August 2008 - arrl-odv - reflector.arrl.org

[arrl-odv:17074] IN-News
by Kustosik, Lisa, KA1UFZ 13 Aug '08

13 Aug '08

<<081308.doc>> IN-Newsletter <<Microsoft Word Picture>> Vol. 31, No. 33 August 13, 2008 -- Covers the period August 3-9. Upcoming Meetings and Events United States Telecommunications Training Institute (USTTI) October 13-17 - ARRL HQ Executive Committee Meeting October 18 @ 9:00am in Chicago, IL Ballot Counting for Director/Vice Director Elections November 21 in Newington, CT Regulatory Information Reported by Dan Henderson, N1ND To date we are not aware that the FCC has started making contacts with the latest PAVE PAWS contact list. A report was received from two different sources about one specific repeater that had decided to invert transmit and receive frequencies on the 70cm band near Beale and turn the repeater back on "since the Air Force has finished testing for the year." They also had replaced the callsign on the repeater with one, unfortunately with the call of an expired license. The operation under the new callsign was confirmed and apparently word got back to the group that the person's callsign had been expired since March. The renewal was processed shortly thereafter. The groups is still operating counter to their coordination through NARCC, which is aware of the problem. As far as PAVE PAWS goes, an information conversation was had by a NARCC representative and the group indicating major concerns about their actions. No direct ARRL contact was made with the group. A complaint was received about amateurs using their 70cm HTs while working as volunteers for the forest service. It was explained that they could not be conducting forest service communications on the amateur bands. A problem was brought to my attention from Dennis Dura and Steve Ewald regarding a release form which was being required of individuals involved with the Oklahoma ARES program. The release form was extremely broad and had provisions which did not pertain to legitimate ARES activities. After some investigation and discussions, the matter was turned over to ARRL Counsel who contacted the Section Manager requesting changes be made to bring the release in line with ARRL policies. Data entry for the paper and non-web applet Field Day entries was started. A typo in the August 1 In-News indicated 19003 applet entries. The correct number is in fact 1903. I apologize for the error. Development Reported by Mary Hobart, K1MMH The Spectrum Defense thank you campaign has raised nearly $78,000 from more than 1650 donors. The Education, Historic Preservation and Lab Fund campaigns are in the mail. Returns should start coming in neck week. CDO Hobart will join Steve Ewald to represent ARRL at the Citizen Corps conference in Oklahoma City the week of August 18. A second distribution of more than $21,000 has been received from the Stoner Estate, bringing the 2008 contributions to the ARRL Endowment to more than $695,000. Production/Editorial Reported by Joel Kleinman, N1BKE The 2009 ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications has been released to the printer, and the Handbook CD has been released to the programmer. Khrystyne Keane wrote and distributed The ARRL Letter, Vol. 27, No. 31, for August 8, 2008. It went out to nearly 71,000 subscribers. She also voiced and produced ARRL Audio News for August 8. Sales and Marketing Reported by Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R A membership direct mail piece will be hitting 50,000 previous and never members this week. This package utilized variable data with the prospects membership ID number and call sign to log in for immediate membership benefits. Foreign members are receiving their September QST this month with a variable message on the carrier sheet: Tell a friend about ARRL and QST Product Reviews * Projects * News When your friend joins ARRL, both of you will receive a FREE GIFT. Log on now to www.arrl.org/join/FRA08 A two-page spread featuring ARRL's new fall line-up will appear in October QST. The spread is based on The ARRL Handbook - 2009, The Vintage Photos book titled 50 Years of Amateur Radio Innovation Transmitters, Receivers and Transceivers: 1930-1980, The General Class Course for HAM RADIO Licensing, and The ARRL Digital Technology for Emergency Communications Course. The spread will evolve into a direct mail piece. Full page product advertisements are being developed for the HRO Winter catalog and an Ingram catalog. The Warehouse crew processed 746 packages of fulfillment orders. We also shipped 211 free book membership premiums and sent one August QST supplement. Business Services Reported by Deb Jahnke, K1DAJ Advertising efforts for the October issue of QST are in full swing. We welcome returning advertiser Dishtronix and new advertiser Luso Tower. In addition, a number of advertisers on an every-other-month schedule that would exclude them from the October "Contesting" issue have opted for an additional ad to be included. In addition to an 8-page, 4-color QST advertising section, Contest Connection, we're also pleased to announce that our proposal have just received an affirmative answer, from Yaesu Japan, for a 6-page, 4-color Gatefold in October QST. Combined with Editorial's 8-pager packed with contesting information, this should be quite an issue. Publication Sales of our titles to mainstream booksellers continues to grow. Baker and Taylor, encouraged with the steady growth over the past several years, verified below (by their buyer), has prompted them to accept our invitation for a brainstorming session at their World Headquarters in New Jersey to see how we can distribute more units through their various outlets. Their distribution of our titles has expanded to include sales to the following categories: US Government; International Wholesalers; Major US Wholesalers, Academy Libraries, Public Libraries, School Libraries, Retail Chains, Independent Storefront Retailers and Internet Retailers. SALES Baker & Taylor 2006 Half 2007 Half VAR 06 VS 07 2008 Half VAR 07 VS 08 Units 2,509 2,805 11.8% 3,360 19.8% List $67,539 $84,331 24.9% $103,029 22.2% Membership & Volunteer Programs Reported by Dave Patton, NN1N Field Organization/Public Service Team Work is underway on the Public Service column for October QST. Steve Ewald is making plans to attend the National Citizen Corps Conference in Oklahoma City along with Mary Hobart. Section Managers are helping to promote National Preparedness Month (September) through their section wide correspondence. ARRL is a national coalition member and was invited to join through our contacts with National Citizen Corps. Ballots for the Western New York and Idaho Section Manager elections are due by Friday, August 15. The ballots will be counted on August 19. Leona Adams reports that we already have three SM elections coming up for the next election cycle in the fall. Candidates in that election cycle have until September 5 to file a petition. Leona has also been helping Rose-Anne Lawrence in the QSL bureau as time permits. Chuck Skolaut compiled and forwarded the monthly ARRL Monitoring System/Intruder Watch report to the IARU Region 2 Coordinator. Kentucky and North Carolina have new Official Observers who just now completed their training course and exam. OOs have been checking out a report of improper language on a 75 meter frequency. Intruder-related reports indicate the Russian single letter "D" beacon on 7039 kHz while the "Sound of Hope" continues on 14005 kHz. Chuck helped at W1AW one day this past week, and he helped the DXCC branch by entering QSL card data into the database. Web/Software Development Department Reported by Jon Bloom, KE3Z We have spent a fair amount of time responding to members who contacted HQ about the Web site misdirection that occurred on August 7 and persisted for a while thereafter. Most users' systems had cleared up by Monday, August 11, but some problems persisted in users' cache files well after that. Meanwhile, work on VEC projects continues, as does development of DXCC field data entry. Micah Murray also added support to the online membership application for some upcoming Marketing solicitations with unique "gift" packages. Jon Bloom set up a page (www.arrl.org/stratplan) where members can read and comment upon the ARRL Strategic Plan. Sincerely Compiled by, Lisa Kustosik, KA1UFZ Assistant to the CEO Staff Absentee List All Staff 9/1 Holiday Jon Bloom 10/4-10/13 Vacation Hugh Brower 9/29-10/3 Vacation Joe Carcia 8/15 Vacation Steve Ewald 8/18-8/21 Citizen Corps Conference, Oklahoma City, OK Steve Ford 8/11-8/15 Vacation Norm Fusaro 9/22-9/26 Vacation Scott Gee 8/25-8/26 Vacation `` 10/3 Vacation `` 12/23-12/26 Vacation Dan Henderson 8/22-8/24 Roanoke Division Convention, Jackson's Mill, WV `` 8/25-9/2 Vacation Mary Hobart 8/18-8/22 Citizen Corps Conference, Oklahoma City/Vacation `` 9/5 Vacation `` 9/19-9/20 W9DXCC, Chicago, IL `` 10/3 Vacation Gail Iannone 8/18-9/2 Vacation Bob Inderbitzen 8/4-8/15 Vacation Khrystyne Keane 8/22-8/29 Vacation Joel Kleinman 9/11 Vacation Linda Kleinschmidt 8/11-8/15 Vacation Zack Lau 8/11-8/15 Vacation Rose-Ann Lawrence 9/5 Vacation Monique Levesque 8/8-8/15 Vacation Bill Moore 8/15-8/17 Southeastern Division Convention, Huntsville, AL Dave Patton 8/18-9/1 Tokyo Japan Ham Fair Ann Marie Pinto 8/11-8/22 Vacation Allen Pitts 8/11-8/15 Vacation Ashley Rakus 8/13-8/15 Vacation Steve Sant Andrea 9/2-9/8 Vacation Barry Shelley 8/11-8/22 Vacation Chuck Skolaut 8/16-8/17 Kansas State Convention, Salina, KS `` 8/18-8/22 Vacation Maria Somma 8/13-8/22 Vacation

1 0

RE: Skimmer 'assistance'
by Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ 13 Aug '08

13 Aug '08

Let me add just a word about the IARU contest. Contributing factors in deciding to let Skimmer be used in the single-op category this year were (1) the rules had already been published and did not prohibit Skimmer, and (2) in the IARU contest there is no "assisted" category - if you don't observe the limitations of single-op then you're multi-op. The ARRL contest rules are a bit different. That said, I agree with Kay that the matter is being appropriately addressed by the CAC and via the procedures established by the Board. Dave Sumner, K1ZZ From: Kay Craigie [mailto:n3kn@verizon.net] Sent: Wednesday, August 13, 2008 3:11 PM To: arrl-odv Subject: RE: Skimmer 'assistance' Skimmer is under study by our CAC, who I'm sure will consider input from all sides of the issue and make a recommendation for any rules changes that would best promote the fun and healthy evolution of contesting. Let's let them do their job and let PSC and Staff do *their* job, realizing that when something new like this comes along -- whether it's Skimmer today or the Cluster in the past or SO2R whenever that was -- some people will welcome the change, some will think the change didn't go far enough, and some will proclaim that the change has sent contesting to hell in a bucket. I think it's yet another form of SOA, but that's just one more member's point of view. The use of Skimmer in the IARU contest was plainly labeled as experimental, so nobody's backtracking on any commitments as far as I can tell. I hope the Board doesn't want to get into dinking around with contest rules. We have real work to do. We're about to start the strategic planning cycle in a way that has never been tried before by this organization, and I think that's where our attention should focus: learning how to incorporate member input into the process without being whiplashed every which way by divergent views and ending up nowhere. (Some assembly required. Your results may differ.) 73 - Kay N3KN

1 0

RE: Skimmer 'assistance'
by Kay Craigie 13 Aug '08

13 Aug '08

Skimmer is under study by our CAC, who I'm sure will consider input from all sides of the issue and make a recommendation for any rules changes that would best promote the fun and healthy evolution of contesting. Let's let them do their job and let PSC and Staff do *their* job, realizing that when something new like this comes along -- whether it's Skimmer today or the Cluster in the past or SO2R whenever that was -- some people will welcome the change, some will think the change didn't go far enough, and some will proclaim that the change has sent contesting to hell in a bucket. I think it's yet another form of SOA, but that's just one more member's point of view. The use of Skimmer in the IARU contest was plainly labeled as experimental, so nobody's backtracking on any commitments as far as I can tell. I hope the Board doesn't want to get into dinking around with contest rules. We have real work to do. We're about to start the strategic planning cycle in a way that has never been tried before by this organization, and I think that's where our attention should focus: learning how to incorporate member input into the process without being whiplashed every which way by divergent views and ending up nowhere. (Some assembly required. Your results may differ.) 73 - Kay N3KN

1 0

Skimmer 'assistance'
by Bruce Frahm K0BJ 13 Aug '08

13 Aug '08

oops -- I intended to send this to all, not just Jay. ----- Original Message ----- From: Bruce Frahm K0BJ To: John Bellows Sent: Wednesday, August 13, 2008 1:31 PM Subject: Re: [arrl-odv:17069] Skimmer 'assistance' Jay, the major distinction I see is that with CW Skimmer it (usually) generates its information entirely within the op's shack. There is (usually) no outside connection to the web or other info generated by others. That said, I'm not at all sure I'm ready to root for allowing it for single-op. It's way-cool technology though. It'll be interesting to see what CAC comes up with for a recommendation on Skimmer -- they've already reported on it in (necessary) rush fashion FOR 2008 SWEEPSTAKES ONLY and are now discussing it in more detail for going forward. The arguments are somewhat similar to SO2R -- it's a "radical new tool". 73 Bruce ----- Original Message ----- From: John Bellows To: arrl-odv Sent: Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:13 AM Subject: RE: [arrl-odv:17069] Re:Please overturn the recent decision regarding the use of CW Skimmer in the 2008 ARRL Sweepstakes If someone could explain how CW Skimmer is functionally different from other tools that aid in real time spotting of other signals on a particular band perhaps it would be helpful in understanding why its use in the single op category is not "assistance" while other real time spotting tools such as the packet cluster or voice spotting networks do constitute assistance. 73, Jay, KØQB

1 0

RE: [arrl-odv:17069] Re:Please overturn the recent decision regarding the use of CW Skimmer in the 2008 ARRL Sweepstakes
by John Bellows 13 Aug '08

13 Aug '08

If someone could explain how CW Skimmer is functionally different from other tools that aid in real time spotting of other signals on a particular band perhaps it would be helpful in understanding why its use in the single op category is not assistance while other real time spotting tools such as the packet cluster or voice spotting networks do constitute assistance. 73, Jay, KØQB -----Original Message----- From: Bob Vallio [mailto:rbvallio@gmail.com] Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2008 8:20 PM To: arrl-odv Cc: Mike Gibson, KH6ND; Bruce Frahm K0BJ; Kutzko, Sean, KX9X; arrl-odv Subject: [arrl-odv:17069] Re:Please overturn the recent decision regarding the use of CW Skimmer in the 2008 ARRL Sweepstakes Folks: I have known Bob Wilson for a long time. In fact he has operated my station in contests when he had no station of own, more than 30 years ago. He is a fierce competitor, who stays abreast, or ahead, of contest techniques and hardware. I believe he makes a good point here, and ask that you consider his position in this matter. Thanks, Bob -- W6RGG On Tue, Aug 12, 2008 at 2:35 PM, Bob Wilson, N6TV <n6tv(a)arrl.net> wrote: Dear Bob, If I understand this post to SkimmerTalk <http://dayton.contesting.com/pipermail/skimmertalk/2008-August/000123.h tml> by K0HB, KX9X has announced that CW Skimmer will not be permitted for the single-op category in the upcoming ARRL Sweepstakes. I am very disappointed by this ruling. I believe this represents a rush to judgment, completely unnecessary at this time, and inconsistent with ARRL objectives to accelerate adoption of new technologies into our hobby. This ruling is also inconsistent with the ruling from the same contest branch regarding the IARU 2008 contest, just last month, where CW Skimmer was permitted for single-ops. CW Skimmer was also allowed in the 2008 ARRL DX Contest. My understanding is that the CW Skimmer issue was being referred to the Contest Advisory Committee for discussion, so I am surprised that such a drastic rule change was rushed through so quickly at this time. I personally have invested over $1,300 in SDR and CW Skimmer technology in an attempt to improve my station and my scores, as I have "maxed out" just about everything else that I can do on my city lot. Needless to say, I am not pleased with this rule change. So why don't I just enter as single-op, unlimited? I am trying to qualify for the WRTC in 2010. Under the WRTC Qualifying Rules, single-op-assisted entries are only eligible to receive 70% of the points of single-op entries (490 points vs. 700 points max for ARRL SS). Therefore, to get the maximum number of WRTC points, I always have to enter in the single-op class, rather than unlimited. The rules changes by the ARRL and CQ have effectively ended my use of CW Skimmer technology during major contests. I have presented and published technical talks and demonstrations of CW Skimmer at both the Visalia DX Convention and the Austin Summerfest, an ARRL Convention. CW Skimmer and SDRs are important new technology, technology that potentially will do for CW activity what MMTTY software has done for RTTY activity. Its use should be encouraged, not discouraged. I therefore request that the ARRL BOD act quickly and overturn this hasty rule change for the upcoming ARRL Sweepstakes while there is still time. There just isn't enough hard data to justify such a big change in the rules. A local CW Skimmer with no Internet connection is not a spotting net. As an upcoming article in the National Contest Journal will soon explain, it is the use of massively shared Internet packet clusters that really needs to be discouraged, not local CW Skimmers. 73, Bob, N6TV

1 0

[arrl-odv:17069] Re:Please overturn the recent decision regarding the use of CW Skimmer in the 2008 ARRL Sweepstakes
by Bob Vallio 13 Aug '08

13 Aug '08

Folks: I have known Bob Wilson for a long time. In fact he has operated my station in contests when he had no station of own, more than 30 years ago. He is a fierce competitor, who stays abreast, or ahead, of contest techniques and hardware. I believe he makes a good point here, and ask that you consider his position in this matter. Thanks, Bob -- W6RGG On Tue, Aug 12, 2008 at 2:35 PM, Bob Wilson, N6TV <n6tv(a)arrl.net> wrote: > Dear Bob, > > If I understand this post to SkimmerTalk<http://dayton.contesting.com/pipermail/skimmertalk/2008-August/000123.html>by K0HB, KX9X has announced that CW Skimmer will > *not *be permitted for the single-op category in the upcoming ARRL > Sweepstakes. I am very disappointed by this ruling. I believe this > represents a rush to judgment, completely unnecessary at this time, and > inconsistent with ARRL objectives to accelerate adoption of new technologies > into our hobby. > > This ruling is also inconsistent with the ruling from the same contest > branch regarding the IARU 2008 contest, just last month, where CW Skimmer > *was* permitted for single-ops. CW Skimmer was also allowed in the 2008 > ARRL DX Contest. > > My understanding is that the CW Skimmer issue was being referred to the > Contest Advisory Committee for discussion, so I am surprised that such a > drastic rule change was rushed through so quickly at this time. > > I personally have invested over $1,300 in SDR and CW Skimmer technology in > an attempt to improve my station and my scores, as I have "maxed out" just > about everything else that I can do on my city lot. Needless to say, I am > not pleased with this rule change. > > So why don't I just enter as single-op, unlimited? I am trying to qualify > for the WRTC in 2010. Under the WRTC Qualifying Rules, single-op-assisted > entries are only eligible to receive 70% of the points of single-op entries > (490 points vs. 700 points max for ARRL SS). Therefore, to get the maximum > number of WRTC points, I always have to enter in the single-op class, rather > than unlimited. > > The rules changes by the ARRL and CQ have effectively ended my use of CW > Skimmer technology during major contests. > > I have presented and published technical talks and demonstrations of CW > Skimmer at both the Visalia DX Convention and the Austin Summerfest, an ARRL > Convention. CW Skimmer and SDRs are important new technology, technology > that potentially will do for CW activity what MMTTY software has done for > RTTY activity. Its use should be *encouraged*, not *discouraged.* > > I therefore request that the ARRL BOD act quickly and overturn this hasty > rule change for the upcoming ARRL Sweepstakes while there is still time. > There just isn't enough hard data to justify such a big change in the > rules. A local CW Skimmer with no Internet connection is not a spotting > net. > > As an upcoming article in the *National Contest Journal* will soon > explain, it is the use of massively shared Internet packet clusters that > really needs to be discouraged, not local CW Skimmers. > > 73, > Bob, N6TV >

1 0

[arrl-odv:17065] VEC Statistics
by Kramer, Harold, WJ1B 12 Aug '08

12 Aug '08

Hi, As requested, Maria has compiled this list of VEC activity for 2007: The FCC term "Session Activity" refers to the number of new and upgraded licenses. VEC Session Activity ARRL/VEC 37,000 71.5% W5YI-VEC 8,800 17.0% Laurel AR Club, Inc. 1,600 3.1% W. Carolina AR Soc/VEC, Inc. 1,200 2.3% W4VEC 650 1.3% Greater LA AR Group 600 1.2% Central America VEC Inc 550 1.1% Sandarc-Vec 500 1.0% Sunnyvale VEC ARC Inc 350 0.7% The Milwaukee RA Club, Inc. 250 0.5% Anchorage AR Club 200 0.4% MO-KAN VE Coordinator 40 0.1% Golden Empire AR Society 30 0.1% Total: 51,770 Harold Kramer, WJ1B Chief Operating Officer ARRL - The national association for Amateur Radio 225 Main Street Newington, CT 06111 Telephone: 860 594 0220 email: hkramer(a)arrl.org web: www.arrl.org/ <http://www.arrl.org/>

1 1

RE: [arrl-odv:17065] VEC Statistics
by K8JE 11 Aug '08

11 Aug '08

Harold and others: To what extent is the information Maria compiled (below) and information in her memo on the recent NCVEC meeting open to public distribution? I assume the compiled information is already in the public domain, but that Maria's memo is not. Jim Jim Weaver, K8JE, Director ARRL Great Lakes Division 5065 Bethany Rd. Mason, OH 45040 E-mail: <mailto:k8je@arrl.org> k8je(a)arrl.org; Tel.: 513-459-0142 ARRL - The Reason Amateur Radio Is! Members - The Reason ARRL Is! _____ From: Kramer, Harold, WJ1B [mailto:wj1b@arrl.org] Sent: Monday, August 11, 2008 2:01 PM To: arrl-odv Cc: Somma, Maria, AB1FM Subject: [arrl-odv:17065] VEC Statistics Hi, As requested, Maria has compiled this list of VEC activity for 2007: The FCC term "Session Activity" refers to the number of new and upgraded licenses. VEC Session Activity ARRL/VEC 37,000 71.5% W5YI-VEC 8,800 17.0% Laurel AR Club, Inc. 1,600 3.1% W. Carolina AR Soc/VEC, Inc. 1,200 2.3% W4VEC 650 1.3% Greater LA AR Group 600 1.2% Central America VEC Inc 550 1.1% Sandarc-Vec 500 1.0% Sunnyvale VEC ARC Inc 350 0.7% The Milwaukee RA Club, Inc. 250 0.5% Anchorage AR Club 200 0.4% MO-KAN VE Coordinator 40 0.1% Golden Empire AR Society 30 0.1% Total: 51,770 Harold Kramer, WJ1B Chief Operating Officer ARRL - The national association for Amateur Radio 225 Main Street Newington, CT 06111 Telephone: 860 594 0220 email: hkramer(a)arrl.org web: <http://www.arrl.org/> www.arrl.org/

1 0

[arrl-odv:17066] Re: BBC reports on cw
by Marty Woll 11 Aug '08

11 Aug '08

Thanks, Bill, nice promo piece! I wonder, though, where the reporter got her "more than a million" U. S. hams. If we hit the 30,000 / year, we might get there in a couple of decades. 73, Marty N6VI

1 0

[arrl-odv:17064] BBC reports on cw
by William Sawders 11 Aug '08

11 Aug '08

Kind of neat. Bill, K7ZM http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7544147.stm

1 0