The ARRL Letter
Published by the American Radio Relay League
********************************************
August 16, 2012
Editor: S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA
ARRL Home Page ARRL Letter Archive
Audio News
IN THIS ISSUE
- + Amateur Radio in the Classroom: ARRL Teachers Institute Offers
Instructors Wireless Technology Skills for the Classroom
- + NOAA Updates 2012 Hurricane Season Outlook
- + On the Air: RYRY Rookies -- The 2012 RTTY Rookie Roundup Is Here!
- + Digital Edition of September QST Now Available
- Solar Update
- + Silent Key: VHF Pioneer Paul Lieb, KH6HME (SK)
- + On the Air: International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend 2012
- This Week in Radiosport
- Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events
+ Available on ARRL Audio News .
> + AMATEUR RADIO IN THE CLASSROOM: ARRL TEACHERS INSTITUTE OFFERS
INSTRUCTORS WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY SKILLS FOR THE CLASSROOM
This summer, the ARRL offered teachers the opportunity to learn
about ways to incorporate wireless technology into their classroom
curriculum through its Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology (TI).
Since 2004, the ARRL has sponsored TI sessions as part of its
educational outreach to schools. This professional development training
is offered at no cost to the teachers, but is funded through grants and
donations to the
ARRL's Education & Technology Program.
The Teachers Institute has provided teachers from elementary school to
the university level with tools and strategies to introduce basic
electronics, the science of radio, space technology and satellite
communications, as well as weather science, introduction to
micro-controllers and basic robotics in their classrooms. The
curriculum is designed for motivated teachers and other school staff
who want to learn more about wireless technology and bring that
knowledge to their students.
In 2012, the ARRL offered two sessions of the basic TI course (TI-1)
-- held at Parallax in Rocklin, California (led by Tommy Gober, N5DUX,
of Longview, Texas) and at ARRL Headquarters in Newington (led by ARRL
Education and Technology Program Coordinator Mark Spencer, WA8SME, of
Gales Ferry, Connecticut) -- and one session of the advanced course
(TI-2), held in Dayton, Ohio (led by Matt Severin, N8MS, of Eau Claire,
Michigan) and sponsored by the Dayton Amateur Radio Association. This
year, 26 teachers from 17 states and a Department of Defense school in
Korea participated in the TI-1 courses. At the TI-2 course, there were
eight teachers from seven states. To date, almost 450 teachers have
participated in the ARRL's Teachers Institute. Read more here
.
> + NOAA UPDATES 2012 HURRICANE SEASON OUTLOOK
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA), the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season has been "busy," with six
named storms since the season began June 1. In May 2012, NOAA
forecasters originally indicated a 50 percent chance for a near-normal
season in 2012, and predicted the chances for an above-normal season at
25 percent and a below-normal season at 25 percent. But on August 9,
NOAA revised the chances for an above-normal season -- upping the odds
to 35 percent -- while saying that the chances for a below-normal
season have decreased to 15 percent. Read more here
.
> + ON THE AIR: RYRY ROOKIES -- THE 2012 RTTY ROOKIE ROUNDUP IS HERE!
On Sunday, August 19, the digital modes return to the Rookie Roundup
. Created to give the budding
operator a place to learn about contesting at an easier pace, the
Rookie Roundup is a six hour contest open for all amateurs who have
been licensed for three years or less; if you were licensed in 2010,
2011 or 2012, you qualify as a Rookie. The Rookie Roundup is run three
times per year: SSB in April, RTTY in August and CW in December.
By popular request, a multioperator category has been created for the
Rookie Roundup. Several Rookies can operate from one location as a
group. You use the same call and name in the exchange, regardless of
which operator is at the keyboard. This category is perfect for clubs
wanting to help their newer members get more active.
A team competition has also been created: Up to five single operator
Rookies -- each operating from their own location -- can band together
as a team and combine their scores. Team members are also recognized
for their individual efforts, too. Multioperator entries and
non-Rookies are not permitted to be on a team. Register your team
up to 15 minutes before the start
of the contest.
Old Timers have a place in the Rookie Roundup, as well. Elmering is a
critical component of the Rookie Roundup, and Old Timers are encouraged
to not only get on and work the Rookies, but to host a Rookie and
assist them with learning how to participate. Rookies can work anybody,
but non-Rookies can only work Rookies. The contest exchange is easy:
just send both call signs, your first name and your location (this is
either your US state, Canadian province, Mexican call area or "DX" if
you're not in the US, Canada or Mexico).
Getting on RTTY has never been easier -- all you need is a PC,
soundcard interface and some RTTY software to start making contacts.
Veteran RTTY contester and CQ Contest Hall Of Fame member Don Hill,
AA5AU, has a website geared toward the
beginning RTTY op that is a wealth of info.
You can log the contest using paper forms provided on the Rookie
Roundup web page , or use the
real-time web site at www.inthelog.com . Once
the contest is over and you've calculated your score, visit the WA7BNM
Rookie Roundup page to submit
your score. All official entries must use this form:
http://www.b4h.net/arrlrr/index.php. But don't dally -- you only have
three days to submit your score summary. All score summaries must be
received by 2359 UTC Wednesday, August 22, 2012.
The 2012 ARRL RTTY Rookie Roundup runs from 1800 UTC through 2359 UTC
Sunday, August 19, 2012. Complete rules and score submission
information can be found at the ARRL Rookie Roundup website
. For more information, contact
ARRL Contest Branch Manager Sean Kutzko, KX9X, via e-mail
.
> + DIGITAL EDITION OF SEPTEMBER QST NOW AVAILABLE
The digital version of the September QST is now available
to ARRL members. The
digital version includes many features not available in the print
version, such as:
- A video
overview of the YouKits HB-1B transceiver.
- A video interview with AMSAT's Gould Smith, WA4SXM, about the
upcoming Fox-1 satellite.
- Three classic QST articles by master humorist and author Jack
Troster, W6ISQ.
- Extended results for the 2012 ARRL DX Phone Contest.
Every issue of QST is filled with the news and features you need to
keep active in Amateur Radio. The September issue of QST is our annual
Public Service/Emergency Preparedness issue.
> SOLAR UPDATE
Tad "You shone like the Sun
" Cook, K7RA, reports:
There was a big drop in solar activity over the past week, with the
average daily sunspot numbers declining nearly 42 points to 77.6, and
average daily solar flux down 20 points to 114.7. The solar flux has
dropped down to 100, where it is expected to remain through August 17.
NOAA/USAF is predicting the solar flux on August 18 to be 95, then 90
on August 19-22, then 105, 125 and 130 on August 23-25, and then back
up to 135 on August 26-29. It is expected to drop below 100 again on
September 12-15. The predicted planetary A index is 10 on August 16-17,
14 on August 18, 12 on August 19-20, then 8 on August 21, 5 on August
22-23, 8 on August 24-25, 12 on August 26, followed by 5 on August
27-September 7, then 8 on September 8-10, and down to 5 on September
11-14. This week Russ Mickiewicz, N7QR, of Portland, Oregon (and later
reader David Moore) sent information on a new method for predicting
solar flares
that tracks decay rates in gamma radiation from radioactive elements.
Look for more on the ARRL website on Friday, August 17. For more
information concerning radio propagation, visit the ARRL Technical
Information Service Propagation page
. This week's "Tad
Cookism" is brought to you by Pink Floyd's Shine On You Crazy Diamond
.
> + SILENT KEY: VHF PIONEER PAUL LIEB, KH6HME (SK)
Paul Lieb, KH6HME, of Hilo, Hawaii, passed away July 16. He was 84.
Lieb -- an ARRL Life Member -- was best known for his VHF work and his
radio beacon on the slopes of Mauna Loa where he worked the famous
trans-Pacific tropo duct to the West Coast. Lieb achieved many tropo
ducting distance records up through 5760 MHz and received the Dayton
Hamvention Special Achievement Award in 1999 for "his pioneering and
record-setting work in tropospheric ducting and VHF, UHF and microwave
communications." Read more here
.
> + ON THE AIR: INTERNATIONAL LIGHTHOUSE/LIGHTSHIP WEEKEND 2012
More than 400 lighthouses in almost 50 countries and territories --
from Argentina to Wales -- will be on the air for 2012 International
Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend (ILLW ), organized by
Scotland's Ayr Amateur Radio Group (AARG ). The
event, held for the 15th year in a row, takes place Saturday, August 18
0001 UTC through Sunday, August 19 2359 UTC. While not a contest, the
ILLW is more of a QSO Party and Amateur Radio demonstration. The ILLW
aims to raise public awareness of lighthouses and lightships and the
need for their preservation and restoration, promote Amateur Radio and
foster international goodwill. Stations at more than 50 US lights are
expected to be on the air for the event, and several stations will
identify with special event call signs. Participating
lighthouse/lightship stations do not have to be inside the structure or
on the vessel itself; a Field Day-type setup at or adjacent to the
light is sufficient. More information about the event, including a
registration form and list of
all lights scheduled to be on the air
, is available on the
ILLW website . The ILLW also has a Facebook page
.
> THIS WEEK IN RADIOSPORT
This week:
- August 17 -- NCCC Sprint Ladder
- August 18-19 -- ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest (local time)
; SARTG Worldwide RTTY Contest; North
American QSO Party (SSB)
- August 19 -- ARRL Rookie Roundup (RTTY)
- August 20 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest
- August 22 -- SKCC Sprint
- August 22-23 -- CWops Mini-CWT Test
Next week:
- August 24 -- NCCC Sprint Ladder
- August 25 -- QRP ARCI Welcome to QRP
- August 25-26 -- Hawaii QSO Party; Kansas QSO Party; Ohio QSO Party;
SCC RTTY Championship; YO DX HF Contest; CVA DX Contest (SSB)
- August 26 -- SARL HF CW 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
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
- August 18 -- ARRL West Virginia State Convention
,
Weston, West Virginia
- August 18-19 -- ARRL Southeastern Division Convention
,
Huntsville, Alabama
- August 19 -- ARRL Kansas State Convention
, Salina,
Kansas
- August 24-26 -- ARRL New England Division Convention
,
Boxboro, Massachusetts
- August 26 -- ARRL Western Pennsylvania Section Convention
,
New Kensington, Pennsylvania
- September 14-15 -- W9DXCC Convention
, Elk Grove Village,
Illinois
- September 15 -- ARRL Virginia Section Convention
,
Virginia Beach, Virginia
- September 22 -- ARRL Washington State Convention
,
Spokane Valley, Washington
- September 22-23 -- ARRL Illinois State Convention
,
Peoria, Illinois
- September 28-29 -- SEDCO/W4DXCC VIII Convention
, Pigeon
Forge, Tennessee
- October 12-14 -- ARRL National Convention
,
Santa Clara, California
- October 13 -- ARRL Iowa State Convention
,
Sergeant Bluff, Iowa
- October 13-14 -- ARRL Florida State Convention
,
Melbourne, Florida
- November 3-4 -- ARRL Georgia State Convention
,
Lawrenceville, Georgia
- November 4 -- ARRL Iowa Section Convention
,
Davenport, Iowa
- November 10 -- ARRL Alabama State Convention
, Montgomery,
Alabama
- November 17-18 -- ARRL Indiana State Convention
,
Fort Wayne, Indiana
- December 1-2 -- ARRL West Central Florida Section Convention
,
Palmetto, Florida
To find a convention or hamfest near you, click here
.
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