The ARRL Letter
Published by the American Radio Relay League
********************************************
June 23, 2011
Editor: S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA
ARRL Home Page ARRL Letter Archive
Audio News
IN THIS ISSUE
- + Public Service: North Dakota Hams Brace for Flooding River
- Public Service: Amateur Radio Operators Provide Support for
Arizona/New Mexico Wildfires
- + Public Service: Nebraska Hams Needed to Provide Access to 911
Services
- + Public Service: ARRL, National Weather Service Update Memorandum of
Understanding
- ARRL Field Day: W1AW Announces 2011 Field Day Bulletin Schedule
- ARRL Field Day: Get Active on Social Media for ARRL Field Day
- ARRL Field Day: International Space Station Could Be Active for ARRL
Field Day
- + Amateur Radio in Space: NASA Astronauts and Astronaut Candidates
Earn Amateur Radio Licenses
- ARRL Hosts RFI Workshop for Utility Companies
- + At the Workbench: Homebrew Challenge Reminder
- QEX -- the July/August 2011 Issue
- ARRL Survey Underway
- Support ARRL: ARRL and Combined Federal Campaign Mark Decade of
Partnership
- Solar Update
- + Ham Radio in Hollywood: Hollywood Takes Liberties with Amateur
Radio in New Comedy
- International News: ARRL to Attend Ham Radio 2011 -- Europe's Largest
Amateur Radio Convention
- + ARRL to Close in Observance of Fourth of July
- There's Still Time to Enter the 2011 ARRL Photo Contest!
- This Week on the Radio
- Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events
+ Available on ARRL Audio News
> + PUBLIC SERVICE: NORTH DAKOTA HAMS BRACE FOR FLOODING RIVER
As the Mouse River -- or Souris River -- rises, residents in Minot,
North Dakota, are under orders to immediately evacuate their homes. The
river -- which originates south of Regina, Saskatchewan, flows through
North Dakota and then heads north where it terminates in Manitoba --
has already started to flow into the streets of Minot. "We have
activated the North Dakota ARESŪ and RACES groups for support as of
today, June 22 at 12 noon (CDT)," said North Dakota Section Manager
Lynn Nelson, W0ND. "The mandatory evacuation is immediate and some
11,000 homeowners are told to leave now! The Mouse River is overflowing
the dikes and officials are planning on blowing the sirens shortly."
Read more here
.
> PUBLIC SERVICE: AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR
ARIZONA/NEW MEXICO WILDFIRES
The Wallow Fire, which began in Eastern Arizona on May 29, burned
across the state line into New Mexico on June 11. On Sunday, high winds
and low humidity helped the half-million acre fire to easily jump its
containment lines. According to Charlie Christmann, K5CEC, New Mexico
Amateur Radio operators are near the fire lines, providing updates to
the State Emergency Operations Center via the MegaLink repeater system.
Read more here
.
> + PUBLIC SERVICE: NEBRASKA HAMS NEEDED TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO 911
SERVICES
When 23,000 people in Lincoln, Nebraska lost their digital phone
service on the morning of June 22, local Amateur Radio operators were
called in to help provide local residents with a connection to the 911
dispatchers. According to ARRL Nebraska Section Manager Art Zygielbaum,
K0AIZ, those trying to call 911 via the digital phone system to report
emergencies were met with a recording that said "Due to network
difficulties, your call cannot go through."
"Lancaster County [Nebraska] Emergency Manager Doug Ahlberg
activated ARESŪ because Time Warner Cable lost a significant portion of
its digital phone service," Zygielbaum explained. "More than 30 ARESŪ
members were deployed along major roads throughout Lincoln and at major
intersections to help people who might need emergency services. The
outage lasted close to 12 hours." According to the Lincoln Journal Star
,
the digital phone service was working early Wednesday evening on a
"rolling restoration" of 911 service. Time Warner said earlier its
10-digit calling issues were fixed.
This is the second time in 16 months
that radio amateurs have been asked to provide support due to 911
service disruptions in Nebraska. In April 2010, almost 40,000 people --
including Lincoln's government, business and emergency centers -- found
out that they had no landline telephone service, as well as spotty cell
phone coverage, thanks to an equipment malfunction at a Lincoln
switching facility owned by Windstream Communications. According to
news reports, residents of 12 counties were unable to contact 911 and
dispatch centers used local radio amateurs to help provide
communications support.
> + PUBLIC SERVICE: ARRL, NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE UPDATE MEMORANDUM
OF UNDERSTANDING
The National Weather Service (NWS) has updated its Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with the ARRL. The updated MoU serves "as a
framework within which volunteers of the ARRL may coordinate their
services, facilities and equipment with the NWS in support of
nationwide, state and local early weather warning and emergency
communications function." In May, ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN,
signed on behalf of the ARRL, and in June, NWS Office of Climate, Water
and Weather Services' Director Dave Caldwell signed on behalf of the
NWS. The ARRL and the NWS have had a formal working arrangement since
1986. Read more here
.
> ARRL FIELD DAY: W1AW ANNOUNCES 2011 FIELD DAY BULLETIN SCHEDULE
Stations active during ARRL Field Day -- June 25-26 -- are eligible
to receive 100 bonus points for copying the special Field Day bulletin
transmitted by W1AW (or K6KPH on the West Coast) according to the
schedule below. You must include an accurate copy of the message in
your Field Day submission. The Field Day bulletin must be copied via
Amateur Radio; it will not be included in Internet bulletins sent out
from Headquarters and will not be posted to Internet BBS sites. Read
more here
.
> ARRL FIELD DAY: GET ACTIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOR ARRL FIELD DAY
The ARRL is encouraging hams to use social media sites, such as
Facebook and Twitter, to promote their Field Day activities. ARRL Field
Day begins at 1800 UTC on Saturday, June 25 and ARRL Media and Public
Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, would like hams to use Twitter to
send a tweet announcing their Field Day activities two hours before the
event begins: "We would like everyone to get on Twitter at 1600 UTC and
send 'Meet me at Field Day at [your location] #ARRL #hamradio.' You can
also re-tweet the messages of others. As Field Day progresses, continue
to tweet, post status updates on Facebook and add pictures of your
Field Day activities." You can follow the ARRL's Field Day activities
on Facebook and Twitter. W1AW Station Manager Joe Carcia, NJ1Q, will be
posting updates from W1AW on the ARRL's Facebook page
and on the W1AW Twitter account
. You can also follow along on the ARRL's
youth Twitter account and its Public
Relations Twitter account .
> ARRL FIELD DAY: INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION COULD BE ACTIVE FOR
ARRL FIELD DAY
According to NASA ISS Ham Radio Project Engineer Kenneth Ransom,
N5VHO, the crew on board the International Space Station (ISS) could
very well be on the air for ARRL Field Day, June 25-26. "The ISS will
be supporting ARRL Field Day as long as mission events permit," Ransom
told the ARRL. "The crew will activate one of the automatic modes
(crossband or packet digipeater) to allow ground stations to use the
ISS as a relay." Ransom said that the crew may also be available to
support direct contacts: "The crew could operate either or both call
signs -- RS0ISS and NA1SS -- and would send '2 Alpha DX.' Listen for
them on the downlinks of 145.80 and/or 437.55 MHz." Read more here
.
> + AMATEUR RADIO IN SPACE: NASA ASTRONAUTS AND ASTRONAUT CANDIDATES
EARN AMATEUR RADIO LICENSES
Every few years, NASA selects women and men to join its astronaut
training program. Out of the hundreds who apply, only a select few are
chosen to become Astronaut Candidates. Their training runs for at least
two years, and when it is over, the Astronaut Candidates become
full-fledged astronauts and are assigned to upcoming missions. Part of
the training is an optional Amateur Radio licensing class. Once
licensed and in space, these astronauts can use Amateur Radio to
communicate with people here on Earth.
According to ARRL ARISS Program Manager Rosalie White, K1STO, the
latest cycle of classes is almost over. "During the week of June 6-12,
Nick Lance, KC5KBO, presented a series of Amateur Radio license class
lessons to seven NASA Astronaut Candidates who elected to take part in
future ARISS educational activities," she said. "Following the classes,
Nick conducted a license exam session on June 13 for those Astronaut
Candidates who felt they were ready. On June 17, the FCC issued
Technician class call signs to three Astronauts: Takuya Onishi, KF5LKS,
Gregory Wiseman, KF5LKT, and Jeremy Hansen, KF5LKU. More Astronaut
Candidates have expressed a desire to take the exam in the near
future."
White said that on June 9, Astronaut Michael Hopkins, who studied on
his own, passed his Technician exam as well. The FCC issued his new
call sign, KF5LJG, on June 14. His future NASA assignment is Expedition
37 in 2013 on the International Space Station. Additionally, Astronaut
Kjell Lindgren, KO5MOS, upgraded from the Technician to General.
"The ARISS Team is thrilled to see such great interest on the part of
the Astronauts and Astronaut Candidates who are looking forward to
supporting Amateur Radio educational activities through the ARISS
platform, White said. Kudos to the ARISS Houston contingent who
continues to help increase the number of astronauts who are Amateur
Radio operators!"
> ARRL HOSTS RFI WORKSHOP FOR UTILITY COMPANIES
On June 16-17, the ARRL hosted an RFI workshop for utility company
employees. Led by Mike Martin, K3RFI, owner of RFI Services, the
workshop was geared for those technicians, linemen and engineers who
are responsible for solving RFI and TVI problems. Four participants
from around the country made their way to Newington to take part in
classroom and field instruction to learn how to best locate and solve
these interference problems. Read more here
.
> + AT THE WORKBENCH: HOMEBREW CHALLENGE REMINDER
The ARRL has sponsored two Homebrew Challenges in the past, designed to
test our members' design and construction skills by making useful
amateur gear at low cost -- and sharing their results with our members.
Our first ARRL Homebrew Challenge, announced in QST for August 2006,
required the construction of a 40 meter, 5 W voice and CW transceiver
built for less than $50 of new parts. The Second Homebrew Challenge,
announced in February 2009, resulted in a number of creative designs of
low cost 50 W linear amplifiers to follow the transceiver -- two for
about $30, as well as a multiband amplifier with many features for
somewhat more.
For 2011, the ARRL has issued a challenge
to build a transceiver in
celebration of the (slow) return of sunspots. This challenge will be in
two parts and hams can enter either or both options:
- Option 1: A single band 25 W SSB and CW transceiver for 10 or 6
meters, with a prize of $200.
- Option 2: A 25 W SSB and CW transceiver that can be switched between
10 and 6 meters, using one or two switches, with a prize of $300.
Instead of challenging entrants to make the transceiver at the lowest
cost, the ARRL will instead challenge builders to provide the highest
quality, best performance and most features within the cost target of
$150 for Option 1 and $200 for Option 2. In addition to the cash prize,
the winners of these challenges will have articles describing their
designs in QST and will receive the usual page rate for the published
articles. Additional entrants who meet the minimum requirements -- and
have interesting design features -- may also be considered for QST or
ARRL Web articles.
Entries for either option must be received at ARRL Headquarters no
later than November 1, 2011. To be considered, each entrant must submit
a working transceiver that is suitable for testing in the ARRL Lab and
for on-the-air judging by the ARRL staff judges. Documentation required
includes a priced parts list indicating the source and purchase price
of each part, an article draft including a design description,
construction hints, alignment instruction, block diagrams and schematic
diagrams. Photographs may be provided, but final magazine photos will
be taken by ARRL staff.
For more information, including specific requirements and evaluation
criteria, please visit the ARRL Homebrew Challenge web page
.
> QEX -- THE JULY/AUGUST 2011 ISSUE
The July/August issue of QEX is coming soon, and it is full of
theoretical and practical technical articles that you won't want to
miss. QEX is the ARRL's "Forum for Communications Experimenters."
Published bimonthly, it features technical articles, columns and other
items of interest to radio amateurs and communications professionals.
The mission of QEX is threefold: To provide a medium for the exchange
of ideas and information among Amateur Radio experimenters; to document
advanced technical work in the Amateur Radio field, and to support
efforts to advance the state of the Amateur Radio art. Read more here
.
> ARRL SURVEY UNDERWAY
The ARRL has asked an independent research company specializing in
survey research to conduct a survey of Amateur Radio operators. Readex
Research -- headquartered in
Stillwater, Minnesota -- has conducted similar studies for ARRL in the
past, including QST readership studies and large national surveys. This
most recent survey is being conducted by mail and e-mail, and includes
representative populations of Amateur Radio operators from among US and
international ARRL members, as well as non-member FCC licensees. While
not every member will receive a survey, participation from those
individuals who are selected is critical for the success of this
project. Responses will be kept confidential and only used in
tabulation with others; no data about survey participants -- including
contact information -- will be shared with anyone. Please contact ARRL
if you have any questions about the
survey.
> SUPPORT ARRL: ARRL AND COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN MARK DECADE OF
PARTNERSHIP
For the past 10 years, the US Office of Personnel Management has
designated the ARRL to participate in the 2010 Combined Federal
Campaign (CFC ). In that time, this campaign
for federal government civilian employees, US Postal Service workers
and members of the military has generated more than $170,000 for ARRL
programs since it first became an option for giving by federal
employees to the League. The CFC provides an easy way to support ARRL's
effort to represent its members and all radio amateurs.
Similar to the United Way, the CFC encourages individuals to pledge
by payroll deduction to non-profit organizations of their choice. The
ARRL encourages eligible radio amateurs to consider the League when
designating campaign recipients. Payroll deduction through the CFC is
an easy way for participants to support ARRL over and above their
annual membership. Such contributions support programs that are not
funded by member dues, enriching ARRL's ability to serve its members
and all of Amateur Radio. Those wishing to select the ARRL to receive
all or part of their payroll deductions should designate organization
10099 when completing their CFC donor forms. Donations to ARRL can be
designated for Diamond Club contributions, the ARRL Spectrum Defense
Fund or the ARRL Education & Technology Program. Donors may also make
unrestricted contributions to the League.
One important note: Since the CFC does not provide the ARRL with the
names of individual donors, the ARRL Development Office would
appreciate a copy of the donor form to ensure that each contribution is
applied according to the donor's wishes and the contribution or pledge
can be properly acknowledged.
> SOLAR UPDATE
Tad "You make the Sun shine brighter than Doris Day
" Cook, K7RA, reports: Over
the past week -- June 16-22 -- the average daily sunspot number rose
nearly 20 points to 55, while the average daily solar flux readings
increased by nearly 9 points to 98.6. All geomagnetic indices declined
slightly. For the past month, we've been looking nervously toward ARRL
Field Day because a forecast from NOAA
and USAF showed possibly unsettled geomagnetic conditions on Friday,
June 24, and continuing through Field Day weekend. The forecast has
evolved from troubling to frightening and back again. Early in June,
the predicted planetary A index for June 24-26 was 18, 18 and 15. Then
on June 7, it changed to 15, 15 and 10 -- a little better. Then a week
later, things looked even more promising on June 14 at 15, 10 and 5.
But on June 17, it was revised upward to 30, 15 and 5; a planetary A
index of 30 indicates a geomagnetic storm. The next day on June 18, the
forecast shifted to 25, 18 and 8, and on June 19 it changed again to
25, 18 and 10. June 20 saw a slight change to 25, 18 and 8 again, then
on June 21, it shifted to 15, 40 and 25. An A index of 40 on the first
day of Field Day sounds ominous. Then June 22 it changed again to 30,
10 and 10. Basically we would love to see the A index as low as
possible, 5 or less would be wonderful. The latest news is that the
solar wind from a coronal mass ejection (CME) occurring on the solstice
is moving slower than originally thought, which means a weaker effect
here on Earth. A planetary K index of 5 is expected when the storm
arrives, now predicted at 0700 UTC on June 24, which is 35 hours before
the start of Field Day, 1800 UTC on June 25. At 0640 UTC on June 23,
the Australian IPS Radio and Space Services released a bulletin stating
that increased geomagnetic activity is expected on Jun4 23-24, due to
the CME, but that the effect on June 23 is expected to be mild, with a
small chance of isolated storm periods. Geophysical Institute Prague
predicts active conditions June 24, unsettled to active on June 25,
quiet to unsettled June 26-27 and quiet on June 28-30. The last
forecast before Field Day
should be on
Friday, June 24, released after 2100 UTC. The most recent forecast from
USAF and NOAA has solar flux at 95 on June 23-25, 90 on June 26-30, 95
on July 1-2 and 93 on July 3. The predicted planetary A index for June
23-26 is 18, 30, 20, and 10, on June 27-28 is 8 and 5 on Jun 29 through
July 1. Look for more information on the ARRL website on Friday, June
24. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the ARRL
Technical Information Service Propagation page
. This week's "Tad
Cookism" is brought to you by Wham!'s Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go
.
> + HAM RADIO IN HOLLYWOOD: HOLLYWOOD TAKES LIBERTIES WITH AMATEUR
RADIO IN NEW COMEDY
In Mr Popper's Penguins
-- one of the newest films out this summer -- young Tommy Popper
communicates with his father using what many reviews are calling ham
radio. But while the Poppers are using a radio tuned to 21.2460 (15
meters SSB), this frequency was not available to US hams as a phone
frequency in the 1976-78 time period, as shown in the movie. Neither do
the Poppers use call signs. Instead, they use handles: Young Tommy is
"Tippy Toe" and Mr Popper is "Bald Eagle." Mr Popper -- who, in one
transmission, is in Marrakesh -- calls his son in New York City. There
is no interference or static on the frequency; it seems they are the
only ones on the band. While it is exciting to see Amateur Radio on the
big screen, movies such as Frequency
and Contact
, and television shows such as
Jericho and The Simpsons
have presented Amateur Radio
more accurately.
> INTERNATIONAL NEWS: ARRL TO ATTEND HAM RADIO 2011 -- EUROPE'S
LARGEST AMATEUR RADIO CONVENTION
Each year, ARRL sends a contingent of representatives to attend the
largest Amateur Radio convention in Europe. Held in Friedrichshafen on
the northern side of Lake Constance in Southern Germany, Ham Radio 2011
will take
place June 24-26. This is the 36th international Amateur Radio
exhibition and the 62nd Lake Constance Convention of Radio Amateurs,
sponsored by the Deutscher Amateur Radio Club (DARC
), which gave rise to the fair. The convention
program includes 40 lectures, international and national meetings and
large stage presentations. A Ham Rally and youth tent camp will be
centerpieces of activity for young radio amateurs attending the event.
ARRL Chief Technology Officer Brennan Price, N4QX, International
Affairs Vice President Jay Bellows, K0QB, and Membership and Volunteer
Programs Manager Dave Patton, NN1N, will represent the ARRL at Ham
Radio 2011. Along with greeting international ARRL members and
networking with other IARU Member-Societies, volunteers at the ARRL
booth will receive applications and endorsements for ARRL awards,
including the popular DXCC program. The ARRL -- as International
Secretariat for the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) -- will
also host a meeting area for IARU officials and friends at the
convention. IARU President Tim Ellam, VE6SH, IARU Secretary Rod
Stafford, W6ROD and IARU President Emeritus Larry Price, W4RA, will
represent that organization.
Last year's event drew 17,000 visitors, with 187 exhibitors from 32
nations. Photos from Ham Radio 2010 are posted on the ARRL Facebook
page
.
> + ARRL TO CLOSE IN OBSERVANCE OF FOURTH OF JULY
ARRL Headquarters will be closed in observance of Independence Day on
Monday, July 4. There will be no W1AW bulletin or code practice
transmissions that day.
League Headquarters will reopen Tuesday, July 5 at 8 AM Eastern
Daylight Time. We wish everyone a safe and festive holiday weekend.
> THERE'S STILL TIME TO ENTER THE 2011 ARRL PHOTO CONTEST!
Have you ever wanted to see a photo of yours in QST, the annual ARRL
Amateur Radio Calendar or another ARRL publication? Well, here's your
chance! If you're among the winners, not only will your photographic
skill be propagated far and wide, but we're offering $100 as the First
Prize. The winning photo and three runners-up will be published in QST.
All submitted photos will also be considered for the 2012 ARRL
Calendar.
- Deadline: Photos must be received at ARRL HQ by June 30, 2011.
- Subject: Must be directly related to Amateur Radio, and be in good
taste. Extra points will be awarded for photos showing folks having fun
with Amateur Radio. Photos will be judged on overall quality and
composition.
- Requirements: Digital images or color prints accepted. A digital
image printed on photo paper, however, doesn't work as well as a
high-resolution file attachment. Digital images should be high
resolution. A digital image up to 8 MB in size can be e-mailed to
upfront@arrl.org, subject line "2011 Photo Contest." An image may also
be burned to a CD and mailed to ARRL Photo Contest, 225 Main St,
Newington, CT 06111. All entries must include caption information
describing where the photo was taken, along with a description of the
subject of the photo, as well as the names and call signs of any
persons shown. If you entered last year's contest, please do not resend
the same photo for this year's contest. One entry per person.
- Miscellaneous: The decisions of the judges -- composed of QST
editorial and production staff -- are final.
> THIS WEEK ON THE RADIO
This week:
- June 24 -- NCCC Sprint Ladder
- June 25 -- VK/Trans-Tasman 160 Meter Contest (Phone)
- June 25-26 -- ARRL Field Day ;
Ukrainian DX DIGI Contest; His Majesty King of Spain Contest (SSB);
Marconi Memorial HF Contest; ARCI Milliwatt Field Day
Next week:
- July 1 -- RAC Canada Day Contest
- July 2-3 -- Venezuelan Independence Day Contest; DL-DX RTTY Contest;
PODXS 070 Club 40 Meter Firecracker Sprint (local time)
- July 3 -- DARC 10 Meter Digital Contest
- July 4-5 -- Michigan QRP July 4th CW Sprint
- July 4-10 -- 10-10 International Spirit of 76 QSO Party
- July 5 -- ARS Spartan 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
information. Looking for a Special Event station? Be sure to check out
the ARRL Special Event Stations Web page
.
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