July 5, 1996

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IN THIS UPDATE . . ..

FCC EXPLORES ELECTRONIC FILING OF FORMAL COMMENTS

The FCC has announced plans to open a proceeding to allow electronic filing of formal comments in rulemaking proceedings and on-line access to those comments. The announcement on June 24 "begins a process of revising outdated rules and clearing the way for the expanded use of new technologies at the FCC," the Commission said.

The action followed a Notice of Inquiry (PP 96-17) in February that asked how computer technology and the Internet could be used to improve FCC procedures. "The vast majority of commenters advocated expanded use of electronic filing," the Commission said. Current rules require formal comments be filed on paper, so a rulemaking proceeding is needed to permit comments filed via e-mail or on diskette to be treated the same as paper comments. (These rules do not apply to comments filed in regard to WRC-97 preparations, which already may be filed electronically.)

The Commission said "the challenge of meeting the workload and deadlines of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 has prompted the FCC to seek ways to make it easier for the public to file and review comments" and is consistent with efforts elsewhere in the government to expand the use of electronic filing by agencies.

FCC Chairman Reed Hundt said the proceeding "will allow us to eliminate outdated restrictions, and to use the Internet to better serve the public."--FCC

SAREX A HIT ABOARD STS-78 MISSION

Hams aboard the space shuttle Columbia made all 11 scheduled SAREX contacts with schools, plus QSOs with family members and plenty of random contacts with earthbound hams. The packet radio robot, W5RRR-1, also has been active. It seems those on both sides of these QSOs have been enjoying the experience.

A "wonderful SAREX contact" was reported from Monroe Elementary School, Santa Barbara, California. As 100 onlookers and TV and newspaper reporters stood by, eight students got to interview the astronauts. The school had snagged shuttle QSOs on the previous pass while setting up, as well as two days earlier. "Thanks to all of the NASA/SAREX folks for putting this together! These kids will never forget it," wrote Winnie Hennigan, KA6OFZ, and Jay Hennigan, WB6RDV.

From Anacortes Middle School, Anacortes, Washington, Julia Berry, KJ6VV, reports "a great SAREX contact" from the Naval Air Station, Whidbey Island. Pupils from Oak Harbor Middle School and Ft Langley Elementary School also participated and asked more than a dozen questions. They enjoyed both a scheduled direct contact plus a second unscheduled direct contact on the next orbit. Berry reports some 150 people were on hand for the scheduled SAREX QSO. "June 29 was a great day for us!" she reports.

Earlier in the mission, four crew members took a half-hour to answer questions during the shuttle Web's "Ask the Crew a Question" feature. SAREX volunteer Pat Kilroy, WD8LAQ, of Bowie, Maryland, asked astronaut Chuck Brady, N4BQW, about the importance of SAREX on this mission and on future International Space Station missions.

Calling SAREX "tremendously important," Brady explained that "the longer the stay [in space], the more important it is to have that kind of personal contact back to Earth, and it's something I think will play a real important role in helping morale, and keeping the psychological adjustment steady aboard station."

Brady mentioned one SAREX contact with the USS Essex, cruising about 1000 miles off the coast of San Diego. "They'd been on quite a long deployment, and I think really enjoyed it from their end and we certainly did here on board Columbia."

Michael Schlabach, KB7YVM, of West Linn, Oregon, was thrilled to contact the shuttle and get a 53 report from astronaut Susan Helms, KC7NHZ, of Portland, Oregon. Michael reports that Susan "talked excitedly about the Pacific Northwest and meticulously made sure that she captured the appropriate QSL information. I could really tell that she had a ton of energy and enjoyed what she was doing. It was one of the most exciting things that I have ever experienced, and I thank all of the people involved in making SAREX a reality, and the shuttle crew members who take the time in their frantic schedules to talk with earthbound amateurs. Keep it up!"

Columbia's crew performed orbital high-fives when told of the decision to extend the mission by one day to allow for additional science data-gathering. The mission now is set to end July 7. The call to the STS-78 crew came last weekend while the payload crew worked on many of the 40 experiments that make up the Life and Microgravity Spacelab mission. Columbia's 20th space flight is now likely to break the space shuttle endurance record. The spacecraft's current orbit is circular at 168 statute miles, circling Earth every 90 minutes.

Due to the high atmospheric drag being experienced by the space shuttle, accurate orbital predictions demand frequent Keplerian data orbital element set updates. Check NASA's Shuttle Web site, http://shuttle.nasa.gov/, or W1AW bulletins for the latest information.

The crew uses separate receive and transmit frequencies. Please do not transmit on the shuttle's downlink frequency. The downlink is your receiving frequency. The uplink is your transmitting frequency. The crew will not favor any of the uplink frequencies, so your ability to communicate with SAREX will be the "luck of the draw." Transmit only when the shuttle is within range of your station and when the shuttle's station is on the air. Here are the SAREX frequencies:

  • Worldwide FM Voice Downlink: 145.55 MHz
  • FM Voice Uplink (except Europe): 144.91, 144.93, 144.95, 144.97, and 144.99 MHz
  • Europe-only FM Voice Uplink: 144.70, 144.75, and 144.80 MHz
  • FM Packet Downlink: 145.55 MHz
  • FM Packet Uplink: 144.49 MHz
SAREX reception reports and QSL cards should be sent to: ARRL EAD, STS-78 QSL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111-1494. Include the following information in your QSL or report: STS-78, date, time in UTC, frequency and mode. In addition, an SASE using a large, business-sized envelope must be included if you wish to receive a card. "The Net" in Anacortes, Washington, has generously volunteered to manage the cards for this mission.

SISTER ALVERNA'S SUBSTITUTE AT HANDI-HAMS SIDELINED

Maureen Pranghofer, KF0I, who'd been filling in for the recuperating Sister Alverna O'Laughlin, WA0SGJ, at HANDI-HAMS, was herself injured in an auto accident June 30. Maureen and her husband Paul both were hospitalized as a result of the mishap, which happened near Annandale, Minnesota, as the Pranghofers were returning from a family reunion. Maureen's injuries were to her knees, and she underwent reconstructive surgery July 1. Paul broke an ankle and some ribs. They are in the same room at North Memorial Hospital, Robbinsdale, Minnesota.

Maureen had just rejoined the staff at HANDI-HAMS, filling in for Sister Alverna, who was injured in an auto accident in May. Maureen is active in blind and disabled issues, is an Internet user, and is on the Advisory Board of the Morse 2000 project. (Morse 2000 promotes research in and use of Morse code in rehabilitation and education. It is a collaborative effort of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire School of Nursing/Human Sciences & Services Outreach, the Johns Hopkins University Center for Technology in Education, and the Trace Research and Development Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.) Paul also earned his Amateur Radio license through HANDI-HAMS, but has not been active in recent years.

We wish the Pranghofers a speedy recovery!--Pat Tice, WA0TDA, Manager, Courage HANDI-HAM

AMSAT-NA BOARD MEETS

The AMSAT-NA board of directors met June 29 in Silver Spring, Maryland. Topping the agenda was approval of a set of recommendations to the IARU Future of the Amateur Service Committee (FASC), which working on possible IARU positions for the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) in 1999. IARU had asked AMSAT-NA and other overseas AMSAT organizations for their views particularly with respect to possible changes to international rules governing the amateur-satellite service. The document the board approved--written principally by Ray Soifer, W2RS, AMSAT-NA's vice president for international affairs--calls for retention of the current status in which the amateur service and the amateur-satellite service are defined separately. The board concluded that there are many advantages to retain these as separate services.

The approved document addresses both the need for satellite command stations to send encoded signals to satellites and the content of messages. Current rules governing the amateur service and the amateur satellite service are quite restrictive. The board agreed that some relaxation is called for to facilitate the transmission of scientific data via amateur satellites that may not necessarily be related to radio techniques.

Other subjects covered by the board included a decision to not pursue electronic distribution of the AMSAT Journal; further initiatives with respect to cooperation with educational institutions and a call for discussions between proponents of spread spectrum communication and those who have reservations concerning it.--AMSAT News Service/Bill Tynan, W3XO

OL' SOL SHOWS HIS SPOTS

Solar seer Tad Cook, KT7H, in Seattle, Washington, reports that solar activity is still very low, although there were visible spots on the sun's surface every day of the reporting period, June 20-26. Average solar flux was up about 3 points, and the A index was in the single digits. Solar flux peaked up just over 70, and it is expected to drop below 70 around July 7, reaching back up to 70 again around July 17. In the vicinity of July 16, we could see a slight recurring geomagnetic instability, although some smaller disturbances could appear earlier in the month.

Sunspot numbers for June 20 through 26 were 22, 33, 23, 23, 25, 23 and 25, respectively, with a mean of 24.9. The 10.7-cm flux was 69.7, 70, 69.7, 68.6, 72.3, 71.9, and 71.8 respectively, with a mean of 70.6.

ARRL OFFICIALS COMBINE BUSINESS WITH FIELD DAY PLEASURE

If you worked WA2DHF during Field Day, you worked one of a group of frustrated FD ops. Finding no other date available, Ad Hoc Repeater Committee Chairman and Rocky Mountain Division Director Marshall Quiat, AG0X, called a meeting of the committee for (gulp!) Field Day. Realizing that all of the League's officials love operating Field Day, First Vice President Steve Mendelsohn, WA2DHF, toted his Yaesu FT-990, Bencher key, portable computer and Hustler mobile antenna to the meeting.

Following the committee's deliberations, the multi-op station was set up with the antenna hanging over the 14th floor balcony of the Dallas Airport Marriott. In addition to Mendelsohn and Quiat, operators included ARRL President Rod Stafford, KB6ZV; Vice President Hugh Turnbull, W3ABC; Executive Vice President Dave Sumner, K1ZZ; and League Counsel Chris Imlay, N3AKD.

Operating for four hours on Saturday night, with 40-meter CW the centerpiece of activity, the group managed 135 QSOs before the telling of Field Day stories outweighed the desire to operate. Should a committee chairman call a meeting on Field Day next year, the group decided it would be mandatory that the chairman also bring the generator.

PHANTOMS HELP NAB "THE PHANTOM JAMMER"

The Phantoms Amateur Radio Group (PARG) of Portland, Oregon, is claiming credit for helping police to nab "The Phantom Jammer," who was interfering with police calls in Seaside, Oregon, during the Northwest Division Convention in early June. John Mackey, KA0SSF, of PARG reports members were on the beach enjoying the annual PARG bonfire when KB7YZS heard someone "cursing and yelling at people" on the VHF police frequency, which he was monitoring at the time. After a few minutes of listening, members figured out that the person was up in a balcony and was with a mixed group. KB7YZS, KB7YZR, N7XMD, and AA7UP (who just happen to be most of the PARG Interference Committee) immediately activated direction-finding operations and tracked down the interference to a local motel. It only took them a few minutes to spot a group on a balcony, one of whom was using an H-T. After noting that the transmissions coincided with what they heard on the police frequency, PARG informed Seaside Police. A short time later, Mackey reports, Seaside Police "caught the person in the act."

Seaside Police subsequently charged Bobby Lee Aguero, KE6VNU, of Rocklin, California, with interfering with a police officer. As we've already reported in The ARRL Letter and in QST, Aguero, 19, already faces similar charges in California.

Mackey said this was the second consecutive year PARG got to provide a public service during the Seaside convention. Last year several PARG members apprehended a purse thief--after a brief foot pursuit--returned the purse to its rightful owner, and detained the suspect until police could arrive. PARG has a Web page at http://www.teleport.com/~mscott/dumb.shtml. The group's current president is Justin Bousquet, AB7NG.

WRTC SEEKS DONATIONS

The World Radiosport Team Championship, WRTC 96, seeks financial contributions to complete financing of the competition July 13-14. WRTC 96 will bring together 52 teams of contest winners from 30 countries, 2 exhibition teams from Latvia and The Peoples' Republic of China, 20 judges and 40 referees (contesters judging the competition). The World Radiosport Team Championship will be held as a sub-event of the IARU World Championship. Teams using 11 call signs will operate comparable 100-W stations from California's San Francisco Bay Area. WRTC 96 has raised most of its $75,000 budget for local expenses and has major sponsorships from ICOM, Yaesu, HRO, Shell Oil, NCDXF, CQ and the ARRL. Sponsors now seek donations from individuals to "help get us the rest of the way."

Donations are tax-deductible. Send them to the WRTC 96 Fund, Northern California DX Foundation, PO Box 2368, Stanford, CA 94309-2368. WRTC also had several items of new, donated equipment for sale. For more information, contact WRTC 96 Treasurer Dave Leeson, W6QHS, at dbleeson@mcimail.com.

NEW LIFE FOR OLD HEATHKITS?

The ARRL Lab's Mike Tracy, KC1SX, has uncovered a possible source for surplus Heathkit parts that Heath sold off a number of years ago. It's Spectrum Electronics, Eastern Avenue SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49507, tel 616-742-0613. Mike says that although Spectrum Electronics is strictly a repair business, if you let them know what specific Heath part number you are looking for, they may be able to provide it. However, he emphasizes that you be specific and use part numbers. For example, don't ask for "the plate cap in the SB-200."

Heathkit manuals often are available from: Hi-Manuals, PO Box 802, Council Bluffs, IA 51502-0802, tel 712-323-9737; Manuals Plus (test equipment manuals only), PO Box 549, Tooele, UT 84074, tel 801-882-7188; or W7FG Vintage Manuals, 3300 Wayside Dr, Bartlesville, OK 74006, tel 800-807-6146 or 918-333-3754; e-mail w7fg@eigen.net; WWW, http://newton.eigen.net/w7fg/.

NEW ARRAYS TO AUGMENT MIR SPACE STATION

A new solar array on the Mir space station could have both a positive and a negative impact on Amateur Radio activities involving the orbital complex. In late May, Mir cosmonauts deployed the US/Russian solar array that will increase the space station's power capability, extend its lifetime and support Mir-based research.

The solar array, known as the Mir Cooperative Solar Array (MCSA), was delivered to Mir during the second shuttle/Mir docking mission last November (STS-74). During a six-hour spacewalk on May 28, cosmonauts Yuri Onufrienko and Yuri Usachev--with US astronaut Shannon Lucid looking on from inside--handcranked the deployment mechanism that unstacked the new solar array, similar to the stretching of an accordion.

The Mir Cooperative Solar Array has a solar panel surface area of 42 square meters, consisting of 84 panel modules, each containing 80 silicon solar cells. Each cell produces approximately 1 W of power when exposed to the Sun. The deployed array will provide 6 kW of power, helping to boost Mir's energy production and enabling joint US/Russian microgravity and life-science research.

Matt Bordelon, KC5BTL--NASA principal investigator/trainer and a member of the SAREX Working Group--says the new array could mean more ham radio on-air time for R0MIR, since the space station will have more power. However, he points out that because Mir has an assortment of solar arrays in various locations, there's a chance that the arrays could block or interfere with ham radio signals.

In addition, he notes that Mir typically is positioned to always point at the Sun so the array used for energy collection will receive the maximum possible sunlight for the longest possible time. This also means that Mir is constantly changing position with respect to Earth (during the night part of the pass, the array is pointed toward Earth because the Sun is on the other side). Using the new solar array as the primary array, the spacecraft's inertial attitude will be slightly different than with the old arrays.

"From personal experience, I know that the times I've contacted Mir at W5RRR, there are some passes where I lose contact with the station at the end of the pass," Bordelon said. "Then, we are able to hear Mir for the next three minutes until it reaches the horizon. But the Mir is unable to hear us."

Overall, however, Bordelon does not anticipate any serious problems resulting from the array's installation. "I think for the most part, many Amateur Radio operators will not notice the difference," he concluded.

For more information on ham radio aboard the Mir complex, check out Bordelon's home page at http://www.phoenix.net/~mbordel/sarex/mir/jscmir.html, which has several links to other Mir-related pages.

MORRIS F. SHEPHERD, W7LVI, SK

Well-known CW contester Morris F "Morrie" Shepherd, W7LVI, of Mercer Island, Washington, died on or about June 20. He was 76. He was trustee of the Western Washington DX Club station, W7FR. DXer and contester Danny Eskenazi, K7SS, says Morrie "was extremely loyal the Western Washington DX Club gang, and made a special effort to find any member who was trying for a good score. It won't be the same without him."

In Brief . . .

  • The FCC lists the number of new Amateur Radio licensees for the month of May as 3,301--another good monthly total.
  • The DXCC Desk reports that the number of unprocessed applications at the end of June, 1996 was 53 (5,559 QSLs). The desk received 328 applications (22,176 QSLs) for endorsements and new awards during the month. Applications being sent out at month's end were received a couple of days earlier. A few applications received prior to that time were waiting for paper records to be converted, or were being audited, and so had not yet been completed.
  • AEA has a new Internet site. It's http://www.aeainc.com. The Lynnwood, Washington, company's Web site includes information about the company, its products, upgrading and purchasing.
  • The Weather Satellite Report has been acquired by Woodhouse Communication of Plainwell, Michigan. The quarterly magazine of earth and atmospheric imagery from space is in its seventh year. It was formerly published by R. Myers Communications of Fountain Hills, Arizona. For more information, call Woodhouse Communication, tel 616-226-8873; e-mail view2earth@aol.com.

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.

Visit the ARRL's Web site at http://www.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.

Material from The ARRL Letter may be reproduced in whole or in part, in any form, including photoreproduction and electronic databanks, provided that credit is given to The ARRL Letter and The American Radio Relay League.