From memberlist at www.arrl.org  Fri Jun  5 13:55:07 2009
From: memberlist at www.arrl.org (ARRL Web site)
Date: Fri, 05 Jun 2009 10:55:07 -0700
Subject: [CVRC] ARLD022 DX news
Message-ID: <200906051755.n55Ht7Nc023715@pop1.greatbasin.net>

SB DX @ ARL $ARLD022
ARLD022 DX news

ZCZC AE22
QST de W1AW
DX Bulletin 22  ARLD022
 From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  June 4, 2009
To all radio amateurs

SB DX ARL ARLD022
ARLD022 DX news

This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by
NC1L, PF4T, PY2WAS, 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.

LESOTHO, 7P.  Alexander, UX4UL and Ivan, UR9IDX are QRV as 7P8A and
7P8R, respectively, until June 10.  Activity is on all bands.  QSL
7P8A via UY5ZZ and 7P8R via UR9IDX.

MALDIVES, 8Q.  Tom, PF4T will be QRV as 8Q7TB Embudu Island, IOTA
AS-013, from June 8 to 24.  Activity will be on 40 and 20 meters
using SSB.  QSL direct to home call.

BAHAMAS, C6.  A group of operators are QRV as C6AMS from Nassau on
New Providence, IOTA NA-001, until June 14.  This includes possible
activity from Lighthouse WLOTA LH-1115.  QSL direct to NA6M.

ANGOLA, D2.  Vasiliy is QRV as D2QMN and has been active using RTTY
on 20 meters around 2000z.  QSL via RZ3EC.

SOUTH COOK ISLANDS, E5.  Nigel, G4KIU now lives in Rarotonga, IOTA
OC-013, and is QRV as E51SC.  He is active on 80 to 10 meters using
SSB, RTTY, PSK31 and some CW.  QSL to home call.

IRELAND, EI.  Members of the Galway Radio Experimenters Club are QRV
as EI09VOR until June 6 in celebration of the Volvo Ocean Yacht Race
which takes place in Galway.  Activity is on 30, 20 and 17 meters
using CW and SSB.  Activity is from the Mutton Island Lighthouse,
ARLHS IRE-107.  QSL via EI8DD.

FRANCE, F.  In commemoration of the 65th anniversary of the ''D-Day
landings'' in Normandy special event station F/ON6JUN/p is QRV from
Ranville until June 8.  In addition, special event station TM6SME is
QRV from Emondeville until June 14.  QSL via operators'
instructions.

SAINT MARTIN, FS.  John, K9EL is QRV as FS/home call until June 12
while on vacation.  Activity is on 80 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and
RTTY in his spare time,  QSL to home call.

ITALY, I.  To commemorate 100 years of the Nobel Prize for Physics
of Guglielmo Marconi, Alfredo, IK7JWX is QRV as IY7NGM and IY7NGM/p
until the end of 2009.  Activity is on all HF bands and 6 meters
using all modes.  QSL via IK7JWX.

SVALBARD, JW.  Jan, OK1JK, Jiri, OK1JST, Pavel, OK1IPS and Jiri,
OK1IEC are QRV as JW/homecalls from Longyearbyen, IOTA EU-026, until
June 15.  Activity is on all bands using CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK.  QSL
to home calls.

NETHERLANDS, PA.  Special event station PA6JEROEN is QRV until June
14 in celebration of the 800-year-old bell tower of St. Jeroenskerk
in Noordwijk.  QSL via PA7DA.

FERNANDO de NORONHA, PY0F.  A group of operators will be QRV as ZY0F
from June 10 to 15.  Activity will be on 160 to 10 meters, including
60 meters, using CW, SSB and digital modes.  QSL via PY2WAS.

DODECANESE ISLANDS, SV5.  A group of operators will be QRV as SX5LA
from Levitha Island, IOTA EU-001, from June 8 to 14.  QSL via
SV1GRM.

BERMUDA ISLANDS, VP9.  Alex, W5YDX will be QRV as VP9/home call from
Hamilton Parish from June 10 to 24.  Activity is holiday style
generally on 20 and 17 meters.  QSL to home call.

ASCENSION ISLAND, ZD8.  Dean, KJ4GNB is QRV as ZD8DC and has been
active on 20 meter using SSB.  His length of stay is unknown.  QSL
to home call.

THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO.  The SEANET Contest, NCCC CW Sprint
Ladder, Digital Pentathlon, Wake-Up. QRP Sprint, DigiFest, VK Shires
Contest, UKSMG Summer 6-Meter Contest, RSGB National CW Field Day,
IARU Region 1 CW Field Day, Alabama QSO Party will certainly keep
contesters busy this upcoming weekend.  The NAQCC Straight Key/Bug
Sprint and RSGB 80-Meter Club CW Championship are scheduled for June
10.  Please see June QST, page 80 and the ARRL and WA7BNM contest
web sites for details.
NNNN
/EX



From memberlist at www.arrl.org  Fri Jun  5 14:43:13 2009
From: memberlist at www.arrl.org (ARRL Web site)
Date: Fri, 05 Jun 2009 11:43:13 -0700
Subject: [CVRC] ARLP023 Propagation de K7RA
Message-ID: <200906051843.n55IhDfR031095@pop1.greatbasin.net>

SB PROP @ ARL $ARLP023
ARLP023 Propagation de K7RA

ZCZC AP23
QST de W1AW
Propagation Forecast Bulletin 23  ARLP023
 From Tad Cook, K7RA
Seattle, WA  June 5, 2009
To all radio amateurs

SB PROP ARL ARLP023
ARLP023 Propagation de K7RA

It is so great to see some real Cycle 24 sunspot activity this week.
Instead of a phantom that pops into view one day and is gone the
next, we have sunspot 1019, which has persisted for five days, so
far.  Emerging on Sunday, May 31, the resulting daily sunspot
numbers through June 4 are 15, 23, 19, 17 and 17.  This is a Cycle
24 spot, and at high latitude too, which is an indication of a new
cycle spot.

Meanwhile, the low solar wind and quiet geomagnetic conditions
continue.  Currently spot 1019 is about to fade, although it is
still a few days away from crossing the eastern limb to the far
side.  NOAA and the US Air Force expect geomagnetic conditions to
continue to be quiet, and a planetary A index around five is
predicted until June 29.  Predicted solar flux values are 72 for
June 5-6, then 74 on June 7-13.

Geophysical Institute Prague predicts quiet geomagnetic conditions
June 5-8, quiet to unsettled June 9-10, and quiet again June 11.

Time now to look at our 3-month average daily sunspot numbers to
spot trends.  It looks like the numbers are up, slightly.

The three-month average of daily sunspot numbers for January through
April was 2.4, 2.3, 1.5 and 2.  The last number, centered on April,
is the sum of all daily sunspot numbers for March through May,
divided by the number of days.

Since 2007, the 3 month moving average has been:

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
Dec 08  3.7
Jan 09  2.3
Feb 09  2.1
Mar 09  1.5
Apr 09  2.0

The average daily sunspot number for just the month of May was 4,
which indicates a nice trend following the March and April 3-month
averages.

David Witkowski, W6DTW of San Jose, California was happy to see the
reports of night time 20 meter propagation from N6CAS, and notes
that on May 20 he worked LY1000A (Lithuania) at 0405z, ES1QD in
Estonia at 0612z on May 22, and OH5LF (Finland) at 0635z on May 23.
He worked them all using 100 watts and a vertical antenna.  He
wrote, "I told some friends here in San Jose that I'd worked Europe
barefoot at 11:00pm local time and a few of them gave me the 'Oh
yeah, sure you did' look.  Thanks for vindicating me."

David continued, "Regarding the question of "dead" versus
"unoccupied" bands; I wrote a blog article recently on this topic.
(See http://sparqi.blogspot.com/.) During Summer Es I used to listen
to 28.4 and/or tune from 28.3-28.5 to check for openings.  Recently
I made the discovery that listening on CB channel 38-LSB (27.385) is
a much better way to do a quick check for openings; I have monitored
stations from all over the western US burning up "38 lower" well
into late evening, while 10 meters sits idle.  Many times there is
propagation; we're just not using it."

Howard Estes, WB4GUD of Franklin, North Carolina also likes to check
Citizens Band activity for a 10-meter propagation indicator.  He
wrote, "I agree with W1ZI, the bands aren't dead, we're just lazy.
How often do you scan a band, don't hear anything, and go somewhere
else?  I've started checking the CB channels for activity.  If I can
hear the Big Frog Gigger in LA (that's lower Alabama), probably 10M
is open to somewhere."

Mark Lunday, WD4ELG of Hillsborough, North Carolina wrote about a
June 1 E-skip opening on 6 meters that still continued at 0400z on
June 2.  "I worked 12 stations on CW and SSB across the Midwest on
6.  Also, had some multi-hop on 10 meters using WSJT JT65A and heard
Oregon.  Second night in a row that I was hearing Es late at night
on 10 meters using WSJT weak-signal propagation."

Mark said he likes to use DX Sherlock, at http://tinyurl.com/5qwvu2.

Bill Turner, W4WNT of Matthews, North Carolina has good luck lately
with PSK on 20 meters, even when there are no sunspots.  He is
running 25 watts into a G5RV at 25 feet, and on May 21 at 0345z he
worked Peter, ZL1PWD who reported working 12 stations that day.

Erik Jacobsen, KB9BNY of McHenry, Illinois sent a message titled,
"20-meter PSK31 has been on fire this week."  He wrote, "Tuesday,
with the sunspot number at 19 and the solar flux at 72, 20 meters
nicely opened up for world wide communication.  I participate in the
PSK reporter network (http://psk.gladstonefamily.net/pskmap.html).
Basically, when a reporting station receives the de callsign
callsign pattern, the location of the transmitting station is then
plotted on a map.  When I checked the map on Tuesday morning, I saw
a Pakistani station, two New Zealand stations and a Japanese station
plotted.  It just goes to show you how well 20 meters can perform
with a small amount of power (usually under 30 watts), a narrow-band
signal, and relatively modest solar conditions."

He continues, "I preserved the map for historical purposes at
http://tinyurl.com/June2-map. Tuesday's total monitoring take for a
24 hour period was 30 countries.  I occasionally blog my PSK
reporter observations at http://20meters.blogspot.com.  My current
PSK reporter map can be viewed at http://tinyurl.com/kb9bny-map."

Thanks, Erik! Great stuff.

Again this week we have a book recommendation.  Bill Scholz, KB1SGY
of Greenwich, Connecticut advises checking out "The Sun Kings; The
Unexpected Tragedy of Richard Carrington and the Tale of How Modern
Astronomy Began."

Bill writes that this is "an engaging book by Stuart Clark that
describes, in great detail, how the great astronomers of the 19th
century linked sun spots, solar flares, auroras and magnetic storms.
An excerpt from the flyleaf: 'In September of 1859, a cloud of
seething gas engulfed the Earth and a blood-red aurora erupted
across the planet.  Around the world, telegraph machines burst into
flames, while compasses reeled as if struck by a massive magnetic
fist.  No one knew what could have released such strange forces upon
the Earth - no one, that is, except the amateur English astronomer
Richard Carrington.'"

He continues, "It's a great read and I recommend it highly if you're
interested in the connection between these phenomena."

Last week's bulletin mentioned a consumer communications product out
of Japan that would require text messengers to learn Morse code.  We
asked if anyone could decode the Japanese in a graphic on a web page
talking about the product, and Brett Graham, VS6BG says it is just a
banner ad for a television show.  He thought the product might be
for real, but checked with JA3USA, who thought it was an April 1
joke.  But Brett says, "The idea does have something going for it."

In last week's bulletin we presented some confusing text regarding
scientific notation and numbers representing the area covered by
sunspots, at least it confused me.  I was worried about it, so I
checked with K9LA, who got me on the right track.  But K1SFA at ARRL
HQ was concerned when she got it from me, so she passed it on to a
ham who is an astronomer for a fact check.  Somehow it got changed
back to the way I had it in the first place, before getting input
from K9LA.  So at this point I can't correct it, although I believe
K9LA had it right.  More later.

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 May 28 through June 3 were 0, 0, 0, 15, 23, 19,
and 17 with a mean of 10.6.  10.7 cm flux was 67.7, 68.2, 68.5,
68.5, 72.5, 71.9, and 72.5 with a mean of 70.  Estimated planetary A
indices were 7, 5, 3, 3, 3, 2 and 4 with a mean of 3.9.  Estimated
mid-latitude A indices were 5, 4, 2, 3, 2, 2 and 4 with a mean of
3.1.
NNNN
/EX



From letter-dlvy at arrl.org  Fri Jun  5 17:55:19 2009
From: letter-dlvy at arrl.org (ARRL Letter Mailing List)
Date: Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:55:19 -0700
Subject: [CVRC] The ARRL Letter, Vol 28, No 22 (Friday, June 5, 2009)
Message-ID: <200906052155.n55LtK5D012777@pop1.greatbasin.net>

***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 28, No. 22
June 5, 2009
***************

IN THIS EDITION:

* + High Speed Telegraphy on the World Stage
* + Changes to ARRL VHF/UHF Contest Rules Now in Place
* + Jeff Beals, WA4AW, Appointed Southeastern Division Vice Director
* + First 2009 ARRL Teachers Institute in the Books
*   ARRL In Action: What Have We Been Up to Lately?
* + President Obama to Renominate FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell for
New Term
* + NASA Releases New Predictions for Solar Cycle 24
*  Solar Update
*  IN BRIEF:
       This Week on the Radio
       ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration
     + Mal Eiselman, NC4L, Wins May QST Cover Plaque Award
       Operation Approved for DXCC Credit
       More 2009 Field Day T Shirts on the Way

+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>
===========================================================

==> HIGH SPEED TELEGRAPHY ON THE WORLD STAGE

The October 1936 issue of QST reported on the first official "Amateur
Code Speed Contest" ever held. Eugene A. Hubbell, W9ERU, took home the
silver trophy with his wining speed of 52.2 words per minute. Held at
the ARRL Central Division Convention that year, the contest required
operators to decipher plain language text for two minute intervals that
ranged in speed from 25 to 52.7 words per minute. "Only bona-fide
amateurs, holding at least an amateur operator's license, were eligible"
to compete in the contest, the article stated
<http://p1k.arrl.org/cgi-bin/topdf.cgi?id=18072&pub=qst>.

Fast forward to 1995. Competitors from 15 countries on three continents
traveled to Siofok, Hungary to show off their CW operating skills in the
first IARU High Speed Telegraphy (HST) World Championship. According to
Barry Kutner, W2UP, HST has long been considered a sport in Europe,
especially Eastern Europe, similar to chess or an Olympic sport. Kutner
was the sole US representative at the 2005 HST World Championship in
Macedonia. In 2009, he is leading a team of seven this September to
Obzor, Bulgaria for the Ninth High Speed Telegraphy IARU World
Championship <http://www.hst2009.eu/>.

Kutner said that most of the participating IARU Member-Societies hold a
national competition in their country, seeking members to field and
sponsor a team to the World Championship. "In some of the eastern
European countries, where they take this very seriously, there are team
and/or individual coaches, too," he said. Competitors must be licensed
Amateur Radio operators, except entrants in the younger categories may
be SWLs. The IARU HST World Championships follow rules set forth by the
IARU Region 1 High Speed Telegraphy Working Group
<http://www.darc.de/referate/dx/archives/hstrules.pdf>.

In the US, Kutner said those who wish to participate in the World
Championship do so at their own expense. "In past years, there has
either been one -- myself in 2005 and Ilya Kleyman in 2007 -- or no US
participants," he told the ARRL. "This year, we have a team!"

The US team consists of shortwave listener Brana Kleyman (category A,
women 16 and younger); Kody Low, KB3RUP, and Cal Darula, K0DXC (category
B, men 16 and younger); Ilya Kleyman, KE7OPG, and Ken Low, NV1P
(category H, men age 40-49), and Gary Schmidt, W5ZL, and Kutner
(Category I, men 50 and older). "The 2 OM categories are full," Kutner
said. "But we are always looking for younger hams, especially young
ladies!" There are nine categories, and each country can only send two
competitors per category, for a maximum of 18 competitors.

There are three main competitive events at HST meets: Transmitting,
receiving and receiving Amateur Radio call signs via RUFZxp
<http://www.rufzxp.net/>; the sending and receiving portions of the
competition are referred to as the Radioamateur Practicing Tests (RPT).
There is also a pileup competition.

In the RPT, random letters and numbers are sent via Morse code -- five
characters at a time -- at a high speed. Separate competitions are held
for the reception of only the 26 letters of the Latin alphabet, only the
10 Arabic numerals or a mixed content of letters, numbers and some
punctuation symbols. Competitors may choose to record the text by hand
on paper or by typing on a computer keyboard. The competition starts
with one minute of transmission sent at an initial speed defined for the
entry category (usually 50 letters per minute for juniors and 80 letters
per minute for the other age categories). After each test, the
competitors' copy is judged for errors. Subsequent tests are each
conducted at an increased speed until no competitor remains who can copy
the text without excessive error.

The transmission tests require competitors to send five character groups
in Morse code as fast as possible. Competitors send a printed message of
five character groups at a specific speed that is judged for its
accuracy by a panel of referees. Like the receiving tests, there are
separate competitions for sending five character groups of only letters,
only numbers or a mixed content of letters, numbers and some punctuation
symbols.

Kutner noted that 100 letters per minute is equivalent to 25 words per
minute and 100 numbers per minute is equal to 36 words per minute. The
mixed category of 100 letters, numbers and punctuation is equal to 29
words per minute.

The Amateur Radio Call Sign Receiving Test uses a software program
called RufzXP that generates a score for each competitor. Rufz is the
abbreviation of the German word Rufzeichen-Horen that means "listening
of call signs." In RufzXP, competitors listen to an Amateur Radio call
sign sent in Morse code and must enter that call sign with the computer
keyboard. If the competitor types in the call sign correctly, their
score improves, and the speed at which the program sends subsequent call
signs increases. If the competitor types in the call sign incorrectly,
the score is penalized and the speed decreases. Only one call sign is
sent at a time and the event continues for a fixed number of call signs
(usually 50). Competitors can choose the initial speed at which the
program sends the Morse code and the winner is the competitor with the
highest generated score.

There is also a Pileup Trainer Test that simulates a pileup situation on
the air -- numerous stations attempt to establish two-way contact with
one particular station at the same time. This competition uses a
software program called MorseRunner
<http://www.dxatlas.com/MorseRunner/>. In this test, more than one
amateur radio call sign is sent at a time via Morse code that is
generated at different audio frequencies and speeds, timed to overlap
each other. Competitors must record as many of the call signs as they
can during a fixed period of time. They may choose to do this either by
recording the call signs by hand on paper or by typing them in with a
computer keyboard. The winner is the competitor with the most correctly
recorded call signs.

Kutner said that each US team member practices on an individual basis,
using both on-the-air and computer generated CW. As the team gears up
for Bulgaria, "we are in frequent contact via e-mail, exchanging tips
and ideas," he said.

HST has definitely come a long way since 1936 when Hubbell dazzled the
crowds with 52.2 words per minute; competitors at the IARU HST World
Championships consistently have speeds of more than 500 characters per
minute -- 100 words per minute. While it's too late to join the 2009 US
team, it's not too early to think about upcoming events. If you are able
to copy and/or send CW at dizzying speeds, why not think about attending
the next IARU HST World Championship? For more information on HST
events, contact Kutner via e-mail <w2up at arrl.net>.

==> CHANGES TO ARRL VHF/UHF CONTEST RULES NOW IN PLACE

The League's Programs and Services Committee has approved
recommendations made by the ARRL's VHF-UHF Advisory Committee (VUAC)
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/vuac.html> to change two rules in the
ARRL's VHF/UHF contest program. These changes are in effect immediately,
and include the 2009 June VHF QSO Party, scheduled for June 13-15
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2009/june-vhf.html>.

The first change concerns the Limited Rover category. The ARRL Programs
and Services Committee accepted the VUAC's proposal that Limited Rovers
may now compete on only the four lowest frequency bands available for
any given contest. For the January, June and September VHF Contests,
this means 6 and 2 meters, as well as 222 and 432 MHz. For the August
UHF Contest, this means 222, 432 and 902 MHz and 1.2 GHz. QSOs on other
bands can be made by Limited Rovers, but they will not count toward the
Limited Rover's score and will be considered a checklog. "We have
already applied changes to the log-checking software that will adjust
the Limited Rover's QSOs above the lowest four bands to zero-point
QSOs," said ARRL Contest Branch Manager Sean Kutzko, KX9X.

The second change concerns the ARRL UHF Contest
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2009/uhf.html>. For the first time,
Kutzko said, the ARRL Awards Committee voted to add Club Competition to
the UHF Contest, beginning in 2009. "This is something that the VHF/UHF
community has been asking for for quite some time," he explained. "The
VUAC made their recommendations and the Awards Committee agreed. We hope
to see VHF/UHF clubs across the country help increase participation and
get involved with this fun contest."

According to Kutzko, these changes come on the heels of the redesign of
the June VHF QSO Party Plaque Program. "In the past," he said, "plaques
in the June VHF QSO Party have been awarded for first through tenth
place in any category, regardless of location. As any VHFer will tell
you, there are radical differences in propagation from one part of the
country to another. We decided the plaque program needed to be based on
Division, just like every other plaque program that the ARRL offers, not
position in the standings."

Kutzko explained that the Programs and Services Committee agreed with
this recommendation and voted in favor of it: "This change in structure
recognizes the Division-level competition that takes place in the June
VHF QSO Party, sometimes under conditions of little to no propagation."

June VHF QSO Party plaque sponsorships are available for all entry
categories in all 15 ARRL Divisions, Canada, Mexico and DX. If you or
your club is interested in sponsoring a plaque ($75, including shipping
charges), contact ARRL Contest Branch Manager Sean Kutzko, KX9X, via
e-mail <kx9x at arrl.org> and he will help you find a plaque that's right
for you or your club to sponsor.

==> JEFF BEALS, WA4AW, APPOINTED SOUTHEASTERN DIVISION VICE DIRECTOR

With the approval of the ARRL Ethics and Elections Committee, ARRL
President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, appointed Southern Florida Assistant
Section Manager Jeff Beals, WA4AW, as Vice Director in the Southeastern
Division, effective June 1. Beals replaces Sandy Donohue, W4RU, who
passed away last month
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/05/05/10805/?nc=1>.

An Extra class licensee, Beals was first licensed in the early 1960s as
WN2OUK. Beals -- who splits his time between Royal Palm Beach, Florida
and Dothan, Alabama -- has served as Southern Florida Assistant Section
Manager since 2002. Beals has also held appointments as Section
Emergency Coordinator, Affiliated Club Coordinator, Technical
Coordinator, Technical Specialist and District Emergency Coordinator.

"I am deeply honored to be chosen by President Harrison to serve as Vice
Director of the Southeastern Division," Beals told the ARRL. "I am
looking forward to working with Division Director Greg Sarratt, W4OZK,
to provide quality service and representation to the members of the
Southeastern Division. I feel that my years of service in the ARRL Field
Organization provide me with a unique outlook on what our members expect
of our League. My ability to listen and learn from them will assist Greg
and myself to provide the representation they have come to expect from
the Southeastern Division."

Sarratt said that was "proud" that Beals was chosen to be the new
Southeastern Division Vice-Director: "Jeff has a heart for Amateur
Radio. He and I have worked together at many hamfests in the
Southeastern Division and I look forward to many more. Please join me in
welcoming Jeff as Southeastern Division Vice Director."

Beals said he would be "remiss if I didn't mention the many years of
friendship and tutelage given to me by former Southeastern Director
Frank Butler, W4RH, and Vice Director Sandy Donahue, W4RU (SK). Their
years of service to the League and to Amateur Radio are much appreciated
by me and the many members of the Division with whom they came in
contact."

Beals was a long-time friend of Donahue's. "I knew Sandy for more than
25 years," he told the ARRL upon Donahue's passing. "He was very, very
devoted to Amateur Radio, especially the public service side: Emergency
Communications, traffic handling and helping out wherever and whenever
he could. We had a lot in common."

Beals counts emergency communications support, liaison with served
agencies, radio club liaison and support, classic Amateur Radio
operation and restoration, and training of Section volunteers as just
some of his Amateur Radio activities. "I am always promoting Amateur
Radio and the ARRL at community events, and I attend many club meetings,
functions and hamfests throughout the Division," he said. "I am a
participant in a pilot project to provide membership support to members
of the ARRL Southern Florida Section; this project has since grown to
encompass the entire Southeastern Division." He also holds commendations
from the State of Florida for his communications support during
Hurricanes Andrew, Frances, Jean and Katrina.

"During my tenure as the Southern Florida Section SEC, President
Harrison appointed me to serve on the National Emergency Response
Planning Committee. One of the challenges facing many of our SFL Section
members -- as well as the rest of our nation -- is the ability to
construct an effective antenna system in communities governed by
covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs)
<http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/local/ccr.html>," Beals
explained. "I am -- and always have been -- a staunch supporter of any
bill in Congress, such as HR 2160
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/04/30/10792/?nc=1>, to effect
such change in these most restrictive regulations that prevent hams from
providing needed public service communications, as well as their
enjoyment of Amateur Radio.

Beals is a Life Member of the ARRL, Quarter Century Wireless Association
and the Antique Wireless Association; he is a Senior Grade member of the
Radio Club of America and the ARRL A-1 Operator Club
<http://www.arrl.org/awards/a1-op/>. He is Past President of the Fort
Myers and West Palm Beach Amateur Radio Clubs and current member of the
Palms West ARC, North Florida ARS, Wiregrass ARC, OOTC, the Florida and
Alabama Contest Groups and the Florida East Coast DX Club.

==> FIRST 2009 ARRL TEACHERS INSTITUTE IN THE BOOKS

The week of May 25 saw the completion of the first 2009 Teachers
Institute on Wireless Technology
<http://www.arrl.org/FandES/tbp/ti.html>. According to Education and
Technology Program Coordinator Mark Spencer, WA8SME, about half of the
participants came from the host institution, the New Mexico Military
Institute (NMMI) in Roswell <http://www.nmmi.edu>. "The NMMI was an
exceptional venue for the Teachers Institute and the school's chaplain,
Major Dan Musgrave, WD8RMG, proved to be a gracious host, as well as one
of the NMMI faculty participants," Spencer recounted.

Spencer said that the Teachers Institute curriculum -- four days of
intensive in-service training in basic electronics, the science of
radio, bringing space technology into the classroom, microcontroller
programming and basic robotics -- continues to be refined. "One
participant, a Colonel, commented that the Teachers Institute far
exceeded her expectations, and that she could not even imagine the
amount of material that was covered during the course," Spencer said.
Another participant -- a Lieutenant Colonel who is the NMMI choir and
band director -- quickly made connections between the operation of the
musical instruments he instructs (and his cadet students use) and the
five building blocks of radio that are presented in the Science of Radio
unit.

"This connection between content areas -- in this case music and
electronics -- is an example of what the program and the Teachers
Institutes are all about," Spencer said. "This instructor will now be in
a better position to help his students to make their own connections
between the subjects they are studying in school. These connections make
learning relevant."

The next two Teachers Institutes -- in Rocklin, California and in
Tucson, Arizona -- are scheduled for this coming week, marking the first
time that two Teachers Institutes have been held at the same time.
Spencer and Teachers Institute Instructor Miguel Enriquez, KD7RPP, plan
to connect the two sessions by making a satellite contact using AO27.
"This will demonstrate to participants how amateurs connect with each
other via satellites," Spencer explained, "making a practical
demonstration of the Space in the Classroom unit."

==> ARRL IN ACTION: WHAT HAVE WE BEEN UP TO LATELY?

This feature -- including convenient Web links to useful information --
is a concise monthly update of some of the things ARRL is doing on
behalf of its members. This installment covers the month of May.

The ARRL solicited support for HR 2160, the Amateur Radio Emergency
Communications Enhancement Act of 2009
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/05/12/10818>.

An ARRL Freedom of Information Act request forced the FCC to release the
redacted portions of the studies on which they relied with regard to
their Broadband over Powerline (BPL) rulemaking in 2004
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/05/08/10811/?nc=1>.

The ARRL hosted their 2009 National Convention at the Dayton Hamvention
on May 15-17 <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/05/16/10823/?nc=1>.

The ARRL honored those who donated more than $1000 to the League in 2008
with a reception just prior to the 2009 ARRL National Convention and
Dayton Hamvention. Three new members of the ARRL's Maxim Society
<http://www.arrl.org/development/maxim.html> were introduced at the
reception <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/05/27/10839/?nc=1>.

The ARRL's Programs and Services Committee approved two changes to ARRL
VHF and UHF contests
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/05/29/10847/?nc=1>.

The first of seven ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology took
place in Roswell, New Mexico
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/06/02/10852/ >.

The ARRL Public Relations Committee honored three Public Information
Officers for going above and beyond in ensuring that the role of Amateur
Radio is explained to media and the public, especially in unanticipated
situations in the field
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/05/14/10813/?nc=1>. The Committee
also introduced the new PR-101 course
<http://www.arrl.org/catalog/?item=0133> at the 2009 ARRL National
Convention at the Dayton Hamvention
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/05/15/10817/?nc=1>.

ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, presented former ARISS International
Chairman Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, with the ARRL President's Award at Dayton
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/05/27/10838/?nc=1>.

W1AW and W1HQ received some new antennas during their semi-annual tower
inspection <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/05/20/10827/?nc=1>.

At month's end, the ARRL had awarded 269 Triple Play Awards
<http://www.arrl.org/awards/#tripleplay> since the award's inception
January 1, 2009
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/05/28/10843/?nc=1>.

The ARRL participated in the 2009 Maker's Faire in San Mateo, California
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/05/26/10835/?nc=1>.

Mel Parkes, NM7P, of Layton, was re-elected as the Utah Section Manager.
Dan Pruitt, AE6SX, is the new Section Manager in the San Joaquin Valley
Section. The Rhode Island, Maryland-DC, West Texas, Nevada, Northern New
Jersey and New Hampshire Sections will keep their incumbent Section
Managers <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/05/21/10829/?nc=1>.

The current 7Z1CQ operation in Saudi Arabia has been approved for DXCC
credit <http://www.arrl.org/?artid=8964>.

==> PRESIDENT OBAMA TO RENOMINATE FCC COMMISSIONER ROBERT MCDOWELL FOR
NEW TERM

On Tuesday, June 2, President Barack Obama announced that he will
renominate current FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell for another term
<http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/President-Obama-Announces-Hi
s-Intent-to-Nominate-Robert-McDowell-for-Another-Term-at-the-FCC/>.
McDowell, a Republican, was first nominated by President George W. Bush
and sworn into office in June 2006, filling the unexpired term of
Republican Kathleen Q. Abernathy. McDowell, whose present term expires
June 30, 2009, would need to be confirmed by the Senate. Commissioners'
terms are five years long.

According to the White House, McDowell has collaborated with his fellow
Commissioners to develop and establish American communications policy
covering the wireless, media and Internet industries, as well as
international policy matters. He has worked to create rules governing
wireless auctions, establish a framework for unlicensed use of TV "white
spaces" spectrum, develop incentives to encourage the development of new
broadband technologies, review public interest benefits as part of the
approval process of proposed corporate mergers and adjudicate
enforcement proceedings.

McDowell brings to the FCC approximately 16 years of private sector
experience in the communications industry. Immediately prior to joining
the Commission, McDowell was a senior executive for a trade association
representing competitive facilities-based telecommunications service
providers. He has served on the North American Numbering Council (NANC)
<http://www.fcc.gov/wcb/cpd/Nanc/> and on the Board of Directors of
North American Numbering Plan Billing and Collection (NBANC)
<http://www.fcc.gov/wcb/cpd/numbering/nbc.html>.

Acting Chairman Michael Copps congratulated McDowell on his
renomination, saying he was "truly delighted that he will continue on as
a fellow Commissioner. Since becoming Acting Chairman several months
ago, I appreciate more than ever Rob's collegiality, his openness, his
creative intellect, and the deep sense of purpose he brings to his work.
I especially want to thank him for all the talent and energy he has
brought to our work on next week's DTV transition. He has traveled near
and far to help consumers prepare and he has done an outstanding job in
helping us deploy an extensive DTV Call Center operation. I look forward
to our continuing work together as we tackle the many tough
communications issues confronting the Commission and the country."

McDowell was graduated cum laude from Duke University in 1985. After
serving as chief legislative aide to a member of the Virginia House of
Delegates, he attended the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College
of William and Mary. Upon his graduation from law school, McDowell
joined the Washington, DC office of Arter & Hadden, a national law firm,
now closed, that was based in Cleveland. McDowell is admitted to
practice law before the courts of the Commonwealth of Virginia, the US
District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and the US Courts of
Appeals for the District of Columbia, First, Fourth and Fifth Circuits,
as well as the US Supreme Court. He lives in Fairfax County, Virginia on
his family's farm with his wife Jennifer and their three children.

==> NASA, NOAA RELEASES NEW PREDICTIONS FOR SOLAR CYCLE 24

An international panel of experts -- led by the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and sponsored by NASA -- has released
a new prediction for the next solar cycle: Solar Cycle 24 will peak in
May 2013 with a below-average number of sunspots
<http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/29may_noaaprediction.htm?list13
00638>. "If our prediction is correct, Solar Cycle 24 will have a peak
sunspot number of 90, the lowest of any cycle since 1928 when Solar
Cycle 16 peaked at 78," said panel chairman Doug Biesecker of NOAA's
Space Weather Prediction Center. This report clarifies a NOAA report
from May 2009 that stated that Solar Cycle 24 would bring "90 sunspots
per day on average"
<http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2009/20090508_solarstorm.html>.

The latest forecast revises a prediction issued in 2007
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2008/01/07/100/>. At that time, a
sharply divided panel believed solar minimum would come in March 2008
followed by either a strong solar maximum in 2011, or a weak solar
maximum in 2012. "It turns out that none of our models were totally
correct," said Dean Pesnell of the Goddard Space Flight Center and
NASA's lead representative on the panel. "The Sun is behaving in an
unexpected and very interesting way."

In 2007, experts varied in their predictions on when the solar cycle
would peak and how strong it would be. In April of that year, NOAA, in
coordination with an international panel of solar experts, predicted
that the next 11-year cycle of solar storms "would start in March 2008,
plus or minus six months, and peak in late 2011 or mid-2012"
<http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/SolarCycle/>. In the cycle forecast issued in
April 2007, half of the panel predicted a "moderately strong cycle of
140 sunspots, plus or minus 20, expected to peak in October 2011. The
other half predicted a moderately weak cycle of 90 sunspots, plus or
minus 10, peaking in August 2012. An average solar cycle ranges from 75
to 155 sunspots. The late decline of Cycle 23 has helped shift the panel
away from its earlier leaning toward a strong Cycle 24. The group is
evenly split between a strong and a weak cycle."

At a meeting of the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco in
December 2007, David Hathaway of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center,
along with colleague Robert Wilson, said that Solar Cycle 24 "looks like
it's going to be one of the most intense cycles since record-keeping
began almost 400 years ago." They said they believe the next solar
maximum should peak around 2010 with a sunspot number of 160, plus or
minus 25. "This would make it one of the strongest solar cycles of the
past 50 years -- which is to say, one of the strongest in recorded
history." Four of the five biggest cycles on record have come in the
past 50 years. "Cycle 24 should fit right into that pattern," Hathaway
said.

Right now -- June 2009 -- the solar cycle is in a valley, the deepest of
the past century. In 2008 and 2009, the Sun showed some of the lowest
sunspot counts on record, as well as weak solar winds and a low solar
irradiance, going more than two years without a significant solar flare.
"In our professional careers, we've never seen anything quite like it,"
Pesnell said. "Solar minimum has lasted far beyond the date we predicted
in 2007."

In recent months, however, Pesnell said that the Sun has begun to show
some small signs of life: Small sunspots and "proto-sunspots" are
popping up with increasing frequency. Enormous currents of plasma on the
Sun's surface are gaining strength and slowly drifting toward its
equator. Radio astronomers have detected a tiny but significant uptick
in solar radio emissions. All these things are precursors of an
awakening Solar Cycle 24 and form the basis for the panel's new, almost
unanimous forecast.

Pesnell cautioned optimism, telling the ARRL that there is an "error bar
of +/- 20." This means Solar Cycle 24's sunspot number could be as high
as 110, or as low as 70. "Based upon my own personal research, I don't
think we'll see 90 [sunspots in Solar Cycle 24]," he said.

When asked if such a low number foretold the beginnings of a Maunder
Minimum <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maunder_minimum>, Pesnell said
that a Maunder Minimum takes several cycles to appear: "Sunspots [in
solar cycles] leading up to the Maunder Minimum took several cycles to
disappear. I really can't predict what will happen in Solar Cycle 25.
What we're seeing now is something that looks like a sunspot, but it
looks as if someone has come along and 'stomped' on it, creating a
multitude of little things. We don't have a name for this and we've
never seen anything like it before."

There could be more surprises, panelists acknowledge -- and more
revisions to the forecast. "Go ahead and mark your calendar for May
2013," Pesnell said. "But use a pencil."  -- Some information from NASA

==>SOLAR UPDATE

Tad "In the Sun he sang with cheerful heart" Cook, K7RA, this week
reports: It is so great to see some real Solar Cycle 24 sunspot activity
this week. Instead of a phantom that pops into view one day and is gone
the next, we have sunspot 1019, which has persisted for five days so
far. Emerging on Sunday, May 31, the resulting daily sunspot numbers
through June 4 are 15, 23, 19, 17 and 17. This is a Solar Cycle 24 spot,
and at high latitude too -- an indication of a new cycle spot.
Meanwhile, the low solar wind and quiet geomagnetic conditions continue.
Currently, spot 1019 is about to fade, although it is still a few days
away from crossing the eastern limb to the far side. NOAA and the US Air
Force expect geomagnetic conditions to continue to be quiet, and a
planetary A index around 5 is predicted until June 29. Predicted solar
flux values are 72 for June 5-6, then 74 on June 7-13. Geophysical
Institute Prague predicts quiet geomagnetic conditions June 5-8, quiet
to unsettled June 9-10 and quiet again June 11. Sunspot numbers for May
28-June 3 were 0, 0, 0, 15, 23, 19 and 17 with a mean of 10.6. The 10.7
cm flux was 67.7, 68.2, 68.5, 68.5, 72.5, 71.9 and 72.5 with a mean of
70. The estimated planetary A indices were 7, 5, 3, 3, 3, 2 and 4 with a
mean of 3.9. The estimated mid-latitude A indices were 5, 4, 2, 3, 2, 2
and 4 with a mean of 3.1. 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 William Allingham's "A Singer"
<http://www.sonnets.org/allinghm.htm#005>.

__________________________________

==>IN BRIEF:

* This Week on the Radio: This week, the SEANET Contest, IARU Region 1
Field Day and the Alabama QSO Party are all June 6-7. Next week is the
ARRL June VHF QSO Party on June 13-15. The Asia-Pacific Sprint is June
13. The GACW WWSA CW DX Contest and the ANARTS WW RTTY Contest are June
13-14. 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, June 28, 2009, for these online course sessions
beginning on Friday, July 10, 2009: Amateur Radio Emergency
Communications Level 1; Antenna Modeling; Radio Frequency Interference;
Antenna Design and Construction; Ham Radio (Technician) License Course;
Propagation; Analog Electronics, and Digital Electronics. 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>.

* Mal Eiselman, NC4L, Wins May QST Cover Plaque Award: The winner of the
QST Cover Plaque Award for May is Mal Eiselman, NC4L, for his article
"Troubleshooting Radios." Congratulations, Mal! 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 June issue by Tuesday, June 30.

* Operation Approved for DXCC Credit: ARRL DXCC Manager Bill Moore,
NC1L, reports that the HZ1EA operation in Saudi Arabia has been approved
for DXCC credit. "If you had cards that were recently rejected for this
operation, please send an e-mail to the ARRL DXCC Desk <dxcc at arrl.org >
and you will be placed on the list for update," Moore said. "Once
completed, if you have an account in Logbook of the World (LoTW), the
update will be posted to your account" <http://www.arrl.org/lotw >.

* More 2009 Field Day T Shirts on the Way: The 2009 ARRL Field Day T
shirts are a huge hit <http://www.arrl.org/catalog/?item=NO-0515 >,
topping demand from previous years. "While the current supply of Field
Day shirts has stocked out, we expect to be re-supplied before the end
of next week -- in time to fulfill all orders to clubs and individuals,"
said ARRL Sales and Marketing Manager Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R. "We
appreciate everyone's patience and apologize for shipping delays." This
year's logo captures the spirit of Field Day in camp-like fashion. The
artwork depicts a woodland outdoor scene on a green-colored shirt. The
logo was designed by ARRL Graphic Arts Supervisor Sue Fagan, KB1OKW, and
Senior Technical Illustrator David Pingree, N1NAS. "We've received some
really nice compliments about the design -- and a couple of funny
remarks asking why we left out the grizzly bear," Inderbitzen said. 2009
ARRL Field Day is June 27-28 <http://www.arrl.org/fieldday >.

===========================================================
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American Radio Relay League: ARRL--the national association for Amateur
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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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==>How to Get The ARRL Letter

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



From letter-dlvy at arrl.org  Fri Jun 12 20:31:08 2009
From: letter-dlvy at arrl.org (ARRL Letter Mailing List)
Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 17:31:08 -0700
Subject: [CVRC] The ARRL Letter, Vol 28, No 23 (Friday, June 12, 2009)
Message-ID: <200906130031.n5D0V8xF007496@pop1.greatbasin.net>

***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 28, No. 23
June 12, 2009
***************

IN THIS EDITION:

* + Fun, Fresh Air, Friends and Food: It Must Be Time for ARRL Field Day!
* + Changes Coming for ARRL November Sweepstakes Contest Log Submissions
* + Alabama Hams Assist During Statewide Emergency Drill
* + Look for the July Issue of QST in Your Mailbox
*   Join the Fun in the ARRL VHF QSO Party This Weekend
* + National Hurricane Center Predicts "Near-Normal" Hurricane Season
* + QEX: The July/August 2009 Issue
*  Solar Update
*  IN BRIEF:
       This Week on the Radio
       ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration
     + Two New Co-sponsors Pledge Support for HR 2160
     + Don Tunstill, W4NO (SK)
       Central States VHF Society Seeks Presentations for Annual Conference
       From the DXCC Desk

+ 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>.
===========================================================

==> FUN, FRESH AIR, FRIENDS AND FOOD: IT MUST BE TIME FOR ARRL FIELD DAY!

The 2009 ARRL Field Day will be here before you 
know it, so now is the time to grab your rig, 
grab your friends, grab some grub and get ready 
to get outside June 27-28 
<http://www.arrl.org/fieldday>. If you haven't 
yet started planning for this year's Field Day, 
it's not too late -- Field Day packets are 
available for download from the ARRL Web site 
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/forms/fd-2009-packet.pdf>.

ARRL Field Day Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, 
reminds clubs and groups that the deadline to 
order exhibit kits and ham radio recruitment 
handouts is drawing near. "We need to have all 
orders for kits and brochures no later than 
Wednesday, June 17. If we have your order by 
then, we will be able to package your order and 
get it to you in time for Field Day. Any orders 
received after June 17 will be fulfilled and they 
might make it to recipients before Field Day," he 
explained. Exhibit kits can be ordered online at 
no cost; there is a small shipping and handling 
fee <http://www.arrl.org/brochures/>.

If you are looking for a Field Day site to 
attend, or are looking to publicize your Field 
Day site, be sure to check out the Field Day Site 
Locator 
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/announcements/fd/locator.php>. 
For more information on this service, please 
check out the Locator Site Frequently Asked 
Questions (FAQ) 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2008/06/03/10021/?nc=1>. 
"More than 1000 Field Day sites have been 
registered on the Locator, with more being added every day," Henderson said.

ARRL Field Day is the most popular on-the-air 
operating event in Amateur Radio. On the fourth 
full weekend in June, tens of thousands of 
Amateur Radio operators gather for a 
demonstration of our service. Field Day is part 
educational event, part operating event, part 
public relations event -- and all about fun!

"We all became hams for our own reasons," 
Henderson said. "Some of us were interested in 
public service and helping others in times of 
need. Many discovered the hobby as an outlet to 
their curiosity about electronics and 
communications. Still others joined our ranks 
because of the quest to meet new people and 
expand their own personal bank of knowledge. 
Whatever the reason you became an amateur, there 
is one compelling thread that brought us all 
together. It is as simple as can be: We became hams for the fun of the hobby!"

Henderson said that while Field Day serves a wide 
array of interests and purposes, "there is no 
greater 'fun-damental' goal for Field Day than to 
have fun! While it encompasses a broad range of 
Amateur Radio interests -- CW, Phone, Digital, 
emergency preparedness, public service, 
satellites, recruitment, antennas, new and 
vintage equipment and so many more -- Field Day 
is, above all else, a chance for us to have some fun with our hobby."

Henderson reminded hams that fun is where you 
find it: "Some will discover the fun by operating 
overnight, building up their club's total number 
of QSOs. Others will never make a single Field 
Day contact, but will derive their fun by helping 
set up antennas and generators. The joy of 
sharing your radio knowledge with a newcomer will 
be fun for many old-timers, while other 
old-timers will experience the 'Field Day high' 
when they make their very first QSO using a new 
digital mode or via one of the Amateur Radio 
satellites. The camaraderie of the annual club 
Field Day picnic or covered dish supper will be a 
fun highlight for many, while still others will 
find the joy in the hobby by simply being able to 
spend a couple of hours from home on an otherwise 
busy weekend, tuning the bands and making a few contacts."

If you want to be one of the best-dressed hams at 
your Field Day event, be sure to pick up the 2009 
ARRL Field Day T shirt, hat and pin 
<http://www.arrl.org/catalog/?category=&words=field+day&SearchWords.x=0&SearchWords.y=0>. 
Featuring a woodsy, outdoor scene, these items 
are a great way to recognize your involvement in 
the excitement and fun of this annual operating 
event. ARRL is also offering Get On The Air 
(GOTA) pins 
<http://www.arrl.org/catalog/?item=8911>. It's a 
great idea to have your GOTA station operators 
wear these attractive pins. Pins from previous 
Field Days are also available -- make your 
collection complete with this year's pin. 
According to ARRL Sales and Marketing Manager Bob 
Inderbitzen, NQ1R, a new shipment of 2009 Field 
Day T shirts has just arrived, so be sure to order yours today.

==> CHANGES COMING FOR ARRL NOVEMBER SWEEPSTAKES CONTEST LOG SUBMISSIONS

ARRL Sweepstakes Contest Manager Ken Adams, K5KA, 
said he and the ARRL Contest Branch intend to 
"dramatically reduce the timeframe for producing 
results that are available to all ARRL 
Sweepstakes participants." According to Adams, 
the contesting community has requested that 
results be made available more quickly. 
Currently, Sweepstakes results are published six 
months after the contest has taken place.

"To facilitate this request, we would like to 
make the 2009 ARRL Sweepstakes final results 
available on the Web in 60 days in the form of a 
PDF file," he said. "If this effort proves 
successful, we plan to shorten this window to 30 
days in 2010. This PDF would simply be the scores 
in each category -- full write-ups and detailed 
analysis of the Sweepstakes contest would still 
appear in QST and on the Web at a later time."

To meet this aggressive schedule, Adams said that 
the log submission deadline will be reduced from 
30 days to 15 days. For the 2009 Sweepstakes, the 
deadline for CW Sweepstakes logs will be 0300 UTC 
on Monday, November 23, 2009. The deadline for 
the Phone Sweepstakes will be 0300 UTC on Monday, December 7, 2009.

"The number of non-Cabrillo logs received at ARRL 
HQ must be reduced," Adams explained. "By 
receiving logs 15 days earlier, we can begin the 
log checking process that much faster, but we 
will we need your help on the paper log issue. In 
2008, the ARRL Contest Branch received more than 
300 paper logs for the Sweepstakes contests. 
These paper logs were converted to Cabrillo 
format by a dedicated, yet small, group of 
volunteers. This took several hundred person-hours of time."

Adams said that there are plans to contact as 
many paper log submitters as possible and point 
out resources they can use to generate Cabrillo 
logs: "I am asking that every club have a special 
project and meeting this year to insure that 100 
percent of their members submit Cabrillo logs for 
Sweepstakes. If you have club members who don't 
have computers, please form your own volunteer 
teams to convert their logs after the contest. 
This would be a great excuse for a big 
post-Sweepstakes club pizza party, combining data entry with club camaraderie."

While the ARRL will never turn away a paper log, 
Adams said that the advantages of electronic log 
submission are critical to the success of the 
accelerated presentation of the Sweepstakes 
results. "Numerous software contest loggers exist 
for Windows and DOS, including the free packages 
CT <http://www.k1ea.com/> and N1MM 
<http://pages.cthome.net/n1mm/>," he said. 
Entrants are also able to manually convert their 
own paper logs to a Cabrillo log at the WA7BNM 
Cabrillo Web site" <http://www.b4h.net/cabforms/arrlsscw_cab.php>.

"You, the members of the contesting community, 
have requested faster turnaround of contest 
results for some time," Adams said. "With every 
contester's help, we can achieve this goal of 
dramatically reducing the time between contest 
and results. We have identified several other 
areas we hope to improve in the future, such as 
simplified Web access for Sweepstakes 
information, historical log search capability, 
easy access to FAQs, records and the like. We 
will continue to work on those goals. Thank you 
for your continued participation and help with 
the ARRL November Sweepstakes, the greatest domestic contest out there."

==> ALABAMA HAMS ASSIST DURING STATEWIDE EMERGENCY DRILL

During the week of May 4-8, emergency responders 
and support personnel gathered in Robertsdale, 
Alabama for a communications interoperability 
training and full-scale exercise, sponsored by 
the Alabama Department of Homeland Security 
(ADHS) 
<http://www.homelandsecurity.alabama.gov/>. 
Gathering in a field near the Baldwin County 
Emergency Operations Center, responders came 
together to test the quality and effectiveness of 
communications between various State agencies and 
support personnel. The exercise simulated a 
Category 5 hurricane that entered Mobile Bay, 
causing damage throughout the state.

According to ARRL Alabama Section Manager Jay 
Isbell, KA4KUN, the Alabama DHS has come to 
recognize the role that Amateur Radio operators 
play in emergencies and natural disasters; based 
on this, the Alabama DHS chose to include Amateur 
Radio in the exercise. "During Hurricane Katrina, 
Amateur Radio volunteers played a key part in 
making sure that communications between agency 
personnel continued uninterrupted and the public 
received the help and the timely response needed 
in this type of catastrophic event," Isbell 
explained. ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Service 
(ARES) operators from SEMA Region 1 and other 
regions throughout Alabama were on site to support communications.

The Alabama Emergency Management Agency, the 
Alabama National Guard, the Alabama Department of 
Public Safety, Region IV of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency (FEMA) <http://www.fema.org/>, 
Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, Virtual 
Alabama, Alabama Civil Air Patrol, local 
sheriffs' office, as well as eight Alabama 
Regional Communication vehicles also participated in the exercise.

ARRL Southeastern Division Director Greg Sarratt, 
W4OZK, together with Alabama Region 1 District 
Emergency Coordinator Patti Link, KI4JEO, worked 
diligently with both amateur volunteers and 
professional partner agencies to coordinate and 
facilitate the role of Amateur Radio during the 
exercise. According to Isbell, Sarratt was the 
liaison at the Incident Command Point, while Link 
-- working in the Baldwin County EOC -- 
coordinated amateurs throughout the area, 
dispatching them with Alabama DHS Regional 
Communication vehicles and to other locations in 
the nine-county affected area. Isbell was 
dispatched to a mock reception center site 60 
miles north of the incident, and Section 
Emergency Coordinator Les Rayburn, N1LF, manned 
the radio at the State Emergency Operations Center.

"Since the major hurricanes of recent years, the 
State of Alabama and the Southeast Region of FEMA 
have really accepted Amateur Radio as a prime 
player in any major disaster," Isbell told the 
ARRL. "SEC Les Rayburn has grown Alabama ARES 
from several independent groups into a 
well-organized first responder team. Amateur 
Radio is being accepted as a critical tool during 
times that the daily manpower and technical 
resources are stretched beyond their design."

Sarratt said that the Amateur Radio participants 
learned a lot during the week-long exercise: 
"This was a good test of the ARES processes and 
improvements in a full-scale exercise with other 
agencies since Katrina. Everyone shared and 
learned about each other's communications 
capabilities. The relationships built and lessons 
learned here are invaluable to the Amateur Radio Service."

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

The July issue of QST is jam-packed with the news 
and information today's Amateur Radio operator 
needs. From product reviews to experiments to 
contesting, the upcoming issue of QST has something for just about everyone.

Al Yerger, WA2EHI, shows you how to take 
advantage of the multiple leads on a parallel 
port to control all of your remote operations in 
his article "A Parallel Port Interface for Your 
Shack." Follow Richard Kriss, AA6VU, as he solves 
a pesky TVI problem at his home in Texas. ARRL 
News Editor S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA, along with 
QST Technical Editor Joel Hallas, W1ZR, give 
their take on the sights, sounds and smells -- as 
well as the new radio gear -- of the 2009 Dayton 
Hamvention in "Dayton DREAM Believer: The 2009 
ARRL National Convention and Dayton Hamvention."

ARRL Technical Relations Manager Brennan Price, 
N4QX, reviews Yaesu's VX-8R handheld transceiver. 
According to Price, "Yaesu incorporates GPS and 
APRS capabilities into its new top-of-the-line, 
feature-packed handheld." ARRL Chief Executive 
Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, reviews Array 
Solution's QSK-MASTER external QSK TR switch for 
HF amplifiers. Sumner said that the QSK-MASTER 
"offers owners of older RF power amplifiers a way 
to add flawless full break-in (QSK) operation without equipment modification."

If it's July, it must be time for the IARU HF 
World Championships 
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2009/iaru.html>. 
This is a great opportunity to contact many 
stations all over the world, especially the 
headquarters station of IARU Member Societies, 
including W1AW. ARRL Contest Branch Manager Sean 
Kutzko, KX9X, takes a look multipliers -- what 
are they, why are they important and how do they 
work -- in "This Month in Contesting." The 
results of the 2008 ARRL 10 Meter Contest, the 
2009 ARRL RTTY Roundup and the 2009 ARRL January 
VHF Sweepstakes are in. Did you top your score 
from last year? How did your closest rival do? 
Also, find out about upcoming contests in Contest Corral.

Of course, there are the usual columns you know 
and expect in July QST: Hints & Kinks, The Doctor 
Is IN, How's DX, Vintage Radio, Field 
Organization Reports, Hamspeak and more. Look for 
your July 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>.

==> JOIN THE FUN IN THE ARRL VHF QSO PARTY THIS WEEKEND

VHF enthusiasts will be generating lots of RF on 
6 meters and up this weekend (June 13-15 UTC) 
during the 2009 ARRL VHF QSO Party 
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2009/june-vhf.html>. 
While many amateurs think of the VHF+ bands as a 
"local" band used primarily for public service, 
emergency communications or fun on FM repeaters, 
weak-signal VHF+ enthusiasts know better. 
According to ARRL Contest Branch Manager Sean 
Kutzko, KX9X, even hams who have a modest station 
can work hundreds -- or even thousands -- of 
miles on the VHF bands during a good opening.

Kutzko is a big VHF enthusiast: "In my more than 
25 years of Amateur Radio, weak-signal work on 6 
and 2 meters remains the most fun and intriguing 
activity I do. There is nothing like a good VHF 
opening; with interesting propagation 
characteristics like sporadic-E, tropospheric 
ducting, aurora and even meteor scatter and 
moonbounce, VHF offers QSO opportunities that HF can never satisfy."

Kutzko said this weekend is a great time to try 6 
or 2 meters. "The June VHF QSO Party occurs at 
the beginning of the summer sporadic-E season, 
and can produce strong openings on 6 meters and 
in some cases up to 2 meters," he said. There 
have been moderate openings on 6 meters in some 
part of the United States almost nightly for the 
last two weeks, and southern California enjoyed a 
brief sporadic-E opening on 2 meters into Texas 
this past Tuesday evening, over an average path 
of 1100 miles. "That's fun any way you slice it," 
Kutzko said. "Because of the contest, many 
stations will be on. This, coupled with the 
interesting propagation possibilities, makes for a great weekend."

Getting on the VHF bands is easy, he said. While 
there will be some contest activity on FM simplex 
(especially near large population centers), most 
long-distance VHF+ QSOs are conducted on CW or 
SSB; that means horizontally polarized antennas. 
You will also need a radio that can transmit in 
those modes. Most of the newer HF transceivers 
have 6 meters built in, and several come with 2 
meters and 70 cm, too. "A dipole on 6 meters will 
work quite well during a decent opening," Kutzko 
said. "They're easy to make and less than 10 feet 
long. Throw it up in a tree as high as you can 
and you'll be in business. For 2 meters and 70 
cm, a horizontal loop will work nicely for SSB 
and CW contacts." You can find plans for simple 
VHF antennas at the Technical Information Service 
area of the ARRL Web site 
<http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/other-v.html>, in 
the Antennas chapter of the ARRL Handbook, or in 
the VHF and UHF Antenna Systems chapter of the ARRL Antenna Book.

Because VHF antennas are generally smaller than 
their HF counterparts, portable operation is 
easy. "You can operate from your favorite 
hilltop, camp site or any location with high 
terrain and make many QSOs," Kutzko said. All you 
need to know is the Maidenhead grid square of 
your operating location; this is the contest 
exchange. Find your Maidenhead grid square here 
<http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/grid.html>.

For SSB QSOs on 6 meters, tune between 
50.100-50.200 MHz; 50.125 is the W/VE calling 
frequency, so listen there for band openings. If 
the band starts to open up, move off the calling 
frequency and start working folks! Keep in mind 
that 50.100-50.125 is reserved for 
intercontinental QSOs, so don't transmit there 
unless you are trying to work DX. For the CW 
operators, you will find CW between 50.080-50.100 
MHz. Activity on 2 meters will center around the 
calling frequency of 144.200. Again, monitor the 
calling frequency for band openings, but move off 
when activity starts to pick up. Kutzko advises 
that most activity on 2 meter SSB/CW will be 
found between 144.170-144.230 MHz, while 70 cm 
activity will center around 432.100 MHz.

"This weekend promises to be a tremendous amount 
of fun on the VHF and UHF bands so don't miss 
out!" Kutzko said. "All amateurs -- from 
Technicians to Extras, experienced VHF operators 
to the first-time VHF dabblers -- are welcome to 
participate." The ARRL June VHF QSO Party runs 
this weekend from 1800 UTC Saturday until 0300 
UTC Monday (Saturday afternoon to Sunday evening 
for most of the US and Canada). Complete rules 
and entry forms may be found here. All logs must 
be e-mailed <JuneVHF at arrl.org> or postmarked no 
later than 0300 UTC Wednesday, July 15. If you 
have any questions about the ARRL June VHF QSO 
Party or any other ARRL contest, please contact 
the Contest Branch via e-mail <contest at arrl.org>.

==> NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER PREDICTS "NEAR-NORMAL" HURRICANE SEASON

Forecasters with the National Hurricane Center 
(NHC) are calling for a "near-normal" Atlantic 
hurricane season this year. In its initial 
outlook for the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season -- 
which runs from June 1-November 30 -- the 
National Weather Service's Climate Prediction 
Center (CPC) <http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/> is 
calling for a 50 percent probability of a 
near-normal season, a 25 percent probability of 
an above-normal season and a 25 percent 
probability of a below-normal season. According 
to the CPC, global weather patterns are imposing 
a greater uncertainty in the 2009 hurricane 
season outlook than in recent years.

Forecasters say there is a 70 percent chance of 
having nine to 14 named storms, of which four to 
seven could become hurricanes, including one to 
three major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5). 
Tropical systems acquire a name -- the first for 
2009 will be Ana -- upon reaching tropical storm 
strength with sustained winds of at least 39 MPH. 
Tropical storms become hurricanes when winds 
reach 74 MPH and become major hurricanes when 
winds increase to 111 MPH. An average season has 
11 named storms, including six hurricanes with two becoming major hurricanes.

"This outlook is a guide to the overall expected 
seasonal activity. However, the outlook is not 
just about the numbers, it's also about taking 
action," said Dr Gerry Bell, lead seasonal 
hurricane forecaster at the CPC. "Prepare for 
each and every season regardless of the seasonal 
outlook. Even a near- or below-normal season can 
produce landfalling hurricanes, and it only takes 
one landfalling storm to make it a bad season."

Rick Palm, K1CE, editor of the ARRL's ARES 
E-Letter 
<http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/ares-el/>, 
warns that now is the time for ARES members to 
assess their portfolio of communications 
equipment and disaster response knowledge. Palm 
gives several tips for amateurs involved with hurricane operations:

Monitor major HF hurricane networks during events 
this season. The Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) on 
14.325 MHz is one of several key players 
<http://www.hwn.org/>. It serves either the 
Atlantic or Pacific during a watch or warning 
period and coordinates with the National 
Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami 
<http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/>. Frequent, detailed 
information is issued on nets when storms pose a 
threat to the US mainland. In addition to 
hurricane spotting, local communicators may 
announce that residents have evacuated from 
low-lying flood areas. Other amateurs across the 
country can help by relaying information, keeping 
the net frequency clear and by listening. See the 
HWN's Web site for more information. The net 
works closely with the hams at the NHC's Amateur 
Radio station WX4NHC <http://www.wx4nhc.com/>.

The SATERN Net (Salvation Army Team Emergency 
Radio Network) <http://www.satern.org/> provides 
emergency communication support to the Salvation 
Army and populations at large. They also handle 
health-and-welfare traffic. SATERN holds high 
profile nets on 20 meters (14.265 MHz) during 
major hurricanes and has a long history of 
excellence, discipline and service. Refer to the 
SATERN Web site for more information.

The Maritime Mobile Service Net (MMSN) 
<http://www.mmsn.org/> meets on 14.300 MHz and is 
composed of hams who serve and assist those in 
need of communications on the high seas. 
According to its Web site, the primary purpose of 
the net is for handling traffic from maritime 
mobile stations. The network is recognized by the 
United States Coast Guard and has an excellent 
working relationship with that agency. The MMSN 
has handled hundreds of incidents involving 
vessels in distress and medical emergencies in 
remote locations, as well as passing health and 
welfare traffic in and out of affected areas. 
They also work closely with the NWS and NHC by 
relaying weather reports from maritime stations.

The VoIP SKYWARN and Hurricane Net 
<http://www.voipwx.net/> operates by combining 
both the EchoLink and IRLP linked repeater 
networks, while handling critical wide area 
communications during major severe weather and 
tropical events. These operations have gained 
national stature in recent years, making the Net 
a critical partner with WX4NHC. Whenever tropical 
weather is posing a threat to the US mainland and 
certain other areas of interest, the VoIP WX net 
will be fully operational. See the VoIP SKYWARN 
and Hurricane Net Web site for more information.

Palm said that during hurricane events, there are 
usually two or three regional nets (usually on 40 
or 20 meters) that spring to prominence as major 
key assets to the disaster response on an ad hoc 
basis. "Watch for these nets, as well as the 
nationally recognized networks described above, 
this season. Don't transmit on their frequencies 
unless you are absolutely sure you have something 
substantive to add, and then only under the 
direction of the net control station," Palm advised.

ARRL Emergency Preparedness and Response Manager 
Dennis Dura, K2DCD, added that when ARES 
activates in response to any tropical event, it 
is crucial that information flows up through the 
Section and is reported to Headquarters. "These 
reports allow us to develop the situational 
awareness and disaster intelligence that is 
required for us as an organization to support the 
Sections that are impacted" he explained. "In 
this way, we are able to respond to relevant 
requests from the media and finally to coordinate 
with the governmental and non-governmental 
organizations. This information also allows us to 
make the decision at Headquarters on whether to 
stand up our Incident Management Team to support 
and coordinate the operations."

If you are interested in Emergency 
Communications, please be sure to check out the 
monthly ARES E-Letter 
<http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/ares-el/>. You 
can elect to receive this newsletter free of 
charge via e-mail by going to the Member Data 
Page on the ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org/members-only/memdata.html>.

==> QEX: THE JULY/AUGUST 2009 ISSUE

The July/August issue of QEX is coming soon, and 
it is full of theoretical and practical technical 
articles and columns that you won't want to miss <http://www.arrl.org/qex>.

In this issue, Gary Steinbaugh, AF8L, presents 
Part 3 of "A Cybernetic Sinusoidal Synthesizer." 
This installment describes some limitations of 
proportional control systems and explains the 
advantages of adding integration and 
differentiation steps to proportional 
controllers. Steinbaugh also describes the 
construction of the RF power meter circuit used in the project

John Magliacane, KD2BD, and Bill Walker, W5GFE, 
describe "SPLAT!: An RF Signal Propagation and 
Terrain Analysis Tool." In addition to VHF/UHF 
line-of-sight paths, this program includes the 
Longley-Rice propagation model to predict path 
loss across irregular terrain. A Web interface 
provides a convenient way to use the extensive 
geographic terrain database in the calculations. 
Rudy Severns, N6LF, presents more of his research 
in "Experimental Determination of Ground System 
Performance for HF Verticals." Part 5 focuses on 
the effects of different numbers of radials on 
received signal strength for 160 meter vertical antennas.

Tom Warnagiris, K3GSY, introduces the Tapered 
Area Small Helix (TASH) antenna in "The Chicken 
Wire Wonder." Chances are, this unique broadband 
vertical antenna does not look like any antenna 
you have ever seen! An 80 meter version is 14 
feet high and covers an area of about 4 ? 5 feet 
on the ground. Maynard Wright, W6PAP, provides 
information on several "Alternatives to Octave" 
for various electronics calculations. ARRL 
Technical Advisor Robert J. Zavrel Jr, W7SX, 
presents the case for "Maximizing Radiation 
Resistance in Vertical Antennas" to increase the efficiency of our antennas.

John S. (Jack) Belrose, VE2CV, another ARRL 
Technical Advisor, presents a brief discussion 
"On Elevated Radials" after reading earlier 
installments of Rudy Severns' series about his 
experiments with HF vertical antenna radial 
systems. Ray Mack, W5IFS, continues his software 
defined radio column. In this installment of 
"SDR: Simplified," he builds an SDR that will 
tune a single AM broadcast band station.

Would you like to write for QEX? It pays 
$50/printed page. Get more information and an 
Author's Guide <http://www.arrl.org/qex/#aguide>. 
If you prefer postal mail, send a business-size 
self-addressed, stamped envelope to QEX Author's 
Guide, c/o Maty Weinberg, ARRL, 225 Main St, 
Newington, CT 06111-1494. QEX is edited by Larry 
Wolfgang, WR1B <lwolfgang at arrl.org>, and is 
published bimonthly. The subscription rate (6 
issues) for ARRL members in the US is $24. For 
First Class US delivery, it's $37; in Canada and 
internationally by airmail it's $31. Nonmembers 
add $12 to these rates. Subscribe to QEX today.

==>SOLAR UPDATE

Tad "Rejoicing in the Sun" Cook, K7RA, this week 
reports: Sunspot numbers from May 31-June 5 
ranged from 13 to 23, then the Sun was blank for 
two days, followed by sunspot numbers of 12 for 
both June 8 and 9. This fleeting sunspot was 
number 1020, and like last week's spot, 1020 had 
the magnetic signature of a new Solar Cycle 24 
spot. Alas, it was another of the frequent 
sunspots we've seen lately that appear briefly, 
and then vanish. The last Solar Cycle 23 spot was 
number 1016 that appeared April 29-30. Sunspot 
numbers for June 4-10 were 17, 13, 0, 0, 12, 12 
and 0 with a mean of 7.7. The 10.7 cm flux was 
71, 70.1, 69, 68.9, 69, 69.1 and 69.2 with a mean 
of 69.5. The estimated planetary A indices were 
6, 6, 5, 6, 4, 3 and 5 with a mean of 5. The 
estimated mid-latitude A indices were 5, 5, 2, 3, 
2, 2 and 2 with a mean of 3. For this week, 
geomagnetic conditions should remain very quiet. 
Solar flux is estimated to be about 68, rising 
above 70 June 24-July 1. For more informati
  on 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 Christina 
Rossetti's "A Summer Wish" <http://www.readbookonline.net/readOnLine/15719/>.

__________________________________

==>IN BRIEF:

* This Week on the Radio: This week is the ARRL 
June VHF QSO Party on June 13-15. The 
Asia-Pacific Sprint is June 13. The GACW WWSA CW 
DX Contest and the ANARTS WW RTTY Contest are 
June 13-14. Next week, look for the ARRL Kids Day 
Contest on June 20. The NCCC Sprint Ladder and 
the Digital Pentathlon are June 19. The Feld Hell 
Sprint and the AGCW VHF/UHF Contest are June 20. 
One June 20-21, look for the West Virginia QSO 
Party and the All Asian DX Contest (CW). The Run 
for the Bacon QRP Contest is June 22 and the SKCC 
Sprint is June 24. 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, June 
28, 2009, for these online course sessions 
beginning on Friday, July 10, 2009: Amateur Radio 
Emergency Communications Level 1; Antenna 
Modeling; Radio Frequency Interference; Antenna 
Design and Construction; Ham Radio (Technician) 
License Course; Propagation; Analog Electronics, 
and Digital Electronics. 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>.

* Two New Co-sponsors Pledge Support for HR 2160: 
Earlier this week, HR 2160 -- The Amateur Radio 
Emergency Communications Enhancement Act of 2009 
-- gained two new Congressional co-sponsors: 
Republican Roscoe Bartlett (MD-6) and Democrat 
Bart Gordon (TN-6). Originally sponsored by 
Representative Sheila Jackson-Lee, a Democrat 
representing Texas' 18th District, HR 2160 is 
also sponsored by Madeleine Bordallo (Guam), 
Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15), 
Zoe Lofgren (CA-16), Blaine Luetkemeyer, (MO-9) 
and Bennie Thompson (MS-02). Click here 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/05/12/10818> 
for information on how to encourage your 
Congressional representative to sponsor HR 2160 
<http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h2160ih.txt.pdf>.

* Don Tunstill, W4NO (SK): Don Tunstill, W4NO, 
founder of the Central America VEC, passed away 
at his home in Huntsville, Alabama on Monday, 
June 9. He was 69. Tunstill, an ARRL Life Member, 
was a charter member of Huntsville Amateur Radio 
Club and served as president of Huntsville 
Hamfest <http://www.hamfest.org/> for more than 
30 years. With the FCC, Tunstill assisted with 
the formulation and implementation of the 
Volunteer Examiner Coordinator program and the 
vanity call sign system. He founded the Central 
America VEC, one of the first VE programs in the 
state of Alabama. A memorial service is planned 
for 10 AM on June 13 at Berryhill Funeral Home in Huntsville.

* Central States VHF Society Seeks Presentations 
for Annual Conference: The Central States VHF 
Society (CSVHFS) <http://www.csvhfs.org/> is 
soliciting presentations and poster displays for 
their 43rd Annual Conference this summer -- July 
23-26 -- at the Holiday Inn in Elk Grove Village, 
Illinois 
<http://www.csvhfs.org/conference/index.html>. 
Possible presentation topics on all aspects of 
weak-signal VHF and above include, but are not 
limited to, antennas (modeling, design, arrays 
and control), equipment construction, 
propagation, test gear, regulatory issues, 
operating, digital signal processing and 
software-defined radio. The submission deadline 
for presentations and poster displays is June 29; 
bring posters for display with you to the 
conference. For more information, visit the 
CSVHFS 2009 conference Web page 
<http://www.csvhfs.org/conference/index.html> or 
contact Kermit Carlson, W9XA <w9xa at yahoo.com>.

* From the DXCC Desk: According to ARRL DXCC 
Manager Bill Moore, NC1L, questions have been 
coming into DXCC regarding the status of 5N/LZ1QK 
in Nigeria. "DXCC is currently working with his 
QSL manager to resolve the status of this 
operation," Moore said. "At this time, DXCC 
accreditation is on hold pending the outcome of the review."

===========================================================
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each year, by the American Radio Relay League: 
ARRL--the national association for Amateur Radio, 
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Copyright 2009 American Radio Relay League, Inc.
All Rights Reserved



From memberlist at www.arrl.org  Fri Jun 12 20:35:41 2009
From: memberlist at www.arrl.org (ARRL Web site)
Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 17:35:41 -0700
Subject: [CVRC] ARLP024 Propagation de K7RA
Message-ID: <200906130035.n5D0ZgVr012803@pop1.greatbasin.net>

SB PROP @ ARL $ARLP024
ARLP024 Propagation de K7RA

ZCZC AP24
QST de W1AW
Propagation Forecast Bulletin 24  ARLP024
 From Tad Cook, K7RA
Seattle, WA  June 12, 2009
To all radio amateurs

SB PROP ARL ARLP024
ARLP024 Propagation de K7RA

Sunspot numbers from May 31 through June 5 ranged from 13 to 23,
then the Sun was blank for two days, followed by sunspot numbers of
12 for both June 8 and 9.  This fleeting sunspot was number 1020,
and like last week's spot, 1020 had the magnetic signature of a new
Cycle 24 spot.  Alas, it was another of the frequent sunspots we've
seen lately which appear briefly, then vanish.

The last Cycle 23 spot was number 1016, which appeared April 29-30.

Leonard Halversen, WA2AMW of Princeton, New Jersey asked how Cycle
24 spots are differentiated from Cycle 23 spots, and we last
mentioned this in Propagation Forecast Bulletin ARLP044 from 2008,
so now is a good time to go over it again.

The sunspots have a magnetic signature.  As you watch them move from
left to right, they lead with a dark patch in front and a white tail
in the rear.  That is how Cycle 24 spots appear above the equator,
and it is just the opposite south of the Sun's equator.  Also, new
cycle spots tend to appear at higher northern or southern latitudes
away from the equator, while old cycle spots appear nearer the
equator.

Go to http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/data/realtime/ to look for
images.  Click on the "Search and Download Images" link, and select
MDI Magnetogram from the image types.  Try entering start/end dates
of April 28 and April 30 of this year, and click Search.  Select one
of the links from the middle of the list, and note that the sunspot
on the right side is near the equator, indicating a spot from the
old cycle, and that it leads with black on the right.  Because it is
slightly below the equator, this indicates a Cycle 23 spot.  If it
were above the equator, a Cycle 23 spot would lead with white on the
right side.

Now go back and search dates June 1 through June 3.  Note that you
can up the resolution to 1024 from 512.  Select one of these images,
and note the large sunspot above the equator has a Cycle 24
signature.

Still more comments arrived this week about how dead bands may be an
illusion.  Guy Cossette, VA2WT of Saint Roch de Mekinac in Quebec
wrote to tell us about his 80 and 40 meter operation.  Using 100
watts CW and a 40 meter dipole, he worked Crete, Cyprus and Tunisia
at 2200z and he also worked Cyprus on 80 meters at 2300z.

Ken Sturgill, WS4V in Marion, Virginia says he likes to use the
intelligent features at http://www.ve7cc.net/.  If you wish, you can
set it for the countries you are looking for, and you can also set
it to only accept spots from tipsters in your country, so you get
the spots you can work.  He recommends hitting the "Tell Cluster"
button often, so the info isn't lost.  He also recommends reading
the manual.

Jim Sullivan, N7TCF of Phoenix, Arizona likes to use "DX Sherlock,"
at http://www.vhfdx.net/spots/map.php.  He uses it to check out band
conditions, mainly on 6 meters.  One feature I like is the Es MUF
tab, where you can see the MUF in various places.  I believe this
data comes from ionospheric sounders (ionosondes), which fire a
sweeped RF signal straight up and then measure the strength and
frequency of the signals bouncing back.

Mark Lunday, WD4ELG of Hillsborough, North Carolina sent a link to a
nice map mash-up of 6 meter beacon stations at,
http://www.k9mu.com/map/.  Mark wrote:

"I have also been experimenting with WSJT weak signal software from
Joe Taylor, K1JT.  It's pretty neat to tinker with meteor scatter on
6 meters, and very challenging with my modest station.  But I have
really gotten addicted to JT65A mode on 20 meters.  There always
seems to be somebody on the air in the vicinity of the calling
frequency of 14076 kHz, and I have worked some terrific DX that I
normally would struggle with from here with 20 watts.  I have also
heard DU on JT65A for the first time ever on any band or mode!  All
of my QSOs have been with 40 watts or less, mostly with 20 watts.
In just two months of part-time operation, I have worked 25
countries on JT65A including VK, JA, CX, lots of Europeans.  Also, I
worked ZS6 on 80 meter WSJT last weekend!  There were horrendous
thunderstorms all up and down the east coast, but the software
decoded just fine.  I could barely see the DX on the WSJT spectrum
waterfall, and decoded his CQ almost by accident while doing
something else in the shack."

For this week, geomagnetic conditions should remain very quiet.
Solar flux is estimated to be about 68, rising above 70 June 24
through July 1.

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 June 4 through 10 were 17, 13, 0, 0, 12, 12, and
0 with a mean of 7.7.  10.7 cm flux was 71, 70.1, 69, 68.9, 69,
69.1, and 69.2 with a mean of 69.5.  Estimated planetary A indices
were 6, 6, 5, 6, 4, 3 and 5 with a mean of 5.  Estimated
mid-latitude A indices were 5, 5, 2, 3, 2, 2 and 2 with a mean of 3.
NNNN
/EX



From memberlist at www.arrl.org  Fri Jun 19 00:24:30 2009
From: memberlist at www.arrl.org (ARRL Web site)
Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:24:30 -0700
Subject: [CVRC] ARLD024 DX news
Message-ID: <200906190424.n5J4OVXk027082@pop1.greatbasin.net>

SB DX @ ARL $ARLD024
ARLD024 DX news

ZCZC AE24
QST de W1AW
DX Bulletin 24  ARLD024
 From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  June 18, 2009
To all radio amateurs

SB DX ARL ARLD024
ARLD024 DX news

This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by
K1SFA, NC1L, RX9WN, VE1RSM, 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.

MALTA, 9H.  Giorgio, IV3EPO will be QRV as 9H3EP from June 23 to 29.
Activity will be on 40, 30, 20, 15 and 10 meters using mostly CW.
QSL to home call.

PHILIPPINES, DU.  Gerard, F2JD is QRV as DU1/G0SHN and is here for
about five months.  He plans to be active from various islands while
here.  QSL via F6AJA.

ST. BARTHELEMY, FJ.  Conny is QRV as FJ/DL1DA ands has been active
on 20 and 17 meters using CW around 1900 to 2000z.  QSL via DL1DA.

LIECHTENSTEIN, HB0.  Tina, DL5YL and Fred, DL5YM will be QRV as
HB0/home calls from Masescha from June 20 to July 2.  Activity will
be at various times on all HF bands using CW and possibly RTTY.  QSL
to home calls.

MONGOLIA, JT.  Giampiero, I5NOC is QRV as JT1NOC until June 29.
Activity is on 80 to 6 meters using CW and SSB.  QSL to home call.

MARIANA ISLANDS, KH0.  Tony, JA6CNL is QRV as KH0N from Saipan, IOTA
OC-086, until June 23.  This includes an entry in the All-Asian DX
contest.  Outside the contest, he is active mostly on 80, 30, 17 and
12 meters using CW.  QSL to home call.

NORWAY, LA.  Special event callsign LJ2T is QRV until June 28 in
conjunction with the International Museums weekend.  Activity is on
160 to 2 meters using CW, SSB, AM, FM and various digital modes.
QSL via LA5EAA.

NETHERLANDS, PA.  Members of VERON section 54 are QRV as PH100EL
until July 12 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first flight
of the aviation pioneer Charles count de Lambert.  QSL via PD0PVQ.

AUSTRIA. OE.  Operators from the Technical Museum Vienna are QRV as
OE100TMW during its 100th anniversary until June 21.  Activity is on
all HF bands, including VHF.  QSL via operators' instructions.

SWEDEN, SM.  Jorgen, SM3CXS is QRV as SG3U from Grimskar Island,
IOTA EU-176, until June 21.  Activity is on 40 to 6 meters using CW
and SSB in his spare time.  QSL to home call.

POLAND, SP.  Operators from the Long Distance Radio Communications
Club of Poland are QRV as SP50DXC until June 30 to mark 50 years of
the SP DX Club.  QSL via bureau.

GREECE, SV.  Dago, DJ5KZ is QRV as SV8/home call from Lesvos Island,
IOTA EU-049, until June 30.  QSL to home call.

SAN MARINO, T7.  Operators Filippo, IK4ZHH, Giorgio, IZ4AKS, Max,
IZ4DPV, Michele, IZ4GWE, Stefano, IW2MJQ and Vittorio, I4YSS will be
QRV as T70A on June 20 and 21.  Activity will be mostly on 6 meters
from three different locations.  QSL via bureau.

REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, TN.  Nicolas is QRV as TN5SN and has been
active on 6 meters and on RTTY on 20 meters around 2100z.  QSL via
IZ1BZV and LoTW.

ASIATIC RUSSIA, UA9.  Alik, RX9WN is QRV as RX9WN/0/m until June 21
from Kharancy Island.  This is a new IOTA.   QSL via operator's
instructions.

SERBIA, YT.  Various Serbian stations are using special prefixes
YU2009, YT2009, YU09, YT09, YT25 and YU25 until July 12 to promote
the University Games 2009 taking place in Serbia.  QSL via
operators' instructions.

CALLSIGN CORRECTION.  As reported in DX news ARLD023, Bob, VE1RSM is
QRV as home call/VY1 from Whitehorse, Yukon Territory until August
17.  Activity is on all HF bands, particularly 40, 30 and 20 meters,
using CW and SSB during his evenings and weekends.  QSL to home
call.

THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO.  The All Asian DX CW Contest, NCCC Sprint
CW Ladder, 1st ARR BPSK63 Contest, Digital Pentathlon, SMIRK CW
Contest, Feld Hell Sprint, AGCW VHF/UHF CW Contest, West Virginia
QSO Party, Kid's Day Contest and the DIE Contest will certainly keep
contesters busy this weekend.  The Run for the Bacon QRP CW Contest
is scheduled for June 22.  The SKCC CW Sprint is scheduled for June
24.  Please see June QST, page 80 and the ARRL and WA7BNM contest
web sites for details.
NNNN
/EX



From memberlist at www.arrl.org  Fri Jun 19 20:18:34 2009
From: memberlist at www.arrl.org (ARRL Web site)
Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:18:34 -0700
Subject: [CVRC] ARLP025 Propagation de K7RA
Message-ID: <200906200018.n5K0IYn8020061@pop1.greatbasin.net>

SB PROP @ ARL $ARLP025
ARLP025 Propagation de K7RA

ZCZC AP25
QST de W1AW
Propagation Forecast Bulletin 25  ARLP025
 From Tad Cook, K7RA
Seattle, WA  June 19, 2009
To all radio amateurs

SB PROP ARL ARLP025
ARLP025 Propagation de K7RA

This week's bulletin was written by Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA.  Carl
is filling in for your regular reporter Tad Cook, K7RA.

Silent Key - I was saddened to read that Jim Tabor KU5S passed away
on May 27.  Jim was the driving force behind Kangaroo Tabor
Software, which offered propagation prediction programs such as
CapMAN and WinCAP Wizard, programs to help monitor the NCDXF/IARU
beacons, and several other propagation-related packages.  Jim also
contributed propagation software to the CD-ROM bundled with the ARRL
Antenna Book.  I personally enjoyed many e-mail exchanges and
several QSOs with Jim, talking about various propagation and
ionospheric issues.

Summary for the Week - I bet you have this memorized: ''Solar
activity was very low throughout the reporting period, and
geomagnetic field activity was at quiet levels during most of the
reporting period.''  Enough said?

This Solar Minimum - The first sunspot region of Cycle 24 occurred
on January 4, 2008.  Since then, though, Cycle 24 spots have been
few and far between.  A good summary of this solar minimum can be
made in two statements.  The first statement is that the duration of
this solar minimum is unusual compared to the other solar minimums
in our lifetime.  That's because from the minimum between Cycle 17
and 18 onward, solar minimums have been roughly two years.  Thus
we've only been exposed to ''short'' solar minimum periods.  A look at
all history, though, shows a different story, and brings us to the
second statement.  This solar minimum, which is going on three
years, is pretty much average in duration compared to all history.
What this all says is the Sun has been highly variable throughout
recorded history.

Noctilucent Clouds Return - As reported at spaceweather.com on June
1, the first noctilucent clouds (NLC) of the 2009 season were
sighted over Russia on May 27.  NLCs typically appear about 20 days
prior to the summer solstice, increase quickly to a high summer
level, and then disappear about 50 days after the summer solstice.
These clouds are mostly a high latitude phenomenon, and are believed
to be composed of ice crystals.  VHF radars see very strong echoes
from these clouds, and since they are at mesospheric heights (80 to
90 km), they are also known as polar mesosphere summer echoes
(PMSE).  These clouds are hypothesized by JE1BMJ and others to be
responsible for 6m propagation across high latitudes (for example,
from the East Coast of North America to Japan) during the northern
hemisphere summer.  This mode of propagation has been dubbed Summer
Solstice Short-path Propagation (SSSP).  Check out page 34 of the
February 2009 issue of WorldRadio Online (available free at
www.cq-amateur-radio.com/wr_back_issues.html)
for a general discussion of PMSE and SSSP and for references in the
technical literature.  To reiterate, SSSP is still just a theory,
but the occurrences of QSOs appear to match the occurrence pattern
of PMSE.

Getting Ready for Glorioso - Beginning on July 9 and continuing
through July 28, a French team expects to activate this extremely
rare DXCC entity (it's in the Top 5 in the Most Wanted Survey as
listed in the January/February 2009 issue of The DX Magazine).
Glorioso is located in the Indian Ocean near the northern tip of
Madagascar, and enjoys higher-than-usual MUFs (maximum usable
frequencies) even at solar minimum due to the robust equatorial
ionosphere.  Unfortunately the North American end of the path will
suffer from low MUFs due to a combination of solar minimum and a
summer month.  The result of this is that 15, 12, and 10 meters will
likely not produce many QSOs between Glorioso and North America.  My
recommendation is to concentrate your efforts on 40, 30, 20, and 17
meters.  And if you need Glorioso for an all-time new one for DXCC,
be sure to work this DXpedition - it will probably be quite a while
until it is again activated.

Cycle 24 Predictions - If you dig through the technical literature,
you'll discover that there are more than 50 predictions for Cycle
24.  They range from a low smoothed sunspot number of 40 to a high
of 185.  Why are there so many predictions?  That's a simple
question to answer - solar scientists do not fully understand the
process that generates sunspots, and thus many different methods
have been used to make a prediction.  Does this mean they're
guessing and should be admonished for not being correct?  I
personally don't think so.  What we're seeing is the scientific
process being used.  A prediction is made using a certain method,
and Cycle 24's progress (or lack of progress) allows scientists a
means to test their theory.  That's how science works when we don't
understand something.  Will we ever figure this out?  I can't answer
that question, but I recently read an interesting NASA Headline News
story (science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/17jun_jetstream.htm?list45339)
saying scientists announced that ''a jet stream deep inside the Sun
is migrating slower than usual through the star's interior, giving
rise to the lack of sunspots.''  Perhaps this will be an important
clue to help our understanding of the sunspot process.

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 June 11 through 17 were 0, 12, 0, 0, 0, 0, and
11 with a mean of 3.3.  10.7 cm flux was 69.3, 69, 68.2, 68.1, 67.4,
68.3, and 67.8 with a mean of 68.3.  Estimated planetary A indices
were 3, 2, 4, 6, 4, 3 and 3 with a mean of 3.6.  Estimated
mid-latitude A indices were 2, 1, 3, 4, 4, 4 and 1 with a mean of
2.7.
NNNN
/EX



From letter-dlvy at arrl.org  Fri Jun 19 20:22:18 2009
From: letter-dlvy at arrl.org (ARRL Letter Mailing List)
Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:22:18 -0700
Subject: [CVRC] The ARRL Letter, Vol 28, No 24 (Friday, June 19, 2009)
Message-ID: <200906200022.n5K0MIAp024874@pop1.greatbasin.net>

***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 28, No. 24
June 19, 2009
***************

IN THIS EDITION:

* + Pacific Division Vice Director Steps Down; Appointment Fills Vacancy

* + FCC Chairman Nominee Genachowski, Current Commissioner McDowell Face
Confirmation Hearings
* + W1AW, WA6ZTY to Conduct Dual-Tone Frequency Measuring Test in July
* + Check Out the July/August NCJ
* + ARRL Teachers Institutes Continue through Summer
* + WX4NHC Announces On-the-Air Station Test Results
*  Solar Update
*  IN BRIEF:
       This Week on the Radio
       ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration
     + ARRL to Close in Observance of Fourth of July
     + ARRL Contest Update Offers Valuable Information for All
       Jim Tabor, KU5S (SK)
       Longtime ARRL Staffer Robert L. Lincoln Passes Away

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

REMINDER: Be sure to check out the ARRL Field Day Locator for a Field
Day site near you! You can find the Field Day Locator on the ARRL Web
site <http://www.arrl.org/contests/announcements/fd/locator.php>.

===========================================================
==>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>
===========================================================

==> PACIFIC DIVISION VICE DIRECTOR STEPS DOWN; APPOINTMENT FILLS VACANCY


Citing family and business reasons, ARRL Pacific Division Vice Director
Andy Oppel, N6AJO, has submitted his resignation. President Joel
Harrison, W5ZN, has appointed Jim Tiemstra, K6JAT, of Oakland,
California, to serve the remainder of the current term through the end
of 2010.

Oppel had served as Vice Director since being appointed in 2003 to
complete the term of Bob Vallio, W6RGG, who became Director upon the
death of Jim Maxwell, W6CF. In a message posted to the East Bay Section
Web page, he commented: "I regret to inform you that family and work
issues have forced me to resign as your ARRL Pacific Division Vice
Director. I have enjoyed being able to serve you in that capacity for
the past 6+ years and as East Bay Section Manager for 3 years prior to
that. I very much appreciate the support and friendship offered by many
of you and I hope I still get a chance to see many of you from time to
time."

First licensed in 1970 as WN9ELU, Tiemstra, an attorney, is an Amateur
Extra class licensee. He has also held the call signs WB9ELU and N6OIK.
"I'm thrilled at the opportunity to serve an organization that I have
been a member of for my entire Amateur Radio career," Tiemstra said. "I
have known of and supported Pacific Division Director Bob Vallio's
efforts at the League for many years, and look forward to the
opportunity of working with him in those endeavors. I am deeply honored
to be chosen to fill the vacancy left by Andy's resignation. Because
Amateur Radio certainly has enriched and added value to many aspects of
my life, I am elated to have the opportunity to contribute something
back to the hobby. The future of Amateur Radio is at a critical
crossroads that will involve our appeal to youth."

Tiemstra told the ARRL that his favorite Amateur Radio activities are
"contesting -- I seem to have more wallpaper than wall -- DXing with 300
confirmed entities and DXpeditions, a poor but adequate excuse for a
vacation. I have operated as 3D2TJ, PJ2/K6JAT and KH6/K6JAT and from
V26DX, but I have long been involved in the public service aspects of
Amateur Radio."

As a member of the Oakland ARES group, Tiemstra responded to the 1989
Loma Prieta earthquake and the 1991 Oakland Hills firestorm. He worked
with Oakland area hams and city officials to gain RACES recognition and
was instrumental in forging a formal Letter of Understanding
<http://www.ww6or.com/LOU_Oakland_RACES.pdf>. In addition, he assisted
Oakland ARES/RACES in successfully championing a proposal to use
post-firestorm, bond Measure I funds to acquire and install Amateur
Radio equipment in the Oakland's Emergency Operations Center and each of
its 30 fire stations. This has been dubbed the Emergency Communication
Ham Operation (ECHO) system. Tiemstra also served as Oakland's RACES
Radio Officer for more than 14 years.

In 1998, Tiemstra acted as the incorporator of the Oakland Radio
Communication Association (ORCA) <http://www.ww6or.com/>, an ARRL
affiliated club; he was a founding director and became its first
president. He is a member of ORCA's board of directors and trustee of
the club's call sign WW6OR. Tiemstra is a member of the Northern
California Contest Club (NCCC) <http://www.nccc.cc/>, the Quarter
Century Wireless Association (QCWA) <http://www.qcwa.org/> and 10-10
International <http://www.ten-ten.org/>. Tiemstra and his wife, Lilah,
KE6EHD, have twin boys, Robert and Matthew, KI6IHP.

==> FCC CHAIRMAN NOMINEE GENACHOWSKI, CURRENT COMMISSIONER MCDOWELL FACE
CONFIRMATION HEARINGS

On June 16, Julius Genachowski -- the man President Barack Obama picked
to head the Federal Communications Commission -- and current FCC
Commissioner Robert McDowell appeared before the Senate's Commerce,
Science and Transportation Committee for their confirmation hearing. The
Committee voted 24-1 to approve Genachowski's nomination and unanimously
approved McDowell for his first full term as a Commissioner, sending
their names to the full Senate to be confirmed.

President Obama nominated Genachowski to lead the Commission on March 3,
2009 <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/03/03/10684/?nc=1>; the
president renominated McDowell to his post on June 2
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/06/03/10859/>. Genachowski is a
Democratic nominee, while McDowell is a Republican. Only three
Commissioners may be members of the same political party.

At his confirmation hearing, the Chairman of the Commerce, Science and
Transportation Committee Senator John D. Rockefeller IV (D-WV) told
Genachowski that he wants "an FCC that is transparent, that inspires
confidence and that makes our digital infrastructure a model for the
world. Tragically, this has not been the case for some time. Let me be
very clear about the challenge before you. Fix this agency or we will
fix it for you."

Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) praised Genachowski for having the "perfect
background" to run the FCC. He then added, "It seems to me that you will
lead a rather unhealthy agency. We've been through a period of
substantial secrecy."

Senator Rockefeller noted that during former Chairman Kevin J. Martin's
tenure, the FCC was under congressional investigation for mismanagement
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2008/12/12/10505> and the focus of
criticism by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) for its lack of
transparency and potential misuse of data. Late last year, the House
Committee on Energy and Commerce -- the congressional committee that
oversees the FCC -- released its majority staff report "on the
bipartisan investigation of the FCC's regulatory processes and
management practices." The report -- "Deception and Distrust: The
Federal Communications Commission under Chairman Kevin J. Martin" --
stated that the investigation was prompted "by allegations to the effect
that [FCC] Chairman Kevin J. Martin has abused FCC procedures by
manipulating or suppressing reports, data and information"
<http://www.arrl.org/news/files/FCC_Report120908.pdf>.

Genachowski assured the Committee that his career "inside and outside
government has convinced [him] that the FCC can be a model for
excellence in government, fighting for consumers and families, fostering
investment and innovation, through open, fair, and data-driven processes
-- a 21st century agency for the information age. The FCC should consult
closely with Congress, and work effectively and efficiently for the
American people."

In his testimony, McDowell said the Commission should focus on
attracting capital investment to the communications sector, adding that
the wireless sector is becoming increasingly important. "I will work to
support policies that will promote vigorous growth in the broadband
markets to ensure that all Americans have access to the promise of
high-speed Internet services and that the Internet remains robust, open
and safe," he told the Committee.

Sources on Capitol Hill have said that Genachowski should be confirmed
by the time the Senate recesses for the July 4 holiday.

For a video stream of the confirmation hearings, please visit the Web
site of the Senate's Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee
<http://commerce.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.LiveStr
eam&Hearing_id=bca080f3-15a0-4d05-8abd-77f5327a2cb7>.

==> W1AW, WA6ZTY TO CONDUCT DUAL-TONE FREQUENCY MEASURING TEST IN JULY

The Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station, W1AW, and WA6ZTY on the West
Coast will conduct a summer Frequency Measuring Test (FMT) on July 1 at
9:45 PM EDT (0145 UTC on July 2) <http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/fmt>.
According to FMT Coordinator H. Ward Silver, N0AX, the format will be a
"do-over" of the dual-tone test conducted in November 2008: "The timing
glitches that occurred during the November test have been ironed out, so
the format will be repeated to give everyone another opportunity to make
measurements."

Silver said that both stations will transmit on a carrier frequency of
3597.5 and 7095 kHz; these are the W1AW digital bulletin frequencies.
Two audio tones between 2000 and 2500 Hz will be transmitted in an
alternating sequence, with a shift between 100 and 500 Hz. This is
similar to what is used for RTTY communication. Beginning on 80 meters,
Tone 1 will be transmitted for 10 seconds, followed by Tone 2 for 10
seconds. The tones will then alternate until each tone has been
transmitted six times, for a total transmission of 120 seconds. The
transmitting station will then change to 40 meters -- after identifying
in Morse code -- and repeat the two-tone sequence.

All transmissions for announcing the test, identification and band
changes will be in CW at 15 WPM (18 WPM character speed). CW
transmissions will be on the carrier frequency, with each lasting more
than one minute.

Time Sequence for W1AW (begins at 9:45 PM EDT [0145 UTC July 2, 2009]):
* QST and test announcement on 80 meters.
* Repeat six times: 10 seconds of T1 followed by 10 seconds of T2. This
is a total of 120 seconds of transmission.
* ID and notice of QSY to 40 meters.
* QST and test announcement on 40 meters.
* Repeat six times: 10 seconds of T1 followed by 10 seconds of T2. This
is a total of 120 seconds of transmission.
* Announce conclusion of W1AW transmission and ID.

Time Sequence for WA6ZTY (begins at 10 PM EDT [0200 UTC July 2, 2009])
* QST and test announcement on 80 meters.
* Repeat six times: 10 seconds of T1 followed by 10 seconds of T2. This
is a total of 120 seconds of transmission.
* ID and notice of QSY to 40 meters.
* There will be a pause of five minutes while WA6ZTY reconfigures for 40
meters.
* QST and test announcement on 40 meters.
* Repeat six times: 10 seconds of T1 followed by 10 seconds of T2. This
is a total of 120 seconds of transmission.
* Announce conclusion of WA6ZTY transmission and CW ID.

According to Silver, the FMT has been run in the past where a modulated
carrier or audio tones are held steady for a very long time. "This
'classic' carrier frequency FMT format will return in November," he
said. "The new format addresses the growing importance of digital modes.
The challenge of this format is to make quick, accurate measurements of
the characteristics of a digital signal where the tones do not stay
steady for a long period of time. It's not expected that the level of
accuracy demonstrated for a long-tone test will be achieved for these
short tone transmissions -- that's not the point."

Silver said that he predicts there will be a future FMT that will
conduct a true-FSK test. "In this future test, there would be four
variables: Carrier frequency, Audio Tone 1, Audio Tone 2 and Shift," he
said. "Given the value of any one of the variables in advance, two of
the remaining variables would be measured and the final variable
calculated or measured. The symbol rate (the number of transitions per
second) would be representative of actual digital signals. For example,
a 60 WPM RTTY signal."

Silver said that this can present some challenges to FMT participants:
"One of the reasons we conduct the FMTs goes back to FCC Part 97.1(c):
'...advancing skills in both the communication and technical phases of
the [radio] art.' We look forward to seeing the creativity and
innovation of the measurement community applied to this new format"
<http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2002/octqtr/pdf/47cfr97.1.pdf>.

Participants should send their FMT reports -- indicating their values of
Tone 1, Tone 2 and Shift (the difference between the tones) -- via the
Web data collection form <http://www.b4h.net/fmt/fmtentry.php> by July
8. The published results will evaluate error in Tone 1, Tone 2 and
Shift. "Be sure to include the details of how you made the measurements,
obstacles you faced and how you overcame them," Silver said. "It will
make great reading and sharing in the best traditions of Amateur Radio.
If you have pictures or diagrams, please send them <fmt at arrl.org> so
that they can be posted on the FMT Web page"
<http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/fmt/>.

==> CHECK OUT THE JULY/AUGUST NCJ

The July/August issue of NCJ, The National Contest Journal, is filled
with the latest news from the contesting world. Whether you are new to
contesting or are a seasoned pro -- or somewhere in the middle -- you
will find something in NCJ just for you <http://www.arrl.org/ncj/>.

If you're in the market for a new rig, you will want to check out
"Choosing an HF Radio for Serious Contesting and DXing" by R. Scott
Wright, K0MD. In the first of a multi-part article, John Barcroft, K6AM,
takes a look at "A 3 Element Reversible Wire Yagi for 80 Meters." One
year after the introduction of CW Skimmer, Pete Smith, N4ZR, gives his
perspective in "CW Skimmer One Year Later."

This issue also features "NCJ Profiles" and "NCJ Club Spotlight": Tom
Menas, K3WT, introduces us to Dave Mueller, N2NL, of Key West, Florida,
while Bob Nash, VE3KZ, takes us inside the Contest Club Ontario.

If you've been waiting to see how you did in the January and February
contests, you definitely don't want to miss this issue! Shelby
Summerville, K4WW, give readers the rundown on the February 2009 NAQP
RTTY Contest. Bruce Horn, WA7BNM, looks at the results of the January
2009 NAQP CW and SSB Contests. Jim Stevens, K4MA, gives his take on the
February 2009 North American Phone Sprint and members of the Boring
Amateur Radio Club ponder the February 2009 North American CW Sprint.

Of course, there are all the regular columns and features you expect
from NCJ: "Workshop Chronicles," by Don Daso, K4ZA; "Contest Tips,
Tricks & Techniques," by Gary Sutcliffe, W9XT; "VHF-UHF Contesting," by
Jon Jones, N0JK; "DX Contest Activity Announcements," by Bill Feidt,
NG3K; "RTTY Contesting," by Don Hill, AA5AU, and "Contesting 101," by
Kirk Pickering, K4RO.

All this and more in the July/August issue of NCJ. NCJ is published six
times a year by the ARRL; it is edited by Al Dewey, K0AD. NCJ is what
every contester needs in their shack -- subscribe today
<http://www.arrl.org/ncj/>.

==> ARRL TEACHERS INSTITUTES CONTINUE THROUGH SUMMER

The second and third sessions of the ARRL's Teachers Institute on
Wireless Technology of 2009 have wrapped up in Rocklin, California and
Tucson, Arizona <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/tbp/ti.html>. These two TIs
mark the first time that the ARRL has offered simultaneous sessions of
the popular summer program for teachers. According to Education and
Technology Program Coordinator Mark Spencer, WA8SME, the addition of two
new TI instructors made it possible to hold two sessions at the same
time. "With Miguel Enriquez, KD7RPP, and Nathan McCray, K9CPO, on
board," Spencer said, "we are able to hold more sessions, and in turn,
involve more teachers into learning how to bring wireless technology
into their classrooms."

In Tucson, Enriquez led a group of local teachers through the four day
curriculum that includes basic electronics, the science of radio, space
in the classroom, microcontroller programming and basic robotics. "The
Tucson Teachers Institute went wonderfully," he told the ARRL. "I saw
lots of smiles, heads nodding in understanding and teachers espousing
intended commitment to provide a return on investment."

Spencer led the other session group at the Parallax facility in Northern
California. "This group was more geographically diverse," he said, "with
teachers from nine states from coast to coast." McCray will lead a
session in Michigan that begins on June 29.

Each Teachers Institute session includes 12 teachers. According to
Spencer, the curriculum is information packed and intensive. "This
year," Spencer said, "we tried to connect the teachers in the Tucson
session with the teachers in the California session via an AO-27
contact; satellites are part of the space in the classroom unit.
Unfortunately, this was not successful due to unforeseen complications
with accessing the satellite; however, a later attempt to demonstrate
ham radio space technology was successful."

The final day of the Teachers Institute is dedicated to basic robotics;
this unit ties together all of the other content areas taught during the
Teachers Institute. There are five more Teachers Institutes scheduled
over the next two months. Spencer said that "the aggressive schedule and
increased number of teachers participating this year -- 84 -- is
testament to the success of this ARRL Educational and Technology program
that is supported by the generous League donors who share a passion for
education"
<https://www.arrl.org/forms/development/donations/education/2008/>.

==> WX4NHC ANNOUNCES ON-THE-AIR STATION TEST RESULTS

WX4NHC <http://www.wx4nhc.org/>, the Amateur Radio station at the
National Hurricane Center <http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/>, conducted its
annual On-The-Air Station Test on Saturday, May 30, 2009
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/05/15/10821/>. According to
Assistant WX4NHC Coordinator Julio Ripoll, WD4R, the station conducted
the test to promote awareness of the 2009 hurricane season
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/06/06/10862/?nc=1> and to verify
station equipment performance on the many frequencies and modes that are
used to communicate with other stations in affected areas during
hurricanes. WX4NHC has been at the NHC for 29 years.

Ripoll said that WX4NHC station was on the air for nine hours, making
154 contacts with stations in the US, the Caribbean, Central America,
Canada, Australia, Europe and Africa. "Most contacts made on HF were
done using phone (SSB) and on the Hurricane Watch Net
<http://www.hwn.org/> frequency of 14.325 MHz, as well as 7.268 MHz in
cooperation with the Waterway Net <http://www.waterwayradio.net/>," he
said. "We also made contacts using HF and VHF APRS
<http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/aprs/>, and local VHF and UHF
repeaters in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties."

Ripoll said that the VoIP Hurricane Net <http://www.voipwx.net/>
conducted a two hour simulated Hurricane Net on EchoLink (WX_TALK
conference) and IRLP (node 9219) using the same methods of collecting
and forwarding data to WX4NHC during hurricanes with great success: "We
extend special thanks to Rob Macedo, KD1CY, and the VoIP Hurricane Net
Controls for their dedication and continued support of WX4NHC."

On behalf of the WX4NHC Coordinators and operators, Ripoll thanked all
the Amateur Radio operators who participated in the WX4NHC Annual
Station Test: "We look forward to your continued support during the
hurricane season." For a QSL card from the test, please send a
self-addressed, stamped envelope to Julio Ripoll, WD4R, 14855 SW 67 Ln,
Miami, FL 33193-2027.

==>SOLAR UPDATE

Tad "Spread their wild hues to the sultry Sun" Cook, K7RA, this week
reports: I bet you have this memorized: "Solar activity was very low
throughout the reporting period, and geomagnetic field activity was at
quiet levels during most of the reporting period." Enough said? The
first sunspot region of Solar Cycle 24 occurred on January 4, 2008.
Since then, though, Solar Cycle 24 spots have been few and far between.
A good summary of this solar minimum can be made in two statements. The
first statement is that the duration of this solar minimum is unusual
compared to the other solar minimums in our lifetime. That's because
from the minimum between Solar Cycle 17 and 18 onward, solar minimums
have been roughly two years. Thus we've only been exposed to "short"
solar minimum periods. A look at all history shows a different story and
brings us to the second statement. This solar minimum, which is going on
three years now, is pretty much average in duration compared to all
history. What this all says is the Sun has been highly variable
throughout recorded history. Sunspot numbers for June 11-17 were 0, 12,
0, 0, 0 and 11 with a mean of 3.3. The 10.7 cm flux was 69.3, 69, 68.2,
68.1, 67.4, 68.3 and 67.8 with a mean of 68.3. The estimated planetary A
indices were 3, 2, 4, 6, 4, 3 and 3 with a mean of 3.6. The estimated
mid-latitude A indices were 2, 1, 3, 4, 4, 4 and 1 with a mean of 2.7.
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 John Clare's "June"
<http://johnclare.blogspot.com/2006/03/from-june-in-anticipation.html>.

__________________________________

==>IN BRIEF:

* This Week on the Radio: This week, look for the ARRL Kids Day Contest
on June 20. The NCCC Sprint Ladder and the Digital Pentathlon are June
19. The Feld Hell Sprint and the AGCW VHF/UHF Contest are June 20. On
June 20-21, look for the West Virginia QSO Party and the All Asian DX
Contest (CW). The Run for the Bacon QRP Contest is June 22 and the SKCC
Sprint is June 24. Next week ARRL Field Day is on June 27-28 -- look for
a Field Day site near you
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/announcements/fd/locator.php>. The NCCC
Sprint and the Digital Pentathlon are on June 26. On June 27-28, check
out the His Majesty King of Spain Contest (SSB), the Ukrainian DX DIGI
Contest, the Marconi Memorial HF Contest and the ARCI Milliwatt Field
Day. The SARL Digital Contest is June 28 and the RAC Canada Day Contest
is July 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, June 28, 2009, for these online course sessions
beginning on Friday, July 10, 2009: Amateur Radio Emergency
Communications Level 1; Antenna Modeling; Radio Frequency Interference;
Antenna Design and Construction; Ham Radio (Technician) License Course;
Propagation; Analog Electronics, and Digital Electronics. 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>.

* ARRL to Close in Observance of Fourth of July: ARRL Headquarters will
be closed in observance of Independence Day on Friday, July 3. There
will be no ARRL Audio News, W1AW bulletin or code practice transmissions
that day. The ARRL Letter will be posted a day early on Thursday, July
2. League Headquarters will reopen Monday, July 6 at 8 AM Eastern
Daylight Time. We wish everyone a safe and festive holiday weekend.

* ARRL Contest Update Offers Valuable Information for All: Every two
weeks, H. Ward Silver, N0AX, produces the ARRL Contest Update. Each
issue is jam-packed with information for all operators -- be they
involved in radiosport or not -- operating and technical tips,
propagation information and a focus on a technical Web site each issue.
Of course, everything you need to know about upcoming contests is right
there at your fingertips. Since the ARRL Contest Update is available in
HTML, there is a link to the rules for each individual contest listed,
as well as pictures. ARRL members can subscribe the ARRL Contest Update
on the ARRL Web site
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/update/about.html#get>.

* Jim Tabor, KU5S (SK): Jim Tabor, KU5S, passed away at his home in
Greenwood, Arkansas on May 27; he was 54. A longtime ARRL member, Tabor
was head of Kangaroo Tabor Software <http://www.taborsoft.com/>, which
published various programs for radio amateurs, such as the WinCAP
propagation prediction software, GeoAlert-Extreme Wizard, Beacon-Time
Wizard and ID Wizard. Dean Straw, N6BV, who edited several recent
editions of The ARRL Antenna Book
<http://www.arrl.org/catalog/?item=9876>, remembered Tabor fondly: "Over
the course of about a dozen years, Jim provided ARRL with some of his
most innovative propagation programs, and allowed us to include them on
the CD-ROM accompanying The ARRL Antenna Book. I worked closely with Jim
on several such projects, and he was always thorough and analytic in his
approach to such collaborations. But more than that, Jim was simply a
great guy to work with. I shall miss his unfailingly polite and
down-home, gentle demeanor. Jim will remain in my memory a soft-spoken,
gentle and talented man, a true gentleman."

* Longtime ARRL Staffer Robert L. Lincoln Passes Away: Robert Lincoln,
94, of Westbrook, Connecticut, passed away at his home on June 13. After
his retirement at age 65 from Addressograph Multigraph, Lincoln came to
work at ARRL to run the League's in-house printing press. He retired
from the ARRL in January 2007 at age 92 after 27 years of service
<http://www.arrl.org/?artid=7140>. Around the ARRL HQ building, he was
affectionately known as "Mr Lincoln," carrying out his various printing
tasks largely out of the public spotlight. A memorial service is planned
for June 18 at Swan Funeral Home in Old Saybrook, Connecticut.

===========================================================
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
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<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> is a weekly "ham radio newscast"
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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
from ARRL HQ. To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your address for
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ARRL members first must register on the Members Only Web Site
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The ARRL Letter also is available to all, free of charge, from these
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be posted each Friday when it is distributed via e-mail.)

* The QTH.net listserver, thanks to volunteers from the Boston Amateur
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Copyright 2009 American Radio Relay League, Inc.
All Rights Reserved



From memberlist at www.arrl.org  Fri Jun 26 14:00:22 2009
From: memberlist at www.arrl.org (ARRL Web site)
Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 11:00:22 -0700
Subject: [CVRC] ARLD025 DX news
Message-ID: <200906261800.n5QI0MbP026039@pop1.greatbasin.net>

SB DX @ ARL $ARLD025
ARLD025 DX news

ZCZC AE25
QST de W1AW
DX Bulletin 25  ARLD025
 From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  June 25, 2009
To all radio amateurs

SB DX ARL ARLD025
ARLD025 DX news

This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by
G3KMA, 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.

MAURITIUS, 3B8.  Luc, I3LDP will be QRV as 3B8/home call from June 29
to July 11.  Activity will be on all HF bands, including 6 meters,
using CW and SSB.  QSL to home call.

FIJI, 3D2.  JA1NLX will be QRV as 3D2YA from Mana Island, IOTA
OC-121, from June 29 to July 3.  Activity will be on 80 to 10 meters
using CW and RTTY.  QSL to home call.

SENEGAL, 6W.  Devon, PD9DX is QRV as 6W/home call until July 5.
Activity is on the HF bands using SSB.  QSL to home call.

MALDIVES, 8Q.  Vlad, RA9LR is QRV as 8Q7LR from Hudhuranfushi
Island, IOTA AS-013, until July 2.  Activity is on 40 to 10 meters
using mainly digital modes with some SSB.  QSL to home call.

CROATIA, 9A.  Jernej, S59KM is QRV as 9A/S59KM from Ugljan Island,
IOTA EU-170, until July 2.  Activity is on 40 to 2 meters, including
60 meters, using CW and SSB.  QSL to home call.

CAPE VERDE, D4.  Michel, HB9BOI is QRV as D44TOI from Sal Island,
IOTA AF-086, until June 30.  Activity is mainly on 20 meters using
SSB, with some activity on 17 meters SSB.  QSL to home call.

ST BARTHELEMY, FJ.  Operators Ruediger, DK8YY and Ingolf, DL4JS will
be QRV as TO8YY from June 29 to July 7.  Activity will be on 160 to
10 meters with an emphasis placed on 160 and 80 meters.  QSL via
DH7WW.

WALES, GW.  Operators Alan, G0RCI, Pete, M0USY, Harry, G7DEH, Alan,
G4VUA and Brian, M0JNC are QRV as GB0YG from Holy Island, IOTA
EU-149, until June 29.  Activity is on all HF bands using CW and
SSB.  QSL direct to G0RCI.

BULGARIA, LZ.  Operators LZ4ZD and LZ1ZF are QRV as LZ01WFF from the
Shumensko Plateau Natural Park until June 28.  Activity is on 80 to
10 meters, and possibly 6 and 2 meters.  QSL via LZ1ZF.

NETHERLANDS, PA.  Several operators from Limburg will be QRV using
special event call PA123OLS from June 29 to July 12 from the ''Oud
Limburgs Schuttersfeest, an annual marksmen's festival.  Activity
will be on all HF bands using CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK.  QSL via
bureau.

BRAZIL, PY.  Orlando, PT2TJ will be QRV as PX8M from Maiau Island,
IOTA SA-041, from July 3 to 8.  This includes being active from the
Sao Joao Lighthouse, ARLHS BRA-093.  QSL via PT2OP.

GREECE, SV.  Special event call SY2O will be QRV from June 27 to 29
during the Olympus Marathon, an annual run on Mount Olympus.  QSL
direct via SV2FLQ.

DODECANESE, SV5.  George, GM0IIO will be QRV as SV5/GM0IIO from
Rhodes, IOTA EU-001, from July 1 to 8.  Activity will be on 20
meters using CW and SSB.  QSL to home call.

MALI, TZ.  Ed, W0SD and Arliss, W7XU and possibly other operators
are QRV as TZ6EI until July 5.  Emphasis is on 6 meters, looking for
sporadic-E openings.  They are monitoring 50103 kHz.  QSL via W7XU.

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA, V2.  Jimmy, W6JKV is QRV as V29JKV from
Antigua, IOTA NA-100, until July 3.  Activity is mainly on 6 meters
with some HF activity as well.  QSL to home call.

MICRONESIA, V6.  Yuki, JH1NBN is QRV from here while on a business
trip.  He is traveling and operating from three islands.  He is
currently active as V6P from Pohnpei until July 4, V6C from Chuuk
Island from July 4 to 12, V6T from Kosrae and back to Pohnpei as V6P
from July 21 to 25.  He may also be active as V63AQ.  Activity is on
80 to 6 meters in his spare time.  QSL to home call.

IOTA CORRECTION.  As reported in DX news ARLD024, Kharancy Island is
not a new IOTA.

THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO.  ARRL Field Day, His Majesty King of
Spain SSB Contest, Ukrainian DX DIGI Contest, Marconi Memorial HF CW
Contest, ARCI Milliwatt Field Day and the SARL Digital PSK Contest
will certainly keep contesters busy this weekend.  The RAC Canada
Day Contest is scheduled for July 1.  Please see June QST, page 80
and the ARRL and WA7BNM contest web sites for details.
NNNN
/EX



From memberlist at www.arrl.org  Fri Jun 26 19:18:37 2009
From: memberlist at www.arrl.org (ARRL Web site)
Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:18:37 -0700
Subject: [CVRC] ARLP026 Propagation de K7RA
Message-ID: <200906262318.n5QNIc3j010862@pop1.greatbasin.net>

SB PROP @ ARL $ARLP026
ARLP026 Propagation de K7RA

ZCZC AP26
QST de W1AW
Propagation Forecast Bulletin 26  ARLP026
 From Tad Cook, K7RA
Seattle, WA  June 26, 2009
To all radio amateurs

SB PROP ARL ARLP026
ARLP026 Propagation de K7RA

Thanks to Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA for writing last week's
Propagation Forecast bulletin.

Two new sunspots appeared last week, numbered 1022 and 1023, and
both were Cycle 24 spots.  1022 lasted through June 23 and 1023
until June 24.  On June 24 geomagnetic indices were unsettled.

This weekend is ARRL Field Day, and conditions should be stable.
Planetary A index is predicted to be around five, which is quiet.

Chip Margelli, K7JA wrote about some surprising openings last week.
He writes, "Sunspots or no, there are DX opportunities even with a
solar flux of 67. Both Friday and Saturday nights (U.S. time June
19-20), the 21 MHz and 28 MHz bands were open to Japan from my
location in southern California, and along much of the West Coast,
around 0500-0800 UTC (that's 10 PM to at least 1 AM!).  Both nights,
the 15-meter CW band was crawling with loud JA signals from stations
working the All Asian DX Contest, and there were many loud signals
on 10 meters, as well. I fear many did not think to check ten at
this hour, but it very much was open."

He continues, "And Saturday night I worked 54 JA stations in a nice
run on 50 MHz, so perhaps those noctilucent clouds were being kind
to me."

Steve Brandt, N7VS of Portland, Oregon had a similar observation.
On 10 meters CW last Friday night (at 0336z Saturday) Steve worked
JK1YMM in the All Asia CW Contest with S7 reports in both
directions.  Steve also observed sporadic-E openings this week out
to about 1,000 miles, and said other stations have reported working
Japan on 10 meters this week.

In last week's bulletin, Carl mentioned the upcoming DXpedition to
Glorioso in July.  Now he has written a set of predictions for
propagation to Glorioso from various areas, and you can see it at
http://mysite.verizon.net/k9la/id11.html.  Just click on the
"Glorioso in July 2009" link.

I received some interesting mail from Red Haines, WO0W of La
Crescent, Minnesota.  I did a search for past emails from him, and
came across an unread mail from December, 2007.  Just to review and
clarify, an ionosonde is a tool for measuring the critical frequency
(f0F2) for the area just above.  It sweeps an RF signal, beaming
straight up, and looks for reflections.

Some quotes from Red occupy the next few paragraphs.

"Though we use the sunspot number and the solar flux index to assess
propagation expectations, there is only an indirect connection
between these indices and propagation.  Neither sunspots nor the
radiation measured by the solar flux index directly increase or
decrease the levels of ionization in the ionosphere.  All three are
determined, somewhat independently, by physical processes on or in
the Sun.

"Sunspots and the solar flux are caused by solar conditions that are
often associated to a limited degree with high energy radiation that
reaches Earth and ionizes molecules in the atmosphere.  Only the
energetic radiation (UV, X-ray, and Gamma rays) from the Sun or
other sources ionize those molecules.  The solar flux radiation is
not energetic enough. The sunspots are only a visual phenomena
associated with solar events, including radiation.  It often happens
that no solar radiation associated with a sunspot reaches Earth.

"In past years, we didn't have any better predictors of propagation
than the sunspot number and the solar flux index.  They remain
useful, but we must recognize their limitations.  In fact,
propagation correlates very poorly with them.  Smoothed sunspot
numbers are useful to study the solar activity cycle.  Smoothed
sunspot number doesn't predict the next day's propagation or even
the next cycle's timing or magnitude.  In fact, the smoothed SSN
cannot be calculated until 6 moths have passed.  The daily SSN is
just about meaningless to propagation.

"Today, we have better indicators of propagation potential. Hams may
view near real time measures of X-ray radiation from the GOES
satellites.  See http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/today.html.

"The various propagation beacons are very useful to assess current
propagation.

"A source of near real time ionospheric conditions, including the
various critical frequencies, may be accessed at
http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/ftpdir/lists/iono_day/. This index links to
the worldwide system of ionosondes to report measured values on
short time intervals, typically near 15 minutes.  The shortcoming is
the relatively small number of ionosondes, which requires
interpolation to estimate the MUF for a propagation path, as well as
educated guesses regarding details of the path.

"The Australian IPS Radio and Space Services offer several maps that
attempt to depict interpolated propagation conditions, based on
ionosonde measurements.  For an example and links to additional
products, see http://www.ips.gov.au/HF_Systems/4/3."

In a message from June 15, Red wrote:

"Perhaps you already noted the large increase in f0F2 reported by
the ionosonde at Boulder.  Rapid fluctuations beginning after 1200Z
June 14 reached high values as high as 14 MHz.  The fluctuations
were prominent.

"By the time I noticed and turned to the DX beacons, values were
back to usual and the RTTY signals interfered too much to discern
much on 14.1 MHz.  By that time, about 2300z, I didn't hear any
beacons on 21.150 MHz.  I sure wish the RTTY operators were more
aware of the value of those beacons, to themselves as much as to
others.

"Signals on 80 meters at 2330z, from net stations that I work every
day at that time, were about 20 dB lower than has been typical
during recent weeks.  These were stations within MN.  Perhaps
D-layer absorption was increased.

"On a region net at 0045z, also 80 meters, signals were a bit lower,
but were back to normal at 0230z, as were the MN net signals at
0250z.

"I haven't found the cause of the ionospheric fluctuations.  I
examined the graph of X-ray flux and it was 'flatlined.'  I found no
evidence of any major particulate density reaching Earth from the
Sun.  Of more general interest, the Millstone station resumed
posting ionosonde readings for a couple weeks, though not
continuous, but has discontinued the postings.

"I suspect that the IPS maps are relatively inaccurate for lack of
ionosonde data.  I not considerable disparity between those maps in
the US and the Boulder data.  I began recording the Boulder data to
study that in greater detail."

And finally on June 23, this from Red:

"You probably noted the appearance in the southern hemisphere of two
sunspot groups with a SSN of 24 on June 22.  Did you also notice a
burst of low energy X-ray on June 22 and the large excursions of
f0F2 at about 1400z, 2300z (June 22z), and 0800z (June 23z)?  The
f0F2 reported by Boulder reached 11 MHz at 0800z June 23 and
displays a series of high and low excursions.

"The other ionosondes in the USA continue to report no data.  IPS
maps are not tracking these excursions, probably because data needed
for the map model is lacking."

We also had several reports on grayline propagation recently.  Here
are two of them.

On June 12, Roland Spoon, AH6RR of Kailua Kona, on the Big Island of
Hawaii wrote, "The past 2 weeks has just been hopping on 20 meters
here in Hawaii I have been making contacts almost world wide with
the exception of South America (???) Evening Grayline is open to
Africa, Asia, Middle East, Europe and Oceania. With openings to
Europe until 10+ pm local time, signals are between S5 and 20 over
9. Morning grayline Favors the Middle East and Africa with some
light but workable Europe. Stu KH7DX reports that between midnight
local and 4am good openings to the Indian Ocean  Africa. We have
been having a blast working the pile-ups."

Another grayline report came from Brian Webb, KD6NRP of Ventura
County, California.  On Monday at 0350z (Sunday night local time)
Brian was on PSK31, and writes, "I called CQ on 14070 kHz with no
takers.  Just as I was reaching up to close my software, someone
answered.  The other station had a funny call and I suspected my
system hadn't decoded the signal correctly.

"But the other station repeated his call and I was receiving it
correctly. I then proceeded to have a brief, but exciting QSO with
Nigel, E51SC, in Rarotonga in the South Cook Islands.

"Despite the low solar flux and my compromise antenna, the contact
apparently was made possible due to grayline propagation. A check of
my propagation software confirmed that at 0400Z the terminator
(day/night line) ran through southern California to the South Cook
Islands."

To end, note that the solar flux numbers at the bottom are not
resolved to one tenth of a point.  For some reason I could not
connect to the FTP server at Penticton that hosts the data.

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 June 18 through 24 were 0, 0, 0, 12, 24, 12, and
14 with a mean of 8.9.  10.7 cm flux was 68, 67, 67, 67, 68, 68, and
67 with a mean of 67.4.  Estimated planetary A indices were 4, 4, 6,
7, 3, 4 and 19 with a mean of 6.7.  Estimated mid-latitude A indices
were 2, 1, 5, 6, 2, 5 and 16 with a mean of 5.3.
NNNN
/EX



From letter-dlvy at arrl.org  Fri Jun 26 19:51:04 2009
From: letter-dlvy at arrl.org (ARRL Letter Mailing List)
Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:51:04 -0700
Subject: [CVRC] The ARRL Letter, Vol 28, No 25 (Friday, June 26, 2009)
Message-ID: <200906262351.n5QNp4KG028071@pop1.greatbasin.net>

***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 28, No. 25
June 26, 2009
***************

IN THIS EDITION:

*  President Obama Makes His Mark on FCC with Four Nominees
*  ARRL Seeks Court Action to Compel FCC to Comply with Ruling
*  Governors Show Support for Amateur Radio as ARRL Field Day Approaches

*  Tennessee Teen Ham Responds to Emergency, Performs CPR
*  W1AW Announces 2009 Field Day Bulletin Schedule
*  Ohio Section Manager Joe Phillips, K8QOE (SK)
*  Solar Update
*  IN BRIEF:
       This Week on the Radio
       ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration
       ARRL Field Day in National Spotlight
       ARRL to Close in Observance of Fourth of July
       Second Edition of "VoIP: Internet Linking for Radio Amateurs"
Introduced

Due to storm-related power outages, there will be no ARRL Audio News for
Friday, June 26. We apologize for any inconvenience.

===========================================================
==>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>
===========================================================

==> PRESIDENT OBAMA MAKES HIS MARK ON FCC WITH FOUR NOMINEES

Just barely five months into his first term as President of the United
States, Barack Obama has put his personal stamp on the Federal
Communications Commission: On June 25, the US Senate confirmed Julius
Genachowski as FCC Chairman and reconfirmed current FCC Commissioner
Robert McDowell for his first full term as Commissioner. Earlier the
same day, he nominated South Carolina Democrat Mignon Clyburn and
Republican Meredith Attwell Baker for the two vacant Commissioner seats.
If confirmed by the Senate, Clyburn and Baker would bring the FCC to its
full complement of five Commissioners.

At around 7:25 PM (EDT), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) read
out only the numbers of the nominations corresponding to their numbers
on the day's calendar. Genachowski was calendar number 251, McDowell was
252. The process took only seconds and followers would have had to know
their calendar number on the day's agenda to know they had been
confirmed. Reid said that it was "too bad" that he could not give
individual recognition to the nominees beyond simply reading their
names, saying they were people who would "change lives." Click
<http://www.c-spanarchives.org/library/vidLink.php?b=1245972129&e=124597
2729&n=2> to watch a video clip f the confirmation.

According to Senate insiders, there were senators who reportedly had
some remaining issues over answers the nominees had provided to written
questions submitted after their confirmation hearing; a single senator
can put a hold on a nominee and prevent a vote. Reid had been working
since last week to get those holds lifted and the President's FCC
nominees in place as quickly as possible, said a Reid spokesperson: "As
with all of the President's nominees, it is important that we confirm
[Genachowski's] nomination as soon as possible so that he has a full
team to address the many issues confronting the nation."

President Obama nominated Genachowski to lead the Commission on March 3,
2009 <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/03/03/10684/?nc=1> and
renominated McDowell on June 2
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/06/03/10859/>. Both nominees
received bipartisan support from the Senate's Commerce, Science and
Transportation Committee before their names were moved to the full
Senate for confirmation: Genachowski received a 24-1 vote from the
committee, while McDowell received unanimous support. Genachowski is a
Democratic nominee, while McDowell is a Republican. Only three
Commissioners at a time may be members of the same political party.

Julius Genachowski

Genachowski, 46, is a technology executive and a former classmate of the
President's from Harvard Law School. Genachowski will take the seat of
Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein. Earlier this year, Adelstein was
nominated by President Obama to be the Administrator for the United
States Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/03/23/10716/?nc=1>.

Genachowski has been widely praised by industry executives and
consumer-activist groups -- two groups often at odds -- for his
wide-ranging experience and intimate knowledge of technology issues. "I
can think of no one better than Julius Genachowski to serve as chairman
of the Federal Communications Commission," said President Obama. "He
will bring to the job diverse and unparalleled experience in
communications and technology, with two decades of accomplishment in the
private sector and public service. I know him as the son of immigrants
who carries a deep appreciation for this country and the American dream;
and as the proud father of three children working with his wife Rachel
to be responsible parents in this digital age."

Acting Chairman Copps congratulated Genachowski on his Senate
confirmation: "I believe Julius brings just the right blend of talent,
experience and dedication to lead the FCC toward the more active role it
must play if all our citizens are to enjoy the blessings and bounties of
21st century communications. I look forward to welcoming both Julius and
his family into our FCC family. And I look forward to working with
Julius and all my colleagues at the Commission in tenacious pursuit of a
communications policy that truly puts the public interest first."

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 President Obama's campaign Web site, Genachowski
raised at least $500,000 for Obama during the presidential election
campaign.

Early in the Obama presidential campaign, Genachowski urged
then-candidate Obama to capitalize on the organizing power of the
Internet. The New York Times 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," credited 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."

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."

The new FCC Chairman holds a BA in History from Columbia and a JD from
Harvard. While in law school, he served as notes editor of "Harvard Law
Review." Genachowski is married to lawyer and filmmaker Rachel Goslins.
The couple has two children and Genachowski has a son from his first
marriage.

Robert McDowell

McDowell, a Republican, was first nominated by President George W. Bush
and sworn into office in June 2006, filling the unexpired term of
Republican Kathleen Q. Abernathy.

According to the White House, McDowell has collaborated with his fellow
Commissioners to develop and establish American communications policy
covering the wireless, media and Internet industries, as well as
international policy matters. He has worked to create rules governing
wireless auctions, establish a framework for unlicensed use of TV "white
spaces" spectrum, develop incentives to encourage the development of new
broadband technologies, review public interest benefits as part of the
approval process of proposed corporate mergers and adjudicate
enforcement proceedings.

McDowell brings to the FCC 16 years of private sector experience in the
communications industry. Immediately prior to joining the Commission,
McDowell was a senior executive for a trade association representing
competitive facilities-based telecommunications service providers. He
has served on the North American Numbering Council (NANC) and on the
Board of Directors of North American Numbering Plan Billing and
Collection (NBANC).

McDowell was graduated cum laude from Duke University in 1985. After
serving as chief legislative aide to a member of the Virginia House of
Delegates, he attended the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College
of William and Mary. Upon his graduation from law school, McDowell
joined the Washington, DC office of Arter & Hadden, a national law firm,
now closed, that was based in Cleveland. McDowell is admitted to
practice law before the courts of the Commonwealth of Virginia, the US
District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and the US Courts of
Appeals for the District of Columbia, First, Fourth and Fifth Circuits,
as well as the US Supreme Court. He lives in Fairfax County, Virginia on
his family's farm with his wife Jennifer and their three children.

Mignon Clyburn

Clyburn, the daughter of House Majority Whip Representative James
Clyburn (D-SC), has served on the Public Service Commission of South
Carolina since 1998 <http://www.psc.sc.gov/>. The Public Service
Commission regulates South Carolina's investor owned public utilities,
including providers of telecommunications services. Before her election
to that body, she spent 14 years as the publisher and general manager of
"The Coastal Times," a weekly newspaper in Charleston, South Carolina.

In 1998, Clyburn was elected by the South Carolina General Assembly as a
Commissioner to represent the Sixth Congressional District; she has been
re-elected three times, chairing the Commission from 2002-2004. She is a
past chair of the Southeastern Association of Regulatory Utility
Commissioners, and is presently the chair of the Washington Action
Committee of the National Association of Regulatory Utility
Commissioners (NARUC). Clyburn also serves on NARUC's Audit Committee
and Utilities Market Access Partnership Board.

Clyburn graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor
of Science degree in Banking, Finance & Economics in 1984.

Meredith Attwell Baker

Baker, the daughter-in-law of former Secretary of State James Baker,
formerly served as the Acting Assistant Secretary for Communications and
Information and the Acting Administrator of the National
Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)
<http://www.ntia.doc.gov/> from 2007 to January 2009. Named as Deputy
Assistant Secretary in February 2007, Baker first joined NTIA as a
Senior Advisor in January 2004, and also served as Acting Associate
Administrator for the Office of International Affairs and on detail to
the White House, Office of Science and Technology Policy. Baker was
replaced by Larry Strickling, who received the Senate's nod to head the
NTIA on Thursday, June 25.

"We have serious concerns
<http://www.arrl.org/news/files/ItSeemsToUs0408.pdf> regarding the
nomination of Meredith Attwell Baker as an FCC Commissioner," said ARRL
Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ. "While Ms. Baker was Acting
Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information
Administration (NTIA), the NTIA released a deeply flawed report
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2008/02/01/101/?nc=1> entitled
'Networked Nation: Broadband in America 2007'
<http://www.ntia.doc.gov/reports/2008/NetworkedNationBroadbandinAmerica2
007.pdf>. The report seriously and inexcusably overstated the extent of
deployment of Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) as a means of delivering
broadband services to consumers. Documented FCC figures showed there to
be about 5000 BPL customers nationwide, yet the NTIA dismissed this
number out of hand and went on a fishing expedition for higher figures
that it could quote in the range of 200,000 to 400,000 -- utterly
specious numbers without a shred of factual foundation."

Sumner continued: "The ARRL proved that these figures were taken out of
thin air <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2008/02/06/100/> and twice
called upon Acting Administrator Baker to issue a correction. Not only
has the NTIA failed to do so to this day, our well documented complaints
were not even acknowledged. If her FCC nomination is to go forward, we
believe that Ms. Baker first must acknowledge and correct this egregious
error that occurred while she was in charge at NTIA."

Baker spearheaded the coupon program for digital-to-analog converter
boxes to help facilitate the transition to digital television. She has
served on delegations representing the United States at major
international telecommunications conferences and engaged in bilateral
discussions with senior level officials from countries around the world.

Before joining NTIA, Baker was Vice President at the firm of Williams
Mullen Strategies where she focused on telecommunications, intellectual
property and international trade issues. From 2000-2002, she held the
position as Senior Counsel to Covad Communications. Before that, she was
Director of Congressional Affairs at the Cellular Telecommunications
Industry Association (CTIA) from 1998-2000. In the 1990s, Baker worked
at the US Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit in Houston and later at the law
firm of DeLange and Hudspeth. From 1990-1992, she worked in the
Legislative Affairs Office of the US Department of State in Washington,
DC.

Baker earned a BA from Washington & Lee University in 1990 and a law
degree from the University of Houston in 1994. A member of the Texas
State Bar, she resides in McLean, Virginia with her family.

The President of the Senate will send notice of Genachowski's and
McDowell's confirmations to the White House. It is up to the White House
to decide on a date for their swearing-in. At press time, no word has
been received as to when Baker and Clyburn will face their confirmation
hearings.

==> ARRL SEEKS COURT ACTION TO COMPEL FCC TO COMPLY WITH RULING

On June 24, 2009, the ARRL filed a petition with the United States Court
of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit asking the Court to
order the Federal Communications Commission to comply with the Court's
2008 decision that remanded the FCC's ruling on Access BPL for further
action <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2008/04/25/10064/ >.

In its Petition for a Writ of Mandamus, the ARRL asks that the Court
"order the Commission to comply with the terms of the Court's mandate by
(1) soliciting comment on the unredacted studies placed in the
rulemaking record, and (2) providing a reasoned explanation of its
choice of an extrapolation factor for Access BPL (or issue a further
notice of proposed rulemaking proposing a different extrapolation
factor), within sixty days"
<http://www.arrl.org/news/files/BPLCourtMandamusPetition06242009.pdf >.

"What's at issue is the fact that after over a year the FCC has not
complied with the Court's order," said ARRL Regulatory Information
Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND. "The FCC needs to ask the public to comment
on the scientific studies conducted by the FCC and on which they relied
in their BPL decision. It also must either offer a reasoned explanation,
based on the scientific studies already in the FCC's record, for its
determination of the rate at which radiation from medium voltage power
lines carrying BPL decays with distance from the power line, or issue a
new Notice of Proposed Rule Making and seek comment on an appropriate
standard."

The Court of Appeals issued its decision April 25, 2008 and its mandate
on June 13, 2008. ARRL's petition asserts: "By March 31, 2009, the
Commission had taken no action with respect to the disclosure of the
unredacted scientific studies and had not therefore solicited public
comment on the unredacted studies. Petitioner, therefore, filed a
Freedom of Information Act request with the Commission seeking the
unredacted versions of the studies that the Court ordered be included in
the rulemaking record, and about which an opportunity for comment was to
be provided by the Agency."

ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, said that "We have been
waiting patiently for the FCC to fulfill its obligations under the Court
of Appeals decision, but after more than a year, it's clearly past time
for the Commission to act. Thanks to the release of the unredacted staff
studies in response to the ARRL's most recent FOIA request -- a request
that should not have been necessary for us to make -- we finally know
what the FCC withheld from public view back in 2004
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/05/08/10811/?nc=1 > and what they
now must deal with in order to resolve the regulatory uncertainty that
continues to hang over BPL. We are hopeful that under its new
leadership, the FCC will get back on track and will revise its rules
governing BPL interference to be consistent with the technical record
and sound science."

On May 1 of this year, the Commission released the unredacted studies
without comment or notice. As the ARRL's petition continues, "To date,
no public notice of that action has been given and no further action has
been taken by the Commission with respect to the provision of an
opportunity for the public to comment on the unredacted studies."

Henderson explained that "the release of the unredacted studies is only
a partial fulfillment of the Circuit Court's decision. The ARRL's
position is that further delay is not warranted by any reasonable,
factual standard. There is precedent in law that 'a reasonable time for
agency action is typically counted in weeks or months, not years.' It is
14 months since the Court's decision, and still the FCC has no timeline
to meet its mandated obligations."

The ARRL is asking that the Court order the Commission to comply with
the Court's order within 60 days. The petition states: "Given the
simplicity of the Commission's compliance with the two components of the
Court's Mandate on remand and the amount of time that the Commission has
already taken following the issuance of the Mandate, the Court need not
be concerned with the question of how much more time is needed for the
Commission to complete its tasks. Sixty days is more than enough to
solicit public comment on the unredacted studies and to justify, if it
can, the extrapolation factor, or to reopen the rulemaking proceeding in
order to determine a different, appropriate extrapolation factor."

==> GOVERNORS SHOW SUPPORT FOR AMATEUR RADIO AS ARRL FIELD DAY
APPROACHES

Governors across the United States have shown their support for Amateur
Radio, with many proclaiming Amateur Radio Week in their states.
Coinciding with ARRL Field Day <http://www.arrl.org/fieldday>, these
proclamations show citizens that these states value the contributions
made by radio amateurs.

ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, said that
ARRL Public Information Officers around the country were encouraged to
begin work on obtaining proclamations many weeks ago: "Hundreds of local
proclamations by city and county leaders -- as well as 25 state
proclamations -- have been made, with more expected. Proclamations from
the governors of Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida,
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska,
New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma,
Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming as well as
Delaware's State Senate, are not just recognitions of the past, but keys
for future political actions such as PRB-1
<http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/local/prb-1_program.html>
and legislative issues."

These state proclamations range from Ohio declaring June 27 as Amateur
Radio Day, to Florida, Delaware, Illinois, New Hampshire and
Pennsylvania pronouncing June as Amateur Radio Month in those states,
while other states have designated Amateur Radio Week in their states.

ARRL Field Day is many things to many people -- a competition to a
picnic to an emergency drill and more. But according to Pitts, it is
also a public relations event and groups can score more than 500 points
for working the public relations angle before the weekend even begins.

"Your fellow hams and club members probably already know about Field
Day," Pitts said, "but what about your local newspapers and radio and
television stations? Local media outlets are always looking for fun and
interesting things going on in their community." Having a media hit or
link is good for 100 points.

Instead of manning only the radios, how about manning a public
information table with brochures, signs and a smile? That's another 100
points. "The ARRL offers publicity materials
<http://www.arrl.org/brochures/> at no charge except a small shipping
fee," Pitts explained. "It's too late to receive ARRL brochures and
handouts if you have not already requested them, but go ahead and order
them -- you or your club will never know when the opportunity to tell
the world about Amateur Radio will pop up next."

If an elected official visits your Field Day site, you can earn 100
points. "This is easier than many folks might expect. All you have to do
is ask!" Pitts said.

If your state is one of the 23 states without a PRB-1 statute on the
books, Pitts suggests inviting your elected officials to your Field Day
site to see what Amateur Radio is all about. "Chances are, these folks
will see the importance of what we do, giving you an inroad into
discussing how they can help you get antennas in your community or even
across the state. It's amazing to think that a simple invitation could
lead to so much, but it's happened before -- why not make your Field Day
the next success story."

Visit the ARRL Web site to view the proclamations
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/06/24/10905/?nc=1>. For a list of
the many ways you or your club can earn bonus points this Field Day,
please be sure to check out the ARRL Field Day packet
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/forms/fd-2009-packet.pdf>.

==> TENNESSEE TEEN HAM RESPONDS TO EMERGENCY, PERFORMS CPR

It was just another day, helping out at another event. It was the third
year in a row that 16 year old Cody Anderson, KI4FUV, of Harriman,
Tennessee, had volunteered to help out the Roane County Amateur Radio
Club (RARC) with the Run for the Child event. But it was the first time
that he would help save a life.

May 30 dawned with fog in the sky. Not too hot, but the temperature
would reach the mid-80s before the Sun went down. All in all, a good day
for a race. Anderson made his way to the race site at the Roane State
Community College, set up his equipment at Checkpoint #2 and waited for
the runners to pass by. "This year started off just like the past two
years," he told his local newspaper, the Roane County News. Twenty
minutes later, that all changed.

Twenty minutes later as the runners started their second pass around the
marked course, Anderson saw one of the runners fall down. Unlike other
runners who fall down on a course, this man did not get up. After
waiting about 20 seconds, Anderson left Checkpoint #2 and quickly made
his way over to the downed racer. As he did so, he used his handheld
transceiver to notify his fellow club members who were at the event,
"Runner down."

Sheriff's deputies were also placed along the race route. One who was
near Anderson and Checkpoint #2 saw what was going on and came to
assist. As Anderson raced on foot, the deputy jumped in his patrol car
and drove to the fallen runner. Both reached the fallen runner in about
20 seconds.

RARC Vice President Cliff Segar, KD4GT, said that they all heard
Anderson racing toward the runner, "but we just assumed someone just
simply tripped and fell." But after hearing Anderson say "Roll EMS" over
the radio, he knew it was much more serious.

Another runner -- "I never got his name," Anderson said -- passed the
area where the teen and the sheriff's deputy were kneeling next to the
runner lying on the ground. The man stopped to help, checking out the
man on the ground, who was still breathing. Anderson got back on the
radio and told Bill Farnham, KI4FZT, at the command center that the
first responders who were on site needed to get to where he was --
immediately. "The man who stopped, I just kind of let him take over,"
Anderson told the ARRL. "He seemed like he had a bit of medical
training, and he started taking vital signs. I was talking to Bill on my
radio, letting him know what was going on."

Then the fallen runner stopped breathing.

In February, Anderson took a CPR class that another RARC club member --
Phil Newman, KE4LSH -- had organized. It was the skills he learned at
that class that came into play on May 30. He started giving the man
mouth-to-mouth resuscitation; the other runner started chest
compressions. "We did about three sets of CPR before the Roane County
Rescue guys got to us, just a second or two later" Anderson told the
ARRL.

"I'm just glad I was able to take the CPR training, else I don't know
what I would have done or how I would have reacted," Anderson told the
County Times. Anderson efforts, along with those of the unknown runner,
kept the man alive long enough for EMS to arrive and use an electronic
defibrillator to restart his heart. He was eventually transported to the
University of Tennessee Medical Center via Lifestar helicopter. "Last I
heard," Anderson said, "was that he was doing okay."

Anderson will begin his senior year at Rockwood High School this fall.
When he was 11, he sat for his Technician exam and passed; he is now a
General. He likes to help out with the Boy Scouts and give back to the
community through his SKYWARN and ARES(r) activities: "I volunteer five
weeks every summer to help out at Camp Buck Toms, a Boy Scout camp
located in Rockwood, Tennessee. Along with a few other volunteers from
the local area, I teach the radio and electronics merit badge courses.
Through the Amateur Radio Emergency Service, I've personally helped out
with several severe weather outbreaks, the TVA Kingston ash spill in
December 2008 and the Kingston Smokin' the Water 4th of July festival a
few times."

He is modest about the events of May 30. "I took my first training class
for CPR and AED in February 2009, thinking I would never have to use
it," he told the ARRL. "On May 30, 2009 -- I used it. I would highly
recommend that everyone takes some type of medical training."

Segar calls Anderson a hero. "You never know when training will possibly
be the difference between life and death," he said.  -- Some information
from the Roane County News

==> W1AW ANNOUNCES 2009 FIELD DAY BULLETIN SCHEDULE

Stations active during ARRL Field Day -- June 27-28 -- are eligible to
receive 100 bonus points for copying the special Field Day bulletin
transmitted by W1AW (or K6KPH on the West Coast) according to the
schedule below. You must include an accurate copy of the message in your
Field Day submission. The Field Day bulletin must be copied via Amateur
Radio; it will not be included in Internet bulletins sent out from
Headquarters and will not be posted to Internet BBS sites.

W1AW will operate on the regularly published frequencies. The special
PSK31 bulletin will be transmitted on the regular W1AW teleprinter
frequencies. CW frequencies: 1.8025, 3.5815, 7.0475, 14.0475, 18.0975,
21.0675, 28.0675 and 147.555 MHz. Teleprinter frequencies (includes
PSK31): 3597.5, 7.095, 14.095, 18.1025, 21.095, 28.095 and 147.555 MHz.
Phone frequencies: 1.855, 3.990, 7.290, 14.290, 18.160, 21.390, 28.590
and 147.555 MHz.

Friday
CW: 5 PM PDT, 6 PM MDT, 7 PM CDT, 8 PM EDT
Teleprinter: 6 PM PDT, 7 PM MDT, 8 PM CDT, 9 PM EDT
Phone: 6:45 PM PDT, 7:45 PM MDT, 8:45 PM CDT, 9:45 PM EDT
CW: 8 PM PDT, 9 PM MDT, 10 PM CDT, 11 PM EDT

Saturday
CW: 7 AM PDT, 8 AM MDT, 9 AM CDT, 10 AM EDT
Phone: 8 AM PDT, 9 AM MDT, 10 AM CDT, 11 AM EDT
CW: 5 PM PDT, 6 PM MDT, 7 PM CDT, 8 PM EDT
Teleprinter: 6 PM PDT, 7 PM MDT, 8 PM CDT, 9 PM EDT
Phone: 6:45 PM PDT, 7:45 PM MDT, 8:45 PM CDT, 9:45 PM EDT

Sunday
CW: 7 AM PDT, 8 AM MDT, 9 AM CDT, 10 AM EDT
Phone: 8 AM PDT, 9 AM MDT, 10 AM CDT, 11 AM EDT
PSK31: 9 AM PDT, 10 AM MDT, 11 AM CDT, 12 PM EDT

The Maritime Radio Historical Society's K6KPH
<http://www.radiomarine.org/> will transmit the 2008 W1AW Field Day
message for the benefit of West Coast stations on 3.5815, 7.0475,
14.0475, 18.0975 and 21.0675 MHz, CW only. The frequencies for K6KPH
Teleprinter (RTTY and FEC AMTOR) will be 7.095 and 14.095 MHz. The K6KPH
schedule is accurate as of June 17, 2009.

Saturday
CW: 7:30 AM PDT, 8:30 AM MDT, 9:30 AM CDT, 10:30 AM EDT
CW: 5:30 PM PDT, 6:30 PM MDT, 7:30 PM CDT, 8:30 PM EDT
Teleprinter: 6:30 PM PDT, 7:30 PM MDT, 8:30 PM CDT, 9:30 PM EDT

Sunday
CW: 7:30 AM PDT, 8:30 AM MDT, 9:30 AM CDT, 10:30 AM EDT
Teleprinter: 9:30 AM PDT, 10:30 AM MDT, 11:30 AM CDT, 12:30 PM EDT

More information on ARRL Field Day is available on the ARRL Field Day
Web site <http://www.arrl.org/fieldday>.

==> OHIO SECTION MANAGER JOE PHILLIPS, K8QOE (SK)

Joe Phillips, K8QOE, who served as ARRL Ohio Section Manager since 1998,
passed away suddenly at his home on June 20. He was 68. Licensed in 1959
as KN9SYL, Phillips first joined the ARRL Field Organization as an
Official Emergency Station (OES) in 1986. He became a Public Information
Officer in 1989 and has served as an Official Observer (OO) since 1997.
He was elected Ohio Section Manager in 1998.

A graduate of Youngstown University, Phillips had a career as a
journalist and a teacher. He edited six separate ham radio newsletters
in Cincinnati before becoming Newsletter Editor for the Ohio Area
Repeater Council in 1984, a position he held for five years. In 1986,
Phillips organized the first Ohio Repeater Directory and in 1992,
organized the Ohio Section Ham Radio Newsletter Contest. He authored a
weekly ham radio newspaper column in the Sunday edition of the
Cincinnati Enquirer called "Ham Call" and hosted a similarly named
program for cable television in the Cincinnati area.

In 1994, Phillips was elected to the Greater Cincinnati Amateur Radio
Hall of Fame, and in 1995, he was the recipient of the ARRL's McGan
Silver Antenna Award. This award is given annually to a League member
who demonstrates outstanding public relations success on behalf Amateur
Radio at the local, state or national level. Phillips was excited about
having his photo on the cover of the May 2009 issue of QST featuring the
annual Dayton Hamvention.

"Throughout a 40-year friendship, Joe and I worked closely together on
many occasions," said ARRL Great Lakes Division Director Jim Weaver,
K8JE. "From his early days of supporting the county ARES/RACES unit and
the Ohio Repeater Council, Joe has always provided energetic and
effective leadership with a friendly, personal touch. The magnetism of
his style of leadership drew the best from others who soon became solid
friends, not mere associates."

ARRL Membership and Volunteer Programs Manager Dave Patton, NN1N,
remembered Phillips fondly: "If you have been to Dayton you have met and
laughed with Joe. He was the master of the Wouff Hong ceremony. His red
jacket is the stuff of legend in Ohio. Joe was more than a Section
Manager -- he really gave all of himself to ARRL for 20-plus years. With
him dies the last paper newsletter sent to section membership. When I
answered his phone calls, he announced his call with 'Here's your Ohio
Nightmare.' He loved baseball, maybe more than I did. He was a good man,
and he is really going to be missed."

==>SOLAR UPDATE

Tad "Child of delight, with sunbright hair" Cook, K7RA, this week
reports: Two new sunspots appeared last week, numbered 1022 and 1023,
and both were Solar Cycle 24 spots, with 1022 lasting through June 23
and 1023 until June 24. On June 24, geomagnetic indices were unsettled.
Sunspot numbers for June 18-24 were 0, 0, 0, 12, 24, 12 and 14 with a
mean of 8.9. The 10.7 cm flux was 68, 67, 67, 67, 68, 68 and 67 with a
mean of 67.4. The estimated planetary A indices were 4, 4, 6, 7, 3, 4
and 19 with a mean of 6.7. The estimated mid-latitude A indices were 2,
1, 5, 6, 2, 5 and 16 with a mean of 5.3. This weekend is ARRL Field Day,
and conditions should be stable; Planetary A index is predicted to be
around five, which is quiet.. 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 Emily Bronte
<http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Child_of_delight,_with_sun-bright_hair>.

__________________________________

==>IN BRIEF:

* This Week on the Radio: This week, ARRL Field Day is on June 27-28 --
look for a Field Day site near you
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/announcements/fd/locator.php>. The NCCC
Sprint and the Digital Pentathlon are on June 26. On June 27-28, check
out the His Majesty King of Spain Contest (SSB), the Ukrainian DX DIGI
Contest, the Marconi Memorial HF Contest and the ARCI Milliwatt Field
Day. The SARL Digital Contest is June 28 and the RAC Canada Day Contest
is July 1. Next week is the Digital Pentathlon on July 3. Check out the
Venezuelan Independence Day Contest, the WLOTA Contest, the DL-DX RTTY
Contest, the Original QRP Contest, the PODXS 070 Club 40 Meter
Firecracker Sprint (local time) Michigan QRP July 4th CW Sprint on July
4-5. The ARS Spartan Sprint is July 7. 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, June 28, 2009, for these online course sessions
beginning on Friday, July 10, 2009: Amateur Radio Emergency
Communications Level 1; Antenna Modeling; Radio Frequency Interference;
Antenna Design and Construction; Ham Radio (Technician) License Course;
Propagation; Analog Electronics, and Digital Electronics. 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>.

* ARRL Field Day in the National Spotlight: Each year, the ARRL's Media
and Public Relations Department makes materials available to Public
Affairs Officers (PIOs) for use in promoting Field Day events. Most of
these are in forms that local groups can easily modify to include their
own information, but there is also a national press release that is sent
out direct from ARRL HQ over the news wire
<http://www.arrl.org/pio/press_releases/2009/0622.html>. ARRL Media and
Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, said many hams have seen
the press release -- either portions of it or in its entirety -- with
the headline Field Day -- Over 35,000 radio 'hams' active June 27-28.
"This press release has already been printed in hundreds of newspapers
and on Web sites, with more to come over Field Day weekend," Pitts
explained. "Wire news services, like other merchants, also run 'special
deals.' This year, we were also able to have our Field Day logo and
caption displayed in the news cycle on the PR Newswire-Reuters news
billboards in Times Square in New York City and in Las Vegas June 15-17.
For more information on ARRL Field Day -- June 27-28 -- please visit the
ARRL Field Day Web site <http://www.arrl.org/fieldday>.

* ARRL to Close in Observance of Fourth of July: ARRL Headquarters will
be closed in observance of Independence Day on Friday, July 3. There
will be no ARRL Audio News, W1AW bulletin or code practice transmissions
that day. The ARRL Letter will be posted a day early on Thursday, July
2. League Headquarters will reopen Monday, July 6 at 8 AM Eastern
Daylight Time. We wish everyone a safe and festive holiday weekend.

* "ARRL Introduces Second Edition of "VoIP: Internet Linking for Radio
Amateurs": Through a technique called Internet linking, ham radio
operators are harnessing the immediacy and portability of radio
communication to the global reach of the Internet. Today's radio
amateurs are using the Internet as the relay between their radio base
stations, handhelds and mobile transceivers for long-distance
communication, spanning thousands of miles. The ARRL has released a
second edition of "VoIP: Internet Linking for Radio Amateurs", the
complete guide to several of the most widely used Voice over Internet
Protocol (VoIP) systems used by today's radio amateurs, with particular
attention to EchoLink and the Internet Radio Linking Project (IRLP). The
book is designed for beginners as well as those hams who are long-time
VoIP users. If you're new to VoIP, you'll discover information on how to
get started, set up and use these systems. The more advanced ham will
find plenty of technical "meat" to dig deeper into VoIP applications and
discover how they actually work. Written by EchoLink creator Jonathan
Taylor, K1RFD, "VoIP: Internet Linking for Radio Amateurs" is available
for $21.95 from the ARRL Web site. Order your copy today
<http://www.arrl.org/catalog/?item=1431>.

===========================================================
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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(NOTE: HQ staff members cannot change your e-mail delivery address. You
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The ARRL Letter also is available to all, free of charge, from these
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* ARRLWeb <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/>. (NOTE: The ARRL Letter will
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Copyright 2009 American Radio Relay League, Inc.
All Rights Reserved



