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   http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/?issue=2014-10-23   
      
   The ARRL Letter   
      
   October 23, 2014   
   Editor: Rick Lindquist, WW1ME   
      
    *  Radio Amateurs Play a Role in Separate Storm Responses   
    *  ARRL Board May Seek Member Input on 15 Meter Novice/Tech Digital   
       Privileges   
    *  IARU Administrative Council Resolution Seeks to Rein in Electromagnetic   
       Interference   
    *  Ninth Annual ARRL On-Line Auction is Now Underway!   
    *  W1AW Centennial Operations Head Next to Wyoming, Massachusetts, and US   
       Virgin Islands   
    *  ARRL Regional Centennial Conventions Wrap Up with Pacificon   
    *  ARRL November Sweepstakes: Another Chance at a "Clean Sweep" is Coming   
       Up!   
    *  The 2015 Edition of The ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications is Now   
       Available!   
    *  CQ Reconsiders Its Policy on Crimea for CQ-Sponsored Contests   
    *  IARU EMC Coordinator Thilo Kootz, DL9KCE, Presented with IEC 1906 Award   
    *  4M Moon Orbiter Carrying Ham Radio Payload Launching October 23   
    *  Edge of Space Sciences Balloon Flight Carrying Amateur Radio to Launch   
       October 25   
    *  A Century of Amateur Radio and the ARRL   
    *  Getting It Right!   
    *  The K7RA Solar Update   
    *  Just Ahead in Radiosport   
    *  Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events   
      
   Radio Amateurs Play a Role in Separate Storm Responses   
      
   Amateur Radio volunteers activated on opposite ends   
   of the US late last week and over the weekend as separate hurricanes struck   
   Bermuda and Hawaii. Both regions were prepared and fared well with no   
   deaths, serious injuries, or major property damage reported.   
      
   Hurricane Gonzalo   
      
   Hurricane Gonzalo, the stronger of the two storms, was a Category 3   
   hurricane when it made a near-direct hit on Bermuda on Friday, October 17.   
   The Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) and the VoIP Hurricane Net (VoIPWX) gathered   
   ground-level weather information from the island and funneling it to the   
   National Hurricane Center's WX4NHC. Forecasters use these reports to better   
   predict a storm's path or intensity. Hurricane Specialist Stacey Stewart   
   used several Amateur Radio reports in NHC advisories, statements, and   
   discussions, Assistant WX4NHC Coordinator Julio Ripoll, WD4R, said.   
      
   The HWN opened on Thursday, October 16, and stayed up for some 41 hours. The   
   net used a primary frequency of 14.325 MHz and switched to 7.268 MHz as   
   conditions warranted.   
      
   "It was a report from John [Stevens], VP9NI, that let us know the eye had   
   made landfall on Bermuda," HWN Manager Bobby Graves, KB5HAV, reported. "His   
   report made the 9 PM AST Tropical Cyclone Update." Graves said VP9NI's   
   reports confirmed barometric pressure observations by Hurricane Hunter   
   aircraft, and the NHC mentioned his call sign in its update. VP9NI's battery   
   finally gave out just before midnight on Saturday, he added.   
      
   Only a weekend earlier, Tropical Storm Fay had hit   
   Bermuda, and Graves said he learned during the Gonzalo activation that Fay   
   had dealt Bermuda a bigger blow than he'd first heard. "Many hams had lost   
   their antennas," he said, while other hams' antennas were seriously damaged.   
   Some radio amateurs on Bermuda quickly constructed makeshift antennas in   
   preparation for Gonzalo.   
      
   "Craig [Nikolai], VP9NL, was able to give us reports in the evening, as he   
   only had a 40 meter dipole with one leg barely off the ground," Graves   
   recounted. "John, VP9NI, gave us many reports on 20 meters until losing   
   commercial power. With only a 20 meter NVIS antenna about 5 feet off the   
   ground and using the battery from a computer UPS, John was able to continue   
   feeding us reports hourly on 20 and 40 meters while running about 12 W."   
   Other stations checking into the HWN included Glen Cuoco, VP9ID, and Ed   
   Kelly, VP9GE. "Giving stations in the affected area advance notice of   
   activation plans and gathering data as to what type of antenna and power   
   output to expect really paid off," Graves added.   
      
   Nearly all of Bermuda's residents lost power, dozens of roads were blocked   
   by downed trees and limbs, and some damage to structures was also reported.   
      
   Rob Macedo, KD1CY, Director of Operations for the VoIP Hurricane Net, which   
   also activated for Gonzalo, said that while its key Amateur Radio contact   
   was not on Bermuda, it was able to gather many reports from storm bloggers   
   on the Caribbean Hurricane Network, social media outlets, and Weather   
   Underground personal weather stations.   
      
   "We had constant contact with Marion Dyer in Pembroke, Hamilton, Bermuda,   
   through the WhatsApp software via cell phone, and Cell One Bermuda service   
   did remain up throughout the hurricane," Macedo said. Macedo said the VoIP   
   Hurricane Net also received post-hurricane reports and photos from Dyer from   
   around Bermuda.   
      
   Hurricane Ana   
      
   In Hawaii, the passage of Category 1 Hurricane Ana over the weekend was less   
   dramatic, and the storm skipped the most-populated island of Oahu for the   
   most part. ARRL Pacific Section Manager Bob Schneider, AH6J, reported that   
   ham radio volunteers supported shelter communications as Ana passed by   
   Hawaii, causing heavy rain, large waves, and some minor flooding.   
      
   "A request came from American Red Cross to deploy to the shelter at Ka'u   
   High School in Pahala," Schneider said. The school is in the southeastern   
   edge of the Big Island. "Sean Fendt, KH6SF, and I drove 45 miles and set up   
   HF and VHF communications." (Sean Fendt's wife Kimberly, WH6KIM, is the East   
   Hawaii DEC.)   
      
   "The shelter manager was very happy to see us, because in the last [weather]   
   event they lost power and communications and had a full house. This time it   
   was almost a non-event with the hurricane staying offshore to the south and   
   west. There was quite a bit of rain and one road closure due to flooding.   
   One couple that stayed in the shelter last night had been through several   
   typhoons in Japan and didn't want to take any chances, even though later   
   forecasts showed tracks well offshore."   
      
   Schneider said those later forecast tracks did not reveal the large amount   
   of rain the storm brought along. The ARES volunteers primarily used HF on 40   
   meters, although they also made use of a VHF repeater that was linked to the   
   Big Island Wide Area Repeater Network (BIWARN).   
      
   "We sent a couple of voice messages to SKYWARN headquarters located at NWS   
   in Honolulu," Schneider recounted. "Other weather spotters were using mostly   
   Fldigi for messages to NWS. We were happy that there were no serious   
   problems and power stayed up." Read more. -- Thanks to the Hurricane Watch   
   Net, the VoIP Hurricane Net, ARRL Pacific SM Bob Schneider, AH6J, and The   
   Daily DX.   
      
   ARRL Board May Seek Member Input on 15 Meter Novice/Tech Digital Privileges   
      
   A proposal aired at the July ARRL Board of Directors meeting endorsing   
   additional HF digital privileges for Technicians and referred to the ARRL   
   Executive Committee (EC) for study came in for considerable discussion when   
   the EC met on October 4 in Memphis. The original motion by ARRL Southeastern   
   Division Director Doug Rehman, K4AC, called for a Petition for Rule Making   
   to the FCC seeking digital privileges for Techs on narrow segments of 80,   
   40, and 15 meters. Rehman's motion had noted that Technicians already enjoy   
   digital privileges on 10 meters, a band with highly variable propagation   
   that will diminish as the sunspot cycle declines.   
      
   After discussing the proposal's pros and cons,   
   the EC put the ball back into the Board's court in a modified form: The EC   
   recommended that the Board consider soliciting input from the membership on   
   adding Novice/Technician data privileges within their existing 15 meter   
   subband. In his original proposal, Rehman had pointed out that text   
   messaging, a medium preferred by today's youth, bears "great similarity with   
   amateur digital communications."   
      
   "This is not a proposal that the Board adopt data privileges for Techs and   
   Novices on 15 meters as an objective, and it is most definitely not an ARRL   
   proposal to the FCC," stressed ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, a non-voting   
   member of the EC. "That would come later, if at all, after the Board has had   
   an opportunity to weigh membership input."   
      
   In other matters, ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, told the EC to   
   expect an FCC Notice of Proposed Rule Making "sometime in the next few   
   months" that will propose the elimination of the existing symbol rate limit   
   on HF data communication. The NPRM, in response to an ARRL Petition for Rule   
   Making filed last November, is expected to leave open for comment the   
   specific bandwidth limitation that should replace it, and it may address   
   additional topics.   
      
   Imlay also briefed the committee on recent discussions with US House   
   Telecommunications Subcommittee staff regarding "The Amateur Radio Parity   
   Act of 2014." The bill, H.R. 4969, had attracted 47 co-sponsors by the time   
   Congress recessed. Another 10 representatives have committed to signing on   
   when Congress returns next month after the elections.   
      
   Imlay noted there has been no action on the League's 2012 Petition for Rule   
   Making to create an MF Amateur Service allocation at 472-479 kHz, nor on ET   
   Docket 12-338, regarding implementation of the Final Acts of World   
   Radiocommunication Conference 2007. There also was nothing new to report   
   regarding other allocation issues, including an Amateur Service allocation   
   at 135.7-137.8 kHz and upgrading 1900-2000 kHz to primary. Read more.   
      
   IARU Administrative Council Resolution Seeks to Rein in Electromagnetic   
   Interference   
      
   The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Administrative Council has   
   called upon International Telecommunication Union (ITU) signatory nations to   
   take steps to ensure that the operation of "electrical apparatus or   
   installations of any kind, including power and telecommunication   
   distribution networks," does not cause harmful interference to Amateur Radio   
   operations. The Council adopted a resolution expressing concern with the   
   "rapid and largely uncontrolled growth" in devices that generate RF energy   
   "as an unnecessary and undesirable consequence of their operation." It cited   
   such devices as switching power supplies, power inverters, plasma video   
   displays, and wireline telecommunication systems that employ such   
   technologies as Broadband over Power Lines (BPL).   
      
   The AC said new technologies such as wireless power transfer are likely to   
   be deployed widely in the near future, and it expressed "deep concern" that   
   present standards, regulations, and enforcement resources are inadequate to   
   protect radio services, including Amateur Radio, from harmful interference.   
      
   The Council's action, which came during its annual   
   meeting on September 27 and 28 in Albena, Bulgaria, followed the   
   recommendation of IARU EMC Coordinator Thilo Kootz, DL9KCE. The resolution   
   encourages IARU member-societies and regional organizations "to pursue   
   implementation of the resolution as a matter of the highest priority,"   
   requests standards-setting bodies and regulators to fully support the   
   resolution's objectives, and implores designers and manufacturers to   
   "minimize radio spectrum pollution emanating from their products."   
      
   The AC also revised and updated a 2008 resolution concerning operating   
   practices. Noting that Amateur Radio relies on self-regulation for effective   
   use of its allocations, and that "poor operating behavior adversely affects   
   the enjoyment of all radio amateurs," the Council encouraged all radio   
   amateurs to operate proficiently and with "proper consideration for others   
   using the Amateur Radio bands." The Council urged IARU member-societies to   
   teach and promote correct operating behavior.   
      
   Council members also reviewed IARU positions on each WRC-15 agenda item   
   relating to or affecting Amateur Radio, including Agenda Item 1.4, the   
   addition of a new allocation within the band 5250-5450 kHz, which the AC   
   called "a high priority for the Amateur service." WRC-15 will consider "the   
   possibility of making an allocation of an appropriate amount of spectrum,   
   not necessarily contiguous, to the Amateur Service on a secondary basis   
   within the band 5250-5450 kHz."   
      
   As 2015 will mark the 150th anniversary of the ITU, the Administrative   
   Council adopted the theme "ITU & IARU: Celebrating 150 years of Advancing   
   the Telecommunication Art" for the next World Amateur Radio Day, April 18,   
   2015. Read more.   
      
   Ninth Annual ARRL On-Line Auction is Now Underway!   
      
   Bidding for the ninth annual ARRL On-Line Auction is now underway. More than   
   230 items are on the block, including 24 pieces of gear that were the   
   subject of QST "Product Review" articles and road tested by the ARRL   
   Laboratory team. In addition to other miscellaneous transceivers and   
   accessories there are more than 100 vintage books.   
      
   "We also have a number of one-of-a-kind pieces, including a hardcover 2014   
   Centennial edition of The ARRL Handbook, imprinted with 'Hiram Percy Maxim,   
   W1AW' to honor our founding president, plus another hardcover 2014   
   Centennial Handbook bearing the number 100," said ARRL Sales Manager Deb   
   Jahnke, K1DAJ. "You'll also find unique items, such as an autographed script   
   from the popular television series 'Last Man Standing' starring Tim Allen.   
   Ham radio has been mentioned in several episodes, and now Tim Allen is   
   licensed for real."   
      
   Proceeds from the On-Line Auction benefit ARRL educational programs,   
   including activities aimed at licensing new hams, strengthening Amateur   
   Radio's emergency service training, offering continuing technical and   
   operating education, and creating instructional materials.   
      
   The Yaesu FTdx1200 HF+50 MHz transceiver reviewed by QST is among the 2014   
   On-Line Auction items.   
      
   Bidding in the 2014 auction ends at 0300 UTC on October 31 (the evening of   
   October 30 in US time zones). Check items in which you have an interest, as   
   bidding end times for each item are staggered.   
      
   If you have participated in a previous ARRL On-Line Auction, you may use the   
   passwords you have used on this site before. Your ARRL website user ID and   
   password will not work on the auction site. Check your ARRL user profile to   
   ensure that all address and credit card information remains the same.   
      
   Newcomers to the ARRL On-Line Auction must first register in order to   
   participate.   
      
   W1AW Centennial Operations Head Next to Wyoming, Massachusetts, and US   
   Virgin Islands   
      
   The ARRL Centennial W1AW portable operations taking place throughout 2014   
   from each of the 50 states are now in Nevada and West Virginia. They will   
   transition at 0000 UTC on Wednesday, October 29 (the evening of October 28   
   in US time zones), to Wyoming (W1AW/7) and Massachusetts (W1AW/1). W1AW/KP2   
   also will be active until November 5 from the US Virgin Islands. So far   
   during 2014, W1AW has visited each of the 50 states for at least 1 week, and   
   by year's end W1AW will have been on the air from every state at least   
   twice.   
      
   The ARRL Centennial QSO Party kicked off on 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. Participants must work W1AW/1 in Connecticut.) A W1AW   
   WAS certificate and plaque will be available.   
      
   An ARRL Centennial QSO Party leader board shows participants 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.   
      
   ARRL Regional Centennial Conventions Wrap Up with Pacificon   
      
   Pacificon -- the ARRL Pacific Division Convention held over the October   
   11-12 weekend in Santa Clara, California -- was arguably the last major   
   Amateur Radio gathering of 2014. It also was the last of six ARRL Regional   
   Centennial Conventions. As such, said ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, it   
   was even more memorable.   
      
   "We continued to hear from members   
   about their enjoyment of the ARRL Centennial operating events," President   
   Craigie said. "Several people had been to the National Convention in   
   Hartford and were enthusiastic in their praise for the event. As the   
   convention aspect of the Centennial year draws to a close, I am especially   
   appreciative of the host organizations that cooperated with the ARRL on the   
   Regional events, so we could spread the fun around the country." The first   
   Regional Centennial Convention was the Orlando Hamcationr in February.   
      
   In her Pacificon banquet keynote address President Craigie praised the ARRL   
   Headquarters staff for "an amazing job" in organizing ARRL Centennial   
   activities during 2014 and thanked all who "made the Centennial the fun that   
   it is."   
      
   President Craigie told her audience that the most important thing the League   
   does is advocacy. "Think of the ARRL over the last 100 years as a strong   
   voice speaking out for Amateur Radio," she said. She pointed out that had   
   ARRL co-founder Hiram Percy Maxim not advocated strongly for federal   
   authorities to permit the resumption of Amateur Radio following the World   
   War I shutdown, "we wouldn't be here this evening talking about Amateur   
   Radio."   
      
   She also expressed appreciation to the ARRL membership for the success to   
   date of the Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2014, H.R. 4969. The bill has   
   attracted 47 co-sponsors. "It's taken all of us," she said.   
      
   A W100AW/6 special event station was on the air during Pacificon, which is   
   sponsored by the Mount Diablo Amateur Radio Club (MDARC).   
      
   At Pacificon, John Bigley, N7UR, was named the 2014 ARRL Pacific Division   
   "Ham of the Year." He is the editor of the Nevada Amateur Radio Newswire.   
      
   Photos from Pacificon have been posted on the League's Facebook page. Read   
   more. -- Thanks to Randy Hall, K7AGE (video), and Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R   
      
   ARRL November Sweepstakes: Another Chance at a "Clean Sweep" is Coming Up!   
      
   In a few short days, operators across all 83 ARRL and Radio Amateurs of   
   Canada (RAC) sections will take to the airwaves to compete in the first of   
   two ARRL November Sweepstakes events. Always a fall favorite "Sweeps" is the   
   longest-running "domestic" contest. The CW event is November 1-3, while the   
   SSB event is November 15-17. The action on both weekends gets underway at   
   2100 UTC Saturday and runs through 0259 UTC Monday (Sunday evening in   
   continental US time zones).   
      
   As veteran Sweeps hands already know,   
   the exchange for this operating event is a bit more involved than it is for   
   most other contests. Strange terms such as "precedence" and "check" -- while   
   very familiar to old timers and traffic operators -- may seem confusing at   
   first to newcomers. The exchange goes like this: Call sign of the station   
   worked, consecutive serial number (NR) starting with 001, precedence (PREC)   
   -- a letter that indicates your operating category; see the rules), your   
   call sign, check (CK) -- the last two numerals of the year you were first   
   licensed, and the two or three-letter abbreviation of your ARRL or RAC   
   section (SEC).   
      
   In your log, for example, if WW1ME works W1MSW, the log entry might look   
   like this:   
      
   Station NR CK My Call CK SEC   
      
   W1MSW 015 A WW1ME 65 ME   
      
   All popular logging programs include a template for ARRL November   
   Sweepstakes. Be sure to use the latest version of your logger.   
      
   It may seem difficult and complicated at first, but once you get into the   
   swing of Sweeps, it will start coming naturally. That's also where it starts   
   being fun.   
      
   The 2014 ARRL November Sweepstakes Operating Guide contains a collection of   
   Sweepstakes information and links to help both newbies and old timers to   
   understand the rules, operating techniques, and log-submission guidelines.   
   Be sure to read the rules for all ARRL contests, too.   
      
   The holy grail of Sweepstakes is to earn a "Clean Sweep" by working at least   
   one station in all 83 sections. Attain this elite level and you qualify to   
   purchase a highly desired Clean Sweep mug for your accomplishment! Also, the   
   Sweepstakes certificate of every op making a Sweep will include a "Clean   
   Sweep" sticker.   
      
   Icom is the Principal Awards Sponsor for ARRL November Sweepstakes. For more   
   information about Sweepstakes, contact ARRL Contest Branch Manager Matt   
   Wilhelm, W1MSW. Read more.   
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
   The 2015 Edition of The ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications is Now   
   Available!   
      
   The 2015 ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications is now shipping, and, while   
   supplies last, you can get the hardcover edition for the softcover price.   
   The ARRL Handbook provides the theory, practical information, and   
   construction details to expand your knowledge and skill as an Amateur Radio   
   operator and experimenter.[Handbook%202015.jpg] This 92nd edition of The   
   ARRL Handbook is at the forefront of the growing field of wireless   
   telecommunications. The book covers not only the fundamentals of radio   
   electronics -- analog and digital -- but also offers practical circuit and   
   antenna designs as well as information on computer-aided design, digital   
   operating modes, equipment troubleshooting, and reducing RF interference.   
      
   Many projects and construction articles are included to help enhance your   
   station and expand your participation as an active radio experimenter.   
      
   Practical applications and solutions make The ARRL Handbook a must-have for   
   hobbyists and technical professionals. For years now, the Handbook has been   
   a staple on the work bench and operating desk as well as in university   
   libraries and classrooms.   
      
   The ARRL Handbook is available in hardcover and softcover from the ARRL   
   Store or your ARRL Dealer. Hardcover, ARRL Order No. 0218, ISBN:   
   978-1-62595-020-8, $59.95 retail, special offer $49.95. Softcover, ARRL   
   Order No. 1920, ISBN: 978-1-62595-019-2, $49.95 retail. Call (860) 594-0355   
   or, toll-free in the US, (888) 277-5289.   
      
   CQ Reconsiders Its Policy on Crimea for CQ-Sponsored Contests   
      
   CQ has reversed its just-announced policy that it would no longer accept   
   logs for any CQ-sponsored contest from stations in Crimea operating with   
   Russian-issued call signs and is adopting a new policy that is in harmony   
   with ARRL's DXCC policy. In announcing the shift, CQ Publisher Dick Ross,   
   K2MGA, cited concerns raised by "a large number of contesters around the   
   world" that CQ was unfairly denying Crimean radio amateurs the opportunity   
   to fully participate in CQ-sponsored contests.   
      
   [CQ.JPG] "Since the country list for CQ contests is based on a combination   
   of the Worked All Europe (WAE) and ARRL DXCC lists, and the ARRL has already   
   adopted a policy regarding Crimean stations in its award and contest   
   programs, we will amend our policy to be consistent with the ARRL's DXCC   
   policy," Ross said.   
      
   Ross said that listings of Crimean stations submitting logs for CQ contests   
   will be based upon the call sign under which they operated. "If they used   
   Russian-issued calls in the contest, they will be listed under Russia; if   
   they used Ukrainian-issued calls in the contest, they will be listed under   
   Ukraine," he said.   
      
   Ross said the revised policy "reflects not only the desire of many   
   contesters around the world, but also of a large majority of members of the   
   CQ World Wide DX Contest Committee."   
      
   CQ sponsors several major international operating events, including the CQ   
   World Wide DX contests.   
      
   IARU EMC Coordinator Thilo Kootz, DL9KCE, Presented with IEC 1906 Award   
      
   IARU EMC Coordinator Thilo Kootz, DL9KCE/AD7IY, has been presented with the   
   IEC 1906 Award. Kootz received the award during   
   the plenary session of CISPR (the Special   
   International Committee on Radio Interference) held in Frankfurt on October   
   20. CISPR sets standards for controlling electromagnetic interference in   
   electrical and electronic devices and is a part of the International   
   Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). Kootz represents the IARU at CISPR,   
   overseeing the protection of radio reception.   
      
   According to CISPR, Kootz received the honor for his "significant   
   contributions in defining the disturbance models and especially in   
   developing the model for radiated emission limits in the frequency range   
   below 30 MHz" for a section of a CISPR publication, Specification for Radio   
   Disturbance and Immunity Measuring Apparatus and Methods.   
      
   He also contributed to the development of the radio services database of the   
   CISPR 31 publication, Database on the Characteristics of Radio Services, and   
   he made several technical contributions for the disturbance model of   
   grid-connected power converter devices and installations and actively   
   contributed to the work of generic emission standards. Read more.   
      
   4M Moon Orbiter Carrying Ham Radio Payload Launching October 23   
      
   The Manfred Memorial Moon Mission (4M) lunar flyby experiment, which will   
   carry an Amateur Radio payload, was scheduled to launch from China on   
   October 23 with lunar flyby to occur, nominally, on October 28. During the   
   lunar flyby, the spacecraft will be about nearly 248,000 miles from Earth   
   and between 7440 and 14,480 miles from the Moon.   
      
   The ham radio payload will transmit continuously on 145.990 MHz using JT65B   
   mode, which can be decoded using a version of the free WJST software that   
   Joe Taylor, K1JT, developed especially for this mission. The 14 kg   
   battery-powered payload known as 4M-LXS, was developed at LUXspace in   
   Luxembourg.   
      
   The launch was set for approximately 1759 UTC on October 23, and the lunar   
   flyby will take place at 0033 UTC on October 28. 4M is expected to begin   
   transmitting on October 23 between 1917 UTC and 1927 UTC   
      
   Gislain Ruy, LX2RG, of LUXspace said ground stations in the Southern   
   Hemisphere are best situated to listen for the spacecraft's first signals.   
      
   The onboard transmitter will put 1.5 W into a quarter-wave monopole antenna.   
   Read more. -- Thanks to LUXspace, AMSAT-UK, AMSAT News Service   
      
   Edge of Space Sciences Balloon Flight Carrying Amateur Radio to Launch   
   October 25   
      
   Students from Colorado and New Mexico plan to launch a balloon carrying   
   three ham radio payloads into near-space on October 25 from Deer Trail,   
   Colorado. The Douglas County, Colorado, STEM School and STEM Academy and   
   Spartan Amateur Radio Club, AB0BX, are sponsoring and coordinating the next   
   Edge of Space Sciences (EOSS) balloon mission -- EOSS-202. The "AB0BX   
   Spartan Space Sciences" mission involves students from several schools and   
   school Amateur Radio clubs. If successful, EOSS-202 will carry seven   
   student-designed payloads to an altitude of 100,000 feet. The plan calls for   
   recovering the parachute-equipped balloon once it descends back to Earth.   
   Onboard ham radio payloads will help to track the balloon during flight and   
   recovery and also transmit telemetry during the mission.   
      
   "On this flight we have three ham radio signals coming   
   down from the balloon, all related to EOSS's tracking and recovery," Flight   
   Coordinator Jim Langsted, KC0RPS, told ARRL. These are AE0SS, the CW beacon   
   used for direction finding, used to help locate the payload string once the   
   balloon is back on the ground; AE0SS-11, the primary APRS beacon, which   
   shows the balloon's position and provides a telemetry data stream that   
   includes battery voltage, reference voltage, barometric pressure, inside   
   temperature, and outside temperature, and AB0BX-11, the secondary APRS   
   beacon. All payloads will transmit on 2 meters.   
      
   Langsted said the AE0SS payload also can receive a signal from the ground to   
   cut away the balloon from the payload string to terminate the flight, if   
   necessary. "A secondary flight termination method such as this is required   
   by FAA regulation," he explained. "The primary flight termination method is   
   balloon burst."   
      
   The plan calls for seven payloads. Many of the students involved are radio   
   amateurs. Another 30 have expressed interest in getting licensed. Read more.   
      
   A Century of Amateur Radio and the ARRL   
      
   A first took place on Space Shuttle mission STS-37. SAREX (Shuttle Amateur   
   Radio EXperiment) provided live communication from the shuttle into many   
   school classrooms to teach the students about space exploration and Amateur   
   Radio.   
      
   In July 1991, N6CA and KH6HME set a new record on 3456 MHz between   
   California and Hawaii. Each was running 5 W to a 4-foot dish.   
      
   In 1992, after 8 years as ARRL   
   President, Larry Price, W4RA, declined to run for re-election. The League's   
   Board of Directors subsequently chose him as the next International Affairs   
   Vice President, which provides liaison with the IARU, which Price served as   
   Secretary. George Wilson, W4OYI, succeeded Price as ARRL President.   
      
   N7FKI and W7ZOI reported in the March 1992 QST that they had built a   
   one-transistor 10 meter CW transmitter and made contacts with it using lemon   
   power -- essentially a cell made by inserting appropriate electrodes into a   
   lemon. If life gives you lemons, make contacts!   
      
   During the early 1990s, interest in digital communication grew, and QST   
   published many articles on the subject that helped fan the flames. Also,   
   hams became interested in the old concept of direct-conversion receivers.   
   KK7B presented one of the best in the August 1992 issue of QST. Another old   
   receiver circuit was also revived -- the regenerative receiver. WJ1Z   
   described one for 40 meters in the September 1992 issue of QST.   
      
   By the early 1990s, digital signal processing (DSP) had made its appearance,   
   and had begun to be used by both homebrewing hams and equipment   
   manufacturers.   
      
   A September 1992 QST article, "ABC: The First Electronic Digital Computer,"   
   recounted the fascinating tale of the first real computer, the   
   Atanasoff-Berry computer -- a vacuum tube device -- designed in 1939 and   
   1940 by university professor John Atanasoff and built by electrical   
   engineering student Clifford Berry, W9TIJ. -- Al Brogdon, W1AB   
      
   Getting It Right!   
      
   A story, "Radio Amateurs Named to Order of Canada" in the August 14, 2014,   
   edition of The ARRL Letter contained incorrect information about the award   
   presented to Veena Rawat, VA3ITU. It should have said, "Rawat was honored as   
   an Officer of the Order of Canada for contributions to telecommunications   
   engineering and for her leadership in establishing a global regulatory   
   framework for radio spectrum management."   
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
   The K7RA Solar Update   
      
   Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington, reports: Solar activity is making a   
   healthy comeback, just in time for the SSB weekend of the CQ World Wide DX   
   Contest.   
      
   A series of large solar flares erupted this week. The most powerful was an   
   X1.6 flare on October 22. The sunspot is now directly facing Earth.   
      
   Average daily sunspot numbers rose from 55.1   
   during October 9-15 to 83.9 this week, and average daily solar flux   
   increased from 117.4 to 174.   
      
   The predicted solar flux for this weekend is 220, higher than on any day   
   since January 7. Prior to that, we didn't see solar flux values this high   
   since late October 2003. Accompanying the high solar flux back then was a   
   great deal of geomagnetic activity. On October 29, 2003, the mid-latitude A   
   index hit 199! Several 3-hour K index values were 9, the top of the scale.   
   On the same day the daily sunspot number was 330.   
      
   Predicted solar flux is 215 on October 23, 220 on October 24-27, 215 on   
   October 28-29, 205 on October 30, 140 on October 31, 130 on November 1-3,   
   dropping to a low of 110 on November 8, and rising to 180 on November 19-20.   
      
   Along with that relatively high solar flux this weekend will be unsettled   
   geomagnetic conditions.   
      
   The predicted planetary A index is 15 on October 23-24, 10 on October 25, 12   
   on October 26-27, 10 on October 28-29, 8 on October 30, 5 on October 31   
   through November 3, 8 on November 4, 10 on November 5, 8 on November 6-7, 5   
   on November 8-9, 8 on November 10-11, then 5 and 8 on November 12-13, 12 on   
   November 14-15, 15 and 12 on November 16-17, 15 on November 18-19, then 12,   
   10, and 8 on November 20-22, and 10 on November 23-24.   
      
   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 tomorrow's bulletin look for an updated forecast and reports from   
   readers. Send me your reports and observations.   
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
   Just Ahead in Radiosport   
      
    *   
       October 25-26 -- CQ World Wide SSB Contest   
    *   
       October 31-November 2 -- Haunted Lighthouse QSO Party   
    *   
       November 1 -- IPA Contest   
    *   
       November 1-2 -- Ukranian DX Contest   
    *   
       November 1-2 -- Himalayan Contest   
    *   
       November 1-2