[CVRC] The ARRL Letter for February 7, 2013

Thu Feb 7 14:32:41 EST 2013

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            The  ARRL Letter

Published by the American Radio Relay League
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February 7, 2013

Editor: S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA <k1sfa at arrl.org>

ARRL Home Page <http://www.arrl.org/>ARRL Letter Archive
<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/>Audio News
<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> IN THIS ISSUE

- Field Day: 2013 Field Day Packet Now Available
- On the Air: IARU Region 2 Seeks Input on HF Band Plan
- On the Air: Ride the Wave in the 2013 ARRL International DX CW
Contest
- ARRL in Action: What Have We Been Up to Lately?
- Amateur Radio in Space: Host a Real-Time Conversation with
Crewmembers Aboard the ISS
- ITU Offering Free Download of 2012 International Radio Regulations
- Be a Star! The QST Video Contest Deadline is March 1
- New International Reply Coupon Introduced
- Solar Update
- ARRL Recognizes: Robert Nickels, W9RAN,  Wins January QST Cover
Plaque Award
- Correction: Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic Does Not Hold Personal
Call Sign
- This Week in Radiosport

There will be no ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrl-audio-news>
for Thursday, February 7. The Audio News will return next week on
Thursday, February 14.

==> FIELD DAY: 2013 FIELD DAY PACKET NOW AVAILABLE

It's that time of year again -- time to start gearing up for ARRL Field
Day, June 22-23, 2013! 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 available for download
<http://www.arrl.org/fieldday> and include the complete rules, 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 get-on-the-air
stations and a kit for publicizing your event with the local press. New
for 2013: Stations operating as Class A or B may begin setting up at
0000 UTC on Friday (which will be Thursday 8 PM EDT, 7 PM CDT, 6 PM MDT
and 5 PM PDT). The groups may start and stop their set-up, resuming the
set-up later, but may spend only a maximum of 24 hours cumulative time
for setting up their sites.

An informational flier with basic "What Is Field Day?" has also been
included in this year's Field Day packet. Amateur Radio clubs and
individuals are encouraged to reproduce this flyer as a handout. Find
it and more on the ARRL's Field Day web page
<http://www.arrl.org/fieldday>.

==> ON THE AIR: IARU REGION 2 SEEKS INPUT ON HF BAND PLAN

   The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Region 2 conference
will be held later this year in Mexico. The Region 2 conference -- held
every three years -- is attended by delegations from the national
Amateur Radio societies in the western hemisphere that are members of
the IARU. The ARRL is the IARU Member Society for the US.

One of the topics on the conference agenda will be the Region 2 HF band
plan. This band plan is "harmonized" with -- spectrum management-speak
for "very similar to" -- the IARU Region 1 and Region 3 band plans.
Many hams in the US may not know there is such a thing as a Region 2
band plan. Other American hams have heard of it but may not know how --
if at all -- this band plan affects them. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/iaru-region-2-seeks-input-on-hf-band-plan>.

==> ON THE AIR: RIDE THE WAVE IN THE 2013 ARRL INTERNATIONAL DX CW
CONTEST

   CW DXing and contesting take center stage the weekend of February
16-17, as the 2013 ARRL International DX CW Contest takes to the
airwaves. If you've never operated the CW contest, now is the time to
start. "You can work a lot of DX with 100 W and a simple dipole or
vertical antenna," explained ARRL Contest Branch Manager Sean Kutzko,
KX9X. "Some stations -- with some perseverance -- have worked more than
100 DXCC entities during the contest period. And who knows? You just
might achieve DXCC during the contest." Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/ride-the-wave-in-the-2013-arrl-international-dx-cw-contest>.

==> ARRL IN ACTION: WHAT HAVE WE BEEN UP TO LATELY?

   This feature is a concise monthly update of some of the things that
the ARRL is doing on behalf of its members. This installment -- which
covers the month of January -- takes a look at the 2013 Annual Meeting
of the ARRL Board of Directors, how the ARRL is supporting Amateur
Radio in the classroom, new publications, updates from the ARRL
Development Office, reports from the Official Observer Desk and more.
Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-in-action-what-have-we-been-up-to-lately-54>.

==> AMATEUR RADIO IN SPACE: HOST A REAL-TIME CONVERSATION WITH
CREWMEMBERS ABOARD THE ISS

   Proposals are now being accepted from US schools, museums, science
centers and community youth organizations to host an Amateur Radio on
the International Space Station (ARISS) contact between November 1,
2013 and May 1, 2014. To maximize these radio contact opportunities, US
ARISS program partners -- the ARRL, AMSAT and NASA -- are looking for
organizations that will draw large numbers of participants and
integrate the contact into a well-developed education plan. Proposals
are due March 1, 2013. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/host-a-real-time-conversation-with-crewmembers-aboard-the-iss>.

==> ITU OFFERING FREE DOWNLOAD OF 2012 INTERNATIONAL RADIO REGULATIONS

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU <http://www.itu.int/>)
is offering an electronic version of the 2012 International Radio
Regulations <http://www.itu.int/pub/R-REG-RR-2012> at no charge. These
regulations incorporate the decisions of the World Radiocommunication
Conferences of 1995 (WRC-95), 1997 (WRC-97), 2000 (WRC-2000), 2003
(WRC-03), 2007 (WRC-07) and 2012 (WRC-12), including all Appendices,
Resolutions, Recommendations and ITU-R Recommendations incorporated by
reference.

   While Article 25 <http://life.itu.ch/radioclub/rr/art25.htm> of the
International Radio Regulations defines the Amateur Radio Service, the
regulations as a whole define the allocation of different frequency
bands to different radio services, as well as the mandatory technical
parameters to be observed by radio stations, procedures for the
coordination and notification of frequency assignments made to radio
stations by national governments and other procedures and operational
provisions.

The free download -- as well as paper copies and a DVD -- are available
in English, Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, French and Russian. While the
electronic version is available at no charge, the individual paper
versions and the DVD containing versions in all six languages cost CHF
398 (approximately $438 USD). The free download is available through
mid-2014.

==> BE A STAR! THE QST VIDEO CONTEST DEADLINE IS MARCH 1

   Grab your cameras -- you only have until March 1 to send your entry
for the 2013 QST Video Contest. Shoot a video on any tasteful subject
relating to Amateur Radio and send it our way. If your video takes
first, second or third place, we'll post it on the ARRL website for
everyone to see. (Only one per ARRL member, please.)

Your video can be up to 5 minutes in length and the topic can be
anything that illustrates the excitement of Amateur Radio. Videos will
be judged on overall quality and composition. The first place winner
will receive $500; the second place prize is $250 and the third place
prize is $100 (winners of the 2012 competition are ineligible). The
winning videos will be displayed on the ARRL website and the ARRL's
YouTube channel. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/qst-video-contest-deadline-approaching>.

==> NEW INTERNATIONAL REPLY COUPON INTRODUCED

   The Universal Postal Union has introduced the newest model of the
International Reply Coupon (IRC): The Doha model -- so named for the
25th Universal Postal Congress that took place in Doha, Qatar in
October 2012 -- will replace the current model, known as the Nairobi
model. Although the US Postal Service no longer sells IRCs, they are
still available in other countries and post offices in the US are
mandated to redeem them. The Doha model IRC will be available for
purchase on July 1, 2013. It is valid for exchange until the end of
2017. The Nairobi model remains valid until December 31, 2013. Read
more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/new-international-reply-coupon-introduced>.

==> SOLAR UPDATE

   Tad Cook, K7RA, reports: The average daily sunspot numbers hardly
changed from last week and the week prior, but the average daily solar
flux bounced back to about the level it was from two weeks ago: The
average daily sunspot numbers were down 5 points to 50.7, while the
average daily solar flux was up 7.7 points to 106.4. The predicted
solar flux values are 105 on February 7-9, 110 and 105 on February
10-11, 100 on February 12-14, 115 on February 15-16, 110 on February
17, 115 on February 18-19, 110 on February 20-21, 105 on February 22,
115 on February 23-24, then 110, 105 and 100 on February 25-27, and
back down 95 on February 28 through March 2. The predicted planetary A
index is 5, 8, 18 and 10 on February 7-10, 5 on February 11-18, 8 on
February 19, 5 on February 20-21, then 15, 10 and 8 on February 22-24,
5 on February 25-28, then rising to 10 and 8 on March 1-2. Look for
more on the ARRL website on Friday, February 8. For more information
concerning radio propagation, visit the ARRL Technical Information
Service Propagation page
<http://www.arrl.org/propagation-of-rf-signals>.

==> ARRL RECOGNIZES: ROBERT NICKELS, W9RAN,  WINS JANUARY QST COVER
PLAQUE AWARD

   The winner of the January QST Cover Plaque award is Robert Nickels,
W9RAN, for his article "Cheap and Easy SDR
<http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/arrl/qst_201301/index.php#/32>."
Congratulations Robert! The QST  Cover Plaque Award -- given to the
author or authors of the best article in each issue -- is determined by
a vote of ARRL members on the QST Cover Plaque Poll web page
<http://www.arrl.org/cover-plaque-poll>. Cast a ballot for your
favorite article in the February issue today.

==> CORRECTION: SERBIAN PRIME MINISTER IVICA DACIC DOES NOT HOLD
PERSONAL CALL SIGN

   In a news item
<http://www.arrl.org/news/ivica-da-i-yu1yu-elected-prime-minister-of-serbia>
posted on the ARRL website on August 1, 2012 and published in the
October 2012 issue of QST, it was reported that Serbian Prime Minister
Ivica Dacic held the call sign YU1YU. The ARRL has learned that
although Prime Minister Dacic was a radio club member and passed the
examination for an Amateur Radio operator license, and while YU1YU was
suggested to him as a call sign for which he could apply, he has never
applied for a personal call sign.

==> THIS WEEK IN RADIOSPORT

This week:

- February 8 -- NCCC Sprint Ladder
- February 8-10 -- YLRL YL-OM Contest
- February 9 -- Asia-Pacific Spring Sprint (CW); FISTS Winter Sprint
- February 9-10 -- New Hampshire QSO Party; Louisiana QSO Party; CQ WW
RTTY WPX Contest; YL-ISSB QSO Party (CW); KCJ Topband Contest; Dutch
PACC Contest; OMISS QSO Party; RSGB First 1.8 MHz Contest; AWA
Amplitude Modulation QSO Party
- February 10-11 -- Classic Exchange (Phone)
- February 11-15 -- ARRL School Club Roundup
<http://www.arrl.org/school-club-roundup>
- February 13 -- NAQCC Straight Key/Bug Sprint
- February 13-14 - CWops Mini-CWT Test

Next week:

- February 15 -- NCCC Sprint Ladder
- February 16 -- Feld Hell Sprint
- February 16-17 -- ARRL International DX Contest (CW)
<http://www.arrl.org/arrl-dx>
- February 17-18 -- Russian PSK Worldwide Contest
- February 20 -- AGCW Semi-Automatic Key Evening

All dates, unless otherwise stated, are UTC. See the ARRL Contest
Branch page <http://www.arrl.org/contests>, the ARRL Contest Update
<http://www.arrl.org/The-ARRL-Contest-Update> and the WA7BNM Contest
Calendar <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html> for more
information. Looking for a Special Event station? Be sure to check out
the ARRL Special Event Stations web page
<http://www.arrl.org/special-event-stations>.

Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events

- February 8-10 -- ARRL Southeastern Division Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/southeastern-division-convention-orlando-hamcation-1>,
Orlando, Florida
- February 15-16 -- ARRL Arizona State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/arizona-state-convention-yuma-hamfest-1>,
Yuma, Arizona
- February 16 -- ARRL Arkansas State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/arkansas-state-convention-winterfest>,
Hoxie, Arkansas
- February 23 -- ARRL Vermont State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/vermont-state-convention-ham-con-3>,
South Burlington, Vermont
- March 8-9 -- ARRL Oklahoma Section Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/oklahoma-section-convention-green-country-hamfest-1>,
Claremore, Oklahoma; ARRL Louisiana Section Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/louisiana-section-convention-acadiana-53rd-annual-hamfest>,
Rayne, Louisiana
- March 16 -- ARRL Nebraska State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/nebraska-state-convention-2>, Lincoln,
Nebraska; ARRL West Texas State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/west-texas-section-convention-58th-annual-st-patrick-s-day-hamfest>,
Midland, Texas
- March 23 -- ARRL South Texas State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/south-texas-section-convention-greater-houston-hamfest-3>,
Rosenberg, Texas
- March 29-30 -- ARRL Maine State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/maine-state-convention-3>, Lewiston,
Maine
- March 30 -- ARRL North Carolina State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/north-carolina-state-convention-raleigh-hamfest-2>,
Raleigh, North Carolina
- April 13-14 -- Communications Academy
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/communications-academy-2013>, Seattle,
Washington
- April 19-20 -- Southeastern VHF Society Conference
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/svhfs-conference>, Cocoa Beach, Florida
- April 19-21 -- International DX Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/international-dx-convention-2>, Visalia,
California
- April 20 -- ARRL Louisiana State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/louisiana-state-convention-northeast-louisiana-regional-ham-radiofest>,
Monroe, Louisiana
- April 26-28 -- ARRL Idaho State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/idaho-state-convention-3>, Boise, Idaho
- May 31-June 2 -- ARRL Northwestern Division Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/northwestern-division-convention-seapac-4>,
Seaside, Oregon

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

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