[SFDXA] The ARRL Letter for May 10, 2012

Thu May 10 16:14:11 EDT 2012

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The ARRL Letter

May 10, 2012
Editor: S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA <mailto:k1sfa at arrl.org>
ARRL Home Page <http://www.arrl.org/> 	
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  * *+* Dayton Hamvention: ARRL EXPO Offers Activities for the DIYer
    <#toc01>
  * *+*/FCC News/: FCC Seeks Higher Vanity Call Sign Fee <#toc02>
  * *+* /FCC News/: Senate Approves Two New FCC Commissioners,
    Commission to Be at Full Strength <#toc03>
  * *+* /End of an Era/: Heathkit Educational Systems Closes Up Shop
    <#toc04>
  * *+* /Amateur Radio in Space/: Three Hams Venture to ISS Next Week
    <#toc05>
  * *+* BSA to Offer Morse Code Interpreter Strip <#toc06>
  * /On the Air/: Coast Guard to Join Armed Forces Crossband
    Communications Test <#toc07>
  * Solar Update <#toc08>
  * /DXCC News/: DXCC Desk Approves DXpeditions to Yemen and Somalia
    <#toc09>
  * This Week in Radiosport <#toc10>
  * Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events
    <#toc11>

*+ 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

The ARRL EXPO -- located in the Ballarena Hall (near the 400-numbered 
booths) will include more than 20 exhibits staffed by ARRL volunteers 
officers and staff.

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>.

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*+* /FCC News/: Senate Approves Two New FCC Commissioners, Commission to 
Be at Full Strength

Jessica Rosenworcel, a Republican, and Ajit Pai, a Democrat, were 
confirmed as FCC Commissioners by the US Senate. They are expected to be 
sworn into office in the next few days.

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>.

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*+* /Amateur Radio in Space/: Three Hams Venture to ISS Next Week

All six crew members on Expedition 31 are radio amateurs! From left to 
right (front row): Russian cosmonauts Gennady Padalka, RN3DT, and Oleg 
Kononenko, RN3DX. Back row: NASA astronaut Joe Acaba, KE5DAR, Russian 
cosmonaut Sergei Revin, RN3BS, European Space Agency astronaut Andre 
Kuipers, PI9ISS, and NASA astronaut Don Pettit, KD5MDT. [Photo courtesy 
of NASA]

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

Scouts and Scouters can earn the new Morse code interpreter strip by 
completing all three requirements: Carrying on a five minute 
conversation in Morse code at a speed of at least five words per minute, 
correctly copying a two minute message sent in Morse code at a minimum 
of five words per minute (copying means writing the message down as it 
is received) and sending a 25 word written document in Morse code at a 
minimum of five words per minute.

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>.

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/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

The Sun, as seen on Thursday, May 10, 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 "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 
<mailto: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>.

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