[SFDXA] The ARRL Letter for May 9, 2013

Thu May 9 22:19:20 EDT 2013

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The ARRL Letter

May 9, 2013
Editor: S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA <mailto:k1sfa at arrl.org>
ARRL Home Page <http://www.arrl.org/> 	
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  * *+* /Dayton Hamvention^® /: Meet the Authors at ARRL EXPO in Dayton
    <#toc01>
  * *+* /ARRL Centennial Celebration/: ARRL Public Relations Committee
    Sponsoring "I am the ARRL" Video Contest <#toc02>
  * *+* /FCC News/: FCC and GAO Release Recommendations on Receiver
    Performance; Comments Invited <#toc03>
  * *+* /Public Service/: GAREC 2013 to Precede HAM RADIO Gathering in
    Friedrichshafen Next Month <#toc04>
  * *+* Hurricane Watch Net Seeks New Members for Net Control Stations
    <#toc05>
  * /Support ARRL/: Attention Federal Employees -- ARRL Approved for
    2013 Combined Federal Campaign! <#toc06>
  * /On the Air/: Annual Armed Forces Day Crossband Test Scheduled for
    May 11 <#toc07>
  * Solar Update <#toc08>
  * *+* New QuickStats Poll Now Available on ARRL Website <#toc09>

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

*+* /Dayton Hamvention^® /: Meet the Authors at ARRL EXPO in Dayton

The ARRL will present a "Meet the Authors" area in the ARRL EXPO at the 
2013 Dayton Hamvention, giving visitors an opportunity to speak with 
authors who are inspiring today's radio experimenters, operators and 
innovators. Leigh Klotz Jr, WA5ZNU, lead editor of /Ham Radio for 
Arduino and PICAXE/, along with Eric P. Nichols, KL7AJ, author of /Radio 
Science for the Radio Amateur/ and Don Keith, N4KC, author of /Riding 
the Shortwaves: Exploring the Magic of Amateur Radio/ will be available 
to discuss -- and sign -- their books during Hamvention.

In addition to the "Meet the Authors" area, the ARRL EXPO will include a 
wide variety of exhibits and activities from the ARRL, including an 
exhibit commemorating the 75th anniversary of W1AW featuring photographs 
of the station from over the years; QSL card checking; the opportunity 
to have your handheld transceiver checked for spurious emissions; youth 
activities, and more. Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/meet-the-authors-at-arrl-expo-in-dayton>.

*+* /ARRL Centennial Celebration/: ARRL Public Relations Committee 
Sponsoring "I am the ARRL" Video Contest

As part of the ARRL's Centennial Celebration in 2014, the ARRL's Public 
Relations Committee is sponsoring an "I am the ARRL" video contest. The 
Committee is looking for pairs of short video clips featuring ARRL 
members. One clip should show the radio amateur on the radio, while the 
other should show the amateur in his or her work setting saying "I am 
(/name/). I like (/radio activity/) and I am the ARRL."

ARRL Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, explained further: 
"For example, a car mechanic in coveralls working over an engine looks 
at the camera and says 'I am Henry Smith, N0XCC. I like to talk to 
people in exotic countries and I am the ARRL.' This clip would then be 
paired with a shot of him at home talking on the radio. You may be a lab 
technician in a white coat, a doctor with a stethoscope, a teacher in a 
classroom, a cook in a kitchen -- whatever represents your profession. 
We're looking for videos that communicate that you are that 'guy or gal 
down the street' and you are the ARRL. With Field Day coming up next 
month, you have a great opportunity for filming clips." Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-public-relations-committee-sponsoring-i-am-the-arrl-video-contest>.

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*+* /FCC News/: FCC and GAO Release Recommendations on Receiver 
Performance; Comments Invited

In early 2012, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski tasked the FCC's 
Technological Advisory Council (TAC) to study the role of receivers "in 
ensuring the efficient use of spectrum and to provide recommendations on 
avoiding obstacles posed by receiver performance to making spectrum 
available for new services." On April 22, 2013, the FCC released a 
/Public Notice/ (Docket No. ET 13-101), detailing the recommendations of 
the TAC's working group on Receivers and Spectrum in a white paper 
called /Interference Limits Policy -- The use of harm claim thresholds 
to improve the interference tolerance of wireless systems/. Last week, 
President Obama nominated TAC Chairman Tom Wheeler as FCC Chairman.

In addition to the work of the TAC, the Government Accountability Office 
(GAO) was tasked by Congress in the /Middle Class Tax Relief and Job 
Creation Act of 2012/ to study spectrum efficiency and receiver 
performance. The GAO report -- titled /Further Consideration of Options 
to Improve Receiver Performance Needed/ -- was recently published and 
references the TAC white paper. The GAO report recommends that the FCC 
"consider small-scale pilot tests and other methods to collect 
information on the practical effects of various options for improving 
receiver performance." Comments on the both the TAC's white paper and 
the GAO's report are now being accepted.

The white paper also noted that "interference being experienced is 
widely distributed both geographically and temporally. This would be the 
case when, for example, widely deployed consumer devices like television 
sets or handheld wireless devices receiving signals 'over the air' are 
interfered with by, say, geographically dispersed private land mobile 
radio, amateur radio transmitters or other wireless devices operating in 
an adjacent band. Thus the base case would exclude resolution of 
interference that arises when multiple radio systems (i.e., transmitters 
and receivers) are co-located at a single antenna site, or on a single 
tower, or even share a single antenna on a tower." The ARRL is studying 
all the documents in this proceeding and expects to file comments. Read 
more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-and-gao-release-recommendations-on-receiver-performance-comments-invited>.

*+* /Public Service/: GAREC 2013 to Precede HAM RADIO Gathering in 
Friedrichshafen Next Month

The 2013 Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Conference 
(GAREC) will take place June 25-27 in Zurich, Switzerland, immediately 
preceding HAM RADIO -- Europe's largest Amateur Radio gathering -- in 
Friedrichshafen, Germany, June 28-30. GAREC 2013 will be combined with 
Switzerland's Convention of Amateur Radio Emergency Communication, on 
June 27. GAREC -- held annually since 2005 -- provides an opportunity 
for emergency communicators to discuss recent events, technical 
solutions to problems and how to find cooperation with professional 
partners. Attendees have an interest in providing emergency 
communication via Amateur Radio during training exercises or in response 
to disasters.

While GAREC 2013 will primarily focus on Amateur Radio emergency 
communication in Europe, all radio amateurs who are interested in 
providing public service via Amateur Radio are invited to attend. This 
year's topics include the relevance of Amateur Radio Emergency 
Communication in the First World and the HAMNET high speed data network, 
as well as presentations from the three IARU regions and presentations 
from groups with recent disaster relief communications operations. The 
ARRL will be represented by ARRL Vice President for International 
Affairs Jay Bellows, K0QB, who will also attend HAM RADIO. Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/garec-2013-to-precede-ham-radio-gathering-in-friedrichshafen-next-month>.

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*+* 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>.

/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>.

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/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>. 

Solar Update

The Sun, as seen on Thursday, May 9, 2013 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 Cook, K7RA, reports: This week, the average daily sunspot numbers 
remained about the same, with the number nudging up from 120.9 to 121.7, 
while the average daily solar flux numbers went from 136.5 to 137.5. For 
the past two weeks, the average planetary A index has been the same as 
the mid-latitude A index. Last week they were both 9.9; this week, both 
values were 8. The predicted solar flux for the near future is 125 on 
May 9-10, 120 on May 11-13, 115 on May 14-15, 120 on May 16-17, 125 on 
May 18, and rising to 130 on May 19-20. The predicted planetary A index 
is 5 on May 9-20, then 15, 10 and 15 on May 21-23, 5 on May 24-27, and 
rising to 15 and 10 for May 28-29. Look for more information on the ARRL 
website on Friday, May 10. For more information concerning radio 
propagation, visit the ARRL Technical Information Service Propagation 
page <http://www.arrl.org/propagation-of-rf-signals>.

*+* 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:

  * Do you own a solid-state or tube-type linear amplifier?
  * Where will you be operating during Field Day 2013?
  * Do you own a software defined receiver or transceiver?
  * Have you participated in any VHF/UHF contests during the last five
    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 July 2013 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.

This Week in Radiosport

/This 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

/Next week:/

  * May 18 -- Portuguese Navy Day Contest (Digital); Feld Hell Sprint
  * May 18-19 -- His Majesty King of Spain Contest (CW); Baltic Contest;
    EU PSK DX Contest; Worldwide EME Contest
  * May 20 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest
  * May 22 -- SKCC Sprint
  * May 22-23 -- 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 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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