[CVRC] The ARRL Letter for September 9, 2010

Thu Sep 9 20:39:53 EDT 2010

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September 9, 2010
Editor: <mailto:k1sfa at arrl.org>S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA
<http://www.arrl.org/>ARRL Home 
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    * + Public Service : Colorado Hams Assisting Wildfire Relief Efforts
    * + Public Service : GAREC 2010 to Convene Next Month
    * + FCC : ARRL Goes Another Round with ReconRobotics
    * + FCC : ARRL Comments in FCC Review of CB Rules
    * + FCC : ARRL Seeks to Protect 2304 MHz Operation
    * + Coming Up in QST: Take a look at the October Issue!
    * + Solar Update
    * ARRL Introduces First Challenge Coin
    * This Week on the Radio

+ Available on <http://www.arrl.org/arrl-audio-news>ARRL Audio News
+ Public Service: Colorado Hams Assisting Wildfire Relief Efforts

This image from NASA's Moderate Resolution 
Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) shows the city 
of Boulder lying in the path of the smoke. MODIS 
captured this image at 12:15 p.m. local time 
(18:15 UTC) on September 6, 2010. The red outline 
corresponds with the unusually high surface 
temperatures associated with an active fire. A 
river of thick smoke flows eastward. Over the 
plains northeast of Denver, the smoke plume casts 
a shadow to the north. The MODIS is located on 
NASA's Terra satellite. Click 
<http://www.arrl.org/images/view/News/fourmile_tmo_2010249_lrg.jpg>here 
for a larger image. [Photo courtesy of NASA]

A fire that began on Monday, September 6 in 
Emerson Gulch located in Four Mile Canyon -- just 
northwest of Boulder, Colorado -- has members of 
Boulder County ARESÂ® providing communications 
support to the Boulder County Sheriff's Office 
and the American Red Cross. According to a 911 
call, the fire was started when a truck collided with a large propane tank.

"Amateur Radio operators are located at the Red 
Cross shelter set up at the University of 
Colorado Event Center and also at the Boulder 
County Emergency Operations Center," ARRL 
Colorado Section Manager Jeff Ryan, K0RM, told 
the ARRL. "Amateur Radio operators are providing 
voice and ATV communications between forward fire 
units, the Incident Command post and the 
Emergency Operations Center, as well as voice and 
packet communications for the Red Cross." Read 
more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/colorado-hams-assisting-wildfire-relief-efforts>here.
+ Public Service: GAREC 2010 to Convene Next Month

The 2010 Global Amateur Radio Emergency 
Communications Conference (GAREC) -- supported by 
the ARRL, the IARU and all three IARU Regions -- 
is scheduled for October 11-12 in Curacao. With 
its theme of Learning through Practicing, this 
year's conference is an opportunity for emergency 
communicators to discuss recent events, discover 
technical solutions to problems and how to 
cooperate with professional partners. One of the 
highlights of the 2010 conference will be an 
actual EmComm exercise during the conference, 
exploring how information sharing across borders 
can be improved. Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/garec-2010-to-convene-next-month>here.
+ FCC: ARRL Goes Another Round 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. ReconRobotics was recently granted a 
waiver by the FCC for the device to operate 
between 430-448 MHz, a portion of spectrum 
available to the Amateur Radio Service on a secondary basis.

As reported 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-amends-em-petition-to-deny-em-to-include-16-additional-recon-scout-applications>earlier, 
on August 16, ReconRobotics -- manufacturers and 
marketers of the Recon Scout, a 
remote-controlled, maneuverable surveillance 
robot designed for use in areas that may be too 
hazardous for human entry - filed with the FCC an 
opposition to the 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-files-petition-with-fcc-to-deny-applications-with-reconrobotics>ARRL's 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-files-petition-with-fcc-to-deny-applications-with-reconrobotics>Petition 
to Deny Applications. The ARRL petition asked the 
FCC to deny dozens of pending Public Safety Pool 
license applications for the Recon Scout device, 
which operates in the 430-448 MHz band. On 
September 1, the ARRL filed its reply (see 
below). Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-goes-another-round-with-reconrobotics>here.<http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&t=i&i=2010-09-09&p=0>
+ FCC: ARRL Comments in FCC Review of CB Rules

In June the FCC opened a proceeding -- WT Docket 
No. 10-119 -- "to simplify, streamline, and 
update the Part 95 rules to reflect technological 
advances and changes in the way the American 
public uses the various Personal Radio Services." 
The Citizens Band (CB) Radio Service is one of 
several Personal Radio Services regulated by Part 
95. Three of the CB-related issues raised in the 
Notice of Proposed Rule Making are of interest to 
the Amateur Radio Service. On September 3, the 
ARRL filed comments limited to these issues. Read 
more <http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-comments-in-fcc-review-of-cb-rules>here.
+ FCC: ARRL Seeks to Protect 2304 MHz Operation

In May, as a partial implementation of its 
National Broadband Plan, the FCC adopted 
amendments to its rules for Wireless 
Communications Services in the 2.3 GHz band to 
permit mobile broadband services, in addition to 
fixed services, in the bands 2305-2317.5 and 
2347.5-2360 MHz. The Report and Order in WT 
Docket No 07-293 was published in the Federal 
Register on August 2, 2010, triggering a 30 day 
window for petitions for reconsideration. On 
September 1 the ARRL filed a Petition for 
Clarification or Partial Reconsideration, asking 
the FCC to "clarify, or partially reconsider a 
single aspect" of its Report and Order. Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-seeks-to-protect-2304-mhz-operation>here.
+ Coming Up in QST: Take a look at the October Issue!

In the October issue of QST, DX is! This issue is 
chock-full of articles all about DX, DXing and 
DXers. This issue -- our first-ever DX issue -- 
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 one of the ARRL Homebrew 
Challenge winners and an abundance of articles 
relating to DXing -- the upcoming issue of QST 
has something for just about everyone.

Located off the shore of Ontario in the 
southwestern portion of Hudson Bay -- only a few 
kilometers southeast of Manitoba -- East Pen 
Island is one of several uninhabited Canadian 
arctic islands in Nunavut, Canada. In April, 
Cezar Trifu, VE3LYC, reached East Pen (NA-231) 
via sled and activated the much-needed entity, 
making almost 2700 QSOs. But as the weather 
unexpectedly turned warmer, quickly thawing the 
ice, Trifu knew he was in trouble. "Stranded on 
East Pen: SOS de VY0V" is his nail-biting account 
of how he got VY0V on the air -- and himself off 
the island. Join Bill Vanderheide, N7OU, as he 
takes "Slow Boat to Tokelau," where just getting 
to this remote New Zealand territory is a story in itself.

For less than $32, David W. Cripe, NM0S, built a 
40 meter band 50 W linear amplifier for his 5 W 
voice and CW 40 meter transceiver that he built 
in the ARRL's first Homebrew Challenge, taking 
the prize (along with Donald W. Huff, W6JL) for 
the lowest cost entry in the ARRL's Homebrew 
Challenge II. Find out how to build this nifty 
amp in his article "Homebrew Challenge II Co-Winner -- The Lowest Cost Entry."

ARRL News Editor S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA, 
writes of the ARRL Board of Directors 2010 Second 
Meeting, held in July in Windsor, Connecticut. 
She also profiles eight deserving hams whom the 
Board recognized and honored for their 
contributions to the Amateur Radio Service. 
ARRL's Amateur Radio on the International Space 
Station (ARISS) Program Manager Rosalie White, 
K1STO, takes a look at a Utah elementary school 
where a dedicated principal and an enthusiastic 
teacher sparked a fire of interest in Amateur 
Radio with their students, incorporating it into 
its curriculum in "ARISS Scores an A+ at Midvalley Elementary."

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 October issue of QST.

The October issue of QST features three product 
reviews this month. Assistant Manager of ARRL's 
Membership and Volunteer Programs Department Norm 
Fusaro, W3IZ, takes a look at the RF Concepts 
Alpha 9500 linear amplifier. "The Alpha 9500 is 
worthy of its place at the top of the Alpha 
product line," he reports. "Once configured for 
your station, automatic tune-up is effortless and 
nearly instantaneous. It will operate at 1500 W 
output for long periods with no apparent effort 
and is ready to serve in the most demanding 
amateur applications." QST Contributing Editor 
Gary Pearce, KN4AQ, reviews the Yaesu FT-7900R 
dual band mobile transceiver, saying that this 
radio "includes excellent receiver performance, a 
wide range of features and relatively simple 
operation in a sturdy package." Lastly, ARRL 
Technical Advisor Bruce Prior, N7RR, checks out 
the Small Wonder Labs Retro-75 AM transceiver 
Kit, "an economical and fun alternative for 
anyone looking to build a low power transceiver for a mode other than CW."

Of course, there are the usual columns you know 
and expect in the October QST: Happenings, Hints 
& Kinks, The Doctor Is IN, How's DX, Vintage 
Radio, Hamspeak and more. Look for your October 
issue of QST 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<http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&t=i&i=2010-09-09&p=1>.
On the Web: Finding Your Section Information

When ARRL members log on to the ARRL Web site, 
their ARRL Section information automatically 
appears right below the "Your Favorites" 
drop-down menu. By clicking on the "Section News" 
link (see the red arrow below), you can then 
conveniently go directly to your Section page for 
news and events in your Section, as well as find 
contact information for your Section Manager and the Section Cabinet.

ARRL members can immediately find out what's 
going on in their Section when they click on the 
"Section News" link, located directly under the 
"Your Favorites" drop-down menu.

When your Section Manager has important news to 
share, you will see an alert on your homepage, located below the Section News.

If you're looking to get in touch with your 
Section Manager or another Section official, go 
to 
<http://www.arrl.org/sections>www.arrl.org/sections 
where you can find Sections listed by state and 
by ARRL Division. You can sign up for news alerts 
from your Section Manager or Division Director 
using the "Edit Your Profile" link.
+ MARS: New Interim Chief Takes Over Air Force MARS

The Air Force Military Auxiliary Radio System 
(AFMARS) organization has a new interim Chief. 
Outgoing USAF MARS Chief Allen Eiermann, K3LSR, 
retired at the end of May and was replaced by 
Technical Sergeant Jason Sandifer. Sandifer is a 
systems manager stationed at the Air Force 
Network Integration Center (AFNIC) at Scott Air 
Force Base in Illinois, just outside St Louis, 
Missouri. AFNIC is the headquarters of the 
national Air Force MARS organization. Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/new-interim-chief-takes-over-air-force-mars>here.
+ Solar Update

The Sun, as seen on Thursday, September 9, 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://www.worldburnsclub.com/poems/translations/john_barlecorn.htm>The 
sultry suns of summer came" Cook, K7RA, reports: 
The average daily sunspot number for the week 
rose nearly 13 points to 38.3, and the average 
daily solar flux was up more than four points at 
78.4. On September 2, one new sunspot group 
emerged -- numbered 1105 -- joining sunspot 
groups 1101, 1102 and 1103. On September 4, group 
1102 faded away, then 1101 and 1103 vanished on 
September 6. Group 1105 is currently going over 
the western side of the Sun, but a new spot seems 
to be emerging in the northeast. The current 
prediction from the US Air Force and NOAA shows a 
rising solar flux, 76 on September 9-10, 77 on 
September 11, 78 on September 12-13, 79 on 
September 14-15 and peaking at 80 on September 
16. After that, a decline in solar flux is 
predicted. Look for more information on the ARRL 
Web site on Friday, September 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 
Robert Burns' 
<http://www.worldburnsclub.com/poems/translations/john_barlecorn.htm>John 
Barleycorn.<http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&t=i&i=2010-09-09&p=2>
ARRL Introduces First Challenge Coin

The front of the new ARESÂ® 75th Anniversary Challenge Coin.

This month, the ARRL and the Amateur Radio 
community celebrate the 75th anniversary of the 
Amateur Radio Emergency ServiceÂ®, or ARESÂ®. To 
help commemorate this milestone, the ARRL has 
introduced an anniversary Challenge Coin. The 
die-struck, 1.5 inch brass coin depicts the 
ARESÂ® 75th anniversary logo in gold with red, 
white and blue color fill, while the reverse 
shows the ARRL diamond logo against a hemisphere of the world.

ARRL Emergency Preparedness and Response Manager 
Mike Corey, W5MPC, holds the new ARESÂ® 75th Anniversary Challenge Coin.

Around the perimeter of the ARESÂ® logo are the 
words Ready, Resilient and Responsive. "These 
words represent the critical need that ARESÂ® 
activities have provided, and will continue to 
provide into the future," said ARRL Emergency 
Preparedness and Response Manager Mike Corey, 
W5MPC. "The Challenge Coin honors the service of 
ARESÂ® volunteers and all Amateur Radio operators 
who respond to the call of public service. We 
hope ARESÂ® volunteers will enjoy the honor of 
having the first Challenge Coin issued by the 
ARRL." Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-introduces-first-challenge-coin>here.
This Week on the Radio

This week:
    * September 10 -- NCCC Sprint Ladder
    * September 11 -- Ohio State Parks on the Air
    * September 11-12 -- Arkansas QSO Party; 
FISTS Get Your Feet Wet Weekend; WAE DX Contest (SSB)
    * September 11-13 -- 
<http://www.arrl.org/september-vhf-qso-party>ARRL September VHF QSO Party
    * September 12 -- North American Sprint (CW); SKCC Weekend Sprint
    * September 16 -- NAQCC Straight Key/Bug Sprint

Next week:
    * September 17 -- NCCC Sprint Ladder
    * September 18 -- Connecticut QSO Party; Feld Hell Sprint
    * September 18-19 -- 
<http://www.arrl.org/10-ghz-up>ARRL 10 GHz and Up 
Contest (local time); South Carolina QSO Party; 
Washington State Salmon Run; QCWA Fall QSO Party; 
QRP Afield; Scandinavian Activity Contest (CW); SRT HF Contest (SSB)
    * September 19 -- North American Sprint (SSB); BARTG Sprint 75
    * September 20 -- Run for the Bacon QRP 
Contest; 144 MHz Fall Sprint (local time)
    * September 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-events>ARRL Special Events Station Web page.
Upcoming ARRL Conventions
    * September 17-19 -- 
<http://www.sandarc.net/Convention2010/index.html>ARRL 
Southwestern Division Convention, San Diego, California
    * October 15-17 -- 
<http://www.pacificon.org/>ARRL Pacific Division 
Convention, San Ramon, California

ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for Amateur Radio News and Information
    * <http://www.arrl.org/join>Join or Renew 
Today! ARRL membership includes 
<http://www.arrl.org/qst>QST , Amateur Radio's 
most popular and informative journal, delivered to your mailbox each month.
    * Subscribe to 
<http://www.arrl.org/ncj>NCJ<http://www.arrl.org/ncj> 
-- the National Contest Journal . Published 
bimonthly, features articles by top contesters, 
letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA Sprint and QSO Parties.
    * Subscribe to 
<http://www.arrl.org/qex>QEX<http://www.arrl.org/qex> 
-- A Forum for Communications Experimenters. 
Published bimonthly, features technical articles, 
construction projects, columns and other items of 
interest to radio amateurs and communications professionals.
    * Free of charge to ARRL members: 
<http://www.arrl.org/myarrl-account-management#%21/edit-info-email_subscriptions>Subscribe 
to the ARES E-Letter (monthly public service and 
emergency communications news), the ARRL Contest 
Update (bi-weekly contest newsletter), Division 
and Section news alerts -- and much more!
    * ARRL offers a wide array of 
<http://www.arrl.org/arrl-store>products to 
enhance your enjoyment of Amateur Radio
    * 
<https://www.arrl.org/files/file/donation-form.pdf>Donate 
to the fund of your choice -- support programs not funded by member dues!
<http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&i=2010-09-09&t=r&p=0>

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