[SFDXA] The ARRL Letter for April 25, 2013

Bill bmarx at bellsouth.net
Thu Apr 25 16:55:31 EDT 2013 

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

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

April 25, 2013

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 Enforcement: FCC Announces Enforcement Actions for
January-March 2013
- + FCC Enforcement: Radiating Well Pump Leads to FCC Citation for
Interference to Amateur Radio
- +Public Service: Chinese Amateurs Assist in Earthquake's Aftermath
- + Dayton Hamvention®: Get Ready for the 2013 ARRL EXPO at the Dayton
Hamvention
- Celebrate 75 Years of W1AW with Commemorative Gear
- + Seattle Will Host the 32nd Digital Communications Conference
- Changes to FCC Radiotelegraph Operator Certificates Coming May 20
- Solar Update
- +Silent Key: Antennalyzer Inventor Wendell C. Morrison, W7LLX (SK)
- 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>.

==> + FCC ENFORCEMENT: FCC ANNOUNCES ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS FOR
JANUARY-MARCH 2013

    In the first quarter of 2013 (January-March), the FCC issued 23
enforcement actions. These enforcement actions are in addition to the
$10,000 fine issued to Jared A. Bruegman, ex-KC0IQN, of Bolivar,
Missouri, and the $25,000 fine issued to Terry L. VanVolkenburg, KC5RF,
of Cocoa, Florida, as previously reported.

This past quarter, the FCC sent Warning Letters to 10 individuals
regarding unlicensed transmissions, interference and repeater-related
infractions. In addition, the FCC sent Warning Letters to four
commercial entities or individuals that had conducted commercial
operation on the amateur bands. The FCC also sent one letter to a power
company, as well as eight letters addressing RFI complaints regarding
interference from various electronic devices, including plasma
television sets, electric fence chargers and grow light ballasts. Read
more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-announces-enforcement-actions-for-january-march-2013>.

==> + FCC ENFORCEMENT: RADIATING WELL PUMP LEADS TO FCC CITATION FOR
INTERFERENCE TO AMATEUR RADIO

The FCC has issued a Citation and Order to Ruben D. Lopez Jr of Pomona
Park, Florida. The Citation, issued April 23, was in response to
several complaints concerning a well pump at Lopez's residence that was
acting as an incidental radiator and causing harmful interference to
local radio amateurs. In July 2010 and February 2011, the FCC received
complaints from radio amateurs regarding interference on the MF and HF
Amateur Radio bands. Upon investigation, the FCC found that a well pump
at Lopez's residence was causing the interference, and advised Lopez of
the complaints and of the rules regarding interference to licensed
radio services. The FCC instructed Lopez to resolve any interference.
In October 2012 -- in response to another interference complaint coming
from Lopez's residence -- FCC agents used direction finding equipment
to identify Mr Lopez's well pump as the source of transmissions on the
frequency 1800 kHz. Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/florida-man-cited-for-causing-harmful-interference-to-radio-amateurs>.

==> +PUBLIC SERVICE: CHINESE AMATEURS ASSIST IN EARTHQUAKE'S AFTERMATH

    On the morning of Saturday, April 20, a powerful earthquake
measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale struck Ya'an City in China's Sichuan
province. The epicenter was near Lushan County. As of Wednesday, April
24, almost 200 people have been killed and more than 11,000 people are
injured.

Radio amateurs in Sichuan province took immediate action. Liu Hu,
BD8AAA, and BA8DX led a team to the disaster area to provide emergency
communication services. Even in the aftermath of the earthquake, the FM
repeater in Ya'an City was still functioning; BG8FUW in Lushan County
and BG8EYD in Ya'an City used this repeater to coordinate local
efforts.

According to IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee Chairman
Jim Linton, VK3PC, it has been raining in the earthquake area.
"Effective traffic control has been very important to transport tents,
water, foods and medicines into the area," he said. "The rural
communities around Ya'an City are along the same seismic fault where
the Great Sichuan Earthquake killed more than 90,000 people five years
ago in one of China's worst natural disasters. The latest earthquake on
Saturday left tens of thousands of people in tents or cars, unable to
return home or too afraid to go back as aftershocks continued. Badly
hit Lushan County is now a large refugee camp, with tents set up and
volunteers providing meals."

Immediately after the earthquake, the Chinese Radio Sports Association
and Chinese Radio Amateur Club asked all amateurs to avoid 3.855, 7.050
and 14.270 MHz, as these frequencies were being used for disaster
relief communications. As of April 22, public communication is back to
normal in the disaster area and amateurs are free to once again use
these frequencies. -- Thanks to Fan Bin, BA1RB, and Jim Linton, VK3PC,
for the information

==> + DAYTON HAMVENTION®: GET READY FOR THE 2013 ARRL EXPO AT THE
DAYTON HAMVENTION

The Dayton Hamvention® -- the largest gathering of radio amateurs in
the US -- is just around the corner, May 17-19. Held annually at the
Hara Arena Conference and Exhibition Center in the Dayton suburb of
Trotwood, Ohio, Hamvention is sponsored by the Dayton Amateur Radio
Association.

    This year's "ARRL Dayton Team" includes more than 100 people --
volunteers, officials and Headquarters staff. The centerpiece of the
ARRL's participation is ARRL EXPO 2013, a large exhibit area in Hara's
Ballarena Hall. First introduced in 2005, ARRL EXPO has become a
popular mainstay at the event. "ARRL EXPO is a show-within-a-show, and
the area will be filled with membership program representatives and
exhibits that cover a variety of Amateur Radio topics and interest
areas," explained ARRL Marketing Manager Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R, who
also serves as the ARRL EXPO Coordinator. "The ARRL has put together
dozens of exhibits, programs and activities to help represent the very
best of our programs, services and information. There will be something
for every ham at ARRL EXPO."

This year's ARRL EXPO will include a spotlight on W1AW, the Hiram Percy
Maxim Memorial Station. The world's most famous Amateur Radio station
turns 75 in September. Dayton attendees will enjoy a special W1AW
exhibit, including photographs of the station from over the years. Read
more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/get-ready-for-the-2013-arrl-expo-at-the-dayton-hamvention>.

==> CELEBRATE 75 YEARS OF W1AW WITH COMMEMORATIVE GEAR

    W1AW, the Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station, is celebrating its
75th anniversary this year, and what better way to show your support of
Amateur Radio's flagship station than by sporting W1AW commemorative
gear! The ARRL is pleased to present a limited edition T-shirt, key
chain, pin and challenge coin to mark this milestone. Your purchase
helps support W1AW -- $5 from every shirt purchased and 100 percent of
the key chain and pin proceeds go directly to the W1AW Endowment Fund.
Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/celebrate-75-years-of-w1aw-with-commemorative-gear>.

==> + SEATTLE WILL HOST THE 32ND DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS CONFERENCE

    Digital communications enthusiasts will be heading to the Pacific
Northwest this autumn for the 32nd annual ARRL/TAPR Digital
Communications Conference (DCC), September 20-22, at Cedarbrook Lodge
near Seattle, Washington. The ARRL/TAPR DCC is an international forum
for radio amateurs to meet, publish their work and present new ideas
and techniques. Presenters and attendees will have the opportunity to
exchange ideas and learn about recent hardware and software advances,
theories, experimental results and practical applications. The DCC is
for all levels of technical experience -- not just the expert.
Introductory sessions are scheduled throughout the conference to
introduce new technical topics for both beginners and experts. Read
more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/seattle-will-host-the-32nd-digital-communications-conference>.

==> CHANGES TO FCC RADIOTELEGRAPH OPERATOR CERTIFICATES COMING MAY 20

    Effective May 20, 2013
<http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2013/db0419/DA-13-798A1.pdf>,
the FCC will no longer accept applications for First (T1), Second (T2)
or Third Class (T3) Radiotelegraph Operator Certificates. In addition,
the FCC has consolidated the T1 and T2 Radiotelegraph Operator
Certificates into a new license class called the Radiotelegraph
Operator License (T). According to the FCC, this change takes effect
upon renewal: T1s and T2s that are renewed on or after May 20, 2013
will be renewed as Ts, but existing T1s and T2s will retain their
current license class for the duration of the current license term. The
Commission also consolidated theT3 with Marine Radio Operator Permits
(MP); T3s renewed on or after May 20, 2013 will be renewed as MPs, but
existing T3s will retain their current license class for the duration
of the current license term. These new rules were first announced in a
Report and Order (WT Docket No. 10-177
<http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7022100656>), issued January
8, 2013.

==> SOLAR UPDATE

    Tad Cook, K7RA, reports: Solar activity was quiet this week: The
average daily sunspot number declined nearly 23 points to 90.6, while
the average daily solar flux values were down nearly 13 points to
109.1. The most active day was April 24, with a planetary A index of 19
and mid-latitude A index of 15. The average daily mid-latitude A index
was the same this week as last, 4.9. The predicted solar flux is 115 on
April 25-27, 120 on April 28-29, 125 on April 30-May 5, 120 on May 6,
115 on May 7-8, 120 on May 9-11, 115 on May 12-13, 110 on May 14-15,
and down to 105 on May 16-18. The predicted planetary A index is 18 on
April 25, 12 on April 26, 5 on April 27 through May 4, 8 on May 5, 5 on
May 6-18, and then rising to 8, 12, 12, 15, 12 and 5 on May 19-24. Look
for more information on the ARRL website on Friday, April 26. For more
information concerning radio propagation, visit the ARRL Technical
Information Service Propagation page
<http://www.arrl.org/propagation-of-rf-signals>.

==> +SILENT KEY: ANTENNALYZER INVENTOR WENDELL C. MORRISON, W7LLX (SK)

Wendell C. Morrison, W7LLX, of Waukesha, Wisconsin, passed away October
18, 2012. He was 97. An ARRL member for 66 years, Morrison is perhaps
best known for the Antennalyzer, an early analog computing device for
designing multi-tower AM directional arrays. Morrison worked for the
Radio Corporation of America (RCA) all his life. While at RCA, he was
part of the RCA Laboratory in Princeton, New Jersey, where in the early
1940s, Morrison, together with George H. Brown, developed the
Antennalyzer. Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/antennalyzer-inventor-wendell-c-morrison-w7llx-sk>.

==> THIS WEEK IN RADIOSPORT

This week:

- April 26 -- NCCC Sprint Ladder
- April 27-28 -- Florida QSO Party; SP DX RTTY Contest; 10-10
International Spring Contest (Digital); Helvetia Contest; QRP to the
Field
- April 28 -- BARTG Sprint 75
- May 1 -- AGCW QRP/QRP Party

Next week:

- May 3 -- NCCC Sprint Ladder
- May 4 -- Microwave Spring Sprint (local time)
- May 4-5 -- New England QSO Party; Indiana QSO Party; 7th Call Area
QSO Party; 10-10 International Spring Contest (CW); Araucaria VHF
Contest; ARI International DX Contest
- May 7 -- ARS Spartan Sprint
- May 8 -- NAQCC-EU Monthly Sprint
- May 8-9 -- CWops Mini-CWT Test
- May 9 -- 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

- April 26-28 -- ARRL Idaho State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/idaho-state-convention-3>, Boise, Idaho;
Eastern VHF/UHF Conference
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/eastern-vhf-uhf-conference>, Manchester,
Connecticut
- May 4 -- ARRL South Carolina Section Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/south-carolina-section-convention-upstate-hamfest-1>,
Spartanburg, South Carolina
- May 17-19 -- Dayton Hamvention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/dayton-hamvention-4>, Trotwood, Ohio
- June 1 -- ARRL Georgia State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/georgia-state-convention-atlanta-hamfest-1>,
Marietta, Georgia
- May 31-June 2 -- ARRL Northwestern Division Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/northwestern-division-convention-seapac-4>,
Seaside, Oregon
- June 7-8 -- ARRL West Gulf Division Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/west-gulf-division-convention-35th-anniversary-ham-com>,
Plano, Texas
- June 8 -- ARRL Delta Division Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/delta-division-convention-2>, Rogers,
Arkansas; ARRL Tennessee State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/tennessee-state-convention-knoxville-hamfest-electronics-convention>,
Knoxville, Tennessee
- June 28-30 -- ARRL Rocky Mountain Division Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/rocky-mountain-division-convention-hamcon-colorado-2013>,
Estes Park, Colorado
- July 6 -- ARRL Eastern Pennsylvania Section Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/eastern-pennsylvania-section-convention-firecracker-hamfest-electronics-expo>,
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
- July 25-27 -- Central States VHF Society Conference
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/central-states-vhf-society-2013-conference>,
Elk Grove Village, Illinois
- July 26-27 -- ARRL Oklahoma State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/oklahoma-state-convention-ham-holiday-1>,
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- August 2-3 -- ARRL Texas State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/texas-state-convention-austin-summerfest-2013>,
Austin, Texas
- August 2-4 -- Pacific Northwest DX Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/pacific-northwest-dx-convention-2>,
Spokane Valley, Washington
- August 17 -- ARRL West Virginia State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/west-virginia-state-convention-3>,
Weston, West Virginia
- August 17-18 -- ARRL Alabama State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/alabama-state-convention-huntsville-hamfest-1>,
Huntsville, Alabama
- August 18 -- ARRL Kansas State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/kansas-state-convention-3>, Salina,
Kansas
- August 25 -- ARRL Western Pennsylvania Section Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/western-pennsylvania-section-convention-3>,
New Kensington, Pennsylvania

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

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