June 2019 - arrl-odv - reflector.arrl.org

[arrl-odv:28238] REVISED IN-Newsletter June 21 2019
by Pereira, Carla, KC1HSX 21 Jun '19

21 Jun '19

Please see a REVISED version of today's IN-Newsletter. (The previous letter inadvertently omitted the Sales & Marketing section.)

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[arrl-odv:28237] IN-Newsletter June 21 2019
by Pereira, Carla, KC1HSX 21 Jun '19

21 Jun '19

Please see this week's IN-Newsletter for updates from your colleagues around the League. Happy Friday!

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[arrl-odv:28224] Approach to Recent Attacks on ARRL Initiatives
by Richard J. Norton 19 Jun '19

19 Jun '19

*Summary* Ted Rappaport, N9NB, has mounted a vehement campaign against several of the ARRL proposed FCC rule makings, Winlink, Pactor, Radio Amateurs involved in traffic handling, and Amateurs involved in public service. His complaints appear to be based on imagined interference, incorrect interpretations of FCC rules, and fanciful dystopian predictions of future outcomes. Rappaport has garnered a tiny but vocal group of followers, some buying into his misinterpretations of existing law. However, at ARRL convention forums, club meetings, and in correspondence from members, I find essentially zero support of his criticisms or proposed actions. Rappaport's actions have done no good to Amateur Radio and if anything, have done harm. His actions have resulted in discouragement of Amateurs with long-term records of contributing to Amateur Radio's service to society as his followers have even openly demeaned public service efforts. Some well-intentioned Board members attempted to set up a meeting of Winlink technical leadership with Rappaport and possibly some of his followers, to result in some sort of compromise. At the last minute, Rappaport offered only to send an attorney. The meeting was not held. I've heard of no sensible proposed compromise, nor can I come up with one. Without a possibility for some sensible outcome, there is no reason to attempt to set up any future meetings of this type. The appropriate Board action is to evaluate Rappaport's criticisms and proposed actions based on technical aspects, political reality, and impact on Amateur Radio, the ARRL, and society as a whole, and act on and promulgate those views appropriately. The League should continue to advance its proposed FCC rule changes eliminating the symbol-rate limitation and increasing the Technician operating frequencies, as well as oppose the eavesdropping-facilitation proposal RM-11831. *Imagined Interference from Digital Signals* Rappaport has claimed that digital signals are polluting the CW bands, something that does not match my observations. I've asked groups of contesters and DXers, who use the CW bands regularly, and none of them have noticed this phenomenon either. I've even had an e-mail inquiry from a member asking where to find this purported interference. I have seen two reports of single-incident purported interference from digital signals. Almost all users of Amateur frequencies occasionally experience interference, and the two complaints I've been made aware of do not warrant any changes in FCC rules. *Misinterpretation of FCC Rules Regarding Pecuniary Interest* Rappaport has railed against use of Amateur Radio to conduct communication that could be done using commercial providers. Of course, essentially all our communication could be conducted using commercial means. Rappaport has claimed that ordering pizzas or boat parts is unlawful, commercial use of ham radio. In the 1990s, the FCC ruled differently, resulting in an editorial in QST on the subject. In convention forums, participants have independently commented that ordering boat parts can be a matter of safety, something that Amateur Radio should be proud to be able to offer. The fixation on boaters not paying for commercial message services is uncalled for. Boaters are one of the few groups that regularly make use of the Winlink system. Whereas twenty years ago, hams in motor homes made considerable use of Winlink, the build-out and upgrade of the USA cellphone networks have resulted in significantly less use of Winlink today. The ARRL was formed around relaying message traffic. Almost all message traffic handled by hams could have been handled by commercial means. It is inappropriate to push an agenda that demeans the ARRL, NTS, and Winlink, all groups of volunteer hams dedicating their time and resources to assisting the public. *Effective Encryption Prohibition Myth* There is an FCC rule against encryption for the purpose of concealing the contents of communication. There is no rule requiring the transmission of messages in a format that is trivial or easy to decode or understand. There are rules that permit use of communication protocols as long as the methodology is documented. Criticism of the use of advanced communication protocols because they are not trivial to decode by outside eavesdroppers is unproductive and adverse to the ability of Amateur Radio to serve the public. *Pactor-4* Pactor-4 transmits messages at rates up to several times faster than do competing protocols. It utilizes three aspects described by communication theory to reach this level of performance. It is in the interest of Amateur Radio to efficiently process message traffic, and until something better is developed, Pactor-4 use should be encouraged. 1) Pactor-4 transmits fewer characters than competing protocols by using data-compression techniques similar to those used on the internet. Those desiring to see the contents of a message will have to "unzip" the compressed message. Note that the Winlink system does not use the standard Pactor-4 scheme, but uses a well-documented B2F compression scheme. 2) Pactor-4 adjusts the transmission rate depending on how well the receiving station is copying the sending station. Slowing down the rate employs more energy per symbol and results in an improved signal-to-noise ratio at the decoder. Those desiring to decode the message may have to adjust their receive processing rate to match changing data transmission rates. 3) Pactor-4 uses an automatic repeat request, ARQ, to initiate retransmission of data received with errors. Therefore, messages or groups of messages may be bifurcated and transmitted in parts. Some parts may be repeated, and some won't. The ARQ scheme results in minimal unnecessary transmission of data and automatically facilitates the control of the transmission rate. Employment of ARQ assures that the message has actually been received correctly before closing the connection. *Decoding Programs Are Available* Decoding systems are available and have been identified. As the decoding task is non-trivial, the programs are expensive and known only to be used by government intelligence agencies. *Claim of Public Need to Decode All Messages* A claim has been made that because the FCC pays little or no attention to to the content of Amateur Radio communication, it is necessary for curious eavesdroppers to be able to have easy capability to inspect whatever communication they desire to monitor. This claim has no merit. What possible good can arise from such eavesdropping other than satisfying some auditory Peeping-Tom urges? The government has the responsibility to police communication. *Reality and Offensive Language* There have been complaints about use of offensive language in some e-mails. Note that the Mount Wilson repeater on 147.435 in the Los Angeles area has been a cesspool of foul language for forty or more years. Every four-letter word is probably uttered every hour. Although it is offensive to many of us, no harm comes to those of us who do not listen, such as myself. Society has determined that free speech is permitted. To imagine that the police power of the Federal Government should be activated to protect some of us from an occasional Winlink message that disturbs some of our senses is at best naive. Note also that the ARRL Board of Directors recently gave its Microwave Development Award to the AREDN group, an organization of hams that have implemented independent wide-band microwave mesh-networks that can carry video of any sort. These networks can be connected to the internet, allowing transmission of anything on the entire internet over Amateur Radio. The possibility of monitoring everything is zero. To in any way suggest that the Winlink network needs to microscopically police message traffic is totally inconsistent with the ARRL-blessed mesh-network concept. *Summary* Radio Amateurs have served the public by handling message traffic for years. Winlink is the most up-to-date method of providing this service. It is provided in as efficient a way as is permitted by law. Winlink has a record of policing users and content to a degree more than sufficient for the public interest. This is in spite of a recent sophomoric complaint about some content filed with the FCC. There is no public benefit to any of the demands of the eavesdropping-facilitation faction. There has been very negative reaction to these complaints from Amateurs dedicated to public-service as well as government emergency personnel. *What to Do* The eavesdropping-facilitation faction should not be given any idea that any of their railings have any possible support from the ARRL. In fact, their actions have been nothing but detrimental to Amateur Radio, discouraging many public-service oriented hams. The eavesdropping-facilitation faction should be actively opposed by the ARRL. We should continue to attempt to advance the ARRL proposed rule-changes. 73, Dick Norton, N6AA

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[arrl-odv:28235] Field Day Media Tips For This Weekend
by n2cop＠ec.rr.com 18 Jun '19

18 Jun '19

Dear Fellow ODV Members: Field Day is, by far, the #1 media generator of Amateur Radio coverage every year. The media citations from Field Day weekend have a long shelf life, and carry momentum throughout the following year as reference points for use in discussions with our partners and the general public in areas of legislative antenna relief, emergency communications (EmCOMM), RadioSport and the STEM movement for youth (Science, Technology Engineering and Math). As the board representatives to ARRL's Public Relations Committee (PRC), we want to offer these last minute reminders and tips for those of you who will venture out this weekend to FD sites in your divisions, and for you to share with your respective Section Managers. The following information has been sent over the past few weeks to the 53 section Public Information Coordinators (PICs) and the 463 appointed Public information Officers (PIOs) through ARRL's Public Relations (PR) reflector, but we feel you and your Section Managers will benefit from seeing it too. In the past few years, social media have become a dominant force in coverage as Hams no longer have to rely on traditional media outlets of newspapers, broadcast radio and television to get out word about Field Day. Across all social media platforms, please use and encourage the use of the hashtag #ARRLFD in all posts. This will have two benefits: first, it will capture all social media posts using this hashtag to form a common thread across North America. If enough PIOs and operators use the #ARRLFD hashtag, traditional media news outlets will follow the trend. Secondly, use of the hashtag will make it easier for Communications Manager David Isgur, N1RSN, and his staff to review metadata generated and analyze the impact of social media coverage from Field Day. Please have your ARRL members join the ARRL Field Day 2019 Facebook page. Enrollment information is midway on the Field Day webpage at <http://www.arrl.org/field-day> http://www.arrl.org/field-day Traditional media do not have the dominance they once did, however they remain a potent force in their own right, and they complement social media. The #1 traditional media source for Field Day coverage are weekly newspapers. Hundreds of weekly newspapers publish pre-and-post Field Day stories, largely because they will publish copy and pictures submitted from PIOs. ARRL appointed PIOs and informal club PIOs have access to Field Day media packets on ARRL's Field Day webpage of <http://www.arrl.org/field-day> http://www.arrl.org/field-day at <http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Field-Day/2019/2019%20New%20Field%20Day%20PR %20Kit.pdf> http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Field-Day/2019/2019%20New%20Field%20Day%20PR% 20Kit.pdf Pictures of youth operating Field Day stations are enormously popular. Legally, however, pictures of minors under age 18 cannot be published without a release signed by a parent or legal guardian. Please let your ARRL members know that a release form is available to download from ARRL at: <http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Model%20Release%20/ModelReleaseForm.pdf> http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Model%20Release%20/ModelReleaseForm.pdf A signed release form must accompany each youth whose picture is sent to newspapers and magazines, including ARRL publications. As Northwestern Director Ritz pointed out, the download version of the new superb video "What Is Amateur Radio?" is now available at <https://www.dropbox.com/s/wftnzhn1klvyk9a/What%20is%20Amateur%20Radio%20Vid eo%20%281%29.mp4?dl=0> https://www.dropbox.com/s/wftnzhn1klvyk9a/What%20is%20Amateur%20Radio%20Vide o%20%281%29.mp4?dl=0 Please encourage your clubs to have a copy ready to show to visitors and media at their FD locations. Final tip - if you'll be traveling throughout your division this weekend, bring a clipboard with copies of the forms and releases your Field Day sites can use if they don't have them handy. Have a safe, fun and media filled Field Day. Tnx es 73 de Bill Morine, N2COP, Roanoke Division Vice Director Joey Tiritilli, N4ZUW, Southeastern Division Vice Director Board Representatives to ARRL's Public Relations Committee

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[arrl-odv:28234] Sad news
by Michel, Howard, WB2ITX (CEO) 17 Jun '19

17 Jun '19

Dear ODV, Diane Middleton’s father passed away last night in his home after a long battle with cancer. I don’t have any further details at this time. Howard Howard E. Michel, WB2ITX Chief Executive Officer ARRL, The National Association for Amateur Radio® 225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111-1494 USA<x-apple-data-detectors://1/0> Telephone: +1 860-594-0404<tel:+1%20860-594-0404> email: hmichel(a)arrl.org<mailto:hmichel@arrl.org>

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[arrl-odv:28230] “What is Amateur Radio” video
by Michel, Howard, WB2ITX (CEO) 17 Jun '19

17 Jun '19

Dear Officers, Directors and Vice Directors, Please help spread the word ... Through a collaborative team effort, ARRL has created a new video that is available for ARRL members to download and use when asked to give presentations about Amateur Radio. This new “What is Amateur Radio” video is now available for viewing on the ARRL YouTube channel and via the ARRL’s web site - http://www.arrl.org/what-is-ham-radio. (On the ARRL’s What is Ham Radio? web page, directly under the video, there is a link to download a PowerPoint version of the video.) The video, which is just under three minutes in length, was produced by ARRL Communications Content Producer Michelle Patnode, W3MVP. This project was initiated by ARRL’s Lifelong Learning Department, which recognized the tremendous need and desire for such a product among ARRL members. The QST editorial department, with input from the Lifelong Learning and Communications departments, created the script for the video. Images were collected and collated by QST Assistant Editor Jen Glifort, KC1KNL, and QST Managing Editor Becky Schoenfeld, W1BXY, narrated the video. Great job team! 73, Howard, WB2ITX -- Howard E. Michel, WB2ITX Chief Executive Officer ARRL, The National Association for Amateur Radio® 225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111-1494 USA Telephone: +1 860-594-0404 email: hmichel(a)arrl.org

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[arrl-odv:28228] Rules concerning Division and SM Elections
by Michael Ritz 15 Jun '19

15 Jun '19

I recently downloaded the January 2013, (latest), version of the "Rules and Regulations Concerning ARRL Division and Section Manager Elections" from the ARRL website. Who controls this document? It appears to be an extension of the ARRL By-Laws, but does not appear to be a part of that document. I heard it may be the E&E committee that controls this document, but I'm not sure. I want to work to close a loophole in these rules through a Director motion at the next Board meeting, but I've heard that the E&E committee might be able to handle it themselves. Is this a Dan Henderson question? 73; Mike W7VO

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[arrl-odv:28225] IN-Newsletter June 14 2019
by Pereira, Carla, KC1HSX 14 Jun '19

14 Jun '19

Please see this week's IN-Newsletter, attached, featuring highlights from the Communications and Lifelong Learning Departments. Happy Friday!

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[arrl-odv:28222] Minutes - Executive Committee meeting Dayton May 20
by Henderson, Dan N1ND 13 Jun '19

13 Jun '19

Please find attached a PDF of the minutes of the May 20th EC meeting held in Dayton. I apologize for the delay but several people who needed to review/edit them were delayed because of their work travel/ These will be posted on the web later today when they are circulated per the standing order. The web story will be posted either later today or tomorrow. Thanks and 73 Dan Henderson, N1ND Assistant Secretary - American Radio Relay League, Inc. Regulatory Information Manager ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio (r) 860-594-0236 dhenderson(a)arrl.org<mailto:dhenderson@arrl.org>

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[arrl-odv:28220] Re: Fwd: Your AmazonSmile charity received a $1, 779.41 donation
by k5ur＠aol.com 13 Jun '19

13 Jun '19

Thanks, Ria. Holly got our reporttoday, too. Everyone should sign up if you use Amazon. Info in this link: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/chpf/about/ref=smi_aas_redirect?ie=UTF8&%2AVers… 73 Rick - K5UR -----Original Message----- From: rjairam(a)gmail.com <rjairam(a)gmail.com> To: arrl-odv <arrl-odv(a)reflector.arrl.org> Sent: Wed, Jun 12, 2019 10:06 am Subject: [arrl-odv:28216] Fwd: Your AmazonSmile charity received a $1, 779.41 donation Received this this morning. Amazon Smile is a painless way to support the league, and every little bit helps. 73Ria, N2RJ ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Glenn Carella <gcarella(a)verizon.net> Date: Wed, 12 Jun 2019 at 11:00 Subject: Fwd: Your AmazonSmile charity received a $1,779.41 donation To: <n2rj(a)arrl.org> Ria,Thank you for your presentation at our June Crystal Radio Club meeting. We appreciate the insight into the operations of the League and the ongoing change process that will help us all going forward. I'm passing along the email I got from Amazon regarding the payment they made to the League via their Amazon Smile program. You may want to remind our ham community that this is another relatively painless way of supporting the League financially, a little at a time, as they shop on Amazon. Full disclosure- I still carry and use my ARRL Visa card. I have no clue how much that does for the League absent any information from US Bank, but I remember you mentioning that the credit card program was not going to be offered much longer. All things must pass. Be well, Glenn Carella, N2GOP gcarella(a)verizon.net -----Original Message----- From: Amazon.com <store-news(a)amazon.com> To: n2gop <n2gop(a)arrl.net> Sent: Wed, Jun 12, 2019 3:12 am Subject: Your AmazonSmile charity received a $1,779.41 donation | | | You are supporting ARRL by shopping at smile.amazon.com | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Dear Glenn Carella, This is your quarterly AmazonSmile donation notification. Your charity, ARRL, recently received a quarterly donation of $1,779.41 thanks to customers shopping at smile.amazon.com. To date, AmazonSmile has donated a total of: - $32,209.69 to ARRL - $134,890,393.33 to all charities Thank you for supporting ARRL by shopping at smile.amazon.com. You can track your impact throughout the year at your My Impact page. | | | Go to smile.amazon.com | | | This notification reflects the charity you were supporting as of June 9. | | | | | | | | © 2019 Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Amazon, Amazon.com, the Amazon.com logo, Prime, and 1-Click are registered trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Amazon.com, 410 Terry Avenue N., Seattle, WA 98109-5210. Reference: 414133930 Please note that this message was sent to the following e-mail address: n2gop(a)arrl.net | | | _______________________________________________ arrl-odv mailing list arrl-odv(a)reflector.arrl.org https://reflector.arrl.org/mailman/listinfo/arrl-odv

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