Plaque Available for the DXer’s MOST Difficult Award

CQ is pleased to announce the availability of a special plaque for those who have achieved ALL 40 CQ zones on 160 meters. This is considered the most difficult of all amateur radio awards to earn. The Worked All Zones 160M Plaque recognizes you as one of the elite Top Band DXers.

The cost is $100 within the United States, $120 US elsewhere. Please contact WAZ Award Manager Floyd Gerald, N5FG <n5fg (-at-) cq-amateur-radio.com> for details.

Payne, Kummer, Join CQ Advertising Department

(Hicksville, NY) October 4, 2012 -- CQ Communications President Richard Ross, K2MGA, today announced the appointments of Charlie Payne, ex- WN2AKC, and Jon Kummer, WA2OJK, to the company's advertising department. Payne and Kummer succeed Charles "Chip" Margelli, K7JA, who resigned to pursue other opportunities in the amateur radio industry.

Payne, of Nicholasville, Kentucky, is the new Advertising Director for CQ Amateur Radio, CQ VHF and WorldRadio Online magazines. A former ham who held a Novice license in the 1970s, Payne has been selling magazine advertising since 1984, when he formed a partnership with his father, who spent 40 years in the business. He has worked both with business-to-business publications - primarily in the metalworking industry - and with special interest consumer titles - primarily in the equine industry. He is already studying to regain his amateur license.

Kummer, of Port Washington, New York, has held WA2OJK since 1970, and has been in magazine publishing since 1980. Magazines he has represented include Electronic Engineering Times, Military and Aerospace Electronics and Microwaves & RF. An avid collector and restorer of antique radios and TVs, Jon is also currently editor and publisher of Antique Radio Classified.

This will be Kummer's fourth stint at CQ Communications, having sold advertising in the past for Modern Electronics, Electronic Servicing & Technology, CQ Amateur Radio and WorldRadio Online. He is now taking on advertising sales responsibilities for Popular Communications.

"I'm very happy to be back at CQ and to work with the CQ staff again," said Kummer. "It's not often that a person has the opportunity to work with a publication such as Popular Communications, the world's leading magazine for communications enthusiasts."

Payne said he is looking forward to both the opportunities and the challenges that the position presents, and that his guiding philosophy is, "You can always do something."

“We’re extremely excited to welcome these two ad sales pros to our staff, following in Chip’s path," said Ross. "Our parting with Chip was completely amicable, and Chip still is ironing out details of his next adventure in the amateur radio industry.  Our best wishes go out to him.” 

Charlie Payne may be reached by e-mail at <charlie@cqcomm.com>; Jon Kummer may be reached at <jon@cqcomm.com>.

Randy Thompson, K5ZD, Named Director of CQ World Wide DX Contest

(Hicksville, NY) October 1, 2012 -- CQ Contest Hall of Fame member and WPX Contest Director Randy Thompson, K5ZD, has been named Director of the CQ World Wide DX Contest, effective immediately. Randy succeeds Bob Cox, K3EST, who retired in September after 35 years at the helm of the world's most popular amateur radio contest.

Thompson, 53, has been a ham since age 13. He is an accomplished contester, having multiple wins in the CQ World Wide DX Contest and the CQ WPX Contest, among others. He has also competed in four World Radiosport Team Championships. In addition, Randy is a past editor of the "National Contest Journal" (a post he has held three separate times) and a co-founder of the eHam.net website. He is a longtime member of the Yankee Clipper Contest Club and an instructor at K3LR's Contest University. He has been Director of the CQ WPX Contest since 2008, coincidentally the same year in which he was inducted into the CQ Contest Hall of Fame.

"The CQ WW is the biggest event on the contest calendar," commented Thompson. "I am honored to be involved and follow in the giant footsteps of K3EST. With the great conditions we are seeing on the bands, this year should be the biggest CQ WW ever! The first order of business is to have the team ready for the new 5-day log deadline and faster results reporting."

CQ Publisher Dick Ross, K2MGA, said Thompson's appointment marks the start of a new chapter in the history of CQ World Wide DX Contest, adding "The CQ management team looks forward to working with Randy as CQWW Director. His four years as WPX Contest Director have already demonstrated his ability to successfully and creatively guide a major contest, and we are totally confident that he will take the CQWW to even greater heights."

Thompson's appointment to the directorship of the CQWW creates a vacancy for director of the CQ WPX Contests. Anyone interested in taking on the challenge of leading a major contest should contact Randy at <k5zd@cqwpx.com>.

Army MARS Restructures, Decentralizes, Leadership

Army MARS Chief Stephen Klinefelter, AAA9A, speaks at
a meeting of the MARS Government Executive Board.
(Photo courtesy Army MARS)

The Chief of Army MARS - the Military Auxiliary Radio System - has put day-to-day management of the organization into the hands of the 11 volunteer Region Directors who make up the MARS Government Executive Board. “You will tell us if you can take on a task and you will tell us the resources you need,” Chief Stephen Klinefelter told the directors, according to a news release. “Our responsibility at HQ will be to provide the training and the resources and to support you.”

Klinefelter also announced that this fall, the Army MARS headquarters staff will be adding a full-time civilian Program Officer with amateur radio as well as upper-level Army experience. The new Program Officer will report to Klinefelter, but he told the directors, "You're in charge … You're responsible."

IARU Region 3 President VK3KI, SK

VK3KI
(Courtesy Wireless Institute
of Australia)

The ARRL reports that Michael Owen, VK3KI, President of the Wireless Institute of Australia and Chairman of Region III of the International Amateur Radio Union, became a Silent Key on September 22 at age 75. He was also IARU Vice President from 1989 to 1999. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.

Ham Among Americans Killed in Libyan Consulate Attack

Sean Smith, KG4WSS (SK)
(Courtesy ARRL)

Sean Smith, KG4WSS, was one of the four Americans - including Ambassador Chris Stevens - killed September 11 in an attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya. According to the ARRL Letter, Smith had worked for the State Department for the past ten years, following a six-year enlistment in the U.S. Air Force. He was on temporary assignment in Libya at the time of the attack.

Co-Founder of Mirage, RF Concepts, a Silent Key

Everett Gracey, WA6CBA, who co-founded both Mirage Communications (now a part of MFJ) and RF Concepts, passed away in late August at age 90. His wife of 71 years, Dorothy, predeceased him by seven months, according to his daughter. A World War II veteran awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star and Purple Heart, Gracey was also responsible for bringing Alinco products into the US ham marketplace and most recently was the dealer representative for LDG Electronics. He was also involved with AMSAT and the SAREX/ARISS amateur radio in space programs, and was the author of several books. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, five grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

W1BXY New Managing Editor of QST

W1BXY
(Courtesy ARRL)

Becky Schoenfeld, W1BXY, has been named Managing Editor of QST magazine, succeeding Joel Kleinman, N1BKE (SK). Schoenfeld had been the ARRL's Book Editor and has more than 20 years of experience in publishing, according to the ARRL Letter. Before joining the ARRL staff, she had worked in educational publishing and founded a poetry journal. The Letter reports that she is active on 6 and 10 meters.

Kosovo Achieves Full Sovereignty

The Republic of Kosovo
(Courtesy CIA World Factbook)

 

The Republic of Kosovo achieved full sovereignty in September at the conclusion of a five-year period of "supervised independence," during which an international steering group appointed by the United Nations oversaw it development of democratic institutions and laws.

"The ISG has now completed its duties, allowing Kosovo to continue with full sovereignty and the management of its own affairs as a member of the world community," wrote International Amateur Radio Union Region 1 President Hans Blondeel Timmerman, PB2T, adding, "Kosovo is now an independent country, which must be honored as such."

Timmerman's comments appeared to be directed toward the ARRL, which has refused to recognize Kosovo as an independent DXCC entity. CQ has recognized Kosovo as a separate entity for its award and contest programs since the country became independent in 2007. Timmerman also reports that an amateur radio working group is in the final stages of working with the country's telecommunications agency to develop regulations governing amateur radio in Kosovo.

US Foxhunters Bring Home 13 Medals

Americans won 13 medals at September's World Championships of Amateur Radio Direction Finding (ARDF), held in Serbia. In the past, the US team had won no more than two medals, none gold, according to ARRL ARDF Coordinator Joe Moell, K0OV, who is also moderator of the CQ World Wide Foxhunting Weekend.

The U.S. team of 13 competitors faced off against a field of more than 330 participants from 33 countries, winning four gold medals and three silvers in the process. This year's competition included three new events, the "World Cup" for individual competitors rather than teams, the ARDF Sprint and Foxoring, which combines foxhunting and orienteering. The next ARDF World Championships will be held in 2014 in Kazakhstan.

Cubesats Galore - But You Can Only Listen…

The AMSAT News Service reports that four amateur radio cubesats were among a dozen satellites launched together on September 13 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The four amateur-band cubesats each carry scientific experiments and are downlink-only "birds" which do not provide for two-way amateur communications.

(NASA Photo)

Five additional cubesats - all also downlink-only - were scheduled to be hand-launched from the International Space Station on September 27. In addition, the Japanese-built PROITERES satellite was launched September 9 from India. It was India's 100th successful satellite launch, according to space.com. It is also a downlink-only satellite, designed to demonstrate powered flight using a pulsed plasma thruster engine.

Land-Mobile Narrow-Banding Takes Effect Jan. 1

The FCC has notified manufacturers, distributors and users of Private Land Mobile radios operating in the high VHF (150-174 MHz) and UHF (421-470 MHz) bands that they must convert to narrowband transmissions as of January 1, 2013, according to Newsline. The change, which has been in the works for several years, will convert those bands from 25-kHz channels to 12.5-kHz channels, essentially doubling the number of available channels on those two bands.

Amateur radio is not directly affected by the change. However, many manufacturers build both land-mobile and amateur rigs on the same basic platforms, so it is likely that future generations of VHF/UHF ham gear will be built to comply with the new land mobile standard.

Quebec Exempts 2-Way Radio from Cellphone Law

Hams and other two-way radio users in Quebec no longer need to worry about being cited for violating the province's ban on mobile use of handheld cellphones by operating their radios. Newsline reports that the cellphone provisions of Quebec's 2008 Highway Safety Code had been interpreted differently in different communities. Amendments to the code which took effect in June specify that the restrictions apply only to handheld devices that include a telephone function and specifically exempts devices which do not allow both parties in a conversation to speak simultaneously (so it appears that even autopatch is permitted.).

Pop'Comm WRO Live Chat, Sunday, September 9

The monthly Pop'Comm-WRO Live Online Chat is Sunday, September 9, @ 8 p.m. Eastern (0000 UTC Monday). To take part, at chat time, click on the Cover It Live chat box. Please go to < http://www.WorldRadioOnline.blogspot.com >.

Hope to see you there.

TNX and 73,

Richard Fisher, KI6SN / KPC6PC
Editor, Pop'Comm and WRO

Bob Cox, K3EST, Retires as CQWW Contest Director

(Hicksville, NY - Sept. 4, 2012) -- Bob Cox, K3EST, has retired as Director of the CQ World Wide DX Contest and as CQ's Director of Contesting, it was announced today by CQ Publisher Dick Ross, K2MGA. Cox has been at the helm of the CQWW for 35 years, guiding the contest through massive changes in technology - both on and off the air - and CQWW's growth to become the world's most popular amateur radio contest.

Cox first took the reins of the CQWW in January, 1977, along with Larry Brockman,  WA6EPQ (now N6AR), who worked with Bob until March, 1994. In making his announcement to members of the CQ World Wide Contest Committee,  Bob said,  "35 years encompasses almost the entire history of modern contesting.  All the way from paper logs to today's need for instant answers. During that time a framework was created that made the CQWW the innovator of almost everything used in contesting today including log checking." He added, "With that in mind…I am tired and wish to move on with other interests. "

Ross said the association had been long and fruitful, telling Cox "it has been an honor to have worked with you for these many decades.  Your contributions to the art and sport of amateur radio contesting have been enormous. "

Cox's retirement is effective immediately. A successor has not yet been named.

####

HF Net Control Operators Needed for Hurricane Isaac Operations

From the ARRL...

08/29/2012  

There is an urgent need for qualified net control operators to assist with the response to Hurricane Isaac. Net Control Stations are needed starting at noon (CDT) today, Wednesday, August 29.

NCS shifts are for 2-hour periods. Net Control Stations should have a General, Advanced or Amateur Extra class license, experience as an HF net control station, have a station capable of operation on 40 and 75 meters, and ideally be located in the ARRL’s Delta Division (Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee).

According to ARRL Emergency Preparedness Manager Mike Corey, KI1U, there are several nets needing assistance:

• Delta Division Emergency Net: 7.275 MHz (day) and 3.890 MHz (night)
• Louisiana Section Health and Welfare Nets: 3.910 MHz and 7.243 MHz
• Mississippi Section Health and Welfare Nets: 3.862 MHz and 7.238 MHz

Any qualified station willing to assist should contact Mike Corey via e-mail at <ki1u@arrl.org> or by phone at 860-594-0222.

FCC to Congress: No Need to Pre-empt CC&Rs

The FCC has told Congress that there is "no compelling reason" for it to revisit its previous decisions not to extend its limited pre-emption of restrictive state and local antenna laws to private land use regulations. These CC&R, or Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions, are imposed by developers and homeowners' associations on purchasers of homes in many areas. The report to Congress released on August 20 is the result of a study mandated earlier this year - with the ARRL's strong backing - of the value of amateur radio emergency communications and impediments (including CC&Rs) to effective amateur communications.

The Commission said commenters disagreed over the impact of CC&Rs on amateur radio emergency capabilities and that "a review of the record does not indicate that amateur operators are unable to find homes that are not subject to such restrictions." The report also said the FCC does not believe Congressional action is necessary regarding CC&Rs or other impediments to amateur communication.

Overall, the report was laudatory of amateur radio's ability to provide emergency communications and recommended that the Department of Homeland Security work with state, local and tribal authorities to improve training for hams and to better integrate amateur radio into existing emergency plans. However, it stopped short of supporting an ARRL recommendation for a federal credentialing system to permit trained amateurs to have easier access to disaster areas when traveling from other states to help provide communications support.

2012 Young Ham of the Year Presentation

The 2012 Newsline Young Ham of the Year award was presented August 18 at the Huntsville (AL) Hamfest. From left, Newsline's Don Wilbanks, AE5DW; CQ Editor Rich Moseson, W2VU; Young Ham of the Year Erin King, AK4JG; Bob Heil, K9EID, of Heil Sound, and Yaesu's Dennis Motschenbacher, K7BV. CQ, Yaesu and Heil Sound are corporate co-sponsors of the Young Ham of the Year program. (Photo by Joe Eisenberg, K0NEB)

HRO VP George Varvitsiotes, K6SV, SK

George, K6SV, with his wife and daughters
(Photo courtesy Ham Radio Outlet)

On August 21, Ham Radio Outlet Vice President George Varvitsiotes, K6SV, became a Silent Key after a long battle with cancer. He was 58. George was an avid contester, a leader in the amateur radio industry and a key player in the success of HRO, where he had worked since 1976. Donations in George's memory may be made to the Resurrection Greek Orthodox Church Memorial Account. The church's address is 20104 Center Street, Castro Valley, CA 94546.

ARRL Centennial Convention in Hartford

The ARRL will return to its roots for its centennial national convention. The League's board of directors voted in July to hold the organization's 2014 convention in Hartford, Connecticut, the city where it was founded in 1914 by Hiram Percy Maxim and Clarence Tuska.