[SFDXA] The ARRL Letter for October 2, 2014

Thu Oct 2 14:50:05 EDT 2014

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The ARRL Letter

October 2, 2014
Editor: Rick Lindquist, WW1ME <mailto:ww1me at arrl.org>
ARRL Home Page <http://www.arrl.org/> 	
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  * ARRL Again Asks FCC to Elevate Amateur Service to Primary on
    2300-2305 MHz <#toc01>
  * ARRL Takes Issue with NTIA's WRC-15 Proposal for 5 MHz <#toc02>
  * The ARRL Foundation Invites Scholarship Applications for 2015-16
    Academic Year <#toc03>
  * ARRL Executive Committee to Meet October 4 <#toc04>
  * Actor Tim Allen Gets His Ham Ticket For Real <#toc05>
  * W1AW Centennial Operations Will Be in Missouri and Virginia Starting
    October 8 (UTC) <#toc06>
  * ITU Secretary General Extends Greetings to IARU Region 1 Delegates
    <#toc07>
  * Ham Radio Saves the Day in the Yukon <#toc08>
  * RSGB Outlines "New" Islands on the Air (IOTA) Vision, Seeks
    Partnership <#toc09>
  * FT4TA DXpedition Team Aims to Take Tromelin Off the Top 10
    Most-Wanted Lists <#toc10>
  * Past Sacramento Valley SCM, Santa Clara Valley SM, Pacific Vice
    Director Jettie B. Hill, W6RFF, SK <#toc11>
  * Marte Wessel, K0EPE, and Pete Wessel, W0CM, SK <#toc12>
  * A Century of Amateur Radio and the ARRL <#toc13>
  * The K7RA Solar Update <#toc14>
  * Just Ahead in Radiosport <#toc15>
  * Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events
    <#toc16>

------------------------------------------------------------------------
ARRL Website To Be Offline on October 3 Starting at 2000 UTC

The ARRL website is scheduled to be offline on Friday, October 3, 
starting at 2000 UTC. The length of the outage could run for several 
hours and possibly into Saturday, October 4. The ARRL IT Department will 
be performing maintenance in the process of switching the site to a new 
server.

A "Down for Maintenance" message will appear for the duration of the 
outage whenever someone attempts to access www.arrl.org 
<https://www.arrl.org>. Logbook of The World will remain accessible 
during the outage. All e-mail functionality will remain online -- /only/ 
the website will be down for testing.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
ARRL Again Asks FCC to Elevate Amateur Service to Primary on 2300-2305 MHz

In comments <http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/comment/view?id=6019370793> filed 
in response to an AT&T Mobility /Petition for Rule Making/ seeking a new 
air-to-ground communications system on 2.3 GHz Wireless Communications 
Service (WCS) spectrum, the ARRL has once again asked the FCC to elevate 
the Amateur Service allocation at 2300 to 2305 MHz from secondary to 
primary. The /Petition/ (RM-11731 
<http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/comment/view;jsessionid=JLGkJqzTGqRCP0Tr217TVzXzLhQ3Y73vhQQfhsfTVlRwL29PSrh2%211335782401%211579162431?id=6018260948>) 
asked the Commission to authorize an LTE-based in-flight connectivity 
service in the WCS "C" and "D" blocks (2305-2315 MHz and 2350-2360 MHz, 
respectively) for airlines and airline passengers. AT&T has asserted 
that restrictions on out-of-band emission and power limits to protect 
adjacent-band users make the use of the C and D blocks problematic. The 
wireless provider asked the FCC for rule changes to permit deployment of 
its service "using currently fallow spectrum" while also "preserving 
adequate interference protection to users of adjacent bands."

"Notwithstanding this broad and nebulous claim, there is no showing 
anywhere in the four corners of the /Petition/ that the proposed rule 
changes would permit /any/ continued Amateur Radio operations on a 
secondary basis in the shared A block (2305-2310 MHz)," the ARRL 
commented on September 22. More to the point, the League said, there is 
no showing in the /Petition/ that Amateur Radio operations in the 
adjacent 2300-2350 MHz band would be protected from increased 
out-of-band emissions, if the FCC were to implement the changes requested.

The League asserted in its comments that the FCC has, to date, "failed 
to protect Amateur Radio operations at 2300-2305 MHz from WCS 
out-of-band emissions." The ARRL said the band is "regularly and 
substantially utilized by radio amateurs" for weak-signal, long-distance 
communication and, only by circumstances -- a lack of a primary occupant 
-- has it been able to enjoy that segment as a /de facto/ primary user.

"The Commission's rules are quite clear that WCS licensees enjoy no 
entitlement to disrupt adjacent-band radio service operations," the ARRL 
commented. But, the League pointed out, previous FCC actions to expand 
mobile broadband devices left 2300-2305 MHz vulnerable to increased 
out-of-band interference that would be difficult or impossible to 
mitigate. The ARRL said amateur stations operating in the 2300-2305 MHz 
band would be unable to avoid interference from AT&T Mobility's proposed 
system, and that the FCC has refused to clarify the obligation of WCS 
mobile providers to avoid interference to Amateur Radio operations there.

The ARRL objected to what it called the FCC's "practice of making 
allocation decisions which place incompatible uses in close proximity to 
amateur stations and then place on the amateur licensees the burden of 
avoiding the interference." Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-again-asks-fcc-to-elevate-amateur-service-2300-2305-mhz-allocation-to-primary>.

ARRL Takes Issue with NTIA's WRC-15 Proposal for 5 MHz

The ARRL is taking issue with the World Radiocommunication Conference 
2015 (WRC-15) stance of the National Telecommunications and Information 
Administration (NTIA <http://www.ntia.doc.gov/>) with respect to an 
upgraded 60 meter Amateur Radio allocation. In response to WRC-15 agenda 
item 1.4, the NTIA has called for no change at 5250-5450 kHz. The League 
said in comments <http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/comment/view?id=6018760116> 
filed September 24 in IB Docket 04-286 that while it concurs with the 
NTIA's view regarding 5250 to 5275 kHz -- allocated to the radiolocation 
service for oceanographic applications at WRC-12 -- the rest of the 
agency's proposal is "unsupportable in light of actual domestic and 
international practice and contains assertions of incompatibility that 
are demonstrably not correct." The US has authorized Amateur Radio 
secondary operation on five discrete channels in the 5275-5450 kHz range 
for more than a decade, the ARRL pointed out, with no instances of 
unresolved interference to primary users.

"Against this backdrop, the stated reason for the no-change proposal -- 
that '[e]xperience has shown that sharing is not possible between the 
Amateur Service and the fixed and mobile service' -- fails the 
straight-face test," the ARRL said in its comments.

The NTIA's position is at odds with the proposal for agenda item 1.4 
previously adopted by the FCC's WRC-15 Advisory Committee (WAC). In 
January, the WAC recommended a secondary allocation to the Amateur Radio 
Service from 5275-5450 kHz, and the FCC indicated in a subsequent 
/Public Notice/ that it could generally support this recommendation.

The League called the NTIA's position "particularly puzzling" given the 
position of federal agencies, for which the NTIA manages spectrum, to 
allow what the ARRL called, "/a more disruptive service/ (radiolocation) 
in the /identical/ frequency range under consideration here /less than 
three years ago/."

"Neither NTIA nor its constituent federal agencies have credibly or 
persuasively articulated why fixed and mobile systems in the 5250-5450 
kHz range can withstand the demonstrated potential for interference from 
automated, wideband, HF oceanographic radars, but cannot withstand 
operation by trained, licensed operators using smaller bandwidths, 
actually monitoring the spectrum to be used before and during a 
transmission, and with the capability to shift frequency immediately to 
avoid incidents of interference with a primary service," the ARRL commented.

The League asserted that the Amateur Service deserves "the same 
treatment" that NTIA proposed for HF radiolocation less than 3 years 
ago. "Proponents of a different treatment, particularly a channelized 
treatment or a no-change approach, have still not presented a compelling 
distinction between amateur operation and radiolocation that would 
justify a departure from the general policy followed by the United 
States at WRC-12," the ARRL concluded.

The ARRL Foundation Invites Scholarship Applications for 2015-16 
Academic Year

The ARRL Foundation <http://www.arrl.org/the-arrl-foundation> has begun 
accepting scholarship applications 
<http://www.arrl.org/scholarship-application> from eligible young radio 
amateurs pursuing post-secondary education. Individuals and clubs 
support many of the 80 scholarships 
<http://www.arrl.org/scholarship-descriptions>, ranging from $500 to 
$5000, that are awarded annually. In addition, one applicant may be 
selected to receive the prestigious William R. Goldfarb Memorial 
Scholarship <http://www.arrl.org/scholarship-descriptions>, a "gap" 
scholarship that assists with the cost of college throughout four 
academic years to earn a bachelor's degree in a business, computer, 
medical, nursing, engineering, or science-related field. Applicants for 
all scholarships must be active radio amateurs and must complete and 
submit the online application <http://www.arrl.org/scholarship-application>.

"This is a tremendous opportunity for students graduating from high 
school or currently enrolled in college to apply for a monetary award to 
help with their educational expenses," says ARRL Foundation Secretary 
and ARRL Development Manager Lauren Clarke, KB1YDD. "All ARRL Foundation 
scholarships are made possible by individuals or clubs. With these 
awards, donors hope to encourage young people to be active in Amateur 
Radio and to earn their degrees."

For 2014, the Foundation awarded 79 annual scholarships through 58 funds 
to young Amateur Radio operators, valued at $106,250. In addition, the 
Foundation Board selected 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/padraig-lysandrou-kc9uus-is-goldfarb-scholarship-winner> 
17-year-old Padraig Lysandrou, KC9UUS, of Bloomington, Indiana, as the 
2014 recipient of the Goldfarb award. This fall, Padraig is attending 
Cornell University School of Applied & Engineering Physics.

Students planning to apply for 2015 awards should first carefully review 
the eligibility requirements <http://www.arrl.org/scholarship-program> 
and scholarship descriptions 
<http://www.arrl.org/scholarship-descriptions>. Although only one 
application per applicant is required, applicants may ask to be 
considered for as many of the scholarships for which they are eligible 
(some scholarships have geographic criteria or other requirements 
<http://www.arrl.org/summary-of-scholarship-requirements>) Check off 
only the scholarships for which you would like to be considered. In 
addition to completing the online application, applicants must submit 
<mailto:foundation at arrl.org> a PDF of their academic transcript from 
their most recently completed school year. Goldfarb Scholarship 
applicants also must submit <mailto:foundation at arrl.org> a copy of their 
completed /Free Application for Federal Student Aid///(/FAFSA/ 
<http://www.fafsa.ed.gov>/). /

Applications are due January 31, 2014, by 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Awards 
winners typically are notified in mid-May by USPS mail and e-mail.

Established in 1973 as an independent and separate IRS 501(c)(3) 
organization, the ARRL Foundation manages grant and scholarship programs 
to support the Amateur Radio community. All grants and scholarships are 
funded entirely by the generous contributions of radio amateurs, clubs 
and friends. Individuals, groups or clubs wishing to establish an ARRL 
Foundation Scholarship Fund should visit the ARRL Foundation website 
<http://www.arrl.org/the-arrl-foundation>.

For more information about ARRL Foundation scholarships, e-mail 
<mailto:foundation at arrl.org> the ARRL Foundation or call 860-594-0348.

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ARRL Executive Committee to Meet October 4

A raft of regulatory-related items will confront the ARRL Executive 
Committee when it meets Saturday, October 4, in Memphis, Tennessee. On 
the list are several ongoing FCC proceedings that affect Amateur Radio, 
as well as international and organizational matters. Among other topics, 
the EC will mull strategies to improve the FCC's Amateur Radio 
enforcement program, consider the FCC regulatory fee structure for 
vanity call signs going forward, and review the status of various 
petitions that could hinder or limit Amateur Radio access to various 
portions of the UHF and microwave spectrum. Committee members also will 
discuss the status of preparations leading up to World 
Radiocommunication Conference 2015 and will review a proposal to license 
FEMA stations with distinctive call signs, similar to Military 
Recreation or club stations.

Also up for discussion will be the status of the ARRL's advocacy efforts 
on behalf of the Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2014 (H.R. 4969), which 
would call on the FCC to apply the "reasonable accommodation" three-part 
test of the PRB-1 <http://www.arrl.org/prb-1> federal pre-emption policy 
to private land-use restrictions regarding antennas -- deed covenants, 
conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs). Further, the EC will consider 
revisions to its 2009 /Mobile Amateur Radio Operation Policy Statement/ 
as well as state legislative issues that might affect Amateur Radio 
mobile operation, such as statutes regulating cell phone use and texting 
while driving.

Among important Amateur Radio proceedings still awaiting FCC action that 
will come up for discussion are the League's /Petition for Rule Making/ 
seeking a new allocation at 472-479 kHz and its petition to replace 
symbol rate limits on data emissions below 28.3 MHz with a 2.8 kHz 
maximum occupied bandwidth.

The EC will consider a request for support from proponents of keeping 
open the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) facility 
in Gakona, Alaska.

The EC will also approve convention and club affiliation requests and 
recognize new ARRL Life Members.

Actor Tim Allen Gets His Ham Ticket For Real

Actor and comedian Tim Allen now not only plays an Amateur Radio 
operator on television, he /is/ one! Allen got his Technician ticket on 
September 4, but did not release the news until this week. In his weekly 
ABC comedy TV show "Last Man Standing," Allen plays Mike Baxter, KA0XTT, 
and the show, which starts its new season October 3,

Newly licensed Tim Allen in his role as Mike Baxter, KA0XTT, on the TV 
comedy "Last Man Standing." With him is Flynn Morrison, who plays his 
grandson on the show. The station on the set actually works. [Photo 
courtesy of John Amodeo, NN6JA]

has featured 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/em-ham-radio-in-hollywood-em-last-man-standing-to-feature-ham-radio-in-upcoming-episode> 
ham radio in some episodes (Allen's TV wife Mandy Baxter is KF0XIE). 
"Last Man Standing" producer John Amodeo, NN6JA, told ARRL that the 
agreement with Allen was that "we would not publicize his license until 
he approved it." Allen subsequently revealed to Tom Medlin, W5KUB, for 
one of Medlin's webcasts that he had passed his Technician license test 
but, per Allen's request, did not mention his call sign, Amodeo said. 
The call sign has since been disclosed elsewhere.

"The Amateur Radio operators on the crew of 'Last Man Standing' are 
delighted that Tim has taken and passed his Technician exam and received 
his own, real call sign," Amodeo said. "It took more than 3 years to 
make it happen, and it started with Tim's personal interest in radio 
technology and his request to make the Mike Baxter character an Amateur 
Radio operator." The ham shack on the show is a working station.

Producer John Amodeo, NN6JA (left), is interviewed on the "Last Man 
Standing" set by Tom Medlin, W5KUB. [Photo courtesy of John Amodeo, NN6JA]

More than 2 dozen members of the "Last Man Standing" crew -- and now 
Allen, its star -- have been inspired by the show's Amateur Radio 
component to get licensed. On September 28, the K6H "Hollywood Hamnado" 
special event station was on the air, with "Last Man Standing" crew 
members at the helm from the show's set.

Amodeo said K6H went very well. "We had about 35 operators and guests on 
Stage 9 here at CBS Studio Center" he told ARRL. "All enjoyed being on 
the set of 'Last Man Standing.' The feeling was like a Field Day and a 
mini Hamvention." Amodeo said that all six K6H stations had "continuous 
contacts from start to finish."

Most of the K6H event and several interview segments, including one with 
the VEs who administered Allen's test, have been posted on Medlin's 
website <http://www.w5kub.com>.

Amodeo expressed gratitude to the ARRL for its "continued support," 
starting with the assistance of former ARRL Media and Public Relations 
Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, in the creation of the KA0XTT call sign and 
the more recent assistance of ARRL VEC staffers Maria Somma, AB1FM, and 
Amanda Grimaldi, KB1VUV.

"We hope Tim will find Amateur Radio to be an enjoyable and useful hobby 
for many years to come," he added.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
W1AW Centennial Operations Will Be in Missouri and Virginia Starting 
October 8 (UTC)

The ARRL Centennial W1AW 
<http://www.arrl.org/files/file/On%20the%20Air/W1AW_2014_sked.pdf> 
portable operations taking place throughout 2014 from each of the 50 
states and now in Alaska, California, and the District of Columbia, will 
transition at 0000 UTC on Wednesday, October 8 (the evening of October 7 
in US time zones), to Missouri (W1AW/0) and Virginia (W1AW/4). W1AW has 
visited each of the 50 states for at least 1 week so far during 2014, 
and by year's end W1AW will have been on the air from every state at 
least twice.

The ARRL 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 mode/contact, even 
when working the same state during its second week of activity.

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. Participants must work W1AW/1 in 
Connecticut.) A W1AW WAS certificate and plaque will be available.

An ARRL Centennial QSO Party leader board 
<https://centennial-qp.arrl.org> shows participants 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.

ITU Secretary General Extends Greetings to IARU Region 1 Delegates

In a video 
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCod7An6QPw&feature=youtu.be>, 
International Telecommunication Union (ITU <http://www.itu.ing>) 
Secretary General Hamadoun Touré, HB9EHT, extended his wishes for "every 
success" to International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Region 1 delegates 
during their Regional Conference September 21-26 in Albena, Bulgaria. In 
the nearly 4-minute greeting, Touré said he appreciated the work of the 
IARU and for its support of ITU Headquarters station 4U1ITU.

"I can assure you that IARU is a valuable member of the ITU family, and 
this relationship will be nurtured in the years to come," said Touré, 
who called Amateur Radio is "a very important public service."

ITU Secretary General Hamadoun Toure, HB9EHT.

Touré said that the ITU was donating an Icom IC-765 transceiver to IARU 
Region 1. "I am sure this transceiver will find a good use in the IARU 
Region 1 member societies," he said.

Amateur Radio, Touré continued, is "a means of technical self-training 
for young people" as well as a national resource, "particularly in 
developing countries, and even provides support and relief in the event 
of national disasters."

Next year, the ITU will celebrate its 150th anniversary, and Touré said 
that the ITU club station will identify as 4U0ITU to mark the occasion. 
He invited the Region 1 delegates to join the World Radio Day 
celebration next February 13, the anniversary of the first broadcast by 
UN Radio in 1948.

"I assure you that my Amateur Radio hobby is very dear to me," concluded 
Touré, a native of Mali who assumed the Secretary General's post in 
2007. "I look forward to meeting with you, personally or on the Amateur 
Radio bands. I wish you every success in your hobby and activity. Thank 
you for your support to ITU. 73."

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Ham Radio Saves the Day in the Yukon

According to a Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) report 
<http://wp.rac.ca/ham-radio-saves-the...-yukon-canada/>, Amateur Radio 
bridged the gap recently for members of a search-and-rescue team 
attempting to locate a missing teenager in Canada's Yukon Territory. SAR 
team member Terry Hauff, VY1MAP, was unable to contact the team's 
headquarters in Whitehorse during the September 21 activation. He was 
out of cell phone range, and the satellite phone the team had was not 
working. VY1MAP was, however, able to reach a 2 meter repeater from his 
mobile station.

Hauff reached out to Ray Fugard, VY1RF, and Ron McFadyen, VY1RM, on the 
146.88 MHz repeater in Whitehorse, and they were able to relay a report 
on the search status from the SAR command center some 35 km north of 
Whitehorse at Lake Laberge. The missing teen was eventually located 
unharmed. According to the RAC report, this marked the second time in as 
many months that Amateur Radio and Yukon Amateur Radio Association 
members and repeater infrastructure had proved invaluable in an emergency.

Vincent Charron, VE3XU, RAC's Director of Communications, commented, 
"Whether it's a natural disaster, major weather event, planned community 
event, or a missing person search, we at RAC receive numerous reports of 
Amateur Radio interventions when traditional communication systems fail. 
Ham radio is most certainly still relevant and provides a crucial 
communications back-up option, often in challenging/dire situations."/-- 
Thanks to Radio Amateurs of Canada via Mark Bowers, VY1MAB/

RSGB Outlines "New" Islands on the Air (IOTA) Vision, Seeks Partnership

Changes are in store for the Radio Society of Great Britain's popular 
Islands on the Air (IOTA <http://www.rsgbiota.org/>) program, as the 
RSGB <http://www.rsgb.org> repositions itself to assume a less-direct 
role in the operating award program's management and administration 
going forward. The "New IOTA" will embrace the program's international 
scope and likely include some online means of confirming IOTA contacts 
and claiming contact credits. For the time being, however, everything 
will remain as it is. This past July, IOTA celebrated its 50th 
anniversary as "a premier DX program" under the guidance of the RSGB and 
IOTA Manager, Roger Balister, G3KMA. The program boasts some 2500 active 
island chasers and another 15,000 or so casual participants. In 
September the RSGB announced 
<http://rsgb.org/main/blog/uncategorized/2014/09/24/rsgb-iota-programme/> that 
it had asked IOTA management to enlist a group or organization from 
within the IOTA community to take the program into its next 50 years.

"The main focus will be on the development of online island credit 
submission (paperless QSLing) as a new feature of the programme," 
Balister explained in a September 27 post on the IOTA website. "The plan 
is then for this group to run IOTA in partnership with the RSGB. In the 
meantime no immediate policy, management or personnel changes are planned."

The RSGB announcement from President John Gould, G3WKL, said that a 
review of the program identified three primary issues. These include the 
program's current heavy reliance on a few key people, the need for 
modern, robust IT support that "will include online island credit 
submission akin to LoTW," and a requirement for a more friendly and 
accessible website.

"The review accepted without question that all island and participant 
databases should be preserved and that any changes should be 
backwards-compatible," Gould's announcement said. "In addition, it was 
important to seek ways to rejuvenate and ensure the sustainability of 
the program. This vision we loosely called 'New IOTA.'"

Gould explained that the RSGB is seeking a "partnership rather than a 
top-down approach," and that the RSGB Board has agreed that the IOTA 
team be invited to establish a group to develop and implement the "New 
IOTA" concept, with the RSGB providing seed money and "other appropriate 
support."

"This approach acknowledges that the strength of the program lies with 
its national and international participants whom, we are assured, have 
the motivation, skills and enthusiasm to develop the program and to 
promote it to its full potential," Gould continued. "This way forward 
has the full support of the IOTA team and has been welcomed by the wider 
IOTA community both at home and abroad. "

According to Gould's announcement, research and study to develop a plan 
for the "New IOTA" will take place over the next 9 months. Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/rsgb-outlines-new-islands-on-the-air-iota-vision-seeks-partnership>.

FT4TA DXpedition Team Aims to Take Tromelin Off the Top 10 Most-Wanted Lists

The FT4TA DXpedition <http://www.tromelin2014.com/en/> to Tromelin 
Island is in its final stages of preparation, and in less than 1 month 
the six-man team will depart for the small French possession in the 
Indian Ocean. Operation is scheduled to commence on October 30 and 
continue until November 10. The DXpedition is the recipient of an ARRL 
Colvin Award <http://www.arrl.org/colvin-award-grants> grant.

"I and about 10,000 of your 'best friends' will be tuned up and 
listening for you," Warren Croke, NW4C, quipped on the Tromelin2014 
<https://www.facebook.com/tromelin2014> Facebook page. "Be safe and have 
fun."

The FT4TA DXpedition said its operation is a chance to get Tromelin 
Island off the Top 10 most-wanted lists. Right now, it's number 8 
(mixed) on the ClubLog DXCC Most Wanted List 
<http://www.clublog.org/mostwanted.php>. Located some 280 miles east of 
Madagascar, Tromelin has not been activated on Amateur Radio since 2000, 
when a four-person team logged some 50,000 contacts using the somewhat 
unwieldy call sign of FR/F6KDF/T. No one has been authorized to operate 
from the island since. Tromelin Island is administered as part of the 
French Southern and Antarctic Lands (abbreviated in French as "TAAF").

The DXpedition has announced plans to be active on 160 through 10 meters 
on CW, SSB, and RTTY. "Openings toward the USA and Japan are short," the 
DXpedition has advised. "We will do our utmost to give this entity to 
worldwide deserving hams while openings last."

The DXpedition has said that its operators will take into consideration 
information from their pilot stations regarding propagation and feedback 
from the Amateur Radio Community.

One of the FT4TA team members waves good-bye in mid-June to a truck 
transporting the ham gear bound for Marseilles. From there it shipped to 
Reunion Island. [Photo courtesy of FT4TA DXpedition]

Operators are expected to concentrate on "the higher-volume bands," but 
will give a second priority to the low bands. Logs will be updated daily 
to ClubLog via a satellite connection, but there will be no leader 
board. An as-yet-unreleased postage stamp commemorating the 60th 
anniversary of the first Tromelin Island Amateur Radio operation will be 
applied to all direct, OQRS, or donor-requested QSL cards.

In June, the FT4TA team shipped three boxes of gear to Réunion Island, 
and the DXpedition team members will fly between there and Tromelin. 
Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/ft4ta-dxpedition-team-aims-to-take-tromelin-island-off-the-top-10-most-wanted-lists>.

Past Sacramento Valley SCM, Santa Clara Valley SM, Pacific Vice Director 
Jettie B. Hill, W6RFF, SK

Long-time ARRL Field Organization volunteer Jettie B. Hill, W6RFF, of 
Roseville, California, died September 21. He was 93. An ARRL Life 
Member, Hill served as ARRL Santa Clara Valley Section Communications 
Manager (later "Section Manager") from 1978 until 1982. He was the ARRL 
Pacific Division Vice Director in 1982 and 1983. Following his 
retirement in 1984, he relocated to Roseville and subsequently served as 
Sacramento Valley Section Manager from 1989 until 2000 and again from 
2002 until 2006.

Jettie Hill, W6RFF.

First licensed in 1938 in Eureka, California, Hill moved to the San 
Francisco Bay area after graduating from high school. He served in the 
US Army as a radiotelegraph operator at the Presidio during World War 
II. Subsequently he served in the US Navy (1944-1946 and 1950-1951).

Hill graduated from San Jose State University and during his career was 
employed by United Airlines, Itek, Stanford Research Institute, 
Illumitronic Engineering, National Semiconductor and other firms.

He was a member of the Sierra Foothills Amateur Radio Club. A serious 
DXer and CW operator, he was on the DXCC Honor Roll with 340 DXCC 
entities confirmed. He also had earned WAZ and 7-Band DXCC.

Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&t=i&i=2014-10-02&p=2>
Marte Wessel, K0EPE, and Pete Wessel, W0CM, SK

A well-known Kansas Amateur Radio couple has passed on. Martha "Marte" 
Wessel, K0EPE, of Liberal, Kansas, died September 23. She was 89. Her 
husband Walter "Pete" Wessel, W0CM, died 6 days later on September 29 at 
age 101. Both were ARRL members.

"Liberal has lost a YL legend and a lowband DX veteran," said ARRL 
Honorary Vice President Bruce Frahm, K0BJ, referring to the couple.

Marte Wessel was on the DXCC Honor Roll. She oversaw the annual 
scholarship drive for the Young Ladies Radio League (YLRL 
<http://www.ylrl.org/>), to which she belonged for 55 years and served 
on the President's Advisory Committee. The scholarship campaign she 
headed raised nearly $4600 this year.

Marte Wessel, K0EPE.

"Martha was one of the cornerstones of the YLRL and of the Colorado-YLs, 
of which she was our last charter member," the YLRL website said in 
announcing her passing.

An Ohio native, Marte Wessel belonged to the Ohio Ladies Amateur Radio 
Club (Buckeye Belles), the Quarter Century Wireless Association, Young 
Ladies International Single Sideband System, and the Quarter Century 
Wireless Women. She also was an avid bowler, a Red Cross "Grey Lady" 
volunteer, and a Camp Fire Girls leader.

The YLRL has invited donations in memory of Marte Wessel to its 
scholarship fund to Linda Hynan, AC5QQ, 1312 Western Ridge Dr, Waco TX 
76712.

Pete Wessel, W0CM, a Nebraska native, was well-known as a low-band DXer 
and also was on the DXCC Honor Roll. A US Navy veteran, he was licensed 
in 1928 as 9EYE, and subsequently held W9EYE, W9JYW, and W0LYW. In 
addition to the League, Pete Wessel belonged to the Old Timers Club and 
was a Life Member of the Southern Plains Amateur Radio Klub.

Pete and Marte Wessel had been married for 69 years.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Century of Amateur Radio and the ARRL

At the 1983 Dayton Hamvention, volunteers administered Amateur Radio 
examinations for the first time, under FCC supervision, demonstrating 
the feasibility of a volunteer examiner system. The following year, the 
FCC began designating Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (the first was the 
Anchorage, Alaska, Amateur Radio Club VEC), including the ARRL VEC, now 
the largest and most successful.

In June 1985, ARRL co-founder Clarence D. Tuska died. He was the last 
surviving pioneer of early organized Amateur Radio. Tuska was still a 
teenager and Hiram Percy Maxim was a well-known inventor in his 40s when 
they first met and eventually formed the League a century ago. Tuska, 
who went to a career in radio manufacturing and patent law, served as 
the ARRL's first secretary as well as the first editor of /QST/. The 
fascinating story of their early association and how it came about was 
told in the April 1989 issue of /QST /and recounted and updated 
<http://www.arrl.org/files/file/QST/This%20Month%20in%20QST/January%202014/JANUARY%20editorial.pdf> 
in the January 2014 /QST/ "It Seems to Us" editorial, "Present at the 
Creation."

ARRL Co-Founder Clarence D. Tuska.

On August 15, 1985, the FCC opened the 902 to 928 MHz band for amateur 
use. Also in 1985, the 10 MHz band (30 meters), one of the so-called 
"WARC bands," was opened for US amateur use. The band was one of those 
gained at the World Administrative Radio Conference 1979.

Also in August 1985, astronaut Tony England, W0ORE, took along ham 
radio, including slow-scan TV, on a shuttle /Challenger/ mission. His 
aim was to get youngsters involved in the space program and ham radio.

On March 21, 1987, "Novice enhancement" came to pass, 12 years after the 
ARRL had first asked the FCC to implement it. Novice privileges were 
expanded to allow operation on 28 MHz SSB, 220 MHz, and 1270 MHz, as 
well as operation using RTTY, AMTOR, and packet. This was a giant step 
toward getting Novices more into the mainstream of Amateur Radio.

During Field Day 1987, those new privileges allowed Novices to make 
contact with the Goodyear blimp /Enterprise/, thanks to KA4KVI, WB4RFC, 
and N4ORN, who had put a ham station on board.

The results of a new ARRL contest were reported photographically in the 
April 1987 /QST/ -- "The Messy Shack Photo Contest." Winners in each of 
the nine categories truly outdid themselves, making our hearts swell 
with admiration and pride at our fellow amateurs' efforts.

The August 1987 /QST/ reported an interesting solo hike by VE3HBF, 89 
days on foot from the southwestern tip of England to extreme 
northeastern Scotland. A solo hiker, David was never alone. He had a 2 
meter handheld with him, so that other hams could keep him company along 
the way, and so he could call for help, if needed. As he walked, he 
visited historic radio sites along the way, and was visited by other 
hams on several occasions.

In 1987, Amateur Radio in the US celebrated the bicentennial of the US 
Constitution with "200" call signs for club stations, a "We the People" 
WAS, and other radio events.

On January 1, 1988, the Canadian Radio Relay League became fully 
autonomous, ending its long-held status as a division of the ARRL. /-- 
Al Brogdon, W1AB/

------------------------------------------------------------------------
The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington, reports: We saw a rise in solar 
activity this week. Last Friday and Sunday, September 26 and 28, the 
daily sunspot number was 203 and 200, respectively. This level of 
activity was last seen on July 4-8, when sunspot numbers were 199, 213, 
256, 197, and 209.

Geomagnetic indicators were stable, but the latest 45-day forecast shows 
some instability ahead.

Average daily sunspot numbers increased from 80.9 to 170.1, and average 
daily solar flux rose from 128.3 to 168.9. This compares the current 
September 25 through October 1 reporting week with the earlier September 
18-24 period.

Significantly, the GOES-15 X-ray background flux has been between C1.0 
and C1.3 every day since September 25. We haven't seen this many days in 
a row of X-ray values <http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/ftpdir/latest/DSD.txt> 
at that level since last January.

The latest forecast has solar flux at 150 and 145 on October 2-3, 140 on 
October 4-6, 135 on October 7-8, 140 on October 9-11, then 135, 130, 
120, and 135 on October 12-15, then 150, 165, 170, and 165 on October 
16-19, 160 on October 20-21, 165 on October 22-23, and 170 on October 
24-26. Flux values are expected to rise to 180 on October 28-29, then 
fall below 120 after November 8.

Predicted planetary A index is 8 on October 2-3, then 5 and 8 on October 
4-5, 5 on October 6-14, then 8, 15 and 8 on October 15-17, and 5, 8, 10, 
and 20 on October 18-21, 15 on October 22-24, and 10 on October 25-27.

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 Friday's bulletin look for an updated forecast and reports from 
readers, including a ham in Japan who runs never more than 0.5 W into 
antennas hung from his balcony.

Send <mailto:k7ra at arrl.net> me /your/ reports and observations.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just Ahead in Radiosport

  *

    October 3 -- NS Weekly Sprint

  *

    October 3-5 -- DX/NA YLRL Anniversary Party

  *

    October 4 -- TARA PSK Rumble

  *

    October 4-5 -- Oceania DX Phone Contest

  *

    October 4-5 -- Russian World Wide Digital Contest

  *

    October 4-5 -- Worked All Britain HF Contest

  *

    October 4 -- New Jersey QSO Party

  *

    October 4-5 -- California QSO Party

  *

    October 5 -- RSGB 21/28 MHz Contest

  *

    October 6 -- EU Autumn Phone Sprint

  *

    October 6 -- OK1WC Memorial Contest

  *

    October 7 -- ARS Spartan Sprint

  *

    October 8 -- 432 MHz Fall VHF Sprint

See the ARRL Contest Calendar <http://www.arrl.org/contest-calendar> for 
more information.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events

  *

    October 4 -- Delaware State Convention
    <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/delaware-state-convention-delmarva-radio-electronics-expo-1>,
    Georgetown, Delaware

  *

    October 5 -- Iowa Section Convention
    <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/iowa-section-convention-southeast-iowa-hamfest>,
    West Liberty, Iowa

  *

    October 10-11 -- Florida State Convention
    <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/florida-state-convention-melbourne-hamfest-3>,
    Melbourne, Florida

  *

    *October 10-12 -- **Pacific Division Convention*
    <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/pacific-division-convention-pacificon-2014-regional-arrl-centennial-event>*(Pacificon),
    Regional ARRL Centennial Event, Santa Clara, California*

  *

    October 11 -- Iowa State Convention
    <http://facebook.com/groups/591123127614974/> (Sioux City Ham
    Convention), Sergeant Bluff, Iowa

  *

    October 11 -- Pacific Northwest VHF Conference
    <http://www.pnwvhfs.org/conference/2014/announcement.html>, Seaside,
    Oregon

  *

    October 12 -- Connecticut State Convention
    <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/connecticut-state-convention-nutmeg-hamfest-2>,
    Meriden, Connecticut

  *

    October 18 -- Arkansas State Convention
    <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/arkansas-state-convention-barc-hamfest-2014>,
    Batesville, Arkansas

  *

    October 18 -- Wisconsin ARES/RACES Conference
    <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/wisconsin-ares-races-conference>,
    Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin

  *

    October 24-25 -- Oklahoma Section Convention
    <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/oklahoma-section-convention-texoma-hamarama>,
    Ardmore, Oklahoma

  *

    November 1 -- TechFest 2014
    <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/techfest-2014>, Lakewood, Colorado

  *

    November 1-2 -- Georgia State Convention
    <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/georgia-state-convention-stone-mountain-hamfest-1>,
    Lawrenceville, Georgia

  *

    November 8 -- Alabama State Convention
    <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/alabama-state-convention-montgomery-hamfest-2014>,
    Montgomery, Alabama

  *

    November 15-16 -- Indiana State Convention
    <http://www.fortwaynehamfest.com/hfmain.htm>, Fort Wayne, Indiana

  *

    December 12-13 -- West Central Florida Section Convention
    <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/west-central-florida-section-convention-tampa-bay-hamfest-4>,
    Plant City, Florida

Find conventions and hamfests in your area <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests>.

*
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*

****

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