The ARRL Letter
August 6, 2020

* Amateur Radio Volunteers Go on Alert for Isaias
* ARRL 2020 Simulated Emergency Test (SET) Scheduled for October 3 -
4 Weekend
* German Satellite Demonstrates Orbit Control on a 1U CubeSat
* ARRL Podcasts Schedule
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* Meet Up with ARRL Virtually August 7 - 9 at QSO Today Virtual Ham
Expo
* New England Division Convention Canceled Due to COVID-19
* Radio Amateur Takes Part in Historic First Commercial Human
Spaceflight to ISS
* Announcements
* SAQ Alexanderson Day in the Age of COVID-19
* Lost Video Archive from 1997 Heard Island VK0IR DXpedition Found
* In Brief...
* Getting It Right
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
Amateur Radio Volunteers Go on Alert for Isaias

Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) volunteers along the eastern
seaboard were on alert this week to support needed communication as
Hurricane/Tropical Storm Isaias worked its way north. The storm is now
in Canada after first making landfall in North Carolina as a Category 1
hurricane. High wind, rain, and the possibility of coastal flooding
were considered the most likely dangers, but tornadoes broke out in the
middle Atlantic states, triggering extensive damage, flooding, and
knocking out power to more than 3 million homes and businesses. The
storm caused at least five deaths. Southern New Jersey Section
Emergency Coordinator (SEC) Tom Devine, WB2ALJ, was among several SECs
who said their Sections were on alert but not activated for tropical
storm winds, flash flooding, and tornadoes.

"All county teams are prepared, and SKYWARN teams are requested to
provide key severe weather data to the regional National Weather
Service (NWS) Office," Devine told ARRL, adding that other SECs from
the middle Atlantic states were in communication.

The Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) activated twice for Isaias -- on July 31
and on August 1. The initial activation ran 41 hours, the second about
12 hours. HWN Manager Bobby Graves, KB5HAV, reported "very poor to
nonexistent propagation" for the second activation, but he noted that a
few members remained on the air to assist as needed.

"Throughout this short 12-hour activation for this second activation
for Isaias, members of HWN collected and forwarded many surface reports
from the coastal areas of South Carolina and North Carolina to the
National Hurricane Center by way of WX4NHC [at the National Hurricane
Center]," Graves said.

Tornadoes, flooding caused by heavy rainfall, and falling trees
accounted for most of the fatalities. The storm tracked into eastern
Pennsylvania as well as through the New York City-Long Island area.
ARRL 2020 Simulated Emergency Test (SET) Scheduled for October 3 - 4
Weekend

The 2020 ARRL Simulated Emergency Test (SET) will take place October 3
- 4. The annual, nationwide exercise provides Amateur Radio Emergency
Service (ARES) volunteers the chance to test personal
emergency-operating skills and communication readiness in a simulated
emergency deployment. ARRL is asking participants to adhere to Center
for Disease Control (CDC) and local health department COVID-19
guidelines by staying home, maintaining safe distances when around
people, and following recommended cleaning and disinfecting practices.

Ed Compos, K5CRQ (left), and Bart
Pickens, N5TWB, serve as net control
operators from the Tulsa County
Emergency Operations Center during
the 2019 SET in Tulsa County,
Oklahoma. [Paul Teel, WB5ANX, photo]

ARRL Field Organization leadership at the Section and local levels --
as well as many other volunteers who are active in public service and
emergency communication -- are developing emergency scenarios with a
variety of agencies and organizations they've partnered with in the
past during real emergencies and disasters.

Given the ongoing pandemic, an in-person emergency exercise may not be
possible this year, but volunteers are encouraged to adapt to the
circumstances. Station and skills readiness are tenets of the Amateur
Radio Service. Any time we spend on the air will contribute to
developing and practicing our personal radio communication capability.

Volunteers with ARES, the National Traffic System (NTS), the Radio
Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES), SKYWARN^�*�, Community
Emergency Response Team (CERT), Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio
Network (SATERN), and other allied groups and public service-oriented
amateur radio groups are among those eligible to participate in the SET
to practice emergency operation plans, nets, and procedures.

ARRL has long-standing relationships with several national
organizations including the American Red Cross, the National Weather
Service, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Salvation
Army, among others.

This year's SET can be a chance to reach out to these partners -- at a
safe distance and/or via online meetings and teleconferences -- to
establish or review plans and develop working relationships.

ARRL Field Organization leaders have the option of conducting local or
Section-wide SETs on dates other than the October 3 - 4 focal-point
weekend, but no later than the end of the calendar year. Contact your
local ARRL Emergency Coordinator or Net Manager or ask your Section
Manager.

ditional information about SET and the reporting forms are available
on the ARRL website.
German Satellite Demonstrates Orbit Control on a 1U CubeSat

The University of Wuerzburg Experimental Satellite 4 (UWE-4)
successfully used its propulsion system in order to conduct orbit
control. The 1-unit (1U) CubeSat is equipped with an electric
propulsion system called NanoFEEP, developed by the Technical
University in Dresden. This marks the first time in CubeSat history
that a 1U CubeSat has changed its orbit using an onboard propulsion
system. Several maneuvers were performed within 11 days, between June
23 and July 3, lowering the CubeSat's altitude by more than 100 meters
(328 feet), compared to an average of 21 meters (69 feet) with natural
orbital decay.

Coincidentally, on July 2, the UWE-4 team received a "conjunction data
message" from the US Air Force, indicating a potential safety threat
from a non-operational Iridium satellite, although UWE-4 was already
below the Iridium satellite at the projected time of conjunction.

Lowering the altitude of a spacecraft in low-Earth orbit (LEO) has the
negative effect of reducing its lifetime, because low-Earth-orbiting
(LEO) satellites usually burn up during re-entry. "Thus, this
experiment is a concept demonstration of a deorbiting maneuver shown at
the smallest class of spacecraft in LEO," the university said.

While satellites are not yet required to carry propulsion systems to
facilitate a planned deorbiting, such an obligation is under serious
discussion, due to the vastly increasing number of satellites in mega
constellations. "The experiment of UWE-4 presents a deorbiting solution
for the fraction of space debris of operational, but unused, satellites
of today and for the mega constellations of tomorrow," the university
said. AMSAT notes that US regulations make the ability to deorbit a
requirement for high-Earth-orbit amateur satellites in the future.

The first activation of the NanoFEEP thruster on UWE-4 took place in
early 2019. UWE-4 transmits telemetry on 435.600 MHz.

ARRL Podcasts Schedule

The latest episode of the On the Air podcast (Episode 7) features tips
for soldering a PL-259 connector onto the end of a coaxial cable, and
information on beginner courses for hams who want to serve their
communities during disasters and other incidents. 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 13) features
discussions about Hellschreiber, wireless charging on the fly, and an
interview with Paul Denisowski, KO4LZ, about the state of amateur
Automatic Link Establishment (ALE).

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.
The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Sunspot Cycle 25 is under way! We saw
one new spot on July 28 and two new ones on August 2 and 3. The August
daily sunspot numbers were 22 and 23 on the dates of their appearance,
and the total sunspot area grew on Wednesday to 160 millionths of the
visible solar disc. The sunspot area has not been as large since May
2019, when it ranged from 140 to 410 millionths of the solar disc over
a 2-week period.

The average daily sunspot numberfor July 30 to August 5 was 19.6, up
from 14.1 over the previous 7 days. Average daily solar flux rose from
71.1 to 72.8 over the same period.

The planetary A index increased slightly, from 6.7 to 7, and the
mid-latitude A index declined slightly, from 8.7 to 7.4.

Predicted solar flux is 73 on August 6 - 8; 71 on August 9 - 13; 69 on
August 14 - 17; 71 on August 18 - 25; 73 on August 26 - 30; 71 on
August 31 - September 7; 69 on September 8 - 13, and 71 on September 14
- 19.

The planetary A index forecast is 5 on August 6 - 7; 8 on August 8; 5
on August 9 - 23; 8 on August 24 - 25; 5 on August 26 - 28; 12, 8, and
8 on August 29 - 31, and 5 on September 1 - 19.

Frank Donovan, W3LPL, noted this week that August 5 marked "the longest
stretch of consecutive days with sunspots since September 2017, when
there were 56 consecutive days. The next Solar Cycle 25 milestone will
be an energetic sunspot region that increases the adjusted SFI to 80 or
higher."

WJ5O has an interesting history of 10-meter sporadic E and info on
beacons.

Sunspot numbers for July 30 - August 5 were 22, 23, 22, 22, 23, 12, and
13, with a mean of 19.6. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 73.3, 72.3, 72,
72.7, 72.7, 73, and 73.4, with a mean of 72.8. Estimated planetary A
indices were 4, 4, 3, 9, 16, 8, and 5, with a mean of 7. Middle
latitude A index was 5, 5, 3, 9, 15, 9, and 6, with a mean of 7.4.

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. For customizable
propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio website.

Share your reports and observations.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Just Ahead in Radiosport
* August 8 - 9 -- WAE DX Contest (CW)
* August 8 -- QRP ARCI European Sprint (CW)
* August 8 - 9 -- SKCC Weekend Sprintathon (CW)
* August 8 - 9 -- Maryland-DC QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
* August 10 -- 4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint (CW, phone)
* August 10 -- SARL Youth Sprint (Phone)
* August 11 - 13 -- MMMonVHF 144 MHz Meteorscatter Sprint (CW, phone,
digital)
* August 12 -- NAQCC CW Sprint
* August 12 -- VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest

-------------------------------------------------------------------


Meet Up with ARRL Virtually August 7 - 9 at QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo

ARRL will be a virtual exhibitor at the all-online QSO Today Virtual
Ham Expo, Friday - Sunday, August 7 - 9. ARRL staffer Bob Inderbitzen,
NQ1R -- a familiar face at many in-person hamfests and conventions for
nearly 30 years -- will be among the more than 21,000 registered to
attend.

"The many hamfest cancellations due to COVID-19 have been difficult for
everyone this year," Inderbitzen said. "I'm really looking forward to
this unique online experience and connecting with friends, old and new,
from throughout the amateur radio community."

Inderbitzen will join a handful of ARRL staff members supporting the
organization's virtual booth throughout the event. Exhibitors will also
include major amateur radio manufacturers and equipment dealers, and
there will opportunities to text and video chat with representatives.
In addition to the exhibit hall, five fully interactive lecture halls
will feature speakers and presentations spanning the range of ham radio
interests and activities.

"I hope many members and other attendees will 'drop by' the ARRL booth
to say hello," Inderbitzen said. "Visit us to learn about the many
initiatives and new benefits introduced to ARRL members this year.
We'll also have incentives to join ARRL and the Diamond Club, renew
your membership, and some publication purchase specials."

As ARRL's Product Development Manager, Inderbitzen collaborates with
other staff and member-volunteers to develop and improve membership
services, programs, and products. This year, ARRL has introduced a
string of new membership benefits that includes On the Air magazine,
expanded member-access to all four ARRL digital magazines including
QST, On the Air, QEX, and NCJ, and the ARRL Learning Network, a new
member-led webinar series. ARRL has also added additional programs to
its podcast offerings, which now include On the Air, Eclectic Tech, and
ARRL Audio News.

The QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo is an ARRL-sanctioned event.
Registration is free. A complete schedule and list of exhibitors and
speakers is available on the QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo website. Read
more.
New England Division Convention Canceled Due to COVID-19

Initially scheduled for July, the Northeast HamXposition, host of the
2020 ARRL New England Division Convention, was moved back to November
because of the coronavirus pandemic. Now, the in-person event is off
until next summer, although some activities will take place online this
year. Renamed before the 2019 show, the Northeast HamXposition has
succeeded the long-running annual Boxboro hamfest in Boxborough,
Massachusetts. As announced early this year, the next HamXposition will
take place in a new location -- Marlborough, Massachusetts.

"Large indoor gatherings such as our convention are currently
prohibited by Massachusetts state law," Northeast HamXposition Chair
Bob DeMattia, K1IW, said over the weekend. "This is highly unlikely to
change by November. Unfortunately, we will not be able to hold a
physical convention this year."

The W1A special event station will still be on the air over the weekend
of October 31 - November 1 from operators' home stations. A virtual
banquet on November 7 will feature a guest speaker. Afterward, virtual
break-out rooms will be available for you to converse with your
"table."

The Nashua Area Radio Society will run an online version of its "Ham
Bootcamp." This multi-session program covers various amateur radio
activities.
Radio Amateur Takes Part in Historic First Commercial Human Spaceflight
to ISS

Bob Behnken, KE5GGX, was one of two NASA astronauts who made
spaceflight history over the weekend. Behnken and Doug Hurley were the
first astronauts since the 1970s to make a water landing, after their
Crew Dragon capsule splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday. On
May 30, the pair made history as the first live crew to be launched

Bob Behnken, KE5GGX (left), and Doug
Hurley after splashdown. [NASA,
photo]

into space in a commercial vehicle, for a stay on the International
Space Station (ISS), marking the return of human spaceflight to US soil
for the first time in nearly a decade.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 vehicle carried the crew into orbit from Cape
Canaveral. The so-called "Demo-2" was the last major test for SpaceX's
human spaceflight system, to be certified by NASA for operational crew
missions to and from the ISS. Four huge parachutes carried the Crew
Dragon capsule to a safe splashdown near Pensacola, Florida, on Sunday,
August 1.

"On behalf of the SpaceX and NASA teams, welcome back to planet Earth,"
SpaceX Engineer Michael Heiman radioed to the crew after their landing.
"And thanks for flying SpaceX."

NASA ministrator Jim Bridenstine proclaimed that the US was entering
a new era of human spaceflight, noting that NASA was no longer the only
option for US space travel. "We are going to be a customer," he said.
NASA has contracted with two companies -- SpaceX and Boeing -- to ferry
astronaut crews to and from the ISS.

While part of the space station crew for 2 months, Behnken and
Astronaut Chris Cassidy, KF5KDR, the sole American onboard when their
Endeavour capsule docked, carried out four spacewalks to install new
batteries on the ISS.

The SpaceX Crew Dragon vehicle was designed for short-term missions,
and Behnken and Hurley's mission had only been expected to last a week.
As a result, Behnken did not receive Amateur Radio on the International
Space Station (ARISS) training on the ISS ham radio gear so he could
take part in school contacts.

-------------------------------------------------------------------


Announcements
* NZART -- New Zealand's IARU member-society -- has reported that the
New Zealand 60-meter trial, which was to end on July 24, has been
extended for another 3 months, until October 24. -- Thanks to Paul
Gaskell, G4MWO, Editor, The 5 MHz Newsletter
* The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has made
some changes to amateur radio call sign policies, including
provision for a call sign for life for all licensees. All
Australian amateurs may obtain three-letter-suffix call signs, but
Foundation licensees may keep their four-letter suffix call signs
if they wish. Full details are spelled out on the ACMA website.
* AMSAT-NA Secretary Brennan Price, N4QX, has announced that Board of
Directors election packages have been mailed to members of record
as of July 1. Members who need a replacement ballot package should
contact Price no later than August 12. Completed ballots should be
returned in the return envelopes provided and arrive at the
designated Post Office box in Vienna, Virginia, by 5 PM on
September 15.
* The Ohio QSO Party on August 22 has announced some rule changes.
First, 160 meters has been added to the list of bands for the
contest. Second, more than one call sign may be used at one
station. -- Thanks to the Portage County Amateur Radio Service
(PCARS) RADIOGRAM

-------------------------------------------------------------------

SAQ Alexanderson Day in the Age of COVID-19

Despite mid-summer conditions, at least seven US listeners, most of
them radio amateurs, were able to copy the 17.2 kHz signal from the SAQ
Alexanderson alternator at the World Heritage Grimeton Radio Station in
Sweden. The July 5 transmission from the vintage electro-mechanical
transmitter commemorated the annual Alexanderson Day. All told, more
than 600 reception reports were received -- a new record.

"The odds were not optimal this year, with the ongoing coronavirus
pandemic, and early Sunday morning, the rain was pouring down, and
heavy wind gusts made it hard to even take a peek at the

Kai Sundberg, SA6KSU, at the helm of
SAQ in a radio uniform dating back
to the 1960s.

antennas outdoors," the report from SAQ said. "The transmitter hall was
empty except for five members of the Alexander Association."

Dating from the 1920s, the Alexanderson alternator -- essentially an ac
alternator run at extremely high speed -- can put out 200 kW, but is
typically operated at less than half that power level. Once providing
reliable transatlantic communication, it is now a museum piece and only
put on the air on special occasions.

The transmitter was developed by Swedish engineer and radio pioneer
Ernst Alexanderson, who was employed at General Electric in
Schenectady, New York, and was chief engineer at the Radio Corporation
of America.

Two Alexanderson Day transmissions were made. "On the first
transmission, the rainy weather was making it hard at first to reach
good output to the antenna, but after a few minutes with the 'VVV VVV
VVV de SAQ' loop, the system started to dry, and the amps [antenna
current] increased. Skies cleared for the second transmission later in
the day, and, according to the report, the antenna current rose to 60
A, which 'is optimal,'" the report said.

The occasion marked the inaugural transmission by Kai Sundberg, SA6KSU,
at the helm of SAQ in a radio uniform dating back to the 1960s.

An article about Alexanderson Day, "The Legacy of Radio at Grimeton
Station, SAQ," appears on page 66 of the July 2019 issue of QST.
Lost Video Archive from 1997 Heard Island VK0IR DXpedition Found

The VK0IR DXpedition to Heard Island took place in January and February
of 1997. Co-Leader (with Peter Casier, ON6TT) Robert Schmieder, KK6EK,
shot a lot of video during the amateur radio adventure, but lost track
of it afterward. During the VK0IR DXpedition, DXers from around the
world were astounded that signals from the subantarctic Indian Ocean
could be heard at the bottom of the solar cycle. A team of 20 operators
carried out the massive, expensive, then-high-tech, and very successful
DXpedition, making a remarkable 80,673 contacts. The VK0IR story was
told in detail in the September 1997 issue of QST.

VK0IR operator Willy Reusch, HB9AHL.

"Recently, I discovered about 6 hours of video that I had shot during
the expedition, but which had never been seen -- not even by me!"
Schmieder told The Daily DX. "I divided the collection into six parts,
which I have posted to YouTube." Schmieder offered his introductions to
each segment:

"On 11 January 1997, 20 men landed on one of the most remote places in
the world: Heard Island, located in the Southern Ocean, almost to
Antarctica. They set up a village with all life support, including
accommodations, light and power, galley, and a huge array of radios,
antennas, and satellite communications gear.

"Over the next 2 weeks, using the call sign VK0IR, the team logged
80,673 contacts with radio operators worldwide, a new world record for
self-supported expeditions. The team also made daily explorations
around the island to document the rocks, glaciers, rivers, plants,
birds, and seals that are the dominant residents of this live volcano.
Many of you will remember this expedition, and quite a few of you made
significant contributions.

"The expedition was documented in numerous articles, presentations, and
professional videos, and received many awards, including a 2020 poll
that ranks it #1 among all such expeditions of the past 30 years.

"Unnoticed at the time, [I] shot 6 hours of video of all aspects of the
project. Unfortunately, these videos were lost until mid-2020, 23 years
later. No one, including [me], had ever viewed these videos. Upon
finding them, [I] divided the material into six separate parts. Other
than separation into the parts, the videos needed little editing. They
contain almost all of the material that was shot in 1997, and most of
it is in exactly the order it was shot."
* Part 1: Preparation (22:28)
* Part 2: Outbound (28:11)
* Part 3: Landing/Setup (52:38)
* Part 4: Operations (43:45)
* Part 5: Environment (52:14)
* Part 6: Departure (38:21)

These videos, which might offer an entertaining club presentation, are
also available by searching "Robert Schmieder Heard Island" on
YouTube.com. -- Thanks to The Daily DX

In Brief...

ARRL Volunteer Monitors recognized 13 operators in 10 states with Good
Operator letters during the second quarter of 2020. Among the operators
recognized were CW and SSB operators on 20 and 40 meters, outstanding
net operators on 2 meters (including a net control of the Central
Indiana SKYWARN Net), and an operator on 40 meters who demonstrated
exemplary courtesy and assistance to amateurs with technical issues.

Nearly 19,000 took part in the COVID-19 Communication Event earlier
this year. In the final tally, the international on-air
STAYHOME/STAYSAFE event logged 18,838 participants (with a median age
of 62) in 181 DXCC entities, who used CW, SSB, and FT8 to share
greetings during the 24-hour contest-like event. Thirty-nine registered
STAYHOME/STAYSAFE stations, many with STAYHOME suffixes, were on the
air from all continents, logging 120,181 contacts during the June 6 - 7
event. World winners were RG9A on CW; PP5JR on SSB; YO9HP on the
digital modes, and LY9A on multiple modes. The STAYHOME/STAYSAFE events
were organized jointly by Radio Arcala of Finland and Araucaria DX
Group of Brazil. -- Thanks to the COVID-19 Radio Communication Event
Organizing Committee
Getting It Right

An item in "Announcements" in the July 9 edition of The ARRL Letter
contained a metric-to-English conversion. A sentence should have said,
"The new receiver is located in BlA�fjAP:ll at an altitude of 690
meters (about 2,298 feet)."
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.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

* August 21 - 23 -- West Virginia State Convention, Weston, West
Virginia (now a free, Zoom-based online event)
* October 3 -- Kentucky State Convention, Bowling Green, Kentucky

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for
Amateur Radio News and Information.

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* Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday.

Subscribe to...
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* Origin: Outpost BBS@bbs.outpostbbs.net:10123 (1:18/200)

The ARRL Letter
August 13, 2020

* ARRL Welcomes Paul Z. Gilbert, KE5ZW, as Director of Emergency
Management
* ARRL Board Confers Awards
* Arecibo Observatory Reflector Dish Damaged When Cable Snaps
* ARRL Podcasts Schedule
* QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo to Become Twice-Yearly Event
* US Department of Defense to Share 3450 - 3550 MHz with 5G
Commercial Operations
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* Campus Radio Clubs Face an Altered Fall Landscape
* Announcements
* Russia-Ukraine "Radio War," HF Radars are Most Frequently Reported
Ham Band Intrusions
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
ARRL Welcomes Paul Z. Gilbert, KE5ZW, as Director of Emergency
Management

As another step in ARRL's increased focus on strengthening its
emergency communications capabilities and long-standing working
relationships with federal and state agencies and private emergency
response organizations, ARRL has hired Paul Z. Gilbert, KE5ZW, of Cedar
Park, Texas, as its first Director of Emergency Management.

Gilbert brings more than 30 years of experience in public service in
both his professional and amateur radio endeavors. Beginning with his
appointment as Emergency Coordinator in 1987, he has held multiple
positions in the ARRL Field Organization. Currently in his second term
as South Texas Section Manager, he has also served for more than a
decade as the West Gulf Division's Assistant Director for Public
Service, acting as liaison between Division leadership and local,
state, and federal emergency management organizations.

Professionally, Gilbert most recently was Radio Officer, HQ Staff, for
the Texas State Guard, where for the past 6 years he has been
responsible for planning and implementation of the organization's
communications capabilities. Previously, he was a Public Safety Radio
Coordinator for a Texas agency, charged with overseeing that
organization's large-scale disaster communications response and
identifying and eliminating in-state interoperability issues.

Gilbert, who has an Amateur Extra-class license, is a member of Army
MARS, and holds numerous DHS certifications, including COML, COMT, COMT
Instructor, and AUXCOM Communicator. He is a member of the FEMA
Regional Emergency Communications Coordination Working Group (RECCWG),
a graduate of the FEMA Emergency Management Institute's Exercise Design
Course, and was a founding member of the Texas Division of Emergency
Management Communications Coordination Group.

In his new role, Gilbert will manage a team responsible for supporting
ARRL Emergency Communications (EmComm) programs and services, including
the Amateur Radio Emergency Service^(R) (ARES^(R)) and National Traffic
System (NTS), as well as lead the continued modernization of those
programs in consonance with the future emergency communications needs
of the public and ARRL's key partners.
ARRL Board Confers Awards

Meeting in virtual session July 17 - 18, the ARRL Board of Directors
conferred three major awards.

The Hiram Percy Maxim Award

The ARRL Board conferred the 2020 ARRL Hiram Percy Maxim Award on Jacob
M. Nagel, AD0JA, of Wright City, Missouri. Licensed since 2012, the
Board cited Nagel for exemplifying the spirit of amateur radio by
learning new technologies, providing community service, and helping
with emergency communication. ARRL's top youth honor, the Hiram Percy
Maxim Memorial Award is given annually to a radio amateur and ARRL
member under the age of 21. The award consists of a $1,500 stipend and
an engraved plaque, to be presented at an ARRL convention or event.

The Board cited Nagel's involvement in providing technical assistance
to the Okaw Valley Amateur Radio Club and the Egyptian Radio Club of
Illinois for the installation and upgrading of their club repeaters;
advising the Germantown, Illinois, Fire Department on upgrading its
communication systems; speaking at the 2016 Dayton Hamvention^(R) Youth
Forum; sharing his expertise in online forums, and active involvement
in projects that allow him to integrate his amateur radio knowledge
with other technical ventures in electronics.

Knight Distinguished Service Award

The Board named veteran ARRL Rhode Island Section Manager Robert G.
"Bob" Beaudet, W1YRC, of Cumberland, Rhode Island, as the recipient of
the Knight Distinguished Service Award, given to an ARRL Section
Manager. Beaudet has been Rhode Island SM since 2002.

The Board cited Beaudet's active promotion of ARRL activities in his
Section, including visiting hundreds of Field Day operations;
participating in many Volunteer Examiner test sessions; attending
countless club meetings; staying active as a contester, DXer, and
mentor, and serving as a model to other Section Managers. The Board
said, "Beaudet's leadership of the ARRL Rhode Island Section Field
Organization has led to a strong working cadre of volunteers within the
Section."

Doug DeMaw, W1FB, Technical Excellence Award

The Board named Al Rabassa, NW2M, of Rockville, Maryland, as the
recipient of the Doug DeMaw, W1FB, Technical Excellence Award.

The Board cited Rabassa's frequent contributions to the QST "Hints &
Hacks" column and his QST technical articles, including "The Basics of
Fan Cooling." The Board also noted that Rabassa has served as a
subject-matter expert on the Yaesu FT-101 transceiver, maintaining a
website devoted to the technical aspects of the vintage transceiver
series.

Arecibo Observatory Reflector Dish Damaged When Cable Snaps

An auxiliary cable that helps to support a metal platform above the
Arecibo Observatory radio telescope's reflector dish in Puerto Rico
snapped in the early morning hours of August 10, causing a 100-foot
gash in the reflector dish. Operations at the world-famous observatory,
which is managed by the University of Central Florida (UCF), have been
halted until repairs can be made. When the 3-inch cable fell, it also
damaged about a half-dozen panels in the Gregorian dome above the dish
and twisted the platform used to access the dome. The cause of the
cable break is not yet clear.

The main collecting dish at Arecibo
is among the world's largest
single-dish radio telescopes. The
reflective dish is 1,000 feet in
diameter, 167 feet deep, and covers
an area of about 20 acres.

"We have a team of experts assessing the situation," Observatory
Director Francisco Cordova said. "Our focus is assuring the safety of
our staff, protecting the facilities and equipment, and restoring the
facility to full operations as soon as possible, so it can continue to
assist scientists around the world."

UCF manages the National Science Foundation (NSF) facility under a
cooperative agreement with Universidad Ana G. M�ndez and Yang
Enterprises Inc. Home to one of the most powerful telescopes on the
planet, the facility is used by scientists around the world to conduct
research in the areas of atmospheric sciences, planetary sciences,
radio astronomy, and radar astronomy. Arecibo is also home to a team
that runs the Planetary Radar Project supported by NASA's Near-Earth
Object Observations Program in NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination
Office, through a grant awarded to UCF.

The facility has endured many hurricanes, tropical storms, and
earthquakes since it was built 50 years ago. Repairs from Hurricane
Maria in 2017 are ongoing. Through it all, the facility has continued
to contribute to significant breakthroughs in space research in the
area of gravitational waves, asteroid characterization, planetary
exploration, and more.

The largest single-dish radio telescope in the world for decades,
Arecibo was bumped into second place in 2016 by the Five-hundred-meter
Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) in China.

The Arecibo Observatory Radio Club operates KP4AO at the site, mostly
on special occasions. -- Thanks to UCF and other sources
ARRL Podcasts Schedule

The latest episode of the On the Air podcast (Episode 8) features an
interview with brothers Andy, KK4LWR, and Tony, KD8RTT, Milluzzi about
the ARRL Collegiate Amateur Radio Initiative. 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 14) deals with
interference isssues and features a chat with David Hodge, N6AN, about
his work at Caltech with the radio astronomy team.

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.

-------------------------------------------------------------------


QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo to Become Twice-Yearly Event

The QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo over the August 8 - 9 weekend appears to
have been an unmitigated success, so much so that another virtual event
will be held next March.

[IMG]"It was far better than we expected," Virtual Ham Expo Dhair Eric
Guth, 4Z1UG/WA6IGR, told ARRL. "We had over 26,000 registered and over
14,000 on the platform both days."

Guth said event sponsors and exhibitors that he's heard from so far
"are thrilled with the turnout, engagement, and responses that they
received." He said they're also enthusiastic about the second QSO Today
Virtual Ham Expo, set for March 13 - 14, 2021. "Our plan is to offer
this twice a year," Guth added.

The show, an ARRL-sanctioned event, was developed on the vFairs virtual
conference platform, and cleverly re-created the atmosphere of a
typical large hamfest, with several tracks of forum sessions on a wide
array of topics. Those who had registered but did not log into the live
event can see it all on demand until September 9.

"All of the services, except the chat, are running," Guth noted. "The
doors are still open."

Dozens of video presentations are available to replay, including the
keynote given by the Editor of ARRL's National Contest Journal, Dr.
Scott Wright, K0MD, "COVID-19: Amateur Radio's Impact on Problem
Solving to Create a Global Response to the Pandemic." Presentations
from other ARRL member-volunteers span technical and operating
interests, including "Everything you need to know about Lithium
Batteries" with Marcel Stieber, AI6MS, and an introduction to creating
Arduino-based projects for home and ham radio, with Glen Popiel, KW5GP.
Presentations highlighting young ham involvement and development
include "Youth in Ham Radio," moderated by Carole Perry, WB2MGP, with
six youth presenters.

Guth said a poll would be sent to determine what visitors enjoyed most.
"However, my guess will be that the speakers were fantastic, along with
the moderators for the live Q&A afterwards," he said. Exhibitors will
also be polled for their post-show impressions.

[IMG]Icom, a principal sponsor of the event, had team members from
around the globe staff their exhibits. Icom America Senior Sales
Manager Ray Novak, N9JA, said the event supported their new product
launches including Icom's new IC-705 HF - 430 MHz all-mode 10-W
transceiver, which just received FCC certification.

"We really enjoyed the virtual event," said Novak. "It is our goal to
see this grow and to have hams from the various countries attend in
anticipation of this becoming a multilingual event as we all are
starving for ham radio events during this pandemic."

Kevin Zanjani, KI6DHQ, of Bioenno Power, also gave the virtual event
high marks. The show, he said, "was quite exciting and a great platform
to interact with customers and the entire ham radio community during
these times." Bioenno Power, based in Southern California, is a
provider of Lithium-Polymer (LiPo) batteries and solar-power devices.
Zanjani said the chatroom was very effective to engage with customers.
"Many also dropped by to say hello as well, so we found that nice."

Product Development Manager Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R, was among the ARRL
representatives engaging with event attendees using text and video
chat. He described the experience as having some similarities and some
differences from an in-person convention.

"Our team answered questions about ARRL membership programs and
services, amateur radio licensing, and even had some fun challenging
visitors to our booth with ham radio trivia," he said. Physically
located at ARRL Headquarters in Newington, Connecticut, Inderbitzen
treated more than 500 visitors to live, online tours from inside Hiram
Percy Maxim Memorial Station W1AW.

"It was fun to see a screen full of smiling faces, and to answer
questions in real time. The experience had an on-air feel," Inderbitzen
said. A short welcome video greeted visitors at the ARRL booth.

Guth said the organizers' challenge going forward is to reduce the
workflow in putting the show together. "But all in all, it was a lot of
work, I have a great team, the volunteer speakers and moderators were
out of this world, and I am grateful to our sponsors and exhibitors for
footing the bill," he added. Read more.
US Department of Defense to Share 3450 - 3550 MHz with 5G Commercial
Operations

The FCC will auction sharing rights to the upper 50 MHz of the 3300 -
3500 MHz secondary amateur radio allocation to commercial 5G interests
in the wake of the Department of Defense (DoD) agreement to share
spectrum at 3450 - 3550 MHz. The entire band currently supports a
variety of military operations, and amateur radio has a long history of
peaceful coexistence with the Department of Defense as a secondary user
of this spectrum.

Late last year, the FCC proposed to delete the amateur 3300 - 3500 MHz
secondary allocation as well as the amateur-satellite allocation at
3400 - 3410 MHz. The FCC could auction the 100 MHz of spectrum in early
2022. This latest move makes a contiguous band of spectrum from 3450 -
3980 MHz available for commercial 5G networks.

"For a number of years, the National Telecommunications and Information
ministration (NTIA) and FCC have focused on the 3450 - 3550 MHz band
as the spectrum most conducive to sharing with commercial users," said
ARRL Washington Counsel David Siddall, K3ZJ. "Monday's statements
announced that a framework for sharing has been worked out."

In December 2019, the FCC adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
(NPRM) in WT Docket 19-348 proposing to delete the 3300 - 3500 MHz
secondary amateur band. ARRL strongly opposed the move in its comments
on the NPRM, which put forward the FCC's plans to remove "existing
non-federal secondary radiolocation and amateur allocations" in the
3300 - 3500 MHz band and to consider options for relocating incumbent
non-federal operations.

Siddall said the spectrum below 3450 MHz presents a more difficult
government/commercial sharing scenario, and that future sharing there
remains uncertain. "We continue to argue that the amateur secondary
allocation should not be deleted in this band," he said. "We recognize

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai.

that our access is secondary, and ask only to be given a chance to use
our considerable technical skills to work around whatever future uses
may be implemented in this spectrum."

"Together with the spectrum being made available for 5G in the C-band
as well as the 3.5 GHz band, we are now on track to have a
530-megahertz swath of mid-band spectrum available for 5G from 3.45 to
3.98 GHz," FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said in a statement. "The FCC looks
forward to moving quickly to adopt service rules for the 3.45 GHz band
and then hold an auction to bring this prime mid-band spectrum to
market." Read more.

The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: New Sunspot Cycle 25 continues to
make a strong showing. Sunspots have appeared every day over the past 3
weeks. Average daily sunspot numbers for the week slipped a bit from
19.6 to 14.3 this week, but average daily solar flux increased from
72.8 to 73.8. Geomagnetic indicators remain quiet. Both the average
daily planetary and mid-latitude A index were 3.7.

Predicted solar flux for the next 6 weeks is 74 on August 13 - 15; 72
on August 16 - 27; 73 on August 28 - 29; 75 on August 30 - September 9;
73 on September 10 - 11; 72 on September 12 - 23; 73 on September 24 -
25, and 75 on September 26. This is a welcome change from recent
forecasts, which saw predicted solar flux consistently below 70.

Predicted planetary A index forecasts continued quiet geomagnetic
conditions, at 5 on August 13 - 23; 8 on August 24 - 25; 5 on August 26
- 28; then 8, 16, and 8 on August 29 - 31; 5 on September 1 - 19; 8 on
September 20 - 21; 5 on September 22 - 24, and 8 and 16 on September 25
- 26.

Sunspot numbers for August 6 - 12 were 14, 14, 11, 13, 12, 12, and 24,
with a mean of 14.3. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 73.1, 74, 74.7, 73.9,
74.2, 73.5, and 73.1, with a mean of 73.8. Estimated planetary A
indices were 5, 4, 5, 3, 3, 3, and 3, with a mean of 3.7. Middle
latitude A index was 4, 5, 5, 3, 3, 3, and 3, with a mean of 3.7.

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. For customizable
propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio website.

Share your reports and observations.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Just Ahead in Radiosport
* August 15 - 16 -- SARTG World Wide RTTY Contest
* August 15 - 16 -- ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest (CW, phone, digital)
* August 15 - 16 -- Russian District Award Contest (CW, phone)
* August 15 - 16 -- Keyman's Club of Japan Contest (CW)
* August 15 -- Feld Hell Sprint
* August 15 - 16 -- North American QSO Party SSB
* August 15 - 16 -- CVA DX Contest, CW
* August 16 -- SARL HF Digital Contest
* August 16 -- NJQRP Skeeter Hunt (CW, phone)
* August 16 -- ARRL Rookie Roundup RTTY
* August 16 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)


Campus Radio Clubs Face an Altered Fall Landscape

Many colleges and universities are preparing incoming students for fall
classes, amid a complex landscape of re-entry plans due to COVID-19.
Schools are pursuing a variety of instructional modalities, including
live and asynchronous online classes, reduced-size or no in-person
classes, and hybrid classes with some mix of it all. At schools where
in-person attendance is allowed, the emphasis is on classes. Related
student activities, such as sports, clubs, and so on may be nonexistent
or extremely limited, due to the demands of social distancing and the
need to repurpose facilities and rooms for lower densities. As
institutions are forced to make hard choices, it's going to be more
important than ever for school amateur radio clubs to find ways to
continue, even if in-person meetings are impossible.Some campus radio
clubs continue to sponsor training and testing of new hams by using
videoconferencing and asynchronous communications to offer instruction
and support.

ARRL's Instructor Discount Program includes reduced-price self-study
license manuals, including the popular ARRL Ham Radio License Manual.
The discount program is ordinarily offered to ARRL-registered
instructors, but ARRL has temporarily extended the program to any
in-school students who call to order ARRL License Manuals by
referencing their school radio club or their ARRL-registered
instructor. Call toll-free (888) 277-5289, Monday - Friday, 8 AM - 5 PM
Eastern Time.

Club instructors can download free instructional resources for use with
The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual, including PowerPoint slides,
syllabus, and study review questions. Some college clubs are providing
scheduled online license tests. For example, the Columbia University
Amateur Radio Club in New York City and the MIT Radio Society in
Cambridge, Massachusetts, have scheduled online license examinations.

To make club resources available when in-person gatherings are not
possible, some college clubs have remote-enabled their radio stations.
California Polytechnic (Cal Poly) recently shared the details of the
monthly ARRL Collegiate Amateur Radio Initiative (CARI) web conference
in July. The monthly online conferences continue into the fall.

The Collegiate QSO Party is planned for September 19 - 20. The QSO
Party is an operating event focused on amateur radio clubs at colleges
and universities around the world. Each fall, the Collegiate QSO Party
provides an opportunity for clubs to demonstrate amateur radio to new
members, engage with alumni, and promote activity throughout college
and university communities. Read more. -- Thanks to Bob Inderbitzen,
NQ1R

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Announcements
* The Duga-2 was one of three Soviet Russian over-the-horizon radar
(OTHR) sites, now just outside the Chernobyl exclusion zone. In
operation from 1976 until 1986, it was dubbed the "Russian
Woodpecker" by radio amateurs for the widespread havoc it wrought
on the HF bands. BBC Reel has posted a short video about it, in
Russian and English, with English subtitles.

[IMG]

The Russian Woodpecker Duga-2 site.
[BBC Reel, image]

* The GQRP Club has released a detailed agenda for its Online
Convention 2020, Saturday and Sunday, September 5 - 6. The online
event, which replaces the club's annual GQRP convention at Telford
due to current COVID-19 restrictions, is open to existing members.
A special rate for non-members will include GQRP Club membership
until January 2022.
* The Antique Wireless Association (AWA) 2020 Virtual Conference
presentations are available on YouTube. New videos will be added
daily through August 14. -- Thanks to Mark Erdle, AE2EA
* David Burger, K3HZ/VK2CZ, has pointed out a couple of online
Engineering and Technology History Wiki articles regarding the
manufacture of transmitting tubes that make interesting reading.
One discusses Eimac, and the other Heintz and Kaufman.
* ARRL Volunteer Historical Archivist Michael Marinaro, WN1M, is the
recipient of the Antique Wireless Association Bruce Kelley Award
for his historical article, "Early Wireless -- Magazines, Clubs,
and War."
* The Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) has released its Board
proceedings for January to April 2020. They include mention of a
possible new UK Beginners amateur radio license.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Russia-Ukraine "Radio War," HF Radars are Most Frequently Reported Ham
Band Intrusions

The Russia-Ukraine "radio war" and the Russian over-the-horizon radar
(OTHR) "Contayner" were the most frequently reported amateur band
intruders during July, according to the International Amateur Radio
Union Monitoring System (IARUMS). IARUMS characterized the ongoing
broadcast radio war transmissions between the neighboring nations as
"spiteful and provocative." Clandestine stations have appeared on
7.055, 7.090, and 7.110 MHz. IARUMS has determined

The Russian OTHR "Contayner" signal
on 40 meters last fall.

that the heavy harmful interference from the Contayner Russian OTHR is
coming from a location east of Moscow. Contayner OTHR signals have been
monitored on various frequencies on 40, 20, and 15 meters, with a
typical occupied bandwidth of about 12 kHz.

"Sometimes, we also found the 20 kHz wide OTHR from the UK base in
Cyprus, but less than in previous years," reported IARUMS Region 1
Coordinator Peter Jost, HB9CET, in the July newsletter. "Due to some
band openings at 10 meters, some of us [also] heard several driftnet
fishing buoys."

Owing to vagaries in ITU Radio Regulations footnotes that relate to
amateur radio frequencies, however, not every signal classified as an
intruder is actually an intruder. It could be a signal that complies
with the regulations, Jost pointed out to readers.

"The numerous footnotes of the ITU Radio Regulations must always be
taken into account," Jost said. "For example, the 14,250 - 14,350 kHz
range is primarily assigned to the fixed service in some [countries].
Since we cannot determine the origin of signals with absolute
certainty, they are usually recorded as intruders, even if there is the
possibility of an exception, due to a footnote."

The latest IARU-R1 Monitoring System newsletter includes reports from
German radio amateurs on the large number of fishery buoys operating on
10 meters, where amateur radio is primary.

Listeners outside of Region 1 can monitor the HF online using one of
the many web-based SDR receivers.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

* August 21 - 23 -- West Virginia State Convention, Weston, West
Virginia (now a free, Zoom-based online event)
* October 3 -- Kentucky State Convention, Bowling Green, Kentucky

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for
Amateur Radio News and Information.

.

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* Join or Renew Today! Eligible US-based members can elect to receive
QST or On the Air magazine in print when they join ARRL or when
they renew their membership. All members can access digital
editions of all four ARRL magazines: QST, On the Air, QEX, and NCJ.

* Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday.

Subscribe to...
* NCJ -- National Contest Journal. Published bimonthly, features
articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA
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Free of charge to ARRL members...
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----------------------------------------------------------------------

The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 50 times each year. ARRL members
and registered guests may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing
their profile.

Copyright (c) 2020 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and
distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is permitted for
non-commercial or educational purposes, with attribution. All other
purposes require written permission.


--- SendMsg/2

--- Squish/386 v1.11
* Origin: Outpost BBS@bbs.outpostbbs.net:10123 (1:18/200)

The ARRL Letter
August 20, 2020

* IARU Announces HF Digital Mode Band Plan Review
* Amateur Radio Stood Ready for Isaias Throughout Storm's East Coast
Visit
* New Smartphone App Can Identify Unknown Data Modes
* ARRL Podcasts Schedule
* Rene Fonseca, NP3O, Elected as Puerto Rico Section Manager
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* New Contest for Portable Stations to Debut
* Technology and Technique Making Ham Radio Testing Possible During
Pandemic
* Intrepid-DX Group Announces Winners of Youth "Dream Rig" Essay
Contest
* Announcements
* Past Puerto Rico Section Manager Victor Madera, KP4PQ, SK
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
IARU Announces HF Digital Mode Band Plan Review

An International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) working group has been
formed to develop solutions to reduce congestion within very popular
mode segments while preventing mutual interference between
"incompatible modes" as much as possible. The working group includes
representatives of the three regional band-planning committees, marking
the first time the three IARU regions have joined together to directly
coordinate band-planning efforts.

"Because frequency allocations and amateur radio operating interests
vary in different parts of the world, the development of band plans --
voluntary guidelines on the use of the spectrum that is available to
radio amateurs -- is a responsibility of the three IARU regional
organizations," the IARU explained in announcing the working group.
"Each of the three regions has a band-planning committee to focus on
this work."

The IARU says this approach to band planning has generally kept pace
with the evolution of amateur radio operating, but the explosive growth
in HF digital modes, particularly FT8, has led to perceived
overcrowding of HF digital-mode band segments.

The new working group has already had fruitful discussions with the
WSJT Development Group headed by Joe Taylor, K1JT. ditional
discussions including other HF stakeholders will be held as part of a
fundamental review of the different HF digital modes, and how they can
best be categorized and arranged to share the limited spectrum
available.

In recent years, moves have been made to bring the regional band plans
into alignment wherever possible. Final approval of any band plan
revisions typically occurs during regional conferences of IARU
member-societies, held every 3 years on a rotating basis.

Due to recent administrative changes, however, revisions can be
implemented without having to wait for the regional conferences.
Amateur Radio Stood Ready for Isaias Throughout Storm's East Coast
Visit

In a hurricane season now predicted to be worse than originally
thought, Hurricane/Tropical Storm Isaias was an opportunity for amateur
radio volunteers along the US eastern seaboard to exercise their
preparedness. The Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) initiated two sessions,
totaling more than 50 hours to track Isaias as it approached landfall.

In Southern Florida, Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC) John Wells,
W4CMH, said Indian River County Amateur Radio Emergency Service had
operators at three shelters, and a few clients housed overnight on
August 1. St. Lucie County went to Level 1 (full activation) on August
1, but no shelters were opened, and no ARES members were deployed. "St.
Lucie County ARES was operational from a remote location, although they
were prepared to staff the radio room at the Emergency Operations
Center (EOC)," Wells said.

Northern Florida ARES was never called up, but members did monitor the
situation. "We are still early in the season, and I hope it will be a
quiet year, but time will only tell," said Northern Florida SEC Karl
Martin, K4HBN.

"The New York City-Long Island Section had a lot of downed trees and
wires across the whole island," NYC-Long Island Section Manager Jim
Mezey, W2KFV, reported. "ARES was in standby mode for the Red Cross and
other served agencies. Many clubs had information nets helping people
to find needed supplies." Power was lost for a time in some areas.

"All is well for the most part in Southern New Jersey," Section Manager
Tom Preiser, N2XW, reported. "We were inundated with power outages. We
activated SKYWARN and made reports to NWS-Mount Holly. Many trees and
tree limbs are down, and there was a great deal of activity on the
repeaters."

Delaware SEC Dave Scott, KC3BEJ, reported nearly 5 inches of rain in
the northern part of the state. "Areas of central Delaware -- around
Dover Air Force Base and southern New Castle County -- got a good punch
in the nose, with several confirmed tornadoes," he said. Several
tractor trailer trucks tipped over on Route 1 in southern New Castle
County and some 60,000 people statewide lost power. "There was no call
for amateur radio assistance from any state, county, or municipal
emergency management authorities," Scott said. "Most of our regular
repeaters remained fully operational." An emergency frequency of 3.905
MHZ allowed good communication with southern Delaware.

"Storm Isaias moved rapidly through the Eastern and coastal areas of
Maryland," Maryland-DC (MDC) Section Manager Marty Pittinger, KB3MXM,
told ARRL. "From onset to conclusion, tropical storm conditions lasted
approximately 12 hours." Two Maryland counties more than 100 miles
apart received tornado damage, while high wind-driven rain soaked much
of the region. Pittinger reported, "The MDC Section was in touch with a
regional Red Cross representative and state emergency managers, and our
ARES [volunteers] maintained awareness." Hospitals and the health
department in Prince George County were advised that ARES was on
standby for them.

Eastern New York saw Isaias as a tropical storm that came directly up
the Hudson Valley from the Greater New York City area, said Section
Emergency Coordinator Dave Galletly, KM2O. On August 4, the NWS in
Albany issued a tornado watch for mid- and upper-Hudson River Valley
counties, and a SKYWARN net was initiated on a regional repeater. Two
more tornado warnings, several flash flood warnings, and high wind
advisories were issued before the net shut down. Radio amateurs filed
multiple reports of flash flooding, road closures, and wind damage.
"Record-setting rainfall was reported across the forecast area,"
Galletly added.

ARES volunteers in the Eastern Massachusetts Section supported the
NWS-Norton office's SKYWARN program, with winds gusting to 70 MPH,
leading to downed trees and power lines. "Just to our west, conditions
were significantly worse," Eastern Massachusetts SEC Rob Macedo, KD1CY,
reported. The NWS-Norton SKYWARN program encompasses neighboring ARRL
New England Sections. "Connecticut had a top-five event for total
number of power outages," Macedo said, noting some 700,000 customers
without power. ARES/SKYWARN teams in Connecticut and Rhode Island
collaborated on damage assessment.

ARES members in Vermont, a state not typically associated with tropical
cyclones, initiated VHF and HF nets to share information on conditions.
"Participation by ARES and RACES members was high," reported SEC Cathy
James, NQ1B. "It was clear that storm conditions were not as bad as
predicted." [Editor's note: This article represents a select summary of
amateur radio activities during the passage of Isaias.]

New Smartphone App Can Identify Unknown Data Modes

An incredible number of digital-mode radio signals occupy the spectrum,
and it's not always possible to identify the particular mode of
operation. CW, PSK31, and FT8 are pretty easy, but how about CIS405,
STANAG, or CHIP64? A new smartphone app can simplify things. SignalID
can recognize about 20 signal modes (more may be on the way), in just 5
seconds of recording time. The app is open source and free.

Using it is simple. Once the frequency and bandwidth have been set, the
user places the cell phone's microphone near the receiver's speaker,
presses the large button, and waits for 5 seconds. The quieter the
external environment is, the fewer errors.

"The algorithm is based on frequency, [so incorrect tuning] will result
in an erroneous detection. The recording is limited to 5 seconds, for
practical reasons. Mode recognition may require several attempts, the
developer, Tortillum, said, and upgrades are already in the works. "The
easiest way to try [it] is RTTY or STANAG," the developer added.

The very few comments so far from users suggest some further work may
be needed, but they praised the concept. The developer invites
additional comments.

The application, which includes a complete list, could prove a valuable
tool in determining the types of emissions that may stray into amateur
radio bands. A demonstration video is available. -- Thanks to Southgate
Amateur Radio News via Stephen Walters, G7VFY

-------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL Podcasts Schedule

The latest episode of the On the Air podcast (Episode 8) features an
interview with brothers Andy, KK4LWR, and Tony, KD8RTT, Milluzzi about
the ARRL Collegiate Amateur Radio Initiative. 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 14) deals with
interference issues and features a chat with David Hodge, N6AN, about
his work at Caltech with the radio astronomy team.

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.

Rene Fonseca, NP3O, Elected as Puerto Rico Section Manager

Rene Fonseca, NP3O, has been elected as ARRL Puerto Rico Section
Manager (SM), defeating two other candidates, including incumbent Oscar
Resto, KP4RF. Fonseca, of Fajardo, received 85 votes; Juan Sepulveda
Mercado, KP3CR, garnered 48 votes, and incumbent Section Manager Oscar
Resto, KP4RF, got 31 votes. Resto has been Puerto Rico's Section
Manager since 2016. An ARRL Life Member, Fonseca is returning as SM,
having served previously from 2012 to 2016.

The Puerto Rico SM election was the only contested election in the
summer round of voting. Ballots were counted on August 18 at ARRL
Headquarters.
* In Minnesota, Bill Mitchell, AE0EE, of Minneapolis, will become the
new Section Manager this fall. Mitchell was the only nominee when
the nomination deadline arrived in early June. Incumbent Skip
Jackson, KS0J, chose not to run for a new term after a 16-year run
that began in 2004.
* In North Dakota, Richard Budd, W0TF, will begin a full 2-year term
of office after being appointed in June to succeed Nancy Yoshida,
K0YL. She stepped down to become vice president of the YL
International Single Sideband System.

The following incumbent SMs ran unopposed and were considered elected.
Chuck Motes, K1DFS (Connecticut); Dan Marler, K7REX (Idaho); Scott
Yonally, N8SY (Ohio); Kevin O'Dell, N0IRW (Oklahoma); Barry Porter,
KB1PA (Southern Florida); Fred Kleber, K9VV (Virgin Islands), and Laura
Mueller, N2LJM (Western New York).

All new terms begin on October 1.

James Armstrong, NV6W, Named Santa Clara Valley SM

James Armstrong, NV6W, of San Jose, California, was appointed as Santa
Clara Valley (SCV) Section Manager following the untimely death on July
28 of incumbent Bill Ashby, AA6FC, just 4 weeks after he took office.
An ARRL Life Member, Ashby, also of San Jose, was 66 and the only
nominee for the position when nominations closed in March. Ashby had
earlier served as the Affiliated Club Coordinator from 2007 to 2010.
Armstrong will fulfill the remainder of the term, which expires on June
30, 2022.

His appointment by ARRL Radiosport and Field Services Manager Bart
Jahnke, W9JJ, followed consultation with ARRL Pacific Division Director
Jim Tiemstra, K6JAT. Armstrong served as an Assistant SM in the SCV
Section since 2013. A ham for more than 40 years, Armstrong also holds
a Second Class Radiotelegraph Operator certificate, a General
Radiotelephone Operator license, and a GMDSS Radio Operator/Maintainer
license, all with ship radar endorsements.
The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Sunspots disappeared on 4 days of the
past week, but then returned. The average daily sunspot number declined
from 14.3 to 5.4, while average daily solar flux went from 73.8 to 71.
Geomagnetic indicators remain quiet. Average daily planetery A index
increased from 3.7 to 4.4.

Predicted solar flux is 70 on August 20 - 26; 71 on August 27; 72 on
August 28 - 29; 73 on August 30 - September 5; 72 on September 6 - 9;
71 on September 10 - 11; 70 on September 12 - 19; 71 on September 20 -
23; 72 on September 24 - 25; 73 on September 26 - October 2, and 72 on
October 3.

Predicted planetary A index is 16, 8, and 5 on August 20 - 22; 8 on
August 23 - 25; 5 on August 26 - 28; 8, 16, and 8 on August 29 - 31; 5
on September 1 - 14; 10 on September 15 - 16; 5 on September 17 - 24;
then 8, 16, and 8 on September 25 - 27, and 5 on September 28 - October
3.

Sunspot numbers for August 13 - 19 were 11, 0, 0, 0, 0, 12, and 15,
with a mean of 5.4. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 72.3, 70.8, 70.6,
70.9, 70.8, 71.3, and 70.5, with a mean of 71. Estimated planetary A
indices were 4, 4, 3, 4, 3, 7, and 6, with a mean of 4.4. Middle
latitude A index was 5, 3, 3, 5, 3, 7, and 9, 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. For customizable
propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio website.

Share your reports and observations.

-------------------------------------------------------------------


Just Ahead in Radiosport
* August 22 - 24 -- Hawaii QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
* August 22 - 23 -- Ohio QSO Party (CW, phone)
* August 22 - 23 -- CVA DX Contest (Phone)
* August 22 - 23 -- 50 MHz Fall Sprint (CW, phone)
* August 26 -- SKCC Sprint (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 Contest for Portable Stations to Debut

A new amateur radio contest for portable operators -- the Fox Mike
Hotel Portable Operations Challenge (POC) -- will debut October 3 - 4.
The event is aimed at leveling the competitive playing field between
fixed stations and portable stations. Scoring for the POC, based upon a
kilometers-per-watt metric, will be handicapped in favor of the
portables. The contest is the brainchild of Frank Howell, K4FMH.
Sponsors include National Contest Journal (NCJ) -- an ARRL publication
-- but the POC will not be an official NCJ or ARRL contest.

"NCJ's role is to encourage hams who don't contest to give it a try,"
NCJ Editor Dr. Scott Wright, K0MD, said. "It will encourage activity by
operators who are limited by real estate and do not have a full-blown
contest station. Events like this stimulate more interest in
contesting, and this will have an international scope to give chances
to snare some new DXCC entities."

The contest rules say scoring will be calculated using the distance
between stations (Maidenhead grid squares) in kilometers divided by
power output in watts. Fixed (QTH) stations will compete against
portable (P) stations on 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters. Allowable modes
include phone, CW, and digital.

The exchange is call sign, station class (P or Q), consecutive serial
number, and four-character grid square.

Contact Howell for more information. Read more.

Technology and Technique Making Ham Radio Testing Possible During
Pandemic

Amateur radio license testing continues during the pandemic, with a
combination of remote Volunteer Examiner (VE) test sessions and careful
in-person session planning. In Hawaii, VE Team leader and Section
Manager Joe Speroni, AH0A, said he and his team passed the
100-candidate mark on August 10 for video-supervised remote test
sessions. Speroni said the most recent session administered exams to 10
candidates simultaneously.

"Candidates from all Hawaiian Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam, and US
military bases in Okinawa have had an opportunity to sit for licenses,"
he told the ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator. "The high pass rate of
95% is most likely due to candidates having had time to prepare for the
exam." Speroni also said his VEs' willingness to contribute their time
has made the program a success and available to a wide geographical
range.

"Zoom meeting video lends itself to handling three candidates per
session, and each requires three VEs," Speroni explained. "The 1:1
ratio of candidates to VEs makes planning important. Fortunately, the
team of 15 VEs has volunteers from Oahu, Maui, the Big Island,
California, and the Pacific. Often, hams from Okinawa and Guam are
helping to license and upgrade hams in Hawaii."

-------------------------------------------------------------------

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected licensing numbers as well as testing
protocols. ARRL VEC Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, reports that through
the end of July, overall FCC license activity was down by 15% compared
to the same period last year. New amateur licenses are down by 12% so
far in 2020, with 15,849 new licensees compared to 17,947 in 2019.
"Upgraded licenses are down by a staggering 23% -- 6,501 versus 4,984,"
Somma said. "The year-end prediction of 7,500 upgrades is much lower
than in previous years, which have averaged around 9,500."

-------------------------------------------------------------------

On the other side of the US, Rhode Island Section Manager and VE Bob
Beaudet, W1YRC, reports his club, the Blackstone Valley Amateur Radio
Club, conducted a "pandemic-compliant" open-air test session on August
8.

"Our governor in Rhode Island has directed citizens not to congregate
in groups greater than 15 outdoors," Beaudet said, estimating that
group size remained at around that number at any given time as
candidates arrived and left. "Some came early and left as new people
arrived," he said. "Also, we were rather widely spread out in the
parking lot." Everyone wore masks and observed appropriate social
distancing. The VEs grading and processing applications were also
spread widely apart. "We planned to keep applicants a car width apart
from one another, but many applicants came in rather large trucks,"
Beaudet recounted. "That changed our parking pattern a little."

The session accommodated one candidate who was severely vision impaired
and successfully upgraded to a General-class license, with a VE reading
the questions and recording his answers. -- Thanks to Joe Speroni,
AH0A, and Bob Beaudet, W1YRC
Intrepid-DX Group Announces Winners of Youth "Dream Rig" Essay Contest

The Intrepid-DX Group has announced the winners of its first annual
Youth "Dream Rig" Essay Contest. "We received over 60 essays from young
amateurs from all over the world," said Intrepid-DX Group President
Paul Ewing, N6PSE. "The essays were unique in thought and very
well-articulated. Extra points were given for proper grammar,
punctuation, and spelling. Most of the essays gave unique perspectives
on how to reach out and connect with the youth of today. We will be
sharing those ideas in subsequent postings."

The first-place winner and recipient of an Icom IC-7300 transceiver is
Faith Hannah Lea, KD3Z. She will also receive a vertical flagpole
antenna from Greyline Performance Antennas, a deluxe headset from Heil
Sound, a Powerwerx switching power supply donated by Steve Jones, N6SJ,
and a QRP Nano Morse Key-25-811P from GigaParts.

In second place was Charlie Meadows, N4VTI, who received a Yaesu FT-65
handheld transceiver donated by Ewing. In addition, he'll get a $50 DX
Engineering gift card from David Jorgensen, WD5COV.

Patrick Gawthrop, W9GGG, was the third-place winner and recipient of a
BaoFeng BF-F8HP handheld transceiver donated by Ewing. He will also
receive a $50 DX Engineering gift card from Jorgensen.

"Having read over 60 essays this week, we can tell you that our youth
are full of great ideas and they are brimming with enthusiasm to keep
our hobby alive well into the future," Ewing said. The Intrepid-DX
Group will publish several of the essays on its Facebook page. Read
more.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Announcements
* The Japan Telecommunications Ministry (MIC) announced that
effective August 20 all stations permitted to transmit on Japan's
160-meter allocation may now use SSB. The current Japan Amateur
Radio League (JARL) band plan suggests 1848 - 1875 kHz carrier
frequency for LSB. -- Thanks to Kenji Rikitake, JJ1BDX/N6BDX
* Veteran QRZ.com moderator Glen E. Zook, K9STH, of Richardson,
Texas, has died. QRZ.com president and founder Fred Lloyd, AA7BQ,
said Zook had been a content moderator on the popular site for at
least 20 years.
* The Radio Club of America (RCA) is inviting leadership nominations
for 2021. The nomination application is online. Individuals may
self-nominate by completing the form and emailing it to the
executive secretary. The nomination deadline is September 8. Direct
questions to Chip Cohen, W1YW.
* The High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) website
has had a makeover. The facility, operated by the University of
Alaska Fairbanks, can light up the ionosphere with 3.6 MW between
2.7 and 10 MHz and has been the subject of numerous conspiracy
theories. In this vein, HAARP "Area 49" T-shirt and glassware sales
support research. -- Thanks to Ward Silver, N0AX, via The ARRL
Contest Update
* Australian telecommunications regulator ACMA has approved the
issuance of 2 * 1 contest call signs with VJ, VK, and VL prefixes
to vanced-class licensees and to club stations for contest
operation only.
* Despite civil unrest in Mali, Jeff Dorsey, TZ4AM, reported on
August 17 that he was safe and very active on the air. He's been
spotted on 40, 20, and 17 meters, CW and SSB. Dorsey had reported
gunfire in his neighborhood. -- Thanks to The Daily DX

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Past Puerto Rico Section Manager Victor Madera, KP4PQ, SK

Victor Madera, KP4PQ, who served as Puerto Rico's Section Manager from
2000 until 2007, died on July 23. An ARRL Life Member, he was 90 years
old. Madera was instrumental in translating amateur radio study guides
and test materials into Spanish. Upon his retirement as Section
Manager, Madera was awarded the Knight Distinguished Service Award in
recognition of his outstanding service as a Section Manager.

First licensed in 1951, Madera served in the US Army Signal Corps
during the Korean War. He held a Bachelor's degree in electrical
engineering from the University of Puerto Rico in Mayag�ez, later
serving as the director of manufacturing for Westinghouse in Puerto
Rico and Haiti. He retired early due to health issues.

Madera held several ARRL Field Organization appointments over the
years, including Official Observer, Public Information Officer, State
Government Liaison, and Assistant Director for the ARRL Southeastern
Division. He served as team liaison/coordinator for the ARRL Volunteer
Examiner team in Puerto Rico and was International Amateur Radio Union
Region 2 auxiliary monitor.

Madera was a member of the Radio Club of America (RCA), the Quarter
Century Wireless Association (QCWA), and the Puerto Rico Amateur Radio
Club -- Federaci�n de Radio Aficionados de Puerto Rico. He was the
founder and first president and secretary of the Puerto Rico Amateur
Radio League (PRARL) -- an ARRL Special Service Club. Read more.
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.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

* August 21 - 23 -- West Virginia State Convention, Weston, West
Virginia (now a free, Zoom-based online event)
* October 3 -- Kentucky State Convention, Bowling Green, Kentucky

Find conventions and hamfests in your area.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for
Amateur Radio News and Information.

.

.
* Join or Renew Today! Eligible US-based members can elect to receive
QST or On the Air magazine in print when they join ARRL or when
they renew their membership. All members can access digital
editions of all four ARRL magazines: QST, On the Air, QEX, and NCJ.

* Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday.

Subscribe to...
* NCJ -- National Contest Journal. Published bimonthly, features
articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA
Sprint, and QSO parties.
* QEX -- A Forum for Communications Experimenters. Published
bimonthly, features technical articles, construction projects,
columns, and other items of interest to radio amateurs and
communications professionals.

Free of charge to ARRL members...
* Subscribe to the ARES E-Letter (monthly public service and
emergency communications news), the ARRL Contest Update (biweekly
contest newsletter), Division and Section news alerts -- and much
more!
* Find ARRL on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram!
----------------------------------------------------------------------

The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 50 times each year. ARRL members
and registered guests may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing
their profile.

Copyright (c) 2020 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and
distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is permitted for
non-commercial or educational purposes, with attribution. All other
purposes require written permission.


--- SendMsg/2

--- Squish/386 v1.11
* Origin: Outpost BBS@bbs.outpostbbs.net:10123 (1:18/200)

On 21 Aug 2020, Sean Dennis said the following...

The ARRL Letter

The Intrepid-DX Group has announced the winners of its first annual
Youth "Dream Rig" Essay Contest. "We received over 60 essays from

The first-place winner and recipient of an Icom IC-7300 transceiver
is Faith Hannah Lea, KD3Z. She will also receive a vertical flagpole

I'm so annoyed by this. Her essay was just the usual "show youth how fun it
is to make DX contacts" nonsense. Of course that's what OMs and the Intrepid group wants to hear, so the family of beggars wins again.

Problem is that when you talk to actual youth, they don't care at all about ragchewing with OMs or DX contacts or contesting. I hope they publish all the essays, because certainly there must be some good ideas in the sixty submissions.

- Andre, WT9X

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A45 2020/02/18 (Raspberry Pi/32)
* Origin: Runaan BBS (1:154/70)

The ARRL Letter
August 27, 2020

* Board of Directors Elects New ARRL CEO David Minster, NA2AA
* Amateur Radio Volunteers Ready as Deadly Hurricane Laura Makes
Landfall
* NASA's THEMIS Mission Investigates Aurora Mysteries
* ARRL Podcasts Schedule
* Candidates Set for 2020 ARRL Division Elections
* ARRL Seeks National Club Coordinator
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* Ham-Astronauts to Crew Boeing, SpaceX Commercial Missions for NASA
* Announcements
* In Brief...
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
Board of Directors Elects New ARRL CEO David Minster, NA2AA

The ARRL Board of Directors has elected David Minster, NA2AA, of Wayne,
New Jersey, as ARRL's new Chief Executive Officer, starting on
September 28. Minster is currently Managing Partner at Talentrian
Partners, a management consulting firm serving the consumer goods and
luxury goods industries.

Minster began his career as a software engineer, moving into management
at Unilever, as a Chief Information Officer of this globally recognized
portfolio of brands that includes Elizabeth Arden Company,
Chesebrough-Ponds Canada, Thomas J. Lipton Co., and others. From there,
he moved to fine jewelry manufacturer and retailer David Yurman, where
he served as COO and CIO. More recently, Minster served as CEO of
jewelry brands Scott Kay and Judith Ripka.

"Building a culture of accomplishment and accountability is what I do
best," he said. "My initial focus will be working with the Board on
establishing strategic goals and concrete plans to navigate ARRL
through the digital transformation required for the coming decades of
its Second Century. This includes exciting and innovative ways to be
engaged in amateur radio, while growing activity and membership."

Minster got his Novice license, WB2MAE, in 1977, when he was in his
teens. He progressed from vanced to Amateur Extra and, after a stint
as NW2D, he settled on the vanity call sign NA2AA in the 1990s as a way
to honor a mentor, N2AA, and the contest station that he used to
frequent, K2GL, in Tuxedo Park, New York.

Minster's ham radio pursuits have ranged far and wide over the years.
His background includes National Traffic System training and
participation in public service events, as well as contesting from
home, club stations, and contest stations in the Caribbean --
particularly on Bonaire, where he is a member of PJ4G. Primarily a CW
operator, Minster collects unique and vintage bugs and keys.

Minster earned a bachelor's degree in computer engineering from The
Ohio State University and has a special interest in satellites, digital
communications, remote operation, and ham radio computing and software.
He has written keyer software for the commercial market, and contest
logging, packet, and satellite telemetry software for personal use.

In addition to being an ARRL member, Minster is a member of AMSAT, the
Frankford Radio Club, the Straight Key Century Club, CWops, and the
North American QRP CW Club.

"I spend every day of my life, one way or another, engaged in amateur
radio. It is more than just a hobby for me; it is my community. It is
where I live; where I have built lifelong friendships, and friendships
that span the globe. Amateur radio allows me to dream and to
experiment. I can't wait to bring my energy and boundless enthusiasm in
service to ARRL."

ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, said, "We are excited to welcome
David as our new CEO, and look forward to his progressive leadership.
His experience in management and operations, plus his activities in
amateur radio, will serve our organization and members well."

Minster will succeed Barry J. Shelley, N1VXY, who was CEO in 2018, and
who has been serving as ARRL's Interim CEO since January 2020. Shelley
had been ARRL's Chief Financial Officer since January 1992.
Amateur Radio Volunteers Ready as Deadly Hurricane Laura Makes Landfall

Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES^(R)) teams along the Gulf Coast
were ready to assist as needed after Hurricane Laura made landfall as a
powerful and deadly Category 4 storm along the Texas-Louisiana border
with sustained winds of 150 MPH. The National Hurricane Center (NHC)
predicted "unsurvivable storm surge" was in the vicinity of 20 feet or
greater, driving Gulf waters inland into waterways and lowlands. More
than a half-million people in Louisiana and Texas were told to evacuate
ahead of the storm, but not everyone did -- or was able to leave.
Widespread power outages were reported. By Thursday morning, the
Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) had ratcheted its alert level up to 5 --
Catastrophic Response Mode -- and remained in operation even after the
hurricane hit.

"Once Laura has been downgraded to a Tropical Storm, we will focus on
helping to gather any post-storm reports from the areas that had been
hit," HWN Manager Bobby Graves, KB5HAV, said. "This includes the
relaying of any emergency or priority traffic."

At mid-week, ARRL South Texas Section Emergency Coordinator Jeffery
Walter, KE5FGA, said, "We have begun nightly Zoom meetings with North
Texas, South Texas, and ARRL Delta Division leadership. The areas
directly in the path of the storm may call for mutual aid support." He
assured that volunteers would be vetted and provided with necessary
information and a plan put in place to define their deployment period.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

The FCC has granted an ARRL request for a 30-day waiver to facilitate
relief communications in the wake of Hurricane Laura. The waiver
temporarily permits amateur data transmissions at a higher symbol rate
than currently permitted under the FCC's rules. ARRL pointed out in its
request that Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) members would be
working with federal, state, and local emergency management officials
to assist with disaster relief and may use radio modems capable of both
PACTOR 3 and PACTOR 4 emissions. The higher data rates PACTOR 4 offers
are critical to sending hurricane relief communications, including
lists of needed and distributed supplies. Read more.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

At 1200 UTC on Thursday, the NHC was reporting damaging winds and
flooding rainfall overspreading inland areas in western and central
Louisiana. "Life-threatening storm surge continues along much of the
Louisiana coastline," the report added. The storm was still packing 100
MPH winds. Laura was moving toward the north and that motion was
expected to continue through the day. A northeastward to
east-northeastward motion was expected Thursday night and Friday. Laura
was predicted to move across southwestern Louisiana Thursday morning,
and then continue northward across the state through the afternoon,
with the storm's center forecast to move over Arkansas Thursday night,
the mid-Mississippi Valley on Friday, and the mid-Atlantic states on
Saturday.

Voice over Internet Protocol Weather Net (VoIP-WX) Manager Rob Macedo,
KD1CY, was interviewed on The Weather Channel on Thursday morning.

In Louisiana and Texas, ARES teams were in standby status for local
emergency managers or served agencies, such as the Red Cross, to
request activation. Louisiana Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC) James
Coleman, AI5B, said earlier this week that activations would happen on
a parish-by-parish or on a regional basis as support is needed. The
Louisiana ARES Emergency Net activated on Wednesday on 3.878 and/or
7.255 MHz. The Delta Division Emergency Net was on standby Thursday.
Ham Aid emergency communication kits from ARRL Headquarters have been
pre-positioned in Louisiana for such situations since last year.

ARRL South Texas Section Manager -- and incoming ARRL Director of
Emergency Management -- Paul Gilbert, KE5ZW, was among those
participating in an August 26 ARRL Headquarters Emergency Response Team
(HQERT) Zoom meeting that also included Section leadership in Louisiana
and Mississippi. ARES members were advised to stay in touch with
Section Emergency Coordinators as well as district and local emergency
coordinators for any activation plans, but consensus of those at the
session was that volunteers would be needed. Gilbert stressed that ARES
volunteers should not self-deploy.

"Most staff members, including the HQERT, are working from home and
communicating with each other via email and Microsoft Teams," ARRL
Assistant Emergency Preparedness Manager Ken Bailey, K1FUG, said,
adding that W1AW was ready if needed.

NASA's THEMIS Mission Investigates Aurora Mysteries

According to a NASA report, a special type of aurora, draped
east-to-west across the night sky like a glowing pearl necklace, is
helping scientists to better understand the science of auroras. Known
as auroral beads, these lights often show up just before large auroral
displays, which are caused by electrical storms in space called
substorms. Previously, scientists weren't sure if auroral beads were
somehow connected to other auroral displays as a phenomenon in space
that precedes substorms, or if they are caused by disturbances closer
to Earth's atmosphere.

But powerful new computer models combined with observations from NASA's
Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms --
THEMIS -- mission have provided the first strong evidence of the events
in space that lead to the appearance of these beads, and demonstrated
the important role they play in our near space environment.

"Now we know for certain that the formation of these beads is part of a
process that precedes the triggering of a substorm in space," said
Vassilis Angelopoulos, principal investigator of THEMIS at UCLA. "This
is an important new piece of the puzzle."

A THEMIS Spacecraft.

By providing a broader picture than can be seen with the three THEMIS
spacecraft or ground observations alone, the new models have shown that
auroral beads are caused by turbulence in the plasma -- a fourth state
of matter, made up of gaseous and highly conductive charged particles
-- surrounding Earth. The results, recently published in Geophysical
Research Letters and Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics,
will ultimately help scientists better understand the full range of
swirling structures seen in the auroras.

"THEMIS observations have now revealed turbulences in space that cause
flows seen lighting up the sky as of single pearls in the glowing
auroral necklace," said Evgeny Panov, lead author on one of the new
papers and THEMIS scientist at the Space Research Institute of the
Austrian Academy of Sciences. "These turbulences in space are initially
caused by lighter and more agile electrons, moving with the weight of
particles 2,000 times heavier, and which theoretically may develop to
full-scale auroral substorms."

-------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL Podcasts Schedule

The latest episode of the On the Air podcast (Episode 8) features an
interview with brothers Andy, KK4LWR, and Tony, KD8RTT, Milluzzi about
the ARRL Collegiate Amateur Radio Initiative. 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 15) features a
chat with Bob Allison, WB1GCM, about HF transceiver shopping -- getting
the best performance for the money.

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.

-------------------------------------------------------------------


Candidates Set for 2020 ARRL Division Elections

The candidates for the 2020 ARRL Division elections are now official.
ARRL members will choose between two candidates for Director in the
Dakota and Great Lakes Divisions in this year's election cycle, and
from among three candidates for Vice Director in the Great Lakes
Division and between two candidates in the Midwest Division. In the
Atlantic and Delta Divisions, incumbents are unopposed for both
Director and Vice Director. In the Dakota Division, the sitting Vice
Director is running unopposed, while in the Midwest Division, the
current Vice Director is the only candidate for Director.

Declared Elected Without Opposition
* In the Atlantic Division, Director Tom Abernethy, W3TOM, who has
held the seat since 2015, and Vice Director Bob Famiglio, K3RF,
elected to a 3-year term (2015 - 2018) and then appointed in 2019
to fill a vacancy when the incumbent stepped down.
* In the Dakota Division, Vice Director Lynn Nelson, W0ND, in office
since 2018.
* In the Delta Division, Director David Norris, K5UZ, who's served in
that office since 2012, and Vice Director Ed Hudgens, WB4RHQ,
appointed in 2013.
* In the Midwest Division, current Vice Director Art Zygielbaum,
K0AIZ, will become the new Director in January, succeeding
incumbent Rod Blocksome, K0DAS, who is not seeking a new term.
Zygielbaum has been Vice Director since 2014.

Contested Seats
* In the Dakota Division, incumbent Director Matt Holden, K0BBC, in
office since 2018, is being challenged by Vernon "Bill" Lippert,
AC0W.
* In the Great Lakes Division, incumbent Director Dale Williams,
WA8EFK, who has held the seat since 2014, will face off against
Michael Kalter, W8CI, who is treasurer of the Dayton Amateur Radio
Association.
* In the Great Lakes Division, members will choose from among three
candidates to succeed incumbent Vice Director Thomas Delaney,
W8WTD, who is not running for another term. They are current Ohio
Section Manager Scott Yonally, N8SY; Jim Hessler, K8JH, who is vice
president of the Grand Rapids Amateur Radio Association, and Frank
Piper, KI8GW, Yonally's predecessor as Ohio Section Manager.
* In the Midwest Division, members will choose between Dave Propper,
K2DP, a current Assistant Director, and Lloyd Colston, KC5FM, a
past Oklahoma Section Manager, to fill the Vice Director's chair
that Zygielbaum is vacating.

Balloting for contested seats will take place this fall. Votes will be
counted, and successful candidates announced, in November.
ARRL Seeks National Club Coordinator

ARRL is seeking a National Club Coordinator who will act as the primary
point of contact for Section Affiliated Club Coordinators. Section
Affiliated Club Coordinators work with clubs to foster and coordinate
activities to promote recruiting and training of new radio amateurs,
endorse ARRL membership, and impart a positive image of amateur radio
within the community.

In addition to maintaining lines of communication with Section
Affiliated Club Coordinators, the National Club Coordinator will
develop presentations for in-person audiences and electronic media. The

National Club Coordinator will also maintain affiliated club records
and provide information and support to Affiliated Club Coordinators so
they can assist clubs in keeping the ARRL affiliated club database
current. This individual will also process applications from clubs
seeking ARRL affiliation.

The National Club Coordinator will design, write, and produce a
newsletter and contribute content for QST, the ARRL website, and social
media venues. The incumbent will also represent ARRL at amateur radio
events, deliver presentations on the work of ARRL and the value of
membership, and interact with members on behalf of the organization.

The successful candidate will be able to conduct business in a
professional manner, effectively represent ARRL at amateur radio
events, and maintain productive working relationships and open
communication between staff and the Field Organization. He or she will
have at least 3 years of similar or related experience; past service as
a club officer is a plus.

Applicants should have a 2- or 4-year college degree or possess
job-specific skills acquired through on-the-job training or an
apprenticeship.

The ideal candidate will exhibit courtesy, tact, and diplomacy on the
job and be able to build relationships and solicit cooperation both
within and outside the organization. Other skills include a working
knowledge of Microsoft Office, desktop applications, online
videoconferencing tools, and managing social media platforms.

For complete information on this opening, see the full job description,
which includes instructions on how to submit a resume.

The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Our closest star seems to have
quieted again. We have now experienced 6 consecutive days with no
sunspots at all.

The average daily sunspot number dropped from 5.4 to 1.9 this week, and
average daily solar flux declined from 71 to 70.4. Geomagnetic
indicators increased marginally, with average daily planetary A index
going from 4.4 to 5.1, and average middle latitude A index from 5 to 6.

Predicted solar flux is 70 on August 27 - September 2; 71 on September
3; 72 on September 4 - 9; 71 on September 10 - 16; 70 on September 17 -
27; 71 on September 28 - 30; 72 on October 1 - 6, and 71 on October
7-10.

Predicted planetary A index is 8 on August 27 - 28; 10, 12, and 12 on
August 29 - 31; 8 on September 1; 5 on September 2 - 17; 8 on September
18 - 19; 10, 15, and 10 on September 20 - 22; 5, 10, 12, and 18 on
September 23 - 26; 15 on September 27 - 28; 12 on September 29, and 5
on September 30 - October 10.

Sunspot numbers for August 20 - 26 were 13, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, and 0, with
a mean of 1.9. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 69.9, 70.9, 70, 70.6, 70.3,
70.6, and 70.4, with a mean of 70.4. Estimated planetary A indices were
3, 4, 8, 7, 3, 4, and 7, with a mean of 5.1. Middle latitude A index
was 4, 5, 13, 7, 3, 3, and 7, with a mean of 6.

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. For customizable
propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio website.

Share your reports and observations.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Just Ahead in Radiosport
* August 29 -- Kentucky State Parks on the Air (CW, phone, digital)
* August 29 - 30 -- ALARA Contest (CW, phone)
* August 29 - 30 -- W/VE Islands QSO Party (CW, phone)
* August 29 - 30 -- SCC RTTY Championship
* August 29 - 30 -- YO DX HF Contest (CW, phone)
* August 29 - 30 -- World Wide Digi DX Contest
* August 29 - 30 -- Kansas QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
* August 30 -- SARL HF CW Contest
* August 31 -- QCX Challenge (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.

Ham-Astronauts to Crew Boeing, SpaceX Commercial Missions for NASA

Ham-astronauts abound among crew members assigned to pioneering
commercial space missions by Boeing and SpaceX. Jeanette Epps, KF5QNU,
is the latest astronaut assigned to the Boeing Starliner-1, a
four-passenger vehicle that will undertake its first mission to the
International Space Station (ISS) in 2021. Others on the crew will
include veteran Sunita Williams, KD5PLB, and Josh Cassada, KI5CRH.
Another crew member is yet to be named.

Jeanette Epps, KF5QNU.
[NASA, photo]

Epps, Williams, and Cassada will spend 6 months on the ISS. The flight
will follow NASA certification after a successful uncrewed Orbital
Flight Test-2 and Crew Flight Test with astronauts. The spaceflight
will be the first for Epps and Cassada and the third for Williams, who
spent long-duration tours on the ISS for Expeditions 14/15 and 32/33.
NASA assigned Williams and Cassada to the Starliner-1 mission in August
2018.

Four veteran astronauts are preparing to launch this fall on the SpaceX
Crew 1 mission. They are Victor Glover, KI5BKC; Mike Hopkins, KF5LJG;
Shannon Walker, KD5DXB, and Soichi Noguchi, KD5TVP, of the Japan
Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

Boeing Starliner 1 crew
members Josh Cassada, KI5CRH,
and Sunita Williams, KD5PLB.

NASA and SpaceX are targeting no earlier than October 23 for the first
operational flight with astronauts of the Crew Dragon spacecraft and
Falcon 9 rocket as part of the agency's Commercial Crew Program. The
SpaceX Crew-1 mission will be the first regular rotational mission to
the space station following completion of NASA certification.

Astronauts Bob Behnken, KE5GGX, and Doug Hurley traveled to the ISS on
a SpaceX Crew Dragon in late May, marking the first time that humans
traveled aloft via a commercial spacecraft.

NASA's SpaceX Crew-1 crew members in
the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft
during training. From left to right:
Shannon Walker, KD5DXB; Victor
Glover, KI5BKC; Mike Hopkins,
KF5LJG, and Soichi Noguchi, KD5TVP.
[SpaceX, photo]

NASA's Commercial Crew Program is working with the US aerospace
industry as companies develop and operate a new generation of
spacecraft and launch systems capable of carrying crews to low-Earth
orbit and to the space station. Commercial transportation to and from
the station will provide expanded utility, additional research time,
and broader opportunities for discovery on the orbital outpost, NASA
says.

"As commercial companies focus on providing human transportation
services to and from low-Earth orbit, NASA will concentrate its focus
on building spacecraft and rockets for deep-space missions," the space
agency said.

Some of the ham-astronauts will be available for ham radio contacts
from the ISS with schools and educational groups via the Amateur Radio
on the International Space Station (ARISS) program.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Announcements
* The World Wide Radio Operators Foundation (WWROF) has announced the
election of 22-year-old Philipp Springer, DK6SP, to its Board of
Directors, effective immediately. Springer is a member of the IARU
Region 1 Youth Working Group and the Deutscher Amateur Radio Club
(DARC), where he is responsible for leading activities for the
Youngsters On The Air (YOTA) Team Germany program. He was a
competitor at World Radio Team Championship (WRTC) 2018. At the
same time, WWROF announced the departure of veteran board member
Dennis Motschenbacher, K7BV.
* The Arizona Radio Council of Arizona (ARCA) has conferred awards
and scholarships during an online meeting attended by 41 member
clubs. Selected as Arizona Ham of the Year award was Angie
Buchanan, N7EMB. The ARCA Young Ham of the Year Award went to
Annika Smith, KE7JOY, who was 17 when she won the award. ARCA also
awarded a $2,500 scholarship to Charles Loftus, Jr., KI7DUV, who
will be pursuing a degree in engineering. -- Thanks to ARCA Chair
Steve Miller, W6SDM
* The Titan Missile Museum in Sahuarita, Arizona, has been closed due
to the COVID-19 pandemic. The closure includes the original 80-foot
Collins discage antenna, which has been maintained by the Green
Valley Amateur Radio Club (GVARC) for use by visiting amateurs,
access to which has now been restricted -- Thanks to Ray Soifer,
W2RS
* Australian telecommunications regulator ACMA has announced it's
analyzing submissions to its paper, "Possible use of the 5351.5 -
5366.5 kHz band by the amateur service," in which the agency will
examine sharing issues between existing and potential amateur uses
of the band and seek comments on a range of options.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

In Brief...

Derecho Takes Down 1,200 Feet of Tower and 35 Yagis The popular contest
station of Tony Radebaugh, N0NI, in Rippey, Iowa, lost some 1,200 feet
of tower and 35 Yagis in the August 10 derecho event. Winds of 140 MPH
or greater caused extensive property damage in some areas. "Trees
falling on guy wires is what did me in," Radebaugh said. "Everything
outside of the trees stayed up, including a three-element full-size
40-meter Yagi at 196 feet. A two-element 40-meter XM240 on the same
tower snapped." The violent, fast-moving storm complex raked a 700-mile
path from Nebraska to Indiana. Winds of more than 70 MPH hit Chicago,
and more than 300,000 lost power. Iowa was the hardest-hit state, with
some 10 million acres of corn and soybean crops wiped out. Residents
had little or no warning before the so-called "land hurricane" struck.

Shorter Call Signs Popular with Australian Foundation Licensees
Australian Foundation-class licensees attempting to swap call signs
under a new plan are encountering delays. Foundation licensees may now
shed their seven-character call signs (VK#Fxxx) for standard
six-character call signs. Australian regulator ACMA announced the
change in July. Its contractor, the Australian Maritime College (AMC),
has been unable to meet the overwhelming demand, so processing times
have been extended. The Wireless Institute of Australia reports that it
is updating its "Publicly Available Callsigns Database" to match the
new call sign template.

Veteran Incoming QSL Bureau Manager Dick Maylott, W2YE, SK Dick
Maylott, W2YE, of Leesburg, Virginia, who managed the ARRL Incoming QSL
Bureau for fourth-district two-letter prefix call signs since 1993,
died unexpectedly on August 23. He was 83. Licensed in 1954, Maylott
was a member of the Sterling Park Amateur Radio Club, which sponsors
the QSL Bureau; the Potomac Valley Radio Club; the Loudoun Amateur
Radio Group; the Quarter Century Wireless Association, and the National
Capitol DX Association.
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.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

* November 14 - 15 -- Central Division Convention, Fort Wayne,
Indiana
* November 21 -- Alabama State Convention, Montgomery, Alabama
* December 11 - 12 -- Florida State Convention, Plant City, Florida

Find conventions and hamfests in your area.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for
Amateur Radio News and Information.

.

.
* Join or Renew Today! Eligible US-based members can elect to receive
QST or On the Air magazine in print when they join ARRL or when
they renew their membership. All members can access digital
editions of all four ARRL magazines: QST, On the Air, QEX, and NCJ.

* Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday.

Subscribe to...
* NCJ -- National Contest Journal. Published bimonthly, features
articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA
Sprint, and QSO parties.
* QEX -- A Forum for Communications Experimenters. Published
bimonthly, features technical articles, construction projects,
columns, and other items of interest to radio amateurs and
communications professionals.

Free of charge to ARRL members...
* Subscribe to the ARES E-Letter (monthly public service and
emergency communications news), the ARRL Contest Update (biweekly
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more!
* Find ARRL on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram!
----------------------------------------------------------------------

The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 50 times each year. ARRL members
and registered guests may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing
their profile.

Copyright (c) 2020 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and
distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is permitted for
non-commercial or educational purposes, with attribution. All other
purposes require written permission.


--- SendMsg/2

--- Squish/386 v1.11
* Origin: Outpost BBS@bbs.outpostbbs.net:10123 (1:18/200)

The ARRL Letter
September 3, 2020

* FCC Proposes to Institute Amateur Radio Application Fees
* First Element of ARISS Next-Generation Radio System Installed and
Operating on ISS
* Solar Minimum Most Likely Occurred in December 2019
* ARRL Podcasts Schedule
* Hurricane Watch Net Logs More than 29 Hours of Continuous Operation
for Laura
* Historic Winlink Gateway KH6SP Ceases Operation
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* Launch of Satellites Carrying Ham Radio Payloads Postponed Again
* Announcements
* 2016 ARRL International Humanitarian Award Co-Recipient Richard
Darling, AH7G, SK
* In Brief...
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
FCC Proposes to Institute Amateur Radio Application Fees

Amateur radio licensees would pay a $50 fee for each amateur radio
license application if the FCC adopts rules it proposed last week.
Included in the FCC's fee proposal are applications for new licenses,
renewal and upgrades to existing licenses, and vanity call sign
requests. Excluded are applications for administrative updates, such as
changes of address, and annual regulatory fees.

The FCC proposal is contained in a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM)
in MD Docket 20-270, which was adopted to implement portions of the
"Repack Airwaves Yielding Better Access for Users of Modern Services
Act" of 2018 -- the so-called "Ray Baum's Act."

The Act requires that the FCC switch from a Congressionally-mandated
fee structure to a cost-based system of assessment. In its NPRM, the
FCC proposed application fees for a broad range of services that use
the FCC's Universal Licensing System (ULS), including the Amateur Radio
Service that had been excluded by an earlier statute. The new statute
excludes the Amateur Service from annual regulatory fees, but not from
application fees.

"[A]pplications for personal licenses are mostly automated and do not
have individualized staff costs for data input or review," the FCC said
in its NPRM. "For these automated processes -- new/major modifications,
renewal, and minor modifications -- we propose a nominal application
fee of $50 due to automating the processes, routine ULS maintenance,
and limited instances where staff input is required."

The same $50 fee would apply to all Amateur Service applications,
including those for vanity call signs. "Although there is currently no
fee for vanity call signs in the Amateur Radio Service, we find that
such applications impose similar costs in aggregate on Commission
resources as new applications and therefore propose a $50 fee," the FCC
said.

The FCC is not proposing to charge for administrative updates such as
mailing address changes, and amateur radio will remain exempt from
annual regulatory fees. "For administrative updates [and]
modifications, which also are highly automated, we find that it is in
the public interest to encourage licensees to update their [own]
information without a charge," the FCC said.

The FCC also proposes to assess a $50 fee for individuals who want a
printed copy of their license. "The Commission has proposed to
eliminate these services -- but to the extent the Commission does not
do so, we propose a fee of $50 to cover the costs of these services,"
the FCC said.

The FCC dropped assessment of fees for vanity call signs several years
ago, but the Ray Baum's Act does not exempt filing fees in the Amateur
Radio Service.

ARRL is reviewing the matter and intends to file comments in
opposition.

Deadlines for comments and reply comments will be determined once the
NPRM appears in the Federal Register. File comments by using the FCC's
Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS), posting to MD Docket No.
20-270. This docket is already open for accepting comments, even though
deadlines have not yet been set.
First Element of ARISS Next-Generation Radio System Installed and
Operating on ISS

The initial element of the Amateur Radio on the International Space
Station (ARISS) next-generation radio system has been installed onboard
the ISS, and operations using the new gear are now under way. The first
element, dubbed the InterOperable Radio System (IORS), was installed in
the ISS Columbus module. The IORS replaces the Ericsson radio system
and packet module originally certified for spaceflight in mid-2000.

"Finally! It's been a scramble the last few days with coordination over
the weekend and yesterday with astronaut Chris Cassidy, KF5KDR,"
ARISS-US Delegate for ARRL Rosalie White, K1STO, said. "But the new
ARISS radio system is now installed, set up, and functioning. What a
long road we've traveled over the past 5 years!"

Part of the ARISS InterOperable Radio
System -- the multi-voltage power supply
-- being put through its paces during one
of its many NASA tests. [Photo courtesy of
ARISS]

Initial operation of the new radio system is in FM cross-band repeater
mode using an uplink of 145.99 MHz (CTCSS 67 Hz) and a downlink of
437.800 MHz. Special operations will continue to be announced, ARISS
said.

Launched from Kennedy Space Center last March, the IORS consists of a
"space-modified" JVC-Kenwood D710GA transceiver, an ARISS-developed
multi-voltage power supply, and interconnecting cables. The design,
development, fabrication, testing, and launch of the first IORS
culminated a 5-year engineering effort by the ARISS hardware team of
volunteers.

ARISS says the new system offers a higher-power radio, voice repeater,
digital packet radio (APRS) capabilities, and a Kenwood VC-H1 slow-scan
television (SSTV) system.

A second IORS will undergo flight certification for later launch and
installation in the Russian Service Module. "Next-gen development
efforts continue," ARISS said. "For the IORS, parts are being procured
and a total of 10 systems are being fabricated

to support flight, additional flight spares, ground testing, and
astronaut training." Follow-on next-generation radio system elements
include L-band repeater uplink capability -- currently in development
-- and a flight Raspberry Pi, dubbed "ARISS-Pi," still in the design
phase. The ARISS-Pi promises operations autonomy and enhanced SSTV
operations, ARISS explained.

This year, ARISS marks 20 years of continuous amateur radio operations
on the ISS. The largely volunteer organization welcomes donations to
the ARISS program for next-generation hardware development, operation,
education, and administration. Read more.

Solar Minimum Most Likely Occurred in December 2019

Sunspot Index and Long-Term Solar Observations (SILSO) in Belgium said
this month that the minimum between Solar Cycles 24 and 25 "most
probably" took place last December. SILSO, a part of the Royal
Observatory of Belgium and formerly known as SIDC, cited as evidence
the January 2020 increase in the 13-month smoothed sunspot number --
the first upswing since the Cycle 24 maximum in April 2014.

"[F]or now, this latest smoothed value in January 2020 is the very
first point indicating a rise of the activity. So, the date of the
minimum still needs a full confirmation over the coming months," SILSO
said on its website. "For now, preliminary smoothed values, limited to
less than 13 months, hint at increasing values over coming months. If
the rising trend indeed continues, this [December 2019] date will
become fully definitive."

SILSO said another indication of the transition between the two solar
cycles can be drawn from counting individual sunspot groups that belong
to either the old or new solar cycle. "While most sunspot groups
belonged to the last solar cycle [Cycle 24] until September 2019, the
dominance switched to groups of the new cycle in November 2019," SILSO
said.

SILSO said that in terms of the number of active regions, the minimum
between Cycle 24 and Cycle 25 falls in October 2019. "This is close to
December 2019," SILSO said. It attributes the difference to three
factors:

The sunspot number also takes into account the total number of spots,
and the size of the emerging active regions.

The time of the minimum depends on the respective trends of the
declining phase of the past cycle, and of the rising phase of the new
cycle, over the 12 months surrounding the minimum.

The date of the minimum has a significant uncertainty range. Near
minimum, activity hardly varies and is close to minimum for a few
months. "The date of the minimum is thus always less sharply defined
than the date of the maximum of the cycles, which are more sharply
peaked," SILSO explained.

SILSO noted "a steady stream" of small, active regions since last
December, but that activity stagnated at a constant low level.
"However, since July -- and even more in the course of August 2020 --
the activity seems to truly take off, with at least one sunspot group
visible on almost all days. Such a level of activity had not been
reached since early 2019."

"This late-breaking upward trend is now expected to accelerate over the
coming months," SILSO predicted. "So be prepared for a more eruptive
and interesting sun!"
ARRL Podcasts Schedule

The latest episode of the On the Air podcast (Episode 8) features an
interview with brothers Andy, KK4LWR, and Tony, KD8RTT, Milluzzi about
the ARRL Collegiate Amateur Radio Initiative. 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 15) features a
chat with Bob Allison, WB1GCM, about HF transceiver shopping -- getting
the best performance for the money.

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.

Hurricane Watch Net Logs More than 29 Hours of Continuous Operation for
Laura

The Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) logged 29.5 hours of continuous operation
in advance of Hurricane Laura, beginning at 1300 UTC on August 26. One
primary function of the HWN is to obtain real-time ground-level weather
conditions and initial damage assessments from amateur radio operators
in the affected area and relay that information to the National
Hurricane Center (NHC) by way of WX4NHC.

"Since Laura had become a Major Hurricane (Category 3) overnight, well
ahead of earlier forecasts, we opened our net on both 14.325 MHz and
7.268 MHz," said HWN Manager Bobby Graves, KB5HAV. "We did this for two
reasons. HF propagation was horrible on both bands, and we wanted to
make sure anyone trying to contact us would be able to do so." Graves
said it strained resources, but the net was able to get its job done.
The HWN remained in continuous operation until Thursday, August 27, at
1830 UTC, well after Hurricane Laura made landfall in Louisiana, near
the Texas border.

"In many ways, Laura seemed similar to Hurricane Michael in 2018, as it
rapidly intensified close to landfall, nearly becoming a Category 5
hurricane," Graves said. "ditionally, with major hurricanes, you
normally have a few eye-wall replacement cycles. I don't recall there
ever being one [with Laura], and meteorologists I know agree."

Graves noted that on Wednesday afternoon, forecasters at the NHC used a
phrase not typically heard, in order to get a point across --
"unsurvivable storm surge." The ominous prediction certainly caught on
with the media and was widely repeated.

"Given the terrain for the projected impact of Laura, the storm surge
was expected to move well inland, as far as 40 miles, with depths as
high as 15 to 20 feet in some areas," he said.

Throughout its more than 29 hours of operation, the HWN collected and
forwarded numerous surface reports to the NHC. Graves said that
Emergency Management in Louisiana checked in with the net on 14.325 MHz
to announce its presence on 7.255 MHz.

"After Laura was downgraded to a tropical storm, we shifted gears and
began asking for post-storm reports from those affected by Laura,"
Graves recounted. "We also called for emergency or priority traffic."

Graves expressed his appreciation to other stations for moving aside
for the net to use 14.325 and 7.268 MHz.

Graves noted that the forecast for this year's hurricane season is
reminiscent to that of 2005, when Hurricane Katrina struck. "It is
forecast to be a very busy season," he said. "When it comes to
hurricane seasons, never drop your guard." Families should have plans
in place ahead of a major storm, and factor the COVID-19 pandemic into
those plans, he advised. Read more.
Historic Winlink Gateway KH6SP Ceases Operation

The last amateur radio digital gateway -- KH6SP -- at the Navy site in
Wahiawa, Hawaii, went silent on August 1. The site housed two amateur
radio gateways donated by a group of Hawaii amateurs led by Thomas
Overman, W2AIT -- KH6UL and KH6SP. For more than 8 years, Overman
maintained the Winlink software running them. The system had high-gain
log-periodic arrays with low-angle radiation that provided the maritime
community with email service across the Pacific and later handled
inter-island traffic. Station trustee Gus MacFeeley, NH7J, introduced
and demonstrated the stations to local amateur radio operators 5 years
ago, pointing to the future of amateur radio digital mode emergency
communications in the Pacific Section. MacFeeley handled necessary
on-site work. The multi-node operation provides continuous
Winlink/Winmor service across the Pacific Ocean for many maritime
mobile stations that have come to rely on it as their critical link to
the world.

The US Department of Homeland Security took possession of the site a
few years ago and is now extending its intergovernmental use. All of
the antenna quadrants are now needed by the government, including
SHARES Winlink.

Since MacFeeley introduced the Hawaii amateur radio community to
Winlink, the Hawaii network has grown to five HF gateways providing
inter-island communication, and 18 VHF gateways serving local
communities. More are planned. During the past few years, the cost of
interfacing amateur equipment to Winlink has dropped significantly with
the development of PC software sound card modems, which can rival the
performance of PACTOR modems.

"We can expect to see an explosion of applications in the future making
amateur radio increasingly relevant to our communities," said ARRL
Pacific Section Manager Joseph Speroni, AH0A, as he bid "a fond
farewell to KH6UL and KH6SP and the group of amateurs that started this
revolution in Hawaii." -- Thanks to ARRL Pacific Section Manager Joe
Speroni, AH0A

The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: No sunspots have appeared for the
past 12 days. We're all hoping for more sunspots, and I'm sure they'll
return soon. The trends for this newly awakening solar cycle seem to
favor it. The autumnal equinox on September 22 should favor worldwide
HF propagation.

Average daily solar flux declined over the August 27 - September 2
reporting week, from 70.4 to 69.6.

Geomagnetic indicators showed quite a bit more activity than they have
in some time now. Average daily planetary A index rose from 5.1 to
13.1. The most active day was August 31, when the planetary A index
reached 26. The cause was a vigorous solar wind spewing from holes in
the solar corona.

A solar flux of 70 is forecast for every one of the next 45 days. The
predicted planetary A index is 10 on September 3; 5 on September 4 -
17; 8 on September 18 - 19; 5 on September 20 - 22; 8, 10, and 14 on
September 23 - 25; 10 on September 26 - 27; 12 and 10 on September 28 -
29, and 5 on September 30 - October 17.

Sunspot numbers for August 27 - September 2 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, and
0, with a mean of 0. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 70, 70.1, 70.2, 70,
69.2, 69.5, and 68.3, with a mean of 69.6. Estimated planetary A
indices were 8, 10, 14, 9, 26, 16, and 9, with a mean of 13.1. Middle
latitude A index was 7, 8, 14, 8, 19, 16, and 8, with a mean of 11.4.

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. For customizable
propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio website.

Share your reports and observations.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Just Ahead in Radiosport
* September 5 -- CWOps CW Open
* September 5 -- Wake-Up! QRP Sprint (CW)
* September 5 - 6 -- All Asian DX Contest (Phone)
* September 5 - 6 -- Colorado QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
* September 5 - 6 -- IARU Region 1 Field Day, SSB
* September 5 - 6 -- RSGB SSB Field Day (Phone)
* September 5 - 6 -- IARU Region 1 145 MHz Contest (CW, phone,
digital)
* September 5 - 6 -- PODXS 070 Club Jay Hudak Memorial 80-Meter
Sprint (Digital)
* September 5 - 7 -- AGCW Straight Key Party
* September 6 -- WAB 144 MHz QRO Phone
* September 6 - 7 -- Tennessee QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
* September 7 -- RSGB 80-Meter Autumn Series, SSB
* September 7 - 8 -- MI QRP Labor Day CW Sprint
* September 8 -- ARS Spartan Sprint CW
* September 9 -- VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest

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.

-------------------------------------------------------------------


Launch of Satellites Carrying Ham Radio Payloads Postponed Again

The scheduled September 2 launch of three satellites carrying amateur
radio payloads from the European Space Agency Spaceport in Korou,
French Guiana, was postponed again because a typhoon was threatening a
tracking station in South Korea. The launch of the Arianespace Vega
vehicle will be rescheduled for later this month. The Vega is set to
carry a total of 53 satellites into orbit. AMSAT-France Chair
Christophe Mercier said in an AMSAT-BB post that the AmicalSat,
UPMSat-2, and TTU100 satellites will carry ham radio payloads.

AmicalSat

The AmicalSat CubeSat was built by students at the Grenoble University
Space Center (CSUG). "The measurements made by the satellite will be
available to all," Mercier said. "They will allow radio amateurs to use
them for propagation predictions." He said AMSAT-F supported the
AmicalSat project. Software for Linux and Windows platforms is
available for decoding the telemetry and posting it to the SatNOGS
database.

According to the AmicalSat website, the CubeSat will focus on space
weather, monitoring the auroral oval, and photographing the aurora.
"Scientifically, the data will be used to reconstruct the flux of
particles coming into the atmosphere, especially the electrons in the
range of 20 eV - 10 keV," the website said.

AmicalSat will transmit 1,2k AFSK on 436.1 MHz (as RS17S), and 1,000k
GFSK on 2.415.3 MHz. Reports are welcome via email.

UPMSat-2, a project of the Polytechnic University of Madrid, will
transmit 1,2k AFSK on 437.405 MHz (as UPMST2). TTU100 (H�marik), a
project of Tallinn (Estonia) University of Technology, will transmit
1,2k and 9,6k AFSK and CW on 435.450 MHz (primary) and 62.5 kbs and 20
Mbs OQPSK on 10,465 MHz (secondary).

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Announcements
* A ham radio special event during November will celebrate the 100th
anniversary of Pittsburgh's KDKA as the first commercial radio
broadcast station. Using both temporary call sign 8ZZ and KDKA
(because the KDKA license had not arrived in time), the station
broadcast the 1920 presidential election results. Many Pittsburgh
area amateur radio clubs will participate. Look for special event
call signs K3K, K3D, W8XK, and K3A (check QRZ.com for QSL
information).
* September 1 marked the 161st anniversary of the so-called
"Carrington Event," when a massive coronal mass ejection from the
sun disrupted telegraph systems and generated auroral displays into
tropical latitudes. It's said that the light generated during that
1859 event was nearly as bright as daylight. According to Frank
Donovan, W3LPL, the Carrington Event took place less than 4 years
after solar minimum and 1 year before solar maximum.
* Over the next 6 years, GB5ST will celebrate 54 years of the Star
Trek TV show, spinoffs, and movies. This event will take place
until the series' 60th anniversary in 2026. QSL direct or via the
RSGB bureau.
* The YASME Foundation Board of Directors has awarded a grant to
DokuFunk of Austria, a research and documentation center for the
history of radio communications and electronic media. The funds
will support DokuFunk's hosting of the Lloyd and Iris Colvin
DXpedition materials and develop a presentation from photos, video,
and audio. YASME also will fund the HZ1AB QSL collection transfer
and provide support for amateur exams by the Seychelles Amateur
Radio Association (SARA).
* NASA's Johnson Space Center has produced a video of an Amateur
Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact between a
Canadian student group and astronaut Chris Cassidy, KF5KDR, last
May.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

2016 ARRL International Humanitarian Award Co-Recipient Richard
Darling, AH7G, SK

The co-recipient of the 2016 ARRL International Humanitarian Award
Richard Darling, AH7G, of Keaau, Hawaii, died on August 19. An ARRL
Life Member, he was 86 and had been a radio amateur for 67 years.

Richard and his wife Barbara, NH7FY, shared the 2016 ARRL International
Humanitarian of the Year Award. The award was

conferred on the couple for having provided support in the form of
money and materials that included books, food, clothing, sanitary
supplies, and equipment such as hardware, antennas, and solar panels
sent to the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). The couple also
regularly purchased, packed, and mailed "care packages" to Yap,
containing food, clothing, medical supplies, diapers, and other items
not otherwise easily available to FSM islanders.

Richard Darling attended Newark College of Engineering in New Jersey
and Capital Radio Engineering Institute, and then joined IBM as an
electronics technician. During a duty tour in the US Army, he was in
the Nike missile program and spent a lot of time on the air from Fort
Bliss, Texas. He later worked for Lockheed.

Over the years, Richard and Barbara provided weather warnings prior to
several typhoons, most recently Maysak and No'ul, keeping
communications going in the aftermath of storms. -- Thanks to Assistant
Hawaii Section Manager Bob Schneider, AH6J
In Brief...

The 2020 ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference (DCC) on September
11 - 12 will be streamed live on YouTube. No registration is needed;
the URL will be announced via the TAPR website. The preliminary
schedule has been posted. The 39th Annual ARRL/TAPR DCC will employ the
Zoom video communications and YouTube video-sharing platforms.
Registered DCC attendees participating via Zoom will be able to
interact with presenters and other attendees via a chatroom, as well as
raise "a virtual hand" to ask questions, TAPR said. Non-registered DCC
attendees may watch the livestream on YouTube, but won't be able to ask
questions or chat. DCC registration is free for TAPR members and $30
for non-members, who will receive a 100% discount at checkout.
Non-members who would like to join TAPR and receive the free DCC pass
can simply add TAPR membership and DCC registration to their shopping
carts. After checkout, they will receive the free DCC pass when their
membership is processed.

Scouting's Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) and Jamboree on the Internet
(JOTI) will be held this year on October 16, 17, and 18. Register
online as an individual or as a group. Jamboree on the Air is the
largest Scouting event in the world. In a typical year, more than 1
million Scouts participate in JOTA, with over 11,000 stations operated
by 20,000+ young radio amateurs from 150+ countries around the world.
JOTA details are available on the K2BSA website. The website menu will
direct users to additional supporting information. K2BSA's Jim Wilson,
K5ND, says many locations are already offering virtual radio merit
badge classes "and no doubt will be using similar approaches for
Jamboree on the Air."

4U1UN has been active and ready to make contacts on 60 meters (5357
kHz). Some 400 contacts in about 30 DXCC entities were made on FT8 on 5
MHz earlier this week. Pending unforeseen events, such as equipment
failure or difficulties accessing the station, activity on 60 meters
will continue, said rian Ciuperca, KO8SCA. 4U1UN is running about 35
W on 60 meters on FT8. 4U1UN may also operate CW on 5373 kHz. Activity
could start around 2300 UTC. QSL via HB9BOU. -- Thanks to The Daily DX
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.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

* November 14 - 15 -- Central Division Convention, Fort Wayne,
Indiana
* November 21 -- Alabama State Convention, Montgomery, Alabama
* December 11 - 12 -- Florida State Convention, Plant City, Florida

Find conventions and hamfests in your area.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for
Amateur Radio News and Information.

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editions of all four ARRL magazines: QST, On the Air, QEX, and NCJ.

* Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday.

Subscribe to...
* NCJ -- National Contest Journal. Published bimonthly, features
articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA
Sprint, and QSO parties.
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The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 50 times each year. ARRL members
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Copyright (c) 2020 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and
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--- SendMsg/2

--- Squish/386 v1.11
* Origin: Outpost BBS@bbs.outpostbbs.net:10123 (1:18/200)

The ARRL Letter
September 10, 2020

* Preparations Continue for World Radiocommunication Conference 2023
* Ham Radio Wireless Network Camera Detects Washington Wildfire
* Hams Provide Situational Awareness as Severe Weather Hits
Maryland-DC Section
* Air Force Research Laboratory Tracks Sporadic E
* ARRL Podcasts Schedule
* NCVEC Holds Its Annual Meeting via Teleconference
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* North American CW Sprint is Great Practice for Fall Contesting
* K1USN Radio Club Announces New Weekly Slow-Speed CW Contest
* Announcements
* Maine Radio Amateur Dies after Fall from Tower
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
Preparations Continue for World Radiocommunication Conference 2023

As preparations for World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 (WRC-23)
go forward, the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) continues its
efforts to protect amateur and amateur-satellite allocations. The
international conferences, sponsored by the International
Telecommunication Union (ITU), typically take place every 4 years.

IARU participated in the first online meeting of Project Team A (PTA)
of the WRC-23 CEPT Conference Preparatory Group (CPG), reporting this
week that "a good start was made on items of interest to the amateur
and amateur-satellite services."

Agenda Item 1.12 addresses studies stemming from WRC-19 that are now
under way to consider a new secondary allocation to the Earth
Exploration-Satellite (active) Service (EESS active) for spaceborne
radar sounders in the 40 - 50 MHz range, taking into account the
protection of incumbent services (including in adjacent bands), which
would include 6 meters. A handful of countries have also allocated
secondary amateur bands in the vicinity of 40 MHz.

The WRC-19 Resolution (Res. 656), which ordered the studies, noted that
spaceborne-active RF sensors can provide unique information on physical
properties of the Earth, and that spaceborne-active remote sensing
requires specific frequency ranges depending on the physical phenomena
to be observed. Spaceborne radars are intended to operate only in
uninhabited or sparsely populated areas with particular focus on
deserts and polar ice fields, between the hours of 3 AM and 6 AM local
time.

Agenda Item 1.14 addresses the Earth Exploration-Satellite (passive)
Service (EESS passive) in the range 231.5 �** 250 GHz. The amateur and
amateur-satellite services have a primary allocation at 248�**-�**250
GHz, and a secondary allocation at 241�**-�**248 GHz.

Agenda Item 9.1 will consider and approve the Report of the Director of
the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau on its activities since WRC-19. This
includes a review of the Amateur Service and the Amateur Satellite
Service allocations in the frequency band 1.240 - 1.300 GHz to
determine if additional measures are required to ensure protection of
the radionavigation-satellite (space-to-Earth) service (RNSS) operating
in the same band.

The 1.240 - 1.300 GHz band is allocated worldwide to the Amateur
Service on a secondary basis, and the Amateur Satellite Service
(Earth-to-space) may operate in the band 1.260 - 1.270 GHz. The primary
concern is the potential for interference to the Galileo Global
Navigation Satellite System (GPS) in ITU Region 1 (Europe, the Middle
East, and Africa). Read more.
Ham Radio Wireless Network Camera Detects Washington Wildfire

Nigel Vander Houwen, K7NVH, reported on September 8 that some HamWAN
users in the Puget Sound region of Washington, who were viewing the
network's camera feeds, spotted a large brush fire.

"They reported it to the DNR [Department of Natural Resources], which
thanked them for the first report they'd gotten on the fire, and
they've sent a team to try and keep it small and under control," Vander
Houwen said. "It's estimated currently at around 50 acres, southeast of
Enumclaw, along Highway 410." The fire was not said to be threatening
any homes. State Route 410 was reported closed between Enumclaw and
Greenwater, and drivers heading to Mount Rainier National Park were
advised to take another route.

A frame from video via a HamWAN camera of an air
tanker dropping water on the
fire.(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJ1X4VvRFWY)

HamWAN is a nonprofit organization developing best practices for
high-speed amateur radio data networks. It runs the Puget Sound Data
Ring. So far, HamWAN networks have been used for such applications as
low-latency repeater linking (including DMR), real-time video feeds,
APRS internet gateways (I-gates), providing redundant internet access
to emergency operations centers, and more.

Amateur radio licensees in the HamWAN service area can connect directly
to the network with a modest investment in equipment and no recurring
costs. The HamWAN Puget Sound Data Ring has cells deployed at numerous
wide-coverage sites, interconnected with 5 GHz radios. The HamWAN
technical team has been installing remotely controllable cameras at
HamWAN link sites, and one of these was used for the wildfire report.

Hams Provide Situational Awareness as Severe Weather Hits Maryland-DC
Section

Amateur radio volunteers provided the ARRL Maryland-DC Section with
situational awareness and breaking information on September 3, as
severe weather, including at least one tornado, hit the region around
the nation's capital. ARRL Maryland-DC Section Manager Marty Pittinger,
KB3MXM, said Section staff and hams across Maryland joined a
Section-wide EchoLink *WASH_DC* node and linked repeaters to report
situational awareness as the eastern half of the state and Washington,
DC, were hit hard.

"Hams began reporting severe weather, sharing local situations across
several 2-meter SKYWARN^A(R) nets -- including W3ICF/R near Frederick,
Maryland, and KA2JAI/R in Anne Arundel County," Pittinger said. "These
repeaters were also linked through *WASH_DC* to extend reach of
critical information." For more than 3 hours, nets reported on wind
damage, power outages, flooding, and the impact to traffic across six
Maryland counties.

Several Maryland county emergency management agencies were at
heightened activation levels; Section-wide ARES^A(R) was in
monitoring-mode, and no ARES activations were requested by served
agencies. Bill Feidt, NG3K, in Kensington, said his town was under a
tornado watch for several hours.

"At one point, it went to a warning -- 'a tornado is headed your way,'"
said Feidt. "I suspect the cell that we were warned about was a
rotating wall cloud and a funnel never

Most of the severe weather took
place within an area that included
DC and Baltimore.

reached the ground, since there was little appreciable damage in our
immediate area. But that system was definitely a nail-biter."

The storms traveled more than 80 miles across Maryland with one passing
north of DC, spawning a brief tornado in Edgemere, not far from the US
Naval Academy. Another storm crossed over Baltimore. Earlier that day,
the Maryland-DC Section and ARES leadership collaborated to plan a
course of action. Section Emergency Coordinator Jim Montgomery, WB3KAS,
notified ARES teams of approaching storms. Section leadership released
information via social media and email.

"The timeliness, wide-area coverage, interoperability with selected VHF
and UHF repeaters, coupled with numerous hams in affected areas,
provided the best ground-truth," Pittinger said.
Air Force Research Laboratory Tracks Sporadic E

Researchers at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) in New Mexico
have discovered a new way to track and characterize sporadic E, which
occurs when large structures of dense plasma form naturally in the
upper atmosphere. These plasma structures, which occur at mid-latitude
locations around the world, can affect radio wave propagation in both
positive and negative ways. VHF enthusiasts frequently take advantage
of sporadic-E propagation (or E-skip) to work stations outside of their
local area.

The Long Wavelength Array at
Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge
is capable of imaging the entire sky
at once, allowing AFRL scientists to
track and characterize sporadic E.
The facility consists of 256
dual-polarization dipoles. [Ken
Obenberger, photo]

"Previous methods to observe these structures were insufficient for
identifying and tracking these structures over large regions," said Ken
Obenberger, a research physicist at AFRL. "It would be advantageous to
actively identify where these structures are, where they are going, and
how dense they are. And we thought we could find a better way."

The new method, developed by Obenberger and collaborators at AFRL and
the University of New Mexico, leverages unintentional RF emissions from
power lines. Using the broadband radio noise, they can map and track
dense sporadic-E structures.

"Since power lines are widespread, we can observe sporadic E over a
very large region surrounding our observatory, the Long Wavelength
Array (LWA), an asset of our collaborators at the University of New
Mexico," Obenberger said. "This technique could be used anywhere in the
world where there is an electrical grid and an instrument similar to
the LWA, and we are lucky because there are not many."

Climatology of sporadic E can provide a probability that it will occur,
but the actual presence of sporadic E can only be determined through
trial-and-error observations.

Chris Fallen, KL3WX, one of Obenberger's collaborators at AFRL, said,
"Ken's technique basically provides weather radar for sporadic E, only
using radio noise from power lines as the radar transmitter."

Having accurate "now-casting" of sporadic E could prove critical during
disaster situations, where hams may play a key role in supporting
communication of vital information. Read more. -- Thanks to Joanne
Perkins, Air Force Research Laboratory

ARRL Podcasts Schedule

The latest episode of the On the Air podcast (Episode 9) features a
discussion on how to tune HF signals and use transceiver tools to
enhance reception. 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 16) features a
chat about the 222 MHz band, with QST's "The World Above 50 MHz"
columnist Jon Jones, N0JK. Also, Steve Ford, WB8IMY, offers some tips
on shopping for coaxial cable.

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.
NCVEC Holds Its Annual Meeting via Teleconference

ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC) Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM,
reports that the National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators
(NCVEC) held its annual meeting via teleconference on August 21. Somma
is the NCVEC Vice Chair. NCVEC Chair Larry Pollock, NB5X, presided at
the 35th annual meeting. The NCVEC functions to facilitate
communication between the FCC and VECs. Representatives of all 14
FCC-certified VECs took part in the conference, while nine FCC staff
members were on hand.

FCC Enforcement Bureau (EB) Special Counsel Laura Smith advised VEC
delegates that the FCC has been on lockdown since March and that staff
members will be teleworking indefinitely. This includes staff at FCC
Headquarters in Washington, DC; the Gettysburg, Pennsylvania location,
and the other field offices. Smith said field engineers aren't going
out unless the issue involves safety or if lives are in danger.

FCC Mobility Division (MD) Deputy Chief Tom Derenge explained that one
of his areas of responsibility is processing paperwork for applicants
answering "yes" to the basic qualification question (BQQ) that asks if
they've ever been convicted of a felony. Derenge said that paperwork
from his office goes to the FCC General Counsel and the Investigations
and Hearings Division (IHD). Those divisions are responsible for
resolution in non-compliant conduct. Paperwork in these instances may
take a while to be processed, Derenge said.

Derenge recommended that VECs make it clear to applicants that their
address will be public information when the new license is issued. He
pointed out that once an address is in the FCC database, it's nearly
impossible to be permanently removed.

Dorothy Stifflemire, the Associate Division Chief of the WTB
Technologies Systems and Innovation Division, told VECs that new
license applicants should create an FCC user account and register their
Social Security number (SSN) in the FCC Commission Registration System
(CORES) before attending exam sessions. Registrants will be assigned a
Federal Registration Number (FRN), which will be used in all license
transactions with the FCC.

She explained that auto-registration in CORES at exam sessions using a
Social Security number will be going away. In addition, because no mail
is being sent due to the COVID-19 pandemic, applicants will not receive
their auto-created password and FRN and will not be able to access the
Universal Licensing System (ULS), the FCC license records database.
Going forward, she said, VECs should make sure all applicants have an
FRN before exam day.

Remote administration of amateur radio exam sessions was the hot topic
of discussion, Somma said. Since April 1, ARRL VEC, W5YI-VEC, and the
Greater Los Angeles Amateur Radio Group VEC (GLAARG) have remotely
tested more than 4,000 applicants using videoconferencing and online
examinations. Proof-of-concept and procedural information were
discussed for the benefit of other VECs that might be interested in
pursuing remote testing. Exam candidates can search for upcoming remote
online examination dates on the HamStudy website.

Somma and Assistant ARRL VEC Manager Amanda Grimaldi, N1NHL,
represented ARRL at the virtual gathering. Read more.

The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: An extended lull in solar activity
persists. The smoothed sunspot minimum occurred last December, but the
flurry of moderate sunspot activity in August has not continued.

When the autumnal equinox occurs at 1330 UTC on Tuesday, September 22,
we should see a seasonal improvement in HF propagation around that
date. This is because the northern and southern hemispheres are bathed
in roughly equal solar radiation, enhancing north-south propagation.

Wednesday, September 9, was the 19th consecutive day with no sunspots,
but Spaceweather.com reported that a small sunspot with a Solar Cycle
25 magnetic signature may be forming in the sun's southeastern
quadrant.

Average daily solar flux barely budged, moving from 69.6 to 69.7.
Geomagnetic indicators were very quiet, with average daily planetary A
index declining from 13.1 to 4.4.

As with last week's forecast, predicted solar flux is 70 on every day
over the next 45 days, September 10 - October 24.

Predicted planetary A index is 5 on September 10 - 17; 8 on September
18 - 19; 5 on September 20 - 22; 8, 10, and 15 on September 23 - 25;
10, 25, 15, and 10 on September 26 - 29; 5 on September 30; 8 on
October 1; 5 on October 2 - 14; 8 on October 15 - 16; 5 on October 17 -
19, and 8, 10, 15, 10 and 25 on October 20 - 24.

Frank Donovan, W3LPL, forwarded a video about big solar events of 3
years ago.

Sunspot numbers for September 3 - 9 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, and 0, for a
mean of 0. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 70, 69.7, 69.2, 69.5, 70.2,
69.9, and 69.7, with a mean of 69.7. Estimated planetary A indices were
4, 8, 6, 4, 4, 4, and 1, with a mean of 4.4. Middle latitude A index
was 3, 9, 7, 5, 5, 4, and 1, with a mean of 4.9.

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. For customizable
propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio website.

Share your reports and observations.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Just Ahead in Radiosport
* September 12 -- Ohio State Parks on the Air (Phone)
* September 12 -- Russian RTTY WW Contest
* September 12 - 13 -- ARRL EME Contest (CW, phone, digital)
* September 12 - 13 -- WAE DX Contest, SSB
* September 12 - 13 -- SARL Field Day Contest (CW, phone, digital)
* September 12 - 13 -- SKCC Weekend Sprintathon (CW)
* September 12 - 13 -- Texas QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
* September 12 - 13 -- Alabama QSO Party (CW, phone)
* September 12 - 13 -- Russian Cup Digital Contest
* September 12 - 14 -- ARRL September VHF Contest (CW, phone,
digital)
* September 13 -- North American Sprint (CW)
* September 14 -- 4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint (CW, phone)
* September 16 -- RSGB 80-Meter Autumn Series (CW)
* September 17 -- NAQCC CW Sprint
* September 17 -- BCC QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
* September 18 -- AGB NEMIGA Contest (CW, phone, digital)

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.

North American CW Sprint is Great Practice for Fall Contesting

The September edition of the North American CW Sprint, sponsored by
National Contest Journal (NCJ), is this weekend. The often-frantic
4-hour event gets under way on Sunday, September 13, at 0000 UTC
(Saturday, September 12 in North American time zones). CW Sprints take
place twice a year, in September and February; RTTY Sprints are in
March and September.

"The CW Sprint can seem intimidating, particularly the first couple of
times with its loud signals and high code speed, but there are some
secrets to getting the hang of things," said veteran contester and
contest manager Ward Silver, N0AX. A unique feature of the CW Sprint is
the "QSY rule," which rewards operating agility as much as signal
strength. Larger stations can't sit on a single frequency racking up
contacts, and more modest stations can make that work in their favor.
"Participation in the year's CW contests has been on the upswing, as
people are staying home due to the pandemic," Silver added, noting that
the September contest offers some solid practice ahead of the various
fall contests, especially ARRL November Sweepstakes.

Silver notes that band conditions during the September Sprint are an
incentive for operators to put more emphasis on 20 meters than in the
February Sprint, because sunset is much later in September. "We will
also be just a week from the equinox, a time when conditions are
usually pretty good on 20 and 40 meters," he pointed out. Eighty meters
will be less noisy than in mid-summer, and if the thunderstorms take a
day off, we can expect coast-to-coast activity."

Silver urged Sprint veterans to encourage fellow hams and club members
to give it a try. "Teams are fun, too, especially for new contesters
and contest club members," he noted. Teams do not have to be associated
with formal clubs.

The QSY rule can be daunting for newcomers. In short, a station calling
CQ on a new, clear frequency may work one responding station on that
frequency and then must move at least 5 kHz before calling CQ again,
and at least 1 kHz before initiating another contact, either by calling
CQ or by responding to another station. The responding station inherits
the initial frequency.

The exchange is both call signs, a consecutive serial number, name, and
state/province/DX. Listening stations can tell which station in a
contact to call by listening to call sign placement in the exchange, as
Silver describes in "Conversation: Having Fun in the North American CW
Sprint," in the September 2 issue of the ARRL Contest Update. Read
more.
K1USN Radio Club Announces New Weekly Slow-Speed CW Contest

The K1USN Radio Club in Massachusetts is launching a new weekly,
hour-long, slow-speed contest, the K1USN SST. The inaugural session
will be on Monday, September 14, from 0000 - 0100 UTC (Sunday,
September 13, in North American time zones). K1USN trustee Pi Pugh,
K1RV, said the decision to embark on sponsorship of a new operating
event involved surveying some 2,000 radio amateurs to gauge their
enthusiasm for such an event. Pugh said the club worked with a group of
CWops members within the club, with the blessing of the CWops CW
Academy visor Group. CWops is not involved in sponsoring the K1USN
SST.

The 800 who responded indicated an overwhelming need for some sort of
slow-speed activity as a follow-up to CW Academy, Pugh told ARRL. "It
was a lot of work, but we hope this will prove to be a valuable tool
within the CW community," Pugh said.

Although predicated on the desires of the CW Academy community, Pugh
stressed that the weekly activity will be open to all looking to
improve their CW skills. It can also provide a more comfortable entry
point for those just getting started in CW contesting.

"The weekly 20 WPM or slower SSTs can build confidence to find open
frequencies and begin calling CQ," Pugh suggested. Participants are
advised to be patient, supportive, and willing to slow down as
necessary.

Suggested frequencies are 3.532 - 3.539 on 80 meters; 7.032 - 7.039 MHz
on 40 meters, and 14.032 - 14.039 MHz on 20 meters. Stations exchange
name and state/province/country. Read more.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Announcements
* The WA2NYC 9/11 special event commemorates the World Trade Center
attack 19 years ago, when more than 2,900 lost their lives. WA2NYC
will be on the air from September 10 until September 14. Operation
will center on or near 28.450, 21.350, 14.300, and 7.238. QSL cards
are available with an SASE to the club address. Contacts will be
uploaded to Logbook of The World (LoTW).
* Comments are being accepted on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
(NPRM) in MD Docket 20-270, which proposes application fees for
radio amateurs. Formal deadlines for comments and reply comments
will be determined once the NPRM appears in the Federal Register.
Comments may be filed now, however, by using the FCC's Electronic
Comment Filing System (ECFS), posting to MD Docket No. 20-270.
* The Citrus Belt Amateur Radio Club will sponsor its 21st "Route 66
on the Air" special event September 12 - 20, with 21 stations, each
with a 1 A* 1 call sign -- W6A through W6U -- from cities along the
highway. Route 66 is famous in American history as a major highway
from the midwest to the west coast and is associated with American
car culture as well as with the vintage Route 66 television program
in the early 1960s.
* To celebrate their club's 50th anniversary, members of the Texas DX
Society (TDXS) will operate K5DX/50 September 14 - October 13 on
CW, SSB, and FT8 on 1.8 - 28 MHz.
* During September, VE3NOO will operate special event station XM3A to
commemorate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations.
* Members of the London [Ontario] Amateur Radio Club (LARC) are using
the call sign VE3LON100 through September to mark the centennial of
LARC, one of Canada's oldest amateur radio clubs.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Maine Radio Amateur Dies after Fall from Tower

James Larner, N1ATO, of Bangor, Maine, died on Wednesday, September 2,
after apparently falling a reported 80 feet from an amateur radio tower
in the rural Knox County town of Union. The incident happened just
before 1 PM local time. Said to have been a tower professional who had
done a lot of work for many Maine broadcasters, Larner, an ARRL member,
was 74.

According to news accounts, Larner was disassembling an antenna on a
tower located on Olson Farm Lane. The Knox County Sheriff's Office and
Union Fire and Rescue responded, and the rescue squad pronounced Larner
dead at the scene. The deceased was equipped with a harness and
carabiner, a close friend on the scene told authorities.

Larner worked part-time as an engineer at News Center Maine's outlet in
Bangor. A News Center Maine article paid tribute to Larner. "Jim was a
lot of fun, always happy to talk, share a story. A smart, hard-working,
real Maine guy," said News Center reporter Don Carrigan. "One of those
people the audience never sees, but whose work was critical to them
being able to watch TV for many, many years."

The Occupational Safety and Health ministration was contacted and
will conduct a follow-up investigation along with the Maine Medical
Examiner's office. -- Thanks to the Bangor Daily News, News Center
Maine, the Rockland Courier-Gazette, and to Norman Blake, W1ITT

-------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

* November 21 -- Alabama State Convention, Montgomery, Alabama
* December 11 - 12 -- Florida State Convention, Plant City, Florida

Find conventions and hamfests in your area.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for
Amateur Radio News and Information.

.

.
* Join or Renew Today! Eligible US-based members can elect to receive
QST or On the Air magazine in print when they join ARRL or when
they renew their membership. All members can access digital
editions of all four ARRL magazines: QST, On the Air, QEX, and NCJ.

* Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday.

Subscribe to...
* NCJ -- National Contest Journal. Published bimonthly, features
articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA
Sprint, and QSO parties.
* QEX -- A Forum for Communications Experimenters. Published
bimonthly, features technical articles, construction projects,
columns, and other items of interest to radio amateurs and
communications professionals.

Free of charge to ARRL members...
* Subscribe to the ARES E-Letter (monthly public service and
emergency communications news), the ARRL Contest Update (biweekly
contest newsletter), Division and Section news alerts -- and much
more!
* Find ARRL on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram!
----------------------------------------------------------------------

The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 50 times each year. ARRL members
and registered guests may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing
their profile.

Copyright (c) 2020 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and
distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is permitted for
non-commercial or educational purposes, with attribution. All other
purposes require written permission.


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The ARRL Letter
September 17, 2020

* Storms Generate Busy Times for ARES and the Hurricane Watch Net
* ARRL to Seek Changes in FCC Draft Decision on Amateur 9-Centimeter
Band
* ARRL Podcasts Schedule
* Analysis Determines We Are in Solar Cycle 25
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* International Telecommunication Union Releases 2020 ITU Radio
Regulations
* Announcements
* Ham Radio Exams are Not Going Away in Brazil After All
* In Brief...
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
Storms Generate Busy Times for ARES and the Hurricane Watch Net

The Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) activated on Sunday, September 13, on
both 14.325 MHz and 7.268 MHz as Hurricane Paulette was predicted to
make landfall on Bermuda the next day as a Category 2 storm. That tour
melded into an extended activation in anticipation of Hurricane Sally,
which came ashore on the Gulf coast in Alabama on September 16. The
slow-moving storm, which diminished to a tropical storm not long after
landing, at mid-week was causing "catastrophic and life-threatening
flooding" over portions of the Florida Panhandle and southern Alabama.

The HWN stood down at mid-week after 71 hours of continuous operation.
HWN Manager Bobby Graves, KB5HAV, said it seem long activations such as
these are happening all too often. "I suppose Mother Nature hasn't been
getting the attention she desires," Graves quipped.

Northern Florida Section Emergency Coordinator Karl Martin, K4HBN,
reported on September 17 that Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)
teams in his Section were standing down. "We had a total of 4 counties
affected by Sally," he said. "The hardest hit was Escambia county,
located at the Alabama/Florida border. The Atlantic is still very busy,
but I hope the rest of the season is quiet."

ARES teams went on alert in other Sections in the region.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced on Tuesday
that two 60-meter channels had been made available for interoperability
between US government stations and US amateur radio stations involved
in emergency communications related to the wildland firefighting
response in California, Oregon, and Washington, as well as to Hurricane
Sally. The interoperability

channels will remain active until the need for them no longer exists:
* Channel 1 -- primary voice traffic 5332 kHz channel center, 5330.5
kHz USB voice
* Channel 2 -- digital traffic 5348 kHz channel center, 5346.5 kHz
USB with 1.5 kHz offset to center of digital waveform

Frequencies may be modified or added to by FEMA Region 10 for their
area or operations due to existing 5 MHz/60-meter interoperability
plans for their region.

Amateur radio is secondary on the 5 MHz band and must yield to
operational traffic related to wildland firefighting and hurricane
response. Although the intended use for these channels is
interoperability between federal government stations and licensed US
amateur radio stations, federal government stations are primary users
and amateurs are secondary users.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

The FCC has granted ARRL's request for a temporary waiver to permit
amateur data transmissions at a higher symbol rate than currently
permitted by section 97.307(f) of the FCC amateur service rules. The
FCC acted to facilitate hurricane and wildfire relief communications
within the US and its territories.

ARRL sought the waiver for amateur radio licensees directly involved
with hurricane and wildfire relief via HF using PACTOR 4 modems for
communication within the US and its territories, relative to several
impending hurricane situations and wildfires in the western US. ARRL's
petition noted that Section 97.307(f) of the amateur rules prevents the
use of PACTOR 4, a data protocol that permits relatively high-speed
data transmission. ARRL also noted that past FCC temporary waivers have
allowed this protocol during similar events. The waiver is limited to
60 days.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

The Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS) is following FEMA's lead on
the interoperability channel designations for the wildfire and
hurricane response. Army MARS Program Manager Paul English, WD8DBY,
says he has alerted all MARS members of the FEMA channel designations
and MARS members are prepared to support response efforts as needed.

WX4NHC at the NHC also activated on Sunday in advance of Paulette,
monitoring and gathering reports from the HWN on 14.325

and 7.268 MHz and via the VoIP-WX Net on EchoLink WXtalk 7203
Conference and IRLP 9219.

The Caribbean Basin has more in store during this hurricane season. "We
are now keeping a close eye on Hurricane Teddy," Graves said, noting
that Bermuda could be affected by another hurricane by late Sunday
night or early Monday morning. "Also, we are keeping a close eye on a
system that seems to be getting better organized in the southwestern
Gulf of Mexico."

The next named storm will be Wilfred, and after that storms will be
designated using the Greek alphabet, starting with Alpha. "If we reach
Alpha, it will be the second time in history to use that name," Graves
pointed out. "The first was in 2005."
ARRL to Seek Changes in FCC Draft Decision on Amateur 9-Centimeter Band

ARRL efforts are under way to preserve amateur radio access to the 3.3
- 3.5 GHz (9-centimeter) band. In an 80+ page draft Report and Order
and Further Notice of Proposed Rulelmaking (R&O) in WT Docket 19-348,
the FCC announced its intention to delete the 3.3 - 3.5 GHz amateur
secondary allocation, subject to a phased withdrawal tied to its
licensing of new primary users. According to the FCC, the 3.450 - 3.550
GHz spectrum will be put up for auction as early as December 2021.
Incumbent users will be permitted to continue operating in the band
until licensing to commercial interests -- presumably 5G -- begins.
That's estimated to be about 3 months after the spectrum auction
concludes, or around mid-2022. No alternative spectrum was proposed to
replace the 9-centimeter spectrum for amateur radio operations. In an
associated Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the FCC said it seeks
comment "on whether it is in the public interest to sunset amateur use
in the 3.3 - 3.55 GHz band in two separate phases," -- first above 3.4
GHz, and later below 3.4 GHz.

"We find that removing the existing secondary non-federal allocations
from the 3.3 - 3.55 GHz band and clearing these non-federal operations
from the band is in the public interest, and therefore, we adopt this
proposal," the draft R&O says. "Because the [Department of Defense and
the National Telecommunications and Information Agency] agree that
commercial users operating pursuant to flexible use licenses can be
accommodated in the 3.45 - 3.55 GHz band at full power, and given
continued interest in the 3.3 - 3.45 GHz band for future sharing for
flexible-use licenses, we find that retaining the secondary non-federal
allocations across this spectrum would hinder the Commission's ability
to offer flexible-use licensing in the future and would undermine the
intensive and efficient use of valuable mid-band spectrum."

"Further, to prevent adjacent-channel issues and to preserve the
possibility of additional clearing for flexible use licensing below
3.45 GHz, we find that sunsetting the secondary amateur allocation from
the entire 3.3 -- 3.5 GHz portion of the band is in the public
interest," the FCC said.

Last February, ARRL filed comments opposing the FCC's proposal to
delete the 3.3 - 3.5 GHz secondary amateur allocation, pointing to
amateur radio's long history of successful coexistence with primary
users of the band.

The absolute deadline to submit additional comments on the draft R&O
and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking via the Electronic Comment
Filing System (ECFS) or to contact FCC staff on this issue is
Wednesday, September 23 -- 7 days before the full Commission's
consideration of the draft for final adoption -- in order to comply
with FCC "Sunshine Rules."

In August, the White House and the Department of Defense announced
plans to allow for commercial 5G systems to operate in the 3.45 - 3.55
GHz band throughout almost all of the contiguous US. The plan would
leave radio amateurs to "individually determine appropriate alternate
spectrum from existing available spectrum allocations."

The 3.45 - 3.55 GHz segment would be teed up for a spectrum auction
that's expected to commence by the end of 2021. This would mean
amateurs would have to cease all operations at 3.45 GHz and above by
the middle of 2022 at the earliest, based on an FCC estimate.

The 3.3 - 3.45 GHz segment is not immediately available for
reallocation and auction, because more work is needed to accommodate
the Department of Defense. Under the rules as proposed, amateur
operations will be permitted to continue in this spectrum until
sometime in the future, when FCC rulemakings establish new rules and
conduct a spectrum auction and commercial licensing.

ARRL Podcasts Schedule

The latest episode of the On the Air podcast (Episode 9) features a
discussion on how to tune HF signals and use transceiver tools to
enhance reception. 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 16) features a
chat about the 222 MHz band, with QST's "The World Above 50 MHz"
columnist Jon Jones, N0JK. Also, Steve Ford, WB8IMY, offers some tips
on shopping for coaxial cable.

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.
Analysis Determines We Are in Solar Cycle 25

It's now official. The solar minimum between Solar Cycles 24 and 25 --
the period when the sun is least active -- occurred in December 2019,
when the 13-month smoothed sunspot number fell to 1.8. This is
according to the Solar Cycle 25 Prediction Panel, co-chaired by the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric ministration (NOAA) and the National
Aeronautics and Space ministration (NASA). We are now in Solar Cycle
25, with peak sunspot activity expected in 2025, the panel said. The
panel expressed high confidence that Solar Cycle 25 will break the
trend of weakening solar activity seen over the past four cycles.

[IMG]"We predict the decline in solar cycle amplitude, seen from Cycles
21 through 24, has come to an end," said Lisa Upton, panel co-chair and
solar physicist with Space Systems Research Corporation. "There is no
indication we are approaching a Maunder-type minimum in solar
activity."

At 11 years, Solar Cycle 24 was of average length and had the
fourth-smallest intensity since regular record-keeping began in 1755,
with what is considered Solar Cycle 1. It was also the weakest cycle in
a century. At solar maximum in April 2014, sunspots peaked at 114 for
the cycle, well below the 179 average.

Solar Cycle 24's progression was unusual. The sun's northern hemisphere
led the sunspot cycle, peaking more than 2 years ahead of the southern
hemisphere sunspot peak. This resulted in fewer sunspots at solar
maximum than if the two hemispheres were in phase.

For the past 8 months, activity on the sun has steadily increased,
indicating that we have transitioned to Solar Cycle 25, forecast to be
a fairly weak cycle -- about the same as Solar Cycle 24. Solar Cycle 25
is expected to peak in July 2025, with a predicted 115 sunspots.

"How quickly solar activity rises is an indicator on how strong the
solar cycle will be," said Doug Biesecker, the NOAA-NASA panel co-chair
and a solar physicist at NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC).
"Although we've seen a steady increase in sunspot activity this year,
it is slow."

"While we are not predicting a particularly active Solar Cycle 25,
violent eruptions from the sun can occur at any time," Biesecker added.

An artist's rendering of the Space
Weather Follow-On L-1 observatory.

Before Solar Cycle 25 peaks in 2024, NOAA is slated to launch a new
spacecraft dedicated to operational space weather forecasting. The
Space Weather Follow-On L-1 observatory (SWFO-L1) will be equipped with
instruments that sample the solar wind, provide imagery of coronal mass
ejections, and monitor other extreme activity from the sun in finer
detail than before. NOAA's next Geostationary Operational Environmental
Satellite (GOES-U) is also scheduled to launch in 2024. GOES-U will
carry three solar monitoring instruments, including the first compact
coronagraph, which will help detect coronal mass ejections. Enhanced
observations of the sun from these satellites will help improve space
weather forecasting.

The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: As detailed elsewhere in this edition
of The ARRL Letter (see Analysis Determines We Are in Solar Cycle 25),
this week's big news was that scientists have pinned down the Solar
Cycle 24 minimum to December 2019 -- and the start of Solar Cycle 25.

The reason behind the delay in announcing this is the nature of moving
averages, which, in this case, is a smoothed sunspot number derived
from arithmetical averaging of sunspot numbers over 1 year -- i.e.,
half the numbers before December, and half after December -- to derive
a mid-point average.

Recent news stories, such as this article from SpaceRef, give
predictions for the next cycle.

Over the September 10 - 16 reporting week, the average daily solar flux
was 69.2 -- no significant difference from the previous week. Average
daily planetary A index was 5.3, up from 4.4 the previous week. Average
daily mid-latitude A index went from 4.9 to 5.4.

Predicted solar flux for the next 45 days (September 17 - October 31)
remains 70, the same as reported in recent bulletins.

Predicted planetary A index is 5 on September 17 - 22; 8, 10, 15, 10,
25, 15, and 10 on September 23 - 29; 5 on September 30 - October 14; 8
on October 15 - 16; 5 on October 17 - 19; then, as earlier, 8, 10, 15,
10, 25, 15, and 10 on October 20 - 26,and back to 5 on October 27 - 31.

Sunspot numbers for September 10 - 16 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, and 0, for
a mean of 0. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 69.3, 68.7, 69.3, 69.8, 68.9,
68.8, and 69.5, with a mean of 69.2. Estimated planetary A indices were
2, 3, 5, 6, 11, 7, and 3, with a mean of 5.3. Middle latitude A index
was 2, 2, 6, 7, 10, 8, and 3 with a mean of 5.4.

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. For customizable
propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio website.

Share your reports and observations.
Just Ahead in Radiosport
* September 19 -- QRP Afield (CW, phone, digital)
* September 19 -- Wisconsin Parks on the Air (Phone)
* September 19 -- Feld Hell Sprint
* September 19 -- VHF FOC QSO Party (CW)
* September 19 - 20 -- Collegiate QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
* September 19 - 20 -- ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest (CW, phone,
digital)
* September 19 - 20 -- SARL VHF/UHF Digital Contest
* September 19 - 20 -- Scandinavian Activity Contest (CW)
* September 19 - 20 -- All Africa International DX Contest (CW,
phone, digital)
* September 19 - 20 -- Iowa QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
* September 19 - 20 -- New Jersey QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
* September 19 - 20 -- New Hampshire QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
* September 19 - 20 -- Washington State Salmon Run (CW, phone,
digital)
* September 20 -- North American Sprint, RTTY
* September 20 -- BARTG Sprint 75 (Digital)
* September 20 - 21 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)
* September 21 -- 144 MHz Fall Sprint (CW, phone, digital)
* September 23 -- SKCC Sprint (CW)
* September 24 -- RSGB 80-Meter Autumn Series, Data

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.

-------------------------------------------------------------------


International Telecommunication Union Releases 2020 ITU Radio
Regulations

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has published the 2020
ITU Radio Regulations -- the international treaty governing the global
use of RF spectrum and satellite orbits. The publication contains the
complete texts of the Radio Regulations adopted during World
Radiocommunication Conference 2019 (WRC-19), held last year in Sharm El
Sheikh, Egypt. Available in all six of ITU's official languages, the
2020 ITU Radio Regulations are in effect for all signatory parties on
January 1, 2021. Electronic versions are free, and the "traditional
four-volume boxed set," as well as a multilingual DVD, will be
available for purchase in the coming weeks, the ITU said.

"The publication of the Radio Regulations is the culmination of the
hard work and intense deliberations that took place during WRC-19,"
said ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao. "Efficient and economical use
of the naturally limited radio-frequency spectrum is key to ensuring we
bring the benefits of connectivity and digital transformation to people
everywhere. The ITU Radio Regulations are a vital vehicle for this
endeavor."

The ITU said that, when it comes to allocating radio frequencies,
including sharing and harmonizing their use for different purposes, the
Radio Regulations are the ultimate tool. "They ensure the use of the RF
spectrum is rational, equitable, efficient, and economical, all while
aiming to prevent harmful interference between different radio
services," the ITU said.

The Radio Regulations govern 40 radiocommunication services, and are
designed to protect existing radio services while enabling the
introduction of new and enhanced services.
Announcements
* CQ World Wide Contest Director John Dorr, K1AR, has announced some
rule changes effective with this fall's contests. Multi-Single,
Multi-Two, and Multi-Multi will be the standard entry category
names; amplifiers will be included in the 500-meter diameter circle
of the station location, and logs must be uploaded online.
* The Fox Mike Hotel Portable Operations Challenge on October 3 - 4
permits operation as a portable station from backyard, garden, or
patio, using portable equipment.
* The FCC has announced that the Anchorage Amateur Radio Club VEC has
joined the list of authorized Club Station Call Sign ministrators
(CSCSAs).
* Radio Amateurs of Canada has announced that it will hold its Annual
General Meeting (AGM) on Sunday, September 20. It will be a virtual
event.
* The Collegiate QSO Party this weekend provides bonus points for
alumni working their alma maters, or an alumnus/alumna working
other alumni. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, rules have been
relaxed to allow a campus radio station to be operated remotely by
college club members, some entry classes have been changed, and
scoring has been modified.
* [IMG]Weatheradio Canada has announced that it's considering
shutting down 48 of its 230 VHF weather information transmitters
across the country -- about 20% of the network. The Canadian
government says most of the sites are in urban areas with ample
access to other sources of weather information. -- Thanks to The
SWLing Post


Ham Radio Exams are Not Going Away in Brazil After All

Amateur radio examinations are not being eliminated in Brazil. A notice
that the country's telecommunications regulator ANATEL released
recently was intended to prompt discussion and elicit comment on the
idea, but it prompted confusion too. On September 10, ANATEL responded
to a letter from Brazil's national amateur radio society, LABRE, that
expressed concern regarding the proposal to scrap amateur radio exams.
ANATEL told LABRE that no such change is in the works, although the
regulator did say that some rules and regulations will be revised and
modernized in due course.

"With respect to the merit presented in the correspondence, this will
be analyzed and considered by the technical team of this agency [i.e.,
ANATEL] in the finalization of the regulatory impact analysis report
and the respective regulatory proposal, if any," ANATEL told LABRE.

Henrique Gravina, PU3IKE, contacted ARRL to offer his take on the
confusion. He said many people have complained to ANATEL over the years
about amateur exams. When ANATEL considers that a particular issue
raised represents a problem area, it selects a complaint to use as a
starting point for discussion. This is akin to a Petition for
Rulemaking (PRM) that the FCC might "put on notice" to invite comment
after a suggested change in the rules.

"Portuguese is a difficult language, even for natives, and it gets
worse when we speak and write in legal terms and in bureaucratic
processes that are very complicated," Gravina allowed. "Hams who are
not law students or lawyers read the [proposal] and did not understand
what was happening."

LABRE has said it was satisfied with ANATEL's response and will
continue to collaborate with the agency to help modernize the
regulatory framework that governs amateur radio in Brazil. ANATEL said
it's considering extending the deadline for public comment on the group
of proposals that included the suggestion to eliminate ham radio exams.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some changes have already come about in
the form of online exams for two license classes -- A and C. Brazil
retains a 5 WPM Morse code requirement for the class B license, and
that has not been made available online. Applicants must have 1 year of
experience as a class B licensee to sit for the class A exam. The Morse
code exam can only be taken at an ANATEL agency office, available in
most Brazilian states. -- Thanks to Henrique Gravina, PU3IKE

-------------------------------------------------------------------

In Brief...

The ARRL Board of Directors has named James W. Brown, K9YC, as the
recipient of the 2019 ARRL Technical Service Award. The Board cited
Brown's frequent contributions to -- and presentations at -- amateur
radio forums at conventions including Dayton Hamvention^(R), Pacificon,
and the International DX and Contesting Convention in Visalia,
California. Brown, of Santa Cruz, California, has also collaborated
with the ARRL Lab, contributed to various ARRL publications, including
The ARRL Handbook, The ARRL Antenna Book, and others, and shared his
technical and educational expertise in the fields of audio engineering,
RFI, and other aspects of electronics and engineering. He shares his
knowledge and expertise with the amateur radio community via his
informational website. The Board said, "Brown continues to provide his
expertise as a means of 'giving back' to the amateur community, in the
spirit of the amateurs that worked with him when he was first licensed
at the age of 13."

Former Federal Emergency Management ministration (FEMA) ministrator
Craig Fugate, KK4INZ, recently encouraged the use of mesh networking.
He said mesh networking can empower volunteers during natural
disasters, such as hurricanes and wildfires. Fugate was the keynote
speaker for the International Wireless Communications Expo's (IWCE)
virtual event. "By building these types of networks, you can put people
back into communication and put people to work where they're needed,"
he said. He encouraged public safety agencies to work with local
amateur radio groups and commercial providers to create solutions that
can build these mesh networks when the main network goes down. --
Thanks to The ARES Letter

Past New England Division Director Bill Burden, WB1BRE, of Strafford,
Vermont, died on July 29. An ARRL Life Member, he was 84. Burden served
as ARRL New England Division Director from 1992 to 1996. Prior to that,
he was New England Division Vice Director (1991 - 1992) and New
Hampshire Section Manager (1985 - 1991). He served as the emergency
management director for the Town of Strafford. A graduate of Lowell
Tech with a degree in electrical engineering, Burden worked for
Lockheed-Sanders, retiring in 1991.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

* November 14 - 15 -- Central Division Convention, Fort Wayne,
Indiana
* November 21 -- Alabama State Convention, Montgomery, Alabama
* December 11 - 12 -- Florida State Convention, Plant City, Florida

Find conventions and hamfests in your area.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for
Amateur Radio News and Information.

.

.
* Join or Renew Today! Eligible US-based members can elect to receive
QST or On the Air magazine in print when they join ARRL or when
they renew their membership. All members can access digital
editions of all four ARRL magazines: QST, On the Air, QEX, and NCJ.

* Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday.

Subscribe to...
* NCJ -- National Contest Journal. Published bimonthly, features
articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA
Sprint, and QSO parties.
* QEX -- A Forum for Communications Experimenters. Published
bimonthly, features technical articles, construction projects,
columns, and other items of interest to radio amateurs and
communications professionals.

Free of charge to ARRL members...
* Subscribe to the ARES E-Letter (monthly public service and
emergency communications news), the ARRL Contest Update (biweekly
contest newsletter), Division and Section news alerts -- and much
more!
* Find ARRL on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram!
----------------------------------------------------------------------

The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 50 times each year. ARRL members
and registered guests may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing
their profile.

Copyright (c) 2020 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and
distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is permitted for
non-commercial or educational purposes, with attribution. All other
purposes require written permission.


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The ARRL Letter
September 24, 2020

* MARS Communications Exercise to Involve Amateur Radio Community
* Venerable AO-7 Satellite Approaching a Return to Full Solar
Illumination
* FCC Grants Waiver Permitting Garmin to Market a Combination Part
95/Part 25 Device
* ARRL Podcasts Schedule
* IARU Region 1 President Sounds Alarm on Wireless Power Transfer for
Vehicles
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* Hams Help Find Kids by Monitoring FRS Channel
* "Foghorn" is Back on the Bands, IARU Monitoring Service Reports
* Announcements
* Phil Temples, K9HI, Appointed as New England Division Vice Director
* In Brief...
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
MARS Communications Exercise to Involve Amateur Radio Community

Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS) volunteers will take part in the
Department of Defense (DOD) Communications Exercise 20-4, starting on
October 3 and concluding on October 26. The MARS focus is
interoperability with ARRL and the amateur radio community.

"Throughout the month of October, MARS members will interoperate with
various amateur radio organizations that will be conducting their
annual simulated emergency tests with state, county, and local
emergency management personnel," said MARS Chief Paul English, WD8DBY.
"MARS members will send a DOD-approved message to the amateur radio
organizations recognizing this cooperative interoperability effort."

MARS members will also train with the ARRL National Traffic System
(NTS) and Radio Relay International (RRI) to send ICS 213 general
messages to numerous amateur radio leaders across the US.

"This exercise will culminate with MARS Auxiliarists sending a number
of summary messages in support of a larger DOD communications exercise
taking place October 20 - 26," English added. Throughout the month of
October, MARS stations will operate on 60 meters, and WWV/WWVH will
broadcast messages to the amateur radio community. English assures no
disruption to communications throughout the month-long series of
training events.
Venerable AO-7 Satellite Approaching a Return to Full Solar
Illumination

AMSAT-OSCAR 7 (AO-7), the oldest amateur radio satellite still in
operation, is nearing a return to full illumination by the sun, which
should take place around September 25 and continue until around
December 26. AMSAT's vice president of operations Drew Glasbrenner,
KO4MA, says that during this period, AO-7 likely will switch between
modes A (2 meters up/10 meters down) and B (70 centimeters up/2 meters
down) every 24 hours. He reminded users to use only the minimum
necessary power and to avoid "ditting" to find their signals in the
passband, which can bounce the entire passband up and down and
sometimes even cause the transponder to reset to mode A.

"Try to find yourself with very low power, or on SSB, or best, with
full Doppler control," Glasbrenner said. "If you have to use high power
to find yourself, your receive antenna and system probably needs
improvement."

Last May, the nearly 46-year-old AO-7 made possible a contact between
Argentina and South Africa -- a distance of more than 4,300 miles. Both
stations were aiming just 2A� or 3A� above the horizon. AO-7 only works
when it's receiving direct sunlight and shuts down when in eclipse.

Launched in 1974, AO-7 surprised the amateur satellite community by
suddenly coming back to life in 2002 after being dormant for nearly 30
years and periodically re-emerging. AMSAT considers AO-7
"semi-operational." Theory is that AO-7 initially went dark after
several years of operation when a battery shorted, and it returned to
operation when the short circuit opened. With no working batteries,
AO-7 now only functions when it's receiving direct sunlight, and it
shuts down when in eclipse.

Built by a multinational team under AMSAT's direction, AO-7 carries a
non-inverting Mode A transponder (145.850 - 950 MHz up/29.400 - 500 MHz
down) and an inverting Mode B (432.180 - 120 MHz up/145.920 - 980 MHz
down) linear transponder. AO-7 has beacons on 29.502 and 145.975 MHz,
used in conjunction with Mode A and Mode B/C (low-power mode B),
respectively. A 435.100 MHz beacon has an intermittent problem,
sometimes switching between 400 mW and 10 mW.

FCC Grants Waiver Permitting Garmin to Market a Combination Part
95/Part 25 Device

The FCC has granted the request of Garmin International for a waiver of
Section 95.2761 of the FCC's rules, permitting it to obtain equipment
certification for a handheld unit that combines a low-power,
terrestrial Part 95 Multi-Use Radio Service (MURS) transmitter and a
Part 25 emergency satellite communication module in the same device.
The FCC responded to Garmin's request in an Order released on September
21. Section 95.2761(c) precludes combining MURS transmitting
capabilities in equipment that is also capable of transmitting in
another service, with the exception of Part 15 unlicensed services.

The FCC said it determined that it would be in the public interest to
waive Section 95.2761(c), so that Garmin may obtain authorization to
produce its proposed handheld device.

"We find here that Garmin's proposed device contains an important
public safety feature, which would not be brought to market if we were
to strictly enforce the rules in this case. As Garmin noted in its
request, the certified Part 25 module in the MURS unit would allow
emergency communication to the outside world at the push of a button."

Garmin's proposed product would include two transmitters: a low-power
MURS transmitter for short-range terrestrial communication, and a
previously certified Part 25 module that would allow emergency
communication via the Iridium satellite system under a blanket license
held by Iridium. End users would have to subscribe to the Iridium
service.

Garmin argued in its petition that the purpose of the original
equipment authorization restriction was "to prevent consumer confusion
with other terrestrial services that either had different licensing
regimes or were for different types of communications" and that it is
inappropriate in this case.

"We agree with Garmin that its device's intended use does not flout the
purpose of Section 95.2761(c)," the FCC said in its Order. "Garmin
maintains that the Part 95 MURS transmitter and the Part 25 module
operate on different frequencies and will not operate simultaneously.
Provided the device is constructed in this manner, we are persuaded
that its dual purposes will be well segregated."

-------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL Podcasts Schedule

The latest episode of the On the Air podcast (Episode 9) features a
discussion on how to tune HF signals and use transceiver tools to
enhance reception. 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 Eclectic Tech podcast (Episode 17) features a
discussion of how RSID is used to identify HF digital modes, and a chat
with Bob Allison, WB1GCM, about mysterious Long Delayed Echoes.

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.

-------------------------------------------------------------------


IARU Region 1 President Sounds Alarm on Wireless Power Transfer for
Vehicles

International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Region 1 President Don
Beattie, G3BJ, wants to raise greater awareness regarding the
interference potential of Wireless Power Transfer for Electric Vehicles
(WPT-EV). He is urging IARU member-societies to contact national
regulators to make them aware of the technology's potential for "RF
pollution." Beattie notes that WPT-EV chargers can run as much as 20
kW.

WPT-EV was on the agenda for World Radiocommunication Conference 2019
(WRC-19). The International Telecommunication

Union (ITU) Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) conducted studies to
assess the impact of WPT-EV on radiocommunications and suitable
harmonized frequency ranges. Those ITU-R studies identified the 19 - 25
kHz band, as well as bands in the 50 kHz and 60 kHz range, for
high-power WPT-EV, and the 79 - 90 kHz band for medium-power WPT-EV.
The consensus of WRC-19 delegates was to make no changes in the ITU
Radio Regulations with respect to WPT-EV.

The Netherlands' IARU member-society VERON has posted the text
(translated into Dutch) of Beattie's remarks on the subject.

"The discussions about WPT-EV have reached a point where they are
moving from the technical to the political arena," Beattie said.
"Discussions with a national regulator indicate that we must now take
action at the national level. The amateur service, but also other
telecommunication services, will experience the consequences of
WPT-EV."

Beattie urged member-societies in Region 1 to contact national
regulators, preferably in person, to explain why radio amateurs are so
concerned. He pointed out that long charging times in populated areas
could generate harmonics that make radio communication very difficult.
"Models show that this also applies to the wider environment of a
WPT-EV installation," Beattie said. "Broadcasters, stationary, and
[IMG]mobile services share these concerns" and provided input to CEPT
Electronic Communications Committee Report 289.

Beattie noted that the WPT-EV discussion has been going on for a long
time. The technology is similar to that used for wireless charging of
cell phones.

"The wireless charging of electric cars is done with large coils," he
explained. "One of them on the ground under the vehicle, the second in
the car. Typically, about 22 kW is transferred wirelessly through those
coils. This is done using frequencies between 79 and 90 kHz. Technical
and operational standards for WPT-EV are under development."

WPT-EV developers are seeking noise level limits that are some 30 - 45
dB above current noise levels, Beattie said. "Limits that have a
serious negative effect on the radio spectrum," he asserted.

"In the interests of the future of amateur radio, we need to get the
attention of national regulators," Beattie concluded. "This is about
the future of amateur radio!"
The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Up until September 23, we saw 32
consecutive days with no sunspots. Then new sunspot group AR2773 came
into view, with a magnetic signature indicating that it's part of new
Solar Cycle 25. According to Spaceweather.com, AR2773 is a weak sunspot
group and may not persist for long. The daily sunspot number for
September 23 was 13, indicating three sunspots visible in that group.

Average daily solar flux rose from 69.2 to 71.1 over the reporting week
of September 17 - 23. Geomagnetic indicators were about the same, with
average daily planetary A index declining from 5.3 to 5.1.

Predicted solar flux for the next 45 days is 73 on September 24 -
October 1, and 70 on October 2 - November 2.

Predicted planetary A index is 12, 15, 12, 25, and 15 on September 24 -
28; 8 on September 29 - 30; 5 on October 1 - 10; 10 on October 11; 5 on
October 12 - 19; 10, 12, 16, 28, 18, and 10 on October 20 - 25; 5 on
October 26 - November 6, and 10 on November 7.

The SciTechDaily article "How NASA & Scientists Around the World Track
the Solar Cycle" is an interesting read.

Sunspot numbers for September 17 - 23 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, and 13,
with a mean of 1.9. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 69.7, 69.9, 70.6,
70.2, 71.3, 72.4, and 73.3, with a mean of 71.1. Estimated planetary A
indices were 4, 5, 3, 4, 3, 6, and 11, with a mean of 5.1. Middle
latitude A index was 5, 4, 4, 4, 3, 5, and 10, 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. For customizable
propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio website.

Share your reports and observations.

Just Ahead in Radiosport
* September 26 -- AGCW VHF/UHF Contest (CW)
* September 26 - 27 -- Worldwide DX Contest, RTTY
* September 26 - 27 -- Maine QSO Party (CW, phone)
* September 28 -- RSGB FT4 Contest Series
* September 29 -- 222 MHz Fall Sprint (CW, phone)
* September 30 -- UKEICC 80-Meter Contest (CW)

Hams Help Find Kids by Monitoring FRS Channel

Late on the afternoon of September 16, the police department in Post
Falls, Idaho, received a 911 call that two juveniles -- ages 9 and 11
-- were missing from a Post Falls residence for about an hour.
According to the report, the pair had left home intending to play in
the neighborhood with some Family Radio Service (FRS) radios. Several
patrol cars were dispatched to the area to conduct a visual search, and
detective Neil Uhrig, K7NJU, responded as officer in charge due to his

training and experience with missing persons investigations. The
initial search focused on a 2-mile radius from the missing kids'
residence.

One officer received information from witnesses that the pair was
probably using FRS Channel 1 (462.5625 MHz). An officer returned to
police headquarters to retrieve some FRS radios for distribution to the
patrol officers, in the event they might be able to hear the youngsters
talking.

Uhrig, meanwhile, pulled out his VHF/UHF handheld with the thought of
setting up FRS Channel 1 as an auxiliary frequency, but without the
manual at hand, he wasn't able to execute the channel setup. But Uhrig
did hear the Northwest Traffic Net (NWTN) that had begun at 6:30 PM on
the local 2-meter repeater.

Checking into the net at about 6:45 PM, Uhrig explained the missing
persons situation to net control station Shannon Riley, KJ7MUA, and
asked if net participants in the Post Falls area with FRS capability
could listen for the youngsters talking.

A number of stations promptly checked in to say they had FRS radios and
were monitoring FRS Channel 1. It was assumed that only stations
located near the missing youngsters would hear them, given the limited
range of FRS radios.

Not long after 7 PM, Jim Hager, KJ7OTD, reported hearing children
talking on FRS Channel 1. Uhrig went to Hager's home to confirm his
observation, and the patrol units were redirected to the new search
vicinity. A short time later, the missing pair was found safe and
returned home.

Uhrig said the most remarkable thing about the incident was that the
missing youngsters turned out to be some distance from the original
search area, and in the opposite direction from where they were thought
to have been headed.

Net Manager Gabbee Perry, KE7ADN, said, "I'm so proud of what a
superior job NWTN NCS Shannon [KJ7MUA] and all the operators did last
Wednesday. It was a very unusual situation, but everyone had excellent
focus and used their resourcefulness to help quickly find the missing
kids." -- Thanks to ARRL Assistant Idaho Section Manager Ed Stuckey,
AI7H

"Foghorn" is Back on the Bands, IARU Monitoring Service Reports

The Chinese "Foghorn" over-the-horizon radar (OTH-R) is once again
showing up in the logs of the International Amateur Radio Union
Monitoring Service (IARUMS) in IARU Region 1 (Europe, the Middle East,
and Africa). While the reports reflect what's being heard by stations
primarily in Europe, the same interference can and does affect other
parts of the world, often depending upon the time of day. Named by
former IARUMS Region 1 Coordinator Wolf Hadel, DK2OM, because of its
sound, the Foghorn was first reported in 2017 operating in amateur
bands. The signal is frequency modulation on pulse (FMOP) with 66.66
sweeps-per-second bursts.

"In August, we found significantly more OTH radars from the Far East,
especially the system known as 'Foghorn,'" said IARUMS Region 1
Coordinator Peter Jost, HB9CET, noting that the Foghorn facilities

Chinese "Foghorn" signal waveform.
[Wolf Hadel, DK2OM]

generate a signal with a bandwidth of 10 kHz. "But also, the notorious
Russian 'Contayner' radar still contaminated our bands, especially 20
meters, daily."

The Foghorn was being heard on 40 meters, in the vicinity of 7113 -
7123 kHz and 7165 - 7175 kHz. Other OTH-R signals tracked to, or
believed to be in, China are showing up elsewhere on the band with
equally broad signals. Some international broadcasters have also set up
shop on amateur bands, including Voice of Broad Masses 1 on 7140 kHz,
and Voice of Broad Masses 2 on 7180 kHz, both with 9 kHz-wide AM
signals. China Radio International has been transmitting at the very
bottom edge of 20 meters, its signal slopping over into the amateur
band. Chinese OTH-R signals were also monitored at various places on 20
meters.

Russian "Contayner" OTH-R signals were spotted on several 20-meter
frequencies in August. An idling signal on 14,221 kHz is believed to be
coming from Kazakhstan, showing up every evening. A Foghorn OTH-R has
been appearing in the 14,338 - 14,348 kHz range.

A radio war between Russia and Ukraine has generated signals on 40
meters (Russia on 7055 and Ukraine on 7060 kHz), airing what the
monitor called "very loud" and persistent signals every day, with
"plenty of abuse," propaganda, profanities, and agitation being passed
back and forth.

AM radars with "huge signals" were reported to be taking up segments on
40 and 20 meters. A "monster" F1B signal has been heard on 14,301 kHz.

The role of IARUMS�**--�**monitoring the amateur bands to search and
identify transmissions sent by intruders�**--�**is important, because
the amount and variety of intruders is rapidly growing, IARU said. "A
number of national monitoring coordinators and volunteers have been
watching our bands for many years. But more needs to be done to raise
awareness of societies and countries where no national monitoring team
exists. Also, existing groups can still help by sharing detailed
information worldwide with others. 'Monitoring is Teamwork!'"

IARU said it's also very important that as many member-societies as
possible file interference complaints with national regulators when
intruders are heard.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Announcements
* The ARES E-Letter, ARRL's email newsletter for monthly public
service and emergency communications news, has been renamed, The
ARES Letter. Members can subscribe to The ARES Letter by visiting
their member preferences page and selecting the "Edit Email
Subscriptions" tab.
* The QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo has announced that all Expo
presentations are available by clicking on "August Speaker
Presentations" on the right-hand side of the Expo home page.
Topping the list is keynote speaker Scott Wright, K0MD, the editor
of NCJ, who spoke on "Amateur Radio's Impact on Problem Solving to
Create a Global Response to the Pandemic." Presentations spanned
topics from "Portable Operating" by John Jacobs, W7DBO, to
"Everything you need to know about Lithium Batteries" by Marcel
Stieber, AI6MS, and individual presentations given by young hams
organized by Carole Perry, WB2MGP. The next QSO Today Virtual Ham
Expo is set for March 13 - 14, 2021.
* Mark Aaker, K6UFO, suggested the ScienceDaily article, "Miniature
antenna enables robotic teaming in complex environments." The
researchers used a 1/50-wavelength antenna with a "modular active
matching network" to obtain a three-fold increase in the antenna's
3 dB bandwidth and a 10 dB improvement in efficiency, compared to a
similarly sized, unmatched antenna.
* [IMG]TM82ALC will be active during October to commemorate the 290th
anniversary of the death in 1730 of Antoine de Lamothe-Cadillac,
founder of the City of Detroit, Michigan, event sponsors say. He
also once served as the governor of Louisiana. The Detroit
Automobile Company was renamed the Cadillac Automobile Company in
his honor and adopted the Lamothe-Cadillac coat of arms as its
product logo.
* November 15 will mark the 75th anniversary of the post-war ARRL
DXCC program. The first post-war list of DXCC Countries appeared in
the February 1947 edition of QST and contained some 257 countries.
* SmallSat 2020 Conference Proceedings are available online. The 34th
annual conference was a virtual event that attracted 8,100
participants over 3 days. The conference theme was "Space Mission
Architectures - Infinite Possibilities."

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Phil Temples, K9HI, Appointed as New England Division Vice Director

ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, has appointed Phil Temples, K9HI,
of Watertown, Massachusetts, as New England Division Vice Director. He
succeeds Mike Raisbeck, K1TWF, who was elected earlier this year as
ARRL First Vice President. President Roderick made the appointment
after consulting with New England Division Director Fred Hopengarten,
K1VR, and the region's Section Managers.

"I want to thank all of those who forwarded their recommendations to
Director Hopengarten," Temples said. "Mike Raisbeck left some big shoes
to fill. I look forward to working with Fred, and to advise and assist
him with various tasks and board committee assignments. One task I'm
especially eager to tackle is launching a New England Division
website."

An ARRL Life Member, Temples has been licensed for 50 years, initially
as WN9EAY in Indiana. He has written articles for QST and contributed
articles for the ARRL website. He also co-authored a chapter in the
Amateur Radio Public Service Handbook.

Temples served three terms as Eastern Massachusetts Section Manager and
now is an Assistant SM and an Assistant New England Division Director.
He's also held ARRL field appointments as Affiliated Club Coordinator
and Public Information Officer and currently serves as program chair
for the Northeast HamXposition.

Temples has been active in MARS, the National Traffic System, and as an
Emergency Coordinator, and he enjoys CW. He holds a degree in
electrical engineering from Purdue University.

Temples has actively promoted instruction and licensing and is a
Volunteer Examiner under the ARRL, W5YI, and Greater Los Angeles ARG
Volunteer Examiner Coordinators. He's currently involved with New
England Amateur Radio, Inc. in administering remote exam sessions
during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Temples is employed at Boston College as a computer systems
administrator.
In Brief...

After counting the ballots, AMSAT has announced its Board of Directors.
In order of votes received, Mark Hammond, N8MH (707); Paul Stoetzer,
N8HM (703), and Bruce Paige, KK5DO (667), were elected as AMSAT
Directors for terms ending in 2022. Stoetzer, a former Board member and
current Executive Vice President, fills the seat being vacated by AMSAT
veteran Tom Clark, W3IO. Howie DeFelice, AB2S (550), was elected as
first alternate director, and Bob McGwier, N4HY (534), as second
alternate director for terms ending in 2021. Jeff Johns, WE4B, received
429 votes. -- Thanks to AMSAT News Service

Radio Amateurs of Canada has announced that videos from its Annual
Conference and General Meeting earlier this month are now available.
All presentations may be viewed on the new RAC YouTube Channel. ARRL
President Rick Roderick, K5UR, addressed the meeting. Presentation
topics include "Getting Started with Amateur Radio Satellites,"
"Amateur Radio and Youth," and "Contesting: Remote Operating." --
Thanks to Radio Amateurs of Canada

Former West Virginia Section Manager Karl Thompson, K8KT, died on July
28. He was 80. Thompson, of Charleston, served as West Virginia Section
Communications Manager (SCM) from 1979 until 1983, and, after the
position was renamed, as Section Manager (SM) from 1984 until 1994.
Thompson subsequently served the Section as an Assistant Section
Manager and Technical Coordinator. Current West Virginia SM, Dan
Ringer, K8WV, said in a message to members, "Karl was one of the
best-known amateurs in West Virginia. He represented all of the best of
the amateur community." A ham from the age of 15, Thompson was employed
by the telephone company (C&P, Bell Atlantic, and Verizon), retiring
after 28 years of service. He was president of the West Virginia State
Radio Council for several years and was honored with the ARRL Roanoke
Division Amateur of the Year award in 1983. He received the ARRL
Roanoke Division Service Award that same year. Thompson played guitar,
autoharp, and piano and was a member of several singing groups over the
years. He co-hosted the Old Time Country Music Hour on WZAC-FM for 4
years.
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.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

* November 21 -- Alabama State Convention, Montgomery, Alabama
* December 11 - 12 -- Florida State Convention, Plant City, Florida

Find conventions and hamfests in your area.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for
Amateur Radio News and Information.

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* Join or Renew Today! Eligible US-based members can elect to receive
QST or On the Air magazine in print when they join ARRL or when
they renew their membership. All members can access digital
editions of all four ARRL magazines: QST, On the Air, QEX, and NCJ.

* Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday.

Subscribe to...
* NCJ -- National Contest Journal. Published bimonthly, features
articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA
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Free of charge to ARRL members...
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----------------------------------------------------------------------

The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 50 times each year. ARRL members
and registered guests may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing
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Copyright (c) 2020 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and
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--- SendMsg/2

--- Squish/386 v1.11
* Origin: Outpost BBS@bbs.outpostbbs.net:10123 (1:18/200)

The ARRL Letter
October 1, 2020

* Get Ready for the 15th Annual ARRL Online Auction!
* Pandemic-Delayed ARRL 2019 Annual Report Released
* Former Dayton Hamvention Venue Hara Arena is Being Demolished
* ARRL Podcasts Schedule
* HF Station Grounding and Arduino Microcontroller Projects are Next
ARRL Webinar Topics
* Special Pricing on ARRL 5-Band WAS and Triple Play WAS Award Plaque
Applications
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* WSJT-X Beta Release Introduces Digital Protocols Designed for LF
and MF Bands
* Announcements
* Chinese Amateur Radio Satellite Launches Delayed
* Sterling Mann, N0SSC, Named IARU Region 2 Liaison for Youth
* In Brief...
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
Get Ready for the 15th Annual ARRL Online Auction!

The 15th Annual ARRL Online Auction will open for an "early bird"
preview and registration on Thursday, October 8, and will open for
bidding at 10 AM EDT (1400 UTC) on Thursday, October 15. The auction is
sponsored by GigaParts. The 2020 ARRL Online Auction includes a large
assortment of ARRL Product Review items, including an SPE Expert
1.5K-FA HF amplifier, ACOM 120S 160 - 6- meter linear amplifier, Yaesu
FTDX101D HF + 6-meter transceiver, and an Icom IC-9700 VHF/UHF
multi-mode transceiver.

The ARRL Online Auction also features a wide assortment of vintage
books, including The ARRL Handbook, Radio for Everybody, and CQ Ghost
Ship.

This year, bidders will find a large variety of equipment, vintage
books, novelty items, ARRL bundle packs, and a number of special items
donated by the cast and crew of Fox Television's Last Man Standing,
starring Tim Allen as Mike Baxter, KA0XTT.

In order to place a bid, you must register on the ARRL Online Auction
website. You may browse the website and scope out those "must-have"
items without being a registered bidder, and you can register at any
time during the auction. If you are interested in some great bargains
-- and some great fun -- check out the 2020 ARRL Online Auction, which
concludes on October 25 at 10 PM EDT (0200 UTC on October 26 in North
America). Registration begins on October 8 at 10 AM EDT (1400 UTC)
during the auction preview.

Proceeds from the Online Auction benefit ARRL education programs,
including activities to license new hams, strengthen Amateur Radio
Emergency Service (ARES) training, offer continuing technical and
operating education, and create instructional materials.
Pandemic-Delayed ARRL 2019 Annual Report Released

The 2019 ARRL Annual Report is now available in print and online. The
publication's release was delayed as a consequence of the coronavirus
pandemic. Print copies for members who are interested will be available
soon. ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, called 2019 "an exciting year
for ARRL," with several new initiatives moving through planning and
development for rollout in 2020.

"Two of them -- On the Air magazine and the ARRL Online Learning Center
-- signify steps taken toward the 'new generation of hams' that I've
been talking about in the past few Annual Reports," President Roderick
said. "They've been asking ARRL for help finding their way in amateur
radio for so long, wanting to know everything from how to serve their
communities, how to integrate the ham radio hobby and service with all
the demands that modern life makes upon them, and even simply how to
determine which parts of ham radio interest them."

President Roderick also cited the development in 2019 of the ARRL
Online Learning Center -- an array of online courses that will at first
serve new hams and later expand to courses and materials for hams at
all skill levels. The Online Learning Center is expected to launch in
early 2021.

"2019 was more than busy for ARRL -- it was productive and
constructive," President Roderick concluded. "We're growing and

ARRL President Rick
Roderick, K5UR.

changing, and we do it all for you, the members, with an eye on our
mission: to advance the art, science, and enjoyment of amateur radio."

ARRL membership was essentially flat from 2018 at 156,755 -- likely a
result of the membership dues increase in 2019, but still slightly
above projections.

The ARRL Volunteer Monitor Program was developed in 2019, replacing the
Official Observers program. The new VM Program is a formal agreement
between the FCC and ARRL in which trained volunteers will monitor the
bands and collect evidence that may be used both to correct misconduct
and to recognize exemplary on-the-air operation.

The Report summarizes a raft of responses to emergencies and disasters
by Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES^(R)) volunteers. ARES
membership grew by 3,130 in 2019, and a new ARES Comprehensive Plan was
introduced.

Financially, ARRL had a particularly good year in 2019, producing a
$596,000 gain from operations, along with strong investment markets
resulting in an overall net asset gain of $3.75 million. Read more.

Former Dayton Hamvention Venue Hara Arena is Being Demolished

Hara Arena, the former venue for Dayton Hamvention^(R) and myriad
sports, entertainment, and other presentations over the years, will
soon be history. In the wake of a failed attempt to revitalize the
tornado-damaged complex, officials in the city of Trotwood, Ohio --
where Hara Arena is located -- announced plans last week to raze the
complex and rezone the property from commercial recreation to light
industrial.

"The complex suffered extensive damage during the 2019 Memorial Day
tornado outbreak," a city news release recalled on September 25, taking
note of hopes to salvage the complex. "However, redeveloping the
property would be a challenge due to the extent of the damage, so the
decision was made...to demolish the legendary venue."

The city said the zoning change will allow manufacturing, distribution
centers, and call centers to establish their businesses in the area.

"We are excited for what the future holds for this property," Trotwood
Mayor Mary McDonald said.

"This is going to create some momentum for redevelopment," City Manager
Quincy Pope told the Dayton Daily News.

According to the Dayton Daily News, the property's owners have said the
iconic marquee spelling out "Hara Arena" atop the main arena will be
preserved and auctioned off, with the proceeds donated to charity.

The Hara complex and the surrounding real estate occupy some 128 acres.

Co-owner Corey Heitz told the Dayton Daily News that it will take up to
6 months to tear down the buildings completely, and he hopes to have
"something" there in the next 12 months.

Hara Arena had served as the venue for Dayton Hamvention from 1964
until 2016. Hamvention announced in July 2016 that Hara Arena would be
closing but that Hamvention would continue. The show is now held at the
Greene County Fairgrounds & Expo Center.

Over its six-decade history, Hara Arena hosted concerts by performers
that included the Rolling Stones and the Grateful Dead; it was also
where hockey legend Wayne Gretzky played his first professional hockey
game.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL Podcasts Schedule

The latest episode of the On the Air podcast (Episode 9) features a
discussion on how to tune HF signals and use transceiver tools to
enhance reception. 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 17) features a
discussion of how RSID is used to identify HF digital modes, and a chat
with Bob Allison, WB1GCM, about mysterious long-delayed echoes (LDEs).

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.

HF Station Grounding and Arduino Microcontroller Projects are Next ARRL
Webinar Topics

Two well-known ham radio authors and speakers will share their
expertise with members in October during ARRL Learning Network
webinars. ARRL Contributing Editor Ward Silver, N0AX, will present
"Grounding & Bonding for Home HF Stations" on Tuesday, October 6, at 10
AM PDT/1 PM EDT/0500 UTC. Popular ARRL author Glen Popiel, KW5GP, will
present "Welcome to the World of Arduino" on Thursday, October 15, at 5
PM PDT/8 PM EDT (0000 UTC on Friday, October 16). Members must log in
to the ARRL website to register for each webinar.

Silver authored the ARRL book Grounding and Bonding for the Radio
Amateur in 2017 as a practical guide to building a station that
incorporates effective grounding and bonding techniques for electrical
safety, lightning protection, and RF management. Radio amateurs often
cite the title for demystifying an often misunderstood or intimidating
topic.

During his webinar, Silver will define grounding and bonding, cover the
benefits and requirements, and share useful references and guides for
hams to apply these techniques in their home HF stations.

In his presentation, Popiel -- the author of several ARRL books,
including Arduino for Ham Radio, More Arduino Projects for Ham Radio,
and High Speed Multimedia for Amateur Radio -- will cover the
open-source, electronic-prototyping Arduino platform, which is widely
popular among electronics hobbyists and radio amateurs. The webinar
will include examples of how to put Arduinos to use in building ham
radio projects and practical station gear.

Live question-and-answer periods will follow each 30-minute
presentation.

All webinars are recorded, so members and radio clubs can view previous
presentations. Join ARRL to take advantage of this new member benefit.
Read more.
Special Pricing on ARRL 5-Band WAS and Triple Play WAS Award Plaque
Applications

Beginning October 1, ARRL will offer a 10% discount on all applications
for 5-Band Worked All States (5B WAS) wall plaques and Triple Play
(TPA) wall plaques. The discount will be deducted from the total charge
(i.e., application fee, plaque fee, and shipping).

This special is good for first-time applicants, as well as for those
who have been awarded TPA or 5B WAS and want to display their
achievement with an attractive, colorful wall plaque.

Submit contacts via Logbook of The World (LoTW) and indicate in the
comments section of the payment page that you want the wall plaque.
Discounts will be applied during processing.

Apply online with the order forms available to order plaques for the
Triple Play or 5Band WAS. This offer is good until the close of
business at ARRL Headquarters on December 31, 2020, so if you need some
contacts to complete your 5-Band WAS or Triple Play awards, the
November Sweepstakes or ARRL 160- or 10-Meter contests are good
opportunities to fill those empty slots on your scorecard.

Uploading your contacts to LoTW provides quick contact confirmation and
makes it easy to apply for these awards.

The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Solar wind disturbed HF conditions
over the September 24 - 30 reporting week.

Average daily planetary A index rose from 5.1 to 22, while average
middle latitude A index went from 5 to 15.6. Average daily sunspot
number declined from 1.9 to 1.6; a weak sunspot appeared on only 2
days, September 23 and 25, with sunspot numbers of 13 and 11,
respectively. Average daily solar flux was on the increase, edging up
from 71.1 to 73.4.

Predicted solar flux for the next 45 days is 74 on October 1 - 3; 72 on
October 4; 70 on October 5 - 18; 72 on October 19 - 31, and 70 on
November 1 - 14.

Predicted planetary A index is 15 and 10 on October 1 - 3; 5 on October
3 - 10; 10 on October 11; 5 on October 12 - 19; 10, 18, and 20 on
October 20 - 22; 24, 16, 38, and 38 on October 23 - 26; 26, 15, and 10
on October 27 - 29; 5 on October 30 - November 6; 10 on November 7, and
5 on November 8 - 14.

W6MVT in southern California was pleasantly surprised on September 28
after erecting a new vertical. His first catch was E51JD in the
Southern Cook Islands at 0022 UTC. This was his first SSB DX on 15
meters in many years, although the opening vanished as quickly as it
came.

Sunspot numbers for September 24 - 30 were 0, 11, 0, 0, 0, 0, and 0,
with a mean of 1.6. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 73.6, 73.4, 72.6,
74.1, 73.9, 72.8, and 73.3, with a mean of 73.4. Estimated planetary A
indices were 19, 20, 27, 24, 33, 16, and 15, with a mean of 22. Middle
latitude A index was 11, 17, 18, 16, 21, 14, and 12, with a mean of
15.6.

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. For customizable
propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio website.

Share your reports and observations.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Just Ahead in Radiosport
* October 3 -- German Telegraphy Contest (CW)
* October 3 -- FISTS Fall Slow Speed Sprint
* October 3 - 4 -- TRC DX Contest (CW, phone)
* October 3 - 4 -- RTTYOps WW RTTY
* October 3 - 4 -- Russian WW Digital Contest
* October 3 - 4 -- All YLRL DX/NA YL Anniversary Contest (CW, phone)
* October 3 - 4 -- International HELL-Contest
* October 3 - 4 -- California QSO Party (CW, phone)
* October 3 - 4 -- SKCC QSO Party (CW)
* October 4 -- RSGB DX Contest (CW, phone)
* October 4 -- UBA ON Contest, SSB
* October 4 -- Peanut Power QRP Sprint (CW, phone)
* October 5 -- RSGB 80-Meter Autumn Series, CW
* October 6 -- ARS Spartan Sprint CW
* October 7 -- VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest
* October 7 -- 432 MHz Fall Sprint (CW, phone)
* October 7 -- UKEICC 80-Meter Contest (Phone)


WSJT-X Beta Release Introduces Digital Protocols Designed for LF and MF
Bands

The latest beta release of the WSJT-X digital software suite includes
digital protocols particularly designed for communication on LF and MF
bands, such as 2200 meters and 630 meters, and its developers say that
during its first few months of testing, contacts have spanned
intercontinental paths "many times" on those bands. New protocols FST4
and FST4W are included in WSJT-X version 2.3.0-rc1 (release candidate
1). FST4 is for two-way contacts, while FST4W is for "quasi-beacon"
style WSPR-type transmissions. Both modes offer a range of options for
T/R-sequence lengths and threshold decoding sensitivities extending
well into the -40 dB range, developers said.

"On these bands, their fundamental sensitivities are better than other
WSJT-X modes with the same sequence lengths," the WSJT-X development
team. "FST4 and FST4W do not require the strict, independent
time-synchronization and phase-locking of modes like EbNaut," a
protocol for VLF and LF communication.

The WSJT-X development team said operators familiar with the software
suite will find using FST4 and FST4W straightforward.

The new modes use 4-GFSK modulation and share common software for
encoding and decoding messages. FST4 offers T/R sequence lengths of 15,
30, 60, 120, 300, 900, and 1,800 seconds, while FST4W omits the lengths
shorter than 120 seconds.

Message payloads contain either 77 bits -- as in FT4, FT8, and MSK144
-- or 50 bits for the WSPR-like messages of FST4W.

WSJT-X version 2.3 offers 12 different protocols: FST4, FT4, FT8, JT4,
JT9, JT65, QRA64, ISCAT, MSK144, WSPR, FST4W, and Echo.

The WSJT-X 2.3 User Guide and the Release Notes include additional
information. Read more.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Announcements
* Scouting's Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) and Jamboree on the Internet
take place October 16 - 18. Groups or individuals can register on
the World JOTA-JOTI site. ditional information about JOTA 2020 is
on the K2BSA website. The K2BSA site offers COVID-19 guidance
during radio scouting activities
* ARRL Life Member Mark Persons, W0MH, of Brainerd, Minnesota, has
been recognized with the 10th Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE)
Lifetime Achievement Award. He was SBE Engineer of the Year for
2018. -- Thanks to Rob Atkinson, K5UJ
* The California QSO Party (CQP) has announced some changes for 2020.
All multioperator stations (multi-single and multi-multi) must
register before the contest. Logs from multioperator stations not
registered in advance will be considered as check logs. The 55th
running of the CQP takes place October 3 - 4.
* Want to know what hams live in your neighborhood? Check out Amateur
Radio License Map. You may have hams nearby you never knew about.
* The United Nations Amateur Radio Contest DX Club at the Vienna
International Center in Austria will operate as 4U75A, in
celebration of the UN's 75th anniversary. The UN Headquarters
Amateur Radio Club (UNARC) will use 4U75UN, although no set
schedule is in place.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Chinese Amateur Radio Satellite Launches Delayed

CAMSAT says the CAS-7A launch has been postponed until next May, and
CAS-5A until next June.

"Because of COVID-19, many things have been delayed," CAMSAT's Alan
Kung, BA1DU, told ARRL. He said an announcement would be made next
spring.

CAMSAT had said that CAS-7A would launch in mid-September; the launch
has been postponed multiple times since first announced. CAS-5A was
predicted to launch in October. Both satellites will carry two
transponders that include HF, in a configuration similar to that of the
Russian RS satellites decades ago.

CAS-7A will be placed into a sun-synchronous orbit with an inclination
of 98� at 500 kilometers above Earth. The transponders will have a
bandwidth of 30 kHz. The HF/HF linear transponder will uplink on 15
meters and downlink on 10 meters. A CW beacon will transmit on 10
meters. The HF/UHF transponder CW beacon transponder will transmit on
70 centimeters.

The CAS-5A nanosatellite, with a 6U form factor, carries two HF
transponders and two VHF/UHF transponders. While in orbit, it will
deploy the tiny CAS-5B femtosatellite, weighing just half a

kilogram.

The array of CAS-5A linear transponders will include HF/HF, HF/UHF, and
VHF/UHF with 30 kHz passbands (except 15 kHz for the HF/UHF
transponder).

CAS-5A will include CW telemetry beacons on HF and UHF. The HF CW
beacon will be on 10 meters, and a UHF telemetry beacon will be on 70
centimeters. Other beacons include the HF/HF transponder beacon on 10
meters, and the HF/UHF and VHF/UHF transponder beacons on 70
centimeters. Telemetry will be transmitted on 70 centimeters. Read
more.
Sterling Mann, N0SSC, Named IARU Region 2 Liaison for Youth

Sterling Mann, N0SSC, has been named as the International Amateur Radio
Union (IARU) Region 2 Liaison for Youth, the IARU Region 2 Executive
Committee (EC) has announced. With the support of IARU Region 2, the
Liaison for Youth will reach out to young hams throughout the Americas
and their member-societies to develop and promote interest in amateur
radio on the part of young hams through self-sustaining groups and
activities.

"Our first set of tasks primarily revolves around collecting
information to identify strong leaders and points of contact throughout
IARU Region 2 member-societies," Mann told ARRL. "Ideally, these
leaders are young hams who are willing to help drive the initiative
forward by performing various roles." One of those, he said, is to come
up with and put into action methods to "get ham radio into the public
view in a positive and engaging way." The initiative will also
coordinate and collaborate with other communities with similar goals.
On-the air activities, online meetups, workshops, competitions and
mini-contests, brainstorming sessions, and speaking invitations are all
envisioned as future events.

"Amateur radio is often viewed as a passion of an earlier generation.
Features that attracted many current hams, such as providing a
real-time social network, have been supplanted by advances in
technology virtually available to anyone anywhere," the EC said.
"Wireless communication is an important aspect of modern life, with
amateurs having the opportunity to experience it in a unique and
personal way. Developing and promoting this experience is key
to...ensuring the future of amateur radio."

The Liaison for Youth implements a "Young Ham Action Plan" to connect
with, engage, inspire, and mentor young hams throughout the Americas.
Mann's role is to be a point of contact for building links to and among
the many groups already developing organically via internet discussion
platforms, on-the-air nets, and virtual clusters of interest -- even
before the COVID-19 pandemic.

The liaison will help to set up, develop, and grow self-sufficient
communities of young hams connected through common cultural, lingual,
and geographic backgrounds, assisted by IARU Region 2 and its
member-societies. This initiative builds on the successful examples of
other youth groups, such as Youngsters On The Air (YOTA) in IARU Region
1, Youth on the Air -- a youth ham radio camp in the Americas, the
Young Amateurs Radio Club -- a large online community of young hams,
and several others. Contact Mann via email or Twitter (@r2youth). Read
more.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

In Brief...

[IMG]Applications for the 2021 ARRL Foundation Scholarship Program will
be accepted between October 1 and December 31, 2020. All applicants
must be FCC-licensed radio amateurs, and many scholarships have other
specific requirements, such as intended area of study, residence within
a particular ARRL Division, Section, or state, and license class.
Applicants should review the scholarship descriptions and check off the
ones for which they are eligible. If you complete an online
application, you must also email a PDF of academic transcripts from
your most recently completed school year by January 11, 2021. Some
scholarships require additional documents to be submitted (e.g., letter
of recommendation from an officer of an ARRL-affiliated club).
Applications not accompanied by transcripts and additional documents,
where applicable, will not be considered. The ARRL Foundation
Scholarship Committee will review all applicants for eligibility and
award decisions. Scholarship recipients will be notified in May 2021
via USPS mail and email. For more information, visit the ARRL
Foundation Scholarship Program page.

Stuart Wolfe, KF5NIX, has been appointed ARRL South Texas Section
Manager. He succeeds Paul Gilbert, KE5ZW, of Cedar Park, who has
stepped down as Section Manager to become ARRL Director of Emergency
Management. Wolfe, of Rockdale, Texas, will complete the remainder of
Gilbert's term. Wolfe's appointment as Section Manager begins on
October 1 and extends until September 30, 2021. ARRL Radiosport and
Field Services Manager Bart Jahnke, W9JJ, made the appointment after
consulting with ARRL West Gulf Division Director John Robert Stratton,
N5AUS, and receiving recommendations from Gilbert, West Gulf Division
Vice Director Lee Cooper, W5LHC, and others in the South Texas Section.
Stuart Wolfe currently serves as South Texas ARRL Affiliated Club
Coordinator and Emergency Coordinator. He is the founding member and
President of the Milam Amateur Radio Club. He is also active as a
Volunteer Examiner and teacher of amateur radio licensing classes.

ARRL Member Chuck Butzin, K0BBQ, used ham radio on September 26 to
assist a motorist in need. Butzin came upon a vehicle that went off the
roadway. Fortunately, no one was injured, but a tow truck was needed to
get the vehicle back on the highway. Butzin was beyond cell phone
coverage, so he used the Terry Peak repeater to make a priority call on
the SDLINK repeater system for assistance. On the other end of the
state, Matt Holden, K0BBC, heard the call and relayed location details
via 911. Dispatcher Denny Warrick, W0DGW, used the GPS coordinates that
Butzin provided to pin down the incident location and call in the
closest law enforcement agency. The Pennington County Sheriff sent a
patrol car and summoned a tow truck. Pennington County ARES Emergency
Coordinator Bob Ewing, W0RE, monitored the repeater until law
enforcement arrived, and K0BBQ cleared the scene. SDLINK is a series of
12 repeaters that connect South Dakota radio amateurs along Interstates
29 and 90. Holden advises radio amateurs to keep an ear on your local
repeaters. "They may be quiet, but you never know when a call for
assistance from a fellow amateur radio operator might be heard." --
Thanks to Matt Holden, K0BBC

-------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

* November 21 -- Alabama State Convention, Montgomery, Alabama
* December 11 - 12 -- Florida State Convention, Plant City, Florida

Find conventions and hamfests in your area.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for
Amateur Radio News and Information.

.

.
* Join or Renew Today! Eligible US-based members can elect to receive
QST or On the Air magazine in print when they join ARRL or when
they renew their membership. All members can access digital
editions of all four ARRL magazines: QST, On the Air, QEX, and NCJ.

* Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday.

Subscribe to...
* NCJ -- National Contest Journal. Published bimonthly, features
articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA
Sprint, and QSO parties.
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bimonthly, features technical articles, construction projects,
columns, and other items of interest to radio amateurs and
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Free of charge to ARRL members...
* Subscribe to the ARES E-Letter (monthly public service and
emergency communications news), the ARRL Contest Update (biweekly
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* Find ARRL on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram!
----------------------------------------------------------------------

The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 50 times each year. ARRL members
and registered guests may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing
their profile.

Copyright (c) 2020 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and
distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is permitted for
non-commercial or educational purposes, with attribution. All other
purposes require written permission.


--- SendMsg/2

--- Squish/386 v1.11
* Origin: Outpost BBS@bbs.outpostbbs.net:10123 (1:18/200)

The ARRL Letter
October 8, 2020

* FCC Orders Amateur Access to 3.5 GHz Band to "Sunset"
* ARRL National Convention and Orlando HamCation^(R) Postponed to
February 2022
* Hurricane Delta Prompts Net Activations
* ARRL Podcasts Schedule
* ARISS to Celebrate 20 Years of Ham Radio on the International Space
Station
* IARU Region 2 Releases 2020 Revision of its Band Plan
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* British Columbia Radio Amateur Hears Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
* Announcements
* Solar Physicist Predicts a Slightly Better Solar Cycle 25
* New England ARES Academy Set
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
FCC Orders Amateur Access to 3.5 GHz Band to "Sunset"

Despite vigorous and continuing opposition from ARRL and others, the
FCC has ordered the "sunsetting" of the 3.3 - 3.5 GHz amateur radio
secondary spectrum allocation. The decision allows current amateur
activity on the band to continue, "grandfathering" the amateur
operations subject to a later decision. The FCC proposed two deadlines
for amateur operations to cease on the band. The first would apply to
the 3.4 - 3.5 GHz segment, the second to 3.3 - 3.4 GHz. The FCC will
establish the dates once it reviews additional comments.

"We adopt our proposal from the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to remove
the amateur allocation from the 3.3 - 3.5 GHz band," the FCC said in
its Report and Order. "[W]e adopt changes to our rules today that
provide for the sunset of the secondary amateur allocation in the band,
but allow continued use of the band for amateur operations, pending
resolution of the issues raised in the Further Notice."

The Report and Order (R&O) and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in
WT Docket No. 19-348 adopted on September 30

followed a 2019 FCC Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in which the
FCC proposed re-allocating 3.45 - 3.55 GHz for "flexible-use service"
and auctioning the desirable "mid-band" spectrum (generally defined as
between 1 GHz and 6 GHz) to 5G providers. These and other recent
spectrum-repurposing actions stem from the MOBILE NOW Act, enacted in
2018, in which Congress directed the Commission to make additional
spectrum available to auction for mobile and fixed wireless broadband.

In the run-up to the Commission's decision, ARRL met with the FCC's
professional staff to explain its concerns and to answer questions. In
subsequent meetings with the wireless advisors to the FCC Chairman and
two Commissioners, ARRL reiterated that continued secondary status for
amateurs will not impair or devalue use of this spectrum by primary
licensees intending to provide 5G or other service. ARRL noted amateur
radio's long history of successful coexistence with primary users of
the 9-centimeter band, sharing this spectrum with the federal
government users and secondary, non-federal occupants.

ARRL pointed out that vital links in amateur television and amateur
radio high-speed mesh networks using the band have been especially
valuable during such emergency situations as the wildfires currently
raging on the west coast. Deleting the amateur secondary allocation
will result in lost opportunities for experimentation and public
service with no countervailing public interest benefit, ARRL said.

The FCC action means that amateur radio will lose access to the 3.5 GHz
secondary allocation even where commercial operations do not exist.
ARRL has argued that amateur operations should be permitted until and
unless an actual potential for interference exists.

Deletion of the 3.3 - 3.5 GHz secondary amateur allocation will become
effective on the effective date of the FCC's order, but amateur radio
operation as of that date may continue while the FCC finalizes rules to
license spectrum in the 3.45 - 3.55 GHz band and establishes deadlines
for amateur operations to cease. Read more.
ARRL National Convention and Orlando HamCation^(R) Postponed to
February 2022

ARRL and the Orlando Amateur Radio Club (OARC) have announced that the
ARRL National Convention and Orlando HamCation^(R) -- which was to host
the convention -- have been postponed until February 10 - 13, 2022. The
convention had been set for next February.

"The joint decision came after considering the national public health
emergency including the health and safety of all participants, the
uncertainty that continues to impact our organizations, and the
reluctance to travel to, and attend, large events," said ARRL CEO David
Minster, NA2AA. "We regret the disruption to the hard work already
completed by so many volunteers preparing for the ARRL National
Convention and HamCation."

"While postponing was a difficult decision, our top priority is
delivering a safe and successful HamCation experience for everyone,
including our attendees, dedicated volunteers, exhibitors, and service
partners," said HamCation General Chairman Michael Cauley, W4MCA.

OARC President John Knott, N4JTK, noted that holding the convention in
2022 will mark the 75th anniversary of HamCation -- one of the largest
annually held gatherings of radio amateurs in the US. The published
gate figure for 2020 was 24,200 for all 3 days.

"We want our diamond anniversary show to be an exciting, five-star
event," said Knott. "We look forward to seeing you in Orlando in 2022,
and hope that you and your loved ones remain safe in the months to
come."

A full day of National Convention programming and training sessions was
previously scheduled to precede HamCation. That will be rescheduled for
Thursday, February 10, 2022. HamCation will host the rest of the
convention on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, February 11 -13, 2022 at
the Central Florida Fairgrounds & Expo Park in Orlando.

Cauley said HamCation may organize some online presentations and
programs for what would have been HamCation 2021 next February. A QSO
party is also under consideration. The HamCation website will soon post
details, including information for anyone seeking refunds and other
options for pre-purchased tickets and exhibit space. You can follow
HamCation on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Further details and any
changes will be shared via the 2022 ARRL National Convention and
Orlando HamCation websites.

Hurricane Delta Prompts Net Activations

The Hurricane Watch Net (HWN), WX4NHC at the National Hurricane Center
(NHC), The Salvation Army's SATERN, and the Louisiana Amateur Radio
Emergency Service (ARES) HF Net -- with support from the ARRL Delta
Division and the Arkansas Section -- announced activations on October 7
for Hurricane Delta. The HWN has activated on 14.325 MHz. WX4NHC
monitors the same frequency to gather "ground truth" reports from radio
amateurs that may assist NHC forecasters.

"Hurricane Delta continues to advance on the Gulf Coasts of Texas,
Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama," said ARRL Emergency Management
Director Paul Gilbert, KE5ZW. "It is following mostly the same track
that Hurricane Laura did."

The NHC forecast Delta to become a Category 3 storm before making
landfall in the early evening of Friday, October 9, near Vermilion Bay,
Louisiana.

The NHC predicted hurricane conditions and life-threatening storm surge
to begin along portions of the northern Gulf Coast on Friday.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

FEMA has announced that Channels 1 and 2 of the 60-meter (5-MHz) band
will be available, as necessary, starting on October 9, for
interoperability between US Government stations and US amateur radio
stations involved in Hurricane Delta emergency communication. The
interoperability status will remain active until after the storm has
passed, and the need for these channels no longer exists. These
frequencies will be used: Channel 1 -- primary voice traffic, 5332 kHz
channel center, 5330.5 kHz USB voice; Channel 2 -- digital traffic,
5348 kHz channel center, 5346.5 kHz USB with 1.5 kHz offset to center
of digital waveform. Stations should yield to operational traffic
related to Hurricane Delta. Although the intended use for these
channels is interoperability between federal government stations and
licensed US amateur radio stations, federal government stations are
primary users and amateurs are secondary users.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Gilbert pointed out that the region is still recovering from Hurricane
Laura. "As a result, many of the regular Louisiana net control
operators and stations are still not operational, or may be placed in
mandatory evacuations," he said. Plans call for activating the
Louisiana ARES HF Net at mid-day on Friday on 7.255 MHz �10 kHz during
daylight hours and on 3.878 MHz (�3 kHz) at night.

The HWN suspended operations at 1800 UTC on October 7, but plans to
resume operations on Friday at 1200 UTC on 14.325 MHz.

WX4NHC has been active on both HWN frequencies, as well as on the VoIP
Hurricane Net, requesting surface reports from stations in the affected
area "with or without weather data for use by NHC forecasters,"
Assistant WXNHC Coordinator Julio Ripoll, WD4R, said. WX4NHC also has
an online Hurricane Report Form.

"NHC appreciates all the surface reports from the affected area during
hurricanes as they fill in gaps of not just weather data, but also give
a real-time, first-person perspective of what is actually happening on
the ground," Ripoll said.

The International SATERN SSB Net (14.265 MHz, alternate 14.312 MHz) and
the Southern Territory SATERN SSB Net (7.265 MHz) plan to activate
Thursday through Saturday.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL Podcasts Schedule

The latest episode of the On The Air podcast (Episode 10) will include
an interview with ARRL Lifelong Learning Manager Kris Bickell, K1BIC,
about ARRL's new "Learning Network" webinars.

The latest edition of the Eclectic Tech podcast (Episode 18) features
discussions of a revolutionary new RF-shielding material; storing
software in the Arctic, and the importance of fan cooling with Al
Rabassa, NW2M.

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.

-------------------------------------------------------------------


ARISS to Celebrate 20 Years of Ham Radio on the International Space
Station

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) will soon
celebrate 20 years of continuous ham radio operations on the
International Space Station (ISS). NASA is commemorating the milestone
with a newly produced infographic highlighting the

Jordan was among the participating
students at Celia Hays Elementary
School in Rockwall, Texas, late last
February, who were excited to have
their ARISS contact with Astronaut
Drew Morgan. More than 190 students
sat on the gym floor while another
680 on campus listened via the
school's inter-communication system.

educational contacts via amateur radio between astronaut crew members
aboard the ISS and students. Over its 20 years, ARISS has supported
nearly 1,400 scheduled ham radio contacts with schools, student groups,
and other organizations.

Planning for ARISS began in 1996 as a cooperative venture among
national amateur radio and amateur satellite societies, with support
from their respective space agencies. The ARISS ham radio gear actually
arrived on the station before the Expedition 1 crew, headed by
Commander Bill Shepherd, ex-KD5GSL. The FCC issued ham radio call sign
NA1SS for ISS operations. After Expedition 1 arrived on station, some
initial tests with ARISS ham radio ground stations and individual hams
confirmed the ham gear was working properly. The first ARISS school
contact was made with students at Luther Burbank Elementary School in
Illinois on December 21, 2000, with Shepherd at the helm of NA1SS on
the ISS.

NASA produced a video of students talking with astronaut Chris Cassidy,
KF5KDR, during an ARISS contact in May 2020.

Before and during scheduled ham radio contacts, students, educators,
parents, and communities learn about space and related technologies,
and radio communication using amateur radio.

ARISS relies on a large network of amateur radio operator volunteers,
many associated with radio clubs in the communities where students and
groups participating in the contact reside. ARISS volunteers support
satellite ground stations, serve as technical mentors, and provide
additional help in the areas of education, community outreach, and
public relations.

While student-to-astronaut radio contacts are a primary objective for
ARISS, the capability has also inspired further experimentation for
amateur radio in space and the evaluation of new technologies. In
September, ARISS announced that the initial element of its
next-generation ham radio system had been installed in the ISS Columbus
module. The new radio system replaces equipment originally certified
for spaceflight in mid-2000. The onboard ham station also provides a
contingency communications system for the ISS crew. Several astronauts
have also enjoyed using NA1SS to make casual contacts with -- and
delighting -- earthbound members of the ham radio community.

In the US, ARISS sponsors include ARRL, AMSAT, and NASA, the ISS
National Lab-Space Station Explorers, and NASA's Space Communications
and Navigation program.

Students at Kittredge Magnet School
near Atlanta, Georgia, took part in
an ARISS contact with Astronaut Drew
Morgan, KI5AAA. Morgan answered 15
student questions. The students have
their own radio club, Kittredge
Magnet School Amateur Radio Club,
KQ4KMS.

The next proposal window for US schools and educational organizations
to host an amateur radio contact with a crew member on board the ISS
opened on October 1 for contacts that would take place from July
through December 2021.

Proposal information and more details, including expectations, proposal
guidelines, and proposal forms, and dates and times of informational
webinars, are on the ARISS website. Send questions to
ariss.us.education@gmail.com.

Like many educators who have coordinated ARISS radio contacts for their
students, teacher Rita Wright, KC9CDL, an ARRL member, described the
first ARISS school contact as inspirational and having a lasting impact
on their community. Five months after their contact, nearly 500
students greeted Bill Shepherd when he visited Luther Burbank School.
Wright said it was "like tossing a pebble into a stream."

"The ripple effects are still occurring, and I suspect will continue to
occur for a long time," she said. Read more.
IARU Region 2 Releases 2020 Revision of its Band Plan

IARU Region 2 (IARU R2) -- the Americas -- has released the September
2020 revision of its Band Plan and made procedural changes to shorten
the time to reflect future adjustments. The Band Plan includes a change
approved at the October 2019 General Assembly to add an Amateur
Satellite uplink subband, 21.125 to 21.450 MHz, on a non-exclusive
basis. This matches similar changes in the Region 1 and Region 3 band
plans.

A number of administrative changes have been made to the text, although
the Band Plan itself has not been modified. These changes include:
* Modifications to the wording of the Band Plan to ensure that
national regulators understand it is a voluntary document, and that
countries may depart from the plan based on national requirements.
* Definition additions: Amateur Radio Direction Finding (ARDF),
primary service, secondary service, and several acronyms.
* Inclusion of information detailing the primary and secondary users
in each amateur radio allocation band.
* Correction of minor typographical errors.

At its May 2020 meeting, the IARU R2 Executive Committee added text to
the Standard Operating Procedures that provides a process for the Band
Plan to be updated in a more timely manner. Prior to this change, Band
Plan modifications could only be approved at a General Assembly, held
once every 3 years. Under the new provision, the Band Planning
Committee may circulate proposed changes to member-societies with the
approval of the Executive Committee. "Should no more than one objection
be received within a 60-day period, the change shall be deemed accepted
and reported as such at the next conference," the Band Planning
Committee's terms of references state.

The IARU R2 Band Planning Committee has a member from each of the seven
areas in Region 2, and one of those members also serves as the
committee's chair. The current Committee Chair is Alphonse Penney,
VO1NO/VA1AVR. -- Thanks to IARU Region 2 Secretary George Gorsline,
VE3YV

The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Geomagnetic activity quieted over the
October 1 - 7 reporting week. Compared to the previous 7 days, average
daily mid-latitude A index declined from 15.6 to 6, and average
planetary A index slipped from 22 to 7.1.

There were no sunspots this week and only one in the previous 7 days.
Average daily solar flux went from 73.4 to 71.8.

Predicted solar flux over the next 45 days is 71 on October 8 - 15; 70
on October 16 - 18; 72 on October 19 - 31; 70 on November 1 - 14, and
72 on November 15 - 21.

Predicted planetary A index is 5 on October 8 -- 19, then 10, 18, 20
and 24 on October 20 -- 23, then 16, 38 and 38 on October 24 -- 26,
then 26, 15 and 10 on October 27 -- 29, then 5 on October 30 through
November 6, 10 on November 7, 5 on November 8 -- 15, then 10, 18, 20
and 24 on November 16 -- 19, and 16 on November 20 -- 21.

Sunspot numbers for October 1 - 7 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, and 0, with a
mean of 0. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 72.8, 72.2, 71.8, 71.2, 72.3,
71.7, and 70.7, with a mean of 71.8. Estimated planetary A indices were
11, 9, 6, 4, 8, 7, and 5, with a mean of 7.1. Middle latitude A index
was 11, 6, 5, 3, 7, 6, and 4, with a mean of 6.

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. For customizable
propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio website.

Share your reports and observations.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Just Ahead in Radiosport
* October 10 -- QRP ARCI Fall QSO Party (CW)
* October 10 -- FISTS Fall Unlimited Sprint (CW)
* October 10 -- 10-10 International 10-10 Day Sprint (CW, phone,
digital)
* October 10 - 11 -- Makrothen RTTY Contest
* October 10 - 11 -- ARRL EME Contest (CW, phone, digital)
* October 10 - 11 -- Nevada QSO Party (CW, phone)
* October 10 - 11 -- Oceania DX Contest (CW)
* October 10 -- Microwave Fall Sprint (CW, phone, digital)
* October 10 - 11 -- Scandinavian Activity Contest, SSB
* October 10 - 11 -- SKCC Weekend Sprintathon (CW)
* October 10 - 11 -- Arizona QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
* October 10 - 11 -- Pennsylvania QSO Party (CW, phone)
* October 10 - 11 -- South Dakota QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
* October 10 - 11 -- PODXS 070 Club Great Pumpkin Sprint
* October 11 -- UBA ON Contest (CW)
* October 11 -- UBA ON Contest, 6 Meters (CW, phone)
* October 12 -- 4 States QRP Second Sunday Sprint (CW, phone)
* October 14 -- NAQCC CW Sprint
* October 14 -- VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest
* October 14 -- AGCW Semi-Automatic Key Evening (CW)
* October 14 -- RSGB 80-Meter Autumn Series (Digital)


British Columbia Radio Amateur Hears Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter

According to a Spaceweather.com report, Scott Tilley, VE7TIL, in
British Columbia, Canada, received a signal from the NASA Mars
Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), flying just 274 kilometers (about 170
miles) above the red planet's surface. The signal was an X-band carrier
containing no data or telemetry.

"Its purpose is to allow for Doppler tracking," Tilley explained. "The
rapid change in pitch of the signal is caused by the relative motion of
the satellite and the observer." He used a homemade satellite dish to
hear the orbiter.

Scott Tilley, VE7TIL used this
homebrew dish antenna to hear
signals from NASA's Mars
Reconnaissance Orbiter. [Scott
Tilley, VE7TIL, photo]

Tilley enjoys tracking down signals from "dead" satellites, zombie
satellites, and spy satellites, but the MRO was a first for him. "MRO's
signal is weak, but it is one of the louder signals in Mars orbit," he
said. "The spacecraft has a large dish antenna it uses as a relay for
other Mars missions. With the proximity of Mars these days, it was the
perfect time to try."

In 2018, Tilley saw the "signature" of the Imager for
Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration (IMAGE), a NASA spacecraft
believed to have died in 2005. That discovery delighted space
scientists.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Announcements
* Registration and the "Early Bird" preview for the 15th Annual ARRL
Online Auction are now open. Bidding will begin in a week, starting
at 10 AM EDT (1400 UTC) on Thursday, October 15. The Auction is
sponsored by GigaParts. You may browse the without being a
registered bidder; register on the ARRL Online Auction website
anytime during the auction. Auction proceeds benefit ARRL education
programs, including activities to license new hams, strengthen
Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) training, offer continuing
technical and operating education, and create instructional
materials.
* The White House has withdrawn the nomination of Republican FCC
member Michael O'Rielly for a second term on the Commission.
President Donald Trump had nominated O'Rielly for another 5-year
term on the Commission last March. No reason was given for
withdrawing the O'Rielly nomination, who was initially appointed to
the FCC in 2013 by President Barack Obama. The White House has
nominated Nathan Simington in O'Rielly's stead. The FCC has five
members.
* CWops has announced two recipients for its annual award for
advancing the art of CW. The award recognizes individuals, groups,
and organizations that "have made the greatest contribution(s)
toward advancing the art or practice of radio communication by
Morse code." The recipients are The Essex (UK) CW Club and Stephen
C. Phillips. "The Essex CW Club was cited for providing a focus for
CW interests, and then starting boot camps where day-long intensive
CW teaching takes place," CWops said. Phillips wrote and maintains
the CWops Morse Academy trainer.
* The call sign HS10A was granted on September 24 to Thailand's King
Vajiralongkorn. National telecoms regulator NBTC and RAST, the
national amateur radio society, presented the vanced-class
license and amateur radio equipment -- including HF and VHF/UHF
transceivers, antennas, and peripherals.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Solar Physicist Predicts a Slightly Better Solar Cycle 25

Solar physicist Leif Svalgaard of the W.W. Hansen Experimental Physics
Laboratory at Stanford University has predicted a maximum sunspot
number of 128 �10, slightly better than Solar Cycle 24.

"The overall average is 132 �47 (median 124)," he said. "None of these
numbers are substantially different, so one could perhaps just go

Graph from Svalgaard's paper:
Smoothed monthly maximum sunspot
numbers for Solar Cycles 21 - 24
averaged over 3 years before solar
minimum (blue symbols) and over 2
years (violet symbols). The
prediction for Cycle 25 is shown
with red diamonds.

with the 'wisdom of the crowd.' All predictions that we consider have
the underlying assumption that the sun has not changed its behavior
(its 'spots,' so to speak) on a timescale of a few centuries (the
Maunder Minimum may be a possible violation of that assumption), and
that there will be no such changes in the near future, in spite of
speculative suggestions." Those included one of his own in 2013.

Svalgaard characterized the science of solar cycle prediction to be
still in its infancy, "borne out by the extreme range of predictions of
Cycle 25." -- Thanks to Frank Donovan, W3LPL
New England ARES Academy Set

The first-ever New England ARES Academy, originally scheduled for the
ARRL New England Division Convention at the Northeast HamXposition in
November, will instead take place October 13 - 31 via the Zoom
conferencing platform. The presentations are available to all, and the
Zoom URL will be sent to all who register via the New England ARES
Academy web page.

Five basic-track classes will aim at those just getting started in
ARES, and more advanced classes and workshops will target those already
familiar with the basics.

Hour-long classes will be held on weeknights starting at 7:30 PM EDT
(2330 UTC), and 2-hour workshop sessions will be held Saturday mornings
from 9:00 to 11:00 AM EDT (1300 - 1500 UTC).

Topics covered include:
* Go Kits
* Hardening Your Station or Repeater
* Expedient Training & Utilization of Volunteers
* Working with Served Agencies (Panel Discussion).

Participants will be able to ask questions and interact with
instructors via chat.

Other New England HamXposition events just ahead include the
HamXposition Virtual Banquet (November 7), Ham Bootcamp (November 7),
and the W1A special event (November 6 - 8). Attendance for all events
is free.
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.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

* October 9 - 10 -- Southern Florida Section Convention, Melbourne,
Florida
* November 21 -- Alabama State Convention, Montgomery, Alabama
* December 11 - 12 -- Florida State Convention, Plant City, Florida

Find conventions and hamfests in your area.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for
Amateur Radio News and Information.

.

.
* Join or Renew Today! Eligible US-based members can elect to receive
QST or On the Air magazine in print when they join ARRL or when
they renew their membership. All members can access digital
editions of all four ARRL magazines: QST, On the Air, QEX, and NCJ.

* Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday.

Subscribe to...
* NCJ -- National Contest Journal. Published bimonthly, features
articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA
Sprint, and QSO parties.
* QEX -- A Forum for Communications Experimenters. Published
bimonthly, features technical articles, construction projects,
columns, and other items of interest to radio amateurs and
communications professionals.

Free of charge to ARRL members...
* Subscribe to the ARES E-Letter (monthly public service and
emergency communications news), the ARRL Contest Update (biweekly
contest newsletter), Division and Section news alerts -- and much
more!
* Find ARRL on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram!
----------------------------------------------------------------------

The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 50 times each year. ARRL members
and registered guests may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing
their profile.

Copyright (c) 2020 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and
distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is permitted for
non-commercial or educational purposes, with attribution. All other
purposes require written permission.


--- SendMsg/2

--- Squish/386 v1.11
* Origin: Outpost BBS@bbs.outpostbbs.net:10123 (1:18/200)

The ARRL Letter
October 15, 2020

* ARRL Comments in Orbital Debris Mitigation Proceeding
* IARU ministrative Council dresses Wide-Ranging Agenda in
Virtual Meeting
* ARRL Podcasts Schedule
* The 15th Annual ARRL Online Auction is Open!
* 2021 Edition of The ARRL Handbook and New Microcontroller Projects
Book Available
* ARRL Learning Network Webinars
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* While FCC Plans to Delete 3.5 GHz Band, Canadian Privileges Will
Remain
* Announcements October 15
* Recording Industry Pioneer Jac Holzman, ex-K2VEH, Marks a Milestone
* In Brief....
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
ARRL Comments in Orbital Debris Mitigation Proceeding

In comments to the FCC, ARRL targeted two specific areas of concern
regarding a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) in IB Docket
18-313 -- mitigation of orbital debris in the new space age. In an
earlier phase of the proceeding, ARRL filed comments and met with FCC
staff to discuss the proposed rules. In comments filed on October 9,
ARRL focused on the areas of indemnification and
maneuverability/propulsion. Indemnification places the liability for
any possible damage from a satellite on an individual or entity. ARRL
reiterated its assertion that, as a practical matter, an
indemnification requirement "would seriously impair the ability of
amateur and university experimenters to launch and operate satellites
under US auspices" due to the potential liability and high insurance
cost.

ARRL's comments cited a letter from University Small Satellite
Researchers, submitted on behalf of 24 named professors last April,
contending that the requirement "would effectively preclude a large
proportion of academic SmallSat missions because public universities
typically cannot legally enter into indemnification arrangements."

ARRL argued that if the FCC does adopt an indemnification requirement,
it should allow either the owner or the licensee of an amateur space
station to provide indemnification. In the Amateur Satellite Service, a
licensee can only be an individual. An individual licensee is unlikely
to accept liability for a satellite, but a satellite owner might. In
its own comments, AMSAT similarly asked for language that would allow
satellite owners as well as licensees to indemnify the US for the
operation of an amateur radio satellite.

The FCC proposal also would require that all space stations deployed in
low-Earth orbits higher than 400 kilometers (about 250 miles) be able
to maneuver with the use of some sort of onboard propulsion system.
ARRL urged adoption of an exception for "a limited number of amateur
and similar experimental satellites" that are below a specified size
and mass and either standalone spacecraft or in a constellation of no
more than four or five individual satellites.

"This would accommodate the types of small satellites most often used
for experimental purposes by radio amateurs," ARRL told the FCC. "Such
satellites are small in number [and] have limited to no capacity to
implement maneuverability using current technology due to their small
size," yet provide valuable platforms for experimentation and student
experience.

Alternatively, ARRL asked the FCC to consider increasing the
400-kilometer low-Earth orbit limit, because satellites placed into
orbit from the ISS and from ISS service vehicles "often are in higher
orbits but share the same characteristics as those that orbit below 400
kilometers." Doing so would help to preserve the educational and
experimental benefit of such satellites, ARRL said, provided "such
vehicles are shown to pose no risk to the International Space Station
and will return to Earth within the specified time limit."

In concluding its remarks, ARRL asked for "reasonable accommodation,"
given the public benefit of the Amateur Satellite Service, rather than
lumping small experimenters and researchers with large corporate
entities. Read more.
IARU ministrative Council dresses Wide-Ranging Agenda in Virtual
Meeting

The International Amateur Radio Union ministrative Council (AC) met
in a virtual session on October 8 - 10. Consisting of the three IARU
international officers and two representatives from each of the three
IARU regional organizations, the council is responsible for IARU policy
and management. The meeting, which had been set to take place in Novi
Sad, Serbia, was conducted via the internet because of coronavirus
pandemic travel restrictions.

Recently appointed EMC Coordinator Martin Sach, G8KDF, reported on work
being done to address the need for reasonable standards to limit the
proliferating threat of radio spectrum pollution from digital devices
and wireless power transmission.

IARU Beacon Project Coordinator Peter Jennings, AB6WM/VE3SUN, reported
on the status of the NCDXF/IARU beacon network, explaining recent and
planned upgrades, as well as the network's many applications.

In his report, Satellite visor Hans Blondeel Timmerman, PB2T,
described the work of the Satellite Frequency Coordination Panel. He
reported that steps are being taken to address the growing number of
non-amateur satellites that use amateur satellite spectrum.

Special visor for Emergency Communications Rod Stafford, W6ROD,
explained his work representing the IARU in the ITU Development Sector
(ITU-D), particularly with regard to disaster communications, and
preparations for the World Telecommunication Development Conference
next month. He highlighted an opportunity to promote amateur radio in
ITU-D as a training platform for youth.

Preparations are already under way for World Radiocommunication
Conference 2023 (WRC-23) of the International Telecommunication Union
(ITU), currently expected to be held in 2023. A team of some 20 IARU
volunteers from all continents is engaged in the preparatory processes
of the ITU and the regional telecommunications organizations. The AC
reviewed a draft of IARU's positions on WRC-23 agenda items of concern.

A committee was formed in 2019 to address growing pressure on amateur
spectrum, particularly secondary allocations, at 144 MHz and above. The
panel reported on its work to date in defining present and future
spectrum requirements. ditional information will be sought from the
amateur community on how this spectrum is being utilized.

Taking note of the many ways that the global amateur radio community
has responded positively to challenges posed by the pandemic, the AC
agreed to develop a related theme for World Amateur Radio Day next
April 18.

The council expressed the hope that an in-person meeting can be held in
October 2021. Read more.

-------------------------------------------------------------------


ARRL Podcasts Schedule

The latest episode of the On the Air podcast (Episode 10) includes an
interview with ARRL Lifelong Learning Manager Kris Bickell, K1BIC,
about ARRL's new "Learning Network" webinars.

The latest edition of the Eclectic Tech podcast (Episode 18) features
discussions of a revolutionary new RF-shielding material; storing
software in the Arctic, and Al Rabassa, NW2M, on the importance of fan
cooling.

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.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

The 15th Annual ARRL Online Auction is Open!

The 15th Annual ARRL Online Auction is open for registration and
bidding. The 2020 ARRL Online Auction includes a large assortment of
QST "Product Review" items, including an SPE Expert 1.5K-FA HF
amplifier, an ACOM 120S 160 - 6 meter linear amplifier, a Yaesu
FTDX101D HF + 6-meter transceiver, an Icom IC-9700 multimode VHF/UHF
transceiver, and a RigExpert Stick 230 antenna and cable. Some vintage
gear is also up for bid.

The ARRL Online Auction also features a wide assortment of vintage
books, including past editions of The ARRL Handbook, Radios for
Everybody, CQ Ghost Ship, and the 1909 "Electricity" volume -- in
souvenir condition -- from the How Does It Work Series.

The Auction is sponsored by GigaParts.

Bidders will also find a large variety of novelty items, ARRL Lab
"Mystery Junque Boxes," ARRL-branded gear and clothing, and items
donated by the cast and crew of Fox Television's Last Man Standing,
starring Tim Allen as Mike Baxter, KA0XTT.

You must be registered to place a bid, but you may browse the website
and scope out those "must-have items" without registering, and you may
register at any time during the auction.

If you're on the lookout for some great bargains -- and some great fun
-- check out the 2020 ARRL Online Auction. The auction concludes at 10
PM EDT on October 22.

Auction proceeds benefit ARRL education programs, including activities
to license prospective radio amateurs, strengthen Amateur Radio
Emergency Service (ARES^(R)) training, offer continuing technical and
operating education, and create instructional materials.

Visit the ARRL Online auction website for more information.

2021 Edition of The ARRL Handbook and New Microcontroller Projects Book
Available

It's here! The ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications for 2021 -- your
complete guide to radio experimentation, discovery, and innovation --
is now available. The Handbook is written by radio amateurs for
everyone who has a desire to advance the pursuit of wireless
technology. It's available in three formats: Traditional softcover, a
six-volume, shrink-wrapped book set (box not included), and eBook
digital editions.

The 2021 Handbook features new projects and tools, including an
FET-controlled power switch, transmitting tube tester, 432 MHz utility
Yagi, off-center-fed dipoles, a loop for 30 and 40 meters, RF sniffer
construction, RFI loop antenna, and more. This invaluable resource
offers new material on the behavior of RF chokes; circuits for
PIN-diode RF switching; adding SDR panadapters to older radios; digital
modes FT4, FT8, and MSK144; care and feeding of power grid tubes; new
feed line chokes for receive and transmit; ac power connector types and
wiring, and more.

The Handbook Six-Volume Book Set, ARRL Item No. 1403, ISBN
978-1-62595-140-3, is $59.95 retail. The Handbook Softcover Book, ARRL
Item No. 1397, ISBN 978-1-62595-139-7, 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.

A new bookshelf resource, Microcontroller Projects for Amateur Radio by
Jack Purdum, W8TEE, and Albert Peter, AC8GY, has all the information
you need to build fascinating projects using the Arduino, STM32 ("Blue
Pill"), ESP32, and Teensy 4.0 microcontrollers.

Some practical, hands-on projects featured include a Morse code tutor,
CW messenger, mini dummy load, and "double-double" magnetic loop
antenna.

Microcontroller Projects for Amateur Radio is available from the ARRL
Store or your ARRL Dealer. (ARRL Item no. 1284, ISBN:
978-1-62595-128-4, $39.95 retail, special ARRL Member Price $34.95).
Call 860-594-0355 or, toll-free in the US, 888-277-5289.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL Learning Network Webinars

Visit the ARRL Learning Network website to register for upcoming
sessions and to view previously recorded session. The schedule is
subject to change.

Welcome to the World of Arduino: ARRL Author Glen Popiel, KW5GP

Thursday, October 15, 2020, 5 PM PDT / 8 PM EDT (0000 UTC on Friday,
October 16)

Your First SOTA Activation: Brian Betz, W7JET

This presentation of Summits on the Air (SOTA) will focus on selecting
a summit, planning the activation, organizing the gear, figuring out a
log, getting on the summit, operating and closing it out. It will be a
fun informative session.

Thursday, October 22, 2020, 12:30 PM PDT / 3:30 PM EDT (1930 UTC)

How to Get Started in Amateur Radio Contesting: Anthony Luscre, K8ZT

Why do hams contests? How would I benefit from contesting? What do I
need to get started in Contesting? What are good contests for
beginners? Where can I learn more? This session will answer all of
these questions and more.

Tuesday, November 3, 2020, 11:00 AM PDT / 1:00 PM EDT (0900 UTC)

Learn and Have Fun with Morse Code: Howard Bernstein, WB2UZE, and Jim
Crites, W6JIM

Morse code or "CW" is a popular ham radio operating mode. Learning CW
does not have to be an arduous or lonely experience. Learn, practice,
and enjoy CW with the methods used by the Long Island CW Club.

Thursday, December 17, 2020, 5 PM PDT / 8 PM EDT (0000 UTC on Friday,
December 18)

The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Sunspots returned on October 9 - 12,
with sunspot numbers of 24, 26, 15, and 15. Prior to October 9, no
sunspots appeared for 2 weeks. No sunspots appeared on October 13, but
late Wednesday, Spaceweather.com reported a new emerging Solar Cycle 25
spot on the sun's southeastern limb and a daily sunspot number of 12.
The NOAA Space Environment Center did not report this.

Average daily sunspot number increased from 0 to 13.1, while average
daily solar flux went from 71.8 to 73.1.

Geomagnetic indicators were lower, with planetary A index dropping from
7.1 to 2.7 and middle latitude A index from 6 to 1.9.

Predicted solar flux for the next 45 days is 75 on October 15; 73 on
October 16 - 17; 72 on October 18 - 31; 70 on November 1 - 7; 73 on
November 8 - 10; 72, 71, and 71 on November 11 - 13; 70 on November 14
- 23; 72 on November 24 - 27, and 73 on November 28.

Predicted planetary A index is 5 on October 15 - 19; 10, 18, 20, and 24
on October 20 - 23; 16, 38, and 38 on October 24 - 26; 26, 15, and 10
on October 27 - 29; 5 on October 30 - November 6; 10 on November 7; 5
on November 8 -15; 10, 15, and 18 on November 16 - 18; 20 on November
19 - 20; 24, 14, and 10 on November 21 - 23; 8 on November 24 - 25, and
5 on November 26 - 28.

Sunspot numbers for October 8 - 14 were 0, 24, 26, 15, 15, 0, and 12,
with a mean of 13.1. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 71.6, 73.1, 73.6,
72.9, 73.8, 72.3, and 74.5, with a mean of 73.1. Estimated planetary A
indices were 3, 2, 2, 3, 4, 3, and 2, with a mean of 2.7. Middle
latitude A index was 2, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, and 0, with a mean of 1.9.

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. For customizable
propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio website.

Share your reports and observations.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Just Ahead in Radiosport
* October 17 -- Feld Hell Sprint
* October 17 -- Argentina National 7 MHz Contest (Phone)
* October 17 - 18 -- Araucaria World Wide VHF Contest (CW, phone)
* October 17 - 18 -- JARTS WW RTTY Contest
* October 17 - 18 -- 10-10 International Fall Contest, CW
* October 17 - 18 -- New York QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
* October 17 - 18 -- Worked All Germany Contest (CW, phone)
* October 17 - 18 -- Stew Perry Topband Challenge (CW)
* October 18 -- Asia-Pacific Fall Sprint, CW
* October 18 -- RSGB RoLo CW
* October 18 - 19 -- Illinois QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
* October 18 - 19 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)
* October 18 - 21 Classic Exchange, Phone
* October 19 -- RSGB FT4 Contest Series
* October 19 - 20 -- Telephone Pioneers QSO Party (CW, phone,
digital)
* October 19 - 23 -- ARRL School Club Roundup (CW, phone)

-------------------------------------------------------------------


While FCC Plans to Delete 3.5 GHz Band, Canadian Privileges Will Remain

Although the FCC has announced plans to delete the secondary amateur
radio 3.3 - 3.5 GHz allocation, that amateur allocation will remain in
place right across the northern US border. Radio Amateurs of Canada
(RAC) said this week that the FCC action has raised concerns among
Canadian amateurs.

"This FCC action does not directly affect Canadian amateurs, who
continue to have a secondary allocation on this band," RAC stressed.

As RAC explained in a bulletin, Canadian regulator ISED published
Gazette Notice SLPB-001-19: Decision on Revisions to the 3500 MHz Band
to Accommodate Flexible Use and Preliminary Decisions on Changes to the
3800 MHz Band.

"In that document, ISED announced changes to the primary allocations to
the Radiolocation, Fixed, and Mobile services at 3450 - 3500 MHz,
removing Radiolocation, maintaining the Fixed services (used primarily
for rural internet), and adding Mobile to 3450 - 3475 MHz, in line with
its policy objective to 'foster innovation, investment, and the
evolution of wireless networks by enabling the development and adoption
of 5G technologies.'" RAC said this was the latest step in realigning
allocations in the band that began with changes announced in December
2014. "At that time, as in the June 2019 announcement, the secondary
allocation to amateur radio was not changed," RAC noted.

"As the 5G rollout advances, maintaining compliance with the 'no
interference, no protection' requirement for secondary services is
likely to impose increasingly severe restrictions on the ability of
amateurs to use this band, even as the secondary allocation to the
Amateur Service remains in place [in Canada]," RAC pointed out.

World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 (WRC-23) will include an
agenda item to consider worldwide allocations to mobile internet
services in several bands, among them 3.3 - 3.4 GHz and 10.0 - 10.5
GHz. The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) has announced its
intention to vigorously defend amateur interests in both bands at
WRC-23, "and RAC representatives in Canadian working groups preparing
the Canadian positions for WRC agenda items will be doing likewise,"
RAC said. -- Thanks to Radio Amateurs of Canada

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Announcements October 15
* The FCC has announced that Axel Rodriguez is the new Enforcement
Bureau Field Director, "leading the Bureau's field office staff in
its work combatting harmful interference to authorized uses of the
airwaves, supporting restoration of communications after disasters,
and investigating rule violations and other illegal activities,"
the FCC said, calling its field agents "the eyes and ears of the
Commission."
* Frank Donovan, W3LPL, recently presented The History of
Trans-Atlantic Radio Communications for the Redwood Empire DX
Association. The video is posted on the club's YouTube channel.
* To celebrate the Abraham Accords treaty of peace, diplomatic
relations, and normalization between the United Arab Emirates and
Israel, special event stations 4X0AAP and 4Z0AAP will be activated
by members of the Israel Amateur Radio Club, while members of the
Emirates Amateur Radio Society will operate A60AAP, October 16,
2020 - January 11, 2021.
* SU8J will be on the air October 16 - 18 as part of Scouting's
Jamboree on the Air from the Wadi Degla Protectorate in the
northern part of Egypt's Eastern Desert. Modes will include SSB,
FT4, and FT8 (F/H).
* Special event PA5150EVH is a tribute to rock guitarist Eddie van
Halen, who died on October 6. Van Halen was born in Amsterdam in
1955 and lived in Nijmegen for several years as a child before his
family moved to the US. PA5150EVH will be on the air at least until
the end of January 2021.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Recording Industry Pioneer Jac Holzman, ex-K2VEH, Marks a Milestone

A recent online Rolling Stone magazine article chronicled the career of
Jac Holzman, ex-K2VEH, a recording industry and technology pioneer.
Seventy years ago, Holzman co-founded Elektra Records, a label best
known for folk and blues fare, and he signed such diverse acts as The
Doors and Judy Collins.

"He helped launch both the CD format and home video, and sat on the
board of Atari, which revolutionized home entertainment in 1977 with
the Atari 2600 game console. He also set up the pilot program that
became MTV, and held executive roles at Pioneer Electronics and
Panavision," Rolling Stone's Tim Ingham wrote. Holzman was also behind
the Authentic Sound Effects albums that became popular with radio and
TV producers and helped pull Elektra out of debt.

Holzman, now 89, retired relatively young, moving to Hawaii and
building himself a home there. But it wasn't long before he was back at
Warner, which bought Elektra, as its chief technologist. Holzman never
credits amateur radio directly for contributing to his success on the
technology side, but he did create and publish The Elektra Code Course
in 1956 (currently unavailable on Amazon, but listed nonetheless).

Curiously, the Rolling Stone editors captioned the photo accompanying
the article of a young Jac Holzman to say that he was in his "home
studio." To the better-trained eye, though, Holzman is sitting,
headphones on and right hand on a key, in front of a desk laden with
now-vintage ham gear. Spotting the article, ARRL Contest Update Editor
Brian Moran, N9ADG, emailed to ask, "Tell me this guy is not a ham."
The image does capture a professional tape machine, however, so it's
possible that Holzman's ham shack and home studio were one and the
same. A WRL-print QSL card -- visible in the background and a bit hard
to see -- displays Holzman's call sign, K2VEH. It's not known how long
Holzman was a radio amateur, but judging from the stack of equipment in
front of him in the photo, he must have fired up that Globe Scout once
in a while, when not building the Elektra label.

The article, "Five Crucial Lessons from Jac Holzman, Who Founded
Elektra Records and Signed The Doors," appears in the October 12 online
edition of the magazine.
In Brief....

New Section Managers have been appointed in Northern New Jersey and in
Delaware. Bob Buus, W2OD, has been named as Northern New Jersey Section
Manager to succeed Steve Ostrove, K2SO (SK), who stepped down on
September 22 due to failing health. Buus will serve out the current
term of office, which concludes on June 30, 2021. Mark Stillman,
KA3JUJ, was appointed as ARRL Delaware Section Manager. He succeeds
Bill Duveneck, KB3KYH, who moved out of the Delaware Section after
serving since 2014.

This weekend is JOTA weekend! Scouting's Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) and
concurrent Jamboree on the Internet (JOTI) will be held Friday, October
16, through Sunday, October 18. A new US JOTA-JOTI website has details.
Participants can register as individuals or as a group on the World
JOTA-JOTI website. The page includes a directory of all who have
already registered. "We would love to receive pictures and videos of
you and your Scouts participating in the events this coming weekend,"
said JOTA Coordinator Jim Wilson, K5ND. Photos may be posted on the
International BSA Facebook page. Participants are asked to complete the
feedback form after JOTA. Best practices and information on preparing
an event report are on the K2BSA web page.

SAQ has scheduled a UN Day transmission. VLF Alexanderson alternator
station SAQ at the Grimeton World Heritage Site in Sweden will transmit
a CW message to commemorate United Nations Day on October 24, on 17.2
kHz at 1500 UTC. The event and a following concert will be available
via the SAQ YouTube Channel. Reception reports are welcome via the SAQ
online form. Amateur radio station SK6SAQ will be active on 7.035 and
14.035 MHz CW and on 3.755 MHz SSB. Reports are welcome via email or
the QSL Bureau.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

* November 21 -- Alabama State Convention, Montgomery, Alabama
* December 11 - 12 -- Florida State Convention, Plant City, Florida

Find conventions and hamfests in your area.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for
Amateur Radio News and Information.

.

.
* Join or Renew Today! Eligible US-based members can elect to receive
QST or On the Air magazine in print when they join ARRL or when
they renew their membership. All members can access digital
editions of all four ARRL magazines: QST, On the Air, QEX, and NCJ.

* Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday.

Subscribe to...
* NCJ -- National Contest Journal. Published bimonthly, features
articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA
Sprint, and QSO parties.
* QEX -- A Forum for Communications Experimenters. Published
bimonthly, features technical articles, construction projects,
columns, and other items of interest to radio amateurs and
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Free of charge to ARRL members...
* Subscribe to the ARES E-Letter (monthly public service and
emergency communications news), the ARRL Contest Update (biweekly
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* Find ARRL on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram!
----------------------------------------------------------------------

The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 50 times each year. ARRL members
and registered guests may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing
their profile.

Copyright (c) 2020 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and
distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is permitted for
non-commercial or educational purposes, with attribution. All other
purposes require written permission.


--- SendMsg/2

--- Squish/386 v1.11
* Origin: Outpost BBS@bbs.outpostbbs.net:10123 (1:18/200)

The ARRL Letter
October 22, 2020

* Colorado ATV Group Transmits Images from CalWood Fire
* Nationwide Red Cross Emergency Communications Drill Set for
November 14
* Active LF Operator Offers vice on New FST4 and FST4W Protocols
* ARRL Podcasts Schedule
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* FCC Headquarters Relocates
* IARU Official Challenges Member-Societies to Focus on "Tomorrow"
Issues
* ARRL Learning Network Webinars
* Announcements
* Robert Bankston, KE4AL, is New AMSAT President
* 2021 Hamvention^(R) Award Nominations Open on November 1
* WSJT-X Developer Expresses Puzzlement over FT8 Contest Use
* Japan's "Experience Stations" Enable Contacts Between Two
Unlicensed Girls
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
Colorado ATV Group Transmits Images from CalWood Fire

Radio amateurs in Colorado took advantage of amateur television (ATV)
to observe recent forest fires. Boulder ATV repeater W0BTV has been
transmitting views of the CalWood fire, considered 26 percent contained
as of mid-week. The camera is at KH6HTV, southeast of Boulder and 13 -
15 miles from the fire. Using a telephoto lens, the KH6HTV TV camera
was able to view the fire along the Front Range as it approached the
first ridge of the Rocky Mountain foothills. TV images are being
received at the Boulder [IMG]County ARES (BCARES) command post in the
Boulder County Emergency Operations Center (EOC), where they are
displayed on a large-screen monitor.

California and Oregon have been experiencing major forest fires for the
past couple of months. Fire hit Boulder County on October 17, when the
CalWood fire broke out northwest of Boulder. By mid-week, the fire had
consumed some 10,000 acres of forest, sparked a prairie fire outbreak,
and destroyed more than 2 dozen homes.

The W0BTV repeater video is being streamed live over the British
Amateur Television Club (BATC) server in the UK. The right audio
channel carries live audio from the BCARES 2-meter repeater, with the
emergency net traffic.

Not much was to be seen on the ATV repeater's video image at mid-week,
as a cold front had rolled in, bringing light rain and fog, helping to
suppress the fire.

The Boulder ATV club has installed a new 5.9 GHz FM-TV beacon
transmitter on a government building for the purposes of encouraging
microwave experimentation, to get hams to try ATV (especially with
low-cost FM-TV gear now available for drones), to use as a known signal
source for testing antennas and receivers, and to increase usage of the
microwave bands, which are under threat. -- Thanks to the Boulder
Amateur Television Club Repeater
Nationwide Red Cross Emergency Communications Drill Set for November 14

The nationwide American Red Cross Emergency Communications Fall Drill,
a joint exercise with ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES^(R))
groups, is set to take place on November 14. This exercise evolved from
the highly successful spring drill that attracted hundreds of
participants from some 40 states and Puerto Rico.

The fall drill will be a Winlink-specific event with these goals: (1)
pass traditional American Red Cross (ARC) forms from as many states and
as many radio amateurs as possible to one of six division
clearinghouses, and (2), bring as many radio operators as possible up
to a "basic" level of Winlink proficiency. A series of Winlink
Workshops is held each Thursday at 0100 UTC on Zoom.

Winlink Proficiency Goals have been drafted, a Winlink technical
support team has been formed, and Metrics for Drill Success have been
developed. The proficiency goals are established as a training
guideline and references online training resources. Many hams new to
Winlink may find these resources helpful.

More than 300 radio amateurs have signed up for the event, and some 100
volunteers showed up for a pre-drill briefing call earlier this month.
Another briefing call will be held in early November.

This event is open to all radio amateurs.

For more information, contact Mike Walters, W8ZY, with ARES-related
questions, or Wayne Robertson, K4WK, with Red Cross-related topics. --
Thanks to The ARES Letter
Active LF Operator Offers vice on New FST4 and FST4W Protocols

The recent beta release WSJT-X version 2.3.0-rc1 (release candidate 1)
digital software suite includes two new protocols, FST4 and FST4W. FST4
is for two-way contacts, while FST4W is for "quasi-beacon" style
transmissions. Both modes offer a range of options for T/R-sequence
lengths and threshold decoding sensitivities extending well into the
-40 dB range, developers said, as well as a wide variety of parameters
that can be tweaked, such as transmission time, bandwidth, and so
forth. On the WSJT-X development reflector, Paul Kelley, N1BUG,
discussed whether the wide variety of options are really necessary or a
stumbling block to two uncoordinated stations attempting a contact.
Kelley said he understands the concern regarding the transmission
times, but, as a "very active" 2200-meter operator, he advises that the
new protocols were developed with the LF and MF bands in mind.

"LF and MF are not HF," Kelley said. "There is no one-size-fits-all for
these bands. On HF, you may be able to work the whole world with one
relatively fast speed. It is not so down here."

Kelley pointed out that MF operators are limited to 5 W EIRP on 630
meters and a mere 1 W EIRP on 2200 meters. Working "real DX" requires
some specialized modes, plus determination and patience.

"One would probably not want to use anything slower than 120 seconds
for QSOs with well-equipped stations at 1,000 kilometers (620 miles)
distance," he said. "It would be very boring and waste a lot of time.
But for some DX paths on 2200 meters, only 1,800- or 900-second periods
would offer any hope for success. It's not so boring when you are about
to set a new world record or make a personal best DX QSO. We need this
flexibility."

Kelley predicts that some new conventions will emerge over time -- for
example, 900- and 1,800-second periods might not see much use on 630
meters, while most of the faster choices probably will. "On 2200
meters, I think all four FST4W speeds will be quite useful," he said.
"It may be that the fastest FST4 options won't see a lot of use on 2200
meters, but it may be too early to know for sure." -- Thanks to the
ARRL Contest Update

ARRL Podcasts Schedule

The latest episode of the On the Air podcast (Episode 10) includes an
interview with ARRL Lifelong Learning Manager Kris Bickell, K1BIC,
about ARRL's new "Learning Network" webinars.

The latest edition of the Eclectic Tech podcast (Episode 19) will
discuss radiosondes and how hams can receive their telemetry, in
addition to a discussion about power supplies with Bob Allison, WB1GCM,
of the ARRL Lab.

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.
The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Sunspots appeared on every day of the
past reporting week, and the average daily sunspot number increased
from 13.1 to 15.1. Average daily solar flux rose from 73.1 to 74.5.
Geomagnetic indicators were up slightly, with average daily planetary A
index going from 2.7 to 5, and middle latitude A index from 1.9 to 4.1.

Predicted solar flux for the next 45 days is 75 on October 22 - 27; 72
on October 28 - 31; 70 on November 1 - 7; 73 on November 8 - 10; 72 on
November 11; 71 on November 12 - 13; 70 on November 14 - 23; 72 on
November 24 - 27, and 73 on November 28 - December 5.

Predicted planetary A index is 18 and 20 on October 22 - 23; 15 on
October 24 - 26; 12 on October 27; 10 on October 28 - 29; 5 on October
39 - November 6; 10 on November 7; 5 on November 8 - 15; 10, 15, and 18
on November 16 - 18; 20 on November 19 - 20; 24, 14, and 10 on November
21 - 23; 8 on November 24 - 25, and 5 on November 26 - December 5.

Sunspot numbers for October 15 - 21 were 14, 14, 15, 28, 12, 11, and
11, with a mean of 15. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 73.8, 75.3, 73.1,
75.9, 74.8, 74.7, and 73.7, with a mean of 74.5. Estimated planetary A
indices were 3, 4, 5, 3, 6, 4, and 10, with a mean of 5. Middle
latitude A index was 2, 4, 5, 3, 5, 3, and 7, with a mean of 4.1.

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. For customizable
propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio website.

Share your reports and observations.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Just Ahead in Radiosport
* October 24 - 25 -- CQ Worldwide DX Contest, SSB
* October 28 -- SKCC Sprint CW
* October 28 -- UKEICC 80-Meter Contest CW
* October 29 -- RSGB 80-Meter Autumn Series, SSB
* October 30 -- Zombie Shuffle (CW)
* October 31 - November 1 -- Russian WW MultiMode Contest (CW, phone,
digital)
* October 31 - November 1 -- UK/EI DX Contest, SSB
* November 1 -- North American SSB Sprint
* November 1 -- Silent Key Memorial Contest (CW)
* November 1 - 4 Classic Exchange, CW
* November 1 -- High Speed Club CW Contest
* November 2 -- K1USN Slow Speed Test CW
* November 2 -- RSGB 80-Meter Autumn Series, Data
* November 3 -- Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest
* November 3 -- ARS Spartan Sprint (CW)
* November 4 -- VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest
* November 4 -- UKEICC 80-Meter Contest (Phone)
* November 5 -- NRAU 10-Meter Activity Contest (CW, phone, digital)
* November 5 -- SKCC Sprint Europe (CW)

-------------------------------------------------------------------


FCC Headquarters Relocates

FCC Headquarters has moved. The new address is 45 L St. NE, Washington,
DC 20554. The change is effective immediately. The FCC announced plans
to move last spring, but the transition was delayed by the COVID-19
pandemic.

The FCC, like many federal agencies, has its own ZIP code, so there
will be no disruption in mail delivery sent by USPS to the former
address. The FCC still prohibits the delivery of hand-carried
documents, and all COVID-19 restrictions or instructions regarding
access to FCC facilities remain in place at the new location.

"The FCC continues to balance its efforts to be accessible to the
public with the need for heightened security and health and safety
measures and encourages the use of the Commission's Electronic Comment
Filing System (ECFS) to facilitate the filing of applications and other
documents when possible," the FCC said in an October 15 Public Notice.

Due to the pandemic, the move was accomplished by professional movers
without the presence of any employees, all of whom had been working
from home. An attempt was made during the summer to let employees back
into headquarters for a day to pack up their offices and remove
personal belongings, but that plan had to be scrapped after several
employees tested positive for COVID-19.

Most FCC staff continue to work from home and are not expected to be
physically present in their new offices before next June.

In anticipation of the planned move, the FCC last spring also announced
the adoption of a new FCC seal. The redesign is the product of an
agency-wide contest that solicited proposals from employees and
contractors.
IARU Official Challenges Member-Societies to Focus on "Tomorrow" Issues

International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Region 1 President Don
Beattie, G3BJ, urged member-societies attending the virtual Region 1
General Conference on October 16 to keep an eye on future issues
affecting amateur radio and IARU Region 1 (Europe, Africa, and the
Mideast). In closing the 6-day meeting, Beattie said he looked forward
to the planned in-person workshop on the future of amateur radio, set
for next year, and expressed the hope that the COVID-19 situation would
allow the event to go forward as early as possible.

Beattie also challenged member-societies to increase their focus on
"'tomorrow' issues -- tomorrow's people, tomorrow's technologies,
tomorrow's activities, and tomorrow's ways of communicating with those
we represent." He also asked member-societies to communicate with their
younger members and "take account of their views to help reshape their
societies for the future."

The week-long virtual assembly included discussion of papers submitted
by member-societies, the Executive Committee, and other IARU
components. This resulted in some 50 recommendations to the Final
Plenary Meeting in areas of finance, HF, VHF, EMC, youth, and IARU
Region 1 governance. Some 120 delegates were present for the Plenary,
and heads of national delegations considered and voted on these
recommendations, which will result in actions and policy changes in
IARU Region 1.

Some new appointments were made in IARU Region 1, to succeed people who
were retiring from their roles. The new appointments were:
* Dick Harms, PA2DW, chair, IARU Region 1 VHF Committee
* Wolf Mahr, OE1MHZ, chair, IARU Region 1 EMC Committee
* Barry Lewis, G4SJH, chair, IARU Spectrum and Regulatory Liaison
Committee
* Philipp Springer, DK6SP, chair, IARU Region 1 Youth Working Group
* Gaspar Mir�, EA6AMM, IARU Region 1 Monitoring System (IARUMS)
Coordinator

Beattie thanked those retiring and recognized their contributions.

"Looking back on our first Virtual General Conference, delegates agreed
that it was different from General Conferences held in the past,"
Beattie said. "Although we did not have opportunities for social
interaction between delegates, we can look back on a successful and
very effective meeting. We are already looking forward to our hopefully
in-person workshop in Novi Sad, Serbia, in 2021."

Papers discussed at the conference are available for download. --
Thanks to IARU Region 1.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL Learning Network Webinars

ARRL members may visit the Learning Network website to register for
upcoming sessions and to view previously recorded sessions. The
schedule is subject to change.

How to Get Started in Amateur Radio Contesting: Anthony Luscre, K8ZT

Why do hams contest? How would I benefit from contesting? What do I
need to get started in contesting? What are good contests for
beginners? Where can I learn more? This session will answer all of
these questions and more.

Tuesday, November 3, 2020, 10 AM PST/1 PM EST (1800 UTC)

Learn and Have Fun with Morse Code: Howard Bernstein, WB2UZE, and Jim
Crites, W6JIM

Morse code, or "CW," is a popular ham radio operating mode. Learning CW
does not have to be an arduous or lonely experience. Learn, practice,
and enjoy CW with the methods used by the Long Island CW Club.

Thursday, December 17, 2020, 5 PM PST/8 PM EST (0100 UTC on Friday,
December 18)

-------------------------------------------------------------------


Announcements
* VLF Alexanderson alternator station SAQ at the Grimeton World
Heritage Site in Sweden will transmit a CW message to commemorate
United Nations Day on October 24, on 17.2 kHz at 1500 UTC. The
event and a following concert will be available via the SAQ YouTube
Channel. Reception reports are welcome via the SAQ online form.
Amateur radio station SK6SAQ will be active on 7.035 and 14.035 MHz
CW and on 3.755 MHz SSB. Reports are welcome via email or the QSL
Bureau.
* The 22nd Annual Wisconsin ARES/RACES Virtual Conference 2020 takes
place on Saturday, October 24. "Seating" is unlimited, and
registration is free, although you will be asked to create an
account.

* The Stillwater Amateur Radio Association (SARA) will commemorate
the sinking in Lake Superior of the Edmund Fitzgerald during a
storm on November 10, 1975. Listen for W0JH and W0F November 6 - 8.
More special events.
* Members of the Radio Club de Copiapo are active as XR33M until
November 13. The event celebrates the 10th anniversary of the
successful rescue of 33 miners from the San Jos� mine in Chile.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Robert Bankston, KE4AL, is New AMSAT President

Robert Bankston, KE4AL, of Dothan, Alabama, is the new president of
AMSAT. The AMSAT Board of Directors elected Bankston at its annual
meeting on October 18, to succeed Clayton Coleman, W5PFG. Bankston has
served as Treasurer and Vice President of User Services. He is a life
member of both ARRL and AMSAT. He volunteered to develop and launch
AMSAT's online member portal and chaired the 2018 AMSAT Space
Symposium.

Bankston is active on the satellites and enjoys operating portable from
remote grid squares.

For his part, Coleman said that it had been "both a joy and a
privilege" to serve as AMSAT president during 2020, which he called "a
rather difficult year" for many in amateur radio.

"With the talented and capable individuals sitting on AMSAT's new Board
and its officers, I am confident in a bright future ahead for AMSAT and
the Amateur Radio Satellite Service."

Other officers elected included Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, as Executive Vice
President; Jerry Buxton, N0JY, as Vice President of Engineering; Drew
Glasbrenner, KO4MA, as Vice President of Operations; Jeff Davis, KE9V,
as Secretary; Steve Belter, N9IP, as Treasurer; Martha Saragovitz as
Manager; Alan Johnston, KU2Y, as Vice President of Educational
Relations, and Frank Karnauskas, N1UW, as Vice President of
Development. -- Thanks to AMSAT News Service
2021 Hamvention^(R) Award Nominations Open on November 1

Nominations for the 2021 Hamvention Awards will open on November 1.
Dayton Hamvention^(R) will grant awards in the categories of technical
achievement, special achievement, amateur radio operator of the year,
and amateur radio club of the year.
* The Technical Achievement Award recognizes important contributions
toward technical excellence in the world of radio. Examples are
inventions, processes, discoveries, experiments, or any other
outstanding technical achievements that contributed to amateur
radio.
* The Special Achievement Award goes to a radio amateur who has made
an outstanding contribution to the advancement of the radio art
and/or science. This award is typically conferred upon a respected
amateur who has spearheaded a single, significant project.
* The Amateur of the Year Award honors a radio amateur who has made a
long-term commitment to the advancement of amateur radio. This
individual will usually have a history of giving back to ham radio
contributions and exhibits dedication to service, professionalism,
and a desire to advance amateur radio.
* The Club of the Year recognizes a club's involvement in varied
aspects of amateur radio for the greater good of the community
and/or the nation.

These awards are conferred annually. Nominations close on February 15,
2021. Nomination forms are available. ditional information may be
included as attachments. Provide a means to contact the nominee. Submit
forms by email or US mail to Hamvention, Attn: Awards Committee, P.O.
Box 964, Dayton, OH 45401-0964.

Since 1955, Dayton Hamvention has honored many radio amateurs and clubs
for their dedication and contributions to amateur radio and to society.

WSJT-X Developer Expresses Puzzlement over FT8 Contest Use

WSJT-X co-developer Joe Taylor, K1JT, recently expressed puzzlement
over the use of FT8 in contests -- rather than FT4, which was designed
for contesting.

"I fail to understand why anyone who uses FT8 in a contest would fail
to use FT4 for much of the time," Taylor said. "FT4 is about 3 dB less
sensitive than FT8, but it's twice as fast."

Taylor offered the comment in the Mt. Airy VHF Society's October 2020
Cheese Bits, regarding the September ARRL VHF Contest. Taylor said a
large fraction of stations that are worked with FT8 are much more than
3 dB above the FT4 decoding threshold.

"With FT4, you can still work anyone that can be worked with CW, and
near the CW threshold, you'll do it faster using FT4," he said. "And
with FT4, you can work stations that are far weaker (by ~20 dB) than
what's necessary for SSB. When I did work other stations with FT4, I
did it by transmitting the FT8 message 'K1JT FT4 318.'" Taylor said
he'd then move to 50.318 MHz FT4, and several contesters followed him
there. "Many more would have made it much more fruitful," he said.

"For speed, flexibility, and ease of running the bands, yes, you should
use SSB and CW when there are stations to work," Taylor said in
summary. "When you run out of those, use FT8 and especially FT4."

Taylor also remarked, "In my 80th year, I can no longer call on my past
stamina for contesting."
Japan's "Experience Stations" Enable Contacts Between Two Unlicensed
Girls

What is believed to be the first ham radio contact in Japan between two
unlicensed individuals took place on October 11 between "Experience
Stations" 8J1YAB/1 and 8J3YAA/3. Both were licensed through the 7-CALL
Amateur Radio Club.

"Today is my first amateur radio," one young girl said, as she wielded
the mic. "Me too," the girl on the other end replied. The contact, on
40-meter SSB, was between Tokyo and Osaka. Licensed individuals were on
both ends of the contact to serve as control operators. One operator
reported, "There was applause at the Osaka venue."

"Congratulations on your first attempt and great success," Toshiaki
Tsunashima, JA4DLF, tweeted.

Satoshi Yamaguchi, 7M4VQJ, the President of 7-CALL Amateur Radio Club,
called CQ and made initial contact with with Yasuyuki Suzuki, JJ0RHL,
from the "sister station" 8J2YAB/1 in Tokyo. The licensed supervisor of
8J3YAA/3 in Osaka was Sam Yoshida, JS3CEQ.The Experience Stations are
licensed under special permission, allowing unlicensed people to
operate the station under the supervising of a licensed amateur. The
idea is to promote experience with wireless communication technology.
Before the noteworthy contact, the first contact by an unlicensed guest
operator was made with 8J1JARL, a Japan Amateur Radio League special
event station hosted by the Kanto Region Society of JARL, and operated
by Yamaguchi Takahiko, JL1USZ.

Puntoshi, JN1VVR, remarked on Twitter, "Thank you for your hard work.
It is necessary and important to prepare and experiment so that
[unlicensed] people can feel the excitement of 'something amazing'
while watching the operation. This [Experience Station] operation has
just begun, and the know-how that will be accumulated for the future is
important."

-------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

* November 21 -- Alabama State Convention, Montgomery, Alabama
* December 11 - 12 -- Florida State Convention, Plant City, Florida

Find conventions and hamfests in your area.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for
Amateur Radio News and Information.

.

.
* Join or Renew Today! Eligible US-based members can elect to receive
QST or On the Air magazine in print when they join ARRL or when
they renew their membership. All members can access digital
editions of all four ARRL magazines: QST, On the Air, QEX, and NCJ.

* Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday.

Subscribe to...
* NCJ -- National Contest Journal. Published bimonthly, features
articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA
Sprint, and QSO parties.
* QEX -- A Forum for Communications Experimenters. Published
bimonthly, features technical articles, construction projects,
columns, and other items of interest to radio amateurs and
communications professionals.

Free of charge to ARRL members...
* Subscribe to the ARES E-Letter (monthly public service and
emergency communications news), the ARRL Contest Update (biweekly
contest newsletter), Division and Section news alerts -- and much
more!
* Find ARRL on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram!
----------------------------------------------------------------------

The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 50 times each year. ARRL members
and registered guests may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing
their profile.

Copyright (c) 2020 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and
distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is permitted for
non-commercial or educational purposes, with attribution. All other
purposes require written permission.


--- SendMsg/2

--- Squish/386 v1.11
* Origin: Outpost BBS@bbs.outpostbbs.net:10123 (1:18/200)

The ARRL Letter
October 29, 2020

* ARRL Urges Members to Join in Strongly Opposing FCC's Application
Fees Proposal
* It's a Wrap for Hurricane Watch Net, ARES Teams Stand Down
* ARRL Podcasts Schedule
* Guidelines Issued for ARRL DX Contest Multioperator Stations
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* New Zealand Radio Amateurs Lose Access to 60 Meters
* ARRL Learning Network Webinars
* Fldigi Could be a Tool in the November Frequency Measuring Test
* Announcements
* Radio Amateurs in Western Pennsylvania to Commemorate KDKA
Broadcasting Centennial
* Oldest Known US Radio Amateur, Cliff Kayhart, W4KKP, SK
* In Brief...
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
ARRL Urges Members to Join in Strongly Opposing FCC's Application Fees
Proposal

ARRL will file comments in firm opposition to an FCC proposal to impose
a $50 fee on amateur radio license and application fees. With the
November 16 comment deadline fast approaching, ARRL urges members to
add their voices to ARRL's by filing opposition comments of their own.
The FCC Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) MD Docket 20-270 appeared
in the October 15 edition of The Federal Register and sets deadlines of
November 16 to comment and November 30 to post reply comments, which
are comments on comments already filed. ARRL has prepared a Guide to
Filing Comments with the FCC which includes tips for preparing comments
and step-by-step filing instructions. File comments on MD Docket 20-270
using the FCC's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS).

"We encourage all members to use the ARRL Guide to file comments
opposing the imposition of the proposed $50 application fee," ARRL
President Rick Roderick, K5UR, said. "Let's highlight amateur radio's
long history of public service."

-------------------------------------------------------------------

From Our Members...

Please accept my thanks for the October 27, 2020, special edition of
The ARRL Letter, "ARRL Urges Members to Join in Strongly Opposing FCC's
Application Fees Proposal." I appreciate ARRL notifying members of the
proposal and especially the guidance on submitting a comment. --
Charles F. Gottlieb, KM4NTD, Miami, Florida

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Under the proposal, amateur radio licensees would pay a $50 fee for
each amateur radio application for new licenses, license renewals,
upgrades to existing licenses, and vanity call sign requests. The FCC
has also proposed a $50 fee to obtain a printed copy of a license.
Excluded are applications for administrative updates, such as changes
of address, and annual regulatory fees. Amateur Service licensees have
been exempt from application fees for several years.

The FCC proposal is contained in a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM)
in MD Docket 20-270, which was adopted to implement portions of the
"Repack Airwaves Yielding Better Access for Users of Modern Services
Act" of 2018 -- the so-called "Ray Baum's Act." The Act requires that
the FCC switch from a congressionally-mandated fee structure to a
cost-based system of assessment.

The FCC NPRM proposes application fees for a broad range of services
that use the FCC's Universal Licensing System (ULS), including the
Amateur Radio Service. The 2018 statute excludes the Amateur Service
from annual regulatory fees, but not from application fees. The
proposal affects all FCC services and does not single out amateur
radio. As the FCC explained in its NPRM, Congress, through the Ray
Baum's Act, is compelling regulatory agencies such as the FCC to
recover from applicants the costs involved in filing and handling
applications. Read more and visit ARRL's summary page for the
proceeding.
It's a Wrap for Hurricane Watch Net, ARES Teams Stand Down

After an activation that lasted more than 9 hours, the Hurricane Watch
Net (HWN ) suspended operations on October 29 at around 0130 UTC.

"Although Zeta was still a hurricane just east of Hattiesburg,
Mississippi, moving to the northeast at about 30 MPH, we hated to close
operations, but propagation on 20 and 40 meters was totally gone," HWN
Manager Bobby Graves, KB5HAV, said. "The turnout of reporting stations
was great, but we can always use more. Meteorologists love weather
data. So, we do our best to collect and forward as much as we can."

Zeta left some 2 million
customers without power. [City
of New Orleans Twitter photo]

ARES teams in Louisiana went on standby status on October 27, ready to
activate at the request of local emergency management officials or
served agencies. At midday on Wednesday, the Louisiana Emergency Net
was placed on active standby status on 3.878 and 7.255 MHz, concluding
operations at 2100 UTC on Wednesday.

The Northern Florida ARES Net convened October 28 on 3.950 MHz for
about 12 hours in anticipation of tropical storm winds and a risk of
tornado activity. "Our HF net shut down this morning," Northern Florida
Section Emergency Coordinator Karl Martin, K4HBN, said. "The counties
closed shelters and had their ARES groups stand down soon after."
Martin said operators did cover three shelters. "We had challenges due
to HF conditions, and one of the ARES groups lost a repeater and had to
go to a back-up plan."

In George County, Mississippi, ARES Emergency Coordinator General
Dailey, KD4VVZ, suspended routine net traffic to take storm-related
reports such as weather data, property damage, and power status. Daily
said repeater net would remain active for 12 hours, and the information
would be relayed to weather forecasters. The net prepared to carry
occasional digital traffic.

"As the sun comes up, damage assessments are still ongoing," the George
County Sheriff's office announced on the George County ARES Facebook
page. "Currently a majority of the county is without power." The
sheriff reported many downed trees and power lines and advised against
nonessential travel.

WX4NHC at the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami activated at
1600 UTC on October 28, monitoring HWN's frequencies of 14.325 and
7.268 MHz as well as the VoIP Hurricane Net (VoIP WX) and other
resources. The net funnels "ground truth" reports to NHC forecasters.

Ham Aid emergency communication kits from ARRL had been pre-positioned
in Louisiana in preparation for this event. Read more.

-------------------------------------------------------------------


ARRL Podcasts Schedule

The latest episode of the On the Air podcast (Episode 10) includes an
interview with ARRL Lifelong Learning Manager Kris Bickell, K1BIC,
about ARRL's new "Learning Network" webinars.

The latest edition of Eclectic Tech (Episode 19) discusses radiosondes
and how hams can receive their telemetry, in addition to a discussion
about power supplies with Bob Allison, WB1GCM, of the ARRL Lab.

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.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Guidelines Issued for ARRL DX Contest Multioperator Stations

ARRL has issued guidelines for multioperator stations competing in the
ARRL DX Contest (CW and phone). With the global pandemic continuing to
impose restrictions on social gatherings, multioperator contest
stations may not be able to operate normally while still adhering to
local social distancing guidelines. ARRL has decided to make temporary
accommodations for a multioperator station to participate in these
popular ARRL contests, under these guidelines:
* Team members may operate from their home stations in conjunction
with the multioperator station.
* Their home station must be located within a radius of 100
kilometers (62 miles) of the multioperator contest station.
* Their home station must be located within the same DXCC entity as
the multioperator contest station. In the case of US and Canadian
stations, all team member stations must be in the same US state or
Canadian province.
* All team member stations must use the same call sign and exchange
as the multioperator contest station for the duration of the
contest.
* Logging software must be networked, so that all team member
stations are using a common log.
* Individual operators may not work the multioperator contest station
or other team member stations using a personal call sign or other
call sign.
* All multioperator rules, such as band changes and number of signals
on a band, still apply. See the full contest rules for details.
* The team must determine and control band assignments, ensuring that
no more than one team station is transmitting on any given band at
a time.

The multioperator contest station may be staffed at less than full
capacity while maintaining safe practices, so operating with a
combination of team members at home stations and team members at the
contest station is permissible.

The CW contest takes place on the third full weekend in February
(February 20 - 21, 2021). The phone contest takes place on the first
full weekend in March (March 6 - 7, 2021).

For questions, contact the ARRL Contest Branch.

-------------------------------------------------------------------


The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Our sun is finally waking up. The
average daily sunspot number rose from 15 to 17, which is nothing
remarkable, but the reporting week ended on Wednesday with a daily
sunspot number of 36. Average daily solar flux rose from 74.5 to 76.9.

Predicted solar flux is 88 on October 29 - 31, which is remarkable; 82,
78, 75, and 72 on November 1 - 4; 74 on November 5 - 7; 75 on November
8 - 12; 72 on November 13; 70 on November 14 - 21; 74 and 72 on
November 22 - 23; 70 on November 24 - 26; 72 on November 27; 74 on
November 28 - December 4; 75 on December 5 - 9; 72 on December 10, and
70 on December 11 - 12.

Predicted planetary A index is 8 on October 29; 5 on October 30 - 31;
12 and 8 on November 1 - 2; 5 on November 3 - 6; 10 on November 7; 5 on
November 8 - 16; 10, 8, and 12 on November 17 - 19; 18, 15, and 20 on
November 20 - 22; 15, 10 and 8 on November 23 - 25; 5 on November 26 -
27; 8 on November 28; and 5 on November 29 - December 12.

Sunspot numbers for October 22 - 28 were 11, 11, 11, 11, 17, 22, and
36, with a mean of 17. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 74.9, 72, 72.1,
74.2, 75, 82.4, and 87.6, with a mean of 76.9. Estimated planetary A
indices were 6, 12, 17, 15, 15, 9, and 12, with a mean of 12.3. Middle
latitude A index was 3, 10, 16, 9, 15, 7, and 9, with a mean of 9.9.

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. For customizable
propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio website.

Share your reports and observations.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Just Ahead in Radiosport
* November 1 -- North American SSB Sprint Contest
* November 1 -- Silent Key Memorial Contest (CW)
* November 1 -- High Speed Club CW Contest
* November 1 - 4 -- Classic Exchange (CW)
* November 2 -- K1USN Slow Speed Test CW
* November 2 -- RSGB 80-Meter Autumn Series (Digital)
* November 3 -- Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest
* November 3 -- ARS Spartan Sprint (CW)
* November 4 -- VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest
* November 4 -- UKEICC 80-Meter Contest (Phone)
* November 5 -- NRAU 10-Meter Activity Contest (CW, phone, digital)
* November 5 -- SKCC Sprint Europe CW


New Zealand Radio Amateurs Lose Access to 60 Meters

Radio amateurs in New Zealand no longer have access to 60 meters,
effective on October 24. Use of the band by radio amateurs in New
Zealand was provisional, allowing hams there to use two frequencies in
the band -- 5353.0 kHz and 5362.0 kHz -- as part of a "trial."

New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters (NZART), the national
amateur radio organization, said the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF)
advised the organization that it was not willing to approve another
renewal of the 5 MHz trial allocation. NZART has indicated that it will
continue to work with telecoms regulator RSM to see if other ways may
be available to provide access to 5 MHz.

As in the US, the federal government and military are primary on the 5
MHz band. According to NZART, the decision was not made lightly by
NZDF, but said access to that part of the HF spectrum is necessary to
support NZDF's new platforms, tactical radio equipment, and updated HF
site equipment in the delivery chain.

"ditionally, access to HF is a key part of their communications plans
both in New Zealand and to support our forces overseas," NZART
explained. "While this is a disappointing outcome, NZART would like to
thank NZDF for allowing us to take part in the trial, and we look
forward to working with them in the future on matters of common
interest." -- Thanks to Paul Gaskell, G4MWO/The 5 MHz Newsletter
ARRL Learning Network Webinars

Visit the ARRL Learning Network website (a members-only benefit) to
register for upcoming sessions and to view previously recorded session.
The schedule is subject to change.

How to Get Started in Amateur Radio Contesting: Anthony Luscre, K8ZT

Why do hams participate in on-air contests? How would I benefit from
contesting? What do I need to get started in contesting? What are good
contests for beginners? Where can I learn more? This session will
answer all of these questions and more.

Tuesday, November 3, 2020, 10 AM PST / 1 PM EST (1800 UTC)

Amateur Radio's Role at the Boston Marathon Bombing: Steve Schwarm,
W3EVE

Amateur radio has played a significant role in public service
communications for the Boston Marathon for several decades. That role
was put to the test in 2013, when two bombs were exploded near the
finish line. This presentation will describe the role that ham radio
played at the marathon and how that role changed due to the bombing.

Tuesday, December 8, 2020, 10 AM PST / 1 PM EST (1800 UTC)

Learn and Have Fun with Morse Code: Howard Bernstein, WB2UZE, and Jim
Crites, W6JIM

Morse code, or "CW," is a popular ham radio operating mode. Learning CW
does not have to be an arduous or lonely experience. Learn, practice,
and enjoy CW with the methods used by the Long Island CW Club.

Thursday, December 17, 2020, 5 PM PST / 8 PM EST (0100 UTC on Friday,
December 18)

Fldigi Could be a Tool in the November Frequency Measuring Test

A new frequency-measuring test mode added to the digital communication
program Fldigi -- developed by Dave Freese, W1HKJ -- makes the program
useful for the Frequency Measuring Test (FMT) on November 13. The new
test mode replaces frequency analysis mode, making Fldigi useful for
FMT participants. Fldigi can still measure an unknown frequency to
three decimal places (i.e., to 1 mHz), but it can also use a reference
frequency to correct the unknown calculation for inaccuracies of the
receiver. (An article by Bob Howard, VE3YX, details the use of Fldigi
in the FMT.)

Very little equipment is necessary to participate in the FMT. A
software-defined radio (SDR) accessed by the internet will work; check
out the GPS-stabilized SDRs Kiwi SDRs. A hardware cable or a virtual
cable can connect SDR audio to the Fldigi input. Calibration will be
required.

While older rigs can be used, Fldigi works best with a rig that can be
controlled by a serial or USB connection from the PC to set the VFO
with 1 Hz resolution. Some rigs display frequency to 1 Hz. Others only
display to 10 Hz but can be set by the PC to 1 Hz. Most rigs dating
from about 1995 and later will work well. Fldigi needs to know the
frequency that the radio thinks it is tuned to or the frequency that
you think it is tuned to.

The new FMT modem works best with a reference signal injected along
with the FMT transmitted signal -- the FMT's unknown signal. The
reference signal must have some accurately known frequency that can be
set near the unknown frequency (within 1 kHz or so). The reference can
be a signal generator stabilized by a GPS Disciplined Oscillator
(GPSDO) that can easily be set to output a useful frequency. Using
Fldigi's new FMT modem without a reference can still provide good
results, but requires careful calibration.

ARRL sponsored earlier FMTs. The first ARRL FMT took place in 1931.
Back then, it was required that Official Observers participate and meet
certain standards.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Announcements
* The CW weekend of the ARRL November Sweepstakes (SS) takes place
November 7 - 9. The hallmark of this very popular operating event
is its challenging and lengthy exchange, which has its origins in
the National Traffic System (NTS) message format. The ARRL November
Sweepstakes SSB weekend is November 21 - 23.
* CQ Magazine has announced that Ohio Section Emergency Coordinator
Stan Broadway, N8BHL, has been named as the magazine's Emergency
Communications Editor. Licensed for more than 40 years, Broadway
first was attracted to ham radio by listening to a VHF severe
weather net in Ohio and to the Hurricane Watch Net, for which he
currently serves as a board member and net control operator.
* Organizers of the 2021 Jan Mayen JX0X DXpedition have announced the
cancellation of the operation, due to "too many uncertainties
involved in this project." The JX0X team said it will refund all
PayPal donations.
* "Pre-pre Frequency Measuring Test" (ppFMT) practice sessions will
be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays on 30 and 40 meters.
[IMG]Schedule and frequency information is on the FMT-nuts page on
Groups.io. The FMT takes place on November 13.
* The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) are reminding those who took part
in the recent Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) to complete the feedback
form. Photos and videos are welcome via the content portal.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Radio Amateurs in Western Pennsylvania to Commemorate KDKA Broadcasting
Centennial

Pittsburgh radio station KDKA will celebrate 100 years of radio
broadcasting in November, and Pennsylvania radio amateurs will honor
that milestone in a multi-station special event. KDKA dates its
broadcasting history to the airing of the Harding-Cox presidential
results on November 2, 1920, and the station has been on the air ever
since. The special event, which will involve the operation of four
stations, will run through the entire month of November.

"More than 100 years ago, many experimenters started delving into a new
technology known as wireless, or radio," said Bob Bastone, WC3O, Radio
Officer for the Skyview Radio Society in New Kensington, Pennsylvania.
Bastone explained that many of those early pioneers were radio
amateurs. "One hundred plus years later, many amateur radio operators
are still contributing to wireless technology, while also serving their
communities and enhancing international goodwill. Congratulations to
KDKA Radio, also known in the early years as amateur radio stations
8XK, 8ZZ, and W8XK."

Special event stations K3K, K3D, K3A, and W8XK will set up and operate
at several locations in Pennsylvania during November. Stations will
determine their own modes and schedules. Visit the W8XK profile on
QRZ.com for information on certificates and QSLs.

What became KDKA initially began broadcasting in 1916 as amateur radio
station 8XK, licensed by the Federal Radio Commission (FRC), the
predecessor to the FCC. At the time, amateurs were not prohibited from
broadcasting. The small station was operated by Dr. Frank Conrad, who
was Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company assistant chief
engineer. The transmitter ran 75 W, and the broadcasts gained some
popularity in Pittsburgh. The first transmissions of KDKA originated in
a makeshift studio on the roof of Westinghouse K Building in East
Pittsburgh.

Westinghouse Lodge Building in the
1920s. Some KDKA personnel are
wearing hats that bear their ham
radio call signs.

Ham radio clubs participating in the centennial special event include
the North Hills Amateur Radio Club in Pittsburgh -- which is planning
to operate from KDKA's 1930s transmitter site, where an original tower
pier still stands. A 1920s transmitter site, in Forest Hills, will
serve as another operating location. Other clubs will take part.
Individual radio amateurs will operate from their own stations, and a
small group of hams is planning a portable operation from South Park in
suburban Pittsburgh.

"We amateur radio operators look forward to contacting thousands of
other hams around the world to celebrate this huge milestone in the
commercial broadcasting industry," said Bastone. Contact him for more
information. Read more. -- Thanks to ARRL Public Information Officer
and Allegheny County ARES Emergency Coordinator Bob Mente, NU3Q, for
providing the information for this story.
Oldest Known US Radio Amateur, Cliff Kayhart, W4KKP, SK

Charles Clifford "Cliff" Kayhart, W4KKP, of White Rock, South Carolina,
died on October 26, a few days past his birthday. An ARRL member, he
was 109 and the oldest known US radio amateur and possibly the oldest
ham in the world.

Last November, Roanoke Division Director Bud Hippisley, W2RU; Vice
Director Bill Morine, N2COP, and South Carolina Section Manager Marc
Tarplee, N4UFP, jointly presented Kayhart with ARRL's Centurion Award,
which honors centenarian members who have at least 40 years of ARRL
membership. On that occasion, Hippisley interviewed Kayhart.

First licensed in 1937 as W2LFE in New Jersey, he also held W9GNQ.
According to his obituary, Kayhart built his first radio at the age of
nine. After working for New York Telephone Company as a young man, he
became enamored with engineering, so he headed off to Tri-State
University in Indiana, graduating with a degree in aeronautical
engineering. Afterward, he went to work for RCA in New Jersey, becoming
a quality control manager. Positions followed at Philco Radio and
Bendix Aviation.

During World War II, Kayhart joined the US Army Signal Corps, which
sent him off to school to study radar. He was assigned to the US Army
Air Corps in Georgia and then sent to Hawaii to become part of a Signal
Service Battalion. He served at Iwo Jima, shortly after the US victory
there, setting up equipment for long-range radio communication and
broadcasting, with rhombic antennas in four directions.

Cliff Kayhart, W4KKP, spoke with
Roanoke Division Director Bud
Hippisley, W2RU, last November.

In 1946, Kayhart left the Army with the rank of captain, joining
Magnavox the following year as its first field engineer; at the time,
Magnavox was about to launch a line of television sets. Eventually, he
was transferred to the Customer Acceptance Department in Tennessee.
Kayhart traveled to Japan in 1963 in search of Japanese television
sets. He retired from Magnavox in 1976.

In the 1970s, while living in Tennessee, he spearheaded a project that
installed a 2-meter FM repeater on the summit of Camp Creek Bald, still
in operation on the Tennessee/North Carolina border.

After Kayhart moved into an assisted living facility in 2017, he had an
HF station in his room, courtesy of the Dutch Fork Amateur Radio Group,
to which he belonged, and the Columbia Amateur Radio Club. Kayhart
remained active on the air until shortly before he died. Read more.
In Brief...

ARRL Logbook of The World has harmonized the designation of FST4
Protocol. The Logbook of The World (LoTW) Committee worked with WSJT-X
developer Joe Taylor, K1JT, to harmonize the designation of FST4 among
WSJT-X, the ADIF standard, and LoTW. At present, FST4 is only supported
in a recently released beta version of WSJT-X. The action was to avoid
the sort of confusion that cropped up among LoTW users logging contacts
in FT4 when that protocol was first included in WSJT-X. The update
should help users avoid difficulties and obtain the maximum number of
contact matches. The ADIF standard has been updated to support FST4 as
a sub-mode of MFSK, and configuration file CONFIG.xml for LoTW has been
updated to version 11.13, accordingly, to support FST4. Users will be
offered the update when they run TQSL. -- Thanks to Greg Widin, K0GW

The FCC has adopted a Report and Order that allows AM radio stations to
operate using all-digital broadcast signals. "AM broadcasters will be
able to voluntarily choose whether and when to convert to all-digital
operation from their current analog or hybrid analog/digital signals,"
the FCC said. "All-digital broadcasting offers AM listeners
significantly improved audio quality and more reliable coverage over a
wider listenable area than analog or hybrid digital broadcasts. It also
allows broadcasters to provide additional services to the public, such
as song title and artist information."

-------------------------------------------------------------------

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.
* November 21 -- Alabama State Convention, Montgomery, Alabama
* December 11 - 12 -- Florida State Convention, Plant City, Florida

Find conventions and hamfests in your area.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for
Amateur Radio News and Information.

.

.
* Join or Renew Today! Eligible US-based members can elect to receive
QST or On the Air magazine in print when they join ARRL or when
they renew their membership. All members can access digital
editions of all four ARRL magazines: QST, On the Air, QEX, and NCJ.

* Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday.

Subscribe to...
* NCJ -- National Contest Journal. Published bimonthly, features
articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA
Sprint, and QSO parties.
* QEX -- A Forum for Communications Experimenters. Published
bimonthly, features technical articles, construction projects,
columns, and other items of interest to radio amateurs and
communications professionals.

Free of charge to ARRL members...
* Subscribe to the ARES E-Letter (monthly public service and
emergency communications news), the ARRL Contest Update (biweekly
contest newsletter), Division and Section news alerts -- and much
more!
* Find ARRL on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram!
----------------------------------------------------------------------

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The ARRL Letter
November 5, 2020

* ARRL Comments on FCC Draft WRC-23 Recommendations
* ARRL Pacific Division Director Jim Tiemstra, K6JAT, SK
* New NIST System Detects Ultra-Faint Signals Using Quantum Physics
Principles
* ARRL Podcasts Schedule
* A Sweepstakes "Clean Sweep" Means Working 84 Sections This Year
* Neutron-1 CubeSat Deployed from ISS; Other Sats Pending
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* ARRL Learning Network Webinars
* Announcements
* IARU Region 2 Executive Committee Meets in Multiple Virtual
Sessions
* In Brief...
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
ARRL Comments on FCC Draft WRC-23 Recommendations

ARRL has submitted comments on two draft recommendations approved in
October by the FCC's World Radiocommunication Conference visory
Committee (WAC). The comments focus on draft recommendations for World
Radiocommunication Conference 2023 (WRC-23) Agenda Item (AI) 1.2. AI
1.2 will consider the identification of frequencies in the 3.3 - 3.4
GHz and 10.0 - 10.5 GHz bands, among others, "for International Mobile
Telecommunications (IMT), including possible additional allocations to
the mobile service on a primary basis," in accordance with WRC-19
Resolution 245. ARRL urged no change to the 3.3 - 3.4 GHz international
secondary allocation to the Amateur Service in ITU Regions 2 (the
Americas) and

3 (Oceania), and no change to the 10.0 - 10.5 GHz worldwide secondary
amateur and amateur-satellite allocation.

"Radio amateurs make substantial use of both bands," ARRL said in its
comments. "They have conducted experiments and designed systems that
protect primary users. The lack of interference complaints is evidence
that they have been successful in doing so. In this manner, new
spectrum horizons are explored and new techniques are developed that
put spectrum to productive use that otherwise would represent lost
opportunities and waste of the natural resource."

ARRL stressed that the WAC preliminary views make no suggestion that
the international secondary allocations to the Amateur Service should
not continue in both bands. ARRL said it wanted to reaffirm that these
secondary allocations continue to be important and useful and that
WRC-23 should not consider changing either secondary allocation.

"Sharing between primary users and secondary amateur radio users has
been highly successful, and the US domestic Table reflected the
International allocations until this year," ARRL said. In September,
however, the FCC adopted an Order to delete the secondary amateur and
amateur-satellite allocations in the 3.3 - 3.5 GHz band. Amateur radio
operations may continue on a secondary basis, subject to decisions to
be made on issues raised in a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in
the proceeding, WT Docket 19-348.

ARRL maintained that amateur radio should remain secondary in the
international allocations at 3.3 - 3.4 GHz "until more is known about
the technical characteristics of equipment that will be used by new
services and the extent of geographic build-out."

With regard to 10.0 - 10.5 GHz, ARRL noted that it has been used for
many amateur terrestrial experiments and tests that have helped to
develop the technical characteristics of the band. The band is also
heavily used throughout much of the world as the downlink for the
Qatari amateur satellite Es'hail-2 (QO-100).

ARRL noted that radio amateurs utilizing the secondary spectrum at 3.3
- 3.4 GHz and 10.0 - 10.5 GHz "have developed and honed their equipment
and capabilities to share with the existing services."

"The Amateur Service has earned its reputation for making careful and
non-preclusive use of its secondary allocations and will continue doing
so," ARRL concluded. "Therefore, we respectfully request that the
Amateur Service and Amateur-Satellite Service be continued as secondary
services in the above bands."
ARRL Pacific Division Director Jim Tiemstra, K6JAT, SK

ARRL Pacific Division Director Jim Tiemstra, K6JAT, of Oakland,
California, died October 30. An ARRL Life Member, he was 65.

Tiemstra was ARRL Pacific Division Vice Director from 2009 through
2017, sitting on the ministration and Finance, and Programs and
Services Committees of the Board. He became ARRL Pacific Division
Director in January 2018. He was a member of the ministration and
Finance Committee, the Legal Structure Review Committee, chair of the
Legislative vocacy Committee, and an advisor to the Amateur Radio
Legal Defense and Assistance Committee, among other Board assignments.

Licensed in 1970 as WN9ELU in Chicago, Tiemstra was the president of
his high school radio club in Illinois. Early on, he built most of his
own gear from Heathkits. In 1977, he married Lilah Greene, KE6EHD, and
they moved to California, where Tiemstra became N6OIK, later choosing
K6JAT as a vanity call sign. He'd also held V26JAT and 3D2TJ and had
operated from Curacao and Hawaii.

Primarily a contester and DXer, Tiemstra had been a DXpedition member
and had long been involved in the public service aspects of the hobby.
As a member of the Oakland Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)
group, he was among those responding to the Loma Prieta earthquake in
1989 and the Oakland Hills firestorm in 1991, receiving a Certificate
of Appreciation from the American Red Cross. He championed the
Emergency Communication Ham Operation (ECHO) proposal to install
amateur radio equipment in his city's Emergency Operations Center and
in each of its 30 fire stations.

Tiemstra worked with his ARES group to gain RACES recognition, wrote
the RACES Operations Manual, and was instrumental in forging a formal
Letter of Understanding with the City of Oakland. He served as
Oakland's RACES Radio Officer for more than 14 years, was on the
mayor's Emergency Management Council, and was ARRL East Bay Section
Emergency Coordinator. In 2002, he was recognized by the Oakland Fire
Department as Community Volunteer of the Year.

Tiemstra retired in 2018 as a federal practitioner in the private
practice of law. Read more.

New NIST System Detects Ultra-Faint Signals Using Quantum Physics
Principles

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology
(NIST) have devised and demonstrated a system that could dramatically
increase the performance of communication networks while enabling
record-low error rates in detecting even the faintest of signals. This
has the potential to cut the total amount of energy required for
state-of-the-art networks by a factor of 10 to 100. The
proof-of-principle system consists of a novel receiver and
corresponding signal-processing technique, entirely based on the

The incoming signal (red, lower
left) proceeds through a beam
splitter to the photon detector,
which has an attached time register
(top right). The receiver sends the
reference beam to the beam splitter
to cancel the incoming pulse, so
that no light is detected. The
receiver uses exact times of photon
detection. The combination of
recorded detection times and the
history of reference beam
frequencies is used to find the
frequency of the incoming signal.

properties of quantum physics and able to handle extremely weak signals
with pulses that carry many bits of data.

"We built the communication test bed using off-the-shelf components to
demonstrate that quantum-measurement-enabled communication can
potentially be scaled up for widespread commercial use," said Ivan
Burenkov, a physicist at the Joint Quantum Institute, a research
partnership between NIST and the University of Maryland. Burenkov and
his colleagues reported the results in Physical Review X Quantum.

"Our effort shows that quantum measurements offer valuable, heretofore
unforeseen advantages for telecommunications leading to revolutionary
improvements in channel bandwidth and energy efficiency," Burenkov
added.

Modern communications systems work by converting information into a
laser-generated stream of digital light pulses in which information is
encoded -- in the form of changes to the properties of the light waves
-- for transfer and then decoded when it reaches the receiver. The
train of pulses grows fainter as it travels along transmission
channels, and conventional electronic technology for receiving and
decoding data has reached the limit of its ability to precisely detect
the information in such attenuated signals.

The signal pulse can dwindle until it is as weak as a few photons -- or
even less than one on average. At that point, inevitable random quantum
fluctuations, called "shot noise," make accurate reception impossible
by normal ("classical," as opposed to quantum) technology because the
uncertainty caused by the noise makes up such a large part of the
diminished signal. As a result, existing systems must amplify the
signals repeatedly along the transmission line, at considerable energy
cost, keeping them strong enough to detect reliably.

The NIST team's system can eliminate the need for amplifiers because it
can reliably process even extremely feeble signal pulses: "The total
energy required to transmit one bit becomes a fundamental factor
hindering the development of networks," said Sergey Polyakov, senior
scientist on the NIST team. "The goal is to reduce the sum of energy
required by lasers, amplifiers, detectors, and support equipment to
reliably transmit information over longer distances."

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ARRL Podcasts Schedule

The latest episode of the On the Air podcast (Episode 10) includes an
interview with ARRL Lifelong Learning Manager Kris Bickell, K1BIC,
about ARRL's new "Learning Network" webinars.

The latest edition of Eclectic Tech (Episode 20) features an interview
with ARRL Emergency Preparedness Director Paul Gilbert, KE5ZW, about
the future of amateur radio technology in public service, and will also
cover a new power source that uses diamonds and nuclear waste.

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.

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A Sweepstakes "Clean Sweep" Means Working 84 Sections This Year

The ever-popular ARRL November Sweepstakes (SS) weekends are upon us --
one for CW and the other for SSB. This year, participants will have to
search out an additional Section. The CW event takes place November 7 -
9 (UTC), and the SSB event is from November 21 - 23 (UTC). Each
Sweepstakes leg begins at 2100 UTC on Saturday and runs through 0259
UTC on Monday. Stations may operate 24 of the available 30 hours. An SS
Operating Guide package, available via the SS web page, explains how to
participate in Sweepstakes. Clubs or public service teams that are
considering participating in SS will find

the guide to be a useful source for information. This year marks the
79th SS event, which attracts more than 3,000 entries each fall for
both weekends.

The number of ARRL and Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) Sections rose to
84 earlier this year with the addition of Prince Edward Island (PE) as
a separate entity. The objective of SS -- or "sweeps" -- is to work as
many stations in as many of the 84 Sections as possible within 24 hours
of operating. The number of Sections worked is a score multiplier, and
working all of them -- a "clean sweep" in SS terminology -- is the goal
of many SS aficionados, who qualify for a clean sweep coffee mug.
Hardcore SS operators try to run up the contact and multiplier counts
by operating for the allowed 24 hours.

Some multipliers are rarer and/or harder to work, and these can vary
from year to year. For many years, the most difficult SS multiplier was
considered to be Northern Territories (NT) in Canada, where J. Allen,
VY1JA, in Yukon Territory, was often the only station available. Allen
has stepped back from amateur radio, however, owing to health issues.
Making a clean sweep also requires working Alaska and Hawaii (or
another station in the Pacific Section), as well as
Newfoundland/Labrador (NL) and Prince Edward Island (PE) in the other
direction. On the rarer side, finding -- and working -- stations in
Alberta (AB), North Dakota (ND), Northern New York (NNY), US Virgin
Islands (VI), Wyoming (WY), and Delaware (DE) has proven vexing for
some SS operators.

Nonetheless, even stations with modest equipment and antennas can

enjoy success. Many stations like to operate in the QRP category (with
an output of 5 W or less), although that challenge has been more
daunting at this point in the solar cycle.

ARRL November Sweepstakes is the oldest domestic radiosport event (the
first was in 1930). The SS contest exchange has deep roots in
message-handling protocol and replicates a radiogram preamble. In SS,
stations exchange:
* A consecutive serial number (NR). Operators do not have to add
zeros ahead of numbers less than 100.
* Operating category (Precedence) -- Q for Single Operator, QRP; A
for Single Operator, Low Power (up to 150 W output); B for Single
Operator, High Power (greater than 150 W output); U for Single
Operator, Unlimited, regardless of power; M for Multioperator,
regardless of power, and S for School Club.
* Your call sign.
* Check (CK) -- the last two digits of the year of first license for
either operator or station.
* Section -- ARRL/RAC Section.

Full contest rules and an Operating Guide that includes examples of log
formatting are available on the Sweepstakes web page. The deadline to
submit CW entries is November 16. The deadline to submit phone entries
is November 30.

Direct questions to the ARRL Contest Program.
Neutron-1 CubeSat Deployed from ISS; Other Sats Pending

The Neutron-1 3U CubeSat was deployed from the International Space
Station (ISS) on November 5 at 10:40 UTC. For the satellite's first
month and during its commissioning phase, the Neutron-1 beacon will
transmit 1,200 bps BPSK telemetry every 60 seconds on 435.300 MHz.
Developed by the Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory (HSFL) at the
University of Hawaii at Manoa (UHM), the satellite's payload includes a
VU FM amateur radio repeater during available times and according to
the spacecraft's power budget. The Neutron-1 science mission is spelled
out in a formal paper, Neutron-1 Mission: Low Earth Orbit Neutron Flux
Detection and COSMOS Mission Operations Technology Demonstration.

HSFL operates and maintains a satellite UHF, VHF, and L/S-band amateur
radio ground station at Kauai Community College.

The primary mission of Neutron-1 is to measure low-energy neutron flux
in low-Earth orbit (LEO). The science payload, a small neutron detector
developed by Arizona State University, will focus on measurements of
low-energy secondary neutrons -- a component of the LEO neutron
environment.

A number of other amateur radio satellites are expected to launch or be
deployed in the next few months. AMSAT's RadFxSat-2 (Fox-1E) is
expected to go into orbit by year's end on Virgin Orbit's LauncherOne
vehicle. RadFxSat-2 carries a 30 kHz wide VU linear transponder.

The Tevel Mission -- a series of eight Israeli 1U CubeSats, each
carrying a UV FM transponder -- is expected to launch from India on a
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in December. Also from the Herzliya Science
Center is a 3U CubeSat called Tausat-1, which is scheduled to launch on
a Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) ISS resupply mission in
February for subsequent deployment. Tausat-1 carries an FM transponder.

AMSAT-Spain (AMSAT-EA) reports that its PocketQubes, EASAT-2 and HADES,
have been integrated for launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 in December, while
GENESIS-L and GENESIS-N have been integrated for launch on Firefly's
Alpha rocket. Read more. -- Thanks to AMSAT News Service

The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: On November 4, the solar flux density
reached 88.1, its highest level since October 14, 2016, when, during a
waning solar cycle, it was 92.8, with an average daily flux for that
week of 76.9, and average daily sunspot number of 18.7, similar to what
we're seeing now.

The average daily planetary A index this week was 6.3, down from 12.3
last week. The average daily mid-latitude A index was 4.9, down from
9.9 last week.

Spaceweather.com reported on November 3 that the new sunspot group
produced a minor solar flare, and a pulse of UV radiation "briefly
ionized Earth's upper atmosphere, causing a low-frequency radio
blackout over the Indian Ocean." Check the STEREO satellite images:
360� view | Conventional format. A large, new sunspot group, AR2781, is
the largest so far in new Solar Cycle 25, according to
Spaceweather.com. It should be geo-effective (facing Earth) over the
next 10 days.

Predicted solar flux is 88 on November 5 - 10; 83 on November 11;
dropping to 75, 74, and 75 on November 12 - 14; 76 on November 15 - 21;
75 on November 22 - 27; 74 on November 28 - 29; 72 on November 30 -
December 5; 74 on December 6 - 10; 75 on December 11; 76 on December 12
- 18, and 75 on December 19.

Predicted planetary A index is 5, 8, and 8 on November 5 - 7; 5 on
November 8 - 16; 10, 5, 10; and 15 on November 17 - 20; 12 on November
21 - 22; 8, 10, and 12 on November 23 - 25; 5 on November 26 - 27; 10
on November 28; 5 on November 29 - December 13; then 8, 5, and 8 on
December 14 - 16; 12 on December 17, and 10 on December 18 - 19.

Sunspot numbers for October 29 - November 4 were 35, 32, 26, 12, 11,
15, and 18, with a mean of 21.3. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 84.6,
79.6, 76.8, 77.3, 81.6, 82.9, and 88.1, with a mean of 81.6. Estimated
planetary A indices were 14, 5, 6, 10, 3, 3, and 3, with a mean of 6.3.
Middle latitude A index was 11, 4, 6, 8, 2, 2, and 1, with a mean of
4.9.

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. For customizable
propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio website.

Share your reports and observations.

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Just Ahead in Radiosport
* November 7 -- IPARC Contest (CW)
* November 7 - 8 -- Ukrainian DX Contest (CW, phone)
* November 7 - 8 -- SKCC Weekend Sprintathon (CW)
* November 7 - 9 -- ARRL November Sweepstakes (CW)
* November 7 - 15 -- AWA Bruce Kelley 1929 QSO Party (CW)
* November 8 -- IPARC Contest (SSB)
* November 8 -- EANET Sprint (CW, phone, digital)
* November 9 -- K1USN Slow Speed Test (CW)
* November 9 -- 4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint (CW, phone)
* November 10 -- Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest
* November 11 -- VHF-UHF FT8 Activity
* November 11 -- 3.5 RSGB 80-Meter Autumn Series (SSB)

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ARRL Learning Network Webinars

Visit the ARRL Learning Network website (a members-only benefit) to
register for upcoming sessions and to view previously recorded
sessions. The schedule is subject to change.

Amateur Radio's Role at the Boston Marathon Bombing: Steve Schwarm,
W3EVE

Amateur radio has played a significant role in public service
communications for the Boston Marathon for several decades. That role
was put to the test in 2013 when two bombs were exploded near the
finish line. This presentation will describe the role that ham radio
played at the marathon and how that role changed due to the bombing.

Tuesday, December 8, 2020, 10 AM PST / 1 PM EST (1800 UTC)

Learn and Have Fun with Morse Code: Howard Bernstein, WB2UZE, and Jim
Crites, W6JIM

Morse code, or "CW," is a popular ham radio operating mode. Learning CW
does not have to be an arduous or lonely experience. Learn, practice,
and enjoy CW with the methods used by the Long Island CW Club.

Thursday, December 17, 2020, 5 PM PST / 8 PM EST (0100 UTC on Friday,
December 18)

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Announcements
* Club Log has updated its DXCC Most Wanted list. The Democratic
People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) -- North Korea (P5) -- still tops
the list, with Bouvet Island (3Y/B), Crozet Island (FT5/W),
Scarborough Reef (BS7H), and San Felix Islands (CE0X) rounding out
the top five entities.
* Radio Amateurs of Canada has established a new "Rookie" category
for both the RAC Canada Day and RAC Canada Winter contests. The
Canada Winter Contest will take place on December 19. A Rookie is
defined as a single operator first licensed less than 3 years
before the contest.
* In celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Miller-DX-Club,
special event stations with call signs such as R2020DX, RA30DX,
RC30DX, RD30DX, RG30DX, RJ30DX, RK30DX, RL30DX, RQ30DX, RT30DX,
RU30DX, RV30DX, RW30DX, RX30DX, RY30DX, and RZ30DX will be active
November 16 - 29. QSL via the bureau or RQ7L.
* Author and filmmaker Don Keith, N4KC, has announced that his new
film, Colors of Character, will debut in selected theaters
nationwide on November 11. The film follows young African-American
artist Steve Skipper, who was frustrated at every turn. Keith also
wrote a biography of Skipper, titled Dream On: A Journey to
Deliverance.
* Raw scores for the recent CQ World Wide DX Contest (SSB) have been
posted, Contest Director John Dorr, K1AR, has announced.

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IARU Region 2 Executive Committee Meets in Multiple Virtual Sessions

The International Amateur Radio Union Region 2 (IARU-R2) Executive
Committee (EC) held its fourth meeting of the year via Zoom in three
parts, replacing an in-person meeting not possible due to the pandemic.
In the first session on October 21, Region 2 President Ram�n Santoyo,
XE1KK, reviewed the year since the October 2019 Lima General Assembly,
highlighting the new initiatives Region 2 has undertaken. These
included the appointment of a youth liaison and the

introduction of workshops, as well as the work of the Band Planning
Committee to coordinate with Regions 1 and 3 on a number of issues,
especially the explosive growth in digital modes. Region 2 also took
part in a Future Committee, which will develop a strategy and plans for
"updating the IARU organization to be more effective in dealing with
the challenges of the rapidly evolving telecommunications ecosystem,"
an IARU Region 2 news release said. Secretary George Gorsline, VE3YV,
presented a proposed 2021 strategic plan for discussion.

Session 2 on October 24 was Coordinators Day. Each R2 coordinator was
invited to give a presentation on their function and recent activity.
With 12 coordinators, ranging from CITEL/ITU to beacon coordination,
the 4-hour session reviewed the breadth of amateur radio activities in
R2. The presentations will be posted on the IARU Region 2 website.

The third and final session on October 28 continued the discussion on
planning and budget for FY 2021. "The pandemic has created considerable
disruption this year, and how long that may continue is uncertain," an
EC news release said. "With these challenges are also opportunities
created by the rapid acceptance of virtual meetings for improved
outreach to broaden participation by member-societies and all amateurs
in the Americas. A special session to approve the finalized budget will
be scheduled later in the year."
In Brief...

The German town of Bad Bentheim is seeking nominations for the Golden
Antenna Award. For 50 years, the town has hosted
Deutsch-Niederl�ndische Amateurfunker Tage (DNAT), or German-Dutch
Amateur Radio Days, during which the town stresses the importance of
amateur radio as a public service. Nominations (in PDF) are open until
April 1, 2021. A committee headed by the mayor of Bad Bentheim will
choose the winner. The recipient will be invited to Bad Bentheim to
receive the award, which will be presented on August 28, 2021. The
award recognizes an individual radio amateur or a group for outstanding
humanitarian performance. "In 2021, we would favor candidates who did
something special related to the COVID-19 pandemic, but other
candidates are welcome," said Jan G. Stadman, PA1TT/DJ5AN, who chairs
the DNAT. Send nominations to Stadt Bad Bentheim, P.O. Box 1452,
D-48445 Bad Bentheim, Germany, or submit via email.

IEEE Region 1 has selected Ulrich Rohde, N1UL, as the recipient of the
2020 IEEE Region 1 Technological Innovation (Industry or Government)
Award. The selection was made by the Region 1 Awards and Recognition
Committee and approved by the Region 1 Board of Governors. The award
recognizes "pioneering research and leadership in signal processing."
The Technological Innovation (Industry or Government) Award cites
"significant patents, discovery of new devices, development of
applications, or exemplary contributions to industry or government
fitting Dr. Rohde's accomplishments in our industry." A partner of
Rohde & Schwarz, Rohde has published more than 300 scientific papers
and written several books and book chapters. He holds several dozen
patents.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

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.
* November 21 -- Alabama State Convention, Montgomery, Alabama
* December 11 - 12 -- Florida State Convention, Plant City, Florida

Find conventions and hamfests in your area.

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ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for
Amateur Radio News and Information.

.

.
* Join or Renew Today! Eligible US-based members can elect to receive
QST or On the Air magazine in print when they join ARRL or when
they renew their membership. All members can access digital
editions of all four ARRL magazines: QST, On the Air, QEX, and NCJ.

* Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday.

Subscribe to...
* NCJ -- National Contest Journal. Published bimonthly, features
articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA
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bimonthly, features technical articles, construction projects,
columns, and other items of interest to radio amateurs and
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Free of charge to ARRL members...
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* Find ARRL on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram!
----------------------------------------------------------------------

The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 50 times each year. ARRL members
and registered guests may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing
their profile.

Copyright (c) 2020 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and
distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is permitted for
non-commercial or educational purposes, with attribution. All other
purposes require written permission.


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