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N9PMO > LETTER 03.05.19 17:03l 565 Lines 23660 Bytes #999 (0) @ ARRL
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ARRL Reply Comments Stress Need to Update Technician Privileges in a Digital
World
World Scout Jamboree Gearing Up for Significant Amateur Radio Presence
Science and Technology: An Ultra-Small Transmitter for VLF?
So Now What? Podcast
ARRL's Free Exam Review for Ham Radio Updated
The K7RA Solar Update
Just Ahead in Radiosport
HamSCI, Ham Radio 2.0 to Combine Efforts at Dayton Hamvention 2019
Annual Armed Forces Day Crossband Test Set for May 11
In Brief...
Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
ARRL Reply Comments Stress Need to Update Technician Privileges in a Digital
World
In reply comments to the FCC (comments on comments already filed) on its
Petition for Rule Making (RM-11828), ARRL has stressed that updating HF
privileges for the entry-level Technician license "is the sole subject and
intent" of the petition. ARRL filed its reply comments on April 29, urging
the FCC to disregard comments irrelevant to its petition and maintaining
that Technician privileges must be relevant within the context of today's
technological environment.
"[T]he increasingly rapid pace of change in communications technologies,
coupled with the national need for self-training in science, technology,
engineering, and math" necessitate the rule changes requested, ARRL
asserted. "ARRL made its request because of the gap between today's digital
technologies and the privileges accorded the current entry-level Technician
license." ARRL characterized its proposal to update the rules as "balanced
and modest."
"If adopted, there would be no change to the operating privileges for all
license classes other than those of the Technician class," ARRL said. In
2018, ARRL asked 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, and 15 meters. The FCC invited comments
on the proposal in April.
ARRL pointed out that some comments filed on its petition address subjects
related to other open proceedings rather than expanding Technician
privileges, citing comments cross-filed in such proceedings as WT Docket
16-239, RM-11708, RM-11759, and RM-11831. "Those filings should be
considered in the proceedings that they address, rather than here," ARRL
said.
ARRL said some opposition appears based on fears of increased interference
potential due to additional digital operation by Technicians. "It is
improbable that all, or even a majority, of Technician licensees suddenly
would develop a passion for the same digital technology," ARRL said. "Our
hope and expectation is that many will engage with digital modes on the
high-frequency spectrum at issue, but it is unrealistic to suggest that
every Technician licensee blessed with new privileges would suddenly appear
on the same band."
The comments note the development of very efficient digital modes, such as
FT8, which occupies just 90 Hz of spectrum per signal. "The experience with
FT8 clearly demonstrates the attraction of the digital modes and the
spectrum efficiencies that can be achieved," ARRL said. "This is why opening
up limited digital opportunities to new radio amateurs so clearly would
serve the broad public interest as well as the specific purposes of Amateur
Radio in experimentation and innovation, as enumerated in the governing FCC
rules."
ARRL further said that comments regarding disagreement on the definition of
encryption for masking the content of certain digital transmissions are also
"out of place in this proceeding" and "should not delay initiation of a
proceeding" proposing to update Technician privileges.
"Technology has changed dramatically in the Amateur Radio domain, and ARRL
believes the requested Technician license enhancement would foster the
regulatory goals for the Amateur Service and continue to increase amateurs'
historical experimentation and service in a meaningful way," ARRL concluded.
+++
World Scout Jamboree Gearing Up for Significant Amateur Radio Presence
Amateur Radio will be a part of this summer's 24th World Scout Jamboree in
West Virginia, the first World Jamboree held in North America since 1983.
The Jamboree has chosen the theme "Unlock a New World." Thousands of Scouts
and Scout leaders from some 200 countries are expected to attend. The
Jamboree's Amateur Radio Exhibit will use the call sign NA1WJ -- North
America's 1st World Jamboree. It will be on the air during the event, July
22 until August 2, at the Summit Bechtel Reserve, hosted by Canada, Mexico,
and the US. Amateur Radio testing is expected to begin as early as July 14.
Operating frequencies will be posted in real time via Facebook and Twitter
or via an NA1WJ email group.
"The goals of the Amateur Radio station at the World Scout Jamboree are to
introduce Amateur Radio to Scouts and Scout leaders through hands-on
participation in two-way communication with other stations across the globe.
This activity will also serve as the Amateur Radio voice of the Jamboree,"
the World Scout Jamboree Amateur Radio Exhibit Operational Vision document
states. Other facets of Amateur Radio at the Jamboree will include Amateur
Radio direction finding (ARDF), Amateur Radio satellite contacts, and a
scheduled Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact
with an ISS crew member.
"We also expect to launch one or two balloons with Amateur Radio payloads
and track them as they cross the Atlantic," the vision document continues.
Organizers are encouraging radio amateurs around the globe to get on the air
during the World Jamboree to help NA1WJ demonstrate Amateur Radio for
Jamboree visitors.
The 2019 World Scout Jamboree operation at the Summit Bechtel Scout Reserve
will take advantage of lessons learned by the K2BSA Amateur Radio operation
during the 2013 and 2017 USA National Jamborees. It will also take advantage
of the existing infrastructure, which includes three VHF/UHF repeaters
installed by Icom America, as well as the utility poles for installing
antennas. K2BSA ham gear stored in West Virginia includes antennas,
rotators, and cables.
Evening operation from NA1WJ will involve at least two operators using the
buddy system. VHF/UHF repeaters will offer full coverage of the Jamboree
area via handheld transceivers, facilitating networking as well as emergency
communication. The exhibit will include an Amateur Radio station with the
special event call sign W8J.
The demonstration station will include multiple operating positions offering
a variety of modes. These include six stations with 100 W HF transceivers,
computer logging software, and large screen computer displays; two VHF/UHF
stations for demonstrations and repeater monitoring, and two satellite
communication systems. The antenna farm will include two HF directional
antennas, three HF dipoles, three HF vertical antennas, VHF/UHF verticals
and satellite antennas with azimuth and elevation control, a trailer-based
crank-up tower, a five-band Yagi, a 40-meter rotatable dipole, and a 6-meter
Yagi.
Each station will be able to accommodate four participants at a time, plus
one control operator. The goal is to give each participant up to about 10
minutes of operating time.
The K2BSA Amateur Radio Association will host a "Radio Scouting" booth at
Dayton Hamvention® (Booth 2205 in Building 2).
Science and Technology: An Ultra-Small Transmitter for VLF?
A study, "A high Q piezoelectric resonator as a portable VLF transmitter,"
by Stanford University SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory researcher Mark
A. Kemp et al., in the April 12, 2019, edition of Nature Communications
describes using a small rod of lithium niobate and taking advantage of the
material's piezoelectric properties to convert an imposed voltage to a
mechanical effect, which in turn radiates an electromagnetic current.
The National Accelerator Lab describes the research in an article, "SLAC
develops novel compact antenna for communicating where radios fail," which
said a new type of pocket-sized devices "could be used in portable
transmitters for rescue missions and other challenging applications
demanding high mobility" where conventional radios don't work, such as under
water, through the ground, and over very long distances through air. "The
device emits VLF radiation with wavelengths of tens to hundreds of miles.
These waves travel long distances beyond the horizon and can penetrate
environments that would block radio waves with shorter wavelengths."
"Our device is also hundreds of times more efficient and can transmit data
faster than previous devices of comparable size," Kemp, the project's
principal investigator. "Its performance pushes the limits of what's
technologically possible and puts portable VLF applications, like sending
short text messages in challenging situations, within reach."
A new compact VLF transmitter, developed and tested at SLAC, consists of a
4-inch-long piezoelectric crystal (clear rod at center) that generates VLF
radiation. [Photo courtesy of Dawn Harmer/SLAC National Accelerator
Laboratory]
The paper by Kemp et al. points to the fact that large size and high loss
render conventional transmitter techniques inadequate. "We show that a
strain-based, piezoelectric transmitter can overcome many of the fundamental
limitations of conventional electrically small antennas (ESA)," the paper's
abstract reads. "These transmitters can resonate in a very small footprint
while exhibiting low losses."
Taking a deeper dive: "Traditionally, a disadvantage of passive high-Q
antennas was low bandwidth. Utilizing piezoelectricity as the radiating
element allows us to dynamically shift the transmitter resonant frequency.
Therefore, high total Q (low loss) no longer constrains the system
bandwidth. These are our fundamental advancements: Achieving an
exceptionally high system Q with no external impedance matching network and
an effective fractional bandwidth beyond the passive Bode-Fano limit.
Although demonstrated at VLF, this concept straightforwardly scales to other
frequency bands."
So Now What? Podcast
"Finding the Right Club for You" is the focus of the new (May 2) episode of
the So Now What? podcast for Amateur Radio newcomers. If you're a newly
licensed Amateur Radio operator, chances are you have lots of questions.
This biweekly podcast has answers! So Now What? offers insights from those
who've been just where you are now. New episodes will be posted every other
Thursday, alternating new-episode weeks with the ARRL The Doctor is In
podcast.
So Now What? is sponsored by LDG Electronics, a family owned and operated
business with laboratories in southern Maryland that offers a wide array of
antenna tuners and other Amateur Radio products.
ARRL Communications Content Producer Michelle Patnode, W3MVP, and ARRL
Station Manager Joe Carcia, NJ1Q, co-host the podcast. Presented as a lively
conversation, with Patnode representing newer hams and Carcia the veteran
operators, the podcast will explore questions that newer hams may have and
the issues that keep participants from staying active in the hobby. Some
episodes will feature guests to answer questions on specific topic areas.
Listeners can find So Now What? on Apple iTunes, Blubrry, Stitcher (free
registration required, or browse the site as a guest) and through the free
Stitcher app for iOS, Kindle, or Android devices. Episodes will be archived
on the ARRL website.
ARRL's Free Exam Review for Ham Radio Updated
ARRL Exam Review for Ham Radioâä¢ has been updated in advance of the
release of the ninth edition of The ARRL General Class License Manual for
Ham Radio. ARRL Exam Review is a free online resource for use with current
editions of ARRL License Manuals. The service can be accessed via a web
browser, and uses the official examination question pools to construct
chapter-by-chapter reviews. Upon completing study, Exam Review helps the
license candidate take practice exams with the same number and variety of
questions that he or she will encounter on exam day. Practice tests can be
taken over and over, scored in complete privacy, or even printed with an
answer key. Exam Review includes quick feedback about the questions missed.
The update to Exam Review and the new edition General Class License Manual
coincides with a new General Class question pool released earlier this year
by the National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (NCVEC). The
new 2019 - 2023 General Class question pool becomes effective on July 1,
2019 for examinations in the Amateur Radio Service. The 2015 - 2019 General
Class pool remains in effect for exams given until June 30, 2019. ARRL Exam
Review provides access to both the current and new General Class questions.
(Read more.)
The K7RA Solar Update
Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: No sunspots were visible over the April 25
- May 1 reporting week, and so the average daily sunspot number dropped to
zero after sitting at 8.1 during the previous 7 days. Average daily solar
flux declined from 70.6 to 67.5. Geomagnetic indicators were quiet, with
average planetary A index at 5.9, up from 4.7 in the previous week.
Predicted solar flux is 68 and 70 on May 2 - 3; 72 on May 4 - 5; 74 on May 6
- 9; 78 on May 10 - 16; 76, 72, and 70 on May 17 - 19; 69 on May 20 - 21; 68
on May 22; 67 on May 23 - June 2; 70 and 75 on June 3 - 4; 78 on June 5 -
12; 76, 72, and 70 on June 13 - 15.
Predicted planetary A index is 15 and 10 on May 2 - 3; 5 on May 4 - 9; 8 on
May 10; 5 on May 11 - 19; 8 on May 20; 5 on May 21 - 26; 10, 14, 12, 8, and
5 on May 27 - 31; 10, 12, and 14 on June 1 - 3; 8 on June 4 - 6, and 5 on
June 7 - 15.
The New Yorker recently ran an article about aurora borealis tourism.
Sunspot numbers for April 25 - May 1, 2019 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, and 0,
with a mean of 0. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 67.5, 67.2, 66.9, 67.9, 66.9,
68.5, and 67.6, with a mean of 67.5. Estimated planetary A indices were 5,
4, 6, 5, 5, 5, and 11, with a mean of 5.9. Middle latitude A index was 4, 2,
5, 4, 6, 4, and 8, with a mean of 4.7.
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
May 3 - 4 -- MIE 33 Contest (CW, phone)
May 4 -- FISTS Spring Slow Speed Sprint (CW)
May 4 - 5 -- New England QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
May 4 - 5 -- 7th Call Area QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
May 4 - 5 -- Indiana QSO Party (CW, phone)
May 4 -5 -- Delaware QSO Party (CW, phone)
May 4 - 5 -- 10-10 International Spring Contest, CW
May 4 - 5 -- SBMS 2.3 GHz and Up Contest (CW, phone)
May 4 -- Microwave Spring Sprint (CW, phone)
May 4 - 5 -- ARI International DX Contest (CW, phone)
May 4 - 5 -- Araucaria World Wide VHF Contest (CW, phone)
May 7 -- ARS Spartan Sprint (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.
HamSCI, Ham Radio 2.0 to Combine Efforts at Dayton Hamvention 2019
Thanks to support from the Yasme Foundation, the citizen science
organization HamSCI and Ham Radio 2.0 will share space and combine efforts
at Dayton Hamvention® 2019, which is also the 2019 ARRL National
Convention. Their displays will be in Building 4 (Volta), which is between
the food trucks and the flea market.
The Ham Radio 2.0 area will serve to host a series of "booth talks" both by
HamSCI presenters and presenters with a "2-point-0" perspective on operating
and technology that looks to the future of ham radio. Presentations begin at
10 AM on Friday and continue through 3 PM on Saturday.
Friday, 10 AM
HR 2.0
Moonbounce Via the MIT Remote Linked EME Station
Marty Sullaway, NN1C
Friday, 11 AM
HamSCI
New Directions in Sporadic-E Research
Bill Engelke, AB4EJ, University of Alabama
Friday, Noon
HR 2.0
Contesting with FT4: Issues and Opportunities Going Forward
John Pescatore, K3TN
Friday, 1 PM
HamSCI
The Third Source of F2 Region Variability
Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA
Friday, 2 PM
HR 2.0
How Real-Time Scoreboards Change Contesting
Victor Androsov, VA2WA
Friday, 3 PM
HamSCI
RBN & WSPRNet Response to September 2017 Solar Flares and Storms
Nathaniel Frissell, W2NAF, NJ Institute of Technology
Saturday, 10 AM
HR 2.0
Balloon Pico Races
Bill Brown, WB8ELK
Saturday, 11 AM
HamSCI
To Be Announced
Saturday, Noon
HR 2.0
Youth Contesting Program in North America
Jocelyn Brault, KD8VRX, and Bryant Rascoll, KG5HVO
Saturday, 1 PM
HamSCI
Propagation on 630 and 2200 Meters
Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA
Saturday, 2 PM
HR 2.0
SOTA and New Methods of Portable Operating
Paula Uscian, K9IR
Saturday, 3 PM
HamSCI
HF Satellite Observations of Field Day
Gareth Perry, NJ Institute of Technology
In addition to the presentations, the Ham Radio 2.0 area will be home to a
mini-booth staffed by members of the Young Amateurs Radio Club (YARC) and
the Young Contesters Program (YCP) that is associated with the European
Youngsters On The Air (YOTA) program. It's an opportunity to get acquainted
with radio amateurs doing interesting things in interesting places.
HamSCI also will offer the HamSCI Forum Saturday, 9:15 - 10:30 AM (Forum
Room 4).
Full details are on the HamSCI website.
Annual Armed Forces Day Crossband Test Set for May 11
The Army Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS) will host the traditional
military/Amateur Radio communication tests to mark the 68th annual Armed
Forces Day (AFD) on Saturday, May 11. The event is open to all radio
amateurs. Armed Forces Day is May 18, but the AFD Crossband Military-Amateur
Radio event traditionally takes place 1 week earlier in order to avoid
conflicting with Dayton Hamvention®. Complete information, including
military stations, modes, and frequencies, is available on the US Army MARS
website.
"For more than 50 years, military and amateur stations have taken part in
this event, which is only an exercise scenario, designed to include hobbyist
and government radio operators alike," the event announcement said. "The AFD
Crossband Test is a unique opportunity to test two-way communications
between military communicators and radio stations in the Amateur Radio
Service, as authorized in 47 CFR 97.111. These tests provide opportunities
and challenges for radio operators to demonstrate individual technical
skills in a tightly-controlled exercise scenario that does not impact any
public or private communications."
During the event, military stations in various locations will transmit on
selected military frequencies and announce the specific ham frequencies they
are monitoring.
Military stations expected to be on the air for the event include those in
Arizona, Japan, Hawaii, Okinawa, Washington, DC (and elsewhere in the
contiguous states), the USS Midway, the USS Yorktown, the USS Iowa, LST-325,
the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, and the Newport Naval Radio Station
Museum in Rhode Island. The MARSCOMM and MARSRADIO nationwide networks will
have multiple stations on the air across the continental US.
An AFD message will be transmitted utilizing the Military Standard (MIL-STD)
serial PSK waveform (M110) followed by MIL-STD Wide Shift FSK (850 Hz RTTY),
as described in MIL-STD 188-110A/B. Technical information is available. The
AFD message will also be sent in CW and RTTY, as indicated on the full
schedule. Anyone wanting a QSL should complete the request form on the MARS
website.
In Brief...
School Club Roundup (SCR) certificates are now available for the February
2019 event as well as for any future SCRs. Download these via the
Certificate menu item on the ARRL Contests Portal. Top US/Canada performers
included the Russell Elementary Amateur Radio Club (KM4RE) in the
Elementary/Primary category; Schofield Middle School Ham Radio Club (N4SMS)
in Middle/Intermediate/Junior High category; LASA High School Amateur Radio
Club (K5LBJ) in the Senior High category, and Purdue University (W9YB) in
the College/University category. Complete results are on the School Club
Roundup Results page.
+++
Some 50 students in Gujarat, India, on April 12 were introduced to Amateur
Radio, satellites, and Amateur Radio on the International Space Station
(ARISS). Rajesh Vagadia, VU2EXP, gave a brief talk on Amateur Radio, the
ISS, ham satellites, astronauts, and the April ARISS SSTV event. During a
visible pass of the ISS, Vagadia, using a three-element Yagi, handheld
transceiver, and a recording device, was able to record two SSTV images. "It
was an exciting experience for all, sighting the ISS, and at the same time
getting signals from it," Vagadia commented afterward. "[It] felt like
having a handshake with the ISS crew!" Decoded images were shared with all
students as souvenirs.
+++
AMSAT Academy will take place on Thursday, May 16, the day before Dayton
Hamvention®. AMSAT says this is a unique opportunity for both beginners and
advanced satellite operators to learn about Amateur Radio in space and
working the FM, linear transponder, and digital satellites now in orbit.
AMSAT Academy will take place on Thursday, May 16, 9 AM until 5 PM, at the
Dayton Amateur Radio Association (DARA) clubhouse, 6619 Bellefontaine Road,
in Dayton, Ohio. The $85 registration fee includes a full day of instruction
taught by some of the most-accomplished AMSAT operators; a digital copy of
Getting Started with Amateur Satellites (2019 ed.); 1 year of AMSAT Basic
membership; pizza buffet lunch, and an invitation to the Thursday night
AMSAT get together at Ticket Pub & Eatery in Fairborn. Registration closes
on May 10 and will not be available at the door. No refunds or
cancellations. Register at the AMSAT Store.
Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
May 5 -- Eastern Pennsylvania Section Convention, Bristol, Pennsylvania
May 17 - 19 -- Dayton Hamvention -- ARRL National Convention, Xenia, Ohio
May 31 - June 1 -- Arizona State Convention, Prescott, Arizona
May 31 - June 2 -- Northwestern Division Convention, Seaside, Oregon
June 1 -- Georgia Section Convention, Marietta, Georgia
June 1 - 2 -- Western Pennsylvania Section Convention, Prospect,
Pennsylvania
June 7 - 8 -- West Gulf Division Convention (Ham-Com), Plano, Texas
June 15 -- W8DXCC DX Convention, Owensville, Ohio
July 19 - 21 -- Nevada State Convention, Reno, Nevada
July 25 - 27 -- Central States VHF Conference, Lincoln, Nebraska
July 26 - 27 -- Ham Holiday, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Find conventions and hamfests in your area.
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