The ARRL Letter
December 3, 2020
* ARRL Announces Director, Vice Director, Section Manager Election
Results
* ARRL Asks FCC to Allow 3.4-GHz Operation until Spectrum is Occupied
* ARRL Learning Network Webinars
* December is YOTA Month
* Arecibo Observatory Suffers a Fatal Blow as Instrument Platform
Falls
* Announcements
* FCC to Require Email dresses on Applications
* WX1AW and WX4NHC will be On the Air for SKYWARN Recognition Day
2020
* Yasme Foundation Announces Excellence Awards
* The K7RA Solar Update
* In Brief...
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
ARRL Announces Director, Vice Director, Section Manager Election
Results
The ARRL Dakota Division will have a new Director, and the Great Lakes
and Midwest Divisions will have new Vice Directors on January 1. The
results of four contested elections for Director and Vice Director in
three ARRL Divisions were announced on November 20, after ballots were
tallied at ARRL Headquarters.
In the Dakota Division, incumbent Matt Holden, K0BBC, lost his re-
Michelle Patnode, W3MVP, of the ARRL
Headquarters staff was among those
helping to count ballots on November
20. [Eric Casey, KC2ERC, photo]
election bid to challenger Vernon "Bill" Lippert, AC0W. The vote was
982 to 485. Holden had served as Director since 2018.
In the Great Lakes Division, incumbent Director Dale Williams, WA8EFK,
retained his seat in a challenge from Michael Kalter, W8CI. The vote
was 1,840 to 1,398. In a three-way contest for Great Lakes Division
Vice Director, Ohio Section Manager Scott Yonally, N8SY, received 1,670
votes to outpoll Jim Hessler, K8JH, with 975 votes, and Frank Piper,
KI8GW, who received 611 votes. Incumbent Vice Director Tom Delaney,
W8WTD, did not run for another term.
In the Midwest Division, Dave Propper, K2DP, will become the new Vice
Director in January. He received 1,164 votes to 623 votes for
challenger Lloyd Colston, KC5FM.
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
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. He was unopposed to
succeed incumbent Rod Blocksome, K0DAS, who is stepping down.
Zygielbaum has been Vice Director since 2014.
All newly elected officials take office at noon on January 1, 2021.
New York City-Long Island Section Manager Re-Elected
New York City-Long Island Section Manager Jim Mezey, W2KFV, has been
re-elected in the fall election cycle. Mezey, of Carle Place, received
527 votes to 136 for challenger Donnie Katzovicz, W2BRU. The race for
NYC-LI SM was the only contested election. Mezey begins a new 2-year
term of office on January 1, 2021. He has served as New York City-Long
Island Section Manager since 2013.
In the West Central Florida (WCF) Section, Michael Douglas, W4MDD, of
Wauchula, Florida, will become Section Manager starting on January 1,
2021. He was the only nominee for the post. Douglas is currently
Affiliated Club Coordinator, a Technical Specialist, and an Official
Emergency Station. Incumbent WCF Section Manager Darrell Davis, KT4WX,
did not run for a new term after serving for the past 6 years.
These incumbent Section Managers were the only candidates for
re-election and will begin new terms of office on January 1: Tom Walsh,
K1TW (Eastern Massachusetts); Cecil Higgins, AC0HA (Missouri); Matt
Anderson, KA0BOJ (Nebraska); Thomas Dick, KF2GC (Northern New York);
Marc Tarplee, N4UFP (South Carolina); Tom Preiser, N2XW (Southern New
Jersey), and Joe Shupienis, W3BC (Western Pennsylvania).
ARRL Asks FCC to Allow 3.4-GHz Operation until Spectrum is Occupied
In comments to the FCC, ARRL has argued that radio amateurs be allowed
to continue shared operation in the 3.4 GHz band until 5G licensees who
purchase the spectrum when the FCC puts it up for auction initiate
incompatible operations. In its Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
(FNPRM) in WT Docket 19-348, the FCC had proposed to sunset the band
for amateur radio in two phases, governed by when new licenses are
issued rather than when the new licensees begin to use the spectrum. In
the FNPRM, the FCC solicited comments on whether alternatives exist to
its proposal.
"Amateur activities further the public interest and should be permitted
to continue on a secondary basis unless and until a new primary
licensee is ready to occupy the spectrum in a preclusive manner," ARRL
told the FCC. "At a minimum, amateur operations should be permitted to
continue indefinitely in the 3.3 - 3.45 GHz spectrum, where no new
flexible licenses are under immediate consideration. The Commission
could consider whether a registration or other mechanism similar to
that found in Section 97.303(g) would facilitate avoiding
interference." Section 97.303(g) contains specific frequency-sharing
requirements for the 2200- and 630-meter amateur bands.
"Amateurs often select the 3.4-GHz spectrum precisely because other
spectrum choices are sub-optimum or simply not available. Amateurs also
are only secondary users on most of the other spectrum suitable for
similar purposes," ARRL said. "Links must be carefully engineered
because of that secondary status, which applies to most of the 2.4- and
all of the 5.8-GHz bands available to amateurs. ARRL emphasized the
importance of allowing amateurs to continue to use the 3.4 - 3.45 GHz
portion in particular.
ARRL pointed out that in many geographic areas it could be years before
the 3 GHz spectrum is actually put into use by commercial users, and
argued that amateur radio should be allowed to continue to operations
on a secondary, non-interference basis as it has done for decades with
federal primary users, until new uses actually begin, rather than when
licenses are issued. Read more.
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ARRL Learning Network Webinars
Visit the ARRL Learning Network web page to register for upcoming
sessions and to view previously recorded session. 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)
QSLing in an Online World: Anthony Luscre, K8ZT
Learn all about the changing methods of QSLing in Amateur Radio,
including traditional paper QSL cards, and electronic QSLing, such as
Logbook of The World and eQSL.
Tuesday, January 5, 2021, 10 AM PST / 1 PM EST (1800 UTC)
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December is YOTA Month
The month of December has been designated as YOTA month. The annual
initiative sponsored by Youngsters On The Air (YOTA) initially focused
on International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Region 1 (Europe, the
Mideast, and Africa), with young radio amateurs taking to the air with
YOTA-suffix call signs.
YOTA (Youth on the Air) in Region 2 (the Americas) is following step,
and K8Y, K8O, K8T, and K8A will be on the air from the US. The
overarching idea is to demonstrate amateur radio to youth to encourage
them to get licensed and for younger radio amateurs to get active.
YOTA-suffix stations have been on the air from the annual summer camp
and other subregional camps in Region 1, but the COVID-19 pandemic
sidelined those gatherings in 2020. All radio amateurs can support this
effort by contacting participating stations. An awards program is
available.
During YOTA month 2019, 47 participating YOTA stations racked up nearly
130,000 contacts. Follow YOTA via Twitter: @hamyota and
@hamyota_official. All young radio amateurs (up to age 26) are
encouraged to participate. Direct questions via email to
info@ham-yota.com.
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Arecibo Observatory Suffers a Fatal Blow as Instrument Platform Falls
The 900-ton instrument platform of the 305-meter radio telescope at
Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico fell some 400 feet Tuesday morning,
crashing into the huge, already-damaged dish below, the National
Science Foundation (NSF) reported in a December 1 Tweet. "No injuries
were reported," NSF said, adding that it is still assessing the
situation. "Our top priority is maintaining safety." The calamity not
only was a final and fatal blow for the observatory but for the people
of Puerto Rico.
Before the fall: Arecibo Observatory
in better days.
Head of Telescope Operations Angel Vazquez, WP3R, called December 1
"indeed a sad day." Vazquez was in the Observatory's control room at
the time, salvaging important instruments when he heard a loud noise.
"At around 7:55 AM, the platform collapsed due to the extra stress on
the existing cables because of the main cable failure in November.
Strands were starting to pop all weekend long, and it was just a matter
of time," he told ARRL. "It came off the easternmost tower (T4) and
took about 15 seconds. The azimuth arm that housed the dome came off
the track, fell into the dish a little north of center and the triangle
was pulled by the other existing cables to the northwestern part of the
dish. The tops of the towers broke as well. This was a 900-ton
platform, and the dome was smashed like an eggshell."
Vazquez said the Observatory still has a 12-meter dish that will be
used for radio astronomy, as well as a LIDAR Lab and an Optical Lab
with photometers. "The site by no means is closed and it wasn't the
intent of NSF to close the facility, he said. "They did want us to
stabilize the platform, so it could be lowered safely. We are looking
into rebuild possibilities."
On August 10, an auxiliary cable that helped to support the platform
snapped and fell, causing a 100-foot gash in the reflector dish. After
an extensive evaluation, NSF announced on November 19 that the damaged
radio telescope -- in service for nearly 60 years -- was beyond repair
and would be decommissioned due to safety concerns.
The iconic dish has served as a backdrop for several science fiction
movies. The Arecibo Observatory Amateur Radio Club, KP4AO, is
headquartered at the Observatory, and several other radio amateurs are
employed there in addition to Vazquez. Read more.
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Announcements
* FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has announced that he intends to leave the
Commission on January 20, 2021, as the Biden ministration comes
into office. The FCC chairman is appointed by the president.
* AMSAT-EA President Felix Paez, EA4GQS, has announced that the
EASAT-2 and HADES nanosats, flying with SpaceX, are set to launch
on January 14, 2021. The satellites have been configured as FM
voice and FSK data repeaters, not as linear transponders initially
planned. They are believed to be the smallest satellites with these
functions.
* An IEEE Spectrum magazine article says, "For richness, drama, and
sheer brilliance, few technological timelines can match the
116-year (and counting) history of the vacuum tube," author and
"tube guy" Carter M. Armstrong wrote. The article lists vacuum tube
devices that, over the past 60 or 70 years, have changed the world.
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FCC to Require Email dresses on Applications
Amateur radio licensees and candidates will have to provide the FCC
with an email address on applications, effective in mid-2021. If no
email address is included, the FCC may dismiss the application as
defective. The FCC is fully transitioning to electronic correspondence
and will no longer print or provide wireless licensees with hard-copy
authorizations or registrations by mail. A Report and Order (R&O) on
"Completing the Transition to Electronic Filing, Licenses and
Authorizations, and Correspondence in the Wireless Radio Services" in
WT Docket 19-212 was adopted on September 16. The new rules will go
into effect 6 months after publication in the Federal Register, which
hasn't happened yet, but the FCC is already strongly encouraging
applicants to provide an email address. When an email address is
provided, licensees will receive an official electronic copy of their
licenses when the application is granted.
Under Section 97.21 of the new rules, a person holding a valid amateur
station license "must apply to the FCC for a modification of the
license grant as necessary to show the correct mailing and email
address, licensee name, club name, license trustee name, or license
custodian name." For a club or military recreation station license, the
application must be presented in document form to a club station call
sign administrator who must submit the information to the FCC in an
electronic batch file.
Under new Section 97.23, each license will have to show the grantee's
correct name, mailing address, and email address. "The email address
must be an address where the grantee can receive electronic
correspondence," the amended rule will state. "Revocation of the
station license or suspension of the operator license may result when
correspondence from the FCC is returned as undeliverable because the
grantee failed to provide the correct email address."
WX1AW and WX4NHC will be On the Air for SKYWARN Recognition Day 2020
The annual SKYWARN^â*¢ Recognition Day (SRD) takes place on Saturday,
December 5, 1300 - 2300 UTC. Cosponsored by ARRL and the National
Weather Service (NWS), SRD recognizes radio amateurs for the vital
public service they provide during severe weather. Amateur radio
operators comprise a large percentage of SKYWARN volunteers.
Begun in 1999, the event's purpose is to test amateur radio operations
and equipment between NWS Offices nationwide, and it is open to all
stations. Participants exchange signal reports and basic weather
information (e.g., "sunny," "cloudy," "rain") with stations at NWS
Offices and elsewhere. This year, due to COVID-19 restrictions,
operation from NWS forecast offices is expected to be minimal, so the
focus will shift to contacting as many participating trained SKYWARN
spotters as possible.
WX1AW will be on the air for SRD 2020. Volunteers from the ARRL staff
will take part from their home stations as WX1AW/portable. WX1AW will
be available on various HF frequencies and modes.
As it has done in the past, WX4NHC at the National Hurricane Center
(NHC) will be on the air for SRD, marking its 22nd year of
participation and its 40th year of public service at the NHC.
A SKYWARN Recognition Day Facebook page has been created and will host
a variety of live and recorded segments throughout the day. An SRD
resource page is on the ARRL website.
Yasme Foundation Announces Excellence Awards
The Yasme Foundation has announced the latest recipients of the Yasme
Excellence Award. They are Brett Ruiz, PJ2BR, and Helena Ruiz, PJ2ZZ;
Bob Wilson, N6TV; Jari PerkiAP:mACURki, OH6BG, and Jim Brown, K9YC. The
Yasme Excellence Award recognizes individuals and groups who, through
their own service, creativity, effort, and dedication, have made a
significant contribution to amateur radio. This may be a technical,
operating, or organizational achievement.
Brett and Helena Ruiz have been active leaders of the VERONA Radio
Club, CuraAS:ao's International Amateur Radio Union (IARU)
member-society, for more than 20 years. Their participation has
included technical activities, disaster preparedness and relief, and
training of potential radio amateurs. They serve as liaisons to
government and international organizations, and contribute to important
events, such as the Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications
Conference (GAREC) and IARU conferences and meetings. Brett Ruiz is
also active in long-distance VHF propagation and digital communication.
Yasme recognized Bob Wilson, N6TV, for his technical support to
hundreds of hams through various radio manufacturers' user groups and
logging software communities, and for assistance to Reverse Beacon
Network (RBN) hosts in keeping their equipment configured and running.
He also provides invaluable support to traveling hams worldwide. "Along
with being technically talented, he is exceptionally selfless in using
that talent to help others; quick to encourage others in many areas,"
the Yasme Foundation said in announcing the awards.
Jari PerkiAP:mACURki, OH6BG, has volunteered to support the online
VOACAP software and website for nearly 20 years, making world-class HF
propagation prediction and modeling services available to any radio
amateur. "He believes in teamwork, acknowledging the contributions and
ideas from the ham community for further development of the service,
but especially from James Watson, M0DNS/HZ1JW, and Juho Juopperi,
OH8GLV," Yasme said. PerkiAP:mACURki estimates that VOACAP online
serves thousands of users from more than 100 countries every month,
including integration with the DX Summit and Club Log services.
Jim Brown, K9YC, was cited for his extensive contribution to amateur
radio regarding ferrite materials and their use in combating RF
interference, feed-line applications, and transformers. "His efforts to
improve transmitter performance and operating practices are also
greatly appreciated, as are the extensive set of personal publications
available to the public and performing reviews of technical material
for amateur radio publishers," Yasme said. Read more.
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The K7RA Solar Update
Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Sunspot Cycle 25 is a year old, and
solar activity continues to increase. Last week, the average daily
sunspot number was 27.9. This week it's 57.6. The highest daily sunspot
number of the past week was 84 on November 29. Solar flux also peaked
that day at 116.3, pushing the week's average to 108.1, up from 90.1
the previous week.
Geomagnetic indicators were moderate. A solar flare on November 29 was
the most powerful solar flare and coronal mass ejection (CME) in the
new solar cycle -- a sure sign of increasing activity. It was not
Earth-directed, however.
Predicted solar flux over the next 45 days is 105 on December 3 - 4;
103, 95, and 90 on December 5 - 7; 85 on December 8 - 9; 80 on December
10; 85 on December 11 - 12; 82 on December 13 - 16; 85, 90, and 100 on
December 17 - 19; 105 on December 20 - 21; 108 on December 22; 110 on
Decem
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