The ARRL Letter
June 20, 2019
* ARRL Executive Committee Establishes Hoc Committee on
Communications
* ARRL Files Interim Report with FCC in "Symbol Rate" Proceeding
* LightSail 2 Set to Launch on June 22
* The Doctor Will See You Now!
* ARRL, IARU Contingents to Attend HAM RADIO 2019 in Germany
* Radio Amateur to Lose License as Part of Enforcement Case
Settlement
* Pennsylvania Radio Amateur Dies in Tower Installation Mishap
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* Historic 2-Meter Transatlantic Contact Reported
* ARRL ARDF Coordinator Steps Down, New Coordinator Named
* Morse Code is Still a Hit
* In Brief...
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
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Internet Access to some ARRL Systems May Be Disrupted on June 23
Maintenance work on Sunday, June 23, may disrupt internet access to
ARRL Headquarters systems -- including VPN connections and Logbook of
The World. The main website should remain online during this outage,
which could last for up to 6 hours on June 23, which will start at
approximately midnight EDT (0400 UTC on June 24). All services will
automatically resume as soon as connectivity is restored. Email
should not be affected. Any orders placed via the ARRL Store during
the outage will be queued for handling after connectivity returns. We
apologize for any inconvenience.
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ARRL Executive Committee Establishes Hoc Committee on
Communications
Meeting right after Dayton Hamvention^(R) at the University of Dayton
on May 20, the ARRL Board's Executive Committee (EC) adopted a motion
to establish an Hoc Committee on Communications with ARRL Members.
The panel would review ARRL communications with members and members'
perceptions to "consider areas needing enhancement," and it would
"propose concrete changes in communication processes and methods by
which improvements may be accomplished," according to the resolution.
ARRL Vice President Greg Widin, K0GW, will chair the committee.
In his remarks to the EC, President Rick Roderick, K5UR, said he's
been receiving positive feedback from members. He also reported
receiving numerous questions regarding the Amateur Radio Parity Act.
He stressed that ARRL needs to assure members that it has not given
up on the initiative, which was put on hold earlier this year. At the
same meeting, ARRL Pacific Division Director Jim Tiemstra, K6JAT,
updated the EC on efforts to reassess the Amateur Radio Parity Act.
He said the Board's Legislative Committee is working on a plan of
action to go before the full Board at its July meeting.
President Roderick, who chaired the EC meeting, said he remains
concerned that Technician licensees, who make up more than half of
the US Amateur Radio population, only comprise some 16% of ARRL
members.
The EC referred to the Administration and Finance (A&F) Committee for
its consideration of a suggested graduated ARRL Life Membership dues
reduction after an individual has reached a certain age. The EC asked
the A&F Committee for recommendations to the full Board in January
2020.
The Executive Committee expressed its thanks and extended its
compliments to the ARRL staff and volunteers for "their outstanding
work at the just-completed National Convention as part of Dayton
Hamvention 2019."
The minutes of the May 20 Executive Committee meeting have been
posted on the ARRL website.
ARRL Files Interim Report with FCC in "Symbol Rate" Proceeding
ARRL has filed an interim report with the FCC in order to report on
its efforts to find common ground regarding issues surrounding the
"symbol" or "baud" rate proceeding, FCC Docket WT 16-239 (the FCC has
issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in WT 16-239, which stemmed
from ARRL's rulemaking petition RM-11708). ARRL highlighted that the
public benefits from the FCC's "fairly flexible" regulation of
Amateur Radio, citing innovative developments in digital technology,
including WSJT-X.
Noting that more than 1,400 comments in total have been filed in this
and on a related rulemaking petition (RM-11831), ARRL pointed out
that, as in other Commission-regulated areas, adapting current
regulations to rapidly evolving technology presents challenges that
may require adjustments to, or clarifications of, the governing
regulations. Making such adjustments can be a challenge to ensure
that valid regulatory purposes continue to be served without
hindering technological change and innovation in the process.
While a June 11 meeting organized by ARRL had to be reset to
accommodate the invited parties, ARRL has re-affirmed its commitment
to protecting the interests of all amateurs. ARRL said it will
continue to pursue its efforts to address and reconcile differing
opinions expressed in the two matters now pending before the FCC.
LightSail 2 Set to Launch on June 22
The Planetary Society's citizen-funded LightSail 2 solar-propelled
spacecraft is set to launch on June 22 on board a SpaceX Falcon
Heavy. It will attempt the first controlled solar sail flight in
Earth orbit. LightSail 1 successfully completed its test flight
mission in 2015. LightSail^(R) is aimed at testing "solar sailing"
technology for CubeSats, which comprise many Amateur Radio
satellites. According to the Planetary Society, solar sailing uses
reflective sails to harness the momentum of sunlight for propulsion.
"One disadvantage to CubeSats is that they typically lack propulsion,
which limits their range of applications," The Planetary Society
says. "LightSail will demonstrate the viability of using solar
sailing for CubeSats."
Scientific collaboration between The Planetary Society and Russia led
to the creation of Cosmos 1, a solar sail spacecraft launched aboard
a repurposed ICBM. But test flights in 2001 and 2005 failed due to
problems with the launch vehicle. The first successful solar sail was
launched by Japan in 2010, when the IKAROS spacecraft was deployed
from a Venus-bound space probe. NASA has looked into using solar
sails to de-orbit CubeSats with atmospheric drag, and its Nanosail-D2
mission in 2010 was successful. The Planetary Society's LightSail
program was initiated a year earlier. It aimed to construct a CubeSat
similar to Nanosail-D that would demonstrate true solar sailing.
LightSail 1 snagged a slot aboard an Atlas V launch in 2015, but the
target orbit was not high enough for solar sailing thrust to overcome
atmospheric drag. The Planetary Society accepted the free ride anyway
and successfully tested the spacecraft's sail deployment mechanism.
LightSail 2 will be enclosed within Prox-1, a Georgia Tech
student-built spacecraft the size of a small washing machine. Prox-1
will detach from the Falcon Heavy into a circular 720-kilometer
orbit. A week later, it will deploy LightSail 2.
The Doctor Will See You Now!
The Doctor opens the Listener Mailbag in the new (June 20) episode of
the ARRL The Doctor is In podcast. Listen...and learn!
Sponsored by DX Engineering, ARRL The Doctor is In is an informative
discussion of all things technical. Listen on your computer, tablet,
or smartphone -- whenever and wherever you like!
Every 2 weeks, your host, QST Editor-in-Chief Steve Ford, WB8IMY, and
the Doctor himself, Joel Hallas, W1ZR, will discuss a broad range of
technical topics. You can also email your questions to
doctor@arrl.org, and the Doctor may answer them in a future podcast.
Enjoy ARRL The Doctor is In on Apple iTunes, or by using your iPhone
or iPad podcast app (just search for ARRL The Doctor is In). You can
also listen online at Blubrry, or at Stitcher (free registration
required, or browse the site as a guest) and through the free
Stitcher app for iOS, Kindle, or Android devices. If you've never
listened to a podcast before, download our beginner's guide.
ARRL, IARU Contingents to Attend HAM RADIO 2019 in Germany
Delegations from ARRL and the International Amateur Radio Union
(IARU) will attend HAM RADIO 2019, the popular international Amateur
Radio exhibition in Friedrichshafen, Germany. Each year, a contingent
from ARRL attends HAM RADIO, greeting its non-US members and
networking with other national radio societies. Billed as Europe's
biggest Amateur Radio convention, HAM RADIO 2019 takes place June 21
- 23 on the shores of Lake Constance.
ARRL representatives will include ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR;
International Affairs Vice President Jay Bellows, K0QB, and ARRL
staff members CEO Howard Michel, WB2ITX; Product Development Manager
Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R, and Regulatory Information Manager Dan
Henderson, N1ND.
Attending on behalf of the IARU are President Tim Ellam, VE6SH/G4HUA;
Secretary David Sumner, K1ZZ, and past IARU Secretary and ARRL
President (1995 - 2000) Rod Stafford, W6ROD.
This year's event marks the 44th HAM RADIO exhibition and the 70th
Lake Constance Convention of Radio Amateurs, sponsored by Germany's
IARU member-society, the Deutscher Amateur Radio Club (DARC). The
convention theme this year is "Amateur Radio on Tour."
DARC Press Spokesperson Stephanie Heine, DO7PR, points out, "Radio
amateurs know no bounds and are on land and water as well as in the
air with their mobile 'ham radio shacks.' They like having the option
of being reachable all over the world on their expeditions and
getting to know new friends."
Some 180 exhibitors and associations from 32 countries are expected
to attend. In 2018, the event drew 15,460 visitors from 63 countries.
Radio Amateur to Lose License as Part of Enforcement Case Settlement
New Jersey radio amateur David S. Larsen, Sr., WS2L, of Highland
Park, will surrender his Amateur Extra-class license and pay a $7,500
civil penalty as part of a Consent Decree with the FCC to settle an
enforcement action. An FCC Enforcement Bureau Order released June 18
said Larsen violated the Communications Act of 1934 and Part 90 rules
by operating on frequencies licensed to the Borough of Highland Park
for public safety communication.
As part of the settlement, Larsen admitted to making the unauthorized
transmissions, and he agreed not to engage in unauthorized use of a
radio station, and to surrender radios in his possession capable of
transmitting on the town's public safety frequencies. If the
Commission finds that Larsen makes unauthorized radio transmissions
or otherwise violates the terms of the Consent Decree, he'll be
subject to an additional $32,500 civil penalty. The agreement
stipulates that Larsen may not apply for a new Amateur Radio license
for 3 years.
The case stems from a May 2018 complaint of unauthorized
transmissions on the Highland Park municipal radio system. FCC agents
followed up with several visits to the town.
"Based on information provided by the complainant and direct
observations by the Bureau's agents, the unauthorized transmissions
consisted of brief, pre-recorded sounds (such as the sad trombone
sound)," the FCC said in the Consent Decree. The FCC said individuals
the agents interviewed identified Larsen -- a former rescue squad
volunteer -- as the person who was likely responsible.
Responding to an FCC Letter of Inquiry, Larsen subsequently contacted
the Enforcement Bureau and related that the unauthorized
transmissions had ceased. Last fall, Larsen, responded to the inquiry
through counsel to deny making the unauthorized transmissions. A
short time later, the unauthorized transmissions resumed, and the FCC
restarted its investigation, attempting to trace the source of the
transmissions. Last March, agents used direction-finding equipment at
a fixed location near the complainant's residence, while other agents
conducted mobile direction finding of Larsen's vehicle in transit.
"The four agents observed Mr. Larsen pull over to the side of the
road on the way to his home," the Consent Decree recounts. "The four
Bureau agents observed (a) that during the brief stop, Mr. Larsen
remained in his vehicle, (b) while stopped, a brief transmission
consisting of the sad trombone sound emanated from the direction of
Mr. Larsen's vehicle on a frequency licensed for use by the Highland
Park Radio System, and (c) following the transmission of the sad
trombone sound, Mr. Larsen resumed his drive to his residence."
The FCC said agents returned in April to observe Larsen repeat the
earlier behavior, including a similar transmission emanating from Mr.
Larsen's vehicle, according to the Decree.
Pennsylvania Radio Amateur Dies in Tower Installation Mishap
Well-known northeastern Pennsylvania radio amateur Leland L. "Lee"
Parsons III, N3LPJ, lost his life on June 14 during a ham tower
installation project when a tower section he was working on collapsed
off State Route 2069 in Gibson Township. Authorities said Parsons,
62, was apparently attempting to attach a guy wire to the bottom
tower section when it went over. An ARRL member, Parsons was the
president of the Susquehanna County Amateur Radio Club.
[WNEP TV16 video]
The online Wireless Estimator called the incident "a stark reminder
of the dangers present this weekend during Field Day." The article
cited a 2009 Field Day tower collapse that claimed the life of
57-year-old Larry Prelog, KE4PM -- an experienced climber -- while he
was installing an antenna. In that incident, two legs at the base of
the tower buckled.
The Wireless Estimator article also recalled the death of the
Reverend Paul Bittner, W0AIH, 84, a well-known radio amateur,
contester, and Field Day participant, who lost his life last October
when he fell from one of the towers at his extensive antenna farm in
Wisconsin.
The K7RA Solar Update
Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: The quiet sun continues, with yet
another week of zero sunspots. As of mid-week, that makes 32 days
with no sunspot activity. So far this year, 62% of the days have been
spotless, much the same as last year's 61%. The average daily solar
flux over the past week was 67.1, down from 69 a week ago, and 69.5 2
weeks ago.
Predicted solar flux over the next 45 days is 67 on June 20 - 27; 69
on June 28 - July 4; 68 on July 5 - 6; 69 on July 7 - 9; 68 on July
10 - 11; 67 and 66 on July 12 - 13; 67 on July 14 - 20; 68 on July 21
- 24; 69 on July 25 - 31; 68 on August 1 - 2, and 69 on August 3.
Predicted planetary A index is 12, 10, 8, 5, 8, 12, and 8 on June 20
- 26; 5 on June 27 - July 5; 8 on July 6; 5 on July 7 - 9; 8 on July
10 - 11; 5 and 8 on July 12 - 13; 12 on July 14 - 17; 10, 8, 5, 8,
12, and 8 on July 18 - 23; 5 on July 24 - August 1, then 8 and 5 on
August 2 - 3.
Sunspot numbers for June 13 through 19, 2019 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
and 0, with a mean of 0. The 10.7 centimeter flux was 67.5, 68, 66.7,
65.9, 66.3, 67, and 68, with a mean of 69. Estimated planetary A
indices were 10, 8, 4, 4, 3, 4, and 4, with a mean of 5.9. Middle
latitude A index was 12, 13, 6, 6, 5, 3, and 4, with a mean of 6.3.
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.
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Just Ahead in Radiosport
* June 22 - 23 -- ARRL Field Day (CW, phone, digital)
* June 22 - 23 -- Ukrainian DX DIGI Contest
* June 22 - 23 -- His Majesty King of Spain Contest, SSB
* June 24 - 25 -- QCX Challenge (CW)
* June 26 -- SKCC Sprint (CW)
* June 27 -- 3.5 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.
Historic 2-Meter Transatlantic Contact Reported
D41CV on Cape Verde Islands and FG8OJ in Guadeloupe spanned the
Atlantic Ocean on 2 meters for the first time on June 16, according
to reports. The distance was 3,867 kilometers (2,397.5 miles). The
historic contact was made on 144.174 MHz using FT8 mode.
"The mode of propagation was most likely marine ducting, with the
signal traveling in a layer near the ocean surface," said John
Desmond, EI7GL, who was among those posting information on the
contact. Mark De Munck, EA8FF, was at the helm of D41CV, the
Monteverde Contest Team club station, off the coast of Africa. He
used the beacon antenna at the station, as the so-called "Pinocchio
Yagi" was down for repair. Bert Demarcq, FG8OJ, was on the other end
of the contact.
"Now that this historic contact has been made, more 144 MHz contacts
across this part of the Atlantic are sure to follow," Desmond said.
The initial contact does not qualify for the Brendan Trophies and
Brendan Shields awards, because they require a valid contact to be
made between Europe and the Americas on 2 meters. The distance
covered, however, was greater than the distance between Ireland and
Newfoundland.
"We continue to write a part of the history and to push barriers
further away," a post on the D4C VHF & Up Facebook page said.
ARRL ARDF Coordinator Steps Down, New Coordinator Named
ARRL Amateur Radio Direction Finding (ARDF) Coordinator Joe Moell,
K0OV, is stepping down after more than 20 years on the job. Since he
became ARRL ARDF Coordinator in February 1998, Moell said the sport
of on-foot transmitter hunting under international rules has grown
steadily in participation and popularity. Since 2001, beginners and
experts alike have gathered each year for the USA Championships of
ARDF.
ARRL ARDF Coordinator
Joe Moell, K0OV.
ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, has appointed Jerry Boyd, WB8WFK,
of Albuquerque, New Mexico, as the new ARRL ARDF Coordinator,
effective on July 1. Boyd has been involved in ARDF for many years
and has been a frequent medal winner at USA's championships. He
headed the team of organizers for the 2002, 2005, and 2011 USA and
IARU Region 2 ARDF Championships, held in his hometown. He was on
Team USA for the 2004, 2006, and 2010 ARDF World Championships. Boyd
also holds an appointment as ARRL Official Observer Coordinator for
the New Mexico Section.
The ARRL ARDF Coordinator is responsible for overseeing the selection
of Team USA members for the World ARDF Championships
Incoming ARRL ARDF
Coordinator Jerry
Boyd, WB8WFK.
in even-numbered years, selecting the location and organizers of the
annual USA ARDF Championships, and working with coordinators and
working groups of other nations and IARU regions to schedule
activities and develop rule updates, among other activities.
As Boyd prepares to take the reins, President Roderick has expressed
gratitude for all Moell has done for the advancement of ARDF. Moell
will continue posting radio-orienteering event news and photos on his
Homing In website and participating with other southern California
ARDF enthusiasts. He expressed his appreciation for the efforts of
all who have worked to make ARDF practices and competitions available
to aspiring champions. "ARDF has moved from a novelty into the
mainstream of Amateur Radio," he said. "It is recognized as an ideal
way to interest young people in our hobby and to get them started.
Please keep up the good work." Read more.
Morse Code is Still a Hit
The music lyrics website Genius came up with an ingenious way of
determining if other sites -- specifically Google -- had been lifting
song lyrics directly from its site and reposting them without
permission. According to the Wall Street Journal, starting in 2016,
Genius strategically placed both straight and curly apostrophes in
their rendering of a song's lyrics. When converted into Morse code,
the rigged punctuation spells out the words "red handed." Genius
claims it's uncovered more than 100 instances where Google used
Genius's own lyrics in Google search results.
"Over the last two years, we've shown Google irrefutable evidence
again and again that they are displaying lyrics copied from Genius,"
Genius's chief strategy officer Ben Gross told the Wall Street
Journal. "We noticed that Google's lyrics matched our lyrics down to
the character."
The Wall Street Journal corroborated the accusations by matching the
results of three songs randomly chosen from the list of 100
instances. Google denied the allegations through its partnership with
LyricFind, which provides the search engine with lyrics through a
deal with music publishers. "We do not source lyrics from Genius,"
LyricFind Chief Executive Darryl Ballantyne said. -- Thanks to
Rolling Stone and other media reports
In Brief...
ARRL has produced a downloadable video, What is Amateur Radio?, to
use at club meetings and public events. This could be an attractive
addition for visitors to your ARRL Field Day site this weekend. The
video runs just under 3 minutes. A PowerPoint version is also
available.
Paul Stiles, KF7SOJ, will become ARRL Montana Section Manager on
October 1. Stiles, of Billings, was the only candidate after
nominations for the position were re-solicited this spring, and will
serve an 18-month term. He will take over the position following
George Forsyth, AA7GS, of Great Falls, who decided not to run for a
new term after serving since 2013. There are no contested seats in
the summer SM election cycle. These incumbent Section Managers had no
opposition and were declared re-elected to start new terms on October
1: Jack Ciaccia, WM0G (Colorado); Jack Tiley, AD7FO (Eastern
Washington); David Benoist, AG4ZR (Georgia); Diana Feinberg, AI6DF
(Los Angeles); Carol Milazzo, KP4MD (Sacramento Valley); Bill
Hillendahl, KH6GJV (San Francisco); Paul Gilbert, KE5ZW (South
Texas); Dan Ringer, K8WV (West Virginia), and Monte Simpson, AF7PQ
(Western Washington).
AMSAT has announced Field Day on the Satellites. June 22 - 23 is ARRL
Field Day weekend, and each year AMSAT promotes its own concurrent
event, focused on operation via the amateur satellites. ARRL Field
Day offers bonus points for making a contact via satellite. The AMSAT
Field Day 2019 event is open to all radio amateurs, and the AMSAT
Field Day exchange is the same as that for ARRL Field Day. To reduce
congestion, participants are limited to one contact per FM satellite,
including the ISS. Complete rules for AMSAT Field Day are on the
AMSAT website.
Ham Radio Newscast Producer Hap Holly, KC9RP, and The RAIN Report
have retired. Holly has been producing the The RAIN Report (Radio
Amateur Information Network) newscast every week for 30 years, and
the farewell edition is now available. "The archives will remain
online for those who want to download and/or broadcast them," Holly
told ARRL. "My thought is to expand the archive from RAIN Reports
that have never been archived." A ham since 1969, Holly was a
prolific reporter of Dayton Hamvention^(R) news and forum accounts
over the years, and in 2002, was named Hamvention's 2002 Amateur of
the Year. He produced The RAIN Report from his home studio/ham shack
in suburban Chicago.
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Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
* 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
* August 2 - 3 -- Austin Summerfest, Austin, Texas
* August 3 - 4 -- Cedar Valley ARC Hamfest/Midwest STEM Techfest,
Central City, Iowa
* August 8 - 6 -- Society of Midwest Contesters Specialty
Convention, Normal, Illinois
* August 8 - 10 -- Rocky Mountain Division Convention, Ogden, Utah
* August 9 - 11 -- Pacific Northwest DX Convention, Everett,
Washington
* August 17 - 18 -- Huntsville Hamfest, Alabama State Convention,
Huntsville, Alabama
* August 23 - 25 -- West Virginia State Convention, Weston, West
Virginia
Find conventions and hamfests in your area.
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