<<033110.doc>> IN-Newsletter <<Microsoft Word Picture>> Vol. 33, No. 13 March 31, 2010 -- Covers the period March 21-27. Upcoming Meetings and Events Programs & Services Committee: May 1, 2010 @ 8:30am - ARRL HQ Administration &Finance Committee: May 5, 2010 @ 8:30am - ARRL HQ Technical Relations Reported by Brennan Price, N4QX Brennan Price and Jon Siverling worked to temper a United States proposal to change a liaison statement sent by the ITU Rapporteur Group on PLT to a Study Group within the ITU-T sector. They continue work on WRC-12 preparation, with numerous United States Working Party meetings this week. Regulatory Information Reported by Dan Henderson, N1ND At the request of General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, we contacted Laura Smith at the FCC to provide information on the sales of Recon Robotics Recon Scout "throw-bots" that appear to have been made well in advance of the FCC waiver grant. We received several member queries asking the ARRL's position on the AHA waiver request. Pending release of the official ARRL comments to the FCC, the members have been referred to the appropriate item in the January 2010 Board minutes. The NPRM from the FCC on codifying the current waiver process for emergency drills was released and several member queries on the topic were handled. A query was received asking if a particular Chinese HT - the Wouxun KG-UVD1P - was approved for sale to amateurs in the US. While approved for Part 90 sales, it has not been approved for Part 97 sale or distribution. During the week, a proposal was received from the Mt. Diablo ARC seeking to work out an arrangement with the Beale AFB PAVE PAWS radar that would allow them to resume more extensive operations on the 70cm band. Since ARRL is not in the position to approve any such deal, we informed MDARC representatives that ARRL would be willing to work with them and the Air Force on any proposal that would help all amateurs meet their responsibility as secondary users. As part of the proposal, the ARRL Lab would be asked to assist in preparing / verifying Longley-Rice signal strength studies for several proposed changes in MDARC's current operation (something we already offer to affected repeaters in close proximity to the radar site). We also coordinated a VE test session for Lt. Col Max Lantz, commander of the Cape Cod radar installation. Congratulations to new licensee KB1TZU. A conference call was held with Cape Cod AFS PIO Barbara Burnett, Major Richard "Tank" Anderson, KR4YO, and the RIB manager who are co-authoring an article on the status of the PAVE PAWS project for both QST and an Air Force publication. Some checking and editing of the DLAC reflector was done to determine why a member was not receiving messages sent to the list. The cause was fixed and it now appears to be working properly. We also vetted a portion of an upcoming item for QST at the request of Joel Kleinman, N1BKE. Media & Public Relations Reported by Allen Pitts, W1AGP Timely last updates were done for the new Web site in preparation for the launch last Wednesday. Immediate PR response to the crash, including announcements, many emails and 1:1 phone calls helped to minimize negative reactions. Unfortunately, it is now unlikely to re-engage the tech and computer media I had contacted and had expressed interest in covering the new Web site as a story. On Friday, another run of the program was positioned as a "full scale load test" when things bogged down. However it was noted that several phone calls were received during the brief period of time the new site was visible to outsiders and they were all positive. Meanwhile, the PRC is preparing a special webinar for getting Field Day publicity to be conducted April 22, the RTDNA presentation is on course for April 13, the final texts for inclusion into the annual report should be in by March 31 for editing, the April 1 edition of CONTACT! is being completed (though it's posting may be delayed as it was intended for the new Web site), and Field Day PR materials are ready to go. Development Reported by Mary Hobart, K1MMH A second contribution of $15,000 has been received for the 2010 Teachers Institutes. So far, the program has received $40,000 in funding for 2010. The W1AW campaign mailing will mail March 30 to 50,000 prospects, with a goal of $65,000. The Diamond Club has reached $88167 in gross revenue. More detail and net revenue numbers will be available at the close of March. Responses for the Donor Reception on Thursday May 13 in Dayton are coming. Production/Editorial Reported by Joel Kleinman, N1BKE Two new titles, PIC Programming for Beginners and Storm Spotting and Amateur Radio have been released to the printer. Joel Hallas provided a short video interview to Steve Ford for use on the new ARRL Web site. Steve asked questions about Joel's May 2010 QST beginner's article "I Can Hear Him - Why Can't He Hear Me?" Khrystyne Keane wrote and distributed The ARRL Letter for March 25, 2010. Sales and Marketing Reported by Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R Membership application returns have been brisk this month-already showing a gain over February, and with a few days remaining in the month to continue climbing. The spring/summer publications catalog is being wrapped-up. During the last week, the warehouse crew fulfilled 926 packages for publication and product orders, 318 membership premiums, and QST mailing supplements. Now Shipping: The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual 2nd edition and ARRL's Tech Q&A 5th edition (for Technician exams given on or after July 1, 2010), The ARRL Repeater Directory 2010-2011 edition (pocket-sized and desktop editions), and new ARES(r) pin. Exhibitors badges and event apparel have been ordered for ARRL's big Dayton team-over 130 people including ARRL officials, volunteers and staff. Event banners, posters, signs and other collateral will be committed during the first half of April. Membership & Volunteer Programs Reported by Dave Patton, NN1N W1AW Thanks to Hugh Brower for getting our IRLP Linux box back online after a nasty hard-drive crash. Joe updated the W1AW web code practice files and their archives. He reinstalled software on the Linux box that is used for the W1AW IRLP node 4292. Joe also rebuilt a preamp/preselector box for use with the Hamtronics R139 NOAA satellite receiver, and placed it back into service. He also worked out a few more settings with the VUAC-I internal reflector. Scott worked on fast and slow code practice files for the latter part of the month of March and early April. Field Organization/Public Service Team A few more ARRL award nominations have arrived, and these nominations have also been acknowledged. Steve Ewald is serving as the HQ staff contact person for nominations for the Herb S. Brier Award, the Technical Service Award, the Technical Innovation Award, the Hiram Percy Maxim Award, and the Joe Knight Distinguished Service Award. A new Official Observer has come on board in the Eastern Washington Section. Official Observers continue to investigate complaints and furnish further documentation on previously reported cases on 10 and 40 meters. Meanwhile, in Oregon, OOs were alerted to Citizen Band operators that were heard on 10 meters. The monthly monitoring report for IARU Region 3 arrived at HQ, and an unidentified signal on 14.252 MHz was tentatively identified as WeFax. Chuck fielded some questions about foreign radio amateurs operating in the US, antenna restrictions, and provided guidance on how to properly change one's Amateur Radio license information. The Illinois Section Manager election ballots and candidate statements were printed and delivered to ARRL HQ, and the Mailroom Staff prepared to send them out before the end of March. Education Services Reported by Debra Johnson, K1DMJ I'm very happy to welcome Jennifer Knapp and Jenny Hawran to the Education Department. Both are part-time. Jennifer will be providing administrative support for the Continuing Education Program as well as the Education & Technology Program, and Jenny will be assisting with resource and website communications support for licensing instruction and all educational outreach programs. Both are studying for their amateur radio license and are quickly learning their roles. Mark Spencer WA8SME is supporting the ARRL Dayton Hamvention Kit Building booth by putting together two construction kits, the clock kit used last year, and a new touch paddle kit developed this year. The kits have been completed and have been shipped to HQ. I am working with Sue Fagan to develop a bookmark/ruler hand-out for youth designed to commemorate a contact or a first encounter with ham radio. We'll provide some of these at Dayton, but will also stock them in our warehouse for clubs to order for outreach events with youth/Scouts, with the National Boy Scout Jamboree that occurs this summer also in mind. Continuing Education Program The new advanced emcomm course and final assessment are complete and ready to launch. Jennifer Knapp will be providing administrative support for the final assessment application process. Education & Technology Program Mark Spencer WA8SME has been focused on developing the new curriculum for the TI-2 on Basic Electronics and building the components for the TI-2 on Space in the Classroom, including a redesign of the CubeSat simulator receiver component. He also provided assistance to AMSAT drafting an education plan for an application for a CubeSat launch opportunity. The proposed education plan is heavily dependent on the TI-2 Space curriculum which is what is needed to justify the free ride into space. Nathan McCray K9CPO reports that his school is planning a space camp this spring and he will be using most of the equipment presented in the TI and TI-2. Plans include using 2meter radios and having comms between the space model (that the students built) and mission control. Robotics students will use their Boe-Bots like the Mars Rover to simulate a mission on the moon's surface. Students are also working on a satellite telemetry project that will lead up to the big week at the end of April where everything will be brought together. Nathan is also working with two teachers who are preparing for the Tech license exam, recruiting for the TIs, and answering weather, robotics and electronics questions from teachers all over the US. Teachers Institute Mark Spencer reports that this is a time of turmoil and anxiety for teachers which is impacting the number of teachers applying for this year's Teachers Institutes. In the majority of states school boards need to notify their teachers by March 15 if they will have a job or not next year. Mark notes that many times, particularly during times of fiscal uncertainty like we are in right now, the school boards give pink slips to all their teachers to satisfy the notification requirements and then sort out the budget issues over the next few months with not all pink slips being executed. Those that do not receive the pink slips will be free to consider their professional growth futures and consider attending the TIs. We currently have 31 applications on hand for the remaining 6 TIs scheduled for this year. The TI-2 on Space in the Classroom is at full enrollment. We rely heavily on the general ham community to help advertise the opportunity among their local teachers. We've found that word of mouth is the best advertisement. We've provided announcements in QST and to Section Managers and will circulate an announcement to clubs. The Tucson Unified School District Teachers Institute is now complete. Miguel Enriquez KD7RPP led that Institute with twenty-one in-district participants, including the school principal, school counselor, three resources personnel (2 gifted and talented education and 1 exceptional education teachers) and sixteen classroom teachers showed up on four Saturdays in February and March 2010 to complete an expanded 45 hour Teachers Institute. In addition, five parents attended the TI as observers. Miguel provided a detailed report which News Editor, Khrystyne Keane K1SFA will develop into a news story for the ARRL website. Videos of activities are viewable on YouTube. View the most recent video <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ReHNtzHjm4> capturing Day 4 activities. ARISS The ARISS Team is working on finalizing plans for moving some equipment moved from the ISS Service Module to the Columbus Module. In the near future, all school contacts except those with Russian schools will be made from Columbus. Two Ericcson radios on the ISS have not been used for over a year, and these will be moved out of the Russian Service Module and into Columbus. Later, the packet module and power supply will be installed in Columbus. Astronaut Mike Fincke has volunteered to perform the first installation if he has time during his visit to the ISS on a space shuttle short duration flight. The European Space Agency is helping finance new L/S-band equipment for the new ISS module, and will publicize the first ARISS school contact from the module. The AMSAT ARISSat Team is finishing work on the satellite for shipment to Russia by July 1. ARISSat will be delivered to the ISS under the Russian manifest for a ride on a Progress rocket. Deployment of the satellite by the astronauts will be during spacewalk EVA-28. Rosalie White K1STO prepared a story about the Midvalley Elementary School QSO that took place last December. The story includes details about the educational preparations for the contact led by David Bettinson KE7LMH. Bettinson integrated the resources he gathered from his participation at the Teachers Institute to develop an educational plan for the 6th grade class. He plans to continue the technology- and ham-related lessons through the rest of this school year and with next year's 6th graders, with plans for a ham radio station at the school sometime in the not too distant future. The story has been submitted for publication in QST. On March 25, Expedition 23 astronaut Soichi Noguchi, KD5TVP participated in a successful ARISS contact with Shiogama Daini Junior High School students from Shiogama, Japan. To prepare for the session, students compiled fifteen questions about life and work in space. Through their science classes, they learned about astronomy and communication via radio waves. Some students continued their training and studied for their amateur radio license exams. The ISS crew members are following standard procedure this spring in doing one ARISS school contact per week when there is no vehicle docked (which has been often, lately). Orbital mechanics have not favored the US recently. Sincerely Compiled by, Lisa Kustosik, KA1UFZ Assistant to the CEO Staff Absentee List All Staff 4/2 Holiday Steve Capodicasa 4/12 Vacation Joe Carcia 5/28 Vacation Jackie Cornell 5/12-5/16 Dayton Hamvention, Dauton, OH Steve Ewald 4/16-4/17 Delaware State Convention, Georgetown, DE `` 4/23-4/29 Vacation Steve Ford 4/22-4/23 Vacation Norm Fusaro 5/13-5/16 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH Scott Gee 4/14-4/16 Vacation `` 5/13-5/14 Vacation Mike Gruber 4/30 Vacation `` 6/1-6/4 Vacation Ed Hare 4/19-4/22 ANSI asc C63 EMC Comm. meeting, Piscataway, NJ Dan Henderson 4/5-4/9 Vacation `` 4/30-5/5 SC Section Convention, Spartanburg, SC/Vacation Mary Hobart 4/2-4/7 Vacation `` 5/12-5/16 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton OH `` 6/11-6/13 HamCom, Dallas, TX Amy Hurtado 5/12-5/16 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH Bob Inderbitzen 4/8-4/9 AES Superfest, Milwaukee, WI `` 4/19-4/23 Vacation Bob Inderbitzen 5/12-5/16 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH Debra Johnson 4/23-4/26 Arkansas Section Convention, Rogers, AR Khrystyne Keane 4/6 Vacation Joel Kleinman 4/6-4/8 Vacation Lisa Kustosik 5/13-5/18 Vacation Amy Leary 5/13-5/16 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH `` 5/17 Vacation Maryann Macdonald 5/12-5/16 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH Bill Moore 3/31-4/6 Vacation `` 4/15-4/19 International DX Convention, Visalia, CA `` 5/13-5/16 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH Diane Petrilli 5/13-5/16 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH Kim Piatek 5/12-5/16 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH Steve Sant Andrea 4/6 Vacation