January 2007
Hudson Division
Beacon - e-mail edition - # 70
FROM THE HUDSON DIVISION ARRL TEAM
Frank Fallon, N2FF,
Director, Hudson Division, ARRL
30 East Williston Avenue,
East Williston, NY 11596
(516) 746-7652
n2ff@arrl.org
Joyce Birmingham, KA2ANF, Vice Director, Hudson Division,
ARRL
235 Van Emburgh Avenue,
Ridgewood, NJ 07450-2918
(201) 455-5924 ka2anf@arrl.org
and http://www.ka2anf.com
Hudson Division Home Page - http://www.hudson.arrl.org
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FEBRUARY 23rd is the date the Morse Code Requirement for an HF license
ends.
Reminder: ARRL scholarship application deadline looms (Jan 23, 2007) --
The deadline to apply for academic year 2007-2008 ARRL Foundation
scholarships is Thursday, February 1. Three new scholarships are
available for the upcoming academic year: The Zachary Taylor Stevens
Scholarship, The Richard W. Bendicksen, N7ZL, Memorial Scholarship and
The Gary Wagner, K3OMI, Scholarship. All information on ARRL Foundation
scholarships for young radio amateurs, including application forms and
instructions, is only available on the ARRL Foundation Scholarship
Programs Web page. The ARRL Foundation Scholarship Committee will
announce 2007-2008 academic year ARRL Foundation scholarship recipients
this spring. Important: Applicants must include high school or college
academic transcripts with all scholarship applications. Those applying
for the four-year William R. Goldfarb Memorial Scholarship also must
include a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The ARRL
Foundation is a not-for-profit IRS 501(c)(3) organization.
Contributions to support the future of Amateur Radio are welcome.
===> THE BIG STORY.......
It's Official! Morse Code Requirement Ends Friday, February 23 (Jan 24,
2007 [REVISED Jan 26, 2007 14:15 ET]) -- Circle Friday, February 23, on
your calendar. That's when the current 5 WPM Morse code requirement
will officially disappear from the Amateur Radio Service Part 97 rules
in accordance with the FCC's Report and Order (R&O) in the "Morse code
proceeding," WT Docket 05-235. Beginning on that date, applicants for a
General or Amateur Extra class Amateur Radio license no longer will
have to demonstrate proficiency in Morse code. They'll just have to
pass the applicable written examination. Publication of the new rules
in the January 24 Federal Register started a 30-day countdown for the
new rules to become effective. Deletion of the Morse requirement --
still a matter of controversy within the amateur community -- is a
landmark in Amateur Radio history. See entire story at:
http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2007/01/24/100/?nc=1
End of an Era: FCC to Drop Morse Testing for All Amateur License
Classes
(Dec 15, 2006 -- NEWINGTON, CT, Dec 15, 2006 -- In an historic move,
the FCC has acted to drop the Morse code requirement for all Amateur
Radio license classes. The Commission today adopted, but hasn't yet
released, the long-awaited Report and Order (R&O) in WT Docket 05-235,
the "Morse code" proceeding. Also today, the FCC adopted an Order on
Reconsideration in WT Docket 04-140 -- the "omnibus" proceeding --
modifying the Amateur Radio rules in response to an ARRL request to
accommodate automatically controlled narrowband digital stations on 80
meters in the wake of rule changes that became effective today at 12:01
AM Eastern Time. The Commission said it will designate the 3585 to 3600
kHz frequency segment for such operations, although the segment will
remain available for CW, RTTY and data as has been. In a break from
what's been the usual practice in Amateur Radio proceedings, the FCC
only issued a public notice at or about the close of business today and
not the actual Report & Order, so some details -- including the
effective dates of the two orders -- remain uncertain. Currently,
Amateur Radio applicants for General and higher class licenses have to
pass a 5 WPM Morse code test to operate on HF. Today's R&O will
eliminate that requirement all around.
See the full story at
http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2006/12/15/104/?nc=1
===> ARRL Members' Donations Vital to Success of BPL Court Appeal
(Dec 7, 2006) -- ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, is
urging League members to turn their outrage at the FCC's unreasonably
favorable treatment of unlicensed BPL systems into generous donations
to the 2007 ARRL Spectrum Defense Campaign. The ARRL is suing the
Commission in the US District Court of Appeals -- DC Circuit on the
ground the FCC concocted rules to -- in Sumner's words -- "accommodate
a polluter of the radio spectrum" at the expense of the licensed users
it's supposed to protect. See full story at
http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2006/12/07/100/?nc=1
See also K1ZZ's January 2007 QST "It Seems to Us" and his please
for
support of the ARRL Spectrum Defense Fund.
The ARRL Legislative Action Program wants you!
(Nov 9, 2006) -- The ARRL Legislative Action Program wants League
members who are willing to get directly involved in promoting and
protecting Amateur Radio through coordinated, legitimate political
action at the "grassroots level." The program is being staffed to
prepare for the 110th Congress, which convenes in January. ARRL Great
Lakes Division Director Jim Weaver, K8JE, who heads up the Legislative
Action Program, says members of Congress often base their votes upon
their understanding of what their constituents -- the voters who put
them in office -- want. "As a constituent, your opinion is important to
them," Weaver says. "Constituent input helps lawmakers gauge positions
on legislation and determine how a particular bill might affect voters
in their states or districts." He says radio amateurs can be a valuable
resource to members of Congress, who may have only a limited knowledge
of Amateur Radio. "Your combination of being a constituent and a
federal licensee can help make a difference by ensuring that your
member of Congress and staff receive the balanced information they need
to make good decisions on Amateur Radio-related legislation," Weaver
adds. A new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on the ARRL Legislative
Action Program now is available for ARRL members and others interested
in this ARRL grassroots effort. Contact your ARRL Division Director for
additional information or to volunteer. There's more information on the
ARRL Government Relations page.
==> BPL News:
==> Bill Seeks BPL Interference Study, Report to Congress (Jan 18,
2007) -- US Rep Mike Ross, WD5DVR (D-AR), has introduced a bill in the
110th Congress calling on the FCC to study the interference potential
of broadband over power line (BPL) technology and report its findings
back to Congress. One of two radio amateurs in the House, Ross
submitted the "Emergency Amateur Radio Interference Protection Act of
2007" (HR 462) on January 12. The bill's official text became available
today. ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, says the League shares
Ross's concern about interference to emergency communication networks.
For details see: http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2007/01/18/101/?nc=1
==> ARRL Foundation Board of Directors meets (Jan 24, 2007) -- The ARRL
Foundation Board of Directors met January 23 for the Foundation Annual
Meeting. During the first six months of fiscal year 2007, contributions
totaled $91,775, including $375 in memorial contributions from eight
donors, two unrestricted contributions and contributions supporting the
K2TEO Scholarship, The Dayton Amateur Radio Association Scholarships,
The Tom and Judith Comstock Scholarship, The Seth Horen K1LOM, Memorial
Scholarship, The Challenge Met Scholarship, The Chicago FM Scholarship,
The Mary Lou Brown Scholarship and The Metzger Scholarship. New
scholarship funding was received for the Zachary Taylor Stevens
Scholarship, The Richard W. Bendicksen Scholarship and The
Peoria-Amateur Radio Club Scholarship. FY 2007 operating expenses
through December 31, 2006, totaled $11,852, which was allocated to
scholarship funds for the first time. In 2006 the ARRL Foundation
awarded 53 scholarships, including the William R. Goldfarb Memorial
Scholarship, totaling $67,402. Goldfarb winners to date are Ben
Schupack, NW7DX, set to graduate from Whitman College in May; Jon
Krenzel, KC0AMG; Tim O'Donnell, AB2LE, and Mellissa Meye, KB0WZA.
During the first half of FY 2007, the Foundation awarded grants
totaling $3,530 to the Otsego County Amateur Radio Association and the
Walt Whitman ARC. The Foundation also awarded a challenge grant to the
Pentagon ARC to match local funding raised to install a D-Star system
at the Pentagon.
===> Kids Day Programs at NPARC
The New Providence Amateur Radio Club is still very active with Kids
Programs. For example take a look at today's Courier News (Tuesday Jan
16, a Gannett paper) on the front page of the Local News Section
in full color. It's on the web at:
http://www.c-n.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007701160345
but it sure looks even more impressive in the newspaper.
Watch for Astronaut Bob's photo to appear on the NPARC Website -
http://www.nparc.org/
Our Kids Activities continue even though we have completed our ARISS
contact with Astronaut Jeff Williams in the ISS. An upcoming event is
the New Providence Memorial Day Parade, and all kids are invited to
march with NPARC in the parade and to "carry the banner."
73/88 de Barry K2JV
===>Media HIt for New Providence ARC in Courier News (NJ)
Here's a story from the central New Jersey Gannett newspaper on the New
Providence Amateur Radio Club, their Kid's Day ham station at the
Berkeley Heights, NJ Community Center, and a plug for the club's Barry
Cohen, K2JV, who was recently named "Amateur of the Year" for the ARRL
Hudson Division.
The link to the .pdf version of the article is HERE, or depending on
your email reader, here:
http://walterobrien.com/NPARC.pdf
73, Walter O'Brien, W2WJO, ARRL NNJ PIC
(Editor's note: Thanks for the good PIO work. PIO (Public
Information
Officer) is an important position within the ARRL Field organization.
PIOs get the word out that ham radio is alive and well and doing great
things for the community. If you are interested in doing this job
contact your SM and ask for an appointment. We desperately need people
who have contacts with the media.)
===> 10-70 USS LING Efforts
Our web master, Peter Van Den Houten, has made some significant changes
to USS Ling section on our club website. He has added a photo gallery
dedicated specifically to project2 which the 10-70 "Saturday Morning AM
Radio Gang" have worked on over the past eight years. The gallery is
headed with a diagram of the Ling, with compartments in which we have
worked highlighted in blue. If you click on the blue compartment name,
you wil open a series of photos specific to that compartment and what
we have
done, whether it is restoration, repair, just cleaning or sound bytes.
This is a unique "tour," showing some things that you wouldn't even
see
on a 10-70 September tour.
Check out Peter's handiwork at
http://www.10-70.org/ussling/ussling.htm
Better yet, come join us some Saturday morning, and see the work for
yourself! This site, like our work on the Ling, is a Work-in-Progress,
so check back periodically.
=====> DIVISION NEWSLETTER OF THE MONTH
The January 2007 award goes to "PACARA Update" for their
February 2007
issue. The Peekskill/Cortland Amateur Radio Association continues to
turn out a superb newsletter under the editorship of Malcolm Pritchard,
NM9J. Malcolm manages to have a great layout and interesting articles
and pictures. Malcolm and his club are in the running for the 2007
Hudson Division Newsletter of the Year Award.
http://www.hudson.arrl.org/pages/newsletterawards.htm
==> Reserve the date!
The New Providence NJ Amateur Radio Club (NPARC) is holding its annual
auction and indoor flea market on Friday evening February 23, 2007.
Doors open at 6:30 pm and the auction starts at 7:00 p.m.
This year the auction will be at the New Providence Municipal Center
and not the Salt Brook School where it was in 2006 "Some of New
Jersey's most highly prized and valuable radio, electronic, audio, and
computer items will be available." Further information is at:
http://www.nparc.org/auction.htm
A flyer with driving directions is at:
http://www.nparc.org/flyers/AuctionNPARC.pdf
Hope to see you there!
73, Ralph Milnes, Auction Committee New Providence ARC
================================
HAMFEST: Get these into you ham calendar for 2007
23 Feb 2007+Auction/Flea Market
New Providence ARC
http://www.nparc.org/auction.htm
Talk-In: 145.75 MHz simplex; 147.255 MHz +.600, 141.3
Contact:Al Hanzl, K2AL
3 Colony Court
New Providence, NJ 07974
Phone: 908-872-5021
Fax: 973-539-1317
Email: k2al@arrl.netNew Providence, NJ
New Providence Municipal Center Gymnasium
Academy Street
Div: Hudson
Sect: Northern New Jersey
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
25 Feb 2007+Long Island Indoor Hamfair & Electronics Show
Long Island Mobile ARC
http://www.limarc.org/fest.htm
Talk-In: 146.85 (PL 136.5)
Contact:Richie Cetron, K2KNB
198 Haypath Road
Old Bethpage, NY 11804
Phone: 516-694-4937
Fax: 516-694-4937
Email: hamfest@limarc.orgHicksville,
NY
Levittown Hall
201 Levittown Parkway
Div: Hudson
Sect: New York City-Long Island
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
3 Mar 2007+North Jersey Hamfest
Splitrock ARA
http://www.splitrockara.org
Talk-In: 146.985 (-600) (PL 131.8)
Contact:Michael Greenfeld, K8BQ
PO Box 610
Rockaway, NJ 07866
Phone: 866-457-6687
Fax: 866-457-6687
Email: hamfest@splitrockara.orgParsippany,
NJ
Parsippany PAL Building
33 Baldwin Road
Div: Hudson
Sect: Northern New Jersey
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
4 Mar 2007+BARA Annual Auction
Bergen Amateur Radio Association
http://www.bara.org
Talk-In: 146.19/146.79 (PL 141.3)
Contact:James Joyce, K2ZO
286 Ridgewood Blvd. North
Township of Washington, NJ 07676
Phone: 201-664-6725
Email: k2zo@arrl.netTownship of
Washington, NJ
Westwood Regional Jr/Sr High School
701 Ridgewood Road
Div: Hudson
Sect: Northern New Jersey
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
24 Mar 2007+Cherryville Hamfest
Cherryville Repeater Association II
http://www.qsl.net/w2cra
Talk-In: 147.375+ (PL 151.4)
Contact:Cherryville Repeater Info Line, W2CRA
PO Box 308
Quakertown, NJ 08868
Phone: 908-788-4080
Fax: 908-788-9164
Email: cherryvillehamfest@earthlink.netClinton,
NJ
North Hunterdon Regional High School
1445 State Route 31
Annandale, NJ
Div: Hudson
Sect: Northern New Jersey
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
21 Apr 2007+OMARC Tailgate Hamfest
Ocean Monmouth ARC
http://www.omarc.org
Talk-In: 145.110 ( -600 ) Pl 127.3 Hz
Contact:Jeff Harshman, N2LXM
5 The Arborway
Ocean, NJ 07712
Phone: 732-922-0816
Email: n2lxm@arrl.netWall Township, NJ
Inforage Learning Center, Project Diana Site
Marconi Road
Div: Hudson
Sect: Northern New Jersey
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
26 May 2007+Annual Spring Hamfest
Bergen Amateur Radio Association
http://www.bara.org
Talk-In: 146.19/146.79 (PL 141.3)
Contact:James Joyce, K2ZO
286 Ridgewood Blvd. North
Township of Washington, NJ 07676
Phone: 201-664-6725
Email: k2zo@arrl.netTownship Of
Washington, NJ
Westwood Regional Jr/Sr High School
701 Ridgewood Road
Div: Hudson
Sect: Northern New Jersey
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
8 Sep 2007+Saratoga County RACES
http://wa2umx.net
Talk-In: 146.40/147.00 and 147.84/147.24
Contact:Darlene Lake, N2XQG
314 Louden Road #84
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
Phone: 518-587-2385
Email: dar@saratogaspringsny.usBallston
Spa, NY
Saratoga County Fairgrounds
Prospect Avenue
Div: Hudson
Sect: Eastern New York
--------------------------------------------------------------------
ARRL Hudson Division
Director: Frank Fallon, N2FF
n2ff@arrl.org