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   http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/?issue=2014-08-07   
      
   The ARRL Letter   
      
   August 7, 2014   
   Editor: Rick Lindquist, WW1ME   
      
    *  ARRL Board Lauds "Unforgettable Milestone," Formalizes LoTW Policy   
    *  ARRL Board Names Award Winners, Honorees   
    *  Early Efforts on Behalf of "The Amateur Radio Parity Act" H.R. 4969   
       Bearing Fruit   
    *  W1AW Centennial Operations Relocate on August 13 (UTC)   
    *  AMSAT Announces Fox-1C Launch Opportunity and Fund Drive   
    *  Maritime Mobile Service Network Aids in Separate Land-Based Emergencies   
    *  SKYWARN Volunteers Muster as Severe Weather, Tornado Hit Southern New   
       England   
    *  California Hams Activate to Support Shelter Communications Following   
       Wildfire   
    *  ARRL DXCC and Awards Manager Bill Moore, NC1L, Recuperating Following   
       Accident   
    *  ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest Weekends Are Just Around the Corner!   
    *  ARRL RTTY Rookie Roundup Not Just for Newbies   
    *  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   
      
   ARRL Board Lauds "Unforgettable Milestone," Formalizes LoTW Policy   
      
   The ARRL Board of Directors dealt with a variety of matters when it met in   
   Hartford, Connecticut, on July 21 and 22. ARRL President Kay   
      
   Craigie, N3KN, chaired the session. Reflecting the afterglow of the ARRL   
   National Centennial Convention that concluded a couple of days earlier, the   
   Board commended and thanked the ARRL staff and Convention volunteers for   
   "their devotion and service, contributing to a truly memorable celebration   
   of this unforgettable milestone in the life of the ARRL." The resolution   
   took note of the "countless" hours staffers spent, in addition to their   
   routine responsibilities, preparing for and running the convention. The   
   Board also cited the essential role of "many dedicated volunteers" before,   
   during and after the convention.   
      
   Emergency Communications   
      
   Citing the inspiring Convention Banquet speech by Federal Emergency   
   Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate, KK4INZ, the Board   
   resolved to reaffirm its "commitment and desire to further improve and   
   enhance Amateur Radio's participation and standing in emergency   
   communications for the benefit of the nation's emergency response agencies   
   and the American public." During the convention, the ARRL and FEMA signed a   
   Memorandum of Agreement that, the resolution said, would "strengthen FEMA's   
   partnership with ARRL and build upon our work to expand emergency   
   communications capabilities and the use of Amateur Radio in emergency   
   management."   
      
   Logbook of The World   
      
   [lotw-logo.jpg] The Board adopted an updated policy for the League's popular   
   Logbook of The World (LoTW) service. The new statement largely formalizes   
   long-standing and existing policies and procedures. To maintain LoTW's   
   security, the policy states that in the event a call sign certificate is   
   shown to have been compromised, "all contacts submitted with that call sign   
   certificate will be removed from LoTW, all confirmations generated by those   
   contacts will be invalidated, and all award credit generated by those   
   confirmations will be revoked." LoTW users who allow their certificates to   
   be compromised or who "knowingly exploit" compromised certificates may lose   
   the privilege of using LoTW and participating in ARRL awards programs.   
      
   "The integrity of LoTW must support the prestige of those awards that depend   
   on it, such as DXCC," the policy states. "The goals of 'ease of enrollment'   
   and 'ease of use' must be balanced against the requirement of maintaining an   
   extremely high level of integrity."   
      
   The policy calls on ARRL's Information Technology Department "to keep the   
   processing queue as short as possible," but added that speedy processing is   
   secondary to LoTW's primary goal of authenticating contacts and that LoTW   
   "is not guaranteed to be a 24/7 application."   
      
   The policy says that while fees currently are only required when contact   
   credits are redeemed toward supported awards, "Premium services may be   
   developed for LoTW which would require user fees."   
      
   Also related to operating awards, the Board agreed to modify some DXCC Rules   
   to clarify the appointment procedure and eligibility of DXCC card checkers.   
      
   Referred to Committee   
      
   The Programs and Services Committee (P&SC) is to closely examine the issue   
   of remotely controlled stations, noting that these "pose both opportunities   
   and challenges." The P&SC would "consider the possible advantages,   
   disadvantages, and any potential ethical issues as they relate strictly to   
   the DXCC program" and report its findings by the Board's January 2015 Annual   
   Meeting.   
      
   The Executive Committee is to study the possibility of seeking limited   
   RTTY/data privileges for Technician licensees on 80, 40, and 15 meters.   
      
   Other Business   
      
   In other business, the ARRL Board of Directors:   
      
    *  voted, without offering specifics, to support "a significant increase in   
       the resources directed to generating new amateurs, with particular   
       emphasis on increasing diversity." The ARRL staff was directed to   
       propose a course of action to meet that goal.   
    *  voted to have ARRL staff work with the Programs & Services Committee to   
       design and implement a web-based reporting system to gather information   
       on activities performed by Field Organization volunteers. Read more.   
      
   ARRL Board Names Award Winners, Honorees   
      
   The Board named award winners and honorees during its July 21-22 meeting in   
   Hartford, Connecticut.   
      
   The 2014 Hiram Percy Maxim Award --   
   the League's top youth honor -- went to Padraig Lysandrou, KC9UUS, of   
   Bloomington, Indiana. The recipient of a Goldfarb Scholarship, Lysandrou   
   (left) was cited for his demonstrated passion for HF DXing, his high school   
   Amateur Radio club activity, his service as Indiana Assistant Section   
   Manager for Youth Activities, and for actively sharing his love of Amateur   
   Radio by being a presenter Dayton Hamvention and elsewhere. Lysandrou was   
   the recipient of May 2013 QST Cover Plaque Award for his article "A Crazy   
   Idea: DXpedition to Cyprus."   
      
    *  The 2014 ARRL Technical Innovation Award went to Warren C. Pratt, NR0V,   
       of Santa Cruz, California. He was cited for his research leading to the   
       development of PureSignal, "an adaptive baseband pre-distortion   
       algorithm used to improve the linearity of amplifiers and reduce   
       intermodulation distortion products emitted by software-defined   
       transmitters."   
    *  The joint recipients of the 2014 Herb S. Brier Instructor of the Year   
       Award were Brad Amacker, N5MZ, of Petal, Mississippi, and Bill Finnegan,   
       NR8I, of Marion, Ohio. Amacker has taught at 16 Amateur Radio license   
       instruction classes that resulted in some 100 students becoming Amateur   
       Radio licensees, and he's been active in mentoring new licensees.   
       Finnegan, who has taught 21 Amateur Radio license instruction classes in   
       the past decade resulting in 60 new ham radio licensees, was cited for   
       "his patience with students, especially those struggling with   
       comprehension of more difficult radio theory."   
    *  The joint recipients of the 2013 Doug DeMaw, W1FB, Technical Excellence   
       Award were Kai Siwiak, KE4PT, of Coral Springs, Florida, and Bruce   
       Pontius, N0ADL, of Scottsdale, Arizona. Both were credited with   
       "distinguished lifelong Amateur Radio careers, both on the air and in   
       test and measurement respects." They were specifically cited for their   
       December 2013 QST article, "How Much 'Punch' Can You Get from Different   
       Modes?" The article characterized and quantified the typical performance   
       of various analog and digital modes to shed light on their performance   
       and limitations.   
    *  The Board elected Bruce J. Frahm, K0BJ, an Honorary Vice President.   
       Frahm served a total of 20 years as Midwest Division Vice Director,   
       Director, and ARRL Second Vice President.   
      
   The Board granted the title of "ARRL   
   Receptionist Emerita" to Penny Harts, N1NAG (left), who retired on July 31   
   following 46 years of service at ARRL Headquarters -- the longest tenure of   
   any current Headquarters staff member. The Board's resolution recounted that   
   after joining the staff in 1968, "Penny quickly established herself as the   
   friendly voice and face of the ARRL to countless callers and visitors to   
   Newington." She also earned her Amateur Radio license -- eventually   
   upgrading to Amateur Extra class -- became active in local radio club   
   affairs, and served as an ARRL Volunteer Examiner at more than 100 exam   
   sessions. She "capped her career by providing invaluable assistance at the   
   ARRL National Centennial Convention," the Board said, and, over the years,   
   has been "an inspiring friend to her colleagues" as well as to volunteers   
   and Board members.   
      
    *  The Board extended its very best wishes to ARRL Chief Development   
       Officer Mary M. Hobart, K1MMH, who also retired on July 31, after 13   
       years of "outstanding service, above and beyond the call to the members   
       of the ARRL, present and future." Among her other accomplishments,   
       Hobart was credited with developing the Second Century Campaign. Read   
       more.   
      
   Early Efforts on Behalf of "The Amateur Radio Parity Act" H.R. 4969 Bearing   
   Fruit   
      
   Initial efforts to secure additional co-sponsors for "The Amateur Radio   
   Parity Act of 2014" -- H.R. 4969 -- are starting to produce results. As of   
   August 5, 17 co-sponsors had signed onto the bill, which was   
   [Get%20Behing%20HR_4969%20Logo.gif] introduced in the US House of   
   Representatives with bipartisan support in late June. Additional co-sponsors   
   are anticipated. H.R. 4969 would call on the FCC to apply the "reasonable   
   accommodation" three-part test of the PRB-1 federal pre-emption policy to   
   private land-use restrictions regarding antennas. The bill's primary sponsor   
   is Rep Adam Kinzinger (R-IL). It received initial co-sponsorship from Rep   
   Joe Courtney (D-CT), who attended the ARRL National Centennial Convention on   
   July 19 to discuss the measure with visitors and League officials.   
      
   "With Congress on break for August, we are encouraging our members to meet   
   with their representatives while [lawmakers] are home on break in their   
   districts, and urge their support for H.R. 4969," said ARRL Regulatory   
   Information Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND. "We're very pleased with the   
   initial response, but the more noise we make, the better our chances." He   
   emphasized that a successful outcome requires as many co-sponsors as   
   possible, and that's where ARRL members come into play in their role as   
   voters and constituents.   
      
   The League's H.R. 4969 page contains information and guidance for clubs and   
   individuals promoting efforts to gain co-sponsors for the measure by   
   contacting their members of Congress. The web page includes a sample letter   
   to a member of Congress and a list of "talking points." For in-person   
   visits, the League recommends organizing small teams of knowledgeable,   
   articulate radio amateurs to approach lawmakers one to one to plead their   
   case.   
      
   The limited PRB-1 pre-emption currently applies only to state and municipal   
   land-use ordinances. The FCC has indicated its reluctance to provide the   
   same legal protections from private land-use agreements -- often called   
   covenants, conditions, and restrictions or CC&Rs -- without direction from   
   Congress.   
      
   US Representative Greg Walden, W7EQI (R-OR) chairs the House subcommittee   
   that will consider H.R. 4969.   
      
   H.R. 4969 has been referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Rep   
   Greg Walden, W7EQI (R-OR), chairs that panel's Communications and Technology   
   Subcommittee, which will consider the measure. The League had approached   
   Walden, who helped to engineer the bill.   
      
   Henderson said that in response to the "Get Behind H.R. 4969" effort at the   
   Centennial Convention and last month's edition of the Legislative Update   
   Newsletter, more than 2000 individuals drafted letters to their   
   congressional representatives, urging them to co-sponsor the bill. He asked   
   League members to e-mail or mail letters directed to their US House of   
   Representatives member to ARRL Headquarters for forwarding. E-mails will be   
   printed beforehand, he noted. Henderson explained that this approach speeds   
   delivery, since individual pieces of mail to members of Congress are scanned   
   for threats. Henderson said he's already received another 200 or so letters   
   to forward to House members.   
      
   Send letters to H.R. 4969 Letter Campaign, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT   
   06111. If e-mailing, include "H.R. 4969" in your subject line. All   
   correspondence must be signed and include the constituent's mailing address.   
   Read more.   
      
   W1AW Centennial Operations Relocate on August 13 (UTC)   
      
   The ARRL Centennial W1AW WAS operations taking place throughout 2014 from   
   each of the 50 states are now in Vermont (W1AW/1) and New Jersey (W1AW/2).   
   They will relocate at 0000 UTC on Wednesday, August 13 (the evening of   
   August 12 in US time zones), to Oklahoma (W1AW/5). Only one state will be   
   active during the week of August 13-19.   
      
   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.   
      
   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 mode/contact, even when   
   working the same state during its second week of activity.   
      
   To earn the "Worked all States with W1AW Award," work W1AW operating   
   portable from all 50 states. (Working W1AW or W100AW in Connecticut does not   
   count for Connecticut, however. For award credit, participants must work   
   W1AW/1 in Connecticut.) A W1AW WAS certificate and plaque will be 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.   
      
   AMSAT Announces Fox-1C Launch Opportunity and Fund Drive   
      
   AMSAT-NA has announced a third-quarter 2015 launch opportunity for its   
   Fox-1C CubeSat and has kicked off a fund drive to cover the costs of putting   
   the Amateur Radio satellite into space. AMSAT reports that it has teamed   
   with Spaceflight Inc for integration and launch services   
   [Fox%20Satellite%20logo(1).jpg] utilizing Spaceflight's SHERPA system to put   
   Fox-1C into a sun-synchronous orbit. Spaceflight describes SHERPA as an   
   "in-space tug, which is dedicated to hosting and deploying small and   
   secondary payloads." Fox-1C is the third of four Fox-1 series satellites   
   under development. Fox-1A and RadFXsat/Fox-1B will launch without cost to   
   AMSAT through NASA's Educational Launch of Nanosatellites (ELaNa) program.   
      
   The Phase 1 Fox satellites are 1-Unit CubeSats, each including an analog FM   
   repeater that will permit simple ground stations using a hand-held   
   transceiver and antenna to make contacts through the satellite. The Phase 1   
   CubeSats also offer high-speed digital mode data communication capability.   
   AMSAT said it plans to release further details on the Fox-1C satellite and   
   the 2015 launch as they become available.   
      
   AMSAT has set a fund-raising goal of $125,000 to cover the cost of the   
   launch contract and additional Fox-1C construction and testing materials.   
   Read more. -- AMSAT News Service, AMSAT website   
      
   Maritime Mobile Service Network Aids in Separate Land-Based Emergencies   
      
   While best known for its efforts to aid voyagers on the high seas, the   
   Maritime Mobile Service Network (MMSN) occasionally helps out in   
   [mmsnlogo.jpg] land-based emergencies too. That was the case recently when   
   MMSN net control stations received distress calls regarding motor vehicle   
   incidents in Nevada and Texas. On July 24, MMSN Net Control Station Ken   
   Porter, AC0ML, was notified by HF mobile operator George Molnar, KF2T, that   
   he had witnessed a tractor-trailer mishap on Nevada Highway 318. The rig had   
   apparently skidded and landed on its side in a canyon, precluding the use of   
   cell phone or Amateur Radio VHF/UHF systems.   
      
   "Truckers' CBs didn't reach anyone outside the canyon. Only ham radio   
   worked!" Molnar said later.   
      
   Porter placed the net in emergency status, pinned down details on the wreck,   
   and notified authorities. Nevada Highway Patrol troopers were dispatched to   
   the scene. There were no injuries, but the highway was completely blocked in   
   both directions, and some of the tractor-trailer's perishable cargo ended up   
   scattered on the roadway.   
      
   Porter, the NCS, later said that he was "quite surprised" to get a call   
   regarding a land-based emergency but also understood why this might happen,   
   given that the Net's availability on 14.300 MHz daily from 1600 to 0200 UTC,   
   and the fact that many hams are aware of its existence.   
      
   Several weeks earlier, on June 18, MMSN NCS Donald Plunkett, VA6FH, was   
   called by a trucker-ham who reported a serious motor vehicle accident   
   involving a truck and a car outside of Stockton, Texas. The station calling   
   in requested that the net contact the Texas Department of Public Safety,   
   since he was outside of cell phone and VHF/UHF repeater range. Emergency   
   units were sent to the scene. Read more. -- Thanks to Hurricane Watch Net   
   Manager Bobby Graves, KB5HAV   
      
   SKYWARN Volunteers Muster as Severe Weather, Tornado Hit Southern New   
   England   
      
   When severe weather erupted in Southern New England on July 27 and 28,   
   SKYWARN volunteers went on alert to help forecasters track conditions and,   
   afterward, to assist authorities with assessing damage. [SKYWARN.jpg] A   
   super-cell storm system organized over northern Norfolk County,   
   Massachusetts, on the morning of July 28 and raced through portions of   
   northeastern Massachusetts, causing wind damage in sections of Needham,   
   SKYWARN Coordinator and ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Assistant Section   
   Emergency Coordinator Rob Macedo, KD1CY, reported.   
      
   "The storm was tracked using the SKYWARN self-activation protocol," he said.   
   The system subsequently generated an EF-2 tornado, which swept through   
   Revere, Massachusetts, leaving a swath of significant damage in its wake.   
   "Within 15 or 20 minutes of the storm's passage, the Amateur Radio SKYWARN   
   network received reports of many trees and wires down and structural damage   
   in Revere," Macedo said. "Other pockets of straight-line wind damage and   
   flash flooding occurred elsewhere in Southern New England, rounding out a   
   2-day stretch of severe weather in the region."   
      
   SKYWARN Spotters Jim Palmer, KB1KQW, and Marek Kozubal, KB1NCG, worked with   
   National Weather Service-Taunton Warning Coordination Meteorologist Glenn   
   Field, KB1GHX, local first responders, and Massachusetts Emergency   
   Management Agency personnel in surveying the damage. All are associated with   
   WX1BOX, the Amateur Radio Station at NWS-Taunton.   
      
   According to the NWS-Taunton office, the tornado, with winds estimated at   
   between 100 and 120 MPH, affected both Chelsea and Revere, but most of the   
   damage was in Revere. The NWS said the tornado traveled 2 miles, leaving a   
   path some 3/8-mile wide. The Weather Channel said the tornado affected a   
   3-square mile residential area of Revere, damaging more than 60 homes and   
   business and leaving upward of 3000 residences without power. A temporary   
   shelter was opened to handle those displaced by the storm. In addition,   
   significant flash flooding affected the Boston Metro West region, with   
   rainfall of up to 3.5 inches recorded in less than an hour.   
      
   Macedo said another round of severe weather occurred later in the day on   
   July 28, affecting northwestern and north-central Massachusetts through   
   southern New Hampshire, with additional severe thunderstorms taking place   
   across north-central Connecticut. "These severe thunderstorms caused pockets   
   of flash flooding and straight-line wind damage," Macedo's report said. July   
   28's severe weather events followed an 8-hour severe weather episode that   
   had affected parts of Western and Central New England the previous day. Read   
   more.   
      
   California Hams Activate to Support Shelter Communications Following   
   Wildfire   
      
   Amateur Radio volunteers in California's Tuolumne County assisted local   
   emergency managers and the American Red Cross by supporting communication at   
   a shelter in Groveland, set up in the wake of the El [ARES%20logo.jpg]   
   Portal Fire in Yosemite National Park. The National Park Service reported   
   that the fire got its start in the community of El Portal on July 26, and   
   evacuations were ordered for Foresta and Old El Portal, area campgrounds   
   emptied, and roads closed.   
      
   Tuolumne County ARES Emergency Coordinator Carl Croci, NI6Z, reported that   
   several radio amateurs responded. A UHF and VHF repeater were cross-banded   
   to cover the necessary expanse between Fresno, site of the Red Cross   
   Headquarters, and the shelter site in Groveland.   
      
   Radio amateurs were able to stand down the following day after a 20 hour   
   communications emergency. Eight pieces of traffic were handled. -- Thanks to   
   Carl Croci, NI6Z, and Fresno County ARES EC/RACES Radio Officer Glen Caine,   
   N6HEW   
      
   Ad   
   ARRL DXCC and Awards Manager Bill Moore, NC1L, Recuperating Following   
   Accident   
      
   ARRL DXCC and Awards Manager Bill Moore, NC1L, was seriously injured in a   
   single-car accident on the afternoon of Thursday, July 3.   
      
   Moore suffered a broken neck and other injuries and is paralyzed from the   
   chest down. He is stable and recuperating in a Newington rehabilitation   
   facility. There is no timetable for his return to work at ARRL Headquarters.   
      
   DXCC and awards questions that would normally be handled by Moore should be   
   sent to one of the e-mail addresses listed on the DXCC Contacts web page.   
      
   Cards and get-well wishes are appreciated, and should be sent to Bill Moore,   
   NC1L, 92 Reservoir Rd, Newington, CT 06111.   
      
   ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest Weekends Are Just Around the Corner!   
      
   Experimentation, building, and contesting all come together on the weekends   
   of August 16-17 and September 20-21, when radio amateurs can competitively   
   explore the microwave portion of the radio spectrum during the 2014 ARRL 10   
   GHz and Up Contest. The contest period on both weekends runs from 6 AM local   
   time on Saturday until midnight local time on Sunday.   
      
   Larry, KG6EG, operates during the 2012 ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest.   
      
   The exchange is your six-character Maidenhead Locator or "Grid Square," (eg,   
   FN64co). Participants earn points based on the distance of each contact.   
   Operating from several locations during the event not only is allowed, it's   
   encouraged. Many stations will run just a few hundred milliwatts, using   
   parabolic dishes to maximize gain. Along with line-of-sight contacts --   
   often made from mountaintops -- stations may make use of tropospheric and   
   rainfall scatter or bounce signals off large objects, such as buildings or   
   mountains.   
      
   A list of resources with more information is available. Complete rules and   
   entry forms are on the ARRL website.   
      
   All logs must be e-mailed or postmarked no later than 2359 UTC on Tuesday,   
   October 21, 2014. Send paper logs to ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest, 225 Main   
   St, Newington, CT 06111.   
      
   ARRL RTTY Rookie Roundup Not Just for Newbies   
      
   The ARRL Rookie Roundup returns to RTTY Sunday, August 17, 1800 UTC through   
   2359 UTC. This event provides a unique opportunity for new operators   
   (licensed 3 years or fewer) to gain RTTY contesting skills. Rookie Roundup   
   events take place three times a year: SSB in April, RTTY in August, and CW   
   in December.   
      
   During the contest Rookies can work anyone, while veteran   
   operators only work Rookies. Experienced hams are also encouraged to host   
   Rookies at their stations and to provide guidance during the contest.   
   Single-Operator Rookie entrants can form teams, but teams must register   
   beforehand. A multioperator category is also available for stations hosting   
   more than one Rookie operator.   
      
   Rookies call "CQ RR" (CQ Rookie Roundup), while veteran ops call "CQ R" (CQ   
   Rookies). Exchange the call sign of the station you're working, your call   
   sign, your first name, the two-digit number of the year first you were   
   licensed, and your state, Canadian province, Mexican call area, or DX.   
      
   RTTY Rookie Roundup participants can log the contest using either the paper   
   forms provided on the Rookie Roundup web page or by using the real-time In   
   The Log website. Once the contest is over and you've calculated your score,   
   complete the Rookie Roundup Online Score Submission Form to submit your   
   score; no logs are necessary. Entrants must fill out this form to enter, and   
   all entries are due within 72 hours (3 days) of the end of the contest.   
      
   For more information, contact ARRL Contest Branch Manager Matt Wilhelm,   
   W1MSW.   
      
   A Century of Amateur Radio and the ARRL   
      
   The FCC made numerous rules changes during the 1970s -- some major, and many   
   minor. The Commission had to work hard to keep up with rapidly advancing   
   technology as well as with call sign matters.   
      
   [ARRL%20Centennial%20Logo%20SMALL.jpg] Major changes included relaxed   
   logging requirements, which had always been stringent. The first rules   
   governing repeaters were released. Novices were allowed to use VFOs, not   
   just crystal control. The 2 meter sub-band for Technicians was expanded,   
   allowing operation between 145 and 148 MHz. Phone allocations on the HF   
   bands were widened.   
      
   In 1973, the FCC reduced to 1 year the time you had to have been licensed   
   before applying for the Amateur Extra class license. As repeaters became   
   more popular and more common, the FCC started issuing WR-prefix call signs   
   for repeater stations (these were phased out in the 1980s). In 1976 and   
   1977, the FCC, in steps, began allowing Amateur Extras to apply for specific   
   1 x 2 call signs. The first Extras allowed to apply were those licensed the   
   longest. This system preceded the current vanity call sign system and was   
   purely a bonus for hams who had reached the top rung of the licensing   
   ladder.   
      
   In 1977 the FCC dropped the mobile and portable operation ID requirements   
   and further expanded Technician privileges on 2 meters to permit operation   
   from 144.5 to 148 MHz. Technicians also gained privileges on the Novice   
   sub-bands. Novices were allowed to run up to 250 W, and even higher-class   
   licensees were limited to that power while operating in the Novice segments.   
   As the ham radio population grew, the pool of available call signs became   
   shallow, and the FCC started issuing 2 x 2 call signs (beginning with W) to   
   Amateur Extra licensees.   
      
   In 1978, Novice licenses became renewable, with a 5-year term. The FCC   
   eliminated the Conditional license; those licensees became Generals.   
   Technician licensees gained all amateur privileges above 50 MHz. Because so   
   many CB operators were using linear amplifiers to "enhance" their 5 W   
   signals, the FCC outlawed commercially manufactured amplifiers that could   
   operate between 24 and 35 MHz. The FCC also dropped the requirement to   
   obtain a new call district-appropriate call sign when moving from one   
   district to another.   
      
   During the late 1970s, the FCC had to work hard to keep up with ham radio!   
      
   Next week, we'll look at what happened to Amateur Radio on the technical   
   front during the 1970s.   
      
   In Brief   
      
   W100AW/4 August Activation Set from Huntsville   
   Hamfest: The North Alabama DX Club will activate W100AW/4 from the   
   Huntsville Hamfest -- the ARRL Southeastern Division Convention and a   
   Regional ARRL Centennial Event. Plans call for two stations running CW and   
   SSB. Operations will begin at approximately 1800 UTC on Friday, August 15,   
   and conclude at 2000 UTC on Sunday, August 17. -- Thanks to Mark Brown,   
   N4BCD   
      
   Brian Justin, WA1ZMS,   
   Receives Brendan Medal: Microwave veteran Brian Justin, WA1ZMS, of Forest,   
   Virginia, has been awarded the first triennial Brendan Medal by the Irish   
   Radio Transmitters Society (IRTS) for his contribution to the promotion of   
   propagation studies on the transatlantic 2 meter path. Justin designed and   
   built a high-power 2 meter beacon on Apple Orchard Mountain in Bedford   
   County, Virginia, beamed toward Europe. The Brendan Awards are designed to   
   encourage experimentation with two-way transatlantic communication by radio   
   amateurs on 2 meters. IRTS President S‚amus McCague, EI8BP, presented the   
   award to Justin during the ARRL National Centennial Convention July 17-19 in   
   Hartford, Connecticut. Justin was the recipient of the 2013 ARRL Technical   
   Innovation Award, and he holds VUCC #1 for most of the microwave bands from   
   47 GHz up. -- Thanks to Geep Howell, WA4RTS   
      
   Radio Amateurs Are Among 2014 Radio Club of America Award   
   Winners: The Radio Club of America, RCA has announced its 2014 award   
   winners. The list includes several Amateur Radio licensees. The Barry   
   Goldwater Award: Norman "Doug" Grant, K1DG; The Jerry B. Minter Award:   
   Albert D. Helfrick, K2BLA; The President's Award: John Facella, K9FJ; The   
   Edgar F. Johnson Pioneer Citation: John S. Belrose, VE2CV/VE3CVV, and The   
   Young Achiever Award: Rohan Agrawal, KJ6LXV. These individuals and the other   
   2014 award winners will be honored at the Radio Club of America annual   
   banquet on November 22 at the New York Athletic Club in New York City.   
      
   France Permits Third-Party Communication During ARISS Contacts:   
   Telecommunications authorities in France now permit third-party   
   communication with the International Space Station. This will allow   
   unlicensed youngsters to speak directly with ISS crew members during Amateur   
   Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) educational contacts   
   instead of through a licensed control operator. ARISS-EU Chair Gaston   
   Bertels, ON4WF, reported that French State Secretary for Digital Affairs   
   Axelle Lemaire recently authorized the direct participation, under the   
   supervision of a licensed operator.   
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
   The K7RA Solar Update   
      
   Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington, reports: We saw a rise in solar   
   activity over the past week, with average daily sunspot number increasing   
   from 107.7 to 136.7. Average daily solar flux went from 125 for the previous   
   7 days to 149.6 for the current period, July 31 through August 6.   
      
   Predicted solar flux is 135 on August 7, 130 on August   
   8, 125 for August 9-10, then 120, 110 and 105 for August 11-13,   
   respectively, 110 for August 14-16, 100 for August 17-19, 105 for August   
   20-21, 110 on August 22, 115 on August 23, 120 for August 24-26, 125 for   
   August 27-28, 120 for August 29-30, and jumping to 150 on August 31 through   
   September 3.   
      
   Predicted planetary A index is 8 for August 7-8, 5 for August 9-21, 8 for   
   August 22-23, 5 for August 24-27, and 8 for August 28-29.   
      
   Last week's bulletin reported computer network issues at Canada's Dominion   
   Radio Astrophysical Observatory in Penticton, British Columbia. The   
   Observatory came back online and caught up with some backlogged data, but   
   it's now offline again. Judging by a government announcement, the problems   
   apparently resulted from a cyber attack (thanks to Elwood Downey, WB0OEW,   
   for the news tip).   
      
   This weekly "Solar Update" in The ARRL Letter is a preview of the   
   "Propagation Bulletin" issued each Friday. The latest bulletin and an   
   archive of past propagation bulletins is on the ARRL website.   
      
   In this Friday's bulletin look for an updated forecast. We also hope to   
   relay some reports from readers. Send me your reports and observations.   
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
   Just Ahead in Radiosport   
      
    *  August 9-10 -- Worked All Europe (CW)   
    *  August 9 -- Straight Key Weekend Sprintathon   
    *  August 9-10 -- Maryland-DC QSO Party   
    *  August 9 -- Fall VHF Sprint - 50 MHz   
    *  August 9 -- NJQRP Skeeter Hunt (SSB, CW)   
    *  August 13-14 -- NAQCC Monthly QRP Sprint (CW)   
    *  August 16-17 -- ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest   
    *  August 16-17 -- SARTG WW RTTY Contest   
    *  August 16-17 -- 70 centimeter Digital EME Championship   
    *  August 16-17 -- Russian District Award Contest (SSB, CW)   
    *  August 16-17 -- Keymen's Club of Japan Contest (CW)   
    *  August 16-17 -- North American QSO Party (SSB)   
    *  August 16-17 -- Feld-Hell Gridloc Sprint   
    *  August 16 -- Dominican Republic Contest (SSB)   
    *  August 17 -- SARL Digital Contest   
    *  August 17 -- ARRL Rookie Roundup (RTTY)   
      
   See the ARRL Contest Calendar for more information.   
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
   Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events   
      
    *  August 7-9 -- Young Ladies Radio League Conventi