The ARRL Letter Electronic Update May 31, 1996 __________________________________ IN THIS UPDATE . . .. * Write now! Two meters and 70 cm threatened! * Kenwood's new distribution channels * Minnesota tower challenge * QUEST 43 yields old Bird 43s * Sunspot minimum still ahead * Young researchers beat NASA to punch * In Brief: New senator's ham radio connection; Younger licensees up; KA4MHJ honored; Drake is on-line; All-plastic battery under development; Arecibo dish to be upgraded. __________________________________ AMATEURS MOBILIZE AGAINST THREAT TO 2 METERS, 70 CM The American Radio Relay League is asking radio amateurs across the United States to help defeat a threat to the two most heavily used amateur VHF and UHF bands. An industry working group known as IWG-2A that is preparing draft US proposals for the 1997 World Radiocommunication Conference has before it a list of "candidate bands" for low-earth orbit mobile satellites ("little LEOs") that includes, among a number of others suggested for consideration, the 144 and 420 MHz bands. Little LEOs are intended mainly to offer commercial paging and other low-data-rate messaging services. The list of candidate bands was submitted by little LEO industry representatives at a meeting of IWG-2A on May 7. ARRL Technical Relations Manager Paul Rinaldo, W4RI, was present and objected strongly to the inclusion of these two bands. He was told that objections should be submitted in written comments, and the ARRL did so on May 15. At the same time the ARRL advised the industry participants in IWG-2A along with its chairman, Warren Richards of the Department of State, that if we did not receive assurance that the bands would be dropped from the list of candidate bands we would have no choice but to advise members in July QST that the bands were under threat. No such assurances were forthcoming. Instead, we were told that as long as little LEO allocations requirements remained unsatisfied, everything had to remain on the table. This response was not acceptable. Accordingly, when July QST went to the printer on Tuesday, May 28, it included the following editorial. The editorial speaks for itself, but it is worth emphasizing that there is no reason for panic. What we are dealing with is an ill-considered industry effort that is in its early stages; there is no reason to believe there is any government support for any move against these two amateur bands. Our mission is to quash the idea before it goes any further. An outpouring of thoughtful comment by amateurs, explaining why the public interest would not be served by the introduction of commercial services into these bands, will go a long way toward ensuring the desired outcome. The editorial may be reprinted in its entirety with the credit line: "Reprinted with permission from July 1996 QST." It Seems to Us, July 1996 QST: Write Now! Get out a pen and paper, or boot up your computer. There's work to be done! Your help is needed to defend two meters and 70 cm. Yes, that's right--the two most popular and crowded amateur VHF/UHF bands! But don't panic, and don't "go ballistic." Here's what's happening, and what you can do about it. The United States is preparing for the 1997 ITU World Radiocommunication Conference, WRC-97. In the past, the public has been able to participate in the preparations for such conferences by responding to FCC Notices of Inquiry. In March, the FCC announced a streamlining of its International Bureau's preparatory processes for WRCs. Under the new scheme, the NOIs have been eliminated in favor of increased emphasis on WRC Advisory Committees. For WRC-97, a series of Informal Working Groups (IWGs) of the Advisory Committee has been created to address specific agenda items. The output of each IWG will go directly to a joint FCC-NTIA-Department of State Steering Committee of the Advisory Committee. There, draft proposals as received from the IWGs will be reviewed and forwarded to the FCC for possible release as preliminary U.S. proposals for public comment. In announcing the streamlined WRC preparatory process, the FCC tried to reassure those who might be concerned about reduced opportunities for public participation: "Interested parties should note that input to the Advisory Committee may be sent at any time directly to the Chair of the WRC-97 Advisory Committee; the Chairs of the Advisory Committee's Informal Working Groups; Cecily C. Holiday, the FCC's federal officer of the WRC-97 Advisory Committee, or to Damon C. Ladson, the alternate federal officer." Hold that thought while we shift gears to the substance of the issue. One of the WRC-97 agenda items includes consideration of possible additional frequency allocations for the mobile-satellite service. So-called "little LEOs," low-earth orbit satellites below 1 GHz, already have allocations. Their proponents claim these are inadequate and are trying for more. The needs of little LEOs are being addressed in IWG-2A, chaired by Warren Richards of the Department of State. The ARRL technical relations staff participates in IWG-2A to represent Amateur Radio interests. At the May 7 IWG-2A meeting, an industry representative proposed a list of "candidate bands" for little LEOs. The list includes a number of bands that would negatively impact existing services, and does not include others that would be technically more feasible but to which strong objection from incumbents could be expected--the point being that some political, rather than purely technical, judgment already has influenced the list. Incredibly, 144-148 and 420-450 MHz were included on the list! This is the first time in memory that another service has been proposed for the two-meter amateur band. We must make sure it is also the last time. We do not need to explain to ARRL members the extensive use that is made of these bands by amateurs. The two bands provide the backbone of our local public service communications effort. Voice and data, mobile and fixed, even television--the list of present amateur uses is a long one, and of future uses is even longer. Both are already used for satellite services and for moonbounce and extended-range terrestrial operations requiring extremely sensitive receivers and high levels of effective radiated power. Apparently we did need to explain all this to the little LEO industry representatives, so we did just that--both at the meeting and in a followup letter on May 15. We also explained that we had to regard the matter as extremely serious. No one with the slightest background in radiocommunication could possibly believe that a mobile-satellite service could be introduced into either band without disrupting existing and future amateur operations. Therefore, we said, if we did not receive assurance that they would be taken off the list of candidate bands by the deadline for this issue of QST, we would have no choice but to bring the matter to the attention of the entire membership. The response we received was unsatisfactory. In effect, we were told the little LEO industry would consider our views but that until their spectrum needs are satisfied, all bands must remain under consideration. So, this is a call to action. We must get across to the industry and government participants in IWG-2A that the 144-148 MHz and 420-450 MHz bands cannot be considered as candidates for mobile-satellite services. We need to drive the point home so forcefully, with so many grassroots responses, that no one is ever tempted to try this again. Which brings us back to that invitation for "interested parties" to send input "at any time." There's no time like the present! Here are the key addresses, including those of the mobile-satellite industry folks who seem to have started the ruckus: Cecily C. Holiday, International Bureau, FCC, Washington, DC 20554; e-mail choliday@fcc.gov; fax 202-418-0748. Warren G. Richards, Chair, IWG-2A, Department of State, CIP 2529, Washington, DC 20520; e-mail richardswg@ms6820wpoa.us-state.gov; fax 202-647-7407. Tracey Weisler, FCC Rep, IWG-2A, International Bureau, FCC, Washington, DC 20554; e-mail tweisler@fcc.gov; fax 202-418-2824. Mary Kay Williams, Final Analysis, Inc, 7500 Greenway Center, Suite 1240, Greenbelt, MD 20770; fax 301-474-3228. Leslie Taylor, President, LTA, 6800 Carlynn Ct, Bethesda, MD 20817; e-mail ltaylor@lta.com; fax 301-229-3148. Do comment. But be civil. Don't abuse people who are simply doing their jobs. We have to get across that casting covetous eyes on amateur bands is counterproductive, and contrary to the public interest. To accomplish this we need a lot of comments, including yours. But remember that the objective is to educate and persuade, not to intimidate. We don't need to. The facts are on our side. To monitor the FCC's ongoing WRC-97 preparations, visit its WRC-97 home page at http://www.fcc.gov/ib/wrc97/. Write now. Right now!--David Sumner, K1ZZ KENWOOD ANNOUNCES NEW DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS Longing for a new Kenwood TS-870S or maybe a TM-733? Soon, you might find them in your local CB shop or truck stop. Citing concerns about the future of Amateur Radio and a changing business climate, Kenwood Communications Corp announced to its dealers on May 21 it's taking "some bold steps" to turn things around. Kenwood has appointed three new companies (as yet unnamed) to wholesale Kenwood Amateur Radio products "to CB radio stores, truck stops, 2-way radio stores, and electronic re-sellers," according to a letter to its dealer network. Kenwood says it believes its new distribution strategy will benefit the hobby by increasing the visibility of its Amateur Radio line through small dealers to help draw newcomers into the hobby. The company also says it plans to offer a new pamphlet or "primer" about Amateur Radio to introduce people to the hobby. The primer will be free. In addition, Kenwood will start selling Amateur Radio study guides and has urged its authorized dealer network to help distribute the new materials. In conjunction with its Kenwood Report--distributed to ham radio clubs--the company also plans to offer "incentives for local clubs to gain new members using the Kenwood Amateur Radio primer and licensing materials." In a May 28 letter to authorized dealers, Kenwood described the moves as "our first stage of activities to promote Amateur Radio." Kenwood says the extra step in the new distribution chain will guarantee that existing authorized dealers always have a price advantage over the smaller resellers. The company also denied rumors that it plans to exit the Amateur Radio market. MINNESOTA TOWER CHALLENGE DECIDED IN HAM'S FAVOR A Minnesota ham, Steven Fraasch, K0SF, of Corcoran, Minnesota, so far has successfully fended off attempts by a local golf course to keep him from maintaining a tower at his home. Last Summer, Fraasch got approval and a building permit from city officials to erect a 130-foot tower. But Rush Creek Golf Club which owns a golf course that adjoins the Goose Lake development where Fraasch lives went to court to block the tower project, citing environmental and aesthetic grounds and claiming the risk of irreparable damage. Fraasch lives on a 19-acre tract that includes wetlands. Rush Creek named both Fraasch and the City of Corcoran as defendants. However, the Fourth Judicial District Court denied a temporary restraining order, and Fraasch built the tower as planned. Earlier this year, Judge Robert Lynn ruled that Rush Creek had failed to establish its case. The court determined, among other things, that the tower does not pollute or impair the wetlands and would pose no threat to waterfowl and especially to trumpeter swans, and that the tower, while visible from surrounding points, "does not appreciably impair any scenic or aesthetic resources associated with the Goose Lake wetlands." The court also found that the tower "has far less visual impact on plaintiff's property than the adjacent farmyard filled with rusty old construction equipment as well as a nearby mobile home park." ARRL Volunteer Counsel Jay Bellows, K0QBE, who represents Fraasch, says Rush Creek's motion for amended findings or a new trial was denied, but he expects an appeal. Stay tuned! DOING THE BIRD Justin Dennis, KA0HKV, of Atkins, Iowa, was the grand prize winner of QUEST 43, Bird Electronic Corporation's year-long competition to locate the oldest working Model 43 Thruline Wattmeter. Bird says Dennis's Model 43 (serial no 71), made in 1952, still delivers accurate RF-power measurements 44 years later. Dennis said he bought the unit from a friend for $15. It earned him a 24-carat-gold-plated Model 43, a $1000 gift certificate and a brand new Model 43. First prize went to Bernie Wendoloski, W3YML, of Avoca, Pennsylvania (serial no 76). Wendoloski won a new Model 43 and a $500 gift certificate. Among the second prize winners in QUEST 43 were Edwin Ranson, K5ER, of San Diego, California (serial no 111); Gus Goings, WA4CPL, of Tavares, Florida (serial no 123); Paul Wieman, WB6ARQ, of Acton, California (serial no 129); and Fred Amis, KK4BD, Jacksonville, Florida (serial no 140). Second-prize winners got a new Model 43 and a $250 gift certificate. QUEST 43 winners were announced last month at the International Wireless Communications Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dennis said he plans to donate his vintage unit to Bird for display at the company's Solon, Ohio, facility. QUEST 43 was launched in April 1995 to help celebrate the production of 250,000 Model 43s. SUNSPOT MINIMUM STILL AHEAD Solar prognosticator Tad Cook, KT7H, reports four consecutive days of zero sunspots for the period May 16-22. The average solar flux was down five points from the previous period. Expect similar conditions through the rest of 1996 as we experience the solar minimum. A note from Shel Shallon, W6EL points out that the progress of any solar cycle is judged in terms of smoothed sunspot numbers, and that the smoothed number for a given month is an average of 13 months of data, centered on the month of interest. Therefore we won't really know when the sunspot cycle minimum has occurred until some time after the event. Shallon, the author of the popular Mini Prop propagation prediction software, goes on to say: ''Reports last year that the first spots from cycle 23 had been observed were erroneous. It is now believed that the first spot from cycle 23 was observed on May 10, 1996. Typically, the sunspot cycle minimum does not occur until at least 12 months following the appearance of the first spots of new cycle. Therefore, the minimum between cycles 22 and 23, and the official start of cycle 23, may not occur before May 1997.'' Current solar flux progress for the short term points to a slow rise to a peak just above 70 around June 7 or 8, followed by a drop below 70 around the middle of June. Sunspot numbers for May 16-22 were 26, 12, 0, 0, 0, 0 and 11, respectively, with a mean of 7. The 10.7-cm flux was 71, 71.2, 70.3, 68.8, 68, 66.9 and 66, respectively, with a mean of 68.9. YOUNG RESEARCHERS BEAT NASA TO PUNCH Two teen-aged researchers already know what NASA is spending $600,000 to find out: That magnetic rods stabilize spacecraft in the magnetic field of the earth! Using data they collected from AMSAT's WEBERSAT Amateur Radio satellite, James Wedewer, KE6QNL, and Justin Hartung have spent this school semester studying the motion of WEBERSAT over the magnetic poles of the earth and through the South Atlantic anomaly. WEBERSAT, an AMSAT microsat satellite, is stabilized with four bar magnetic rods interacting with the magnetic field of the earth. Both researchers were looking for signs of mutation or wobble over the poles and in the anomaly. After winning at their high school science fair, the youths took their work to the Los Angeles County science fair, where Justin received honorable mention and James won first place in Physics and Astronomy. James, 18, then competed in the International Fair in Tucson where he won the prestigious Air Force first-place medal and a Navy scholarship and placed fourth place in the Space Science division of the fair. At the California State science fair, James won another first place in Physics and space science. In all, James won $4750 in cash and scholarships. Justin, 15, is a freshman and James is a senior at Chaminade College Preparatory in West Hills, California, a school well-known for its research in microsat satellite motion.--AMSAT News Service __________________________________ In Brief . . . * There's a ham radio connection in the recent announcement that Kansas Gov Bill Graves has named Lt Gov Sheila Frahm to succeed Bob Dole in the US Senate. Sheila Frahm is a sister-in-law of ARRL Midwest Vice Director Bob Frahm, K0BJ. Sheila Frahm, a 51-year-old Republican, will serve in the Senate at least until November, when Kansas voters will choose a candidate to fill the last two years of Dole's term. * According to FCC statistics, as of the end of April, the number of licensees who are age 21or younger totaled 30,827. That's almost 500 more than at the end of March. * James E. Vann, KA4MHJ, of Spencer, Tennessee, recently was named a third-place winner in Cooper Industries' Volunteer Spirit Awards program. The program recognizes employees who are outstanding community volunteers. Jim, an ARES member in Van Buren County, Tennessee, helped establish a severe storm spotter group in Van Buren and White counties, in conjunction with the National Weather Service. He also organized training classes for spotters and put 911 on the repeater system. In conjunction with the award, The Cooper Industries Foundation awarded $1000 to the American Red Cross for disaster assistance in White and Van Buren counties. * The R.L. Drake Co of Miamisburg, Ohio, is now on-line and constructing a web site. Point your browser to http://www.rldrake.com. * The first practical power source using an all-plastic battery is under development at the Applied Physics Laboratory at The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. The battery uses polymers in place of conventional metallic electrodes and electrolytes. Early versions have demonstrated power up to 2.5 V and the ability to be recharged hundreds of times. The all-plastic battery is made of lightweight, non-toxic, readily available materials. APL is working on an integrated power source (IPS) that combines the new plastic battery with control circuitry for easy use and recharging. According to APL, IPS units ultimately can be made as thin as a credit card and cut or molded to any shape.--APL News * Work is now under way to upgrade the Arecibo Observatory's 1000-foot dish with a prime focus Gregorian feed. The new system will allow the entire surface of the dish to be used (a portion at any given time) and will result in an additional 6 to 8 dB of gain.--WA5VJB/West Coast VHFer =========================================================== The ARRL Letter is published by the American Radio Relay League, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax 860-594-0259. Rodney J. Stafford, KB6ZV, President; David Sumner, K1ZZ, Executive Vice President. Electronic edition circulation, Kathy Capodicasa, N1GZO, e-mail kcapodicasa@arrl.org. Editorial, Rick Lindquist, KX4V, e-mail rlindquist@arrl.org. The purpose of The ARRL Letter is to provide the essential news of interest to active, organizationally minded radio amateurs faster than it can be disseminated by our official journal, QST. We strive to be fast, accurate and readable in our reporting. 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