IN THIS EDITION:
* +Repeater interference mitigation plan goes to Defense Department
* +Emergency communication tops IARU Administrative Council agenda
* +Scarborough Reef DXpedition logs now online
* +Settlement means loss of amateur ticket for Indiana man
* +Results mixed for Amateur Radio as FCC ends two proceedings
* Solar Update
* IN BRIEF:
This weekend on the radio
+ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration
+ARRL reprising Dayton Hamvention blog
+ITU okays Montenegro, Serbia call sign prefix agreement
+AMSAT issues first call for Symposium papers
+KD5PLA to succeed KD5PLB aboard ISS
+QCWA, Newsline to collaborate in mentoring program
"Strange Antenna Challenge," special event set
We stand corrected+Available on ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/>=============================================================>Delivery problems: First see FAQ<http://www.arrl.org/members-only/faq.html#nodelivery>, then e-mail
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ARRL SUBMITS PLAN TO MITIGATE REPEATER INTERFERENCE TO MILITARY RADARSThe ARRL has submitted an interference mitigation plan to the US Departmentof Defense (DoD) as part of an effort to resolve reported interference fromdozens of 70 cm amateur repeaters to US military radar systems on bothcoasts. Since Amateur Radio is secondary to government users from 420 to 450MHz, hams must not interfere with primary users and, under the rules, can beforced to cease operation. Earlier this year, the US Air Force asked the FCCto order dozens of repeater systems to either eliminate interference to its"PAVE PAWS" missile and satellite detection and tracking radars inMassachusetts and California or shut down."We are waiting the response of the DoD representative to the proposal andwill continue to provide information as to its status when it becomesavailable," commented ARRL Regulatory Information Specialist Dan Henderson,N1ND. The interference mitigation plan has four primary steps. * All repeaters the DoD has identified as potential interferencesources will immediately and temporarily reduce transmitter power output(TPO) to 5 W. * The ARRL will conduct Longley-Rice studies on each repeater system todetermine what further mitigation techniques might apply to individualrepeaters. These could include relocating the system, the use of directionalantenna systems to create nulls towards the PAVE PAWS site, permanent powerreductions or a combination of these techniques. * The DoD will review ARRL's studies to determine if the proposals willmeet DoD's unspecified field strength requirements to mitigate the potentialinterference satisfactorily. * Once the DoD reviews and approves the proposals, the ARRL willprovide the recommendations to respective repeater frequency coordinatinggroups and the FCC.The situation affects 15 repeaters within less than 100 miles of Otis AirForce Base on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and more than 100 repeaters withinsome 140 miles of Beale Air Force Base near Sacramento, California. PAVEPAWS facilities occupy essentially the entire 70 cm band -- one factor thatmakes mitigation difficult. Feeding upward of 1800 active antenna elements,the broadband radar transmitters emit an average power output of more than145 kW.Henderson says repeater owners and trustees ultimately would be responsiblefor implementing the mitigation proposals or for developing alternativesthat protect the radar systems to the same extent.Cooperation will be the key to a successful resolution of the situation,Henderson says. "Although ARRL has no means to compel compliance with themitigation strategies, each repeater is absolutely obligated not tointerfere with these radars," he emphasized. "Failure to implement themitigation strategy or otherwise eliminate interference attributed to anindividual repeater will result in immediate FCC action."Henderson points out that the FCC is aware of and monitoring this situationand will act as necessary to protect the radars from interference. Hestresses, however, that the US military is aware of the critical roleAmateur Radio repeaters play in disasters and emergencies, and a wholesaleshutdown of US 70 cm Amateur Radio activity is not under consideration.A US Air Force contractor identified the allegedly problematic repeatersystems last summer, but the situation didn't become critical until the AirForce contacted the FCC in March. ARRL officials met with Defense Departmentrepresentatives later that month to discuss alleged interference to the PAVEPAWS radar sites, and last month Henderson contacted Amateur Radio frequencycoordinating organizations in both affected areas -- the Northern AmateurRelay Council of California (NARCC) and the New England Spectrum ManagementCouncil (NESMC).Contact Dan Henderson, N1ND
The DXpeditionto the world's most-wanted DXCC entity, which got under way April 29 andconcluded May 5, has been approved for DXCC credit. The Daily DX<http://www.dailydx.com> says if you don't find your call sign in the onlinelog search but are confident you had a solid QSO, send a QSL card to SteveWheatley, KU9C, PO Box 31, Morristown, NJ 07963-0031 (or via the QSLBureau). Attach a brief explanatory note. KU9C will search the logs to seeif an error occurred, Daily DX Editor Bernie McClenny, W3UR, says. Do note-mail KU9C. The BS7H logs have not yet been uploaded to ARRL's Logbook ofthe World.As might be expected, 20 meters was the bread-and-butter band, with 21,858contacts on CW, SSB and RTTY completed. BS7H logged just 54 contacts on 160meters and 334 on 80 meters, since weather conditions prevented deploying aweather balloon-supported wire until the last few hours. The team netted3548 QSOs on 40 meters, 3374 on 30 meters, 6774 on 17 meters, 6057 on 15meters, 876 on 12 meters and 1565 on 10 meters. In all, 19,319 BS7H contactsoccurred on SSB, 24,799 on CW and 322 on RTTY. Complete statistics areavailable on the BS7H Web page<http://www.scarboroughreef.com/srstats.html>.The DXpedition operators worked long shifts from stations set up on tinyplatforms that rose just above each of the four Scarborough Reef rocks thatare exposed during high tide. Once they shut down, the BS7H DXpedition teamrapidly dismantled the gear and platforms and soon were en route by shipback to Hong Kong.Team member Mike Mraz, N6MZ, will be at Dayton Hamvention<http://www.hamvention.org> and will deliver a presentation on the BS7HDXpedition during the DX Forum Saturday afternoon. No QSL cards are expectedto be available at Hamvention, however. The Daily DX reports that teammember James Brooks, 9V1YC, will be producing a video on the DXpedition,available later this year.QSL BS7H via KU9C. US stations are reminded to include 41 cents first classpostage on the return envelope. To expedite your BS7H card, include separateSASEs when requesting cards from other DX stations that KU9C manages.Scarborough Reef's status as the top most-wanted DXCC entity prompted someops to go to extremes, such as erecting new antennas, just to work theDXpedition. The Daily DX says Frank Letton, W6JTI, "qualifies as a true-blueDXer" by going the extra mile, as it were. As things turned out, he'dalready finalized plans for a three-week trip to visit his mother in SanAntonio, Texas, during the period the DXpedition was to be on the air.Undeterred, Letton shipped a transceiver, accessories and a two-element20-meter Yagi ahead. Once there, he erected the Yagi on a 35-foot TV mast hepurchased locally, and strung up a dipole beneath the beam. The Daily DXreports W6JTI snagged BS7H on both 40 and 20 CW.According to The Daily DX, W6JTI needs four more entities: Palestine,Montenegro, Yemen and North Korea. He's worked 333 current entities whilerunning just 100 W.Additional photos of the DXpedition are available on the BS7H Web site<http://www.scarboroughreef.com/srphotos.html>.
==>LOSS OF AMATEUR RADIO LICENSE IS PART OF SETTLEMENT WITH FCCAn Indiana radio amateur will have to surrender his General ticket under theterms of a Settlement Agreement reached with the FCC stemming from allegedcorporate and personal misdeeds. In addition, Timothy M. Doty, WB9MCD, of WTerre Haute, will have to yield his General Radiotelephone Operator License,and Commercial Radio Service (CRS) Inc, in which he's an equal partner withhis brother, Gary, will have to surrender its Land Mobile Service licenses.In a Memorandum Opinion and Order (MO&O)<http://www.fcc.gov/eb/revocations/files/FCC-07M-12.pdf> in EB Docket06-168, released April 26, the FCC said the settlement spares all partiesfrom a lengthy legal proceeding, although according to its terms, neitherthe Dotys nor CRS admit to any violation of the Communications Act of 1934or FCC rules."Suffice it to say, approval of the Agreement will obviate the need for aprotracted hearing, thereby conserving the resources of the Commission andthe private parties," the FCC said in its MO&O. "In addition, approval ofthe Agreement will provide for a fair and equitable resolution of thisproceeding."The agreement stipulates that neither Doty will be able to apply for or hold"any attributable interest in any Commission license or authorization" forfive years. CRS and the Dotys also will make a "voluntary donation" of$10,000 to the US Treasury. If the matter had gone to hearing, CRS couldhave been liable for fines approaching $100,000.In an Order to Show Cause last August, the FCC ordered Timothy Doty and CRSto show cause why their respective Commission licenses should not berevoked. The FCC cited information it had received suggesting that CRS maynot have properly disclosed information about Timothy Doty's felonyconvictions in applications the company filed with the Commission.In several proceedings in recent years, the FCC has considered a licensee'sor applicant's character among factors it takes into account whendetermining whether an individual possesses the requisite qualifications tobe a Commission licensee.As the agreement recites, in 1991 Doty was convicted in federal court of afelony that involved manufacture and possession of unauthorized satellite TVdescrambling devices. He received three years' probation and a $2000 fine.In 2001, Doty was found guilty in state court on a felony count ofpossessing a controlled substance and sentenced to 18 months incarcerationwith all but 30 days suspended."It appears, therefore, that the concerns raised by the Commission in itsorder designating this case for hearing will have been resolved," the FCCconcluded. The Settlement Agreement is on the FCC's Web site<<http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_document=6519409544>.
==>FCC'S TERMINATION OF PROCEEDINGS A MIXED BLESSING FOR HAM RADIOThe FCC's recent termination of two aging proceedings has some favorable andless-than-favorable implications for Amateur Radio. As part of a recenteffort to clear the decks of languishing proceedings, the FCC closed out aNotice of Inquiry and Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NOI and NPRM) in ETDocket 03-237 <http://www.arrl.org/announce/regulatory/et03-237/>, aimed atestablishing an "interference temperature metric" as a model for managinginterference and "to expand available unlicensed operation" in certainbands. ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, referred to the interference temperaturemodel as "a flawed concept" and said the May 4 termination Order<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-78A1.pdf> is goodnews. The FCC appeared to agree."Commenting parties generally argued that the interference temperatureapproach is not a workable concept and would result in increasedinterference in the frequency bands where it would be used," the Commissionsaid in its termination Order. "While there was some support in the recordfor adopting an interference temperature approach, no parties providedinformation on specific technical rules that we could adopt to implementit."The Commission further conceded that "with the passage of time" the November2003 NOI and NPRM and the record in the proceeding "have become outdated."The termination was "without prejudice," suggesting the Commission couldresurrect the concept later.The FCC asserted four years ago that the new metric "could represent afundamental paradigm shift" in its spectrum management approach by using astandard that takes into account "the cumulative effects of all undesired RFenergy" at a given instant. It initially wanted to implement the concept intwo microwave bands, suggesting that it the interference temperature limitfor a band "would serve as an upper bound or 'cap' on the potential RFenergy that could be introduced into the band."When the ARRL filed comments<http://www.arrl.org/announce/regulatory/et03-237/> in the proceeding in2004, it called the interference temperature concept "highly premature" andsaid it should not go forward. The ARRL contended that the FCC didn't haveenough information to put such a model into place, and it should not try totake a shortcut, as it did in the broadband over power line proceeding.In a second Order<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-79A1.pdf> releasedMay 4, the FCC also terminated its inquiry, in ET Docket 03-65, into whetherit should "incorporate receiver interference immunity performancespecifications into spectrum policy decisions on a broad basis." Sumnercommented that immunity standards for consumer electronics devices,including receivers, have long been an ARRL objective. The Commission againasserted that "the passage of time" had rendered out of date its Notice ofInquiry <http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-03-54A6.doc>and record in the proceeding."Further, to the extent receiver interference immunity performancespecifications are desirable, they may be addressed in proceedings that arefrequency band or service specific," the Commission remarked in the Order.The FCC also left the door open to consider the issue again down the road.In its July 2003 comments<http://www.arrl.org/announce/regulatory/et03-65/ARRL-ET-03-65-cmts.pdf> inET Docket 03-65, the ARRL told the FCC that improved interference standardsfor consumer electronic devices is the most-pressing need as the Commissionconsiders the interference immunity performance of receivers. Whilerecommending "either mandatory receiver immunity standards or at leastguidelines" in most other services, the ARRL said no receiver immunitystandards are necessary or practical in the "essentially experimental"Amateur Service."With the current explosion of consumer electronics and unlicensed devices,"the League said, "the Commission must establish interference rejectionstandards for unlicensed home electronic equipment and systems."==>SOLAR UPDATERa the Sun god Tad "Sunshine, Sunset" Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington,reports: This week saw a rise in sunspot numbers, with the average dailyvalue up by more than 11 points to 29.3. On May 16, the daily sunspot numberwas 56, the highest daily reading since last December 5, when it was 59.This week's average sunspot number was the highest since the January 4-10,2007, reporting week.Keep in mind that a tremendous day-to-day variation in sunspot numbers isnormal, so this should not be viewed as an indicator that sunspot trendshave turned around, and we’re already into Cycle 24. Of course, increasedactivity may follow; this just isn't an indicator that higher sunspotnumbers are due in the very near term.The bottom of the cycle, late last year predicted for the past couple ofmonths, has moved out as far as a year in the most recent general consensusof the scientific community. With predictions revised so often, it would beuseful to keep an eye on each week's release of the Preliminary Report ofSolar and Geophysical Data <http://www.sec.noaa.gov/weekly/>.For the near term, we’ll probably see sunspot numbers higher than the recentperiods when it was 0 or 12, but declining a bit, with the next probablepeak around May 25-30. Unsettled to active geomagnetic conditions areforecast for the beginning of that period, and we may see some mildlyunsettled activity around May 20.Sunspot numbers for May 10 through 16 were 20, 24, 21, 18, 29, 37 and 56,with a mean of 29.3. The 10.7 cm flux was 71.2, 71.5, 71.4, 73.5, 72.9,76.9, and 77.1, with a mean of 73.5. Estimated planetary A indices were 3,2, 3, 3, 3, 6 and 4, with a mean of 3.4. Estimated mid-latitude A indiceswere 2, 2, 2, 2, 1, 4 and 3, with a mean of 2.3.For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the ARRL TechnicalInformation Service Propagation page<http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html>.
IN BRIEF:* This weekend on the radio: The US Counties QSO Party (SSB), His Majestythe King of Spain Contest (CW), the EU PSK DX Contest, the ManchesterMineira All America Contest and the Baltic Contest are the May 19-20weekend. JUST AHEAD: The Run for the Bacon QRP Contest is May 21. The RSGB80-Meter Club Championship (CW) is May 24. The CQ World Wide WPX Contest(CW) is May 26-27 weekend. See the ARRL Contest Branch page<http://www.arrl.org/contests/> and the WA7BNM Contest Calendar<http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html> for more info.*
ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration:Registration remains open through Sunday, June 3, for these ARRLCertification and Continuing Education (CCE) online courses beginningFriday, June 15: Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level 2 (EC-002),Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level 3 (EC-003R2), Antenna Modeling(EC-004), HF Digital Communications (EC-005), VHF/UHF -- Life Beyond theRepeater (EC-008) and Radio Frequency Propagation (EC-011). These courseswill also open for registration Friday, June 1, for classes beginning FridayJuly 20. To learn more, visit the CCE Course Listing page<http://www.arrl.org/cce/courses.html> or contact the CCE Departmentcce@arrl.org.*
ARRL reprising Dayton Hamvention blog: The ARRL again has a DaytonHamvention blog <http://www.arrl.org/blog/Dayton%20and%20ARRL%20Expo>. ARRLPublications Manager and QST Editor Steve Ford, WB8IMY, says his "ramblings"for the 2007 Dayton and ARRL Expo Weblog begin where last year's ended. The2006 blog, which remains on the site, was extremely successful, he said. "Wehad more than 6000 individuals reading the blog throughout the event," Fordnoted. "This year's effort will be much the same, possibly with a newwrinkle or two." The League's Dayton and ARRL Expo Weblog, part of an effortto add personal touch to the Hamvention experience, will chronicle news andimpressions of Dayton Hamvention and ARRL EXPO 2007. Hamvention annuallyattracts upward of 25,000 visitors.*
ITU okays Montenegro, Serbia call sign prefix agreement: Although itbecame a country -- and a DXCC entity -- in its own right last June,Montenegro has not had an Amateur Radio call sign block to call its ownuntil this month. According to The Daily DX, the InternationalTelecommunications Union (ITU) did not want to give Montenegro an entirelynew prefix, so it required the states of Montenegro and Serbia to agree uponone or two prefixes from the five (4N, 4O, YT, YU and YZ) assigned to theformer Serbia-Montenegro. An agreement was reached May 11, and the ITU nowlists 4O (that's "four Oscar") as Montenegro's prefix. This means Montenegrostations may use 4O0 through 4O9, while Serbia stations will continue to useYT and YU prefixes for all call districts, 0 through 9. The ITU has takenback the former 4N and YZ prefixes for future reassignment. The ITUreportedly wants the two nations to complete the transition to new call signblocks as soon as possible. The Daily DX Editor Bernie McClenny, W3UR,recommends that DXers update their logging software carefully to reflect thechanges.*
AMSAT issues first call for Symposium papers: AMSAT has announced itsfirst call for papers for the 2007 AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual Meeting,October 25-28 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania<http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/symposium/2007/index.php>. The organizationsolicits proposals for papers, symposium presentations and posterpresentations on any topic of interest to the Amateur Satellite community.An emphasis this year is an educational outreach to middle and high schoolstudents. In particular, papers are sought on students and education, theAmateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program, AO-51,Phase 3E, the Eagle project and other satellite-related topics. A one-pageabstract is due by June 1. Camera-ready copy on paper or in electronic formis due by September 1 for inclusion in the symposium Proceedings. Sendabstracts and papers to Daniel Schultz, N8FGV n8fgv@amsat.org.*
KD5PLA to succeed KD5PLB aboard ISS: NASA has announced that US astronautClay Anderson, KD5PLA, will succeed Suni Williams, KD5PLB, as InternationalSpace Station Expedition 15 Flight Engineer later this spring. Anderson willarrive aboard the ISS aboard the shuttle Atlantis, set to launch June 8. Thesame shuttle mission, STS-117, will carry Williams back to Earth afterseveral months aboard the space outpost. NASA originally planned theastro-swap for the STS-118 shuttle mission, first set to fly in June but nowtargeted for an August launch. Unexpected hail damage to Atlantis' externalfuel tank forced the change in plans, and NASA managers approved the revisedcrew rotation April 26, after determining that it would have no impact onspace station operations or future shuttle mission objectives. AMassachusetts native, Williams has been in space since early December.During her ISS stay, she's set a record for spacewalks by a femaleastronaut, conducting four excursions for a total of 29 hours, 17 minutes.Upon her return, she will have accumulated more time in space than any otherwoman. She's also logged 20 Amateur Radio on the International Space Station(ARISS) school contacts so far. Anderson, a Nebraska native, is making hisfirst spaceflight. He'll return home next October.*
QCWA, Newsline to collaborate in mentoring program: The Quarter CenturyWireless Association (QCWA)
"Strange Antenna Challenge," special event set: Operation over MemorialDay weekend, May 26-28, by special event station K0S will highlight the 2007Strange Antenna Challenge. Sponsors say K0S will employ out-of-the-ordinaryantennas to promote Amateur Radio and making do with what might be availableduring an emergency. Individuals and clubs may participate as "satellitestations" by using anything but wire or pipe for a radiating element andadding "/K0S" to their call signs. Details are on the KØS, Strange AntennaChallenge Web site
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The ARRL Letter is published Fridays, 50 times each year, by the AmericanRadio Relay League: ARRL--the National Association For Amateur Radio, 225Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax 860-594-0259;
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