[CVRC] The ARRL Letter for November 12, 2009

Thu Nov 12 18:17:52 EST 2009

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November 12, 2009
Editor: <mailto:k1sfa at arrl.org>S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA
<http://www.arrl.org/>ARRL Home 
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News<http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&i=2009-11-12&t=t>

    * + Public Service : Late Season Tropical 
Storm Ida Comes Calling on Gulf Coast
    * + Operating : ARRL Sweepstakes Takes to the Phone Bands Next Weekend
    * + Operating : WRTC 2010 Organizers Announce Teams
    * + Amateur Radio in Space : Idaho School 
Incorporates ARISS into Curriculum
    * ARRL Says "Thank You" to Veterans
    * Now You Know! : US Call Signs Not Issued by the FCC
    * Solar Update
    * This Week on the Radio

+ Available on <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/>ARRL Audio News
+ Public Service: Late Season Tropical Storm Ida Comes Calling on Gulf Coast

Category 1 Hurricane Ida, just before entering 
the Gulf of Mexico this past weekend. [Image 
courtesy of the Naval Research Lab]

With only weeks to go before the end of the 2009 
hurricane season, Tropical Storm Ida formed off 
the coast of Nicaragua, making landfall as a 
hurricane in the morning hours of November 5. The 
storm lost significant strength as it moved 
through Nicaragua and Honduras, only to reemerge 
in the Caribbean a day later, impacting El 
Salvador and Mexico. Ida gained strength, 
becoming a Category 2 storm with winds peaking at 
105 miles per hour in the Gulf of Mexico. The 
path for Ida at this point was clearly toward the 
Gulf Coast of the US, with a projected landfall 
somewhere between Louisiana and the Florida 
panhandle. As Ida's path became more focused, 
Amateur Radio operators and ARES® groups 
concentrated on increasing their level of 
readiness should there be a need to respond. Read 
more <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/11/12/11192/?nc=1>here.
+ Operating: ARRL Sweepstakes Takes to the Phone Bands Next Weekend

The SSB portion of the 
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2009/novss.html>ARRL 
November Sweepstakes -- the premier domestic HF 
contest -- takes place next weekend, running 2100 
UTC Saturday, November 21 to 0300 Monday, 
November 23 (or 4 PM Saturday to 10 PM Sunday 
EST). According to ARRL Contest Branch Manager 
Sean Kutzko, KX9X, the event -- first called 
"<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/10/29/11170/?nc=1>The 
January Contest" -- started back in 1929 as a 
competition for handling formal traffic messages. 
"Sweepstakes is one of the oldest traditions in 
Amateur Radio," Kutzko said. "The contest 
exchange contains more elements than usual, an 
homage to traffic-handling. If you have never 
participated in Sweepstakes, you are really 
missing out on some serious fun!" Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/11/12/11194/?nc=1>here.
+ Operating: WRTC 2010 Organizers Announce Teams

Last month, after a grueling selection process, 
the organizers of the 2010 World Radiosport Team 
Championships (WRTC) selected the 44 team leaders 
who will compete in the event next year. These 44 
team leaders, representing all six continents, 
have each chosen a partner. The rules state that 
while the leader's partner may be from a 
different call sign area, they must be from the 
same country as the leader. WRTC, held every few 
years, takes place during the 2010 IARU HF World 
Championships, July 10-11 and will be held just 
outside Moscow. Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/11/11/11191/?nc=1>here<http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&t=i&i=2009-11-12&p=0>.
Atlantic Division to Host Webinar

Click 
<https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/333780681>here 
to register for The Emotional Go Kit: Are You Prepared?

Periodically, the ARRL's Atlantic Division hosts 
a "webinar" -- an interactive Web-based seminar, 
designed to facilitate communication between a 
small number of presenters and a large remote 
audience using the Internet. On Friday, November 
13 at 9 PM EST, Chuck Blocher, PhD, KC2IQV, will 
present a webinar entitled The Emotional Go Kit: 
Are You Prepared? "As hams serve as emergency and 
public service communicators, we prepare our Go 
Kits and necessary gear to provide essential 
communications," said webinar sponsor ARRL 
Atlantic Division Director Bill Edgar, N3LLR. 
"How prepared are you concerning your emotional 
wellness during one of these events? This webinar 
addresses the emotional well-being and 
preparedness for those Amateur Radio 
communicators who participate in emergency and 
public service situations." Please click 
<https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/333780681>here 
to register for this informative, interactive Internet meeting.
+ Amateur Radio in Space: STS 129 -- Stocking the International Space Station

Besides taking spare parts to the International 
Space Station (ISS) this coming Monday, the space 
shuttle Atlantis (STS-129) will deliver the 
module antennas for Columbus -- the laboratory 
built by the European Space Agency (ESA) and host 
of two Amateur Radio on the International Space 
Station (ARISS) antennas. "Lou McFadin, W5DID, a 
member of the AMSAT Board of Directors and a key 
volunteer for ARISS, showed the astronauts the 
best ways for them to safely unpack and assemble 
the antennas and associated cables once they and 
the hardware reach the ISS," said ARRL ARISS 
Program Manager Rosalie White, K1STO. "They 
reviewed how to maneuver and install the antennas 
during the spacewalk. Lou also oversaw the 
re-packing of the antennas and the onboard flight 
kit that accompanies shipments going to the ISS." 
Read more <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/11/12/11195/?nc=1>here.
+ Amateur Radio in Space: Idaho School Incorporates ARISS into Curriculum

Three students at Garfield Elementary School in 
Boise, Idaho play "Where's the Remote?" in 
preparation for a QSO with the International Space Station.

With more than 500 Amateur Radio on the 
International Space Station (ARISS) contacts 
conducted, thousands of students have experienced 
intriguing science and technology lessons -- plus 
the thrill of speaking with an astronaut who was 
on the International Space Station (ISS). 
According to ARRL ARISS Program Manager Rosalie 
White, K1STO, each school uses the ARISS events 
in different ways. From school to school, ARISS 
volunteers see a great range in the types of 
activities around the event, including 
integrating the activities into each grade 
level's curriculum. The lesson in common to all 
schools includes discussions on what Amateur 
Radio is, what ARISS is and how the worldwide 
ARISS Team works together. Click 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/11/05/11185/?nc=1>here 
to read about how one elementary school in Idaho 
integrated Amateur Radio, space -- and more -- 
into their 
curriculum.<http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&t=i&i=2009-11-12&p=1>
ARRL Says "Thank You" to Veterans

On Wednesday, November 11, Veterans Day -- called 
Remembrance Day or Armistice Day outside the US 
-- was celebrated all over the world. Originally 
a holiday that marked the end of World War I -- 
the "War to End All Wars" -- has been set aside 
to honor all who have served their country. It 
was on November 11, 1918, on the 11th hour of the 
11th day of the 11th month, that Germany signed 
the Armistice, formally ending the hostilities 
that had been ongoing since 1914.

The ARRL would like to take this opportunity to 
thank our service veterans. Whether they served 
on active duty or reserve, during peace time or 
time of conflict, they served their county with 
honor. We also would be remiss if we did not 
remember the families of those veterans who kept 
the homefires burning bright; without their love 
and support, our veterans would have indeed been alone.

ARRL Headquarters has its share of service 
veterans: Contributing Editor Al Brogdon, W1AB 
(Army); Publications Sales Associate Mark Dzamba, 
KB1FMY (Air Force); Assistant VEC Manager Perry 
Green, WY1O (Army); Volunteer Archivist Charles 
Griffen, W1GYR (Air Force); Technical Editor Joel 
Hallas, W1ZR (Army); News Editor S. Khrystyne 
Keane, K1SFA (Coast Guard); DXCC Manager Bill 
Moore, NC1L (Army); Reprints Specialist Tony 
Nesta, AA1RZ (Navy); Membership and Volunteer 
Programs Manager Dave Patton, NN1N (Navy); 
Technical Relations Specialist Jon Siverling, 
WB3ERA (Army); Field and Regulatory Correspondent 
Chuck Skolaut, K0BOG (Air Force); Education & 
Technology Program Coordinator Mark Spencer, 
WA8SME (Air Force), and Archivist Perry Williams, W1UED (Air Force).

Thank you for your service -- your sacrifice and 
the sacrifice of your fellow service members is not forgotten.
Now You Know!: US Call Signs Not Issued by the FCC

The Amateur Radio station at Gitmo. [Photo 
courtesy of Chuck Harding, N8CH/KG4NW]

If you're an American ham, chances are that your 
call sign was issued by the Federal 
Communications Commission. A "no brainer," right? 
Well, if you're an American ham who happens to be 
stationed at Guantanamo Bay or at one of the US 
bases in the Antarctic, your call sign is not 
issued by the FCC -- it's issued by the base 
commander. Guantanamo Bay (or Gitmo as it's 
commonly called) uses the KG4 prefix, followed by 
a two-letter suffix; this block is reserved 
exclusively for American hams at Gitmo. As for 
Antarctica, the 
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antarctic_Treaty_System>Antarctic 
Treaty, signed on December 1, 1959 (and entered 
into force on June 23, 1961), established the 
legal framework for the management of Antarctica, 
including allocation of amateur call signs; the 
National Science Foundation received their block 
on July 1, 1959. US military hams in Japan and 
Korea are also issued special call signs:
    * KA2AA-KA9ZZ -- reserved for US 
Army-authorized amateur stations in Japan.
    * 
<http://antarcticsun.usap.gov/features/contentHandler.cfm?id=1701>KC4AAA-KC4AAF 
-- reserved for the National Science Foundation's use at the South Pole.
    * KC4USA-KC4USZ -- reserved for US 
Navy-authorized amateur stations at their Antarctic bases.
    * 
<http://members.visi.net/%7Everb/index.html>KG4AA-KG4ZZ 
-- reserved for US Navy-authorized amateur stations at Guantanamo Bay).
    * KL9KAA -- KL9KHZ -- reserved for assignment 
to US personnel stationed in Korea.
    * The 40 call signs having the first two 
letters AF, KF, NF or WF and the letters "EMA" 
following a numeral are available to the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The FCC once issued call signs to hams who lived 
in the Caroline Islands and the Marshall Islands. 
Even though these entities -- former United 
Nations Trust Territories -- now have their own 
sovereignty (and DXCC prefixes), the FCC will not 
issue call signs in the following blocks:
    * KC6AA-KC6ZZ -- KC6 was two DXCC entities: 
The Eastern Caroline Islands and the Western 
Caroline Islands. The Eastern Carolines became 
the Federated States of Micronesia (V6) and the 
Western Carolines became the Republic of Palau (T8).
    * KX6AA-KX6ZZ -- the former Marshall Islands, 
now the Republic of the Marshall Islands (V73).

You can 
<http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm?job=call_signs_3&id=amateur&page=1#2&ref=>find 
out more on the FCC's Web site. Now you know!
Solar Update

In for Tad 
"<http://englishhistory.net/keats/poetry/tosomeladies.html>While 
the wonders of nature exploring" Cook, K7RA, 
reports: Sunspot region 1029 disappeared after 
October 30, as it began transiting the Sun's back 
side. Six days after it was gone, a new region -- 
region 1030 -- appeared for several days. By 
November 8, region 1030 had faded away and looked 
like other weak spots we've seen over the past 
couple of years, except they appeared for one day 
with a sunspot number of 11. Sunspot region 1030 
ran for three days with sunspot numbers of 15, 16 
and 11. Then on November 9, the sunspot region 
re-emerged, with sunspot numbers of 14, 13 and 11 
through November 11. While 1030 passes over the 
Sun's western limb, we can still see sunspot 
region 1029 transiting the far side of our local 
star, now approaching the eastern horizon. None 
of this observation would be possible but for the 
<http://stereo.gsfc.nasa.gov/>STEREO mission. Old 
region 1029 appears as a bright area of magnetic 
disturbance, and we can't actually determine what 
the sunspot number or the total area of the 
region might be, but it still appears to have a 
large and robust magnetic signature. The 45 day 
Air Force and NOAA Ap and flux forecast gives us 
some clue about the dates it will emerge into 
view, and when it is most directly facing Earth. 
Predicted solar flux is 72 for November 12-13, 73 
on November 14-15, 74 on November 16-17, 75 on 
November 18-21 and 80 for November 22-24. After 
that, the forecast shows it declining to 75, 72 
and 70. This suggests it might reach the most 
geoeffective position, that is, the position 
where it is near the Sun's central meridian 
relative to the Earth, around November 22-24. 
Conditions have been good, with continued weak or 
missing solar wind, and very quiet geomagnetic 
indicators. Look for more information in the 
Solar Update, available on the ARRL Web site on 
Friday, November 13. For more information 
concerning radio propagation, visit the 
<http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html>ARRL 
Technical Information Service Propagation page. 
This week's "Tad Cookism" brought to you by John 
Keats' 
<http://englishhistory.net/keats/poetry/tosomeladies.html>To 
Some Ladies<http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&t=i&i=2009-11-12&p=2>.
+ International: Norwegian Amateurs Receive New Privileges

On November 6, radio amateurs in Norway were 
<http://www.lovdata.no/ltavd1/filer/sf-20091105-1340.html>granted 
privileges on three new bands, as well as primary 
status on the extended 40 meter band and a 
frequency extension on 12 meters. According to 
IARU Vice President Ole Garpestad, LA2RR, 
Norwegian amateurs received new secondary user 
privileges on 60 meters (5.260-5.410 MHz), the 
600 meter band (493-510 kHz) and in five blocks 
in the 4 meter (70 MHz) band. Amateur Radio 
operators in Norway will also enjoy upgraded 
privileges on 40 meters, moving from secondary to 
primary users between 7.100-7.200 MHz and 1000 W 
output. They have also received a new secondary 
allocation from 24.740-24.890 MHz in the 12 meter 
band, expanding upon Norway's existing primary 
allocation of 24.890-24.990 MHz. Garpestad said 
that "minor adjustments" were also made in the 
SHF (3-30 GHz) and EHF (30-300 GHz) portions of 
the band. "Congratulations to our Norwegian 
colleagues," said ARRL Chief Executive Officer 
David Sumner, K1ZZ. "The new domestic allocations 
in Norway are consistent with the present and 
future spectrum requirements for the Amateur 
Service as determined by the IARU Administrative 
Council. We hope that other administrations will 
consider taking similar steps."
This Week on the Radio

Angel Santana, WP3GW, activates Special Event 
call sign KP4AO from inside the control room at 
Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico earlier this 
month. Would you like to see yourself in The ARRL 
Letter? Send us a picture of you operating your 
rig -- tell us your name and call sign and what 
you're doing! Don't forget to tell us who took 
your picture; if they have a call sign, let us 
know. Send your pictures to ARRL News Editor S. 
Khrystyne Keane, <mailto:k1sfa at arrl.org>K1SFA -- 
be sure to put "ARRL Letter Photos" in the subject line of your e-mail.

This week, look for an NCCC Sprint on November 
13. The Bill Windle QSO Party is November 14. The 
Worked All Europe DX Contest (RTTY), the Kentucky 
QSO Party, the JIDX Phone Contest is November 
14-15 and the OK/OM DX Contest (CW) are November 
14-15. The CQ-WE Contest (SSB, CW and Digital) is 
November 14-16. The Run for the Bacon QRP Contest 
is November 16 and the NAQCC Straight Key/Bug 
Sprint is November 19. Next week, the 
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2009/novss.html>ARRL 
Sweepstakes Contest (SSB) is November 21-23. The 
Feld Hell Sprint is November 21. The LZ DX 
Contest is November 21-22 and the NA Collegiate 
ARC Championship (SSB) is November 21-23. The EU 
PSK63 QSO Party is November 22. All dates, unless 
otherwise stated, are UTC. See the 
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/>ARRL Contest 
Branch page, the 
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/update/>ARRL 
Contest Update and the 
<http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html>WA7BNM 
Contest Calendar for more info. Looking for a 
Special Event station? Be sure to check out the 
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/spev.html>ARRL Special Event Station Web page.
ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration

Registration remains open through Sunday, 
November 22, 2009, for these online course 
sessions beginning on Friday, December 4, 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. To learn 
more, visit the 
<http://www.arrl.org/cep/student>CEP Course 
Listing page or contact the 
<mailto:cce at arrl.org>Continuing Education Program 
Coordinator<http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&i=2009-11-12&t=r&p=0>.

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