[CVRC] The ARRL Letter for May 9, 2013

Thu May 9 15:16:20 EDT 2013

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            The  ARRL Letter

Published by the American Radio Relay League
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May 9, 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

- + Dayton Hamvention®: Meet the Authors at ARRL EXPO in Dayton
- + ARRL Centennial Celebration: ARRL Public Relations Committee
Sponsoring "I am the ARRL" Video Contest
- + FCC News: FCC and GAO Release Recommendations on Receiver
Performance; Comments Invited
- + Public Service: GAREC 2013 to Precede HAM RADIO Gathering in
Friedrichshafen Next Month
- + Hurricane Watch Net Seeks New Members for Net Control Stations
- Support ARRL: Attention Federal Employees -- ARRL Approved for 2013
Combined Federal Campaign!
- On the Air: Annual Armed Forces Day Crossband Test Scheduled for May
11
- Solar Update
- + New QuickStats Poll Now Available on ARRL Website

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

==> + DAYTON HAMVENTION®: MEET THE AUTHORS AT ARRL EXPO IN DAYTON

   The ARRL will present a "Meet the Authors" area in the ARRL EXPO at
the 2013 Dayton Hamvention, giving visitors an opportunity to speak
with authors who are inspiring today's radio experimenters, operators
and innovators. Leigh Klotz Jr, WA5ZNU, lead editor of Ham Radio for
Arduino and PICAXE, along with Eric P. Nichols, KL7AJ, author of Radio
Science for the Radio Amateur and Don Keith, N4KC, author of Riding the
Shortwaves: Exploring the Magic of Amateur Radio will be available to
discuss -- and sign -- their books during Hamvention.

In addition to the "Meet the Authors" area, the ARRL EXPO will include
a wide variety of exhibits and activities from the ARRL, including an
exhibit commemorating the 75th anniversary of W1AW featuring
photographs of the station from over the years; QSL card checking; the
opportunity to have your handheld transceiver checked for spurious
emissions; youth activities, and more. Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/meet-the-authors-at-arrl-expo-in-dayton>.

==> + ARRL CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION: ARRL PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE
SPONSORING "I AM THE ARRL" VIDEO CONTEST

   As part of the ARRL's Centennial Celebration in 2014, the ARRL's
Public Relations Committee is sponsoring an "I am the ARRL" video
contest. The Committee is looking for pairs of short video clips
featuring ARRL members. One clip should show the radio amateur on the
radio, while the other should show the amateur in his or her work
setting saying "I am (name). I like (radio activity) and I am the
ARRL."

ARRL Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, explained further:
"For example, a car mechanic in coveralls working over an engine looks
at the camera and says 'I am Henry Smith, N0XCC. I like to talk to
people in exotic countries and I am the ARRL.' This clip would then be
paired with a shot of him at home talking on the radio. You may be a
lab technician in a white coat, a doctor with a stethoscope, a teacher
in a classroom, a cook in a kitchen -- whatever represents your
profession. We're looking for videos that communicate that you are that
'guy or gal down the street' and you are the ARRL. With Field Day
coming up next month, you have a great opportunity for filming clips."
Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-public-relations-committee-sponsoring-i-am-the-arrl-video-contest>.

==> + FCC NEWS: FCC AND GAO RELEASE RECOMMENDATIONS ON RECEIVER
PERFORMANCE; COMMENTS INVITED

   In early 2012, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski tasked the FCC's
Technological Advisory Council (TAC) to study the role of receivers "in
ensuring the efficient use of spectrum and to provide recommendations
on avoiding obstacles posed by receiver performance to making spectrum
available for new services." On April 22, 2013, the FCC released a
Public Notice (Docket No. ET 13-101), detailing the recommendations of
the TAC's working group on Receivers and Spectrum in a white paper
called Interference Limits Policy -- The use of harm claim thresholds
to improve the interference tolerance of wireless systems. Last week,
President Obama nominated TAC Chairman Tom Wheeler as FCC Chairman.

In addition to the work of the TAC, the Government Accountability
Office (GAO) was tasked by Congress in the Middle Class Tax Relief and
Job Creation Act of 2012 to study spectrum efficiency and receiver
performance. The GAO report -- titled Further Consideration of Options
to Improve Receiver Performance Needed -- was recently published and
references the TAC white paper. The GAO report recommends that the FCC
"consider small-scale pilot tests and other methods to collect
information on the practical effects of various options for improving
receiver performance." Comments on the both the TAC's white paper and
the GAO's report are now being accepted.

The white paper also noted that "interference being experienced is
widely distributed both geographically and temporally. This would be
the case when, for example, widely deployed consumer devices like
television sets or handheld wireless devices receiving signals 'over
the air' are interfered with by, say, geographically dispersed private
land mobile radio, amateur radio transmitters or other wireless devices
operating in an adjacent band. Thus the base case would exclude
resolution of interference that arises when multiple radio systems
(i.e., transmitters and receivers) are co-located at a single antenna
site, or on a single tower, or even share a single antenna on a tower."
The ARRL is studying all the documents in this proceeding and expects
to file comments. Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-and-gao-release-recommendations-on-receiver-performance-comments-invited>.

==> + PUBLIC SERVICE: GAREC 2013 TO PRECEDE HAM RADIO GATHERING IN
FRIEDRICHSHAFEN NEXT MONTH

   The 2013 Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Conference
(GAREC) will take place June 25-27 in Zurich, Switzerland, immediately
preceding HAM RADIO -- Europe's largest Amateur Radio gathering -- in
Friedrichshafen, Germany, June 28-30. GAREC 2013 will be combined with
Switzerland's Convention of Amateur Radio Emergency Communication, on
June 27. GAREC -- held annually since 2005 -- provides an opportunity
for emergency communicators to discuss recent events, technical
solutions to problems and how to find cooperation with professional
partners. Attendees have an interest in providing emergency
communication via Amateur Radio during training exercises or in
response to disasters.

While GAREC 2013 will primarily focus on Amateur Radio emergency
communication in Europe, all radio amateurs who are interested in
providing public service via Amateur Radio are invited to attend. This
year's topics include the relevance of Amateur Radio Emergency
Communication in the First World and the HAMNET high speed data
network, as well as presentations from the three IARU regions and
presentations from groups with recent disaster relief communications
operations. The ARRL will be represented by ARRL Vice President for
International Affairs Jay Bellows, K0QB, who will also attend HAM
RADIO. Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/garec-2013-to-precede-ham-radio-gathering-in-friedrichshafen-next-month>.

==> + HURRICANE WATCH NET SEEKS NEW MEMBERS FOR NET CONTROL STATIONS

   With the 2013 hurricane season approaching, the National Hurricane
Center (NHC) in Miami and the Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) are gearing up
for what could be a very active storm season. In preparation for the
upcoming season, the HWN is currently seeking new members who can serve
as net control stations. The HWN provides on-the-ground, real-time
weather data from Amateur Radio operators who volunteer their time to
monitor their calibrated home weather stations. The stations report
that data to the HWN, who in turn reports it to WX4NHC, the Amateur
Radio station at the NHC. "The Hurricane Watch Net relies on volunteer
operators -- our members -- who serve as our net control stations," HWN
Net Manager Bobby Graves, KB5HAV, told the ARRL. "HWN members are hams
who have above-average stations, are capable of effectively conducting
HF net operations and are willing to commit their time to operating in
support of the HWN's mission during net activations." Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/hurricane-watch-net-seeks-new-members-for-net-control-stations>.

==> SUPPORT ARRL: ATTENTION FEDERAL EMPLOYEES -- ARRL APPROVED FOR 2013
COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN!

   Since 2001, the US Office of Personnel Management has designated the
ARRL to participate in the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), the annual
giving campaign for federal employees. In that time, this campaign for
civilian employees of the federal government, US Postal Service workers
and members of the military has generated almost $220,000 for ARRL
programs. The CFC provides federal employees with an easy way to
support the ARRL's effort to represent its members and all radio
amateurs.

The CFC encourages individuals employed in all branches of the federal
government to pledge by payroll deduction to the non-profit
organizations of their choice. The ARRL encourages eligible radio
amateurs to consider the League when designating campaign recipients.
Payroll deduction through the CFC is an easy way for participants to
support the ARRL over and above their annual membership. Such
contributions support programs that are not funded by member dues,
enriching the ARRL's ability to serve its members and all of Amateur
Radio. Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/attention-federal-employees-arrl-approved-for-2013-combined-federal-campaign>.

==> ON THE AIR: ANNUAL ARMED FORCES DAY CROSSBAND TEST SCHEDULED FOR
MAY 11

   In celebration of the 63rd anniversary of Armed Forces Day (AFD),
the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard are
co-sponsoring the annual Military/Amateur Radio Crossband
Communications Test. Although Armed Forces Day is traditionally
celebrated on the third Saturday in May -- May 18 in 2013 -- the AFD
Military/Amateur Crossband Communications Test will be conducted on May
11 to prevent conflict with the Dayton Hamvention®, scheduled for May
17-19. The annual celebration features traditional military-to-amateur
crossband communications SSB voice and Morse code tests. These tests
give Amateur Radio operators and short wave listeners an opportunity to
demonstrate their individual technical skills and to receive
recognition from the appropriate military radio station for their
proven expertise. QSL cards will be provided to stations making contact
with the military stations. Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/annual-armed-forces-day-crossband-test-scheduled-for-may-11>.

==> SOLAR UPDATE

   Tad Cook, K7RA, reports: This week, the average daily sunspot
numbers remained about the same, with the number nudging up from 120.9
to 121.7, while the average daily solar flux numbers went from 136.5 to
137.5. For the past two weeks, the average planetary A index has been
the same as the mid-latitude A index. Last week they were both 9.9;
this week, both values were 8. The predicted solar flux for the near
future is 125 on May 9-10, 120 on May 11-13, 115 on May 14-15, 120 on
May 16-17, 125 on May 18, and rising to 130 on May 19-20. The predicted
planetary A index is 5 on May 9-20, then 15, 10 and 15 on May 21-23, 5
on May 24-27, and rising to 15 and 10 for May 28-29. Look for more
information on the ARRL website on Friday, May 10. For more information
concerning radio propagation, visit the ARRL Technical Information
Service Propagation page
<http://www.arrl.org/propagation-of-rf-signals>.

==> + NEW QUICKSTATS POLL NOW AVAILABLE ON ARRL WEBSITE

Four new poll questions have just been published on the QuickStats page
<http://www.arrl.org/quickstats> on the ARRL website. Let your voice be
heard!

   Questions in this month's QuickStats poll:

- Do you own a solid-state or tube-type linear amplifier?
- Where will you be operating during Field Day 2013?
- Do you own a software defined receiver or transceiver?
- Have you participated in any VHF/UHF contests during the last five
years?

Visit the QuickStats page <http://www.arrl.org/quickstats> and be sure
to bookmark it in your browser. Results from this QuickStats poll will
be published in the July 2013 issue of QST on the QuickStats page,
located in the rear advertising section of the magazine. Along with
monthly poll results, QST QuickStats offers colorful charts and graphs
that highlight interesting Amateur Radio statistics.

This Week in Radiosport

This week:

- May 10 -- NCCC Sprint Ladder
- May 11 -- FISTS Spring Sprint
- May 11-12 -- Nevada Mustang Roundup; VOLTA WW RTTY Contest; CQ-M
International DX Contest; Portuguese Navy Day Contest; SKCC Weekend
Sprintathon; EUCW Fraternizing CW QSO Party; Worldwide EME Contest

Next week:

- May 18 -- Portuguese Navy Day Contest (Digital); Feld Hell Sprint
- May 18-19 -- His Majesty King of Spain Contest (CW); Baltic Contest;
EU PSK DX Contest; Worldwide EME Contest
- May 20 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest
- May 22 -- SKCC Sprint
- May 22-23 -- 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

- 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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