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Text 15583, 537 rader
Skriven 2019-12-06 09:05:02 av Sean Dennis (1:18/200.0)
Ärende: The Weekly ARRL Letter
==============================
   The ARRL Letter                                                         
   December 5, 2019                                                        
                                                                           
     * ARRL to Oppose Proposal to Eliminate 3.3 - 3.5 GHz Amateur           
       Allocation                                                           
     * President Rick Roderick, K5UR, Heads ARRL Group on FCC Visits        
     * Oldest Known US Ham Receives ARRL Centurion Award                    
     * The Doctor Will See You Now!                                         
     * Past ARRL Chief Technology Officer Paul Rinaldo, W4RI, SK           
     * Election will Result in ARRL Southeastern Division Leadership       
       Changes                                                             
     * The K7RA Solar Update                                               
     * Just Ahead in Radiosport                                            
     * YOTA Month Expanding into the Americas                              
     * ITU Posts Provisional WRC-19 Final Acts                             
     * In Brief...                                                         
     * Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions              
   ARRL to Oppose Proposal to Eliminate 3.3 - 3.5 GHz Amateur Allocation   
                                                                           
   At its December 12 open meeting, the FCC will consider adopting a       
   Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that proposes to remove the        
   amateur radio 9-centimeter allocation at 3.3 - 3.5 GHz. ARRL plans to   
   comment in opposition to the proposed action. According to an FCC "Fact 
   Sheet," the proceeding WT Docket 19-348, "Facilitating Shared Use in    
   the 3.1 - 3.55 GHz Band," is a follow-on from the MOBILE NOW Act,       
   approved by the 115th Congress, which requires the FCC and the US       
   Department of Commerce to make available new spectrum for mobile and    
   fixed wireless broadband use. It also requires the FCC to work with the 
   National Telecommunications and Information ministration (NTIA) to    
   evaluate whether commercial wireless services and federal incumbents    
   could share spectrum between 3.1 and 3.55 GHz. NTIA manages spectrum    
   allocated to federal government users.                                  
                                                                           
   "This Notice of Proposed Rulemaking would propose to remove the         
   existing non-federal allocations in the 3.3 - 3.55 GHz band as a step   
   towards potential future shared use between federal incumbents and      
   commercial users," the FCC Fact Sheet explains. "By taking the initial  
   step needed to clear the band of allocations for non-federal            
   incumbents, the Commission furthers its continued efforts to make more  
   mid-band spectrum potentially available to support next generation      
   wireless networks."                                                     
                                                                           
   The NPRM proposes to clear the 3.3 - 3.55 GHz band of existing          
   non-federal users by removing non-federal secondary radiolocation and   
   amateur allocations [emphasis added] in the 3.3 - 3.55 GHz band and to  
   relocate incumbent non-federal users out of the band. The FCC would     
   seek comment on relocation options and "transition mechanisms" for      
   incumbent non-federal users, either to the 3.1 - 3.3 GHz band or to     
   other frequencies.                                                      
                                                                           
   Regarding the Amateur and Amateur-Satellite Service allocations, the    
   FCC NPRM asks whether existing amateur spectrum in other bands might    
   support operations currently conducted in the 3.3 - 3.5 GHz band. The   
   3.40 - 3.41 GHz segment is designated for amateur satellite             
   communication. "We seek comment on the extent to which the band is used 
   for this purpose, whether existing satellites can operate on other      
   amateur satellite bands, and on an appropriate timeframe for            
   terminating these operations in this band," the FCC NPRM says.          
                                                                           
   Also at its December 12 meeting, the FCC will consider another NPRM in  
   WT Docket 19-138 that would "take a fresh and comprehensive look" at    
   the rules for the 5.9 GHz band. The amateur radio 5-centimeter          
   allocation is 5650.0 - 5925.0 MHz, and the NPRM, if approved, would     
   address the top 75 MHz of that amateur secondary band. ARRL will also   
   file comments opposing any changes affecting the 5-centimeter amateur   
   allocation.                                                             
                                                                           
   Both draft FCC proposals are subject to change prior to a vote at the   
   December 12 FCC meeting. Read more.                                     
   President Rick Roderick, K5UR, Heads ARRL Group on FCC Visits           
                                                                           
   President Rick Roderick, K5UR, and members of the ARRL Board's          
   Executive Committee undertook a round of visits to FCC Headquarters in  
   Washington on November 4 and 5. Topics focused on a number of pressing  
   amateur radio-related issues. In addition to Roderick, members of the   
   ARRL contingent included Atlantic Division Director Tom Abernethy,      
   W3TOM; New England Division Director Fred Hopengarten, K1VR; Roanoke    
   Division Director Bud Hippisley, W2RU; West Gulf Division Director John 
   Robert Stratton, N5AUS, and ARRL Washington Counsel David Siddall,      
   K3ZJ.                                                                   
                                                                           
   Digital Data Symbol Rate Proceeding                                     
                                                                           
   The ARRL delegation emphasized the overwhelming support for and need to 
   remove symbol rate limits from the amateur rules, contending that the   
   limits are outdated, no longer serve their original purpose of limiting 
   signal bandwidth, and inhibit experimentation and development of        
   digital communications techniques. Removing these limitations would     
   also allow US radio amateurs to join those in other countries in using  
   methods not permitted in the US.                                        
                                                                           
   In 2016, the FCC had responded to ARRL's petition for rulemaking        
   (RM-11708) by proposing no bandwidth limit. The ARRL delegation         
   reiterated that adopting a 2.8 kHz maximum bandwidth in place of the    
   symbol rate limit would promote sharing and experimentation below 30    
   MHz.                                                                    
                                                                           
                                      (L - R) Atlantic Division Director   
                                      Tom Abernethy, W3TOM; ARRL President 
                                      Rick Roderick, K5UR; West Gulf       
                                      Division Director John Robert        
                                      Stratton, N5AUS; Roanoke Division    
                                      Director Bud Hippisley, W2RU; New    
                                      England Division Director Fred       
                                      Hopengarten, K1VR, and ARRL          
                                      Washington Counsel David Siddall,    
                                      K3ZJ.                                
                                                                           
   The ARRL representatives also discussed issues that some have raised -- 
   and on which the FCC did not request comment -- alleging that certain   
   types of digital signals are "encrypted" because they are digitally     
   compressed or otherwise can be difficult to receive over the air. The   
   ARRL group pointed out that the FCC addressed the use of new digital    
   techniques in 1995, amending its rules to authorize new digital         
   techniques without prior FCC approval, as long as these were publicly   
   documented consistent with three techniques specifically approved at    
   the time. Since then, multiple digital methods have been developed and  
   deployed without substantive complaints of insufficient documentation,  
   the ARRL team noted.                                                    
                                                                           
   The prohibition on encryption is a provision of the ITU Radio           
   Regulations and applies worldwide. The FCC regulation prohibiting       
   "messages encoded for the purpose of obscuring their meaning" comes     
   directly from the ITU Radio Regulations, language adopted at World      
   Radiocommunication Conference 2003 (WRC-03) to replace a provision that 
   limited amateur communications to "plain language." option of this    
   change made clear that amateur communications encoded for digital       
   transmission are authorized internationally as long as they're not      
   encrypted. It was noted that techniques some commenters have targeted   
   are widely used by amateurs around the world.                           
                                                                           
   60-Meter Band Allocation                                                
                                                                           
   ARRL petitioned the FCC in RM-11785 to implement provisions adopted at  
   WRC-15 that provide for a secondary amateur allocation at 5351.5 -      
   5366.5 kHz. ARRL also proposed that 100 W ERP be permitted on the new   
   band, consistent with that authorized for the current five 60-meter     
   channels.                                                               
                                                                           
   The National Telecommunications and Information ministration (NTIA)   
   has proposed in a letter to delete the existing four channels and       
   substitute a secondary band allocation at a maximum permitted power of  
   15 W EIRP (9.1 W ERP), as approved at WRC-15. The ARRL delegation       
   expressed concern that NTIA's proposal would require relocation of      
   existing channelized amateur activity to a 15 kHz band at a fraction of 
   the power now authorized, despite an absence of any reported            
   interference on the current channels. ARRL also expressed concern that  
   9.1 W ERP would hamper emergency communication on the band, especially  
   during hurricane season, when noise levels are usually high.            
                                                                           
   The FCC is expected to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in  
   December or early next year addressing 60 meters and inviting comments. 
                                                                           
   Amateur Radio Enforcement                                               
                                                                           
   ARRL Executive Committee members met with FCC Enforcement Bureau Chief  
   Rosemary Harold and her senior staff to discuss amateur enforcement.    
   The delegation updated progress in setting up the Volunteer Monitoring  
   Program pursuant to the FCC/ARRL Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)      
   signed last March. The program is in the final stages of training       
   volunteers and is expected to be brought online in early 2020. Read     
   more.                                                                   
                                                                         
   Oldest Known US Ham Receives ARRL Centurion Award                       
                                                                           
   The oldest known US radio amateur, Cliff Kayhart, W4KKP, received his   
   ARRL Centurion Award plaque in November. The award                      
                                                                           
   (L - R) Roanoke Division Director                                       
   Bud Hippisley, W2RU; Cliff Kayhart,                                     
   W4KKP; Roanoke Division Vice                                            
   Director Bill Morine, N2COP, and                                        
   South Carolina Section Manager Marc                                     
   Tarplee, N4UFP.                                                         
                                                                           
   recognizes hams who have achieved centenarian status. Kayhart, who      
   lives in White Rock, South Carolina, is 108. The ARRL Board of          
   Directors conferred the award on Kayhart at its July 2019 meeting.      
                                                                           
   At the November meeting of the Dutch Fork Amateur Radio Group in Little 
   Mountain, South Carolina, ARRL Roanoke Division Director Bud Hippisley, 
   W2RU, headed an ARRL delegation that presented the Centurion Award      
   plaque to Kayhart, who was first licensed as W2LFE in 1937 (he's also   
   held W9GNQ). With Hippisley for the presentation were Roanoke Division  
   Vice Director Bill Morine, N2COP, and South Carolina Section Manager    
   Marc Tarplee, N4UFP.                                                    
                                                                           
   Kayhart served in Iwo Jima during World War II, shortly after the US    
   victory there, setting up long-range radio communication from the       
   island to Tokyo to arrange for the eventual surrender by Japan.         
                                                                           
   Kayhart remains active, checking into several nets from his assisted    
   living facility. Centurion Award recipients have their annual ARRL      
   membership fees waived while continuing to receive QST and other ARRL   
   member benefits. Kayhart was profiled in the June 2018 issue of QST.    
   The Doctor Will See You Now!                                            
                                                                           
   "VHF/UHF propagation" is the topic of the new (December 5) 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.                                  
                                                                         
   Past ARRL Chief Technology Officer Paul Rinaldo, W4RI, SK               
                                                                           
   A titan of amateur radio, past ARRL Chief Technology Officer Paul L.    
   Rinaldo, W4RI, of Burke, Virginia, died on November 29 after a period   
   of failing health. An ARRL Life Member, Rinaldo was 88.                 
                                                                           
   "This is really sad news," ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, remarked 
   upon learning of Rinaldo's passing. "I worked with Paul on a number of  
   things, and he amazed me with his knowledge and the different ways to   
   consider issues. Smart. Highly respected. He sure helped us through the 
   years in so many ways."                                                 
                                                                           
   First licensed in 1949 as W9IZA, Rinaldo's focus was always in the      
   arena of technical experimentation. He studied radio engineering at     
   Valparaiso Technical Institute in Indiana. Rinaldo was a cofounder and  
   served as president of the Amateur Radio Research and Development       
   Corporation (AMRAD). His first association with ARRL was an article,    
   "Amateur Radio in the Computer Age," for the September 1979 edition of  
   QST. Subsequently, he served in volunteer roles, among them as the      
   first editor of QEX: The ARRL Experimenters' Exchange.                  
                                                                           
   In 1983, Rinaldo succeeded Doug DeMaw, W1FB, as ARRL Technical          
   Department Manager and Senior Technical Editor. His efforts led to his  
   appointment as Publications Manager and, 5 years later, as Manager of   
   Technical Development with responsibility for preparing for the 1992    
   World ministrative Radio Conference. This led to Rinaldo's supporting 
   role in the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU), and he attended   
   IARU ministrative Council (AC) meetings from 1996 to 2008.            
                                                                           
   Rinaldo also took part in several International Telecommunication Union 
   (ITU) conferences and served on numerous working parties and task       
   groups. IARU Secretary David Sumner, K1ZZ, said amateur radio's         
   successes at the just-ended WRC-19 were, in large part, because of      
   Rinaldo's good work over the years.                                     
                                                                           
   In 1992, Rinaldo established ARRL's Technical Relations Office in the   
   Washington, DC, area. In 2004, the ARRL Board of Directors elected      
   Rinaldo as ARRL's first Chief Technology Officer, a post he held until  
   his retirement in 2008. "For the past 16 years, Paul has been the face  
   and voice of amateur radio in the technical circles of the federal      
   government and one of our most visible representatives at the ITU,"     
   Sumner said at the time.                                                
                                                                           
   Murphy Funeral Homes of Falls Church, Virginia, is handling             
   arrangements. Read more.                                                
   Election will Result in ARRL Southeastern Division Leadership Changes   
                                                                           
   A new ARRL Director and Vice Director will take office on January 1 in  
   ARRL's Southeastern Division. The vote count in contested Division      
   races at ARRL Headquarters on November 15 saw Mickey Baker, N4MB,       
   defeating incumbent Director Greg Sarratt, W4OZK, 2,132 votes to 1,739  
   votes. In addition, challenger James Schilling, KG4JSZ, received 1,356  
   votes to win a three-way race for Vice Director, outpolling incumbent   
   Joseph Tiritilli, N4ZUW, who received 1,209 votes, and challenger Jeff  
   Stahl, K4BH, who received 1,281 votes. In 2016, Sarratt was the lone    
   candidate for office, regaining the Director's seat after being         
   narrowly unseated in 2013 when he stood for re-election. Tiritelli was  
   the only candidate to fill the vacant Southeastern Division Vice        
   Director's chair that same year.                                        
                                                                           
   In the only other contested race, incumbent West Gulf Division Director 
   John Robert Stratton, N5AUS, defeated challenger Madison Jones, W5MJ,   
   for re-election, by a vote of 2,498 to 1,405. Stratton moved into the   
   Director's seat last January after past Director David Woolweaver,      
   K5RAV, stepped down. West Gulf Division Vice Director Lee Cooper,       
   W5LHC, was unopposed for a full term after being appointed earlier this 
   year to succeed Stratton.                                               
                                                                           
   Seats for Director and Vice Director in three other ARRL Divisions were 
   unchallenged, and candidates were considered re-elected. These included 
   Pacific Division Director Jim Tiemstra, K6JAT, and Vice Director        
   Kristen McIntyre, K6WX; Rocky Mountain Division Director Jeff Ryan,     
   K0RM, and Vice Director Robert Wareham, N0ESQ, and Southwestern         
   Division Director Richard Norton, N6AA. Mark Weiss, K6FG, ran unopposed 
   for the Southwestern Division Vice Director's seat, being vacated by    
   Ned Stearns, AA7A.                                                      
                                                                           
   The ARRL Board of Directors next meets in January.                      
                                                                         
   The K7RA Solar Update                                                   
                                                                           
   Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: No sunspots again this week. This run 
   of zero sunspots has gone on for more than 3 weeks.                     
                                                                           
   Average daily solar flux for the November 28 - December 4 reporting     
   week was 70.2. The predicted solar flux for every one of the next 45    
   days is 70. The predicted planetary A index is 5 on December 5 - 7; 8   
   on December 8 - 9; 5 on December 10 - 12; 6 on December 13; 5 on        
   December 14 - 17; 12, 10, 8, and 8 on December 18 - 21; 5 on December   
   22 - 29; 8 on December 30 - 31; 5 on January 1 - 3; 8 on January 4; 5   
   on January 5 - 8; 6 on January 9; 5 on January 10 - 13; 12, 10, 8, and  
   8 on January 14 - 17, and 5 on January 18.                              
                                                                           
   Spaceweather.com pointed out the Geminid meteor shower will peak        
   December 13 - 14, just in time for the ARRL 10-Meter Contest December   
   14 - 15. Ionized meteor trails may enhance 10-meter propagation.        
                                                                           
   Sunspot numbers for November 28 - December 4 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, and 
   0, with a mean of 0. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 70.2, 69.8, 70.4,     
   71.2, 70.4, 69.9, and 69.6, with a mean of 70.4. Estimated planetary A  
   indices were 4, 5, 4, 4, 2, 2, and 3, with a mean of 8.3. Middle        
   latitude A index was 2, 3, 2, 2, 2, 1, and 2, with a mean of 5.7.       
                                                                           
   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                                                
     * December 6 - 8 -- ARRL 160-Meter Contest (CW)                       
     * December 7 -- Wake-Up! QRP Sprint (CW)                              
     * December 7 - 8 -- UFT Contest (CW)                                  
     * December 7 - 8 -- SKCC Weekend Sprintathon (CW)                     
     * December 7 - 8 -- International Naval Contest (CW, phone)           
     * December 7 - 8 -- PRO CW Contest                                    
     * December 7 - 8 -- FT8 Roundup                                       
     * December 7 - 8 -- EPC Ukraine DX Contest (Digital)                  
     * December 8 -- QRP ARCI Holiday Spirits Homebrew Sprint (CW)         
     * December 9 -- 4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint (CW, phone)   
     * December 11 -- 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 Expanding into the Americas                                  
                                                                           
   December is Youth on the Air (YOTA) Month, when stations operated by    
   young radio amateurs around the world will get on the air to celebrate  
   youth in amateur radio. YOTA Month began a few years ago in             
   International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Region 1, and the concept has  
   now taken root in the Americas as YOTA Month in the Americas.           
                                                                           
   During YOTA Month, radio amateurs aged 25 and younger will be on the    
   air as special event stations during December on various bands and      
   modes. In the US, look for K8Y, K8O, K8T, and K8A. Elsewhere in the     
   Americas, VE7YOTA will be on the air from Canada. XR2YOTA in Chile has  
   been added to the list of youth stations in the Americas for YOTA       
   Month. Young hams in other countries may also join in. Listen for other 
   YOTA Month stations with "YOTA" suffixes.                               
                                                                           
   For more information about YOTA in the Americas, contact YOTA Month in  
   the Americas Coordinator Bryant Rascoll, KG5HVO, or YOTA in the         
   Americas Camp Director Neil Rapp, WB9VPG.                               
                                                                           
   Participants earn certificates by working the various YOTA-suffix       
   stations on the air throughout December. Not a contest, the event is    
   aimed at getting as many youngsters on air from as many countries as    
   possible. The event takes place from 0000 UTC on December 1 until 2359  
   UTC on December 31.                                                     
                                                                           
   Other special call signs planning to be on the air include 5B19YOTA,    
   7X2YOTA, 7X3YOTA, 9A19YOTA, DH0YOTA, E71YOTA, EF4YOTA, EG2YOTA,         
   EI0YOTA, EM5YOTA, EM6YOTA, ET3YOTA, GB19YOTA, HA6YOTA, HB9YOTA,         
   HG0YOTA, II4YOTA, II8YOTA, LY5YOTA, OH2YOTA, OL19YOTA, ON4YOTA,         
   PA6YOTA, PD6YOTA, SH9YOTA, TC19YOTA, TC3YOTA, TM19YOTA, YO0YOTA,        
   YT19YOTA, ZL6YOTA, and ZS9YOTA.                                         
                                                                           
   Most will put their logs on Logbook of The World (LoTW) with paper      
   cards available through Club Log OQRS. QSL direct via M0SDV. -- Thanks  
   to YOTA and YOTA in the Americas                                        
   ITU Posts Provisional WRC-19 Final Acts                                 
                                                                           
   The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has posted the          
   provisional Final Acts of World Radiocommunication Conference 2019      
   (WRC-19) on its website as a 567-page PDF. Sponsored by the ITU,        
   WRC-19, held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, wrapped up on Friday,           
                                                                           
   WRC-19 participants (L - R) Hans                                        
   Blondeel Timmerman, PB2T; Bryan                                         
   Rawlings, VE3QN; Dave Court, EI3IO;                                     
   Ulrich Mueller, DK4VW; David Sumner,                                    
   K1ZZ; Dale Hughes, VK1DSH, and                                          
   Murray Niman, G6JYB. [Ulrich                                            
   Mueller, DK4VW, photo]                                                  
                                                                           
   November 22. The month-long event was the largest ever, with some 3,300 
   delegates in attendance. The WRC-19 Final Acts will take effect on      
   January 21, 2021.                                                       
                                                                           
   During the last week of the conference, meetings often ran into the wee 
   hours in an effort to get work completed on schedule. The prime amateur 
   radio agenda item involved agreement on a 6-meter band allocation for   
   ITU Region 1 (Europe, Africa, and the Middle East). When the Final Acts 
   take effect, 44 countries in Region 1 will have a primary allocation of 
   at least 500 kHz, including 26 countries with a primary allocation of   
   50 - 54 MHz. The entire region will have an amateur secondary           
   allocation of 50 - 52 MHz, except Russia, whose administration opted    
   for only 50.080 - 50.280 MHz on a secondary basis.                      
                                                                           
   The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) called the 6-meter outcome 
   "a dramatic improvement in the international Radio Regulations for      
   amateurs in Region 1." The next WRC will be in 2023.                    
   In Brief...                                                             
                                                                           
   [IMG]Orlando HamCation^(R) 2020 visitors in February will be able to    
   navigate the convention with ARRL's free mobile event app, ARRL Events. 
   First introduced for the Dayton Hamvention^(R) in May 2019, the app     
   received extremely positive reviews from users. ARRL has partnered with 
   Orlando HamCation and Dayton Hamvention to re-introduce the app for     
   these 2020 events. "The user-friendly event app will help               
   convention-goers find exhibits and forums, follow prize drawings, and   
   connect with other attendees," said ARRL Convention and Event           
   Coordinator Eric Casey, KC2ERC, who has been working with Orlando       
   HamCation Committee members to help ready the app for the 2020 event.   
   The free ARRL Events app will be available in late December for both    
   Apple iOS and Android devices, along with a web-browser version.        
   Orlando HamCation 2020 takes place February 7 - 9 and has been          
   sanctioned as the 2020 ARRL Northern Florida Section Convention. Visit  
   the HamCation website to purchase tickets.                              
                                                                           
   [IMG]Dayton Hamvention^(R) is increasing the cost of admission and its  
   booth fees. Hamvention General Chair Jack Gerbs, WB8SCT, announced this 
   week that general admission would rise by $4 per ticket to $26 in       
   advance or $31 at the gate. The cost of flea market spots will go up by 
   $5 per space, and inside exhibitors will pay $30 more. "Hamvention has  
   always strived to produce a very high-quality event for amateur radio   
   enthusiasts from around the globe," Gerbs said. "We have always felt it 
   is imperative that we give back to amateur radio at many levels. We     
   have been very generous in our support over the years." He cited "the   
   economic pressures to present a show like Hamvention" as the reason for 
   the price increases.                                                    
                                                                           
   ARRL is inviting listeners of the So Now What? podcast for amateur      
   radio newcomers to take a brief survey about the bi-weekly podcast. The 
   survey will close on December 13. -- Thanks to Michelle Patnode, W3MVP, 
   ARRL Communications Content Producer                                    
                                                                           
   Just after announcing the release of WSJT-X version 2.1.1, the WSJT     
   Development Group issued a second bug-fix release, version 2.1.2.       
   WSJT-X is the free software suite that includes the FT4 and FT8         
   protocols. According to the developers, an error in the code broke the  
   WSJT-X rig control features for certain Icom radios. The Release Notes  
   detail program changes made since WSJT-X 2.1.0. The WSJT-X 2.1 User     
   Guide has also been updated. Upgrading from earlier versions of WSJT-X  
   should be seamless, with no need to uninstall previous versions or move 
   any files. Links to installation packages are available. The WSJT       
   Development Group asks those using the code to let the developers know, 
   as well as to report bugs or suggest improvements to the code.          
                                                                           
   AMPRNet Cofounder Brian Kantor, WB6CYT, of San Diego, California, has   
   died unexpectedly. He retired 2 years ago after 47 years of service on  
   staff at the University of California, San Diego. Kantor and Phil Karn, 
   KA9Q, founded AMPRNet -- the TCP/IP over amateur radio network -- in    
   the 1980s, and Kantor continued to manage it until his death. He        
   recently created and served as chair and CEO of Amateur Radio Digital   
   Communications (ARDC), a charitable foundation funded by the sale of    
   unused AMPRNet IPv4 addresses. ARDC promotes STEM education and amateur 
   radio digital development through scholarships and by funding the       
   development of open-source hardware and software. It recently announced 
   its first grant, to Amateur Radio on the International Space Station    
   (ARISS). Kantor was also a key player in AMSAT's early internet         
   presence.                                                               
                                                                           
     -------------------------------------------------------------------   
                                                                           
   Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions                  
     * 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, Collinsville, Illinois       
                                                                           
   Find conventions and hamfests in your area.                             
                                                                           
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 * Origin: Outpost BBS * Limestone, TN, USA (1:18/200)