February 4, 2012
Vol 12, No 05
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EVARC Upcoming Events/Announcements |
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Next monthly meeting
of the Elkhorn Valley Amateur Radio Club Visitors are always welcome to the meeting. |
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ARES Membership Are you a member of ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service)? Club members are encouraged to become a member of ARES. Becoming a member lets your local Emergency Coordinator know what your capabilities are for providing communications duty in the public sercie when disaster strikes. Waiting until a disaster happens is most likely to late. To become a member print out and complete the ARES registration form and return it to our local EC, Sue Askew, KD0JE. You can send it to her via the club PO Box (EVARC, PO Box 1033, Norfolk, NE 68702-1033), via e-mail (saskew@conpoint.com), or bring it to a club meeting. |
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2012 Club Dues Club dues are due at the beginning of the year. Please send your dues to club treasurer Sue Askew,KDØJE, c/o EVARc, PO Box 1033, Norfolk, NE 68702-1033.
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Midwest Division News The Midwest Division ARRL Newsletter for January 2012 is available on the EVARC Web site. |
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Nebraska Section News The Nebraska Section News for January 2012 is available on the EVARC Web site. |
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March, 2012 - Upcoming |
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Day |
City, State |
Time |
Location |
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06 |
Norfolk, NE |
7:00pm CST |
Lifelong Learning Center Northeast Community College 601 East Benjamin Avenue |
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Contact Information: brian.e.smith@noaa.gov |
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08 |
Neligh, NE |
7:00pm CST |
Fire Station 711 West 11th Street |
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Contact Information: brian.e.smith@noaa.gov |
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19 |
Pender, NE |
7:00pm CDT |
Location TBD |
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Contact Information: brian.e.smith@noaa.gov |
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19 |
To be
Determined, NE |
7:00pm CDT |
TBD |
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Contact Information: brian.e.smith@noaa.gov |
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21 |
Columbus, NE |
7:00pm CDT |
Community Room Basement Courthouse corner of 26th Ave and 14th St |
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Contact Information: brian.e.smith@noaa.gov |
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26 |
David City,
NE |
7:00pm CDT |
Fire Station 552 D Street |
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Contact Information: Brian.E.Smith@noaa.gov |
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27 |
Bancroft, NE |
7:00pm CDT |
Fire Station 401 Main St. |
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Contact Information: brian.e.smith@noaa.gov |
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April, 2012 - Upcoming |
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Day |
City, State |
Time |
Location |
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02 |
Winside, NE |
7:00pm CDT |
Fire Station 204 Main St. |
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Contact Information: brian.e.smith@noaa.gov |
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04 |
Schuyler, NE |
7:00pm CDT |
Colfax County Courthouse Community Room |
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Contact Information: Brian.E.Smith@noaa.gov |
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10 |
Blair, NE |
7:00pm CDT |
City Hall 218 South 16th Street |
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Contact Information: brian.e.smith@noaa.gov |
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16 |
Wynot, NE |
7:00pm CDT |
Fire Station, 405 Jones Ave |
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Contact Information: brian.e.smith@noaa.gov |
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17 |
Fremont, NE |
7:00pm CDT |
Christensen Field Expo Hall West Linden and Ridge Road |
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Contact Information: brian.e.smith@noaa.gov |
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18 |
Location
TBD, NE |
7:00pm CDT |
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Contact Information: brian.e.smith@noaa.gov |
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24 |
Craig, NE |
7:00pm CDT |
Fire Station 333 South Main St. |
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Contact Information: brian.e.smith@noaa.gov Click here for Additional Classes |
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Test Sessions within 100 miles of Norfolk, NEFor more testing locations see the ARRL Testing Web page |
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02/02/2012 |
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02/11/2012 |
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03/01/2012 |
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03/17/2012 |
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03/27/2012 |
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| l | Hamfests/Conventions |
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03/17/2012 | |
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For a complete listing of Hamfests go to the ARRL Hamfest Search page | |
From the February 2, 2012 ARRL Letter |
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The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) 2012 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-12) began January 23 in Geneva, Switzerland. This is the “big show” for spectrum allocation matters and a very important meeting if you are an Amateur Radio operator anywhere in the world. Every 4 or 5 years a WRC takes place. The last one was in 2007. Approximately 3000 people will attend WRC-12. These are government officials, telecommunication industry people and others -- like the IARU -- who have an interest in the use of the radio spectrum. The agenda items discussed during WRC-12 were established at the previous WRC in 2007. In the past 4.5 years, there have been many committee meetings within the ITU to try to arrive at solutions that will satisfy each of the agenda items. In the case of some of the agenda items, several possible methods to satisfy the agenda item have been identified. It is up to the WRC to select the most appropriate method to satisfy the agenda item, that is, to arrive at a worldwide solution to the issue presented in the agenda item. There are a number of agenda items for WRC-12 that have some impact on Amateur Radio, immediately or sometime in the future. Each of the agenda items is assigned to a committee and also sub-working groups. Within each of these sub-working groups, the agenda items are discussed in detail, the proposals from regional telecommunication organizations are analyzed and the discussion proceeds toward developing a consensus on the agenda item. It seems to the casual observer to be a slow, tedious process, but it works quite well in developing consensus, assuming the parties are at least a little bit flexible in their views. Agenda Item 1.23: The agenda item that has been discussed widely within the amateur community over the last five years is Agenda Item 1.23. In 2007, the agenda item was stated as follows: “To consider an allocation of about 15 kHz in parts of the band 415-526.5 kHz to the Amateur Service on a secondary basis, taking into account the need to protect existing services.” There are a number of suggested ways to satisfy this agenda item that are being discussed at the WRC: 1) A secondary allocation of up to 15 kHz to the Amateur Radio Service on a worldwide basis between 472-487 kHz. 2) Two non-contiguous worldwide secondary allocations to the Amateur Radio Service at 461-469 kHz and 471-478 kHz, totaling 15 kHz. 3) A CEPT proposal for a worldwide secondary allocation of 8 KHz from 472-480 kHz. 4) No change. It appears from the first several days of committee meetings that many of the member states attending the WRC are in favor of granting the Amateur Radio Service an allocation, but the details remain to be established. The member states that are in favor of No Change (NOC) have stated that they are primarily concerned with possible interference to Non-Direction Beacons that currently operate in the spectrum under consideration. It is still early in the process to determine if the Amateur Service will succeed in gaining an allocation in this portion of the spectrum. Agenda Item 1.10: This agenda item is as follows: “To examine the frequency allocation requirements with regard to operation of safety systems for ships and ports and associated regulatory provisions, in accordance with Resolution 357 (WRC-07).” This agenda item might have impacted the IARU goal of achieving a secondary allocation under Agenda Item 1.23; however, with the dropping of the Agenda Item 1.23 Method for an amateur allocation between 493-510 kHz, there should no longer be a conflict between maritime service objectives for Agenda Item 1.10 and Amateur Service objectives for Agenda Item 1.23. Agenda Item 1.15: This agenda item is as follows: “To consider possible allocations in the range 3-50 MHz to the radiolocation service for oceanographic radar applications, taking into account the results of ITU-R studies, in accordance with Resolution 612 .” ITU committee meetings leading up to WRC-12 have identified the following bands to be studied under this Agenda Item: 3.5-5.5 MHz, 8-10 MHz, 12-14 MHz, 24-30 MHz and 39-45 MHz. These have been refined to particular candidate sub-bands including 5.060-5.450 MHz, 13.870-14.000 MHz, 24.000-24.890 MHz and 29.700-30.000 MHz. The IARU position is that oceanographic radar applications are incompatible with the Amateur and Amateur Satellite Services in the range 3-50 MHz and should not be allocated in bands already allocated to the Amateur and Amateur Satellite Service, including 5.250-5.450 MHz, in which a growing number of administrations are providing for some access by amateurs on a domestic basis. Footnotes: At each WRC, there is an agenda item that deals with footnotes contained within the Radio Regulations. Generally, this is a situation where an administration (a country) has “opted out” of the decision of a WRC and therefore creates an exception to the table of frequencies in the Radio Regulations. For example, a country may say that it will not use a certain service in a portion of the spectrum that has been designated for that service by the WRC. Therefore, a footnote is created in the Radio Regulations for that portion of the spectrum, indicating a designated use is not available in that country, even though it may be available in many other parts of the world. There are a number of examples of footnotes that relate to Amateur Radio. One of the IARU’s tasks during each WRC is to try to get administrations to remove their country’s name from footnotes that prevent amateurs in that country from using spectrum that is available for Amateur Radio usage in other countries. There are other agenda items which the IARU has determined to be a low threat to the Amateur Radio and the Amateur-Satellite Services, but those items will be closely watched by the IARU Team at the WRC-12 to make sure they do not negatively impact Amateur Radio. WRC-12 began on Monday, January, 23 and will conclude on Friday, February, 17. |
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WRC-12: Agenda Item 1.23 Update According to Colin Thomas, G3PSM, CEPT Coordinator for Agenda Item 1.23, WRC-12 delegates are progressing with what he calls a "compromise proposal" for an MF secondary allocation to the Amateur Radio Service. Agenda Item 1.23 calls for WRC-12 delegations to consider an allocation of about 15 kHz in parts of the band 415-526.5 kHz to the Amateur Service on a secondary basis, taking into account the need to protect existing services. "Progress was made with a compromise proposal on Agenda Item 1.23, drafted to take into consideration the views of those for and those against an amateur service allocation around 500 kHz," Thomas explained. "This proposal suggests a 7 kHz segment between 472-479 kHz, very close to the CEPT position of 472-480 kHz. Initial indications are that this could be acceptable to many administrations and regional organizations. However, various meetings need to take place to have these formally accepted. In order to tidy up the draft for the next meeting of the sub-working group, a weekend meeting of the drafting group will be held. At the time of writing [Saturday, January 28], the NOC (No Change) advocates steadfastly maintain their positions." |
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FCC Sets Date for Medical Devices on 70 cm In November 2011, FCC Commissioners unanimously agreed to allocate spectrum and adopt service and technical rules for the utilization of new implanted medical devices that operate on 413-457 MHz (70 cm). These devices will be used on a secondary basis as part of the Medical Device Radiocommunication (MedRadio) Service in Part 95 of the FCC rules. In the Federal Register for Friday, January 27, the FCC announced that the effective date for these new rules is Monday, February 27. The new rules expand the existing MedRadio Service rules to permit the use of new wideband medical implant devices that employ neuromuscular microstimulation techniques to restore sensation, mobility, and other functions to paralyzed limbs and organs. These medical devices hold enormous promise to advance the state of medical care, lower health costs, and improve the quality of life for countless Americans. The rules will allow these new types of MedRadio devices to access 24 megahertz of spectrum in the 413-419, 426-432, 438-444, and 451-457 MHz bands on a secondary basis. |
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ARRL in Action: What Have We Been Up to Lately? IBEC -- the last of the Access BPL providers using the Amateur Radio spectrum -- announced it was shutting down. The 2012 World Radiocommunication Conference began in Geneva, Switzerland. IARU Secretary Rod Stafford, W6ROD, gave a report on the first week of the Conference. CEPT Coordinator for Agenda Item 1.23 Colin Thomas G3PSM, reported that during the first week of WRC-12, delegates are progressing with what he calls a “compromise proposal” for an MF secondary allocation to the Amateur Radio Service. The ARRL Board of Directors held its 2012 Annual Meeting in Windsor, Connecticut. The minutes from the meeting are available online. The ARRL Board of Directors had the pleasure of bestowing the annual awards at its meeting: The George Hart Distinguished Service Award, the ARRL International Humanitarian Award and the Bill Leonard, W2SKE, Professional Media Award in the print, audio and video categories. With the retirement of ARRL Treasurer Jim McCobb, K1LU, after more than 30 years of service, the ARRL Board of Directors elected Rick Niswander, k7GM, as its sixth Treasurer. The FCC announced that the effective date for the new service and technical rules for the utilization of new implanted medical devices that operate on 413-457 MHz (70 cm) is February 27. Radio amateurs can now use Logbook of The World (LoTW) to apply for CQ awards. W1AW, the Hiram Percy Maxim Station, replaced antennas that were damaged in the October 2011 snowstorm. Two new books -- Get on the Air with HF Digital and Emergency Power for Radio Communications (second edition) have been released and are now available. ARISSat-1 re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere. The ARRL Awards Branch announced record numbers for DXCC applications and the Incoming and Outgoing QSL Bureaus. The FCC denied the ARRL’s Petition for Reconsideration regarding vanity and club call signs. In a separate matter, the FCC also denied a Waiver Request by the Anchorage VEC to permit individuals who have previously held an Amateur Radio license -- but which has expired and is beyond the two year grace period for renewal -- to receive credit for elements previously passed. Volunteer tour guides at ARRL Headquarters donate thousands of hours of their free time per year, giving tours to hundreds of visitors, The ARRL Development Office announced that it had met its fundraising goals for 2011. Radio amateurs are not affected by the narrowbanding requirements in the 150-174 and 421-512 MHz bands. The FCC granted a Special Temporary Authority to a Texas ham to conduct spread spectrum experiments within 2.5 kHz signal bandwidths on 160-2 meters at a maximum of 100 W effective radiated power. Videos of the presentations of the 2011 ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference are now available online. Postage rates increased, costing hams more to send QSL cards direct. Ham Radio in Hollywood: Amateur Radio made its debut on the hit ABC comedy Last Man Standing, starring Tim Allen as Mike Baxter, KA0XTT. Trailers for the new movie Journey 2: The Mysterious Island feature Amateur Radio. Ham Nation, the Amateur Radio show on TWiT.tv, showcased the new ARRL DIY video. A new QuickStats poll was made available on the ARRL website. The winner of the QST Cover Plaque Award for January is Ralph Taggart, WB8DQT, for his article “Vintage Low Power Radios.” The March issue of QST and a new book -- The ABCs of Software Defined Radio -- were released to the printer. Official Observer Desk: ARRL Field and Regulatory Correspondent Chuck Skolaut, K0BOG, handled complaints regarding inappropriate images being sent over SSTV, interference to repeaters in Illinois, South Florida, Eastern Massachusetts and California, music on 10 and 60 meters, operations on 3.910, 7.213 and 14.313 MHz, a broadcast-type signal on 6 meters, interference to a net on 20 meters, high power CB radios affecting 10 meters and a business in Missouri using a repeater. Skolaut also answered questions concerning overseas operating, repeater identification, interference from cable TV, modulated CW and emissions allowed on 30 meters. |
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ARRL HQ: Save the Date! Take a Virtual Tour of W1AW on February 12 Join W1AW Station Manager Joe Carcia, NJ1Q, on a virtual tour of W1AW, the Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station, the Amateur Radio station at ARRL Headquarters in Newington, Connecticut. Carcia will lead this tour via a live webcast on Sunday, February 12 at 5 PM EST (2200 UTC). Anyone with an Internet connection will be able to watch the tour here. "We want viewers of this live Internet tour to feel as if they are actually at W1AW," Carcia explained. "If you came to W1AW in person, you would see the same things that we are going to show on the virtual tour: The three operating stations, the W1AW workshop, the transmitter racks that we use to send out our bulletins and use for the code practice transmission, the control console and Old Betsy, Hiram Percy Maxim's personal spark gap transmitter." Al Petrunti, KA1TCH, of the New Day Group, will follow Carcia as he leads viewers through the station. ARRL Staff members, including Media and Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, and Chief Operating Officer Harold Kramer, WJ1B, as well as local television weatherman Geoff Fox, K1GF, will also be on hand at W1AW during the tour. "Hams around the world know of W1AW, and thousands have made contacts with this impressive station -- but most hams never get to see it," Pitts said. "Thanks to Al Petrunti's group, we hope that folks enjoy seeing what's at the other end of the signals. As in all live broadcasts, you never know just what might happen. We invite you to join us." Pitts is producing the live web tour. This is the second video that the New Day Group has made for the ARRL. In 2011, they created the HR 607 video that educated radio amateurs of a bill in Congress that addressed certain spectrum management issues, including the creation and maintenance of a nationwide Public Safety broadband network using current Amateur Radio spectrum. |
| l | IN BRIEF
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Education and
Training
ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration - The ARRL has many ways to continue your education in things Amateur Radio. For more information go to the ARRL Courses & Training web pagee. FEMA Online Training - FEMA has numerous Independent Study Program courses available for Ham Radio Operators and others interested in emergency support and are recommended by ARES. For a list of courses check the FEMA ISP training web site. Did you know you can practice code on-line? The ARRL posts their code practice files on the web. These audio files can be played on line or downloaded for later play back on your own computer. Practice files are available for 5, 7.5, 10, 13, 15, 18, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 Words per Minute. To find the files click the following link: http://www.arrl.org/code-practice-filesss |
| l | CLOSING ITEMS The EVARC weekly net meets every Monday evening at 7:30 PM on the club 2 meter repeater (146.73 -). Check-in to the net to hear an update on activities of other club members, announcements of local interest, and any late breaking information. Everyone is welcome to check in. |
The purpose of this newsletter is to provide information to local hams with items of interest. It is compiled from local, regional, and national sources an includes national, regional, and local news items and events. Created by Monty Wilson, NRØA. Contact NRØA with comments or questions.
