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FCC Releases Redacted BPL Case Studies after ARRL FOIA Request
(May 8, 2009)
-- Earlier this month, the FCC released the redacted portions of the studies on which they relied with regard to its Broadband over Powerline (BPL) rulemaking in 2004 after ARRL filed a Freedom of Information Act request on March 31 for the studies. In October 2007, the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit heard ARRL's case against the Commission, stating, among other things, that the FCC not only withheld the internal studies until it was too late to comment, but had yet to release portions of studies that may not support its own conclusions regarding BPL. The FCC claimed that the studies were "internal communications" that it did not rely upon in reaching its decision to adopt the BPL rules. In its April 2008 ruling, the Court ordered the FCC to release the studies.Full Story |
ARRL Southeastern Division Vice Director Sandy Donahue, W4RU (SK)
(May 5, 2009 [REVISED May 6, 2009 15:49 ET])
-- The ARRL is sad to report that Southeastern Division Vice Director Sandy Donahue, W4RU, of Dothan, Alabama, passed away on May 4. He was 63. Donahue, an ARRL Life Member, served as Vice Director since January 2002 and as Georgia Section Manager from 1997-2001. In his professional life, Donahue worked at a television station in Atlanta for almost 25 years before retiring.Full Story |
ARRL Grassroots Legislative Action Program Solicits Member Support for HR 2160
(May 8, 2009 [REVISED May 8, 2009 17:15 ET])
-- One of the biggest challenges that amateurs face is antenna restrictions -- those implemented by local governments and those originating from deed restrictions and building development covenants. As many hams know, the FCC's PRB-1 limited preemption order offers amateurs some relief when facing zoning and building restrictions; however, PRB-1 does not extend to include covenants, conditions and restrictions (known as CC&Rs). These deed and property use restrictions strongly and negatively affect the ability of Amateur Radio Service licensees to perform valuable emergency and disaster communications. Finding a method to extend the PRB-1 protections is a key component of the ARRL Legislative Action Program.Full Story |
The K7RA Solar Update
(May 8, 2009)
-- A Solar Cycle 23 spot appeared for two days -- April 29-30 -- in an area that soon rotated out of view. Sunspot numbers were 15 and 12, but for the last seven days, we haven't seen any spots. This may end soon -- we get the advance word because of the STEREO mission, which is gradually able to see more and more of the sun not visible from Earth. On May 5-6, the STEREO B satellite was able to see an eruption from an active region around the eastern edge of the Sun, outside of our view. If sunspots emerge, they will be Solar Cycle 24 spots, due to their relatively high latitude.Full Story |
Feature: Surfin': Looking for SDR
(May 8, 2009)
-- This week's Surfin' anticipates hunting for SDR at the Dayton Hamvention.Full Story |
Oregon Hams Participate in Statewide Disaster Drill
(May 7, 2009)
-- The State of Oregon conducted a full-scale week long exercise April 24-30, simulating a 9.2 magnitude earthquake on the Cascadia Subduction Zone. According to Tillamook County Emergency Management Director Gordon McCraw, WX7EM, if an earthquake struck the zone, it would cause "major destruction" from the Cascade Mountains all the way to the West Coast. Instead of focusing on the actual disaster, the exercise instead concentrated on the 72 hours after the event. This, officials said, would put the primary focus on life-saving response and debris removal, as well as mass-casualty and short-term recovery.Full Story |
DX Activities Abound at ARRL EXPO and National Convention
(May 6, 2009)
-- ARRL Membership and Volunteer Programs Manager Dave Patton, NN1N, reports that plans for a plethora of DX activities at the ARRL EXPO -- part of the 2009 ARRL National Convention at the Dayton Hamvention -- are wrapping up. "We are excited about the activities that will be taking place," he said. "Visitors to the EXPO will see a lot of activities relating to DX, including an expanded International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) area." The National Convention will take place May 15-17 at Hara Arena, located near Dayton, Ohio.Full Story |
ARRL Continuing Education Online Course Registration
(May 6, 2009)
-- Registration remains open through Sunday, May 24, 2009 for these online course sessions that begin on Friday, June 5, 2009: Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level 1; Radio Frequency Interference; Antenna Design and Construction; Ham Radio (Technician) License Course; Analog Electronics, and Digital Electronics.Full Story |
FCC Affirms Vanity Call Sign Rules
(May 4, 2009)
-- The FCC dismissed a petition filed by Richard Essen, N6CX (ex-AB3IQ), of Silver Spring, Maryland, regarding the issuance of a vanity call sign to Allan Corderman. In its decision, the FCC said that Corderman's application for his new call sign was valid and the call sign was "properly granted" by the FCC.Full Story |
Noted QST Author, DXpeditioner Lee Bergren, W0AR (SK)
(May 4, 2009 [REVISED May 6, 2009 08:36 ET])
-- Albert "Lee" Bergren, W0AR (ex-W9AIW, W0AIW), of Kansas City, Missouri, passed away May 1 after a brief illness. He was 93. An electronics engineer, author, designer and advisor with special accomplishments in the field of antenna and radio amplifier design, Bergren led or participated in many of the first Amateur Radio DXpeditions.Full Story |
Feature: Amateur Radio Quiz: Calculation Calisthenics
(May 4, 2009)
-- These are typical problems a ham might encounter over the course of normal operations. How long, how high, how heavy -- all are part of getting that radio gear working and keeping it working. Don’t despair, all of the necessary formulas and conversion factors are in The ARRL Handbook or on the Web.Full Story |
Feature: A Ham Radio Voyage and Dayton 2009 Pre-game
(May 2, 2009)
-- April was an exciting month, with even more to anticipate for May. Accompanying the April showers of the Heartland was a presentation to the science store HMS Beagle and preparations for the ARRL National Convention and the Dayton Hamvention on May 15-17.Full Story |
The K7RA Solar Update
(May 1, 2009)
-- The data at the end of last week's bulletin showed daily sunspot numbers from April 16-22 as six zeros, then 11. In fact, every day was at zero until April 21, when it was 11; it moved again to zero the next day, April 22. We had just as many zero sunspot days -- and only one day with a sunspot -- but we saw the sunspot on Tuesday, April 21, not April 22.Full Story |
Larry Banks, W1DYJ, Wins April QST Cover Plaque Award
(May 1, 2009)
-- The winner of the QST Cover Plaque Award for April is Larry Banks, W1DYJ, for his article "A 20 Meter Moxon Antenna." Congratulations, Larry! 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 May issue by Sunday, May 31.Link to this item |
Feature: ARRL In Action: What Have We Been Up to Lately?
(May 1, 2009)
-- 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 April.Full Story |
| The ARRL is a member-society and International Secretariat of the International Amateur Radio Union. |
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