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N9PMO > LETTER 09.11.18 21:44l 577 Lines 26477 Bytes #999 (0) @ ARRL
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Sent: 181109/2024Z 8847@N9PMO.#SEWI.WI.USA.NA BPQ6.0.17
Doreen Bogdan-Martin, KD2JTX, Elected as ITU Telecommunication
Development Bureau Director
FCC Fines Amateur Radio Licensee $25,000 for Operating Unlicensed FM
Station
The Doctor Will See You Now!
Oregon ARES Drill Scenario Simulates Double Virus and Hypothetical
Terrorist Attack
Florida Air Show Gives Ham Radio Some On-the-Air Exposure
ARRL Contests Landing Page Offers ditional Enhanced and Expanded
Content
FCC Accepting Applications for its Engineering Honors Program
New Islands on the Air Groups Announced
Special Call Signs Commemorate Centenary of World War I Armistice
In Brief...
The K7RA Solar Update
Just Ahead in Radiosport
Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
Doreen Bogdan-Martin, KD2JTX, Elected as ITU Telecommunication
Development Bureau Director
ARRL member Doreen Bogdan-Martin, KD2JTX, has been elected as Director
of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Telecommunication
Development Bureau (BDT). Her election, on the first ballot in a
three-way race, came on November 1 at the ITU's Plenipotentiary 2018
Conference in Dubai. Bogdan-Martin becomes the first woman on the ITU
executive team. Running on a campaign theme of "Sustainable Digital
Development for All," Bogdan-Martin said she would work toward a
Telecommunication Development Bureau that helps its members benefit
from the drivers of innovation and economic development.
"We must help governments integrate ICTs [information and
communications technologies] into their national development
frameworks, actively support[ing] their ministries to ensure digital
development strategies emphasize human capacity, digital skills, and
empowering people," she said. "I envisage the BDT redoubling its
efforts on digital inclusion, working to bring online the remaining
3.9 billion people still offline."
Her candidacy had strong support from US officials, including
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, and
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai.
"Ms. Bogdan-Martin is a true leader and professional who has dedicated
more than 25 years to ensuring that all people can benefit from
information and communication technologies," Pompeo wrote in endorsing
her candidacy. "I have no doubt that Ms. Bogdan-Martin will be a
driving force to ensure connectivity for all."
FCC Chairman Pai extended congratulations to Bogdan-Martin, who, he
said, "has deep expertise in development issues and will play a
pivotal role in accelerating the spread of digital communications
throughout the globe."
Bogdan-Martin has more than 20 years of experience at the ITU. During
the past decade she has headed the ITU General Secretariat Strategic
Planning and Membership Department for the Secretary General. Her
responsibilities have included developing the ITU's strategic and
operational plans in the context of ICT trends and the global
information economy, representing the ITU in engagement with other
bodies, and directing and managing all ITU global conferences. Read
more.
FCC Fines Amateur Radio Licensee $25,000 for Operating Unlicensed FM
Station
In an FCC Enforcement Bureau case going back to early 2015, a
Paterson, New Jersey, Amateur Radio licensee has been penalized in the
amount of $25,000 for allegedly continuing to operate an unlicensed FM
radio station. The FCC issued a Forfeiture Order on October 30 to
Winston A. Tulloch, KC2ALN, a General-class licensee. The fine
followed an April 2018 Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture
(NAL) issued to Tulloch for alleged "willful and repeated violation"
of Section 301 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, by
operating an unlicensed FM radio station on 90.9 MHz in Paterson.
Tulloch did not respond to the NAL, the FCC indicated.
"Commission action in this area is essential because unlicensed radio
stations do not broadcast Emergency Alert Service messages and
therefore create a public safety hazard for their listener," the FCC
said in the Forfeiture Order. "Moreover, unlicensed radio stations
create a danger of interference to licensed communications and
undermine the Commission's authority over broadcast radio operations."
Following up on February 2015 complaints regarding pirate radio
operations in Paterson, FCC agents spotted a signal on 90.9 MHz that
"appeared to be an unauthorized radio station." Agents determined the
signal was emanating from a multi-family dwelling and noticed an FM
antenna on the structure. The measured field strength exceeded the
limits allowed for Part 15 unlicensed devices.
Through a solicitation broadcast on the station for advertisers and a
vehicle parked outside the building, the FCC agents were able to
determine that the telephone number in the announcement belonged to
Tulloch, and the car was registered in his name. FCC agents made
several visits to Paterson in late 2015 and early 2016. In October of
2016, agents returned to Paterson and determined that the signal
source had relocated to another nearby multi-family structure. A
Notice of Unlicensed Operation (NOUO) was posted on the door of the
building, and the following month, the FCC mailed an NOUO to Tulloch.
Subsequent visits revealed that the station was still in operation
and, at some point, had moved back to its prior location. ditional
NOUOs were issued. Finally, on September 15, 2017, two agents returned
to Paterson and determined that the station no longer was on the air.
Read more.
The Doctor Will See You Now!
"External Speakers" is the topic of the new (November 8) episode of
the "ARRL The Doctor is In" podcast. Listen...and learn!
Sponsored by DX Engineering, "ARRL The Doctor is In" is an informative
discussion of all things technical. Listen on your computer, tablet,
or smartphone -- whenever and wherever you like!
Every 2 weeks, your host, QST Editor-in-Chief Steve Ford, WB8IMY, and
the Doctor himself, Joel Hallas, W1ZR, will discuss a broad range of
technical topics. You can also email your questions to
doctor@arrl.org, and the Doctor may answer them in a future podcast.
Enjoy "ARRL The Doctor is In" on Apple iTunes, or by using your iPhone
or iPad podcast app (just search for "ARRL The Doctor is In"). You can
also listen online at Blubrry, or at Stitcher (free registration
required, or browse the site as a guest) and through the free Stitcher
app for iOS, Kindle, or Android devices. If you've never listened to a
podcast before, download our beginner's guide.
Oregon ARES Drill Scenario Simulates Double Virus and Hypothetical
Terrorist Attack
On November 8 in Oregon, the Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES)
emergency preparedness drill known as the Simulated Emergency Test
(SET) will use an exercise scenario focusing on viruses -- biological
and computer -- that wreak havoc on the state's communication systems.
The drill begins with a simulated highly contagious bird flu virus
that spreads to the state's borders, overwhelming hospitals and
leading to mass panic. A day later, the drill moves to a simulated
widespread internet shutdown owing to what's called the "stepper
virus." If that weren't enough, it goes on to include a hypothetical
virus that would cause the shutdown of digital processors in wireline
and cell towers.
The scenario also involves power companies and government
telecommunications being affected. Participants will be told that ham
radio repeaters are on backup power or have failed and that they will
have to stretch their skills accordingly. Ultimately, the exercise
will simulate the introduction of biological and computer viruses by a
state-sponsored terrorist organization that is trying to find
vulnerabilities in the state's infrastructure. Then, exercise
participants will train local officials on using VHF and HF radios.
Oregon ARES/RACES members took part in the Cascadia Rising earthquake
exercise in 2016. [Photo courtesy of Oregon ARES/RACES]
As the exercise continues, ARES volunteers will need to set up
high-powered stations in remote areas to communicate with urban
centers. After participants prove that ARES would be able to maintain
telecommunication links for several days, the exercise simulated storm
damage to antennas on county emergency operations centers (EOCs).
This multi-step exercise scenario is designed to encourage ARES
volunteers to use their ingenuity and training to restore
communications when faced with a multifaceted disaster event. "The
MacGyver[s] among you will have the opportunity to solve this problem,
gain extra points, and help your county shine while teaching us all
something new," said Grant County ARES Emergency Coordinator Steve
Fletcher, K7AA, who described the scenario.
Oregon ARES teams will join with the Oregon Office of Emergency
Management in conducting the drill. More information is on the Oregon
ARES website. -- Thanks to John S. Sanders, KE7JSS, Oregon Section
Public Information Officer
Florida Air Show Gives Ham Radio Some On-the-Air Exposure
The Everglades Amateur Radio Club (W4SVI) put ham radio in the
spotlight during the 2018 Wings Over Homestead Air and Space Show,
held in Homestead, Florida, November 2 - 4.
"We were given space on the tarmac in the STEM section which was
intended [to get] kids interested in science, technology, engineering,
and mathematics," said Robert Cruz, KE4MCL. "We were allowed to bring
two of our field station vehicles right up to the tent and set up
their free-standing masts."
At the W4H special event during the Wings over Homestead Air and Space
Show, Robert Cruz, KE4MCL (center), looks on as Steve Taylor, W1HQL
(left), aims a satellite antenna and John Kolasinski, KK4QKL (right),
makes a contact. [Photo courtesy of the Everglades Amateur Radio
Club].
The club fielded operating positions on HF through UHF, slow-scan TV,
and satellites for special event station W4H. "All three stations were
active during the event. Since we set up early on Friday, we operated
fully off solar power that day as the onsite generator was not to be
fired up until the weekend," Cruz explained. He said arriving on
Friday offered an additional benefit. "The setup crew got to see most
of the air show, plus some cool behind the scenes stuff, minus about
100,000 people," he quipped.
"Since this was a military airshow, I brought along a Collins R-388
and a BC-348 just for show and tell," Cruz recounted. "We had a few
veterans come around and talk to us about how they used to operate one
of these while [in the service]."
Cruz said a highlight of the weekend was a contact by Steve Taylor,
W1HQL, with a crew member of the International Space Station. "The ISS
had a scheduled school contact, and once they got out of range of the
school, Steve called on a whim and the ISS responded for a quick QSO,"
Cruz said.
He said the club, which is headquartered in Homestead, tried something
a little different at this year's air show. "Traditionally, Amateur
Radio displays are filled with call signs and terminology that the
general public doesn't understand," he said. "To a non-ham, a call
sign looks like a license plate number, for example. We created a new
banner targeted at those interested in preparedness and made sure it
had plain English and not 'hamspeak' on it."
The club also created a half-page handout with the club's information
and meeting time on it for visitors to take home instead of relying on
having to look things up online. "We shall see if the new banner and
handouts paid off at the next club meeting," Cruz said.
Other operators taking part included Alain Arocha, K4KKC; Esther Cruz,
KI4OTX; Steve Taylor, W1HQL; John Kolasinski, KK4QKL; Logan Brauer,
W0LAB; Frank DeCespedes, AK4FU; Luis Pinon, KI4VEY; Ivan Cholakov,
NO2CW, and Tommy Cholakov, N1SPY. -- Thanks to Robert Cruz, KE4MCL
ARRL Contests Landing Page Offers ditional Enhanced and Expanded
Content
The new ARRL Contests page continues to develop with the addition of
enhanced and expanded contest reporting. The Contests page will soon
include complete 2018 results, including full results articles from
QST, expanded results, line scores, log-checking reports, soapbox
forums, and database searches.
Contests are listed -- and linked -- in the left-hand column of the
page and as tabs at the top of the page for categories of log
submissions, logs received, certificates, and clubs. When users select
an event from the left-hand column, the page will display activity
links that include rules, logs received, results articles, and other
contests (which returns the user to the Contests home page). Selecting
"Results Articles" takes the user to the "Full Results" articles list,
hyperlinked by year.
The previous Contest Results Articles page, which offers current and
historical results dating back some 20 or more years, will be known as
the "legacy site" going forward.
FCC Accepting Applications for its Engineering Honors Program
The FCC is accepting applications from graduate engineers for its
1-year career development Engineering Honors Program, launched this
past spring. The deadline to apply is November 30, 2018. The program
is open to recent engineering school graduates and current students
who will graduate this academic year. Current students who will
graduate in December will be considered and are encouraged to apply.
At the end of the 1-year program, Honors Program engineers will be
eligible for consideration for continued employment at the FCC.
"With the successful launch of the Honors Engineer Program earlier
this year, we are now looking to hire a new group of top-notch
engineers," said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. "This will maintain our
commitment to replenishing and strengthening our engineering expertise
here at the Commission."
The FCC said it is looking for new engineering talent "to work on
cutting-edge issues in the communications and high-tech arenas." These
include enabling the introduction of new technologies and services
such as 5G, the Internet of Things, next-generation TV broadcasting,
broadband satellite systems, and broadband deployment.
Interested candidates should review the recruitment announcement and
apply online. Read more.
New Islands on the Air Groups Announced
Islands on the Air (IOTA) General Manager Roger Balister, G3KMA,
recently announced the first tranche of six new IOTA groups. Release
of the new groups came in the wake of an August solicitation for
possible new groups. The new groups cover a Swedish/Finnish joint
sovereignty island and groups in North America, Asia, and Oceania. All
new groups have provisional numbers, which means they will need to be
confirmed by an operation that takes place after October 14, 2018, and
that meets the 1,000 QSO requirement, as well as other normal
validation requirements. Only after confirmation of the number will
credit for past operations be considered.
EU-192P Kataja Island, Finland/Sweden (Kataja), a split-sovereignty
island located in the very north of the Gulf of Bothnia.
OC-297P Morane Atoll, Tuamotu Islands, French Polynesia (Morane), a
new "remote island" group, this was previously an outlier of the
OC-113 Actaeon group.
NA-249P Puerto Rico Coastal Islands, Puerto Rico (Caja de Muertos,
Culebra, Culebrita, Mona, Monito, Vieques), a new "coastal islands"
group.
NA-250P Yakutat County Group, Coastal Groups, US (Alaska) (Fitzgerald,
Gregson, Khantaak, Knight, Kriwoi, Krutoi, Otmeloi), a new "coastal
islands" group created by splitting the current NA-161 Skagway -
Yakutat County group.
AS-205P Bering Sea Coast East group, Koryanskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug,
Russian Federation - Asia (Yoanna Bogoslova, Vasiliya Islands), a new
"coastal islands" group, created by splitting the current AS-064
Bering Sea Coast group.
AS-204P Kuril'skiye Islands North, Sakhalinskaya Oblast, Russian
Federation - Asia (Atlasov, Shumshu, Paramushir, Antsiferova,
Makanrushi, Onekotan, Kharimkotan, Chirinkotan, Ekarma, Shiashkotan,
Raikoke, Matua, Rasshua, Ushishir, Ketoy, Simushir), a new group
created by splitting AS-025 Kuril'skiye Islands into two.
Balister said he hopes to announce a second tranche of new IOTA groups
at the HAM RADIO convention in Friedrichshafen, Germany, in June 2019.
Special Call Signs Commemorate Centenary of World War I Armistice
Several countries around the world have authorized the use of special
call signs or prefixes to mark the centenary of the armistice that
marked the end of hostilities on the Western Front of World War I. The
initial armistice took effect on November 11, 1918, at 11 AM (the
Treaty of Versailles that officially ended World War I was not signed
until the following year). Formerly known as Armistice Day in the US
and in other countries, November 11 later became recognized as
Veterans Day in the US, and as Remembrance Day in others, as a day to
honor veterans of the armed services from all wars and conflicts.
While not a special prefix, WW1USA -- the call sign of the National
World War I Museum Amateur Radio Club -- was on the air from the
National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri,
over the November 3 - 4 weekend. Other allied countries that took part
in World War I will host special event Amateur Radio stations or call
signs to commemorate the centenary of the Armistice.
In the UK, special event station GB100ARM will be on the air until
November 28, operated by the HMS Belfast Radio Group. Operation will
take place from the bridge wireless office aboard HMS Belfast.
The Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) has secured special event
call signs for use across all Australian states and territories to
commemorate the signing of the Armistice. These will take the form
VI#PEACE and VI#LWF, depending upon Australian call district -- 1
through 0. Listen, too, for VI100PEACE and VI9PEACE from Christmas
Island. These call signs will be available for use from November 3 to
November 11.
In Belgium, radio amateurs may use the OP prefix instead of ON during
November as part of the 100th anniversary. The "P" stands for
"poppies." The association between poppies and Armistice Day (and,
later, Veterans Day and Remembrance Day) was inspired by the World War
I poem "In Flanders Fields," by John McCrae, which refers to poppies
as the first flowers to grow in the earth above soldiers' graves in
the Flanders region of Belgium. Veterans groups in some countries hand
out paper poppies in conjunction with Veterans Day/Remembrance Day
observances.
ditional stations include France's TM5PAX, which is active on all
bands and modes through November 11, and South Africa's ZS100WWI,
which is on the air for the entire month of November.
Several groups and organizations have announced special events for
Veterans Day, officially observed this year on Monday, November 12.
In Brief...
JK Antennas' Ken Garg, W3JK, has donated a second model JK402T antenna
to Maxim Memorial Station W1AW. The antenna is a two-element Yagi on a
22-foot boom with capacitive loading. The JK402T replaces the old
Cushcraft XM-240 40-meter Yagi that had been used for visitor
operations. The donation included a new balun, donated via W3JK by
Balun Designs LLC. The new antenna went up on the tower on October 30.
"W1AW extends heartfelt thanks to Ken Garg, W3JK, for a second
donation to W1AW," W1AW Station Manager Joe Carcia, NJ1Q, said.
"Located at approximately 130 feet above ground, the new JK402T
exhibits a nearly flat SWR across the entire 40-meter band. W1AW guest
operators who may be active on 40 meters with this antenna should see
improved performance over the old one, which was showing signs of
aging."
Radio amateurs in India now have access to three new bands. India's
Ministry of Communications' Department of Telecommunications has
published an updated National Frequency Allocation Plan, effective on
October 25, which lists the new bands at 5 MHz (60 meters), 472 kHz
(630 meters), and 136 kHz (2300 meters). All allocations are on a
secondary basis. On 60 meters, hams now have access to 5,351.5 -
5,366.5 kHz at 15 W EIRP; on 630 meters, 472 - 479 kHz at 1 W EIRP,
and on 2300 meters, 135.7 - 137.8 kHz at 1 W EIRP. Radio amateurs in
Italy and France have been allocated a slice of spectrum at 60 meters.
They now have access to 5.351.5 MHz - 5.366.5 MHz on a secondary basis
with a maximum equivalent isotropic power (EIRP) of 15 W, in line with
amateur allocations in other European countries. Sweden's IARU
member-society SSA reports that radio amateurs there gained routine
secondary access to 5,351.5 - 5,366.5 kHz, also at 15 W EIRP,
effective on November 1. Temporary permission has been available since
2016, by application. -- Thanks to Paul Gaskell, G4MWO, Editor, The 5
MHz Newsletter; SSA
A new Bank of Lithuania gold coin features two Amateur Radio
satellites. The commemorative gold 5€ coin released by Bank of
Lithuania (Lietuvos Bankas) features the country's
LituanicaSAT-1(LO-78) and LitSAT-1 Amateur Radio Satellites. The two
CubeSats were launched to the International Space Station (ISS) on
January 9, 2014, and deployed from the ISS on February 28.
LituanicaSAT-1 carried an FM transponder and a camera, while LitSat-1
had a linear (SSB/CW) transponder developed by William Leijenaar,
PE1RAH. The face of the gold coin features the Lithuanian coat of arms
as a star constellation, with LituanicaSAT-1 and LitSAT-1 on the other
side.
Key and paddle maker Palm Radio is going out of business. Proprietor
Dieter Engels, DJ6TE, announced on the company's website, "For health
reasons and after the passing of Brunhilde, DK7SN; Uli, DL2BAT, and
Klaus, DL9SKE, I am not able to continue Palm Radio in its current
form," Engels wrote. "I will only deliver remaining stock," and he
invited inquiries via email. Marshall Emm, N1FN, of Morse Express -- a
carrier of Palm Radio products -- said that Engels "has been unwell
for some time," but added that Morse Express would continue to service
them for as long as it can. Palm Radio products have been popular
among portable operators.
The K7RA Solar Update
Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: On November 7 at 2244 UTC, the
Australian Space Forecast Centre issued a geomagnetic disturbance
warning, due to a co-rotating interaction region ahead of a coronal
hole high-speed solar wind stream. Active geomagnetic conditions are
predicted for November 9, and unsettled to active conditions on
November 10.
We saw another week with no sunspots, and the average daily solar flux
softened from 68.6 to 67.7. The average planetary A index rose from
4.4 to 12, while the average mid-latitude A index went from 3.4 to
8.1. On November 5 the planetary A index rose to 35, while Alaska's
college A index went to 44. Those numbers indicated disturbed
conditions.
The predicted planetary A index from USAF and NOAA is milder than the
Australian prediction, with the outlook for November 8 - 14 at 15, 8,
5, 8, 16, 12, and 8; 5 on November 15 - 24; 8 on November 25; 5 on
November 26 - 30; 15, 20, 12, and 8 on December 1 - 4; 5 on December 5
- 6; 15 and 12 on December 7 - 8, and 5 on December 9 - 22.
Predicted solar flux is 70 on November 8 - 11; 68 on November 12 - 14;
69 on November 15; 70 on November 16 - 17; 69 on November 18 - 19; 68
on November 20 - December 8; 70 on December 9 - 14; 69 on December 15
- 16, and 68 on December 17 - 22.
Space Weather Woman Tamitha Skov, WX6SWW, posted a new video on
November 4.
Sunspot numbers for November 1 - 7 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, and 0, with
a mean of 0. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 66.8, 67.6, 67.4, 66.6,
68.3, 68.8, and 68.7, with a mean of 67.7. Estimated planetary A
indices were 5, 4, 4, 16, 35, 10, and 10, with a mean of 12. Estimated
mid-latitude A indices were 5, 3, 3, 7, 22, 9, and 8, with a mean of
8.1.
Share your reports and observations.
Just Ahead in Radiosport
November 10 - 11 -- WAE DX Contest (RTTY)
November 10 - 11 -- 10-10 International Fall Contest (digital)
November 10 - 11 -- JIDX Phone Contest
November 10 - 11 -- SARL VHF/UHF Analogue Contest (CW, phone)
November 10 - 11 -- OK/OM DX Contest (CW)
November 10 - 11 -- SKCC Weekend Sprintathon (CW)
November 10 - 12 -- CQ-WE Contest (CW, phone, digital)
November 10 - 12 -- PODXS 070 Club Triple Play Low Band Sprint
(Digital)
November 12 -- 4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint (CW, phone)
November 12 -- RSGB 80-Meter Autumn Series (data)
See the ARRL Contest Calendar for more information. For in-depth
reporting on Amateur Radio contesting, subscribe to The ARRL Contest
Update via your ARRL member profile email preferences.
Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
November 10 -- Alabama Section Convention, Montgomery, Alabama
November 10 -- HamJam 2018 Convention, Alpharetta, Georgia
November 17 - 18 -- Central Division Convention, Fort Wayne, Indiana
December 1 -- Arkansas DX Association Conference, North Little Rock,
Arkansas
December 7 - 8 -- West Central Florida Section Convention, Plant City,
Florida
January 5 -- New York City-Long Island Section Convention, Brookville,
New York
January 12 -- Georgia ARES Convention, Forsyth, Georgia
January 18 - 19 -- Southern Florida Section Convention, Fort Myers,
Florida
January 18 - 19 -- North Texas Section Convention, Forest Hill, Texas
January 20 - 26 -- Quartzfest Convention, Quartzsite, Arizona
January 25 - 26 -- Mississippi State Convention, Jackson, Mississippi
Find conventions and hamfests in your area.
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