[SFDXA] The ARRL Letter for March 15, 2012

Thu Mar 15 18:23:37 EDT 2012

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

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

March 15, 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

- + Public Service: Hams in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio Provide Support
During and After Tornado Outbreak
- + On the Air: Understanding the New 60 Meter Privileges
- + On the Air: Mark Your Calendars: It's Time for the Spring FMT
- + At the Workbench: The ARRL Homebrew Challenge III -- And the Winner
Is...
- + FCC News: FCC Seeks to Modify Hawaiian Ham's License
- W1AW Announces Spring Operating Schedule
- On the Air: ARRL Seeks Comments on Proposed 9 cm Band Plan
- Solar Update
- + ARRL Warns Members to Be Aware of Bogus E-mails
- This Week in Radiosport
- + Enter the Seventh Annual ARRL Photo Contest!
- Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events

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

==>  + PUBLIC SERVICE: HAMS IN INDIANA, KENTUCKY AND OHIO PROVIDE
SUPPORT DURING AND AFTER TORNADO OUTBREAK

    A devastating storm system moved across the United States on March
2, spawning a slew of tornadoes that contributed to at least 28
fatalities in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio. These tornadoes followed an
earlier outbreak that began on February 28 and left 13 dead across
Kansas, Missouri, Illinois and Tennessee and battered parts of
Kentucky. The Clark County (Indiana) Emergency Management Agency
activated the local RACES team to help provide communications support,
hams in Eastern Kentucky set up SKYWARN nets to assist the local
National Weather Service office and Cincinnati-area hams supported the
National Weather Service and the American Red Cross. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/hams-in-indiana-kentucky-and-ohio-provide-support-during-and-after-tornado-outbreak>.

==>  + ON THE AIR: UNDERSTANDING THE NEW 60 METER PRIVILEGES

On March 5, radio amateurs were granted new privileges on the 60 meter
band. The effective radiated power level was increased from 50 to 100
W, along with the ability to use CW and the digital modes PACTOR III
and PSK31.

    "CW operators seem to have little problem figuring how where they
need to transmit, but some PSK31 operators are reading the text of the
FCC's Report&  Order and coming away a bit confused," said ARRL
Regulatory Information Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND. "The R&O states:
'We adopt a modified instruction for PSK31 channel use to correct an
error introduced in the NPRM. To have a PSK31 signal transmitted on the
center frequency, the control operator should not set the carrier
frequency to the center frequency but should instead set the carrier
frequency 1.5 kHz below the center frequency (i.e., the same as for
phone and data emissions).'

"The word 'carrier' in this context means the suppressed carrier
frequency of a transceiver when operated in the USB mode, but some have
taken it to mean the PSK31 signal itself," Henderson noted. "They read
this text and come to the conclusion that the PSK31 signal should be
1.5 kHz below the channel center. They are mistaken. The PSK31 signal
must be in the center of the channel." Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/60-meters-one-week-later>.

==>  + ON THE AIR: MARK YOUR CALENDARS: IT'S TIME FOR THE SPRING FMT

    The Frequency Measuring Test (FMT) continues its successful
"round-table" format when it takes to the airwaves on the evening of
April 19 (April 20 UTC). The test moves to Thursday from the November
FMT's usual Wednesday evening, giving everyone an opportunity to
participate. Recognizing the higher solar flux, the FMT will lead off
with a 20 meter segment -- one transmission beaming east, and the other
west from Connie Marshall, K5CM, in Oklahoma -- with both transmissions
on the same frequency. The sponsors are particularly interested in your
comments on frequency differences observed between the directions due
to propagation-related effects. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/mark-your-calendars-it-s-time-for-the-spring-fmt>.

==>  + AT THE WORKBENCH: THE ARRL HOMEBREW CHALLENGE III -- AND THE
WINNER IS...

The previous ARRL Homebrew Challenges have been to build a 5 W PEP 40
meter sideband and CW transceiver (Homebrew Challenge I) and then a 50
W linear amplifier to follow it (Homebrew Challenge II).  This third
challenge moved up the spectrum into frequencies that might be of
interest to Technician class amateurs -- 10 and 6 meters.

    There were two separate entry categories for this challenge: single
band or multiband. The single band unit could have been for either 10
or 6 meters and had to output 25 W PEP on SSB and CW, with a cost
target of $150. The multiband unit had to put out the same power on
both bands and be built for under $200 of parts. Each entry category
had detailed requirements for receiver and transmitter performance. The
FCC requirements for transmitter spurious response of -43 dB on 10
meters -- and particularly the -60 dB on 6 meters -- were expected to
be tough. The first category had a prize of $200, while the second
offered $300. While we heard from others who expected to participate,
two entrants brought or sent us working transceivers by the November 1,
2011 deadline. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/the-arrl-homebrew-challenge-iii-and-the-winner-is>.

==>  + FCC NEWS: FCC SEEKS TO MODIFY HAWAIIAN HAM'S LICENSE

    On March 15, the FCC issued an Order Proposing Modification, seeking
to change the license class of Todd Wilson, WH6DWF, of Honolulu,
Hawaii, from General to Technician. The FCC stated that granting
General class Amateur Radio operator privileges to Wilson was
"improper." In November 2011, the ARRL VEC sent an electronic data file
to the FCC, requesting that the FCC issue Wilson a new General class
license. Based on this application, the FCC granted Wilson a General
class license on November 29, 2011. In January 2012, the ARRL VEC
notified the FCC that Wilson's information was incorrect and he did not
qualify for a General class license; the ARRL VEC asked the FCC to
modify Wilson's license to show him to hold a Technician class license.
Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-seeks-to-modify-hawaiian-ham-s-license>.

==>  W1AW ANNOUNCES SPRING OPERATING SCHEDULE

With the switch from Standard Time to Daylight Saving Time, W1AW
Station Manager Joe Carcia, NJ1Q, has updated the W1AW operating
schedule to reflect the change. Your local standard times have not
changed, but the UTC times they reference have. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/w1aw-announces-spring-operating-schedule-1>.

==>  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>.

==>  SOLAR UPDATE

    Tad "Waiting for the Sun
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M24Yhd7N91s>" Cook, K7RA, reports: The
average daily sunspot numbers over the past reporting week (March 8-14)
were 88.3, a rise of nearly 19 points; the average daily solar flux
rose more than 12 points to 134.2. Three new sunspots emerged. The
first was sunspot group 1421 on March 9, which began with a relative
area of 90. In the days following, it went to 80, 50, 80, 70 and 60.
Two more sunspot groups -- numbered 1433 and 1434 -- appeared on March
11, with a combined relative area (in millionths of a solar hemisphere)
of 240, then 130, 140 and 150. The sunspot number peaked on March 11 at
103, and the solar flux on March 10 at 148.9 and again on March 13 at
140.7. The outlook for the next few days has solar flux at 115 on March
15, 110 on March 16, 105 on March 17-21, 110 on March 22-23, and back
down to 105 on March 24-27. There was a great deal of geomagnetic
activity on March 9, with a planetary A index at 68, and again on March
12 with planetary A index of 28. An M-class x-ray flare occurred on
March 15 at 0752 UTC, and if you catch it soon enough, you can see the
resulting x-ray flux<http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/rt_plots/xray_5mBL.html>
on the GOES monitor. The predicted planetary A index for March 15-18
are 15, 20, 15 and 8, and then 5 for March 19-27. The vernal equinox
will occur at 0514 UTC on March 20. The shift to spring generally means
favorable conditions for HF propagation. Look for more information on
the ARRL website on Friday, March 16. 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 Simon and Garfunkels's Old
Friends/Bookends<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bookends>.

==>  + ARRL WARNS MEMBERS TO BE AWARE OF BOGUS E-MAILS

    Some ARRL members with arrl.net e-mail accounts have recently
received bogus e-mails, notifying them of a bill that supposedly needs
to be paid. The e-mail instructs the reader to click on a link to view
the bill; clicking on the link could release a virus that can infect
your computer. Please be aware that these e-mails are not coming from
the ARRL. "If you receive an e-mail like this and it looks like it
originated from ARRL, please do not respond," explained ARRL IT Manager
Michael Keane, K1MK. "The best thing you can do when receiving bogus
e-mails is to simply add them to the spam list in your computer's
e-mail program and delete it. Please don't forward it to ARRL HQ -- we
will have already seen it and are already responding to it."

==>  THIS WEEK IN RADIOSPORT

This 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

Next week:

- March 24-25 -- CQ WW WPX Contest (SSB)
- March 26 -- QRP Homebrewer Sprint
- March 28 -- SKCC Sprint
- March 28-29 -- 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>.

==>  + 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>.

==>  UPCOMING ARRL SECTION, STATE AND DIVISION CONVENTIONS AND EVENTS

- 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>.

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>.

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