The ARRL Letter
Published by the American Radio Relay League
********************************************
March 29, 2012
Editor: S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA
ARRL Home Page ARRL Letter Archive
Audio News
+ Available on ARRL Audio News
.
> + ON THE AIR: NTIA -- NO OBJECTION TO ADDITIONAL DATA MODES ON 60
METERS
In response to requests for clarification from the ARRL, the
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has
confirmed that it has no objection to the use of a broader range of
data emissions by amateurs on the five 5 MHz frequencies on 60 meters.
ARRL's original understanding was that the NTIA preferred that the use
of 2K80J2D emission be limited to Pactor III. The NTIA now says that
that is not the case. Read more here
.
> + ON THE AIR: ONLINE DXCC APPLICATION TO DEBUT APRIL 2
Beginning April 2 at 12:01 AM EDT (0401 UTC), the ARRL's new Online
DXCC tool will be ready to accept applications, allowing hams to supply
the data from traditional paper QSLs in a digital form to apply for a
new DXCC award or endorsement. Submitting a DXCC application using
Online DXCC is easier than making a paper application, saving both time
and money. Read more here
.
> + JOE WALSH, WB6ACU, IS AN ANALOG MAN
Grammy Award winning rock-and-roll legend Joe Walsh, WB6ACU, returns
with Analog Man, set to be released June 5. This is Walsh's first solo
album since 1992's Songs for a Dying Planet. According to Walsh's
website, Analog Man is both modern and timelessly soulful, packed with
Walsh's wit, charm and chops; it delivers an incredibly raw and
intimate sound. "It's been 20 years and I have a lot to say," Walsh
explained. "These songs [on Analog Man] come from the heart."
No stranger to the analog way of life, Walsh -- an ARRL Life Member
-- enjoys operating on 75 meters AM. AM -- or amplitude modulation --
has been around the amateur bands since the 1930s. Its advocates say
that AM offers a warm, rich audio quality that provides for more
personal interaction and that AM's simplicity circuit design encourages
hands-on restoration, modification and homebrew construction to an
extent no longer found among contemporary radios. Many hams who operate
AM say they enjoy the simple, roomy electrical and mechanical designs
of the older radios, claiming that they can more easily be modified and
tinkered with than their modern counterparts. Other enthusiasts claim
that these vintage radios sound better than their silicon descendants,
saying that the tube audio from vintage gear is "warmer" and more
aesthetically pleasing than the audio produced by the typical modern
transceiver. Read more here
.
> + ARRL HQ: TWO POSITIONS OPEN AT ARRL HQ
The League is currently looking to fill two open positions at ARRL
Headquarters in Newington. One position is in the Membership and
Volunteer Programs Department and the other is in the Education
Services Department. Travel is required for these full-time positions.
MVP Awards and Programs Assistant
This person who fills this position will assist in all activities found
within the MVP Department, with initial priority given to assisting
with Logbook of The World (LoTW
) support functions. Other
duties include supporting the DXCC and other awards programs, W1AW
station operations and contesting program support. Candidates should
hold an Amateur Extra class license, participate in contests and DXCC,
and be an experienced user of LoTW. A Bachelor's degree is preferred.
Click here
for a job description.
Education Services Instruction and Resource Coordinator
The person who fills this position will, among other duties, identify,
review and organize resources needed by license instructors, teachers
and Scout leaders, develop curricula/lesson plans, instructional media
for instruction of ham radio license and other ham radio related topics
(including radio science and basic electronics topics for use by
classroom teachers) and develop an orientation course for license
instructors and materials for instructor training. Candidates should
hold an Amateur Extra class license (or be willing to achieve this
within one year from date of hire) and a wide range of operating
experience. Experience with instructional media is a plus. A Bachelor's
degree, along with teacher certification (and/or experience as a
teaching or training professional) with Amateur Radio, electronics,
science or technology subjects is required. Click here
for a job description.
How to Apply
To apply, please send your cover letter and resume via e-mail
, or complete the application
,
print it out and mail it with your resume and cover letter to Monique
Levesque, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111. You can also fax your
application, cover letter and resume to 860-594-0298. Please include
your salary history and salary requirements. The ARRL is an equal
opportunity employer.
> + QST AUTHOR SERIOUSLY INJURED
Commander Richard Paton, USCGR (Ret) -- author of "Radio's Role in the
Titanic Disaster" in the April 2012 issue of QST -- was seriously
injured in a motorcycle accident in Tolland, Connecticut on March 22.
He is in the Intensive Care Unit at Hartford Hospital.
"It was a great shock to hear the news," said ARRL Chief Executive
Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ. "Dick and his wife Carol live in the same
town that I do and sit right behind me at church. I knew nothing about
his article until it was in print, because I was in Geneva attending
WRC-12 while the April QST was being put together. My congratulatory
e-mail reached him while he and Carol were on a cruise in the Pacific.
The accident occurred soon after they returned home."
Commander Paton, 67, was injured when his motorcycle collided with an
automobile. At last report the accident was still under investigation.
"While Dick is not a radio amateur, his extensive maritime experience
and inquiring mind combine to lead him to be curious about many of the
things that intrigue us as hams," Sumner said. "I hope ARRL members who
enjoyed his contribution to QST will join me in keeping Dick in their
thoughts and prayers as he fights to recover."
> SOLAR UPDATE
Tad "Never did Sun more beautifully steep
" Cook, K7RA, reports:
Eight new sunspot groups appeared this week, but the average daily
sunspot number declined four points to 71.1, while the average daily
solar flux rose by less than two points to 103.7. On March 22, three
new sunspot groups appeared, numbered 1441, 1442 and 1443. Two more
groups appeared on Friday, 1444 and 1445, while 1442 vanished from
view. On March 24, group 1441 disappeared, and on March 25 new group
1446 emerged. On March 26, groups 1440, 1443 and 1446 faded away, but
1442 -- not seen since four days earlier -- re-emerged. On March 27,
group 1444 disappeared and 1447 appeared, and on March 28 new group
1448 arrived. For the short term, planetary A index is predicted to be
10 on March 29, 5 on March 30-April 9, then 12 on April 10, and back to
5 on April 11-12, then 15 and 10 on April 13-14, followed by 5 on April
15-23. The solar flux prediction shows flux values of 110 and 115 on
March 29-30, 120 on March 31-April 2, 125 on April 3-5, and a big jump
to 140 on April 6. On April 7-11, the predicted solar flux is 130, 125,
120, 110 and 105. On April 12-15, the predicted solar flux is 100. It
then goes to 105 and 110 on April 16-17, and back to 100 on April
18-21. Another broader peak of 140 is predicted for May 1-3. Look for
more information on the ARRL website on Friday, March 30. For more
information concerning radio propagation, visit the ARRL Technical
Information Service Propagation page
. This week's "Tad
Cookism" is brought to you by William Wordsworth's Composed upon
Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802
.
> + ARRL TO CLOSE IN OBSERVANCE OF GOOD FRIDAY
ARRL Headquarters will be closed in observance of Good Friday on
Friday, April 6. There will be no W1AW bulletin or code practice
transmissions that day.
ARRL Headquarters will reopen Monday, April 9 at 8 AM Eastern Daylight
Time. We wish everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend.
> LUXEMBOURG ISSUES STAMP TO CELEBRATE 75 YEARS OF AMATEUR RADIO
Founded in 1937, the Réseau Luxembourgeois des Amateurs d'Ondes
Courtes (RL ) -- that country's IARU
Member-Society -- is celebrating its 75th anniversary. In honor of this
milestone, Luxembourg's Entreprise des Postes et Télécommunications
(P&TLuxembourg) has issued a .60 € postage stamp
(about 80
cents in US currency); P&TLuxembourg is that country's government owned
corporation for mail and telecommunications. This is one of three
commemorative stamps issued by Luxembourg in 2012 .
> THIS WEEK IN RADIOSPORT
This week:
- March 31-April 1 -- Missouri QSO Party
- April 1 -- UBA Spring Contest (SSB)
- April 3 -- ARS Spartan Sprint
Next week:
- April 6 -- NCCC RTTY Sprint
- April 7 -- LZ Open 40 Meter Sprint Contest; PODXS 070 Club PSK 31
Flavors Contest (local time)
- April 7-8 -- QRP ARCI Spring QSO Party; SP DX Contest
- April 11 -- NAQCC Straight Key/Bug Sprint
- April 11-12 -- CWops Mini-CWT Test
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
.
> UPCOMING ARRL SECTION, STATE AND DIVISION CONVENTIONS AND EVENTS
- April 7 -- ARRL North Carolina State Convention
,
Raleigh, North Carolina
- April 14 -- ARRL Delta Division Convention
, Bartlett,
Tennessee
- April 14-15 -- Communications Academy 2012
, Seattle,
Washington
- April 20-22 -- ARRL Idaho State Convention
, Boise, Idaho;
63rd International DX Convention
,
Visalia, California
- April 21 -- ARRL Delaware State Convention
,
Georgetown, Delaware; ARRL Louisiana Section Convention
, Monroe,
Louisiana
- May 4-6 -- EMCOMMWEST
, Reno, Nevada
- May 18-20 -- Dayton Hamvention
, Dayton, Ohio
- June 1-3 -- ARRL Northwestern Division Convention
,
Seaside, Oregon
- June 2 -- ARRL Georgia Section Convention
,
Marietta, Georgia
- June 8-9 -- ARRL West Gulf Division Convention
,
Plano, Texas
- June 9 -- ARRL Arkansas State Convention
, Rogers,
Arkansas; ARRL Tennessee State Convention
, Knoxville,
Tennessee
To find a convention or hamfest near you, click here
.
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Rights Reserved
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