OMIK Tech-Talk April 2017

Transcription

1 An International Educational and Scientific Organization Founded in August of 1952 OMIK Tech-Talk is a monthly distribution of news and technical articles reviewed and chosen by our technical staff to provide you with timely ham radio-related topics collected from different sources on the Internet. KØMIK OMIK Amateur Radio Association Net Schedule (NOTE: during Daylight Savings Time net times move back 1 hour) 20 Meter Phone 40 Meter Phone 75 Meter Phone OMIK Nets meet on Sundays MHz from 16:00-18:00 UTC MHz from 12:30 to 14:00 UTC MHz from 12:00-13:00 UTC OMIK is now using Dstar reflector REF074C on Sunday mornings to assist the net controllers with check-ins. If you can t hear the net because of band conditions and you have the resources to communicate on Dstar try checking in on REF074C. You can view the reflector dashboard by typing the link below in your web browser. If you need assistance reaching the reflector contact Frank K6fed@yahoo.com. Amateur Radio News New Bands! FCC Issues Amateur Radio Service Rules for 630 Meters and 2,200 Meters Source: ARRL It s been a long time coming, but the Amateur Service will get two new bands in the near future. The FCC on March 28 adopted rules that will allow secondary Amateur Radio access to khz (630 meters) and to khz (2,200 meters), with minor conditions. The FCC Report and Order (R&O) spells out the details. It allocates khz to the Amateur Service on a secondary basis and amends Part 97 to provide for Amateur

2 Service use of that band as well as of the previously allocated khz band. The R&O also amends Part 80 rules to authorize radio buoy operations in the khz band under a ship station license. Just when the new Part 97 rules will go into effect is difficult to determine just yet; more on that below. It s a big win for the Amateur community and the ARRL, ARRL CEO Tom Gallagher, NY2RF, said. We are excited by the FCC s action to authorize Amateur Radio access for the first time on the MF and LF spectrum. As amateurs begin using these new allocations in the next few weeks, we encourage the entire Amateur Radio community, as secondary users, to be especially attentive to the rules. It has not been an easy win, however. ARRL has been trying since the 1970s to convince the FCC to allow amateur access to parts of the spectrum below the Standard Broadcast Band. Through the Utilities Telecoms Council (UTC), electric power utilities have opposed Amateur Radio use of the MF and LF spectrum, raising unsubstantiated fears of interference to unlicensed Part 15 power line carrier (PLC) systems used to manage the power grid. The FCC said the Amateur Radio service rules it has adopted for 630 meters and 2,200 meters allow for co-existence with PLC systems that use the two bands. Here are the highlights: Amateurs operating on khz will be permitted a maximum equivalent isotropically radiated power (EIRP) of 5 W, except in parts of Alaska within 800 kilometers (approximately 496 miles) of Russia, where the maximum would be 1 W EIRP. [EIRP is the product of the power supplied to the antenna and the antenna gain in a given direction, relative to an isotropic antenna (absolute or isotropic gain). EIRP is equal to ERP multiplied by 1.64.] Amateurs operating in the khz band will be permitted to run up to 1 W EIRP. The FCC is requiring a 1-kilometer separation distance between radio amateurs using the two new bands and electric power transmission lines with PLC systems on those bands. Amateur Radio operators will have to notify the UTC of station location prior to commencing operations. The FCC Wireless Telecommunications Bureau will provide details on the notification process later, but ARRL is urging radio amateurs interested in operating on either band to register at the earliest opportunity, to avoid having to protect any post-notification PLCs. The FCC placed a 60-meter (approximately 197 feet) above-ground-level (AGL) height limit on transmitting antennas used on 630 meters and 2,200 meters. The bands would be available to General class and higher licensees, and permissible modes would include CW, RTTY, data,

3 phone, and image. Automatically controlled stations would be permitted to operate in the bands. In an unrelated action, the FCC allocated 1,900-2,000 khz to the maritime mobile service (MMS) on a primary basis for non- Federal use in ITU Regions 2 and 3, and limited the use of this allocation to radio buoys on the open sea and the Great Lakes. We are persuaded by ARRL s comments to adopt final rules that are better tailored to the places where the commercial fishing fleet can make reasonable and productive use of radio buoys, the FCC said. Amateur Radio was upgraded from secondary to primary in the khz segment in The FCC said it believes Amateur Radio and radio buoys can continue to share this frequency band as they have done for many years. It declined to make additional spectrum available for radio buoy use. Effective Date The fact that the new rules contain a new information-collection requirement notification of operation to the UTC makes it difficult to guess at an effective date. The FCC R&O says the Office of Management and Budget (under the Paperwork Reduction Act) must first approve the information-collection requirements (in [g][2]). Once that happens, the revised Part 97 rules sections will become effective after the FCC publishes a notice in The Federal Register announcing such approval and the relevant effective date. ARRL 2017 Teachers Institutes on Wireless Technology Accepting Applications Until May 1 Source: ARRL ARRL is accepting applications for summer 2017 Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology sessions until May 1. This summer s sessions will be held in Dayton, Ohio hosted by the Dayton Amateur Radio Association (DARA) and at ARRL Headquarters in Newington, Connecticut. (DARA also helps to sustain the program as a generous contributor. ) Past participants who have completed the introductory (TI-1) course may consider signing up for the advanced (TI-2) session on Remote Sensing and Data Gathering. These expenses-paid, intensive professional development opportunities offer educators training and resources to explore wireless technology in the classroom using Amateur Radio. Introductory (TI-1) ARRL Teachers Institute sessions will take place July in Dayton, Ohio, and July at ARRL Headquarters in Connecticut. One advanced (TI-2) ARRL Teachers Institute class will be held July at ARRL Headquarters. An article in the March issue of QST includes the schedule and description of

4 offerings. The article Amateur Radio in the STEM Classroom in the April 2016 issue of Tech Directions discusses how four Teachers Institute graduates employ Amateur Radio in their classrooms. This video offers an inside look at the Teachers Institute. More information is available on the ARRL website. Register to receive news about ARRL Education & Technology Program activities and notifications about the summer 2017 Teachers Institutes. Contributions from individuals and from corporate and institutional supporters make the annual ARRL Teachers Institutes possible. ARRL Weighs In on New California Driving While Wireless Statute Source: ARRL ARRL is recommending that Amateur Radio be specifically excluded from a California statute prohibiting the use of wireless communication devices while driving. ARRL Southwestern Division Vice Director Marty Woll, N6VI, is taking point on the effort to revise the statute, known by its legislative bill number AB It was signed into law last September, and it took effect on January 1, amending of the state s Vehicle Code. ARRL has received a huge volume of inquiries and complaints about this statute in particular, since its enactment, ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, wrote in a letter to Woll to provide guidance in amending the California statute. I would urge that you present this letter at any meetings you have with California State legislators on this topic, thus to bring the issues contained herein to their attention. Imlay pointed out that that the prior statute excluded Amateur Radio by definition. The new law, which completely replaced the earlier statute, never mentions Amateur Radio, but instead contains an open-ended definition of an electronic wireless communications device, the operation of which while driving is prohibited. According to the statute, this includes, but is not limited to, a broadband personal communication device, a specialized mobile radio device, a handheld device or laptop computer with mobile data access, a pager, or a two-way messaging device. Because of the not limited to language, such a device is whatever a law enforcement officer thinks might be included, and an Amateur Radio operator is not at all protected, Imlay wrote. Such a broad definition could stymie even the most diligent law enforcement officers, who might interpret the new Vehicle Code language more broadly than was intended. Imlay noted that radio amateurs provide emergency and public service

5 communications on a volunteer basis, and said the FCC encourages Amateur Radio licensees to assist during disasters and emergencies. Radio amateurs have regularly used mobile two-way radio systems for the past 70 years, Imlay said. The ARRL is aware of no evidence that such operation contributes to driver inattention, he stressed. Quite the contrary: Radio amateurs are public service-minded individuals who utilize their radio-equipped motor vehicles to assist others, and they are focused on driving in the execution of that function. Imlay also cited a 2009 letter to ARRL from the National Safety Council stating that there was no evidence using Amateur Radio while driving is a significant risk, and that there is a reasonable basis for excluding Amateur Radio communications from the prohibitions on mobile telephone operation and mobile text messaging while operating a motor vehicle. Citing a 1994 Joint Resolution of Congress, Imlay pointed out that the policy of the United States is to encourage mobile Amateur Radio operation as a public benefit. Given the necessity of unrestricted mobile Amateur Radio communications in order for the benefits of Amateur Radio to the public to continue to be realized, ARRL urges California legislators to reconsider and amend AB 1785, either to more narrowly define the class of devices included in the prohibition, Imlay wrote. Alternatively, a specific exemption for Amateur Radio operators would suffice D-Star Live -star-live/default.aspx D-STAR Live was presentation some of the experts in D-STAR for a panel discussion on various aspects of the D-STAR ecosystem. Classes & VEC Testing None scheduled Ham Radio License Exam Practice The ARRL has a online resource that allows users to take randomly generated practice

6 exams using questions from the actual examination question pool. ARRL Exam Review for Ham Radio is free, and users do not need to be ARRL members. The only requirement is that users must first set up a site login (this is a different and separate login from your ARRL website user registration). Free Amateur Radio Practice Testing is available on the Web Practice exams are for those people who would like to study for a new US amateur radio license class. The questions contained within are provided by the You can find an Amateur License Exam In your area at ARRL.ORG Electronics Refresher Oscilloscope Source: Federal Communications Commission and are selected from the same sub-elements that would be used for an official license examination Find and Exam in Your Area: You can find an Amateur License Exam In your area at ARRL.ORG An oscilloscope, previously called an oscillograph, and informally known as a scope, CRO (for cathode-ray oscilloscope), or DSO (for the more modern digital storage oscilloscope), is a type of

7 lectronic test instrument that allows observation of constantly varying signal voltages, usually as a two-dimensional plot of one or more signals as a function of time. Other signals (such as sound or vibration) can be converted to voltages and displayed. Oscilloscopes are used to observe the change of an electrical signal over time, such that voltage and time describe a shape which is continuously graphed against a calibrated scale. The observed waveform can be analyzed for such properties as amplitude, frequency, rise time, time interval, distortion and others. Modern digital instruments may calculate and display these properties directly. Originally, calculation of these values required manually measuring the waveform against the scales built into the screen of the instrument. The oscilloscope can be adjusted so that repetitive signals can be observed as a continuous shape on the screen. A storage oscilloscope allows single events to be captured by the instrument and displayed for a relatively long time, allowing observation of events too fast to be directly perceptible. Oscilloscopes are used in the sciences, medicine, engineering, automotive and the telecommunications industry. Generalpurpose instruments are used for maintenance of electronic equipment and laboratory work. Special-purpose oscilloscopes may be used for such purposes as analyzing an automotive ignition system or to display the waveform of the heartbeat as an electrocardiogram. Safety Safety Tip Distracted driving is seven times more deadly than drunk driving! Nonetheless, stay sober, or stay home! Basics Operating amateur radio equipment while underway is an activity we all enjoy, but one that should never be taken lightly. Besides driving, we have to content with other vehicles and their drivers, driving conditions including weather and traffic congestion, yet deal with the distraction all of these activities generate. Distracted driving is the leading cause of motor vehicle crashes and deaths! The major causes include cellphones, entertainment devices, navigation systems, and even amateur radio! While some of these devices are more distracting than others (their basic design plays an important part), cellphone use (especially texting) is by far the most distracting. This fact has prompted all-manner of political entities to

8 enact laws governing their use while underway. Virtually every city and state (including the European Union) have enacted ordinances either limiting or eliminating their use while underway. Unfortunately, a lot of these ordinances have included amateur radio, albeit inadvertently. For example, in some localities, you cannot drive with a communications device in your hand. While aimed at cellphone use, it effectively eliminates the use of a microphone. To help combat these unintended consequences, the ARRL issued a Mobile Policy Statement outlining the differences between cellphone communications, and amateur radio communications. However, that isn't the end of the story! One of the most important steps to minimize distraction is the proper installation of amateur radio gear (including antennas). Hurried and haphazard installations are not only distracting, they're frustrating, and often dangerous! Anything stuck on with hook and loop fasteners, magnets, clips, clamps, bungee cords, rubber bands, suction cups, and doublesided sticky tape will always fail at the most inopportune time! When and how we operate are important attributes too. Talking on two meters while wolfing down a donut and drinking coffee, is both distracting and dangerous. Poor weather conditions, traffic congestion, spousal irritation, and entertainment device use, are all good reasons to hang up the microphone. Radio and Software Tech Talk N1MM Version (February 8, 2017) Contest Logging Software N1MM Logger is the world's most popular ham radio contest logging program. For CW, phone and digital modes, its combination of contest-optimized features is unmatched. The program can be used with Windows XP (sp3) / Vista / Seven / Eight / Ten All major and many minor HF Contests are supported o Including General DX logging, DXpedition, DXSatellite and VHF DX. SSB, CW and Digital support Multi-user support Rover support for QSO parties and other contests which support this. VHF and up contesting o Transverter support (SHF bands supported up to 10, 24, 47, 76, 142 and 241 GHz). Dxpedition mode (Stay in Run or S&P)

9 PowerGenius XL FlexRadio 1500W Solid State Amplifier The PowerGenius XL is a 100% duty cycle, legal limit (1500W ICAS) MHz RF amplifier intended for both amateur and government use. It incorporates a pair of modern NXP MRF1K50H LDMOS transistors that are individually capable of 1.5 kw thus providing plenty of headroom for lowest IMD and spurious output. Efficiency and spurious performance are also enhanced through the use of diplexed filters. Multiple band selection methods are supported including CAT, CI-V, BCD band decode and Ethernet. When connected to a FLEX-6000 transceiver, band selection is fully automated through the Ethernet connection. Even T/R control is provided over the Ethernet connection to further minimize wiring. In addition, all amplifier status reporting including power levels, fault conditions and resets are reported to the FLEX-6000 Signature Series transceiver using the SmartSDR API. SmartSDR client interfaces such as SmartSDR for Windows, Maestro and others can display power levels and other reported statuses. For remote operation with other HF radio exciters, an Ethernet API or friendly Windows and Android applications can control the PowerGenius XL. For contest operation, the PowerGenius XL is SO2R capable with two inputs and two outputs for two sources and antennas and the rapid band switching eliminates the need for two amplifiers. A single FLEX-6700 and PowerGenius XL comprises a complete SO2R station at half the cost of competing solutions. The Power Genius XL amplifier will be priced competitively with specific pricing and availability announced after FCC and CE certification has been achieved. Power Genius XL will be packaged to complement FlexRadio s FLEX-6000 Signature Series transceivers. Amplifier Feature Highlights MHz coverage Full legal power 1500W (100% duty cycle ICAS), in all modes, up to 2000W First ever MEffA system (Maximum Efficiency Algorithm) control efficiency as function of output power

10 Fully SO2R capable - 70dB nominal isolation between exciter inputs Smart control of cooling - real time settings of drain voltage, drive and fan speed for best thermal performance Exceptional spurious performance owing to diplexed filters for carrier and harmonics Ultra fast SWR protection Remote control with desktop application in LAN or WAN networks CAT, Band decoder, LAN interface for operation with other exciters For Sale or SWAP This space is reserved for anything amateur related you want to sale, swap trade, buy or get rid of. Send your list to K6FED@yahoo.com. Items are listed for one month. Additional time can be requested by .