The ARRL Letter
December 30, 2021
* IARU Region 2 Executive Committee Issues Upbeat Seasonal Message
* Hurricane Watch Net Recorded 300 On-Air Hours in 2021
* New Low-Power Limit for ARRL HF Contests Goes into Effect on
January 1, 2022
* ARRL to Oppose Forest Service ministrative Fees for Amateur Radio
Facilities
* HamSCI Invites Abstracts for its 2022 Workshop
* ARRL Learning Network Webinars
* Intrepid-DX Group Announces Youth "Dream Rig" Essay Contest Winners
* Amateur Radio in the News
* 3Y0J DXpedition to Bouvet Island Updates its Progress
* Announcements
* Georgia Club Donates License Manuals to Local Schools
* In Brief...
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions
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ARRL Headquarters will be closed on Friday, December 31, and there will
be no W1AW bulletin or CW practice transmissions on that day. ARRL
Headquarters will reopen on Monday, January 3, 2022, at 8 AM EST (1300
UTC). We extend our best wishes for the New Year!
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IARU Region 2 Executive Committee Issues Upbeat Seasonal Message
International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Region 2 Secretary George
Gorsline, VE3YV, has issued a year-end message on behalf of the
Executive Committee.
"A bright spot in an otherwise challenging year is that our shared
passion of amateur radio is growing stronger," Gorsline wrote. "The
increase in on-the-air activity has been noticeable, especially on the
HF bands. Driven by reawakening solar activity and the rapid adoption
of digital modes, such as FT8, the bands are active -- not just during
evenings and weekends, but also during normal working hours, where more
than a few of us have been known to be in video conference calls while
making QSOs.
George Gorsline,
VE3YV [RAC
photo]
Growth in activity and participation has not been limited to the HF
bands. Use of VHF and UHF has also increased, not just for local nets,
but especially interest in satellite operations."
Gorsline said that the use of "virtual learning" has allowed many IARU
member-societies and affiliated clubs to conduct licensing classes and
exams. "Attracting new and younger amateurs is our future," said
Gorsline. "For 2022, the challenge to all of us is to not only enjoy
our hobby, but to also share it with someone new."
Gorsline challenged members of the amateur community to "introduce
someone to the many possibilities of amateur radio."
Hurricane Watch Net Recorded 300 On-Air Hours in 2021
Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) Manager Bobby Graves, KB5HAV, says 2021 was
the third most-active hurricane season on record in terms of named
storms, and was the sixth consecutive above-normal season.
"We've completed another hurricane season. The Atlantic basin was
extremely busy again for 2021," Graves told HWN members. "For the year,
we had 21 named storms, seven of which became hurricanes, and four of
those became major hurricanes -- Category 3 or stronger." Graves noted
that 2021 marked the first year on record that two consecutive
hurricane seasons exhausted the list of 21 storm names.
Tropical systems that made landfall caused estimated total damage of
$70 billion, as of the end of November, making 2021 the fourth most
costly hurricane season on record, behind 2012, 2005, and 2017.
Graves recounted that several tropical systems made an impact on land
this year. "In August, Tropical Storm Fred caused devastating flooding
across parts of the Greater Antilles and the southeastern United
States," he said. "Hurricane Grace made two landfalls in Mexico --
first as a Category 1 hurricane just south of Tulum on the southeast
Yucatán [Peninsula], and second as a Category 3 major hurricane in the
Mexican state of Veracruz."
"Hurricane Ida was a deadly and destructive hurricane that made
landfall in Louisiana as a Category 4 hurricane -- the most intense and
HWN Manager Bobby
Graves, KB5HAV.
destructive hurricane to affect the state since Hurricane Katrina,"
Graves continued. He noted that Ida also caused catastrophic flooding
across the US northeast.
"Hurricane Larry peaked as a powerful Category 3 hurricane over the
open Atlantic [Ocean] before making landfall in the Canadian province
of Newfoundland and Labrador as a Category 1 hurricane. Later,
Hurricane Nicholas moved erratically both on and offshore [on] the
coasts of Texas and Louisiana," he said.
In 2021, the HWN activated for five hurricanes -- Elsa, Grace, Henri,
Ida, and Larry. Graves said the HWN racked up nearly 300 hours on the
air, with 140 of those spent on Hurricane Ida alone. Read an expanded
version.
New Low-Power Limit for ARRL HF Contests Goes into Effect on January 1,
2022
ARRL has set a new standard for what counts as low power for
ARRL-sponsored HF contests. The new limit is 100 W, which is down from
the 150 W limit that has been permitted in some events, including the
ARRL November Sweepstakes.
With the exception of ARRL Field Day, this change goes into effect on
January 1, 2022, for all ARRL-sponsored HF contests, as well as the
IARU HF World Championship.
This change has been implemented to standardize low-power categories
within the contesting community. However, on a more practical level,
the typical modern HF transceiver has a maximum power output of 100 W.
For more information, contact the ARRL Contests program. -- Thanks to
The ARRL Contest Update
ARRL Podcasts Schedule
The latest episode of the On the Air podcast (Episode 24) features some
tips about how to improve the effective range of your handheld
transceiver.
The latest edition of the Eclectic Tech podcast (Episode 50) -- the
final edition for 2021 -- features a discussion with Nelson
Sollenberger, KA2C, about the filter he designed that allows two nearby
stations to operate on the same band during Field Day and contests.
Also featured is a brief explanation of the so-called POST beeps that
many computers make, and what they mean.
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 to Oppose Forest Service ministrative Fees for Amateur Radio
Facilities
The US Forest Service is proposing to implement a statutorily required
annual fee for new and existing communications use authorizations to
cover the costs of administering its authorization program. ARRL plans
to vigorously oppose the imposition of the proposed fees on amateur
radio.
The Forest Service proposal results from requirements set forth in the
Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (aka "the Farm Bill").
Specifically, section 8705(c)(3)(b) of the Farm Bill directs the Forest
Service to issue regulations that require fees for issuing
communications use authorizations based on the cost to the Agency for
maintenance or other activities to be performed by the Agency "as a
result of the location or modification of a communications facility."
The Forest Service is responsible for managing Federal lands and
authorizes the use and occupancy of National Forest System (NFS) lands
for communications facilities that provide communications services for
adjacent rural and urban communities. The Agency said in its proposal
that it administers more than 3,700 special use authorizations on NFS
lands for infrastructure that supports more than 10,000 wireless
communications uses at 1,367 communications sites.
According to the Forest Service Notice published in the December 22,
2021 issue of the Federal Register, revenues from the proposed fee,
"would provide the funds necessary to support a more modernized,
efficient, and enhanced communications use program," and will "cover
the costs of administering the Agency's communications use program."
Costs, as laid out in section 8705(f)(4) of the Farm Bill, may include
expenditures for such things as "on-site reviews of communications
sites, developing communications site management plans, hiring and
training personnel for the communications use program, conducting
internal and external outreach for and national oversight of the
communications use program, and obtaining or improving access to
communications sites on NFS lands."
ARRL encourages amateur radio licensees to file comments opposing the
imposition of the proposed administrative fee on amateur radio users.
Comments must be received in writing by no later than February 22,
2022. Comments may be submitted online at the Federal Rulemaking Portal
or via USPS mail to Director, Lands & Realty Management Staff, 201 14th
Street SW, Washington, DC 20250-1124, and must include the identifier
"RIN 0596-AD44."
HamSCI Invites Abstracts for its 2022 Workshop
HamSCI is soliciting abstracts for the 2022 HamSCI Workshop. The
submission deadline is February 1, 2022. The workshop will be a hybrid
(in-person and virtual) event from March 18 - 19, 2022, at the US Space
and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
"The primary objective of the HamSCI workshop is to bring together the
amateur radio community and professional scientists," said HamSCI Lead
Nathaniel Frissell, W2NAF, an assistant professor within the Department
of Physics and Electrical Engineering at The University of Scranton.
"This year's theme is 'The Weather Connection,' with invited speakers
Tamitha Skov, WX6SWW, and Jim Bacon, G3YLA."
Skov and Bacon will present tutorials on the impacts of space and
terrestrial weather on the ionosphere. Chen-Pang Yeang, an associate
professor and director for the Special Project on Scientific
Instruments at the University of Toronto, will deliver the keynote
address, "Ham Radio and the Discovery of the Ionosphere."
Frissell said that abstracts related to development of the Personal
Space Weather Station, ionospheric science, atmospheric science, radio
science, space weather, radio astronomy, and any science topic that can
be appropriately related to amateur radio are invited. "We especially
encourage submissions related to this year's meeting theme of The
Weather Connection, but will also accept abstracts outside of this
theme that are of interest to both the amateur radio and professional
science communities."
To submit an abstract, complete the form on the HamSCI Workshop page.
Workshop registration will open by mid-January. Read an expanded
version.
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.
Have an interesting topic you want to share? The ARRL Learning Network
is a series of online webinars presented by member-volunteers for
members. Presentations should be short -- 30 minutes plus an additional
15 minutes for Q&A.
For more information, email ARRL Education and Learning.
More webinars are coming soon!
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.
Intrepid-DX Group Announces Youth "Dream Rig" Essay Contest Winners
On December 1, Intrepid-DX Group President Paul Ewing, N6PSE, announced
the prize recipients of the second annual Youth "Dream Rig" Essay
Contest. Ewing said all essays received "were all unique in thought and
very well articulated." Extra points were given for correct grammar,
punctuation, and spelling, he said.
"Most of the essays gave unique perspectives on how to reach out and
connect with the youth of today. We will be sharing those ideas in
subsequent postings," he said.
The first-place winner and recipient of an Icom IC-7300 transceiver is
Silas Davis, W3SED. Second-place winner Olivia Lee, KD2UYX, and
third-place winner Isaac Schmidt, K6IAS, will each receive Yaesu FT-65R
radios. "Having read your many essays this week, we can tell you that
our youth are full of great ideas, and they are brimming with
enthusiasm to keep our hobby alive well into the future," Ewing
concluded.
He thanked Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) for supporting
this year's prizes.
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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.
* Hoschar now a ham ... / Forks Forum, Forks, Washington (December
15, 2021)
* "How Amateur Radio Fanatics Launched the World's First Private
Communication Satellite" / Inverse (December 12, 2021)
Share any amateur radio media hits you spot with us.
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3Y0J DXpedition to Bouvet Island Updates its Progress
Two new team members of the upcoming 3Y0J Bouvet DXpedition team have
come aboard to replace, in part, three operators who are unable to make
the trip -- Sandro Nitoi, VE7NY; Laci Radócz, HA0NAR, and Dimtry
Zhikharev, RA9USU. Joining the 3Y0J crew will be Cezar Trifu, VE3LYC,
and Otis Vicens, NP4G. A third replacement has not yet been named.
"Their experience will be a great addition to the team," the DXpedition
team said in a media release announcing the personnel changes and
updating the DXpedition's planning process.
Ken Opskar, LA7GIA; Rune O/ye, LA7THA, and Erwann Merrien, LB1QI, are
sharing leadership duties for the 2023 DXpedition.
The 3Y0J team has also been busy selecting the gear that they will need
once they reach the subantarctic island. Arctic Lavvo of Norway will
supply the team with its Venor Gamme tent. The tent, which stood up to
winds of 40 meters per second (nearly 90 MPH) when it was tested in
extreme conditions on Svalbard, will be improved further by adding
extra guying levels and by strengthening the aluminum frame, the 3Y0J
DXpedition team explained.
Silcom of South Africa will supply custom masts for the Yagi antennas
that are rated for the Bouvet environment. The aluminum mast will be
used for the tribanders, while the smaller, galvanized steel mast will
support dual-band Yagis.
"We're taking preparation to the next level by procuring a [Zodiac
Milpro inflatable boat]," the team continued. "The strategic decision
to buy the [boat] will enable us to train [for] the critical beach
landing in Norway.
The DXpedition team said it's still $160,000 short of its funding goal.
Follow the team's plans via its website or the 3Y0J Facebook page. View
Bouvet Island from above in a short YouTube video. Read an expanded
version.
Announcements
* [IMG]ARRL's Commemorative 1915 QST download on Christmas Day
encountered a delivery issue. ARRL members can now access the
document. Send questions or comments via email. QST marked its
centenary in 2015, and the first edition was published in December
1915.
* Finland's IARU member-society SRAL has presented Iceland's
member-society IRA with an engraved KBX-380 Morse paddle to
commemorate the 75th anniversary of the IRA's founding.
* NASA has announced its intent to purchase three more commercial
crew missions from SpaceX -- in a sole-source award -- as a hedge
against further delays in the certification of Boeing's CST-100
Starliner. Those missions will be in addition to the six
post-certification missions SpaceX in 2014. "It's critical we begin
to secure additional flights to the space station now so we are
ready as these missions are needed to maintain a US presence on the
station," said Kathy Lueders, Associate ministrator of NASA's
Space Operations Mission Directorate.
* ARRL has been migrating to new rule sets that exist as a single
document. As the rule sets are replaced, the older "General Rules,"
"Rules for Contests below 30 MHz," and "Rules for Contests above 30
MHz" documents will sunset. Complete rules are available as a PDF
on individual contest pages. -- Thanks to ARRL Contest Program
Manager Paul Bourque, N1SFE
* New Year's Day is also Kids Day. Introduce your child, or a
relative's or friend's child, to amateur radio. If you hear kids on
the air, have a friendly contact with them. Kids Day is designed to
give young people on-the-air experience and hopefully foster their
interest in getting a license of their own. It is also intended to
give older hams a chance to share their stations and love for
amateur radio with youngsters.
* The US Department of Defense has issued an updated Military
Auxiliary Radio System (MARS) instruction, DODI 4650.02, replacing
MARS DODI 4650.02 issued in 2009. The document establishes policy,
assigns responsibilities, and provides procedures for MARS. It
further establishes MARS organization, membership, and functions.
-- Thanks to Gary Sessums, KC5QCN
Georgia Club Donates License Manuals to Local Schools
The Dalton Amateur Radio Club (DARC) in Dalton, Georgia, recently
donated copies of the ARRL Ham Radio License Manual to several schools
in its service area. The materials will be available in the schools'
media centers.
On December 1, DARC President Jack Thompson, N5UOV, met with media
specialists Sarah Hicks of North Murray High School and Ryan Long of
Murray County High School to present both schools with copies of the
ARRL Ham Radio License Manual, which covers everything needed to obtain
a Technician-class license including the full question pool for the
exam.
Jack Thompson, N5UOV, and Sarah
Hicks at North Murray High School.
During a second presentation on December 3, Thompson and David Stanley,
WI4L, met with Whitfield County Schools Media Specialist Ge-Anne
Bolhuis, and Communications Specialist Kristina Horsley, to present 10
copies of the license manual, which will be placed in each middle
school and high school in the county.
The visits offered Thompson and Stanley a chance to answer questions
about amateur radio. Thompson explained to Hicks that not only was ham
radio an interesting hobby, it involves public service activities and
could inspire students to become involved in emergency management or
search-and-rescue activities.
Bolhuis also asked about the uses of amateur radio. Stanley explained
that ham radio is often the last line of communication in an emergency
when all other means fail. Thompson explained how his activity as a
radio amateur led to his 25+ years of volunteering as a reservist in
emergency management and as a member of the search-and-rescue team of
the DeSoto County Sheriff's Department in Mississippi.
Representatives from all of the schools received information about the
ARRL Foundation Scholarship Program. The Dalton Amateur Radio Club
exp
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