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Skriven 2019-10-25 09:05:16 av Sean Dennis (1:18/200.0)
Ärende: The Weekly ARRL Letter
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The ARRL Letter
October 24, 2019
* ARRL Creates New Online Groups for Members to Communicate with
Leadership
* New ARRL Handbook and ARRL Antenna Book Editions Available in Your
Favorite Format
* New Antenna Concept Uses Saltwater and Plastic Instead of Metal
Conductor
* The Doctor Will See You Now!
* IARU Secretary David Sumner, K1ZZ, Offers Amateur Radio Perspective
on WRC-19
* Pitcairn Island VP6R DXpedition Proving Popular; Injured Operator
Evacuated
* FCC Turns Down Petition to Amend Amateur Radio Identification Rules
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* MARS Members to Work with Radio Amateurs during SET and DOD COMEX
19-4
* Arizona Club Takes vantage of Low Bands to Support 100-Mile
Endurance Run
* Getting It Right!
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
ARRL Creates New Online Groups for Members to Communicate with
Leadership
ARRL's Committee on Communication with ARRL Members has opened new
online forums where all radio amateurs -- ARRL members and non-members
alike -- can discuss issues and topics in two-way conversation with
ARRL leadership. The new groups are aimed at enhancing communication
among ARRL leadership, staff, members, and prospective members, in a
manner that enables timely updates and collegial discussion.
This project was based on the success over the past several years of
the ARRL-LoTW (Logbook of The World) Group in responding to Amateur
Radio operators' questions and generating discussion on ways to improve
that program. "The LoTW initiative has clearly demonstrated the
effectiveness of online Groups as a means of achieving the desired
interaction," ARRL said in announcing the new groups.
ARRL has added three online groups:
* 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 Dave Sumner, K1ZZ.
The existing ARRL-LOTW group, which has about 4,750 members, remains
hosted by Groups.io but has moved.
Everyone who subscribes to an ARRL Group is also automatically
subscribed to the "ARRL Groups" group. This administrative feature will
allow ARRL to convey routine announcements relevant to subscribers of
all ARRL groups.
ARRL IT Manager Michael Keane, K1MK, worked with Groups.io to set up
the new groups. Since these new groups are hosted on a Groups.io
platform, 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.
In the months ahead, the Committee envisions creating more online
groups to support two-way communication focusing on areas of additional
interest to radio amateurs, including ARRL activities, services,
initiatives, and policies.
ARRL currently hosts members-only online forums that include Awards and
Contesting. While these forums will continue to operate, participants
will be encouraged to post new threads in the appropriate new groups.
Participants will be expected to adhere to some basic ground rules:
* All questions are welcome, no matter how many times they have
already been asked and answered, or how obvious the answers might
be in the documentation.
* 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 until the
Moderator's trust has been regained.
* Individuals posting are reminded that these forums are open to
everyone, including prospective hams and operators who are not ARRL
members but may be thinking about joining. Civility and courtesy
are expected, even when you may take issue with a post or thread
topic. Read more.
New ARRL Handbook and ARRL Antenna Book Editions Available in Your
Favorite Format
Now shipping, the latest editions of The ARRL Handbook for Radio
Communications and The ARRL Antenna Book for Radio Communications are
available in formats that best suit your needs. The 2020 edition of the
Handbook offers three choices -- traditional softcover, a six-volume,
shrink-wrapped book set (not a boxed set), and eBook digital editions.
The 24th edition of the Antenna Book now is available as a four-volume
boxed set, in addition to the traditional softcover version, and eBook
digital editions. The Handbook and the Antenna Book also are available
in Kindle editions.
The 2020 Handbook
The ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications limited-edition six-volume
set is workbench friendly. Grab the volume you need without having to
retrieve the entire Handbook. Volumes are divided by major topic areas.
ARRL introduced the first edition of The Radio Amateur's Handbook in
1926. Ever since, the Handbook has been recognized as a benchmark for
radio communications learning and applied knowledge. This 97th edition
is a complete guide to radio experimentation, discovery, and
innovation.
New Handbook projects and content include an analysis of Solar Cycle
24, and discussion of what we can expect from Cycle 25; an
easy-to-build RF choke that can squelch the line noise from your ac
generator; a guide to compare rotator ratings and how to choose,
install, and maintain rotators; an annual transceiver survey (don't buy
your next radio before reading it), and supplemental content, such as a
high-voltage switching power supply, a tunable RF preamplifier, a 10 W
audio amplifier, and more, available for download.
Both Handbook formats include a unique code so you can download and
install a fully searchable digital edition of the printed book, as well
as expanded supplemental content, software, PC board templates, and
other support files.
The Handbook six-volume book set, ARRL Item No. 1137, ISBN
978-1-62595-113-7, is $59.95 retail. The Handbook softcover edition,
ARRL Item No. 1076, ISBN 978-1-62595-107-6, is $49.95 retail. Order
from the ARRL Store, from your ARRL Dealer, or call 860-594-0355 or,
toll-free in the US, 888-277-5289. The Handbook Kindle edition comes in
six separate volumes, automatically delivered to your Kindle, for $9.99
per volume (Vol 1, Vol 2, Vol 3, Vol 4, Vol 5, Vol 6).
The ARRL Antenna Book, 24th Edition
ARRL introduces the limited-edition Antenna Book as a four-volume boxed
set, divided into manageable volumes and including a hard slipcase for
easy storage and access. Just reach for the volume you need without
having to retrieve the entire Antenna Book. The four volumes are
divided by major topic areas.
Showcasing 80 years of antenna know-how, this 24th edition of the
Antenna Book represents persistent pioneering development by radio
amateurs, for radio amateurs. You'll find new and time-tested antenna
projects for nearly any conceivable circumstance.
New Antenna Book projects and content include info about the highly
popular HF transmitting loops; an all-new chapter on VHF/UHF antennas;
some new MF, HF, and 6-meter antennas; the importance of ground and
bonding; how to troubleshoot your antenna tuner quickly and easily;
getting the most out of your antenna analyzer, and designing a
high-performance "Band-Optimized Log Periodic Dipole Array."
Both editions of the Antenna Book include a unique code that lets you
download and install a fully searchable digital edition of the printed
book and offers expanded supplemental content, software, PC board
templates, and other support files.
The Antenna Book four-volume boxed set, ARRL Item No. 1144, ISBN
978-1-62595-114-4, is $64.95 retail. The Antenna Book softcover
edition, ARRL Item No. 1113, ISBN 978-1-62595-111-3, is $49.95 retail.
The Antenna Book eBook edition, ARRL Item No. 1113MLD for Mac/Linux or
ARRL Item No. 1113WD for Windows is $49.95. Order from the ARRL Store,
from your ARRL Dealer, or call 860-594-0355 or toll-free in the US,
888-277-5289. The Antenna Book Kindle edition comes in four separate
volumes, automatically delivered to your Kindle, for $9.99 per volume
(Vol 1, Vol 2, Vol 3, Vol 4). Read more.
New Antenna Concept Uses Saltwater and Plastic Instead of Metal
Conductor
A new antenna that uses saltwater and plastic instead of metal could
make it easier to build VHF and UHF networks, an IEEE Spectrum article
asserts.
Michelle Hamson says, "Being able to focus the energy of a radio signal
toward a given receiver means you can increase the range and efficiency
of transmissions," in her article, "New Antenna Uses Saltwater and
Plastic to Steer Radio Beams." According to the article, beam-steering
or beamforming on a large scale is one of the key underlying mechanisms
behind the rollout of 5G networks. The configuration of the saltwater
antenna allows 360ø beam-steering and works for frequencies between 334
and 488 MHz.
In a recent publication in IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation
Letters, Lei Xing and her colleagues at the College of Electronic and
Information Engineering at Nanjing University of Aeronautics and
Astronautics in China have proposed a new saltwater-based antenna that
achieves 12 directional beam-steering states, and one omnidirectional
state.
"The proposed design consists of a circular ground plane, with 13
transparent acrylic tubes that can be filled with (or emptied of) salt
water on demand. One tube is located in the center to act as a driven
monopole. Surrounding it are 12 parasitic monopoles," the article
explains. "The 12 remaining monopoles, when filled with water, work
together to act as reflectors and give the broadcasted signal
direction."
"The attractive feature of using water monopoles is that both the water
height and activating status can be dynamically tuned through
microfluidic techniques, which has a higher degree of design
flexibility than metal antennas," explains Xing.
One limitation of salt water-based antennas, she notes, is that that
the permittivity of salt water -- i.e, how it interacts with electrical
fields -- is sensitive to temperature variations.
The Doctor Will See You Now!
"Beverage Antennas" is the topic of the new (October 24) 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.
IARU Secretary David Sumner, K1ZZ, Offers Amateur Radio Perspective on
WRC-19
Writing in a special World Radiocommunication Conference 2019 (WRC-19)
edition of ITU News Magazine, International Amateur Radio Union (IARU)
Secretary David Sumner, K1ZZ, offers an overview of conference agenda
items and issues pertaining to amateur radio in his article, "Views of
the International Amateur Radio Union on WRC-19 Agenda Items." WRC-19
gets under way on October 28 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, and continues
until November 22.
Sumner noted that the IARU has participated in ITU conferences since
1927 and is a member of the ITU Radiocommunication and Development
sectors. According to Sumner, the IARU's overall objectives for WRC-19
are global harmonization of the amateur 50 - 54 MHz allocation;
maintenance of existing spectrum access for amateurs, and strengthening
protections for radiocommunication services against interference from
other RF generators.
"When new technology is developed that generates radiofrequency energy,
it is essential that adequate protection of radiocommunication services
be included in the system design," Sumner said. He concluded by noting,
"No future agenda items for new or harmonized spectrum allocations for
the amateur services are being sought at WRC-19. This position does not
preclude seeking specific allocations in the unallocated spectrum above
275 GHz, if allocations to other services are considered. IARU is
carefully monitoring proposals for future agenda items that may impact
existing amateur and amateur-satellite allocations." Read more.
Pitcairn Island VP6R DXpedition Proving Popular; Injured Operator
Evacuated
At mid-week, the Pitcairn Island VP6R DXpedition reported some 35,000
contacts in the log, including what team leader Glenn Johnson, W0GJ,
called "a lot of activity" on 12 and 10 meters. VP6R also has been
taking advantage of FT8 digital protocol, operating in fox/hound (F/H)
mode. The team arrived at the South Pacific island on October 17 and at
the home of Andy Christian, where the DXpedition's equipment had been
shipped well in advance.
The team is down to 12 operators after one individual fell and suffered
several fractures. "Our evacuated team member has made it to the
hospital in Papeete, French Polynesia," Johnson said in a mid-week
update. "DXpeditions to remote places are not without risk, and medical
care is quite limited at best," he pointed out in an earlier report.
The injured operator is not being identified for privacy reasons.
By Saturday, the DXpedition team had settled into its operating routine
from two sites -- one at Christian's home and the other at an old radio
station site that is serving as VP6R's primary low-band site. "Pitcairn
has power from 8 AM until 10 PM," Johnson explained. "After 10 PM, we
switch to generators until morning. The 'radio site' is 100% generator
powered."
Johnson stressed that those attempting to work VP6R on FT8 in F/H mode
must use a frequency above 1,000 Hz; the DXpedition is transmitting
somewhere below 500 Hz. "The software will move your transmit frequency
down automatically when your turn comes up in the queue, if you have
F/H mode set up properly," he said. "If you see your FT8 contact
confirmed with 'RR73,' you can be assured that you are in the log."
VP6R is active around the clock on 20 meters on more than one mode. The
DXpedition team will be on all bands during the CQ World Wide DX phone
contest, October 25 - 26. The VP6R logs are periodically uploaded to
Club Log.
Third-graders at Dorothy Grant Elementary School in Fontana,
California, and their teacher Bev Matheson, WA6BK, are following the
Pitcairn Island DXpedition teams travels and amateur radio operation,
using the school's club station, K6DGE. They will talk with DXpedition
team members and learn about Pitcairn Island, some geography, a bit
about early explorers, navigation, the oceans, ecology, different
customs and heritages, and communication skills. "We are thrilled to
have these kids following us and expanding their world through amateur
radio," the VP6R team said on its website.
FCC Turns Down Petition to Amend Amateur Radio Identification Rules
The FCC has denied a Petition for Rule Making (PRM) to amend Part 97
station identification rules to better accommodate and simplify station
identification during emergency nets, drills, or activations. ARRL
member Robert A. Dukish, KK8DX, of Canfield, Ohio, had sought a change
to Section 97.119(a) of the rules to allow a single point of
transmission for station ID on those occasions. He proposed permitting
a net control station or other designated participant to announce the
call signs of every station taking part in the net or exercise, when
tactical call signs often are in use, at 10-minute intervals, using
automatic CW identification.
In turning down Dukish's petition, Scot Stone, the Deputy Chief of the
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau's Mobility Division, said commenters
overwhelmingly opposed the proposal.
"They argue that the current rule strikes the appropriate balance
between the need to identify the source of transmissions and ease of
communication," Stone wrote. "Commenters state that, in their years of
experience with amateur emergency communications, the station
identification requirement has not proven to be a burden or obstacle,
and that the current procedure actually contributes to efficient
operations by providing a clear indication that a communication has
ended and the channel is available."
Stone said some commenters asserted that Dukish's proposed procedure
would be unworkable and cause confusion, while others characterized his
proposal as a solution in search of a problem.
"The purpose of the station identification requirement is to make the
source of transmissions clearly known to those receiving those
transmissions," Stone wrote. "Separating the call sign from each
transmission would defeat this purpose." Moreover, he said there's no
evidence that the current station ID requirements have hindered amateur
radio emergency communications.
The K7RA Solar Update
Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: On Monday, October 21, the
10.7-centimeter solar flux sank to its lowest level in recorded
history. The solar flux was 64, just slightly lower than the 64.4 flux
value recorded on July 2, 1954, at the start of Solar Cycle 19, which
was by far the biggest solar cycle ever recorded. I understand that the
solar flux dipped to 64.2 in 1906.
Over the October 17 - 23 reporting week, the average daily solar flux
was 65.3 -- 2 points lower than last week. The average daily planetary
A index dropped from 6.4 to 4.7, while the average daily mid-latitude A
index declined from 5.1 to 3.1. And, of course, no sunspots showed up.
Predicted solar flux for the next 45 days is 66 on every day from
October 24 through December 7.
The predicted planetary A index is 22 and 30 on October 24 - 25; 15 on
October 26 - 28; 8 on October 29; 5 on October 30 - November 16; 15, 8,
and 5 on November 17 - 19; 20 and 24 on November 20 - 21; 15 on
November 22 - 23; 12 and 8 on November 24 - 25, and 5 on November 26 -
December 7.
Sunspot numbers for October 17 - 23 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, and 0, for a
mean of 0. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 66.1, 66.1, 66, 65, 64, 65.6,
and 64.5, for a mean of 65.3. Estimated planetary A indices were 6, 6,
5, 6, 5, 3, and 2, with a mean of 4.7. The middle latitude A index was
4, 4, 3, 4, 4, 2, and 1, with a mean of 3.1.
A comprehensive K7RA Solar Update is posted on 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
* October 26 - 27 -- CQ World Wide DX Contest, SSB
* October 30 -- UKEICC 80-Meter Contest (CW)
* October 31 -- RSGB 80-Meter Autumn Series, 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.
MARS Members to Work with Radio Amateurs during SET and DOD COMEX 19-4
During October and corresponding with the ARRL Simulated Emergency Test
(SET), Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS) members will be reaching
out to the amateur radio community to continue building working
relationships and improving interoperability. As part of this effort,
MARS will be promoting the use of a serial phase-shift keying protocol,
Military Standard 188-110 (M110), on the 60-meter interoperability
channels. Radio amateurs are authorized to use this digital mode on the
five 60-meter interop channels, although M110 exceeds the allowable
symbol rate that radio amateurs may use on all other HF bands.
Starting on November 2 and continuing until November 17, the MARS
community will be executing Department of Defense (DOD) Communications
Exercise (COMEX) 19-4. MARS members will use the exercise to continue
training and refining their operator skills to provide situational
awareness information, such as county status reports and weather
observations.
To announce the kickoff of the exercise, WWV and WWVH will broadcast
voice announcements starting on or about October 31. WWV will transmit
the announcements at 10 minutes past the hour, while WWVH will transmit
them at 10 minutes before the hour.
The communication exercise will culminate on the evening of November 16
with military stations sending M110 messages to the amateur community
on 60-meter channel 1 (5330.5 kHz USB).
Arizona Club Takes vantage of Low Bands to Support 100-Mile Endurance
Run
The Coconino Amateur Radio Club (CARC) provided safety and coordination
communications for the 100-mile Stagecoach Line Run over the September
21 - 22 weekend. This 31-hour endurance run from Flagstaff to the Grand
Canyon takes place every September. Supporting the event requires
planning and commitment. Because of the geographical coverage required,
the club's amateur radio support even took advantage of 160 meters,
which is not a band typically associated with public service
communication.
The Hull Cabin checkpoint, south of
the Grand Canyon, with Bill Smith,
KQ1S, and Hannah Seidler on duty.
[Photo courtesy of Bill Smith,
KQ1S]
"Because we are in a solar minimum, a combination of bands and
communication methods were required in order to track and maintain
contact with the numerous stations," said Dan Shearer, N7YIQ, the
club's Public Information Officer. "What worked well at 3 o'clock in
the afternoon was not going to work at 2 in the morning." The club's
communication infrastructure required a combination of HF and VHF/UHF
equipment that included setting up portable repeaters and stations
powered by generators and other power sources.
"When you add in the cold weather of the high desert in September and
the possibility of rain and snow, this becomes a test of what Amateur
Radio may be called upon to do to support a disaster somewhere in the
nation," Shearer said.
CARC members invested more than 300 hours of their time in planning and
supporting the race, helped by a few additional volunteers from
Glendale and Prescott. Nineteen club members staffed eight sites, where
volunteers set up camps and kept vigil through the night to track and
make sure runners were accounted for throughout the race.
A typical race checkpoint. This one
was north of Flagstaff. [Scott
Downard, N7SMD, photo]
In addition to tracking runners into and out of each aid station, net
control entered these times into an online spreadsheet as they
progressed through the race, allowing runners to be located easily in
case they did not make it to the next checkpoint.
During the event, CARC members helped locate two missing runners and
helped save the life of another who developed severe asthma. Medical
care and treatment during these types of extreme events poses a
significant challenge, as EMS responses are delayed. "Much of the area
between Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon is US Forest Service land, and
travel through these areas by vehicles is slow," Shearer explained.
"Severe emergencies can only be handled by aircraft, if conditions
permit."
During the race, 75 meters worked well during the day, but 160 meters
was put into play after dark. Cross-band repeaters were placed at
remote sites to allow access to existing repeaters. Although VHF and
UHF were used, these links at times became unusable, and alternate
forms and bands were required to maintain contact.
Getting It Right!
The item, "PACTOR Developer SCS Announces Monitoring Software," which
appeared in the October 17 edition of The ARRL Letter, included some
inaccurate language. The story should have said, "The issue of message
transparency arose in recent months with respect to renewed attention
to ARRL's so-called 'symbol rate' petition for rulemaking (RM-11708)
and the accommodation of automatically controlled digital stations
(ACDS) -- many of which employ Winlink. Some commenters on ARRL's
petition have asserted incorrectly that PACTOR facilitates de facto
message encryption, which would violate FCC Amateur Service rules."
(Neither Winlink nor PACTOR are encrypted.)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
* October 26 -- South Carolina Section Convention, Conway, South
Carolina
* November 2 - 3 -- Georgia State Convention, Lawrenceville, Georgia
* November 16 -- Indiana Section Convention, Fort Wayne, Indiana
* December 13 - 14 -- West Central Florida Section Convention, Plant
City, Florida
* January 4 -- New York City-Long Island Section Convention,
Brookville, New York
* January 17 - 18 -- North Texas Section Convention, Forest Hill,
Texas
* January 19 - 25 -- Quartzfest, Quartzsite, Arizona
* January 24 - 26 -- Puerto Rico State Convention, Hatillo, Puerto
Rico
* January 25 -- ARRL Midwest Conference (Winterfest), Collinsville,
Illinois
Find conventions and hamfests in your area.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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* Origin: Outpost BBS * Limestone, TN, USA (1:18/200)
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