May 2011 - arrl-odv - reflector.arrl.org

[arrl-odv:19927] Re: Disgruntled ham?
by kg4ium＠bellsouth.net 12 May '11

12 May '11

Bill, I received the same letter about a month ago and also chose to ignore it, for many of the reasons already mentioned. So no, you are not alone! 73, Andrea, KG4IUM Sent from my T-Mobile myTouch 3G Slide ----- Reply message ----- From: "Bill Edgar" <n3llr(a)earthlink.net> Date: Thu, May 12, 2011 17:50 Subject: [arrl-odv:19921] Disgruntled ham? To: "ODV" <arrl-odv(a)arrl.org>

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[arrl-odv:19922] How the Quality of Recent Technical QST articles Is Viewed on the Towertalk Reflector...
by Richard J Norton 12 May '11

12 May '11

I noted that the recent ARRL book editor job requirements included a degree in journalism. I thought an electrical engineer, who knew how to write, might be a better choice. But as the following post on the TowerTalk reflector indicates, it looks like the QST and League publication tradition of sound technical verification of printed content might be a relic of the past. This is not something that leaves me filled with pride. 73, Dick Norton, N6AA Date: Thu, 12 May 2011 13:06:04 -0700 From: David Gilbert <xdavid(a)cis-broadband.com> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Vertical with 1 radial To: towertalk(a)contesting.com Message-ID: <4DCC3DAC.1000908(a)cis-broadband.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed For all practical purposes, a vertical with only one radial doesn't have "gain" in one direction ... it merely has more loss in all other directions. That may be useful if you need enough pattern to give you discrimination in directions away from the radial due to QRM or QRN, but it won't make you heard better than if you had radials in all directions. I assume, however, that one of the articles you read was the one by K7BKI in the latest issue of QST. That antenna really isn't as much a vertical antenna with radials as it is a vertically polarized V-antenna (which could theoretically offer some slight gain) since he has it mounted 13 feet off the ground. Even in that case, though, take a look at the max gain numbers in the EZNEC plots he included in the article ... 1.37 dbi is hardly what I would call "gain" over a traditional vertical antenna, and at the takeoff angle of maximum F/B it's only 0.9 dbi. Personally, I think it was misguided of him to attribute his newly improved ability to work DX to that antenna unless his previous yagi was defective ... 30m isn't even the same band he was operating before. But to answer your question, yes ... ARRL <is> pretty much publishing just anything now and several of their articles over the last few years have been technically misleading or even just plain flawed. I'd bet that their editorial review process consists solely of grammar and context. 73, Dave AB7E

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[arrl-odv:19920] FCC vacancy
by Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ 12 May '11

12 May '11

FCC Commissioner Meredith Attwell Baker has announced that she is leaving the FCC as of June 3. This will create a Republican vacancy on the five-member Commission. Dave K1ZZ

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[arrl-odv:19918] Procedures during Fairfax Office Staff Absences
by Price, Brennan, N4QX 11 May '11

11 May '11

Occasionally, and with greater frequency as WRCs approach, both professional staffers in Fairfax may be out of the office for days or weeks at a time due to meeting attendance or leave. This is likely to be the case for all but a few business days starting next Monday through the end of June. In my experience, the volume of membership contact and Board inquiries handled by the Fairfax office is very low compared to other ARRL departments. Nevertheless, recent suggestions on ODV that key staff should take reasonable steps optimize their reachability are are noted. With this in mind: * Virginia Macfarlan has graciously agreed to change her work schedule from two days a week to four days a week through the end of June, working half days to maintain the budgeted total of fifteen hours per week. Virginia will check postal mail and telephone messages, alert the professional staff to any important messages, and make sure our facility is maintained. * Although I will be out of the country for most of this time, I will not be out of touch. This email address will be checked at least daily, and urgent messages can be sent to brennanprice(a)verizon.net, which will come to my BlackBerry. While I will be six hours ahead of EDT while in Europe, I will respond to emails as promptly as feasible. Email contact is vastly preferred to a cell phone call due to substantial overseas roaming charges. My goal is to make the operation of the Fairfax office appear seamless during this time, and I welcome suggestions as to further steps we can take. 73, Brennan T. Price, N4QX Chief Technology Officer American Radio Relay League 3545 Chain Bridge Road Suite 209 Fairfax VA 22030-2708 Tel +1 703 934-2077 Fax +1 703 934-2079

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[arrl-odv:19917] State legislative report
by Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ 11 May '11

11 May '11

Folks, here is the latest update to the state legislative report from Chwat & Co. 73, Dave K1ZZ <<ARRL SLR March-April 2011.pdf>>

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[arrl-odv:19916] January 2011 PSC Meeting Minutes
by Bill Edgar 11 May '11

11 May '11

Attached are the minutes for the January 2011 PSC Committee meeting. I apologize for the late date for these minutes - we had problems getting the minutes. If you have any questions, please let me know. 73, - Bill N3LLR

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[arrl-odv:19915] January 2011 PSC Committee Meeting Minutes
by Bill Edgar 11 May '11

11 May '11

Attached is a copy of the minutes of the January 2011 PSC meeting. I apologize for the late date for these minutes - we had some difficulties getting the minutes put together. - Bill N3LLR

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[arrl-odv:19914] Henry, WD4Q checked in
by Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ 10 May '11

10 May '11

Past Delta Division Director Henry Leggette, WD4Q has asked me to reassure his friends in the Board family that he and his family are not affected by the flooding in Memphis. Dave K1ZZ

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[arrl-odv:19910] VUCC/DXCC certificate delays?
by MICKEY COX 06 May '11

06 May '11

ODV, I've heard recently from several members that they have been waiting many months for their VUCC/DXCC certificates, including apparently as long as last November/December! Is this "problem" limited to just members in the Delta Division or is it more widespread? (Or is the waiting period for these certificates now six months or more?) Thanks and 73, Mickey K5MC

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[arrl-odv:19908] IN-News
by Kustosik, Lisa, KA1UFZ 05 May '11

05 May '11

<<050411.doc>> IN-Newsletter <<Microsoft Word Picture>> Vol. 34, No. 18 May 4, 2011 -- Covers the period April 24-30. Upcoming Meetings and Events Programs & Services Committee: June 18 @ 8:30am - ARRL HQ Technical Relations Reported by Brennan Price, N4QX The Fairfax office welcomed Virginia Macfarlan, KD4VSK, as its new administrative assistant. Virginia will be working Tuesdays and Wednesdays. In addition to upcoming meeting preparation, Brennan Price and Jon Siverling attended a post-CPM debriefing presented by the United States ITU Association. At the debriefing, it was announced that the United States will propose a WRC-15 agenda item seeking allocations to the mobile service for "broadband applications, including IMT," without bounds on frequencies to be considered, except the bands allocated to the radionavigation satellite service. While this latter condition is a bit of good news for Amateur Radio (the 1240-1300 MHz allocation is secondary to RNSS worldwide), this development presents a significant defensive issue for WRC-15. Brennan has advised the Ad-Hoc National Broadband Plan committee accordingly. Media & Public Relations Reported by Allen Pitts, W1AGP Updated PR-101 graduate list and posted to web along with a new "Now Hear This." The survey for "Now Hear This" was overwhelmingly in favor of video clips and these will be done whenever time allows. Completed a radio interview with Raleigh Adams for his "On The Record" program which should air throughout the country on the weekend of May 7. The May issue of CONTACT! was published May 2nd. Further work was done preparing for Dayton, updating the "Getting the message through" EmComm brochure and with an initial planning meeting for a video tour of W1AW. After an initial period of no information, we began getting good info on events in Alabama from PIC Ed Tyler. This info was used in a last minute scramble to get NPR reporter Joel Rose to link their report on Alabama with the hams' activities and use of the 440 band in an already completed story on HR-607. This was accomplished late Friday night and the results that aired Saturday on NPR's "All Things Considered" were most pleasing. Major THANK YOU's go to President Craigie and to Joe Taylor for their help in this. In addition, Don Carlson responded to a request for a very fast 60 sec audio PSA which was sent on the PR reflector for radio uses. Don created it (also Friday night) in under 2 hours for us. A second one of 30 seconds is reportedly being made in NY by Johnny Donovan. Development Reported by Mary Hobart, K1MMH The Spectrum Defense Fund is growing on the heels of the first issue of Spectrum Defense Matters. Year to date receipts have climbed to $99,266 or 28% of the 2011 revenue target. The Diamond Club continues to grow, albeit more slowly than in March. Through the end of April net revenues for this unrestricted program total $120,160 or 43% of the 2011 revenue target. Modest growth came from the Brass ($250), Gold ($1000) and Platinum ($2500) levels. The campaign for the Education & Technology Fund is in development. Copy has been prepared and mail files have been requested. The plan is to mail by the end of May. Development is working with the news team on a piece to generate contributions for the Ham Aid Fund to assist with equipment and shipping costs to meet the needs in Alabama in the wake of the tornado outbreak there. The annual Donor Reception on Thursday evening May 19 has been arranged. Responses from donors now total 90+. Bus transport is being arranged for those who need it from the Baymont/Fairfield hotels, the Crowne Plaza and the Dayton Marriott. Second Century Campaign (SCC) Chairman David Brandenburg, K5RQ continues his contact with nominees to serve on the SCC committee. He reports two acceptances of positions on the committee with interest from several others. Arrangements are being made for an informal meeting of committee members during the Hamvention weekend. A contract for prospect research for the SCC has been reviewed, accepted and signed with Wealth Engine of Bethesda MD. Files specs have been provided to IT for the entire membership file. Interviews have begun for the new Individual Giving Manager position in the Development Office. Production/Editorial Reported by Joel Kleinman, N1BKE Khrystyne Keane wrote and distributed the ARRL Letter and produced and voiced ARRL Audio News for April 28, 2011. Sales and Marketing Reported by Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R April ended with 156,367 members-a loss of 362 members over March. The forecasted loss for the month was 216 members. 72% of April 2011 expirees paid on time (vs. 72% last April). We recorded the highest acquisition rate from among new hams in at least the last 3 years. 22.70% of new hams licensed in January joined ARRL within 4 months (January-April). April product sales were $258,892. The month's forecast was $268,968. Direct sales were $134,652; dealer sales were $124,240. The warehouse crew fulfilled 1,377 packages for publication and product orders, 350 membership premiums, and QST mailing supplements. It was a busy week, but the team still managed to clear the decks of all orders before closing the month. The response to the new spiral bound, desktop Repeater Directory is very good so far. Sales of the desktop edition reached $21,000 this month, compared to $15,500 last year. A publication-themed mailing will drop on Friday. The campaign mails to previous publication buyers and segments of current ARRL members. The self-mailer spotlights a couple of new ARRL titles including the 7th edition ARRL General Class License Manual, 2011-2012 editions of The ARRL Repeater Directory and TravelPlus, ARRL's Small Antennas for Small Spaces, and some others. Membership & Volunteer Programs Reported by Dave Patton, NN1N DXCC Branch Credits Applications 2010 Carryover 154,371 1,140 2011 Received 304,708 2,754 Cumulative Total 459,079 3,894 2011 Processed 351,678 2,881 Remaining 107,401 1,013 Processing Time 8 Weeks Logbook of the World Category April 2011 % Change Jan - April 2011 QSO Records Entered Into System 342,524,999 6% QSL Record Matches 40,446,639 9% Logs Processed 2,109,897 12% Active Certificates 61,277 4% Registered Users in System 40,758 6% Logbook (Email Only) Inquiries April 2011 Maintenance 941 Initial Setup Inquiries 1,124 Award Related Concerns 368 Customer Usage Issues 545 Phone Calls 205 Total 3,183 W1AW W1AW received as a donation a reconditioned Kenwood TS-590S HF+6m transceiver. It replaces the Kenwood TS-480SAT that was in Studio Three. Joe created the W1AW Qualifying Run texts for the month of May. He processed three Qualifying Run certificates and one endorsement. He updated the May Qualifying Run web schedules for W1AW and West Coast stations, as well as the weekly QST text source web page. Joe also began reassembly of the OSCAR 1 satellite. Scott worked on slow and fast code practice files for the first part of the month of May. He also assisted the DXCC department. Field Organization/Public Service Team Steve Ewald assisted Ken Bailey, of the ARRL Emergency Preparedness Team, and Allen Pitts in getting in touch with ARRL Section Managers and Section Emergency Coordinators of the southern and southeastern states that were directly affected by the very large outbreak of tornadoes and storms on April 25. Received reports were shared with other pertinent HQ staff members as well as with the ARRL News Desk. Leona Adams reports that Jack Ciaccia, WM0G, has submitted his petition of nomination to run for the next term of office as Colorado Section Manager. Jack is presently an Assistant SM. Colorado Section Manager Jeff Ryan, K0RM, has decided not to run for another new term of office. After completing this current term, Jeff will have been the Colorado Section Manager for ten years. South Texas Section Manager Lee Cooper, W5LHC, has also submitted a petition to run for a new term of office as SM that starts October 1, 2011. Two amateurs from South Texas and one from Louisiana successfully completed certification to become Official Observers this past week. Laura Smith at the FCC praised the value of Official Observers in a recent e-mail exchange by saying, "the work that you do as an OO is invaluable to the FCC and the FCC does listen to you and appreciates all that you do." Chuck Skolaut handled questions that dealt with operating overseas, a protected frequency on 40 meters, Positive Train Control systems operating in the 220 MHz band, and how to submit a petition to the FCC. Chuck also checked in and monitored the Antenna Ordinance Webinar. Education Services Reported by Debra Johnson, K1DMJ Continuing Education Program Jennifer and I and Dennis Budd in IT have been very focused on the launch and implementation of the new Introduction to Emcomm course on the Moodle platform over the past few weeks, determined to meet our April launch commitment. This intense effort involved running a series of additional beta tests to work out identified problems with data exchange and to determine final settings for the Moodle platform that would be suitable for our needs. Jennifer and I also received several hours of training with Lectora, the new course editing software used to build our new courses, so we could make final edits to the course content. As promised, we started taking registrations for the first Introduction to EmComm course session on April 9. We re-wrote the online mentor guide, finished revising web pages including the online course catalog, and FAQs, refined instructions for students in the Moodle platform, recruited mentors, wrote instructions on Moodle navigation for mentors and launched the first session with a full roster of 25 students on April 29. Five days into the launch we are happy to report that all is well! Education & Technology Program We reviewed applications for first the two sessions and issued our first admissions. We ordered the radio equipment for TI-2 from HRO since Yaesu was not able to commit to timely delivery due to shortages in Japan. Nathan McCray, K9CPO has received the TI-2 equipment and is configuring it to deliver to Matt Severin, N8MS who will instruct. Matt has also been working closely with Mark Spencer WA8SME to make sure he has everything he needs. Mark has continued as a huge behind the scenes resource. As promised, he also completed the build-out of the entire inventory of instructional resources for this year's TI sessions and delivered it to us a couple of weeks ago. New ETP instructor Tommy Gober, N5DUX wrote an article about his classroom amateur radio licensing program at Pine Tree High School and a corporate gift of radios for his students http://www.arrl.org/bp-pumps-up-high-school-hams. Also a story written by teacher Steve Lalonde, WA7WKX about ham radio at University High School, an early ETP school, was recently published: http://www.arrl.org/etp-grant-helps-create-high-school-ham-course. Miguel Enriquez KD7RPP reports that students in his program in Tucson have now graduated from the Sumo-Bot and the Boe-Bot to Parallax's SmartWorks, a continuation of programming that is leading to the ARRL's PIC Programming course. The electronics classes have been designated by the Tucson school district to receive grant funding for next year in the amount of $80,000. He also reports that his students have begun working with the design and production of holograms in the electronics class. They are only doing red light holograms presently but have ordered the equipment for full color. Next year they will collaborate with the science department to begin the integration of imaging, robotics, electronics and holography with an award-winning DNA research project the science department has been developing over the last five years. The University of Arizona and a new Biotechnical Park that is being built near Pueblo serves as the impetus and support for this project. ARISS Part of the plan for the new ARISS proposal process being developed by the ARISS US education team is a new rubric for evaluating ARISS proposals. As a result of the closer working relationship that has developed over the past 2 years, we were given an opportunity to make some suggestions that would more clearly define the educational expectations of applicants. Lehman High School students in Kyle, Texas, had an ARISS contact on March 29 which was the culmination of students' studies in astronomy, geography, space travel, and physics, as well as study for Amateur Radio Technician license exams. Lehman High School has a radio club on campus with its own ham radio station for making satellite contacts. On April 11 ARISSat-1 was activated aboard the ISS in honor of the 50th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin's first space flight. A short discussion about ARISSat was on National Public Radio's Friday night show, "Science Friday." The hour-long program highlighted Yuri's Night activities around the world. You can listen to the podcast at http://www.sciencefriday.com/program/archives/201104083. Unfortunately due to the fact that the satellite was not deployed and the solar panels were covered, the satellite was powered only by the onboard battery, which had been depleted in prior testing, so no signals were heard. A wonderful article written by NASA writers about students at the all-girls school, Sacred Heart Academy, in Honolulu, HI, who assist with an ARISS telebridge station, was posted on NASA web pages: http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/a-heart-to-heart-talk.html <http://mymail.arrl.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=https://webmail.sacred hearts.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foredu cators/a-heart-to-heart-talk.html> . Sincerely Compiled by, Lisa Kustosik, KA1UFZ Assistant to the CEO Staff Absentee List All Staff 5/30 Holiday All Staff 7/4 Holiday Jon Bloom 4/26-5/18 Vacation Joe Carcia 5/27 Vacation Steve Ford 8/8-8/12 Vacation Scott Gee 5/19-5/20 Vacation Mike Gruber 5/31-6/3 Vacation `` 7/11-7/15/ Vacation Joel Hallas 5/17-5/27 Vacation Mary Hobart 5/5-5/6 Vacation Sabrina Jackson 5/26-6/6 Vacation Joel Kleinman 5/5 Vacation `` 5/12 Vacation Zack Lau 5/6 Vacation `` 5/13 Vacation `` 6/16-6/17 Vacation Allen Pitts 5/6 Vacation `` 5/13 Vacation `` 5/26-5/27 Vacation `` 6/15-6/17 Vacation `` 7/1 Vacation `` 7/20-7/22 Vacation `` 7/28-7/29 Vacation John Proctor 6/22-7/8 Vacation Barry Shelley 5/10-5/11 Vacation Dave Sumner 5/2-5/6 Vacation Hamfest/Member Contact/ARRL Representative/Meetings Bob Allison 5/18-5/22 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH Margie Bourgoin 5/18-5/22 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH/Vacation Jackie Ferreira 5/18-5/22 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH Steve Ford 5/19-5/24 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH/Vacation Mike Gruber 5/19-5/20 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH Dan Henderson 5/19-5/22 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH Mary Hobart 5/18-5/22 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH Sabrina Hughes 5/18-5/22 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH Amy Hurtado 5/18-5/22 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH Harold Kramer 5/19-5/22 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH Diane Petrilli 5/19-5/22 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH Allen Pitts 5/19-5/22 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH Brennan Price 5/18-5/21 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH Dave Sumner 5/18-5/22 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH Steve Ford 6/1-6/3 Assoc. Media Publishing Conference Dan Henderson 6/2-6/8 Wyoming State Convention, Cheyenne, WY Bob Allison 6/8-6/11 ARRL National Convention, Plano, TX Jackie Ferreira 6/8-6/12 ARRL National Convention, Plano, TX Mike Gruber 6/9-6/10 ARRL National Convention, Plano, TX Dan Henderson 6/9-6/12 ARRL National Convention, Plano, TX Mary Hobart 6/9-6/11 ARRL National Convention, Plano, TX Amy Hurtado 6/8-6/12 ARRL National Convention, Plano, TX Bob Inderbitzen 6/8-6/12 ARRL National Convention, Plano, TX Harold Kramer 6/9-6/12 ARRL National Convention, Plano, TX Diane Petrilli 6/8-6/12 ARRL National Convention, Plano, TX Allen Pitts 6/9-6/12 ARRL National Convention, Plano, TX Dave Sumner 6/9-6/13 ARRL National Convention, Plano, TX Brennan Price 6/13-6/22 ITU-R Working Party 5A, Geneva Dave Patton 6/23-6/26 Friedrichshafen, Germany Brennan Price 6/23-6/26 Friedrichshafen, Germany Brennan Price 7/13-7/16 BOD Meeting/Committee Meeting, Windsor, CT Brennan Price 8/5-8/6 Texas State Convention, Austin, TX

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