[ARRL logo-and-logotype black gold vertical] IN-Newsletter Vol. 42, No. 6 February 17, 2017 Covers the period February 4 - February 10, 2017 Upcoming In-Person Meetings and Events Vermont Section Convention February 25, 2017 @ South Burlington, VT ARRL Executive Committee Meeting March 25, 2017 @ Denver, CO Administrative & Finance Committee Meeting March 26, 2017 @ Denver, CO Hamvention 2017 May 19 - 21, 2017 @ Xenia, OH Chief Executive Office Reported by Tom Gallagher, NY2RF Tom Gallagher was the guest speaker at the February meeting of the Disney Emergency Amateur Radio Service (D.E.A.R.S.) in Orlando on February 8th. Tom was invited by the President of the club, Kathy Blake, K4WDW, and his presentation was promoted on their website home page. They were delighted to have ARRL's participation, and the evening was successful for involved. Tom also attended the Orlando Section Convention with ARRL staffers February 9-11. He participated in the ARRL Section Division Forum, moderated by Southeastern Director Greg Sarratt, and the ARRL College Amateur Radio Initiative Forum on Saturday afternoon. In addition to meeting with various organizers and attendees throughout the weekend, he also met at length with Rod Stafford and Frank Butler. Frank was very helpful in introducing RFinder's Bob Greenberg to various Florida repeater councils. Additional information on the convention below in "Sales and Marketing." Education Services Reported by Lisa Kustosik, KA1UFZ Teacher Registration Instructor Registration Graduation Kit Requests License Class Listings 13 28 1 16 Education & Technology Program Debra sent announcements to registered teachers and ARISS participants about the TI schedule and application period. We are replying to requests for information and brochures. Debra also provided copy for listings for the NSTA calendar and the ITEEA online calendars. She placed an ad in the Tech Directions professional development training guide for the March issue, and in the product guide for the April issue. Debra continues coordinating re-design of Teachers Institute resources with contractor Dave Cripe, NM0S and TI instructors for readiness for this summer's Teachers Institutes. A new clock kit is being developed that will also be available for sale through the ARRL store. Ham Radio Outlet provided a bid for equipment to fulfill ETP grants awarded for 2016-2017 school year. ARISS Contacts: * February 9, a telebridge contact between students at the Space Exploration Educators Conference, Houston, TX, USA and Thomas Pesquet, KG5FYG. * February 10, a direct contact between students at the Palmetto Scholars Academy, North Charleston, SC, USA and Astronaut Shane Kimbrough. The school is sending a student science experiment up to the ISS on the Space-X 10 launch scheduled for this coming weekend. Field Services Reported by Dave Patton, NN1N ARES January Report Reported by Michael Corey, KI1U Sections Reporting this Month 31/71 - AR, AZ, DE, EB, ENY, EPA, IN, IA, KY, LA, LAX, MDC, ME, MN, MO, MS, ND, NFL, NLI, PAC, OK, SFL, SNJ, STX, SV, TN, WNY, WPA, WTX, WV, WWA Total Number of ARES Members reporting this month 13,822 Active ARES Nets this Month 1522 Active ARES Nets this Month with NTS Liaison 368 ARES Training and Exercise Events 1822 events - 17,430 person hours ARES Public Service Events 191 events - 3404 person hours ARES Emergency Events 52 events - 1582 person hours Total Events and Hours 2065 events - 22,416 person hours Total Volunteer Value this Month $425,904 Average Value of a Single Volunteer this Month $30.81 Significant National Level Events None HQ Emergency Response Team Activations None W1AW Emergency Activations None Ham Aid Deployments None National Media Hits 11 National Partner Meetings None Field Services Staff Training Hours 10 ITU Reported by Jon Siverling, WB3ERA A key meeting is under way to prepare for the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) World Radiocommunication Conference 2019, as Working Party 5D (WP 5D) is meeting in Geneva. WP 5D is responsible for the overall radio system aspects of International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) systems. WP 5D will define in detail the performance requirements, evaluation criteria and methodology for the assessment of new IMT radio interface. WRC-19 agenda item 1.13, which considers 47 - 47.2 GHz, among other bands, for mobile service allocations and IMT identification. There are about 300 delegates from 44 countries attending this meeting, and ARRL's Jon Siverling is attending as part of the United States' Delegation. This is the last opportunity for WP 5D to complete their work and provide the spectrum needs and technical and operational characteristics for the terrestrial component of IMT in the frequency range between 24.25 GHz and 86 GHz to Task Group 5/1 in order for the Task Group to complete their work. Lab Reported by Bob Allison, WB1GCM Product Review Testing was halted on a dual band handheld transceiver when it was discovered that the scanning receiver did not block cellular frequencies. By federal law, all scanning receivers must block frequencies used by cellular phones and other wireless devices. Upon further study, Bob Allison determined that this handheld did not have an FCC ID number either. The manufacturer was contacted. Bob is currently testing TCXOs (highly stabilized transmit and receive master oscillators used in HF/VHF/UHF transceiver). Before testing could begin, Bob installed a new GPS disciplined 10 MHz oscillator, used in conjunction with the Lab's frequency counter. This new 10 MHz oscillator was recently donated to the ARRL Lab by Leo Bodnar Electronics. At first, this new device did not work, due to the failure of the GPS antenna on our rooftop. Building Manager, Greg Kwasowski, W1GJK, came to the rescue by removing the antenna from the roof. A new antenna and preamp was installed in the radome and the new oscillator worked as specified. [2004-02-27 05][2004-03-07 00] RFI Mike Gruber responded to numerous RFI related calls and emails. Mike also participated in a Task Group session for p1897, for resolution on power line noise complaints. He then chaired a meeting of the p1897 Work Group. Mike also answered some RFI questions, primarily involving grow lights, for an AP reporter in Maine. Publications Review Both Mike Gruber and Zack Lau worked on reviewing and rewriting material for various ARRL publications. Bob Allison will be reviewing and rewriting material for the Handbook regarding receiver and transmitter testing. Radiosport Reported by Norm Fusaro, W3IZ DXCC Paper/Fieldcheck Processing Time 3 - 4 Weeks Logbook Processing Time 1 - 2 Business Days 2017 DXCC Applications 1,462 W1AW Reported by Joe Carci, NJ1Q W1AW (finally!) completed a scheduled school club contact with E. O. Smith High School, located in Mansfield, Connecticut. The significance of this QSO is that it was originally scheduled to take place in early January, but school closings due to weather kept pushing the date up. In addition, E. O. Smith High School is one of the four schools to receive an ARRL ETP Grant: http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-education-technology-program-offers-grants-to-... . Joe readied a new Icom IC-7300 HF/6m transceiver that will be installed in the broadcast racks. It will replace one of the older Icom IC-756ProII transceivers. He also processed regular QSL card requests and one Qualifying Run certificate. Scott worked on fast and slow code practice texts for the upcoming week. He also processed VUCC certificates and endorsements. Sales and Marketing Reported by Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R Bob Inderbitzen, Bart Jahnke, and Tom Gallagher were staff representatives at the ARRL Southeastern Division Convention - Orlando HamCation<http://www.hamcation.com/>(SM), Feb 10-12. HamCation Chairman Peter Meijers, AI4KM, reported that the convention had another record year with 19,000 in attendance -- 2,000 above last year. If the attendance figures are counted similarly (most likely, this figure is based on daily gate totals), HamCation may be the third-largest hamfest in the world, following JARL Ham Fair in Tokyo and Dayton Hamvention(r). The ARRL team in Orlando included ARRL Director Greg Sarratt, W4OZK, Vice Director Joey Tiritilli, N4ZUW, NFL Section Manager Steve Szabo, WB4OMM. A handful of other Section Managers and Field Organization volunteers were also in attendance, and ARRL Honorary Vice President Frank Butler, W4RH. DXCC card checking was led by volunteer Don Search, W3AZD. Membership-signing was brisk - and we couldn't have kept up without the additional help of volunteers Lindy Gallagher and Dr. Sherry Mahafza, KM4VSW. We took 238 membership applications throughout the convention, representing 334 membership years - and dues of $14,417. There were 46 new and returning members, and one Life Membership pledge. Bart supported an ARRL Contesting Forum. He and Bob also attended the Florida Contest Group Dinner, which included a keynote presentation from Tim Duffy, K3LR. Bob and Tom attended the standing-room-only ARRL membership forum, moderated by Steve Szabo and Greg Sarratt. The ARRL College Amateur Radio Initiative (CARI) enjoyed attention throughout HamCation. Tom Gallagher, wearing a "PENN" sweatshirt for his University of Pennsylvania alma mater, welcomed attendees to a Collegiate Amateur Radio Initiative Forum, moderated by Andy Milluzzi, KK4LWR. Bob streamed the forum, live, on ARRL's Facebook page. Bob also conducted an audio interview<https://soundcloud.com/user-731126960/arrlinterview-w9wsw-2017-02-10mp3> with ARRL Public Relations Committee Chairman Scott Westerman, W9WSV, covering themes to help reinvigorate Amateur Radio and ham radio clubs among our nation's colleges and universities. Bob posted to a photo album<https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10154532734372408.1073741901.20069212407&type=1&l=0608badabb> on ARRL's Facebook page throughout the convention. Jackie Ferreira coordinated promotions for AmazonSmile, for an ARRL News story on the web and in the ARRL letter. We also received a $2,120 donation from the AmazonSmile Foundation for Q4/2016 program activity; total donations for 2016 of $6,699 (Y2015 $4,724.) The foundation donates 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible AmazonSmile items to ARRL-from purchases made by members and friends who have selected American Radio Relay League (ARRL) as their charity of choice. More information is available at http://www.arrl.org/Amazon. We encourage member participation in AmazonSmile through e-mailings, ARRL's Facebook page, ARRL News, and e-newsletters. An email promoting the Handbook and Antenna Book alongside each other as the "perfect pair" contributed sales of $5K. We have been reminding members that ARRL's annual Periodicals DVD is an excellent solution for those radio amateurs seeking a digital archive of QST for offline access. The 2016 edition begin shipping in January, www.arrl.org/shop/ARRL-Periodicals-on-CD-ROM<http://www.arrl.org/shop/ARRL-Periodicals-on-CD-ROM>. Each DVD contains a complete year of fully-searchable and indexed PDFs for ARRL's three periodicals: QST, QEX, and NCJ. Yvette Vinci prepared the bulk email notification for the March 2017 digital edition of QST, distributed to ARRL members on Friday, February 10. The distribution list included 117,767 members. Yvette reported that in February we processed 22 paid-in-full Life Memberships and 18 Life Membership pledges. Secretary Reported by Dan Henderson, N1ND Planning and preparations continue for the Executive Committee and Administrative & Finance Committee meetings in Denver this March. Hamfest/Member Contact/ARRL Representative/Meetings/Vacations Bob Allison 04/07 - 04/10 PTO Joe Carcia 02/17 PTO " 02/20 - 02/24 PTO " 03/17 PTO " 03/21 PTO " 03/24 PTO " 03/31 PTO " 05/26 PTO " 04/05 - 05/07 PTO " 04/07- 04/13 PTO " 05/26 PTO " 07/05 - 07/07 PTO " 07/14 PTO " 07/21 PTO " 07/28 PTO " 08/04 PTO " 08/07 - 08/11 PTO " 08/18 PTO " 08/25 PTO " 10/09 PTO Lauren Clarke 03/06 - 03/10 PTO Tom Gallagher 02/24 PTO " 03/24 - 03/27 Executive Committee and Administrative and Finance Committee Meetings, Denver, CO " 03/31 PTO " 04/18 Penn Fund Executive Board Meeting, NYC " 04/21 - 04/23 Delaware State Convention " 05/18 - 05/21 Hamvention, Daytona, OH " 06/01 - 06-04 SEA-PAC, Seaside, OR Scott Gee 02/20 - 02/24 PTO Perry Green TBD Medical Leave Mike Gruber 04/19 IEEE EMC Society, Batavia, IL Ed Hare 02/15 - 02/22 Arizona Section Convention and PTO Dan Henderson 03/24 - 03/27 Executive Committee and Administrative and Finance Committee Meetings, Denver, CO Sean Kutzko 02/24 - 02/25 Vermont Section Convention " 03/06 Fairfield (CT) Radio Club presentation " 03/09 - 03/12 PTO Barry Shelley 03/03 PTO " 03/24 - 03/27 Executive Committee and Administrative and Finance Committee Meetings, Denver, CO " 03/28 Risk Strategies, Chicago, IL Sincerely Compiled by, Carla Pereira, Assistant to CEO