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N9PMO > LETTER 14.03.19 22:42l 589 Lines 26103 Bytes #999 (0) @ ARRL
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Sent: 190314/2138Z 17682@N9PMO.#SEWI.WI.USA.NA BPQ6.0.18
FCC Invites Comments on ARRL Technician Enhancement Proposal
Amateur Radio Volunteers Activate Following California Flooding
Build Your Own Space Weather Dashboard
The Doctor Will See You Now!
New Book, Energy Choices for the Radio Amateur, Now Shipping
More Mentors Needed for New ARRL Emergency Communications Course Sessions
How to Clean Up after a Battery Leak
ARRL Announces 2019 Teachers Institutes on Wireless Technology Sessions
The K7RA Solar Update
Just Ahead in Radiosport
Bart Jahnke, W9JJ, Appointed as New ARRL Radiosport and Field Services
Manager
Hamvention Announces 2019 Award Winners
"Tyro" License Proposal Open for Comment
GQRP Club Founder the Rev. George Dobbs, G3RJV, SK
Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
FCC Invites Comments on ARRL Technician Enhancement Proposal
The FCC has invited public comments on ARRL's 2018 Petition for Rule Making,
now designated as RM-11828, which asks the FCC to expand HF privileges for
Technician licensees to include limited phone privileges on 75, 40, and 15
meters, plus RTTY and digital mode privileges on 80, 40, 15, and 10 meters.
Interested parties have 30 days to comment. The Technician enhancement
proposals stemmed from the recommendations of the ARRL Board of Directors'
Entry-Level License Committee, which explored various initiatives and gauged
member opinions in 2016 and 2017.
"This action will enhance the available license operating privileges in what
has become the principal entry-level license class in the Amateur Service,"
ARRL said in its Petition. "It will attract more newcomers to Amateur Radio,
it will result in increased retention of licensees who hold Technician Class
licenses, and it will provide an improved incentive for entry-level
licensees to increase technical self-training and pursue higher license
class achievement and development of communications skills."
Specifically, ARRL proposes to provide present and future Technician
licensees:
Phone privileges at 3.900 to 4.000 MHz, 7.225 to 7.300 MHz, and 21.350 to
21.450 MHz
RTTY and digital privileges in current Technician allocations on 80, 40, 15,
and 10 meters.
Under the ARRL plan, the maximum HF power level for Technician operators
would remain at 200 W PEP. ARRL's petition points to the need for compelling
incentives not only to become a radio amateur in the first place, but then
to upgrade and further develop skills.
ARRL stressed in its petition the urgency of making the license more
attractive to newcomers, in part to improve upon science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education.
The ARRL Board's ad hoc Entry-Level License Committee, which recommended the
proposals, received significant input from ARRL members via more than 8,000
survey responses.
Now numbering some 384,500 licensees, Technicians comprise more than half of
the US Amateur Radio population. ARRL stressed in its petition the urgency
of making the license more attractive to newcomers, in part to improve upon
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, "that
inescapably accompanies a healthy, growing Amateur Radio Service."
ARRL said its proposal is critical to develop improved operating skills,
increasing emergency preparedness participation, improving technical
self-training, and boosting overall growth in the Amateur Service, which has
remained nearly inert at about 1% per year. Read more.
âÖ¦âÖ¦âÖ¦
Amateur Radio Volunteers Activate Following California Flooding
Amateur Radio volunteers with the Sonoma County, California, Auxiliary
Communications Service (ACS) rallied to assist the Sonoma County Fire and
Emergency Services Department in February after heavy rain led to flooding
in the region. San Francisco Section Manager Bill Hillendahl, KH6GJV, told
ARRL that while no actual communication emergencies occurred during the
weather event, Sonoma County ACS volunteers provided "needed eyes" and were
available in case further assistance was needed. Sonoma County ACS Radio
Officer Dan Ethen, WA6CRB, said heavy rainfall on fire-scarred areas
resulted in flooding along the Russian River.
Ethen reported, "On February 13 and 14, ACS volunteers staffed the Sonoma
County Operational Area Emergency Operation Center. Mobile ACS Field Units
were assigned to patrol the burn-scar areas that were a result of the
Complex Fire Storm in October of 2017."
"All-Hazard Road Patrols observed and reported downed power lines and trees,
mud[slides] and landslides impacting traffic flow, and debris issues that
posed problems with water drainage and road flooding," Ethen said.
From February 26 - 28, ACS Volunteers staffed the Sonoma County Operational
Area Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and the Graton Fire Incident Command
Post (ICP). They provided back-up communication capability between the EOC
and ICP to support the evacuation of residents in the Russian River flood
area.
ACS volunteers continued All-Hazard Road Patrols while operating on the
county-wide 2-meter repeater system. "Mobile patrol units were also tracked
on APRS and visible to the EOC radio operators to ensure safety and accurate
location reporting of any observed hazards," Ethen said.
"ACS volunteers remain ready to serve their communities," Ethen said. Read
more.
Build Your Own Space Weather Dashboard
NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) has started adding a variety
of space weather data in the open-standard JavaScript Object Notation
(JSON) format, and the SWPC site provides a root directory for format data.
Digital visualization library amCharts specializes in JavaScript charts and
maps for dynamic data display.
A free amCharts license is available in exchange for including a product
mention. Jan van den Berg, PA2P, suggests combining NOAA's data with
amCharts. Other providers of free charts include Google Charts and Chart.js.
Van den Berg offers more information and examples on his website. Contact
him for additional information.
The Doctor Will See You Now!
"SWR Simplified" is the topic of the new (March 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.
New Book, Energy Choices for the Radio Amateur, Now Shipping
Revolutionary changes are taking place in the way we produce and consume
power for our homes, transportation, and the technology that we use every
day. A new book, Energy Choices for the Radio Amateur by Bob Bruninga,
WB4APR, who developed the Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS), explores
ongoing changes in the world of power and energy and takes a careful look at
the choices we can make; the pros and cons of utility versus home solar
power, oil and gas heat versus an electric heat pump, and a gas car versus a
hybrid or electric vehicle.
Featuring full-color photos and illustrations, Energy Choices for the Radio
Amateur details Bruninga's experiences with new energy sources. It is
intended to help other radio amateurs and DIY hobbyists to prepare for the
inevitable major energy decisions they will face -- choices that can
contribute to a reduction in fossil-fuel use and save money in the long run.
The concepts presented in this 320-page volume not only satisfy everyday
power requirements, but also can help prepare for emergency and backup power
at home and in the field. Bruninga's life-long interest in energy technology
and Amateur Radio has led him to embrace home solar, electric vehicles, heat
pumps, and other advances that have greatly reduced his family's dependence
on fossil fuels.
Energy Choices for the Radio Amateur is available from the ARRL Store or
your ARRL dealer. (ARRL Item no. 1038, ISBN: 978-1-62595-103-8, $34.95
retail, special ARRL Member Price $29.95). Call 860-594-0355 or, toll-free
in the US, 888-277-5289. It will also be available as an ebook for the
Amazon Kindle.
More Mentors Needed for New ARRL Emergency Communications Course Sessions
High interest in the recently announced updated ARRL Introduction to
Emergency Communications (EC-001) course is prompting a call for additional
class mentors to help meet the demand, which ARRL Lifelong Learning Manager
Kris Bickell, K1BIC, says "exceeded our projections." As Bickell explains,
the course is designed to be interactive, with volunteer mentors guiding
each session.
"We appreciate the work of the mentors to make EC-001 an interactive
experience for the participants. The real-world emergency communications
experience they bring to the course is very important to the learning
process," Bickell said. "We look forward to bringing in more mentors to help
ARRL expand the reach of this valuable emergency communications training."
Bickell has developed a waiting list for prospective EC-001 students, who
will be notified as additional sessions are scheduled.
EC-001 mentors should be ARRL members and active, experienced Amateur Radio
licensees of General class or higher, and at least 18 years old. Mentors
should have experience in public service communication and in Amateur Radio
Emergency Service (ARES) activities and come with the recommendation of
their Section Managers.
In addition to the EC-001 course, prospective mentors should have completed
ICS 100, 200, 700, and 800; the FEMA Professional Development Series, and
National Weather Service SKYWARN® training. Professional experience in
emergency response or communication and as a trainer or educator is
desirable, with interest or experience in distance learning. Candidates
should possess sufficient computer skills and be able to interact with other
course students and with other mentors online.
Apply online to become an ARRL mentor. For more information, contact ARRL
Emergency Preparedness Assistant Ken Bailey, K1FUG, (860) 594-0227. Read
more.
How to Clean Up after a Battery Leak
Many hams have had the unfortunate experience of old batteries leaking in a
piece of gear or a flashlight, creating a mess. Business technology news
site ZDNet recently offered its procedure for cleaning it up. The brief
online presentation recommends taking some precautions about coming in
contact with the white discharge -- specifically potassium hydroxide in the
case of alkaline cells, a caustic irritant. An old toothbrush or something
similar can start the project, along with a small scraper, and cotton swabs
dipped in water. Start by removing and properly disposing of the bad cells
and then brushing out the worst of the material -- preferably outdoors or
over a container to catch the remnants.
The article advises against using any sort of acid such as vinegar or lemon
juice, lest it cause corrosion problems of its own. It suggests a fiberglass
scratch brush for scrubbing the battery compartment contacts clean, although
other tools may work as well. Deoxit D5 or similar contact cleaner also
comes in handy, with a tiny dab of dielectric grease or silicone paste as a
finishing touch to inhibit future corrosion if a leak occurs. Other tips to
head off problems down the road include using only name-brand batteries,
avoiding mixing old and new batteries, removing batteries from devices not
in use, avoiding exposing batteries to extreme heat or cold, and minding
battery expiration dates.
ARRL Announces 2019 Teachers Institutes on Wireless Technology Sessions
As part of its educational outreach through the Education & Technology
Program (ETP), ARRL will offer three sessions of the Teachers Institute on
Wireless Technology in July. These week-long workshops will be held at ARRL
Headquarters in Newington, Connecticut, and hosted by the Dayton Amateur
Radio Association (DARA) in Dayton, Ohio. The Teachers Institute (TI) is an
expenses-paid professional development seminar that provides teachers at all
grade levels with tools and strategies to introduce wireless technology
elements into their classrooms, from basic electronics and robotics to space
technology. The application deadline is May 1.
The Teachers Institute curriculum is designed for motivated teachers and
other school staff who want to learn more about wireless technology and take
that knowledge back to their classrooms. The goal of the TI program is to
equip educators with necessary fundamental knowledge and -- through hands-on
learning -- generate the inspiration for teachers to continue exploring
wireless technology, and adapt what they learn to their classroom curricula.
Basic (TI-1) and advanced (TI-2) classes are offered. Applicants to the
advanced TI-2 workshop are required to have completed TI-1 and be licensed
Amateur Radio operators. Interested educators can apply online. The $100
enrollment fee is refunded for applicants who are not selected. Qualified
applicants must be active teachers at an elementary, middle, or high school,
or community college/university, or in a leadership/enrichment instruction
role in an after-school program.
Summer 2019 Teachers Institute Schedule
Session
Location
Dates
Instructor
TI-2
Newington, Connecticut (ARRL)
July 8 - July 12
Matt Severin, N8MS
TI-1
Dayton, Ohio
July 15 - July 19
Larry Kendall, K6NDL
TI-1
Newington, Connecticut (ARRL)
July 22 - July 26
Tommy Gober, N5DUX
Topics covered in the TI-1 "Introduction to Wireless Technology" workshop
include basic electronics, radio science, microcontroller programming, and
basic robotics. In addition, TI-1 attendees will learn about Amateur Radio,
take part in a hidden transmitter hunt, see demonstrations of Amateur Radio
satellite communication, and build and program simple robots.
The TI-2 "Remote Sensing and Data Gathering" workshop will concentrate on
analog-to-digital conversion and data sampling. Participants will receive
telemetry from Amateur Radio satellites and apply it to math and science
topics.
The grant to attend a TI covers transportation, hotel, and a modest per diem
allowance to cover meals, instructional resources, and a resource library of
relevant ARRL publications.
For more information, contact ARRL Lifelong Learning Manager Kris Bickell,
K1BIC, at ARRL Headquarters. Read more.
The K7RA Solar Update
Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Sunspots reemerged for 8 days, March 5 -
12. The average daily sunspot number rose from 4.4 to 9.9 this reporting
week, March 7 - 13. Average daily solar flux barely changed from 70.6 to
70.9. The average planetary A index declined from 12.6 to 5.1, and the
average middle latitude A index dropped from 9.7 to 3.9.
The vernal equinox occurs on March 20, when the Southern and Northern
hemispheres will be bathed in equal amounts of solar radiation.
Predicted solar flux (March 12 forecast) is 70 on March 14 - 15; 68 on March
16 - 19; 69 on March 20 - 28; 70 on March 29; 71 on March 30 - April 8; 70
on April 9; 69 on April 10 - 24; 70 on April 25, and 71 on April 26. No
forecast was posted on March 13, due to some issues at the USAF.
The predicted planetary A index (March 12 forecast) is 8, 12, and 8 on March
14 - 16; 5 on March 17 - 19; 10 on March 20; 5 on March 21 - 25; 12, 30, 28,
14, and 8 on March 26 - 30; 5 on March 31 - April 1; 8 on April 2 - 3; 5 on
April 4 - 9; 12, 10, and 8 on April 10 - 12; 5 on April 13 - 15; 10 on April
16; 5 on April 17 - 21, and 10, 26, 24, 12, and 8 on April 22 - 26.
Sunspot numbers for March 7 - 13 were 14, 11, 11, 11, 11, 11, and 0, with a
mean of 9.9. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 70.9, 71.8, 70.7, 71.1, 70.4,
70.7, and 70.8, with a mean of 70.9. Estimated planetary A indices were 8,
5, 5, 4, 3, 7, and 4, with a mean of 5.1. The middle latitude A index was 5,
3, 4, 3, 3, 5, and 4, 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 reports and observations.
Just Ahead in Radiosport
March 16 -- AGCW VHF/UHF Contest (CW)
March 16 -- Feld Hell Sprint
March 16 -17 -- Louisiana QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
March 16 - 17 -- Virginia QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
March 16 - 17 -- Russian DX Contest (CW, phone)
March 16 - 18 -- BARTG HF RTTY Contest
March 17 -- UBA Spring Contest, SSB
March 18 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)
March 18 -- Bucharest Contest (CW, phone, digital)
March 19 - 24 -- CLARA Chatter Party (CW, phone)
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.
Bart Jahnke, W9JJ, Appointed as New ARRL Radiosport and Field Services
Manager
Bart Jahnke, W9JJ, has been appointed as ARRL Radiosport and Field Services
Manager. Jahnke, who has served as ARRL Contest Branch Manager for the past
3 years, succeeds Norm Fusaro, W3IZ, who was recently promoted to Director
of Operations at ARRL Headquarters.
"This new role now offers me the exciting opportunity not only to be on the
front lines of our radiosport community, but our international/DX and
domestic radiosport operating and awards activities," Jahnke said. "Having
worked closely with tens of thousands of our Volunteer Examiners in my prior
Headquarters tour, I'm able to re-engage with many of them now in our Field
Services program."
With respect to radiosport, Jahnke pointed out that contesting activity not
only defends Amateur Radio allocations, but builds a pool of operators and
expands their skills in providing communication in times of emergency or
disaster. Jahnke said contesters, DXers, traffic handlers, and everyday
users of the amateur bands know what to expect in terms of propagation at
different times of day and year, and can apply that knowledge in
establishing disaster communication.
As Radiosport and Field Services Manager, Jahnke will oversee the Radiosport
and Field Services staff in managing awards, contests, and Logbook of The
World (LoTW), as well as issues involving the ARRL Field Organization on
Section, club, and current volunteer monitoring and emergency services
issues.
Before returning to ARRL Headquarters in 2016, Jahnke was in the private
sector for about a decade. Jahnke first joined the ARRL Headquarters staff
in 1985, starting as editor of the ARRL Repeater Directory and as a
Membership Services Representative, handling matters related to FCC rules.
For the next 3 years, he also assisted with ARRL Award processing (except
DXCC) and later trained incoming Awards Managers.
In 1989, he became the manager of the ARRL Volunteer Examining (VEC)
Program, a position he held for 16 years. Read more.
Hamvention Announces 2019 Award Winners
The Hamvention® Awards committee has announced the recipients the four
Hamvention 2019 awards -- Amateur of the Year, Club of the Year, Technical
Achievement, and Special Achievement. Named Amateur of the Year was
Nathaniel Frissell, W2NAF, who founded and spearheads Ham Radio Science
Citizen Investigation (HamSCI), which joins professional researchers and the
Amateur Radio community for
Hamvention 2019 Amateur of the Year Nathaniel Frissell, W2NAF.
mutual benefit. Frissell may best be known for his involvement in the 2017
Solar Eclipse QSO Party (SEQP) to study eclipse ionospheric effects.
The Nashua Area Radio Society (NARS) is Hamvention 2019's Club of the Year.
The ARRL Special Service club in southern New Hampshire focuses on mentoring
and youth outreach to bring newcomers into the hobby and help them to get on
the air. The club offers Technician, General, and Amateur Extra licensing
classes twice yearly and has helped more 210 individuals earn a license or
to upgrade.
Piero Begali, I2RTF, is the 2019 recipient of Hamvention's Technical
Achievement Award. Begali is best known for designing and producing
high-quality precision Morse code straight keys and iambic paddles. He
authored History and Stories of Radio in 2005. The book includes not only
radio history descriptions of radio technology, but his personal experiences
as well.
Chris Janssen, DL1MGB/KO2WW, is the winner of Hamvention's 2019 Special
Achievement Award. Janssen served as president of World Radiosport Team
Championship (WRTC) 2018, guiding more than 300 volunteers who put on the
successful competition in Germany. Read more.
"Tyro" License Proposal Open for Comment
The same day that the FCC put ARRL's Technician Enhancement petition on
public notice, it also invited comments on another proposal, designated
RM-11829, asking the FCC to create a "Tyro" license class that would require
a minimal online examination and require mentoring by an Amateur Radio
licensee of Technician class or higher. A "tyro" is a novice or a beginner.
The petition was filed in August of 2017 by Gary A. Hampton, AD0WU, of
Longmont, Colorado. Tyro licensees would earn operating privileges on 99
channels in a 70-centimeter "TyroSubBand." Applicants would have to be at
least 11 years old. Hampton said in his petition that one goal would be
"reliable, nationwide 70-centimeter interoperability" in the exclusive 430 -
440 MHz segment of the band.
"The Tyro license is exceptionally important to FEMA's CERT program,"
Hampton's petition asserts. "It allows ARES to solve CERT's communication
problems. The TyroSubBand technical specifications easily double the
capacity of typical 70-centimeter repeaters..."
Hampton maintained in his petition that Amateur Radio also "should be used
to further scientific research that is published and quickly placed in the
public domain."
Hampton expressed the belief that institution of the Tyro license would
spawn growth within Amateur Radio, making entry into the hobby nearly as
simple as obtaining a General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) license.
The window for comments on the Tyro license petition is open for 30 days.
GQRP Club Founder the Rev. George Dobbs, G3RJV, SK
The founder of the GQRP Club and Amateur Radio author the Rev. George Dobbs,
G3RJV, of Littleborough, England, died on March 11. He was 75. Dobbs was
reported to have been in ill health for some time and had been living in a
care facility, where his condition recently deteriorated.
Dobbs was the honorary secretary of the GQRP Club (G5LOW), which he founded
in 1974 to cater to those interested in low-power Amateur Radio
communication. He served as the editor for the club's quarterly, SPRAT.
Dobbs was the author of QRP Basics, The International QRP Collection
(co-authored with Steve Telenius-Lowe, 9M6DXX), and Making a Transistor
Radio.
Dobbs was a frequent Hamvention® attendee, and in 2015, he received the
Hamvention "Technical Excellence Award." -- Thanks to Lee Boulineau, KX4TT
Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
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
April 26 - 28 -- VHF Super Conference, Sterling, Virginia
April 27 -- Delaware State Convention, Georgetown, Delaware
April 27 -- Aurora '19 Conference, White Bear Lake, Minnesota
April 27 -- ARRL North Texas MentorFest, Garland, Texas
April 27 -- RV Radio Network Rally, Linwood, North Carolina
Find conventions and hamfests in your area.
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.
ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for
Amateur Radio News and Information.
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of interest to radio amateurs and communications professionals.
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