The ARRL Letter
January 9, 2020

* ARRL's New On the Air Magazine on its Way to Members
* Volunteer Monitor Program Coordinator Looks Forward to a Positive
2020
* ARRL CEO Challenges Members: "Dare to Imagine"
* So Now What? Podcast
* Strong Earthquake Shakes Puerto Rico; Generating Capacity Severely
Compromised
* Australian Bushfires Causing Major Telecommunication Outages, Hams
on Duty
* Radio Amateurs of Canada Announces a New Section
* China Telecoms Regulator Proposing to Delete Some Current Amateur
Allocations
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* ARISS Next-Generation Radio System Ready for Launch to Space
Station
* CAMSAT Says CAS-6 Activation for Amateur Use Has Been Delayed
* In Brief...
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
ARRL's New On the Air Magazine on its Way to Members

The premiere issue of ARRL's On the Air magazine has left the printer
and is on its way to member subscribers. The magazine should be in
mailboxes within the next 10 days.


On the Air is the newest ARRL member benefit to help new licensees and
beginner-to-intermediate radio communicators navigate the world of
amateur radio. Eligible US-based members can elect to receive On the
Air or QST magazine in print when they join or when they renew their
ARRL membership.

Delivered six times a year, the magazine will present articles and tips
on selecting equipment, building projects, and getting involved in
emergency communication. On the Air will also spotlight the experiences
of those involved in public service communication and casual operating.

All members will be able to access digital editions of On the Air
magazine. The first digital issue of On the Air will be available
beginning January 14, supported by a new version of ARRL's digital
magazine app. With one app, members will be able to access On the Air
and QST.
Volunteer Monitor Program Coordinator Looks Forward to a Positive 2020

In a holiday season message to ARRL leadership and to members of the
new ARRL Volunteer Monitor (VM) program, its coordinator, Riley
Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, expressed his gratitude to all involved for their
contributions to getting the program off to a solid start in January.

"It will be a good year," Hollingsworth said. "We will have fun, you
will enjoy it more than you probably think, and -- thanks to the talent
and generosity of one of our VMs -- a computer program will make your
reporting much easier (there will be no need for bi-monthly reports!),"
he wrote. "This is our opportunity to help amateur radio last another
hundred years and to pay forward this wonderful avocation that joyfully
occupies our lives. This could be our legacy if we do it with all the
energy and devotion that characterized the Official Observer (OO)
program for decades."

Hollingsworth said the success of the OO program convinced the FCC to
trust ARRL with the responsibilities now to be taken up by the
Volunteer Monitor program. "Those of you who are former OOs have an
extra reason to be proud, and amateur radio is grateful to you more
than you will ever know," Hollingsworth concluded. "Thank you. It will
be a privilege to work with you this new year."

Approved by the ARRL Board of Directors in 2018, the Volunteer Monitor
program supplants the venerable OO program. The VM program represents a
formal agreement between the FCC and ARRL in which volunteers trained
and vetted by ARRL will monitor the airwaves and collect evidence that
can be used to correct misconduct. The program also will recognize
exemplary on-air operation, something not done during the OO program.
Cases of flagrant violations will be referred to the FCC by ARRL for
action in accordance with FCC guidelines.

The FCC proposed the new program in the wake of several FCC regional
office closures and a reduction in field staff. It will give
enforcement priority to cases developed by the Volunteer Monitor
program without ARRL's having to refer cases through the FCC online
complaint process.

ARRL CEO Challenges Members: "Dare to Imagine"

In his January 2020 QST "Second Century" editorial, ARRL CEO Howard
Michel, WB2ITX, challenges members to imagine what ARRL and amateur
radio will look like in 5 years and beyond and to dare to imagine
change.

"Younger hams are not just younger versions of you or me," Michel
writes. "They have grown up in a different world." He points out that
75% of non-members hold Technician licenses. "But more than license
class, their interests are different. Their demographics are different.
They are different, and they want different things," he said. His
approach is to target specific interest groups, which he calls
"verticals," that will allow ARRL to provide individual members what
they want.

"We can try to mold the future generation of hams to our image, or we
can embrace new hams for what they are," Michel asserted. "ARRL needs
to do the latter."

In addition to initiatives such as the new On the Air magazine,
debuting this month in print and digital editions, and the Lifelong
Learning program to engage new licensees, Michel is proposing verticals
focusing on radiosport, experimentation, and emergency communication.
He's recommending a new family of "mini-magazines" to reach niche
membership interests. "To jump start the mini-mag revolution," he said,
"We will offer NCJ and QEX in digital form to everyone." ARRL also
plans to hire a national club coordinator this year.

"Our focus will be on developing ways, and an infrastructure, that
members can use to organize themselves in ways they want, to do things
that they consider meaningful," Michel said.

He has invited members' comments.
So Now What? Podcast

In the final episode of So Now What? hosts Michelle Patnode, W3MVP, and
Joe Carcia, NJ1Q, will speak with ARRL VEC Assistant Manager Amanda
Grimaldi, N1NHL.

An archive of So Now What? episodes will remain on Blubrry and will be
accessible via the podcast's web page. Users can still direct questions
regarding the podcast via email.

Thank you to LDG Electronics for sponsoring the show and thanks to
everyone for listening!

Strong Earthquake Shakes Puerto Rico; Generating Capacity Severely
Compromised

ARRL Puerto Rico Section Manager Oscar Resto, KP4RF, says small tremors
continue on the island in the wake of the 6.4 magnitude earthquake that
struck the southwestern part of the island on January 7. A magnitude
5.8 quake struck a day earlier. The Puerto Rico Electric Power
Authority (PREPA) reported widespread power outages after generating
plants automatically activated protective shutdown systems following
the earthquake. But Resto told ARRL this week that considerable
generating capacity was lost due to earthquake damage, and that it will
take at least several days before replacement units can be brought back
on line. Only about 20% of the island has electric power at this point,
he estimated.

"We have a shortage of about 1,100 megawatts of power," Resto told
ARRL. "We normally need about 2,000 megawatts for the island."

Resto cited the largely operational telecommunications network as the
reason why no Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) activations have
been necessary. "We have cell phones all over the island working," he
said. Resto told ARRL that he's been working up a list of ready and
resilient amateur radio volunteers who would be able to muster if
needed to assist the American Red Cross, with which Puerto Rico ARES
has a memorandum of understanding. "We are in continuous communication
with the ARC in case we're needed."

Resto stressed that he wants to avoid situations where volunteers
activate only to be told they're not needed.

The worst-impacted cities were Guayanilla, Peñuelas, Yauco, and
Guánica. Resto said engineers have determined that 80% of the houses in
the earthquake's impact zone are uninhabitable. Residents are sleeping
outdoors, Resto said.

Puerto Rico Section Public Information Officer Angel Santana, WP3GW,
told ARRL that VHF and UHF repeaters with emergency power have carried
reports of power and water outages, the continuing aftershocks, and
other information on an informal basis. Bottled water and canned food
have been in high demand, he said. Santana said the PREMA Emergency
Operations Center (EOC) has been activated.

Resto earlier this week called the situation "scary, with houses,
schools, and roads collapsing." At least one death has resulted from
the earthquake. He said the earthquake disaster definitely was a
setback for the US territory as it continues its long recovery from
severe hurricane damage in 2017. But, he added, the restored
telecommunications infrastructure is more robust, to minimize damage in
future disasters.
Australian Bushfires Causing Major Telecommunication Outages, Hams on
Duty

Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) President Greg Kelly, VK2GPK,
says the bushfires in Australia have caused significant disruption of
telecommunication services in the states of Victoria and New South
Wales. Radio amateurs are supporting relief operations and
communication.

WICEN (Wireless Institute Civil Emergency Network) in New South Wales
reports it has been active assisting in a number of multi-agency
activities during the bushfire emergency, in its role as a support
squad of the NSW Volunteer Rescue Association (VRA) operations center
in Bega. WICEN teams in NSW and in the Australian Capital Territory
(ACT) have sent a team to Bega to help re-establish radio communication
services, disrupted by fire activity.

WICEN and other VRA squads continue to support the Rural Fire Service
(RFS) at various Fire Control Centers and the Bushfire Information
Line. Other WICEN members remain active with the RFS and the State
Emergency Service.

Kelley has asked radio amateurs in International Amateur Radio Union
(IARU) Region 3 to monitor the emergency communications frequencies,
per the IARU Region 3 band plan, whenever possible, as well as
repeaters. "Amateurs seeking to establish emergency communication
should use these EMCOMM frequencies in the first instance, or repeaters
if available," he said in a statement posted on the IARU Region 3
website.

"Radio amateurs who are volunteers for [WICEN and other emergency
communication organizations] should keep themselves updated," Kelley
advised. "Emergency communication is one of the main reasons radio
amateurs have access to RF spectrum. Please assist if and when you
can."

The IARU Region 3 emergency "center of activity" frequencies are 3.600,
7.110, 14.300, 18.160, and 21.360 MHz. These are not net frequencies,
but they are recommended as starting points for emergency traffic, and
activity may extend 5 kHz above or below the designated center
frequency.

South of NSW in the state of Victoria, WICEN VIC reports that the
amateur repeater network is largely off the air, possibly due to a lack
of power. "Some sites may have been directly affected by fire," WICEN
VIC said on January 4. "It could be some weeks until the sites can be
reached for inspection."

Radio Amateurs of Canada Announces a New Section

The number of Sections needed for a clean sweep in the ARRL November
Sweepstakes (SS) will rise to 84 in 2020, with the addition of a new
Prince Edward Island (PE) Section. Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) has
announced that the new Section will become effective on April 1.

Prince Edward Island has been in the Maritimes (MAR) Section. RAC said
its Prince Edward Island members have been working for some time to
create a separate Section for RAC ARES activities there. The provinces
of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick will remain in the Maritimes Section.

In addition to Field Day and Sweepstakes, the new Section in Canada
will affect the ARRL 160-Meter Contest but not the ARRL 10-Meter
Contest, which uses individual states/provinces for US and Canadian
multipliers. The change will mean that logging software developers will
have to update their software to include the PE Section as a valid
exchange element for any affected operating events.

RAC also announced an adjustment in two of its Ontario Sections.
Effective April 1, radio amateurs in the City of Hamilton and in the
Regional Municipality of Niagara will shift to the Greater Toronto Area
(GTA) Section from the Ontario South (ONS) Section.
China Telecoms Regulator Proposing to Delete Some Current Amateur
Allocations

China's telecommunications regulator has proposed amending the Measures
for the ministration of Amateur Radio Stations, and some amateur
bands are in danger of being eliminated. Lide Zhang, BI8CKU, told ARRL
that the proposal would prohibit amateur operation on the 2200-meter
band as well as on 146 - 148 MHz, 1260 - 1300 MHz, 3400 - 3500 MHz,
5650 - 5725 MHz, and all bands above 10 GHz.

Radio communications engineer and Chinese Amateur Satellite Group
(CAMSAT) CEO Alan Kung, BA1DU, told ARRL that government efforts to
eliminate some amateur bands are nothing new, but proposals that have
been aired for a while now are on the regulatory agency's schedule.
Kung said he does not anticipate that all of the bands proposed will be
taken away, but he conceded that the climate will "undoubtedly" become
increasingly more dangerous for China's amateur radio community.

"The attempt to crowd out the amateur radio bands has a long history
throughout the world," he said, "but it may never have become so urgent
for the amateur radio community as it is today. We all understand that
radio spectrum resources have become a bottleneck for further
development." He said today's radio communication industry "is working
hard to share spectrum resources."

Kung characterized spectrum as "the soil on which amateur radio
depends."

The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Sunspots appeared recently, all
indicating that they belong to Cycle 25 due to their polarity, which is
just the opposite from Cycle 24 spots. Sunspots appeared December 24 -
26, and what appeared to be a new Cycle 25 spot showed up on January 1.
NOAA did not report it, but Spaceweather.com reported a sunspot number
of 11 for January 1.

Predicted solar flux for the next 45 days is higher than in recent
forecasts: 72 on January 2-9; 70 on January 10-11; 72 on January 12-25;
70 on January 26 - February 7, and 72 on February 8-15.

Predicted planetary A index is 5 on January 2-13; 12 on January 14-15;
5 on January 16-25; 8 on January 2-28; 5 on January 29 - February 9; 10
on February 10-11, and 5 on February 12-15.

Sunspot numbers for December 19-25 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 24, and 23, with
a mean of 6.7. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 69.9, 70, 70.6, 71, 72.6,
72.7, and 72.1, with a mean of 71.3. Estimated planetary A indices were
13, 5, 5, 4, 4, 3, and 4, with a mean of 5.4. The middle latitude A
index was 12, 4, 4, 2, 2, 2, and 3, with a mean of 4.1.

Sunspot numbers for December 26 - January 1 were 11, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, and
11, with a mean of 3.1. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 72.1, 72.4, 72.2,
72, 70.9, 70.5, and 71.8, with a mean of 71.7. Estimated planetary A
indices were 5, 3, 2, 2, 3, 4, and 3, with a mean of 3.1. Middle
latitude A index was 3, 2, 0, 0, 2, 4, and 3, with a mean of 2.

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
* January 11 -- YB DX Contest (Phone)
* January 11 -- Old New Year Contest (CW, phone)
* January 11 - 12 -- UBA PSK63 Prefix Contest
* January 11 - 12 -- SKCC Weekend Sprintathon (CW)
* January 11 - 12 -- North American QSO Party, CW
* January 12 -- NRAU-Baltic Contest, SSB, CW (separate events)
* January 12 -- DARC 10-Meter Contest (CW, phone)
* January 12 -- RSGB AFS Contest, Data
* January 12 - 15 -- Classic Exchange (CW)
* January 13 -- 4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint (CW, phone)
* January 16 -- NAQCC CW Sprint (CW)

See the ARRL Contest Calendar for more information. For in-depth
reporting on amateur radio contesting, subscribe to The ARRL Contest
Update via your ARRL member profile email preferences.
ARISS Next-Generation Radio System Ready for Launch to Space Station

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) reports that
its first Interoperable Radio System (IORS) flight unit -- serial
number 1001 -- has been delivered to NASA's Johnson Space Center for
launch in early March. The IORS represents the first major upgrade in
ARISS equipment on the International Space Station since Amateur Radio
gained a permanent presence onboard the ISS in 2000. In December, ARISS
received approval from NASA Safety to launch the IORS on SpaceX CRS-20
and stow the radio system on the ISS for future installation.

"The IORS is a foundational element of the ARISS next-generation radio
system and is an incredible engineering achievement by the ARISS
hardware team," ARISS International President Frank Bauer, KA3HDO,
said. "This first element delivery will support easier radio mode
transitions and enable new, exciting capabilities for hams, students,
and the general public."

The new system includes a higher-power radio, an enhanced voice
repeater, and updated digital packet radio (APRS) and slow-scan
television (SSTV) capabilities for both the US and Russian space
station segments. The IORS consists of a custom-modified JVC Kenwood
TM-D710GA transceiver, an AMSAT-developed multi-voltage power supply,
and interconnecting cables.

The IORS set to launch in March will be installed in the ISS Columbus
module; a second flight unit is expected to be launched later this year
for installation in the Russian Service module. The ARISS hardware team
will assemble four flight units -- and 10 IORS units in all -- to
support onboard flight operations, training, operations planning, and
hardware testing.

ARISS International President Frank
Bauer, KA3HDO.

"Future upgrades and enhancements to the next-generation system are in
various stages of design and development," Bauer said. "These include a
repaired Ham Video system -- currently planned for launch in
mid-to-late 2020, L-band (uplink) repeater, ground command operations
capability, LimeSDR signal reception, a microwave 'Ham Communicator,'
and Lunar Gateway prototype experiment."

Bauer said a lot of "heavy lifting" remains to prepare the IORS for
operation on the space station. "ARISS has 92 engineering requirements
and our operations Phase III safety review to complete," he explained.
"The space agencies take a position of 'trust, but verify.' Thus, these
engineering and safety 'verifications' all need to be closed out before
the IORS can be unstowed and turned on. This will be the ARISS hardware
team's focus over the next few months."

Bauer reminded that ARISS is almost entirely run by volunteers and
encouraged donations for next-generation hardware developments,
operations, education, and administrative functions.
CAMSAT Says CAS-6 Activation for Amateur Use Has Been Delayed

Chinese Amateur Satellite Group (CAMSAT) CEO Alan Kung, BA1DU, told
ARRL this week that some problems with the precise attitude
determination of the newly launched CAS-6 amateur radio satellite have
delayed deployment of the antennas. The satellite was to have been put
into service within 3 days.

"If the V/UHF antennas are deployed now, additional torque may affect
determination of the satellite attitude," Kung said. "Engineers need to
modify and upload the software, which will take some time." He said
that taking into consideration the upcoming long Chinese New Year
holiday, the test work is planned to be completed sometime in late
February or early March. At that time, VHF/UHF antennas will be
deployed, and the amateur radio payload will be available for use.

Kung points out that the satellite's CW beacon has been turned on,
although the antenna has not yet been deployed. "If you have a 'big
ear,' you may be able to receive weak signal leaked from an undeployed
antenna on 145.910 MHz," he said. "A polyimide cover on the antenna
chassis can help to leak some RF signal."

CAMSAT has provided CAS-6 Satellite Digital Telemetry Description and
CW Telemetry Beacon Encoding Format documents. -- Thanks to Alan Kung,
BA1DU
In Brief...

ARRL San Joaquin Valley Section Manager Dan Pruitt, AE6SX, of Fresno,
California, died on December 27. He was 68 and had been hospitalized as
a result of a fall. First licensed in 1965, Pruitt had served as SJV SM
since 2009 and had begun a new 2-year term last year. Assistant SM John
Litz, NZ6Q, has been appointed to succeed him. Pruitt had previously
served as Fresno County Emergency Coordinator, and his focus has been
on improving emergency communication in his region, working with the
Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES), the National Traffic
System, the Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS), the American Red
Cross, the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), and the System for
ministration, Training, and Educational Resources for NASA. He had
also served as SJV Public Information Officer. Litz, an ARRL Life
Member from Stockton, California, was first licensed in 1974. He is
active in many facets of Amateur Radio, and has served as an Assistant
Section Manager in San Joaquin Valley for the past year.

Tickets for three traditional dinners held in association with the 2020
Dayton Hamvention^(R) in May are now available. The DX Dinner, the Top
Band Dinner, and the Contest Dinner. Inductees to the CQ DX and CQ
Contest Halls of Fame will be announced at the DX Dinner and Contest
Dinner, respectively. Hall of Fame nominations are due by March 1. Read
more.

ARRL West Central Florida Section Celebrating its 20th Anniversary this
Year The ARRL West Central Florida Section is marking its 20th
anniversary this year. The Section newsletter, the WCF Presser,
includes information on celebratory activities. A K4WCF special event
in January will activate all 10 of the Section's counties, with
additional K4WCF special events later in the year. The West Central
Florida Section website also has a new look for the 20th anniversary
celebration, its first since January 2015. West Central Florida was
ARRL's 71st Section. It includes Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands,
Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, and Sarasota counties.
Darrell Davis, KT4WX, is the West Central Florida Section Manager.

Wolf Hadel, DK2OM, stepped down at year's end as coordinator of the
International Amateur Radio Union Region 1 Monitoring System (IARUMS).
IARU Region 1 President Don Beattie, G3BJ, announced in December that,
after many years of monitoring and tracking intruders on the amateur
bands, Hadel has been awarded the IARU President's Diamond Award in
recognition of his efforts. Hadel worked for the Deutscher Amateur
Radio Club (DARC) monitoring system for more than 30 years and has
coordinated IARUMS since 2005. IARUMS Region 1 Vice Coordinator Peter
Jost, HB9CET, will take over as coordinator for the time being. Read
more.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
* January 17 - 18 -- North Texas Section Convention, Forest Hill,
Texas
* January 19 - 25 -- Quartzfest, Quartzsite, Arizona
* January 25 -- ARRL Midwest Conference, Collinsville, Illinois
* February 1 -- South Carolina State Convention, North Charleston,
South Carolina
* February 1 -- Virginia State Convention, Richmond, VA
* February 7 - 9 -- Northern Florida Section Convention, Orlando,
Florida
* February 14 - 15 -- Southwest Division Convention, Yuma, Arizona

Find conventions and hamfests in your area.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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Copyright (c) 2020 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and
distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is permitted for
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--- SendMsg/2

--- Squish/386 v1.11
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Limestone, TN, USA (1:18/200)

The ARRL Letter
January 16, 2020

* ARRL On the Air Podcast Premieres January 16
* Leadership Elections to Highlight January 17 - 18 ARRL Annual Board
Meeting
* US Air Force Space Fence Nearing Operational Acceptance
* Puerto Rico Earthquake Relief Effort Continues, with Help from Ham
Radio
* 2019 ARRL Periodicals Available on DVD and via Download
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* YOTA Month Reported a Success in the Americas
* Nominations Solicited for Six ARRL Awards
* In Brief...
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
ARRL On the Air Podcast Premieres January 16

ARRL's new On the Air podcast for those just getting started on their
amateur radio journey will debut this Thursday, January 16, with a new
episode posted each month. The podcast is a companion to the new
bimonthly On the Air magazine, which is already on its way to member
subscribers. On the Air magazine's Editorial Director Becky Schoenfeld,
W1BXY, will be the host of the new podcast. Both the podcast and the
magazine are aimed at offering new and beginner-to-intermediate-level
radio amateurs a fresh approach to exploring radio communication.

Listeners can find the On the Air podcast at Blubrry, Apple iTunes (or
by using your iPhone or iPad podcast app -- search for On the Air), and
Stitcher (or through the free Stitcher app for iOS, Kindle, or Android
devices). Episodes will be archived on the ARRL website.

Each On the Air podcast will take a deeper dive into the articles and
issues raised in the magazine, including advice and insight on topics
covering the range of amateur radio interests and activities: radio
technology, operating, equipment, project building, and emergency
communication.

Supplementing On the Air will be a new Facebook page for those who
share a love of radio communication and are looking to learn and
explore more about their interests.

The biweekly Eclectic Tech podcast for experienced radio amateurs will
launch on February 13. Hosted by QST Editor Steve Ford, WB8IMY,
Eclectic Tech will highlight topics involving amateur and non-amateur
technology, offer brief interviews with individuals involved in
projects of interest to amateurs, and include practical information of
immediate benefit to today's hams. Eclectic Tech will be available via
iTunes and Stitcher.

The ARRL Mags apps including QST and On the Air are now live on Apple
iTunes and Google Play. The digital edition of On the Air magazine is
also live and linked from the On the Air page on the ARRL website.
Leadership Elections to Highlight January 17 - 18 ARRL Annual Board
Meeting

Southeastern
Division
Director
Mickey
Baker, N4MB.
[Michelle
Patnode,
W3MVP,
photo]

The ARRL Board of Directors will elect officers when it meets for its
2020 annual meeting on January 17 - 18 in Windsor, Connecticut. The
Board will hear nominations and then vote, as necessary, for ARRL
president, first and second vice presidents, international affairs vice
president, secretary, treasurer, chief executive officer, and chief
financial officer. The Board will also choose members to serve on the
Executive Committee and on the ARRL Foundation. Successful candidates
will take office after the Board meeting adjourns.

Some new faces will be around the table. The ARRL Southeastern Division
has entirely new leadership.

Southeastern
Division Vice
Director James
Schilling,
KG4JSZ. [Michelle
Patnode, W3MVP,
photo]

In last year's elections, Mickey Baker, N4MB, defeated Greg Sarratt,
W4OZK, to become the new Southeastern Division Director, while James
Schilling, KG4JSZ, won a three-way race for Vice Director.

In the Southwest Division, new Vice Director Mark Weiss, K6FG, was the
sole candidate to succeed Ned Stearns, AA7A, who decided not to stand
for another term.

The Board will hear officers' reports and receive financial reports.
Members will also hear reports from ARRL's Washington Counsel, David
Siddall, K3ZJ, and from its Connecticut Counsel.

Southwestern
Division Vice
Director Mark
Weiss, K6FG.
[Michelle
Patnode, W3MVP,
photo]

The Board will also receive and consider reports and recommendations
from committees and coordinators.

ditionally, the Board will consider recommendations of the Standing
Committees, including the Executive Committee, the ministration and
Finance Committee, and the Programs and Services Committee and consider
additional recommendations as contained in reports.

The meeting will hear any motions that the 15 individual Directors may
offer for Board consideration.

US Air Force Space Fence Nearing Operational Acceptance

According to NASA's most recent Orbital Debris Quarterly News, the
space agency calculates about 17.6 million pounds of objects are in
earth orbit, a number that will grow as launches proliferate --
including thousands of small satellites -- presenting a huge problem.
The US Air Force Space Fence -- a second-generation space surveillance
system now nearing completion -- is expected to play a crucial role.

Space Fence is located on Kwajalein
Atoll in the Marshall Islands. [US
Army photo]

Using advanced solid-state S-band radar technology, Space Fence is
located on Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. Such critical
space-based technologies as weather forecasting, banking, global
communications, and GPS navigation are under threat from space junk
orbiting Earth. Collisions already are frequent, and defunct satellites
and rocket boosters have increased the amount of space debris.

The Air Force Space Surveillance Network tracks about 25,000 objects.
When Space Fence comes online, the catalog will expand considerably,
and when fully operational, it will be the world's largest and most
advanced radar system, offering unprecedented space situational
awareness. Beyond cataloging objects, Space Fence will detect closely
spaced objects, breakups, maneuvers, launches, and more.

Contractor Lockheed Martin reported last spring that Space Fence was
able to detect debris from a microsatellite destroyed by India as part
of an anti-satellite test. It then was able to determine the orbit of
the remnants and predict when the space junk would pass through the
fence again.

Space Fence is expected to become fully operational this year. --
Thanks to AMSAT News Service via Milsat Magazine; Lockheed Martin
Puerto Rico Earthquake Relief Effort Continues, with Help from Ham
Radio

In Puerto Rico, Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) volunteers
continue to operate from the American Red Cross distribution center in
Yauco -- one of the towns hit the hardest by the recent earthquakes and
ongoing aftershocks on the island. The Red Cross requested assistance
last week to identify undeclared refugee camps and to report on closed
or damaged roadways and bridges. ARES District 5

Volunteers Eduardo Hernandez, WP4RAF
(left), and Herb Perez, WP4ZZ.
[Photo courtesy of Oscar Resto,
KP4RF]

Emergency Coordinator Herb Perez, WP4ZZ, who is among those
volunteering for the Red Cross at Yauco, reported on January 14 that
he, Melvin Velazquez, WP4RAP, and Yolanda Garcia, WP4QZF, were on duty
there.

"Today, we were able to occupy our space with no major incident other
than the usual shaking of the entire structure. More than 10 per hour,"
Perez said. "One of our members, Jared Martinez, KP4LCO, was able to
search near his hometown of Lajas and was able to locate more than 10
unidentified campsites around the area." Perez said such reports enable
the Red Cross to provide necessary assistance to those left homeless as
a result of the earthquakes.

Perez said volunteers were able to collect food from a church-run food
pantry in Sabana Grande for isolated communities in the mountain
region. He said local members of the General Mobile Radio Service
(GMRS) and Citizens Band radio communities have been pitching in.

Operations from Yauco have been on VHF and UHF, although commercial
telecommunication services remain in operation for the most part.
Another station has been established at the Red Cross Headquarters in
the capital of San Juan, which is not in the earthquake zone. Puerto
Rico Section Manager Oscar Resto, KP4RF, said the stations are
operating as a backbone, in the event of new or stronger earthquakes.
HF equipment has been safely stowed if communications fail, Resto said.
Most of Puerto Rico now has power and water.

Puerto Rico Section Manager Oscar
Resto, KP4RF, installs an antenna at
Red Cross Headquarters in San Juan.

ARRL is shipping six VHF/UHF base/repeater antennas and six 50-foot
rolls of LMR-400 coax through the Ham Aid Fund. Resto said a new Red
Cross warehouse will be placed in Mayagüez, where he will install a
third station for backbone communication. "That is the reason for the
new antennas," he said. "We already have the radios. In case we need to
escalate to HF, we are ready with ARRL go-kits from Hurricane Maria."

A lot of seismic activity was reported on January 15. "Many more or
less 3.1 quakes were felt during the day," Perez said. That included a
magnitude 5.1 temblor that shook the facilities.

The ARES team in Yauco has also been handling health-and-welfare
traffic from the earthquake zone. Operations are running from 9 AM
until 5 PM each day.

A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck the southwestern part of Puerto Rico
on January 7, fast on the heels of a magnitude 5.8 tremor the day
before. The worst-impacted cities were Guayanilla, Peñuelas, Yauco, and
Guánica, where most homes are no longer habitable.

2019 ARRL Periodicals Available on DVD and via Download

The 2019 ARRL Periodicals DVD is now available and includes the
complete, fully searchable collection of three ARRL publications --
QST, the official membership journal of ARRL, QEX Forum for
Communications Experimenters, and National Contest Journal (NCJ). In
addition, the DVD includes source code for software projects and PC
board patterns; Section News, and the ever-popular Contest Soapbox and
Contest Results.

Search the full text of every article by entering titles, call signs,
or names. See every word, photo, drawing, and table in technical and
general-interest features, columns and product reviews, plus all
advertisements. Print what you see, or copy it into other applications.
System requirements: Microsoft Windows and Macintosh systems, using
obe Acrobat Reader software.

The 2019 ARRL Periodicals DVD is available from the ARRL Store or your
ARRL Dealer. (ARRL Item no. 1274, ISBN: 978-1-62595-127-4, $24.95
retail, plus shipping. Call 860-594-0355 or toll-free in the US,
888-277-5289. 2019 ARRL Periodicals is also available as a download in
a Windows version (ARRL Item no. 1274_WD) and Mac/Linux version (ARRL
Item no. 1274_MLD).
The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Solar Cycle 25 sunspots persisted on
January 9 - 10, with daily sunspot numbers of 14 and 11, respectively.
This brought the weekly average daily sunspot number from 8.4 last week
to 3.6 this week. Average daily solar flux edged up from 71.8 to 72.5.

The average daily planetary A index declined from 6.3 to 5.6, and the
average middle latitude A index went from 5.3 to 3.7.

Predicted solar flux for the next 45 days is 71 on January 16 - 18; 70
on January 19 - 23; 72 on January 24 - 25; 70 on January 26 - February
7; 72 on February 8 - 22, and 70 on February 23 - 29.

Predicted planetary A index is 5 on January 16 - 18; 8 on January 19 -
20; 5 on January 21 - 31; 8 on February 1 - 2; 5 on February 3; 10 on
February 4 - 6; 5 on February 7 - 9; 10 on February 10 - 11; 5 on
February 12 - 22; 8 on February 23 - 24; 5 on February 25 - 27, and 8
on February 28 - 29.

Sunspot numbers for January 9 - 15 were 14, 11, 0, 0, 0, 0, and 0, with
a mean of 3.6. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 74.4, 72.8, 73.5, 71.9,
71.5, 71.9, and 71.2, with a mean of 72.5. Estimated planetary A
indices were 12, 7, 6, 4, 3, 3, and 4, with a mean of 5.6. The middle
latitude A index was 8, 6, 4, 2, 2, 2, and 2, with a mean of 3.7.

A comprehensive K7RA Solar Update is posted Fridays on the ARRL
website. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the
ARRL Technical Information Service, read "What the Numbers Mean...,"
and check out K9LA's Propagation Page.

A propagation bulletin archive is available. Monthly charts offer
propagation projections between the US and a dozen DX locations.

Just Ahead in Radiosport
* January 17 -- LZ Open Contest (CW)
* January 18 -- RSGB AFS Contest, SSB
* January 18 -- WAB 1.8 MHz Phone/CW
* January 18 - 19 -- Hungarian DX Contest (CW, phone)
* January 18 - 19 -- North American QSO Party, SSB
* January 18 - 19 -- NA Collegiate Championship, SSB
* January 18 - 19 -- Feld Hell Sprint
* January 18 - 20 -- ARRL January VHF Contest (CW, phone, digital)
* January 20 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)
* January 22 -- SKCC Sprint (CW)
* January 23 -- 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.
YOTA Month Reported a Success in the Americas

For several years now, Youngsters on the Air (YOTA) has sponsored YOTA
Month each December, primarily involving young radio amateurs in Europe
and Africa. In December, youth-operated amateur radio stations in the
Americas picked up the ball to contribute more than 12,000 contacts to
the worldwide event. Eighteen operators aged 25 or younger deployed
special event 1 * 1 call signs -- K8Y, K8O, K8T, and K8A -- to promote
youth in amateur radio. Fifteen young operators across the US took
turns using these call signs throughout December. They logged 10,474
contacts using those call signs on SSB, CW, digital modes, and
satellites. Some operators also aired the call signs during contests.
Participants in the Americas offered opinions on what made the event
special for them.

"Operating-wise, it was definitely the pileups...I love a good pileup,"
said Mason Matrazzo, KM4SII. "Apart from that, it was great getting to
be part of a group of youngsters that are all into the hobby. Even
though we weren't physically working together, we all got to be part of
the YOTA program over the air."

Audrey McElroy, KM4BUN, also cited the on-air camaraderie. "My favorite
part of YOTA month was getting the wonderful experience of talking to
other youth all over the world and sharing our experiences," she said.
"It gives us hope to know the future of amateur radio is in the hands
of these great kids." Her brother Jack, KM4ZIA, also took part.

In Canada, David Samu, VE7DZO, signed VE7YOTA in December, making 458
contacts on CW. "My favorite part was seeing all the YOTA stations on
the air throughout December and seeing all the high energy youth
activity," he said.

YOTA Month in the Americas
Coordinator Bryant Rascoll, KG5HVO,
at WRTC-2018.

Mathias Acevedo, CE2LR, activated XR2YOTA, and met another young
operator from Chile, Manu Pardo, CA3MPR, through YOTA month. Between
them, they put 1,535 contacts into the log on CW, SSB, and digital
modes.

Bryant Rascoll, KG5HVO, coordinated the efforts of the 17 participants
and the logs for the US stations. "I learned much during the month
about the importance of teamwork and communication...just like
baseball," Bryant said about his role as coordinator. "I think YOTA
month was a great success considering the short amount of time we had
to plan this all out. I had a lot of fun operating this event, but it
was even more rewarding to see other youth here in the Americas make
tons of QSOs during December."

The first Youth On The Air camp in the US will take place June 21 - 26
at the National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting in West Chester
Township, Ohio. Read more.

Nominations Solicited for Six ARRL Awards

ARRL is inviting nominations for awards that recognize educational and
technological pursuits in amateur radio. Nominations are also open for
ARRL's premier award to honor a young licensee.
* The Hiram Percy Maxim Award recognizes a radio amateur and ARRL
member younger than age 21, whose accomplishments and contributions
are of the most exemplary nature within the framework of amateur
radio activities. Nominations for this award are made through ARRL
Section Managers, who will forward nominations to ARRL
Headquarters. The deadline is March 31, 2020.
* The ARRL Herb S. Brier Instructor of the Year Award honors an ARRL
volunteer amateur radio instructor or ARRL professional classroom
teacher who uses creative instructional approaches and reflects the
highest values of the amateur radio community. The award highlights
quality of and commitment to licensing instruction. Nominations are
due by March 16, 2020.
* The ARRL Microwave Development Award pays tribute to a radio
amateur or group of radio amateurs who contribute to the
development of the amateur radio microwave bands. The nomination
deadline is March 31, 2020.
* The ARRL Technical Service Award recognizes an individual radio
amateur or group of radio amateurs who provide amateur radio
technical assistance or training. The nomination deadline is March
31, 2020.
* The ARRL Technical Innovation Award is conferred on an individual
radio amateur or group of radio amateurs who develop and apply new
technical ideas or techniques in amateur radio. The nomination
deadline is March 31, 2020.
* The Knight Distinguished Service Award recognizes exceptional
contributions by a Section Manager to the health and vitality of
ARRL. The nomination deadline is April 30, 2020.

The ARRL Board of Directors selects award recipients, and winners are
typically announced following the Board's July meeting. More
information about these awards on the ARRL website, or contact Steve
Ewald, WV1X, telephone (860) 594-0265.
In Brief...

W1AW will be on the air for Winter Field Day. Members of the Warren
County (New York) Amateur Radio Club (W2WCR) will activate Maxim
Memorial Station W1AW for Winter Field Day 2020 over the January 25 -
26 weekend. Winter Field Day is sponsored by the Winter Field Day
Association (WFDA), which believes that emergency communication is
important throughout the year. Winter Field Day is open to radio
amateurs worldwide. The WFDA's goal is to help enhance operating skills
and to prepare participants for all environmental conditions. Winter
Field Day runs for 24 hours. Station set-up may start no earlier than
1900 UTC on the day before the event and may not take any longer than
12 hours in total. Expect activity on all amateur bands except 12, 17,
30, and 60 meters. All modes that can handle the required exchange are
welcome; this does not include FT8. Entry categories include indoor,
outdoor, and home. Full details are on the Winter Field Day website.

The free ARRL Events app, which will be featured at Orlando HamCation,
is now available for both Apple iOS and Android devices. A web-browser
version, optimized for nearly any browser or other mobile device type,
is also available to view. Orlando HamCation 2020 takes place February
7 - 9 and has been sanctioned as the 2020 ARRL Northern Florida Section
Convention. Hosted annually by the Orlando Amateur Radio Club,
HamCation is one of the largest annual amateur radio gatherings in the
US.

Marvin Hoffman, WA4NC, will take over this spring as ARRL North
Carolina Section Manager. Hoffman, of Boone, was the sole nominee to
succeed incumbent Section Manager Karl Bowman, W4CHX, of Raleigh, who
decided not to run for a new term after serving since 2014. Because no
challengers came forward by the nomination deadline, no contested SM
elections took place during the winter election cycle. These incumbent
Section Managers will begin new terms in 2020: John Fritze, K2QY,
Eastern New York; George Miller, W3GWM, Eastern Pennsylvania; John Mark
Robertson, K5JMR, Louisiana; Joe Speroni, AH0A, Pacific; Dave
Kaltenborn, N8KBC, San Diego; Chris Stallkamp, KI0D, South Dakota, and
Joe Palsa, K3WRY, Virginia. New 2-year terms of office begin on April
1.

The fourth annual AM Rally operating event will take place February 1 -
3 (UTC). The annual AM Rally encourages all operators to explore
amateur radio's original voice mode by showcasing the various types of
AM equipment in use today, ranging from early vacuum-tube rigs to the
newest SDR-based transceivers. "Both new and experienced ops are
discovering that AM can sound quite good, enhancing the enjoyment of
contacts," said Clark Burgard, N1BCG, an enthusiastic promoter of the
event. "The AM Rally provides a great reason to give it a try." The AM
Rally is open to all radio amateurs capable of running full-carrier,
amplitude modulation (standard AM) using any type of radio equipment --
modern, vintage, tube, solid-state, software-defined, military, boat
anchor, broadcast, homebrew, or commercially manufactured -- are
encouraged to join in the AM fun on 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, and 6
meters. Details are on the AM Rally website or contact Burgard via
email. The AM Rally is sponsored by ARRL, Radio Engineering Associates,
and iNetRadio.

An international team of 10 operators will be active as W8S from Swains
Island from March 10 to March 25. The DXpedtion team will be active on
all HF bands on CW, SSB, FT8, and RTTY. Operation will be from two
separate camps on the island -- a Red Camp and a Blue Camp -- each with
two stations. The four stations will be on the air 24/7. The station
equipment complements are identical. Two stations will be dedicated for
160 and 80 meters. A WiFi network will link the Red and Blue camps to
network all logging laptops. Hans Griessl, DL6JGN, and Ronald Stuy,
PA3EWP, are co-leaders. Swains Island (Olohega) is an atoll in the
Tokelau chain. Swains is a US territory and considered part of American
Samoa. Swains Island is the 34th most-wanted DXCC entity, according to
Club Log.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
* January 17 - 18 -- North Texas Section Convention, Forest Hill,
Texas
* January 19 - 25 -- Quartzfest, Quartzsite, Arizona
* January 25 -- ARRL Midwest Conference, Collinsville, Illinois
* February 1 -- South Carolina State Convention, North Charleston,
South Carolina
* February 1 -- Virginia State Convention, Richmond, VA
* February 7 - 9 -- Northern Florida Section Convention, Orlando,
Florida
* February 14 - 15 -- Southwest Division Convention, Yuma, Arizona

Find conventions and hamfests in your area.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for
Amateur Radio News and Information.

.

.
* Join or Renew Today! ARRL membership includes QST, amateur radio's
most popular and informative journal, delivered to your mailbox
each month.
* Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday.

Subscribe to...
* NCJ -- National Contest Journal. Published bimonthly, features
articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA
Sprint, and QSO parties.
* QEX -- A Forum for Communications Experimenters. Published
bimonthly, features technical articles, construction projects,
columns, and other items of interest to radio amateurs and
communications professionals.

Free of charge to ARRL members...
* Subscribe to the ARES E-Letter (monthly public service and
emergency communications news), the ARRL Contest Update (biweekly
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* Find ARRL on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram!
----------------------------------------------------------------------

The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 50 times each year. ARRL members
and registered guests may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing
their profile.

Copyright (c) 2020 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and
distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is permitted for
non-commercial or educational purposes, with attribution. All other
purposes require written permission.


--- SendMsg/2

--- Squish/386 v1.11
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Limestone, TN, USA (1:18/200)

The ARRL Letter
January 23, 2020

* Barry Shelley, N1VXY, is ARRL Interim CEO
* ARES Volunteers Establish "Plan B" Communication Network in Puerto
Rico
* Massachusetts Club Offers Support to Arecibo Observatory Following
Earthquakes
* New Book from ARRL: Amateur Radio Contesting for Beginners
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* IARU Region 1 Youngsters On The Air Summer Camp 2020 Will Be in
Croatia
* AMSAT: GOLF-TEE Initiative Meets Major Milestone
* ITU Development Sector Publication Highlights Amateur Radio's Role
in Emergency Communication
* ARISS Opens Window for ISS Ham Radio Contact Proposals on February
1
* In Brief...
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
Barry Shelley, N1VXY, is ARRL Interim CEO

At its January 17 - 18 meeting, the ARRL Board of Directors did not
elect Howard Michel, WB2ITX, as the ARRL Chief Executive Officer.

As of January 20, Barry Shelley, N1VXY, became interim CEO. Mr. Shelley
was ARRL's Chief Financial Officer for 28 years and CEO during 2018
before his retirement.

The Board has created a search committee to select the next CEO. More
details on this and other matters that took place at the Board meeting
will be released shortly.
ARES Volunteers Establish "Plan B" Communication Network in Puerto Rico

Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES^(R)) volunteers in Puerto Rico
continued over the weekend to report for daily duty at an American Red
Cross (ARC) distribution center in Mayagüez and at ARC Headquarters in
San Juan. The two sites are ready to provide a "Plan B" communication
backbone in the event the seismic situation worsens. A magnitude 6.4
earthquake struck southwestern Puerto Rico on January 7, fast on the
heels of a magnitude 5.8 tremor the day before, damaging homes in
Guayanilla, Peñuelas, Yauco, and Guánica. ARRL Puerto Rico Section
Manager Oscar Resto, KP4RF, told ARRL this week that the situation is
relatively "calm and quiet" for now and starting on January 22,
volunteers began monitoring from their homes or vehicles, permitting
most, including Resto himself, to get back to their jobs and homes.

ARES volunteers had been deployed to an ARC distribution center in
Yauco, but that part of the operation was shifted to Mayagüez over the
weekend, because it was considered safer there. An ARRL-provided
VHF/UHF radio and antenna have been set up at the Mayagüez facility.
Resto said a second operating position is being added at the San Juan
ARC Headquarters site.

Resto said Red Cross officials know that they can rely on amateur
radio, if the situation calls for it, but for now commercial
communications are fully operational, although aftershocks from the
January 7 quake persist. "In case the situation escalates, the ARES
team will immediately mobilize at the ARC sites and establish
communication (VHF/UHF or HF) as required," Resto said.

The ARRL Ham
Aid program
provided this
antenna,
installed in
Mayagüez.
[Oscar Resto,
KP4RF, photo]

Last week, the Red Cross had requested assistance from the ARES
volunteers as well as volunteers from the CB radio and GMRS
communities, to identify undeclared refugee camps and to report on
close or damaged roadways and bridges. Resto said the ARES volunteers
"did a marvelous job" that earned praise from Red Cross officials.

Resto said about two dozen volunteers have made themselves available in
the Mayagüez area. In the event they're needed, Resto said, he has
seven or eight HF radios and 15 VHF/UHF transceivers left over from the
Hurricane Maria emergency response. He said the HF equipment has been
safely stowed for use in case of another major earthquake, when they
might be needed.

He was expecting additional antennas and feed lines provided through
ARRL's Ham Aid program to show up this week.

Massachusetts Club Offers Support to Arecibo Observatory Following
Earthquakes

Although not in the hardest-hit earthquake zone, Puerto Rico's Arecibo
Observatory nonetheless has been affected by the recent spate of
earthquakes and aftershocks. The landmark Arecibo radio telescope and
ionospheric radar facility was a victim of the devastation wrought by
Hurricane Maria in 2017.

Members of the Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club (NVARC) have stepped
up to assist in support and recovery efforts for the Arecibo
Observatory radio telescope and ionospheric radar facility. NVARC
members Phil Erickson, W1PJE; Rod Hersh, WA1TAC, and Jim Wilber, AB1WQ,
participated in daily scheduled radio contacts with Arecibo's lead
telescope operator and spectrum manager, Angel Vazquez, WP3R. Other
NVARC members volunteered to serve as back-up stations.

"All AO staff members are safe, and our technical teams have completed
preliminary visual analysis of the primary structure and have found no
immediate damage/issues, however a more detailed inspection needs to be
completed once the aftershocks subside," said Francisco Córdova,
Arecibo Observatory's director, at the University of Central Florida.

Site operations were suspended and access was limited to essential
personnel, according to the latest information available from the
Arecibo Observatory website.

Over several days, when commercial power and water were not available
near Arecibo, club members inquired about potential assistance.
Although conditions are slowly improving on the northern portion of the
island where the observatory is located, Vazquez noted that thousands
of people displaced from their homes in the hard-hit southern part of
the island had to camp outside, due to extensive structural damage and
ongoing aftershocks.

NVARC members were also able to provide messages of support from MIT's
Haystack Observatory in Westford, Massachusetts, and from program
officers at the National Science Foundation (NSF) Geospace Facilities
Division in Washington, DC. NSF funds the observation programs and
scientific research at Arecibo Observatory. NVARC said the radio
contacts would continue as the recovery proceeds.
New Book from ARRL: Amateur Radio Contesting for Beginners

Contesting is one of the most exciting aspects of amateur radio -- and
for some, it's their primary ham radio activity. Amateur Radio
Contesting for Beginners by contesting veteran Doug Grant, K1DG, offers
practical information and ideas that will help you get started in
contesting -- "radiosport" -- or to build your skills, if you're
already active.

Contesting tests station capability and operator skill, and it really
is a sport, with a typical objective of contacting as many stations and
multipliers -- ARRL Sections, states, grids, or DXCC entities, for
example -- within the contest period.

"Doug Grant has written the ideal guide for anyone interested in
contesting," said QST Editor Steve Ford, WB8IMY.

Grant's book explains what equipment you need, typical contest formats,
details of some more popular events, operating techniques, how to
submit an entry, and how to improve your scores. No matter how modest
your station or experience, you can compete too!

Just ahead is Winter Field Day, January 25 - 26. See the ARRL Contest
Calendar for information on other events.

Amateur Radio Contesting for Beginners is available from the ARRL Store
or your ARRL Dealer. (ARRL Item no. 1243, ISBN: 978-1-62595-124-3,
$27.95 retail, special ARRL Member Price $24.95). Call 860-594-0355 or,
toll-free in the US, 888-277-5289. It's also available as an e-book for
the Amazon Kindle.

For more information about ARRL-sponsored contests, including rules and
results, and to view the contest photo gallery, visit the ARRL Contests
page.

The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: No sunspots appeared over the January
16 - 22 reporting week. On January 22, Spaceweather.com reported the
consecutive period of spotless days is 11, but all recent sunspots have
had Cycle 25 polarity.

The average daily solar flux dipped from 72.5 to 71.2. The average
daily planetary A index went from 5.6 to 4.1, and the middle latitude A
index dropped from 3.7 to 3.

Predicted solar flux is 72 on January 23 - February 5; 71 on February 6
- 20; 72 on February 21 - March 3; 71 on March 4, and 70 on March 5 -
7.

Predicted planetary A index is 5 on January 23 - 31; 10 on February 1 -
5; 5 on February 6 - 27; 10 on February 28 - March 3, and 5 on March 4
- 7.

When there are no sunspots, 160 meters seems to improve, probably
because of lower associated geomagnetic activity. The CW portion of the
CQ World Wide 160-Meter Contest takes place this weekend.

Sunspot numbers for January 16 - 22 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, and 0, with
a mean of 0. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 71.8, 70.1, 71.3, 71.8, 71.2,
70.5, and 71.9, with a mean of 71.2. Estimated planetary A indices were
5, 3, 4, 3, 2, 6, and 6, with a mean of 4.1. Middle latitude A index
was 4, 2, 3, 2, 2, 4, and 4, with a mean of 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
* January 23 -- NAQCC CW Sprint
* January 24 - 26 -- CQ 160-Meter Contest (CW)
* January 25 - 26 -- REF Contest (CW)
* January 25 - 26 -- BARTG RTTY Sprint
* January 25 - 26 -- UBA DX Contest, SSB
* January 25 - 26 -- Winter Field Day (CW, phone, digital)
* January 27 -- QCX Challenge (CW)
* January 29 -- UKEICC 80-Meter Contest (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.

IARU Region 1 Youngsters On The Air Summer Camp 2020 Will Be in Croatia

The 10th annual Youngsters On The Air (YOTA) camp will be held this
summer in Karlovac, Croatia -- not far from the capital city of Zagreb
-- International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Region 1 Youth Working
Group Chair Lisa Leenders, PA2LS, has announced. The Croatian Amateur
Radio Association -- Croatia's IARU member-society -- will serve as
host of the August 8 - 15 event. Participation is aimed at young radio
amateurs living in IARU Region 1 (Europe, Africa, and the Middle East).

"In this YOTA Camp we will be continuing with our train-the-trainer
(TTT) program, which will be the main theme of the week," Leenders
said. "Participants will be working on the future of amateur radio and
will be involved in workshops where they gain skills to start similar
amateur radio youth events when they are back home. With this, we are
aiming to create a snowball effect, so there will be more and more YOTA
events all over the world. This also allows other youngsters and
newcomers to enjoy amateur radio."

Leenders said camp participants will also be able to enjoy getting on
the air, as well as building electronic kits.

Each IARU member-society in Region 1 is invited to sponsor teams of up
to four camp participants. Team members will be age 15 to 25 and not
have attended a previous YOTA camp. Overall participation is limited to
80 campers.

The inaugural Youth On The Air Camp in the Americas will take place
this June 21 - 26 at the National Voice of America Museum of
Broadcasting in West Chester Township, Ohio. For more information,
email Camp Director Neil Rapp, WB9VPG, or call 812-327-0749.
AMSAT: GOLF-TEE Initiative Meets Major Milestone

AMSAT reports that an array of GOLF-TEE (Greater Orbit Larger Footprint
- Technology Evaluation Environment) satellite prototype boards
transmitted telemetry for the first time on January 14.

"The boards are laid out on a bench as a 'flat-sat,' with
interconnecting wires, bench power supplies, and a dummy load on the
transmitter," AMSAT said. The interconnected boards include an early
radiation-tolerant internal housekeeping unit (IHU, i.e., computer)
prototype; a control interface prototype, and a set of spare boards
from HuskySat-1 that act as prototypes for the legacy IHU and legacy
VHF/UHF RF components.

"Now that the development team has reached this point, it has RF to use
as a basis for developing a GOLF-TEE decoder for FoxTelem, the ground
telemetry receiver software," AMSAT said. "Thousands of hours of work
by many AMSAT volunteers have gone into the hardware and software that
got GOLF-TEE this far, with much work yet to be done before flight
units are ready."

GOLF-TEE is designed as a low-Earth orbit testbed for technologies
necessary for successful CubeSat missions to a wide variety of orbits,
including medium- and high-Earth orbits. "Higher is clearly better when
it comes to amateur radio satellites," AMSAT says on its website
explanation of the GOLF program. "The larger footprint, which brings
more DX opportunities and more good passes per day, also provides for a
longer orbital lifetime, and slower motion across the sky. This results
in longer pass durations and easier tracking." Higher orbits introduce
a new set of engineering challenges, AMSAT concedes, including higher
power and antennas with greater gain.

"GOLF is designed to continue the growth of AMSAT's CubeSat abilities,
incorporating new systems such as software-defined radios and
deployable solar panels into a 3U spaceframe." AMSAT explained. "GOLF
will also continue AMSAT's educational partnership outreach that takes
advantage of the synergies that amateur radio satellites and education
have to offer the public."

AMSAT has invited donations to further the project. It's also seeking
additional volunteers. -- Thanks to AMSAT News Service

ITU Development Sector Publication Highlights Amateur Radio's Role in
Emergency Communication

Amateur radio is featured in the publication ITU Guidelines for
national emergency telecommunication plans, published by the
International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Development Sector (ITU-D).
The publication notes that radio amateurs have supported communication
in emergency situations on a voluntary basis since the dawn of radio.

"They are experts in radio communications and have the equipment,
skills, and necessary frequencies allocated by ITU to deploy networks
in emergency events quickly and efficiently," the publication says.
ITU-D said amateur radio support offers "great coverage due to the
large number of amateur radio stations available;" training programs
and exercises that have been developed for emergency communication;
"qualified temporary volunteers who provide skills and experience
essential for emergency telecommunications;" problem-solving skills for
working with "often very limited resources," and the ability to work
with alternative power sources.

Past ARRL President and IARU Secretary Rod Stafford, W6ROD, represents
the International Amateur Radio Union at ITU-D meetings. -- Thanks to
Southgate Amateur Radio News; IARU
ARISS Opens Window for ISS Ham Radio Contact Proposals on February 1

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is once again
seeking formal and informal education institutions and organizations --
individually or working together -- interested in hosting an amateur
radio contact with an International Space Station (ISS) crew member. A
window to accept proposals will open on February 1 for contacts that
would be scheduled between January and June 2021. The majority of ARISS
contacts involve schools and educational institutions. ARISS is looking
for organizations able to attract a large number of participants that
can integrate the contact opportunity into a well-developed education
plan.

"ARISS contacts afford education audiences the opportunity to learn
firsthand from astronauts what it is like to live and work in space and
to learn about space research conducted on the ISS," ARISS said in
announcing the proposal period. "Students will also have an opportunity
to learn about satellite communication, wireless technology, and radio
science."

Proposal information and documents are available on the ARISS website.
Two identical ARISS introductory webinars have been set for January 23
at 9 PM EST (0200 UTC on January 24) and for January 27 at 6 PM EST
(2300 UTC). Registration is required.

Contacts with ISS crew members run approximately 10 minutes in length
and allow students to interact with the astronauts through a
question-and-answer session. ARISS contacts are voice-only amateur
radio communication opportunities. Schools and organizations typically
work with a local amateur radio club to assist in handling the
technical aspects of carrying out a successful contact with the ISS.

Astronaut Reid Wiseman, KF5LKT, on
the air at NA1SS on board the ISS in
2014. [NASA, photo]

ARISS stresses that because of the nature of human spaceflight and the
complexity of scheduling activities aboard the ISS, schools and
organizations must be flexible in accommodating changes in radio
contact dates and times.

"Amateur radio organizations around the world with the support of NASA
and space agencies in Russia, Canada, Japan, and Europe present
educational organizations with this opportunity," ARISS said. "The ham
radio organizations' volunteer efforts provide the equipment and
operational support to enable communication between crew on the ISS and
students around the world using amateur radio."

Proposal information and more details are available on the ARISS
website. Contact ARISS with any questions.
In Brief...

The ARRL Events app is available to use with Apple iOS and Android
devices. A web-browser version, optimized for most browsers and other
types of mobile devices, is also available. ARRL Events will be
featured at Orlando HamCation 2020, February 7 - 9, which has been
sanctioned as the 2020 ARRL Northern Florida Section Convention.

The Perseverance DX Group VP8PJ DXpedition to South Orkney has received
permission from the National Science Foundation to land and camp on the
Antarctic island. Receipt of the Antarctic Conservation Act Permit
culminates a months-long approval process involving several
governmental agencies. VP8PJ is expected to commence operation on
February 20 and continue until March 5. The DXpedition's equipment
container arrived by sea in Punta Arenas, Chile, on January 13, and the
MV Braveheart will transport the operating team and the gear from there
to the South Orkneys and back. Set-up on the island is expected to take
2 days. Contact the DXpedition for more information.

The Lagunaria DX Group is planning a "large-scale DXpedition" to
Timor-Leste (4W) in the October/November 2020 timeframe. "We currently
have one team member in Timor-Leste negotiating with different
ministries, companies, and accommodation facilities," said team member
Chris Janssen, DL1MGB. "Right now, we have positive feedback from all.
We even already have a confirmed reservation for two close-by lodges to
have enough space to host up to 10 stations." Janssen said the team
will consist of 18 operators and will participate seriously in both CQ
World Wide DX contests this fall. ditional details will be available
soon on the DXpedition website. Timor-Leste is the 67th most-wanted
DXCC entity, according to Club Log. -- Thanks to The Daily DX

A team of German DXers will operate as HU1DL from the Central American
country of El Salvador, starting in late January and continuing until
February 13. "Everything is well prepared. We are ready!" said an
announcement from Rolf Thieme, DL7VEE. The team will be transporting
its own equipment, which will include Elecraft K3 transceivers and
full-power amplifiers. Three stations will be on the air around the
clock on CW, SSB, RTTY, and FT8, with a focus on the lower bands.
Thieme said HU1DL will operate mostly in FT8 fox/hound mode. HU1DL
plans to be active on 60 meters, CW, and FT8. -- Thanks to The Daily DX

Spanish radio amateurs may exchange their current longer-format call
signs for permanent 2 * 1 call signs, and some familiar Spanish call
signs are likely to be changing. Salva Moreno, EA5BB, told ARRL that
hams in Spain who decided to make the change are now awaiting the
official license documents, so they can use their new call signs on the
air. Moreno's new call sign will be EA5U. To be eligible, applicants
must have held a license issued by Spanish authorities without any
sanctions and have at least 15 years of experience in "international
amateur radio."

The 17th International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) High Speed Telegraphy
(HST) World Championship will take place August 20 - 24 in Ulaanbaatar,
Mongolia. Europe's HST Cup and Balkan HST Championships will take place
May 8 - 12 in Elbasan, Albania. Although not an IARU-recognized event,
this international competition is widely accepted by the HST community
as an opportunity for top competitors to check their form before the
world championship, for teams to test new candidates for a national
team, and for those unable to participate at the World Championship to
still enjoy top-level competition. -- Thanks to IARU Region 1

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
* January 25 -- ARRL Midwest Conference, Collinsville, Illinois
* February 1 -- South Carolina State Convention, North Charleston,
South Carolina
* February 1 -- Virginia State Convention, Richmond, VA
* February 7 - 9 -- Northern Florida Section Convention, Orlando,
Florida
* February 14 - 15 -- Southwest Division Convention, Yuma, Arizona
* March 7 - Delta Division Convention, Russellville, Arkansas
* March 13 - 14 -- North Carolina Section Convention, Concord, North
Carolina
* March 14 - 15 -- Great Lakes Division Convention, Perrysburg, OH
* March 14 -- Nebraska State Convention, Lincoln, NE
* March 14 -- West Virginia Section Convention, Charleston, West
Virginia
* March 21 -- West Texas Section Convention, Midland, Texas

Find conventions and hamfests in your area.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for
Amateur Radio News and Information.

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--- SendMsg/2

--- Squish/386 v1.11
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Limestone, TN, USA (1:18/200)

The ARRL Letter
January 30, 2020

* ARRL to Argue for Continued Access to 3 GHz Spectrum as FCC Sets
Comment Deadlines
* ARRL Expands Its Roster of Online Discussion Groups
* Yukon's VY1JA Plans to Be Back for 2020 ARRL November Sweepstakes
CW
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* New Amateur Extra-Class Question Pool Released
* HuskySat-1 With VHF/UHF Linear Transponder Set to Deploy Soon
* State QSO Party Challenge Announced
* Iowa State Parks on the Air 2020 Celebrates Centennial of Iowa
State Parks
* YOTA Camp 2020 in the Americas Donations Are Being Matched
* Past ARRL Southeastern Division Director H. Dale Strieter, W4QM, SK
* In Brief...
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
ARRL to Argue for Continued Access to 3 GHz Spectrum as FCC Sets
Comment Deadlines

At its annual meeting on January 17 - 18, the ARRL Board of Directors
instructed Washington Counsel Dave Siddall, K3ZJ, to prepare a strong
response to protect amateur access to spectrum in the 3 GHz range. In
its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in WT Docket 19-348, the FCC
proposed to relocate all non-federal operations, including amateur
uses, to spectrum outside the 3.3 - 3.55 GHz band.

The ARRL Board met January 17 - 18
in Windsor, Connecticut. [Michelle
Patnode, W3MVP, photo]

The Commission anticipates auctioning this spectrum to expand
commercial use of 5G cellular and wireless broadband services, if
agreement can be reached on relocation of -- or sharing with -- the
federal incumbents that operate in the same band. Publication of the
NPRM in the Federal Register on January 22 established deadlines of
February 21 for comments and March 23 for reply comments.

The FCC has requested comment on the uses radio amateurs make of the
spectrum and appropriate relocation options. Complicating matters is
the fact that radio amateurs must consider the possibility that the
immediately adjacent 3.1 - 3.3 GHz band is included in the spectrum
that Congress has identified for similar study. FCC Commissioner
Michael O'Rielly, in a December statement, referenced the fact that the
lower band may also be considered for non-federal reallocation,
potentially limiting relocation possibilities.

Amateurs make substantial use of the 3.3 - 3.5 GHz band that would be
hard to replicate elsewhere, and they had filed more than 150 comments
before the designated comment period even began. Among users looking at
options are those who use this spectrum for Earth-Moon-Earth
(moonbounce) communication, mesh networks, experiments with
communication over long distances, radiosport, and amateur television.
A portion of the band is also designated for use by amateur satellites
in ITU Regions 2 and 3 (the Americas and Asia/Pacific).

A report is due by March 23 from the National Telecommunications and
Information ministration (NTIA) evaluating the feasibility of having
federal users share all or part of the 3.1 - 3.55 GHz band with
commercial wireless services. This report is required by the Making
Opportunities for Broadband Investment and Limiting Excessive and
Needless Obstacles to Wireless (MOBILE NOW) Act. The results of the
NTIA report will impact how much spectrum ultimately may be
re-allocated for auction to wireless providers.

ARRL urges amateurs who comment to inform the FCC about the uses they
make of the 3 GHz spectrum. Short comments and longer statements may be
filed electronically. Visit the FCC "How to Comment on FCC Proceedings"
page for more information. Commenters should reference WT Docket
19-348.
ARRL Expands Its Roster of Online Discussion Groups

ARRL's Committee on Communication with Members has launched three new
online discussion forums as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance and
improve communication between ARRL leadership and members or
prospective members. The new forums, which focus on antenna law,
regulatory issues, and support for new amateur radio licensees, will go
live on Thursday, January 30, at 0400 UTC.

The committee launched the three new discussion groups on the basis of
requests from the amateur radio community, to support ARRL's efforts to
provide more resources for beginner-to-intermediate operators.

The online discussion program launched last fall with three forums --
contesting, awards, and the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) --
all open to the amateur radio community. The program was based on the
success of the online ARRL-LoTW Group, which, for the past several
years, has served to answer questions and generate discussions about
ways to improve the service.
* ARRL New England Division Director and attorney Fred Hopengarten,
K1VR, will moderate the Antenna Law and Policy Forum. Hopengarten
is the author of Antenna Zoning for the Radio Amateur.
* ARRL Regulatory Affairs Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, will moderate
the Regulatory Affairs forum.
* QST Editor and ARRL Publications Manager Steve Ford, WB8IMY, will
moderate the New Hams forum.

ARRL IT Manager Michael Keane, K1MK, worked with Groups.io to set up
the new groups. Those wishing to subscribe must use a Groups.io
username and password, if they have one, or create a Groups.io account
if they don't.

The new groups join an ARRL discussion forum lineup that already
includes:
* ARRL-Contesting, moderated by ARRL Contest visory Committee
Chairman Dennis Egan, W1UE.
* ARRL-Awards, moderated by ARRL Radiosport and Field Services
Manager Bart Jahnke, W9JJ.
* ARRL-IARU, moderated by IARU Secretary David Sumner, K1ZZ.
* ARRL-LOTW, moderated by ARRL IT Manager Michael Keane, K1MK.

Everyone who subscribes to an ARRL Group is automatically subscribed to
"ARRL Groups," an administrative feature that allows ARRL to convey
routine announcements to subscribers of all ARRL groups, such as
planned system outages.

ARRL expects to create additional online groups that focus on other
areas of interest to radio amateurs, including ARRL activities,
services, initiatives, and policies.

ARRL currently hosts some "members-only" online forums that include the
topics of Awards and Contesting. While these forums will continue to
operate, participants are being encouraged to post new topics in the
new groups.

All questions will be welcome, no matter how many times they have
already been asked and answered, or how obvious the answers might be.
Neither personal attacks nor foul language will be tolerated. Violators
will immediately be placed on "moderated" status, meaning their
subsequent posts will require Moderator approval. Civility and courtesy
are expected, even when disagreeing.

The Committee believes that providing more opportunities for two-way
discussion between the organization's leaders and the entire ham radio
community will assist ARRL in truly serving the needs of this
community. -- Thanks to ARRL Communications Manager Dave Isgur, N1RSN

Yukon's VY1JA Plans to Be Back for 2020 ARRL November Sweepstakes CW

ARRL November Sweepstakes stalwart J. Allen, VY1JA, in Canada's Yukon
Territory, may not be off the air quite yet. Allen announced his
retirement from ham radio last November, but now says he plans to keep
a small station on the air "for as long as possible," leaving one
antenna tower in place. Allen told ARRL earlier this month that there's
a "strong likelihood" he'll return for the 2020 ARRL November
Sweepstakes CW in the Low Power category, using his own call sign.

For the past few years, the remotely operated VY1AAA, using equipment
and antennas located at VY1JA, has been among the precious few stations
handing out the Northern Territories multiplier in Sweepstakes. Gerry
Hull, W1VE/VE1RM, told ARRL that the remote equipment and high-power
amplifier have now been removed, along with the radio gear and antennas
from Allen's larger station, which will be sold. Allen, who has been
diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, says his current medication has
stabilized his condition, but he's been looking ahead to the day when
his wife, Ann, would face the task of dismantling and disposing of his
station equipment and antennas.

"Because I am concerned about what I will be like in a few years or so,
I wanted to sell out the station completely so that Ann would not have
a big problem on her hands removing poles, towers, cables, gear, and so
on," he explained.

Allen thanked Hull; Cary Rubenfeld, VE4EA; Chuck Cullian, K0RF, and
Tyson Schulz, VY1SLZ, for their assistance. Rubenfeld is handling the
sale of Allen's gear, while Schulz has pledged to assist in dismantling
and disposing of Allen's scaled-down station when the time comes.
Cullian has provided a transceiver for Allen, who no longer had an
operational radio on site.

"It means that, for as long as I remain functional, I intend to keep
VY1JA on the air, and especially to be there for as many ARRL
Sweepstakes as possible," Allen said.

Hull said he and others involved with the VY1AAA remote operations have
been looking for a new home for the VY1AAA remote gear and radio.
The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: This week, we finally saw the return
of sunspots over 6 of the last 7 days, January 24 - 29. The average
daily sunspot number rose from 0 to 11.1, while average daily solar
flux jumped from 71.2 to 72.9.

Geomagnetic indicators remained very quiet, signaling continued great
conditions on 160 and 80 meters. Predicted solar flux over the next
month and a half is 74 on January 30 - February 2; 70 on February 3 -
6; 71 on February 7 - 13; 72 on February 14 - 20; 73 on February 21 -
22; 74 on February 23 - 29; 72 on March 1 - 3; 71 on March 4 - 11, and
72 on March 12 - 14.

Predicted planetary A index is 8 on January 30; 5 on January 31 -
February 24; 10 on February 25 - 26; 5 on February 27 - 29; 8 on March
1 - 3, and 5 on March 4 - 14.

On January 27, the total sunspot area was 100 millionth of the visible
solar disc. The total sunspot area hasn't been larger or even near that
size since May 18, 2019, when the area was 140 millionth of the visible
solar disk.

Sunspot numbers for January 23 - 29 were 0, 12, 14, 18, 12, 11, and 11,
with a mean of 11.1. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 70.8, 71, 72.7, 74.7,
72.9, 74.2, and 74.3, with a mean of 72.9. Estimated planetary A
indices were 5, 3, 3, 4, 3, 5, and 9, with a mean of 4.6. Middle
latitude A index was 3, 1, 3, 2, 2, 4, and 6, with a mean of 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
* February 1 -- Minnesota QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
* February 1 -- FYBO Winter QRP Sprint (CW, phone, digital)
* February 1 -- AGCW Straight Key Party (CW)
* February 1 -- FISTS Winter Slow Speed Sprint (CW)
* February 1 -- Black Sea Cup International (CW, phone)
* February 1 - 2 -- Vermont QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
* February 1 - 2 -- 10-10 International Winter Contest, SSB
* February 1 - 2 -- F9AA Cup, CW
* February 1 - 2 -- Mexico RTTY International Contest
* February 1 - 2 -- British Columbia QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
* February 2 -- North American Sprint, CW
* February 3 -- 3.5 RSGB 80-Meter Club Championship, SSB
* February 4 -- ARS Spartan Sprint (CW)
* February 5 -- UKEICC 80-Meter Contest (Phone)
* February 6 -- NRAU 10-Meter Activity Contest (CW, phone, digital)
* February 6 -- SKCC Sprint Europe (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.
New Amateur Extra-Class Question Pool Released

The new Amateur Extra-class license examination question pool,
effective from July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2024, has been released
and is available at the National Conference of Volunteer Coordinators
(NCVEC) website.

The 2020 - 2024 Extra-class pool incorporates significant changes
compared to the current 2016 - 2020 question pool, which expires on
June 30. The number of questions in the pool was reduced from 712 to
622. The result was 239 modified questions, 49 new questions, and 139
questions removed due to changes in what was felt to be an abundance of
outdated questions, while areas of new technology and subjects were
added.

In addition, an effort was made to balance the difficulty level,
removing or replacing some questions deemed too easy or too difficult
compared to the rest of the pool.

The 2020 pool has 10 diagrams, which have been renumbered because the
new question pool has two fewer than the 2016 question pool.

HuskySat-1 With VHF/UHF Linear Transponder Set to Deploy Soon

The University of Washington's HuskySat-1 3U CubeSat, launched November
2, 2019, is set to deploy on January 31 after the vehicle that carried
it to the International Space Station undocks. HuskySat-1 has remained
stowed aboard a Northrop Grumman Cygnus supply vehicle. Within 24 hours
after Cygnus' departure from the ISS, HuskySat-1 and SwampSat 2 will be
deployed into orbit.

University of Washington graduate
student Paige Northway with
HuskySat-1. She has been involved in
the project since its inception.

After deployment, HuskySat-1's 1,200 bps BPSK beacon on 435.800 MHz
should be active and decodable with the latest release of AMSAT's
FoxTelem software. HuskySat-1 is expected to carry out its primary
mission before being turned over to AMSAT for amateur radio operation.

HuskySat-1 features a 30 kHz wide V/U linear transponder for SSB and
CW. The uplink passband will be 145.910 - 145.940 MHz LSB/CW. The
downlink passband will be 435.840 - 435.810 MHz USB/CW (inverting).
Telemetry will be transmitted on 435.800 MHz, 1k2 bps BPSK with an
experimental downlink at 24.049 GHz. The "Fox-in-a-Box" FoxTelem
software has been updated for HuskySat-1 operation at its download
website. The new release now contains the SD card image,
FIAB-distro8-V1.08w.zip. This file, when unzipped and written to a 16
GB SD card, will provide the latest software for FoxTelem and will run
on a Raspberry Pi 4. The 1.08 versions can switch bands between
listening on VHF and UHF, based on which Fox and Husky satellites are
overhead at the time.

The linear transponder and telemetry system carried aboard AMSAT's
Fox-1E was designed for use in different CubeSats merely by adding an
interface adapter for connection to the host bus. Noting the prevalence
of CubeSats built and launched by universities and other organizations,
AMSAT adopted a goal of "amateur radio in every CubeSat."

ditional information is posted on the University of Washington Husky
Satellite Lab site. -- Thanks to AMSAT News Service via the HuskySat-1
Team, AMSAT Engineering, AMSAT Operations, the Fox Telemetry Team, and
NASA
State QSO Party Challenge Announced

The State QSO Party Challenge is a competition comprised of other
contests, namely state and provincial QSO parties. As explained on the
website, the annual cumulative score program is open to any radio
amateur who participates in any approved state QSO parties (SQPs).
Participants just need to submit their QSO party scores to
3830scores.com to enter the challenge.

Participants' cumulative scores will be calculated by totaling up the
number of reported contacts and multiplying by the number of SQPs
entered in the year to date. Periodic standings will be posted to
3830scores.com, the QSOParty Groups.io forum, and the StateQSOParty.com
website.

"Using the number of QSO parties entered as a multiplier is expected to
encourage radio amateurs to enter more state/province QSO parties," the
program's organizers said. "The first SQPs in 2020 are the Vermont,
Minnesota, and British Columbia QSO Parties in the first weekend of
February."

Entrants must make at least two contacts in a QSO party for it to count
as a multiplier. The full details are available on the State QSO Party
Challenge website.

Challenge sponsors expressed appreciation to Bruce Horn, WA7BNM, for
developing the SQP Activity Tracker on 3830scores.com.

Iowa State Parks on the Air 2020 Celebrates Centennial of Iowa State
Parks

Iowa State Parks on the Air (IASPOTA-2020) is under way and will
continue through year's end. The event is sponsored by the Great River
Amateur Radio Club, with the support of Iowa ARRL Section Manager Lelia
Garner, WA0UIG, and the Iowa Division of Natural Resources (DNR).

According to Colin Wheatley, W9UPK, Iowa had the first state park
system in the nation, and Iowa's first state park, Backbone State Park,
was dedicated in 1920. Since then, the state park system has grown to
some 70 parks and recreational facilities, including 63 state parks.

Stations logging contacts with five of Iowa's state parks during the
year-long celebration can request a certificate by sending a legal-size
self-addressed, sealed envelope to IASPOTA-2020 c/o Great River Amateur
Radio Club, P.O. Box 1384, Dubuque, IA 52004.
YOTA Camp 2020 in the Americas Donations Are Being Matched

Youth on the Air (YOTA) 2020 Camp Director Neil Rapp, WB9VPG, has
announced that, thanks to a generous radio amateur, a matching fund
drive is in progress through the end of February to help fund the 2020
YOTA Camp, June 21 - 26 at the National Voice of America Museum of
Broadcasting in West Chester, Ohio.

"From now until the end of February, every dollar donated to the Youth
on the Air Camp will be matched by Steve McGrane, KM9G, up to a total
of $4,000," Rapp said. "Your donations in support of this unique
opportunity for youth to share ham radio with their peers will count
double until the end of February."

Donations may be made via PayPal, GoFundMe, or a check. Rapp said
donations could make it possible to increase the number of campers from
20 to 30 to better meet demand.

"Our corporate and foundation sponsors have raised most of the funds,
but we need clubs and individuals to finish the job," he explained.

Rapp is an alumnus of the ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless
Technology TI-1 and TI-2 courses.
Past ARRL Southeastern Division Director H. Dale Strieter, W4QM, SK

Past ARRL Southeastern Division Director Dale Strieter, W4QM
(ex-W4DQS), of Cocoa Beach, died on January 6. An ARRL Life Member, he
was 92 and a founding member of the Maxim Society. Strieter was ARRL
Southeastern Division Director from 1970 until 1973.

During World War II, he served as a US Maritime Service radio officer
in the Pacific. After the war, he received a BS in electrical
engineering from Michigan State. He got his amateur radio license in
1947. Strieter later earned an MSEE from Michigan State, and then
worked as an audio engineer.

In 1958, Strieter moved to Cocoa Beach to work for General Electric,
was a NASA contractor, and he served as the guidance engineer on the
Mercury and Gemini manned spaceflight missions.

Strieter was a prolific DXpeditioner. After 20 years with GE, he
returned to sea in 1979 as a radio officer in the US Merchant Marine on
a ship generally anchored at the Chagos Islands. As VQ9QM, Strieter
logged more than 200,000 contacts from nearby Diego Garcia Island,
between 1986 and 2001. He retired in 2002. -- Thanks to Tom Tenney,
W8OJM, and Don Karvonen, K8MFO
In Brief...

The W8S DXpedition team heading to Swains Island in the Pacific in
March reports, "All lights are green." Team members will leave from
home in early March, and all will convene in Pago Pago, American Samoa,
to board the vessel Manu Atele, which will transport everyone to the
atoll. The voyage will take 24 hours. Smaller vessels will carry the
operators and equipment to the island at high tide, which the update
called "a serious challenge." The ship will not remain offshore while
the DXpedition is under way, "hopefully picking the team up again after
14 days." An international team of 10 operators will be active from
March 10 to March 25 on all HF bands on CW, SSB, FT8, and RTTY.
Operation will be 24/7 from two separate camps on the island, each with
two stations. Visit the Swains Island 2020 DXpedition website for more
information.

Dayton Hamvention 2020 Web Portal Opens for Tickets, Exhibit Space
Online orders for Dayton Hamvention^(R) 2020 tickets, inside exhibit
spaces, and flea market spots can now be placed online. Those who
ordered online in 2019 should have their user IDs and passwords
available when placing orders. Hamvention's all-volunteer staff will
work as quickly as possible to respond to orders. If you encounter
difficulties, email the appropriate committee: Tickets, Inside
Exhibits, or Flea Market. Hamvention announced in December that it
would be increasing the cost of admission and its booth fees. General
admission is now $26 in advance or $31 at the gate for all 3 days. The
cost of flea market spots has risen by $5 per space, and inside
exhibitors will pay $30. Hamvention 2020 takes place May 15 - 17 at the
Greene County Fairgrounds and Exhibition Center, 210 Fairground Road,
Xenia, Ohio.

The Northeast HamXposition -- formerly known as "Boxboro" -- is moving
and will take place this year July 24 - 26 in Marlborough,
Massachusetts. The new venue, the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel and
Trade Center, is about 15 miles from Boxboro off Interstate 495 (Exit
24A). The Northeast HamXposition, which had been held in early
September in past years, hosts the ARRL New England Division
Convention. "The new venue offers us much-needed additional capacity
for forums, a larger flea market, and ample parking right in the
hotel's main lot," said Event Chairman Bob DeMattia, K1IW. We will
announce very soon when the hotel is accepting reservations." DeMattia
pointed out that the Marlborough location has a lot to offer, including
dozens of restaurants in the vicinity and the new Apex Entertainment
Center on Route 20, adjacent to the hotel.

The location of the W9DXCC ARRL Specialty Operating Convention has
changed. The event will take place September 11 - 12 at the Chicago
Marriott Hotel in Naperville, Illinois. Registration and hotel
reservations will open in the spring. W9DXCC is sponsored by the
Northern Illinois DX Association. This year's event will include a
Contest University and DX University. Saturday's events will include
forums, QSL card checking, a CW pileup contest, an evening reception,
and a banquet. For more information, visit the W9DXCC website. --
Thanks to Kermit Carlson, W9XA; The Daily DX

The Alexanderson alternator 2019 Christmas Eve transmission on 17.2 kHz
from SAQ in Grimeton, Sweden, was heard by more than 400 listeners. SAQ
reported conditions were very good, with clear, dry weather, and the
vintage transmitter functioned flawlessly. Lars Kålland, SM6NM, was at
the key to deliver his last Christmas message before he retired. SAQ
said it was "stunned" by the number of reports it received -- a total
of 426 from 32 countries, including the US and Canada.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
* February 1 -- South Carolina State Convention, North Charleston,
South Carolina
* February 1 -- Virginia State Convention, Richmond, Virginia
* February 7 - 9 -- Northern Florida Section Convention, Orlando,
Florida
* February 14 - 15 -- Southwest Division Convention, Yuma, Arizona
* March 7 - Delta Division Convention, Russellville, Arkansas
* March 13 - 14 -- North Carolina Section Convention, Concord, North
Carolina
* March 14 - 15 -- Great Lakes Division Convention, Perrysburg, Ohio
* March 14 -- Nebraska State Convention, Lincoln, Nebraska
* March 14 -- West Virginia Section Convention, Charleston, West
Virginia
* March 21 -- West Texas Section Convention, Midland, Texas
* April 10 - 11 -- Oklahoma State Convention, Claremore, Oklahoma
* April 11 -- Roanoke Division Convention, Raleigh, North Carolina
* April 18 - Delaware State Convention, Georgetown, Delaware

Find conventions and hamfests in your area.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for
Amateur Radio News and Information.

.

.
* Join or Renew Today! ARRL membership includes QST, amateur radio's
most popular and informative journal, delivered to your mailbox
each month.
* Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday.

Subscribe to...
* NCJ -- National Contest Journal. Published bimonthly, features
articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA
Sprint, and QSO parties.
* QEX -- A Forum for Communications Experimenters. Published
bimonthly, features technical articles, construction projects,
columns, and other items of interest to radio amateurs and
communications professionals.

Free of charge to ARRL members...
* Subscribe to the ARES E-Letter (monthly public service and
emergency communications news), the ARRL Contest Update (biweekly
contest newsletter), Division and Section news alerts -- and much
more!
* Find ARRL on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram!
----------------------------------------------------------------------

The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 50 times each year. ARRL members
and registered guests may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing
their profile.

Copyright (c) 2020 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and
distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is permitted for
non-commercial or educational purposes, with attribution. All other
purposes require written permission.


--- SendMsg/2

--- Squish/386 v1.11
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Limestone, TN, USA (1:18/200)

The ARRL Letter
February 6, 2020

* ARRL HF Band Planning Committee Seeks Comments on Recommendations
* "The Auroral Connection" to Be Focus of 2020 HamSCI Workshop
* Undersea Expedition Planned to Retrieve Titanic's Radio Gear
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* Clayton Coleman, W5PFG, Elected AMSAT President
* ARISS Announces Hosts for Space Station Ham Radio Contacts
* 7X7X DXpedition Showcases Cooperation and Youth
* President Signs PIRATE Act to Combat Illegal Broadcasting
* In Brief...
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
ARRL HF Band Planning Committee Seeks Comments on Recommendations

The ARRL HF Band Planning Committee is seeking comments and suggestions
from the amateur radio community on its report to the ARRL Board of
Directors. At the Board's January meeting, the committee presented its
specific recommendations in graphical form for each HF band and each US
license class, with the goal of increasing harmony on the HF bands,
particularly between CW and digital users.

"In general, the committee is of the opinion that there is
justification for additional space to become available for digital
modes, as well as for the operation of digital stations under automatic
control," the committee told the Board. "The very changes in spectrum
usage that have required our committee's resurgence indicate that
digital modes of communication are already increasing in popularity,
and the trend is expected to continue or even accelerate. To this end,
we have tried to ensure that digital allocations are sufficient for at
least a modicum of growth."

The committee also anticipates an increase in automatically controlled
digital stations (ACDS). The report further points to "significant use"
of modern data modes in emergency communication and said its
recommendations provide significant support for the evolution and
continued relevance of amateur radio. "Our failure to adapt to these
needs could consign amateur radio to the technological scrap heap," the
report said.

The committee was revived last summer to consider conflicts between FT
and JT modes and other modes. The panel's approach has been to
designate distinct assignments for CW, narrowband (NB) data <500 Hz,
wideband (WB) data <2800 Hz, and ACDS. For its work, the committee
presumed approval of three ARRL petitions to the FCC: RM-11708 (WT
Docket WT 16-239 -- "symbol rate" proceeding), RM-11759 (80/75 meter
allocations), and RM-11828 (enhanced Technician privileges). The
committee also assumed that users can agree to sharing arrangements
within a given allocation -- narrowband versus wideband sharing within
the ACDS allocation, for example. It also took into consideration how
mode usage is regulated or planned elsewhere in the world.

In terms of mode classes, the committee agreed on CW, NB data, WB data,
NB with ACDS, and WB with ACDS. The committee said it considered these
mode classes incompatible and that they should not have overlapping
allocations, with the exception of CW, which is authorized within any
amateur radio allocation. The committee's approach would maintain the
existing low-end 25 kHz CW-only sub-bands for exclusive use by Amateur
Extra-class licensees.

The panel encouraged CW identification and a listen-before-transmitting
protocol for ACDS, if feasible. It also decided that a single
allocation for ACDS without regard to bandwidth would be the best
approach. "We note that this will put responsibility on the digital
community to hold an effective dialog on the issue and to then
self-regulate the users of this segment to adhere to the eventual
agreement." A need for flexibility in allocations is desirable, the
committee said, and considered whether allocations might be time-of-day
or time-of-week dependent, for example.

"Modern amateurs must expect to adapt to this kind of fluid assignment
of spectrum to incompatible uses, using time-based sharing, rather than
only a single assignment," the committee said, expressing the hope that
as band plan/sharing agreements are reached that they consider the
advantage of "non-simultaneous sharing possibilities."

Reiterating the position ARRL has taken in recent FCC filings, the
committee said it sees encryption and open-source enforcement matters
as being outside the scope of the Band Planning Committee.

The Committee would like comments by February 19.
"The Auroral Connection" to Be Focus of 2020 HamSCI Workshop

Registration is open for the third annual HamSCI Workshop for amateur
radio operators and professional scientists, Friday and Saturday, March
20 - 21, at The University of Scranton. The theme of this year's
workshop is "The Auroral Connection," and will include addresses by
guest speakers, poster presentations, and demonstrations of relevant
instrumentation and software. All radio amateurs, scientists, and
anyone interested in ionospheric and space physics are welcome.

The workshop will serve as a team meeting for the HamSCI Personal Space
Weather Station project, a National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded
project awarded to University of Scranton physics and electrical
engineering professor Nathaniel Frissell, W2NAF. The project seeks to
harness the power of a network of radio amateurs to better understand
and measure the effects of weather in the upper levels of Earth's
atmosphere. Through the grant, Frissell, a space physicist, will lead a
collaborative team that will develop modular, multi-instrument,
ground-based space science observation equipment and data collection
and analysis software. He will also recruit multiple universities and
ham radio users to operate the network of Personal Space Weather
Stations developed.

In addition to Scranton, the Personal Space Weather Station project
includes participation from TAPR; the Case Western Reserve University
Amateur Radio Club, W8EDU; the University of Alabama; the New Jersey
Institute of Technology Center for Solar-Terrestrial Research; MIT
Haystack Observatory; Dartmouth College, and the ham radio community at
large.

Noted contester and DXer Tim Duffy, K3LR, will deliver the keynote
address. The chief operating officer and general manager at DX
Engineering, Duffy chairs Contest University, the Dayton Contest
Dinner, and the Top Band Dinner, as well as coordinates the Contest
Super Suite. He is the founder and moderator of the popular RFI
Reflector. Duffy serves on the ARRL Foundation Board of Directors as
well as on the board of the World Wide Radio Operators Foundation
(WWROF), and as chairman and president emeritus of the Radio Club of
America.

Other speakers at the workshop include Elizabeth MacDonald, the NASA
researcher who founded and leads the Aurorasaurus project. She will
discuss fundamentals of auroral physics, its optical signatures, and
the Aurorasaurus citizen science project. James LaBelle, a professor of
physics and astronomy at Dartmouth University and auroral radio
physicist, and David Hallidy, K2DH, a retired microwave engineer who is
also well-known for his work in auroral-mode propagation will also
speak.

ditional information on the conference is available on the HamSCI
Workshop 2020 website.

Undersea Expedition Planned to Retrieve Titanic's Radio Gear

The company with sole rights to salvage artifacts from the RMS Titanic
has gone to court to gain permission to carry out a "surgical removal
and retrieval" of the Marconi radio equipment on the ship, a Washington
Post article reports. The Titanic sank in 1912 on its maiden voyage
after striking an iceberg in the North Atlantic. As the radio room
filled with water, radio operator Jack Phillips transmitted, "Come at
once. We have struck a berg. It's a CQD, old man," and other frantic
messages for help, using the spark transmitter on board. CQD was
ultimately replaced with SOS -- which Phillips also used -- as the
universal distress call. The passenger liner RMS Carpathia responded
and rescued 705 of the passengers.

A recreation of the Titanic radio
room.

As might be expected, the deteriorating Marconi equipment is in poor
shape after more than a century under water. The undersea retrieval
would mark the first time an artifact was collected from within the
Titanic, which many believe should remain undisturbed as the final
resting place of some 1,500 victims of the maritime disaster, including
Phillips. The wreck sits on the ocean floor some 2 1/2 miles beneath
the surface, remaining undiscovered until 1985.

A just-signed treaty between the UK and the US grants both countries
authority to allow or deny access to the wreck and to remove items
found outside the vessel. "This momentous agreement with the United
States to preserve the wreck means it will be treated with the
sensitivity and respect owed to the final resting place of more than
1,500 lives," British Transport and Maritime Minister Nusrat Ghani said
in a statement.

The request to enter the rapidly disintegrating wreck was filed in US
District Court in Eastern Virginia by RMS Titanic, Inc. of Atlanta,
Georgia, which said that it hopes to restore the Titanic radio
transmitter to operating condition, if it is allowed to go forward.

The company plans to use a manned submarine to reach the wreck and then
deploy a remotely controlled sub that would perforate the hull and
retrieve the radio equipment.
The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: We saw a nice run of Cycle 24 and
Cycle 25 sunspots from January 24 through February 1. The daily sunspot
number reached a short-term peak of 18 on January 26.

Average daily sunspot numbers declined from the 11.1 reported last week
to 4.7 during the current reporting week, January 30 - February 5.

Predicted solar flux for the next 45 days is 70 on February 6 - 13; 72
on February 14 - 20; 73 on February 21 - 22; 74 on February 23 - 29; 72
on March 1 - 3; 71 on March 4 - 11; 72 on March 12 - 18; 73 on March 19
- 20, and 74 on March 21.

Predicted planetary A index is 12 and 8 on February 6 - 7; 5 on
February 8 - 24; 10 on February 25 - 26; 5 on February 27 - 29; 8 on
March 1 - 3, and 5 on March 4 - 21.

Sunspot numbers for January 30 through February 5 were 11, 11, 11, 0,
0, 0, and 0, with a mean of 4.7. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 74.1,
73.9, 72.5, 72.2, 72.1, 70.3, and 70.6, with a mean of 72.2. Estimated
planetary A indices were 12, 8, 6, 6, 5, 5, and 5, with a mean of 6.7.
Middle latitude A index was 9, 6, 4, 4, 3, 5, and 4, with a mean of 5.

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
* February 8 -- FISTS Winter Unlimited Sprint (CW)
* February 8 -- RSGB 1.8 MHz Contest (CW)
* February 8 -- Asia-Pacific Spring Sprint (CW)
* February 8 - 9 -- CQ World Wide RTTY WPX Contest
* February 8 - 9 -- SARL Field Day Contest (CW, phone, digital)
* February 8 - 9 -- KCJ Topband Contest (CW)
* February 8 - 9 -- Dutch PACC Contest (CW, phone)
* February 8 - 9 -- SKCC Weekend Sprintathon (CW)
* February 8 - 10 -- YLRL YL-OM Contest (CW, phone, digital)
* February 8 - 9 -- OMISS QSO Party (Phone)
* February 9 -- Balkan HF Contest (CW, phone)
* February 9 - 12 -- Classic Exchange, Phone
* February 10 -- CQC Winter QSO Party (CW)
* February 10 -- 4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint (CW, phone)
* February 10 - 14 -- ARRL School Club Roundup (CW, phone)
* February 12 -- NAQCC CW Sprint
* February 12 -- RSGB 80-Meter Club Championship (Digital)

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.
Clayton Coleman, W5PFG, Elected AMSAT President

During a teleconference meeting this week, the AMSAT Board of Directors
elected Clayton Coleman, W5PFG, of Granbury, Texas, as AMSAT President.
Coleman had served as a member of the Board of Directors and as AMSAT
Secretary from 2017 until 2019, and he has volunteered in several other
capacities for AMSAT, including as chair of the 2016 AMSAT Space
Symposium. He succeeds Joe Spier, K6WAO, who resigned recently, citing
personal reasons, after being in office since October 2017.

Coleman was introduced to amateur radio in space through the SAREX
program -- the forerunner to ARISS -- and the Russian Mir space
station. His interest in setting up an AX.25 BBS and nodes in the early
1990s led him to try making contacts via the Mir Personal Message
System (PMS) and digipeater. In 2011, Coleman became interested in
OSCAR satellites and began chasing operating awards.

Coleman's focus as president will be working with members to improve
organizational processes and aligning them with strategic goals.
Professionally, Coleman works in the industrial process control sector
both as a consultant and business development manager.

AMSAT members will have an opportunity to meet Coleman at Orlando
HamCation on Saturday, February 8, when he will greet visitors at the
AMSAT booth from 9:30 - 10:30 AM and 2 - 3 PM. He will also speak at
the AMSAT Forum at 12:30 PM on Saturday in Room CS III at the Lakeside
Pavilion. -- Thanks to AMSAT News Service

ARISS Announces Hosts for Space Station Ham Radio Contacts

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has announced
the names of schools and organizations selected to host amateur radio
contacts with International Space Station crew members during the
second half of 2020.

Ten proposals were accepted to move forward in the selection process
and placed in a scheduling queue for an amateur radio contact between
July and December 2020. Although ARISS expects to schedule all 10
during this period, changes to NASA crew availability may force
postponement of some contact opportunities until the first half of
2021.

The schools and host organizations are:
* Estes Park Elementary School, Estes Park, Colorado
* Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, Green Bank, West Virginia
* Tecumseh Public School, Tecumseh, Oklahoma
* Regional School Unit 21, Kennebunk, Maine
* John F. Kennedy High School, Denver, Colorado
* Oregon Charter School, Mill City, Oregon
* Newcastle High School; Newcastle, Wyoming
* Tarwater Elementary School, Chandler, Arizona
* Kopernik Observatory and Science Center, Vestal, New York
* Salem-South Lyon District Library, South Lyon, Michigan

7X7X DXpedition Showcases Cooperation and Youth

A cooperative agreement the Algerian and Tunisian IARU member-societies
signed in 2014 to reinforce relations through joint activities bore
fruit with the 7X7X DXpedition to Algeria late last year. Preparations
began in late October 2019, with the goal of activating Algeria on the
low bands to benefit from the slump in the solar cycle.

Co-leader Ash Chaabane, 3V8SF/KF5EYY, said organizers wanted to take
advantage of the DXpedition to boost interest among younger hams. Four
young people were involved in the event as a result: Sarra, 7X2QV;
Lotfi Kara, 7X2QC; Marwa, 3V8CB, and Ahmed Boubaker, 3V1B/KG5OUE, who
are all in their 20s. Three of them have participated in Youngsters On
The Air (YOTA) events sponsored by the International Amateur Radio
Union (IARU). Chaabane said the youthful contingent was involved from
setup to tear down, in addition to operating.

In addition to Chaabane, the team included co-leader Afif Ben Lagha,
7X2RO; Brahim Mohamed, 7X3TL; Redha el Bahi, 7X5QB, and Abdelghani
Mesbah, 7X2TT/M0NPT. The Tunisian team flew from Tunis to Algiers,
arriving on December 28 in Bejaia to join the Algerian team. "We
immediately started putting up antennas," Chaabane said.

7X2TT kicked off the operation through the Es'hail satellite,
demonstrating for the benefit of the younger operators how ham radio
satellites work. The rest of the team built a nearly 40-foot tall
inverted L for 160 meters; a full quarter-wave vertical for 80 meters;
a two-element Fritzel Yagi for the high bands; a seven-element Yagi for
VHF; a K9AY receiving loop, and a ground plane for 30 meters, which
operated on 40 meters as well with the addition of a loading coil.

"We did our best to operate two stations at a time," Chaabane
recounted. "We had quite few technical issues, but we overcame them."
7X7X ended up logging 5,800 contacts in 4 days, and the operating
schedule was intentionally flexible.

The mode breakdown showed 38% CW, 55% SSB, and 7% FT8. "We had 1,121
QSOs on 160 and 798 on 80," Chaabane said, with 356 US and 30 JA
contacts on 160 meters.

One objective of the DXpedition was to bond and form a strong team
capable of larger operations in the future, Chaabane said.

The DXpedition team expressed its appreciation for the support from the
Northern California DX Foundation (NCDXF), the Lone Star DX Association
(LSDXA), and the Mediterraneo DX Club (MDXC), as well as some
individual hams. "This support is a solid investment into the future of
the ham radio hobby," Chaabane said. "We urge all DXpeditioners to
involve youngsters in their future trips and do their best to make it
easy and least costly for them." -- Thanks to IARU

President Signs PIRATE Act to Combat Illegal Broadcasting

On January 24, President Donald Trump signed into law the "Preventing
Illegal Radio Abuse Through Enforcement Act," or the PIRATE Act. The
measure, which amends the Communications Act of 1934, authorizes
enhanced penalties for violators. Under the new law, pirate radio
broadcasters would be subject to a fine of not more than $2 million,
and violators could be fined up to $100,000 for each day during which
an offense occurs. The new law stipulates that the FCC "shall not
decrease or diminish the regular enforcement efforts targeted to pirate
radio broadcast stations for other times of the year."

The FCC is to submit to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and
the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation a report
summarizing the implementation of this section and associated
enforcement activities for the previous fiscal year. The new law also
requires "annual sweeps," during which FCC personnel will be assigned
to "focus specific and sustained attention on the elimination of pirate
radio broadcasting within the top five radio markets identified as
prevalent for such broadcasts." The Commission also "shall conduct
monitoring sweeps to ascertain whether the pirate radio broadcasting
identified by enforcement sweeps is continuing and whether additional
pirate radio broadcasting is occurring."

Under the new law, the FCC will change its rules so that it proceeds
directly to issuance of a Notice of Apparent Liability (NAL) without
first issuing a Notice of Unlicensed Operation (NOUO).

The FCC will develop and publish a database of all licensed AM and FM
broadcasters, accessible directly from the FCC home page. The FCC is
also required to publish a list of "all entities that have received a
Notice of Unlicensed Operation, Notice of Apparent Liability, or
forfeiture order," as well as "each entity...operating without a
Commission license or authorization."

The law defines pirate radio broadcasting as transmitting within the AM
and FM bands without an FCC license, but excluding unlicensed
operations in compliance with Part 15.
In Brief...

Brief Interruptions of ARRL Headquarters Systems are planned for
Thursday, February 13. The ARRL IT Department anticipates two short
interruptions to these Headquarters-based systems: Logbook of The
World; Online DXCC; International Grid Chase Archive; National Parks on
the Air Archive; Centennial QSO Party Archive, and the W1AW EchoLink
Conference Server. The interruptions should occur on Thursday, February
13, between 1200 - 2200 UTC. Each interruption should be less than 10
minutes in length.

Former ARRL East Bay Section Manager Ti-Michelle Connelly, NJ6T, of
Yuma, Arizona, died late last week. She served as SM from 2003 until
2007. An ARRL Life Member, she was 72. The California native also held
other Field Organization appointments, including Net Manager,
Affiliated Club Coordinator, Assistant Section Manager, and Official
Emergency Station. Connelly was also an ARRL VEC and W5YI VEC Volunteer
Examiner. "Her spirit and fun will be sorely missed by many of us this
year," said a friend, Kristen McIntyre, K6WX.

The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) has completed the makeover
of its main website and the three regional websites -- all with the
same basic design. The three regional sites can be accessed directly
from the IARU home page. All of the updated pages are organized to
broadly mirror the structure of the International Telecommunication
Union (ITU) and its related regional telecommunication organizations.
The Region 2 web page is available in English or Spanish. Each page
offers a look at recent IARU news and events. -- Thanks to IARU
Secretary David Sumner, K1ZZ

Amateur radio volunteers in Turkey supported the response to a powerful
magnitude 6.8 earthquake that struck the province of Elazig on January
24. Radio amateurs affiliated with the national International Amateur
Radio Union member-society TRAC assisted in the response. Aziz Sasa,
TA1E, at TRAC Headquarters reported, "The affected area was very small
and the intensity limited; our involvement was also limited." He said
two TRAC branches in the affected area stepped in, assisting by
providing tactical communication in the affected area and supporting
the Ministry of Health by installing and getting their mountaintop
repeater operational. "Due to the relatively limited scale of the
disaster, foreign assistance was not needed," he told IARU Region 1
Emergency Communications Coordinator Greg Mossop, G0DUB. The earthquake
caused about 40 deaths and more than 1,600 injuries as well as
considerable property damage.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
* February 7 - 9 -- Northern Florida Section Convention, Orlando,
Florida
* February 14 - 15 -- Southwest Division Convention, Yuma, Arizona
* March 7 - Delta Division Convention, Russellville, Arkansas
* March 13 - 14 -- North Carolina Section Convention, Concord, North
Carolina
* March 14 - 15 -- Great Lakes Division Convention, Perrysburg, Ohio
* March 14 -- Nebraska State Convention, Lincoln, Nebraska
* March 14 -- West Virginia Section Convention, Charleston, West
Virginia
* March 21 -- West Texas Section Convention, Midland, Texas
* April 10 - 11 -- Oklahoma State Convention, Claremore, Oklahoma
* April 11 -- Roanoke Division Convention, Raleigh, North Carolina
* April 18 -- Delaware State Convention, Georgetown, Delaware

Find conventions and hamfests in your area.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for
Amateur Radio News and Information.

.

.
* Join or Renew Today! ARRL membership includes QST, amateur radio's
most popular and informative journal, delivered to your mailbox
each month.
* Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday.

Subscribe to...
* NCJ -- National Contest Journal. Published bimonthly, features
articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA
Sprint, and QSO parties.
* QEX -- A Forum for Communications Experimenters. Published
bimonthly, features technical articles, construction projects,
columns, and other items of interest to radio amateurs and
communications professionals.

Free of charge to ARRL members...
* Subscribe to the ARES E-Letter (monthly public service and
emergency communications news), the ARRL Contest Update (biweekly
contest newsletter), Division and Section news alerts -- and much
more!
* Find ARRL on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram!
----------------------------------------------------------------------

The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 50 times each year. ARRL members
and registered guests may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing
their profile.

Copyright (c) 2020 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and
distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is permitted for
non-commercial or educational purposes, with attribution. All other
purposes require written permission.


--- SendMsg/2

--- Squish/386 v1.11
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Limestone, TN, USA (1:18/200)

The ARRL Letter
February 13, 2020

* ARRL Board of Directors Re-Elects President Rick Roderick, K5UR
* ARRL Board Grants Awards and Recognitions
* ARRL Creates New HF Band Planning Discussion Group
* ARRL Podcasts Schedule
* New ARRL Repeater Directory Now Shipping
* The ARRL International DX Contest (CW) Is Just Ahead
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* QRZ.com Ends Identity Verified Program
* Foundation for Amateur Radio Invites 2020 - 2021 Scholarship
Applications
* In Brief
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions

-------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL Headquarters Will Be Closed for Presidents Day, Monday, February
17. There will be no W1AW bulletin or code practice transmissions on
that day. Headquarters will reopen on Tuesday, February 18, at 8 AM
EST.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL Board of Directors Re-Elects President Rick Roderick, K5UR

Meeting January 17 - 18 in Windsor, Connecticut, the ARRL Board of
Directors re-elected ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, to a third
2-year term. Roderick outpolled the only other nominee, Pacific

ARRL President Rick
Roderick, K5UR.

Division Director Jim Tiemstra, K6JAT, 8 - 7. New England Division Vice
Director Mike Raisbeck, K1TWF, was elected First Vice President,
succeeding Greg Widin, K0GW, who did not seek another term. Raisbeck
was the sole nominee. A successor will be appointed to fill the Vice
Director seat that Raisbeck has vacated. Bob Vallio, W6RGG, was
re-elected as Second Vice President as the only nominee.

On a 9 - 6 vote, the Board voted not to re-elect Howard Michel, WB2ITX,
as Chief Executive Officer. Michel was in the post for 15 months.
Former ARRL Chief Financial Officer and Chief Executive Officer Barry
Shelley, N1VXY, has come out of retirement to serve as interim ARRL
CEO. He also was elected as Secretary. Shelley was ARRL's CFO for 28
years and served as CEO during 2018 before his retirement, following
the departure of former CEO Tom Gallagher, NY2RF. The ARRL Board has
appointed a committee to spearhead the search for a new CEO. That panel
will screen suitable CEO candidates, presenting three to the Board for
consideration.

In other action, former ARRL President and IARU Secretary Rod Stafford,
W6ROD, was elected International Affairs Vice President, succeeding Jay
Bellows, K0QB, who did not seek another term. Also re-elected by the
Board were Treasurer Rick Niswander, K7GM, and Chief Financial Officer
Diane Middleton, W2DLM.

Elected as members of the Executive Committee were Atlantic Division
Director Tom Abernethy, W3TOM; Central Division Director Kermit
Carlson, W9XA; Roanoke Division Director Bud Hippisley, W2RU; New
England Division Director Fred Hopengarten, K1VR, and Great Lakes
Division Director Dale Williams, WA8EFK. The Executive Committee
addresses and makes decisions regarding ARRL business that may arise
between scheduled Board meetings.

Hudson Division Director Ria Jairam, N2RJ, was elected as a member of
the ARRL Foundation Board for a 3-year term. Tim Duffy, K3LR, and Jim
Fenstermaker, K9JF, were elected to the Foundation Board for 3-year
terms as non-ARRL Board members.

Relief From Private Land-Use Restrictions

The Hoc Legislative vocacy Committee provided the Board with
drafts outlining three legislative approaches to address relief for
radio amateurs facing private land-use restrictions impacting outdoor
antennas. The Board signed off on the draft legislative approaches "as
presented and possibly modified" and directed the committee "to proceed
to obtain congressional sponsorship, employing any of these three
approaches and using its best judgment on any alterations or
modifications that our advisors or sponsors may require or suggest."

HF Band Planning

Outgoing chair of the HF Band Planning Committee Greg Widin, K0GW,
presented the panel's report and entertained questions. Board members
noted that staff turnover and funding limitations at the FCC might
impact ARRL's efforts to tweak the bands. The Board agreed that ARRL
would post the report and solicit comments from members on it.

Contests and Operating Awards

Radio Amateurs of Canada President
Glenn MacDonell, VE3XRA (left), and
IARU President Tim Ellam,
VE6SH/G4HUA, conveyed greetings from
their respective organizations.
Seated behind them is ARRL Technical
Relations Specialist Jon Siverling,
WB3ERA. [Michelle Patnode, W3MVP,
photo]

The Board approved raising the maximum number of contacts a Field Day
GOTA station can make to 1,000. It amended the ARRL RTTY Roundup rules
to add Multi-Two and Multi-Multi categories and to permit multioperator
stations to operate for the entire contest period, and it divided entry
categories into RTTY only, Digital only (i.e., no RTTY), and Mixed
(both RTTY and digital).

Matt Holden, K0BBC, presented the DX visory Committee report, telling
the Board that the panel engaged in extensive discussion on a proposal
to change the 5-Band DXCC award from the current required band to offer
credit for any five bands. The committee unanimously rejected the
proposal.

ARRL Elections

The Board revised rules governing ARRL Division and Section Manager
elections to clarify some terminology, to extend the campaign period
from the call for nominations to the deadline for ballots received, and
to make other miscellaneous changes. Revisions will become effective by
February 15, 2020.

The Board elected Greg
Widin, K0GW, as an
ARRL Honorary Vice
President. [Rick
Lindquist, WW1ME,
photo]

In the interest of "openness and fairness," the Board also approved a
measure that would offer candidates and members an opportunity to be
present during the counting of ballots. Candidates may also designate
one ARRL member to attend as a surrogate if they're unable to observe
ballot counting, or to accompany them at the count. The Board further
approved an amendment to permit ARRL members, upon petition, to travel
at their own expense to witness the counting of ballots from their
Division.

The Board charged the Programs and Services Committee to consider
changes to the ARRL By-Laws that would give members, upon petition, the
opportunity to attend the public portion of the Annual Meeting in
January. The number of members permitted to attend would be subject to
available space and fire code regulations.

Public Service Enhancement Working Group Chair, Roanoke Division
Director Bud Hippisley, W2RU, reported that with field adoption of the
2019 ARES Plan now under way, the group is putting increased focus on
the National Traffic System, including plans for dialog with
representatives of Radio Relay International.

Reduced Dues for Younger Applicants

The Board
elected Jay
Bellows, K0QB,
as an ARRL
Honorary Vice
President.

The Board approved an amendment giving the CEO discretion to raise the
eligibility age for reduced full ARRL membership dues from 22 to 26,
provided the rate not be less than one-half of the established rate. In
addition, the Board approved the establishment of a reduced-rate,
revenue-neutral Life Membership for individuals age 70 or older, with
cumulative annual membership of 25 years or more, at an initial rate of
$750. Headquarters staff will work out the administrative details of
the program, subject to approval of the ministration and Finance
Committee.

The Board also agreed to allow for a "digital-only" access membership,
at the discretion of the CEO, discounted no more than 10% from the
established dues rate.

Other Business

In other business, the Board:
* Approved a grant of $500 to the Youth on the Air (YOTA) in the
Americas program, which is sponsoring a camp in June for young
radio amateurs. Neil Rapp, WB9VPG, a former ARRL Youth Coordinator,
is heading the initiative, which is funded through the non-profit
Electronic Applications Radio Service Inc.
* Authorized creation of an Emergency Management Director Selection
Committee, with its chair and members to be named by the president.

The minutes of the January Annual Meeting of the ARRL Board of
Directors are posted on the ARRL website.
ARRL Board Grants Awards and Recognitions

Meeting January 17 - 18, the ARRL Board of Directors bestowed several
honors, awards, and recognitions. The Board conferred:
* The ARRL President's Award to David H. Bernstein, AA6YQ, in
recognition of "exemplary, outstanding, and continuing service" to
ARRL and its members as part of the ARRL Logbook of The World team.
Bernstein was a charter member of the ARRL Logbook Committee and a
"founding, influential, and devoted member" of the Committee on
Communication with ARRL Members.
* The 2019 Bill Leonard, W2SKE, Professional Media Award for Audio
Reporting to Roman Battaglia and the associated producer and staff
of Jefferson Public Radio in Oregon. Battaglia produced a feature
story on amateur radio emergency services in and around the
Jefferson Public Radio listening area.
* The 2019 Bill Leonard, W2SKE, Professional Media Award for Print
Reporting to Zack Plair and the Columbus and Starkville Dispatch in
Mississippi. Plair wrote a feature for the paper describing how
amateur radio has proven fulfilling to various participants,
including new and experienced radio amateurs.
* The 2019 Bill Leonard, W2SKE, Professional Media Award for Video
Reporting to reporter Jim Altman and affiliated producers and staff
of Fox 61 News in Hartford, Connecticut. Altman's report, "American
Radio Relay League Ready for Hurricane Season," focused on ARRL's
participation in a May 2019 emergency drill conducted in
association with the American Red Cross.

The Board recognized and thanked the Delaware Valley Radio Association
of New Jersey and the Clark County Amateur Radio Club of Vancouver,
Washington, for their 90 years of assistance in fulfilling the ARRL
mission of, "advancing the art, science, and enjoyment of amateur radio
within their community."

The Board bestowed the honor of Honorary Vice President on John B.
"Jay" Bellows, K0QB, and on Greg Widin, K0GW, in recognition of their
outstanding contributions to ARRL and amateur radio.

ARRL Creates New HF Band Planning Discussion Group

ARRL has created a new HF Band Planning Discussion Group. HF Band
Planning Committee Chair Mike Raisbeck, K1TWF, will moderate the group,
which will focus on the ARRL HF Band Planning Committee's
recommendations and other band-planning activities. Earlier this month,
the ARRL HF Band Planning Committee invited comments and suggestions
from the amateur radio community on its report to the ARRL Board.

At the Board's January meeting, the committee presented its specific
recommendations in graphical form for each HF band and US license
class, with the goal of increasing harmony on the HF bands,
particularly between CW and digital users.

Those responding to the initial call for comments and suggestions are
encouraged to cross-post their remarks to the new HF Band Planning
Discussion Group.
ARRL Podcasts Schedule

The second episode of ARRL's "On the Air" podcast is now available.
Topics focus on building the ground-plane antenna featured in the first
issue of On the Air magazine, a discussion of open-wire feed lines, and
an interview with a relatively new public service volunteer. New "On
the Air" podcast episodes are available each month.

The inaugural episode of ARRL's new "Eclectic Tech" podcast is now
available. The first episode includes a discussion of amateur radio
activity on the Qatar-OSCAR 100 satellite, an interview with Assistant
ARRL Lab Manager Bob Allison, WB1GCM, about handheld transceiver
testing at Dayton Hamvention and other conventions, and an interview
with Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA, about propagation conditions.

Both podcasts are available on iTunes (iOS) and Stitcher (Android) as
well as on Blubrry -- On the Air | Eclectic Tech.

New ARRL Repeater Directory Now Shipping

The 2020 ARRL Repeater Directory^(R) is now shipping. It includes
"crowdsourced" listings contributed by users, repeater owners, and
volunteer frequency coordinators. This means more listings that are
updated more often. With 21,000 listings, it's the most complete
printed directory of on-the-air repeaters, covering repeater systems
throughout the US and Canada.

Repeater systems are listed by state/province, city, and operating
mode. Digital repeater systems included are System Fusion, D-Star, DMR,
NXDN, and P25 systems. It is available in one size -- 6 * 9 inches --
with a convenient lay-flat spiral binding. The cover includes space to
personalize your directory, so you can make it yours.

Pages of supplemental information include VHF/UHF and microwave band
plans, and repeater operating practices. For decades, The ARRL Repeater
Directory has been an invaluable source for locating repeater
frequencies while traveling. New hams often use the Repeater Directory
to find local activity after purchasing a new handheld radio, and
public service volunteers keep a copy nearby or in their emergency "go
kit."

Order the 2020 ARRL Repeater Directory from the ARRL Store, or find an
ARRL publication dealer. Order ARRL Item No. 1267, ISBN:
978-1-62595-126-7, $19.95 retail. For additional questions or ordering,
call 860-594-0355, or, toll free in the US, 888-277-5289.

Repeater listings appearing in The ARRL Repeater Directory(R) are
provided by RFinder Inc. If a repeater has been omitted, or if a
listing is inaccurate, contact RFinder directly.
The ARRL International DX Contest (CW) Is Just Ahead

The CW weekend of the always-exciting ARRL International DX Contest
kicks off this weekend, February 15 - 16 (UTC). This event is a huge
opportunity for new, casual, and seasoned radiosport enthusiasts to
enjoy the thrill of working some new DX entities.

The terrific part is that DX stations work only US and Canada and not
each other. So, the DX operators need your contact for points.

You don't need a powerhouse contest station to join in the fun. It's
possible to work DX with simple wire dipole antennas and 100 W.

Participating in the ARRL International DX Contest is a whole lot of
fun and can really help build your DXCC totals and QSL collections.

Complete details are available via the ARRL Contests web page. The ARRL
International DX Contest phone weekend is March 7 - 8 (UTC).

The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: No sunspots appeared during the
reporting week, February 6 - 12. Average daily solar flux declined by
more than 1 point to 71.1. Average planetary A index increased from 6.7
to 8.3.

Predicted solar flux for the next 45 days is 72 on February 13 - 20; 73
on February 21 - 22; 74 on February 23 - 29; 72 on March 1 - 3; 71 on
March 4 - 11; 72 on March 12 - 18; 73 on March 19 - 20; 74 on March 21
- 27, and 72 on March 28.

Predicted planetary A index is 5 on February 13 - 16; 8 on February 17
- 20; 5 on February 21 - 24; 10 on February 25 - 26; 5 on February 27 -
29; 8 on March 1 - 3; 5 on March 4 - 22; 10 on March 23 - 24; 5 on
March 25 - 27, and 8 on March 28.

Sunspot numbers for February 6 - 12 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, and 0, with
a mean of 0. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 71.3, 70.8, 72, 70.6, 70.2,
71.1, and 71.6, with a mean of 71.1. Estimated planetary A indices were
15, 15, 6, 7, 5, 6, and 4, with a mean of 8.3. Middle latitude A index
was 13, 11, 4, 5, 4, 6, and 4, with a mean of 6.7.

A comprehensive K7RA Solar Update is posted Fridays on the ARRL
website. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the
ARRL Technical Information Service, read "What the Numbers Mean...,"
and check out K9LA's Propagation Page.

A propagation bulletin archive is available. Monthly charts offer
propagation projections between the US and a dozen DX locations.

Share your reports and observations.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Just Ahead in Radiosport
* February 14 -- PODXS 070 Club Valentine Sprint (Digital)
* February 15 -- Feld Hell Sprint
* February 15 - 16 -- ARRL International DX Contest (CW)
* February 15 - 16 -- Russian PSK WW Contest
* February 15 - 16 -- AWA Amplitude Modulation QSO Party
* February 17 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)
* February 19 -- AGCW Semi-Automatic Key Evening

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.com Ends Identity Verified Program

The popular QRZ.com amateur radio website has dropped its verified
member program, which the site instituted last year in an effort to
combat fraud and password phishers. Termination of the program was due
to "a number of factors," the site's founder and president Fred Lloyd,
AA7BQ, explained in a post. Lloyd said the change will "transition our
online swapmeet rules to reflect more open policies." The site had
offered the option of establishing two-factor authentication (2FA) for
its registered users, which would secure a user's password on the site.
The site introduced two-factor authentication last June, and the
verified member program later.

"While two-factor authentication has worked very well, the identity
verified program hasn't worked as well as we'd hoped. There has been a
net decrease in swapmeet traffic, primarily due to members not wishing
to take the extra steps to get verified. The swapmeet did seem to get
safer, but also notably quieter. The forum has lost some of the
excitement that it used to be known for."

Lloyd said the identity verified program was designed to provide an
extra level of confidence to swapmeet participants, but "in practical
terms, its validation methods were not sustainable." Not only was it an
administrative burden, Lloyd explained, but the majority of its
participants were only complying reluctantly. "The bottom line is that
it's been unpopular," he said.

Lloyd said that by dropping the identity verified requirement, QRZ
expects to see an increase in equipment listings and greater
participation.

Individuals listing equipment will still need to provide photos of
actual items for sale, and photos must include the seller's call sign.
Only ham members -- those having a listed call sign page -- may sell in
the swapmeet. Those perusing the listings will generally be allowed to
post comments or questions about any listing, Lloyd said. Read more.
Foundation for Amateur Radio Invites 2020 - 2021 Scholarship
Applications

The Foundation for Amateur Radio Inc. (FAR) has invited applications
for the 2020 - 2021 academic year for the scholarships it administers.
Applications must be submitted via the online form. Several questions
ask for essay responses. The deadline for initial submissions is April
30, 2020. Applicants may amend their applications until May 7.

All applicants must hold a valid amateur radio license and be enrolled
or accepted for enrollment at an accredited university, college, or
technical school. Applicants attending school outside the US must
provide a brochure describing the school. Students do not apply for
specific scholarships; each application will be considered for all of
the scholarships for which the applicant is qualified. Quarter Century
Wireless Association (QCWA) scholarships and the Chichester Memorial
Scholarship all require recommendations to be awarded.

Data entered onto the application goes directly into an encrypted,
password-protected PDF file available only to the review committee. No
part of the application is stored online.

More information is available on the FAR website, or contact Dave
Prestel, W8AJR, telephone 443-812-4403.
In Brief

The FCC has invited comments on a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM)
in WT Docket 19-138, which said the FCC would take "a fresh and
comprehensive look" at the rules for the 5.9 GHz band. The FCC proposes
to make 5.850 - 5.895 GHz available for unlicensed operations and to
authorize transportation-related communication technologies to use
5.895 - 5.925 GHz. The FCC is not proposing to delete or otherwise
amend the 5-centimeter secondary amateur radio allocation at 5.650 -
5.925 GHz, part of which includes the 75 megahertz under consideration.
Comments are due by March 6, and reply comments are due by April 6.
ARRL will be filing comments supporting no change to 5.850 - 5.925 GHz
for amateurs, as included in the FCC proposal.

Successful 47 GHz Amateur Radio Moonbounce Test Reported. Mitsuo Kasai,
JA1WQF, successfully decoded a 47 GHz signal bounced off the moon on
February 10 by Al Ward, W5LUA. More tests are planned. Ward posted news
of the achievement on the Moon-Net email reflector. "These were one-way
tests, with only me transmitting," he said in his post. "I started out
by sending single tones to Mitsuo, which he copied well, and then sent
several sequences of calls and grid. Mitsuo was able to decode calls
and my grid at 1146 UTC and 1234 UTC. Signal levels were -23 dB and -25
dB." Ward noted that the first EME (Earth-moon-Earth) contact on 47 GHz
took place in early 2005. "More 47 GHz tests are being run in the next
few days with Manfred Ploetz, DL7YC," he said. "We hope for similar
success."

Steve Waterman,
K4CJX (left),
and Phil
Sherrod, W4PHS.
[Photo courtesy
of Steve
Waterman,
K4CJX]

Two Winlink development team members were recently awarded the Military
Department of Tennessee jutant General's Distinguished Patriot Medal.
Steve Waterman, K4CJX, was awarded "for his distinguished patriotic
service as the Winlink Network ministrator," citing his "vision, hard
work, and dedication to emergency communication [that] contributed
significantly to the disaster readiness and communications
interoperability of the emergency responders across the United States
and the world." Phil Sherrod, W4PHS, was awarded the medal "for his
distinguished patriotic service as the lead developer for Winlink,"
with "technical skill, hard work, and dedication to emergency
communication [that] contributed significantly to the disaster
readiness and communications interoperability of the emergency
responders across the United States and the world."

US Marines with Information Group II Marine Expeditionary Force (II
MIG) participated in an amateur radio general licensing course. The
course was conducted on base January 27 - 31 as part of the group's
High Frequency Auxiliary Initiative. Members of the Brightleaf Amateur
Radio Club of Greenville, North Carolina, helped the Marines in the
class learn the principles of HF radio operations as a contingency
against a peer-to-peer adversary in real-world operations. During the
course, Marines learned ham radio theory, band allocations,
conventional and field-expedient antenna theory, and general ham radio
operation and control. II MIG Commanding Officer Colonel Jordan Walzer
created the High Frequency Auxiliary Initiative after recognizing the
need for additional options in combat environments. "Right now, our
adversaries are aggressively pursuing counter-space weapons to target
our satellites and ground stations," Walzer is quoted in the article.
"If our satellites get knocked out, what do we do then? [High
frequency] radio has been around for well over a century and is still
used today. Why? Because it's a reliable, low-cost alternative to
satellite communications. With the right training and education, a
Marine with a radio and some slash wire can communicate
over-the-horizon for long distances, even between continents."

Initial reports indicate considerable interest among amateurs in
tracking and capturing data from the newly deployed HuskySat-1. The
satellite, designed at the University of Washington, was launched to
the International Space Station last November and subsequently deployed
into a higher orbit from the ISS on January 31, and began telemetry
transmissions on 435.800 MHz. HuskySat-1's 1,200 bps BPSK beacon is
active and decodable with the latest release of AMSAT's FoxTelem
software. The HuskySat-1 CubeSat will demonstrate onboard plasma
propulsion and high-gain telemetry for low-Earth orbit that would be a
precursor for an attempt at a larger CubeSat designed for orbital
insertion at the moon. HuskySat-1 is expected to carry out its primary
mission before being turned over to AMSAT for activation of a 30 kHz
wide V/U linear transponder for SSB and CW. -- Thanks to AMSAT News
Service

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
* February 14 - 15 -- Southwest Division Convention, Yuma, Arizona
* February 22 -- Vermont State Convention, Colchester, Vermont
* March 7 -- Delta Division Convention, Russellville, Arkansas
* March 13 - 14 -- North Carolina Section Convention, Concord, North
Carolina
* March 14 - 15 -- Great Lakes Division Convention, Perrysburg, Ohio
* March 14 -- Nebraska State Convention, Lincoln, Nebraska
* March 14 -- West Virginia Section Convention, Charleston, West
Virginia
* March 21 -- West Texas Section Convention, Midland, Texas
* March 29 -- Virginia Section Convention, Annandale, Virginia
* April 10 - 11 -- Oklahoma State Convention, Claremore, Oklahoma
* April 11 -- Roanoke Division Convention, Raleigh, North Carolina
* April 18 -- Delaware State Convention, Georgetown, Delaware

Find conventions and hamfests in your area.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for
Amateur Radio News and Information.

.

.
* Join or Renew Today! ARRL membership includes QST, amateur radio's
most popular and informative journal, delivered to your mailbox
each month.
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bimonthly, features technical articles, construction projects,
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Free of charge to ARRL members...
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----------------------------------------------------------------------

The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 50 times each year. ARRL members
and registered guests may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing
their profile.

Copyright (c) 2020 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and
distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is permitted for
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purposes require written permission.


--- SendMsg/2

--- Squish/386 v1.11
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Limestone, TN, USA (1:18/200)

The ARRL Letter
February 20, 2020

* Coronavirus Outbreak Postpones Swains Island W8S DXpedition
* VP8PJ South Orkney DXpedition Team Arrives
* KX9X Offers Five Tips on Satellite Operating Etiquette
* ARRL Podcast Schedule
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* Emergency Communication Exercise Set in Northern Florida
* Mississippi ARES^(R) Emergency Coordinator Credits Training for
Effective Tornado Response
* Yasme Foundation Announces Grants and Excellence Awards
* New World Distance Record Claimed on 122 GHz
* FAA's Proposed Remote Identification Rules Would Affect Drones,
Hobby Planes
* In Brief...
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
Coronavirus Outbreak Postpones Swains Island W8S DXpedition

The W8S DXpedition to Swains Island in the Pacific, set to take place
in mid-March, has been postponed until September as a result of travel
restrictions imposed on individuals entering American Samoa, stemming
from the recent coronavirus outbreak. The Department of Health allows
non-residents to enter American Samoa only via Hawaii after a 14-day
mandatory quarantine, and the DXpedition was unable to accommodate that
requirement.

"Everything is prepared for our DXpedition, and we are eager to go, but
unfortunately the coronavirus outbreak is out of our control," the
DXpedition team said in announcing the delay. "Although this is a
disappointment for everyone, the W8S DXpedition is not cancelled, just
postponed for later this year."

The DXpedition said it would alert the DX community as soon as it has
new firm dates for the trip.
VP8PJ South Orkney DXpedition Team Arrives

The VP8PJ South Orkney DXpedition team, on board the Braveheart,
reached Signy Island in the South Orkneys just after 1000 UTC on
February 20. Team members are now preparing to land Zodiacs and
transfer equipment.

"We have ice to contend with regarding our planned landing area," the
DXpedition reported. "The ice was pushed in during the previous days,
but we are expecting the winds to change and blow the ice out. We are
currently looking for an alternate site to unload, then move the
equipment to the planned site. An alternative camp/operations area is
being considered as we evaluate current conditions."

The Perseverance DX Group-sponsored DXpedition was set to commence
operation on February 20 (UTC), but it appears that could be delayed.
Team members operated as ZL1NA/mm during their voyage, generating heavy
pileups, and they expect to continue doing so once they get set up as
VP8PJ.

Operation on CW, SSB, RTTY, and FT8 (always fox/hound mode except on 60
meters) will continue until March 5 (UTC). Stations in Africa and
Oceania may call at any time, regardless of operators' directional
instructions.

The VP8PJ DXpedition is the recipient of an ARRL Colvin Award grant,
funded by an endowment established by Lloyd D. Colvin, W6KG (SK).
Heading the 14-member DXpedition team are Dave Lloyd, K3EL, and Les
Kalmus, W2LK.

South Orkney Islands is the 16th most-wanted DXCC entity, according to
Club Log.

The DXpedition advises that DXers wait until propagation and conditions
favor their location. VP8PJ will always operate split, and operators
will indicate where they are listening.

QSL via OQRS for direct or bureau, or direct via QSL Manager Tim
Beaumont, M0URX; log search will also be available. Read more. --Thanks
to The Daily DX for some information

KX9X Offers Five Tips on Satellite Operating Etiquette

Former ARRL Contest Branch Manager and Media and Public Relations
Manager Sean Kutzko, KX9X, shared "Five Tips on Etiquette and Good
Manners on the FM Ham Radio Satellites" on the DX Engineering blog, On
All Bands. Kutzko said the transient nature of satellite availability
can lead to "a natural sense of urgency" among operators trying to
operate through it.

"Satellite operating comes with several challenges, not the least of
which is that it is one of the ultimate shared resources in the hobby,"
Kutzko wrote. "While there are now several satellites to choose from, a

Sean Kutzko, KX9X.

given satellite is only above the horizon for a maximum of 15 minutes
or so. Lots of people trying to access a satellite during a short
window of opportunity can create problems, and that can bring out some
undesirable behavior."

In terms of operating etiquette for satellites, Kutzko advised that the
"big one," is "Don't transmit if you can't hear the satellite first."
He notes that whistling or saying such things as "hello" and "check
one-two" are bad form.

"If you don't hear other activity, you're probably not going to hear
yourself, either," Kutzko explained. "Blindly calling or whistling may
cause unintentional interference to other stations that can properly
hear the satellite."

Next on the list is to wait your turn. "Given the rapid nature of
satellite contacts, you shouldn't have to wait very long for your
chance during a pass," Kutzko wrote.

Kutzko also advised to always use phonetics when operating on the FM
satellites. "Phonetics help ensure your call [sign] is copied correctly
the first time and can save a lot of precious moments during a short
pass," he said.

Also, avoid making repeat contacts with a station you've worked
previously and resist the temptation to greet an old friend. "[E]ach
contact you make with a person you've already had several contacts with
prevents another person from making a contact," Kutzko pointed out.

Finally, he said, "It may be best to let the rare station have the pass
and try to work as many stations as they can. In some cases, the rare
station may only be audible for a portion of the pass you're on, with
the station moving out of the satellite's footprint before it moves out
of range for you," Kutzko recommended.

"Satellite activity is at an all-time high, with new sats being
launched on a regular basis and more operators discovering how much fun
there is to be had," he concluded. "By being mindful of others trying
to make contacts and thinking of others on the pass, we can all
contribute to a better satellite environment for everyone."

Kutzko won the June 2018 QST Cover Plaque Award for his article, "Get
on the Satellites for ARRL Field Day." He steered satellite newcomers
to his earlier blog posts to help them get started.
ARRL Podcast Schedule

ARRL's "On the Air" podcast's second episode (February 13) focuses on
building the ground plane antenna featured in the first issue of On the
Air magazine, a discussion of open-wire feed lines, and an interview
with a relatively new public service volunteer. New "On the Air"
podcast episodes are available monthly.

The first episode of the "Eclectic Tech" podcast (February 13) includes
a discussion of amateur radio activity on the Qatar-OSCAR 100
satellite, an interview with Assistant ARRL Lab Manager Bob Allison,
WB1GCM, about handheld transceiver testing at Dayton Hamvention and
other conventions, and an interview with Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA,
about propagation conditions. New episodes will be available biweekly.

Both podcasts are available on iTunes (iOS) and Stitcher (Android) as
well as on Blubrry -- On the Air | Eclectic Tech.

The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: The most recent sunspot appearance
was on February 1, nearly 3 weeks ago.

The average daily solar flux over the past week declined just barely,
from 71.1 to 70.9. The average daily planetary A index changed from 8.3
to 7, and mid-latitude A index went from 6.7 to 5.1. Solar activity
remains very low.

Solar flux is projected to remain very low -- 70 on February 20 - 27,
and 71 on February 28 - April 4.

The predicted planetary A index is 18, 10, and 8 on February 20 - 22; 5
on February 23 - 25; 8 and 12 on February 26 - 27; 5 on February 28 -
March 3; 20, 15, and 8 on March 4 - 6; 5 on March 7 - 14; 10, 8, 10, 8,
and 5 on March 15 - 19; 10, 8, 5, 8, 12, and 10 on March 20 - 25; 5 on
March 26 - 30; 20 on March 31, and 15, 8, 5, and 5 on April 1 - 4.

Sunspot numbers for February 13 - 19 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, and 0, with
a mean of 0. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 71.2, 71.3, 70.6, 70.5, 70.7,
71, and 71, with a mean of 70.9. Estimated planetary A indices were 3,
3, 5, 3, 7, 14, and 14, with a mean of 7. The middle latitude A index
was 1, 3, 4, 2, 5, 11, and 10, with a mean of 5.1.

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.

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Just Ahead in Radiosport
* February 21 - 23 -- CQ 160-Meter Contest, SSB
* February 22 - 23 -- REF Contest, SSB
* February 22 - 23 -- UK/EI DX Contest (CW)
* February 23 -- SARL Digital Contest
* February 23 -- High Speed Club CW Contest
* February 24 - 25 -- QCX Challenge (CW)
* February 26 -- SKCC Sprint (CW)
* February 26 -- UKEICC 80-Meter Contest (CW)
* February 27 -- RSGB 80-Meter Club Championship (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.

Emergency Communication Exercise Set in Northern Florida

On Sunday, March 1, dozens of amateur radio volunteers from several
states will take part in a 3-hour exercise in the northern Florida city
of Gainesville. The exercise is designed to test and evaluate skills,
assets, and strategies for emergency communication, such as those that
might be needed in the aftermath of a hurricane. The exercise is being
organized by the North Florida Amateur Radio Club (NFARC) and the
Gainesville Amateur Radio Society (GARS), as part of the third annual
Amateur Radio Communications Conference, held on Saturday and Sunday,
February 29 - March 1.

This year's "Hot and Cold" exercise scenario is based on hypothetical
high-pressure natural gas pipeline ruptures and subsequent fires, as
well as a loss of electrical power during an extreme cold-weather
event. The sudden widespread event then caused telecommunications
failures in undersea cables to develop, with widespread communication
systems overloading and failing.

Exercise planners used the revised and just-released Homeland Security
Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) in planning the event. The
update incorporates feedback and input from exercise planners and
practitioners across the country and ensures that HSEEP doctrine, the
training course, and corresponding documents continue to best meet the
needs of communities.

Collaborating Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Conference
lecturers have created a more than 200-page manual for the multi-track
training sessions on Saturday. Participants will get to put what they
learned into practice the next day, as they fan out to seven assigned
simulated shelter locations and the Alachua County Emergency Operations
Center. The club says Alachua County Emergency Manager Hal Grieb is
supporting the volunteer-driven Homeland Security exercise and
evaluation program-based effort, and he and his staff will serve as
evaluators. Former FEMA ministrator Craig Fugate, KK4INZ, also plans
to be on hand.

For the past 3 years, NFARC has published the conference proceedings,
and last year, it also published the written report of its exercise.
Last year's exercise scenario focused on a new respiratory virus that
had crippled the nation.

With the release of the updated 2020 HSEEP document, FEMA will be
hosting webinars to provide information, highlights, and changes as a
result of the review process. Webinars will continue until mid-May.
Visit the HSEEP webpage for additional dates and times. -- Thanks to
Dr. Gordon Gibby, KX4Z; The ARES E-Letter
Mississippi ARES^(R) Emergency Coordinator Credits Training for
Effective Tornado Response

Amateur Radio Emergency Service^(R) (ARES^(R)) volunteers in DeSoto
County, Mississippi, devoted a January weekend to assisting local
emergency managers in responding to tornado damage in the region.
Desoto County Emergency Coordinator Ricky Chambers, KF5WVJ; Assistant
EC Gene ams, KF5KVL; Tate County EC Brad Kerley, KG5TTU, and Andy
Luscomb, AG5FG, reported at 3 AM on January 11 to the DeSoto County
Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to open a SKYWARN weather watch.
After a tornado warning was issued for DeSoto County, Chambers
activated an emergency net on a local repeater. Ten minutes into the
net, however, the repeater went down, and the net switched to simplex.
The net subsequently moved to another operational repeater.

Initial reports of downed trees blocking roadways and an eyewitness
report of a possible tornado southwest of Hernando came in just after 5
AM. The ARES team at the EOC began taking damage reports, answering the
telephone, and monitoring and taking calls from public safety
dispatchers. When the deputy EMA director requested traffic control in
Lewisburg, three of the ARES volunteers accompanied EMA director Chris
Olson to Lewisburg. Chambers and Kerley assumed traffic control, and
Olson asked that Chambers put out a call for ARES/RACES volunteers and
EMA reservists to report to the EOC. The ham radio volunteers also
handled welfare checks.

A dozen ARES/RACES and EMA reservists returned the next day to conduct
door-to-door damage assessment. For the next 10 days, Chambers
reported, the DeSoto County volunteers assisted in handling telephone
traffic in the EOC, freeing up first responders to do their primary
jobs.

"I attribute our effective response to the training we have conducted
on a monthly basis," Chambers said, noting that training included
recommended ARRL courses. "We were able to see how the Incident Command
System worked on a first-hand basis as the incident unfolded, based on
the ICS training courses we have taken. My group went from 0 to 110 MPH
in seconds, never missing a beat [and] everyone performed on a
professional level." -- Thanks to DeSoto County and EMA Reservist
Coordinator EC Ricky Chambers, KF5WVJ

Yasme Foundation Announces Grants and Excellence Awards

The Yasme Foundation Board of Directors announced several grants when
it met in Orlando, Florida, on February 9. Financial support will go
to:

* The SU8WRC/SU8X demonstration station at World Radiocommunication
Conference 2020 in Egypt.
* The Youth on the Air and HamSCI exhibits at Dayton Hamvention 2020.
* Contest University at Dayton Hamvention 2020, for audio/visual
equipment, student materials, and live internet streaming.
* The Croatian Amateur Radio Association (HRS) to support the
Youngsters on the Air (YOTA) 2020 Region 1 annual summer camp.

The Board also announced the individual and group recipients of the
Yasme Excellence Award, which recognizes significant contributions to
amateur radio through their service, creativity, effort, and
dedication. The award may recognize technical, operating, or
organizational achievement. The Yasme Excellence Award is in the form
of a cash grant and an individually engraved crystal globe.

The latest recipients of the Yasme Excellence Award are James Sarté,
K2QI, and rian Ciuperca, KO8SCA, for their efforts in combining the
latest state-of-the-art technology, diplomatic skills, persistence, and
leadership in reactivating United Nations Headquarters club station
4U1UN. ditional help with gathering equipment and logistical support
was provided by RA9USU, NT2Y, NT2X, K2LE, and N2UN (SK).

The Yasme Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation organized to
support scientific and educational projects related to amateur radio,
including DXing and the introduction and promotion of amateur radio in
developing countries.
New World Distance Record Claimed on 122 GHz

A new world distance record of 139 kilometers (86.2 miles) is being
claimed by radio amateurs in northern California. This tops the record

Mike Lavelle, K6ML.

of 114 kilometers set in 2005 by WA1ZMS and W4WWQ, according to the
Distance Records on the ARRL website.

The February 17, 2020, contact was between Mike Lavelle, K6ML, on Mount
Vaca (CM88WJ75ON) at 835 meters (2,739.5 feet) above sea level, and
Oliver Barrett, KB6BA (at 1225 UTC), and Jim Moss, N9JIM (at 1250 UTC),
who were both on Mount Umunhum (CM97BD18VJ) at 1,016 meters (3333.3
feet) above sea level.

Lavelle reports the dew point was -11 °C, the air temperature was 15
°C, the path loss was about 225 dB, and atmospheric loss was
approximately 0.35 dB/kilometer.

"CW was used, 122 GHz signals were very weak (7 dB above the noise in
22 Hz; -13 in 2500 Hz equivalent) with [fading] down to the noise
floor," Lavelle told ARRL. "Dishes were aligned on 24 GHz (71 dB above
the noise) prior to [moving] to 122 GHz; we heard signals right away on
122 GHz." The stations employed 60-centimeter satellite TV dishes and
ran "somewhat less than half a milliwatt" on 122 GHz, Lavelle said.
FAA's Proposed Remote Identification Rules Would Affect Drones, Hobby
Planes

The Federal Aviation ministration (FAA) is proposing to require
remote identification of so-called "unmanned aircraft systems" (UAS),
which include drones and hobby aircraft. A growing number of radio
amateurs utilize camera-equipped drones for aerial photography
purposes, to examine antenna systems, and to operate hobby aircraft
remotely on amateur radio frequencies. Comments on the Notice of
Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) in Docket FAA-2019-11, are due by March 2.

"The remote identification of unmanned aircraft systems in the airspace
of the United States would address safety, national security, and law
enforcement concerns regarding the further integration of these
aircraft into the airspace of the United States while also enabling
greater operational capabilities," the FAA said in proposing the new
requirements.

The FAA defines remote identification, or Remote ID, as the ability of
an in-flight unmanned aircraft "to provide certain identification and
location information that people on the ground and other airspace users
can receive." The FAA called the move "an important building block in
the unmanned traffic management ecosystem."

"For example, the ability to identify and locate UAS operating in the
airspace of the United States provides additional situational awareness
to manned and unmanned aircraft," the FAA said. "This will become even
more important as the number of UAS operations in all classes of
airspace increases. In addition, the ability to identify and locate UAS
provides critical information to law enforcement and other officials
charged with ensuring public safety."

The FAA said it envisions that the remote identification network "will
form the foundation for the development of other technologies that can
enable expanded operations."

With few exceptions, all UAS operating in US airspace would be subject
to the rule's requirements and would have to comply, "regardless of
whether they conduct recreational or commercial operations, except
those flying UAS that are not otherwise required to be registered under
the FAA's existing rules."

To comment, click on the "Submit a Formal Comment" button on the top of
the Federal Register page that includes the NPRM text.
In Brief...

A Down Under special event will use former Radio Australia
international broadcast antennas. Over the March 14 - 15 weekend,
members of the Shepparton and District Amateur Radio Club (SADARC) in
Australia will be on the air as VI3RA (Radio Australia), connecting
their transceivers to the curtain array and rhombic antennas at the
former Radio Australia site in Shepparton. Radio Australia ceased
transmitting from the site in 2017. VI3RA will operate on 40, 30, 20,
17, and 15 meters. "Local amateurs will be given the unique opportunity
to explore the use of high-gain antennas whilst giving amateurs
throughout the world a unique opportunity to contact a station using
such high-gain antennas," said SADARC President Peter Rentsch, VK3FPSR
(Australia's call sign structure accommodates four-letter suffixes).
"This is a rare opportunity for amateur radio operators, who are only
allowed a peak output power of 400 W in Australia when compared to 100
kW of Radio Australia transmitters to hopefully achieve some remarkable
communication outcomes. We expect to get a gain of 15 dB on the lower
frequencies and at least 20 dB on 21 MHz." The special event is being
conducted in cooperation with BAI Communications (Broadcast Australia).
More information is on the club's website.

AMSAT reports that the pioneering AMSAT-OSCAR 85 (AO-85) CubeSat, also
known as Fox-1A, has gone silent. "Having not been heard throughout the
most recent period of full illumination, it is reasonable to believe
the batteries have deteriorated to the point of no longer being able to
power the transmitter," AMSAT said this week. "Should some future event
cause a cell to open, it is possible the satellite may be heard again,
but for now, it is time to declare end-of-mission. AO-85 was conceived
as the first AMSAT CubeSat and designed to be a successor to the
popular AO-51 Microsat. AO-85 was launched on October 8, 2015. Its
success led to further Fox satellites AO-91, AO-92, AO-95, and
RadFxSat2/Fox-1E, which will be launched later this year. The Fox-1E
transponder was also spun off into a radio system now in orbit on board
HuskySat-1, and soon to be in several other university CubeSats. --
Thanks to AMSAT News Service

France has authorized use of 60-meter band. Telecommunications
regulator ARCEP has authorized the use of a 60-meter band -- as agreed
upon at World Radiocommunication Conference 2015 -- for French radio
amateurs. The formal announcement was published in the Official Journal
of the Republic of France (JORF) on February 13, IARU member-society
REF (Réseau des Émetteurs Français) has reported. The 5351.5 - 5.366.6
MHz band will be available at a maximum EIRP of 15 W.

ARISS radio telebridge stalwart Gerald Klatzko, ZS6BTD, has died. When
the International Space Station (ISS) orbit is not favorable for a
direct Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact
with a particular school or location scheduled to speak with an
astronaut, ARISS radio telebridge stations bridge the gap. Gerald
Klatzko, ZS6BTD, of Parklands, South Africa, was one of the "regulars"
during the earlier years of the ARISS program. He died on February 1 at
age 95. Klatzko served as an ARISS radio telebridge station in South
Africa for many years until he retired. ARISS telebridge stations
establish the direct ham radio link and feed two-way audio into a
telebridge line for delivery to the contact site. John Sygo, ZS6JON,
described Klatzko as "always bright and cheerful and a great operator,"
who made major contributions to the amateur service. "He was one of the
first to experiment with slow-scan television," Sygo said. "For many
years, he assisted NASA to link astronauts with their families using
amateur radio links from Mir, the Space Shuttle, and the International
Space Station. For over 2 decades, he was the co-producer and presenter
of Amateur Radio Mirror International."

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
* March 7 - Delta Division Convention, Russellville, Arkansas
* March 13 - 14 -- North Carolina Section Convention, Concord, North
Carolina
* March 14 - 15 -- Great Lakes Division Convention, Perrysburg, Ohio
* March 14 -- Nebraska State Convention, Lincoln, Nebraska
* March 14 -- West Virginia Section Convention, Charleston, West
Virginia
* March 21 -- West Texas Section Convention, Midland, Texas
* March 29 -- Virginia Section Convention, Vienna, Virginia
* April 10 - 11 -- Oklahoma State Convention, Claremore, Oklahoma
* April 11 -- Roanoke Division Convention, Raleigh, North Carolina
* April 18 -- Delaware State Convention, Georgetown, Delaware
* May 8 - 9 -- Utah State Convention, Orem, Utah
* June 6 - 7 -- Northwestern Division Convention, Seaside, Oregon
* June 6 - 7 -- West Pennsylvania Section Convention, Prospect,
Pennsylvania
* June 6 -- Georgia State Convention, Marietta, Georgia
* June 20 -- Tennessee State Convention, Knoxville, Tennessee

Find conventions and hamfests in your area.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for
Amateur Radio News and Information.

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Free of charge to ARRL members...
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The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 50 times each year. ARRL members
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Copyright (c) 2020 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and
distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is permitted for
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--- SendMsg/2

--- Squish/386 v1.11
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Limestone, TN, USA (1:18/200)

The ARRL Letter
February 27, 2020

* ARRL Seeks a New Chief Executive Officer
* ARRL Comments in Opposition to FCC Plan to Delete the 3.4 GHz Band
* AMSAT Cites Need for equate Spectrum in Opposing Deletion of 3.4
GHz Band
* ARRL Podcasts Schedule
* ARRL Announces Interruptions to Online Services
* FCC Turns Down Amateur Licensee's Appeal
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* Auxiliary Communications Training to Be Held in Conjunction with
Dayton Hamvention^(R)
* It's Never Too Late to Upgrade
* In Brief...
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions

ARRL Seeks a New Chief Executive Officer

ARRL is seeking an experienced radio amateur to be Chief Executive
Officer (CEO) at its headquarters in Newington, Connecticut. The CEO is
the top compensated employee in ARRL's management structure and
oversees all operations in collaboration with the President and the
Board of Directors, in accordance with ARRL's Articles of Association,
Bylaws, and Board policies. The successful candidate will ensure
day-to-day management of ARRL, including fiscal operations and will
oversee and make certain that its fund-raising, marketing, human
resources, technology, advocacy, and governance strategies are
effectively implemented.

Essential CEO Functions Include:
* Leading the headquarters staff and field volunteers, in response to
Board policy, in the development and implementation of effective
programs for the promotion and growth of amateur radio and the
provision of services to members.
* Planning, developing, organizing, implementing, directing, and
evaluating ARRL's operational and fiscal performance.
* Providing leadership, directing headquarters staff, and maintaining
performance standards in headquarters operations.
* Participating, in collaboration with officers, Directors, and
staff, in developing ARRL's plans and programs.

The successful candidate will be a strategic thinker with a record of
significant amateur radio experience and a broad understanding of its
operational, technical, regulatory, and social facets. The CEO will be
responsible for effective financial and operational management and
oversight.

CEO candidates should possess a bachelor's degree or equivalent
(master's degree preferred), be an active radio amateur who has
initiated or led a significant amateur radio activity within the past
10 years, and have 10 years of management and supervisory experience.
Candidates should be able to demonstrate ability in providing effective
leadership and management of business operations.

The position is located at ARRL Headquarters, and the successful
candidate will be required to establish a residence in the Hartford,
Connecticut, area.

For More Information

The CEO Position Announcement includes details. Interested candidates
should submit a cover letter and resume via e-mail to ARRL Human
Resources Assistant Monique Levesque.
ARRL Comments in Opposition to FCC Plan to Delete the 3.4 GHz Band

ARRL has filed comments opposing an FCC proposal to delete the 3.3 -
3.5 GHz secondary amateur allocation. The comments, filed on February
21, are in response to an FCC Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in
WT Docket 19-348 in which the FCC put forward a plan to remove
"existing non-federal secondary radiolocation and amateur allocations"
in the 3.3 - 3.55 GHz band and relocate incumbent non-federal
operations. The FCC's proposal was in response to the MOBILE NOW
[Making Opportunities for Broadband Investment and Limiting Excessive
and Needless Obstacles to Wireless] Act, enacted in 2018 to make new
spectrum available for mobile and fixed wireless broadband use. ARRL
noted that amateur radio has a long history of successful coexistence
with primary users of the band.

"There is no reason suggested by the Commission, or known to us, why
the secondary status for amateur radio operations should not be
continued for the indefinite future," ARRL said in its comments. "We
understand that secondary commercial users are less flexible than
amateur radio users and may desire to relocate to protect continued
provision of services and service quality. Radio amateurs, by contrast,
benefit from having technical knowledge and no customer demands for
continuous service quality, more flexibility to make adjustments, and
often have the technical abilities necessary to design and implement
the means to coexist compatibly with the signals of primary users."

ARRL pointed to amateur radio's "decades-long experience observing and
experimenting with radiowave propagation" in the 3.3 - 3.5 GHz band
that includes mesh networks, amateur television networks, weak signal
long-distance communication, Earth-Moon-Earth (moonbounce)
communication, beacons used for propagation study, and amateur
satellite communications. In its comments, ARRL argued that it would be
"premature" to remove the current secondary amateur radio allocation.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Radio amateurs have established extensive infrastructure for the
current band and are engaged in construction and experimentation that
includes innovative "mesh networks" and amateur television networks
that can be deployed to support public service activities.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

"This spectrum should not be removed from the amateur radio secondary
allocation and left unused," ARRL told the FCC. "Only at a later time
may an informed assessment of sharing opportunities be made in the
specific spectrum slated for re-allocation.... This depends upon the
Congressionally mandated NTIA studies of sharing or relocation options
that have yet to be completed and, if all or part of this spectrum is
re-allocated, the nature and location of buildout by the non-federal
users." The National Telecommunications and Information ministration
(NTIA) oversees spectrum allocated to federal government users. ARRL
noted that radio amateurs have established extensive infrastructure for
the current band and are engaged in construction and experimentation
that includes innovative "mesh networks" and amateur television
networks that can be deployed to support public service activities.

With the NTIA report addressing the 3.1 - 3.55 GHz spectrum not
expected until late March, ARRL said, "we do not yet know how much
spectrum below and above the amateur secondary allocation may be
reallocated to non-federal users and what opportunities may exist or be
developed to share [that] spectrum" with new primary users and systems.

"Even if suitable new spectrum could be found for the existing amateur
uses -- which is difficult before the spectrum musical chairs activity
is concluded -- the costs to radio amateurs would be significant and be
borne with no countervailing public benefit," ARRL told the FCC.

"If the advent of new primary licensees forecloses some types of
secondary operations, the amateur community will reevaluate the
situation when some certainty exists," ARRL concluded.

AMSAT Cites Need for equate Spectrum in Opposing Deletion of 3.4 GHz
Band

AMSAT has commented on the FCC Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in
WT Docket 19-348 that proposes to delete the 3.3 - 3.5 GHz (9
centimeter) amateur band and relocate incumbent non-federal operations.
The band includes the 3.40 - 3.41 GHz Amateur Satellite Service
allocation. In its remarks, AMSAT said it opposes deletion of the
allocation and stressed the necessity of having adequate microwave
spectrum available for future amateur satellite projects, including
AMSAT's GOLF program and the Lunar Gateway. AMSAT acknowledged that the
3.4 GHz Amateur Satellite Service allocation is not currently used by
any amateur satellites and that it is unsuitable for worldwide
communication because it is not available in ITU Region 1. AMSAT said a
number of potential future uses for the band remain, however, as
worldwide usage of other available allocations increases.

"These potential uses include a future amateur satellite in
geostationary orbit above the Americas," AMSAT said, explaining that
the segment could support uplink or downlink frequencies for such a
spacecraft without potential interference to worldwide activities
involving space stations in high-Earth or lunar orbit. The
most-desirable allocations for use as uplinks are between 2.4 GHz and
5.67 GHz -- 80 MHz in all, AMSAT told the FCC. "As many of the proposed
uses include amateur television and high-speed data transmission with
satellites in high-Earth orbit or lunar orbit, these allocations may
quickly become inadequate," AMSAT said.

AMSAT told the FCC the 3.40 - 3.41 GHz allocation could be utilized as
a command channel or secondary data downlink for AMSAT ground stations
in ITU Region 2 without interfering with the primary communications on
the other allocations or other satellites utilizing those segments.

AMSAT said several non-amateur satellites use the broader 3.3 - 3.5 GHz
amateur allocation, which also sees wide use for amateur radio mesh
networking, EME communications, and contesting.

"The Amateur Satellite Service continues to provide immense value to
the growing field of small satellites," AMSAT concluded. "Experiments
conducted by amateur satellites...continue to inform the development of
the commercial small satellite industry. ditionally, student
participation in amateur satellite projects provides both inspiration
for young men and women to pursue careers in the commercial satellite
industry and practical experience for those careers.

"A strong and robust Amateur Satellite Service will continue to benefit
the public interest and inspire future developments in satellite
technology," AMSAT said. "Continued progress in achieving these goals
requires adequate spectrum, especially in suitable microwave bands." --
Thanks to AMSAT News Service via AMSAT Executive Vice President Paul
Stoetzer, N8HM
ARRL Podcasts Schedule

The February 13 episode of the On the Air podcast focuses on building
the hands-free soldering tool from the article, "Extend Your Handheld's
Range with a Simple Ground-Plane Antenna," seen in the January/February
2020 issue of On the Air magazine; a discussion of open-wire feed
lines, and an interview with a public service volunteer. New On the Air
podcast episodes are available monthly.

The new episode of Eclectic Tech podcast goes live February 27. Episode
2 touches on these topics: Most expensive home PC ever; Alexa and
amateur radio; solar activity's influence on whales, and a HamSCI
update from Ward Silver, N0AX.

Both podcasts are available on iTunes (iOS) and Stitcher (Android) as
well as on Blubrry -- On the Air | Eclectic Tech.

ARRL Announces Interruptions to Online Services

The ARRL website and other online services will be offline on Friday,
February 28, for up to 8 hours in order to conduct necessary
maintenance. The outage will begin at 0500 UTC and should end by 1300
UTC. It will affect the main ARRL website, the ARRL Store, and the ARRL
contesting-related pages, including the log submission page. Logbook of
The World (LoTW), email, and all ARRL Headquarters systems will not be
affected.

As part of ARRL Headquarters' transition to new internet service
providers, an interruption of internet access at ARRL Headquarters is
set for Wednesday, March 4, starting at 2300 UTC. The interruption will
last no longer than 4 hours. During the work period, these services
will be unavailable: Logbook of The World (LoTW), Online DXCC,
International Grid Chase Archive, National Parks on the Air Archive,
Centennial QSO Party Archive, W1AW Echolink Conference Server, and VPN
access to Headquarters. Email to Headquarters will remain online, and

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--- Squish/386 v1.11
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Limestone, TN, USA (1:18/200)

The ARRL Letter
March 4, 2020

* ARRL Foundation Announces ARDC Scholarship Matching Grant
* Dayton Hamvention Officials Keeping an Eye on Coronavirus Situation
* Henry Radio Los Angeles Founder Ted Henry, W6UOU, is 100!
* ARRL Podcasts Schedule
* Dayton Hamvention Names 2020 Award Winners
* International Space Station Resupply Mission to Carry New ARISS Ham
Radio Gear
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* IARU Region 2 Seeks Young Hams to Help Reshape Amateur Radio
* Motorola Wins Multimillion Dollar Theft of Trade Secrets Case
Against Hytera
* In Brief...
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
ARRL Foundation Announces ARDC Scholarship Matching Grant

ARRL Foundation President Dr. David Woolweaver, K5RAV, announced this
week that the nonprofit Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) has
generously agreed to award the ARRL Foundation a grant to match the
Foundation's 2020-2021 scholarships on a dollar-for-dollar basis, up to
a total of $200,000.

"The ARRL Foundation Board is honored to partner with ARDC to award
ARDC's Amateur Radio Digital Communications' Brian H. Kantor, WB6CYT,
Memorial Scholarship grant for 2020," Woolweaver said. "These
scholarships, made possible by ARDC's generous contribution, will
assist many young amateur radio operators in their pursuit of education
at colleges, universities, and graduate schools."

Last July, ARDC announced it would use the proceeds from its sale of
some 4 million unused consecutive AMPRNet internet addresses to fund
its operations and to establish a program of grants and scholarships to
support communications and networking research -- with a strong
emphasis on amateur radio. ARDC has said that it intends to award "a
total of several million dollars in grants of varied amounts" to
qualified beneficiaries, to be used in accordance with ARDC's mission.

ARDC awarded grants in 2019 and so far in 2020 to several amateur
radio-related entities, including a generous award to the Amateur Radio
on the International Space Station (ARISS), the Foundation for Amateur
Radio scholarship program, the GNU Radio Project, TAPR, and the YASME
Foundation.

The ARRL Foundation and ARDC are negotiating the terms for ARDC's 2021
- 2022 academic year scholarship awards, which will consist of
scholarships separate from those the ARRL Foundation already
administers.

The winners of the ARRL and matching ARDC scholarship awards for the
upcoming school year will be announced in the September issue of QST.
Dayton Hamvention Officials Keeping an Eye on Coronavirus Situation

With Dayton Hamvention^(R) 2020 a little more than 10 weeks away,
Hamvention officials say they are closely following the coronavirus
(COVID-19) situation. Show organizers will post updates as the May 15 -
17 event nears, but they're optimistic that coronavirus will not be an
issue.

"At this time, the Hamvention Executive Committee has been in contact
with the Greene County Public Health Department, and we do not
anticipate any impact because of this issue," a March 3 Hamvention
statement said. The Greene County Public Health Department reports that
no cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Ohio.

"Greene County Public Health is working closely with the Ohio
Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, and are prepared to respond, should there be a community
spread of COVID-19," the Hamvention statement noted. "The current risk
to the general public is very low. Travel advisories are in effect, and
can change anytime, so please see the CDC Travel visory web page
before traveling."

The Hamvention advisory pointed out the best ways to prevent becoming
infected or spreading the virus:
* Wash your hands often with soap and water, or use alcohol-based
hand sanitizer.
* Avoid touching your mouth, nose, or eyes.
* Cover coughs/sneezes with your arm or a tissue.
* Avoid exposure to others who are sick.
* Stay home if you are ill and avoid close contact with others.
* Get adequate sleep and eat well-balanced meals to ensure a healthy
immune system.
* Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

The Ohio Department of Health also offers helpful information regarding
COVID-19.

Dayton Hamvention takes place May 15 - 17 at the Greene County
Fairgrounds and Expo Center in Xenia, Ohio.

Henry Radio Los Angeles Founder Ted Henry, W6UOU, is 100!

Henry Radio Los Angeles founder Ted Henry, W6UOU, turned 100 years old
on January 25. The fascinating Henry family history in amateur radio
marketing and manufacturing dates back to the late 1920s.

The original Henry Radio shop, started by Ted's brother Bob Henry,
W0ARA (SK), opened in 1927 in Butler, Missouri. It stayed in business
until Bob died in 1985. Ted and another brother, Walt, later W6ZN,
worked with Bob Henry during the early years and became fascinated with
ham radio. After Ted moved to Los Angeles in 1941, he opened a small
radio shop, which he operated while attending college at UCLA

Ted Henry, W6UOU, operating from
American Samoa in 1957.

with the intention of going into teaching. His shop survived the
suspension of amateur radio during World War II by purchasing gear from
hams and reselling it to MARS stations around the world, and by
manufacturing crystals (in Butler and Los Angeles) for Hallicrafters'
war production. The LA store grew quickly after the war, expanding to a
new location where it operated for nearly 35 years, becoming a
gathering spot for hams visiting from around the world.

Walt Henry opened a Henry Radio branch in Anaheim, California, in the
1960s, which closed in 1990, after his health declined.

In 1962, Ted Henry began manufacturing tube-type power amplifiers for
the ham radio market, starting with the original Henry 2K. Many of the
popular line of HF amplifiers remain in use today. The plant expanded
into the industrial RF equipment sector. In the 1970s, the company
developed its own line of solid-state amplifiers, which it still
manufactures for various services.

Henry Radio also became the first Kenwood dealer in the US, marketed
the Tempo line of ham gear, and is the oldest dealer for Bird RF test
equipment.The current store on South Bundy Drive in Los Angeles opened
in 1981.

Ted Henry retired from the business in 2005. -- Thanks to Marty Woll,
N6VI; Henry Radio
ARRL Podcasts Schedule

The latest (February 13) episode of the On the Air podcast focuses on
building the hands-free soldering tool from the article, "Extend Your
Handheld's Range with a Simple Ground-Plane Antenna," seen in the
January/February 2020 issue of On the Air magazine; a discussion of
open-wire feed lines, and an interview with a public service volunteer.
A new On the Air podcast will become available on March 12.

The latest episode of the Eclectic Tech podcast went live February 27.
Episode 2 touches on these topics: Most expensive home PC ever; Alexa
and amateur radio; solar activity's influence on whales, and a HamSCI
update from Ward Silver, N0AX.

Both podcasts are available on iTunes (iOS) and Stitcher (Android) as
well as on Blubrry -- On the Air | Eclectic Tech.

Dayton Hamvention Names 2020 Award Winners

Dayton Hamvention^(R) has named five radio amateurs and one ham radio
club as the recipients of its 2020 awards.

Amateur of the Year

Yasuo "Zorro" Miyazawa, JH1AJT, was named Amateur of the Year. Licensed
in 1964 at age 15, Miyazawa became interested in DXing and, later in
his life, international humanitarian activities. He was inducted into
the CQ DX Hall of Fame in 2015. His many DXpeditions focus not just on
handing out contacts but cooperating with the local population to
implement needed humanitarian activities. In 2010 he established the
Foundation for Global Children (FGC). "His efforts have helped
revolutionize education in Japan by creating the learning systems for
children who had difficulties in ordinary schools because of dyslexia,
developmental disabilities, and other issues," the Hamvention Awards
Committee said.

Special Achievement Award

Jordan Sherer, KN4CRD, of Atlanta, Georgia, is the recipient of the
[IMG]Hamvention Special Achievement Award. A software engineer by day
and digital amateur radio operator by night, Sherer started his journey
into ham radio in 2017, exploring PSK31, JT65, and, later, FT8.
Fascinated by the ability to connect with others using low power, he
set about developing a protocol for weak-signal mesh networking and
communication. The result was JS8Call, a free, open-source platform
inspired by WSJT-X and fldigi. It allows for keyboard-to-keyboard,
store-and-forward, and network relay-based communication.

Technical Achievement Award

Hamvention bestowed its Technical Achievement Award on a group of three
radio amateurs who have become well-known for their development of the
WSJT-X digital software suite. The 2020 award recipients are Steve
Franke, K9AN; Bill Somerville, G4WJS, and Nobel Laureate Joe Taylor,
K1JT. Over the past 7 years, the trio has collaborated on all aspects
of WSJT-X -- in particular the digital protocol FT8 and its contesting
variant FT4. Introduced in July 2017, FT8 now accounts for a
significant portion of all HF ham radio activity.

Club of the Year

The South Canadian Amateur Radio Society (SCARS) of Norman, Oklahoma,
is the 2020 Club of the Year. An ARRL Special Service Club formed in
1977, the club has worked through its website, Facebook, YouTube
channel, and weekly newsletter to expand its reach to thousands of hams
from the local area to around the globe. The club takes emergency
communication very seriously. NWS SKYWARN training and weekly ARES nets
offer hams in central Oklahoma an opportunity to practice their skills
before the next weather emergency. The club also sponsors an "Elmer
Night" and monthly free license examination sessions, participates in
community public service events, and works closely with the American
Red Cross.

Awards will be presented during Hamvention, May 15 - 17, at the Greene
County Fairgrounds and Expo Center in Xenia, Ohio. Read more.
International Space Station Resupply Mission to Carry New ARISS Ham
Radio Gear

The scheduled March 7 (UTC) SpaceX CRS-20 mission to the International
Space Station (ISS) will include the initial Amateur Radio on the
International Space Station (ARISS) Interoperable Radio System (IORS)
flight unit, which is listed as a primary payload. The IORS is the
foundation of the ARISS next-generation amateur radio system on the
space station. Once at the space station, the IORS will be stowed for
later installation.

The ARISS hardware team built four flight units, and the first will be
installed in the ISS Columbus module. A second flight unit expected to
be launched on a later 2020 cargo flight will be installed in the
Russian Service Module. NASA contracts with SpaceX to handle ISS
resupply missions.

The IORS represents the first major upgrade of on-station ARISS
equipment. The package will include a higher-power radio, an enhanced
voice repeater, and updated digital packet radio (APRS) and slow-scan
television (SSTV) capabilities for both the US and Russian space
station segments. The IORS consists of a custom-modified JVCKenwood
TM-D710GA transceiver, an AMSAT-developed multi-voltage power supply,
and interconnecting cables.

The ARISS hardware team remains busy on IORS development and final
certification. While the initial unit has been certified for launch and
stowage on ISS, the team is still deep into the final certification of
the IORS for flight operations, and construction of a second flight
unit is in progress.

ARISS will mark 20 years of continuous amateur radio operation on the
space station in November.

The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Last week's Friday bulletin (ARLP009)
noted that NASA STEREO images showed two bright spots, magnetically
complex, about to rotate over the sun's eastern horizon and onto the
visible solar disc. I was hoping these might develop into sunspots, but
they just faded away, so currently we have seen no sunspots in more
than a month. Clearly, we are still at solar minimum.

Over the past week, average daily solar flux shifted from 70.5 to 70,
average daily planetary A index stayed the same at 6.7, while average
daily mid-latitude A index dipped from 5 to 4.6.

This period of low solar flux and very stable geomagnetic indicators is
great for 160-meter propagation, especially during the winter season,
when atmospheric noise is low. Predicted solar flux over the next 45
days is 70 on March 5 - 12, and 71 on March 13 - April 18.

Predicted planetary A index is 5 on March 5 - 10; 8 on March 11 - 12; 5
on March 13 - 14; 10, 8, 10, and 8 on March 15 - 18; 5, 10, 8, and 5 on
March 19 - 22; 8, 12, 10, and 5 on March 23 - 26; 5 on March 27 - 30;
20, 15, and 8 on March 31 - April 2, and 5 on April 3 - 18.

Sunspot numbers for February 27 - March 4, 2020 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
and 0, with a mean of 0. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 70.9, 70.6, 70.1,
69.3, 69.3, 70, and 69.8, with a mean of 70. Estimated planetary A
indices were 4, 6, 11, 8, 5, 6, and 7, with a mean of 6.7. Middle
latitude A index was 2, 4, 8, 6, 4, 4, and 4, with a mean of 4.6.

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
* March 7 - 8 -- ARRL International DX Contest (SSB)
* March 7 -- Wake-Up! QRP Sprint (CW)
* March 7 - 8 -- SKCC Weekend Sprintathon (CW)
* March 7 - 8 -- Open Ukraine RTTY Championship
* March 7 - 15 -- Novice Rig Roundup (CW)
* March 8 -- UBA Spring Contest (CW)
* March 8 -- WAB 3.5 MHz Phone/CW
* March 9 -- 4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint (CW, phone)
* March 11 -- RSGB 80-Meter Club Championship (CW)
* March 11 - 15 -- AWA John Rollins Memorial DX Contest (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.

IARU Region 2 Seeks Young Hams to Help Reshape Amateur Radio

International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Region 2 (R2, the Americas) is
looking for a few young hams interested in helping to remake amateur
radio for the 21st century.

"Frustrated that there are so few of your friends and age group that
are interested in ham radio? Frustrated that amateur radio is in a rut,
not doing more or different things with technology? Concerned that an
aging demographic means ham radio is dying? And that our frequencies
will be sold out to the highest bidder because there aren't enough hams
to show that we use them?" IARU Region 2 said in a March 3
solicitation. "So are we. And we want to do more than talk. We want to
do something about it."

According to the announcement, IARU R2 is looking for volunteers who
would brainstorm ideas and possible actions to make amateur radio more
attractive to a younger generation.

"We're not looking for a single magic approach. After all, amateur
radio means many things to many people. Rather, we're looking for
possible ways to target specific interests that are either part of ham
radio today or could be part of ham radio in the future to recruit and
retain new amateurs," the solicitation said. IARU R2 said it's looking
for radio amateurs between the ages of 18 and 35 who have been licensed
for more than 1 year. Applicants must be self-starters willing to take
initiative, exercise creativity, and volunteer their time.

If interested, contact IARU Region 2 Secretary George Gorsline, VE3YV,
telling why you are willing to volunteer, your current interests, and
your thoughts on solutions. "Ideally, we would like to have as many
parts of the Americas represented as possible," IARU R2 said in its
announcement.

"This is more than a think tank. We're prepared to provide funding to
try out some of the proposed ideas to see how well they work. We expect
that some ideas will work, others won't, and different things will work
in different parts of the Americas -- one size will not fit all. As
part of the work, IARU R2 would propose to send one person to the IARU
R1 YOTA youth camp to experience the camp, meet with the R1 youth
coordinators to learn about what they are doing in Europe and Africa,
to exchange ideas, and to explore what joint activities might be done."
-- Thanks to Joaquin Solana, XE1R, IARU Region 2
Motorola Wins Multimillion Dollar Theft of Trade Secrets Case Against
Hytera

A jury for the US District Court of the Northern District of Illinois
has awarded Motorola Solutions damages of $764.6 million in its theft
of trade secrets and copyright infringement lawsuit against Hytera
Communications of Shenzhen, China. In 2017, Motorola filed complaints
in federal court alleging that Hytera's digital mobile radio (DMR)
products employed techniques and systems that infringed on Motorola
Solutions' patents and trade secrets. Already known for its Land Mobile
Radio Service products, Hytera entered the amateur radio DMR market in
2016. Its ham products include the Hytera AR482Gi digital mobile radio.

Motorola alleged that proprietary and patented information was taken
illegally by three former company engineers who went to work for
Hytera, as "part of a deliberate scheme to steal and copy" its
technology. The company said it would seek a global injunction to
prevent Hytera from trade secret misappropriation and copyright
infringement, a Motorola spokesperson said following the verdict.

Motorola said technology features it developed started showing up in
Hytera products soon after Hytera began hiring former Motorola
engineers in 2008, according to the lawsuit.

In a statement, Hytera expressed disappointment and disagreement with
the verdict and said it would appeal. But, the company went on to say
that it has "enhanced its corporate governance and added new policies
and procedures related to intellectual property and the onboarding of
new employees." Hytera also said it's "engaged in an ongoing process of
removing the affected source code from the products at issue and has
been rolling out updated software to the marketplace."
In Brief...

The Yasme Foundation will present its Excellence Award on March 6 to
the individuals behind the reactivation of UN Headquarters club station
4U1UN. The project took more than 4 years to complete. As announced
earlier, those receiving the award are James Sarte, K2QI, and rian
Ciuperca, KO8SCA. The team used an innovative in-house remote concept:
the station is located on the 42nd floor of UN Headquarters in New York
City, while the control point is on the ground floor. Jointly
presenting the award will be ARRL Hudson Division Director Ria Jairam,
N2RJ, and Yasme Director Martti Laine, OH2BH. Capping the ceremony will
be the first-ever FT8 contacts from 4U1UN, with WSJT-X developer Joe
Taylor, K1JT, at the controls. Those making the first 25 contacts will
receive a certificate signed by Taylor. Following the presentation,
K2QI, G6CBR, N2RJ, OH2BH, KO8SCA, and VE7NY will activate 4U1UN for the
ARRL International DX SSB contest. QSL via HB9BOU. -- Thanks to Martti
Laine, OH2BH

Many radio amateurs around the world will celebrate Saint Patrick's Day
on the air as part of the St. Patrick Award. The 48-hour event will
take place from 1200 UTC on March 16 until 1200 UTC on March 18. Saint
Patrick's Day is March 17. Shortwave listeners are invited to take
part. Awards will be in five categories: SPD Station Award (for
registered stations); Fixed/Portable Station Award; Digital Station
Award; Mobile Station Award, and Short Wave Listener Award. Register to
be an official participating station. Visit the event's Facebook page.
-- Thanks to Bobby Wadey, MI0RYL

A special event to mark Maine's bicentennial will take place during
Statehood Week, March 16 - 21, with the on-air event extending to March
22. Volunteers around the state will be on the air with special event
call signs from the nine counties that existed in 1820, when Maine
became independent of Massachusetts: W1C (Cumberland); W1H Hancock; W1K
Kennebec; W1L Lincoln; W1O Oxford; W1P Penobscot; W1S Somerset; W1W
Washington, and W1Y York. Three other special event stations will be
K1J Jameson Tavern in Freeport; K1P Portland, and K1B Boston, in
recognition of their contributions to Maine's Statehood. CW, SSB, and
digital operation will be continuous on HF, VHF, and UHF for the
duration of the event. The event is sponsored by the Maine Bicentennial
Special Event Committee. Maine stations may sign up to participate as
special event stations. Certificates will be available. ditional
information is available on the event website. Email questions with the
subject line "Maine 200 Special Event."

Former CQ Magazine Awards Editor Eddie De Young, KS4AA, has passed
away. Weeks after stepping down due to health issues, CQ Amateur Radio
Magazine Awards Editor Eddie De Young, KS4AA (ex-VK4AN, KH6GLU, AE7AA),
of Clearwater, Florida, died on February 25, after a period of ill
health. He was an ARRL member. De Young had held the position for less
than a year, according to CQ Editor Rich Moseson, W2VU. A ham since
1954, De Young migrated to Australia in 1974, earning Wireless
Institute of Australia (WIA) DXCC Honor Roll, 7-Band DXCC Award of
Excellence, and DXer of the Year. He served as WIA Awards Manager and
was an incoming QSL bureau manager in VK4. He returned to the US in
2012. De Young took part in several DXpeditions over the years.
Succeeding De Young at CQ will be Jim Houser, WA8JIM, of Bartlett,
Illinois.

The president of the River City Amateur Radio Communications Society in
California, Paul McIntyre, KC5JAX, was one of two individuals killed on
February 28 in a knife attack by a client at a recovery center.
McIntyre, a father of two, had been interning at the Wellness and
Recovery Center in Carmichael as part of his training to become a
social worker. He was 57. Two other victims survived the attack.
McIntyre's club reported that he was a longtime mentor and volunteer,
and he was passionate to help others learn and enjoy amateur radio. He
served for years as a club officer, on the Board of Directors, as net
coordinator, and was a regular Field Day participant. "He's a
wonderful, brave blind man who had no defense against what happened
here," a Fox40 KTXL news story quoted his wife Barbara. She told the TV
station that McIntyre interned at the wellness and recovery center 2
days a week. The family has set up a GoFundMe page to help with funeral
costs. "When the screaming started, he ran towards the danger," Anissa
Kolda said on the GoFundMe page she set up on behalf of Barbara
McIntyre. "His act saved a life but cost him his own." -- Thanks to
ARRL Sacramento Valley Section Manager Carol Milazzo, KP4MD

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
* March 6 - 7 -- Alabama Section Convention, Trussville, Alabama
* March 7 - Delta Division Convention, Russellville, Arkansas
* March 13 - 14 -- Louisiana State Convention, Rayne, Louisiana
* March 13 - 14 -- North Carolina Section Convention, Concord, North
Carolina
* March 14 - 15 -- Great Lakes Division Convention, Perrysburg, Ohio
* March 14 -- Nebraska State Convention, Lincoln, Nebraska
* March 14 -- West Virginia Section Convention, Charleston, West
Virginia
* March 21 -- West Texas Section Convention, Midland, Texas
* March 29 -- Virginia Section Convention, Annandale, Virginia
* April 10 - 11 -- Oklahoma State Convention, Claremore, Oklahoma
* April 10 - 11 -- Maine State Convention, Lewiston, Maine
* April 11 -- Roanoke Division Convention, Raleigh, North Carolina
* April 18 -- Louisiana Section Convention, West Monroe, Louisiana
* April 18 -- Delaware State Convention, Georgetown, Delaware
* May 3 -- Eastern Pennsylvania Section Convention, Bristol,
Pennsylvania
* May 8 - 9 -- Arizona State Convention, Prescott Valley, Arizona
* May 8 - 9 -- Utah State Convention, Orem, Utah
* May 15 - 17 -- Dayton Hamvention, Xenia, Ohio
* June 6 - 7 -- Northwestern Division Convention, Seaside, Oregon
* June 6 - 7 -- West Pennsylvania Section Convention, Prospect,
Pennsylvania
* June 6 -- Georgia State Convention, Marietta, Georgia
* June 12-13 -- HAM-CON, Plano, Texas
* June 20 -- Tennessee State Convention, Knoxville, Tennessee

Find conventions and hamfests in your area.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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Free of charge to ARRL members...
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The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 50 times each year. ARRL members
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--- SendMsg/2

--- Squish/386 v1.11
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Limestone, TN, USA (1:18/200)

The ARRL Letter
March 12, 2020

* Visalia International DX Convention, Other Events, Canceled Due to
Coronavirus Concerns
* Nominations Invited for 2020 McGan Silver Antenna Award for
Excellence in Public Relations
* "Team Exuberance" Aims to Lower the Average Age of Contesters
* ARRL Podcasts Schedule
* Outer Space is Your Next Radio Frontier!
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* ARISS Celebrates Successful Launch Carrying Interoperable Radio
System to ISS
* International Group Reactivating the Legendary Yasme VP2VB Call
Sign
* In Brief...
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
Visalia International DX Convention, Other Events, Canceled Due to
Coronavirus Concerns

Concern over COVID-19 has led to the cancellation of the 2020
International DX Convention (IDXC) and of several other amateur
radio-related events here and abroad. The IDXC was to be held April 24
- 26 in Visalia, California.

"We send out our apologies to all our prospective patrons of the 2020
International DX Convention," IDXC Co-chairs Cathy Gardenias, K6VC, and
Kris Jacob, K6TOD, said on behalf of the convention committee. "Due to
concerns, health and well-being of our amateur radio family, our age
group, and possible compromised health issues, we are taking the side
of safety and canceling the convention." They conceded that, although
the number of COVID-19 cases remains low, it only takes one person to
pass the virus. IDXC is processing refunds.

On March 11, the Dayton Hamvention^A(R) Executive Committee, said, "As
of now we plan on holding Hamvention unless otherwise directed. It is
our intention to follow the orders of the State of Ohio and the Greene
County Health Department." On March 12, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine
issued an executive order barring public participation in sporting
events and other large gatherings (defined as 100 or more attendees).
Ohio has reported four confirmed COVID-19 cases.

An in-person version of the HamSCI workshop, set for March 20 - 21 at
the University of Scranton, has been canceled because of the
coronavirus situation. HamSCI's Nathaniel Frissell, W2NAF, who's
organizing the event, said alternative plans are in play to hold a
virtual workshop.

The Gulf Coast Amateur Radio Club Spring Hamfest on March 14 and the
Great Lakes Convention on March and the March 15 Toledo Hamfest in Ohio
have been canceled. Also canceled: Communications Academy 2020, due to
be held in Seattle, Washington, April 24 - 26.

ARRL has created a URL that will search the ARRL Hamfest and Convention
Database for canceled events.

FCC Headquarters has barred the door to visitors, employees, and
contractors who have been in any country subject to a COVID-19-related
CDC Level 3 Travel Warning. It also has suspended until further notice
any FCC involvement in large, non-critical gatherings involving
national or international participants. Read more.
Nominations Invited for 2020 McGan Silver Antenna Award for Excellence
in Public Relations

The ARRL Public Relations Committee invites nominations for the Philip
J. McGan Memorial Silver Antenna Award, presented annually to a radio
amateur who has demonstrated success in public relations efforts on
behalf of amateur radio and who best exemplifies the volunteer spirit
of Philip McGan, WA2MBQ (SK).

"ARRL Public Information Officers (PIOs) and other volunteers are
working hard every day to create greater awareness of all that amateur
radio has to offer," the Committee said in announcing the opening of
nominations for the award. "They are publicizing special events,
writing press releases, or doing interviews on radio and television or
in newspapers to highlight the service that amateur radio provides."

A journalist, McGan was the first chairman of ARRL's Public Relations
Committee, which helped reinvigorate ARRL's commitment to public
relations. To honor McGan, members of the New Hampshire Amateur Radio
Association joined with the ARRL Board of Directors to establish an
award that would pay lasting tribute to the important contributions he
made on behalf of amateur radio.

Activities for which the McGan Award is presented include those
specifically directed at bringing amateur radio to the media's and the
public's attention in a positive light. This may include such
traditional methods as news releases or interviews, or less traditional
methods, such as hosting a radio show or being an active public
speaker.

The ARRL Board of Directors will choose the award winner at its July
2020 meeting, based on recommendations from the ARRL Public Relations
Committee. The Committee has responsibility for reviewing the
nominations and supporting material.

Eligible nominees must be full ARRL members in good standing at the
time of nomination. The award is given only to an individual, and
nominees may not be current ARRL officers, directors, vice directors,
paid staffers, or members of the ARRL Public Relations Committee.
Nominees must not be compensated for any public relations work
involving amateur radio -- including payment for articles.

A nominee's efforts must fit the definition of public relations and
recognize the promotion of amateur radio to the non-amateur radio
community.

Nominations must be received at ARRL Headquarters by the close of
business on Friday, May 15, 2020. Nominations must be on an official
entry form. Anyone may make a nomination.

"Team Exuberance" Aims to Lower the Average Age of Contesters

Seven of the world's top youth CW operators will convene at the western
Pennsylvania superstation of Tim Duffy, K3LR, in late May, in an effort
to lower the average age of contest operators -- especially CW
operators. "Team Exuberance (TE)," comprised of teens and early
20-somethings, gained a reputation during the CQ WPX phone event in
2019. This year, they will tackle the CQ WPX CW contest on May 30 - 31.
The young operators have been raising money to minimize the cost of the
adventure for the participants and their families.

"The average age of today's CW operator is 67," the group asserted.
"Team Exuberance CW 2020 (TE CW 2020) is out once again to take a swing
at the radiosport establishment, disprove the adage that old

The 2019 Team Exuberance with
K3LR in the center.

age and treachery will always beat youth and exuberance, and bring down
the average age of the contesting community." They also want to prove
"that youth contesters are legit contenders" in the radiosport arena.

Violetta Latham, KK8AT, led the first Team Exuberance contest
operation, which took first place in North America in the Multi-Two
category, racking up a score of 22 million points and logging 5,700
contacts. The team will stick to the Multi-Two format for the WPX CW
this year.

The TE CW 2020 team will include David Samu, VE7DZO; Marty Sullaway,
NN1C; Philipp Springer, DK6SP; Bruce Yang, KN8U/BH4EPL; Tomi Varro,
HA8RT; Mathias Acevedo, CE2LR, and Bryant Rascoll, KG5HVO.

The team has mounted a GoFundMe campaign to raise the projected $8,000
necessary to cover airfare, hotel, transportation, and meals for the
duration of the contest. Any excess funds will be donated to the David
Kalter Youth DX venture.

"Your donation will not only help our team achieve the goal of
participating in the CQ WPX CW 2020 but also keep the momentum of
bringing more youth into the hobby and ultimately bring down the
average age," the team said in its pitch.

TE CW 2020 says its operators were handpicked for this contest and are
all highly skilled and experienced. Varro, who is 21, was the 2014
High-Speed Telegraphy (HST) competition champion, while Yang, also 21
and a student at Georgia Tech, was the World Rookie champion for the
2019 CQ WPX CW event.

"While amateur radio is not a mainstream hobby for today's youth,
finding skilled youth CW operators is even rarer," TE CW 2020 said in a
news release. "They do [CW] because it's fun and challenging."
ARRL Podcasts Schedule

The latest (March 12) episode of the On the Air podcast focuses on how
to calculate feed line loss, real-world examples of how digital and
analog FM transceivers handle weak signals, and an interview with Rob
Macedo, KD1CY, Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
and SKYWARN Coordinator for the National Weather Service Boston/Norton
office. Rob will offer information about how hams can get involved with
SKYWARN.

The latest episode of the Eclectic Tech podcast (Episode 3) includes an
interview with JS8Call creator Jason Sherer, KN4CRD, revisiting SSTV,
and a discussion of arc-fault circuit breakers with Bob Allison,
WB1GCM.

Both podcasts are available on iTunes (iOS) and Stitcher (Android) as
well as on Blubrry -- On the Air | Eclectic Tech.

Outer Space is Your Next Radio Frontier!

You can make contacts through amateur radio satellites, and even with
the International Space Station, using equipment you probably own right
now! All it takes is the right information, which you'll find in ARRL's
new book, Amateur Radio Satellites for Beginners.

Dozens of spacecraft are in orbit just waiting for your signals, and
more are being launched every year. This book is your guide to a whole
new world of operating enjoyment. Inside you will be able to locate
satellites and determine when they will be available in orbit, gain
tips for building your own "satellite station, find a simple
step-by-step guide to making your first contacts, and discover
satellite antenna projects you can build at home.

"Even with just a dual-band FM transceiver and a mobile antenna, you
can make contacts through an amateur satellite!" said ARRL author and
QST Editor Steve Ford, WB8IMY.

Building amateur radio satellites is difficult; communicating through
amateur satellites is not. Amateur Radio Satellites for Beginners will
introduce you to new experiences that you may have thought were out of
your reach. Start reading and discover how easy it can be!

Amateur Radio Satellites for Beginners is available from the ARRL Store
or your ARRL Dealer. ARRL Item no. 1304, ISBN: 978-1-62595-130-4,
$22.95 retail, special ARRL Member Price $19.95. Call 860-594-0355 or,
toll-free in the US, 888-277-5289. It will also be available as an
e-book for the Amazon Kindle.
The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: I felt cheated this week when a
much-anticipated sunspot appeared only briefly, and after 2 days was
gone. Sunspot region AR2758 only appeared on March 8 - 9, with daily
sunspot numbers of 13 and 12, respectively. Some new activity is
visible over the solar horizon -- a very active and bright spot, but
this time in the sun's northern hemisphere.

Average daily sunspot numbers for the week rose from zero to 3.6, while
average daily solar flux barely increased, from 70 to 70.2. Average
daily planetary A index declined from 6.7 to 4.4, and average middle
latitude A index decreased from 4.6 to 3.6.

Predicted solar flux over the next 45 days is 71 on March 12 - 14; 70
on March 15 - 18; 72 on March 19 - 22; 70 on March 23 - April 4; 72 on
April 5 - 18, and 70 on April 19 - 25.

Predicted planetary A index is 5 on March 12 - 18; 12 and 8 on March 19
- 20; 5 on March 21 - 26; 12 and 8 on March 27 - 28; 5 on March 29 -
April 5; 10 and 8 on April 6 - 7; 5 on April 8 - 13; 8, 12, and 8 on
April 14 - 16; 5 on April 17 - 22, and 12, 8, and 5 on April 23 - 25.

Sunspot numbers for March 5 - 11 were 0, 0, 0, 13, 12, 0, and 0, with a
mean of 3.6. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 69.5, 70, 69.9, 70.2, 70.8,
70.8, and 70.5, with a mean of 70.2. Estimated planetary A indices were
4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, and 3, with a mean of 4.4. Middle latitude A index
was 3, 4, 5, 3, 5, 3, and 2, with a mean of 3.6.

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
* March 14 -- AGCW QRP Contest (CW)
* March 14 - 15 -- RSGB Commonwealth Contest (CW)
* March 14 - 15 -- F9AA Cup, SSB
* March 14 - 15 -- South America 10 Meter Contest (CW, phone)
* March 14 - 15 -- Stew Perry Topband Challenge (CW)
* March 14 - 15 -- Oklahoma QSO Party (CW, phone)
* March 14 - 15 -- TESLA Memorial HF CW Contest
* March 14 - 15 -- QCWA QSO Party (CW, phone)
* March 14 - 15 -- Idaho QSO Party (CW, phone)
* March 14 -- QRP ARCI Spring Thaw SSB Shootout
* March 15 -- North American Sprint, RTTY
* March 15 - 16 -- Wisconsin QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
* March 16 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)
* March 17 -- CLARA Chatter Party (CW, phone)
* March 19 -- 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.
ARISS Celebrates Successful Launch Carrying Interoperable Radio System
to ISS

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is celebrating
the successful launch and docking of the SpaceX-20 commercial resupply
mission to the International Space Station (ISS). One payload on the
flight is the ARISS Interoperable Radio System (IORS), which ARISS
calls "the foundational element of the ARISS next-generation radio
system" on the space station. Amateur radio has been an integral
component of ISS missions since 2000. The Dragon cargo capsule docked
successfully with the space station on March 9. ARISS-US Delegate for
ARRL Rosalie White, K1STO, said hundreds of ARRL members contributed to
make the IORS project happen, and ARISS is celebrating the 4-year-long
project.

"ARISS is truly grateful to ARRL and AMSAT for their co-sponsorship and
support of ARISS since day one," White said. "ARISS greatly appreciates
the hundreds of ham radio operators who have stood by ARISS, sending
financial support and encouragement. A robust ham station is on its way
to replace the broken radio on the ISS, and tens of thousands of hams
will enjoy strong ARISS packet and ARISS SSTV signals as a result. In
addition, thousands of students will discover and use ham radio to talk
with a ham-astronaut. We hope to see the trend continue where more
ARISS teachers and local clubs set up school ham clubs." The new system
includes a higher-power radio, an enhanced voice repeater, updated
digital packet radio (APRS), and slow-scan television (SSTV)
capabilities for both the US and Russian space station segments.

White called the March 7 launch, "beautiful, flawless." ARRL President
Rick Roderick, K5UR, told ARISS that he had his fingers crossed for a
successful launch.

According to NASA Mission Control, it will take the three ISS crew
members up to a month to unload and stow the 4,300 pounds of cargo on
board the Dragon capsule, and the IORS is not a priority. The actual
ham equipment will be installed in the ISS Columbus module. Another
IORS unit is in line to be launched and installed in the Russian
segment of the ISS later this year.

The IORS consists of a custom-modified JVCKenwood TM-D710GA
transceiver, a multi-voltage power supply, and interconnecting cables.
The ARISS hardware team will assemble four flight units -- and 10 IORS
units in all -- to support onboard flight operations, training,
operations planning, and hardware testing. Future upgrades and
enhancements to the next-generation system are in various stages of
design and development. These include a repaired Ham Video system --
currently planned for launch in mid-to-late 2020, an L-band (uplink)
repeater, a microwave "Ham Communicator," and Lunar Gateway prototype
experiment.

International Group Reactivating the Legendary Yasme VP2VB Call Sign

On Tuesday, March 10, an international group set sail to the British
Virgin Islands and activated the VP2VB call sign of Yasme fame for 6
days, focusing on the low bands with two stations. VP2VB was the call
sign of the legendary Danny Weil, VP2VB, skipper of the Yasme series of
sailing vessels that carried the peripatetic adventurer as he traveled
from one DX location to another in the 1950s and early 1960s. His
activities provided the impetus to create The Yasme Foundation. For the
2020 "Yasme Memorial Expedition," operators will include rian
Ciuperca, KO8SCA; Martti Laine, OH2BH; Niko Halminen, OH2GEK, and
Sandro Nitoi, VE7NY. QSL via OH2BH.

A Briton, Weil was a watch and clock maker by trade, and had a sense of
adventure. His initial Yasme (often rendered as YASME) sailing voyage
was to the British Virgin Islands. Yasme derives from the Japanese word
"yasume," which means "to make tranquil." Another giant of ham radio
history, the legendary DXer Dick Spencely, KV4AA, became aware of
Weil's aspirations and suggested that he combine amateur radio with his
ambitious travel itinerary. Spencely taught Weil Morse code and helped
him secure the VP2VB call sign, which was to become famous around the
globe. Spencely secured the initial ham radio gear for the Yasme and
became a tireless fundraiser for The Yasme Foundation as well.

Ultimately, there were three Yasmes. From 1955 until 1962, Weil
operated from several ports of call in the Caribbean and the Pacific.
This latter-day VP2VB DXpedition will count toward Yasme awards and
marks the first activation of VP2VB in more than 60 years.

This month's VP2VB DXpedition will trace Weil's original route in the
British Virgin Islands under a special license authorization, to pay
homage to those early years of DXing and to honor the spirit he
embraced, which inspired a generation of DXers.

Weil retired from DXpeditioning and settled in Texas in 1963, resuming
his profession of a watch and clock maker and becoming a US citizen. He
was not to be heard on the air again -- although he kept an ear on the
bands. Weil died in 2003 at age 85.
In Brief...

The launch of the PSAT3 CubeSat, which was part of the DARPA Launch
Challenge, has been canceled. The Challenge offered a $10 million prize
for any launch provider that could deliver a rocket with only 30 days'
notice of what payloads they would have and where they would launch
from -- and then, to do it again only 30 days later. "We were on the
second launch," said PSAT3's Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, of the US Naval
Academy. "But on March 2, the third attempt by the launch provider was
scrubbed at T-9 minutes and was not resolved until the launch window
and DARPA Challenge deadline had passed. Therefore, the Challenge was
over. There was no winner, and we lost the launch." The US Naval
Academy project spacecraft remains available for a CubeSat
Poly-Picosatellite Orbital Deployer (P-POD) launch opportunity,
Bruninga said. He described PSAT3 as a follow-on opportunity to
duplicate the functionality of PSAT2 in a full-sized P-POD payload that
remains attached to the upper stage rocket body. The launch was to take
place from Kodiak, Alaska.

The founder of the annual Ham Radio University in New York, Phil Lewis,
N2MUN, of Lindenhurst, New York, died on March 5. An ARRL member, he
was 72. Lewis grew up on Long Island, attended RCA Institute, and
worked for Hazeltine and, later, BAE Systems in the aerospace industry.
Licensed in 1991, he was a member of Great South Bay Amateur Radio Club
(GSBARC), serving as a volunteer examiner and instructor and
participating in Field Day and special events. Lewis was GSBARC
President from 2000 to 2002. He was an active DXer and contester, and a
member of the Yankee Clipper Contest Club (YCCC).

The Dominican Republic now has a 60-meter band. Following an Executive
Branch vote, Dominican Republic telecommunications regulator Indotel
has updated the country's National Frequency Allocation Plan, which
includes the allocation of a 60-meter segment of 5351.5â**-â**5366.5
kHz to amateur radio fixed and mobile stations (except for aeronautical
mobile stations). Stations may not exceed a maximum radiated power of
15 W EIRP. The Dominican Radio Club recommended adoption of the plan.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
* March 13 - 14 -- Louisiana State Convention, Rayne, Louisiana
* March 13 - 14 -- North Carolina Section Convention, Concord, North
Carolina
* March 14 -- Nebraska State Convention, Lincoln, Nebraska
* March 14 -- West Virginia Section Convention, Charleston, West
Virginia
* March 21 -- West Texas Section Convention, Midland, Texas
* March 29 -- Virginia Section Convention, Annandale, Virginia
* April 3 - 4 -- OzarkCon, Branson, Missouri
* April 10 - 11 -- Oklahoma State Convention, Claremore, Oklahoma
* April 10 - 11 -- Maine State Convention, Lewiston, Maine
* April 11 -- Roanoke Division Convention, Raleigh, North Carolina
* April 17-19 - Eastern VHF UHF Microwave Conference, Manchester,
Connecticut
* April 18 -- Louisiana Section Convention, West Monroe, Louisiana
* April 18 -- Delaware State Convention, Georgetown, Delaware
* April 25 - Aurora Conference , White Bear Lake, Minnesota
* May 3 -- Eastern Pennsylvania Section Convention, Bristol,
Pennsylvania
* May 8 - 9 -- Arizona State Convention, Prescott Valley, Arizona
* May 8 - 9 -- Utah State Convention, Orem, Utah
* May 9 - MicroHAMS Digital Conference 2020, Woodinville, Washington
* May 15 - 17 -- Dayton Hamvention, Xenia, Ohio
* June 6 - 7 -- Northwestern Division Convention, Seaside, Oregon
* June 6 - 7 -- West Pennsylvania Section Convention, Prospect,
Pennsylvania
* June 6 -- Georgia State Convention, Marietta, Georgia
* 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
Amateur Radio News and Information.

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* Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday.

Subscribe to...
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Free of charge to ARRL members...
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The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 50 times each year. ARRL members
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Copyright (c) 2020 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and
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--- SendMsg/2

--- Squish/386 v1.11
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Limestone, TN, USA (1:18/200)

The ARRL Letter
March 19, 2020

* Dayton Hamvention Cancels 2020 Show
* ARRL Suspending Tours and Guest Visits to Headquarters, W1AW
* FCC Levies $18,000 Fine on Louisiana Amateur Radio Licensee
* ARRL Podcasts Schedule
* ARRL Calls for Continued Coexistence in 3.4 and 5.9 GHz Bands
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* Coronavirus May Impact Amateur Radio License Testing
* Errata to 2020 - 2024 Amateur Extra-Class Question Pool Released
* Georgia Institute of Technology CubeSat to Feature Amateur Radio
Robot Operation
* In Brief...
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
Dayton Hamvention Cancels 2020 Show

For the first time in its 68-year history, Dayton Hamvention^(R) will
not take place this year, due to concerns about the coronavirus
outbreak. The glum news was not entirely unexpected, given widespread
cancellations of public gatherings and a national state of emergency.

"The Hamvention Executive Committee has been monitoring the COVID-19
pandemic. We have worked very closely with our local and state health
departments. It is with a very heavy heart the Hamvention Executive
Committee has decided to cancel Hamvention for this year," Hamvention
General Chair Jack Gerbs, WB8SCT, said in announcing the cancellation
on March 15. "This decision is extremely difficult for us, but with
around 2 months until the Great Gathering we felt this action
necessary. More specific details regarding the closure will soon be
posted. Thank you for your understanding in this time of international
crisis."

The Dayton Hamvention cancellation comes less than a week after the
International DX Convention in Visalia, California, called off this
year's show. The Dayton Amateur Radio Association (DARA) sponsors
Hamvention.

Since 2017, Hamvention has been held each May at the Greene County
Fairgrounds and Expo Center in Xenia, Ohio. The international gathering
attracted more than 32,000 visitors in 2019.

Hamvention's announcement has caused the cancellation of other
associated events. These include Contest University, the Contest
Dinner, and the Top Band Dinner. The QRP Amateur Radio Club
International's "Four Days in May" event has also been cancelled.
Presumably, the DX Dinner, sponsored by the SouthWest Ohio DX
Association (SWODXA) and AMSAT Academy have also been called off,
although no formal announcements have been made.
ARRL Suspending Tours and Guest Visits to Headquarters, W1AW

As part of efforts under way to help protect the health and safety of
ARRL Headquarters employees and volunteers from the impacts of the
coronavirus, ARRL suspended all tours and guest visits to Hiram Percy
Maxim Memorial Station W1AW and ARRL Headquarters, effective Monday,
March 16.

Out of an abundance of caution, this suspension will be in effect until
further notice. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause to
our members and their guests who had been planning to visit us in
Newington, Connecticut. We feel, however, that this is a necessary
precaution and is in keeping with the guidance being provided by
federal and local health professionals. We appreciate everyone's
patience and understanding as we all endeavor to deal with this
difficult public health situation.

FCC Levies $18,000 Fine on Louisiana Amateur Radio Licensee

In an enforcement case prompted by complaints filed in 2017, the FCC
has imposed an $18,000 forfeiture on Jerry W. Materne, KC5CSG, of Lake
Charles, Louisiana, for intentional interference and failure to
identify. The FCC had proposed the fine in a Notice of Apparent
Liability (NAL) in the case in July 2018, and, based on Materne's
response to the NAL, the agency affirmed the fine in a March 12
Forfeiture Order (FO).

As the FCC recounted in the FO, an FCC agent "observed Materne causing
intentional interference to a local repeater by generating digital
noise into an analog radio." The agent further reported that Materne
failed to transmit his call sign, as required.

Materne disputed the FCC's findings, arguing that the NAL should be
canceled because the agent "was mistaken in his determination that the
source of the interference was Materne's station" as his radio was not
capable of operating on the repeater frequency in question, the FCC
said in the NO. Materne also asserted that he is unable to pay the fine
and suggested in his response that the FCC should be able to access his
financial information.

The FCC countered that the radio the agent observed in Materne's
possession was capable of operating on the frequency in question. "We
therefore are unpersuaded...that the proposed forfeiture should be
canceled because, he alleges, he was not the party causing interference
to the repeater and the radio in his possession could not operate on
the frequency in question," the FCC said in affirming the findings of
the NAL. "We are also unpersuaded by Materne's argument that he lacks
the ability to pay the full $18,000 forfeiture." The FCC said Materne
failed to provide the FCC with proof of inability to pay, as required
by the NAL.

The FCC gave Materne 30 days to pay the fine, or face having the case
turned over to the US Department of Justice for enforcement.
ARRL Podcasts Schedule

The latest (March 12) episode of the On the Air podcast focuses on how
to calculate feed line loss, real-world examples of how digital and
analog FM transceivers handle weak signals, and an interview with Rob
Macedo, KD1CY, Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
and SKYWARN Coordinator for the National Weather Service Boston/Norton
office. In the interview, Rob offers information about how hams can get
involved with SKYWARN.

The latest episode of the Eclectic Tech podcast (Episode 3) includes an
interview with JS8Call creator Jordan Sherer, KN4CRD, revisiting SSTV,
and a discussion of arc-fault circuit breakers with Bob Allison,
WB1GCM.

Both podcasts are available on iTunes (iOS) and Stitcher (Android) as
well as on Blubrry -- On the Air | Eclectic Tech.

ARRL Calls for Continued Coexistence in 3.4 and 5.9 GHz Bands

In comments filed on March 9, ARRL said that while the FCC has not
proposed to alter the secondary amateur allocation at 5.850 - 5.925
GHz, changes the FCC has proposed for other users "will constrain
current and future amateur operations" in that band, if the proposals
are adopted. The Amateur Radio Service shares the 5.850 - 5.925 GHz
band on a secondary basis with Dedicated Short-Range Communications
(DSRC) systems. Amateur radio also shares the 5.850 - 5.875 GHz segment
with industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) applications. ARRL's
comments were in response to a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) in
WT Docket 19-138, in which the FCC said it would "take a fresh and
comprehensive look" at the rules for the 5.9 GHz band and proposed to
make the lower 45 MHz of the band available for unlicensed operations
and to permit vehicle safety systems in the upper 30 MHz of the band.

"This proceeding is of concern to radio amateurs across the country,
because many of the operations carried out in this band are similar to
those conducted in the 3.4 GHz band, from which the Commission, in a
companion proceeding, is proposing to evict radio amateur operations,"
ARRL said.

ARRL urged the FCC "to consider holistically" its various spectrum
reallocation proposals for mid-range spectrum, including the 5.9 GHz
and 3.4 GHz proceedings as well as proposals in another proceeding that
would affect 5.925 - 7.125 GHz. Those proposals would dedicate up to
1.2 GHz of spectrum for various types of unlicensed devices.

"The spectrum must be managed carefully and additional shared spectrum
considered in order not to severely curtail amateur networks that often
are used in public service applications when similar capabilities are
not available to public service providers," ARRL said in its remarks.

ARRL noted the widespread use of 5.9 GHz in particular for amateur mesh
and amateur television networks and links that radio amateurs have
engineered into the band on a non-interference secondary basis, often
for public service purposes. "For decades, these radio amateur uses
have coexisted successfully with the primary users of the 5.9 GHz band
without harmful interference," ARRL pointed out.

"Because of the flexibility, knowledge, and dedication of many
individual radio amateurs, we can continue to operate and even grow, so
long as both the 3.4 and 5.9 GHz bands remain available for amateur
radio purposes on a secondary basis," ARRL said. "ditional sharing
opportunities also should be made available where doing so would not
interfere with primary operations and would employ otherwise unused
spectrum for public benefit purposes," ARRL added, referencing a
pending 3.1 - 3.3 GHz spectrum review by the National
Telecommunications and Information ministration (NTIA), which manages
spectrum used by the federal government.
The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: On Wednesday, Spaceweather.com
reported a new emerging Solar Cycle 25 sunspot in the sun's northern
hemisphere, but it was not yet numbered. Last week, we reported
sunspots on just 2 days, March 8 and 9.

Average daily sunspot numbers over the March 12 - 18 reporting week
declined from 3.6 to zero, and daily solar flux values dipped from 70.2
to 70.1. Geomagnetic averages were quiet but higher, with planetary A
index changing from 4.4 to 5.9 and middle latitude A index from 3.6 to
4.1.

Predicted solar flux for the next 45 days is 72 on March 19 - 21; 70 on
March 22 - April 4; 72 on April 5 - 18; 70 on April 19 - May 1, and 72
on May 2.

Predicted planetary A index is 8 on March 19; 5 on March 20 - 26; 12
and 8 on March 27 - 28; 5 on March 29 - April 5; 10 and 8 on April 6 -
7; 5 on April 8 - 13; 8, 12, and 8 on April 14 - 16; 5 on April 17 -
22; 12 and 8 on April 23 - 24, and 5 on April 25 - May 2.

We have been looking forward to the vernal equinox, which occurs at
0350 UTC on March 20 -- and now perhaps with a new emerging sunspot.
This is a favorable time for HF propagation, with both the northern and
southern hemispheres receiving an equal amount of solar radiation.
Space.com has some of the finer details on the beginning of spring
2020.

Sunspot numbers for March 12 - 18 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, and 0, with a
mean of 0. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 69.9, 68.8, 68.1, 70.2, 69.8,
71.6, and 72, with a mean of 70.1. Estimated planetary A indices were
7, 7, 3, 5, 7, 6, and 6, with a mean of 5.9. Middle latitude A index
was 7, 6, 2, 3, 3, 4, and 4, with a mean of 4.1.

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
* March 21 -- Feld Hell Sprint
* March 21 -- AGCW VHF/UHF Contest (CW)
* March 21 - 22 -- Russian DX Contest (CW, phone)
* March 21 - 22 -- Virginia QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
* March 21 - 23 -- BARTG HF RTTY Contest
* March 22 -- UBA Spring Contest, SSB
* March 25 -- SKCC Sprint (CW)
* March 25 -- UKEICC 80-Meter Contest (CW)
* March 26 -- 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.
Coronavirus May Impact Amateur Radio License Testing

ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC) Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM,
anticipates that the number of new and upgraded radio amateurs will
take a dip in March as VE teams cancel exam sessions due to coronavirus
social distancing guidelines. She cited FCC Universal Licensing System
(ULS) figures showing that new ham licenses granted for the first half
of March totaled 1,298, while another 296 licensees upgraded. Those
numbers are down from the 1,697 new ham licenses granted during the
same period last year, which also saw 467 upgrades.

"Some sessions are still going on, because they don't have bans in
place yet. Also, some teams that only test one or two candidates every
month may be able to continue, since that is well below the number of
people that most authorities are advising should gather," Somma said.
She anticipates a surge will come after bans on larger gatherings are
lifted, because examinees are eager to take the exams they have been
studying hard for.

Somma cautioned that, while March 2020 license numbers appear to be
trending downward, it's not possible to reliably predict how an entire
month will play out by extrapolating partial-month numbers. "March is
the beginning of the busy part of the year, but depending on how the
weekends fall and when licensing classes end, a month may peak at
different points or be busy the whole way through," she said. More than
764,000 US amateur radio licensees are in the FCC database.

ARRL VEC's March VE E-Newsletter assured Volunteer Examiners that their
health and safety are top priority and that the ARRL VEC is taking the
coronavirus outbreak very seriously. "We understand that with the
rapidly changing updates on restrictions and canceled or postponed
public events, our VE teams are in different locations and should do
what is best for them and their communities," Somma said. "We urge you
to stay informed, so you can make informed decisions based on your
local community's guidelines, as each community is unique. Then use
your best judgement when deciding whether or not to conduct, postpone,
or cancel an exam session."

Somma directed ARRL VEC VEs and teams to the Centers for Disease
Control (CDC) website or to local health departments for the latest
information.

Errata to 2020 - 2024 Amateur Extra-Class Question Pool Released

The NCVEC Question Pool Committee has issued errata to the new (2020 -
2024) Amateur Extra-class question pool that goes into effect on July
1. Most changes are minor, involving typographical or style errors.

In the syllabus at the top of the pool:
* E1C -- Changed "bandwith" to "bandwidth"
* E3B -- In sub-element heading, deleted "grayline"
* E9D -- Changed "feedpoint" to "feed point"

In sub-element 3:
* Changed "41 questions" to "40 questions"

In the question pool:
* E1C13 -- In answer C, changed "Utilities Telecom Council" to
"Utilities Technology Council (UTC)"
* E1C14 -- In question, changed "Utilities Telecom Commission" to
"Utilities Technology Council (UTC)"
* E1D03 -- In answer, choices C and D, changed "earth" to "Earth"
* E2A02 -- In question, changed "inverted" to "inverting"
* E3B -- In sub-element heading, deleted "grayline"
* E3B08 -- Question withdrawn from pool and marked as deleted. The
remaining questions in E3B were not renumbered, leaving 11
questions.
* E5B04 -- In question, changed "220 microfarad" and "1 megohm" to
"220-microfarad" and "1-megohm"
* E7C09 -- In answer B, added a space between "1" and "kHz"
* E8C10 -- In question, changed "symbol" to "data"
* E9C02 -- In question, changed "1/4 wavelength" to "1/4-wavelength"
* E9C03 -- In question, changed "1/2 wavelength" to "1/2-wavelength"
* E9D -- in sub-element heading, changed "feedpoint" to "feed point"
* E9E09 -- Removed brackets after answer (C).

The Amateur Extra-class question pool will be updated to reflect these
changes. Submit feedback or questions to the Question Pool Committee.
Georgia Institute of Technology CubeSat to Feature Amateur Radio Robot
Operation

The Glenn Lightsey Research Group's Space Systems Design Lab at the
Georgia Institute of Technology is sponsoring a 1U CubeSat mission that
will include a digital robot. The primary function of the GT-1
satellite is to serve as an educational proof of concept and satellite
bus demonstrator.

Georgia Tech will use this mission as an opportunity for undergraduates
to get involved in all facets of a space mission, from design to
implementation and support. GT-1 will test a prototype deployable
antenna and solar panels, which can be used for future missions derived
from the same baseline design, and with inclusion of additional
experimental equipment. It will operate with AX.25 protocol telemetry.
In partnership with the W4AQL Georgia Tech Amateur Radio Club, the
satellite will also host a digital contact robot payload, inspired by
the earlier Russian RS-12 and RS-13 satellites of the early 1990s. GT-1
will collect contact information from stations that contact the robot
as it orbits.

The satellite will also function as a standard digipeater. Plans call
for a deployment from the International Space Station in October. --
Thanks to AMSAT News Service
In Brief...

One of two US VHF-UHF-microwave groups has canceled its 2020
conference, while another has postponed its event. The Southeastern VHF
Society (SVHFS) Board of Directors has announced the indefinite
postponement of the annual SVHFS Conference. "Because of the health and
safety concerns of our society members and the uncertainty of time of
our national emergency caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the
Society's Board of Directors elected to postpone this year's conference
indefinitely," SVHFS announced. "The Board of Directors will be
discussing alternate solutions for this year's conference, including
the determination of registrations and the publishing of this year's
proceedings. The outcome of the Board's decisions will be posted as
soon as a determination has been made. For now, please stay healthy and
safe, and enjoy our wonderful hobby." The conference had been scheduled
for April 24 - 25 in Gainesville, Georgia. The co-chairs of the 2020
Eastern VHF-UHF-Microwave Conference sponsored by the North East Weak
Signal (NEWS) Group have announced the cancellation of the event,
"because of health and safety concerns for our attendees that has been
caused by the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent state and federal
[states of] emergency." The conference had been scheduled for April 17
- 19 in Manchester, Connecticut.

The World Radiosport Team Championship 2022 (WRTC 2022) Organizing
Committee is, at least for now, staying on course. "We understand
[coronavirus] is disrupting travel and operating plans in ways that
affect different areas of the world unequally. However, it is not
realistic for us to predict the extent and evolution of the effects of
the pandemic. We have to wait and see how the situation develops,"
Carlo De Mari, IK1HJS, announced on the WRTC 2022 website. WRTC 2022
will stick with the qualifying events and schedule in the published
qualification rules and is considering various options. "No decisions
have been made at this time," the announcement said. "Please continue
with your plans as best you can for now." WRTC 2022 will be held in
July 2022 in Bologna, Italy.

Red Cross-affiliated radio amateurs from many states and Puerto Rico
are planning a nationwide Red Cross emergency communications drill for
May 30. The drill will consist of two parts. Part A will be a local
optional drill held on VHF for participants to practice passing voice
traffic with relay stations set up in local EOCs or via mobile stations
parked strategically between Red Cross HQ and suburban shelters. Part B
will be national in scope, with hams passing Red Cross forms using the
ARC Message Utility technique on Winlink RF. Messages will be marked
"DRILL" and will be sent to the Red Cross Safe & Well HQ in New York
City as a clearinghouse. For further information, or to express
interest in participating, contact Wayne Robertson, K4WK. -- Thanks to
The ARES E-Newsletter

IARU Region 2 Emergency Communication and Satellite workshops will be
held online. With travel restrictions and self-isolation requirements
in many countries due to COVID-19, the May 30 and 31 International
Amateur Radio Union Region 2 (IARU R2) Emergency Communication and
Satellite workshops will be online. The new format will be 3 hours for
each workshop and will be held on the same dates starting at 1800 UTC.
Access will be via Zoom, an easy-to-use online conference tool
available for several platforms. Attendees will get an agenda for each
workshop and information on how to participate in mid-May. -- Thanks to
George Gorsline, VE3YV, IARU Region 2 Secretary

-------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

* April 18 -- Delaware State Convention, Georgetown, Delaware
* April 25 - Aurora Conference, White Bear Lake, Minnesota
* May 9 - MicroHAMS Digital Conference 2020, Woodinville, Washington
* June 6 - 7 -- Northwestern Division Convention, Seaside, Oregon
* June 6 - 7 -- West Pennsylvania Section Convention, Prospect,
Pennsylvania
* June 6 -- Georgia State Convention, Marietta, Georgia
* June 12 -- 13 -- Ham-Com, Plano, Texas
* June 20 -- Tennessee State Convention, Knoxville, Tennessee

Find conventions and hamfests in your area.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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Amateur Radio News and Information.

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* Join or Renew Today! ARRL membership includes QST, amateur radio's
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--- SendMsg/2

--- Squish/386 v1.11
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Limestone, TN, USA (1:18/200)

The ARRL Letter
March 26, 2020

* ARRL Headquarters Closes, May QST Delivery is on Schedule
* Ham Radio Clubs Connect Amid Social Distancing
* Radio Amateurs Team Up to Help University Design Low-Cost
Ventilator
* ARRL Podcasts Schedule
* International Amateur Radio Union justing to COVID-19
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* Major Florida Emergency Communication Conference and Exercise are a
Major Success
* Long Island CW Club Offering Free Online Code Instruction for
Homebound Youngsters
* Tower-Mounted Christmas Lights Cheer California Neighborhood
* In Brief...
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
ARRL Headquarters Closes, May QST Delivery is on Schedule

ARRL Headquarters has closed, in compliance with an executive order
from Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont that all non-essential businesses
and not-for-profit entities reduce their in-person workforces by 100%.
ARRL has equipped as many Headquarters staffers as possible to work
offsite.

"ARRL remains operational, while our teams work remotely to abide by
Connecticut's Stay Home, Stay Safe policy, and most departments are
maintaining business as usual," ARRL Interim CEO Barry Shelley, N1VXY,
explained. "We are doing all we can under the circumstances and trying
to maintain operations in as normal a way as possible."

The print edition of the May issue of QST, now off the presses, will go
out in the mail next week, and the US Postal Service anticipates no
delivery disruptions. Digital QST and the pending digital debuts of QEX
and NCJ are expected to be posted on schedule. The May issue of QST
will include more details on the QEX and NCJ digital editions -- a new
member benefit -- as well as an intriguing cover article on "The
Lightbulb QSO Party."

ARRL also anticipates that The ARRL Letter, ARRL Audio News, the ARES
E-Letter, The ARRL Contest Update, and the Eclectic Technology podcast
will be available as usual.

Although ARRL Headquarters closed, W1AW continues operating, but on a
slightly altered transmission schedule. Morning code practice and
qualifying run transmissions have been suspended; evening
transmissions, including qualifying runs, will go on as usual. W1AW
remains closed to the public, however.

Operations at the ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC) will also
continue, and the best way to receive a timely response is via email,
as call volume has been heavy.

The ARRL warehouse is working with a reduced staff, so orders will be
delayed, and ARRL will not be able to respond to expedited shipping
orders.

Members should direct questions to ARRL via email.

"Thank you for your patience during this time of adjustment," Shelley
said.
Ham Radio Clubs Connect Amid Social Distancing

As college campuses have sent students home to finish their classes
online, members of the K7UAZ Amateur Radio Club in Tucson -- a student
organization at the University of Arizona -- have moved their radio
club meetings to the radio. K7UAZ Station Manager Curt Laumann, K7ZOO,
said that when the university largely shuttered its campus, club
President Ken Gourley, KM6BKU, immediately transitioned regular
meetings to an on-the-air format using the university repeater. The
club was already holding a weekly net on Monday nights, but the added
on-air club meetings offer another opportunity to get on the radio.

In recent months, in-person K7UAZ club meetings have hosted
presentations on such topics as EME (Earth-moon-Earth) communication
and an AMSAT CubeSat simulation. As meetings move on the air, Gourley
explained, he will send out a copy of meeting presentation slides so
members can follow along. "I will lead the net and start with
check-ins," he said. "We will work our way through the slides,
discussing previous events, upcoming activities, the treasurer's
report, projects, etc. I will take new check-ins every 5 - 10 minutes.
We will conclude with officer comments and general comments. Hopefully
it won't take more than 30 - 45 minutes."

ARRL staff member Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R, who liaises for the ARRL
Collegiate Amateur Radio Initiative (CARI), underscores the importance
that all radio clubs encourage on-the-air activity in this challenging
time. "While I know many businesses and schools have moved to online
meetings and learning, I can think of many advantages for a radio club
to move club meetings to on-air," Inderbitzen said. His list includes:
* Holding short meetings on the air will encourage individual club
members to practice their personal radio communication
capabilities. Station and skills readiness are tenets of the
Amateur Radio Service.
* Nets generally help new radio amateurs gain practical operating
experience. Think of this current challenge as an opportunity to
encourage your club's new hams to get on the air.
* As online fatigue and a feeling of isolation will inevitably creep
into our "new normal," being on-air will introduce variety into our
communication practices. As many of us are now homebound working or
studying, turning on a radio to connect with your ham radio peers
will be welcome respite!

At K7UAZ, experienced club members provide instruction for members to
access the K7UAZ ARC repeater from 2 meters and via EchoLink. The club
also offers members the opportunity to borrow handheld radios or to be
patched in via HF or videoconferencing, if they live too far away from
the repeater.

ARRL is encouraging university radio clubs to network with other clubs
and students via ARRL's CARI Facebook group. "Keeping our campus radio
clubs going will ensure we are, together, advancing the art, science,
and enjoyment of amateur radio. It's our collective mission,"
Inderbitzen said.

Radio Amateurs Team Up to Help University Design Low-Cost Ventilator

Amateur radio volunteers from around the world have volunteered to
assist University of Florida Professor Sam Lampotang and his
engineering team in their quest to rapidly develop an open-source,
low-cost patient ventilator that can be built anywhere from such
commonly available components as PVC pipe and lawn-sprinkler valves.

The amateur radio volunteers are developing Arduino-based control
software that will set the respiratory rate and other key parameters in
treating critically ill coronavirus victims.

Multiple volunteers responding to a call for help from Gordon Gibby,
MD, KX4Z, include noted software developer Jack Purdum, W8TEE, and
uBITX transceiver maker Ashhar Farhan, VU2ESE. University of Florida
physicians are working to address the critical legal aspects as the
design moves closer to fruition. The ventilator's valves would
precisely time compressed oxygen flow into patient breathing circuits
under Arduino control, allowing exhausted patients with "stiff" lungs
impacted by viral pneumonia to survive until their body can clear the
infection.

The software design team is also adding simple features such as an LCD
display, encoders to choose parameters, and watchdog safety features.
ARRL Podcasts Schedule

The latest (March 12) episode of the On the Air podcast focuses on how
to calculate feed line loss, real-world examples of how digital and
analog FM transceivers handle weak signals, and an interview with Rob
Macedo, KD1CY, Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
and SKYWARN Coordinator for the National Weather Service Boston/Norton
office. Rob offers information about how hams can get involved with
SKYWARN.

The latest episode of the Eclectic Tech podcast (Episode 4) includes an
interview with Eric Knight, KB1EHE, updating the RF-based Alzheimer's
therapy featured in QST, and an interview with Robert Dixon, W8ERD,
about the "Wow!" signal and SETI. Dixon was the Big Ear project
director when the Wow! signal was received.

Both podcasts are available on iTunes (iOS) and Stitcher (Android) as
well as on Blubrry -- On the Air | Eclectic Tech.

International Amateur Radio Union justing to COVID-19

The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) has reported on how it's
addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, given the various restrictions in
place to slow the spread of the virus. IARU said the International
Telecommunication Union (ITU) Headquarters in Geneva remains off limits
to visitors until April 17 at the earliest. ITU has cancelled some
meetings, postponed others, and converted others into online
gatherings. IARU representatives are adjusting plans accordingly and
following a similar pattern.

While Dayton Hamvention has canceled its 2020 show, Europe's largest
amateur radio gathering, HAM RADIO in Friedrichshafen, Germany, is
still on schedule for June 26â**-â**28.

IARU Region 2 Emergency Communications and Satellite Communications
workshops set for May 30 - 31 in Trinidad and Tobago will now be held
online. IARU reports that interest and registrations have surged since
the announcement. These workshops will be held in English, but
preparations are under way for workshops in Spanish to be held later.

IARU Region 3 has canceled its first Youngsters on the Air (YOTA) Camp
that had been planned for early October in Rayong, Thailand.

World Amateur Radio Day on April 18 this year celebrates the 95th
anniversary of the IARU's founding. IARU has allowed that amateur radio
"is the best way to practice social distancing."

IARU Region 1 (Europe, the Middle East, and Africa) has asked
member-societies to "reconsider their position" on Field Day events
over the next few months.

"Field Days bring radio amateurs together and, therefore, represent an
environment where social distancing is difficult to achieve," IARU
Region 1 President Don Beattie, G3BJ, said. "We must recognize that
many radio amateurs are in the older, higher-risk age groups." IARU
will not sponsor the Region 1 HF CW Field Day in June but said national
societies have to make their own decisions as to whether their Field
Day events will go forward.

Beattie said single-operator contests "remain a great way for those
forced to stay at home to enjoy the magic of amateur radio."
The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: We saw another week with no sunspots,
which were last seen just briefly more than 2 weeks ago on March 8 - 9.
Spaceweather.com reports that, so far in 2020, the percentage of days
without sunspots (76%) is about the same as all of 2019, when it was
77%.

Average daily solar flux inched up from 70.1 to 71.1. Geomagnetic
indicators remain quiet, with average planetary A index at 7.7, a
little higher than the previous week's 5.9 average. Average
mid-latitude A index was also 5.9, up from 4.1 last week.

Predicted solar flux for the next 45 days is 71 on March 26 - April 2;
70 on April 3 - 4; 72 on April 5 - 18; 70 on April 19 - May 1, and 72
on May 2 - 9.

Predicted planetary A index is 5 on March 26 - 29; 12 on March 30 - 31;
8 on April 1; 5 on April 2 - 5; 10 and 8 on April 6 - 7; 5 on April 8 -
13; 8, 12, and 8 on April 14 - 16; 5 on April 17 - 22; 12 and 8 on
April 23 - 24; 5 on April 25 - May 2; 10 and 8 on May 3 - 4, and 5 on
May 5 - 9.

Sunspot numbers for March 19 - 25 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, and 0, with a
mean of 0. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 72.1, 71.7, 70.8, 70.2, 70.4,
71.2, and 71.2, with a mean of 71.1. Estimated planetary A indices were
12, 7, 8, 7, 12, 4, and 4, with a mean of 7.7. Middle latitude A index
was 7, 5, 5, 7, 10, 4, and 3, with a mean of 5.9.

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

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.
* March 28 -- FOC QSO Party (CW)
* March 28 - 29 -- CQ WW WPX Contest, SSB
* March 30 - 31 -- QCX Challenge (CW)
* April 2 -- UKEICC 80-Meter Contest (Phone)
* April 2 -- SARL 80-Meter QSO Party (Phone)
* April 2 -- NRAU 10-Meter Activity Contest (CW, phone, digital)
* April 2 -- SKCC Sprint Europe (CW)

Major Florida Emergency Communication Conference and Exercise are a
Major Success

Radio amateurs and communications professionals from several states
convened over the February 29 - March 1 weekend in Gainesville,
Florida, for a training conference and exercise to test new skills
learned along with basic radio communication skills and protocols. The
Alachua County Emergency Manager and staff served as exercise
evaluators. Former FEMA ministrator Craig Fugate, KK4INZ, also
attended and served as an exercise player on Sunday. The weekend's
programs and exercise were developed by Gordon Gibby, KX4Z, who also
conducted the optional ARRL EC-001 Introduction to Emergency
Communications course on Friday.

"Overall, the exercise was positively reviewed by both the participants
and the professional evaluators," reported Rick Palm, K1CE, who edits
the ARES E-Letter and took part in the activity. "For the participants,
a few of the more-challenging objectives were documentation on the ICS
forms, and establishing HF voice/Winlink connections, which were
ultimately achieved successfully," he recounted. "Some participants
were unclear on some procedures and instructions. Set-up and getting HF
antennas erected resulted in delay, leaving some message traffic backed
up." These stumbling blocks were discussed in an after-exercise
debriefing, Palm said.

"More easily accomplished was setting up radio equipment, using VHF
packet, and addressing the issues presented [by the exercise
moderators]. Group relationships were dynamic and positive. Units were
able to check into the command net with little difficulty," Palm added.

The conference featured a basic track for individuals needing basic or
advanced skill improvement, and a leadership track for ARES^A(R)
leaders who need to design and execute exercises while growing local
groups. The day kicked off with a review of amateur radio disaster
response, with discussion focused on service to main stakeholders,
including government agencies, NGOs, and disaster survivors. Topics
covered the importance of communications when "lives are really at
stake" and the value of exercises.

Good weather prevailed for the Sunday exercise with a large and
enthusiastic group of radio amateurs on hand to put lessons learned the
previous day into practice by playing out the Homeland Security
Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP)-compliant exercise dubbed

Former FEMA ministrator
Craig Fugate, KK4INZ, also
attended and served as a Hot
& Cold exercise player.

2020 Hot & Cold. The scenario was a malfunction of high-pressure
natural gas pipelines with telecommunications failures. Resources
required included VHF/UHF/HF voice and digital equipment and
capabilities; the Winlink system, and the NTS/RRI networks.

The Incident Command post and shelters for area residents were staffed
and set up with both long-haul, regional, and local radio communication
capabilities. The overall exercise mission was "response."

Players worked to meet several objectives, which included joining the
command net, using alternative antennas (such as a long wire to replace
a Yagi), employing emergency power sources and alternatives in the
event of failures, checking into an HF voice net for message handling,
using Winlink to access gateways and make connections, practicing voice
net control procedures, drafting ICS-213 message forms and
transmitting, receiving, and relaying messages, composing and
transmitting situation reports to the Incident Command Post via the
command net, and completing required documentation.

Participant surveys indicated that those taking part felt that the best
features of the exercise were testing equipment, learning how to
complete the ICS forms, having the ICS-205 frequency plan ahead of the
exercise, antennas, and power source testing.

Surveys and comments indicated that some participants wished they had
studied the exercise plan missions and objectives more in advance;
understood the forms they had access to better in Winlink; were more
familiar with Winlink, local frequencies, and digital modes in general;
tested their equipment before leaving home, and had advance practice
with the packet mode.

"[These are] all good learning opportunities that will result in
greater efficiency in next year's exercise, and, of course, the real
thing, should that occur," Palm said.

Long Island CW Club Offering Free Online Code Instruction for Homebound
Youngsters

The Long Island CW Club in New York is offering free online Morse code
instruction for the "many youngsters at loose ends as a result of
school closings due to COVID-19 concerns." The club's co-founder,
Howard Bernstein, WB2UZE, pointed out that learning Morse code is "a
fun and educational activity for children of all ages that can fill
part of the gap left by the current unfortunate situation that has
closed so many schools across the country."

Ongoing classes will take place Monday through Friday, specifically for
school-agers anywhere across the country or overseas, via Zoom online
video conferencing.

A computer equipped with a microphone and camera is required. Classes
for elementary schoolers run 30 minutes starting at 1600 UTC, followed
by 45-minute classes for middle- and high school-aged students,
starting at 1645 UTC. Parental permission is required through advance
registration.

Contact class instructor Rob Zarges, K2MZ, by e-mail or call
508-831-8248. -- Thanks to Mel Granick, KS2G, ARRL New York City-Long
Island Section Public Information Coordinator
Tower-Mounted Christmas Lights Cheer California Neighborhood

According to media reports, some Southern California residents have
been turning their Christmas lights back on to bolster the mood of the
neighborhood during the coronavirus pandemic.

"That caught my eye," Chip Margelli, K7JA, of Garden Grove, told ARRL.
"Every year, I put lights up on my 70-foot fixed tower, turning it into
the tallest Christmas tree in Garden Grove; it is quite a beacon in the
neighborhood."

Because of knee replacement surgery last December, Margelli had not yet
taken down his Christmas lights, so he re-lit them and put an
announcement on the local Neighborhood Watch Facebook page. Margelli
said a lot of positive comments indicated his neighbors would follow
suit.

"So, hams everywhere can use amateur radio to do something to increase
the cheer factor in their neighborhoods, even though it's not over the
air," Margelli suggested. "Spreading goodwill like this can surely only
improve our image in the community." -- Thanks to Chip Margelli, K7JA
In Brief...

Refunds are available for canceled Dayton Hamvention-associated social
events. These include Contest University, the Contest Dinner, and the
Top Band Dinner. Each event has its own procedures. Those who signed up
for the DX Dinner will be able to obtain refunds via PayPal. An email
to all registrants will provide details. -- Thanks to Tim Duffy, K3LR,
SWODXA

Club Log is contributing 100% of its computing resources to the
Folding@Home Project. The project simulates the dynamics of COVID-19
proteins to hunt for new therapeutic opportunities. Club Log's Michael
Wells, G7VJR, said he's assigned a higher priority to the Folding@Home
work, so radio amateurs may experience slightly longer upload times.
"You can help, too, by contributing your own computer to the project,"
Wells said. "If you have a recent home computer with a good graphics
card, and if a lot of people make a contribution, it will make a
significant difference to the research, potentially reducing decades of
work to a far shorter time frame that will make a practical difference
this year." He cautions that computers involved in the project will be
operating at 100% CPU, when not otherwise in use. Club Log's
Folding@Home team number is 246763.

The Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) HF and VHF Contest committees
will no longer accept multioperator contest entries. The ban, in
accordance with UK social distancing policies, is in effect until the
end of June and applies to all RSGB-sponsored contests. Single-operator
entries from shared stations also will not be accepted, unless the
station is being shared by family members at the same address. The HF
Contest Committee has canceled the RSGB HF NFD (Field Day) for 2020,
but is okaying portable operation by single operators, "because of the
potential mental health benefits associated with engaging in hobbies,
as well as the lack of person-to-person contact in normal
single-operator contesting." RSGB is encouraging all to follow UK
government guidelines regarding social distancing and unnecessary
travel and will decide in early June if the VHF NFD, the IOTA Contest,
and SSB NFD events can go ahead as planned.

Sean Kutzko, KX9X, is AMSAT's new Volunteer Coordinator. AMSAT
President Clayton Coleman, W5PFG, announced the appointment this week.
Licensed since 1982, Kutzko served for 10 years on the ARRL
Headquarters staff as Contest Branch Manager and as Media and Public
Relations Manager. "It's an honor to be able to volunteer for AMSAT,"
Kutzko said. "AMSAT is a great organization and helping find good
volunteers who are willing to help all areas of AMSAT's growth and
development is the least I could do for the organization that has given
me a lot of enjoyment and technical skill." An active HF and VHF
contester, DXer, and backpack QRP enthusiast, Kutzko started working
satellites in 2011. He's written instructional articles on satellite
operating for the AMSAT website and for QST, and he blogs regularly on
satellite topics on DX Engineering's On All Bands. -- Thanks to AMSAT
News Service

Harvard University President Lawrence Bacow, KA1FZQ, and his wife ele
have tested positive for COVID-19. "We started experiencing symptoms on
Sunday -- first coughs, then fevers, chills, and muscle aches -- and
contacted our doctors on Monday," Bacow related in a March 10 message
to the Harvard University community. "We were tested yesterday and just
received the results a few minutes ago. We wanted to share this news
with all of you as soon as possible." Bacow said neither he nor his
wife knows how they contracted the virus and have been working from
home and limiting contact with others. "This virus can lay anyone low,"
Bacow added. "We all need to be vigilant and keep following guidelines
to limit our contact with others."

President Donald Trump has nominated FCC Commissioner Michael O'Rielly
for another 5-year term on the Commission. The nomination was sent to
the US Senate on March 18. O'Rielly was initially appointed to the FCC
in 2013 by President Barack Obama. "During my tenure at the Commission,
I have advocated for preserving and advancing American free market
principles to develop common sense regulation and eliminate unnecessary
rules that hurt consumers," O'Rielly said in a statement, expressing
appreciation to President Trump. If the Senate confirms O'Rielly's
nomination, the new term would date retroactively to last July and end
in 2024.

The FCC will hold its March 31 open meeting by teleconference. "Due to
the current COVID-19 pandemic and related agency telework and
headquarters access policies, this meeting will be in a wholly
electronic format and will be open to the public on the internet via
live feed from the FCC web page and on the FCC YouTube channel," the
Commission announced this week. Agenda items are expected to be voted
on circulation prior to the meeting. Live audio and video and open
captioning will be provided on the video as well as a text only version
on the FCC website.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

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 -- Northwestern Division Convention, Seaside, Oregon
* 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
Amateur Radio News and Information.

.

.
* Join or Renew Today! ARRL membership includes QST, amateur radio's
most popular and informative journal, and On the Air, a new
bimonthly magazine for beginner hams. ARRL members can choose which
magazine to receive in print, and can view the digital editions of
both magazines online.
* Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday.

Subscribe to...
* NCJ -- National Contest Journal. Published bimonthly, features
articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA
Sprint, and QSO parties.
* QEX -- A Forum for Communications Experimenters. Published
bimonthly, features technical articles, construction projects,
columns, and other items of interest to radio amateurs and
communications professionals.

Free of charge to ARRL members...
* Subscribe to the ARES E-Letter (monthly public service and
emergency communications news), the ARRL Contest Update (biweekly
contest newsletter), Division and Section news alerts -- and much
more!
* Find ARRL on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram!
----------------------------------------------------------------------

The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 50 times each year. ARRL members
and registered guests may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing
their profile.

Copyright (c) 2020 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and
distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is permitted for
non-commercial or educational purposes, with attribution. All other
purposes require written permission.


--- SendMsg/2

--- Squish/386 v1.11
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Limestone, TN, USA (1:18/200)

The ARRL Letter
April 2, 2020

* FCC Grants Temporary Emergency Authority to WISPs Operating in 5.8
GHz Band
* HamSCI 2020 Workshop Successfully Reworked as a Virtual Event
* ARRL Field Day 2020 -- A Time to apt
* ARRL Podcasts Schedule
* Canceled Ohio ARES State Conference Morphs into Statewide
Communication Exercise
* Contest Entry Features Multiple Operator Locations and Remote
Transmitter-Receiver Site
* To All ARRL Members and ARRL VEC Accredited Volunteer Examiners
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* Western Pennsylvania ARES Group Conducts District-Wide Simplex
Drill
* COVID-19 Affects Space Station Crew Transition
* In Brief...
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions

-------------------------------------------------------------------

COVID-19 Impact & News

Find the latest news and information on the impact of the coronavirus
pandemic to ARRL members and our global amateur radio community.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

FCC Grants Temporary Emergency Authority to WISPs Operating in 5.8 GHz
Band

The FCC has granted temporary permission to wireless internet service
providers (WISPs) in rural portions of 29 states and the US Virgin
Islands to operate in the 5.8 GHz band (5.850 - 5.895 GHz). The
authorization, to help meet the temporary surge in demand for
residential fixed broadband services during the COVID-19 pandemic, was
one of multiple waivers issued in the past week that grant temporary
access to a variety of bands in response to the uptick in residential
broadband demand.

The 5.8 GHz grants were effective on March 26. Each grant is for 60
days, provided individual WISPs file STA applications within 10 days of
March 26. Amateur radio shares this spectrum on a secondary basis with
Dedicated Short-Range Communications (DSRC) systems and industrial,
scientific, and medical (ISM) applications, and that status remains
unchanged.

"[E]ach applicant is independently responsible for complying with the
conditions of its grant," the FCC's Keith D. Harper, Associate Chief of
the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau's Mobility Division, wrote in
granting the request. "Applicants are advised that this includes
ensuring proper protection of incumbents in the 5.8 GHz band." The
Commission noted that WISPs are responsible for ensuring that they do
not cause interference to existing licensees.

According to the request, each of the WISPs provides fixed wireless
broadband service in rural areas, primarily relying on unlicensed
spectrum for last-mile connections to end users. "Many of the WISPs'
customers have no other alternative to terrestrial broadband services,"
the request said.

The Commission's emergency grant explicitly requires that the WISP
operations be conducted on a non-interference basis. Read more.
HamSCI 2020 Workshop Successfully Reworked as a Virtual Event

Despite the coronavirus pandemic, the March 20 - 21 HamSCI Workshop
went on as scheduled, moving to a free, all-digital webinar workshop.
The theme of the 2020 workshop was "The Auroral Connection -- How does
the aurora affect amateur radio, and what can we learn about the aurora
from radio techniques?" Organizer and

Nathaniel Frissell, W2NAF,
moderated the online
conference.

University of Scranton professor Nathaniel Frissell, W2NAF, told ARRL
that he was quite happy with the outcome, after the in-person workshop
had to be called off as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

"In some ways, it was good for us," Frissell said. "We actually got
many more participants than had we just held it in person."
Expectations for the live event were for about 100 participants.
Online, Zoom -- the webinar platform used for the workshop -- reported
290 unique logins from 24 countries. After cancellation of the
in-person workshop, Frissell had to scramble to make the virtual event
a reality.

"I had the webinar running in practice mode for about 2 or 3 days
before the workshop, and I let presenters log in whenever they wanted
to test things out," Frissell said.

Another hurdle to overcome was figuring out how to convert poster
presentations to electronic format. "The Aurorasaurus group really
helped out with that," Frissell said, noting that Aurorasaurus Project
manager Laura Brandt came up with a method for presenting the posters
electronically and made sure the poster session ran smoothly.

In a blog post, Brandt called the workshop "the first of its kind in
heliophysics." The Aurorasaurus Project theme is "Reporting Auroras
from the Ground Up."

"The annual HamSCI Workshop provided the perfect opportunity to
introduce citizen scientists and scientists from the aurora and ham
radio communities and build connections for future collaboration,"

Phil Erickson, W1PJE,
of MIT's Haystack
Observatory was among
the presenters and
participants.

Brandt said. "Both aurora and ham radio citizen scientists work closely
with the Earth's atmosphere and ionosphere, but while aurora folks tend
to think about how what we see reveals aspects of the ionosphere, ham
radio operators tend to think about what radio waves can tell us about
the ionosphere."

Oral presentations were delivered as originally scheduled and in the
same format as if they were being delivered at the in-person workshop.

The workshop served as a team meeting for the HamSCI Personal Space
Weather Station project that's funded by a National Science Foundation
(NSF) grant to Frissell as its principal investigator. The project
seeks to harness the power of a network of radio amateurs to better
understand and measure the effects of weather in the upper levels of
Earth's atmosphere.

Workshop presentations are being archived. Read more.

ARRL Field Day 2020 -- A Time to apt

Many individuals and groups organizing events for ARRL Field Day 2020
have been contacting ARRL for guidance on how to adapt their planned
activities in this unprecedented time of social distancing and
uncertainty.

"Due to the unique situation presented this year, this can be an
opportunity for you, your club, or your group to try something new,"
ARRL Contest Manager Paul Bourque, N1SFE, said. "Field Day isn't about
doing things the same way year after year. Use this year to develop and
employ a new approach that is in line with the current circumstances."

Social distancing and state and local requirements very likely will
impact just how -- and even whether -- you are able to participate in
Field Day this year. ARRL continues monitoring the coronavirus
situation, paying close attention to information and guidance offered
by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If social
distancing means that Class A with a 30-member team set up in a city
park won't work this year, then it's time for a Plan B. Part of the
Field Day concept has always been adapting your operation to the
situation at hand. At its heart, Field Day is an emergency
communication demonstration. Field Day rules are flexible enough to
allow individuals and groups to adjust their participation and
strategies in a way that still addresses their needs while being fun.
Some possibilities include:
* Encouraging club members to operate from their home stations on
emergency power (Class E).
* Using the club's repeater as a means for individual participants to
keep in touch during the event.
* Setting up a portable station in the backyard with a temporary
antenna for family members interested in operating Field Day, who
are now unable to participate as part of a larger group.

One big impact this year will be a decline in public visibility and any
interaction with the visitors. Prudence may dictate dispensing with the
ham radio PR table to attract passersby, should you set up in a more
public location. It's okay not to score all the bonus points you may
have attempted in the past. Local and served agency officials may be
unwilling to visit, which is understandable under the circumstances. Do
be sure to reach out to them as part of your preparations and remind
them that you look forward to continuing your working relationship with
them in the future.

The impact will differ from place to place, so ARRL recommends that all
amateur radio clubs participating in Field Day stay in regular contact
with local or state public health officials for their advice and
guidance on hosting Field Day activities.

"With any emergency preparedness exercise, it's not about adapting the
situation to your operation; it's about adapting your operation to the
situation that presents itself," Bourque said. "Try something
different." Read more. -- Thanks to Paul Bourque, N1SFE, and Dan
Henderson, N1ND
ARRL Podcasts Schedule

The latest (March 12) episode of the On the Air podcast focuses on how
to calculate feed line loss, real-world examples of how digital and
analog FM transceivers handle weak signals, and an interview with Rob
Macedo, KD1CY, Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
and SKYWARN Coordinator for the National Weather Service Boston/Norton
office. Rob offers information about how hams can get involved with
SKYWARN.

The latest episode of the Eclectic Tech podcast (Episode 4) includes an
interview with Eric Knight, KB1EHE, updating the RF-based Alzheimer's
therapy featured in QST, and an interview with Robert Dixon, W8ERD,
about the "Wow!" signal and SETI. Dixon was the Big Ear project
director when the Wow! signal was received.

Both podcasts are available on iTunes (iOS) and Stitcher (Android), as
well as on Blubrry -- On the Air | Eclectic Tech.

Canceled Ohio ARES State Conference Morphs into Statewide Communication
Exercise

Ohio Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) canceled the Ohio ARES
State Conference set for April 4 due to the coronavirus pandemic and
repurposed the date for a statewide communication exercise, with an
emphasis on communicating from home.

"Ohio has a high-profile station at the state Emergency Operations
Center (EOC), with regular weekly EOC nets," ARES Section Emergency
Coordinator Stan Broadway, N8BHL, said. "But with the national emphasis
on staying home, we turned the vacated day into a 2-hour series of nets
designed to have amateur operators check in using their home stations."

The exercise was the brainchild of Assistant SEC Tim Price, K8WFL, who
suggested it would be a great way to showcase amateur radio's
capabilities for state and community leaders. The Ohio HF Emergency Net
will take check-ins on 40 and 80 meters (SSB), with the Ohio Digital
Emergency Net (OHDEN) operating on 80 meters. Then, around 1 PM ET, a
linked digital radio system will be brought into play, using DMR's Ohio
talk group linked to the Fusion "Ohio Link" group. Broadway said
stations will simply check in; no traffic will be handled. "It's just
designed to prove we can communicate from home, while locked down, and
still get the job done," he told ARRL.

"This is the same network topology used for the Ohio Watch Desk
Project, providing statewide reporting during such events as the
Memorial Day tornado outbreak last spring," Broadway said. The reports
are fed directly to the watch desk at Ohio's state EOC, to enhance
situational awareness for state emergency managers. "We plan to video
an operator on the State House steps, talking statewide using a small
handheld," Broadway said. "This demonstration can be used to enhance
our discussion of amateur radio with local and state officials."

Broadway said HF can be problematic most of the time if storms are
moving across, producing static, and digital modes fill in the gap.
Read more. -- Thanks to Stan Broadway, N8BHL

Contest Entry Features Multiple Operator Locations and Remote
Transmitter-Receiver Site

Restrictions on gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic recently
prompted a novel approach to multioperator/multi-transmitter operation.
The WW2DX entry in the CQ World Wide WPX SSB Contest over the March 28
- 29 weekend featured 10 operators, each at separate locations around
the US and in Europe, all operating via a

Connor Black, W4IPC.

single remote site on the coast of eastern Maine. WW2DX entered in the
Multioperator, High Power category, racking up a claimed score of
32,026,176 points. NR6O operated from the west coast with a smaller
complement of remote operators in the Multioperator, High Power
category.

"It was so much fun to work this contest," one of the WW2DX operators,
17-year-old Connor Black, W4IPC, said. "This was the most fun I've had
in a contest ever. We had no equipment failures and pulled off,
hopefully, a new US record."

In soapbox comments on the 3830scores.com website, Lee Imber, WW2DX,
expressed his belief that this year's contest would be viewed as a
turning point in multioperator contesting. Participants had nothing but
a web browser and a USB headset to operate, with the closest team
partner some 625 miles away. "No radio, no hardware, no traveling, and
no external logger," he noted.

What the WW2DX operators saw.

Team members brainstormed various configurations. Rock Schrock, WW1X,
custom-engineered the requisite software. In addition to Black, the
team included a few other young -- but experienced -- contesters:
13-year-old Charles Hoppe, AA4LS; 17-year-old Mason Matrazzo, KM4SII,
and 21-year-old Tucker McGuire, W4FS. The more senior team members were
K1LZ, K3JO, W1ADI, W2RE, WW1X, and WW2DX.

"We also used Slack and created a channel for the team to stay
connected over the weekend, and this ended up being half the fun,"
Imber said. Another feature included the "multi bell," which would
chime whenever a new multiplier was logged. He said it was "awesome
having seasoned pro operators sharing and mentoring these young
contesters."

"The world is experiencing something on a whole new level," he
observed. Read more.

To All ARRL Members and ARRL VEC Accredited Volunteer Examiners

We know many examiners have canceled amateur radio license exam
sessions to meet the requirements and recommendations of national and
local government and of health officials. The health and safety of
examinees and our Volunteer Examiners (VEs) is first and foremost in
any decision-making process. The ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator
(VEC) does not offer video-supervised online amateur radio licensing
exams at the present time. We are aware, however, that some VE teams
are exploring alternative formats on a local basis. Please use ARRL's
License Exam Search to find scheduled exam sessions in your area and
verify with the local exam team that the session is still being held.

The ARRL VEC is continuing to process license examination materials
from VEs who have completed exam sessions, although some delays may
occur under the circumstances. The ARRL VEC electronically forwards all
required data to the FCC for qualified examinees.

We understand that some examination candidates are continuing their
studies toward new amateur radio licenses and license upgrades. We also
know some will be frustrated that, at this time, the ARRL VEC does not
offer online licensing exams. Amateur radio is not alone in this
challenge, though.

While each of us continues to respond to the immediate evolving crisis,
we also know that we must keep an eye on the future. Throughout its
decades of service, the VEC system has served the FCC as a shining
example of the successes of a privatized system. The ARRL VEC and our
VEs are recognized throughout the Amateur Radio Service for our
integrity and efficiency. apting our all-volunteer license
examination administration will be a challenge, but it's a challenge we
are committed to undertake in order to advance the program and improve
service.

While we face unprecedented challenges, opportunities also await. We
are grateful to support radio amateurs in our common pursuit of skill,
service, and discovery. ARRL and the ARRL VEC remain steadfast in
serving the amateur radio community. We will provide updates as they
become available.
The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: A new sunspot appeared on the last
day in March and the first day in April, with daily sunspot numbers of
12 and 13, respectively. Prior to this, no sunspots had been seen since
earlier in March, when daily sunspot numbers were 13 and 12, on March 8
- 9.

Average daily solar flux this week (March 26 - April 1) declined from
71.1 to 69.4. Average daily geomagnetic indicators were identical to
the previous week, with planetary A index at 7.7 and middle latitude A
index at 5.9.

Predicted solar flux for the next 45 days is 70 on April 2 - 7; 69, 68,
and 68 on April 8 - 10; 70 on April 11 - 22; 68 on April 23 - May 7,
and 70 on May 8 - 16.

Predicted planetary A index is 8 on April 2 - 3; 5 on April 4 - 14; 10
on April 15; 8 on April 16 - 19; 5 on April 20 - 25; 12 on April 26 -
27; 8 on April 28 - 29; 5 on April 30 - May 11; 10 on May 12, and 8 on
May 13 - 16.

Sunspot numbers for March 26 - April 1 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 12, and 13,
with a mean of 0. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 70.2, 69.4, 69.2, 68.8,
69.3, 69.9, and 69.2, with a mean of 71.1. Estimated planetary A
indices were 5, 5, 5, 7, 11, 15, and 6, with a mean of 7.7. Middle
latitude A index was 5, 4, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 4, with a mean of 5.9.

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 4 -- LZ Open 40-Meter Sprint Contest (CW)
* April 4 - 5 -- PODXS 070 Club PSK 31 Flavors Contest
* April 4 - 5 -- Nebraska QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
* April 4 - 5 -- Louisiana QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
* April 4 - 5 -- Mississippi QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
* April 4 - 5 -- Missouri QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
* April 4 - 5 -- Florida State Parks on the Air (CW, phone, digital)
* April 4 - 5 -- SP DX Contest (CW, phone)
* April 4 - 5 -- EA RTTY Contest
* April 5 -- North American SSB Sprint
* April 5 -- RSGB RoLo SSB
* April 6 - 12 -- All IQRP Quarterly Marathon (CW, phone, digital)
* April 6 -- RSGB 80-Meter Club Championship, CW
* April 6 -- 144 MHz Spring Sprint (CW, phone)
* April 7 -- ARS Spartan Sprint (CW)

See the ARRL Contest Calendar for more information. For in-depth
reporting on amateur radio contesting, subscribe to The ARRL Contest
Update via your ARRL member profile email preferences.
Western Pennsylvania ARES Group Conducts District-Wide Simplex Drill

Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) Western Pennsylvania Southwest
District, which includes Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette,
Greene, Indiana, Washington, and Westmoreland counties, conducted a
district-wide simplex practice drill on March 21. The exercise lasted
about 4 hours, with all participants meeting on their local ARES county
repeaters. Each county Emergency Coordinator served as net control
stations, and all stations kept logs, which were to be sent to their
local Emergency Coordinator for forwarding to the District Emergency
Coordinator.

All stations were asked to stay on their county simplex frequency for
at least 15 minutes before going to other county simplex frequencies.
After checking in on the repeater, all stations switched to their
county-assigned simplex frequencies, to test the capabilities of
operators and stations and their simplex operating range. In all, 162
operators participated in the drill.

"We have received so many great comments about the drill that I plan on
running it again sometime after the Simulated Emergency Test (SET)
drill on April 4," Western Pennsylvania Southwest District Emergency
Coordinator Terry Nemitz, KA3UTD, said. "I also heard a lot of comments
about operators wanting to improve their stations. A good thing."
COVID-19 Affects Space Station Crew Transition

International Space Station (ISS) Expedition 62 crew is readying its
Soyuz MS-15 vehicle for an April 17 departure back to Earth. Expedition
62 members are NASA Flight Engineer Jessica Meir; Flight Engineer
Andrew Morgan, KI5AAA, and Commander Oleg Skripochka, RA0LDJ. The
Expedition 63 crew members who are to replace them are nearing an April
9 launch aboard the Soyuz MS-16 vehicle.

NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy, KF5KDR, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Anatoly
Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner arrived this week at the Baikonur Cosmodrome
in Kazakhstan for final training. The

(L - R) NASA astronaut Chris
Cassidy, KF5KDR, Russian Soyuz
commander Anatoly Ivanishin, and
flight engineer Ivan Vagner during
training in Star City, Russia.
[Andrey Shelepin/Gagarin Cosmonaut
Training Center, photo]

Expedition 63 trio is scheduled to live aboard the station for a little
longer than 6 months, with Cassidy as commander. Because of travel
limitations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Cassidy's family will watch
from home when he blasts off on April 9. Launch day at Baikonur is
usually a festive affair.

"But it'll be completely quiet," Cassidy said in a Spaceflight Now
satellite interview from Star City, Russia. "There won't be anybody
there. A NASA protocol has long been in place to prevent astronauts
from carrying disease microbes into space." NASA said it "will continue
to evaluate and augment this plan, in coordination with its
international and commercial partners," if needed.

Russia's state space corporation Roscosmos has shut down all media
activity surrounding the Soyuz launch, barring journalists from
covering the mission in person. Russia will still livestream the
launch; NASA typically carries all of its crewed launches online via
its NASA TV channel.

SpaceX will launch its Crew Dragon capsule with NASA astronauts Bob
Behnken, KE5GGX, and Doug Hurley aboard the spacecraft, "no earlier
than mid-to-late May," NASA said, marking the first crew launch from
the US since 2011. This is the final flight test of the system before
SpaceX is certified to carry out operational crew flights to and from
the ISS for NASA.

Pending the outcome of the demonstration test, SpaceX hopes to send its
first operational crew of astronauts to the ISS aboard its Crew Dragon
capsule later this year. Read more. -- Thanks to NASA, AMSAT News
Service
In Brief...

Former ARRL DXCC Manager Don Search, W3AZD, of Davie, Florida, died on
March 26. Search was widely known throughout the DXing community and
was a fixture at many hamfests and conventions, including the Dayton
Hamvention^(R), where he checked cards for years. An ARRL Life Member,
he was 80. A skillful DXer, Search was on the DXCC Honor Roll with 378
entities confirmed on phone. He and his partner Hope Smith, WB3ANE,
were early members of the National Capitol DX Association (NCDXA) --
traveling from Florida to attend monthly meetings as recently as 2018.
He also belonged to the Potomac Valley Radio Club (PVRC). According to
reports, Search had struggled with health issues related to a fall last
December in which he struck his head. Search worked as an electronics
technician in Maryland before serving for about 15 years as ARRL DXCC
Manager from the late 1970s until the early 1990s.

USA Amateur Radio Direction Finding Championships Canceled The ARRL
ARDF Committee has made the difficult decision to cancel the 20th USA
ARDF Championships, which were set to be held this summer. Contact the
ARRL ARDF Committee for more information on ARDF and on attending,
participating in, or hosting ARDF competitions. ARDF participants do
not need an amateur radio license. For more information on Amateur
Radio Direction Finding, visit the Homing In website of Joe Moell,
K0OV. -- Thanks to USA ARDF Co-Coordinator Charles Scharlau, NZ0I

International Marconi Day (IMD) ham radio operating event has been
canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. The annual 24-hour
amateur radio event celebrates the birth of Marconi on April 25, 1874.
Sponsored by the Cornish Radio Amateur Club, which operates as GB4IMD,
International Marconi Day features participating stations operating at
sites that have a personal connection to Marconi.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

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 -- Northwestern Division Convention, Seaside, Oregon
* 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
Amateur Radio News and Information.

.

.
* Join or Renew Today! ARRL membership includes QST, amateur radio's
most popular and informative journal, and On the Air, a new
bimonthly magazine for beginner hams. ARRL members can choose which
magazine to receive in print, and can view the digital editions of
both magazines online.
* Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday.

Subscribe to...
* NCJ -- National Contest Journal. Published bimonthly, features
articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA
Sprint, and QSO parties.
* QEX -- A Forum for Communications Experimenters. Published
bimonthly, features technical articles, construction projects,
columns, and other items of interest to radio amateurs and
communications professionals.

Free of charge to ARRL members...
* Subscribe to the ARES E-Letter (monthly public service and
emergency communications news), the ARRL Contest Update (biweekly
contest newsletter), Division and Section news alerts -- and much
more!
* Find ARRL on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram!
----------------------------------------------------------------------

The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 50 times each year. ARRL members
and registered guests may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing
their profile.

Copyright (c) 2020 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and
distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is permitted for
non-commercial or educational purposes, with attribution. All other
purposes require written permission.


--- SendMsg/2

--- Squish/386 v1.11
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Limestone, TN, USA (1:18/200)

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 visory 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 todayâ**--â**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^A(R),
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

Dr. Gordon Gibby, KX4Z.
[University of Florida
photo]

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 visory 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 AS:97.119(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
Amateur Radio News and Information.

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* Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday.

Subscribe to...
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Free of charge to ARRL members...
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----------------------------------------------------------------------

The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 50 times each year. ARRL members
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Copyright (c) 2020 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and
distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is permitted for
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--- SendMsg/2

--- Squish/386 v1.11
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Limestone, TN, USA (1:18/200)

The ARRL Letter
April 16, 2020

* Remotely ministered Amateur Exam Systems Showing Promise
* New Volunteer Monitor Program is Up and Running
* Greater LoTW Database Accuracy is the Goal of TQSL Update(s)
* ARRL Announces New Benefits for Members
* ARRL Podcasts Schedule
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* ARRL Rookie Roundup SSB Edition Considers Social Distancing
* HAM RADIO in Friedrichshafen, Germany, Announces Cancellation of
2020 Show
* ARISS Altering its Approach in Light of COVID-19 Pandemic
* In Brief...
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions

-------------------------------------------------------------------

COVID-19 Impact & News

Find the latest news and information on the impact of the coronavirus
pandemic to ARRL members and our global amateur radio community.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Remotely ministered Amateur Exam Systems Showing Promise

Facing a growing demand for amateur radio exam sessions in a time of
social distancing and stay-at-home orders, sponsors of some Volunteer
Examiner (VE) teams have risen to the challenge and are developing
systems to remotely proctor test sessions.

"Many of our VEs and VE Teams have been working on remotely proctored
exam session ideas, employing both video and in-person components --
following social distancing protocols," ARRL Volunteer Examiner
Coordinator (VEC) Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, said. "We have been
receiving interesting and innovative suggestions, and we appreciate the
dedication and ingenuity our examiners have shown."

The Spalding County Amateur Radio Club in Georgia is among those that
have come up with plans to remotely administer amateur exams while
complying with ARRL VEC testing standards during COVID-19 stay-home
mandates and social distancing guidelines. Current systems leverage
Zoom video-teleconferencing technology, the "Fill & Sign" feature of
obe PDFs, reliable email, appropriate computer equipment and internet
connection, and no volunteer examiners (VEs) present at individual
remote test sites. The Georgia club collaborated and shared ideas with
the Emergency Amateur Radio Club (EARC) in Hawaii, which has
successfully conducted sessions since 2011 with its own remote testing
system, initially with paper exams with a proctor on site and now with
fillable PDFs, with no on-site proctor.

The Georgia club obtained ARRL VEC approval to administer
video-supervised exams. "We have started with testing just one
candidate at a time, but are planning to ramp up to multiple candidates
-- probably two or three -- simultaneously," club member David
Robinson, K4WVZ, told ARRL. "Before we do that, we want a few more
single sessions under our belt and a few more Video VEs trained."

The club's procedures entail a pre-exam video interview with candidates
to ensure they understand all the requirements and procedures.
Following the exam, the VEs score the test and sign off on the
paperwork, with the VE Team Leader submitting the application online
and by mail, per ARRL VEC instructions.

New England Amateur Radio Inc (NE1AR), an affiliate of New England
Sci-Tech, (NESciTech), has taken it one step further, Somma said. It
got the approval of ARRL VEC to begin trials of what it describes as
"completely online testing with strict rules and protocols for
maintaining the integrity of the testing environment." NE1AR is
limiting candidates to one exam per session, due to the current
candidate backlog and the "difficulty of administering exams online."
Candidates must agree to a list of protocols, which include a
cell-phone camera scan of the entire room and exam area "to show that
there are no materials or people [in the room] that could aid in taking
the exam."

"We began a series of trials on April 1 under ARRL VEC review and have
now been asked to help train more VE teams on the process," NE1AR
President Bob Phinney, K5TEC, told ARRL. "We have now tested 12
applicants and are still working on streamlining the process. We are
working with the software developer of the exam delivery system to help
them adapt the system for video-supervised testing."

With pressure continuing to build to provide testing compatible with
COVID-19 guidelines and stay-home orders, ARRL VEC Manager Maria Somma
has asked the amateur radio community to be patient. "Please remember
that with the introduction of significant new processes such as these,
that there should be proof of concept, establishment of protocols and
procedures, and beta testing, before expanding to a larger audience,"
she said this week. Somma said video-supervised exam sessions require a
different skillset than in-person exam administration, and not all
teams will be equipped to deliver video exams right away.

"ARRL is pleased to be one of the leaders in providing an opportunity,
although limited initially, for video-supervised exams in this time of
social distancing and isolation required by the current health
situation," Somma said. Read more.

New Volunteer Monitor Program is Up and Running

After kicking off on January 1, the new Volunteer Monitor Program has
ramped up to operational status. A "soft rollout" of the program began
on February 1, designed to familiarize Volunteer Monitors (VMs) with
issues on the bands and to put into practice what to report -- and what
to ignore, based on their training. The VMs will not only be looking
for operating discrepancies, but for examples of good operating. The VM
program has, at least for the moment, put Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH,
back in the center of amateur radio enforcement as the Volunteer
Monitor Coordinator (VMC). He was brought aboard to get the program up
and running, and ARRL will eventually take over the VMC function.

Hollingsworth is using a system called VMTRAC -- developed by a VM --
to measure the work of VMs and determine instances that qualify for
good operator or discrepancy notices, referral to the FCC, or follow-up
with FCC requests to the VM program. Hollingsworth reported that during
March, the 165 active VMs logged upward of 2,300 hours of monitoring on
HF, and nearly 2,000 hours on VHF-UHF and other frequencies.

"I am extremely pleased with the number of hours devoted to monitoring
this early in the program," Hollingsworth said. No stone is being left
unturned. Two VMs constantly monitor FT8 watering holes and have
developed programs that alert them if a licensee is operating outside
of privileges accorded to that license class or if a license has
expired. "We have 30 open cases, five of which are good operator
cases," Hollingsworth said. "Regarding open cases relating to rule
violations, none have yet had to be referred to the FCC." He said he's
experimented with letters, telephone calls, or emails to the subjects
of

Riley Hollingsworth,
K4ZDH.

discrepancy reports where they could be identified. While he's still
waiting for replies to his written correspondence, he has received
responses to his calls and emails, and the violations have either
stopped or were explained. "They were violations such as expired
licenses, Technicians operating on General frequencies, unauthorized
use of a call sign, and deliberate interference," he said.

One case "being groomed for FCC referral," he said, involves
long-standing interference to a repeater in the Philadelphia area by
someone using an unauthorized call sign. Hollingsworth said he worked
with net control operators of nets on 75 and 40 meters that had been
suffering serious interference, and so far the solutions are working.

"It is becoming apparent that if informal contact can be made by the
VMC with a known offender, the problem can sometimes be stopped,"
Hollingsworth said. "We do not want to call upon the FCC unless
absolutely necessary." Read more.

Greater LoTW Database Accuracy is the Goal of TQSL Update(s)

The recently released TQSL version 2.5.2 application for uploading logs
to Logbook of The World (LoTW) tightens requirements for data
consistency, with the goal of improving the integrity of the LoTW
database. Starting with TQSL version 2.5.2, discrepancies in submitted
logs are now flagged, especially when it comes to the Amateur Data
Interchange Format (ADIF) files frequently uploaded to LoTW. This has
prompted questions and concerns, however, when the system fails to
accept a user's uploaded contact or log.

ADIF exists precisely to help ensure the accuracy of "data interchange"
among amateur radio applications -- different logging programs, for
example. TQSL uses ADIF file data for cross-checks that help to keep
inaccurate or incomplete information from contaminating the LoTW
database, and that's where some user issues have arisen. For example,
the OPERATOR field, which should be a call sign, sometimes shows up as
a name. Occasionally, operators have reversed their ITU and CQ zones.
Another issue is in the MY_STATE field, which should show a US Postal
Service two-letter state abbreviation. Anything else is a problem.

"The value of the checks added to TQSL is that it lets operators know
when the data they're handling in their computer-based logs is
correct," said TQSL Developer Rick Murphy, K1MU. "It's important to
make sure that when a ham submits a log to LoTW that the content of
that log accurately captures the details."

Some help is on the way. Murphy will soon release TQSL version 2.5.3,
which, among other things, skips over the OPERATOR field check. "We
have found that some of the checking performed for TQSL 2.5.2 was
incomplete in some cases -- for example, allowing incorrect zone
information to pass, and overly strict in other cases -- for example,
the STATION_OWNER tag," Murphy said. "We've made great strides in
improving the way logs are checked to ensure that checking is more
complete while not raising false alarms."

The problem is not always with the user. The initial implementation of
cross-checks in TQSL 2.5.2 revealed that not all logging applications
conform to the ADIF standard. TQSL 2.5.2 has offered support for
operations from several locations, as well as the ability to detect
uploads that contain incorrect location data.

"Operators have a right to insist that the logging applications they
use conform to the standards agreed upon by the ADIF collective," said
Greg Widin, K0GW, the chair of the ARRL LoTW Committee. "Those who find
that their logger is out of conformance should demand an update." Read
more.
ARRL Announces New Benefits for Members

ARRL members will now receive digital access to four ARRL magazines
beginning with their May/June issues. Joining QST and On the Air
magazines on a digital platform will be the bimonthly editions of QEX
-- The Forum for Communications Experimenters and NCJ -- National
Contest Journal. QEX includes articles, columns, and other features
ranging from construction projects to more advanced technical
information in radio theory and practice. NCJ, published since 1973,
targets radio amateurs active in radiosport. NCJ includes scores,
technical articles, contributions from top contesters, and advice for
beginners and seasoned radiosport enthusiasts alike.

"Feedback from ARRL members and our readership surveys has shown that
our magazines are one of the most valued member benefits," said ARRL
Publications Manager Steve Ford, WB8IMY. "Our investment in digital
access provides another channel through which we can deliver content to
our members across the expanse of interests and activities in amateur
radio. All members can enjoy specialized content and a high-quality
reading experience whether at their desk or on the go. Offering this
suite of digital magazines is an opportunity for us to give members
more of what they want while adding value to ARRL membership."

ARRL's digital magazine editions provide replicas of the printed
editions with added functionality, allowing users to fully search
issues, enlarge pages, share articles, and more. The free ARRL
Magazines app also supports downloading complete issues onto your
mobile device or tablet for offline reading.

Members who have elected to receive a printed QST or On the Air as part
of their membership benefits will continue to have this service.
Members may not substitute a print subscription of QEX or NCJ as their
delivered magazine member benefit. Print subscriptions of QEX and NCJ
will continue to be available at additional cost for those who want to
receive them.

All four magazines are easily accessed through any web browser from
members-only links. The free ARRL Magazines app is available for iOS
and Android in the Apple App Store and Google Play. If you're already
an ARRL member and previously created an arrl.org website account, your
username and password will provide you access to the digital editions,
whether online or in the app. Members who have not previously
registered will need to create a new account. If you've forgotten your

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The ARRL Letter
April 23, 2020

* ARRL, AMSAT Seek "Relatively Minor Changes" In FCC Orbital Debris
Mitigation Proposals
* ARRL Suggests Taking a Creative Approach to Field Day 2020
* Ballot Counting Postponed in Four Section Manager Elections
* ARRL Podcasts Schedule
* Nomination Deadline Extended for Philip J. McGan Memorial Silver
Antenna Award
* 2020 Youth on the Air in the Americas Camp is Canceled
* FCC Seeking World Radiocommunication Conference visory Committee
Members
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* NOAA Updates Solar Cycle 25 Prediction
* Japan's Radio Amateurs Gain Expanded Access to 160 and 80 Meters
* In Brief...
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions

-------------------------------------------------------------------

COVID-19 Impact & News

Find the latest news and information on the impact of the coronavirus
pandemic to ARRL members and our global amateur radio community.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL, AMSAT Seek "Relatively Minor Changes" In FCC Orbital Debris
Mitigation Proposals

On April 8, ARRL Washington Counsel Dave Siddall, K3ZJ, and AMSAT-NA
Executive Vice President Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, discussed with senior FCC
International Bureau staff by telephone the FCC's draft Report & Order
(R&O) on mitigation of orbital debris (IB Docket No. 18-313). The
amateur representatives told the FCC staff that "two aspects of the
draft regulations are of particular concern... and would seriously
hinder amateur radio's future operations in space, if adopted as
proposed without the relatively minor changes that we propose."

First, ARRL and AMSAT requested a revision to proposed language that
otherwise would allow only private individual licensees to indemnify
the US for the operations of an amateur space satellite. ARRL and AMSAT
requested that satellite owners be added to that provision. The amateur
representatives, noting that amateur radio licensees may only be
individuals under the amateur rules, stated that "[i]n no other service
would an individual be required to personally make a similar
indemnification" and that "it would be difficult to impossible to find
an individual amateur radio licensee willing to bear that risk."

Second, ARRL and AMSAT asked the FCC to delay by 3 years the proposed
effective date of April 23, 2022, for a rule that would require
satellite operators to certify that space stations "be designed with
the maneuvering capabilities sufficient to perform collision avoidance"
for spacecraft designed to operate above 400 kilometers in altitude.
Citing the long lead times to design and construct amateur satellites,
ARRL and AMSAT suggested that a more reasonable date would be April 23,
2025 and noted that, based on recent past years, only an estimated
threeamateur satellites likely would be launched during the extra
period.

"We do not disagree with the purpose of this requirement," they told
the FCC staff, but "the proposed effective date is unreasonable in the
case of amateur radio satellites." The new effective date "would allow
time for amateur spacecraft designers to adapt to this new
requirement," they said.

Citing the value of amateur satellites to the development of the
commercial small satellite industry, and student participation in such
projects, ARRL and AMSAT said a strong and robust Amateur Satellite
Service will help inspire future developments in satellite technology.
The requested changes to the draft R&O would help ensure that amateur
radio continues to have a future in space and contribute to the public
interest on an educational, non-pecuniary basis.

The FCC was expected to consider the R&O at its April 23 open meeting.

House Leaders Request that FCC Delay Action

Members of the US House Science, Space, and Technology Committee asked
the FCC to delay action on the "Mitigation of Orbital Debris in the New
Space Age" rulemaking proceeding. Science Committee members raised
several concerns, including the timing of the action during the
COVID-19 pandemic.

"Given the unprecedented circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 crisis,
the immense effort undertaken to recover from the pandemic, and the
potential for the FCC's proposal to exacerbate impacts on US industry
and international competitiveness at a critical period in our nation's
history, we hope that you will agree to postpone future action," the
letter reads.

The lawmakers' letter also raises concerns with the rule itself, with
the rulemaking process, and with the potential for regulatory and
legislative inconsistency, noting significant stakeholder concerns.

"The proposal contradicts Executive Branch policy and is inconsistent
with existing and proposed legislative action," the letter states.
"Regulatory action by the FCC at this time, without clear authority
from Congress, will at the very least create confusion and undermine
the Commission's work, and at worst, undermine US economic
competitiveness and leadership in space."

The letter also suggested that FCC action could duplicate efforts now
under way by the Department of Commerce.
ARRL Suggests Taking a Creative Approach to Field Day 2020

This year, ARRL Field Day promises to be a unique iteration of this
annual event, with many individuals and groups coming up with new and
interesting ways to adjust their approach. As an event, Field Day is
structured to be versatile and can be adapted for any situation.

Many groups have asked how they can adjust their Field Day planning to
address social-distancing guidelines that may be in effect in many
areas of the country, as gathering at their traditional Field Day site
may not be feasible or safe. Instead of participating in a group event
this year, consider operating as a Class B, C, D, or E station,
utilizing your own call sign.

ARRL will include club names for all participating stations in the
published results, so the efforts of your club's members can be
acknowledged. While we will not publish an aggregate club score, seeing
the name of your club associated with various individual member's
results is certainly a way to highlight your club's activity.

Myriad opportunities are possible in this year's Field Day setting. A
few options are as follows:
* Consider having an intra-club competition among members, seeing who
can make the most contacts during the event. You can award prizes
or distribute certificates at a club meeting. This can be a fun way
to bolster the activities of individual club members, even though
they cannot all gather together at the same location this year.
* Set up a Field Day Challenge with rival clubs in neighboring
communities. See how many members of each club get on the air from
their own stations and participate in the event. In addition to
"bragging rights," perhaps certificates to the top-scoring
individual entries in each category can be presented as part of
this inter-club camaraderie.

One club is planning to conduct its Field Day as a 4A club group, with
participants spaced to comply with social distancing guidelines within
the required 1,000-foot-diameter circle and operating individual
stations. This club also plans to set up a "Get on the Air" (GOTA)
station. The club's plan is to have the GOTA coach at the Field Day
site, while GOTA operators participate via remote link.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL invites your stories about the interesting and creative ways
you're planning to use to adapt your Field Day operation. Share these
on the ARRL Field Day Facebook page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Another club is planning to set up a remote-controlled station at its
usual Field Day site, with club members taking turns controlling the
station from their homes. The club is developing a schedule that
outlines when each member of the club will be at the helm via the
remote link.

Whatever approach you take to this year's Field Day, keep up to date
with the current guidelines issued by local and state health agencies
that may impact your proposed operation.

For the latest news and updates, visit the Field Day webpage. -- Thanks
to ARRL Contest Program Manager Paul Bourque, N1SFE

Ballot Counting Postponed in Four Section Manager Elections

During these unprecedented times of social distancing and staying at
home, the ARRL Ethics and Elections Committee (E&E) has postponed
ballot counting for four contested Section Manager elections.

Since March 23, ARRL Headquarters staff has been working remotely under
the Governor of Connecticut's mandate, which is currently in effect
through May 20 and may be extended into June. The ballots for the
Section Manager races in Illinois, Indiana, Oregon, and Maine were
scheduled to be counted on Tuesday, May 19 as directed by the ARRL
rules and regulations for Section Manager elections. Due to the
circumstances, ARRL Interim CEO Barry Shelley, N1VXY, asked the E&E
Committee for an extension that would allow ballot counting to happen
as soon as practicable before mid-June.

Although this extension was granted, it does not change the Friday, May
15, 2020 deadline for ballots to be received at ARRL HQ. Standard
operating practice dictates that any ballots received after this
deadline will not be counted. The Governor's mandate and social
distancing practices do not affect this section of the election rules.

Terms for election winners are scheduled to begin on July 1, 2020. ARRL
hopes to see the Governor's restrictions relaxed in time to have a team
of tellers inside HQ to count the ballots and publish the elections'
results in enough time that the terms of office will not change. The
E&E Committee will have to decide the course of action, should any
unforeseen circumstances not allow the ballots to be counted by
mid-June.

The safety of our staff and members remains the highest priority as we
work through these difficult times. Thank you for your understanding.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

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 6) includes an
interview with ARRL Assistant Laboratory Manager Bob Allison, WB1GCM,
about key clicks and a discussion with NCJ editor Scott Wright, K0MD,
about artificial intelligence software and amateur radio.

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.

Nomination Deadline Extended for Philip J. McGan Memorial Silver
Antenna Award

In light of the coronavirus pandemic, the ARRL Public Relations
Committee has extended the nomination deadline for the Philip J. McGan
Memorial Silver Antenna Award until Monday, June 15, 2020.

The Philip J. McGan Memorial Silver Antenna Award is presented annually
to a radio amateur who has demonstrated success in his or her public
relations efforts on behalf of amateur radio and who best exemplifies
the volunteer spirit of the award's namesake, journalist Philip McGan,
WA2MBQ (SK). McGan was the first chairman of the ARRL Public Relations
Committee, which helped reinvigorate ARRL's commitment to public
relations. To honor McGan, members of the New Hampshire Amateur Radio
Association joined with the ARRL Board of Directors to establish an
award that would pay lasting tribute to the important contributions he
made on behalf of amateur radio.

Public relations activities for which the McGan Award is presented
include efforts specifically directed at depicting amateur radio in a
positive light in the media and for the general public. This may
include traditional methods, such as issuing news releases or arranging
interviews, or by less-traditional methods, such as hosting a radio
show or serving as an active public speaker.

The ARRL Board of Directors will choose the award winner at its July
2020 meeting, based on recommendations from the ARRL Public Relations
Committee. The Committee has responsibility for reviewing the
nominations and supporting material.

Eligible nominees must be full ARRL members in good standing at the
time of nomination. The award is given only to an individual, and
nominees may not be current ARRL officers, directors, vice directors,
paid staffers, or members of the ARRL Public Relations Committee.
Nominees must not be compensated for any public relations work
involving amateur radio -- including payment for articles.

A nominee's efforts must fit the definition of public relations and
recognize the promotion of amateur radio to the non-amateur radio
community.

Nominations must be received at ARRL Headquarters by the close of
business on Monday, June 15, 2020. Nominations must be on an official
entry form. Anyone may make a nomination.

For more information, contact ARRL Public Relations Committee Chair Sid
Caesar, NH7C, or send an email to the ARRL Headquarters Public
Relations mailbox.
2020 Youth on the Air in the Americas Camp is Canceled

The inaugural camp for radio amateurs in the Americas aged 15 through
25 has been put off until next year. It was set to take place June 21 -
26 at the National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting in West
Chester Township (North Cincinnati, Ohio). It has been rescheduled for
July 2021. Campers accepted to the 2020 camp will have the first chance
to register for next year's camp. The daily schedule and plan for the
2020 camp will be the same for the 2021 camp as much as possible. The
committee found that July was a more accessible date for the widest
range of campers to attend.

The committee is also looking at ideas for a shortened, virtual camp
this summer, so that campers can participate in limited activities from
home. The camp was meant to focus on building peer and mentor
relationships and taking amateur radio to the next level.

While many sponsors and donors have already expressed support for
holding over funds received for 2020 to use in 2021, refunds of
donations made to the camp are being offered. Groups or individuals
wishing to receive a refund should contact director Neil Rapp, WB9VPG.
Less than $350 of the money spent thus far went to items that may not
be usable in 2021, Rapp said.

More information about YOTA in the Americas can be found at
YouthOnTheAir and on YOTAregion2 on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and
YouTube.

FCC Seeking World Radiocommunication Conference visory Committee
Members

The FCC has announced that it's looking for individuals or entities to
serve on its World Radiocommunication Conference visory Committee.
The committee will provide advice, technical support, and recommended
proposals in the run-up to World Radiocommunication Conference 2023
(WRC-23). In particular, the committee will focus on international
frequency spectrum issues identified on the WRC-23 agenda. The
committee will be charged with gathering data and information necessary
to formulate meaningful recommendations for these objectives.

The FCC seeks applications from interested individuals, organizations,
institutions, or other entities in both the public and private sectors.
Selection will be based on factors such as expertise and diversity of
viewpoints necessary to effectively address the questions before the
committee.

Applicants should describe both their specific interests and their
expertise or experience as it relates to the questions before the
committee, including such matters as wireless communications
infrastructure and equipment, telecommunications, fixed, mobile,
broadcasting, satellite, and other radiocommunication services,
consumer advocacy, and underserved populations. It's anticipated that
the committee will meet in Washington, DC, up to three times per year
in preparation for WRC-23.

Submit nominations, including contact information and the statement of
qualifications, by email no later than May 29, 2020.
The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: The last day with a visible sunspot
was April 4.

Over the April 16 - 22 reporting week, the average daily solar flux was
69, down 0.5 point from the previous week's average of 69.5.

Average daily planetary A index was 7.3, while the mid-latitude A index
was 7, up from 6.1 and 5, respectively, mainly due to the first
geomagnetic storm of 2020, which pushed the planetary A index to 18 on
April 19.

Recent solar flux numbers have been soft, with averages over recent
weeks of 71.1, 69.4, 70.2, 69.5, and now 69. Lower solar flux probably
means less radiation that might excite the ionosphere. Predicted solar
flux is 71 on April 23 - 30 and 69 on May 1 - June 6.

The predicted planetary A index is forecast at 10 on April 23; 5 on
April 24 - 29; 8 on April 30; 5 on May 1 - 4; 12 on May 5; 5 on May 6 -
16; 12, 10, 8, and 10 on May 17 - 20; 5 on May 21 - 23; 10, 5, 5, and 8
on May 24 - 27; 5 on May 28 - 31; 12 on June 1, and 5 on June 2 - 6.

Sunspot numbers for April 16 - 22 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, and 0, with a
mean of 0. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 68.5, 67.9, 69.8, 68.6, 68.2,
69.1, and 70.7, with a mean of 69. Estimated planetary A indices were
5, 4, 4, 3, 18, 9, and 8, with a mean of 6.1. The middle latitude A
index was 5, 4, 4, 2, 16, 8, and 10, with a mean of 5.

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 25 - 26 -- 10-10 International Spring Contest, Digital
* April 25 - 26 -- SP DX RTTY Contest
* April 25 - 26 -- Helvetia Contest (CW, phone, digital)
* April 25 - 26 -- Florida QSO Party (CW, phone)
* April 26 -- BARTG Sprint 75 (Digital)
* April 27 - 28 -- QCX Challenge (CW)
* April 29 -- UKEICC 80-Meter Contest (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.
NOAA Updates Solar Cycle 25 Prediction

Frank Donovan, W3LPL, notes that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
ministration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) has
published its official updated prediction of Solar Cycle 25 in new,
interactive Solar Cycle Progression graphs. The updated prediction is
based on the results of NOAA's Solar Cycle 25 Prediction Panel.

"SWPC forecasts a solar maximum between 105 and 125, with the peak
occurring between November 2024 and March 2026," Donovan said. "There
is broad consensus that solar minimum is ongoing this year -- or may
have already occurred -- and that Cycle 25 will have no major change in
the level of solar activity compared to Cycle 24."

As Donovan explained, for many years the SWPC's solar cycle predictions
have used the Royal Observatory of Belgium's International Sunspot
Number. SWPC's official solar cycle prediction now uses the SWPC
sunspot number. The International Sunspot Number is typically about
one-third lower than the SWPC sunspot number.

"While this is SWPC's official Cycle 25 prediction, it's important to
note there is still divergence among various forecasting methods and
members of the space weather forecasting community," Donovan said.
"Most forecasts and forecasters agree that the Cycle 25 peak is likely
to be within ±20% of Cycle 24 and is likely to occur between 2024 and
2027."

More information is on the Springer Nature website. -- Thanks to The
Daily DX
Japan's Radio Amateurs Gain Expanded Access to 160 and 80 Meters

Effective on April 21, Japanese radio amateurs have new privileges on
160 and 80 meters. The new allocations are 1800 - 1810, 1825 - 1875,
3575 - 3580, and 3662 - 3680 kHz.

ARRL Life Member Kenji Rikitake, JJ1BDX/N6BDX, said the new regime
allows Japanese radio amateurs to operate FT8 on 80 meters (3574 ~ 3577
kHz), and on 160 meters (1840 ~ 1843 kHz) as well as WSPR (1836.6 kHz).

On 160 meters, the allocations are:
* 1800 - 1810: All modes (new assignment)
* 1810 - 1825: CW only
* 1825 - 1875 kHz: All modes (as secondary service, new assignment)
* 1907.5 - 1912.5: CW and data (A1A, F1B, F1D, G1B, and G1D)

On 80 meters, the allocations are:
* 3500 - 3520: CW (A1A) only
* 3520 - 3535: CW and data (A1A, F1B, F1D, G1B, and G1D)
* 3535 - 3575: CW, phone, and image, and data only permitted for
making contacts with non-JA amateurs
* 3575 - 3580: All modes (as secondary service, new assignment)
* 3599 - 3612: CW, phone, image, and data
* 3662 - 3680: All modes (as secondary service, new assignment)
* 3680 - 3687: CW, phone, and image
* 3702 - 3716, 3745 - 3770, and 3791 - 3805: CW, phone, and image (no
data).

ditional details are on the Japan Amateur Radio League (JARL)
website.-- Thanks to Kenji Rikitake, JJ1BDX/N6BDX
In Brief...

The ARRL 2020 Teachers Institute sessions have been canceled. The
landscape of education in the US has been greatly affected by the
current pandemic. As K - 12 school systems and universities have been
forced to move entirely to remote learning, teachers and students have
had to make dramatic adjustments to their teaching and learning
methods. After considering these educational challenges, along with
travel restrictions and restraints on the ability to gather in groups,
ARRL leadership feels it is appropriate and necessary to cancel the
2020 Teachers Institute. We look forward to bringing back this
important program in 2021, so that we can continue promoting amateur
radio in the classroom through our Education and Technology Program
(ETP). ARRL will communicate directly with those who have already
applied, and they will receive a full refund. Please direct questions
to EAD@arrl.org.

The Medical Net, a special COVID-19 net, is running Wednesdays, 0130
UTC, on 7.222 MHz. The net deals with correct data on COVID-19
epidemiology care, care issues, and more. Net control will be Dr. Harry
Przekop, WB9EDP, a past president of the Medical Amateur Radio Council
Organization (MARCO) and now a director at large. Przekop is a
specialist in infectious diseases and biomedical physics and is
board-certified as an expert in HIV care. Participants do not need to
be physicians or medical providers to check in, ask questions, and
otherwise take part, but no diagnoses can be rendered. The regular
MARCO Grand Rounds Net is held on Sundays, 1500 UTC, on 14.342 MHz.

Contest University (CTU) 2020 will be online and free. Tim Duffy, K3LR,
has announced that CTU USA 2020 will be held online via Zoom on
Thursday, May 14, starting at 1245 UTC. CTU 2020 is free. The CTU
course outline has been posted online. Connection details to the CTU
Zoom bridge will be posted on the Contest University site 1 week prior
to CTU. Sessions will be recorded for viewing any time after May 14.
Slide decks will be posted on the CTU website as well. At the end of
CTU 2020, Dave Siddall, K3ZJ, will present the 2020 CQ Contest Hall of
Fame awards.

A Welsh radio amateur copied the Titanic distress call, but authorities
did not believe him. April 15 marked the 108th anniversary of the
Titanic disaster. As the passenger vessel was going down, frantic
shipboard radio operators transmitted repeated distress calls. Arthur
"Artie" Moore, MNX, near Pontllanfraith, Wales, heard one of the calls
for help: "CQD CQD SOS de MGY Position 41.44N 50.24W. Require immediate
assistance. Come at once. We have struck an iceberg. Sinking." At that
time, operators used "CQD" (come quickly, distress) and "SOS"
interchangeably. MGY was the RMS Titanic's call sign. The then
26-year-old Moore picked up the distress calls from the stricken ship
thousands of miles away, and, as recounted in The South Wales Argus
newspaper, he raced to inform police about what he'd heard, but the
authorities would not believe him. It wasn't until a day or two later
that the grim news reached the shores of Great Britain. More than 1,500
people died in the tragedy, including some prominent individuals, on
the voyage from England to the US on the Titanic's maiden voyage.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

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 (Virtual Event)
* 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
Amateur Radio News and Information.

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* Join or Renew Today! ARRL membership includes QST, amateur radio's
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* Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday.

Subscribe to...
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----------------------------------------------------------------------

The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 50 times each year. ARRL members
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Copyright (c) 2020 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and
distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is permitted for
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purposes require written permission.


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--- Squish/386 v1.11
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Limestone, TN, USA (1:18/200)