[Letter-List] The ARRL Letter for November 12, 2009

Thu Nov 12 17:32:05 EST 2009

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            The  ARRL Letter

Published by the American Radio Relay League
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November 12, 2009

Editor: S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA <k1sfa at arrl.org>

ARRL Home Page <http://www.arrl.org/>ARRL Letter Archive
<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/>Audio News
<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> IN THIS ISSUE

- + Public Service: Late Season Tropical Storm Ida Comes Calling on
Gulf Coast
- + Operating: ARRL Sweepstakes Takes to the Phone Bands Next Weekend
- + Operating: WRTC 2010 Organizers Announce Teams
- + Amateur Radio in Space: Idaho School Incorporates ARISS into
Curriculum
- ARRL Says "Thank You" to Veterans
- Now You Know!: US Call Signs Not Issued by the FCC
- Solar Update
- This Week on the Radio

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

==> + PUBLIC SERVICE: LATE SEASON TROPICAL STORM IDA COMES CALLING ON
GULF COAST

   With only weeks to go before the end of the 2009 hurricane season,
Tropical Storm Ida formed off the coast of Nicaragua, making landfall
as a hurricane in the morning hours of November 5. The storm lost
significant strength as it moved through Nicaragua and Honduras, only
to reemerge in the Caribbean a day later, impacting El Salvador and
Mexico. Ida gained strength, becoming a Category 2 storm with winds
peaking at 105 miles per hour in the Gulf of Mexico. The path for Ida
at this point was clearly toward the Gulf Coast of the US, with a
projected landfall somewhere between Louisiana and the Florida
panhandle. As Ida's path became more focused, Amateur Radio operators
and ARESÂ® groups concentrated on increasing their level of readiness
should there be a need to respond. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/11/12/11192/?nc=1>.

==> + OPERATING: ARRL SWEEPSTAKES TAKES TO THE PHONE BANDS NEXT WEEKEND

The SSB portion of the ARRL November Sweepstakes
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2009/novss.html> -- the premier
domestic HF contest -- takes place next weekend, running 2100 UTC
Saturday, November 21 to 0300 Monday, November 23 (or 4 PM Saturday to
10 PM Sunday EST). According to ARRL Contest Branch Manager Sean
Kutzko, KX9X, the event -- first called "The January Contest
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/10/29/11170/?nc=1>" -- started
back in 1929 as a competition for handling formal traffic messages.
"Sweepstakes is one of the oldest traditions in Amateur Radio," Kutzko
said. "The contest exchange contains more elements than usual, an
homage to traffic-handling. If you have never participated in
Sweepstakes, you are really missing out on some serious fun!" Read more
here <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/11/12/11194/?nc=1>.

==> + OPERATING: WRTC 2010 ORGANIZERS ANNOUNCE TEAMS

Last month, after a grueling selection process, the organizers of the
2010 World Radiosport Team Championships (WRTC) selected the 44 team
leaders who will compete in the event next year. These 44 team leaders,
representing all six continents, have each chosen a partner. The rules
state that while the leader's partner may be from a different call sign
area, they must be from the same country as the leader. WRTC, held
every few years, takes place during the 2010 IARU HF World
Championships, July 10-11 and will be held just outside Moscow. Read
more here <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/11/11/11191/?nc=1>.

==> ATLANTIC DIVISION TO HOST WEBINAR

 <https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/333780681>   Periodically, the
ARRL's Atlantic Division hosts a "webinar" -- an interactive Web-based
seminar, designed to facilitate communication between a small number of
presenters and a large remote audience using the Internet. On Friday,
November 13 at 9 PM EST, Chuck Blocher, PhD, KC2IQV, will present a
webinar entitled The Emotional Go Kit: Are You Prepared? "As hams serve
as emergency and public service communicators, we prepare our Go Kits
and necessary gear to provide essential communications," said webinar
sponsor ARRL Atlantic Division Director Bill Edgar, N3LLR. "How
prepared are you concerning your emotional wellness during one of these
events? This webinar addresses the emotional well-being and
preparedness for those Amateur Radio communicators who participate in
emergency and public service situations." Please click here
<https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/333780681> to register for this
informative, interactive Internet meeting.

==> + AMATEUR RADIO IN SPACE: STS 129 -- STOCKING THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION

Besides taking spare parts to the International Space Station (ISS)
this coming Monday, the space shuttle Atlantis (STS-129) will deliver
the module antennas for  Columbus -- the laboratory built by the
European Space Agency (ESA) and host of two Amateur Radio on the
International Space Station (ARISS) antennas. "Lou McFadin, W5DID, a
member of the AMSAT Board of Directors and a key volunteer for ARISS,
showed the astronauts the best ways for them to safely unpack and
assemble the antennas and associated cables once they and the hardware
reach the ISS," said ARRL ARISS Program Manager Rosalie White, K1STO.
"They reviewed how to maneuver and install the antennas during the
spacewalk. Lou also oversaw the re-packing of the antennas and the
onboard flight kit that accompanies shipments going to the ISS." Read
more here <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/11/12/11195/?nc=1>.

==> + AMATEUR RADIO IN SPACE: IDAHO SCHOOL INCORPORATES ARISS INTO
CURRICULUM

   With more than 500 Amateur Radio on the International Space Station
(ARISS) contacts conducted, thousands of students have experienced
intriguing science and technology lessons -- plus the thrill of
speaking with an astronaut who was on the International Space Station
(ISS). According to ARRL ARISS Program Manager Rosalie White, K1STO,
each school uses the ARISS events in different ways. From school to
school, ARISS volunteers see a great range in the types of activities
around the event, including integrating the activities into each grade
level's curriculum. The lesson in common to all schools includes
discussions on what Amateur Radio is, what ARISS is and how the
worldwide ARISS Team works together. Click here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/11/05/11185/?nc=1> to read about
how one elementary school in Idaho integrated Amateur Radio, space --
and more -- into their curriculum.

==> ARRL SAYS "THANK YOU" TO VETERANS

On Wednesday, November 11, Veterans Day -- called Remembrance Day or
Armistice Day outside the US -- was celebrated all over the world.
Originally a holiday that marked the end of World War I -- the "War to
End All Wars" -- has been set aside to honor all who have served their
country. It was on November 11, 1918, on the 11th hour of the 11th day
of the 11th month, that Germany signed the Armistice, formally ending
the hostilities that had been ongoing since 1914.

The ARRL would like to take this opportunity to thank our service
veterans. Whether they served on active duty or reserve, during peace
time or time of conflict, they served their county with honor. We also
would be remiss if we did not remember the families of those veterans
who kept the homefires burning bright; without their love and support,
our veterans would have indeed been alone.

ARRL Headquarters has its share of service veterans: Contributing
Editor Al Brogdon, W1AB (Army); Publications Sales Associate Mark
Dzamba, KB1FMY (Air Force); Assistant VEC Manager Perry Green, WY1O
(Army); Volunteer Archivist Charles Griffen, W1GYR (Air Force);
Technical Editor Joel Hallas, W1ZR (Army); News Editor S. Khrystyne
Keane, K1SFA (Coast Guard); DXCC Manager Bill Moore, NC1L (Army);
Reprints Specialist Tony Nesta, AA1RZ (Navy); Membership and Volunteer
Programs Manager Dave Patton, NN1N (Navy); Technical Relations
Specialist Jon Siverling, WB3ERA (Army); Field and Regulatory
Correspondent Chuck Skolaut, K0BOG (Air Force); Education & Technology
Program Coordinator Mark Spencer, WA8SME (Air Force), and Archivist
Perry Williams, W1UED (Air Force).

Thank you for your service -- your sacrifice and the sacrifice of your
fellow service members is not forgotten.

==> NOW YOU KNOW!: US CALL SIGNS NOT ISSUED BY THE FCC

   If you're an American ham, chances are that your call sign was
issued by the Federal Communications Commission. A "no brainer," right?
Well, if you're an American ham who happens to be stationed at
Guantanamo Bay or at one of the US bases in the Antarctic, your call
sign is not issued by the FCC -- it's issued by the base commander.
Guantanamo Bay (or Gitmo as it's commonly called) uses the KG4 prefix,
followed by a two-letter suffix; this block is reserved exclusively for
American hams at Gitmo. As for Antarctica, the Antarctic Treaty
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antarctic_Treaty_System>, signed on
December 1, 1959 (and entered into force on June 23, 1961), established
the legal framework for the management of Antarctica, including
allocation of amateur call signs; the National Science Foundation
received their block on July 1, 1959. US military hams in Japan and
Korea are also issued special call signs:

-  KA2AA-KA9ZZ -- reserved for US Army-authorized amateur stations in
Japan.
- KC4AAA-KC4AAF -- reserved for the National Science Foundation's use
at the South Pole
<http://antarcticsun.usap.gov/features/contentHandler.cfm?id=1701>.
- KC4USA-KC4USZ -- reserved for US Navy-authorized amateur stations at
their Antarctic bases.
- KG4AA-KG4ZZ -- reserved for US Navy-authorized amateur stations at
Guantanamo Bay). <http://members.visi.net/%7Everb/index.html>
- KL9KAA -- KL9KHZ -- reserved for assignment to US personnel stationed
in Korea.
- The 40 call signs having the first two letters AF, KF, NF or WF and
the letters "EMA" following a numeral are available to the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The FCC once issued call signs to hams who lived in the Caroline
Islands and the Marshall Islands. Even though these entities -- former
United Nations Trust Territories -- now have their own sovereignty (and
DXCC prefixes), the FCC will not issue call signs in the following
blocks:

- KC6AA-KC6ZZ -- KC6 was two DXCC entities: The Eastern Caroline
Islands and the Western Caroline Islands. The Eastern Carolines became
the Federated States of Micronesia (V6) and the Western Carolines
became the Republic of Palau (T8).
- KX6AA-KX6ZZ -- the former Marshall Islands, now the Republic of the
Marshall Islands (V73).

You can find out more
<http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm?job=call_signs_3&id=amateur&page=1#2&ref=>
on the FCC's Web site. Now you know!

==> SOLAR UPDATE

In for Tad "While the wonders of nature exploring
<http://englishhistory.net/keats/poetry/tosomeladies.html>" Cook, K7RA,
reports: Sunspot region 1029 disappeared after October 30, as it began
transiting the Sun's back side. Six days after it was gone, a new
region -- region 1030 -- appeared for several days. By November 8,
region 1030 had faded away and looked like other weak spots we've seen
over the past couple of years, except they appeared for one day with a
sunspot number of 11. Sunspot region 1030 ran for three days with
sunspot numbers of 15, 16 and 11. Then on November 9, the sunspot
region re-emerged, with sunspot numbers of 14, 13 and 11 through
November 11. While 1030 passes over the Sun's western limb, we can
still see sunspot region 1029 transiting the far side of our local
star, now approaching the eastern horizon. None of this observation
would be possible but for the STEREO mission
<http://stereo.gsfc.nasa.gov/>. Old region 1029 appears as a bright
area of magnetic disturbance, and we can't actually determine what the
sunspot number or the total area of the region might be, but it still
appears to have a large and robust magnetic signature. The 45 day Air
Force and NOAA Ap and flux forecast gives us some clue about the dates
it will emerge into view, and when it is most directly facing Earth.
Predicted solar flux is 72 for November 12-13, 73 on November 14-15, 74
on November 16-17, 75 on November 18-21 and 80 for November 22-24.
After that, the forecast shows it declining to 75, 72 and 70. This
suggests it might reach the most geoeffective position, that is, the
position where it is near the Sun's central meridian relative to the
Earth, around November 22-24. Conditions have been good, with continued
weak or missing solar wind, and very quiet geomagnetic indicators. Look
for more information in the Solar Update, available on the ARRL Web
site on Friday, November 13. For more information concerning radio
propagation, visit the ARRL Technical Information Service Propagation
page <http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html>. This week's "Tad
Cookism" brought to you by John Keats' To Some Ladies
<http://englishhistory.net/keats/poetry/tosomeladies.html>.

==> + INTERNATIONAL: NORWEGIAN AMATEURS RECEIVE NEW PRIVILEGES

On November 6, radio amateurs in Norway were granted privileges
<http://www.lovdata.no/ltavd1/filer/sf-20091105-1340.html> on three new
bands, as well as primary status on the extended 40 meter band and a
frequency extension on 12 meters. According to IARU Vice President Ole
Garpestad, LA2RR, Norwegian amateurs received new secondary user
privileges on 60 meters (5.260-5.410 MHz), the 600 meter band (493-510
kHz) and in five blocks in the 4 meter (70 MHz) band. Amateur Radio
operators in Norway will also enjoy upgraded privileges on 40 meters,
moving from secondary to primary users between 7.100-7.200 MHz and 1000
W output. They have also received a new secondary allocation from
24.740-24.890 MHz in the 12 meter band, expanding upon Norway's
existing primary allocation of 24.890-24.990 MHz. Garpestad said that
"minor adjustments" were also made in the SHF (3-30 GHz) and EHF
(30-300 GHz) portions of the band. "Congratulations to our Norwegian
colleagues," said ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ. "The
new domestic allocations in Norway are consistent with the present and
future spectrum requirements for the Amateur Service as determined by
the IARU Administrative Council. We hope that other administrations
will consider taking similar steps."

==> THIS WEEK ON THE RADIO

 <http://www.arrl.org/contests>   This week, look for an NCCC Sprint on
November 13. The Bill Windle QSO Party is November 14. The Worked All
Europe DX Contest (RTTY), the Kentucky QSO Party, the JIDX Phone
Contest is November 14-15 and the OK/OM DX Contest (CW) are November
14-15. The CQ-WE Contest (SSB, CW and Digital) is November 14-16. The
Run for the Bacon QRP Contest is November 16 and the NAQCC Straight
Key/Bug Sprint is November 19. Next week, the ARRL Sweepstakes Contest
(SSB) <http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2009/novss.html> is November
21-23. The Feld Hell Sprint is November 21. The LZ DX Contest is
November 21-22 and the NA Collegiate ARC Championship (SSB) is November
21-23. The EU PSK63 QSO Party is November 22. 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, November 22, 2009, for these
online course sessions beginning on Friday, December 4, 2009: Amateur
Radio Emergency Communications Level 1; Antenna Modeling; Radio
Frequency Interference; Antenna Design and Construction; Ham Radio
(Technician) License Course; Propagation; Analog Electronics, and
Digital Electronics. To learn more, visit the CEP Course Listing page
<http://www.arrl.org/cep/student> or contact the Continuing Education
Program Coordinator <cce at arrl.org>.

The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 50 times each year. ARRL
members may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing their Member
Data Page as described at http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/.

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