***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 28, No. 25
June 26, 2009
***************
IN THIS EDITION:
* President Obama Makes His Mark on FCC with Four Nominees
* ARRL Seeks Court Action to Compel FCC to Comply with Ruling
* Governors Show Support for Amateur Radio as ARRL Field Day Approaches
* Tennessee Teen Ham Responds to Emergency, Performs CPR
* W1AW Announces 2009 Field Day Bulletin Schedule
* Ohio Section Manager Joe Phillips, K8QOE (SK)
* Solar Update
* IN BRIEF:
This Week on the Radio
ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration
ARRL Field Day in National Spotlight
ARRL to Close in Observance of Fourth of July
Second Edition of "VoIP: Internet Linking for Radio Amateurs"
Introduced
Due to storm-related power outages, there will be no ARRL Audio News for
Friday, June 26. We apologize for any inconvenience.
===========================================================
==>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
<k1sfa@arrl.org>;
===========================================================
==> PRESIDENT OBAMA MAKES HIS MARK ON FCC WITH FOUR NOMINEES
Just barely five months into his first term as President of the United
States, Barack Obama has put his personal stamp on the Federal
Communications Commission: On June 25, the US Senate confirmed Julius
Genachowski as FCC Chairman and reconfirmed current FCC Commissioner
Robert McDowell for his first full term as Commissioner. Earlier the
same day, he nominated South Carolina Democrat Mignon Clyburn and
Republican Meredith Attwell Baker for the two vacant Commissioner seats.
If confirmed by the Senate, Clyburn and Baker would bring the FCC to its
full complement of five Commissioners.
At around 7:25 PM (EDT), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) read
out only the numbers of the nominations corresponding to their numbers
on the day's calendar. Genachowski was calendar number 251, McDowell was
252. The process took only seconds and followers would have had to know
their calendar number on the day's agenda to know they had been
confirmed. Reid said that it was "too bad" that he could not give
individual recognition to the nominees beyond simply reading their
names, saying they were people who would "change lives." Click
<http://www.c-spanarchives.org/library/vidLink.php?b=1245972129&e=124597
2729&n=2> to watch a video clip f the confirmation.
According to Senate insiders, there were senators who reportedly had
some remaining issues over answers the nominees had provided to written
questions submitted after their confirmation hearing; a single senator
can put a hold on a nominee and prevent a vote. Reid had been working
since last week to get those holds lifted and the President's FCC
nominees in place as quickly as possible, said a Reid spokesperson: "As
with all of the President's nominees, it is important that we confirm
[Genachowski's] nomination as soon as possible so that he has a full
team to address the many issues confronting the nation."
President Obama nominated Genachowski to lead the Commission on March 3,
2009 <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/03/03/10684/?nc=1> and
renominated McDowell on June 2
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/06/03/10859/>. Both nominees
received bipartisan support from the Senate's Commerce, Science and
Transportation Committee before their names were moved to the full
Senate for confirmation: Genachowski received a 24-1 vote from the
committee, while McDowell received unanimous support. Genachowski is a
Democratic nominee, while McDowell is a Republican. Only three
Commissioners at a time may be members of the same political party.
Julius Genachowski
Genachowski, 46, is a technology executive and a former classmate of the
President's from Harvard Law School. Genachowski will take the seat of
Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein. Earlier this year, Adelstein was
nominated by President Obama to be the Administrator for the United
States Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/03/23/10716/?nc=1>.
Genachowski has been widely praised by industry executives and
consumer-activist groups -- two groups often at odds -- for his
wide-ranging experience and intimate knowledge of technology issues. "I
can think of no one better than Julius Genachowski to serve as chairman
of the Federal Communications Commission," said President Obama. "He
will bring to the job diverse and unparalleled experience in
communications and technology, with two decades of accomplishment in the
private sector and public service. I know him as the son of immigrants
who carries a deep appreciation for this country and the American dream;
and as the proud father of three children working with his wife Rachel
to be responsible parents in this digital age."
Acting Chairman Copps congratulated Genachowski on his Senate
confirmation: "I believe Julius brings just the right blend of talent,
experience and dedication to lead the FCC toward the more active role it
must play if all our citizens are to enjoy the blessings and bounties of
21st century communications. I look forward to welcoming both Julius and
his family into our FCC family. And I look forward to working with
Julius and all my colleagues at the Commission in tenacious pursuit of a
communications policy that truly puts the public interest first."
After graduating from law school, Genachowski clerked for federal judge
Abner Mikva; he also clerked for Supreme Court Justice David Souter.
Genachowski later served as chief counsel to Reed Hundt, chairman of the
FCC from 1993-1997. After leaving the FCC, Genachowski was a senior
executive at IAC/InterActiveCorp, Barry Diller's e-commerce and media
company. He went on to found an investment and advisory firm for digital
media companies and co-founded the country's first commercial "green"
bank. According to President Obama's campaign Web site, Genachowski
raised at least $500,000 for Obama during the presidential election
campaign.
Early in the Obama presidential campaign, Genachowski urged
then-candidate Obama to capitalize on the organizing power of the
Internet. The New York Times called Genachowski "a prolific fund-raiser
and chairman of the campaign's group of technology-policy advisers, who
produced a report advocating an open Internet, diversity in media
ownership and a nationwide wireless system for emergency personnel." The
Washington Post, which described Genachowski a "local venture
capitalist," credited him with "spearheading Obama's online campaign
strategy, which used social networking and other tools to spread Obama's
campaign message and raise record campaign contributions."
Genachowski explained in his Obama campaign blog that he "was fortunate
to chair the group that advised Senator Obama and the [Presidential]
campaign on the tech & innovation plan, a large and hardworking group
that generated terrific ideas, rooted in the great work that the Senator
and his strong Senate staff have been doing in this area for quite some
time."
The new FCC Chairman holds a BA in History from Columbia and a JD from
Harvard. While in law school, he served as notes editor of "Harvard Law
Review." Genachowski is married to lawyer and filmmaker Rachel Goslins.
The couple has two children and Genachowski has a son from his first
marriage.
Robert McDowell
McDowell, a Republican, was first nominated by President George W. Bush
and sworn into office in June 2006, filling the unexpired term of
Republican Kathleen Q. Abernathy.
According to the White House, McDowell has collaborated with his fellow
Commissioners to develop and establish American communications policy
covering the wireless, media and Internet industries, as well as
international policy matters. He has worked to create rules governing
wireless auctions, establish a framework for unlicensed use of TV "white
spaces" spectrum, develop incentives to encourage the development of new
broadband technologies, review public interest benefits as part of the
approval process of proposed corporate mergers and adjudicate
enforcement proceedings.
McDowell brings to the FCC 16 years of private sector experience in the
communications industry. Immediately prior to joining the Commission,
McDowell was a senior executive for a trade association representing
competitive facilities-based telecommunications service providers. He
has served on the North American Numbering Council (NANC) and on the
Board of Directors of North American Numbering Plan Billing and
Collection (NBANC).
McDowell was graduated cum laude from Duke University in 1985. After
serving as chief legislative aide to a member of the Virginia House of
Delegates, he attended the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College
of William and Mary. Upon his graduation from law school, McDowell
joined the Washington, DC office of Arter & Hadden, a national law firm,
now closed, that was based in Cleveland. McDowell is admitted to
practice law before the courts of the Commonwealth of Virginia, the US
District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and the US Courts of
Appeals for the District of Columbia, First, Fourth and Fifth Circuits,
as well as the US Supreme Court. He lives in Fairfax County, Virginia on
his family's farm with his wife Jennifer and their three children.
Mignon Clyburn
Clyburn, the daughter of House Majority Whip Representative James
Clyburn (D-SC), has served on the Public Service Commission of South
Carolina since 1998 <http://www.psc.sc.gov/>. The Public Service
Commission regulates South Carolina's investor owned public utilities,
including providers of telecommunications services. Before her election
to that body, she spent 14 years as the publisher and general manager of
"The Coastal Times," a weekly newspaper in Charleston, South Carolina.
In 1998, Clyburn was elected by the South Carolina General Assembly as a
Commissioner to represent the Sixth Congressional District; she has been
re-elected three times, chairing the Commission from 2002-2004. She is a
past chair of the Southeastern Association of Regulatory Utility
Commissioners, and is presently the chair of the Washington Action
Committee of the National Association of Regulatory Utility
Commissioners (NARUC). Clyburn also serves on NARUC's Audit Committee
and Utilities Market Access Partnership Board.
Clyburn graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor
of Science degree in Banking, Finance & Economics in 1984.
Meredith Attwell Baker
Baker, the daughter-in-law of former Secretary of State James Baker,
formerly served as the Acting Assistant Secretary for Communications and
Information and the Acting Administrator of the National
Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)
<http://www.ntia.doc.gov/> from 2007 to January 2009. Named as Deputy
Assistant Secretary in February 2007, Baker first joined NTIA as a
Senior Advisor in January 2004, and also served as Acting Associate
Administrator for the Office of International Affairs and on detail to
the White House, Office of Science and Technology Policy. Baker was
replaced by Larry Strickling, who received the Senate's nod to head the
NTIA on Thursday, June 25.
"We have serious concerns
<http://www.arrl.org/news/files/ItSeemsToUs0408.pdf> regarding the
nomination of Meredith Attwell Baker as an FCC Commissioner," said ARRL
Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ. "While Ms. Baker was Acting
Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information
Administration (NTIA), the NTIA released a deeply flawed report
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2008/02/01/101/?nc=1> entitled
'Networked Nation: Broadband in America 2007'
<http://www.ntia.doc.gov/reports/2008/NetworkedNationBroadbandinAmerica2
007.pdf>. The report seriously and inexcusably overstated the extent of
deployment of Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) as a means of delivering
broadband services to consumers. Documented FCC figures showed there to
be about 5000 BPL customers nationwide, yet the NTIA dismissed this
number out of hand and went on a fishing expedition for higher figures
that it could quote in the range of 200,000 to 400,000 -- utterly
specious numbers without a shred of factual foundation."
Sumner continued: "The ARRL proved that these figures were taken out of
thin air <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2008/02/06/100/> and twice
called upon Acting Administrator Baker to issue a correction. Not only
has the NTIA failed to do so to this day, our well documented complaints
were not even acknowledged. If her FCC nomination is to go forward, we
believe that Ms. Baker first must acknowledge and correct this egregious
error that occurred while she was in charge at NTIA."
Baker spearheaded the coupon program for digital-to-analog converter
boxes to help facilitate the transition to digital television. She has
served on delegations representing the United States at major
international telecommunications conferences and engaged in bilateral
discussions with senior level officials from countries around the world.
Before joining NTIA, Baker was Vice President at the firm of Williams
Mullen Strategies where she focused on telecommunications, intellectual
property and international trade issues. From 2000-2002, she held the
position as Senior Counsel to Covad Communications. Before that, she was
Director of Congressional Affairs at the Cellular Telecommunications
Industry Association (CTIA) from 1998-2000. In the 1990s, Baker worked
at the US Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit in Houston and later at the law
firm of DeLange and Hudspeth. From 1990-1992, she worked in the
Legislative Affairs Office of the US Department of State in Washington,
DC.
Baker earned a BA from Washington & Lee University in 1990 and a law
degree from the University of Houston in 1994. A member of the Texas
State Bar, she resides in McLean, Virginia with her family.
The President of the Senate will send notice of Genachowski's and
McDowell's confirmations to the White House. It is up to the White House
to decide on a date for their swearing-in. At press time, no word has
been received as to when Baker and Clyburn will face their confirmation
hearings.
==> ARRL SEEKS COURT ACTION TO COMPEL FCC TO COMPLY WITH RULING
On June 24, 2009, the ARRL filed a petition with the United States Court
of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit asking the Court to
order the Federal Communications Commission to comply with the Court's
2008 decision that remanded the FCC's ruling on Access BPL for further
action <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2008/04/25/10064/ >.
In its Petition for a Writ of Mandamus, the ARRL asks that the Court
"order the Commission to comply with the terms of the Court's mandate by
(1) soliciting comment on the unredacted studies placed in the
rulemaking record, and (2) providing a reasoned explanation of its
choice of an extrapolation factor for Access BPL (or issue a further
notice of proposed rulemaking proposing a different extrapolation
factor), within sixty days"
<http://www.arrl.org/news/files/BPLCourtMandamusPetition06242009.pdf >.
"What's at issue is the fact that after over a year the FCC has not
complied with the Court's order," said ARRL Regulatory Information
Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND. "The FCC needs to ask the public to comment
on the scientific studies conducted by the FCC and on which they relied
in their BPL decision. It also must either offer a reasoned explanation,
based on the scientific studies already in the FCC's record, for its
determination of the rate at which radiation from medium voltage power
lines carrying BPL decays with distance from the power line, or issue a
new Notice of Proposed Rule Making and seek comment on an appropriate
standard."
The Court of Appeals issued its decision April 25, 2008 and its mandate
on June 13, 2008. ARRL's petition asserts: "By March 31, 2009, the
Commission had taken no action with respect to the disclosure of the
unredacted scientific studies and had not therefore solicited public
comment on the unredacted studies. Petitioner, therefore, filed a
Freedom of Information Act request with the Commission seeking the
unredacted versions of the studies that the Court ordered be included in
the rulemaking record, and about which an opportunity for comment was to
be provided by the Agency."
ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, said that "We have been
waiting patiently for the FCC to fulfill its obligations under the Court
of Appeals decision, but after more than a year, it's clearly past time
for the Commission to act. Thanks to the release of the unredacted staff
studies in response to the ARRL's most recent FOIA request -- a request
that should not have been necessary for us to make -- we finally know
what the FCC withheld from public view back in 2004
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/05/08/10811/?nc=1 > and what they
now must deal with in order to resolve the regulatory uncertainty that
continues to hang over BPL. We are hopeful that under its new
leadership, the FCC will get back on track and will revise its rules
governing BPL interference to be consistent with the technical record
and sound science."
On May 1 of this year, the Commission released the unredacted studies
without comment or notice. As the ARRL's petition continues, "To date,
no public notice of that action has been given and no further action has
been taken by the Commission with respect to the provision of an
opportunity for the public to comment on the unredacted studies."
Henderson explained that "the release of the unredacted studies is only
a partial fulfillment of the Circuit Court's decision. The ARRL's
position is that further delay is not warranted by any reasonable,
factual standard. There is precedent in law that 'a reasonable time for
agency action is typically counted in weeks or months, not years.' It is
14 months since the Court's decision, and still the FCC has no timeline
to meet its mandated obligations."
The ARRL is asking that the Court order the Commission to comply with
the Court's order within 60 days. The petition states: "Given the
simplicity of the Commission's compliance with the two components of the
Court's Mandate on remand and the amount of time that the Commission has
already taken following the issuance of the Mandate, the Court need not
be concerned with the question of how much more time is needed for the
Commission to complete its tasks. Sixty days is more than enough to
solicit public comment on the unredacted studies and to justify, if it
can, the extrapolation factor, or to reopen the rulemaking proceeding in
order to determine a different, appropriate extrapolation factor."
==> GOVERNORS SHOW SUPPORT FOR AMATEUR RADIO AS ARRL FIELD DAY
APPROACHES
Governors across the United States have shown their support for Amateur
Radio, with many proclaiming Amateur Radio Week in their states.
Coinciding with ARRL Field Day <http://www.arrl.org/fieldday>, these
proclamations show citizens that these states value the contributions
made by radio amateurs.
ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, said that
ARRL Public Information Officers around the country were encouraged to
begin work on obtaining proclamations many weeks ago: "Hundreds of local
proclamations by city and county leaders -- as well as 25 state
proclamations -- have been made, with more expected. Proclamations from
the governors of Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida,
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska,
New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma,
Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming as well as
Delaware's State Senate, are not just recognitions of the past, but keys
for future political actions such as PRB-1
<http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/local/prb-1_program.html>
and legislative issues."
These state proclamations range from Ohio declaring June 27 as Amateur
Radio Day, to Florida, Delaware, Illinois, New Hampshire and
Pennsylvania pronouncing June as Amateur Radio Month in those states,
while other states have designated Amateur Radio Week in their states.
ARRL Field Day is many things to many people -- a competition to a
picnic to an emergency drill and more. But according to Pitts, it is
also a public relations event and groups can score more than 500 points
for working the public relations angle before the weekend even begins.
"Your fellow hams and club members probably already know about Field
Day," Pitts said, "but what about your local newspapers and radio and
television stations? Local media outlets are always looking for fun and
interesting things going on in their community." Having a media hit or
link is good for 100 points.
Instead of manning only the radios, how about manning a public
information table with brochures, signs and a smile? That's another 100
points. "The ARRL offers publicity materials
<http://www.arrl.org/brochures/> at no charge except a small shipping
fee," Pitts explained. "It's too late to receive ARRL brochures and
handouts if you have not already requested them, but go ahead and order
them -- you or your club will never know when the opportunity to tell
the world about Amateur Radio will pop up next."
If an elected official visits your Field Day site, you can earn 100
points. "This is easier than many folks might expect. All you have to do
is ask!" Pitts said.
If your state is one of the 23 states without a PRB-1 statute on the
books, Pitts suggests inviting your elected officials to your Field Day
site to see what Amateur Radio is all about. "Chances are, these folks
will see the importance of what we do, giving you an inroad into
discussing how they can help you get antennas in your community or even
across the state. It's amazing to think that a simple invitation could
lead to so much, but it's happened before -- why not make your Field Day
the next success story."
Visit the ARRL Web site to view the proclamations
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/06/24/10905/?nc=1>. For a list of
the many ways you or your club can earn bonus points this Field Day,
please be sure to check out the ARRL Field Day packet
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/forms/fd-2009-packet.pdf>.
==> TENNESSEE TEEN HAM RESPONDS TO EMERGENCY, PERFORMS CPR
It was just another day, helping out at another event. It was the third
year in a row that 16 year old Cody Anderson, KI4FUV, of Harriman,
Tennessee, had volunteered to help out the Roane County Amateur Radio
Club (RARC) with the Run for the Child event. But it was the first time
that he would help save a life.
May 30 dawned with fog in the sky. Not too hot, but the temperature
would reach the mid-80s before the Sun went down. All in all, a good day
for a race. Anderson made his way to the race site at the Roane State
Community College, set up his equipment at Checkpoint #2 and waited for
the runners to pass by. "This year started off just like the past two
years," he told his local newspaper, the Roane County News. Twenty
minutes later, that all changed.
Twenty minutes later as the runners started their second pass around the
marked course, Anderson saw one of the runners fall down. Unlike other
runners who fall down on a course, this man did not get up. After
waiting about 20 seconds, Anderson left Checkpoint #2 and quickly made
his way over to the downed racer. As he did so, he used his handheld
transceiver to notify his fellow club members who were at the event,
"Runner down."
Sheriff's deputies were also placed along the race route. One who was
near Anderson and Checkpoint #2 saw what was going on and came to
assist. As Anderson raced on foot, the deputy jumped in his patrol car
and drove to the fallen runner. Both reached the fallen runner in about
20 seconds.
RARC Vice President Cliff Segar, KD4GT, said that they all heard
Anderson racing toward the runner, "but we just assumed someone just
simply tripped and fell." But after hearing Anderson say "Roll EMS" over
the radio, he knew it was much more serious.
Another runner -- "I never got his name," Anderson said -- passed the
area where the teen and the sheriff's deputy were kneeling next to the
runner lying on the ground. The man stopped to help, checking out the
man on the ground, who was still breathing. Anderson got back on the
radio and told Bill Farnham, KI4FZT, at the command center that the
first responders who were on site needed to get to where he was --
immediately. "The man who stopped, I just kind of let him take over,"
Anderson told the ARRL. "He seemed like he had a bit of medical
training, and he started taking vital signs. I was talking to Bill on my
radio, letting him know what was going on."
Then the fallen runner stopped breathing.
In February, Anderson took a CPR class that another RARC club member --
Phil Newman, KE4LSH -- had organized. It was the skills he learned at
that class that came into play on May 30. He started giving the man
mouth-to-mouth resuscitation; the other runner started chest
compressions. "We did about three sets of CPR before the Roane County
Rescue guys got to us, just a second or two later" Anderson told the
ARRL.
"I'm just glad I was able to take the CPR training, else I don't know
what I would have done or how I would have reacted," Anderson told the
County Times. Anderson efforts, along with those of the unknown runner,
kept the man alive long enough for EMS to arrive and use an electronic
defibrillator to restart his heart. He was eventually transported to the
University of Tennessee Medical Center via Lifestar helicopter. "Last I
heard," Anderson said, "was that he was doing okay."
Anderson will begin his senior year at Rockwood High School this fall.
When he was 11, he sat for his Technician exam and passed; he is now a
General. He likes to help out with the Boy Scouts and give back to the
community through his SKYWARN and ARES(r) activities: "I volunteer five
weeks every summer to help out at Camp Buck Toms, a Boy Scout camp
located in Rockwood, Tennessee. Along with a few other volunteers from
the local area, I teach the radio and electronics merit badge courses.
Through the Amateur Radio Emergency Service, I've personally helped out
with several severe weather outbreaks, the TVA Kingston ash spill in
December 2008 and the Kingston Smokin' the Water 4th of July festival a
few times."
He is modest about the events of May 30. "I took my first training class
for CPR and AED in February 2009, thinking I would never have to use
it," he told the ARRL. "On May 30, 2009 -- I used it. I would highly
recommend that everyone takes some type of medical training."
Segar calls Anderson a hero. "You never know when training will possibly
be the difference between life and death," he said. -- Some information
from the Roane County News
==> W1AW ANNOUNCES 2009 FIELD DAY BULLETIN SCHEDULE
Stations active during ARRL Field Day -- June 27-28 -- are eligible to
receive 100 bonus points for copying the special Field Day bulletin
transmitted by W1AW (or K6KPH on the West Coast) according to the
schedule below. You must include an accurate copy of the message in your
Field Day submission. The Field Day bulletin must be copied via Amateur
Radio; it will not be included in Internet bulletins sent out from
Headquarters and will not be posted to Internet BBS sites.
W1AW will operate on the regularly published frequencies. The special
PSK31 bulletin will be transmitted on the regular W1AW teleprinter
frequencies. CW frequencies: 1.8025, 3.5815, 7.0475, 14.0475, 18.0975,
21.0675, 28.0675 and 147.555 MHz. Teleprinter frequencies (includes
PSK31): 3597.5, 7.095, 14.095, 18.1025, 21.095, 28.095 and 147.555 MHz.
Phone frequencies: 1.855, 3.990, 7.290, 14.290, 18.160, 21.390, 28.590
and 147.555 MHz.
Friday
CW: 5 PM PDT, 6 PM MDT, 7 PM CDT, 8 PM EDT
Teleprinter: 6 PM PDT, 7 PM MDT, 8 PM CDT, 9 PM EDT
Phone: 6:45 PM PDT, 7:45 PM MDT, 8:45 PM CDT, 9:45 PM EDT
CW: 8 PM PDT, 9 PM MDT, 10 PM CDT, 11 PM EDT
Saturday
CW: 7 AM PDT, 8 AM MDT, 9 AM CDT, 10 AM EDT
Phone: 8 AM PDT, 9 AM MDT, 10 AM CDT, 11 AM EDT
CW: 5 PM PDT, 6 PM MDT, 7 PM CDT, 8 PM EDT
Teleprinter: 6 PM PDT, 7 PM MDT, 8 PM CDT, 9 PM EDT
Phone: 6:45 PM PDT, 7:45 PM MDT, 8:45 PM CDT, 9:45 PM EDT
Sunday
CW: 7 AM PDT, 8 AM MDT, 9 AM CDT, 10 AM EDT
Phone: 8 AM PDT, 9 AM MDT, 10 AM CDT, 11 AM EDT
PSK31: 9 AM PDT, 10 AM MDT, 11 AM CDT, 12 PM EDT
The Maritime Radio Historical Society's K6KPH
<http://www.radiomarine.org/> will transmit the 2008 W1AW Field Day
message for the benefit of West Coast stations on 3.5815, 7.0475,
14.0475, 18.0975 and 21.0675 MHz, CW only. The frequencies for K6KPH
Teleprinter (RTTY and FEC AMTOR) will be 7.095 and 14.095 MHz. The K6KPH
schedule is accurate as of June 17, 2009.
Saturday
CW: 7:30 AM PDT, 8:30 AM MDT, 9:30 AM CDT, 10:30 AM EDT
CW: 5:30 PM PDT, 6:30 PM MDT, 7:30 PM CDT, 8:30 PM EDT
Teleprinter: 6:30 PM PDT, 7:30 PM MDT, 8:30 PM CDT, 9:30 PM EDT
Sunday
CW: 7:30 AM PDT, 8:30 AM MDT, 9:30 AM CDT, 10:30 AM EDT
Teleprinter: 9:30 AM PDT, 10:30 AM MDT, 11:30 AM CDT, 12:30 PM EDT
More information on ARRL Field Day is available on the ARRL Field Day
Web site <http://www.arrl.org/fieldday>.
==> OHIO SECTION MANAGER JOE PHILLIPS, K8QOE (SK)
Joe Phillips, K8QOE, who served as ARRL Ohio Section Manager since 1998,
passed away suddenly at his home on June 20. He was 68. Licensed in 1959
as KN9SYL, Phillips first joined the ARRL Field Organization as an
Official Emergency Station (OES) in 1986. He became a Public Information
Officer in 1989 and has served as an Official Observer (OO) since 1997.
He was elected Ohio Section Manager in 1998.
A graduate of Youngstown University, Phillips had a career as a
journalist and a teacher. He edited six separate ham radio newsletters
in Cincinnati before becoming Newsletter Editor for the Ohio Area
Repeater Council in 1984, a position he held for five years. In 1986,
Phillips organized the first Ohio Repeater Directory and in 1992,
organized the Ohio Section Ham Radio Newsletter Contest. He authored a
weekly ham radio newspaper column in the Sunday edition of the
Cincinnati Enquirer called "Ham Call" and hosted a similarly named
program for cable television in the Cincinnati area.
In 1994, Phillips was elected to the Greater Cincinnati Amateur Radio
Hall of Fame, and in 1995, he was the recipient of the ARRL's McGan
Silver Antenna Award. This award is given annually to a League member
who demonstrates outstanding public relations success on behalf Amateur
Radio at the local, state or national level. Phillips was excited about
having his photo on the cover of the May 2009 issue of QST featuring the
annual Dayton Hamvention.
"Throughout a 40-year friendship, Joe and I worked closely together on
many occasions," said ARRL Great Lakes Division Director Jim Weaver,
K8JE. "From his early days of supporting the county ARES/RACES unit and
the Ohio Repeater Council, Joe has always provided energetic and
effective leadership with a friendly, personal touch. The magnetism of
his style of leadership drew the best from others who soon became solid
friends, not mere associates."
ARRL Membership and Volunteer Programs Manager Dave Patton, NN1N,
remembered Phillips fondly: "If you have been to Dayton you have met and
laughed with Joe. He was the master of the Wouff Hong ceremony. His red
jacket is the stuff of legend in Ohio. Joe was more than a Section
Manager -- he really gave all of himself to ARRL for 20-plus years. With
him dies the last paper newsletter sent to section membership. When I
answered his phone calls, he announced his call with 'Here's your Ohio
Nightmare.' He loved baseball, maybe more than I did. He was a good man,
and he is really going to be missed."
==>SOLAR UPDATE
Tad "Child of delight, with sunbright hair" Cook, K7RA, this week
reports: Two new sunspots appeared last week, numbered 1022 and 1023,
and both were Solar Cycle 24 spots, with 1022 lasting through June 23
and 1023 until June 24. On June 24, geomagnetic indices were unsettled.
Sunspot numbers for June 18-24 were 0, 0, 0, 12, 24, 12 and 14 with a
mean of 8.9. The 10.7 cm flux was 68, 67, 67, 67, 68, 68 and 67 with a
mean of 67.4. The estimated planetary A indices were 4, 4, 6, 7, 3, 4
and 19 with a mean of 6.7. The estimated mid-latitude A indices were 2,
1, 5, 6, 2, 5 and 16 with a mean of 5.3. This weekend is ARRL Field Day,
and conditions should be stable; Planetary A index is predicted to be
around five, which is quiet.. 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 Emily Bronte
<http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Child_of_delight,_with_sun-bright_hair>.
__________________________________
==>IN BRIEF:
* This Week on the Radio: This week, ARRL Field Day is on June 27-28 --
look for a Field Day site near you
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/announcements/fd/locator.php>. The NCCC
Sprint and the Digital Pentathlon are on June 26. On June 27-28, check
out the His Majesty King of Spain Contest (SSB), the Ukrainian DX DIGI
Contest, the Marconi Memorial HF Contest and the ARCI Milliwatt Field
Day. The SARL Digital Contest is June 28 and the RAC Canada Day Contest
is July 1. Next week is the Digital Pentathlon on July 3. Check out the
Venezuelan Independence Day Contest, the WLOTA Contest, the DL-DX RTTY
Contest, the Original QRP Contest, the PODXS 070 Club 40 Meter
Firecracker Sprint (local time) Michigan QRP July 4th CW Sprint on July
4-5. The ARS Spartan Sprint is July 7. 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, June 28, 2009, for these online course sessions
beginning on Friday, July 10, 2009: Amateur Radio Emergency
Communications Level 1; Antenna Modeling; Radio Frequency Interference;
Antenna Design and Construction; Ham Radio (Technician) License Course;
Propagation; Analog Electronics, and Digital Electronics. 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 <cce@arrl.org>;.
* ARRL Field Day in the National Spotlight: Each year, the ARRL's Media
and Public Relations Department makes materials available to Public
Affairs Officers (PIOs) for use in promoting Field Day events. Most of
these are in forms that local groups can easily modify to include their
own information, but there is also a national press release that is sent
out direct from ARRL HQ over the news wire
<http://www.arrl.org/pio/press_releases/2009/0622.html>. ARRL Media and
Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, said many hams have seen
the press release -- either portions of it or in its entirety -- with
the headline Field Day -- Over 35,000 radio 'hams' active June 27-28.
"This press release has already been printed in hundreds of newspapers
and on Web sites, with more to come over Field Day weekend," Pitts
explained. "Wire news services, like other merchants, also run 'special
deals.' This year, we were also able to have our Field Day logo and
caption displayed in the news cycle on the PR Newswire-Reuters news
billboards in Times Square in New York City and in Las Vegas June 15-17.
For more information on ARRL Field Day -- June 27-28 -- please visit the
ARRL Field Day Web site <http://www.arrl.org/fieldday>.
* ARRL to Close in Observance of Fourth of July: ARRL Headquarters will
be closed in observance of Independence Day on Friday, July 3. There
will be no ARRL Audio News, W1AW bulletin or code practice transmissions
that day. The ARRL Letter will be posted a day early on Thursday, July
2. League Headquarters will reopen Monday, July 6 at 8 AM Eastern
Daylight Time. We wish everyone a safe and festive holiday weekend.
* "ARRL Introduces Second Edition of "VoIP: Internet Linking for Radio
Amateurs": Through a technique called Internet linking, ham radio
operators are harnessing the immediacy and portability of radio
communication to the global reach of the Internet. Today's radio
amateurs are using the Internet as the relay between their radio base
stations, handhelds and mobile transceivers for long-distance
communication, spanning thousands of miles. The ARRL has released a
second edition of "VoIP: Internet Linking for Radio Amateurs", the
complete guide to several of the most widely used Voice over Internet
Protocol (VoIP) systems used by today's radio amateurs, with particular
attention to EchoLink and the Internet Radio Linking Project (IRLP). The
book is designed for beginners as well as those hams who are long-time
VoIP users. If you're new to VoIP, you'll discover information on how to
get started, set up and use these systems. The more advanced ham will
find plenty of technical "meat" to dig deeper into VoIP applications and
discover how they actually work. Written by EchoLink creator Jonathan
Taylor, K1RFD, "VoIP: Internet Linking for Radio Amateurs" is available
for $21.95 from the ARRL Web site. Order your copy today
<http://www.arrl.org/catalog/?item=1431>.
===========================================================
The ARRL Letter is published Fridays, 50 times each year, by the
American Radio Relay League: ARRL--the national association for Amateur
Radio, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax
860-594-0259; <http://www.arrl.org/>. Joel Harrison, W5ZN, President.
The ARRL Letter offers a weekly e-mail digest of essential and general
news of interest to active radio amateurs. Visit the ARRL Web site
<http://www.arrl.org/> for the latest Amateur Radio news and news
updates. The ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org/> also offers
informative features and columns. ARRL Audio News
<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> is a weekly "ham radio newscast"
compiled and edited from The ARRL Letter. It's also available as a
podcast from our Web site.
Material from The ARRL Letter may be republished or reproduced in whole
or in part in any form without additional permission. Credit must be
given to The ARRL Letter/American Radio Relay League.
==>Delivery problems (ARRL member direct delivery only!):
letter-dlvy@arrl.org
==>Editorial questions or comments: S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA,
k1sfa@arrl.org
==>ARRL News on the Web: <http://www.arrl.org/>
==>ARRL Audio News: <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> or call
860-594-0384
==>How to Get The ARRL Letter
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Copyright 2009 American Radio Relay League, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
