Volume 17, Number 21 (May 22, 1998)

The ARRL Letter Index
ARRL Audio News

·To subscribe, unsubscribe, or change your e-mail delivery address: see How to Get The ARRL Letter, below
·Delivery problems (ARRL member direct delivery only!): letter-dlvy@arrl.org
·Editorial questions or comments: Rick Lindquist, N1RL, rlindquist@arrl.org
·ARRL Audio News: http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/ or call 860-594-0384
·The ARRLWeb Extra: http://www.arrl.org/members-only/extra

IN THIS EDITION:

+ Available on ARRL Audio News

1998 DAYTON HAMVENTION A HIT

Some great photos from the 1998 Dayton Hamvention are available.

Three days of fair weather and a largely enthusiastic crowd highlighted the 1998 Dayton Hamvention. By most accounts, attendance was, at best, no better than last year's, but the jury's still out on whether the crowd was in a buying mood. It depends on whom you ask. According to Chris Lougee, N7TJM, of ICOM, buying was up this year. "The biggest change [from last year] was the interest in new HF products," he said. Weather was in the mid-80s for the first couple of days of Hamvention, and it was on the humid side as well. Lougee thinks that might have held down the amount of traffic inside Hara Arena.

Also on the optimistic side was Alinco's Doug Wynn, KB6YZD. "It was the best Dayton Hamvention ever for Alinco," Wynn said. Alinco introduced its DJ-C5T dual-band "credit card" radio at Dayton. Wynn called it "a big hit" and said "hundreds and hundred of them were sold."

Kenwood's Paul Middleton, KD6NUH, felt sales in general were down. "Fewer boxes were seen in the hands of customers," he said. Middleton said Kenwood's "Easter Island QSL" picture booth, featuring Kenwood's new hand-held VC-H1 Visual Communicator SSTV system, "remained very popular throughout the event." The company's classroom sessions to introduce visitors to its new products also were "booked solid," he said.

Most observers felt the Sunday crowd was down substantially. By then, the weather was somewhat cooler and a lot less humid. At week's end, manufacturers still were tallying sales data from retail outlets to see if the hard numbers match up with their perceptions of the show. Dayton Hamvention officials have not released an official head count.

While there was no "killer" product debut this year to compare with last year's Kachina 505DSP transceiver, Yaesu may have trumped ICOM's popular IC-706 with its new FT-100 "Field Commander" transceiver. While not expected to be available until late summer or early fall, the FT-100 covers all amateur bands and modes from 160 meters through 70 cm, with the exception of 222 MHz--all inside a box that's slightly smaller than the '706. It includes a detachable front panel, CW keyer, DSP features, and slots for optional filters. Like the competing '706, the FT-100 will not operate full duplex for satellite work.

To sort of even things out, ICOM reported a lot of interest in its new IC-Q7A mini H-T, intended to compete with the VX-1R that Yaesu debuted at Dayton last year. The IC-Q7A offers wideband receive capability, from 30 to 1300 MHz in a very small package.

Several small HF transceivers priced well below the $1000 mark also turned up at Dayton this year. One, the EleCraft K2, will be a kit. Noted QRPer Wayne Burdick, N6KR, of Wilderness Radio and NorCal renown, is one of the rig's designers. It's expected to be on the market by fall. SGC's long-awaited SG-2020 HF compact transceiver also was on display at Dayton. The unit has recently become available from dealers. Patcomm's new PC-9000 also was on display, although it's not yet available. The new, compact 40-W box will cover 160 through 6 meters. Premier/ADI also plans to market an economy priced HF transceiver under the Pryme label. (ADI also had new 6 meter and 1-1/4 meter hand-helds.)

Ameritron had its new "true legal limit" antenna tuner, the ATR-30, on display at Dayton, plus a new precision SWR/wattmeter, the AWM-30.

Also popular were computer-operated "black box" receivers. Following on the heels of ICOM's successful PCR1000 which debuted last year, Ten-Tec will offer its own "black box" radio, the RX-320. Ten-Tec also debuted its new Titan II (Model 416) linear amp, a single-tube design that provides full legal limit and has a self-contained power supply.

Antennas were everywhere, including a new trapless tribander from Bencher, the Skyhawk. Timewave and Kantronics were among those offering new multimode data controllers. Kantronics President Phil Anderson, W0XI, said the new KAM '98 TNC was well received. "I think it's safe to say that digital is making a huge comeback." he said.

But vendor Walter Spieth, DK9SQ, of Ebersbach, Germany hit one clean into left field with his telescoping fiberglass antenna poles. Spieth and his entourage, decked out in traditional Bavarian costume for their first-ever Dayton appearance, sold out of the 33-foot long lightweight masts that are designed for temporary or portable antenna use. While at Dayton, he also made arrangements for US dealers to handle the product.

HALLER TO PMRS: LOOK ELSEWHERE FOR SPECTRUM

Former FCC Private Radio Bureau chief turned communications consultant Ralph Haller says he supports the goals of the petition--now designated RM-9267--recently filed by the Land Mobile Communications Council. But Haller, who's N4RH, also believes that the Private Mobile Radio Service ought to look somewhere other than the 70 cm band to satisfy its immediate spectrum needs. "If I had my druthers, I would not go after amateur spectrum, I would go after federal spectrum," he said, adding that he recently bought a dual-band mobile transceiver.

The LMCC has requested that the FCC immediately reallocate 420 to 430 MHz and 440 to 450 MHz segments from the federal government to the PMRS. Amateur Radio enjoys secondary status on the band. Haller said there's plenty of spectrum between 225 and 400 MHz that--to his way of thinking at least--is "not being used efficiently by the federal government."

Haller--whose clients include two LMCC members--said his quoted remarks in a recent issue of Wireless Week had "nothing to do with ham radio" and failed to reflect his full views on the issue. He said he raised some of his concerns about the direction of the LMCC petition before it was filed but was not in a position to do anything about it. But he emphasized that he supports its general aims.

"I certainly support the goals of the LMCC petition, but I would recommend that they look to other spectrum to satisfy that need," he said.

Haller said the LMCC petition represents "a serious issue for the amateur community." While he was at the FCC, Haller got a chance to see similar circumstances firsthand during the fight for 220 MHz. "The toughest decisions for the FCC are spectrum decisions," he said. The ham community needs to convince the FCC that Amateur Radio is making "the highest and best use of this band."

Haller said that from the FCC's perspective, the 220 MHz fight "was not a pretty sight." He said hams take challenges to their bands personally. "It's quite a different sort of fight," he said. "It's like taking away part of their lives." While hams lost the 220 MHz fight, Haller said the Amateur Radio community demonstrated a real ability to muster support for its side.

ARRL REQUESTS SPECIAL EVENT CALL SIGN RULES CHANGES

The ARRL has petitioned the FCC for changes in the administration of the special event call sign program. The League wants the FCC to amend its rules to permit the use of additional special event call sign formats to complement the current one-by-one (1x1) format now authorized.

The petition also asks the Commission to include call signs denoting US territories and possessions having no mailing address within the special event program. Use of those call signs would be limited to locations corresponding to and denoted by the call sign.

The special event call sign program is administered by several private sector coordinators, including the ARRL. Those wanting a special event call sign for a limited period are able to reserve one via the Internet. Under current rules, 750 combinations of 1x1 format call signs are available for limited periods. Stations operating with special event call signs still must identify with the station's regularly assigned call sign at one-hour intervals.

According to the petition, demand for special event call signs has been low. In the first seven months of the program, only 237 call sign reservations had been coordinated. But, the League says, there has been significant demand for special event call signs outside of the 1x1 format and for DXpeditions to locations under US jurisdiction which do not have US Postal Service mailing addresses. The League also says there's "a great deal of interest" in additional special event call sign formats that would let the call sign symbolize a particular event or type of event.

The petition requests that the FCC make available to the special event call sign program several additional call sign blocks not currently used for amateur primary station identification. Specifically, the League wants the Commission to include 1x1 call signs with a letter X suffix as well as 1xx1, Nxx2, and 1xx3 formats, as part of the special event program. The use of the Nxx2 format avoids conflicts with TV translator call sign assignments, which start with K or W.

The ARRL also asked that call signs appropriate to US territories and possessions such as Desecheo Island near Puerto Rico or Kingman Reef in the Pacific be made available to DXpeditions for limited periods.

The League's petition says the proposed changes would "permit significantly increased flexibility in private sector special event call sign administration without any adverse impact."

A comment period will be announced when the FCC assigns an RM number to the League's petition.

FCC ASSURES AMATEUR COMMUNITY AT DAYTON

The FCC had words of assurance for hams at the Dayton Hamvention. "We won't be taking any privileges away from anybody," said the FCC's Bill Cross, W3TN, of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. Speaking at the Hamvention's FCC Forum May 17, Cross explained that the FCC is reviewing all Amateur Radio rules and regulations as part of its required biennial review and wants to hear from hams. But he said that whatever changes come about, if any, hams should not fear another "incentive licensing" debacle or loss of privileges they now have.

Cross said the Commission welcomes comments and suggestions from the Amateur Radio community on "global" issues involving ham radio, including licensing structure and Morse code testing. Comments may be sent via e-mail to hamcomm@fcc.gov or via snail mail to FCC, 1919 M St NW, Washington, DC 20554. "Please run these through your PC's spell checker," he advised the crowd of 75 to 100 on hand. Cross said he anticipates the mailbox will be available "indefinitely" for comments from the Amateur Radio community.

Cross also welcomed comments on petitions before the Commission and suggested copies to the ARRL where League petitions were involved. Cross said the FCC already has received many comments on--but none in support of--RM-9259. That's the League's request for a declaratory ruling affirming that amateur operation that conflicts with established voluntary band plans and causes interference or adversely affects those operating in accordance with applicable band plans would be contrary to "good amateur practice." That petition was the subject of a debate in another forum at the same hour Cross spoke.

During his remarks, Cross covered a wide range of topics, from vanity call signs and the biennial rules review to the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and the soon-to-be-implemented Universal Licensing System. He also joked about how many hams view the FCC. "People have the view that there are two parts to the Commission," he said. "There's ham radio and then there's everything else." The reality is that there are four new Commissioners at the FCC and none is a ham. Cross described the goals of the new FCC Chairman, William Kennard, as "community, competition, and common sense."

Cross said that the vanity call sign fee that goes into effect later this year could differ from the $12.90 the FCC proposed earlier this year, but he didn't offer any specifics. The FCC has issued more than 21,000 vanity call signs since the latest incarnation of the vanity program in 1996--14,000 of them in the past year. "We are still getting 500 to 1000 applications per month," he said, adding that 80% of the applications now are filed electronically via the Internet.

WB8BGY APPOINTED GREAT LAKES VICE DIRECTOR

ARRL President Rod Stafford, W6ROD, has appointed George Race, WB8BGY, of Albion, Michigan, as Vice Director of the Great Lakes Division. The appointment became effective May 19.

Race, the Great Lakes Division director from 1995 until 1998, lost an re-election bid last November to Joe Falcone, N8TI, a Livonia, Michigan, attorney. When Falcone resigned last March, Vice Director Dave Coons, WT8W, moved into the director's slot. The vice director's position has been vacant since then.

Race, 62, previously served as Great Lakes vice director from 1990 to 1995. He became the Great Lakes director in June 1995, when he took over for the ailing Allan Severson, AB8P, now a silent key. Race was elected Great Lakes director in 1996.

Members may contact Race via e-mail to wb8bgy@arrl.org.

GERMANY AUTHORIZES HAM RADIO "LEARNER'S PERMIT" STATIONS

A new program in Germany has established the equivalent of a learner's permit in an effort to make ham radio more attractive to newcomers. Under the training program, amateurs in Germany may apply for a special instructional license that permits them to set up a station to be used by aspiring hams.

The Deutscher Amateur Radio Club (DARC) proposed the plan--which is similar to one used for many years in the former East Germany--to the licensing authority, the Bundesamt fuer Post und Telekommunikation (BAPT). Those using the instructional station would have the operating privileges of the instructor holding the license.

During a visit to ARRL Headquarters in May, DARC International Liaison Officer Hans Berg, DJ6TJ, said the goal was to have a program to attract people into ham radio and give them a chance to try it while preparing for the licensing examination. "This way, you have a chance to get people to your station to show them how ham radio works," he said. The instructor would be responsible for making sure the station was operated according to the rules, but, Berg says, the rules do not specify that the operator has to actually be present when the station is being operated. There also are no age restrictions on those who operate an instructional station.

Instructional stations would have distinctive call signs, with DN prefixes. Wolfgang Manz, DJ3EO, who heads the DARC's Youth and Education Committee, says a few DN call signs have been issued. "Unfortunately, some amateurs broke off contact because they regarded the instructional station to be illegal," he said.

Berg concedes that some might abuse the program, but he's optimistic that it will lead to Amateur Radio growth in Germany. "It worked pretty well for generations" in the former East Germany, where it was the only way for people to get into ham radio, he said. Berg expects the program to be expanded to Austria and Switzerland within a year, and, eventually, it could be adopted throughout Europe.

Germany also has added what Manz calls "a sort of Novice license." It gives privileges on 2 meters and 70 cm with power under 10 W EIRP. Call signs will begin with DO.

ICOM AMERICA FUNMOBILE TO VISIT ARRL HQ


The ICOM America Funmobile at the Dayton Hamvention.

If you missed the brightly decorated ICOM Funmobile at the Dayton Hamvention, you might want to stop by and see it on one of its other stops around the US and Canada. The Funmobile--actually a 30-foot motor home--carries a complement of operational ICOM Amateur Radio equipment, will visit ARRL Headquarters in Newington, Connecticut, on June 3 from noon until 3 PM. It will then visit Lentini Communications in Newington.

ICOM has posted additional information on the Funmobile--including scheduled visits and some interior photographs of the equipment--on its Web site at http://www.icomamerica.com/ontheroad/.

SOLAR UPDATE

Solar savant Tad Cook, K7VVV, Seattle, Washington, reports: First thing to report this week is that geomagnetic or space weather conditions probably had nothing to do with the failure of the Galaxy 4 satellite.

Geomagnetic indices have settled over the last two weeks. Solar flux and sunspot numbers have also been generally down, but last week the average sunspot number was up about ten points while the average solar flux was off almost six points.

Until the end of the month the solar flux should rise, past 120 by May 25, and then up to 128 around May 29 and 30. Solar flux should drop down below 120 around June 2 or 3, below 110 around June 6, and below 100 after June 13. Look for unsettled conditions around May 23, and May 30 through June 2. Stable conditions are forecast around June 11 and 12.

Twenty meters is still the best HF band for DX, with daily worldwide openings. The South Pacific is strong into Seattle on that band late into the night. The ionosphere thins as the days lengthen, which means that Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) during the daylight hours will gradually lower.

On the VHF front, W1LP in Massachusetts reported good 6 meter openings into W3, W4, W0, and New Brunswick on 2 meters into Cuba around a week ago. W1JJM reported EA7 and CT3 signals on 6 meters into Rhode Island on May 14, along with more contacts from the Northeast into the Southeast and the Caribbean on 2 meters. A 432 MHz Delaware to Florida QSO also was reported.

Sunspot numbers for May 7 through 13 were 82, 81, 56, 61, 72, 90, and 90 with a mean of 76. 10.7 cm flux was 123.3, 118, 110.7, 107.2, 108, 112.1, and 116.6, with a mean of 113.7. The estimated planetary A indices were 13, 20, 12, 11, 13, 19, and 6, with a mean of 13.4.

Sunspot numbers for May 14 through 20 were 94, 101, 92, 89, 92, 77 and 58 with a mean of 86.1. The 10.7 cm flux was 117.2, 116, 117.7, 110, 102.2, 99.7, and 91.9, with a mean of 107.8. The estimated planetary A indices were 5, 8, 12, 9, 11, 8, and 9, with a mean of 8.9.

In Brief:

  • This weekend on the radio: The ARCI QRP Hoot Owl Sprint (CW), the Texas QSO Party, and the Memorial Day CW Sprint are on for this weekend. Just ahead: The CQ WW WPX Contest (CW) is the weekend of May 30-31.

  • McGan Award deadline is here! If you know someone who has achieved outstanding success in publicizing Amateur Radio in the local media and community, the Philip J. McGan Memorial Antenna Award is the perfect way to say thank you on behalf of Amateur Radio. The deadline for this year's nomination is Friday, May 29 at 5 PM Eastern Time. For more information on the award, see February QST, page 47.

  • Miles Mann, WF1F, out of MIREX: MIREX President Dave Larsen, N6CO, has announced that Miles Mann, WF1F, no longer is a part of MIREX. Mann, who had served as educational coordinator for the group, expressed shock at the announcement but offered no public comment. MIREX conducts experimental and educational activities involving the Russian Mir space station.

  • ARES Web site classifieds: The National ARES Web page (sponsored by ARES of Southeast Louisiana Inc) now offers a free classifieds page for hams looking to buy, sell, or trade Amateur Radio gear. It's at http://www.ares.org/classified/classified.htm. This is a free service.--thanks to Newsline

  • Weather spotter training a PR plus in NC: Bill Boyes, KB1G, Triad SKYWARN EC (Greensboro/ Winston-Salem/High Point, North Carolina), reports ham radio got great publicity from a weather-spotter training class on April 23 in Rockingham, North Carolina. Boyes said one TV station "did a great piece, including a major plug for the Amateur Radio end of SKYWARN." Boyes says the station's reporter prominently mentioned hams and pointed out that it was a ham who first spotted a recent tornado in Mayodan. Of the 155 people attending the spotter training, about two-thirds were nonhams who received an excellent introduction to the hobby and its public service aspects.--Gary Pearce, KN4AQ

  • Tennessee club sponsors storm-spotter class: The West Tennessee Amateur Radio Society in Jackson, Tennessee, took advantage of its storm-spotter class May 7 to recruit SKYWARN volunteers. John White, a National Weather Service meteorologist, gave tips on storm spotting and weather safety to a group of about 50 people at the club-sponsored session. The area's SKYWARN network includes some 2500 members in four states. Tennessee has been pounded by severe weather in recent weeks, including a tornado in Nashville and hail that hit two counties in late April.--thanks to Rickey Brown, KE4CES

  • SAREX at science teachers' confab: The Space Amateur Radio EXperiment--SAREX--program had a presence in the NASA booth at the recent National Science Teachers Association convention in Las Vegas. ARRL Educational Activities Coordinator Dan Miller, K3UFG, was on hand to help explain the value of ham radio as an educational tool to the approximately 18,500 attendees. Ably assisting were Ken and Linda Chaffee, WA1QXR and N1XHT, respectively. Ken is a retired teacher and active AMSAT enthusiast. Also pitching in were ARRL Southwestern Division Director Fried Heyn, WA6WZO, and his wife, Sandi, WA6WZN. Miller says he came away from the convention with a feeling that the exhibit had helped make more teachers and administrators aware of ham radio's classroom potential.--Dan Miller, K3UFG

  • ICOM donates station to South Africa: ICOM has donated an IC-706MkII transceiver and an AH-4 automatic antenna tuner that will be used to establish a club station for South African youth as part of a government initiative to interest young people in technical activities and careers. The transceiver was on display at the IARU booth during the ITU-sponsored Africa Telecom 98 in Johannesburg.

  • Tandy CEO to retire: From Ft Worth Texas comes word that Tandy Corporation Chief Executive Officer John Roach will retire at the end of this year. It was under Roach's tenure that ham radio gear was introduced into the Radio Shack line of products. Tandy President Leonard Roberts will succeed Roach as CEO on January 1.--thanks to Newsline and Radio Shack

  • Premier acquires Aria Industrial: Premier Communications, which manufactures ADI brand amateur gear, has announced that it has acquired battery-pack manufacturer Aria Industrial Corporation. Premier recently announced its own entry into the battery pack market with its Pryme Radio Products NiCd and NiMH batteries. Aria's offices have been relocated to Premier's facilities in Walnut, California.

  • Larsen acquires Hytennas: Larsen Electronics Inc, a well-known manufacturer of amateur and commercial antennas, has announced the acquisition of Hytennas in Largo, Florida. Hytennas is a leading producer of portable molded and dipped antennas for the two-way military and manufacturing market. It will operate as a wholly-owned Larsen subsidiary. Larsen, based in Vancouver, Washington, manufactures and markets small antennas for amateur, two-way, SMR, cellular, PCS, data, GPS and OEM applications.--Larsen Electronics