[CVRC] The ARRL Letter for February 24, 2011

Thu Feb 24 15:58:01 EST 2011

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February 24, 2011
Editor: <mailto:k1sfa at arrl.org>S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA
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    * + Legislative News: ARRL Asks Members to Write in Opposition to HR 607
    * + Public Service: New Zealand Amateurs Assist in Earthquake's Aftermath
    * + WRC-12 : Amateur MF Allocation Moves a Step Closer
    * + In the News : Three Yachtsmen Killed by Somali Pirates were Hams
    * + On the Air : The HF Bands Come Alive for 
the ARRL International DX SSB Contest
    * + Section Manager Elections : New Section Manager Elected in Arkansas
    * ARRL Atlantic Division to Host Two Webinars in February
    * ARRL Field Day: 2011 Field Day Packets Available
    * Solar Update
    * Amateur Radio Fun: Be a Star! Enter the ARRL Video Contest
    * This Week on the Radio
    * Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events
+ Legislative News: ARRL Asks Members to Write in Opposition to HR 607

The ARRL is asking its members to contact their 
US representatives in opposition to the sections 
of <http://www.arrl.org/hr-607>HR 607 that could 
affect the Amateur Radio Service allocation at 
420-440 MHz. HR 607 -- The Broadband for First 
Responders Act of 2011 -- would address certain 
spectrum management issues, including the 
creation and maintenance of a nationwide Public 
Safety broadband network. It 
was<http://www.arrl.org/news/spectrum-management-bill-threatens-amateur-frequencies> 
introduced into the US House of Representatives February 10.

ARRL Regulatory Information Manager Dan 
Henderson, N1ND, clarified that the League 
opposes HR 607 in its present form. "We do not 
oppose the concept of dedicated spectrum for the 
development of a Public Safety infrastructure and 
wireless network. We object to the bill because 
of the inclusion of 420-440 MHz as part of the 
spectrum to be swapped and auctioned to 
commercial users." You can find a sample letter, 
"How to Find your Representative" and the contact 
information for ARRL's legislative consultant, 
Chwat & Co, <http://www.arrl.org/sample-letters>here.
+ Public Service: New Zealand Amateurs Assist in Earthquake's Aftermath

This map shows the intensity of the Christchurch 
earthquake. See a larger version 
<http://www.arrl.org/images/view/News/2011_Canterbury_earthquake_intensity.jpg>here. 
[Image courtesy of the US Geological Survey]

A 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck the Canterbury 
region in New Zealand's South Island on Tuesday, 
February 22 at 12:51 PM local time (2351 on 
February 21 UTC). According to IARU Region 3 
Disaster Communications Committee Chairman Jim 
Linton, VK3PC, 10 radio amateurs are using their 
two emergency broadcast vans to keep rescue teams 
and Civil Defense staff in touch. One is at a 
major welfare center, providing portable 
communication so they can talk to Civil Defense, 
and the other vehicle is on its way to assist 
search-and-rescue teams in an area where 
communication is poor . Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/new-zealand-amateurs-assist-in-earthquake-s-aftermath>here.
+ WRC-12 : Amateur MF Allocation Moves a Step Closer

Amateur Radio has moved a step closer to a medium 
frequency (MF) allocation below the AM broadcast 
band. During the first week of the Conference 
Preparatory Meeting (CPM) for the 2012 World 
Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-12) of the 
International Telecommunication Union, held in 
Geneva February 14-25, delegates completed the 
drafting of nine pages of analysis of the 
technical and regulatory issues related to WRC-12 
Agenda Item 1.23: consideration of a possible 
secondary allocation to the Amateur Service of 
about 15 kHz somewhere between 415 and 526.5 kHz. 
Two possible methods of satisfying the agenda 
item, along with the possibility of there being 
no change (and therefore no allocation), are set 
out in the CPM Report, along with the advantages 
and disadvantages of each . Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/amateur-mf-allocation-moves-a-step-closer>here.<http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&t=i&i=2011-02-24&p=0>
+ In the News : Three Yachtsmen Killed by Somali Pirates were Hams

Four Americans -- including three Amateur Radio 
operators -- who were being held hostage on their 
yacht by pirates off the coast of Oman have been 
killed. Scott Adam, K9ESO, and his wife Jean, 
KF6RVB, along with Bob Riggle, KE7IIV, and 
Phyllis Macay were on board the S/V Quest when 
pirates boarded their vessel on Friday, February 
18. The Adams were based in the Los Angeles area; 
Riggle and Macay were from Seattle.

Scott Adam, K9ESO, and his wife Jean, KF6RVB 
(pictured) -- along with friends Bob Riggle, 
KE7IIV, and Phyllis Macay -- were killed by 
Somali pirates on their 58 foot yacht early in 
the morning on Tuesday, February 22. [Photo from the Adams website].

According to the US Central Command, the boat was 
in the Indian Ocean, headed toward the Somali 
coast when on Friday, the 58 foot yacht sent a 
distress signal. The boat was being trailed by US 
Navy forces; it was about a two day sail from the 
Somali coast. They had begun tracking the yacht 
after being alerted that a Danish naval 
helicopter had seen the Quest off Oman under the 
pirates' control. The Central Command oversees US 
anti-piracy operations in the Indian Ocean.

Officials were in the process of negotiating for 
the Americans' release when gunfire was heard 
around 1 AM (EST) on Tuesday, February 22. "As 
(US forces) responded to the gunfire, reaching 
and boarding the Quest, the forces discovered all 
four hostages had been shot by their captors," a 
statement from US Central Command said. "Despite 
immediate steps to provide life-saving care, all 
four hostages ultimately died of their wounds." 
Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/three-yachtsmen-killed-by-somali-pirates-were-hams>here.
+ On the Air : The HF Bands Come Alive for the 
ARRL International DX SSB Contest

Bill Lippert, AC0W, of Austin, Minnesota, 
operated as KH6/AC0W during the 2009 running of 
the ARRL International DX SSB Contest, where he 
handed out the Hawaii mult. [Photo courtesy of Bill Lippert, AC0W]

With the CW running of the ARRL International DX 
Contest over, it's time to get ready for the 
phone portion. With the solar flux peaking at 125 
during the CW contest -- and 10 meters in 
unexpectedly good shape and open to Europe during 
the event -- one wonders if the same kind of 
conditions will be present for the phone running, 
0000 UTC Saturday, March 5-2359 UTC Sunday, March 
6. With another region of the Sun coming around 
to face Earth for this contest, there could be 
more unstable conditions. But if the solar flux 
index stays high -- and there aren't any more 
solar flares -- the ARRL DX SSB Contest could 
have some openings like there haven't been in 
years. Are you ready? Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/the-hf-bands-come-alive-for-the-arrl-international-dx-ssb-contest>here.
+ Section Manager Elections : New Section Manager Elected in Arkansas

In the only balloted Section Manager election 
this winter, ARRL members in Arkansas have 
elected Dale Temple, W5RXU, North Little Rock, as 
Section Manager for the next two year term of 
office that starts April 1. Temple received 362 
votes, and his opponent, incumbent Section 
Manager J. M. Rowe, N5XFW, received 290 votes. 
Rowe has served as Section Manager since December 
2008. Ballots were counted and verified at ARRL 
Headquarters on Tuesday, February 22. Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/new-section-manager-elected-in-arkansas>here.<http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&t=i&i=2011-02-24&p=1>
ARRL Atlantic Division to Host Two Webinars in February

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. This month, Atlantic 
Division Director Bill Edgar, N3LLR, will host 
two webinars for ARRL members, one on 501(c)(3) 
organizations (Thursday, February 24) and one on 
using Narrow Band Emergency Messaging Software 
(NBEMS) -- a set of programs used to send 
messages and files via Amateur Radio using an 
audio interface (Saturday, February 26). Read 
more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-atlantic-division-to-host-two-webinars-in-february>here.
ARRL Field Day: 2011 Field Day Packets Available

It's that time of year again -- time to start 
gearing up for ARRL Field Day, June 25-26, 2011! 
ARRL's flagship operating event -- always held 
the fourth full weekend in June -- brings 
together new and experienced hams for 24 hours of 
operating fun. Field Day packets are now 
<http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Field-Day/2011/2011_FD_Packet.pdf>available 
for download and include the complete rules 
(including a change for 2011), as well as other 
reference items such as forms, ARRL Section 
abbreviation list, entry submission instructions, 
a Frequently Asked Questions section, guidelines 
for getting bonus points, instructions for GOTA 
stations and a kit to publicize your event with 
the local press. Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/2011-field-day-packet-now-available>here.
Solar Update

The Sun, as seen on Thursday, February 24, 2011 
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.youtube.com/watch?v=25upz6PME3I>Away 
from the Sun" Cook, K7RA, reports: The weekly 
averages for solar flux and sunspot numbers were 
nearly unchanged this week, although last week 
they were rising and this week declining. The 
average daily sunspot number was down less than 
five points to 65, while the average daily solar 
flux was up just 0.3 points to 103.8. The outlook 
from NOAA/USAF shows a gradually rising solar 
flux, 85 on February 24-26, 88 on February 27 
through March 3, 90 on March 4 and rising to 110 
on March 10-15. The predicted planetary A index 
for February 24-through March 5 is 5, 7, 7, 5, 
15, 12, 8, 10, 7 and 5. Sunspot groups 1161 and 
1162 -- which brought so much activity last week 
-- are now rotating over our Sun's western 
horizon, but with the 
<http://stereo.gsfc.nasa.gov/>STEREO craft, we 
can see a new active region rotating over the 
eastern horizon. The predicted geomagnetic storm 
just before last weekend's ARRL International DX 
CW Contest did not persist, lasting only half a 
day through February 18. Look for more 
information on the ARRL website on Friday, 
February 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" is brought to you by 3 
Doors Down's 
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25upz6PME3I>Away 
from the Sun.<http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&t=i&i=2011-02-24&p=2>
Amateur Radio Fun: Be a Star! Enter the ARRL Video Contest

If you've ever wanted a way to show the world how 
exciting Amateur Radio can be, here's your 
chance: The ARRL is sponsoring its 
<http://www.arrl.org/video-contest>first-ever 
video contest! We are looking for ARRL members to 
shoot and submit videos that showcase how fun and 
electrifying our hobby is; extra points will be 
awarded for a video showing someone, young or 
old, licensed or not, making their first contact. 
Videos will be judged on overall quality and 
composition, and prizes will be awarded. The 
video author/producer must be an ARRL member; 
however, the people who appear in your video can 
be non-members. This contest is intended for 
amateur videographers. If you are a professional, 
please do not apply. Check out all the details -- 
including the fine print -- on the 
<http://www.arrl.org/video-contest>ARRL Video 
Contest Rules and Guidelines Web page. The 
submission deadline is Monday, February 28, 2011.
This Week on the Radio

This week:
    * February 25 -- NCCC Sprint Ladder
    * February 25-February 27 -- CQ 160 Meter Contest (SSB)
    * February 26-27 -- Mississippi QSO Party; North American QSO Party (RTTY)
    * February 27 -- High Speed Club CW Contest
    * February 27-28 -- North Carolina QSO Party
    * February 28 -- CQC Winter QSO Sprint
    * March 1 -- AGCW YL-CW Party

Next week:
    * March 5 -- Wake-Up! QRP Sprint
    * March 5-6 -- 
<http://www.arrl.org/arrl-dx>ARRL International 
DX Contest (SSB); Open Ukraine RTTY Championship
    * March 6 -- DARC 10 Meter Digital Contest
    * March 8 -- ARS Spartan Sprint
    * March 9-10 -- CWops Mini-CWT Test

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
    * February 26 -- 
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/vermont-state-convention-ham-con-1>ARRL 
Vermont State Convention, Colchester, Vermont
    * March 5 -- 
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/south-texas-section-convention-greater-houston-hamfest-1>ARRL 
South Texas Section Convention, Rosenberg, Texas; 
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/alabama-section-convention-birminghamfest>ARRL 
Alabama Section Convention, Birmingham, Alabama
    * March 11-12 -- 
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/oklahoma-section-convention-green-country-hamfest>ARRL 
Oklahoma Section Convention, Claremore, Oklahoma
    * March 12-13 -- 
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/north-carolina-section-convention-charlotte-hamfest>ARRL 
North Carolina Section Convention, Concord, North Carolina
    * March 19 -- 
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/west-texas-section-convention-56th-annual-st-patrick-s-day-hamfest>ARRL 
West Texas Section Convention, Midland, Texas; 
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/nebraska-state-convention-1>ARRL 
Nebraska State Convention, Lincoln, Nebraska
    * March 25 -- 
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/maine-state-convention-1>ARRL 
Maine State Convention, Lewiston, Maine
    * March 26 -- 
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/maryland-state-convention-greater-baltimore-hamboree-computerfest>ARRL 
Maryland State Convention, Timonium, Maryland

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

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