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   http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/?issue=2014-12-11   
      
   The ARRL Letter   
   December 11, 2014   
   Editor: Rick Lindquist, WW1ME   
      
    *  ARRL's Logbook of The World Tops 100 Million QSL Records!   
    *  QST Celebrates Its Centennial in 2015   
    *  Art Zygielbaum, K0AIZ, Appointed ARRL Midwest Division Vice Director   
    *  Preliminary ARRL November Sweepstakes CW Results Posted   
    *  ARRL CW Rookie Roundup Returns on December 21!   
    *  W1AW Centennial Operations Up Next in Maryland, Hawaii, and Georgia   
    *  Financial Woes Reported at Dayton Hamventionr Venue, Hara Arena   
    *  Boy Scouts 2014 Jamboree On The Air Report Shows Drop in Participation   
    *  Philippine Hams Support Emergency Communication for Typhoon Hagupit   
    *  IARU Region 3, Asia-Pacific Telecommunity Formalize Relationship   
    *  WRTC-2018 Announces Team Selection Criteria   
    *  SSTV Transmissions from the International Space Station Set   
    *  ARISS Discusses Ham TV, Elects New International Officers   
    *  In Brief...   
    *  A Century of Amateur Radio and the ARRL   
    *  The K7RA Solar Update   
    *  Just Ahead in Radiosport   
    *  Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions and Events   
      
   ARRL's Logbook of The World Tops 100 Million QSL Records!   
      
   The ARRL's Logbook of The World (LoTW) online "card-less" contact-confirmation   
   service this week recorded a new milestone -- 100 million QSL records out of   
   some 630 million uploaded contacts. That's an increase of more than 18 million   
   QSL records since the end of last year. First described conceptually in the   
   October 2001 QST "It Seems to Us..." editorial, Logbook of The World launched   
   in September 2003. Since then, it has become an accepted Amateur Radio   
   institution -- perhaps not at the same level of traditional QSL cards, but   
   close and gaining. The 100 million contact confirmations, ARRL CEO David   
   Sumner, K1ZZ, pointed out, is the equivalent of 200 million QSL cards.   
      
   "If placed end to end, that many QSLs would reach more than 17,000 miles --   
   not quite all the way around the world, but enough to qualify as a 'long-path'   
   QSO," he quipped. ARRL CEO Harold Kramer, WJ1B, pointed out that using LoTW   
   can mean a considerable saving in postage for DXers and others over the   
   expense of exchanging QSL cards.   
      
   LoTW was an instant success. Within 2 weeks of its debut, the service already   
   had some 2200 registered users and had confirmed some 51,000 contacts out of   
   more than 8 million uploaded. The number of users today number more than   
   72,000 -- up by nearly 10,000 this year alone.   
      
   Over LoTW's 11-year lifetime, many logging programs have incorporated features   
   to enable them to interface smoothly with LoTW. Several awards programs,   
   starting with the ARRL DX Century Club (DXCC) award, now rely largely on LoTW   
   to determine whether an applicant has met the award's requirements. It's also   
   made it easier for award seekers to track their progress. LoTW is the only   
   means to confirm ARRL Centennial QSO Party contacts. The service also supports   
   VUCC, WAS, and WPX. Read more.   
      
   QST Celebrates Its Centennial in 2015   
      
   Although the ARRL celebrated its centennial this year, 2015 will be the   
   centennial year for QST magazine. First published in December 1915, QST is not   
   only the official membership journal of the ARRL, it is also the most widely   
   read Amateur Radio magazine in the world.   
      
   QST kicks off its celebration with a photo contest, which was announced in the   
   January 2015 issue as well as online. Winning photos will appear on several   
   QST covers throughout 2015 and each winning photographer will receive $250.   
      
   "We're hoping to showcase a number of member photos on 2015 covers," said QST   
   Editor in Chief Steve Ford, WB8IMY. "We've also planned a few 'surprise'   
   covers that I think readers will enjoy."   
      
   Each 2015 issue of QST will also contain articles and columns republished from   
   vintage issues. "The January issue reprinted the special declaration from the   
   January 1942 issue of QST concerning the cessation of amateur operations at   
   the start of the US entry into World War II," Ford said. "The statement was   
   originally printed on yellow stock, to make sure readers wouldn't miss it. We   
   duplicated that background color in our version as well."   
      
   Vintage articles will be reprinted exactly as they appeared originally. "We   
   chose articles based on either historical relevance or nostalgia value," Ford   
   said. "For instance, we'll be reprinting one of the first QST articles to   
   describe the use of transistors in Amateur Radio applications. For the April   
   Fool theme, readers should beware the reappearance of the infamous Larson E.   
   Rapp."   
      
   Ford went on to say that observant readers would be finding other treats in   
   2015 QSTs. "As space permits, we will be reprinting some vintage Gil   
   Gildersleeve cartoons. I'd advise readers to also be on the lookout for   
   occasional appearances of the beloved 'Stray' kitties. Long-time QST readers   
   will know what I mean." Read more.   
   Art Zygielbaum, K0AIZ, Appointed ARRL Midwest Division Vice Director   
      
   ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, has appointed Art Zygielbaum, K0AIZ, of   
   Lincoln, Nebraska, as Midwest Division Vice Director. He will fill the vacancy   
   created when incumbent Vice Director Rod Blocksome, K0DAS, was elected Midwest   
   Division Director. Zygielbaum said that when it was first suggested that he   
   consider the appointment, he hesitated because of his already-full schedule of   
   teaching, research, and volunteer activities.   
      
   "But, Amateur Radio has given me a focus that informed and provided technical   
   resources for my entire career," he said. "The skills I learned, the people I   
   met, and the spirit I inherited from my Elmers have served me well. Accepting   
   the Vice Director position is another way that I can give back to the hobby."   
      
   An ARRL Life Member, Zygielbaum served as Nebraska Section Manager from 2009   
   to 2013. He has been a Midwest Division Assistant Director since 2013. He is   
   also a member of the Air Force Military Auxiliary Radio Service (MARS) and   
   serves as Nebraska Deputy State AF MARS Director. He has been licensed since   
   1961.   
      
   His 3-year term as Midwest Division Vice Director will begin at noon Eastern   
   Time on January 1, 2015. Read more.   
   Preliminary ARRL November Sweepstakes CW Results Posted   
      
   Some preliminary results of the 2014 ARRL November Sweepstakes CW have been   
   posted to the ARRL website contest results page as a PDF document. The results   
   do not include line scores -- only category winners and Top 10 lists. The   
   results are pending final review. Contributing Editor Kelly Taylor, VE4XT, who   
   is compiling the statistics and authoring the article for this year's event,   
   noted that the 2014 running of the November CW Sweeps was remarkable for how   
   rare it was to make a "clean sweep."   
      
   "Only 102 stations worked all 83 sections, down from 258 sweeps in 2012," he   
   reported. Northern Territories (NT) was even more rare than usual. Only two NT   
   stations entered, and they made just 210 contacts between them. Of the eight   
   entry category winners, just five made a clean sweep this year, although the   
   other three came very close.   
      
   "No SS CW records were harmed in the running of the 2014 contest," Taylor   
   quipped.   
      
   ARRL CW Rookie Roundup Returns on December 21!   
      
   Recently licensed radio amateurs who have been working hard to improve their   
   Morse code proficiency will have a great opportunity to put their improved   
   skills to use on December 21, when the CW edition of the ARRL Rookie Roundup   
   returns to the airwaves.   
      
   A Rookie is any radio amateur who has been licensed for 3 years or less,   
   regardless of license class. If you received your license in 2012, 2013, or   
   2014, you're eligible to compete as a Rookie. Operators licensed before 2012   
   may compete and will be recognized in the final results, but they may only   
   submit check logs. Old Timers are encouraged to get on the air and work   
   Rookies.   
      
   There are many ways for Rookies to participate. They can enter in the Single   
   Operator category on their own, or they can compete in the Multioperator   
   category and join a group of other Rookies at one station, taking turns at the   
   key. Up to five Single Operator Rookies can operate from separate stations and   
   combine their scores as a team. Stations are allowed a maximum of 100 W,   
   Elmering is encouraged, and the use of spotting networks is permitted (but,   
   please, no self-spotting).   
      
   Rookies call "CQ RR" (CQ Rookie Roundup), while veteran ops call "CQ R" (CQ   
   Rookies). Rookies can work anyone, but non-Rookies can only work 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 licensed, and your state,   
   Canadian province, Mexican call area, or DX. You need not send any faster than   
   you can copy. Other operators should slow down (QRS) for you, and you will   
   work stations. If you're a veteran operator or a member of a club that   
   promotes CW activity, break out your straight key or paddle, send slowly, and   
   work some Rookies. You can show them how much fun CW can be!   
      
   Three Rookie Roundups -- SSB, RTTY, and CW -- are held each calendar year. The   
   CW Rookie Roundup will take place on Sunday, December 21, from 1800 UTC   
   through 2359 UTC.   
      
   Find ARRL on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter!   
   _____________________________________________________________________________   
      
   W1AW Centennial Operations Up Next in Maryland, Hawaii, and Georgia   
      
   The ARRL Centennial W1AW portable operations taking place throughout 2014 from   
   each of the 50 states are now in Indiana and Montana. They will transition at   
   0000 UTC on Wednesday, December 17 (the evening of December 16 in US time   
   zones), to Maryland (W1AW/3), Hawaii (W1AW/KH6), and Georgia (W1AW/4). By   
   December 31 W1AW will have been on the air from every state at least twice.   
      
   The ARRL Centennial QSO Party is open to all. 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. ARRL members, appointees, elected officials, HQ   
   staff and W1AW are worth ARRL Centennial QSO Party points as well.   
      
   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) username and   
   password.   
   _____________________________________________________________________________   
      
   Financial Woes Reported at Dayton Hamventionr Venue, Hara Arena   
      
   Hara Arena -- for many years the home of Dayton Hamventionr -- is facing some   
   financial issues and has cut back on its full-time staff to save money,   
   according to a WDTN-TV "2 News" account. The Dayton TV station reported on   
   December 2 that the Trotwood, Ohio complex now has a full-time staff of only   
   12 employees. Karen Wampler, Hara's Director of Marketing, told the TV station   
   that it's difficult for Hara Arena to compete with other Miami Valley venues,   
   such as the Nutter Center at Wright State University, but she hinted at a   
   positive announcement next year.   
      
   "As taxpayers, we're competing against facilities that are subsidized by tax   
   dollars, and because of that, we are struggling to compete," Wampler said.   
   "The primary challenges are that we need renovation dollars, and the ownership   
   model needs to be changed." The Wampler family has owned and operated Hara   
   Arena since its humble origins in the 1950s, when Wampler Ballarena -- then a   
   dance hall, now an exhibit hall familiar to Hamvention visitors -- was built   
   in what had been a family-owned orchard. Hara Arena has since expanded to a   
   165,000-square-foot, six-building complex.   
      
   Last year Hara Arena hosted 239 events, including Hamvention, generating an   
   estimated $34 million in community revenue. Wampler told 2 NEWS that the arena   
   is working with a company called VenuWorks, which specializes in restoring   
   event venues, and she anticipated some "very, very, good news in 2015."   
      
   Hara Arena has hosted everyone from The Rolling Stones and Kid Rock to   
   President George W. Bush over the years. It is home to the Dayton Demonz   
   hockey team.   
      
   "There's a lot of history," Wampler said.   
      
   Last year, Dayton Hamvention, sponsored by the Dayton Amateur Radio   
   Association, attracted nearly 25,000 visitors.   
      
   Boy Scouts 2014 Jamboree On The Air Report Shows Drop in Participation   
      
   The Boy Scouts of America 2014 Jamboree On The Air (JOTA) -- the 57th such   
   event -- reported an overall decline in JOTA participation from 2013 to 2014   
   by Boy Scout Councils, individual Scouts, and stations. The drop may be due in   
   part to the failure of some participating stations to file reports. JOTA takes   
   place each year on the third full weekend of October. The BSA also provided a   
   video report. Participation in the 2012 JOTA made a big jump, with 18,566   
   Scouts and visitors. In 2013, however, participation was down by nearly 4700   
   to 13,866, and this year it dropped by another 540 to 13,326. The BSA report   
   broke down that participation into 7208 Scouts and 5589 visitors in 2014.   
      
   "Our key concern is that roughly 40 percent of the stations that register   
   prior to the event fail to file a report after the event, a percentage that   
   has remained consistent over the past few years," National Jamboree on the Air   
   Organizer Jim Wilson, K5ND, told ARRL. "We are now conducting a survey with   
   the 130 stations that did not file a report in 2014 to see what we can do   
   better next year." According to the report, 354 stations registered to   
   participate, but only 205 filed reports.   
      
   Wilson said another concern is the drop-off in local Scout Council   
   participation, from 180 in 2012 to 148 in 2014. "The missing reports can no   
   doubt help somewhat with this, but we recognize that we need to do a better   
   job promoting the event to Scout Council staff and volunteers," he added.   
   "We've done a much better job getting the word out to the Amateur Radio   
   community, with some great assistance from the ARRL." Read more.   
   Philippine Hams Support Emergency Communication for Typhoon Hagupit   
      
   Amateur Radio volunteers in the Philippines activated emergency nets on HF and   
   VHF as Typhoon Hagupit -- called Typhoon Ruby locally -- raked slowly across   
   the islands over several days, weakening as it went. Before the typhoon   
   (hurricane) was downgraded to a tropical storm, though, upward of 3 dozen   
   people died, many as a result of drowning. Authorities took advantage of   
   advance weather warnings to evacuate up to 1 million residents from areas   
   prone to storm surges and flooding, likely minimizing the death toll. More   
   than half the population of Albay province was evacuated. The eastern island   
   of Samar was hardest hit, although the typhoon caused far less damage than had   
   initially been predicted.   
      
   "As Typhoon Hagupit entered its third day, ham operators continue to provide   
   essential traffic as the storm progresses through Philippine territory,"   
   Philippine Amateur Radio Association (PARA) Chief Operating Officer Thelma   
   Pascua, DU1IVT, reported over the weekend, while the storm was still raging.   
   She had expressed confidence that all emergency traffic would be "adequately   
   serviced." The typhoon made several landfalls before eventually exiting the   
   Philippines.   
      
   Members of the Ham Emergency Radio Operations (HERO) -- the PARA equivalent of   
   the US Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) -- monitored 7.095 MHz on HF and   
   144.740 MHz on VHF. Operators were able to support essential traffic as the   
   storm progressed. The typhoon's unhurried pace enabled HERO volunteers to   
   consolidate their communication assets.   
      
   HERO volunteer (and RADNET-5 president) Ronald Madera, DW5NLH, on December 6   
   reported that an elementary school building being used as an evacuation center   
   in Oras, Eastern Samar, had collapsed, injuring some evacuees. Since it was   
   the height of the typhoon, there was no volunteer in the provincial capital of   
   Borongan. Amateur Radio was used to send a rescue team request, which ended up   
   being relayed from station to station until it reached its intended recipients.   
      
   Some 150 stations checked into the emergency nets. At the request of the   
   National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), a station, DX1NTC, was set up at   
   the NTC headquarters. A PARA-affiliated club was tasked with providing   
   operators. Regional NTC offices also set up Amateur Radio stations, which were   
   operated by other PARA members. In addition to emergency traffic, the radio   
   amateurs also reported weather conditions and related developments when the   
   checked into the net. Other hams were embedded in various disaster and   
   risk-reduction operations centers and, as the storm passed through, radio   
   amateurs were helping civil defense authorities with damage assessment. --   
   Thanks to Jim Linton, VK3PC (Chairman IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications   
   Committee), and various news media   
   IARU Region 3, Asia-Pacific Telecommunity Formalize Relationship   
      
   International Amateur Radio Union Region 3 (IARU-R3) and the Asia-Pacific   
   Telecommunity (APT) have concluded a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed   
   at establishing collaboration between the two bodies in areas of mutual   
   interest. IARU Region 3 Chairman Gopal Madhavan, VU2GMN, and APT   
   Secretary-General Toshiyuki Yamada signed the MOU on their respective   
   organizations' behalf. Headquartered in Thailand, APT is one of the six   
   regional telecommunication organizations involved in spectrum-allocation   
   policy, as well as in fostering development of telecommunication services and   
   information infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific Region. As do CEPT in Europe   
   and CITEL in the Americas, APT's 38 member administrations hold a series of   
   meetings in advance of a World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) to develop   
   a regional perspective on the conference agenda items. WRC-2015 will be held   
   in Geneva next fall.   
      
   IARU Region 3 has been sending a representative and submitting information   
   documents to APT meetings for a number of years. The new MOU formalizes the   
   working relationship between the two regional entities and ensures that the   
   IARU, through its Region 3 organization, will be able to make its positions   
   known to APT. Read more.   
   WRTC-2018 Announces Team Selection Criteria   
      
   The WRTC-2018 Organizing Committee has announced the team selection criteria   
   for the next World Radiosport Team Championship. Ulf Ehrlich, DL5AXX,   
   spearheaded the development of the selection rules for the international   
   competition, which Germany is hosting. A World Radiosport Team Championship   
   features approximately 50 two-person Amateur Radio teams competing in a test   
   of operating skill. The event takes place during July, concurrent with the   
   IARU HF Championship. For WRTC-2018, a total of 49 team leaders will be   
   selected through qualifying events between February 2015 and November 2016.   
   The first qualifying event will be the 2015 ARRL International DX Contest (CW).   
      
   "As a special highlight, we want to give three youth teams the chance to fight   
   the battle together with the big ones," the WRTC-2018 organizers said in   
   announcing the selection criteria. The organizers said that based on feedback   
   received from previous competitors, they opted for fewer qualifying events and   
   a shorter qualification period. There are 32 qualifying events -- 30 for   
   Germany, 28 for the rest of Europe, and 26 for the rest of the world. A total   
   of the 12 best event scores will be used for qualifying.   
      
   WRTC-2018 organizers have added the Worked All Germany and IARU Region 1 Field   
   Day as new qualifying events, and have reduced Single-Operator categories to   
   SO HP and SO LP. Read more. -- Thanks to The Daily DX   
      
   SSTV Transmissions from the International Space Station Set   
      
   The Russian Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) team   
   members plan to activate slow-scan television (SSTV) from the ISS on December   
   18 and December 20. Several passes will be over North America.   
      
   The expected SSTV mode will be PD180 on a frequency of 145.800 MHz with   
   3-minute off periods between transmissions.   
      
   Twelve different photos will be sent during the operational period.   
   Transmissions will begin at around 1420 UTC on December 18 and 1240 UTC on   
   December 20. The transmissions should terminate around 2130 UTC each day. Read   
   more. -- Thanks to Gaston Bertels, ON4WF, ARISS-Europe Chairman   
   ARISS Discusses Ham TV, Elects New International Officers   
      
   Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is continuing to   
   explore the possibility of establishing a network of ground stations to enable   
   the use of the Ham TV video system during ARISS school contacts. Mark Steiner,   
   K3MS, updated the ARISS International team on the topic during its November   
   meeting, conducted by teleconference. Kerry Banke, N6IZW, who works on ARISS   
   hardware issues, reported that a document under development will describe just   
   what is required to build a ground station. He and ARISS International   
      
   Project Selection & Use Committee representative Lou McFadin, W5DID, have   
   successfully received Ham TV transmissions. ARISS-EU President Gaston Bertels,   
   ON4WF, has been working with European Space Agency (ESA) management to   
   finalize the agreement that transfers custody of the Ham Video transmitter   
   from ESA to ARISS. Steiner told the teleconference that more "blank" test   
   transmissions could take place, once the custodial agreement is finalized.   
      
   NASA Astronaut Mike Hopkins, KF5LJG, successfully installed and commissioned   
   the ARISS Ham Video system last March. The system can transmit video of the   
   crew and the interior of the Columbus module on the 2.4 GHz band (S-band).   
      
   During the November 18 teleconference, ARISS International delegates   
   re-elected the current slate of officers for new 2-year terms starting on   
   January 1, 2015. The incumbents are ARISS Chair Frank Bauer, KA3HDO; ARISS   
   Vice-Chair Oliver Amend, DG6BCE, and ARISS Secretary-Treasurer Rosalie White,   
   K1STO. In keeping with tradition, Canada's ARISS delegate Ian MacFarquhar,   
   VE9IM, handled the election logistics. Read more.   
   _____________________________________________________________________________   
      
   In Brief...   
      
       For a Good Time, Check Out the ARRL 10 Meter Contest December 13-14:   
   Conditions on 10 meters have been hot in recent weeks, and that may hold for   
   the 2014 ARRL 10 Meter Contest on December 13-14. New this year: Single   
   Operator stations using assistance will no longer be categorized as   
   Multioperator entries. Also, nine new Unlimited categories have been added:   
   Single Operator QRP, Low and High Power CW Only, Phone Only, or Mixed Mode.   
   The action gets under way at 0000 UTC on Saturday, December 13 (Friday,   
   December 12, in US time zones) and wraps up at 2359 UTC on Sunday, December 14.   
      
       Geminid Meteor Shower to Peak December 13-14: Earth is moving deeper into   
   the debris stream of rock comet 3200 Phaethon, source of the annual Geminid   
   meteor shower. The Canadian Meteor Orbit Radar (CMOR) has been monitoring a   
   "hot spot" in the sky where Geminid meteoroids are hitting Earth's atmosphere   
   at 78,000 MPH. Visibility will improve in the nights ahead as the Moon wanes   
   and Earth moves deeper into the Geminid debris stream. Forecasters expect the   
   shower to peak on December 13-14, with as many as 120 meteors per hour. The   
   best time to look is between midnight and dawn on Saturday and Sunday. --   
   Thanks to Spaceweather.com   
      
       Radio Amateur Copies Signals from ARTSAT2:DESPATCH, Shin'en 2 Satellites:   
   Michal Zawada, SQ5KTM, in Warsaw, Poland, received signals from the   
   ARTSAT2:DESPATCH and Shin'en2 spacecraft on December 5 at a distance of nearly   
   700,000 miles from Earth. The two spacecraft were launched into deep space on   
   December 3. Shin'en 2 identifes as JG6YIG, while ARTSAT2:DESPATCH uses the   
   call sign JQ1ZNN. Shin'en2 carries a 0.1 W CW beacon on 437.505 MHz and   
   telemetry on 437.385 MHz (0.8 W) using a mode similar to WSJT. It will also   
   carry a F1D digital store-and-forward transponder with an uplink of 145.942   
   MHz and a downlink at 435.270 MHz (0.4 W). -- Thanks to AMSAT News Service,   
   AMSAT-UK   
      
       Signal One Transceiver Co-Developer Eugene Chenette, N5YJ, SK: ARRL member   
   Eugene Richard Chenette, N5YJ (ex-W0LNE, W4TLN), of Allen, Texas, died   
   December 7. He was 86. Licensed in 1948, Chenette and Signal/One founder Dick   
   Ehrhorn, W4EA (ex-W4ETO), designed, manufactured, and marketed the   
   then-state-of-the-art, high-end Signal/One CX7 multiband Amateur Radio   
   transceiver in the late 1960s. It remains a collector's item. -- Thanks to The   
   Daily DX   
   _____________________________________________________________________________   
      
   A Century of Amateur Radio and the ARRL   
      
   In early 1999, PSK31 was becoming very popular, with many users considering it   
   to be a replacement for good old RTTY as a keyboard-to-keyboard mode. Also by   
   1999, amateurs had developed automated meteor-scatter stations for VHF use --   
   thanks to APRS, good computers, high-speed Morse, innovative software, and ham   
   ingenuity.   
      
   On December 30, 1999, FCC issued its Report and Order on Amateur Radio license   
   restructuring. Beginning on April 15, 2000, the FCC would issue just three   
   license classes -- Technician, General, and Amateur Extra -- and impose a   
   single 5 WPM Morse code requirement for General and Amateur Extra applicants.   
   No then-current license holders lost any privileges, and "old" Technician   
   licensees were able to apply for a General license with no further testing.   
      
   And then came Y2K...with none of the breakdowns of society, communications   
   systems, ATMs, aircraft, ad nauseum. Everything kept running smoothly. But   
   ARRL used the occasion to revamp QST. The editorial staff had spent months   
   developing a profile of the typical ham in order to guide them in making QST   
   the magazine that members wanted. In January 2000, QST began publishing new   
   columns about QRP, mobile and portable operation on HF and VHF, vintage radio   
   gear, and the "QST Workbench." This was in addition to formatting changes to   
   make the magazine more attractive. Starting with the December 2000 issue, all   
   editorial content was printed in full color.   
      
   By 2000, several states had proposed bans on cell phone use while driving.   
   ARRL began carefully monitoring the various pieces of proposed legislation, to   
   be sure that operating Amateur Radio equipment while driving would not be   
   included among the prohibitions.   
      
   On November 16, 2000, AMSAT-OSCAR 40 -- Phase 3D -- was successfully launched   
   into orbit. Initial testing began, but the spacecraft suddenly fell silent.   
   Following many unsuccessful recovery attempts, AO-40 came to life on Christmas   
   Day, with many of its capabilities restored.   
      
   During the early 1990s, the ARRL sought to convince the FCC to address the   
   problem of Amateur Radio antenna restrictions and prohibitions by CC&Rs. The   
   FCC declined, so the League then began efforts to convince Congress to direct   
   FCC to do so. -- Al Brogdon, W1AB   
   _____________________________________________________________________________   
      
   The K7RA Solar Update   
      
   Tad Cook, K7RA, in Seattle, reports: Compared to the previous 7 days, solar   
   activity dropped over the December 4-10 period, with average daily sunspot   
   numbers down 63.6 points to 88.4, and average daily solar flux off 32.5 points   
   to 139.6.   
      
   The latest forecast has solar flux at 155 and 165 on December 11-12, 170 on   
   December 13-17, 175 on December 18-19, then 170, 165, and 150 on December   
   20-22, 155 on December 23-27, 150 on December 28-29, 145 and 140 on December   
   30-31, 135 on January 1-4, then 140, 145, 150, 155, and 160 on January 5-9,   
   and 165 on January 10-12. It then is predicted to reach a peak of 175 on   
   January 14-15.   
      
   Predicted planetary A index is 6 and 5 on December 11-12, 12 on December   
   13-15, then 6, 10, and 12 on December 16-18, 10 on December 19-20, 5 on   
   December 21-27, 8 on December 28-30, 10 on December 31 through January 1, then   
   12, 25, 15, and 10 on January 2-5, 8 on January 6-7, 10 on January 8-9, 8 on   
   January 10-12, 10 and 12 on January 13-14, and 10 on January 15-16.   
      
   This weekend is the annual ARRL 10 Meter Contest, a really fun event that, due   
   to the nature of 10 meters, always holds many surprises. The Geminids meteor   
   shower also peaks this weekend, so ionized meteor trails could enhance   
   propagation at the high end of the HF spectrum.   
      
   My prediction is that conditions during the ARRL 10 Meter Contest should be   
   slightly better than they were for last year's event, with solar activity   
   somewhat higher and geomagnetic instability about the same. In other words,   
   not bad.   
      
   In 2013 the solar flux for the contest weekend averaged 154. This weekend, the   
   predicted solar flux averages out at 168.3, about 9 percent higher. Last year   
   the planetary A index averaged 8.7. This year's forecast calls for an average   
   of 9.7. To compare propagation predictions for last year's contest weekend,   
   see 2013 bulletins ARLP051 and ARLP052.   
      
   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   
      
       December 12 -- NS Weekly Sprint (CW)   
      
       December 13 -- UBA Winter Contest (SSB, CW, digital)   
      
       December 13-14 -- 28 MHz SWL Contest   
      
       December 13-14 -- ARRL 10 Meter Contest (SSB, CW)   
      
       December 14 -- Holiday Spirits Homebrew Sprint (CW)   
      
       December 15 -- Run For the Bacon (CW)   
      
       December 17 -- NAQCC Milliwatt Sprint (CW)   
      
       December 18 -- Russian 160 Meter Contest (SSB, CW)   
      
       December 20 -- Feld-Hell Rudolf Hell Sprint   
      
       December 20-21 -- OK DX RTTY Contest   
      
       December 20-January 4 -- Lighthouse Christmas Lights QSO Party (CW, SSB,   
   Digital)   
      
       December 20-21 -- Croatian CW Contest   
      
       December 21 -- ARRL Rookie Roundup (CW)   
      
   See the ARRL Contest Calendar for more information.   
   _____________________________________________________________________________   
      
   Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions and Events   
      
       December 12-13 -- West Central Florida Section Convention, Plant City,   
   Florida   
      
       January 4 -- New York City/Long Island Section Convention, Bethpage, New   
   York   
      
       January 10 -- TECHFEST, Lawrenceville, Georgia   
      
       January 16-17 -- North Texas Section Convention, Forest Hill, Texas   
      
       January 18-24 -- Quartzfest, Quartzsite, Arizona   
      
       January 23-24 -- Mississippi State Convention, Jackson, Mississippi   
      
       January 23-25 -- Puerto Rico State Convention, Hatillo, Puerto Rico   
      
       February 7 -- South Carolina State Convention, North Charleston, South   
   Carolina   
      
       February 7 -- Virginia State Convention, Richmond, Virginia   
      
       February 13-15 -- Southeastern Division Convention, Orlando, Florida   
      
       February 20-21 -- Arizona Section Convention, Yuma, Arizona   
      
       February 28 -- Vermont State Convention, S Burlington, Vermont    
      
   Find conventions and hamfests in your area.   
   _____________________________________________________________________________   
      
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   )\/(ark   
      
   If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until   
   you hire an amateur.   
      
   --- FMail/Win32 1.60   
    * Origin:  (1:3634/12.71)