Volume 17, Number 1 (January 2, 1998)

The ARRL Letter Index
ARRL Audio News

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IN THIS EDITION:

+Available on ARRL Audio News

SUPER TYPHOON PAKA RECOVERY CONTINUES ON GUAM

Life is slowly returning to normal in the wake of Super Typhoon Paka that raked the Northern Marianas on December 16. Guam was the hardest hit, and Mariana Island DX Association President Jim Kehler, KH2D, reports commercial power has not yet been fully restored there, but most islanders were able to enjoy Christmas. "The power company is doing a great job of putting the mess back together, although the island has only about 35% commercial power at this point," he said. Most businesses are open again and "things are pretty much normal," according to Kehler. "Even the trees that are left are growing some green leaves again."

Kehler reports that ham radio is playing no organized role in the recovery at this point since recovery agencies already are on the island to assist. He says none of the MIDXA hams in Guam lost towers or antennas, since all were taken down before Paka arrived in Guam. Kehler's 40-meter dipole somehow managed to survive the 200 mph-plus winds, even though the trees supporting it were uprooted. Subsequent power system problems resulted in power supply damage to Kehler's linear, so he's now restricted to running 100 W until repair parts arrive.

Damage at the homes of other hams on Guam will make the island a bit more rare as DX for a while. John van der Pyl, WH2U, lost the window in his shack as the storm's eye passed over Guam. The open window in turn caused his condominium to flood, and the winds and water removed part of his shack wall. Danny Pobre, KH2JU, ended up with three feet of water in his yard and six inches in his radio shack. Some equipment was damaged. Wire antennas left up during the storm were gone. Dick Manns, KH2G, reported only minor water damage in the house. Gary Dein, K9AW/KH2, Dave Chartier, W1YRM/KH2, and Kerry Hofferth, NH2A, all reported various degrees of flooding in their houses. Dein is manager for the cable TV company which suffered a lot of damage.

Kehler says that all of Guam's five-star hotels are full of tourists, as well as workers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Small Business Administration and the American Red Cross. "Other than the mess lying around you wouldn't know what happened." he remarked. He says the VHF repeater antenna stayed up but was damaged beyond repair by the storm.

Kehler says the MIDXA, formed in the wake of Typhoon Keith in November, is attempting to establish an emergency communications network of MIDXA members to provide inter-island communication on HF without commercial power or regular antenna systems--which typically are taken down as major storms approach.

Eventually, the MIDXA would like to set up a linked VHF repeater system to provide reliable coverage on all four islands (Guam, Saipan, Tinian and Rota) to connect the ham communities.

For a look at the storm damage and more information on the MIDXA, see http://www.guam.net/pub/midxa/.--Special thanks to Jim Kehler, KH2D

DXCC FEE HIKE EXPLAINED

New fees for the DXCC program that went into effect January 1 will only cover about one half of the program's substantial annual shortfall. The DXCC program costs at least $100,000 more each year to administer than it collects in user fees, despite greater efficiency and a smaller staff than in the past. That explanation from ARRL Executive Vice President David Sumner, K1ZZ, came in the wake of comments from DXCC participants who were unhappy about the fee increases.

Sumner noted that the League "had a difficult financial year in 1996," when it posted a $700,000 operating loss. To turn things around, Sumner said, the Board of Directors determined to curb continuing losses as well as cut other costs and seek additional income sources. In the case of DXCC and other membership service programs that serve a portion of the membership, these efforts focused on ways to reduce costs or to make the programs more self-sustaining through user fees.

"The DXCC program is expensive to administer in its present form," Sumner said, pointing out that the League plans to take advantage of new technology in an effort to further cut the program's costs without affecting its integrity. New software scheduled to come on-line early this year should increase the speed of DXCC processing. "After that, attention will turn to a program that will allow members to file DXCC applications electronically, which we anticipate will lead to further savings without sacrificing integrity in any way," he said.

"Everyone wants the DXCC program to continue and to provide the kind of service that members deserve." Sumner emphasized that the League "never considered as an option" any steps that might have affected the integrity of the DXCC program.

SPUTNIK PS2 DEAD?

Reports from around the world appear to confirm that the Sputnik PS2 mini-satellite has stopped transmitting. The beacon signal from the working model of the original Sputnik 1 satellite was last monitored on December 29 or 30. The lithium battery-powered 200 mW transmitter had continued working for eight weeks after its launch by hand from the Russian Mir space station on November 3, transmitting a beep-beep tone on 145.82 MHz, and many hams around the globe had continued to track the satellite's progress. The frequency of the tone indicated the satellite's internal temperature. Recent reports from stations monitoring the Sputnik PS2 indicated its signals were getting weaker.

Students from the FR5KJ radio club at Jules Reydellet College in St Denis, Reunion Island, and at the Polytechnic Laboratory of Nalchik Kabardine in Russia cooperated in building the mini-Sputnik. The Russian students built the satellite body, while the French students fabricated the transmitter inside. Two working models of the Sputnik were assembled and transported to Mir, but only one was launched. The Sputnik PS2, also called RS-17, surpassed the life of its original namesake by several weeks. The little satellite was a one-third scale model of the original and had been estimated to remain in operation for approximately 40 days.

As of January 2, the satellite had not been officially declared dead, however.

ARRL OFFERS FLORIDA WINTER WORKSHOPS

The ARRL will sponsor two technical workshops this February, one at the Miami Tropical Hamboree, the other at the Orlando Hamcation. It's not too early to sign up.

ARRL Laboratory Supervisor Ed Hare, W1RFI, will present "RF Safety--The New FCC RF Exposure Regulations" February 6 in Miami. This workshop will clarify what is required of hams, define the new rules and explain the theory behind the requirements. If you've always wondered what happens with RF in the near field of an antenna, or if you want to know exactly how to use software to evaluate RF safety in your own station, you'll want to take in this five-hour seminar. Participants get a course workbook showing the slides from Ed's presentation, a copy of ARRL's RF-Safety information package, plus lots of practical information. The RF Safety seminar is Friday, February 6, from 1 until 6 PM, in association with the Miami Tropical Hamboree.

ARRL's Steve Ford, WB8IMY, along with Barry Baines, WD4ASW, and other AMSAT experts will present "Amateur Satellites--Today and Into the Future" February 13 in Orlando. This fast-moving, five-hour session about Amateur Radio's 16 satellites--sponsored jointly by the ARRL and AMSAT--will show how you can get on the birds and get in on the fun. Learn about digital satellites that serve as orbiting bulletin boards (some with camera systems); an FM satellite (AO-27) that you can work with an HT and small hand-held Yagi; low-earth orbit SSB/CW "Easy Sats" that you operate on 2, 10 and 15 meters; high-altitude satellites such as AO-10 (with Phase 3D to be launched in the future); plus the Russian Mir, SAREX, and in a few years, the International Space Station! The workshop will discuss equipment, antennas, rotators and feedlines; how to prepare for Phase 3D; how to track satellites with your PC; operating protocols and hints; and much more.

"Amateur Satellites--Today and Into the Future" will be held Friday, February 13, 2 until 7 PM in association with the Orlando HamCation, the ARRL Northern Florida State Convention. You can purchase Satellite Experimenter's Handbook from the ARRL for $20 plus $5 for UPS shipping/handling.

Space for both workshops is limited. Register before January 28 for the RF Safety workshop or before February 7 for the Amateur Satellites workshop. Contact Rosalie White, WA1STO, at ARRL HQ, 225 Main St, Newington CT 06111; tel 860-594-0237; fax 860-594-0259; e-mail rwhite@arrl.org. Each workshop is $20 for ARRL members and $25 for nonmembers. Those who take part all day earn 0.5 Continuing Education Units.

FCC INVITES SUPPLEMENTAL COMMENTS IN EDAP TECHNOMED WAIVER REQUEST

The FCC has set Friday, January 9, as the deadline to file supplemental comments in the waiver petition filed in 1996 by EDAP Technomed Inc to operate a medical device at 1.296 GHz at emission limits above those allowed by the FCC's rules (see The ARRL Letter Update, June 21, 1996). Amateur Radio has a secondary allocation in the 1.24 to 1.30 GHz band. The Federal government has the primary allocation, for radiolocation, and uses the band mostly for high-power radar systems. EDAP wants a waiver of the radiated emission limits to permit sale and use of the device to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland). EDAP has told the Commission that its device, called a Prostatron, operates at 1.296 GHz because the wavelength is uniquely suited to the treatment process; however, it radiates energy 67 dB above the limit set by Section 18.305(b) of the FCC rules.

The ARRL, Urologix Inc, and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) all have raised objections to the EDAP petition. The NTIA cited concerns about potential interference to air traffic control systems. Hams also submitted informal comments by e-mail to the FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) after the formal comment period ended.

The FCC says EDAP has been trying to address the concerns of the opposing parties, and late last year, the company and the NTIA reached a conditional agreement. The OET now has invited comments regarding the recent NTIA and EDAP filings under the FCC's "permit-but-disclose" requirements of its ex parte rules. The ARRL plans to file supplemental comments in this proceeding.

Reply comments are due by January 26. A public file of documents in this matter is available for inspection and copying in the OET, Suite 480, 2000 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20554. For more information, contact Anthony Serafini, 202-418-2456.--FCC

NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR MAXIM MEMORIAL AWARD

Headquarters is in the receive mode for nominations for the Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Award. The award is given annually to the licensed radio amateur under the age of 21 whose accomplishments and contributions are of the most exemplary nature within the framework of Amateur Radio activities, including, but not limited to, the following:

1. Participation or leadership in organizational affairs at the local or national level.

2. Technical achievement.

3. Operating record.

4. Recruitment and training of new amateurs.

5. Public relations activities.

In keeping with the tradition of the award when it was first established in 1936, formal nominations are made by Section Managers. Supporting information, including the endorsement of ARRL-affiliated clubs and elected or appointed League Leadership officials, should be submitted with the nomination. An award panel will review the nominations received and select the winner. The prize consists of a cash award of $1,000, a suitably engraved plaque, and travel and accommodation expenses to enable the winner to attend an ARRL convention at which a formal presentation will be made.

Nominations should document as thoroughly as possible the Amateur Radio achievements and contributions of the nominee during the previous calendar year. Additional information concerning the character of the nominee should be as complete as possible.

The award is intended to provide a tangible reward to those deserving young amateurs who contribute their time, skills and energies daily through their commitment to Amateur Radio. As models for their peers, and inspirations to us all, these fine young people are highly visible boosters of Amateur Radio awareness. We must continue to recognize and encourage their hard work and contributions at every opportunity.

Nominations must be sent to the Section Manager. Nominations must be received at Headquarters from Section Managers by March 31, 1998. There is no limit to the number of nominations one may make. For more information, and an application form, contact Rick Palm, K1CE, Field Services Manager, at ARRL Headquarters.

FAR OFFERS SCHOLARSHIPS

The nonprofit Foundation for Amateur Radio Inc--an ARRL-affiliated federation of more than 75 Amateur Radio clubs in the Washington, DC, area--plans to administer 67 scholarships for the 1998-99 academic year to help licensed radio amateurs with their post-secondary education. Nine of the scholarships are fully funded with income from grants and the foundation's annual hamfest in Gaithersburg, Maryland. FAR administers the remaining 58 scholarships without cost to the donors.

Licensed hams are eligible to compete for these awards if they plan to pursue a full-time course of study beyond high school and are enrolled in or have been accepted at an accredited university, college, or technical school. Awards range from $500 to $2500, with preference given in some cases to those pursuing certain courses of study or to residents of specific geographical areas. Clubs, especially those in Delaware, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin, are encouraged to spread the word on the availability of these scholarships.

Application forms and additional information are available by letter or QSL postmarked prior to April 30, 1998, from FAR Scholarships, 6903 Rhode Island Ave, College Park, MD 20740. Contributions to FAR are tax-deductible.

E-MAIL ELMERS DEBUT IN DAYTON

Here's an idea that some other clubs might want to imitate. The Miami Valley FM Association last month announced its E-mail Elmer program. The system allows new or prospective hams in Dayton and Southwestern Ohio--or even experienced amateurs who are venturing into a new aspect of the hobby--to send an e-mail request for assistance. Volunteer on-line Elmers then can provide a response in the "Elmer" tradition of mentoring new or less-experienced hams.

"Today, many hams prepare for their license exams through classroom programs, and the individual Elmer's touch isn't as common as it once was," said MVFMA President Fred Peerenboom, KE8TQ, of Dayton. "The E-mail Elmer program is an attempt to restore this long tradition." Peerenboom said the club hopes the initial e-mail exchange be the start of an ongoing Elmer relationship in the best tradition of Amateur Radio."

Hams in the Dayton area or in Southwestern Ohio may use the Elmer Server simply by sending an e-mail message to elmer@febo.com and posing the ham radio question they'd like to have answered. Users will get a machine-generated confirmation, and, within a few days, they'll get a response from one or more of the volunteer Elmers.

For more information, or to volunteer as an E-mail Elmer, contact KE8TQ at 937-256-4355; e-mail ke8tq@febo.com.

SOLAR UPDATE

Solar sage Tad Cook, K7VVV, Seattle, Washington, reports: Conditions were good for the last week of the year with higher solar activity than the previous week and mostly low geomagnetic activity. The exception was on December 30, when the global K index went as high as six and the global A index was 25. This was due to a coronal mass ejection on December 26 as well as a coronal hole. On the last day of the year, the average solar flux for the previous 90 days rose from 94 to 95, and the solar flux was above that level each day of the week.

Average solar flux has steadily risen over this year, particularly in the second half. Average solar flux for the first quarter of 1997 was 73.8, and 73.6 for the second, 82 for the third and 94.3 for the fourth quarter. Look for steadily rising figures in 1998. (The reason that 94.3 for the last quarter is not the same as the 95 average for the previous 90 days is that the last quarter includes October through December--actually 92 days. The 95 number mentioned in the previous paragraph is rounded up, and the difference in averages is only .18.)

For the short term, we should have fair conditions for the ARRL RTTY Roundup this weekend. No predicted geomagnetic disturbances are predicted, and the solar flux for January 2-4 is forecast at 98, 93 and 90. The latest projection shows the solar flux going down to the mid to high 80s, then back above 90 around January 16, and above 100 after January 21.

Sunspot numbers for December 18 through 24 were 35, 16, 27, 30, 41, 72 and 67 with a mean of 41.1. The 10.7-cm flux was 86.2, 87.7, 89.6, 92, 97, 104.1 and 107.8, with a mean of 94.9, and estimated planetary A indices were 6, 2, 2, 3, 2, 3, and 3, with a mean of 3.

Sunspot numbers for December 25 through 31 were 56, 50, 56, 55, 79, 56 and 64 with a mean of 59.4. The 10.7-cm flux was 104.7, 104.7, 95.9, 102.1, 104.4, 101.3 and 104.5, with a mean of 102.5, and estimated planetary A indices were 2, 1, 2, 2, 3, 25, and 4, with a mean of 5.6.

In Brief:

  • This weekend on the radio: The ARRL RTTY Roundup (see December QST, page 98) and the Northern New York Section QSO Party (see January QST, page 105) are on tap for this weekend.

  • Job opening: The ARRL Washington Office has an immediate opening for a Technical Relations Specialist having a technical or legal background. Duties include representing the interests of Amateur Radio to US government agencies, the ITU and regional organizations. Understanding of spectrum management, public speaking experience, professional quality writing and the ability to deal with people on an international basis, and Spanish language skills are required. Send resume and salary expectations to R. Boucher, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT, 06111; fax 860-594-0298; e-mail rboucher@arrl.org.

  • Ham radio in the movies again: Propagation guru Tad Cook, K7VVV, reports a tiny ham radio reference in the movie The Sweet Hereafter. "At one point, we see a couple at home, and the man is a stroke victim. He is sitting at a table, holding a pair of communication headphones up to one ear. On the wall is a plastic QSL card holder, full of cards!" The movie is based on Russell Banks' novel by the same name and was filmed in British Columbia.--Tad Cook, K7VVV

  • League presents plaque to NASA: ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, presented a plaque from the ARRL Board of Directors to NASA in late December, to thank the agency for giving Amateur Radio many opportunities over the past seven years to involve youngsters in SAREX educational activities. The plaque was given to NASA Director Dan Goldin and NASA Headquarters education officials.

  • WRC-97 Final Acts available: The Final Acts of the 1997 Radiocommunication Conference, WRC-97, signed in Geneva November 22, are now available. These acts include changes to the international table of frequency allocations, new and revised resolutions and recommendations, and changes to the appendices to the international radio regulations--including the revised plan for the Broadcasting-Satellite Service in Regions 1 and 3. A copy of the Final Acts now is available for inspection and public review at the FCC's International Reference Center, 2000 M Street NW, Room 102, Washington, DC; tel 202-418-1492. You can buy a copy of the Final Acts from the International Telecommunication Union, Sales and Marketing Service, Place des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland; tel 011-41-22-730-6141; fax 011-41-22-730-5194; http://www.itu.ch/publications. For more information, contact Audrey L. Allison, International Bureau, Satellite and Radiocommunication Division; tel 202-418-0733.--FCC