<<042711.doc>>
IN-Newsletter
Vol. 34, No. 17
April 27, 2011 -- Covers the period April 17-23.
Upcoming Meetings and Events
Programs & Services Committee:
June 18 @ 8:30am – ARRL HQ
Media & Public Relations
Reported by Allen Pitts, W1AGP
It’s been a good week in media. At this point it appears we have overcome the reservations of NASA in videotaping Col. Wheelock at Dayton. For the coming ARRL video we have good shots of him on the ISS talking to Robert Kunz, NØKGM. We now should get video of the two meeting in person. Also, with the gracious help of President Craigie, we expect her to be interviewed for an NPR “All Things Considered” piece on the problems of HR 607. (Airing this weekend?) And, we had the pleasant surprise of Southern New England SKYWARN featured on The Weather Channel in the Weatherview segment that aired over the weekend. http://www.nsradio.org/video/features/mediaclips/WeatherChannel/
The impromptu survey posted asking about the “Now Hear This” blog is coming back overwhelmingly in support of doing more short, informal video pieces.
Development
Reported by Mary Hobart, K1MMH
The first edition of Spectrum Defense Matters is generating much-needed income for the Spectrum Defense Fund. To date, revenues total $67,934 from 948 donors. The newsletter is now posted on in the Spectrum Defense Fund section of the web site.
The Diamond Club continues to attract strong revenues early in the year. To date, revenues total $112, 291 from 216 donors.
The mail campaign for the Education & Technology Fund is in development.
The position description for the new Individual Giving Manager position will be submitted to HR this week to complete processing.
Follow up contacts to prospects for the Second Century Campaign Committee are underway this week.
Production/Editorial
Reported by Joel Kleinman, N1BKE
Khrystyne Keane wrote and distributed the ARRL Letter and produced and voiced the ARRL Audio News for April 21, 2011.
Lab
Reported by Ed Hare, W1RFI
Dayton
Bob Allison is collaborating with Joe Carcia on display information used for Oscar 1 at Dayton. Joe has done a stupendous job researching the details of its original construction and getting our original mock-up to transmit “HI” in Morse code. If all works out, our active Oscar 1 display will be heard on a nearby receiver, tuned to 145 MHz CW (with Oscar 1 running at Part 15 output level). A poster will explain its general history, with a handout available for more details; all in commemoration of 50 years of Amateur Satellites. Mike Gruber and Bob will oversee its operation from the nearby kit building exhibition.
Web
Zack Lau modified and uploaded the latest Propagation Forecasts.
TravelPlus
The issues with Windows 7 Travelplus v15 upgrades apparently are the result of folders that remain after the uninstall process—Al and Bill are now deciding how to best proceed. Some earlier operating systems have issues with the .in file version numbers—the version needs to be changed from 14 to 15 in the file.
RFI
A review of some fluorescent lights to be installed in the Lab indicates that they do not have an FCC label on the box. Furthermore, there is no FCC label or information on any documentation in the box or stickers on the fixture. A close look (requiring a magnification for a person with average vision) on the ballast inside the fixture indicates that it is a Part 18 Non-Consumer device. The average consumer would have no way of knowing this. There are similar lights being sold in Home Depot and other retail outlets. Mike Gruber will be investigating the marketing of these devices when time allows.
A professional RFI investigator from another nearby utility will be taking a closer look at the longstanding power line noise case of J.C. Flynn, W4FGC in Lakeland, FL. Although this case has been the subject of several visits by the FCC, the problem remains ongoing. Hopefully, a local person with the right tools and expertise will be able to help move this case forward. This has been one of the more difficult cases to resolve.
Product Review
Lab testing of an SDR transceiver continued. Testing should be completed shortly.
QST
Bob Allison reviewed the technical contents of ads appearing in June QST.
Sales and Marketing
Reported by Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R
We’re in the final throes of planning for ARRL EXPO at Dayton and Plano. Banners, posters, exhibit layouts, staff assignments, presentations, and printed program information have all been finalized. The short time between both events has required some unique planning—maximizing efficient ways to manage people, materials and logistics. Exhibit badges and convention apparel have been shipped to the big ARRL Dayton team—148 people! Information about both events can be obtained by visiting www.arrl.org/expo.
The warehouse crew fulfilled 721 packages for publication and product orders, 474 membership premiums, and QST mailing supplements.
Email solicitations leading into the holiday weekend contributed to 340 publication and product orders accumulated by Monday morning.
Now Shipping…new General Class licensing materials, for examinations given on or after July 1, 2011: The ARRL General Class License Manual 7th Edition (with software), and ARRL's General Q&A 4th Edition; Antenna Zoning, 2nd Edition by Fred Hoppengarten, K1VR (an ARRL resale offering).
Coming Soon…Small Antennas for Small Spaces by Steve Ford, WB8IMY; HamSpeak—A Dictionary for Radio Amateurs by Joel Hallas, W1ZR; VEC Challenge Coin.
Planning is underway for a large membership campaign, scheduled for mailing in May. The mailing will include segments of lapsed and “never” members.
Membership & Volunteer Programs
Reported by Dave Patton, NN1N
W1AW
Matt Strelow, KC1XX and Andrew Toth, both of XX Towers Inc., were on hand Monday to perform antenna/tower work at W1AW (and W1HQ). In addition to the regular inspections, they also reinstalled the weather satellite turnstile antenna back on the North tower, cold-galvanize sprayed the upper tower sections and tie-wrapped (using #12 solid copper wire) all the hard-line cable sections on each tower.
Joe updated the W1AW weekly QST source web page and web code practice files. He assisted the tower crew when necessary. He also got the transmitter from OSCAR 1 functional on 2-meters.
Field Organization/Public Service Team
The monthly Official Observer summary was compiled and forwarded to all OOs, OOCs, and Section Managers. Several more complaints were received regarding operation on or near 14272 and the 147.435 repeater in California. Wisconsin OOs are checking on a report of bad language and lack of identification on a 2 meter simplex frequency there. With improved propagation, more reports of Spanish-speaking phone stations operating in the CW portion of 10 meters have been forwarded to HQ. Questions dealing with reporting intruders and infractions heard on the ham bands were answered as well as ones on UTC time conversion, restricted antenna rules, operating overseas, and dealing with a bootlegged call. A NNJ OO related a good response received after he alerted a General class licensee about being right on the lower band edge of 20 meters. The revised Official Observer Training Guide has been completed and is being printed.
Leona reports that Mark Tharp, KB7HDX of Eastern Washington has been nominated to run for SM for the term beginning October 1, 2011.
Sincerely Compiled by,
Lisa Kustosik, KA1UFZ
Assistant to the CEO
Staff Absentee List
All Staff 5/30 Holiday
Jon Bloom 4/26-5/18 Vacation
Steve Ewald 4/18-4/25 Vacation
Steve Ford 8/8-8/12 Vacation
Mike Gruber 4/29 Vacation
`` 5/31-6/3 Vacation
`` 7/11-7/15/ Vacation
Joel Hallas 5/17-5/27 Vacation
Dan Henderson 4/25-4/29 Vacation
Mary Hobart 5/5-5/6 Vacation
Joel Kleinman 4/21-4/27 Vacation
Zack Lau 5/6 Vacation
`` 5/13 Vacation
`` 6/16-6/17 Vacation
Rose-Ann Lawrence 4/29 Vacation
John Proctor 6/22-7/8 Vacation
Dave Sumner 5/2-5/6 Vacation
Hamfest/Member Contact/ARRL Representative/Meetings
Bob Allison 5/18-5/22 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH
Margie Bourgoin 5/18-5/22 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH/Vacation
Jackie Ferreira 5/18-5/22 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH
Steve Ford 5/19-5/24 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH/Vacation
Mike Gruber 5/19-5/20 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH
Dan Henderson 5/19-5/22 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH
Mary Hobart 5/18-5/22 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH
Sabrina Hughes 5/18-5/22 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH
Amy Hurtado 5/18-5/22 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH
Diane Petrilli 5/19-5/22 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH
Brennan Price 5/18-5/21 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH
Steve Ford 6/1-6/3 Assoc. Media Publishing Conference
Dan Henderson 6/2-6/8 Wyoming State Convention, Cheyenne, WY
Bob Allison 6/8-6/11 ARRL National Convention, Plano, TX
Jackie Ferreira 6/8-6/12 ARRL National Convention, Plano, TX
Mike Gruber 6/9-6/10 ARRL National Convention, Plano, TX
Dan Henderson 6/9-6/12 ARRL National Convention, Plano, TX
Mary Hobart 6/9-6/11 ARRL National Convention, Plano, TX
Amy Hurtado 6/8-6/12 ARRL National Convention, Plano, TX
Bob Inderbitzen 6/8-6/12 ARRL National Convention, Plano, TX
Diane Petrilli 6/8-6/12 ARRL National Convention, Plano, TX
Brennan Price 6/13-6/22 ITU-R Working Party 5A, Geneva
Brennan Price 6/23-6/26 Friedrichshafen
Brennan Price 7/13-7/16 BOD Meeting/Committee Meeting, Windsor, CT
Brennan Price 8/5-8/6 Texas State Convention, Austin, TX