***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 27, No. 44
November 7, 2008
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IN THIS EDITION:
* + The ARRL On-Line Auction: Going Once, Going Twice, GONE!
* + ARRL VEC Announces Exam Fee Increase
* + Richard Garriott, W5KWQ, Back on Terra Firma
* + ARRL ETP School Gets "Up Close and Personal" with Space
* + Fred Fish Memorial Award #1 Presented to Lee Fish, K5FF
* + ARRL NTS Second Region Net Expands to Include Eastern Canada
* Solar Update
* IN BRIEF:
This Weekend on the Radio
ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration
+ W1AW to Participate in Global Simulated Emergency Test
+ George Steber, WB9LVI, Wins October QST Cover Plaque Award
Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, Appointed Assistant Director
+ Available on ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/>
===========================================================
==>Delivery problems: First see FAQ
<http://www.arrl.org/members-only/faq.html#nodelivery>, then e-mail
<letter-dlvy@arrl.org>;
==>Editorial questions or comments only: S. Khrystyne Keane,
<k1sfa@arrl.org>;
===========================================================
==> THE ARRL ON-LINE AUCTION: GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE, GONE!
Not with a whimper, but with a definite bang of the gavel, the Third
Annual ARRL On-Line Auction closed on Friday, October 31 after nine days
of frenzied bidding for almost 200 items <http://www.arrl.org/auction>.
ARRL Business Services Manager Deb Jahnke, K1DAJ, said that she was
thrilled with the responses the Auction received during its run. The
generosity of many donors, Jahnke says, made it possible for the auction
to offer a diverse list of items that included transceivers, ARRL
Lab-tested and reviewed equipment, exotic vacations, vintage gear and
mystery "junque" boxes.
This year's auction had more products than the 2006 or the 2007 auction.
"Almost 1300 bids were placed this year on 197 items, auctioning off
more than $43,000 worth of merchandise," Jahnke said. In 2007, more than
1100 bids were received for 181 items; in 2006, 1300 bids were placed
for just over 100 items.
"For the third time in a row, the ARRL On-Line Auction did not
disappoint," said Jahnke. "Not only did we have an increase in the
number of items to bid on, we were so pleased to see a dramatic increase
in Business Partner donations to the Auction this year."
While R4 Systems <http://www.r4systems.com/> -- developers of the
Proteus Design Suite, a suite of tools for professional printed circuit
board design -- was a new face to the ARRL Auction family, many old
friends, such as ICOM <http://www.icomamerica.com/> returned. R4 donated
a Proteus Suite software package that sold for $728; ICOM donated an
IC-7000 HF/VHF/UHF All Mode Transceiver that eventually attracted 11
bids and sold for $1325.
One of the more popular items in this year's auction included four
"junque boxes," donated by the ARRL Lab. Garnering 77 bids between them,
these Amateur Radio treasure troves went for more than $250 each,
raising more than $1000. "We featured the 'junque boxes' in our first
auction, and they proved to be so popular with our bidders," Jahnke
said. "We brought them back last year, and once again, we couldn't
believe how they were all the rage. I can't even begin to describe how
well-received they were this year." The contents of each box are a
mystery, Jahnke said, known only to the ARRL Lab staff. "And they won't
tell!" she said.
A lucky bidder won the chance for a little DX with the vacation spot on
St Croix, donated by Vicky Thorland Oster and George Oster, NP2N (air
and ground transportation not included). This villa -- located about 100
meters above sea level with wonderful antenna views to EU, USA and Asia
-- has three operating stations equipped with multiple transceivers,
amplifiers, antennas and on-site electrical generation capability.
If you are interested in Emergency Communications, then the ARRL On-Line
Auction had a great deal for you: Emergency Starter Go Kits. These kits
include an abundance of everything today's amateur needs when heading
out to assist served agencies. Each kit contains an ICOM IC-V82 Sport
handheld transceiver, package of six AA batteries, a black tote bag to
hold all your gear, a reflective vest, an "ARRL Repeater Directory" and
an "ARES Field Resources Manual." Opening bids for each of the 13 kits
was $105, and together they raised $2214.
Proceeds from the auction benefit ARRL education programs, including
activities to license new hams, strengthen Amateur Radio's emergency
service training, offer continuing technical and operating education, as
well as create instructional materials.
==> ARRL VEC ANNOUNCES EXAM FEE INCREASE
On November 6, The ARRL VEC <http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/> announced
that as of January 1, 2009, the fee to take an ARRL Volunteer Examiner
(VE)-administered Amateur Radio license exam will increase by $1, from
$14 to $15. According to ARRL VEC Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, ARRL VE
teams may retain up to $7 of this fee to directly reimburse their teams'
out-of-pocket examination expenses; currently, VE teams keep $6. This is
the first time in four years that the examination fee has been adjusted.
Somma said that the FCC allows VECs to collect an examination
reimbursement fee from each candidate who takes one or more exam
elements. "VEs and VECs may be reimbursed by examinees for out-of-pocket
expenses incurred in preparing, processing, administering or
coordinating an examination for an amateur operator license (FCC Rule
97.527)," she said
<http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2002/octqtr/pdf/47cfr97.527.pdf>.
"These exam fees help the VEC recover its costs of providing its
services."
Saying that every examinee at each ARRL coordinated examination session
is charged the same fee in accordance with the annually-established fee
schedule, "Any person sitting for an exam, or having a new license or
upgrade processed at a test sessions, must pay the exam fee applicable
for the calendar year," Somma explained. "The ARRL VEC's exam fee for
calendar year 2009 is $15. Each time a candidate pays one exam fee, they
are entitled to take tests for Elements 2, 3 and 4 as needed, up to all
three elements under the single exam fee. Each time an examinee retakes
an exam element (assuming the VE Team has different exam design
available), another exam fee is charged."
VE teams may elect to keep a prescribed portion of each exam fee
collected exclusively to offset expenses that are directly incurred in
administering the VE program. "All out-of-pocket reimbursable expenses
shall be necessary and prudent, and must relate to the examination
process in some way," Somma said. "VECs and VEs are expected to use good
business judgment with respect to reimbursement amounts. The examination
reimbursement fee cannot be used to offset non-session related costs and
must be kept separate from other accounts."
Somma pointed out that business expenses such as postal, utility, fuel
and printing charges, are increasing: "Our VE teams are feeling the
effects of the current economy, too! Teams are retaining reimbursement
at amounts considerably larger than previous years. The amount of
out-of-pocket costs that our VEs and the VEC are expending to provide
authorized services in connection with Amateur Radio operator
examinations continues to rise."
Recent ARRL VEC cost-cutting steps have included staff reduction,
reduced printing charges of ARRL VE training material and exam software,
renegotiating shipping and printing contracts and eliminating
lesser-used services.
"Only so many cost-cutting measures can be justified without cutting
back significantly on services essential to our VE teams, our customers
and our program," Somma said. "As a result, an adjustment was needed in
the 2009 exam reimbursement fee if we intended to maintain the basic
levels of service that our VEs, VE teams and candidates have come to
expect."
Somma said that the ARRL VEC permits its VEs to retain a portion of the
exam fees they collect to directly reimburse themselves for
out-of-pocket expenses incurred in setting up and conducting their
examination sessions. "As long as the expense is warranted and has been
prudently incurred -- and the expense is specifically related to exam
administration -- then the fee can be retained," she said. "The team
should keep a complete record of the expenses paid (with receipts) in
team records for two years. Records must be made available to the ARRL
VEC upon request. Costs not related to the exam session processes or
paperwork are not reimbursable."
"We believe that the ARRL VEC's level of assistance and services are
outstanding," said ARRL Chief Operating Officer Harold Kramer, WJ1B.
"Exam supplies, such as paperwork and software, shipping costs both to
and from the VEC and ARRL VE accreditation, as well as credentials, are
all free of charge for our VEs. We maintain a toll-free number for our
VEs and we even offer reimbursement to the VE team for their expenses.
We appreciate the dedication and volunteerism of all our VEs in the
field. This is why we offer so many services free of charge. This is why
we have that same level of duty and commitment here. Every test fee we
collect goes right back into the VEC program and to serving the Amateur
Radio community."
==> RICHARD GARRIOTT, W5KWQ, BACK ON TERRA FIRMA
After 10 days on the International Space Station (ISS), Richard
Garriott, W5KWQ, returned to Earth October 23 on Soyuz TMA-12. Garriott
is the son of Owen Garriott, W5LFL, who in 1983 was the first ham to
make QSOs from space. While Richard was on board the ISS, he too made
QSOs, furthering what has now become a family tradition. "This mission
to the ISS fulfilled a lifelong dream to experience spaceflight, just as
my father first did 25 years ago [on STS-9]," Richard said. "It's an
honor to be the first American to follow a parent into space." Richard
took off from Star City in Kazakhstan on October 12.
While on board the ISS, Richard conducted scientific experiments and
environmental research -- he also had a chance to do quite a bit of
Amateur Radio, including sending slow-scan TV (SSTV) images
<http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/sstv.html>. Calling the chance to make
QSOs from space a "great opportunity," he described speaking directly
with hams and trading call signs to be an "unexpected joy" and said in
his blog that he was pleased "to find so many enthusiastic hams who were
so well informed and interested in my activities in orbit. When I began
my transmissions with preplanned SSTV images, including 'pirate
messages,' test patterns and family images, I did not know how they
would be received. But it seemed that fellow hams really enjoyed seeing
this beginning to my time on the International Space Station."
Through the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station program
(ARISS) <http://www.rac.ca/ariss/oindex.htm>, Richard made numerous
contacts via Amateur Radio with schoolchildren. He said he found
speaking to students "most rewarding...Growing up in an astronaut
family, I firmly believed that every person could go to space, and now I
have. I took this opportunity to inspire [the students] with my
adventure and let them know they can achieve their wildest dreams as
well with hard work and perseverance." To date, there have been 379
ARISS ISS-to-Earth QSOs.
Richard Glueck, N1MDZ, a teacher at Orono Middle School in Orono, Maine,
said students in his classes were excited about making contact via
Amateur Radio with Richard on the ISS. "Richard recorded our contact and
wished us well," Glueck told the ARRL. "We returned the greeting. It
made the afternoon for my Social Studies class. We made the contact
using straight FM voice. Our contact was heavy on the static, and we
were hearing Garriott respond to various hams in Iowa and Michigan, as
well. We heard the data transmission of the SSTV during the early
morning passes."
Saying he "clearly remembers" Sputnik in 1957, Glueck said the "growth
of space technology and human inhabitation impacts my life in a huge
way. I firmly believe that while modern kids take space flight and
satellites for granted, that this is a good thing, Amateur Radio is the
most significant manner in which teachers can get kids to interact with
spaceflight in a personal manner."
The Liberal Arts and Science Academy at LBJ High School in his hometown
of Austin, Texas was one of the many schools that Richard made contact
with. "It takes a lot to excite kids these days with the Internet and
cell phones, but when you tell kids you're going to talk directly to the
space station from our high school, with our own equipment, they're very
excited," teacher Ronny Risinger, KC5EES, told an Austin television
station. Student Jason Pan agreed: "Just come here and talk to an
astronaut...it's just unbelievable. Like you can't even really think
about it. It's just like something you can experience. I don't know, I
don't really have any words for it."
ARISS International Chairman Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, had nothing but praise
for Richard and his trip to the ISS. "We have all made history, starting
with Richard, W5KWQ, and his father Owen, W5LFL, and continuing with all
[who have] participated and/or volunteered in his ISS journey," Bauer
told the amateur community. "Along the way, we have sparked the
imaginations of thousands of students, and I understand [that Richard's
journey has] excited some youths to the point where they are now
licensed."
Calling Richard "prolific on the ARISS ham radio system," Bauer said
Richard made "hundreds of voice contacts, operating the packet system
during the crew sleep times and transmitting hundreds of SSTV images
throughout the day. He put the newest ARISS hardware, the Kenwood VC-H1,
to good use, performing the vast majority of contacts with this hardware
system coupled with the Kenwood D700 transceiver. The remaining SSTV
downlinks were performed with the software-based SSTV system."
Bauer said that given the limited availability of ISS computer systems,
"the ARISS team will continue to utilize the VC-H1 well after Richard's
flight. So don't be surprised if you see some VC-H1 SSTV operations from
Mike Fincke, KE5AIT, during his stay as the commander of Expedition 18."
Fincke is expected to return to Earth in late March 2009. Gregory
Chamitoff, KD5PKZ, and Yury Lonchakov RA3DT, are currently on board the
ISS, as well.
Richard said that after his first QSOs with Earth, he understood how
"well-networked" the global ham community really is: "I received
specific reports back through Mission Control-Moscow about the technical
aspects of my work and how the [amateur] community was enjoying the
transmissions. This redoubled my enthusiasm to do quality work for the
Amateur Radio legions around the world, as I realized how much it meant
to those with whom I had the chance to talk. By late in my flight, I had
contacted many hundreds of hams by voice and I have good records of
these contacts."
While in space, Richard performed a series of experiments for NASA that
examined the physical impact of spaceflight on astronauts. He observed
the reaction of the eyes to low and high pressure in a microgravity
environment, the effects of spaceflight on the human immune system, and
astronauts' sleep/wake patterns and sleep characteristics. He also
photographed a number of ecologically significant places on Earth on
behalf of The Nature Conservancy. The photographs will be compared to
shots taken 25 years ago by Owen Garriott while he was in space and will
be used to document how the Earth has changed in one generation. He also
worked in cooperation with the European Space Agency to perform a series
of experiments that observed early detection of osteoporosis, vestibular
(inner ear) adaptation to G-force transitions and the occurrence of
lower back pain.
On his last day in space, Richard sent SSTV "goodbye" images down to
Earth. "I also contacted many hams that had listened to or contacted my
father from space 25 years ago," he said. "Some hams I contacted 2 to 4
times on my flight. On those last days, I was very moved, when [I was
sent] sent many 'soft landing' messages from individuals and classrooms
full of children as I passed by. The ham community has added greatly to
my personal feelings of success on my flight. I can only hope that you
enjoyed it as much as I did."
==> ARRL ETP SCHOOL GETS "UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL" WITH SPACE
When Richard Garriott, W5KWQ, went onboard the International Space
Station (ISS), one of his main goals was to make contacts with
schoolchildren through the Amateur Radio on the International Space
Station (ARISS) program. According to ARRL ARISS Program Manager Rosalie
White, K1STO, Garriott requested that ARISS assist him in taking part in
a whole slate of varied ham radio activities. "The ARISS Team tagged up
on the air with Richard early on to check the radios and the schedule,"
she said. "Not only did he do a multitude of scheduled ARISS contacts,
he got on the air for random QSOs with hams around the world."
One of those scheduled contacts was to be on Sunday, October 19 with the
LBJ High School Amateur Radio Club, K5LBJ, at the Liberal Arts and
Science Academy at LBJ High School in Garriott's hometown of Austin,
Texas. The school is an ARRL Education and Technology Program (ETP)
school <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/tbp/>, formerly known as a "Big
Project" school; the Amateur Radio club is guided by Ronny Risinger,
KC5EES, a graduate of the ARRL's Teachers Institute on Wireless
Technology <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/tbp/ti.html>.
According to Risinger, K5LBJ had worked closely with several hams who
had already completed at least one or more direct ISS contacts,
preparing for the contact with Garriott. "Our group was confident in its
preparation," Risinger told the ARRL, "but those doubts always linger:
Did a rotator cable gain a gremlin as it was moved the morning of the
contact? Will the rotator decide to fail? Most importantly, will our
computer and software function correctly to track the ISS? But all of
the stress and worry about such issues melted away as soon as we called
'NA1SS, this is K5LBJ' and heard the faint, but unmistakable reply,
'K5LBJ, this is NA1SS.' From that moment on, I knew that the crowd that
had assembled in our school cafeteria in the early hours of a Sunday
morning would leave happy."
Risinger said that as soon as contact was established, "Richard began to
answer the questions posed by the students from K5LBJ and the Deep Wood
Elementary Amateur Radio Club, K5DWE." Calling the participating
students "very professional," Risinger said that each student stood in
line and eagerly awaited their turn at the mic.
"Never demonstrating any sign of nerves, each of the students -- ranging
in age from 8 to 18 -- carefully obtained the mic from the previous
student and relayed their question to the ISS," he said. "As the club
sponsor and liaison with the schools, I was extremely proud of the
students' confidence and poise as they spoke with Richard. They knew
that this was a 'failure is not an option' moment and they took their
role seriously. No one got 'mic fright' or ad-libbed a 'shout out to the
world.' This group of young people demonstrated the best of Amateur
Radio: Working together as professionals to achieve great things. In
this case, they created memories that will last a lifetime."
Like a row of ducks, the students approached the mic in succession. As
each asked their question, Richard gave a thorough but succinct answer.
"Thanks to the work of Bryan Bible, N5BTB, the audio from the
uplink/downlink was combined and fed into the school speaker system,"
Risinger said. "The audio from the contact was crisp and loud as it
filled the entire cafeteria. While the contact was going on, satellite
contact mentor Ron Parsons, W5RKN, treated the audience to the view from
the ISS." Using software and Google Earth, Risinger said that Parsons
projected the view of Earth from the ISS onto the wall. As the ISS
approached Texas, flags denoting major cities were displayed on the
projected view.
"If one watched closely, they would have seen a small flag marked
'Liberal Arts & Science Academy,' showing our location as seen from the
ISS," Risinger told the ARRL. "You can't but help to notice from the
projection just how fast the ISS is traveling. In just a matter of
minutes, the ISS 'view' showed several states crossing below."
The contact between the Austin school clubs and Richard had a 10 minute
window (ISS traveling horizon to horizon). Risinger said that after that
first faint response from Richard, the audio was loud and clear: "For
the next eight minutes, 11 students fired away a total of 20 questions
ranging from space sickness to how Richard's own experience as a space
traveler would affect his business model to promote private space
travel."
As the conversation took place, Risinger noted the time until LOS (loss
of signal) and realized that they were going to finish earlier than
planned. "While I had warned the audience that we may abruptly lose
contact with Richard if we went too long, I had not anticipated having
time to spare," he told the ARRL. "As the last student listened to
Richard's response, I took the microphone. In that moment, I thought of
all the things I could say. Something banal? Something witty? Instead,
when I heard silence, I could only tell Richard thank you for taking his
short time in space to contact our school. By my students' rough
calculations, Richard spent $20,000 of his time -- not to look out the
window at the glory of the Earth below, or to work on science
experiments -- but to speak with children. This rare act of kindness and
inspiration had to be noted. In response, Richard thanked our group and
remarked that through education and perseverance, students in our room
might also have the opportunity one day to travel to space. The wonder
of space travel and its links to Amateur Radio became real as we heard
him sign off, 'K5LBJ, this is NA1SS -- 73 from the International Space
Station.' As K5LBJ signed off as well, the room erupted in cheers. A
moment that had begun with butterflies ended in high-fives and a new
generation of students was inspired by the possibility of space travel."
According to Risinger, as the contact ended, the students beamed with
pride as they discussed the contact. Comments such as "I was really
nervous" and "It was cool!" echoed all around the cafeteria. "All
conveyed a deep satisfaction in achieving something unique, something
that only Amateur Radio could offer," he said.
After the crowd dispersed, the crew of adults that made the contact
possible began to tear down the equipment. "When I looked around the
room," Risinger said, "I could not help but notice that the entire chain
of command was standing before me. The people that worked together to
make this opportunity happen for the students were right here: Kenneth
Ransom, N5VHO, from Johnson Space Center; ARISS Liaison Gene Chapline,
K5YFL; Austin ARC Contact Coordinator Lee Cooper, W5LHC; Austin area
satellite mentor Ron Parsons, W5RKN; classroom mentor Joe Fisher, K5EJL,
and me, the classroom teacher. I reflected on the time and effort that
went into this contact. While the students only saw '10 minutes of
awesome!' I knew that it was due to the efforts of the people on this
team. Along with Richard Garriott, they had sacrificed of themselves to
benefit others -- they are Amateur Radio at its finest."
==> FRED FISH MEMORIAL AWARD #1 PRESENTED TO LEE FISH, K5FF
The first Fred Fish Memorial Award (FFMA) plaque has been awarded
posthumously to Fred Fish, W5FF (SK)
<http://www.arrl.org/awards/ffma/index.html>. The award was presented by
West Gulf Division Director Coy Day, N5OK, to Fish's widow Lee Fish,
K5FF, at the ARRL Forum at the Texoma Hamorama in Ardmore, Oklahoma on
October 25.
The FFMA was created to honor Fred Fish, W5FF, a legendary VHF+ operator
who became the first amateur to work and confirm all 488 Maidenhead grid
squares on 6 meters in the 48 contiguous United States. According to
ARRL Contest Branch Manager Sean Kutzko, KX9X, plaques bearing Fred
Fish's likeness will be awarded to any amateur who can repeat Fred's
accomplishment.
Several members of the Central States VHF Society (CSVHFS) were present
for the ceremony; Fred and Lee were members of CSVHFS for many years.
"Lee was visibly moved when she saw the photo of her late husband on the
plaque bearing his name," Kutzko said, "and her voice broke as she spoke
out loud, realizing that 'when award number 2099 is presented, Fred's
picture will still be on the plaque.' Lee also thanked the ARRL and the
Amateur Radio community for recognizing her husband's contributions to
Amateur Radio."
Both Lee and Fred were very active on the VHF bands, and earned Worked
All States (WAS) <http://www.arrl.org/awards/was/> on 6 and 2 meters, as
well as 222 and 432 MHz. Lee was the first person to get DXCC on 6
meters; Fred was the second. Kutzko said that the couple is remembered
as generous with their time to VHF newcomers.
More information on the Fred Fish Memorial Award, as well as other ARRL
operating awards, can be found on the ARRL Awards Program portion of the
ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org/awards/>.
==> ARRL NTS SECOND REGION NET EXPANDS TO INCLUDE EASTERN CANADA
As of November 1, 2008, the Second Region Net (2RN) of the ARRL National
Traffic System (NTS) expanded its reach, providing regular network nodes
for Canadian provinces in Eastern Canada
<http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/nts-mpg/>.
In a joint announcement last week, NTS Eastern Area Chair Marcia Forde,
KW1U, and Bill Thompson, W2MTA, NTS Second Region Net (2RN) Manager for
Cycles 2 and 3, invited those Canadian radio amateurs who handle traffic
to participate in Second Region Net operations as the Eastern Canada Net
(ECN) is no longer active. According to Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC)
<http://www.rac.ca/>, the ECN, a CW Net, handled traffic for Ontario,
Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Price Edward Island and Newfoundland
into the US for transcontinental transmission.
"This expansion of 2RN operations is intended to allow Section Nets in
the eastern provinces of Canada to have outlet to Eastern Area Net
operations and to allow inbound traffic to flow to those provinces of
Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes," Thompson said. "This is much the
same way as the more-western provinces in Canada currently interface
with the NTS RN7 (Seventh Region Net) and TEN (Tenth Region Net) nets."
Canadian operators are invited to participate in the 2RN operations in
addition to those of their provincial NTS Section Nets. The Second
Region Net operates four times daily on the 75 and 80 meter bands (3.925
and 3.576 MHz) in accordance with the NTS Four Cycle timetable using
Cycles 2, 3 and 4.
==>SOLAR UPDATE
Tad "The sway of magic potent over Sun and star" Cook, K7RA, this week
reports: Sunspot 1007 is still there, but probably rotating off the
visible solar disk sometime today. This is the eighth sunspot of the new
solar cycle -- and also the largest. Sunspot numbers for October
30-November 5 were 13, 16, 16, 17, 18, 14 and 11 with a mean of 15. The
10.7 cm flux was 66.8, 68.1, 66.7, 69.1, 69.5, 68 and 67.7 with a mean
of 68. The estimated planetary A indices were 11, 6, 1, 2, 1, 1 and 0
with a mean of 3.1. The estimated mid-latitude A indices were 11, 5, 0,
2, 1, 1 and 0 with a mean of 2.9. For more information concerning radio
propagation, visit the ARRL Technical Information Service Propagation
page <http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html>. To read this
week's Solar Report in its entirety, check out the W1AW Propagation
Bulletin page <http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/>. This week's "Tad
Cookism" brought to you by William Wordsworth's "Laodamia"
<http://www.bartleby.com/41/393.html>.
__________________________________
==>IN BRIEF:
* This Weekend on the Radio: This week, look for the NCCC Sprint on
November 7. The WAE DX Contest (RTTY), the JIDX Phone Contest, the OK/OM
DX Contest (CW), the Kentucky QSO Party and the CQ-WE Contest are all
November 8-9. The SKCC Weekend Sprintathon is November 9 and the RSGB 80
Meter Club Sprint (SSB) is November 13. Next week is the ARRL EME
Contest on November 15-16 and the ARRL Sweepstakes Contest (SSB) on
November 15-17. The NCCC Sprint is November 14.The JT Hamradio-50
Anniversary DX Contest and the Feld Hell Sprint are November 15. The
SARL Field Day Contest, the All Austrian 160 Meter Contest and the RSGB
2nd 1.8 MHz Contest (CW) are November 15-16. The EU PSK63 QSO Party is
November 16, the Run for the Bacon QRP Contest is November 17 and the
NAQCC Straight Key/Bug Sprint is November 20. All dates, unless
otherwise stated, are UTC. See the ARRL Contest Branch page
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/>, the ARRL Contest Update
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/update/> and the WA7BNM Contest Calendar
<http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html> for more info. Looking
for a Special Event station? Be sure to check out the ARRL Special Event
Station Web page <http://www.arrl.org/contests/spev.html>.
* ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration: Registration remains
open through Sunday, November 23, 2008, for these online course sessions
beginning on Friday, December 5, 2008: Amateur Radio Emergency
Communications Level 1 (EC-001), Radio Frequency Interference (EC-006),
Antenna Design and Construction (EC-009), Technician License Course
(EC-010), Analog Electronics (EC-012) and Digital Electronics (EC-013).
Each online course has been developed in segments -- learning units with
objectives, informative text, student activities and quizzes. Courses
are interactive, and some include direct communications with a
Mentor/Instructor. Students register for a particular session that may
be 8, 12 or 16 weeks (depending on the course) and they may access the
course at any time of day during the course period, completing lessons
and activities at times convenient for their personal schedule. Mentors
assist students by answering questions, reviewing assignments and
activities, as well as providing helpful feedback. Interaction with
mentors is conducted through e-mail; there is no appointed time the
student must be present -- allowing complete flexibility for the student
to work when and where it is convenient. To learn more, visit the CCE
Course Listing page <http://www.arrl.org/cep/student> or contact the
Continuing Education Program Coordinator <cep@arrl.org>;.
* W1AW to Participate in Global Simulated Emergency Test: On November 8,
W1AW, the Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station, will be participating in
the 2008 Global Simulated Emergency Test (GlobalSET), sponsored by IARU
Region 1 <http://raynet-hf.net/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=34>. The
event runs from 0400-0800 UTC, but due to the W1AW transmission
schedule, the ARRL station will be on the air from 0500-0800 UTC. ARRL
Emergency Preparedness and Response Manager Dennis Dura, K2DCD, and ARRL
Regulatory Information Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, will be on the air
from W1AW. According to event organizer Greg Mossop, G0DUB, the
GlobalSET is an exercise
<http://www.iaru-r1.org/GlobalSETNov08Rules-English.pdf> for
headquarters stations of IARU Member Societies and stations of emergency
communications groups -- it is not a contest. Activity will be
concentrated around the IARU Emergency Centre of Activity frequencies.
Where permitted by their licensing administration, participating
stations will use "/D" after their call sign, indicating distress or
disaster. A list of participating stations can be found onine
<http://www.raynet-hf.net/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=35>.
* George Steber, WB9LVI, Wins October QST Cover Plaque Award: The winner
of the QST Cover Plaque Award for October is George R. Steber, WB9LVI,
for his article "Experimenter's RF Spectrum Analyzer." Congratulations,
George! The winner of the QST Cover Plaque award -- given to the author
or authors of the best article in each issue -- is determined by a vote
of ARRL members on the QST Cover Plaque Poll Web page
<http://www.arrl.org/members-only/QSTvote.html>. Cast a ballot for your
favorite article in the November issue by Sunday, November 30.
* Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, Appointed Assistant Director: On October
25, ARRL Atlantic Division Director Bill Edgar, N3LLR, announced that he
had appointed Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, former Special Counsel for the
Spectrum Enforcement Division of the FCC's Enforcement Bureau, an
Assistant Director for the Atlantic Division; Hollingsworth retired from
the FCC earlier this year. Assistant Directors are personal appointees
of Directors who are chosen to aid in the normal routine of
administering the Division; they usually have knowledge or expertise in
a certain area concerning Amateur Radio. There are currently nine
Assistant Directors in the Atlantic Division.
===========================================================
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All Rights Reserved
