[CVRC] The ARRL Letter for September 5, 2013

[ARRL Web site]

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

Published by the American Radio Relay League
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September 5, 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

- Public Service: ARES-RACES Volunteers Conclude Rim Fire Activation
- North Carolina to Host 2013 US Direction Finding Competition
- Events: EuroBasket 2013 Award Slovenia Offered
- Events: TAPR/ARRL Digital Communications Conference to Offer
Wide-Ranging Forum Schedule
- Events: AMSAT Space Symposium 2013 Set for November
- Technology: US "Space Fence" Shut Down
- People: New Air Force MARS Chief Takes Reins of Command
- People: Well-known DXer and DX Steve Hodgson, ZC4LI, SK
- Digital QST Access Using Adobe AIR 3.8 Restored
- Getting It Right!
- Solar Update
- This Week in Radiosport
- Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events

==> PUBLIC SERVICE: ARES-RACES VOLUNTEERS CONCLUDE RIM FIRE ACTIVATION

Amateur Radio volunteers supporting the Red Cross and local government
in the wake of the gigantic Rim Fire, in and near California's Yosemite
National Park and the Stanislaus National Forest, have stood down after
16 days on duty. The initial callout on August 19 responded to a
request to assist the Red Cross in setting up an evacuation center in
Groveland, California. Shelter operations relocated the following day
to the Tuolumne County Fairgrounds in

   Sonora, Tuolumne County ARES Emergency Coordinator Carl Croci, NI6Z,
reported. Also on August 20, the Tuolumne County Office of Emergency
Services requested Amateur Radio assistance to staff the Sonora Red
Cross shelter and the community information telephone system at the
Tuolumne County emergency operations center. Croci and Tuolumne County
RACES Radio Officer Phil Fish, WB6GGY, handled the callout and soon had
volunteers for both locations as well as some on standby. On September
4, Croci announced the end of the ARES-RACES activation.

"This morning, I learned the Rim Fire was considered 80 percent
contained," he said. "The community information phones have been
secured. All evacuations have been lifted, the Red Cross is dismantling
the shelter, and we ham radio operators are trying to get our stations
back in working order." At one point the Tuolumne County Fairgrounds
was sheltering some 100 evacuees.

Croci said that in the Groveland area, where he lives, residents are
still dealing with morning smoke, which he anticipates will remain for
a while. "Estimates are the fire will not be considered out until the
first rain or snow," he added.

   More than two dozen radio amateurs were involved in the Rim Fire
callout. Croci said the US Forest Service Type One Team told him that
the combined operation conducted by Tuolumne County OES, ARES-RACES,
the Tuolumne chapter of the Red Cross and the cooperation of the people
of Tuolumne County will serve as an example for future operations."

Croci expressed his thanks to all volunteers, and cited Fish "for his
extraordinary operation and scheduling of personnel during the Rim Fire
and Barbara Fish, KE6RGP, for leading the PIO operation." Volunteers
from Calaveras County ARES also participated in the activation.

   To the south, Fresno County ARES assisted the Central Valley Red
Cross with communications, relaying information from a shelter to the
Red Cross headquarters in Fresno. For a time Mariposa County ARES
staffed a shelter at Greeley Hills Community Center, ready to pass
traffic to Red Cross Headquarters. Fresno County EC Dan Pruitt, AE6SX,
said volunteers set up August 26 at the Red Cross office in Fresno,
where they installed a station capable of operating on emergency power.
"We made contact with Mariposa County ARES at the Greeley Hill
shelter," Pruitt said. "We passed traffic until we were asked to shut
down for the night." Volunteers returned early the next day. They
dismantled the station on August 27. Pruitt said eight volunteers
turned out for that activation.

During the activation, Fresno County ARES used Fldigi
<http://www.w1hkj.com/FldigiHelp-3.21/index.html> and Flmsg
<http://www.w1hkj.com/flmsg-help/> -- a forms management editor -- on
PSK125 to pass traffic from the shelter and the Red Cross Headquarters.
"We found that the faster speed and wider signal [resulted in] fewer
errors." Pruitt said, adding that the Red Cross "was very impressed"
with their ability to send and receive traffic in the Incident Command
System general message form <http://www.ics213.com/> (ICS-213), filled
out and printed.

As of September 4, the Rim Fire had claimed nearly 236,000 acres and
more than 100 structures, including a few homes. The cost to date of
battling the fire was estimated at more than $77 million.

==> NORTH CAROLINA TO HOST 2013 US DIRECTION FINDING COMPETITION

The Uwharrie Mountains <http://www.uwharries.com/> of North Carolina
will provide the locale for the 13th USA Amateur Radio Direction
Finding (ARDF) Championships of on-foot hidden transmitter hunting.
Fans of this international sport, also known as "foxtailing" or
"radio-orienteering,"

   are making travels plans now. Backwoods Orienteering Klub (BOK
<http://backwoodsok.org/>) will host the event, which will be held
October 8-13. 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).

On October 9 are optional practice sessions on 2 meters and 80 meters.
October 10 brings model events of two activities introduced last year
-- sprints and foxoring <http://www.homingin.com/sprints.html> --
followed that afternoon by the championship foxoring event. The sprint
championship event takes place on October 11.

Classic transmitter hunting <http://www.homingin.com/intlfox.html>
championship competition is held Saturday and Sunday, October 12 and
13. Transmitters will be on 2 meters and 80 meters the afternoon of
October 11 for last-minute practice and equipment testing, with a
procedures and safety briefing afterward.

All ages and levels of experience are represented at the USA ARDF
Championships. These participants are waiting for the signal to head
onto the 80 meter course at the 2010 championships in Ohio. [Joe Moell,
K0OV, photo]

   Saturday morning will be the full-course 2 meter main event,
followed in the evening by the banquet and awards presentation. The
full-course 80 meter main event takes place Sunday morning, with awards
presented afterwards.

In the classic ARDF championships, competitors start in small groups
made up of different age/gender categories
<http://www.homingin.com/intlfox.html#categories>. As they seek the
hidden transmitters, they navigate through the forest from the starting
corridor to the finish line -- a distance of 4 to 10 kilometers. They
plot their direction-finding bearings on orienteering maps that show
terrain features, elevation contours, and vegetation type.

The USA ARDF Championships are open to anyone who can safely navigate
the woods. A ham radio license is not required. Each participant
competes as an individual, and any teamwork or GPS use are forbidden.
Competitors bring their own direction-finding gear to the events,
although extra gear is sometimes available for loan from other
attendees. Competitors may not transmit on the course, except in
emergencies.

   Registration is now open, and an online entry form, detailed
schedules, frequencies, lodging information and registration forms are
on the BOK website <http://backwoodsok.org/ardf2013>. Competitors can
avoid late fees by signing up no later than September 15. 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.

Basic information on international-style transmitter hunting is on the
Homing In <http://www.homingin.com/> website, including rules
<http://www.homingin.com/intlfox.html#rules> and signal parameters. The
site includes equipment ideas for 2 meters
<http://www.homingin.com/equipment.html> and 80 meters
<http://www.homingin.com/joemoell/80intro.html>, plus photos from
previous championships. Information about the Amateur Radio Direction
Finding Fund <http://www.arrl.org/amateur-radio-direction-finding> are
on the ARRL website. Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/north-carolina-to-host-2013-usa-ardf-championships>.
-- Joe Moell, K0OV, ARRL Amateur Radio Direction Finding Coordinator

==> EVENTS: EUROBASKET 2013 AWARD SLOVENIA OFFERED

To mark the occasion of the EuroBasket 2013
<http://www.eurobasket2013.org/> basketball competition 2013 in
Slovenia September 4-22, ZRS <http://www.hamradio.si/>, the Association
of Radio Amateurs of Slovenia, is offering an award to all radio
amateurs and

   SWLs for contacting/monitoring S5 special event stations with
three-digit prefix and EB suffixes (eg S513EB, S541EB) and stations
from the 24 countries fielding EuroBasket teams, between August 1 and
September 22, 2013. All bands and modes may be used, but cross-mode,
cross-band, repeater or VoIP contacts are invalid.

Count each special S5 station once, regardless of the band/mode used.
European stations qualify by working stations from at least 18
qualifying countries plus five special S5 stations. Non-European
stations qualify by working stations from at least 15 qualifying
countries plus two special S5 stations.

Countries participating in EuroBasket 2013 are 4L, 4O, 4X, 9A, DL, E7,
EA, F, G, I, LY, OH, OK, ON, S5, SM, SP, SV, TA, UA, UR, YL, YU, and
Z3.

The award is free via electronic PDF download. Send your application
with your call sign, full name, e-mail address, and contact details via
e-mail to ZRS Award Manager Milos Oblak, S53EO <s53eo.milos at gmail.com>.
The application deadline is December 31, 2013. -- The Daily DX via
Milos Oblak, S53EO

==> EVENTS: TAPR/ARRL DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS CONFERENCE TO OFFER
WIDE-RANGING FORUM SCHEDULE

   A preliminary schedule
<http://www.tapr.org/pdf/DCC_2013_Schedule.pdf> has been posted for the
32nd annual TAPR/ARRL Digital Communications Conference in Seattle
later this month. Among the forum topics: "Raspberry Pi Applications in
Digital Communications: A Mobile Xastir-Based APRS Station," "High
Performance BPSK31: Ideas for a New Generation," "Narrowband IP over
Amateur Radio Networks (NIPARnets): Next-Generation Networking for
Amateur Radio," and "Noise Power Ratio (NPR) Testing of HF Receivers."

This year's banquet speaker will be Tom Van Baak, on the topic "Passion
and Precision: Adventures of a Time Nut." Van Baak is a retired
operating systems software engineer with a serious amateur interest in
precision timekeeping. Rob Frohne, KL7NA, will present the Sunday
Seminar, "A Tutorial on Android Programming." The DCC takes place at
the Cedarbrook Lodge <http://www.tapr.org/dcc.html#hotel> in Seattle,
Friday through Sunday, September 20-22.

The early bird discount for advance registration has been extended to
midnight Friday, September 13. The Cedarbrook Lodge is sold out for DCC
Friday, but other hotels with rooms available are within walking
distance.

Attendees are invited to bring and show their demos in the DCC demo
room, which will be open Friday and Saturday of the DCC. The TAPR Board
of Directors will meet Thursday, September 19, 9 AM to 5 PM at The
Cedarbrook Lodge (room TBA). Full information
<http://www.tapr.org/dcc.html> is on the TAPR website.

==> EVENTS: AMSAT SPACE SYMPOSIUM 2013 SET FOR NOVEMBER

   The 2013 AMSAT Space Symposium will take place in Houston, Texas,
November 1-3 at the Marriott Hobby Airport Hotel. Hosted by the Johnson
Space Center Amateur Radio Club <http://www.w5rrr.org/>, this year's
Symposium will feature presentations on satellite construction and
operation as well as on other space-related subjects.

The AMSAT Annual Meeting, held in conjunction with the Space Symposium,
provides AMSAT members an opportunity to learn about AMSAT's future
plans and voice opinions to the AMSAT Board of Directors and AMSAT
officials.

A downloadable registration form
<http://ww2.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/AMSAT-2013-Registration-Form-7_13.pdf>
now is available via the AMSAT website. Online registration is expected
to be available in late August. For hotel reservations visit the
Marriott Hobby Airport Hotel website
<http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/houhh-houston-hobby-airportmarriott/?aff=MARUS&affname=6149980&co=US&nt=CJ>
or call 713-943-7979. Use the code AMSAMSA or ask for the AMSAT block.

==> TECHNOLOGY: US "SPACE FENCE" SHUT DOWN

The Air Force Space Surveillance System (AFSSS) -- the "Space Fence" --
used to detect objects in orbit, was turned off September 1. Three
transmitter sites operate on 216.983, 216.97, and 216.99 MHz, and there
are six receiving stations. Some Amateur Radio meteor scatter
enthusiasts enjoyed monitoring the VHF transmissions for indications of
activity.

   Attributed to the automatic budget cuts known as "sequestration,"
the shutdown came a month earlier than anticipated. Early in August
Space News reported
<http://www.spacenews.com/article/military-space/36655shelton-orders-shutdown-of-space-fence>
that Gen William Shelton, commander of Air Force Space Command, had
directed the AFSSS, located in Texas, "be closed and all sites vacated"
effective October 1, the start of the new US government fiscal year.

Air Force Space Command Public Affairs reported
<http://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/223/Article/466832/air-force-space-command-to-discontinue-space-surveillance-system.aspx>
August 13, "AFSPC officials have devised modified operating modes for
the Perimeter Acquisition Radar Characterization System at Cavalier Air
Force Station, North Dakota, and for the space surveillance radar at
Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, allowing discontinuation of AFSSS
operations while still maintaining space situational awareness."

A new Space Fence radar is planned for Kwajalein Island in the Marshall
Islands. -- SatWatch; USAF Public Affairs

==> PEOPLE: NEW AIR FORCE MARS CHIEF TAKES REINS OF COMMAND

David J. Stapchuk is the new chief of Air Force MARS. He assumed
command August 23 from outgoing chief Richard S. Jenson, who has taken
on a new assignment. Stapchuk is the director of operations at the 92nd
Information Operations Squadron Detachment 1 at Scott Air Force Base in
Illinois. In that role he oversees cyber operations in support of the
detachment's communications security mission.

"I am excited about my new role as chief, Air Force MARS, and look
forward to advancing the Air Force MARS program in fulfillment of the
MARS mission to provide contingency radio communications support to US
government operations," Stapchuk said.

Stapchuk spent 28 years on active duty as an electronics technician and
is currently an information technology specialist. He has supported a
variety of Air Force missions over the last 34 years. -- Air Force MARS
news release

==> PEOPLE: WELL-KNOWN DXER AND DX STEVE HODGSON, ZC4LI, SK

A familiar DX and contesting call sign has gone quiet. Steve Hodgson,
ZC4LI, of Cyprus died August 31 of cancer. He was 69. Hodgson also was
on the air over the years as 5B4AHA, C4C, G0LII, G6G, and ZD8LII, and
was active until a few weeks ago. Adrian, 5B4AIY, called him "an
enthusiastic contest operator [who] had won many awards. I'm sure his
call will be sorely missed." Mark, N2QT, said ZC4LI was a familiar call
sign to any RTTY contester. Hodgson will be buried in the Military
Cemetery in Cyprus.

==> DIGITAL QST ACCESS USING ADOBE AIR 3.8 RESTORED

Adobe has restored access to downloaded issues of digital QST using the
latest Adobe® AIR™ ver 3.8 on Windows operating systems. To download
the latest Adobe® AIR™ version, visit the Adobe AIR
<http://get.adobe.com/air/> web page.

==> GETTING IT RIGHT!

In the article "Australia Ends Higher Power Trial for Radio Amateurs,"
which appeared in The ARRL Letter, August 29, 2013, we erroneously
identified the New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters (NZART
<http://www.nzart.org.nz>).

==> SOLAR UPDATE

   Sun watcher Tad Cook, K7RA, in Seattle, Washington, reports:
Conditions were quieter again this week. Average daily sunspot numbers
declined from 77 to 69, and average daily solar flux was off by 9.5
points to 106.9, when compared to the previous 7 days, August 22-28.

Predicted solar flux for the near term:

- 110 on September 5

- 105 on September 6-10

- 100 and 110 on September 11-12

- 120 on September 13-15

- 115 on September 16-17

- 110 on September 18

- 105 on September 19-20

- 110 on September 21-22

- 105 on September 23-24

- 100 on September 25-28

Predicted planetary A index:

- 8 on September 5-6

- 5 on September 7-8

- 10 on September 9-11

- 18 on September 12

- 8 on September 13-14

- 5 on September 15-16

- 12, 18 and 15 on September 17-19

- 5 on September 20-22

- 8 on September 23-24

The autumnal equinox (September 22 at 2044 UTC) is a little over two
weeks away. Fall is always a great time for HF DX, when the sun casts
an even face over the northern and southern hemispheres. If this is the
peak for cycle 24, although solar activity is weak, this may be the
best time for enjoying HF propagation for some years to come.

In tomorrow's bulletin, we'll have some averages for the past month and
three months, and perhaps some reports from readers.

==> THIS WEEK IN RADIOSPORT

- Sep 5 -- NRAU 10 Meter Activity Contest

- Sep 6 -- NS Weekly Sprint (CW)

- Sep 6-7 -- 070 Club KA3X Memorial Sprint (Digital)

- Sep 7 -- Russian Radio RTTY WW

- Sep 7 -- Straight Key Party

- Sep 7 -- DARC 10 Meter Digital "Corona"

- Sep 7-8 -- All-Asian DX Contest (SSB)

- Sep 7-8 -- IARU Region I Field Day (SSB)

- Sep 7-8 -- QCWA Fall QSO Party

- Sep 8 -- North American Sprint (CW)

- Sep 8 -- QRP ARCI Two Sidebands Sprint

- Sep 9 -- OK1WC Memorial Contest

- Sep 11 -- CWops Monthly Mini-CWT Test

- Sep 14 -- Ohio State Parks On the Air

- Sep 14-15 -- Worked All Europe DX Contest (SSB)

- Sep 14-15 -- FOC QSO Party

- Sep 14-15 -- Straight Key Weekend Sprintathon

- Sep 14-15 -- CIS DX PSK Contest

- Sep 14-15 -- Arkansas QSO Party

- Sep 14-16 -- ARRL September VHF Contest

- Sep 15 -- North American Sprint (SSB)

- Sep 15-16 -- Classic Exchange (Phone)

- Sep 16 -- Run For the Bacon (CW)

- Sep 19 -- NAQCC Monthly QRP Sprint (CW)

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

- September 6-8 -- Southwestern Division Convention (SWHAMCOM)
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/southwestern-division-convention-swhamcon>,
Buellton, California

- September 14 -- Roanoke Division Convention <http://vbhamfest.com/>,
Virginia Beach, Virginia

- September 20-21 -- W9DXCC Convention <http://www.w9dxcc.com/>, Elk
Grove Village, Illinois

- September 20-22 -- ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference
<http://www.tapr.org/dcc>, Seattle, Washington

- September 27-28 -- SEDCO/W4DXCC Convention <http://w4dxcc.com/>,
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

- September 27-29 -- Mid-Atlantic States VHF Conference
<http://www.packratvhf.com/>, Bensalem, Pennsylvania

- September 28 -- North Dakota State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/north-dakota-state-convention>, West
Fargo, North Dakota

- September 28 -- Washington State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/washington-state-convention-spokane-hamfest>,
Spokane Valley, Washington

- September 29 -- EmComm East Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/emcomm-east-convention-2>, Rochester, New
York

- 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

Find conventions and hamfests in your area
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests>.

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