ARRL News

A familiar sight appeared this week, as a sunspot emerged for one day, then was gone. Based on its magnetic polarity and high position in our Sun's southern hemisphere, sunspot 1003 was a new Solar Cycle 24 sunspot; like all the other recent sunspots, it was short lived.

This week's Surfin' again considers Web sites related to Amateur Television (ATV) going digital.

On Wednesday, October 8, Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell (D) signed into law a bill that guarantees radio amateurs the right to erect antenna support structures up to 65 feet without the need for a Special Use Permit. The bill passed in the House with a vote of 196-1; it passed in the Senate with a vote of 49-1. The new law is scheduled to go into effect December 8, 60 days after signing.

On Sunday, October 12, Richard Garriott, W5KWQ, is scheduled to begin his journey to the International Space Station (ISS) as he blasts off into space via a Russian Soyuz, docking with the ISS two days later; he is due to return to Earth on Thursday, October 23. Richard, the sixth private citizen to be accepted by the Russian Federal Space Agency (RKA) for a short-term mission on the ISS, is the son of Owen Garriott, W5LFL. In 1983, Owen was the first ham to make QSOs from space. Richard said he plans to build on his father's legacy by also making QSOs from the ISS: He plans to perform several school contacts and downlink SSTV images during his flight, as well as contact the general ham community in his free time and perform random scout contacts during Jamboree on the Air (JOTA).

On Thursday, October 9, the Singapore Amateur Radio Transmitting Society (SARTS) -- that country's IARU Member-Society -- announced that the Infocommunications Development Authority (IDA ) would begin issuing temporary Amateur Radio licenses for visiting hams; the IDA is the agency responsible for Amateur Radio licenses in Singapore. According to SARTS Vice President Peter Cook, 9V1PC, visiting hams should apply three weeks before arriving in Singapore. The license, typically valid for a three month period at a cost of 50 Singapore dollars (or $25 for VHF/UHF-only operation), would use the call sign 9V1/home call (for example, 9V1/K1SFA). "The Singapore administration's accommodation of visiting radio amateurs will be greatly appreciated by many who visit and pass through this busy city-state," said IARU Secretary David Sumner, K1ZZ. "Congratulations to the Singapore Amateur Radio Transmitting Society for achieving this long-sought objective." Check the IDA Web site for the application process and necessary forms.

Excitement continues to build as the ARRL gets ready to preview items for the Third Annual On-Line Auction on Thursday, October 16. With almost 140 items up for bid -- with more being added every day -- this event promises to have something for just about everyone. The auction kicks off October 23 and runs until October 31 on the ARRL Web site.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has selected a group of hams led by veteran DXpeditioners Bob Allphin, K4UEE, and Glenn Johnson, W0GJ, to lead a DXpedition to Desecheo Island, KP5 (IOTA NA-095), in early 2009. Desecheo currently sits at number 7 on DX Magazine's Most Wanted list.

Many consider 1930 to 1980 as the "golden age" of American radio technology. A time of extraordinary innovation driven by pioneering engineers and entrepreneurs, this 50 year span saw the introduction of rigs that would become famous throughout the world. The newest addition to the ARRL Library, 50 Years of Amateur Radio Innovation -- Transmitters, Receivers and Transceivers: 1930-1980, highlights theses treasured favorites in a way that has never been seen before.

ARRL Audio News--OPEN--In this edition . . .; ARRL Auction: Getting Down to the Wire; Spectrum Defense: “More Work to Do”; ARRL Audio News ID--Satellite Update--BREAK; Look for the November Issue of QST in Your Mailbox; Pennsylvania Becomes 27th State with PRB-1 Law on Books; American Hams to Lead 2009 DXpedition to Desecheo Island; ARRL Audio News--News Briefs--CLOSE

The sunspot appearance reported last week seems to follow the pattern emerging for most of 2008. A spot will appear for one or two days and then suddenly it is gone. Last week's report mentioned the solar wind being at an all time low. This week, NASA announced that so far, 2008 is the "blankest year of the space age," with more than 200 spotless days. The minimum following Solar Cycle 18 in 1954 had 241 days without sunspots, and it preceded the solar max in 1959 for Solar Cycle 19 that had the highest sunspot numbers on record.

This week's Surfin' considers Web sites where Amateur Television (ATV) is going digital.

Almost 150 aficionados of digital communications came to Chicago for the 27th annual ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference (DCC) the weekend of September 26-28. This conference is an international forum for radio amateurs to meet, publish their work and present new ideas and techniques. Presenters and attendees had the opportunity to exchange ideas and learn about recent hardware and software advances, theories, experimental results, and practical applications. Not only was the conference technically stimulating, it was a weekend of fun for all who have more than a casual interest in any aspect of amateur digital electronics and communications; introductory sessions were scheduled throughout the conference to introduce new technical topics for both beginners and experts.

The 2009 ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications uniquely serves both amateur experimenters and industry practitioners, emphasizing connections between basic theory and application. The ARRL Handbook is simply the standard in applied electronics and communications. This 86th edition is both a useful introduction to radio communication and features the most current material on electronics and Amateur Radio.

Texas Governor Rick Perry has appointed ARRL West Gulf Vice Director Dr David Woolweaver, K5RAV, of Harlingen, to the Council of the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) formally known as the Texas Department of Health. The nine member council makes recommendations regarding management, operation, policies and rules for public health, mental health and substance abuse. DSHS has workforce of 12,000 and has an annual budget of $2.7 billion.

The ARRL is one of the world's oldest radio organizations with a storied history that continues into the 21st century. This month's quiz takes a look into past and presents people and events in the League's history -- some major and some minor. Do you know how your historical know-how stacks up?

The ARRL is one of the world's oldest radio organizations with a storied history that continues into the 21st century. This month's quiz takes a look into past and presents persons and events in the League's history -- some major and some minor. Do you know how your historical know-how stacks up?

The winner of the QST Cover Plaque Award for September is Jim Weit, KI8BV, for his article "An All Band HF Dipole Antenna." Congratulations, Jim! The winner of the QST Cover Plaque award -- given to the author or authors of the best article in each issue -- is determined by a vote of ARRL members on the QST Cover Plaque Poll Web page. Cast a ballot for your favorite article in the October issue by Friday, October 31.

This feature -- including convenient Web links to useful information -- is a concise monthly update of some of the things ARRL is doing on behalf of its members. This installment covers the month of September.

Registration remains open through Sunday, October 26, 2008, for these online course sessions beginning on Friday, November 7, 2008: Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level 1 (EC-001), Radio Frequency Interference (EC-006), Antenna Design and Construction (EC-009), Technician License Course (EC-010); Analog Electronics (EC-012), and Digital Electronics (EC-013). Each online course has been developed in segments -- learning units with objectives, informative text, student activities and quizzes. Courses are interactive, and some include direct communications with a Mentor/Instructor. Students register for a particular session that may be 8, 12 or 16 weeks (depending on the course) and they may access the course at any time of day during the course period, completing lessons and activities at times convenient for their personal schedule. Mentors assist students by answering questions, reviewing assignments and activities, as well as providing helpful feedback. Interaction with mentors is conducted through e-mail; there is no appointed time the student must be present -- allowing complete flexibility for the student to work when and where it is convenient. To learn more, visit the Continuing Education course listing page or contact the Continuing Education Program Coordinator.

Radio amateurs have a long tradition of working together to achieve goals they could not reach alone. It stands to reason that collaboration should come naturally to us -- after all, a radio operator with no one else to talk to will be mighty lonely!