From memberlist at www.arrl.org  Thu Jan  6 16:29:40 2011
From: memberlist at www.arrl.org (ARRL Web site)
Date: Thu,  6 Jan 2011 16:29:40 -0500 (EST)
Subject: [Letter-List] The ARRL Letter for January 6, 2011
Message-ID: <20110106213149.143DD26F8C@bmail.arrl.org>

********************************************
            The  ARRL Letter

Published by the American Radio Relay League
********************************************

January 6, 2011

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

-  + BPL: ARRL Shows IBEC BPL Systems Are Interfering, Violating FCC
Rules
- + On-the Air: ARRL Audio News Once Again Available from iTunes
- On-the Air: The King of Digital Contesting Is Here!
- + Amateur Radio in Washington: US Rep Greg Walden, W7EQI, Tweets News
of New Subcommittee Chairmanship
- + Get Ready for the February Issue of QST!
- ARRL in Action: What Have We Been Up to Lately?
- + FCC News: FCC Cites Retailer for Marketing CB Radios as Amateur
Radios
- + General Motors Turns to Ham to Solve Antenna Problem
- + New Section Manager Appointed in Alabama
- Solar Update
- Silent Key: Former ARRL Canadian Director George Spencer, VE3AGS (SK)
- + Silent Key: America's Oldest Scouter, Woody Woodward, W7KOP (SK)
- This Week on the Radio

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

==>  + BPL: ARRL SHOWS IBEC BPL SYSTEMS ARE INTERFERING, VIOLATING FCC
RULES

Late last month, the ARRL filed a complaint with the FCC, documenting
ongoing harmful interference and egregious rules violations by
Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) systems installed by IBEC, Inc. in
Virginia, Pennsylvania and Indiana. In its filing, the ARRL requested
that the FCC "initiate immediately an enforcement proceeding regarding
these BPL systems, and cause them to cease operation until such time as
they are each in full compliance with the Commission's Rules."

   Contrary to earlier representations -- both to the ARRL and in
statements in the online BPL database -- IBEC's systems in these
locations are not universally notching the amateur bands as is
necessary in order to avoid emissions at levels that are likely to
cause harmful interference to licensed Amateur Radio stations. In fact,
measurements by ARRL staff that were independently confirmed show that
IBEC systems are not even notching the aeronautical bands. The FCC
rules require BPL systems to avoid these bands, but IBEC is operating
at power levels that cause radiation well in excess of the FCC limits.
Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-shows-ibec-bpl-systems-are-interfering-violating-fcc-rules>.

==> + ON-THE AIR: ARRL AUDIO NEWS ONCE AGAIN AVAILABLE FROM ITUNES

   The ARRL Audio News is once again available through iTunes,
beginning today. You can find the URL for the Audio News' RSS feed here
<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/aan.rss>. To download and
subscribe to the Audio News at iTunes, log into your iTunes account and
go to the "Advanced" pull-down menu. Click on "Subscribe to Podcast,"
insert http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/aan.rss in the dialogue box
and click "OK." You are now subscribed! If you had previously
subscribed to the ARRL Audio News via iTunes, you should not have to
re-do these steps; episodes should appear in your podcast folder once
you sync your device. Step-by-step photo instructions are available
here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/em-arrl-audio-news-em-once-again-available-from-itunes>.

Of course, the ARRL Audio News is also available on the ARRL Web site
<http://www.arrl.org/arrl-audio-news> and via telephone at
860-594-0384. The ARRL Audio News is compiled, edited and produced in
conjunction with each ARRL Letter (except during the Dayton Hamvention,
Thanksgiving and other times as announced).

==> ON-THE AIR: THE KING OF DIGITAL CONTESTING IS HERE!

   Start 2011 with one of the most enjoyable contests on the calendar
-- the ARRL RTTY Roundup, January 8 and 9. The goal is simple: make as
many contacts -- and multipliers -- as possible! While any digital mode
can be used in during the Roundup (including PSK31), radio teletype --
better known as RTTY -- is the undisputed king of this event. You won't
need to shout into a microphone or master high-speed CW to participate.
If you can type -- even slowly -- on a computer keyboard, you're more
than qualified to try the RTTY Roundup. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/the-king-of-digital-contesting-is-here>.

==> + AMATEUR RADIO IN WASHINGTON: US REP GREG WALDEN, W7EQI, TWEETS
NEWS OF NEW SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRMANSHIP

   When US Representative Greg Walden, W7EQI (R-OR), learned December
16 that he would be chairing the House Subcommittee on Communications,
Technology and the Internet when the 112th Congress convened in
January, he let the world know about it by tweeting the news in Morse
code. "Just the ham radio operator in me having fun," he posted to his
official Web page. The subcommittee has jurisdiction over "interstate
and foreign telecommunications including, but not limited to all
telecommunication and information transmission by broadcast, radio,
wire, microwave, satellite or other mode."

ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, was pleased to hear
the news: "We're delighted that the subcommittee is in the hands of
such a well-qualified chairman. Greg was an early cosponsor of HR2160
<http://www.arrl.org/hr2160>, and while he may not always be able to
agree with every ARRL position, we know his door will always be open to
us."

==> + GET READY FOR THE FEBRUARY ISSUE OF QST!

The February issue of QST is jam-packed with all sorts of things that
today's Amateur Radio operator needs. From product reviews to
experiments to contesting -- including a look at the upcoming launch of
ARISSat-1-- this issue of QST has something for just about everyone.

   After years of planning, the next generation of satellites to be
launched from the International Space Station is getting ready to be
sent off into space. Go behind the scenes -- and discover how you, too,
can get in on the fun -- as AMSAT and the Amateur Radio on the
International Space Station (ARISS) program team up in "Get Ready for
ARISSat-1." And if space is indeed the "final frontier," a Mid-Eastern
desert is probably a close second. Join David Collingham, K3LP, and
Paul Ewing, N6PSE, as they recount their DXpedition to Kurdistan in
Northern Iraq in "YI9PSE Iraq 2010 -- An Extreme Venture."

Lou Burke, W7JI, wanted to add a receiver on to the QRP transmitter
project he had built. He wanted the receiver to be housed in the same
enclosure and to work with the transmitter in a transceiver-like mode,
but still have the ability to stand alone as a separate receiver. In
his article "A Compact 40 Meter Receiver," Burke says that there is
nothing like the feeling you get from making a QSO with a rig that you
built yourself.

   ARRL Field and Regulatory Correspondent Chuck Skolaut, K0BOG, takes
a look at the Ten-Tec R4020 two band CW QRP transceiver in this month's
Product Review. He calls it a "transceiver with a variety of
convenience features. It can operate from internal batteries, so add a
paddle, headphones and antenna and head for your favorite trail
location." QST Contributing Editor Phil Salas, AD5X, checks out the
Mini-Circuits PWR-6GHS+ USB power sensor. He says that it is "a
reasonably priced, highly accurate, very broad range power meter that
is equally useful in a commercial lab or home experimenter's workshop."
QST Technical Editor Joel Hallas, W1ZR, reviews the Array Solutions
AS-43A digital upgrade kit for the Bird 43 wattmeter. He says this kit
"provides a three digit digital readout for your tired old Bird
wattmeter. While the accuracy is limited by the wattmeter slugs, a
calibration adjustment is described that can improve accuracy."

Of course, there are the usual columns you know and expect in the
February QST: Happenings, Hints & Kinks, The Doctor Is IN, How's DX,
Vintage Radio and more. Look for your February issue in your mailbox.
QST is the official journal of ARRL, the national association for
Amateur Radio. QST is just one of the many benefits of ARRL membership.
To join or renew your ARRL membership, please see the ARRL Web page
<https://www.arrl.org/join>.

==> ARRL IN ACTION: WHAT HAVE WE BEEN UP TO LATELY?

Compiled by ARRL News Editor S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA

This feature is a concise monthly update of some of the things ARRL is
doing on behalf of its members. This installment -- which covers the
month of December -- looks at the ARRL confronting the FCC over BPL
matters, a possible new secondary MF allocation, reports from the
Official Observer Desk and more. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-in-action-what-have-we-been-up-to-lately-29>.

==> + FCC NEWS: FCC CITES RETAILER FOR MARKETING CB RADIOS AS AMATEUR
RADIOS

   In October 2010, an agent from the FCC's Enforcement Office visited
Monroe, Michigan-based Doctor Radio's CB Shop to find that the store
was selling, among other items, a radio that was described as "an
Amateur Radio that could operate on CB frequencies" that was modified
to operate above the approved power limits. As such, the FCC issued a
Citation to the store on January 4 for marketing unauthorized radio
frequency devices in the United States in violation of Section 302(b)
of the Communications Act and Section 2.803(a)(1) of the Commission's
rules. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-cites-retailer-for-marketing-amateur-radios-as-cb-radios>.

==> + GENERAL MOTORS TURNS TO HAM TO SOLVE ANTENNA PROBLEM

 <http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-20026067-48.html>   When General
Motors -- the world's second largest auto maker -- encountered a
problem with the AM/FM antenna on its 2011 Chevrolet Camaro
convertible, it was at a loss as to what to do. Spy photographs showed
a pre-production version of the car with a long whip-style antenna on
its rear fender. After what GM called "an outcry among Camaro
enthusiasts," the company decided to rethink the antenna. But how?

On hardtop Camaros, the antenna is integrated into the rear windshield,
but given the disappearing nature of this car's roof, that wasn't
possible on the convertible. So GM turned to two antenna engineers --
Don Hibbard, W8DBH, and Gregg Kittinger -- who were tasked with doing
what some thought was impossible: concealing the AM/FM antenna without
sacrificing radio reception, while not putting it inside the Camaro's
windows. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/general-motors-turns-to-ham-radio-to-solve-antenna-problem>.

==> YASME FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES 2010 YASME EXCELLENCE AWARD RECIPIENTS

   The Yasme Excellence Awards are given to individuals who through
their own service, creativity, effort and dedication, have made a
significant contribution to Amateur Radio. Their contribution may be in
recognition of technical, operating or organizational achievement. The
Yasme Foundation has recognized the following individuals "in order to
inspire them and others on behalf of Amateur Radio now and in the
future." Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/yasme-foundation-announces-2010-yasme-excellence-award-recipients>.

==> + NEW SECTION MANAGER APPOINTED IN ALABAMA

David Drummond, W4MD, of Northport, Alabama has been appointed Alabama
Section Manager effective January 1, 2011. In December, Jay Isbell,
KA4KUN, -- who had served as Section Manager since January 2008 --
resigned due to health related reasons. ARRL Membership and Volunteer
Programs Manager Dave Patton, NN1N, made the appointment in
consultation with Southeastern Division Director Greg Sarratt, W4OZK.
Drummond has served as Alabama Assistant Section Manager since January
2008. He will complete the current Section Manager term that continues
through December 31, 2011.

==> SOLAR UPDATE

   Tad "Shining snow crystals rainbowed by the Sun
<http://classiclit.about.com/library/bl-etexts/alowell/bl-alowell-winter.htm>"
Cook, K7RA, reports: The average daily sunspot numbers were up nearly
24 points this week to 50, while the average daily solar flux rose more
than 9 points to 89.5. The lagging three month average of daily sunspot
numbers was down 3.5 points from last month's average of the previous
three months. The three month moving average of daily sunspot numbers
--ending on June through December -- was 16.2, 20.4, 23.2, 28.9, 33,
35.6 and 32.1. The latest forecast from NOAA/USAF for the next 10 days
has a solar flux of 88 on January 6-7, 86 on January 8-9, 84 on January
10, 82 on January 11 and 80 on January 12-15. Planetary A index is
predicted at 7 on January 6-7, 10 on January 8-10, 7 on January 11 and
5 on January 12-15. There is a chance of a stiff solar wind and
geomagnetic storms on January 7-8. Yekta Gursel, KJ6DRO, alerted us to
an article in the February 2011 issue of Sky & Telescope titled "The
Perfect Solar Superstorm." You can read most of it here
<http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newtrack/st_201102/#/28>; click on
"Preview" if you are not a subscriber. Your local library may also
provide online access to the magazine. The article begins on page 28.
Look for more information on the ARRL Web site on Friday, January 7.
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 Amy Lowell's  A Winter Ride
<http://classiclit.about.com/library/bl-etexts/alowell/bl-alowell-winter.htm>.

==> ARRL RECOGNIZES: ERIC NICHOLS, KL7AJ, WINS DECEMBER QST COVER
PLAQUE AWARD

   The winner of the QST Cover Plaque Award for December is Eric
Nichols, KL7AJ, for his article "Gimme an X, Gimme an O. What's that
Spell? -- Radio." Congratulations Eric! The QST Cover Plaque award --
given to the author or authors of the best article in each issue -- is
determined by a vote of ARRL members on the QST Cover Plaque Poll Web
page <http://www.arrl.org/cover-plaque-poll>. Cast a ballot for your
favorite article in the January issue today.

==> SILENT KEY: FORMER ARRL CANADIAN DIRECTOR GEORGE SPENCER, VE3AGS
(SK)

   A. George Spencer, VE3AGS, passed away December 21, 2010. He was 90.
Spencer served as ARRL Canadian Division Vice Director from January
1970-January 1974. In 1974 -- upon the election of Canadian Director
Noel Eaton, VE3CJ, as ARRL Vice President -- Spencer moved up to the
Director position and served one term. An engineer by training and
profession, Spencer lived all across Canada. While on the ARRL Board of
Directors, he was VE2MS and then VE4IM; he later became VE6AW before
moving to Ontario and obtaining his initials.

==> + SILENT KEY: AMERICA'S OLDEST SCOUTER, WOODY WOODWARD, W7KOP (SK)

   Leonard Andrew "Woody" Woodward, W7KOP, of Mapleton, Utah, passed
away December 25, 2010. He was 99. Woodward -- who, according to the
Boy Scouts of America, was the "longest continuously registered
Scouter" -- was involved with scouting for more than 87 years. BSA's
Utah National Parks Council Program Director John Gailey called
Woodward "an amazing man" and told the ARRL that his friend was still
"very much active on the air weeks before his death." At the age of 8
in 1918, Woodward built his own radio. At the time of his death, he was
using the Internet to connect Amateur Radio operators around the world.
Woodward was known all over the world as an unofficial ambassador of
America and Scouting through his radio contacts. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/america-s-oldest-scouter-woody-woodward-w7kop-sk>.

==> THIS WEEK ON THE RADIO

This week:

-  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

Next week:

- January 14 -- NCCC Sprint Ladder
- January 15 -- LZ Open Contest, Feld Hell Sprint
- January 15-16 -- North American QSO Party (SSB), Hungarian DX
Contest, UK DX Contest (RTTY)
- January 17 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest
- January 20 -- NAQCC Straight Key/Bug Sprint

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>.

ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for Amateur Radio News and Information

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From memberlist at www.arrl.org  Thu Jan 13 17:49:48 2011
From: memberlist at www.arrl.org (ARRL Web site)
Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2011 17:49:48 -0500 (EST)
Subject: [Letter-List] The ARRL Letter for January 13, 2011
Message-ID: <20110113224948.AA1AF24804@bmail.arrl.org>

********************************************
            The  ARRL Letter

Published by the American Radio Relay League
********************************************

January 13, 2011

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 in Action: New Amateur Radio Bill Introduced in Congress
- + FCC News: FCC Sends License Renewal for K1MAN to Administrative Law
Judge
- + Public Service: Midwestern Hams Spot, Track Tornados As 2011 Begins
- + On the Air: Aim High in the ARRL January VHF Sweepstakes
- On-the Air: ARRL Outgoing QSL Service Announces New Rate Structure
- + Amateur Radio in the Classroom: ARRL Executive Committee Approves
Grants for Five Schools
- + ARRL Board of Directors to Meet Next Week
- + ARRL Foundation Scholarship Applications and Transcripts Due
February 1
- Solar Update
- + Amateur Radio Fun: Be a Star! Enter the ARRL Video Contest
- Amateur Radio Fun: New QuickStats Poll Now Available on ARRL Website
- Silent Key: Former Western Massachusetts Section Manager Bill
Voedisch, W1UD (SK)
- 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>

==> + ARRL IN ACTION: NEW AMATEUR RADIO BILL INTRODUCED IN CONGRESS

   The Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Enhancement Act, which
died at the end of the 111th Congress, has been reintroduced in the
112th Congress as HR 81
<http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c112:2:./temp/%7Ec1129bpLP1::>.
The sponsor is Representative Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX-18). The new
bill -- which was introduced on January 5 -- has been referred to the
House Committee on Energy and Commerce. "We are hopeful that this early
start will lead to success in the new Congress," commented ARRL Chief
Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ.

Rep Jackson Lee first introduced the bill -- HR 2160
<http://www.arrl.org/hr2160> -- in the 111th Congress in April 2009
<http://www.arrl.org/news/houston-representative-introduces-amateur-radio-bill-in-congress>.
It gained an additional 41 cosponsors but did not progress out of the
committee of jurisdiction. A similar bill introduced in the Senate -- S
1755
<http://www.arrl.org/news/senate-introduces-companion-bill-to-hr-2160>
-- made it all the way through that body in December 2009, but likewise
was not taken up by the House. The objective of the bill -- which is
supported by the ARRL -- is for the Secretary of Homeland Security to
study the uses and capabilities of Amateur Radio communications in
emergencies and disaster relief and to identify and make
recommendations regarding impediments to Amateur Radio communications,
such as the effects of private land use regulations on residential
antenna installations.

==> + FCC NEWS: FCC SENDS LICENSE RENEWAL FOR K1MAN TO ADMINISTRATIVE
LAW JUDGE

   The FCC has issued a Hearing Designation Order
<http://www.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2011/db0112/DA-11-58A1.pdf>
to determine, among other things, if the Amateur Radio license of Glenn
A. Baxter, K1MAN, of Belgrade Lakes, Maine, should be renewed.
According to the Order, "Baxter has apparently willfully and repeatedly
engaged in unlawful Commission-related activities, including causing
interference to ongoing communications of other amateur stations,
transmitting communications in which he had a pecuniary interest,
failing to file requested information pursuant to an Enforcement Bureau
(Bureau) directive, engaging in broadcasting without communicating with
any particular station and failing to exercise control of his station."

Baxter, whose amateur license expired in 2005, filed a timely renewal
on July 22, 2005; his license expired on October 17. Because of the
timely renewal, Baxter's license remained in effect past the expiration
date. The FCC said it "believe[s] that Baxter's apparent continuing
course of misconduct raises a substantial and material question of fact
as to whether he possesses the requisite character qualifications to be
and remain a Commission licensee."

==> + PUBLIC SERVICE: MIDWESTERN HAMS SPOT, TRACK TORNADOS AS 2011
BEGINS

   In the final hours of 2010, tornados swept across Missouri, Illinois
and Arkansas, leaving at least seven people dead. Hams in Missouri --
one of the hardest hit areas -- activated nets and provided real-time
weather observations to the National Weather Service. According to a
timeline of events in the St Louis Post-Dispatch, hams in the towns of
Pacific, Ballwin and Sunset Hills in Missouri, as well as a ham in
O'Fallon, Illinois, were among the many who spotted and reported
twisters and severe weather to their local NWS offices.

Steve Runnels, KD4OPZ -- the Warning Coordination Meteorologist at the
NWS office in Springfield, Missouri -- said that he was impressed by
"the amount of Amateur Radio support we received during the overnight
and into the early morning hours. This proves that the Amateur Radio
community is always ready. It also shows the strength of their
commitment to the communities they live in and the National Weather
Service's mission to protect life and property." Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/midwestern-hams-spot-track-tornados-as-2011-begins>.

==> + ON THE AIR: AIM HIGH IN THE ARRL JANUARY VHF SWEEPSTAKES

   VHF operators will be on the bands in force the weekend of January
22-24 as the ARRL January VHF Sweepstakes hits the airwaves. This
contest gives the VHFer in all of us a chance to do some contesting
during the winter months. According to ARRL Contest Branch Manager Sean
Kutzko, KX9X, January may not seem like the ideal time to hold a VHF+
contest, but sometimes he said, the propagation gods like to surprise
and confound. "There have been plenty of QSOs made via sporadic-E in
the colder months this winter, including a surprise opening from the
Midwest and Western US to Australia and New Zealand just this week!
QSOs on other forms of enhancement exist as well, thanks to
tropospheric ducting and auroral propagation. Because of the advent of
WSJT software, making QSOs via meteor scatter in the wee hours of the
morning on 6 and 2 meters has never been easier. There are plenty of
opportunities to make long-haul QSOs on the VHF+ bands in January."
Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/aim-high-in-the-arrl-january-vhf-sweepstakes>.

==> ON-THE AIR: ARRL OUTGOING QSL SERVICE ANNOUNCES NEW RATE STRUCTURE

Effective January 17, 2011, a new pricing structure will go into effect
for the ARRL Outgoing QSL Service. With the new rate structure,
amateurs will no longer need to count outgoing cards and then guess as
to what to pay based upon a half-pound rate; a simple weighing of the
cards is all that is necessary to determine what amount to send to the
Bureau. This new structure also accommodates a small rate increase in
response to recent postage, shipping and handling costs. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-outgoing-qsl-service-announces-new-rate-structure>.

==> + AMATEUR RADIO IN THE CLASSROOM: ARRL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE APPROVES
GRANTS FOR FIVE SCHOOLS

   In December 2010, the ARRL Executive Committee reviewed grant
applications for the ARRL's Education & Technology Program (ETP),
awarding equipment valued at nearly $5000 to five schools. More than
525 schools across the country have received support from the ETP in
the form of grants for equipment, curriculum and resources, as well as
teacher in-service training through the Teachers Institute on Wireless
Technology. Applications for equipment and resource grants are accepted
twice each year; application deadlines are May 1 and November 1.
Applications for 2011 summer sessions of the Teachers Institute are
currently being accepted. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-executive-committee-approves-grant-funding-for-five-schools>.

==> + ARRL BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO MEET NEXT WEEK

The ARRL Board of Directors will hold its 2011 Annual Meeting on
January 21-22 in Windsor, Connecticut. Directors, Vice Directors and
ARRL Board Officers will be in attendance, including two new Vice
Directors who will be at their first Board meeting: Southeastern
Division Vice Director Andrea Hartlage, KG4IUM, and West Gulf Division
Vice Director John Robert Stratton, N5AUS. The Board will also welcome
IARU Secretary Rod Stafford, W6ROD, and Radio Amateurs of Canada
President Geoff Bawden, VE4BAW. The meeting will be preceded on
Thursday, January 20 with meetings of the Board's Administration and
Finance Committee and the Programs and Services Committee. At its
January 2010 meeting, the ARRL Board of Directors decided to make the
agendas of Board and Executive Committee meetings available on the ARRL
website. The agenda for the 2011 Annual Meeting is available here
<http://www.arrl.org/attachments/view/News/56557>. Per the Articles of
Association <http://www.arrl.org/arrl-articles-of-association> the ARRL
Board of Directors meets twice a year, in January and July.

==> + ARRL FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS AND TRANSCRIPTS DUE
FEBRUARY 1

   Students planning to apply for the more than 60 scholarships
administered by the ARRL Foundation should be aware that the deadline
is fast approaching. All materials -- including transcripts -- are due
February 1. Beginning this year, applicants must submit all material
electronically. No paper forms will be accepted. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-foundation-scholarship-applications-and-transcripts-due-february-1>.

==> SOLAR UPDATE

   Tad "I'm melting in the Sun
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8t7QQ_DrIpA>" Cook, K7RA, reports: The
average daily sunspot numbers declined 12 points to 38 during the week
of January 6-12. The average daily solar flux declined by nearly 6
points to 83.8. The latest forecast shows solar flux at 80 on January
13-15, 78 on January 16-19 and back to 80 on January 20-35, then rising
to nearly 90 by the end of the month. The same forecast has planetary A
index for January 13-22 at 5, 8, 7, 5, 5, 5, 5, 7, 7 and 5. Geophysical
Institute Prague sees unsettled geomagnetic conditions on January
14-15, quiet to unsettled January 16, unsettled January 17-18, quiet to
unsettled January 19 and quiet on January 20. The STEREO mission's
coverage of the entire Sun <http://stereo.gsfc.nasa.gov/> is nearly
complete, with continuous images showing more than 99.2 percent of our
nearest star. By Sunday evening in North America, the project will have
passed 99.34 percent coverage. The black band of unseen area is now
just a tiny sliver, and magnetically active areas over the entire Sun
may now be observed live from any place with an Internet connection at
any time of the day or night. Look for more information on the ARRL
website on Friday, January 14. 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 INXS <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inxs>'
 Melting in the Sun <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8t7QQ_DrIpA>.

==> + 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>.

==> AMATEUR RADIO FUN: NEW QUICKSTATS POLL NOW AVAILABLE ON ARRL
WEBSITE

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

Questions in this month's QuickStats poll include:

- Do you use a computer to send or receive CW?
- Do you subscribe to any publications that you read online?
- Do you have a separate room in your home that's dedicated strictly to
your ham station?
- When operating SSB, do you use a speech processor?

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 April 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.

==> SILENT KEY: FORMER WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS SECTION MANAGER BILL
VOEDISCH, W1UD (SK)

William Voedisch, W1UD, of Leominster, Massachusetts, became a Silent
Key on January 1. He was 78. Voedisch was an avid CW operator who
especially enjoyed operating in the CW National Traffic System nets. In
recent years, he was the Manager of the NTS First Region CW net and
almost nightly represented the First Region in the Eastern Area Net. He
was also active in the Transcontinental Corps, relaying messages to
other regional nets around the country. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/former-western-massachusetts-section-manager-bill-voedisch-w1ud-sk>.

==> THIS WEEK ON THE RADIO

This week:

   - January 14 -- NCCC Sprint Ladder
- January 15 -- LZ Open Contest, Feld Hell Sprint
- January 15-16 -- North American QSO Party (SSB), Hungarian DX
Contest, UK DX Contest (RTTY)
- January 17 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest
- January 20 -- NAQCC Straight Key/Bug Sprint

Next week:

- January 21 -- NCCC Sprint Ladder
- January 22-23 -- BARTG RTTY Sprint
- January 22-24 -- ARRL January VHF Sweepstakes
<http://www.arrl.org/january-vhf-sweepstakes>
- January 26 -- SKCC Sprint
- January 27 -- NAQCC Straight Key/Bug Sprint

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 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>.

ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for Amateur Radio News and Information

- Join or Renew Today! <http://www.arrl.org/join> ARRL membership
includes QST <http://www.arrl.org/qst> , Amateur Radio's most popular
and informative journal, delivered to your mailbox each month.
- Subscribe to NCJ -- the National Contest Journal
<http://www.arrl.org/ncj> . Published bi-monthly, features articles by
top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA Sprint and QSO
Parties.
- Subscribe to QEX -- A Forum for Communications Experimenters
<http://www.arrl.org/qex>. Published bi-monthly, features technical
articles, construction projects, columns and other items of interest to
radio amateurs and communications professionals.
- Free of charge to ARRL members: Subscribe
<http://www.arrl.org/myarrl-account-management#%21/edit-info-email_subscriptions>
to the ARES E-Letter (monthly public service and emergency
communications news), the ARRL Contest Update (bi-weekly contest
newsletter), Division and Section news alerts -- and much more!
- Find us on Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/ARRL.org>!
- ARRL offers a wide array of products <http://www.arrl.org/arrl-store>
to enhance your enjoyment of Amateur Radio
- Donate <https://www.arrl.org/arrl-donation-form> to the fund of your
choice -- support programs not funded by member dues!

Click here <ads at arrl.org> to advertise in this newsletter.

The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 50 times each year. ARRL
members and registered guests may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe
by editing their profile
<http://www.arrl.org/Users/edit#!/edit-info-email_subscriptions>.

 Copyright (c) 2011 American Radio Relay League, Inc. All
Rights Reserved

 <http://www.arrl.org/>


From memberlist at www.arrl.org  Thu Jan 20 16:56:57 2011
From: memberlist at www.arrl.org (ARRL Web site)
Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2011 16:56:57 -0500 (EST)
Subject: [Letter-List] The ARRL Letter for January 20, 2011
Message-ID: <20110120215657.D86F924646@bmail.arrl.org>

********************************************
            The  ARRL Letter

Published by the American Radio Relay League
********************************************

January 20, 2011

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: ARRL Files Petition for Partial Reconsideration with FCC
Regarding Vanity, Club Call Signs
- + BPL: IEEE EMC Society Standards Development Committee Withdraws as
Cosponsor of IEEE BPL EMC Standard
- + On the Air: Logbook of the World Now Supports VUCC
- Amateur Radio in Space: NASA Seeks Amateur Radio Operators' Aid to
Listen for Nanosatellite's Beacon Signal
- + ARRL Board of Directors to Meet This Weekend
- + Focus on Youth: ARRL Seeks New Youth Editor
- + ARRL Foundation Scholarship Applications and Transcripts Due
February 1
- Solar Update
- 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: ARRL FILES PETITION FOR PARTIAL RECONSIDERATION WITH
FCC REGARDING VANITY, CLUB CALL SIGNS

   In October 2010, the FCC released a Report and Order, detailing
rules changes to the vanity call sign system and call signs for Amateur
Radio clubs. These new rules are scheduled to go into effect on
February 14. The ARRL found that most changes made by the R&O are
"reasonable codifications and clarifications of existing policies." But
several amended Sections of Part 97 -- including ?? 97.5 and 97.19 --
are unclear. As such, the ARRL filed a Petition for Partial
Reconsideration, urging the FCC to reconsider and modify these portions
"in order to reflect the intent of the Report and Order."

In the R&O, the FCC took into consideration some of the ARRL's
comments, but not all. The ARRL found it "disappointing" that the
Commission refused to consider in this proceeding "a series of
reasonable proposals aimed at increasing the available pools of Group A
call signs." The ARRL, in its comments, asked the FCC to consider
several changes that could be made "that would increase the number of
desirable call signs available for assignment, both sequentially and in
the vanity call sign program, and which would provide greater
flexibility in the temporary assignment of special-event call signs in
the Amateur Service." Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-files-petition-for-partial-reconsideration-with-fcc-regarding-vanity-club-call-signs>.

==> + BPL: IEEE EMC SOCIETY STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE WITHDRAWS
AS COSPONSOR OF IEEE BPL EMC STANDARD

   Citing concerns about parts of its technical content, the IEEE EMC
Society Standards Development Committee (SDCom) has voted to withdraw
as the cosponsor of IEEE Standard for Power Line Communication
Equipment -- Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Requirements --
Testing and Measurement Methods (IEEE Standard 1775-2010). According to
ARRL Laboratory Manager and BPL guru Ed Hare, W1RFI, this decision came
about soon after the IEEE Standards Board approved publication of the
standard over the technical concerns of the SDCom. Hare is an SDCom
member and is a member of the IEEE Working Group that developed the
standard. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/ieee-emc-society-standards-development-committee-withdraws-as-cosponsor-of-ieee-bpl-emc-standard>.

==> + ON THE AIR: LOGBOOK OF THE WORLD NOW SUPPORTS VUCC

   ARRL's Logbook of the World (LoTW) -- an online system for amateurs
to confirm two-way contacts that can be used for various ARRL awards --
has been upgraded to support awards based on Maidenhead grid squares,
such as VUCC and the Fred Fish Memorial Award. To take advantage of the
new features, you need to log in to your LoTW account. VUCC is an
open-ended award in that hams can work on throughout their lifetime,
just like DXCC. But, like the Worked All States award, the VUCC rules
require all the contacts to be made from a defined area. For VHF and
UHF QSOs on 1296 MHz and below, this distance must be within 200 km.
For SHF awards, contacts must be made from a single location, defined
as within a 300 meter diameter circle. As such, the VUCC support in
LoTW allows you to make the rule -- or rules -- necessary to find the
QSLs in LoTW that satisfy the VUCC rules. Don't have an LoTW account?
It's easy to sign up. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/logbook-of-the-world-now-supports-vucc>.

==> AMATEUR RADIO IN SPACE: NASA SEEKS AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS' AID TO
LISTEN FOR NANOSATELLITE'S BEACON SIGNAL

   On Wednesday, January 19 at 1630 UTC, engineers at Marshall Space
Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama confirmed that the NanoSail-D
nanosatellite ejected from Fast Affordable Scientific and Technology
Satellite (FASTSAT). According to NASA, the ejection event occurred
spontaneously; the ejection of NanoSail-D also has been confirmed by
ground-based satellite tracking assets. NASA is asking radio amateurs
to listen on 437.270 MHz for the signal and verify NanoSail-D is
operating. Hams should send information to the NanoSail-D dashboard. As
of Thursday, January 20, the NanoSail-D dashboard website is reporting
that beacon data has been received, but NASA still wants amateurs to
track and report the signals. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/nasa-seeks-amateur-radio-operators-aid-to-listen-for-nanosatellite-s-beacon-signal>.

==> + ARRL BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO MEET THIS WEEKEND

The ARRL Board of Directors will hold its 2011 Annual Meeting on
January 21-22 in Windsor, Connecticut. Directors, Vice Directors and
ARRL Board Officers will be in attendance. The meeting will be preceded
on Thursday, January 20 with meetings of the Board's Administration and
Finance Committee and Programs and Services Committee.

   The Administration and Finance Committee is chaired by Northwestern
Division Director Jim Fenstermaker, K9JF. This committee reviews and
makes recommendations for all administrative and financial matters of
the League. Some of these duties include recommending the annual budget
to the Board, making recommendations in regard to staff management and
monitoring investment of ARRL funds. "The Administration and Finance
Committee is involved in overseeing the 'business side' of Amateur
Radio from the standpoint of the ARRL," Fenstermaker explained. "We are
committed to ensuring that members' needs are being served while being
fiscally prudent. This requires an understanding of the financial
structure of the ARRL while, at the same time, working with the
administration to implement cost effective and relevant programs. We
are in a sound financial position and work to continue this status.
Thanks to our headquarters staff for focusing on the trade-offs needed
to foster this stability."

The Programs and Services Committee (PSC), headed by Atlantic Division
Director Bill Edgar, N3LLR, studies, advises and makes recommendations
for all programs and services provided by the League, including
operating activities and the Field Organization. "In January, the
Committee recommends to the Board who will receive various ARRL awards,
such as the International Humanitarian Award and the George Hart
Distinguished Public Service Award," Edgar said. "This year, we split
the committee into two sub-committees. These two sub-committees are the
Radiosport sub-committee and the Field Services sub-committee. The
Radiosport sub-committee reviews the ARRL's contesting and awards
programs, while the Field Organization sub-committee reviews the ARRL
Field Organization, such as public service, education and other similar
programs.

Edgar said that the PSC also oversees four advisory committees: the
Contest Advisory Committee (CAC
<http://www.arrl.org/arrl-staff-vuac-cac>), the DX Advisory Committee
(DXAC <http://www.arrl.org/dx-advisory-committee>), the Emergency
Communications Advisory Committee (ECAC
<http://www.arrl.org/files/file/ECAC%20Roster%20for%20Web%282%29.doc>)
and the VHF UHF Advisory Committee (VUAC
<http://www.arrl.org/arrl-staff-vuac-cac>). Each Division Director
appoints a representative from their Division to participate on each
advisory committee. To serve on an advisory committee, the
representative must well-versed and respected in their particular area
of expertise."

The agenda for the 2011 Annual Meeting is available here
<http://www.arrl.org/attachments/view/News/56557>. Per the Articles of
Association <http://www.arrl.org/arrl-articles-of-association> the ARRL
Board of Directors meets twice a year, in January and July.

==> + FOCUS ON YOUTH: ARRL SEEKS NEW YOUTH EDITOR

   The ARRL has a proud tradition of promoting youth involvement in
Amateur Radio. One of the ways we involve young people in our hobby is
through our Youth Editor. This person is responsible for writing a
monthly column for the ARRL website about youth and youth activities
within the Amateur Radio Service. We are looking for a new Youth
Editor. Do you know of someone who would be a good fit for this
position? Maybe they hold leadership positions either in their Section
or in their local club. The candidate must be an ARRL member and must
keep their membership current throughout their tenure in the position.
He or she will be required to write a monthly column of at least 1000
words and provide a minimum of three pictures (with captions) for each.
For this, they will receive a small stipend for each column. Read more
here <http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-seeks-new-youth-editor>.

==> + ARRL FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS AND TRANSCRIPTS DUE
FEBRUARY 1

   Students planning to apply for the more than 60 scholarships
administered by the ARRL Foundation should be aware that the deadline
is fast approaching. All materials -- including transcripts -- are due
February 1. Beginning this year, applicants must submit all material
electronically. No paper forms will be accepted. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-foundation-scholarship-applications-and-transcripts-due-february-1>.

==> SOLAR UPDATE

   Tad "Like a comet pulled from orbit as it passes a Sun
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5WNeBZ4rBU>" Cook, K7RA, reports: The
average daily sunspot numbers dropped from 50 to 38 on January 6-12 and
now 21.3 on January 13-19. The average weekly solar flux over the same
three periods dropped from 89.5 to 83.8 to 80.4 over this past week.
The latest solar flux prediction shows a value of 82 for January 20-26
and 88 on January 27-30, followed by 87, 85, 85 and 84 on January
31-February 3. Geomagnetic predictions have the planetary A index at 5
over the next couple of weeks, except for a value of 7 on January 22
and February 2-4. Look for more information -- including updated
indices, an article on a 3D model of the ionosphere and information on
an online propagation prediction program using VOACAP for generating
coverage maps and point-to-point MUF data -- on the ARRL website on
Friday, January 21. 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 Stephen Schwartz's  For Good
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5WNeBZ4rBU> from the musical Wicked
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicked_%28musical%29>.

==> THIS WEEK ON THE RADIO

This week:

- January 21 -- NCCC Sprint Ladder
- January 22-23 -- BARTG RTTY Sprint
- January 22-24 -- ARRL January VHF Sweepstakes
<http://www.arrl.org/january-vhf-sweepstakes>
- January 26 -- SKCC Sprint
- January 27 -- NAQCC Straight Key/Bug Sprint

Next week:

-  January 28-30 -- CQ 160 Meter Contest (CW)
-  January 29-30 -- REF Contest (CW); BA DX Contest (SSB); SPAR Winter
Field Day
-  January 30-31 -- Classic Exchange (CW)

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 28-29 -- ARRL Mississippi State Convention
<http://www.msham.org/hamfest.php>, Jackson, Mississippi
- February 5 -- ARRL South Carolina Section Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/south-carolina-section-convention-1>,
North Charleston, South Carolina; ARRL Virginia State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/virginia-state-convention-frostfest-2011>,
Richmond, Virginia
- February 11-13 -- ARRL Southeastern Division Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/southeastern-division-convention-orlando-hamcation>,
Orlando, Florida
- February 18-19 -- ARRL Arizona State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/arizona-state-convention-yuma-hamfest-emergency-preparedness-show>,
Yuma, Arizona
- February 26 -- ARRL Vermont State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/vermont-state-convention-ham-con-1>,
Colchester, Vermont

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

ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for Amateur Radio News and Information

- Join or Renew Today! <http://www.arrl.org/join> ARRL membership
includes QST <http://www.arrl.org/qst> , Amateur Radio's most popular
and informative journal, delivered to your mailbox each month.
- Subscribe to NCJ -- the National Contest Journal
<http://www.arrl.org/ncj> . Published bi-monthly, features articles by
top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA Sprint and QSO
Parties.
- Subscribe to QEX -- A Forum for Communications Experimenters
<http://www.arrl.org/qex>. Published bi-monthly, features technical
articles, construction projects, columns and other items of interest to
radio amateurs and communications professionals.
- Free of charge to ARRL members: Subscribe
<http://www.arrl.org/myarrl-account-management#%21/edit-info-email_subscriptions>
to the ARES E-Letter (monthly public service and emergency
communications news), the ARRL Contest Update (bi-weekly contest
newsletter), Division and Section news alerts -- and much more!
- Find us on Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/ARRL.org>!
- ARRL offers a wide array of products <http://www.arrl.org/arrl-store>
to enhance your enjoyment of Amateur Radio
- Donate <https://www.arrl.org/arrl-donation-form> to the fund of your
choice -- support programs not funded by member dues!

Click here <ads at arrl.org> to advertise in this newsletter.

The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 50 times each year. ARRL
members and registered guests may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe
by editing their profile
<http://www.arrl.org/Users/edit#!/edit-info-email_subscriptions>.

 Copyright (c) 2011 American Radio Relay League, Inc. All
Rights Reserved

 <http://www.arrl.org/>


From memberlist at www.arrl.org  Thu Jan 27 17:54:57 2011
From: memberlist at www.arrl.org (ARRL Web site)
Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2011 17:54:57 -0500 (EST)
Subject: [Letter-List] The ARRL Letter for January 27, 2011
Message-ID: <20110127225753.59E742DD251@bmail.arrl.org>

********************************************
            The  ARRL Letter

Published by the American Radio Relay League
********************************************

January 27, 2011

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

- Board of Directors: ARRL Board Holds 2011 Annual Meeting
- Board of Directors: ARRL Hudson Division Director Frank Fallon, N2FF,
Retires from ARRL Board of Directors
- ARRL Recognizes: ARRL Board Bestows Awards at 2011 Annual Meeting
- Amateur Radio in Space: NASA's Nanosatellite Heard by Hams
- Amateur Radio in the Classroom: ARRL Teachers Institute Now Accepting
Applications for 2011 Sessions
- Legislative Matters: ARRL Legislative Newsletter to Be Launched
- Focus on Youth: ARRL Seeks New Youth Editor
- ARRL Foundation Scholarship Applications and Transcripts Due February
1
- Solar Update
- This Week on the Radio
- Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events

There will be no ARRL Audio News this week. The ARRL Audio News will
return on Thursday, February 3, 2011.

==> BOARD OF DIRECTORS: ARRL BOARD HOLDS 2011 ANNUAL MEETING

   The ARRL Board of Directors held its 2011 Annual Meeting January
21-22 in Windsor, Connecticut. At the meeting, the Board set its new
legislative objectives for the 112th Congress, re-elected the ARRL
Executive Committee, bestowed various technical and service awards,
approved the organization's financial plan for 2011, set timelines for
the ongoing consideration of digital periodicals and more. A detailed
look at all the Board's actions, including the official minutes from
the meeting, will be forthcoming.

==> BOARD OF DIRECTORS: ARRL HUDSON DIVISION DIRECTOR FRANK FALLON,
N2FF, RETIRES FROM ARRL BOARD OF DIRECTORS

   After more than 14 years as the ARRL Hudson Division Director, Frank
Fallon, N2FF, announced his retirement from the Board at the conclusion
of the 2011 Annual Meeting of the ARRL Board of Directors. Per the
ARRL's Articles of Association, Hudson Division Vice Director Joyce
Birmingham, KA2ANF, immediately moved up to the Director position to
fill the remainder of Fallon's unexpired three year term, which runs
through December 2012. In the coming days, ARRL President Kay Craigie,
N3KN, will appoint a new Vice Director to fill Birmingham's unexpired
three year term, also running through December 2012. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-hudson-division-director-frank-fallon-n2ff-retires-from-arrl-board-of-directors>.

==> ARRL RECOGNIZES: ARRL BOARD BESTOWS AWARDS AT 2011 ANNUAL MEETING

The ARRL Board of Directors had the pleasure and distinction of
bestowing three annual awards at its 2011 Annual Meeting -- the ARRL
International Humanitarian Award, the George Hart Distinguished Service
Award and the Bill Leonard, W2SKE, Professional Media Award. Read more
here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-board-bestows-awards-at-2011-annual-meeting>.

==> AMATEUR RADIO IN SPACE: NASA'S NANOSATELLITE HEARD BY HAMS

When a NASA nanosatellite -- NanoSail-D
<http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/smallsats/nanosaild.html> -- ejected
unexpectedly on January 17 from the Fast Affordable Scientific and
Technology Satellite (FASTSAT
<http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/smallsats/fastsat/10-156.html>), the
agency called upon Amateur Radio operators to help track it. NASA asked
radio amateurs to listen
<http://www.arrl.org/news/nasa-seeks-amateur-radio-operators-aid-to-listen-for-nanosatellite-s-beacon-signal>
on 437.270 MHz for the signal and verify that NanoSail-D was operating.
NASA received almost 470 telemetry packets from 11 countries.

   The NanoSail-D beacon sent an AX.25 packet every 10 seconds; the
packet contained data about the spacecraft's systems operation. Listen
here <http://nanosaild.engr.scu.edu/nanosaild2_pa3guo_20jan2011.mp3>
for a recording of the nanosatellite's beacon, made by Hank Hamoen,
PA3GUO, on January 21.

Once the NanoSail-D team received confirmation that the nanosatellite
did indeed ejcect, NanoSail-D principal investigator Dean Alhorn
quickly enlisted Alan Sieg, WB5RMG, and Stan Sims, N4PMF, to try to
pick up NanoSail-D's radio beacon. Both hams work at the Marshall Space
Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

"The timing could not have been better," Sieg said. "NanoSail-D was
going to track right over Huntsville, and the chance to be the first
ones to hear and decode the signal was irresistible." Right before 2300
UTC on January 17, they heard a faint signal. As the spacecraft soared
overhead, the signal grew stronger and the operators were able to
decode the first packet: NanoSail-D was alive and well. "You could have
scraped Dean off the ceiling. He was bouncing around like a new
father," Sieg recalled.

 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1vZfm500hE>	According to NASA, the
nanosatellite was last heard at 1354 UTC on January 21. Telemetry
indicates that the sail deployed on schedule and the satellite is now
believed to be out of power, which NASA said was to be expected. NASA
is now asking for visual tracking and sighting reports of NanoSail-D,
which is about 650 km above the Earth. According to the agency, when
the nanosatellite's sail reflects off the Sun, it could be up to 10
times as bright as the planet Venus -- especially later in the mission
when the sail descends to lower orbits. You can track NanoSail-D on the
web <http://spaceweather.com/flybys/> or on your smart phone
<http://simpleflybys.com/>. NASA estimates that NanoSail-D will remain
in low Earth orbit (LEO) between 70 and 120 days, depending on
atmospheric conditions.

==> AMATEUR RADIO IN THE CLASSROOM: ARRL TEACHERS INSTITUTE NOW
ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR 2011 SESSIONS

   The ARRL Education Services Department has announced the 2011
schedule for the Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology (TI)
workshop. Offered through the ARRL's Education & Technology Program,
the Teachers Institute is a four-day, expenses paid, in-residence
learning opportunity designed for motivated teachers and other school
staff who want to learn more about wireless technology and bring that
knowledge to their students. A variety of topics are covered during the
TI, including basic wireless technology literacy, electronics, the
science of radio, radio astronomy, how to bring space into the
classroom, ham radio operation, introduction to microcontrollers and
basic robotics. While participants do not need to have an Amateur Radio
license to attend the basic TI sessions, one is required for the
advanced (TI-2) session. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-teachers-institute-now-accepting-applications-for-2011-sessions>.

==> LEGISLATIVE MATTERS: ARRL LEGISLATIVE NEWSLETTER TO BE LAUNCHED

   The inaugural issue of the ARRL Legislative Update -- an HTML
newsletter focusing on the ARRL's legislative and advocacy efforts at
the national level -- will launch the week of January 31. According to
ARRL Regulatory Information Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, this is not a
monthly newsletter, but rather a timely newsletter with the goal to
convey important information to the ARRL family. "The legislative
process is a fickle thing, Henderson said. "Sometimes it moves as slow
as molasses in a New England winter, while at other points, time is of
the essence. Developing a newsletter designed to be e-mailed to
interested ARRL members is a good way to provide important news and
calls for action expediently." The ARRL Legislative Update is an
"opt-in" newsletter available to ARRL members. To receive it, go to
your Member Profile on the ARRL website
<http://www.arrl.org/Users/edit> and select the tab for "Edit Email
Subscriptions." To receive the ARRL Legislative Update, simply check
the appropriate box on that page then click "Save" at the bottom. To
unsubscribe, follow the same process, but uncheck the box for this
newsletter.

==> FOCUS ON YOUTH: ARRL SEEKS NEW YOUTH EDITOR

   The ARRL has a proud tradition of promoting youth involvement in
Amateur Radio. One of the ways we involve young people in our hobby is
through our Youth Editor. This person is responsible for writing a
monthly column for the ARRL website about youth and youth activities
within the Amateur Radio Service. We are looking for a new Youth
Editor. Do you know of someone who would be a good fit for this
position? Maybe they hold leadership positions either in their Section
or in their local club. The candidate must be an ARRL member and must
keep their membership current throughout their tenure in the position.
He or she will be required to write a monthly column of at least 1000
words and provide a minimum of three pictures (with captions) for each.
For this, they will receive a small stipend for each column. Read more
here <http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-seeks-new-youth-editor>.

==> ARRL FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS AND TRANSCRIPTS DUE
FEBRUARY 1

   Students planning to apply for the more than 60 scholarships
administered by the ARRL Foundation should be aware that the deadline
is fast approaching. All materials -- including transcripts -- are due
February 1. Beginning this year, applicants must submit all material
electronically. No paper forms will be accepted. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-foundation-scholarship-applications-and-transcripts-due-february-1>.

==> SOLAR UPDATE

   Tad "Like a comet pulled from orbit as it passes a Sun
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5WNeBZ4rBU>" Cook, K7RA, reports: The
average daily sunspot numbers were up for the past week (ending January
26) by more than 11 points to 32.6, compared to the previous week. The
average daily solar flux rose more than 3 points to 83.5. The planetary
A index average was down 2 points to 2.9, and mid-latitude A index was
down 1.5 points to 2.4. The latest prediction from NOAA/USAF shows
lower solar activity with solar flux for January 27-28 at 79 and 78,
then 76 for January 29 through February 2, 78 on February 3-4 and 80 on
February 5-6. They show planetary A index at 5 on January 27-February
2, then 10 on February 3-4 and 7 on February 5. Geophysical Institute
Prague sees quiet conditions January 28 through February 1, quiet to
unsettled February 2 and unsettled February 3. Look for more
information on the ARRL website on Friday, January 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" is brought to you by Stephen Schwartz's  For Good
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5WNeBZ4rBU> from the musical Wicked
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicked_%28musical%29>.

==> THIS WEEK ON THE RADIO

This week:

-  January 28-30 -- CQ 160 Meter Contest (CW)
-  January 29-30 -- REF Contest (CW); BA DX Contest (SSB); SPAR Winter
Field Day
- January 30-31 -- Classic Exchange (CW)

Next week:

- February 4 -- NCCC Sprint Ladder
- February 5 -- Minnesota QSO Party; FYBO Winter QRP Sprint; AGCW
Straight Key Party
- February 5-6 -- Delaware QSO Party; 10-10 International Winter
Contest (SSB); British Columbia QSO Party; Mexico RTTY International
Contest; YL-ISSB QSO Party (CW); EPC WW DX Contest
- February 5-7 -- Vermont QSO Party
- February 6 -- North American Sprint (CW)
- February 8 -- ARS Spartan Sprint
- February 9 -- NAQCC Straight Key/Bug Sprint
- February 9-10 -- 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 28-29 -- ARRL Mississippi State Convention
<http://www.msham.org/hamfest.php>, Jackson, Mississippi
- February 5 -- ARRL South Carolina Section Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/south-carolina-section-convention-1>,
North Charleston, South Carolina; ARRL Virginia State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/virginia-state-convention-frostfest-2011>,
Richmond, Virginia
- February 11-13 -- ARRL Southeastern Division Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/southeastern-division-convention-orlando-hamcation>,
Orlando, Florida
- February 18-19 -- ARRL Arizona State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/arizona-state-convention-yuma-hamfest-emergency-preparedness-show>,
Yuma, Arizona
- February 26 -- ARRL Vermont State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/vermont-state-convention-ham-con-1>,
Colchester, Vermont

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

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