The ARRL Letter
March 11, 2021
* ARRL to Have Two Exhibits at this Weekend's QSO Today Virtual Ham
Expo
* Registration Now Open for HamSCI Workshop 2021
* ARRL Podcasts Schedule
* News Conference Details ARISS Efforts to Return ISS Ham Station to
the Air
* Plans Proceeding for Fall 2021 Willis Island DXpedition
* The 23-Centimeter Band in Region 1 Under Discussion Ahead of WRC-23
* ARRL Learning Network Webinars
* February 2021 Volunteer Monitor Program Report
* Monster Dipole Can Deliver Monster Signal
* Amateur Radio in the News
* Announcements
* In Brief...
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
ARRL to Have Two Exhibits at this Weekend's QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo
The QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo takes place this weekend, March 13 --
14, 2021. Thousands have already registered to participate.
ARRL, a QSO Today Expo Partner, will have two exhibits at the show. One
will offer opportunities to meet ARRL Lab engineers, who will answer
questions and share tips on an array of topics. ARRL CEO David Minster,
NA2AA, will deliver the Expo's keynote address at 2000 UTC on Saturday,
March 13.
The Expo has a packed lineup of 87 speakers and workshops spread across
10 different virtual theaters. March 13 and 14 sessions start at 1600
UTC. Presentation topics will appeal to amateur radio newcomers and
veterans alike. Because it's impossible to watch all the live
presentations of interest, attendees can return to the platform any
time through April 12 to see any presentations.
A full-day track on "Amateur Space Radio" will cover beginner to
advanced levels. The Expo's Youth Forum on Sunday morning will be
organized by Carole Perry, WB2MGP. vanced presentation topics will
include "Pipeline Type Radio Wave Propagation" and "Double Inverted HF
Delta Skeleton Slot Antenna." Less-experienced hams may want to watch
such presentations as "Getting Started in Remote HF Operating" and "An
Overview of Parks on the Air."
Other Expo features include:
* Live kit-building workshops.
* A tour through the virtual exhibit hall, which will be filled with
popular amateur radio manufacturers and suppliers.
* Live demonstrations of the latest gear.
* New video technology, to provide a better experience for attendees
to engage with exhibitors.
* Virtual lounges, where you can meet fellow hams via the latest
video technology.
* A number of exhibitors conducting prize drawings.
Those who want to explore the Virtual Ham Expo offerings in advance of
the show should check out the several podcasts starting at 0200 UTC on
Saturday (Friday, March 12, in US time zones) from the Podcasting
Pavilion, as well as a Techno Dance Party After Hours from the Amateur
Space Radio Auditorium.
Visit the QSO Today Ham Expo website for more information about the
expo and tickets. There's still time to get early-bird discounted
tickets ($10); the price of admission increases to $12.50 on March 12.
Registration Now Open for HamSCI Workshop 2021
Registration is now open for the 2021 HamSCI Workshop, Friday and
Saturday, March 19 - 20. The theme of this year's workshop is
midlatitude ionospheric science. The University of Scranton will serve
as host for the Zoom virtual event, sponsored by the National Science
Foundation (NSF). The program will include guest speakers, poster
presentations, and demonstrations.
The workshop will also serve as a team meeting for the HamSCI Personal
Space Weather Station project, funded by an NSF grant to University of
Scranton physics and electrical engineering professor Nathaniel
Frissell, W2NAF. The project seeks to harness the power of an amateur
radio network to better understand and measure the effects of weather
in the upper levels of Earth's atmosphere.
The workshop's keynote address on the "History of Radio" will be given
by Elizabeth Bruton, curator of technology and engineering at the
Science Museum of London. She will discuss the history, science,
technology, and licensing of radio amateur communities from the early
1900s to the present, exploring how individuals and communities
contributed to "citizen science" long before the term entered popular
usage in the 1990s. Bruton has been a non-licensed member of Oxford and
District Amateur Radio Society since 2014 and has served as the
society's web manager since 2015.
J. Michael Ruohoniemi, a professor of electrical and computer
engineering at Virginia Tech and principal investigator of the Virginia
Tech SuperDARN Initiative, will review the physics of the midlatitude
ionosphere and discuss ways in which the amateur radio community can
contribute to advancing scientific understanding and technical
capabilities.
Joe Dzekevich, K1YOW, will present "Amateur Radio Observations and The
Science of Midlatitude Sporadic E." Read an expanded version. --
University of Scranton news release
ARRL Podcasts Schedule
The latest episode of the On the Air podcast (Episode 15) features a
conversation with propagation expert Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA, about
what to expect in the new solar cycle.
The latest edition of Eclectic Tech (Episode 29) is a chat with
Kristina Collins, KD8OXT, about how amateurs have participated in
ionospheric research during recent solar eclipses.
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.
News Conference Details ARISS Efforts to Return ISS Ham Station to the
Air
At a March 10 news conference, Amateur Radio on the International Space
Station (ARISS) reported that, so far, all efforts to determine what's
keeping the ham station in the ISS Columbus module off the air have
been unsuccessful. It appears that the radio equipment is working, but
no signal appears to be reaching the external ARISS antenna. The
station, typically operated as NA1SS, has not been usable since new RF
cables were installed during a January 27 spacewalk (EVA) to support
the commissioning of the Bartolomeo payload hosting platform installed
last spring. During the January EVA, the coax feed line installed 11
years ago was replaced with another built by the European Space Agency
(ESA) and Airbus. Responding to a question during the news conference,
ARISS International Chair Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, did not rule out a fault
in the radio equipment.
"There is still that possibility that there might be a problem with the
radio," he said. Bauer listed three possible problem areas: The HMU-898
cable inside the cabin may have a break due to a previous tight turn, a
connector may be installed improperly, or an HMU-601 cable installation
or workmanship anomaly. During the January 27 EVA, the HMU-601 cable
was installed in series with the ARISS antenna cable.
During a March 13 spacewalk (EVA), astronauts Mike Hopkins, KF5LJG, and
Victor Glover, KI5BKC, plan to return the ARISS antenna feed line
cabling to its configuration prior to the January 27 spacewalk.
The news conference covered details of the cable troubleshooting
already conducted. Bauer said the ARISS team has been working closely
with NASA and the ESA to identify what may have caused the "radio
anomaly" keeping the ISS Columbus module ham station off the air. He
thanked ARISS-Russia's Sergey Samburov, RV3DR, for allowing ARISS to
use the ham station in the service module to continue its contact
schedule.
This past week, astronauts on the ISS performed troubleshooting tests
on all four new feed lines installed on the Columbus module. One cable
was earmarked for the ARISS station, while the other three are for
Bartolomeo. ARISS reported over the weekend, however, that it was
unable to establish communication using any of the feed line cables
connected to the ARISS radio system, which was tested in APRS mode.
The plan to return the ARISS cabling to its original configuration was
a "contingency task" for a March 5 spacewalk, but the astronauts ran
out of time.
ARISS became aware of the station problem after a contact with a school
in Wyoming, between ON4ISS on Earth and Hopkins at NA1SS, had to abort
when no downlink signal was heard. For the time being, ARISS school and
group contacts with crew members have been conducted using the ham
station in the ISS service module.
Plans Proceeding for Fall 2021 Willis Island DXpedition
The team from the Hellenic Amateur Radio Association of Australia
(HARAOA) that's planning a November 3 - 13 DXpedition to Willis Island
(VK9HR) has expanded by one, and the DXpedition planning is on
schedule. A vessel to take the team to Willis Island has been chartered
to leave Australia on November 3, returning on November 13. Willis
ranks #38 on Club Log's DXCC Most Wanted List. The group announced
earlier that it had put off plans to include a stint from Mellish Reef,
last activated in 2017. The ham radio team will be just in time to
celebrate the centennial of the island's meteorological facility.
"With time away from jobs a consideration for the operators, Mellish is
being put off to 2022," said team leader John Chalkiarakis, VK3YP.
While the call sign VK9HR is expected to be renewed in August,
Chalkiarakis is trying to get VK9W. "VK9IR will be an additional call
sign to be allocated," he said. VK9IR and VK9HR were used for HARAOA's
2011 DXpedition to Lord Howe Island.
Team members for this fall's DXpedition will hail from Australia and
New Zealand. They're in the process of obtaining a permit from Parks
Australia, which is "required to 'camp' at these Australian Coral Sea
marine parks." Chalkiarakis said the most important document is the
landing permit, also from Parks Australia. No permit is required to
visit these coral sea islands for non-commercial purposes, but a permit
application is needed to set up a campsite and to stay overnight on the
island.
The now eight-operator team plans to use verticals on 160, 80, 40, and
30 meters, while VDAs (vertical dipole arrays) will be used on 20, 17,
15, 12, and 10 meters. Operation on 6 meters is under consideration.
Activity is expected on SSB, CW, and FT8 on 160 through 10 meters. The
equipment complement is expected to be Kenwood TS-590S and Icom IC-7300
transceivers with amplifiers on all.
A DXpedition website and logo are in the works. Home to a
meteorological station, Willis Island is in the Coral Sea, off the
northeast coast of Australia.
Chalkiarakis also said that he and some friends have been trying to
obtain a landing permit for Macquarie Island (VK0M), which is #12 on
Club Log's DXCC Most Wanted List, but he conceded that it's nearly
impossible to get permission from the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife
Service because Macquarie is a protected nature reserve. -- Thanks to
The Daily DX
The 23-Centimeter Band in Region 1 Under Discussion Ahead of WRC-23
In advance of World Radiocommunication Conference 23 (WRC-23), the
amateur radio allocation at 1240 - 1300 MHz (23 centimeters) remains in
the spotlight in International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Region 1
(Europe, the Middle East, and Africa). Chair of International Amateur
Radio Union (IARU) Region 1 Spectrum Affairs Barry Lewis, G4SJH,
reported that preparatory work continued during the February 15 - 19
meeting of ITU-R Working Party 4C. Also representing the IARU was Ole
Garpestad, LA2RR, with other IARU members present within national
delegations from Australia, Brazil, Canada, and the US. The
23-centimeter WRC agenda item has initiated technical studies focusing
on coexistence between the amateur services and the Galileo GPS (radio
navigation satellite service, or RNSS). The IARU took part in the
meeting, presenting key information on amateur activities in this
microwave band.
"This information is vital to ensure the amateur services are
realistically represented in the studies as they move forward," Lewis
said. "It remains vital that national amateur communities present their
views on the importance of this band to their national regulators in a
consolidated and consistent manner." To assist, IARU Region 1 is
developing supporting material that member societies can refer to when
addressing the topic with national regulators.
Work on this topic will continue throughout the year and beyond, both
in ITU-R and in the Regional Telecommunications Organizations (RTOs).
The Summary Meeting Report for the Working Party 4C meeting says, "The
only administration that can be considered supportive toward proper
treatment of the Amateur Services in this work is Germany." It
encouraged support from outside Europe. Working Party 4C will meet
again in July. -- Thanks to AMSAT News Service and AMSAT-UK
ARRL Learning Network Webinars
Visit the ARRL Learning Network (a members-only benefit) to register,
check on upcoming webinars, and to view previously recorded sessions.
The Art and Science of Operating Ultra-Portable -- Mike Molina, KN6EZE
Ultra-portable operation, or being able to carry your radio over
distances (e.g., in a backpack), is quickly growing in popularity.
Whether for SOTA, POTA, backcountry survival, or just spending time in
nature, learning how to operate ultra-portable is a fun and rewarding
experience. In this presentation, Mike, KN6EZE, will cover the basics
of ultra-portable operating for both the new and experienced ham radio
operator.
Tuesday, April 6, 2021 @ 8 PM EDT (0000 UTC on Friday, April 7)
Finding and Fixing RFI -- Paul Cianciolo, W1VLF
RFI (Radio Frequency Interference) has been a problem for ham radio
operators and shortwave listeners since the radio hobby began.
Interference can come from both natural sources (QRN) and manmade
sources (QRM). Things have changed in the last 20 years with the advent
of widespread solar power, LED lightning, grow lights, digital
computing devices, and so on. Learn all about finding and fixing RFI in
today's world.
Tuesday, April 20, 2021 @ 1 PM EDT (1700 UTC)
The ARRL Learning Network schedule is subject to change.
February 2021 Volunteer Monitor Program Report
The Volunteer Monitor (VM) Program is a joint initiative between ARRL
and the FCC to enhance compliance in the Amateur Radio Service.
To date, Volunteer Monitors during February reported 1,762 hours
monitoring the HF frequencies and 2,158 hours monitoring VHF
frequencies and above. The Volunteer Monitor Program ministrator
issued 10 visory Notices. An visory Notice is an attempt to resolve
rule violation issues informally before FCC intervention.
* Operators in Holdenville, Oklahoma; Luzerne, Michigan; Miami,
Florida, and Merrick, New York, received visories concerning
operation outside their license class.
* Operators in Magalia, California; Jefferson, Georgia, and Redway,
California, received visories concerning interference to repeater
systems and HF net operations.
* An operator in Mansfield, Arkansas, received an visory regarding
failure to properly identify.
* An operator in Charlottesville, Virginia, received an visory
concerning improper bandwidth that resulted in interference.
* A desert racing association in Odessa, Texas, received a warning
about the use of amateur 2-meter frequencies for racing events.
The Volunteer Monitor Program ministrator had two meetings during
February with FCC Enforcement Bureau personnel. -- Thanks to Riley
Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, VM Program ministrator
Monster Dipole Can Deliver Monster Signal
A video shows how Gary Watson, ZL3SV, in Nelson, New Zealand, installed
an enormous all-band dipole with each leg extending 320 meters (about
1,050 feet). The antenna is multiple wavelengths on HF, and on 20
meters it has a gain of more than 16 dB, Watson says. It hears quite
well, too.
A huge 12:1 balun resembling a utility pole power step-down transformer
converts the impedance from 50 ohms unbalanced to 600 ohms balanced.
The wire he uses for each leg is aluminum-wrapped, power-line cable
(10-millimeter cable with wrap), and he uses power-line fittings,
because they're designed to handle the wire. The line has a 60-ton
breaking strength.
Watson said he made the 600 ohm ladder line himself and he uses the
antenna on all bands, typically running only 200 W. The coaxial feed
line goes to his house down a slope from the antenna via a conduit. His
home is entirely off the grid, powered by solar power. The noise level
is very low at his location, with power lines some distance away,
although his solar power system's inverter is nearby.
Watson says he can copy stations with the "monster" antenna that remain
undetectable with a half-wave dipole.
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Amateur Radio in the News
ARRL Public Information Officers, Coordinators, and many other
member-volunteers help keep amateur radio and ARRL in the news.
* Portland Man Connects Kids to International Space Station From His
Home -- KGW8 ABC (Oregon), March 5, 2021
* Radio Gaga -- The Star (Malaysia), March 6, 2021
* Separted by Distance -- and a Pandemic -- Puget Sound's Amateur
Radio Enthusiasts are Connecting with Even Greater Frequency --
Seattle Times (Washington), March 3, 2021
* Estes Park Elementary School Students Speak with Astronaut Aboard
ISS -- Yahoo News, February 28, 2021
Share any amateur radio media hits you spot with us.
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Announcements
* ARRL Life Member Bob Leo, W7LR, of Bozeman, Montana, turned 100
years old on February 26. He has been a radio amateur for 88 years
and is well known as a DXer and DXpeditioner. He has detailed his
biography and ham radio exploits on his QRZ.com profile.
* Steve Johnston, WD8DAS, has purchased AF4K Crystals and plans to
reopen it soon. AF4K Crystals was a source for vintage and modern
radio crystals for nearly 2 decades. The company will fill a gap
for those seeking to buy quartz crystals for various projects.
* The dates have been posted for the four Stew Perry Top Band
Distance Challenge events on 160 meters. This year's main Stew in
December will occur 1 week earlier than usual -- on December 18 --
to avoid a conflict with Christmas. The schedule for this year is:
March 13 (this weekend), June 19, October 23, and December 18.
* "Tips on How to Be a Better Contester" was the topic of the HAM-CON
Vermont Ham Radio Convention presentation of Randy Thompson, K5ZD,
who has a long list of contesting bona fides. More HAM-CON videos
have been posted.
* The preliminary results of the North American CW Sprint are
available. The full results article should be available online no
later than mid-March and will be excerpted in the May/June issue of
NCJ.
* Results of the 2020 California QSO Party are now available. Many
new records were set and 57 plaques awarded. Visit the CQP website
for details and to download certificates.
In Brief...
Results Available for ARRL Contests The full results of the 2020 ARRL
November CW Sweepstakes have been published on the ARRL Contests web
page. The full results article, a searchable database of all scores,
line scores, certificates, and log-checking reports are available
there. Also available on the ARRL Contests web page: The full results
of the 2020 10 GHz and Up Distance Contest, and the raw scores for the
2021 ARRL International DX CW Contest. Raw scores are the scores before
any log-checking has been performed and are based on the contents of
the submitted logs before any adjudication has been done. Participants
should check the raw scores to ensure that their entries are submitted
in the correct category. Email with any questions.
Ham Bootcamp Program to Be Offered in April The Nashua Area Radio
Society (NARS) will again offer its popular Ham Bootcamp program on
Saturday, April 24. Bootcamp is free and includes demonstrations and
tutorials designed to help newly licensed Technician-, General-, and
Amateur Extra-class hams get on the air. It is also a great opportunity
for prospective r
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