Amateur Radio Spectrum
I appreciate the efforts of the ARRL on behalf of all amateurs to aggressively represent our interests in front of the FCC in regards to radio spectrum assignments.
Radio spectrum is a shared national resource. As radio amateurs we have been allocated some of that resource for the advancement of the radio art, for community service and for our own enjoyment. It is always in our own best interest to use the spectrum efficiently, with decorum and with a level of humility for being allocated a chunk of a national resource. It is kind of like getting to be the keepers of a large national park. Surely a park ranger wouldn't throw his gum wrapper on the ground; radio amateurs should have a similar appreciation for their position.
So I see the issues of spectrum protection and rules enforcement as intertwined and mutually supporting.
Take the issue of BPL for example. The ARRL has taken a leadership role in describing to the FCC what the implications are of an unregulated or misregulated BPL industry. That is of importance not only to radio amateurs but to broadcast, emergency service and business band users. Ultimately the developers of BPL, the investors, the customers, the whole industry will be better served because the ARRL has stepped up. Because we take the high road, amateur radio has the ability to present a respected opinion.
That's the reason we don't want "lids" on the air: because it erodes the respect that has been built up over decades. I'm proud to have an amateur radio license. Not because I'm smart or can take a test but because there is a tradition and an expectation of quality that goes with the license.
What I Can Offer
What I Can Offer
So what talents, skills or gifts do I have that might make me a good Vice Director of the Rocky Mountain Division of the ARRL?
I have good communications skills. You can evaluate that claim as you look through this blog. I enjoy working with people. I don't mind public speaking. I have experience leading meetings and committees, keeping things focused and moving forward. I enjoy learning and I appreciate good teachers. I appreciate traditions and history, but I also see that we can't move forward if we are always engrossed with the past.
I have a wide range of interest within amateur radio. Maybe you know someone who is a hardcore DXer, contester, microwaver, builder, EMCOMM-er, PSKer, WinLinker, FMer, ... I like radio, learning about electronics and trying new modes and bands, putting those things to use for my own enjoyment and to serve my community. I think most hams are like me, they have a wide range of interests and they want the system to accommodate that wide range not just the specialists.
I am a fresh face. The other people in this election are all more experienced than I am with the inner workings of the ARRL and its sections and divisions. I will have a fresh look at how things are done. But I'm also not a revolutionary. I generally am happy with the ARRL and what it has done for me. I'd like to keep that level of satisfaction.
I am centrally located. For the last few years we haven't had a director or vice director from Colorado. As I was thinking about participating in this election I wondered why the large population of hams in Colorado wouldn't want someone from their area on the board. If elected I plan to serve the whole division not just Colorado. But I think having representation from the biggest concentration of hams is a good thing.
My biggest asset is that I'm willing to serve. Some people reading this blog would probably make much better leaders than I would. But I've decided to pitch in, participate, give it a go. I want the ARRL to continue to be an organization that radio amateurs are proud of, that the FCC respects, that is a leader in the international telecommunications world. And I'm willing to read your emails and take your phone calls and try to represent your concerns to the leadership of the ARRL, the HQ staff and anyone else.
So what talents, skills or gifts do I have that might make me a good Vice Director of the Rocky Mountain Division of the ARRL?
I have good communications skills. You can evaluate that claim as you look through this blog. I enjoy working with people. I don't mind public speaking. I have experience leading meetings and committees, keeping things focused and moving forward. I enjoy learning and I appreciate good teachers. I appreciate traditions and history, but I also see that we can't move forward if we are always engrossed with the past.
I have a wide range of interest within amateur radio. Maybe you know someone who is a hardcore DXer, contester, microwaver, builder, EMCOMM-er, PSKer, WinLinker, FMer, ... I like radio, learning about electronics and trying new modes and bands, putting those things to use for my own enjoyment and to serve my community. I think most hams are like me, they have a wide range of interests and they want the system to accommodate that wide range not just the specialists.
I am a fresh face. The other people in this election are all more experienced than I am with the inner workings of the ARRL and its sections and divisions. I will have a fresh look at how things are done. But I'm also not a revolutionary. I generally am happy with the ARRL and what it has done for me. I'd like to keep that level of satisfaction.
I am centrally located. For the last few years we haven't had a director or vice director from Colorado. As I was thinking about participating in this election I wondered why the large population of hams in Colorado wouldn't want someone from their area on the board. If elected I plan to serve the whole division not just Colorado. But I think having representation from the biggest concentration of hams is a good thing.
My biggest asset is that I'm willing to serve. Some people reading this blog would probably make much better leaders than I would. But I've decided to pitch in, participate, give it a go. I want the ARRL to continue to be an organization that radio amateurs are proud of, that the FCC respects, that is a leader in the international telecommunications world. And I'm willing to read your emails and take your phone calls and try to represent your concerns to the leadership of the ARRL, the HQ staff and anyone else.
My Vision of the ARRL - part 2
Regulations and the FCC
I really appreciate the leadership role that the ARRL serves in representing ham radio to the FCC and international government bodies. It really does work. Personally, I wouldn't have known anything about BPL if it weren't for those sharp-eyed FCC watchers at the ARRL who keep up with all of this.
I appreciate the ARRL spectrum defense efforts, including the fund raising program.
Testing and Licensing
As I mentioned, I think HF operation is the real attraction of amateur radio and I think the recent removal of the morse code proficency requirement will help get more new hams on the HF bands. I love morse code. I started and lead a VHF morse code practice net in our area, carried on weekly morse code practice for a number of years. I'm not a code-hater, I'd just like to see more people get to enjoy the historical heart of ham radio.
Code proficiency did act as a higher hurdle for licensing. It was really the only hands-on part of the examination, something you couldn't get from memorizing the question pool. I'd like to see something replace the code test in this area. I think an operating proficiency segment would be good. Maybe a computer simulated QSO could be used to demonstrate simple things like knowing how to tune in a sideband signal, how to recognize some of the common digital modes, how to operate a radio in receive mode. Maybe it could be just a certificate from another licensed ham which declares that yes, this candidate knows something about how to get on the air.
I appreciate the ARRL's leadership in the testing and licensing process. I'd like to see more recognition for volunteer examiners and the work they do.
Bandplan
The ARRL recently withdrew a proposal to the FCC to rework the bandplan based on signal bandwidth. I applaud the effort and the openness of the process, and the willingness to take a step back and work things out a little more. It's going to be a difficult issue. I think we should continue moving forward with this issue in a deliberate and open process.
Finances and HQ Operations
I have no inside information on the finances, membership, employee satisfaction or other metrics concerning ARRL operations. My experience dealing with ARRL headquarters has always been pleasant. I expect there are people less enthusiastic than myself. Let's just say that I'm not running a "throw the bums out" campaign. I am interested in seeing that funds continue to be used efficiently to promote the interests of the membership.
Logbook of the World has been very successful as a member service. It is an indication that the ARRL is forward thinking and not too bound by tradition. I see these kinds of projects as a health indicator not just for the ARRL as an operational organization but for amateur radio as a forward looking activity.
I really appreciate the leadership role that the ARRL serves in representing ham radio to the FCC and international government bodies. It really does work. Personally, I wouldn't have known anything about BPL if it weren't for those sharp-eyed FCC watchers at the ARRL who keep up with all of this.
I appreciate the ARRL spectrum defense efforts, including the fund raising program.
Testing and Licensing
As I mentioned, I think HF operation is the real attraction of amateur radio and I think the recent removal of the morse code proficency requirement will help get more new hams on the HF bands. I love morse code. I started and lead a VHF morse code practice net in our area, carried on weekly morse code practice for a number of years. I'm not a code-hater, I'd just like to see more people get to enjoy the historical heart of ham radio.
Code proficiency did act as a higher hurdle for licensing. It was really the only hands-on part of the examination, something you couldn't get from memorizing the question pool. I'd like to see something replace the code test in this area. I think an operating proficiency segment would be good. Maybe a computer simulated QSO could be used to demonstrate simple things like knowing how to tune in a sideband signal, how to recognize some of the common digital modes, how to operate a radio in receive mode. Maybe it could be just a certificate from another licensed ham which declares that yes, this candidate knows something about how to get on the air.
I appreciate the ARRL's leadership in the testing and licensing process. I'd like to see more recognition for volunteer examiners and the work they do.
Bandplan
The ARRL recently withdrew a proposal to the FCC to rework the bandplan based on signal bandwidth. I applaud the effort and the openness of the process, and the willingness to take a step back and work things out a little more. It's going to be a difficult issue. I think we should continue moving forward with this issue in a deliberate and open process.
Finances and HQ Operations
I have no inside information on the finances, membership, employee satisfaction or other metrics concerning ARRL operations. My experience dealing with ARRL headquarters has always been pleasant. I expect there are people less enthusiastic than myself. Let's just say that I'm not running a "throw the bums out" campaign. I am interested in seeing that funds continue to be used efficiently to promote the interests of the membership.
Logbook of the World has been very successful as a member service. It is an indication that the ARRL is forward thinking and not too bound by tradition. I see these kinds of projects as a health indicator not just for the ARRL as an operational organization but for amateur radio as a forward looking activity.
My Vision of the ARRL - part 1
My Vision of the ARRL
I'm not sure that's really the right way to put it. My vision is to serve the members of the ARRL not to dive in and remake it to fit me.
Youth in Radio
I think the ARRL needs to be active in trying to get new members, particularly younger people. I'm 45 years old (and I can't stand rap music) so my vision in that regard has to be taken with a grain of salt. My kids are in their teens and they aren't much interested in ham radio. But then neither was I when I was their age. Somehow the magic of radio bit me as I approached 40. For others it happens a different way. One key I think is to get people on HF not just on VHF or UHF FM. Don't get me wrong, I like the local modes through the repeaters, the ready conversation with people I can meet face to face. But I think the really interesting stuff is cross cultural connections on HF. As the sunspot cycle comes back up I would like to see more non-contest venues for new hams to have DX ragchewing. My kids aren't going to meet someone from Belarus on their cell phone. But they can do that with ham radio!
Public Service
Public service is a hot topic these days. The ARRL has been a focal point and connection between amateur radio and various served agencies. That needs to keep happening. Issues like the Red Cross wanting background checks... we need people who can connect with the served agencies at a national level and let them know what we have to offer. I think the ARRL has been doing a good job of that and I plan to encourage it.
I think there is a real attraction for youth in public service activities too, particularly local events like races, runs and parades, things that don't require six months of EMCOM training but will give them an important job that is appreciated.
I'm not sure that's really the right way to put it. My vision is to serve the members of the ARRL not to dive in and remake it to fit me.
Youth in Radio
I think the ARRL needs to be active in trying to get new members, particularly younger people. I'm 45 years old (and I can't stand rap music) so my vision in that regard has to be taken with a grain of salt. My kids are in their teens and they aren't much interested in ham radio. But then neither was I when I was their age. Somehow the magic of radio bit me as I approached 40. For others it happens a different way. One key I think is to get people on HF not just on VHF or UHF FM. Don't get me wrong, I like the local modes through the repeaters, the ready conversation with people I can meet face to face. But I think the really interesting stuff is cross cultural connections on HF. As the sunspot cycle comes back up I would like to see more non-contest venues for new hams to have DX ragchewing. My kids aren't going to meet someone from Belarus on their cell phone. But they can do that with ham radio!
Public Service
Public service is a hot topic these days. The ARRL has been a focal point and connection between amateur radio and various served agencies. That needs to keep happening. Issues like the Red Cross wanting background checks... we need people who can connect with the served agencies at a national level and let them know what we have to offer. I think the ARRL has been doing a good job of that and I plan to encourage it.
I think there is a real attraction for youth in public service activities too, particularly local events like races, runs and parades, things that don't require six months of EMCOM training but will give them an important job that is appreciated.
Where I'm Going
Where I'm Going
I've really had a growing interest in electronics. You have to realize that I've been a computer guy all of my career not an electrical engineer. My electronics training has all been through ham radio. I read books, I subscribe to QEX and I read both QEX and QST from cover to cover every issue. About half of the stuff in QEX goes sailing over my head but it sure is interesting.
The articles that really tweak my interest are the guys who build complete HF radios of their own design, from scratch. Wow. Maybe someday I can do that. I'm slowly making my way through Experimental Methods in RF Design
Over the last few years I've learned a lot and I have a long way to go. I'm intrigued by software defined radio. I have a little bit of interest in digital modes, but I really like the simplicity of good old analog CW rigs. I've done a little bit with PIC microcontrollers and DDS stuff.
Despite my less-than-contest antenna setups I always love doing the ARRL CW sweepstakes. Maybe someday I'll get a clean sweep!
About two years ago I inherited a large homebrew AM transmitter basket case. I spent a long time figuring out how it all fit together, cataloging the circuits and the interconnections. I eventually got the thing on the air. For the old timers: It is a pair of 250TH tubes modulated by 2 pair of 813s (I did say large!). That has been the focal point for my "hollow state" education. I have not yet built my own HF amplifier, but someday I'm gonna.
I've really had a growing interest in electronics. You have to realize that I've been a computer guy all of my career not an electrical engineer. My electronics training has all been through ham radio. I read books, I subscribe to QEX and I read both QEX and QST from cover to cover every issue. About half of the stuff in QEX goes sailing over my head but it sure is interesting.
The articles that really tweak my interest are the guys who build complete HF radios of their own design, from scratch. Wow. Maybe someday I can do that. I'm slowly making my way through Experimental Methods in RF Design
Over the last few years I've learned a lot and I have a long way to go. I'm intrigued by software defined radio. I have a little bit of interest in digital modes, but I really like the simplicity of good old analog CW rigs. I've done a little bit with PIC microcontrollers and DDS stuff.
Despite my less-than-contest antenna setups I always love doing the ARRL CW sweepstakes. Maybe someday I'll get a clean sweep!
About two years ago I inherited a large homebrew AM transmitter basket case. I spent a long time figuring out how it all fit together, cataloging the circuits and the interconnections. I eventually got the thing on the air. For the old timers: It is a pair of 250TH tubes modulated by 2 pair of 813s (I did say large!). That has been the focal point for my "hollow state" education. I have not yet built my own HF amplifier, but someday I'm gonna.
Who Am I
Who Am I
Now that I'm going to be on the ballot I really need to make a presentation of who I am and what I can bring to the ARRL board as a Vice Director.
History
After following my father wb0eqt to ham meetings and swapmeets for most of my childhood I finally got my own ticket in 1981 between my first and second years of college. My callsign was n0czk. I enjoyed many days operating the school club station at Iowa State University, wa0khf located in my dormitory, Friley Hall. In 1982 I moved out of the dormitory and into other university housing. My roommate was also a ham and we ran a whole station out of our housing unit. I was in Army MARS for a couple of years. At one time I had a complete WWII era teletype setup in our living room running RTTY the old fashioned way.
Soon I found the girl of my dreams and we got married. I graduated from college with a degree in computer science. We moved to an apartment block in Chicago then to a townhouse in the suburbs. My only station was the 2 meter FM radio in my little pickup truck, a Drake TR-22 with a small amplifier from Tokyo High Power. But that stuff got stolen and I was off the air! Kids came along, job changes too. We moved back to Iowa and I put another VHF FM radio in a different car. It got stolen too! Eventually we decided to move to Colorado. My kids were growing and my job kept me busy. I changed my address with good old form 610 and I checked the box for a new callsign and was assigned kc0atc.
The thing that renewed my radio activity was the Y2K computer bug. Somehow I got myself into a meeting of the ham club in town and there was a guy there (Randy, w0avv) talking about contingency plans in case the infrastructure failed due to the Y2K problem. I decided I'd better get prepared. I went down to HRO in Denver and bought myself an ICOM IC-2100H 2 meter FM radio and an antenna. I installed that rig in the car I used to commute to work. I got on the air and started talking regularly to folks in the Fort Collins/Greeley area using the NCARC repeaters. I was having a lot of fun and my hour long commute was much more enjoyable. I joined ARES and lent a hand with some local events and nets.
Pretty soon I decided to try to get back on HF. I purchased a Howes qrp transceiver from another ham. It was CW only, 40 meters and about 3 watts of output. I put up a dipole and started making contacts. What a blast!
You know how it is with radios. When you get one then suddenly you have three. How does that happen? Well I filled up the little desk I was using in the living room and moved my ham shack to the basement/garage area. I started tearing apart old TV's, gathering all sorts of parts, building myself a real "Junque Boxx".
The story goes on for quite awhile. Let's just say that I enjoyed restoring some Big Iron AM equipment, building various kits, breaking, fixing, and having a grand time. I upgraded to Extra class. I got a vanity callsign w0ep named for the town where I lived, Estes Park, Colorado. I had a weather station. I ran an APRS digipeater and IGate. I started a CW practice net on one of the NCARC repeaters and ran that for a couple of years. I visited various nets and did more ARES volunteering. I did some casual contesting and dxing.
Earlier this year it became necessary to move from Estes Park down to Fort Collins. All of the antennas came down. The radios went into storage. My first order of business is to build a little radio shack in the backyard so I can get back on HF. I hope to have it completed before the end of the year. For a little while my station is once again the VHF/UHF mobile rig and the handheld.
Now that I'm going to be on the ballot I really need to make a presentation of who I am and what I can bring to the ARRL board as a Vice Director.
History
After following my father wb0eqt to ham meetings and swapmeets for most of my childhood I finally got my own ticket in 1981 between my first and second years of college. My callsign was n0czk. I enjoyed many days operating the school club station at Iowa State University, wa0khf located in my dormitory, Friley Hall. In 1982 I moved out of the dormitory and into other university housing. My roommate was also a ham and we ran a whole station out of our housing unit. I was in Army MARS for a couple of years. At one time I had a complete WWII era teletype setup in our living room running RTTY the old fashioned way.
Soon I found the girl of my dreams and we got married. I graduated from college with a degree in computer science. We moved to an apartment block in Chicago then to a townhouse in the suburbs. My only station was the 2 meter FM radio in my little pickup truck, a Drake TR-22 with a small amplifier from Tokyo High Power. But that stuff got stolen and I was off the air! Kids came along, job changes too. We moved back to Iowa and I put another VHF FM radio in a different car. It got stolen too! Eventually we decided to move to Colorado. My kids were growing and my job kept me busy. I changed my address with good old form 610 and I checked the box for a new callsign and was assigned kc0atc.
The thing that renewed my radio activity was the Y2K computer bug. Somehow I got myself into a meeting of the ham club in town and there was a guy there (Randy, w0avv) talking about contingency plans in case the infrastructure failed due to the Y2K problem. I decided I'd better get prepared. I went down to HRO in Denver and bought myself an ICOM IC-2100H 2 meter FM radio and an antenna. I installed that rig in the car I used to commute to work. I got on the air and started talking regularly to folks in the Fort Collins/Greeley area using the NCARC repeaters. I was having a lot of fun and my hour long commute was much more enjoyable. I joined ARES and lent a hand with some local events and nets.
Pretty soon I decided to try to get back on HF. I purchased a Howes qrp transceiver from another ham. It was CW only, 40 meters and about 3 watts of output. I put up a dipole and started making contacts. What a blast!
You know how it is with radios. When you get one then suddenly you have three. How does that happen? Well I filled up the little desk I was using in the living room and moved my ham shack to the basement/garage area. I started tearing apart old TV's, gathering all sorts of parts, building myself a real "Junque Boxx".
The story goes on for quite awhile. Let's just say that I enjoyed restoring some Big Iron AM equipment, building various kits, breaking, fixing, and having a grand time. I upgraded to Extra class. I got a vanity callsign w0ep named for the town where I lived, Estes Park, Colorado. I had a weather station. I ran an APRS digipeater and IGate. I started a CW practice net on one of the NCARC repeaters and ran that for a couple of years. I visited various nets and did more ARES volunteering. I did some casual contesting and dxing.
Earlier this year it became necessary to move from Estes Park down to Fort Collins. All of the antennas came down. The radios went into storage. My first order of business is to build a little radio shack in the backyard so I can get back on HF. I hope to have it completed before the end of the year. For a little while my station is once again the VHF/UHF mobile rig and the handheld.
Introduction
Hello from Fort Collins, Colorado.
My name is Chris Howard. I hold amateur extra class radio license
w0ep. I have been a licensed radio amateur since 1981.
The purpose of this blog is to record some of my thoughts about the upcoming 2007 election in the Rocky Mountain Division of the ARRL. I am running for the position of Vice Director and I would appreciate your vote.
What Is It All About
The American Radio Relay League is the largest organization of amateur radio operators in the United States. It also is a focal point and resource for amateur radio operators, clubs and governing bodies from around the world.
The ARRL board of directors consists of 15 directors, one from each division. A vice director from each division participates on the board if the director cannot. The Rocky Mountain Division covers the states of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. (ARRL Articles of Association)
How it happened
In July the ARRL published a notice in QST magazine announcing the upcoming elections for the positions of Director and Vice Director from some of the ARRL Divisions. The term of office for these positions is three years.
I'm generally happy with the direction of the ARRL and I didn't want to waste the organization's time and money on an election if the current guys were going to continue in their offices. I sent email to both of them and learned that roles were changing and there would indeed be an election. I decided to run.
The Nominating Petition
I contacted the ARRL to get a packet of election information as directed in the QST note. The packet arrived promptly in the mail and I read through it. My first task was to get at least 10 signatures from ARRL members in this division who would nominate me to be on the ballot.
On the back side of the nominating petition was a questionaire that I had to fill out. It asked about my occupation, business contacts and other information that would be used to determine if I would be creating a conflict of interest should I eventually be elected.
My next step was to send out an email to the local ham radio club email reflector. I got more than 10 people responding that they would be willing to sign my nomination petition. These were people that I had talked to on the air locally on 2 meters and 70 centimeters and had met at the club meetings. Some of them I tracked down at home but most of them signed my petition at the next club meeting. Pretty quick I had enough signatures with a few extra just in case. I added my own and sent it off in the mail to the ARRL.
Acknowledgment Letter
Soon I received a letter of acknowledgment from the ARRL that my petition had been received and that I had a sufficient number of valid signatures to put me on the ballot. The next hurdle would be an examination of the my conflict of interest potential.
ARRL Email Letter
The weekly ARRL Letter email newsletter came out with a few paragraphs about the election and it listed me as a candidate. I'm in!
My name is Chris Howard. I hold amateur extra class radio license
w0ep. I have been a licensed radio amateur since 1981.
The purpose of this blog is to record some of my thoughts about the upcoming 2007 election in the Rocky Mountain Division of the ARRL. I am running for the position of Vice Director and I would appreciate your vote.
What Is It All About
The American Radio Relay League is the largest organization of amateur radio operators in the United States. It also is a focal point and resource for amateur radio operators, clubs and governing bodies from around the world.
The ARRL board of directors consists of 15 directors, one from each division. A vice director from each division participates on the board if the director cannot. The Rocky Mountain Division covers the states of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. (ARRL Articles of Association)
How it happened
In July the ARRL published a notice in QST magazine announcing the upcoming elections for the positions of Director and Vice Director from some of the ARRL Divisions. The term of office for these positions is three years.
I'm generally happy with the direction of the ARRL and I didn't want to waste the organization's time and money on an election if the current guys were going to continue in their offices. I sent email to both of them and learned that roles were changing and there would indeed be an election. I decided to run.
The Nominating Petition
I contacted the ARRL to get a packet of election information as directed in the QST note. The packet arrived promptly in the mail and I read through it. My first task was to get at least 10 signatures from ARRL members in this division who would nominate me to be on the ballot.
On the back side of the nominating petition was a questionaire that I had to fill out. It asked about my occupation, business contacts and other information that would be used to determine if I would be creating a conflict of interest should I eventually be elected.
My next step was to send out an email to the local ham radio club email reflector. I got more than 10 people responding that they would be willing to sign my nomination petition. These were people that I had talked to on the air locally on 2 meters and 70 centimeters and had met at the club meetings. Some of them I tracked down at home but most of them signed my petition at the next club meeting. Pretty quick I had enough signatures with a few extra just in case. I added my own and sent it off in the mail to the ARRL.
Acknowledgment Letter
Soon I received a letter of acknowledgment from the ARRL that my petition had been received and that I had a sufficient number of valid signatures to put me on the ballot. The next hurdle would be an examination of the my conflict of interest potential.
ARRL Email Letter
The weekly ARRL Letter email newsletter came out with a few paragraphs about the election and it listed me as a candidate. I'm in!
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