The ARRL Letter
Published by the American Radio Relay League
********************************************
April 5, 2012
Editor: S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA
ARRL Home Page ARRL Letter Archive
Audio News
IN THIS ISSUE
- + On the Air: FCC Seeks Public Comments on Emergency Communications
by Amateur Radio and Impediments to Amateur Radio Communications
- On the Air: ARRL Seeks Comments on Proposed 33 cm Band Plan
- + ARRL Field Day: Be Ready for Field Day in Official Field Day Gear
from the ARRL
- + ARRL Field Day: ARRL PR Committee to Host Field Day Webinar
- + Google Declares "Morse Code Is Perfect" with New Gmail Tap Mail
Program
- + Stephen Klinefelter Takes Over As New Army MARS Chief
- + Silent Key: Fred Maia, W5YI (SK)
- + On the Air: W1AW Claims 5BDXCC
- On the Air: ARRL Rookie Roundup's Third Year Includes New Categories
- Two New Books and Digital Software Library -- Now Shipping!
- ARRL In Action: What Have We Been Up to Lately?
- ARRL HQ: Two Positions Open at ARRL HQ
- Solar Update
- + ARRL to Close in Observance of Good Friday
- + ARRL Recognizes: Eric P. Nichols, KL7AJ, Wins March QST Cover
Plaque Award
- New QuickStats Poll Now Available on ARRL Website
- This Week in Radiosport
- Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events
+ Available on ARRL Audio News .
> + ON THE AIR: FCC SEEKS PUBLIC COMMENTS ON EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
BY AMATEUR RADIO AND IMPEDIMENTS TO AMATEUR RADIO COMMUNICATIONS
In response to the Congressional directive to prepare a study to
assess Amateur Radio's role in emergency and disaster communications
and the impact of private land use regulations on the Amateur
community's ability to provide such communications, the FCC issued DA
12-523 soliciting comments from the public. The period for public
comment runs until May 17, 2012.
"As part of the study contained in Public Law No. 112-96, the
Commission has opened a 45 day period for comments to be filed on the
issue," said ARRL Regulatory Information Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND.
"Because of the short deadline for the study to be completed and
presented to Congress -- before the end of August -- the ARRL and the
amateur community must quickly mobilize their response." Read more here
.
> ON THE AIR: ARRL SEEKS COMMENTS ON PROPOSED 33 CM BAND PLAN
A few months ago, the ARRL UHF/Microwave Band Plan Committee asked
the Amateur Radio community about current, planned and projected uses
of the amateur bands between 902 MHz-3.5 GHz. The response was beyond
our expectations, with hundreds of comments and suggestions received.
After reading the feedback, the Committee began working on the band
plans, and the draft plan for 33 cm (902-928 MHz) is now ready for
review. Read more here
.
> + ARRL FIELD DAY: BE READY FOR FIELD DAY IN OFFICIAL FIELD DAY GEAR
FROM THE ARRL
You've spent all year preparing for ARRL Field Day
, but there are still a few things you're
missing: The official 2012 Field Day shirt, hat, pin and logbook! ARRL
Field Day -- Amateur Radio's largest on-the-air operating event -- is
just a little more than two months away, so be sure to get your gear
before supplies run out. This year's ARRL Field Day shirt is a khaki
T-shirt that sports the 2012 Field Day logo atop a pocket, with the
ARRL diamond logo and "Ham Radio" on the back. Shirts are available in
sizes Small-4XL. The hat -- which has "Field Day" emblazoned on its
front -- is Texas Orange and is color-coordinated with this year's
logo. New for 2012 is the ARRL Field Day Logbook. This nifty logbook is
set up in the Field Day reporting format and includes dupe sheets and
other forms that you need to have to ensure a successful Field Day.
Clubs, order early! Collect orders from members and place a single
order -- pay only $12.50 shipping for orders over $50 (while supplies
last). ARRL Field Day is June 23-24, 2012. Fulfill all your Field Day
apparel needs at the Field Day Supplies section of the ARRL website
.
> + ARRL FIELD DAY: ARRL PR COMMITTEE TO HOST FIELD DAY WEBINAR
The ARRL Public Relations Committee will be holding a free webinar
entitled Field Day Press Release
on Thursday, April 12
at 9 PM (EDT). This webinar is geared for those who want to learn the
easiest -- and most effective -- ways to write up a media release for
Field Day and actually get it noticed by the media in your home region.
Learn the "tricks of the trade" from the people who actually work in
radio, television and print media. ARRL Public Relations Committee
Chairman Steven Polunsky, W5SMP, will host the event; Polunsky is also
the Public Information Coordinator for the ARRL's South Texas Section.
Joining Polunsky are Bill Husted, KQ4YA (print), Mark Kraham, W8CMK
(TV) and Don Carlson, KQ6FM (radio). Space is limited -- reserve your
spot today .
> + GOOGLE DECLARES "MORSE CODE IS PERFECT" WITH NEW GMAIL TAP MAIL
PROGRAM
On April 1 (yes, April Fools' Day), Google announced that it has
unveiled a new way to use its popular Gmail e-mail system. Called Gmail
Tap, it uses dots and dashes to form letters, a system of communicating
that should be very familiar to radio amateurs. "Morse code is
perfect," said Gmail Tap Engineer Mitch Fedenko. "It's just a dot and a
dash. What's simpler than that?" Read more here
.
> + STEPHEN KLINEFELTER TAKES OVER AS NEW ARMY MARS CHIEF
On April 2, US Army Colonel (retired) Stephen G. Klinefelter -- a
senior staff officer who oversees Army MARS operations for the US Army
Network Enterprise Technology Command -- announced that he was assuming
the post of Chief of Army MARS, effective immediately. Klinefelter, 61,
took the leading role last December in untangling a Pentagon decision
to "phase out" the Army MARS Winlink 2000 messaging system, used by
numerous state and municipal emergency management organizations; an
investigation showed it lacked required certification for safety from
hostile incursions. He successfully argued that the resources of
Amateur Radio -- not just MARS or Winlink -- far outweighed any risk
from enemy hackers. Lieutenant General Susan Lawrence, the Army's Chief
Information Officer, ordered an exemption from this policy for Army
MARS, which officials said would extend to the Air Force and
Navy-Marine Corps MARS programs, too. Read more here
.
> + SILENT KEY: FRED MAIA, W5YI (SK)
The holder of one of the best-known US Amateur Radio call signs,
Frederick "Fred" Maia, W5YI, of Arlington, Texas, died of cancer on
March 28. He was 76. Maia was a leading Amateur Radio journalist for
nearly 35 years and a pioneer of the Volunteer Examiner program adopted
by the FCC in 1984, and was the first Volunteer Examiner Coordinator
(VEC) appointed by the FCC. Maia subsequently founded The W5YI Group in
1986 to develop, publish and sell amateur and commercial radio license
study materials. In the realm of FCC commercial radio licensing, Fred
formed National Radio Examiners to provide examination services. Read
more here .
> + ON THE AIR: W1AW CLAIMS 5BDXCC
Nearly four decades after the introduction of the Five Band DXCC Award
(5BDXCC ), W1AW
, the Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station has
achieved this milestone. "As with most stations, we found that 80
meters was our stumbling block," W1AW Station Manager Joe Carcia, NJ1Q,
explained. "One by one, we picked off the needed entities, and W1AW now
holds 5BDXCC #7307. W1AW's 5BDXCC plaque will hang in a place of honor
at the station."
Prior to achieving 5BDXCC, W1AW held DXCC
on 40-10 meters for many
years, but was always searching for the last few remaining entities on
80 meters. Carcia said that at least 90 percent of the confirmations
were made via Logbook of The World, (LoTW
), but the last contacts #99
and #100 on 80 meters were confirmed via traditional QSL cards.
W1AW currently holds Five Band Worked All Continents Award (5BWAC
), Five Band Worked All States Award (5BWAS
), Worked All Continents Award (WAC) on CW,
RTTY and Phone, Mixed DXCC (with 250 entities confirmed) and DXCC for
Digital, CW and Phone.
"Now that W1AW has 5BDXCC, we are gunning for DXCC Honor Roll
," Carcia
said. "Like with 5BDXCC, there are just a few more entities to go
before W1AW can claim this award."
> ON THE AIR: ARRL ROOKIE ROUNDUP'S THIRD YEAR INCLUDES NEW
CATEGORIES
With the Rookie Roundup beginning its third year of competition,
2012 brings some new changes in the event -- including new entry
categories. The first Rookie Roundup of 2012 will use SSB (phone) and
will be held on Sunday, April 15 from 1800-2359 UTC. All amateurs are
welcome to participate, especially those in DX locations.
The focus of the RR remains those who are newly licensed -- hams who
received their very first license during the current year or the two
previous calendar years (2012, 2011 or 2010). Those licensed before
2010 are encouraged to get on and work the Rookies. Or consider acting
as an Elmer and coaching Rookies in their contest efforts without
actually making QSOs -- or performing logging or any other station
functions. Read more here
.
> TWO NEW BOOKS AND DIGITAL SOFTWARE LIBRARY -- NOW SHIPPING!
The ARRL has just released two new books and a digital software library
that you are going to want to have in your shack: Hints & Kinks for the
Radio Amateur (18th edition) and Short Antennas for 160 Meter Radio by
Grant Bingeman, KM5KG. The newest version of Software Library for Hams
is also available as an immediate download or on CD-ROM. Read more here
.
> ARRL IN ACTION: WHAT HAVE WE BEEN UP TO LATELY?
This feature is a concise monthly update of some of the things that
the ARRL is doing on behalf of its members. This installment -- which
covers the month of March -- takes a look at upcoming ARRL member
benefits, new privileges for radio amateurs on 60 meters, forthcoming
ARRL publications, happenings at W1AW, reports from the Official
Observer Desk and more. 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
.
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. Read more here
.
> SOLAR UPDATE
Tad "I remember April when the Sun was in the sky
" Cook, K7RA, reports: Over
the past week, the average daily sunspot number and solar flux values
rose slightly, even though as the week progressed, each day had a lower
number than the day before. The daily sunspot number began the week at
a high of 100, but ended at 60. Likewise, the daily solar flux started
at 111.5, ending with 102.1. The mild geomagnetic conditions made for a
quiet week, with the only unsettled conditions on April 1-2 in very
high latitude regions, with Alaska's College A index at 11 and 17. From
the April 4 USAF forecast, they see solar flux for April 5 at 105,
April 6-7 at 110, 115 on April 8-10, followed by 110 on April 11, and
then 100 on April 12-22. The next predicted short-term peak for solar
flux is 130 on May 2-5. Look for more information on the ARRL website
on Thursday, April 5. For more information concerning radio
propagation, visit the ARRL Technical Information Service Propagation
page . This week's "Tad
Cookism" is brought to you by David Cassidy's Daydreamer
.
> + 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.
> + ARRL RECOGNIZES: ERIC P. NICHOLS, KL7AJ, WINS MARCH QST COVER
PLAQUE AWARD
The winner of the QST Cover Plaque Award for March is Eric P.
Nichols, KL7AJ, for his article "Three Wrong Assumptions about the
Ionosphere." Congratulations Eric! 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 . Cast a ballot for your
favorite article in the April issue today.
> 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:
- How many times have you attended the Dayton Hamvention®?
- Have you used your new 60 meter CW or digital privileges?
- Do you use software to control your transceiver?
- When was the last time you inspected your antenna feed lines?
Visit the QuickStats page and be sure
to bookmark it in your browser. Results from this QuickStats poll will
be published in the July 2012 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.
> THIS WEEK IN RADIOSPORT
This 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
Next week:
- April 13 -- NCCC Sprint Ladder 0230Z-0300Z, Apr 13
- April 14 -- EU Spring Sprint (CW)
- April 14-15 -- Georgia QSO Party; Montana QSO Party; New Mexico QSO
Party; QCWA Spring QSO Party; JIDX CW Contest; Yuri Gagarin
International DX Contest
- April 15 -- ARRL Rookie Roundup (SSB)
; International Vintage Contest HF
Contest; Hungarian Straight Key Contest
- April 17 -- 222 MHz Spring Sprint (local time)
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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