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N9PMO > LETTER 24.02.19 05:16l 508 Lines 23391 Bytes #999 (0) @ ARRL
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Sent: 190224/0408Z 16597@N9PMO.#SEWI.WI.USA.NA BPQ6.0.18
New Plan Aligns ARES with the Needs of Served Agencies
Winter Section Manager Election Results Announced
The Doctor Will See You Now!
New Book, HF Dipole Antennas for Amateur Radio, Now Shipping
ARRL Headquarters Seeks Radiosport and Field Services Manager
The K7RA Solar Update
Testing Jig Eases Job of Measuring Junk Box Resistors
Just Ahead in Radiosport
Amateur Radio is Aboard During Attempt to Become Oldest Circumnavigator
KickSat-2 is Alive and Being Tracked, Sprites Deployment Pending
Microsoft Windows 10 Upgrade Will Ease Access to Linux Files
XX9D in Macau: And You Think Your Noise Problem is Bad
World Scout Jamboree is Possible ARISS Amateur Radio Contact Host
Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
Brief ARRL Website Outage Planned for Wednesday, February 27
Some services on the ARRL website may be interrupted briefly on Wednesday,
February 27, sometime between 1100 UTC and 1300 UTC. This outage is to
accommodate a hardware test of the existing failover system for all systems
behind the Rackspace firewall. Affected systems are the main website,
including the ARRL Store and contesting-related pages. Logbook of The World
(LoTW), email, and all other Headquarters services will not be affected. We
apologize for any inconvenience.
New Plan Aligns ARES with the Needs of Served Agencies
The new ARES Plan adopted by the ARRL Board of Directors at its Annual
Meeting in January represents an effort to provide ARES with a clearly
defined mission, goals, and objectives; specific training requirements, and
a system for consistent reporting and record-keeping. The Board's Public
Service Enhancement Working Group (PSEWG) spent more than 3 years crafting
the ARES Plan which, ARRL officials believe, provides a much-needed update
of the program's role in public service and emergency preparedness in the
21st century. Concerns focused on bringing ARES into alignment with the
National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Incident Command System
(ICS), and creating more consistent and standardized ARES training
requirements. Given dramatic changes and upgrades in national, regional, and
local emergency and disaster response organizations, ARRL faced a major
challenge, said ARRL Great Lakes Division Director Dale Williams, WA8EFK,
who chaired the PSEWG.
"If we didn't address these issues, such as training standards and
organizational management, ARES faced the very real possibility that it
would no longer be viewed as a valid and valuable partner in emergency and
disaster relief situations," Williams said.
With input from ARES members and a peer review team, and the assistance of
emergency response officials with some partner organizations, the PSEWG came
up with a plan that provides guidelines to ensure that ARES remains a
service of organized, trained, qualified, and credentialed Amateur Radio
volunteers who can provide public service partners with radio communication
expertise, capability, and capacity, Williams added.
Training requirements in the final ARES Plan consist of the free FEMA
Professional Development Series of independent study (IS) courses, as well
as the ARRL's EC-001 and EC-016 emergency communication courses. The ARRL
Board approved a proposal to make the ARRL EC courses free for ARES members.
The plan highlights some additional training programs that ARES participants
are encouraged to consider taking, but that are not required, such as
AUXCOMM and training courses like ICS-300 and ICS-400.
The ARES Plan outlines a three-tiered membership structure based on
increased responsibility levels and accompanying training requirements. The
optional tiered system serves to define three distinct ways to participate
in the ARES program, leaving it up to participants to determine their level
of involvement.
The ARES Plan points out that public service events such as parades and
marathons are within the realm of ARES activity and are an integral part of
effective training.
The Plan notes that training requirements are ultimately the responsibility
of the Section Manager, with each SM approving training for local ARES
teams, as local conditions and needs dictate.
ARRL Great Lakes Division Director Dale Williams, WA8EFK.
The ARES Plan also highlights the relationship between ARES and the National
Traffic System (NTS).
Williams noted that, within the ARES structure, the Emergency Coordinator
(EC) will continue to lead the ARES team locally during an incident, while
the District and Section Emergency Coordinators will continue to serve as
resources and support for the EC. The ARES Plan stresses that ARES
participants are not first responders, and it encourages ARES leaders to
develop and grow their group's partnerships with state emergency management
agencies and officials. Williams said the adoption of the ARES Plan is not
the end of this process.
"ARES cannot remain stagnant only to be updated once every few generations,"
he said. "The ARES Plan, and the ARES program, must be able to evolve."
Williams added that the ARRL Headquarters emergency preparedness staff will
review the program annually to ensure its continued relevance. Read more.
âÖ¦âÖ¦âÖ¦
Winter Section Manager Election Results Announced
Four new ARRL Section Managers have been declared elected in the
just-concluded winter election cycle, and one incumbent Section Manager was
re-elected to a new term. Section Manager election ballots were counted on
February 19 at ARRL Headquarters. Four incumbent Section Managers ran
without opposition during this election cycle. All terms start on April 1.
In Iowa, Lelia Garner, WA0UIG, of Robins, received 315 votes to 234 for her
opponent, Paul Cowley, W0YR, of Ames. Garner is the Iowa Section Traffic
Manager and co-founder of the Linn County New Ham Net. She will succeed Bob
McCaffrey, K0CY, who served as Section Manager for the past 6 years and
decided not to run for another term.
In North Texas, Steven Lott Smith, KG5VK, who lives near the town of Ben
Franklin, received 714 votes to 576 for Ken Mitchell, KD2KW, of Oak Point.
He has been president of the Key City Amateur Radio Club in Abilene, and of
the Shreveport Amateur Radio Association in Louisiana. Smith will pick up
the reins from Jay Urish, W5GM, who opted not to run for a new term after
serving for the past 2 years.
In Arizona, Richard A. Paquette, W7RAP, of Tucson, was re-elected to a
second term with 817 votes to 502 votes for his opponent Virgil Silhanek,
K7VZ, of Phoenix.
In Idaho, Dan Marler, K7REX, of Boise, will officially take over the
leadership of the Idaho Field Organization from Ed Stuckey, AI7H, on April
1, who chose not to run for a new term after serving as Section Manager for
more than 10 years. Marler has been an Assistant Section Manager and was the
only nominee after the position was re-solicited last fall.
Wyoming will welcome Rick Breininger, N1TEK, of Green River, as its new
Section Manager on April 1. He was the only nominee for the position after
Jack Mitchell, N7MJ, announced that he would not run for a new term after
serving since 2015. Breininger has been a Public Information Officer and
Local Government Liaison in Wyoming.
These incumbent Section Managers were unopposed for re-election: James
Ferguson, N5LKE (Arkansas); Steve Morgan, W4NHO (Kentucky); Malcolm Keown,
W5XX (Mississippi), and Carl Gardenias, WU6D (Orange).
The Doctor Will See You Now!
"Are We Entering a Maunder Minimum?" is the topic of the latest (February
14) 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.
Just ahead: "The Raspberry Pi Computer."
New Book, HF Dipole Antennas for Amateur Radio, Now Shipping
ARRL's HF Dipole Antennas for Amateur Radio is a collection of 20 HF dipole
antenna designs from the pages of QST between 2000 and 2017. It includes
innovative antenna projects for single-band and multiband antennas, as well
as antennas for portable applications.
A special bonus section by Jackson R. Richter, WB0USA, features a thorough
discussion of how these popular multiband antennas function. It includes
several antenna projects that you can build.
HF Dipole Antennas for Amateur Radio is available from the ARRL Store or
your ARRL Dealer. (ARRL Item no. 0994, ISBN: 978-1-62595-099-4, $22.95
retail, special ARRL member price $19.95.) Call 860-594-0355 or toll-free in
the US, 888-277-5289. It will also be available as an e-book for the Amazon
Kindle.
ARRL Headquarters Seeks Radiosport and Field Services Manager
ARRL is accepting applications for the position of Radiosport and Field
Services Manager at ARRL Headquarters in Newington, Connecticut. This is a
full-time, exempt position with a competitive salary. The successful
candidate would be responsible for managing the Radiosport and Field
Services functions, including employee training and program and services
delivery to members and field volunteers.
This individual works in conjunction with executive officers to establish
annual operational plans, revenue forecasts, and budgets for the department
and manages to those goals; manages Logbook of The World (LoTW) operations,
including staff supervision, analysis of user issues, and problem
resolution; serves as liaison with the ARRL Field Organization, including
the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and the National Traffic System
(NTS); oversees the election and appointment of Section Managers and other
official ARRL field volunteers, and directs ARRL's emergency preparedness
and response activities.
For full requirements and additional details, see the Employment
Opportunities listing.
âÖ¦âÖ¦âÖ¦
The K7RA Solar Update
Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: The 3-week-long absence of sunspot
activity continues, and the average daily solar flux was only marginally
higher over the February 14 - 20 reporting week, moving from 70.4 to 70.6.
Geomagnetic indicators were lower, with the average daily planetary A index
declining from 8.1 to 4.9, and the average daily mid-latitude A index
dropping from 6.1 to 3.9.
One advantage at the bottom of the solar cycle is less geomagnetic activity,
which benefits propagation on 160, 80, and 60 meters. The ARRL Contest
Update this week mentioned reports of "exceptional propagation" on 160 and
80 during the ARRL International DX Contest (CW). The SSB weekend is March 2
- 3.
The current 45-day outlook for solar flux shows predicted values below 70 --
for the first time in a few weeks -- from March 1 - 10 and again on March 26
- April 6.
Predicted planetary A index is 16, 10, and 8 on February 21 - 23; 5 on
February 24 - 26; 15, 18, 18, 12, and 8 on February 27 - March 3; 5, 8, 5,
8, 10, and 8 on March 4 - 9; 5 on March 10 - 11; 12 and 10 on March 12 - 13;
5 on March 14 - 17; 12, 16, 12, and 8 on March 18 - 21; 5 on March 22 - 25;
15, 18, 18, 12, 8, and 5 on March 26 - 31; 8, 5, 8, 10, 8, and 5 on April 1
- 6.
Sunspot numbers for February 14 - 20 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, and 0, with a
mean of 0. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 71.4, 70.9, 70.7, 70.1, 69.9, 70.2,
and 71, with a mean of 70.6. Estimated planetary A indices were 10, 4, 3, 4,
7, 3, and 3, with a mean of 4.9. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 8, 4,
3, 3, 5, 2, and 2, with a mean of 3.9.
A comprehensive K7RA Solar Update is posted Fridays on the ARRL website. For
more information concerning radio propagation, visit the ARRL Technical
Information Service, read "What the Numbers Mean...," and check out K9LA's
Propagation Page.
A propagation bulletin archive is available. Monthly charts offer
propagation projections between the US and a dozen DX locations.
Share your comments, reports and observations.
Testing Jig Eases Job of Measuring Junk Box Resistors
Paul Danzer, N1II, was faced with sorting a box of 100 old resistors to
verify their approximate values. The idea of attaching digital multimeter
clip leads to each resistor 100 times was not very appealing. His solution
was to build a fixture from thin sheet aluminum. Each leg is approximately 1
inch wide, and the tops are bent over to eliminate any sharp edges. The
meter leads are clipped to each leg. To measure a resistor, all you have to
do is lay it across the two legs. If the connection seems a little less than
solid, a bit of finger pressure applied to the resistor might help. Quick
and easy!
Just Ahead in Radiosport
February 22 - 24 -- CQ 160-Meter Contest, SSB
February 23 - 24 -- REF Contest, SSB
February 23 - 24 -- UBA DX Contest, CW
February 23 - 24 -- South Carolina QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
February 23 - 24 -- North American QSO Party, RTTY
February 24 -- High Speed Club CW Contest
February 24 -- SARL Digital Contest
February 24 - 27 -- Classic Exchange, Phone
February 24 - 25 -- North Carolina QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
February 27 -- SKCC Sprint (CW)
February 27 -- UKEICC 80-Meter Contest (CW)
February 28 -- RSGB 80-Meter Club Championship, CW
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.
Amateur Radio is Aboard During Attempt to Become Oldest Circumnavigator
Jeanne Socrates, VE0JS/KC2IOV, is used to solitude. The 76-year-old
yachtswoman passed some 300 miles to the south of the southern tip of Africa
on Valentine's Day as she forged on toward Australia and New Zealand in her
38-foot sailing vessel Nereida. While underway, Socrates keeps in touch with
a community of friends via Amateur Radio -- although she had to yield to the
ARRL International DX CW activity last weekend -- and she's sticking to a
schedule of 7.160 MHz at 0230 UTC daily. Socrates reported making contact
with some ham radio friends on the US west coast on February 17. She's been
blogging her progress.
The retired math teacher and UK native also is no stranger to
circumnavigating the globe, having already become the oldest woman to
complete a solo, non-stop, unassisted round-the-world voyage. Ham radio
served as her link to terra firma during her earlier adventures. Since 2013,
she's made two unsuccessful attempts to become the oldest person to
circumnavigate Earth, the goal she's now attempting to achieve. Socrates
departed Vancouver, British Columbia, last October. Read more. -- Thanks to
Southgate Amateur Radio News for some information
âÖ¦âÖ¦âÖ¦
KickSat-2 is Alive and Being Tracked, Sprites Deployment Pending
For the first couple of days after the 3U KickSat-2 was deployed from Cygnus
NG-10 last November, nothing was heard from the satellite. But in a February
16 post to AMSAT-BB, Nico Janssen, PA0DLO, reported receiving several short
and weak transmissions from KickSat 2 -- short telemetry bursts on 437.5077
MHz. Stanford University Assistant Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Zac Manchester, KD2BHC, is the principal investigator for the KickSat
project, which NASA adopted as an official technology demonstration mission.
"Yes, KickSat-2 is alive," Manchester told ARRL. "We have been tracking it
since Thursday, [February 14,] and have been able to decode at least some
packets. The signal is weak, and we think the antenna did not properly
deploy on the CubeSat."
KickSat-2 may deploy up to 104 tiny Sprite satellites into low-Earth orbit.
The Sprites then would transmit on 437.240 MHz at 10 mW, communicating with
each other via a mesh network and with command stations on Earth. The
Sprites would reenter Earth's atmosphere within weeks. As for releasing the
Sprites, Manchester told ARRL, "We're working on it... Stay tuned."
Recently, the FCC imposed a $900,000 penalty on a commercial concern, Swarm
Technologies, for launching similar tiny satellites after the FCC had denied
permission.
"These spacecraft are...below the size threshold at which detection by the
Space Surveillance Network can be considered routine," the FCC told Swarm
Technologies.
Zac Manchester, KD2BHC, with the original KickSat in 2014. [Photo courtesy
of Cornell University]
A 2018 NASA Early Career Faculty Award recipient, Manchester had been trying
without success to convince the FCC to allow him to deploy the Sprites from
KickSat-2, but the agency denied permission at the last moment.
Once NASA adopted KickSat-2 as its own mission, however, the applicable
regulatory body shifted to the National Telecommunications and Information
ministration (NTIA), and the launch went forward.
In the Swarm Technologies proceeding, the FCC argued that satellites smaller
than 10 centimeters on any side were too small. KickSat-2's Sprites are 3.5
centimeters on a side and just 0.2 centimeters thick. Read more.
Microsoft Windows 10 Upgrade Will Ease Access to Linux Files
Microsoft plans to make it easier for Windows 10 to access files stored by
some Linux-based operating systems. The next major Windows 10 update,
version 1903, due in March or April, will allow Windows 10 File Explorer to
access, move, and copy files stored inside Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)
distributions -- or "distros" in the Linux world.
"In the past, creating and changing Linux files from Windows resulted in
losing files or corrupting data," Microsoft program manager Craig Loewen
said in a blog post. The WSL allows Windows 10 to run various GNU/Linux
distros inside Windows as Microsoft Store apps, providing access to Ubuntu,
openSUSE, Debian, Fedora, Kali Linux, and others. Files can also be opened
by Windows 10 applications by right clicking and using the "Open with..."
option. The team behind WSL says it's working to make WSL files discoverable
by File Explorer when the WSL distro is not running.
XX9D in Macau: And You Think Your Noise Problem is Bad
The group that's been activating Macau as XX9D since February 11 reports its
biggest challenge is not so much managing the pileups but hearing the
pileups in the first place due to high noise levels. Nonetheless, the group
has managed some 18,000 contacts on 160 through 6 meters, and the operators
credit FT8 with making many of those possible.
"All team members are a little bit disappointed about the high noise level
here on all bands," the XX9D team reported on February 18. Levels are mostly
[around S-7 to S-9]. It seems that this is manmade noise, which is about 10
dB stronger between 5 PM and 7 AM. You might imagine what problems we have
to identify call signs under these lousy circumstances, which we are not
able to solve. So, we have to lower our expectations."
On 160, 80, and 40 meters, XX9D is using wire verticals with elevated
radials. The 30-meter antenna is a delta loop, and on 20 - 10 meters, the
antenna is a wire beam. No receive antennas are possible. "We are working
hard to get as many...callers in the log [as possible]. Because of the lousy
conditions we work much more in FT8," the 15-person, mostly German team
said. The DXpedition continues until February 26. Read more.
World Scout Jamboree is Possible ARISS Amateur Radio Contact Host
The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station US team (ARISS-US) has
announced the list of schools or organizations that may host Amateur Radio
contacts with International Space Station (ISS) crew members from July
through December. The list includes the 24th World Scout Jamboree, which is
set for this summer at the Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia.
Schools and organizations had submitted proposals seeking an opportunity to
host contacts, and a review team of teachers from the ARISS-US Education
Committee selected from among those submissions. Applicants chosen will
advance to the second phase of the selection process -- developing an
Amateur Radio equipment plan to host a scheduled ARISS contact.
ARISS's primary goal is to engage young people in science, technology,
engineering, and math (STEM) activities, and involve them in pursuits
related to space exploration, Amateur Radio, communication, and associated
areas of study and career options. Read more.
The AMSAT 50th Anniversary Symposium will take place on October 18 - 20 at
the Hilton Arlington in Arlington, Virginia, next to Washington, DC.
Connected to the Ballston metro station, the hotel offers easy access to the
capital's top tourist destinations, and tours will be available; it's 6
miles from Reagan National Airport. The AMSAT Board of Directors will meet
on October 16 - 17. -- Thanks to AMSAT News Service
Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
February 22 - 23 -- TECHCON Conference, Tampa, Florida
February 23 -- New Mexico TechFest, Albuquerque, New Mexico
February 23 -- Vermont State Convention, S. Burlington, Vermont
March 1 - 2 -- Alabama Section Convention, Trussville, Alabama
March 8 - 9 -- Louisiana State Convention, Rayne, Louisiana
March 8 - 9 -- North Carolina Section Convention, Concord, North Carolina
March 9 -- Nebraska State Convention, Lincoln, Nebraska
March 16 -- West Texas Section Convention, Midland, Texas
March 22 - 23 -- Texas State Convention, Rosenberg, Texas
March 23 -- MicroHAMS Digital Conference, Redmond, Washington
March 23 -- West Virginia Section Convention, Charleston, West Virginia
March 24 - SJRA 2019 Radio Conference, Mount Laurel, New Jersey
March 29 - 30 -- Maine State Convention, Lewiston, Maine
March 30 -- Tennessee Section Convention, Sevierville, Tennessee
April 5 - 6 -- OzarkCon, Branson, Missouri
April 12 - 13 -- Oklahoma Section Convention, Claremore, Oklahoma
April 12 - 14 -- 70th International DX Convention, Visalia, California
April 13 -- Tennessee State Convention, Bartlett, Tennessee
April 13 - 14 -- Communications Academy, Seattle, Washington
April 20 -- North Carolina State Convention, Raleigh, North Carolina
Find conventions and hamfests in your area.
ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for
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