The ARRL Letter
October 21, 2021
* Enjoy Two Weekends of Fun During the ARRL November Sweepstakes
* ARDC Grants to Fund Amateur Radio Project Expansions
* ARRL Podcasts Schedule
* Hams Support Chicago Marathon
* ARRL Learning Network Webinars
* Golden Globe Sailing Race Entrants Banned from Using Amateur Radio
* Amateur Radio in the News
* Announcements
* In Brief...
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions
Enjoy Two Weekends of Fun During the ARRL November Sweepstakes
The ARRL November Sweepstakes (SS) weekends loom large on the amateur
radio contest horizon. The CW weekend is November 6 - 8, while the
phone weekend is November 20 - 22. Both events begin on Saturday at
2100 UTC and conclude on Monday at 0259 UTC.
The SS offers operating categories for every preference. The goal for
many seasoned SS operators is to complete a "clean sweep" by contacting
all 84 ARRL and Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) Sections. Canada's
Prince Edward Island province joined the list last year. Most SS
operators try to run up the contact and multiplier counts and stay in
the chair for the full 24 (out of 30) allowable hours.
The competition can be fierce, and the pileups can be huge. In 2020,
ARRL received 1,445 logs for the CW event and 2,046 for the phone
event.
Some Sections are harder to contact than others. Northern Territories
(NT) is always a challenge, but there's a slim chance that snagging NT
could be easier this year.
Gerry Hull, W1VE (also VE1RM), is hoping to operate as VY1AAA for both
weekends, using "J" Allen's, VY1JA, Yukon Territory station remotely
from the US. Now in his mid-70s, Allen essentially retired from ham
radio a few years ago due to health issues, but he's bounced back this
year with renewed enthusiasm and working to get a station and antennas
ready for Hull to operate. At this point, he's sorting through a
backyard scrap pile that includes tower sections he had up in the past.
He wants to get 80 - 100 feet assembled and clamped to a sturdy utility
pole. Hull says Allen is committed to the task.
The VY1JA tower boneyard. [Photo
courtesy of J Allen, VY1JA]
"VY1JA is now in re-construction," Allen says on his QRZ.com profile.
"There is only a small chance that it will be done and on the air for
SS CW this year. If so, signals may be weaker than in the past, with
only a 100 W Omni VII and wire antennas. Plans for building an amp
failed, and antenna work has taken far longer than expected."
Hull said if Allen does manage to erect the antenna support tower,
VY1AAA will have inverted V antennas for 20 and 40 meters, which Hull
considers "the money bands from Yukon on CW."
"So, hoping for good weather and good health for J, and then we might
have VY1AAA on for the masses for SS CW," he said. Hull said if the CW
weekend is successful, he'll consider also operating in the phone
event.
Other difficult Sections to contact include Delaware, Puerto Rico, the
US Virgin Islands, Pacific, and North Dakota. (Alaska, Hawaii and other
US territories in the ARRL Pacific Section, Puerto Rico, and the US
Virgin Islands count as W/VE stations, not as DX, for the SS.)
Contesters, especially the less experienced, often want to know how to
handle duplicate contacts (dupes). It's almost a given that this will
happen in SS. While some operators still set up a "hot key" to send
"WKD B4" on CW when encountering a dupe, current best practice is to
work the apparent dupe, log it, and move on. While dupes don't earn any
points, they also don't mean you'll incur a NIL (not-in-log) penalty if
the apparent dupe did not log the initial contact for one reason or
another.
The SS exchange is patterned on traffic-handling terminology. For both
the CW and phone events, stations exchange a sequential serial number
(no leading zeros are required), an operating category (precedence),
call sign, the last two digits of the year first licensed (check), and
ARRL/RAC Section.
Most areas of the US change from Daylight Saving Time to Standard Time
at 2 AM local time on November 7, by moving clocks back 1 hour. UTC is
not affected.
Logs are due within 7 days after the event is over. Certificates will
be awarded in the top operator CW and Phone scores in each category in
each ARRL/RAC Section and Division, and plaques will be awarded to the
Overall and Division winners. Icom America is the principal awards
sponsor.
An operating guide that relates some of the history and evolution of
these North American contests is available under "Operating Guidelines"
on the ARRL November Sweepstakes page.
ARDC Grants to Fund Amateur Radio Project Expansions
Two recent Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) grants will
benefit the Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club (SBARC), K6TZ, and Oregon
HamWAN.
A $35,550 grant will enable SBARC to construct an amateur radio station
at the new Chrisman California Islands Center (CCIC) in downtown
Carpinteria, California, at the invitation of the Santa Cruz Island
Foundation (SCIF). According to Levi Maaia, K6LCM, who is the K6TZ club
call sign trustee, the station is scheduled to open in 2022. SBARC
promotes education and training programs for anyone interested in ham
radio. It also encourages and sponsors experiments in electronics and
promotes the highest standards of practice and ethics in the conduct of
communications.
The station will be prominently located near the CCIC main entrance. An
interactive display will provide an overview of amateur radio
communications and the role that amateur radio has played in the
history of the islands.
When the station is not staffed, visitors can interact with it using a
custom touchscreen that controls an interactive presentation on amateur
radio and wireless technologies and their importance to mariners,
aviators, scientists, and explorers who visit the rugged islands off
the California coast. Webcams connected to the station via SBARC's
microwave data network will offer visitors a view of the island's
terrain in real time.
An ARRL-Affiliated club, SBARC already maintains open repeaters, data
systems, and a club station in Santa Barbara County under the K6TZ call
sign.
Oregon HamWAN has received an ARDC grant of $88,000 to expand its
digital communications network. The project aims to enhance amateur
radio digital and emergency communications capabilities between
Portland and Salem, Oregon.
The nonprofit plans to expand its digital communications network by
deploying 12 network backbone distribution sites between the two
cities. Eventually, the sites will connect to the Puget Sound Data
Ring, which currently extends from Seattle to Vancouver, Washington.
The network would allow emergency management personnel to communicate
in the event of a disaster, such as a major earthquake, that disrupts
telecommunications systems. In such cases, amateur radio operators will
be able to quickly set up network nodes where they are needed to
provide emergency communication via the Oregon HamWAN digital network.
"This will be a game changer for emergency communications in the
Portland area," said Herb Weiner, AA7HW, the Oregon HamWAN Project
Leader.
"Deciding to fund [the] Oregon HamWAN project was an easy decision,"
said ARDC Grants visory Committee Chair John Hays, K7VE. "It is a
well-organized and well-staffed project that uses multiple amateur
radio technologies, such as the 44Net IP address space, 5 GHz radios,
and proven software methodologies. It will provide a strong backbone
network in Oregon and help preserve our microwave bands."
ARDC is a California-based private foundation that supports innovative
amateur radio projects. The foundation makes grants for projects and
organizations that follow amateur radio's practice and tradition of
technical experimentation in both amateur radio and digital
communication science.
ARRL Podcasts Schedule
The latest episode of the On the Air podcast (Episode 22) will feature
a discussion with Chris Plumblee, W4WF, about contesting and what this
activity has to offer new amateurs.
The latest episode of the Eclectic Tech podcast (Episode 45) will
feature a discussion about the current status of amateur television
with Jim Andrews, KH6HTV, as well as a brief description of an unusual
"sound dampening screw."
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.
Hams Support Chicago Marathon
A team of 135 radio amateurs from four states supported medical teams
volunteering for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 10.
The Chicago Marathon is the third largest marathon in the world. This
marked the 13th year that amateur radio volunteers have partnered with
the marathon medical team to help coordinate responses, arrange for
deployment of medical supplies, and provide situational awareness for
the organizers.
The largely flat marathon course has 20 aid stations on its 26.2-mile
course, each with a medical tent. Hams are deployed at each medical
tent to support communication for the medical teams.
There are two main communication nets: a medical net and a logistics
net, and nine repeaters support these nets. Most of the repeaters
belong to local clubs, but five temporary repeaters are also deployed.
In addition to passing urgent medical and health-and-welfare traffic,
ham radio volunteers also provide situational awareness for race
organizers, such as updating the number of individuals under care at
each medical tent. Hams at each medical tent are also responsible for
changing the event alert flag, which informs runners of course
conditions so they can adjust their pace. This year, the flags were
changed to red because of the humidity and an increased potential for
serious heat-related injuries.
Most communication is done via FM repeaters. If a runner develops a
problem, spotters alert a rapid-response medical team, each with a ham
volunteer to handle communication. In serious situations, hams can call
into the Forward Command post to dispatch medical assistance. Ten ham
volunteers in Forward Command serve as net controls, traffic handlers,
logging specialists, and expediters.
Ham radio volunteers at the Chicago
Marathon Med Team #4 Tent [Photo
courtesy of Rob Orr, K9RST]
The event provides plenty of personal challenges. Many ham volunteers
report to their duty stations very early in the morning to conduct roll
calls at 6 AM, and many remain on course until the event ends at around
4 PM. The hams and the medical teams must adjust to the weather as
well. Hams also serve the aid stations where race volunteers dispense
water and Gatorade. In the event of an emergency, hams shadow the aid
station captain to facilitate communication with Forward Command.
Even in an era of ubiquitous cell phones, ham radio remains able to
provide an independent resource that can back up all other
communication.
Read an expanded version in this week's edition of The ARES Letter. --
Thanks to Rob Orr, K9RST, via The ARES Letter
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.
More webinars are coming soon. Check the website for updated
information.
ARRL members may register for upcoming presentations and view
previously recorded Learning Network webinars. ARRL-affiliated radio
clubs may also use the recordings as presentations for club meetings,
mentoring new and current hams, and discussing amateur radio topics.
The ARRL Learning Network schedule is subject to change.
Golden Globe Sailing Race Entrants Banned from Using Amateur Radio
The use of amateur radio by participants in the 2022 - 23 Golden Globe
Race (GGR) -- an around-the-world sailing competition -- has been
banned. Race organizers put the restriction in place because of
unlicensed use of amateur radio equipment in the 2018 - 19 event,
Yachting Monthly reported. In the 2018 - 19 race, Estonian skipper Uku
Randmaa, ES1UKU, was penalized after seeking weather routing (the best
route according to wind and weather conditions) via ham radio. While he
escaped disqualification, he did receive a 72-hour penalty. Randmaa
received weather routing information from Bob McLeod, VP8LP, who
advised Randmaa, "The more north you go, the quicker you get out of the
wind hole.
The race rules say, "Entrants are free to speak to media, family,
friends, and sponsors by radio at any time during the event, but must
not be given any form of weather routing." But in the next sentence,
the rules allow competitors to "communicate freely (by radio or by
hailing) with other competitors, or other mariners on vessels at sea,
requesting or giving any verbal information/advice whatsoever, even if
this is considered weather routing."
The GGR rules that were spelled out in the Notice of Race require at
least a 125 W marine MF/HF radio transceiver with a frequency range of
at least 1.6 to 29.9 MHz, "fitted in a 100% watertight enclosure (able
to be sealed in any storm) with permanently installed antenna and
[ground] and an emergency antenna when the regular antenna depends upon
the permanent Backstay."
The rules make clear that, "Any proven breach of International radio
telecommunication regulations, such as transmitting on illegal maritime
frequencies, may result in a time penalty. Ham Radio transmissions are
specifically banned."
According to Yachting Monthly, the change has caused concern within the
race community, "with some of the 2018 entrants highlighting
difficulties in picking up Global Maritime Distress and Safety System
(GMDSS) frequencies in the Southern Ocean due to the shrinking of the
broadcasting network as more mariners rely on satellite communication."
The approximately 30,000-mile GGR
solo circumnavigation starts and
ends in Les Sables-d'Olonne, France.
It has four rendezvous "gates" along
the way. [Maxine Heath image]
"This is a retro race with skippers restricted to using a sextant [a
navigation instrument used to measure altitudes of celestial bodies],
paper charts, and wind-up chronometers, just as Sir Robin Knox-Johnston
used in the first Sunday Times Golden Globe Race 50 years ago," Race
Chairman Don McIntyre has explained.
In the 2018 race, some GGR skippers who operated on ham radio
frequencies using bogus call signs were asked to stop operating.
GGR monitors all severe weather with winds over 40 knots and, if
appropriate, provides both forecasting and routing information to
assist entrants in sailing safely.
Amateur Radio in the News
ARRL Public Information Officers, Coordinators, and many other
member-volunteers help keep amateur radio and ARRL in the news.
* Mary Hare pupils make contact with International Space Station in
world first for deaf children with Newbury Amateur Radio Society /
Newbury Weekly News, UK, October 13, 2021
* Dialed In: Owensboro Amateur Radio Club going strong /
Messenger-Inquirer, Kentucky, October 11, 2021
* Hundreds take part in Burlingame's Drill. Residents joined by
police, fire and Ham radio operators / Patch, California, October
10, 2021
Share any amateur radio media hits you spot with us.
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Announcements
* ARRL's YouTube channel, ARRLHQ, has launched a series of amateur
radio Technician-class license courses. This series of videos
features Dave Casler, KE0OG, QST's "Ask Dave" columnist, who leads
viewers through The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual. These videos
supplement the manual and provide an overview of the sections
students will study, along with a few videos on how things work.
Share this excellent resource with those who are preparing to take
the Technician exam, and visit the ARRLHQ YouTube channel for more
great amateur radio videos.
* Radio Club Argentina celebrates its 100th anniversary on October
21. Special event station L21RCA has been active throughout the
year.
* The WRTC 2022 organizing committee has announced final
qualification standings for team leaders and teammates. The
organizers note that WRTC 2022 has been postponed until July 2023.
* The International DX Association (INDEXA) has a new mailing
address. It is 2309 Lincoln Ave., Saint Albans, WV 25177.
* A free General-class licensing course via Zoom will begin on
Thursday, October 28 and continue through Thursday, January 13 --
nine sessions in all, plus 3 weeks off for the holidays in November
and December. Rol Anders, K3RA, will be the instructor. Sessions
will start at 6:30 PM ET (2230 UTC on October 28; 2330 UTC
thereafter) and run for 3 hours. Classes are sponsored by the
National Electronics Museum. To sign up, email Anders.
* Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, reports that the NO-104 satellite has been
enabled for APRS-to-voice (A2V) mode. Information on how to use
this and other features of this satellite is on the PSAT2 website.
"PSAT2 voltage telemetry has failed, so we will turn the PSAT2 user
modes on as long as they work," Bruninga said.
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In Brief...
The November issue of QST includes the article, "The Beverage Antenna,
100 Years Later," by Ward Silver, N0AX, and Frank Donovan, W3LPL. The
famous receiving antenna, designed and patented in 1921 by Harold
Beverage, 2BML, remains popular for the low bands as increasing sunspot
activity in Solar Cycle 25 leads to weaker signals on 160 and 80
meters. The article explains the Beverage antenna's noise-rejection
abilities, as well as how to build a basic Beverage antenna system. The
November issue also includes a special contesting insert, "Contest
Season 2021 - 2022," which is full of resources and hints to help you
have your best radiosport season yet.
The Yasme Foundation Board of Directors has announced a grant to the
Seychelles Amateur Radio Association (SARA). The funds will go toward
establishing a facility for its recently formed (2018) amateur radio
club. The Yasme Foundation also announced that Steve Babcock, VE6WZ, of
Calgary, Alberta, Canada, is the latest recipient of its Excellence
Award. This honor is presented to individuals and groups who, through
their own service, creativity, effort, and dedication, have made a
significant contribution to amateur radio. The Yasme Foundation cited
Babcock's contributions to the art of low-band antennas and remote
operating. Babcock has made countless hours of instructional videos,
which are available to the amateur community for free via his QRZ.com
profile. The Yasme Excellence Award is given in the form of a cash
grant and an individually engraved crystal globe.
The 2021 AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium will take place as a
Zoom webinar on October 24. It will run from 0945 until 1500 UTC.
AMSAT-UK membership is not required, but participants are asked to
register before October 24. The 2021 colloquium will also be
livestreamed via YouTube. Each presentation will be followed by a
5-minute Q&A session, and Zoom participants will be able to pose
questions to the speakers. The AMSAT-UK Annual General Meeting will
follow the colloquium and, after a short break, there will be an
informal evening discussion session on "all things satellite."
The new Youth category for the CQ World Wide DX Contest (CQ WW, phone)
will debut October 30 - 31. The category covers contesters age 25 years
old or younger and applies not only to the phone event but the CW
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