The ARRL Letter
May 2, 2019
* ARRL Reply Comments Stress Need to Update Technician Privileges
in a Digital World
* World Scout Jamboree Gearing Up for Significant Amateur Radio
Presence
* Science and Technology: An Ultra-Small Transmitter for VLF?
* So Now What? Podcast
* ARRL's Free Exam Review for Ham Radio Updated
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* HamSCI, Ham Radio 2.0 to Combine Efforts at Dayton Hamvention
2019
* Annual Armed Forces Day Crossband Test Set for May 11
* In Brief...
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
ARRL Reply Comments Stress Need to Update Technician Privileges in a
Digital World
In reply comments to the FCC (comments on comments already filed) on
its Petition for Rule Making (RM-11828), ARRL has stressed that
updating HF privileges for the entry-level Technician license "is the
sole subject and intent" of the petition. ARRL filed its reply
comments on April 29, urging the FCC to disregard comments irrelevant
to its petition and maintaining that Technician privileges must be
relevant within the context of today's technological environment.
"[T]he increasingly rapid pace of change in communications
technologies, coupled with the national need for self-training in
science, technology, engineering, and math" necessitate the rule
changes requested, ARRL asserted. "ARRL made its request because of
the gap between today's digital technologies and the privileges
accorded the current entry-level Technician license." ARRL
characterized its proposal to update the rules as "balanced and
modest."
"If adopted, there would be no change to the operating privileges for
all license classes other than those of the Technician class," ARRL
said. In 2018, ARRL asked the FCC to expand HF privileges for
Technician licensees to include limited phone privileges on 75, 40,
and 15 meters, plus RTTY and digital mode privileges on 80, 40, and
15 meters. The FCC invited comments on the proposal in April.
ARRL pointed out that some comments filed on its petition address
subjects related to other open proceedings rather than expanding
Technician privileges, citing comments cross-filed in such
proceedings as WT Docket 16-239, RM-11708, RM-11759, and RM-11831.
"Those filings should be considered in the proceedings that they
address, rather than here," ARRL said.
ARRL said some opposition appears based on fears of increased
interference potential due to additional digital operation by
Technicians. "It is improbable that all, or even a majority, of
Technician licensees suddenly would develop a passion for the same
digital technology," ARRL said. "Our hope and expectation is that
many will engage with digital modes on the high-frequency spectrum at
issue, but it is unrealistic to suggest that every Technician
licensee blessed with new privileges would suddenly appear on the
same band."
The comments note the development of very efficient digital modes,
such as FT8, which occupies just 90 Hz of spectrum per signal. "The
experience with FT8 clearly demonstrates the attraction of the
digital modes and the spectrum efficiencies that can be achieved,"
ARRL said. "This is why opening up limited digital opportunities to
new radio amateurs so clearly would serve the broad public interest
as well as the specific purposes of Amateur Radio in experimentation
and innovation, as enumerated in the governing FCC rules."
ARRL further said that comments regarding disagreement on the
definition of encryption for masking the content of certain digital
transmissions are also "out of place in this proceeding" and "should
not delay initiation of a proceeding" proposing to update Technician
privileges.
"Technology has changed dramatically in the Amateur Radio domain, and
ARRL believes the requested Technician license enhancement would
foster the regulatory goals for the Amateur Service and continue to
increase amateurs' historical experimentation and service in a
meaningful way," ARRL concluded.
+++
World Scout Jamboree Gearing Up for Significant Amateur Radio
Presence
Amateur Radio will be a part of this summer's 24th World Scout
Jamboree in West Virginia, the first World Jamboree held in North
America since 1983. The Jamboree has chosen the theme "Unlock a New
World." Thousands of Scouts and Scout leaders from some 200 countries
are expected to attend. The Jamboree's Amateur Radio Exhibit will use
the call sign NA1WJ -- North America's 1st World Jamboree. It will be
on the air during the event, July 22 until August 2, at the Summit
Bechtel Reserve, hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the US. Amateur Radio
testing is expected to begin as early as July 14. Operating
frequencies will be posted in real time via Facebook and Twitter or
via an NA1WJ email group.
"The goals of the Amateur Radio station at the World Scout Jamboree
are to introduce Amateur Radio to Scouts and Scout leaders through
hands-on participation in two-way communication with other stations
across the globe. This activity will also serve as the Amateur Radio
voice of the Jamboree," the World Scout Jamboree Amateur Radio
Exhibit Operational Vision document states. Other facets of Amateur
Radio at the Jamboree will include Amateur Radio direction finding
(ARDF), Amateur Radio satellite contacts, and a scheduled Amateur
Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with an ISS
crew member.
"We also expect to launch one or two balloons with Amateur Radio
payloads and track them as they cross the Atlantic," the vision
document continues.
Organizers are encouraging radio amateurs around the globe to get on
the air during the World Jamboree to help NA1WJ demonstrate Amateur
Radio for Jamboree visitors.
The 2019 World Scout Jamboree operation at the Summit Bechtel Scout
Reserve will take advantage of lessons learned by the K2BSA Amateur
Radio operation during the 2013 and 2017 USA National Jamborees. It
will also take advantage of the existing infrastructure, which
includes three VHF/UHF repeaters installed by Icom America, as well
as the utility poles for installing antennas. K2BSA ham gear stored
in West Virginia includes antennas, rotators, and cables.
Evening operation from NA1WJ will involve at least two operators
using the buddy system. VHF/UHF repeaters will offer full coverage of
the Jamboree area via handheld transceivers, facilitating networking
as well as emergency communication. The exhibit will include an
Amateur Radio station with the special event call sign W8J.
The demonstration station will include multiple operating positions
offering a variety of modes. These include six stations with 100 W HF
transceivers, computer logging software, and large screen computer
displays; two VHF/UHF stations for demonstrations and repeater
monitoring, and two satellite communication systems. The antenna farm
will include two HF directional antennas, three HF dipoles, three HF
vertical antennas, VHF/UHF verticals and satellite antennas with
azimuth and elevation control, a trailer-based crank-up tower, a
five-band Yagi, a 40-meter rotatable dipole, and a 6-meter Yagi.
Each station will be able to accommodate four participants at a time,
plus one control operator. The goal is to give each participant up to
about 10 minutes of operating time.
The K2BSA Amateur Radio Association will host a "Radio Scouting"
booth at Dayton Hamvention^^A(R) (Booth 2205 in Building 2).
Science and Technology: An Ultra-Small Transmitter for VLF?
A study, "A high Q piezoelectric resonator as a portable VLF
transmitter," by Stanford University SLAC National Accelerator
Laboratory researcher Mark A. Kemp et al., in the April 12, 2019,
edition of Nature Communications describes using a small rod of
lithium niobate and taking advantage of the material's piezoelectric
properties to convert an imposed voltage to a mechanical effect,
which in turn radiates an electromagnetic current.
The National Accelerator Lab describes the research in an article,
"SLAC develops novel compact antenna for communicating where radios
fail," which said a new type of pocket-sized devices "could be used
in portable transmitters for rescue missions and other challenging
applications demanding high mobility" where conventional radios don't
work, such as under water, through the ground, and over very long
distances through air. "The device emits VLF radiation with
wavelengths of tens to hundreds of miles. These waves travel long
distances beyond the horizon and can penetrate environments that
would block radio waves with shorter wavelengths."
"Our device is also hundreds of times more efficient and can transmit
data faster than previous devices of comparable size," Kemp, the
project's principal investigator. "Its performance pushes the limits
of what's technologically possible and puts portable VLF
applications, like sending short text messages in challenging
situations, within reach."
A new compact VLF transmitter,
developed and tested at SLAC,
consists of a 4-inch-long
piezoelectric crystal (clear rod at
center) that generates VLF
radiation. [Photo courtesy of Dawn
Harmer/SLAC National Accelerator
Laboratory]
The paper by Kemp et al. points to the fact that large size and high
loss render conventional transmitter techniques inadequate. "We show
that a strain-based, piezoelectric transmitter can overcome many of
the fundamental limitations of conventional electrically small
antennas (ESA)," the paper's abstract reads. "These transmitters can
resonate in a very small footprint while exhibiting low losses."
Taking a deeper dive: "Traditionally, a disadvantage of passive
high-Q antennas was low bandwidth. Utilizing piezoelectricity as the
radiating element allows us to dynamically shift the transmitter
resonant frequency. Therefore, high total Q (low loss) no longer
constrains the system bandwidth. These are our fundamental
advancements: Achieving an exceptionally high system Q with no
external impedance matching network and an effective fractional
bandwidth beyond the passive Bode-Fano limit. Although demonstrated
at VLF, this concept straightforwardly scales to other frequency
bands."
-----------------------------------------------------------------
So Now What? Podcast
"Finding the Right Club for You" is the focus of the new (May 2)
episode of the So Now What? podcast for Amateur Radio newcomers. If
you're a newly licensed Amateur Radio operator, chances are you have
lots of questions. This biweekly podcast has answers! So Now What?
offers insights from those who've been just where you are now. New
episodes will be posted every other Thursday, alternating new-episode
weeks with the ARRL The Doctor is In podcast.
So Now What? is sponsored by LDG Electronics, a family owned and
operated business with laboratories in southern Maryland that offers
a wide array of antenna tuners and other Amateur Radio products.
ARRL Communications Content Producer Michelle Patnode, W3MVP, and
ARRL Station Manager Joe Carcia, NJ1Q, co-host the podcast. Presented
as a lively conversation, with Patnode representing newer hams and
Carcia the veteran operators, the podcast will explore questions that
newer hams may have and the issues that keep participants from
staying active in the hobby. Some episodes will feature guests to
answer questions on specific topic areas.
Listeners can find So Now What? on Apple iTunes, Blubrry, Stitcher
(free registration required, or browse the site as a guest) and
through the free Stitcher app for iOS, Kindle, or Android devices.
Episodes will be archived on the ARRL website.
ARRL's Free Exam Review for Ham Radio Updated
ARRL Exam Review for Ham Radio^â*¢ has been updated in advance of the
release of the ninth edition of The ARRL General Class License Manual
for Ham Radio. ARRL Exam Review is a free online resource for use
with current editions of ARRL License Manuals. The service can be
accessed via a web browser, and uses the official examination
question pools to construct chapter-by-chapter reviews. Upon
completing study, Exam Review helps the license candidate take
practice exams with the same number and variety of questions that he
or she will encounter on exam day. Practice tests can be taken over
and over, scored in complete privacy, or even printed with an answer
key. Exam Review includes quick feedback about the questions missed.
The update to Exam Review and the new edition General Class License
Manual coincides with a new General Class question pool released
earlier this year by the National Conference of Volunteer Examiner
Coordinators (NCVEC). The new 2019 - 2023 General Class question pool
becomes effective on July 1, 2019 for examinations in the Amateur
Radio Service. The 2015 - 2019 General Class pool remains in effect
for exams given until June 30, 2019. ARRL Exam Review provides access
to both the current and new General Class questions. (Read more.)
The K7RA Solar Update
Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: No sunspots were visible over the
April 25 - May 1 reporting week, and so the average daily sunspot
number dropped to zero after sitting at 8.1 during the previous 7
days. Average daily solar flux declined from 70.6 to 67.5.
Geomagnetic indicators were quiet, with average planetary A index at
5.9, up from 4.7 in the previous week.
Predicted solar flux is 68 and 70 on May 2 - 3; 72 on May 4 - 5; 74
on May 6 - 9; 78 on May 10 - 16; 76, 72, and 70 on May 17 - 19; 69 on
May 20 - 21; 68 on May 22; 67 on May 23 - June 2; 70 and 75 on June 3
- 4; 78 on June 5 - 12; 76, 72, and 70 on June 13 - 15.
Predicted planetary A index is 15 and 10 on May 2 - 3; 5 on May 4 -
9; 8 on May 10; 5 on May 11 - 19; 8 on May 20; 5 on May 21 - 26; 10,
14, 12, 8, and 5 on May 27 - 31; 10, 12, and 14 on June 1 - 3; 8 on
June 4 - 6, and 5 on June 7 - 15.
The New Yorker recently ran an article about aurora borealis tourism.
Sunspot numbers for April 25 - May 1, 2019 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, and
0, with a mean of 0. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 67.5, 67.2, 66.9,
67.9, 66.9, 68.5, and 67.6, with a mean of 67.5. Estimated planetary
A indices were 5, 4, 6, 5, 5, 5, and 11, with a mean of 5.9. Middle
latitude A index was 4, 2, 5, 4, 6, 4, and 8, with a mean of 4.7.
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
* May 3 - 4 -- MIE 33 Contest (CW, phone)
* May 4 -- FISTS Spring Slow Speed Sprint (CW)
* May 4 - 5 -- New England QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
* May 4 - 5 -- 7th Call Area QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
* May 4 - 5 -- Indiana QSO Party (CW, phone)
* May 4 -5 -- Delaware QSO Party (CW, phone)
* May 4 - 5 -- 10-10 International Spring Contest, CW
* May 4 - 5 -- SBMS 2.3 GHz and Up Contest (CW, phone)
* May 4 -- Microwave Spring Sprint (CW, phone)
* May 4 - 5 -- ARI International DX Contest (CW, phone)
* May 4 - 5 -- Araucaria World Wide VHF Contest (CW, phone)
* May 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.
HamSCI, Ham Radio 2.0 to Combine Efforts at Dayton Hamvention 2019
Thanks to support from the Yasme Foundation, the citizen science
organization HamSCI and Ham Radio 2.0 will share space and combine
efforts at Dayton Hamvention^A(R) 2019, which is also the 2019 ARRL
National Convention. Their displays will be in Building 4 (Volta),
which is between the food trucks and the flea market.
The Ham Radio 2.0 area will serve to host a series of "booth talks"
both by HamSCI presenters and presenters with a "2-point-0"
perspective on operating and technology that looks to the future of
ham radio. Presentations begin at 10 AM on Friday and continue
through 3 PM on Saturday.
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Friday, 10 AM |HR 2.0oonbounce Via the MIT arty Sullaway, |
| | emote Linked EME Station|NN1C |
|--------------+------+-------------------------+-------------------|
|Friday, 11 AM |HamSCI|New Directions in ill Engelke, |
| | poradic-E Research |AB4EJ, University |
| | | |of Alabama |
|--------------+------+-------------------------+-------------------|
|Friday, Noon |HR 2.0ontesting with FT4: |John Pescatore, |
| | |Issues and Opportunities |K3TN |
| | oing Forward | |
|--------------+------+-------------------------+-------------------|
|Friday, 1 PM |HamSCI|The Third Source of F2 arl Luetzelschwab,|
| | egion Variability |K9LA |
|--------------+------+-------------------------+-------------------|
|Friday, 2 PM |HR 2.0|How Real-Time Scoreboards|Victor Androsov, |
| | hange Contesting |VA2WA |
|--------------+------+-------------------------+-------------------|
|Friday, 3 PM |HamSCIBN & WSPRNet Response to|Nathaniel Frissell,|
| | eptember 2017 Solar 2NAF, NJ Institute|
| | |Flares and Storms |of Technology |
|--------------+------+-------------------------+-------------------|
aturday, 10 |HR 2.0alloon Pico Races ill Brown, WB8ELK |
|AM | | | |
|--------------+------+-------------------------+-------------------|
aturday, 11 |HamSCI|To Be Announced | |
|AM | | | |
|--------------+------+-------------------------+-------------------|
aturday, Noon|HR 2.0outh Contesting Program |Jocelyn Brault, |
| | |in North America |KD8VRX, and Bryant |
| | | ascoll, KG5HVO |
|--------------+------+-------------------------+-------------------|
aturday, 1 PM|HamSCI|Propagation on 630 and arl Luetzelschwab,|
| | 00 Meters |K9LA |
|--------------+------+-------------------------+-------------------|
aturday, 2 PM|HR 2.0OTA and New Methods of |Paula Uscian, K9IR |
| | |Portable Operating | |
|--------------+------+-------------------------+-------------------|
aturday, 3 PM|HamSCI|HF Satellite Observationsareth Perry, NJ |
| | |of Field Day |Institute of |
| | | |Technology |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
In addition to the presentations, the Ham Radio 2.0 area will be home
to a mini-booth staffed by members of the Young Amateurs Radio Club
(YARC) and the Young Contesters Program (YCP) that is associated with
the European Youngsters On The Air (YOTA) program. It's an
opportunity to get acquainted with radio amateurs doing interesting
things in interesting places.
HamSCI also will offer the HamSCI Forum Saturday, 9:15 - 10:30 AM
(Forum Room 4).
Full details are on the HamSCI website.
Annual Armed Forces Day Crossband Test Set for May 11
The Army Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS) will host the
traditional military/Amateur Radio communication tests to mark the
68th annual Armed Forces Day (AFD) on Saturday, May 11. The event is
open to all radio amateurs. Armed Forces Day is May 18, but the AFD
Crossband Military-Amateur Radio event traditionally takes place 1
week earlier in order to avoid conflicting with Dayton
Hamvention^A(R). Complete information, including military stations,
modes, and frequencies, is available on the US Army MARS website.
"For more than 50 years, military and amateur stations have taken
part in this event, which is only an exercise scenario, designed to
include hobbyist and government radio operators alike," the event
announcement said. "The AFD Crossband Test is a unique opportunity to
test two-way communications between military communicators and radio
stations in the Amateur Radio Service, as authorized in 47 CFR
97.111. These tests provide opportunities and challenges for radio
operators to demonstrate individual technical skills in a
tightly-controlled exercise scenario that does not impact any public
or private communications."
During the event, military stations in various locations will
transmit on selected military frequencies and announce the specific
ham frequencies they are monitoring.
Military stations expected to be on the air for the event include
those in Arizona, Japan, Hawaii, Okinawa, Washington, DC (and
elsewhere in the contiguous states), the USS Midway, the USS
Yorktown, the USS Iowa, LST-325, the US Naval Academy in Annapolis,
and the Newport Naval Radio Station Museum in Rhode Island. The
MARSCOMM and MARSRADIO nationwide networks will have multiple
stations on the air across the continental US.
An AFD message will be transmitted utilizing the Military Standard
(MIL-STD) serial PSK waveform (M110) followed by MIL-STD Wide Shift
FSK (850 Hz RTTY), as described in MIL-STD 188-110A/B. Technical
information is available. The AFD message will also be sent in CW and
RTTY, as indicated on the full schedule. Anyone wanting a QSL should
complete the request form on the MARS website.
In Brief...
School Club Roundup (SCR) certificates are now available for the
February 2019 event as well as for any future SCRs. Download these
via the Certificate menu item on the ARRL Contests Portal. Top
US/Canada performers included the Russell Elementary Amateur Radio
Club (KM4RE) in the Elementary/Primary category; Schofield Middle
School Ham Radio Club (N4SMS) in Middle/Intermediate/Junior High
category; LASA High School Amateur Radio Club (K5LBJ) in the Senior
High category, and Purdue University (W9YB) in the College/University
category. Complete results are on the School Club Roundup Results
page.
+++
Some 50 students in Gujarat, India, on April 12 were introduced to
Amateur Radio, satellites, and Amateur Radio on the International
Space Station (ARISS). Rajesh Vagadia, VU2EXP, gave a brief talk on
Amateur Radio, the ISS, ham satellites, astronauts, and the April
ARISS SSTV event. During a visible pass of the ISS, Vagadia, using a
three-element Yagi, handheld transceiver, and a recording device, was
able to record two SSTV images. "It was an exciting experience for
all, sighting the ISS, and at the same time getting signals from it,"
Vagadia commented afterward. "[It] felt like having a handshake with
the ISS crew!" Decoded images were shared with all students as
souvenirs.
+++
AMSAT Academy will take place on Thursday, May 16, the day before
Dayton Hamvention^A(R). AMSAT says this is a unique opportunity for
both beginners and advanced satellite operators to learn about
Amateur Radio in space and working the FM, linear transponder, and
digital satellites now in orbit. AMSAT Academy will take place on
Thursday, May 16, 9 AM until 5 PM, at the Dayton Amateur Radio
Association (DARA) clubhouse, 6619 Bellefontaine Road, in Dayton,
Ohio. The $85 registration fee includes a full day of instruction
taught by some of the most-accomplished AMSAT operators; a digital
copy of Getting Started with Amateur Satellites (2019 ed.); 1 year of
AMSAT Basic membership; pizza buffet lunch, and an invitation to the
Thursday night AMSAT get together at Ticket Pub & Eatery in Fairborn.
Registration closes on May 10 and will not be available at the door.
No refunds or cancellations. Register at the AMSAT Store.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
* May 5 -- Eastern Pennsylvania Section Convention, Bristol,
Pennsylvania
* May 17 - 19 -- Dayton Hamvention -- ARRL National Convention,
Xenia, Ohio
* May 31 - June 1 -- Arizona State Convention, Prescott, Arizona
* May 31 - June 2 -- Northwestern Division Convention, Seaside,
Oregon
* June 1 -- Georgia Section Convention, Marietta, Georgia
* June 1 - 2 -- Western Pennsylvania Section Convention, Prospect,
Pennsylvania
* June 7 - 8 -- West Gulf Division Convention (Ham-Com), Plano,
Texas
* June 15 -- W8DXCC DX Convention, Owensville, Ohio
* July 19 - 21 -- Nevada State Convention, Reno, Nevada
* July 25 - 27 -- Central States VHF Conference, Lincoln, Nebraska
* July 26 - 27 -- Ham Holiday, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Find conventions and hamfests in your area.
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
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