 
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 17, No. 8
February 20, 1998
__________________________________
=>Address Changes: Kathy Capodicasa, N1GZO, e-mail kcapodicasa@arrl.org
=>Editorial: Rick Lindquist, N1RL, e-mail elindquist@arrl.org
=>ARRL Audio News is available at http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/
    or by telephone at 860-594-0384.
__________________________________

IN THIS EDITION:

* +School QSOs with Mir announced; R0MIR on FM voice
* +FCC's Amateur Radio computer system down
* +Two hams assigned to John Glenn flight
* +Phase 3D closer to reality
* +Radio Coaches program ready to roll
*  Solar update
*  Olof W. H. Johnson, W1JY, SK
*  IN BRIEF: This weekend on the radio;
   HQ employment opportunity; IOY
   nominations deadline near; Hams help in
   apartment house fire; K1CE at Hurricane
   Center confab; TWIAR celebrates with
   special event station; NFCC Board, officers
   elected; Crossword goof; Canadian hams
   honored; New LF beacon in EI

+Available on ARRL Audio News
__________________________________

FOUR SCHOOLS SCHEDULED FOR MIR QSOs

The SAREX Working Group has announced that four schools have been
tentatively scheduled for school-to-Mir contacts in the very near future. If
all goes as planned, students at the schools will get to talk with US
astronaut Andy Thomas, KD5CHF/VK5MIR, who arrived aboard the Russian space
station in late January.

Schools on the "prime" contact list include Shell Beach Elementary School,
in Pismo Beach, California; Prairie Hills Elementary School, Colorado
Springs, Colorado; Buist Academy, Charleston, South Carolina; and Carey
Junior High School, Cheyenne, Wyoming. Arranging the contact schedule has
taken several months and was complicated by equipment problems aboard Mir
and--more recently--the change in crews.

Sources at NASA say the contacts could happen within the next two weeks, and
possibly as early as next week.

The schools involved have been given tentative QSO dates, but these could
change. "There is always a possibility of a delay with SAREX schedules,"
warns ARRL Educational Programs Coordinator Glenn Swanson, KB1GW. "Such is
the nature of any experiment."

A typical Mir pass lasts approximately ten minutes, during which students
will interview the spacecraft's crew by asking prepared questions. Also
aboard Mir are two Russian cosmonauts--both hams: Talgat Musabayev, RO3FT,
and Nikolai Budarin, RV3FB (ex-RV3DB/R4MIR).

The school contacts will be a new experience both for the pupils on Earth
and for Thomas aboard Mir. So far, Thomas has logged very little time on the
spacecraft's Amateur Radio equipment because of the crew's busy schedule,
but he did make some contacts this week on 440 MHz, using the R0MIR call
sign. Al Emer, N2YAC, in Holmdel, New Jersey, talked to Thomas for about six
minutes on February 17 at around 1825 UTC.

"He seemed to be in no rush to get off the air," Emer said. "He's a real
ham. He likes to talk!" Emer said he wished his son, Sean, had been there
for the contact, but he was still at school. N2YAC was running 12 W to KLM
14C and 18C circularly polarized antennas at the time of the contact. He
reported good signals on both ends.

Russian crew members Anatoly Solovyov and Pavel Vinogradov left for home in
a Soyuz capsule on February 19--the 12th anniversary of the Mir's
launch--and returned to Earth in a raging snowstorm. They had been on Mir
since last August. Departing with them was French researcher Leopold
Eyharts. Thomas, 46, will remain aboard Mir until June. It's not yet been
decided if another US astronaut will succeed him on the Russian space
station.

FCC AMATEUR RADIO COMPUTER SYSTEM DOWN

The FCC says it hopes to have its Amateur Radio licensing computer system,
down since February 10, back on line by February 21. No paper or electronic
applications have been processed since the computer system stopped
functioning.

FCC sources attribute the situation to a combination of problems and say
three people are working on it. Late word from Gettysburg was that personnel
will try to process data submitted on February 11 and 12 by VECs. If all
goes well, the FCC will have an updated file available for Internet call
sign servers on February 21. The FCC's computer system has failed before,
but never for this long.

Again pending successful testing, on February 23 the FCC plans to ask VECs
to send on the applications they've been holding back at the FCC's request.

The situation has frustrated those who have been hoping to learn their new
call signs or to check on updated licensing status. Call sign servers on the
Internet also have been affected.

Earlier this week, the FCC apologized to VECs and asked them to not file any
Amateur Radio applications. "We are sorry for the inconvenience," the FCC
said.

TWO HAMS ASSIGNED TO JOHN GLENN FLIGHT

Two hams--US Astronaut Scott Parazynski, KC5RSY, and European Space Agency
astronaut Pedro Duque, KC5RGG, of Spain--will be among an international crew
this fall when US Senator John Glenn gets his second chance at space travel.
The STS-95 mission will mark the third shuttle flight for Parazynski, a
medical doctor who trained for a stay aboard Mir but had to be reassigned
after it was determined he was too tall to fit the Russian space suits worn
aboard the Soyuz.

It's still not known at this time if the Shuttle Amateur Radio EXperiment
(SAREX) payload will be aboard STS-95, which is scheduled to go up in
October. The launch date for the only scheduled SAREX mission, STS-93, has
slipped from August to December. The STS-95 flight that will carry the
United States' newest and oldest astronaut into space has been under
consideration for several months as a possible SAREX flight. Nothing has
been confirmed yet, however. Crew members now are looking at possible
secondary payloads for the mission. Glenn, who will be 77 when he goes into
space again, has begun his astronaut training. He has undergone extensive
medical tests. This week, he spent time in a centrifuge for the first time
in decades.

Other members of the STS-95 crew include Japanese astronaut and cardiologist
Chiaki Mukai, and Americans Steve Lindsey and Steve Robinson. Commanding
STS-95 will be shuttle veteran Curt Brown.

PHASE 3D CLOSER TO REALITY

The Phase 3D Amateur Radio satellite is approximately 90% complete, and work
continues at the Integration Lab in Orlando, Florida, to get the package
ready for launch later this year. AMSAT officials remain optimistic that the
Phase 3D payload can hitch a ride aboard the European Space Agency's next
Ariane test flight, AR-503. It's expected that AR-503 will lift off in late
spring or early summer from Kourou, French Guiana.

QST Managing Editor and satellite columnist Steve Ford, WB8IMY, recently
visited the Integration Lab. He says he was impressed by the way the AMSAT
Phase 3D team has managed to keep down costs by manufacturing many
expensive-to-buy items themselves. "In the best ham tradition," Ford says,
"they also 'shopped smart,' getting donated gear and components whenever
possible or procuring components at bargain prices."

Ford and other presenters attracted nearly three dozen satellite enthusiasts
to a workshop during the Orlando Hamcation the weekend of February 13 and
14. Ford says the workshop attempted to bust the myths that satellites are
hard to work and that setting up a satellite station is expensive. Other
presenters in the five-hour session included Barry Baines, WD4ASW, Steve
Bible, N7HPR, Dick Jansson, WD4FAB, and Keith Pugh, W5IU.

RADIO COACHES PROGRAM READY TO ROLL

The ARRL's Radio Coaches program staff reports that the League has received
more than 100 requests for application materials for the new youth-oriented
club program.

Radio Coaches stems from the kickoff of America's Promise, the Alliance for
Youth, a national campaign to improve the lives of the nation's young people
and put them on paths to brighter, more productive futures. The ARRL Board
of Directors authorized the creation of the Radio Coaches program as Amateur
Radio's commitment to youth.

Through Radio Coaches, we want to reinforce the idea that Amateur Radio is a
"sport for the brain." Ham radio provides not only a lifetime of enjoyment,
but also, potentially,  a lifetime career.

Special Radio Coaches binders full of additional program information,
advisor sheets and student handouts will go out soon to all those who have
requested a program application.

It's not too late to get your club involved! For more information on Radio
Coaches or to sign up your club, contact Jennifer Gagne, N1TDY,
860-594-0328; e-mail coaches@arrl.org.

SOLAR UPDATE

Solar prognosticator Tad Cook, K7VVV, Seattle, Washington, reports: Solar
activity was way up this week, with average solar flux increasing by almost
18 and average sunspot numbers up nearly 34 points. Solar flux was above the
average of 96 for the previous 90 days on five out of seven days this week.
Solar flux peaked on Sunday at 107.3. This value last topped out at 108.3
three weeks earlier. A February 14 coronal mass ejection caused disturbed
conditions a few days later, resulting in planetary geomagnetic A indices of
14 and 26.

As this report was being written on Thursday evening the solar flux had
dropped to 98.5. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday the flux is predicted to be
97, 95 and 95. Over the next few weeks solar flux is predicted to drift
toward the mid to low 80s after March 1, then rise to the mid-90s by the
middle of March.

As daylight lengthens in the northern hemisphere, expect more openings on 15
meters during periods of high solar flux. Look for fair conditions during
the ARRL International CW DX Contest this weekend, with no predicted
geomagnetic conditions.

Sunspot numbers for February 12 through 18 were 67, 62, 88, 86, 88, 85 and
64 with a mean of 77.1. The 10.7-cm flux was 90.6, 94.7, 104.8, 107.3,
106.8, 104.9 and 103.3, with a mean of 101.8, and estimated planetary A
indices were 8, 6, 5, 3, 3, 14, and 26, with a mean of 9.3.

OLOF W. H. JOHNSON, W1JY, SK

Veteran New Hampshire Section Technical Coordinator Olof W. H. "Johnny"
Johnson, W1JY, of Bristol, New Hampshire, died February 14, 1998, after a
brief illness. He was 84 and had served as New Hampshire TC for 12
years--from 1985 until June 1997, when he retired.

New Hampshire Section Manager Al Shuman, N1FIK, recalled Johnson fondly. "I
would refer calls from hams to him and later find out later that he had
traveled across New Hampshire to investigate a RF problem only to help
someone resolder a connector," he said. "He gave us the best kind of example
to follow."

Johnson was a member of the ARRL, the Central New Hampshire Amateur Radio
Club, and the New Hampshire Repeater Association.

A Massachusetts native, Johnson became interested in radio as a youngster
when he heard transmissions from pioneer broadcaster KDKA in Pittsburgh in
1920. In 1932, he got his ham ticket, W1JCT, while serving aboard an ice
breaker for the US Coast Guard. He retired from the Coast Guard as a
lieutenant following 30 years service. He later worked for Lockheed Sanders
on electronic countermeasures systems for the U2 spy plane.

A memorial service was held February 18. Survivors include his wife, Helen,
and two sons.--Al Shuman, N1FIK

__________________________________

IN BRIEF:

* This weekend on the radio: Topping the competition is the ARRL
International DX Contest (CW). See February QST, page 95, for details.

* HQ employment opportunity: The ARRL/VEC seeks a fulltime amateur license
information supervisor to work at ARRL Headquarters in Newington,
Connecticut, weekdays from 12 noon until 8 PM. The amateur license
information supervisor will be responsible for operational oversight of the
ARRL/VEC's week night license information service and its week night
publications and membership-sales service. The individual will directly
supervise some part-time staff members. Knowledge of the Amateur Radio
Service licensing system and of ARRL membership and publications is a plus.
The base salary for this position is $17,433, depending upon qualifications.
For more information, contact Bart Jahnke, VEC Manager, ARRL/VEC, 225 Main
St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0251; e-mail bjahnke@arrl.org. The ARRL
is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

* IOY nomination deadline near: Saturday, February 28, is the deadline to
send ARRL Instructor of the Year awards nominations to ARRL Section
Managers. Each year, the ARRL Board of Directors selects recipients for each
of four award categories. The ARRL Herb S. Brier (W9AD) Instructor of the
Year Award is presented to an unpaid volunteer instructor. The ARRL
Professional Educator of the Year Award is presented to a paid,
professional, state-certified teacher. The ARRL Professional Instructor of
the Year Award is presented to a paid instructor who is not state-certified.
The ARRL Excellence in Recruiting Award is presented to an individual who
recruits more than teaches. Section Managers forward nominations to the
Educational Activities Department at ARRL, and EAD will send details to
nominees about how to compete for the awards. See page 12 in any QST for
your Section Manager's name and address. More information and nominating
forms can be found on the ARRLWeb at http://www.arrl.org/ead/award/. For
further information, e-mail ead@arrl.org.

* Hams help in apartment house fire: Westchester County (New York) ARES was
called out February 10 for the second time in three weeks to provide
communication assistance during a major apartment building fire. Hams
shadowed Westchester County Red Cross officials and provided communication
at the chapter headquarters and at a shelter set up at White Plains High
School. Nine ARES members participated. Recently, two Westchester County
ARES/RACES members--Dwight Smith, N2FMC, ARES AEC and Repeater Operations
Director for the Westchester Emergency Communications Association and Joe
Bruno, WB2VVS, ARES DEC for Southern ENY, and RACES Radio Officer--along
with many volunteer fire and EMS personnel, were awarded citations for their
help in the Northern New York ice storm recovery.--Westchester County EC
Alan Crosswell, N2YGK

* K1CE at Hurricane Center confab: ARRL Field Services Manager Rick Palm,
K1CE, was a presenter at the third annual Amateur Radio Conference at the
National Hurricane Center in Florida on February 7. Palm also conducted a
forum at the Miami Tropical Hamboree with South Florida Section Manager
Robert "Rip" Van Winkle, AA4HT, and later visited the headquarters of the
Association of Public-safety Communications Officials (APCO) in South
Daytona Beach. APCO has 13,000 members and a staff of 50.

* TWIAR celebrates with special event station: This Week in Amateur Radio
will celebrate its fifth anniversary of providing Amateur Radio news,
information, and features via satellite and the Internet with a special
event station. The call sign W2T will be on the air from February 28 until
March 14. A commemorative QSL card will be available to all who QSL with an
SASE to Stephan Anderman, K2SMA, 183 Pine Ln, Stillwater, NY 12170-1259.

* NFCC Board, officers elected: The National Frequency Coordinators' Council
(NFCC) completed its second directors' election on January 14. The new
National Frequency Coordinators' Board includes Whit Brown, WB0CJX, Clay
Freinwald, K7CR, Dick Isely, W9GIG, Dave Shiplett, AC4MU, and Owen Wormser,
K6LEW. On January 24, after several days of discussion, the Board chose NFCC
officers and Board officers as follows: Dick Isely, W9GIG, president, Whit
Brown, WB0CJX, vice president; Clay Freinwald, K7CR, secretary; Dave
Shiplett, AC4MU, treasurer. Isely also will service as Board chairman;
Freinwald will be vice chairman. All officers will serve until the next NFCC
directors' election in September.--Dick Isely, W9GIG

* Crossword goof: A crossword puzzle in the popular weekly TV Guide January
17 badly blurred the distinction between ham radio and CB. In the puzzle,
"CBer" was given as the answer for the clue "ham radio user." ARRL Public
Relations Specialist Jennifer Gagne, N1TDY, wrote TV Guide after several
members brought the error to the League's attention. In a follow-up call,
she was told that the appropriate staff people were made aware of the
mistake and that the magazine may run a brief item telling readers that
letters were received on the issue. Gagne said it was unlikely that the
puzzle would ever be reprinted.

* Canadian hams honored: The Board of Trustees of the Canadian Amateur Radio
Hall of Fame is pleased to announce awards to two exceptional Canadian
Amateurs. Bill Wilson, VE3NR, of Ottawa, Ontario, has received the 1998
Award of Member of the Hall of Fame. Burns Getchell, VE1CL, of St Stephen,
New Brunswick, has received the 1998 Award of Honour. Details will be
published in a forthcoming issue of The Canadian Amateur.--Radio Amateurs of
Canada

* New LF beacon in EI: EI0CF operates a LF beacon at 136.36 kHz, Saturdays
and Sundays from 1000 until 1300 UTC. The 135.7 to 137.8 kHz band now is
available in most CEPT countries as a secondary allocation on a
non-interference basis.--QNews

===========================================================

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, W6ROD, President; David Sumner, K1ZZ, Executive Vice President.

Circulation, Kathy Capodicasa, N1GZO, e-mail kcapodicasa@arrl.org.
Editorial, Rick Lindquist, N1RL, e-mail elindquist@arrl.org.

Visit the ARRLWeb page 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.

==>How to Get The ARRL Letter<==

The ARRL Letter is distributed directly from ARRL HQ only to elected League
officials and certain ARRL appointees and to paid subscribers of the
now-defunct hard-copy edition of The ARRL Letter. For members and nonmembers
alike, The ARRL Letter  is available free of charge from these sources:

* The ARRLWeb page (http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/). This version of The
ARRL Letter  includes any photographs. (NOTE: The ARRL Letter will be posted
as soon as possible after publication. Please be patient.)

* The HIRAM BBS: 860-594-0306. (NOTE: The ARRL Letter should be available
via the HIRAM BBS no later than the Monday after the date of publication.)

* The ARRL Technical Information Server (InfoServer): Send an e-mail message
to info@arrl.org. The subject line should be blank. In the message body,
type "send ltrmmdd.txt", where mm represents two digits for the month and dd
represents two digits for the day (The ARRL Letter  is published every
Friday). For example, to request The ARRL Letter file for Friday, January 3,
1997, you'd type "send ltr0103.txt". Then, on a separate line, type "quit".
(NOTE: The ARRL Letter should be available via the InfoServer no later than
the Monday after the date of publication.)

* The Netcom server, run by the Boston Amateur Radio Club and Mike Ardai,
N1IST: Send e-mail to listserv@netcom.com (no subject needed). The body of
the message should say "subscribe letter-list".

* CompuServe and America Online subscribers, as a downloadable text file in
the services' ham radio libraries.
