XPost: rec.radio.amateur.moderated, rec.radio.amateur.policy, rec.radio.info

********************************************
The ARRL Letter

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

August 3, 2023

John E. Ross, KD8IDJ, Editor <news@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 Files Comments Against "Seriously Flawed" Shortwave Rules
Petition
- Amateur Radio Operators Can Help with HAARP Experiment
- National Lighthouse Day 2023
- Amateur Radio in the News
- ARRL Podcasts
- Announcements
- In Brief...
- The K7RA Solar Update
- Just Ahead in Radiosport
- Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions

ARRL FILES COMMENTS AGAINST "SERIOUSLY FLAWED" SHORTWAVE RULES

PETITION

ARRL, as part of its mission to protect Amateur Radio, has filed
comments against a proposal <http://www.arrl.org/files/file/FCC%20Documents/ARRL%20Opposition%20FCC%20RM-11953%2008_2023.pdf>

that would introduce high-power digital communications to the shortwave spectrum that in many instances is immediately adjacent to the Amateur
HF bands.

The "Shortwave Modernization Coalition" (SMC), which represents certain high-frequency stock trading interests, filed the petition <https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/1042840187330/1> with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). (Previous coverage can be found on
ARRL News <https://www.arrl.org/news/commercial-interests-petition-fcc-for-high-power-allocation-on-shortwave-spectrum>.)

ARRL responded on behalf of its members and the 760,000 licensees of
the Amateur Radio Service in the US.

The ARRL Laboratory performed a detailed technical analysis over
several months to determine if the proposed rules would affect
operations on the bands allocated to Radio Amateurs that are
inter-mixed with the Part 90 bands in the spectrum in question.

ARRL's analysis determined that, if the proposed rules are adopted, the
new operations inevitably will cause significant harmful interference
to many users of adjacent and nearby spectrum, including Amateur Radio licensees. Ed Hare, W1RFI, a 37-year veteran of the ARRL Lab and internationally recognized expert on radio frequency interference, was
the principal investigator on the study. Hare concluded the petition
should not be granted. "This petition seeks to put 50 kHz wide,
20,000-watt signals immediately next to seven different amateur bands
with weaker protections against interference than required in other
services," said Hare.

In its formal opposition, ARRL stated, "That destructive interference
would result if operations commenced using anything close to the
proposed maximum levels."

ARRL's filed comments highlight flawed analysis and incomplete data
submitted by the petitioners. It noted the petitioners
"...significantly understate the harmful interference that is not just
likely, but certain, if the rules proposed by SMC are adopted as
proposed. It is noteworthy that SMC's proposed rules would provide less protection than the much-lower power amateur radio transmitters are
required to provide Part 90 receivers." ARRL's opposition also noted
that there was no reported tests conducted with Amateur or other
affected stations, but referenced a spectrum capture in the Comments
filed with the Dayton Group that showed actual interference into the
Amateur 20-meter band from one of the High Frequency Trading
experimental stations.

Part 90 HF rules currently authorize a maximum signal bandwidth equal
to a voice communications channel, at up to 1000 W peak envelope power
(PEP). The petition seeks multiplication of signal width, greater
transmitted power, and weaker rules that protect users of adjacent
spectrum. ARRL's comments expose the likely fallout:

"Incredibly, notwithstanding the significant increase in potential
interference that would result from using digital schemes with 50 kHz bandwidths and 20,000 watts of power, SMC also proposes to
substantially lessen the protections required to protect adjacent and neighboring licensees. SMC proposes [out-of-band emissions] limits that
offer less protection than the existing Part 90 limits and would
actually permit no attenuation (0 dB) at the edge of adjacent
allocations, many of which are bands allocated to and heavily used in
the Amateur Radio Service. Consistent with lessening protections while increasing the potential for harmful interference, SMC also proposes a
lower limit for spurious emissions. SMC would reduce the existing
protection of -73 dB for the applicable 1000-watt power limit to just
-50 dB protection for their proposed 20,000-watt limit. Due to the much
wider 50 kHz proposed bandwidth, the resulting interference would
penetrate deep into the adjacent Amateur bands."

The proposal has been assigned FCC Docket No. RM-11953. While the
period for commenting on the petition has now closed, replies to
comments in the record may now be submitted.

Hundreds of licensed Radio Amateurs filed comments in the Docket,
expressing overwhelming opposition to the proposal. Those interested
may read ARRL's full comments and the results of the technical
analysis, which are included in the filing. "If granted as written,
this would be devastating to Amateur operation for many tens of kHz
into our bands," said Hare.

ARRL will continue to advocate for its members and the Amateur Radio
Service in this proceeding.

Read ARRL's Opposition and the ARRL Lab's technical analysis here <http://www.arrl.org/files/file/FCC%20Documents/ARRL%20Opposition%20FCC%20RM-11953%2008_2023.pdf>.

AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS CAN HELP WITH HAARP EXPERIMENT

The High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) will host
more than 50 researchers at their Alaska facility from August 1 -14,
2023, for the resumption of a science summer school that will conduct
30 experiments over a span of two weeks.

The HAARP antenna array at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. (Photo
courtesy of HAARP)

The Polar Aeronomy and Radio Science (PARS) summer school was last
held more than 10 years ago. Its return is part of a 5-year, $9.3
million National Science Foundation grant awarded to the University of
Alaska Fairbanks in 2021. PARS is a group of more than 50 researchers
committed to meeting the growing demand for skilled scientists and
engineers with knowledge of the special effects that occur in the
ionosphere at high latitudes.

One of the experiments, Ghosts in the Air Glow by Canadian artist
Amanda Dawn Christie, will give amateur radio operators and shortwave
listeners an opportunity to help with on-going geospace research. This transmission art project will begin on Monday, August 14, 2023, and use
the HAARP Ionospheric Research Instrument to mix audio and images from
the transition between Earth's atmosphere and outer space. They will
then be received and decoded via software-defined radio. Amateur radio operators and shortwave radio listeners around the world are invited to
tune in and submit reception reports.

Event information, including transmission times, frequencies, modes,
and report submission guidelines, is available at the project's
website, Ghosts in the Air Glow <https://ghostsintheairglow.space/>.
Each experiment participants will receive a QSL card.

"The return of PARS and these experiments marks a milestone for HAARP
and the geospace communities," said HAARP Director Jessica Matthews.

NATIONAL LIGHTHOUSE DAY 2023

National Lighthouse Day is unofficially Monday, August 7, 2023 <https://lighthousefoundation.org/national-lighthouse-day/>, and the US National Lighthouse-Lightship Weekend (NLLW) will occur on August 5 -
6.

National Lighthouse Day and NLLW celebrate the anniversary of the
establishment of the United States Lighthouse Service, and they honor lighthouses, lightships, and the commitment and service of those who
tended America's lights for generations. The Amateur Radio Lighthouse
Society (ARLHS) <https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=d66cc0f97534850eJmltdHM9MTY5MDkzNDQwMCZpZ3VpZD0xZjRjOThkZS1kNDE5LTYzZjctMjYxZi04YWEyZDVjYTYyZTAmaW5zaWQ9NTE4Mg&ptn=3&hsh=3&fclid=1f4c98de-d419-63f7-261f-8aa2d5ca62e0&psq=Amateur+Radio+Lighthouse+Society+(ARLHS)+&u=
a1aHR0cHM6Ly9hcmxocy5jb20v&ntb=1>,

founded by James H. Weidner, K2JXW (SK), will be operating their
BeaconBot website for email contacts and asking amateur radio operators
to participate by contacting lighthouses across the United States.

The suggested calling frequencies for SSB are 1.830, 3.530, 7.030,
10.130, 14.030, 18.070, 21.030, and 28.030. On CW, they're 1.830,
3.530, 7.030, 10.130, 14.030, 18.070, 21.030, and 28.030.

These frequencies can be crowded and are only suggestions. Amateur
radio operators can use any clear frequency +/- 20 kHz of these
suggestions. For digital modes, common operating frequencies are used.
On VHF and UHF, repeater operation is allowed, but using the national
calling frequencies is encouraged. ARLHS advises operators to be
courteous, use good operating practices, and listen before they
transmit. The ARLHS World List of Lights (WLOL)
<http://wlol.arlhs.com/>, which was updated on June 19, 2023, is a comprehensive collection that contains information on 15,527
lighthouses in 234 amateur radio call areas. You can also find the
times and dates of operation for the special events on the website.

The International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend 2023 <https://illw.net/>
(ILLW) will take place on August 19 - 20. Each year ILLW attracts more
than 500 lighthouse entries located in at least 40 countries. There are
few rules, and it is not a usual contest type event. Participation is
also free and, there are no prizes for contacting large numbers of
stations.

AMATEUR RADIO IN THE NEWS

ARRL Public Information Officers, Coordinators, and many other member-volunteers help keep amateur radio and ARRL in the news <http://www.arrl.org/media-hits>.

"Amateur Radio Society conducts Emergency Response Training and Blood
Drive <https://www.indexjournal.com/lakelands_connector/amateur-radio-society-conducts-emergency-response-training-and-blood-drive/article_c7dedc10-cfd9-5074-8c24-42dd45688f53.html>"

/ Lakelands Connector (South Carolina) July 26, 2023 -- The Greenwood
Amateur Radio Society is an ARRL Affiliated Club.

"Hamfest hobbyists combine electronics and communications at OCCC <https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/hamfest-hobbyists-combine-electronics-and-communications-at-occc/ar-AA1ewUT4>"

/ KFOR - TV (Oklahoma) July 29, 2023 -- The Central Oklahoma Radio
Amateurs is an ARRL Affiliated Club.

"Amateur radio seeing resurgence as hobby, sport, community service <https://www.djournal.com/new-albany/amateur-radio-seeing-resurgence-as-hobby-sport-community-service/article_ee6e72e2-29c5-11ee-9e58-9313c1e883cd.html>"

/ New Albany Gazette (Mississippi) July 30, 2023 -- The Grid 54 Ham
Radio Group.

Share <newsmedia@arrl.org> any amateur radio media hits you spot with
us.

ARRL PODCASTS

On the Air
Sponsored by Icom <http://www.icomamerica.com/en/>

Passing traffic is a ham radio activity that's nearly as old as ham
radio itself, and getting accurate messages to their destination in a
timely manner takes training and skill. In addition to participating in
nets, hams also have the opportunity to take on ARRL Field Organization positions that are responsible for traffic. In this episode, "When
Messages Matter: Passing Traffic," we talk to Ethan Hansen, KC1OIP, who fulfills one such position, Official Relay Station, in ARRL's National
Traffic System. Listen in to learn about what it takes to become an
Official Relay Station, how the position makes a difference in the
community, and how it benefits your amateur radio skills and
experience.

ARRL Audio News
Listen to ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrl-audio-news>,
available every Friday. ARRL Audio News is a summary of the week's top
news stories in the world of amateur radio and ARRL, along with
interviews and other features.

The On the Air podcast is available on iTunes (iOS) and Stitcher
(Android). The On the Air podcast and ARRL Audio News are also on
blubrry -- On the Air <https://blubrry.com/arrlontheair/> | ARRL Audio
News <https://blubrry.com/arrlaudionews/>.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Planning is underway for the 2023 Route 66 On the Air Special Event on September 9 - 17. This will be the 24th year of the event has been
running. It was started by the Northern Arizona DX Association (NADXA)
and is now coordinated by the Citrus Belt Amateur Radio Club (CBARC) in
San Bernardino, California. Twenty-one special event stations along the
route from Santa Monica, California, to Chicago, Illinois, are expected
to participate in 9 days of operating opportunities. The special event celebrates the history of the Mother Road that began in 1926, when US
Highway 66 was established. It was the first major improvement to the
link between the west coast and the nation's heartland. Through
stories, songs, and TV shows, the highway came to symbolize the freedom
of the open road, inspiring many to see America in its entirety. The
demise of Route 66 began in the 1950s, as construction began on the new interstate highway system. US Route 66 was officially decommissioned in
1986, but today, small portions of the highway still exist in several
states. More information on the event will be available soon at the
Citrus Belt Amateur Radio Club (CBARC) <https://w6jbt.org/> website or
on their Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/w6jbt/> page.

IN BRIEF...

On July 28, 2023, members of the Royal Naval Amateur Radio Society
(RNARS) <http://www.rnars.org.uk/> commemorated 30 years of being
located on the HMS Collingwood. The RNARS was founded in 1960, and
moved to HMS Collingwood when the HMS Mercury was decommissioned. The
outgoing captain, now Commodore Paul Sutermeister RN, was instrumental
in finding a new home for the RNARS. The Headquarters Shack in HMS
Collingwood has a selection of transceivers that operate across the
radio spectrum via range of antennas. These allow members to
communicate with other radio amateurs around the world, including by
amateur radio satellite. While the majority of RNARS members are
actively serving or are service veterans, there are other groups who
qualify for membership, such as merchant navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel and several others with occupations and interests in maritime affairs. While some of the members have aviation and marine licenses,
they are a friendly mixture of professional and amateur radio users,
with links to both the Royal Air Force and Royal Signals Amateur Radio societies: - all are affiliate members of the Radio Society of Great
Britain (RSGB). <https://rsgb.org/main/contact/>

THE K7RA SOLAR UPDATE

Tad Cook, K7RA, of Seattle, Washington, reports for this week's ARRL Propagation Bulletin, ARLP031:

Solar disk image taken August 3, 2023, courtesy of NASA SDO/HMI.

The Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre issued a geomagnetic disturbance warning at 0233 UTC on August 3, 2023:

"Two recent coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are expected to impact Earth
on UT day 05-Aug, with the second possibly arriving early 06-Aug. G0-G1 geomagnetic conditions may be expected on 05-Aug, with a chance for
isolated periods of G2 towards the end of the UT day on 05-Aug.
Geomagnetic storm conditions may persist over 06-Aug."

Solar activity was up during this reporting week, July 27 through
August 2.

Average daily sunspot numbers increased from 128.1 to 154.3, but the
average daily solar flux was about the same as last week, moving from
172.2 to 173.

Geomagnetic indicators were quiet, with the average daily planetary A
index shifting from 11 to 8.3, while middle latitude numbers went from
11.1 to 9.3.

Predicted solar flux is 170 and 165 on August 3 - 4; 160 on August 5 -
7; 155, 145, and 168 on August 8 - 10; 168 on August 11 - 12; 170 on
August 13 - 16; 172 on August 17 - 18; 170 and 168 on August 19 - 20;
170 on August 21 - 22; 172 on August 23; 170 on August 24 - 27, and 165
on August 28 - 31.

Predicted planetary A index is 10, 20, 28, 15, and 8 on August 3 - 7;
5, 5, and 10 on August 8 - 10; 8 on August 11 - 12; 5 on August 13 -
25; 12 and 10 on August 26 - 27, and 5 on August 28 - 31.

ARRL published an excellent new book, Here to There: Radio Wave
Propagation, written by a team of experts, including Frank Donovan,
W3LPL; Nathaniel Frissell, W2NAF, and Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA. It's a
great reference on all aspects of HF and VHF propagation and it
includes a survey of the various propagation prediction computer
programs.

Sunspot numbers for July 27 through August 2 were 154, 148, 147, 139,
197, 160, and 135, with a mean of 154.3. The 10.7-centimeter flux was
165.3, 168.2, 178.6, 174.4, 177.1, 174.7, and 172.9, with a mean of
173. Estimated planetary A indices were 7, 6, 9, 9, 6, 9, and 12, with
a mean of 8.3. Middle latitude A index was 7, 5, 8, 18, 8, 9, and 10,
with a mean of 9.3.

Send your tips, questions, or comments to k7ra@arrl.net.

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/> the Propagation Page of Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA.

A propagation bulletin archive <http://arrl.org/w1aw-bulletins-archive-propagation> is available. For customizable propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio <https://www.voacap.com/hf/> website.

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

A weekly, full report is posted on ARRL News
<http://www.arrl.org/news>.

JUST AHEAD IN RADIOSPORT

Yearlong -- ARRL Volunteers On the Air <https://vota.arrl.org/> (VOTA).
See the State Activations Schedule for weekly W1AW Portable Operations <https://vota.arrl.org/w1awPortable.php>, including:

- August 2 - August 8 -- Minnesota W1AW/0

- August 2 - August 8 -- Kentucky W1AW/4

- August 9 - August 15 -- New Jersey W1AW/2

UPCOMING CONTESTS:

- August 5 - 6 -- Batavia FT8 Contest (FT8)

- August 5 - 6 --10-10 Int'l Summer Contest, SSB (phone)

- August 5 - 6 -- North American QSO Party, CW (CW)

- August 5 - 6 -- ARRL 222 MHz and Up Distance Contest (CW, phone,
digital)

- August 6 -- SARL HF Phone Contest (phone)

- August 7 -- OK1WC Memorial (MWC) (CW)

- August 8 -- Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest (phone)

- August 8 -- ARS Spartan Sprint (CW)

- August 9 -- NAQCC CW Sprint (CW)

- August 9 -- VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest (FT8)

Visit the ARRL Contest Calendar <http://www.arrl.org/contest-calendar>
for more events and information.

UPCOMING SECTION, STATE, AND DIVISION CONVENTIONS

- August 11 - 13 | 2023 ARRL Rocky Mountain Division Convention <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/2023-arrl-rocky-mountain-division-convention>, Albuquerque, New Mexico

- August 19 - 20 | Huntsville Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/huntsville-hamfest-arrl-alabama-state-convention>,

hosting the ARRL Alabama State Convention, Huntsville, Alabama

- August 25 - 27 | Northeast HamXposition <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/northeast-hamxposition-arrl-new-england-division-convention-1>,

hosting the ARRL New England Division Convention, Marlborough,
Massachusetts

- September 1 - 3 | Shelby Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/shelby-hamfest-arrl-north-carolina-section-convention-2>,

hosting the ARRL North Carolina Section Convention, Shelby, North
Carolina

- September 10 | ARRL Southern New Jersey Section Convention and
Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/arrl-southern-new-jersey-section-convention-and-hamfest-1>,

Mullica Hill, New Jersey

- September 22 - 23 | HRO Superfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/hro-superfest-arrl-wisconsin-state-convention>, hosting the ARRL Wisconsin State Convention, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

- September 23 | Red River Radio Amateur's 2023 Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/red-river-radio-amateur-s-2023-hamfest-arrl-dakota-division-convention>,

sponsoring the ARRL Dakota Division Convention, West Fargo, North
Dakota

- September 23 | Spokane HAMFEST <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/spokane-hamfest-arrl-washington-state-convention-1>,

sponsoring the ARRL Washington State Convention, Spokane Valley,
Washington

- October 6 - 7 | Slidell EOC Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/slidell-eoc-hamfest-arrl-louisiana-state-convention-1>,

sponsoring the ARRL Louisiana State Convention, Slidell, Louisiana

- October 7 | Wichita Area and Kansas State Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/wichita-area-and-kansas-state-hamfest-arrl-kansas-state-convention>,

sponsoring the ARRL Kansas State Convention, Wichita, Kansas

- October 7 | 71st Rock Hill Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/71st-rock-hill-hamfest-arrl-south-carolina-section-convention>,

sponsoring the ARRL South Carolina Section Convention, Rock Hill, South Carolina

- October 8 | Nutmeg Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/nutmeg-hamfest-arrl-connecticut-state-convention-1>,

hosting the ARRL Connecticut State Convention, North Haven, Connecticut

- October 13 - 14 | Melbourne Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/melbourne-hamfest-arrl-florida-state-convention-1>,

hosting the ARRL Florida State Convention, Melbourne, Florida

- October 14 | ARRL Minnesota State Convention <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/arrl-minnesota-state-convention>,
Richfield, Minnesota

- October 20 - 22 | Pacificon <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/pacificon-arrl-pacific-division-convention-1>, hosting the ARRL Pacific Division Convention, San Ramon, California

Search the ARRL Hamfest and Convention Database
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests> to find events in your area.

HAVE NEWS FOR ARRL?

Submissions for the ARRL Letter and ARRL News can be sent to
news@arrl.org. -- John E. Ross, KD8IDJ, ARRL News Editor
<news@arrl.org>

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