The ARRL Letter
May 14, 2020
* ARRL Announces New Life 70+ Membership
* ARRL Seeks Clarification of Amended Amateur Service RF Safety Rules
* Choosing FTx Transmit and Receive Frequencies in Crowded Contest
Bands
* ARRL Podcasts Schedule
* "ARRL at Home Hamvention" Weekend of Specials Set
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* New WSJT-X Beta Version Offers Significant FT4 and FT8 Upgrades
* ARISS Sets Second Test of New Multipoint Telebridge Contact System
* Two New Chinese Ham Satellites Expected to Launch in September
* Announcements
* Amateur Radio Gains Significant Boost in UK by Connecting People
During Lockdown
* In Brief...
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
-------------------------------------------------------------------
COVID-19 Impact & News
Find the latest news and information on the impact of the coronavirus
pandemic to ARRL members and our global amateur radio community.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
ARRL Announces New Life 70+ Membership
The ARRL Board of Directors recently voted to create a special Life
Membership opportunity for individuals who are at least 70 years old.
Starting on June 1, the Life 70+ Membership will be available to
individuals who have turned 70 and have a combined 25 years of paid
annual ARRL membership.
Life 70+ Members receive all benefits of an annual membership,
including their choice of print magazine delivery (QST or On the Air),
and digital access to these publications, plus the digital versions of
QEX and National Contest Journal (NCJ). In addition, each Life 70+
Member will receive a Life Member pin and a window decal and may
purchase an exclusive Life Member plaque.
Qualifying members selecting this level of membership will enjoy the
convenience of having to make a single payment for their entire tenure
as an ARRL Member and not be subject to any future ARRL dues increase.
To apply for Life 70+ membership, individuals must complete the special
Life 70+ Member application -- available on June 1 -- and submit proof
of date of birth, if this information is not already on file with ARRL.
The Life 70+ membership fee must be made in a single payment. Past
membership dues payments will not apply toward Life 70+ Membership, but
a credit will be applied for applicants who paid their dues in full
between April 1 and May 31, 2020.
Life 70+ Membership Dues Rates
* $750 US Life 70+ Membership
* $750 International Digital Life 70+ Membership
* $1,515 International Life 70+ Membership with a Print Subscription
* $250 Family Life 70+ Membership as an add-on to a paid Life 70+
membership
ARRL reserves the right to change or substitute the benefits, products,
or services associated with a member's original Life 70+ Member package
at any time during the membership. Dues are non-refundable.
Life 70+ membership applications will be available for download
beginning on June 1.
ARRL Seeks Clarification of Amended Amateur Service RF Safety Rules
ARRL has filed a Petition for Clarification addressing two issues
arising from amended FCC RF safety rules that go into effect on June 1
for the Amateur Service and other FCC-regulated services. Licensees
will have 2 years to determine if an RF safety evaluation is now
required under the new rules and to perform an evaluation and implement
any needed mitigation measures. Current rules already require amateur
stations to meet RF exposure limits, but more radio amateurs will have
to evaluate their stations under the new rules. The revised final
rules, adopted last November, appeared in the April 1 edition of The
Federal Register.
"For applicants and licensees in the Amateur Radio Service, we
substitute our general exemption criteria for the specific exemption
from routine evaluation based on power alone in S:97.13(c)(1) and
specify the use of occupational/controlled limits for amateurs where
appropriate," the FCC said. While radio amateurs have always had to
comply with RF exposure limits, certain stations have been exempted
from having to conduct evaluations based upon power and frequency.
On May 8, ARRL asked the FCC to clarify that using maximum permissible
exposure (MPE) limits be permitted in the Amateur Service for required
RF safety evaluations of 2200-meter operations, just as they are
elsewhere in the amateur spectrum. Removal of the exemption for
amateurs resulted in a requirement to use specific absorption rate
(SAR) limits for amateur frequencies between 100 and 300 kHz.
"Near-field calculation of a uniform field applied to a transmitter and
antenna operating at 1 W EIRP on 2200 meters would result in a very
conservative estimate of specific absorption rate (SAR) and is a valid
measurement for determining safety of operation," ARRL told the FCC.
"We request clarification that the rules do not intend to preclude the
use of MPE as a surrogate for SAR to evaluate amateur operations in the
2200-meter band."
ARRL also wants the FCC to clarify that its amended rules permit the
use of near-field regression rates, using the MPE table to compare
against the maximum field strength that may occur from a handheld
portable device, instead of using the SAR. In its filing, ARRL
maintained that SAR data is not available for amateur equipment, as it
is for equipment used in other services. Before the rules were amended,
mobile and portable transmitters generally were exempt from the
requirement to perform routine environmental evaluations.
Under S:97.13(c)(1) as amended, effective on June 1, amateur licensees
must ensure compliance with FCC RF exposure requirements spelled out in
sections 1.1307(b), 2.1091, and 2.1093 of the FCC rules, where
applicable. The rule directs radio amateurs to OET Bulletin 65,
Supplement B for methodologies and guidance to evaluate amateur radio
operation.
The FCC has provided 2 years -- until May 31, 2022 -- for licensees to
determine if evaluations are now required, to perform such evaluations
where necessary, and to implement any needed mitigation measures.
The FCC did not amend the actual RF exposure limits that were adopted
in 1996. Read more.
Choosing FTx Transmit and Receive Frequencies in Crowded Contest Bands
Here's how to pick FT-mode transmit and receive frequencies in crowded
contest bands. First, pick an audio offset frequency greater than 500
Hz, but less than the suggested frequency intervals (e.g., 2 kHz). In
crowded band conditions, the "base" transmit frequencies for FT4 or FT8
are suggested to be at 2 kHz intervals. For example, some stations may
set their radio's frequency to 14.130 MHz, while others are at 14.132
or 14.134 MHz. Under these conditions, it makes sense to choose a
transmit frequency offset greater than 500 Hz, but less than 2 kHz.
Here's the reasoning: If the CQing station chooses 14.130.0 with an
offset of 2.4 kHz, then a listening station's radio tuned to 14.132.0
will "see" that station at 400 Hz. Many radios have audio passbands of
between 500 Hz and 3,000 Hz. Frequencies outside that range are not
received as well. A reduced sensitivity at 400 Hz can make the
difference in decoding successfully.
The station answering the CQ (radio at 14.132.0 MHz) should likely pick
a frequency at or near the CQ frequency, since the operator doesn't
know whether the CQing station's frequency is at 14.130 or 14.132. If
the receiving station chooses, say, 1.5 kHz, this would be at 14.133.5.
A CQing station set to 14.130 may not be decoding all the way to 3.5
kHz from the radio's offset frequency. -- Thanks to The ARRL Contest
Update
ARRL Podcasts Schedule
The latest episode of the On the Air podcast (Episode 5) focuses on the
various types of modulation and tips on go kits. The On the Air podcast
is a monthly companion to On the Air magazine, ARRL's magazine for
beginner-to-intermediate ham radio operators.
The latest episode of the Eclectic Tech podcast (Episode 7) includes a
discussion of HF aeronautical radio, the NCDXF beacon system, SpaceX's
new Starlink satellites, and "Folding@Home," a system that uses
distributed computing to search for a COVID-19 cure (among other
things).
The On the Air and Eclectic Tech podcasts are sponsored by Icom. Both
podcasts are available on iTunes (iOS) and Stitcher (Android), as well
as on Blubrry -- On the Air | Eclectic Tech.
"ARRL at Home Hamvention" Weekend of Specials Set
For the first time in its 68-year history, Dayton Hamvention^(R) will
not take place, due to concerns about the coronavirus outbreak. ARRL
understands that many members will miss going to Hamvention, which is
always an occasion to catch up with friends, explore new products, and
connect with ARRL via our Expo in the exhibit area.
While we can't be together in Dayton in 2020, ARRL has put together a
weekend of specials to bring a bit of the Hamvention spirit and
excitement to members during what would have been Dayton Hamvention
weekend, May 14 - 17. On the ARRL at Home Hamvention page, members will
find a special message from ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR; new
membership premiums; the latest products; clearance merchandise, and
our "ARRL at Hamvention" button. All who make weekend purchases will
receive a free ARRL button with their order, while supplies last.
Visit the ARRL at Home Hamvention page to check out all the offerings.
The K7RA Solar Update
Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: No sunspots appeared last week. The
previous 7 days had only one big sunspot group on one day, and the
sunspot number was 35. Over the 7-day period, this averaged out to a
sunspot number of 5, so average daily sunspot numbers declined from 5
to 0 this week. The average daily solar flux also declined, from 69.5
to 68.5.
Geomagnetic indicators were quiet, with average daily planetary A index
declining from 5.1 to 4.1, and mid-latitude A index from 5 to 4.7.
Predicted solar flux is 70 on May 14 - 31; 68 on June 1 - 13, and 70 on
June 14 - 27. Predicted planetary A index is 5 on May 14 - June 8; 8 on
June 9 - 10; 5 on June 11 - 13; 10 and 8 on June 14 - 15, and 5 on June
16 - 27.
Sunspot numbers for May 7 - 13 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, and 0, with a
mean of 0. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 68.7, 67.9, 71, 67.9, 66.2,
68.9, and 68.8, with a mean of 69.5. Estimated planetary A indices were
4, 4, 3, 5, 5, 4, and 4, with a mean of 5.1. Middle latitude A index
was 5, 4, 3, 5, 7, 5, and 4, with a mean of 5.
A comprehensive K7RA Solar Update is posted Fridays on the ARRL
website. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the
ARRL Technical Information Service, read "What the Numbers Mean...,"
and check out K9LA's Propagation Page.
A propagation bulletin archive is available. Monthly charts offer
propagation projections between the US and a dozen DX locations.
Share your reports and observations.
Just Ahead in Radiosport
* May 16 -- Feld Hell Sprint
* May 16 -- UN DX Contest (CW, phone)
* May 16 - 17 -- NZART Sangster Shield Contest (CW)
* May 16 - 17 -- His Majesty King of Spain Contest, CW
* May 16 - 17 -- Aegean RTTY Contest
* May 16 - 18 -- Portuguese Navy Day Contest (CW, phone)
* May 17 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)
* May 18 -- RSGB FT4 Contest Series
* May 21 -- NAQCC CW Sprint
* May 21 -- QRP Minimal Art Session (CW)
See the ARRL Contest Calendar for more information. For in-depth
reporting on amateur radio contesting, subscribe to The ARRL Contest
Update via your ARRL member profile email preferences.
New WSJT-X Beta Version Offers Significant FT4 and FT8 Upgrades
A new beta version of the WSJT-X software suite has been released,
which includes the first updates to the popular FT8 and FT4 protocols
since last fall. Co-Developer Joe Taylor, K1JT, said the "candidate
release" WSJT-X version 2.2.0-rcl incorporates significant program
upgrades to FT8, FT4, and other protocols. The beta version will be
valid for a month.
"This candidate release is your first chance to test the new features
and provide feedback to the WSJT Development Group," Taylor advised. A
list of program changes since WSJT-X 2.1.2 is available in the
cumulative Release Notes and in the updates WSJT-X 2.2.0 User Guide.
The latest beta version corrects bugs that prevented AP decoding and/or
multi-pass decoding in some circumstances. The algorithm for AP
decoding has been improved and extended. FT8 decoding is now spread
over three intervals -- starting at 11.8 seconds into a receive
sequence -- typically yielding around 85% of the possible decodes for
the sequence. "You, therefore, see most decodes much earlier than
before," the Release Notes explain. A second processing step starts at
13.5 seconds, and a final step at 14.7 seconds.
"Overall decoding yield on crowded bands is improved by 10% or more,"
the Release Notes say, although systems with receive latency greater
than 0.2 seconds will experience smaller improvements, even while
seeing many decodes sooner.
Other changes:
* The "contest mode" FT4 protocol always uses "RR73" for the TX4
message.
* The status bar now displays the number of decodes in the most
recent receive sequence.
Release candidate WSJT-X 2.2.0-rcl will be available for 1 month
(starting on May 10). A general availability release of WSJT-X 2.2.0 is
anticipated for June 1.
Installation packages for Windows, Linux, and Macintosh are available
on the WSJT-X Development Group page. Scroll down to "Candidate
release: WSJT-X 2.2.0-rc1." The packages are also available from
SourceForge.
The WSJT-X Development Group request those using the new beta version
of WSJT-X to alert the developers and to report any bugs or
improvements they have implemented, using instructions included in the
User Guide. Read more.
ARISS Sets Second Test of New Multipoint Telebridge Contact System
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is hoping to
refine its new Multipoint Telebridge Contact via Amateur Radio system
for handling scheduled ham radio contacts between International Space
Station crew members and schools or organizations on Earth. On May 15
at 1510 UTC, it will conduct a second test of the new protocol by
connecting students in Alberta, Canada, with an astronaut on the ISS.
The COVID-19 pandemic eliminated conventional opportunities for ARISS
contacts that typically involved large numbers of students and faculty
gathering at a school or educational institution for the event. The
ARISS multipoint telebridge system works around the issue by employing
distance learning within distance learning, as many schools around the
world have gone over to conducting classes remotely via
teleconferencing, and students are physically separated.
Under the multipoint telebridge concept, an amateur station in the
footprint of a space station pass at the time a contact has been
scheduled serves as an Earth station, making direct contact with NA1SS
onboard the ISS. A telebridge network then delivers two-way audio from
the Earth station to each student taking part in the contact. For the
May 15 contact, John Sygo, ZS6JON, near Johannesburg, South Africa,
will operate the Earth station.
The students' families, faculty members, and even members of the public
will be able to listen in as each student at Airdrie Space Science Club
in Alberta -- a youth model rocket building and astronomy club -- takes
a turn asking a question of astronaut Chris Cassidy, KF5KDR. One
question on the list: "How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected you while
you are in space?"
Brian Jackson, VE6JBJ, is a club leader. "During this pandemic, our
opportunities to develop kids' interest in space have been
interrupted," Jackson said. "This ARISS contact gets them looking back
up, towards the sky, and imagining themselves as an astronaut one day."
Members of the public may view a livestream of the contact via YouTube.
ARISS is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio
societies, including ARRL and AMSAT in the US, and space agencies
around the world that support the International Space Station.
Two New Chinese Ham Satellites Expected to Launch in September
Two new Chinese amateur radio satellites are expected to launch on
September 15. CAS-7A and CAS-7C follow in the wake of numerous amateur
radio satellites put into space by CAMSAT. CAS-7A, a 27-kilogram
microsat, will carry several transponders, including a
15-meter-to-10-meter (H/t) linear transponder, and a
2-meter-to-70-centimeter (H/u) linear transponder. CAS-7A also will
include a V/u (2 meters to 70 centimeters) FM voice transponder.
According to the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) satellite
coordination site, CAS-7A is planned to have CW beacons on both 10
meters and 70 centimeters, 4.8k or 9.6k GMSK telemetry on 70
centimeters, and a 1 Mbps GMSK image data downlink on 3 centimeters for
an onboard camera.
CAS-7C is a 2U CubeSat carrying a V/u linear transponder and a CW
beacon. IARU has not yet coordinated frequencies for CAS-7C, which is
to deploy a 1,080-meter (3,543 feet) long, 1-millimeter carbon fiber
rope.
The two satellites will launch from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
into a 500-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit with an inclination of 98°.
Some specifics, according to coordination information:
* CAS-7A will offer 30 kHz-wide uplink and downlink passbands for all
linear transponders. The H/t uplink passband will be 21.245 -
21.275 MHz, and the downlink will be 29.435 - 21.465 MHz. The CW
beacon will be on 29.425 MHz.
* The CAS-7A H/u linear transponder uplink passband will be 21.3125
MHz - 21.3275 MHz, and the downlink will be 435.3575 MHz - 435.3725
MHz. A CW beacon will transmit on 435.430 MHz.
* The CAS-7A V/u transponder uplink passband will be 145.865 MHz -
145.895 MHz, with a downlink passband of 435.385 MHz - 435.415 MHz.
A CW beacon will transmit on 435.430 MHz.
* CAS-7A V/u FM transponder will uplink on 145.950 MHz and downlink
on 435.455 MHz, with a 4.8k/9.6k GMSK telemetry downlink at 435.480
MHz. The 1 Mbps GMSK image data will downlink at 10.460 GHz.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Announcements
* The older ARRL Magazines app for Amazon Kindle was failing to
display the new QEX and NCJ offerings. This problem appears to have
been fixed in the latest update. Kindle users may have to do a
manual update. None of this affects iOS or Android users.
* The CWops' CW Academy (CWA) offers free, remote Morse code classes
at four separate levels -- beginner through advanced, running from
not knowing the code at all to reaching 25 WPM. CWOps also provides
a CWOps Test (CWT), an hour-long event every Wednesday at 1300 and
1900 UTC, and Thursdays at 0300 UTC. -- Thanks to The ARRL Contest
Update
* The Hamvention QSO Party is on Saturday, May 16. No need to submit
logs; post scores on 3830scores.com within 5 days of the event.
* The 10th edition of the Youngsters on the Air (YOTA) Summer Camp,
which was to have been hosted by the Croatian Amateur Radio
Association (HRS) August 8 - 15, has been called off for this year,
but will take place in 2021 at the same location. Also put off
until next summer is the first Youth On The Air in the Americas
Summer Camp, which had been set for June 21 - 26 in Ohio.
* The new, 1-hour World Wide Sideband Activity Contest exchange
includes age and sex, in these distinc: OM, YL, Youth YL (YYL), or
Youth (Y). Winners in the Single Operator and Single Operator
Overlay categories can download certificates. Plaques will be
awarded for the highest overall cumulative (1-year) score for each
single operator and single operator overlay category.
* The 2020 IARU World Amateur Radio Direction Finding (ARDF)
--- QScan/PCB v1.20a / 01-0462
* Origin: Christian Fellowship | cfbbs.no-ip.com 856-933-7096 (1:266/512)
|
