• The Weekly ARRL Letter

    From Sean Dennis@1:18/200 to All on Friday, November 19, 2021 09:05:20
    The ARRL Letter
    November 18, 2021

    * Registration Opens for the 2022 ARRL National Convention in Orlando
    * Russia's Destruction of an Orbiting Satellite Raises Space Debris
    Concerns
    * ARRL Podcasts Schedule
    * Ham Radio Volunteers Support Communication for Tour de Lincoln
    Bicycle Event
    * ARRL Learning Network Webinars
    * Amateur Radio in the News
    * Announcements
    * AREx Says Artemis 2 Proposal Process was Instructive
    * In Brief...
    * The K7RA Solar Update
    * Just Ahead in Radiosport
    * Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions

    -------------------------------------------------------------------

    ARRL Headquarters will be closed on Thursday, November 25, and Friday,
    November 26, for the Thanksgiving holiday. The ARRL Letter will not be
    published on Thursday, November 25, and ARRL Audio News will not be
    produced on Friday, November 26. There will be no W1AW bulletin and
    code practice transmissions on either day. ARRL Headquarters will
    reopen on Monday, November 29 at 8 AM EST. ARRL wishes you a safe and
    enjoyable holiday.

    -------------------------------------------------------------------

    Registration Opens for the 2022 ARRL National Convention in Orlando

    ARRL and the Orlando Amateur Radio Club (OARC) will host the 2022 ARRL
    National Convention and Orlando HamCation^(R) on February 10 - 13,
    2022, in Orlando, Florida. The convention theme, "reDiscover Radio,"
    highlights radio amateurs' commitment to developing knowledge and
    skills in radio technology and radio communication. Convention
    co-organizer and ARRL Director of Public Relations and

    Innovation Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R, promises the ARRL National Convention
    at Orlando HamCation will be one of the best in-person conventions that
    ARRL has ever assembled.

    "There will be expert presenters, community-building opportunities, and
    plenty of social time to celebrate being together with our friends from
    across the ham radio community," Inderbitzen said. "And who doesn't
    love Florida in February?"

    The convention will kick off on Thursday, February 10, with a series of
    morning and afternoon Training Tracks and a National Convention
    Luncheon at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Orlando at SeaWorld.
    Registration is now open for Thursday's program, and an early-bird
    registration rate of $75 is in effect through December 15.

    The National Convention Training Tracks are workshops providing an
    in-depth learning experience in one of the four track topics. Attendees
    will select a Training Track when completing their online National
    Convention registration.
    * Training Track #1: Contest University. This marks the first time
    that Contest University^(c) (CTU) is coming to Orlando. Registrants
    will learn from some of the top amateur radio contesters in the
    world. CTU will appeal to new and veteran contesters alike who are
    looking to hone their skills. Presenters cover general contest
    operations, contesting skills, and many resources and tools to get
    more out of contesting. The Track Leaders are Tim Duffy, K3LR, and
    Teri Grizer, K8MNJ. Presenters include ARRL US Virgin Islands
    Section Manager Fred Kleber, K9VV/NP2X; Chris Blake, NX4N; Luis
    Romero, W4LT; Claudio Veroli, I4VEQ, and Max Fountain, KJ4EUT, who
    will offer a youth perspective on contesting.
    * Training Track #2: Emergency Communications Academy. Guest speakers
    from amateur radio emergency communications training will present
    an overview of amateur radio responses during disasters, message
    traffic handling, Amateur Radio Emergency Service^(R) (ARES^(R)),
    Auxiliary Communications (AUXCOMM), Winlink, emergency antennas,
    and emergency power. Participants will learn the skills and roles
    needed to be an effective volunteer. The Track Leader is Rick Palm,
    K1CE. Presenters include Gordon Gibby, KX4Z; Mike Walters, W8ZY;
    Curt Bartholomew, N3GQ; Matthew Curtin, KD8TTE; Helen Straughn,
    WC4FSU; Leland Gallup, AA3YB; Earl McDow, K4ZSW, and others.
    * Training Track #3: Hands-On Handbook. Generations of radio
    amateurs have turned to The ARRL Handbook to be inspired to be
    radio-active in new ways! This series of presentations will take a
    deeper dive into a handful of topics covered in the Handbook,
    encouraging you to explore a variety of amateur radio activities.
    Topics (subject to change) include portable operating, remote
    station control, amateur satellite communications, and HF digital
    modes..
    * Training Track #4: Technology Academy. Track Leader Kristen
    McIntyre, K6WX, will be joined by technical experts in the amateur
    radio community, including ARRL Lab Manager Ed Hare, W1RFI. Topics
    (subject to change) include antennas, radios, standing wave ratio
    (SWR), grounds, and "hints and hacks" to keep our stations humming
    along at maximum efficiency.

    Registration includes the National Convention Luncheon, featuring a
    keynote address by ARRL CEO David Minster, NA2AA.

    -------------------------------------------------------------------

    The rest of the celebration continues at HamCation on Friday, Saturday,
    and Sunday (February 11 - 13) at Central Florida Fairgrounds and Expo
    Park in Orlando -- an 87-acre lakefront fairground. Tickets for
    HamCation are sold separately and are now available for purchase.

    OARC President John Knott, N4JTK, notes that the 2022 convention marks
    the 75th anniversary of HamCation, one of the largest annual gatherings
    of radio amateurs in the US. "We want our diamond anniversary show to
    be an exciting, five-star event," said Knott. "We look forward to
    seeing you in Orlando in February."

    For further details, visit the 2022 ARRL National Convention website at

    --- SendMsg/2

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    * Origin: Outpost BBS * bbs.outpostbbs.net:10123 (1:18/200)
  • From Sean Dennis@1:18/200 to All on Friday, November 26, 2021 09:05:20
    The ARRL Letter
    November 18, 2021

    * Registration Opens for the 2022 ARRL National Convention in Orlando
    * Russia's Destruction of an Orbiting Satellite Raises Space Debris
    Concerns
    * ARRL Podcasts Schedule
    * Ham Radio Volunteers Support Communication for Tour de Lincoln
    Bicycle Event
    * ARRL Learning Network Webinars
    * Amateur Radio in the News
    * Announcements
    * AREx Says Artemis 2 Proposal Process was Instructive
    * In Brief...
    * The K7RA Solar Update
    * Just Ahead in Radiosport
    * Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions

    -------------------------------------------------------------------

    ARRL Headquarters will be closed on Thursday, November 25, and Friday,
    November 26, for the Thanksgiving holiday. The ARRL Letter will not be
    published on Thursday, November 25, and ARRL Audio News will not be
    produced on Friday, November 26. There will be no W1AW bulletin and
    code practice transmissions on either day. ARRL Headquarters will
    reopen on Monday, November 29 at 8 AM EST. ARRL wishes you a safe and
    enjoyable holiday.

    -------------------------------------------------------------------

    Registration Opens for the 2022 ARRL National Convention in Orlando

    ARRL and the Orlando Amateur Radio Club (OARC) will host the 2022 ARRL
    National Convention and Orlando HamCation^(R) on February 10 - 13,
    2022, in Orlando, Florida. The convention theme, "reDiscover Radio,"
    highlights radio amateurs' commitment to developing knowledge and
    skills in radio technology and radio communication. Convention
    co-organizer and ARRL Director of Public Relations and

    Innovation Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R, promises the ARRL National Convention
    at Orlando HamCation will be one of the best in-person conventions that
    ARRL has ever assembled.

    "There will be expert presenters, community-building opportunities, and
    plenty of social time to celebrate being together with our friends from
    across the ham radio community," Inderbitzen said. "And who doesn't
    love Florida in February?"

    The convention will kick off on Thursday, February 10, with a series of
    morning and afternoon Training Tracks and a National Convention
    Luncheon at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Orlando at SeaWorld.
    Registration is now open for Thursday's program, and an early-bird
    registration rate of $75 is in effect through December 15.

    The National Convention Training Tracks are workshops providing an
    in-depth learning experience in one of the four track topics. Attendees
    will select a Training Track when completing their online National
    Convention registration.
    * Training Track #1: Contest University. This marks the first time
    that Contest University^(c) (CTU) is coming to Orlando. Registrants
    will learn from some of the top amateur radio contesters in the
    world. CTU will appeal to new and veteran contesters alike who are
    looking to hone their skills. Presenters cover general contest
    operations, contesting skills, and many resources and tools to get
    more out of contesting. The Track Leaders are Tim Duffy, K3LR, and
    Teri Grizer, K8MNJ. Presenters include ARRL US Virgin Islands
    Section Manager Fred Kleber, K9VV/NP2X; Chris Blake, NX4N; Luis
    Romero, W4LT; Claudio Veroli, I4VEQ, and Max Fountain, KJ4EUT, who
    will offer a youth perspective on contesting.
    * Training Track #2: Emergency Communications Academy. Guest speakers
    from amateur radio emergency communications training will present
    an overview of amateur radio responses during disasters, message
    traffic handling, Amateur Radio Emergency Service^(R) (ARES^(R)),
    Auxiliary Communications (AUXCOMM), Winlink, emergency antennas,
    and emergency power. Participants will learn the skills and roles
    needed to be an effective volunteer. The Track Leader is Rick Palm,
    K1CE. Presenters include Gordon Gibby, KX4Z; Mike Walters, W8ZY;
    Curt Bartholomew, N3GQ; Matthew Curtin, KD8TTE; Helen Straughn,
    WC4FSU; Leland Gallup, AA3YB; Earl McDow, K4ZSW, and others.
    * Training Track #3: Hands-On Handbook. Generations of radio
    amateurs have turned to The ARRL Handbook to be inspired to be
    radio-active in new ways! This series of presentations will take a
    deeper dive into a handful of topics covered in the Handbook,
    encouraging you to explore a variety of amateur radio activities.
    Topics (subject to change) include portable operating, remote
    station control, amateur satellite communications, and HF digital
    modes..
    * Training Track #4: Technology Academy. Track Leader Kristen
    McIntyre, K6WX, will be joined by technical experts in the amateur
    radio community, including ARRL Lab Manager Ed Hare, W1RFI. Topics
    (subject to change) include antennas, radios, standing wave ratio
    (SWR), grounds, and "hints and hacks" to keep our stations humming
    along at maximum efficiency.

    Registration includes the National Convention Luncheon, featuring a
    keynote address by ARRL CEO David Minster, NA2AA.

    -------------------------------------------------------------------

    The rest of the celebration continues at HamCation on Friday, Saturday,
    and Sunday (February 11 - 13) at Central Florida Fairgrounds and Expo
    Park in Orlando -- an 87-acre lakefront fairground. Tickets for
    HamCation are sold separately and are now available for purchase.

    OARC President John Knott, N4JTK, notes that the 2022 convention marks
    the 75th anniversary of HamCation, one of the largest annual gatherings
    of radio amateurs in the US. "We want our diamond anniversary show to
    be an exciting, five-star event," said Knott. "We look forward to
    seeing you in Orlando in February."

    For further details, visit the 2022 ARRL National Convention website at
    --- SendMsg/2

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  • From Sean Dennis@1:18/200 to All on Friday, December 03, 2021 09:05:02
    The ARRL Letter
    December 2, 2021

    * Two 160-Meter Events in December Give Nod to 1921 Transatlantic
    Tests
    * Dayton Hamvention Expects to be Live Event in 2022
    * ARRL Podcasts Schedule
    * Fall ARRL Section Manager Election Results
    * YOTA Month Continues to Expand into the Americas
    * ARRL Learning Network Webinars
    * IARU Reports Another Over-the-Horizon Radar System is Under
    Construction in India
    * ARDC Grants Will Expand Emergency Capabilities in Haiti and the US
    Virgin Islands
    * Announcements
    * Amateur Radio in the News
    * ARRL Author, QST Technical Editor Joel Hallas, W1ZR, SK
    * Past ARRL Rocky Mountain Division Director Claude Maer, W0IC, SK
    * The K7RA Solar Update
    * Just Ahead in Radiosport
    * Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions
    Two 160-Meter Events in December Give Nod to 1921 Transatlantic Tests

    In December, there will be two opportunities for 160-meter operators to
    fill the airwaves with activity and to test skills and stations on that
    band. The events take place a century after the transatlantic tests of
    the 1920s, which ushered in the dawn of international amateur radio
    communication.

    This famous cover of the
    January 1922 issue of QST
    trumpets the success of the
    Second Transatlantic Test and
    lists the stations that Paul
    Godley, 2ZE, copied (or
    received) in Scotland.

    The annual ARRL 160-Meter Contest begins at 2200 UTC on Friday,
    December 3, and ends at 1559 UTC on Sunday, December 5. This 42-hour
    CW-only contest is most similar to the original transatlantic tests.
    This contest typically attracts a good crowd and presents a challenge
    to operator skill and station performance.

    The Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) is planning to activate
    special call signs to commemorate the centenary of the tests. Stations
    from the UK and Crown Dependencies will use up to seven different call
    signs, each having a "6XX" suffix: G6XX, England; GD6XX, Isle of Man;
    GI6XX, Northern Ireland; GJ6XX, Jersey; GM6XX, Scotland; GU6XX,
    Guernsey, and GW6XX, Wales. In addition, listen for UK stations
    appending the suffix "/2ZE" to the station's call sign. Use of this
    commemorative suffix has been authorized for use December 1 - 26 by
    Ofcom, the UK's communications regulator.

    On December 12 -- and not to be confused with the ARRL 160-Meter
    Contest -- ARRL and the RSGB will jointly sponsoring the 160-Meter
    Transatlantic Centenary QSO Party. This 6-hour event will run from 0200
    to 0800 UTC. The event coincides with the 100th anniversary of the
    successful Second Transatlantic Tests. Participating stations will
    operate only on CW, trying to contact the two official call sign
    activations, W1AW and GB2ZE. The stations may listen for callers 1 kHz
    above their transmitting frequency, to shift the pileup from their
    transmit frequency. They may also periodically ask for DX callers only.
    The exchange is call sign and signal report.

    The cover of the December
    2021 issue of QST
    commemorates the centenary
    of the Transatlantic
    Tests, which contributed
    to the rise of
    international amateur
    radio communications in
    the 1920s.

    During the QSO Party, ARRL will activate W1AW from Newington,
    Connecticut. RSGB will activate GB2ZE with help from a team of
    stations, including members of the GMDX Group of Scotland sharing the
    operating duties. GB2ZE commemorates the call sign of Paul Godley, 2ZE,
    who was sent by ARRL to the UK to lead the second Transatlantic Test in
    December 1921.

    W1AW will be active for all 6 hours. Stations operating as GB2ZE will
    follow this schedule:
    * 0200 UTC, from the commemorative station at Ardrossan, Scotland
    * 0300 UTC, from GM3YTS
    * 0400 UTC, from GM0GAV
    * 0500 UTC, from MM0ZBH
    * 0600 UTC, from MM0GPZ
    * 0700 UTC, from GM4ZUK until 0800 UTC, or until the band closes at
    sunrise.

    The GMDX Group will award a quaich -- a traditional Scottish drinking
    cup representing friendship -- to the first stations in North America
    and the UK to complete contacts with both W1AW and GB2ZE during the QSO
    Party. A commemorative certificate will be available for download.
    Participants will not have to submit logs. The official logs from W1AW
    and GB2ZE will be used to determine the winners and for certificates.
    --- SendMsg/2

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  • From Sean Dennis@1:18/200 to All on Friday, December 10, 2021 09:05:20
    The ARRL Letter
    December 9, 2021



    * Senator Blumenthal Supports Amateur Radio at Senate Confirmation
    Hearing
    * Senate Confirms FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel for a New Term
    * ARRL Executive Committee Meets
    * ARRL Podcasts Schedule
    * ARDC Grant Will Expand RMHAM's 5 GHz Microwave Network in the
    Rockies
    * ARRL Learning Network Webinars
    * November 2021 Volunteer Monitor Program Report
    * Amateur Radio in the News
    * Replica Transmitter will be On the Air to Mark Transatlantic Test
    Success
    * Announcements
    * ARRL Seeks News Editor
    * World's Smallest Moon Lander from Japan will Put Ham Radio
    Transmitter on the Moon
    * WSJT-X Development Group Partner Bill Somerville, G4WJS, SK
    * In Brief...
    * The K7RA Solar Update
    * Just Ahead in Radiosport
    * Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions
    Senator Blumenthal Supports Amateur Radio at Senate Confirmation
    Hearing

    Senator Richard Blumenthal (CT) received an affirmative reply from FCC
    Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel when he asked her to commit to providing
    his office "an update on the steps that the FCC is taking to support
    amateur radio operators." The Senator posed the written

    US Senator Richard
    Blumenthal

    question as part of Rosenworcel's renomination hearing conducted by the
    Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.

    Blumenthal noted specifically that "Radio amateurs voluntarily provide
    an array of public services, especially emergency and disaster-related
    support communications when infrastructure has been destroyed by a
    hurricane or similar disaster. Their contributions in this area are
    regularly recognized by local and state authorities."

    "ARRL is grateful to Senator Blumenthal for his support and recognition
    of radio amateurs," said ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR. Blumenthal
    has previously co-sponsored legislation supporting amateur radio, and
    his staff was recently briefed by ARRL on pending amateur radio matters
    at the FCC. Roderick added, "We need the partnership of the FCC and
    Congress to ensure our rules and spectrum continue to support the march
    of technological innovation in our vibrant Amateur Radio Service."

    Multiple proceedings to update or change the FCC's Amateur Radio
    Service Part 97 rules to account for changes in technology and
    operating practices have been languishing at the FCC, some going back
    five or more years. ARRL is hopeful that these will be addressed soon.
    Senate Confirms FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel for a New Term

    On December 7, the US Senate confirmed FCC Chairwoman Jessica
    Rosenworcel for a new term on the Commission with a vote of 68 - 31.
    President Joe Biden appointed Rosenworcel as Chair of the FCC in late
    October. For now, the FCC will continue with two Democrats and two
    Republicans led by Chairwoman Rosenworcel.

    The chairwoman said in a statement after the Senate confirmed her
    nomination, "People across the country count on the FCC to support the
    connections they need for work, learning, healthcare, and access to the
    information we require to make decisions about our lives, our
    communities, and our country. I look forward to working with the
    ministration, my colleagues on the Commission and FCC staff, members
    of Congress, and the public to make the promise of modern
    communications a reality for everyone, everywhere."

    The nomination of a fifth commissioner remains pending before the
    Senate. Last week, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation
    Committee conducted a hearing on President Biden's nominee, Gigi Sohn,
    for the remaining Democratic seat. Committee and full Senate votes on
    her nomination have not yet been scheduled. -- Thanks to ARRL Public
    Relations and Innovation Projects Manager Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R
    ARRL Executive Committee Meets

    The ARRL Executive Committee met on October 25 in virtual session, with
    President Rick Roderick, K5UR, presiding.

    In his report, CEO David Minster, NA2AA, noted that the revised ARRL
    Articles of Incorporation approved during the July 2021 Board meeting
    had been filed with the State of Connecticut. He also discussed the
    delayed timing of the delivery of the December issue of QST. He advised
    that Members should expect to receive their December issue about a week
    late. Minster also said ARRL is expecting an increase in the price it
    pays for paper, effective in February 2022. He said it's not yet clear
    whether the impact of the increase in paper costs would be short- or
    long-term.

    CEO Minster reported he had met with ARRL Field Services Manager Mike
    Walters, W8ZY, on October 22 at Bradley International Airport near
    Hartford, Connecticut, to observe ARRL participation in an emergency
    management exercise that concluded on October 23. Walters, on behalf of
    ARRL, participated in all 3 days of the exercise.

    ARRL FCC Counsel David Siddall, K3ZJ, discussed recent efforts at the
    FCC and on Capitol Hill advocating FCC action on long-pending
    proceedings that address Amateur Radio concerns. Siddall also addressed
    new legislation pending before Congress that would set deadlines for
    the allocation of additional spectrum below 3.45 GHz to commercial 5G
    providers. He described ARRL's efforts to obtain support for allowing
    continued sharing below 3.45 GHz on a non-interference basis.

    FCC Counsel Siddall noted an FCC Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (PS
    Docket 21-346) looking into ways of improving communications resiliency
    and recovery during hurricanes and other disasters. He said ARRL had
    submitted reports to FCC staff during and immediately following
    Hurricane Ida.

    Siddall further noted the progress of the ARRL RF Safety Committee in
    addressing and clarifying issues concerning amateur compliance with FCC
    RF exposure rules and appropriate updates to the related FCC bulletin.
    He concluded that the work of the Committee, under the leadership of
    Greg Lapin, N9GL, will benefit every amateur in the future to more
    readily assess RF exposure compliance and to make any adjustments
    needed.

    West Gulf Division Director, EC member, and Chairman of the Legislative
    vocacy Committee, John Robert Stratton, N5AUS, updated the EC on the
    status of a resolution introduced in Congress by US Representative
    Debbie Lesko of Arizona to declare April 18, 2022 as National Amateur
    Radio Operators Day.

    Director Stratton also advised the EC that the Legal Structure Review
    Committee was reviewing the Articles of Association, By-Laws, and
    Standing Orders with an eye toward recommending any needed changes at
    the January 2022 Board meeting.

    The Executive Committee meets again on December 13.

    ARRL Podcasts Schedule

    The latest episode of the On the Air podcast (Episode 24) features tips
    about how to improve the effective range of your handheld transceiver.

    The latest edition of Eclectic Tech (Episode 48) of the Eclectic Tech
    podcast features a conversation about the technical aspects of the 1921
    Transatlantic Tests with Clark Burgard, N1BCG. We also chat about
    on-air activities surrounding the upcoming anniversary.

    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.

    -------------------------------------------------------------------

    ARDC Grant Will Expand RMHAM's 5 GHz Microwave Network in the Rockies

    A grant of $374,233 from Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) to
    Rocky Mountain Ham Radio (RMHAM) will go toward expanding a multistate
    5 GHz microwave network and help to outfit communications trailers.

    The microwave network enables partnering amateur radio clubs and groups
    to access, enable, or expand their repeater and other FCC Part
    97-appropriate applications. The network provides 50 - 100+ Mbps of
    bandwidth and is managed and monitored by a dedicated network
    operations team.

    In Colorado, RMHAM will be able to grow its microwave network by 23 new
    microwave sites and 20 new point-to-point spans to expand IP
    connectivity and future repeater coverage across the western slope of
    Colorado and along the I-70 and I-76 corridors in eastern Colorado.

    In New Mexico, RMHAM will grow its microwave network by 16 sites and 15
    new point-to-point spans to expand IP connectivity and

    future repeater coverage south from Albuquerque to El Paso, Texas;
    along US Route 550 to Durango, Colorado, and across the Rio Grande
    Valley to Alamogordo, New Mexico. The club will also expand RMHAM
    digital repeater coverage (DMR or D-STAR, depending on coverage gaps)
    across New Mexico through the addition of seven repeaters co-located at
    their proposed new microwave sites.

    As a result of the grant, RMHAM will also be able to upgrade its
    Colorado communications trailer, which offers both RF and IP
    connectivity, and to outfit a new trailer for service in New Mexico.
    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.

    Submission topics should be of interest to a broad audience of hams,
    particularly those either new to amateur radio or experienced hams
    looking to learn about a new way to get involved!

    Selected presenters will be contacted and invited to schedule their
    webinar from a list of upcoming available date/time slots. An ARRL
    staff member will help coordinate the details with you, so you'll be
    ready for your presentation day. For more information, email ARRL
    Education and Learning.

    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.

    November 2021 Volunteer Monitor Program Report

    This is the November 2021 report of Volunteer Monitor (VM) Program
    activity. The VM program is a joint initiative between ARRL and the FCC
    to enhance compliance in the Amateur Radio Service.
    * Operators in Ardmore, Tennessee; Lithonia, Georgia; Coconut Creek
    and Miramar, Florida, and East Bridgewater, Massachusetts, were
    issued visory Notices regarding excessive bandwidth, contrary to
    FCC rules. The operators were transmitting on SSB with bandwidths
    of 8 to 9 kHz.
    * visory Notices were issued to operators in Northridge (Los
    Angeles) and Hemet, California, for interference to repeaters. Both
    operators had been requested by the repeater trustees to cease
    using the repeaters. The visory Notice issued to the Northridge
    operator cited broadcasting and failure to identify, and it
    informed them that the FCC was requested not to grant their
    upcoming renewal application unless the case was resolved.
    * An visory Notice was issued to an operator in Powell, Wyoming,
    for transmitting overdriven FT8 signals that resulted in spurious
    emissions. The operator has since corrected the problem.
    * General-class operators in Bartonville, Illinois, and St. Clair,
    Michigan, were issued visory Notices for operation in the Amateur
    Extra-class portion of 40 meters. A Technician-class licensee in
    Windber, Pennsylvania, was issued an visory Notice for operating
    in the General-class portion of 75 meters.
    * One case was referred to the FCC for enforcement action and review
    of a license renewal application. The FCC referred two cases to the
    VM Program.

    Totals for VM monitoring during October were 2,939 hours on HF
    frequencies, and 3,282 hours on VHF frequencies and above, for a total
    of 6,221 hours. That is the highest number of hours monitoring since
    the inception of the VM Program. -- Thanks to Volunteer Monitor Program
    ministrator Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH

    -------------------------------------------------------------------

    Amateur Radio in the News

    ARRL Public Information Officers, Coordinators, and many other
    member-volunteers help keep amateur radio and ARRL in the news.
    * "Making Contact with the Past: Operating Radios on USS North
    Carolina" SpectrumNews1, North Carolina (December 7, 2021)

    Share any amateur radio media hits you spot with us.

    -------------------------------------------------------------------

    Replica Transmitter will be On the Air to Mark Transatlantic Test
    Success

    A replica 1BCG transmitter will operate as W2AN/1BCG on ±1.820 MHz on
    CW, from The Vintage Radio and Communications Museum of Connecticut.

    The 1BCG replica transmitter with
    room for additional 204-A tubes for
    more power.

    "We're using type 204-A tubes," said Mark Erdle, AE2EA, of the Antique
    Wireless Association. "The original transmitter used type 204 tubes.
    The primary difference is that the 204-A tubes had a thoriated filament
    that reduced the filament current. Transmissions from W2AN/1BCG will be
    one way, just like the original transatlantic tests in 1921. An SWL
    certificate is available by emailing a copy of the transmitted message.

    Transmissions start on December 11 at 2300 UTC continuing every 15
    minutes until December 12 at 0400 UTC.

    In a separate event on December 12 at 0252 UTC, The Radio Club of
    America's W2RCA will make a one-way transmission on 1825 kHz at 12 WPM
    CW, from Connecticut. RCA members constructed the original transmitter
    and "shack" used in Connecticut for the successful transatlantic
    transmissions. In addition to the original 1921 message, a new message
    will be transmitted that looks ahead to the next 100 years. Those who
    copy the message qualify for a certificate. -- Thanks to Mark Erdle,
    AE2EA, Antique Wireless Association, and to the Radio Club of America

    ARRL and the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) have assembled a
    list of stations and groups that are organizing events and activities
    to celebrate 100 years of amateur radio transatlantic communication.
    --- SendMsg/2

    --- Squish/386 v1.11
    * Origin: Outpost BBS * bbs.outpostbbs.net:10123 (1:18/200)
  • From Sean Dennis@1:18/200 to All on Friday, December 17, 2021 09:05:22
    The ARRL Letter
    December 16, 2021

    * SKYWARN Spotters and Nets Track Deadly Storms
    * ARRL and RSGB Announce Winners of Transatlantic Centenary Cups
    * New Directors in Two ARRL Divisions will Take Their Seats in
    January
    * ARRL Podcasts Schedule
    * Past ARRL Chief Development Officer Mary Hobart, K1MMH, SK
    * ARRL Rookie Roundup CW Event is December 19
    * Ham Radio University Going Virtual Again
    * ARRL Learning Network Webinars
    * Interim SM Appointment Made in Virginia; Georgia SM Post Becomes
    Vacant
    * Sweden's SAQ VLF Alexanderson Alternator Station Schedules
    Christmas Eve Transmission
    * Observations of Over-the-Horizon Radar Interference in Ham Bands
    Top All Others
    * Announcements
    * Amateur Radio in the News
    * Spain, Norway Seek Ways to Attract a Younger Generation of Hams
    * In Brief...
    * The K7RA Solar Update
    * Just Ahead in Radiosport
    * Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions

    .

    .

    [IMG]

    -------------------------------------------------------------------

    The ARRL National Convention & Orlando HamCation^(R) is February 10 -

    --- SendMsg/2

    --- Squish/386 v1.11
    * Origin: Outpost BBS * bbs.outpostbbs.net:10123 (1:18/200)
  • From Sean Dennis@1:18/200 to Sean Dennis on Monday, December 20, 2021 17:59:10
    Sean Dennis wrote to All <=-

    The ARRL Letter

    I don't know what happened here...

    -- Sean

    ... When prosperity comes, do not use all of it. - Confucius
    ___ MultiMail/FreeBSD v0.52
    --- Maximus/2 3.01
    * Origin: Outpost BBS (1:18/200)
  • From Daryl Stout@1:2320/33 to Sean Dennis on Tuesday, December 21, 2021 18:04:00
    Sean,

    I don't know what happened here...

    Looks like someone spilled invisible ink on it (hi hi).

    I got their Club Letter yesterday in my email box.

    Daryl, WX4QZ

    ... Some people have more problems than an arithmetic book.
    === MultiMail/Win v0.52
    --- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32
    * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (1:2320/33)
  • From Sean Dennis@1:18/200 to All on Friday, December 24, 2021 09:05:22
    The ARRL Letter
    December 16, 2021

    * SKYWARN Spotters and Nets Track Deadly Storms
    * ARRL and RSGB Announce Winners of Transatlantic Centenary Cups
    * New Directors in Two ARRL Divisions will Take Their Seats in
    January
    * ARRL Podcasts Schedule
    * Past ARRL Chief Development Officer Mary Hobart, K1MMH, SK
    * ARRL Rookie Roundup CW Event is December 19
    * Ham Radio University Going Virtual Again
    * ARRL Learning Network Webinars
    * Interim SM Appointment Made in Virginia; Georgia SM Post Becomes
    Vacant
    * Sweden's SAQ VLF Alexanderson Alternator Station Schedules
    Christmas Eve Transmission
    * Observations of Over-the-Horizon Radar Interference in Ham Bands
    Top All Others
    * Announcements
    * Amateur Radio in the News
    * Spain, Norway Seek Ways to Attract a Younger Generation of Hams
    * In Brief...
    * The K7RA Solar Update
    * Just Ahead in Radiosport
    * Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions

    .

    .

    [IMG]

    -------------------------------------------------------------------

    The ARRL National Convention & Orlando HamCation^(R) is February 10 -
    --- SendMsg/2

    --- Squish/386 v1.11
    * Origin: Outpost BBS * bbs.outpostbbs.net:10123 (1:18/200)
  • From Sean Dennis@1:18/200 to All on Friday, December 31, 2021 09:05:20
    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

    -------------------------------------------------------------------

    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!

    -------------------------------------------------------------------

    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.

    -------------------------------------------------------------------

    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.

    -------------------------------------------------------------------

    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
    expressed its appreciation to Tom Smith, KI4IG, for making the initial
    contacts with the schools and to ARRL for providing the manuals at no
    cost.
    In Brief...

    David Benoist, AG4ZR, has been appointed as ARRL Georgia Section
    Manager. In consultation with ARRL Southeastern Division Director
    Mickey Baker, N4MB, ARRL Field Services Manager Mike Walters, W8ZY,
    appointed Benoist, of Senoia, to fill the vacant post starting
    immediately. Benoist had previously served as Georgia Section Manager
    (SM) from 2016 to 2021. Benoist was the ARRL Georgia Section Emergency
    Coordinator from March 2014 to 2016. The former Georgia ARRL SM, Jim
    Millsap, K9APD, resigned for personal reasons, effective December 14,
    after serving since October 1.

    A new release of WSJT-X is available. The WSJT-X development group --
    Joe Taylor, K1JT; Steve Franke, K9AN; and new member Nico Palermo,
    IV3NWV -- have announced the release of WSJT-X 2.5.3. This new release
    includes a feature of special interest to users participating in the
    ARRL January VHF Contest (January 15 - 17). This new feature is an
    enhanced macro facility for text messages that is aimed at making it
    easier to ask another station to move to another band. This feature is
    described briefly in the updated WSJT-X User Guide. Installation
    packages for WSJT-X 2.5.3 are available on the WSJT-X website.

    Special WRTC 2022 call signs will be active starting in January. The
    World Radiosport Team Championship (WRTC) 2022 Organizing Committee has
    announced that more than 100 Italian radio amateurs will be activating
    special WRTC call signs, one for each Italian call district, starting
    on January 1, 2022, and concluding on July 10, 2022. A first-time-ever
    award will be available promoting WRTC 2022, which has been postponed
    until 2023. Look for these call signs to be active during some
    contests, concluding with the 2022 IARU HF World Championship. Each
    participant's contact totals and award-hunter scores will be displayed
    on a real-time leaderboard. Participants can download the award in
    digital format. -- Thanks to The ARRL Contest Update

    Former ARRL Tennessee Section Manager Keith Miller Sr., N9DGK, of
    Rockvale, Tennessee, died of COVID on December 22. An ARRL Life Member,
    he was 75. Miller served four terms as ARRL Tennessee Section Manager
    from 2012 until December 2019, when he decided not to run for another
    term. He was licensed in 1981 and was very active in the Amateur Radio
    Emergency Service (ARES) and emergency communication. Miller served as
    ARRL Emergency Coordinator from 2006 to 2013. Miller served as a member
    and officer of the Stones River Amateur Radio Club.

    Former ARRL Virgin Islands Section Manager Ron Hall, KP2N, of St.
    Augustine, Florida, has died. An ARRL Life Member, he was 85. Hall
    served as Section Manager from 1988 until 1996. He later served as an
    Assistant Section Manager in 2002 before relocating to Florida.
    Licensed in the 1950s, he once worked for Heathkit. He was a member of
    the St. Petersburg Amateur Radio Club.

    The K7RA Solar Update

    Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Sunspot activity persisted over the
    reporting week, although numbers were a bit lower. Average daily
    sunspot number declined from 124.4 to 110.1. Average daily solar flux
    slipped just slightly from 125 to 124. Average daily planetary A index
    went from 9.1 to 6.4, and average middle latitude numbers changed from
    6.4 to 4.4.

    New sunspot groups appeared on December 25, 26, and 28.

    Predicted solar flux over the next month is expected to peak at 130 on
    January 18 - 19, and the numbers are 110, 108, and 105 on December 30 -
    January 1; 104 on January 2 - 3; 100 on January 4; 98 on January 5 - 6;
    then 92, 100, 105, and 110 on January 7 - 10; 115 on January 11 - 13;
    118 on January 14 - 15; 122 and 128 on January 16 - 17; 130 on January
    18 - 19; 128, 125, and 120 on January 20 - 22; 125 on January 23 - 24;
    122 on January 25; 120 on January 26 - 27; 115, 110, 100, and 95 on
    January 28 - 31; 90 on February 1 - 2, and 92 and 100 on February 3 -
    4.

    Predicted planetary A index is 10 and 8 on December 30 - 31, then 6,
    12, and 8 on January 1 - 3; 5 on January 4 - 10; 10 on January 11 - 12;
    5 on January 13 - 14; 8 and 12 on January 15 - 16; 8 on January 17 -
    18; 5 on January 19 - 22; 8, 10, 8, and 8 on January 23 - 26, and 5 on
    January 27 - February 6.

    Sunspot numbers for December 23 - 29 were 143, 145, 117, 95, 85, 107,
    and 79, with a mean of 110.1. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 129.8,
    126.2, 130.7, 125.4, 123.9, 120.5, and 111.4, with a mean of 124.
    Estimated planetary A indices were 4, 5, 7, 3, 10, 9, and 7, with a
    mean of 6.4. Middle latitude A index was 2, 3, 5, 2, 8, 6, and 5, with
    a mean of 4.4.

    A comprehensive K7RA Solar Update is posted Fridays on the ARRL
    website. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the
    ARRL Technical Information Service, read "What the Numbers Mean...,"
    and check out the Propagation Page of Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA.

    A propagation bulletin archive is available. For customizable
    propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio website.

    Share your reports and observations.

    -------------------------------------------------------------------

    Just Ahead in Radiosport
    * December 31 -- Bogor Old and New Contest (Phone)
    * January 1 -- Straight Key Night
    * January 1 -- ARRL Kids Day (Phone)
    * January 1 -- AGB New Year Snowball Contest (CW, phone, digital)
    * January 1 -- SARTG New Year RTTY Contest
    * January 1 -- AGCW Happy New Year Contest (CW)
    * January 1 -- AGCW VHF/UHF Contest (CW)
    * January 1 -- QRP ARCI New Years Sprint (CW)
    * * January 1 - 2 -- WW PMC Contest (CW, phone)
    * January 1 - 2 -- Original QRP Contest (CW, phone)
    * January 3 -- K1USN Slow Speed Test (CW, maximum 20 WPM)
    * January 4 -- Worldwide Sideband Contest
    * January 4 -- ARS Spartan Sprint (CW)
    * January 5 -- RTTYops Weeksprint
    * January 5 -- QRP Fox Hunt (CW)
    * January 5 -- CWops Mini-CWT Test (CW)
    * January 5 -- FT8 Activity Contest
    * January 5 -- CWops Mini-CWT Test (CW)
    * January 5 -- UKEICC 80-Meter Contest (Phone)
    * January 6 - 7 -- Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)

    -------------------------------------------------------------------

    Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions
    * January 8 -- ARRL New York City-Long Island Section Convention
    (Ham Radio University), Online
    * January 14 -15 -- ARRL North Texas Section Convention (Cowtown
    Hamfest), Forest Hill, Texas
    * January 22 -- ARRL Midwest Division Convention (Winterfest),
    Collinsville, Illinois
    * January 28 - 29 -- ARRL Delta Division Convention (Capital
    City Hamfest 2022), Jackson, Mississippi.
    * February 10 - 13 -- 2022 ARRL National Convention at
    Orlando HamCation^(R), Orlando, Florida
    * February 18 - 19 -- ARRL Southwestern Division Convention
    (Yuma Hamfest), Yuma, Arizona
    * February 26 -- ARRL Vermont State Convention (HAM-CON), Colchester,
    Vermont

    Search the ARRL Hamfest and Convention Database to find events
    in your area.

    -------------------------------------------------------------------

    ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for
    Amateur Radio News and Information
    * Join or Renew Today! Eligible US-based members can elect to receive
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    * Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday.
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    Subscribe to...
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    Free of charge to ARRL members...
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    --- SendMsg/2

    --- Squish/386 v1.11
    * Origin: Outpost BBS * bbs.outpostbbs.net:10123 (1:18/200)
  • From Sean Dennis@1:18/200 to All on Friday, January 07, 2022 09:05:22
    The ARRL Letter
    January 6, 2022

    * ARRL Surveying Field Day Participants
    * ARRL Foundation Grants First-Year Funding for ARISS *STAR* Keith
    Pugh Initiative
    * ARRL Podcasts Schedule
    * ARRL Welcomes New Director of Emergency Management
    * Youth on the Air Camp to Return in June
    * CAMSAT XW-3 (CAS-9) is Designated Hope-OSCAR-113 (HO-113)
    * ARRL Learning Network Webinars
    * Amateur Radio in the News
    * The Volunteer Monitor Program Report for December 2021
    * Announcements
    * In Brief...
    * The K7RA Solar Update
    * Just Ahead in Radiosport
    * Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions
    ARRL Surveying Field Day Participants

    The ARRL Programs and Services Committee is seeking input from stations
    and groups that participated in ARRL Field Day 2020 and 2021 and has
    posted a survey. The committee said the survey results may help shape
    the development of Field Day rules for 2022 and beyond. The survey has
    already been sent via email to some 13,000 Field Day participants, more
    than 2,400 Affiliated Clubs, and to the CQ-Contest and VHF-Contesting
    Reflectors.

    "Specifically, as we look toward 2022 Field Day, health and
    social-distancing concerns may continue in June 2022 during the ongoing
    world pandemic," said ARRL Radiosport Manager Bart Jahnke, W9JJ. "For
    2023 and beyond, the assumption is made that the pandemic will be over,
    and COVID-related restrictions will be relaxed."

    Jahnke said the Programs and Services Committee invites participants'
    insights, in advance of its January meeting, regarding what they
    consider appropriate for operating ARRL Field Day 2022 during the
    ongoing pandemic. The committee hopes to learn if participants prefer
    to continue Field Day under the pandemic accommodations afforded in
    2020 and 2021, which included limiting home stations to the Low Power
    multiplier (150 W PEP), and whether stations in some classes or all
    other classes should be limited to 150 W PEP as well. Field Day
    stations operating at high power became the topic of some discussion in
    the wake of Field Day 2021, when some stations were reported to be
    running the legal limit on FT8 on crowded bands.

    The committee is also interested in views on the 150 W versus 100 W
    change in the Field Day Low Power category definition, which is being
    implemented across all contest platforms.

    During 2020 and 2021, ARRL permitted a couple of basic accommodations
    in the Field Day rules during the COVID outbreak.

    Participants who could not or did not want to be in a group were
    allowed to operate from their home stations and contribute their
    individual scores to their club's Field Day aggregate score. Members'
    scores were combined to achieve an overall final club score, which then
    appeared in the ARRL Field Day results summary in QST and on the ARRL
    website.

    In addition, Class D (Home, commercial power) stations were allowed to
    contact other Class D stations for point credit.

    In 2021, Class D and Class E (Home, emergency power) stations were
    limited to a maximum transmitter output power of 150 W PEP (Low Power).
    The idea here was to minimize the advantage of well-established home
    stations with superior antenna systems and running up to the legal
    1,500 W PEP limit.

    Field Day participants may use this survey link or copy this URL into a
    web browser:
    https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2022--ARRL-FIELD-DAY-SURVEY.

    The survey will close on January 17, 2022. Direct any questions to the
    ARRL Contest Department.
    ARRL Foundation Grants First-Year Funding for ARISS *STAR* Keith Pugh
    Initiative

    A $47,533 ARRL Foundation grant will fund the initial phase of the
    Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISSâ**USA) *STAR*
    Keith Pugh Memoriam Project. *STAR*, which stands for Space
    Telerobotics using Amateur Radio, honors the memory of Keith Pugh,
    W5IU, a highly respected member of the ARISS team who died in 2019.
    ARISS arranges live question-and-answer sessions via ham radio between
    International Space Station (ISS) crew members and students. A
    long-time and enthusiastic supporter of ARISS, Pugh was a star ARISS
    technical mentor, assisting schools with ARISS contacts, encouraging
    interest in ARISS among educators, and visiting schools to teach
    students about wireless radio technology. One goal of ARISS is to
    engage students in science, technology, engineering, arts, and
    mathematics (STEAM) subjects.

    The ARISS *STAR* Project is a new educational initiative that will
    enable US junior and senior high school groups to remotely control
    robots via ham radio through digital APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting
    System) commands. Year 1 will focus on systems development and initial
    validation of ARISS *STAR*, and year 2 will focus on evaluation and
    final validation.

    Systems development and evaluation will be led by university staff and
    students who will undertake hands-on wireless and telerobotics lesson
    development, learn about amateur radio, and support *STAR* engineering
    hardware and software development.

    Next, youth teams will be selected to experiment and critique *STAR*
    telerobotics scenarios in closed courses. In the process, ARISS will
    encourage students to prepare for and earn an FCC amateur radio
    license, enabling them to use ham radio to learn and practice concepts
    in radio technology and radio communication.

    ARISS-USA Executive Director Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, praised the ARRL
    Foundation for its generosity. "ARISS team member Keith Pugh, W5IU,
    poured his energy into inspiring, engaging, and educating youth in
    space and in amateur radio endeavors," Bauer said. "What better way to
    honor Keith than through the ARISS *STAR* initiative. We thank the ARRL
    Foundation for its vision to move this initiative forward. Maybe
    someday one of our ARISS *STAR* students will use their telerobotics
    skills to control scientific rovers on the moon or Mars!"

    Over the past 2 decades, more than 1,400 ARISS contacts have connected
    more than 1 million youth with the ISS using amateur radio, with
    millions more watching and learning.

    The overarching goals for *STAR* are to improve and sustain ARISS STEAM
    educational outcomes. Robotics is gaining popularity among youth and
    adults alike, and telerobotics adds a wireless accent to robotic
    control. This will expand ARISS's educational dimension to attract the
    attention of more groups, students, and educators -- outreach that
    promises to attract new audiences.

    The ARRL Foundation was established in 1973, to advance the art,
    science, and social benefits of the Amateur Radio Service by awarding
    financial grants and scholarships to individuals and organizations that
    support their charitable, educational, and scientific efforts.

    ARISS is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies
    and space agencies that support the ISS. US sponsors include ARRL, the
    Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the ISS National
    Labâ**Space Station Explorers, and NASA's Space Communications and
    Navigation program (SCaN). The primary goal of ARISS is to promote
    exploration of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and
    mathematics topics. For more information, visit www.ariss-usa.org and
    www.ariss.org.


    ARRL Podcasts Schedule

    The latest episode of the On the Air podcast (Episode 24) features tips
    on how to improve the effective range of your handheld transceiver.

    The latest edition of Eclectic Tech (Episode 50) of the Eclectic Tech
    podcast -- 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 ARRL Field Day and
    contests. The episode also offers 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 Welcomes New Director of Emergency Management

    ARRL has announced the hiring of Josh Johnston, KE5MHV, into the role
    of Director of Emergency Management. Johnston is from Ozone, Arkansas,
    and comes to ARRL with 16 years of experience as the Director of
    Johnson County (Arkansas) Department of Emergency Management. He holds
    an Extra-class amateur radio license and is an ARES^(R) Emergency
    Coordinator, Volunteer Examiner, and ARRL-registered Instructor.
    Johnston is also certified in FEMA NIMS and is a Cybersecurity and
    Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) AUXCOMM Communications Unit
    Leader. He holds a bachelor's degree in emergency administration and
    management from Arkansas Tech University.

    "I am happy to welcome Josh to the ARRL staff and to add his talent and
    knowledge to our team," said ARRL CEO David Minster, NA2AA. "His
    contribution will help ARRL continue to support our dedicated
    volunteers of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service^(R), improve
    opportunities for training, and advance our relationships throughout
    the EmComm community."

    With extensive experience in inter-agency cooperation and planning,
    Johnston is well versed in the different aspects of emergency
    management and leading both professional and volunteer operators. He
    has experience in communications planning and execution in the field
    and at the local and state level. As an Arkansas Master Certified
    Emergency Manager and past Board Member of Arkansas Emergency
    Management Association, where he served as president for 2 years,
    Johnston has experience working with government and agency
    representatives as well as boots on the ground in the field.

    Johnston will be based at ARRL's headquarters in Newington,
    Connecticut, working with staff and member-volunteers, and coordinating
    with the ARRL Board's new Emergency Communications and Field Services
    Committee (EC-FSC).

    Youth on the Air Camp to Return in June

    After a successful pilot camp program in 2021, the next Youth on the
    Air for the Americas camp has been set for June 12 - 17, 2022. The camp
    will return to the National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting in
    West Chester Township, Ohio.

    The application period will open online February 11. Eligible
    participants are amateur radio operators between ages 15 and 25. A
    total of 30 campers will be accepted. Some of the 30 spots will be
    reserved for campers who reside outside of the US but do reside in the
    Americas. Priority will be given to first-time attendees. Returning
    attendees will serve as camp leaders.

    "We know that changes in the COVID-19 pandemic status between now and
    June will have an impact on hosting the camp," said Youth on the Air
    camp Director Neil Rapp, WB9VPG. "Should we not be able to host the
    camp or need to reschedule, we will let everyone know with as much
    notice as possible.

    Beginning in 2022, the camp will alternate as much as possible each
    year between June and July. Rapp says the camp planning working group
    acknowledges that avoiding all scheduling conflicts is not possible,
    but hopes that alternating months will provide some diversity with
    school schedules, extracurricular activities, and major ham radio
    events.

    Beginning in 2023, the location of the camp will rotate to various
    locations within the Americas. A system will be announced in which IARU
    member-societies and clubs will bid to serve as host of the region-wide
    camp.

    For details about the camp and/or to sign up for updates by email,
    visit the YouthOnTheAir camp website. Contact Rapp for more
    information.
    CAMSAT XW-3 (CAS-9) is Designated Hope-OSCAR-113 (HO-113)

    At the request of the Chinese Amateur Satellite Group (CAMSAT), AMSAT
    Vice President of Operations Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, has announced the
    designation of the new Chinese XW-3 (CAS-9) satellite as Hope-OSCAR-113
    (HO-113). Developed by CAMSAT, in cooperation with the Chinese
    government's aerospace and education departments, XW-3 was launched on
    December 26 at 0311 UTC on a CZ-4C Y39 vehicle from China's Taiyuan
    Satellite Launch Center. CAMSAT completed the design and manufacture of
    the amateur radio payload and manages the satellite's in-orbit
    operation. Alan Kung, BA1DU, of CAMSAT announced the successful launch,
    and reports of telemetry and contacts soon followed. XW-3 has a linear
    transponder and a camera that can take photos of Earth.

    The CW beacon frequency is 435.575 MHz at 22 WPM. GMSK telemetry is at
    435.725 MHz. The amateur radio inverting V/U 100 mW linear transponder
    uplink is 145.870 MHz, and the downlink is 435.180 MHz. The transponder
    passband is 30 kHz.

    Kung said, "A space camera carried on the satellite has undergone
    preliminary engineering tests, and the download function of compressed
    photos will be opened to amateur radio enthusiasts in the future."

    On January 3, CAMSAT announced the release of the XW-3 (CAS-9) Amateur
    Radio Satellite User's Manual, version 1.1 2022-1-3. The latest version
    adds information on the satellite's test mode telemetry data format.
    The satellite's test mode is used for in-orbit engineering monitoring,
    diagnosis, and maintenance and is only used when the satellite passes
    over China. -- Thanks to AMSAT News Service and Alan Kung, BA1DU

    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!

    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.

    -------------------------------------------------------------------

    Amateur Radio in the News

    ARRL Public Information Officers, Coordinators, and many other
    member-volunteers help keep amateur radio and ARRL in the news.
    * Pandemic Project: Trailer renovation allows for extended emergency
    radio assistance The Spokesman-Review (Washington) December 30,
    2021
    * Amateur Radio Club bands together during pandemic
    OrilliaMatters.com (Ontario) December 26, 2021

    Share any amateur radio media hits you spot with us.

    The Volunteer Monitor Program Report for December 2021

    The Volunteer Monitor (VM) Program is a joint initiative between ARRL
    and the FCC to enhance compliance in the Amateur Radio Service. This is
    the December 2021 activity report of the VM Program.
    * Operators in Center Hill and Coconut Creek, Florida, were issued
    notices for excessive signal bandwidth on 40 and 75 meters, in
    violation of Section 97.307(a) of FCC rules. General-class
    operators in Hudson, Florida; Winterville, Georgia; Provo, Utah,
    and Bloomfield Hills, Jackson, and Howell, Michigan, received
    notices for out-of-band SSB operation on frequencies not permitted
    by their General-class licenses, in violation of Section 97.301 of
    FCC rules.
    * Technician-class operators in Baltimore, Maryland; Divernon,
    Illinois; Moore, Oklahoma; Bradenton, Florida, and Roseville and
    Rancho Cordova, California, received notices for FT8 operation on
    unauthorized 20- and 40-meter frequencies, in violation of Section
    97.301 of FCC rules.
    * Commendations for exemplary amateur radio operation were issued to
    licensees in these cities: Dahlonega, Georgia (for managing medical
    and technical issues during the Six Gap Century bicycle race in
    October); Riverside, California (for operation during the October
    Earthquake Situational Emergency Test); Swansea, South Carolina
    (for operation on the SC HF ARES Net); Springfield, Indiana (for
    assistance to new operators in message handling); Mims, Florida
    (for exceptional efforts in correcting wideband issues), and
    Raymond, Mississippi (for exemplary operation during ARRL Field
    Day, statewide HF and VHF nets, and assistance to new operators).

    The totals for VM monitoring in November were 1,901 hours on HF
    frequencies and 2,784 hours on VHF frequencies and above, for a total
    of 4,685 hours.

    There was one referral from the FCC for enforcement assistance. --
    Thanks to VM Program ministrator Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH

    -------------------------------------------------------------------

    Announcements

    [IMG]Tom Roscoe, K8CX, has updated his treasury of sound clips with 314
    new ones from 2021, including DX sound clips. Tom now has a grand total
    of 3,211 sound clips dating from the 1960s to the present. He's always
    looking for good on-air recordings.

    N3FJP Amateur Contact Log 7.0.3 and all N3FJP software now includes an
    easily selectable, fully customizable "Dark Theme" option. "Being able
    to quickly transition to Dark Theme during night time operating sure
    helps give our eyes a rest, reduces fatigue, and helps keep us in the
    chair longer," says developer Scott Davis, N3FJP. Colors may be
    modified as well.

    The agenda for the ARRL Board of Directors Annual Meeting, January 21 -
    22, 2022 has been posted.

    The Danish DX Group celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2022. For that
    occasion, special event station OZ50DDXG will be on the air, and radio
    amateurs can apply for an anniversary award by working the station.
    More information is in the OZ50DDXG QRZ.com profile.

    -------------------------------------------------------------------

    In Brief...

    A new Technician Question Pool will become effective on July 1. The
    National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (NCVEC) Question
    Pool Committee (QPC) has released the 2022 - 2026 Technician Class FCC
    Element 2 NCVEC Question Pool Syllabus & Question Pool into the public
    domain. It's available as a Word document or PDF. The three graphics
    required for the new Technician question pool are available within the
    documents, or separately as PDF or JPG files. The new pool incorporates
    some significant changes compared to the 2018 - 2022 pool. Its 257
    questions were modified slightly to improve wording or to replace
    distractors; 51 new questions were generated, and 62 questions were
    eliminated. This resulted in a reduction of 11 questions, bringing the
    total number of questions in the pool from 423 to 412. The difficulty
    level of the questions is now more balanced, and the techniques and
    practices addressed have been updated. The new 2022 - 2026 question
    pool is effective July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2026, and must be used for
    Technician-class license exams administered on or after July 1, 2022.
    -- Thanks to NCVEC Question Pool Committee

    The WSJT development group has released a "bug-fix" update of WSJT-X --
    version 2.5.4. The primary fix repairs a defect that caused occasional
    crashes when contacting stations with non-standard call signs. It also
    allows MAP65's "best-fit Delta Phi (Dphi)" solution to be displayed to
    the user. The WSJT development group has welcomed new members Chet
    Fennell, KG4IYS, and Dr. Uwe Risse, DG2YCB. "Each brings important
    skills and experience[s] to the project, after the loss of Bill
    Somerville, G4WJS," said Joe Taylor, K1JT, on behalf of the group. "The
    newly constituted group has been working to redefine standard operating
    procedures for new releases." Installation packages for WSJT-X are
    available for Windows and Linux. An installation package for macOS will
    be added soon.

    Radio Amateurs of Canada has a new President. The Radio Amateurs of
    Canada (RAC) Board has elected Phil A. McBride, VA3QR/VA3KPJ, as the
    new RAC President, effective January 1. He succeeds Glenn MacDonell,
    VE3XRA, who served the maximum three consecutive 2-year terms as
    President. McBride is the former RAC Ontario South Director. Former
    Ontario North and East Director Allan Boyd, VE3AJB, is the new Vice
    President, and former Member Services Officer and previous Atlantic
    Director Dave Goodwin, VE3KG, is the new Regulatory Affairs Officer.
    They succeed Doug Mercer, VO1DM, and Richard Ferch, VE3KI, who served
    as Vice President and Regulatory Affairs Officer, respectively.

    A Barbados ham is among the world's oldest, if not the oldest. Winston
    A. "Woody" Richardson, 8P6CC (ex-VP6WR), has turned 107 years old,
    placing him among the world's oldest radio amateurs. Jim Neiger, N6TJ,
    told The Daily DX that Richardson hosted his 1980 - 82 operations (as
    8P6J) from his home during the CQ World Wide DX Contest (CW). The Woody
    Richardson Communications Room at the Amateur Radio Society of Barbados
    is named for him. Richardson visited the Amateur Radio of Barbados
    headquarters in 2020.

    Comments are invited on a new Pacific Remote Islands Marine National
    Monument Management Plan. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric
    ministration (NOAA) and the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) have
    invited comments regarding a new Monument Management Plan for the
    Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument (KH1, KH3, KH5, and
    KH9). The monument encompasses approximately 495,200 square miles in
    the central Pacific Ocean. It includes seven islands and atolls: Baker,
    Howland, and Jarvis islands; Johnston, Wake, and Palmyra atolls, as
    well as the Kingman Reef. Don Greenbaum, N1DG, serves as the appointed
    Citizen-at-Large Representative for the NOAA/USFWS Community Group,
    providing input on drafting the new management plan. This notice is the
    culmination of 2 years of drafting that plan, with input from NOAA,
    USFWS, and the Community Group participants.
    The K7RA Solar Update

    Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Sunspot activity was quite a bit
    lower this week, but new sunspot groups emerged on December 31, January
    1, January 4, and January 5. Average daily sunspot number dropped from
    110.1 to 36.4, while average daily solar flux went from 124 to 91.4.

    Geomagnetic activity was still fairly quiet, even with a number of
    flares and CMEs, with average daily planetary A index changing from 6.4
    to 7.7, and average middle latitude A index from 4.4 to 6.

    Predicted solar flux over the next month shows 10.7-centimeter flux
    values peaking at 120 on January 16 - 24 and again at 120 in mid -
    February. The daily predicted values are 84 and 88 on January 6 - 7; 92
    on January 8 - 12; 115 on January 13 - 15; 120 on January 16 - 24; 110
    on January 25; 100 on January 26 - 27; 95 and 90 on January 28 - 29; 88
    on January 30 - 31; 85 on February 1 - 5; 90, 95, and 100 on February 6
    - 8, and 115 on February 9 - 11.

    Predicted planetary A index is 5 on January 6 - 8; 12, 14, and 8 on
    January 9 - 11; 5 on January 12 - 14; 8 and 12 on January 15 - 16; back
    to 8 on January 17 - 18; 5 on January 19 - 22; 10 on January 23; 8 on
    January 24 - 26; 5 and 10 on January 27 - 28; 8 on January 29 - 30; 5
    on January 31 - February 6; 10 on February 7 - 8, and 5 on February 9 -
    10.

    Sunspot numbers for December 30 - January 5 were 77, 53, 52, 25, 12,
    12, and 24, with a mean of 36.4. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 102.4,
    101.5, 93.9, 89, 84, 85.5, and 83.7, with a mean of 91.4. Estimated
    planetary A indices were 8, 4, 11, 10, 12, 6, and 3, with a mean of
    7.7. Middle latitude A index was 7, 2, 9, 7, 9, 5, and 3, with a mean
    of 6.

    A comprehensive K7RA Solar Update is posted Fridays on the ARRL
    website. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the
    ARRL Technical Information Service, read "What the Numbers Mean...,"
    and check out the Propagation Page of Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA

    A propagation bulletin archive is available. For customizable
    propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio website.

    Share your reports and observations.

    -------------------------------------------------------------------

    Just Ahead in Radiosport
    * January 7 -- QRP Fox Hunt (CW)
    * January 7 -- K1USN Slow Speed Test (CW, 20 WPM maximum)
    * January 8 -- PODXS 070 Club PSKFest
    * January 8 -- YB DX Contest (Phone)
    * January 8 -- Old New Year Contest (CW, phone)
    * January 8 -- RSGB AFS Contest (CW)
    * January 8 - 9 -- ARRL RTTY Roundup
    * January 8 - 9 -- SKCC Weekend Sprintathon (CW)
    * January 8 - 9 -- EUCW 160-Meter Contest (CW)
    * January 9 -- NRAU-Baltic Contest, SSB
    * January 9 -- DARC 10-Meter Contest (CW, phone)
    * January 9 -- NRAU-Baltic Contest (CW)
    * January 10 -- 4 States QRP Second Sunday Sprint (CW, phone)
    * January 12 -- 432 VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest

    -------------------------------------------------------------------

    Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions
    * January 8 -- ARRL New York City-Long Island Section Convention
    (Ham Radio University), Online
    * January 14 -15 -- ARRL North Texas Section Convention (Cowtown
    Hamfest), Forest Hill, Texas
    * January 22 -- ARRL Midwest Division Convention (Winterfest),
    Collinsville, Illinois
    * January 28 - 29 -- ARRL Delta Division Convention (Capital
    City Hamfest 2022), Jackson, Mississippi.
    * February 10 - 13 -- 2022 ARRL National Convention at
    Orlando HamCation^(R), Orlando, Florida
    * February 18 - 19 -- ARRL Southwestern Division Convention
    (Yuma Hamfest), Yuma, Arizona
    * February 26 -- ARRL Vermont State Convention (HAM-CON), Colchester,
    Vermont
    * March 19 -- ARRL Southern Florida Section Convention (47^th Annual
    Martin County Hamfest), Stuart, Florida
    * March 19 -- ARRL West Texas Section Convention (66^th Annual St.
    Patrick's Day Hamfest), Midland, Texas
    * March 19 -- ARRL West Virginia Section Convention (Charleston Area
    Hamfest), Charleston, West Virginia
    * March 27 -- ARRL Virginia Section Convention (Winterfest),
    Annandale, Virginia

    Search the ARRL Hamfest and Convention Database to find events
    in your area.

    -------------------------------------------------------------------

    ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for
    Amateur Radio News and Information
    * Join or Renew Today! Eligible US-based members can elect to receive
    QST or On the Air magazine in print when they join ARRL or when
    they renew their membership. All members can access digital
    editions of all four ARRL magazines: QST, On the Air, QEX, and NCJ.
    * Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday.
    * The ARRL Letter is available in an accessible format, posted weekly
    to the Blind-hams Groups.io email group. The group is dedicated to
    discussions about amateur radio as it concerns blind hams, plus
    related topics including ham radio use of adaptive technology.

    Subscribe to...
    * NCJ -- National Contest Journal. Published bimonthly, features
    articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA
    Sprint, and QSO parties.
    * QEX -- A Forum for Communications Experimenters. Published
    bimonthly, features technical articles, construction projects,
    columns, and other items of interest to radio amateurs and
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    Free of charge to ARRL members...
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  • From Sean Dennis@1:18/200 to All on Friday, January 14, 2022 09:05:20
    The ARRL Letter
    January 13, 2022

    * ARRL Foundation to Create Club Grants Program
    * ARISS Highlighted among NASA's Best Space Station Science Pictures
    of 2021
    * ARRL Podcasts Schedule
    * Growing Number of Operators Completing WAS on 222 MHz
    * Amateur Radio in the News
    * Dick Fyjlstra, PA0DFN, is 2022 Carole Perry Educator of the Year
    * Eight US Schools and Organizations Could Host Ham Radio Contacts
    with Space Station Crew
    * Announcements
    * China is Expanding its South China Sea Antenna Farms
    * In Brief...
    * The K7RA Solar Update
    * Just Ahead in Radiosport
    * Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions

    [IMG]

    -------------------------------------------------------------------

    The ARRL National Convention & Orlando HamCation^(R) is February 10 -

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  • From Sean Dennis@1:18/200 to All on Friday, January 21, 2022 09:05:22
    The ARRL Letter
    January 20, 2022

    * ARES Activates as Wind-Driven Year-End Fire Destroys 1,000 Colorado
    Homes
    * Extended ARRL Team Will Support February's ARRL National Convention
    in Orlando
    * ARRL Podcasts Schedule
    * National Science Foundation Awards Nearly $50,000 for HamSCI
    Workshop
    * Announcements
    * FCC Seeks Attorney-visor for its Mobility Division
    * Launch of a Wooden Satellite Still Pending
    * Amateur Radio in the News
    * Two Radio Amateurs Appointed to the FCC Technological visory
    Council (TAC)
    * Getting It Right!
    * In Brief...
    * The K7RA Solar Update
    * Just Ahead in Radiosport
    * Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions
    ARES Activates as Wind-Driven Year-End Fire Destroys 1,000 Colorado
    Homes

    Members of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service^(R) (ARES^(R)) in
    Colorado, volunteering for the Boulder County (Colorado) Amateur Radio
    Emergency Services (BCARES), turned out on December 30, 2021 as the
    devastating Marshall Fire roared through Superior and (portions of)
    Louisville, Colorado. Intense winds whipped a grass fire south of
    Boulder near Marshall into a massive firestorm that became too large
    and fierce for firefighters to battle.

    "The only battle was evacuation, as the towns of Louisville and
    Superior and [the] northern suburbs of Denver lay in the fire's
    wind-driven path," said Amateur TV (ATV) enthusiast and equipment
    dealer Jim Andrews, KH6HTV, of Boulder. Andrews said the only thing
    limiting the fire's spread was the fact that the winds diminished by
    that evening.

    "By that time, hundreds of homes had burned down," Andrews said, whose
    own house was among them. "This was not a typical forest fire, but an
    urban firestorm." Thousands of people were evacuated.

    BCARES Board of Directors Chairman and Region 1, District 3 Emergency
    Coordinator Allen Bishop, K0ARK, said that a request from the Boulder
    Office of Emergency Management (OEM) to activate the emergency
    operations center (EOC) is what initiated the ARES activation. "At that
    time, staffing was initiated with the activation of the BCARES Radio
    Network, with three BCARES members assigned to the EOC," Bishop said.
    The BCARES Net was promptly activated.

    ARES volunteers supported communication at evacuation sites and
    established emergency communication as commercial power failures and
    preventive shutdowns by utilities caused a loss of commercial
    communication. "Within about 8 hours," Bishop said, "battery back-up
    systems for cell phones and landlines failed, and 911 services went
    down."

    "To facilitate a restoration of these emergency services, BCARES
    activated the Mountain Emergency Radio Network (MERN)," Bishop said.
    Established in 2010, MERN consists of repeaters installed at fire
    stations in Gold Hill and Allenspark, at community centers in Nederland
    and Raymond, and the privately owned Airlink Repeater. "These repeaters
    provided the emergency communication links that facilitated the
    restoration of 911 communications back to the dispatch center for the
    duration of the power outages," Bishop explained. The Allenspark
    Neighbors Emergency Network (ANEN) and Airlink (Alternate Access Radio
    Network) participated.

    Jim Andrews, KH6HTV, shared this
    photo of what remained of his home.
    [Jim Andrews, KH6HTV, photo]

    According to Bishop, as the Marshall Fire expanded, evacuation center
    support was requested at three locations to provide on-site situation
    reports using Winlink. Bishop said BCARES members and mutual-aid ARES
    operators from neighboring Districts established local communication
    with the BCARES EOC radio position from designated field locations.
    BCARES was activated for 2 days. One person died as a result of the
    fire.

    As Andrews reported, Boulder County announced on New Year's Day that
    nearly 1,000 homes were lost. In addition to his own home, the fire
    destroyed his daughter's home next door, as well as the homes of all
    his close neighbors. "We had no official warning of the coming
    firestorm," Andrews said. "My only warning was from our daughter who
    saw it happening." Andrews added, "KH6HTV VIDEO, as a supplier of ATV
    gear, will be out of operation for a very long time to come." Andrews
    edits the monthly Boulder Amateur Television Club TV Repeater's
    REPEATER newsletter.
    Extended ARRL Team Will Support February's ARRL National Convention in
    Orlando

    An extended ARRL team of member-volunteers, program representatives,
    and presenters will advance the convention theme inviting attendees to
    "reDiscover Radio" at Orlando HamCation, host of the 2022 ARRL National
    Convention February 10 - 13. A wide-ranging roster of workshops,
    exhibits, and activities will educate and entertain radio amateurs
    committed to developing knowledge and skills in radio technology and
    radio communication.

    The convention will be held in two parts. On Thursday, February 10, an
    all-day ARRL National Convention Program will be held at the DoubleTree
    by Hilton Hotel Orlando at SeaWorld. vance registration is required
    and includes a series of day-long ARRL Training Tracks and a National
    Convention luncheon with a keynote address by ARRL CEO David Minster,
    NA2AA. The Training Tracks comprise four workshops led by experienced
    presenters: Contest University (CTU), Emergency Communications Academy,
    Hands-On Handbook, and Technology Academy. Registration can be
    completed online.

    DX Engineering is the Official Sponsor of the 2022 ARRL National
    Convention Program.

    On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, February 11 - 13, HamCation will take
    place at the Central Florida Fairgrounds and Expo Park in Orlando -- an
    87-acre lakefront fairgrounds. The convention marks the 75th
    anniversary of HamCation -- one of the largest annual gatherings of
    radio amateurs in the US. HamCation tickets can be purchased online
    until January 31 and at the gate during the event.

    The centerpiece of ARRL's participation will be a large exhibit area in
    the East and West Hall. Nearly a dozen ARRL program areas will be
    represented, including Radiosport and DXCC Card Checking, Radio Clubs,
    the Amateur Radio Emergency Service^(R), Development, and the ARRL
    Foundation.

    A suite of exhibits organized by the ARRL Education and Learning
    Department will include an introduction to the new ARRL Learning
    Center. ARRL Education and Learning Manager Steve Goodgame, K5ATA, will
    introduce this new member benefit that includes online courses, videos,
    and other amateur radio instruction and training. At another booth,
    ARRL Education and Technology Program Instructor Tommy Gober, N5DUX,
    will cover the ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology.

    Josh Nass, KI6NAZ, of the popular
    "Ham Radio Crash Course" is one of
    the YouTube content creators who
    will present at the Convention.

    ARRL has invited several ham radio content creators from popular
    YouTube channels to meet and interact with attendees in the exhibit
    area. Josh Nass, KI6NAZ, of the popular "Ham Radio Crash Course"
    YouTube channel, will moderate. He is the 2020 winner of the ARRL Bill
    Leonard Award for outstanding published media that advances amateur
    radio. Visitors will have a chance to meet ARRL authors and editors.

    ARRL Laboratory engineers and volunteers will offer free testing of
    visitors' handheld radios. This service will determine the spectral
    purity of the output signal from the radios.

    Members and other attendees can meet ARRL elected officials and Field
    Organization volunteers at the Southeastern Division booth to catch up
    on events and to explore opportunities to get involved through their
    ARRL Sections and radio clubs.

    The exhibit area will also include the ARRL store and membership area,
    where visitors may join, renew, or extend ARRL and Diamond Club
    memberships and purchase publications, apparel, and 2022 Field Day
    products. New ARRL Membership Manager Matt Caruso will be eager to meet
    and greet members.

    ARRL will sponsor three forums at HamCation:
    * An ARRL Emergency Communications Panel will be held at 3:15 PM
    Eastern on Friday. The panel will be moderated by ARRL Director of
    Emergency Management Josh Johnston, KE5MHV, and will include
    panelists from the ARRL Southeastern Division Field Organization.
    * On Saturday at 2 PM Eastern, ARRL Collegiate Amateur Radio visors
    Andy Milluzzi, KK4LWR, and Tony Milluzzi, KD8RTT, will lead a
    Collegiate Amateur Radio Forum. The ARRL Collegiate Amateur Radio
    Initiative is a regular networking source among active campus radio
    clubs and their student members.
    * An ARRL Membership Forum will be held on Saturday at 3:15 PM,
    moderated by Southeastern Division Director Mickey Baker, N4MB.
    This forum offers an opportunity to hear from ARRL representatives
    on key areas of member interest and amateur radio advocacy and to
    learn how ARRL supports dozens of ways to get involved and active
    on the air. Panelists will include President Rick Roderick, K5UR,
    and CEO David Minster, NA2AA.

    The exhibit area will also include the ARRL store and membership area,
    where visitors may join, renew, or extend ARRL and Diamond Club
    memberships and purchase publications, apparel, and 2022 Field Day
    products.

    The Orlando Amateur Radio Club sponsors Orlando HamCation. Further

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  • From Sean Dennis@1:18/200 to All on Friday, January 28, 2022 09:05:22
    The ARRL Letter
    January 27, 2022

    * Amateur Radio Digital Communications Grants Continue
    * ARRL Podcasts Schedule
    * Weak Signals Heard from Spanish Satellites EASAT-2 and HADES
    * Puerto Rico Section and Red Cross Puerto Rico Chapter Sign New MOU
    * Announcements
    * Amateur Radio in the News
    * Next QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo set for Mid-March
    * ARRL Learning Network Webinars
    * QRP Operator Logs One Contact per Day for Nearly 30 Years
    * Getting It Right!
    * In Brief...
    * The K7RA Solar Update
    * Just Ahead in Radiosport
    * Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions
    Amateur Radio Digital Communications Grants Continue

    Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) has continued its largesse,
    funding a variety of projects through individual grants. Among the
    latest is a nearly $900,000 award that will permit the Internet Archive
    to build the Digital Library of Amateur Radio and Communications
    (DLARC), "an online, open-access resource that preserves the vital
    resources -- past, present, and future -- that document the history of
    amateur radio and communications," as the project proposal explained.
    Internet Archive is a nonprofit library of millions of free books,
    movies, pieces of software, pieces of music, websites, and more.

    "The DLARC will be both an education program building a unique and
    unparalleled collection of primary and secondary resources, but also an
    innovative technical project that will build a digital library that
    combines both digitized print materials and [original] digital
    content," Internet Archive said in its proposal.

    It will incorporate three distinct areas: a large-scale scanning
    program to digitize relevant print materials from institutions and
    individuals; a large-scale digital archiving initiative that seeks to
    curate, archive, and provide specialized access to such media as
    digital photos and audio-video presentations, as well as websites and
    web-published material, and a personal archiving campaign to ensure the
    preservation and future access of notable individuals and stakeholders
    involved in the founding and activities of ARDC and the broader
    community.

    The ARDC grant program stems from the proceeds of the July 2019 sale of
    some 4 million unused consecutive AMPRNet internet addresses. Using
    those funds, ARDC established a program of grants and scholarships in
    support of communications and networking research, with a strong
    emphasis on amateur radio.

    The Fauquier 4-H Ham Radio Club
    learning beginning circuitry skills
    by building code practice
    oscillators. [Dalyah Ronzio, photo]

    Another ARDC grant for nearly $34,000 will permit the Fauquier 4-H Ham
    Radio Club in Virginia to purchase and equip a 4-H Youth Station and
    Outreach Trailer for the club's youth to use at regular meetings,
    public demonstrations, and special events.

    "A big thanks to Amateur Radio Digital Communications for awarding our
    new Ham Radio Club a grant to build a ham radio trailer," the club
    posted on its Facebook page. "Building out the trailer and using the
    modern amateur radio equipment will be a fun STEAM [science,
    technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics] project for our club
    members. Once it is all built out, you can plan to see the trailer out
    at some local events -- hopefully the Fauquier County Fair and the
    Manassas HamFest in mid-June."

    The Fauquier 4-H Ham Radio Club offers local youth ages 9 to 18
    opportunities to explore STEAM through amateur radio communications and
    electronics projects. "An amateur radio license is not required to
    join, but the club strives to inspire and help members who are
    interested in getting their license achieve that goal," the proposal
    said.

    A $318,000 grant to the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), will fund 30
    SWE global scholarships and "contribute to programs that will help
    women in engineering excel professionally and showcase their
    achievements." According to SWE, these programs include the High School
    Leadership Academy, a virtual, year-round program aimed at building
    self-confidence and resilience among high school students who are
    interested in pursuing engineering and technology degrees; the
    Community College Women of Color Pathways Research, a new year-long
    program to encourage undergraduate women studying at Historically Black
    Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic-Serving Institutions
    (HSIs) to pursue STEM graduate degrees, and its Collegiate Leadership
    Institute, a program designed to equip collegiate SWE members with the
    skills, knowledge, and leadership abilities that will enable them to
    become leaders in engineering and technology.

    -------------------------------------------------------------------

    ARRL Podcasts Schedule

    The latest episode of the On the Air podcast (Episode 25) features a
    conversation with Michael Fluegemann, KE8AQW, about how to get started
    with CW.

    The latest edition of the Eclectic Tech podcast (Episode 52) features a
    chat with Sal DeFrancesco, K1RGO, about his 630-meter receiving loop
    antenna design that appears in the February issue of QST. Also, there
    is a brief discussion of the new YubiKey Bio password protection device

    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.

    Weak Signals Heard from Spanish Satellites EASAT-2 and HADES

    AMSAT-EA (Spain) has said it appears that EASAT-2 and HADES are
    transmitting, and that weak signals have been heard, but apparently the
    satellites' antennas have not deployed.

    "We confirm the reception of both EASAT-2 and HADES, as well as the
    decoding of telemetry and the FM recorded voice beacon with the call
    sign AM5SAT of the first one. EASAT-2 appears to be working well,
    except for the deployment of the antennas -- something that apparently
    has not yet occurred and causes weak signals," said AMSAT-EA Mission
    Manager Felix Paez, EA4GQS. "However, the AMSAT-EA team confirms that,
    based on the reception of FSK, CW, the FM voice beacon, and the
    telemetry data that has been decoded, it can be said that the satellite
    is working perfectly. In the event of low battery or system
    malfunction, the onboard computer would not transmit CW messages or the
    voice beacon call sign, as it would be in [safe mode] with only fast
    and slow telemetry transmissions."

    At the request of AMSAT-EA, EASAT-2 has been designated as Spain-OSCAR
    114 (SO-114) and HADES as Spain-OSCAR 115 (SO-115).

    "These signals that confirm the operation of both satellites were
    received by Daniel Estévez, EA4GPZ, at 1807 UTC on Saturday, January
    15, using two antennas from the Allen Telescope Array." Doppler
    observations from the co-launched Delfi-PQ satellite and the amateur
    radio community have been used to identify the satellites' orbits or
    TLEs.

    AMSAT-EA reports that Estévez performed a preliminary analysis using
    just one polarization of one of the Allen Telescope Array satellite
    dishes. EASAT-2 was detected with a relatively strong signal, close to
    the Delfi-PQ signal, obtaining voice FM beacon transmissions and FSK,
    FSK-CW at 50 baud, AMSAT-EA said.

    "The CW beacon clearly shows the message VVV AM5SAT SOL Y PLAYA, which
    is one of several that both satellites emit, although the call sign
    AM5SAT confirms that it is EASAT-2," AMSAT-EA said. "In the recording
    made by EA4GPZ, there is also a faint trace confirmed to be from HADES
    and stronger packets probably from the IRIS-A satellite."

    EASAT-2 and HADES were among other
    satellites carried into space on a
    SpaceX launcher. [Photo courtesy of
    SpaceX]

    AMSAT-EA reports that signals from HADES are weaker than those of
    EASAT-2, "most likely because the onboard computer has not yet managed
    to deploy the antennas either, although it will continue trying
    regularly," AMSAT-EA said. "The reason the signals are suspected to be
    weaker at HADES is that the antennas are more tightly folded than those
    of EASAT-2. In any case, this is great news, since the transmission
    pattern confirms the proper functioning of the satellite. In the
    observations, you can see the FSK tones with a deviation of about 5 kHz
    interspersed with the FM carrier corresponding to the voice beacon of
    the satellite, which has call sign AM6SAT. The AMSAT-EA team is working
    to try to decode the telemetry signals and obtain more detailed
    information on the state of the satellite."

    AMSAT is asking amateurs with "very high-gain antennas" to try to
    receive them -- especially HADES. "If we could decode telemetry, it
    would be very helpful for us." AMSAT-EA said. "Until antennas are
    deployed, it will be very difficult to use their repeaters or to
    receive any SSTV camera images from HADES, but we hope that this will
    happen sooner or later, at least because, even if the computer doesn't
    succeed applying heat to the resistor where the thread [retaining the
    antennas] is attached, with time, the thread should break due to the
    space environment conditions."
    Puerto Rico Section and Red Cross Puerto Rico Chapter Sign New MOU

    The ARRL Puerto Rico Section and the American Red Cross Puerto Rico
    Chapter signed a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) on January 13.
    The MOU calls on the ARRL Puerto Rico Section to offer any assistance
    and emergency communication support to the American Red Cross, should
    their communications systems fail or become disrupted. American Red
    Cross Regional Executive Lee Vanessa Feliciano; Puerto Rico Section
    Manager Rene Fonseca, NP3O, and Section Emergency Coordinator William
    Planas-Montes, NP3WP, signed for their respective organizations.

    (L - R) William Planas-Montes,
    NP3WP, Puerto Rico Section Emergency
    Coordinator; Lee Vanessa Feliciano,
    Red Cross Regional Executive, and
    Rene Fonseca, NP3O, Puerto Rico
    Section Manager. [Photo courtesy of
    Angel Santana, WP3GW]

    Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017 prompted renewal of the MOU.
    Following Hurricane Maria, the American Red Cross asked ARRL to provide
    amateur radio volunteers to assist on site for about 6 weeks.

    Among other provisions, the MOU calls on both organizations to
    encourage their units to engage in discussions with their field units
    to develop plans for local response or disaster relief operations. It
    also calls on each party to participate in community preparedness, as
    well as in ARRL Field Day, the ARRL Simulated Emergency Test (SET), and
    other emergency exercises.

    Also present for the signing, were Logistics Specialist Nory Bonilla
    and Regional Disaster Officer Joseph Guzmán from the Puerto Rico Red
    Cross. Puerto Rico Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator James Perez,
    KP4WA, and Section Traffic Manager Emmanuel Cruz, NP4D, represented
    ARRL. Perez arranged the signing ceremony.

    The MOU is for a 3-year term and is renewable. An initial MOU was
    signed in 2017, and a second one was signed in 2019. Since then, the
    amateur radio population has grown to more than 4,900, indicating an
    interest in maintaining communication in emergencies and disasters. --
    Thanks to Angel Santana, WP3GW

    Announcements
    * Winter Field Day (WFDA) takes place over the January 29 - 30
    weekend. It runs for 24 hours, from Saturday at 1900 UTC to Sunday
    at 1900 UTC. The goal of the Winter Field Day association is to
    enhance operating skills and prepare participants for all
    environmental conditions found in the US and Canada.The RSGB
    reports that Ofcom-licensed radio amateurs may celebrate Queen
    Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee by adding the letter Q before the
    numeral in their call signs. For example G4WQG in England could
    identify as GQ4WQG throughout June. Stations throughout the UK can
    apply to Ofcom for a Notice of Variation.
    * The Boston Marathon is seeking amateur radio volunteers for its
    Patriots Day event in April. New volunteers can sign up online. The
    site includes a step-by-step guide on how to select amateur radio
    volunteer positions during the registration process. Email with
    questions. -- The Boston Marathon Communications Committee
    * Nominations for the 2022 Amateur Radio Software Award are being
    accepted until February 14, 2022. The Amateur Radio Software Award
    is an annual international award to recognize software projects
    that enhance amateur radio. The award aims to promote innovative,
    free, and open amateur radio software development. A nomination
    form is on the Award website.
    * The non-competitive St. Patrick's Award on-the-air event will take
    place March 16 -18. The St Patrick's Award encourages radio
    amateurs worldwide to join the celebration by "going green for St
    Patrick's day." Email for additional information. -- Thanks to
    Bobby Wadey, MI0RYL

    -------------------------------------------------------------------

    Amateur Radio in the News

    ARRL Public Information Officers, Coordinators, and many other
    member-volunteers help keep amateur radio and ARRL in the news.
    * "Radio to the rescue" / Georgetown Gazette (California), January
    20, 2022
    * "Tecumseh School Project Catches NASA's Attention" / Countywide &
    Sun (Oklahoma), January 20, 2022
    * "Networks of service" / The American Legion, January 20, 2022
    * "How the huge volcanic eruption in Tonga was picked up by amateur
    radio enthusiasts in Harborough -- over 10,000 miles away" /
    Harborough Mail (United Kingdom), January 18, 2022
    * "Inspiring Students through Volunteer Work" / Dakota State
    University (South Dakota), January 17, 2022

    Share any amateur radio media hits you spot with us.

    Next QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo set for Mid-March

    What's become a regular March event, the next QSO Today Virtual Ham
    Expo will be held live from March 12-13, and then on demand for 30 days
    afterward. More than 60 speakers will deliver presentations on their
    subject areas. "There's content for everyone whether a newly licensed
    ham looking for next steps to using that license or a 30+ year
    experienced ham looking for new projects," the QSO Today Virtual Ham
    Expo organizers promise.

    Presentations will include "Core HF Communication Concepts:
    Fundamentals of Shortwave Propagation;" "Deep Dive of an FPGA DVB-S2
    Implementation;" "Fun With the NanoVNA," and "Helically Wound Vertical
    for 160 Meters. The complete list of presentations is available from
    the Virtual Ham Expo home page.

    Virtual visitors may watch as many presentations as they want and
    return any time within 30 days to view speakers and presentations they
    may have miss as well as explore exhibitor offerings.

    This Virtual Ham Expo will debut new technology that, organizers say,
    will "further improve the live video interaction experience with
    exhibitors and fellow operators." ARRL The national association for
    Amateur Radio^(R), is a QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo Partner. Early bird
    tickets go on sale on February 1. Tickets are $10 through March 6.
    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!

    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.

    QRP Operator Logs One Contact per Day for Nearly 30 Years

    From August 5, 1994, through December 20, 2021 -- a span of nearly
    10,000 days -- ARRL member John Shannon, K3WWP, of Kittanning,
    Pennsylvania, made at least one CW contact while running 5 W or less to
    simple wire antennas. That includes one that's in his attic.

    Over the course of said 10,000 days, Shannon made 72,190 contacts with
    20,098 unique stations. For at least 2,099 of his contacts, his signal
    traveled 1,000 or more miles per W, while another 24,098 were DX
    (non-W/VE) contacts made in 224 DXCC entities. He contacted all 50
    states "many times over" -- he made 3,819 contacts with stations in
    Pennsylvania and 63 contacts with stations in Wyoming.

    Shannon reports that the DX country he contacted most often was
    Germany, with 1,934 contacts. By continent, his contact totals ranged
    from 52,639 with stations in North America to 325 with stations in
    Oceania, plus 18 with stations in Antarctica. The number of contacts he
    made on each band used includes 19,279 on 40 meters; 15,459 on 20
    meters; 28 on 60 meters, and 39 on 6 meters.

    Within his first UTC hour of operation each day, Shannon logged nearly
    73% of his daily contacts.

    He also experienced a DX streak from March 1, 2013 through August 1,
    2018, which was a total of 1,980 days. During this time, he contacted
    at least one DX station per day.

    Shannon said that the greatest satisfaction he's derived from his
    operating streak is that other hams express that he inspired their
    interest in, and enjoyment of, CW and/or QRP operating. Shannon said
    that his greatest satisfaction derived from his lengthy operating
    streak was having other hams express that he inspired their interest in
    operating CW and/or QRP, and that they really enjoyed it.

    In the early 2000s, he wrote for the "QRP with John Shannon, K3WWP"
    column in The Key Note, the FISTS CW Club's newsletter. ditionally,
    his article, "The Streak: 23 Years of Daily Contacts," was published in
    the August 2017 issue of QST.

    Shannon said his streak is not over. He intends to continue making
    daily contacts for 11,000 or 12,000 days. View his website for more
    information.
    Getting It Right!

    Regarding the story "Two Radio Amateurs Appointed to the FCC
    Technological visory Council (TAC)" in the January 20 edition of The
    ARRL Letter: Andy Clegg, W4JE, was also appointed to the TAC to
    represent the Wireless Innovation Forum. Dale Hatfield, ex-W0IFO, was
    another TAC appointee.
    In Brief...

    A February webinar will discuss amateur radio and AUXCOM support to the
    US Department of Defense. On Thursday, February 18, at 0100 (the
    evening of February 17 in North American time zones), the US Army
    Network Enterprise Technology Command (NETCOM) will host a Zoom call to
    discuss amateur radio and AUXCOM support to the US Department of
    Defense. During this presentation, the NETCOM representative will
    discuss the authorities for these operations; upcoming DOD exercise
    opportunities for 2022 where outreach to the amateur radio/AUXCOM
    community will be a primary training objective; use of the five
    60-meter channels, and the concept for the types of amateur/AUXCOM
    outreach. There will be an opportunity for Q&A throughout the
    presentation. Use this Zoom link to attend. This is meeting ID 837 8115
    4615, and the pass code is 670665. Dial in by location: (346) 248-7799
    (Houston); (669) 900-6833 (San Jose); (253) 215-8782 (Tacoma); (929)
    205-6099 (New York); (301) 715-8592 (Washington DC), and (312) 626-6799
    (Chicago). One tap mobile: +13462487799,,83781154615#,,,,*670665# US
    (Houston); +16699006833,,83781154615#,,,,*670665# US (San Jose)

    The Amateur Radio Emergency Service^(R) (ARES^(R)) team of Centralia,
    Washington, activated following an early morning bombing on December
    19. Authorities say two men planted the bomb, which blew up the ATM at
    a local bank. The Washington State Patrol Bomb Squad and the FBI
    responded to assist the Centralia Police Department (CPD) in the
    investigation. The Centralia ARES team staged its communications van
    next to the scene. The 13 ARES team members who responded to a call for
    assistance were paired with CPD detectives to assist in the evidence
    search at the crime scene. ARES team members had been trained to
    perform evidence searches for the police department and were able to
    put those skills to work. Teams of three to five ARES members, led by a
    detective, gloved up and slowly searched an estimated 10,000 square
    feet around the bank, along nearby railroad tracks, and an adjoining
    field, retrieving as many potential pieces of evidence as they could
    find. The ARES team was released after about 1 hour. -- Thanks to Bob
    Willey, KD7OWN, Centralia, Washington, ARES Emergency Coordinator

    After an August storm damaged the satellite antenna that DP0GVN in
    Antarctica had been using for QO-100, AMSAT-DL has provided a new one.
    The new QO-100 SatCom ground station antenna arrived intact in
    Antarctica at Neumayer Station III in December, ensuring future
    operations by the 2022/2023 overwintering crew. "AMSAT-DL provided the
    appropriate radio equipment for DP0GVN at Neumayer Station III,
    covering all costs for setup and provision of the required radio
    equipment and antenna," said AMSAT-DL President Peter Guelzow, DB2OS.
    "While amateur radio operations mostly take place during free time,
    contacts with schools have also been arranged on a regular basis.
    Similar to ARISS [Amateur Radio on the International Space Station],
    such contacts in Antarctica are also something very special for the
    students. This will certainly also arouse interest in scientific or
    technical professions and, last but not least, in amateur radio."
    DP0GVN is a permanent ham radio club station, which offers operation
    for residents as their responsibilities. Much of the activity is on the
    QO-100 satellite. The primary operator is Felix Riess, DP1POL/DL5XL,
    who will be in Antarctica until mid-February. His HF activities are
    largely on 30 or 20-meter CW and sometimes FT8. -- Thanks to AMSAT News
    Service and to The Daily DX

    The CW-only Maritime Radio Day 2022 is set for 1200 UTC on April 14
    until 2200 UTC on April 15. Bands will include 160, 80, 40, 30, 20, 15,
    and 10 meters. Certificate and QSL. This will mark the 11th anniversary
    of the event, held to commemorate the many years of CW wireless service
    for seafarers. Former US Merchant Marine wireless operators, fisheries,
    and coastal stations may register and participate. Radio amateurs and
    shortwave listeners are welcome. Former maritime radio officers should
    register in advance by April 1. Operating frequencies will focus on
    1824 kHz; 3520 kHz; 7020 kHz; 10,118 kHz; 14,052 kHz; 21,052 kHz, and
    28,052 kHz. The primary working frequency is 14,052 kHz. There is no
    power limit.

    -------------------------------------------------------------------

    The K7RA Solar Update

    Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: A new sunspot group appeared on
    January 20, another on January 24, two more on January 25, and one more
    on January 26. But, overall solar activity declined from the previous
    week, January 13 - 19. Average daily sunspot number declined from 94.4
    to 39.6, and average daily solar flux went from 112 to 97.6.

    Predicted solar flux is 105 on January 27 - February 4; 108 on February
    5 - 6; 110 on February 7 - 8; 108 on February 9 - 10; 106, 105, 103,
    101, 100, and 95 February 11 - 16; 92 on February 17 - 18; 90 on
    February 19 - 21; 88, 87, 92, and 94 on February 22 - 25; 96 on
    February 26 - 28; 98 and 100 on March 1 - 2, and 105 on March 3 - 4.

    Predicted planetary A index is 8, 5, 12, and 10 on January 27 - 30; 5
    on January 31 - February 3; 15 and 10 on February 4 - 5; 5 on February
    6 - 9; then 12, 15, and 12 on February 10 - 12; 5 on February 13 - 19;
    6 on February 20 - 23; 5, 12, and 10 on February 24 - 26; 5 on February
    27 - March 2, and 15 and 10 on March 3 - 4.

    Look for reports on 6-meter openings in Friday's bulletin.

    Sunspot numbers for January 20 - 26 were 60, 23, 22, 22, 26, 53, and
    71, with a mean of 39.6. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 99.3, 97.3, 95.2,
    93.5, 95.2, 100.9, and 101.8, with a mean of 97.6. Estimated planetary
    A indices were 5, 8, 10, 8, 4, 13, and 10, with a mean of 8.3. Middle
    latitude A index was 5, 5, 7, 7, 3, 10, and 8, with a mean of 6.4.

    A comprehensive K7RA Solar Update is posted Fridays on the ARRL
    website. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the
    ARRL Technical Information Service, read "What the Numbers Mean...,"
    and check out the Propagation Page of Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA

    A propagation bulletin archive is available. For customizable
    propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio website.

    Share your reports and observations.

    -------------------------------------------------------------------

    Just Ahead in Radiosport
    * January 28 - 30 -- CQ 160-Meter Contest (CW)
    * January 29 - 30 -- REF Contest (CW)
    * January 29 - 30 -- UBA DX Contest (Phone)
    * January 29 - 30 -- Winter Field Day (CW, phone, digital)
    * February 2 -- VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest
    * February 2 -- UKEICC 80-Meter Contest (Phone)
    * February 3 - 4 -- Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW Maximum 13
    WPM)
    * February 3 -- NRAU 10-Meter Activity Contest (CW, phone, digital)
    * February 3 -- SKCC Sprint Europe (CW)

    -------------------------------------------------------------------

    Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions
    * January 28 - 29 -- ARRL Delta Division Convention (Capital
    City Hamfest 2022), Jackson, Mississippi.
    * February 10 - 13 -- 2022 ARRL National Convention at
    Orlando HamCation^(R), Orlando, Florida
    * February 18 - 19 -- ARRL Southwestern Division Convention
    (Yuma Hamfest), Yuma, Arizona
    * March 12 - 13 -- QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo. (ARRL is a QSO Today
    partner)
    * February 26 -- ARRL Vermont State Convention (HAM-CON), Colchester,
    Vermont
    * March 19 -- ARRL Southern Florida Section Convention (47^th Annual
    Martin County Hamfest), Stuart, Florida
    * March 19 -- ARRL West Texas Section Convention (66^th Annual St.
    Patrick's Day Hamfest), Midland, Texas
    * March 19 -- ARRL West Virginia Section Convention (Charleston Area
    Hamfest), Charleston, West Virginia
    * March 27 -- ARRL Virginia Section Convention (Winterfest),
    Annandale, Virginia

    Search the ARRL Hamfest and Convention Database to find events
    in your area.

    -------------------------------------------------------------------

    ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for
    Amateur Radio News and Information
    * Join or Renew Today! Eligible US-based members can elect to receive
    QST or On the Air magazine in print when they join ARRL or when
    they renew their membership. All members can access digital
    editions of all four ARRL magazines: QST, On the Air, QEX, and NCJ.
    * Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday.
    * The ARRL Letter is available in an accessible format, posted weekly
    to the Blind-hams Groups.io email group. The group is dedicated to
    discussions about amateur radio as it concerns blind hams, plus
    related topics including ham radio use of adaptive technology.

    Subscribe to...
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    Free of charge to ARRL members...
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    ----------------------------------------------------------------------

    The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 50 times each year. ARRL members
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    Copyright (c) 2022 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and
    distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is permitted for
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    purposes require written permission.


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  • From Sean Dennis@1:18/200 to All on Friday, February 04, 2022 09:05:24
    The ARRL Letter
    February 3, 2022

    [IMG] The ARRL National Convention and Orlando

    HamCation^(R) is February 10 - 13, 2022.

    Registration ends on February 4. Visit


    --- SendMsg/2

    --- Squish/386 v1.11
    * Origin: Outpost BBS * bbs.outpostbbs.net:10123 (1:18/200)
  • From Sean Dennis@1:18/200 to All on Friday, February 04, 2022 11:29:37
    Hello Sean,

    Friday February 04 2022 09:05, I wrote to All:

    The ARRL Letter

    I still have not figured out why this is happening but I am working on it!

    -- Sean

    ... I'm in a phone booth at the corner of Walk and Don't Walk.
    --- GoldED/2 3.0.1
    * Origin: Outpost BBS Sysop Console (1:18/200)