ARRL Amateur Radio News

Get Ready for the ARRL DX CW Contest

Tue, 9 Feb 2010 15:26:00 +0000

The weekend of February 20-21 will be a busy one for CW operators as the 2010 ARRL DX CW Contest takes center stage. First started in 1929 as the ARRL International Relay Party, the ARRL DX CW contest lays claim to the longest running contest in Amateur Radio. Stations from all around the world -- from Australia to Zimbabwe -- should be active for this great event that takes place on 160-10 meters (contest QSOs are not permitted on 60, 30, 17 or 12 meters).

Amateur Radio Operator Killed in Connecticut Explosion

Tue, 9 Feb 2010 15:07:06 +0000

Chris Walters, N0HVK, of Florissant, Missouri, was killed in an explosion on Sunday, February 7. He was 48. Walters -- who was employed as a safety manager for an electrical subcontractor at the Kleen Energy Plant in Middletown, Connecticut -- was one of five men who were killed in the explosion; at least a dozen people were injured. The accident received national news coverage. According to officials, the plant was in the process of doing a “blow down” -- clearing the natural gas lines -- when the explosion occurred, but investigators are still determining the cause of the explosion. According to his wife Fran, Walters was unemployed in Missouri and had been in Connecticut for two months working a temporary job. While in Connecticut, Walters found time to enjoy Amateur Radio activities. He was a member of the Shore Point Amateur Radio Club (SPARC), volunteering for community events and fundraisers with the club; he was also part of SPARC’s first ARRL Field Day. -- Some information provided by WVIT and SPARC

Youth@HamRadio.Fun: Ham Radio 2.0

Mon, 8 Feb 2010 15:37:00 +0000

Web 2.0 is the name that has been given to the second wind of the Internet evolution, characterized by new gadgets, new developments and new ways to have fun online. Amateur Radio is also experiencing a second wind, with more hams, more activity and more ways to enjoy the hobby than ever before. We are also experiencing a new marriage with the Internet, as well as a new immersion in social media.

The K7RA Solar Update

Sat, 6 Feb 2010 00:55:00 +0000

As soon as sunspot 1041 went over the horizon at the end of January, sunspot 1043 emerged, high in our Sun's northern hemisphere. The average daily sunspot number this week fell more than 13 points to 14.6, and average daily solar flux declined nearly 7 points to 75. The geomagnetic activity was up, and the average daily planetary A index rose 2 points to 5.1. Sunspot numbers for January 28-February 3 were 13, 12, 25, 14, 16, 11 and 11, with a mean of 14.6. The 10.7 cm flux was 76.3, 73.3, 75, 75.3, 75.3, 75.2 and 74.4, with a mean of 75. He estimated planetary A indices were 3, 2, 4, 3, 6, 9 and 9, with a mean of 5.1. The estimated mid-latitude A indices were 2, 0, 3, 3, 7, 7 and 7, with a mean of 4.1.

Surfin': Viewing the New Star of Ham Radio

Fri, 5 Feb 2010 13:00:00 +0000

This week, Surfin' explores D-STAR via the telescope known as “the Internet.”

Minutes of 2010 Annual Meeting Posted

Thu, 4 Feb 2010 19:51:49 +0000

The minutes of the 2010 Annual Meeting of the ARRL Board of Directors have now been posted to the ARRL Web site. The meeting -- which took place January 15-16 in Windsor, Connecticut -- saw the election of the League’s 15th President, Kay Craigie, N3KN, of Blacksburg, Virginia.

MARS Unifies Operation in Support of Haiti Relief Effort

Wed, 3 Feb 2010 17:38:00 +0000

To assist the MARS communications support effort in Haiti, the heads of the Army, Air Force, and Navy-Marine Corps MARS programs have agreed to divvy up responsibilities among the three Service MARS programs. According to Air Force MARS Public Information Officer David Trachtenberg, N4WWL/AFA3TR, this delegation of responsibility will facilitate more efficient utilization of MARS communications assets in the overall relief operation. On January 12, a 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti, killing thousands and wiped out the island nation's communication infrastructure.

ARRL Continuing Education Online Course Registration

Wed, 3 Feb 2010 16:48:32 +0000

Registration remains open through Sunday, February 21, 2010, for these online course sessions beginning on Friday, March 5, 2010: Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level 1; Antenna Modeling; Radio Frequency Interference; Antenna Design and Construction; Ham Radio (Technician) License Course; Propagation; Analog Electronics, and Digital Electronics.

300 Feet of Cooperation

Tue, 2 Feb 2010 19:19:07 +0000

A positive approach earns Georgia hams some state owned tower space.

NCVEC Releases Second Technician Question Pool

Tue, 2 Feb 2010 15:22:14 +0000

In January, the Question Pool Committee (QPC) of the National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (NCVEC) released the 2010 Technician (Element 2) Question Pool. Upon further review of the pool, members of the QPC found and corrected more than 50 minor typographical errors and clarified the questions and answers, making them easier to understand. These adopted changes are now incorporated in a revised question pool. The errata list, as well as the revised Technician question pool, is available on the NCVEC Web site. The previously released pool dated January 4, 2010 is invalid for use. The newly revised Technician question pool will become effective for all examinations administered on or after July 1, 2010; it will remain valid until June 30, 2014. The current Technician question pool that became effective July 1, 2006 will expire June 30, 2010. The new Technician pool contains approximately 400 questions, from which 35 are selected for an Element 2 examination; it will contain graphics and diagrams, something new for this element. The current General class question pool was effective July 1, 2007 and is valid through June 30, 2011. The current Amateur Extra class pool was effective July 1, 2008 and is valid until June 30, 2012.