QRZ Forums - Amateur Radio News
///////////////////////////////////////////
ISEE-3 spacecraft presentation in Guildford Saturday
Posted: 25 Jul 2014 01:36 AM PDT
http://forums.qrz.com/showthread.php...y&goto=newpost
ice.jpgISEE-3 spacecraft presentation in Guildford Saturday
Achim Vollhardt DH2VA and Mario
Lorenz DL5MLO from AMSAT-DL Bochum will be giving a presentation on ISEE-3
(ICE) to the AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium at the Holiday Inn,
Guildford, GU2 7XZ. The event is open to all
The presentation takes place from 1:50-2:40pm
(1250-1340 GMT) on Saturday, July 26 and it is hoped to have a live
demonstration of telemetry reception from the spacecraft during the
presentation.
The International Sun-Earth Explorer (ISEE-3) is a
NASA spacecraft that was launched in 1978 to study EarthÂ’s magnetosphere.
It was repurposed and renamed the International Cometary Explorer (ICE) in
1983 to study two comets and has been in a heliocentric orbit since then,
traveling just slightly faster than Earth. ItÂ’s finally catching up with
Earth from behind with the closest approach expected in August, 2014.
Since NASA no longer has the capability to receive
and command the spacecraft a group of amateurs, with NASAÂ’s permission,
decided to do it for themselves.
On March 1-2, 2014 radio amateurs at the Bochum
Amateur Radio Facility in Germany were able to detect the beacon signal
from the spacecraft over a distance of 43 million km. After some changes
to the ground equipment and aligning the receive antenna to the predicted
position in the sky, the 2 GHz beacon signal could positively be
identified due to its frequency, the position in the sky and the frequency
shift due to the radial velocity (Doppler shift).
The 20m dish at Bochum was used to receive the
signals. In 2003, AMSAT-DL converted this former industrial monument into
a fully functional groundstation for deep space probes. Since 2009 the
facility is being used by volunteers almost full time as ground receive
station for data from the STEREO mission with its two spaceprobes
monitoring the sun from different viewing angles.
In June Dennis Wingo KD4ETA and other volunteers
succeeded in commanding the spacecraft using the Arecibo dish in Puerto
Rico.
Admittance to the Colloquium is £10 a day. You can
register in advance at
http://shop.amsat.org.uk/shop/category_10/
Colloquium-2014-Fri-25-July-to-Sun-27-July.html
registration can also be done on the day.
The schedule and map is at
http://amsat-uk.org/colloquium/colloquium-2014/
Live video streaming
http://amsat-uk.org/2014/07/23/batc-...ce-colloquium/
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/201...d_saturday.htm
Follow Southgate News on Twitter
Become a Facebook fan
Attached Images
ice.jpg
(38.0 KB)
///////////////////////////////////////////
4,000 Scouts to experience Ham Radio at Scout AirFest in Illinois
Posted: 25 Jul 2014 01:29 AM PDT
http://forums.qrz.com/showthread.php...s&goto=newpost
4,000 Scouts to experience Ham Radio at Scout AirFest in Illinois
The Rainbow Council Amateur Radio Committee will operate
a Special Event Station during Scout AirFest on August 8-10, 2014.
With nearly 4,000 registered Scouters expected to
attend, Scout AirFest is one of the largest Scout events in Northern
Illinois in this year. The “camporee” will take place on the grounds of
the Lewis University Airport in Romeoville, Illinois.
The K2BSA Amateur Radio Association has given the
Rainbow Council permission to operate as K2BSA. Nearly two dozen ham radio
operators will be ambassadors to one of the most interesting hobbies in the
world during AirFest.
Scouts and Unit Leaders who attend AirFest can
participate in the program, even if they are not licensed operators. The
K2BSA operation will feature a variety of Radio Scouting opportunities.
Requirements for the Radio Merit Badge HF Voice and Digital Communication
Low Earth Orbiting Satellite Demonstrations Morse Code Demonstrations UHF
Talk-In for Out-of-Town Scout Units VHF Camp Net for Rag Chewing
After Taps each night, K2BSA will operate as a
traditional Special Event Station in an attempt to work as many stations
on as many bands as possible. K2BSA will participate in the WAE CW DX
Contest and Maryland QSO Party during the AirFest weekend.
World Scouting Band
Segments Several amateur bands have
designated frequencies where Scout stations can meet. K2BSA will operate
Phone, CW, and PSK modes during AirFest, giving Scouts the opportunity to
experience several communication modes. K2BSA also will attempt LEO
satellite communication from grid EN51wo.
HF Voice Communication
Band
NCS Call Sign
Purpose
Calling Freq. (MHz)
Minimum License
2 m
K2BSA
Campfire Radio
147.540 (No Tone)
Technician
70 cm
K2BSA
Talk-In Net (Primary)
443.525 (PL 114.8)
Technician
70 cm
K2BSA
Talk-In Net (Back Up)
442.550 (PL 114.8)
Technician
HF CW Frequencies Band
Mode
Segment (MHz)
Calling Freq. (MHz)
Minimum License
80
CW
3.560 – 3.570
3.570
Technician
40
CW
7.030 – 7.040
7.030
Technician
20
CW
14.050 – 14.060
14.060
General
15
CW
21.130 – 21.140
21.140
Technician
PSK Frequencies
Band
Mode
Segment (MHz)
Calling Freq. (MHz)
Minimum License
80
PSK
3.570 – 3.600
3.580
Technician
40
PSK
7.030 – 7.040
7.035
Technician
20
PSK
14.070 – 14.095
14.070
General
15
PSK
21.070 – 21.110
21.080
Technician
Campfire Radio Net and Talk-In
For Scouters traveling from outside Will County, K2BSA
will provide a directed Talk-In Net. Net Control will be part of the Camp
MasterÂ’s tent. When Scouters arrive, they can communicate and Rag Chew on
an undirected net called Campfire Radio. K2BSA will guard both
frequencies.
Band
NCS Call Sign
Purpose
Calling Freq. (MHz)
Minimum License
2 m
K2BSA
Campfire Radio
147.540 (No Tone)
Technician
70 cm
K2BSA
Talk-In Net (Primary)
443.525 (PL 114.8)
Technician
70 cm
K2BSA
Talk-In Net (Back Up)
442.550 (PL 114.8)
Technician
QSLs
All QSLs will come via K9RSR on Log Book of the World (LOTW) and
QRZ.com. We will provide paper QSL cards only to operators who provide
return postage. No QSL cards for Echolink
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/201...n_illinois.htm
Follow Southgate News on Twitter
Become a Facebook fan
///////////////////////////////////////////
The ARRL Letter, July 24, 2014
Posted: 24 Jul 2014 02:28 PM PDT
http://forums.qrz.com/showthread.php...4&goto=newpost
The ARRL Letter
July 24, 2014
Rick Lindquist, WW1ME, Editor
[Note: Clicking on the story links below will take you to the news article
as it appears in The ARRL Letter on the ARRL website.]
ARRL National Centennial Convention Kicks Off Ham Radio's Second
CenturyCentennial Convention Provides Springboard for "Amateur Radio Parity
Act," HR.4969FEMA and ARRL Sign Agreement; FEMA Administrator Calls Ham
Radio "Resilient"FCC Proposes Substantial Fines for Two Radio Amateurs
Alleging Deliberate Interference, Failure to IdentifyARRL VEC Conducts
Remote Exam Session with Applicants in AntarcticaW1AW Centennial Operations
Move to Indiana, Rhode IslandHam Radio Aids in Rescue of Injured Colorado
HikerCincinnati BPL Internet Service Provider Pulls the Plug on its
SystemARRL Dedicates Centennial Terrace to Honor Major DonorsNobel Laureate
Joe Taylor, K1JT, to Conventioneers: Amateur Radio Will ThriveIndia's VO-52
Satellite Goes DarkA Century of Amateur Radio and the ARRL
ARRL National Centennial Convention Kicks Off Ham Radio's Second Century
With the ARRL National Centennial Convention, July 17-19, now a part of
Amateur Radio history, the League's second century has arrived! The ARRL
welcomed some 3300 visitors to the Connecticut Convention Center in
Hartford for the 3-day event, which went smoothly for the most part, said
ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN. She noted that many conventioneers even
stayed around for the official closing ceremony on Saturday afternoon --
and beyond.
"Even as late as Sunday, people were shaking my hand at the convention
hotel and saying how much they enjoyed the convention," Craigie
said. "Despite a few hitches and glitches, the event as a whole met our
objective of being a truly memorable and meaningful celebration of the
centennial, in the city where it all began 100 years ago."
Craigie expressed appreciation for the efforts of ARRL Headquarters
staffers and the many volunteers who helped to make the convention a
success. "The ARRL also appreciates the Training Track and forum
presenters, who made the program as fine as anything ever brought together
for an Amateur Radio convention," she added. "The exhibitors who supported
the show with their presence gave visitors an excellent opportunity to
learn more about the products, services, and organizations in today's
Amateur Radio. That was really helpful when I walked through the exhibits
with FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, KK4INZ, and later with Congressman
Joseph Courtney of Connecticut -- an original co-sponsor of HR.4969 -- for
some show and tell about Amateur Radio activities and technology."
The winner of a drawing for a $5000 grand prize certificate from the ARRL
and R&L Electronics was ARRL Life Member John C Davison, N2OXV, of
Poughkeepsie, New York. The winner of a $2500 gift certificate from the
ARRL and FlexRadio Systems was Robert The, AC2II, of Germantown, New York.
"Just before the prize drawing on Saturday afternoon, I invited the
youngest hams at the closing ceremony onto the main stage," said
Inderbitzen. "There were four 13-year-olds -- Stu Cichon of Meriden,
Connecticut (a prospective ham); Dahnesh Upton, KB1OTB, of Mont Vernon, New
Hampshire; Tobias Park, KD2EOM, of Warwick, New York; and Brandon
Turrentine, KF5QYU, of Winnie, Texas. "Brandon pulled the tickets of the
two prize winners," Inderbitzen continued. "Each of these young hams will
be sent a hardcover edition of the ARRL Centennial Handbook signed by
members of the staff, and some other 'goodies.'"
At the convention, Craigie said, she saw some youngsters in strollers who
likely will be around for the League's 150th anniversary in 2064. "Our job
now is to do our part to make sure that Amateur Radio and the ARRL are
strong for them when it's their turn to celebrate the next milestone in the
history of our League," she said.
ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, concluded the closing ceremony. "With this
moment, we say good-bye to ARRL's first century with fondness [and] great
memories," he said. "You're all part of that history, and now we're all
part of the ARRL's second century."
Centennial Convention Provides Springboard for "Amateur Radio Parity Act,"
HR.4969
The just-concluded ARRL National Centennial Convention in Hartford,
Connecticut, helped to infuse some energy into efforts to line up
co-sponsors for "The Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2014" -- HR.4969.
The measure, introduced in the US House of Representatives with bipartisan
support in late June, calls on the FCC to apply the "reasonable
accommodation" three-part test of the PRB-1 federal pre-emption policy to
private land-use restrictions regarding antennas. The bill's primary
sponsor is Rep Adam Kinzinger (R-IL). It received initial co-sponsorship
from Rep Joe Courtney (D-CT). An additional four co-sponsors have since
signed aboard the bill. Courtney visited the ARRL Centennial Convention on
July 19 to speak with League officials and those attending the event. At
present PRB-1 only applies to state and municipal land-use ordinances, and
the FCC has indicated that it will not act to provide the same legal
protections from private land-use agreements -- often called covenants,
conditions, and restrictions (or CC&Rs) -- without direction from Congress.
Convention visitors began sporting League-supplied "Get Behind HR 4969"
stickers as the event shifted into high gear. Behind the stickers is a
grassroots effort to encourage members to contact their congressional
representatives to seek their support as co-sponsors for HR.4969. The
effort at the Convention to entice visitors to sign letters to lawmakers
yielded some 1400 constituent letters that will be hand delivered to
members of Congress, a July 19 Convention Legislative Update Forum was told.
ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, said there already is precedent for
the FCC to act. He explained that the Commission's so-called Over-the-Air
Receiving Device (OTARD) rules currently preempt private land-use
agreements to permit the installation of television antennas and satellite
dishes. He suggested that making the leap to reasonably accommodating
outdoor Amateur Radio antennas is within the FCC's regulatory scope, given
the established strong federal interest in effective Amateur Radio
communication.
"People don't always get to choose where they live," Imlay said. CC&Rs
enforced by homeowner's associations may or may not permit antennas or may
only permit them with approval. He said that by 1990, some 29 million US
residents were affected by private land-use agreements. "In 2011, that
number changed to 62.3 million people," Imlay said. The goal, he explained,
is to compel homeowner's associations to negotiate "reasonable
accommodation" with an affected radio amateur. That could mean an outdoor
wire antenna or something more elaborate; Imlay said it's not the intent of
the bill to specify any particular type of antenna.
HR.4969 has been referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Rep
Greg Walden, W7EQI (R-OR), chairs that panel's Communications and
Technology Subcommittee, which will consider the measure. The League had
approached Walden, who helped to engineer the current legislation.
"All [the bill] says is, take PRB-1, and apply it to all land-use
regulation," Imlay said. "This couldn't be any simpler."
Imlay said the bill faces opposition from the Community Associations
Institute and an organization called Associa, which has suggested to
Kinzinger that he "re-think" the bill.
"We need to get a lot of co-sponsors for this bill," Imlay said.
A principal proponent of HR.4969 is ARRL Hudson Division Director Mike
Lisenco, N2YBB. "We are the ones who are responsible for our own future.
The way to get things done is to be active on a grassroots level -- small
scale," he told the gathering of about 50 interested radio amateurs. "This
way you're dealing with your representatives as a constituent." Several
forum attendees left early so they could visit the ARRL exhibit on the
convention floor to obtain the necessary materials.
ARRL Regulatory Affairs Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, pointed out that the
League has opened a HR.4969 page on the ARRL website. It contains
information and resources for clubs and individuals wishing to support
efforts to gain co-sponsors for the measure by contacting their members of
Congress. It includes a sample letter to a member of Congress and a list
of "talking points." Lisenco recommended organizing small teams of
knowledgeable and articulate radio amateurs to approach lawmakers one to
one to plead their case.
Just prior to the Convention, ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, released a
video appeal to all radio amateurs to get behind a grassroots campaign to
promote co-sponsorship of HR.4969.
FEMA and ARRL Sign Agreement; FEMA Administrator Calls Ham Radio "Resilient"
The ARRL and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have announced
a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that will enhance cooperation between the
League and FEMA in the area of disaster communication. FEMA Administrator
Craig Fugate, KK4INZ, and ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, signed the
agreement July 18 during the ARRL National Centennial Convention in
Hartford, Connecticut.
"Radio is one of the most resilient communications technologies we have,"
Fugate said. "When the power is out and telecommunications are down, the
Amateur Radio community can serve as a vital resource in support of
emergency responders and survivors during a disaster. This MOA will
strengthen FEMA's partnership with ARRL and build upon our work to expand
emergency communications capabilities and the use of Amateur Radio in
emergency management."
The new agreement will allow FEMA and ARRL to work together to provide
resources, services and personnel, as available, in order to strengthen
capacity in areas of emergency communications, mass care and emergency
assistance, disaster preparedness, response and recovery, while also
raising public awareness about the use of Amateur Radio as a public safety
resource. The pact also outlines the ways in which FEMA and ARRL will
cooperate to carry out their respective responsibilities, with respect to
disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery operations in the
event of a natural or manmade disaster.
Craigie said that from radio's earliest days of experimentation to the
present, ham radio volunteers have combined a passion for technology with a
devotion to assisting agencies that respond to disasters. "This combination
of inventiveness and service has saved lives for a century," she said. "We
look forward to working with FEMA to further develop opportunities for
trained, equipped and prepared Amateur Radio operators to serve the public
interest whenever and wherever disasters affect our country and its
communities."
Fugate echoed his afternoon remarks as the keynote speaker at the ARRL
National Centennial Convention Banquet Friday evening. He said that before
he even became FEMA administrator, it became clear to him that Amateur
Radio could support ad hoc communication without relying on conventional
communication systems. "The more sophisticated our systems become, the more
fragile they become," he told the gathering of some 900 dinner guests. He
again emphasized the need for resiliency in communication systems, and
asked, "How many public safety networks can come close to ham radio's
bandwidth?"
"The relevancy of ham radio only grows," he asserted. "Amateur Radio is
taking that hobby and turning it into saving lives."
FCC Proposes Substantial Fines for Two Radio Amateurs Alleging Deliberate
Interference, Failure to Identify
The FCC Enforcement Bureau came down hard on two radio amateurs this week,
proposing substantial fines for alleged deliberate interference with other
Amateur Radio communications -- in one case by transmitting music and
animal noises -- and failure to properly identify. In similar Notices of
Apparent Liability for Forfeiture (NALs) released July 22, the Commission
proposed fining Michael Guernsey, KZ8O (ex-ND8V), of Parchment, Michigan,
$22,000, and Brian Crow, K3VR, of North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, $11,500.
In both cases, the FCC said the evidence indicated that the transmissions
at issue were aimed at interfering with other radio amateurs with whom
each "has had a long-standing and well-documented dispute" that had spilled
out onto the air.
The FCC in both instances responded last March to "several complaints of
intentional interference" on 14.313 MHz. Commission agents used radio
direction-finding techniques to pin down the source of the transmissions.
According to the NAL issued to Guernsey, the FCC agents monitored
transmissions from his station for approximately 40 minutes on March 7,
2014, "and heard him transmit a pre-recorded song and various animal noises
on the frequency."
According to the NAL issued to Crow, FCC agents monitored transmissions
from his station for approximately 3 hours on the morning of March 14,
2014, and heard him transmit slow-scan television (SSTV) signals and "a
pre-recorded voice transmission of another amateur station on the
frequency."
"These transmissions prevented other amateur licensees from communicating
over the frequency," the NALs said, adding that neither Guernsey or Crow
transmitted their assigned call signs while the agents were listening.
The FCC agents later the same day visited Crow's residence and asked to
inspect his station, which they confirmed was capable of operating on
14.313 MHz. Crow denied operating his station that morning, however, and
claimed that he was not at home when the interfering transmissions occurred.
The Enforcement Bureau has warned both Guernsey and Crow in the past
regarding interference to other Amateur Radio operators. In Crow's case,
the FCC said the fact that he subsequently interfered with other amateur
operators "demonstrates a deliberate disregard for the Commission's
authority," and warranted an upward adjustment of $3500 to his proposed
base forfeiture. Guernsey first came to the Enforcement Bureau's attention
in the late 1990s and, the FCC said in the NAL, "has a history of causing
interference to the communications of other Amateur Radio operators and has
been warned repeatedly in writing." Guernsey's lengthy history with the
Commission warranted an upward adjustment of $14,000 to his proposed base
forfeiture.
The Commission gave both licensees 30 days to pay their fines or to file
written statements "seeking reduction or cancellation of the proposed
forfeiture."
The NALs to Guernsey and Crow came in the wake of a June 5 Notice of
Violation (NoV) alleging that Thomas Ryan Price, W7WL, of Sweet Home,
Oregon, caused malicious interference to other radio communications on 3908
kHz, transmitted music on the same frequency, and failed to properly
identify.
ARRL VEC Conducts Remote Exam Session with Applicants in Antarctica
The ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC) administered several Amateur
Radio examination elements to applicants at Amundsen-South Pole Station in
Antarctica -- the home of KC4AAA. The examination was the first
administered under new FCC rules which became effective on July 21,
permitting VECs to administer Amateur Radio examinations remotely.
"All six candidates earned a new or upgrade license," said ARRL VEC Manager
Maria Somma, AB1FM. There were three new Technicians, two upgrades to
Amateur Extra, and one candidate who went from unlicensed to Amateur Extra."
Joe Musachia, W5FJG, served as the volunteer examiner at the South Pole,
while Penny Harts, N1NAG, and Rose-Anne Lawrence, KB1DMW, were the VEs at
ARRL Headquarters.
"Chet Waggoner and Bartley Davis are the first at the South Pole and
possibly on the continent to pass the General exam," Musachia said in a
posting on the ARRL Facebook page. Two previous exam sessions were held at
the South Pole, but special permission from the FCC was required to conduct
them.
The logistics were somewhat daunting, since the video link required a
satellite connection and clearance from NASA, and it was subject to
possible last-minute changes, should the International Space Station
require additional Satcom time. Musachia, who is the satellite engineer at
the station, said NASA was aware that the VEs had requested a large block
of time to perform the exam session and did not change it.
Somma said the video exam session went ahead as scheduled on July 22 at 8
AM EDT, which was 8 PM in Antarctica. "The summer day was a pleasant 80°
here at Headquarters in Newington, while in Antarctica it was 80 below!"
she pointed out. Read more.
W1AW Centennial Operations Move to Indiana, Rhode Island
The ARRL Centennial W1AW WAS operations taking place throughout 2014 from
each of the 50 states now are in Indiana and Rhode Island. They will
relocate at 0000 UTC on Wednesday, July 30 (the evening of July 29 in US
time zones), to South Dakota (W1AW/0) and Kentucky (W1AW/4). During 2014
W1AW will be on the air from every state (at least twice) and most US
territories, and it will be easy to work all states solely by contacting
W1AW portable operations.
The ARRL Centennial QSO Party kicked off January 1 for a year-long
operating event in which participants can accumulate points and win awards.
The event is open to all, although only ARRL members and appointees,
elected officials, HQ staff and W1AW are worth ARRL Centennial QSO Party
points.
Working W1AW/x from each state is worth 5 points per mode/contact, even
when working the same state during its second week of activity. The ARRL
has posted an ARRL Centennial QSO Party leader board that participants can
use to determine how many points they have accumulated.
Ham Radio Aids in Rescue of Injured Colorado Hiker
While Bill Eberle, AB0MY, of Boulder, Colorado, and his wife Mary were
hiking in the back country on July 21, they encountered a team of
paramedics rendering aid to a 67-year-old man -- Michael Schuett, of
Bloomfield, Colorado -- who had lost his footing while crossing a stream.
Schuett had struck his head on a boulder and was found unconscious and face
down in the water by another hiker, who had pulled him to safety. The
paramedics, en route to a youth camp, also had stumbled onto the scene.
Lacking cell telephone coverage, Eberle put out a distress call on the
hand-held transceiver he always takes along when he hikes. Promptly
answering his call on the statewide Colorado Connection Repeater system was
Ryan Frederick, KD0TSZ, in Colorado Springs. Frederick contacted the
Boulder County Sheriff's office. Authorities quickly turned to Scott
Whitehead, KA0QPT, of Longmont, a sheriff's department radio specialist and
30-year veteran of the Rocky Mountain Rescue Team. Whitehead was able to
contact Eberle via the repeater network, and the two coordinated equipment
and rescue personnel.
Schuett was evacuated from the scene, treated at an area hospital, and
released. He credited ham radio for bringing the rescuers to him. -- Thanks
to John Bigley, N7UR, Nevada Amateur Radio Newswire
Cincinnati BPL Internet Service Provider Pulls the Plug on its System
A Cincinnati, Ohio, broadband-over-powerline (BPL) Internet service
provider is throwing in the towel and yielding to more modern technology.
Cincinnati Communications will pull the plug on its BPL system on August 1,
according to a report on The Enquirer newspaper's Cincinnati.com website.
"The failure of the Cincinnati system will come as no surprise to anyone
familiar with BPL technology," ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ,
commented. "It's rather remarkable that they managed to keep it going this
long."
Thomas Balun of Broadband Ventures LLC, which operates Cincinnati
Communications, told The Enquirer that the company essentially would be
starting over from scratch with more up-to-date technology. "The technology
to subscribers' homes was really antiquated," Balun told The Enquirer. "We
tried to figure out how to convert subscribers, but we can't do it. We have
to shut the system down and start over."
The Enquirer report said Cincinnati Communications customers had
endured "on-again, off-again service" with the BPL system, with some
service outages lasting for days.
Balun conceded that the technology "was painfully slow," the Cincinnati.com
report said, and the company plans to upgrade to an optical fiber system.
The Cincinnati system was never a significant source of interference to
radio amateurs, Sumner said, because it used Current Technologies
hardware. "The medium-voltage lines used low-band VHF frequencies," he
explained. "The drops to homes used HF, but with the ham bands notched."
Read more.
ARRL Dedicates Centennial Terrace to Honor Major Donors
Visitors to ARRL Headquarters will be greeted with something new in the
area in front of the main entrance. Complementing the terrace of memorial
bricks and benches on the left side of the entrance, a new Centennial
Terrace on the right side of the main entrance was dedicated on July 17 at
a ribbon-cutting and reception held in conjunction with the ARRL National
Centennial Convention. The Centennial Terrace features an impressive
central granite pillar bearing the visage of ARRL Co-Founder Hiram Percy
Maxim, W1AW, and the names of the ARRL Second Century Campaign (SCC)
Committee, chaired by David Brandenburg, K5RQ. The central pillar, which
also displays the SCC logo, is flanked by two granite panels. Engraved on
these are the names of those who contributed major gifts to the ARRL Second
Century Campaign.
ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, told the gathering of about 200 that
contributing to the Second Century Campaign "is not so much a donation to
the ARRL as an investment in the future of Amateur Radio."
"We are the conduit. We are the means. Amateur Radio is the end," she added
in thanking all contributors.
The permanent installation is a means to "make sure that future generations
remember your generosity," ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, said.
ARRL Chief Development Officer Mary Hobart, K1MMH, hosted the gathering,
which Sumner called "bittersweet," since Hobart is stepping down at the end
of July to retire. "We'll miss her tremendously," he said.
Sumner said the Centennial Terrace dedication and the convention are "a
part of the history of Amateur Radio," which, he continued, would have
ended long ago had it not been for "the vision of the founders of this
organization."
"The only way we have to repay that debt is to pay it forward to the future
to make sure that Amateur Radio and the ARRL as the defender and supporter
of Amateur Radio, are here long after we're gone." Donors to the
campaign "now are a part of the ARRL's history and of Amateur Radio's
history," he concluded.
Brandenburg said he stepped up to chair the Second Century Campaign
Committee because he felt a need to help those coming into the hobby in the
same way he was helped when he got into Amateur Radio when he was 14. "For
everybody here," he said, "ham radio is a big deal to us, and it's very
important to us that we keep it going."
Sumner predicted that when the week was over, there would be two groups of
radio amateurs: Those who attended the ARRL National Centennial Convention
and those who wish they had.
Nobel Laureate Joe Taylor, K1JT, to Conventioneers: Amateur Radio Will
Thrive
Among the things the Amateur Radio community can count on in its second
century, according to Nobel Laureate Joe Taylor, K1JT, is that ham radio
will continue to thrive and serve the public interest. While his primary
topic at his standing-room-only presentation on July 19 during the ARRL
National Centennial Convention was "DXing with Weak Signals and Beyond,"
Taylor -- who detailed the development of his WSJT suite of "weak-signal"
DSP software -- also broke out his crystal ball.
"Radios are going to become increasingly digital," he said, with
analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion occurring "closer and
closer to the antenna -- in fact, pretty much at the antenna can be done
already." Taylor also said that in the future, good engineering will
definitely be a combination of hardware and software. Beyond that, he said,
science, technology, and Amateur Radio will continue to benefit from a
healthy cross-fertilization between amateurs and professionals.
"I know that is true in my own case," said Taylor, whose interest in
Amateur Radio at a young age helped guide his career path. "My own boyhood
fascination with the art and science of radio got me into this hobby, and,
from there, it launched me on a path leading to advance degrees in physics,
to teaching university physics, to making fundamental research
contributions to mankind's knowledge of the laws of nature," Taylor told
the rapt audience.
Taylor recounted that in Amateur Radio's infancy, scientists of the day did
not believe short wavelengths could support useful communication. The
government listened, and gave that part of the spectrum to hams, who soon
proved them wrong. "The experts truly were astonished," Taylor said,
exhorting his listeners to make whatever contributions they can to the art
and science of radio and to the public good.
"It's a great story and it couldn't have happened the same way without the
ARRL," he continued. "Let us also work to keep our League a strong and
effective voice on our behalf. I'd like to think that someone will be
here100 years from now looking back fondly on all the good things
accomplished by Amateur Radio during ARRL's second century."
India's VO-52 Satellite Goes Dark
Despite efforts to keep the flagging VUSat OSCAR-52 (VO-52) Amateur Radio
satellite in operation for a while longer, ground controllers have yielded
to the nearly decade-old spacecraft's failing technology and have
permanently taken it out of service. Launched into low-Earth orbit in 2005,
the VO-52 microsatellite carried two Amateur Radio transponders for SSB and
CW. B.A. "Mani" Subramani, VU2WMY/KJ6LRS, of the Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO) said that VO-52's lithium-ion batteries had failed, and
the satellite was officially decommissioned on July 21. Read more.
A Century of Amateur Radio and the ARRL
During the decade of the 1960s and subsequently, Gus Browning, W4BPD,
traveled the world and operated from over 100 countries, many of them
extremely rare ones and sometimes the first ham operation for that country.
Gus was an ordinary guy, always a gentleman, and an unflappable pileup
operator. He was the first DXer elected to the DX Hall of Fame.
On December 12, 1961, OSCAR 1, the first Amateur Radio satellite, was
launched into orbit. OSCAR 2 followed on June 2, 1962. Both paved the way
for the amateur satellites that followed.
By 1963, the US ham population had reached a quarter of a million, although
at that time there were more CB operators than hams.
During the 1960s, repeater operation began on 2 meters. At first, there was
a fair amount of confusion -- questions of legality had to be sorted out by
the FCC, a lot of hams thought channelized operation wasn't a good thing,
equipment had to be developed, etc. But eventually things settled down, and
repeater operation on 2 meters took off, with repeater operation on other
VHF/UHF ham bands and 6 meters soon to follow.
On March 27, 1964, a magnitude 9.2 earthquake and the resulting tsunami
struck Alaska and caused extensive damages in many parts of the state. As
in most natural and man-made disasters, hams were quick to put together
emergency communication links to help with disaster relief.
Late in 1967, incentive licensing returned to ham radio. This had been an
on-again/off-again issue with FCC for about 15 years. -- Al Brogdon, W1AB
The K7RA Solar Update
Tad Cook, K7RA, in Seattle, Washington, reports: On Thursday, July 17,
there were no sunspots at all! This serves a sobering reminder of how weak
this solar cycle is. By July 23, new sunspot regions had emerged and the
sunspot number was 55. Solar flux ranged from a low of 86.1 on July 19 to a
high of 99.1 on July 23.
Predicted solar flux for the near term is 100, 105, and 115 on July 24-26,
125, 140, and 155 on July 27-29, 170, 160, 150, and 155 on July 31 through
August 2, 150 on August 3-5, then dropping to 85 on August 18, and rising
to 150 on August 29.
The planetary A index was quiet over the past week, and it's predicted to
be at 5 on July 24, 8 on July 25-26, 5 on July 27-28, 12 and 10 on July
29-30, 5 on July 31 through August 4, 8 on August 5-6, 5 on August 7-9, 8
on August 10-11, then 5 on August 12-16, 8 on August 17-18, 5 on August
19-20, and 10 and 8 on August 21-22.
This weekly "Solar Update" in The ARRL Letter is a preview of
the "Propagation Bulletin" issued each Friday. The latest bulletin and an
archive of past propagation bulletins is on the ARRL website.
In tomorrow's bulletin look for an updated forecast and reader reports on 6
meters, HF conditions and the usual fear and loathing concerning weak solar
activity. Send me your reports and observations.
Just Ahead in Radiosport
July 26-27 -- RSGB IOTA Contest
July 27 -- Flight of the Bumblebees
August 1 -- NS Weekly Sprint
August 1 -- International Lighthouse-Lightship Contest
August 2 -- 10-10 Summer Phone QSO Party
August 2 -- ARRL UHF Contest
August 2-3 -- TARA Grid Dip Shindig
August 2-3 -- European HF Championship
August 2-3 -- North American QSO Party (CW)
August 2-3 -- South Africa DX SSB Contest
August 3 -- OK1WC Memorial Contest
August 3 -- CWOps Weekly Mini-CWT Tests
See the ARRL Contest Calendar for more information.
Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events
July 25-26 -- Oklahoma State Convention, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
August 1-2 -- Texas State Convention, Austin, Texas
August 7-9 -- Young Ladies Radio League Convention, Vancouver, Washington
August 8-10 -- Rocky Mountain Division Convention, Albuquerque, New Mexico
August 16-17 -- Southeastern Division Convention, Regional ARRL Centennial
Event, Huntsville, Alabama
August 17 -- Kansas State Convention, Salina, Kansas
August 23 -- West Virginia State Convention, Weston, West Virginia
August 23-24 -- JARL Ham Fair, Tokyo, Japan
August 24 -- Western Pennsylvania Section Convention, New Kensington,
Pennsylvania
August 30-31 -- North Carolina State Convention, (Shelby Hamfest), Shelby,
North Carolina
September 5-7 -- ARRL-TAPR Digital Communications Conference, Austin, Texas
September 6 -- Kentucky State Convention, Shepherdsville, Kentucky
September 6 -- Virginia Section Convention, Virginia Beach, Virginia
September 12-14 -- Southwestern Division Convention, San Diego, California
September 19-20 -- W9DXCC Convention, Schaumburg, Illinois
Find conventions and hamfests in your area.
The ARRL Letter appreciates the support of these advertisers:
Icom
Radio City
Radio Lights
DX Engineering
RF Concepts
Low Loss PWRgate
HRD Software
Timewave Technology, Inc
Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc
ARRL members can opt to receive The ARRL Letter (with color images!)
directly via e-mail. If you are not an ARRL member, consider joining now to
receive this and other benefits, including the monthly ARRL journal, QST
(and the QST online digital edition). The ARRL — the national association
of Amateur Radio is the only organization representing Amateur Radio in the
US. As an ARRL member you support the ranks of thousands of other ham radio
enthusiasts shaping the Amateur Radio Service today. If you consider
yourself an active ham, you need ARRL now. Membership costs as little as
$39 a year. ARRL members have access to the ARRL Archive and Periodical
Search, the Product Review Archive, E-Mail Forwarding, a voice in the
affairs of ARRL and ham radio through locally appointed volunteers and much
more! Become part of the future of ham radio. Join the ARRL today!
ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for Amateur Radio News and Information
Join or Renew Today! ARRL membership includes QST, Amateur Radio's most
popular and informative journal, delivered to your mailbox each month.
Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday.
Subscribe to...
NCJ -- National Contest Journal. Published bi-monthly, features articles by
top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA Sprint and QSO
Parties.
QEX -- A Forum for Communications Experimenters. Published bi-monthly,
features technical articles, construction projects, columns and other items
of interest to radio amateurs and communications professionals.
Free of charge to ARRL members: Subscribe to the ARES E-Letter (monthly
public service and emergency communications news), the ARRL Contest Update
(bi-weekly contest newsletter), Division and Section news alerts -- and
much more!
Find us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.
The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 50 times each year. ARRL members
and registered guests may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing
their profile.
Copyright © 2014 American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved
///////////////////////////////////////////
NASA evaluates CME of July 2012: We were lucky
Posted: 24 Jul 2014 02:18 PM PDT
http://forums.qrz.com/showthread.php...y&goto=newpost
Upon examining data from the Coronal Mass Ejection of July 23, 2012, NASA
now says Earth very narrowly missed a repeat of the Carrington Event of
1856. It's questionable how prepared any of us really are for such an
event, which is estimated to have a 12% chance of recurring in the next 10
years.
Read here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news...ul_superstorm/