• ARRL Newswire 12/5/19

    From Argos@21:1/203 to All on Thu Dec 5 22:09:36 2019
    ********************************************
    The ARRL Letter

    Published by the American Radio Relay League ********************************************

    December 5, 2019

    Editor: Rick Lindquist, WW1ME <ww1me@arrl.org>

    ARRL Home Page <http://www.arrl.org/>ARRL Letter Archive <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/>Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> IN THIS ISSUE

    - ARRL to Oppose Proposal to Eliminate 3.3 - 3.5 GHz Amateur Allocation
    - President Rick Roderick, K5UR, Heads ARRL Group on FCC Visits
    - Oldest Known US Ham Receives ARRL Centurion Award
    - The Doctor Will See You Now!
    - Past ARRL Chief Technology Officer Paul Rinaldo, W4RI, SK
    - Election will Result in ARRL Southeastern Division Leadership Changes
    - The K7RA Solar Update
    - Just Ahead in Radiosport
    - YOTA Month Expanding into the Americas
    - ITU Posts Provisional WRC-19 Final Acts
    - In Brief...
    - Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions

    ARRL TO OPPOSE PROPOSAL TO ELIMINATE 3.3 - 3.5 GHZ AMATEUR
    ALLOCATION

    At its December 12 open meeting, the FCC will consider adopting a
    Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that proposes to remove the
    amateur radio 9-centimeter allocation at 3.3 - 3.5 GHz. ARRL plans to
    comment in opposition to the proposed action. According to an FCC "Fact
    Sheet <https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-360941A1.pdf>," the proceeding WT Docket 19-348, "Facilitating Shared Use in the 3.1 - 3.55
    GHz Band," is a follow-on from the MOBILE NOW Act, approved by the
    115th Congress, which requires the FCC and the US Department of
    Commerce to make available new spectrum for mobile and fixed wireless
    broadband use. It also requires the FCC to work with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA <https://www.ntia.doc.gov>) to evaluate whether commercial wireless
    services and federal incumbents could share spectrum between 3.1 and
    3.55 GHz. NTIA manages spectrum allocated to federal government users.

    "This Notice of Proposed Rulemaking would propose to remove the
    existing non-federal allocations in the 3.3 - 3.55 GHz band as a step
    towards potential future shared use between federal incumbents and
    commercial users," the FCC Fact Sheet explains. "By taking the initial
    step needed to clear the band of allocations for non-federal
    incumbents, the Commission furthers its continued efforts to make more
    mid-band spectrum potentially available to support next generation
    wireless networks."

    The NPRM proposes to clear the 3.3 - 3.55 GHz band of existing
    non-federal users by removing non-federal secondary radiolocation and
    amateur allocations [emphasis added] in the 3.3 - 3.55 GHz band and to
    relocate incumbent non-federal users out of the band. The FCC would
    seek comment on relocation options and "transition mechanisms" for
    incumbent non-federal users, either to the 3.1 - 3.3 GHz band or to
    other frequencies.

    Regarding the Amateur and Amateur-Satellite Service allocations, the
    FCC NPRM asks whether existing amateur spectrum in other bands might
    support operations currently conducted in the 3.3 - 3.5 GHz band. The
    3.40 - 3.41 GHz segment is designated for amateur satellite
    communication. "We seek comment on the extent to which the band is used
    for this purpose, whether existing satellites can operate on other
    amateur satellite bands, and on an appropriate timeframe for
    terminating these operations in this band," the FCC NPRM says.

    Also at its December 12 meeting, the FCC will consider another NPRM in
    WT Docket 19-138 that would "take a fresh and comprehensive look" at
    the rules for the 5.9 GHz band. The amateur radio 5-centimeter
    allocation is 5650.0 - 5925.0 MHz, and the NPRM, if approved, would
    address the top 75 MHz of that amateur secondary band. ARRL will also
    file comments opposing any changes affecting the 5-centimeter amateur allocation.

    Both draft FCC proposals are subject to change prior to a vote at the
    December 12 FCC meeting. Read more <http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-to-oppose-proposal-to-eliminate-3-3-3-5-ghz-amat eur-allocation>.

    PRESIDENT RICK RODERICK, K5UR, HEADS ARRL GROUP ON FCC VISITS

    President Rick Roderick, K5UR, and members of the ARRL Board's
    Executive Committee undertook a round of visits to FCC Headquarters in Washington on November 4 and 5. Topics focused on a number of pressing
    amateur radio-related issues. In addition to Roderick, members of the
    ARRL contingent included Atlantic Division Director Tom Abernethy,
    W3TOM; New England Division Director Fred Hopengarten, K1VR; Roanoke
    Division Director Bud Hippisley, W2RU; West Gulf Division Director John
    Robert Stratton, N5AUS, and ARRL Washington Counsel David Siddall,
    K3ZJ.

    Digital Data Symbol Rate Proceeding

    The ARRL delegation emphasized the overwhelming support for and need to
    remove symbol rate limits from the amateur rules, contending that the
    limits are outdated, no longer serve their original purpose of limiting
    signal bandwidth, and inhibit experimentation and development of
    digital communications techniques. Removing these limitations would
    also allow US radio amateurs to join those in other countries in using
    methods not permitted in the US.

    In 2016, the FCC had responded to ARRL's petition for rulemaking
    (RM-11708) by proposing no bandwidth limit. The ARRL delegation
    reiterated that adopting a 2.8 kHz maximum bandwidth in place of the
    symbol rate limit would promote sharing and experimentation below 30
    MHz.

    (L - R) Atlantic Division Director Tom Abernethy, W3TOM; ARRL President
    Rick Roderick, K5UR; West Gulf Division Director John Robert Stratton,
    N5AUS; Roanoke Division Director Bud Hippisley, W2RU; New England
    Division Director Fred Hopengarten, K1VR, and ARRL Washington Counsel
    David Siddall, K3ZJ.

    The ARRL representatives also discussed issues that some have raised
    -- and on which the FCC did not request comment -- alleging that
    certain types of digital signals are "encrypted" because they are
    digitally compressed or otherwise can be difficult to receive over the
    air. The ARRL group pointed out that the FCC addressed the use of new
    digital techniques in 1995, amending its rules to authorize new digital techniques without prior FCC approval, as long as these were publicly documented consistent with three techniques specifically approved at
    the time. Since then, multiple digital methods have been developed and
    deployed without substantive complaints of insufficient documentation,
    the ARRL team noted.

    The prohibition on encryption is a provision of the ITU Radio
    Regulations and applies worldwide. The FCC regulation prohibiting
    "messages encoded for the purpose of obscuring their meaning" comes
    directly from the ITU Radio Regulations, language adopted at World Radiocommunication Conference 2003 (WRC-03) to replace a provision that
    limited amateur communications to "plain language." Adoption of this
    change made clear that amateur communications encoded for digital
    transmission are authorized internationally as long as they're not
    encrypted. It was noted that techniques some commenters have targeted
    are widely used by amateurs around the world.

    60-Meter Band Allocation

    ARRL petitioned the FCC in RM-11785 <https://ecfsapi.fcc.gov/file/101122964205072/Petition%20for%20Rule%20Making%20 5%20MHz%20FINAL%20January%2012%2C%202017.pdf>
    to implement provisions adopted at WRC-15 that provide for a secondary
    amateur allocation at 5351.5 - 5366.5 kHz. ARRL also proposed that 100
    W ERP be permitted on the new band, consistent with that authorized for
    the current five 60-meter channels.

    The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)
    has proposed in a letter to delete the existing four channels and
    substitute a secondary band allocation at a maximum permitted power of
    15 W EIRP (9.1 W ERP), as approved at WRC-15. The ARRL delegation
    expressed concern that NTIA's proposal would require relocation of
    existing channelized amateur activity to a 15 kHz band at a fraction of
    the power now authorized, despite an absence of any reported
    interference on the current channels. ARRL also expressed concern that
    9.1 W ERP would hamper emergency communication on the band, especially
    during hurricane season, when noise levels are usually high.

    The FCC is expected to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in
    December or early next year addressing 60 meters and inviting comments.

    Amateur Radio Enforcement

    ARRL Executive Committee members met with FCC Enforcement Bureau Chief
    Rosemary Harold and her senior staff to discuss amateur enforcement.
    The delegation updated progress in setting up the Volunteer Monitoring
    Program pursuant to the FCC/ARRL Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
    signed last March. The program is in the final stages of training
    volunteers and is expected to be brought online in early 2020. Read
    more <http://www.arrl.org/news/president-rick-roderick-k5ur-heads-arrl-group-on-fcc- visits>.

    OLDEST KNOWN US HAM RECEIVES ARRL CENTURION AWARD

    The oldest known US radio amateur, Cliff Kayhart, W4KKP, received his
    ARRL Centurion Award plaque in November. The award

    (L - R) Roanoke Division Director Bud Hippisley, W2RU; Cliff Kayhart,
    W4KKP; Roanoke Division Vice Director Bill Morine, N2COP, and South
    Carolina Section Manager Marc Tarplee, N4UFP.

    recognizes hams who have achieved centenarian status. Kayhart, who
    lives in White Rock, South Carolina, is 108. The ARRL Board of
    Directors conferred the award on Kayhart at its July 2019 meeting.

    At the November meeting of the Dutch Fork Amateur Radio Group in Little Mountain, South Carolina, ARRL Roanoke Division Director Bud Hippisley,
    W2RU, headed an ARRL delegation that presented the Centurion Award
    plaque to Kayhart, who was first licensed as W2LFE in 1937 (he's also
    held W9GNQ). With Hippisley for the presentation were Roanoke Division
    Vice Director Bill Morine, N2COP, and South Carolina Section Manager
    Marc Tarplee, N4UFP.

    Kayhart served in Iwo Jima during World War II, shortly after the US
    victory there, setting up long-range radio communication from the
    island to Tokyo to arrange for the eventual surrender by Japan.

    Kayhart remains active, checking into several nets from his assisted
    living facility. Centurion Award recipients have their annual ARRL
    membership fees waived while continuing to receive QST and other ARRL
    member benefits. Kayhart was profiled in the June 2018 issue of QST.

    THE DOCTOR WILL SEE YOU NOW!

    "VHF/UHF propagation" is the topic of the new (December 5) episode of
    the ARRL The Doctor is In <http://www.arrl.org/doctor> podcast.
    Listen...and learn!

    Sponsored by DX Engineering <http://www.dxengineering.com/>, ARRL The
    Doctor is In is an informative discussion of all things technical.
    Listen on your computer, tablet, or smartphone -- whenever and wherever
    you like!

    Every 2 weeks, your host, QST Editor-in-Chief Steve Ford, WB8IMY, and
    the Doctor himself, Joel Hallas, W1ZR, will discuss a broad range of
    technical topics. You can also email your questions to doctor@arrl.org,
    and the Doctor may answer them in a future podcast.

    Enjoy ARRL The Doctor is In on Apple iTunes <https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/arrl-the-doctor-is-in/id1096749595?mt=2>, or by using your iPhone or iPad podcast app (just search for ARRL The
    Doctor is In). You can also listen online at Blubrry <https://www.blubrry.com/arrl_the_doctor_is_in/>, or at Stitcher <https://www.stitcher.com/> (free registration required, or browse the
    site as a guest) and through the free Stitcher app for iOS, Kindle, or
    Android devices. If you've never listened to a podcast before, download
    our beginner's guide <http://www.arrl.org/doctor>.

    PAST ARRL CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER PAUL RINALDO, W4RI, SK

    A titan of amateur radio, past ARRL Chief Technology Officer Paul L.
    Rinaldo, W4RI, of Burke, Virginia, died on November 29 after a period
    of failing health. An ARRL Life Member, Rinaldo was 88.

    "This is really sad news," ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, remarked
    upon learning of Rinaldo's passing. "I worked with Paul on a number of
    things, and he amazed me with his knowledge and the different ways to
    consider issues. Smart. Highly respected. He sure helped us through the
    years in so many ways."

    First licensed in 1949 as W9IZA, Rinaldo's focus was always in the
    arena of technical experimentation. He studied radio engineering at
    Valparaiso Technical Institute in Indiana. Rinaldo was a cofounder and
    served as president of the Amateur Radio Research and Development
    Corporation (AMRAD). His first association with ARRL was an article,
    "Amateur Radio in the Computer Age," for the September 1979 edition of
    QST. Subsequently, he served in volunteer roles, among them as the
    first editor of QEX: The ARRL Experimenters' Exchange.

    In 1983, Rinaldo succeeded Doug DeMaw, W1FB, as ARRL Technical
    Department Manager and Senior Technical Editor. His efforts led to his appointment as Publications Manager and, 5 years later, as Manager of
    Technical Development with responsibility for preparing for the 1992
    World Administrative Radio Conference. This led to Rinaldo's supporting
    role in the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU), and he attended
    IARU Administrative Council (AC) meetings from 1996 to 2008.

    Rinaldo also took part in several International Telecommunication Union
    (ITU) conferences and served on numerous working parties and task
    groups. IARU Secretary David Sumner, K1ZZ, said amateur radio's
    successes at the just-ended WRC-19 were, in large part, because of
    Rinaldo's good work over the years.

    In 1992, Rinaldo established ARRL's Technical Relations Office in the Washington, DC, area. In 2004, the ARRL Board of Directors elected
    Rinaldo as ARRL's first Chief Technology Officer, a post he held until
    his retirement in 2008. "For the past 16 years, Paul has been the face
    and voice of amateur radio in the technical circles of the federal
    government and one of our most visible representatives at the ITU,"
    Sumner said at the time.

    Murphy Funeral Homes <https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/falls-church-va/paul-rinaldo-894410

    of Falls Church, Virginia, is handling arrangements. Read more <http://www.arrl.org/news/past-arrl-chief-technology-officer-paul-rinaldo-w4ri- sk>.

    ELECTION WILL RESULT IN ARRL SOUTHEASTERN DIVISION LEADERSHIP
    CHANGES

    A new ARRL Director and Vice Director will take office on January 1 in
    ARRL's Southeastern Division. The vote count in contested Division
    races at ARRL Headquarters on November 15 saw Mickey Baker, N4MB,
    defeating incumbent Director Greg Sarratt, W4OZK, 2,132 votes to 1,739
    votes. In addition, challenger James Schilling, KG4JSZ, received 1,356
    votes to win a three-way race for Vice Director, outpolling incumbent
    Joseph Tiritilli, N4ZUW, who received 1,209 votes, and challenger Jeff
    Stahl, K4BH, who received 1,281 votes. In 2016, Sarratt was the lone
    candidate for office, regaining the Director's seat after being
    narrowly unseated in 2013 when he stood for re-election. Tiritelli was
    the only candidate to fill the vacant Southeastern Division Vice
    Director's chair that same year.

    In the only other contested race, incumbent West Gulf Division Director
    John Robert Stratton, N5AUS, defeated challenger Madison Jones, W5MJ,
    for re-election, by a vote of 2,498 to 1,405. Stratton moved into the Director's seat last January after past Director David Woolweaver,
    K5RAV, stepped down. West Gulf Division Vice Director Lee Cooper,
    W5LHC, was unopposed for a full term after being appointed earlier this
    year to succeed Stratton.

    Seats for Director and Vice Director in three other ARRL Divisions were unchallenged, and candidates were considered re-elected. These included
    Pacific Division Director Jim Tiemstra, K6JAT, and Vice Director
    Kristen McIntyre, K6WX; Rocky Mountain Division Director Jeff Ryan,
    K0RM, and Vice Director Robert Wareham, N0ESQ, and Southwestern
    Division Director Richard Norton, N6AA. Mark Weiss, K6FG, ran unopposed
    for the Southwestern Division Vice Director's seat, being vacated by
    Ned Stearns, AA7A.

    The ARRL Board of Directors next meets in January.

    THE K7RA SOLAR UPDATE

    Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: No sunspots again this week. This run
    of zero sunspots has gone on for more than 3 weeks.

    Average daily solar flux for the November 28 - December 4 reporting
    week was 70.2. The predicted solar flux for every one of the next 45
    days is 70. The predicted planetary A index is 5 on December 5 - 7; 8
    on December 8 - 9; 5 on December 10 - 12; 6 on December 13; 5 on
    December 14 - 17; 12, 10, 8, and 8 on December 18 - 21; 5 on December
    22 - 29; 8 on December 30 - 31; 5 on January 1 - 3; 8 on January 4; 5
    on January 5 - 8; 6 on January 9; 5 on January 10 - 13; 12, 10, 8, and
    8 on January 14 - 17, and 5 on January 18.

    Spaceweather.com <http://www.spaceweather.com/> pointed out the Geminid
    meteor shower will peak December 13 - 14, just in time for the ARRL
    10-Meter Contest December 14 - 15. Ionized meteor trails may enhance
    10-meter propagation.

    Sunspot numbers for November 28 - December 4 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, and
    0, with a mean of 0. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 70.2, 69.8, 70.4,
    71.2, 70.4, 69.9, and 69.6, with a mean of 70.4. Estimated planetary A
    indices were 4, 5, 4, 4, 2, 2, and 3, with a mean of 8.3. Middle
    latitude A index was 2, 3, 2, 2, 2, 1, and 2, with a mean of 5.7.

    A comprehensive K7RA Solar Update is posted Fridays on the ARRL
    website. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit <http://arrl.org/propagation-of-rf-signals> the ARRL Technical
    Information Service, read
    <http://arrl.org/the-sun-the-earth-the-ionosphere> "What the Numbers
    Mean...," and check out <http://k9la.us/> K9LA's Propagation Page.

    A propagation bulletin archive <http://arrl.org/w1aw-bulletins-archive-propagation> is available.
    Monthly charts <http://arrl.org/propagation> offer propagation
    projections between the US and a dozen DX locations.

    Share <k7ra@arrl.net> your reports and observations.

    JUST AHEAD IN RADIOSPORT

    - December 6 - 8 -- ARRL 160-Meter Contest (CW)
    <http://www.arrl.org/160-meter>

    - December 7 -- Wake-Up! QRP Sprint (CW)

    - December 7 - 8 -- UFT Contest (CW)

    - December 7 - 8 -- SKCC Weekend Sprintathon (CW)

    - December 7 - 8 -- International Naval Contest (CW, phone)

    - December 7 - 8 -- PRO CW Contest

    - December 7 - 8 -- FT8 Roundup

    - December 7 - 8 -- EPC Ukraine DX Contest (Digital)

    - December 8 -- QRP ARCI Holiday Spirits Homebrew Sprint (CW)

    - December 9 -- 4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint (CW, phone)

    - December 11 -- NAQCC CW Sprint

    See the ARRL Contest Calendar <http://www.arrl.org/contest-calendar>
    for more information. For in-depth reporting on amateur radio
    contesting, subscribe to The ARRL Contest Update <http://www.arrl.org/contest-update-issues> via your ARRL member
    profile email preferences.

    YOTA MONTH EXPANDING INTO THE AMERICAS

    December is Youth on the Air (YOTA) Month, when stations operated by
    young radio amateurs around the world will get on the air to celebrate
    youth in amateur radio. YOTA Month <https://events.ham-yota.com/> began
    a few years ago in International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Region 1,
    and the concept has now taken root in the Americas as YOTA Month in the Americas <http://YouthOnTheAir.org>.

    During YOTA Month, radio amateurs aged 25 and younger will be on the
    air as special event stations during December on various bands and
    modes. In the US, look for K8Y, K8O, K8T, and K8A. Elsewhere in the
    Americas, VE7YOTA will be on the air from Canada. XR2YOTA in Chile has
    been added to the list of youth stations in the Americas for YOTA
    Month. Young hams in other countries may also join in. Listen for other
    YOTA Month stations with "YOTA" suffixes.

    For more information about YOTA in the Americas, contact YOTA Month in
    the Americas Coordinator Bryant Rascoll, KG5HVO <kg5hvo@arrl.net>, or
    YOTA in the Americas Camp Director Neil Rapp, WB9VPG <yotamonth@youthontheair.org>.

    Participants earn certificates by working the various YOTA-suffix
    stations on the air throughout December. Not a contest, the event is
    aimed at getting as many youngsters on air from as many countries as
    possible. The event takes place from 0000 UTC on December 1 until 2359
    UTC on December 31.

    Other special call signs planning to be on the air include 5B19YOTA,
    7X2YOTA, 7X3YOTA, 9A19YOTA, DH0YOTA, E71YOTA, EF4YOTA, EG2YOTA,
    EI0YOTA, EM5YOTA, EM6YOTA, ET3YOTA, GB19YOTA, HA6YOTA, HB9YOTA,
    HG0YOTA, II4YOTA, II8YOTA, LY5YOTA, OH2YOTA, OL19YOTA, ON4YOTA,
    PA6YOTA, PD6YOTA, SH9YOTA, TC19YOTA, TC3YOTA, TM19YOTA, YO0YOTA,
    YT19YOTA, ZL6YOTA, and ZS9YOTA.

    Most will put their logs on Logbook of The World (LoTW) with paper
    cards available through Club Log OQRS. QSL direct via M0SDV. -- Thanks
    to YOTA and YOTA in the Americas

    ITU POSTS PROVISIONAL WRC-19 FINAL ACTS

    The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has posted the
    provisional Final Acts <https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-R/conferences/wrc/2019/Documents/PFA-WRC19-E.pdf> of World Radiocommunication Conference 2019 (WRC-19) on its website as
    a 567-page PDF. Sponsored by the ITU, WRC-19, held in Sharm el-Sheikh,
    Egypt, wrapped up on Friday,

    WRC-19 participants (L - R) Hans Blondeel Timmerman, PB2T; Bryan
    Rawlings, VE3QN; Dave Court, EI3IO; Ulrich Mueller, DK4VW; David
    Sumner, K1ZZ; Dale Hughes, VK1DSH, and Murray Niman, G6JYB. [Ulrich
    Mueller, DK4VW, photo]

    November 22. The month-long event was the largest ever, with some
    3,300 delegates in attendance. The WRC-19 Final Acts will take effect
    on January 21, 2021.

    During the last week of the conference, meetings often ran into the wee
    hours in an effort to get work completed on schedule. The prime amateur
    radio agenda item involved agreement on a 6-meter band allocation for
    ITU Region 1 (Europe, Africa, and the Middle East). When the Final Acts
    take effect, 44 countries in Region 1 will have a primary allocation of
    at least 500 kHz, including 26 countries with a primary allocation of
    50 - 54 MHz. The entire region will have an amateur secondary
    allocation of 50 - 52 MHz, except Russia, whose administration opted
    for only 50.080 - 50.280 MHz on a secondary basis.

    The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) called the 6-meter outcome
    "a dramatic improvement in the international Radio Regulations for
    amateurs in Region 1." The next WRC will be in 2023.

    IN BRIEF...

    Orlando HamCation <https://www.hamcation.com>® 2020 visitors in
    February will be able to navigate the convention with ARRL's free
    mobile event app, ARRL Events. First introduced for the Dayton
    Hamvention <https://hamvention.org/>® in May 2019, the app received
    extremely positive reviews from users. ARRL has partnered with Orlando HamCation and Dayton Hamvention to re-introduce the app for these 2020
    events. "The user-friendly event app will help convention-goers find
    exhibits and forums, follow prize drawings, and connect with other
    attendees," said ARRL Convention and Event Coordinator Eric Casey,
    KC2ERC, who has been working with Orlando HamCation Committee members
    to help ready the app for the 2020 event. The free ARRL Events app will
    be available in late December for both Apple iOS and Android devices,
    along with a web-browser version. Orlando HamCation 2020 takes place
    February 7 - 9 and has been sanctioned as the 2020 ARRL Northern
    Florida Section Convention. Visit
    <https://www.hamcation.com/hamcation-tickets> the HamCation website to
    purchase tickets.

    Dayton Hamvention <http://www.hamvention.org/>® is increasing the cost
    of admission and its booth fees. Hamvention General Chair Jack Gerbs,
    WB8SCT, announced this week that general admission would rise by $4 per
    ticket to $26 in advance or $31 at the gate. The cost of flea market
    spots will go up by $5 per space, and inside exhibitors will pay $30
    more. "Hamvention has always strived to produce a very high-quality
    event for amateur radio enthusiasts from around the globe," Gerbs said.
    "We have always felt it is imperative that we give back to amateur
    radio at many levels. We have been very generous in our support over
    the years." He cited "the economic pressures to present a show like
    Hamvention" as the reason for the price increases.

    ARRL is inviting listeners of the So Now What? <http://www.arrl.org/so-now-what> podcast for amateur radio newcomers
    to take a brief survey <https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VWFQZ2K> about
    the bi-weekly podcast. The survey will close on December 13. -- Thanks
    to Michelle Patnode, W3MVP, ARRL Communications Content Producer

    Just after announcing the release of WSJT-X version 2.1.1, the WSJT
    Development Group issued a second bug-fix release, version 2.1.2.
    WSJT-X is the free software suite that includes the FT4 and FT8
    protocols. According to the developers, an error in the code broke the
    WSJT-X rig control features for certain Icom radios. The Release Notes <http://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/Release_Notes.txt> detail
    program changes made since WSJT-X 2.1.0. The WSJT-X 2.1 User Guide has
    also been updated. Upgrading from earlier versions of WSJT-X should be seamless, with no need to uninstall previous versions or move any
    files. Links <http://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/wsjtx.html> to installation packages are available. The WSJT Development Group asks
    those using the code to let the developers know, as well as to report
    bugs or suggest improvements to the code.

    AMPRNet Cofounder Brian Kantor, WB6CYT, of San Diego, California, has
    died unexpectedly. He retired 2 years ago after 47 years of service on
    staff at the University of California, San Diego. Kantor and Phil Karn,
    KA9Q, founded AMPRNet -- the TCP/IP over amateur radio network -- in
    the 1980s, and Kantor continued to manage it until his death. He
    recently created and served as chair and CEO of Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC <http://www.ampr.org/>), a charitable foundation
    funded by the sale of unused AMPRNet IPv4 addresses. ARDC promotes STEM education and amateur radio digital development through scholarships
    and by funding the development of open-source hardware and software. It recently announced its first grant, to Amateur Radio on the
    International Space Station (ARISS <http://www.ariss.org/>). Kantor was
    also a key player in AMSAT's early internet presence.

    UPCOMING ARRL SECTION, STATE, AND DIVISION CONVENTIONS

    - December 13 - 14 -- West Central Florida Section Convention <http://fgcarc.org/>, Plant City, Florida

    - January 4 -- New York City-Long Island Section Convention <http://hamradiouniversity.org/>, Brookville, New York

    - January 17 - 18 -- North Texas Section Convention <http://www.cowtownhamfest.com/>, Forest Hill, Texas

    - January 19 - 25 -- Quartzfest <https://quartzfest.org/>, Quartzsite,
    Arizona

    - January 24 - 26 -- Puerto Rico State Convention
    <http://www.arrlpr.org/>, Hatillo, Puerto Rico

    - January 25 -- ARRL Midwest Conference <http://winterfest.slsrc.org/>, Collinsville, Illinois

    Find conventions and hamfests in your area
    <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests>.

    ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for
    Amateur Radio News and Information.

    ---

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