August 2010 - arrl-odv - reflector.arrl.org

[arrl-odv:19296] IN-News
by Kustosik, Lisa, KA1UFZ 19 Aug '10

19 Aug '10

<<081810.doc>> IN-Newsletter <<Microsoft Word Picture>> Vol. 33, No. 33 August 18, 2010 -- Covers the period August 8-14. Upcoming Meetings and Events United States Telecommunications Training Institute (USTTI) September 27-October 1 - ARRL HQ Executive Committee Meeting October 23 @ 9:00am in St. Louis, MO Ballot Counting for Director/Vice Director Elections November 19 in Newington, CT Regulatory Information Reported by Dan Henderson, N1ND We continued discussions with NC Section Manager Bill Morine, N2COP, and Cleveland County planning and zoning officials on the wording of a draft ordinance for amateur radio towers. At Morine's request we have agreed to participate by phone in a meeting with county officials and local amateurs on September 7. We were contacted by Laura Smith regarding a situation in Lake Station, IN where a neighbor of Norman Triantafilos, KB9YGD, is seeking a restraining order from the local court to stop his amateur radio activities. The neighbor is seeking relief from what she claims to be harassment. The Regulatory Information office supplied Triantafilos' attorney with a copy of the Midwest City, OK letter prepared by ARRL General Counsel, which details the exclusive jurisdiction over RFI issues by the FCC. In addition, FCC field agents visited his home and did not find any violations of FCC rules in his station set-up or operation. The hearing, scheduled for Friday August 13, was continued until mid-September to allow the plaintiff time to secure counsel. Working with President Craigie, N3KN, and EVP Sumner, K1ZZ, we handled several requests for action through the Grassroots Legislative Action program. ARRL members in the CA-30 district were asked to contact their Representative, Henry Waxman, Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and request committee action on S 1755, which has been pending since the beginning of the year. A request was sent to DLACs in 12 ARRL divisions that have Senators on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (Roanoke, Southeastern and Central divisions do not) seeking letters of support to amend S 1536 - "The ALERT Drivers Act" to exclude Amateur Radio. The combined list of Logs Received for 2010 ARRL Field Day was posted to the ARRL Web. The list includes all logs we have received, including web applet, non-web email and regular mailed submissions. A total of 2,602 entry summaries were received and are included, with several additional entries pending for which we are seeking additional information. Thanks to Kathy Allison, KA1RWY, for finishing this task about four weeks earlier than in the past several years. Media & Public Relations Reported by Allen Pitts, W1AGP Media packets for the 75th Anniversary of ARES were sent to every section's PIC or SM plus ODV. Compliments have been received and what little materials were left over have already been asked for. Updates have been made to the Media & PR portions of the website. Pete Summers, KL2GY, unexpectedly took the main press release about the anniversary and turned it into a very good 3 minute audio for broadcast radio uses. Along with Don Carlson, KQ6FM, he has been given scripts and asked if they will create 60 and 30 second audio PSAs. The video PSA shot by Louise Summey and other students in SC is being edited and polished by Kevin O'Dell, N0IRW. The PR Committee is about to reach final agreement on the new PIO and PIC job descriptions and beginning work on the future of the PIO Handbook. Development Reported by Mary Hobart, K1MMH The Spectrum Defense Fund has raised $105,156 or 32% of the 2010 goal of $325,000. Nearly $62,000 of the funds raised can be attributed to the new Spectrum Defense Matters newsletter, which is now posted on the ARRL website. The second issue of the newsletter is planned for September. An opt-out message for ARRL members has been posted on the newsletter page of the web site for those who do not wish to receive the newsletter by email. The Diamond Club has reached $154,188 or 58% if the 2010 goal. A second mailing will go to all Diamond club donors that are up for renewal or have lapsed to encourage pledges of at least $10 per month. The 2010 Education Technology Fund mailing is in production and planned to mail the last week in August. Production/Editorial Reported by Joel Kleinman, N1BKE The 2011 ARRL Handbook and the September/October issues of QEX and NCJ have been released to the printer. Khrystyne Keane wrote and distributed The ARRL Letter and voiced and produced ARRL Audio News for August 12, 2010. Sales and Marketing Reported by Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R A large membership campaign is being prepared for mailing in September. Diane Petrilli is exploring a second telemarketing trial (one was conducted last year with mixed/poor results)-involving a telemarketing firm that has experience making outbound calls for membership organizations. We are pleased with the high response rate to an online Membership Benefits Survey. The survey invitation was sent by email to a sample group. The survey was also mailed to members that did not respond, and to another sample of members without known e-mail addresses. Results will be analyzed and reported in late September. Our affinity benefit partners are all gearing-up for program mailings during the next 2 months: ARRL Visa credit card (US Bank), ARRL Equipment Insurance Program (Marsh), and group-rate home and auto insurance (MetLife). Some commemorative products have been produced to help celebrate the 75th Anniversary of ARES: t-shirts, mugs, and a 'challenge coin.' The items are available for ordering online, and will begin shipping in early September. We have reached an agreement with MFJ to produce a Morse code oscillator kit for ARRL. The kit will retail for approximately $20. This is an excellent basic electronics kits for use by beginner experimenters, clubs hosting a 'project building night', instructors and teachers, and scouting groups. The project design is based on an oscillator project that had received attention in older ARRL license manuals. Manufacturing is underway, and we hope to introduce the project in late September. The kit will be available exclusively from ARRL and our authorized dealers-and branded as the "ARRL Morse Code Oscillator Kit," produced by MFJ Enterprises. A second-round of beta testing was completed for some license exam review software in development. The software will support our interest in marketing an official ARRL practice exam software resource. Plans include introducing the software into all ARRL license manuals before the end of the year. During the last week, the warehouse crew fulfilled 584 packages for publication and product orders, 257 membership premiums, and QST mailing supplements. Membership & Volunteer Programs Reported by Dave Patton, NN1N On Wednesday, August 4, Andrew Toth and his assistant from XX Towers, Inc. were on hand to replace the rotator atop the 120' tower (and to install the antenna side-arm on the Lab's tower). The replacement rotator - while fully functional on the test bench - failed under the weight of the mast and antennas. Therefore, the rotator that was originally pulled from the 120' tower was repaired and placed back into service. Joe processed regular QSL card requests. He also processed one Qualifying Run certificate and one endorsement. Joe readied three (3) coaxial cables for the Lab's D-Star antenna system. He also assisted Bob Allison, WB1GCM, with assembling the side-arm and antennas for the D-Star system. Joe also made a quick repair to the M-Squared antenna rotator (that was originally taken down by Andrew Toth) for its reinstallation on the 120' tower. Scott worked on fast and slow code practice files for the middle part of the month of August. He also assisted the DXCC department with the editing of applications. Field Organization/Public Service Team South Carolina Section Manager Marc Tarplee, N4UFP, has been nominated to run for a new term of office that begins on January 1, 2011. Leona Adams has sent out acknowledgement correspondence to all "first signers" on Section Manager petitions that have been submitted so far for the Fall SM election cycle, and petitions for this cycle are due at Headquarters on September 10. Editorial work for October QST continued with the review of the Public Service column lay-out and the receipt and submission of the Field Organization Reports. The monthly Official Observer summary was compiled and sent to all OOs, OOCs, and SMs. A radio amateur from Southern New Jersey successfully completed Official Observer training and joined the Field Organization this past week. There are currently 718 Official Observers nationwide. A follow-up on the unidentified signal reported last week on 7.189 MHz has revealed that it was coming from a local burglar/fire alarm system. Business use of a 2 meter frequency was reported in Illinois. The monthly Intruder Watch report to the IARU Region 2 coordinator was compiled and shared while Headquarters received the IARU Region 1 Intruder Watch report. Education Services Reported by Debra Johnson, K1DMJ Continuing Education Program We have accepted the last enrollments for the existing online EmComm Basic/Level 1 course. The last session started August 6. Field classes and field exams continue. The first draft of the new course has been produced by author Allen Pitts W1AGP. It will be reviewed by Mike Corey W5MPC and a group of subject matter experts before being outsourced for development for an online platform. Scouting The Amateur Radio booth at the National Jamboree produced 182 new licenses (new and upgrades) from 7 test sessions with 393 exams taken. The website was updated with news and stories about the 100th Anniversary of Scouting and the National Jamboree, as well as information about 2010 Jamboree on the Air. I prepared an article for September QST announcing this year's JOTA activity. Licensing Support A June newsletter was mailed to over 8,600 instructors and teachers and others who have signed up on the mailing list. We've engaged Jeff Cantor K1ZN to revise the Technician Instructor Manual. The project is anticipated to be ready for publication by mid-December. Education & Technology Program Bids for equipment to fulfill the May round of ETP grants were solicited and received. All 7 of the scheduled 2010 Teachers Institute are now complete. Since my last report Nathan McCray K9CPO conducted a TI at Parallax with 13 teachers and one at HQ with 11 teachers. Mark Spencer, WA8SME conducted two advanced TI-2s, one sponsored by DARA on Space in the Classroom at the DARA club house with 8 participants, and one on Basic Electronics at HQ with 12 participants. Thanks to AMSAT's Drew Glasbrenner KO4MA who supported the activities of the Space in the Classroom session by assuring that AO-51 transmitters were operating so participants could have opportunities to test equipment and practice their skills. Quite a few QSLs with AO-27 occurred during the HQ TI led by Nathan. We have been working with Robert Clark NJ4J, PhD from Penn State University to develop a survey that we will send to past participants of the TI this fall to learn what teachers have been able to use from the workshops and more about the issues and obstacles they face with utilization. Dr. Clark also participated in the Teachers Institute at HQ to get a personal view of the workshop experience. Mark Spencer submitted a paper to be presented at the October AMSAT Space Symposium about educational opportunities with CubeSat simulators as a pipeline to participation in actual CubeSat launches. Miguel Enriquez KD7RPP reports his local high school radio club completed the underwater robot designed for cave exploration that records temperature readings and compass headings and uses ATV to record images that are referenced to a running clock. He reports receiving donations from local Elmers of radio equipment for students and a promised donation of station repeater equipment from a local Shriner's organization. Miguel helped install a brand new 445.20 repeater on nearby Mt. Lemmon, which will be for the exclusive benefit of the Pueblo Magnet High School Amateur Radio Club. This repeater also serves as a control for the ATV repeater that was replaced with new equipment. Nathan McCray was busy with TIs during recent weeks but returning home to Wisconsin he takes on a new responsibility as school principal. He is working with two teachers from his previous school to make sure the robotics and amateur radio programs continue there and has recruited a local ham parent to help support them. In his new school in the 3rd largest district in Wisconsin he will have a staff of over 100. He sees huge opportunity in his new setting for wireless technology topics and has already started working on an ETP grant for his new school. While at HQ, Mark Spencer led two workshops to provide training for HQ volunteer tour guides with ETP educational resources. The purpose is to prepare our tour guides to explain and demonstrate to interested HQ visitors some of the tools we are providing teachers through ARRL's educational outreach efforts. A permanent display of these resources is now available in the Education Department. ARISS An external evaluation of the ARISS program prepared by an outside consultant hired by NASA determined that the program is meeting its goals of inspiring students to think about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) topics and provided some suggestions on ways to improve the educational impact of the program. As part of the preparations for an ARISS contact with the ISS and their application to become a NASA Explorer School, a Greenville Elementary School (Greenville, IL) 4th grade teacher led 3 teachers and 17 students to obtain a ham radio license. Read the full story at http://www.arrl.org/greenville-elementary-school-hams Though astronauts were busy with work activities and could not participate in Field Day activities in June, since then astronaut Doug Wheelock KF5BOC has been making dozens of general QSOs, many over the USA, thrilling many hams. Recent scheduled contacts with Wheelock have included Camp Cavett, Kingston, OK A July 8 contact with Wheelock was the culmination of radio activities in which the youth were introduced to the basics of radio wave propagation. Local radio clubs gave demonstrations to the youth and assisted with other hands on activities. National Boy Scout Jamboree, Fort A.P. Hill, VA- A July 31 contact by K2BSA with Wheelock, during which he answered 13 questions posed to him by the Scouts as approximately 800 others listened in. Sincerely Compiled by, Lisa Kustosik, KA1UFZ Assistant to the CEO Staff Absentee List All Staff 9/6 Holiday Jon Bloom 8/25-9/3 Vacation Steve Capodicasa 9/6-9/10 Vacation Joe Carcia 8/20 Vacation `` 8/27 Vacation Michael Corey 8/20-8/22 Southeastern Division Convention, Huntsville, AL Scott Gee 8/30-8/31 Vacation Mike Gruber 8/23-8/27 Vacation `` 9/27-10/1 Vacation Joel Hallas 8/20 Vacation `` 8/27 Vacation `` 9/3 Vacation Dan Henderson 8/23-8/27 Vacation `` 8/28 New England Division Convention, Boxboro, MA `` 9/24-10/3 Ten-Tec Hamfest,(TN)/W4DXCC/SEDCO/Vacation `` 10/14-10/19 Pacificon, San Ramon, CA/Beale AFB Mary Hobart 8/27 Vacation Gail Iannone 8/20-9/7 Vacation Bob Inderbitzen 8/23-8/27 Vacation Sabrina Jackson 9/1 Vacation Joel Kleinman 8/23 Vacation Jennifer Knapp 8/18-8/20 Vacation Lisa Kustosik 9/7 Vacation Sean Kutzko 8/16-8/25 Tokyo Ham Fair Maryann Macdonald 8/16-8/30 Sick Leave Bill Moore 9/10-9/12 Virginia Section Convention, Virginia Beach, VA Diane Petrilli 8/23-8/27 Vacation Steve Sant Andrea 8/30 Vacation Barry Shelley 8/9-8/20 Vacation `` 8/26-8/27 Vacation Dave Sumner 8/20 PM Vacation `` 10/22pm-10/24 Executive Committee Meeting, St. Louis , MO

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[arrl-odv:19295] Re: Please talk with your SMs
by Richard J. Norton 18 Aug '10

18 Aug '10

At a local convention last Saturday, one of the SMs commented about what has been happening on the SM reflector. I assume he meant the official ARRL reflector. He was upset at the postings of other SMs to the point that he suggested including a session on reflector etiquette at the Section Manager sessions at ARRL headquarters. On the other hand, comments I receive from members are still overwhelmingly negative. It is hard to find things on the site. My own recent experience was an attempt to find the current members of the Public Relations Committee. After a few futile web-site searches, I got out the workbook from the July board meeting and looked at the printed PR Committee report. 73, Dick Norton, N6AA On Tue, Aug 17, 2010 at 9:41 AM, Kay Craigie <n3kn(a)verizon.net> wrote: > A Director told me he has heard that some Section Managers are upset because > they believe the Board does not care about the web site or about the > problems that Section Managers have experienced with it. They apparently > believe this because the July Board meeting Minutes do not have a Minute > saying "Directors gnash teeth and tear hair about web site" or something > like that. > > The discussion among Section Managers seems to have been carried out on > their unofficial reflector. Some Section Managers may have contacted you, > their Directors and Vice Directors, to see if it's true that the Board isn't > paying attention and doesn't care. That would be a sensible way to find out > the answer to a question, wouldn't it? Ask the people who are in a position > to know. Other Section Managers may have been content to pool their lack of > information and further convince themselves that since *they* don't know, > *we* don't care. This contributes to the counterproductive "us versus them" > atmosphere between the Board and Section Managers that has existed for a > number of years. > > Of course the Board cares. We care very much. There was discussion of the > web site in July by the committees and the full Board plus informal > discussion -- it just didn't happen in a way that would be recorded as a > Board action in the Minutes. > > I would like to suggest, respectfully, that you talk with your Section > Managers, in whatever format or venue you and they prefer, and find out if > they share this belief that the Board doesn't care about the web site and > ignored it in July. If they do think that, then you can address it with > information. May I suggest that as part of the discussion you might explain > to them how an ARRL Board meeting works, and does not work. Explain to them > how the Standing Committees work. Explain to them that the Minutes of a > corporate board meeting are not a transcript or play-by-play. > > It's been suggested that I should write a message for the official SM > reflector assuring Section Managers that the Board cares about the web site. > I'm willing to do that if all else fails (to coin a phrase). However, I > believe that their respective Directors and Vice Directors are the best > people to discuss this with them and address their perceptions. They are > your members. You were elected to represent them. You know them -- their > particular attitudes and personalities. You know where in your Division the > land mines and the cow pies are. > > It may be that just a few Section Managers on the unofficial reflector are > acting like they speak for the others, when they don't. We know that has > happened from time to time. On the other hand, I'd be remiss in not drawing > to your attention the possibility that some of your SMs may be sitting over > there on their unofficial reflector letting wrong assumptions fester. > > I would not presume to tell you how to deal with your Section Managers. I > just want to make sure you are aware that an incorrect perception may exist, > so you can look into it and deal with it in the way that works best for you, > your Section Managers, and your Division. > > 73 - Kay N3KN > > >

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[arrl-odv:19294] Web Navigation
by Kramer, Harold, WJ1B 18 Aug '10

18 Aug '10

Grant, Thanks for the email and your comments. I am glad that we had the opportunity to discuss some of these matters during our telephone conversation. As we discussed, navigation of any Web site should continue to evolve based on user feedback and statistical analysis of the most visited parts of the Site. As we gain more experience with the Site, hear more feedback, and look at user stats, we will continue to modify the navigation scheme to suit the user's needs. This is, at least in theory, the advantage of a Web site over a printed publication. We could also do a better job about educating users about the Favorites feature that lets users jump to their favorite pages quickly. Perhaps, we can push out some additional information on that feature as well. I certainly agree that we can improve the navigation. We have made many changes since the launch and we will continue to modify the navigation scheme so that it provides the best Web experience for our users. 73, Harold PS: The VE Session count page has now been restored. http://www.arrl.org/ve-session-counts Harold Kramer, WJ1B Chief Operating Officer ARRL -the national association for Amateur Radio 225 Main Street Newington, CT 06111 (860) 594 -0220 -----Original Message----- From: Grant Hopper [mailto:ghopper@eskimo.com] Sent: Monday, August 16, 2010 2:47 PM To: arrl-odv Subject: [arrl-odv:19290] RE: [arrl-odv:19285] RE: [arrl-odv:19283] Field Day Logs Posted??? Brian makes a good point about contrast. Most web links in email are underlined. Most web links in 'normal' web pages are a bright blue (in comparison to the black text) and frequently underlined as well. Web pages that have goofy designs and colors tend to be MUCH harder to navigate unless an obvious scheme is presented on the 'home page' so that viewers know how to identify the various things like links and scroll bars (within frames.) In any of those cases, the hyperlinks have to be differentiated from the rest of the text. To not do so makes navigation difficult at best. Nothing frustrates me more, and makes me far less inclined to go back to a page/site than difficult navigation. I spend a LOT of time using a web browser in my practice and confusing navigation is completely unnecessary even when you have a sophisticated web site. I keep hoping that ours will continue to improve, but I continue to find it difficult to find anything easily except by using the search function. Which brings up what I think is the real (and ongoing) issue. Based on all the "where do I find" and "I couldn't find under...." questions I hear, the hierarchy of the site is still too confusing/complicated. Fortunately this is something that can be fixed. A vast majority of what people want to use should be easy to find. Right now it isn't. As an example, what took typically three clicks to get to a product review article (when you don't know the issue of QST) now takes a lot of work. The last time I tried it, it took at least one search, several clicks (9 total for me), and downloading two different PDFs (the QST index for the year, and the actual article.) This is actually more of a load on the servers and more time spent looking for what was a very fast process. Eventually we'll solve all these issues, I'm not worried about that, but in the mean time we're generating more bad will. 73, Grant Hopper KB7WSD -----Original Message----- From: Brian Mileshosky [mailto:n5zgt@swcp.com] Sent: Monday, August 16, 2010 9:41 AM To: arrl-odv Cc: arrl-odv Subject: [arrl-odv:19285] RE: [arrl-odv:19283] Field Day Logs Posted??? It is indeed there, but I can see how the link -- given its color -- blends in with the rest of the text in the story, making it seem that there are no links to click on. I wonder if a different color would be better than the sorta powder blue that looks like black. Another option would be to make the links bold so they stand out. Or underlined. 73, Brian N5ZGT On Mon, 16 Aug 2010, Cliff Ahrens wrote: > Try the "has been posted" link in the article. Then in "Other Reports" > click on "2010 Field Day". Then click on "Logs Received as of August 13". > Or try this direct link: > http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Contest%20-%20General/Logs%20Received/Aug %201 > 3%20Logs%20Rcvd%20Merged.pdf > > It's just a list of the logs received, not the results, yet. Hope this > helps. > > Cliff K0CA > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: dick(a)pobox.com [mailto:dick@pobox.com] > Sent: Monday, August 16, 2010 11:22 AM > To: arrl-odv > Subject: [arrl-odv:19283] Field Day Logs Posted??? > Importance: High > > 16 AUG 2010 - 1121 CDT > > Perhaps I still don't know how to properly navigate the entire new ARRL > website... > > In response to the latest news posting "Field Day Logs Posted", I went > looking for the results and can not find them. I started with the "On > The Air" button on the home page and ended up with the contest results > list menu. The "2009 ARRL Field Day" is an available selection, but > "2010 ARRL Field Day" is not listed as of five minutes ago. > > We should not post these news items until the referenced news or data > is verified as being available on the web site. All this does is to > increase > member unhappiness with the ARRL web site. How about some coordination > of this activity!?!? > > - Dick Isely, W9GIG > > > > > > ARRL Director, Rocky Mountain Division On the web at www.RockyMountainDivision.org

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[arrl-odv:19293] Please talk with your SMs
by Kay Craigie 17 Aug '10

17 Aug '10

A Director told me he has heard that some Section Managers are upset because they believe the Board does not care about the web site or about the problems that Section Managers have experienced with it. They apparently believe this because the July Board meeting Minutes do not have a Minute saying "Directors gnash teeth and tear hair about web site" or something like that. The discussion among Section Managers seems to have been carried out on their unofficial reflector. Some Section Managers may have contacted you, their Directors and Vice Directors, to see if it's true that the Board isn't paying attention and doesn't care. That would be a sensible way to find out the answer to a question, wouldn't it? Ask the people who are in a position to know. Other Section Managers may have been content to pool their lack of information and further convince themselves that since *they* don't know, *we* don't care. This contributes to the counterproductive "us versus them" atmosphere between the Board and Section Managers that has existed for a number of years. Of course the Board cares. We care very much. There was discussion of the web site in July by the committees and the full Board plus informal discussion -- it just didn't happen in a way that would be recorded as a Board action in the Minutes. I would like to suggest, respectfully, that you talk with your Section Managers, in whatever format or venue you and they prefer, and find out if they share this belief that the Board doesn't care about the web site and ignored it in July. If they do think that, then you can address it with information. May I suggest that as part of the discussion you might explain to them how an ARRL Board meeting works, and does not work. Explain to them how the Standing Committees work. Explain to them that the Minutes of a corporate board meeting are not a transcript or play-by-play. It's been suggested that I should write a message for the official SM reflector assuring Section Managers that the Board cares about the web site. I'm willing to do that if all else fails (to coin a phrase). However, I believe that their respective Directors and Vice Directors are the best people to discuss this with them and address their perceptions. They are your members. You were elected to represent them. You know them -- their particular attitudes and personalities. You know where in your Division the land mines and the cow pies are. It may be that just a few Section Managers on the unofficial reflector are acting like they speak for the others, when they don't. We know that has happened from time to time. On the other hand, I'd be remiss in not drawing to your attention the possibility that some of your SMs may be sitting over there on their unofficial reflector letting wrong assumptions fester. I would not presume to tell you how to deal with your Section Managers. I just want to make sure you are aware that an incorrect perception may exist, so you can look into it and deal with it in the way that works best for you, your Section Managers, and your Division. 73 - Kay N3KN

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[arrl-odv:19292] RE: [arrl-odv:19285] RE: [arrl-odv:19283] Field Day Logs Posted???
by Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ 16 Aug '10

16 Aug '10

Jim, browsers make accommodation for individuals with various impairments. You may find it useful to reset your browser. With Internet Explorer, go to "Tools," "Internet Options," and "Accessibility." If you check "Ignore colors specified on web pages" you may find the screen to be easier to read. You can then specify your own colors if you prefer. Dave -----Original Message----- From: Jim Weaver K8JE [mailto:K8JE@ARRL.org] Sent: Monday, August 16, 2010 4:55 PM To: arrl-odv Subject: RE: [arrl-odv:19285] RE: [arrl-odv:19283] Field Day Logs Posted??? Brian raised an interesting point -- i.e. the colors used on the new web site. Being numbered among the approximately 8% of the population that is red-green color blind, I often have difficulty in especially in distinguishing between shades of different colors (e.g. is it a pale green or a pale brown?). Fortunately I am not profoundly red-green blind. Even so, difficulty in differentiating between shades used on the new web site is old hat for me and is not limited to the site. I suspect that for many color blind people, the new site's glorious Technicolor hues do not represent an improvement over the old site. Using shades of colors that are more contrasty certainly would be beneficial to me. To others? I would think so. Jim Jim Weaver, K8JE, Director ARRL Great Lakes Division 5065 Bethany Rd. Mason, OH 45040; Tel. 513-459-1661 ARRL, The national organization for Amateur Radio -----Original Message----- From: Brian Mileshosky [mailto:n5zgt@swcp.com] Sent: Monday, August 16, 2010 12:41 PM To: arrl-odv Cc: arrl-odv Subject: [arrl-odv:19285] RE: [arrl-odv:19283] Field Day Logs Posted??? It is indeed there, but I can see how the link -- given its color -- blends in with the rest of the text in the story, making it seem that there are no links to click on. I wonder if a different color would be better than the sorta powder blue that looks like black. Another option would be to make the links bold so they stand out. Or underlined. 73, Brian N5ZGT On Mon, 16 Aug 2010, Cliff Ahrens wrote: > Try the "has been posted" link in the article. Then in "Other Reports" > click on "2010 Field Day". Then click on "Logs Received as of August 13". > Or try this direct link: > http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Contest%20-%20General/Logs%20Received/A > ug%201 > 3%20Logs%20Rcvd%20Merged.pdf > > It's just a list of the logs received, not the results, yet. Hope > this helps. > > Cliff K0CA > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: dick(a)pobox.com [mailto:dick@pobox.com] > Sent: Monday, August 16, 2010 11:22 AM > To: arrl-odv > Subject: [arrl-odv:19283] Field Day Logs Posted??? > Importance: High > > 16 AUG 2010 - 1121 CDT > > Perhaps I still don't know how to properly navigate the entire new > ARRL website... > > In response to the latest news posting "Field Day Logs Posted", I went > looking for the results and can not find them. I started with the "On > The Air" button on the home page and ended up with the contest results > list menu. The "2009 ARRL Field Day" is an available selection, but > "2010 ARRL Field Day" is not listed as of five minutes ago. > > We should not post these news items until the referenced news or data > is verified as being available on the web site. All this does is to > increase member unhappiness with the ARRL web site. How about some > coordination of this activity!?!? > > - Dick Isely, W9GIG > > > > > > ARRL Director, Rocky Mountain Division On the web at www.RockyMountainDivision.org No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.851 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3074 - Release Date: 08/15/10 14:35:00

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RE: [arrl-odv:19285] RE: [arrl-odv:19283] Field Day Logs Posted???
by Jim Weaver K8JE 16 Aug '10

16 Aug '10

Brian raised an interesting point -- i.e. the colors used on the new web site. Being numbered among the approximately 8% of the population that is red-green color blind, I often have difficulty in especially in distinguishing between shades of different colors (e.g. is it a pale green or a pale brown?). Fortunately I am not profoundly red-green blind. Even so, difficulty in differentiating between shades used on the new web site is old hat for me and is not limited to the site. I suspect that for many color blind people, the new site's glorious Technicolor hues do not represent an improvement over the old site. Using shades of colors that are more contrasty certainly would be beneficial to me. To others? I would think so. Jim Jim Weaver, K8JE, Director ARRL Great Lakes Division 5065 Bethany Rd. Mason, OH 45040; Tel. 513-459-1661 ARRL, The national organization for Amateur Radio -----Original Message----- From: Brian Mileshosky [mailto:n5zgt@swcp.com] Sent: Monday, August 16, 2010 12:41 PM To: arrl-odv Cc: arrl-odv Subject: [arrl-odv:19285] RE: [arrl-odv:19283] Field Day Logs Posted??? It is indeed there, but I can see how the link -- given its color -- blends in with the rest of the text in the story, making it seem that there are no links to click on. I wonder if a different color would be better than the sorta powder blue that looks like black. Another option would be to make the links bold so they stand out. Or underlined. 73, Brian N5ZGT On Mon, 16 Aug 2010, Cliff Ahrens wrote: > Try the "has been posted" link in the article. Then in "Other Reports" > click on "2010 Field Day". Then click on "Logs Received as of August 13". > Or try this direct link: > http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Contest%20-%20General/Logs%20Received/A > ug%201 > 3%20Logs%20Rcvd%20Merged.pdf > > It's just a list of the logs received, not the results, yet. Hope > this helps. > > Cliff K0CA > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: dick(a)pobox.com [mailto:dick@pobox.com] > Sent: Monday, August 16, 2010 11:22 AM > To: arrl-odv > Subject: [arrl-odv:19283] Field Day Logs Posted??? > Importance: High > > 16 AUG 2010 - 1121 CDT > > Perhaps I still don't know how to properly navigate the entire new > ARRL website... > > In response to the latest news posting "Field Day Logs Posted", I went > looking for the results and can not find them. I started with the "On > The Air" button on the home page and ended up with the contest results > list menu. The "2009 ARRL Field Day" is an available selection, but > "2010 ARRL Field Day" is not listed as of five minutes ago. > > We should not post these news items until the referenced news or data > is verified as being available on the web site. All this does is to > increase member unhappiness with the ARRL web site. How about some > coordination of this activity!?!? > > - Dick Isely, W9GIG > > > > > > ARRL Director, Rocky Mountain Division On the web at www.RockyMountainDivision.org No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.851 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3074 - Release Date: 08/15/10 14:35:00

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[arrl-odv:19290] RE: [arrl-odv:19285] RE: [arrl-odv:19283] Field Day Logs Posted???
by Grant Hopper 16 Aug '10

16 Aug '10

Brian makes a good point about contrast. Most web links in email are underlined. Most web links in 'normal' web pages are a bright blue (in comparison to the black text) and frequently underlined as well. Web pages that have goofy designs and colors tend to be MUCH harder to navigate unless an obvious scheme is presented on the 'home page' so that viewers know how to identify the various things like links and scroll bars (within frames.) In any of those cases, the hyperlinks have to be differentiated from the rest of the text. To not do so makes navigation difficult at best. Nothing frustrates me more, and makes me far less inclined to go back to a page/site than difficult navigation. I spend a LOT of time using a web browser in my practice and confusing navigation is completely unnecessary even when you have a sophisticated web site. I keep hoping that ours will continue to improve, but I continue to find it difficult to find anything easily except by using the search function. Which brings up what I think is the real (and ongoing) issue. Based on all the "where do I find" and "I couldn't find under...." questions I hear, the hierarchy of the site is still too confusing/complicated. Fortunately this is something that can be fixed. A vast majority of what people want to use should be easy to find. Right now it isn't. As an example, what took typically three clicks to get to a product review article (when you don't know the issue of QST) now takes a lot of work. The last time I tried it, it took at least one search, several clicks (9 total for me), and downloading two different PDFs (the QST index for the year, and the actual article.) This is actually more of a load on the servers and more time spent looking for what was a very fast process. Eventually we'll solve all these issues, I'm not worried about that, but in the mean time we're generating more bad will. 73, Grant Hopper KB7WSD -----Original Message----- From: Brian Mileshosky [mailto:n5zgt@swcp.com] Sent: Monday, August 16, 2010 9:41 AM To: arrl-odv Cc: arrl-odv Subject: [arrl-odv:19285] RE: [arrl-odv:19283] Field Day Logs Posted??? It is indeed there, but I can see how the link -- given its color -- blends in with the rest of the text in the story, making it seem that there are no links to click on. I wonder if a different color would be better than the sorta powder blue that looks like black. Another option would be to make the links bold so they stand out. Or underlined. 73, Brian N5ZGT On Mon, 16 Aug 2010, Cliff Ahrens wrote: > Try the "has been posted" link in the article. Then in "Other Reports" > click on "2010 Field Day". Then click on "Logs Received as of August 13". > Or try this direct link: > http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Contest%20-%20General/Logs%20Received/Aug%201 > 3%20Logs%20Rcvd%20Merged.pdf > > It's just a list of the logs received, not the results, yet. Hope this > helps. > > Cliff K0CA > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: dick(a)pobox.com [mailto:dick@pobox.com] > Sent: Monday, August 16, 2010 11:22 AM > To: arrl-odv > Subject: [arrl-odv:19283] Field Day Logs Posted??? > Importance: High > > 16 AUG 2010 - 1121 CDT > > Perhaps I still don't know how to properly navigate the entire new ARRL > website... > > In response to the latest news posting "Field Day Logs Posted", I went > looking for the results and can not find them. I started with the "On > The Air" button on the home page and ended up with the contest results > list menu. The "2009 ARRL Field Day" is an available selection, but > "2010 ARRL Field Day" is not listed as of five minutes ago. > > We should not post these news items until the referenced news or data > is verified as being available on the web site. All this does is to > increase > member unhappiness with the ARRL web site. How about some coordination > of this activity!?!? > > - Dick Isely, W9GIG > > > > > > ARRL Director, Rocky Mountain Division On the web at www.RockyMountainDivision.org

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[arrl-odv:19289] RE: [arrl-odv:19288] RE: [arrl-odv:19287] RE: [arrl-odv:19285] RE: [arrl-odv:19283] Field Day Logs Posted???
by Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ 16 Aug '10

16 Aug '10

Bill, that was part of the design process. Dave -----Original Message----- From: Bill Edgar [mailto:n3llr@earthlink.net] Sent: Monday, August 16, 2010 1:56 PM To: arrl-odv Subject: [arrl-odv:19288] RE: [arrl-odv:19287] RE: [arrl-odv:19285] RE: [arrl-odv:19283] Field Day Logs Posted??? Dave, Just wondering if we test the new web site on all major web browsers to see how it looks? - Bill -----Original Message----- From: Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ <dsumner(a)arrl.org> Sent: Monday, August 16, 2010 12:46 PM To: arrl-odv <arrl-odv(a)reflector.arrl.org> Subject: [arrl-odv:19287] RE: [arrl-odv:19285] RE: [arrl-odv:19283] Field Day Logs Posted??? I guess this must be related either to one's display or browser -- the contrast looks fine on my screen. Dave -----Original Message----- From: Brian Mileshosky [mailto:n5zgt@swcp.com] Sent: Monday, August 16, 2010 12:41 PM To: arrl-odv Cc: arrl-odv Subject: [arrl-odv:19285] RE: [arrl-odv:19283] Field Day Logs Posted??? It is indeed there, but I can see how the link -- given its color -- blends in with the rest of the text in the story, making it seem that there are no links to click on. I wonder if a different color would be better than the sorta powder blue that looks like black. Another option would be to make the links bold so they stand out. Or underlined. 73, Brian N5ZGT On Mon, 16 Aug 2010, Cliff Ahrens wrote: > Try the "has been posted" link in the article. Then in "Other Reports" > click on "2010 Field Day". Then click on "Logs Received as of August 13". > Or try this direct link: > http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Contest%20-%20General/Logs%20Received/Aug %201 > 3%20Logs%20Rcvd%20Merged.pdf > > It's just a list of the logs received, not the results, yet. Hope this > helps. > > Cliff K0CA > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: dick(a)pobox.com [mailto:dick@pobox.com] > Sent: Monday, August 16, 2010 11:22 AM > To: arrl-odv > Subject: [arrl-odv:19283] Field Day Logs Posted??? > Importance: High > > 16 AUG 2010 - 1121 CDT > > Perhaps I still don't know how to properly navigate the entire new ARRL > website... > > In response to the latest news posting "Field Day Logs Posted", I went > looking for the results and can not find them. I started with the "On > The Air" button on the home page and ended up with the contest results > list menu. The "2009 ARRL Field Day" is an available selection, but > "2010 ARRL Field Day" is not listed as of five minutes ago. > > We should not post these news items until the referenced news or data > is verified as being available on the web site. All this does is to > increase > member unhappiness with the ARRL web site. How about some coordination > of this activity!?!? > > - Dick Isely, W9GIG > > > > > > ARRL Director, Rocky Mountain Division On the web at www.RockyMountainDivision.org

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[arrl-odv:19288] RE: [arrl-odv:19287] RE: [arrl-odv:19285] RE: [arrl-odv:19283] Field Day Logs Posted???
by Bill Edgar 16 Aug '10

16 Aug '10

Dave, Just wondering if we test the new web site on all major web browsers to see how it looks? - Bill -----Original Message----- From: Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ <dsumner(a)arrl.org> Sent: Monday, August 16, 2010 12:46 PM To: arrl-odv <arrl-odv(a)reflector.arrl.org> Subject: [arrl-odv:19287] RE: [arrl-odv:19285] RE: [arrl-odv:19283] Field Day Logs Posted??? I guess this must be related either to one's display or browser -- the contrast looks fine on my screen. Dave -----Original Message----- From: Brian Mileshosky [mailto:n5zgt@swcp.com] Sent: Monday, August 16, 2010 12:41 PM To: arrl-odv Cc: arrl-odv Subject: [arrl-odv:19285] RE: [arrl-odv:19283] Field Day Logs Posted??? It is indeed there, but I can see how the link -- given its color -- blends in with the rest of the text in the story, making it seem that there are no links to click on. I wonder if a different color would be better than the sorta powder blue that looks like black. Another option would be to make the links bold so they stand out. Or underlined. 73, Brian N5ZGT On Mon, 16 Aug 2010, Cliff Ahrens wrote: > Try the "has been posted" link in the article. Then in "Other Reports" > click on "2010 Field Day". Then click on "Logs Received as of August 13". > Or try this direct link: > http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Contest%20-%20General/Logs%20Received/Aug %201 > 3%20Logs%20Rcvd%20Merged.pdf > > It's just a list of the logs received, not the results, yet. Hope this > helps. > > Cliff K0CA > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: dick(a)pobox.com [mailto:dick@pobox.com] > Sent: Monday, August 16, 2010 11:22 AM > To: arrl-odv > Subject: [arrl-odv:19283] Field Day Logs Posted??? > Importance: High > > 16 AUG 2010 - 1121 CDT > > Perhaps I still don't know how to properly navigate the entire new ARRL > website... > > In response to the latest news posting "Field Day Logs Posted", I went > looking for the results and can not find them. I started with the "On > The Air" button on the home page and ended up with the contest results > list menu. The "2009 ARRL Field Day" is an available selection, but > "2010 ARRL Field Day" is not listed as of five minutes ago. > > We should not post these news items until the referenced news or data > is verified as being available on the web site. All this does is to > increase > member unhappiness with the ARRL web site. How about some coordination > of this activity!?!? > > - Dick Isely, W9GIG > > > > > > ARRL Director, Rocky Mountain Division On the web at www.RockyMountainDivision.org

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[arrl-odv:19287] RE: [arrl-odv:19285] RE: [arrl-odv:19283] Field Day Logs Posted???
by Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ 16 Aug '10

16 Aug '10

I guess this must be related either to one's display or browser -- the contrast looks fine on my screen. Dave -----Original Message----- From: Brian Mileshosky [mailto:n5zgt@swcp.com] Sent: Monday, August 16, 2010 12:41 PM To: arrl-odv Cc: arrl-odv Subject: [arrl-odv:19285] RE: [arrl-odv:19283] Field Day Logs Posted??? It is indeed there, but I can see how the link -- given its color -- blends in with the rest of the text in the story, making it seem that there are no links to click on. I wonder if a different color would be better than the sorta powder blue that looks like black. Another option would be to make the links bold so they stand out. Or underlined. 73, Brian N5ZGT On Mon, 16 Aug 2010, Cliff Ahrens wrote: > Try the "has been posted" link in the article. Then in "Other Reports" > click on "2010 Field Day". Then click on "Logs Received as of August 13". > Or try this direct link: > http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Contest%20-%20General/Logs%20Received/Aug %201 > 3%20Logs%20Rcvd%20Merged.pdf > > It's just a list of the logs received, not the results, yet. Hope this > helps. > > Cliff K0CA > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: dick(a)pobox.com [mailto:dick@pobox.com] > Sent: Monday, August 16, 2010 11:22 AM > To: arrl-odv > Subject: [arrl-odv:19283] Field Day Logs Posted??? > Importance: High > > 16 AUG 2010 - 1121 CDT > > Perhaps I still don't know how to properly navigate the entire new ARRL > website... > > In response to the latest news posting "Field Day Logs Posted", I went > looking for the results and can not find them. I started with the "On > The Air" button on the home page and ended up with the contest results > list menu. The "2009 ARRL Field Day" is an available selection, but > "2010 ARRL Field Day" is not listed as of five minutes ago. > > We should not post these news items until the referenced news or data > is verified as being available on the web site. All this does is to > increase > member unhappiness with the ARRL web site. How about some coordination > of this activity!?!? > > - Dick Isely, W9GIG > > > > > > ARRL Director, Rocky Mountain Division On the web at www.RockyMountainDivision.org

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