[Letter-List] The ARRL Letter for December 16, 2010

Thu Dec 16 17:00:33 EST 2010

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            The  ARRL Letter

Published by the American Radio Relay League
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December 16, 2010

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

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

- + FCC News: New Rules Governing Vanity, Club Station Call Signs to
Take Effect February 14, 2011
- + Spectrum Defense: What Role Can You Play to Defend Our Amateur
Radio Spectrum?
- + Amateur Radio Fun: Be a Star! Enter the ARRL Video Contest
- ARRL Publications: New Edition of ON4UN's Low-Band DXing Now Shipping
- + On the Air: 2010 a Banner Year for DXCC, Incoming/Outgoing QSL
Bureau
- + Support ARRL: ARRL Receives $1 Million Gift to the ARRL Endowment
- Support ARRL: ARRL Thanks Donors with Publication Gift Certificates
- + ARRL Headquarters Closed for Christmas, New Year's Holidays
- Solar Update
- + New QuickStats Poll Now Available on ARRL Web Site
- This Week on the Radio
- Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events

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

==> + FCC NEWS: NEW RULES GOVERNING VANITY, CLUB STATION CALL SIGNS TO
TAKE EFFECT FEBRUARY 14, 2011

   On Wednesday, December 15, new rules affecting vanity and club
station call signs within the Amateur Radio Service were published in
the Federal Register
<http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-31349.pdf>. These new
rules will go into effect on February 14, 2011. Thirteen months ago,
the FCC announced its intention to modify Part 97
<http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-looks-to-revise-clarify-vanity-call-sign-rules>
as it applies to the vanity call sign system and club station call
signs, aligning the rules to prior Commission decisions. Last month,
the Commission released a Report and Order
<http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-issues-em-report-and-order-em-on-vanity-and-club-station-call-signs>
(R&O), outlining its decision. Along with the changes to the call sign
rules, the FCC made "certain minor, non-substantive amendments" to
portions of Part 97.

==> + SPECTRUM DEFENSE: WHAT ROLE CAN YOU PLAY TO DEFEND OUR AMATEUR
RADIO SPECTRUM?

The third edition of Spectrum Defense Matters -- a newsletter aimed at
keeping ARRL members updated on issues related to the protection of
Amateur Radio frequencies -- has just been released on the ARRL Web
site. This newsletter covers both domestic and international topics
related to the Amateur Radio spectrum. Your financial support is vital
to continue the ARRL's work to protect your operating privileges. You
can help protect these privileges by contributing generously to the
2010 ARRL Spectrum Defense Fund before December 31.

   "The coming year will see the completion of preparations for the
next World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-12 ), to be held in
Geneva in January and February 2012," said ARRL Chief Executive Officer
David Sumner, K1ZZ. " We hope for favorable outcomes on the agenda
items we care about -- but that will not be the end of it. This WRC
will recommend an agenda for the next one, later in the decade. Will
that agenda pose serious threats to amateur spectrum? Will it include
the possibility of new or expanded amateur allocations? The answers
will depend in part on work being done on your behalf today, in Geneva
and within regional telecommunications organizations that cover the
globe."

This edition of Spectrum Defense Matters includes articles on how the
IARU works with the world's six regional telecommunications
organizations, a look at how the FCC's National Broadband Plan could
affect the Amateur Radio Service and a message from ARRL Chief
Technology Officer Brennan Price, N4QX, outlining many of the ways the
ARRL advocates for the defense of your spectrum. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/what-role-can-you-play-to-help-defend-our-amateur-radio-spectrum>.

==> + AMATEUR RADIO FUN: BE A STAR! ENTER THE ARRL VIDEO CONTEST

   If you've ever wanted a way to show the world how exciting Amateur
Radio can be, here's your chance: The ARRL is sponsoring its first-ever
video contest <http://www.arrl.org/video-contest>! We are looking for
ARRL members to shoot and submit videos that showcase how fun and
electrifying our hobby is; extra points will be awarded for a video
showing someone, young or old, licensed or not, making their first
contact. Videos will be judged on overall quality and composition, and
prizes will be awarded. The video author/producer must be an ARRL
member; however, the people who appear in your video can be
non-members. This contest is intended for amateur videographers. If you
are a professional, please do not apply. Check out all the details --
including the fine print -- on the ARRL Video Contest Rules and
Guidelines Web page <http://www.arrl.org/video-contest>.

==> ARRL PUBLICATIONS: NEW EDITION OF ON4UN'S LOW-BAND DXING NOW
SHIPPING

   The fifth edition of ON4UN's Low-Band DXing: Antennas, Equipment and
Techniques for DXcitement on 160, 80 and 40 Meters by John Devoldere,
ON4UN, features new and updated material. This is a book -- with CD-ROM
included -- that every fan of 40 meters through Top Band needs in the
shack. It is loaded with everything you need to succeed on the low
bands. It's been 25 years since Devoldere published the original Low
Band DXing, sharing his knowledge of techniques for success on 160, 80
and 40 meters. Over the years, the book has evolved to keep pace with
the growing knowledge of propagation, equipment, operating techniques
and receiving and transmitting equipment for the low bands. This
edition is no different, with significant new additions and updates
throughout the book. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/new-edition-of-em-on4un-s-low-band-dxing-em-now-shipping>.

==> + ON THE AIR: 2010 A BANNER YEAR FOR DXCC, INCOMING/OUTGOING QSL
BUREAU

   With the coming of more sunspots, comes more DX. And when more
amateurs are working DX, that means the ARRL's Membership and Volunteer
Programs Department -- especially the DXCC desk and the ARRL Incoming
and Outgoing QSL Bureaus -- goes into high gear.

"Compared to 2009, 2010 saw a dramatic increase in the number of cards
we received from ARRL members that were sent to foreign QSL bureaus, as
well as the number of cards we sent out to the bureaus," said DXCC
Manager Bill Moore, NC1L. "In addition, the number of DXCC applications
-- including those for initial awards and endorsements -- also
increased." Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/2010-a-banner-year-for-dxcc-incoming-outgoing-qsl-bureaus>.

==> + SUPPORT ARRL: ARRL RECEIVES $1 MILLION GIFT TO THE ARRL ENDOWMENT

   In October 2010, the ARRL received word that that it is a
beneficiary of the Charles and Iona Mathias Joint Trust. Dr Mathias,
W8KGD, became a Silent Key in 2008 at the age of 93; Iona, his wife of
62 years, passed away in June 2010. The ARRL is one of five
beneficiaries of the Trust that has an estimated value in excess of $8
million. Each beneficiary is scheduled to receive a 20 percent share of
the residual after other distributions are completed. The ARRL first
learned of the Trust upon Dr Mathias' passing.

"The generosity of Dr and Mrs. Mathias is a shining example of how
individuals can make a continuing impact on the organizations that
influenced their lives," said ARRL Chief Development Officer Mary
Hobart, K1MMH. "The Mathias' generosity to the ARRL during their
lifetime -- and through the Charles and Iona Mathias Joint Trust -- is
an example of commitment to the work of the ARRL, even after their
passing." Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-receives-1-million-gift-to-the-arrl-endowment>.

==> SUPPORT ARRL: ARRL THANKS DONORS WITH PUBLICATION GIFT CERTIFICATES

The end of 2010 is fast approaching and ARRL is poised to close the
books on December 31! Many members wait to make contributions at the
end of the year -- these contributions are important to the ARRL funds
that are not supported by member dues.

But wait! There's more! When you make a contribution of $30 or more
before December 31, you'll receive a complimentary $10 gift
certificate* on your next publication sales purchase with the ARRL. You
can make your gift on our secure Web site <http://www.arrl.org/donate>,
by mail or by phone at 860-594-0397 and we'll send your $10 gift
certificate right away.

You may designate your contribution to one or more of the following
funds:

- The ARRL Diamond Club <http://www.arrl.org/the-arrl-diamond-club> (to
renew your ARRL membership and make a contribution!)
- The Spectrum Defense Fund <http://www.arrl.org/spectrum-defense-fund>
- The Education & Technology Fund
<http://www.arrl.org/education-and-technology-fund>
- The Lab Fund
- The Historic Preservation Fund
<http://www.arrl.org/historic-preservation-fund>
- The ARRL General Fund.

You may decide to make a monthly credit card contribution of $10 or
more on the ARRL Web site to support one of the areas listed above. For
more information, contact ARRL Chief Development Officer Mary Hobart,
K1MMH, via e-mail <mhobart at arrl.org> or by phone at 860-594-0397. Your
year-end contribution is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
ARRL is an IRS designated 501(c)(3) organization holding tax
identification number 06-6000004.

* About ARRL Gift Certificates: After making your contribution of $30
or more, your $10 ARRL Gift Certificate will be promptly mailed to you.
Certificates must be redeemed by April 30, 2011. It is easy to redeem
your certificate online, by mail or phone. This offer is valid on all
sale and regular-priced ARRL publications.

==> + ARRL HEADQUARTERS CLOSED FOR CHRISTMAS, NEW YEAR'S HOLIDAYS

   ARRL Headquarters will be closed Friday, December 24 and Friday,
December 31 in observance of Christmas and New Year's Day. There will
be no W1AW bulletins or code practice transmissions
<http://www.arrl.org/w1aw-operating-schedule> those days. There will be
no ARRL Letter <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/> or ARRL Audio News
<http://www.arrl.org/arrl-audio-news> on Thursday, December 23 and 30;
both the Letter and Audio News will return on January 6, 2011. We wish
everyone a safe and joyful holiday season and a prosperous 2011.

==> SOLAR UPDATE

   Tad "The windows are illuminated by the evening Sun
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZtJWJe_K_w>" Cook, K7RA, reports: The
average daily sunspot numbers for this week declined more than 7 points
from the previous week to 27.6. The solar flux stayed about the same,
up less than a point. The predicted planetary A index for the next five
days -- December 16-20 -- is 8, 5, 8, 8 and 5. The solar flux for the
same days is predicted at 87, 86, 84, 86 and 86. Flux values are
expected to meander between 86 and 88 until the end of the month, when
they are expected to hit 90 around December 29-January 1. Look for more
information -- including information on JHelioviewer, a free
visualization program for examining the millions of images from NASA's
Solar Dynamics Observatory -- on the ARRL Web site on Friday, December
17. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the ARRL
Technical Information Service Propagation page
<http://www.arrl.org/propagation-of-rf-signals>. This week's "Tad
Cookism" is brought to you by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young's	Our
House <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZtJWJe_K_w>.

==> + NEW QUICKSTATS POLL NOW AVAILABLE ON ARRL WEB SITE

Four new poll questions have just been published on the QuickStats page
<http://www.arrl.org/quickstats> on the ARRL Web site. Let your voice
be heard!

Questions in this month's QuickStats poll include:

- Do you use CW on a regular basis?
- If your out-of-warranty transceiver failed, what would you do?
- Do you own a tablet computer?
- Does your ARES® group use the ARRL Public Service Activity Report
<http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Public%2520Service/fsd157.pdf> form to
document SKYWARN activity?

Visit the QuickStats page <http://www.arrl.org/quickstats> and be sure
to bookmark it in your browser. Results from this QuickStats poll will
be published in the March 2011 issue of QST on the QuickStats page,
located in the rear advertising section of the magazine. Along with
monthly poll results, QST QuickStats offers colorful charts and graphs
that highlight interesting Amateur Radio statistics.

==> THIS WEEK ON THE RADIO

This week:

-  December 17 -- NCCC Sprint Ladder; Russian 160 Meter Contest;
AGB-Party Contest
-  December 18 -- OK DX RTTY Contest; RAC Winter Contest
-  December 18-January 2 -- Lighthouse Christmas Lights QSO Party
-  December 18-19 -- Stew Perry Topband Challenge; Croatian CW Contest
-  December 19 -- ARRL Rookie Roundup (CW)
<http://www.arrl.org/rookie-roundup>; ARCI Holiday Spirits Homebrew
Sprint
-  December 20 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest
-  December 22 -- SKCC Sprint

Next week and beyond:

-  January 1 -- ARRL Straight Key Night
<http://www.arrl.org/straight-key-night>; SARTG New Year RTTY Contest;
AGCW Happy New Year Contest; AGCW VHF/UHF Contest
-  January 1-2 -- Original QRP Contest
-  January 4 -- ARS Spartan Sprint
-  January 7 -- NCCC Sprint Ladder
-  January 8 -- Midwinter Contest (CW)
-  January 8-9 -- ARRL RTTY Roundup <http://www.arrl.org/rtty-roundup>;
North American QSO Party (CW); Michigan QRP January (CW); Contest
Hunting Lions in the Air Contest; EUCW 160 Meter Contest; WW PMC
Contest
-  January 9 -- NRAU-Baltic Contest (CW); Midwinter Contest (Phone);
NRAU-Baltic Contest (SSB)
-  January 12-13 -- CWops Mini-CWT Test

All dates, unless otherwise stated, are UTC. See the ARRL Contest
Branch page <http://www.arrl.org/contests>, the ARRL Contest Update
<http://www.arrl.org/The-ARRL-Contest-Update> and the WA7BNM Contest
Calendar <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html> for more
info. Looking for a Special Event station? Be sure to check out the
ARRL Special Event Stations Web page
<http://www.arrl.org/special-event-stations>.

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

- January 8, 2011 -- ARRL Delta Division Convention
<http://www.selarc.org/selarchamfest.htm>, Hammond, Louisiana
- January 9, 2011 -- ARRL New York-Long Island Section Convention
<http://www.hamradiouniversity.org/>, Bethpage, New York
- January 15, 2011 -- ARRL Southern Florida Section Convention
<http://fmarc.net/hamfest_2011.htm>, Fort Myers, Florida
- January 28-29, 2011 -- ARRL Mississippi State Convention
<http://www.msham.org/hamfest.php>, Jackson, Mississippi

To find a convention or hamfest near you, click here
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests>.

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