March 2018 - arrl-odv - reflector.arrl.org

[arrl-odv:27156] IN Newsletter March 29 2018
by Pereira, Carla, KC1HSX 29 Mar '18

29 Mar '18

Please enjoy this week's In Newsletter, with some special pics! Have a great long weekend! Carla Pereira Assistant to CEO ARRL Newington, CT 06111 860-594-0242

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[arrl-odv:27141] War Declared - PSK vs FT8
by James F. Boehner MD 29 Mar '18

29 Mar '18

Just wanted to give everyone an FYI- A local ham who has a great interest in the digital modes, including FT8 and PSK, passed this e-mail along to me. Again, we are being blasted for something that we have no control of whatsoever. I would refer this out as an interference complaint, but our OO revitalization has not taken place yet, and the OO’s in the field are dropping out as new appointments have been stopped. These are two separate issues. I would like some help with them. First, what is the best thing to tell members that send e-mails like the one below. Telling them that it is not our responsibility is not acceptable, whether true or not. Second, our efforts in revitalization of the OO Program are slowly rounding the 18 month point. Whether the delay is on our part or the FCC’s part, we need to complete it very soon or tentatively open up the OO/OOC appointments until it is complete. I have an SC OOC who has graciously accepted serving as GA’s OOC, as the GA OOC resigned. Any thoughts would be appreciated. ’73 de JIM N2ZZ Director – Roanoke Division Representing ARRL members in the Virginia, West Virginia, South Carolina and North Carolina sections ARRL – The National Association for Amateur Radio™ Jim; FYI Here is what's brewing on the PSK boards. The 070 club is about 2000+ strong and they are furious. "Flood ARRL with emails also. They are the ones that let this get out of control." "Yes but this a dam contest that the ARRL started. And I think they should stop it. It is time for the PSK station to sent the ARRL E-mail about what is going on. Last night I was on 14.070 and there were about 5 FT8 station on there. What would happen if we went up to the FT8 freq. And start to use field hell there they wouldn't like that at all. I have been on PSK for 5 years and never had a problem until now. This is my sounding off about the mess we are in. Does anyone have K1JT e-mail." "I agree they are on during the day on 20 meters in the PSK area of the band and it is getting bad. I think that the ARRL grid location with this program is a joke. The FT8 stations are stating to take over the band. Something has to be done with this. They are bad operators. And don't care where they go. I would like to know how they would feel if us on PSK went to the area where they are?" Your friend HamRadioNow is getting ready to do a show. The major source of the problem is the Dxpedition frequency selection. For example the current 7Q7EI operation "We have begun operating FT8, in DXpedition 'FOX' mode...version 1.9 rc3. We will try to work 4 Khz below the recommendations on each band... 1.836, 3.569, 7.070, 10.132, 14.074, 18.096, 21.070, 24.911, 28.070"

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[arrl-odv:27154] Premature use of FT8 DXpedition Mode
by Ned 29 Mar '18

29 Mar '18

I will try not to make too much traffic on this topic on the reflector. But, I thought you should see this announcement that has been made on the WSJT Development email reflector by K1JT, Joe Taylor. Unfortunately, the people who are using the new submode and causing the most of the interference problems are not US operators. However, US operators do help create the interference problem when they reply to a DX operation that uses ill-advised frequencies in the digital mode sub-bands. It is hard to make a DXer think twice about joining a pileup, but we might want to ask for some sensibility in this situation. DX operators (who might send $ in a QSL request or not) can make a difference. Joe's email: "Premature use of FT8 DXpedition Mode Everyone paying attention should already know what's contained in this message -- but it's clear that some do not. The current General Availability (GA) release of WSJT-X is v1.8.0. That program version does not include FT8 DXpedition Mode. We have made beta-level "release candidates" available for the explicit purpose of testing FT8 DXpedition Mode. The release candidates have included cautionary warnings to the effect that in its present form, DXpedition Mode should be used only for controlled testing. A few operators or groups have ignored our warnings and tried to use FT8 DXpedition Mode in true pileup situations. The consequences are predictably bad -- especially when the offending operator(s) have chosen their frequencies badly and other operators are using a mix of program versions including v1.8.0, v1.9.0-rc2, v1.9.0-rc3, some version of JTDX. FT8 DXpedition Mode is not yet ready for “production” use. Until WSJT-X v1.9.0 is fully released -- not a beta-level "release candidate", but a full General Availability release -- DXpedition Mode should be used only in controlled test situations. The next public test of FT8 DXpedition Mode conducted by the WSJT Development Group will be conducted on April 7, a little over a week from now. You are cordially invited to join us for this test. See the announcement posted here yesterday (Subject: WSJT-X v1.9.0-rc3: Testing of FT8 DXpedition Mode) for details. -- 73, Joe, K1JT" If we do make an announcement on the ARRL web site, it should use this information. 73, Ned

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[arrl-odv:27143] Re: War Declared - PSK vs FT8
by Ned 28 Mar '18

28 Mar '18

Folks, I am a member of the WSJT Development team that is rolling out new FT8 submode called "DXpedition Mode". This new mode is not compatible with the basic FT8 mode and is in limited release to the development community for initial testing. The new submode may result in QSO rates that are an order of magnitude higher than RTTY which is a real attraction in the DX world. However, the test software with the new submode (and probably a few bugs) has gone viral and is being used by some ongoing DXpeditions hoping to cash in on some of its benefits. Due to its non-compatibility to the current production version of software, the rogue users of this test software have randomly picked other frequencies near the current FT8 channel. Unfortunately, one African DXpedition operated for a few hours on 40 meters that unfortunately landed on the published PSK channel. It is likely that the DX operator in Africa did not see any PSK activity and started up and was called by many operators in Europe and the US who got wind of his activity who unfortunately made transmissions on PSK channels. I am also the FT8 lead on the upcoming Baker Island DXpedition (KH1/KH7Z) the DXpedition team is providing guidance to the WSJT-X development team in establishing the requirements for this new submode. We will be the initial users of this new submode with all of its capability when we start our operation in June 2018. We have finally developed a notional frequency plan for the use of this new submode that complies with IARU Region 1,2 and 3 band plans as well as a few other countries unique frequency use constraints (e.g. Japan). Plus, the frequency plan will avoid the published frequencies for PSK, WSPR, Olivia and the other 61 digital modes. This is not a trivial process of sorting out all this information and finding a spot to land on every HF band. I think the PSK community became alarmed after one evening's interference. I suspect they thought the world was crashing down on them with FT8 taking over currently used channels using other digital modes. I have gotten the development team to release the Baker Island 2018 FT8 frequency list as a suggested set of operating frequencies with the "warning" about its use without spectrum coordination. Interference may continue until users of the software follow the recommendations. I would be more than happy to provide information to the OO community about this and possibly other emerging digital modes. Things are happening at a pace unlike any other time in ham radio. 73, Ned / AA7A Southwestern Division Vice Director On 3/28/2018 8:57 PM, Roderick, Rick, K5UR via arrl-odv wrote: > > or tentatively open up the OO/OOC appointments until it is complete. > > Good point, Jim. I'll ask the OO Study Group about this. The group is > bogged down waiting on feedback from the FCC. (Did I tell ya what I > think of the FCC?) > > Rick > > ... > > > -----Original Message----- > From: James F. Boehner MD via arrl-odv <arrl-odv(a)reflector.arrl.org> > To: arrl-odv <arrl-odv(a)reflector.arrl.org> > Sent: Wed, Mar 28, 2018 1:48 pm > Subject: [arrl-odv:27141] War Declared - PSK vs FT8 > > Just wanted to give everyone an FYI- > A local ham who has a great interest in the digital modes, including > FT8 and PSK, passed this e-mail along to me. > Again, we are being blasted for something that we have no control of > whatsoever. > I would refer this out as an interference complaint, but our OO > revitalization has not taken place yet, and the OO’s in the field are > dropping out as new appointments have been stopped. > These are two separate issues. I would like some help with them. > First, what is the best thing to tell members that send e-mails like > the one below. Telling them that it is not our responsibility is not > acceptable, whether true or not. > Second, our efforts in revitalization of the OO Program are slowly > rounding the 18 month point. Whether the delay is on our part or the > FCC’s part, we need to complete it very soon or tentatively open up > the OO/OOC appointments until it is complete. I have an SC OOC who has > graciously accepted serving as GA’s OOC, as the GA OOC resigned. > Any thoughts would be appreciated. > ’73 de JIM N2ZZ > Director – Roanoke Division > /Representing ARRL members in the Virginia, West Virginia, South > Carolina and North Carolina sections/ > *ARRL – The National Association for Amateur Radio™* > Jim; > FYI Here is what's brewing on the PSK boards. The 070 club is about > 2000+ strong and they are furious. > /"Flood ARRL with emails also. They are the ones that let this get out > of control."/ > /"Yes but this a dam contest that the ARRL started. And I think they > should stop it. / > /It is time for the PSK station to sent the ARRL E-mail about what is > going on./ > /Last night I was on 14.070 and there were about 5 FT8 station on there. / > /What would happen if we went up to the FT8 freq. And start to use > field hell / > /there they wouldn't like that at all. I have been on PSK for 5 years > and never/ > /had a problem until now. This is my sounding off about the mess we > are in./ > /Does anyone have K1JT e-mail." > > "I agree they are on during the day on 20 meters in the PSK area of > the band and it is getting bad. I think that the ARRL grid/ > /location with this program is a joke. The FT8 stations are stating to > take over the band. Something / > /has to be done with this. They are bad operators. And don't care > where they go. I would like to know how they would/ > /feel if us on PSK went to the area where they are?" / > > Your friend HamRadioNow is getting ready to do a show. > The major source of the problem is the Dxpedition frequency selection. > For example the current 7Q7EI operation > "We have begun operating*FT8, in DXpedition 'FOX' mode...version 1.9 rc3.* > *We will try to work 4 Khz below the recommendations on each band...* > 1.836, 3.569, 7.070, 10.132, 14.074, 18.096, 21.070, 24.911, 28.070" > > > > _______________________________________________ > arrl-odv mailing list > arrl-odv(a)reflector.arrl.org <mailto:odv@reflector.arrl.org> > https://reflector.arrl.org/mailman/listinfo/arrl-odv > > > _______________________________________________ > arrl-odv mailing list > arrl-odv(a)reflector.arrl.org > https://reflector.arrl.org/mailman/listinfo/arrl-odv

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[arrl-odv:27140] In Newsletter March 23 2018
by Pereira, Carla, KC1HSX 23 Mar '18

23 Mar '18

Dear All: Please see this week's In Newsletter, attached, with news from your colleagues. Happy Friday! Carla Pereira Assistant to CEO ARRL Newington, CT 06111 860-594-0242

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[arrl-odv:27130] goTenna Pro: How It Works
by Kristen McIntyre 21 Mar '18

21 Mar '18

Has anyone looked at this yet? It was brought to my attention today. Seems like it could easily violate Part 97 in multiple ways. It’s not clear that it’s for sale yet. > https://www.gotenna.com/pages/gotenna-pro-technology <https://www.gotenna.com/pages/gotenna-pro-technology> https://www.gotenna.com/tools/proxy/assets/images/goTenna-PRO-specs.pdf -Kristen (K6WX) "Your eyes ... it's a day's work just looking into them" Laurie Anderson (--... ...-- -.. . -.- -.... .-- -..-)

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[arrl-odv:27137] WAZ on LoTW
by Shelley, Barry, N1VXY (CEO) 21 Mar '18

21 Mar '18

I am providing this information to the ODV group in advance of the public notification for your information only. For a variety of reasons I would ask that this information be considered BOARD CONFIDENTIAL until the public announcement is made. We are close to announcing the implementation of the CQ Worked All Zones award through Logbook of the World. We have completed and tested the work in LoTW and are in the final stages of working out the language of the public announcement with CQ management. We will hopefully be making that announcement soon but the "go live" date is still not finalized. We do not want to jump the gun to insure that we don't end up with a flood of applications that overwhelms the CQ awards manager before he is ready to begin processing. Our end is complete, but the official start date will be decided in conjunction with the CQ awards manager. 73, Barry J. Shelley, N1VXY Chief Executive Officer ARRL, Inc. The national association for Amateur Radio (860) 594-0212 www.arrl.org

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[arrl-odv:27136] LoTW System Maintenance
by Shelley, Barry, N1VXY (CEO) 21 Mar '18

21 Mar '18

Good Afternoon: First, all reports of the next "storm of the century" in CT today were way off base. We have yet to see one snowflake fall in Newington. Later tonight will be a different story, but we'll wait until tomorrow morning to make any decisions about the workday then. We will be posting the following notice on the web site later today or tomorrow: "....LoTW May Be Unavailable for Brief Periods on March 26: Scheduled maintenance for Logbook of The World (LoTW) will take place on Monday, March 26, 1300 to 1500 UTC, in order to perform system upgrades. During that window, users are advised that the LoTW system may be unavailable for short periods...." This info will also be posted on the LoTW Yahoo Group. 73, Barry J. Shelley, N1VXY Chief Executive Officer ARRL, Inc. The national association for Amateur Radio (860) 594-0212 www.arrl.org

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[arrl-odv:27131] goTenna Pro: How It Works
by James F. Boehner MD 18 Mar '18

18 Mar '18

Just some thoughts….. Interesting concept. I saw one review that listed them as 5W units, and that they had frequency stacks that included our 144-148 allocation and the upper part of our 440 allocation(US). They did say there was a catch-that commercial users needed to be authorized on whatever frequency they chose to use. I’m just wondering if the company plans to seek authorization for these units for the Part 90 service. If so, they may be classed the same as VHF or UHF-Lo commercial radios that already have the capability of being programmed on our allocations-although Part 90 prohibits the programming of said units on unauthorized frequencies. Maybe Chris could shed some light. ’73 de JIM N2ZZ Director – Roanoke Division Representing ARRL members in the Virginia, West Virginia, South Carolina and North Carolina sections ARRL – The National Association for Amateur Radio™ From: arrl-odv [mailto:arrl-odv-bounces@reflector.arrl.org] On Behalf Of Kristen McIntyre Sent: Friday, March 16, 2018 8:30 PM To: ARRL odv Subject: [arrl-odv:27130] goTenna Pro: How It Works Has anyone looked at this yet? It was brought to my attention today. Seems like it could easily violate Part 97 in multiple ways. It’s not clear that it’s for sale yet. https://www.gotenna.com/pages/gotenna-pro-technology https://www.gotenna.com/tools/proxy/assets/images/goTenna-PRO-specs.pdf -Kristen (K6WX) "Your eyes ... it's a day's work just looking into them" Laurie Anderson (--... ...-- -.. . -.- -.... .-- -..-)

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[arrl-odv:27129] In Newsletter March 16 2018
by Pereira, Carla, KC1HSX 16 Mar '18

16 Mar '18

Attached please see this week's In Newsletter. Have a great weekend! Carla Pereira Assistant to CEO ARRL Newington, CT 06111 860-594-0242

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