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The ARRL Letter April 9, 2020
- World Amateur Radio Day on April 18 Celebrates 95th Anniversary of the IARU
- COVID-19 Guidelines Could Affect Some IARU HF World Championship
Participation
- Hamvention QSO Party Set for Saturday, May 16
- ARRL Podcasts Schedule
- New TQSL Version 2.5.2 Provides Better LoTW Rover Support, Other
Improvements
- Circuit Board for Bare-Bones Ventilator Moves Toward Production with Radio
Amateurs' Help
- The K7RA Solar Update
- Just Ahead in Radiosport
- Several Countries Authorize COVID-19 Advisory Suffixes
- In Brief...
- Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
World Amateur Radio Day on April 18 Celebrates 95th Anniversary of the IARU
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, April 18, is World Amateur Radio Day (WARD), this year marking the
95th anniversary of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU). Around the
world, amateur radio special event stations -- most sponsored by IARU
member-societies -- will mark the event on the air, starting on April 18 at
0000 UTC and continuing until April 19 at 0000, honing skills and
capabilities while enjoying global friendship with other amateurs worldwide.
The theme for WARD is "Celebrating Amateur Radio's Contribution to Society."
IARU President Tim Ellam, VE6SH/G4HUA, notes that the COVID-19 pandemic
casts the event in a different light than in years past.
"A few short weeks ago, many of us could not imagine the levels of isolation
that we are now dealing with and the sacrifices of many on the front lines
of the pandemic," Ellam said. "As we have done in past challenges to our
society, amateur radio will play a key part in keeping people connected and
assisting those who need support."
Ellam said he's coming off his own 14-day isolation after returning from
overseas. "I am touched by the kindness of strangers who assisted me when I
was unable to leave my house," he said. "It strikes me amateur radio
operators, who give so much during these times of crisis are not limited to
assisting over the air. Amateurs are true volunteers, and I would encourage
everyone to assist in the community as they are able to."
On April 18, 1925, the IARU was formed in Paris, with ARRL cofounder Hiram
Percy Maxim, 1AW, in attendance. Radio amateurs were the first to discover
that shortwave spectrum could support worldwide propagation, and in the rush
to use these shorter wavelengths, amateur radio found itself "in grave
danger of being pushed aside," as IARU history puts it. Two years later, at
the International Radiotelegraph Conference, amateur radio gained
allocations still recognized todayƒ??--ƒ??160, 80, 40, 20, and 10 meters.
>From an initial 25 countries, the IARU has grown to include 160
member-societies in three regions.
How to Participate
- Get on the air! WARD events are listed on the WARD web page. To list a
World Amateur Radio Day event, contact IARU Secretary David Sumner, K1ZZ.
- Promote your personal World Amateur Radio Day activity on social media by
using the hashtag #WorldAmateurRadioDay on Twitter and Facebook.
- Create and hold a special net on World Amateur Radio Day to draw attention
to the event and allow hams to start talking about our hobby.
- Spread the word. If you're responsible for club publicity, send a press
release and do public relations outreach to highlight the event. Use the
poster and flyer that IARU provides in publicizing the event, amateur radio,
and your group or club.
World Amateur Radio Day is not a contest but an opportunity to talk about
the value of amateur radio to the public and our fellow amateurs. It is also
a great opportunity to talk about your club and amateur radio in local media.
In this time of social isolation, amateur radio continues to remain relevant
in bringing people together through radio while providing essential
communication in the service of communities.
"My wish for this World Amateur Radio Day is for everyone to stay safe,
follow the advice of medical professionals, and use amateur radio and your
skills to help us through this crisis," Ellam said.
COVID-19 Guidelines Could Affect Some IARU HF World Championship Participation
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The IARU HF World Championship is just over 2 months away -- July 11 - 12.
The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) says that it's essential to
take the global COVID-19 pandemic into account when planning participation,
including by IARU member-society Headquarters (HQ) station teams.
Multioperator and IARU member-society HQ station operations must adhere
strictly to the regulations and physical-distancing guidelines issued by the
responsible health authorities and the World Health Organization in effect
at the time of the event -- even if observing those guidelines is not
legally required at their locations. This requirement also applies to
single-operator stations, and especially to those hosting guest operators.
"This may reduce participation, but it is vital that the IARU, its
member-societies, and individual radio amateurs behave as responsible
members of the global community," the IARU said. "Radio amateurs should
always look for opportunities to address communications challenges through
the application of technology."
The IARU points out that a growing number of stations, including
multioperator stations, can be operated remotely, and it encourages their
participation in the HF World Championship wherever national regulations
permit.
The objective of the IARU HF World Championship is "to support amateur
self-training in radiocommunications including improving amateur operating
skills, conducting technical investigations, and intercommunicating with
other amateurs around the world, especially IARU member-society headquarters
stations." The event takes place on 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters.
The special rules governing IARU member-society HQ stations allow multiple
sites to be used, again subject to national regulations. HQ stations will
still be able to participate, but possibly not at their usual level.
Plans are being developed for IARU Headquarters station NU1AW to be operated
entirely remotely. W1AW will also be on the air as an HQ station, although
arrangements are still being finalized.
Hamvention QSO Party Set for Saturday, May 16
---------------------------------------------
The Hamvention QSO Party, a sort of virtual Dayton Hamvention¶©, will take
place on the HF bands on May 16, which would be the Saturday of the
now-canceled event.
"Let's celebrate the many years we have all had at the Great Gathering we
call Hamvention," said an announcement over the signatures of Tim Duffy,
K3LR, and Michael Kalter, W8CI. "We also want to remember Ron Moorefield,
W8ILC, who never missed a Hamvention and contributed to our club until his
recent death. Let's light up the airwaves with our remembrances of
Hamventions of the past! See you on the air!"
The Hamvention QSO Party will be a 12-hour event, from 1200 UTC until 2400
UTC on May 16. Operate CW or SSB on 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters,
exchanging signal reports and the first year you attended Hamvention. If you
have never attended Hamvention, send "2020."
Designated members of Hamvention's host, the Dayton Amateur Radio
Association (DARA), will activate DARA's W8BI. Participants can add 10
points for each band/mode contact with W8BI (12 available).
Post scores (number of contacts) to 3830scores.com within 5 days of the
event. An online certificate will be available to print. No logs will be
collected.
N1MM Logger+ has provided a user-defined contest module for the event. More
information is on the N1MM Logger+ website.
ARRL Podcasts Schedule
----------------------
The latest episode of the On the Air podcast (Episode 4) focuses how to
create a family emergency communications plan and includes an interview with
Dino Papas, KL0S, about attaching coaxial connectors with crimping tools.
The latest episode of the Eclectic Tech podcast (Episode 5) includes an
interview with ARRL Laboratory Manager Ed Hare, W1RFI, about wireless power
transfer technology, as well as a discussion of digital meteor scatter and
an interview with Michael Lavelle, K6ML, about the new distance record at
122 GHz.
The On the Air and Eclectic Tech podcasts are sponsored by Icom.
Both podcasts are available on iTunes (iOS) and Stitcher (Android) as well
as on Blubrry -- On the Air | Eclectic Tech.
New TQSL Version 2.5.2 Provides Better LoTW Rover Support, Other Improvements
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The latest version of TrustedQSL (TQSL), version 2.5.2, offers improved
Logbook of The World (LoTW) support for operations from several locations,
as well as the ability to detect uploads that contain incorrect location
data. The primary new feature in TQSL 2.5.2 allows logging programs, in
conjunction with TQSL, to avoid incorrect contact uploads, while adding
mechanisms to allow easy uploading of logs for roving stations. LoTW had
required rovers to identify each location used as a separate location in
TQSL. The new version of TQSL allows these operations to be handled much
more smoothly by using information from the station's logging program.
When a log is signed by TQSL, the station details -- call sign, DXCC entity,
grid square, and other location details provided by the selected station
location (and call sign certificate) -- are compared with the details in the
log. If the US state and station location in a log do not agree, TQSL 2.5.2
will reject the contact, detecting errors in instances when an incorrect
station location has been chosen. This feature will necessitate changes in
many logging programs, because it requires that the log provide station
details previously not used by TQSL. Once a logging program supplies these
(MY_STATE, MY_DXCC, MY_CQ_ZONE, etc.), then TQSL will validate them against
the log. Currently, Cabrillo logs use the CALLSIGN field to verify that the
contacts are for the correct call sign.
Optionally, a station performing roaming operations (e.g., from multiple
grid squares) can choose to have TQSL assume that the log is correct. When
call sign or home station are provided with the log, TQSL will automatically
update the details on the upload. Select "Override Station Location with QTH
Details from your Log" on the "Log Handling" preference page to enable this
feature.
This release also includes an update to the most recent TQSL configuration
file. -- Thanks to Rick Murphy, K1MU
Circuit Board for Bare-Bones Ventilator Moves Toward Production with Radio
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amateurs' Help
--------------
Radio amateurs continue to play key roles in developing the electronic
control system for an open-source/architecture, modular, low-cost human
patient ventilator. The device itself was designed by researcher Sem
Lampotang and his team at University of Florida Health -- the school's
academic health center -- using such commonly available components as PVC
pipe and lawn-sprinkler valves. The idea is to create a bare-bones
ventilator that could serve in the event of a ventilator shortage.
"The way I looked at it is, if you're going to run out of ventilators, then
we're not even trying to reproduce the sophisticated ventilators out there,"
Lampotang said. "If we run out, you have to decide who gets one and who
doesn't. How do you decide that? The power of our approach is that every
well-intentioned volunteer who has access to Home Depot, Ace, Lowe's, or
their equivalent worldwide can build one."
His team is working on adding safety features to meet regulatory guidelines,
then they will run engineering tests to determine safety, accuracy, and
endurance of the machine, which can be built for as little as $125 to $250.
Dr. Gordon Gibby, KX4Z -- a retired associate professor of anesthesiology at
the University of Florida and an electrical engineer -- is among those
involved in the project, developing control-system prototypes. He reports
that a trial printed circuit board is being created, populated, and tested
prior to large-scale fabrication. "This should lead to a documented
open-source design that can be replicated or
improved upon by any interested manufacturer," Gibby said, noting that the
board could be built anywhere in the world, based on the Arduino Nano
microcontroller.
"A huge amount of work has gone on in the design of the circuit boards,"
Gibby told ARRL. "We have at least two, maybe three designs, ready for
fabrication." Current design specifications and a video of prototypes have
been posted online. The Arduino-based control software will set the
respiratory rate and other key parameters in treating critically ill
coronavirus victims. Other radio amateurs involved in the control system
aspect of the project include Jack Purdum, W8TEE, and uBITX transceiver
maker Ashhar Farhan, VU2ESE.
Using a Groups.io forum, up to 140 volunteers have been studying or working
to push the project to completion. Software is being created by multiple
volunteers, with amateur radio operators involved in that phase as well.
The ventilator's valves will precisely time the flow of compressed oxygen
into a patient with lungs weakened by viral pneumonia in order to extend
life and allow time for the body to clear the infection. Read more.
The K7RA Solar Update
---------------------
Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: After 5 days of new Solar Cycle 25 sunspot
activity, sunspots vanished. The average daily sunspot number rose from 3.6
last week to 5.1 this time. The average daily sunspot number over the days
sunspots were visible -- March 31 - April 4 -- was 12.2, but these
observations straddle two reporting weeks.
Average daily solar flux rose from 69.4 to 70.2. Geomagnetic indicators
remain quiet, with the average planetary A index declining from 7.7 to 6.6,
and the average mid-latitude A index slipping from 5.9 to 5.3.
Predicted solar flux for the next 45 days is 70 on April 9 - 13; 68 on April
14 - 23; 70 on April 24 - May 7; 68 on May 8 - 20, and 70 on May 21 - 23.
Predicted planetary A index is 5, 8, and 8 on April 9 - 11; 5 on April 12 -
14; 10 on April 15; 8 on April 16 - 19; 5 on April 20 - 25; 10 on April 26 -
27; 5 on April 28 - May 6; 8 on May 7-8; 5 on May 9 - 11; 10 on May 12; 8 on
May 13 - 16; 5 on May 17 - 22, and 10 on May 23.
Sunspot numbers for April 2 - 8 were 12, 13, 11, 0, 0, 0, and 0, with a mean
of 5.1. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 69.8, 69.9, 70.1, 71.2, 69.9, 69.9, and
70.4, with a mean of 70.2. Estimated planetary A indices were 7, 9, 5, 5, 3,
4, and 13, with a mean of 6.6. Middle latitude A index was 7, 7, 4, 4, 2, 3,
and 10, with a mean of 5.3.
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
------------------------
- April 11 -- QRP ARCI Spring QSO Party (CW)
- April 11 - 12 -- JIDX CW Contest
- April 11 - 12 -- OK/OM DX Contest, SSB
- April 11 - 12 -- F9AA Cup, PSK
- April 11 - 12 -- FTn DX Contest (Digital)
- April 11 - 12 -- SKCC Weekend Sprintathon (CW)
- April 11 - 12 -- New Mexico QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
- April 11 - 12 -- North Dakota QSO Party (CW, phone)
- April 11 - 12 -- Georgia QSO Party (CW, phone)
- April 11 - 12 -- Yuri Gagarin International DX Contest (CW)
- April 12 -- WAB 3.5/7/14 MHz Data Modes
- April 12 -- International Vintage Contest HF (CW)
- April 12 -- Hungarian Straight Key Contest (CW)
- April 13 -- 4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint (CW, phone)
- April 14 -- 222 MHz Spring Sprint (CW, phone)
- April 15 -- NAQCC CW Sprint
- April 15 -- RSGB 80-Meter Club Championship, SSB
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.
Several Countries Authorize COVID-19 Advisory Suffixes
------------------------------------------------------
A growing number of countries have authorized selected radio amateurs or
organizations to identify with suffixes that propagate the advice to stay at
home during the COVID-19 pandemic. A60STAYHOME/# call signs are on the air
from the United Arab Emirates, while the Kuwait Amateur Radio Society's
9K9STAYHOME; TC1STAYHOME, in Turkey, and the Saudi Amateur Radio Society's
HZ1STAYHOME are among these stations spreading the word from that part of
the world.
In Canada, Michael Shamash, VE2MXU, is using VC2STAYHOM "to raise awareness
for social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic." Canada limits call sign
suffixes to seven characters. On the air from Indonesia is 8A1HOME;
Indonesia limits suffixes to four characters. Australia has permitted the
Radio Amateur Society of Australia (RASA) to use the special call sign
VI2020STAYHOME, which, at 14 characters, may set a record for world's
longest call sign.
SRAL, Finland's IARU member-society, is sponsoring the Global Amateur Radio
Network special event, with "messenger stations" on the air with STAYHOME
suffixes, such as OH5STAYHOME. The event runs through July 8. The Global
Messenger Award and the Stay Home Award are available, with credit for
working "STAY HOME" stations in other countries and at least five of the
Finnish stations.
Also in Finland, the Amateur Radio Club of Lahti, OH3AC, has been authorized
to use OH0PYSYKOTONA and nine others in that series with a different number
in the prefix. "Pysy kotona" is Finnish for "stay home." Contacts will be
confirmed via LoTW with paper cards via OH3AC. An award is available for
working all 10 in the series.
CR2STAYHOME will be on the air from Sao Miguel, one of the nine islands in
the Azores, while operators in Bosnia and Herzegovina will transmit the
alert as E7STAYHOME (QSL via E77E and E73Y or LoTW). R3STAYHOME is another
special call sign (QSL via the bureau to R3KEE). Also, listen for
5B4STAYHOME from Cyprus, operated by Norman Banks, 5B4AIE (no QSLs).
Finland's SRAL has suggested the new Q signal QSH for "stay happy and
healthy," while N3ADF is encouraging the use of QWH for "wash hands."
FCC Part 97 Amateur Radio Service rules do not provide for amateur call sign
suffixes longer than three characters, but a potential workaround exists. As
¶õ97.119(c) of the FCC's Amateur Radio Service rules states: "One or more
indicators may be included with the call sign. Each indicator must be
separated from the call sign by the slant mark (/) or by any suitable word
that denotes the slant mark. If an indicator is self-assigned, it must be
included before, after, or both before and after, the call sign. No
self-assigned indicator may conflict with any other indicator specified by
the FCC Rules or with any prefix assigned to another country."
While ARRL has no plans to sponsor or support a stay home related event, US
radio amateurs may do so as a one-off stay-at-home event.
In Brief...
-----------
ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, has appointed Edward J. "Ned" Stearns,
AA7A, of Scottsdale, Arizona, as ARRL Southwestern Division Vice Director.
He succeeds Mark Weiss, K6FG, who resigned. This will mark the third time
Stearns has held the post. He served as Southwestern Division Vice Director
for 2005 - 2006 and again for 2017 - 2019. A retired electrical engineer,
Stearns has been licensed since 1963 and is active on all bands from 160
meters through 23 centimeters. His principal interests are DXing,
contesting, VHF, moonbounce, antenna design, and homebrewing.
The annual Armed Forces Day Crossband Test has been postponed, due to the
ongoing COVID-19 response and mitigation actions. The 2020 Armed Forces Day
(AFD) Crossband Test was scheduled to be held on Saturday, May 9. Because
it's uncertain just when stay-at-home orders will be lifted across the US,
AFD planners chose to postpone this year's event, because the government
stations that typically support this event may not be available. Armed
Forces Day Crossband Test planners are considering scheduling a November
event in honor of Veteran's Day, depending on COVID-19 mitigation actions.
During the AFD Crossband Test, military stations in various locations
transmit on selected military frequencies and announce the specific ham
frequencies they are monitoring to work radio amateurs. -- Thanks to US Army
MARS Program Chief Paul English, WD8DBY
Past ARRL Atlantic Division Director Bernard E. "Bernie" Fuller, N3EFN, of
Saegertown, Pennsylvania, died on April 2. He was 86. Fuller moved into the
Atlantic Division Director's position in 2000, after the ARRL Board elected
then-Atlantic Division Director Kay Craigie, WT3P (now N3KN), as a Vice
President. He served as an ARRL Director until 2006. A US Army veteran,
Fuller retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel after 22 years. He was a
veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars. Following his retirement, he taught
languages at the former Alliance College. Fuller was a member of the QRP
Amateur Radio Club International and the Eastern Pennsylvania QRP Club. He
belonged to the Military Officers Association and was a certified National
Rifle Association instructor. A member of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers
Association, Fuller authored e-books on RVing and hunting and was the
publisher of the Outdoors32News newsletter.
Past ARRL Treasurer James E. "Jim" McCobb, Jr., K1LU (ex-K1LLU, W1LLU), died
on April 1. An ARRL Life Member, he was 77. McCobb, of West Newbury,
Massachusetts, served as ARRL Treasurer, a volunteer post, for nearly 32
years, from 1980 until 2012, when he was succeeded by current ARRL Treasurer
Rick Niswander, K7GM. An active DXer and contester, McCobb was active from
Belize, where he held the call sign V31JR. McCobb was a US Air Force veteran
and spent most of his professional career as a banker. First licensed at age
16, McCobb was very active on HF -- especially on 40, 20, and 17 meters,
primarily on SSB, although he operated CW during contests. He also enjoyed
listening to amateur and shortwave bands, DXing, ragchewing, contesting, and
"doing just about any kind of antenna work," he said in his QRZ.com profile.
His other hobbies included Alpine skiing, listening to music, and collecting
stereo equipment from the mid-to-late 1970s.
Japan is set to expand access to 160 meters. Yoshi Shoji, JG7AMD, reports
that Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications that the
expansion will permit SSB on that band. The current 160-meter band in Japan
consists of 1810 - 1825 kHz (CW) plus 1907.5 - 1912.5 for CW and data. Japan
will allocate 1800 - 1810 kHz and 1825 - 1875 kHz for all amateur radio
modes. An effective date has not yet been announced.
Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
------------------------------------------------------
Note: Many conventions and hamfests have been canceled or postponed due to
the coronavirus pandemic. Check the calendar of canceled events on the ARRL
website.
- May 9 - MicroHAMS Digital Conference 2020, Woodinville, Washington
- June 6 -- Georgia State Convention, Marietta, Georgia
- June 6 - 7 -- Western Pennsylvania Section Convention, Prospect,
Pennsylvania
- June 12 - 13 -- Ham-Com, Plano, Texas
- June 20 -- Tennessee State Convention, Knoxville, Tennessee
Find conventions and hamfests in your area.
ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for
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