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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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)
--- QScan/PCB v1.20a / 01-0462
* Origin: Christian Fellowship | cfbbs.no-ip.com 856-933-7096 (1:266/512)
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