[CVRC] The ARRL Letter for December 9, 2010

Sat Dec 11 13:52:45 EST 2010

If you are having trouble reading this message, you can see the original at:
<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/?issue=2010-12-09>http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/?issue=2010-12-09

December 9, 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=2010-12-09&t=t>

    * + Regulatory : Amateur Allocation at Lower 
MF Gains Formal Support in the Americas
    * + On the Air : Saddle Up for the 2010 CW Rookie Roundup!
    * + Exams : NCVEC Releases New General Class Question Pool
    * ARRL Publications : ARRL Introduces Book on 
Selecting, Using Antenna Tuners
    * + Get Ready for the January Issue of QST !
    * + ARRL Headquarters Closed for Christmas, New Year's Holidays
    * + DXCC : Eight African Operations Approved for DXCC Credit
    * Solar Update
    * New QuickStats Poll Now Available on ARRL Web Site
    * + Silent Key : Body of Veteran Balloonist 
Richard Abruzzo, KC5VWK, Found off Italian Coast
    * This Week on the Radio
    * Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events

+ Available on <http://www.arrl.org/arrl-audio-news>ARRL Audio News
+ Regulatory: Amateur Allocation at Lower MF 
Gains Formal Support in the Americas

A secondary allocation to the Amateur Radio 
Service at 461-469 and 471-478 kHz gained 
inter-American support in meetings held earlier 
this month in Bogota, Colombia, with the 
Permanent Consultative Committee II of the 
Inter-American Telecommunication Commission 
(CITEL) adopting the US position for the MF 
allocation. World Radiocommunication Conference 
2012 Agenda Item 1.23 calls on participants "to 
consider an allocation of about 15 kHz in parts 
of the band 415-526.5 kHz to the Amateur Service 
on a secondary basis, taking into account the 
need to protect existing services." Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/amateur-allocation-at-lower-mf-gains-formal-support-in-the-americas>here.
+ On the Air: Saddle Up for the 2010 CW Rookie Roundup!

Grab your paddle and mosey on into the ARRL CW Rookie Roundup!

The ARRL's newest on-the-air operating event is 
designed to help newly licensed amateurs build 
their operating skills on HF. Three Rookie 
Roundups -- one each for SSB, RTTY and CW -- are 
held each calendar year. The CW running of the 
Rookie Roundup will take place Sunday, December 
19 from 1800 UTC through 2359 UTC.This is a 
contest specifically for those new to Amateur 
Radio, similar to the ARRL Novice Roundup that 
ran from 1952 until 1995. The Rookie Roundup 
combines a competitive event with some on-the-air 
training, bringing the fun and Elmering of the 
old Novice Roundup into the 21st century. The 
Rookie Roundup is a single-operator event only. 
Stations are allowed a maximum of 100 W. Elmering 
is encouraged and use of spotting networks is 
allowed. Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/saddle-up-for-the-2010-cw-rookie-roundup>here.
+ Exams: NCVEC Releases New General Class Question Pool

The new General class question pool is valid from 
July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2015.

The Question Pool Committee (QPC) of the National 
Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators 
(<http://www.ncvec.org/>NCVEC) released the new 
<http://www.ncvec.org/page.php?id=358>General 
class (Element 3) question pool on Tuesday, 
December 7. This new question pool -- including 
graphics and diagrams -- will become effective 
for all General class examinations administered 
on or after July 1, 2011; it will remain valid 
until June 30, 2015. The current General question 
pool that became effective July 1, 2007 will 
expire June 30, 2011. The new General pool 
contains 457 questions, from which 35 are 
selected for an Element 3 examination. The 
<http://www.ncvec.org/page.php?id=349>current 
Technician class question pool that was effective 
July 1, 2010 is valid through June 30, 2014. The 
<http://www.ncvec.org/page.php?id=351>current 
Amateur Extra class pool that was effective July 
1, 2008 is valid until June 30, 
2012.<http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&t=i&i=2010-12-09&p=0>
ARRL Publications: ARRL Introduces Book on Selecting, Using Antenna Tuners

Antenna tuners are devices often misunderstood in 
the Amateur Radio world. While not every station 
requires an antenna tuner to transmit radio 
signals, without one an incompatibility between 
the transmitter and the antenna system can result 
in poor performance. The ARRL Guide to Antenna 
Tuners: A Radio Amateur's Guide to Antenna 
Matching by Joel R. Hallas, W1ZR, will help you 
understand how to select the right tuner for your 
needs and how to use it in your shack.

The ARRL Guide to Antenna Tuners discusses the 
details of the different configurations and 
requirements of antenna tuners. It explores the 
design, construction and applications of the 
different types available. You'll be able to 
determine if one is necessary in your station, 
what type of tuner is needed and where to install 
it for maximum improvement. This book will give 
you a better understanding of your antenna system 
and the way it can be improved through the 
selection and use of the appropriate antenna 
tuner. Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-introduces-book-on-selecting-using-antenna-tuners-in-your-station>here.
+ Get Ready for the January Issue of QST!

The January issue of QST is jam-packed with all 
sorts of things that today's Amateur Radio 
operator needs. From product reviews to 
experiments to contesting -- including a look at 
a number of do-it-yourself (DIY) projects -- the 
upcoming issue of QST has something for just about everyone.

If you are contemplating building your own ham 
radio gear, chances are that you're going to have 
to bring out the soldering gun. But is there 
another way? In his article "Reflow Soldering for 
the Radio Amateur," Jim Koehler, VE5FP, talks 
about how he found it easier to assemble a PC 
board using surface mount components instead of 
through-hole parts using reflow soldering. With 
this method, a PC board -- with the surface mount 
components held in place with solder paste -- is 
placed in an oven where it is heated, turning the 
paste into liquid solder; after the board cools, 
the solder solidifies again. Koehler says that 
because all the soldering is done at the same time, it is a very quick process.

Hams have a long tradition of making their own 
antennas, accessories and equipment -- but you 
definitely need the right tools for the job at 
hand. QST<http://www.arrl.org/multimedia> 
Technical Editor Joel Hallas, W1ZR, takes a look 
at some tools that you should have in your shack 
-- from soldering tools to test equipment to 
socket drivers and wrenches -- if you are looking 
to try a homebrew project. Who says you need a 
giant dish and expensive equipment to "ping" the 
Moon? Bob Baker, KD3UY, shows how you can do 
"Moonbounce on a Budget" to describe what you 
actually need -- and don't need -- to make that 
first Earth-Moon-Earth (EME) contact.

Take a look at the Yaesu FTM-350R dual band FM 
transceiver, featured in January 2011 QST's 
product review. Click 
<http://www.arrl.org/multimedia>here to go to the 
QST Multimedia page and scroll down to the 
Product Review video. Click the "Play" button to watch the video.

ARRL Contributing Editor Howard Robins, W1HSR, 
takes a look at the Yaesu FTM-350R dual band FM 
transceiver in this month's Product Review. He 
calls it "a top-of-the-line mobile FM transceiver 
with well thought out controls. It offers some 
unusual features, such as 222 MHz transmit and a 
stereo FM broadcast receiver, as well as options 
such as APRS and Bluetooth connectivity." ARRL 
Technical Advisor Bruce Prior, N7RR, checks out 
the Begali CW machine. He says that it is "more 
than just a keyer and offers a wide range of 
features for on-air CW operation and off-air Morse code training."

Of course, there are the usual columns you know 
and expect in the January QST: Happenings, Hints &

Kinks, The Doctor Is IN, How's DX, Vintage Radio 
and more. Look for your January 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 <https://www.arrl.org/join-arrl-renew-membership/>ARRL Web page.
+ ARRL Headquarters Closed for Christmas, New Year's Holidays

ARRL Headquarters will be closed Friday, December 
24 and Friday, December 31 in observance of 
Christmas and New Year's Day. There will be no 
<http://www.arrl.org/w1aw-operating-schedule>W1AW 
bulletins or code practice transmissions those 
days. There will be no 
<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/>ARRL Letter or 
<http://www.arrl.org/arrl-audio-news>ARRL Audio 
News on Thursday, December 23 and 30. We wish 
everyone a safe and joyful holiday season and a 
prosperous 2011.<http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&t=i&i=2010-12-09&p=1>
+ DXCC: Eight African Operations Approved for DXCC Credit

ARRL DXCC Manager Bill Moore, NC1L, reports that 
eight operations in Africa -- 9Q/DK3MO 
(Democratic Republic of the Congo), 3C0C 
(Annobon), 3C9B (Equatorial Guinea), 3V9A 
(Tunisia), 3V0A (Tunisia), TS7TI (Tunisia, also 
includes /p operation), TS8P (Tunisia, also 
includes /p operation) and TS9A (Tunisia) -- have 
been approved for DXCC credit. All operations -- 
with the exception for the 9Q/DK3MO -- are 2010 
operations. The 9Q/DK3MO operation is good for 
operations commencing in 2007 through the 
present. Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/eight-african-operations-approved-for-dxcc-credit>here.
Solar Update

The Sun, as seen on Thursday, December 9, 2010 
from 
<http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/data/realtime/realtime-update.html>NASA's 
SOHO Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope. This 
<http://soi.stanford.edu/>MDI (Michelson Doppler 
Imager) image was taken in the continuum near the 
Ni I 6768 Angstrom line. The most prominent 
features are the sunspots. This is very much how 
the Sun looks in the visible range of the spectrum.

Tad 
"<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Friends_%28song%29>Lost 
in their overcoats, waiting for the Sun" Cook, 
K7RA, reports: The average daily sunspot numbers 
for the week were up more than nine points to 35, 
and the average solar flux rose more than six 
points to 87.3. These changes compare the dates 
of December 2-8 with the previous seven days. The 
average planetary A index declined 2.5 points to 
2.1, while average mid-latitude A index dropped 
1.1 points to 1.6. These are nice numbers, with 
higher sunspot numbers accompanied by lower 
geomagnetic indices. The predicted solar flux for 
the near term is right at the same level as the 
average for the past week, at 87 for December 
9-14, followed by 85, 83, 81 and 80 for December 
15-18. The predicted planetary A index for 
December 9-13 is 5, 8, 10, 10 and 8, followed by 
5 for December 14-18, and possibly out to 
December 23. Note the period of slightly 
unsettled geomagnetic activity centers around 
this weekend, the dates for the 
<http://www.arrl.org/10-meter>ARRL 10 Meter 
Contest, December 11-12. But only a mild increase 
in geomagnetic activity is expected. This year's 
event is the first time that Mexican states will 
be counted as multipliers along with US states 
and Canadian provinces, as well as DXCC 
countries. You can see a map of the 32 Mexican 
states 
<http://www.dxxe.org/concurso/xe-mults.pdf>here. 
Look for more information on the ARRL Web site on 
Friday, December 10. For more information 
concerning radio propagation, visit the 
<http://www.arrl.org/propagation-of-rf-signals>ARRL 
Technical Information Service Propagation page. 
This week's "Tad Cookism" is brought to you by 
Simon and Garfunkel's <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPTOY8FrvNw>Old Friends.
New QuickStats Poll Now Available on ARRL Web Site

Four new poll questions have just been published 
on the <http://www.arrl.org/quickstats>QuickStats 
page on the ARRL Web site. Let your voice be heard!

Questions in this month's QuickStats poll include:
    * Do you use CW on a regular basis?
    * If your out-of-warranty transceiver failed, what would you do?
    * Do you own a tablet computer?
    * Does your ARESÂ® group use the ARRL 
<http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Public%2520Service/fsd157.pdf>Public 
Service Activity Report form to document SKYWARN activity?

Visit the 
<http://www.arrl.org/quickstats>QuickStats page 
and be sure to bookmark it in your browser. 
Results from this QuickStats poll will be 
published in the March 2011 issue of QST on the 
QuickStats page, located in the rear advertising 
section of the magazine. Along with monthly poll 
results, QST QuickStats offers colorful charts 
and graphs that highlight interesting Amateur 
Radio statistics.<http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&t=i&i=2010-12-09&p=2>
+ Silent Key: Body of Veteran Balloonist Richard 
Abruzzo, KC5VWK, Found off Italian Coast

Richard Abruzzo, KC5VWK (right), and Carol 
Rymer-Davis in the gondola of their balloon, just 
before taking off in the 54th Gordon Bennett Gas 
Balloon Race from Bristol, England.

The bodies of famed hot-air balloonist Richard 
Abruzzo, KC5VWK, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and 
a companion were discovered on Monday, December 6 
deep underwater off the coast of Vieste, Italy. 
Abruzzo, 47, and Carol Rymer-Davis, 65, of 
Denver, Colorado, had been missing since 
September 29 when they lost contact with 
officials during a balloon race, after their 
balloon made a rapid descent during rough 
weather. Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/body-of-veteran-balloonist-richard-abruzzo-kc5vwk-found-off-italian-coast>here.
This Week on the Radio

This week:
    * December 10 -- NCCC Sprint Ladder
    * December 11 -- Feld Hell Sprint
    * December 11-12 -- 
<http://www.arrl.org/10-meter>ARRL 10 Meter 
Contest; International Naval Contest; MDXA PSK Death Match
    * December 11-16 -- NA High Speed Meteor Scatter Winter Rally
    * December 12 -- SKCC Weekend Sprint; CQC Great Colorado Snowshoe Run
    * December 15 -- NAQCC Straight Key/Bug Sprint

Next week:
    * December 17 -- NCCC Sprint Ladder; Russian 
160 Meter Contest; AGB-Party Contest
    * December 18 -- OK DX RTTY Contest; RAC Winter Contest
    * December 18-January 2 -- Lighthouse Christmas Lights QSO Party
    * December 18-19 -- Stew Perry Topband Challenge; Croatian CW Contest
    * December 19 -- 
<http://www.arrl.org/rookie-roundup>ARRL Rookie Roundup (CW)
    * December 20 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest
    * December 22 -- SKCC Sprint

All dates, unless otherwise stated, 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 info. Looking for a 
Special Event station? Be sure to check out the 
<http://www.arrl.org/special-event-stations>ARRL 
Special Event Stations Web page.
Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events
    * January 8, 2011 -- 
<http://www.selarc.org/selarchamfest.htm>ARRL 
Delta Division Convention, Hammond, Louisiana
    * January 9, 2011 -- 
<http://www.hamradiouniversity.org/>ARRL New 
York-Long Island Section Convention, Bethpage, New York
    * January 15, 2011 -- 
<http://fmarc.net/hamfest_2011.htm>ARRL Southern 
Florida Section Convention, Fort Myers, Florida
    * January 28-29, 2011 -- 
<http://www.msham.org/hamfest.php>ARRL 
Mississippi State Convention, Jackson, Mississippi

To find a convention or hamfest near you, click 
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests>here.

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