[CVRC] The ARRL Letter for March 28, 2013

Thu Mar 28 16:37:22 EDT 2013

********************************************
            The  ARRL Letter

Published by the American Radio Relay League
********************************************

March 28, 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

- + FCC News: FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, FCC Commissioner Robert
McDowell to Step Down
- + FCC News: FCC Grants ARRL's Request for Temporary Waiver for TDMA
Systems
- Support ARRL: ARRL Announces a Campaign for Its Second Century
- + Silent Key: National Traffic System Developer George Hart, W1NJM
(SK)
- Amateur Radio in Space: Two Hams Scheduled to Head to ISS This Week
- + Amateur Radio at the National Association of Broadcasters
Convention
- + On the Air: ARRL UHF/Microwave Band Plan Committee Seeks Comments
on Draft 5 and 10 GHz National Band Plans
- Solar Update
- + Silent Key: Former ARRL Northwestern Division Director Mary Lewis,
W7QGP (SK)
- + Silent Key: Former ARRL Pacific Division Vice Director Robert
Smithwick, W6CS (ex-W6JZU) (SK)
- Silent Key: Noted Contester and DXer Luis Chartarifsky, XE1L (SK)
- + ARRL to Close in Observance of Good Friday
- This Week in Radiosport
- Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events

+ Available on ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrl-audio-news>.

==> + FCC NEWS: FCC CHAIRMAN JULIUS GENACHOWSKI, FCC COMMISSIONER
ROBERT MCDOWELL TO STEP DOWN

FCC Commissioner Julius Genachowski and FCC Commissioner Robert
McDowell both announced last week that they would be leaving the
Commission. McDowell announced his resignation during the FCC's open
meeting on March 20, while Genachowski made his announcement in remarks
to FCC staff on March 22.

   Genachowski was nominated by President Barack Obama to lead the
Commission in June 2009. McDowell was appointed by President George W.
Bush in 2006 and re-appointed by President Obama in 2009. While
Genachowski's term is up later this year, McDowell's term expires in
2014. Neither Genachowski nor McDowell has announced their
post-Commission plans.

The departure of Genachowski (a Democrat) and McDowell (a Republican),
leaves Mignon Clyburn and Jessica Rosenworcel as the FCC's Democrats,
and Ajit Pai as its sole Republican, giving Democrats a 2 to 1 voting
advantage. Only three commissioners at a time may be members of the
same political party. With two seats open on the FCC, the Obama
Administration could advance a Republican and a Democratic nominee
simultaneously, as it did with Pai and Rosenworcel in 2012. Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-chairman-julius-genachowski-fcc-commissioner-robert-mcdowell-to-step-down>.

==> + FCC NEWS: FCC GRANTS ARRL'S REQUEST FOR TEMPORARY WAIVER FOR TDMA
SYSTEMS

   Acting upon a request by the ARRL, the FCC issued an Order (WT
Docket No, 12-283) on March 25, granting a temporary waiver to transmit
communications on amateur service channels above 30 MHz using single
time-slot Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) systems. The temporary
waiver was granted pending the resolution of a related rulemaking
proceeding (RM-11625).

In granting the temporary waiver, the FCC agreed with the ARRL, noting
that the digital systems that radio amateurs have recently implemented
are "compatible with existing amateur repeater channelization plans."
The FCC also noted that allowing FXE and F7E as phone emissions and
emission type FXD as a data emission "is unlikely to result in
inharmonious emission types being used in the same segments of the
frequency bands. We also conclude that allowing amateur stations to
transmit these emission types is consistent with the basis and purpose
of the amateur service, specifically to continue to contribute to the
advancement of the radio art." Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-grants-arrl-s-request-for-temporary-waiver-for-tdma-systems>.

==> SUPPORT ARRL: ARRL ANNOUNCES A CAMPAIGN FOR ITS SECOND CENTURY

   As the ARRL draws closer to celebrating its Centennial in 2014, its
Board of Directors has launched an unprecedented $10 million
fundraising initiative to build the ARRL Endowment and strengthen the
organization's financial future. Led by the ARRL Board and an
eight-member Second Century Campaign Committee -- headed by David W.
Brandenburg, K5RQ -- the campaign has already raised cash and
commitments of more than $4 million toward this goal. Plans are to
reach that goal by the end of ARRL's centennial year in 2014.

"The vision of the ARRL Second Century Campaign is to secure
significant financial resources that will open a path to passionate
involvement in Amateur Radio for new generations," explained ARRL Chief
Development Officer Mary Hobart, K1MMH. "In this, it will provide
opportunities for educational enrichment, community service and
personal achievement through the exploration and use of the magic of
radio communication." Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-announces-a-campaign-for-its-second-century>.

==> + SILENT KEY: NATIONAL TRAFFIC SYSTEM DEVELOPER GEORGE HART, W1NJM
(SK)

George Hart, W1NJM -- the chief developer of the National Traffic
System -- passed away Sunday, March 24. He was 99. An ARRL Charter Life
Member, Hart spent more than four decades as a member of the ARRL
Headquarters staff and continued to be an active amateur and regular
participant in Field Day. In 1984, the ARRL Board of Directors named
Hart as an ARRL Honorary Vice President.

   First licensed in 1929 as W3AMR in Pennsylvania, Hart began his ARRL
career in August 1938 as a second operator at the W1AW Maxim Memorial
Station, which was new at the time. He took over as Acting
Communications Manager in 1942 when then-Acting Communications Manager
John Huntoon, W1LVQ, left the ARRL for active duty in the US Coast
Guard during World War II. Beginning with the December 1942 issue, Hart
contributed almost 1000 articles to QST, with topics ranging from
public service to simulated emergency tests to traffic handling
pointers; he also penned the monthly columns "Operating News" and
"Amateur Radio Public Service." Hart served in the Army Air Force from
1944-1946, returning to his job as a Communications Assistant at ARRL
Headquarters under Ed Handy, W1BDI, after the war. During his tenure at
the League, Hart served as Communications Assistant, National Emergency
Coordinator and ultimately as Communications Manager from 1967 until
his retirement in 1978. Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/national-traffic-system-developer-george-hart-w1njm-sk>.

==> AMATEUR RADIO IN SPACE: TWO HAMS SCHEDULED TO HEAD TO ISS THIS WEEK

   NASA will televise the launch and docking of its next mission to the
International Space Station (ISS) beginning at 3:30 PM EDT on Thursday,
March 28 (1930 UTC). NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy, KF5KDR, and Russian
cosmonauts Pavel Vinogradov, RV3BS, and Alexander Misurkin are
scheduled to launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 4:43
PM EDT (2043 UTC). They will join Canadian Space Agency astronaut Chris
Hadfield, VA3OOG/KC5RNJ, NASA astronaut Tom Marshburn, KE5HOC, and
Russian cosmonaut Roman Romanenko -- already aboard the ISS -- for
Expedition 35. Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/two-hams-scheduled-to-head-to-iss-this-week>.

==> + AMATEUR RADIO AT THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BROADCASTERS
CONVENTION

   The ARRL will be promoting Amateur Radio at the annual convention of
the National Association of Broadcasters -- NAB Show -- scheduled for
April 6-11 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Members of the Las Vegas
Radio Amateurs Club will staff the ARRL booth at NAB, providing
attendees with information about Amateur Radio. The booth also serves
as a meeting place for radio amateurs attending the convention where
they can talk with local leaders, as well as ARRL Pacific Division
Director Bob Vallio, W6RGG. Arrangements for the ARRL booth are being
provided by NAB Science & Technology Vice President John Marino, KR1O.
Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/amateur-radio-at-the-national-association-of-broadcasters-convention>.

==> + ON THE AIR: ARRL UHF/MICROWAVE BAND PLAN COMMITTEE SEEKS COMMENTS
ON DRAFT 5 AND 10 GHZ NATIONAL BAND PLANS

   Last year, the ARRL UHF/Microwave Band Plan Committee prepared --
and the ARRL Board of Directors approved -- updated national band plans
for the amateur bands between 902 MHz and 3.5 GHz after receiving
extensive and helpful input from the user community. Last year, after
the ARRL Executive Committee extended the Committee's charter to
include the 5 and 10 GHz bands, it solicited additional input
concerning usage on those two bands. The Committee has prepared draft
band plans for 5 centimeters (5.650-5.925 GHz) and 3 centimeters
(10-10.500 GHz). Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-uhf-microwave-band-plan-committee-seeks-comments-on-draft-5-and-10-ghz-national-band-plans>.

==> SOLAR UPDATE

   Tad Cook, K7RA, reports: Solar activity was down this week, with the
average daily sunspot number at 49.6, less than half last week's
figure. The average daily solar flux dropped 22 points to 97, and
geomagnetic activity was quiet also. Sunspot numbers for March 21-27
were 60, 54, 56, 45, 56, 41 and 35, with a mean of 49.6. The 10.7
centimeter flux was 106.1, 100.9, 98.2, 96, 92.6, 92.4 and 93, with a
mean of 97. The estimated planetary A indices were 12, 4, 11, 5, 4, 3
and 14, with a mean of 7.6. The estimated mid-latitude A indices were
11, 2, 10, 6, 3, 2 and 9, with a mean of 6.1. Look for more information
on the ARRL website on Friday, March 29. For more information
concerning radio propagation, visit the ARRL Technical Information
Service Propagation page
<http://www.arrl.org/propagation-of-rf-signals>.

==> + SILENT KEY: FORMER ARRL NORTHWESTERN DIVISION DIRECTOR MARY
LEWIS, W7QGP (SK)

   Mary Lewis, W7QGP, of Seattle, Washington, passed away March 12. She
was 85. An ARRL Life Member, Lewis served as ARRL Northwestern Division
Director from 1981-1987 and 1991-1995. She also served as ARRL Section
Communications Manager for Washington and ARRL Section Manager for
Western Washington, as well as ARRL Assistant Section Manager and ARRL
Affiliated Club Coordinator for the Western Washington Section. Read
more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/former-arrl-northwestern-division-director-mary-lewis-w7qgp-sk>.

==> + SILENT KEY: FORMER ARRL PACIFIC DIVISION VICE DIRECTOR ROBERT
SMITHWICK, W6CS (EX-W6JZU) (SK)

   Robert "Smitty" Smithwick, W6CS (ex-W6JZU), of Los Altos Hills,
California, passed away March 22. He was 92. An ARRL Life Member,
Smithwick served as ARRL Pacific Division Vice Director from 1978-1981.
A pediatric dentist by trade, Smithwick was one of the founders of
Foothill College, a two-year community college in Los Altos Hills, and
served as the first president of the college's Board of Trustees;
Smithwick Theatre on campus is named in his honor. Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/former-arrl-pacific-division-vice-director-robert-smithwick-w6cs-ex-w6jzu-sk>.

==> SILENT KEY: NOTED CONTESTER AND DXER LUIS CHARTARIFSKY, XE1L (SK)

   Noted DXer Luis Chartarifsky, XE1L, of Mexico City, passed away
Monday, March 18 after a heart attack. An ARRL Life Member,
Chartarifsky held Top of Honor Roll (Phone and Mixed), with all 340
current entities confirmed. He also held DXCC for Mixed, Phone, CW and
RTTY, as well as 5-Band DXCC, and had a total of 354 entities,
including deleted. Chartarifsky was a member of the following major
DXpeditions: TX5K (Clipperton Island), Peter I (3Y0PI), Spratly (9M0M),
Nepal (9N7MD), Western Sahara (S07L), Mali (TZ6RM), Revillagigedo
(XF4L), Easter Island (XR0Y), Juan Fernandez (XR0Z) and Myanmar (XZ0A).
He also operated in contests from various parts of Mexico, the US
(including the Dry Tortugas) and Venezuela. Chartarifsky, who loved to
travel, also operated from Ascension Island, Barbados, Jamaica, the
Russian Polar Station, Aruba and Israel, just to name a few. Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/noted-contester-and-dxer-luis-chartarifsky-xe1l-sk>.

==> + ARRL TO CLOSE IN OBSERVANCE OF GOOD FRIDAY

ARRL Headquarters will be closed in observance of Good Friday on
Friday, March 29. There will be no W1AW bulletin or code practice
transmissions that day. ARRL Headquarters will reopen Monday, April 1
at 8 AM Eastern Daylight Time. We wish everyone a safe and enjoyable
holiday weekend.

==> THIS WEEK IN RADIOSPORT

This week:

- March 29 -- NCCC Sprint
- March 30-31 -- CQ WPX Contest (SSB)

Next week:

- April 5 -- NCCC Sprint
- April 6 -- LZ Open 40 Meter Sprint Contest; PODXS 070 Club PSK 31
Flavors Contest (local time)
- April 6-7 -- SP DX Contest; EA RTTY Contest
- April 7 -- Missouri QSO Party
- April 10 -- NAQCC Straight Key/Bug Sprint
- April 10-11 -- CWops Mini-CWT Test

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

- 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;
Eastern VHF/UHF Conference
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/eastern-vhf-uhf-conference>, Manchester,
Connecticut
- May 4 -- ARRL South Carolina Section Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/south-carolina-section-convention-upstate-hamfest-1>,
Spartanburg, South Carolina
- May 17-19 -- Dayton Hamvention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/dayton-hamvention-4>, Trotwood, Ohio
- June 1 -- ARRL Georgia State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/georgia-state-convention-atlanta-hamfest-1>,
Marietta, Georgia
- May 31-June 2 -- ARRL Northwestern Division Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/northwestern-division-convention-seapac-4>,
Seaside, Oregon
- June 7-8 -- ARRL West Gulf Division Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/west-gulf-division-convention-35th-anniversary-ham-com>,
Plano, Texas
- June 8 -- ARRL Delta Division Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/delta-division-convention-2>, Rogers,
Arkansas; ARRL Tennessee State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/tennessee-state-convention-knoxville-hamfest-electronics-convention>,
Knoxville, Tennessee
- June 28-30 -- ARRL Rocky Mountain Division Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/rocky-mountain-division-convention-hamcon-colorado-2013>,
Estes Park, Colorado
- July 6 -- ARRL Eastern Pennsylvania Section Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/eastern-pennsylvania-section-convention-firecracker-hamfest-electronics-expo>,
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
- July 25-27 -- Central States VHF Society Conference
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/central-states-vhf-society-2013-conference>,
Elk Grove Village, Illinois
- 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 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

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

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