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IARU Region 2 E-News 2005, Issue Number 1 (Feb. 12 2005) Fred Laun K3ZO, Editor (k3zo@verizon.net) REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT OF REGION 2, Rod Stafford W6ROD: THE NEW REGION 2 NEWSLETTER & NEW REGION 2 WEB SITE This is the first edition of the “new” Region 2 E-News. A written newsletter has been sent to Region 2 societies in the past. However, the written Region 2 News was stopped a few years ago. David Evans VE6DXX did an excellent job as Editor of the Region 2 News for several years while it was distributed by electronic means only. At the Region 2 Conference in Trinidad & Tobago in September, 2004, the General Assembly passed a resolution to restart the Region 2 News. Everyone realized that it is very important that there is a continual flow of information from the R2 Executive Committee (“R2 EC”) to the R2 Member Societies and from the R2 Member Societies to the R2 EC. The Region 2 E-News will be mailed to all Region 2 Member Societies and it will be emailed to the societies and several of the officers of each society. The R2 E-News will also be posted on the new Region 2 web site. The new web site is currently “under construction” but will appear soon at the following URL: www.iaru-region2.org. WRC-07 PREPARATIONS It seems only a short time ago that WRC-03 took place in Geneva, Switzerland. However, preparations for WRC-07 are well underway within CITEL, the Region 2 telecommunication organization. There are two important amateur radio related issues that will be addressed at WRC-07. Agenda item 1.13 will review the allocations to all services in the HF bands between 4 and 10 MHz, excluding those allocations to services 7.0 to 7.2 MHz. WRC-03 expanded the 40 meter amateur allocation in Region 1 and most of Region 3 by doubling the band to include 7.0 to 7.2 MHz. In Region 1 and most of Region 3 the band prior to WRC-03 was 7.0 to 7.1 MHz. The expansion is due to be effective in 2009 but several of the Region 1 administrations have already allowed amateur operation in the expanded portion of the band. Of course, in Region 2 our 40-meter band is from 7.0 to 7.3 MHz. There is some thought that WRC-07 may “harmonize” the 40-meter band worldwide by simply taking the top 100 kHz from the amateur radio service in Region 2 so that the worldwide amateur radio band will be 7.0 to 7.2 MHz. It is important that all Region 2 Member Societies make their telecom authorities aware of the need to retain the top portion of the 40-meter band in Region 2. The IARU objective is to have a 300 kHz band worldwide for the amateur service. It is not too early for each R2 society to discuss this issue with their telecom officials. Any meeting or opportunity to discuss amateur radio issues with telecom officials presents the opportunity to bring this issue to their attention. One of the resolutions passed by the General Assembly at the IARU Region 2 Conference last year was to urge all Region 2 societies support the IARU objective of a 300 kHz worldwide amateur radio band with their own administrations and to urge their administrations to support that objective at CITEL meetings. The other important amateur radio issue to discuss with telecom authorities is WRC-07 agenda item 1.15, which is a move to establish an amateur radio allocation at 135.7 to 137.8 kHz. Maintaining support for this issue within CITEL is necessary if this allocation is to become a reality. This issue should also be on the list of discussion topics with telecom authorities. The Region 2 Executive Committee pays very close attention to all of the CITEL meetings. Members of the R2 EC attend many of the CITEL meetings, especially the PCCII meetings that deal with radio communication matters. The Region 2 Executive Committee will attempt to keep the R2 societies advised of important amateur radio issues being discussed within CITEL. IARU REGION 2 CONFERENCE, 2004 There were a number of important decisions made by the General Assembly at the IARU Region 2 Conference last year. The various actions taken by the conference will be discussed in subsequent issues of the R2 E-News. However, a couple of the resolutions will be addressed in this issue. The conference adopted the Region 2 Strategic Plan that was developed by the Region 2 EC. In 2003, the R2 EC spent 1 ½ days at a meeting developing the Strategic Plan and it was accepted by the 2004 conference. Several aspects of the plan deserve a closer look. One important aspect of the Strategic Plan is to strengthen the ties between the R2 EC and the R2 Member Societies. The plan calls for increased communications between the R2 EC and the societies. Increasing the frequency of Area Meetings is one of the ways to strengthen the relationship. An Area Meeting is attended by the Area Director from the R2 EC, officials from the Member Societies in the area and the President or Vice President of IARU Region 2. The basic purpose of the Area Meeting is to discuss amateur radio related issues that are of concern to both the Member Societies and to the R2 EC and to discuss any actions to be taken to address those concerns. It should be understood that the health of the IARU Region 2 is only as good as the health of the societies within Region 2. The R2 EC is here to assist the societies. If the societies are doing well the R2 EC will be doing well. Over the next several months, your Region 2 Area Director will be contacting your society to arrange for an area meeting. Please respond to those inquiries and please make a genuine effort to attend and participate in the area meetings. The R2 EC and the R2 societies have to work together to promote and preserve amateur radio within Region 2. The R2 EC is in the process of preparing a survey to be sent to the R2 societies seeking input from the societies on relationship between the R2 EC and the societies. What does the society expect from the R2 EC? What should the R2 EC expect from the societies? When that survey is received by the societies it is important for the societies to give input to the R2 EC. The results from the survey will be discussed in a later issue of this R2 E-News. The 2004 General Assembly also established the Amateur Radio Education Fund (“AREF”). This program sets aside $25,000 per year in order to provide monetary grants to R2 Member Societies that are willing to try to establish amateur radio in the school teaching curriculum within their country. If those societies incur expenses in their effort to establish ham radio in the school system then R2 will help the society pay any costs of that effort. The application process is currently being developed so that societies can apply for such grants. When the process is complete the information will be forwarded to all of the R2 Member Societies. If you have any questions about the contents of this R2 E-News or about anything else related to IARU Region 2 feel free to contact any of the officers or directors of Region 2. 73 on behalf of the R2 Executive
Committee
(RAC News Service)
IARU Region 3 appoints new officials (Feb. 12 2005) Peter Lake ZL2AZ has been appointed
to the IARU Region 3 Council to fill the vacancy created by the death of
the Peter Naish VK2BPN. ZL2AZ assumed his office February 2, 2005.
(RAC News Service)
Licence arrangements for hams visiting Australia (Feb. 12 2005) Due to efforts over many decades by the Wireless Institute of Australia and other IARU radio societies, there is a series of bi-lateral reciprocal licence agreements between Australia and other countries. In addition, Australia is part of the common licence recognition provided through the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications (CEPT). Not all licence types are part of a reciprocal agreement or the CEPT system. But if a licence is included in these then a radio amateur with that licence can apply for a VK licence. (The reverse applies to VK radio amateurs visiting overseas.) Australia will introduce some time this year a 'class licence' that is expected to automatically allow CEPT licence holders to operate portable for short-term visits to Australia, without the need to apply for and obtain a VK licence. Visiting CEPT licence holders are then expected to be able to operate portable using their home callsign /slash the VK* call area in which they are located - for example, G2XYZ/VK3. Until the change is made, CEPT licence holders must obtain a VK licence and callsign. In addition to the reciprocal licence agreements, the ACA also has a list (Table B) of overseas licences it recognises and as equivalent to VK licences, and for which it will grant a licence. Holders of either a Japanese "telegraph" or "telephone" class certificates will be granted a licence for operation on all bands above 30MHz. Most visiting radio amateurs with their homeland licence documentation who are not covered by a reciprocal licence agreement, or the ACA equivalent recognition list, can still obtain a conditional 2m band FM licence, to get them on air, during their holiday. Other conditions also apply in relation to operation from Australia
DX entities. Full details of about Australia's licence requirements can
be found on the ACA website.
Thanks to Jim Linton VK3PC via WIA News (RAC News Service)
Feb. 11 2005 Tad Cook K7RA Solar Update
This is why Alaskan operators oftentimes report such poor HF conditions during periods when the rest of the United States hardly notices. For instance, between 1200-1500z on February 8, the Alaska K index readings were 6, 6, and 8, indicating a severe geomagnetic storm. But the mid-latitude K index, which affects most of the rest of us was only 2, 3 and 3, quite moderate numbers. Of course for the rest of us, a high latitude path (such as the one to Europe from Seattle) would also be affected, even though each end of the path is at a more moderate latitude. The college A and K index is measured at Fairbanks, Alaska, and the mid-latitude indices that we use are from Fredericksburg, Virginia. The planetary K and A index is the mean-standardized index from 13 geomagnetic observatories between 44 and 60 degrees northern or southern latitude. That single A index for the day is calculated from the eight K index readings, and the scales are quite different, the K index being quasi-logarithmic. A single point change in the K index is quite significant, but a several point change in the A index is not. A day with all eight K index readings of 2 would yield an A index for the day of 7, but all-day K index of 3 would produce an A of 15, and K of 4 all day would yield an A index of 27. You can check the relationship between the A and K readings on NOAA's National Geophysical Data Center site at, http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/stp/GEOMAG/kp_ap.html. A week-long graph showing Boulder (another mid-latitude observatory), Fredericksburg, planetary and college K index is at http://www.sec.noaa.gov/alerts/k-index.html. Notice from the graphs that the Boulder measurement is often slightly higher (at least it was in the week prior to this bulletin) than the Fredericksburg values. There is only a two-degree difference in latitude, Boulder being at 40 degrees north, and Fredericksburg at 38 degrees north. The higher A and K numbers this week were caused by a robust solar wind stream. The Interplanetary Magnetic Field pointed south, so the earth was vulnerable to these particles. When the IMF points north, the earth is shielded, and it didn't point north until February 10, a quiet day. Last week this bulletin said that solar flux values should rise to 130 by February 7, and stay there for about a week. This was because of the return of sunspot 720, which was quite large the last time it faced earth. When 720 returned a few days after the bulletin, it was much smaller than before. Currently solar flux is expected to stay around 115 for February 11-12, then drop a few points for the next few days. Solar flux could drop below 100 around February 19, but the further out we look, the prediction becomes less meaningful. Roger Bonuchi, AC9Y of Plainfield,
Illinois sent an email this week asking about GOES Solar X-Ray Flux as
shown at,
See the relative positions of x-rays,
light waves and radio waves at a physics study aid at,
10.7 cm solar flux correlates to some degree with sunspots, and typically the higher solar flux or sunspot numbers result in a higher MUF, or Maximum Usable Frequency. If you use a propagation program such as W6ELprop (free at http://www.qsl.net/w6elprop/), over most paths the MUF will go higher when the sunspot numbers or solar flux are higher. X-rays are correlated with events such as coronal mass ejections or solar flares, and the measurements shown in the graph that Roger sent are done by the GOES satellite. You'll notice on that same page there is a link to the D-region absorption prediction at http://www.sec.noaa.gov/rt_plots/dregion.html, which should show greater absorption when the x-ray flux is higher. Allen Robbins, W7AM of Salem, Oregon asked about the scales heard on the WWV geophysical alerts. You can see the text of the latest WWV broadcast alert at http://sec.noaa.gov/ftpdir/latest/wwv.txt. A couple of web pages that explain the numbers and scales for radio blackouts, solar radiation storms and geomagnetic storms are at, http://www.sel.noaa.gov/Data/info/WWVdoc.html and http://www.sel.noaa.gov/NOAAscales/index.html. If you would like to comment or have a tip, email the author at, k7ra@arrl.net. For more information concerning propagation and an explanation of the numbers used in this bulletin see the ARRL Technical Information Service propagation page at, http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html. Sunspot numbers for February 3 through 9 were 23, 22, 22, 47, 62, 53 and 60 with a mean of 41.3. 10.7 cm flux was 83, 82.1, 94.6, 97, 103.1, 108.2 and 108.6, with a mean of 96.7. Estimated planetary A indices were 8, 3, 4, 9, 23, 34 and 25 with a mean of 15.1. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 5, 2, 1, 6, 19, 27 and 14, with a mean of 10.6. (ARRL News Service)
Europe Feb. 12 2005 Solar and propagation
report,
Solar flare activity was slightly up on the previous week but was still low, with only a scattering of C-class flares. This was mainly because the huge sunspot region that was so active during the previous rotation is only a shadow of its earlier self. The solar flux increased from 82 to 114 and averaged 104 - a gain of 20 points. The 90-day average is currently 100. X-ray flux levels averaged B2. The geomagnetic field was initially very quiet, with an Ap index of only 3 on the 4th. However, for much of the week it was affected by a high-speed coronal stream. The index was up to 34 on the 8th and stayed in double figures until the end of the week. The average was 17 units. Solar wind speeds rose from 331 km/sec on the 6th to 881 km/sec on the 9th. They have since subsided, while remaining well above average. Particle densities remained low throughout. The increased geomagnetic activity took the shine off the HF bands at mid-week, though even 28MHz opened daily for operators alert for openings. These included good signals from the southern United States on the afternoon of the 11th. Ten is currently suffering almost as much from low activity as from weak propagation, as is 24MHz. Geomagnetic disturbances brought some auroral propagation at VHF but this was almost entirely confined to high latitudes. During the coming week solar flare activity will be low to moderate, though there is a slight possibility of a major flare. The solar flux appears to have gone about as far as it is likely to go for the present and it will probably be back down in the 90s by next weekend. The geomagnetic field will be mainly quiet to unsettled, with occasional active periods. There is an outside chance of a major flare with an associated Earth-directed coronal mass ejection causing an increase to storm levels. MUFs at equal latitudes should be about 22MHz in the south and 19MHz in the north. However, there should again be openings on the higher HF bands on most days, especially from mid-morning to mid-afternoon. Darkness hour lows will remain in the vicinity of 7MHz. Paths to Japan and other Far-East areas should have a maximum usable frequency - that's a fifty per cent chance of success - around 19MHz. The optimum working frequency will be close to 14MHz. The best time to try the path will be around 1000UTC. And that's all from the propagation team for another week (G3USF)
UK Cadets Take to the Ham Radio Airwaves to Chat with ISS (Feb. 11, 2005)
Full Story: www.arrl.org/news/stories/2005/02/11/6/?nc=1 (ARRL News Service)
ISS, PC-Sat set up for joint packet tests (Feb 2, 2005) ISS Ham Radio Project Engineer Kenneth Ransom, N5VHO, says the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Kenwood TM700 transceiver has been switched to the PCsat frequency of 145.825 MHz for a few days to conduct some joint packet operational tests. "ISS will have several extended periods when the satellites will be in view of each other," he said, noting one such pass February 2 at about 2206 UTC over North America. "This will be a temporary move to take advantage of PCsat being operational due to full sun and the favorable alignment of orbits between the two spacecraft." Ransom says the challenge for Earth stations is to try to relay a signal through both spacecraft--a double hop. "Trying to do this via two space-based satellites is a bit trickier, since they are only in view of each other for a short time," he said. "The fact that these satellites also have to deal with Doppler relative to each other increases the difficulty." PCsat controller Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, says both spacecraft will operate as conventional APRS digipeaters using the alias of WIDE. "This should double the opportunities for QSOs for the next eight days and also allow some potential double hops," Bruninga said. "Watch packets on pcsat.aprs.org to look for any successful two-hop digipeats." He and Ransom emphasized that Earth stations should only undertake attended operations and not transmit any beacon any more often that once a minute. In addition, stations should avoid jamming the uplink, not conduct any operations after dark and not digipeat via W3ADO-1. "If that call sign appears, it means PCsat has reset, and we only have one orbit to recover or we may lose her." Now three years old, PCsat only recently made a full recovery as it entered full sun during January and Bruninga was able to switch PCsat into low-power mode to help keep the satellite operational. The User Service Agreement spells out PCsat operational guidelines. The ISS should remain on 145.825 MHz until February 10, Ransom said. (ARRL News Service)
N0 P-C SAT after dark (Feb. 4 2005) Bob Brunuinga,WB4APR, reports that P-C Sat has been working perfectly while in full sun which began on January 24th. Unfortunately, the period ends on February 5th when the bird re-enters eclipses. And says Brunuinga, it only takes too many packets in a row while P-C Sat is in the dark to cause a momentary battery low voltage reset. Why is this worrisome? If that happens, WB4APR says that if P-C Sat resets the bird may not be recoverable until the next full sun winter period. In other words, an on-orbit reset failure now would mean that we would not see the bird again until next November. To avoid this happening, please refrain from using P-C Sat while its in an eclipse. But there is also some good news regarding P-C Sat and it also involves the I-S-S. Word that the Kenwood radio on board the International Space Station was changed over to 145.825 MHz shortly after a successful contact over England on February 1st. This is because P-C Sat and the I-S-S will have several extended periods when the satellites will be in view of each other. This means that double satellite relay communicastions should be possible. But please remember what was said at the top of this story. No unattended operations are being permitted due to P-C Sat's limited power budget. The International Space Station radio system should remain on 145.825 MHz until February 10th. (AMSAT Remailer)
Administration to phase out Hubble Space Telescope (Feb. 4 2005) Reports on www.Space.com and in The Washington Post say that the Bush administration plans to propose cuts in funds to fix the aging Hubble Space Telescope. This, as the head of the telescope project said he hoped Congress would approve money for repairs. A repair mission has been on hold since the February 1, 2003, disintegration of shuttle Columbia. Debate in the astronautical community has raged over whether to send robots or astronauts to fix the telescope, or whether to fix it at all. The 14-year-old orbiting observatory has produced path-breaking science and created a popular appetite for its spectacular images of the cosmos. It is due for a servicing mission to replace its batteries and the gyroscopes that keep it steady, and to upgrade some of its equipment. (NASA, Space.com, Sky On-Line, others)
Another Use for the Handy Man's Secret Weapon (Jan. 29 2005) Radio Australia's "Rural News" is a feature that runs around 2310 UTC in their "Country Breakfast" program that runs on Fridays.. On January 28th they had a feature about how Ontario farmers are saving their cattle from having frozen ears in -31 C weather by coating them with duct tape - sort of a novel form of an earmuff. Now here's one use for the "Handy Man's Secret Weapon" to elude Red Green, so far. (Mark Coady ODXA)
Indian Ocean Quake affects Earths Axis (Jan. 29 2005) The deadly Asian earthquake of late December may have permanently accelerated the Earth's rotation, shortening days by a fraction of a second. Richard Gross, a geophysicist with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, theorizes that a shift of mass toward the Earth's center during the quake caused the planet to spin 3 microseconds faster and to tilt about an inch on its axis. He says that when one tectonic plate beneath the Indian Ocean was forced below the edge of another it had the effect of making the Earth more compact and to spin a tiny fraction of a second faster. Gross also admits that changes predicted by his model probably are too minuscule to be detected by a global positioning satellite network that routinely measures changes in Earth's spin, but said the data may reveal a slight wobble on the planets axis. (published news reports)
AOL dropping Usenet Groups (Feb. 4 2005) America Online will stop providing direct access to the Usenet newsgroups including those enjoyed by thousands of radio amateurs. According to Technology News the decision by A-O-L's management comes as on-line requests for Newsgroup access has shrunk to fewer than 1,000 users a month. An A-O-L spokesperson told the press that dropping Usenet access will permit A-O-L focus more on more popular community features such as message boards, chat rooms and online journals. Users of America Online will still be able to access Usenet groups from other providers, including Google Inc. which calls them the Google Groups. Thousands of Usenet groups exist, covering a wide range of topics. The most popular for radio amateurs are reported to be rec.radio.amateur.policy and rec.radio.amateur.misc. (Published news reports)
Rail Enthusiasts on IRLP (Feb. 4 2005) Hams interested in trains are invited to join the RailHam Roundtable every Sunday night on IRLP reflector number 9454 at 21:00 Eastern USA Time. This is not a net, just an informal rag chew between hams who like trains, whether it's models, prototypes, passenger, freight, or what have you. There is no net control so just throw out your callsign and ask who else is listening to get things started. For more info point your web browser to: http://members.trainorders.com/boteman/railhamnet.html (ARNewsLine)
Henry Radio out of HF and Tube Powered Amp business (Feb. 4 2005) Turning to news from the ham radio business community, word that Henry Radio brand high frequency power amplifiers are being discontinued. This, according to Dan Magro, W7RF, of Radiodan who says that the high cost of manufacturing space and the ever rising cost of high power parts has lead to the that now is the time to close down that part of the assembly line. Gone are all Henry brand tube type and all Henry High Frequency amplifiers. Henry will continue to manufacture solid state class C FM VHF and UHF power amplifiers of up to 500 watts. All warranties will be honored and for now service for all Henry brand high frequency products will continue with what parts are on hand. (W7RF) (ARNewsLine)
New Audio (and Now Video) PSAs Available (Feb. 4 2005) Following up on the introduction last month of two new audio public service announcements promoting Amateur Radio to the general public, the ARRL is now offering video PSAs. The new videos underscore how, in the wake of recent disasters, ham radio operators once again were able to pass emergency messages when other communications systems failed. These "mini-commercials" for ham radio are already being played on dozens of stations across the country, and the numbers keep growing. CLICK HERE to see a 30 second mpeg of the video (2,695,958 byte mpg file). MPEG files may be good enough for your computer, but the files do not have high enough resolution for broadcast television. To obtain a video in DVD+r format, please write to apitts@arrl.org--include with your name and address, and where you will be placing it. If you know of a TV or cable station that wants one, just let us know. Special thanks go to Jerry Martin, KC9BDA, for his efforts in turning the great audio into an impressive video! The audio files are available here: 30 second PSA HAMWORKS30.mp3 (528,300 bytes) 60 second PSA 60HamRadioWorks0105.mp3 (962,040 bytes) To download, right-click once on the selection and choose SAVE TARGET. (ARRL News Service)
Some New Wrinkles in 2005 Field Day Rules (Feb. 2 2005) Those planning to participate in this year's Field Day will need to bone up in advance on a few changes in the rules for the ever-popular operating event. Field Day this year takes place June 25-26. The 2261 Field Day entries for 2004 were the most ever. While similar in format to a contest, Field Day is primarily a means to exercise and demonstrate Amateur Radio's emergency operating capabilities while having fun at the same time. ARRL Contest Branch Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, says that among other things rule changes for 2005 expand eligibility for bonus points. "All groups will be eligible for some kind of bonus points," Henderson said. "Make sure you carefully read Field Day Rule 7.3." That rule spells out how to qualify for such bonus points as 100 percent emergency power, media publicity, message handling, making satellite contacts, using an alternative power source and copying the W1AW bulletin, among other things. Many bonus point categories are available to all entry classes. Henderson notes that some large clubs often compete among themselves to see who can claim the highest number of transmitters. Under the revised rules, all transmitters must be on the air with an operator to count toward a club's entry class. "You have to actually have individual people and sufficient equipment capable of operating simultaneously," Henderson emphasized, referencing Rule 4. "The key word there is 'simultaneously.'" The Field Day exchange consists of the number of transmitters on the air followed by the participation category (A through F). Operators would send "3A," for example, for a club or non-club portable setup with three transmitters on the air at the same time. Rule 4 also specifically prohibits switching and simulcasting devices. The 2005 Field Day rules also modify the number of transmitters eligible for bonus points that a group can claim for its operating class. "You can only claim the emergency power bonus points for up to 20 transmitters," Henderson explains. "That's a maximum of 2000 emergency power bonus points." There no limit on the number of transmitters eligible participants may have on the air, however. Field Day rules already generally prohibit the use of more than one transmitter at the same time on a single band-mode. In addition, Field Day 2005 will introduce a new "Youth Element" bonus category (Rule 7.3.15). Clubs or groups operating in Class A, C, D, E or F now can claim 20 bonus points--up to a maximum of 100--for each person aged 18 or younger, who completes a valid Field Day contact. Single-operator Class B stations can earn a 20-point bonus if the operator is age 18 or younger. Two-person Class B setups can claim a 20-point bonus for each operator age 18 or younger, for a maximum of 40 points. The maximum number of participants for Class B entries remains at two. Another rule change clarifies that Get On The Air (GOTA) stations--instituted a few years ago to encourage new or comparatively inexperienced operators to gain operating practice--use the same exchange as the "parent" station. The maximum transmitter output power for GOTA stations is 150 W, and GOTA stations may only operate on the Field Day HF bands Free transmitters do not count toward a group's total, and GOTA stations and free VHF stations for Class A entries do not qualify for bonus point credits. Henderson encourages Field Day participants to submit their Field Day summaries electronically using the Web applet form. "You may input your summary information at that site for a 50-point bonus," Henderson points out. Last year, approximately half of the Field Day entries arrived at ARRL Headquarters via this route. The Maritime Radio Historical Society's K6KPH, comprised of former operators of the KPH commercial shore station, now an historic site, again will augment W1AW Field Day CW and RTTY bulletin transmissions for West Coast participants. K6KPH will use the traditional W1AW frequencies. Finally, Henderson urges Field Day participants to share their experiences and photos with others via the Online Soapbox, which has become one of the most popular additions to Field Day. The complete 2005 Field Day packet now is available on the ARRL Web site: http://www.arrl.org/contests/forms/05-fd-packet.pdf (ARRL News Service)
School Club Roundup--all modes, 1300Z Feb 14-0100Z Feb 19. www.arrl.org/contests/announcements/scr.html North American Sprint--CW, from 0000Z-0400Z, Feb 13 (see Feb 6). Frequencies (MHz): 3.540, 7.040, 14.040. Logs due 7 days after the contest to cwsprint@ncjweb.com or Boring ARC, 15125 Bartell Rd, Boring, OR 97009. Louisiana QSO Party--CW/Phone, sponsored by W5YL, Thibodaux ARC from 1500Z Feb 12-0300Z Feb 13. Frequencies (MHz): CW 1.840, 3.540, 7.040, 14.040, 21.040, 28.040; Phone 1.865, 3.865, 7.265, 14.265, 21.365, 28.465, VHF-50.095, 50.135, 144.050, 144.210. Operating categories. SOAB (Phone, CW, Mixed) and Rover (LA stations only). Exchange: Call, RST, and S/P/C or LA Parish. QSO points: Phone-- 2 pts, CW--4 pts. Total score: QSO points × LA parishes or S/P/C counted once per mode. Rovers add 50 point bonus for each parish activated. Add 100 points for QSO with W5YL. For more information: http://laqso.w5yl.org. Logs due Mar 15 to laqso@W5YL.org or LA QSO Party, 508 Hache St, Houma, LA 70364. British Columbia QSO Challenge--CW/SSB/Digital, sponsored by the Delta Amateur Radio Society from 1800 Feb 12-1800 Feb 13. Categories: SOAB, SOSB, M/S, Mobile (SSB, CW, Digital, Mixed and QRP <5 W/LP/HP >100 W) Frequencies (MHz): CW--1.825, 3.525, 7.025, 14.025, 21.025, 28.025, 50.095; SSB--1.850, 3.750, 7.250, 14.250, 21.250, 28.350, 50.130. Exchange: Grid square and BC region or S/P/C. QSO points: SSB--1 pt, CW/Digital--2 pts. Total score: QSO points × BC regions or S/P/C (counted once only). Add 25 points for a QSO with VE7SUN. For more information:www.deltaamateurradio.com. Logs due Mar 13 to ve7ccy@rac.ca or Delta Amateur Radio Society, c/o Tsawwassen Community Police Station, 1108 56th St, Delta, BC V4L 2A3, Canada. RSGB 1.8 MHz Contest--CW--sponsored by RSGB, 2100Z Feb 12 to 0100Z Feb 13. Frequencies (MHz): 1.820-1.870. Categories: SO only. Exchange: RST + serial number and UK district. QSO points: 3 pts/QSO + 5 pts for first QSO with a UK district. Score: QSO points. For more information: www.rsgbhfcc.org. Logs due 16 days after the contest to 1st160.logs@rsgbhfcc.org or RSGB-G3UFY, 77 Bensham Manor Rd, Thorton Heath, Surrey, CR7 7AF, England. 50th Anniversary Dutch PACC Contest-- CW/SSB--sponsored by the Vereniging voor Experimenteel Radio Onderzoek in Nederland (VERON) from 1200Z Feb 12-1200Z Feb 13. Frequencies: 160-10 meters according to IARU band plan, no SSB on 160, work stations only once per band. Categories: SO, SO-QRP, MO, SWL. Exchange: RS(T) + serial number (Dutch stations send province). QSO points: 1 pt/QSO. Score: QSO points × Provinces (counted once per band). For more information: www.dutchpacc.com. Logs due Mar 31 to pa0adt@dutchpacc.com or Ad van Tilborg, PA0ADT, Schepenenveld 141, 7327 DB Apeldoorn, Netherlands. OMISS QSO Party--SSB--Sponsored by the Old Man International Sideband Society, 1500Z Feb 12-1500Z Feb 13. Frequencies (MHz): 3.9405, 7.2635, 14.290, 21.360, 28.665. Categories: SO, Mobile. Exchange: RS, S/P/C and OMISS # (DX stations send DX). QSO points: OMISS members--2 pts, non-members--1 pt. Score: QSO points × States + Provinces + 1 DXCC entity, each counted only once. For more information:www.omiss.net. Logs due Mar 15 to k5db@arrl.net or Don Banta, K5DB, 3407 Diana St, Springdale, AR 72764. CQ World Wide RTTY WPX Contest, sponsored by CQ Magazine, 0000Z Feb 12 to 2400Z Feb 13. Frequencies: 80-10 meters. Categories: SOLP (<150 W), SOHP, SOSB, MS, MM. SO work 30 hours max. Use of spotting assistance allowed for all categories. Exchange: RST and serial number. QSO points: own country--1 pt, own continent--2 pts, different cont--3 pts, double points on 80 and 40 meters. Score: QSO points × WPX prefixes. For more information: www.cq-amateur-radio.com. Logs due Mar 11 to wpxrtty@kkn.net or CQ Magazine-WPX RTTY Contest, 25 Newbridge Rd, Hicksville, NY 11801. Classic Exchange--CW/Phone--from 1300Z Feb 13 to 0700Z Feb 14. Frequencies (MHz): CW--1.810, 3.545, 7.045, 14.045, 21.135, 28.180; AM--1.890, 3.880, 7.290, 14.280, 21.380, 28.320, 29.000; SSB--3.870, 7.280, 14.270, 21.370, 28.490. Exchange: Name, RST, S/P/C, and mfr/model of transmitter and receiver. Work stations again with different radios. Score is determined by the age of your equipment. For complete information: http://qsl.asti.net/CX. Send logs and comments to WQ8U@arrl.net or J. D. "Mac" MacAulay, WQ8U, 6235 Wooden Shoe Ln, Centerville, OH 45459. ARRL International DX Contest, CW, 0000Z Feb 19-2400Z Feb 20. www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2005/intldx.html CQC Winter QSO Party--CW/Phone--sponsored by the Colorado QRP Club, 2200Z Feb 19 to 0359Z Feb 20. Frequencies (MHz): CW--1.825, 3.560, 3.710, 7.040, 7.110, 14.060, 21.060, 21.110, 28.060, 28.110, SSB--1.910, 3.985, 7.285, 14.285, 21.385, 28.385. Categories are SOAB, SOSB, SO-Homebrew. Exchange: RST, S/P/C, name, CQC member number or power output (5 W max). QSO points: CW--CQC member--6 pts, non-member--4 pts, Phone--members--3 pts, non-members--2 pts. Score: QSO points × S/P/C (count once per band) × names (one name from each letter of the alphabet) + 1000 pts for QSO with W0CQC. For more information: www.cqc.org/. Logs due 30 days after the contest to ki0rb@idcomm.com or CQC Contest, PO Box 17174, Golden, CO 80402-6019. Mississippi QSO Party--CW/Digital/Phone--sponsored by the Vicksburg Amateur Radio Club, 1500Z Feb 26-0300Z Feb 27. Frequencies (MHz): CW--3.545, 7.045, 14.045, 21.045, 28.045; Phone--3.862, 7.238, 14.275, 21.375, 28.375; and VHF. Work stations once per band and mode. Categories: Fixed Station and Mobile. Mobiles may be worked again as they change counties. Exchange: RST and MS county or S/P/C. Score: QSOs × MS counties (MS stations add S/P/C). For more information: w5xx@vicksburg.com. Logs due Mar 26 to Vicksburg ARC, 64 Lake Circle Dr, Vicksburg, MS 39180. North Carolina QSO Party--CW/Phone--sponsored by the Forsyth Amateur Radio Club, 1700Z Feb 27-0300Z Feb 28. Frequencies (MHz): CW--3.540, 3.740, 7.040, 7.140, 14.040, 21.040, 21.140, 28.040, 28.140, Phone--3.860, 7.260, 14.260, 21.360, 28.360. Categories: SO, Mobile, Club, all stations 100 W max output. Mobiles may be worked again as they change counties. Exchange: RST and NC county, ARRL/RAC section, or DX prefix. QSO points: phone--2 pts, CW--3 pts, NC mobile--3 pts (either mode). Score: NC stations--QSO points × NC counties + ARRL/RAC sections + 1 DXCC entity, others--QSO points × NC counties (max 100). 50 bonus points for working Cherokee or Dare counties (150 for working both) and 50 points for working W4NC or W4WS (150 points for both). Mobiles add 100 bonus points for each NC county activated. For more information: www.w4nc.com. Logs due Apr 1 to henry@summitschool.com or NC QSO Party, c/o W2DZO, 934 Franklin St, Winston-Salem, NC 27101. High Speed CW Contest--sponsored by High-Speed CW Club, 0900Z-1100Z and 1500Z-1700Z Feb 27. Frequencies: 80-10 meters. Categories: SO (150 W max, members and non-members), SO-QRP (<5 W), SWL. Exchange: RST and HSC member number or NM. QSO points: member--5 pts, non-member--1 pt. Score: QSO points. Logs due 6 weeks after the contest to hsc-contest@dl3bzz.de or Lutz Schröer, DL3BZZ, Am Niederfeld 6, 35066 Frankenberg/Eder, Germany. North American QSO Party--RTTY--sponsored by the National Contest Journal from 1800Z Feb 26-0600Z Feb 27. Frequencies: 160-10 meters. Categories: SOAB and M2, 100 W power limit, SO operate a maximum of 10 hours (off times must be at least 30 min). Exchange: Name and S/P/C. Score: QSOs × States + Province + NA DXCC countries (counted once per band). For information: www.ncjweb.com/naqprules.php. Logs due Mar 14 to rttynaqp@ncjweb.com or Wayne Matlock, K7WM, Rte 2 Box 102, Cibola, AZ 85328. 1st Annual US Virgin Islands QSO Party--CW/SSB/PSK/RTTY--dedicated to the memory of Bob Denniston, W0DX/VP2VI, 1201Z Feb 26-2359Z Feb 27. Frequencies (MHz): CW--50 kHz above band edge; Phone--1.890, 3.890, 7.290, 14.290. 21.390, 28.390, 50.190. Exchange: Call, RS(T), serial number, (non-VI stations) name and S/P/C (VI stations) island name and current temperature in Fahrenheit. Total score: (Non-VI) QSOs + 100 pts per island worked + sum of temperatures, (VI) QSOs × S/P/C (counted once only). For more information: www.atthehelm.com Logs due 30 days from the contest to John Ellis, NP2B, PO Box 24492, Christiansted, VI 00824. AM QSO Party--sponsored by
the Antique Wireless Association, from 2300Z Feb 26-2300Z Feb 27. Frequencies
(MHz): 3.837-3885, 7.270-7.290, 14.250-14.280. Exchange: RS, name, year
of equipment mfr. For scoring and other information: www.antiquewireless.org.
Logs due Mar 7 to Marc Ellis at PO Box 1306, Evanston, IL 60204-1306.
Dayton, OH: Dayton Amateur Radio Association, W8BI. 0000Z Feb 1-24000Z Feb 28. Celebrating 75 years as a club. 40 20 15 10 m. QSL. DARA, Lori Perrenboom, K8XTQ, PO Box 44, Dayton, OH 454041. www.ceitron.com/dara/. Plymouth, MI: Plymouth Historical Society Amateur Radio Club, KC8SWR. 1400-2000Z daily Feb 12-Feb 13. Lincoln Exhibit celebrating Lincoln's birthday. 28.380 21.380 14.280 7.280; CW PSK 20 40 m. Certificate. Plymouth Historical Museum Amateur Station, 155 South Main St, Plymouth, MI 48170. www.qsl.net/kc8swr. Rapid City, SD: Dakota Chapter 102, QCWA, W0DAK. 1500Z Feb 12-0300Z Feb 13. Commemorating the 28th anniversary as a QCWA Chapter. 28.450 14.250 7.250 3.889. Certificate. Frank Shaw, NU0F, 118 E Van Buren, Rapid City, SD 57701. Fort Myers, FL: Fort Myers Amateur Radio Club, Inc, W4LX. 1500Z Feb 14-2100Z Feb 18. The Edison Festival of Light and Thomas Edison's birthday. 28.430 21.330 14.250. Certificate. Ft Myers Amateur Radio Club, PO Box 61183, Ft Myers, FL 33906. http://fmarc.net. Windsor, ON, Canada: Amherstburg Radio Club, VE3TMG. 1600Z Feb 19-2200Z Feb 20. 40th anniversary of the Canadian flag. 14.268 7.268. Certificate. Terry Greenwood, 2210 Janette Ave, Windsor, ON Canada N8X 1Z8. Include $1 US for postage--US stamps cannot be used in Canada. Alexandria, VA: Mount Vernon ARC, K4US. 1600Z Feb 19-2100Z Feb 20. Commemoration of George Washington's Birthday. 18.080 14.240 10.110 7.240. Certificate. MVARC, PO Box 7234, Alexandria, VA 22307. www.mvarc.com. Marquette, MI: Hiawatha Amateur Radio Association, K8LOD. 0001Z Feb 19-2359Z Feb 21. 16th Annual U.P. 200 Sled Dog Championship Race. 28.370 21.370 14.255 7.285. Certificate. Rich Schwenke, N8GBA, 21 Smith Ln, Marquette, MI 49855. www.qsl.net/k8lod. Santa Ana, CA: Anaheim Police ARC, K6I. 0000Z Feb 19-2400Z Mar 5. 60th anniversary of The Battle of Iwo Jima in WW2. 28.450 21.350 18.150 14.250. QSL. Mark McMullin, KM6HB, PO Box 27271, Santa Ana, CA 92799. Centralia, IL: Centralia Wireless Association, Inc, W9CWA. 1600Z-2200Z daily Feb 25- Feb 26. 75th anniversary of the founding of the CWA. 21.360 18.150 14.260 7.260 147.27. Certificate. Centralia Wireless Association, Inc, PO Box 1166, Centralia, IL 62801. Clay County, FL: St Augustine Amateur Radio Society, N4AUG. 1500Z-2200Z Feb 26. 10th Northeast Florida Scottish Highland Games and Festival. 21.270 14.270. QSL. SAARS, PO Box 860084, St Augustine, FL 32086-0084. www.saars.net. Davis Mountains, TX: Tyler Amateur Radio Club, K5TYR. 1200Z Feb 26-2400Z Feb 27. DM-80 TXpedition commemorates the Last Unspoiled Frontier. 432.150 144.250 50.150 14.250. QSL. Tyler Amateur Radio Club, PO Box 6393, Tyler, TX 75711. www.tylerarc.com. Baton Rouge, LA: USS Kidd ARC/Baton Rouge ARC, W5KID. 1500Z Feb 28-2230Z Feb 28. 62nd anniversary of the launching of USS Kidd, DD-661. General class bands, 14.250 to 14.320; CW QRP subbands 28.060 21.060 14.060 10.106 7.040. QSL. W5KID, c/o USS Kidd Museum, 305 S River Rd, Baton Rouge, LA 70802. www.lsu.edu/brarc/USS_Kidd.htm. (ARRL)
CQ to celebrate 60th anniversary
with "CQ Gang" on-air event
(ARRL News Service)
DXCC listings now available on the ARRL Web site (Jan 28, 2005) The ARRL Web site now features up-to-date listings of DXCC awards earned. The new system shows every issued DXCC award known to ARRL's computerized DXCC system, with the exception of individual standings for 5BDXCC. ARRL Membership Services Manager Wayne Mills, N7NG, says the Web site listing is more complete than the DXCC Yearbook ever was, since the printed list did not list inactive band accounts for the previous year. "This lists everything and everybody," Mills emphasized. "The new system makes available a separate listing for each DXCC award type--band or mode." Even more important, Mills notes, is that it essentially renders obsolete the manually generated monthly and yearly reports. "Under the new system, DXCC listings will updated daily," he emphasized. The DXCC standings of all ARRL members will remain in dark type. Call signs of non-members who have not submitted credits for 10 years or more are in grayed-out type. Each listing by band or mode is complete in a separate Adobe PDF file. The largest listing (DXCC Mixed) now runs to more than 50 pages, but the size of the PDF file is only about 150 kbytes because of file compression. Printing format options include US letter-sized or ISO A4 paper. (ARRL News Service)
Feb. 10 2005 ARRL DX News This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by SV1CIB, W5UE, QRZ DX, the OPDX Bulletin, The Daily DX, 425DXnews, DXNL, WA7BNM and Contest Corral from QST. Thanks to all. ANTARCTICA. Vidar, LA2SNA is QRV as 3Y2SNA until February 15 from the Norwegian Troll Station, located on Queen Maud Land, IOTA AN-016. He is active on 20 and 17 meters using SSB as time permits. QSL via bureau. EAST MALAYSIA, 9M6. Rich, PA0RRS will be QRV as 9M6/PA0RRS/8 from Sarawak, IOTA OC-088, from February 13 to 26. QSL to home call. TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 9Y. Girts, YL2KL, Arvia, YL2LY and Juris, YL2GM are QRV as 9Y4/homecalls until February 24 from Tobago, IOTA SA-009. Activity is on all bands using CW, SSB and RTTY. This includes entries in the CQ RTTY WPX contest and the upcoming ARRL DX CW contest. QSL to home calls. CHINA, BY. David, BA4DW has been QRV on 160 meters around 1930z. QSL to home call. BAHAMAS, C6. Bill, K1CN and Laura are QRV as C6AMM and C6AWW, respectively, from Harbour Island, IOTA NA-001, until February 26. Activity is on 40 to 6 meters using CW and SSB. QSL both calls via K1CN. ANTARCTICA. Yuri is QRV as CA8WCI/9 from the Chilean Antarctic Base ''Presidente Eduardo Frei Montalva'' on King George Island, South Shetlands, IOTA AN-010. He is active during his spare time and weather-permitting. Activity is on 80, 40 and 10 meters. QSL to home call. SPRATLY ISLANDS. Gil, 4F2KWT is QRV as DX0K from Pag-Asa Island, IOTA AS-051. Activity is on all HF bands, using mostly CW, SSB and some RTTY. Lately he has been QRV using RTTY on 40 meters around 1240 to 1300z and 20 meters around 1400 to 1500z. QSL to home call. CANARY ISLANDS, EA8. Members of the Canary Islands DX Society will be QRV as EF8BDX from Burrero Rock, IOTA AF-004, from February 12 to 13. Activity will be on 15 meters SSB only. QSL via EC8ADU. PERU, OA. A group of operators are QRV as OC4P from Pachacamas Island, IOTA SA-052, until February 13. Activity is on 80 to 6 meters using CW and SSB. QSL via DL5WM. ARUBA, P4. Miika, OH2BAD is QRV as P40MH until February 18. Activity is on all HF bands using CW and SSB. QSL to home call. GREECE, SV. Look for SV1CIB, SV3FUO and SV3BSF to be QRV as J43BSF in the CQ RTTY WPX contest as a Multi/Single entry. QSL via SV1CIB. SAN MARINO, T7. John, T77CD will be QRV in the CQ RTTY WPX contest. QSL via operator's instructions. CHAD, TT. Luc, ON4IA is QRV as TT8KLJ from N'djamena until March 20. QSL to home call. MACQUARIE ISLAND, VK0. Dave, VK0MT has been QRV on 80 meters around 1300 to 1500z and 15 meters from around 1100 to 1200z. QSL via JE1LET. MEXICO, XE. Trey, N5KO, Glenn, W6OTC, Alberto, XE1NK and Ramon, XE1KK will be QRV as 6G1KK during the CQ RTTY WPX contest. Activity will be on five bands. QSL via W5UE. OPERATION APPROVED FOR DXCC. The following operation is approved for DXCC credit: Chesterfield Island, TX9, October 2004 operation. THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The CQ WW RTTY WPX Contest, SARL Kid's Day, Asia-Pacific Spring CW Sprint, 50th Anniversary Dutch PACC Contest, YLRL YL-OM SSB Contest, Louisiana QSO Party, OMISS QSO Party, FISTS Winter CW Sprint, Classic Exchange, British Columbia QSO Challenge, RSGB 1st 1.8 MHz CW Contest and the North American CW Sprint will certainly keep contesters busy this weekend. Please see February QST, page 102 and the ARRL and WA7BNM contest websites for details. (ARRL)
Bulgarian Antarctic Base "St. Kliment Ohridski (Feb. 4 2005) The Bulgarian Antarctic Base "St. Kliment Ohridski" (LZ-02 for Antarctica Award) on Livingston Island, South Shetlands (AN-010) is situated at elevation of 12-15 meter above sea level on the coast of Emona Anchorage, at the foot of Sinemorets Hill. The Base operates during the austral summer, usually from November to March. Following an unsuccessful landing attempt at Cape Vostok on the northwest extremity of Alexander Island, on April 26-29, 1988 two prefabricated huts were assembled on Livingston Island by a four-member Bulgarian party logistically supported by the Soviet Research Ship Mihail Somov. The facilities were later refurbished and inaugurated as a permanent base on December 11, 1993. An expansion programme at St. Kliment Ohridski including the erection of a new multipurpose building was carried out in 1996-98 and subsequently. The first Christian Orthodox chapel in Antarctica, St. Ivan Rilski was built in 2003. Jordan 'Danny' Yankov, LZ2UU is currently active from "St. Kliment Ohridski Base" (LZ-02) through late February. Danny has served as radio engineer for the past eleven Antarctic seasons, and this year he is also the Base commander. He is operating as LZ0A (QSL via LZ1KDP Radio Club, P.O.Box 812, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria) and VP8/LZ2UU (QSL via LZ2UU Jordan Radkov Yankov, P.O.Box 196, 7200 Razgrad, Bulgaria). (IZ8CCW Ant Mediterraneo DX Club
#004 www.mdxc.org)
Feb. 13 - 27 2005 I.C.P.O. Bulletin Islands, Castles & Portable Operations - I.C.P.O. 13/02/2005: OC-088
9M6/PA0RRS/8 SARAWAK -
15/02/2005: NA-108
8P9JG BARBADOS -
15/02/2005: NA-108
J6/K3LP ST. LUCIA -
15/02/2005: SA-006
PJ4/H.C.'s BONAIRE -
15/02/2005: NA-002
VP5/AA2WN & VP5/W2YC NORTH CAICOS -
15/02/2005: NA-106
WP2Z ST. CROIX, USVI -
16/02/2005: NA-105
FS/K9EL ST. MARTIN -
16/02/2005: NA-101
J73CCM DOMINICA -
16/02/2005: SA-003
PYØFF, PYØZFO FERNANDO DE NORONHA -
16/02/2005: OC-194
VK4FW/P LITTLE SOLITARY ISLAND -
17/02/2005: AN-004
3YØX PETER I ISLAND -
17/02/2005: NA-105
PJ6/PAØVDV SINT MAARTEN -
19/02/2005: NA-021
8P5A BARBADOS -
19/02/2005: DFCF:45018
F5JNE/P CASTLE OF BELLECOUR -
19/02/2005: NA-104
V44/K0EJ NEVIS -
19/02/2005: NA-016
ZF2TJ LITTLE CAYMAN ISLAND -
20/02/2005: AF-023
S92RI ILHEU DAS ROLAS -
20/02/2005: NA-112
WA2USA/4 EMERALD ISLE -
21/02/2005: NA-096
HH4/K2AC & HH4/K4QD HAITI -
21/02/2005: NA-100
V25LR, V25WX ANTIGUA -
22/02/2005: SM1TDE/OA4
LIMA, PERU -
22/02/2005: VP2V/H.C.'s
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS -
23/02/2005: OC-016
3D2RE FIJI -
23/02/2005: SA-009
9Y4/H.C.'s TOBAGO ISLAND -
23/02/2005: SA-036
P4ØW ARUBA -
24/02/2005: 5TØCW
MAURITANIA -
24/02/2005: NA-104
V4/H.C.'s ST. KITTS -
24/02/2005: NA-103
VP2MDY MONTSERRAT -
24/02/2005: NA-103
VP2MHS, VP2MHX MONTSERRAT -
25/02/2005: V5/SP6IXF &
V5/SP7VC NAMIBIA -
27/02/2005: AS-015
9M6/PAØRRS/2 PENANG ISLAND -
27/02/2005: ZV2PHG
INTERNATIONAL PHARMACISTS HAM GROUP -
73 and Good
Hunting!
Home of
ICPO:
www.qsl.net/va3rj
Note: A complete list of Prefixes assigned by International Telecommunications Union can be found on the Trans Provincial Website: www.tpn7055.ca/callsign.html
ARRL Tells FCC to ''Reconsider, Rescind and Restudy'' BPL Order (Feb. 9 2005) The ARRL has petitioned the FCC to take its broadband over power line (BPL) Report and Order (R&O) back to the drawing board. In a Petition for Reconsideration filed February 7, the League called on the Commission to ''reconsider, rescind and restudy'' its October 14, 2004, adoption of new Part 15 rules spelling out how BPL providers may deploy the technology on HF and low-VHF frequencies. Asserting that the R&O fails to adequately take into account the technology's potential to interfere with Amateur Radio and other licensed services, the League called the FCC's action to permit BPL ''a gross policy mistake.'' The R&O, the ARRL said, ''represents a classic case of prejudgment'' by an FCC that knew better but ignored evidence already at its disposal. ''It is readily apparent that the Commission long ago made up its mind that it was going to permit BPL without substantial regulation, no matter what the effect of this flawed application of old technology is on licensed radio services,'' the League's petition declares. The ARRL accuses FCC Commissioner Michael Powell and his four colleagues of deliberately authorizing ''a spectrum pollution source'' that's proven to be incompatible with existing licensed uses of the HF spectrum. ''The Commission wanted nothing to contradict its enthusiasm about BPL,'' the League said, and its Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) saw to it that evidence of the ''fundamental incompatibility'' between BPL and incumbent HF radio services ''was suppressed, ignored or discredited.'' The FCC has not adjudicated a single interference complaints, the ARRL added, but has swept interference complaints under the rug. The ARRL further argued that Powell should have recused himself from voting on the R&O. The chairman, the ARRL says, violated the FCC's own ex parte rules by attending a BPL provider's demonstration October 12, after release of the October 14 agenda. Powell ''tainted this proceeding'' by taking part in the demonstration, and that alone is sufficient to have the Commission vacate and reconsider its action, the ARRL alleged. The League also said the FCC's ''late
and incomplete'' responses to ARRL's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
requests fail to show any support for FCC's conclusions regarding interference
to licensed services from BPL. The highly redacted information release
contained nothing that supports the FCC's conclusions about BPL's interference
potential and suppressed negative recommendations from its own technical
investigators, the petition says. As a result, the League
The Commission used an unlawful ''balancing test'' that weighed BPL's purported benefits against its interference to licensed services, the League asserts, creating ''a hierarchy of licensed radio services'' based upon ''how much interference each service deserves.'' The Communications Act, the League's petition points out, requires an objective determination from the outset that the likelihood of harmful interference from a proposed unlicensed service is virtually nil. The interference mitigation rules in the R&O are both ineffective and inequitably applied, the ARRL's petition further argues. Noting the new rules do not require BPL systems to shut down in the event of interference except as ''a last resort,'' the League said the practical effect is ''that systems will never have to shut down,'' even if the BPL operator has not been able to remedy ongoing harmful interference to the Amateur Service. The new rules, the petition charges, accord priority to unlicensed BPL, ''regardless of the preclusive effect'' or the duration of interference. In its unanimous BPL decision, the Commission, the League says, has abandoned its fundamental obligation to avoid interference in telecommunication systems, instead requiring complainants to initiate contact with BPL providers and ''beg for resolution.'' The ARRL petition also faults the Commission's adopted measurement standards. The League's Petition for Reconsideration in ET Dockets 03-104 and 04-37 is on the ARRL Web site, http://www.arrl.org/announce/regulatory/et04-37/recon_petition/. (ARRL News Service)
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