Volume 16, Number 20 (May 16, 1997)

Address Changes: Kathy Capodicasa, N1GZO, e-mail kcapodicasa@arrl.org.

Editorial: Rick Lindquist, N1RL, e-mail elindquist@arrl.org.

IN THIS EDITION:

DAYTON HAMVENTION AND LEAGUE JOIN FORCES FOR YEAR 2000 ARRL CONVENTION

Dayton's annual Hamvention will be the host site for the ARRL national convention in the year 2000. The Dayton Hamvention is the nation's largest single Amateur Radio event, attracting more than 30,000 participants to Dayton, Ohio, each year. The year 2000 will be the first time that the ARRL and the Dayton Amateur Radio Association (DARA), sponsors of the Hamvention, will combine their talents for this yearly event. A formal announcement was made May 16 in Dayton as the 1997 Hamvention opened its doors. The Hamvention got its start as The Southwestern Ohio Ham-vention in 1952.

"The number of enthusiasts Dayton attracts from around the United States and from around the world, combined with the quality of the event, is unparalleled," said ARRL Executive Vice President David Sumner, K1ZZ. "Dayton, Ohio, is the natural site for our national convention, and we are delighted to be working with members of DARA and Hamvention officials in this combined effort to launch Amateur Radio into the 21st century."

In addition to the more than 30,000 Hamvention attendees, the three-day event brings together thousands of flea market vendors, ham radio and electronic equipment manufacturers and other exhibitors. As its contribution to the event, the League will bring additional Amateur Radio programs, national-level radio awards and increased publicity in QST.

ARRL Great Lakes Division Director George Race, WB8BGY, said he was pleased that the League and DARA would be working together "to assure the future of Amateur Radio as we enter the 21st century."

"Over the years, Amateur Radio operators have been instrumental in the development of most of our electronic technology," he said. "Amateur Radio has sparked the imagination of young and old alike, leading them to become teachers, engineers and even astronauts. The ARRL and Dayton Hamvention working together, will give those who attend a glimpse at what lies ahead in technology and how they can be a part of it." --Jennifer Gagne, N1TDY

ITU CONCLUDES PRE-WRC-97 TALKS

The ITU Conference Preparatory Meeting (CPM) for WRC 97 has just concluded two weeks of deliberations in Geneva, Switzerland. The work of CPM has resulted in the preparation of a 250+ page book of combined technical output from the various ITU study groups as well as the concerns of the member states.

Issues of special interest to radio amateurs that were taken up in preparation for WRC 97 included the possibility of additional frequency allocations to the Mobile Satellite Service operating below 1 GHz--familiar to hams as "the little LEO issue." No specific frequencies have been identified in the CPM report for reallocation. Although the report does address a number of sharing possibilities, it makes no mention of sharing with the Amateur Service. In addition, a new concept of "broad allocations" was introduced. If adopted, this concept would result in individual nations being able to identify and allocate frequencies from a broad pool of service allocations. This concept, being quite new and unstudied, only resulted in a call for future studies by the ITU. However, it will be watched closely by radio amateurs as it might have the potential of representing a threat to our bands. It is likely that any such studies will be prolonged over a multi-year period.

Of course, the work of WRC 97 will be guided by specific proposals submitted by individual nations. At present, countries have not yet finalized nor submitted their proposals. Until they do, the amateur community will not be able to accurately assess the threats to our bands for this conference.

Unfortunately, the Little LEOs are not the only new service searching for spectrum. One newcomer is the Earth Exploration Satellite Service's use of synthetic aperture radar (EESS active) for a system of spaceborne sensors designed to collect information about environmental issues and other similar data. A variety of frequencies is being sought, possibly including 430 to 440 MHz. The amateur and amateur satellite service status in this band is somewhat complex, varying by ITU Region and even by individual country. So far, studies of sharing possibilities between the amateur and EESS (active) have not shown them to be compatible because of the interference level experienced when the two classes of stations are within line of sight.

There is also a type of EESS (active) which would make use of 1215 to 1300 MHz which is of concern to amateurs (the amateur allocation is 1240 to 1300 MHz). Studies here show compatibility with some types of services but still represent a potential source of interference to amateur operations.

Over the next 90 days, the various member countries of ITU interested in seeking specific allocations for these services at WRC 97 will be making proposals for the work of the conference.

The ARRL--as the spokesman for Amateur Radio in the US--is actively participating in the work of the relevant ITU bodies on these matters along with the IARU.--Paul Rinaldo, W4RI, and Larry E. Price, W4RA

HAMS ABOARD SHUTTLE FLIGHT; KB5UAC TO BE ACTIVE FROM MIR

Ham-astronaut Mike Foale, KB5UAC, took off on the space shuttle Atlantis Thursday, May 15, to swap places with colleague Jerry Linenger, KB5HBR, aboard the Russian Mir space station. The mission is the sixth docking with the Mir space station. During the STS-84 pre-flight press conference, Foale talked about ham radio and his stay aboard Mir. Foale is scheduled to remain aboard Mir until September.

Other hams on the STS-84 crew include Commander Charles Precourt, KB5YSQ, and Mission Specialists Edward Lu, KC5WKJ, Carlos Noriega, KC5WKK, and Jean-Francois Clervoy, KC5WKG. The Atlantis is carrying badly needed replacement equipment for the Mir space station, including a new oxygen-generation unit.

Foale said he took his ham radio exam in preparation for the STS-56 shuttle mission. "My commander then [Ken Cameron, KB5AWP] was a pretty serious radio ham, and he encouraged the whole crew to do it," Foale said. "Since then, I've enjoyed taking part in those activities, and I do look forward very much to using the ham radio on the Mir throughout my stay there to talk to anybody who can speak to me in either English, American, or Russian."

Foale said he's open to talk about anything and with anybody. "I really enjoy having slightly longer contacts than just the brief collections of QSOs we do on shuttle. As a long-duration crew member, I'm hoping that [hams] will allow me to talk longer with them, so I can have some contact with them and their countries and understand the people's conditions where they live as I fly over them."

Meanwhile, NASA says its Shuttle Web will provide continuous audio and video coverage of the STS-84 shuttle-Mir mission in a second test of the latest technology for streaming video over the Internet. Working with Technology Interface Inc. and other commercial Internet service and content providers, NASA will use a Dutch-manufactured product called "WebCam" to stream NASA Television programming over the Web. In addition to "cybercasting" the launch and landing, NASA will transmit live video of the activities of the combined Atlantis-Mir crew, all mission briefings and the daily Mission Update program. Links to the video stream through American and European reflectors are available on the NASA Shuttle Web, http://shuttle.nasa.gov. --Thanks to Philip Chien, KC4YER and to NASA

W1AW UPGRADES ITS SATELLITE CAPABILITIES

With the installation of a better antenna system, W1AW has upgraded its satellite capabilities. The station's Kenwood TS-790A now feeds a Cushcraft A148-20T crossed Yagi for 2 meters and a Cushcraft 416-TB crossed Yagi for 70 cm (with Advanced Receiver Research preamps for 2 meters and 70 cm mounted on the tower), positioned using a Yaesu G-5400B Az-El rotator coupled with The Kansas City Tracker. The antennas were recently reinstalled atop one of W1AW's three 60-foot towers. Antennas are fed using 1/2-inch Andrew 50-ohm Heliax. W1AW Station Manager Joe Carcia, NJ1Q, says the Kansas City Tracker consists of a PC plug-in card and software and provides for automatic tracking of satellites. The Kansas City Tracer uses InstantTrack, a satellite-tracking program that uses Keplerian elements (available from a variety of sources) to automatically position the antenna system.

Shortly after the improved satellite system was installed, Carcia tried it out during an AO-27 pass during his off-duty hours. "I was able to QSO VE6ITV, WD8CDP, K4RS, and W0OQC," he reports. "I had myself a little pileup there."

W1AW is looking to upgrade its TNC from the 1200-baud-only unit it now uses.

Carcia says he plans to have W1AW use the upgraded setup to make contacts whenever it is feasible. "I certainly would like to be a regular on AO-27, and maybe the Russian satellites," he said. "A number of years ago, we used to send bulletins through OSCAR 10 during a good pass. So, that is something we might revisit."

Carcia said he's looking forward to making other satellite station improvements to be ready for Phase 3D later this year.

THE RETURN OF THE FMT?

Remember the W1AW Frequency Measuring Tests? Well, John Dilks, K2TQN, reports the Boat Anchor Net will resurrect the FMT this month. To maintain the flavor of the old FMTs, participants must use vintage, tube-type gear in making their measurements.

The first BA FMT will take place Wednesday, May 21, 1997, at 8 PM EDT (Thursday, May 22 at 0000 UTC). Transmissions will be on the 80, 40, and 20 meters on the following schedule:

The first run starts at 0000 UTC on 80 meters: Transmitter tuneup, 0000-0005 UTC; equipment checkout, 0005-0010 UTC; test period, 0010-0015 UTC. The 40-meter test starts at 0015 UTC: Transmitter tuneup, 0015-0020 UTC; equipment checkout, 0020-0025 UTC; test period, 0025-0030 UTC. The 20-meter test starts at 0030 UTC: Transmitter tuneup, 0030-0035 UTC; equipment checkout, 0035-0040 UTC; test period, 0040-0045 UTC. The second run will begin at 0200 UTC and follow the same schedule.

During the equipment checkout period, the transmission will be on CW at 13 WPM: VVV DE K9EUI FMT TO FOLLOW (followed by 5 seconds of steady carrier; sequence repeated for 5 minutes). During the actual test period, the transmission will be on CW at 13 WPM: QST QST QST DE K9EUI WITH FMT TO FOLLOW NOW (followed by 20 seconds of steady carrier) VVV DE K9EUI FMT (repeat for 5 minutes) VVV DE K9EUI END OF FMT 73 SK.

Transmissions will be near 3600, 7175, and 14060 kHz (+/- 5 kHz). Transmissions during the transmitter tuneup and equipment adjustment periods will be close to, but not right on, the frequency to be measured. The only transmission that really matters is the actual test transmission.

Here are the ground rules for the Boat Anchor Frequency Measuring Test:

  1. All equipment used in the reception, calibration, and measurement of the FMT must be tube-type. No solid-state gear may be used.

  2. Logs must be submitted to K9EUI via e-mail to broehrig@admin.aurora.edu and received no later than 0000 UTC May 29, 1997.

  3. Logs must include your name, call sign (if any), and e-mail address; a list of all equipment used for the test; the measured frequencies; and time of each measurement.

  4. You may take as many measurements as you like, but only those taken during the actual test period will be allowed. Only one measurement per band per run is allowed on your submitted log. If you take more than one measurement, total them up and average them. In other words, each log may contain up to six (6) readings.

The results will be posted to Boat Anchor reflector as soon as possible after the deadline. For more information, contact Bob Roehrig, K9EUI, in Batavia, Illinois, tel 630-844-4898; fax 630-844-5530; e-mail broehrig@admin.aurora.edu.

VE8RCS, ELLESMERE ISLAND, CLOSES DOWN

Mike Lonneke HA/W0YR, in Budapest, Hungary, reports that during a 20-meter SSB QSO with VE8RCS on Ellesmere Island on May 12, the operator, Steve, informed him that Station "Alert" and Amateur Radio station VE8RCS would shut down on May 15. Steve, an unlicensed but authorized operator who is studying for his own call, told Lonneke that the shutdown came much sooner than expected. Ellesmere Island (NA-008) has been on the air for more than 30 years as the communication link as the High Arctic Weather and Experimental Station. It is about 450 miles from the North Pole.

Experiments at Station "Alert" have included measurement of global warming indicators, pollution in the global regions and measurements made by the Canadian team for other governments. Now, according to Steve, all functions will be automated. Steve said the step to full automation had been contemplated for some time but "they moved this along much faster than anyone thought. All we have left now is this 100-W transceiver, the microphone and the 5-element Yagi. Everything else has been boxed up." --Mike Lonneke HA/W0YR

ARRL PUBLICATIONS OFFERS EXTENDED HOURS, NEW ITEMS!

To better serve our members and customers, the ARRL publications order desk has extended its hours! Now, you can reach an ARRL customer service assistant from 8 AM to 9 PM Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, tel 888-277-5289 (US only). Our friendly staff will be available to help you place your order, renew your membership, or find an ARRL dealer in your area. For all other League activities, please contact the appropriate department or call 860-594-0200, Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM.

TravelPlus for Repeaters(TM) CD-ROM is among the snazzy new products available from ARRL Publications. Travel Plus for Repeaters is a sophisticated repeater-locator program that includes detailed maps for the US and Canada. Define a route, and TravelPlus tells you which repeaters will be in range along the way. This program offers many features, including print capability for maps and repeater lists, and it's Windows 3.1 and Windows 95 compatible. It's available now. Order No. 5862. The price is $39.95.

The brand-new 18th edition of The Antenna Book also is now available. The latest edition of this popular ham radio reference includes enhanced software, and several chapters have been rewritten completely or thoroughly updated and revised. But the price is still $30. Order No. 6133.

Also just a phone call away (all prices are retail):

Call toll-free, 888-277-5289, to place your order or visit the ARRL Publications dealer in your area.

CHARLES HAROLD CAMPBELL, W2IP, SK

Veteran Amateur Radio operator and ARRL member C. H. "Harold" Campbell, W2IP, of Mount Vernon, New York, died May 8, 1997. He was 98. Campbell was a 71-year member of ARRL. --Frank Fischedick, AI2D

In Brief:

  • Electron is 100, transistor is 50: Scientists recently marked the 100th anniversary of the 1897 presentation before the British Royal Academy of Sciences of a paper by physicist J. J. Thompson that first recognized the existence of the electron. In his presentation, Thompson described how he discovered, experimentally, that cathode rays were negatively charged particles which he dubbed electrons. The transistor turns 50 years old this year. It was invented by Bell Labs (now Lucent Technologies) in December, 1947. It costs one million times less to make a transistor today than it did 30 years ago. --Wired News/Jim Fitton, W1FMR

  • Ham radio featured on NYC cable show: Ham radio already has been the subject of two editions of The Pulse of New York, a cable TV show broadcast in New York City, and the producers are planning additional programs on the topic. The first show, broadcast live on March 8, included an introduction to ham radio, licensing basics, a display of HF and VHF equipment, and a discussion of the role of ham radio in public service and the community. Past ARRL Hudson Division Director Richard Sandell, WK6R, moderated the show, and Assistant Directors George Tranos, N2GA, Diane Ortiz, K2DO, and 12-year-old Matthew Karl, KG2HV, participated. The half-hour show is broadcast live (3:30 to 4:00 PM) on local channel 33 in Manhattan to an audience of approximately 7,000 to 10,000 viewers. A second program, featuring Hudson Division Director Frank Fallon, N2FF, and Assistant Director Carole Perry, WB2MGP, was broadcast on March 29. The producer is Robin Vargas, N2YSY, of Robin Productions. She, Ortiz and Sandell are planning additional shows. --The Hudson Loop

  • Radio merit badge book depleted: This might be a good sign. Maria Dahl of the electronic publishing division of the national office of the Boy Scouts of America reports that BSA HQ has run out of the Radio merit badge book. "Three thousand is considered to be a year's supply, and we have depleted the supply before year's end," she said. This is good news to hams who know the importance of capturing the interest of young people and getting them excited about our great hobby. --Rosalie White, WA1STO

  • Ham Radio & More QSY: The Ham Radio & More radio program has returned to 5.070 MHz for its live weekly broadcast on WWCR. The show airs live Sundays at 6 PM Eastern Time (2200 UTC) on WWCR and on many local commercial stations. --Len Winkler, KB7LPW

  • New on-line publication: antenneX, a magazine all about antennas, experimentation, construction and signal problems, is online at http://www.antennex.com. The editor is Richard Morrow, K5CNF. Several areas offer free access. A six-month subscription is $19.97 in the US ($21.52 for Texas residents, including state sales tax) --Jack L. Stone

  • Pennsylvania Amateur Radio Awareness Month: By a unanimous vote, the General Assembly in Pennsylvania has declared the month of June 1997 as Amateur Radio Awareness Month. The resolution, approved April 15, cites the contributions of ham radio, including its "significant services to the citizens of this Commonwealth during natural disasters." --Earl J. Foster, W3BKF

The ARRL Letter

The ARRL Letter is published by the American Radio Relay League, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax 860-594-0259. Rodney J. Stafford, KB6ZV, President; David Sumner, K1ZZ, Executive Vice President.

Circulation, Kathy Capodicasa, N1GZO, e-mail kcapodicasa@arrl.org.

Editorial, Rick Lindquist, N1RL, e-mail elindquist@arrl.org.

Visit the ARRLWeb page at http://www.arrl.org.

The purpose of The ARRL Letter is to provide the essential news of interest to active, organizationally minded radio amateurs faster than it can be disseminated by our official journal, QST. We strive to be fast, accurate and readable in our reporting.

Material from The ARRL Letter may be reproduced in whole or in part, in any form, including photoreproduction and electronic databanks, provided that credit is given to The ARRL Letter and The American Radio Relay League.

How to Get The ARRL Letter:

The ARRL Letter is distributed directly from ARRL HQ only to elected League officials and certain ARRL appointees and to paid subscribers of the now-defunct hard-copy edition of The ARRL Letter . For members and nonmembers alike, The ARRL Letter is available free of charge from these sources:

  • The ARRLWeb page (http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/). This version of The ARRL Letter includes any photographs.

  • The HIRAM BBS: 860-594-0306.

  • The ARRL Technical Information Server (Info Server): Send an e-mail message to info@arrl.org. The subject line should be blank. In the message body, type send ltrmmdd.txt, where mm represents two digits for the month and dd represents two digits for the day (The ARRL Letter is published every Friday). For example, to request The ARRL Letter file for Friday, January 3, 1997, you'd type send ltr0103.txt. Then, on a separate line, type quit.

  • CompuServe and America Online subscribers, as a downloadable text file in the services' ham radio libraries

  • The Netcom server, run by the Boston Amateur Radio Club and Mike Ardai, N1IST: Send e-mail to listserv@netcom.com (no subject needed). The body of the message should say subscribe letter-list.