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Skriven 2019-10-11 09:05:16 av Sean Dennis (1:18/200.0)
Ärende: The Weekly ARRL Letter
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The ARRL Letter
October 10, 2019
* FCC Proposes Fining New York Radio Amateur $17,000 for Alleged
Deliberate Interference
* ARRL Public Relations Committee Invites Nominations for Bill
Leonard Award
* US Coast Guard Airs Proposal to End MF Navigational Telex (NAVTEX)
Broadcasts
* The Doctor Will See You Now!
* Hawaii Contest Station and Winlink Leveraged for 2019 Simulated
Emergency Test
* Ohio Sheriff Observes and Participates in ARES Simulated Emergency
Test
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* FCC Dismisses Three Petitions for Rule Making Filed by Radio
Amateurs
* Milwaukee Radio Amateurs' Club Celebrates Centennial of ARRL
Affiliation
* Anna Brummer, N2FER, Feted on her 105th Birthday
* Lynyrd Skynyrd Founding Member Larry Junstrom, K4EB, SK
* In Brief...
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
FCC Proposes Fining New York Radio Amateur $17,000 for Alleged
Deliberate Interference
Harold Guretzky, K6DPZ, of Richmond Hill, New York, is facing a $17,000
FCC fine for allegedly causing intentional interference on a local
repeater and preventing other radio amateurs from using it. The FCC
issued a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture (NAL) on October
3.
"Given his history as a repeat offender, this violation warrants a
significant penalty," the FCC said in the NAL.
The NAL recounted numerous complaints alleging that Guretzky was
deliberately interfering with a repeater in Glen Oaks, New York. In
June of 2017, the FCC issued a Warning Letter to Guretzky, advising him
of the nature of the allegations against him and directing him to stop
using the repeater going forward. Nonetheless, additional complaints
were filed. In April 2018, agents from the FCC New York Enforcement
Bureau office drove to Richmond Hill to investigate and to advise him
in writing that he was prohibited from using the local repeater.
After the FCC received further complaints, an Enforcement Bureau agent
monitored the VHF repeater's input and output frequencies and, after
observing deliberate interference to other stations, used
direction-finding techniques to identify the source of the transmission
as Guretzky's station.
"The agent monitored and recorded the transmissions emanating from
Guretzky's station for several hours that afternoon and heard him
interfering with the local repeater," the NAL said. "Later, the agent
heard Guretzky making threatening comments toward other amateur
operators." The following month, FCC Regional Director David Dombrowski
spoke with Guretzky by telephone, noting the continued complaints and
and cautioning him against using the repeater.
In the NAL, the FCC said Guretzky demonstrated "a deliberate disregard
for the Commission's authority and the very spirit of the Amateur Radio
Service by continuing to interfere with the local repeater" despite
having been warned. Read more.
ARRL Public Relations Committee Invites Nominations for Bill Leonard
Award
The ARRL Public Relations Committee is seeking ARRL members' assistance
in recognizing print, radio, and television/multimedia news stories
that have best showcased Amateur Radio this year. Nominations are open
for the 2019 Bill Leonard Award, which honors professional journalists
or journalistic teams whose outstanding coverage highlights the
enjoyment, importance, and public service value of the Amateur Service.
The award honors its namesake, the late CBS News President Bill
Leonard, W2SKE (SK), who was an avid radio amateur and advocate.
Awards are presented in each of three categories -- print/digital,
audio, and visual. Nominations are judged by members of the ARRL Public
Relations Committee, and the ARRL Board of Directors will make the
final decision on award recipients at its January 2020 meeting. The
award winner in each category, either an individual or a group, will
receive an engraved plaque, and a $250 contribution will be made in
each winning entry's name to the charitable organization of their
choice.
To be considered:
* Nominees must be professional journalists or professional
journalistic teams in print, electronic media, or multimedia.
* A nominee's work must have appeared between December 1, 2018 and
November 29, 2019, in English in a commercially published book,
recognized general-circulation (non-trade) daily or weekly
newspaper, general or special interest magazine (except
publications predominantly about Amateur Radio), commercial or
public radio or television broadcast (including services delivered
via cable), a website operated by a generally-recognized
journalistic organization (e.g., newspaper, magazine, broadcast
station, or network), or multimedia format intended for and readily
accessible to the general public within the US.
* The scope of the work nominated may be a single story or series.
* Stories must be truthful, clear, and accurate, reflecting high
journalistic standards.
* Submission may be by the author of the work or on his or her behalf
by another individual who believes the work merits the award.
Entries must be received at ARRL Headquarters, c/o Communications
Manager, ARRL, 225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111, by 5 PM on November
29, 2019.
For more information, contact ARRL Communications Manager David Isgur,
N1RSN (telephone 860-594-0328). Visit the award web page for award
rules. Scroll down the page for a link to a downloadable nomination
form.
US Coast Guard Airs Proposal to End MF Navigational Telex (NAVTEX)
Broadcasts
The US Coast Guard is seeking comments on a proposal that it may stop
broadcasting medium-frequency (MF) Navigational Telex (NAVTEX). The
service says it first will ensure that the information contained in
NAVTEX broadcasts is available via International Maritime
Organization-recognized satellite services. Interested parties may
submit comments online by November 12. The proposal is docket
USCG-2019-0702. Comments should include the docket number, specific
section of the document to which each comment applies, and a reason for
each suggestion or recommendation. Comments may be anonymous.
"Current MF NAVTEX equipment is in dire need of replacement. The
equipment is antiquated, and essential replacement parts are difficult
to find and expensive, placing overall operation of MF NATEX at risk,"
the Coast Guard said. "Any approved GMDSS satellite terminal will be
able to receive this information."
NAVTEX is an international automated service for radio delivery of
navigational and meteorological warnings and forecasts, as well as
urgent maritime safety information. It provides a low-cost means of
broadcasting this information to ships out to approximately 100
nautical miles offshore. NAVTEX is part of the Global Maritime Distress
and Safety System (GMDSS) which has been incorporated into the Safety
of Life at Sea (SOLAS) treaty, to which the US is a party. The US Coast
Guard operates the system nationwide.
System coverage is reasonably continuous in the east, west, and Gulf
coasts of the US, as well as the area around Kodiak, Alaska; Guam, and
Puerto Rico. The US has no coverage in the Great Lakes, although
coverage of much of the Lakes is provided by the Canadian Coast Guard.
The US Coast Guard originally only installed NAVTEX at sites where
Morse code messages had been previously transmitted, and some coverage
gaps exist.
"We believe the transition from terrestrial broadcast to satellite will
provide for more reliable delivery of NAVTEX information and allow
better, more cost-effective products in the future," the Coast Guard
said.
The Doctor Will See You Now!
"Antenna EnTRAPment! All about Traps" is the topic of the new (October
10) episode of the ARRL The Doctor is In podcast. Listen...and learn!
Sponsored by DX Engineering, ARRL The Doctor is In is an informative
discussion of all things technical. Listen on your computer, tablet, or
smartphone -- whenever and wherever you like!
Every 2 weeks, your host, QST Editor-in-Chief Steve Ford, WB8IMY, and
the Doctor himself, Joel Hallas, W1ZR, will discuss a broad range of
technical topics. You can also email your questions to doctor@arrl.org,
and the Doctor may answer them in a future podcast.
Enjoy ARRL The Doctor is In on Apple iTunes, or by using your iPhone or
iPad podcast app (just search for ARRL The Doctor is In). You can also
listen online at Blubrry, or at Stitcher (free registration required,
or browse the site as a guest) and through the free Stitcher app for
iOS, Kindle, or Android devices. If you've never listened to a podcast
before, download our beginner's guide.
Hawaii Contest Station and Winlink Leveraged for 2019 Simulated
Emergency Test
ARES volunteers in Hawaii took the opportunity of the 2019 Simulated
Emergency Test (SET) on October 6 (UTC) to test Winlink radio messaging
to the US mainland, using the KH6YY (KH6J) contest station on O'ahu.
One of the premier contest stations in the middle of the Pacific Ocean,
KH6YY offers a commanding propagation path over an expanse of
saltwater.
"You have to start with digital modes somewhere," ARRL Pacific Section
Manager Joe Speroni, AH0A, said.
A view from above: The KH6YY (KH6J)
contest station.
A group of radio amateurs has developed a robust Winlink system in the
Hawaiian Islands to help support communication in a natural disaster.
The Amateur Radio email system is well known for its role in emergency
and disaster relief communications, providing the ability for users to
exchange email with attachments, photos, position reporting, weather,
and information bulletins.
KH6YY sports eight antennas, most on 90-foot towers, and nine operator
positions. For the SET, the station was configured to receive traffic
on 7,100 kHz (dial frequency) in PACTOR, WINMOR, ARDOP, and VARA modes.
The four-element 40-meter beam was aimed at Hilo. Simulating an
internet outage, the setup was used to pass received traffic to a
second 20-meter gateway on 14,100.5 kHz and forwarded to a mainland
gateway with internet access.
Incoming message traffic on 40 meters would be automatically forwarded
to the mainland on 20 meters. Most of the traffic went to gateways in
Mexico and Texas for forwarding to the internet. One user reported
receiving email confirmation that a message was received within
minutes. Read more. -- Thanks to Stacy Holbrook, KH6OWL
Ohio Sheriff Observes and Participates in ARES Simulated Emergency Test
One public official in Ohio not only observed the ARES Simulated
Emergency Test (SET) this month but participated in it with Greene
County ARES (GCARES). Greene County Sheriff Gene Fischer, KX8GCS
("Greene County Sheriff"), checked in when the Resource Net Control,
Bob Baker, N8ADO, called for volunteers. Although the suggested
scenario called for only using simplex, GCARES employed the Xenia
Amateur Radio Weather Net (XWARN) repeater to reach out for as many
volunteers as possible. Volunteers then switched to a simplex tactical
net to communicate with the GCARES Command Center.
Greene County Sheriff Gene
Fischer, KX8GCS.
Before the SET, Fischer let Greene County ARES Emergency Coordinator
Henry Ruminski, W8HJR, know that he planned to participate in the SET
to determine how well his handheld radio would perform in an emergency
situation. While he found it okay for getting into the resource net, it
was less than adequate for effective simplex operation.
Sheriff Fischer had an intense introduction to ham radio in the spring
of 2017 when the Dayton Hamvention^(R) moved to Xenia, and his
department dealt with traffic control and other issues created by the
influx of more than 25,000 visitors. At the urging of several hams,
Fischer subsequently got his license, and his wife became relicensed.
Fischer has since upgraded to General.
Ruminski said the SET was "relatively successful." Signals could have
been better from some locations, but most stations were able to
communicate with command, he said. Lessons learned will be used to
improve future emergency communication plans.
The K7RA Solar Update
No sunspots appeared over the past week, and in the prior week there
were only two days with sunspots, so the average daily sunspot number
declined from 3.1 to 0.
Average daily solar flux nudged higher, but just barely, from 67.6 to
67.8.
Geomagnetic indicators were much lower this week, with average daily
planetary A index retreating from 14.4 to 6.3, while the mid-latitude
average went from 11 to 5.3.
Predicted solar flux for the next 45 days is 68. That's correct -- on
every day for the next month and a half, October 10 through November
23, the solar flux is forecast to be 68.
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
* October 12 -- QRP ARCI Fall QSO Party (CW)
* October 12 -- FISTS Fall Unlimited Sprint (CW)
* October 12 -- Microwave Fall Sprint (CW, phone)
* October 12 - 13 -- Makrothen RTTY Contest
* October 12 - 13 -- Nevada QSO Party (CW, phone)
* October 12 - 13 -- Oceania DX Contest, CW
* October 12 - 13 -- Scandinavian Activity Contest, SSB
* October 12 - 13 -- SKCC Weekend Sprintathon (CW)
* October 12 - 13 -- Pennsylvania QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
* October 12 - 13 -- Arizona QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
* October 12 - 13 -- South Dakota QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
* October 12 - 13 -- PODXS 070 Club 160-Meter Great Pumpkin Sprint
(Digital)
* October 13 -- UBA ON Contest, CW
* October 13 -- UBA ON Contest, 6 Meters (CW, phone)
* October 14 -- 4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint (CW, phone)
* October 14 -- RSGB 80-Meter Autumn Series (CW)
* October 17 -- AGCW Semi-Automatic Key Evening (CW)
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.
FCC Dismisses Three Petitions for Rule Making Filed by Radio Amateurs
The FCC has dismissed petitions for rule making filed in 2018 by three
radio amateurs. All of the petitions were put on public notice earlier
this year and comments invited.
Edward C. Borghi, KB2E, of Farmington, New York, and Jeffrey Bail,
NT1K, of West Springfield, Massachusetts, submitted very similar
petitions seeking changes in how the FCC grants Amateur Radio vanity
call sign applications. Borghi's Petition (RM-11834), would have
prohibited vanity applicants from requesting call signs not designated
for the applicant's geographical region, with some exceptions. He
complained that applicants had to compete with "out-of-area people for
the few 1 * 2 or 2 * 1 or catchy 2 * 3 call signs available in their
area of residence."
Bail's Petition (RM-11835) asked the FCC to give residential preference
in competing applications to applicants whose listed FCC address is
within the same district/region as the applied call sign. He cited
limited availability and increased demand for 1 * 2 and 2 * 1 call
signs. The FCC dismissed both petitions in a single letter.
"When the Commission established the vanity call sign system in 1995,
it rejected a proposal to restrict vanity call sign applicants to call
signs designated for the region in which the applicant resides," the
FCC wrote, because it would restrict a given applicant's choice of
vanity call signs to 10% or less of those otherwise assignable.
The FCC concluded that no need exists to require vanity call signs to
correspond to a licensee's mailing address, "given that call signs do
not automatically change when a licensee moves, and a licensee's
mailing address is not necessarily the location from which he or she is
transmitting." The FCC said it rejected similar proposals in the past
for the same reasons.
The FCC also turned away a Petition (RM-11833) from Jerry Oxendine,
K4KWH, of Gastonia, North Carolina, who asked the FCC to clarify that
states and localities should have no authority to regulate Amateur
Radio with respect to enacting "distracted driving" statutes. Oxendine
argued that such statutes violate FCC rules on scope and operation of
equipment by licensees; violate the intent of the FCC and Congress with
respect to Amateur Radio's role in disasters, and hinder emergency
operations using mobile equipment.
In denying the request, the FCC took issue with Oxendine's assertion
that the strong federal interest in promoting Amateur Radio
communication should preempt distracted driving laws.
"Laws that prohibit talking on handheld communications devices while
driving do not preclude or unreasonably obstruct mobile use of handheld
two-way radios," the FCC said in denying Oxendine's petition. "These
laws apply to the use of handheld devices while driving. A driver can
comply with these laws by using a hands-free attachment or by parking
the vehicle prior to using a handheld device, both of which are
contemplated by our rules regarding two-way radios."
The FCC said, "The record before us does not demonstrate that state and
local laws that prohibit talking on handheld devices while driving
stand as an obstacle to amateur communications or actually conflict
with federal law in any way." Read more.
Milwaukee Radio Amateurs' Club Celebrates Centennial of ARRL
Affiliation
Members of the Milwaukee Radio Amateurs' Club (MRAC) on September 28
celebrated the radio club's 100th anniversary of ARRL affiliation
during the 2019 ARRL Central Division Convention, held September 27 -
28. The convention, held during the HRO Superfest, was hosted by Ham
Radio Outlet at its Milwaukee location.
MRAC was formed in January 1917. In 1919, after World War I, ARRL
introduced the concept of having local radio clubs officially affiliate
with ARRL to formalize a network for relaying message traffic from
coast to coast. MRAC was granted ARRL affiliation on December 5, 1919,
as one of a group of 10 clubs. In 1970, MRAC was recognized as the only
one of that first group of clubs that was still active, making it the
oldest ARRL-affiliated club.
ARRL CEO Howard Michel, WB2ITX
(left), presented a plaque to MRAC
Club President David Schank, KA9WXN,
on behalf of the ARRL Central
Division.
MRAC sponsored the first-ever ARRL Central Division Convention in 1928,
and it organized an ARRL National Convention in 1948. The club produced
a video in 2017 that recounts its rich history.
MRAC today has a full calendar of annual activities that include
regular club meetings featuring speakers and presentations covering a
variety of topics. The club participates in ARRL Field Day each June,
conducts regular license exam sessions, and holds an annual swapfest. A
group of club members are currently developing an Amateur Satellite
station and related resources, which they plan to use to support a
local school as part of an educational outreach program. Club members
are also Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES^(R)) volunteers,
supporting public service communication for events throughout the
region and during emergencies.
Anna Brummer, N2FER, Feted on her 105th Birthday
When she turned 80, Anna Brummer, N2FER, of Fort Edward, New York,
predicted she would live to be 100. On September 27, she topped her own
forecast by 5 years, as she celebrated her birthday at the Fort Hudson
Nursing Center, surrounded by family and friends. The only thing she
wanted was a drink of Scotch whiskey, and the nursing home obliged,
along with a slice of cake. Unit Manager Donna Hopkins told Post Star
newspaper reporter Gretta Hochsprung that she didn't attempt to put 105
candles on Brummer's cake because it would have been a fire hazard.
Brummer told Hochsprung that the secret to longevity is being nice to
people.
"Keeps you young when everything's going smooth," she told the
reporter.
Anna Brummer was a latecomer to Amateur Radio. In 1984, her son
Richard, K2JQ (ex-K2REB), got his mom and his dad, Edwin, interested in
Amateur Radio, and Anna obtained her Technician license when she was 69
years old. Edwin Brummer, who died in 1996, was N2FEQ, and held a Tech
Plus ticket. They were married for 56 years.
No official records are kept, but Anna Brummer is among a small circle
of centenarian radio amateurs in the US and may be the oldest woman
holding a license. Read more.
Lynyrd Skynyrd Founding Member Larry Junstrom, K4EB, SK
Southern Rocker Larry "LJ" Junstrom, K4EB, died on October 6. He was
reported to be 70. Junstrom was a founding member and bassist of Lynyrd
Skynyrd, although he left the group before it recorded its first album.
He's better known as a member of another Southern Rock band, 38
Special, with which he performed from 1977 until retiring in 2014.
"The Big Man on the Big Bass has left us," a statement on the 38
Special website said. "He rocked arenas all over the world and
succeeded in living his dream. He was truly one of a kind, a congenial
traveling companion and a great friend to all with a humorous slant on
life that always kept our spirits high -- a kind man with a big heart
for everyone who crossed his path."
Licensed in 1962 as WN2LKF, later becoming WA4LKF, he was a regular
attendee of Orlando HamCation. Junstrom was inactive in Amateur Radio
during his busy years on the road but picked up the hobby again in 1990
and became an avid DXer with 347 entities in mixed DXCC. He was a
frequent check-in to the Musicians' Net on 40 meters.
After retiring, Junstrom worked in real estate in north central
Florida.
In Brief...
The ARRL Board of Directors' Executive Committee (EC) will meet on
October 12 in Denver, Colorado. The meeting agenda includes legal,
legislative, and organizational matters as well as reports from ARRL
President Rick Roderick, K5UR; ARRL CEO Howard Michel, WB2ITX, and
Washington Counsel David Siddall, K3ZJ. The EC will consider an ex
parte filing on ARRL's petition for rule making (RM-11785) to the FCC
to create a new, contiguous secondary Amateur Service band at 5 MHz,
filed in January of 2017. In its petition, ARRL asked the Commission to
keep four of the current five 60-meter channels -- one would be within
the new band -- as well as the current operating rules, including the
100 W PEP effective radiated power (ERP) limit.
The Tokelau Islands ZK3A DXpedition has ceased operation early. Due to
the illness of an Island resident, the ZK3A Tokelau Islands DXpedition
shut down a couple of days ahead of schedule. "ALL TEAM MEMBERS ARE
FINE!" said an announcement on the ZK3A website. "A person on the
island is ill. So, they have sent the boat there early to get this
person medical help. The team has ceased operations and [is] packing up
all equipment to get on that boat, because there will not be another
boat for 10 days." As of October 8, ZK3A had logged approximately
50,000 contacts in 7 days of operation on CW, SSB, RTTY, FT8, and EME,
as well as 10 contacts on slow-scan TV. The DXpedition had been set to
conclude on October 11.
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Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
* October 11 - 12 -- PNWVHFS Conference and Meeting, Issaquah,
Washington
* October 11 - 12 -- Florida State Convention, Melbourne, Florida
* October 13 -- Connecticut State Convention, Meriden, Connecticut
* October 18 - 19 -- Delta Division Convention, East Ridge, Tennessee
* October 18 - 20 -- Pacific Division Convention, San Ramon,
California
* October 19 -- 21st Wisconsin ARES/RACES Conference, Wisconsin
Rapids, Wisconsin
* October 26 -- South Carolina Section Convention, Conway, South
Carolina
* November 2 - 3 -- Georgia State Convention, Lawrenceville, Georgia
* November 16 -- Indiana Section Convention, Fort Wayne, Indiana
* December 13 - 14 -- West Central Florida Section Convention, Plant
City, Florida
Find conventions and hamfests in your area
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* Origin: Outpost BBS * Limestone, TN, USA (1:18/200)
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