Re: The ARRL Letter for December 10, 2009

[Markie Morganbloom]

On Dec 10, 2:57�pm, "ARRL Web site" <memberl...@www.arrl.org> wrote:
> ********************************************
> � � � � � � The �ARRL Letter
>
> Published by the American Radio Relay League
> ********************************************
>
> December 10, 2009
>
> Editor: S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA <k1...@arrl.org>
>
> ARRL Home Page <http://www.arrl.org/>ARRL Letter Archive
> <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/>Audio News
> <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> IN THIS ISSUE
>
> - + Public Service: Utah Hams Coordinate Rescue
> - + Spotlight on Amateur Radio: Major Computer Publication Devotes
> January 2010 Issue to Amateur Radio
> - + Scott Robbins, W4PA, to Purchase Vibroplex
> - + Organizational: Marc Tarplee, N4UFP, Appointed South Carolina
> Section Manager
> - The Doctor Is IN: Focusing on 10 Meters
> - + Regulatory: FCC Dismisses Two Petitions
> - + Now You Know!: The ARRL 10 Meter Contest and Satellites
> - + Silent Key: Ambassador William A. Wilson, K6ARO (SK)
> - Solar Update
> - This Week on the Radio
>
> + Available on ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/>
>
> ==> + PUBLIC SERVICE: UTAH HAMS COORDINATE RESCUE
>
> � �In areas where cell phone signals just won't work, Amateur Radio
> gets through. That's what Brent Yeates, KA7FAP, of North Logan, Utah,
> found out just before noon on Wednesday, December 2: He came across a
> dairy truck that had crashed and rolled over in the Logan River as he
> drove on Route 89 through Logan Canyon. As 38,000 pounds of dairy
> products were spilling into the Logan River, Yeates waded through the
> cold river to help get the driver out of the truck's cab and then put
> out a call on his handheld transceiver. Read more here
> <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/12/07/11235/?nc=1>.
>
> ==> + SPOTLIGHT ON AMATEUR RADIO: MAJOR COMPUTER PUBLICATION DEVOTES
> JANUARY 2010 ISSUE TO AMATEUR RADIO
>
> � �Emergencies may get all the attention in the press, but lately, the
> technological side of Amateur Radio has been showing up a lot in places
> that are read by the people who make next year's trends. Hams indeed
> are technical and creative people, consummate MacGyvers. To kick off
> the new year, the computer magazine Linux Journal has come out with an
> entire issue dedicated to Amateur Radio and the creative uses of open
> source computer programs. This 80 page issue features Tux, the Linux
> mascot on its cover wearing a pair of headphones, holding a microphone
> -- and even sporting an Emergency Coordinator badge around his neck --
> hooked up to an HF transceiver. The issue has headlines on the cover
> such as "Amateur Radio and Linux -- Open Source for the New
> Generation," and "Get Started with Amateur Radio," and includes
> articles like "When All Else Fails -- Amateur Radio, the Original
> Open-Source Project" by David Lane, KG4GIY. Read more here
> <http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2009/12/09/11239/?nc=1>.
>
> ==> + SCOTT ROBBINS, W4PA, TO PURCHASE VIBROPLEX
>
> Scott Robbins, W4PA, of Knoxville, Tennessee, told the ARRL that he has
> signed an agreement to purchase The Vibroplex Company, Inc from present
> owner Felton "Mitch" Mitchell, W4OA, effective December 21, 2009.
> "Vibroplex represents the great tradition of CW operation in Amateur
> Radio going back many, many years," Robbins told the ARRL. "I'm tickled
> to be able to continue the more than 100 years of history that has gone
> into this company." Robbins -- who has been employed with Ten-Tec Inc
> since 1995 (he has been Product Manager for Ten-Tec's Amateur Radio
> equipment line since 1997) -- will leave his position in mid-December
> to take over full-time management and ownership of Vibroplex. "It's a
> great opportunity to continue the more than 100 years of tradition that
> the Vibroplex name represents," Robbins said. Read more here
> <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/12/07/11233/?nc=1>.
>
> ==> ARRL PUBLICATIONS: ARRL LICENSING STUDY GUIDES -- COMING TO AN
> EBOOK READER NEAR YOU
>
> � �ARRL is pleased to announce that owners of Kindle
> <http://www.amazon.com/Kindle> -- an electronic book reader sold by
> Amazon.com <http://www.amazon.com/> -- can now download ARRL's Tech Q&A
> <http://www.amazon.com/ARRLs-Tech-Q-A-ebook/dp/B002YNSBNE/ref=sr_1_2?i...
> s=books&qid=1259944328&sr=8-2-catcorr>
> directly from the online bookseller for use on their Kindle. Kindle is
> shaped much like a book with a paper-like screen that displays text and
> pictures. Those who have the Kindle application installed on their
> Apple <http://www.apple.com/> iPhone <http://www.apple.com/iphone/> or
> iPod touch <http://www.apple.com/ipodtouch/> can also download the book
> for use on these devices. When you download the Tech Q&A, you can gain
> access quickly and easily, smoothing the path to your first ham radio
> license. This ideal study tool -- whether you're at home, in the
> office, traveling or just on the go -- lets you review the questions
> and answers from the entire Technician question pool so you can pass
> the 35-question exam. Kindle versions of the General Q&A and the
> Amateur Extra Q&A will be available sometime in January. All three can
> be purchased from Amazon.com for $9.99 each.
>
> ==> + ORGANIZATIONAL: MARC TARPLEE, N4UFP, APPOINTED SOUTH CAROLINA
> SECTION MANAGER
>
> � �Marc Tarplee, N4UFP, of Rock Hill, has been appointed the new ARRL
> South Carolina Section Manager. He will complete the term of Jim
> Boehner, N2ZZ, who was elected ARRL Roanoke Division Vice Director last
> month. When Boehner announced that he was stepping down from the
> Section Manager post he has held since January 2003, he recommended
> Tarplee, the South Carolina Section Technical Coordinator, for the
> position. Tarplee and Boehner both take on their new positions January
> 1, 2010. According to the Rules and Regulations of the ARRL Field
> Organization, when a vacancy in the office of Section Manager occurs
> between elections, the position is filled by appointment by the
> Membership and Volunteer Programs Manager in consultation with that
> Division's Director. MVP Manager Dave Patton, NN1N, consulted with
> Roanoke Division Director Dennis Bodson, W4PWF. Tarplee has been South
> Carolina's Technical Coordinator for almost seven years, first
> appointed by Boehner in January 2003. Tarplee's term of office as
> Section Manager will continue through December 31, 2010.
>
> ==> THE DOCTOR IS IN: FOCUSING ON 10 METERS
>
> By ARRL News Editor S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA
>
> � �Now with the ARRL 160 Meter Contest come and gone, it's time for me
> to focus on the opposite end of the HF spectrum: 10 meters. You guessed
> it -- I'm gearing up for the 37th running of the ARRL 10 Meter Contest.
> This contest has a bit of a twist to it: Operators have the choice of
> using CW only, SSB only or they can mix it up and use both. So as I
> prepare this week for the 'test, I went to ask the Doctor what is so
> special about 10 meters. Is there anything I need to be aware of and
> watch out for this weekend? Check up on what the Doctor has to say here
> <http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2009/12/09/11238/?nc=1>.
>
> ==> + REGULATORY: FCC DISMISSES TWO PETITIONS
>
> � �On Wednesday, December 9, the Federal Communications Commission
> dismissed two separate Petitions for Rulemaking. The first Petition was
> filed by Murray Green, K3BEQ, concerning the operation of repeater
> stations in the Amateur Service. The other Petition, filed by Glen
> Zook, K9STH, requested amending Section 97.119(a) to change how often
> stations must identify themselves. Read more here
> <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/12/10/11241/?nc=1>.
>
> ==> + NOW YOU KNOW!: THE ARRL 10 METER CONTEST AND SATELLITES
>
> By ARRL News Editor S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA
>
> This weekend marks the 37th running of the ARRL 10 Meter Contest
> <http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2009/10-meters.html>. Back in
> November 1973 when the contest was first announced in QST
> <http://p1k.arrl.org/cgi-bin/topdf.cgi?id=62388&pub=qst>, the rules
> differed slightly from how they stand now. This event began due to the
> interest that radio amateurs showed in the 10 meter band, thanks to the
> 5-band awards offered by the ARRL. "Occupancy is an important issue of
> the day as is proof that there's life in the old band yet," the article
> stated. "At a recent convention the matter was raised and met with
> enthusiastic response. Rather than postpone the idea for another year,
> the consensus was 'let's give it a try for '73,' prompting a
> recommendation by the Contest Advisory Committee."
>
> <http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/satInfo.php?satID=29&returl...
> ites/history.php>
> � In 1973, each completed two-way QSO was worth 2 points, except QSOs
> with a US Novice were worth double that. The article pointed out that
> certain FCC-issued Novice call signs look a little strange: "Novices in
> KZ5 and KG4 have strange call signs -- a Canal Zone Novice has an 'N'
> at the end of the call, such as KZ5AAN. A Novice in Guantanamo Bay has
> an 'N' after the number, such as KG4NAA. All others replace the K with
> a W (i.e. WL7, WH6, etc.). If you work a station once on cw you can
> work him again on phone. Oscar QSOs also count."
>
> Oscar QSOs? As in the satellite? Yes! The 1973 rules stated that "Oscar
> 6 contacts may be counted. All cw QSOs must take place between
> 28.0-28.5 MHz except those made though Oscar 6." The article also
> advised contest participants to stay clear of 29.45-29.55 MHz, as these
> were the Oscar downlink frequencies. Beginning in 1973 and continuing
> through 1979, QSOs made via the Oscar satellites counted for credit in
> the ARRL 10 Meter Contest. Beginning in 1980, after 10 meters had
> seemingly come back to life, the CAC no longer accepted the QSOs for
> credit in the contest. Now you know!
>
> ==> + SILENT KEY: AMBASSADOR WILLIAM A. WILSON, K6ARO (SK)
>
> � �William A. "Bill" Wilson, K6ARO -- the first US Ambassador to the
> Holy See (the Vatican) -- passed away from cancer early on the morning
> of Saturday, December 5. He was 95. First appointed as presidential
> envoy to Rome in 1981 by President Ronald Reagan, Wilson was appointed
> the first full ambassador to the Holy See in 1984, once official
> relations were established, serving until 1986. Read more here
> <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/12/07/11234/?nc=1>.
>
> ==> SOLAR UPDATE
>
> �<http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/data/realtime/realtime-update.html>
> Tad "When I behold, upon the night's starr'd face
> <http://englishhistory.net/keats/poetry/whenihavefears.html>" Cook,
> K7RA, reports: Finally! A sunspot appeared on Wednesday, December 9,
> giving us a daily sunspot number of 13 -- this followed 16 days of no
> sunspots. The new group is number 1034, and need we say it is a Solar
> Cycle 24 spot? Cycle 24 spots were news at one time, but we haven't
> seen a Solar Cycle 23 spot since number 1016 on April 29-30, 2009.
> Solar Cycle 23 peaked around 8-9 years ago. Excitement builds for this
> weekend's ARRL 10 Meter Contest
> <http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2009/10-meters.html>. Will sunspot
> activity amount to enough to enhance 10 meter propagation? The latest
> prediction shows a rising solar flux, 74 and 75 on December 10-11 and
> 77 from December 12-16; this must correspond to the new sunspot
> swinging into view, instead of peeking over the horizon as it did on
> Wednesday. Even without sunspots, Geminids meteor showers
> <http://meteorshowersonline.com/geminids.html> have intensified with
> each passing year as Earth moves deeper into the debris stream from
> extinct comet 3200 Phaethon
> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3200_Phaethon>. The predicted peak of the
> meteor shower is about five hours after the end of the contest and
> there is a good chance that ionized comet trails could enhance 10 meter
> propagation this weekend. Look for more information in the Solar
> Update, available on the ARRL Web site on Friday, December 11. For more
> information concerning radio propagation, visit the ARRL Technical
> Information Service Propagation page
> <http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html>. This week's "Tad
> Cookism" brought to you by John Keats' When I Have Fears That I May
> Cease to Be
> <http://englishhistory.net/keats/poetry/whenihavefears.html>.
>
> ==> THIS WEEK ON THE RADIO
>
> This week, the ARRL 10 Meter Contest
> <http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2009/10-meters.html> is December
> 12-13. The Feld Hell Sprint is December 12. The MDXA PSK DeathMatch and
> the International Naval Contest are December 12-13. The NA High Speed
> Meteor Scatter Winter Rally is December 12-16. The SKCC Weekend Sprint
> and the CQC Great Colorado Snowshoe Run are December 13. Next week, the
> Russian 160 Meter Contest is December 18. The OK DX RTTY Contest is
> December 19. The Croatian CW Contest is December 19-20 and the
> Lighthouse Christmas Lights QSO Party Is December 19-January 3. The
> ARCI Holiday Spirits Homebrew Sprint is December 20, the Run for the
> Bacon QRP Contest is December 21 and the SKCC Sprint is December 23.
> All dates, unless otherwise stated, are UTC. See the ARRL Contest
> Branch page <http://www.arrl.org/contests/>, the ARRL Contest Update
> <http://www.arrl.org/contests/update/> and the WA7BNM Contest Calendar
> <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html> for more info.
> Looking for a Special Event station? Be sure to check out the ARRL
> Special Event Station Web page
> <http://www.arrl.org/contests/spev.html>.
>
> ==> + ARRL HEADQUARTERS CLOSED FOR CHRISTMAS, NEW YEAR'S HOLIDAYS
>
> � �ARRL Headquarters will be closed Friday, December 25, 2009 and
> Friday, January 1, 2010 in observance of Christmas and New Year's Day.
> There will be no W1AW bulletins <http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/> or code
> practice transmissions <http://www.arrl.org/w1aw.html#w1awsked> those
> days. There will be no ARRL Letter <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/> or
> ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> on Thursday,
> December 24 and 31. We wish everyone a safe and joyful holiday season
> and a prosperous 2010.
>
> ==> ARRL CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSE REGISTRATION
>
> Registration remains open through Sunday, December 27, 2009, for these
> online course sessions <http://www.arrl.org/cep/student/> beginning on
> Friday, January 8, 2010: Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level
> 1; Antenna Modeling; Radio Frequency Interference; Antenna Design and
> Construction; Ham Radio (Technician) License Course; Propagation;
> Analog Electronics, and Digital Electronics. To learn more, visit the
> CEP Course Listing page <http://www.arrl.org/cep/student> or contact
> the Continuing Education Program Coordinator <c...@arrl.org>.
>
> The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 50 times each year. ARRL
> members may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing their Member
> Data Page as described athttp://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/.
>
> �Copyright (c) 2009 American Radio Relay League, Inc. All
> Rights Reserved
>
> �<http://www.arrl.org/>

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