If you would like to become a member of SELARC, please print out and complete the application/renewal form and return it with your check to: P.O. Box 1324, Hammond LA 70404. Thanks!

==> ARRL Comments on FCC Draft WRC-23 Recommendations
ARRL has submitted comments on two draft recommendations approved in October by the FCC's World Radiocommunication Conference Advisory Committee (WAC). The comments focus on draft recommendations for World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 (WRC-23) Agenda Item (AI) 1.2. AI 1.2 will consider the identification of frequencies in the 3.3 - 3.4 GHz and 10.0 - 10.5 GHz bands, among others, "for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT), including possible additional allocations to the mobile service on a primary basis," in accordance with WRC-19 Resolution 245. ARRL urged no change to the 3.3 - 3.4 GHz international secondary allocation to the Amateur Service in ITU Regions 2 (the Americas) and 3 (Oceania), and no change to the 10.0 - 10.5 GHz worldwide secondary amateur and amateur-satellite allocation. ...

==> ARRL Pacific Division Director Jim Tiemstra, K6JAT, SK
ARRL Pacific Division Director Jim Tiemstra, K6JAT, of Oakland, California, died October 30. An ARRL Life Member, he was 65.
Tiemstra was ARRL Pacific Division Vice Director from 2009 through 2017, sitting on the Administration and Finance, and Programs and Services Committees of the Board. He became ARRL Pacific Division Director in January 2018. He was a member of the Administration and Finance Committee, the Legal Structure Review Committee, chair of the Legislative Advocacy Committee, and an advisor to the Amateur Radio Legal Defense and Assistance Committee, among other Board assignments. ...

==> New NIST System Detects Ultra-Faint Signals Using Quantum Physics Principles
Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have devised and demonstrated a system that could dramatically increase the performance of communication networks while enabling record-low error rates in detecting even the faintest of signals. This has the potential to cut the total amount of energy required for state-of-the-art networks by a factor of 10 to 100. The proof-of-principle system consists of a novel receiver and corresponding signal-processing technique, entirely based on the properties of quantum physics and able to handle extremely weak signals with pulses that carry many bits of data. ...

==> A Sweepstakes "Clean Sweep" Means Working 84 Sections This Year
The ever-popular ARRL November Sweepstakes (SS) weekends are upon us -- one for CW and the other for SSB. This year, participants will have to search out an additional Section. The CW event takes place November 7 - 9 (UTC), and the SSB event is from November 21 - 23 (UTC). ...

==> Neutron-1 CubeSat Deployed from ISS; Other Sats Pending
The Neutron-1 3U CubeSat was deployed from the International Space Station (ISS) on November 5 at 10:40 UTC. ...

==> IARU Region 2 Executive Committee Meets in Multiple Virtual Sessions
The International Amateur Radio Union Region 2 (IARU-R2) Executive Committee (EC) held its fourth meeting of the year via Zoom in three parts, replacing an in-person meeting not possible due to the pandemic. ...

==> ARRL Urges Members to Join in Strongly Opposing FCC's Application Fees Proposal
ARRL will file comments in firm opposition to an FCC proposal to impose a $50 fee on amateur radio license and application fees. With the November 16 comment deadline fast approaching, ARRL urges members to add their voices to ARRL's by filing opposition comments of their own.
The FCC Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) MD Docket 20-270 appeared in the October 15 edition of The Federal Register and sets deadlines of November 16 to comment and November 30 to post reply comments, which are comments on comments already filed. ARRL has prepared a Guide to Filing Comments with the FCC which includes tips for preparing comments and step-by-step filing instructions. File comments on MD Docket 20-270 using the FCC's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS).
"We encourage all members to use the ARRL Guide to file comments opposing the imposition of the proposed $50 application fee," ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, said. "Let's highlight amateur radio's long history of public service."
Under the proposal, amateur radio licensees would pay a $50 fee for each amateur radio application for new licenses, license renewals, upgrades to existing licenses, and vanity call sign requests. The FCC has also proposed a $50 fee to obtain a printed copy of a license. ...

==> It's a Wrap for Hurricane Watch Net, ARES Teams Stand Down
After an activation that lasted more than 9 hours, the Hurricane Watch Net (HWN ) suspended operations on October 29 at around 0130 UTC.
"Although Zeta was still a hurricane just east of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, moving to the northeast at about 30 MPH, we hated to close operations, but propagation on 20 and 40 meters was totally gone," HWN Manager Bobby Graves, KB5HAV, said. "The turnout of reporting stations was great, but we can always use more. Meteorologists love weather data. So, we do our best to collect and forward as much as we can."
ARES teams in Louisiana went on standby status on October 27, ready to activate at the request of local emergency management officials or served agencies. At midday on Wednesday, the Louisiana Emergency Net was placed on active standby status on 3.878 and 7.255 MHz, concluding operations at 2100 UTC on Wednesday. ...

==> Guidelines Issued for ARRL DX Contest Multioperator Stations
ARRL has issued guidelines for multioperator stations competing in the ARRL DX Contest (CW and phone). With the global pandemic continuing to impose restrictions on social gatherings, multioperator contest stations may not be able to operate normally while still adhering to local social distancing guidelines. ARRL has decided to make temporary accommodations ...

==> New Zealand Radio Amateurs Lose Access to 60 Meters
Radio amateurs in New Zealand no longer have access to 60 meters, effective on October 24. Use of the band by radio amateurs in New Zealand was provisional, allowing hams there to use two frequencies in the band -- 5353.0 kHz and 5362.0 kHz -- as part of a "trial."
New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters (NZART), the national amateur radio organization, said the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) advised the organization that it was not willing to approve another renewal of the 5 MHz trial allocation...

==> Fldigi Could be a Tool in the November Frequency Measuring Test
A new frequency-measuring test mode added to the digital communication program Fldigi -- developed by Dave Freese, W1HKJ -- makes the program useful for the Frequency Measuring Test (FMT) on November 13. The new test mode replaces frequency analysis mode, making Fldigi useful for FMT participants. ...

==> Colorado ATV Group Transmits Images from CalWood Fire
Radio amateurs in Colorado took advantage of amateur television (ATV) to observe recent forest fires. Boulder ATV repeater W0BTV has been transmitting views of the CalWood fire, ...

==> Nationwide Red Cross Emergency Communications Drill Set for November 14
The nationwide American Red Cross Emergency Communications Fall Drill, a joint exercise with ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES®) groups, is set to take place on November 14. This exercise evolved from the highly successful spring drill that attracted hundreds of participants from some 40 states and Puerto Rico.
The fall drill will be a Winlink-specific event with these goals: (1) pass traditional American Red Cross (ARC) forms from as many states and as many radio amateurs as possible to one of six division clearinghouses, and (2), bring as many radio operators as possible up to a "basic" level of Winlink proficiency. A series of Winlink Workshops is held each Thursday at 0100 UTC on Zoom.
Winlink Proficiency Goals have been drafted, a Winlink technical support team has been formed, and Metrics for Drill Success have been developed. The proficiency goals are established as a training guideline and references online training resources. Many hams new to Winlink may find these resources helpful...

==> Active LF Operator Offers Advice on New FST4 and FST4W Protocols
The recent beta release WSJT-X version 2.3.0-rc1 (release candidate 1) digital software suite includes two new protocols, FST4 and FST4W. FST4 is for two-way contacts, while FST4W is for "quasi-beacon" style transmissions. Both modes offer a range of options for T/R-sequence lengths and threshold decoding sensitivities extending well into the -40 dB range, developers said, as well as a wide variety of parameters that can be tweaked, such as transmission time, bandwidth, and so forth.
On the WSJT-X development reflector, Paul Kelley, N1BUG, discussed whether the wide variety of options are really necessary or a stumbling block to two uncoordinated stations attempting a contact. Kelley said he understands the concern regarding the transmission times, but, as a "very active" 2200-meter operator, he advises that the new protocols were developed with the LF and MF bands in mind. ...

==> FCC Headquarters Relocates
FCC Headquarters has moved. The new address is 45 L St. NE, Washington, DC 20554. The change is effective immediately. The FCC announced plans to move last spring, but the transition was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The FCC, like many federal agencies, has its own ZIP code, so there will be no disruption in mail delivery sent by USPS to the former address. The FCC still prohibits the delivery of hand-carried documents, and all COVID-19 restrictions or instructions regarding access to FCC facilities remain in place at the new location. ...

==> ARRL Comments in Orbital Debris Mitigation Proceeding
In comments to the FCC, ARRL targeted two specific areas of concern regarding a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) in IB Docket 18-313 -- mitigation of orbital debris in the new space age. In an earlier phase of the proceeding, ARRL filed comments and met with FCC staff to discuss the proposed rules. In comments filed on October 9, ARRL focused on the areas of indemnification and maneuverability/propulsion. ...

==> While FCC Plans to Delete 3.5 GHz Band, Canadian Privileges Will Remain
Although the FCC has announced plans to delete the secondary amateur radio 3.3 - 3.5 GHz allocation, that amateur allocation will remain in place right across the northern US border. Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) said this week that the FCC action has raised concerns among Canadian amateurs.
"This FCC action does not directly affect Canadian amateurs, who continue to have a secondary allocation on this band," RAC stressed.
As RAC explained in a bulletin, Canadian regulator ISED published Gazette Notice SLPB-001-19: Decision on Revisions to the 3500 MHz Band to Accommodate Flexible Use and Preliminary Decisions on Changes to the 3800 MHz Band. ...

==> Recording Industry Pioneer Jac Holzman, ex-K2VEH, Marks a Milestone
A recent online Rolling Stone magazine article chronicled the career of Jac Holzman, ex-K2VEH, a recording industry and technology pioneer. Seventy years ago, Holzman co-founded Elektra Records, a label best known for folk and blues fare, and he signed such diverse acts as The Doors and Judy Collins.
"He helped launch both the CD format and home video, and sat on the board of Atari, which revolutionized home entertainment in 1977 with the Atari 2600 game console. He also set up the pilot program that became MTV, and held executive roles at Pioneer Electronics and Panavision," Rolling Stone's Tim Ingham wrote. Holzman was also behind the Authentic Sound Effects albums that became popular with radio and TV producers and helped pull Elektra out of debt.
Holzman, now 89, retired relatively young, moving to Hawaii and building himself a home there. But it wasn't long before he was back at Warner, which bought Elektra, as its chief technologist. Holzman never credits amateur radio directly for contributing to his success on the technology side, but he did create and publish The Elektra Code Course in 1956 (currently unavailable on Amazon, but listed nonetheless). ...

==> FCC Orders Amateur Access to 3.5 GHz Band to "Sunset"
Despite vigorous and continuing opposition from ARRL and others, the FCC has ordered the "sunsetting" of the 3.3 - 3.5 GHz amateur radio secondary spectrum allocation. The decision allows current amateur activity on the band to continue, "grandfathering" the amateur operations subject to a later decision. The FCC proposed two deadlines for amateur operations to cease on the band. The first would apply to the 3.4 - 3.5 GHz segment, the second to 3.3 - 3.4 GHz. The FCC will establish the dates once it reviews additional comments. ...

==> ARRL National Convention and Orlando HamCation® Postponed to February 2022
ARRL and the Orlando Amateur Radio Club (OARC) have announced that the ARRL National Convention and Orlando HamCation® -- which was to host the convention -- have been postponed until February 10 - 13, 2022. The convention had been set for next February. ...

==> Hurricane Delta Prompts Net Activations
The Hurricane Watch Net (HWN), WX4NHC at the National Hurricane Center (NHC), The Salvation Army's SATERN, and the Louisiana Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) HF Net -- with support from the ARRL Delta Division and the Arkansas Section -- announced activations on October 7 for Hurricane Delta. ...

==> IARU Region 2 Releases 2020 Revision of its Band Plan
IARU Region 2 (IARU R2) -- the Americas -- has released the September 2020 revision of its Band Plan and made procedural changes to shorten the time to reflect future adjustments. The Band Plan includes a change approved at the October 2019 General Assembly to add an Amateur Satellite uplink subband, 21.125 to 21.450 MHz, on a non-exclusive basis. This matches similar changes in the Region 1 and Region 3 band plans. ...