[Letter-List] The ARRL Letter for May 27, 2010

Thu May 27 14:59:40 EDT 2010

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            The  ARRL Letter

Published by the American Radio Relay League
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May 27, 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: Bill Cross, W3TN, Presents FCC Forum at 2010 Dayton
Hamvention®
- + FCC News: FCC Upholds Decision to Revoke Amateur License of
Convicted Indiana Ham
- + ARRL Audio News Returns This Week
- + NCVEC Question Pool Committee Withdraws Four Questions
- + Regulatory: New Zealand's Radio Spectrum Management Cites Ham for
Transmitting 3100 W
- + International Perspective: Order Your IRCs Online at USPS Web Site
- + International Perspective: Ham Visitors to South Africa Able to
Operate, Use Special Call Sign Prefix During World Cup
- There's Still Time to Enter the 2010 ARRL Photo Contest!
- ARRL Field Day Merchandise Now Available
- + Solar Update
- + Silent Key: Robert Brown PhD, NM7M (SK)
- This Week on the Radio

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

==> + FCC NEWS: BILL CROSS, W3TN, PRESENTS FCC FORUM AT 2010 DAYTON
HAMVENTION®

   Bill Cross, W3TN, a staff member in the FCC's Mobility Division --
part of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau
<http://wireless.fcc.gov/> -- spoke at the FCC Forum on Saturday
morning at the 2010 Dayton Hamvention <http://www.hamvention.org/>®.
Billed by the Hamvention's Forum Committee as more of an emergency
communications discussion, Cross discussed this and other matters --
such as FCC proceedings regarding vanity and club call signs, 60 meters
and power limits for spread-spectrum users, -- as well as the FCC's
National Broadband Plan (NBP
<http://download.broadband.gov/plan/national-broadband-plan.pdf>). The
FCC's Mobility Division handles the day-to-day administration of the
Amateur Service, along with some of the rulemaking activities that
affect Amateur Radio. The Division has staff members in Washington, DC
and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The Gettysburg staff deals with most of
the Amateur Radio applications and licensing matters, as well as the
Universal Licensing System (ULS
<http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls/index.htm?job=home>). Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/bill-cross-w3tn-presents-fcc-forum-at-2010-dayton-hamvention>.

==> + FCC NEWS: FCC UPHOLDS DECISION TO REVOKE AMATEUR LICENSE OF
CONVICTED INDIANA HAM

   Lonnie L. Keeney, KB9RFO, of Greencastle, Indiana, filed a Petition
for Reconsideration
<http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020382453> in March
2010, asking that the FCC re-evaluate the revocation of his Amateur
Radio license
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-456A1.pdf>.
Keeney -- who in 2002 was convicted of child molestation, a Class C
felony -- was found by the FCC in February 2010 to be "lack[ing] the
requisite character qualifications to be and remain a Commission
licensee." Keeney appealed the decision, and on May 24, the FCC denied
his Petition via an Order on Reconsideration
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-10-916A1.pdf>,
affirming the revocation of his Amateur Radio license. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-upholds-decision-to-revoke-amateur-license-of-convicted-indiana-ham>.

==> + ARRL AUDIO NEWS RETURNS THIS WEEK

After a hiatus of nearly four months, the ARRL Audio News is scheduled
to return this week on Thursday, May 27. With the advent of the new
ARRL Web site, we have had to make some changes in the way the Audio
News is presented. For the time being, it will only be available as one
mp3 file. Beginning this week, you can find the ARRL Audio News here
<http://www.arrl.org/arrl-audio-news> most Thursdays on the ARRL Web
site.

==> + NCVEC QUESTION POOL COMMITTEE WITHDRAWS FOUR QUESTIONS

   The Question Pool Committee (QPC) of the National Conference of
Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (NCVEC) announced the withdrawal of two
questions from the Technician class pool and two questions from the
Extra class pool. Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (VECs) and Volunteer
Examiners (VEs) must take action to remove these questions from use by
July 1, 2010. Due to a rules change and pending action by the FCC,
questions T2C02 and T2C03 from the July 2010 Technician Pool and
questions E1C04 and E1C05 from the July 2008 Extra Pool may not be used
in examinations after June 30. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/ncvec-question-pool-committee-withdraws-four-questions>.

==> + REGULATORY: NEW ZEALAND'S RADIO SPECTRUM MANAGEMENT CITES HAM FOR
TRANSMITTING 3100 W

   Last month, New Zealand's Radio Spectrum Management (RSM) -- that
country's equivalent of the FCC -- charged and fined Alan Potter,
ZL3II, of Christchurch, for transmitting outside the terms and
conditions of the General User Radio License for Amateur Radio
Operators. Potter was charged in the Christchurch District Court on
April 14 and found guilty of breaching Section 113 of the
Radiocommunications Act 1989. Section 113 deals with those who "commit
an offence under this Act who transmit radio waves."

Potter was found in possession of radio transmitting equipment that was
capable of operating at a significantly higher power than the Amateur
Radio Operators General License allows. He was fined $1750 ($1164 USD)
and $130 ($86 USD) for costs. Potter was also required to forfeit his
radio equipment. Section 114 of the Radiocommunications Act of 1989
references Section 113 and presumes that "any person who erects,
constructs, establishes, maintains, or is in possession of any radio
transmitter is presumed to have used the radio transmitter." According
to news reports, RSM was alerted to a video that Potter posted on
YouTube (the video has since been removed), showing showed his
transmitter operating at 3100 W. Operating at such high transmitting
power is likely to cause interference to, and disruption of, a range of
other licensed radio services in the local area. New Zealand amateurs
are restricted to no more than 500 W PEP. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/new-zealand-s-radio-spectrum-management-cites-ham-for-transmitting-3100-w>.

==> AMATEUR RADIO IN SPACE: AMATEUR COMMUNITY NEEDED TO ASSIST JAPANESE
AMATEUR INTERPLANETARY SATELLITE

   An informal network of ham radio experimenters, scientists and CW
enthusiasts called FlyVenusCom -- a nonprofit, cross-cultural effort --
has been created to support communication efforts by Japanese
scientists with its CubeSat Venus probe, UNITEC-1. This CubeSat was
developed by 20 universities of the University Space Engineering
Consortium (UNISEC), the Japanese community developing nano-satellites.
The Japanese UNITEC-1 team has called for ham radio assistance
worldwide in improving and testing two areas of the CubeSat's mission.
What makes this mission of particular interest to amateurs is the fact
that the UNITEC engineers have added a 5 GHz Amateur Radio beacon to
the spacecraft and they are encouraging hams to attempt to receive it.
On May 21, Japanese ground stations reported receiving the CW and FSK
beacons (call sign JQ1ZUN) at a distance of about 30,000 km. They
measured the beacon frequency at 5839.91 MHz. Even though the latest
reports say that the signal has been lost, the UNITEC team is trying to
re-establish contact with the satellite. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/amateur-community-needed-to-assist-japanese-amateur-interplanetary-satellite>.

==> ARRL PUBLICATIONS: TWO NEW BOOKS AVAILABLE FROM ARRL

Just as many vendors release new products at the Dayton Hamvention, the
ARRL will debut much-anticipated publications. This year was no
exception. Two new books -- Remote Operating for Amateur Radio and the
third edition of The ARRL RFI Book -- were introduced.

 <http://www.arrl.org/shop/Remote-Operating-for-Amateur-Radio/>
Remote Operating for Amateur Radio shows amateurs how to assemble their
own Internet-controlled stations. As many hams are discovering, it has
become increasingly difficult to enjoy Amateur Radio at home. Some have
been driven off the air altogether by antenna restrictions, local
interference and other limiting factors. But the widespread
availability of high-speed Internet offers a powerful solution:
Amateurs can now setup a complete station at a remote location and
operate via the Internet, just as though they are actually sitting in
front of the radio. That radio could be just across town or 2000 miles
away.

 <http://www.arrl.org/shop/The-ARRL-RFI-Book-3rd-Edition/>   ARRL's
team of experts has compiled the best advice available on every type of
radio frequency interference (RFI) in this brand new edition of The
ARRL RFI Book. From automotive to television, from computers to DVD
players, from audio equipment to telephones, amateurs will find a
step-by-step process for eliminating problematic interference in one
convenient book. The third edition of The ARRL RFI Book also includes
resources for addressing new realities of digital cable TV and
satellite systems, over-the-air TV signals and troubleshooting, as well
as hybrid and all-electric automobiles. For more information on these
two new exciting publications, including how to get your own copy,
click here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/two-new-books-available-from-arrl>.

==> + INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE: ORDER YOUR IRCS ONLINE AT USPS WEB
SITE

   Many hams have long complained about difficulties they have
encountered when purchasing International Reply Coupons (IRC
<http://www.upu.int/news_centre/2008/2008-08-08_irc.jpg>s) from their
local post offices. Now the US Postal Service (USPS
<http://www.usps.com/>) has made it easier to get those IRCs to send
with your direct QSL cards -- order them online from the USPS Web site
<https://shop.usps.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10052&productId=10006688&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=10000002&top_category=10000002&categoryId=10000034&top=&currentPage=0&sort=&viewAll=N&rn=CategoriesDisplay&WT.ac=10>.
The USPS ships all in-stock domestic orders for stamps and retail items
within 1 business day via Priority Mail with Delivery Confirmation or
First Class Mail. Shipments should arrive within 3-5 business days. All
stamp orders are charged a $1 handling fee, regardless of the order
amount. IRCs purchased from the USPS, whether online or in person at a
post office, cost $2.10 each. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/order-your-ircs-online-at-usps-web-site>.

==> + INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE: HAM VISITORS TO SOUTH AFRICA ABLE TO
OPERATE, USE SPECIAL CALL SIGN PREFIX DURING WORLD CUP

   Through an agreement between the South African Radio League (SARL
<http://www.sarl.org.za/>) and the Independent Communications Authority
of South Africa, those radio amateurs who will be attending the FIFA
World Cup <http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/> in South Africa may use a
special ZS call sign <http://www.amateurradio.org.za/worldcup.htm>
during the event. SARL is South Africa's IARU Member-Society. After
registering with SARL prior to arrival in South Africa, hams may attach
ZS10 to the front of their own call sign (i.e. ZS10/K1SFA) from June
11-July 11. Hams interested in obtaining permission to use ZS10/ must
complete the form and e-mail it to SARL <worldcup at sarl.org.za>, along
with a copy of their passport page showing the ham's photograph and a
copy of their current Amateur Radio license. Hams will need to keep a
both a copy of the form and their license while in South Africa. In
anticipation of the World Cup, SARL and its affiliated clubs have been
using a special event call sign -- ZS10WCS -- since September 2009.
SARL will provide a commemorative QSL card for those amateurs who work
ZS10WCS. Direct QSLs must include a self-addressed envelope and one IRC
or US $1. Amateurs may also QSL via e-mail <wcs at sarl.org.za>, but those
hams sending an e-mail QSL will only receive an e-mail QSL in return,
and not the commemorative printed QSL card.

==> THERE'S STILL TIME TO ENTER THE 2010 ARRL PHOTO CONTEST!

Have you ever wanted to see a photo of yours in QST, the annual ARRL
Amateur Radio Calendar or another ARRL publication? Well, here's your
chance! If you're among the winners, not only will your photographic
skill be propagated far and wide, but we're offering $100 as the First
Prize. The winning photo and three runners-up will be published in QST.
All submitted photos will also be considered for the 2011 ARRL
Calendar. Hurry -- the entry deadline is June 1! For more information,
including rules and requirements, click here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/there-s-still-time-to-enter-the-2010-arrl-photo-contest>.

==> ARRL FIELD DAY MERCHANDISE NOW AVAILABLE

 <http://www.arrl.org/shop/Field-Day-Supplies/>   How can you be the
best-dressed ham at your Field Day site this year? When you wear the
official 2010 ARRL Field Day shirt -- accompanied by the 2010 ARRL
Field Day hat -- of course! Field Day -- Amateur Radio's largest
on-the-air operating event -- is just a little more than five weeks
away, so be sure to get your shirts, hats and pins, as well as the new
ARRL Field Day Handbook for Radio Amateurs and coffee mugs before they
run out. Field Day shirts are offered in sizes Small-4XL and are royal
blue with the 2010 Field Day logo on the left chest; the back of the
shirt says "Amateur Radio -- Goodwill • Service • Fun!" with
www.arrl.org underneath. Fulfill all your Field Day apparel needs at
the Field Day Supplies section of the ARRL Web site
<http://www.arrl.org/shop/Field-Day-Supplies/>.

==> + SOLAR UPDATE

   Tad "So many journeys may the Sun and moon make us again count o'er,
ere love be done
<http://www.opensourceshakespeare.org/views/plays/playmenu.php?WorkID=hamlet>"
Cook, K7RA, reports: Sunspots returned this week in the form of group
1072; the average daily sunspot number for May 20-26 was 16.3, and the
average daily solar flux rose nearly three points to 72.1. This was a
very quiet week for geomagnetic indicators, with the mid-latitude A
index at 0 on Sunday and Monday (May 23-24). The high latitude Alaska
college A index was 0; the K index was also 0 over all of both days,
actually extending from 1500 on May 22 through 0000 on May 25, a total
of 57 hours. The quiet will probably end, due to a coronal mass
ejection thrusting particles toward Earth. Australia's IPS Radio and
Space Services issued a warning of a minor geomagnetic storm at 2346 on
May 26. The prediction from NOAA/USAF calls for a planetary A index of
15, 22, 20, 22 and 12 from May 27 through the end of the month. In
addition to sunspot group 1072 -- which is currently fading and a few
days away from our Sun's western horizon -- a new spot appears to be
forming just above the center of the solar disk. You can see it on the
continuously updated (every few minutes) image from the STEREO
spacecrafts <http://stereo.gsfc.nasa.gov/>. On Wednesday evening, it
was right on the center 0 degree meridian, north of the solar equator.
By this Friday night, the STEREO image should cover about 89.5 percent
of the Sun's body. Look for more information on the ARRL Web site on
Friday, May 28. 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 William Shakespeare's Hamlet
<http://www.opensourceshakespeare.org/views/plays/playmenu.php?WorkID=hamlet>
(Act III, Scene 2
<http://www.opensourceshakespeare.org/views/plays/play_view.php?WorkID=hamlet&Act=3&Scene=2&Scope=scene>).

==> + SILENT KEY: ROBERT BROWN PHD, NM7M (SK)

   Bob Brown, NM7M, of Anacortes, Washington, passed away
<http://www.webfh.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=309624&fh_id=10428&ck=1>
Sunday, May 23, from cardiac arrest. He was 87. Brown, the husband of
former ARRL Northwestern Division Director Mary Lou Brown, NM7N (SK),
was known worldwide for his contributions to the propagation studies on
160 meters. Brown wrote 12 articles for the ARRL from 1998-2001 that
appeared in QST, QEX and NCJ, most of them -- such as this December
1999 QST article <http://p1k.arrl.org/pubs_archive/97434> -- dealing
with propagation and contesting on the low bands. He also authored an
HF propagation tutorial that is available online
<http://www.astrosurf.com/luxorion/qsl-hf-tutorial-nm7m.htm>. Brown was
retired from the University of California where he was a physics
professor at the Space Sciences Lab (SSL
<http://www.ssl.berkeley.edu/>) in Berkeley; he also served as interim
dean of UC's graduate school. A memorial service is planned in
Anacortes for Wednesday, May 26. A private burial service is planned
for a later date.

==> THIS WEEK ON THE RADIO

This week, the CQWW WPX Contest (CW) is May 29-30. The Michigan QRP
Memorial Day CW Sprint is May 30-31. Next week, the Ten-Ten
International Open Season Contest and the Alabama QSO Party are June
5-6. The CWOps Mini-CWT Test is June 9-10. 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/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>.

==> ARRL CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSE REGISTRATION

   Registration remains open through Sunday, June 20, 2010, for these
online course sessions <http://www.arrl.org/online-course-registration>
beginning on Friday, July 2, 2010: Amateur Radio Emergency
Communications Level 1; Antenna Design and Construction; Propagation;
Analog Electronics, and Digital Electronics. To learn more, visit the
CEP Course Listing page <http://www.arrl.org/online-courses> 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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