March 2020 - arrl-odv - reflector.arrl.org

[arrl-odv:30014] New Tax Incentive for Donations to 501[c](3) Non-Profit Organizations
by n2cop＠ec.rr.com 28 Mar '20

28 Mar '20

Dear ODV Members: The CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security) Act was signed into law yesterday, Friday, March 27. Like all multifaceted legislation enacted on short notice, there is much to digest and authenticate. One provision I have seen through trade journals is that for the year 2020 any individual or household tax paying unit (i.e., filing single or joint) can claim up to $300. of a tax deduction to a 501[c](3) non-profit organization, regardless whether they itemize or use the standard deduction. For the approximately 90% of taxpayers who now file using the standard deduction, this is a big incentive. The CARES Act also relaxes the limit on charitable contributions for itemizers-increasing the amount that can be deducted from 60% of adjusted gross income to 100% of gross income. If ARRL's CPA firm can confirm what I am reading, this might be a great short term opportunity to encourage donations. 73 de Bill Morine, N2COP Vice Director - Roanoke Division Representing ARRL members in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia www.arrl-roanoke.org <http://www.arrl-roanoke.org> Facebook Page: ARRL Roanoke Division ARRL - The National Association for Amateur RadioT

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[arrl-odv:30002] Dayton 2020 pins
by rjairam＠gmail.com 28 Mar '20

28 Mar '20

I have members asking about souvenir pins for 2020. Some of them collect one every year. 1. Do we have/did we print? 2. If we did, could we have some sort of incentive to distribute them? Maybe a fun activity that involves on-air activity or learning? 73 Ria, N2RJ

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[arrl-odv:30000] Fwd: Ventilators and other fun projects!!
by Mickey Baker 28 Mar '20

28 Mar '20

Dr. Gibby needs some help with the fabrication issues he describes in his email below for his ventilator project. Before I put this out publicly, does anyone here know someone who has the talent and time to provide the immediate help he needs? (Schematic to PCB design and GERBER files and Analog inputs? (Question GG about analog inputs - would this be for the pressure sensor on J7? Are you looking for a design to scale the range from a transducer voltage to the arduino voltage, multiplex multiple readings over time with the clock, or simply the mechanical connection?) Mickey Baker, N4MB Palm Beach Gardens, FL *“Tell me, and I will listen. Show me, and I will understand. Involve me, and I will learn.” *Teton Lakota, American Indian Saying. ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Gordon Gibby <docvacuumtubes(a)gmail.com> Date: Sat, Mar 28, 2020 at 10:58 AM Subject: Re: Ventilators and other fun projects!! To: Mickey Baker <n4mb(a)arrl.net> THANKS!! right now we are looking for people who can lay out printed circuit boards and create GERBER FILES from them. We have a few people already working on this. I'm enclosing the draft schematic. Ashar Farhan in india is working on this as are a few others, but the more the merrier. We would ask that people provide additional solder connections for additional ANALOG INPUTS from the Arduino as we expect to NEED THEM. The I2C interface is already brought out as you see in the schematic. Attached and link here: https://qsl.net/nf4rc/2020/os_vent.pdf ham radio operators are the driving force BY FAR in the design of the electronic controller. We could not do it without them. The only reason I understood ANY of this was because of Ashar Farhan's innovative uBitx design which I've been working with to help improve for the past 2-3 years. Thanks! Gordon Gibby On Sat, Mar 28, 2020 at 10:53 AM Mickey Baker <n4mb(a)arrl.net> wrote: > Dr. Gibby, > > Your leadership in this project is typical of your performance and > exemplifies the American spirit of using our minds and hands to overcome > the greatest challenges presented to us. > > I've added the ARRL Officers and Board of Directors to this message thread > so that they will understand how amateur radio has provided influence to > career professionals who are involved in STEM careers. > > I'm proud to know you and to have you involved with ARRL as an Assistant > Director. After this passes, I promise my support to get your training and > publications ARRL Sanctioned. > > Thanks. Let me know if you need my support in this project or anything > else for the good of the public or amateur radio. > > Mickey Baker, N4MB > Palm Beach Gardens, FL > *“Tell me, and I will listen. Show me, and I will understand. Involve me, > and I will learn.” *Teton Lakota, American Indian Saying. > > > On Sat, Mar 28, 2020 at 9:46 AM Gordon Gibby <docvacuumtubes(a)gmail.com> > wrote: > >> Dear friends, >> >> I want you to know that without amateur radio operators, this little >> ventilator project at the University of Florida would be >> going.....well....not very far, shall we say. FCC Part 97.1 speaks of a >> trained group of electronics experts as a reason to have ham radio....and >> here is a PERFECT example of it. There are almost 100 persons >> contributing on a groups.io site. >> >> But there is more to life than ventilators, so look further down this >> email! >> >> If you're interested in the ventilators, here is the UF page where they >> are publishing specifications and where you can watch a 3 minute video they >> made, running the ventilator through its paces. >> https://simulation.health.ufl.edu/technology-development/open-source-ventil… >> Recognize the controller? That's the "tupperware" Raduino that we built >> to control the Heathkit SB-100 down at the EOC!!! They don't care of >> course, but it still has the frequency generation and filtering gear right >> inside of it --- I just "repurposed" it to running a ventilator to save me >> soldering time Thursday afternoon. Took my 6 hours to do the code for it >> Thursday night, with the help of another well-known amateur, Jack Purdum >> W8TEE who has written several books on programming in C and on Arduinos. >> (Gainesviille Sun article: >> https://www.gainesville.com/news/20200325/uf-researchers-design-low-cost-di… >> ) >> >> This morning I had to try and solder a surface mount pressure transducer >> that is on part with a grain of rice...and solder 7 wires to it. See >> attached photo. Those are SINGLE STRANDS from a stranded #24 wire from an >> ethernet cable.....soldering it was not not not not not easy! Hope it >> works -- it is to prototype measuring airway pressure for the ventilator >> design. Already-mounted devices were ordered when we realized our >> goof...but won't be here for several days. Thankfully SOMETHINGS in the >> country are still working. >> >> If you're more into getting power supplies working during emergencies or >> field day, specifically to run LAPTOPS -- then I have another little >> project going. Through Ashar discovered the XL6009 buck-boost voltage >> converter. Amazing chip can take any voltage from 5 volts to much >> higher....and produce a steady output voltage of just about any DC you >> want, from 5 volts to much higher!!! I ordered 2 little circuits from >> Amazon. You glue the included heatsink on with a tiny bit of epoxy. The >> little multi-turn potentiometer sets the OUTPUT voltage -- I set it to 19.5 >> simulating what a laptop needs. Then I powered it from an adjustable MFJ >> power supply --- no matter where I turn the MFJ, the output stays at >> 19.5!! Pretty cool.!!! I am not certain what its current rating it -- I >> think 2 amps maximum??? so it cannot power charging the batteries and >> everything else but it might keep a laptop going at least.... will have to >> investigate further and consider 2 units, dunno. The conversion is done >> at a HIGH frequency -- 400kHz which may make filtering a LOT easier for >> us. we will see. See attached photo of my first little unit at work >> powering an LED through a 10K dropping resistor. >> >> If you are intrigued by this little gem, here is the one I ordered: >> https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NTXSJHB/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05… >> The same type tricks we have been learning for filtering would work >> here. >> >> Hope everyone is having fun -- this is a GREAT TIME to work your way >> through all the IS courses (FEMA) in your Taskbook, and to also succeed at >> a bunch other tasks in the taskbook!! >> >> See ya! >> >> Gordon Gibby KX4Z >> >>

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[arrl-odv:29999] Callsign search is broken on our website
by Mark J Tharp 28 Mar '20

28 Mar '20

Been broke for at least 2 hours. FYI. Mark, HDX [image: image.png]

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[arrl-odv:30001] Re: Ventilators and other fun projects!!
by Mickey Baker 28 Mar '20

28 Mar '20

Dr. Gibby, Your leadership in this project is typical of your performance and exemplifies the American spirit of using our minds and hands to overcome the greatest challenges presented to us. I've added the ARRL Officers and Board of Directors to this message thread so that they will understand how amateur radio has provided influence to career professionals who are involved in STEM careers. I'm proud to know you and to have you involved with ARRL as an Assistant Director. After this passes, I promise my support to get your training and publications ARRL Sanctioned. Thanks. Let me know if you need my support in this project or anything else for the good of the public or amateur radio. Mickey Baker, N4MB Palm Beach Gardens, FL *“Tell me, and I will listen. Show me, and I will understand. Involve me, and I will learn.” *Teton Lakota, American Indian Saying. On Sat, Mar 28, 2020 at 9:46 AM Gordon Gibby <docvacuumtubes(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Dear friends, > > I want you to know that without amateur radio operators, this little > ventilator project at the University of Florida would be > going.....well....not very far, shall we say. FCC Part 97.1 speaks of a > trained group of electronics experts as a reason to have ham radio....and > here is a PERFECT example of it. There are almost 100 persons > contributing on a groups.io site. > > But there is more to life than ventilators, so look further down this > email! > > If you're interested in the ventilators, here is the UF page where they > are publishing specifications and where you can watch a 3 minute video they > made, running the ventilator through its paces. > https://simulation.health.ufl.edu/technology-development/open-source-ventil… > Recognize the controller? That's the "tupperware" Raduino that we built > to control the Heathkit SB-100 down at the EOC!!! They don't care of > course, but it still has the frequency generation and filtering gear right > inside of it --- I just "repurposed" it to running a ventilator to save me > soldering time Thursday afternoon. Took my 6 hours to do the code for it > Thursday night, with the help of another well-known amateur, Jack Purdum > W8TEE who has written several books on programming in C and on Arduinos. > (Gainesviille Sun article: > https://www.gainesville.com/news/20200325/uf-researchers-design-low-cost-di… > ) > > This morning I had to try and solder a surface mount pressure transducer > that is on part with a grain of rice...and solder 7 wires to it. See > attached photo. Those are SINGLE STRANDS from a stranded #24 wire from an > ethernet cable.....soldering it was not not not not not easy! Hope it > works -- it is to prototype measuring airway pressure for the ventilator > design. Already-mounted devices were ordered when we realized our > goof...but won't be here for several days. Thankfully SOMETHINGS in the > country are still working. > > If you're more into getting power supplies working during emergencies or > field day, specifically to run LAPTOPS -- then I have another little > project going. Through Ashar discovered the XL6009 buck-boost voltage > converter. Amazing chip can take any voltage from 5 volts to much > higher....and produce a steady output voltage of just about any DC you > want, from 5 volts to much higher!!! I ordered 2 little circuits from > Amazon. You glue the included heatsink on with a tiny bit of epoxy. The > little multi-turn potentiometer sets the OUTPUT voltage -- I set it to 19.5 > simulating what a laptop needs. Then I powered it from an adjustable MFJ > power supply --- no matter where I turn the MFJ, the output stays at > 19.5!! Pretty cool.!!! I am not certain what its current rating it -- I > think 2 amps maximum??? so it cannot power charging the batteries and > everything else but it might keep a laptop going at least.... will have to > investigate further and consider 2 units, dunno. The conversion is done > at a HIGH frequency -- 400kHz which may make filtering a LOT easier for > us. we will see. See attached photo of my first little unit at work > powering an LED through a 10K dropping resistor. > > If you are intrigued by this little gem, here is the one I ordered: > https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NTXSJHB/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05… > The same type tricks we have been learning for filtering would work here. > > > Hope everyone is having fun -- this is a GREAT TIME to work your way > through all the IS courses (FEMA) in your Taskbook, and to also succeed at > a bunch other tasks in the taskbook!! > > See ya! > > Gordon Gibby KX4Z > >

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[arrl-odv:29977] ARRL VEC
by Shelley, Barry, N1VXY (CEO) 28 Mar '20

28 Mar '20

Good afternoon. I'm going to try and respond to the several levels of questions/issues raised by Mike, Mickey and Ria in this one email so it's likely going to get a little long. But once I sit down to write this, I'm going to stick with it and hopefully not let the other crises of the day divert me. First, let me respond to Mike's questions about what is actually being accomplished by the ARRL VEC in the early days of the Governor's "Stay Safe, Stay Home" policy edict which has put all our VEC staff ( as well as almost everyone at HQ) working from home. We are: * Processing existing test sessions that have been submitted through our e-file web page and are transmitting those to the FCC for processing. The FCC is functioning and processing normally so far. Any sessions that had been mailed to HQ but not received by this past Monday are not being processed because no one is at HQ to process them. * Exams are being processed from sessions where the VE teams have the ability to scan and send PDF documents to ARRL VEC. These teams send only papers with FRN numbers, no Social Security numbers. * Filing individual and club license changes and renewals that are emailed or phoned in directly to VEC, and that are forwarded from circulation staff and hq(a)arrl.org<mailto:hq@arrl.org>. * Processing VE applications and renewals which are surprisingly up as the crisis has gone on. Maybe because of people's desire to help and not understanding how the situation is affecting the process. * There are a whole host of other functions managed by the department which can be done remotely. However, as you can suspect, the work processing test sessions is going to dry up in a couple of weeks at most as none are currently being given. We've processed almost 200 cancellations. As of Monday, we were caught up on processing everything that had come in the mail. What we are not doing is: * Processing test sessions that have been sent via mail since Monday. * Paper exams are not being sent out because no one is in the office to do so. (Again, Governor's edict) * Process credit cards or checks until we're back in the office. Depending on how long the edict lasts, we will have to deal with sending out the new Extra Class exams for tests post the July 1st deadline. With that said, let me address the issue of what people are describing as "remote exams": We are well aware that there are people standing at the front gates shouting loudly and angrily about what they believe to be the concept of "remote testing" by the VECs for amateur radio exams. And I understand the motivation given the vast number of test sessions that have been canceled due to the pandemic. Further, I should tell you that, in principle, I agree that the current system of delivering amateur radio exams is antiquated and well behind the technology curve. We should be looking to change the system. However, having said all that, I have to strongly say that this is simply not the time to try and do this. Currently, there are two VEs that everyone points to as the "model" for remote testing. They are both designed to deliver only a very limited number of exams with an unusual amount of administrative effort to set them up and, in one case, the process still requires one proctor in the room with the examinee. Their solutions are not close to being scalable in the volume we would need to deliver to even some small portion of the ARRL VEC. And that assumes we could train enough of our VEs in the process/technology required in a short period of time to accommodate the current situation. And I don't want to be the one to recommend putting two strangers together in a room during this health crisis. And let's please remember, the process of delivering amateur exams remotely is more than just putting the capabilities for taking an exam electronically into the hands of the examinee. There is an entire front and back-end process that supports that event. From registration to grading to submission of the session paperwork and, ultimately license issuance. I would submit that if we're going to change the system, all of this should be done. And I hesitate to point out the obvious, there's no one to process the exams if the exam session paperwork is submitted through the mail as most are. The question of capabilities to manage a change is a major issue. While we like to think that our community, and by extension the VEs, are technologically savvy, our experiences with LoTW and ARES-Connect (I know, I said it) have proved to us that this is simply not the case. We have at least 4 FTEs at Headquarters on the phones for most of the day dealing with users of these two systems. If we're going to make a major technological change in the VEC exam process, we need to consider how we're going to train the thousands and thousands of ARRL VEs in the proper use of any new technology. Just a reminder, we have over 4,000 active VE teams. And finally, before we make a major change, we need to consider the resource commitment necessary. Everyone, including the FCC and the ARRL are currently working under conditions of limited or reduced resources. Trying to introduce a major change in the VEC system for delivering and administering amateur radio exams would be extremely ill advised. Honestly, when we do this, we will need to totally retool the ARRL VEC as we don't have the necessary skill sets in that department to take on the kind of sweeping change that are being discussed. Again, I firmly believe the system should be changed. But we should do it in a way that will best serve the community. We have the option of trying to do this right or trying to do it fast and risking the decades of credibility and trust that the VEC system now enjoys. I believe we should do it right. I am more than happy to discuss this or respond to any questions. But please keep in mind, we're all working under some very unusual circumstances and responses may be delayed. I hope everyone is staying safe. 73, Barry, N1VXY

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[arrl-odv:29988] IN Newsletter March 27 2020 - Now with More Pictures!
by Pereira, Carla, KC1HSX 27 Mar '20

27 Mar '20

Please see this week's newsletter for new podcast links, details on HQ's closure, and pictures of your colleagues from their home offices! Have a great weekend and stay safe...and sane!

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[arrl-odv:29978] gotomeeting accounts
by Carl Luetzelschwab 27 Mar '20

27 Mar '20

The ARRL used to maintain a couple gotomeeting accounts that could be reserved for free just by calling HQ. K9RFZ used that service for section meetings when he served as the Indiana SM. Are these accounts still available? If so, what does it take in these tough times to use these accounts? Carl K9LA Central Div Vice Dir

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[arrl-odv:29979] OT? Zoom
by Lee Cooper 27 Mar '20

27 Mar '20

Ok, as we are all becoming zoom experts i found this amusing. Lee

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[arrl-odv:29976] Fwd: [SFDXA] Fwd: Don Search - W3AZD - Silent Key
by James R. Schilling 26 Mar '20

26 Mar '20

FYI Jim Schilling, KG4JSZ Vice Director – Southeastern Division Serving ARRL members in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/KG4JSZ/ Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: > From: sherri brower <w4stb(a)yahoo.com> > Date: March 26, 2020 at 3:08:46 PM EDT > To: "ae4wg(a)cfl.rr.com" <ae4wg(a)cfl.rr.com>, Warren Rothberg W4WR <w4wr(a)arrl.net>, Clifford Miller <73fromme(a)gmail.com>, Doug Shields <w4das(a)comcast.net>, Jan Heise K4QD <k4qd(a)cfl.rr.com>, Don Winn <af4z(a)cfl.rr.com>, Dave&Nancy Moore <dnnmoore(a)hotmail.com>, Walter Deemer <kn4t(a)bellsouth.net>, Greg O'Neil AB4GO <ab4go(a)arrl.net>, John Or Susan Lundberg <lund5(a)infionline.net>, "James R. Schilling" <kg4jsz(a)tampabay.rr.com>, Eric Smitt <k9eseric(a)gmail.com>, John Sails <johnsails(a)hotmail.com>, Ted Huf <ted(a)w4ze.com>, Vincent Weal <k4jc(a)arrl.net>, James Laughter <vk8tx(a)yahoo.com>, David NN1N Patton <nn1n(a)arrl.org>, Dan N1ND Henderson <dhenderson(a)arrl.org>, Dave Heil <k8mn(a)frontiernet.net> > Subject: Fw: [SFDXA] Fwd: Don Search - W3AZD - Silent Key > > > It is with much sadness that I report that Donald Search, W3AZD, resides no

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