The ARRL Letter
Published by the American Radio Relay League
********************************************
February 10, 2011
Editor: S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA
ARRL Home Page ARRL Letter Archive
Audio News
IN THIS ISSUE
- + Amateur Radio and the Law : Mixed Decision from the California
Court of Appeals in Palmdale, California Antenna Case
- + Board of Directors: ARRL Board Sets Legislative Agenda at 2011
Annual Meeting
- + On the Air: The ARRL International DX CW Contest Is Just One Week
Away!
- + Amateur Radio in Space: ARISSat-1 to Be Deployed from ISS Next
Week; Watch Live on NASA TV
- FCC: FCC Adds New Country to CEPT Reciprocal Agreement for Amateurs
- + Get Ready for the March Issue of QST!
- Focus on Youth: ARRL Seeks New Youth Editor
- Happy Valentine's Day: Love Is On-the-Air
- ARRL in Action: What Have We Been Up to Lately?
- + Radio Club d'Haiti Receives Repeater from ARRL and Radio Club
Dominicano
- ARRL Atlantic Division to Host Two Webinars in February
- Solar Update
- Amateur Radio Fun: New QuickStats Poll Now Available on ARRL Website
- DXCC News: DXCC Desk Approves 9X0SP Rwanda 2010 DXpedition
- This Week on the Radio
- Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events
> + AMATEUR RADIO AND THE LAW : MIXED DECISION FROM THE CALIFORNIA
COURT OF APPEALS IN PALMDALE, CALIFORNIA ANTENNA CASE
On January 27, the California Court of Appeals, Second Appellate
District, issued its Opinion in the antenna case of Alec Zubarau, WB6X.
In several respects, it is a win for Amateur Radio in California;
however, the Court decreed that Zubarau was not entitled to his HF
antenna, and said that his vertical antenna would suffice as a
substitute for it.
The Court found that the Palmdale antenna ordinance, as it pertained
to the height limit for vertical antennas, was "unenforceable" because
it allowed a radio amateur to have a vertical antenna up to 75 feet
high when measured from the ground but limited the "active element of
the antenna array" to 30 feet. The ordinance did not define "array" or
"active element" and did not specify from where the 30 permitted feet
for such "array" was to be measured. The Court found that if even one
reasonable interpretation of the ordinance could be found, the
ordinance could be upheld, but that in this case, no one could
understand what the limitations were and how they could be applied.
That portion of the City's ordinance was therefore unconstitutional and
unenforceable. Read more here
.
> + BOARD OF DIRECTORS: ARRL BOARD SETS LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AT 2011
ANNUAL MEETING
The ARRL Board of Directors held its 2011 Annual Meeting January
21-22, 2011 in Windsor, Connecticut, under the chairmanship of
President Kay Craigie, N3KN. At the meeting, the Board set the
legislative agenda for the current Congressional session, approved the
2011 operating plan, looked at the benefits of electronic publishing of
ARRL periodicals and more. Read more here
.
> + ON THE AIR: THE ARRL INTERNATIONAL DX CW CONTEST IS JUST ONE WEEK
AWAY!
The weekend of February 19-20 is prime time for CW DXing as the 2011
ARRL International DX CW Contest takes to
the airwaves. According to ARRL Contest Branch Manager Sean Kutzko,
KX9X, stations in the US and Canada work only DX stations -- Alaska and
Hawaii are considered DX for this contest -- and DX stations only work
the US and Canada. DX stations will be trying to make QSOs with all US
states and Canadian provinces. The contest exchange is simple: US and
Canadian stations send a signal report and their state or province,
while DX stations send a signal report and the amount of power they are
transmitting with. Read more here
.
> + AMATEUR RADIO IN SPACE: ARISSAT-1 TO BE DEPLOYED FROM ISS NEXT
WEEK; WATCH LIVE ON NASA TV
Expedition 26 Flight Engineers Dmitry Kondratyev and Oleg Skripochka,
RN3FU, will step outside the International Space Station (ISS) on
Wednesday, February 16. While in space, they will install and retrieve
experiments on the Russian segment of the complex and deploy ARISSat-1
,
a small ham radio satellite. NASA TV coverage will begin at 6:45 AM
(CST), while the extra-vehicular activity -- commonly called a
spacewalk -- will begin about 30 minutes later. The spacewalk will be
the second for Kondratyev, who will wear the spacesuit marked with red
stripes, and the third for Skripochka, who will wear the suit with blue
stripes.
During the nearly six hour spacewalk, Kondratyev and Skripochka will
deploy an experiment called ARISSat-1, a boxy 57-pound nanosatellite
that houses congratulatory messages commemorating the 50th anniversary
of Yuri Gagarin's launch to become the first human in space. The ham
radio transmitter will enable communications with Amateur Radio
operators around the world for three to six months. It is the first of
a series of educational satellites being developed in a partnership
with the Radio Amateur Satellite Corp, the NASA Office of Education
International Space Station National Lab Project, the Amateur Radio on
the International Space Station (ARISS
) program and RSC-Energia.
The two cosmonauts will also install two experiments: One will collect
information useful in seismic forecasts and earthquake predictions, and
the second will look at gamma splashes and optical radiation during
terrestrial lightning and thunderstorms. The spacewalkers also will
retrieve a pair of panels exposed to space as part of an experiment to
identify the best materials for building long-duration spacecraft.
You can watch live online
on the NASA TV
Public and Media channels, or on your television set. Contact your
local provider for the NASA TV channel in your area. -- Thanks to NASA
for the information
> FCC: FCC ADDS NEW COUNTRY TO CEPT RECIPROCAL AGREEMENT FOR AMATEURS
On Monday, February 7, the FCC released a Public Notice, adding a
new country to the CEPT reciprocal operating arrangements for US
citizens who hold an FCC-issued General, Advanced or Amateur Extra
class Amateur Radio licenses. US hams may now operate in Montenegro, as
well as the other countries covered by the European Conference of
Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT), subject to the
regulations in force in the country visited, to operate in those
countries. CEPT has also set up Web sites that list all countries
covered by reciprocal agreements. Read more here
.
> + GET READY FOR THE MARCH ISSUE OF QST!
The March issue of QST -- our annual antenna issue! -- is jam-packed
with all sorts of things that today's Amateur Radio operator needs.
From product reviews to experiments to contesting -- including antennas
you can build yourself as well as a guide to buying your first
commercial HF antenna -- this issue of QST has something for just about
everyone.
With a multitude of articles on antennas -- ranging from antennas
for HF, VHF and even antennas for hams with limited space, you are sure
to find something to fit your needs. In his article "A Four Wire
Steerable V Beam for 10 through 40 Meters," Sam Moore, NX5Z, shows how
you can put a strong signal across the upper HF spectrum just where you
want it. And if you're into the low bands? If your property doesn't
have space for Beverages, check out "A Roof Mount for a Rotatable 160
Meter Receiving Loop" by Steve Lawrence, WB6RSE. And now that your
antennas are up in the air, how do you make sure that they are tuned
correctly? Check out "Using a Noise Bridge and Spectrum Scope to Adjust
Your Antenna Tuner" by Walter G. Mellish, KC2KZJ, to learn how to
measure and adjust your antenna without putting a signal on the air.
Amateur Radio has long been a partner on airplane and hot air balloon
flights. But what about hang gliding? Join Bill Schell, W4UHE, and get
the hang of operating while gliding in "Hang Gliding with Ham Radio."
With all of today's social networking capabilities, conversation is a
lost art. QST Editor Steve Ford, WB8IMY, takes a look at this in his
article "The Art of Conversation." And speaking of conversation, many
hams enjoy chatting on their local repeater system, but getting
frequencies, offset and tone into VHF FM transceivers can be a
challenge. In his article "Making Memories -- Programming Your Local
Repeaters," Sumner Weisman, W1VIV, presents some ways to make this a
bit easier.
ARRL Contributing Editor Rick Palm, K1CE, takes a look at the ICOM
IC-80 handheld VHF transceiver and the ICOM IC-T70A handheld dual band
transceiver in this month's Product Review. He calls the IC-80 a
"rugged 2 meter handheld with attractive features for emergency
communications, as well as daily use." In looking at the IC-T70A, Palm
said this radio "is a solid dual band handheld transceiver that
includes a wide range of features, yet is easy to operate." QST
Contributing Editor Phil Salas, AD5X, checks out the Array Solutions
VNA 2180 vector network analyzer. He says that it "brings powerful
vector network analyzer capabilities to the home workshop. It harnesses
the power of your computer for control and display functions, bringing
the cost to a level comparable to surplus commercial equipment with
unknown issues or accuracy."
Of course, there are the usual columns you know and expect in the March
QST: Happenings, Hints & Kinks, The Doctor Is IN, How's DX, Technical
Correspondence, Vintage Radio and more. Look for your March issue in
your mailbox. QST is the official journal of ARRL, the national
association for Amateur Radio. QST is just one of the many benefits of
ARRL membership. To join or renew your ARRL membership, please see the
ARRL Web page .
> FOCUS ON YOUTH: ARRL SEEKS NEW YOUTH EDITOR
The ARRL has a proud tradition of promoting youth involvement in
Amateur Radio. One of the ways we involve young people is through our
Youth Editor. This person is responsible for writing a monthly column
for the ARRL website about youth and youth activities within the
Amateur Radio Service. We are looking for a new Youth Editor. Do you
know of someone who would be a good fit for this position? Maybe they
hold leadership positions either in their Section or in their local
club. The candidate must be an ARRL member and must keep their
membership current throughout their tenure in the position. He or she
will be required to write a monthly column of at least 1000 words and
provide a minimum of three pictures (with captions) for each. For this,
they will receive a small stipend for each column. Read more here
.
> HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY: LOVE IS ON-THE-AIR
Every once in a while, we will feature a story written that has been
sent to us by a ham. This is one of those times. We hope you enjoy it.
Life can be funny at times. In high school, I was one of those kids who
kept to themselves. I was so into the academic side of things that I
only went out with a few girls. But there was one girl in school who
every time she walked by, my heart would skip a beat. I never saw her
with a boyfriend; she was one of the prettiest girls in school and all
the guys were too afraid to ask her out. In our senior year, we had a
math and English class together, and when we graduated, I joined the
Navy.
I saw the world in the Navy. I spent some time overseas and from
time to time, I wondered about that beautiful girl who I never asked
out in high school. I was too busy with my naval career to settle down,
always on the move with Special Ops. I spent 25 years in the Navy and
when I retired, I was ready for my next career. I had some radioman
experience in the Navy, so I got my Amateur Radio license and started
work at a major communications company.
Years later, I found myself at a hamfest, looking for some new radio
gear. I saw this radio I wanted back when I was a kid. I saw a guy pick
it up and start to look at it. I ran over to the booth and waited for
him to put it back on the table. He finally walked away so I asked how
much the radio was and if it worked. The lady behind the table looked
at me, told me the price and that the rig worked the last time she used
it. Then we locked eyes. It was her! The girl from high school! I would
know her face anywhere.
After the shock wore off, I asked her if this was her gear for sale.
She told me that it was hers and her late husband's. She got her
license back in high school and met him at a local club meeting. She
told me that they had been married for 23 wonderful years and had one
child who was now in the Navy. We talked for hours. She told me that
she had had a crush on me back in high school, but was too afraid to
ask me out; I told her I felt the same. After the hamfest, I helped her
pack up the table and we went to get a bite to eat.
We talked all night, getting caught up on everyone we went to school
with. Then she asked me if I had ever thought of her over the years and
if I still had feelings for her. Of course I said yes! After a few
dates, I asked her to marry me and she said yes.
We have now been married 10 years and I can honestly say that I married
my high school sweetheart. I looked over my station logs and found that
years ago I had worked her in a contest, but I never knew it was her.
Oh, about the radio that started the whole thing -- yes, it works! --
Paul Rios, KC6QLS, kc6qls@arrl.net
> ARRL IN ACTION: WHAT HAVE WE BEEN UP TO LATELY?
Compiled by ARRL News Editor S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA
This feature is a concise monthly update of some of the things ARRL is
doing on behalf of its members. This installment -- which covers the
month of January -- looks at the ARRL Board of Directors 2011 Annual
Meeting, legislative actions affecting the Amateur Radio Service,
filings with the FCC over vanity and club call signs, reports from the
Official Observer Desk and more. Read more here
.
> + RADIO CLUB D'HAITI RECEIVES REPEATER FROM ARRL AND RADIO CLUB
DOMINICANO
As part of the relief efforts after the earthquake in Haiti, the
ARRL -- through its Ham Aid Program -- with the help of IARU Region 2
and the Radio Club Dominicano (RCD
), delivered a Vertex VXR-7000
repeater to the Radio
Club d'Haiti. This repeater, part of the original equipment sent by the
ARRL during the devastating Haitian earthquakes in January 2010
, will
help with radio communications coverage in that devastated nation. Both
the Radio Club Dominicano and the Radio Club d'Haiti are IARU
Member-Societies. Read more here
.
> ARRL ATLANTIC DIVISION TO HOST TWO WEBINARS IN FEBRUARY
Periodically, the ARRL's Atlantic Division hosts a "webinar" -- an
interactive web-based seminar, designed to facilitate communication
between a small number of presenters and a large remote audience using
the Internet. During February, Atlantic Division Director Bill Edgar,
N3LLR, will host two webinars for ARRL members, one on 503(c)(3)
organizations and one on using Narrow Band Emergency Messaging Software
(NBEMS) -- a set of programs used to send messages and files via
Amateur Radio using an audio interface. Read more here
.
> SOLAR UPDATE
Tad "The Sun rose over the shadows
" Cook, K7RA, reports: Seven
different sunspot groups were visible over the past week; the high
sunspot number in the past seven days was 71 on Tuesday. The average
daily sunspot number more than doubled, rising over 24 points to 44.3
and the average daily solar flux was up nearly three points to 83.5. 71
is the highest sunspot number since May 5, 2010, when it was 77.
Coincidentally, both February 8, 2010 and February 8, 2011 had a
sunspot number of 71, and between those dates it was never higher
except for 77 on May 5. NOAA/USAF predicts solar flux for February
10-20 at 88, 86, 84, 82, 82, 82, 82, 84, 88, 88 and 88. They predict a
constant planetary A index of 5 through the end of the month, then 7,
10, 10 and 7 on March 1-4. Even though NOAA sees a constant and quiet
geomagnetic environment through the end of the month, Geophysical
Institute Prague sees it a little differently for February 11-17. They
predict quiet on February 11-12, quiet to unsettled February 13,
unsettled February 14-16 and quiet to unsettled February 17. Look for
more information on the ARRL website on Friday, February 11. For more
information concerning radio propagation, visit the ARRL Technical
Information Service Propagation page
. This week's "Tad
Cookism" is brought to you by Michael P. Garofalo's Master Chang San
Feng .
> AMATEUR RADIO FUN: NEW QUICKSTATS POLL NOW AVAILABLE ON ARRL
WEBSITE
Four new poll questions have just been published on the QuickStats page
on the ARRL website. Let your voice be
heard!
Questions in this month's QuickStats poll include:
- Do you own an eBook reader?
- What type of product do you most like to see evaluated in QST Product
Reviews and Short Takes?
- Has the severe weather damaged your antennas?
- How often do you attend the meetings of your local Amateur Radio
club?
Visit the QuickStats page and be sure
to bookmark it in your browser. Results from this QuickStats poll will
be published in the May 2011 issue of QST on the QuickStats page,
located in the rear advertising section of the magazine. Along with
monthly poll results, QST QuickStats offers colorful charts and graphs
that highlight interesting Amateur Radio statistics.
> DXCC NEWS: DXCC DESK APPROVES 9X0SP RWANDA 2010 DXPEDITION
ARRL DXCC Manager Bill Moore, NC1L, reports that the 9X0SP 2010
DXpedition to Rwanda has been approved for DXCC credit. "If you had
cards that were recently rejected for this operation, please send an
e-mail to the ARRL DXCC Desk," Moore said. "Please note
that due to extremely heavy e-mail, DXCC staff may not respond to your
message. Once your record is updated, results will appear in Logbook of
The World (LoTW ) accounts or in
the live, daily DXCC Standings ."
> THIS WEEK ON THE RADIO
This week:
- February 12 -- Asia-Pacific Spring Sprint, FISTS Winter Sprint
- February 12-13 -- New Hampshire QSO Party, CQ WW RTTY WPX Contest,
Dutch PACC Contest
- February 13 -- North American Sprint (SSB)
- February 14-18 -- School Club Roundup
Next week:
- February 18 -- NCCC Sprint Ladder
- February 18-19 -- Russian PSK WW Contest
- February 19 -- Feld Hell Sprint
- February 19-20 -- ARRL International DX Contest (CW)
, AWA Amplitude Modulation QSO Party
- February 21 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest
- February 23 -- SKCC Sprint
All dates, unless otherwise stated, are UTC. See the ARRL Contest
Branch page , the ARRL Contest Update
and the WA7BNM Contest
Calendar for more
info. Looking for a Special Event station? Be sure to check out the
ARRL Special Event Stations Web page
.
> UPCOMING ARRL SECTION, STATE AND DIVISION CONVENTIONS AND EVENTS
- February 11-13 -- ARRL Southeastern Division Convention
,
Orlando, Florida
- February 18-19 -- ARRL Arizona State Convention
,
Yuma, Arizona
- February 26 -- ARRL Vermont State Convention
,
Colchester, Vermont
- March 5 -- ARRL South Texas Section Convention
,
Rosenberg, Texas; ARRL Alabama Section Convention
,
Birmingham, Alabama
- March 11-12 -- ARRL Oklahoma Section Convention
,
Claremore, Oklahoma
- March 12-13 -- ARRL North Carolina Section Convention
,
Concord, North Carolina
- March 19 -- ARRL West Texas Section Convention
,
Midland, Texas; ARRL Nebraska State Convention
, Lincoln,
Nebraska
- March 25 -- ARRL Maine State Convention
, Lewiston,
Maine
- March 26 -- ARRL Maryland State Convention
,
Timonium, Maryland
To find a convention or hamfest near you, click here
.
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.
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