March 2015 - arrl-odv - reflector.arrl.org

[arrl-odv:23688] Thank You and HNY!
by Brian Mileshosky 02 Jan '17

02 Jan '17

Okay, now I'm bored on the air -- same for a zillion other League members and hams across the world. Fair warning: I'm making a Director's motion in January to create a Centennial QSO Party Anonymous or Points Anonymous service, because lots of people now find themselves staring hopelessly at their now absolutely quiet radios. A huge THANK YOU to everyone -- ODV, staff, volunteers, members, hams -- for an absolute home run on the air this past year. Centennial celebration aside, if there is one thing that I hope everyone who participated in the QSO Party walked away with, it is that they became better and more dedicated radio operators throughout the year. That they used this year-long opportunity to learn more about themselves as an op, learned more about their gear, uncovered station and operating limitations and found ways to resolve them, and rediscovered the magic, fun (God forbid), and camaraderie that is ham radio. One very profound moment today was working a few folks in the QSO Party who I hadn't worked since back in January 1, 2014. Staring at that date in the log, and greeting those hams once again, with literally one year of time padding our last QSO was an in-your-face "this year has absolutely flown by way too fast" epiphany. I hope everyone enjoyed it as much as they could while it lasted. Happy Centennial, and Happy New Year everyone. Be safe this evening and see you in a few weeks. 73, Brian N5ZGT ARRL Director, Rocky Mountain Division

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[arrl-odv:23529] Election results
by Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ 20 Nov '15

20 Nov '15

Ballots were counted today in the Atlantic Division Director and Vice Director and the Great Lakes Division Vice Director elections, with Dakota Division Director Greg Widin, K0GW observing at the offices of Survey & Ballot Systems in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. The results are as follows: ATLANTIC DIVISION DIRECTOR Tom Abernethy, W3TOM 1400 Phil Theis, K3TUF 1168 Mr. Abernethy is declared elected. ATLANTIC DIVISION VICE DIRECTOR Scott Bauer, W2LC 470 Bob Famiglio, K3RF 1583 John Mueller, K2BT 503 Mr. Famiglio is declared elected. GREAT LAKES DIVISION VICE DIRECTOR Tom Delaney, W8WTD 822 Steve Putman, N8ZR (SK) 517 Mr. Delaney is declared elected. 73, David Sumner, K1ZZ Secretary on behalf of the ARRL Ethics & Elections Committee

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[arrl-odv:24089] The Value of ARRL Membership
by Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ 13 Apr '15

13 Apr '15

In January staff was asked to prepare a list of membership benefits that have been added since the last dues increase in 2001. I am pleased to send you "The Value of ARRL Membership," a nine-page paper that goes a bit beyond the simple list that some of you may have envisioned. If all you want is a list of bullet points you will find it on page 2, which can be used as a one-page standalone. You will find expanded discussion of the bullet points on pages 3 through 9. I want to thank Harold Kramer, Bob Inderbitzen, Diane Petrilli, and especially Sean Kutzko for providing me with considerable assistance in creating this document. As the principal author, Sean had to bear the slings and arrows of the rest of us as we worked our way through several drafts and challenged one another to defend the accuracy of every statement.. How you use it is, of course, up to each of you but I hope you will find it useful in the months ahead. Once the Board has decided in July what the membership dues will be for 2016 we will update the document accordingly. Your suggestions for revisions are welcome at any time. 73, David Sumner, K1ZZ Chief Executive Officer

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[arrl-odv:24057] RHR Add on Adjacent Page to K1ZZ Artiicle
by David Norris 02 Apr '15

02 Apr '15

GM All, I have received a number if very angry complaints from some notable DXers in this division about this poorly placed add in April QST Digital Ed. Was this done on purpose or by coincidence? Many feel this to be a direct insult to their achievements in the DXCC program. Further, this is giving legs to the false claim circulating around that the ARRL is "selling out" to the commercial remote interests. This ad placement was not well thought out and now I have a good number of angry members demanding an apology and a one actually calling for an investigation. This continues to be a hot button issue for many of us and inattentive actions like this cause more controversy and do not facilitate an environment where we can settle any outstanding differences in a calm and reasonable manner among our members. Who did this ad layout and page selection? Does the hard copy April QST have the same page sequence? Someone needs to start using a little more thought and common sense. "40 over 9! RHR ad adjacent to that remote operating editorial? Really?? We're just asking for it! 73 David A. Norris, K5UZ Director Delta Division Sent from my iPhone

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[arrl-odv:24132] ARRL Made the Huffington Post!
by Kramer, Harold, WJ1B 31 Mar '15

31 Mar '15

Of interest. From Sean. Regards/73, Harold Harold Kramer, WJ1B ARRL Chief Operating Officer 860 594 0220 From: Kutzko, Sean, KX9X Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 2015 11:13 AM To: HQ Staff Subject: ARRL Made the Huffington Post! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tammara-fort/the-pursuit-of-happiness-why-it-… 73, Sean Kutzko, KX9X Media and Public Relations Manager ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio 225 Main St. Newington, CT 06111 860-594-0328 skutzko(a)arrl.org<mailto:skutzko@arrl.org> Web: www.arrl.org<http://www.arrl.org> www.twitter.com/arrl_pr<http://www.twitter.com/arrl_pr>

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[arrl-odv:24131] IN-News
by Kustosik, Lisa, KA1UFZ 27 Mar '15

27 Mar '15

IN-Newsletter Vol. 40, No. 10 March 25, 2015 - Covers the period March 15-21. Upcoming Meetings and Events LoTW Study Committee April 10 @ 9:00am in Newington, CT Administration & Finance Committee April 11 @ 8:30am in Newington, CT Regulatory Information Reported by Dan Henderson, N1ND The past several weeks have been extremely busy since HR 1301 was filed in the US House of Representatives. Several hundred letters were received from ARRL members to be sorted, collated and sent to The Keelen Group for distribution on Capitol Hill. The ARRL web pages for HR 1301 were finalized and opened once the bill was dropped. A new "Legislative Update" newsletter was prepared and sent to 9,218 members that were subscribed. In supporting visits by ARRL officials to the Hill, sixty-four Excel spreadsheets showing FCC licensees in individual Congressional districts have been prepared and sent to the legislative staffs as requested. We worked with Public Relations and Media Manager Sean Kutzko, KX9X to ensure The Keelen Group has sufficient materials to include in the "leave behind" materials for Congressional office visits. Thanks goes to the Production Department for quickly preparing an updated version of CEO Sumner's September 2014 editorial to reflect the new bill number for inclusion in those packets. Special thanks to the Graphics Department for quickly putting together artwork for use in promoting the bill. We have worked with Chuck Skolaut, KØBOG, on several items has been working with from the Amateur Auxiliary program. A meeting with Chuck, Mike Gruber, W1MG, and the Regulatory Manager reviewed the new FCC on-line complaint submission form. Several suggestions were reported back to the CEO for consideration to be shared with FCC staff. Daily reviews of potentially problematic state legislation are done using the StateNet program from LexisNexis. When a bill that could be a potential problem is identified, the appropriate Section Manager and Division Director are notified. Hundreds of bills have been reviewed so far since the first of the year with only a couple of dozen identified as potential problems. The latest was a bill in the Massachusetts state legislature that would target "pirate radio" operations. While the topic does not directly affect Amateurs, the wording of the bills would create the potential for Amateurs to be cited for RFI. With the majority of state legislatures currently in session, this project is taking on special consideration. Production/Editorial Reported by Becky Schoenfeld, W1BXY The May 2015 issue of QST was uploaded to the printer. The conference proceedings of the Southeastern VHF Society were sent to the printer. Work continues on the ARES Field Resources Manual, the General Class License Manual, General Q&A and the book Propagation and Radio Science. Lab Reported by Ed Hare, W1RFI Product Review After sharing test data with a manufacturer of an all band, multimode transceiver, the manufacturer provided Bob Allison with a firmware revision that addresses some of the receiver performance parameters that needed improvement. Bob is currently loading the new firmware. In two separate cases, Bob Allison worked with manufacturers of transmitting equipment tested in the ARRL Lab for Product Review. Each product had key clicks, an undesired and illegal transmitting characteristic. The manufacturers, with Bob's measurements, were able to resolve the key click issues. The equipment was then turned over to the reviewer. Bob Allison also tested a 4th unit of the same make and model of QRP transceiver that had a number of issues. The manufacturer has been working hard to correct the issues that Bob found. Final tests of the transceiver are underway to determine if meets standards. RFI Mike Gruber discussed RFI issues with EMC Committee Chairman, Kermit Carlson. He also submitted four reports to Chris Imlay-three on grow lights and one on the illegal marketing of electronic fluorescent light ballasts. Mike Gruber completed work on the new EMC Pocket Guide, as scheduled for March. Since late last year, there is a new FCC complaint filing procedure. A new on-line complaint form is now up and operational. In order to test it, Mike Gruber filed two complaints involving broadcast stations. So far, Mike has not received any acknowledgment from the FCC. On the positive side, so far, there does not appear to be a noticeable impact on the Cooperative Agreement that we have with the FCC. In order to better understand the issues surrounding a long standing power line noise case, Mike will be traveling to California, scheduled for the first week in April. Ed Hare has met with FCC officials at the Philadelphia FCC office. The topic of this discussion was power line and other RFI locating methods. Ed also arranged for Mike Gruber to meet with FCC officials at the same field office to demo Radar Engineers equipment. Follow-up with David Dombrowski of that office has resulted in a request for Mike to come in April. Mike Gruber followed-up on Woodinville (grow light) RFI case. This case resulted in a Citation & Order on April 24, 2015, yet (as of two weeks ago) the noise still continues. There has not been timely FCC follow-up in this case. Here is a news article that we did on it at the time: www.arrl.org/news/fcc-cites-washington-resident-for-causing-interference-on…<http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-cites-washington-resident-for-causing-interfer…> Sales and Marketing Reported by Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R Diane Petrilli reports that several membership-related pieces of collateral are being freshened up, including the membership brochure and membership cards. Additional e-mail was conducted to help promote ARRL membership to lapsed and prospective members this month. Bob Inderbitzen reported on a successful effort representing ARRL at the Wisconsin State Convention, hosted by Amateur Electronic Supply, March 21. Bob was joined by Director Dick Isely, W9GIG, and Section Managers Gary Sorensen, W9ULK (WI) and Tom Ciciora, KA9QPN (IL). AES National Sales Manager Tom Pachner, W9TJP, reported that attendance was well over 500, and offered that ARRL's "presence is part of the draw that makes Superfest worth doing." In addition to hosting many major manufacturers at the in-store hamfest, radio clubs throughout the region were welcomed to exhibit and network at the event. Membership applications totaled 73 (92 member years) including applications from 8 previous members, 7 new members, and 1 Life Membership pledge. Dues totaled $3268. The event was preceded by an e-mail blast sent to lapsed and current members in the Central Division, encouraging them to visit the ARRL booth at AES Superfest. Bob also returned with many photos to share on ARRL's Facebook page. Yvette Vinci prepared the email notification for the April 2015 digital edition of QST, distributed to ARRL members on Tuesday, March 10. The distribution list included 115,054 members. A follow-up notification was sent on March 20, with a summary of "What's Trending" in the issue. The distribution list included 115,708 members. Jackie Ferreira reports that the new cover for the upcoming eighth edition of The ARRL General Class License Manual has been completed. Thanks goes to Sue Fagan for her contribution as the graphic design lead. The new edition of the manual, for exams given on or after July 1, will be available for the first time in two formats; soft cover and spiral-bound. A spring-themed publications & products mailing is scheduled to mail this week to a targeted list of 50,000 members. Bob Inderbitzen and Steve Ford have continued to navigate the final development considerations of, and testing for, The ARRL Repeater Directory App for Apple devices (iPhone, iPad and iPod touch). Once completed, the app will provide users with access to the entire ARRL Repeater Directory database while on-the-go. The app is integrated with the device's GPS to return a list of in-range repeaters. Repeaters can also be identified by approximate location on maps. Users may also search the repeater database by location (State, City) or lat/long. The app is being developed for ARRL by DHF Systems, the same team responsible ARRL's TravelPlus for Repeaters software. The new app is a companion to the new 2015-2016 editions of the printed ARRL Repeater Directory (pocket and desktop editions) which will be introduced in early April. An Android version of the app was introduced in 2014. While distribution of the app is free, users are required to 'activate' the app using a unique code bundled with each printed book. Summary of warehouse fulfillment activity, reported by Steve Capodicasa: Week ending Packages fulfilled Member Premiums 3/20/2015 816 496 3/13/2015 679 471 3/06/2015 812 425 2/27/2015 751 640 Field Services & Radiosport Reported by Dave Patton, NN1N DXCC Paper/Fieldcheck Processing Time 2 Weeks Logbook Processing Time 3 - 5 Business Days W1AW Joe updated the web code practice files and their archives. He also updated the web qualifying run schedule. Over the past weekend, Scott and Joe began clearing up W1AW's cellar in anticipation of sheetrock removal that is to take place within the next week. They consolidated some radio and antenna equipment and discarded materials that were no longer needed. During the week Joe has been working with one of the programmers of the N1MMLogger logging software to get it to interface to the Rohde & Schwarz XK2100L commercial HF transceiver. Field Organization/Public Service Team Chuck Skolaut compiled and sent the monthly Official Observer summary to all OOs, OOCs, and Section Managers. The report of an unidentified digital signal being heard on several 2 meter frequencies in Western Washington was determined to be a military jamming signal accidentally triggered from a military aircraft. Word was received that the FCC is following up on a report submitted regarding severe interference an individual has been experiencing from a neighbor operating in Eastern Pennsylvania. The North Carolina OOC was alerted to a report we received alleging hang glider pilots in the area were using 2 meters. Word was also received from the trustee of a repeater in the Los Angeles area that he was able to gain access to the repeater and took care of a problem with loss of control. The road had been blocked by snow for a time. Chuck researched repeater information for a prospective new radio amateur in Western Pennsylvania. The Kentucky OOC forwarded information about a possible bootlegger. We have received word from the FCC that they are following up on an interference case in Eastern Pennsylvania. The Kentucky OOC forwarded information regarding interference to a local repeater, and an investigation is continuing. An update was received regarding an uncoordinated repeater causing interference to a coordinated one in Nebraska. Leona Adams worked on preparations for the Section Manager election in Utah. Ballots and candidate statements for incumbent SM Mel Parkes, NM7P, and Pat Malan, N7PAT, were received, prepared, and sent to the local printer. Ballots are scheduled to be mailed from Headquarters no later than April 1 for the springtime election season. Leona continues to work on making administrative updates to the Field Organization data base, and Steve Ewald is also assisting the new, incoming Section Managers (Jack Mitchell, N7MJ, of Wyoming, and Alan Morgan, KY1O, of Kentucky) who start their terms of office on April 1. Sincerely Compiled by, Lisa Kustosik, KA1UFZ Assistant to the CEO Hamfest/Member Contact/ARRL Representative/Meetings/Vacations All Staff 4/3 Holiday All Staff 5/25 Holiday All Staff 7/3 Holiday Bob Allison 4/3-3/5 WCF Technical Conference, Sebring, FL Steve Capodicasa 3/27 PTO `` 4/13 PTO Joe Carcia 3/27 PTO `` 4/8-4/10 PTO Lauren Clarke 3/28-4/1 Assoc. of Fundraising Conference, Baltimore, MD Mike Corey 5/1-5/3 Nevada State Convention, Verdi, NV Steve Ewald 3/27-4/7 PTO Norm Fusaro 3/27-3/29 Texas State Convention, Rosenberg, TX Scott Gee 4/15-4/17 PTO Mike Gruber 5/1 NearFest, Deerfield, NH `` 6/1-6/4 PTO `` 8/24-8/28 PTO `` 9/28-10/2 PTO Ed Hare 3/3/20-3/28 PTO `` 4/2-4/6 North Carolina State Convention, Raleigh, NC `` 6/5-6/7 Northwestern Division Convention, Seaside, OR Dan Henderson 4/4-4/12 PTO/Delta Division Convention, Memphis TN `` 5/14-5/15 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH `` 7/16-7/18 Board Meeting/Committee Meeting `` 7/31-8/2 Rocky Mountain Division Convention, Bryce Canyon, UT Bob Inderbitzen 8/7-8/9 South Texas Section convention, Austin, TX Debra Johnson 3/27-3/30 PTO Sean Kutzko 3/26-3/27 PTO Dave Patton 4/17-4/19 International DX, Visalia, CA `` 7/24-7/26 Oklahoma Section Convention, Oklahoma City, OK Diane Petrilli 6/5-6/7 Northwestern Division Convention, Seaside, OR Barry Shelley 3/24-3/27 PTO Dave Sumner 3/24-4/1 PTO `` 4/30-5/1 NAB luncheon/PTO `` 5/26-6/5 PTO `` 6/11-6/14 West Gulf Division Convention, Irving, TX `` 6/23-6/29 Friedrichshafen Convention, Germany

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[arrl-odv:24130] Letters for HR 1301
by Kay Craigie 27 Mar '15

27 Mar '15

Dan Henderson just reported: Am having 102 letters sent down to TKG in today's mail. Brings the two weeks total to 274 letters in 145 districts. 73, Kay Sent from my iPhone

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[arrl-odv:24129] Reminder: Due March 31: ARRL Team registration for Dayton Hamvention
by Kramer, Harold, WJ1B 27 Mar '15

27 Mar '15

>From Bob Inderbitzen Regards/73, Harold Harold Kramer, WJ1B ARRL Chief Operating Officer 860 594 0220 From: Inderbitzen, Bob, NQ1R Sent: Friday, March 27, 2015 1:19 PM To: Kramer, Harold, WJ1B Cc: Petrilli, Diane, KB1RNF Subject: Reminder: Due March 31: ARRL Team registration for Dayton Hamvention Below is a list of "ARRL Team" registrations from members of the Board (and spouses) for Dayton Hamvention, May 15-17. Our online registration form is due March 31 (Tuesday), and will help us organize room reservations, badges, apparel and staffing for the event. If you're interested in volunteering, please complete and submit this online registration form quickly: http://www.arrl.org/Dayton-Hamvention-ARRL-Team-Registration LAST NAME FIRST CALL SIGN EXHIBIT or interest area Boehner Jim N2ZZ Meet and Greet Butler Frank W4RH International Amateur Radio Union Carlson Kermit W9XA Lab, Membership and Sales Craigie Kay N3KN Meet and Greet Craigie Carter N3AO Meet and Greet Delaney Tom W8WTD Great Lakes Division Fenstermaker Jim K9JF Meet and Greet Fenstermaker Shirley W7SAF Membership and Sales Frahm Bruce KØBJ Radiosport and DXCC Hudgens Ed WB4RHQ Public Service Hudzik Bill W2UDT Radiosport and DXCC, Membership and Sales Isely Dick W9GIG Meet and Greet Kramer Harold WJ1B Meet and Greet Lisenco Mike N2YBB Legislative and Regulatory, Development--Legislative Activity Fund Price Larry W4RA International Amateur Radio Union Price Brennan N4QX International Amateur Radio Union Sumner Dave K1ZZ Meet and Greet Widin Greg KØGW Meet and Greet, Radiosport and DXCC Williams Dale WA8EFK Great Lakes Division Please contact me if you have any questions. 73, Bob NQ1R From: Inderbitzen, Bob, NQ1R Sent: Tuesday, March 03, 2015 12:43 PM To: Kramer, Harold, WJ1B Cc: Petrilli, Diane, KB1RNF Subject: Due March 31: ARRL Team registration for Dayton Hamvention: http://www.arrl.org/Dayton-Hamvention-ARRL-Team-Registration [Harold...please share with ODV] To: ARRL Officers, Directors and Vice Directors attending Dayton Hamvention, May 15-17, 2015 We are beginning to plan ARRL's large exhibit area, ARRL EXPO, for this year's Dayton Hamvention. This event makes the most of many staff and ARRL Field Organization volunteers to be successful. ARRL Board officials may volunteer as part of the big ARRL Dayton Team. Volunteers will each receive an ARRL exhibitor's badge (in lieu of purchasing a Hamvention ticket), lunch on Friday and Saturday, and ARRL team shirts. If you're interested in volunteering, please complete and submit this online registration form by March 31: http://www.arrl.org/Dayton-Hamvention-ARRL-Team-Registration. The online registration form will help us organize room reservations, badges, apparel and staffing for the event. Even if your plans are not entirely committed, please complete the form with your tentative information so we can develop counts for hotel bookings. The registration form should not be shared with anyone else. If you have a spouse, companion, or other family member accompanying you-and they're interested in volunteering with you-please have them complete a registration form, too (be sure they mention your participation, so we can associate their registration with your own). This year's hotel rooming block is again at the Courtyard Marriott Dayton http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/dayud-courtyard-dayton-university-of-… - University of Dayton, 2006 Edwin C Moses Boulevard · Dayton, Ohio 45417. You must provide a credit card for booking: Single (King) - $131, Double - $138; plus taxes (currently ~ 13.25%). Includes 1 hot breakfast per room and Guest Room Wireless Internet. Please note: Travel expenses for this event are not reimbursable (with the exception of the local Director and Vice Director). Thank you for your cooperation. Please contact me if you have any questions. 73 Bob NQ1R rinderbitzen(a)arrl.org<mailto:rinderbitzen@arrl.org> Exhibit and Program Organizers: Radiosport (Contesting, Awards, DXCC, LoTW, QSL Bureau): Norm Fusaro, W3IZ Field Services, OO: Steve Ewald, WV1X Public Service: Mike Corey, KI1U Media and Public Relations: Sean Kutzko, KX9X Membership & Sales: Yvette Vinci, KC1AIM VEC: Amanda Grimaldi, KB1VUV Education & Youth: Debra Johnson, K1DMJ Lab: Bob Allison, WB1GCM Development and Foundation: Lauren Clarke, KB1YDD ARRL News/Photos/New Products: Steve Ford, WB8IMY (and some social media) Regulatory: Dan Henderson, N1ND Meet & Greet: Harold Kramer, WJ1B ARRL EXPO Coordinator: Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R --end--

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[arrl-odv:24128] Heads-up and CPM report
by Price, Brennan, N4QX 27 Mar '15

27 Mar '15

I retract my suggestion from yesterday afternoon that the RAND survey might be a phishing operation. Subsequent research on RAND, the people referenced, and the survey link tends to make me think the survey is real. Whether it is legit is another matter. I am writing from the mid-meeting plenary session of the WRC-15 Conference Preparatory Meeting. The job of CPM is to produce a multi-hundred page report on the issues on the WRC agenda, including background, summaries of studies conducted, and methods to resolve the item. The text for agenda item 1.4 (secondary amateur allocation at 5 MHz) was approved at this plenary, leaving me free to focus on the mobile broadband item and contribute to a domestic pleading on vehicular radar over the next week. The methods on 5 MHz, as expected, are all over the map, from no change to an expansive allocation of 5275-5450 kHz, with explicit suggestions of 15 kHz and 100 kHz in between, and a few methods with details to be filled in later. Many amateurs from around the world have gained support of their administrations for various affirmative methods. Jon Siverling and I are still working on ours, but are advised that in no case will the United States support an allocation of more than 25 kHz, and that potential support is purportedly conditioned on persuading CITEL to abandon an Inter-American Proposal for a 175 kHz allocation, which amteurs in our sister societies have fought hard for. It's an uncomfortable situation, and untenable in the long term, but an improvement from where we were in January. The outcome at WRC-15 is far from certain. Candidly, I don't see a path to an outcome better than a 25 kHz allocation, despite the extensive and fine work done by our sister societies, given the number of undecided countries and the rigor of the opposition to any allocation. No change is a very real probability, and not the worst possible outcome (a channelized outcome with onerous power and geographic restrictions may be worse than what some amateurs around he world now enjoy under varying national approaches. 73 de Brennan HB9/N4QX Brennan T. Price, N4QX Chief Technology Officer American Radio Relay League 3545 Chain Bridge Rd Ste 209 Fairfax VA 22030-2708 Tel +1 703 934-2077 Fax +1 703 934-2079

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[arrl-odv:24127] More co-sponsors
by Kay Craigie 27 Mar '15

27 Mar '15

Three more Congressmen have signed on. They are Smith (NJ-4), Calvert (CA-42), and Barletta (PA-11). Please encourage members in these districts to send their thanks to the Representatives. The total is now 31. 73, Kay N3KN Sent from my iPhone

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