The ARRL Letter
Published by the American Radio Relay League
********************************************
April 21, 2011
Editor: S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA
ARRL Home Page ARRL Letter Archive
Audio News
IN THIS ISSUE
- + FCC News: ARRL Scores Partial Victory in ReconRobotics Proceeding
- + California Supreme Court Declines to Hear Antenna Zoning Case
- Spectrum Defense: "Eternal Vigilance" Is the Price We Pay for Our
Spectrum
- + On the Air: Find an ARRL Field Day Station Near You
- On the Air: Transatlantic Amateur Radio Balloon Launch
- + ARRL West Gulf Division to Host Webinar on Antenna Zoning
- + HQ News: ARRL HQ to Close in Observance of Good Friday
- + Postage Price Increase Now in Effect
- Voting Now Open for May QST Cover Plaque Award
- Solar Update
- ARRL Seeks Book Editor
- + Silent Key: World Radio Labs Founder Leo Meyerson, W0GFQ (SK)
- On the Air: DXCC Approves Two Tristan Da Cunha and Gough Operations
- This Week on the Radio
- Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events
+ Available on ARRL Audio News
> + FCC NEWS: ARRL SCORES PARTIAL VICTORY IN RECONROBOTICS PROCEEDING
The FCC has given radio amateurs a partial victory in response to
the ARRL's challenge, in a Petition for Reconsideration, of a rules
waiver that permits the certification and licensing of the Recon Scout
-- a remote-controlled, maneuverable surveillance robot operating in
the 430-448 MHz band. The device is marketed to public safety agencies
and certain security personnel by ReconRobotics Inc.
In an Order on Reconsideration released on April 15, the FCC granted
the ARRL's request for changes in the labeling and instruction manual
requirements to ensure that users of the device are aware of its
limitations, with regard to interference. Noting that no applications
for individual licenses to operate the Recon Scout had been granted,
the FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, the Public Safety and
Homeland Security Bureau, and the Office of Engineering and Technology
deferred to the Commission's Enforcement Bureau with regard to
complaints that ReconRobotics has been marketing uncertified devices
and that the devices have been operating without authorization. Read
more here
.
> + CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT DECLINES TO HEAR ANTENNA ZONING CASE
The California Supreme Court refused to hear the antenna zoning case
brought forth by Alex Zubarau, WB6X, of Palmdale, California -- with
the assistance of his ARRL Volunteer Counsel Len Shaffer, WA6QHD --
after receiving a mixed decision by the California Court of Appeals
earlier this year. The Supreme Court -- California's highest court --
handed down their decision on April 20. Read more here
.
> SPECTRUM DEFENSE: "ETERNAL VIGILANCE" IS THE PRICE WE PAY FOR OUR
SPECTRUM
The first edition for 2011 of Spectrum Defense Matters
-- a
newsletter aimed at keeping ARRL members updated on issues related to
the protection of Amateur Radio frequencies -- was recently released on
the ARRL website. This newsletter covers both domestic and
international topics related to the Amateur Radio spectrum. As ARRL
President Kay Craigie, N3KN, said in a recent ARRL Legislative Update
newsletter, "Eternal vigilance is the price of spectrum." Sometimes the
threats are minimal; sometimes their impact can be devastating if not
addressed. Regardless of the degree of severity, any threat to our
Amateur Radio spectrum must be a top priority of the ARRL. Read more
here
.
> + ON THE AIR: FIND AN ARRL FIELD DAY STATION NEAR YOU
First introduced in 2008, the ARRL's Field Day Station Locator
Service has proved a popular
addition to the Field Day toolbox. This service -- an interactive map
that helps amateurs or those interested in Amateur Radio find a Field
Day site near them -- is free to clubs
or individuals who will be operating public Field Day stations.
Stations can also be listed by state or province. So far, hams in all
50 states and Puerto Rico have listed Field Day sites on the Field Day
Locator. If your group would like to be a part of the Station Locator
Service, it's easy to get started -- just go to the Field Day Station
Locator website and follow the
instructions. ARRL Field Day is the most popular on-the-air operating
event in Amateur Radio. On June 25-26, join tens of thousands of
Amateur Radio operators as they gather for a public demonstration of
the Amateur Radio Service.
> ON THE AIR: TRANSATLANTIC AMATEUR RADIO BALLOON LAUNCH
The Project Blue Horizon 5 high-altitude transatlantic balloon is
scheduled for launch, weather permitting, on Wednesday, April 27, from
Oswego, New York. The Project Blue Horizon team is attempting to break
current Amateur Radio high-altitude balloon records for distance
(3361.81 miles) and duration (49 hours, 45 minutes). The payload will
be carried beneath a 54,000 cubic foot capacity helium-filled balloon
cruising between 85,000 and 100,000 feet. Read more here
.
> + ARRL WEST GULF DIVISION TO HOST WEBINAR ON ANTENNA ZONING
Periodically, ARRL Divisions will host 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 --
for interested amateurs. On Wednesday, April 27 at 9 PM (EDT), ARRL
West Gulf Division Director David Woolweaver, K5RAV -- along with ARRL
General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, and noted antenna zoning lawyer Fred
Hopengarten, K1VR -- will present Antenna Ordinances, You and the ARRL.
Read more here
.
> + HQ NEWS: ARRL HQ TO CLOSE IN OBSERVANCE OF GOOD FRIDAY
ARRL Headquarters will be closed in observance of Good Friday on
Friday, April 22. There will be no W1AW bulletin or code practice
transmissions that day. ARRL Headquarters will reopen Monday, April 25
at 8 AM Eastern Daylight Time. We wish everyone a safe and enjoyable
holiday weekend.
> + POSTAGE PRICE INCREASE NOW IN EFFECT
On Sunday, April 17, the US Postal Service increased the price to
mail certain items within the US and abroad, affecting the price of
sending a QSL card within the US. While the cost to mail a 1 ounce
piece of first class mail within the US stays at 44 cents, the cost of
mailing a postcard increased one penny, from 28 cents to 29 cents.
Click here
for more information on all the postal increases.
> VOTING NOW OPEN FOR MAY QST COVER PLAQUE AWARD
Now that you've thumbed through and read the May 2011 issue of QST
cover-to-cover, we're sure that an article -- or three -- sticks in
your mind. So go ahead and cast your vote
for your favorite article in
the issue. The article with the most votes will receive the QST Cover
Plaque Award.
- Supporting Portable Antennas Without Guy Wires by Dave Fisher, KG0D/7
- A Transmitter for Fox Hunting by Mark Spencer, WA8SME
- An Emergency Backup Solar Power System by Jim Talens, N3JT
- A Junk Box Power Line Frequency Monitor by Arthur Glazar, W2NN
- 3B8EME -- Moonbounce from the Indian Ocean by Eltje Veen, PA3CEE,
Johan Meezen, PE9DX, and Rene Hasper, PE1L
- Youth DX Adventure #1 by Don DuBon, N6JRL, and Dave Kalter, KB8OCP
The QST Cover Plaque award -- given to the author or authors of the
best article in each issue -- is determined by a vote of ARRL members
on the QST Cover Plaque Poll Web page
. Headquarters staff members who
write articles are not eligible to receive votes.
> SOLAR UPDATE
Tad "The Sun came out today" Cook, K7RA, reports: Both the average
daily sunspot numbers and solar flux were both higher for the week,
with sunspot numbers up more than three points to 93.1 and the solar
flux up by 8 points to 117.2. Geomagnetic activity was a bit lower --
with April 20 being the most active day -- after a coronal hole on the
Sun spewed a solar wind at high speed. Currently, there are four
sunspot groups visible, and we could see a geo-magnetic disturbance
today from a slow-moving coronal mass ejection. Look for more
information on the ARRL website on Friday, April 22. For more
information concerning radio propagation, visit the ARRL Technical
Information Service Propagation page
. This week's "Tad
Cookism" is brought to you by John Fogerty's Centerfield
.
> ARRL SEEKS BOOK EDITOR
The ARRL is seeking a Book Editor to manage the production of ARRL
books and other publications, ensuring that they meet ARRL standards.
The successful applicant will be responsible for managing the progress
of all book materials through the production process, tracking current
book inventory and scheduling reprints or new editions as needed,
authoring new books and other materials, and editing and formatting
manuscript materials provided by authors to ensure correct grammar,
punctuation and style. Applicants must hold an Amateur Radio license, a
Bachelor of Arts degree in English, Journalism or equivalent, and 5 to
10 years of experience as a professional newspaper, book or magazine
editor, or corporate technical writer. For more information, including
a complete job description and application details, please see the
Employment Opportunities page
on the ARRL website.
> + SILENT KEY: WORLD RADIO LABS FOUNDER LEO MEYERSON, W0GFQ (SK)
Leo Meyerson, W0GFQ, of Omaha, Nebraska, passed away on April 13. He
was 100. In 1935, Meyerson, an ARRL Life Member, founded Wholesale
Radio Laboratories -- the forerunner to World Radio Labs -- in Council
Bluffs, Iowa. For his contributions to Amateur Radio, Meyerson was
named the 1997 Ham of the Year at the Dayton Hamvention. Read more here
.
> ON THE AIR: DXCC APPROVES TWO TRISTAN DA CUNHA AND GOUGH OPERATIONS
ARRL DXCC Manager Bill Moore, NC1L, reports that two operations on
Tristan Da Cunha and Gough -- the 2010 ZD9AH operation and the
2010-2011 ZD9T operation -- have been approved for DXCC credit. "If you
had these operations rejected in a recent application, please send an
e-mail to the ARRL DXCC Desk," Moore said. "Please note
that due to heavy e-mail volume, you may not receive a reply. Results
will appear in Logbook of The World (LoTW
) accounts, as well as online on
the daily listings ."
> THIS WEEK ON THE RADIO
This week:
- April 22 -- NCCC Sprint Ladder 0230Z-0300Z, Apr 22
- April 23-24 -- South Dakota QSO Party; 10-10 International Spring
Contest (Digital); SP DX RTTY Contest; Helvetia Contest
- April 25 -- Low Power Spring Sprint
- April 27 -- SKCC Sprint; 432 MHz Spring Sprint (local time)
- April 27-28 -- CWops Mini-CWT Test
Next week:
- April 29 -- NCCC Sprint Ladder
- April 30 -- BARTG Sprint 75
- April 30 May 1 -- Nebraska QSO Party; Florida QSO Party; SBMS 2 GHz
and Up WW Club Contest (local time); QRP to the Field
- May 1 -- AGCW QRP/QRP Party
- May 3 -- ARS Spartan Sprint
- May 4-5 -- MIE 33 Contest
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
- April 22-24 -- ARRL Idaho State Convention
, Boise, Idaho
- April 23 -- ARRL Louisiana State Convention
,
Monroe, Louisiana; ARRL North Carolina State Convention
,
Raleigh, North Carolina
- May 7 -- ARRL South Carolina State Convention
,
Spartanburg, South Carolina
- June 3-5 -- ARRL Northwestern Division Convention (SeaPac)
,
Seaside, Oregon; ARRL Wyoming State Convention
, Cheyenne,
Wyoming
- June 4 -- ARRL Atlantic Division Convention
,
Rochester, New York; ARRL East Bay Section Convention
, Berkeley,
California; ARRL Georgia State Convention
,
Marietta, Georgia
- June 10-11 -- ARRL National Convention
,
Plano, Texas
- June 11 -- ARRL Tennessee State Convention
, Knoxville,
Tennessee
To find a convention or hamfest near you, click here
.
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