[SFDXA] The ARRL Letter for April 28, 2016
Bill
bmarx at bellsouth.net
Thu Apr 28 20:47:12 EDT 2016
Preview
If you are having trouble reading this message, you can see the original at:
http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/?issue=2016-04-28
The ARRL Letter
April 28, 2016
Editor: Rick Lindquist, WW1ME <mailto:ww1me at arrl.org>
ARRL Home Page <http://www.arrl.org/>
/ARRL Letter/ Archive <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/>
Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/>
Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&i=2016-04-28&t=t>
* Sign Up Now to Discover the HF Experience at Hamvention's ARRL EXPO!
<#toc01>
* ARRL, ARISS Representatives Attend 2016 USA Science and Engineering
Festival in DC <#toc02>
* FCC Invites Comments on Petition to Eliminate 15 dB Gain Limit on
Amateur Amplifiers <#toc03>
* Frustrated Funding, Breached Secrecy Foiled North Korea DXpedition,
Group Leader Says <#toc04>
* National Parks on the Air Update <#toc05>
* Annual Armed Forces Day Cross-Band Communications Test Set for May
14 <#toc06>
* Now Shipping: /High Speed Multimedia for Amateur Radio/ by Glen
Popiel, KW5GP <#toc07>
* The Doctor Will See You Now! <#toc08>
* Severe Weather Prompts SKYWARN Activations in Oklahoma <#toc09>
* Radio Amateurs Support Baker to Vegas Challenge Cup Relay <#toc10>
* Young Ham Wins First-Place Science Fair Trophy with Mag Loop Antenna
Entry <#toc11>
* In Brief... <#toc12>
* The K7RA Solar Update <#toc13>
* This Week in Radiosport <#toc14>
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions and Events
<#toc15>
Sign Up Now to Discover the HF Experience at Hamvention's ARRL EXPO!
A new feature of ARRL EXPO <http://www.arrl.org/expo> at Dayton
Hamvention <http://www.hamvention.org>®, May 20-22, 2016, will be
"Discover the HF Experience
<https://www.facebook.com/events/1158511334168305/>" -- an exhibit and
initiative for new operators and for those lacking experience with ham
radio on HF. Comparable HF operating positions will be available, along
with mentoring on how to make an HF contact. Anyone interested can book
<http://hfradio.rocks> a 30-minute session, one to a guest, and no
license is required. Experienced operators will be on hand to help.
"Our priority is non-hams, new hams, or those who have not experienced
HF operation," said Gerry Hull, W1VE, who established the Discover the
HF Experience program with Cary Rubenfeld, VE4EA. Inaugural Discover
sessions in early April in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Framingham,
Massachusetts, each attracted about 50 attendees. "More were long-time
hams who spent more time on VHF than HF," Hull said. "Some had given up
HF long ago and gone to VHF." Most of the visitors at both locations,
however, were hams who already operate HF, but wanted a refresher.
The initial sessions combined hands-on operating with talks on various
aspects of Amateur Radio and of HF operating in particular. Hull said
topics covered in supplementary talks at the Massachusetts session
included radios, antennas, and where to find help and information. Due
to time constraints, Dayton's Discover will offer just the HF operation
component, and the program has been adjusted appropriately. Hull said a
team "with great Elmers" will be at ARRL EXPO for all 3 days of Hamvention.
Also for newcomers attending Hamvention, the League will sponsor the
first-ever ARRL Youth Rally
<http://www.arrl.org/arrl-youth-rally-registration> on Saturday, May 21,
open to youth and young adults from 11 to 26. Register
<http://www.arrl.org/arrl-youth-rally-registration> by May 1. The Youth
Rally will feature a full program of hands-on ham radio activities,
discovery, sharing, and fun!
*/A Work in Progress/*
Recalling the Massachusetts Discover session, Hull said, "In working
with the 'students' at the stations, it was readily apparent that a
Technician license does not prepare anyone for HF operation, so we
learned to explain more."
Some operating techniques covered were pretty basic fare for HF
veterans, but essential for newcomers to that part of the Amateur Radio
spectrum. These included how to call CQ, how to respond to callers, and
provide a signal report. "They did not understand the QSO sequence and
other aspects," Hull said. "They were pretty green about HF -- more so
than I had anticipated." Hull allowed that many, if not most, newcomers
study for their Technician ticket by looking at the question pool and
answers and probably not learning very much about hands-on ham radio.
*Fourteen-year-old Marty Sullaway, KC1CWF (left), connected to and ran
his home station in Waban, Massachusetts, from the Framingham "Discover
the HF Experience" session on April 10. Dennis Egan, W1UE (right),
operated W1KM on Cape Cod. [Brian Szewczyk, NJ1F, photo]*
"Operating a station needs to be a mandatory step, not voluntary," Hull
stressed. "My goal, and that of everyone associated with this idea, is
to get people /excited/ about HF."
Hull had approached ARRL EXPO Manager Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R, to propose
bringing "Discover the HF Experience" to ARRL EXPO. "The exhibit ties in
well with ARRL's recently adopted Strategic Plan
<http://www.arrl.org/arrl-strategic-plan> and our goal to encourage
members to get involved, get active, and get on the air," Inderbitzen
said. Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/discover-the-hf-experience-at-hamvention-s-arrl-expo-sign-up-now>.
ARRL, ARISS Representatives Attend 2016 USA Science and Engineering
Festival in DC
The ARRL and Amateur Radio were well represented April 15-17 at the
4th^Biennial 2016 USA Science and Engineering Festival
<http://www.usasciencefestival.org/> in Washington, DC. Scientists,
engineers, educators, and students attended the premier science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) event, where major
academic learning centers and research institutes joined forces with
corporate partners and government agencies to bring the excitement of
leading-edge learning, fun, and discovery to communities.
"Amateur Radio volunteers from the ARRL Maryland-DC Section
<http://www.arrl-mdc.net/> assisting at the ARRL booth -- graciously
funded by Lee Ciereszko, N4TCW -- were joined by ARRL Headquarters
staff, and Atlantic Division leadership," said Maryland-DC (MDC) Section
Manager Marty Pittinger, KB3MXM. "We had the pleasure of meeting
numerous visiting hams from across the country and around the world. It
was a privilege to share in this opportunity to network with many
educators, corporate executives, military, and local civic groups -- and
to share with them the multifaceted role that ARRL plays in STEM."
Pittinger said the spacious DC Convention Center was completely filled
with STEM-related organizations from across the US, many offering
hands-on demonstrations. Estimates put the number of visitors at more
than 365,000, and the ARRL MDC Section booth staff greeted approximately
4000 eager and enthusiastic visitors during the 3-day event, Pittinger
said. "We demonstrated Lenz's Law with copper-pipe and neodymium
magnets; MESH networks; Morse code, and emergency communications," he
recounted. "We also offered information about the ARRL Teachers
Institute on Wireless Technology
<http://www.arrl.org/teachers-institute-on-wireless-technology>, part of
the educational STEM outreach by the ARRL to schools through its
Education & Technology Program (ETP
<http://www.arrl.org/education-technology-program>)." ARRL Education
Services Manager Debra Johnson, K1DMJ, was on hand to talk about the
Teachers Institute and answer questions.
*(L-R) Past MDC SM Jim Cross, WI3N; ARRL Atlantic Division Director Tom
Abernethy, W3TOM; ARRL Education Services Manager Debra Johnson, K1DMJ,
and MDC SM Marty Pittinger, KB3MXM.*
Elsewhere at the Festival, Amateur Radio was also represented at the
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS
<http://www.ariss.org/>) exhibit, located in the Center for the
Advancement of Science in Space's "Space Station Explorers" display,
part of NASA's presence. ARISS team members, including Johnson, and
Rosalie White, K1STO, of ARRL; ARISS International Chair Frank Bauer,
KA3HDO, and AMSAT's ARISS representative Dave Taylor, W8AAS, were on
hand to tell the ARISS story. They also served as hosts for a Saturday
afternoon ARISS contact with ISS crew member Tim Peake, KG5BVI, and
members of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, DC. Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-ariss-representatives-attend-2016-usa-science-and-engineering-festival-in-dc>.
/-- Thanks to MDC SM Marty Pittinger, KB3MXM /
FCC Invites Comments on Petition to Eliminate 15 dB Gain Limit on
Amateur Amplifiers
The FCC has put on public notice and invited comments on a /Petition for
Rule Making/ (RM-11767
<http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/comment/view?id=60001536394>), filed on behalf
of an amateur amplifier distributor, which seeks to revise the Amateur
Service rules regarding maximum permissible amplifier gain. Expert
Linears America LLC <http://www.expertlinears.com/> of Magnolia, Texas,
which distributes linears manufactured by SPE in Italy, wants the FCC to
eliminate the 15 dB gain limitation on amateur amplifiers that's spelled
out in §97.317(a)(2). Expert asserts that there should be no gain
limitation at all on amplifiers sold or used in the Amateur Service.
"There is no technical or regulatory reason [that] an amplifier capable
of being driven to full legal output by even a fraction of a watt should
not be available to Amateur Radio operators in the United States,"
Expert said in its /Petition/.
Expert maintains that the 15 dB gain limitation is an unneeded holdover
from the days when amplifiers were less efficient and the FCC was
attempting to rein in the use of Amateur Service amplifiers by Citizens
Band operators. While the FCC proposed in its 2004 /Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking and Order/ in WT Docket 04-140 to delete the requirement that
amplifiers be designed to use a /minimum/ of 50 W of drive power and did
so, it did not further discuss the 15 dB amplification limit in the
subsequent /Report and Order
<https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-149A1.pdf>/ in the
docket.
"Although no party advocated retention of the 15 dB limit, it remains in
place today," Expert pointed out in its filing. "In the intervening
years, advancements in Amateur Radio transmitter technology have led to
the availability of highly compact, sophisticated, low-power
transmitters that require more than 15 dB of amplification to achieve
maximum legal power output. Therefore, Expert seeks to remove the 15 dB
limit from §97.317 so that Amateur Radio manufacturers and distributors
will not be forced to needlessly cripple their amplifiers for sale in
the United States." Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-invites-comments-on-petition-to-eliminate-15-db-gain-limit-on-amateur-amplifiers>.
Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&t=i&i=2016-04-28&p=0>
Frustrated Funding, Breached Secrecy Foiled North Korea DXpedition,
Group Leader Says
A co-leader of the recent VP8STI/VP8SGI Intrepid-DX Group
<http://www.intrepid-dx.com/> DXpedition, this week said "a surprising
lack of support and lack of funding from some of the world's paramount
DX foundations" thwarted his group's plans to mount a DXpedition to
North Korea. In "The P5DX Story
<https://n6pse.wordpress.com/2016/04/25/the-p5dx-story/>" posted on
April 25, Paul Ewing, N6PSE, said that years of negotiations had finally
yielded a written invitation from the Democratic Peoples Republic of
North Korea (DPRK) -- the most-needed DXCC entity -- to operate there.
<http://n6pse.wordpress.com/2016/04/25/the-p5dx-story/>"We had hoped to
be the first large DXpedition with clear and unambiguous proof that we
were active within the country and with real evidence of permission,"
Ewing said in announcing the DXpedition's cancellation.
The Intrepid-DX Group announced its "P5 Project" in 2013. With the
recent intervention of an unnamed "emissary," Ewing said, North Korea
"agreed to a 10-day Amateur Radio activity with three radios and up to
20 team members." Officials insisted on no advance publicity, and all
involved were sworn to secrecy.
"Our last major hurdle was that the DPRK was asking for a very large fee
to be paid for the permissions at various government levels and
ministries to operate from within the DPRK," Ewing recounted. The size
of the requested fee, Ewing said, prompted him to approach several large
Amateur Radio foundations for financial help. "All of our fees would be
paid directly to a China-based tour company, and no direct exchange
would take place with the North Koreans," Ewing pointed out. But the
group was rebuffed.
*Paul Ewing, N6PSE. [QRZ.com Profile Photo]*
Ewing said he and co-leader David Collingham, K3LP, decided they had no
other choice but to "drain our own personal retirement savings to
provide the bulk of our funding." Money for various fees as well as
equipment and air fare ran into the thousands of dollars.
Then, word of the DXpedition plans leaked out, igniting an Amateur Radio
media firestorm. A week before the team's planned departure, Ewing
learned that the DPRK had denied him and Collingham permission to enter
North Korea, leading to his decision to cancel the entire enterprise. "I
could not devote a sizable chunk of my life savings for a project that I
could no longer participate in," he explained. "The financial losses
suffered by Intrepid-DX and all of our team members are substantial."
"This could have been a DXpedition for the record books," Ewing
concluded. "But now we will never know."
In subsequent comments, Ewing said, "The DPRK stated that the visas were
not approved because the two Americans had talked to the media in
violation of the directive that there be no pre-event publicity. Of
course, this was not true, but the damage was done." Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/frustrated-funding-breached-secrecy-foiled-north-korea-dxpedition-group-leader-says>.
National Parks on the Air Update
This past weekend marked the end of National Parks Week. NPOTA
<https://npota.arrl.org/> Activators helped bring visibility to the
parks with one of the most active NPOTA weekends yet. There are now
nearly 295,000 QSOs in Logbook of the World for National Parks on the
Air -- an amazing total.
The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA
<http://www.npca.org>), an independent non-profit organization, wrote a
great story
<https://www.npca.org/articles/1197-taking-parks-to-the-air-with-the-help-of-some-hams>
about National Parks on the Air for its membership. Thanks to Jennifer
Errick and Sam Chiron at NPCA for their coverage!
ARRL is still accepting photos and video of NPOTA activations for
display in the NPOTA ARRL EXPO booth at Dayton Hamvention
<http://www.hamvention.org/>®. E-mail <mailto:NPOTA at arrl.org> with
photos or information about your video content, and we will be in touch.
Video should be HD, no more than 5 minutes long, have high production
values, and tell the story of both Amateur Radio and the NPS unit being
activated. Deadline for submissions is May 15.
There are 56 activations on the schedule for the week of April 28-May 4,
including the International Peace Garden (AA12) in North Dakota, and the
Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site (NS64) in Colorado.
Details <https://npota.arrl.org/nps-events.php> about these and other
upcoming activations can be found on the NPOTA Activations calendar.
Keep up with the latest NPOTA news on Facebook
<https://www.facebook.com/groups/NPOTA/>. Follow NPOTA on Twitter
<http://www.twitter.com/> (@ARRL_NPOTA). /-- Thanks to Sean Kutzko, KX9X/
Annual Armed Forces Day Cross-Band Communications Test Set for May 14
The Armed Forces Day Military/Amateur Radio Cross-Band Communications
Test, sponsored by the US Army, Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard, will
take place on Saturday, May 14. The event gets under way at 1200 UTC,
with activity continuing throughout the day. Some military stations may
not operate for the entire period.
"New for Armed Forces Day this year, military stations and Amateur Radio
operators are authorized to directly communicate on the 60 meter
interoperability channels," US Army MARS Program Manager Paul English,
WD8DBY, pointed out.
This year marks the 66th Armed Forces Day (AFD
<http://afd.defense.gov/>), observed on May 21. The Military/Amateur
Radio Cross-Band Communications Test is held earlier, in order to avoid
conflicting with Dayton Hamvention <http://www.hamvention.org>®.
The annual exercise is an opportunity to test two-way communication
between amateur and military communicators. It features traditional
military-to-amateur cross-band SSB and CW communication and offers an
opportunity for radio amateurs to utilize modern military communication
modes such as MIL-STD serial PSK and automatic link establishment (ALE).
These tests challenge Amateur Radio operators and shortwave listeners
(SWLs) to demonstrate individual technical skills and to receive
recognition from military radio stations. The complete announcement
<http://www.usarmymars.org/home/announcements> -- subject to change --
is available on the US Army MARS website.
Participating military stations will transmit on selected military
frequencies and listen for Amateur Radio stations on selected amateur
frequencies, which the military station operator will announce. Read
more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/annual-armed-forces-day-cross-band-communications-test-set-for-may-14>.
Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&t=i&i=2016-04-28&p=1>
Now Shipping: /High Speed Multimedia for Amateur Radio/ by Glen Popiel,
KW5GP
/High Speed Multimedia for Amateur Radio/
<http://www.arrl.org/shop/High-Speed-Multimedia-for-Amateur-Radio/> by
Glen Popiel, KW5GP, now is available from ARRL. The possible uses for
these high-speed data networks in the Amateur Radio community are
endless. Virtually any service that works on the regular Internet can be
adapted to an Amateur Radio high-speed multimedia (HSMM) network,
including video conferencing, instant messaging, voice over Internet
protocol (VoIP), network sensors and cameras, remote station control,
and many other services. With the capability to send real-time video and
data files, the public service and disaster support aspects of Amateur
Radio are expanded tremendously.
<http://www.arrl.org/shop/High-Speed-Multimedia-for-Amateur-Radio/>"The
area of high-speed microwave networking and multimedia allows Amateur
Radio to take a giant leap forward in new methods of digital
communication," Popiel said. "Through a blending of cutting-edge radio
and computer technologies, a completely new frontier has been opened for
hams to develop and utilize entirely new wireless networking
technologies. The potential uses are endless, providing a powerful
platform ideally suited for portable high-speed data networks, as well
as tremendously enhancing the emergency communications aspect of Amateur
Radio."
This book introduces HSMM networking, explains the basics of how it
works, and describes the various technologies in use today. Later
chapters explain in detail how to deploy your own HSMM network, along
with various applications to put it to work. Well-illustrated
step-by-step instructions will guide you through the process of
installing and configuring software needed to get your HSMM network up
and running.
/High Speed Multimedia for Amateur Radio/
<http://www.arrl.org/shop/High-Speed-Multimedia-for-Amateur-Radio/> is
available from the ARRL Store <http://www.arrl.org/shop> or your ARRL
Dealer <http://www.arrl.org/arrl-publication-dealers> (ARRL item 0529),
ISBN: 978-62595-052-9, $27.95 retail, special ARRL Member Price $24.95.
Contact ARRL Publication Sales <mailto:pubsales at arrl.org> or call
860-594-0355 (toll-free in the US, 888-277-5289). It is also available
as an e-book <http://amzn.com/B01EI7CAXA> for the Amazon Kindle.
The Doctor Will See You Now!
"Does CW Really Get Through When Nothing Else Can?" is the topic of the
current episode of the "ARRL The Doctor is In
<http://www.arrl.org/doctor>" podcast. Listen and find out!
<http://www.arrl.org/doctor>Sponsored by DX Engineering
<http://www.dxengineering.com/>, "ARRL The Doctor is In" is an
informative discussion of all things technical. Listen on your computer,
tablet, or smartphone -- whenever and wherever you like!
Every 2 weeks your host, /QST/ Editor in Chief Steve Ford, WB8IMY, and
the Doctor himself, Joel Hallas, W1ZR, will discuss a broad range of
technical topics. You can also e-mail your questions todoctor at arrl.org
<mailto:doctor at arrl.org>, and the Doctor may answer them in a future
podcast. The topic for the May 5 podcast will be "Open Wire Line."
Enjoy "ARRL The Doctor is In" on Apple iTunes
<https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/arrl-the-doctor-is-in/id1096749595?mt=2>,
or by using your iPhone or iPad podcast app (just search for "ARRL The
Doctor is In"). You can also listen online at Blubrry
<https://www.blubrry.com/arrl_the_doctor_is_in/>, or at Stitcher
<https://www.stitcher.com/> (free registration required, or browse the
site as a guest) and through the free Stitcher app for iOS, Kindle, or
Android devices.
If you've never listened to a podcast before, download our beginner's
guide <http://www.arrl.org/doctor>.
Severe Weather Prompts SKYWARN Activations in Oklahoma
Radio amateurs across Oklahoma reported in on April 26 after SKYWARN
<http://www.skywarn.org/> nets activated in response to severe weather
traversing the Sooner State, Oklahoma Section Manager Lloyd Colston,
KC5FM, said. Thunderstorms, accompanied in some places by hail, raked
the state.
"Folks like Wade Norris, K5WPN; Dale Town, N5VX; Stephen Ellis, KG5ICZ,
and Paula Cain, KD5JOC, plus WX5TUL at the Tulsa National Weather
Service (NWS) Office, gathered reports meeting SKYWARN criteria,"
Colston said following the marathon session of storms.
The storms and radio nets began in the afternoon of April 26 and
continued into the early hours of April 27. The Amateur Radio
volunteers' reports were added to those gathered from emergency
managers, public safety agencies, and the public. The NWS uses the
information gathered via SKYWARN in developing its forecasts, watches,
and warnings. Colston said that at least one net operated for 7 hours.
Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&t=i&i=2016-04-28&p=2>
Radio Amateurs Support Baker to Vegas Challenge Cup Relay
Hundreds of Amateur Radio operators, most from California, Nevada, and
Arizona, turned out March 19-20 to support communication for the 2016
Baker to Vegas Challenge Cup Relay (B2V <http://bakervegas.net/>). This
year marked the 32nd anniversary of the event, sometimes called "The
world's longest police foot pursuit." The relay event covers some 120
miles of remote territory, from the Mojave Desert near Baker, California
-- the gateway to Death Valley -- to Las Vegas, Nevada.
"This event allows the Southwestern US amateur community to showcase its
abilities to the country's law enforcement community," ARRL Los Angeles
Section Manager David Greenhut, N6HD, said.
As in past years, Joy Matlack, KD6FJV, served as Communication Director,
assisted by Margie Hoffman, KG6TBR, organizing the Amateur Radio
communication support. This effort involves nearly a year of planning
and preparation. The 2016 event hosted 264 law enforcement teams.
Amateur Radio volunteers provided needed race staffing and filled
potential emergency communication gaps in remote portions of the course.
Los Angeles ARES (ARESLAX <http://www.areslax.org/>) teams were among
the volunteering groups. -- /Thanks to Los Angeles Section Manager David
Greenhut, N6HD/
Young Ham Wins First-Place Science Fair Trophy with Mag Loop Antenna Entry
A 10-year-old ARRL member from Snoqualmie, Washington, took first place
in his grade and division
<http://wssef.org/2016-first-place-trophy-awards-grades-1-6/> for a
magnetic loop antenna project he entered into the Washington State
Science and Engineering Fair (WSSEF <http://www.wssef.org>). Dragan
Tuip, KG7OQT, was among the more than 700 presenters at the fair, held
April 1-2 in Bremerton. A 5th grade student at Yellow Wood Academy in
Mercer Island, his project, "Modular HF Mag Loop Antenna," stemmed from
his desire for a compact antenna to use in his room with his HF
transceiver -- a flea market bargain. According to his dad, Martin Tuip,
KG7HAX, Dragan built the antenna himself and successfully tested it by
making JT65 contacts with Japan and Georgia. The 59th annual WSSEF
marked Dragan's science fair debut.
*Ten-year-old Dragan Tuip, KG7OQT, with is magnetic loop science fair
entry. [Mike Bay/WSSEF photo]*
"When they called my name during the award ceremony, I was stunned! I
was amazed!" he told ARRL. "I learned that not everything is always the
best, and some things still have room for improvement. I had several
people already ask me if they could buy the antenna." Licensed at age 8,
Dragan wants to earn DXCC before he turns 11. He eventually hopes to
market the antenna.
The magnetic loop design he entered into the science fair consists of a
10-foot circumference loop of LMR-400 coaxial cable with a 2-foot
circumference loop of solid copper and a variable capacitor for tuning
housed in a central enclosure. According to Dragan, the antenna is
usable on 40, 30, 20, 17, and 15 meters with a low SWR. The antenna can
handle up to about 10 W for 100 percent duty cycle modes, and up to 15 W
PEP for SSB.
The need for an indoor antenna arose after his mom let it be known that
she didn't want any new holes drilled in the house nor any more visible
antennas. Dragan had seen some mag loop-style antennas in articles his
dad had been reading and asked if something like that might fit in his room.
"I told him that that size would work, and off he went to scavenge the
house for parts to build a prototype," Martin Tuip said. "We had to
order a capacitor for the prototype, and he built further upon that."
Dragan did all the calculations for the wire lengths involved, he said.
"He ran propagation tests using /WSPR/ with my G5RV as reference, and
the mag loop was about 80 percent as effective at a fraction of the
size," Martin Tuip said. Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/young-ham-wins-first-place-science-fair-trophy-with-mag-loop-antenna-entry>.
In Brief...
*Three ESA "Fly Your Satellite!" Program CubeSats Now in Orbit and
Transmitting:* Three student-built CubeSats -- including the first to
carry a D-STAR (Digital Smart Technologies for Amateur Radio) Amateur
Radio payload into space -- now are successfully in orbit following an
April 25 launch from Guiana. Signals from all three have been received
on Earth. OUFTI-1
<https://ukamsat.files.wordpress.com/2016/04/202_jun_2013.pdf> (Orbital
Utility For Telecommunication Innovations), constructed by students at
the University of Liege in Belgium (ULg), carries the D-STAR payload.
The other two CubeSats -- e-st at r-II
<http://www.cubesatteam-polito.com/missions/e-star-ii/> and AAUSAT4
<http://www.space.aau.dk/aausat4/> -- are from Italy and Denmark,
respectively. The three CubeSats were developed by student teams under
the European Space Agency (ESA
<http://www.esa.int/Education/CubeSats_-_Fly_Your_Satellite/Launch_campaign_started_CubeSats_arrived_at_Kourou_spaceport>)
Education Office "Fly Your Satellite!
<http://www.esa.int/Education/CubeSats_-_Fly_Your_Satellite/Launch_campaign_started_CubeSats_arrived_at_Kourou_spaceport>"
program, which is aimed at training the next generation of aerospace
professionals. The first three radio amateurs to send a recorded signal
from OUFTI-1, AAUSAT4, or e-st at r-II will receive a prize from ESA's
Education Office. Visit the ESA website for details
<http://www.esa.int/Education/CubeSats_-_Fly_Your_Satellite/Be_the_first_to_catch_a_signal_from_Fly_Your_Satellite%21_from_space>.
*TAPR Dayton Hamvention Digital Forum to Include SatNOGS, HamWAN, SDR
Talks:* TAPR <http://www.tapr.org> has announced the presentations for
its Dayton Hamvention <http://www.hamvention.org>® Digital Forum,
moderated by Scotty Cowling, WA2DFI, on Friday, May 20, at 9:15 AM.
Among the presentions will be "SatNOGS -- a network of open source
satellite ground stations," by Corey Shields, KB9JHU. The SatNOGS
Project focuses on Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. Shields will
introduce SatNOGS as a way to increase the amount of CubeSat data that
are collected and reported. Bryan Fields, W9CR, will present "HamWAN
High-Speed IP Radio Network," an Amateur Radio high-speed IP backbone
concept that uses the same techniques enabling the Internet. "SDR
Disrupt" will be the topic of Chris Testa, KD2BMH, who will review the
landscape and advancements in SDR technologies over the past year.
Latest developments in digital voice will also be discussed. "Spectrum
Monitoring with Software Defined Radio," by Mike Ossmann, AD0NR, will
follow. More information <http://www.tapr.org/dayton.html> about TAPR
activities at Dayton is on the TAPR website.
*Collegiate Ham Radio Dinner Set for Dayton Hamvention Weekend:* The
Collegiate Ham Radio Dinner will be held on Friday, May 20, the first
day of Dayton Hamvention <http://www.hamvention.org>®, at Little York
Tavern and Pizza, 4120 Little York Road, Vandalia, Ohio. It gets under
way at 6:30 PM. Magda Moses, KM4EGE, is organizing the event on behalf
of the Virginia Tech Amateur Radio Association (VTARA
<http://www.vtara.org.vt.edu/>). The Collegiate Ham Radio Dinner is a
get-together of current and past collegiate ham radio operators, and
anyone who shares an interest in college ham radio clubs and activities.
High school students exploring college choices are encouraged to attend.
For more information, contact Moses <mailto:magda14 at vt.edu>, (571)
355-8582. RSVPs, either by e-mail <mailto:magda14 at vt.edu> or at our
Facebook event page <http://www.facebook.com/events/1097618586965789/>,
are appreciated, but not required.
The K7RA Solar Update
Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Over the reporting week of April
21-27, average daily sunspot numbers rose from 40 to 43.3, and average
daily solar flux declined from 100.8 to 81.9. This is compared to the
previous seven days. The average planetary A index dropped from 10.9 to
9.4, and the average mid-latitude A index rose from 8.9 to 11.6.
Predicted solar flux is 95 on April 28; 93 on April 29-May 1; 92 on May
2; 90 on May 3-4; 95 on May 5-10; 100 on May 11; 95 on May 12-15; 82 on
May 16-24; 80 on May 25; 82 on May 26-29, and 95 on May 30-June 6.
Predicted planetary A index is 6, 14, 26, and 18 on April 28-May 1; 8,
6, and 8 on May 2-4; 5 on May 5-8; 18, 25, and 20 on May 9-11; 8, 5, and
12 on May 12-14; 5 on May 15-18; 12, 15, and 12 on May 19-21; 8 on May
22-23; 5 on May 24-25; then 10, 18, and 12 on May 26-28; 5 on May 29-30;
12 on May 31, and 5 on June 1-4.
Spaceweather.com <http://www.spaceweather.com/> reports Earth will cross
a fold in the heliospheric current sheet
<http://wso.stanford.edu/gifs/HCS.html> on April 29 or 30. "This is
called a 'solar sector boundary crossing,' and it could trigger
geomagnetic activity around Earth's poles," Spaceweather.com reported.
"NOAA forecasters estimate a 60 percent chance of G1-class geomagnetic
storms on April 29."
Sunspot numbers for April 21 through 27 were 35, 22, 11, 46, 38, 65, and
86, with a mean of 40. The 10.7 centimeter flux was 76.8, 76.6, 78.7,
81.8, 81.9, 85.2, and 92.6, with a mean of 100.8. Estimated planetary A
indices were 5, 13, 12, 11, 8, 7, and 10, with a mean of 10.9. Estimated
mid-latitude A indices were 23, 13, 11, 11, 6, 6, and 11, with a mean of
8.9.
Send <mailto:k7ra at arrl.net> me your reports and observations.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
This Week in Radiosport
*
April 30-May 1 -- Russian WW MultiMode Contest (CW, phone, digital)
*
April 30-May 1 -- Florida QSO Party (CW, phone)
*
May 1 -- AGCW QRP/QRP Party (CW)
*
May 2 -- RSGB 80 Meter Club Championship (SSB)
*
May 3 -- ARS Spartan Sprint (CW)
*
May 4-5 -- MIE 33 Contest (CW, SSB)
*
May 5 -- NRAU 10 Meter Activity Contest (CW, phone, digital)
See the ARRL Contest Calendar <http://www.arrl.org/contest-calendar> for
more information. For in-depth reporting on Amateur Radio contesting,
subscribe to /The ARRL Contest Update/
<http://www.arrl.org/contest-update-issues> via your ARRL member profile
e-mail preferences.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions and Events
*
April 29-May 1 -- Nevada State Convention <http://www.nvcon.org/>,
Las Vegas, Nevada
*
May 7 -- South Carolina Section Convention <http://brars.org/>,
Spartanburg, South Carolina
*
May 13-15 -- Rocky Mountain Division Convention
<http://www.hamconcolorado.org/>, Keystone, Colorado
*
May 14 -- Iowa State Convention <http://3900club.com/>, Boone, Iowa
*
May 20-22 -- Dayton Hamvention <http://www.hamvention.org/>, Dayton,
Ohio
*
June 3-5 -- Northwestern Division Convention
<http://www.seapac.org/>, Seaside, Oregon
*
June 4 -- Georgia Section Convention
<http://www.atlantahamfest.com/>, Marietta, Georgia
*
June 5 -- Western Pennsylvania Section Convention
<http://breezeshooters.org/>, Prospect, Pennsylvania
*
June 10-11 -- West Gulf Division Convention
<http://www.hamcom.org/>, Irving, Texas
*
June 18 -- Tennessee State Convention <http://www.w4bbb.org/>,
Knoxville, Tennessee
*
June 24-26 -- Ham Radio 2016
<http://www.hamradio-friedrichshafen.de/ham-en/>, Friedrichshafen,
Germany
*
July 2 -- Eastern Pennsylvania Section Convention
<http://www.w3uu.org/>, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
*
July 8-9 -- Northern Florida Section Convention
<http://www.miltonarc.org/>, Milton, Florida
*
July 8-9 -- Utah State Convention
<http://thegreatsaltlakehamfest.org/>, Sandy, Utah
*
July 22-23 -- Oklahoma Section Convention
<http://www.hamholiday.com/>, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
*
July 29-31 -- Central States VHF Conference
<http://2016.csvhfs.org/>, Rochester, Minnesota
Find conventions and hamfests in your area <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests>.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*ARRL *-- *Your One-Stop Resource for *
*Amateur Radio News and Information*.
.
.
*
Join or Renew Today! <http://www.arrl.org/join> ARRL membership
includes /QST/ <http://www.arrl.org/qst>, Amateur Radio's most
popular and informative journal, delivered to your mailbox each month.
* Listen to /ARRL Audio News/ <http://www.arrl.org/arrl-audio-news>,
available every Friday.
Subscribe to...
* /NCJ / <http://www.ncjweb.com/>/-- National Contest Journal/
<http://www.ncjweb.com/>. Published bi-monthly, features articles by
top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA Sprint and
QSO Parties.
* /QEX/ <http://www.arrl.org/qex>*//*/-- A Forum for Communications
Experimenters/ <http://www.arrl.org/qex>. Published bi-monthly,
features technical articles, construction projects, columns, and
other items of interest to radio amateurs and communications
professionals.
Free of charge to ARRL members...
* Subscribe
<http://www.arrl.org/myarrl-account-management#%21/edit-info-email_subscriptions>
to the /ARES E-Letter/ (monthly public service and emergency
communications news), the /ARRL Contest Update/(bi-weekly contest
newsletter), Division and Section news alerts -- and much more!
Find ARRL on Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/ARRL.org/>! Follow us on
Twitter <https://twitter.com/>and Instagram <https://www.instagram.com/>!
Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&i=2016-04-28&t=r&p=0>
Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&i=2016-04-28&t=r&p=1>
Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&i=2016-04-28&t=r&p=2>
Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&i=2016-04-28&t=r&p=3>
Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&i=2016-04-28&t=r&p=4>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 48 times each year. ARRL members
may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing their Member Data
Page as described at http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/.
Copyright © 2016 American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved
www.arrl.org <http://www.arrl.org/>
More information about the SFDXA
mailing list