[South Florida DX Association] The ARRL Letter for September 2, 2010

Thu Sep 2 16:58:34 EDT 2010

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            The  ARRL Letter

Published by the American Radio Relay League
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September 2, 2010

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

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

- + Public Service: Hurricane Earl Heading for North Carolina,
Hurricane Warnings Issued for New England
- + ARRL Leadership: ARRL Members Nominate Candidates for Director,
Vice Director
- + On the Air: New D-STAR Repeater Now in Place in ARRL Laboratory
- + On the Air: Discover the Fun of 6 Meters (and Up!) in the ARRL
September VHF QSO Party
- + FCC: New Rules for Employee Participation in Drills Begin September
3
- + AWA Recognizes: QST Columnist Recognized for Documenting Radio's
Past
- + Solar Update
- This Week on the Radio

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

==> + PUBLIC SERVICE: HURRICANE EARL HEADING FOR NORTH CAROLINA,
HURRICANE WARNINGS ISSUED FOR NEW ENGLAND

  Hurricane Earl -- once again a Category 4 storm -- is currently
aiming for North Carolina's Outer Banks. At 11 AM (EDT) on Thursday,
September 2, Earl is located about 300 miles south of Cape Hatteras and
765 south of Nantucket Island, just off the coast of Massachusetts.
Earl is now moving north at a speed near 18 MPH, and is expected to
turn north-northeast with an increase in forward speed on Friday. The
center of Earl will pass near the North Carolina Outer Banks Thursday
night and approach Southeastern New England sometime on Friday night.
No significant change in strength is expected today, but forecasters at
the National Hurricane Center (NHC <http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/>) expect
that the storm will show gradual weakening beginning on Friday.

  "Here at ARRL Headquarters, we are continuing to monitor Hurricane
Earl," said ARRL Emergency Preparedness and Response Manager Mike
Corey, W5MPC. "I've been in touch with Section Managers, Section
Emergency Coordinators and served agencies at the national level such
as FEMA, National VOAD and the National Weather Service, sharing
information about preparedness efforts in the storm's path. Right now,
like most, we are keeping alert, monitoring the changing conditions and
waiting to see where Earl goes. We're also keeping an eye on other
storms developing in the Atlantic -- Fiona and Gaston a threat." Read
more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/hurricane-earl-heading-for-north-carolina-hurricane-warnings-issued-for-new-england>.

==> + ARRL LEADERSHIP: ARRL MEMBERS NOMINATE CANDIDATES FOR DIRECTOR,
VICE DIRECTOR

  The policies of the ARRL are established by 15 Directors who are
elected to the Board on a geographical basis, with elections for
three-year terms held in five divisions each year. At the same time,
Vice Directors are elected on the same basis. Responding to
solicitations in the July and August issues of QST, ARRL members in the
Pacific, Rocky Mountain, Southeastern, Southwestern and West Gulf
Divisions have nominated 16 candidates for the 10 positions of Director
and Vice Director.

Five incumbents have been declared elected without opposition, while
there will be balloting for the Director position in the Southeastern,
Southwestern and West Gulf Divisions, and for the Vice Director
position in the Southeastern and West Gulf Divisions. Ballots will be
counted on Friday, November 19, 2010, and those elected will serve
three-year terms beginning at noon on January 1, 2011.

- In the Pacific Division, Bob Vallio, W6RGG, of Castro Valley,
California -- as the only nominee for Director -- was declared
re-elected, as was Vice Director Jim Tiemstra, K6JAT, of Oakland,
California.
- Current Rocky Mountain Director Division Brian Mileshosky, N5ZGT, of
Albuquerque, New Mexico, was unopposed for the position of Rocky
Mountain Division Director, so he is declared re-elected. Vice Director
Dwayne Allen, WY7FD, of Devils Tower, Wyoming, was also declared
re-elected.
- Having no opponent, incumbent Southwestern Division Vice Director
Marty Woll, N6VI, of Chatsworth, California, was also declared
re-elected. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-members-nominate-candidates-for-director-vice-director>.

==> + ON THE AIR: NEW D-STAR REPEATER NOW IN PLACE IN ARRL LABORATORY

  The ARRL Lab has installed a D-STAR (Digital Smart Technologies for
Amateur Radio) repeater in the Lab at the ARRL Headquarters building.
Operating with an output of 147.390 MHz, positive offset, the W1HQ
D-STAR repeater is a local repeater with a modest footprint covering
the Hartford-New Britain, Connecticut area. The antenna is on the roof
of the Headquarters building with the repeater located in the Lab. With
its gateway, the repeater is accessible to any D-STAR user on the
planet. The Lab's call sign is W1INF.

"The purpose of the repeater is to better educate the Lab staff on
D-STAR technology," explained ARRL Test Engineer Bob Allison, WB1GCM.
"In turn, we will have the ability to handle some of our members'
questions on the matter. We also intend to use this new technology when
emergencies occur where D-STAR technology is deployed." Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/new-d-star-repeater-now-in-place-in-arrl-laboratory>.

==> + ON THE AIR: DISCOVER THE FUN OF 6 METERS (AND UP!) IN THE ARRL
SEPTEMBER VHF QSO PARTY

September is here, and according to ARRL Contest Branch Manager Sean
Kutzko, KX9X, that means the VHF bands are getting a workout: "If
you've never experienced the fun of VHF+ operating, the ARRL September
VHF QSO Party is a great place to start. With many HF radios now
offering at least 6 meter SSB/CW capabilities -- and some offering 2
meters and 70 cm as well -- any amateur with a Technician class license
or higher can experience long-haul communication on the VHF bands."
Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/discover-the-fun-of-6-meters-and-up-in-the-arrl-september-vhf-qso-party>.

==> + FCC: NEW RULES FOR EMPLOYEE PARTICIPATION IN DRILLS BEGIN
SEPTEMBER 3

  Beginning September 3, the new, revised wording of Section 97.113
<http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2002/octqtr/pdf/47cfr97.117.pdf>
goes into effect. As of this date, the FCC will permit government
entities that sponsor disaster and emergency drills to hold these
drills without applying for a waiver. Additionally, employees who wish
to participate in non-government-sponsored drills and exercises may do
so under certain conditions. Part 97 is the portion of the Commission's
rules that govern the Amateur Radio Service. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-modifies-amateur-rules-to-allow-participation-in-disaster-and-emergency-drills-on-behalf-of-an-e>.

==> + FCC: FCC REAFFIRMS 2�2 CALL SIGNS ARE ONLY FOR ADVANCED, AMATEUR
EXTRA LICENSE CLASSES

In May 2010, John Gottschalk, KB1DDK, of Westwood, Massachusetts,
requested a new call sign via the FCC's vanity call sign program.
Gottschalk, a General class licensee, requested KK1CQ -- a 2�2 call
sign -- and a waiver from the Commission allowing him to hold the call
sign. The FCC denied both requests on Tuesday, August 31, 2010. Read
more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-reaffirms-2-2-call-signs-are-only-for-advanced-amateur-extra-license-classes>.

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

  This feature -- including convenient Web links to useful information
-- is a concise monthly update of some of the things ARRL is doing on
behalf of its members, including advocating for and representing
Amateur Radio at the local, national and international level,
facilitating elections for Directors, Vice Directors and Section
Managers, putting W1AW on the air, holding operating events and more.
This installment covers the month of August. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-in-action-what-have-we-been-up-to-lately-25>.

==> + AWA RECOGNIZES: QST COLUMNIST RECOGNIZED FOR DOCUMENTING RADIO'S
PAST

  John Dilks, K2TQN -- who pens the "Vintage Radio" column in QST
every month -- was awarded the AWA Houck Award for Documentation by the
Antique Wireless Association at their 2010 World Convention, held
August 17-21 in Rochester, New York. This award is presented each year
to an AWA member who has written original articles on radio development
or history in the AWA Journal, AWA Review or other publication. Read
more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/em-qst-em-columnist-recognized-for-documenting-radio-s-past>.

==> + ARRL RECOGNIZES: JAMES GARLAND, W8ZR , WINS AUGUST QST COVER
PLAQUE AWARD

  The winner of the QST  Cover Plaque Award for August is James
Garland, W8ZR , for his article "The StationPro Master Station
Controller." Congratulations James! The winner of 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 September issue today!

==> + SOLAR UPDATE

  Tad "We turn the Sun away
<http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/As_Summer_into_Autumn_slips>" Cook,
K7RA, reports: Over the past week three new sunspot groups appeared:
Group 1101 was already in place since August 24, group 1102 emerged on
August 29, and on September 1, new sunspot groups 1103 and 1104
appeared. From August 26-September 1, the daily sunspot number was 23,
11, 11, 25, 28, 27 and 51. Over those same days, the total relative
size of all the sunspot groups in millionths of a solar hemisphere was
100, 100, 130, 170, 180, 220 and 270. The average daily sunspot numbers
rose more than 17 points to 25.4, when compared to the previous seven
day period. Geomagnetic indicators began the week showing unsettled
conditions, but they calmed down to quiet levels again. Predicted solar
flux for the next 12 days is 76, 76, 77, 76, 75, 75, 74, 74, 76, 78, 80
and 80. For September 2-18, the planetary A index is predicted to be 5,
then 12 and 8 for September 19-20. Look for more information on the
ARRL Web site on Friday, September 3. 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 Emily Dickinson's  As Summer
into Autumn Slips
<http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/As_Summer_into_Autumn_slips>.

==> THIS WEEK ON THE RADIO

This week:

-  September 4 -- Russian RTTY WW Contest; Wake-Up! QRP Sprint; AGCW
Straight Key Party
-  September 4-5 -- ARRL EME Contest <http://www.arrl.org/eme-contest>;
All Asian DX Contest (Phone); Colorado QSO Party; Brazil Independence
Day BPSK31 CDX Contest
-  September 5 -- WAB 144 MHz QRP Contest (Phone)
-  September 5-6 -- Tennessee QSO Party
-  September 6-7 -- Michigan QRP Labor Day CW Sprint
-  September 7 -- ARS Spartan Sprint
-  September 8 -- QRP Fox Hunt
-  September 8-9 -- CWops Mini-CW Test

Next week:

-  September 10 -- NCCC Sprint Ladder
-  September 11 -- Ohio State Parks on the Air
-  September 11-12 -- Arkansas QSO Party; FISTS Get Your Feet Wet
Weekend; WAE DX Contest (SSB)
-  September 11-13 -- ARRL September VHF QSO Party
<http://www.arrl.org/september-vhf-qso-party>
-  September 12 -- North American Sprint (CW); SKCC Weekend Sprint
-  September 16 -- NAQCC Straight Key/Bug Sprint

All dates, unless otherwise stated, are UTC. See the ARRL Contest
Branch page <http://www.arrl.org/contests>, the ARRL Contest Update
<http://www.arrl.org/The-ARRL-Contest-Update> and the WA7BNM Contest
Calendar <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html> for more
info. Looking for a Special Event station? Be sure to check out the
ARRL Special Events Station Web page
<http://www.arrl.org/special-events>.

==> UPCOMING EVENTS

- September 17-19 -- ARRL Southwestern Division Convention
<http://www.sandarc.net/Convention2010/index.html>, San Diego,
California
- October 15-17 -- ARRL Pacific Division Convention
<http://www.pacificon.org/>, San Ramon, California

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