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FCC Proposes Fining New York Radio Amateur $17,000 for Alleged Deliberate
Interference
ARRL Public Relations Committee Invites Nominations for Bill Leonard Award
US Coast Guard Airs Proposal to End MF Navigational Telex (NAVTEX)
Broadcasts
The Doctor Will See You Now!
Hawaii Contest Station and Winlink Leveraged for 2019 Simulated Emergency
Test
Ohio Sheriff Observes and Participates in ARES Simulated Emergency Test
The K7RA Solar Update
Just Ahead in Radiosport
FCC Dismisses Three Petitions for Rule Making Filed by Radio Amateurs
Milwaukee Radio Amateurs' Club Celebrates Centennial of ARRL Affiliation
Anna Brummer, N2FER, Feted on her 105th Birthday
Lynyrd Skynyrd Founding Member Larry Junstrom, K4EB, SK
In Brief...
Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
FCC Proposes Fining New York Radio Amateur $17,000 for Alleged Deliberate
Interference
Harold Guretzky, K6DPZ, of Richmond Hill, New York, is facing a $17,000 FCC
fine for allegedly causing intentional interference on a local repeater and
preventing other radio amateurs from using it. The FCC issued a Notice of
Apparent Liability for Forfeiture (NAL) on October 3.
"Given his history as a repeat offender, this violation warrants a
significant penalty," the FCC said in the NAL.
The NAL recounted numerous complaints alleging that Guretzky was
deliberately interfering with a repeater in Glen Oaks, New York. In June of
2017, the FCC issued a Warning Letter to Guretzky, advising him of the
nature of the allegations against him and directing him to stop using the
repeater going forward. Nonetheless, additional complaints were filed. In
April 2018, agents from the FCC New York Enforcement Bureau office drove to
Richmond Hill to investigate and to advise him in writing that he was
prohibited from using the local repeater.
After the FCC received further complaints, an Enforcement Bureau agent
monitored the VHF repeater's input and output frequencies and, after
observing deliberate interference to other stations, used direction-finding
techniques to identify the source of the transmission as Guretzky's station.
"The agent monitored and recorded the transmissions emanating from
Guretzky's station for several hours that afternoon and heard him
interfering with the local repeater," the NAL said. "Later, the agent heard
Guretzky making threatening comments toward other amateur operators." The
following month, FCC Regional Director David Dombrowski spoke with Guretzky
by telephone, noting the continued complaints and and cautioning him against
using the repeater.
In the NAL, the FCC said Guretzky demonstrated "a deliberate disregard for
the Commission's authority and the very spirit of the Amateur Radio Service
by continuing to interfere with the local repeater" despite having been
warned. Read more.
ARRL Public Relations Committee Invites Nominations for Bill Leonard Award
The ARRL Public Relations Committee is seeking ARRL members' assistance in
recognizing print, radio, and television/multimedia news stories that have
best showcased Amateur Radio this year. Nominations are open for the 2019
Bill Leonard Award, which honors professional journalists or journalistic
teams whose outstanding coverage highlights the enjoyment, importance, and
public service value of the Amateur Service. The award honors its namesake,
the late CBS News President Bill Leonard, W2SKE (SK), who was an avid radio
amateur and advocate.
Awards are presented in each of three categories -- print/digital, audio,
and visual. Nominations are judged by members of the ARRL Public Relations
Committee, and the ARRL Board of Directors will make the final decision on
award recipients at its January 2020 meeting. The award winner in each
category, either an individual or a group, will receive an engraved plaque,
and a $250 contribution will be made in each winning entry's name to the
charitable organization of their choice.
To be considered:
Nominees must be professional journalists or professional journalistic teams
in print, electronic media, or multimedia.
A nominee's work must have appeared between December 1, 2018 and November
29, 2019, in English in a commercially published book, recognized
general-circulation (non-trade) daily or weekly newspaper, general or
special interest magazine (except publications predominantly about Amateur
Radio), commercial or public radio or television broadcast (including
services delivered via cable), a website operated by a generally-recognized
journalistic organization (e.g., newspaper, magazine, broadcast station, or
network), or multimedia format intended for and readily accessible to the
general public within the US.
The scope of the work nominated may be a single story or series.
Stories must be truthful, clear, and accurate, reflecting high journalistic
standards.
Submission may be by the author of the work or on his or her behalf by
another individual who believes the work merits the award.
Entries must be received at ARRL Headquarters, c/o Communications Manager,
ARRL, 225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111, by 5 PM on November 29, 2019.
For more information, contact ARRL Communications Manager David Isgur, N1RSN
(telephone 860-594-0328). Visit the award web page for award rules. Scroll
down the page for a link to a downloadable nomination form.
US Coast Guard Airs Proposal to End MF Navigational Telex (NAVTEX)
Broadcasts
The US Coast Guard is seeking comments on a proposal that it may stop
broadcasting medium-frequency (MF) Navigational Telex (NAVTEX). The service
says it first will ensure that the information contained in NAVTEX
broadcasts is available via International Maritime Organization-recognized
satellite services. Interested parties may submit comments online by
November 12. The proposal is docket USCG-2019-0702. Comments should include
the docket number, specific section of the document to which each comment
applies, and a reason for each suggestion or recommendation. Comments may be
anonymous.
"Current MF NAVTEX equipment is in dire need of replacement. The equipment
is antiquated, and essential replacement parts are difficult to find and
expensive, placing overall operation of MF NATEX at risk," the Coast Guard
said. "Any approved GMDSS satellite terminal will be able to receive this
information."
NAVTEX is an international automated service for radio delivery of
navigational and meteorological warnings and forecasts, as well as urgent
maritime safety information. It provides a low-cost means of broadcasting
this information to ships out to approximately 100 nautical miles offshore.
NAVTEX is part of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)
which has been incorporated into the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) treaty,
to which the US is a party. The US Coast Guard operates the system
nationwide.
System coverage is reasonably continuous in the east, west, and Gulf coasts
of the US, as well as the area around Kodiak, Alaska; Guam, and Puerto Rico.
The US has no coverage in the Great Lakes, although coverage of much of the
Lakes is provided by the Canadian Coast Guard. The US Coast Guard originally
only installed NAVTEX at sites where Morse code messages had been previously
transmitted, and some coverage gaps exist.
"We believe the transition from terrestrial broadcast to satellite will
provide for more reliable delivery of NAVTEX information and allow better,
more cost-effective products in the future," the Coast Guard said.
The Doctor Will See You Now!
"Antenna EnTRAPment! All about Traps" is the topic of the new (October 10)
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.
Hawaii Contest Station and Winlink Leveraged for 2019 Simulated Emergency
Test
ARES volunteers in Hawaii took the opportunity of the 2019 Simulated
Emergency Test (SET) on October 6 (UTC) to test Winlink radio messaging to
the US mainland, using the KH6YY (KH6J) contest station on O'ahu. One of the
premier contest stations in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, KH6YY offers a
commanding propagation path over an expanse of saltwater.
"You have to start with digital modes somewhere," ARRL Pacific Section
Manager Joe Speroni, AH0A, said.
A view from above: The KH6YY (KH6J) contest station.
A group of radio amateurs has developed a robust Winlink system in the
Hawaiian Islands to help support communication in a natural disaster. The
Amateur Radio email system is well known for its role in emergency and
disaster relief communications, providing the ability for users to exchange
email with attachments, photos, position reporting, weather, and information
bulletins.
KH6YY sports eight antennas, most on 90-foot towers, and nine operator
positions. For the SET, the station was configured to receive traffic on
7,100 kHz (dial frequency) in PACTOR, WINMOR, ARDOP, and VARA modes. The
four-element 40-meter beam was aimed at Hilo. Simulating an internet outage,
the setup was used to pass received traffic to a second 20-meter gateway on
14,100.5 kHz and forwarded to a mainland gateway with internet access.
Incoming message traffic on 40 meters would be automatically forwarded to
the mainland on 20 meters. Most of the traffic went to gateways in Mexico
and Texas for forwarding to the internet. One user reported receiving email
confirmation that a message was received within minutes. Read more. --
Thanks to Stacy Holbrook, KH6OWL
Ohio Sheriff Observes and Participates in ARES Simulated Emergency Test
One public official in Ohio not only observed the ARES Simulated Emergency
Test (SET) this month but participated in it with Greene County ARES
(GCARES). Greene County Sheriff Gene Fischer, KX8GCS ("Greene County
Sheriff"), checked in when the Resource Net Control, Bob Baker, N8ADO,
called for volunteers. Although the suggested scenario called for only using
simplex, GCARES employed the Xenia Amateur Radio Weather Net (XWARN)
repeater to reach out for as many volunteers as possible. Volunteers then
switched to a simplex tactical net to communicate with the GCARES Command
Center.
Greene County Sheriff Gene Fischer, KX8GCS.
Before the SET, Fischer let Greene County ARES Emergency Coordinator Henry
Ruminski, W8HJR, know that he planned to participate in the SET to determine
how well his handheld radio would perform in an emergency situation. While
he found it okay for getting into the resource net, it was less than
adequate for effective simplex operation.
Sheriff Fischer had an intense introduction to ham radio in the spring of
2017 when the Dayton Hamvention® moved to Xenia, and his department dealt
with traffic control and other issues created by the influx of more than
25,000 visitors. At the urging of several hams, Fischer subsequently got his
license, and his wife became relicensed. Fischer has since upgraded to
General.
Ruminski said the SET was "relatively successful." Signals could have been
better from some locations, but most stations were able to communicate with
command, he said. Lessons learned will be used to improve future emergency
communication plans.
The K7RA Solar Update
No sunspots appeared over the past week, and in the prior week there were
only two days with sunspots, so the average daily sunspot number declined
from 3.1 to 0.
Average daily solar flux nudged higher, but just barely, from 67.6 to 67.8.
Geomagnetic indicators were much lower this week, with average daily
planetary A index retreating from 14.4 to 6.3, while the mid-latitude
average went from 11 to 5.3.
Predicted solar flux for the next 45 days is 68. That's correct -- on every
day for the next month and a half, October 10 through November 23, the solar
flux is forecast to be 68.
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
October 12 -- QRP ARCI Fall QSO Party (CW)
October 12 -- FISTS Fall Unlimited Sprint (CW)
October 12 -- Microwave Fall Sprint (CW, phone)
October 12 - 13 -- Makrothen RTTY Contest
October 12 - 13 -- Nevada QSO Party (CW, phone)
October 12 - 13 -- Oceania DX Contest, CW
October 12 - 13 -- Scandinavian Activity Contest, SSB
October 12 - 13 -- SKCC Weekend Sprintathon (CW)
October 12 - 13 -- Pennsylvania QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
October 12 - 13 -- Arizona QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
October 12 - 13 -- South Dakota QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
October 12 - 13 -- PODXS 070 Club 160-Meter Great Pumpkin Sprint (Digital)
October 13 -- UBA ON Contest, CW
October 13 -- UBA ON Contest, 6 Meters (CW, phone)
October 14 -- 4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint (CW, phone)
October 14 -- RSGB 80-Meter Autumn Series (CW)
October 17 -- AGCW Semi-Automatic Key Evening (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.
FCC Dismisses Three Petitions for Rule Making Filed by Radio Amateurs
The FCC has dismissed petitions for rule making filed in 2018 by three radio
amateurs. All of the petitions were put on public notice earlier this year
and comments invited.
Edward C. Borghi, KB2E, of Farmington, New York, and Jeffrey Bail, NT1K, of
West Springfield, Massachusetts, submitted very similar petitions seeking
changes in how the FCC grants Amateur Radio vanity call sign applications.
Borghi's Petition (RM-11834), would have prohibited vanity applicants from
requesting call signs not designated for the applicant's geographical
region, with some exceptions. He complained that applicants had to compete
with "out-of-area people for the few 1 × 2 or 2 × 1 or catchy 2 × 3 call
signs available in their area of residence."
Bail's Petition (RM-11835) asked the FCC to give residential preference in
competing applications to applicants whose listed FCC address is within the
same district/region as the applied call sign. He cited limited availability
and increased demand for 1 × 2 and 2 × 1 call signs. The FCC dismissed
both petitions in a single letter.
"When the Commission established the vanity call sign system in 1995, it
rejected a proposal to restrict vanity call sign applicants to call signs
designated for the region in which the applicant resides," the FCC wrote,
because it would restrict a given applicant's choice of vanity call signs to
10% or less of those otherwise assignable.
The FCC concluded that no need exists to require vanity call signs to
correspond to a licensee's mailing address, "given that call signs do not
automatically change when a licensee moves, and a licensee's mailing address
is not necessarily the location from which he or she is transmitting." The
FCC said it rejected similar proposals in the past for the same reasons.
The FCC also turned away a Petition (RM-11833) from Jerry Oxendine, K4KWH,
of Gastonia, North Carolina, who asked the FCC to clarify that states and
localities should have no authority to regulate Amateur Radio with respect
to enacting "distracted driving" statutes. Oxendine argued that such
statutes violate FCC rules on scope and operation of equipment by licensees;
violate the intent of the FCC and Congress with respect to Amateur Radio's
role in disasters, and hinder emergency operations using mobile equipment.
In denying the request, the FCC took issue with Oxendine's assertion that
the strong federal interest in promoting Amateur Radio communication should
preempt distracted driving laws.
"Laws that prohibit talking on handheld communications devices while driving
do not preclude or unreasonably obstruct mobile use of handheld two-way
radios," the FCC said in denying Oxendine's petition. "These laws apply to
the use of handheld devices while driving. A driver can comply with these
laws by using a hands-free attachment or by parking the vehicle prior to
using a handheld device, both of which are contemplated by our rules
regarding two-way radios."
The FCC said, "The record before us does not demonstrate that state and
local laws that prohibit talking on handheld devices while driving stand as
an obstacle to amateur communications or actually conflict with federal law
in any way." Read more.
Milwaukee Radio Amateurs' Club Celebrates Centennial of ARRL Affiliation
Members of the Milwaukee Radio Amateurs' Club (MRAC) on September 28
celebrated the radio club's 100th anniversary of ARRL affiliation during the
2019 ARRL Central Division Convention, held September 27 - 28. The
convention, held during the HRO Superfest, was hosted by Ham Radio Outlet at
its Milwaukee location.
MRAC was formed in January 1917. In 1919, after World War I, ARRL introduced
the concept of having local radio clubs officially affiliate with ARRL to
formalize a network for relaying message traffic from coast to coast. MRAC
was granted ARRL affiliation on December 5, 1919, as one of a group of 10
clubs. In 1970, MRAC was recognized as the only one of that first group of
clubs that was still active, making it the oldest ARRL-affiliated club.
ARRL CEO Howard Michel, WB2ITX (left), presented a plaque to MRAC Club
President David Schank, KA9WXN, on behalf of the ARRL Central Division.
MRAC sponsored the first-ever ARRL Central Division Convention in 1928, and
it organized an ARRL National Convention in 1948. The club produced a video
in 2017 that recounts its rich history.
MRAC today has a full calendar of annual activities that include regular
club meetings featuring speakers and presentations covering a variety of
topics. The club participates in ARRL Field Day each June, conducts regular
license exam sessions, and holds an annual swapfest. A group of club members
are currently developing an Amateur Satellite station and related resources,
which they plan to use to support a local school as part of an educational
outreach program. Club members are also Amateur Radio Emergency Service
(ARES®) volunteers, supporting public service communication for events
throughout the region and during emergencies.
Anna Brummer, N2FER, Feted on her 105th Birthday
When she turned 80, Anna Brummer, N2FER, of Fort Edward, New York, predicted
she would live to be 100. On September 27, she topped her own forecast by 5
years, as she celebrated her birthday at the Fort Hudson Nursing Center,
surrounded by family and friends. The only thing she wanted was a drink of
Scotch whiskey, and the nursing home obliged, along with a slice of cake.
Unit Manager Donna Hopkins told Post Star newspaper reporter Gretta
Hochsprung that she didn't attempt to put 105 candles on Brummer's cake
because it would have been a fire hazard. Brummer told Hochsprung that the
secret to longevity is being nice to people.
"Keeps you young when everything's going smooth," she told the reporter.
Anna Brummer was a latecomer to Amateur Radio. In 1984, her son Richard,
K2JQ (ex-K2REB), got his mom and his dad, Edwin, interested in Amateur
Radio, and Anna obtained her Technician license when she was 69 years old.
Edwin Brummer, who died in 1996, was N2FEQ, and held a Tech Plus ticket.
They were married for 56 years.
No official records are kept, but Anna Brummer is among a small circle of
centenarian radio amateurs in the US and may be the oldest woman holding a
license. Read more.
Lynyrd Skynyrd Founding Member Larry Junstrom, K4EB, SK
Southern Rocker Larry "LJ" Junstrom, K4EB, died on October 6. He was
reported to be 70. Junstrom was a founding member and bassist of Lynyrd
Skynyrd, although he left the group before it recorded its first album. He's
better known as a member of another Southern Rock band, 38 Special, with
which he performed from 1977 until retiring in 2014.
"The Big Man on the Big Bass has left us," a statement on the 38 Special
website said. "He rocked arenas all over the world and succeeded in living
his dream. He was truly one of a kind, a congenial traveling companion and a
great friend to all with a humorous slant on life that always kept our
spirits high -- a kind man with a big heart for everyone who crossed his
path."
Licensed in 1962 as WN2LKF, later becoming WA4LKF, he was a regular attendee
of Orlando HamCation. Junstrom was inactive in Amateur Radio during his busy
years on the road but picked up the hobby again in 1990 and became an avid
DXer with 347 entities in mixed DXCC. He was a frequent check-in to the
Musicians' Net on 40 meters.
After retiring, Junstrom worked in real estate in north central Florida.
In Brief...
The ARRL Board of Directors' Executive Committee (EC) will meet on October
12 in Denver, Colorado. The meeting agenda includes legal, legislative, and
organizational matters as well as reports from ARRL President Rick Roderick,
K5UR; ARRL CEO Howard Michel, WB2ITX, and Washington Counsel David Siddall,
K3ZJ. The EC will consider an ex parte filing on ARRL's petition for rule
making (RM-11785) to the FCC to create a new, contiguous secondary Amateur
Service band at 5 MHz, filed in January of 2017. In its petition, ARRL asked
the Commission to keep four of the current five 60-meter channels -- one
would be within the new band -- as well as the current operating rules,
including the 100 W PEP effective radiated power (ERP) limit.
The Tokelau Islands ZK3A DXpedition has ceased operation early. Due to the
illness of an Island resident, the ZK3A Tokelau Islands DXpedition shut down
a couple of days ahead of schedule. "ALL TEAM MEMBERS ARE FINE!" said an
announcement on the ZK3A website. "A person on the island is ill. So, they
have sent the boat there early to get this person medical help. The team has
ceased operations and [is] packing up all equipment to get on that boat,
because there will not be another boat for 10 days." As of October 8, ZK3A
had logged approximately 50,000 contacts in 7 days of operation on CW, SSB,
RTTY, FT8, and EME, as well as 10 contacts on slow-scan TV. The DXpedition
had been set to conclude on October 11.
Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
October 11 - 12 -- PNWVHFS Conference and Meeting, Issaquah, Washington
October 11 - 12 -- Florida State Convention, Melbourne, Florida
October 13 -- Connecticut State Convention, Meriden, Connecticut
October 18 - 19 -- Delta Division Convention, East Ridge, Tennessee
October 18 - 20 -- Pacific Division Convention, San Ramon, California
October 19 -- 21st Wisconsin ARES/RACES Conference, Wisconsin Rapids,
Wisconsin
October 26 -- South Carolina Section Convention, Conway, South Carolina
November 2 - 3 -- Georgia State Convention, Lawrenceville, Georgia
November 16 -- Indiana Section Convention, Fort Wayne, Indiana
December 13 - 14 -- West Central Florida Section Convention, Plant City,
Florida
Find conventions and hamfests in your area
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