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   http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/?issue=2014-03-13   
      
   The ARRL Letter   
      
   March 13, 2014   
   Editor: Rick Lindquist, WW1ME   
      
    *  Regulatory: FCC Cites Ham's "History of Compliance" in Reducing Fine for   
       Unlicensed Broadcasting   
    *  Regulatory: FCC Cites New Jersey CB Shop for Marketing Unauthorized RF   
       Devices   
    *  Public Service: Amateur Radio Played Role in Missing Airliner Response   
    *  Public Service: ARES Group Joins Forces with Delaware State Police   
    *  Public Service: New SATERN Emergency Disaster Services Ham Station Can   
       Be Remotely Controlled   
    *  Public Service: 2014 Preparedness Summit to Highlight Importance of   
       Amateur Radio   
    *  Ham Radio in Space: "Ham Video" Transmits Live Images of Astronaut Mike   
       Hopkins, KF5LJG, From the ISS   
    *  Technology: Hams' Experimental VLF Signals Heard in the UK, Europe   
    *  Technology: KickSat CubeSat to Deploy Smallest Earth-Orbiting Satellites   
    *  Centennial: W1AW Centennial Operations Shift to Tennessee, New Mexico,   
       and Guam on March 19   
    *  Media: NPR's "All Things Considered" Segment Includes Spark Gap Morse   
       from ARRL   
    *  International: Number of Newcomers Rises, Overall Numbers Fall in   
       Germany   
    *  International: Industry Canada Rolls Out Updated Ham Radio Question   
       Pool, New Exam Generator   
    *  Education: Foundation for Amateur Radio Invites Scholarship Applications   
    *  Feature: A Century of Amateur Radio and the ARRL   
    *  In Brief   
    *  The K7RA Solar Update   
    *  Just Ahead in Radiosport   
    *  Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events   
      
   Regulatory: FCC Cites Ham's "History of Compliance" in Reducing Fine for   
   Unlicensed Broadcasting   
      
   The FCC has cited the otherwise clean record of an Amateur Radio licensee in   
   deciding to reduce his fine for "willfully and repeatedly" violating the   
   Communications Act and FCC rules. Brian R. Ragan, KF6EGI, of Suisun City,   
   California, was found liable for operating an unlicensed FM broadcasting   
   station for 6 months and for failing to allow FCC personnel to inspect his   
   station. In a Forfeiture Order released March 10, the FCC fined Ragan   
   $13,600 -- a $3400 reduction of the $17,000 the Commission initially   
   proposed to levy in the case, which dates back to 2012. In deciding to   
   reduce Ragan's fine, the FCC said it took into account Ragan's "history of   
   compliance as an Amateur licensee."   
      
   "Prior to this violation, Mr Ragan had no violations of the [Communications]   
   Act or the [FCC] rules as an Amateur Radio operator," the FCC said in the   
   Forfeiture Order, "and, therefore, consistent with the [forfeiture]   
   adjustment factors, we find that reduction of the forfeiture based on Mr   
   Ragan's history of compliance is warranted and reduce the forfeiture by   
   $3400."   
      
   As precedent the Commission cited the case of Amateur Extra class licensee   
   Joaquim Barbosa, N2KBJ, of Elizabeth, New Jersey. In a July 2012 Notice of   
   Apparent Liability (NAL), the FCC found Barbosa liable for operating an   
   unlicensed transmitter that interfered with a government communication   
   system, and for not allowing an FCC inspection. The FCC reduced its initial   
   $20,000 levy to $16,000, citing Barbosa's "overall history of compliance   
   with the laws, including the Commission's rules."   
      
   As required by the NAL, Ragan submitted a statement that he is now in full   
   compliance with the Communications Act and no longer engaged in unauthorized   
   operation on 104.9 MHz. Ragan also said he is willing to allow FCC personnel   
   to inspect for verification. Read more.   
      
   Regulatory: FCC Cites New Jersey CB Shop for Marketing Unauthorized RF   
   Devices   
      
   The FCC has issued a Citation to a New Jersey Citizens Band radio shop for   
   marketing unauthorized RF devices to consumers in violation of the   
   Communications Act of 1934 and FCC Part 2 rules. The Citation to Thomas   
   Wilson, doing business as Redman CB Stop, in Absecon, New Jersey, was issued   
   March 5.   
      
   "Redman CB Stop should take immediate steps to discontinue the marketing of   
   unauthorized radio frequency devices, and to avoid any recurrence of the   
   misconduct described herein," the FCC Citation directed.   
      
   Last October an agent from the FCC Enforcement Bureau's Philadelphia office   
   browsed the website of the online retailer of CB and Amateur Radio gear. The   
   agent "observed for sale 16 makes and models of non-certified RF power   
   amplifiers" capable of operation on both the 11 meter Citizens Band and the   
   10 meter ham band. The FCC said such devices may not be offered for sale   
   prior to FCC certification. In addition, FCC rules prohibit marketing or   
   selling external RF amplifiers capable of amplification between 26 MHz and   
   28 MHz.   
      
   The FCC gave Redman CB Stop 30 days to respond to the Citation. The   
   Commission said it will use "all relevant material information before it,"   
   including information the retailer may disclose, to determine what, if any,   
   enforcement action may be necessary "to ensure your compliance with the   
   Communications Act and the Commission's rules."   
      
   Public Service: Amateur Radio Played Role in Missing Airliner Response   
      
   Following the mysterious disappearance on March 8 of the Malaysian Airline   
   Boeing 777-200ER jetliner with 239 passengers aboard, the airline's   
   Emergency Management Centre (EMC) at Kuala Lumpur Airport provided hotel   
   accommodations for passengers' next of kin. Malaysian Amateur Radio   
   Transmitters' Society (MARTS) President Mohd Aris Bernawi, 9M2IR, said his   
   organization was asked to provide a link between the airport and the hotel.   
      
   MARTS quickly set up a station, led by Zanirul Akhmal Zanirun, 9M2PRO, with   
   Azizi Samsuri, 9W2ZZE, as the airline's team leader. The Negeri Sembilan   
   Amateur Radio Club (NESRAC) provided volunteers for the station at the EMC.   
   MARTS set up a cross-band VHF/UHF link to avoid any unnecessary interference   
   to and from public service communications, and later added an HF link.   
      
   During the callout, 11 Amateur Radio volunteers were at the EMC, and 23   
   volunteers were at the hotel. 9M2IR, who oversaw the entire process, said   
   MARTS -- an IARU member-society -- was pleased to be able provide the   
   communication link as the search for flight MH370 continues. -- Thanks to   
   Jim Linton, VK3PC, Chairman IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee   
      
   Public Service: ARES Group Joins Forces with Delaware State Police   
      
   The Delaware State Police are teaming up with the Sussex County (Delaware)   
   Amateur Radio Emergency Service to ensure reliable back-up communication,   
   should primary law enforcement communication systems fail.   
      
   "Delaware must always be aware of the threats of hurricanes, nor'easters,   
   severe snow, and other disasters," Delaware State Police Sussex County   
   Operations Officer Maj Robert Hawkins said in a Cape Gazette article.   
   "Thankfully, we don't get hit often, but when we do, communication is   
   absolutely essential, and having Amateur Radio operators available to fill   
   in gaps will be a real asset."   
      
   When back-up communication is needed, the Delaware State Police will   
   designate locations for ARES stations to set up. ARES members then will   
   handle any necessary traffic within this network. The initial program will   
   be limited to Sussex County, but it may be expanded to include Delaware's   
   other two counties -- Kent and New Castle.   
      
   Sussex County covers approximately the lower half of Delaware. Bill   
   Duveneck, KB3KYH, is the Sussex County ARES Emergency Coordinator. -- Cape   
   Gazette via John Bigley, N7UR, Nevada Amateur Radio Newswire   
      
   Public Service: New SATERN Emergency Disaster Services Ham Station Can Be   
   Remotely Controlled   
      
   WB5ALM, the new Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN) ham   
   station for the Alabama-Louisiana-Mississippi (ALM) Division of the   
   organization's Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) Center is capable of being   
   controlled remotely via the Internet.   
      
   "The goal is to allow for a select group of qualified, trained net control   
   operators to operate a state-of-the art SATERN station that is centrally   
   located within the ALM Division and the Southern Territory from their home   
   location anywhere in the Territory," said Territorial SATERN Net Manager Ken   
   Standard, AD5XJ.   
      
   SATERN volunteers inaugurated WB5ALM by checking into the International   
   SATERN Net on March 5. The new call sign, which reflects the initials of   
   Salvation Army founder William Booth as well as its ALM organizational   
   division, will be used for the fixed station at the Division EDS Center and   
   for mobile operation from the SATERN Coordinator's vehicle or the   
   Territorial Communications Trailer. Acquisition of the vanity call sign   
   culminated a nearly year-long process of building the   
   Alabama-Louisiana-Mississippi Division's new SATERN station.   
      
   "This new station will make it easier to recruit SATERN operators to operate   
   the station during a disaster or emergency by reducing the need for them to   
   be physically present at the EDS Center," said Territorial SATERN   
   Coordinator Bill Feist, WB8BZH.   
      
   The SATERN Net operates on 14.265 MHz on HF. SATERN volunteers use Amateur   
   Radio to coordinate the organization's emergency response and relief   
   operations and to convey health-and-welfare messages following a disaster.   
   Its director is Rick Shirran, VE3NUZ. -- Thanks to The Salvation   
   Army/SATERN, John Bigley, N7UR   
      
   Public Service: 2014 Preparedness Summit to Highlight Importance of Amateur   
   Radio   
      
   The annual Preparedness Summit, the largest public health preparedness   
   conference in the US, will take place April 1-4 in Atlanta, with some 2000   
   preparedness professionals expected to attend the multidisciplinary event.   
   This year, the Preparedness Summit is highlighting the importance of Amateur   
   Radio, and special event station N4P will operate from the Exhibit Hall. N4P   
   will be on the air from 1700 until 2330 UTC on Wednesday, April 2, and from   
   1500 until 2030 UTC on Thursday, April 3. Stations contacting N4P will   
   receive a special QSL card.   
      
   On VHF and UHF, N4P will monitor the 146.88 W4BTI repeater, the 442.875 MHz   
   K4RFL repeater, and the D-STAR 440.6875 B-Node operating as KK4OIO. On HF   
   SSB, look for N4P on 28.365 MHz, 21.365 MHz, 14.265 MHz, and 7.265 MHz. N4P   
   also will be on EchoLink.   
      
   The National Association for County & City Health Officials (NACCHO) offered   
   Amateur Radio licensing webinars in February and March in advance of the   
   gathering. Testing will be administered April 3 at the Preparedness Summit.   
   NACCHO is offering an in-person review session at the Summit on April 2. The   
   webinars have been recorded and are available via the Summit website.   
      
   Ham Radio in Space: "Ham Video" Transmits Live Images of Astronaut Mike   
   Hopkins, KF5LJG, From the ISS   
      
   As one of his final actions during his duty tour aboard the International   
   Space Station, NASA Astronaut Mike Hopkins, KF5LJG, installed and   
   commissioned the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS)   
   "Ham Video" system over the March 8-9 weekend. Hopkins returned safely to   
   Earth March 10 aboard a Soyuz lander with crew members, Russian cosmonauts   
   Oleg Kotov and Sergey Ryazansky. The Amateur Radio digital television (DATV)   
   setup can transmit video of the crew and the interior of the Columbus module   
   on the 2.4 GHz band (S-band). The ARISS project, led by ARISS-EU,   
   AMSAT-Italy, and the European Space Agency (ESA), eventually will enhance   
   ARISS school contacts by providing a video and audio downlink plus an   
   audio-only uplink. Operating under the call sign OR4ISS, the S-band   
   transmitter can utilize one of two ARISS patch antennas installed on   
   Columbus. Radiated RF power is on the order of 10 W EIRP. The received DATV   
   signal was streamed via the web to a global audience via the British Amateur   
   Television Club (BATC) server.   
      
   "Congratulations to the Ham TV team on today's outstanding commissioning   
   success!" said ARISS International Chair Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, who works for   
   NASA. "Several stations in Italy were able to receive [the] video and audio   
   downlink." He explained that while the video camera and transmitter aboard   
   the ISS are referred to as "Ham Video," the entire digital TV/audio downlink   
   and FM voice uplink system is being called "Ham TV."   
      
   The commissioning process primarily involved making sure that ground   
   stations in Europe would be able to copy the DTV downlink signal, and the   
   results exceeded expectations. A large, high-gain dish at the Matera, Italy,   
   ground station worked in concert with smaller-dish stations that are planned   
   as future Ham TV ground relay stations. ARISS had several additional ground   
   stations around the world tuned in and providing reception reports of the   
   so-called "blank transmission" mode, with the transmitter on and the camera   
   turned off. Those blank transmissions will continue until the next   
   commissioning step set for April 12, and ARISS invites reports.   
      
   Commissioning of the Ham TV system marks the culmination of more than a   
   decade of planning and preparation within ARISS. Although there are no   
   immediate plans to employ the Ham TV system for educational contacts with   
   schools in North America, Bauer said several US radio amateurs are testing   
   this capability, as are stations in other parts of the world. "If this shows   
   educational value," Bauer said, "it will be employed in the US." Read more.   
   -- Thanks to ARISS International President Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, AMSAT News   
   Service, and ARISS-EU Chairman Gaston Bertels, ON4WF   
      
   Technology: Hams' Experimental VLF Signals Heard in the UK, Europe   
      
   In what's believed to be a "first," a very low frequency (VLF) signal from a   
   ham radio experimenter in New York was heard across the Atlantic. Bob Raide,   
   W2ZM, was transmitting on 29.499 kHz under a Part 5 Experimental license,   
   WH2XBA/1. His very slow-speed (QRSS) CW signal was initially detected in the   
   UK just before 0000 UTC on March 3 by Paul Nicholson, an SWL, and later by   
   Mike Dennison, G3XDV, and Markus Vester, DK6NM, in Germany. Nicholson also   
   copied a 29.501 kHz transmission from Dex McIntyre, W4DEX, in North   
   Carolina, operating as WH2XBA/4.   
      
   "In recent weeks a number of amateur tests have been running from the USA to   
   Europe around 74 kHz and at 29.499 kHz using several hundred watts to large   
   antennas," blogged Roger Lapthorn, G3XBM. He said that signals on 74 kHz   
   were "well copied," but that "the surprise" was detecting the 29.499 kHz   
   signal. "As far as I know, these 29.499 kHz VLF signals are the first   
   amateur VLF [transmissions] to span the Atlantic -- fantastic results by   
   well-equipped stations using suitable receivers and good software."   
      
   Warren Ziegler, K2ORS, who is on the Experimental license as WH2XBA/2, told   
   ARRL that he and several other radio amateurs have obtained Part 5 licenses   
   to experiment on 500 kHz and on 137 kHz. Ziegler, who has been a participant   
   in the ARRL-sponsored experimental operations on 500 kHz as WD2XSH/23, said   
   Raide wanted to be the first to span the Atlantic on VLF, which he defined   
   as between 3 kHz and 30 kHz, so Ziegler applied for and received the WH2XBA   
   Experimental grant, and included Raide and four others on the license.   
      
   "I was ready," Raide told ARRL. His transmitter has a 3CX3000A7 tube in the   
   final, running grounded grid and generating 800 W. The effective isotropic   
   radiated power (EIRP), however, was estimated to be approximately 1 mW. To   
   operate on 10,000 meters, Raide has a 90 foot vertical antenna using a   
   reconfigured Zepp, fed via a huge loading coil that is 4 feet tall, more   
   than 1 foot across and comprised of some 2000 feet of #14 wire. He employs a   
   few thousand feet of "chicken wire" for his radial system.   
      
   The transmission consisted of "XBA" sent at a rate of 120 seconds (2   
   minutes) per dot and 360 seconds (6 minutes) per dash of CW. In the UK   
   Nicholson copied the signal on software using a PC sound card with a   
   preamplifier ahead of it. His antenna is a pair of orthogonal loops, each 20   
   meters square, at ground level, transformer coupled to the preamplifier.   
   Read more. -- Thanks to Warren Ziegler, K2ORS, Bob Raide, W2ZM, and Joe   
   Craig, VO1NA   
      
   Ad   
   Technology: KickSat CubeSat to Deploy Smallest Earth-Orbiting Satellites   
      
   When the third SpaceX ISS resupply mission launches on March 16 from Cape   
   Canaveral, it will carry the 3U KickSat CubeSat into orbit. NASA TV is   
   scheduled to broadcast the launch live. If all goes according to plan,   
   KickSat, in turn, will release 200 "Sprite" satellites -- each about the   
   size of a small cracker -- into Earth orbit. Zac Manchester, KD2BHC -- a   
   Cornell University PhD student in aerospace engineering -- is heading up the   
   project, which was funded via Kickstarter.   
      
   The tiny Sprite spacecraft will be single-function, short-lifespan units   
   operating on 437 MHz. Each is essentially a double-sided printed circuit   
   board measuring 3.5 cm x 3.5 cm, incorporating a microcontroller or two,   
   radio, and solar cells. Each can carry single-chip sensors, such as   
   thermometers, magnetometers, gyroscopes, and accelerometers. All Sprites   
   operate on the same frequency -- 437.240 MHz -- and use Code Division   
   Multiple Access (CDMA). Transmitters run 10 mW output.   
      
   When KickSat reaches its appropriate attitude and orbit, a command signal   
   from the ground will trigger deployment, and the Sprites will be released as   
   free-flying spacecraft. The Cornell ground station in Ithaca, New York, will   
   monitor telemetry and sensor measurements from the individual Sprites, with   
   assistance from several other Amateur Radio ground stations around the   
   world.   
      
   Due to their low orbit, the Sprites can remain in orbit for as long as 6   
   weeks in a best-case scenario, depending on atmospheric conditions.   
      
   KickSat is being planned as a technology demonstration mission for the   
   Sprite spacecraft. It's being launched through NASA's Educational Launch of   
   Nanosatellite (ELaNa) program.   
      
   Centennial: W1AW Centennial Operations Shift to Tennessee, New Mexico, and   
   Guam on March 19   
      
   The ARRL Centennial "W1AW WAS" operations that are taking place throughout   
   2014 from each of the 50 states will relocate at 0000 UTC on March 19 (the   
   evening of March 18 in US time zones), from Arizona and Ohio to Tennessee   
   (W1AW/4), New Mexico (W1AW/5), and Guam (W1AW/KH2). During 2014 W1AW will be   
   on the air from every state (at least twice) and most US territories, and it   
   will be easy to work all states solely by contacting W1AW portable   
   operations.   
      
   In conjunction with the 100th anniversary of the ARRL, the ARRL Centennial   
   QSO Party kicked off January 1 for a year-long operating event in which   
   participants can accumulate points and win awards. The event is open to all,   
   although only ARRL members and appointees, elected officials, HQ staff and   
   W1AW are worth ARRL Centennial QSO Party points. Working W1AW/x from each   
   state is worth 5 points per contact.   
      
   To earn the "Worked all States with W1AW Award," work W1AW operating   
   portable from all 50 states. (Working W1AW or W100AW in Connecticut does not   
   count for Connecticut, however. For award credit, participants must work   
   W1AW/1 in Connecticut.) A W1AW WAS certificate and plaque will be available   
   (pricing not yet available).   
      
   The ARRL has posted an ARRL Centennial QSO Party leader board that   
   participants can use to determine how many points they have accumulated in   
   the Centennial QSO Party and in the W1AW WAS operations. Log in using your   
   Logbook of The World (LoTW) user name and password, and your position will   
   appear at the top of the leader boards. Results are updated daily, based on   
   contacts entered into LoTW.   
      
   Media: NPR's "All Things Considered" Segment Includes Spark Gap Morse from   
   ARRL   
      
   As part of its series of vignettes exploring a "counterfactual" history,   
   "What if World War I had never happened?" NPR afternoon news magazine "All   
   Things Considered" aired a segment on March 11 to explore how history would   
   have unfurled, if the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand had not been   
   not successful.   
      
   "They needed a sound of a telegraph relaying the message of the failed   
   assassination attempt," said ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Sean   
   Kutzko, KX9X. "They wanted it to be as authentic as possible, so we   
   explained that in 1914, it would have been relayed via spark."   
      
   The ARRL Lab has a working spark transmitter, so Kutzko got the desired text   
   from NPR, which he sent by hand and recorded. "They said it was 'perfect,'"   
   he reported. "It was a real thrill being able to help NPR; I used to work at   
   NPR affiliates in Illinois and Indiana in the 1990s, so being able to help   
   the network was exciting."   
      
   The final result? Well, if you wanted to hear the spark Morse code on the   
   air, you had to listen closely and quickly; it was soon voiced over by a   
   faux voice dispatch relating the faux news. NPR's "All Things Considered"   
   segments are available on the NPR website.   
      
   International: Number of Newcomers Rises, Overall Numbers Fall in Germany   
      
   The Deutscher Amateur Radio Club (DARC) reports that the number of newcomers   
   obtaining ham tickets in Germany rose by 14 percent in 2013, with 829   
   receiving licenses, compared with 724 in 2012. The DARC said 909 applicants   
   took license exams in 2013, up from 804 a year earlier -- a 13 percent jump.   
      
   "The number of examination participants was at its highest point since   
   2007," the DARC said. On the other hand, there were 2255 fewer German   
   Amateur Radio licenses on record at the end of 2013 -- a 3.2 percent drop   
   from 2012. The DARC cited statistics provided by the Bundesnetzagentur,   
   Germany's telecommunications regulator. As of December 31, 2013, 68,191   
   Amateur Radio licenses were on record, down from 70,446 at the end of 2012,   
   71,659 at the end of 2011 and 72,293 at the end of 2011.   
      
   The DARC said the rise in DN-prefix training call sign assignments continued   
   in 2013, with 2711 issued, 183 more than in 2012. The statistic, the DARC   
   continued, reflects the success of trainers' efforts, with more than 27   
   percent more youth involved in training programs than in 2010 -- a trend the   
   DARC called "encouraging." German DN call signs are held by Amateur Radio   
   trainers for use by newcomers, who operate under a trainer's direct control.   
      
   International: Industry Canada Rolls Out Updated Ham Radio Question Pool,   
   New Exam Generator   
      
   Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) reports that telecommunications regulator   
   Industry Canada (IC) has released a new Amateur Radio examination question   
   bank -- or pool -- based on recommendations from RAC. IC also launched a new   
   exam generator.   
      
   "This is good news that we were eagerly anticipating," RAC President Geoff   
   Bawden, VE4BAW, said. "We were pleased to work with IC on this issue of   
   significant importance to Amateur Radio operators."   
      
   RAC entered into a contract with IC in January 2013 to update the question   
   pool in English and in French -- Canada's official languages. The review   
   team examined more than 3000 questions and 12,000 possible answers for the   
   Basic and Advanced examinations in English and French "and aimed for   
   perfection in every one," the organization said. "Technical and linguistic   
   accuracy were equally important in the review."   
      
   RAC said changes included correcting factual errors, replacing obsolete   
   language and examples, making questions and answers clearer, and ensuring   
   that questions addressed current Amateur Radio practices and regulations.   
   Comments elicited from radio amateurs in Canada helped the team identify   
   where changes were needed. RAC wrapped up its work a year ago.   
      
   Following the release of the new examination question banks, RAC received   
   reports of typographical or transcription errors in the exam questions.   
   "Fortunately the new system IC has developed makes it easy and quick to   
   correct such errors," said Vincent Charron, VA3GX/VE2HHH, RAC's Director of   
   Communications and Fundraising. "RAC will assist in conveying the   
   information. Anyone wishing to report errors is invited to send these   
   reports by e-mail." -- RAC   
      
   Education: Foundation for Amateur Radio Invites Scholarship Applications   
      
   The Foundation for Amateur Radio (FAR) is accepting applications from   
   Amateur Radio operators for scholarships for the 2014-2015 school year. The   
   application deadline is April 15. Some scholarships give preference to radio   
   amateurs from California, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania,   
   Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin.   
      
   FAR, a non-profit, all-volunteer organization, manages 52 scholarships worth   
   a total of $72,100. There are no age restrictions for any of the   
   scholarships, and applicants do not have to attend a four-year institution.   
   All applicants must be full-time students.   
      
   Availability of these scholarship awards may offer an incentive to students   
   considering getting a license or already studying for the test to take   
   action before April 15.   
      
   FAR's scholarship program is one of the largest for Amateur Radio licensees   
   in the US. FAR's purpose is to further Amateur Radio in all of its various   
   facets. FAR sponsors training, seminars, and other events in support of   
   Amateur Radio. -- Dave Prestel, W8AJR, Chairman FAR Scholarship Committee   
      
   Feature: A Century of Amateur Radio and the ARRL   
      
   As the US edged ever closer to entering World War II, more restrictions were   
   placed on hams. They were still allowed to operate, but only to make   
   contacts within the country -- no DX!   
      
   There was strong evidence of subversive activities and clandestine radio   
   stations in America. The FCC ordered all radio licensees, both commercial   
   operators and hams, to furnish a full set of fingerprints, a passport-type   
   photo, and proof of US citizenship by October 15, 1940.   
      
   It was necessary for the FCC to ramp up its monitoring activities, and the   
   September 1940 issue of QST put out a call for amateurs to fill 500 new   
   positions as FCC monitoring operators. Those 500 positions were quickly   
   filled, almost entirely by hams. FCC's well-known Radio Intelligence   
   Division was thus supervised and staffed mainly by hams, under the direction   
   of George Sterling, W3DF.   
      
   The Navy Communications Reserve and the Army stepped up their recruitment of   
   amateurs to enlist as radio operators and repairmen, and hams again   
   responded in great numbers. In addition, the Civilian Conservation Corps and   
   the National Youth Administration recruited hams to serve as radio   
   instructors. During this period, ARRL inaugurated its code proficiency   
   program, with more than 900 hams submitting W1AW copy of the first   
   certificate run.   
      
   Our nation was still in the phase of "positive neutrality," but there were   
   many efforts in which US hams helped the war effort before we entered the   
   fray. One of those efforts was the Civilian Technical Corps, which   
   maintained and operated British radars, then operating in the upper HF and   
   lower VHF range. One of those early radars was quite important -- Britain's   
   Chain Home radar system, an early warning system to detect incoming German   
   bombers early enough to scramble fighters to meet the enemy at altitude over   
   the English Channel. Chain Home operated at 22 to 25 MHz. Although that   
   frequency range presented problems, it could be built and put into service   
   quickly, using existing technology and equipment.   
      
   Sets of three or four 360-foot towers were built at various locations on the   
   English Channel's coast to support the very large wire antenna arrays. Some   
   of those towers still exist, now supporting commercial antennas.   
      
   Next week: I'll tell the tale of a war effort that I became very familiar   
   with by working with some of the hams who developed and put the Proximity   
   Fuze into action. -- Thanks to Al Brogdon, W1AB   
      
   In Brief   
      
   Hams Detect Signal from Retired NASA Deep-Space Probe: Radio amateurs from   
   AMSAT-DL (Germany) and Bochum Observatory detected the beacon signal of the   
   retired NASA International Cometary Explorer (ICE) deep space probe on March   
   1 and 2. After some changes to the ground equipment and aligning the   
   receiving antenna to the predicted position in the sky, the beacon signal   
   could positively be identified due to its frequency, the position in the   
   sky, and the frequency shift due to Doppler shift. They used a 20 meter   
   radio telescope. Launched in 1978 as the International Sun-Earth Explorer 3   
   (ISEE-3), ICE was the first spacecraft to detect the "solar wind"   
   approaching Earth. In 1982, the spacecraft was renamed the International   
   Cometary Explorer and diverted to the Moon, where its gravitational pull   
   placed ICE into a heliocentric orbit. Support for the ICE mission was   
   terminated in 1997, although the spacecraft transmitter was left on. It was   
   last detected by NASA's Deep Space Network in 2008. -- Thanks to AMSAT-DL   
      
   HRD Software Acquires Rights to SAM Callbook CD, Database: HRD Software LLC   
   has acquired the rights to the SAM Callbook CD and database, begun in the   
   early 1990s by RT Systems before begin purchased by VIS. HRD has said it   
   will honor the current subscriber base and continue to ship the monthly CDs.   
   It will also develop a Windows interface for the Callbook and plans to   
   incorporate the Callbook data into the Ham Radio Deluxe logbook. HRD also   
   has announced its release of the preview/beta 2.1 version of Ham Radio   
   Deluxe 6.2.   
      
   DX Dinner Announces Featured Speaker: David Collingham, K3LP, will be the   
   featured speaker for their 29th annual DX Dinnerr, sponsored by the   
   SouthWest Ohio DX Association (SWODXA). The dinner, held in conjunction with   
   the 2014 Dayton Hamventionr, is Friday, May 16, at the Marriott Hotel in   
   Dayton. Collingham has been on more than 65 DXpeditions, operating from 51   
   different DXCC entities. His topic is "The Humanitarian Side of DXing and   
   DXpeditions."   
      
   Building a Super Station 30th Anniversary Edition Now Available: The 30th   
   anniversary edition of Building a Super Station by David Robbins, K1TTT, is   
   available free for download.   
      
   ARRL DXAC Committee Report Available: The ARRL has posted the DX Advisory   
   Committee (DXAC) report submitted at the January 2014 ARRL Board of   
   Directors meeting.   
      
   The K7RA Solar Update   
      
   This week saw sunspot numbers and solar flux decline. Average daily sunspot   
   numbers dropped from 199.3 to 138.7, while solar flux dipped from 162.9 to   
   149.7.   
      
   Sharp-eyed readers may notice that I reported average daily sunspot numbers   
   last week at 202.4, but I spotted a discrepancy between what I reported last   
   week for March 4 and 5 and what we see from NOAA. I'm not sure if NOAA   
   revised the sunspot numbers for those days, or I just erred, but sunspot   
   numbers on those dates actually were 160 and 191, thus changing the average   
   sunspot number for that week.   
      
   The most recent prediction has solar flux at 145 on March 13, 140 on March   
   14-15, then 135 and 155 on March 16-17, 140 on March 18-19, 135 on March   
   20-22, then 145, 150 and 145 on March 23-25, 140 on March 26-27, and 135 on   
   March 28-29. After that, we see a short-term low of 110 on April 5-7, and   
   then rising to 140 on April 20.   
      
   Predicted planetary A index is 5 on March 13-16, 8 on March 17-18, 5 on   
   March 19-29, 8 on March 30 through April 1, 5 on April 2-5, and then 12, 10   
   and 8 on April 6-8, then back to 5.   
      
   The spring equinox is next week! The first day of spring is Thursday, March   
   20, at 1657 UTC -- an optimum time for HF propagation.   
      
   This weekly "Solar Update" in The ARRL Letter is just a preview of the   
   Propagation Bulletin issued every Friday. The latest bulletin and an archive   
   of past propagation bulletins is on the ARRL website.   
      
   In tomorrow's Propagation Bulletin look for an updated forecast and reports   
   from readers. Send me your reports and observations.   
      
   Just Ahead in Radiosport   
    *  Mar 15 -- Feld-Hell Leprechaun Sprint   
    *  Mar 15-17 -- BARTG HF RTTY Contest   
    *  Mar 15-16 -- Russian DX Contest   
    *  Mar 15 -- Virginia QSO Party   
    *  Mar 16 -- North American Sprint (SSB)   
    *  Mar 17 --Run For the Bacon (CW)   
    *  Mar 18 -- CLARA and Family HF Contest (CW+SSB)   
    *  Mar 20 -- NAQCC Monthly QRP Sprint (SSB)   
    *  Mar 22 -- FOC QSO Party (CW)   
    *  Mar 22 -- Oklahoma QSO Party   
    *  Mar 22 -- QCWA Spring QSO Party   
    *  Mar 22-23 -- Louisiana QSO Party   
    *  Mar 29 -- Feld-Hell Worked all Americas Full Day of Hell   
    *  Mar 29-30 -- CQ WPX Contest (SSB)   
      
   Visit the Contest Corral for details.   
      
   Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events   
    *  March 14-15 -- Delta Division Convention, Rayne, Louisiana   
    *  March 15 -- Nebraska State Convention, Lincoln, Nebraska   
    *  March 15 -- West Texas Section Convention, Midland, Texas   
    *  March 22 -- South Texas Section Convention (Greater Houston Hamfest),   
       Rosenberg, Texas   
    *  March 22-23 -- Communications Academy, Seattle, Washington   
    *  March 28-29 -- Maine State Convention, Lewiston, Maine   
    *  March 29 -- Microhams Digital Conference, Redmond, Washington   
    *  April 4-6 -- International DX Convention, Visalia, California   
    *  April 11-13 -- Eastern VHF/UHF Conference, Manchester, Connecticut   
    *  April 19 -- Roanoke Division Convention, Raleigh, North Carolina   
    *  April 25-27 -- Idaho State Convention, Boise,