ARRL NEWS
Saturday, 18th May 2013
Dayton Hamvention Friday Roundup
Hamvention Friday opened in the midst of dense fog. Fortunately, the fog burned off before noon.
Attendence seemed high for a Friday with indoor exhibits swamped with amateurs soon after the doors opened at 9AM. The ARRL Expo area drew a substantial crowd with popular activities such as the W1AW 75th anniversary exhibit, the Youth Lounge and spectral purity testing courtesy of the ARRL Lab. Of c...
Friday, 17th May 2013
Surfin’: How Far Away Is the Horizon?
By Stan Horzepa, WA1LOU
Contributing Editor
Here are some online tools to help you answer that question.
As a fan of VHF and UHF operating, I often seek out mountaintop locations so I can work some DX, unimpeded by manmade objects and Mother Nature’s higher hills. And while I appreciate the view, I often wonder how far away the horizon is.
I discovered a great article about this topic years ago and...
The K7RA Solar Update
Since we are now at (or close to) the peak of Solar Cycle 24, it is no surprise that the solar indices are up. The latest forecast predicts Solar Cycle 24 to peak this fall, but that will be determined after the fact, and it will be based on a long running average of sunspot numbers. This past week, the average daily sunspot numbers increased by more than 34 points, rising to 156.1, while the a...
Former QST Managing Editor Joel Kleinman, N1BKE (SK), Inducted into CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame
CQ magazine announced its 2013 Hall of Fame inductees on May 17, welcoming eight new members into the CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame, including former QST Managing Editor Joel Kleinman, N1BKE (SK), who helmed QST from 2001 until his untimely death in 2012. In addition, CQ named two new members to the CQ DX Hall of Fame and two new members to the CQ Contest Hall of Fame.
Kleinman came to the Leagu...
Thursday, 16th May 2013
ARRL Announces New Version of LoTW Software
After much testing, the ARRL will release a new version of Trusted QSL, the open-source development project responsible for developing and maintaining the three Logbook of the World (LoTW) client-side applications: TQSL, TQSLCert and the TrustedQSL library. After six weeks of public beta testing, version 1.14 is ready for official release and will be available for download from the ARRL website...
Wednesday, 15th May 2013
Amateur Radio Quiz: Vintage Radios -- Such a Bargain!
By H. Ward Silver, N0AX
n0ax@arrl.net
Who can resist taking a long look at the vintage veterans sitting along the aisles of the flea markets? Hey, I’m talking about the radios, not the attendees! “Big iron” is making its comeback with Johnsons and Hallicrafters and Swans shoulder-to-shoulder at the hamfests. Before you test your lumbar regions by lugging one home, you might want to exercise your ...
FCC Fines Pennsylvania Man $18,000 for Failing to Allow Inspection of CB Station
The FCC issued a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture and Order (NAL) on May 14 in the amount of $18,000 to Nathaniel Johnson of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for failing to make his Citizens Band (CB) station available for inspection by the FCC and for failing to comply with the restricted hours of CB station operation.
The FCC first received complaints in January 2012 concerning interferenc...
Tuesday, 14th May 2013
Ward Silver, N0AX, Elected President of Yasme Foundation
At its annual meeting last month, the Yasme Foundation’s Board of Directors elected Ward Silver, N0AX, as its new President. Silver will replace Wayne Mills, N7NG, who has resigned. Mills, founder of DX University, was named as the new DX editor of CQ magazine earlier this year. In recognition of Mills’ many years of service to the Yasme Foundation and DX University, the Yasme Board of Director...
1984 Operation to Cocos Island Now Approved for DXCC Credit
The February 1984 operation to TI9CCC (Cocos Island) has now been approved for DXCC credit. In the past, radio amateurs who have submitted this operation on a DXCC application had it rejected due to an “incorrect date period.” According to DXCC Manager Bill Moore, NC1L, the date issue has now been resolved: “If you had this operation rejected, and your confirmation falls within February 15-28, ...
MAREA: Ham Radio Robotics
NASA has been doing some exciting explorations of Mars with robots, currently Opportunity and Curiosity, which are maneuvered on the Martian surface by remote control. These robots collect and analyze soil samples and relay the results of these distant experiments back to Earth. While students can learn about these experiments in newspapers, scientific journals, on the Internet or TV, wouldn’t ...
Monday, 13th May 2013
Surfin’: Kids and Kit-building
By Stan Horzepa, WA1LOU
Contributing Editor
This week, Surfin’ highlights a Morse code kit-building project in an Oregon middle school.
When I was a student, the only technical gadget in the building was a cranky 16 millimeter projector that our teachers used to show films like Hemo the Magnificent and The Unchained Goddess.
Today’s typical classroom is filled with computers, laptops, tablets and -...
Digital Edition of June QST Now Available
The digital version of the June issue of QST is now available to ARRL members. The digital edition includes many features not available in the print version, such as:
- Watch video overviews of the following shack accessories:
- ACOM 1500 HF and 6 meter amplifier.
- Elecraft KAT 500 automatic antenna tuner.
- Array Solutions AS-419 switched band-pass filters.
Every issue of QST is filled with the news...
Saturday, 11th May 2013
The K7RA Solar Update
This week, the average daily sunspot numbers remained about the same, with the number nudging up from 120.9 to 121.7, while the average daily solar flux numbers went from 136.5 to 137.5. For the past two weeks, the average planetary A index has been the same as the mid-latitude A index. Last week they were both 9.9; this week, both values were 8.
Sunspot numbers for May 2-8 were 102, 139, 156, 1...
Friday, 10th May 2013
Mark Dabish, K8MD SK
Prominent VHF/UHF/microwave enthusiast Mark Dabish, K8MD, of Howell, Michigan died unexpectedly on May 8. Dabish represented the Great Lakes Division on the ARRL VHF/UHF Advisory Committee and was a strong presence in VHF/UHF contests. Church services will take place at Mother of God Church in Southfield, Michigan on Saturday May 11, 2013 at 1:00 PM with burial to follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemet...
Surfin’: Ham Radio School Days
By Stan Horzepa, WA1LOU
Contributing Editor
This week, Surfin’ is impressed with a middle school project involving ham radio.
I wish I was back in school again. When I was a student, the only technical gadget in the building was a cranky 16 millimeter projector that our teachers used to show films like Hemo the Magnificent and The Unchained Goddess. I even got to run the projector on occasion.
Toda...
ARRL E-mail System Continuing to Experience Delays
The ARRL’s e-mail service provider is continuing to experience technical issues that are affecting timely delivery of e-mail messages sent via the arrl.net forwarding service, as well as e-mail sent to addresses in the arrl.org domain. This issue remains intermittent, but may result in delaying the delivery of some messages sent to both arrl.net and arrl.org addresses by hours. The ARRL’s e-mai...
Thursday, 9th May 2013
ARRL Public Relations Committee Sponsoring “I Am the ARRL” Video Contest
As part of the ARRL’s Centennial Celebration in 2014, the ARRL’s Public Relations Committee is sponsoring an “I am the ARRL” video contest. The Committee is looking for pairs of short video clips featuring ARRL members. One clip should show the radio amateur on the radio, while the other should show the amateur in his or her work setting saying “I am (name). I like (radio activity) and I am the...
ARRL E-mail System Continuing to Experiencing Delays
The ARRL’s e-mail service provider is continuing to experience technical issues that are affecting timely delivery of e-mail messages sent via the arrl.net forwarding service, as well as e-mail sent to addresses in the arrl.org domain. This issue remains intermittent, but may result in delaying the delivery of some messages sent to both arrl.net and arrl.org addresses by hours. The ARRL’s e-mai...
FCC and GAO Release Recommendations on Receiver Performance; Comments Invited
In early 2012, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski tasked the FCC’s Technological Advisory Council (TAC) to study the role of receivers “in ensuring the efficient use of spectrum and to provide recommendations on avoiding obstacles posed by receiver performance to making spectrum available for new services.” On April 22, 2013, the FCC released a Public Notice (Docket No. ET 13-101), detailing the r...
Wednesday, 8th May 2013
GAREC 2013 to Precede HAM RADIO Gathering in Friedrichshafen Next Month
The 2013 Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Conference (GAREC) will take place June 25-27 in Zurich, Switzerland, immediately preceding HAM RADIO -- Europe’s largest Amateur Radio gathering -- in Friedrichshafen, Germany, June 28-30. GAREC 2013 will be combined with Switzerland’s Convention of Amateur Radio Emergency Communication, on June 27.
GAREC -- held annually since 2005 -- prov...
Wednesday, 1st May 2013
The Amateur Amateur: I Think My Kit Is Missing a Piece
By Gary Hoffman, KB0H
Contributing Editor
Some years ago, my wife Nancy and I dabbled in putting together electronic kits. Our efforts weren’t entirely successful, so we drifted on to other interests. Recently, an opportunity to return to kit building presented itself, and once again I found myself squinting at small electronic components, soldering iron in hand. Here’s how it came along.
The ARES...
George Wallner, AA7JV, Wins April QST Cover Plaque Award
The winner of the April QST Cover Plaque Award is George Wallner, AA7JV, for his article “The Garden Beam.” Congratulations George! The QST Cover Plaque Award -- given to the author or authors of the most popular article in each issue -- is determined by a vote of ARRL members on the QST Cover Plaque Poll web page. Cast a ballot for your favorite article in the May issue today.
ARRL in Action: What Have We Been Up to Lately?
Compiled by S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA
ARRL News Editor
news@arrl.org
This feature -- including convenient web links to useful information -- is a concise monthly update of some of the things the ARRL is doing on behalf of its members. This installment covers the month of April.
The FCC once again denied an ARRL Petition for Reconsideration regarding the Commission’s BPL rules.
ARRL leadership met w...
Annual Armed Forces Day Crossband Test Scheduled for May 11
In celebration of the 63rd anniversary of Armed Forces Day (AFD), the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard are co-sponsoring the annual Military/Amateur Radio Crossband Communications Test. Although Armed Forces Day is traditionally celebrated on the third Saturday in May -- May 18 in 2013 -- the AFD Military/Amateur Crossband Communications Test will be conducted on May 11 to pr...
Tuesday, 30th April 2013
Logbook of The World to Undergo Scheduled Maintenance
Logbook of The World (LoTW), the ARRL’s online QSO confirmation system, will undergo scheduled maintenance on Thursday, May 2 at 5 PM (2100 UTC); this should last approximately three hours. LoTW will be offline and unavailable during this time. Thank you for your patience.
DX Activities Featured at ARRL EXPO at the 2013 Dayton Hamvention®
The ARRL will present a variety of DX activities as part of the ARRL EXPO -- the ARRL’s “show within a show” at the 2013 Dayton Hamvention®, to be held May 17-19 at Hara Arena, near Dayton, Ohio. Activities will include DXCC card checking and the opportunity to drop off QSL cards for the ARRL Outgoing QSL Bureau, as well as visits with representatives from the International Amateur Radio Union ...
Monday, 29th April 2013
Attention Federal Employees: ARRL Approved for 2013 Combined Federal Campaign!
Since 2001, the US Office of Personnel Management has designated the ARRL to participate in the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), the annual giving campaign for federal employees. In that time, this campaign for civilian employees of the federal government, US Postal Service workers and members of the military has generated almost $220,000 for ARRL programs. The CFC provides federal employees wi...
Sunday, 28th April 2013
The Amateur Amateur: I Think Mine Is Missing a Piece
By Gary Hoffman, KB0H
Contributing Editor
Some years ago, my wife Nancy and I dabbled at putting together electronic kits. Our efforts weren’t entirely successful, so we drifted on to other interests. In the back of my mind, I always had the notion that we would return to kit-building, but we never did. Recently, however, an opportunity presented itself, and once again I found myself squinting at...
Saturday, 27th April 2013
Youth@HamRadio.Fun: Dayton on Radar
Sterling Coffey, N0SSC, ARRL Youth Editor
n0ssc@arrl.net
One of the first things you learn in a southwestern state is to touch large metal objects often. If you don’t, you’ll find that your electronics will suffer. The dry air of New Mexico is presents no exception to this rule. So far I have ruined a keyboard, a USB port on my computer (along with the RTLSDR radio attached) and possibly a few go...
Friday, 26th April 2013
Surfin’: Getting Small
By Stan Horzepa, WA1LOU
Contributing Editor
This week, Surfin’ looks at the minimalized side of ham radio.
The Dayton Hamvention® is coming up in just a few more weeks. In parallel with Hamvention is the Four Days in May (FDIM) event -- a ham radio convention with an emphasis on QRP -- which runs Thursday through Sunday of Hamvention week on the northeast side of Dayton (as opposed to the northwes...