From memberlist at www.arrl.org  Thu May  3 14:44:10 2012
From: memberlist at www.arrl.org (ARRL Web site)
Date: Thu,  3 May 2012 14:44:10 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: [Letter-List] The ARRL Letter for May 3, 2012
Message-ID: <20120503204525.13B9B26703@bmail.arrl.org>

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

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

May 3, 2012

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

-  + On the Air: Annual Armed Forces Day Crossband Test Scheduled for
May 12
- + On the Air: 7O6T Yemen DXpedition Now Underway
- + On the Air: Logbook of The World Marks 50,000 Users
- + ARDF Update: Register Now for the USA ARDF Championships in
Southern California
- ARRL in Action: What Have We Been Up to Lately?
- + Section News: New Section Manager Appointed in Virgin Islands
- Solar Update
- + ARRL Recognizes: Richard Paton  Wins April QST Cover Plaque Award
- New QuickStats Poll Now Available on ARRL Website
- This Week in Radiosport
- Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events

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

Please note: There will be no ARRL Audio News
<http://www.arrl.org/arrl-audio-news> on Thursday, May 18. The ARRL
Letter <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter> will be sent out on its regular
schedule that day.

==>  + ON THE AIR: ANNUAL ARMED FORCES DAY CROSSBAND TEST SCHEDULED FOR
MAY 12

   The Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard are
co-sponsoring the annual Military/Amateur Radio Crossband
Communications Test in celebration of the 62nd anniversary of Armed
Forces Day. Although the actual Armed Forces Day is celebrated on the
third Saturday in May -- May 19 in 2012 -- the AFD Military/Amateur
Crossband Communications Test will be conducted on May 12 to prevent a
conflict with the Dayton Hamvention?, scheduled for May 18-20. Read
more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/annual-armed-forces-day-crossband-test-scheduled-for-may-12>.

==> + ON THE AIR: 7O6T YEMEN DXPEDITION NOW UNDERWAY

   The Daily DX is reporting that the 7O6T Yemen DXpedition began at
2100 UTC Monday, April 30 and will continue through 2100 UTC May 15.
Yemen currently sits at #5 on DX Magazine's most wanted list, behind
North Korea, Navassa, Bouvet and Heard Island. The ARRL DXCC Desk will
review the 7O6T DXpedition's documentation before granting approval for
the operation to count for DXCC credit.

The DXpedition will be on Socotra Island -- the largest island in the
four-island Socotra archipelago located in the Indian Ocean -- about
353 kilometers south of the Yemen mainland. Socotra Island (AF-028) is
also ranked #1 on the RSGB's Islands on the Air (IOTA) list, with only
.3 percent of IOTA participants claiming it. Socotra also counts for
one of the three Diamond DXCC Entities that make up today's Yemen
(including Aden City and Yemen itself) from the 1937 DXCC List. Read
more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/7o6t-yemen-dxpedition-to-get-underway-today>.

==> + ON THE AIR: LOGBOOK OF THE WORLD MARKS 50,000 USERS

   On May 1, Dragan Pavlovic, YT3PDT, completed his registration
process for Logbook of The World (LoTW
<http://www.arrl.org/logbook-of-the-world>), becoming the 50,000th
person to take advantage of the ARRL's online QSL confirmation system.
According to ARRL Membership and Volunteer Programs Manager Dave
Patton, NN1N, there are more than 3500 individuals from outside the US
in the process of obtaining a digital certificate, and more than 1800
individuals inside the US who have started the certificate process, but
not yet finished.

Earlier this year, the ARRL and CQ Communications announced
<http://www.arrl.org/news/logbook-of-the-world-to-now-support-cq-awards>
that the ARRL will provide support for CQ-sponsored operating awards by
LoTW, beginning with the WPX Award. This project has entered the beta
testing phase
<http://www.arrl.org/news/wpx-awards-via-lotw-enters-beta-testing> with
a select group of hams and, barring any unforeseen circumstances, is on
track to be launched to the Amateur Radio community this month.

"Radio amateurs around the world consider LoTW to be the 'must have'
awards and electronic confirmation system," Patton said. "We look
forward to planned improvements and upgrades, and we are gratified that
so many people have helped the system grow and become more and more
useful."

==> + ARDF UPDATE: REGISTER NOW FOR THE USA ARDF CHAMPIONSHIPS IN
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

   The biggest event of the year is coming soon for fans of on-foot
hidden transmitter hunting, also called foxtailing, radio-orienteering
and Amateur Radio Direction Finding (ARDF). Beginners and experts will
gather in the mountains east of San Diego for the 12th Annual USA ARDF
championships during the week and the weekend after Memorial Day. There
they will test their abilities, refine their equipment and learn the
best techniques from one another. Some will take home medals.

Activities will get under way on Wednesday and Thursday, May 30-31,
when an optional two-day "training camp" will take place. This is a
wonderful opportunity for immersion in bearing-taking and course
strategy, with experts to help. Orienteering maps with elevation
contours and color-coded terrain markings are new to many on-foot
foxhunters, but the camp will instill confidence in using them to
navigate in unfamiliar forests.

The official championships opening will take place on Friday, June 1.
Friday's schedule also includes additional practice and equipment
testing sessions, followed by a meeting for orientation and rules
review. The 2 meter contest will take place in the woods on Saturday,
and a banquet and awards ceremony will follow that evening. Sunday's
schedule includes the 80 meter contest and another awards ceremony.
Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/ardf-update-register-now-for-the-usa-ardf-championships-in-southern-california>.

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

   This feature is a concise monthly update of some of the things that
the ARRL is doing on behalf of its members. This installment -- which
covers the month of April -- takes a look at an FCC request for
comments in a Congressional study, new radar systems in the 1240-1300
MHz (23 cm) band, updated rules for ARRL volunteer card checkers,
forthcoming ARRL publications, happenings at W1AW, 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-45>.

==> + SECTION NEWS: NEW SECTION MANAGER APPOINTED IN VIRGIN ISLANDS

   Fred Kleber, K9VV, has been appointed as Section Manager of the
Virgin Islands Section as of May 1, 2012. Kleber, of Christiansted, St
Croix, is taking the reins from John Ellis, NP2B, who is planning a
move out of the Section soon. Ellis has been Section Manager of the
Virgin Islands since 1996. Kleber has served as the Section Emergency
Coordinator of the Virgin Islands this past year. Ellis recommended
that Kleber fulfill his current term of office that continues until
September 30, 2012. In response, Dave Patton, NN1N, Membership and
Volunteer Programs Manager, consulted with ARRL Southeastern Division
Director Greg Sarratt, W4OZK, and made the appointment effective on May
1.

Nomination petitions are now being accepted at ARRL Headquarters for
any qualified ARRL member who would like to run for the next term of
office as the US Virgin Islands Section Manger. See the notice in the
April 2012 (page 80) or May 2012 (page 76) issues of QST for details on
how to nominate someone for this post.

==> SOLAR UPDATE

   Tad "Our days run as fast away as does the Sun
<http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/176696>" Cook, K7RA, reports: The
average daily sunspot numbers declined 38 points to 106.7 this week,
while the average daily solar flux declined nearly 18 points to 116.2.
The data reporting week runs from Thursday through the following
Wednesday, so this comparison is between April 26-May 2, contrasted
against April 19-25. The predicted solar flux is 115 for May 3-6, 110
on May 7-8, 115 on May 9, 130 on May 10-12, 135 on May 13, 140 on May
14-17, 135 on May 18-21, and 130, 125, 120, 115, and 110 on May 22-26.
The predicted planetary A index is 5 on May 3-8, then 10, 15 and 8 on
May 9-11, 5 on May 12-13, 8 on May 14-15, then 5, 8, 5, 8 and 10 on May
16-20, 15 on May 21-23, 8 on May 24, and then 5 on May 25-June 4. The
NASA solar cycle prediction
<http://solarscience.msfc.nasa.gov/predict.shtml> from the Marshall
Space Flight Center has changed over the past month: The predicted
maximum smoothed international sunspot number changed from 61 to 60,
but still predicted for next spring 2013. The date of the new
prediction is May 1, 2012 and last month's was on April 2, 2012.
International sunspot numbers have much lower values than the sunspot
numbers we use in this bulletin. The prediction is still for Solar
Cycle 24 to be the lowest sunspot cycle in the past century. Look for
more on the ARRL website on Friday, May 4. 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 Robert Herrick's Corinna's Gone A-Maying
<http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/robert-herrick>.

==> + ARRL RECOGNIZES: RICHARD PATON  WINS APRIL QST COVER PLAQUE AWARD

   The winner of the April QST Cover Plaque award is retired USCG
Commander Richard Paton for his article "Radio's Role in the Titanic
Disaster." Congratulations Richard! 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 May issue today.

==> 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:

- How do you participate in Field Day?
- Where do you store your QSL cards?
- How were you introduced to Amateur Radio?
- Do you suffer interference from your vehicle's electronics when you
operate mobile?

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 August 2012 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.

==> THIS WEEK IN RADIOSPORT

This week:

- May 4 -- NCCC Sprint Ladder
- May 5 -- Microwave Spring Sprint (local time)
- May 5-6 -- New England QSO Party; Indiana QSO Party; 7th Call Area
QSO Party; 10-10 International Spring Contest (CW); ARI International
DX Contest; Araucaria VHF Contest
- May 8 -- ARS Spartan Sprint
- May 9-10 -- CWops Mini-CWT Test

Next week:

- May 11 -- NCCC Sprint Ladder
- May 12 -- FISTS Spring Sprint
- May 12-13 -- Nevada Mustang Roundup; EUCW Fraternizing CW QSO Party;
VOLTA WW RTTY Contest; CQ-M International DX Contest; 50 MHz Spring
Sprint
- May 13 -- SKCC Weekend Sprintathon; WAB LF Phone Contest
- May 14 -- NAQCC-EU Monthly Sprint
- May 17 -- 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
information. 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

- May 4-6 -- EMCOMMWEST
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/emcommwest-convention-1>, Reno, Nevada
- May 18-20 -- Dayton Hamvention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/dayton-hamvention-3>, Dayton, Ohio
- June 1-3 -- ARRL Northwestern Division Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/northwestern-division-convention-seapac-3>,
Seaside, Oregon
- June 2 -- ARRL Georgia Section Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/georgia-section-convention-atlanta-hamfest-1>,
Marietta, Georgia
- June 8-9 -- ARRL West Gulf Division Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/west-gulf-division-convention-ham-com-1>,
Plano, Texas
- June 9 -- ARRL Arkansas State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/arkansas-state-convention>, Rogers,
Arkansas; ARRL Tennessee State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/tennessee-state-convention-2>, Knoxville,
Tennessee
- June 30 -- ARRL Eastern Pennsylvania Section Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/eastern-pennsylvania-section-convention-electronics-expo-firecracker-hamfest>,
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
- July 20-22 -- ARRL Montana State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/montana-state-convention-78th-glacier-waterton-international-hamfest>,
East Glacier, Montana
- July 26-28 -- Central States VHF Society Conference
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/central-states-vhf-society-conference-1>,
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- July 27-28 -- ARRL Oklahoma Section Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/oklahoma-section-convention-ham-holiday-2012>,
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- July 27-29 -- ARRL Rocky Mountain Division Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/rocky-mountain-division-convention-2>,
Bryce Canyon, Utah
- August 3-4 -- ARRL Texas State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/texas-state-convention-austin-summerfest-2>,
Austin, Texas
- August 3-5 -- Pacific Northwest DX Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/pacific-northwest-dx-convention-1>,
Portland, Oregon
- August 4 -- ARRL Ohio State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/ohio-state-convention>, Columbus, Ohio
- August 10-12 -- RAC National Convention 2012
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/rac-convention-2012>, Edmonton, Alberta,
Canada
- August 18 -- ARRL West Virginia State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/west-virginia-state-convention-2>,
Weston, West Virginia
- August 18-19 -- ARRL Southeastern Division Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/southeastern-division-convention-huntsville-hamfest>,
Huntsville, Alabama
- August 19 -- ARRL Kansas State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/kansas-state-convention-2>, Salina,
Kansas
- August 24-26 -- ARRL New England Division Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/new-england-division-convention-1>,
Boxboro, Massachusetts
- August 26 -- ARRL Western Pennsylvania Section Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/western-pennsylvania-section-convention-2>,
New Kensington, Pennsylvania

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

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From memberlist at www.arrl.org  Thu May 10 14:24:44 2012
From: memberlist at www.arrl.org (ARRL Web site)
Date: Thu, 10 May 2012 14:24:44 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: [Letter-List] The ARRL Letter for May 10, 2012
Message-ID: <20120510185945.1EB56252CA@bmail.arrl.org>

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

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

May 10, 2012

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

- + Dayton Hamvention: ARRL EXPO Offers Activities for the DIYer
- + FCC News: FCC Seeks Higher Vanity Call Sign Fee
- + FCC News: Senate Approves Two New FCC Commissioners, Commission to
Be at Full Strength
- + End of an Era: Heathkit Educational Systems Closes Up Shop
- + Amateur Radio in Space: Three Hams Venture to ISS Next Week
- + BSA to Offer Morse Code Interpreter Strip
- On the Air: Coast Guard to Join Armed Forces Crossband Communications
Test
- Solar Update
- DXCC News: DXCC Desk Approves DXpeditions to Yemen and Somalia
- This Week in Radiosport
- Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events

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

Please note: There will be no ARRL Audio News
<http://www.arrl.org/arrl-audio-news> on Thursday, May 17. The ARRL
Letter <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter> will be sent out on its regular
schedule that day.

==> + DAYTON HAMVENTION: ARRL EXPO OFFERS ACTIVITIES FOR THE DIYER

   When the ARRL EXPO comes to the Dayton Hamvention? May 18-20, it
will bring activities for almost every Amateur Radio activity under the
Sun. From radiosport to card checking to scouting to the Youth Lounge,
every radio amateur will definitely find something to suit his or her
interests. This year -- in addition to our popular kit building station
-- watch how "makers" and "hackers" are using Amateur Radio in "Do It
Yourself" projects on the DIY Stage in the ARRL EXPO, and hear from
hams who are doing-it-themselves. Today's Amateur Radio innovators will
demonstrate a variety of creative projects and cool technology right
before your eyes! Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-expo-offers-activities-for-the-diyer>.

==> + FCC NEWS: FCC SEEKS HIGHER VANITY CALL SIGN FEE

   The FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on May 4, seeking
to raise the fee for Amateur Radio vanity call signs. Currently, a
vanity call sign costs $14.20 and is good for 10 years; the new fee, if
the FCC plan goes through, will go up to $15 for 10 years, an increase
of 80 cents. The FCC is authorized by the Communications Act of 1934
(as amended) to collect vanity call sign fees to recover the costs
associated with that program. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-seeks-higher-vanity-call-sign-fee>.

==> + FCC NEWS: SENATE APPROVES TWO NEW FCC COMMISSIONERS, COMMISSION
TO BE AT FULL STRENGTH

   Six months after President Barack Obama nominated Jessica
Rosenworcel and Ajit Varadaraj Pai to the Federal Communications
Commission, the Senate confirmed their appointments on Monday, May 7.
Rosenworcel, a Democrat, fills the seat vacated by Michael Copps who
retired from the Commission earlier this year; her term runs through
June 30, 2015. Pai, a Republican, replaces Meredith Attwell Baker, who
left the FCC in June 2010; his term runs through June 30, 2016. Once
Rosenworcel and Pai are sworn in, the FCC will be at its full
complement of five Commissioners.

According to various reports, the two will be sworn in by the end of
this week. Their nominations had been held up since December in an
unrelated dispute between the FCC and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa)
over agency approval of LightSquared's wireless application. When
Grassley received the sought-after documents two weeks ago, he lifted a
hold on the nominations. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/senate-approves-two-new-fcc-commissioners-commission-to-be-at-full-strength>.

==> + END OF AN ERA: HEATHKIT EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS CLOSES UP SHOP

   For the second time since 1992, Heathkit Educational Services has
shuttered its doors. Rumors of the legendary kit-building company's
demise were posted on QRZ.com, with several readers bringing the news
to the attention of the ARRL. In August 2011, Heathkit announced it was
returning to the kit building business, and in September, that it would
once again be manufacturing Amateur Radio kits. The ARRL tried to reach
Heathkit to confirm that the company is still in business, but their
phone and fax numbers have a continuous busy signal, and e-mails to the
company have gone unanswered. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/heathkit-educational-systems-closes-up-shop>.

==> + AMATEUR RADIO IN SPACE: THREE HAMS VENTURE TO ISS NEXT WEEK

   NASA will televise <http://www.nasa.gov/ntv> the launch and docking
of the next mission to the International Space Station (ISS
<http://www.nasa.gov/station>), scheduled for May 14. NASA Flight
Engineer Joseph Acaba, KE5DAR, and his two Russian crewmates, Soyuz
Commander Gennady Padalka, RN3DT, and Flight Engineer Sergei Revin,
RN3BS, are completing their training as they undergo Soyuz spacecraft
fit. Live NASA TV coverage <http://www.nasa.gov/ntv> of the Soyuz
TMA-04M spacecraft launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan
begins at 9 PM CDT on Monday, May 14 (0200 UTC May 15), with the launch
scheduled for 10:01 PM CDT (0301 UTC).

The trio will arrive at the station May 16, joining Expedition 31
Commander Oleg Kononenko, RN3DX, of the Russian Federal Space Agency,
Flight Engineer Don Pettit, KD5MDT, of NASA and Flight Engineer Andrei
Kuipers, PI9ISS, of the European Space Agency, who have been aboard the
ISS since December 2011. Padalka, Acaba and Revin will transition to
the Expedition 32 crew in July and return to Earth in mid-September.
You can watch live online
<http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html> on the NASA TV
Public and Media channels, or on your television set. Contact your
local provider for the NASA TV channel in your area. Click here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/three-hams-venture-to-iss-next-week> for a
complete schedule of televised events.

==> + BSA TO OFFER MORSE CODE INTERPRETER STRIP

   For many years, Boy Scouts and Scouters have been able to earn an
interpreter strip to wear on their uniforms. This strip -- worn on the
uniform above the right pocket -- denotes proficiency in a foreign
language or sign language. Each language has its own strip (with the
name of the language embroidered in that language), and some Scouts and
Scouters wear more than one strip. Now those hams involved with the Boy
Scouts can show their proficiency in Morse code with a Morse code
interpreter strip (with M-O-R-S-E spelled out in Morse code). Read more
here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/bsa-to-offer-morse-code-interpreter-strip>.

==> ON THE AIR: COAST GUARD TO JOIN ARMED FORCES CROSSBAND
COMMUNICATIONS TEST

   The US Coast Guard will be joining the Army, Air Force, Navy and
Marines in the 2012 Armed Forces Crossband Test, scheduled for May 12.
In addition to the Coast Guard station, five Army stations, three Air
Force stations and six Navy/Marine Corps stations will be on the air to
celebrate the 62nd anniversary of Armed Forces Day. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/coast-guard-to-join-armed-forces-crossband-communications-test>.

==> SOLAR UPDATE

   Tad "Flashing and frolicsome under the Sun
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jzf_yDVbKlA>" Cook, K7RA, reports: The
average daily solar flux for the past week rose slightly, 116.2 to 119,
but the average daily sunspot numbers declined more than 14 points --
about 13 percent -- to 92.6. The predicted solar flux for the near term
is quite a bit higher than the average for the past week: Solar flux on
May 10-13 is 130, then 135 on May 14-17, and then it drops sharply to
110 on May 18-22, 115 on May 23-25, 110 on May 26, and then down to 105
on May 27-31. The predicted planetary A index is 22, 15, 10, 8 and 5 on
May 10-14, 8 on May 15-16, 5 on May 17-18, 8 and 10 on May 19-20, 15 on
May 21-23, 8 on May 24, and 5 on May 25-June 4. The predicted planetary
A index of 22 on May 10 looks like a continuation of activity from May
9, which resulted in a planetary A index of 24 and a mid-latitude A
index of 19. This was triggered by a pair of coronal mass ejections and
solar wind stream, all from sunspot group 1476, which is now swinging
into prime geo-effective position. This means it is very close to the
center of the visible solar disk, pointing emissions straight toward
Earth. It could be the source for more geomagnetic upset. Look for more
on the ARRL website on Friday, May 11. 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 Ralph Vaughan Williams' Sea
Symphony <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_Symphony> (III Scherzo The
Waves), taken from Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaves_of_Grass> (Book XIX
<http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Leaves_of_Grass/Book_XIX>, After the
Sea-Ship
<http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Leaves_of_Grass/Book_XIX#After_the_Sea-Ship>).

==> DXCC NEWS: DXCC DESK APPROVES DXPEDITIONS TO YEMEN AND SOMALIA

   ARRL DXCC Manager Bill Moore, NC1L, reports that the current 7O6T
DXpedition to Yemen and the February 2012 6O3A DXpedition to Somalia
have been approved for DXCC credit. "If you had cards that were
recently rejected for the 6O3A operation, please send an e-mail
<dxcc at arrl.org> to the ARRL DXCC Desk," Moore said. "Please note that
due to extremely heavy e-mail, DXCC staff may not respond to your
message. Once your record is updated, results will appear in Logbook of
The World (LoTW <https://p1k.arrl.org/lotwuser/default>) accounts or in
the live, daily DX standings <http://www.arrl.org/dxcc/>. Due to a
backup on DXCC e-mail, DXCC staff will make the corrections to
accounts, but may not respond directly to messages about this."

==> THIS WEEK IN RADIOSPORT

This week:

- May 11 -- NCCC Sprint Ladder
- May 12 -- FISTS Spring Sprint
- May 12-13 -- Nevada Mustang Roundup; EUCW Fraternizing CW QSO Party;
VOLTA WW RTTY Contest; CQ-M International DX Contest; 50 MHz Spring
Sprint
- May 13 -- SKCC Weekend Sprintathon; WAB LF Phone Contest
- May 14 -- NAQCC-EU Monthly Sprint
- May 17 -- NAQCC Straight Key/Bug Sprint

Next week:

- May 19 -- Feld Hell Sprint
- May 19-20 -- His Majesty King of Spain Contest (CW); EU PSK DX
Contest; Baltic Contest
- May 21 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest
- May 21-22 -- Aegean RTTY Contest
- May 23-24 -- 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
information. 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

- May 18-20 -- Dayton Hamvention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/dayton-hamvention-3>, Dayton, Ohio
- June 1-3 -- ARRL Northwestern Division Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/northwestern-division-convention-seapac-3>,
Seaside, Oregon
- June 2 -- ARRL Georgia Section Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/georgia-section-convention-atlanta-hamfest-1>,
Marietta, Georgia
- June 8-9 -- ARRL West Gulf Division Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/west-gulf-division-convention-ham-com-1>,
Plano, Texas
- June 9 -- ARRL Arkansas State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/arkansas-state-convention>, Rogers,
Arkansas; ARRL Tennessee State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/tennessee-state-convention-2>, Knoxville,
Tennessee
- June 30 -- ARRL Eastern Pennsylvania Section Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/eastern-pennsylvania-section-convention-electronics-expo-firecracker-hamfest>,
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
- July 20-22 -- ARRL Montana State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/montana-state-convention-78th-glacier-waterton-international-hamfest>,
East Glacier, Montana
- July 26-28 -- Central States VHF Society Conference
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/central-states-vhf-society-conference-1>,
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- July 27-28 -- ARRL Oklahoma Section Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/oklahoma-section-convention-ham-holiday-2012>,
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- July 27-29 -- ARRL Rocky Mountain Division Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/rocky-mountain-division-convention-2>,
Bryce Canyon, Utah
- August 3-4 -- ARRL Texas State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/texas-state-convention-austin-summerfest-2>,
Austin, Texas
- August 3-5 -- Pacific Northwest DX Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/pacific-northwest-dx-convention-1>,
Portland, Oregon
- August 4 -- ARRL Ohio State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/ohio-state-convention>, Columbus, Ohio
- August 10-12 -- RAC National Convention 2012
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/rac-convention-2012>, Edmonton, Alberta,
Canada
- August 18 -- ARRL West Virginia State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/west-virginia-state-convention-2>,
Weston, West Virginia
- August 18-19 -- ARRL Southeastern Division Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/southeastern-division-convention-huntsville-hamfest>,
Huntsville, Alabama
- August 19 -- ARRL Kansas State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/kansas-state-convention-2>, Salina,
Kansas
- August 24-26 -- ARRL New England Division Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/new-england-division-convention-1>,
Boxboro, Massachusetts
- August 26 -- ARRL Western Pennsylvania Section Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/western-pennsylvania-section-convention-2>,
New Kensington, Pennsylvania

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>. Follow us on
Twitter <http://twitter.com/arrl>.

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) 2012 American Radio Relay League, Inc. All
Rights Reserved

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


From memberlist at www.arrl.org  Thu May 17 23:05:43 2012
From: memberlist at www.arrl.org (ARRL Web site)
Date: Thu, 17 May 2012 23:05:43 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: [Letter-List] The ARRL Letter for May 17, 2012
Message-ID: <20120518040811.4B93B276AD@bmail.arrl.org>

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

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

May 17, 2012

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 Centennial Celebration: ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN,
Invites Input for 2014 ARRL Centennial
- Regulatory: ARRL Responds to FCC Request for Comments on Impediments
to Amateur Radio Communications
- Regulatory: New "PRB-1" Law Now in Effect in Ohio
- Hamvention: Dayton Hamvention Starts May 18
- FCC News: Jessica Rosenworcel and Ajit Pai Sworn in As FCC
Commissioners
- On the Air: ARRL Microwave Band Planning Committee Releases Draft
Band Plans
- QST: Get Ready for the Launch of the Digital Version of QST
- Nominations Invited for 2012 Philip J. McGan Memorial Silver Antenna
Award
- Solar Update
- No ARRL Audio News on May 17, Will Return May 24
- This Week in Radiosport
- Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events

==> ARRL CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION: ARRL PRESIDENT KAY CRAIGIE, N3KN,
INVITES INPUT FOR 2014 ARRL CENTENNIAL

The ARRL will celebrate its centennial in 2014, and is already making
plans to commemorate the highlights of the League's first century and
looking forward to what the second century may bring. But it's your

   League and your centennial. ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN,
invites all ARRL members to provide suggestions to help make this
once-in-a-lifetime event truly special. "Centennial theme publications
and special sections of regular publications are in the works," Craigie
noted, "as is an operating event that all members can participate in.
We will have centennial merchandise in the ARRL store and artwork you
can use to design items for yourself and your club. We'll be drawing on
the ARRL's historical collection and the memories of living amateurs."
Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-president-kay-craigie-n3kn-invites-input-for-2014-arrl-centennial>.

==> REGULATORY: ARRL RESPONDS TO FCC REQUEST FOR COMMENTS ON
IMPEDIMENTS TO AMATEUR RADIO COMMUNICATIONS

On Wednesday, May 16, 2012, the ARRL filed comments in response to the
FCC's Public Notice seeking comments on Emergency Communications by
Amateur Radio and impediments to Amateur Radio communications. Known as
Docket 12-91, the Commission is soliciting comments from the public as
it writes the report they were directed to present to Congress as part
of Public Law No. 112-96
<http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-112publ96/pdf/PLAW-112publ96.pdf>.

At the direction of ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, and the ARRL
Board's Executive Committee, the document was drafted by ARRL General
Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, assisted by ARRL Regulatory Information
Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, as well as ARRL Chief Technology Officer
Brennan Price, N4QX and several ARRL Headquarters staff members.

   Over 1500 e-mails were received at ARRL from amateurs, sharing the
details of their various deed restrictions. An additional 350-plus
e-mails were also received detailing actual Emergency Communications
participation in various events from almost every state in the US as
well as several US territories.

"The information provided to the ARRL by its members has provided a
strong statement of how the various deed restrictions have negatively
impacted the ability of Amateur Radio licensees to maximize their
participation in disaster and emergency support communications," said
Henderson. "The information provided by the membership not only helps
us make the best case to the FCC in this docket, but also begins to lay
a good foundation for considering possible rule changes that would
enhance Amateur Radio communications beyond this proceeding. I want to
thank the hundreds of concerned amateurs who made the effort to provide
the ARRL with the facts of their personal set of circumstances. What
you shared with us has helped us make a strong argument to present to
the Commission," he added.

A copy of the ARRL's filing
<http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7021918167> to the FCC may
be found on the FCC's Electronic Comment Filing System website.

==> REGULATORY: NEW "PRB-1" LAW NOW IN EFFECT IN OHIO

On May 15, Ohio Governor John Kasich signed a bill into law
<http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText129/129_HB_158_EN_N.pdf>
granting comprehensive rights to Amateur Radio operators in that state.
Several key players in the successful effort to enact a "PRB-1" law in
Ohio were present for the signing, including Section Manager Frank J.
Piper, KI8GW; Rick Swain, KK8O; Bill Carpenter, AA8EY; Steve Katz,
N8WL,

   and Constance Barsky, WD8ODC. ARRL Great Lakes Division Director
James Weaver, K8JE, was also at the signing.

Ohio SM Frank Piper provided some background:

"In the past three years, we have had four versions of this bill in the
Ohio Statehouse. In the last State Assembly, these bills died in
Committee. In this current Assembly, everything lined up for us, and
House Bill 158 made the entire journey from Introduction to the
Governor Kasich's signature.

"We had to make a few revisions to HB 158 during its travels through
committee hearings, but in the end we finished with an Act that places
the full language of CFR 47, Part 97.15 into the Ohio Revised Code. In
addition, language at the end of the law states: 'Any legislative
authority that denies an application for approval of an amateur station
antenna structure shall state the reasons for the denial and shall, on
appeal, bear the burden of proving that the authority's actions are
consistent with this section.' This language removes the burden of
proof from the Amateur Radio operator and places it on the legislative
authority.

"State Government Liaison Nick Pittner, K8NAP, did a tremendous job
over the past several years, staying on top of the status of bills that
were running their course on both sides of the Statehouse. Nick knew
when to call in key people to testify to Committees, and was
instrumental in the process of negotiating the required revisions when
requested.

"My thanks go out to all the Amateur Radio operators in the Ohio
Section who called, wrote and e-mailed their State Representatives and
Senators to support this legislation. Without their grass roots work,
this victory would not have been possible."

==> HAMVENTION: DAYTON HAMVENTION STARTS MAY 18

Thousands of ham radio operators from around the world are converging
on Dayton, Ohio for this weekend's Hamvention. The theme:
Internationally Connected.

==> FCC NEWS: JESSICA ROSENWORCEL AND AJIT PAI SWORN IN AS FCC
COMMISSIONERS

On Monday, May 14, Jessica Rosenworcel, and Ajit Pai, were sworn in

   by FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski as FCC Commissioners. For the
first time in almost a year, the Commission is once again at full
strength. Rosenworcel, a Democrat, fills the seat vacated by Michael
Copps who retired from the Commission earlier this year; her term runs
through June 30, 2015. Pai, a Republican,

   replaces Meredith Attwell Baker, who left the FCC in June 2011; his
term runs through June 30, 2016. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/jessica-rosenworcel-and-ajit-pai-sworn-in-as-fcc-commissioners>.

==> ON THE AIR: ARRL MICROWAVE BAND PLANNING COMMITTEE RELEASES DRAFT
BAND PLANS

The ARRL UHF-Microwave Band Plan Committee has released for comment its
draft band plan for 13 cm (2.3/2.4 GHz) and welcomes comments on it.
The amended draft band plan for 902-928 MHz (33 cm) has also been
released. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-microwave-band-planning-committee-releases-draft-band-plans>.

==> QST: GET READY FOR THE LAUNCH OF THE DIGITAL VERSION OF QST

We are excited about being able to offer ARRL members access to a
brand-new digital edition of QST. We expect to launch the digital
edition on or about May 23. If you have checked the Notification box on
your Member Profile, you will be notified by e-mail as soon as the
digital edition becomes available. As a bonus, ARRL members will also
have access to the digital archive -- the digital editions beginning
with the January 2012 issue. Our thanks to those who have beta tested
the digital edition. Your input has been invaluable as we have worked
to improve and enhance the digital edition. For more information,
please see the Digital Edition FAQ
<http://www.arrl.org/digital-qst-faq>.

==> NOMINATIONS INVITED FOR 2012 PHILIP J. MCGAN MEMORIAL SILVER
ANTENNA AWARD

The ARRL is now accepting nominations for the 2012 Philip J. McGan
Memorial Silver Antenna Award <http://www.arrl.org/phil-mcgan-award>.
This annual honor goes to a radio amateur who has demonstrated success
in Amateur Radio public relations and best exemplifies volunteer spirit
of the award's namesake, Phil McGan, WA2MBQ (SK). As the first chairman
of the ARRL Public Relations Committee, McGan helped to reinvigorate
the League's commitment to public relations. Nominations are due at
ARRL Headquarters by May 25, 2012.

"Throughout the year, ARRL Public Information Coordinators (PIC
<http://www.arrl.org/public-information-coordinator>s), Public
Information Officers (PIO
<http://www.arrl.org/public-information-officer>s) and other public
relations volunteers strive to keep Amateur Radio visible in their
communities," explained ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Allen
Pitts, W1AGP. "They do this by publicizing special events, writing
press releases and maintaining good relations with local news media.
Their efforts benefit us all. Nominating someone -- and recognizing his
or her public relations achievements -- is "the perfect way to say
'thank you' for promoting Amateur Radio."

The McGan Award honors achievement in public relations. Pitts pointed
out the distinction between public relations -- essentially getting
Amateur

   Radio's message to the public -- and public service, which is
Amateur Radio activity on behalf of the public, such as supporting
emergency communication. "If you're considering nominating someone in
your area for the McGan Award, please ask yourself if your candidate's
work fits the public relations definition," he said.

The McGan Award recognizes those Public Relations activities that
include efforts specifically directed at bringing Amateur Radio to the
public's attention (and most often to the news media's) in a positive
light. These may include traditional methods such as news releases, or
less-traditional methods such as hosting a radio show or being an
active public speaker.

Unfortunately, McGan never got to see how well his own PR efforts paid
off. In his honor, his friends in the New Hampshire Amateur Radio
Association joined with the ARRL Board of Directors to pay a lasting
tribute to the important contributions he made on behalf of Amateur
Radio by establishing this annual award. A committee of volunteers
knowledgeable about Amateur Radio public relations will pick the
winner, subject to approval by the ARRL Board of Directors. All McGan
Award nominees must be a full ARRL member -- not a group -- in good
standing and may not be regularly compensated for public relations work
involving Amateur Radio, including payment for articles. Nominees may
not be a current officer, director, vice director or paid staff member,
or a member of the current selection committee.

Nominations must be received at ARRL Headquarters by 5 PM Eastern Time
on May 25, 2012. The committee will not consider nominations that
arrive after the deadline or without an entry form. Complete details
and an official nomination form on McGan Award eligibility and how to
nominate someone are available on the ARRL website
<http://www.arrl.org/phil-mcgan-award>. Completed entry forms and
supporting materials should be mailed to Philip J. McGan Memorial
Silver Antenna Award, c/o Allen Pitts, W1AGP, ARRL, 225 Main St,
Newington, CT 06111.

==> SOLAR UPDATE

Tad "Unspeakable high processions of Sun and Moon and countless stars
above <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWeeK1RlOJ8>" Cook, K7RA,
reports: If you look at Spaceweather.com and use their archive feature
(check the three drop-down field on the upper right), you can step
day-by-day through the past week and see the progression of a
considerable number of sunspots in the Daily Sun image on the left side
of the page. There was one new sunspot group on

   May 10, two on May 11, four more on May 13 and another on May 15.
Average daily sunspot numbers for the past week rose nearly 25 points,
or about 27 percent, to 117.3. The big day was Monday, May 14, when the
daily sunspot number jumped to 156. This was one day after four new
sunspot groups, 1481 through 1484 appeared for the first time. Average
daily solar flux rose 12 points to 131, an increase of 10 percent. For
the near term, predicted solar flux is 130 on May 17-24, 115 on May
25-31, 120 on June 1, 125 on June 2-3, 130 on June 4, 135 on June 5-9
and 130 on June 10-12. Projected planetary A index is 5 on May 17-22, 8
on May 23, 5 on May 24 through June 4, then 8, 12, 18, 10 and 5 on June
5-9.

Look for more on the ARRL website on Friday, May 18. 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 Ralph Vaughan Williams' Sea Symphony
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_Symphony> (IV The Explorers), taken
from Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaves_of_Grass> (Book XXVI
<http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Leaves_of_Grass/Book_XXVI>, Passage to
India, verse 5).

==> NO ARRL AUDIO NEWS ON MAY 17, WILL RETURN MAY 24

Due to staff travel to the Dayton Hamvention, there will be no ARRL
Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrl-audio-news> on Thursday, May 17.
ARRL Audio News will return on May 24.

==> THIS WEEK IN RADIOSPORT

This week:

- May 19 -- Feld Hell Sprint
- May 19-20 -- His Majesty King of Spain Contest (CW); EU PSK DX
Contest; Baltic Contest
- May 21 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest
- May 21-22 -- Aegean RTTY Contest
- May 23-24 -- CWops Mini-CWT Test

Next week:

- May 25 -- NCCC Sprint Ladder
- May 26-27 -- CQ WW WPX Contest (CW)
- May 27 -- QRP ARCI Hootowl Sprint (local time); SARL Digital Contest
- May 27-28 -- Michigan QRP Memorial Day CW 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
information. 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

- May 18-20 -- Dayton Hamvention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/dayton-hamvention-3>, Dayton, Ohio
- June 1-3 -- ARRL Northwestern Division Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/northwestern-division-convention-seapac-3>,
Seaside, Oregon
- June 2 -- ARRL Georgia Section Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/georgia-section-convention-atlanta-hamfest-1>,
Marietta, Georgia
- June 8-9 -- ARRL West Gulf Division Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/west-gulf-division-convention-ham-com-1>,
Plano, Texas
- June 9 -- ARRL Arkansas State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/arkansas-state-convention>, Rogers,
Arkansas; ARRL Tennessee State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/tennessee-state-convention-2>, Knoxville,
Tennessee
- June 30 -- ARRL Eastern Pennsylvania Section Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/eastern-pennsylvania-section-convention-electronics-expo-firecracker-hamfest>,
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
- July 20-22 -- ARRL Montana State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/montana-state-convention-78th-glacier-waterton-international-hamfest>,
East Glacier, Montana
- July 26-28 -- Central States VHF Society Conference
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/central-states-vhf-society-conference-1>,
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- July 27-28 -- ARRL Oklahoma Section Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/oklahoma-section-convention-ham-holiday-2012>,
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- July 27-29 -- ARRL Rocky Mountain Division Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/rocky-mountain-division-convention-2>,
Bryce Canyon, Utah
- August 3-4 -- ARRL Texas State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/texas-state-convention-austin-summerfest-2>,
Austin, Texas
- August 3-5 -- Pacific Northwest DX Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/pacific-northwest-dx-convention-1>,
Portland, Oregon
- August 4 -- ARRL Ohio State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/ohio-state-convention>, Columbus, Ohio
- August 10-12 -- RAC National Convention 2012
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/rac-convention-2012>, Edmonton, Alberta,
Canada
- August 18 -- ARRL West Virginia State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/west-virginia-state-convention-2>,
Weston, West Virginia
- August 18-19 -- ARRL Southeastern Division Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/southeastern-division-convention-huntsville-hamfest>,
Huntsville, Alabama
- August 19 -- ARRL Kansas State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/kansas-state-convention-2>, Salina,
Kansas
- August 24-26 -- ARRL New England Division Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/new-england-division-convention-1>,
Boxboro, Massachusetts
- August 26 -- ARRL Western Pennsylvania Section Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/western-pennsylvania-section-convention-2>,
New Kensington, Pennsylvania

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>. Follow us on
Twitter <http://twitter.com/arrl>.

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) 2012 American Radio Relay League, Inc. All
Rights Reserved

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


From memberlist at www.arrl.org  Thu May 24 15:10:40 2012
From: memberlist at www.arrl.org (ARRL Web site)
Date: Thu, 24 May 2012 15:10:40 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: [Letter-List] The ARRL Letter for May 24, 2012
Message-ID: <20120524195545.BA21927363@bmail.arrl.org>

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

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

May 24, 2012

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

- + Discover Digital QST!
- + Dayton Hamvention?: Thousands of Hams Get "Internationally
Connected" in Dayton
- + Scouting and Amateur Radio: ICOM to Support Boy Scouts at National
Jamboree and at Local Council Level
- CQ Announces 2012 Hall of Fame Inductees
- + New "PRB-1" Law Now in Effect in Ohio
- Section Manager Elections: ARRL Spring Section Manager Election
Results Announced
- + FCC Dismisses Texas Ham's Fourth Petition, Calls it "Repetitive"
- Solar Update
- + Silent Key: Former ARRL First Vice President Steve Mendelsohn, W2ML
(SK)
- Silent Key: Former ARRL Atlantic Vice Director Jim Mozley, W2BCH (SK)
- + ARRL Headquarters to Close in Observance of Memorial Day Holiday
- Amateur Radio in Space: Amateurs Asked to Listen for HORYU-2
Satellite
- This Week in Radiosport
- Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events

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

==> + DISCOVER DIGITAL QST!

   If you're an ARRL member, you now have access to the new digital
edition <http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/arrl/qst_201206/index.php> of
the June 2012 issue of QST. It is available to all ARRL members at no
cost. All you need to do is log on to the ARRL website. Also available:
digital editions of the January through May 2012 issues. You will find
links to all the digital editions on our website
<http://www.arrl.org/qst/>. But wait -- there's more! All ARRL members
now also have access to every issue of QST via the Periodicals Archive
<http://www.arrl.org/arrl-periodicals-archive-search> -- from the first
issue, published in December 1915, through the December 2011 issue.
You'll find more information about the digital edition in the FAQ
<http://www.arrl.org/digital-qst-faq> (frequently asked questions)
section. We hope you enjoy the new digital editions of QST. Unless you
have chosen to opt out
<http://www.arrl.org/QST-Print-Edition-Opt-Out-Form> of the print
edition, you will continue to receive QST in the mail each month.

==> + DAYTON HAMVENTION?: THOUSANDS OF HAMS GET "INTERNATIONALLY
CONNECTED" IN DAYTON

   When Hara Arena -- home of the Dayton Hamvention for the past 48
years -- opened its doors at 9 AM on Friday, May, 18, thousands of hams
swarmed in, eager to see the latest and greatest that Amateur Radio has
to offer. And they weren't disappointed! With the introduction of three
new transceivers this year, as well as hundreds of vendors inside and
in the world-famous flea market, there was a definite buzz in the air,
especially within the ARRL EXPO

ARRL EXPO -- located in the Ball Arena Hall of the large Hara Arena --
included more than 20 exhibits staffed by ARRL program representatives.
Among the new booths for 2012 was an exhibit introducing the new
digital edition of QST, ARRL's membership journal. There were laptops,
tablets and iPads on hand at the booth so hams could explore the online
edition of QST. All ARRL members now have access to this exciting new
member benefit.

   Visitors to the ARRL EXPO saw a lot of activities relating to DX,
including DXCC card checking and a chance to drop off QSL cards for the
ARRL Outgoing QSL Bureau. Representatives from the International
Amateur Radio Union and IARU Member-Societies, including the Deutscher
Amateur Radio Club, the Japan Amateur Radio League, the Qatar Amateur
Radio Society and the Radio Society of Great Britain were on hand
within the ARRL EXPO. "The theme of the 2012 Hamvention was
Internationally Connected," explained ARRL Marketing Manager Bob
Inderbitzen, NQ1R. "What better way to get connected than meeting with
fellow radio amateurs from around the world?" Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/thousands-of-hams-get-internationally-connected-in-dayton>.

==> + SCOUTING AND AMATEUR RADIO: ICOM TO SUPPORT BOY SCOUTS AT
NATIONAL JAMBOREE AND AT LOCAL COUNCIL LEVEL

   Against the backdrop of the 2012 Dayton Hamvention? -- the largest
gathering of radio amateurs in the US -- ICOM America announced a
sponsorship agreement with the Boy Scouts of America for the
organization's 2012 National Scout Jamboree. As the BSA's official
Amateur Radio transceiver supplier for the jamboree, ICOM will provide
equipment and technical support for the K2BSA radio operation, the
Radio merit badge and Jamboree on the Air. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/icom-to-support-boy-scouts-at-national-jamboree-and-at-local-council-level>.

==> CQ ANNOUNCES 2012 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

   CQ magazine announced its 2012 Hall of Fame inductees on May 18,
welcoming 16 new members into the CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame, two
new members of the CQ DX Hall of Fame and two new members of the CQ
Contest Hall of Fame. The CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame honors those
individuals, whether licensed hams or not, who have made significant
contributions to Amateur Radio, as well as those amateurs who have made
significant contributions either to Amateur Radio, to their
professional careers or to some other aspect of life on our planet. The
CQ Contest and DX Halls of Fame honor those amateurs who not only excel
in personal performance in these major areas of Amateur Radio but who
also "give back" to Amateur Radio in outstanding ways. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/cq-announces-2012-hall-of-fame-inductees>.

==> + NEW "PRB-1" LAW NOW IN EFFECT IN OHIO

   On May 15, Ohio Governor John Kasich signed a bill, granting
comprehensive rights to Amateur Radio operators in that state. HB 158
codifies the federal restrictions on the local zoning of amateur
station antenna structures, thereby preserving Amateur Radio Service
communications as a Homeland Security resource, placing the burden of
proof for compliance on the zoning authority. According to ARRL Ohio
Section Manager Frank Piper, KI8GW, this places the full language of
Section 97.15
<http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=b95e71ef3fb3aac663d8913d35a596f0&rgn=div8&view=text&node=47:5.0.1.1.6.1.157.8&idno=47>
into the Ohio Revised Code: "This new law law states that 'Any
legislative authority that denies an application for approval of an
amateur station antenna structure shall state the reasons for the
denial and shall, on appeal, bear the burden of proving that the
authority's actions are consistent with this section.' This language
removes the burden of proof from the Amateur Radio operator and places
it on the legislative authority." Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/new-prb-1-law-now-in-effect-in-ohio>.

==> SECTION MANAGER ELECTIONS: ARRL SPRING SECTION MANAGER ELECTION
RESULTS ANNOUNCED

Of the nine Section Manager elections this spring, two were decided by
member balloting. Ballots were counted on May 22 at ARRL Headquarters.
Terms for these ARRL Field Organization officials begin July 1. Lou
Everett Sr, WA5LOU, of Indianapolis, was elected as the new Indiana
Section Manager, and Paul Eakin, KJ4G, of Panacea, was re-elected as
the North Florida Section Manager. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-spring-section-manager-election-results-announced>.

==> + FCC DISMISSES TEXAS HAM'S FOURTH PETITION, CALLS IT "REPETITIVE"

   For the fourth time in six years, the FCC has rejected a Petition
for Rulemaking filed by Glen Zook, K9STH. In each of his Petitions,
(2006, April 2009, 2011 and a Petition for Reconsideration in December
2009), Zook has asked the FCC to change its station identification
rules as set forth in Section 97.119(a). His 2011 Petition was no
different: Zook told the FCC that since "[v]irtually every amateur
station does not identify at the end of the communication," he
requested that the station identification rule be amended to provide
that if an amateur station transmits its call sign during its first
transmission, that station need not transmit its call sign at the end
of the transmission, provided that the transmission is less than three
minutes. Zook called this the "3-minute rule." Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-dismisses-texas-ham-s-fourth-em-petition-em-calls-it-repetitive>.

==> SOLAR UPDATE

   Tad "Greater than stars or Suns
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWeeK1RlOJ8>" Cook, K7RA, reports: The
average daily sunspot numbers declined seven points over the past week,
to 110.3, while the average daily solar flux dropped 3.3 points to 131.
These unsettled geomagnetic conditions over the past few days most
likely resulted from an interplanetary shock wave due to a solar flare
on May 20. The predicted planetary A index is 12, 5 and 8 on May 24-26,
then 5 on May 27-28, 8 on May 29, 5 on May 30-June 4, then 8, 12, 15,
10 and 8 on June 5-9, followed by 5 on June 10-11, 8 on June 12-13, 5
on June 14-16, then 8, 15, 10 and 8 on June 17-20, and 5 on June 21-25.
The predicted solar flux is 115 on May 24-25, 110 on May 26, 105 on May
27-30, 115 on May 31, then 120, 125, 125 and 130 on June 1-4, and 135
on June 5-9. Four new sunspot groups arose in the past week, on May 18,
20, 22 and 23. Until June 4, the predicted solar flux values are below
the average for the past week, at 127.7. Look for more on the ARRL
website on Friday, May 25. For more information concerning radio
propagation, visit the ARRL Technical Information Service Propagation
page <http://www.arrl.org/propagation-of-rf-signals>. This week's "Tad
Cookism" is brought to you by Ralph Vaughan Williams' Sea Symphony
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_Symphony> (IV The Explorers), taken
from Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaves_of_Grass> (Book XXVI
<http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Leaves_of_Grass/Book_XXVI>, Passage to
India, verse 8).

==> + SILENT KEY: FORMER ARRL FIRST VICE PRESIDENT STEVE MENDELSOHN,
W2ML (SK)

   After a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer, Steve Mendelsohn,
W2ML, of Dumont, New Jersey, passed away May 23. He was 67. An ARRL
Life Member, Mendelsohn began his time with ARRL in 1983 when he was
elected as Vice Director of the Hudson Division. After two terms as
Vice Director, he was elected as Hudson Division Director in 1987. In
1996, the ARRL Board of Directors elected Mendelsohn as its First Vice
President, where he served until 2000. The next year, he was again
elected as the Hudson Division Vice Director, serving through 2004.

Outside of his League activities, Mendelsohn was active both as the
Communications Director of the New York City Marathon and, along with
his wife Heidi, W2MLW, as the Game Day Frequency Coordinator (GDC) for
the New York Jets. The November 2007 issue of QST featured Mendelsohn
on its cover, along with an article about him and the GDC program.
Mendelsohn was inducted into the CQ Hall of Fame last week for his
contributions to the ARRL, the New York City Marathon and the National
Football League. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/former-arrl-first-vice-president-steve-mendelsohn-w2ml-sk>.

==> SILENT KEY: FORMER ARRL ATLANTIC VICE DIRECTOR JIM MOZLEY, W2BCH
(SK)

James M. Mozley, W2BCH -- who served as Vice Director of the ARRL
Atlantic Division from 1986-89 -- died May 13. He was 89. A long-time
resident of Camillus, New York, Mozley was active in the ARRL Western
New York Section as an Assistant Section Manager and as an Official
Emergency Station. He also served as an Official Observer from
1991-2004. He also served as the Western New York Section Emergency
Coordinator when Bill Thompson, W2MTA, became the Section
Communications Manager in 1980. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/former-arrl-vice-director-jim-mozley-w2bch-sk>.

==> + ARRL HEADQUARTERS TO CLOSE IN OBSERVANCE OF MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY

ARRL Headquarters will be closed Monday, May 28 in observance of the
Memorial Day holiday. There will be no W1AW code practice or bulletin
transmissions <http://www.arrl.org/w1aw-operating-schedule> that day.
ARRL Headquarters will reopen Tuesday, May 29 at 8 AM (EDT). We wish
everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend!

==> AMATEUR RADIO IN SPACE: AMATEURS ASKED TO LISTEN FOR HORYU-2
SATELLITE

   The Japanese HORYU-2
<http://kitsat.ele.kyutech.ac.jp/index_e_new.html> research satellite
was launched May 17 at 1639 UTC as part of a mission that included the
JAXA climate observation satellite Shizuku. HORYU-2 was built by
students at the Kyushu Institute of Technology (KIT) and it carries the
call sign JG6YBW. The satellite will conduct a variety of experiments
including high-voltage power generation and space debris measurements.
Amateurs have been asked to monitor HORYU-2's Morse code and 1200-baud
AX.25 packet telemetry at 437.375 MHz. Telemetry decoding software is
available for download
<http://kitsat.ele.kyutech.ac.jp/Documents/ground_station/Horyu2%20Data_Analysis_Program_japanese.zip>.
To encourage hams to submit reports, KIT will conduct a monthly prize
drawing. Details are available here
<http://kitsat.ele.kyutech.ac.jp/Documents/ground_station/english/Receive_competition_eng.pdf>.

==> THIS WEEK IN RADIOSPORT

This week:

- May 25 -- NCCC Sprint Ladder
- May 26-27 -- CQ WW WPX Contest (CW)
- May 27 -- QRP ARCI Hootowl Sprint (local time); SARL Digital Contest
- May 27-28 -- Michigan QRP Memorial Day CW Sprint

Next week:

- June 1 -- NCCC Sprint Ladder; HA3NS Sprint Memorial Contest
- June 2 -- Wake-Up! QRP Sprint
- June 2-3 -- Alabama QSO Party; Maritime QSO Party; 10-10
International Open Season PSK Contest; SEANET Contest
- June 5 -- ARS Spartan 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
information. 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

- June 1-3 -- ARRL Northwestern Division Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/northwestern-division-convention-seapac-3>,
Seaside, Oregon
- June 2 -- ARRL Georgia Section Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/georgia-section-convention-atlanta-hamfest-1>,
Marietta, Georgia
- June 8-9 -- ARRL West Gulf Division Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/west-gulf-division-convention-ham-com-1>,
Plano, Texas
- June 9 -- ARRL Arkansas State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/arkansas-state-convention>, Rogers,
Arkansas; ARRL Tennessee State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/tennessee-state-convention-2>, Knoxville,
Tennessee
- June 30 -- ARRL Eastern Pennsylvania Section Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/eastern-pennsylvania-section-convention-electronics-expo-firecracker-hamfest>,
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
- July 20-22 -- ARRL Montana State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/montana-state-convention-78th-glacier-waterton-international-hamfest>,
East Glacier, Montana
- July 26-28 -- Central States VHF Society Conference
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/central-states-vhf-society-conference-1>,
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- July 27-28 -- ARRL Oklahoma Section Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/oklahoma-section-convention-ham-holiday-2012>,
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- July 27-29 -- ARRL Rocky Mountain Division Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/rocky-mountain-division-convention-2>,
Bryce Canyon, Utah
- August 3-4 -- ARRL Texas State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/texas-state-convention-austin-summerfest-2>,
Austin, Texas
- August 3-5 -- Pacific Northwest DX Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/pacific-northwest-dx-convention-1>,
Portland, Oregon
- August 4 -- ARRL Ohio State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/ohio-state-convention>, Columbus, Ohio
- August 10-12 -- RAC National Convention 2012
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/rac-convention-2012>, Edmonton, Alberta,
Canada
- August 18 -- ARRL West Virginia State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/west-virginia-state-convention-2>,
Weston, West Virginia
- August 18-19 -- ARRL Southeastern Division Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/southeastern-division-convention-huntsville-hamfest>,
Huntsville, Alabama
- August 19 -- ARRL Kansas State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/kansas-state-convention-2>, Salina,
Kansas
- August 24-26 -- ARRL New England Division Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/new-england-division-convention-1>,
Boxboro, Massachusetts
- August 26 -- ARRL Western Pennsylvania Section Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/western-pennsylvania-section-convention-2>,
New Kensington, Pennsylvania

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
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<http://www.arrl.org/ncj>. Published bi-monthly, features articles by
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<http://www.arrl.org/Users/edit#!/edit-info-email_subscriptions>.

 Copyright (c) 2012 American Radio Relay League, Inc. All
Rights Reserved

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


From memberlist at www.arrl.org  Thu May 31 14:31:09 2012
From: memberlist at www.arrl.org (ARRL Web site)
Date: Thu, 31 May 2012 14:31:09 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: [Letter-List] The ARRL Letter for May 31, 2012
Message-ID: <20120531183109.154E726D16@bmail.arrl.org>

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

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

May 31, 2012

Editor: S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA <k1sfa at arrl.org>

ARRL Home Page <http://www.arrl.org/>ARRL Letter Archive
<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/>Audio News
<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> IN THIS ISSUE

- FCC News: FCC Expands Part 95 MedRadio Rules to Allow Devices in
2360-2400 MHz Band
- MARS: House Armed Services Committee "Urges" MARS Coordination
- On the Air: Have Some Fun in the 2012 ARRL June VHF QSO Party
- Amateur Radio Fun: Announcing the Winners of the 2012 QST Video
Contest
- Solar Update
- This Week in Radiosport
- Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events

There will be no ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrl-audio-news>
on Thursday, May 31. The Audio News will return on Thursday, June 7.

==> FCC NEWS: FCC EXPANDS PART 95 MEDRADIO RULES TO ALLOW DEVICES IN
2360-2400 MHZ BAND

   In a First Report and Order and a Further Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (ET 08-59) released on May 24, the FCC decided to expand the
Part 95 Personal Radio Service rules to allow medical devices to
operate on a secondary basis in the 2360-2400 MHz band. These devices
-- called Medical Body Area Networks (MBAN) -- provide a way for health
care facilities to monitor their patients via wireless networks.
Because use of these frequencies will be on a secondary basis, MBAN
stations will not be allowed to cause interference to -- and must
accept interference from -- primary services, including radio amateurs
who operate on a primary basis in the 2390-2395 MHz and 2395-2400 MHz
bands. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-expands-part-95-medradio-rules-to-allow-devices-in-2360-2400-mhz-band>.

==> MARS: HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE "URGES" MARS COORDINATION

   On May 18, the US House of Representatives approved HR 4310, The
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013. This bill
authorizes appropriations for military activities and prescribes
military personnel strengths for Fiscal Year 2013. When the House Armed
Services Committee sent the bill to the House, it included language in
support of the Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS) and called for
the three MARS branches -- Army, Air Force and Navy/Marine Corps -- to
be brought under one umbrella. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/house-armed-services-committee-urges-mars-coordination>.

==> ON THE AIR: HAVE SOME FUN IN THE 2012 ARRL JUNE VHF QSO PARTY

   There will be lots of RF generated on 6 meters and up the weekend of
June 9-11 during the 2012 ARRL June VHF QSO Party. While many amateurs
think of the VHF+ bands as a "local" band for public service, emergency
communications or even a bit of fun on FM repeaters, weak-signal VHF+
enthusiasts know better. Even with a modest station, it's possible to
work hundreds -- or even thousands -- of miles on the VHF bands during
a good opening.

ARRL Contest Branch Manager Sean Kutzko, KX9X, is a big VHF enthusiast.
"In more than 25 years of Amateur Radio, weak-signal work on 6 and 2
meters remains the most fun and intriguing activity I do," he said.
"There is nothing like a good VHF opening -- with interesting
propagation characteristics like Sporadic-E, tropospheric ducting,
aurora and even meteor scatter and moonbounce -- VHF offers QSO
opportunities that HF can never satisfy." Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/have-some-fun-in-the-2012-arrl-june-vhf-qso-party>.

==> AMATEUR RADIO FUN: ANNOUNCING THE WINNERS OF THE 2012 QST VIDEO
CONTEST

The votes have been tallied for the 2012 QST video contest and the
winners chosen!

   -   First Place, Amateur: Erin King, AK4JG: Erin -- along with her
mentor and members of the Columbus (Georgia) Amateur Radio Club (CARC
<http://www.w4cvy.org/>) -- sent a weather balloon and a
high-definition video camera to an altitude of over 90,000 feet. They
tracked the balloon across the Georgia countryside using APRS and
managed to recover the payload from the branches of a towering pine
tree. The resulting video is nothing short of spectacular.
-  Second Place, Amateur: Jim Wright, N2GXJ: Jim's video Discovering
the Fun does an outstanding job of capturing the thrill of obtaining an
Amateur Radio license and then discovering the pleasures of HF digital
operating with PSK31. When Jim unfurls his ARRL DX Century Club
certificate at the end of the video, you can't help but smile.
- Third Place, Amateur: Jared Gohlke, N4JMG: Jared chronicles a Rowan
Amateur Radio Society (RARS <http://www.rowanars.org/>) transmitter
hunt among the woods and cotton fields of North Carolina. The result is
both informative and humorous. After watching this video you may want
to try a "foxhunt" of your own!
- Professional: Gary Pearce, KN4AQ: Gary Pearce, KN4AQ, is a
professional videographer and the creative force behind Amateur Radio
Video News (ARVN <http://arvideonews.com/>). Gary took his equipment
and crew to the 2012 Orlando Hamcation for a glimpse of one of the most
popular Amateur Radio gatherings in the southeastern United States.

You can watch the winning videos in the digital edition of the July
issue of QST when it becomes available in a few weeks. If you can't
wait, enjoy the videos right now on the web
<http://www.arrl.org/winners>.

==> SOLAR UPDATE

   Tad "All spheres, grown, ungrown, small, large, Suns, moons, planets
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aK6k6tt1Z4>" Cook, K7RA, reports: The
average daily sunspot numbers sank more than 28 points this week
(nearly 26 percent) to 81.9, while the average daily solar flux
declined more than 16 points to 111.6. No new sunspots appeared since
May 25. The short term outlook is for lower solar activity, with the
solar flux peaking around 120 on June 5-15 and July 1-12. The latest
prediction has solar flux at 110 on May 31-June 2, 115 on June 3-4, 120
on June 5-15, then 115 on June 16-18, 110 on June 19-26 and 105 on June
27-28. The predicted planetary A index is 5 on May 31-June 2, then 10,
15, 18, 15 and 8 on June 3-7, 5 on June 8-11, 8 on June 12-13, 5 on
June 14-17, and 15, 12 and 8 on June 18-20, and then back down to 5 on
June 21-25. Look for more on the ARRL website on Friday, June 1. 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 Ralph Vaughan Williams' A Sea Symphony
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_Symphony> (II On the Beach at Night
Alone), taken from Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaves_of_Grass> (Book XIX
<http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Leaves_of_Grass/Book_XIX#On_the_Beach_at_Night_Alone>,
verse 8).

==> THIS WEEK IN RADIOSPORT

This week:

- June 1 -- NCCC Sprint Ladder; HA3NS Sprint Memorial Contest
- June 2 -- Wake-Up! QRP Sprint
- June 2-3 -- Alabama QSO Party; Maritime QSO Party; 10-10
International Open Season PSK Contest; SEANET Contest
- June 5 -- ARS Spartan Sprint

Next week:

- June 8 -- NCCC Sprint Ladder
- June 9 -- Portugal Day Contest; Asia-Pacific Sprint (SSB)
- June 9-10 -- DRCG Long Distance Contest (RTTY); VK Shires Contest;
GACW WWSA CW DX Contest; REF DDFM 6 Meter Contest
- June 9-11 -- ARRL June VHF QSO Party
<http://www.arrl.org/june-vhf-qso-party>
- June 13 -- NAQCC Straight Key/Bug Sprint; NAQCC-EU Monthly Sprint
- June 13-14 -- 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
information. 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

- June 1-3 -- ARRL Northwestern Division Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/northwestern-division-convention-seapac-3>,
Seaside, Oregon
- June 2 -- ARRL Georgia Section Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/georgia-section-convention-atlanta-hamfest-1>,
Marietta, Georgia
- June 8-9 -- ARRL West Gulf Division Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/west-gulf-division-convention-ham-com-1>,
Plano, Texas
- June 9 -- ARRL Arkansas State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/arkansas-state-convention>, Rogers,
Arkansas; ARRL Tennessee State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/tennessee-state-convention-2>, Knoxville,
Tennessee
- June 30 -- ARRL Eastern Pennsylvania Section Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/eastern-pennsylvania-section-convention-electronics-expo-firecracker-hamfest>,
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
- July 20-22 -- ARRL Montana State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/montana-state-convention-78th-glacier-waterton-international-hamfest>,
East Glacier, Montana
- July 26-28 -- Central States VHF Society Conference
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/central-states-vhf-society-conference-1>,
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- July 27-28 -- ARRL Oklahoma Section Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/oklahoma-section-convention-ham-holiday-2012>,
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- July 27-29 -- ARRL Rocky Mountain Division Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/rocky-mountain-division-convention-2>,
Bryce Canyon, Utah
- August 3-4 -- ARRL Texas State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/texas-state-convention-austin-summerfest-2>,
Austin, Texas
- August 3-5 -- Pacific Northwest DX Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/pacific-northwest-dx-convention-1>,
Portland, Oregon
- August 4 -- ARRL Ohio State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/ohio-state-convention>, Columbus, Ohio
- August 10-12 -- RAC National Convention 2012
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/rac-convention-2012>, Edmonton, Alberta,
Canada
- August 18 -- ARRL West Virginia State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/west-virginia-state-convention-2>,
Weston, West Virginia
- August 18-19 -- ARRL Southeastern Division Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/southeastern-division-convention-huntsville-hamfest>,
Huntsville, Alabama
- August 19 -- ARRL Kansas State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/kansas-state-convention-2>, Salina,
Kansas
- August 24-26 -- ARRL New England Division Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/new-england-division-convention-1>,
Boxboro, Massachusetts
- August 26 -- ARRL Western Pennsylvania Section Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/western-pennsylvania-section-convention-2>,
New Kensington, Pennsylvania

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

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