[SFDXA] The ARRL Letter for January 23, 2014

[WILLIAM MARX]

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January 23, 2014Editor: Rick Lindquist, WW1ME
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	* Your League: Kay Craigie, N3KN, Wins Third Term as ARRL
President
	* Your League: Oregon SM Bonnie Altus, AB7ZQ,
Named ARRL Northwestern Division Vice Director
	* Your League: Repeater Owners Now May Submit Repeater Directory Updates Directly to ARRL
	* Your League: New Guide Promotes FUNcube-1's
Educational Value
	* Your League: February QST Delivery
Delayed to Some Destinations
	* Awards: Yasme Foundation Announces
Excellence Awards
	* DX: NCDXF Announces Grant to Tromelin Island
DXpedition
	* DX: TT8ES, T6EU Operations Approved for DXCC
Credit
	* International: Canada to Get Five 60 Meter
Channels
	* International: AX for Australia Day
	* ARRL Centennial: W1AW Centennial Operations
Now in New York and Oklahoma
	* ARRL Centennial: A Century of Amateur Radio
and the ARRL
	* Apps: Library of Congress Releases Free
Braille and Audio Reading App
	* Milestones: Retired ARRL Staff Member Walt
Ireland, WB7CSL, SK
	* Milestones: Noted DXer Bruce Butler, W6OSP,
SK
	* The K7RA Solar Update
	* Just Ahead in Radiosport
	* Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division
Conventions and Events
Your League:
Kay Craigie, N3KN, Wins Third Term as ARRL President
The ARRL Board of Directors has elected League President Kay Craigie,
N3KN, to a third two-year term. The Board met January 17 and 18 in the
Hartford, Connecticut, area for its annual
meeting, and election of officers was at the top of the business
agenda. The League's 15th president, Craigie lives in Blacksburg, Virginia, and
has been in office since 2010, succeeding Joel Harrison, W5ZN.
ARRL President Kay
Craigie, N3KN, presides over the ARRL Board meeting. To her right is ARRL First
Vice President Rick Roderick, K5UR. [Steve Ford, WB8IMY, photo] 
The Board also re-elected First Vice
President Rick Roderick, K5UR, to a new two-year term. ARRL Northwestern
Division Director Jim Fenstermaker, K9JF, was elected Second Vice President,
succeeding incumbent Bruce Frahm, K0BJ. Northwestern Division Vice Director
Jim Pace, K7CEX, acceded to the Director's chair.
Also
elected to new two-year terms were International Affairs Vice President Jay
Bellows, K0QB, and Treasurer Rick Niswander, K7GM.
In
addition the board chose ARRL Executive Committee members and ARRL
Foundation directors. Elected for one-year terms to the Executive Committee were
Central Division Director George R. "Dick" Isely, W9GIG; Pacific Division
Director Bob Vallio, W6RGG; Midwest Division Director Cliff Ahrens, K0CA;
Hudson Division Director Mike Lisenco, N2YBB, and West Gulf Division Director Dr
David Woolweaver, K5RAV.
ARRL Foundation Board
Director members elected for three-year terms were Ahrens, Frahm, and
Fenstermaker. Gene Hastings, W1VRK, retired from the Foundation Board after many years
of devoted service.
As the International Amateur Radio
Union (IARU)
International Secretariat, the ARRL, after consultation with the IARU
Administrative Council, nominates candidates for IARU President and Vice President. The
Board instructed ARRL Secretary David Sumner to vote to ratify the
nominations of incumbent IARU President Tim Ellam, VE6SH/G4HUA, and incumbent IARU
Vice President Ole Garpestad, LA2RR, for additional five-year
terms.
Other Major Board Actions
	* Instructed
the Public Relations Committee and ARRL staff to develop a draft document
appropriate for presentation to legislators and other government officials
to explain radio amateurs' contributions to the public, and to develop a
mechanism for collecting and making available presentation materials for use
by clubs in training and promotion.
	* Instructed the
HF Band Planning Committee to reach out to the membership regarding concerns
pertaining to the increasing popularity of data modes, and to investigate
and suggest ways that these modes can coexist.
	* Instructed staff to prepare answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about
the ARRL "symbol rate" Petition for Rule Making (PRM), RM-11708.
	* Received the final reports from three committees that had completed
their work: The Emergency Communications Advisory Committee (ECAC), the
Committee on Youth in the Second Century, and the Centennial Celebration
Committee. Consideration of the recommendations contained in the extensive report
of the ECAC is ongoing. The Board discharged all three committees with
thanks.
	* Bestowed the 2013 Joe Knight Distinguished
Service Award for Section Managers on longtime Mississippi Section Manager
Malcolm P. Keown, W5XX.
	* Conferred 2013 George Hart
Distinguished Service Award on Mark Rappaport, W2EAG, for his work in and for
the National Traffic System.
	* Scheduled the July
Board meeting for July 21-22, immediately following the ARRL Centennial
National Convention in Hartford.
The ARRL Board of Directors met January 17-18 near
Hartford, Connecticut, for its annual meeting. [Steve Ford, WB8IMY, photo] 
President Craigie announced
committee appointments for the coming year, including new chairmen of two
standing committees: Dakota Division Director Greg Widin, K0GW, as chairman of
the Administration & Finance Committee, and Rocky Mountain Division Director
Brian Mileshosky, N5ZGT, as chairman of the Programs & Services
Committee.
The ARRL Board selected media professionals in Delaware
and Michigan as recipients of the 2013 Bill Leonard, W2SKE, Professional
Media Award.
	* For print excellence -- Kim Hoey
(writer) and Gary Emeigh (photographer), of The News Journal,
Wilmington, Delaware, featured aspects of the Delmarva Hamfest in their November
story, "Calling Fans Of Hams."
	* For TV/video
excellence -- Rich Luterman, chief meteorologist at Fox 2 Television in Detroit,
Michigan, presented the Oakland County Amateur Radio Public Service Corps's
efforts and mission during SKYWARN Recognition Day.
	* For radio/audio excellence -- Bill Colley, afternoon host on WGMD-FM in
Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, discussed the club's upcoming Amateur Radio license
class with Bill Duveneck, KB3KYH, of the Sussex Amateur Radio Association
(SARA), "in a positive and engaging manner."
The official
minutes of the annual meeting have been posted to the ARRL website.
Your League: Oregon SM
Bonnie Altus, AB7ZQ, Named ARRL Northwestern Division Vice
Director
Bonnie Altus, AB7ZQ. 
ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN,
has tapped Oregon Section Manager Bonnie Altus, AB7ZQ, of Sheridan, as the
League's Northwestern Division Vice Director, succeeding Jim Pace, K7CEX.
Pace took over as ARRL Northwestern Division Director after former director
Jim Fenstermaker, K9JF, was elected ARRL Second Vice President at the ARRL
Board of Directors annual meeting.
Licensed since 1997,
Altus became interested in ham radio while working in information systems
and telecommunications for a hospital. She thought ham radio would be
beneficial in disaster communications, and she used what she learned as a new
licensee to write an emergency communications plan for the hospital. She has
served as president of the McMinnville Amateur Radio Club and as an ARES
assistant emergency coordinator and emergency coordinator. An Amateur Extra
class licensee, she is especially interested in digital modes. Her husband
Mark is AC7ZQ. Altus had served more than 7 years as Oregon Section Manager,
from July 2006 until January 2014.
Ev Curry, W6ABM. 
ARRL Membership and Volunteer Programs Department Manager
Dave Patton, NN1N, announced the appointment of Everett "Ev" Curry, W6ABM, of
Hillsboro, Oregon, to fill the remainder of Altus's term as Oregon Section
Manager. Patton consulted with Pace in filling the SM vacancy. Curry will
complete the current term, which expires on June 30, 2014. Nominations for
the next term of office (starting July 1) for the Oregon SM are now being
solicited.
Curry has been an Assistant Section Manager in
Oregon since 2007, an Official Observer since 2003, and the Official
Observer Coordinator since 2008. In addition he served as Public Information
Coordinator for Oregon from 2002 to 2007. An ARRL Life Member, he is editor of The Oscillator, the monthly journal of the Tualatin Valley Amateur
Radio Club.
Your
League: Repeater Owners Now May Submit Repeater Directory Updates
Directly to ARRL 
Repeater owners now may submit updated
information for use in the ARRL Repeater Directory, TravelPlus and
other products directly to the ARRL via the League's website. Repeater owners
or trustees can use the new web page to notify the ARRL of changes to
existing repeaters, such as new CTCSS frequencies or call sign changes. The web
page cannot be used to add new or uncoordinated repeaters,
however.
"This new capability is intended for repeaters that
are already on the air, as a means to keep our information as accurate as
possible throughout the year," said Steve Ford, WB8IMY, ARRL Publications
Manager. Ford was quick to point out that sending information directly to the
ARRL does not relieve repeater owners of their obligation to communicate
with their coordinators.
"We are simply collecting the
most up-to-date information for use in books and software, and only for those
instances where something has recently changed," Ford stressed. "This
isn't meant to be a substitute for notifying your coordinator. It also isn't a
substitute for formal coordination of a new repeater. Only repeater
coordinators can do that."
Your
League: New Guide Promotes FUNcube-1's Educational Value
A new FUNcube guide developed by ARRL Education & Technology Program (ETP)
Director Mark Spencer, WA8SME, aims to maximize the educational focus of
the tiny AO-73 satellite. Spencer's Pragmatic Guide for Using
the FUNcube (AO-73) Materials Science Experiment in the Classroom prompts readers to dig beyond AO-73's Amateur Radio transponder and telemetry
uploads and downloads and "take a closer look at what is really going on"
as the satellite orbits Earth. The diminutive spacecraft includes an AMSAT-UK-developed
materials science experiment (MSE). Spencer's guide helps teachers and students to
analyze telemetry and apply the laws of thermodynamics to examine how heat
is radiated into space from materials having different surface
finishes. 
"The primary mission of the FUNcube is
education, and the MSE is the focus of that mission," Spencer said. When it's
not in educational mode the spacecraft switches on an Amateur Radio SSB/CW
inverting transponder (435.150-435.130 MHz LSB up / 145.950-145.970 MHz USB
down). "I know there is an ongoing discussion of the value of cubesat
telemetry when compared to transponder operations," he said. "[Y]ou just might
find that an occasional look at the telemetry will help you better
understand satellites and make you a better satellite operator."
As Spencer explained, the FUNcube-1 MSE includes two separate experiments
-- one using the thermally isolated aluminum bars mounted on one face of
the satellite, and the second using four aluminum bars that form part of the
satellite's body in the corners of the cube. MSE data are transmitted via
a 2 meter downlink (145.935 MHz BPSK) and decoded and displayed by the
AMSAT-UK Dashboard software.
"Collecting the data is only part of the education mission," Spencer
said. "The other -- and more meaningful part -- is interpreting the data."
That, he explained, starts with a thermodynamics refresher. "In the broadest
terms, thermodynamics is the study of how heat moves from one place to
another," he continued. "The purpose of the FUNcube MSE is to allow students
to witness heat transfer by radiation firsthand in an environment -- space
-- where convection and conduction are not present."
Spencer called the FUNcube MSE "an exceptional educational resource," and he
praised AMSAT-UK's efforts. "It's now our turn to gain as much as we can
from their efforts, and I hope the Guide will help you get started."
The ARRL's Classroom Library: Satellite
Communications page includes a link to the new guide and has more
information on bringing space into the classroom. Read more.
Your League: February QST Delivery Delayed to Some
Destinations
Mail delivery of February QST may be
delayed to some members. 
Our printer has reported that all copies now
are in transit, but there was a delay of a few days with the February
issue, as several of the printer's Midwest divisions were shut down due to
inclement weather. 
Members who haven't yet received the
February issue should get their copies shortly. The digital version of the
February issue is now available to ARRL members.
Awards: Yasme Foundation Announces Excellence
Awards 
The Yasme Foundation Board of Directors has announced the nine
recipients of its Excellence Award for 2013. The Foundation said the award
"honors individuals who, through their own service, creativity, effort and
dedication, have made a significant contribution to Amateur Radio" --
technical, operating, or organizational. The Yasme Excellence Award is in the form
of a cash grant and an engraved crystal globe. Recipients for 2013
are:
	* Tom Roscoe, K8CX, for his dedication to
collecting and publishing current and historical photos and other documents on
his Hamgallery website. Hamgallery is an excellent Amateur Radio resource provided free
of charge to the online community. He has an extensive collection of vintage
QSL cards.
	* Lee Sawkins, VE7CC, for his
software, widely used to manage and filter DX cluster spotting output. Without
such filters, the output of the spotting network would be overwhelming and
unusable. His filtering software enables logging programs to integrate with
the spotting network for contesting and general-purpose operation. He
supports the local DX and contesting community in British Columbia and will
represent Canada in WRTC-2014 as the team leader from the NA-12 region.
	* John Devoldere, ON4UN, for building one of the premier amateur
stations in the world and for his extensive contributions to the DXing
community. Beginning with 80 Meter DXing, published in 1978, his book
expanded to Low-Band DXing, which, in its fifth edition, has
become the most widely used handbook for operating and building antenna
systems on the bands at 7 MHz and below. His book highlights important advances
in HF amateur technology and encourages operation on these bands.
	* Michael Carroll, N4MC; Eldon Lewis, K7LS; Dean Gibson,
AE7Q, and Joseph Speroni, AH0A, for their role in providing radio
amateurs with convenient access to information maintained in FCC databases. Before
it was discontinued earlier this year, N4MC's Vanity HQ site was the
single most popular resource for US amateurs seeking to obtain a desired call
sign. Carroll continues to maintain the National Silent Key Archive and call sign
history database. K7LS and AE7Q have created similar online services. AH0A was a pioneer in providing useful summaries of
licensing information, including licensing statistics.
	* Ken Claerbout, K4ZW, for his work in support of the series of
video seminars and lectures produced in association with the Potomac Valley
Radio Club (PVRC).
Initially focused on contesting, the scope has broadened to include a variety
of operating and technical topics. More important, the videos have
encouraged others to publish similar webinars and archive them for viewing at any
time.
	* Ashraf Chaabane, 3V/KF5EYY, for being
an energetic representative on all fronts of Amateur Radio in Northern
Africa and globally, presenting a positive role model for Amateur Radio
throughout the Arab world with his enthusiasm and competitive spirit. His mission
is to see the day when Tunisia issues to him that country's first
individual Amateur Radio license. Chaabane will represent Africa as the team leader
for the African team in WRTC-2014.
The Yasme
Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation, organized to conduct scientific and
educational projects related to Amateur Radio, including DXing, and to the
introduction and promotion of Amateur Radio in developing countries. --
Thanks to Ward Silver, N0AX, Yasme Foundation President
DX: NCDXF Announces Grant to Tromelin
Island DXpedition 
The Northern
California DX Foundation (NCDXF) has announced a $25,000 grant to the FT5/T Tromelin Island DXpedition planned
for October 30-November 10, 2014. Tromelin is tenth on The DX
Magazine's latest Most Wanted List. Tromelin is a small, extremely
environmentally fragile area, and strict limitations are in place regarding the number
of visitors and time allowed on the island.
"The team's
antenna plans, pilot feedback plans, and enthusiasm should make this
entity available to many DXers," NCDXF President Glenn Johnson, W0GJ, said in
announcing the grant. "For the past 42 years the NCDXF has funded major
DXpeditions to many most-wanted entities. The credit for these large grants goes
to the NCDXF contributors, individuals and clubs, who make DX like this
possible."
Additional details are on the DXpedition website.
DX: TT8ES, T6EU Operations
Approved for DXCC Credit
The ARRL DXCC Desk has
approved the 2014 operation of TT8ES -- Chad -- and the current operation
(through May 3, 2014) of T6EU -- Afghanistan -- for DX Century Club credit.
This operation was 
previously approved for 2012
and 2013, and the license has been extended through February 28, 2014. If a
request for DXCC credit for this operation has been rejected in a prior
application, contact ARRL Awards Branch Manager Bill Moore, NC1L, to be placed on the list for
an update to your record. Please note the submission date and/or reference
number of your application in order to expedite the search for any rejected
contacts.
DXCC is Amateur Radio's premier award that
hams can earn by confirming on-the-air contacts with 100 DXCC "entities,"
most of which are countries in the traditional sense. You can begin with the
basic DXCC award and work your way up to the DXCC Honor Roll. Learn more. -- ARRL
Awards Branch Manager Bill Moore, NC1L
International: Canada to Get Five 60
Meter Channels
Industry Canada has
granted Amateur Radio operators there the use of five 60 meter channels on
a non-interference basis. The center-channel frequencies harmonize with
those available to US radio amateurs on 60 meters: 5332 kHz, 5348 kHz, 5358.5
kHz, 5373 kHz, and 5405 kHz. 
"[G]iven that use of these
frequencies was requested, in part, to allow for cross-border communications
in times of emergency," Industry Canada said, "harmonization of the
frequencies with the United States would facilitate such communications between
the Canadian and the US Amateur Radio communities."
Amateur stations will be restricted to USB, data, RTTY and CW modes, with a
maximum bandwidth of 2.8 kHz, and a maximum power output of 100 W ERP -- the
same as the US allows.
"Canadian amateur operations
shall not cause interference to fixed and mobile operations in Canada or in
other countries," Industry Canada ruled, "and, if such interference occurs,
the Amateur Service may be required to cease operations. The Amateur Service
in Canada may not claim protection from interference by the fixed and
mobile operations of other countries."
Elsewhere, Unión
de Radioaficionados Españoles (URE) General Secretary Salvador Bernal, EA7SB, reported recently that Spain's telecommunications
regulatory agency has authorized the use of several 60 meter frequencies
through June 30, 2014. The authorized center frequencies are 5268, 5295, 5313,
5382, 5430, and 5439 kHz, with a power of 100 W PEP and a maximum bandwidth
of 3 kHz. Center channels authorized for the US and Canada differ. The URE
is recommending that hams in Spain use USB on 60 meters, the mode employed
in most countries authorizing operation on 60 meters.
In the Czech Republic, up to 10 radio amateurs are being permitted to
operate on 60 meters on an experimental basis until the end of 2014. This
experimental phase of 5 MHz operation follows an initial trial that ended two
years ago. Czech Republic radio amateurs holding a special permit may use six
channels that are common to many current 5 MHz ham radio allocations. The
USB dial frequencies are 5288.5, 5330.5, 5366.5, 5371.5, 5398.5, and 5403.5
kHz. Experimenters will be allowed to operate 100 W ERP on USB and CW (+1.5
kHz from the USB dial frequency). -- Thanks to Industry Canada and Bryan
Rawlings, VE3QN, URE and Southgate ARC
International: AX for Australia Day 
Australia Day is January 26, and all radio
amateurs in Australia may use the AX call sign prefix on that day, instead of
VK. Australia Day marks the First Fleet's arrival in 1788 at Sydney Cove,
the establishment of a settlement at Port Jackson, and the raising of the
British flag by Admiral and Governor-designate Arthur Phillip. On Australia
Day many celebrate their country and culture. This includes the granting of
awards, honors, and the welcoming to citizenship of many qualifying
immigrants. Under a standing agreement between the Australian Communications and
Media Authority and the Wireless Institute of Australia, use of the AX prefix
is also available on ANZAC Day, April 25, and on World
Telecommunication and Information Society Day, May 17.-- Thanks to Jim Linton,
VK3PC
ARRL
Centennial: W1AW Centennial Operations Now in New York and Oklahoma
The ARRL Centennial "W1AW WAS"
operations taking place throughout 2014 from each of the 50 states now are in
New York (W1AW/2) and Oklahoma (W1AW/5). During 2014 W1AW will be on the
air from every state at least twice, and from 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, the ARRL 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. 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 (pricing not yet available).
ARRL Centennial: A Century of Amateur
Radio and the ARRL
This week we'll look at
early Amateur Radio as seen through the viewing port of the December 1915
issue of QST -- the magazine's first issue -- whose cover proclaims,
"An Amateur Wireless Magazine ... Price 10 cents ... QST de The
American Radio Relay League." 
The December "Radio
Relay Bulletin" discusses the fact that the US and other countries face a
serious situation, with war clouds on the horizon. It was obvious to the
officers of the League that the service of its members as operators could
become quite important. Therefore, the League sent a letter to the Secretary of
the Navy, offering the services of its members in the event of a national
emergency.
For day-to-day operation, regular listening
hours are suggested, to listen for stations with messages on their hooks.
Lists of members and information on their stations had been circulated before
that first issue; additions to that list were published in the first QST and in subsequent issues,.
At that time, League
membership and a subscription to QST were separate. Membership was
free, and a three-month trial subscription to QST cost 25 cents. Among
the blanks on the membership application are, "Is your spark gap rotary,
fixed, or quenched?" "What tone has your spark?" and "Approximate wave
length?" That tells you much about the then-current state of the art.
The ads in that first issue touted the various parts available
for radio operators. These included the Jove Detector Holder, "for holding
one or two crystals and a cat-whisker" ($1); the Bunnell "renewable contact
radio key" ($7.50); a Stromberg-Carlson radio headset ($8.25), and the
Chambers rotary spark gap ($12.50): "Gives a tone similar to a flute, on 60
Cycles." Next time: The art and science of radio advances by leaps and
bounds.
Apps: Library of Congress Releases Free Braille and Audio Reading
App
The Library of Congress Braille and Talking Book Program has a free
Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD) app for iOS devices available via the
iTunes Store. QST is among the available publications that can use
this app. 
"People who are blind, visually
impaired or have a physical disability may now download audio and Braille books
to their iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, if they are registered with the
National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) in the
Library of Congress," the Library of Congress announcement said. NLS is
also working on a version of the app for Android devices.
The program permits readers to download audio and Braille books from their NLS BARD accounts. Access to
BARD is provided through local cooperating libraries. For QST the
program describes every circuit. It lets users adjust speed and tone, and it
offers a quick rewind to replay the last few seconds or a minute at a time, as
well as fast forward, wind back by phrase, and other features. Users can
go directly to articles, skip from section to section within an article, and
jump from article to article. Read more.

Milestones: Retired ARRL Staff Member Walt Ireland, WB7CSL,
SK
Walt Ireland, WB7CSL.
[White House photo] 
Retired
ARRL Technical Relations Specialist Walter Ireland, WB7CSL, of Henderson,
Nevada, died January 20. He was 76. Ireland served for 11 years on the
staff of the League's Technical Relations Office (TRO) in Fairfax,
Virginia, retiring in 2008. Prior to arriving at ARRL in 1997, Ireland spent 37
years in a variety of roles working for the federal government, including
for the Voice of America (VOA), where he was involved with building HF
broadcast stations.
"Walt contributed to the ARRL's
preparations for the World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRCs) in 2000, 2003, and
2007," recalled ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ. "His expertise in HF
broadcasting was especially valuable prior to WRC-03, where we gained a significant
improvement in the 40 meter band."
At the request of
the FCC, Ireland in 1997 accepted the chairmanship of US Working Party 6E --
which dealt with HF broadcasting -- remaining through WRC-07. Ireland was
selected as vice chair of informal working groups of the FCC WRC Advisory
Committee in preparation for WRC-03 and WRC-07. In addition to his
involvement in shifting HF broadcasters out of a part of 40 meters, he also took
part in efforts to protect Amateur Radio frequencies from synthetic aperture
radar, broadband over power lines (BPL), and ultra-wide band (UWB)
systems.
During his ARRL tenure, Ireland served as the chief
instructor for ARRL Amateur Radio Administration Course for Regulators (ARAC), sponsored by the United States Telecommunications Training
Institute (USTTI) and
held at ARRL Headquarters. He was an ARRL member and an alumnus of Central
Michigan University, Chaminade University of Honolulu, and Baltimore
Technical Institute.
After moving to Nevada, Ireland worked for
several years with the Henderson Police Department as a crime analyst.
Milestones: Noted DXer
Bruce Butler, W6OSP, SK
Bruce Butler, W6OSP. 
Bruce W. Butler, W6OSP, of Napa, California, died January 16. He was 79.
Butler's father was a ham and inspired him to get his license, which he did in
1950, becoming W5PXN while a high school student in Albuquerque, New
Mexico. While serving in the Navy on Guam, he operated KG6AAY and was able to
keep in touch with his father. He got hooked on DX after operating from both
sides of a pileup.
A University of New Mexico graduate,
he moved to California in the 1970s and obtained W6OSP. In the 1980s he
became a stockbroker and also rejuvenated his ham radio activity. His primary
activity was DXing. He served as president of the Redwood Empire DX Association and was a
member of the Northern
California DX Club and the Northern California Contest Club. He served on the board of the Northern California DX
Foundation and as its treasurer and president until recently stepping down in
retirement.
W6OSP was on DXpeditions from such
locations as 3B9, 4O, A6, KH8, H40, HV, KH4, PJ7 and ZF. NCDXF President Rusty
Epps, W6OAT, remembers Butler's "boundless" energy, and said he was always
looking for ways to help activate most-needed entities. "Amateur Radio, and
the DX community in particular, has lost a champion; I have lost a great
friend," said Epps. -- Thanks to The Daily DXand the NCDXF
The K7RA Solar Update 
Tad Cook, K7RA, reports: Average daily sunspot
numbers increased slightly this week, from 111.4 to 113.3, but average
daily solar flux declined by 22 points, from 155.4 to 133.4. Although there
seems to be no shortage of sunspots, they seem anemic and not very
magnetically complex. As a result, the radiation from these sunspots is feeble, as
indicated by lower solar flux values.
Predicted solar
flux for the near term is 140 on January 23-24, 135 on January 25-26, 130 on
January 27-28, 140 on January 29, 150 on January 30-31, 155 on February 1-5,
160 on February 6-7, then 150, 140 and 135 on February 8-10, 125 on
February 11-15, and 130 on February 16-20.
Predicted
planetary A index is 8 on January 23, 5 on January 24-29, 8 on January 30, 5 on
January 31 through February 6, 8 on February 7-8, 5 on February 9-16, and 8 on
February 17.
Friday's bulletin will have an updated
forecast, plus reports and from readers. Readers may contact Tad Cook via e-mail.
Just Ahead in Radiosport
Jan 24 -- NAQCC Straight Key/Bug Sprint
Jan 24
-- QRP Fox Hunt
Jan 24 -- NCCC Sprint Ladder
Jan 24-26 -- CQ 160-Meter Contest, CW
Jan 25
-- Worked All Britain 1.8 MHz Phone
Jan 25-26 -- REF
Contest, CW
Jan 25-26 -- BARTG RTTY Sprint
Jan 25-26 -- UBA DX Contest, SSB
Jan 25-26 -- SPAR
Winter Field Day
Jan 26 -- QRP ARCI Fireside SSB
Sprint
Jan 26-27 -- Classic Exchange, CW
Jan 29 & 31 -- QRP Fox Hunt
Jan 31 -- NCCC Sprint
Ladder
Feb 1 -- Triathlon DX Contest (RTTY, SSB, CW)
Feb 1 -- Minnesota QSO Party
Feb 1 --
AGCW Straight Key Party
Feb 1-2 -- Vermont QSO Party
Feb 1-2 -- 10-10 International Winter Contest, SSB
Feb 1-2 -- EPC WW DX Contest
Feb 1-2 --
Black Sea Cup International
Feb 1-2 -- British Columbia QSO
Party
Feb 1-2 -- Delaware QSO Party
Feb 1-2 -- Mexico RTTY International Contest
Feb 2 --
North American Sprint, CW
Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events
January 24-25 -- Mississippi State Convention, Jackson, Mississippi
January 25 -- Georgia ARES Convention, Forsyth, Georgia
January
25-26 -- Puerto Rico
State Convention, Hatillo, Puerto Rico
January
31-February 1 -- Southern
Florida Section Convention, Miami, Florida
February 1
-- Virginia State
Convention (Frostfest), Richmond, Virginia
February
1 -- South
Carolina State Convention, North Charleston, South Carolina
February 7-9 -- Northern Florida Section Convention (Orlando HamCation® --
Regional ARRL Centennial Event), Orlando, Florida
February
14-15 -- Arizona
Section Convention, Yuma, Arizona
February 22 -- Vermont State
Convention, South Burlington, Vermont
March 1-2 -- Alabama Section
Convention (BirmingHAMfest 2014), Birmingham, Alabama
March 7-8
-- North
Carolina Section Convention (Charlotte Hamfest), Concord, North Carolina
March 7-8 -- West Gulf Division Convention, Claremore, Oklahoma
March 14-15 -- Delta Division Convention, Rayne, Louisiana
March 15 -- Nebraska State Convention, Lincoln, Nebraska
March 15 -- West
Texas Section Convention, Midland, Texas
March 22 -- South Texas Section
Convention (Greater Houston Hamfest), Rosenberg, Texas
March 22-23 -- Communications Academy, Seattle, Washington
March
28-29 -- Maine State
Convention, Lewiston, Maine
April 19 -- Roanoke Division
Convention, Raleigh, North Carolina
April 25-27 -- Idaho State
Convention, Boise, Idaho
April 26 -- Aurora '14 Conference, White Bear Lake,
Minnesota
May 16-18 -- Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, Ohio
Find conventions and hamfests in your area.
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