ARRL Amateur Radio News

Roof, Attic and Basement (Repeat)

Sat, 5 Jul 2008 12:44:00 +0000

It was an absolutely beautiful Memorial Day weekend. No rain, not too hot and not too cold. It was perfect for picnicking, yard work, washing your car -- whatever you wanted to do. The soggy days had departed just in time for a much-deserved and much-needed three-day weekend. Or so the weather forecast said.

Look for the July/August Issue of QEX

Fri, 4 Jul 2008 12:32:00 +0000

The July/August issue of QEX is out, and it is full of theoretical and practical technical articles that you don't want to miss.

Surfin' Logging Online

Fri, 4 Jul 2008 12:00:00 +0000

This week, Surfin’ considers Google Docs as an online Amateur Radio application.

Riley Hollingsworth to Retire July 3: The End of an Era

Thu, 3 Jul 2008 18:08:00 +0000

On Thursday, July 3, Special Counsel for the Spectrum Enforcement Division of the FCC's Enforcement Bureau Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH -- the man who has come to embody Amateur Radio Enforcement - will say goodbye to the FCC as he retires and begins his life as a private citizen. In May, Hollingsworth announced he would definitely retire; he had contemplated retiring in January 2008, but cited "several issues on the table that I want[ed] to continue to work through with the amateur community." While his successor has not yet been named, he was quick to point out that the FCC's Amateur Radio enforcement program will continue.

ARRL Tells Red Cross of Remaining Background Check Policy Concerns

Thu, 3 Jul 2008 14:51:47 +0000

ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, has written to Armond T. Mascelli, Vice President for Domestic Disaster response for the American Red Cross (ARC) to identify the ARRL's remaining concerns over the background check policy for ARC partners. Harrison emphasized that the commencement of negotiation of a replacement Statement of Understanding (SOU) between the two organizations should not be further delayed while these concerns are resolved and that he looked forward to signing a new SOU once additional edits to the background check Disclosure Form and clarifications of the background check Authorization Form are in place for those radio amateurs who volunteer their service to the Red Cross.

US Government Recalls RadioShack Power Supplies

Thu, 3 Jul 2008 14:50:01 +0000

On July 2, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with RadioShack, announced a voluntary recall of 13.8 V dc power supplies. The CPSC said that consumers should stop using these power supplies immediately, as the "power supplies are wired incorrectly, posing electrocution and fire hazards." No injuries have been reported in conjunction with the power supplies that were sold in RadioShack stores nationwide from October 2004-January 2008 for between $50 and $85. Manufactured in China, the CPSC said that the recall involves RadioShack 13.8 V DC Power Supplies, catalog numbers 22-507 and 22-508 with date codes from 08A04 through 01A08. Date code format is MMAYY where MM is the month and YY is the year. The catalog number and date code are located on the back of the power supply. Power supplies with a green dot on the product and the product's packaging have already been repaired and are not included in the recall. The CPSC recommends for consumers to unplug the recalled power supply immediately and take it to any RadioShack store for a free repair. Registered owners of the recalled power supplies will be mailed a notice. For additional information, contact RadioShack at 800-843-7422 anytime, or visit their Web site.

ARRL Presence at HAM RADIO 2008 in Friedrichshafen

Thu, 3 Jul 2008 14:50:00 +0000

HAM RADIO 2008, the 33rd International Exhibition for Radio Amateurs in Friedrichshafen, Germany, was held June 27-29. This annual event, billed as Europe's biggest hamfest, focused this year on the radio amateur satellite program and included many programs and activities for youth. The event drew more than 17,000 visitors from over 30 countries. The fourth annual Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Conference (GAREC) preceded the event. A team representing ARRL attended, greeting international ARRL members throughout HAM RADIO 2008. ARRL Sales and Marketing Manager Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R, who attended the event, has posted a blog recapping the event.

The K7RA Solar Update

Thu, 3 Jul 2008 14:49:00 +0000

This week's bulletin is presented a day earlier than usual, due to the Independence Day holiday on Friday. The weeks seem to drag on with no sunspots in sight. An image from helioseismic holography on Tuesday shows a spot on our Sun's far side. We hope it emerges in a week or 10 days on our side and hasn't died out by then. Spots emerge from time to time, but they are all old Solar Cycle 23 spots and they seem to fade quickly without much activity. Sunspot numbers for June 26-July 2 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 and 0 with a mean of 0. The 10.7 cm flux was 65.4, 66.1, 65.9, 66.6, 66.7, 65.6 and 65.9 with a mean of 66. Estimated planetary A indices were 16, 8, 7, 8, 6, 5 and 3 with a mean of 7.6. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 17, 7, 6, 7, 5, 4 and 1 with a mean of 6.7.

Vacation, Contesting and Friends -- Perfect Together!

Wed, 2 Jul 2008 20:06:00 +0000

Bright sun, good friends and a clean sweep.

FCC Amateur Radio Enforcement Correspondence Posted

Wed, 2 Jul 2008 18:42:00 +0000

The FCC has posted new Amateur Radio enforcement correspondence on its "Amateur Radio Service Enforcement Actions" Web page. Special Counsel in the FCC Spectrum Enforcement Division Riley Hollingsworth sent a letters to William G. Aber Sr, N2JAI (Warning Notice), and to Gateway Coal Mine (Warning Notice) of Coulterville, Illinois. Direct all questions concerning the Amateur Radio Service Enforcement Actions Web postings via e-mail only to the FCC Spectrum Enforcement Division.

ARRL Audio News: Jul 3, 2008; Vol 27 Number 26

Thu, 3 Jul 2008 20:06:35 GMT

ARRL Audio News--OPEN--In this edition . . .; ARRL Tells Red Cross of Remaining Background Check Policy Concerns; An Era Comes To a Close as Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, Retires; ARRL Audio News ID--Satellite Update--BREAK; Philadelphia Area Hams Nail Rogue Radio Signals; Get Ready for the IARU HF World Championship Next Weekend; Check Out the July/August NCJ; ARRL Audio News--News Briefs--CLOSE