[CVRC] The ARRL Letter for May 16, 2013

Thu May 16 13:18:11 EDT 2013

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

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

May 16, 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 Enforcement: FCC Fines Pennsylvania Man $18,000 for Failing to
Allow Inspection of CB Station
- + Amateur Radio in the Classroom: Meet MAREA -- the Mars Lander
Amateur Radio Robotics Exploration Activity
- + Check Out the June Issue of QST
- + LoTW: ARRL Announces New Version of LoTW Software
- + Ward Silver, N0AX, Elected President of Yasme Foundation
- ARRL E-mail System Continuing to Experience Delays
- Solar Update
- + ARRL HQ to Close in Observance of Memorial Day
- + DXCC News: 1984 Operation to Cocos Island Now Approved for DXCC
Credit
- Silent Key: Mark Dabish, K8MD (SK)
- This Week in Radiosport

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

==> + FCC ENFORCEMENT: FCC FINES PENNSYLVANIA MAN $18,000 FOR FAILING
TO ALLOW INSPECTION OF CB STATION

The FCC issued a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture and Order
on May 14 in the amount of $18,000 to Nathaniel Johnson of Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania for failing to make his Citizens Band (CB) station
available for inspection by the FCC and for failing to comply with the
restricted hours of CB station operation.

   The base forfeiture amount for failure to allow inspection of radio
equipment -- including a CB station -- is $7000. The FCC raised the
forfeiture amount by $4000, as the nature of the violation is similar
to failing to respond to a Commission communication. The FCC also found
that Johnson's failure to permit a lawful inspection of his CB station
-- after multiple notices directing him to do so -- justified a $7000
upward adjustment of the base amount for this violation, bringing the
total amount to $18,000.

The FCC noted that misconduct such as Johnson's "is serious, exhibits
contempt for the Commission's authority, and threatens to compromise
the Commission's ability to fully investigate violations of its rules.
As such, we caution Mr Johnson that a failure to schedule an inspection
as directed in this NAL may result in the imposition of additional (and
potentially higher) forfeitures, as well as other enforcement actions,
as appropriate, including the seizure of his equipment. Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-fines-pennsylvania-man-18-000-for-failing-to-allow-inspection-of-cb-station>.

==> + AMATEUR RADIO IN THE CLASSROOM: MEET MAREA -- THE MARS LANDER
AMATEUR RADIO ROBOTICS EXPLORATION ACTIVITY

   Students can experience the same thrills as NASA scientists and
engineers through a simulation that they conduct in their own
classrooms. The Mars Lander Amateur Radio Robotics Exploration Activity
(MAREA) is a robotic activity using ham radio. This affordable,
powerful learning activity involves the same basic knowledge and skills
that the professionals need to pilot the Curiosity robot as it collects
and analyzes Martian soil samples and relays the results of these
distant experiments back to Earth. MAREA is hands-on learning that
integrates Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

MAREA uses robotic movement commands that are attached in the text
portion of an Automatic Position Reporting System (APRS) packet
transmission. The APRS packet with the attached commands is sent from a
"mission control" school via the terrestrial APRS network or, when
possible, even via the Amateur Radio station on the passing
International Space Station, to a "ground station" school. At the
ground station school the command packet is received and the command
data is linked by UHF radio to the "Mars" robot for execution. Read
more <http://www.arrl.org/marea-ham-radio-robotics>.

==> + CHECK OUT THE JUNE ISSUE OF QST

The June issue of QST -- our annual Field Day issue -- explores the fun
and excitement of Amateur Radio's most popular operating event. So grab
your print edition of QST -- or settle in with your computer or tablet
to read the digital version
<http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/arrl/qst_201306/index.php> -- and
discover what the June issue has to offer.

Bill Wortman, N6MW, knows that it can sometimes be difficult to achieve
the desired 1:1 SWR between antennas and coax feed line. In his article
"The Hairpin Match," he discusses how to match low impedance antennas
to higher impedance feed lines with a simple impedance transforming
method. Robert Wilson, NT0A, found that he was getting electromagnetic
interference and radio frequency interference from unknown sources.
Find out how diligent analysis -- including unplugging everything in
the house -- revealed the culprit in "The Great RFI Hunt." Being able
to monitor a battery in use during operation or while charging can be
useful to make sure everything is working as it should. In his article
"A Battery Monitor for 12 V Systems," Mert Nellis, W0UFO, presents a
do-it-yourself project that lets you keep track of the status of
storage batteries during Field Day.

   Last year, ARRL Eastern Pennsylvania Section Manager Bob Famiglio,
K3RF, took to the air in a single-engine plane for Field Day -- and he
plans to do it again this year! Read about Famiglio's adventure in
"Field Day Flyover" by Bob Wilson, W3BIG. There are many ways to accrue
points during Field Day. One way is to operate with fewer than 5 W, or
QRP. In their article "Bagging the Field Day QRP Multiplier," Carey
Fuller, KX0R, and Fred Maas, KT5X, explain that even though power is
limited, the fun is not. Many of today's hams were first introduced to
Amateur Radio when they were Boy Scouts. Today, through the BSA's
National Jamboree and through Jamboree-on-the-Air (JOTA), thousands of
young people all over the world find their voice on the air. BSA
Director of Communication Services Jim Wilson, K5ND, invites readers to
join Scouts on the air in his article "Jammin' and Hammin' with the
Scouts."

ARRL Membership and Volunteer Programs Assistant Manager Norm Fusaro,
W3IZ, takes a look at the ACOM 1500 HF and 6 meter linear amplifier in
this month's Product Review. He says this amplifier "delivers legal
limit power on 160 through 6 meters and is quiet and easy to tune. The
compact package will fit in most operating spaces." QST Contributing
Editor Phil Salas, AD5X, checked out the Elecraft KAT500 automatic
antenna tuner, saying that it "provides wide range automatic matching
as well as a three-port antenna switch. It also works well with any
transceiver and amplifier combination that doesn't exceed its specified
power capability." QST Contributing Editor H. Ward Silver, N0AX, took
the Array Solutions AS-419 switched band-pass filters for a test drive.
He said that this accessory "offers a one-box solution to interstation
interference in a multitransmitter station. Filters can be selected
manually, or with a little work the Bandpasser can be controlled from
the transceiver or station automation hardware." You can find a video
overview of the ACOM 1500 HF and 6 meter linear amplifier
<http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/arrl/qst_201306/index.php#/58>, the
Elecraft KAT500 automatic antenna tuner
<http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/arrl/qst_201306/index.php#/60> and the
Array Solutions AS-419 switched band-pass filters
<http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/arrl/qst_201306/index.php#/62> in the
digital edition of the June issue of QST.

Of course, there are the usual columns you know and have come to expect
in the June issue of QST: Happenings, Hints & Kinks, Amateur Radio
World, The Doctor is In, Hands-On Radio, Short Takes, Vintage Radio,
How's DX? and more. Look for your June issue in your mailbox and in
your inbox. QST is the official journal of the ARRL, the national
association for Amateur Radio. QST is just one of the many benefits of
ARRL membership. Click here
<https://www.arrl.org/join-arrl-renew-membership/> to join or to renew
your ARRL membership.

==> + LOTW: ARRL ANNOUNCES NEW VERSION OF LOTW SOFTWARE

After much testing, the ARRL will release a new version of Trusted QSL,
the open-source development project responsible for developing and
maintaining the three Logbook of the World (LoTW
<http://www.arrl.org/logbook-of-the-world>) client-side applications:
TQSL, TQSLCert and the TrustedQSL library. After six weeks of public
beta testing, version 1.14 is ready for official release and will be
available for download from the ARRL website beginning Monday, May 20.

   In December 2012, Dave Bernstein, AA6YQ, and Rick Murphy, K1MU,
recruited a group of volunteer software developers
<http://www.arrl.org/news/logbook-of-the-world-web-page-now-features-daily-and-hourly-status-updates>
to contribute to this project. After considering input from ARRL
management and the ARRL's LoTW user support group in the League's
Membership and Volunteer Services Department, as well as the ARRL-LoTW
e-mail discussion group on Yahoo! Groups, the volunteer development
group put forward a set of priorities that would be addressed by a
sequence of incremental software releases.

A small group of testers began exercising version 1.14 in March 2013;
this testing exposed several defects, all of which have been corrected.
Testing then progressed to an open beta test period that allowed
interested parties to download, install and try out this newest version
of Trusted QSL.

The initial release in this sequence -- version 1.14 -- includes these
new features:

- Log files can be signed and uploaded over the internet to LoTW in one
operation.
- Errors in Station Locations are reported (for example, incorrect CQ
and ITU zones).
- QSOs that need not be re-submitted ("duplicates") are brought to the
user's attention.
- Error reporting has been improved.
- Installation on Windows has been improved.
- Users are notified when a new version becomes available.
- Documentation has been improved.

Upgrading to version 1.14 is not mandatory, but is encouraged. Users
who choose not to upgrade will not be able to access the new features
in version 1.14, but they will still be able to upload logs into the
LoTW system.

==> + WARD SILVER, N0AX, ELECTED PRESIDENT OF YASME FOUNDATION

   At its annual meeting last month, the Yasme Foundation's Board of
Directors elected Ward Silver, N0AX, as its new President. Silver will
replace Wayne Mills, N7NG, who has resigned. Mills, one of the founders
of DX University, was named as the new DX editor of CQ magazine earlier
this year. In recognition of Mills' many years of service to the Yasme
Foundation and DX University, the Yasme Board of Directors made a
contribution to DX University in support of the goals shared by the two
organizations. Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/ward-silver-n0ax-elected-president-of-yasme-foundation>.

==> ARRL E-MAIL SYSTEM CONTINUING TO EXPERIENCE DELAYS

   The ARRL's e-mail service provider is continuing to experience
technical issues that are affecting timely delivery of e-mail messages
sent via the arrl.net forwarding service, as well as e-mail sent to
addresses in the arrl.org domain. This issue remains intermittent, but
may result in delaying the delivery of some messages sent to both
arrl.net and arrl.org addresses by hours. The ARRL's e-mail provider is
working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. We apologize for
the inconvenience.

==> SOLAR UPDATE

   Tad Cook, K7RA, reports: Since we are now at (or close to) the peak
of Solar Cycle 24, it is no surprise that the solar indices are up. The
latest forecast predicts Solar Cycle 24 to peak in this fall, but that
will be determined after the fact, and it will be based on a long
running average of sunspot numbers. This past week, the average daily
sunspot numbers increased by more than 34 points, rising to 156.1,
while the average daily solar flux was up by nearly 3 points to 140.1.
On May 15, the daily sunspot number was 186 -- the highest number since
January 6-7, when the sunspot number was 186 and 196, respectively. The
predicted solar flux for the near term is 145 on May 16-18, 140 on May
19, 135 on May 20-21, then 125, 140, 155, 160 and 170 on May 22-26, 160
on May 27-28, 155 on May 29-30, 150 and 155 on May 31-June 1, and
rising to 160 on June 2-3. The predicted planetary A index is 8, 15 and
8 on May 16-18, 5 on May 19-20, 8 on May 21, 15 on May 22-23, 5 on May
24-27, 15 and 10 on May 28-29, 5 on May 30-June 8, and back up to 8 on
June 9. Look for more information on the ARRL website on Friday, May
17. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the ARRL
Technical Information Service Propagation page
<http://www.arrl.org/propagation-of-rf-signals>.

==> + ARRL HQ TO CLOSE IN OBSERVANCE OF MEMORIAL DAY

ARRL Headquarters will be closed Monday, May 27 in observance of the
Memorial Day holiday. There will be no W1AW code practice or bulletin
transmissions <http://www.arrl.org/w1aw-operating-schedule> that day.
ARRL Headquarters will reopen Tuesday, May 28 at 8 AM (EDT). We wish
everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend!

==> + DXCC NEWS: 1984 OPERATION TO COCOS ISLAND NOW APPROVED FOR DXCC
CREDIT

   The February 1984 operation to TI9CCC (Cocos Island) has now been
approved for DXCC credit. In the past, radio amateurs who have
submitted this operation on a DXCC application had it rejected due to
an "incorrect date period." According to DXCC Manager Bill Moore, NC1L,
the date issue has now been resolved: "If you had this operation
rejected, and your confirmation falls within February 15-28, 1984,
please send an e-mail <bmoore at arrl.org> so you can be placed on the
list for an update to your record."

==> SILENT KEY: MARK DABISH, K8MD (SK)

Prominent VHF/UHF/microwave enthusiast Mark Dabish, K8MD, of Howell,
Michigan, passed away unexpectedly on May 8. He was 66. An ARRL member,
Dabish represented the Great Lakes Division on the League's VHF/UHF
Advisory Committee and was a strong presence in VHF/UHF contests. A
service was held May 11 in Southfield, Michigan.

==> THIS WEEK IN RADIOSPORT

This 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

Next week:

- May 24 -- NCCC Sprint Ladder
- May 25 -- Portuguese Navy Day Contest (Digital); QRP ARCI Hootowl
Sprint (local time)
- May 25-26 -- CQ WW WPX Contest (CW)
- May 26 -- SARL Digital Contest
- May 27-28 -- Michigan QRP Memorial Day CW Sprint

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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