N4LCD

The Phonetic Alphabet from a picture I took inside a Minuteman II Missile Launch Center:

Youth@HamRadio.Fun: Ham Radio 2.0

Web 2.0 is the name that has been given to the second wind of the Internet evolution, characterized by new gadgets, new developments and new ways to have fun online. Amateur Radio is also experiencing a second wind, with more hams, more activity and more ways to enjoy the hobby than ever before. We are also experiencing a new marriage with the Internet, as well as a new immersion in social media.

The K7RA Solar Update

As soon as sunspot 1041 went over the horizon at the end of January, sunspot 1043 emerged, high in our Sun's northern hemisphere. The average daily sunspot number this week fell more than 13 points to 14.6, and average daily solar flux declined nearly 7 points to 75. The geomagnetic activity was up, and the average daily planetary A index rose 2 points to 5.1. Sunspot numbers for January 28-February 3 were 13, 12, 25, 14, 16, 11 and 11, with a mean of 14.6. The 10.7 cm flux was 76.3, 73.3, 75, 75.3, 75.3, 75.2 and 74.4, with a mean of 75. He estimated planetary A indices were 3, 2, 4, 3, 6, 9 and 9, with a mean of 5.1. The estimated mid-latitude A indices were 2, 0, 3, 3, 7, 7 and 7, with a mean of 4.1.

Surfin': Viewing the New Star of Ham Radio

This week, Surfin' explores D-STAR via the telescope known as “the Internet.”

Minutes of 2010 Annual Meeting Posted

The minutes of the 2010 Annual Meeting of the ARRL Board of Directors have now been posted to the ARRL Web site. The meeting -- which took place January 15-16 in Windsor, Connecticut -- saw the election of the League’s 15th President, Kay Craigie, N3KN, of Blacksburg, Virginia.

MARS Unifies Operation in Support of Haiti Relief Effort

To assist the MARS communications support effort in Haiti, the heads of the Army, Air Force, and Navy-Marine Corps MARS programs have agreed to divvy up responsibilities among the three Service MARS programs. According to Air Force MARS Public Information Officer David Trachtenberg, N4WWL/AFA3TR, this delegation of responsibility will facilitate more efficient utilization of MARS communications assets in the overall relief operation. On January 12, a 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti, killing thousands and wiped out the island nation's communication infrastructure.

ARRL Continuing Education Online Course Registration

Registration remains open through Sunday, February 21, 2010, for these online course sessions beginning on Friday, March 5, 2010: Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level 1; Antenna Modeling; Radio Frequency Interference; Antenna Design and Construction; Ham Radio (Technician) License Course; Propagation; Analog Electronics, and Digital Electronics.

300 Feet of Cooperation

A positive approach earns Georgia hams some state owned tower space.

NCVEC Releases Second Technician Question Pool

In January, the Question Pool Committee (QPC) of the National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (NCVEC) released the 2010 Technician (Element 2) Question Pool. Upon further review of the pool, members of the QPC found and corrected more than 50 minor typographical errors and clarified the questions and answers, making them easier to understand. These adopted changes are now incorporated in a revised question pool. The errata list, as well as the revised Technician question pool, is available on the NCVEC Web site. The previously released pool dated January 4, 2010 is invalid for use. The newly revised Technician question pool will become effective for all examinations administered on or after July 1, 2010; it will remain valid until June 30, 2014. The current Technician question pool that became effective July 1, 2006 will expire June 30, 2010. The new Technician pool contains approximately 400 questions, from which 35 are selected for an Element 2 examination; it will contain graphics and diagrams, something new for this element. The current General class question pool was effective July 1, 2007 and is valid through June 30, 2011. The current Amateur Extra class pool was effective July 1, 2008 and is valid until June 30, 2012.

2010 Field Day Packets Now Available

It’s that time of year again -- time to start gearing up for ARRL Field Day, June 26-27, 2010! ARRL’s flagship operating event -- always held the fourth full weekend in June -- brings together new and experienced hams for 24 hours of operating fun. Field Day packets are now available for download and include the complete rules (including changes for 2010), as well as other reference items such as forms, ARRL Section abbreviation list, entry submission instructions, a Frequently Asked Questions section, guidelines for getting bonus points, instructions for GOTA stations, a kit to publicize your event with the local press and more.

Illinois Teams with Amateur Radio Operators to Create RACES Program

A newly forged partnership between Amateur Radio operators throughout the state of Illinois and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) will provide an additional layer of emergency communications during disasters. The agreement creates the State Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services (RACES) program. Under the agreement, IEMA Director Andrew Velasquez appointed ARRL Illinois Section Emergency Coordinator Brad Pioveson, W9FX, of Benton as the volunteer State RACES Officer. Pioveson will serve as the single point of contact between IEMA and the Illinois Amateur Radio community.