 March 7, 2024 John E. Ross, KD8IDJ, Editor
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Bob Heil, K9EID, Silent Key The man who defined the sound of live rock 'n' roll music and brought audio engineering principals into mainstream amateur radio use, Dr. Bob Heil, K9EID, has passed away at the age of 83.
He was an ARRL Life Member and in the ARRL Maxim Society. A Facebook post from Heil Ham Radio paid tribute to their founder: "Bob fought a valiant, yearlong battle with cancer, and passed peacefully surrounded by his family." Heil founded Heil Sound in 1966, through which he created the template for modern concert sound systems for musicians like the Grateful Dead, The Who, Joe Walsh, and Peter Frampton.
The talk box used on iconic live record Frampton Comes Alive! was Heil's design. His audio engineering products have been featured in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and he was honored in 2007 with the Parnelli Audio Innovator Award for his impact on the live sound industry. "My life has been about achieving great sound, whether on the concert stage or in the amateur radio world," Bob Heil recounted in 2022. "I've watched Heil Sound go from a regional sound company to a world-class microphone manufacturer. This company has been my passion," he said. Parallel to his commercial and artistic success in live music, was his passion for amateur radio. He was active in ham radio from a young age, and he merged his expertise in audio engineering with his love for radio. Heil Ham Radio was founded to produce microphones, headsets, and other gear for radio amateurs with an emphasis on high-quality audio. Heil was known as a mentor who enjoyed helping others find success in ham radio.
Recently, his grandson Charlie Hartley, KF0OOP, became a licensed ham to surprise Heil for his birthday. The pair attended the ARRL Midwest Convention/Winterfest in St. Louis, Missouri, on January 27, 2024. Heil was a generous donor to amateur radio organizations, including ARRL. Recently, he donated a host of new audio gear to the Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station, W1AW. His generosity and kind nature will be missed by many, including ARRL Director of Development Kevin Beal, K8EAL. "Bob was a titan in many areas. He was generous with his time, offered keen insights, and had the heart of a philanthropist in the ARRL Maxim Society," Beal said. "He was a gentleman to his core, making friends easily and everywhere he went, from rock stars to captains of industry. I consider it a real privilege to have become a friend to him, too, all because of amateur radio." Heil was known for his passion for AM operations. He served for many years as an on-camera host of the Ham Nation podcast. Tributes to Heil have been flooding social media, including from his co-hosts. ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, said Heil's passing is a significant loss. "Bob Heil's technical achievements that brought high-quality audio to amateur radio pale in comparison to his generosity and willingness to help his fellow ham. He's long been known as someone eager to help mentor and teach. His legacy on our hobby will be long-lasting. Our thoughts are with his loved ones." An obituary for Heil may be viewed at this link.
Bob Heil, K9EID, 1940 - 2024. [Heil Ham Radio, photo] FCC Job Opportunity for Recent Engineering Graduates The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has a job opening that might be a good opportunity for recently graduated amateur radio operators who have knowledge of the spectrum and RF.
There will be on-the-job training for the position. Some of the duties range from performing propagation analysis of terrestrial, satellite, and/or airborne systems, to evaluating the emission characteristics of various transmitters to validate coexistence with neighboring systems. Projects may involve various computer software engineering and scientific applications. Applications are being accepted through July 2, 2024, and a complete job description and required qualifications can be found at https://www.usajobs.gov/job/767902700. Solar Eclipse One Month Away A total solar eclipse that will be seen across North America will occur on Monday, April 8th. It will be the last of its kind in the US for the next 20 years.
Hams across North America are asked to participate in a study about how the ionosphere functions by getting on the air to help scientists in a series of ionospheric experiments. Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation (HamSCI) has presentations for hams interested in participating on Wednesday, March 27 at 8;00 PM (Eastern) - 5:00 PM (Pacific)*, and that same day at 10:00 PM (Eastern) - 7:00 PM (Pacific)*. Both 30-minute presentations will held on Zoom and they will feature HamSCI's Festivals of Eclipse Ionospheric Science (FoEIS). The presenters will take your questions during the presentations. Here is the link to the presentations. The program will start by covering HamSCI's basis and purpose, and quickly move into why they are conducting experiments, how hams and shortwave listeners (SWLS) can participate, and what they hope to learn from the event. Along the way, they will discuss why the science behind the event is important to users of the high-frequency radio spectrum - including amateur radio operators! Learn about the HamSCI's eclipse-focused operating events:
Maritime Mobile Planned During the solar eclipse, John Landrigan, KA4RXP, will be operating in the SEQP as a maritime mobile off the coast of Mazatlán, Mexico, at the beginning of the total solar eclipse as it transits the Maritime provinces of Canada. Look for KA4RXP/MM around 14.265 MHz. Bob Vallio, W6RGG, Named ARRL Honorary Vice President Robert B. "Bob" Vallio, W6RGG, has been honored by the ARRL Board of Directors as an Honorary Vice President.
In a motion that passed with an extended standing ovation, the Board awarded the honor at their Annual Meeting in January 2024. The motion honored Vallio's lifetime of service to ARRL and amateur radio. He was first licensed as a Novice with the call sign WN6RGG in July 1952, and he later upgraded to General class as W6RGG in 1953. He has held an Amateur Extra-class license since its inception in 1968. His tenure of service to ARRL started 46 years ago. He served as Communications Manager of the ARRL East Bay Section from 1978 to 1983, Section Manager of the East Bay Section from 1984 to 1999, Vice Director of the Pacific Division from 2000 to 2003, Director of the Pacific Division from 2003 to 2017, and Second Vice President of ARRL from 2018 to 2023. The motion continued, in part: Robert B. Vallio has also served diligently as a member of the Executive Committee numerous times, a member of the Programs and Services Committee, a member of the Administration & Finance Committee, and many more. Vallio has been active in a number of high-profile DXpeditions, and he is an active contester. Amateur Radio in the News ARRL Public Information Officers, Coordinators, and many other member-volunteers help keep amateur radio and ARRL in the news. " "HAMFEST" IN CAVE CITY MAKES WAVES THROUGH THE COMMUNITY" / WCLU (Kentucky) March 2, 2024 -- Mammoth Cave Amateur Radio Club. "America's Last Morse Code Station" / The Atlantic March 2, 2024 "Amateurs of Action - The Women of Radio" / Domestic Preparedness March 6, 2024 -- Desiree Baccus, N3DEZ, is a member of the ARRL Public Relations Committee Share any amateur radio media hits you spot with us. ARRL Podcasts On the Air The Joys of Being a General The January/February 2024 issue of On the Air featured a story from Brian McSpadden Gardener, KE8JVX, about "The First-Year Experiences of a General-Class Ham," in which Brian detailed how he got his feet wet as a General, and how he put together his first station for HF. Brian joins this episode of the podcast to tell us a little more about his first year as a General, as well as what he's done since then. ARRL Audio News The On the Air podcast and ARRL Audio News are available on blubrry, iTunes, and Apple Podcasts -- On the Air | ARRL Audio News. Announcements Pi Day is on the menu for amateur radio on March 14, 2024. Pi Day, 3/14, is a day when mathematicians, scientists, and math lovers around the world celebrate the mathematical sign pi, which is a never-ending number. The David Sarnoff Radio Club (DSRC) will operate special event station N3P on March 14 from 0000Z to 2359Z, in conjunction with Princeton University's Pi Day celebration and the Einstein Birthday Party held in Princeton, New Jersey. Albert Einstein was born on March 14, 1879. When contacting N3P, make sure to say, "happy Pi Day" and include the state, province, country, and/or grid square from which you are celebrating. The operating frequencies will be 14.031, 14.314, 7.031, and 7.227 MHz. If propagation allows, contacts can also be made 10 and 80 meters. DSRC's local repeater will also be operative on 146.46 +1 MHz, PL 131.8, and 443.4 MHz. Look for N3P on standard FT8 and FT4 frequencies. There may be additional activity on PSK31 around 7070+ and 14070+, or even RTTY. For more information, see DSRC's special event page. In Brief... On February 27, 2024, five amateur radio clubs in the Dominican Republic activated special event station HI180RD to celebrate the 180th anniversary of the country's independence from Haiti. Until 2359 UTC on April 30, more than 25 HI180RD amateur radio operators will be on the air daily. Activations are on all HF bands, SSB, and digital modes on 14.326 +/- 20 KHz, 21.325 +/- 20 KHz, 24.980 +/- 20 KHz, and 28.380 +/- 20 KHz, including VHF/UHF frequencies for local stations. QSL certificates are available via QRZ.com. For additional information, contact Mejico Angeles-Lithgow, HI8MA/KQ4IPX, at [email protected]. The announcement of the Dominican Republic's separation from Haiti took place at the Gate of Mercy in Santo Domingo on February 27, 1844, which is also where the country's tricolor flag was hoisted for the first time. The National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (NCVEC) Question Pool Committee (QPC) has removed one General-class license question. The QPC of the NCVEC has deleted question G1E09 from the General-class pool because they have determined the question is defective and must be withdrawn. They discovered that, as worded, the question is showing the wrong correct answer. Question G1E09 must be withdrawn from the pool effective immediately and should be removed from examinations as soon as possible. Updated question pool files, including the errata and new information, have been posted on the NCVEC General-class question pool web page at https://www.ncvec.org/index.php/2023-2027-general-question-pool-release. The current Element 3 General question pool became effective on July 1, 2023, and it is valid through June 30, 2027. The ARRL VEC advises the community to regularly check the NCVEC website at http://www.ncvec.org/ for updates to the question pools, which may include errata and withdrawn questions. The K7RA Solar Update Tad Cook, K7RA, of Seattle, Washington, reports for this week's ARRL Propagation Bulletin, ARLP0010:
New sunspot groups emerged every day over the past reporting week of February 29 through March 6. One new sunspot group appeared every day on February 29 through March 3, two new groups appeared on March 4, and another appeared on March 5. It seems odd, but the average daily sunspot number was about the same (changing from 106.4 to 106.7), while the average daily solar flux had a substantial drop from 175 to 147.4. Average daily planetary A index was up from 8.4 to 10, while middle latitude numbers rose from 7.4 to 8. The March 3 planetary A index was 29. Spaceweather.com reported a G2 geomagnetic storm at 0930 UTC. On March 7, they reported that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) expects a minor storm on March 9. The solar flux forecast predicts a short-term peak at 180 on March 21 - 23, and another on April 17 - 19. Predicted solar flux is 135 on March 7; 140 on March 8 - 9; 145 on March 10 - 12; 140 and 160 on March 13 - 14; 170 on March 15 - 16; 165, 160, 170, and 175 on March 17 - 20; 180 on March 21 - 23; 175 on March 24 - 25; 170 on March 26 - 27; 160 on March 28 - 29; 165 and 145 on March 30 - 31, and 140 on April 1 - 2. Predicted planetary A index is 5 on March 7; 8 on March 8 - 10; 5 on March 11 - 23; 15,12, 12, 5, 10, and 8 on March 24 - 29, and 5 on March 30 through April 5. Sunspot numbers for February 29 through March 6, 2024, were 107, 120, 91, 90, 113, 121, and 105, with a mean of 106.7. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 164.1, 152.8, 152.3, 145.5, 139.9, 141.5, and 136, with a mean of 147.4. Estimated planetary A indices were 4, 9, 5, 29, 10, 7, and 6, with a mean of 10. Middle latitude A index was 4, 9, 3, 20, 8, 7, and 5, with a mean of 8. Send your tips, questions, or comments to [email protected]. A comprehensive K7RA Solar Update is posted Fridays on the ARRL website. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the ARRL Technical Information Service, read "What the Numbers Mean...," and check out the Propagation Page of Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA. A propagation bulletin archive is available. For customizable propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio website. Share your reports and observations. A weekly, full report is posted on ARRL News. Just Ahead in Radiosport
Visit the ARRL Contest Calendar for more events and information. Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions
The ARRL Hamfest and Convention Database to find events in your area. Have News for ARRL? Submissions for the ARRL Letter and ARRL News can be sent to [email protected]. -- John E. Ross, KD8IDJ, ARRL News Editor
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This is a Recent Graduates position in the FCC's Pathways Program, and it will be located in the FCC Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) in Washington, DC. Applications are being accepted for engineering graduates who earned their degree in 2022 or later. For veteran applicants, earlier graduates qualify based upon their military service, including students expecting to graduate in May 2024.
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