[CVRC] The ARRL Letter for August 12, 2010

Thu Aug 12 18:41:36 EDT 2010

If you are having trouble reading this message, you can see the original at:
<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/?issue=2010-08-12>http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/?issue=2010-08-12

August 12, 2010
Editor: <mailto:k1sfa at arrl.org>S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA
<http://www.arrl.org/>ARRL Home 
Page<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/>ARRL 
Letter<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/> 
Archive<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/>Audio 
News<http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&i=2010-08-12&t=t>

    * + ARRL in Action : Oklahoma Town Agrees RFI 
Ordinance Does Not Apply to Hams
    * Spectrum Defense Matters -- to Everyone
    * + FCC : ARRL Files Petition with FCC to 
Deny Applications with ReconRobotics
    * + FCC : ARRL Comments on FCC 5 MHz Proposals
    * + FCC : FCC Denies Petition s on Call Sign Usage, Expanded Privileges
    * + Authorities Believe Gary Haas, N5VGH, and 
Wife Killed by Escaped Convicts
    * On the Air : Rookies to Raid the Airwaves for Second SSB Rookie Roundup
    * On the Air : "Dark Time" Is the Right Time for the Perseids
    * + On the Air : International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend 2010
    * + Dayton Hamvention® Committee Announces 2011 Theme
    * This Week on the Radio

+ Available on <http://www.arrl.org/arrl-audio-news>ARRL Audio News
+ ARRL in Action: Oklahoma Town Agrees RFI Ordinance Does Not Apply to Hams

Acting on behalf of an ARRL member in Midwest 
City, Oklahoma -- who had been sent a notice by 
the town asserting that he was in violation of a 
town ordinance regarding radio frequency 
interference -- the ARRL notified Midwest City 
officials that only the FCC is empowered to 
regulate such matters. On August 4 -- two weeks 
after ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, 
sent the letter to town officials -- Midwest City 
Assistant City Attorney Randal D. Homburg sent an 
e-mail to the ham to let him know "the previously 
delivered notice is hereby rescinded. There will 
be no citations issued and thus, the issue is 
moot." Midwest City is in the Oklahoma City 
metropolitan area. Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/oklahoma-town-agrees-rfi-ordinance-does-not-apply-to-hams>here.
Spectrum Defense Matters -- to Everyone

In July 2010, the ARRL launched a newsletter 
called Spectrum Defense Matters to keep its 
members informed on issues related to the 
protection of Amateur Radio frequencies. This 
newsletter -- published on the ARRL Web site a 
few times each year -- will cover both domestic 
and international topics. Your financial support 
is vital to support ARRL's work to protect your 
operating privileges by contributing generously 
to the ARRL Spectrum Defense Fund.

Saying that ARRL volunteers and staff work 
tirelessly every day to protect our spectrum 
access, ARRL Chief Executive Officer David 
Sumner, K1ZZ, notes that the ARRL is in 
partnership "with radio amateurs throughout the 
world, coordinating our efforts through the 
International Amateur Radio Union. In future 
issues of this newsletter we plan to report to 
you on the status of those efforts as we prepare 
for the 2012 World Radiocommunication Conference 
and as we meet other challenges."

"You can take an important step right now to 
support ARRL's commitment to defending the 
Amateur Radio Spectrum," Sumner explained. 
"Please make a generous contribution to the 
Spectrum Defense Fund by mail, on the Web or by 
phone. Perhaps you'll consider a very easy way to 
contribute by pledging $10 or $20 or $100 a 
month. Your financial commitment, over and above 
your annual dues, will ensure that ARRL has the 
resources to represent you and protect your 
operating frequencies." Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/spectrum-defense-matters-to-everyone>here. 
<http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&t=i&i=2010-08-12&p=0>
+ FCC: ARRL Files Petition with FCC to Deny Applications with ReconRobotics

The Recon Scout -- manufactured and marketed by 
ReconRobotics -- is a remote-controlled, 
maneuverable surveillance robot designed for use 
in areas that may be too hazardous for human 
entry. In February 2010, the FCC granted 
ReconRobotics a waiver for the device to operate between 430-448 MHz.

On August 4, 2010, the ARRL filed a Petition to 
Deny Applications with the FCC to deny 68 pending 
Public Safety Pool license applications 
associated with the ReconRobotics Video and Audio 
Surveillance System. Each license application is 
accompanied by a waiver request to permit 
operation of the devices in the 433-445 MHz band. 
The applications were coordinated by APCO 
International Inc Licensing Services -- the 
frequency coordinator for the public safety land 
mobile radio services -- and would allow the use 
of the Recon Scout product currently being 
marketed by ReconRobotics pursuant to an FCC 
waiver. Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-files-petition-with-fcc-to-deny-applications-with-reconrobotics>here.
+ FCC: ARRL Comments on FCC 5 MHz Proposals

On July 13, the ARRL filed its comments in 
response to the FCC's Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking (NPRM) in ET Docket No. 10-98. The 
NPRM was issued in response to an ARRL Petition 
for Rule Making -- RM-11353 -- filed in October 
2006. In its 2006 Petition, the ARRL had sought 
modest improvements in operating privileges in 
the so-called "60 meter" band, which presently 
consists of five channels on which General, 
Advanced and Amateur Extra class licensees may 
use upper sideband (USB) emission and no more 
than 50 W effective radiated power (ERP) relative 
to a dipole antenna. Amateur use of these five 
channels is on a secondary basis and must not 
cause harmful interference to authorized stations 
in the mobile and fixed services. US amateurs 
were first authorized to operate on 60 meters in 
2003-- thanks to agreement by the Interdepartment 
Radio Advisory Committee of the National 
Telecommunications and Information Administration 
-- that with such limits, amateur use would be 
compatible with federal government requirements. 
Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-comments-on-fcc-5-mhz-proposals>here.<http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&t=i&i=2010-08-12&p=1>
+ FCC: FCC Denies Petitions on Call Sign Usage, Expanded Privileges

On August 9, the FCC denied two Petitions for 
Rule Making: one to prohibit what the petitioner 
called "the false or unauthorized use of an 
Amateur Radio call sign," and one to expand 
privileges on the 15 meter phone band for General 
and Amateur Extra class licensees. Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-denies-em-petition-em-s-on-call-sign-usage-expanded-privileges>here.
+ Authorities Believe Gary Haas, N5VGH, and Wife Killed by Escaped Convicts

Gary, N5VGH, and his wife Linda. Authorities 
believe they were killed by three convicts who 
escaped last month from an Arizona prison and an 
accomplice who is the cousin and fiancee of one 
of the escapees. [Photo courtesy of the Haas Family]

The remains of Gary Haas, N5VGH, and his wife 
Linda of Tecumseh, Oklahoma, were found in a 
charred camper on a remote ranch in eastern New 
Mexico on the morning of Wednesday, August 4. 
Authorities believe they were killed by convicts, 
along with an accomplice, who had escaped from an 
Arizona prison on July 30. Authorities said that 
the Haas' bodies and camper were found by a 
rancher on his property, not far from Santa Rosa, 
one of the New Mexico cities that the couple 
frequented; their truck was found in Albuquerque, 
100 miles away. Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/authorities-believe-gary-haas-n5vgh-and-wife-killed-by-escaped-convicts>here.<http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&t=i&i=2010-08-12&p=2>
On the Air: Rookies to Raid the Airwaves for Second SSB Rookie Roundup

Anna "Sparks" Veal, W0ANT, of Littleton, 
Colorado, had a blast in April's SSB Rookie 
Roundup. [Photo courtesy of the Veal Family]

With the rip-roaring success of the first-ever 
<http://www.arrl.org/rookie-roundup>ARRL Rookie 
Roundup this past April -- modeled on the popular 
Novice Roundups from a decade or two ago -- the 
ARRL is pleased to announce that a second Rookie 
Roundup is coming this Sunday, August 15 from 
1800-2359 UTC. You don't have to be a rookie to 
participate. For the purpose of the Rookie 
Roundup, a "rookie" is defined as someone who has 
been licensed for three years or less, regardless 
of license class. If you received your license in 
2008, 2009 or 2010, you are eligible to compete 
as a rookie. Non-rookies are encouraged to work 
the rookies and be an Elmer to those just 
starting out. It is an immediate, hands-on way to 
teach good operating practices to those just 
getting started. Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/rookies-to-raid-the-airwaves-for-second-ssb-rookie-rounduphttp:/www.arrl.org/news/rookies-to-raid-the-airwaves-for-second-ssb-rookie-roundup>here.
On the Air: "Dark Time" Is the Right Time for the Perseids

Looking northeast around midnight on August 
12-13. The red dot is the Perseid radiant. 
Although Perseid meteors can appear in any part 
of the sky, all of their tails will point back to 
the radiant. Click 
<http://www.arrl.org/images/view/News/perseidmap_strip.jpg>here 
for a larger image. [Image courtesy of NASA]

The last time the annual Perseids meteor shower 
happened during a run of moonless nights -- known 
by astronomers as "dark time" -- was in 2007; 
there was a new moon on August 10, so this is a 
prime time to view a spectacular sky show. Not 
only are the meteors fascinating to watch, they 
also leave short-lived streams of ionized gas in 
their wake. As hams have known for years, these 
meteor trails are excellent reflectors of radio 
waves. Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/dark-time-is-the-right-time-for-the-perseids>here.
+ On the Air: International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend 2010

Almost 300 lighthouses in more than 40 countries 
and territories -- from Argentina to Wales -- 
will be on the air for 2010 International 
Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend 
(<http://illw.net/>ILLW), organized by Scotland's 
Ayr Amateur Radio Group 
(<http://www.gm0ayr.org/>AARG). The event, held 
for the 12th year in a row, takes place Saturday, 
August 21 0001 UTC through Sunday, August 22 2359 
UTC. While not a contest, the ILLW is more of a 
QSO Party and Amateur Radio demonstration. The 
ILLW aims to raise public awareness of 
lighthouses and lightships and the need for their 
preservation and restoration, promote Amateur 
Radio and foster international goodwill. Stations 
at more than 40 US lights are expected to be on 
the air for the event, and several stations will 
identify with special event call signs. 
Participating lighthouse/lightship stations do 
not have to be inside the structure or on the 
vessel itself; a Field Day-type setup at or 
adjacent to the light is sufficient. More 
information about the event, including a 
<http://illw.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=49&Itemid=56>registration 
form and 
<http://illw.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=48&Itemid=55>list 
of all lights scheduled to be on the air, is 
available on the <http://illw.net/>ILLW Web site. 
The ILLW also has a 
<http://www.facebook.com/pages/ILLW/108422039190274>Facebook page.
+ Dayton HamventionÂ® Committee Announces 2011 Theme

When the <http://www.hamvention.org/>Dayton 
HamventionÂ® opens May 20, 2011 for its 60th 
consecutive year, its theme -- Global Friendship 
-- will reflect an important part of ham radio, 
said 2011 Hamvention General Chairman Michael 
Kalter, W8CI: "The theme emphasizes how the 
technology continues to bond Amateur Radio 
operators from all over the world." The 2011 
Dayton Hamvention runs May 20, 21 and 22 at Hara 
Arena, just outside Dayton in Trotwood, Ohio.
This Week on the Radio

Click <http://www.arrl.org/multimedia>here to go 
to the QST multimedia page. Scroll down to the 
Product Review video and watch a preview of 
what's coming up in the September issue of QST.

This week:
    * August 20 -- NCCC Sprint Ladder
    * August 14 -- Feld Hell Sprint
    * August 14-15 -- Maryland/DC QSO Party; WAE DX Contest (CW)
    * August 15 -- 
<http://www.arrl.org/rookie-roundup>ARRL Rookie Roundup (SSB)
    * August 16 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest
    * August 18 -- QRP Fox Hunt

Next week:
    * August 20 -- NCCC Sprint Ladder
    * August 21-22 (local time) -- 
<http://www.arrl.org/10-ghz-up>ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest
    * August 21-22 -- SARTG WW RTTY Contest; North American QSO Party (SSB)
    * August 21-23 -- New Jersey QSO Party
    * August 25 -- SKCC Sprint; QRP Fox Hunt

All dates, unless otherwise specified, are UTC. 
See the <http://www.arrl.org/contests>ARRL 
Contest Branch page, the 
<http://www.arrl.org/The-ARRL-Contest-Update>ARRL 
Contest Update and the 
<http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html>WA7BNM 
Contest Calendar for more information. Looking 
for a Special Event station? Be sure to check out 
the <http://www.arrl.org/special-events>ARRL 
Special Events Station Web 
page<http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&i=2010-08-12&t=r&p=0>.

----------
The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 50 times 
each year. ARRL members and registered guests may 
subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing 
their <http://www.arrl.org/Users/edit#!/edit-info-email_subscriptions>profile.