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Ärende: Weekly ARRL Letter
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The ARRL Letter
June 13, 2019
* Paul Bourque, N1SFE, Joins ARRL Headquarters Staff as Contest
Program Manager
* Rick Murphy, K1MU, to Receive ARRL President's Award
* Tuning Electrically Short Antennas for Field Operation
* So Now What? Podcast
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* QRZ Institutes Password Security, Seller Verification Programs
* WSJT-X Developer Posts Observations on Using FT8 in June VHF
Contest
* Wireless Power Transmission Prompts Discussion in ITU-R Study
Group
* Proposed WRC-23 Agenda Items Causing Concern
* In Brief...
* Getting It Right
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
Paul Bourque, N1SFE, Joins ARRL Headquarters Staff as Contest Program
Manager
Paul Bourque, N1SFE, of Middletown, Connecticut, has joined the ARRL
Headquarters staff as Contest Program Manager. He succeeds Bart
Jahnke, W9JJ, who recently was promoted to the post of ARRL
Radiosport and Field Services Manager. Licensed since 1994, Bourque's
interest in radio began when, as a youngster, he listened for distant
AM stations, and he later developed a career involving various
aspects of broadcasting.
"Originally, I wanted to be a DJ, but I ended up being drawn to the
technical/engineering side of the radio business," Bourque said. His
journey into Amateur Radio started during his time as the host of an
overnight free-form rock music show at WWUH Radio at the University
of Hartford, and the station's general manager, John Ramsey, W1JNR,
pushed him to get his license.
Because being an Amateur Radio operator had opened several
professional doors for him, Bourque said, "The opportunity to give
back to this hobby as Contest Program Manager really appealed to me."
Bourque, who grew up in Newington, remarked that working at ARRL
Headquarters "is like coming home." In his early years as a radio
amateur, he was more of a casual contester, and it "was about making
contacts," he conceded. Today, though, he has become passionate about
getting people active and on the air. As Contest Program Manager,
Bourque wants to find ways to get newer hams into contesting, and to
dispel the idea that you need tons of equipment to participate.
Bourque's other interests include cooking, astronomy, photography,
and meteorology.
Rick Murphy, K1MU, to Receive ARRL President's Award
At its May 20 meeting in Dayton, Ohio, the ARRL Executive Committee,
acting on behalf of the Board of Directors, conferred the prestigious
ARRL President's Award on Rick Murphy, K1MU, one of the unsung heroes
of Logbook of The World (LoTW). The President's Award recognizes
individuals showing long-term dedication in support of ARRL programs.
Murphy was credited for his work to upgrade and improve the LoTW TQSL
software to help users more easily and successfully use LoTW. Murphy
was cited for single-handedly rewriting TQSL to make it accessible to
those with limited vision, to display information in languages other
than English (more than 10 so far), and for providing consistent
online support to users.
"Rick is richly deserving of this honor for his efforts to make the
TQSL application and Logbook of The World more accessible to all
users," said ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR. "Rick Murphy
embodies the spirit of unselfish volunteerism that represents the
best of Amateur Radio."
An information security professional, Murphy, who lives in Annandale,
Virginia, is coauthor (with Rickland D. Hollar) of the book
Enterprise Web Services Security. He's a volunteer Incoming QSL
Bureau card sorter for the 3rd call district and a past president of
the National Capital DX Association.
The President's Award plaque bears the likeness of ARRL's cofounder
and first president Hiram Percy Maxim, W1AW.
Tuning Electrically Short Antennas for Field Operation
An article,"Tuning Electrically Short Antennas for Field Operation,"
by two well-known amateurs, appeared in Microwave Journal. Authored
by QEX Editor Kai Siwiak, KE4PT, and award-winning researcher Ulrich
Rohde, N1UL, the article points out that both Amateur Radio and
military applications exist for 20 W battery-powered radios equipped
with whip antennas. "In general, the whip antenna [that] makes the
radio portable is not optimized for signal propagation: A whip
antenna has no ground return or proper counterpoise," the article
notes. "While some users drag a wire of up to 8 meters behind, this
is not an ideal solution."
Rohde's al fresco test stand
for short HF antennas.
[Photo courtesy of Ulrich
Rohde, N1UL]
As the article explains, electrically short antennas -- typically 0.1
I¯ or shorter -- look like a capacitor, with a typical capacitance of
25 pF per meter of length. "At 2 MHz, where the wavelength is 150
meters, an inductor of 84 I¬H is required for resonance," the article
says. But just getting a good VSWR is not all there is to it.
Rohde told ARRL that loading coil placement in a short vertical
antenna is critical, and "the greater the elevation of the coil, the
better the radiation. He said that "center loading" -- he considers
the "best compromise" to be more on the order of two-thirds' loading
-- can dramatically affect both the antenna's transmitting and
receiving performance, as opposed to base loading, as found with
popular so-called screwdriver antennas. Radials of some sort also are
essential.
As the article points out, "With center loading, both the radiation
resistance and integrated surface are larger, which are better for
radiation." Inductors are the lossy components of an antenna tuner,
while capacitors "are infinitely better." The authors conclude that,
for optimal operation, antenna radials should be 0.25 I¯, with one
sufficient for tuning, and up to four producing a symmetrical
azimuth. "Connecting the HF radio ground to a large metallic object
is a good choice," the article said.
Ulrich told ARRL that optimizing an antenna in the manner the article
describes will produce "significantly better" signal reception,
although a short antenna will also have a narrower bandwidth. The
objective should not be to get a good VSWR but to keep in mind that
there's a difference between resonance and radiation.
"These requirements for optimum antenna performance make HF manpack
radios somewhat complicated and unattractive," the authors concede.
"Nonetheless, the well matched and radiating antenna provides the
most success, and some of these highly portable radios provide vital
communications in disaster areas -- recently in Puerto Rico and South
Florida."
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So Now What? Podcast
"Highlights from Hamvention" is the focus of the new (June 13)
episode of the So Now What? podcast for Amateur Radio newcomers. It
will feature segments from Tony Milluzzi, KD8RTT, and Andy Milluzzi,
KK4LWR, of The Collegiate Amateur Radio Initiative (CARI); Teachers
Institute instructor Tommy Gober, N5DUX, who was at the ARRL Lifelong
Learning booth this year; Jet Jurgensmeyer, KE0UWZ, of Last Man
Standing, and Space Weather Woman Tamitha Skov, WX6SWW. Two aspiring
hams -- Sarah Byrne, who works in emergency management, and Valencia
Simpson, who has assisted ARRL at Dayton Hamvention^A(R) for the past
5 years -- also will be guests.
If you're a newly licensed Amateur Radio operator, chances are you
have lots of questions. This biweekly podcast has answers! So Now
What? offers insights from those who've been just where you are now.
New episodes will be posted every other Thursday, alternating
new-episode weeks with the ARRL The Doctor is In podcast.
So Now What? is sponsored by LDG Electronics, a family owned and
operated business with laboratories in southern Maryland that offers
a wide array of antenna tuners and other Amateur Radio products.
ARRL Communications Content Producer Michelle Patnode, W3MVP, and
ARRL Station Manager Joe Carcia, NJ1Q, co-host the podcast. Presented
as a lively conversation, with Patnode representing newer hams and
Carcia the veteran operators, the podcast will explore questions that
newer hams may have and the issues that keep participants from
staying active in the hobby. Some episodes will feature guests to
answer questions on specific topic areas.
Listeners can find So Now What? on Apple iTunes, Blubrry, Stitcher
(free registration required, or browse the site as a guest), and
through the free Stitcher app for iOS, Kindle, or Android devices.
Episodes will be archived on the ARRL website.
The K7RA Solar Update
Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: The long string of days with no
sunspots continues, with spots last observed nearly a month ago, on
May 18. Predicted solar flux for the next 45 days is 70 on June 13 -
20, and 68 on June 21 through July 27.
The predicted planetary A index is 12 and 8 on June 13 - 14; 5 on
June 15 - 23; 8, 12, and 8 on June 24 - 26; 5 on June 27 - July 5;
10, 8, 10, and 8 on July 6 - 9; 5 on July 10 - 20; 8, 10, and 8 on
July 21 - 23, and 5 on July 24 - 27.
Scott Avery, WA6LIE, wrote to report his experiences during the ARRL
June VHF Contest last weekend. "During the day, expecting sporadic E,
we were influenced by a lot of meteor scatter caused by the Beta
Taurids, a daytime event that is not advertised, as it is not seen
and only radio astronomers and hams would be interested," he said. "I
spent a lot of time on 6 meters, FT8 mode [and a] little SSB/CW, and
the same with 2 meters. I was bombarded with pings [of] CQ TEST, and
that station was gone. This happened for most of the daylight hours
with [few contacts]." Avery said an opening to Japan yielded a few
contacts. A Sunday multi-hop sporadic E opening to the east coast
also occurred, he said.
Sunspot numbers for June 6 - 12 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, and 0, with a
mean of 0. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 68.9, 68.9, 68.4, 68.4, 68.9,
69.7, and 69.5, with a mean of 69. Estimated planetary A indices were
3, 4, 18, 6, 3, 3, and 4, with a mean of 5.9. Middle latitude A index
was 4, 6, 14, 8, 4, 3, and 5, with a mean of 6.3.
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 K9LA's Propagation Page.
A propagation bulletin archive is available. Monthly charts offer
propagation projections between the US and a dozen DX locations.
Share your reports and observations.
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Just Ahead in Radiosport
* June 15 -- ARRL Kids Day (Phone)
* June 15 -- Feld Hell Sprint
* June 15 -- AGCW VHF/UHF Contest (CW)
* June 15 - 16 -- SMIRK Contest (CW, phone)
* June 15 - 16 -- All Asian DX Contest, CW
* June 15 - 16 -- Ukrainian DX Classic RTTY Contest
* June 15 - 16 -- ARR BPSK63 Contest
* June 15 - 16 -- IARU Region 1 50 MHz Contest (CW, phone)
* June 15 - 16 -- Stew Perry Topband Challenge (CW)
* June 15 - 16 -- West Virginia QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
* June 16 -- WAB 50 MHz Phone Contest
* June 17 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)
* June 19 -- RSGB 80 Meter Club Championship, CW
* June 20 -- NAQCC CW Sprint
See the ARRL Contest Calendar for more information. For in-depth
reporting on Amateur Radio contesting, subscribe to The ARRL Contest
Update via your ARRL member profile email preferences.
QRZ Institutes Password Security, Seller Verification Programs
In an effort to combat fraudsters and password phishers, the popular
QRZ Amateur Radio website is offering the option of establishing
two-factor authentication (2FA) for its registered users. The site's
founder and president, Fred Lloyd, AA7BQ, explains that 2FA secures a
user's password on the site.
"With 2FA, your actual password becomes nearly moot, and revealing it
to a crook has no detrimental effect," Lloyd told ARRL. "With 2FA,
you need the one-time code, and that's the only thing that will work.
It's a solid technology that is rapidly gaining in popularity."
Lloyd said that when a user logs into the site with 2FA, the
validation for the session is stored in the user's browser as an
encrypted cookie that can live for up to 30 days. He said QRZ.com
staffers have been using 2FA successfully for a couple of years now.
A video has been posted that demonstrates how to get started with 2FA
without using a cell phone to receive codes.
Although 2FA will not become a requirement in order to log onto
QRZ.com, a separate seller verification system has been instituted
for anyone marketing ham gear via the Swapmeet forum. As of July 1,
only those enrolled in the Verified User program will be able to list
in that forum. Users may opt out of the Verified User program for the
rest of the site.
"While verification is available to anyone on QRZ, it is required
only in the Swapmeet section," Lloyd told ARRL. "Lately, there has
been as many as a scam per day in the Swapmeet, and sometimes a
popular radio model will be sold several times before it comes to our
attention. One false listing can net any number of victims before
it's discovered."
QRZ Founder and President Fred
Lloyd, AA7BQ.
Lloyd explained that these fake listings are being placed using the
accounts of users who have been tricked into giving out their log-in
passwords though elaborate phishing schemes. "There is virtually
nothing that QRZ can do to prevent phishing attacks, as a great many
users never even know that they've been hacked," Lloyd allowed.
"Scammers find it relatively easy to trick the users into supplying
their actual passwords."
Setting up two-factor authentication is the first step to becoming a
QRZ.com Verified User. Information on becoming a Verified User is
available to those registered on the site via their Account page,
accessible from the QRZ main page. Once they've secured their
accounts with 2FA, members will have to submit photographic
identification to QRZ in order to complete the Verified User process.
Read more.
WSJT-X Developer Posts Observations on Using FT8 in June VHF Contest
WSJT-X developer Joe Taylor, K1JT, has tentatively concluded that
there are good reasons to use both FT4 and FT8 in ARRL VHF contests.
The latest beta version of FT4 was not available for the event, but
Taylor noted that FT4 will be available for future contests
(the current -rc7 beta version will not be usable during ARRL Field
Day either). Taylor, who was active in the VHF event over the past
weekend, made the remark in a post to the Packrats reflector. Taylor
reported making 433 contacts (21 dupes) in 152 grids, all, by and
large, on FT8.
"Most of the time there was enough sporadic E and tropo-scatter to
keep things busy using FT8," Taylor observed. "In this event, meteor
scatter using MSK144 was not, score-wise, time efficient."
Taylor said he operated from home only on 6 meters and only on
digital, "mainly to see how FT8 plays in a June VHF Contest." He
operated for 21 of the contest's 33 hours and left his receiver
running on 50.313 MHz when not in the shack.
Joe Taylor, K1JT.
[Bob Inderbitzen,
NQ1R, photo]
"During the contest period, I decoded 45,375 transmissions from
others in the 4 kHz window starting at 50.313 MHz," Taylor recounted.
"That's an average of about 11 decodes per 15-second receive cycle."
Taylor said he seldom, if ever, found that a single 3 or 4 kHz window
was "too crowded" with activity. "There were nearly always some open
spots, even with nearly everyone in the first 2.7 kHz of the window,"
he said.
Taylor also speculated as to how the twice-as-fast FT4 might have
fared, being 4 dB less sensitive than FT8 and having an 80 Hz
bandwidth instead of FT8's 50 Hz bandwidth.
"My guess is that something like 80 - 85% of my QSOs could have been
completed using FT4, most of them in half the time than it took in
FT8," Taylor said.
Wireless Power Transmission Prompts Discussion in ITU-R Study Group
The emerging wireless power transmission (WPT) technology and
associated applications came under closer scrutiny during the
May/June meeting of International Telecommunication Union
Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) Study Group 1 and its Working
Parties. Participants wrapped up 7 days of sessions in Geneva on June
7, with International Amateur Radio Union Region 1 (IARU-R1)
President Don Beattie, G3BJ, representing the IARU. The primary
concern over WPT centers on its interference potential.
"Work was advanced on reports on WPT at 100 - 148.5 kHz for low-power
charging of portable devices, for WPT for electric vehicles (WPT-EV)
at around 20, 60, and 85 kHz, and for 'beam' WPT for remote
charging," IARU Region 1 reported. "All of these technologies have
the potential for harmful interference to radiocommunication services
if not carefully managed, particularly the harmonics of the WPT
systems."
The IARU has submitted formal studies on the impact of WPT on the
Amateur Service, and these have been incorporated into a single
completed report and will inform a new recommendation being developed
on WPT emissions.
IARU says it's advocating "proper emission limits" to protect radio
services and is working with other spectrum users and administrations
that share its concerns.
IARU Region 1
President Don
Beattie, G3BJ.
The ITU meetings discussed emerging proposals for WPT-EV emission
limits from the International Special Committee on Radio Interference
(CISPR), where there is a level of concern that these limits fall
short of providing the necessary protection to radiocommunication
services. Founded in 1934, CISPR sets standards for controlling
electromagnetic interference in electrical and electronic devices and
equipment.
The issue of WPT-EV is World Radiocommunication Conference 2019
(WRC-19) Agenda Item 9.1.6. In a WPT status report at the IARU Region
1 Interim Meeting in Vienna in late April, Beattie said the Amateur
Service is "highly susceptible to any increase in the background
noise level," such as that WPT might generate.
He said frequencies being planned for WPT are 19 - 21 kHz for high
power; 55 - 65 kHz and 79 - 90 kHz for medium power, and 100 - 148.5
kHz for lower power -- but still up to 2.4 kW.
"WPT is generally high duty cycle, located in residential areas, and
its harmonics are likely to be spread across a band of frequencies,
in some cases the whole of the HF spectrum," Beattie said in his
presentation to the Vienna interim meeting. Read more.
Proposed WRC-23 Agenda Items Causing Concern
Two proposals under discussion in Europe as possible World
Radiocommunication Conference 2023 (WRC-23) agenda items "could
impact important Amateur Radio frequencies," IARU reported this week.
Included is a proposal from France to consider the 144 - 146 MHz band
as a primary allocation to the Aeronautical Mobile service, as part
of a broader consideration of spectrum allocated to that service.
IARU also cautioned the amateur community against overreacting to the
news.
France will submit a paper containing a proposal for an agenda item
for "new non-safety Aeronautical Mobile applications" at the June 17
- 21 Conference Preparatory Group meeting of the European Conference
of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) in Prague.
The 144 - 146 MHz segment is a primary global Amateur and Amateur
Satellite allocation. IARU said it "views with grave concern any
proposal to include this band in the proposed study" and pledged to
"energetically" promote this viewpoint in the appropriate forums "to
seek to obtain assurances that the spectrum will remain a primary
allocation for the amateur services."
Another proposal has been raised to study the 23-centimeter amateur
allocation, 1240 - 1300 MHz, following reports of interference to the
Galileo navigation system -- Europe's GPS system. IARU said it's
aware of "a handful of cases" of reported interference to the Galileo
E6 signal on 1278.750 MHz. According to IARU, joint studies have been
carried out to assess the vulnerability of the system and, based on
these, it considers the proposal to initiate an Agenda item for
WRC-23 premature.
IARU asked its member-societies to "refrain at this time from making
speculative public comments about the situation until further
progress has been made in regulatory discussions," and said it's
ready to discuss the issue with other non-IARU societies.
One European Amateur Radio organization already has called for radio
amateurs to "occupy" 2 meters on June 15 for 1 hour in protest of the
French proposal.
In Brief...
Support ARRL as you shop Amazon Smile for Father's Day, Sunday, June
16. If you're looking for the perfect gift, we invite you to shop at
AmazonSmile and choose American Radio Relay League Inc. (ARRL) as
your charity of choice. With every purchase you make at AmazonSmile,
Amazon will make a contribution to ARRL. This helps the League to
extend its reach in public service, advocacy, education, technology,
and membership. Amazon has a large variety of gifts that are perfect
for Father's Day, including electronics, clothing, ham radio
equipment, and more. Make Dad's day! Get him something extra special
this year while supporting his favorite hobby. Bookmark ARRL's link
and support Amateur Radio and ARRL every time you shop online.
AMSAT President and ARRL Life Member Joe Spier, K6WAO, has been
awarded Russia's E.T. Krenkel Medal. The prestigious honor is
bestowed on individuals and organizations for outstanding global
contributions to Amateur Radio. Spier has also served AMSAT as
Executive Vice President, and Vice President, Educational Relations.
The award's namesake, Ernst Teodorovich Krenkel, was a radio amateur
who, over the years, used the call signs RAEM, U3AA, and UA3AA. Spier
became AMSAT President in 2017. He's a supporter of Amateur Radio on
the International Space Station (ARISS) and of scientific, technical,
engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. Spier also is a Life
Member of the Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers (SARA). ARRL
Headquarters staff alumna and Life Member Ellen White, W1YL, was
awarded the Krenkel medal in May. -- Thanks to AMSAT
Getting It Right
The story, "Emergency Messaging Demonstration for Red Cross, FEMA is
a Success, in the June 6 edition of The ARRL Letter omitted Virginia
from the list of states where radio amateurs participated in the
exercise.
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Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
* June 15 -- W8DXCC DX Convention, Owensville, Ohio
* July 19 - 21 -- Nevada State Convention, Reno, Nevada
* July 25 - 27 -- Central States VHF Conference, Lincoln, Nebraska
* July 26 - 27 -- Ham Holiday, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
* August 2 - 3 -- Austin Summerfest, Austin, Texas
* August 3 - 4 -- Cedar Valley ARC Hamfest/Midwest STEM Techfest,
Central City, Iowa
* August 8 - 6 -- Society of Midwest Contesters Specialty
Convention, Normal, Illinois
* August 8 - 10 -- Rocky Mountain Division Convention, Ogden, Utah
* August 9 - 11 -- Pacific Northwest DX Convention, Everett,
Washington
* August 17 - 18 -- Huntsville Hamfest, Alabama State Convention,
Huntsville, Alabama
* August 23 - 25 -- West Virginia State Convention, Weston, West
Virginia
Find conventions and hamfests in your area.
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