Subject: The ARRL Letter, Vol 22, No 32
*************** The ARRL Letter Vol. 22, No. 32 August 15, 2003 ***************
IN THIS EDITION:
* +Blackout response proves hams' readiness * +ARRL president wants more Spectrum Protection Act cosponsors * +UK youngsters enjoy ham radio space chats * +Two more countries drop Morse requirement for HF * +Roy Neal, K6DUE, SK * +LF beacon on the air from Alaska * +Contributions aiding BPL campaign * Solar Update * IN BRIEF: This weekend on the radio ARRL Emergency Communications course registration ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration Corrections ISS commander takes a bride by proxy
+Available on ARRL Audio News
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==>HAMS A BRIGHT SPOT DURING POWER BLACKOUT
When a power blackout struck at least a half dozen eastern states August 14, many Amateur Radio operators were ready and able to provide whatever assistance they could. Hardest hit were metropolitan areas like New York City, Detroit and Cleveland. In New York, residents and commuters found themselves stranded in electricity-dependent elevators and subway or rail cars while visitors ended up stuck at airports, which were forced to shut down. With the cellular systems overloaded or out altogether, the incident turned into a test of Amateur Radio's capabilities to operate without commercial power.
"It was a good drill," said New York City-Long Island Section Emergency Coordinator Tom Carrubba, KA2D. But, he adds, it was a cautionary tale too. "The lesson is that everybody gets a little complacent," he said. "Have emergency power backup and make sure it's working!"
By and large, Carrubba said, ARES members did what they were trained to do. "It's going to show the worth of Amateur Radio," he said of the blackout response. "There were people on the air immediately."
Diane Ortiz, K2DO, the Public Information Coordinator for NYC- Long Island was one of them. When power went down in her Suffolk County community, she started up an informal VHF net. Over the next 20 hours or so, it passed some 500 pieces of what Ortiz described as largely "health-and- welfare traffic."
"People are getting on and helping," she said. In addition to handling messages for people stranded in the city, amateurs also relayed useful information, such as which stores or filling stations were open and operating. With many radio and TV stations dark, and hams were able to help fill the information void, Ortiz said.
In the Big Apple itself, ARES teams provided communication support for Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs) set up at main transportation centers in Manhattan. ARES members also accompanied ERVs on fire calls.
RACES activated in most Greater New York City area counties after a state of emergency was declared. Some ARES teams--including a few across the Hudson River in New Jersey--activated or remained on standby to help if called upon. In New Jersey, a net linked the Red Cross lead chapter's N2ARC in Princeton with other New Jersey ARC chapters.
Michigan Section Manager Dale Williams, WA8EFK, reports scattered ARES activations. Williams, who lives in Dundee south of Detroit, was without power August 15 and relying on his emergency generator. Some Michigan ARES teams assisted emergency operations centers and the Red Cross.
In Ohio, Section Emergency Coordinator Larry Rain, WD8IHP, reports that all ARES organizations in northern Ohio were activated after the power grid went down. Still going strong at week's end were ARES teams in Cleveland and Akron. "ARES is handling communication support for Ohio Emergency Management in the affected cities and communities," Rain said. Ohio VHF and UHF nets and the Ohio SSB net on HF have been handling blackout-related traffic.
Nancy Hall, KC4IYD--who lives 20 miles west of Cleveland--said she's glad she'd taken the ARRL Emergency Communications Level I class. "I have to say that being a ham and knowing about emergency preparedness did make life easier for me and my family," said Hall, who's now signed up for the Level II class.
New England states were far less affected by the blackout. ARES/RACES operators in the region were on standby after the blackout. Only Connecticut and sections of Western Massachusetts reported significant outages, and ARES nets activated in both states.
Bill Sexton, N1IN/AAR1FP, an Army MARS member, said his emergency power capability permitted him to check into the Northeast SHARES (National Communications System HF Shared Resources Program) net and maintain e-mail contact after Berkshire County lost power.
"The experience proved once gain the great strength of ham radio in an emergency," Sexton said. "It is self-starting, and it is everywhere."
==>HAYNIE URGES MORE LETTERS TO POTENTIAL SPECTRUM BILL COSPONSORS
ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, wants to see more letters urging members of Congress to sign on as cosponsors of the Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act bills in the US House and Senate. The identical measures, an ARRL initiative, are on their third try in Congress. Noting that cosponsor counts have changed little over the past month and that some lawmakers he's contacted had not yet heard from constituents, Haynie encouraged more League members to take the effort to write, call or e-mail their representatives and senators to explain the bills' importance.
"Those letters are everything to a congressperson or a senator," Haynie said. "Without letters from constituents, we're just spinning our wheels." Conceding that Broadband over Power Line (BPL) has been taking the limelight in recent days, Haynie said passage of the Spectrum Protection Act remains important to the overall future of Amateur Radio.
The Spectrum Protection Act would require the FCC to provide "equivalent replacement spectrum" to Amateur Radio if the FCC reallocates primary amateur frequencies, reduces any secondary amateur allocations, or makes additional allocations within such bands that would substantially reduce their utility to amateurs.
A sample letter on ARRL's The Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act of 2003 Web page http://www.arrl.org/govrelations/arspa.html cites Amateur Radio's role in public service activities. The page also contains information on how to identify and contact members of Congress and links to the Thomas Web site http://thomas.loc.gov/, where the bills' text and a list of cosponsors are available.
"Just bringing the Spectrum Protection Act to the attention of your senator or representative is a major help in this effort," Haynie said. "This is not one of those cases where we're looking for donations. This is something that you--as a member--can do on behalf of Amateur Radio, and the most it will cost you is some stationery and a 37-cent stamp."
Those writing their lawmakers on behalf of the Spectrum Protection Act are asked to copy their correspondence to the League via e-mail specbill03@arrl.org.
HR 713 now has 44 cosponsors, while the identical S 537 has six. Cosponsorship lends support to legislation while it's in committee, and Haynie says letters and e-mails from members to their lawmakers remains the key to getting the legislation passed.
==>UK PRIMARY SCHOOLERS, SCIENCE CAMPERS TALK WITH ISS VIA HAM RADIO
Youngsters at two locations in England got to speak via ham radio with NASA International Space Station Science Officer Ed Lu, KC5WKJ, this month. Pupils at Neston Primary School in Wiltshire talked with Lu--at the controls of NA1SS--on August 6. A group of somewhat older space campers--aged 11 to 13--at Soar Valley College in Leicester had the same opportunity two days later. Both successful contacts were arranged via the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program http://www.rac.ca/ariss/.
The primary schoolers, who took time away from their summer holiday to participate in the space contact, prepared a list of 20 questions for Lu and got to ask all of them during the roughly 10-minute direct 2- meter contact.
A couple of the pupils asked about the construction of the ISS. "What was the reason for building the ISS?" one asked.
"I think the big reason is to help us learn the things that we need to learn before we start flying off to much further destinations-- like to Mars, back to the moon, the asteroids and to explore our solar system," Lu responded. "There's a lot of things that we really need to learn- -and learn much better--before we're ready to go do that."
Lu explained that the ISS was still under construction, and he didn't expect it to be completed for another five years--although even that timeframe remains uncertain with the shuttle fleet still grounded.
At the Soar Valley College Science Camp, several students posed questions about the food available aboard the ISS. One youngster asked if the menu of canned and packaged meals ever got boring
"We probably have a couple of hundred different varieties of food that we can choose from up here," Lu said. "So, pretty much every day you can eat something different." Gone are the days when space travelers have to suck liquefied meals through a tube, however. "What we've got right now is a pretty good-sized area where we can eat," Lu said. The ISS galley includes a table and food warmers and a supply of water to rehydrate meals. "Almost nothing that we eat actually comes out of a tube anymore," he added.
While being in zero gravity can be fun, Lu told the science campers that it has its advantages and disadvantages. "Sometimes, having no gravity up here is great," he said. "You can fly places, you can move extremely heavy objects." At other times, it's difficult to do certain tasks because of no gravity. Lu said the crew needs to always remember to secure items to keep them from floating around in the cabin, he said. "It's just a mindset you have to get used to."
ARISS is an international project with participation by ARRL, NASA and AMSAT.--some information provided by Gaston Bertels, ON4WF
==>BELGIUM, GERMANY DROP MORSE REQUIREMENT
Belgium and Germany are the latest countries to drop the requirement to pass a Morse code examination to obtain HF operating privileges. Their action followed the decision of World Radiocommunication Conference 2003 to delete the treaty requirement calling on applicants to prove Morse proficiency to have HF access.
Belgians holding ON1-prefix Class B tickets can get new Class A HF licenses and ON4, 5, 6 or 7 prefixes by applying to Belgium's telecommunications authority and paying a 5 Euro fee. As of August 8, some 200 Belgian Class B licensees had taken advantage of the plan.
Starting August 15, an estimated 33,000 German Class 2 VHF/UHF- only licensees will be permitted access to the HF bands on an equal footing with current Class 1 licensees. "Morse telegraph knowledge as a prerequisite to use the high-frequency bands is no longer required," said a statement from the German Federal Ministry of Economy and Labor (BMWA). "These rules apply for foreign Amateur Radio licensees with comparable privileges operating during visits in Germany." At least for now, the upgraded Class 2 licensees will use their current call signs (prefixes include DB, DC, DD and DG).
Switzerland was the first country to drop the Morse requirement, albeit on a provisional basis while it makes the rule change permanent. The UK soon followed.
Radio Amateurs of Canada is conducting a national on-line Morse survey http://www.rac.ca/news/msurvey.htm to record Canadian amateurs' preferences on the current 5 WPM Morse requirement for HF access. The RAC Board of Directors will consider the results of the survey in arriving at a recommendation for Industry Canada, which will decide the matter in Canada.
==>ROY NEAL, K6DUE, SK
Retired NBC News space correspondent, producer and executive Roy Neal, K6DUE, died August 15 in High Point, North Carolina. He was 82. Neal underwent major heart surgery August 12.
Recognized as a leading news expert in spaceflight and science, Neal--born Roy N. Hinkel--covered all of the Mercury missions for NBC and later reported the Gemini and Apollo missions and the early space shuttle flights. His space news experience led him to become involved with the Space Amateur Radio EXperiment (SAREX)--now the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program. ARISS, a joint project of ARRL, AMSAT and NASA, put Amateur Radio aboard space shuttles and developed the first permanent ham station in space aboard the ISS. Neal chaired the SAREX/ARISS Working Group and moderated ARISS international team gatherings and, quite often, school group contact teleconferences. Earlier this year, he was inducted into the CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame for his role in persuading NASA officials to allow Amateur Radio operation from space in the 1980s.
Neal also was a regular visitor and sometime presenter at Hamvention. He hosted the 1987 ARRL video production, New World Of Amateur Radio, an overview of ham radio in space.
A Pennsylvania native, Neal's broadcasting career began at WIBG radio in Philadelphia. He served as a combat infantry officer during World War II and later became a program manager for the Armed Forces Radio Network in Europe. After the war, he was a television pioneer at WPTZ-TV in Philadelphia. He subsequently set up NBC's West Coast news bureau.
An ARRL member and active amateur operator throughout his adult life, Neal enjoyed DXing, HF and VHF. Survivors include his wife Pat and sons David and Mark. Arrangements are pending.
==>ALASKA AMATEUR DEBUTS EXPERIMENTAL 136-KHZ BEACON
An Alaska amateur has launched a beacon on 136 kHz under an FCC Part 5 experimental license, and he's already confirmed a reception report from British Columbia and received an unconfirmed report--or "trace"-- from the UK. Laurence Howell, KL1X (ex-GM4DMA), reports his WD2XDW CW beacon from Anchorage (BP41xd) is now on the air 24/7 at 137.77350 kHz--a slight change from his initial frequency to avoid LORAN C spurs.
"A lot of experimenters are still reeling after the recent refusal by the FCC to allow a 136-kHz allocation to the Amateur Service," Howell told ARRL. "This Part 5 license approval is most welcomed by the experimental community."
In May, the FCC unexpectedly turned down ARRL's petition to grant 135.7 to 137.8 kHz to amateurs. In its denial, the FCC cited arguments put forth by power companies that amateur operation in the vicinity of 136 kHz might interfere with power line carrier (PLC) systems used to control the power grid.
Howell says Steve McDonald, VE7SL--some 2100 kms away in British Columbia--was able to copy a part of the WD2XDW call sign about 45 minutes before dawn on August 15. The "capture" matched up with the beacon's transmission.
"Given the time of year and solar/geomagnetic conditions, this is a very good sign," he said.
The WD2XDW beacon is being used for propagation experimentation within the US and to check transpolar propagation to Europe on paths over the high Arctic. It's transmitting very slow-speed CW--so-called "QRSS" transmissions of one dit every six seconds--at up to 2 W ERP.
The beacon's antenna is a 32-meter (105 feet) wire vertical with a capacity top hat, about 1 mH of base-loading inductance and a killer ground system that covers several acres. Despite the extensive ground system, Howell says, the antenna system remains pretty lossy at LF.
Howell notes that Alaska is in a period of essentially 24-hour daylight, but he expects things to heat up on LF in late September or early October. Experimenters use software such as Argo http://www.weaksignals.com/ to "copy" the weak-signal LF transmissions.
Howell said he hopes his beacon will promote a better understanding of complex propagation modes associated with what he termed "this fascinating part of the spectrum."
==>CONTRIBUTIONS DO HELP IN BPL CAMPAIGN
Over the past six weeks, donations from ARRL members and friends have built a war chest to assist in the League's fight against efforts to implement Broadband over Power Line (BPL) technology. ARRL Chief Development Officer Mary Hobart, K1MMH, reports that the Spectrum Defense Special Campaign so far has raised approximately $225,000 from more than 4200 donors.
"As Amateur Radio meets the most serious threat to our service in decades, the generosity of ARRL members, clubs and advertisers is making a tremendous difference, enabling ARRL staff and leadership to take all needed steps in this campaign," said Hobart. "The ARRL's effort against BPL would not be able to go forward in the coming months without the generous, voluntary contributions of supporters."
Funded by the special campaign fund, the ARRL Laboratory staff continues to prepare technical reports for official filings. Information and data gathered to date include calculations of the interference levels that radio amateurs can expect from BPL. These calculations were included in the 120-page filing ARRL submitted to the FCC in July. Since then, actual field measurements have been taken at four BPL trial sites in Pennsylvania, Maryland and New York. The ARRL also documented the interference in a dramatic video available via the ARRL Web site (see "BPL is 'Spectrum Pollution,' ARRL President Says" http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2003/08/08/2/). Additional video documentation will accompany future filings to the FCC.
In addition, Spectrum Defense Fund contributions have borne the cost of ensuring that test equipment meets National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) standards. The campaign against BPL also requires ARRL's persistent and significant presence in Washington, DC, to contact key legislators on Capitol Hill as well as staffers at the FCC and at other government agencies to present Amateur Radio's case. Voluntary contributions help cover the travel expenses of ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, and others as needed, plus legal fees and the cost of professional advisors.
To find out more or to support the League's efforts in this area, visit the ARRL's secure BPL Web site https://www.arrl.org/forms/development/donations/bpl/.
The period to comment in direct response to the Broadband over Power Line Notice of Inquiry (ET Docket 03-104) ended July 7. The FCC now is seeking only "reply comments." A reply comment is a comment on or a rebuttal to specific comments already filed by another party. Reply comments are due by the recently extended deadline of Wednesday, August 20. The ARRL will file reply comments in the BPL proceeding.
Interested parties may file reply comments using the FCC's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/, which also permits users to view all comments on file. To file a reply comment, click on "Submit a Filing" under "ECFS Main Links." In the "Proceeding" field, type "03-104" and complete the required fields. You may type your remarks into a form or attach a file. ECFS also accepts comments and reply comments in this and other proceedings via e-mail, per instructions on the ECFS page.
To view documents already submitted in the BPL proceeding, click on "Search for Filed Comments" under "ECFS Main Links" and type "03-104" in the "Proceeding" field. ==>SOLAR UPDATE
Sun watcher Tad "Good Day Sunshine" Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington, reports: The average daily sunspot numbers for the week was about the same this week as last, and daily solar flux was only slightly higher. Solar flux is expected to peak over the next few days--such as it is in this declining phase of the solar cycle. Expect solar flux values around 135 for Saturday, August 16. Solar flux is expected to gradually decline to below 100 around August 24. Geomagnetic indicators should be unsettled to active Friday, August 15, but should quiet down over the next week. Predicted planetary A index for August 15-18 is 20, 15, 10 and 10.
Currently there is just one sunspot group facing Earth, and it seems to be growing fast as it moves into optimum position for Earth-directed radiation. This presents a wild card for conditions over the next couple of days, since it could be the source of increasing solar wind.
Sunspot numbers for August 7 through 13 were 121, 111, 107, 112, 118, 114 and 112, with a mean of 113.6. The 10.7-cm flux was 137, 132.9, 130, 131.1, 129.2, 123.3 and 130.8, with a mean of 130.6. Estimated planetary A indices were 15, 32, 15, 12, 11, 25 and 17, with a mean of 18.1.
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==>IN BRIEF:
* This weekend on the radio: The North American QSO Party (SSB), the SARTG World Wide RTTY Contest, the ARRL 10 GHz Cumulative Contest, the Keyman's Club of Japan Contest, the SEANET Contest (CW/SSB/Digital) and the New Jersey QSO Party are the weekend of August 16-17. JUST AHEAD: The ALARA Contest, the Hawaii QSO and Ohio QSO parties, the TOEC World Wide Grid Contest (CW), the NRRL 75th Anniversary Contest and the CQC Summer QSO Party are the weekend of August 23-24. See the ARRL Contest Branch page http://www.arrl.org/contests/ and the WA7BNM Contest Calendar http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html for more info.
* ARRL Emergency Communications course registration: Registration for the United Technologies Corporation grant-sponsored Level II ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Communications on-line course (EC-002) remains open through midnight Sunday, August 17, or until all seats are filled. Class begins August 26. Registration opens Monday, August 18, 12:01 AM Eastern Daylight Time (0401 UTC), for the Level III Emergency Communications on-line course (EC-003). Registration remains open through the August 23-24 weekend or until all available seats have been filled-- whichever comes first. Class begins Tuesday, September 2. Thanks to the United Technologies Corp grant, the $45 registration fee paid upon enrollment will be reimbursed after successful completion of the Level III course. During this registration period, approximately 50 seats are being offered to ARRL members on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, contact Emergency Communications Course Manager Dan Miller, K3UFG, dmiller@arrl.org; 860-594-0340.
* ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration: Registration for the ARRL VHF/UHF--Life Beyond the Repeater (EC-008) http://www.arrl.org/cce/courses.html#ec008 and the High Frequency Digital Communications (EC-005) http://www.arrl.org/cce/courses.html#ec005 courses opens Monday, August 18, 12:01 AM EDT (0401 UTC). Registration remains open through Sunday, August 24. Classes begin Tuesday afternoon, August 26. Registration for the ARRL Antenna Modeling (EC-004) http://www.arrl.org/cce/courses.html#ec004 course remains open through Sunday, August 17. Those interested in taking an ARRL Certification and Continuing Education (C-CE) course in the future can sign up to be advised via e-mail in advance of registration opportunities. To take advantage, send an e-mail to prereg@arrl.org. On the subject line, indicate the course name or number (eg, EC-00#) and the month you want to start the course. In the message body, provide your name, call sign, and e- mail address. Please do not send inquiries to this mailbox. To learn more, visit the ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Web page http://www.arrl.org/cce and the C-CE links found there. For more information, contact Certification and Continuing Education Program Coordinator Howard Robins, W1HSR, hrobins@arrl.org.
* Corrections: The story Hams Still Active as Cooler Weather Helps Tame Montana Wildfires, which appeared in The ARRL Letter, Vol 22, No 31 (Aug 8, 2003) contained an incorrect call sign for Flathead County ARES Emergency Coordinator Don Ross, KJ7IZ. Also, Bart Pulverman, WB6WUW, was the winner of the QST Cover Plaque Award for July. We reported the incorrect issue.
* Ohio ARES members assist following flooding: Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) members in Stark County, Ohio, were called to assist both the county emergency operations center (EOC) and the American Red Cross as flood waters devastated parts of Canton and Louisville, Ohio. The flooding followed nearly four inches of rainfall in a three-hour period July 27. "County safety officials knew they were in for serious trouble as the Nimishillin Creek rose from a normal depth of two feet to over eight feet in only two hours," said Stark County ARES Assistant Emergency Coordinator Terry Russ, N8ATZ. "The unexpected and fast-moving water made islands out of homes, businesses and churches." Flooding also caused a chemical spill at a local business. Stark County Emergency Management Agency Director Ed Cox notified ARES EC David Beltz, WD8AYE, early July 28 after flood waters forced the evacuation of more than 300 area residents. Ham radio supported communication between the EMA office and the Canton Fire Department as well as between Red Cross shelters and chapter headquarters. By mid-day July 28, nearly 20 ARES members had established stations at the fire department, both Red Cross evacuation centers, the county EMA office and Red Cross chapter headquarters. "Daylight saw the full devastation the flood waters had caused in the community, and ARES members dug in for what was to be a long week of communications efforts," Russ said. With several local clubs pitching in, operations switched to supporting Red Cross relief efforts by staffing shelters and the mobile feeding wagons that moved into the hardest-hit areas. The ARES operation continued for 10 days, Russ said.
* ISS commander takes a bride by proxy: In a space travel first, International Space Station Expedition 7 commander Yuri Malenchenko, RK3DUP, took a bride right on schedule August 10. The twist, of course, was that Malenchenko was circling the globe some 240 miles in space, while his betrothed, Ekaterina Dmitriev, stood on Earth next to a cardboard cutout of her husband. The bride and groom blew kisses via videophone during the private ceremony for family and friends at Johnson Space Center. Under Texas law, a proxy can stand in for one or both of the parties in a wedding. Associated Press reported that the life- sized cutout of the groom greeted guests at the wedding reception, which was held at a restaurant decorated with silver stars and mannequins dressed as astronauts. The couple plans a more traditional church wedding after Malenchenko returns to Earth in late October. The couple reportedly plans a honeymoon in Hawaii. AP says Malenchenko wore a bow tie with his blue space garb for the ceremony. Dmitriev, who just turned 27, is a US citizen and lives in Houston. She and Malenchenko--a Russian Air Force colonel--have been dating for about a year. Malenchenko is 41. Fort Bend, Texas, County Clerk Dianne Wilson issued the marriage license July 17. Malenchenko arranged to have a wedding ring flown up aboard a Progress cargo vehicle that arrived at the ISS in June. ISS NASA Science Officer Ed Lu, KC5WKJ, served as best man during the Sunday ceremony and played the wedding march on his electronic keyboard. NASA so far has remained mum on the marriage. At one point, Russian space officials tried to get Malenchenko to call off the nuptials until he returned to Earth, but, apparently, love ultimately won them over.
=========================================================== The ARRL Letter is published Fridays, 50 times each year, by the American Radio Relay League--The National Association For Amateur Radio- -225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax 860-594-0259; http://www.arrl.org. Jim Haynie, W5JBP, President.
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***** Remember, an out of tune piano makes noise, not music! *****
***** E-MAIL: dennis@rain.org . ***** http://www.rain.org/~dennis
*** Dennis Schwendtner *** WB6OBB ***