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N9PMO > LETTER 14.06.19 02:25l 515 Lines 24031 Bytes #999 (0) @ ARRL
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Paul Bourque, N1SFE, Joins ARRL Headquarters Staff as Contest Program
Manager
Rick Murphy, K1MU, to Receive ARRL President's Award
Tuning Electrically Short Antennas for Field Operation
So Now What? Podcast
The K7RA Solar Update
Just Ahead in Radiosport
QRZ Institutes Password Security, Seller Verification Programs
WSJT-X Developer Posts Observations on Using FT8 in June VHF Contest
Wireless Power Transmission Prompts Discussion in ITU-R Study Group
Proposed WRC-23 Agenda Items Causing Concern
In Brief...
Getting It Right
Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
Paul Bourque, N1SFE, Joins ARRL Headquarters Staff as Contest Program
Manager
Paul Bourque, N1SFE, of Middletown, Connecticut, has joined the ARRL
Headquarters staff as Contest Program Manager. He succeeds Bart Jahnke,
W9JJ, who recently was promoted to the post of ARRL Radiosport and Field
Services Manager. Licensed since 1994, Bourque's interest in radio began
when, as a youngster, he listened for distant AM stations, and he later
developed a career involving various aspects of broadcasting.
"Originally, I wanted to be a DJ, but I ended up being drawn to the
technical/engineering side of the radio business," Bourque said. His journey
into Amateur Radio started during his time as the host of an overnight
free-form rock music show at WWUH Radio at the University of Hartford, and
the station's general manager, John Ramsey, W1JNR, pushed him to get his
license.
Because being an Amateur Radio operator had opened several professional
doors for him, Bourque said, "The opportunity to give back to this hobby as
Contest Program Manager really appealed to me."
Bourque, who grew up in Newington, remarked that working at ARRL
Headquarters "is like coming home." In his early years as a radio amateur,
he was more of a casual contester, and it "was about making contacts," he
conceded. Today, though, he has become passionate about getting people
active and on the air. As Contest Program Manager, Bourque wants to find
ways to get newer hams into contesting, and to dispel the idea that you need
tons of equipment to participate.
Bourque's other interests include cooking, astronomy, photography, and
meteorology.
Rick Murphy, K1MU, to Receive ARRL President's Award
At its May 20 meeting in Dayton, Ohio, the ARRL Executive Committee, acting
on behalf of the Board of Directors, conferred the prestigious ARRL
President's Award on Rick Murphy, K1MU, one of the unsung heroes of Logbook
of The World (LoTW). The President's Award recognizes individuals showing
long-term dedication in support of ARRL programs. Murphy was credited for
his work to upgrade and improve the LoTW TQSL software to help users more
easily and successfully use LoTW. Murphy was cited for single-handedly
rewriting TQSL to make it accessible to those with limited vision, to
display information in languages other than English (more than 10 so far),
and for providing consistent online support to users.
"Rick is richly deserving of this honor for his efforts to make the TQSL
application and Logbook of The World more accessible to all users," said
ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR. "Rick Murphy embodies the spirit of
unselfish volunteerism that represents the best of Amateur Radio."
An information security professional, Murphy, who lives in Annandale,
Virginia, is coauthor (with Rickland D. Hollar) of the book Enterprise Web
Services Security. He's a volunteer Incoming QSL Bureau card sorter for the
3rd call district and a past president of the National Capital DX
Association.
The President's Award plaque bears the likeness of ARRL's cofounder and
first president Hiram Percy Maxim, W1AW.
Tuning Electrically Short Antennas for Field Operation
An article,"Tuning Electrically Short Antennas for Field Operation," by two
well-known amateurs, appeared in Microwave Journal. Authored by QEX Editor
Kai Siwiak, KE4PT, and award-winning researcher Ulrich Rohde, N1UL, the
article points out that both Amateur Radio and military applications exist
for 20 W battery-powered radios equipped with whip antennas. "In general,
the whip antenna [that] makes the radio portable is not optimized for signal
propagation: A whip antenna has no ground return or proper counterpoise,"
the article notes. "While some users drag a wire of up to 8 meters behind,
this is not an ideal solution."
Rohde's al fresco test stand for short HF antennas. [Photo courtesy of
Ulrich Rohde, N1UL]
As the article explains, electrically short antennas -- typically 0.1 λ
or shorter -- look like a capacitor, with a typical capacitance of 25 pF per
meter of length. "At 2 MHz, where the wavelength is 150 meters, an inductor
of 84 μH is required for resonance," the article says. But just getting a
good VSWR is not all there is to it.
Rohde told ARRL that loading coil placement in a short vertical antenna is
critical, and "the greater the elevation of the coil, the better the
radiation. He said that "center loading" -- he considers the "best
compromise" to be more on the order of two-thirds' loading -- can
dramatically affect both the antenna's transmitting and receiving
performance, as opposed to base loading, as found with popular so-called
screwdriver antennas. Radials of some sort also are essential.
As the article points out, "With center loading, both the radiation
resistance and integrated surface are larger, which are better for
radiation." Inductors are the lossy components of an antenna tuner, while
capacitors "are infinitely better." The authors conclude that, for optimal
operation, antenna radials should be 0.25 λ, with one sufficient for
tuning, and up to four producing a symmetrical azimuth. "Connecting the HF
radio ground to a large metallic object is a good choice," the article said.
Ulrich told ARRL that optimizing an antenna in the manner the article
describes will produce "significantly better" signal reception, although a
short antenna will also have a narrower bandwidth. The objective should not
be to get a good VSWR but to keep in mind that there's a difference between
resonance and radiation.
"These requirements for optimum antenna performance make HF manpack radios
somewhat complicated and unattractive," the authors concede. "Nonetheless,
the well matched and radiating antenna provides the most success, and some
of these highly portable radios provide vital communications in disaster
areas -- recently in Puerto Rico and South Florida."
So Now What? Podcast
"Highlights from Hamvention" is the focus of the new (June 13) episode of
the So Now What? podcast for Amateur Radio newcomers. It will feature
segments from Tony Milluzzi, KD8RTT, and Andy Milluzzi, KK4LWR, of The
Collegiate Amateur Radio Initiative (CARI); Teachers Institute instructor
Tommy Gober, N5DUX, who was at the ARRL Lifelong Learning booth this year;
Jet Jurgensmeyer, KE0UWZ, of Last Man Standing, and Space Weather Woman
Tamitha Skov, WX6SWW. Two aspiring hams -- Sarah Byrne, who works in
emergency management, and Valencia Simpson, who has assisted ARRL at Dayton
Hamvention® for the past 5 years -- also will be guests.
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.
The K7RA Solar Update
Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: The long string of days with no sunspots
continues, with spots last observed nearly a month ago, on May 18. Predicted
solar flux for the next 45 days is 70 on June 13 - 20, and 68 on June 21
through July 27.
The predicted planetary A index is 12 and 8 on June 13 - 14; 5 on June 15 -
23; 8, 12, and 8 on June 24 - 26; 5 on June 27 - July 5; 10, 8, 10, and 8 on
July 6 - 9; 5 on July 10 - 20; 8, 10, and 8 on July 21 - 23, and 5 on July
24 - 27.
Scott Avery, WA6LIE, wrote to report his experiences during the ARRL June
VHF Contest last weekend. "During the day, expecting sporadic E, we were
influenced by a lot of meteor scatter caused by the Beta Taurids, a daytime
event that is not advertised, as it is not seen and only radio astronomers
and hams would be interested," he said. "I spent a lot of time on 6 meters,
FT8 mode [and a] little SSB/CW, and the same with 2 meters. I was bombarded
with pings [of] CQ TEST, and that station was gone. This happened for most
of the daylight hours with [few contacts]." Avery said an opening to Japan
yielded a few contacts. A Sunday multi-hop sporadic E opening to the east
coast also occurred, he said.
Sunspot numbers for June 6 - 12 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, and 0, with a mean of
0. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 68.9, 68.9, 68.4, 68.4, 68.9, 69.7, and
69.5, with a mean of 69. Estimated planetary A indices were 3, 4, 18, 6, 3,
3, and 4, with a mean of 5.9. Middle latitude A index was 4, 6, 14, 8, 4, 3,
and 5, with a mean of 6.3.
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
June 15 -- ARRL Kids Day (Phone)
June 15 -- Feld Hell Sprint
June 15 -- AGCW VHF/UHF Contest (CW)
June 15 - 16 -- SMIRK Contest (CW, phone)
June 15 - 16 -- All Asian DX Contest, CW
June 15 - 16 -- Ukrainian DX Classic RTTY Contest
June 15 - 16 -- ARR BPSK63 Contest
June 15 - 16 -- IARU Region 1 50 MHz Contest (CW, phone)
June 15 - 16 -- Stew Perry Topband Challenge (CW)
June 15 - 16 -- West Virginia QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
June 16 -- WAB 50 MHz Phone Contest
June 17 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)
June 19 -- RSGB 80 Meter Club Championship, CW
June 20 -- NAQCC CW Sprint
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.
QRZ Institutes Password Security, Seller Verification Programs
In an effort to combat fraudsters and password phishers, the popular QRZ
Amateur Radio website is offering the option of establishing two-factor
authentication (2FA) for its registered users. The site's founder and
president, Fred Lloyd, AA7BQ, explains that 2FA secures a user's password on
the site.
"With 2FA, your actual password becomes nearly moot, and revealing it to a
crook has no detrimental effect," Lloyd told ARRL. "With 2FA, you need the
one-time code, and that's the only thing that will work. It's a solid
technology that is rapidly gaining in popularity."
Lloyd said that when a user logs into the site with 2FA, the validation for
the session is stored in the user's browser as an encrypted cookie that can
live for up to 30 days. He said QRZ.com staffers have been using 2FA
successfully for a couple of years now. A video has been posted that
demonstrates how to get started with 2FA without using a cell phone to
receive codes.
Although 2FA will not become a requirement in order to log onto QRZ.com, a
separate seller verification system has been instituted for anyone marketing
ham gear via the Swapmeet forum. As of July 1, only those enrolled in the
Verified User program will be able to list in that forum. Users may opt out
of the Verified User program for the rest of the site.
"While verification is available to anyone on QRZ, it is required only in
the Swapmeet section," Lloyd told ARRL. "Lately, there has been as many as a
scam per day in the Swapmeet, and sometimes a popular radio model will be
sold several times before it comes to our attention. One false listing can
net any number of victims before it's discovered."
QRZ Founder and President Fred Lloyd, AA7BQ.
Lloyd explained that these fake listings are being placed using the accounts
of users who have been tricked into giving out their log-in passwords though
elaborate phishing schemes. "There is virtually nothing that QRZ can do to
prevent phishing attacks, as a great many users never even know that they've
been hacked," Lloyd allowed. "Scammers find it relatively easy to trick the
users into supplying their actual passwords."
Setting up two-factor authentication is the first step to becoming a QRZ.com
Verified User. Information on becoming a Verified User is available to those
registered on the site via their Account page, accessible from the QRZ main
page. Once they've secured their accounts with 2FA, members will have to
submit photographic identification to QRZ in order to complete the Verified
User process. Read more.
WSJT-X Developer Posts Observations on Using FT8 in June VHF Contest
WSJT-X developer Joe Taylor, K1JT, has tentatively concluded that there are
good reasons to use both FT4 and FT8 in ARRL VHF contests. The latest beta
version of FT4 was not available for the event, but Taylor noted that FT4
will be available for future contests
(the current -rc7 beta version will not be usable during ARRL Field Day
either). Taylor, who was active in the VHF event over the past weekend, made
the remark in a post to the Packrats reflector. Taylor reported making 433
contacts (21 dupes) in 152 grids, all, by and large, on FT8.
"Most of the time there was enough sporadic E and tropo-scatter to keep
things busy using FT8," Taylor observed. "In this event, meteor scatter
using MSK144 was not, score-wise, time efficient."
Taylor said he operated from home only on 6 meters and only on digital,
"mainly to see how FT8 plays in a June VHF Contest." He operated for 21 of
the contest's 33 hours and left his receiver running on 50.313 MHz when not
in the shack.
Joe Taylor, K1JT. [Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R, photo]
"During the contest period, I decoded 45,375 transmissions from others in
the 4 kHz window starting at 50.313 MHz," Taylor recounted. "That's an
average of about 11 decodes per 15-second receive cycle."
Taylor said he seldom, if ever, found that a single 3 or 4 kHz window was
"too crowded" with activity. "There were nearly always some open spots, even
with nearly everyone in the first 2.7 kHz of the window," he said.
Taylor also speculated as to how the twice-as-fast FT4 might have fared,
being 4 dB less sensitive than FT8 and having an 80 Hz bandwidth instead of
FT8's 50 Hz bandwidth.
"My guess is that something like 80 - 85% of my QSOs could have been
completed using FT4, most of them in half the time than it took in FT8,"
Taylor said.
Wireless Power Transmission Prompts Discussion in ITU-R Study Group
The emerging wireless power transmission (WPT) technology and associated
applications came under closer scrutiny during the May/June meeting of
International Telecommunication Union Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R)
Study Group 1 and its Working Parties. Participants wrapped up 7 days of
sessions in Geneva on June 7, with International Amateur Radio Union Region
1 (IARU-R1) President Don Beattie, G3BJ, representing the IARU. The primary
concern over WPT centers on its interference potential.
"Work was advanced on reports on WPT at 100 - 148.5 kHz for low-power
charging of portable devices, for WPT for electric vehicles (WPT-EV) at
around 20, 60, and 85 kHz, and for 'beam' WPT for remote charging," IARU
Region 1 reported. "All of these technologies have the potential for harmful
interference to radiocommunication services if not carefully managed,
particularly the harmonics of the WPT systems."
The IARU has submitted formal studies on the impact of WPT on the Amateur
Service, and these have been incorporated into a single completed report and
will inform a new recommendation being developed on WPT emissions.
IARU says it's advocating "proper emission limits" to protect radio services
and is working with other spectrum users and administrations that share its
concerns.
IARU Region 1 President Don Beattie, G3BJ.
The ITU meetings discussed emerging proposals for WPT-EV emission limits
from the International Special Committee on Radio Interference (CISPR),
where there is a level of concern that these limits fall short of providing
the necessary protection to radiocommunication services. Founded in 1934,
CISPR sets standards for controlling electromagnetic interference in
electrical and electronic devices and equipment.
The issue of WPT-EV is World Radiocommunication Conference 2019 (WRC-19)
Agenda Item 9.1.6. In a WPT status report at the IARU Region 1 Interim
Meeting in Vienna in late April, Beattie said the Amateur Service is "highly
susceptible to any increase in the background noise level," such as that WPT
might generate.
He said frequencies being planned for WPT are 19 - 21 kHz for high power; 55
- 65 kHz and 79 - 90 kHz for medium power, and 100 - 148.5 kHz for lower
power -- but still up to 2.4 kW.
"WPT is generally high duty cycle, located in residential areas, and its
harmonics are likely to be spread across a band of frequencies, in some
cases the whole of the HF spectrum," Beattie said in his presentation to the
Vienna interim meeting. Read more.
Proposed WRC-23 Agenda Items Causing Concern
Two proposals under discussion in Europe as possible World
Radiocommunication Conference 2023 (WRC-23) agenda items "could impact
important Amateur Radio frequencies," IARU reported this week. Included is a
proposal from France to consider the 144 - 146 MHz band as a primary
allocation to the Aeronautical Mobile service, as part of a broader
consideration of spectrum allocated to that service. IARU also cautioned
the amateur community against overreacting to the news.
France will submit a paper containing a proposal for an agenda item for "new
non-safety Aeronautical Mobile applications" at the June 17 - 21 Conference
Preparatory Group meeting of the European Conference of Postal and
Telecommunications ministrations (CEPT) in Prague. The 144 - 146 MHz segment
is a primary global Amateur and Amateur Satellite allocation. IARU said it
"views with grave concern any proposal to include this band in the proposed
study" and pledged to "energetically" promote this viewpoint in the
appropriate forums "to seek to obtain assurances that the spectrum will
remain a primary allocation for the amateur services."
Another proposal has been raised to study the 23-centimeter amateur
allocation, 1240 - 1300 MHz, following reports of interference to the
Galileo navigation system -- Europe's GPS system. IARU said it's aware of "a
handful of cases" of reported interference to the Galileo E6 signal on
1278.750 MHz. According to IARU, joint studies have been carried out to
assess the vulnerability of the system and, based on these, it considers the
proposal to initiate an Agenda item for WRC-23 premature.
IARU asked its member-societies to "refrain at this time from making
speculative public comments about the situation until further progress has
been made in regulatory discussions," and said it's ready to discuss the
issue with other non-IARU societies.
One European Amateur Radio organization already has called for radio
amateurs to "occupy" 2 meters on June 15 for 1 hour in protest of the French
proposal.
In Brief...
Support ARRL as you shop Amazon Smile for Father's Day, Sunday, June 16. If
you're looking for the perfect gift, we invite you to shop at AmazonSmile
and choose American Radio Relay League Inc. (ARRL) as your charity of
choice. With every purchase you make at AmazonSmile, Amazon will make a
contribution to ARRL. This helps the League to extend its reach in public
service, advocacy, education, technology, and membership. Amazon has a large
variety of gifts that are perfect for Father's Day, including electronics,
clothing, ham radio equipment, and more. Make Dad's day! Get him something
extra special this year while supporting his favorite hobby. Bookmark ARRL's
link and support Amateur Radio and ARRL every time you shop online.
AMSAT President and ARRL Life Member Joe Spier, K6WAO, has been awarded
Russia's E.T. Krenkel Medal. The prestigious honor is bestowed on
individuals and organizations for outstanding global contributions to
Amateur Radio. Spier has also served AMSAT as Executive Vice President, and
Vice President, Educational Relations. The award's namesake, Ernst
Teodorovich Krenkel, was a radio amateur who, over the years, used the call
signs RAEM, U3AA, and UA3AA. Spier became AMSAT President in 2017. He's a
supporter of Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) and of
scientific, technical, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. Spier
also is a Life Member of the Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers (SARA).
ARRL Headquarters staff alumna and Life Member Ellen White, W1YL, was
awarded the Krenkel medal in May. -- Thanks to AMSAT
Getting It Right
The story, "Emergency Messaging Demonstration for Red Cross, FEMA is a
Success, in the June 6 edition of The ARRL Letter omitted Virginia from the
list of states where radio amateurs participated in the exercise.
Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
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
August 2 - 3 -- Austin Summerfest, Austin, Texas
August 3 - 4 -- Cedar Valley ARC Hamfest/Midwest STEM Techfest, Central
City, Iowa
August 8 - 6 -- Society of Midwest Contesters Specialty Convention, Normal,
Illinois
August 8 - 10 -- Rocky Mountain Division Convention, Ogden, Utah
August 9 - 11 -- Pacific Northwest DX Convention, Everett, Washington
August 17 - 18 -- Huntsville Hamfest, Alabama State Convention, Huntsville,
Alabama
August 23 - 25 -- West Virginia State Convention, Weston, West Virginia
Find conventions and hamfests in your area.
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