[SFDXA] The ARRL Letter for April 24, 2014
Bill
bmarx at bellsouth.net
Thu Apr 24 15:56:44 EDT 2014
Preview
If you are having trouble reading this message, you can see the original at:
http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/?issue=2014-04-24
The ARRL Letter
April 24, 2014
Editor: Rick Lindquist, WW1ME <mailto:ww1me 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/>
Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&i=2014-04-24&t=t>
* /Public Service/: More Than 300 Amateur Radio Volunteers Support
2014 Boston Marathon <#toc01>
* /Public Service/: Puerto Rico Radio Amateurs Take Part in Tsunami
Preparedness Exercise <#toc02>
* /Regulatory/: FCC Cites Washington Resident for Causing Interference
on Amateur Frequencies <#toc03>
* /Regulatory/: Texas Radio Amateur Gives Up License as Part of
Enforcement Action Settlement <#toc04>
* /Education/: Padraig Lysandrou, KC9UUS, is Goldfarb Scholarship
Winner <#toc05>
* W1AW Centennial Operations Shift States on April 30 (UTC) <#toc06>
* /Technology/: HAARP-Like Ionospheric Research Project Underway at
Arecibo Observatory <#toc07>
* /International/: Special Event Stations to Mark International
Marconi Day <#toc08>
* /Ham Radio in Space/: KickSat Deployed in Low-Earth Orbit <#toc09>
* /Events/: Nobel Prize Winner Joe Taylor, K1JT, Helps Reopen Dutch
Radio Telescope <#toc10>
* /Feature/: A Century of Amateur Radio and the /ARRL/ <#toc11>
* In Brief... <#toc12>
* The K7RA Solar Update <#toc13>
* Just Ahead in Radiosport <#toc14>
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events
<#toc15>
/Public Service/: More Than 300 Amateur Radio Volunteers Support 2014
Boston Marathon
On a beautiful New England spring day, yet under an umbrella of
heightened security, more than 300 Amateur Radio volunteers
provided communication support on April 21 for the 118th running of the
Boston Marathon -- a 26.2-mile race from Hopkinton to Boston,
Massachusetts. In a show of solidarity following last year's tragic
bombings close to the finish line, a near record number of runners --
upward of 36,000 -- turned out for the Patriot's Day event along with a
huge outpouring of spectators.
The Boston Marathon is a major public service event for the region's
Amateur Radio volunteers.
"We received a fantastic showing of volunteer support across the start,
course, and finish line from the Amateur Radio community in the wake of
the 2013 bombings," said Steve Schwarm, W3EVE, Boston Marathon Course
Coordinator. The level of ham radio support for the 2014 event
demonstrated that "Boston Strong" remains a rallying cry in the wake of
last year's tragedy, he said.
Amateur Radio communication support became critical
<http://www.arrl.org/news/radio-amateurs-provide-communication-support-in-boston-marathon-bombings-updated>
in the aftermath of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, when conventional
telecommunications systems, such as cellular telephones, quickly became
overloaded and confusion reigned.
The Minuteman Repeater Association <http://mmra.org> coordinates
Marathon Amateur Radio Communication, with assistance from the
Framingham Amateur Radio Association <http://fara.org>, the Mohawk
Amateur Radio Club <http://mohawkarc.org>, and the Montachusett Amateur
Radio Association <http://www.w1gz.org>. The race is sponsored by the
Boston Athletic Association <http://www.baa.org/> (BAA).
Amateur Radio volunteers at the State Emergency Operations Center.
[Bruce Tinkler, N9JBT, photo]
Amateur Radio had a larger presence this year at the Massachusetts
Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) State Emergency Operations Center
(SEOC), where a multi-agency coordination center was set up for the
race. The SEOC worked closely with the Boston Marathon Amateur Net
Control Center, the BAA Operations Center at Boston Public Library, and
the Red Cross Disaster Operations Center in Cambridge.
ARRL Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator Rob
Macedo, KD1CY, has served in various capacities over the years as part
of the Boston Marathon ham radio contingent. "This year, I was at the
SEOC multi-agency coordination center with MEMA Region 1 Communications
Officer Terry Stader, KA8SCP, where we provided assistance for the
Amateur Radio operation and situational awareness and an alternate
communication path to the marathon for MEMA Headquarters," he said.
Schwarm said that one unsung hero of the Boston Marathon Amateur Radio
Communications Team is Bob DeMattia, K1IW, whom he called "the
mastermind behind an elaborate net control setup" just off the race
route with a line-of-sight shot to Boston. "Through a combiner and
utilization of various frequencies across 2 meters, 1.25 meters, and 70
centimeters, up to 10 Amateur Radio setups were provided at the net
control location with multiple antenna configurations," Schwarm
explained. "Bob has done this set-up work for many years."
Upward of 36,000 runners turned out for the 2014 Boston Marathon.
[Boston Athletic Association photo]
This year one of the 2 meter repeaters for the race course operation
went down less than 24 hours before the start of the Boston Marathon.
"Bob responded to the situation...and had the repeater back in operation
just as the marathon was starting," Schwarm said.
Schwarm also expressed his appreciation to his assistant, Jim Palmer,
KB1KQW, for his support as an assistant course coordinator, as well as
to Paul Topolski, W1SEX, who handled finish-line operations, and to
Kevin Paetzold, K1KWP, for supporting starting-line operations. Paetzold
echoed Schwarm's praise of DeMattia. "It is immense; it has been
happening for many years and seems mostly invisible," he said.
Paetzold said there were four ham radio teams -- 34 volunteers in all --
at the starting line. His primary assistant, Dave Wolfe, KG1H, oversaw
the South Street parking operation, while Jonathan Allen, K2KKH, was
responsible for the Hopkinton State Park parking operation, while Pi
Pugh, K1RV, handled the Athlete's Village operation -- jobs both have
done for many years.
Topolski said hams anticipated security issues, but none arose. "Nobody
had a hassle," he told ARRL. A new twist this year was that the
operation went from the separate command trailers used in past races to
an indoor command center. "I think the operations center is a definite
plus, and I think we're going to go with that in the future," he said.
All public safety agencies were represented in the command center, and
the net control received many ambulance calls -- about 70 all told -- in
part owing to warmer weather this year, Topolski said. This year Amateur
Radio volunteers relayed ambulance requests to the state EOC using a
commercial UHF digital radio system, and hams spoke directly with
ARES Volunteer Marek Kozubal, KB1NCG, in the indoor command center uses
MotoBridge technology linked to remote radios that are tuned to ham
repeaters. [Courtesy of Paul Topolski, W1SEX]
MEMA dispatchers. Hams on the course were issued UHF digital radios to
request police, fire, and EMS. "It was an additional resource," he said.
"That worked out well." Macedo said Amateur Radio operators very quickly
had to learn the new UHF commercial system.
At the height of the Marathon, Macedo said, the finish line medical
tents were near 80 percent capacity. Amateur Radio also backed up the
commercial network for ambulance requests, he said, and volunteers
continued to handle logistical supply and medical bus transports via
Amateur Radio.
Topolski said ham radio came in handy after the Boston Fire Department
was called to Boylston Street in downtown Boston following a report of a
possible natural gas leak. "At almost the same time, one of the hams on
the street was smelling natural gas coming from a manhole," he said.
"The fire department was looking in one place, while the ham down the
street was actually at the site of the leak."
All marathon operations secured by about 8 PM, as the last course first
aid and finish-line operations closed down.
/Public Service/: Puerto Rico Radio Amateurs Take Part in Tsunami
Preparedness Exercise
Amateur Radio volunteers in Puerto Rico participated in the CARIBE
WAVE/LANTEX 14
<http://ioc-unesco.org/index.php?option=com_oe&task=viewEventRecord&eventID=1429>
exercise in March. The purpose of the exercise was to assist tsunami
preparedness efforts in the Caribbean and adjacent regions, including
the east coasts of the US and Canada. Since 2010, Amateur Radio has
played a role in the exercise, executed in Puerto Rico in conjunction
with the Seismic Net of Puerto Rico (RSPR), FEMA, the Puerto Rico
Emergency Management Administration (PREMA-AEMEAD
<http://www2.pr.gov/Directorios/Pages/InfoAgencia.aspx?PRIFA=021>), and
NOAA.
The March 26 drill offered a choice of two scenarios: An earthquake on
the coast of Portugal, or a sub-marine landslide in the Gulf of Mexico.
Puerto Rican agencies chose the Portugal scenario, based on a similar
earthquake and tsunami event that occurred in that country in 1755.
ARRL Puerto Rico Section Emergency Coordinator Carlos A. Rosado, KP4CAR
(left), takes reports from other amateurs on the LANTEX Caribe Wave
exercise 2014 from PREMA Zone 6 office in Ponce. On the right is PREMA
Director of Communications José M. Ríos, WP4KUY. [Photo courtesy of
Carlos Rosado, KP4CAR]
The exercise commenced at 6 AM, when the simulated alert notification of
an 8.5 magnitude (Richter scale) earthquake was issued. The Emergency
Alert System (EAS
<http://www.fcc.gov/guides/emergency-alert-system-eas>) was activated at
10 AM on radio, TV, and cable outlets to announce the "situation" but
advising listeners that it was a drill. Siren systems were tested, and
government, public and private institutions in many cities conducted
their own evacuation drills to test their preparedness and the ability
of citizens to travel safely to their nearest local refuge sites.
Amateur Radio worked with PREMA at an island-wide level. The Cuerpo de
Voluntarios Radioaficionados de Puerto Rico <http://www.cvrpr.com/>
(Volunteer Amateur Radio Corps of Puerto Rico -- KP4CVR) was the main
player, activating from the 12 PREMA zones. Through a federal grant,
each zone facility is equipped with an HF/VHF transceiver. The point of
contact was the KP4CAR repeater (147.210 MHz), located at the highest
point of the island. The repeater can run for several days on emergency
power.
The main responsibility of radio amateurs was to gather reports from
other amateur stations around the island regarding how they were
alerted: Broadcast radio, TV, cable, or other means such as sirens. The
information is delivered to PREMA Headquarters for post-exercise
evaluation and planning.
At the municipal level, the Bayman Radio Club, an ARRL Affiliated Club,
assisted emergency managers in the northern city of Dorado, recently
certified as "tsunami ready." Organized by Jimmy Drowne, KP3BR,
operators volunteered to assist with any kind of communication problem
during the exercise, and the group was commended for its support of the
drill.
PREMA Director Miguel A. Ríos Torres called the exercise a success, with
valuable lessons learned./-- Thanks to Angel Santana, WP3GW, Puerto Rico
Public Information Coordinator;/ ARRL ARES E-Letter
/Regulatory/: FCC Cites Washington Resident for Causing Interference on
Amateur Frequencies
The FCC has cited a Woodinville, Washington, resident for operating an
"incidental radiator" -- apparently some sort of lighting device -- that
has been causing harmful interference on Amateur Radio frequencies. The
Commission has ordered Thomas Edward Rogers to "take steps to eliminate
all harmful interference" or risk substantial fines and seizure of
equipment. The Enforcement Bureau action came in the wake of repeated
complaints last year of interference to Amateur Radio operations. To
date, Rogers has not responded to several communications from the
Commission.
"Commission agents have made multiple unsuccessful attempts in writing
and via phone calls to contact Mr Rogers regarding unauthorized and
unlicensed radio frequency emissions emanating from his property," the
FCC said in a /Citation and Order
<http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2014/db0424/DA-14-536A1.pdf>/
released April 24. The Commission directed Rogers to "cease operation of
the incidental radiators immediately, until the interference is resolved."
Last year, agents from the Enforcement Bureau's Seattle Office twice
visited Rogers' neighborhood and confirmed through direction-finding
techniques and the use of a spectrum analyzer that "signals on
frequencies between 7 and 8 MHz were emanating from Mr Rogers'
residence," the FCC recounted. The /C&O/ said Rogers failed to reply to
an "RFI Letter" and a subsequent /Warning Letter/, and the interference
complaints continued.
The FCC said Rogers is violating Part 15 rules that prohibit the
operation of an unlicensed intentional, unintentional, or incidental
radiator that causes harmful interference to a licensed radio service.
Rogers was ordered to respond in writing within 30 days stating that he
has ceased operating the incidental radiators, and to tell the
Commission what he has done to eliminate all harmful interference. The
FCC warned Rogers that he faces "severe penalties, including fines of up
to $16,000 per day," if he fails to take action to resolve the
interference issue.
In March, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler tapped Travis LeBlanc as acting Chief
of the Enforcement Bureau, and ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, said the
Bureau already appears to have become more responsive.
"The Seattle Office's prompt investigation of an amateur's complaint in
May 2013 set the wheels in motion leading to this /Citation/," Sumner
said. "Today's announcement provides further evidence that with the
recent change in leadership of the Enforcement Bureau, there's a new
sheriff in town."
Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&t=i&i=2014-04-24&p=0>
/Regulatory/: Texas Radio Amateur Gives Up License as Part of
Enforcement Action Settlement
A Texas radio amateur has turned in his Amateur Extra class license as
part of an agreement with the FCC to settle an enforcement action
against him. The FCC earlier this year issued a /Notice of Apparent
Liability for Forfeiture/ (/NAL/
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-14-204A1.pdf>) to
James R. Winstead, KD5OZY, of Coleman, Texas, after determining that
Winstead "apparently willfully violated" FCC rules by interfering with
Amateur Radio communications. The Commission had proposed a $7000 fine.
The action was in response to other radio amateurs' complaints of
intentional interference on 7.195 MHz.
"Mr Winstead has admitted that his actions violated the Commission's
rules and agreed to voluntarily relinquish his amateur license and make
a $1000 voluntary contribution to resolve the [Enforcement] Bureau's
investigation," the FCC said in an /Order
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-14-455A1.pdf>/
released April 22. The /Order/ adopts a /Consent Decree/ between the
Enforcement Bureau and Winstead that spells out the details of the
settlement.
According to the /Consent Decree/, Winstead will make his "voluntary
contribution" to the US Treasury in 12 installments. He also agreed to
relinquish his Amateur Radio license, prior to signing the /Consent
Decree/. Such agreements between the FCC and violators have become more
common recently in both Amateur Radio and non-Amateur Radio enforcement
cases.
ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, expressed appreciation to the Enforcement
Bureau "for bringing the matter to a prompt conclusion." Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/texas-radio-amateur-gives-up-license-as-part-of-enforcement-action-settlement>.
/Education/: Padraig Lysandrou, KC9UUS, is Goldfarb Scholarship Winner
The ARRL Foundation <http://www.arrl.org/the-arrl-foundation> Board of
Directors has awarded the 2014 Goldfarb Scholarship to Padraig
Lysandrou, KC9UUS, of Bloomington,
Padraig Lysandrou, KC9UUS, speaks at the 2013 Dayton Hamvention Youth Forum.
Indiana. The 17-year-old Bloomington High School South senior has been
licensed since 2011, is Indiana's Assistant Section Manager for Youth,
and is in the top 10 percent of his class. Lysandrou's May 2013 /QST/
article "A Crazy Idea: DXpedition to Cyprus
<http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/arrl/qst_201305/index.php#/66>," won
the /QST/ Cover Plaque Award for that month. Last August, Lysandrou was
honored as "Young Ham of the Year <http://www.arnewsline.org/yhoty/>" by
/Amateur Radio Newsline/ <http://www.arnewsline.org>.
"I'm honored to be recognized by the ARRL with the Goldfarb Memorial
Scholarship, and very thankful to be part of the Amateur Radio
community," Lysandrou said. "The ARRL and the Amateur Radio community as
a whole has been one of the most amazing and supportive communities I
have been a part of, and I am honored to have a place in it."
His is a "ham radio family." His mother, Carolyn, is KC9URR, his father,
Plato, is KC9VIL, and his sister, Helena, is KC9VIM. As a young stamp
collector, Padraig got interested in ham radio through his mother, a
serious shortwave listener. She would show him stamps on letters she'd
received from stations she'd heard. "I saw those, and...I got into
shortwave," he told ARRL in 2013. "And, then the interest grew bigger,
and it wasn't just about stamps anymore. And so I got interested in ham
radio."
Padraig Lysandrou, KC9UUS, receives the May 2013 QST Cover Plaque Award.
An ARRL member, Lysandrou holds an Amateur Extra ticket and has served
as president of his school's Amateur Radio club (K9SOU). Participation
in the ARRL School Club Roundup and a program on the Peter Island 3Y0X
DXpedition sparked his interest in DX and led to his DXpedition to
Cyprus, where he has family, and to his /QST/ article. He has been a 4-H
member for 10 years and the president of his school's 4-H Aerospace
Club. A musician, Lysandrou plays the cello and the classical guitar,
and has performed on the cello at Carnegie Hall.
Because of his interest in Amateur Radio, he plans to pursue a career in
electronics, engineering, and physics. This week he made the decision to
attend Cornell University this fall, majoring in physics and physics
engineering. His sister is also a high school senior and college bound
in the fall.
The William R. Goldfarb Memorial Scholarship is the result of a generous
endowment from William Goldfarb, N2ITP (SK). Before his death in 1997,
Goldfarb set up a scholarship endowment of close to $1 million in memory
of his parents, Albert and Dorothy Goldfarb. It is awarded to one high
school senior each year. The award is based on an applicant's
qualifications, need, and other sources of educational funding, but it
can amount to $10,000 or more. Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/padraig-lysandrou-kc9uus-is-goldfarb-scholarship-winner>.
W1AW Centennial Operations Shift States on April 30 (UTC)
The ARRL Centennial W1AW WAS
<http://www.arrl.org/files/file/On%20the%20Air/W1AW_2014_sked.pdf>
operations taking place throughout 2014 from each of the 50 states now
are in New Jersey (W1AW/2) and New Hampshire (W1AW/1). They will
relocate at 0000 UTC on Wednesday, April 30 (the evening of April 29 in
US time zones), to Connecticut (W1AW/1) and Nevada (W1AW/7). During 2014
W1AW will be on the air from every state (at least twice) and most US
territories, and it will be easy to work all states solely by contacting
W1AW portable operations.
In conjunction with the 100th anniversary of the ARRL,
theARRL**Centennial QSO Party <http://www.arrl.org/centennial-qso-party>
kicked off January 1 for a year-long operating event in which
participants can accumulate points and win awards. The event is open to
all, although only ARRL members and appointees, elected officials, HQ
staff and W1AW are worth ARRL Centennial QSO Party points
<http://www.arrl.org/centennial-qso-party#Table>. Working W1AW/x from
each state is worth 5 points per contact.
To earn the "Worked all States with W1AW Award," work W1AW operating
portable from all 50 states. (Working W1AW or W100AW in Connecticut does
/not/ count for Connecticut, however. For award credit, participants
must work W1AW/1 in Connecticut.) A W1AW WAS certificate and plaque will
be available.
<http://arrl2014.org>The operating schedule has been updated to reflect
some changes: Maine and New Mexico have swapped weeks; New Mexico's
second week will start on September 24, and Maine's second week will
begin on December 3.
The District of Columbia's week will start on October 1. North Dakota's
second week will begin on August 20.
Puerto Rico will now have a second week of operation starting November 26.
The ARRL has posted an ARRL Centennial QSO Party leader board
<https://centennial-qp.arrl.org> that participants can use to determine
how many points they have accumulated in the Centennial QSO Party and in
the W1AW WAS operations. Log in using your Logbook of The World (LoTW
<http://www.arrl.org/logbook-of-the-world>) user name and password, and
your position will appear at the top of the leader boards. Results are
updated daily, based on contacts entered into LoTW.
Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&t=i&i=2014-04-24&p=1>
/Technology/: HAARP-Like Ionospheric Research Project Underway at
Arecibo Observatory
Work is underway to complete the construction of an ionospheric research
facility at the Arecibo Observatory <http://www.naic.edu/> in Puerto
Rico that bears some similarities to the High Frequency Active Auroral
Research Program (HAARP) far to the north in Alaska, but on a different
scale and with different research goals.
The Arecibo Observatory's 1000 foot dish. [Arecibo Observatory photo]
"It is basically the same as HAARP for the science, except that HAARP
was in the Auroral Region, where the physics of the ionosphere is quite
different with all the energetic particles and magnetic fields," Penn
State Electrical Engineering Professor Jim Breakall, WA3FET, told ARRL.
"HAARP also had 3 gigawatts of effective radiated power, where Arecibo
will only be about 200 megawatts." The Arecibo Observatory Amateur Radio
Club, KP4AO, is headquartered at the research facility, which celebrated
its 50th anniversary last fall.
The National Science Foundation and Cornell University, which previously
operated Arecibo Observatory, contracted with Penn State's Electrical
Engineering Department to construct the "new and enhanced" HF
ionospheric instrument. It will be used to study the interaction between
HF radio energy and ionospheric plasma.
The new facility will replace an earlier ionospheric heater in Islote,
Puerto Rico, that was destroyed by Hurricane Georges in 1998. Rather
than rebuild that installation, the new instrument will use the
observatory's 1000 foot dish for its antenna. This will keep all
research activities involving ionospheric modification at the
observatory proper. Plans call for a design based on a Cassegrain-screen
concept of phased array at the bottom of the dish feeding a
sub-reflector mesh that hangs above the dish from three support towers.
Breakall and his team of graduate students at Penn State have done all
of the electrical design and modeling of this new antenna system.
The triangular 5.1 MHz and 8.175 MHz dipole array in the dish. [Courtesy
of Jim Breakall, WA3FET]
"There are three crossed-dipoles for 5.1 MHz and another three for 8.175
MHz, forming an array that will beam energy up to a net mesh reflector
that will hang from the three big towers," Breakall explained. "This
Cassegrain screen will then reflect energy back down to the 1000 foot
dish and beam an effective radiated power of hundreds of megawatts up to
the ionosphere to modify it." Each dipole is fed from a 100 kW
transmitter, yielding a total transmitted power of 600 kW.
An even earlier HF ionosphere-heating antenna system also was suspended
from the platform above the dish and driven by a single 100 kW
transmitter over a frequency range of 3 to 10 MHz. That design suffered
from arcing problems and was taken out of service in the 1970s.
Scale aside, Breakall said, while HAARP also tried to modulate the
ionosphere's naturally flowing currents to create VLF and ELF for
submarine communication, Arecibo "has much weaker currents, and that
probably will not work," he said. On the other hand, he said, "Arecibo
has a big advantage over HAARP in that the same 1000 foot dish can be
used for diagnostics with the 430 MHz incoherent scatter radar that can
measure things such as temperature, density, winds, etc, as they are
modified. HAARP has nothing like this."
Breakall said he does not anticipate that the new Arecibo ionospheric
research facility will attract the same degree of controversy that HAARP
has over its history, but he conceded that it's possible.
"All of the conspiracy stuff about HAARP really is not true, and I am
sure Arecibo could get some of the same conspiracy [talk], and I think
some of it maybe has started already," he said.
/International/: Special Event Stations to Mark International Marconi Day
A few dozen special event stations will take to the air on Saturday,
April 26, from 0000 UTC to 2359 UTC, to commemorate International
Marconi Day <http://g4usb.net/IMD/the-award/award-classes/>. Among them
will be GB4IMD, in Cornwall, England; OE14M, in Vienna, Austria; IY0IMD
in Italy; VO1AA, on Signal Hill in St Johns, Newfoundland; VK2IMD in
Australia, and WA1WCC on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. All stations planning
to participate are urged to register <http://g4usb.net/IMD/imd-2014/>.
OE14M is among the special event stations that will be on the air for
International Marconi Day.
International Marconi Day is a 24-hour Amateur Radio event held annually
to celebrate the birth of Guglielmo Marconi on April 15, 1874. IMD is
held each year on a Saturday close to Marconi's birthday, with Amateur
Radio stations on the air from around the world, including Award
Stations <http://g4usb.net/IMD/award-stations/> operating from
historically significant sites.
The event is not a contest; it is an opportunity for amateurs around the
world to make point-to-point contact with historic Marconi sites using
HF communication techniques similar to those used by Marconi, and to
earn an award certificate for working or hearing a requisite number of
Marconi stations. /-- Thanks to /The Daily DX
<http://www.dailydx.com>;/International Marconi Day/
/Ham Radio in Space/: KickSat Deployed in Low-Earth Orbit
Zac Manchester, KD2BHC, of the KickSat
<http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/zacinaction/kicksat-your-personal-spacecraft-in-space/posts>
project, reports the satellite launched successfully April 18 at 1925
UTC and successfully attained low-Earth orbit.
"We at Cornell and several Amateur Radio operators around the world have
made contact with the spacecraft, and it is alive and well," Manchester
said.
Launch of the SpaceX ISS resupply mission vehicle carrying KickSat and
other satellites into orbit.
The Cornell grad student has announced
<http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/zacinaction/kicksat-your-personal-spacecraft-in-space/posts>
that he will offer prizes to the first several people who receive
telemetry packets from KickSat as well as the first few who receive
signals from the tiny Sprite satellites that KickSat will deploy in
early May.
After a launch delay, KickSat went into space with the third SpaceX ISS
resupply mission. Next month the 3U KickSat CubeSat will release more
than 100 Sprite satellites -- each about the size of a small cracker --
into orbit. They will become the smallest Earth-orbiting satellites ever.
The KickSat beacon (437.505 MHz and 2401-2436.2 MHz) will transmit
telemetry packets with information such as battery charge state,
temperature, and Sprite deployment status. Packets will be transmitted
every 30 seconds when the satellite is powered on, and every 250 seconds
when it is in charging mode. All of the Sprites will be on the same
frequency -- 437.240 MHz.
Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&t=i&i=2014-04-24&p=2>
/Events/: Nobel Prize Winner Joe Taylor, K1JT, Helps Reopen Dutch Radio
Telescope
Nobel Laureate Joe Taylor, K1JT, was the guest of honor April 5, pushing
the ceremonial button to reopen the restored 25 meter Dwingeloo Radio
Telescope in the Netherlands. The dish will see some Amateur Radio use
on 23 centimeters. The CAMRAS <http://www.camras.nl/> Foundation
Joe Taylor, K1JT.
manages the Dwingeloo Radio Telescope, which had remained largely idle
since 1997. Its owner is the Dutch Institute for Radio Astronomy
(ASTRON). Queen Juliana and Jan Oort , founder of radio astronomy in the
Netherlands, were present at the telescope's inauguration on April 17, 1956.
For about 60 youngsters of various ages the re-opening festivities
featured activities on astronomy and modern technology, including a
discussion with the children about science and technology. With the
renovation complete the radiotelescope will be used by Amateur Radio,
amateur astronomers, and by and for budding researchers.
Peter Jelgersma, PA8A, has told ARRL that the giant dish will be put to
use on 1296 MHz and perhaps elsewhere. The Dwingeloo Radiotelescope for
several years has been used by Dutch radio amateurs for EME work,
including during the ARRL EME Contest.
Joe Taylor will speak at the ARRL National Centennial Convention in
Hartford, Connecticut on Saturday, July 19.
/Feature/: A Century of Amateur Radio and the /ARRL/
War is always terrible, and World War II was one of the worst. But,
while war wreaks havoc and destruction on nations and people, it always
brings about major advances in technology that can be transferred to
peacetime use. Amateur Radio benefitted from many of those advances
following World War II.
During the war years, reliable communication was essential. Studies of
the characteristics of the ionosphere and how sunspots affect
propagation tremendously enhanced our understanding of signal
propagation. The upper limit of easily usable frequencies had been
pushed much higher during the war. Through /QST/, the League made sure
hams learned about such scientific progress.
Much military surplus equipment was not well suited for ham use, but
many hams figured out how to convert those radios for the ham bands.
Others recycled the components. The prices of parts, tubes, and coaxial
cable were remarkably low.
An aerial view of the Project Diana site. [US Department of Defense photo]
During the war, the military or the federal government purchased
virtually the entire production output of radio equipment manufacturers.
Within months of the war's end, equipment manufacturers had switched to
producing ham gear -- and it was far superior to what had been available
before the war.
After World War II, the ARRL announced that hams -- whether seasoned
old-timers or brand-new licensees -- would have to start from scratch to
earn the postwar DXCC. That made for lots of excitement when the HF
bands again were opened to ham radio.
In January 1946 Project Diana used a converted military transmitter to
send a radio signal to the Moon, which bounced back to Earth and was
detected by equipment at the Evans Signal Laboratory at New Jersey's
Fort Monmouth. A 0.25 second pulse of 111.5 MHz energy was beamed at the
Moon, and 2.5 seconds later a faint "beep" was heard by Herb Kauffman,
W2OQU, one of several hams involved in the experiment.
/Hmmm/...111.5 MHz. Perhaps hams could do that on 2 meters. /-- Al
Brogdon, W1AB/
------------------------------------------------------------------------
In Brief...
*"Maunder Minimum" Webinar Set:* The World Wide Radio Operators
Foundation (WWROF <http://wwrof.org>) will host a webinar, "Are We
Headed Into Another Maunder Minimum? What Does That Mean for
Propagation?" with Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA. The webinar will take place
April 25 at 0100 UTC (the evening of April 24 in North America).
Participants must register
<https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/659385122>.
*Panama Canal Commemorative Special Events Set:* To celebrate the 100th
anniversary of the completion and opening of the Panama Canal
<http://micanaldepanama.com/centennial/>, special event station
HO100CANAL <http://www.qrz.com/db/HO100CANAL> (Hotel Oscar One Zero Zero
CANAL) will be on the air through August 15, on 1.8 through 28 MHz, SSB,
CW, PSK, and RTTY. QSL via HP1AVS. Another Panama Canal centennial
special event station, 3E100PC, will be on the air from June 1 until
August 1. QSL via LoTW <http://www.arrl.org/logbook-of-the-world> or
HP2AT. /-- Thanks to /The Daily DX <http://www.dailydx.com/>
*NCDXF Aiming Scholarship Support at Young DXers:* The Northern
California DX Foundation (NCDXF <http://www.ncdxf.org/>) said it plans
to direct its scholarships toward the support of new DXers, aged 25 or
younger, at Contest University (CTU <http://www.contestuniversity.com>)
sessions over the next 2 years. NCDXF Vice President Glenn Johnson,
W0GJ, reported that the Foundation provided approximately $99,000 to
support DXpeditions to "rare and most difficult entities." At the recent
International DX Convention banquet, NCDXF received a $12,000 donation
from the Southern California DX Club.
*Special Event Station to Commemorate BBC Normandy Invasion Broadcasts:*
French special event station TM70BBC in Creully, Normandy, will operate
June 3-13 to mark the 70 years since BBC reporters sent the first Battle
of Normandy reports from the a makeshift radio studio in the castle in
Creully in June and July, 1944. QSL via F5UOW, direct or bureau. /--
Thanks to /The Daily DX <http://www.dailydx.com>
*W9DXCC 2014 Convention Set for New Location:* The 2014 W9DXCC
Convention, sponsored by the Northern Illinois DX Association, will be
held September 19-20 at a new location -- the Hyatt Regency Hotel in
Schaumburg, Illinois. The 2014 event will feature a full day of DX
University sessions on Friday and an expanded convention setting on
Saturday. Commercial exhibit areas have been expanded and are closer to
the main convention activity. Details <http://www.w9dxcc.com> are on the
W9DXCC website.
*Ham Radio Emergency Communications Exercise Open to International
Participation:* Spain's fifth Emergency Communications National Exercise
(ENCE <http://www.fediea.org/news/?news=20140405>) takes place Saturday,
April 26, 1830-1930 UTC, and international participation is invited.
This year's exercise will use the 5 MHz band (5.311.5 MHz USB), but
activity is expected on 3.760 MHz, 7.110 MHz, 14.300 MHz as well as on
VHF bands. The purpose of the exercise is to provide an opportunity for
those radio amateurs interested in practicing operating skills. Even
listeners can participate. The ENCE welcomes reports
<mailto:ence at fediea.org> via e-mail.
*Vibroplex Becomes SSB-Electronic Distributor for US and Canada:*
Vibroplex <http://www.vibroplex.com> has become the US/Canada
distributor for SSB-Electronic products. A completely revamped product
line has been released for 2014.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The K7RA Solar Update
Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington, reports: Average daily sunspot
numbers during the past week rose 84.3 points, from 118.4 to 202.7.
Average daily solar flux was up 11.3 points to 160.4.
The predicted average solar flux on April 19 for April 24-27 was 150,
but this has been downgraded. On April 23 the average for the same
period was adjusted down to 122.5.
[SOHO image]
The latest projection has solar flux at 125 on April 24-26, 115 on April
27 through May 1, 155 on May 2-4, 160, 165, 160, 155, and 150 on May
5-9, 155 on May 10-14, 150 on May 15-17, and 165 on May 18.
Predicted planetary A index is 8 on April 24-25, 5 on April 26 through
May 13, followed by 10, 8, 15, 25, 20, and 10 on May 14-19, and 8 on May
20-22.
Petr Kolman, OK1MGW, of the Czech Propagation Interest Group on April 20
predicted geomagnetic conditions to be quiet to unsettled on April
24-25, mostly quiet on April 26-28, quiet on April 29, mostly quiet on
April 30, quiet on May 1-2, mostly quiet on May 3, quiet to unsettled on
May 4, quiet on May 5, quiet to unsettled on May 6-7, quiet to active on
May 8-9, quiet to unsettled on May 10-11, mostly quiet on May 12-13,
quiet to unsettled on May 14-15, and mostly quiet on May 16.
This weekly "Solar Update" in /The ARRL Letter/ is a preview of the
"Propagation Bulletin" issued each Friday. The latest bulletin and an
archive <http://arrl.org/w1aw-bulletins-archive-propagation> of past
propagation bulletins is on the ARRL website.
In tomorrow's bulletin look for an updated forecast and reports from
readers. Send <mailto:k7ra at arrl.net> me /your/ reports and observations.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just Ahead in Radiosport
*
April 26 -- Florida QSO Party
*
April 26-27 -- Ten-Ten Spring Digital Contest
*
April 26-27 -- SP DX RTTY Contest
*
April 26-27 -- Helvetia Contest
*
April 27 -- BARTG 75 Sprint
*
May 2 -- NS Weekly Sprint
*
May 3 -- Microwave Spring Sprint
*
May 3 -- QRP To The Field
*
May 3-4 -- New England QSO Party
*
May 3-4 -- Worldwide EME Contest
*
May 3-4 -- 2 GHz and Up World Wide Contest
*
May 3-4 -- Ten-Ten Spring CW Contest
*
May 3-4 -- ARI International DX Contest
*
May 3-4 -- 7th Area QSO Party
*
May 3-4 -- Indiana QSO Party
*
May 3-4 -- Radio Club of America QSO Party
*
May 4 -- OK1WC Memorial Contest
*
May 6 -- ARS Spartan Sprint
Visit the Contest Calendar <http://www.arrl.org/contest-calendar> for
details.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events
*
April 25-27 -- Idaho State Convention
<http://www.idahostateconvention.com/>, Boise, Idaho
*
April 26 -- Aurora '14 Conference <http://www.nlrs.org/>, White Bear
Lake, Minnesota
*
May 3 -- South Carolina Section Convention <http://www.brars.org/>,
Spartanburg, South Carolina
*
May 16-18 -- Dayton Hamvention <http://www.hamvention.org/> --
*Regional ARRL Centennial Event*, Dayton, Ohio
*
May 30 ---Jun 1 Nevada State Convention <http://nvcon.org/>,
Virginia City, Nevada
*
June 6-8 -- Northwestern Division Convention
<http://www.seapac.org/> (SeaPac) -- *Regional ARRL Centennial
Event*, Seaside, Oregon
*
June 7 -- Georgia Section Convention
<http://www.atlantahamfest.org/> (Atlanta Hamfest), Marietta, Georgia
*
June 13-14 -- Ham-Com <http://www.hamcom.org> -- *Regional ARRL
Centennial Event*, Plano, Texas
*
June 14 -- Western Pennsylvania ARES Emcomm Conference
<http://wpaares.org/>, Johnstown, Pennsylvania
*
June 14 -- Tennessee State Convention <http://www.w4bbb.org/>
(Knoxville Hamfest), Knoxville, Tennessee
*
June 27-29 -- HAM RADIO International Exhibition for Radio Amateurs
<http://www.hamradio-friedrichshafen.de/ham-en/>, Friedrichshafen,
Germany
*
July 5 -- Eastern Pennsylvania Section Convention
<http://www.w3uu.org>, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
*
July 9-12 -- Mobile Amateur Radio Awards National Convention
<http://marac.org/2014registration.pdf>, Visalia, California
*
*July 17-19 -- **ARRL National Centennial Convention*
<http://arrl2014.org>*, Hartford, Connecticut*
*
July 18-19 -- Arizona State Convention <http://www.arca-az.org>,
Williams, Arizona
*
July 18-20 -- Montana State Convention <http://www.gwhamfest.org/>,
East Glacier, Montana
*
July 24-27 -- Central States VHF Society Conference
<http://www.csvhfs.org/2014conference/>, Austin, Texas
*
July 25-26 -- Oklahoma State Convention <http://www.hamholiday.org>,
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Find conventions and hamfests in your area <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.
* Listen to /ARRL Audio News/ <http://www.arrl.org/arrl-audio-news>,
available every Friday.
Subscribe to...
* /NCJ / <http://www.ncjweb.com/>/-- National Contest Journal/
<http://www.ncjweb.com/>. Published bi-monthly, features articles by
top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA Sprint and
QSO Parties.
* /QEX/ <http://www.arrl.org/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>.
Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&i=2014-04-24&t=r&p=0>
Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&i=2014-04-24&t=r&p=1>
Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&i=2014-04-24&t=r&p=2>
Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&i=2014-04-24&t=r&p=3>
Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&i=2014-04-24&t=r&p=4>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 50 times each year. ARRL members
may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing their Member Data
Page as described at http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/.
Copyright © 2014 American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved
www.arrl.org <http://www.arrl.org/>
More information about the SFDXA
mailing list