[SFDXA] The ARRL Letter for January 14, 2016
Bill
bmarx at bellsouth.net
Fri Jan 15 13:03:22 EST 2016
Preview
If you are having trouble reading this message, you can see the original at:
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The ARRL Letter
January 14, 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/>
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* ARRL Asks FCC for "Minimal but Necessary Changes" to Correct
Reapportioning Error <#toc01>
* Subcommittee Chair, H.R. 1301 Sponsor Testify on Behalf of Amateur
Radio Parity Act <#toc02>
* ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, Concluding Nearly 3 Decades as a
League Official <#toc03>
* *National Parks on the Air Update* <#toc04>
* New Section Manager Appointed in Missouri <#toc05>
* Orlando Amateur Radio Club Donates to ARRL Spectrum Defense Fund
<#toc06>
* UK Astronaut Tim Peake, KG5BVI, Notes Death of Space Oddity's "Major
Tom" <#toc07>
* Hamvention Seeks 2016 Award Nominations <#toc08>
* Yasme Foundation Announces Supporting Grants <#toc09>
* GlobalSET 2015 is a Wrap, with Lessons Learned <#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 Asks FCC for "Minimal but Necessary Changes" to Correct
Reapportioning Error
The ARRL has petitioned the FCC to fix a "shortfall in available
RTTY/data spectrum" the regulator created when it reapportioned 80 and
75 meters a decade ago. The League's January 8 /Petition for Rule
Making/ <http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=60001402689> asks the
FCC to shift the boundary between the 80 meter RTTY/data subband and the
75 meter phone/image subband from 3600 kHz to 3650 kHz. The ARRL's
/Petition/ points out that the proposed change has received strong
support from the ARRL membership and was adopted as policy by the
League's Board of Directors in July 2015. At that time the Board also
agreed to seek RTTY and data privileges for Technician and Novice
licensees within the portion of the 15 meter band where they now may
operate CW and to do the same on 80 meters, contingent upon the 80/75
meter subband revision.
Specifically, the petition asks the FCC to make the following changes,
with regard to 80/75 meters:
*
Modify the 80 meter RTTY/data subband, so that it extends from 3500
kHz to 3650 kHz.
*
Modify the 75 meter phone/image subband, so that it extends from
3650 kHz to 4000 kHz.
*
Make 3600-3650 kHz available for General and Advanced Class
licensees, as was the case prior to 2006.
*
Make 3600-3650 kHz available to Novice and Technician licensees for
telegraphy -- consistent with existing rules permitting Novices and
Technicians to use telegraphy in the General and Advanced RTTY/data
subbands on 80, 40, and 15 Meters.
*
Modify the rules governing automatically controlled digital stations
(ACDS), to shift the 80 meter ACDS segment from 3585-3600 kHz to
3600-3615 kHz, consistent with the IARU Region 1 and 2 band plans
<https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-149A1.pdf>
*The FCC's 2006 "Omnibus" /Report and Order/ in WT-140 addressed a
number of other non-Amateur Radio related issues.*
The ARRL contended that the FCC /Report and Order/
<https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-149A1.pdf> in
Docket 04-140 released in 2006 made "a very substantial" and
unjustifiable departure from what the so-called "Omnibus" /Notice of
Proposed Rule Making/ (/NPRM/) had proposed, with respect to 75 and 80
meters. The resulting /R&O/ in that proceeding, among other actions,
expanded voice privileges on additional frequencies in various bands,
including 75 meters. The FCC shifted the phone/image subband from
3750-4000 kHz to 3600-4000 kHz, trimming the 80 meter RTTY/data subband
from 3500-3750 kHz to 3500-3600 kHz and changing "the entire dynamic of
this band substantially," the League said.
The League said that, while the Omnibus /R&O/ indicated that incumbent
licensees would lose no operating privileges, some licensees "clearly"
did. The ARRL said the most substantial adverse effect of the
"unexpected and vast expansion" of the 75 meter phone/image was the
elimination of access to 3620-3635 kHz by ACDS.
The Omnibus /R&O/ rule changes limited 80 meters to 3500-3600 kHz, and
no longer authorized RTTY and data emissions above 3600 kHz. The /R&O/
also did not modify § 97.221 of the rules, "so its provision for
automatically controlled digital stations in the subband 3620-3635 kHz
was rendered a nullity," the League said. "This was clearly an oversight
by the Commission at the time."
The FCC denied a subsequent ARRL /Petition for Reconsideration/ seeking
a partial stay of the new rules and instead replaced the inadvertently
deleted 3620-3635 kHz ACDS segment with 3585-3600 kHz.
"Far from fixing the problem created by the error in the Omnibus /R&O/,
the moving of the inadvertently deleted digital subband downward in
frequency below 3600 kHz made the situation in the 80 meter RTTY/data
subband even worse than it was," the ARRL said. The result has been a
shortfall in available RTTY/data spectrum at 80 meters. Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-asks-fcc-for-minimal-but-necessary-changes-to-correct-reapportioning-error>.
Subcommittee Chair, H.R. 1301 Sponsor Testify on Behalf of Amateur Radio
Parity Act
During a January 12 Capitol Hill hearing, US House Subcommittee on
Communications and Technology Chair Rep Greg Walden, W7EQI (R-OR),
called the Amateur Radio Parity Act "a commonsense bill" and urged his
colleagues to support it. H.R. 1301 was one of four telecoms bills to
come before his panel. Walden told the subcommittee that, as a ham, he's
"acutely aware" of the passion Amateur Radio possess for the service.
*Rep Greg Walden, W7EQI (R-OR), speaks in favor of H.R. 1301, calling it
a "commonsense bill."*
"Despite its widespread use and importance in times of emergencies,
land-use restrictions in some areas have prioritized esthetics over the
rights of hams. H.R. 1301 seeks to ensure that Amateur Radio operators
get a fair shake and protection from /unnecessary/ bans on their
equipment by instructing the FCC to adopt rules to this end."
Walden said he's aware of suggestions that the bill would open the door
to 40 foot towers in townhome backyards. "That's not the case," he
assured his subcommittee colleagues. "Ham equipment can be as small as
over-the-air digital television antennas becoming popular with 'cord
cutters.' I'm sure that Amateur Radio operators' communications deserve
no less protection than access to prime time television."
In his remarks, the bill's sponsor, Rep Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), pointed
out that most House members have a few hundred radio amateurs living in
their districts. He explained that hams in some neighborhoods "are
outright prohibited" from erecting antennas on their properties, "even
as small as a 4 millimeter diameter wire that might be placed under an
awning or laid flat against the house."
Kinzinger cited Amateur Radio's role in emergency communication support
and noted the comments of FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, KK4INZ, to
the effect that when conventional communications go down, Amateur Radio
is often the last line of defense.
*Rep Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) testified in support of his bill on January 12.*
Kinzinger said his bill's "reasonable accommodation standard" would not
mandate placement, size, or esthetics regarding an outdoor antenna,
leaving ham radio operators and homeowners associations to decide those
issues.
"We just simply add the same standard that has been used successfully in
municipal areas to other areas," he concluded.
H.R. 1301 would direct the FCC to extend its rules relating to
reasonable accommodation of Amateur Service communications to private
land-use restrictions, such as deed covenants, conditions, and
restrictions. The bill has attracted 118 cosponsors from both sides of
the aisle. An identical US Senate measure, S. 1685, has attracted 3
cosponsors. It cleared the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation last November.
More information <http://www.arrl.org/amateur-radio-parity-act> about
the legislation is on the ARRL Amateur Radio Parity Act web page.
ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, Concluding Nearly 3 Decades as a
League Official
Now completing her third term, ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, will be
handing off the baton to her successor this week. The ARRL Board of
Directors will elect the League's next president -- its 16th -- when it
meets January 15-16. President Craigie said it has been her privilege to
serve during the ARRL Centennial in 2014 and to help usher in Amateur
Radio's second century.
"The operating events, the convention, the whole year!" she said. "To be
ARRL President during this celebration was my great good luck, and I'll
never forget all the members who told me how much they appreciate what
the ARRL does for them and Amateur Radio."
*ARRL's 15th President, Kay Craigie, N3KN, has served since 2010.*
President Craigie was first elected as a volunteer League official in
1986, when she became the ARRL Eastern Pennsylvania Section Manager. The
ARRL Board of Directors chose her as the League's 15th president in
January 2010.
President Craigie said she also was proud to represent the ARRL at
international conferences and events during her time at the League's
helm. "As President I represented the ARRL at the Radio Society of Great
Britain's 100th anniversary observance, led the ARRL delegation at two
International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Region 2 conferences, and was
part of ARRL teams at Friedrichshafen and Tokyo," she said.
She also attended part of World Radiocommunication Conference 2012 as an
observer. "For years, I have heard about the work done by IARU
volunteers and the hams serving on their national delegations at the
WRCs," she said, "but until I saw their efforts firsthand, I really
didn't comprehend exactly how hard and how well they work together to
protect and advance Amateur Radio for the rest of us."
President Craigie said she was happy to sign the first formal agreement
between the ARRL and the Boy Scouts of America. "One of my best friends
in Amateur Radio got his start as a Scout," she noted, adding that she
hopes the agreement will lead to welcoming "even more talented young
people into our ranks."
During her tenure as the League's President, she also has been deeply
involved in efforts to achieve "reasonable accommodation" for all US
hams, regardless of zoning and land-use regulation, and especially the
current Amateur Radio Parity Act
<http://www.arrl.org/amateur-radio-parity-act> campaign. She said she's
"certain that the ARRL's leadership and membership will continue to
press this essential issue until the job is done."
President Craigie said she finds Amateur Radio still relevant, even in
an era when technology seems to be advancing at lightning speed.
"University students in scientific and technical programs get the point
of Amateur Radio and see how it fits with their career plans and their
talents," she said, adding that she has see this firsthand in her
community of Blacksburg, Virginia, the home of Virginia Tech. "Very
bright students are not just getting licensed but are getting active."
"These are the young people who will drive Amateur Radio technology into
the future, and their energy and intelligence make me absolutely reject
the idea that Amateur Radio is irrelevant and on its way out," the ARRL
President said.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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*National Parks on the Air Update*
Although the ARRL's year-long National Parks on the Air (NPOTA) event
began just 2 weeks ago, Larry Burke, K5RK, of Alvin, Texas, already has
confirmed more than 120 NPOTA units <http://www.arrl.org/npota-list>.
"It speaks volumes, not only about Larry being a dedicated chaser," ARRL
Media and Public Relations Manager Sean Kutzko, KX9X, said, adding that
25 hams had already confirmed more than 50 units. Kutzko also called it
"pretty amazing" that more than 100 NPOTA units were on the air this soon.
Throughout 2016, Amateur Radio will help the National Park Service to
mark its 100th anniversary. In the process, hams ("activators") from
across the country will activate NPS units, promote the National Park
Service, and showcase Amateur Radio to the public. "Chasers" like Burke
will attempt to work as many of them as possible. Logbook of The World
(LoTW <http://www.arrl.org/logbook-of-the-world>) is being use to record
and confirm contacts among Activators and Chasers.
ARRL has added NPOTA to the "soapbox <http://www.arrl.org/soapbox>" area
of the ARRL website, so people can share photos and stories of their
NPOTA activations.
The deadline for the March NPOTA photo contest
<http://www.arrl.org/npota-photo-contest> is January 15. The winner will
get his/her photo published in the March /QST/ NPOTA column and receive
NPOTA swag too.
Activators will operate from more than a dozen NPOTA units during the
week of January 15-21. Details <https://npota.arrl.org/nps-events.php>
are available on the NPOTA Activations calendar. Love NPOTA? Join the
ARRL NPOTA Facebook Group.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
New Section Manager Appointed in Missouri
The ARRL's Missouri Section has a new leader. Cecil Higgins, AC0HA, of
Pittsburg, Missouri, has been appointed as ARRL Missouri Section
Manager, effective January 11. Dale Bagley, K0KY, had stepped down
because of family commitments after having served as Missouri's SM since
June 1999. Bagley recommended Higgins for the post.
ARRL Manager of Field Services and Radiosport Dave Patton, NN1N, made
the appointment after reviewing Bagley's recommendation and consulting
with ARRL Midwest Division Director Rod Blocksome, K0DAS.
A ham for more than 20 years, Higgins has served previously as an
Assistant Section Manager, an Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator,
and the District Emergency Coordinator for ARES District D in Missouri.
He is retired from a career in law enforcement and in emergency management.
Higgins will complete the current SM term of office, which continues
until December 31, 2016.
Orlando Amateur Radio Club Donates to ARRL Spectrum Defense Fund
At the January meeting of the Orlando Amateur Radio Club (OARC
<http://www.oarc.org/>), President John Knott, N4JTK, presented ARRL
Southeastern Division
*Orlando ARC President John Knott, N4JTK (left), present the club's
sybolic donation to ARRL Southeastern Division Director Doug Rehman,
K4AC. [Photo courtesy of Bob Nocero, W4KBW]*
Director Doug Rehman, K4AC, with a check for $2500, designated for the
ARRL Spectrum Defense Fund. OARC sponsors the Orlando HamCation
<http://www.hamcation.com>, which will host the 2016 ARRL National
Convention <http://www.arrl.org/arrl-expo> February 12-14 in Orlando,
Florida.
"ARRL is very pleased to start 2016 with such a wonderful gift to the
Spectrum Defense Fund, and we deeply appreciate OARC's generosity and
commitment to helping ARRL in our advocacy efforts," said ARRL
Development Manager Lauren Clarke, KB1YDD. "ARRL is very fortunate to
have so many dedicated clubs that support this important work. As we
prepare for HamCation and the 2016 ARRL National Convention, I look
forward to the opportunity to thank all of OARC's members in person."
Clubs and individuals may contribute
<https://www.arrl.org/arrl-donation-form> to the League via the ARRL
website.
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UK Astronaut Tim Peake, KG5BVI, Notes Death of Space Oddity's "Major Tom"
In his Twitter feed, UK/ESA Astronaut and ISS crew member Tim Peake,
KG5BVI, tipped his space helmet to rock legend David Bowie, whose 1969
hit single "Space Oddity" was covered in space by Canadian Astronaut
Chris Hadfield, VA3OOG/KC5RNJ. Bowie died on January 10. In the somber
"Space Oddity," Bowie assumes the character of "Major Tom," an astronaut
who becomes stranded in space.
*Astronaut Tim Peake, KB5BVI.*
"Saddened to hear David Bowie has lost his battle with cancer," Peake
tweeted from the International Space Station. "His music was an
inspiration to many."
Hadfield also remarked on Bowie's death. His own rendition of "Space
Oddity," performed as he floated in microgravity during his 2012/2013
duty tour on the ISS and uploaded to YouTube, became a hit in its own
right. Hadfield accompanied himself on acoustic guitar.
Hadfield joined Peake and the European Space Agency (ESA) in paying
tribute to Bowie on Twitter. "Rest in peace, Starman," Hadfield tweeted.
"The stars look very different today," the ESA remarked in re-tweeting
Peake's message, which was accompanied by lyrics from "Space Oddity."
Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/uk-astronaut-tim-peake-kg5bvi-notes-death-of-space-oddity-s-major-tom>.
First "Principia Mission" ARISS Contact
Meanwhile, a brand-new ham was the first to speak with Peake when
students at Sandringham School in Hertfordshire, England, enjoyed a
January 8 Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS
<http://www.ariss.org/>) contact. Peake, whose "Principia Mission
<http://principia.org.uk/>" is focusing on educational activities, used
the special GB1SS call sign for his first ARISS contact; the school
obtained permission to use GB1SAN. Year 10 pupil Jessica Leigh, M6LPJ,
who passed her Foundation class exam just before Christmas, was first in
line to talk with Peake.
*Sandringham Head Teacher Alan Gray, G4DJX, takes a selfie with Jessica
Leigh, M6LPJ. [Sandringham School image]*
"When I get home, I'll be completely in shock," Leigh told the BBC after
the contact, noting that the "amazing experience" of talking to someone
in space had yet to sink in.
A week-long Sandringham School Space Festival culminated with the live
VHF contact with Peake. With an enrollment of 1300, Sandringham School
students range in age from 11 to 19, with 100 faculty members. Head
teacher Alan Gray, G4DJX, called the event "an extraordinary experience
for the school."
The week leading up to the contact included a wide range of activities
aimed at engaging the students in space and space travel, including a
presentation from a spacecraft engineer, mobile planetariums, an Amateur
Radio "buildathon," rocket workshops, and talks on Mars and cosmonauts.
Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/uk-students-enjoy-first-ariss-contact-with-astronaut-tim-peake-kg5bvi>.
Hamvention Seeks 2016 Award Nominations
Dayton Hamvention <http://www.hamvention.org>® 2016 is soliciting
nominations for Amateur of the Year, Special Achievement, Technical
Excellence, and Club of the Year awards. All Amateur Radio
operators/clubs are eligible, with winners recognized at Hamvention®
2016, May 20-22 at Hara Arena.
The Amateur of the Year Award goes to an individual who has made a
long-term, outstanding commitment to the advancement of Amateur Radio.
The Special Achievement Award honors someone who has made an outstanding
contribution to the advancement of Amateur Radio, typically by
spearheading a significant project.
The Technical Excellence Award recognizes an individual who has made an
outstanding technical advancement in Amateur Radio.
The Club of the Year Award honors a club that has made a significant
contribution to the advancement of Amateur Radio. Nominations must be
received by *February 1*.
Additional details and nomination forms
<http://hamvention.org/event-details/awards/> are available on the
Dayton Hamvention® website. Send nominations via e-mail
<mailto:Awards at hamvention.org> or to Dayton Hamvention Awards, PO Box
1446, Dayton, OH 45401-1446.
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Yasme Foundation Announces Supporting Grants
The Yasme Foundation <http://www.yasme.org> Board of Directors has
announced several grants to Amateur Radio organizations and activities.
Beneficiaries include the Amateur Radio on the International Space
Station (ARISS <http://www.ariss.org/>) program, the ARRL Teachers
Institute
<http://www.arrl.org/teachers-institute-on-wireless-technology> on
Wireless Technology, and the Reverse Beacon Network (RBN
<http://www.reversebeacon.net/>). The ARISS <http://www.ariss.org> US
Team said its $5000 grant will support the development of power
converters, needed as a part of an extensive upgrade to the entire
Amateur Radio system on the ISS.
"The Yasme grant will jump-start the project by allowing the ARISS
hardware team to build a prototype converter, purchase critical parts
for the flight converters, and further develop the design," ARISS
International President Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, said. A group of ARISS US
team members convened at Johnson Space Center last month to solidify
plans for the design of the next-generation radio system.
Yasme Foundation President Ward Silver, N0AX, said the Yasme Board hopes
the grant will serve as a catalyst for individuals and other groups to
follow suit.
In support of scholarships and youth programs, the Yasme Foundation
funded the Yasme Foundation scholarship through the ARRL Foundation
<http://www.arrl.org/the-arrl-foundation>. It also designated grants to
the Foundation for Amateur Radio (FAR <http://www.farweb.org/>) in
support of its 2016 scholarship program, to the Youngsters on the Air
(YOTA <http://www.ham-yota.com/>) program to support programs aimed at
promoting Amateur Radio among those under age 26 throughout IARU Region
1, and to the ARRL Teacher's Institute to fund one teacher's attendance
at a 2016 Teachers Institute session.
To support scientific and technical endeavors, the Yasme Foundation made
grants to the Northern California DX Foundation (NCDXF
<http://www.ncdxf.org/>) Beacon Project to update the beacon station in
Sri Lanka, and to the Reverse Beacon Network, to build and install a
node to provide coverage in an unidentified underserved area that's of
particular interest to propagation studies.
*The ARRL Teachers Institute also was a beneficiary of the Yasme
Foundation's recent grants.**Here, teachers test their BoeBots in a 2015
California session with Instructor Tommy Gober, N5DUX.*
To support HF operating around the world, the grants went to a
representative of the Haiti Amateur Radio Club for the purchase of
Amateur Radio training materials aimed at developing future licensees in
Haiti as well as donate a Kenwood TS-440S transceiver for use by the new
licensees; to the International Amateur Radio Club at International
Telecommunication Union Headquarters in Geneva (4U1ITU
<http://life.itu.int/radioclub/>) for station maintenance and the
acquisition of needed equipment, and to World Radiosport Team
Championship 2018 (WRTC 2018 <http://www.wrtc2018.de/index.php/en/>) to
support the expense of mounting the contesting competition in Germany
and to encourage other organizations and individuals to contribute.
The Yasme Foundation also announced grants to the Ethiopian Amateur
Radio Society club station ET3AA to acquire a new computer, interfaces,
and programs for logging and operating digital modes and to purchase new
headsets; to the World Wide Radio Operators Foundation (WWROF
<http://wwrof.org/>), and to Dokufunk
<http://www.dokufunk.org/index.php?lang=EN>, in support of its
activities to preserve the history of radio communication.
GlobalSET 2015 is a Wrap, with Lessons Learned
More than three dozen countries took part in the 2015 Global Simulated
Emergency Test (GlobalSET
<http://www.iaru-r1.org/index.php/emergency-communications/globalset/1502-global-simulated-emergency-test-2015>)
last month, organized by IARU Region 1 <http://www.iaru-r1.org/> and
designed in part to measure the disaster readiness of Amateur Radio.
IARU Region 1 Emergency Communications Coordinator Greg Mossop, G0DUB,
pointed out that the 2015 event differed from other GlobalSETs held
since 2006, which emphasized message handling and setting up stations in
the field.
"The IARU emergency communications coordinators decided that the best
way to achieve this would be to have an availability or 'call-out'
exercise," Mossop said. "It asked all countries with emergency
communications groups to contact their members and ask them how quickly
they could get on the air if required." The start of the exercise was
not announced in advance but propagated via a variety of channels,
including e-mail and social media. IARU regional coordinators chose
December 18 as being clear of most social and cultural events. A time
limit of up to 48 hours was set for potential responding organizations
to complete the local callout exercise and submit results via a web form.
The survey results covered an estimated 8466 members worldwide, of which
2048 reported they could be available in less than 1 hour.
"This exercise occurred on a normal business day in many countries,"
Mossop said. "An availability rate of 20-30 percent of stations is very
good and does seem reasonable as a planning assumption for future
exercises."
Mossop said the exercise identified a need to revise or improve alerting
procedures. "Where possible a mixture of methods should be used for
alerting members with automatic feedback of message delivery or the
response," he said, adding that reliance on any single system, such as
e-mail, was not the best approach. Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/globalset-2015-is-a-wrap-with-lessons-learned>. --
/Thanks to Jim Linton, VK3PC/
In Brief...
*Ramsey Kits Calls it Quits:* After more than 40 years as a purveyor of
inexpensive electronics kits for hobbyists, the Ramsey Hobby Kits group
has announced <http://www.ramseyelectronics.com/ce.htm> that it's thrown
in the towel, effective on January 1. The Ramsey RF Test Equipment Group
is unaffected by this change. The Victor, New York, company sold a wide
array of hobby kits over the years, starting with its LED Blinky kit in
the 1970s and eventually including simple ham radio transmitters and
receivers, aircraft band receivers, and other devices. Ramsey kits were
frequently available at hamfests. The company said it will continue to
provide technical and warranty support for hobby kits purchased through
the end of 2015. Ramsey said its remaining hobby kit inventory has been
relocated to Amazon <http://www.amazon.com>.
*CWops Announces Award for Advancing the Art of CW:* CWops
<http://www.cwops.org/> has announced a new, annual award
<http://www.cwops.org/awards.html> to recognize individuals, groups, or
organizations that have made the greatest contribution(s) toward
advancing the art or practice of radio communication by Morse code.
Eligible candidates include the authors of publications related to CW;
recruiters, trainers, mentors, coaches, and instructors of Morse code;
designers and inventors who advance the art or practice of CW, and
others contributing to the art or practice of CW. The award is not
limited to Amateur Radio operators or organizations. Anyone can submit
<mailto:awards at cwops.org> a nomination (with a copy to
secretary at cwops.org <mailto:secretary at cwops.org>). Nominations must be
received by April 15, 2016. They should include the nominee's name and
applicable call sign, the nominee's contact information, including
e-mail and USPS addresses and a telephone number, and a detailed
explanation to support the nominee's qualifications. The individual
nominating should provide complete contact information too. A plaque
will be presented at the Dayton Hamvention, or mailed to the recipient.
*SAQ Alexanderson Alternator Christmas Eve Transmission Generates a Host
of Reports:* The 2015 Christmas Eve transmission from SAQ, the
Alexanderson alternator station at the World Heritage Grimeton
<http://grimeton.org/> site in Sweden, elicited more than 350 reports,
according to a preliminary accounting, many of them from hams. SAQ
transmits on 17.2 kHz. The lion's share of reports -- nearly 160 -- came
from Germany. Listeners in the US filed eight reports, with just five
indicating they actually heard SAQ. "The transmission appears to be our
best so far," said Lars Kalland, SM6NM, who distributed the report.
Kjell Dahl, OH0KXJ, reported hearing SAQ for the first time. "It is
always a pleasure to listen to this CW melody on 17.2 kHz," commented
Manu Aft, F5ROL. The vintage station began its holiday transmissions in
2006. Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/saq-alexanderson-alternator-christmas-eve-transmission-generates-a-host-of-reports>.
The K7RA Solar Update
Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Trends over the past week were just as
we like them, with average daily sunspot numbers and solar flux
increasing, and geomagnetic indices lower.
Average daily sunspot numbers rose from 41 to 55.7, and the average
daily solar flux increased from 98.2 to 106.5. The average daily
planetary A index declined from 16.6 to 11.1, while average daily
mid-latitude A index went from 10.6 to 8.4.
The predicted solar flux is 100 on January 14; 105 on January 15-17; 100
on January 18; 95 on January 19-20; 100 on January 21-22; 105 on January
23-26; 110 on January 27-28; 105 on January 29-31; 110 on February 1-7;
108, 105, and 100 on February 8-10; 105 on February 11-14, and 100 on
February 15-18.
Predicted planetary A index is 8 on January 14, 6 on January 15-20; 8,
15, and 10 on January 21-23; 5 on January 24-27; 18, 12, and 8 on
January 28-30; 5 on January 31 through February 1; 15, 12, and 8 on
February 2-4; 5 on February 5-6; 6, 15, 12, and 8 on February 7-10; 6 on
February 11-13, and 5 on February 14-16.
Be sure to check out the article "Radio Wave Propagation: How Waves
Attenuate with Distance," by KE4PT on page 37 in the February 2016 issue
of /QST/.
Sunspot numbers for January 7 through 13 were 57, 80, 84, 73, 41, 29,
and 26, with a mean of 55.7. The 10.7 centimeter flux was 103.4, 108.5,
107, 108.9, 108, 105.5, and 104.1, with a mean of 106.5. Estimated
planetary A indices were 14, 8, 6, 7, 14, 15, and 14, with a mean of
11.1. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 11, 6, 5, 7, 9, 10, and 11,
with a mean of 8.4.
Send <mailto:k7ra at arrl.net> me your reports and observations.
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just Ahead in Radiosport
*
January 15 -- LZ Open Contest (CW)
*
January 16 -- Hungarian DX Contest (CW, SSB)
*
January 16-17 -- Feld Hell Sprint
*
*January 17 -- North American QSO Party (SSB)
<http://ncjweb.com/NAQP-Rules.pdf>*
*
January 18 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)
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
* January 15-16 -- Southern Florida Section Convention
<http://swflhamfest.info/>, Fort Myers, Florida
* January 15-16 -- North Texas Section Convention
<http://cowtownhamfest.com/>, Forest Hill, Texas
* January 17-23 -- Quartzfest <http://quartzfest.org/>, Quartzsite,
Arizona
* January 29-30 -- Mississippi State Convention
<http://hamfest.msham.org/>, Jackson, Mississippi
* January 29-31 -- Puerto Rico State Convention
<http://www.arrlpr.org/>, Hatillo, Puerto Rico
* February 6 -- South Carolina State Convention <http://wa4usn.org/>,
N. Charleston, South Carolina
* February 6 -- Virginia State Convention <http://www.frostfest.com/>
(Frostfest), Richmond, Virginia
* *February 12-14 -- **ARRL National Convention*
<http://www.arrl.org/arrl-expo>*, Orlando, Florida*
* February 13 -- Georgia ARES Convention <http://gaares.org/>,
Forsyth, Georgia
* February 19-20 -- Southwestern Division Convention
<http://www.yumahamfest.org/>, Yuma, Arizona
* February 20 -- Arkansas State Convention <http://www.w5wra.org/>,
Hoxie, Arkansas
* February 27 -- WCF Section Technical Conference
<http://www.arrlwcf.org/>, Tampa, Florida
* February 27 -- New Mexico TechFest
<http://www.rmham.org/wordpress/new-mexico-techfest>, Albuquerque,
New Mexico
* February 27 -- Vermont State Convention
<http://www.ranv.org/hamcon.html>, S. Burlington, Vermont
* March 4-5 -- Alabama Section Convention
<http://www.birminghamfest.org>, Birmingham, Alabama
* March 11-12 -- Louisiana State Convention <http://www.w5ddl.org/>,
Rayne, Louisiana
* March 12 -- Santa Clara Valley Section Convention
<http://www.radiofest.org/>, Del Rey Oaks, California
* March 18-19 -- South Texas Section Convention
<http://www.houstonhamfest.org/>, Rosenburg, Texas
* March 19 -- MicroHAMS Digital Conference
<http://www.microhams.com/mhdc>, Redmond, Washington
* March 19 -- West Texas Section Convention
<http://hamfest.w5qgg.org/>, Midland, Texas
* March 25-26 -- Maine State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/maine-state-convention-1>, Lewiston, Maine
Find conventions and hamfests in your area <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests>.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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