[Letter-List] The ARRL Letter for January 27, 2011

Thu Jan 27 17:54:57 EST 2011

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            The  ARRL Letter

Published by the American Radio Relay League
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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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