The ARRL Letter
January 9, 2020
* ARRL's New On the Air Magazine on its Way to Members
* Volunteer Monitor Program Coordinator Looks Forward to a Positive
2020
* ARRL CEO Challenges Members: "Dare to Imagine"
* So Now What? Podcast
* Strong Earthquake Shakes Puerto Rico; Generating Capacity Severely
Compromised
* Australian Bushfires Causing Major Telecommunication Outages, Hams
on Duty
* Radio Amateurs of Canada Announces a New Section
* China Telecoms Regulator Proposing to Delete Some Current Amateur
Allocations
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* ARISS Next-Generation Radio System Ready for Launch to Space
Station
* CAMSAT Says CAS-6 Activation for Amateur Use Has Been Delayed
* In Brief...
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
ARRL's New On the Air Magazine on its Way to Members
The premiere issue of ARRL's On the Air magazine has left the printer
and is on its way to member subscribers. The magazine should be in
mailboxes within the next 10 days.
On the Air is the newest ARRL member benefit to help new licensees and
beginner-to-intermediate radio communicators navigate the world of
amateur radio. Eligible US-based members can elect to receive On the
Air or QST magazine in print when they join or when they renew their
ARRL membership.
Delivered six times a year, the magazine will present articles and tips
on selecting equipment, building projects, and getting involved in
emergency communication. On the Air will also spotlight the experiences
of those involved in public service communication and casual operating.
All members will be able to access digital editions of On the Air
magazine. The first digital issue of On the Air will be available
beginning January 14, supported by a new version of ARRL's digital
magazine app. With one app, members will be able to access On the Air
and QST.
Volunteer Monitor Program Coordinator Looks Forward to a Positive 2020
In a holiday season message to ARRL leadership and to members of the
new ARRL Volunteer Monitor (VM) program, its coordinator, Riley
Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, expressed his gratitude to all involved for their
contributions to getting the program off to a solid start in January.
"It will be a good year," Hollingsworth said. "We will have fun, you
will enjoy it more than you probably think, and -- thanks to the talent
and generosity of one of our VMs -- a computer program will make your
reporting much easier (there will be no need for bi-monthly reports!),"
he wrote. "This is our opportunity to help amateur radio last another
hundred years and to pay forward this wonderful avocation that joyfully
occupies our lives. This could be our legacy if we do it with all the
energy and devotion that characterized the Official Observer (OO)
program for decades."
Hollingsworth said the success of the OO program convinced the FCC to
trust ARRL with the responsibilities now to be taken up by the
Volunteer Monitor program. "Those of you who are former OOs have an
extra reason to be proud, and amateur radio is grateful to you more
than you will ever know," Hollingsworth concluded. "Thank you. It will
be a privilege to work with you this new year."
Approved by the ARRL Board of Directors in 2018, the Volunteer Monitor
program supplants the venerable OO program. The VM program represents a
formal agreement between the FCC and ARRL in which volunteers trained
and vetted by ARRL will monitor the airwaves and collect evidence that
can be used to correct misconduct. The program also will recognize
exemplary on-air operation, something not done during the OO program.
Cases of flagrant violations will be referred to the FCC by ARRL for
action in accordance with FCC guidelines.
The FCC proposed the new program in the wake of several FCC regional
office closures and a reduction in field staff. It will give
enforcement priority to cases developed by the Volunteer Monitor
program without ARRL's having to refer cases through the FCC online
complaint process.
ARRL CEO Challenges Members: "Dare to Imagine"
In his January 2020 QST "Second Century" editorial, ARRL CEO Howard
Michel, WB2ITX, challenges members to imagine what ARRL and amateur
radio will look like in 5 years and beyond and to dare to imagine
change.
"Younger hams are not just younger versions of you or me," Michel
writes. "They have grown up in a different world." He points out that
75% of non-members hold Technician licenses. "But more than license
class, their interests are different. Their demographics are different.
They are different, and they want different things," he said. His
approach is to target specific interest groups, which he calls
"verticals," that will allow ARRL to provide individual members what
they want.
"We can try to mold the future generation of hams to our image, or we
can embrace new hams for what they are," Michel asserted. "ARRL needs
to do the latter."
In addition to initiatives such as the new On the Air magazine,
debuting this month in print and digital editions, and the Lifelong
Learning program to engage new licensees, Michel is proposing verticals
focusing on radiosport, experimentation, and emergency communication.
He's recommending a new family of "mini-magazines" to reach niche
membership interests. "To jump start the mini-mag revolution," he said,
"We will offer NCJ and QEX in digital form to everyone." ARRL also
plans to hire a national club coordinator this year.
"Our focus will be on developing ways, and an infrastructure, that
members can use to organize themselves in ways they want, to do things
that they consider meaningful," Michel said.
He has invited members' comments.
So Now What? Podcast
In the final episode of So Now What? hosts Michelle Patnode, W3MVP, and
Joe Carcia, NJ1Q, will speak with ARRL VEC Assistant Manager Amanda
Grimaldi, N1NHL.
An archive of So Now What? episodes will remain on Blubrry and will be
accessible via the podcast's web page. Users can still direct questions
regarding the podcast via email.
Thank you to LDG Electronics for sponsoring the show and thanks to
everyone for listening!
Strong Earthquake Shakes Puerto Rico; Generating Capacity Severely
Compromised
ARRL Puerto Rico Section Manager Oscar Resto, KP4RF, says small tremors
continue on the island in the wake of the 6.4 magnitude earthquake that
struck the southwestern part of the island on January 7. A magnitude
5.8 quake struck a day earlier. The Puerto Rico Electric Power
Authority (PREPA) reported widespread power outages after generating
plants automatically activated protective shutdown systems following
the earthquake. But Resto told ARRL this week that considerable
generating capacity was lost due to earthquake damage, and that it will
take at least several days before replacement units can be brought back
on line. Only about 20% of the island has electric power at this point,
he estimated.
"We have a shortage of about 1,100 megawatts of power," Resto told
ARRL. "We normally need about 2,000 megawatts for the island."
Resto cited the largely operational telecommunications network as the
reason why no Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) activations have
been necessary. "We have cell phones all over the island working," he
said. Resto told ARRL that he's been working up a list of ready and
resilient amateur radio volunteers who would be able to muster if
needed to assist the American Red Cross, with which Puerto Rico ARES
has a memorandum of understanding. "We are in continuous communication
with the ARC in case we're needed."
Resto stressed that he wants to avoid situations where volunteers
activate only to be told they're not needed.
The worst-impacted cities were Guayanilla, Peñuelas, Yauco, and
Guánica. Resto said engineers have determined that 80% of the houses in
the earthquake's impact zone are uninhabitable. Residents are sleeping
outdoors, Resto said.
Puerto Rico Section Public Information Officer Angel Santana, WP3GW,
told ARRL that VHF and UHF repeaters with emergency power have carried
reports of power and water outages, the continuing aftershocks, and
other information on an informal basis. Bottled water and canned food
have been in high demand, he said. Santana said the PREMA Emergency
Operations Center (EOC) has been activated.
Resto earlier this week called the situation "scary, with houses,
schools, and roads collapsing." At least one death has resulted from
the earthquake. He said the earthquake disaster definitely was a
setback for the US territory as it continues its long recovery from
severe hurricane damage in 2017. But, he added, the restored
telecommunications infrastructure is more robust, to minimize damage in
future disasters.
Australian Bushfires Causing Major Telecommunication Outages, Hams on
Duty
Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) President Greg Kelly, VK2GPK,
says the bushfires in Australia have caused significant disruption of
telecommunication services in the states of Victoria and New South
Wales. Radio amateurs are supporting relief operations and
communication.
WICEN (Wireless Institute Civil Emergency Network) in New South Wales
reports it has been active assisting in a number of multi-agency
activities during the bushfire emergency, in its role as a support
squad of the NSW Volunteer Rescue Association (VRA) operations center
in Bega. WICEN teams in NSW and in the Australian Capital Territory
(ACT) have sent a team to Bega to help re-establish radio communication
services, disrupted by fire activity.
WICEN and other VRA squads continue to support the Rural Fire Service
(RFS) at various Fire Control Centers and the Bushfire Information
Line. Other WICEN members remain active with the RFS and the State
Emergency Service.
Kelley has asked radio amateurs in International Amateur Radio Union
(IARU) Region 3 to monitor the emergency communications frequencies,
per the IARU Region 3 band plan, whenever possible, as well as
repeaters. "Amateurs seeking to establish emergency communication
should use these EMCOMM frequencies in the first instance, or repeaters
if available," he said in a statement posted on the IARU Region 3
website.
"Radio amateurs who are volunteers for [WICEN and other emergency
communication organizations] should keep themselves updated," Kelley
advised. "Emergency communication is one of the main reasons radio
amateurs have access to RF spectrum. Please assist if and when you
can."
The IARU Region 3 emergency "center of activity" frequencies are 3.600,
7.110, 14.300, 18.160, and 21.360 MHz. These are not net frequencies,
but they are recommended as starting points for emergency traffic, and
activity may extend 5 kHz above or below the designated center
frequency.
South of NSW in the state of Victoria, WICEN VIC reports that the
amateur repeater network is largely off the air, possibly due to a lack
of power. "Some sites may have been directly affected by fire," WICEN
VIC said on January 4. "It could be some weeks until the sites can be
reached for inspection."
Radio Amateurs of Canada Announces a New Section
The number of Sections needed for a clean sweep in the ARRL November
Sweepstakes (SS) will rise to 84 in 2020, with the addition of a new
Prince Edward Island (PE) Section. Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) has
announced that the new Section will become effective on April 1.
Prince Edward Island has been in the Maritimes (MAR) Section. RAC said
its Prince Edward Island members have been working for some time to
create a separate Section for RAC ARES activities there. The provinces
of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick will remain in the Maritimes Section.
In addition to Field Day and Sweepstakes, the new Section in Canada
will affect the ARRL 160-Meter Contest but not the ARRL 10-Meter
Contest, which uses individual states/provinces for US and Canadian
multipliers. The change will mean that logging software developers will
have to update their software to include the PE Section as a valid
exchange element for any affected operating events.
RAC also announced an adjustment in two of its Ontario Sections.
Effective April 1, radio amateurs in the City of Hamilton and in the
Regional Municipality of Niagara will shift to the Greater Toronto Area
(GTA) Section from the Ontario South (ONS) Section.
China Telecoms Regulator Proposing to Delete Some Current Amateur
Allocations
China's telecommunications regulator has proposed amending the Measures
for the ministration of Amateur Radio Stations, and some amateur
bands are in danger of being eliminated. Lide Zhang, BI8CKU, told ARRL
that the proposal would prohibit amateur operation on the 2200-meter
band as well as on 146 - 148 MHz, 1260 - 1300 MHz, 3400 - 3500 MHz,
5650 - 5725 MHz, and all bands above 10 GHz.
Radio communications engineer and Chinese Amateur Satellite Group
(CAMSAT) CEO Alan Kung, BA1DU, told ARRL that government efforts to
eliminate some amateur bands are nothing new, but proposals that have
been aired for a while now are on the regulatory agency's schedule.
Kung said he does not anticipate that all of the bands proposed will be
taken away, but he conceded that the climate will "undoubtedly" become
increasingly more dangerous for China's amateur radio community.
"The attempt to crowd out the amateur radio bands has a long history
throughout the world," he said, "but it may never have become so urgent
for the amateur radio community as it is today. We all understand that
radio spectrum resources have become a bottleneck for further
development." He said today's radio communication industry "is working
hard to share spectrum resources."
Kung characterized spectrum as "the soil on which amateur radio
depends."
The K7RA Solar Update
Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Sunspots appeared recently, all
indicating that they belong to Cycle 25 due to their polarity, which is
just the opposite from Cycle 24 spots. Sunspots appeared December 24 -
26, and what appeared to be a new Cycle 25 spot showed up on January 1.
NOAA did not report it, but Spaceweather.com reported a sunspot number
of 11 for January 1.
Predicted solar flux for the next 45 days is higher than in recent
forecasts: 72 on January 2-9; 70 on January 10-11; 72 on January 12-25;
70 on January 26 - February 7, and 72 on February 8-15.
Predicted planetary A index is 5 on January 2-13; 12 on January 14-15;
5 on January 16-25; 8 on January 2-28; 5 on January 29 - February 9; 10
on February 10-11, and 5 on February 12-15.
Sunspot numbers for December 19-25 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 24, and 23, with
a mean of 6.7. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 69.9, 70, 70.6, 71, 72.6,
72.7, and 72.1, with a mean of 71.3. Estimated planetary A indices were
13, 5, 5, 4, 4, 3, and 4, with a mean of 5.4. The middle latitude A
index was 12, 4, 4, 2, 2, 2, and 3, with a mean of 4.1.
Sunspot numbers for December 26 - January 1 were 11, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, and
11, with a mean of 3.1. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 72.1, 72.4, 72.2,
72, 70.9, 70.5, and 71.8, with a mean of 71.7. Estimated planetary A
indices were 5, 3, 2, 2, 3, 4, and 3, with a mean of 3.1. Middle
latitude A index was 3, 2, 0, 0, 2, 4, and 3, with a mean of 2.
A comprehensive K7RA Solar Update is posted Fridays on the ARRL
website. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the
ARRL Technical Information Service, read "What the Numbers Mean...,"
and check out K9LA's Propagation Page.
A propagation bulletin archive is available. Monthly charts offer
propagation projections between the US and a dozen DX locations.
Share your reports and observations.
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Just Ahead in Radiosport
* January 11 -- YB DX Contest (Phone)
* January 11 -- Old New Year Contest (CW, phone)
* January 11 - 12 -- UBA PSK63 Prefix Contest
* January 11 - 12 -- SKCC Weekend Sprintathon (CW)
* January 11 - 12 -- North American QSO Party, CW
* January 12 -- NRAU-Baltic Contest, SSB, CW (separate events)
* January 12 -- DARC 10-Meter Contest (CW, phone)
* January 12 -- RSGB AFS Contest, Data
* January 12 - 15 -- Classic Exchange (CW)
* January 13 -- 4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint (CW, phone)
* January 16 -- NAQCC CW 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.
ARISS Next-Generation Radio System Ready for Launch to Space Station
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) reports that
its first Interoperable Radio System (IORS) flight unit -- serial
number 1001 -- has been delivered to NASA's Johnson Space Center for
launch in early March. The IORS represents the first major upgrade in
ARISS equipment on the International Space Station since Amateur Radio
gained a permanent presence onboard the ISS in 2000. In December, ARISS
received approval from NASA Safety to launch the IORS on SpaceX CRS-20
and stow the radio system on the ISS for future installation.
"The IORS is a foundational element of the ARISS next-generation radio
system and is an incredible engineering achievement by the ARISS
hardware team," ARISS International President Frank Bauer, KA3HDO,
said. "This first element delivery will support easier radio mode
transitions and enable new, exciting capabilities for hams, students,
and the general public."
The new system includes a higher-power radio, an enhanced voice
repeater, and updated digital packet radio (APRS) and slow-scan
television (SSTV) capabilities for both the US and Russian space
station segments. The IORS consists of a custom-modified JVC Kenwood
TM-D710GA transceiver, an AMSAT-developed multi-voltage power supply,
and interconnecting cables.
The IORS set to launch in March will be installed in the ISS Columbus
module; a second flight unit is expected to be launched later this year
for installation in the Russian Service module. The ARISS hardware team
will assemble four flight units -- and 10 IORS units in all -- to
support onboard flight operations, training, operations planning, and
hardware testing.
ARISS International President Frank
Bauer, KA3HDO.
"Future upgrades and enhancements to the next-generation system are in
various stages of design and development," Bauer said. "These include a
repaired Ham Video system -- currently planned for launch in
mid-to-late 2020, L-band (uplink) repeater, ground command operations
capability, LimeSDR signal reception, a microwave 'Ham Communicator,'
and Lunar Gateway prototype experiment."
Bauer said a lot of "heavy lifting" remains to prepare the IORS for
operation on the space station. "ARISS has 92 engineering requirements
and our operations Phase III safety review to complete," he explained.
"The space agencies take a position of 'trust, but verify.' Thus, these
engineering and safety 'verifications' all need to be closed out before
the IORS can be unstowed and turned on. This will be the ARISS hardware
team's focus over the next few months."
Bauer reminded that ARISS is almost entirely run by volunteers and
encouraged donations for next-generation hardware developments,
operations, education, and administrative functions.
CAMSAT Says CAS-6 Activation for Amateur Use Has Been Delayed
Chinese Amateur Satellite Group (CAMSAT) CEO Alan Kung, BA1DU, told
ARRL this week that some problems with the precise attitude
d
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