The most prestigious Foundation scholarship is the William R.
Goldfarb Memorial Scholarship, awarded to one high school senior each
year. After the student has received all financial aid he or she is
qualified for, other scholarships and awards and family contributions,
the Goldfarb Scholarship will cover any remaining expenses (room and
board, tuition, fees and books) for a four-year undergraduate curriculum
at an accredited university in one of the following courses of study:
business-related computers, medical or nursing fields, engineering or
sciences. This award to an active radio amateur is based on outstanding
qualifications, need and other funding sources. ARRL Chief Development
Officer and Foundation Secretary Mary Hobart, K1MMH, said, "Providing
scholarships to young hams who pursue higher education is one of the
most rewarding activities of the ARRL Foundation. The expressions of
gratitude from scholarship winners and their families make it clear that
the awards are contributing directly their success and to the future of
Amateur Radio." All the information about the ARRL Scholarships for FCC
licensed radio amateurs, including descriptions, application forms and
instructions can be found on the ARRL Foundation Web site
<http://www.arrlf.org>.

* Desecheo Island DXpedition Granted Call Sign: The DXpedition to
Desecheo Island -- February 12-26 -- will use call sign K5D. "As soon as
we land on Desecheo, two stations will be immediately activated," said
DXpedition co-leader Bob Allphin, K4UEE. Stations will continue to
operate until the final moments of departure on February 26." Because
Desecheo is very rare, Allphin said that "there are many, many hams
worldwide that need KP5 for an all-time new one. Therefore, we are
asking that you not contact the DXpedition on any band/mode that you
have confirmed from a previous DXpedition. This will allow the people
who really need a new DXCC entity a better opportunity to get through
the pileups. Our objective is not to establish a world record for
contacts. There will be no 'greenies,' no boxes to check, no
competitions for most band/mode QSOs, no certificate or awards for
contacting the DXpedition more times than anyone else. So if you have
KP5 already confirmed on a particular band/mode, we respectfully ask
that you exercise restraint. If, late in the DXpedition, we are calling
CQ for contacts, we will welcome your call." Desecheo currently sits at
number 7 on DX Magazine's Most Wanted list; the island is the second
most-wanted DXCC entity in Asia and third most-wanted in Europe.
Desecheo is a small uninhabited island in the Mona Passage, 14 miles off
the west coast of Puerto Rico. It is part of the US Fish and Wildlife
Service's national wildlife refuge system administered by the Caribbean
National Wildlife Refuge Complex (CNWR).

* Amateur Radio Operations to Begin Again on Midway Atoll: The US Fish
and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced on Monday, January 26 that they
would once again allow Amateur Radio operators the opportunity to
operate from Midway Atoll. This the first time that USFWS has allowed
amateurs to operate from the wildlife refuge since 2002. The USFWS
started a program earlier this month to encourage visitors to experience
Midway's wildlife, history and culture, as well as
non-wildlife-dependent activities -- including Amateur Radio To ensure
the safety of the wildlife on the Refuge, the USFWS said that Amateur
Radio operations will be permitted for two weeks only, from October
5-19, 2009. "Radio operation will be allowed only within a designated
area on the north side of Sand Island and the use of portable generators
will not be permitted," said Midway Atoll Refuge Manager Matt D. Brown.
"There is 120 V power available at the operation site. Any modifications
to the island power grid/infrastructure must be approved in advance and
be paid for entirely by the radio operators. Although determined to be a
wildlife-compatible activity," Brown said, "this [Amateur Radio]
opportunity is being conducted on a trial basis." Brown has the
authority to discontinue the activity at any time, based on wildlife
protection and conservation goals. For more information, please contact
Brown via e-mail <Matt_D_Brown at fws.gov> or by phone at 808-954-4818.
Lodging arrangements can be made with Darlene Holst via e-mail
<dholst at chugach-ak.com> or by phone at 808-954-4801. Midway Atoll is
located in the North Pacific Ocean, approximately 1250 miles northwest
of Honolulu.

* Korea Unveils Stamp Celebrating ARDF: Korea has issued a postage stamp
commemorating the 2008 Amateur Radio Direction Finding (ARDF) World
Championships. The ARDF World Championships, held in Korea and hosted by
the Korean Amateur Radio League, were September 2-7, 2008. More than 450
participants from 28 countries came to Korea to compete. Upon issuance
of the stamp, Korea said it hoped that the "World Championships will
provide a momentum to stimulate public interest and participation in
Amateur Radio." ARRL ARDF Coordinator Joe Moell, K0OV, said that Team
USA had their best showing ever at the 2008 World Championships: "We had
four Top 10 finishes in the two days of fox-finding competition, first
with 2 meter AM signals, and then with 80 meter CW signals. ARRL's team
faced more than 300 of the planet's best foxtailers that represented 24
other national Amateur Radio societies." ARDF combines Amateur Radio
skills with the map and compass skills of orienteering in a timed race
where individual competitors navigate through diverse wooded terrain
while searching for radio transmitters. The rules of the sport and
international competitions are organized by the International Amateur
Radio Union (IARU). See the stamp here:
<http://www.koreastamp.go.kr/sp/eg/speg0101.jsp?page_num=2>.

Correction: In last week's ARRL Letter, we inadvertently used an
outdated URL in referring to the Network Engineers Repeater Association.
You can find NERA on the Web at <http://www.neradc.org>.

===========================================================
The ARRL Letter is published Fridays, 50 times each year, by the
American Radio Relay League: ARRL--the national association for Amateur
Radio, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax
860-594-0259; <http://www.arrl.org>. Joel Harrison, W5ZN, President.

The ARRL Letter offers a weekly e-mail digest of essential and general
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Copyright 2009 American Radio Relay League, Inc.
All Rights Reserved



From memberlist at www.arrl.org  Fri Jan 30 21:06:49 2009
From: memberlist at www.arrl.org (ARRL Web site)
Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2009 18:06:49 -0800
Subject: [CVRC] ARLP005 Propagation de K7RA
Message-ID: <200901310206.n0V26nPX029545@pop3.greatbasin.net>

SB PROP @ ARL $ARLP005
ARLP005 Propagation de K7RA

ZCZC AP05
QST de W1AW
Propagation Forecast Bulletin 5  ARLP005
 From Tad Cook, K7RA
Seattle, WA  January 30, 2009
To all radio amateurs

SB PROP ARL ARLP005
ARLP005 Propagation de K7RA

In last week's Propagation Forecast Bulletin ARLP004, we did not
have the solar flux values resolved down to a tenth of a point like
we always do.  Really, resolving the solar flux down to that
resolution is probably not very useful, but for those who use the
WA4TTK solar plotting program to suck up the data and who are
compulsive enough, here are the values for January 15-21, so you can
correct your data: 71.1, 70.8, 71.9, 71.1, 70.8, 70.4, 69.4, with
the mean value at 70.8.

On Tuesday, January 27 we saw another one of those
"almost-a-sunspot" emerge in the Sun's low latitude, so it was
probably an old Cycle 23 spot.  The next day it was gone.

Geomagnetic conditions continue to be very quiet, although a bit
unsettled on January 26.  The forecast is for more of the same.
Planetary A index should stay around five, and solar flux around 70.

Geophysical Institute Prague predicts unsettled conditions for
January 30, quiet to unsettled January 31, and quiet February 1-5.

This week we received one report about last weekend's CQ WW 160
Meter CW contest.  Rod Swiderski, NU2M of Watermill, New York,
reported that band conditions were outstanding.  He writes, "I
worked 13 countries, 47 states, my first Alaskan station KL7RA (on
160) and 320 contacts. All with a mere 100 watts and a 160 dipole at
35 feet.  I find it simply amazing how that band only appears 'open'
during a contest."

Floyd Chowning, K5LA of El Paso, Texas wrote about excellent
conditions on 6 meters on Sunday, January 25.  He had just put up a
new 5-element antenna, and said, "This morning I was running JT6M
contacts with K7JIZ (DN40) and W6OUU (DN22) around 1541 UTC and
signals were strong and steady.  It must be sporadic-E skip.  From
then on the band opened up to California, Arizona, New Mexico,
Texas, Louisiana, Missouri, Florida and Iowa.  Also, I heard a KP4
in Puerto Rico this morning but missed his call.  This afternoon I
worked several stations in Mexico in EK09, DK89 and DL90 beginning around
2040 UTC.  I also worked TI7/N5NEK (EK70), TI8II (EJ01) and YN2N
(EK71).  I worked all the stations on USB.  What a day for DX on 6
Meters.  I also heard HP1AC on CW but did not work him.  I heard
stations as close as Albuquerque, Phoenix, and Odessa, Texas, less
than 300 hundred miles.  I had my radio on 144.2 MHz but nothing
broke my squelch."

Floyd mentioned JT6M, which is a tool for running meteor scatter
communications.  For more about JT6M, see http://www.jt6m.org/.

This week I received a copy of a remarkable old letter, sent by Jim
Mast, W8HOM, of Fort Wayne, Indiana.  It was written on the last day
of 1975 by Ed Tilton, W1HDQ, the ham who originated the ARRL
Propagation Bulletin and wrote it until 1991.  This letter was
addressed to Jim back when his call was K9UNM.  The letter talks
about 10 meter propagation via meteor scatter and the recent 1975
ARRL 10 Meter contest.  It mentions W4IWZ, the call sign that
belonged to Francis Harper, of Nokesville, Virginia.  The letter was
typed on an old manual typewriter.

Here is what the letter said.

Dear Jim:

We certainly have heard of 10-meter meteor propagation. The date of
the contest was chosen with the Geminids shower in mind. This best
of the winter showers has been a factor in the contest results for
all three runnings of the affair in "modern" times.

I think the 1975 contest may have hit the shower at the most
opportune time, as the effects seemed very apparent almost
continually during the whole weekend. The Geminids show more
night-time activity than any other shower, but there seemed to be a
considerable amount of meteor burst propagation right through the
whole period this year. There is always a tendency to have E
propagation in mid-December, and this was also a factor in the date
selection. I hope that the propaganda some people have generated for
a change of season does not prevail. To my mind, this is an
excellent choice.

For some reason I didn't get to work W4IWZ in this contest. He and I
used to be in touch almost daily, when I was at home every day, in
1973 and early 1974. I guess we've worked by means of about every
form of propagation there is, at one time or another, and have seen
the effects of several meteor showers. At slightly over 300 miles,
he is at a very interesting distance from me. We have found that we
always have a basic tropo-scatter signal, and can recognize each
other on CW at almost any time. He has at least a 10-dB advantage in
power, but somehow he manages to hear me every time I call him.
Needless to say, I read him better than he reads me, with my 4O
watts output, maximum, we have had many good QSOs, by back-scatter
and short sporadic-E skip. His signal is mildly affected by
tropospheric bending, too, though I'm sure we'd get more of that on
higher frequencies. We see every kind of ionospheric effect on this
path, at one time or another, and have had many backscatter QSOs,
from many different directions.

Meteor ionization, being an E-region phenomenon, is very common on
28 MHz. The only reason why I can account for the unawareness of it
on the part of many 10-meter buffs is that most of them tend to
disregard weak signals, or they expect the band to be dead for 3 or
4 years out of every 10. You can hear meteor bursts any morning, 365
mornings per year, on 10. Keep morning skeds for a while, with
people at distances where the direct signal is weak, and you'll hear
them much better than on 144 or even 50 MHz.  During major showers
they even give the impression that that band is 'open'-- which it
always is, anyway. Ask Harper - he'll tell you that!

vy 73
Ed Tilton, W1HDQ

I thought this letter was so interesting and timely, considering
recent discussions about meteor scatter propagation on HF, that it
should run here in its entirety.  Thanks, Jim, for hanging on to it
for 33 years, and sharing it with us.

If you would like to make a comment or have a tip for our readers,
email the author at, k7ra at arrl.net.

For more information concerning radio propagation, see the ARRL
Technical Information Service web page at,
http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html.  For a detailed
explanation of the numbers used in this bulletin see,
http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/k9la-prop.html.  An archive of past
propagation bulletins is at, http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/.

Monthly propagation charts between four USA regions and twelve
overseas locations are at http://www.arrl.org/qst/propcharts/.

Instructions for starting or ending email distribution of this
bulletin are at http://www.arrl.org/w1aw.html#email.

Sunspot numbers for January 22 through 28 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, and
0 with a mean of 0.  10.7 cm flux was 69, 70, 68.8, 69.8, 69.9,
69.7, and 69.5 with a mean of 69.5.  Estimated planetary A indices
were 1, 1, 1, 1, 10, 4 and 2 with a mean of 2.9.  Estimated
mid-latitude A indices were 0, 1, 1, 1, 9, 2 and 1 with a mean of
2.1.
NNNN
/EX



