[CVRC] The ARRL Letter for June 24, 2010

Fri Jun 25 18:01:59 EDT 2010

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June 24, 2010
Editor: <mailto:k1sfa at arrl.org>S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA
<http://www.arrl.org/>ARRL Home 
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    * + ARRL Field Day : Have a Frolicking, 
Rollicking Time in the "Playground"
    * ARRL Field Day : W1AW Announces 2010 Field Day Bulletin Schedule
    * + 2009 ARRL Annual Report Now Available
    * + ARRL Publications : Lots in Store in the July/August NCJ
    * + ARRL Publications : QEX -- The July/August Issue
    * + Public Service : WX4NHC and Amateur Radio 
Featured on NHC's New Hurricane Preparedness Web Site
    * + Solar Update
    * + E-mails Asking for Personal Information Are Not from ARRL
    * This Week on the Radio

+ Available on <http://www.arrl.org/arrl-audio-news>ARRL Audio News
+ ARRL Field Day: Have a Frolicking, Rollicking Time in the "Playground"

Part 97 -- the portion of the FCC rules that 
covers the Amateur Service -- states in 
<http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2002/octqtr/pdf/47cfr97.1.pdf>Section 
97.1 that one of the goals of our Service is "the 
continuation and extension of the amateur's 
unique ability to enhance international 
goodwill." But according to ARRL Field Day 
Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, we are more than 
casual observers or bystanders on this global 
stage: "We are participants in that magical 
playground. And I am proud to say that I'm a ham 
-- my playground is the world!" This year, 
<http://www.arrl.org/field-day>ARRL Field Day is June 26-27.

Henderson explains that even though at times the 
focus of the Amateur Radio community is 
rightfully on how we can work with our towns and 
communities by providing public service and 
emergency communications, "Deep down anyone who 
has picked up a microphone, tapped out a call 
sign on a brass key or descrambled a digital 
Baudot or PSK-31 signal understands there is fun 
here. That fun knows no borders. The thrill of 
the chase of adding new states, countries or grid 
squares to our <http://www.arrl.org/was>Worked 
All States, <http://www.arrl.org/dxcc>DXCC and 
<http://www.arrl.org/vucc>VUCC totals underscores 
that when we 'play radio' -- as some friends of 
mine used to say -- we are there in large part to enjoy our hobby."

This is just one of the messages you can find in 
ARRL Field Day. Each year tens of thousands of 
participants bring an element of fun with them as 
they combine the public service aspects of the 
Amateur Service with the experimental nature our 
hobby. As they build relationships with served 
agencies and local officials at 
<http://www.arrl.org/field-day-locator>Field Day 
sites across the US and Canada -- and beyond -- 
they learn new skills as they make or renew 
friendships both on and off the air.

Henderson advises that as you prepare for what 
many consider the best "total Amateur Radio" 
experience of the year, "keep in mind the old 
adage -- 'All work and no play makes Jack a dull 
boy.' Let your 'inner child' out as you embrace 
ARRL Field Day 2010. Do something new this year: 
Build a different antenna, try one of the newer 
digital modes, operate on a band that you rarely 
utilize, serve as a get-on-the-air coach for your 
club, show some neighbors what this 'radio thing' 
is all about, organize a Scout or youth group 
visit to your club's set-up -- you are only 
limited by the borders of your mind. But then 
again, is there a limit? After all -- our playground is the world!"
ARRL Field Day: W1AW Announces 2010 Field Day Bulletin Schedule

Stations active during ARRL Field Day -- June 
26-27 -- 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. Read 
more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/w1aw-announces-2010-field-day-bulletin-schedule>here.
+ 2009 ARRL Annual Report Now Available

The ARRL Annual Report for 2009 -- now available 
online and in print -- reviews the major events 
of the year and documents the renewed growth of 
both the ARRL and the activities of the Amateur 
Radio Service. In 2009, the ARRL experienced a 
growth in membership, ending the year with 
156,125 members, an increase of nearly 1 percent 
from 2008. ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, 
called it "obvious, contrary to the soap box of 
the doom and gloom crowd" that interest in 
Amateur Radio is still in great shape: "2009 was 
a year where we exceeded our goal of 30,000 new 
Amateur Radio licensees and the ARRL membership 
grew right at 1500 members. Even in a year of 
national economic turmoil, our publication and 
advertising sales were strong for the year and 
provided a solid financial result that will allow 
us to continue to fund a number of initiatives 
that support and defend the Amateur Radio 
Service." Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/2009-em-arrl-annual-report-em-now-available>here.<http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&t=i&i=2010-06-24&p=0>
+ ARRL Publications: Lots in Store in 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. In addition to the contest-related 
articles, the results from the January North 
American Sprint (CW) and the February North 
American Sprint (SSB) are in the July/August 
issue of NCJ, as well as the results from 
January's CW and SSB North American QSO Parties 
and February's RTTY North American QSO Party. Of 
course, there are all the regular columns and 
features you expect from NCJ: "Workshop 
Chronicles" by Don Daso, K4ZA; "Contest Tips, 
Tricks and Techniques" by Gary Sutcliffe, W9XT; 
"VHF-UHF Contesting" by Jon Jones, N0JK; "RTTY 
Contesting" by Ed Muns, W0YK; "Propagation" by 
Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA; "Contesting on a 
Budget" by Ralph Bellas, K9ZO; "Software for 
Contesters" by Pete Smith, N4ZR, and "Contesting 
101" by Kirk Pickering, K4RO. 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! Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/lots-in-store-in-the-july-august-ncj>here.
+ ARRL Publications: QEX -- The July/August Issue

The July/August issue of QEX is coming soon, and 
it is full of theoretical and practical technical 
articles that you won't want to miss. QEX is the 
ARRL's "Forum for Communications Experimenters." 
Published bimonthly, it features technical 
articles, columns and other items of interest to 
radio amateurs and communications professionals. 
The mission of QEX is threefold: To provide a 
medium for the exchange of ideas and information 
among Amateur Radio experimenters, to document 
advanced technical work in the Amateur Radio 
field, and to support efforts to advance the 
state of the Amateur Radio art. QEX is edited by 
Larry Wolfgang, WR1B. Subscribe to QEX today. 
Read more <http://www.arrl.org/news/em-qex-em-the-july-august-issue>here.
+ Public Service: WX4NHC and Amateur Radio 
Featured on NHC's New Hurricane Preparedness Web Site

In April, the National Hurricane Center 
(<http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/index.shtml>NHC) 
debuted a 
<http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/intro.shtml>new 
Web site dedicated to hurricane preparedness. The 
site explains that a lack of hurricane awareness 
and preparation are common threads among all 
major hurricane disasters, and that by knowing 
your vulnerability and what actions you should 
take, you can reduce the effects of a hurricane 
disaster. 
<http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/forecast/observations.shtml>One 
of the tools that the NHC mentions on its Web 
site is <http://www.wx4nhc.org/>WX4NHC, the 
Amateur Radio station located at NHC Headquarters 
in Miami, Florida. In speaking about the WX4NHC 
volunteer ham radio operators, the NHC notes that 
"formal Amateur Radio activity at the National 
Hurricane Center was initiated in 1980 and has 
been an important source of real-time weather 
observations before, during and after hurricane 
landfalls. Dedicated ham radio volunteers work at 
NHC during storm events to help provide NHC 
meteorologists with very important data that is 
used in the hurricane warning process. Please 
visit 
<http://www.wx4nhc.org/>www.wx4nhc.org<http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&t=i&i=2010-06-24&p=1> 
for a more detailed history of the WX4NHC ham 
radio service." WX4NHC Assistant Coordinator 
Julio Ripoll, WD4R, said he hopes that this 
updated NHC Web page "will help promote public 
awareness about Amateur Radio and more activity 
from the Amateur Radio community during this hurricane season."
+ Amateur Radio in Space: AMSAT Announces 2010 Conference, Calls for Papers

The 2010 
<http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/symposium/2010/index.php>AMSAT 
Space Symposium and Annual Meeting will be held 
Friday, October 8 through Sunday, October 10 at 
the Chicago/Elk Grove Holiday Inn located near 
O'Hare Airport (the same hotel that recently 
hosted the Central States VHF Conference, Digital 
Communications Conference and NIDXCC events). 
Amateur Radio operators interested in space 
communications are invited to participate in the 
Symposium offerings, including a space symposium 
with amateur satellite presentations, as well as 
a chance to learn about operating techniques, 
news and plans from the amateur satellite world. 
Attendees will be able to meet AMSAT board 
members and officers and attend the annual 
membership meeting, the annual banquet, the 
President's Club receptions and the Area 
Coordinators' breakfast. Room rate and 
reservation information will be announced shortly 
on the Symposium's 
<http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/symposium/2010/index.php>Web site.

The AMSAT Symposium Committee is also inviting 
proposals for papers for publication in the 
Symposium's proceedings, as well as poster 
presentations and equipment and operating 
demonstrations. Any topic is welcome, as long as 
it is of interest to the amateur satellite 
community. Those interested in presenting must 
submit the tentative title of their presentation 
as soon as possible, with a final copy submitted 
by September 1, 2010 in order to be included in 
the printed proceedings. Abstracts and papers 
should be submitted via 
<mailto:k9jkm at comcast.net>e-mail to JoAnne 
Maenpaa, K9JKM. For more information, please 
consult the 
<http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/images/fck_images/AuthorGuide201029.txt>Symposium 
Author's Guide.
+ Solar Update

The Sun, as seen on Thursday, June 24, 2010 from 
<http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/data/realtime/realtime-update.html>NASA's 
SOHO Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope. This 
image was taken at 304 Angstrom; the bright 
material is at 60,000 to 80,000 Kelvin.

Tad 
"<http://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/d/dickens/charles/d54nn/>Dreams 
are the bright creatures of poem and legend, who 
sport on Earth in the night season, and melt away 
in the first beam of the Sun, which lights grim 
care and stern reality on their daily pilgrimage 
through the world" Cook, K7RA, reports: Despite 
the fact that the previous week had two days with 
no sunspots, this past week had a lower average 
daily sunspot number, falling nearly 11 points 
from 26.9 to 16.1; geomagnetic conditions were 
quieter as well. In tomorrow's bulletin, we will 
have an updated propagation forecast for Field 
Day weekend. The latest forecast shows a slowly 
rising solar flux, but possibly with unsettled 
geomagnetic conditions. Predicted solar flux for 
June 24-27 -- today through Sunday -- is 74, 75, 
75 and 76, with the planetary A index at 5, 8, 15 
and 12. The unsettled conditions on Saturday 
would be from a solar wind stream spewing out a 
coronal hole, which may be delayed by a day or 
two. A two day delay would be better for Field 
Day operations. Look for more information on the 
ARRL Web site on Friday, June 25. 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" brought to you by 
Charles Dickens' 
<http://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/d/dickens/charles/d54nn/>The 
Life and Adventures of 
<http://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/d/dickens/charles/d54nn/>Nicholas 
Nickleby (Chapter 13).
+ E-mails Asking for Personal Information Are Not from ARRL

We have received several reports from ARRL 
members with arrl.net e-mail accounts who have 
recently been contacted via e-mail asking for 
personal information, such as user names and 
passwords. Please be assured that these e-mails 
are fraudulent attempts at 
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phishing>phishing 
and did not originate from ARRL. "This is a very 
crude attempt at phishing, using an easily 
determined spoof of the originating/return 
address," said ARRL Chief Financial Officer Barry 
Shelley, N1VXY. "There is never a time when we 
would ask via mass e-mail for user names and 
passwords of arrl.net users. There is simply no 
need to ever do so." If you receive an e-mail 
asking for personal information and it looks like 
it originated from ARRL, please do not respond, 
just delete it.<http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&t=i&i=2010-06-24&p=2>
This Week on the Radio

This week, everyone is on the air for ARRL Field 
Day on June 26-27. Look for the His Majesty King 
of Spain Contest (SSB) and the Marconi Memorial 
HF Contest, also on June 26-27. The SARL Digital 
Contest is June 27 and the RAC Canada Day Contest 
is July 1. Next week, there is another running of 
the NCCC Sprint Ladder on July 2. The DL-DX RTTY 
Contest and the Venezuelan Independence Day 
Contest are July 3-4. The Michigan QRP July 4th 
CW Sprint is July 4-5. 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-events>ARRL Special Event Station Web page.
On the Air: RMS Express with WINMOR Now Available for Winlink 2000

The new WINMOR component of RMS Express allows 
users to access the Winlink 2000 network on HF 
with virtually no external hardware -- just a 
transceiver and a sound-card-equipped computer.

The Amateur Radio Safety Foundation (ARSFI) has 
announced the availability of RMS Express user 
software with WINMOR, a new radio-email 
application for use with the Winlink 2000 
network. The WINMOR protocol was introduced at 
the 2008 ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications 
Conference in Chicago. The goal of the WINMOR 
development effort was to create a soundcard 
digital mode that would provide an alternative to 
PACTOR for accessing the Winlink 2000 network. 
After two years of beta testing, WINMOR TNC, a 
software-based "helper application," is now 
available as part of the new Winlink RMS Express 
user software suite. Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/rms-express-with-winmor-now-available-for-winlink-2000>here.
ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration

Registration remains open through Sunday, July 
25, 2010, for these 
<http://www.arrl.org/online-course-registration>online 
course sessions beginning on Friday, August 6, 
2010: Amateur Radio Emergency Communications 
Level 1. To learn more, visit the 
<http://www.arrl.org/online-courses>CEP Course 
Listing page or contact the 
<mailto:cep at arrl.org>Continuing Education Program 
Coordinator<http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&i=2010-06-24&t=r&p=0>.

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