February 2020 - arrl-odv - reflector.arrl.org

[arrl-odv:29743] Band Planning comments
by Mike Raisbeck 27 Feb '20

27 Feb '20

Hello All, Attached are the member comments submitted on the band planning proposal. These were collected over a two week period on the League website. The collection has now been shut down. The Band Planning Committee is currently reviewing these. Note that there is also a new discussion group, ARRL-HF-Band-Planning, that has been established at groups.arrl.org. This group remains open, and has seen quite a lot of traffic from interested League members. The conversation has been broad, and a fair bit of it has been tangential to the charter of the Band Planning Committee, but there have been some very germane things as well, including quite a lot of discussion of the state and implementation of frequency use checking by automated (ie. unmanned) systems. If you wish to stay abreast, I suggest you subscribe to the group. Also attached are the minutes of the latest meeting of the Band Planning Committee. We'll be meeting again in two weeks to continue our discussions. 73,MikeK1TWFBand Planning Committee chair Mike Raisbeck k1twf(a)arrl.net

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[arrl-odv:29741] Awards Fee Increases
by Shelley, Barry, N1VXY (CEO) 26 Feb '20

26 Feb '20

Good morning: I'm writing today to simply remind the Board of the upcoming implementation of two items that were included and approved in the 2020 operational Plan. These relate to our awards programs and may result in some feedback from members. Award fee increase - The last adjustment in awards fees was in 2014 and in the intervening years, the deficit between these revenues and expenses has grown. So, effective April 1st, effectively all award fees (DXCC, LoTW, WAS, Triple Play, VUCC, WAC) for almost all services will increase by $2 per service. PLEASE .... Do not publicize this yet. We would like to do that initially through our existing media and then you can follow up through your Division channels, etc. I would prefer a coordinated roll out of this action which I'm sure will result in some pushback from the members. Awards processing staff - Paper application volumes have been decreasing for several years, primarily due to the increasing use of Logbook of the World and atmospheric conditions. However, with this is also a decrease in the total Awards revenues. To "right-size" the staffing complement for the current and expected volumes, we will be reducing the hours of the 3 processing positions from 37.5 hours per week to 30 hours per week effective April 1st. This will help reduce some expense but will not eliminate the positions from participating in the organization's benefit plans, something we wanted to preserve. This is not an action which we will be publicizing as I consider it a personnel action. But the Board should be aware in case they get any unsolicited feedback, inappropriate as it might be, from staff. Again, both these items were approved by the Board in the 2020 Plan and this is just a reminder of those actions prior to our making the fee increases public. 73, Barry J. Shelley, N1VXY Interim Chief Financial Officer

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[arrl-odv:29728] Inexpensive Kit
by Fred Hopengarten 25 Feb '20

25 Feb '20

To the Board: I refer you to https://www.amazon.com/WEmake-Soldering-Cutters-Glasses-Project/dp/B01JA8B4U 2/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8 <https://www.amazon.com/WEmake-Soldering-Cutters-Glasses-Project/dp/B01JA8B4 U2/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ll1&tag=cnetdeals_nl-20&linkId=a1d3eb66b afe4538dff5e7390d1c9cc2&language=en_US&ascsubtag=ag%3A-%7Cvg%3A___VIEW_GUID_ __%7Cst%3Adtp> &linkCode=ll1&tag=cnetdeals_nl-20&linkId=a1d3eb66bafe4538dff5e7390d1c9cc2&la nguage=en_US&ascsubtag=ag%3A-%7Cvg%3A___VIEW_GUID___%7Cst%3Adtp This is an FM radio kit, with soldering iron, solder, safety glasses, and side cutters, all for just $22.99. It is my impression that kit building at regional conventions has been an enormous success. W1UE (our CAC Chairman) told me just this past week that he built a kit at the desk at the Orlando Hamfest, and he loved it! I wonder if the Board of Directors should be encouraging a series of ARRL kits, similarly simple, similarly low-priced - for example: . 2 m FM receiver, . Short-wave receiver, . UHF Transmitter with camera for balloon experiments, . 40 m or 30 m CW receiver, . 40 m or 30 m QRP transmitter, . T/R switch for the above to make them into a transceiver, . End-fed-half-wave antenna tuner, (with instructions on how to make a SOTA station out of the latter four kits), . A Blue Tooth adapter for transceivers and HT's to use with headsets, . A USB-stick SDR receiver controllable with ARRL software for an iPad, netbook, Raspberry Pi, cell-phone, etc., for listening to ham bands, . A USB-stick SDR receiver for listening to digital TV in the car (plugging into the AUX jack) Maybe we are doing some of this already (but http://www.arrl.org/shop/Kits/ displays a fairly meager offering - and the CW Cub Transceiver kit is $105.95), but we are not packaging a major line of really low-priced kits with an ARRL Diamond brand. My idea is a branded series of kits, that are compatible with one another, all low-priced. If it is outside of ARRL's ability to develop such a series in the lab, could we solicit designs in our annual design contest? Or coordinate with a kit manufacturer (MFJ? An existing kit company such Elenco, Digi-key, Giga-Parts, QRP Labs, Pacific Antenna, QRPGuys, Bliss Radio, uBITX, 4sqrp, etc.?) for an ARRL-branded product line (and benefitting ARRL with commissions)? I note that Ramsey Electronics has disappeared after 40 years, having sold a zillion kits, see https://qrznow.com/ramsey-electronics-shuts-down-its-hobby-kits-division/. But the death of Ramsey may be sui generis, and related to the fact that they were previously raided by the feds, see https://yro.slashdot.org/story/00/01/04/2316228/the-feds-ramsey-electronics- raid-blow-by-blow. The concept of a branded product was proven with the Eton/Grundig Hand Turbine AM/FM/Weather Radio, https://www.ebay.com/c/1633862185, which sells for <$20 and contributes $1 for each radio sold directly to the American Red Cross, if I recall correctly (I may not). We have scads of retired engineers who might love to get involved in creating low-priced kits. I suggest that we could rally a battalion, or put the idea out to bid with the hobby-kit companies mentioned above. I suggest consideration of such a program by our Programs & Services Committee. ARRL publishes books in competition with other publishers. How can we NOT be a leader in the "introduction to ham radio devices" kit world? Fred Hopengarten, Esq. K1VR Six Willarch Road Lincoln, MA 01773 781.259.0088, k1vr(a)arrl.org New England Director cid:a4a12f0b-0468-4a39-b953-31b2a3da8564 Serving ME, NH, VT, MA, RI and CT

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[arrl-odv:29731] finger-touch keyer
by Carl Luetzelschwab 25 Feb '20

25 Feb '20

5 resistors 5 caps 2 transistors 1 IC + socket speed pot speaker 1 LED battery holder 2 two-pin connectors phono connector PWB soldering iron + solder, needle nose pliers, diagonal cutters it took three one-hour sessions with the kids - had to keep them focused, of course Carl K9LA

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[arrl-odv:29729] Finger touch keyer
by Carl Luetzelschwab 25 Feb '20

25 Feb '20

To the Board: Here's a finger-touch keyer that my wife Vicky AE9YL is using in her 3rd, 4th and 5th grade radio club at school. https://www.k1elsystems.com/K16tutor.html The kids built them and now they're learning the code. It's an easy kit and it's fun to do Morse with your fingers! Carl K9LA Vice Director Central Division

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[arrl-odv:29437] CD of 2019 ARRL Periodicals on DVD
by Fred Hopengarten 24 Feb '20

24 Feb '20

Colleagues: Today I received "Amateur Radio Contesting for Beginners" by K1DG, and a CD of ARRL 2019 periodicals - on DVD. I am somewhat grateful. Query: Is distribution by DVD the modern way to distribute periodicals? Wouldn't it be better, and cheaper (?) to distribute on a USB stick? No laptop, Kindle, iPad, or mobile phone in my household can read a DVD. To which committee is my query best addressed? Fred Hopengarten, Esq. K1VR Six Willarch Road Lincoln, MA 01773 781.259.0088, k1vr(a)arrl.org New England Director cid:a4a12f0b-0468-4a39-b953-31b2a3da8564 Serving ME, NH, VT, MA, RI and CT

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[arrl-odv:29726] Visit to NJ statehouse last week
by rjairam＠gmail.com 24 Feb '20

24 Feb '20

I had a productive session at an event at the NJ statehouse last week. Some assembly members are interested in promoting STEM education. The Governor also issued a proclamation recognizing engineers. This was an opportunity to also tie in amateur radio as we are often a pathway to engineering careers as many engineers get their first spark from amateur radio. Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker sponsored an event for engineers week where we had several presentations. I gave one on amateur radio and showed off some of the League’s work including on the air magazine. I also spoke to the commissioner of the BPU about power line noise and other issues relating to amateur radio and utilities including RFI from solar inverters and other alternative energy installations. Generally I’ve found the BPU to be responsive to complaints I’ve made in the past, but having a direct line to the commissioner on a high level is good. While this was not lobbying for a specific bill it was good to get in front of that audience and let them know that we are many things and that we are a good resource to have. Hopefully more to come... 73 Ria, N2RJ

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[arrl-odv:29725] What to say when lobbying FCC Cmr. Carr
by Fred Hopengarten 24 Feb '20

24 Feb '20

FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr brought his climbing gear to NATE UNITE 2020. He needed it when he went to Raleigh-based Tower Engineering Professionals <https://insidetowers.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d1b803ea3d99f4c1c133 5a213&id=cd1c0bd5ad&e=736b7daa57> for a couple of safety training climbs before speaking at the show. Carr spoke with Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief Leslie Stimson about that and his workforce development efforts to grow 5G infrastructure apprenticeships, on our Tower Talks podcast in Raleigh last week. On lobbying efforts, Carr advised attendees to say, "Here's what's jamming me up," or "This slows me down," when speaking to regulators to get at the heart of a problem. "So much of what we hear is filtered," he said. Listen to this podcast on our website <https://insidetowers.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d1b803ea3d99f4c1c133 5a213&id=bdf1c69ba6&e=736b7daa57> , Spotify <https://insidetowers.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d1b803ea3d99f4c1c133 5a213&id=3654fc36e0&e=736b7daa57> or iTunes <https://insidetowers.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d1b803ea3d99f4c1c133 5a213&id=9183384194&e=736b7daa57> . Source: Inside Towers (Wireless Infrastructure News), Monday, February 24, 2020, Volume 8, Issue 36. Fred Hopengarten, Esq. K1VR hopengarten(a)post.harvard.edu Six Willarch Road Lincoln, MA 01773 antennazoning.com 781.259.0088

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[arrl-odv:29709] Announcement of the Dates for the FINAL CEO Search interviews
by Kermit Carlson 24 Feb '20

24 Feb '20

Dear Colleagues, The CEO Search Committee minutes from the 3rdMeeting held on February 13th will be released shortly.At last evening's meeting, on Februrary 20th, the Committee arrived at the decision of the dates when the final in-person interviews with the top candidates will take place. The dates that were decided are Monday July 13th andTuesday July14 just prior to the July Board Meeting. This schedule willallow the day Wednesday July 15 to be available should thatadditional time be necessary. Although this is not a Board meeting we expect that all Directors will travel to the Windsor Marriott Hotel on Sunday July 12th. This plan has been made with the anticipation that every Director will participate in a final interview of each candidate prior to the final selection process. Headquarters Staff will make the reservations necessary for the additional days. This announcement is being made now so that personal plans of the Directors and Officers can be changed to accommodate the additional days in Connecticut. The normal schedule for the July Board Meeting is not affected. The Committee did consider the detail of attendanceby Vice Directors and it was decided that since they would not bedirectly involved in the final interview process and since there isa sizable cost for the additional guest rooms that there not betravel or room re-reimbursement for Vice Directors during themeeting days in advance of the normal July Board Meeting period. All Directors and Officers should plan to be available the days of Sunday July 12th to Wednesday July 15th for the final interview process with the candidates for the ARRL CEO position. The Committee will be asking the help of the entire Boardto identify potential candidates and a formal request from the Committee will be sent to ODV this weekend. That message tothe Board will have a short request of how to help track potentialcandidates that will be contacted. Included in that letter will be the link to the ARRL.ORG webpage that can be referenced by all candidates which will contain the formal CEO Job Descriptionand the formal method to submit applications. In order to establish a method that is equal to all potential candidates the Committee asks that you wait for that forthcomingCommittee Request Letter to ODV which will be sent later this weekend before you announce the opening to your Division and your contacts. Thank You, 73, Kermit Carlson W9XA CEO Search Committee Chairman

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[arrl-odv:29717] 60 meters
by rjairam＠gmail.com 22 Feb '20

22 Feb '20

What is our current status regarding the 60m allocation? Are we looking to ask the FCC and NTIA for it to be made it non-channelized, or are we fine with status quo? >From what I understand there was an IARU recommendation. If we do get rid of the channels, for many radios today it’s just a software update to implement. Thanks Ria N2RJ

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