IN-Newsletter
Vol. 40, No. 3
January 28, 2015 — Covers the period January18-24.
Lab
Reported by Ed Hare, W1RFI
Product Review
Bob Allison, WB1GCM, completed testing of a full featured HF and 6 meter transceiver. A data table a test result charts were created and passed along to Product Review Editor, Mark Wilson, K1RO. All data will
be passed along to the manufacturer after Mark has reviewed the data. B
Bob started testing of a device which protects a receiver’s front-end from damage from very high signal input voltages from the antenna. Bob will closely investigate to see if this device degrades receiver
performance in any way at different signal input levels.
RFI
Mike Gruber met with Kermit Carlson, EMC Committee Chairman, Ed Hare and Chris Imlay in order to discuss RFI matters.
Mike is still planning additional testing of Eaton AFCI devices.
Mike completed the latest round of revisions on the EMC Pocket Guide. This is scheduled for March.
As of about four weeks ago, there is a new FCC complaint filing procedure. So far, there does not appear to be a noticeable impact on the Cooperative Agreement that we have with the FCC.
W1HQ
Working with CT SEC Wayne Gronlund, N1CLV, in conjunction with the CT State of Police Amateur Radio Club (W1SP), Bob has arranged a donation to the ARRL Laboratory of a 70 cm DMR Motorola MotoTurbo repeater.
When installed, the repeater will have the ability to be linked with 21 other ARES MotoTurbo repeaters, located at various locations around the State of Connecticut, as well as other ARES groups around the country. Special thanks to Wayne for making arrangements
with the W1SP group! Installation is tentatively planned for January 30th. The repeater will be programmed to operate on the same (coordinated) frequency pair as the present 70 cm W1HQ
D-Star repeater, 442.100 MHz. A coax switch will allow both the two digital radio technologies can be evaluated easily.
Web
Zack Lau uploaded the Propagation Forecasts for February. The solar flux still remains high—the predicted solar flux is 136.
Epubs
Based on a user report, the Garmin TravelPlus download does not work on Internet Explorer 8 (5 years old).
Sales and Marketing
Reported by Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R
Bob Inderbitzen is working with Liberty Mutual to prepare an emailing to promote our new affinity program for auto and home insurance. The emailing will be distributed in February.
Bob has been interfacing with developers for ARRL’s online Exam Review program and the ARRL Repeater Directory App. An iOS version of the app may be completed in February.
Jackie Ferreira reports that she has prepared a follow-up email to first time ARRL Members with Technician Class licenses—this one, promoting the use of a coupon that can be redeemed in
the online store. The emailing promotes publications for beginners across a variety of topics and interests. This is part of an initiative organized by Diane Petrilli to help encourage higher levels of engagement from among new members.
Bob is preparing materials to promote membership at February’s Orlando HamCation, the ARRL Southeastern Division Convention.
Summary of warehouse fulfillment activity, reported by Steve Capodicasa:
| Week ending | Packages fulfilled | Member Premiums |
| 1/23/2015 | 803 | 615 |
| 1/16/2015 | 746 | 911 |
| 1/9/2015 | 1,052 | 487 |
| 12/31/2014 (short week/inventory) |
919 | 487 |
Field Services & Radiosport
Reported by Dave Patton, NN1N
DXCC
| Paper/Fieldcheck Processing Time | 4 Weeks* |
| Logbook Processing Time | 4 Weeks* |
* We expect to finish processing all 2014 applications in a matter of days. The backlog will recede quickly once this is completed.
W1AW
Joe repaired an ailing Ameritron AL-1200 amplifier. He also repaired a UHF preamp that may be used for the station’s Satellite station. He continued with the research
of missing W1AW/portable LoTW QSOs for amateurs inquiring about them. He also processed one Qualifying Run certificate. Joe updated the web code practice files and their archives as well as updated the web Qualifying Run schedule.
Scott worked on fast and slow code practice files. He is also compiling a database of visitors to W1AW in 2014 using the station’s visitor sign-in guest book as the
data source.
Field Organization/Public Service Team
Chuck Skolaut reports that one radio amateur from the New York City/Long Island Section successfully completed requirements to become an Official Observer this past week. Pirate radio station YHWH, which sometimes
was heard on 7.185 MHz, recently was contacted by FCC regarding their unlicensed operation.
Chuck handled questions about operating overseas, becoming an OO, OO re-instatement, the Motorola Moscad mode, and a felon holding an Amateur Radio license. Also, the recipient of an OO advisory notice contacted
us regarding his signal report. After checking it out, he discovered he had an unknown problem. He, in turn, thanked us and the OO.
An unidentified RTTY signal, thought to be coming from Asia, was reported on 3.500 MHz as well as a pulsed type signal on 3.501 MHz.
ARRL HQ received news that the former long-time Section Manager in Kansas, Bob Summers, KØBXF, recently became a Silent Key. Bob was Section Manager for 30 years (from 1965 to 1995), and he continued to be
active as a Kansas Section Leader by serving as Section Emergency Coordinator from 2003 to 2012.
Section Managers have been appointing new Field Organization leaders and station appointees. In response to this, Leona Adams has been busy updating and maintaining the main Field Organization data base.
Sincerely Compiled by,
Lisa Kustosik, KA1UFZ
Assistant to the CEO
Hamfest/Member Contact/ARRL Representative/Meetings/Vacations
All Staff 2/16 Holiday
Bob Allison 2/17-2/20 PTO
Steve Capodicasa 2/9 PTO
`` 2/17 PTO
Mike Gruber 2/9-2/13 Orlando Hamcation, Orlando, FL/PTO
Bob Inderbitzen 2/12-2/17 Orlando Hamcation, Orlando, FL/PTO
Harold Kramer 1/30-2/2 PTO
`` 2/12-2/17 Orlando Hamcation, Orlando, FL/PTO
Diane Petrilli 1/26-1/30 PTO
Barry Shelley 2/4-2/6 PTO