[Letter-List] The ARRL Letter for February 25, 2010

Thu Feb 25 16:58:11 EST 2010

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            The  ARRL Letter

Published by the American Radio Relay League
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February 25, 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: FCC Allows Robotic Device in Amateur Band
- Public Service: Injured Colorado Skier Uses Amateur Radio to Summon
Help
- Launch of New ARRL Web Site Delayed to "Get it Right"
- On the Air: ARRL DX Phone Contest Brings DX in Full Force to the HF
Bands!
- Section News: ARRL Virginia Section Manager Election Results
- Amateur Radio Direction Finding: Foxes, Fitness and Fun in 2010
- Solar Update
- This Week on the Radio

==> FCC NEWS: FCC ALLOWS ROBOTIC DEVICE IN AMATEUR BAND

   In January 2008, a company called ReconRobotics filed a request with
the FCC for a waiver of Part 90 of the Commission's Rules with respect
to the Recon Scout -- a remote-controlled, maneuverable surveillance
robot designed for use in areas that may be too hazardous for human
entry. A waiver is required to permit licensing of the Recon Scout
because the device operates in the 430-448 MHz band, which is allocated
to the Federal Government Radiolocation service on a primary basis, as
well as the Amateur Radio Service and certain non-federal radiolocation
systems on a secondary basis. More than two years later, the FCC
granted the waiver request in the form of an Order (WP Docket No
08-63), subject to certain conditions.

In its comments filed in May 2008, the ARRL called on the FCC to deny
ReconRobotics waiver request, "either permanently or even temporarily."
The FCC noted in the waiver that they had received more than 70
comments "generally consist[ing] of public safety and law enforcement
entities supporting the waiver request, and amateur radio operators
opposing it." In their initial waiver request, ReconRobotics asserted
that even thought the device operates in a in an area allocated to
other services, including Amateur Radio, the Recon Scout operates with
only 1 W peak power and it is "unlikely to cause interference to these
services."

The FCC noted in the Order that they had received more than 70 comments
"generally consist[ing] of public safety and law enforcement entities
supporting the waiver request, and amateur radio operators opposing
it." In their initial waiver request, ReconRobotics asserted that even
though the device operates in an area allocated to other services,
including Amateur Radio, the Recon Scout operates with only 1 W peak
power and it is "unlikely to cause interference to these services."
Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2010/02/25/11361/?nc=1>.

==> PUBLIC SERVICE: INJURED COLORADO SKIER USES AMATEUR RADIO TO SUMMON
HELP

 <http://www.arrl.org/news/images/nms/fullsized/1418.jpg>   When Steve
Priem, N0YIV, of Boulder, Colorado, decided to go backcountry skiing
near Yankee Doodle Lake in the Guinn Mountain area of Colorado's
Roosevelt National Forest on Friday, February 19, the 60 year old ham
made sure he was well prepared: Not only did he take along a rescue
whistle, he made sure his handheld transceiver was fully charged and in
his pack.

It's a good thing he did: When Priem was injured while skiing, he used
his radio to summon help. According to ARRL Colorado Section Manager
Jeff Ryan, K0RM, a ham more than 100 miles away in Colorado Springs
answered Priem's call for help and called 911. Priem was able to
provide GPS coordinates for his position. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2010/02/22/11353/?nc=1>.

==> LAUNCH OF NEW ARRL WEB SITE DELAYED TO "GET IT RIGHT"

   After meeting with ARRL staff on February 23 -- two days before the
new ARRL Web site was to launch -- ARRL Chief Operating Officer Harold
Kramer, WJ1B, made the decision to delay the unveiling of the Web site
until late March. "Work on the new ARRL Web site has progressed at a
frantic pace but there are still some potential 'bugs' that could
affect members. We need to be sure we get it right," Kramer said. "Our
members' security, information and ability to actually use of all the
options on the new site outweigh any rush to meet an artificial
deadline. It's just good customer service."

The new Web site -- which will contain the online store, class
registrations, audio, video, DXCC information, contest data,
individualized member options and other 21st century opportunities for
members -- is one of the largest technology upgrade activities that
ARRL and Fathom, the company programming the site, have ever
undertaken. "Reviewers have been unanimously impressed and are helping
make sure we create the easiest, most enjoyable online experience
possible," Kramer explained.

According to ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts,
W1AGP, the current ARRL Web site is not only used by ARRL members, but
is a prime reference source for engineers, hams and wireless
technicians around the world, making it the premier place to find
information about Amateur Radio, its activities and the sciences behind
it. "The Web is our main face to the world, and the new Web site will
be fantastic," he said. "Although we all regret the delay, I believe
our members will appreciate our diligence about the ease of use,
security and navigation for the new site."

==> ON THE AIR: ARRL DX PHONE CONTEST BRINGS DX IN FULL FORCE TO THE HF
BANDS!

 <http://www.arrl.org/news/images/nms/fullsized/1419.jpg>   With the
2010 ARRL International DX CW Contest now history, the first weekend in
March brings the next round of competition: the 2010 ARRL International
DX Phone Contest. Like its CW predecessor, this event focuses on DX
stations working all US states and Canadian provinces, while US and
Canadian amateurs try to work as many DX countries as possible over the
48 hour contest period. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2010/02/24/11356/?nc=1>.

==> SECTION NEWS: ARRL VIRGINIA SECTION MANAGER ELECTION RESULTS

   In the only Section Manager race this winter, Carl Clements, W4CAC,
was re-elected as the ARRL Virginia Section Manager. He received 855
votes; his opponent, Glen Sage, W4GHS, received 511 votes. Election
ballots were counted February 23 at ARRL Headquarters. Clements, of
Portsmouth, starts his new two year term of office on April 1, 2010. In
North Carolina, Bill Morine, N2COP, of Wilmington begins his first term
as Section Manager on April 1. Section Manager Tim Slay, N4IB, decided
not to run again for another term of office, and Morine was the only
nominee. Slay has served two terms as North Carolina's Section Manager.

The following incumbent ARRL Section Managers did not face opposition
and were declared elected for their next terms of office beginning
April 1: Pete Cecere, N2YJZ, Eastern New York; Eric Olena, WB3FPL,
Eastern Pennsylvania; Gary Stratton, K5GLS, Louisiana; Bob Schneider,
AH6J, Pacific; Steve Early, AD6VI, San Diego, and Scott Rausch, WA0VKC,
South Dakota.

==> AMATEUR RADIO DIRECTION FINDING: FOXES, FITNESS AND FUN IN 2010

By ARRL ARDF Coordinator Joe Moell, K0OV

 <http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2010/02/24/11358/?nc=1>   "Geeks in
the woods!" That's how Jay Hennigan, WB6RDV, of Goleta, California,
describes Amateur Radio Direction Finding (ARDF). Several times a year,
Jay gets together with friends for a session of this international
Amateur Radio sport -- also called foxtailing and radio-orienteering.
As they set out, five 2 meter "foxes" are somewhere in the woods,
transmitting for one minute each in sequence. Armed with a special ARDF
set or just a handheld transceiver with a measuring-tape Yagi and
attenuator, they see how fast they can run or walk from the start to
each transmitter in optimum order and then back to the start, or
perhaps to a separate finish point. To help them navigate, they carry
compasses and special orienteering maps, but they aren't allowed to
have GPS displays or other high-tech navigation aids. Standardized ARDF
courses provide a good test of equipment performance and hunter skill.
It's friendly competition combined with great exercise. It attracts
"techies" and "jocks" of all ages who don't need a ham license to get
started. And for some, it leads to medals at national and international
competitions. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2010/02/24/11358/?nc=1>.

==> INTERNATIONAL NEWS: ICELAND AMATEURS RECEIVE NEW PRIVILEGES

   As of Friday, February 19, Iceland's Post and Telecom Administration
(PTA <http://www.pta.is/Default.aspx?cat_id=101>) granted temporary
experimental access to the 4 and 600 meter bands at least through the
end of 2010, according to Islenzkir Radioamatorar (IRA
<http://www.ira.is/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=4194372>) President
Jonas Bjarnason, TF2JB; the ITA is Iceland's IARU
<http://www.iaru.org/> Member-Society. After obtaining a special
license from the PTA, Bjarnason said that TF stations with "N" or "G"
class licenses may now operate between 493-510 kHz and 70.000-70.200
MHz running 100 W. Amateur operations on both bands are granted on a
secondary basis.

==> W1AW ANNOUNCES NEW SCHEDULE FOR DIGITAL BULLETIN TRANSMISSIONS

   Beginning Monday, March 15, W1AW <http://www.arrl.org/w1aw.html>,
the Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station, will alternate the digital
modes used for its digital bulletin transmissions. While Baudot, PSK31
and MFSK16 still make up the digital mode complement, W1AW Station
Manager Joe Carcia, NJ1Q, says that the schedule will be altered to
give more exposure to PSK31 and MFSK16. "Because of time constraints
and the varying lengths of digital bulletins, there were many instances
where only Baudot was used," he said. "With the new schedule, amateurs
preferring either PSK31 or MFSK16 will no longer find these modes
secondary." Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2010/02/16/11343/?nc=1>.

==> SOLAR UPDATE

   Tad "Late lies the wintry Sun a-bed
<http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/winter-time/>" Cook, K7RA, reports: The
unbroken string of sunspots continues. Two new groups -- 1050 and 1051
-- appeared in the past two days, and we've now had 36 continuous days
with sunspots. Prior to that, there is just a single day once in a
while with no spots. The last time we had more than one day of no
sunspots was a few months ago, November 23 through December 8. Look for
more information on the ARRL Web site on Friday, February 26, including
a discussion about an increase in reports of 10 meter activity, and a
"reverse beacon network" that uses CW skimmers to automatically check
many frequencies from many locations, and then list the calls heard on
a Web site. 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 Robert Louis Stevenson's Winter Time
<http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/winter-time/>.

==>  ARRL FIELD DAY : 2010 FIELD DAY PACKETS NOW AVAILABLE

   It's that time of year again -- time to start gearing up for ARRL
Field Day, June 26-27, 2010! ARRL's flagship operating event -- always
held the fourth full weekend in June -- brings together new and
experienced hams for 24 hours of operating fun. Field Day packets are
now available for download
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/forms/fd-2010-packet.pdf> and include the
complete rules (including changes for 2010), as well as other reference
items such as forms, ARRL Section abbreviation list, entry submission
instructions, a Frequently Asked Questions section, guidelines for
getting bonus points, instructions for GOTA stations, a kit to
publicize your event with the local press and more.

==> W1AW NEWS: MARCH W1AW/WEST COAST QUALIFYING RUN SCHEDULE

   The March schedules for the W1AW and West Coast Qualifying Runs were
inadvertently left out of the March issue of QST. The March schedules
for W1AW are as follows: Friday, March 5 at 10 PM EST (Saturday, March
6 at 0300 UTC) for 10-25 WPM and Tuesday, March 16 at 7 PM EDT (2300
UTC) for 10-40 WPM. The West Coast Qualifying run will be transmitted
by station K6KPH on Saturday, March 13 at 2 PM PDT (2200 UTC) for 10-35
WPM. The run will be transmitted simultaneously on 3581.5, 7047.5,
14047.5, 18097.5 and 21067.5 kHz.

==> THIS WEEK ON THE RADIO

This week, look for an NCCC Sprint Ladder on February 26. The Russian
PSK WW Contest and the CQ 160 Meter Contest (SSB) are on February
26-27. The REF Contest (SSB), the EPC WW DX Contest, the UBA DX Contest
(CW), the Mississippi QSO Party and the North American QSO Party (RTTY)
are all on February 27-28. The High Speed Club CW Contest is February
28. The North Carolina QSO Party is February 28-March 1. The ARS
Spartan Sprint and the AGCW YL-CW Party are both on March 2. Next week,
look for the ARRL International DX Contest (SSB)
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2010/intldx.html> on March 6-7. The
Wake-Up! QRP Sprint is March 6 and the DARC 10 Meter Digital Contest is
March 7. The CLARA HF Contest is March 9-10 (continuing on March 13-14)
and the CWops Mini-CWT Test is March 10-11. 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, March 21, 2010, for these
online course sessions <http://www.arrl.org/cep/student/> beginning on
Friday, April 2, 2010: 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>.

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