[CVRC] The ARRL Letter for October 3, 2013
ARRL Web site
memberlist at www.arrl.org
Thu Oct 3 17:11:19 EDT 2013
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The ARRL Letter
Published by the American Radio Relay League
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October 3, 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
- Regulatory: FCC -- "We Regret the Disruption." Commission Shutdown
Complete
- Regulatory: FCC Issues Warnings for Amateur Radio Infractions,
Unlicensed Operation
- Your League: ARRL Executive Committee to Consider Numerous Regulatory
Issues
- International: IARU Administrative Council Studying Ways to Work with
Non-IARU Organizations
- International: First IARU Region 2 Emergency Communications Workshop
Focuses on Awareness, Cooperation
- DX: Government Shutdown Stalls K9W Wake Island DXpedition
- DX: QSL via Bureau? Check First!
- Events: Scouting's Jamboree on the Air 2013 Will Be the Last for HB9S
- Events: 2013 US Direction Finding Competition Starts October 8
- People: K6OSC Steps Down as Queen Mary W6RO Wireless Room Manager
- People: Raleigh "Lee" Shaklee, W6BH, SK
- People: HF Design Pioneer Warren B. Bruene, W5OLY, SK
- People: WW II POW, Bronze Star Recipient Dorothy D. Thompson, KF5IX,
SK
- People: Jon Kummer, WA2OJK, is New Advertising Chief at CQ
- Getting it Right!
- Solar Update
- This Week in Radiosport
- Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events
==> REGULATORY: FCC -- "WE REGRET THE DISRUPTION." COMMISSION SHUTDOWN
COMPLETE
The FCC appears to have ground to a complete halt for all intents and
purposes beyond emergencies, as the Federal Government shutdown
continues. This includes functions at the Commission's Gettysburg,
Pennsylvania, facility, which handles all Amateur Radio licensing
transactions, as well as the FCC's main website and the Amateur Radio
call sign database (ULS).
"We regret the disruption, but during the Federal Government-wide
shutdown, the FCC is limited to performing duties that are immediately
necessary for the safety of life or the protection of property." a
message on the FCC website says. "FCC online systems will not be
available until further notice." The Commission refers anyone calling
regarding an emergency "affecting the safety of life or the protection
of property" to a Washington, DC, number, 202-418-1122, or an e-mail
address <:%20FCCOPCenter at fcc.gov>.
Assistant ARRL VEC Manager Perry Green, WY1O, said October 1 that the
FCC appeared to have accepted "a small number" of modification and
renewal applications, apparently as the shutdown was in process, but it
took "far longer than usual" for that to happen. The ARRL VEC did not
attempt to file additional applications, and it will hold for filing
any applications resulting from Amateur Radio Volunteer
Examiner-administered examination sessions.
"We have not submitted any VE sessions, which require batch filing and
are assigned an FCC filing number," Green added. "At this point, we are
unable to file any applications with the FCC, because it has shut down
its servers. We do not expect the FCC to resume granting applications
until it reopens." Green stressed that the ARRL VEC remains open for
business and continues to monitor the situation. The ARRL VEC also is
still processing International Amateur Radio Permit (IARP
<http://www.arrl.org/iarp>) applications.
While the FCC has stopped processing new, renewal or vanity call sign
applications for the duration, it is still possible to reserve a 1 × 1
special event call sign, since that is not an FCC function.
Green points out that ARRL VEC exam sessions will go on as scheduled,
at the option of the sponsors, but the ARRL VEC will not be able to
file session paperwork for processing until the shutdown ends and the
FCC is back in business again.
Green notes that exam session candidates have to put an FCC
Registration Number (FRN) on their applications, if they have one. FRNs
for current licensees are available via the ARRL's "Call Sign/Name
Search" utility on the League's home page <http://www.arrl.org/>. If
the FRN is not available or has not yet been issued, applicants may use
their Social Security numbers, which candidates must provide to obtain
an FRN.
"So in this time of shutdown, they will need to submit their SSN on the
VE session paperwork and gain their password at a later time," Green
explained. "If that is not to their liking, they will have to wait for
the FCC to open up again, which I'm sure at some time it will."
Radio amateurs whose licenses expire between October 1 and the day
after normal FCC operations resume may continue to operate until then,
even if they have not yet filed a renewal application. Pending an
official FCC announcement that states otherwise, renewal applicants
should apply no later than one day after the FCC reopens, if they want
to continue to operate.
Amateur Radio applicants who passed an upgrade examination may still
operate with their new privileges, even if their applications have not
been accepted for filing by the FCC. Applicants must have a Certificate
of Completion of Examination (CSCE), issued by the VE team. When using
their new privileges, such applicants should continue to identify by
appending the appropriate designator to their current call signs, ie,
/KT for Technician, /AG for General and /AE for Amateur Extra, as noted
on the back of the CSCE.
If the closing date for comments on an open proceeding falls during the
shutdown, comments will be considered timely filed on the day after the
Commission reopens for business.
In late September the FCC posted a "Plan for Orderly Shutdown
<http://transition.fcc.gov/Plan-for-Orderly-Shutdown-September-2013.pdf>"
in the event of a federal government shutdown. Only a handful of the
FCC's 1754 employees were scheduled to remain on duty, including eight
employees "retained to conduct interference detection, mitigation and
disaster response operations." Only one "senior management official" in
the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau -- which oversees Amateur Radio
-- was scheduled to be on duty for the extent of the shutdown. The
Commission emphasized earlier that it would not be open for normal
operations "during any government-wide shutdown."
See "The FCC Shutdown at a Glance!
<http://www.arrl.org/news/the-fcc-shutdown-at-a-glance>" for updates.
==> REGULATORY: FCC ISSUES WARNINGS FOR AMATEUR RADIO INFRACTIONS,
UNLICENSED OPERATION
The FCC's Enforcement Bureau recently made public warning letters
<http://transition.fcc.gov/eb/AmateurActions/Welcome.html> to several
individuals for alleged infractions of the Part 97 Amateur Service
rules or Section 301 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended. On
August 9, Special Counsel Laura L. Smith wrote Jack Hartley, K4WSB, of
Tampa, Florida, citing evidence received from members of the Amateur
Auxiliary (Official Observers) that Hartley had operated outside of his
Advanced class privileges while attempting to work a station on
Kwajalein Atoll in the South Pacific.
"According to the OOs, the operator refused the contact noting that
you were not authorized to be operating in the band," Smith wrote.
"This was your 4th attempt to contact this operator. As a result of
your three prior attempts to contact the operator, the OOs had sent you
three OO advisory cards for out-of-band operation. Rather than sending
you a 4th advisory, they contacted the Commission and asked us to
remind you that your continued attempts to contact the operator on
Kwajalein Atoll constitute a violation of our rules, as you are not
authorized to be operating in that band." The three prior instances
occurred in 2007 and 2008.
Smith cautioned Hartley that continued operation outside the parameters
of his license could lead to enforcement action that could include
revocation or suspension and fines. "It could also jeopardize any
attempts to obtain an upgraded Amateur Radio license," she added.
On June 24, Smith sent identical warning notices to Eric J.
Christianson, KN0CW, and Thomas E. Barnes, N7OVC, both of Reno, Nevada,
to inform them that the trustee of the WA7DG repeater in Sparks,
Nevada, had requested that they refrain from using his repeater.
"The written request was issued as a result of your failure to follow
operational rules set forth by the licensee/control operators of the
repeater system for their users," Smith said. "The Commission requires
that repeaters be under the supervision of a control operator and not
only expects, but requires, that such control operators be responsible
for the proper operation of the repeater system. Control operators may
take whatever steps they deem appropriate to ensure compliance with the
repeater rules, including limiting the repeater use to certain users,
converting the repeater to a closed repeater or taking it off the air
entirely."
Smith advised the licensees that the FCC expects them to abide by the
repeater owner's request and "any other similar requests to cease
operations on any other repeaters by any other repeater licensees,
control operators or trustees."
She said continued use of the WA7DG repeater could subject them to
"severe penalties, including license revocation, monetary forfeiture
(fine) or a modification proceeding to restrict the frequencies upon
which you may operate."
On July 8, Smith warned James E. Richburg, address withheld and
unknown, against unlicensed radio operation in the Amateur Radio bands.
"It has come to the attention of the Federal Communications Commission
that at multiple times in the last several months you have made radio
transmissions in the amateur band, for which a license is required,"
Smith wrote. "You have no such license."
Smith pointed out that operating transmitting equipment without a valid
FCC license violated Section 301 of the Communications Act of 1943 as
amended, "and may subject the responsible parties to substantial
monetary forfeitures, in rem arrest action against the offending radio
equipment, and criminal sanctions including imprisonment."
All of Smith's warning notices concluded with this advisory: "Fines
normally range from $7,500 to $10,000." Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-issues-warnings-for-amateur-radio-infractions-unlicensed-operations>.
==> YOUR LEAGUE: ARRL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER NUMEROUS
REGULATORY ISSUES
The ARRL Executive Committee (EC) will face an agenda
<http://www.arrl.org/files/file/News/ARRL_EC_Agenda_5Oct2013.pdf> heavy
on FCC and regulatory issues when it meets Saturday, October 5 in the
Denver, Colorado, area.
Among action items, the EC is expected to consider the filing of a
Petition for Rule Making, now in draft, seeking to delete restrictions
on symbol rates for data communication and to establish a 2.8 kHz
maximum authorized bandwidth for HF digital data emissions. At its July
meeting, the ARRL Board of Directors directed ARRL General Counsel
Chris Imlay, W3KD, to prepare a Petition for Rule Making with the FCC
seeking to modify §97.307(f) to delete all references to "symbol rate."
The Petition would ask the FCC "to apply to all amateur data emissions
below 29.7 MHz the existing bandwidth limit, per §97.303(h), of 2.8
kHz."
The Board determined that the current symbol rate restrictions in
§97.307(f) "no longer reflect the state of the art of digital
telecommunications technology," and that the proposed rule change would
"encourage both flexibility and efficiency in the employment of digital
emissions by amateur stations." ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, explained
the Board's action on symbol rate regulation in his September 2013 QST
"It Seems to Us" editorial
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-ceo-explains-board-s-action-on-symbol-rate-regulation>.
The EC also will consider authorizing comments on an FCC Public Notice
on recommendations approved by the WRC-15 Advisory Committee. The
Committee will consider approving the filing of comments with the FCC
that express concerns about expanding proposed radiolocation use of the
77.5 to 78 GHz band beyond on-vehicle applications to, for example,
fixed roadside applications. The comment deadline is October 11,
although the FCC shutdown may change that date.
The EC also will continue to evaluate strategies to improve the FCC's
Amateur Radio enforcement program and consider filing reply comments on
FCC ET Docket 13-84, regarding a reexamination of RF exposure
regulations (reply comments are due November 11, subject to the FCC
shutdown). While the FCC proposals do not alter existing RF exposure
limits, they do call for the elimination of existing special evaluation
exemptions spelled out in §97.13(c)
<http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?c=ecfr&SID=5f5efcb4e7ffdde61c46b607ac756bb7&rgn=div8&view=text&node=47:5.0.1.1.6.1.157.7&idno=47>
of the Commission's rules. Minor rules changes adopted in the Report
and Order section of the document took effect August 5.
In addition the EC will discuss a manufacturer's proposal to delete
§97.317(a)(2), requiring that amplifiers operating below 144 MHz "not
be capable of amplifying the input RF power (driving signal) by more
than 15 dB gain." The Committee will consider whether to propose the
rules change described.
The EC will hear status updates on other regulatory matters, including
the ARRL's Petition for Rule Making
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-files-petition-for-rulemaking-with-fcc-to-create-new-mf-band-at-472-479-khz>
filed last November to create a new MF allocation for the Amateur
Service at 472-479 kHz. The FCC's ET Docket 13-101 regarding receiver
performance standards
<http://www.arrl.org/news/receiver-immunity-standards-unnecessary-impractical-for-amateur-service-arrl-says>
also will come up for discussion, as will pending amendments of the
Amateur Service rules governing qualifying exam systems, Amateur Radio
use of TDMA equipment, and remote proctoring of exam sessions.
Other topics on the EC agenda for review include the FCC's proposed
revision
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-reiterates-call-to-evaluate-interference-potential-of-5-ghz-u-nii-devices>
of Part 15 rules to permit unlicensed National Information
Infrastructure (U-NII) devices in the 5 GHz band, the effects of
communications towers on migratory birds, and amendments to the FCC's
CORES system. There has been no recent FCC action on these items.
The EC also will hear a report on the status of the effort to have the
"Emergency Communications Enhancement Act of 2013" introduced in the
113th Congress. The objective of the League's draft bill is an
instruction from Congress to the FCC to extend the existing limited
preemption of state and local regulation of Amateur Radio station
antenna structures to private land-use regulations.
==> INTERNATIONAL: IARU ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL STUDYING WAYS TO WORK
WITH NON-IARU ORGANIZATIONS
The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Administrative Council
(AC) is looking into ways to work with non-IARU Amateur Radio
organizations in countries where the IARU member-society may not be
representing all of that country's hams. The issue came under
discussion at the annual AC meeting September 21-22 in Cancun, Mexico.
"For example, some do not participate in their regional organization
activities, some do not pay their regional dues, some are unwilling to
handle non-member QSL cards even on a cost-recovery basis and some even
fail to respond to inquiries from their regional organizations," an
IARU news release on the meeting said. "In many of these countries,
there are other non-IARU member-societies. The Administrative Council
is studying ways to work with the non-IARU societies to ensure that the
interests of all the amateurs are represented in those countries where
the IARU member-society fails to do so."
According to the IARU, possible solutions could include establishing
communication with the non-IARU societies to allow input from the
country's amateur community on IARU and amateur-related issues or by
recommending the use of QSL bureaus that will serve all amateurs within
a particular country.
The AC is responsible for the policy and management of the IARU and
consists of the three IARU international officers and two
representatives from each of the three IARU regional organizations
(Region 1, Region 2 and Region 3).
In other business, the Administrative Council:
- reviewed IARU positions for World Radio Conference 2015 agenda items
and future WRC agenda items and discussed the strategy for achieving
IARU objectives at WRC-15.
- named David Wardlaw, VK3ADW, and Wojciech Nietyksza, SP5FM, as joint
recipients of the Michael J. Owen VK3KI Award. Both have contributed
time, effort, and expertise to the IARU for many years. The AC created
the award to recognize individuals who best exemplify the dedication
and hard work of IARU volunteers.
- adopted the theme "Amateur Radio: Your Gateway to Wireless
Communications" for the next World Amateur Radio Day, April 18, 2014.
Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/iaru-administrative-council-studying-ways-to-work-with-non-iaru-organizations>.
==> INTERNATIONAL: FIRST IARU REGION 2 EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
WORKSHOP FOCUSES ON AWARENESS, COOPERATION
The first IARU Region 2 Emergency Communications Workshop, held
September 24-25 in Cancun, Mexico in conjunction with the IARU Region 2
XVIII General Assembly, explored international issues facing Amateur
Radio's response to emergencies and disasters. Sponsored by IARU Region
2 and the ARRL, the event was co-chaired by ARRL Emergency Preparedness
Manager Mike Corey, KI1U, and IARU Region 2 Emergency Coordinator Dr.
Cesar Pio Santos, HR2P.
Participants represented many nations within and outside of Region 2 --
Mexico, Honduras, Trinidad and Tobago, Peru, Chile, India, Australia,
Canada, US, and Panama. Over the two-day session, attendees heard
presentations that covered ITU response to disasters, technical
innovations in disaster response, the IARU Emergency Communications
Handbook project, and organizational updates. Attendees and presenters
also took part in a tabletop exercise. Discussion inside and outside
the workshop focused on several key points.
- There is a need for greater public education on the value of Amateur
Radio. The general public as well as served agencies need to be aware
of what Amateur Radio can do and why it is valuable.
- The IARU should consider approaching the ITU <http://www.itu.int/‎>
about developing partnerships with Amateur Radio equipment
manufacturers to assist with the communications response to large
international disasters.
- There should be more participation from young amateurs as presenters
and attendees in international emergency communications workshops such
as this and GAREC <http://www.iaru.org/garec.html>.
- Cross border cooperation and coordination of Amateurs should be
encouraged. Along with this Amateurs need to be aware of cultural
differences that may arise in international response.
- There is a greater need from served agencies for high-speed video,
data, and high resolution imagery.
- More input is needed for the IARU Emergency Communications Handbook
project.
Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/first-iaru-region-2-emergency-communications-workshop-focuses-on-awareness-cooperation>.
==> DX: GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN STALLS K9W WAKE ISLAND DXPEDITION
The long-anticipated K9W Wake Island DXpedition
<http://www.wake2013.org/> has been put on hold because of the US
government shutdown, "pending a revised schedule," the organizers said
in an announcement on the K9W webpage. The DXpedition was expected to
kick off October 7 and continue until October 18. It depends upon
availability of USAF transport aircraft, and flights are only every 2
weeks.
"We will announce new dates for the DXpedition as soon as possible,"
the announcement continued. "Thank you for your patience and
understanding."
Some team members were reported to have been planning to fly out to the
Pacific today. According to an announcement in late September, the Wake
Atoll commemorative team was in its final stages of preparation, with
all equipment received in Hawaii for transport to Hickam Air Force Base
for delivery to Wake Island. -- Thanks to The Daily DX
<http://www.dailydx.com/>
==> DX: QSL VIA BUREAU? CHECK FIRST!
Fred Laun, K3ZO, who manages the NCDXA/ARRL Third Call Area Incoming
QSL Bureau <http://www.ncdxa.org/qsl.shtml>, advises operators who
routinely send cards "via the bureau" to first check the DX station's
QRZ.com <http://www.qrz.com> or personal websites first to find out if
the DX station replies to cards sent via the bureau.
"Each month our bureau receives hundreds of cards for rare DX
stations and DXpeditions who...state that they will not answer bureau
cards," he says. "We recognize that one reason people use the bureau is
that they don't have to check QRZ.com or another online lookup service
before sending off the card."
Laun says his bureau spends many hours each month redirecting such
cards to QSL managers or to the station's own bureau, "and even after
our efforts," he adds, "almost all of these cards will not be answered
anyway."
The bottom line: "If an operator says he/she will not answer bureau
cards, he/she in all likelihood means it," Laun says. "That means that
there is no cheap way to get around the [DX station's QSLing]
instructions. He further notes that some operators have informed the
bureau that they don't want to get bureau QSL cards. His bureau sends
most of those unwanted cards to Tom Roscoe, K8CX, for use on his Ham
Gallery <http://www.Hamgallery.com> website, while it provides others
to schools for classroom use. -- Thanks to The Daily DX
<http://www.dailydx.com>
==> EVENTS: SCOUTING'S JAMBOREE ON THE AIR 2013 WILL BE THE LAST FOR
HB9S
The 2013 running of Scouting's Jamboree on the Air (JOTA
<http://www.arrl.org/jamboree-on-the-air-jota>) is less than a month
away. The 56th JOTA will take place the weekend of October 19-20, from
0000 local time Saturday to 2400 local time Sunday. JOTA gives members
of the Boy Scouts of America <http://www.scouting.org/> a chance to
experience Amateur Radio firsthand, perhaps planting the seed for a
lifetime of hamming. But this year's running of the world's largest
Scouting event will be the last for the crew at HB9S at the World Scout
Bureau, which plans to move its headquarters next year. JOTA 2013 will
be a farewell party for HB9S, with a special QSL card (QSL via HB9AOF).
An international team of Scout operators, including PA3BAR, the World
JOTA Organizer, will be at the station for the occasion.
JOTA attracts nearly 750,000 Scouts, participating from 6000 stations
in 150 countries. JOTA's goal is to foster Scout-to-Scout communication
across borders, to allow as many Scouts as possible to talk to each
other and learn about one another's activities and interests. The JOTA
guidelines <http://www.scouting.org/jota/operators_guides.aspx> offer
suggested frequencies and additional information.
Licensed mentors often open their stations to Scouts on JOTA weekend,
serving as control operators. Radio operation will be on 80 through 6
meters and 2 meters and 70 centimeters FM simplex, all modes. Last year
more than 18,500 US Scouts took part in JOTA from more than 200
stations -- up by nearly 500 percent from a year earlier. -- Some
information from The Daily DX <http://www.dailydx.com>
==> EVENTS: 2013 US DIRECTION FINDING COMPETITION STARTS OCTOBER 8
The 13th USA Amateur Radio Direction Finding (ARDF) Championships of
on-foot hidden transmitter hunting gets underway in North Carolina
October 8-13. Backwoods Orienteering Klub (BOK
<http://backwoodsok.org>) will host the event. This year's USA
Championships are being combined with the Seventh ARDF Championships of
International Amateur Radio Union (IARU <http://www.iaru.org>) Region 2
(the Americas). An e-mail reflector
<http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/usa2013ardf/info> is available for
Q&A with the organizers as well as for coordinating transportation and
arranging equipment loans. -- Thanks to Joe Moell, K0OV, ARRL ARDF
Coordinator
==> PEOPLE: K6OSC STEPS DOWN AS QUEEN MARY W6RO WIRELESS ROOM MANAGER
Effective October 1, Nate Brightman, K6OSC, has reluctantly resigned as
the W6RO <http://www.mpicomputers.com/ham/queen/> Wireless Room Manager
aboard the Queen Mary <http://www.aralb.org/QueenMaryPictures/> museum
ship, anchored in Long Beach, California. Brightman cited his recent
illness and hospitalization and his advanced age -- he turns 96 on
October 9 -- as reasons for his decision.
Brightman was the W6RO Wireless Room Manager for 34 years, plus
another 10 years arranging for the GB5QM "Last Voyage" Amateur Radio
operation and establishing W6RO, the Associated Radio Amateurs of Long
Beach <http://www.aralb.org/> club station.
In a farewell statement, Brightman said ham radio operations now aboard
some 90 museum ships such as the Queen Mary have introduced Amateur
Radio to millions of people. "These amateurs give the public direct
personal information on how Amateur Radio benefits the public," he
said. "This means of introducing Amateur Radio to the public is the
biggest publicity stunt ever for Amateur Radio, and we should be proud
that it all started with W6RO!"
Succeeding Brightman is his second in command, David Akins, N6HHR.
==> PEOPLE: RALEIGH "LEE" SHAKLEE, W6BH, SK
Raleigh "Lee" Shaklee, W6BH, of Newport Beach, California, died
September 23 following a brief illness. He was 91. Born in Iowa, he
co-founded Shaklee Corporation with his father and brother in 1956 --
pioneering natural vitamin and nutritional products and following with
an assortment of "green" household and personal products. Shaklee
Corporation became a Fortune 500 company traded on the NYSE. The
business was sold in 1989, and Lee retired.
First licensed in 1937 as W6PQW, Shaklee says in his online
biography <http://www.w6bh.com/bio/index.html> that he got interested
in DX and contesting the following year and began experimenting with
Yagi-Uda antennas. World War II broke out while Shaklee was attending
UC Berkeley; he joined the Navy and became involved with the
then-cutting edge radar systems. He spent 2½ years in the Pacific
Theater, where he contracted malaria, leaving the Navy in 1945.
After the war, he resumed hamming, experimenting a lot on 10 meters
with various antennas that combined driven and parasitic elements and
with new AM techniques. He obtained W6BH in 1968, and in 1972, he
co-founded and funded the Northern California DX Foundation (NCDXF
<http://www.ncdxf.org/>).
In 1996, after a slow period in ham radio, he sought out and found his
dream location near Anza, California, and his Radio Ranch
<http://www.w6bh.com/> became a reality. "After more than 70 years of
hamming and with a new sunspot cycle, this is a dream come true," he
wrote. Shaklee had plans to establish a 501(c)(3) foundation to leave
the Radio Ranch for clubs and new hams. Shaklee could remotely control
his Radio Ranch station from his home in Newport Beach. -- Some
information from Inside Bay Area
==> PEOPLE: HF DESIGN PIONEER WARREN B. BRUENE, W5OLY, SK
Warren B. Bruene, W5OLY, of Richardson, Texas, died September 28. He
was 96. A pioneer in HF communication, Bruene worked closely with the
late Art Collins, W0CXX, on many aspects of HF design during his 44
years with the Collins Radio/Rockwell Collins.
"I worked at Collins Radio for many years and knew Warren," Earl
Milliken Jr, WB5M, told ARRL. "He was very dedicated, intelligent, and
a very quiet individual. He didn't 'blow his horn,' because he didn't
need to. Everyone there knew he was an outstanding contributor to both
the company and communications in general. The HF design world has lost
an outstanding engineer."
Bruene was a longtime member of the IEEE, the Richardson Wireless Klub,
Collins Collectors Association and other organizations. He held 22
patents and authored numerous articles for technical publications. In
the 1950s he designed transmitters for the Strategic Air Command and
the Voice of America. He was recognized for his work with the
Professional Achievement Citation in Engineering from Iowa State
University. Services were October 3 in Texas.
==> PEOPLE: WW II POW, BRONZE STAR RECIPIENT DOROTHY D. THOMPSON,
KF5IX, SK
Dorothy D. Thompson, KF5IX, of San Antonio, Texas, died
<http://www.nevadahamradio.com/> September 2. She was 95. Born and
raised in China where her grandparents were missionaries, Thompson --
then Dorothy Davis -- came to the US and graduated from nursing school.
After the Japanese invaded China, her family fled to the Philippines.
She traveled to Manila, reunited with her parents and began working
in a hospital there, but when Manila fell to the Japanese, she and her
family found themselves in an internment camp. While there she put
together a 60-bed infirmary, using her nursing skills to care for the
captured. After nearly 2 years' imprisonment, she became gravely ill
with rheumatic fever and was released with her mother in a prisoner
exchange.
Months later, and then a US Army Nurse Corps second lieutenant, she
returned as one of the liberators of the POW camp. Reunited with her
father and sister, she remained in Manila on a nursing assignment,
going on to win the Bronze Star and earn a promotion to first
lieutenant (and later to captain). Thompson later detailed her POW
experience in The Road Back: A Pacific POW's Liberation Story.
At about this time she met and married Jack Thompson, later N5GTJ (SK).
After a nursing career in the US, she retired as director of nursing at
Methodist Hospital. She and her husband became avid RVers and extremely
active with the Red Cross and the Military Affiliate (now Auxiliary)
Radio System (MARS). She and her husband had been ARRL members.
A memorial service is set for October 4, 10 AM, at St Paul's Episcopal
Church, 1018 E Grayson, San Antonio, with interment to follow at Fort
Sam Houston National Cemetery. -- Thanks to John Bigley, N7UR,
www.nevadahamradio.com/ <http://www.nevadahamradio.com/>
==> PEOPLE: JON KUMMER, WA2OJK, IS NEW ADVERTISING CHIEF AT CQ
Jon Kummer <jon.kummer at cqcomm.com>, WA2OJK, has been named to head
CQ Communications <http://www.cqcomm.com/>' advertising department. He
succeeds Charlie Payne. Kummer will oversee advertising for CQ Amateur
Radio, Popular Communications, CQ VHF and WorldRadio Online magazines.
Kummer previously was on the advertising staff for CQ Amateur Radio,
Popular Communications and WorldRadio Online, as well as for Modern
Electronics and Electronic Servicing & Technology when those were CQ
publications. An avid collector and restorer of antique radios and TVs,
Kummer is the editor and publisher of Antique Radio Classified
<http://www.antiqueradio.com/>. -- CQ Communications
==> GETTING IT RIGHT!
In the story "'Amazing Help:' Hams Play Critical Role in Colorado Flood
Evacuation," which appeared in The ARRL Letter, September 26, 2013, we
inadvertently swapped the call signs of Mountain Emergency Radio
Network Volunteers Karel Kosman, KD0RFQ, and Steve Coles, KD0RFT.
The story "National Silent Key Archive Includes Unique Call Sign
Lookup" which appeared in The ARRL Letter, September 26, 2013, requires
some amplification. The National Silent Key Archive
<http://www.silentkeyhq.com/>â„¢ of Amateur Radio Operators that Mike
Carroll, N4MC, founded now includes the "Unique Call Lookup" utility,
carried over from Carroll's now-defunct Vanity HQ web site. The Unique
Call Lookup permits users to research the history of a given call sign.
==> SOLAR UPDATE
Tad "Sunshine on My Shoulders" Cook, K7RA, reports from Seattle:
Solar activity weakened again, with the average daily sunspot number
dropping from 75.6 to 52, and average daily solar flux down three
points to 106.6, when compared to the previous week.
Geomagnetic activity was up, with planetary A index at 39 on October 2,
mid-latitude A index at 29, and the high latitude college A index at
64.
The cause of the upset was a coronal mass ejection barreling toward
Earth at 2,000,000 MPH on September 30, triggering a G2-class
geomagnetic storm on October 2 and auroral displays well south of the
Canadian border.
Predicted solar flux values:
110 on October 3-7
105 and 100 October 8-9
95 on October10-13
100 on October 14-15
105 on October 16-18
110 on October 19-24.
Predicted planetary A index:
20 on October 3
8 on October 4
5 on October 5-9
8 on October 10-11
5 on October 12-13
8, 10 and 8 on October 14-16
5 on October 17-20
10 on October 21
5 on October 22-26.
In this week's bulletin look for an updated forecast, some reader
reports and updated sunspot averages. I hope the flow of data does not
end as the federal government shutdown continues.
==> THIS WEEK IN RADIOSPORT
- Oct 4 -- NS Weekly Sprint
- Oct 4-6 -- DX/NA YLRL Anniversary Party
- Oct 5 -- TARA PSK Rumble
- Oct 5 -- EU Autumn Phone Sprint
- Oct 5-6 -- EPC Russia DX Contest
- Oct 5-6 -- Oceania DX Phone Contest
- Oct 5-6 -- Worked All Britain HF Contest
- Oct 5-6 -- California QSO Party
- Oct 6 -- RSGB 21/28 MHz Contest
- Oct 7 -- OK1WC Memorial Contest
- Oct 8 -- ARS Spartan Sprint
- Oct 9 -- 432 MHz Fall VHF Sprint
- Oct 9 -- CWops Monthly Mini-CWT Test
- Oct 10 -- 10-10 Sprint
- Oct 10 -- NAQCC Monthly QRP Sprint
==> UPCOMING ARRL SECTION, STATE AND DIVISION CONVENTIONS AND EVENTS
- October 6 -- Maryland State Convention <http://carafest.org/>, West
Friendship, Maryland
October 12 -- Pacific Northwest VHF Conference
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/pnwvhfs-conference>, Moses Lake,
Washington
- October 11-13 -- Pacific Division Convention
<http://www.PACIFICON.org> Pacificon 2013, Santa Clara, California
- October 12-13 -- Florida State Convention <http://www.pcars.org/>,
Melbourne, Florida
- October 13 -- Connecticut State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/connecticut-state-convention-nutmeg-hamfest-1>,
Meriden, Connecticut
- October 13 -- Iowa State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/iowa-state-convention-sioux-city-ham-convention>,
Sergeant Bluff, Iowa
- October 18-19 -- Microwave Update Conference
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/microwave-update-2013-conference>,
Morehead, Kentucky
- October 26 -- Delaware State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/delaware-state-convention-delmarva-radio-electronics-expo>,
Georgetown, Delaware
- November 2 -- Fall TechFest
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/2013-fall-techfest>, Lakewood, Colorado
- November 2-3 -- Georgia Section Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/georgia-section-convention-stone-mountain-hamfest-computer-expo-2013>,
Lawrenceville, Georgia
- November 8-9 -- Midwest Division Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/midwest-division-convention-1>, Lebanon,
Missouri
- November 9 -- All-Ohio ARES Conference
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/all-ohio-ares-conference>, Reynoldsburg,
Ohio
- November 16-17 -- Indiana State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/indiana-state-convention-fort-wayne-hamfest-and-computer-expo-1>,
Fort Wayne, Indiana
- December 6-7 -- West Central Florida Section Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/west-central-florida-section-convention-tampa-bay-hamfest-3>,
Plant City, Florida
Find conventions and hamfests in your area
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests>.
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