[SFDXA] The ARRL Letter for May 2, 2013

Fri May 3 07:05:56 EDT 2013

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

Published by the American Radio Relay League
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May 2, 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 News: President Obama Nominates Financier and Former Telecom
Executive Tom Wheeler as FCC Chairman
- + Dayton Hamvention®: DX Activities Featured at ARRL EXPO at the 2013
Dayton Hamvention
- + On the Air: Annual Armed Forces Day Crossband Test Scheduled for
May 11
- + Hurricane Watch Net Seeks New Members for Net Control Stations
- Logbook of The World to Undergo Scheduled Maintenance
- ARRL in Action: What Have We Been Up to Lately?
- Celebrate 75 Years of W1AW with Commemorative Gear
- Support ARRL: Attention Federal Employees -- ARRL Approved for 2013
Combined Federal Campaign!
- Seattle Will Host the 32nd Digital Communications Conference
- Solar Update
- + ARRL Recognizes: George Wallner, AA7JV,  Wins April QST Cover
Plaque Award
- + Silent Key: Ham Radio Editor and Noted DXer Joe Schroeder, W9JUV
(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 NEWS: PRESIDENT OBAMA NOMINATES FINANCIER AND FORMER TELECOM
EXECUTIVE TOM WHEELER AS FCC CHAIRMAN

    On Wednesday, May 1, President Barack Obama announced that he
nominated Tom Wheeler to be the new Chairman of the Federal
Communications Commission. If the Senate confirms the nomination,
Wheeler will replace Julius Genachowski who announced his resignation
from the FCC in March. Pending Wheeler's confirmation, FCC Commissioner
Mignon Clyburn -- the agency's soon-to-be senior Democrat -- will serve
as the Commission's acting chairman.

Wheeler, 67, has served as an informal adviser to Obama in recent years
and has been a major fundraiser for his political campaigns. He has a
background as a venture capitalist and as a lobbyist for the
communications industry. He is the former President of the National
Cable Television Association (now known as National Cable &
Telecommunications Association) and former Chief Executive Officer of
the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association. Currently, he
is a Managing Director at Core Capital Partners, a venture capital firm
in Washington, DC. Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/president-obama-nominates-financier-and-former-telecom-executive-tom-wheeler-as-fcc-chairman>.

==> + DAYTON HAMVENTION®: DX ACTIVITIES FEATURED AT ARRL EXPO AT THE
2013 DAYTON HAMVENTION

    The ARRL will present a variety of DX activities as part of the ARRL
EXPO -- the ARRL's "show within a show" at the 2013 Dayton Hamvention,
to be held May 17-19 at Hara Arena, near Dayton, Ohio. Activities will
include DXCC card checking and the opportunity to drop off QSL cards
for the ARRL Outgoing QSL Bureau, as well as to apply for awards, such
as the IARU Worked All Continents Award, the IARU Region 3 Operating
Award and several awards administered by the Japan Amateur Radio
League. In addition, representatives from the International Amateur
Radio Union and several IARU Member Societies will be on hand within
the EXPO area. Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/dx-activities-featured-at-arrl-expo-at-the-2013-dayton-hamvention>.

==> + ON THE AIR: ANNUAL ARMED FORCES DAY CROSSBAND TEST SCHEDULED FOR
MAY 11

    In celebration of the 63rd anniversary of Armed Forces Day (AFD),
the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard are
co-sponsoring the annual Military/Amateur Radio Crossband
Communications Test. Although Armed Forces Day is traditionally
celebrated on the third Saturday in May -- May 18 in 2013 -- the AFD
Military/Amateur Crossband Communications Test will be conducted on May
11 to prevent conflict with the Dayton Hamvention®, scheduled for May
17-19. The annual celebration features traditional military-to-amateur
crossband communications SSB voice and Morse code tests. These tests
give Amateur Radio operators and short wave listeners an opportunity to
demonstrate their individual technical skills and to receive
recognition from the appropriate military radio station for their
proven expertise. QSL cards will be provided to stations making contact
with the military stations. Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/annual-armed-forces-day-crossband-test-scheduled-for-may-11>.

==> + HURRICANE WATCH NET SEEKS NEW MEMBERS FOR NET CONTROL STATIONS

    With the 2013 hurricane season approaching, the National Hurricane
Center (NHC) in Miami and the Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) are gearing up
for what could be a very active storm season. In preparation for the
upcoming season, the HWN is currently seeking new members who can serve
as net control stations. The HWN provides on-the-ground, real-time
weather data from Amateur Radio operators who volunteer their time to
monitor their calibrated home weather stations. The stations report
that data to the HWN, who in turn reports it to WX4NHC, the Amateur
Radio station at the NHC. "The Hurricane Watch Net relies on volunteer
operators -- our members -- who serve as our net control stations," HWN
Net Manager Bobby Graves, KB5HAV, told the ARRL. "HWN members are hams
who have above-average stations, are capable of effectively conducting
HF net operations and are willing to commit their time to operating in
support of the HWN's mission during net activations." Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/hurricane-watch-net-seeks-new-members-for-net-control-stations>.

==> LOGBOOK OF THE WORLD TO UNDERGO SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE

Logbook of The World (LoTW <http://www.arrl.org/logbook-of-the-world>),
the ARRL's online QSO confirmation system, will undergo scheduled
maintenance on Thursday, May 2 at 5 PM (2100 UTC); this should last
approximately three hours. LoTW will be offline and unavailable during
this time. Thank you for your patience.

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

    This feature is a concise monthly update of some of the things that
the ARRL is doing on behalf of its members. This installment -- which
covers the month of April -- takes a look at the FCC's denial of an
ARRL Petition concerning BPL, the ARRL's meeting with FEMA
Administrator Craig Fugate, KK4INZ, World Radio Day, upcoming
conferences, updates from the ARRL Development Office, reports from the
Official Observer Desk and more. Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-in-action-what-have-we-been-up-to-lately-57>.

==> 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, 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>.

==> SUPPORT ARRL: ATTENTION FEDERAL EMPLOYEES -- ARRL APPROVED FOR 2013
COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN!

    Since 2001, the US Office of Personnel Management has designated the
ARRL to participate in the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), the annual
giving campaign for federal employees. In that time, this campaign for
civilian employees of the federal government, US Postal Service workers
and members of the military has generated almost $220,000 for ARRL
programs. The CFC provides federal employees with an easy way to
support the ARRL's effort to represent its members and all radio
amateurs.

The CFC encourages individuals employed in all branches of the federal
government to pledge by payroll deduction to the non-profit
organizations of their choice. The ARRL encourages eligible radio
amateurs to consider the League when designating campaign recipients.
Payroll deduction through the CFC is an easy way for participants to
support the ARRL over and above their annual membership. Such
contributions support programs that are not funded by member dues,
enriching the ARRL's ability to serve its members and all of Amateur
Radio. Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/attention-federal-employees-arrl-approved-for-2013-combined-federal-campaign>.

==> 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>.

==> SOLAR UPDATE

    Tad Cook, K7RA, reports: Solar activity made a healthy jump over the
past week, with the average daily sunspot numbers up over 30 points to
120.9, while the average daily solar flux increased more than 27 points
to 136.5. The most active day for geomagnetic indices was May 1, when
the planetary A index reached 21 and the high-latitude College A index
(measured near Fairbanks, Alaska) was a whopping 57. That number has
been higher, but only twice in the past six months, when it was 64 on
March 1 and 79 on March 17. The latest forecast has the solar flux at
165 and 170 on May 2-3, 165 on May 4-5, 160 on May 6-7, 165 on May 8-9,
125 on May 10-11, 120 on May 12, 125 on May 13-15, 120 on May 16-17,
and 125, 120, and 130 on May 18-20, and rising to 135 on May 21-22. The
predicted planetary A index is 12 and 8 on May 2-3, 5 on May 4-20, then
15, 10 and 15 on May 21-23, and then down to 5 for at least the
following three weeks. On May 1, NASA released a new solar cycle
prediction, but it wasn't really new. These arrive at the start of
every month, and have remained the same since March 1 when NASA's
prediction for the smoothed International Sunspot Number at the cycle
peak shifted from 69 to 66 for fall 2013. Look for more information on
the ARRL website on Friday, May 3. For more information concerning
radio propagation, visit the ARRL Technical Information Service
Propagation page <http://www.arrl.org/propagation-of-rf-signals>.

==> + ARRL RECOGNIZES: GEORGE WALLNER, AA7JV,  WINS APRIL QST COVER
PLAQUE AWARD

    The winner of the April QST Cover Plaque Award is Gerorge Wallner,
AA7JV, for his article "The Garden Beam
<http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/arrl/qst_201304/index.php#/36>."
Congratulations George! The QST  Cover Plaque Award -- given to the
author or authors of the most popular 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 May issue today.

==> + SILENT KEY: HAM RADIO EDITOR AND NOTED DXER JOE SCHROEDER, W9JUV
(SK)

    Joseph J. Schroeder Jr, W9JUV, of Glenview, Illinois, passed away
Tuesday, April 30. He was 83. An ARRL Life Member, Schroeder was on the
editorial staff for Ham Radio magazine from August 1974-July 1990,
penning almost 400 articles that ran the gamut from FCC actions to
Field Day to licensing issues. Schroeder was also the founding editor
of HR Report, a newsletter published by Ham Radio.

Schroeder was one of only three radio amateurs who had 394 confirmed
DXCC entities, placing the trio at the top of the DXCC standings.
Schroeder had missed only seven entities, all of which are now deleted:
Tibet (AC4), Damao and Diu (CR8), French Indo-China (FI8), French India
(FN), Java (PK1-3), Netherlands Borneo (PK5) and Celebe and Molucca
(PK6). Schroeder made Top of Honor Roll in 1993. Along with his 394
Mixed DXCC entities, Schroeder also held DXCC on Phone (238 entities),
CW (165 entities) and 6 meters (108 entities), as well as VUCC on 50
MHz. Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/noted-dxer-joe-schroeder-w9juv-sk>.

==> THIS WEEK IN RADIOSPORT

This 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

Next week:

- May 10 -- NCCC Sprint Ladder
- May 11 -- FISTS Spring Sprint
- May 11-12 -- Nevada Mustang Roundup; VOLTA WW RTTY Contest; CQ-M
International DX Contest; Portuguese Navy Day Contest; SKCC Weekend
Sprintathon; EUCW Fraternizing CW QSO Party; Worldwide EME Contest

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 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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