[KCDXC] Fw: The ARRL Letter, Vol 28, No 17 (Friday, May 1, 2009)
Alex, KU1CW
ku1cw at yahoo.com
Fri May 1 17:52:35 EDT 2009
Some Dayton expo info.
--- On Fri, 5/1/09, ARRL Letter Mailing List <letter-dlvy at arrl.org> wrote:
> From: ARRL Letter Mailing List <letter-dlvy at arrl.org>
> Subject: The ARRL Letter, Vol 28, No 17 (Friday, May 1, 2009)
> To: ku1cw at yahoo.com
> Date: Friday, May 1, 2009, 2:58 PM
> ***************
> The ARRL Letter
> Vol. 28, No. 17
> May 1, 2009
> ***************
>
> IN THIS EDITION:
>
> * + Houston Representative Introduces Amateur Radio Bill in
> Congress
> * + President Obama Nominates New FCC Commissioner
> * + The 2009 ARRL National Convention and Dayton
> Hamvention: Two Weeks
> and Counting!
> * + ARRL Foundation Announces 2009 Scholarship Recipients
> * + ARRL's Technical Information Service Provides
> Members with Answers
> * + ARRL In Action: What Have We Been Up to Lately?
> * Solar Update
> * IN BRIEF:
> This Week on the Radio
> ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration
> + No ARRL Audio News on May 15
> + Larry Banks, W1DYJ, Wins April QST Cover Plaque Award
>
> ARRL Sweepstakes Awards Sent
> ARRL DXCC Desk Approves Two 2009 Operations
> Internet Search Engine Celebrates Birthday of Samuel
> F. B. Morse
>
> +Available on ARRL Audio News
> <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/>
>
> ===========================================================
> ==>Delivery problems: First see FAQ
> <http://www.arrl.org/members-only/faq.html#nodelivery>,
> then e-mail
> <letter-dlvy at arrl.org>
> ==>Editorial questions or comments only: S. Khrystyne
> Keane, K1SFA
> <k1sfa at arrl.org>
> ===========================================================
>
> ==> HOUSTON REPRESENTATIVE INTRODUCES AMATEUR RADIO BILL
> IN CONGRESS
>
> On Wednesday, April 29, Representative Sheila Jackson-Lee
> (D-TX)
> introduced HR 2160 -- the "Amateur Radio Emergency
> Communications
> Enhancement Act of 2009" -- in the US House of
> Representatives. This
> bill, if passed, would "promote and encourage the
> valuable public
> service, disaster relief, and emergency communications
> provided on a
> volunteer basis by licensees of the Federal Communications
> Commission in
> the Amateur Radio Service, by undertaking a study of the
> uses of Amateur
> Radio for emergency and disaster relief communications, by
> identifying
> unnecessary or unreasonable impediments to the deployment
> of Amateur
> Radio emergency and disaster relief communications, and by
> making
> recommendations for relief of such unreasonable
> restrictions so as to
> expand the uses of Amateur Radio communications in Homeland
> Security
> planning and response." The bill has been referred to
> the Committee on
> Energy and Commerce
> <http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bill
> s&docid=f:h2160ih.txt.pdf>.
>
> If enacted into law, HR 2160, would instruct the Secretary
> of Homeland
> Security to undertake a study and report its findings to
> Congress within
> 180 days. The study would spell out uses and capabilities
> of Amateur
> Radio communications in emergencies and disaster relief.
> The study
> shall:
>
> * Include recommendations for enhancements in the voluntary
> deployment
> of Amateur Radio licensees in disaster and emergency
> communications and
> disaster relief efforts.
> * Include recommendations for improved integration of
> Amateur Radio
> operators in planning and in furtherance of the Department
> of Homeland
> Security initiatives.
> * Identify unreasonable or unnecessary impediments to
> enhanced Amateur
> Radio communications -- such as the effects of private land
> use
> regulations on residential antenna installations -- and
> make
> recommendations regarding such impediments.
> * Include an evaluation of Section 207 of the
> Telecommunications Act of
> 1996 (Public Law 104-104, 110 Stat 56 [1996]).
> * Recommend whether Section 207 should be modified to
> prevent
> unreasonable private land use restrictions that impair the
> ability of
> amateurs to conduct, or prepare to conduct, emergency
> communications by
> means of effective outdoor antennas and support structures
> at reasonable
> heights and dimensions for the purpose in residential
> areas.
>
> The Secretary of Homeland Security shall utilize the
> expertise of the
> ARRL and shall seek information from private and public
> sectors for the
> study.
>
> The bill currently has five co-sponsors: Madeleine Bordallo
> (Guam), Mary
> Jo Kilroy (D-OH), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Blaine Luetkemeyer
> (R-MO) and
> Bennie Thompson (D-MS). Representative Thompson currently
> serves as
> Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security.
> Representatives
> Jackson-Lee, Lofgren and Kilroy are members of that
> committee.
>
> "We understand that Representative Jackson-Lee was
> very impressed with
> the radio amateurs she encountered on a visit to an
> Emergency Operations
> Center in Houston during Hurricane Ike last
> September," said ARRL Chief
> Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ. "We are grateful
> to her and to the
> five original co-sponsors for their support of Amateur
> Radio and the
> encouragement that their bill offers."
>
> ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, concurred: "We are
> excited to have
> Representative Sheila Jackson-Lee introduce HR 2160. It is
> extremely
> encouraging to have the support of a number of original
> co-sponsors --
> including several members of the House Homeland Security
> Committee --
> who recognize the importance of Amateur Radio's long
> history of public
> service."
>
> ==> PRESIDENT OBAMA NOMINATES NEW FCC COMMISSIONER
>
> On Wednesday, April 29, President Barack Obama announced
> his intention
> to nominate Mignon L. Clyburn of South Carolina as an FCC
> Commissioner
> <http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/President-Obama-Announces-Mo
> re-Key-Administration-Posts-4-29-09/>. If her nomination
> is approved by
> Congress, Clyburn will fill the seat of Democrat Jonathan
> Adelstein.
> Adelstein is leaving the FCC to head up the Department of
> Agriculture's
> Rural Utilities Service (RUS)
> <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/03/23/10716/?nc=1>.
>
> Clyburn, the daughter of House Majority Whip Representative
> James
> Clyburn (D-SC), has served on the Public Service Commission
> of South
> Carolina <http://www.psc.sc.gov/> since 1998. The
> Public Service
> Commission regulates South Carolina's investor owned
> public utilities,
> including providers of telecommunications services. Before
> her election
> to that body, she spent 14 years as the publisher and
> general manager of
> "The Coastal Times," a weekly newspaper in
> Charleston, South Carolina.
>
> In 1998, Clyburn was elected by the South Carolina General
> Assembly as a
> Commissioner to represent the Sixth Congressional District;
> she has been
> re-elected three times, chairing the Commission from
> 2002-2004. She is a
> past chair of the Southeastern Association of Regulatory
> Utility
> Commissioners, and is presently the chair of the Washington
> Action
> Committee of the National Association of Regulatory Utility
> Commissioners (NARUC) <http://www.naruc.org/>.
> Clyburn also serves on
> NARUC's Audit Committee and Utilities Market Access
> Partnership Board.
>
> Calling Clyburn a "fine public servant," Obama
> said Clyburn was "a
> welcome addition to my team as we work to put America on a
> path towards
> prosperity and keep our nation safe. I am honored [Clyburn]
> will be
> joining my administration and look forward to working with
> [her] in the
> months and years ahead."
>
> Acting FCC Chairman Michael Copps congratulated Clyburn,
> saying, "She is
> an excellent choice, and the experience she brings from her
> service on
> South Carolina's Public Service Commission will be an
> invaluable asset
> as we address the many challenges and opportunities that
> are before us.
> I wish her a successful Senate confirmation and look
> forward to working
> with her over the coming months and years in serving
> consumers and the
> public interest."
>
> Clyburn graduated from the University of South Carolina
> with a Bachelor
> of Science degree in Banking, Finance & Economics in
> 1984.
>
> ==> THE 2009 ARRL NATIONAL CONVENTION AND DAYTON
> HAMVENTION: TWO WEEKS
> AND COUNTING!
>
> On May 15-17, hams from all over the world will make their
> way to the
> Hara Arena, located in Trotwood, Ohio for the 2009 ARRL
> National
> Convention
> <http://www.arrl.org/announce/nc/2009/dayton.html> and
> Dayton
> Hamvention <http://www.hamvention.org/>. Held
> annually since 1952,
> Hamvention is one of the largest Amateur Radio gatherings
> in the world.
>
> Following the tradition of Dayton natives Wilber and
> Orville Wright, the
> ARRL National Convention will be a "hands-on"
> paradise. New, interactive
> exhibits at the ARRL EXPO, the centerpiece of the National
> Convention,
> will provide engaging, real-life experiences that encourage
> hams and
> non-hams alike to get more active in Amateur Radio. At the
> ARRL Project
> Building Booth, attendees can try their hand at assembling
> a kit as they
> handle electronic components and circuit boards -- even a
> little
> soldering!
>
> "If you have never built a project before, we hope you
> will consider
> this a 'Soldering 101' basic course," said
> ARRL Laboratory Engineer Bob
> Allison, WB1GCM. Allison will lead a team of instructors
> who will mentor
> visitors throughout the activity. "We want to
> encourage hams who have
> not built something in a long time to get back in the
> saddle. Project
> building is fun, and it's a great way to build low cost
> gear and
> accessories. We want everyone to unlock their inner
> do-it-yourselfer."
> Pre-registration is required -- sign up at the ARRL EXPO.
>
> You can also explore the many facets of ARRL Field Day
> <http://www.arrl.org/fieldday> at the ARRL EXPO.
> "Field Day is the
> largest operating event in the world and represents the
> very best of the
> Amateur Radio Service," said ARRL Field Day Manager
> Dan Henderson, N1ND.
> The annual event draws tens of thousands of radio amateurs
> to the
> airwaves over a single weekend. Henderson said that Field
> Day is part
> emergency preparedness exercise, part public demonstration
> and part
> radio club social event: "It's really just a lot
> of fun and gives us a
> chance to get out there and show what we can do on many
> fronts."
>
> ARRL Forum Schedule
>
> Several ARRL staff members will be on hand at Dayton,
> presenting forums
> on several exciting topics. On Friday, May 15 at 10:30 AM
> in Room 5,
> Henderson and a group of other Field Day aficionados will
> share some
> helpful hints they have garnered from decades of Field Day
> operations.
> Special Field Day 2009 posters will be available to
> participants (while
> they last), as well as some special Field Day surprises.
> Come learn more
> about some of the unique and fulfilling ways groups across
> the US and
> Canada get on the air to celebrate ARRL Field Day.
>
> ARRL Volunteer Counsel (VC) Jim O'Connell, W9WU, along
> with "Antenna
> Zoning for the Radio Amateur" author Fred Hopengarten,
> K1VR, ARRL
> Technical Relations Manager Brennan Price, N4QX, and ARRL
> VC Paula
> Uscian, K9IR, will present "Ham Radio and the Law --
> Getting It Up and
> Keeping It Up" on May 15 at 12:15 PM in Room 3. Join
> this discussion by
> Amateur Radio attorneys on legal issues of interest to hams
> on topics
> that include how to avoid restrictive covenants, how to
> present your
> case for a tower permit and how to defend against nuisance
> claims. Hear
> about the latest court rulings on RFI, PRB-1 and towers, as
> well as
> updates on the ARRL's Legal Defense and Assistance
> Committee.
>
> Come ask QST's very own "Doctor" your
> technical Amateur Radio questions
> in person on May 15 at 12:15 PM in Room 2. QST Technical
> Editor Joel
> Hallas, W1ZR, will provide his best answer on the spot, or
> get back to
> you shortly after the National Convention. Some questions
> and answers
> may end up in QST if they seem likely to be helpful to
> readers. This
> will be an informal sleeves-rolled-up chalk talk
> environment. Be sure to
> bring your questions!
>
> Reaching out to the public is the life blood of Amateur
> Radio! From
> land- and property-use restrictions to recruiting, our
> ability to enjoy
> the service depends on keeping a positive image. Join ARRL
> Media and
> Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, on May 15 at
> 1:30 PM in
> Room 2 as he introduces ARRL's PR-101 course
> <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/01/22/10578/?nc=1>.
> This is a
> course to teach hams the basics of making -- and keeping --
> a good
> relationship with your town and the media. If "every
> ham is a Public
> Information Officer," then every ham needs to have
> these skills.
>
> Join the ARRL on Saturday, May 16 at 10:30 AM in Room 2 for
> an
> interactive session with ARRL national and regional
> leadership. ARRL is
> a membership organization -- we are here for you. Come
> share your ideas
> and ask questions.
>
> If you've ever wanted to try digital contesting but
> weren't sure how to
> get started, we definitely have a forum for you! Join ARRL
> Publications
> Manager and digital guru Steve Ford, WB8IMY and learn how
> to get started
> in digital contesting. This forum, offered on May 16 at
> 1:15 PM in Room
> 3, will show you that you don't need to be a big-gun
> station with a
> kilowatt and a tower to have hours of on-the-air fun. All
> you need is a
> radio, a computer, an antenna -- and some helpful advice
> that you'll
> pick up at this forum! Join the thousands of hams who are
> already
> experiencing the joys of digital contesting.
>
> Get up close and personal with Richard Garriott, W5KWQ, on
> Saturday, May
> 16 at 1:30 PM in Room 1. In October 2008, Garriott -- son
> of Owen
> Garriott, W5LFL -- fulfilled a lifelong dream to experience
> spaceflight
> and traveled to the International Space Station (ISS)
> aboard a Russian
> Soyuz spacecraft. While living on the ISS, he conducted
> scientific
> experiments and environmental research, but he also had a
> chance to do
> quite a bit of Amateur Radio operating, including sending
> slow-scan TV
> (SSTV) images. Owen Garriott, W5LFL, initiated the first
> ham radio
> contacts from space 26 years ago aboard the shuttle
> Columbia on STS-9.
> Richard Garriott will also be on hand at the ARRL EXPO
> throughout the
> weekend signing autographs and meeting amateurs.
>
> At the EXPO -- and Beyond!
>
> There is so much to do at the ARRL EXPO. Visit the huge
> ARRL bookstore
> to purchase popular ARRL publications, join or renew your
> ARRL
> membership and pick up official ARRL merchandise. Get a
> free gift when
> you join ARRL or renew your membership at ARRL EXPO and
> everyone gets a
> free ARRL Dayton 2009 button (while supplies last).
>
> Whether you're 10 or 110, the EXPO has something just
> for you. Join
> young (and young-at-heart) amateurs at the ARRL Youth
> Lounge. Drop by
> the ARRL Youth Lounge to meet and socialize with other
> young hams. Come
> chat with other hams, listen to music, grab a snack or
> participate in
> one of the many activities, such as fox-hunts, scavenger
> hunts, Morse
> code fun, a QSL card designing contest, crafts, prizes and
> more. Whether
> or not you're licensed, you're welcome to come by
> and join the fun! If
> you're looking for other youth during the convention,
> try calling them
> on the youth calling frequencies: 145.540 MHz (107.2 Hz
> CTCSS) primary
> and 146.430 (233.6 Hz CTCSS) secondary. Not licensed yet?
> Soon-to-be
> hams can check-in using FRS channel one.
>
> If you enjoy waxing nostalgic over the gear of yesteryear,
> drop by the
> exhibit area to meet vintage equipment photographer Joe
> Veras, K9OCO. He
> will be autographing his book, "50 Years of Amateur
> Radio Innovation" --
> filled with photographs of classic and legendary
> transmitters -- that
> was recently published by ARRL
> <http://www.arrl.org/catalog/?item=0228>.
> You can also tour a 1964 Collins Radio Company
> communications van -- a
> Ford Econoline van that traveled as a mobile demonstration
> center for
> Collins equipment. The van, decked out with vintage gear
> from the S-Line
> period, will be there for you to explore.
>
> Bring your license and get on the air from W1AW/8 at the
> ARRL National
> Convention. Operating times and frequencies will be posted
> at the
> station. Meet W1AW Station Manager Joe Carcia, NJ1Q, from
> the famed
> Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station at ARRL Headquarters.
>
> Personnel from the ARRL DXCC Branch will be on hand to
> check your DX
> cards and applications. All cards will be eligible for
> checking,
> including old cards, cards for deleted countries and cards
> for 160
> meters. Applications will be limited to 120 cards (more
> cards will be
> checked as time and volunteer Card Checkers are available).
> See the DXCC
> Web site for the latest program information and current
> forms
> <http://www.arrl.org/awards/dxcc>. Representatives
> from Logbook of the
> World (LoTW) will also be on hand, giving demonstrations
> and answering
> your questions <http://www.arrl.org/lotw>.
>
> Be sure to stop by the EXPO to meet new IARU
> <http://www.iaru.org/>
> President Tim Ellam, VE6SH, and Vice President Ole
> Garpestad, LA2RR, at
> the IARU booth. Special exhibits in the area will be hosted
> by the three
> different IARU Regions: Deutscher Amateur Radio Club (DARC)
> from Germany
> will represent Region 1, the ARRL will represent Region 2
> and the Japan
> Amateur Radio League (JARL) will represent Region 3.
>
> Besides the myriad of activities taking place off-site such
> as Contest
> University <http://www.contestuniversity.com/> and
> the QRP event Four
> Days in May <http://www.fdim.qrparci.org/>, there
> will be a Wouff Hong
> Ceremony <http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/history.html>
> on Saturday, May 16
> at 10:45 PM at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown Dayton.
> Sponsored by
> the NE Ohio Ham Radio Players, any licensed ARRL member can
> participate
> in this lively ARRL tradition that is steeped in mystery!
> Attendees will
> receive a special keepsake at this fun activity,
> appropriate for all
> ages.
>
> Keeping Up in Dayton
>
> If you can't make it to Dayton -- or even if you make
> the trek -- you
> can still catch all the latest news on the Convention's
> Weblog
> <http://www.arrl.org/blog>. QST Editor Steve Ford,
> WB8IMY, will once
> again be blogging about Hamvention. Proving you can indeed
> go home
> again, Steve will regale readers with the adventures of
> staying with his
> mother at his childhood home in Dayton. For the past few
> years,
> thousands of readers have been entertained as Steve has
> related stories
> about new gear making its debut at Hamvention, the weather
> in Dayton and
> the overall feel of the event -- as well as the
> ever-popular antics at
> "Casa de Mi Madre."
>
> The ARRL will introduce a new blog at this year's
> National Convention:
> ARRL Youth Editor Duncan MacLachlan, KU0DM, will blog from
> a young ham's
> perspective. MacLachlan, who will be assisting former Youth
> Editor
> Andrea Hartlage, KG4IUM, and her father Scott, KF4PWI, in
> the ARRL Youth
> Lounge, will explore the Hamvention exhibits, forums and
> events, giving
> his first-time take on the Hamvention experience.
> MacLachlan's
> perspective is a welcome addition to the ARRL National
> Convention team.
> Explore all of Hamvention's nooks and crannies through
> his blog and
> Twitter updates <http://twitter.com/arrlyouth>.
>
> ARRL staff are getting ready for all the excitement that a
> National
> Convention brings. Teaming up with the Dayton Hamvention is
> sure to
> bring everything to a fever pitch, so why not make plans to
> join in on
> the fun? Travel and lodging information is available on the
> Hamvention
> Web site <http://www.hamvention.org/travel.php>.
>
> ==> ARRL FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES 2009 SCHOLARSHIP
> RECIPIENTS
>
> The ARRL Foundation <http://www.arrlf.org/> Board of
> Directors is
> pleased to announce that they have awarded 52 scholarships
> to students
> in 21 states. Of these awards, 48 are annual scholarships
> with a total
> value of $54,700. In addition there are currently four
> holders of the
> William R. Goldfarb Memorial scholarship for whom the
> awards vary based
> on the college or university they attend, other awards they
> receive and
> other financial factors.
>
> Last month, the ARRL Foundation announced that they had
> awarded the
> William R. Goldfarb Memorial Scholarship
> <http://www.arrlf.org/programs/scholarships> to Dean
> LaBarba, KI6CUX, of
> Long Beach, California. He will graduate from Woodrow
> Wilson High School
> this year with a GPA of 4.0. LaBarba holds a Technician
> class license
> that in 2005 led him to participation in the Amateur Radio
> Emergency
> Communication (AREC) team at his high school; since 2007,
> he has served
> as president. LaBarba also spends considerable time
> coordinating Amateur
> Radio activities, including Field Day, with the local
> community. LaBarba
> -- who will be attending Westmont College in Santa Barbara,
> California
> <http://www.westmont.edu/> -- has had a keen interest
> in medicine and
> intends to pursue a career in neurology.
>
> The Goldfarb Scholarship is the result of a generous
> endowment from the
> late William Goldfarb, N2ITP. Goldfarb, who died in 1997,
> set up a
> scholarship endowment of close to $1 million in memory of
> his parents,
> Albert and Dorothy Goldfarb. Awarded to one high school
> senior each
> year, the Goldfarb Scholarship assists the recipient to
> receive a
> four-year undergraduate degree in engineering or science or
> in the
> medical or business-related fields. The terms of reference
> of the
> generous Goldfarb scholarship award require that recipients
> demonstrate
> financial need and significant involvement with Amateur
> Radio, in
> addition to high academic performance. The seventh Goldfarb
> Scholarship
> winner, LaBarba continues the tradition of prior
> recipients,
> demonstrating superior academic performance, outstanding
> leadership and
> extraordinary Amateur Radio and community service.
>
> The ARRL Foundation administers scholarships for
> post-secondary
> education students holding a valid FCC-granted Amateur
> Radio license.
> Scholarship awards range from $500 to $5000 or more and are
> available to
> high school seniors (or equivalent) or students currently
> enrolled in a
> college or university. Scholarships are funded by generous
> individuals
> and Amateur Radio organizations to encourage radio amateurs
> to pursue
> their educational goals. All ARRL Foundation-administered
> scholarships
> are intended exclusively for educational use, to provide
> assistance with
> costs of tuition, room, board, books and/or other fees
> essential to the
> education of the recipient.
>
> For a complete list of scholarship recipients for 2009,
> please visit the
> ARRL Web site
> <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/04/28/10787/?nc=1>.
>
>
> ==> ARRL'S TECHNICAL INFORMATION SERVICE PROVIDES
> MEMBERS WITH ANSWERS
>
> Have you ever had a technical question that you weren't
> able to figure
> out? Even after checking with publications such as The ARRL
> Handbook or
> the ARRL Antenna Book, you're still stumped. Have you
> exhausted every
> resource you can think of, including your Section's
> Technical
> Coordinator (TC)
> <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/org/tc.html>? Just
> when you think you're at the end of your rope, you
> remember the ARRL
> Technical Information Service
> <http://www.arrl.org/tis/>.
>
> The TIS is staffed by members of the ARRL Lab and is here
> to provide
> technical assistance at no cost to ARRL members. Many
> members seem to be
> using the service: In a six week period (October
> 20-November 30, 2008),
> ARRL Lab staff fielded almost 1300 requests for information
> from the
> TIS. These ranged from questions on how to choose the best
> radio,
> propagation and BPL to questions concerning antennas, feed
> lines and
> towers.
>
> ARRL TCs and Technical Specialists (TS)
> <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/org/ts.html> in the
> field and at ARRL
> Headquarters can answer your questions on topics ranging
> from A (ampere)
> to Z (impedance) -- and just about anything in between. Our
> technical
> staff will help you over the phone, refer you to a
> volunteer ARRL TS in
> your area or send you the needed information from a growing
> collection
> of information packages. For really difficult questions, an
> ARRL Lab
> Engineer will research the League's technical library
> and send you an
> answer by postal or electronic mail.
>
> ARRL Lab Engineer Mike Gruber, W1MG, remembers a question
> that a member
> sent in recently via e-mail: "I have a 250 foot run of
> Buryflex 213 from
> the shack to the switchbox at the top of the tower. I know
> that results
> in significant loss at, say, 14 and 18 MHz (I seldom work
> 10 or 15 and
> the tower antennas are only for HF), but here is the
> question: Is it
> ENOUGH of a loss (for the receiver) to warrant running
> hardline (it
> would be free) between the shack and tower switchbox with a
> tail of
> about 10 feet of 213 inside the shack, and another tail of
> about 10 feet
> at the tower end, running from the switchbox to the TA-33,
> considering
> the insertion loss of two additional connectors (to connect
> the hardline
> to the 213 on each end) and the impedance difference of the
> hardline
> compared with the 213?"
>
> Gruber answered the ham, providing a chart he developed,
> showing "some
> losses shown for 250 feet of RG-213 vs half-inch hardline.
> I selected
> 50, 100 and 150 ohm resistive loads for this analysis. Any
> rate, if you
> consider the case with the highest loss -- 29 MHz with a
> 150 ohm load --
> will only improve by 3.9 - 1.544 = 2.4 dB. If you consider
> that a
> typical S-unit is 6 dB, the most dramatic improvement in
> the example
> cases I selected is still less than half of an S-unit.
> It's not a
> homerun by any stretch of the imagination. Of course, that
> extra 2.311
> dB may be significant in some cases. If you ran 1500 W, you
> would only
> have 881 W at the antenna feed point. The rest would be
> lost in the feed
> line."
>
> ARRL Senior Lab Engineer Zack Lau, W1VT, recalls an
> interesting question
> he received from a member: "How can I make a simple
> circularly polarized
> antenna out of linear elements?" Lau referred him to
> an article he
> wrote, "A Simple 10-Meter Satellite Turnstile
> Antenna," that appeared in
> the November/December 2001 issue of QEX.
>
> The TIS, as one of the many services it offers, maintains a
> database of
> more than 2000 suppliers that provide goods and services of
> interest to
> radio amateurs
> <http://www.arrl.org/tis/tisfind.html>. These include
> manufacturers, dealers, publications, clubs and museums,
> just to name a
> few. The TIS also keeps what they call an "expanding
> list" of technical
> pages that include articles from QST, QEX and The ARRL
> Handbook, as well
> as original articles on a variety of subjects including
> theory,
> tutorials and projects
> <http://www.arrl.org/tis/tismenu.html>. Many
> pages also contain additional sources for materials and
> information and
> Web links of particular interest.
>
> If you need a copy of the QST Product Review from May 1985
> that featured
> the ICOM IC-271A 2 meter multimode transceiver, look no
> further. The TIS
> also keeps a list of every QST Product Review published
> since 1970
> <http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/prodrev.html>. ARRL
> members can also
> download any QST Product review published after 1980
> <http://www.arrl.org/members-only/prodrev/bymfg.html>.
> If you need a
> quick summary of any HF transceiver featured in a QST
> Product Review,
> you can also find it on the TIS Web site.
>
> The TIS also maintains the ARRL Periodicals Archive and
> Search
> <http://www.arrl.org/members-only/qqnsearch.html>.
> This feature provides
> ARRL members with PDF copies of all QST articles from
> December 1915
> through December 2005, enabling members to view and print
> their favorite
> article, project and more. The ARRL Periodicals Archive and
> Search lists
> every article for QST from 1915 to the present, QEX from
> 1981 to the
> present, Ham Radio Magazine from 1968 to 1990 and NCJ from
> 1973 to the
> present (please note that beginning in 1998, each issue of
> QEX covers
> two months).
>
> "Having access to every issue of QST through 2005 is
> absolutely
> incredible!" said ARRL Lab Manager Ed Hare, W1RFI.
> "The best of the best
> of QST from every era is now at the fingertips of every
> ARRL member with
> a keyboard and an Internet connection. Members can research
> articles on
> any subject that interests them, or just browse the past
> issues. This
> valuable content will help radio amateurs who use QST as a
> technical
> resource -- for projects, equipment 'hints and
> kinks' -- and for other
> research contributing to the advancement of the radio
> art."
>
> For those needing a higher quality reprint, a reprint from
> QEX or NCJ,
> or for hams who are not members of the ARRL, the TIS also
> provides
> photocopies of articles for a nominal fee
> <http://www.arrl.org/members-only/artcopies.html>.
> You can reach the TIS
> via e-mail <mailto:tis at arrl.org> or by phone at
> 860-594-0214.
>
> The TIS is just one of the many benefits available to ARRL
> members. To
> learn about all the benefits of ARRL membership, including
> QST, e-mail
> forwarding service, the outgoing QSL service and more,
> please visit the
> ARRL Membership Web page <http://www.arrl.org/join>.
>
> ==> ARRL IN ACTION: WHAT HAVE WE BEEN UP TO LATELY?
>
> This feature -- including convenient Web links to useful
> information --
> is a concise monthly update of some of the things ARRL is
> doing on
> behalf of its members. This installment covers the month of
> April.
>
> The ARRL worked with Representative Sheila Jackson Lee
> (D-TX) as she
> sponsored HR 2160, the Amateur Radio Emergency
> Communications
> Enhancement Act of 2009, in the US House of Representatives
> <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/04/30/10792/?nc=1>.
>
> Upon request from the FCC, the ARRL submitted comments to
> the Commission
> defining "broadband"
> <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/04/15/10768/?nc=1>.
>
>
> The ARRL Foundation awarded scholarships, including the
> prestigious
> William R. Goldfarb Memorial Scholarship, to 49 outstanding
> young radio
> amateurs for the 2009-2010 academic year
> <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/04/28/10787/?nc=1>.
>
>
> Santa Cruz area ARES members provided communications
> support after
> vandals disrupted communications infrastructure on April 9
> <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/04/15/10771/?nc=1>.
>
>
> Amateurs in North Dakota and Minnesota provided
> communications support
> to various served agencies when the Red River overflowed in
> late March
> and early April
> <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/04/06/10752/?nc=1>.
>
>
> Hams in the Southeastern US, through the use of weather
> spotting
> networks, kept the National Weather Service apprised when
> deadly
> tornadoes struck that area on April 10
> <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/04/14/10766/?nc=1>.
>
> The ARRL announced that it was in the process of developing
> a new
> Emergency Communications course
> <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/04/07/10756/?nc=1>.
>
> ARRL Emergency Preparedness and Response Manager Dennis
> Dura, K2DCD,
> attended the 2009 National Hurricane Conference, held April
> 6-10 in
> Austin, Texas. ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager
> Allen Pitts,
> W1AGP, represented the ARRL at the National Association of
> Broadcasters
> event in Las Vegas
> <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/04/22/10779/?nc=1>.
>
> Thomas Dick, KF2GC, of Saranac Lake, returns as Section
> Manager of the
> ARRL Northern New York Section
> <http://www.arrl.org/?artid=8903>. Scott
> Rausch, WA0VKC, of Piedmont, was appointed Section Manager
> of the ARRL
> South Dakota Section as of April 7
> <http://www.arrl.org/?artid=8882>.
>
> The winner of the QST Cover Plaque Award for April is Byron
> Black,
> W4SSY, for his article "The W4SSY Spudgun."
>
> The June 2009 issue of QST and the May/June issues of QEX
> and NCJ were
> released to the printer.
>
> ==>SOLAR UPDATE
>
> Tad "He smiles upon their sunny faces" Cook,
> K7RA, this week reports:
> The data at the end of last week's bulletin showed
> daily sunspot numbers
> from April 16-22 as six zeros, then 11. In fact, every day
> was at zero
> until April 21, when it was 11; it moved again to zero the
> next day,
> April 22. We had just as many zero sunspot days -- and only
> one day with
> a sunspot -- but we saw the sunspot on Tuesday, April 21,
> not April 22.
> We had two additional days with a sunspot this week,
> Wednesday and
> Thursday, April 29-30. The sunspot number was 15 and 12,
> respectively,
> on those days. But this was another old Solar Cycle 23
> sunspot, and it
> appeared near the western limb. By today, it may have
> either faded away
> completely or rotated out of view, May 1. The data at the
> bottom of our
> bulletin shows seven days, Thursday through Wednesday for
> the reporting
> week, so the sunspot number of 12 for Thursday will appear
> in next
> week's data. Sunspot numbers for April 23-29 were 0, 0,
> 0, 0, 0, 0 and
> 15 with a mean of 2.1. The 10.7 cm flux was 70.6, 69.7,
> 69.4, 69.2,
> 67.7, 68.8 and 69.5 with a mean of 69.3. The estimated
> planetary A
> indices were 3, 5, 4, 5, 4, 2 and 3 with a mean of 3.7. The
> estimated
> mid-latitude A indices were 0, 5, 2, 3, 3, 2 and 3 with a
> mean of 2.6.
> For more information concerning radio propagation, visit
> the ARRL
> Technical Information Service Propagation page
> <http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html>. To
> read this week's
> Solar Report in its entirety, check out the W1AW
> Propagation Bulletin
> page <http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/>. This
> week's "Tad Cookism" brought
> to you by John Clare's "May"
> <http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/may-2/>.
>
> __________________________________
>
> ==>IN BRIEF:
>
> * This Week on the Radio: This week, the NCCC Sprint Ladder
> and the AGCW
> QRP/QRP Party are May 1. The Microwave Spring Sprint is May
> 2 (local
> time). The MARAC QSO Party (both CW and SSB), the 10-10
> International
> Spring Contest (both CW and digital), the 7th Call Area QSO
> Party, the
> Indiana QSO Party, the New England QSO Party and the ARI
> International
> DX Contest are all May 2-3. Next week is another running of
> the NCCC
> Sprint Ladder on May 8. The FISTS Spring Sprint is May 9.
> On May 9-10,
> look for the SBMS 2 GHz and Up WW Club Contest (local
> time), the CQ-M
> International DX Contest, the VOLTA WW RTTY Contest, the
> Nevada Mustang
> Roundup and the 50 MHz Spring Sprint. The SKCC Weekend
> Sprint is May 10.
> 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/contests/update/> and the WA7BNM
> Contest Calendar
> <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html> for
> more info. Looking
> for a Special Event station? Be sure to check out the ARRL
> Special Event
> Station Web page
> <http://www.arrl.org/contests/spev.html>.
>
> * ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration:
> Registration remains
> open through Sunday, May 24, 2009, for these online course
> sessions
> beginning on Friday, June 5, 2009: Amateur Radio Emergency
> Communications Level 1; Radio Frequency Interference;
> Antenna Design and
> Construction; Ham Radio (Technician) License Course; Analog
> Electronics,
> and Digital Electronics. Each online course has been
> developed in
> segments -- learning units with objectives, informative
> text, student
> activities and quizzes. Courses are interactive, and some
> include direct
> communications with a Mentor/Instructor. Students register
> for a
> particular session that may be 8, 12 or 16 weeks (depending
> on the
> course) and they may access the course at any time of day
> during the
> course period, completing lessons and activities at times
> convenient for
> their personal schedule. Mentors assist students by
> answering questions,
> reviewing assignments and activities, as well as providing
> helpful
> feedback. Interaction with mentors is conducted through
> e-mail; there is
> no appointed time the student must be present -- allowing
> complete
> flexibility for the student to work when and where it is
> convenient. To
> learn more, visit the CCE Course Listing page
> <http://www.arrl.org/cep/student> or contact the
> Continuing Education
> Program Coordinator <cce at arrl.org>.
>
> * No ARRL Audio News on May 15: Due to staff attendance at
> the ARRL
> National Convention and Dayton Hamvention, there will be no
> ARRL Audio
> News on May 15. The ARRL Letter will be distributed that
> day. ARRL Audio
> News will resume regular distribution on May 22.
>
> * Larry Banks, W1DYJ, Wins April QST Cover Plaque Award:
> The winner of
> the QST Cover Plaque Award for April is Larry Banks, W1DYJ,
> for his
> article "A 20 Meter Moxon Antenna."
> Congratulations, Larry! The winner
> of the QST Cover Plaque award -- given to the author or
> authors of the
> best article in each issue -- is determined by a vote of
> ARRL members on
> the QST Cover Plaque Poll Web page
> <http://www.arrl.org/members-only/QSTvote.html>. Cast
> a ballot for your
> favorite article in the May issue by Sunday, May 31.
>
> * ARRL Sweepstakes Awards Sent: The ARRL Contest Branch
> reports that all
> special items for the 2008 November Sweepstakes have been
> sent. This
> includes a Clean Sweep Broom and Medallion for all entrants
> who worked a
> confirmed Clean Sweep and a magnet for all stations that
> worked a
> confirmed 75 ARRL Sections. These items were sent free of
> charge to all
> stations that qualified; no order was necessary. According
> to ARRL
> Contest Branch Manager Sean Kutzko, KX9X, all Clean Sweep
> mugs and
> Participation Pin orders have also been shipped. If you
> have not
> received your Sweepstakes items yet, please let Kutzko know
> via e-mail
> <kx9x at arrl.org>.
>
> * ARRL DXCC Desk Approves Two 2009 Operations: ARRL DXCC
> Manager Bill
> Moore, NC1L, reports that two 2009 operations have been
> approved for
> DXCC credit: Western Sahara (S04R) and North Cook Island
> (E51QQQ). "If
> you had cards that were recently rejected for this
> operation, please
> send an e-mail to the ARRL DXCC Desk <dxcc at arrl.org>
> and you will be
> placed on the list for update," Moore said.
>
> * Internet Search Engine Celebrates Birthday of Samuel F.
> B. Morse:
> Internet search engine Google
> <http://www.google.com/> reconfigured
> their home page for April 27 to honor the 218th birthday of
> Morse code
> creator Samuel F. B. Morse (April 27, 1791-April 2, 1872).
> Morse, a
> native of Charlestown, Massachusetts, conceived the basic
> idea of an
> electromagnetic telegraph in 1832. Experiments with various
> kinds of
> electrical instruments and codes resulted in a
> demonstration of a
> working telegraph set in 1836 and introduction of the
> circuit relay,
> making transmission possible over any distance. With his
> creation with
> Alfred Vail of the American Morse code, the historic
> message "What hath
> God wrought?" was successfully sent from Washington to
> Baltimore. For
> more information Amateur Radio and Morse code, please visit
> the ARRL Web
> site <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/learncw/>.
>
> ===========================================================
>
> The ARRL Letter is published Fridays, 50 times each year,
> by the
> American Radio Relay League: ARRL--the national association
> for Amateur
> Radio, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200;
> fax
> 860-594-0259; <http://www.arrl.org>. Joel Harrison,
> W5ZN, President.
>
> The ARRL Letter offers a weekly e-mail digest of essential
> and general
> news of interest to active radio amateurs. Visit the ARRL
> Web site
> <http://www.arrl.org> for the latest Amateur Radio
> news and news
> updates. The ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org/>
> also offers
> informative features and columns. ARRL Audio News
> <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> is a weekly
> "ham radio newscast"
> compiled and edited from The ARRL Letter. It's also
> available as a
> podcast from our Web site.
>
> Material from The ARRL Letter may be republished or
> reproduced in whole
> or in part in any form without additional permission.
> Credit must be
> given to The ARRL Letter/American Radio Relay League.
>
> ==>Delivery problems (ARRL member direct delivery
> only!):
> letter-dlvy at arrl.org
> ==>Editorial questions or comments: S. Khrystyne Keane,
> K1SFA,
> k1sfa at arrl.org
> ==>ARRL News on the Web: <http://www.arrl.org>
> ==>ARRL Audio News:
> <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> or call
> 860-594-0384
>
> ==>How to Get The ARRL Letter
>
> The ARRL Letter is available to ARRL members free of charge
> directly
> from ARRL HQ. To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your
> address for
> e-mail delivery:
> ARRL members first must register on the Members Only Web
> Site
> <http://www.arrl.org/members/>. You'll have an
> opportunity during
> registration to sign up for e-mail delivery of The ARRL
> Letter, W1AW
> bulletins, and other material. To change these
> selections--including
> delivery of The ARRL Letter--registered members should
> click on the
> "Member Data Page" link (in the Members Only
> box). Click on "Modify
> membership data," check or uncheck the appropriate
> boxes and/or change
> your e-mail address if necessary. (Check "Temporarily
> disable all
> automatically sent email" to temporarily stop all
> e-mail deliveries.)
> Then, click on "Submit modification" to make
> selections effective.
> (NOTE: HQ staff members cannot change your e-mail delivery
> address. You
> must do this yourself via the Members Only Web Site.)
>
> The ARRL Letter also is available to all, free of charge,
> from these
> sources:
>
> * ARRLWeb <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/>. (NOTE:
> The ARRL Letter will
> be posted each Friday when it is distributed via e-mail.)
>
> * The QTH.net listserver, thanks to volunteers from the
> Boston Amateur
> Radio Club: Visit Mailing Lists at QTH.Net
> <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/letter-list>.
> (NOTE: The ARRL
> cannot assist subscribers who receive The ARRL Letter via
> this
> listserver.)
>
> Copyright 2009 American Radio Relay League, Inc.
> All Rights Reserved
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