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Skriven 2020-05-15 09:05:18 av Sean Dennis (1:18/200.0)
Ärende: The Weekly ARRL Letter
==============================
   The ARRL Letter                                                         
   May 14, 2020                                                            
                                                                           
     * ARRL Announces New Life 70+ Membership                               
     * ARRL Seeks Clarification of Amended Amateur Service RF Safety Rules  
     * Choosing FTx Transmit and Receive Frequencies in Crowded Contest     
       Bands                                                                
     * ARRL Podcasts Schedule                                               
     * "ARRL at Home Hamvention" Weekend of Specials Set                   
     * The K7RA Solar Update                                               
     * Just Ahead in Radiosport                                            
     * New WSJT-X Beta Version Offers Significant FT4 and FT8 Upgrades     
     * ARISS Sets Second Test of New Multipoint Telebridge Contact System  
     * Two New Chinese Ham Satellites Expected to Launch in September      
     * Announcements                                                       
     * Amateur Radio Gains Significant Boost in UK by Connecting People    
       During Lockdown                                                     
     * In Brief...                                                         
     * Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions              
                                                                           
     -------------------------------------------------------------------   
                                                                           
   COVID-19 Impact & News                                                  
                                                                           
   Find the latest news and information on the impact of the coronavirus   
   pandemic to ARRL members and our global amateur radio community.        
                                                                           
     -------------------------------------------------------------------   
                                                                           
   ARRL Announces New Life 70+ Membership                                  
                                                                           
   The ARRL Board of Directors recently voted to create a special Life     
   Membership opportunity for individuals who are at least 70 years old.   
   Starting on June 1, the Life 70+ Membership will be available to        
   individuals who have turned 70 and have a combined 25 years of paid     
   annual ARRL membership.                                                 
                                                                           
   Life 70+ Members receive all benefits of an annual membership,          
   including their choice of print magazine delivery (QST or On the Air),  
   and digital access to these publications, plus the digital versions of  
   QEX and National Contest Journal (NCJ). In addition, each Life 70+      
   Member will receive a Life Member pin and a window decal and may        
   purchase an exclusive Life Member plaque.                               
                                                                           
   Qualifying members selecting this level of membership will enjoy the    
   convenience of having to make a single payment for their entire tenure  
   as an ARRL Member and not be subject to any future ARRL dues increase.  
                                                                           
   To apply for Life 70+ membership, individuals must complete the special 
   Life 70+ Member application -- available on June 1 -- and submit proof  
   of date of birth, if this information is not already on file with ARRL. 
   The Life 70+ membership fee must be made in a single payment. Past      
   membership dues payments will not apply toward Life 70+ Membership, but 
   a credit will be applied for applicants who paid their dues in full     
   between April 1 and May 31, 2020.                                       
                                                                           
   Life 70+ Membership Dues Rates                                          
     * $750 US Life 70+ Membership                                         
     * $750 International Digital Life 70+ Membership                      
     * $1,515 International Life 70+ Membership with a Print Subscription  
     * $250 Family Life 70+ Membership as an add-on to a paid Life 70+     
       membership                                                          
                                                                           
   ARRL reserves the right to change or substitute the benefits, products, 
   or services associated with a member's original Life 70+ Member package 
   at any time during the membership. Dues are non-refundable.             
                                                                           
   Life 70+ membership applications will be available for download         
   beginning on June 1.                                                    
   ARRL Seeks Clarification of Amended Amateur Service RF Safety Rules     
                                                                           
   ARRL has filed a Petition for Clarification addressing two issues       
   arising from amended FCC RF safety rules that go into effect on June 1  
   for the Amateur Service and other FCC-regulated services. Licensees     
   will have 2 years to determine if an RF safety evaluation is now        
   required under the new rules and to perform an evaluation and implement 
   any needed mitigation measures. Current rules already require amateur   
   stations to meet RF exposure limits, but more radio amateurs will have  
   to evaluate their stations under the new rules. The revised final       
   rules, adopted last November, appeared in the April 1 edition of The    
   Federal Register.                                                       
                                                                           
   "For applicants and licensees in the Amateur Radio Service, we          
   substitute our general exemption criteria for the specific exemption    
   from routine evaluation based on power alone in S:97.13(c)(1) and       
   specify the use of occupational/controlled limits for amateurs where    
   appropriate," the FCC said. While radio amateurs have always had to     
   comply with RF exposure limits, certain stations have been exempted     
   from having to conduct evaluations based upon power and frequency.      
                                                                           
   On May 8, ARRL asked the FCC to clarify that using maximum permissible  
   exposure (MPE) limits be permitted in the Amateur Service for required  
   RF safety evaluations of 2200-meter operations, just as they are        
   elsewhere in the amateur spectrum. Removal of the exemption for         
   amateurs resulted in a requirement to use specific absorption rate      
   (SAR) limits for amateur frequencies between 100 and 300 kHz.           
                                                                           
   "Near-field calculation of a uniform field applied to a transmitter and 
   antenna operating at 1 W EIRP on 2200 meters would result in a very     
   conservative estimate of specific absorption rate (SAR) and is a valid  
   measurement for determining safety of operation," ARRL told the FCC.    
   "We request clarification that the rules do not intend to preclude the  
   use of MPE as a surrogate for SAR to evaluate amateur operations in the 
   2200-meter band."                                                       
                                                                           
   ARRL also wants the FCC to clarify that its amended rules permit the    
   use of near-field regression rates, using the MPE table to compare      
   against the maximum field strength that may occur from a handheld       
   portable device, instead of using the SAR. In its filing, ARRL          
   maintained that SAR data is not available for amateur equipment, as it  
   is for equipment used in other services. Before the rules were amended, 
   mobile and portable transmitters generally were exempt from the         
   requirement to perform routine environmental evaluations.               
                                                                           
   Under S:97.13(c)(1) as amended, effective on June 1, amateur licensees  
   must ensure compliance with FCC RF exposure requirements spelled out in 
   sections 1.1307(b), 2.1091, and 2.1093 of the FCC rules, where          
   applicable. The rule directs radio amateurs to OET Bulletin 65,         
   Supplement B for methodologies and guidance to evaluate amateur radio   
   operation.                                                              
                                                                           
   The FCC has provided 2 years -- until May 31, 2022 -- for licensees to  
   determine if evaluations are now required, to perform such evaluations  
   where necessary, and to implement any needed mitigation measures.       
                                                                           
   The FCC did not amend the actual RF exposure limits that were adopted   
   in 1996. Read more.                                                     
                                                                         
   Choosing FTx Transmit and Receive Frequencies in Crowded Contest Bands  
                                                                           
   Here's how to pick FT-mode transmit and receive frequencies in crowded  
   contest bands. First, pick an audio offset frequency greater than 500   
   Hz, but less than the suggested frequency intervals (e.g., 2 kHz). In   
   crowded band conditions, the "base" transmit frequencies for FT4 or FT8 
   are suggested to be at 2 kHz intervals. For example, some stations may  
   set their radio's frequency to 14.130 MHz, while others are at 14.132   
   or 14.134 MHz. Under these conditions, it makes sense to choose a       
   transmit frequency offset greater than 500 Hz, but less than 2 kHz.     
                                                                           
   Here's the reasoning: If the CQing station chooses 14.130.0 with an     
   offset of 2.4 kHz, then a listening station's radio tuned to 14.132.0   
   will "see" that station at 400 Hz. Many radios have audio passbands of  
   between 500 Hz and 3,000 Hz. Frequencies outside that range are not     
   received as well. A reduced sensitivity at 400 Hz can make the          
   difference in decoding successfully.                                    
                                                                           
   The station answering the CQ (radio at 14.132.0 MHz) should likely pick 
   a frequency at or near the CQ frequency, since the operator doesn't     
   know whether the CQing station's frequency is at 14.130 or 14.132. If   
   the receiving station chooses, say, 1.5 kHz, this would be at 14.133.5. 
   A CQing station set to 14.130 may not be decoding all the way to 3.5    
   kHz from the radio's offset frequency. -- Thanks to The ARRL Contest    
   Update                                                                  
   ARRL Podcasts Schedule                                                  
                                                                           
   The latest episode of the On the Air podcast (Episode 5) focuses on the 
   various types of modulation and tips on go kits. The On the Air podcast 
   is a monthly companion to On the Air magazine, ARRL's magazine for      
   beginner-to-intermediate ham radio operators.                           
                                                                           
   The latest episode of the Eclectic Tech podcast (Episode 7) includes a  
   discussion of HF aeronautical radio, the NCDXF beacon system, SpaceX's  
   new Starlink satellites, and "Folding@Home," a system that uses         
   distributed computing to search for a COVID-19 cure (among other        
   things).                                                                
                                                                           
   The On the Air and Eclectic Tech podcasts are sponsored by Icom. Both   
   podcasts are available on iTunes (iOS) and Stitcher (Android), as well  
   as on Blubrry -- On the Air | Eclectic Tech.                            
                                                                           
                                                                         
   "ARRL at Home Hamvention" Weekend of Specials Set                       
                                                                           
   For the first time in its 68-year history, Dayton Hamvention^(R) will   
   not take place, due to concerns about the coronavirus outbreak. ARRL    
   understands that many members will miss going to Hamvention, which is   
   always an occasion to catch up with friends, explore new products, and  
   connect with ARRL via our Expo in the exhibit area.                     
                                                                           
   While we can't be together in Dayton in 2020, ARRL has put together a   
   weekend of specials to bring a bit of the Hamvention spirit and         
   excitement to members during what would have been Dayton Hamvention     
   weekend, May 14 - 17. On the ARRL at Home Hamvention page, members will 
   find a special message from ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR; new     
   membership premiums; the latest products; clearance merchandise, and    
   our "ARRL at Hamvention" button. All who make weekend purchases will    
   receive a free ARRL button with their order, while supplies last.       
                                                                           
   Visit the ARRL at Home Hamvention page to check out all the offerings.  
   The K7RA Solar Update                                                   
                                                                           
   Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: No sunspots appeared last week. The   
   previous 7 days had only one big sunspot group on one day, and the      
   sunspot number was 35. Over the 7-day period, this averaged out to a    
   sunspot number of 5, so average daily sunspot numbers declined from 5   
   to 0 this week. The average daily solar flux also declined, from 69.5   
   to 68.5.                                                                
                                                                           
   Geomagnetic indicators were quiet, with average daily planetary A index 
   declining from 5.1 to 4.1, and mid-latitude A index from 5 to 4.7.      
                                                                           
   Predicted solar flux is 70 on May 14 - 31; 68 on June 1 - 13, and 70 on 
   June 14 - 27. Predicted planetary A index is 5 on May 14 - June 8; 8 on 
   June 9 - 10; 5 on June 11 - 13; 10 and 8 on June 14 - 15, and 5 on June 
   16 - 27.                                                                
                                                                           
   Sunspot numbers for May 7 - 13 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, and 0, with a     
   mean of 0. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 68.7, 67.9, 71, 67.9, 66.2,     
   68.9, and 68.8, with a mean of 69.5. Estimated planetary A indices were 
   4, 4, 3, 5, 5, 4, and 4, with a mean of 5.1. Middle latitude A index    
   was 5, 4, 3, 5, 7, 5, and 4, with a mean of 5.                          
                                                                           
   A comprehensive K7RA Solar Update is posted Fridays on the ARRL         
   website. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the   
   ARRL Technical Information Service, read "What the Numbers Mean...,"    
   and check out K9LA's Propagation Page.                                  
                                                                           
   A propagation bulletin archive is available. Monthly charts offer       
   propagation projections between the US and a dozen DX locations.        
                                                                           
   Share your reports and observations.                                    
                                                                         
   Just Ahead in Radiosport                                                
     * May 16 -- Feld Hell Sprint                                          
     * May 16 -- UN DX Contest (CW, phone)                                 
     * May 16 - 17 -- NZART Sangster Shield Contest (CW)                   
     * May 16 - 17 -- His Majesty King of Spain Contest, CW                
     * May 16 - 17 -- Aegean RTTY Contest                                  
     * May 16 - 18 -- Portuguese Navy Day Contest (CW, phone)              
     * May 17 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)                        
     * May 18 -- RSGB FT4 Contest Series                                   
     * May 21 -- NAQCC CW Sprint                                           
     * May 21 -- QRP Minimal Art Session (CW)                              
                                                                           
   See the ARRL Contest Calendar for more information. For in-depth        
   reporting on amateur radio contesting, subscribe to The ARRL Contest    
   Update via your ARRL member profile email preferences.                  
   New WSJT-X Beta Version Offers Significant FT4 and FT8 Upgrades         
                                                                           
   A new beta version of the WSJT-X software suite has been released,      
   which includes the first updates to the popular FT8 and FT4 protocols   
   since last fall. Co-Developer Joe Taylor, K1JT, said the "candidate     
   release" WSJT-X version 2.2.0-rcl incorporates significant program      
   upgrades to FT8, FT4, and other protocols. The beta version will be     
   valid for a month.                                                      
                                                                           
   "This candidate release is your first chance to test the new features   
   and provide feedback to the WSJT Development Group," Taylor advised. A  
   list of program changes since WSJT-X 2.1.2 is available in the          
   cumulative Release Notes and in the updates WSJT-X 2.2.0 User Guide.    
                                                                           
   The latest beta version corrects bugs that prevented AP decoding and/or 
   multi-pass decoding in some circumstances. The algorithm for AP         
   decoding has been improved and extended. FT8 decoding is now spread     
   over three intervals -- starting at 11.8 seconds into a receive         
   sequence -- typically yielding around 85% of the possible decodes for   
   the sequence. "You, therefore, see most decodes much earlier than       
   before," the Release Notes explain. A second processing step starts at  
   13.5 seconds, and a final step at 14.7 seconds.                         
                                                                           
   "Overall decoding yield on crowded bands is improved by 10% or more,"   
   the Release Notes say, although systems with receive latency greater    
   than 0.2 seconds will experience smaller improvements, even while       
   seeing many decodes sooner.                                             
                                                                           
   Other changes:                                                          
     * The "contest mode" FT4 protocol always uses "RR73" for the TX4      
       message.                                                            
     * The status bar now displays the number of decodes in the most       
       recent receive sequence.                                            
                                                                           
   Release candidate WSJT-X 2.2.0-rcl will be available for 1 month        
   (starting on May 10). A general availability release of WSJT-X 2.2.0 is 
   anticipated for June 1.                                                 
                                                                           
   Installation packages for Windows, Linux, and Macintosh are available   
   on the WSJT-X Development Group page. Scroll down to "Candidate         
   release: WSJT-X 2.2.0-rc1." The packages are also available from        
   SourceForge.                                                            
                                                                           
   The WSJT-X Development Group request those using the new beta version   
   of WSJT-X to alert the developers and to report any bugs or             
   improvements they have implemented, using instructions included in the  
   User Guide. Read more.                                                  
                                                                         
   ARISS Sets Second Test of New Multipoint Telebridge Contact System      
                                                                           
   Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is hoping to   
   refine its new Multipoint Telebridge Contact via Amateur Radio system   
   for handling scheduled ham radio contacts between International Space   
   Station crew members and schools or organizations on Earth. On May 15   
   at 1510 UTC, it will conduct a second test of the new protocol by       
   connecting students in Alberta, Canada, with an astronaut on the ISS.   
                                                                           
   The COVID-19 pandemic eliminated conventional opportunities for ARISS   
   contacts that typically involved large numbers of students and faculty  
   gathering at a school or educational institution for the event. The     
   ARISS multipoint telebridge system works around the issue by employing  
   distance learning within distance learning, as many schools around the  
   world have gone over to conducting classes remotely via                 
   teleconferencing, and students are physically separated.                
                                                                           
   Under the multipoint telebridge concept, an amateur station in the      
   footprint of a space station pass at the time a contact has been        
   scheduled serves as an Earth station, making direct contact with NA1SS  
   onboard the ISS. A telebridge network then delivers two-way audio from  
   the Earth station to each student taking part in the contact. For the   
   May 15 contact, John Sygo, ZS6JON, near Johannesburg, South Africa,     
   will operate the Earth station.                                         
                                                                           
   The students' families, faculty members, and even members of the public 
   will be able to listen in as each student at Airdrie Space Science Club 
   in Alberta -- a youth model rocket building and astronomy club -- takes 
   a turn asking a question of astronaut Chris Cassidy, KF5KDR. One        
   question on the list: "How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected you while 
   you are in space?"                                                      
                                                                           
   Brian Jackson, VE6JBJ, is a club leader. "During this pandemic, our     
   opportunities to develop kids' interest in space have been              
   interrupted," Jackson said. "This ARISS contact gets them looking back  
   up, towards the sky, and imagining themselves as an astronaut one day." 
                                                                           
   Members of the public may view a livestream of the contact via YouTube. 
                                                                           
   ARISS is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio           
   societies, including ARRL and AMSAT in the US, and space agencies       
   around the world that support the International Space Station.          
   Two New Chinese Ham Satellites Expected to Launch in September          
                                                                           
   Two new Chinese amateur radio satellites are expected to launch on      
   September 15. CAS-7A and CAS-7C follow in the wake of numerous amateur  
   radio satellites put into space by CAMSAT. CAS-7A, a 27-kilogram        
   microsat, will carry several transponders, including a                  
   15-meter-to-10-meter (H/t) linear transponder, and a                    
   2-meter-to-70-centimeter (H/u) linear transponder. CAS-7A also will     
   include a V/u (2 meters to 70 centimeters) FM voice transponder.        
   According to the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) satellite     
   coordination site, CAS-7A is planned to have CW beacons on both 10      
   meters and 70 centimeters, 4.8k or 9.6k GMSK telemetry on 70            
   centimeters, and a 1 Mbps GMSK image data downlink on 3 centimeters for 
   an onboard camera.                                                      
                                                                           
   CAS-7C is a 2U CubeSat carrying a V/u linear transponder and a CW       
   beacon. IARU has not yet coordinated frequencies for CAS-7C, which is   
   to deploy a 1,080-meter (3,543 feet) long, 1-millimeter carbon fiber    
   rope.                                                                   
                                                                           
   The two satellites will launch from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center     
   into a 500-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit with an inclination of 98ø.  
                                                                           
   Some specifics, according to coordination information:                  
     * CAS-7A will offer 30 kHz-wide uplink and downlink passbands for all 
       linear transponders. The H/t uplink passband will be 21.245 -       
       21.275 MHz, and the downlink will be 29.435 - 21.465 MHz. The CW    
       beacon will be on 29.425 MHz.                                       
     * The CAS-7A H/u linear transponder uplink passband will be 21.3125   
       MHz - 21.3275 MHz, and the downlink will be 435.3575 MHz - 435.3725 
       MHz. A CW beacon will transmit on 435.430 MHz.                      
     * The CAS-7A V/u transponder uplink passband will be 145.865 MHz -    
       145.895 MHz, with a downlink passband of 435.385 MHz - 435.415 MHz. 
       A CW beacon will transmit on 435.430 MHz.                           
     * CAS-7A V/u FM transponder will uplink on 145.950 MHz and downlink   
       on 435.455 MHz, with a 4.8k/9.6k GMSK telemetry downlink at 435.480 
       MHz. The 1 Mbps GMSK image data will downlink at 10.460 GHz.        
                                                                           
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   Announcements                                                           
     * The older ARRL Magazines app for Amazon Kindle was failing to       
       display the new QEX and NCJ offerings. This problem appears to have 
       been fixed in the latest update. Kindle users may have to do a      
       manual update. None of this affects iOS or Android users.           
     * The CWops' CW Academy (CWA) offers free, remote Morse code classes  
       at four separate levels -- beginner through advanced, running from  
       not knowing the code at all to reaching 25 WPM. CWOps also provides 
       a CWOps Test (CWT), an hour-long event every Wednesday at 1300 and  
       1900 UTC, and Thursdays at 0300 UTC. -- Thanks to The ARRL Contest  
       Update                                                              
     * The Hamvention QSO Party is on Saturday, May 16. No need to submit  
       logs; post scores on 3830scores.com within 5 days of the event.     
     * The 10th edition of the Youngsters on the Air (YOTA) Summer Camp,   
       which was to have been hosted by the Croatian Amateur Radio         
       Association (HRS) August 8 - 15, has been called off for this year, 
       but will take place in 2021 at the same location. Also put off      
       until next summer is the first Youth On The Air in the Americas     
       Summer Camp, which had been set for June 21 - 26 in Ohio.           
     * The new, 1-hour World Wide Sideband Activity Contest exchange       
       includes age and sex, in these distinc: OM, YL, Youth YL (YYL), or  
       Youth (Y). Winners in the Single Operator and Single Operator       
       Overlay categories can download certificates. Plaques will be       
       awarded for the highest overall cumulative (1-year) score for each  
       single operator and single operator overlay category.               
     * The 2020 IARU World Amateur Radio Direction Finding (ARDF)          
       Championships in Serbia and the 2020 IARU World Youth ARDF          
       Championships in Slovenia have been canceled due to the COVID-19    
       pandemic. These will be rescheduled in 2021. Details are on the     
       IARU Region 1 website.                                              
     * The Rebel DX Group has postponed its planned DXpedition to Banaba   
       Island and Tuvalu due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Organizers remain   
       hopeful of resuming plans to activate Bouvet Island (3Y0I) late     
       this year.                                                          
     * Special event P*75FREE/FREEDOM stations are marking the liberation  
       of The Netherlands by Allied Forces, ending World War II. The Dutch 
       celebrate the end of WW II each year on May 5. Ten different        
       special call signs, such as PA75FREE, will be active until the end  
       of May, sponsored by the YNOMY DX Group. Awards are available.      
                                                                           
     -------------------------------------------------------------------   
                                                                           
   Amateur Radio Gains Significant Boost in UK by Connecting People During 
   Lockdown                                                                
                                                                           
   A recent BBC news feature has outlined how ham radio has gotten a       
   significant boost by connecting people during the COVID-19 lockdown in  
   the UK. The article, by Vanessa Pearce, quotes the Radio Society of     
   Great Britain (RSGB) -- the UK's IARU member-society -- as saying that  
   many former hams are now returning to the hobby. Mark Rider, G3VHJ -- a 
   retired engineer who lives alone in North Warwickshire -- said that     
   after the lockdown restricted his occasional trips to the pub,          
   rehearsing with musician friends, and visiting his wife in a nursing    
   home, he decided to dust off his ham radio equipment "to seek out       
                                                                           
   Mark Rider, G3VHJ.                                                      
                                                                           
   some other social interaction." Rider said that ragchewing has become   
   one of the highlights of his day. "Just speaking to somebody else in    
   the same situation is very rewarding," he said. The 67-year-old told    
   BBC News that keeping in touch with others has been more important      
   since his wife suffered a stroke.                                       
                                                                           
   RSGB General Manager Steve Thomas, M1ACB, said the society has          
   experienced a three-fold increase in license examination applications   
   since social distancing rules were put into place. The UK has about     
   75,000 amateur licensees.                                               
                                                                           
   Eleven-year-old Anne-Marie Rowland, 2E0RUX, of Cornwall, worked with    
   the Cornish Amateur Radio Club to conduct informal twice-weekly nets to 
   help keep people in touch. "We have some regulars, but also             
                                                                           
                                      Ann-Marie Rowland, 2E0RUX.           
                                                                           
   some new people join in," she told the BBC. Her father, Bill, M0NXF,    
   runs a net that has attracted older radio amateurs who are              
   self-isolating, to help them feel connected.                            
                                                                           
   The RSGB recently instituted its "Get on the Air to Care" (#GOTA2C)     
   campaign in conjunction with the National Health Service and its GB1NHS 
   amateur station to promote amateur radio use during the pandemic        
   lockdown. Some stations have been adding /NHS to their call signs to    
   support the effort, which aim to support the emotional health and       
   wellbeing of the amateur radio community.                               
                                                                           
   The RSGB introduced remote administration of entry-level                
   Foundation-class amateur radio exams in mid-April. Pete Sipple, M0PSX,  
   told BBC News that he's seen a "massive" surge in demand for training   
   courses and exam session and has had to up the number of course         
   offerings.                                                              
   In Brief...                                                             
                                                                           
   Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a record number of recent orders, ARRL 
   is currently experiencing delays in the fulfillment of orders. Combined 
   with excessive demands on many shipping carriers, our members and       
   customers should expect a 1 - 3 week delay in the delivery of their     
   orders over the next few weeks. State of Connecticut safety             
   requirements limit the number of employees allowed within the warehouse 
   at one time to ensure their health and safety, further contributing to  
   the fulfillment slowdown. Warehouse personnel are utilizing all         
   available resources to get customers their products as quickly as       
   possible and anticipate that the standard 3 - 7 day US delivery time    
   will be restored sometime in June, once the state mandate has relaxed.  
   ARRL remains committed to making sure that all customers get their      
   orders as quickly as possible. We greatly appreciate everyone's         
   patience and understanding during this time and thank you for your      
   continued support of amateur radio and ARRL.                            
                                                                           
   The transponder on HuskySat-1 has been activated and is open for use    
   and testing, AMSAT Vice President - Operations Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, 
   reports. "It's fairly sensitive, and 5 - 10 W is plenty most of the     
   time. There are some fades due to satellite orientation, and some       
   passes are definitely better than others. Strong signals may impact the 
   beacon strength." HuskySat-1 is the first CubeSat from the Husky        
   Satellite Lab at the University of Washington and the first mission     
   with AMSAT's linear transponder module (LTM-1), a V/u transponder and   
   integrated telemetry beacon and command receiver. University            
   researchers recently completed their Part 5 (Experimental) operations   
   and have opened up the amateur radio transponder, which is available    
   for use in educational CubeSat missions that are willing to enable the  
   transponder for worldwide use. The HuskySat-1 V/u transponder is        
   inverting, with an uplink passband of 145.910 - 145.940 MHz, and a      
   downlink passband of 435.810 - 435.840 MHz. The 1200-baud BPSK          
   telemetry beacon is at 435.800 MHz.                                     
                                                                           
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   Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions                  
                                                                           
     -------------------------------------------------------------------   
                                                                           
   Note: Many conventions and hamfests have been canceled or postponed due 
   to the coronavirus pandemic. Check the calendar of canceled events on   
   the ARRL website.                                                       
                                                                           
     -------------------------------------------------------------------   
                                                                           
     * July 4 - Pennsylvania State Convention, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania    
     * July 16 - 19 - Montana State Convention, Essex, Montana             
     * July 24 - 25 - Oklahoma State Convention, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma   
                                                                           
   Find conventions and hamfests in your area.                             
                                                                           
   ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 
                                                                           
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   Copyright (c) 2020 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and   
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 * Origin: Outpost BBS * Limestone, TN, USA (1:18/200)