Summary from The ARRL Letter, Electronic Update, September 20, 1996
(full text available at http://www.arrl.org)
__________________________________
IN THIS UPDATE:
* Electronic Form 610V to be available for Gate 2
* Hams aboard Atlantis!
* ARRL National Convention a success
* Hams help nab "Pizza Dude" and friends
* Solar activity dips
* Alabama ham plates get new look
* Prolific QST author marks 80th birthday
* Ham astronomer honored
* Vern Riportella, WA2LQQ, SK
* In Brief: Help wanted; New Kansas SM;
Quote of the month; Hams to be honored;
Thanks!; Info on older Kenwoods
__________________________________
ON-LINE VANITY CALL SIGN FORM TO BE AVAILABLE SEPTEMBER 23
There's good news and bad news about the FCC's plans to provide for
electronic filing of vanity call sign requests. The good news is that an
electronic version of the Amateur Station Vanity Call Sign Request Form 610V
will be available starting at 12:01 AM EDT on September 23, 1996. Applicants
can access the form on the Internet at the Federal Communications Commission
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau home page, http://www.fcc.gov/wtb, under
Amateur Radio-Interactive Vanity Call Sign. Detailed filing instructions are
available by clicking on the item number on the Internet form.
The bad news is that electronic payment is not yet available. The FCC said
that applicants must mail a completed FCC Form 159, FCC Remittance Advice,
with payment to Federal Communications Commission, Box 358994, Pittsburgh,
PA 15259-5994. Note that this is a different Post Office box and ZIP code
than for vanity requests and payments using hard-copy forms.
For technical assistance, call the FCC Technical Support Group at
202-414-1250. For general application assistance, call the Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau, Consumer Assistance staff at 800-322-1117.
SOLAR ACTIVITY DIPS
Solar prognosticator Tad Cook, KT7H, of Seattle, Washington, reports that
solar activity was down from September 5 to September 11, with the sunspot
numbers below the 90-day average of 71 on every day of the period. Solar
flux was down an average of more than 4, and sunspot numbers were down an
average of 11 compared to the week previous. Solar activity was down again
during the period September 12 to September 18. Average solar flux was down
about a point, and average sunspot numbers were down about 3.7. Every day
except September 12 had no visible sunspots. The daily solar flux was below
the 90-day average of 71 on each day over the past week. Solar activity is
expected to increase over this week, with solar flux to peak in the mid 70s
around September 24-16. Geomagnetic conditions are expected to peak around
September 25 with A indices around 25 and K indices as high as 5. After
October 1 solar flux should drop below 70. Geomagnetic conditions should get
unstable again around October 7-13.
The days are growing shorter, and the fall equinox will arrive September 22.
Because of less daylight, 20 meters is becoming more of a daylight band.
Sunspot numbers for September 5 through 11 were 0, 0, 15, 15, 0, 0 and 0,
respectively, with a mean of 4.3. The 10.7-cm flux was 70.3, 69.7, 69.5,
68.2, 67.9, 68, and 67.6, respectively, with a mean of 68.7. Sunspot numbers
for September 12 through 18 were 11, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 and 0, respectively, with
a mean of 1.6. The 10.7-cm flux was 67.8, 67.3, 67.1, 66.4, 68, 69, and
68.9, respectively, with a mean of 67.8.
In Brief:
* Help wanted: The ARRL Washington Office has an opening for an electronics
engineer (BSEE or equivalent experience) with spectrum-management
experience. Duties would include representing the interests of Amateur Radio
to US government agencies, the ITU and regional organizations. Public
speaking ability, professional-quality writing and the ability to deal with
people from other countries are essential. Spanish language skills are a
plus. Send resume and salary expectations to R. Boucher, ARRL, 225 Main St,
Newington, CT 06111; fax 860-594-0298.
* Quote of the month? FCC Chairman Reed Hundt, in London offering his "Seven
Commandments" for telecommunications competition: "How many licenses should
be auctioned? As many as can be found in the airwaves. What if the spectrum
is already lightly used? Allow auction winners to relocate the existing
users at no cost, so that the market can clear spectrum. How should the
spectrum be used? Any way the auction winners want: no restrictions; no
rules; total flexibility."
* Info on older Kenwoods: Kenwood is offering FTP access to many Kenwood
service bulletins and application notes via the Internet. Visit the Kenwood
FTP site from Kenwood's Web page, http://www.kenwood.net/ (click on What's
New at Kenwood) or directly at ftp://ftp.kenwood.net. The FTP site includes
Kenwood equipment bulletins and notes dating back to 1975.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
E-mail: frenaye@pcnet.com Internet: http://www.akorn.net/k1ki
Tom Frenaye, K1KI, P O Box 386, West Suffield CT 06093 Phone: 860-668-5444
>From HWDX09A@prodigy.com ( ROBERT REED) Sat Sep 21 02:11:46 1996
From: HWDX09A@prodigy.com ( ROBERT REED) ( ROBERT REED)
Subject: WN3K Applying for Vanity and Club Calls
Message-ID: <199609210011.UAA10926@mime4.prodigy.com>
From: wb2din@juno.com (Robert Reed WB2DIN)
--------- Begin forwarded message ----------
From: Robert Penneys <radio@UDel.Edu>
To: wb2din@juno.com
Subject: message for reflector
Message-ID: <199609201526.LAA09962@copland.udel.edu>
My mail is bouncing off the contest reflector. Please post it for me
to cq-contest@tgv.com with the title "Applying for Vanity AND Club
Calls"
Having read how angry some of you are that anyone would apply for
both a
vanity call AND one for a club, I am telling you now up front befor
the fact that I am doing so. I intend to replace my call and those of
our bona fide clubs, the redoubtable N.E.R.D.S. and the Hi-Tech
Rednecks, for whom I happen to be trustee. Although having the calls
KB3BIJ and KB3BLJ is a hard act to follow.
I apologize to whomever, and hope that any calls we may get would be
ones
that no one in his right mind might want, but if you want to accuse
us of
any impropriety or selfishness, FLAME ON!!
What a circus this will be with no one knowing who anyone else is
anyone
anymore. Not to mention the widespread disappointment with not
getting
one's first choices.
Bob WN3K Frankford Radio Club GO FRC!!!!!
Bob, if you would please strip out this message and send it for me.
Thanks. GO FRC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
--------- End forwarded message ----------
____
73, Bob Reed, WB2DIN
1991 Route 37 West - Lot 109
Toms River, New Jersey 08757
Internet : hwdx09a@prodigy.com
wb2din@juno.com
Packet : wb2din@wt3v.nj
>From aa8u@voyager.net (AA8U) Sat Sep 21 02:22:35 1996
From: aa8u@voyager.net (AA8U) (AA8U)
Subject: ZK1AAU DXpedition QSL's
Message-ID: <199609210122.VAA00260@vixa.voyager.net>
Hello Fellow Contesters and DX'ers,
I received the full color picture QSL's from W4MPY today. They really turned
out great.
I have been busy filling out cards and stuffing envelopes to get them in the
mail soon. It is a fairly slow process, almost as slow as some of my Q-rates
while operating from ZK1. Hi
SASE's will be handled first as usual. I have yet to receive any Bureau
requests but I do expect many over the next year or so.
I have plenty of cards so if you worked me in July this summer when I was on
S. Cook Islands, Rarotonga, send an SASE and you'll get confirmation really
soon.
73 to all,
Bruce Lallathin
9221 Ford Rd.
Rives Junction, Mi.
49277
AA8U ZK1AAU FP/AA8U
|