Barbara Irby, KC1KGS, writes on the ne-diversity list:
Attached are the minutes of the New England Diversity meeting of 2/18/22. Apologies for the delay.
W2NAF: “Ham Radio-Citizen Science Workshop,” RATPAC Zoom Presentation, March 2, 2022
Wednesday, March 2, RATPAC Zoom Presentation
Starts 10:00 PM AST / 9:00 PM EST / 8:00 PM CST / 7:00 PM MST / 6:00 PM PST / 5:00 PM AKST / 4:00 PM HST
TOPIC: Ham Radio-Citizen Science Workshop https://hamsci.org/hamsci2022
Speaker/Presenter: Dr. Nathaniel Frissell W2NAF
Assistant professor at the University of Scranton Department of Physics and Electrical Engineering
Be sure to check our future RATPAC scheduled presentation below.
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K1TWF Re-elected as First Vice President
Congratulations to Mike Raisbeck, K1TWF, of Chelmsford, MA who was re-elected as ARRL First Vice President at the ARRL Board of Directors meeting in Windsor, Connecticut on January 21-22, 2022.
Full details of the Officers and Executive Committee elections can be viewed at <http://www.arrl.org/news/view/arrl-board-of-directors-elects-officers-executive-committee>.
Comment Period to be Re-Opened on Forest Service Fees
David Siddall, K3ZJ, writes:
The Forest Service sent a Notice to the Federal Register yesterday announcing that they will re-open the window for comments on the proposed new $1400 annual administrative fee. This means that amateurs that may have missed the earlier comment period, or who wish to file additional arguments and information, can submit new filings between March 1 and March 31. A copy of the Notice to be published on March 1 is here: https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2022-04254.pdf. (This is completely public information.)
I notice that in several of the amateur comments sent me that there appears some confusion. The proposed fee is a new and separate fee, not an increase to fees (such as rent) already being paid. If adopted, the existing fee(s) – which generally have been around $130-140 annually for amateur uses – would have to be paid in addition to the new proposed annual administrative fee of $1400. IMHO, the fee would be so high because the proposal is to include amateur uses equally with those of commercial wireless entities such as broadcasters, cellular providers and broadband entities that require a much more significant presence and greater Forest Service support than amateurs.
[ARRL’s filed comments can be viewed at <https://www.regulations.gov/comment/FS-2022-0001-0749>.]
[Note: Beginning March 1, 2022, comments can be filed at <https://www.regulations.gov/document/FS-2022-0001-0001>.]
See also: ARRL to Oppose Forest Service Administative Fees for Amateur Facilities
Greater Bridgeport ARC’s New “CARES” Program to Provide Continuous Training to its Members
The Greater Bridgeport (CT) Amateur Radio Club has established a new program to provide continuous training to its members–both in the classroom and with on-air activities.
“The program is called “CARES – Continuing Amateur Radio Education & Skills,” says GBARC Public Information Officer and Past President Emily Starbrook, N1DID. “It’s our commitment to our members to help them achieve their goals. CARES believes that no ham should be left behind. Once someone has made the commitment to become a ham, we will make sure they have the skills and technical access to make the most of ham radio.”
CARES will consist of two “tracks.” Track A will target new hams, while Track B will be for ham who are on the air:
Typical Track – Classroom Topics
Track A – Basic Skills
● Buying a handheld radio
● Programming your radio
● Power Supplies
● VHF/UHF Antennas
● How to make a tape measure
Yagi Antenna
● Introduction to Foxhunts
● DMR/D-Star/Fusion
● Q-Codes
● Moving on to your General
Class License
Track B – Skill Building
● HF Privileges for Technicians
● Intro to Soldering
● Make a Cable with PL-259s
● Baluns and Chokes
● How to make a J-Pole Antenna
● Building an arduino based
foxhunt transmitter
● CW keyers and decoders
● Operating digital modes
● Building a multi-band antenna
● APRS and Packet
Typical On-Air Track Activities
Track A – Basic Skills
● Your first simplex contact
● Your first repeater contact
● New Ham Nets
● New Ham Ragchews
● Rookie Roundup Contests
● POTA/SOTA
Track B – Skill Building
● Simplex Nets
● Simulated Emergency Tests
● On-Air Group activities
● New England QSO Party
● Group POTA/LOTA
● Winter Field Day/Field Day
● Antenna Ranging
“The CARES program is for continuing education which doesn’t leave out the possibility of VE sessions,” says Starbrook. “But so much of what VEs do has moved online, so it is unlikely to become an in-person testing service anytime soon. Much self-paced training is available online that is highly effective for people who are motivated.” N1DID feels that GBARC will be much more effective in “offering help to people to navigate questions they have after they take advantage of those online resources.”
Amateur Radio in Ukraine Ordered Off the Air in State of Emergency
From ARRL Web:02/24/2022 – A state of emergency was declared in Ukraine just prior to the Russian military invasion. Among other things, the February 24 decree from President Volodymyr Zelensky will remain in effect at least for 30 days and may be extended. As published on the website of the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s unicameral legislative body, the state of emergency includes regulation of TV and radio activities and “a ban on the operation amateur radio transmitters for personal and collective use.”The decree also imposes a ban on mass events and on strikes and authorizes checking the documents of citizens, and if necessary, conducting searches on persons, vehicles, cargo, office space, and housing. A curfew could be imposed. “The situation changes rapidly,” IARU Region 1 Secretary Mats Espling, SM6EAN, said. “IARU Region 1 continues to monitor the development and expect all radio amateurs to follow their national laws and regulations.”
FCC: Amateur Service Licensees May Not Use Radio Equipment to Commit Criminal Acts
From ARRL Web:02/24/2022 – The FCC Enforcement Bureau has re-issued an earlier reminder that licensees in the Amateur Radio Service, as well as licensees and operators in the Personal Radio Services are prohibited from using radios in those services to commit or facilitate criminal acts. The FCC did not indicate what, if anything, prompted the renewed Enforcement Advisory or if it was just a routine announcement.“The Bureau recognizes that these services can be used for a wide range of permitted and socially beneficial purposes, including emergency communications and speech that is protected under the First Amendment of the US Constitution,” the FCC said. “Amateur and Personal Radio Services, however, may not be used to commit or facilitate crimes.”
As it did in advisories in 2021, the Enforcement Bureau is reminding amateur licensees that they may not transmit, “communications intended to facilitate a criminal act” or “messages encoded for the purpose of obscuring their meaning.”
“Likewise, individuals operating radios in the Personal Radio Services, a category that includes Citizens Band radios, Family Radio Service walkie-talkies, and General Mobile Radio Service, are prohibited from using those radios “in connection with any activity which is against Federal, State or local law.
“Individuals using radios in the Amateur or Personal Radio Services in this manner may be subject to severe penalties, including significant fines, seizure of the offending equipment, and, in some cases, criminal prosecution.
“To report a crime, contact your local law enforcement office or the FBI,” the FCC advised.
Blackstone Valley (RI) CW Classes
Bob Beaudet, W1YRC, writes in the March 2022 issue of Blackstone Valley ARC’s The Messenger:
The FCC, sometimes called the friendly candy company, dropped all Morse code proficiency testing from any of the Amateur radio exams administered after Feb. 23, 2007. Understandably, some rejoiced but some were disappointed because they wanted to learn code and use it on the air. At the time, some interpreted FCC’s action as ending all use of CW. Of course, that was never FCC’s intent.
Shortly after that date, there rose a small demand by some to learn CW after being licensed with a General or Extra class license. Responsible clubs that always try to provide service to their members and the community in which it resides, developed classes and taught Morse code to Extras and Generals who wanted to know and use the code. The classes also facilitated obtaining code practice material and keys. Statistics taken from submitted logs indicated strangely that the use of CW increased by about 15% nationwide in the years following FCC’s dropping the code exam requirement. We’re not sure why.
BVARC organized its third CW class in January, 2022 and unlike past classes, BVARC’s instructor, Bob, W1YRC, selected those who were “high pots” or high potentials to fill the class. On Feb. 16th, the fourth weekly class session was held in Bob’s kitchen. The actual learning of the Morse alphabet and numerals, together with a few pro signs and punctuation was learned at home by each student after the initial session which set down the format and expectations. Bob explained that there is no possible way that he can learn the code for the students. It’s like learning basic verbs in French or Latin. There’s no possible way that the teacher can learn it for the students.
However, once the 26 letters, 10 numbers and about 10 pro signs and Q signals are learned. Bob worked on the students’ smoothness in sending code. To add interest to the classes, the second half of each session is used to “show and tell” related topics; code keys, oscillators, QRP radios, dummy loads, etc. In order to maintain the students’ energy and interest, fresh baked apple, blueberry and pumpkin pies are usually offered along with a variety of other good things. I apologize for the few added pounds that seem to make their way into the CW bag. All our students are very happy that they have added a valuable tool to their tool box, a tool that will help them add plenty of DX to their log.
Students in the latest class are: Joe Campbell, KC1OPD; Marc Caouette, W1MCX; Mickey Callahan, K1WMC; Mike Kenney, K1ETA; Byron Kinniburgh, K1CYQ; Patty Vilnit, W1AUT and Ray Vilnit, KC1HQB. All are now able to copy and send at least 10+ wpm. They need more practice to smooth out their rhythm and feel more comfortable at the key. At least half participated in the recent ARRL CW DX Contest. If there is interest, another class will be formed and run through the program. Remember, accuracy transcends speed.
Spectrum Protection and Utilization Has a New Web Page
We’ve created a place to let the New England Division keep up to date on the work to preserve our frequencies and maximize their use. Our groups are working on ways to better find and eliminate noise and to coordinate the work of various mesh network groups throughout New England. We are also going to post any developments in pending FCC actions and any other current events that can affect our frequencies.
ARRL Board of Directors Meeting, January 2022 Minutes
Below is a link to Minutes for the January 2022 Annual Board of Directors Meeting. You may also access meeting agendas and minutes at www.arrl.org/board-meetings.
Annual Board of Directors Meeting January 2022 Minutes (PDF)