December 2020 - arrl-odv - reflector.arrl.org

[arrl-odv:31433] LOTW Delays After CQWW CW
by Richard Norton 03 Dec '20

03 Dec '20

Asked a number of my contesting friends about the LOTW delays after CQWW CW. None of them are upset about it. The delay is not unexpected. One comment was that it isn't unusual for there to be longer lines at the post office in mid-December. A suggestion was to notify users, and possibly ask them to space out their submissions. If LOTW can be improved for very little money, that would certainly be good. There is no need to invest significant funds to fix something that happens a couple times a year. If money is to be put into LOTW, I would hope it would result in some benefit to users, such as only needing a single log upload for contests, rather than the present two uploads, one for the contest and one for LOTW. Note also that one friend works in a closely related field, and sent the following: 1) As long as the LoTW system doesn't crumple on itself under load, I see these delays as "a good problem to have" because they show high usage, which means LoTW is successful (duh). CQWW is probably the only time of year when the system is really taxed, though there may be other windows when it is as well. It seems that this delay issue has been a problem for years, and unless there are heroics I don't know about to keep the system running during and after these events, I'm not sure it needs a solution currently. 2) I don't know how the system is architected today, or where it lives, but I know how I would design it to run on AWS. A lot of the "getting from here to there" would depend on how it's designed today. This is an ideal application for auto-scaling, as others have observed. AWS can do auto-scaling on a schedule or based on load. Either would work in this case, as long as LoTW is not running on Windows (too slow to scale). If it is on Windows (shudder), then scheduled scaling would be better. Moving the parts to AWS and implementing auto-scaling requires that the servers are stateless (don't store any state information on the servers--only in the database), and that is often not the case for old designs. I would be happy to have a design discussion with anyone who might be interested. This is the type of thing I do as part of my job as a solutions architect at AWS. I don't know who runs IT (and/or LoTW) at HQ, or on behalf of ARRL, but I'd be happy to be part of the solution if one is deemed necessary. If anyone connected with staff is interested, I'll be happy to connect him with you. He has a strong connection to ARRL, before anyone on this reflector was involved with ARRL management or direction. LOTW delays are not a critical problem. 73, Dick, N6AA

4 3

[arrl-odv:31429] 2021-22 Plan Documents - BOARD CONFIDENTIAL
by Middleton, Diane, W2DLM (CFO) 03 Dec '20

03 Dec '20

Good morning, First, welcome to our newest board members. Attached is the previously circulated 2021-22 Plan Documents. The Administrative and Finance Committee at their last meeting passed a motion to recommend the attached Plan for adoption by the full board at the January 2021 board meeting. After you have had the opportunity to read through the documents, please feel free to reach out to me by phone or e-mail with any questions. I am happy to discuss them. As a reminder, these documents are Board Confidential and should not be shared with anyone outside the board family. Thank you and have a great day. Diane Middleton, W2DLM Chief Financial Officer ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio (r) 225 Main Street Newington, CT 06111 (860) 594-0225

1 0

[arrl-odv:31426] Fwd: National Science Foundation Update Daily Digest Bulletin
by Arthur I. Zygielbaum, K0AIZ 02 Dec '20

02 Dec '20

More information about Arecibo. At one point in my career, I worked on the system JPL used to do bi-static planetary radar between Goldstone and Arecibo. We mainly focused on Venus -- literally and figuratively. 73, Art K0AIZ Arthur I. Zygielbaum, K0AIZ ARRL Midwest Division Vice Director ARRL Midwest Division Director-elect -------- Forwarded Message -------- Subject: National Science Foundation Update Daily Digest Bulletin Date: Wed, 2 Dec 2020 06:09:48 +0000 (UTC) From: National Science Foundation Update <nsf-update(a)govdelivery.nsf.gov> To: aiz(a)unl.edu NSF banner centered Arecibo Observatory’s 305-meter telescope suffers collapse 12/01/2020 You are subscribed to NSF News for National Science Foundation Update. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__lnks.gd_l_eyJhbGciOiJI…>. NSF logo - stacked NEWS RELEASE NSF Public Affairs media(a)nsf.gov <mailto:media@nsf.gov> 703-292-8070 damageArecibo Observatory’s 305-meter telescope suffers collapse <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__lnks.gd_l_eyJhbGciOiJI…> *December 1, 2020* The instrument platform of the 305-meter telescope at Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico fell at approximately 7:55 a.m. Atlantic Standard Time Dec. 1, resulting in damage to the dish and surrounding facilities. No injuries were reported as a result of the collapse. The U.S. National Science Foundation ordered the area around the telescope to be cleared of unauthorized personnel since the failure of a cable Nov. 6. Local authorities will keep the area cordoned off as engineers work to assess the stability of the observatory’s other structures. Top priorities are maintaining safety at the site, conducting a complete damage assessment as quickly as possible, and taking action to contain and mitigate any environmental damage caused by the structure or its materials. While the telescope was a key part of the facility, the observatory has other scientific and educational infrastructure that NSF will work with stakeholders to bring back online. “We are saddened by this situation but thankful that no one was hurt,” said NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan. “When engineers advised NSF that the structure was unstable and presented a danger to work teams and Arecibo staff, we took their warnings seriously and continued to emphasize the importance of safety for everyone involved. Our focus is now on assessing the damage, finding ways to restore operations at other parts of the observatory, and working to continue supporting the scientific community, and the people of Puerto Rico.” The investigation into the platform’s fall is ongoing. Initial findings indicate that the top section of all three of the 305-meter telescope’s support towers broke off. As the 900-ton instrument platform fell, the telescope’s support cables also dropped. Preliminary assessments indicate the observatory’s learning center sustained significant damage from falling cables. Engineers arrived on-site today. Working with the University of Central Florida, which manages the observatory, NSF expects to have environmental assessment workers on-site as early as tomorrow. Workers at the observatory will take appropriate safety precautions as a full assessment of the site’s safety is underway. NSF intends to continue to authorize UCF to pay Arecibo staff and take actions to continue research work at the observatory, such as repairing the 12-meter telescope used for radio astronomy research and the roof of the LIDAR facility, a valuable geospace research tool. These repairs were funded through supplemental congressional appropriations aimed at addressing damage from Hurricane Maria. Once safety on site is established, other work at the observatory will be carried out as conditions permit. *NSF will continue to release details as they are confirmed. Additional information, including engineers’ assessments of the structure, can be found in**NSF’s Nov. 19 news release* <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__lnks.gd_l_eyJhbGciOiJI…>*.* *Background* Although the platform’s fall was unplanned, NSF, UCF and other stakeholders, including engineering firms contracted by UCF, had been monitoring developments at the 305-meter telescope that indicated an increased risk of a collapse. In August, one of the 305-meter telescope’s cables unexpectedly detached. The remaining cables were expected to bear the load without issue as engineers worked on plans to address the damage. However, a second cable broke Nov. 6. Engineers subsequently found the second snapped at about 60% of what should have been its minimum breaking strength, indicating that other cables may be weaker than expected, and advised that the structure could not be safely repaired. Both cables were attached to the same support tower. If the tower lost another cable, the engineer of record noted, an unexpected collapse would be the likely result. Since NSF’s Nov. 19announcement that it would plan for decommissioning of the 305-meter telescope <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__lnks.gd_l_eyJhbGciOiJI…>, surveillance drones found additional exterior wire breaks on two cables attached to the same tower. One showed between 11-14 broken exterior wires as of Nov. 30 while another showed about eight. Each cable is made up of approximately 160 wires. For more announcements, visit NSF's announcement site <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__lnks.gd_l_eyJhbGciOiJI…>. For more National Science Foundation news, visit our news site <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__lnks.gd_l_eyJhbGciOiJI…>. Contact the news team <mailto:media@nsf.gov>. */Follow NSF:/* Follow us on Twitter <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__twitter.com_NSF&d=DwMF…> Like us on Facebook <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.facebook.com_US.NS…> Follow us on Instagram <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.instagram.com_nsfg…> Subscribe to our Youtube Channel <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.youtube.com_user_V…> linkedin logo <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.linkedin.com_compa…> Subscriber Services: Manage Preferences / Unsubscribe <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__public.govdelivery.com…> | Help <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__insights.govdelivery.c…> | Contact NSF <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.nsf.gov_help_conta…> This email update was generated automatically based on your subscription to the category listed above. Some updates may belong to more than one category, resulting in duplicate messages. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ This email was sent to aiz(a)unl.edu using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: National Science Foundation Update · 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22314 · 703-292-5111 GovDelivery logo <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__subscriberhelp.granicu…>

1 0

[arrl-odv:31422] LoTW Status
by Minster, David NA2AA (CEO) 01 Dec '20

01 Dec '20

As you've seen & heard, LoTW is struggling under the weight of the CQWW logs -and- people pounding on the system to see if their logs were processed, re-uploading the same file, and checking to see what affect their weekend effort had on their DXCC totals. Here's the headlines: * We are using MaxDB (MySQL on steroids) for the database - Great for hobby use, not for enterprise use * We are not at the latest version * The database is configured for a maximum of 256 concurrent processes - which is THE bottleneck * Although that parameter could be increased (it was once 1024), downing and restarting the database is a unique and unknown process, only known to Michael, who is not responding to email * The database is at 94% utilization, which is a bad thing and is also likely causing paging to occur, slowing down the database * We've had new servers (faster with more storage) since this summer, but LoTW was never migrated * The system is written as a single queue single contact process that checks each line THEN checks it against EVERY award that user is configured for - which is unnecessarily SLOW * It is not likely we would be able, as architected, to gain any benefit from forcing into the cloud - we could get onto bigger machines, but we already have them! * Project X is exactly what our LoTW programmer (Doug) believes needs to happen: 3 tier design (database, logs & awards engines, UI) * Once the system is architected for Cloud, the UI and Log Processing can each run efficiently using independent servers, while the awards engines can auto-scale additional servers as needed * Project X will be sent to ODV ahead of the January board meeting as a proposed project with next steps I have asked Greg Widin what the best course of action is in updating members. David

4 3

[arrl-odv:31421] Arecibo’s central platform has collapsed
by Kermit Carlson 01 Dec '20

01 Dec '20

Hello All, Forwarding from a friend. The link to twitter at the bottom of this relay has an aerial view of the collapsed structure about the 3rd post in... —fwd— The Arecibo telescope's 900-ton platform has crashed into its disk below and destroyed the iconic radio observatory. The instrument platform falls before engineers could perform a controlled demolition. No one was near the dish when the platform fell. But he did not have all the details on how the structure came down. He believes it was because of a failure of one of the remaining cables connecting the platform to one of three support towers. These cables were carrying extra stress following the two previous failures. And since the Thanksgiving holiday, Lugo says, wires were breaking in these remaining cables at a rate of about one a day. He says he told NSF the structure only had a week or two remaining before it would collapse. https://twitter.com/search?q=%22RIP%20Arecibo%22&src=trend_click&vertical=t… —-end fwd—- 73, Kermit W9XA Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone

1 0

[arrl-odv:31418] Fwd: [IARU-R2-News 939] Opportunity to Participate in Eclipse Propagation Experiment
by Rod Stafford 01 Dec '20

01 Dec '20

FYI. Amateur Radio W6ROD ARRL Int’l Affairs Vice President Begin forwarded message: > From: IARU REGION 2 <region2iaru(a)gmail.com> > Date: November 30, 2020 at 10:39:38 AM PST > To: IARU REGION 2 <IARU-R2-News(a)lists.kkn.net> > Subject: [IARU-R2-News 939] Opportunity to Participate in Eclipse Propagation Experiment > > > HamSCI (www.hamsci.org) is looking for amateur radio operators to help with a global campaign observing the ionospheric effects of the December 14 eclipse across South America. Data collection requires an HF radio connected to a computer. To participate, tune your most stable RF receiver to a 10 MHz time standard station, tune down 1 kHz so that you hear the station's carrier signal, and follow the instructions on the HamSCI website to make a recording of the signals you hear. Record and upload as much as you can the week of December 9th through December 16th, and researchers will use your data to make a more complete picture of the ionosphere during this space weather event. Instructions are available in English, Spanish and Portuguese. There will be 24-hour practice run on December 5. > > The Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation (HamSCI) is a collective of geospace scientists and ham radio operators dedicated to the advancement of science through amateur radio. (You can join the mailing list here.) The December 2020 Eclipse Festival is a pilot experiment for HamSCI's Personal Space Weather Station project, which is an NSF-supported effort to build a distributed network of geospace instruments hosted by ham radio operators and other citizen scientists. > > > Details of the eclipse experiment may be found here: > https://hamsci.org/december-2020-eclipse-festival-frequency-measurement > > Interested operators should sign up at this link (https://forms.gle/C9PFSTeLf7xvCQDYA) or directly contact Kristina Collins at kd8oxt(a)case.edu. >

2 2

[arrl-odv:31409] LOTW Broke?
by Mark J Tharp 01 Dec '20

01 Dec '20

Third time this morning I have seen this error. Is it just me? Mark, HDX [image: image.png]

5 7