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The ARRL Letter

Published by the American Radio Relay League
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July 8, 2010

Editor: S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA

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

- + Can I Have Amateur Radio for $1000, Alex?: Young Amateur Makes Her
Mark on Jeopardy!
- + On the Air: ARRL's 500 kHz Experiment Shows Slight Growth
- + ARRL Now on Facebook!
- + Coming Up in QST : Check out the August Issue of QST
- + Solar Update
- + Silent Key: Former ARRL Staffer Mike Kaczynski, W1OD (SK)
- This Week on the Radio
- ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration

+ Available on ARRL Audio News http://www.arrl.org/arrl-audio-news

== + CAN I HAVE AMATEUR RADIO FOR $1000, ALEX?: YOUNG AMATEUR MAKES
HER MARK ON JEOPARDY!

For hams who are fans of the television quiz show Jeopardy! -- where
contestants have to answer in the form of a question -- the July 6 show
was a real treat: Andrea Salt, KE7OPV, of Gilbert, Arizona, was a
contestant. But what makes Andrea's time on Jeopardy even more special
is that she is only 13. All this week, Jeopardy! is hosting their
annual Kids' Week. To be eligible to participate in Kids' Week, all
contestants must be between the ages of 10-13 and pass an online test
consisting of 30 questions. The questions cover a variety of categories
and the kids must answer each question within 20 seconds. And yes,
spelling does count! Read more here
http://www.arrl.org/news/can-i-amate...ng-amateur-mak
es-her-mark-on-jeopardy.

== + ON THE AIR: ARRL'S 500 KHZ EXPERIMENT SHOWS SLIGHT GROWTH

http://www.arrl.org/images/view/News/WD2XSH_Map0310-0510.JPG In
the quarterly report for the ARRL's 500 kHz Experimental Station for
the period ending May 2010, Experiment Coordinator Fritz Raab, W1FR,
reported that since the experiment began in late 2006, 20 of the 32
participating stations are currently active. The FCC's Office of
Engineering and Technology granted the WD2XSH experimental license to
the ARRL in September of that year. "Our present license grant expires
on August 1," Raab said. "We are planning to do an 'as-is' renewal this
month." Raab said that during the quarter, one additional QSO was made,
bringing the total number of WD2XSH contacts to 405. The WD2XSH Web
site has received 511 reports since the end of February, bringing the
total number of reports to 11,234 since the beginning of the issuance
of the experimental license. Raab said more than 60,000 hours of
activity has been logged on the Web site since September 2006. Stations
do not have to be members of the experimental team to post reception
reports. Read more here
http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-s-500-khz-experiment-shows-small-growth.

== + ARRL NOW ON FACEBOOK!

With more than 400 million active users, Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/ is the most popular social network site on
the Internet. And since radio amateurs are generally a social bunch,
many hams are active on Facebook. Thanks to Herman May, KE5HYW, the
ARRL has its own Facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#%2...Association-fo
r-Amateur-Radio/20069212407?ref=ts.
Check out the page to see a lot of features you won't find anywhere
else, such as pictures from ARRL events and interactive status updates.
We invite hams to "like" the ARRL Facebook page and leave productive
comments. Joining Facebook is free, and you just might be surprised at
who you'll find on the site.

== + COMING UP IN QST : CHECK OUT THE AUGUST ISSUE OF QST

The August issue of QST is jam-packed with all sorts of things
today's Amateur Radio operator needs. From product reviews to
experiments to contesting -- including April's EME event from the
Arecibo Observatory at the National Astronomical and Ionospheric Center
in Puerto Rico -- the upcoming issue of QST has something for just
about everyone.

One of the joys of Amateur Radio is building your own equipment;
there's nothing like putting something on the air that you've built
with your own two hands -- and a little solder and sweat. Not only is
it fun, it's a good way to not spend a lot of money. In his article
"Build a Two Finger Key," Burt VanderClute, N4ERM, explains how he put
together an effective dual-lever paddle at practically no cost using
only common household tools. In the television series Star Trek,
Captain Kirk was always asking Scotty for more power (and Scotty
usually replied that he was utilizing all the power available). Many
hams like using power, too, but what if we got rid of some of that
power? Phil Salas, AD5X, finds that sometimes throwing away power is
better than trying to reduce it in his article "Simplify Transceiver to
Amplifier Interfacing with an In-Line Attenuator."

Proving that you don't have to be a big gun with big antennas on a big
lot to work top band, Greg Crossman, WE0D, shows it can be done. In his
article "Earning 160 Meters WAS in 117 Days," Crossman relates how he
was able to work all 50 US states on topband from a lot with limited
space in a community with antenna restrictions. QST Editor Steve Ford,
WB8IMY, takes a look at how to make connections for your iPhone,
iTouch, iPod and iPad in his monthly column "Eclectic Technology." This
month, he builds on his April 2010 column that discussed Amateur Radio
apps for these devices. Now he explains how to make the proper
connections between your "iDevice" and your transceiver.

http://www.arrl.org/multimedia QST Technical Editor Joel Hallas,
W1ZR, takes a look at accessories for the Elecraft K3 HF/VHF modular
transceiver in this month's Product Review. "The K144XV internal 2
meter transverter, KDVR3 voice recorder and KAT3 internal automatic
antenna tuner integrate seamlessly and add even more functionality to
the versatile K3," he reports. Hallas also checked out a pair of Mirage
2 meter amplifiers for use with the K3. "Either the Mirage B-310-G or
the slightly larger B-2518-G can follow the K3 with its internal
transverter and deliver 75 W PEP SSB with reasonable distortion," he
said. "The smaller unit can also provide 100 W on CW or FM. The latter
can do better with a transverter that can put out a bit more power,
such as the external Elecraft XV144, delivering up to 110 W PEP on SSB
and 160 W on CW or FM. The preamps will only help with the K3 if you
have considerable line loss between amplifier and radio."

The results from February's ARRL DX CW Contest are also in the August
issue. There were a few upsets, as well as some new records set in this
ever-popular contest. Speaking of contests, you will also find official
announcements for the 2010 ARRL International EME Competition, the ARRL
August Rookie Roundup, the ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest and the 2010 ARRL
September VHF QSO Party. You will also find the results from the 2010
ARRL Photo Contest spread out over three pages in the August QST.

Of course, there are the usual columns you know and expect in the
August QST: Happenings, Hints & Kinks, The Doctor Is IN, How's DX,
Vintage Radio, Hamspeak and more. Look for your August issue of QST in
your mailbox. QST is the official journal of ARRL, the national
association for Amateur Radio. QST is just one of the many benefits of
ARRL membership. To join or renew your ARRL membership, please see the
ARRL Web page https://www.arrl.org/join-arrl-renew-membership/.

== + SOLAR UPDATE

Tad "Till the broad Sun withdraws his lessening ray
http://www.english.upenn.edu/Projects/knarf/Byron/charold2.html"
Cook, K7RA, reports: The average daily sunspot numbers for this week
rose from 11.7 to 16, back to the level that we saw two weeks ago. The
geomagnetic indices have quieted down, with average mid-latitude A
index dropping more than five points from the previous week. The latest
NOAA/USAF forecast shows a rising solar flux for July 8-10 of 74, 75
and 76 and then 78 for July 11. This is accompanied by a low planetary
A index of 5 on July 8, 8 on July 9, followed by 5 for July 10-13 and
then 8, 15, 8 and 5 for July 14-17. Look for more information,
including some 6 meter double-hop sporadic-E reports, on the ARRL Web
site on Friday, July 9. For more information concerning radio
propagation, visit the ARRL Technical Information Service Propagation
page http://www.arrl.org/propagation-of-rf-signals. This week's "Tad
Cookism" brought to you by George Gordon, Lord Byron's Childe Harold's
Pilgrimage
http://www.english.upenn.edu/Projects/knarf/Byron/charoldt.html
(Canto II
http://www.english.upenn.edu/Projects/knarf/Byron/charold2.html,
Verse XX).

== + SILENT KEY: FORMER ARRL STAFFER MIKE KACZYNSKI, W1OD (SK)

Michael B. Kaczynski, W1OD, of Bristol Connecticut, died
unexpectedly on Tuesday, July 6, 2010 at Bristol Hospital. He was 51.
An ARRL Life Member, Kaczynski worked at ARRL Headquarters from
1979-1987 starting off at the DXCC Desk, then becoming a Communications
Assistant, Technical Information Specialist, Lab Technician and
eventually an Assistant Technical Editor and Contest Manager; at the
time of his death, he was employed at ESPN. While at the ARRL, he
authored almost 50 articles in QST, including contest results and
product reviews. He was also President of the Newington Amateur Radio
League (NARL http://www.narl.net/) from 1991-1992 and a member of the
ARRL's A-1 Operator Club http://www.arrl.org/a-1-op. Kaczynski
enjoyed and was a member of many organizations related to bowling,
sport shooting, model airplanes, astronomy and geocaching. He also held
a private pilot's license. Funeral services will be held on Saturday,
July 10 at 10:30 AM at Funk Funeral Home in Bristol, followed by a Mass
of Christian Burial at St Stanislaus Church. Relatives and friends may
call at the funeral home on Friday between 4-8 PM. In lieu of flowers,
memorial donations may be made to the Kaczynski Scholarship Fund, c/o
St Stanislaus Church, 510 West St, Bristol, CT 06010 or to Special
Olympics, 2666 State St, Suite 1, Hamden, CT 06517-2232. Kaczynski's
family has set up a memorial Web site
http://www.funkfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Michael-B.-Kaczynski1811410971/
where friends may leave condolences.

== THIS WEEK ON THE RADIO

This week, the FISTS Summer Sprint is July 10 and the IARU HF World
Championship is July 10-11. Next week, North American QSO Party (RTTY),
the DMC RTTY Contest and the CQ Worldwide VHF Contest are July 17-18.
The Run for the Bacon QRP Contest is July 19. All dates, unless
otherwise stated, are UTC. See the ARRL Contest Branch page
http://www.arrl.org/contests, the ARRL Contest Update
http://www.arrl.org/The-ARRL-Contest-Update and the WA7BNM Contest
Calendar http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html for more
info. Looking for a Special Event station? Be sure to check out the
ARRL Special Event Station Web page
http://www.arrl.org/special-events.

== ARRL CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSE REGISTRATION

Registration remains open through Sunday, July 25, 2010, for these
online course sessions http://www.arrl.org/online-course-registration
beginning on Friday, August 6, 2010: Amateur Radio Emergency
Communications Level 1. To learn more, visit the CEP Course Listing
page http://www.arrl.org/online-courses or contact the Continuing
Education Program Coordinator .

The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 50 times each year. ARRL
members and registered guests may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe
by editing their profile
http://www.arrl.org/Users/edit#!/edit-info-email_subscriptions.

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Rights Reserved

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