|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The ARRL Letter for September 2, 2010From: memberlist@www.arrl.org (ARRL Web site) The ARRL Letter Published by the American Radio Relay League ******************************************** September 2, 2010 Editor: S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA <k1sfa@arrl.org> ARRL Home Page <>ARRL Letter Archive <>Audio News <> IN THIS ISSUE - + Public Service: Hurricane Earl Heading for North Carolina, Hurricane Warnings Issued for New England - + ARRL Leadership: ARRL Members Nominate Candidates for Director, Vice Director - + On the Air: New D-STAR Repeater Now in Place in ARRL Laboratory - + On the Air: Discover the Fun of 6 Meters (and Up!) in the ARRL September VHF QSO Party - + FCC: New Rules for Employee Participation in Drills Begin September 3 - + AWA Recognizes: QST Columnist Recognized for Documenting Radio's Past - + Solar Update - This Week on the Radio + Available on ARRL Audio News <> ==> + PUBLIC SERVICE: HURRICANE EARL HEADING FOR NORTH CAROLINA, HURRICANE WARNINGS ISSUED FOR NEW ENGLAND Hurricane Earl -- once again a Category 4 storm -- is currently aiming for North Carolina's Outer Banks. At 11 AM (EDT) on Thursday, September 2, Earl is located about 300 miles south of Cape Hatteras and 765 south of Nantucket Island, just off the coast of Massachusetts. Earl is now moving north at a speed near 18 MPH, and is expected to turn north-northeast with an increase in forward speed on Friday. The center of Earl will pass near the North Carolina Outer Banks Thursday night and approach Southeastern New England sometime on Friday night. No significant change in strength is expected today, but forecasters at the National Hurricane Center (NHC <>) expect that the storm will show gradual weakening beginning on Friday. "Here at ARRL Headquarters, we are continuing to monitor Hurricane Earl," said ARRL Emergency Preparedness and Response Manager Mike Corey, W5MPC. "I've been in touch with Section Managers, Section Emergency Coordinators and served agencies at the national level such as FEMA, National VOAD and the National Weather Service, sharing information about preparedness efforts in the storm's path. Right now, like most, we are keeping alert, monitoring the changing conditions and waiting to see where Earl goes. We're also keeping an eye on other storms developing in the Atlantic -- Fiona and Gaston a threat." Read more here < -warnings-issued-for-new-england>. ==> + ARRL LEADERSHIP: ARRL MEMBERS NOMINATE CANDIDATES FOR DIRECTOR, VICE DIRECTOR The policies of the ARRL are established by 15 Directors who are elected to the Board on a geographical basis, with elections for three-year terms held in five divisions each year. At the same time, Vice Directors are elected on the same basis. Responding to solicitations in the July and August issues of QST, ARRL members in the Pacific, Rocky Mountain, Southeastern, Southwestern and West Gulf Divisions have nominated 16 candidates for the 10 positions of Director and Vice Director. Five incumbents have been declared elected without opposition, while there will be balloting for the Director position in the Southeastern, Southwestern and West Gulf Divisions, and for the Vice Director position in the Southeastern and West Gulf Divisions. Ballots will be counted on Friday, November 19, 2010, and those elected will serve three-year terms beginning at noon on January 1, 2011. - In the Pacific Division, Bob Vallio, W6RGG, of Castro Valley, California -- as the only nominee for Director -- was declared re-elected, as was Vice Director Jim Tiemstra, K6JAT, of Oakland, California. - Current Rocky Mountain Director Division Brian Mileshosky, N5ZGT, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, was unopposed for the position of Rocky Mountain Division Director, so he is declared re-elected. Vice Director Dwayne Allen, WY7FD, of Devils Tower, Wyoming, was also declared re-elected. - Having no opponent, incumbent Southwestern Division Vice Director Marty Woll, N6VI, of Chatsworth, California, was also declared re-elected. Read more here < director>. ==> + ON THE AIR: NEW D-STAR REPEATER NOW IN PLACE IN ARRL LABORATORY The ARRL Lab has installed a D-STAR (Digital Smart Technologies for Amateur Radio) repeater in the Lab at the ARRL Headquarters building. Operating with an output of 147.390 MHz, positive offset, the W1HQ D-STAR repeater is a local repeater with a modest footprint covering the Hartford-New Britain, Connecticut area. The antenna is on the roof of the Headquarters Storage Building">building with the repeater located in the Lab. With its gateway, the repeater is accessible to any D-STAR user on the planet. The Lab's call sign is W1INF. "The purpose of the repeater is to better educate the Lab staff on D-STAR technology," explained ARRL Test Engineer Bob Allison, WB1GCM. "In turn, we will have the ability to handle some of our members' questions on the matter. We also intend to use this new technology when emergencies occur where D-STAR technology is deployed." Read more here < . ==> + ON THE AIR: DISCOVER THE FUN OF 6 METERS (AND UP!) IN THE ARRL SEPTEMBER VHF QSO PARTY September is here, and according to ARRL Contest Branch Manager Sean Kutzko, KX9X, that means the VHF bands are getting a workout: "If you've never experienced the fun of VHF+ operating, the ARRL September VHF QSO Party is a great place to start. With many HF radios now offering at least 6 meter SSB/CW capabilities -- and some offering 2 meters and 70 cm as well -- any amateur with a Technician class license or higher can experience long-haul communication on the VHF bands." Read more here < tember-vhf-qso-party>. ==> + FCC: NEW RULES FOR EMPLOYEE PARTICIPATION IN DRILLS BEGIN SEPTEMBER 3 Beginning September 3, the new, revised wording of Section 97.113 <> goes into effect. As of this date, the FCC will permit government entities that sponsor disaster and emergency drills to hold these drills without applying for a waiver. Additionally, employees who wish to participate in non-government-sponsored drills and exercises may do so under certain conditions. Part 97 is the portion of the Commission's rules that govern the Amateur Radio Service. Read more here < n-disaster-and-emergency-drills-on-behalf-of-an-e>. ==> + FCC: FCC REAFFIRMS 2
|
