[SFDXA] The ARRL Letter for January 22, 2015
Bill
bmarx at bellsouth.net
Thu Jan 22 15:38:06 EST 2015
Preview
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The ARRL Letter
January 22, 2015
Editor: Rick Lindquist, WW1ME <mailto:ww1me at arrl.org>
ARRL Home Page <http://www.arrl.org/>
/ARRL Letter/ Archive <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/>
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* ARRL Board Okays Changes to DXCC Program, VHF and Above Contesting
Rules <#toc01>
* ARRL Roanoke Division Director Dennis Bodson, W4PWF, Retires <#toc02>
* ARRL Executive Committee Approves Education & Technology Program
Grants <#toc03>
* ARRL Submits Comments to FCC on WRC-15 Draft Recommendations <#toc04>
* ARES Volunteers in Ohio Activate Following Loss of 911, Telephone
Services <#toc05>
* Michigan Passes, Governor Signs Antenna Accommodation Legislation
<#toc06>
* Navassa DXpedition Team Poised to Offer "Once in 32 Years"
Opportunity <#toc07>
* EP6T Team Pleads for "More Respect" from Operators <#toc08>
* Fox-1A Satellite Launch Date Launch Set for August <#toc09>
* Australian "Pico Balloon" Piques Ham Radio Interest <#toc10>
* In Brief...** <#toc11>
* The K7RA Solar Update <#toc12>
* Just Ahead in Radiosport <#toc13>
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions and Events
<#toc14>
ARRL Board Okays Changes to DXCC Program, VHF and Above Contesting Rules
The ARRL Board of Directors has tweaked the DX Century Club (DXCC
<http://www.arrl.org/dxcc-rules>) rules to clarify and expand their
recognition of remotely controlled station technology. It has also added
a rule that puts greater ethical responsibility on operators with
respect to remotely controlled operation. In addition, the Board adopted
changes to the ARRL VHF/UHF contest rules that are aimed at encouraging
greater participation. The Board took the actions during its annual
meeting January 16-17 in Windsor, Connecticut.
*ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, prepares to gavel the 2015 Annual
Meeting of the ARRL Board of Directors to order. [LJB Special
Photography photo]*
The DXCC Rules <http://www.arrl.org/dxcc-rules> changes, which affect
Section I, subsections 8 and 9, explain and extend how contacts with
remotely controlled stations now may be applied toward the DXCC award.
According to ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, the changes are subtle but
significant. The modified rules make clear that contacts with legally
licensed, land-based, remotely controlled stations count for DXCC, but
the control point -- the operator's location -- of a remotely controlled
station no longer has to be land based; the operator can be literally
anywhere.
"It has always been permitted for a QSO to count for both stations, if
either station was operated remotely from a control point within the
same DXCC entity," Sumner explained. "Now the location of the operator
doesn't matter; the operator could be on the far side of the Moon, if he
or she could figure out how to remotely control a station on land back
on Earth from there." Transmitter location continues to define a
station's location, and, for DXCC purposes, all transmitters and
receivers must be located within a 500 meter diameter circle, excluding
antennas.
*The ARRL Board met January 16-17 in Windsor, Connecticut. [LJB Special
Photography photo]*
Under the old rules, if either station was operated from a control point
in /another/ DXCC entity, the contact did not count for DXCC for
/either/ station. "This was unenforceable unless someone was transparent
about what they were doing," Sumner said.
The Board further adopted a new rule, now Subsection 11 (subsequent
rules have been renumbered accordingly), that acknowledges the reality
of the technology enabling remote operation, and it puts greater
responsibility on individuals when it comes to applying that technology
ethically and responsibly.
*Midwest Division Vice Director Art Zygielbaum, K0AIZ, attended his
first Board meeting. [LJB Special Photography photo]*
"Issues concerning remotely controlled operating and DXCC are best dealt
with by each individual carefully considering the ethical limits that
he/she will accept for his/her DXCC and other operating awards," the new
rule states. It adds, in part, "the owner of these achievements needs to
be comfortable standing behind his/her award and numbers. Peer attention
has always been a part of awards chasing, of course, but in these times
with so many awards and so many players, it is more important than ever
to 'play the game ethically.'"
Subsection 11 acknowledges that technological advances "add to the
difficulty in defining rules for DXCC," but stresses that the intent of
the rules is what's important. "It will continue to be up to the
operator to decide what types of legal remote control operating he/she
will use (if any) to contribute to an operating award," the new rule
concludes.
*/VHF and Above Contest Rules Revised/*
The Board also adopted amendments to the /General Rules for ARRL
Contests Above 50 MHz
<http://www.arrl.org/general-rules-for-arrl-contests-above-50-mhz>/ to
encourage greater participation and band utilization. The changes become
effective with the 2015 June ARRL VHF Contest
<http://www.arrl.org/june-vhf>. The revisions stemmed from
recommendations offered by the Board's Programs and Services Committee's
ad-hoc VHF and Above Revitalization subcommittee, composed of active
VHF/UHF contesters, and they received strong support from the VHF/UHF
community.
*Board members welcomed new Atlantic Division Vice Director Bob
Famiglio, K3RF. [LJB Special Photography photo]*
The subcommittee was charged with developing recommendations to increase
the level and breadth of ARRL VHF and Above contest participation and
encourage operation on lesser-used bands. As a start to the process, the
Board approved three changes that will permit the use of assistance for
all operator categories, with no effect on entry category; permit
self-spotting for all operator categories, and allow single operators to
transmit on more than one band at a time.
The changes will permit assistance in arranging contacts, but not in
conducting contacts. They will, for example, allow a station to announce
its location in a chat room, on a repeater, or even via e-mail.
In other actions, the Board instructed the HF Band Planning Committee --
which will soon solicit members' comments on proposed changes to the
ARRL HF Band Plans <http://www.arrl.org/band-plan> -- to include the
possibility of requesting that the FCC add RTTY and data privileges for
Novices and Technicians on 15 meters.
*/Other Business/*
The Board also
* Bestowed the 2014 George Hart Distinguished Service Award on David
B. Colter, WA1ZCN.
* Added "Assistant Section Traffic Manager" as a new field appointment.
* Authorized ARRL Headquarters staff to implement guidelines to expand
opportunities for field checking of 160 meter QSL cards for DXCC.
* Honored several professional journalists with the ARRL Bill Leonard
Award for their outstanding coverage of Amateur Radio in video,
print, and audio media.
ARRL Roanoke Division Director Dennis Bodson, W4PWF, Retires
ARRL Roanoke Division Director Dennis Bodson, W4PWF, has stepped down,
and Vice Director Dr Jim Boehner, N2ZZ, has succeeded him. Bodson
announced his retirement on January 16 -- before the official end of his
term next January 1 -- at the Board of Directors' Annual Meeting in
Windsor, Connecticut.
*Retiring ARRL Roanoke Division Director Dennis Bodson, W4PWF (right)
and his successor as Director, Dr Jim Boehner, N2ZZ.*
Fellow Board members gave Bodson a standing ovation in recognition of
his years of service to the League. The Board elected Bodson as an
Honorary Vice President.
Bodson served as Roanoke Division Vice Director from 1993 through 2000
and as Director from 2001 until his retirement.
Earlier in the meeting, ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, had presented
Bodson with his 60-year ARRL membership certificate.
An ARRL Life Member, Boehner served as ARRL South Carolina Section
Manager from 2003 until 2009, when he was elected Roanoke Division Vice
Director. He was re-elected in 2013.
Boehner is an avid DXer and has achieved DXCC Honor Roll and 5-Band
DXCC. Originally from New York, Boehner is in private medical practice
in Aiken, South Carolina.
ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, has appointed Bill Morine, N2COP, of
Wilmington, North Carolina, to complete the remainder of Boehner's term
as Roanoke Division Vice Director, effective immediately.
An ARRL Life Member, Morine served as North Carolina Section Manager
from 2010 until 2014, and is a past ARRL Public Relations Committee
chairman. Morine was the 2001 recipient of the ARRL Philip J. McGan
award for public relations.
ARRL Executive Committee Approves Education & Technology Program Grants
The ARRL Executive Committee has approved Education & Technology Program
(ETP <http://www.arrl.org/education-technology-program>) station and
progress grants to five schools. Two schools received ETP station grants
at an estimated total of $3600, while three others already enrolled in
the program received progress grants totaling $800.
Station grants will go to the Banning Lewis ranch Academy in Colorado
Springs, Colorado, and to Southport Elementary School in Kenosha,
Wisconsin. Banning Lewis Academy wants to set up an Amateur Radio
station at the school for a club formed within the past year. Eleven
students already have become licensed and have participated in the ARRL
School Club Roundup <http://www.arrl.org/school-club-roundup> and other
on-air activities using borrowed equipment. The school also offers a
class in basic electronics and radio. Southport Elementary plans to set
up an Amateur Radio station at the school, form a radio club, and
integrate the ARRL wireless technology curriculum into the classroom.
Receiving progress grants were Forest Knolls Elementary School in Silver
Spring, Maryland; Ankeny Centennial High School in Ankeny, Iowa, and
South Hopkins Middle School in Nortonville, Kentucky. Forest Knolls
requested funds for an additional antenna for a second school club
station. Ankeny Centennial High School asked for additional funds to
purchase antenna supplies (wire and coaxial feed line) for a student
project to build a portable antenna for Field Day and other activities.
The school's Amateur Radio club boasts some 30 active student members.
South Hopkins Middle School sought a progress grant to fund the purchase
of fox hunt transmitters and handheld transceivers to conduct school
Amateur Radio Direction Finding (ARDF) activities with the support of
local ham radio clubs.
The goal of the ARRL Education & Technology Program, directed by Mark
Spencer, WA8SME, is to facilitate the integration of wireless technology
into participating school curricula. The League provides curriculum
development support, resource libraries, ham station equipment grants
and progress grants, and ARRL Teachers Institute
<http://www.arrl.org/teachers-institute-on-wireless-technology>
in-service training. The current -- and expanding -- count of ETP
schools/teachers stands at 663.
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ARRL Submits Comments to FCC on WRC-15 Draft Recommendations
The ARRL has commented
<http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/comment/view?id=60001008964> on two draft
recommendations of the FCC's 2015 World Radiocommunication Conference
(WRC-15
<http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-R/conferences/wrc/2015/Pages/default.aspx>)
Advisory Committee (WAC) as well as on a draft proposal provided to the
FCC by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration
(NTIA <http://www.ntia.doc.gov/>).
The ARRL expressed support for the status quo regarding an allocation to
the Mobile Service for broadband applications at 3400-4200 MHz and
4500-4800 MHz, which is under consideration as part of Agenda Item 1.1
at WRC-15. The 3400-3500 MHz segment is allocated on a secondary basis
to the Amateur Service in ITU Regions 2 and 3, with a secondary
allocation by footnote in some countries in ITU Region 1. The League
said advocates for the allocation have failed to account for the
protection of existing services.
"[The] failure to even superficially address the protection of all
existing services -- including the Amateur and Amateur-Satellite
services -- is glaring," the ARRL said. The WAC's so-called "View A" --
to make no change in the allocation -- in part said, "The secondary
nature of the Amateur Service allocation requires flexibility in
frequency selection to permit an Amateur Service licensee to use the
allocation and fulfill his or her obligation not to cause harmful
interference to the numerous primary services, including the FSS
[Fixed-Satellite Service]."
ITU-R Resolution 233, adopted at WRC-12, spelled out explicit
requirements for the studies of the candidate bands, including sharing
and compatibility studies with services already having allocations. As
the League noted in its comments, a relevant ITU-R Recommendation stated
that additional sharing with the Amateur and Amateur-Satellite services
should not introduce high signal density services in the spectrum at
issue, and that sharing studies should consider the Amateur and
Amateur-Satellite services' needs for "weak-signal" reception.
The ARRL supported the FCC WAC view on Agenda Item 1.12 that the US not
be added to international footnote 5.480 -- basically an exception -- to
the /Table of Allocations /that could make part of the 10.0-10.5 GHz
segment vulnerable to additional allocation for Fixed Service
applications. The Amateur and Amateur-Satellite services have a
secondary allocation in the band, and the Federal Radiolocation Service
is primary. The proposed "footnote amendment," the League argued,
"plainly, clearly, and indisputably contradicts existing United States
regulations." The League's comments accused Mimosa Networks, which has
argued in favor of having the US sign on to the international footnote,
of advancing an "illogical construction to obtain the result it desires."
Mimosa Networks has petitioned the FCC to permit unlicensed Part 15
wireless broadband services in the 10.0-10.5 GHz band. In comments
<http://www.arrl.org/files/media/News/ARRL%20Comments-RM-11715.pdf> last
year, the ARRL called Mimosa's /Petition/ "fatally flawed" and said it
should be dismissed. Among other things, the League told the FCC last
year that Mimosa's /Petition/ was inconsistent with a US footnote in the
domestic /Table of Allocations/, and that alone was sufficient reason
for the Commission to quash Mimosa's request.
In its comments on WRC-15 Agenda Item 1.12, the League said that Mimosa
did not raise an objection to the WAC's initially adopted position until
months after the comment deadline. The ARRL said the FCC should use its
original position -- and not a later one that includes Mimosa's
arguments -- as the baseline for any discussions with federal agencies
to reconcile the agenda item.
The League also said the NTIA was correct in proposing that regulatory
changes for nanosatellites and picosatellites be addressed under
standing Agenda Item 7 at WRC-19. Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-comments-to-fcc-on-wrc-15-draft-recommendations>.
ARES Volunteers in Ohio Activate Following Loss of 911, Telephone Services
ARES volunteers in northeast Ohio activated on January 13 after 911 and
other telephone services went down in six counties due to a power
failure at a major AT&T center in Akron. The outage was blamed on a
burst steam pipe. Cell telephones and the 800-900 MHz digital
Multi-Agency Radio Communication System (MARCS) remained functioning.
The Medina County Emergency Management Agency requested ARES
communication support with surrounding counties, with the Ohio Emergency
Operations Center (EOC) in Columbus as a backup. At the same time, EMA
Directors in Stark, Summit, Portage, Mahoning, and Columbiana counties
alerted their ARES organizations.
Ohio ARRL Section Emergency Coordinator Stan Broadway, N8BHL, also
requested activation of RACES station W8SGT at the Ohio EOC.
Communication was established on 75 meters with several county Emergency
Coordinators. The EOC also was able to link up with the Stark County 2
meter repeater, some 135 miles away.
The Amateur Radio activation terminated after 4 hours, once the 911
system was brought back online. "My thanks to all who were involved!"
Broadway said. "Our response was quick and professional and was a great
opportunity to show the value of Amateur Radio." Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/ares-volunteers-in-ohio-activate-following-loss-of-911-telephone-services>.
Michigan Passes, Governor Signs Antenna Accommodation Legislation
Ten years of work within the ARRL Michigan Section have culminated in an
Amateur Radio antenna bill that mirrors the "reasonable accommodation"
provisions of the PRB-1 <http://www.arrl.org/prb-1> federal pre-emption
policy. Michigan Governor Rick Snyder signed the measure, Senate Bill
0493, into law on January 15, creating Public Act 556. Senator Rick
Jones sponsored the bill. ARRL Michigan Section Manager Larry Camp,
WB8R, said Michigan is the 31st state to have a PRB-1 bill on its books.
"The current PRB-1 Team has been working for 3 years to get this
accomplished," he said. "Our bill endured four votes on its way to
becoming law -- Senate and House committees and the Senate and House
floors. Each vote was unanimous."
The most pertinent language in the new Michigan law, which comes
directly from §97.15 of the FCC Amateur Service rules, states:
/An Amateur Radio Service station antenna structure may be erected at
heights and dimensions sufficient to accommodate Amateur Radio Service
communications. Regulation of an Amateur Radio Service station antenna
structure by a local unit of government must not preclude Amateur Radio
Service communications. Rather, it must reasonably accommodate those
communications and must constitute the minimum practicable regulation to
accomplish the local unit of government's legitimate purpose./
The new law also provides for an advisory committee that may be
established jointly by the Michigan Section and other state
organizations, such as the Michigan Municipal League and the Michigan
Township Association. Camp said the PRB-1 Team believes the advisory
committee will be an important tool in situations where community
officials know little or nothing about Amateur Radio. Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/michigan-passes-governor-signs-antenna-accommodation-legislation>.
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
Navassa DXpedition Team Poised to Offer "Once in 32 Years" Opportunity
The K1N Navassa <http://www.navassadx.com>**DXpedition team hopes to be
on the air with up to eight stations in less than 2 weeks, offering a
"once in 32 years" opportunity to work the most-wanted DXCC entity. It's
been 22 years since the last Navassa operation, and the US Fish and
Wildlife Service (USFWS <http://www.fws.gov/>), which is responsible for
the island, will not permit another operation for at least 10 more
years. The team said its exact departure date will not be determined
until the last minute and will depend on the USFWS and on weather
conditions. The team will arrive at its staging point a few days before
the earliest possible departure window and will be ready for rapid
deployment to Navassa.
"As soon as the USFWS has landed on the island and declared it is safe
to proceed, we will start the helicopter flights and commence
operations," the K1N team said this week in a media release.
"We hope to have a basic camp established by the end of the first day,
and, if things go extremely well, we hope to have several stations on
the air by nightfall on the second day," the K1N media release said. The
K1N team will take along a VHF/UHF transceiver and an Arrow antenna in
the hope of making some satellite contacts via FO-29. AMSAT has provided
the DXpedition with a Yaesu FT-817 transceiver and associated equipment,
as well as pass predictions, an operational plan, and training.
The K1N stations will always operate split frequency, listening up or
down, depending upon the band plan. Stations should avoid transmitting
on the DXpedition's frequency. Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/navassa-dxpedition-team-poised-to-offer-once-in-32-years-opportunity>.
EP6T Team Pleads for "More Respect" from Operators
The EP6T <http://www.Rockall.be> DXpedition team now on Iran's Kish
Island (IOTA AS-166) has implored operators hoping to work the rare DXCC
entity to show more respect and exhibit better operating manners. The
EP6T team said it's aware that the majority of contacts have been with
Europe, North America, Oceania, and Asia, and the operators are doing
their best to work other regions, but that 10 days may not be long
enough to satisfy the surging demand, and "ham spirit" has been hard to
find.
*The EP6T DXpedition team. The Rockall DX Group is sponsoring the
operation. [Photo courtesy of the Rockall DX Group]*
"Jammers calling with fake calls and disrespecting the operators,
sending disgraceful e-mails, and calling us names is sometimes too much
for us," the EP6T team said. "Please, a little more respect is needed."
The operators report that many stations from Japan have made it through
on the low bands and some North American stations have gone into the log
on 80 meters. So far, though, only KV4FZ and NP2X have been successful
on 160, and even Europe has been hard to work at sunrise.
The team has four receive antennas and has intended to focus on 160
meters, but, they said, "when conditions are bad, there's nothing we can
do."
The Rockall DX Group is sponsoring the DXpedition to Iran, which is #33
on ClubLog's DXCC Most Wanted List
<http://www.clublog.org/mostwanted.php>. /-- Thanks to /The Daily DX
<http://www.dailydx.com/>
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Fox-1A Satellite Launch Date Launch Set for August
AMSAT <http://www.amsat.org> has announced that its Fox-1A satellite
will launch on August 27 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, on
a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 National Reconnaissance Office flight.
Fox-1A will include an FM transponder with an uplink frequency of
435.180 MHz, and a downlink frequency of 145.980 MHz. The first phase of
the Fox series 1-Unit CubeSats will allow simple ground stations using
hand-held transceivers and simple dual-band antennas to make contacts.
The Fox-1
<http://ww2.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/AMSAT-Fox-Hamfest-Handout-English.pdf>
CubeSats also will be able to transmit continuous telemetry during
normal transponder operation. The satellites will feature 200 bps
telemetry in the audio spectrum below 300 Hz.
AMSAT said other satellites in its Fox series will take advantage of
additional launch opportunities this year and next. The Fox-1B satellite
is scheduled to fly next year. Fox-1C will launch during the 3rd quarter
of 2015.
AMSAT has purchased the Fox-1C launch opportunity, which was not funded
by the CSLI ELaNa program, and fundraising to cover the $125,000 cost is
under way via the AMSAT-NA <http://www.amsat.org> website and the
FundRazr <http://fnd.us/c/6pz92/sh/561Zd> crowdsourcing website. Read
more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/fox-1a-satellite-launch-date-launch-set-for-august>.
/-- Thanks to AMSAT News Service via the Fox-1 Team/
Australian "Pico Balloon" Piques Ham Radio Interest
A foil "party balloon" released in late December from Melbourne,
Australia, carrying an HF Amateur Radio payload, ended its journey on
January 16 off the east coast of Africa near Madagascar. Andy Nguyen,
VK3YT, of Kensington, Victoria, Australia, released his PS-30
<http://picospace.net/> "pico balloon" on December 27, hoping that it
might circle the globe. Its 13-gram Amateur Radio payload included a
solar-powered 25 mW transmitter, sending telemetry on 30 and 20 meters
using /WSPR/ and JT9 digital modes. Many radio amateurs tracked the
balloon's progress during its 20-day flight.
A map showing the track of the PS-30 pico balloon -- from Australia to
Madagascar.
"There was some bad weather in the region, but speculations also include
the possibility it was brought down (attacked) by the naughty penguins
on the Island," Nguyen quipped, referring to the 2014 animated movie
comedy, "Penguins of Madagascar." Several radio amateurs in South Africa
reported that PS-30 was down. Following its launch, the balloon had
traveled east across the southern tip of New Zealand, across the Pacific
Ocean to South American and then to southern Africa. To return home,
PS-30 would have had to cross Madagascar, the Indian Ocean, and part of
Australia.
"The level of interest from all around the world has been amazing,"
Nguyen said. "The trip would not have been so successful without the
collective effort of the like-minded community built up along the way."
Transmissions from the balloon at times were plagued by poor
propagation, and its progress was impeded by the fact that it circled on
a few occasions along the way. Nguyen said the balloon looped for an
entire day at one point while over the Pacific.
"HF propagation has been different from previous flights," he commented
during the flight, noting the lack of long-range WSPR spots. "Reception
of JT9 packets so far generally requires some type of directional
antenna with some gain," he said.
Nguyen said planning for PS-31 is already under way. "See you at the
next trip," he said. /-- Thanks to Jim Linton, VK3PC/
In Brief...**
*VHF/UHF/Microwave Conference Seeks Speakers and Papers*: The 41st
Eastern VHF/UHF/Microwave Conference
<http://www.newsvhf.com/vhfconf.html> has issued a call for speakers and
papers at the gathering or for inclusion in the conference
/Proceedings/. The conference, sponsored by the ARRL-affiliated North
East Weak Signal Group <http://www.newsvhf.com>, will take place April
17-19 in Manchester, Connecticut. The conference sponsors are looking
for presentations, papers, and talks, both long and short. Topics can
include, but are not limited to, operating, contesting, construction,
homebrewing, and microwaves. Anyone considering a presentation or paper
should contact Paul Wade <mailto:w1ghz at arrl.net>, W1GHZ, as soon as
possible but no later than March 18. Conference organizers are planning
a Friday afternoon workshop and are seeking topic suggestions. Visit the
conference website <http://www.newsvhf.com/vhfconf.html> for details and
a schedule./-- Thanks to AMSAT News Service via Paul Wade, W1GHZ/
*ITU Management Team Inaugurated:* The new management team of the
International Telecommunication Union (ITU <http://www.itu.int/>), led
by Secretary-General Houlin Zhao (photo), of China, was formally
inaugurated on January 15, at ITU Headquarters in Geneva.
Representatives of member states to the United Nations Office in Geneva
and the heads of UN agencies attended. Zhao was elected
Secretary-General at the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference last October in
South Korea. He previously served as ITU Deputy Secretary-General and as
director of the ITU Standardization Bureau. The incoming Deputy
Secretary-General is Malcolm Johnson of the United Kingdom. François
Rancy and Brahima Sanou were re-elected as directors of the
Radiocommunication Bureau and Telecommunication Development Bureau,
respectively, while Chaesub Lee of South Korea was elected director of
the ITU Standardization Bureau. 2015 marks the 150th anniversary of the
International Telecommunication Union.
*/Amateur Radio Newsline/ Assumes Low Profile as Editor Recuperates:*
The long-running /Amateur Radio Newsline/ <http://www.arnewsline.org/>
-- a weekly audio report of ham radio news -- has scaled back
temporarily while its editor, Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, recuperates from
injuries sustained in a fall at home and undergoes additional testing
and rehabilitation to address some chronic issues. Pasternak was
hospitalized on December 19 and initially scheduled to stay for a couple
of days. He told ARRL on January 22 that Tim Goodrich, N5ASH, now is
serving as interim producer, and /Newsline/ could be back as early as
this week. Don Wilbanks, AE5DW, has been producing a shortened
audio/video report that's included in the weekly /Ham Nation/
<http://www.twit.tv/hn> webcast, posted on YouTube, and linked from the
/Amateur Radio Newsline/ website and Facebook page. The roughly
30-minute weekly /Newsline/ audio report and the text script, posted
weekly on QRZ.com, have been on hold.
*Intrepid DX Group Announces Intrepid Spirit Award Recipient:* The
Intrepid DX Group <http://www.intrepid-dx.com/> has announced that
Dmitri Zhikharev, RA9USU, is the recipient of its 3rd annual Intrepid
Spirit Award. "This award is to recognize Dmitri's outstanding efforts
to activate Yemen from 2012 through 2014 as 7O6T and 7O2A," the
announcement said. "Dmitri is largely responsible for fulfilling the
need for 7O contacts since 2012. Yemen is a place of much uncertainty
and danger. We recognize Dmitri's unselfish acts to activate this
challenging and much-needed entity. We acknowledge Dmitri's pursuit of
operating excellence and his quest to activate the rare and often
dangerous entities." The Intrepid Spirit Award will be presented at the
International DX Convention, in Visalia, California, on April 18. This
Intrepid Spirit Award was made in memory of James McLaughlin, T6AF, who
died in Afghanistan in 2011. /-- Thanks to Intrepid DX Group President
Paul Ewing, N6PSE/
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The K7RA Solar Update
Average daily sunspot numbers for January 15-21 dropped by 50.7 points,
relative to the previous 7 days, to 61.9. Average daily solar flux
declined from 151.3 to 126.2. For the past 9 days sunspot numbers have
been below 100. This benchmark has no special significance, but the last
time there were this many consecutive days with double-digit sunspot
numbers was October 5-20, 2014.
Geomagnetic numbers indicated more stable conditions, with the average
daily planetary A index declining from 9.6 to 6.4, and the average daily
mid-latitude A index dropping from 8 to 4.7.
The latest USAF/NOAA
<http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/report-and-forecast-solar-and-geophysical-activity>
prediction has solar flux at 125, 130, and 135 for January 22-24, 130
for January 25-26, 135, and 140 for January 27-28, 135 for January
29-February 1, 130 for February 2-3, 125 for February 4-6, 130 for
February 7-9, and 125 for February 10-11. Solar flux reaches a low of
115 for February 18, and peaks again at 135 for February 26-28.
Predicted planetary A index is 15 for January 22-24, 18 for January
25-26, 8 for January 27-28, then 10 and 12 for January 29-30, 15 for
January 31 through February 1, then 12, 15, 12, and 5 for February 2-5,
10 for February 6-7, 8 for February 8-9, 5 for February 10-12, then 8, 5
and 12 for February 13-15, and 10 for February 16-18.
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 the January 23 bulletin watch for a revised forecast, reports from
readers, and more about the National Radio Quiet Zone. Send
<mailto:k7ra at arrl.net> me /your/ reports and observations.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just Ahead in Radiosport
*
January 23-25 -- CQ World Wide 160 Meter Contest (CW)
*
January 24-25 -- REF French Contest (CW)
*
January 24-25 -- Winter Field Day (SSB, CW, digital)
*
January 24-25 -- BARTG RTTY Sprint
*
*January 24-26 -- **ARRL January VHF Contest*
<http://www.arrl.org/january-vhf>
*
January 24 -- WAB Top Band Phone Contest
*
January 28 -- CWOps Weekly Mini-CWT Tests
*
January 31 -- Feld-Hell WAAAEO Sprint
*
January 31-February 1 -- UBA Contest (SSB)
See the ARRL Contest Calendar <http://www.arrl.org/contest-calendar> for
more information.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions and Events
*
January 23-24 -- Mississippi State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/mississippi-state-convention-capital-city-hamfest-2>,
Jackson, Mississippi
*
January 23-25 -- Puerto Rico State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/puerto-rico-state-convention-2>,
Hatillo, Puerto Rico
*
January 24 -- Georgia ARES Convention <http://gaares.org/>, Forsyth,
Georgia
*
February 7 -- South Carolina State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/south-carolina-state-convention-charleston-hamfest>,
North Charleston, South Carolina
*
February 7 -- Virginia State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/virginia-state-convention-richmond-frostfest-1>,
Richmond, Virginia
*
February 13-15 -- Southeastern Division Convention
<http://hamcation.com/>, Orlando, Florida
*
February 20-21 -- Arizona Section Convention
<http://www.yumahamfest.org/>, Yuma, Arizona
*
February 28 -- New Mexico Techfest Convention
<http://www.rmham.org/wordpress/new-mexico-techfest>, Albuquerque,
New Mexico
*
February 28 -- Vermont State Convention
<http://www.ranv.org/hamcon.html>, S Burlington, Vermont
*
March 7 -- Santa Clara Valley Section Convention
<http://www.radiofest.org/>, Del Rey Oaks, California
*
March 13-14 -- North Carolina Section Convention
<http://www.charlottehamfest.org/>, Concord, North Carolina
*
March 14 -- West Texas Section Convention
<http://hamfest.w5qgg.org/>, Midland, Texas
*
March 20-21 -- Louisiana State Convention <http://w5ddl.org/>,
Rayne, Louisiana
*
March 21 -- MicroHAMS Digital Conference
<http://www.microhams.com/mhdc>, Redmond, Washington
*
March 21 -- Nebraska State Convention <http://lincolnhamfest.org/>,
Lincoln, Nebraska
*
March 21 -- Southern Florida Section Convention
<http://www.stuarthamfest.com/>, Stuart, Florida
*
March 28 -- Texas State Convention <http://www.houstonhamfest.org/>,
Rosenberg, Texas
Find conventions and hamfests in your area <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests>.*
*
------------------------------------------------------------------------
**
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