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!

==> WSJT-X Version 2.2.0 is Now in General Release
WSJT-X version 2.2.0 is now in general availability release, after a short stint in beta (or release candidate) status. WSJT-X version 2.2 offers 10 different protocols or modes — FT4, FT8, JT4, JT9, JT65, QRA64, ISCAT, MSK144, WSPR, and Echo. The first six are designed for reliable contacts under weak-signal conditions, and they use nearly identical message structure and source encoding. JT65 and QRA64 were designed for EME (“moonbounce”) on VHF/UHF bands but have also proven very effective for worldwide very low-power communication on HF bands.
“FT8 is operationally similar but four times faster (15-second T/R [transmit-receive] sequences) and less sensitive by a few decibels,” developer Joe Taylor, K1JT, explains in the version 2.2.0 User Guide. “FT4 is faster still (7.5-second T/R sequences) and especially well suited for contesting.” ...

==> COVID-19 Event to Enter High Scorers into a Free Drawing for a Trip
The "COVID-19 Stay Home” event over the June 6 – 7 weekend will enter the top 63 event participants into a drawing for a week-long trip, either to Finland — and a visit to OH Summer Camp and DX summertime activities, plus a visit to Radio Arcala’s OH8X superstation — or to Brazil, including participation in the CW World Wide phone or CW and a visit to the PS2T or ZW5B superstations.
These trips are scheduled for 2021 because of the current coronavirus pandemic. The top 30 multimode scores, top five single-mode scores on each mode, and the top three scores from each continent will receive an online certificate and may participate in the free drawing. ...

==> SEA-PAC QSO Party Set after Convention is Canceled
Along with many other ham radio events, SEA-PAC 2020, which was to host the ARRL Northwestern Division Convention, fell victim to the COVID-19 pandemic. Standing in for this year’s live event will be the SEA-PAC QSO Party on Saturday, June 6, starting at 1600 UTC and continuing until June 7 at 0400 UTC.
“We may not be able to be with our 2,000+ fellow amateur radio friends this year on this day, but we can still have a ham-tastic time on the airwaves,” the event’s organizers said...

==> "ARRL at Home Hamvention" Weekend of Specials Set
For the first time in its 68-year history, Dayton Hamvention® will not take place, due to concerns about the coronavirus outbreak. ARRL understands that many members will miss going to Hamvention, which is always an occasion to catch up with friends, explore new products, and connect with ARRL via our Expo in the exhibit area.
While we can't be together in Dayton in 2020, ARRL has put together a weekend of specials to bring a bit of the Hamvention spirit and excitement to members during what would have been Dayton Hamvention weekend, May 14 - 17.
On the ARRL at Home Hamvention page, members will find a special message from ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR; new membership premiums; the latest products; clearance merchandise, and our "ARRL at Hamvention" button. All who make weekend purchases will receive a free ARRL button with their order, while supplies last. ...

==> ARRL Announces New Life 70+ Membership
The ARRL Board of Directors recently voted to create a special Life Membership opportunity for individuals who are at least 70 years old. Starting on June 1, the Life 70+ Membership will be available to individuals who have turned 70 and have a combined 25 years of paid annual ARRL membership. ...

==> Temporary Rule Waivers Announced for 2020 ARRL Field Day
With one month to go before 2020 ARRL Field Day, June 27 - 28, the ARRL Programs and Services Committee (PSC) has adopted two temporary rule waivers for the event:
1) For Field Day 2020 only, Class D stations may work all other Field Day stations, including other Class D stations, for points.
Field Day rule 4.6 defines Class D stations as "Home stations," including stations operating from permanent or licensed station locations using commercial power. Class D stations ordinarily may only count contacts made with Class A, B, C, E, and F Field Day stations, but the temporary rule waiver for 2020 allows Class D stations to count contacts with other Class D stations for QSO credit.
2) In addition, for 2020 only, an aggregate club score will be published, which will be the sum of all individual entries indicating a specific club (similar to the aggregate score totals used in ARRL affiliated club competitions).
Ordinarily, club names are only published in the results for Class A and Class F entries, but the temporary rule waiver for 2020 allows participants from any Class to optionally include a single club name with their submitted results following Field Day. ...

==> Social Distancing Exam Sessions Demonstrate Pent-Up Demand for Testing
A recent in-person "social-distancing" amateur radio exam session in Indiana and a "drive-in" session in California are representative of those that are relieving some of the pent-up demand for testing. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, in-person exam sessions have begun to resume across the US and elsewhere in the world.
"With in-person sessions starting up again around the country, we are hearing the same story from volunteer examiner (VE) teams everywhere," said ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC) Maria Somma, AB1FM. "Large numbers of candidates who have been waiting to test are contacting teams and are thankful for the opportunity to sit for an exam. So far, we've heard mostly positive results. Candidates are very prepared, as they've had extra time to study. VE teams and candidates are following CDC and state guidelines for social distancing." ...

==> Moonbounce Contact via FT8 Could be a First
FT8 codeveloper Joe Taylor, K1JT, has reported what is possibly the first FT8 contact via moonbouce (Earth-Moon-Earth or EME) on May 21 between Paul Andrews, W2HRO, in New York, and Peter Gouweleeuw, PA2V, in the Netherlands. The contact was made possible using the currently available beta-release candidate of WSJT-X, version 2.2-rc1.
"Why might you want to use FT8 instead of 'Old Reliable JT65' for EME QSOs?" Taylor asked in a subsequent Moon-Net post. "FT8 is about 4 dB less sensitive than JT65, but with 15-second T/R [transmit/receive] sequences it's four times faster, and it doesn't use Deep Search," he said, answering his own question.
The FT8 protocol included in the beta version of WSJT-X has an optional user setting to work around the 2.5-second path delay. "For terrestrial use, the FT8 decoder searches over the range -2.5 to +2.4 seconds for clock offset DT between transmitting and receiving stations," Taylor explained. "DT" represents the difference between the transmission time and actual time. "When 'Decode after EME delay' is checked on the WSJT-X 'Settings' screen, the accessible DT range becomes -0.5 to +4.4 seconds. Just right for EME." ...

==> Amateur Radio Gearing Up for Predicted "Above Average" Atlantic Hurricane Season
Long-range forecasts for the 2020 Atlantic Basin hurricane season, which begins on June 1 and extends until November 30, anticipate above-normal activity. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) 2020 outlook calls for a season about 140% more active than average, with four Category 3 to Category 5 hurricanes. The 2019 season saw three major hurricanes (out of six).
"The above-average prediction is largely due to the hot Atlantic and Caribbean waters and lack of a substantial El Niño in the Pacific," the NHC explained, noting that the combination of a busy hurricane season and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic could create a nightmare scenario for affected areas. FEMA and local emergency management agencies are already issuing COVID-19 guidelines for hurricane shelters, which include face masks and social distancing...

==> Federal Judge Okays Retrieval of Titanic Marconi Wireless Equipment
A US federal judge in Virginia has given permission to retrieve the ill-fated RMS Titanic's Marconi wireless gear, which transmitted distress calls from the sinking ocean liner during its maiden voyage. Judge Rebecca Beach Smith of the US District Court in Norfolk ruled that the radio gear is historically and culturally important and could soon be lost within the rapidly decaying wreck. The Titanic sank in 1912 some 370 miles off the coast of Newfoundland after striking an iceberg.
"The Marconi device has significant historical, educational, scientific, and cultural value as the device used to make distress calls while the Titanic was sinking," Judge Smith wrote in her ruling. She said the company would be permitted "minimally to cut into the wreck" to access the radio room.
David Concannon, a lawyer for R.M.S Titanic Inc., which the court has recognized as the steward of the vessel's artifacts, said the company would try to avoid cutting into the ship, noting that the radio room may be reachable via a skylight that was already open. More legal wrangling may lie ahead. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) contends that the retrieval expedition is still prohibited under US law and under an international agreement between the US and the UK.
R.M.S Titanic has said the radio transmitter could unlock some of the secrets about a missed warning message and distress calls sent from the ship.
"It tells an important story," Concannon said. "It tells of the heroism of the operators that saved the lives of 705 people. They worked until water was lapping at their feet."
In an April court filing, NOAA argued against the salvage effort, saying that any benefit to be realized from cutting into the vessel to recover the Marconi equipment would not be "worth the cost to the resource and not in the public interest." ...

==> The transponder on HuskySat-1 has been activated and is open for use and testing, AMSAT Vice President - Operations Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, reports.
"It's fairly sensitive, and 5 - 10 W is plenty most of the time. There are some fades due to satellite orientation, and some passes are definitely better than others. Strong signals may impact the beacon strength." HuskySat-1 is the first CubeSat from the Husky Satellite Lab at the University of Washington and the first mission with AMSAT's linear transponder module (LTM-1), a V/u transponder and integrated telemetry beacon and command receiver. University researchers recently completed their Part 5 (Experimental) operations and have opened up the amateur radio transponder, which is available for use in educational CubeSat missions that are willing to enable the transponder for worldwide use...

==> Amateur Radio Gains Significant Boost in UK by Connecting People During Lockdown
A recent BBC news feature has outlined how ham radio has gotten a significant boost by connecting people during the COVID-19 lockdown in the UK. The article, by Vanessa Pearce, quotes the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) -- the UK's IARU member-society -- as saying that many former hams are now returning to the hobby. Mark Rider, G3VHJ -- a retired engineer who lives alone in North Warwickshire -- said that after the lockdown restricted his occasional trips to the pub, rehearsing with musician friends, and visiting his wife in a nursing home, he decided to dust off his ham radio equipment "to seek out some other social interaction." Rider said that ragchewing has become one of the highlights of his day. "Just speaking to somebody else in the same situation is very rewarding," he said. The 67-year-old told BBC News that keeping in touch with others has been more important since his wife suffered a stroke.
RSGB General Manager Steve Thomas, M1ACB, said the society has experienced a three-fold increase in license examination applications since social distancing rules were put into place. ...

==> ARRL Seeks Clarification of Amended Amateur Service RF Safety Rules
ARRL has filed a Petition for Clarification addressing two issues arising from amended FCC RF safety rules that go into effect on June 1 for the Amateur Service and other FCC-regulated services. Licensees will have 2 years to determine if an RF safety evaluation is now required under the new rules and to perform an evaluation and implement any needed mitigation measures. Current rules already require amateur stations to meet RF exposure limits, but more radio amateurs will have to evaluate their stations under the new rules. The revised final rules, adopted last November, appeared in the April 1 edition of The Federal Register.