[CVRC] The ARRL Letter for March 17, 2011

Sun Mar 20 01:30:03 EDT 2011

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March 17, 2011
Editor: <mailto:k1sfa at arrl.org>S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA
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    * + Public Service: After Devastating 
Earthquake, Japan's Radio Amateurs Provide Communications Support
    * + Yaesu, ICOM and Kenwood Issue Statements 
Regarding Effects of Earthquake on Operations
    * + FCC News: ARRL Files Petition, Request 
for Temporary Waiver with FCC Regarding VHF Voice and Data Emissions
    * + Focus on Youth: Meet New ARRL Youth Editor Sterling Coffey, N0SSC
    * + ARRL Recognizes: Nominations for ARRL Awards Now Open
    * + On the Air: W1AW Announces Spring Schedule
    * ARRL Publications: Exam Software Now Included with ARRL License Manuals
    * + Amateur Radio in Space: Hams Invited to Track Satellites
    * Solar Update
    * ARRL Executive Committee to Meet this Weekend
    * + ARES® E-Letter Now Available in Audio Form
    * This Week on the Radio
    * Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events
+ Public Service: After Devastating Earthquake, 
Japan's Radio Amateurs Provide Communications Support

After the 8.9 earthquake that struck near Sendai, 
Japan at 2:46 PM JST (0546 UTC) on Friday, March 
11, the island nation is trying to recover. Soon 
after the earthquake -- which the US Geological 
Survey is calling the largest to hit the island 
nation in 140 years -- Japan has been rocked by 
tsunamis and power outages caused by trouble at a 
nuclear power station. Reports from Japan tell of 
phone and Internet service still up in most parts 
of the country. Even so, the Japan Amateur Radio 
League (JARL) -- that country's IARU 
Member-Society -- has asked that 7.030 MHz be 
kept clear for emergency use. Other reports are 
asking that these additional frequencies be kept 
clear: 3.525, 7.030, 7.077, 7.087, 7.097, 14.100, 21.200 and 28.200 MHz.

JA1RL, the JARL HQ station -- along with other 
amateurs throughout the island nation -- is 
maintaining the effort to support the disaster 
relief operation, according to IARU Region 3 
Secretary Ken Yamamoto, JA1CJP. "In less damaged 
areas, the electric power supply is being 
restored gradually and local amateurs have 
started to establish stations at shelters," he 
said. Yamamoto said that JA1RL continues to 
operate as an emergency traffic center on 7.030 
MHz, as well as 2 meters and 70 cm. It is 
receiving and reporting news from Japanese 
amateurs who are in the affected area. Using 
battery power or small generators, Japanese 
stations are active and are using various 
frequencies to exchange rescue and disaster 
relief operation information with JA1RL and others.

This map shows Japan and the areas affected by 
the 8.9 earthquake that struck the island nation 
at 2:46 PM (JST) on Friday, March 11. [Map 
courtesy of the US Geological Survey]

"While 3.525, 7.030, 7.043 and 7.075 MHz have 
been mentioned as in use, it's wise to keep those 
-- and all of the Center of Emergency frequencies 
-- clear of normal and non-urgent traffic," said 
IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee 
Chairman Jim Linton, VK3PC, who added that there 
is no call for additional foreign radio amateurs in Japan.

For more on how radio amateurs in Japan are 
providing communications support after 
earthquake, click 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/radio-amateurs-in-japan-provide-communications-support-after-earthquake>here. 
For information on how US amateurs are helping 
out, click 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/japan-asks-radio-amateurs-to-keep-frequencies-clear-as-country-goes-into-recovery-mode-after-devasta>here. 
For more on how Japan, Hawaii and the Western US 
dealt with the immediate aftereffects of the 
earthquake and tsunami, click 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/massive-earthquake-hits-japan-tsunami-warnings-issued>here.
+ Yaesu, ICOM and Kenwood Issue Statements 
Regarding Effects of Earthquake on Operations

In a letter to the Amateur Radio community, 
Vertex Standard Chief Executive Officer and 
President Jun Hasegawa expressed his "sincere 
appreciation to all of you for your kind words 
and thoughts about us" after the 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/massive-earthquake-hits-japan-tsunami-warnings-issued>devastating 
8.9 earthquake that struck Japan last week. 
Vertex Standard is the parent company of Yaesu. 
All Vertex Standard employees and their families 
are safe and unhurt, Hasegawa said, but the 
company has not been able to reach many of their 
dealers and subcontractors who are located on the 
coast area: "We just hope that they are alive." 
Hasegawa said that a Vertex Standard factory in 
Fukushima was damaged in the earthquake. Even 
though the factory is not located near the coast 
and the damage was minimal, he said that Vertex 
Standard has decided to "disable the operation at 
this moment." Saying that they are working very 
hard to get the factory back to its normal 
operation, Hasegawa said that "it may take one to 
two weeks to restart operation in the Fukushima 
factory. I would like to ask for your 
understanding and cooperation at this time."

According to a 
<http://www.icomamerica.com/en/features/earthquake.aspx>press 
release, no one from ICOM is known to be injured. 
No damage has been reported at ICOM's 
headquarters in Osaka, or at either of their two 
main factories in Wakayama; both Osaka and 
Wakayama are located far south of the most 
severely affected areas. The branch offices in 
Tokyo and Sendai, however, did suffer some minor 
damage. "Most of ICOM's facilities and systems 
are ready to get back to normal business, but 
supplier logistics, commuting issues and future 
power disruptions will affect our company," the 
press release said. "It is too soon to tell how 
big an impact the earthquake and its aftermath 
will have on ICOM. We appreciate your interest and concern."

"Thankfully, our staff in Japan is safe due to 
earthquake preparedness and the special 
construction of our buildings," said Kenwood USA 
President Junji Kobayashi on 
<http://www.kenwoodusa.com/NewsArchive/2011/20fe1b7b-fe8a-4a94-b371-bb97d0fff096>the 
Kenwood website. "Power outages and interruption 
of mass transit have kept most of Kenwood's staff 
at home since the earthquake; however, we expect 
the infrastructure to improve in the coming week 
and our operations to fully resume accordingly. 
We appreciate the concern for our employees 
expressed by all those who have contacted us." 
Kenwood's primary office facilities in Yokohama 
and Hachioji were not damaged, due to their 
proximity further south and west of the quake's 
epicenter. Since Kenwood's primary manufacturing 
facilities are in Malaysia, electronics production is unaffected.
+ FCC News: ARRL Files Petition, Request for 
Temporary Waiver with FCC Regarding VHF Voice and Data Emissions

On Tuesday, March 15, the ARRL filed a Petition 
for Rulemaking and a Request for Temporary Waiver 
to authorize the use of single-time-slot Time 
Division Multiple Access (TDMA) emissions in the 
amateur bands at and above 50 MHz, wherever 
multiple-time-slot TDMA is authorized. The 
Petition asks the FCC to allow those amateurs who 
are presently using a Motorola narrowband (12.5 
kHz) digital land mobile system -- commercially 
marketed as MotoTRBO -- to be used legally. 
Because of some restrictions in the Part 97 
rules, the TDMA repeaters (which are 
multiple-time-slot devices) are legal, but the 
mobiles and portables are not because the 
emissions used (single-time-slot TDMA) are not 
authorized anywhere, due to the emission 
designator. Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-files-em-petition-em-em-request-for-temporary-waiver-em-with-fcc-regarding-vhf-voice-and-data-e>here.<http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&t=i&i=2011-03-17&p=0>
+ Focus on Youth: Meet New ARRL Youth Editor Sterling Coffey, N0SSC

ARRL Youth Editor Sterling Coffey, N0SSC

The ARRL welcomes its new Youth Editor, Sterling 
Coffey, N0SSC, of Warrenton, Missouri. Coffey is 
a freshman at the Missouri University of Science 
and Technology in Rolla, where he is studying 
electrical engineering. He said that since the 
age of five, he has been "intrigued and 
interested" in radio communication, crediting a 
gift of walkie-talkies "with a button and a 
letter diagram for Morse code." Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/youth-hamradio-fun-on-becoming-a-ham>here.
+ ARRL Recognizes: Nominations for ARRL Awards Now Open

Each year, the ARRL Board of Directors has the 
opportunity to select recipients for a number of 
awards in various categories that honor Amateur 
Radio operators. The nomination period is now 
open for those ARRL awards that recognize 
educational and technological pursuits in Amateur 
Radio. There are also awards to honor a young 
Amateur Radio operator and an outstanding ARRL 
Section Manager. Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/nominations-for-arrl-awards-now-open>here.
+ On the Air: W1AW Announces Spring Schedule

With the switch from Standard Time to Daylight 
Saving Time, W1AW Station Manager Joe Carcia, 
NJ1Q, has updated the W1AW operating schedule to 
reflect the change. The Eastern times have not 
changed, but the UTC times have. Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/w1aw-announces-spring-operating-schedule>here.<http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&t=i&i=2011-03-17&p=1>
ARRL Publications: Exam Software Now Included with ARRL License Manuals

Get a jump on your Amateur Radio license upgrade 
with ARRL license manuals. Now the manuals for 
the Technician, General and Amateur Extra class 
licenses include a CD-ROM, complete with exam 
review software. Each manual includes the 
complete question pool for its license class, 
including detailed explanations for all questions 
and answers. The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual -- 
Second Edition (valid through June 30, 2014), The 
ARRL General Class License Manual -- Sixth 
Edition (valid through June 30, 2011) and The 
ARRL Extra Class License Manual -- Ninth Edition 
(valid through June 30, 2012) will help you earn 
the privileges that come with upgrading your 
Amateur Radio license. Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/exam-software-now-included-with-arrl-license-manuals>here.
+ Amateur Radio in Space: Hams Invited to Track Satellites

In November 2010, 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/hams-invited-to-listen-for-new-satellites>five 
research satellites were carried to orbit aboard 
a Minotaur V rocket from Kodiak Island, Alaska. 
Two of these satellites -- FASTRAC 1, known as 
"Sara Lily" and FASTRAC 2, referred to as "Emma" 
-- entered orbit as a single nanosatellite, but 
on March 15, scientists sent the command to have 
them separate. According to FASTRAC Student 
Program Manager Sebastian Munoz, KE5FKV, students 
at the University of Texas will be confirming the 
separation as the satellites pass: "We started 
one of the most exciting phases of our project by 
separating both of our girls so that they can 
compute on-orbit real-time relative navigation 
solutions while both of them are freely drifting 
from one another." Munoz said that they will 
continue to update the satellites' two line 
elements (TLEs) on their 
<http://fastrac.ae.utexas.edu/for_radio_operators/users/phpBB3/predictedorbit.php>website 
for those radio amateurs interested in tracking 
the two nanosatellites. "I want to thank the ham 
community all over the world for supporting our 
project," Munoz said. "Your support has been 
incredible and we really value it. We really 
appreciate all of your help so far and we hope 
that we can continue to count on it."
Solar Update

The Sun, as seen on Thursday, March 17, 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=4JDNTS2wHHo>And 
look, the Sun is in the sky" Cook, K7RA, reports: 
The average daily sunspot numbers this week 
plummeted 45 points to 69, while the average 
daily solar flux was off nearly 25 points to 
114.5. Last Friday, March 11, the planetary A 
index reached 40 due to a powerful X1.5 class 
solar flare at 2323 on March 9. This is another 
definite indication that Solar Cycle 24 is 
ramping up. After four years of no X-class 
flares, there have been two in the last month. 
The past few days have seen very quiet 
geomagnetic conditions, with the K index in most 
locations at 0. The latest forecast shows quiet 
conditions with planetary A index around 5 until 
March 27-30, when the predicted planetary A index 
is expected to rise to 7, 7, 19 and 7. The 
predicted solar flux for March 17-26 is 90, 85, 
80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 110, 85 and 85. This Sunday 
is the spring equinox in the northern hemisphere, 
a welcome sign for DXers everywhere. Look for 
more information on the ARRL website -- including 
reports, anecdotes and observations on 
propagation and an explanation about how the 
geomagnetic A index is calculated -- on Friday, 
March 18. 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 
the song 
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JDNTS2wHHo>Cool, 
Cool Considerate Men from the musical 
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1776_%28musical%29>1776.<http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&t=i&i=2011-03-17&p=2>
ARRL Executive Committee to Meet this Weekend

The ARRL Executive Committee will be meeting this 
weekend in Chicago. The agenda for their March 
19, 2011 meeting 
<http://www.arrl.org/files/media/News/ARRL_Executive_Committee_Agenda_031911.pdf>is 
now available.
+ ARESÂ® E-Letter Now Available in Audio Form

Enjoy emergency communications? Then meet ARRL 
Emergency Preparedness and Response Manager Mike 
Corey, W5MPC. Click 
<http://www.arrl.org/multimedia>here and scroll 
down the page to the "Meet the Staff" video box to meet Mike.

The 
<http://www.arrl.org/ares-e-letter-audio-version>ARESÂ® 
E-Letter<http://www.arrl.org/ares-e-letter-audio-version> 
is now available in audio format. There are three 
editions currently available, including the most 
recent recording of the February 16 ARESÂ® 
E-Letter. Edited for audio by Al Brown, KZ3AB, 
the ARESÂ® E-Letter is voiced by Tony Riggs, 
W1FHN. Brown was licensed in 1966. He was a 
member of the White House Press Corps before 
retiring from the International Broadcasting 
Bureau/Voice of America (IBB/VOA). Licensed since 
1955, Riggs has worked in both the commercial and 
public broadcasting venues. He retired after 21 
years as a staff announcer and news anchor with 
the VOA. With more than 35,000 subscribers, the 
ARESÂ® E-Letter is written by Rick Palm, K1CE and 
is published each month. Click 
<http://www.arrl.org/ares-e-letter-audio-version>here 
to subscribe to the ARESÂ® E-Letter.
This Week on the Radio

This week:
    * March 19 -- 10-10 International Mobile 
Contest; AGCW VHF/UHF Contest; Feld Hell Sprint (local time)
    * March 19-20 -- Oklahoma QSO Party; North 
Dakota QSO Party; Russian DX Contest
    * March 19-21 -- Virginia QSO Party; BARTG HF RTTY Contest
    * March 21 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest
    * March 23 -- SKCC Sprint

Next week:
    * March 26-27 -- CQ WW WPX Contest (SSB)

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
    * 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
    * April 2 -- 
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/new-jersey-state-convention-1>ARRL 
New Jersey State Convention, Ewing, New Jersey
    * April 21 -- 
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/idaho-state-convention-1>ARRL 
Idaho State Convention, Boise, Idaho
    * April 23 -- 
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/louisiana-state-convention-twin-city-ham-radio-fest>ARRL 
Louisiana State Convention, Monroe, Louisiana; 
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/north-carolina-state-convention-raleigh-hamfest>ARRL 
North Carolina State Convention, Raleigh, North Carolina

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

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