[CVRC] The ARRL Letter for July 4, 2013

Thu Jul 4 08:14:12 EDT 2013

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            The  ARRL Letter

Published by the American Radio Relay League
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July 4, 2013

Editor: Rick Lindquist, WW1ME <ww1me 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

- On the Air: Strong Geomagnetic Storm Enlivens "The Magic Band"
- Emergency Radio: Colorado ARES Supported Emergency Communication in
Wildland Fire Response
- Emergency Radio: Hams in India Support Emergency Communications
Following Flood Disaster
- Ham Radio in Space: HamTV Project to Open "A New Era" for ARISS
- Education: The ARRL Foundation Announces 2013 Scholarship Recipients
- People: New AMSAT Director of Field Operations Hopes to Revive Field
Organization
- People: N4HY Co-Advises Virginia Tech DARPA Spectrum Challenge Team
- People: Nobel Laureate Featured at W9DXCC Convention and Banquet
- Ham Radio on the Road: Flying With Spare Rechargeable Batteries May
Require Preparation
- Phishing Scam via ARRL.net E-mail Addresses Reported
- Noted DXer, DXpeditioner Joseph D. Duffin, W2ORA, SK
- DXCC Honor Roll Member Ivy "Keith" Luke, W5AV, SK
- This Week in Radiosport
- Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events

ARRL Headquarters is closed today, July 4, for Independence Day. There
will be no W1AW bulletin or code practice transmissions. Headquarters
will be open for business tomorrow, Friday, July 5. We wish everyone a
safe and enjoyable holiday!

==> ON THE AIR: STRONG GEOMAGNETIC STORM ENLIVENS "THE MAGIC BAND"

That strong geomagnetic storm over the weekend may have trashed the HF
bands, but stations along North America's Eastern Seaboard took
advantage of the resulting aurora to score some DX on 6 meters. On
Saturday, June 29, stations were able to work into Alaska during a
period of auroral propagation. WK3N in Pennsylvania reported working
his first two Alaska stations, AL7RT and KL7NO, for his #100 on 6
meters. WK3N called the episode "the most intense solar storm in the

last five years." He pointed his beam north, turned on his amp and
started calling "CQ." He worked into several regions of the US and
Canada. K8OM reported a 6 meter opening into Eastern Iowa at 1645 UTC
Sunday, June 30, when the geomagnetic storm had begun to wind down. He
worked OH1ND, OH1XT and ES6RQ, all on CW.

"That may not be all that great for East Coast guys, but for us out
here in the middle of the country, it was rather exciting!" he said.
Spaceweather.com <http://www.spaceweather.com/> reported early Saturday
morning that a strong geomagnetic storm was in progress as Earth passed
through a region of south-pointing magnetism in the solar wind. The
storm generated auroral displays as far south as Kansas. The NOAA Space
Weather Prediction Center <http://www.swpc.noaa.gov> indicated the
storm was a G3 level event. NOAA says that in a G3 level storm, HF
radio may be intermittent. Over the weekend, the A index rose to 22,
and the K index ranged from 5 to 7. Generally an A index at or below 15
or a K index at or below 3 is best for HF propagation. -- Thanks to The
Daily DX <http://www.dailydx.com>, Spaceweather.com, NOAA

==> EMERGENCY RADIO: COLORADO ARES SUPPORTED EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION IN
WILDLAND FIRE RESPONSE

Colorado Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES
<http://www.arrl.org/ares>) volunteers mustered to support emergency
communications after wildland fires broke out in June.

"For the second summer in a row the entire state of Colorado seems to
be on fire," said North Central Colorado Region ARES Emergency
Coordinator Perry Lundquist, W6AUN. "Currently there are 16 wildfires
burning within Colorado."

Several Colorado ARES districts activated in the wake of the Royal
Gorge and Black Forest fires June 11. Members provided communication
support for sheltering activities. Later the same day,

   the Black Forest Fire erupted close to the Waldo Canyon area in
Colorado Springs, where a similar wildfire caused widespread
destruction last year. "The Black Forest Fire has now become the most
destructive fire in Colorado history," Lundquist said. It ultimately
consumed 14,280 acres and 507 homes and caused two deaths.

During the fire's peak, eight shelters were opened for both people as
well as animals large and small, Lundquist reports. More than 35,000
residents had to evacuate, he said, which placed a very heavy burden on
the American Red Cross, which immediately requested ARES communication
support between its eight various shelters and the Pikes Peak Red Cross
headquarters. ARES volunteers responded by providing around-the-clock
radio operators for several days.

Lundquist said in late June that several Jefferson County ARES members
were still working on other fires within the state where their ARES
members are assigned individually as National Wildfire Coordinating
Group (NWCG <http://www.nwcg.gov/>) certified communication technicians
and radio operators. "Colorado Section and Regional ARES leadership has
worked closely to support the local ARES districts and to provide ARES
mutual aid in the form of communications equipment and ARES-trained
manpower resources wherever and whenever needed," he said. -- Thanks to
Perry Lundquist, W6AUN; Colorado SM Jack Ciaccia, WM0G, and Rick Palm,
K1CE

==> EMERGENCY RADIO: HAMS IN INDIA SUPPORT EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
FOLLOWING FLOOD DISASTER

Amateur Radio volunteers provided emergency communications in the
flood-stricken state of Uttarakhand in northern India, after unusually
heavy early seasonal monsoons caused flooding and mudslides in June. At
least 800 people have died. Jim Linton, VK3PC, who chairs the IARU
Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee, says the disaster caught
everyone by surprise.

"The emergency communications provided by radio amateurs are well known
to disaster authorities and the government, through their preparedness
drills and other presentations," Linton said.

India's National Coordinator for Disaster Communication Jayu Mbide,
VU2JAU, who is with the Amateur Radio Society of India (ARSI), told
Linton that he had been in contact with two Amateur Radio stations
active in the disaster area at Dehradum and Uttarkshi. "They have been
sending messages via coordinating stations in Gwalior, New Delhi and
elsewhere," he said. Linton said emergency communication support was
expected to continue "for some time." Linton added.

According to the BBC <http://www.bbc.co.uk>, the early monsoons may be
the heaviest in 80 years. "Swollen rivers have swept away entire
villages in Uttarakhand, where there were many travelers in what is
peak tourist season," the broadcaster reported. "Nearly 100,000 people
have been evacuated from the affected areas in the Himalayan
mountains." Government rescue efforts have included military helicopter
drops of food, water and medical supplies to those trapped by the
flood. -- Jim Linton, VK3PC, with Jayu Mbide, VU2JAU; BBC

==> HAM RADIO IN SPACE: HAMTV PROJECT TO OPEN "A NEW ERA" FOR ARISS

The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS
<http://ariss.rac.ca/>) program hopes an Amateur Radio digital TV
system will be up and running aboard the International Space Station by
later this year. A project initiated by AMSAT-Italy
<http://www.amsat.it/>, HamTV would provide one-way video and audio
from the ISS to complement the FM radio voice link used for ARISS
school group radio contacts. According to an overview paper
<http://www.ariss-eu.org/Ham%20TV.pdf>

   drafted by ARISS-Europe Chairman Gaston Bertels, ON4WF, a DATV
downlink on S-Band (2.4 GHz) is under development to place aboard the
ISS Columbus module in August. Columbus already sports the necessary
antenna. As a debate between the merits of analog versus digital TV
aboard the ISS continued, Bertels says, the digital system got a big
boost from Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli, IZ0JPA, who had conducted
ARISS school contacts in 2010 and 2011, when he was aboard the ISS.

"At the initiative of AMSAT Italy, an Italian manufacturer, Kayser
Italia <http://www.kayser.it/index.php/exploration-2/ham-tv>, presented
a project for an Amateur Radio DATV transmitter to ESA
<http://www.esa.int>'s [European Space Agency] educational services,"
Bertels explains in his paper. ESA accepted the proposal in 2012 and
contracted with Kayser Italia to develop and manufacture a 10 W EIRP
"Ham Video" DATV transmitter for S-Band.

 Receiving the DATV signal will be far more demanding than receiving
VHF or UHF, Bertels notes in his overview paper. He said a study
conducted by Piero Tognolatti, I0KPT, shows "that DATV decoding should
be possible for a ground station equipped with a 1.2 meter dish, when
the ISS is within a range of about 800 to 1000 km," limiting the DATV
reception window to about 3 or 4 minutes during a favorable pass.
According to Bertels, Kayser Italia is to provide five ground stations
for siting in Europe. "It is hoped that amateurs will support other
ground station 'chains' in other countries, as multiple stations are
needed to provide up to 15 minutes of video in support of school
contacts," Bertels explains in his paper. He says ARISS anticipates
that similar chains of ground stations will be set up on other
continents, to expand the system's flexibility.

"A new era opens for Amateur Radio on the International Space Station,"
Bertels concludes. -- Thanks to AMSAT News Service; Kayser Italia

==> EDUCATION: THE ARRL FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES 2013 SCHOLARSHIP
RECIPIENTS

The ARRL Foundation <http://www.arrl.org/the-arrl-foundation> Board of
Directors has announced the scholarship recipients for 2013. In 2013,
the Foundation awarded 82
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-foundation-awards-82-scholarships-in-2013>annual
scholarships
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-foundation-awards-82-scholarships-in-2013>
to young Amateur Radio operators. The scholarships, valued at $110,600,
are awarded through 58 funds that the Foundation administers.
Individual awards range from $500 to $5000. Foundation Secretary and
ARRL Chief Development Officer Mary Hobart, K1MMH, says the scholarship
program has grown substantially over the years with the addition of new
awards.

"Amateur Radio organizations and individual donors have enriched the
program to reward high academic achievement and community service,"
Hobart said. "I am constantly amazed at what young radio amateurs
accomplish in their young lives, even as they work hard to perform
academically at the highest levels. Congratulations to all the
applicants who demonstrate the best that Amateur Radio has to offer!"

In addition to the 82 winners, there are currently four holders of the
William R. Goldfarb Memorial Scholarship, which assists recipients in
receiving a four-year undergraduate degree in engineering, science or
in the medical or business-related fields. As announced in June the
2013 recipient -- and the 10th Goldfarb Scholarship winner -- is Calvin
P. Darula, K0DXC, of St Bonifacius, Minnesota.

The application period for 2014 ARRL Foundation Scholarships opens
October 1, 2013, and closes February 1, 2014. Descriptions
<http://www.arrl.org/scholarship-descriptions> of all available
scholarships and selection criteria as well as application instructions
and forms <http://www.arrl.org/scholarship-application> are on the ARRL
Foundation website <http://www.arrl.org/the-arrl-foundation>. Inquiries
regarding the scholarship program should be made via e-mail
<foundation at arrl.org>.

==> PEOPLE: NEW AMSAT DIRECTOR OF FIELD OPERATIONS HOPES TO REVIVE
FIELD ORGANIZATION

AMSAT's new Director of Field Operations Patrick Stoddard, WD9EWK, of
Scottsdale, Arizona, is hoping to return AMSAT's Field Organization to
a place of prominence within the satellite organization.

"I look forward to reviving the Field Organization and re-establishing
a line of communication with those who want to represent AMSAT at the
local level," Stoddard said upon his appointment. "I will be reaching
out to those that have assisted us in the past to ascertain their
current level of interest in helping AMSAT as well as encouraging
others to join our team."

Stoddard will work closely with AMSAT President Barry Baines, WD4ASW,
as he begins the process of breathing new life into the Field
Operations organization. As director of field operations, he will be

   responsible for managing AMSAT's corps of area coordinators, who
represent AMSAT locally. Area coordinators serve as the "Ambassadors of
AMSAT." This may include staffing AMSAT booths at hamfests, giving
local/regional club presentations on AMSAT and satellite operations and
serving as Elmers to those seeking information about operating through
satellites.

At one time more than 100 AMSAT members were on the list of area
coordinators in the US and Canada.-- AMSAT News Service
<http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/news/>

==> PEOPLE: N4HY CO-ADVISES VIRGINIA TECH DARPA SPECTRUM CHALLENGE TEAM

Former AMSAT director and vice president for engineering Bob McGwier,
N4HY, is advising one of two Virginia Tech <http://www.vt.edu/> teams
named as finalists in the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
(DARPA <http://www.darpa.mil/>)

   Spectrum Challenge <http://www.darpa.mil/spectrumchallenge/>.
McGwier, who chairs the ARRL software defined radio (SDR) working
group, is director of research at Tech's Hume Center
<http://www.hume.ictas.vt.edu/> in Arlington, Virginia. He shares Hume
Center Team advising duties with Charles Clancy, an associate professor
of electrical and computer engineering and director of the Hume Center.

The Hume Center and Wireless at VT teams qualified among 15 finalists out
of 90 competitors in the DARPA Spectrum Challenge qualification round
in an international competition to develop strategies for clear
communication in the presence of interference on a radio channel. They
will compete with the 13 other teams for $25,000 in top prizes in the
preliminary challenge in September and $50,000 in top prizes in the
final challenge next March.

The DARPA Spectrum Challenge was organized in response to the problem
of growing interference among wireless devices that function in an
increasingly congested radio spectrum. The challenge tasks teams with
generating SDR protocols that transmit data quickly and accurately
despite interfering signals. Both Virginia Tech teams include Amateur
Radio licensees. -- Virginia Tech <http://www.vt.edu/>

==> PEOPLE: NOBEL LAUREATE FEATURED AT W9DXCC CONVENTION AND BANQUET

Nobel laureate and WSJT <http://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/>
developer Joe Taylor, K1JT, will be the banquet speaker at the 61st
annual W9DXCC Convention and Banquet <http://www.w9dxcc.com/>,
Saturday, September 21, at the Holiday Inn, Elk Grove

   Village, Illinois, sponsored by the Northern Illinois DX
Association.

Among the presentations <http://www.w9dxcc.com/program.html>, Eric
Hall, K9GY, will speak on his T6MO Afghanistan operations; Carl
Luetzelschwab, K9LA, will discuss Cycle 24 propagation; Jerry Rosalius,
WB9Z, and Craig Thompson, K9CT, will offer a preview of the Amsterdam
Island FT5ZM DXpedition, and Mike McGirr, K9AJ, will report on the
H44AJ DXpedition to Sikaiana Atoll in the Solomon Islands.

An ARRL forum will feature Central Division Director Dick Isely, W9GIG,
Vice Director Kermit Carlson, W9XA, and ARRL DX Advisory Committee
member Jim O'Connell, W9WU.

For more information, contact Kermit Carlson, W9XA <W9XA at yahoo.com>.
The W9DXCC DX University Program will take place Friday, September 20,
9 AM to 5 PM. The program, "DXing from the Black Hole 2," is intended
for new and seasoned DXers alike. For DX University information,
contact Jack Hudson, W9MU <jack at W9MU.net>. Hospitality suites will be
open Friday and Saturday nights.

==> HAM RADIO ON THE ROAD: FLYING WITH SPARE RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES MAY
REQUIRE PREPARATION

FAA regulations let you travel with dry cells in either your carry-on
or checked baggage, but prohibit loose lithium batteries in checked
baggage. But what about rechargeables in carry-on luggage? Stu Martin,
K2QDE, reports that he ran into a small hitch when attempting to carry
his spare hand-held transceiver battery in his carry-on bag. A notice
within his boarding pass declared: "Lithium Batteries: Carriage of
spare lithium batteries is not permitted in checked baggage. If you put
a portable electronic device in checked baggage, you may still do so
with the batteries installed in the device. Spare lithium batteries in
carry-on luggage must have the terminals insulated and must be placed
inside a protective case or plastic bag." Martin taped the battery's
terminals and stowed it in a bag.

The FAA rules apply to "consumer-sized lithium ion batteries,"
including "larger, extended-life laptop batteries." The FAA adds this
caveat, however: "Even if an item is generally permitted, it may be
subject to additional screening or not allowed through the checkpoint
if it triggers an alarm during the screening process, appears to have
been tampered with, or poses other security concerns. The final
decision rests with TSA on whether to allow any items on the plane."
More information
<http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ash/ash_programs/hazmat/aircarrier_info/media/airline_passengers_and_batteries.pdf>
is available on the FAA Web site.

==> PHISHING SCAM VIA ARRL.NET E-MAIL ADDRESSES REPORTED

Several ARRL members have reported that someone posing as "Arrl.net
Online Services" is prompting members to provide personal information.
These e-mails ask the user for his or her username and password.

These e-mails do not come from the ARRL. The League would never ask you
for this sort of information in this fashion. The best course of action
is to ignore such requests and, as a general precaution, never send
personal information via e-mail.

==> NOTED DXER, DXPEDITIONER JOSEPH D. DUFFIN, W2ORA, SK

ARRL Charter Life Member, DXer and DXpeditioner Joe Duffin, W2ORA/EI8GT
(ex W3SWL), of Moorestown, New Jersey, died June 16. He was 87. He was
an alumnus of the 1978 Navassa Island DXpedition (N0TG/KP1 and
W0RJU//KP1  ).-- The Daily DX <http://www.dailydx.com>

==> DXCC HONOR ROLL MEMBER IVY "KEITH" LUKE, W5AV, SK

The ARRL has learned that ARRL and DXCC Honor Roll member Ivy "Keith"
Luke, of Brandon, Mississippi, died April 11. He was 85. Licensed in
1950, Luke was a life member of the Jackson Amateur Radio Club, the
Magnolia DX Association and the ARRL A-1 Operators Club. He was a #1
ARRL DXCC Honor Roll member with 381 entities confirmed in the DXCC
(mixed) standings.

==> THIS WEEK IN RADIOSPORT

- July 6-7 -- Venezuelan Independence Day Contest

- July 6-7 -- DL-DX RTTY Contest

- July 6-7 -- Original QRP Contest

- July 6-7 -- PODXS 070 Club 40 Meter Firecracker Sprint

- July 7 -- DARC 10-Meter Digital Contest

- July 7 -- QRP ARCI Summer Homebrew Sprint

- July 10 -- NAQCC-EU Monthly Sprint

- July 10 -- RSGB 80 Meter Club Championship, SSB

==> UPCOMING ARRL SECTION, STATE AND DIVISION CONVENTIONS AND EVENTS

- July 6 -- Eastern Pennsylvania Section Convention
<http://hrac.tripod.com/HAMFEST_FLYER2013.pdf>, Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania

- July 19-21 -- Montana State Convention <http://www.gwhamfest.org/>,
East Glacier, Montana

- July 25-27 -- Central States VHF Society Conference
<http://www.csvhfs.org/2013conference/>, Elk Grove Village, Ilinois

- July 26-27 -- ARRL Oklahoma State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/oklahoma-state-convention-ham-holiday-1>,
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

- August 2-3 -- ARRL Texas State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/texas-state-convention-austin-summerfest-2013>,
Austin, Texas

- August 2-4 -- Pacific Northwest DX Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/pacific-northwest-dx-convention-2>,
Spokane Valley, Washington

- August 3 -- Great Lakes Division Convention
<http://arrl-greatlakes.org/convention.html>, Columbus, Ohio

- August 9-11 -- New Mexico State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/Events/view/21836>, Albuquerque, New Mexico

- August 17 -- ARRL West Virginia State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/west-virginia-state-convention-3>,
Weston, West Virginia

- August 17-18 -- ARRL Alabama State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/alabama-state-convention-huntsville-hamfest-1>,
Huntsville, Alabama

- August 18 -- ARRL Kansas State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/kansas-state-convention-3>, Salina,
Kansas

- August 25 -- ARRL Western Pennsylvania Section Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/western-pennsylvania-section-convention-3>,
New Kensington, Pennsylvania

- August 31-September 1 -- North Carolina Section Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/north-carolina-section-convention-shelby-hamfest>,
Shelby, North Carolina

Click <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests-and-conventions-calendar> to find a
convention or hamfest near you!

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