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N9PMO > LETTER 23.10.14 23:07l 743 Lines 33552 Bytes #999 (0) @ ARRL
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Radio Amateurs Play a Role in Separate Storm Responses
ARRL Board May Seek Member Input on 15 Meter Novice/Tech Digital
Privileges
IARU Administrative Council Resolution Seeks to Rein in
Electromagnetic Interference
Ninth Annual ARRL On-Line Auction is Now Underway!
W1AW Centennial Operations Head Next to Wyoming, Massachusetts, and US
Virgin Islands
ARRL Regional Centennial Conventions Wrap Up with Pacificon
ARRL November Sweepstakes: Another Chance at a "Clean Sweep" is Coming
Up!
The 2015 Edition of The ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications is Now
Available!
CQ Reconsiders Its Policy on Crimea for CQ-Sponsored Contests
IARU EMC Coordinator Thilo Kootz, DL9KCE, Presented with IEC 1906
Award
4M Moon Orbiter Carrying Ham Radio Payload Launching October 23
Edge of Space Sciences Balloon Flight Carrying Amateur Radio to Launch
October 25
A Century of Amateur Radio and the ARRL
Getting It Right!
The K7RA Solar Update
Just Ahead in Radiosport
Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events
Radio Amateurs Play a Role in Separate Storm Responses
Amateur Radio volunteers activated on opposite ends of the US late
last week and over the weekend as separate hurricanes struck Bermuda
and Hawaii. Both regions were prepared and fared well with no deaths,
serious injuries, or major property damage reported.
Hurricane Gonzalo
Hurricane Gonzalo, the stronger of the two storms, was a Category 3
hurricane when it made a near-direct hit on Bermuda on Friday, October
17. The Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) and the VoIP Hurricane Net (VoIPWX)
gathered ground-level weather information from the island and
funneling it to the National Hurricane Center's WX4NHC. Forecasters
use these reports to better predict a storm's path or intensity.
Hurricane Specialist Stacey Stewart used several Amateur Radio reports
in NHC advisories, statements, and discussions, Assistant WX4NHC
Coordinator Julio Ripoll, WD4R, said.
The HWN opened on Thursday, October 16, and stayed up for some 41
hours. The net used a primary frequency of 14.325 MHz and switched to
7.268 MHz as conditions warranted.
"It was a report from John [Stevens], VP9NI, that let us know the eye
had made landfall on Bermuda," HWN Manager Bobby Graves, KB5HAV,
reported. "His report made the 9 PM AST Tropical Cyclone Update."
Graves said VP9NI's reports confirmed barometric pressure observations
by Hurricane Hunter aircraft, and the NHC mentioned his call sign in
its update. VP9NI's battery finally gave out just before midnight on
Saturday, he added.
Only a weekend earlier, Tropical Storm Fay had hit Bermuda, and Graves
said he learned during the Gonzalo activation that Fay had dealt
Bermuda a bigger blow than he'd first heard. "Many hams had lost their
antennas," he said, while other hams' antennas were seriously damaged.
Some radio amateurs on Bermuda quickly constructed makeshift antennas
in preparation for Gonzalo.
"Craig [Nikolai], VP9NL, was able to give us reports in the evening,
as he only had a 40 meter dipole with one leg barely off the ground,"
Graves recounted. "John, VP9NI, gave us many reports on 20 meters
until losing commercial power. With only a 20 meter NVIS antenna about
5 feet off the ground and using the battery from a computer UPS, John
was able to continue feeding us reports hourly on 20 and 40 meters
while running about 12 W." Other stations checking into the HWN
included Glen Cuoco, VP9ID, and Ed Kelly, VP9GE. "Giving stations in
the affected area advance notice of activation plans and gathering
data as to what type of antenna and power output to expect really paid
off," Graves added.
At WX4NHC, Julio Ripoll, WD4R, and Paul Hunt, K1MJS. [Julio Ripoll,
WD4R, photo]
Nearly all of Bermuda's residents lost power, dozens of roads were
blocked by downed trees and limbs, and some damage to structures was
also reported.
Rob Macedo, KD1CY, Director of Operations for the VoIP Hurricane Net,
which also activated for Gonzalo, said that while its key Amateur
Radio contact was not on Bermuda, it was able to gather many reports
from storm bloggers on the Caribbean Hurricane Network, social media
outlets, and Weather Underground personal weather stations.
"We had constant contact with Marion Dyer in Pembroke, Hamilton,
Bermuda, through the WhatsApp software via cell phone, and Cell One
Bermuda service did remain up throughout the hurricane," Macedo said.
Macedo said the VoIP Hurricane Net also received post-hurricane
reports and photos from Dyer from around Bermuda.
Hurricane Ana
In Hawaii, the passage of Category 1 Hurricane Ana over the weekend
was less dramatic, and the storm skipped the most-populated island of
Oahu for the most part. ARRL Pacific Section Manager Bob Schneider,
AH6J, reported that ham radio volunteers supported shelter
communications as Ana passed by Hawaii, causing heavy rain, large
waves, and some minor flooding.
"A request came from American Red Cross to deploy to the shelter at
Ka'u High School in Pahala," Schneider said. The school is in the
southeastern edge of the Big Island. "Sean Fendt, KH6SF, and I drove
45 miles and set up HF and VHF communications." (Sean Fendt's wife
Kimberly, WH6KIM, is the East Hawaii DEC.)
Sean Fendt, KH6SF, at the Kau High School shelter.[Photo courtesy of
Bob Schneider, AH6J]
"The shelter manager was very happy to see us, because in the last
[weather] event they lost power and communications and had a full
house. This time it was almost a non-event with the hurricane staying
offshore to the south and west. There was quite a bit of rain and one
road closure due to flooding. One couple that stayed in the shelter
last night had been through several typhoons in Japan and didn't want
to take any chances, even though later forecasts showed tracks well
offshore."
Schneider said those later forecast tracks did not reveal the large
amount of rain the storm brought along. The ARES volunteers primarily
used HF on 40 meters, although they also made use of a VHF repeater
that was linked to the Big Island Wide Area Repeater Network (BIWARN).
"We sent a couple of voice messages to SKYWARN headquarters located at
NWS in Honolulu," Schneider recounted. "Other weather spotters were
using mostly Fldigi for messages to NWS. We were happy that there were
no serious problems and power stayed up." Read more. -- Thanks to the
Hurricane Watch Net, the VoIP Hurricane Net, ARRL Pacific SM Bob
Schneider, AH6J, and The Daily DX.
ARRL Board May Seek Member Input on 15 Meter Novice/Tech Digital
Privileges
A proposal aired at the July ARRL Board of Directors meeting endorsing
additional HF digital privileges for Technicians and referred to the
ARRL Executive Committee (EC) for study came in for considerable
discussion when the EC met on October 4 in Memphis. The original
motion by ARRL Southeastern Division Director Doug Rehman, K4AC,
called for a Petition for Rule Making to the FCC seeking digital
privileges for Techs on narrow segments of 80, 40, and 15 meters.
Rehman's motion had noted that Technicians already enjoy digital
privileges on 10 meters, a band with highly variable propagation that
will diminish as the sunspot cycle declines.
After discussing the proposal's pros and cons, the EC put the ball
back into the Board's court in a modified form: The EC recommended
that the Board consider soliciting input from the membership on adding
Novice/Technician data privileges within their existing 15 meter
subband. In his original proposal, Rehman had pointed out that text
messaging, a medium preferred by today's youth, bears "great
similarity with amateur digital communications."
"This is not a proposal that the Board adopt data privileges for Techs
and Novices on 15 meters as an objective, and it is most definitely
not an ARRL proposal to the FCC," stressed ARRL CEO David Sumner,
K1ZZ, a non-voting member of the EC. "That would come later, if at
all, after the Board has had an opportunity to weigh membership
input."
In other matters, ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, told the EC
to expect an FCC Notice of Proposed Rule Making "sometime in the next
few months" that will propose the elimination of the existing symbol
rate limit on HF data communication. The NPRM, in response to an ARRL
Petition for Rule Making filed last November, is expected to leave
open for comment the specific bandwidth limitation that should replace
it, and it may address additional topics.
ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD. [Rick Lindquist, WW1ME, photo]
Imlay also briefed the committee on recent discussions with US House
Telecommunications Subcommittee staff regarding "The Amateur Radio
Parity Act of 2014." The bill, H.R. 4969, had attracted 47 co-sponsors
by the time Congress recessed. Another 10 representatives have
committed to signing on when Congress returns next month after the
elections.
Imlay noted there has been no action on the League's 2012 Petition for
Rule Making to create an MF Amateur Service allocation at 472-479 kHz,
nor on ET Docket 12-338, regarding implementation of the Final Acts of
World Radiocommunication Conference 2007. There also was nothing new
to report regarding other allocation issues, including an Amateur
Service allocation at 135.7-137.8 kHz and upgrading 1900-2000 kHz to
primary. Read more.
IARU Administrative Council Resolution Seeks to Rein in
Electromagnetic Interference
The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Administrative Council
has called upon International Telecommunication Union (ITU) signatory
nations to take steps to ensure that the operation of "electrical
apparatus or installations of any kind, including power and
telecommunication distribution networks," does not cause harmful
interference to Amateur Radio operations. The Council adopted a
resolution expressing concern with the "rapid and largely uncontrolled
growth" in devices that generate RF energy "as an unnecessary and
undesirable consequence of their operation." It cited such devices as
switching power supplies, power inverters, plasma video displays, and
wireline telecommunication systems that employ such technologies as
Broadband over Power Lines (BPL).
The AC said new technologies such as wireless power transfer are
likely to be deployed widely in the near future, and it expressed
"deep concern" that present standards, regulations, and enforcement
resources are inadequate to protect radio services, including Amateur
Radio, from harmful interference.
The Council's action, which came during its annual meeting on
September 27 and 28 in Albena, Bulgaria, followed the recommendation
of IARU EMC Coordinator Thilo Kootz, DL9KCE. The resolution encourages
IARU member-societies and regional organizations "to pursue
implementation of the resolution as a matter of the highest priority,"
requests standards-setting bodies and regulators to fully support the
resolution's objectives, and implores designers and manufacturers to
"minimize radio spectrum pollution emanating from their products."
The AC also revised and updated a 2008 resolution concerning operating
practices. Noting that Amateur Radio relies on self-regulation for
effective use of its allocations, and that "poor operating behavior
adversely affects the enjoyment of all radio amateurs," the Council
encouraged all radio amateurs to operate proficiently and with "proper
consideration for others using the Amateur Radio bands." The Council
urged IARU member-societies to teach and promote correct operating
behavior.
Council members also reviewed IARU positions on each WRC-15 agenda
item relating to or affecting Amateur Radio, including Agenda Item
1.4, the addition of a new allocation within the band 5250-5450 kHz,
which the AC called "a high priority for the Amateur service." WRC-15
will consider "the possibility of making an allocation of an
appropriate amount of spectrum, not necessarily contiguous, to the
Amateur Service on a secondary basis within the band 5250-5450 kHz."
As 2015 will mark the 150th anniversary of the ITU, the Administrative
Council adopted the theme "ITU & IARU: Celebrating 150 years of
Advancing the Telecommunication Art" for the next World Amateur Radio
Day, April 18, 2015. Read more.
Ninth Annual ARRL On-Line Auction is Now Underway!
Bidding for the ninth annual ARRL On-Line Auction is now underway.
More than 230 items are on the block, including 24 pieces of gear that
were the subject of QST "Product Review" articles and road tested by
the ARRL Laboratory team. In addition to other miscellaneous
transceivers and accessories there are more than 100 vintage books.
"We also have a number of one-of-a-kind pieces, including a hardcover
2014 Centennial edition of The ARRL Handbook, imprinted with 'Hiram
Percy Maxim, W1AW' to honor our founding president, plus another
hardcover 2014 Centennial Handbook bearing the number 100," said ARRL
Sales Manager Deb Jahnke, K1DAJ. "You'll also find unique items, such
as an autographed script from the popular television series 'Last Man
Standing' starring Tim Allen. Ham radio has been mentioned in several
episodes, and now Tim Allen is licensed for real."
Proceeds from the On-Line Auction benefit ARRL educational programs,
including activities aimed at licensing new hams, strengthening
Amateur Radio's emergency service training, offering continuing
technical and operating education, and creating instructional
materials.
The Yaesu FTdx1200 HF+50 MHz transceiver reviewed by QST is among the
2014 On-Line Auction items.
Bidding in the 2014 auction ends at 0300 UTC on October 31 (the
evening of October 30 in US time zones). Check items in which you have
an interest, as bidding end times for each item are staggered.
If you have participated in a previous ARRL On-Line Auction, you may
use the passwords you have used on this site before. Your ARRL website
user ID and password will not work on the auction site. Check your
ARRL user profile to ensure that all address and credit card
information remains the same.
Newcomers to the ARRL On-Line Auction must first register in order to
participate.
Ad
W1AW Centennial Operations Head Next to Wyoming, Massachusetts, and US
Virgin Islands
The ARRL Centennial W1AW portable operations taking place throughout
2014 from each of the 50 states are now in Nevada and West Virginia.
They will transition at 0000 UTC on Wednesday, October 29 (the evening
of October 28 in US time zones), to Wyoming (W1AW/7) and Massachusetts
(W1AW/1). W1AW/KP2 also will be active until November 5 from the US
Virgin Islands. So far during 2014, W1AW has vpoints per mode/contact,
even when working the same state during its second week of activity.
To earn the "Worked all States with W1AW Award," work W1AW operating
portable from all 50 states. (Working W1AW or W100AW in Connecticut
does not count for Connecticut. Participants must work W1AW/1 in
Connecticut.) A W1AW WAS certificate and plaque will be available.
An ARRL Centennial QSO Party leader board shows participants how many
points they have accumulated in the Centennial QSO Party and in the
W1AW WAS operations. Log in using your Logbook of The World (LoTW)
user name and password, and your position will appear at the top of
the leader boards. Results are updated daily, based on contacts
entered into LoTW.
ARRL Regional Centennial Conventions Wrap Up with Pacificon
Pacificon -- the ARRL Pacific Division Convention held over the
October 11-12 weekend in Santa Clara, California -- was arguably the
last major Amateur Radio gathering of 2014. It also was the last of
six ARRL Regional Centennial Conventions. As such, said ARRL President
Kay Craigie, N3KN, it was even more memorable.
"We continued to hear from members about their enjoyment of the ARRL
Centennial operating events," President Craigie said. "Several people
had been to the National Convention in Hartford and were enthusiastic
in their praise for the event. As the convention aspect of the
Centennial year draws to a close, I am especially appreciative of the
host organizations that cooperated with the ARRL on the Regional
events, so we could spread the fun around the country." The first
Regional Centennial Convention was the Orlando HamcationŽ in February.
ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, at Pacificon. [Bob Inderbitzen,
NQ1R, photo]
In her Pacificon banquet keynote address President Craigie praised the
ARRL Headquarters staff for "an amazing job" in organizing ARRL
Centennial activities during 2014 and thanked all who "made the
Centennial the fun that it is."
President Craigie told her audience that the most important thing the
League does is advocacy. "Think of the ARRL over the last 100 years as
a strong voice speaking out for Amateur Radio," she said. She pointed
out that had ARRL co-founder Hiram Percy Maxim not advocated strongly
for federal authorities to permit the resumption of Amateur Radio
following the World War I shutdown, "we wouldn't be here this evening
talking about Amateur Radio."
Clayton Hall, NF1R, at the helm of W100AW during Pacificon.
She also expressed appreciation to the ARRL membership for the success
to date of the Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2014, H.R. 4969. The bill
has attracted 47 co-sponsors. "It's taken all of us," she said.
A W100AW/6 special event station was on the air during Pacificon,
which is sponsored by the Mount Diablo Amateur Radio Club (MDARC).
At Pacificon, John Bigley, N7UR, was named the 2014 ARRL Pacific
Division "Ham of the Year." He is the editor of the Nevada Amateur
Radio Newswire.
Photos from Pacificon have been posted on the League's Facebook page.
Read more. -- Thanks to Randy Hall, K7AGE (video), and Bob
Inderbitzen, NQ1R
ARRL November Sweepstakes: Another Chance at a "Clean Sweep" is Coming
Up!
In a few short days, operators across all 83 ARRL and Radio Amateurs
of Canada (RAC) sections will take to the airwaves to compete in the
first of two ARRL November Sweepstakes events. Always a fall favorite
"Sweeps" is the longest-running "domestic" contest. The CW event is
November 1-3, while the SSB event is November 15-17. The action on
both weekends gets underway at 2100 UTC Saturday and runs through 0259
UTC Monday (Sunday evening in continental US time zones).
As veteran Sweeps hands already know, the exchange for this operating
event is a bit more involved than it is for most other contests.
Strange terms such as "precedence" and "check" -- while very familiar
to old timers and traffic operators -- may seem confusing at first to
newcomers. The exchange goes like this: Call sign of the station
worked, consecutive serial number (NR) starting with 001, precedence
(PREC) -- a letter that indicates your operating category; see the
rules), your call sign, check (CK) -- the last two numerals of the
year you were first licensed, and the two or three-letter abbreviation
of your ARRL or RAC section (SEC).
In your log, for example, if WW1ME works W1MSW, the log entry might
look like this:
Station NR PREC My Call CK SEC
W1MSW 015 A WW1ME 65 ME
All popular logging programs include a template for ARRL November
Sweepstakes. Be sure to use the latest version of your logger.
It may seem difficult and complicated at first, but once you get into
the swing of Sweeps, it will start coming naturally. That's also where
it starts being fun.
The 2014 ARRL November Sweepstakes Operating Guide contains a
collection of Sweepstakes information and links to help both newbies
and old timers to understand the rules, operating techniques, and
log-submission guidelines. Be sure to read the rules for all ARRL
contests, too.
The holy grail of Sweepstakes is to earn a "Clean Sweep" by working at
least one station in all 83 sections. Attain this elite level and you
qualify to purchase a highly desired Clean Sweep mug for your
accomplishment! Also, the Sweepstakes certificate of every op making a
Sweep will include a "Clean Sweep" sticker.
Icom is the Principal Awards Sponsor for ARRL November Sweepstakes.
For more information about Sweepstakes, contact ARRL Contest Branch
Manager Matt Wilhelm, W1MSW. Read more.
The 2015 Edition of The ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications is Now
Available!
The 2015 ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications is now shipping, and,
while supplies last, you can get the hardcover edition for the
softcover price. The ARRL Handbook provides the theory, practical
information, and construction details to expand your knowledge and
skill as an Amateur Radio operator and experimenter.This 92nd edition
of The ARRL Handbook is at the forefront of the growing field of
wireless telecommunications. The book covers not only the fundamentals
of radio electronics -- analog and digital -- but also offers
practical circuit and antenna designs as well as information on
computer-aided design, digital operating modes, equipment
troubleshooting, and reducing RF interference.
Many projects and construction articles are included to help enhance
your station and expand your participation as an active radio
experimenter.
Practical applications and solutions make The ARRL Handbook a
must-have for hobbyists and technical professionals. For years now,
the Handbook has been a staple on the work bench and operating desk as
well as in university libraries and classrooms.
The ARRL Handbook is available in hardcover and softcover from the
ARRL Store or your ARRL Dealer. Hardcover, ARRL Order No. 0218, ISBN:
978-1-62595-020-8, $59.95 retail, special offer $49.95. Softcover,
ARRL Order No. 1920, ISBN: 978-1-62595-019-2, $49.95 retail. Call
(860) 594-0355 or, toll-free in the US, (888) 277-5289.
Ad
CQ Reconsiders Its Policy on Crimea for CQ-Sponsored Contests
CQ has reversed its just-announced policy that it would no longer
accept logs for any CQ-sponsored contest from stations in Crimea
operating with Russian-issued call signs and is adopting a new policy
that is in harmony with ARRL's DXCC policy. In announcing the shift,
CQ Publisher Dick Ross, K2MGA, cited concerns raised by "a large
number of contesters around the world" that CQ was unfairly denying
Crimean radio amateurs the opportunity to fully participate in
CQ-sponsored contests.
"Since the country list for CQ contests is based on a combination of
the Worked All Europe (WAE) and ARRL DXCC lists, and the ARRL has
already adopted a policy regarding Crimean stations in its award and
contest programs, we will amend our policy to be consistent with the
ARRL's DXCC policy," Ross said.
Ross said that listings of Crimean stations submitting logs for CQ
contests will be based upon the call sign under which they operated.
"If they used Russian-issued calls in the contest, they will be listed
under Russia; if they used Ukrainian-issued calls in the contest, they
will be listed under Ukraine," he said.
Ross said the revised policy "reflects not only the desire of many
contesters around the world, but also of a large majority of members
of the CQ World Wide DX Contest Committee."
CQ sponsors several major international operating events, including
the CQ World Wide DX contests.
IARU EMC Coordinator Thilo Kootz, DL9KCE, Presented with IEC 1906
Award
IARU EMC Coordinator Thilo Kootz, DL9KCE/AD7IY, has been presented
with the IEC 1906 Award. Kootz received the award during the plenary
session of CISPR (the Special International Committee on Radio
Interference) held in Frankfurt on October 20. CISPR sets standards
for controlling electromagnetic interference in electrical and
electronic devices and is a part of the International Electrotechnical
Commission (IEC). Kootz represents the IARU at CISPR, overseeing the
protection of radio reception.
Thilo Kootz, DL9KCE (left) shakes hands with CISPR Chairman Donald N.
Heirman.
According to CISPR, Kootz received the honor for his "significant
contributions in defining the disturbance models and especially in
developing the model for radiated emission limits in the frequency
range below 30 MHz" for a section of a CISPR publication,
Specification for Radio Disturbance and Immunity Measuring Apparatus
and Methods.
He also contributed to the development of the radio services database
of the CISPR 31 publication, Database on the Characteristics of Radio
Services, and he made several technical contributions for the
disturbance model of grid-connected power converter devices and
installations and actively contributed to the work of generic emission
standards. Read more.
4M Moon Orbiter Carrying Ham Radio Payload Launching October 23
The Manfred Memorial Moon Mission (4M) lunar flyby experiment, which
will carry an Amateur Radio payload, was scheduled to launch from
China on October 23 with lunar flyby to occur, nominally, on October
28. During the lunar flyby, the spacecraft will be about nearly
248,000 miles from Earth and between 7440 and 14,480 miles from the
Moon.
The ham radio payload will transmit continuously on 145.990 MHz using
JT65B mode, which can be decoded using a version of the free WJST
software that Joe Taylor, K1JT, developed especially for this mission.
The 14 kg battery-powered payload known as 4M-LXS, was
A model of the 4M spacecraft superimposed on an image of the moon's
surface. [LUXspace graphic]
developed at LUXspace in Luxembourg.
The launch was set for approximately 1759 UTC on October 23, and the
lunar flyby will take place at 0033 UTC on October 28. 4M is expected
to begin transmitting on October 23 between 1917 UTC and 1927 UTC
Gir-space on October 25 from
Deer Trail, Colorado. The Douglas County, Colorado, STEM School and
STEM Academy and Spartan Amateur Radio Club, AB0BX, are sponsoring and
coordinating the next Edge of Space Sciences (EOSS) balloon mission --
EOSS-202. The "AB0BX Spartan Space Sciences" mission involves students
from several schools and school Amateur Radio clubs. If successful,
EOSS-202 will carry seven student-designed payloads to an altitude of
100,000 feet. The plan calls for recovering the parachute-equipped
balloon once it descends back to Earth. Onboard ham radio payloads
will help to track the balloon during flight and recovery and also
transmit telemetry during the mission.
"On this flight we have three ham radio signals coming down from the
balloon, all related to EOSS's tracking and recovery," Flight
Coordinator Jim Langsted, KC0RPS, told ARRL. These are AE0SS, the CW
beacon used for direction finding, used to help locate the payload
string once the balloon is back on the ground; AE0SS-11, the primary
APRS beacon, which shows the balloon's position and provides a
telemetry data stream that includes battery voltage, reference
voltage, barometric pressure, inside temperature, and outside
temperature, and AB0BX-11, the secondary APRS beacon. All payloads
will transmit on 2 meters.
Langsted said the AE0SS payload also can receive a signal from the
ground to cut away the balloon from the payload string to terminate
the flight, if necessary. "A secondary flight termination method such
as this is required by FAA regulation," he explained. "The primary
flight termination method is balloon burst."
The plan calls for seven payloads. Many of the students involved are
radio amateurs. Another 30 have expressed interest in getting
licensed. Read more.
Ad
A Century of Amateur Radio and the ARRL
A first took place on Space Shuttle mission STS-37. SAREX (Shuttle
Amateur Radio EXperiment) provided live communication from the shuttle
into many school classrooms to teach the students about space
exploration and Amateur Radio.
In July 1991, N6CA and KH6HME set a new record on 3456 MHz between
California and Hawaii. Each was running 5 W to a 4-foot dish.
In 1992, after 8 years as ARRL President, Larry Price, W4RA, declined
to run for re-election. The League's Board of Directors subsequently
chose him as the next International Affairs Vice President, which
provides liaison with the IARU, which Price served as Secretary.
George Wilson, W4OYI, succeeded Price as ARRL President.
N7FKI and W7ZOI reported in the March 1992 QST that they had built a
one-transistor 10 meter CW transmitter and made contacts with it using
lemon power -- essentially a cell made by inserting appropriate
electrodes into a lemon. If life gives you lemons, make contacts!
During the early 1990s, interest in digital communication grew, and
QST published many articles on the subject that helped fan the flames.
Also, hams became interested in the old concept of direct-conversion
receivers. KK7B presented one of the best in the August 1992 issue of
QST. Another old receiver circuit was also revived -- the regenerative
receiver. WJ1Z described one for 40 meters in the September 1992 issue
of QST.
The Atanasoff-Berry computer used racks of vacuum tubes.
By the early 1990s, digital signal processing (DSP) had made its
appearance, and had begun to be used by both homebrewing hams and
equipment manufacturers.
A September 1992 QST article, "ABC: The First Electronic Digital
Computer," recounted the fascinating tale of the first real computer,
the Atanasoff-Berry computer -- a vacuum tube device -- designed in
1939 and 1940 by university professor John Atanasoff and built by
electrical engineering student Clifford Berry, W9TIJ. -- Al Brogdon,
W1AB
Getting It Right!
A story, "Radio Amateurs Named to Order of Canada" in the August 14,
2014, edition of The ARRL Letter contained incorrect information about
the award presented to Veena Rawat, VA3ITU. It should have said,
"Rawat was honored as an Officer of the Order of Canada for
contributions to telecommunications engineering and for her leadership
in establishing a global regulatory framework for radio spectrum
management."
The K7RA Solar Update
Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington, reports: Solar activity is making
a healthy comeback, just in time for the SSB weekend of the CQ World
Wide DX Contest.
A series of large solar flares erupted this week. The most powerful
was an X1.6 flare on October 22. The sunspot is now directly facing
Earth.
Average daily sunspot numbers rose from 55.1 during October 9-15 to
83.9 this week, and average daily solar flux increased from 117.4 to
174.
The predicted solar flux for this weekend is 220, higher than on any
day since January 7. Prior to that, we didn't see solar flux values
this high since late October 2003. Accompanying the high solar flux
back then was a great deal of geomagnetic activity. On October 29,
2003, the mid-latitude A index hit 199! Several 3-hour K index values
were 9, the top of the scale. On the same day the daily sunspot number
was 330.
Predicted solar flux is 215 on October 23, 220 on October 24-27, 215
on October 28-29, 205 on October 30, 140 on October 31, 130 on
November 1-3, dropping to a low of 110 on November 8, and rising to
180 on November 19-20.
Along with that relatively high solar flux this weekend will be
unsettled geomagnetic conditions.
The predicted planetary A index is 15 on October 23-24, 10 on October
25, 12 on October 26-27, 10 on October 28-29, 8 on October 30, 5 on
October 31 through November 3, 8 on November 4, 10 on November 5, 8 on
November 6-7, 5 on November 8-9, 8 on November 10-11, then 5 and 8 on
November 12-13, 12 on November 14-15, 15 and 12 on November 16-17, 15
on November 18-19, then 12, 10, and 8 on November 20-22, and 10 on
November 23-24.
This weekly "Solar Update" in The ARRL Letter is a preview of the
"Propagation Bulletin" issued each Friday. The latest bulletin and an
archive of past propagation bulletins is on the ARRL website.
In tomorrow's bulletin look for an updated forecast and reports from
readers. Send me your reports and observations.
Just Ahead in Radiosport
October 25-26 -- CQ World Wide SSB Contest
October 31-November 2 -- Haunted Lighthouse QSO Party
November 1 -- IPA Contest
November 1-2 -- Ukranian DX Contest
November 1-2 -- Himalayan Contest
November 1-2 -- Radio Club of America QSO Party
November 1-3 -- ARRL November Sweepstakes (CW)
November 1-3 -- Collegiate ARC Championship
November 2 -- DARC 10-Meter Digital "Corona"
November 3 -- OK1WC Memorial Contest
November 4 -- ARS Spartan Sprint
November 6 -- CWOps Weekly Mini-CWT Tests
See the ARRL Contest Calendar for more information.
Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events
October 24-25 -- Oklahoma Section Convention, Ardmore, Oklahoma
November 1 -- TechFest 2014, Lakewood, Colorado
November 1-2 -- Georgia State Convention, Lawrenceville, Georgia
November 8 -- Alabama State Convention, Montgomery, Alabama
November 15-16 -- Indiana State Convention, Fort Wayne, Indiana
December 12-13 -- West Central Florida Section Convention, Plant City,
Florida
Find conventions and hamfests in your area.
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