[SFDXA] The ARRL Letter for March 8, 2012

Thu Mar 8 16:19:01 EST 2012

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The ARRL Letter

March 8, 2012
Editor: S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA <mailto:k1sfa at arrl.org>
ARRL Home Page <http://www.arrl.org/> 	
	/ARRL Letter/ Archive <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/> 	
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  * + /Dayton Hamvention^® /: Dayton Hamvention Honors /QST/ Technical
    Editor Joel Hallas, W1ZR, with Technical Achievement Award <#toc01>
  * + /On the Air/: New 60 Meter Privileges Now in Effect <#toc02>
  * /On the Air/: ARRL Seeks Comments on Proposed 9 cm Band Plan <#toc03>
  * + /Propagation News/: Active Sunspot Region 1429 Produces Solar
    Flares, Coronal Mass Ejections <#toc04>
  * + Don't Be Fooled: Check out the April Issue of /QST/ <#toc05>
  * + /FCC News/: FCC Reduces Forfeiture for Florida Man Accused of
    Using Unauthorized Equipment <#toc06>
  * /ARRL Annual Awards/: Nominations for ARRL Awards Now Open <#toc07>
  * Solar Update <#toc08>
  * + /DXCC News/: Four Operations Approved for DXCC Credit <#toc09>
  * This Week in Radiosport <#toc10>
  * + Enter the Seventh Annual ARRL Photo Contest! <#toc11>
  * New QuickStats Poll Now Available on ARRL Website <#toc12>
  * Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events
    <#toc13>

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

+ /Dayton Hamvention^® /: Dayton Hamvention Honors /QST/ Technical 
Editor Joel Hallas, W1ZR, with Technical Achievement Award

On March 6, the Dayton Hamvention^® Awards Committee announced the 
recipients of Hamvention's four annual awards. /QST/ Technical Editor 
Joel Hallas, W1ZR, was named the winner of the Technical Achievement 
Award. The recipient of the Amateur of the Year is S. Suri, VU2MY. 
Steven Betza, WZ2V, was selected as the recipient ofthe Special 
Achievement Award. The Deutscher Amateur Radio Club -- Germany's IARU 
Member-Society -- was selected as the Club of the Year. Read more here 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/dayton-hamvention-honors-em-qst-em-technical-editor-joel-hallas-w1zr-with-technical-achievement-awar>.

+ /On the Air/: New 60 Meter Privileges Now in Effect

As of March 5, US amateurs have new privileges on the 60 meter band. In 
addition to an increase in effective radiated power from 50 to 100 W, 
hams can now transmit CW and PSK31 on the following channel-center 
frequencies:

  * Channel 1: 5332.0 kHz
  * Channel 2: 5348.0 kHz
  * Channel 3: 5358.5 kHz
  * Channel 4: 5373.0 kHz
  * Channel 5: 5405.0 kHz

Amateurs can also transmit USB voice and PACTOR III on the following 
suppressed carrier frequencies (the frequencies typically shown on 
transceiver displays):

  * Channel 1: 5330.5 kHz
  * Channel 2: 5346.5 kHz
  * Channel 3: 5357.0 kHz
  * Channel 4: 5371.5 kHz
  * Channel 5: 5403.5 kHz

For more information, please see /60 Meter Operations -- New Privileges 
and Recommended Practices 
<http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Regulatory/Recommended_Practices_for_60_Meters%20-%20Version%206_4.pdf>/, 
published 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-publishes-new-guidelines-for-60-meters> 
by the ARRL HF Band Planning Committee. A revised ARRL band chart 
<http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Hambands_color.pdf> is also available. 
Watch for the article "New Privileges on 60 Meters" by ARRL Regulatory 
Information Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, in the April 2012 issue of /QST/.

/On the Air/: ARRL Seeks Comments on Proposed 9 cm Band Plan

A few months ago, the ARRL UHF/Microwave Band Plan Committee asked the 
Amateur Radio community about current, planned and projected uses of the 
amateur bands between 902 MHz and 3.5 GHz. The response was beyond our 
expectations, with hundreds of comments and suggestions received. Thanks 
to all of you who took the time to share information with us. After 
reading the feedback, the committee began working on the band plans; the 
first draft plan ready for review is for the 9 cm band (3300-3500 MHz). 
Read more here 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-seeks-comments-on-proposed-9-cm-band-plan>.

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+ /Propagation News/: Active Sunspot Region 1429 Produces Solar Flares, 
Coronal Mass Ejections

This week has been an active week for our Sun. An X-1.1 class solar 
flare erupted from the Sun on March 4 at 11:13 PM EST (0413 UTC March 
5), sending an explosion of plasma and charged particles -- a coronal 
mass ejection (CME) -- hurtling through space. Forecasters at NOAA's 
Space Weather Prediction Center are saying that this CME should miss 
Earth, but it will hit Mercury and Venus. Then on March 6 at 7:28 PM EST 
(0028 UTC March 7), the Sun released a solar flare, the strongest one 
this year. The X-5 class flare hurled another CME into space, but it is 
too soon to tell if this is an Earth-directed flare. This activity is 
coming from sunspot 1429, which is currently making its way around the 
northern hemisphere of the Sun.

Sunspot 1429 -- which emerged on the Sun on March 2 and is estimated to 
be at least four to five times larger than Earth -- is slowly turning to 
face Earth, so if any such eruptions do occur, they are increasingly 
likely to be geoeffective.

This image of the Sun from Wednesday, March 7, shows the location of 
sunspot 1429, located on the left-hand side of the Sun's northern 
hemisphere. Sunspot 1430 is just to the right of 1429, and sunspot 1429 
is in the Sun's southern hemisphere. [Photo courtesy of NASA/SDO]

When a CME hits the Earth's atmosphere -- approximately 72 hours after 
exploding on the Sun -- the low bands will be depressed and signals will 
be weaker the lower the frequency. The absorption rate will be most 
severe on 160 meters, less on 80 and somewhat better on 40 meters. The 
maximum usable frequency (MUF) -- the highest frequency at which a radio 
wave can propagate between given terminals by ionospheric propagation 
alone, independent of power -- will be lower and auroral propagation on 
the VHF bands is quite possible.

When aurorae occur, the electrons hit the ionosphere at the North and 
South geomagnetic poles, creating ionization. Waves that would normally 
travel off into space are bouncing off the aurora and being redirected 
back toward Earth. This can create opportunities for long-distance 
propagation via VHF and UHF. Read more here 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/active-sunspot-region-1429-produces-solar-flares-coronal-mass-ejections>.

+ Don't Be Fooled: Check out the April Issue of /QST/

This April issue of /QST/ remembers the wireless heroes of the RMS 
/Titanic/ and the SS /Carpathia/ 100 years ago, and also takes readers 
on a voyage to the South Orkney Islands for the VP8ORK DXpedition -- and 
more. So set aside a couple of hours, grab a beverage and get ready to 
have some radio fun with the April issue of /QST/.

In 2011, the Third Annual ARRL Homebrew Challenge presented the toughest 
challenge to date. In 2006, we asked readers to build a 5 W PEP 40 meter 
sideband and CW transceiver. In 2009, we upped the ante, looking for a 
50 W linear amplifier to go along with the transceiver. For 2011, we 
challenged hams to come up with a single or multiband transceiver for 6 
and/or 10 meters. Find out who walked away with the honors in "Homebrew 
Challenge III - And the Winner Is..." by /QST/ Technical Editor Joel R. 
Hallas, W1ZR.

Eric Keerbs, AD7HM, discovers a way to let your radios talk to your 
computer using an interface converter in his article "Level Converter to 
Allow Full Control of Peripherals by Computer or Radio." In "A 
Transceiver-to-Amplifier Interface," Ed Toal, N9MW, presents an 
interface that you can use to safely switch your older linear amplifier 
from your new transceiver. Paul Danzer, N1II, takes a look at window 
line and standing wave ratio in his article "Balanced Line SWR Measurement."

It's been 100 years since the RMS /Titanic/ -- heralded as "unsinkable" 
-- struck an iceberg and sank to the bottom of the Atlantic, taking 1511 
passengers and crew with it. Retired US Coast Guard Reserve Commander 
Richard Paton takes a look at the tragedy -- with a focus on Jack 
Phillips and Harold Bride, the two Marconi wireless operators on the 
/Titanic/ -- in his article "Radio's Role in the /Titanic/ Disaster." 
The "Vintage Radio" column profiles the wireless operator aboard the 
rescue ship, the SS /Carpathia/.

The VP8ORK DXpedition to the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula saw seals, 
dolphins and big pileups. Join Michael Mraz, N6MZ, as he recounts the 
Microlite Penguin DXpedition to the South Orkney Islands in "South of 
Sixty South." Make plans to join the ARRL and the ARRL EXPO at the 2012 
Dayton Hamvention and the 2012 ARRL National Convention in California. 
Find out all you need to know about these two headlining events in "ARRL 
EXPO 2012 -- Save the Dates" by ARRL Marketing Manager Bob Inderbitzen, 
NQ1R.

/NCJ/ Managing Editor Rick Lindquist, WW3DE, takes a look at the ICOM 
IC-9100 MF/HF/VHF/UHF transceiver in this month's Product Review. He 
says the rig is "compact and versatile. The IC-9100 handles almost any 
type of operating on the 160 meter through 2 meter bands, plus 70 and 23 
cm."

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

+ /FCC News/: FCC Reduces Forfeiture for Florida Man Accused of Using 
Unauthorized Equipment

In November 2011, the FCC issued a /Notice of Apparent Liability for 
Forfeiture/ in the amount of $10,000 to Michael Perry of Cross City, 
Florida. In a /Forfeiture Order/ released on March 6, the FCC reduced 
the forfeiture that Perry must pay to $450. Perry was accused of 
operating a radio transmitter without the requisite FCC authorization 
and his failure to operate a Citizens Band station, "willfully 
violat[ing]" Section 301 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended 
and Sections 95.409 (by operating an unlicensed and non-certificated CB 
transmitter) and 95.411 (by operating an unlicensed radio transmitter 
with two amplifiers) of the FCC's rules. Read more here 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-reduces-forfeiture-for-florida-man-accused-of-using-unauthorized-equipment>.

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/ARRL Annual Awards/: Nominations for ARRL Awards Now Open

Each year, the ARRL Board of Directors has the opportunity to select 
recipients for a number of awards in various categories that honor 
Amateur Radio operators. The nomination period is now open for the ARRL 
awards that are designed to recognize educational and technological 
pursuits in Amateur Radio, as well as an award to honor a young Amateur 
Radio operator. ARRL members can nominate hams for the Herb S. Brier 
Instructor of the Year Award, the Hiram Percy Maxim Award, the ARRL 
Microwave Development Award, the ARRL Technical Service Award, the ARRL 
Technical Innovation Award and the Knight Distinguished Service Award. 
Read more here 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/nominations-for-arrl-awards-now-open-1>.

Solar Update

The Sun, as seen on Thursday, March 8, 2012 from NASA's SOHO Extreme 
Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope 
<http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/data/realtime/realtime-update.html>. 
This MDI <http://soi.stanford.edu/> (Michelson Doppler Imager) image was 
taken in the continuum near the Ni I 6768 Angstrom line. The most 
prominent features are the sunspots. This is very much how the Sun looks 
in the visible range of the spectrum.

Tad "If we can make it through the night we will see the Sun 
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiCuxOL7Ag4>" Cook, K7RA, reports: This 
has been quite a week for dramatic solar activity: The average daily 
sunspot number was up nearly 26 points to 69.4, while the average daily 
solar flux rose nearly 17 points to 121.9. The latest forecast has solar 
flux at 140 on March 8-9, 135 on March 10-11, 130 on March 12-13, 125 on 
March 14-15, then 130, 125, 120, 115, 115, 110 and 110 on March 16-22, 
then back down to 105 on March 23-25. The predicted planetary A index 
for March 8-10 is 75, 28 and 15, then 10 on March 11-13, 5 on March 
14-16, then 12, 15, 10, and 8 on March 17-20, and 5 on March 21-27. Look 
for more information on the ARRL website on Friday, March 9. 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 Good Charlotte's /March On 
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_charlotte>/.

+ /DXCC News/: Four Operations Approved for DXCC Credit

ARRL DXCC Manager Bill Moore, NC1L, reports that four operations -- the 
current VK0TH and AX/VK0TH (Macquarie Island) operation, the current 
T6BP (Afghanistan) operation, the 2011 6O0M (Somalia) operation and the 
December 2011-January 2012 9U3TMM (Burundi) operation -- have been 
approved for DXCC credit. "If you have had these operations rejected in 
a recent application, please send an e-mail <mailto:bmoore at arrl.org> to 
the ARRL DXCC Desk," Moore said. "Please note that due to heavy e-mail 
volume, you may not receive a reply. Once updated, results will appear 
in Logbook of The World (LoTW <https://p1k.arrl.org/lotwuser/default>) 
accounts, as well as online in the daily listings 
<http://www.arrl.org/dxcc>."

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This Week in Radiosport

/This week:/

  * March 10 -- AGCW QRP Contest
  * March 10-11 -- Idaho QSO Party; EA PSK63 Contest
  * March 11 -- North American Sprint (RTTY); SKCC Weekend Sprint
  * March 11-12 -- Wisconsin QSO Party
  * March 14-15 -- CWops Mini-CWT Test

/Next week:/

  * March 17 -- 10-10 International Mobile Contest; Feld Hell Sprint;
    AGCW VHF/UHF Contest
  * March 17-18 -- North Dakota QSO Party; Oklahoma QSO Party; Virginia
    QSO Party; Russian DX Contest
  * March 17-19 -- BARTG HF RTTY Contest
  * March 19 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest
  * March 22 -- 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>.

+ Enter the Seventh Annual ARRL Photo Contest!

Have you ever wanted to see a photo of yours in /QST/, the annual ARRL 
Amateur Radio Calendar or another ARRL publication? Well, here's your 
chance! If you're among the winners, not only will your photographic 
skill be propagated far and wide, but we're offering $100 as the First 
Prize. The winning photo and three runners-up will be published in 
/QST/. All submitted photos will also be considered for the 2013 ARRL 
Calendar. Read more here 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/enter-the-seventh-annual-arrl-photo-contest>.

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:

  * When operating CW, do you send the symbol "@"
    (di-dah-dah-di-dah-dit), or do you spell out "at" (di-dah/dah)?
  * Is your primary station computer a desktop, laptop or tablet?
  * Does your local Amateur Radio club still publish a newsletter?
  * How many times has your primary call sign changed over the years?

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 June 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.

Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events

  * March 9-10 -- ARRL Louisiana State Convention
    <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/louisiana-state-convention-52nd-annual-acadiana-hamfest>,
    Rayne, Louisiana; ARRL Oklahoma State Convention
    <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/oklahoma-state-convention-green-country-hamfest-1>,
    Claremore, Oklahoma
  * March 10-11 -- ARRL Roanoke Division Convention
    <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/roanoke-division-convention-charlotte-hamfest-tm>,
    Concord, North Carolina
  * March 17 -- ARRL Nebraska State Convention
    <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/nebraska-state-convention-end-of-winter-hamfest>,
    Lincoln, Nebraska; ARRL Southern Florida Section Convention
    <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/southern-florida-section-convention-2>, Stuart,
    Florida; ARRL West Texas Section Convention
    <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/west-texas-section-convention-57th-annual-st-patrick-s-day-hamfest>,
    Midland, Texas
  * March 23-24 -- ARRL Maine State Convention
    <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/maine-state-convention-2>, Lewiston, Maine
  * April 7 -- ARRL North Carolina State Convention
    <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/north-carolina-state-convention-raleigh-hamfest-1>,
    Raleigh, North Carolina
  * April 14 -- ARRL Delta Division Convention
    <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/delta-division-convention-3>,
    Bartlett, Tennessee
  * April 14-15 -- Communications Academy 2012
    <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/communications-academy-2012>, Seattle,
    Washington
  * April 20-22 -- ARRL Idaho State Convention
    <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/idaho-state-convention-2>, Boise,
    Idaho; 63rd International DX Convention
    <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/63rd-international-dx-convention>,
    Visalia, California
  * April 21 -- ARRL Delaware State Convention
    <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/delaware-state-convention-delmarva-amateur-radio-electronics-expo-1>,
    Georgetown, Delaware; ARRL Louisiana Section Convention
    <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/louisiana-section-convention-1>,
    Monroe, Louisiana
  * 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

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

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