[Letter-List] The ARRL Letter for June 24, 2010

Fri Jun 25 16:02:40 EDT 2010

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            The  ARRL Letter

Published by the American Radio Relay League
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June 24, 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

- + ARRL Field Day: Have a Frolicking, Rollicking Time in the
"Playground"
- ARRL Field Day: W1AW Announces 2010 Field Day Bulletin Schedule
- + 2009 ARRL Annual Report Now Available
- + ARRL Publications: Lots in Store in the July/August NCJ
- + ARRL Publications: QEX -- The July/August Issue
- + Public Service: WX4NHC and Amateur Radio Featured on NHC's New
Hurricane Preparedness Web Site
- + Solar Update
- + E-mails Asking for Personal Information Are Not from ARRL
- This Week on the Radio

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

==> + ARRL FIELD DAY: HAVE A FROLICKING, ROLLICKING TIME IN THE
"PLAYGROUND"

Part 97 -- the portion of the FCC rules that covers the Amateur Service
-- states in Section 97.1
<http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2002/octqtr/pdf/47cfr97.1.pdf> that
one of the goals of our Service is "the continuation and extension of
the amateur's unique ability to enhance international goodwill." But
according to ARRL Field Day Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, we are more
than casual observers or bystanders on this global stage: "We are
participants in that magical playground. And I am proud to say that I'm
a ham -- my playground is the world!" This year, ARRL Field Day
<http://www.arrl.org/field-day> is June 26-27.

   Henderson explains that even though at times the focus of the
Amateur Radio community is rightfully on how we can work with our towns
and communities by providing public service and emergency
communications, "Deep down anyone who has picked up a microphone,
tapped out a call sign on a brass key or descrambled a digital Baudot
or PSK-31 signal understands there is fun here. That fun knows no
borders. The thrill of the chase of adding new states, countries or
grid squares to our Worked All States <http://www.arrl.org/was>, DXCC
<http://www.arrl.org/dxcc> and VUCC <http://www.arrl.org/vucc> totals
underscores that when we 'play radio' -- as some friends of mine used
to say -- we are there in large part to enjoy our hobby."

This is just one of the messages you can find in ARRL Field Day. Each
year tens of thousands of participants bring an element of fun with
them as they combine the public service aspects of the Amateur Service
with the experimental nature our hobby. As they build relationships
with served agencies and local officials at Field Day sites across the
US and Canada -- and beyond <http://www.arrl.org/field-day-locator> --
they learn new skills as they make or renew friendships both on and off
the air.

Henderson advises that as you prepare for what many consider the best
"total Amateur Radio" experience of the year, "keep in mind the old
adage -- 'All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.' Let your 'inner
child' out as you embrace ARRL Field Day 2010. Do something new this
year: Build a different antenna, try one of the newer digital modes,
operate on a band that you rarely utilize, serve as a get-on-the-air
coach for your club, show some neighbors what this 'radio thing' is all
about, organize a Scout or youth group visit to your club's set-up --
you are only limited by the borders of your mind. But then again, is
there a limit? After all -- our playground is the world!"

==> ARRL FIELD DAY: W1AW ANNOUNCES 2010 FIELD DAY BULLETIN SCHEDULE

Stations active during ARRL Field Day -- June 26-27 -- are eligible to
receive 100 bonus points for copying the special Field Day bulletin
transmitted by W1AW (or K6KPH on the West Coast) according to the
schedule below. You must include an accurate copy of the message in
your Field Day submission. The Field Day bulletin must be copied via
Amateur Radio; it will not be included in Internet bulletins sent out
from Headquarters and will not be posted to Internet BBS sites. Read
more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/w1aw-announces-2010-field-day-bulletin-schedule>.

==> + 2009 ARRL ANNUAL REPORT NOW AVAILABLE

 <http://www.arrl.org/news/2009-em-arrl-annual-report-em-now-available>
  The ARRL Annual Report for 2009 -- now available online and in print
-- reviews the major events of the year and documents the renewed
growth of both the ARRL and the activities of the Amateur Radio
Service. In 2009, the ARRL experienced a growth in membership, ending
the year with 156,125 members, an increase of nearly 1 percent from
2008. ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, called it "obvious, contrary
to the soap box of the doom and gloom crowd" that interest in Amateur
Radio is still in great shape: "2009 was a year where we exceeded our
goal of 30,000 new Amateur Radio licensees and the ARRL membership grew
right at 1500 members. Even in a year of national economic turmoil, our
publication and advertising sales were strong for the year and provided
a solid financial result that will allow us to continue to fund a
number of initiatives that support and defend the Amateur Radio
Service." Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/2009-em-arrl-annual-report-em-now-available>.

==> + ARRL PUBLICATIONS: LOTS IN STORE IN THE JULY/AUGUST NCJ

   The July/August issue of NCJ, The National Contest Journal, is
filled with the latest news from the contesting world. Whether you are
new to contesting or are a seasoned pro -- or somewhere in the middle
-- you will find something in NCJ just for you. In addition to the
contest-related articles, the results from the January North American
Sprint (CW) and the February North American Sprint (SSB) are in the
July/August issue of NCJ, as well as the results from January's CW and
SSB North American QSO Parties and February's RTTY North American QSO
Party. Of course, there are all the regular columns and features you
expect from NCJ: "Workshop Chronicles" by Don Daso, K4ZA; "Contest
Tips, Tricks and Techniques" by Gary Sutcliffe, W9XT; "VHF-UHF
Contesting" by Jon Jones, N0JK; "RTTY Contesting" by Ed Muns, W0YK;
"Propagation" by Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA; "Contesting on a Budget" by
Ralph Bellas, K9ZO; "Software for Contesters" by Pete Smith, N4ZR, and
"Contesting 101" by Kirk Pickering, K4RO. NCJ is published six times a
year by the ARRL; it is edited by Al Dewey, K0AD. NCJ is what every
contester needs in their shack -- subscribe today! Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/lots-in-store-in-the-july-august-ncj>.

==> + ARRL PUBLICATIONS: QEX -- THE JULY/AUGUST ISSUE

   The July/August issue of QEX is coming soon, and it is full of
theoretical and practical technical articles that you won't want to
miss. QEX is the ARRL's "Forum for Communications Experimenters."
Published bimonthly, it features technical articles, columns and other
items of interest to radio amateurs and communications professionals.
The mission of QEX is threefold: To provide a medium for the exchange
of ideas and information among Amateur Radio experimenters, to document
advanced technical work in the Amateur Radio field, and to support
efforts to advance the state of the Amateur Radio art. QEX is edited by
Larry Wolfgang, WR1B. Subscribe to QEX today. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/em-qex-em-the-july-august-issue>.

==> + PUBLIC SERVICE: WX4NHC AND AMATEUR RADIO FEATURED ON NHC'S NEW
HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS WEB SITE

   In April, the National Hurricane Center (NHC
<http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/index.shtml>) debuted a new Web site
<http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/intro.shtml> dedicated to
hurricane preparedness. The site explains that a lack of hurricane
awareness and preparation are common threads among all major hurricane
disasters, and that by knowing your vulnerability and what actions you
should take, you can reduce the effects of a hurricane disaster. One of
the tools that the NHC mentions on its Web site
<http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/forecast/observations.shtml> is
WX4NHC <http://www.wx4nhc.org/>, the Amateur Radio station located at
NHC Headquarters in Miami, Florida. In speaking about the WX4NHC
volunteer ham radio operators, the NHC notes that "formal Amateur Radio
activity at the National Hurricane Center was initiated in 1980 and has
been an important source of real-time weather observations before,
during and after hurricane landfalls. Dedicated ham radio volunteers
work at NHC during storm events to help provide NHC meteorologists with
very important data that is used in the hurricane warning process.
Please visit www.wx4nhc.org <http://www.wx4nhc.org/> for a more
detailed history of the WX4NHC ham radio service." WX4NHC Assistant
Coordinator Julio Ripoll, WD4R, said he hopes that this updated NHC Web
page "will help promote public awareness about Amateur Radio and more
activity from the Amateur Radio community during this hurricane
season."

==> + AMATEUR RADIO IN SPACE: AMSAT ANNOUNCES 2010 CONFERENCE, CALLS
FOR PAPERS

   The 2010 AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual Meeting
<http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/symposium/2010/index.php> will be held
Friday, October 8 through Sunday, October 10 at the Chicago/Elk Grove
Holiday Inn located near O'Hare Airport (the same hotel that recently
hosted the Central States VHF Conference, Digital Communications
Conference and NIDXCC events). Amateur Radio operators interested in
space communications are invited to participate in the Symposium
offerings, including a space symposium with amateur satellite
presentations, as well as a chance to learn about operating techniques,
news and plans from the amateur satellite world. Attendees will be able
to meet AMSAT board members and officers and attend the annual
membership meeting, the annual banquet, the President's Club receptions
and the Area Coordinators' breakfast. Room rate and reservation
information will be announced shortly on the Symposium's Web site
<http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/symposium/2010/index.php>.

The AMSAT Symposium Committee is also inviting proposals for papers for
publication in the Symposium's proceedings, as well as poster
presentations and equipment and operating demonstrations. Any topic is
welcome, as long as it is of interest to the amateur satellite
community. Those interested in presenting must submit the tentative
title of their presentation as soon as possible, with a final copy
submitted by September 1, 2010 in order to be included in the printed
proceedings. Abstracts and papers should be submitted via e-mail
<k9jkm at comcast.net> to JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM. For more information,
please consult the Symposium Author's Guide
<http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/images/fck_images/AuthorGuide201029.txt>.

==> + SOLAR UPDATE

   Tad "Dreams are the bright creatures of poem and legend, who sport
on Earth in the night season, and melt away in the first beam of the
Sun, which lights grim care and stern reality on their daily pilgrimage
through the world
<http://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/d/dickens/charles/d54nn/>" Cook, K7RA,
reports: Despite the fact that the previous week had two days with no
sunspots, this past week had a lower average daily sunspot number,
falling nearly 11 points from 26.9 to 16.1; geomagnetic conditions were
quieter as well. In tomorrow's bulletin, we will have an updated
propagation forecast for Field Day weekend. The latest forecast shows a
slowly rising solar flux, but possibly with unsettled geomagnetic
conditions. Predicted solar flux for June 24-27 -- today through Sunday
-- is 74, 75, 75 and 76, with the planetary A index at 5, 8, 15 and 12.
The unsettled conditions on Saturday would be from a solar wind stream
spewing out a coronal hole, which may be delayed by a day or two. A two
day delay would be better for Field Day operations. Look for more
information on the ARRL Web site on Friday, June 25. 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" brought to you by Charles Dickens' The Life and Adventures of
Nicholas Nickleby
<http://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/d/dickens/charles/d54nn/> (Chapter 13).

==> + E-MAILS ASKING FOR PERSONAL INFORMATION ARE NOT FROM ARRL

   We have received several reports from ARRL members with arrl.net
e-mail accounts who have recently been contacted via e-mail asking for
personal information, such as user names and passwords. Please be
assured that these e-mails are fraudulent attempts at phishing
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phishing> and did not originate from
ARRL. "This is a very crude attempt at phishing, using an easily
determined spoof of the originating/return address," said ARRL Chief
Financial Officer Barry Shelley, N1VXY. "There is never a time when we
would ask via mass e-mail for user names and passwords of arrl.net
users. There is simply no need to ever do so." If you receive an e-mail
asking for personal information and it looks like it originated from
ARRL, please do not respond, just delete it.

==> THIS WEEK ON THE RADIO

This week, everyone is on the air for ARRL Field Day on June 26-27.
Look for the His Majesty King of Spain Contest (SSB) and the Marconi
Memorial HF Contest, also on June 26-27. The SARL Digital Contest is
June 27 and the RAC Canada Day Contest is July 1. Next week, there is
another running of the NCCC Sprint Ladder on July 2. The DL-DX RTTY
Contest and the Venezuelan Independence Day Contest are July 3-4. The
Michigan QRP July 4th CW Sprint is July 4-5. 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 Station Web page
<http://www.arrl.org/special-events>.

==> ON THE AIR: RMS EXPRESS WITH WINMOR NOW AVAILABLE FOR WINLINK 2000

 <http://www.arrl.org/images/view/News/Winmor.jpg>   The Amateur Radio
Safety Foundation (ARSFI) has announced the availability of RMS Express
user software with WINMOR, a new radio-email application for use with
the Winlink 2000 network. The WINMOR protocol was introduced at the
2008 ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference in Chicago. The goal
of the WINMOR development effort was to create a soundcard digital mode
that would provide an alternative to PACTOR for accessing the Winlink
2000 network. After two years of beta testing, WINMOR TNC, a
software-based "helper application," is now available as part of the
new Winlink RMS Express user software suite. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/rms-express-with-winmor-now-available-for-winlink-2000>.

==> ARRL CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSE REGISTRATION

   Registration remains open through Sunday, July 25, 2010, for these
online course sessions <http://www.arrl.org/online-course-registration>
beginning on Friday, August 6, 2010: Amateur Radio Emergency
Communications Level 1. To learn more, visit the CEP Course Listing
page <http://www.arrl.org/online-courses> or contact the Continuing
Education Program Coordinator <cep at arrl.org>.

The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 50 times each year. ARRL
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<http://www.arrl.org/Users/edit#!/edit-info-email_subscriptions>.

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