QRZ Forums - Amateur Radio News
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HamRadioNow: KICKSTARTER Approved! "Discovering Amateur Radio"... not so
much
Posted: 08 Dec 2013 06:19 AM PST
http://forums.qrz.com/showthread.php...h&goto=newpost
HAMRADIONOW.tv
Episode 109: KICKSTARTER Approved;
Discovering Amateur Radio... not so much
Episode 109 begins with the announcement that KICKSTARTER has approved our
project to fund doing programs at Orlando and Dayton. Yay! We have until
the end of Friday, January 10, just over a month to collect $8000 in
pledges that will cover going to both fests. A month that includes the two
biggest holidays of the year. Timing is everything. KICKSTARTERS depend on
getting the word out. We've been producing shows at several hamfests since
2007, so you know what we do. Let your friends know, too. Club members,
mailing lists, nets, on-air. Gently, without spamming, please! Oh, and be
prepared to take some hits about wasting your time watching that trash.
Why the KICKSTARTER? I simply can't afford to do it again next year out of
my own bank account, and I won't go into debt to do it. The successful
KICKSTARTER to produce the TAPR-DCC videos reinforced the idea that nothing
inspires like a hard deadline and a go, no-go consequence. We got meager
after-the-fact contributions for 2011/2012 and a big-time advance
commitment for 2013. But the DCC has a built-in, world-wide audience for
content not available anywhere else. Can our hamfest coverage attract
similar interest and support? Well, right there on-camera, I say I don't
think so, so I guess I'd better not shrink from that here. You can watch
the backs of people's heads as they walk through the fests and see shaky
shots of radios on dozens... hundreds of YouTube videos. But I also say
I'm hopeful. Surprise me. Again.
This KICKSTARTER has a 'business' opportunity. I've set 10 $500 "reward"
levels that I call "corporate underwriting." For that contribution, I'll
do some PBS style "enhanced" promotion of your business/product. Not
exactly a commercial, but more than a 3-second Thank-You. Graphics,
animation or video if you've got them. And if you're exhibiting at one or
both hamfests, we'll probably be able to include you on the tour.
So you'd think that in an episode where we're trying to generate good
feelings and collect money and stuff, that we'd avoid being critical of
anything. You'd be wrong. There's a new video out there titled Discovering
Amateur Radio. Another entry in the "Intro to Amateur Radio" field. Why
are there so many? (there are... search YouTube.) Perhaps it's because
it's a daunting task, and everyone who's tried pretty much failed, mostly
for the same reasons (too much, too big, too fast. Too much emphasis on
the niches, not enough on basic hamming. Unexplained jargon. Everybody
should become a ham...). And alas, Discovering Amateur Radio falls victim
to most of it, and maybe breaks some new ground.
Next, I've found some limited help for the YouTube "buffering" problem.
Different solutions for Android and desktop viewing. I finally get around
to details on the Sound pOp Bluetooth speaker I've been playing with. And I
admit that I got caught using copyrighted music without permission on a
YouTube video (gasp).
Somehow we manage to stuff all that in a one-hour episode.
watch this episode right here. Find links on the HamRadioNow.tv web page
HamRadioNow is supported by viewer contributions
If you enjoy the programs, visit www.HamRadioNow.tv and "click the pig"
THANK YOU to all our contributors!--
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Canada Issues Short-Term 472-479 kHz Experimental License
Posted: 08 Dec 2013 03:50 AM PST
http://forums.qrz.com/showthread.php...e&goto=newpost
Industry Canada http://www.ic.gc.ca/Intro.html has issued an experimental
radio license to the Marconi Radio Club of Newfoundland
http://www.ucs.mun.ca/~jcraig/mrcn.html (VO1MRC). Experimental station
VX9MRC has been endorsed to conduct transmissions on 472-479 kHz for just
two days -- December 14 and 15 -- to call attention to the potential new
Amateur Radio band there and to the role ham radio plays in emergency
communication."A special message from Bauline, Newfoundland, Mayor
Christopher Dredge will be sent on CW on 478 kHz as a beacon transmission
on these days," said Joe Craig, VO1NA, a low-frequency enthusiast and MRC
leader. "Those receiving the message are invited to forward it to their
respective municipal representative." Craig said the ERP should be about 2
W on 478 kHz, with the message sent at approximately 12 WPM.
Delegates attending the 2012 World Radiocommunication Conference
(WRC-12
http://www.itu.int/ITU-R/index.asp?c...wrc-12&lang=en)
approved the secondary allocation between 472-479 kHz for the Amateur Radio
Service. Industry Canada has proposed creating a new MF Amateur Radio band
at 472-479 kHz on a secondary basis. Last year the ARRL asked the FCC to
carve out the same band for US hams.
In November 2012 the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rule Making and
Order
http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Rele...C-12-140A1.pdf
(ET Docket 12-338) proposing the creation of a new LF ham band at 135.7 to
137.8 kHz. Canadian hams already have such an allocation.
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The ARRL Letter, December 5, 2013
Posted: 06 Dec 2013 08:20 AM PST
http://forums.qrz.com/showthread.php...3&goto=newpost
The ARRL Letter
December 5, 2013
Rick Lindquist, WW1ME, Editor
Note: These links will take you to the original news posts on the ARRL
website (www.arrl.org)
Regulatory: ARRL Files Erratum to "Symbol Rate" Petition for Rule
MakingRegulatory: Plans Announced to Update the Communications Act of
1934ARRL Centennial: ARRL Granted Use of W1ØØAW for League's
CentennialPublic Service: Amateur Radio Disaster Response in Philippines
Winds DownPublic Service: SKYWARN Recognition Day is December 7On the Air:
The 2013 ARRL 160 Meter Contest is This Weekend!On the Air: Canada Issues
Short-Term 472-479 kHz Experimental LicenseHam Radio in Space: High
Schooler Returns to Her Elementary Alma Mater to Lead ISS ContactHam Radio
in Space: Happy Birthday to AO-7!Youth: December is YOTA Month!People:
Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, Receives Radio Club of America's Sarnoff
CitationMilestones: Former FMRE President Carlos Levy, XE1YK, SKSolar
UpdateJust Ahead in RadiosportUpcoming ARRL Section, State and Division
Conventions and Events
Regulatory: ARRL Files Erratum to "Symbol Rate" Petition for Rule Making
The ARRL has filed an Erratum with the FCC to correct an error in
its "symbol rate" Petition for Rule Making (PRM), filed November 15 with
the FCC and put on public notice for comment as RM-11708 a few days later.
The League's petition asks the FCC to delete the symbol rate limit in
§97.307(f) of its Amateur Service rules and replace it with a maximum
bandwidth for data emissions of 2.8 kHz on amateur frequencies below 29.7
MHz. The Erratum, filed November 26, removes an erroneous reference in the
appendix at §97.307(f)(3) to "unspecified digital codes" and includes a
corrected appendix.
"In one respect the criticism being voiced about our RM-11708 petition has
some merit," said ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ. "This is with regard to the
addition of 'unspecified digital codes' language to §97.307(f)(3). This
change is not discussed at all in the body of the petition and was not
intended to be included in the proposal." The Erratum "relates only to the
Appendix as originally filed, and only with respect to the proposed revised
text of §97.307(f)(3)," The League said. "The remainder of the Petition was
correct as filed."
The revised proposed §97.307(f)(3) will read: "Only a RTTY or data emission
using a specified digital code listed in §97.309(a) of this part may be
transmitted. The authorized bandwidth is 2.8 kHz." Sumner pointed out that
in 1995 the FCC clarified that "specified digital code" is any digital code
that has its technical characteristics publicly documented.
"All of us who reviewed the draft and missed this are deeply sorry for the
confusion thus caused," Sumner said.
In its petition, the ARRL said that the changes it is proposing "would, in
the aggregate, relieve the Amateur Service of outdated, 1980s-era
restrictions that presently hamper or preclude Amateur Radio
experimentation with modern high frequency (HF) and other data transmission
protocols."
Regulatory: Plans Announced to Update the Communications Act of 1934
The US House Communications and Technology Subcommittee has announced plans
for a multi-year effort to examine and update the Communications Act of
1934, the overarching law under which the FCC functions. The subcommittee,
part of the US House Energy and Commerce Committee, is chaired by Oregon
Republican Greg Walden, W7EQI. Walden and Energy and Commerce Committee
Chair Fred Upton of Michigan made the announcement December 3.
"Today we are launching a multi-year effort to examine our nation's
communications laws and update them for the Internet era," Upton said. "The
United States has been the global leader in innovation and growth of the
Internet, but unfortunately, our communications laws have failed to keep
pace."
ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, noted that the most recent significant update
of the Communications Act was in 1996. "Under the leadership of Greg
Walden, the subcommittee and its staff are well equipped to take up the
challenge," Sumner said. "The ARRL will be monitoring the work closely as
it goes forward next year and beyond."
The plan was made public via Google Hangout, where the committee leaders
were joined by former FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell, who said he
was "delighted" to learn of the update plans. Upton explained that the
process, to start in 2014, will involve a series of white papers and
hearings focusing on what might be done "to improve the laws surrounding
the communications marketplace as well as a robust conversation utilizing
all platforms of digital media." He suggested a bill would be ready by 2015.
Walden said, "A lot has happened since the last update" and that the
Communications Act is "now painfully out of date." He said he wants to open
the discussion to input from everyone, and that interested parties may
follow the plan's progress via Twitter. "It's important for people to have
an opportunity to weigh in," he said. "This is really a public process to
get better public policy."
ARRL Centennial: ARRL Granted Use of W1ØØAW for League's Centennial
The FCC has authorized the Maxim Memorial Station W1AW to also use the call
sign W1ØØAW during 2014, the ARRL's centennial year. Contacts made from the
Maxim Memorial Station in Newington, from regional Centennial conventions,
and during the IARU HF Championship will use W1ØØAW, with portable
designators as appropriate. The "W1AW WAS" operations throughout 2014 from
each of the 50 states will use W1AW, not W1ØØAW. Bulletins and code
practice transmissions during 2014 also will still use W1AW.
Contacts with W1ØØAW will be worth 100 points in the ARRL Centennial QSO
Party. To help kick off the ARRL Centennial, special W1ØØAW activity will
begin at 0500 UTC on January 1, 2014 (midnight in Newington), and will
include participation in ARRL's Straight Key Night; one CW station will use
Hiram Percy Maxim's straight key. Activity will continue throughout New
Year's Day.
Public Service: Amateur Radio Disaster Response in Philippines Winds Down
After weeks of deployment, the Philippines Amateur Radio Association (PARA)
HERO (Ham Emergency Radio Operations) Network stood down November 27,
although some activity continues during the disaster cleanup. PARA Vice
Chief Operating Officer Ramon Anquilan, DU1UGZ, said that four stations --
DU1IVT, DU1VHY, DV1SMQ, and DU1EQ -- remain in operation to monitor for any
assistance from local HERO stations. Much remains to be done in the
devastating aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), which injured more than
26,000 people, displaced some four million residents, destroyed 1.2 million
houses, and wreaked extensive damage and destruction to agriculture and to
the Philippine infrastructure.
Anquilan said that while PARA and its HERO Network stations realize that
rescue and relief agencies now are handling the bulk of vital emergency
communication traffic, his organization still has plenty to do. He said
this includes accurately documenting what the HERO Network was able to
accomplish, gaining visibility by authorities and communities, and
furthering HERO's role in disaster preparedness. He said authorities
already are taking greater notice of HERO, and PARA wants to make sure its
role is not forgotten within the enormity of the disaster.
In the hard-hit Tacloban area and the rest of Eastern Visayas, an ACCESS-5
Amateur Radio team continues to be embedded with the Command Post National
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in Tacloban City. Three
operators are on duty there. ACCESS-5 Tacloban is now augmented by some 35
ACCESS-5 members from Catbalogan, Samar, and Burauen, Leyte. PARA
Secretary-General Butch Pacana, DU1RP, drove from Davao City to visit HERO
stations in Borongan, Eastern Samar and Tacloban City. While in Borongan,
he served as courier for the situation report from Eastern Samar to
Tacloban City -- the first official situation report from Eastern Samar.
This helped provincial officials find a suitable means of transport to
Tacloban. He reported that HERO operators were coping well and up to the
task. Don Bosco Technical College (DX1DBT) officials maintain their HF link
between Borongan, Eastern Samar, Cebu and Mandaluyong in metropolitan
Manila.
In the Central Visayas, Iver Astronomo, DV6ILA, is still active from the
Capiz Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in Roxas
City. The DV6ILA signal got a big boost through the donation of an HF
transceiver by Bing Rodriguez, DU6RCR, and a microphone loaned by Bob
Garcia, DU6BG. Arnel, DV6WAV, reports that power is back on at the Capiz
State University where he's a professor, and that he has activated another
VHF/HF station. The HERO station DV6ILA and DW6WAV were staffing in Roxas
City earlier got a surprise visit from the bureau chief of the UN Office
for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA), Fernando Arroyo
EA4BB, who "had a few short QSOs on the spot." Arroyo later appointed
DV6WAV to head his convoy team to meet international aid volunteers at the
airport. Other HERO stations also remain active, occasionally reporting on
their activities and providing progress updates on the restoration of
services.
Anquilan said that PARA now has a permit to import equipment, and its Board
will meet on its placement and use. He acknowledged donations by Patrick
Prescott, KC1AJT, who sent an HF transceiver, and Stanley Jungleib, WA6LVC,
who sent an antenna tuner.
Media Hits
On November 17, Anquilan appeared on both the BBC World Service radio and
National Public Radio, in interviews arranged with ARRL assistance. "We are
just hobbyists, and we are converted into this public service role when
there are emergencies," he told the BBC, calling public service work on ham
radio "uplifting and fulfilling."
Anquilan told NPR's Rachel Martin on "Weekend Edition Sunday" that the
Secretary Defense was one of the first people to use the Amateur Radio link
set up in Tacloban. He explained that the Secretary of Defense and the
Secretary of the Interior had been dispatched to Tacloban before the storm,
and after the hurricane hit, the central government in Manila did not know
their whereabouts. "Even the president could not contact his cabinet on the
ground in Tacloban," Anquilan said. "So, one of the first messages for us
to relay was the message of the Secretary Defense."
Anquilan and Nathan Eamiguel, DU5AOK, were featured in radio interviews on
November 23. "The program's host, Francis 'Kiko' Flores, welcomed the
participation of Amateur Radio in the emergency," Anquilan said. "He
recalled his own experiences in the 1991 Baguio earthquake, where he
personally experienced the usefulness of Amateur Radio emergency
communications." -- Jim Linton, VK3PC, Chairman IARU Region 3 Disaster
Communications Committee
Public Service: SKYWARN Recognition Day is December 7
WX4NHC, the Amateur Radio Station at the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in
Miami, will be on the air for SKYWARN Recognition Day (SRD), Saturday,
December 7, 1400 until 2300 UTC. Hurricane season officially ended November
30.
"This will be our 15th year of participation in the SRD, and our 33rd year
of public service at NHC," said Julio Ripoll, WD4R, the WX4NHC Amateur
Radio assistant coordinator. "The purpose of this event is to test the
Amateur Radio Station operations and equipment between NWS Office
nationwide and is sponsored by NOAA. This event is excellent practice for
ham radio operators as well as NWS staff to become familiar with the unique
communication skills available during times of severe weather. It is also a
fun event."
WX4NHC will take advantage of the occasion to conduct operator training.
The station will make contacts on various frequencies and modes, to
exchange signal reports and basic weather data, such as "sunny" or "rainy"
between WX4NHC, ham stations at other NWS offices, and stations throughout
the US.
WX4NHC will be on HF, VHF, UHF, APRS (2 meters and 30 meters), and Winlink
(subject should contain //WL2K). "We will try to stay on the recognized
Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) frequency 14.325 MHz most of the time and
announce when we QSY," Ripoll said.
Ripoll said that due to space and equipment limitations at the NHC, plans
call for having two to three operators on duty per shift. "We cannot be
everywhere and on every mode at the same time," he explained. "You may be
able to find us on HF by using one of the DX spotting networks, such as the
DX Summit website."
WX4NHC operators also will be active on the VoIP Hurricane Net, from 2100
until 2300 UTC (IRLP node 9219 / EchoLink WX-TALK Conference node 7203).
South Florida area VHF and UHF repeaters will be part of the mix as well.
QSL cards are available via WD4R, with an SASE. Do not send QSLs directly
to the National Hurricane Center. Entry to the NHC will be restricted
during this event.
On the Air: The 2013 ARRL 160 Meter Contest is This Weekend!
Top Band stalwarts and newcomers will up the activity level on 160 meters
this weekend, as the ARRL 160 Meter Contest gets underway Friday evening.
The event offers an excellent opportunity for any station, regardless of
size or antenna system, to try their luck on 160. This popular, CW-only
activity each year attracts operators of all experience levels.
Multipliers in the contest are ARRL/RAC Sections and DXCC entities. Alaska
(KL7) and Hawaii (KH6) can be worked by both DX and W/VE stations, as can
Caribbean US possessions (KP1-KP5) and Pacific Ocean territories (KHØ-KH9).
Even stations with limited antennas for 160 should find many multipliers
within range.
Previous years have seen inventive antenna solutions from those with
limited space. Some interesting antennas have included flagpoles, house
gutters, and even 40 meter dipoles. If you don't have room for a dedicated
160 meter antenna, you can make contacts with just about anything; many Top
Band devotees have outstanding ears and will be eager to work you.
The 2013 ARRL 160 Meter Contest runs from 2200 UTC Friday, December 6,
until 1600 UTC Sunday, December 8. Complete rules and entry forms may be
found online. Logs must be e-mailed to or postmarked no
later than 1600 UTC January 7, 2014. Send paper logs to ARRL 160 Meter
Contest, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111. Soapbox comments and photos can
be uploaded on the Soapbox page.
On the Air: Canada Issues Short-Term 472-479 kHz Experimental License
Industry Canada has issued an experimental radio license to the Marconi
Radio Club of Newfoundland (VO1MRC). Experimental station VX9MRC has been
endorsed to conduct transmissions on 472-479 kHz for just two days --
December 14 and 15 -- to call attention to the potential new Amateur Radio
band there and to the role ham radio plays in emergency communication.
"A special message from Bauline, Newfoundland, Mayor Christopher Dredge
will be sent on CW on 478 kHz as a beacon transmission on these days," said
Joe Craig, VO1NA, a low-frequency enthusiast and MRC leader. "Those
receiving the message are invited to forward it to their respective
municipal representative." Craig said the ERP should be about 2 W on 478
kHz, with the message sent at approximately 12 WPM.
Delegates attending the 2012 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-12)
approved the secondary allocation between 472-479 kHz for the Amateur Radio
Service. Industry Canada has proposed creating a new MF Amateur Radio band
at 472-479 kHz on a secondary basis. Last year the ARRL asked the FCC to
carve out the same band for US hams.
In November 2012 the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rule Making and
Order (ET Docket 12-338) proposing the creation of a new LF ham band at
135.7 to 137.8 kHz. Canadian hams already have such an allocation.
Ham Radio in Space: High Schooler Returns to Her Elementary Alma Mater to
Lead ISS Contact
Sixteen-year-old Rebecca "Becca" Rubsamen, KJ6TWM, recently returned to her
elementary school alma mater to help youngsters there speak via Amateur
Radio with astronaut Mike Hopkins, KF5LJG, at the helm of NA1SS aboard the
International Space Station. The November 13 event at Rancho Romero
Elementary School in Alamo, California, was sponsored by the Amateur Radio
on the International Space Station (ARISS) program.
"Becca approached Rancho Romero Elementary School, her alma mater, with the
idea to do an ARISS contact there," her dad, Reid Rubsamen, N6APC, told
ARRL. "She drafted the application, helped develop the curriculum, and
convinced astronaut James Van Hoften to come to Science Night to help
promote the contact. Becca and I were very excited about the whole thing!"
Becca assembled from a kit the Elecraft K3 and 2 meter transverter she used
for the ARISS contact. "I built the antennas in my backyard," she explained
on her website, which includes audio of the contact. "It took a flat bed
truck and a fork lift to put them on the roof at Rancho!"
During the approximately 8 minute contact, the youngsters at the school
posed a wide array of questions to Hopkins, who, responding to one
student's query, explained that the ISS orbits Earth 16 times a day, making
it hard to keep track of time. "We have a great group on the ground that
helps up keep track of time and lets us know when it's time to go to bed,"
he said.
Hopkins told the students that the crew members are "the guinea pigs" for
some of the science experiments in space that are aimed at determining how
humans fare in the spacecraft's microgravity environment, which, he pointed
out, takes a toll on muscles and bones. "We exercise about 2 hours a day to
try to counteract that bone loss," he said. But, he added, "You're never
going to forget what it's like to float."
Becca's is a nearly all-ham family. Her mother, Amy, is KJ6WMF, and her
13-year-old brother Mike is KJ6WMG. Only her 7-year-old brother is not yet
licensed. According to her dad, Becca believes the CubeSats may be "the
next big thing" to promote ham radio and STEM (science, technology,
engineering, mathematics) education. "She is going to install a permanent
UHF/VHF ground station at Rancho Romero to help this happen," he told the
League.
As for the future, her dad said Becca -- a sophomore at Bentley School in
Lafayette, California -- sees a career in health care or technology. "Maybe
she'll do both," he added.
Tim Bosma, W6MU, served as the ARISS mentor for the contact. He told the
Contra Costa Times newspaper that Becca was among the youngest people to
act as a lead operator" for a school contact. "It's very impressive," he
said, adding that it was something he had not seen in his 30 years as a
mentor for the program. He is working with Becca as they plan the
installation of a VHF/UHF ground station at Rancho Romero to work Amateur
Radio satellites.
ARISS is an international educational outreach with participation from
ARRL, NASA, ESA, the Russian Space Agency (ROSCOSMOS), CNES, JAXA, CSA and
AMSAT.
Ham Radio in Space: Happy Birthday to AO-7!
The AO-7 Amateur Radio satellite turned 39 years old on November 15.
Launched in 1974 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California as the second
AMSAT Phase 2 ham satellite, AO-7 continues to amaze.
After its batteries succumbed to old age, AO-7 went silent in 1981, only to
spring back to life in 2002, although some believe it may have resurrected
itself as much as a year earlier. AMSAT describes the Mode A/B bird
as "semi-operational" and "almost certainly" running solely from its solar
panels.
The ham satellite organization theorizes that AO-7's batteries shorted when
they failed, but the short circuit subsequently opened, allowing the
satellite regain some functionality. This means AO-7 only works when it
receives direct sunlight, and it shuts down when in eclipse. Since the
satellite returned, terrestrial users have enjoyed numerous contacts via
AO-7.
AMSAT-NA this week offered its congratulations to all involved in the
designing, building, launching, and operating the satellite, adding, "It's
an amazing achievement that, other than the batteries, most of the
circuitry continues to function normally 39 years after launch."
AMSAT newsletters from the 1970s and early 1980s are available, courtesy of
KA9Q. N4HY offers a photo gallery depicting AO-7's construction and launch
of AO-7. -- Thanks to Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, via AMSAT News Service
Youth: December is YOTA Month!
During December several European countries will promote ham radio to youth
as part of a Youngsters On The Air (YOTA) event, on all bands and modes.
Stations will be on the air with "YOTA" as a call sign suffix or appendage.
"The idea for this is to break the ice for some youngsters," said Bjorn
Dettmaring, ON5CFG. "This is not a contest but a shout out to the world of
ham radio. Try to get as many youngsters as you can on the air this month,"
he urged.
Awards are available for operators or SWLs working or monitoring YOTA
stations. Dettmaring said the December event follows up on the success of
the Youngsters On The Air events last summer. Awards are free and will be
distributed electronically. Only contacts during December 2013 are valid.
Each station may be counted only one time. -- Thanks to Bjorn Dettmaring,
ON5CFG
People: Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, Receives Radio Club of America's
Sarnoff Citation
Retired FCC Special Counsel for the Spectrum Enforcement Division Riley
Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, is the 2013 recipient of
the Sarnoff Citation. The Radio Club of America established the award in
1973 to recognize an individual or club member for "significant
contributions to the advancement of electronic communications." The Sarnoff
Citation has been made to RCA members "who have contributed to advancement
of electronic communications in any significant manner, including
nontechnical support of the wireless industry," the club's website states.
"I could never adequately thank the Radio Club of America for this award,"
Hollingsworth said in a statement conveyed to those attending the awards
banquet in Orlando. "To receive this -- and it is still hard to believe --
from such a prestigious organization is an amazing journey for a 13 year
old in South Carolina just learning to appreciate the magic of radio. Thank
you all, and thank you very much for benefiting the entire nation by
helping so many people choose a career in wireless."
Hollingsworth's engraved award, dated November 23, says, "For your
significant contributions and outstanding achievements in wireless
communications."
Other Sarnoff Citation laureates include US Senator Barry Goldwater, K7UGA
(SK), ARRL Roanoke Division Director Dennis Bodson, W4PWF, and two-way
radio pioneer Fred M. Link, ex-W2ALU (SK).
In his FCC Enforcement Bureau position, Hollingsworth, who retired in 2008,
revived enforcement of Amateur Service rules and regulations.
Milestones: Former FMRE President Carlos Levy, XE1YK, SK
Carlos Eduardo Levy Vazquez, XE1YK, of Mexico City -- a well-known radio
amateur and academic who served from 2004 until 2008 as president of the
Federación Mexicana de Radio Expermentadores (FMRE) -- Mexico's IARU
member society -- has died. He was 62.
Levy led a successful campaign to unite most of Mexico's major Amateur
Radio clubs behind FMRE. Licensed in 1973, he was a DXpeditioner,
activating Revillagigedo in 1973 and 2007 as XF4YK.
"Carlos was a friendly, but strong, leader who tried very hard to improve
Amateur Radio in Mexico and the FMRE," said ARRL Membership and Volunteer
Programs Manager Dave Patton, NN1N. "He was the right guy at the right time
for FMRE, and he will be missed."
Levy was a professor of international communications at the University
Nacional Autónoma de México, where he'd worked for 26 years. He held a
PhD in political and social sciences and a master's in international
relations, and his academic interests focused on globalization of media,
freedom of information, and international politics.
Survivors include his brother Pepe, XE1J, who serves as ARRL's DXCC card
checker in Mexico.
Solar Update
Tad Cook, K7RA, in Seattle, Washington, reports: Due to the Thanksgiving
holiday in the United States (Canada celebrates the same holiday on the
second Monday in October, Columbus Day in the US), we had a short bulletin
last Wednesday and a catch-up bulletin on Monday, December 2.
Solar activity bounced back this week, with average daily sunspot number
increasing from 63.6 to 102.9, and average daily solar flux from 130 to
132.9. There were no periods of disruptive geomagnetic activity, although
November 30 and December 1 were slightly unsettled.
Predicted solar flux for December 5-9 is 140, 145, 140, 135 and 130, then
125 on December 10-11, 130 on December 12, 135 on December 13-14, 130 on
December 15-16, 135 on December 17, 130 on December 18-19, 125 and 130 on
December 20-21, 125 on December 22-23, 130 on December 24-26, and 125 on
December 27-28.
There is an odd peak at 165 predicted for January 8, but this seems to be a
remnant of a prediction issued from November 25 through December 1, when
there were many days in mid-December, late December, and early January with
solar flux predicted at 160 to 165. On December 2 these predictions were
radically revised downward, with the exception of January 8.
From November 25 to December 1 the solar flux prediction was 165 for
January 4-10, but starting on December 2 that prediction was revised to
solar flux at 130 on January 4-7, and 135 on January 9-10 and 130 on
January 11-12, with January 8 standing alone at 165.
Predicted planetary A index is 5 and 8 on December 5-6, 12 on December 7-8,
5 on December 9-12, then 10 and 8 on December 13-14, 5 on December 15-25,
then 12, 10, 8, 12, and 10 on December 26-30.
This weekend is the ARRL 160 Meter Contest, which starts at 2200 UTC
Friday, December 6, and ends at 1600 UTC Sunday, December 8 -- a 42 hour
period with no time limitation. We will have an updated geomagnetic
forecast for the contest in Friday's bulletin. Given recent quiet
geomagnetic conditions and longer hours of darkness in the Northern
Hemisphere, 160 meters should be in great shape.
Just Ahead in Radiosport
Dec 6 -- NCCC Sprint, CW
Dec 6 -- QRP Fox Hunt (80 meters)
Dec 6-8 -- ARRL 160 Meter Contest, CW
Dec 7 -- TARA RTTY Melee
Dec 7 -- Wake-Up! QRP Sprint, CW
Dec 7-8 -- SKCC Weekend Sprintathon, CW
Dec 7-8 --TOPS Activity Contest, CW
Dec 7-8 -- EPC Ukraine DX Contest, PSK
Dec 7-8 -- VU International DX Contest (CW/SSB/Mixed)
Dec 7-8 -- SKCC Weekend Sprintathon
Dec 7-8 -- TOPS Activity Contest
Dec 7-8 -- EPC Ukraine DX Contest
Dec 7-8/14-15 -- AWA Bruce Kelley Memorial CW Contest
Dec 8 -- Ten Meter RTTY Contest
Dec 8 -- CQC Great Colorado Snowshoe Run, CW
Dec 11 -- NAQCC Straight Key/Bug Sprint
Dec 11 -- QRP Fox Hunt (40 meters)
Dec 11-12 -- CWops Mini-CWT Test
Dec 13 -- QRP Fox Hunt (80 meters)
Dec 13 -- NCCC Sprint
Dec 14-15 -- ARRL 10 Meter Contest
Dec 14-15 -- International Naval Contest, CW+SSB
Dec 15 -- QRP ARCI Holiday Spirits Homebrew Sprint, CW
Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events
December 6-7 -- West Central Florida Section Convention, Plant City, Florida
January 5 -- NYC/LI Section Convention, Bethpage, New York
January 17-18 -- North Texas Section Convention, Fort Worth, Texas
January 19-26 - Quartzfest Convention, Quartzsite, Arizona
January 24-25 -- Mississippi State Convention, Jackson, Mississippi
January 25-26 -- Puerto Rico State Convention, Hatillo, Puerto Rico
January 31-February 1 -- Southern Florida Section Convention, Miami, Florida
Feb 7-9 -- Northern Florida Section Convention (Orlando HamCation® --
Regional ARRL Centennial Event), Orlando, Florida
Feb 14-15 -- Arizona Section Convention, Yuma, Arizona
March 1-2 Alabama Section Convention (BirmingHAMfest 2014), Birmingham,
Alabama
March 7-8 North Carolina Section Convention (Charlotte Hamfest), Concord,
North Carolina
March 7-8 West Gulf Division Convention, Claremore, Oklahoma
March 22-23 Communications Academy, Seattle, Washington
Find conventions and hamfests in your area.
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