Proceedings
SPRING 2022
2022 RCA TECHNICAL SYMPOSIUM & AWARDS HEADS TO ATLANTA ON NOVEMBER 19 TOUR THE MAKER SPACE AT GA TECH!
INSIDE: The Challenges of Rural Broadband Silicon Valley Dispatches: The Current State of 5G BBC Initiates Ukrainian Shortwave Service RCA’s Women in Wireless in the 21st Century VOA and RFE/RL Broadcasting in Ukraine Origin of the Word “Radio”
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2022 BOARD LISTING PRESIDENT John Facella P.E.* EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT David P. Bart* VICE PRESIDENT Open VICE PRESIDENT/COUNSEL Chester “Barney” Scholl, Jr.* VICE PRESIDENT/CO-COUNSEL Edward Ryan TREASURER Ronald J. Jakubowski* SECRETARY Margaret J. Lyons, PE, PMP* DIRECTORS JonPaul Beauchamp Rich Berliner Ernie Blair Dr. James Breakall Verle “V.G.” Duvall Charles Kirmuss Denis Marin
Bruce Mcintyre Carole Perry Don Root Paul Scutieri Dr. Julio Urbina William Waugamann Jane Winter
PRESIDENTS EMERITI Steven L. Aldinger Gaetano “Tom” Amoscato Sandra Black John “Jack” Brennan Phillip M. Casciano Mercy S. Contreras Timothy Duffy Mal Gurian Carroll Hollingsworth* Bruce R. McIntyre Stan Reubenstein Anthony “Tony” Sabino, Jr. Raymond C. Trott, P.E. STAFF Amy Beckham, Executive Secretary Miki Tufto, Membership and Order Fulfillment COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS 1921 Transatlantic Test Centennial:** Tim Duffy Awards & Fellows: Bruce McIntyre Banquet: Margaret Lyons / Paul Scutieri Constitution & By-Laws: Chester “Barney” Scholl, Jr. Education: Julio Urbina Finance: Phil Casciano / Ron Jakubowski Fundraising:** Jane Winter Historical/Museums & Archives:** Carroll Hollingsworth Interview & Networking Series:** Tim Duffy Keeping RCA Vibrant:** Margaret J. Lyons, PE, PMP Marketing, Endowment Policy & Onboarding:** Open Membership: Open Nominations & Elections: Robert Balais Operations Handbook:** Bruce McIntyre Publications: David P. Bart RCA Radio Amateur Club License:** Open RCA Regional Conferences: Ernie Blair Rocky Mountain Section:** Charles Kirmuss Scholarship Fund: Alan Spindel Sponsors:** Jane Winter / Jon Paul Beauchamp Strategic Planning:** David Bart Technical Symposium:** Jim Breakall Website:** John A. Facella, PE, C.Eng. Youth Activities: Carole Perry *Executive Committee Member **Ad Hoc Committee
THE PROCEEDINGS SPRING 2022 | Volume 93, Number 1
The Radio Club of America, Inc. Honoring the Past, Committed to the Future
HEADQUARTERS OFFICE: 7042 East Fish Lake Road, Maple Grove, MN 55311 | (612) 405-2012 amy@radioclubofamerica.org | www.radioclubofamerica.org
CONTENTS From Your President ...............................................................................................................................................4 From the Publications Chairman ............................................................................................................................5 RCA’S 2021 Technical Symposium Available on RCA’s YouTube Channel ...............................................................7 2021 Award Recipients ..........................................................................................................................................9 2021 Fellows......................................................................................................................................................... 11 Candids from the 2021 Symposium & Banquet....................................................................................................12 2022 Vivian Carr Award Presentation .................................................................................................................. 15 2022 Jay Kitchen Award Presentation .................................................................................................................. 16 2022 Jane Winter’s Fellows Address..................................................................................................................... 17 The Challenges of Rural Broadband......................................................................................................................18 Silicon Valley Dispatches: The Current State of 5G...............................................................................................22 BBC Initiates Ukrainian Shortwave Service..........................................................................................................25 VOA and RFE/RL Broadcasting in Ukraine............................................................................................................27 RCA News............................................................................................................................................................. 31 RCA Scholarships Program Moves Forward in 2022........................................................................................... 31 Print Version of RCA Proceedings Is Available!..................................................................................................33 RCA’s Women in Wireless in the 21st Century....................................................................................................35 RCA’s Historical Committee Seeks Your Involvement.........................................................................................36 Dick Fijlstra, PA0DFN, Named 2022 Carole Perry Educator of the Year..............................................................37 Recent RCA Activities........................................................................................................................................37 News Items...........................................................................................................................................................38 AWA Museum Expansion Brings New Ham Shack...............................................................................................38 Radar Technology Pioneer Merrill Skolnik Dies at 94..........................................................................................40 FCC $35 Amateur Application Fee Effective Date Announced............................................................................42 AMSAT Received $93,795 ARDC Grant for 3U Spaceframe Development...........................................................42 Update from Arecibo..........................................................................................................................................43 IEEE History Center Updates IEEE Historical Documentation And Creates A Post-1984 Living History.............45 FCC $35 Amateur Application Fee Effective Date Announced............................................................................46 IEEE Global Museum Project Educates, Honors and Inspires............................................................................. 47 HamCation 2022 Displays Cutting-Edge Technology.........................................................................................48 AWA Installs New Exhibit Dedicated To Tom Peterson, An RCA Member And Award Recipient...........................49 IEEE Global Museum Project Educates, Honors and Inspires.............................................................................50 IEEE History Center Updates IEEE Historical Documentation and Creates A Post-1984 Living History............. 51 Book Review: Surfing (DXing) The Web.................................................................................................................53 Silent Keys............................................................................................................................................................55 Origin of the Word “Radio”....................................................................................................................................56 Canada Celebrates Marconi Experimental Station XWA.......................................................................................60 White Paper Reprint: Application Guide to 3D Printed Low-Los Dielectric Structures Addressing Microwave/MMWave Challenges.....................................................................................................64 Business Directory ...............................................................................................................................................80 RCA Calendar & Events ........................................................................................................................................82 Opportunities to Support Radio Club of America .................................................................................................83 TECHNICAL EDITOR John S. “Jack” Belrose, Ph.D., VE2CV 811-1081 Ambleside Dr. Ottawa, ON K2B 8C8, Canada (613) 721-7587; jsbelrose@gmail.com EDITORIAL DIRECTOR David P. Bart 8512 Kedvale Ave. Skokie, IL 60076 (847) 542-9873; jbart1964@gmail.com
ADVERTISING CONTACT Amy Beckham (612) 430-6995; Amy@radioclubofAmerica.org PRODUCTION Sapphyre Group PROCEEDINGS SCIENTIFIC ADVISOR Nathan “Chip” Cohen, Ph.D.
FROM YOUR PRESIDENT space industry; RCA member/Vivian Carr awardee Ellen O’Hara discuss her long wireless career, and RCA member, and FirstNet CTO Jeff Bratcher discuss the FirstNet project. On May 10th at 9 p.m. EDT, we will be featuring Maggie Carothers Lynch, a young mom who is also the CEO of a wireless company. The Interview series are archived in the RCA YouTube channel. In the future we are re-evaluating our efforts in these Zoom events and may move to a less frequent schedule to avoid “Zoom fatigue”.
Greetings to all of our RCA Members! I hope you will enjoy this spring edition of the RCA Proceedings, thanks to the efforts of EVP Dave Bart, his Publications Committee, and Sapphyre. There are a lot of new benefits for our RCA members. I will skim over some of them.
PHYSICAL MEETINGS ARE BACK/BRINGING RCA TO ITS MEMBERS
• The RCA Website now features a number of new sections, including one on “Hot Topics” in the “World of Wireless” tab, which features some basic information on current issues in wireless. Right now we have information on 5G vs. Aviation Altimeters, the Havana Syndrome, and Terahertz Communications and 6G.
• We will be at the Dayton Hamvention in Ohio May 20-21, booth 1810. Please stop by if you are at this event. • In June we will be hosting a reception for RCA members in the DC/MD area, followed by a tour of a local wireless museum. Watch the RCA website for details.
• The RCA Proceedings is always full of interesting technical articles about wireless. Starting with this issue, members can receive a printed copy of the Proceedings for an additional $48/year. There is a signup form accessed on the RCA home page.
• Later in the year we are planning an event for RCA members in the San Ramon, California area. Stay tuned. • We will be at the APCO trade show the week of August 8th in Anaheim, California. • On Saturday November 19th we will have our annual Technical Symposium and Banquet in Atlanta at the Hyatt. Plus we are going to bring back some of the fun again with a silent auction, and some tours!
MEMBERSHIP • Each year we bring in a new group of RCA Fellows, and also make awards to those that have made significant advances to the wireless art. The nominations are due May 31. I hope many of you made nominations as I did.
EDUCATION & TRAINING
• We continue to work hard at bringing new and younger members to our RCA ranks. We issued four awards at the IWCE trade show in March to Young Professionals (35 and under) (press release on the RCA website). We also awarded a scholarship to Frankie Bonte, one of Carole Perry’s Young Achievers who presented two years ago at our Technical Symposium, and is now in college.
• We held a 90 minute Zoom panel discussion on Supply Chain Issues Facing Small to Medium-Sized Electronics and Wireless Companies in March. Panelists from 5 companies presented novel ideas on how to deal with this issue. The video is archived on the RCA Youtube channel. • Women in Wireless: We held the first Zoom meeting for women in March, led by Ellen O’Hara, former CEO and Chair of Zetron. Two more such events are planned this year.
• We currently have a member recruitment promotion going on. If you are a member and bring in a new member to RCA, you will receive a $25 credit toward an RCA logo’d golf shirt or cap. If you bring in 3 new members, you receive the $25 credit PLUS 10% off of your ticket to the November Technical Symposium and/or Banquet in Atlanta!
• In June we will be launching our first wireless training modules. These will be virtually based, consisting of both a video introduction and a detailed set of instructive slides. They are designed to assist new comers to the industry, and initially 3 different modules are planned, with more coming in the future.
• Some of our new or younger members are not familiar with our many RCA members who are “Experts and Legends” in the wireless industry. On the home page we have under the revolving display near the top a list of some of our members who are well known in the industry. The list is being added to regularly.
• Also in June we are kicking off a mentoring program. We are going to start with a small group of mentors and mentees, and expand the program as we gain experience. This is designed for adult professionals who are in the early stages of their wireless careers.
• David Bart has become our Executive VP, replacing former EVP Dr. Chip Cohen who stepped down unexpectedly. I wish to thank Chip for his many contributions to RCA over the past years, including helping with several key committees, bringing some first class presenters to the Technical Symposium, and assisting with our membership recruitment.
• Our Networking and Interview Zoom meetings on the second Tuesday of the month continue to provide information from industry leaders. Since January RCA President Emeritus Tim Duffy has had RCA Fellow Alan Tilles discuss spectrum and licensing; Robert Bell of the Space and Satellite Professionals International discuss the
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HISTORICAL
initiated several committees to look at these demographics more closely. In February we also formed a new committee under Director Bill Waugaman to take a look at our branding. More on this in the future.
• Planning is underway for an April 2023 re-enactment of the 50th anniversary of the first cell phone call in New York City by RCA Life Member Marty Cooper. RCA and several other organizations are involved in the planning. Stay tuned for more information.
• We continue to look for help from our members on our various committees. We invite you to participate in a committee, see the list on the RCA website. You don’t have to be a Board member to help on a committee; in fact we encourage greater participation from our members. The time commitment is usually a few hours a month, or even less, for most committees. We need additional help on the Marketing and Membership committees. Please notify our Executive Secretary Amy Beckham (Amy@radioclubofamerica.org) if you would like to explore this.
• We continue to consolidate all of RCA’s historical papers. They are being archived at the Antique Wireless Association (AWA) near Rochester, New York. AWA is an RCA Partner. The AWA Museum exhibits feature many RCA notables and their contributions. If any RCA member possess historical material or material relating to RCA members and their accomplishments, please contact RCA’s Historical Committee Chair and President Emeritus Carroll Hollingsworth at carrollhollingsworthsr@gmail.com.
Enjoy the coming spring weather, and I hope to see you at one of our physical events!
RCA IN THE 21ST CENTURY
JOHN FACELLA, President The Radio Club of America, Inc.
• As we endeavor to attract new members into RCA, we are discovering that our prospective members are looking for different value propositions in their membership. We have
FROM THE PUBLICATIONS CHAIRMAN The spring 2022 issue of the Proceedings goes to our members at a time of recovery and renewal. After the pandemic-induced, virtual world of the past two years, it is great to start seeing people again as we return to live events. RCA members were well represented at Orlando Hamcation in February, IWCE this past March, and we will be participating in the upcoming Dayton Hamvention in May. Welcome back!! Each spring, the Proceedings traditionally celebrates our prior fall banquet and technical symposium activities. These were both virtual events in 2021. We enthusiastically congratulate our award recipients, and we hope to see everyone in person later this year at RCA’s live activities. RCA plans to recognize everyone again at our upcoming 2022 live banquet and awards ceremony in Atlanta (Save the Date, November 19, Atlanta Hyatt Regency). We encourage all of you to join your fellow RCA members at
this much anticipated, outstanding gathering this fall. Copies of the digital programs for the 2021 Banquet are available online. Speaking of live events, we hope to see you at the RCA booth during the Dayton Hamvention. This is a major 70th anniversary year (1952-2022) for the Hamvention. Come out, celebrate, and find RCA! The dates are May 20-22. RCA has been working hard to expand its services. RCA’s many virtual programs are flourishing, and we are offering print versions of the Proceedings (see details in this issue and on the website). In addition, the RCA website is expanding, RCA has reorganized and consolidated its scholarship programs, membership recruitment is highly active, RCA has introduced more virtual programming, and the board is moving forward with strategic initiatives aimed at bringing RCA’s value to more people. Many of these activities are highlighted within this issue, so please see the articles for more information. The Proceedings reflects the commitment of our members, and
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we need your contributions. We also need your input. Is the Proceedings is covering the subjects you want to read about? Do we need more current topics, industry perspective, or historical material? Is our content mix OK? We invite the entire membership, and outsiders, to submit articles and reprints. We seek a range of news, current technical information, historical content, and biographical material to share with our membership. The Proceedings has never been better, but we do need your help, so please contribute material for a future issue so that RCA can continue to expand its premier publication. Finally, congratulations to all of RCA’s members for their continuing successes. We welcome your comments, recommendations, and suggestions on ways to further improve the Proceedings. We look forward to seeing all of you in Denver this November. DAVID BART, KB9YPD Editorial Director and Chairman RCA Publications Committee
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TOUR THE MAKER SPACE AT GA TECH!
Save the Date! 2022 TECHNICAL SYMPOSIUM AND 113TH AWARDS PRESENTATION SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19 HYATT REGENCY ATLANTA
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RCA’S 2021 TECHNICAL SYMPOSIUM WAS A BIG SUCCESS — AVAILABLE ON
RCA's YOUTUBE CHANNEL The Radio Club of America’s 2021 Technical Symposium was held virtually on Saturday, November 20. The Technical Symposium included presentations covering modern and historical topics, and we celebrated the centennial of the 1921 Transatlantic Tests made by RCA and ARRL members. Those tests proved that large distances could be spanned with very modest wireless equipment and marked the beginning of a new era of experimentation and innovation in wireless using ever shorter wave radio bands under 200 meters. Our panels covered current developments in antennas, broadband, broadcast, cellular, land mobile radio, military, and satellite technologies. These presentations were recorded, and videos are available on RCA’s YouTube channel, which can be accessed from
the RCA Website, along with many other videos from prior Technical Symposiums as well as other RCA events. Please subscribe to our YouTube channel to receive notifications when new content is uploaded. Thank you to Dr. Jim Breakall, WA3FET, for hosting the Technical Symposium and coordinating the webcast with Amy Beckham. Thank you to Dr. Julio Urbana for his work in coordinating the speaker lineup and preparations. Preparations are already underway for the 2022 Technical Symposium. A call for abstracts for this year’s Symposium and an invitation to prospective presenters to submit their ideas can be found on the RCA website. We hope to see you all live in 2022!
Videos of the 2021 Technical Symposium at: https://www.youtube.com/ playlist?list=PLx5vFACfP6FnVfxpH3rk2fNY_ JFT3_w-p. RCA’s YouTube Channel.
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Call for Abstracts
RCA 2022 Technical Symposium in Atlanta The Radio Club of America is soliciting abstracts for presentations for the 2021 Technical Symposium. We welcome abstracts on all wireless subjects including antennas, broadband, broadcasting, cellular communications, land mobile radio, manufacturing, military communications, satellites, and other wireless-related topics. Please submit the following to amy@radioclubofamerica.org, prior to May 27th: • • • •
A title for the presentation 1 or 2 paragraph abstract or summary A short biography of the presenter(s) A 300 dpi headshot of the presenter(s)
Abstracts will be reviewed in June and you will be notified if you are chosen to present. Presentation slide decks are hosted on the RCA Website after the event. All presentations are captured on video and archived for public access. Prospective presenters will receive free registration to the Technical Symposium plus receive breakfast and lunch, however, we are unable to reimburse travel expenses. SPRING 2022 PROCEEDINGS
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CONGRATULATIONS TO THE
2021 AWARD RECIPIENTS Congratulations to all of RCA’s 2021 award recipients and new class of RCA Fellows who received recognition at the banquet in November. Each of the recipients deserves recognition for their many individual contributions to radio and wireless communications. Their work has helped lead the way to creating, and also preserving, the arts and sciences that bring forth new technological advances for the benefit of the industry and mankind.
RCA’s 112th awards presentation was held virtually due to the pandemic. We had a high turnout for the View the entire 2021 RCA Awards Ceremony on RCA’s webcast. Thank you to all who participated, and thank YouTube channel you to a team of presenters that included David Bart, Jim Breakall, Bruce McIntyre, Chip Cohen, John Facella, and Margaret Lyons. Thanks also go to Amy Beckham who led the administrative coordination. The entire ceremony was recorded and can be viewed on RCA’s YouTube channel. We welcome all award recipients from both 2021 and 2020 to return in 2022 for live recognition, and an opportunity to directly interact with each other and our other banquet attendees.
THANK YOU: 2021 PROGRAM SPONSORS The Radio Club of America Board of Directors and its members would like to thank the generous event sponsors. Their support and contributions ensure that the Awards Program is a success and enjoyable for everyone. Be sure to tell them that you saw their company mentioned in the Radio Club of America Awards Program.
THANK YOU 2021 DONORS •Posner-Wallace Foundation •Vivian Carr Estate •Panther Pines Consulting LLC •Carole Perry •John Swartz •Steven Shaver •John Stewart Oblak •Steve Wystrach
•Alan Caldwell •Geoffrey N. Mendenhall •Paulla Shira •David Witkowski •Motorola Solutions / Lynn Anto •AviDel Consulting / Heather Dalessandro •Netsync / Haley Glasscock •Catapult Systems / Cody Hedgpeth
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•Betsy Hooper •Recruiting Source International / Bianca Jackson •Stephen Jones •Sierra Digital Inc. / Raghunathan Kumar •Eric Reeder •Richard Tyler •Ernie Blair
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RCA’S 2021 AWARD RECIPIENTS
JAY KITCHEN LEADERSHIP AWARD Dale N. Hatfield | In recognition of achievement of a high level of success leading a wireless association.
VIVIAN CARR AWARD Ellen O’Hara | In recognition of an outstanding woman’s achievements in the wireless industry.
JERRY B. MINTER AWARD Don Hume | For significant contributions to the electronics art through innovation in instrumentation, avionics, and electronics.
RALPH BATCHER MEMORIAL AWARD Bob Hobday, N2EVG | For significant work in preserving the history of radio and electronic communications.
RCA PRESIDENT’S AWARD Alan Spindel | For service and dedication to the Radio Club of America.
RCA SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD Tim Duffy, K3LR | For dedicated service to the Radio Club of America.
YOUNG ACHIEVER AWARD Audrey McElroy | A student who has demonstrated excellence and creativity in wireless communications and who gave a presentation at the annual RCA Technical Symposium.
U.S. NAVY CAPTAIN GEORGE P. MCGINNIS MEMORIAL AWARD CTICM (SS) Matthew T. Zullo, USN (Ret) | For service and dedication to the advancement and preservation of U.S. Naval Cryptology, as selected by the U.S. Naval Cryptologic Veterans Association (NCVA).
RICHARD DEMELLO AWARD James Goldstein | For the highest levels of personal and professional conduct and performance in the local, state and national public safety communications arena, as selected by the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC).
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RADIO CLUB OF AMERICA’S
2021 FELLOWS
JEFFREY G. KNIGHT Professional with 49 years in public safety electrical, signaling and communications field designing, installing, and providing project management.
DENIS MARIN, K6OLU Principal in Denis Marin Consulting specializing in land mobile radio for 52 years, formerly from Motorola and Orange County Sheriff ’s Department’s Communications and Technology Division.
MARGIE MOULIN Director at Southern Oregon 911 Center and President of Oregon Chapter and of APCO International.
JORGE SAAD, XE2JAS Founder and DEO of El Paso Communications (EPCOM).
DONALD R. WHITNEY, K9DRW Senior Communications Site Inspector/Auditor for HICAPS, Inc.
JANE WINTER Director, Business Development, Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA).
Congratulations award winners and new fellows!
Save the Date!
The Radio Club of America looks forward to meeting in Atlanta on November 19 where we’ll get an exclusive tour of the Maker Space at Georgia Tech!
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CANDIDS FROM THE
2021 SYMPOSIUM & BANQUET
Current Issues in Spectrum Management, Dale Hatfield (l), Q&A with Margaret Lyons (r).
RCA’s 2021 Technical Symposium host Dr. Jim Breakall.
HF Renaissance in the U.S. Army, Col. Prof. Stephen Hamilton.
1921 Transatlantic Tests, Frank Donovan (b), and Q&A with Barney Scholl (t).
Modulation Dependent Carrier Level (MDCL) in AM Transmitters, Mike Pappas.
Around the World 4.5 Times, HF Propagation from an Orbiting High-Altitude Balloon, Audrey McElroy (l), Introduction by Carole Perry (r).
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NIST Public Safety Communications Research, Dereck OrrSafety (b), Q&A with Tim Duffy (r). NIST Public Communications Research, Dereck Orr (b), Q&A with Tim Duffy (r).
Modulation Dependent Carrier Level (MDCL) in AM Transmitters, Mike Pappas.
VIEWS FROM THE 2021 TECHNICAL SYMPOSIUM RCA Youth CarolePerry. Perry. RCA YouthActivities ActivitiesUpdate, Update, Carole
Modulation Dependent Carrier Level (MDCL) in AM Transmitters, Mike Pappas.
Trusted Spectrum Testing, (r), Trusted Spectrum Testing,Melissa Melissa Midzor Midzo (r), Q&A (t). Q&Awith with Ron Ron Jakubowski Jakubowski (t).
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- Support RCA -
Now and into the future! Corporate Contributions Individual & Business Contributions
Endowments
Corporate “One-Touch” Sponsorships
Life Memberships
Tom Sorley Fund Donations
Sponsorship Contributions
Membership Dues
Promotional Sponsorships
Contact Amy Beckham or Jane Winter Amy Beckham amy@radioclubofamerica.org
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Jane Winter jwinter@eaa.org
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2021 VIVIAN CARR
AWARD PRESENTATION EDITOR’S NOTE: Ellen O’Hara received RCA’s Vivian Carr Award at the 112th Radio Club of America banquet and awards ceremony. The Vivian Carr Award recognizes outstanding women for their achievements in the wireless industry. The following text presents Ms. O’Hara’s award presentation by David Bart and the acceptance by Ellen O’Hara. [DAVID BART] Vivian Carr is a legend here at RCA. She broke the glass ceiling in so many ways. Vivian had a long and storied career at Bell Labs and its successor AT&T, as well as within the IEEE and here at RCA. She could charm, teach, stand fast, and lead; all with an infectious enthusiasm and boundless energy. Her passing left a void for all of us. For me, she is the person who literally put me on the board and inspired my efforts here at RCA. In her memory, RCA inaugurated the Vivian Carr Award in 2014 to recognize an outstanding woman’s achievements in the wireless industry. This year’s recipient, without a doubt, carries forward Vivian’s wonderful example. Ellen O’Hara has held a range of senior positions at multiple companies manufacturing land mobile radio products. She has served as president, CEO, chairman, and/or served on the board of Zetron, iCERT, and EF Johnson, and was in senior positions at Motorola and GE land mobile radio. Her efforts have led or impacted the design of public safety dispatch consoles, 911 call equipment, and radio dispatch products and systems. She was instrumental in developing and growing Zetron’s IP technology and its international business operations; and she substantially increased its share of the large systems market in North America. She is a recognized leader in management, operations, marketing, brand management, and sales, with an expertise in engineering and business development. What a powerhouse. Like Vivian Carr, she commands respect and admiration from her colleagues, and encourages others to be their best. She has been a leader in the Race for the Cure, and in her church, as well as in efforts to provide affordable housing. One of her admirers said that she reflected the image of a leader, a strategic thinker, and was the person that can make things happen.
Ellen O’Hara accepting the Vivian Carr Award at the 112th RCA Awards Banquet Virtual Program.
It is with great pleasure that I have the honor of presenting Ellen the 2021 Vivian Carr Award for her contributions. Ellen, the floor is yours. [Ellen O’Hara] Well, thank you so much David, and thank you everybody attending tonight and at RCA. I am truly humbled and honored to receive this award, given by such a venerable organization as the Radio Club of America, and an award that is named for a truly inspiring person who blazed a trail for women in wireless. Like Vivian Carr, I entered a highly technical field without an engineering degree; and like her, I found satisfaction and joy in working with engineers to address our customers’ needs for improved and safer communications systems and products. It has been a truly rewarding 40 years. I appreciate RCA’s recognition through this award of what women have brought to the table. I am representative of so many other talented women who have contributed significantly to the wireless industry, and so, I thank you on behalf of all of us - for this wonderful award.
Support RCA Youth Activities by Donating Your Frequent Flyer Miles Due to the efforts of Carole Perry, the Youth Activities Program has been very successful. During the year, Carole travels all over the country to meet with people and to speak on behalf of the program. Almost all of the travel is at Carole’s personal expense. You can help by donating your frequent flyer miles to the Radio Club. If you would like to participate, please contact Carole Perry at wb2mgp@gmail.com and she will assist you.
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2022 JAY KITCHEN
AWARD PRESENTATION EDITOR’S NOTE: Dale Hatfield received RCA’s Jay Kitchen Award at the 112th Radio Club of America banquet and awards ceremony. The Jay Kitchen Award recognizes an individual who embodies leadership characteristics that include energetic advocacy, devotion to the spirit of cooperation, an avid interest in technology, respect for all and distinctive humor and who has achieved a high level of success leading a wireless association, government agency or commercial enterprise. The following text presents Mr. Hatfield’s award presentation by David Bart and the acceptance by Dale Hatfield. [DAVID BART] Several years ago, RCA inaugurated the Jay Kitchen Award in memory of our colleague Jay, who had earned the highest respect for industry and association leadership. His unexpected passing left us stunned. But in his memory, RCA launched an award designed to carry his legacy and memory. The Jay Kitchen Award is presented in recognition of achievement of a high level of success leading a wireless association. This year’s recipient, without a doubt, carries forward that wonderful tradition. Dale Hatfield has spent over 50 years building and shaping telecommunications policy. His efforts and experiences at the FCC and NTIA literally comprise an alphabet soup of acronyms, including time spent as the FCC’s Chief of the Office of Engineering and Technology and as the Chief of the Office of Plans and Policy. Dale, even in retirement from the government, currently serves on several FCC and other advisory councils. He has widely published, and his ITU publication Trends in Telecommunication set a new standard for foresight and policy recommendations. Dale has literally been involved with spectrum management issues for his entire career. Today, he is a professor at the University of Colorado and an executive fellow at the Silicon Flatirons Center for Law, Technology, and Entrepreneurship, and a Director of Crown Castle International Corporation. I have noticed that his biography keeps expanding, and may even be doing so as we speak, so I apologize in advance for any errors and omissions. I recently read a transcript from an interview with Dale. He used the word ‘wonderful’ no less
Dale Hatfield accepting the Jay Kitchen Award at the 112th RCA Awards Banquet Virtual Program.
than 13 times to describe his own experiences, the ideas of others, and his life at the FCC. That seems to be a great way to summarize his enthusiasm and his uplifting personality. If you saw today’s technical symposium, it was excellent and of course wonderful. Thank you, Dale, for participating in it today. It is with great pleasure that I have the honor of presenting Dale the 2021 Jay Kitchen Award for his contributions. Dale, you have the floor. [DALE HATFIELD] Thank you very much David. This reward is especially meaningful to me because Jay was not only a close colleague of mine, but also a very good friend. So, thanks again to the RCA for this award. I greatly appreciate it.
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2021 JANE WINTER’S
FELLOWS ADDRESS
EDITOR’S NOTE: Jane Winter spoke on behalf of the 2021 Class of Fellows inducted at the 112th Radio Club of America banquet and awards ceremony. Each year, RCA inducts those who have made outstanding achievements and contributions to the art and science of radio communications or broadcast or to the Radio Club of America. The following text presents the introduction by Margaret Lyons and Ms. Winter’s acceptance speech. Biographical information about Ms. Winter is located at the end of her comments. [Margaret Lyons] Each year, RCA elevates to Fellow a small group of members whose contributions to the art and science of radio communications or to the Radio Club of America are deemed outstanding by the Club. The 2021 class of RCA Fellows is as follows: • Jeffrey Knight for contributions to public safety communications including FCC frequency coordination emergency communications center design and maintenance and wireless public reporting systems • Dennis Marin, K6OLU, for over 50 years of dedication to land mobile radio as an amateur operator radio technician systems engineer and on NPSTC working committees • Margie Mullen for work in broadcast radio as on-air talent and in public safety communications beginning as a 9-11 telecommunicator rising to director of Jackson County, Oregon emergency communications center and currently serving as APCO president • Jorge Saad, XE2JAS, for dedication to providing state-ofthe-art communications products throughout the Spanish speaking world • Donald Whitney, K9DRW, for contributions to public safety communications as telecommunications telecommunicator customer advocate and communications volunteer for local emergency management agencies • Jane Winter for contributions to the wireless industry within government commercial and aerospace segments and for her dedication to the Radio Club of America serving on several committees and the board of directors. Responding on behalf of the new RCA Fellows class of 2021, I present Jane Winter.
was just a taste of radio, and what transitioned into a job at 9-1-1 telecommunications center that expanded into a 31year career dedicated to the 9-1-1 profession. Margie catapulted up the ranks all the way to the highestlevel president of APCO International for the 20202021 term. She is quite an inspiration!
Fellows Acceptance by Jane Winter with introduction by Margaret Lyons in the corner.
Fellow classmate Jorge Sod has been selling professional two-way radio systems for the last 45 years, mostly wholesale Kenwood and Icom radios for his companies: EPCOM in the U.S. and SYSCOM in Mexico. Jorge, XE2JAS, received his ham radio license in 1965 in Mexico. He has since moved to El Paso, Texas and wants to get his American license to operate an HF station from that location. The drive does not stop with this group. A veteran over of over five decades in the land mobile communication industry, Fellow nominee Dennis Marin worked his way up the ranks from technical systems project engineer to general management at what is now known as Motorola Solutions. After retiring from his 25+ year career at Motorola, Dennis worked for Los Angeles County, and after his most recent retirement again, he retired from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Communications Division. He has since established a new business venture as an industry consultant.
[Jane Winter] I am honored to accept the Fellows nomination on behalf of this year’s RCA Fellow class. Actually, I am quite humbled by my esteemed colleagues since the criteria to be elevated to Fellow includes demonstrating outstanding contributions to the art and science of radio communications or broadcast or to the Radio Club of America. Well, if being outstanding was a requirement, this fellow class sets the bar quite high.
The actual concept of retirement doesn’t seem to stick with this group very well. Doesn’t anyone besides me need to work on their golf game?
Don Whitney, K9DRW, spent 34 years at Motorola across all product sectors. He continues his part-time retirement work as senior communications site inspector and auditor for hicaps, inspecting dispatch centers and antenna sites all over the world. See what I mean?
On behalf of Don, Margie, Jorge, Dennis and Jeffrey, and our fellow 2021 award inductees, and myself, we are honored to receive this nomination from the RCA, and we are proud to continue our dedication to the wireless industry and serve as fellows for the world’s oldest wireless society: the Radio Club of America.
Outstanding Margie Mullen started her career as a DJ in both country and top-40 music at an FM radio station. That
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Each of the recipients has made and demonstrated outstanding contributions to the wireless industry. Whether we got here because of an organizational tie or a personal connection, each of us touched our wheels down at the Radio Club of America.
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THE CHALLENGES OF RURAL BROADBAND By Andrew Seybold Rural broadband continues to face many challenges, including coverage, redundancy, devices, applications, and more. Progress is slow, but things are moving forward. This article comments on the current state of the rural broadband rollout.
it will be easy for them to identify areas that need to be built out. Some states have old and out-of-date maps that will need to be updated, and both the NTIA and the FCC keep telling us they are busy updating their maps based on data provided by the carriers and states.
RURAL BROADBAND
3. Next is the decision about the type of broadband that will be deployed and if there will be only a single vendor in some areas or if it will be possible to have a second vendor to ensure customers receive the best pricing.
Over the years, I have written a number of articles in the Advocate and elsewhere about the long and arduous task of providing broadband/Internet for all.1 Recently, Congress set aside funds to once and for all to close the digital divide and deliver broadband and Internet to everyone within the United States.2
PRIVATE/PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPS
The set-aside is $65 Billion over and above what the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), FCC, Agriculture, and other federal agencies have already provided in the way of grants and loans. It is also in addition to what is already in the pipeline. Meanwhile, a number of states have budgeted for expanding broadband within their state, so it appears the funds are there. However, once broadband is in place in rural areas, it is not clear if day-to-day operations will be funded or if the states are expected to be self-sufficient.
I am a strong believer in partnerships. We have a very successful model in FirstNet, the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN) that is up and operational. This partnership is between the Federal Government (The FirstNet Authority) and the private sector. In this case AT&T, which won the 25-year contract to build and operate FirstNet, is the “private” side of the partnership. This example should give many states and agencies a “how to partner” tutorial with a list of potential partners in no particular order. Different areas will have different partners.
From the reports I am reading, it appears the federal government will be sending a portion of the $65 billion allocation to the states, and it will be the states’ responsibility to find a way to provide broadband service to those who do not have it. Some states are more prepared for this influx of funds than others. I think probably one-third of the states and territories already have plans in place for how to provide broadband services, and the remaining states and territories will have to come up with their own plans.
Potential Existing Broadband Carrier Partners
There are a number of ways in which each state can move forward, and a number technologies are available to be used. The first step for each state is to find out what is already in existence, what is planned, and how close to these rural areas there is already at least one broadband vendor. Other issues that need to be considered include: 1. Forming Partnerships on a local, regional, or statewide basis. We have ready seen how well private/public partnerships work. 2. Next, as mentioned above, it is important to find out what is already in place or planned. Some states already have very good broadband coverage maps so SPRING 2022 PROCEEDINGS
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• • • • •
FirstNet/AT&T Verizon T-Mobile US Cellular Carrier Members of the Competitive Carriers Association (CCA) • Rural Wireless Association (RWA) Members Other Potential Partners • National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative members (NRTC) • Wireless Internet Service Providers Association (WISPA) members • Cities, Villages, Counties • Railroads • Internet Satellite Providers • And more
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Advantages to Private/Public Partnerships
backhoe or bulldozer has taken out a section of fiber causing outages of broadband services and, in some cases, cellphone and even 9-1-1 service interruptions.
• Many potential partners already have right-of-way access in rural areas (NRTC), rural utility companies, railroads, and more) • Medical Facilities, Colleges, and Universities • Partners Who Need Broadband for Their Own Use (power companies, etc.) • Companies that have trucks and feet on the street; customers are the same as potential broadband customers
As I see it, other than cost, the most significant issue with fiber to the premise in rural areas is while fiber provides broadband to homes and businesses, if a broadbandcapable cellular system does not serve the area, all you have is basically an inbuilding solution. Most of us are mobile and want and need broadband not only indoors but in farmers’ fields, on the roads and, well, everywhere we go. The issues described above indicate the need for a hybrid approach.
Technologies to Deploy • Fiber Optics ° As backhaul ° To the premise • Microwave ° Backhaul • LTE and 5G wide-area broadband ° Including “mid-band spectrum” ° Point-to-multipoint broadband • Wi-Fi ° In-premise broadband distribution ° 2.4 GHz, 5.8 GHz, and now Wi-Fi 6E in 6-GHz band ° (Caveat, band is shared with critical microwave systems and Wi-Fi 6E; potential for causing interference to these microwave systems. • Satellite-Little LEOs Broadband ° Outdoor with external roof-top antenna, also indoorcapable
The Hybrid Approach If I were managing a state rollout of broadband services in different rural areas, I would use a mix of broadband technologies including fiber, microwave for transport, cellular LTE and 5G, Wi-Fi, and perhaps some satellite services as well.3 In one area of the state, I might choose to run fiber to a central location such as a school. I might also expand the fiber to as many houses and business as I could within the town or village limits, for example. I might then work with an existing cellular carrier to help increase its outdoor coverage area and data speeds. In other easy-to-cover areas I might use fiber for backhaul. To cover outdoors, homes, and businesses outside of town, I would probably install satellite broadband with antennas mounted on homes and businesses to extend broadband into the premise where I would use Wi-Fi for distribution.
As you can see, there are many technology choices listed above and probably a few more. I believe one mistake some states have been making is to choose a single technology for a specific area and not mix technologies to expand coverage.
If I discovered the Wireless Internet Service Providers Association (WISPA) was already active in an area, perhaps I would cut a deal with one of its providers to augment what they are doing by helping them cover more area. I would want access to a broadband cellular system for mobility.
FIBER BEST EXAMPLE Many think that fiber is the ultimate choice for providing broadband everywhere. Too often, fiber to the premise is the first choice when planning rural broadband deployments.
CONCLUSION Broadband growth into rural areas has been stymied and boils down to one thing: Cost. Cellular network operators are not likely to spend $200 or $300K on a cell site in rural areas since the amount of traffic will not pay for the site over time. In the meantime, the carrier would be faced with additional costs such as insurance, site rental, power usage, and more.
Issues with This Approach First, you will have to figure out where existing fiber is nearest to the area you want to build out. In Arizona, we found that smaller fiber companies are willing to provide maps of their fiber coverage, but large companies were not, mostly because they want to keep their competitors in the dark.
The issue of cost is not a one-time expenditure, either. After building out whatever type of broadband service you decide is best suited for a specific rural area, there are ongoing expenses much the same as those of a broadband cellular carrier and other costs as well. Suppose you, as a city, town, county, or state, decided to build out a municipal broadband system. In addition to the above, you would have to find a way to pay for customer support and network expansion. I am always concerned about existing
Next, you have to calculate the cost to run fiber to the premise. There are two ways to run fiber. The first is to run it above ground using existing telephone/power poles, which costs a lot less than burying it. However, during major disasters, or even a single car crash, poles can be taken out and cause outages. Even with fiber buried underground there have been many instances where a
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WINDING DOWN As we enter the fourth month of 2022, both the FirstNet Authority and FirstNet (Built with AT&T) continue to improve the network and, as a result, the number of FirstNet users and agencies being serviced continues to grow. If you follow FirstNet (Built with AT&T) either through a Google auto search or in the news, you will see frequent announcements about new FirstNet/AT&T cell sites being turned on in various states. An increase in the number of cell sites indicates that FirstNet (Built with AT&T) continues to add coverage to accommodate the growing number of users and to fill in the coverage footprint.
as opposed to new funding for rural broadband. Most existing funds were earmarked for building the system but no funds to pay for operations or additions to the system going forward. Some systems that had been built over the years are no longer in service because they were not selfsustaining and there were no additional federal funds to keep them in operation. Again, a lesson can be learned from the FirstNet private/ public partnership.4 FirstNet was funded by spectrum auctions but only in the amount of about $7 Billion, which is not enough to build out a nationwide broadband network. Further, Congress made it clear that it would not be acceptable for the FirstNet Authority to return in a few years and ask for more funding. This venture was intended to be self-funding and it has been.
Those of us who have been in the wireless business for a while understand that there is no practical way to cover the entire geographic area that makes up the United States. Even when Little LEO (Low Earth Orbiting) satellites are fully operational there will continue to be gaps in coverage. I have worked with several major Land Mobile Radio companies. One no longer exists, one is now L3Harris and, of course Motorola. We visited a customer that was preparing to issue a request for proposal. Many times throughout the RFP process, we found their coverage expectations did not track with real-world radio system capabilities. I remember one such customer who said his county needed 99% outdoor coverage to a handheld LMR radio, and at least first wall coverage in buildings.
The carrot for the contractor (AT&T) is that its commercial customers have access to what is known as Band 14 (20 MHz of prime 700-MHz spectrum) on a secondary basis when public safety does not need all of it. AT&T is making money from serving the first-responder community users, and as required in the contract, AT&T is paying the FirstNet Authority based on funds collected from AT&T’s FirstNet users. The funds from AT&T and FirstNet (Built with AT&T) finance the Authority so it won’t need to ask for additional federal funding, and the Authority uses the balance of the funds to improve the network. For example, as everyone moves toward 5G, the Authority made an investment in the FirstNet core (brains) to ready it to handle both LTE and 5G traffic. Funds have also been allocated for other items, all of which are designed to help provide better communications for public safety.
I explained to him that there was no way his county could afford that type of LMR coverage. I finally got through to him when I told him that a system capable of covering 75-80-percent of his county would probably cost around $2 million, but if he wanted the extract coverage to reach his goal the cost would probably triple by the time the system was built. That caught his attention and we ended up with an LMR system that gave them as much coverage as possible for a fair price.
Broadband everywhere is a vitally important for many reasons. Schools and students need it, homeowners and businesses need it, and medical facilities need it. In other words, everyone needs broadband because it has become as important today as the wired telephone was many years ago.
Most LMR systems do not cover all of an agency’s jurisdiction. Even though new sites have been added over the four years, perhaps including remote receivers in a voting system, they still do not cover every inch of land. in most cases. However, they do cover a large percentage of the population in the area served.
There are rural areas that have lost factories or businesses that had provided jobs for those living in the area, and there are companies that would love to move out of large cities into smaller less-expensive factories and offices in rural areas. However, until reliable and fast broadband is available, new companies will not move into the area.
A lesson learned as LMR systems continue to be deployed is that they cannot cover everywhere in a given area. This seems to be lost on some who are using FirstNet as well as LMR for their communications. FirstNet (Built with AT&T) is not a local, countrywide, or statewide radio system. It is a nationwide public safety broadband network. It is difficult enough to fill in coverage gaps using the higherpower LMR systems that are designed to provide good local coverage.
We now have the funds to expand broadband and states, counties, and rural areas are ready. It is time for common IP-based systems and devices so when rural homeowners travel outside their area, they will continue to have broadband services. In other words, one-off broadband systems will not do much to close the digital divide.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
FirstNet is nationwide and while it will continue to be being built out for many years, there will always be some areas of the United States where there is no coverage. When and if needed, these areas can be covered for the duration of an incident with a variety of different types of deployables.
Andrew Seybold has been involved in Public Safety and Public Safety Communications for more than fifty years, starting as a first responder and then working with RCA Mobile Communications, General Electric Communications, Biocom (where he helped develop the first paramedic radio for sending voice and EKG from an incident to a hospital), and Motorola. In 1981, he began his career as a consultant, educator, and author. For the past ten years, Mr. Seybold has been volunteering his time and efforts to the Public Safety community in its quest to build a nationwide, interoperable broadband communications network, and has worked closely with the Public Safety Spectrum Trust, The Public Safety Alliance, the Major City Chiefs Association, APCO, The International Chiefs of Police, the National Sheriff’s Association, and other organizations. Mr. Seybold is a former board member and a Fellow of the Radio Club of America. He received RCA’s Sarnoff Award; APCO’s President’s Award and Special Partnership Recognition Award; National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) Special Recognition Award; National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA) Presidents Award; and the Public Safety Spectrum Trust (PSST) Commendation.
Building a nationwide system is a lot more difficult than building a local or even regional system and, as I keep saying, I have never seen a wireless broadband network that is finished. There are always more areas to cover and more spectrum to add to congested areas. All of this considered, what FirstNet has accomplished in less than five years it is pretty amazing. When I was able to drive and did a lot of network drive testing, over time it became obvious from the data that the FirstNet system was becoming more and more robust, and expectations are that this will continue. I think having both a local LMR network and FirstNet provides several levels of redundancy. Once we have a common PTT platform that can be used on FirstNet and connected to LMR systems, there will be yet another level of redundancy. I learned a long time ago that no matter how well a network performs or how well it covers, there will always be complaints about things such as coverage. I guess that is a fact of life. Yet, when I talk with people who use FirstNet every day, and who also continue to use their own LMR systems, I hear that FirstNet has added a layer of functionality that public safety has never had before. The combination of FirstNet and LMR is working well and judging from usage data, this has become the model as we move ahead.
RCA
INTERVIEW SERIES
Coverage, redundancy, devices, applications, and more will continue to provide enhancements that will enable even better access to the communications tools our first responders need when they are on the job.
RCA president emeritus Tim Duffy, K3LR, hosts, and each interview runs approximately 1 hour. The interviews are alternated with online RCA networking sessions. Past guests have included a range of notables:
Reprinted from the Public Safety Advocate, April 7, 2022.
ENDNOTES For example, see A. Seybold, Rural Broadband, the Headless Horseman!, Public Safety Advocate, Feb. 1, 2018, https://allthingsfirstnet.com/public-safety-advocaterural-broadband-the-headless-horseman/. 1
Discussions center on careers in wireless, life-long passion for radio, views on industry trends and outlooks for technology, and on the current work the guests are undertaking as well as their history with RCA. If you missed any of these interviews, they are available on the RCA Youtube page at https://bit.ly/3tjFooc.
Congress Provides More Money for Rural Broadband Deployment, Mar. 25, 2022, https://www.benton.org/ blog/congress-provides-more-money-rural-broadbanddeployment. 2
M. L. Ryckman and K. Capece, Expanding Rural Broadband Coverage Through FirstNet, FirstNet Authority, Nov. 1, 2021, https://www.firstnet.gov/newsroom/blog/ expanding-rural-broadband-coverage-through-firstnet. 3
4
Tim Duffy is assisted by Barney Scholl, RCA Vice President and Counsel, and RCA Member Scott Jones who act as moderators and host the questions and answers.
United in response and communication, FirstNet website.
RCA plans many more of these exciting virtual activities. Please see https://bit.ly/3tmrJgb for further announcements.
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CURRENT PERSPECTIVES
SILICON VALLEY DISPATCHES: THE CURRENT STATE OF 5G By David Witkowski [Editor’s Note: David Witkowski is a columnist and RCA member who offers his perspectives on the current state of play in the wireless industry.]
reality, fixed broadband, vehicular systems, and ultraaccurate positioning. In short, 5G is not just about faster smartphones; it is a foundation for building entirely new markets and opportunities. The IMT-2020 reflects this expansion of scope by defining usage scenarios which include Enhanced Mobile Broadband (for smartphones and consumer devices), Massive Machine Type Communications (for the Internet of Things), and UltraReliable Low-Latency Communications (for mixed reality and vehicular applications.)
As we near the mid-point of 2022, we are beginning to see acceleration in deployment and use of 5G. It is likely many of you have seen 5G in news stories, or mentioned on social media — coverage that is perhaps not necessarily flattering. As a member of the Radio Club of America, you are likely a person that your coworkers, neighbors, family and friends may turn to for insights on 5G, so let us dive into what 5G is, what it is not, and where we are in the rollout of this new technology.
OTHER STANDARDS We often think of 4G and LTE as the same thing, but in fact, they are not interposable terms. LTE stands for Long Term Evolution, a body of standards created by the Third Generation Partnership Project. 3GPP Release 8 was the first standard intended to meet the IMT-2010 standard for 4G. However, not many people know that there are other 4G technologies, including those in the IEEE 802.16 family trademarked as WiMAX. In fact, there was a time in the early 2010s when Sprint deployed some 4G networks using WiMAX. 3GPP Release 15 was the first to meet the IMT-2020 standard for 5G’s Enhanced Mobile Broadband usage scenario, and defined the term New Radio as the successor to LTE. Release 16 added support for vehicular applications, Internet of Things, time-sensitive networking, and positioning. In late March 2022, 3GPP took the final steps towards extending the features in EMBB, MMTC, and URLLC via Release 17. However, 3GPP NR is not the only 5G technology. 5Gi, submitted by Telecommunications Standards Development Society India (TSDSI), is an accepted 5G standard. DECT 5G-SRIT is also an accepted 5G standard.
5G STANDARDS First off, let us review the process for defining and creating cellular technologies. What we popularly refer to as 3G, 4G, 5G, etc. are the candidate technologies that meet or exceed the International Telecommunications Union Radiocommunication Sector’s (ITU-R) performance metrics for cellular networks, as published in the International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) specifications, and which derive from recommendations from Task Groups working under the ITU-R. IMT-2000 defined 3G cellular and enabled the proliferation of feature phones, connected personal digital assistants, and some limited machine-to-machine use cases. IMT-2010 (later revised to IMT-Advanced) defined 4G cellular, the network we mostly use today for smartphones, mobile broadband connections, machineto-machine uses, and (in limited cases) fixed broadband for homes. IMT-2020 defines 5G cellular, and is the first generation of cellular specifically defined to support not only connected personal devices but also other use cases such as machine-to-machine, low power sensors and actuators, mixed (augmented and virtual)
Evolution of 5G: 3GPP Release Roadmap.
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There are many paths on the road to 5G.
5G — WHAT IT IS AND IS NOT
operation were the cause.) At the start of the pandemic, a licensed medical doctor in San Francisco told an audience of foil-hatters that 5G caused the SARS-CoV-2 virus to emerge spontaneously in humans, arguing that previous pandemics coincided with the release of new wireless technologies over history — leading to several instances of vandalism and even destruction of cellular towers, and installation crews physically threatened. After an investigation, the State of California vacated his medical license, and he has since left the Golden State. The point I am making is that many people erroneously think 5G is one thing; but, as we see from my previous discussion, it is in fact several different things. It is thus inaccurate to describe 5G in broad and blanket terms as a cause of any real or perceived problem.
Each of the 5G technologies operates in different spectrum bands, at different levels of output power, and often have widely varied applications. In addition, while 5G is a revolutionary technology, it implements what is called Control – User Plane Separation, wherein the logical path for authenticating and managing cellular devices can be separate from the logical paths for delivering data to the same device. For the first time, the 3GPP roadmap contains support for gradually shifting 4G networks over to 5G operation, rather than requiring separate networks. The 3GPP roadmap allows several transitioning methods including Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS allows a 4G LTE radio to support 5G NR connections via dynamic software reconfiguration), Non-Standalone Mode (NSA allows 5G NR radios to operate in parallel with 4G LTE radios), and a host of other profiles that allow combining 4G LTE and 5G NR radios with either 4G (ePC) or 5G (5GC) computing cores.
PERCEPTIONS AND MISPERCEPTIONS There has been a lot of negative press about 5G not living up to its promised potential. Given it is only two years since the first systems went on the air, I think it is far too early to declare any success or failure. Those of us who have been in the industry over the past two decades will remember the joke that GSM (one of the first cellular standards in Europe) stood for “God, send mobiles!”, because while Europe had built a network, there were few handsets available to subscribers. ITU-R defined the
Knowing details about the wide variety of 5G technologies, it is frustrating when my company encounters selfproclaimed experts — on social media or in local government permitting and appeal hearings — making wildly uninformed statements about 5G’s impacts on human health, the environment, or interference with other existing wireless technologies. This lack of understanding even shows up in press releases from government agencies; notably the Department of Transportation (DoT) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Their dire pronouncements about possible impacts to commercial aviation from 5G in the 3.7 – 3.98 GHz range sparked a weeks-long national media frenzy that has now taken hold in the public’s mind, especially amongst the communities whom I often refer to collectively as the “foil-hattery”. One foil-hatter told me she would no longer fly on commercial aviation until “they shut down all the 5G towers”. A local government official contacted us, asking if we would investigate whether 5G sites were causing a neighborhood’s garage door openers to fail. (As it turns out, high-power LEDs used for an illegal cannabis growing
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Mobile industry contributions to global GDP.
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4G standard several years before the introduction of the smartphone — indeed, the smartphone and the application ecosystem was the “killer app” for 4G LTE and in 2021, the mobile industry contributed $4.5 trillion dollars to the global economy, or 5% of worldwide gross domestic product. The story of 5G remains unwritten, and we cannot judge success based on early usage scenarios that focused on faster mobile throughout and fixed wireless.
WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS
As leaders in the wireless industry, we must be voices of reason and logic in our communities, and I urge all of my readers to educate yourselves and get involved in public discourse about 5G at your local council meetings, planning commission hearings, etc. If we do not speak up, misinformed and conspiratorial voices will dominate the civic conversation, and our local governments will make decisions accordingly.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR David Witkowski is an author, advisor, and strategist who works at the intersection between local government and the telecommunication industry. He is a Fellow of the Radio Club of America, an IEEE Senior Member, the Founder and CEO of Oku Solutions LLC, and is the Executive Director of Civic Technologies Initiatives at Joint Venture Silicon Valley. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard and earned his B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from the University of California, Davis. He held leadership roles for companies ranging from Fortune 500 multi-nationals to early-stage startups, and currently serves as Co-Chair of the Deployment Working Group at IEEE Future Networks, Co-Chair of the GCTC Wireless SuperCluster at NIST, as a member of the Connected Communities Forum at the Wireless Broadband Alliance, and as an Expert Advisor to the California Emerging Technology Fund. He is the author of several books and many articles about the state of the industry.
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BBC INITIATES UKRAINIAN SHORTWAVE SERVICE By Benjamin J. Sacks On March 2, the BBC World Service announced that it was restarting four-hour daily shortwave transmissions in English to Ukraine. The decision to resume Ukrainian shortwave broadcasts came after Russian forces began to deliberately target Ukrainian communications equipment, including the Kyiv television tower. Why do these four-hour daily transmissions matter so much when the world supposedly has moved away from radio and adopted social media and the internet? Isn’t shortwave an obsolete, century-old technology that harkens back to memories of World War II and the Cold War?
This leaves shortwave, the venerable analog signal infamous for how it fades in and out as each wave is received. Shortwave cannot be hacked. It cannot be bombed or otherwise destroyed because it is being transmitted from far outside Ukraine. Shortwave is notoriously difficult to jam, despite Russia and China’s best efforts. The shortwave signal is always drifting slightly, making it difficult to precisely focus jamming equipment. The shortwave signal can also be more powerful than that of the jammer, effectively overriding the interference.
SHORTWAVE REMAINS RELEVANT Despite its age, shortwave remains an enduring tool in the global fight against disinformation. In part, this is due to its unique broadcasting qualities. FM and broadcast television can only travel to just beyond the horizon. But shortwave can travel vast transcontinental and transoceanic distances. It accomplishes this feat by bouncing between the ionosphere and the earth—over mountains, skyscrapers, and digital firewalls.
Shortwave only works if people listen. Fortunately, many Ukrainian families likely still have old, often cheap Soviet-era shortwave sets in their basements that can be powered by batteries or wall sockets. They are usually small and can be easily hidden from prying eyes. Some can even fit in a pocket. Shortwave radios can also be brought in as nonlethal aid.
It’s this last obstacle that’s most important here. Russia is demonstrating that it can destroy Ukraine’s television and FM broadcasting infrastructure. It can use hackers and such Kremlin-affiliated subversive agencies as the Internet Research Agency to take down or otherwise block internet sites of Western and Ukrainian media agencies seeking to provide accurate information about the conflict. Cellphones only have limited range; they need towers to transmit longer distances. Russia has demonstrated that it can shut down cellphone communications in areas of Ukraine it has captured or is shelling, including nuclear power plants.
BBC RESPONSE The BBC World Service is also waging an information war with Russia on shortwave. While the BBC is officially targeting Ukraine, its shortwave signals can easily be heard in southeastern Russia. Broadcasting in English deliberately targets Russia’s youth, many of whom speak at least some English. This decision to broadcast to some parts of Russia could be critical, as Russia has blocked the webpages of the BBC, Germany’s Deutsche Welle, and other Western media agencies. Russian officials have
What about satellite reception? In theory, satellite reception can break through these issues. In mid-March, Starlink CEO Elon Musk sent “a truckload of satellite
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dishes” to Ukraine to provide “space internet service.” But Russia can identify the satellite signals, seek to jam them, and locate those who have the dishes in Ukrainian areas now under its control.
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effectively forced their expulsion from the country through a draconian disinformation law that could see journalists imprisoned for up to 15 years for spreading “falsehoods” that did not subscribe to the official government line.
DONOR GIFT:
COMMEMORATIVE CODE PRACTICE OSCILLATOR
The few independent or opposition Russian radio and television outlets have all but shut down to avoid the retribution of Roskomnadzor, the official Russian media regulator. As Russia returns to a Cold War era of information control, the BBC is dusting off Cold War tactics to win the information war for a second time. Shortwave has proven time and again that it can provide reliable information when and where it’s needed most: in authoritarian regimes, in human assistance/disaster scenario situations, and in wartime. Czech dissident and later President Vaclav Havel, amongst others, praised the U.S. shortwave station Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty for its role in ending the Cold War. Perhaps it’s time for the United States to consider whether RFE/RL should return to its roots and follow the BBC’s lead in restarting shortwave services to Ukraine and southeastern Russia.
SOURCE B. J. Sacks, Why the BBC World Service’s New Ukrainian Shortwave Service Matters, The RandBlog, Mar. 25, 2022. This commentary originally appeared on United Press International on March 25, 2022, Outside View. See https://www.rand.org/blog/2022/03/why-the-bbc-worldservices-new-ukrainian-shortwave-service.html.
We all know that students today are often more interested in computers than wireless. As a result, the future of wireless depends on getting more youth interestesd in wireless. Here is a great opportunity to support our RCA Youth Program under Director Carole Perry and obtain a free gift as a result. Carole has been driving our Youth Program for 30 years this year! As a surprise to her, Director Charles Kirmuss commissioned a CW Morse code practice oscillator that was the same design Carole used years before with her early amateur radio classes with middle school and high school.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Benjamin J. Sacks is an associate policy researcher and political geographer at the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation.
If you donate at least $30 to Carole's RCA Youth Program, you will receive a commemorative code practice oscillator. Your donation will be used to assist with costs like awards to the children, donation materials for school radio clubs, travel expenses for youth presenters to the Technical Symposium, and more. In addition, if you renew your RCA membership for three years, you will also receive a code practice oscillator. If you have interest in donating to the Youth Program, please email Director Carole Perry directly (wb2mgp@gmail.com) and she will provide instructions as to how to send a check.
Save the Date
2022 TECHNICAL SYMPOSIUM AND 114TH AWARDS PROGRAM SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2022 | ATLANTA
If you wish to renew your membership for three years, contact Amy Beckham (Amy@radioclubofAmerica.org) for details on getting the code practice oscillator.
RADIOCLUBOFAMERICA.ORG
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VOA AND RFE/RL BROADCASTING IN UKRAINE By David Bart The Voice of America’s (VOA) Ukrainian service is employing a cross-platform, digital-first strategy. The service’s coverage focuses on U.S.-Ukraine relations, U.S. foreign policy toward Ukraine and the region, as well as American life and achievements in democratic governance, business, health, science, and technology. VOA in Ukraine
VOA UKRAINE
Quick Facts
VOA Ukrainian provides fact-based reporting, essential to counter the spread of misinformation and disinformation in the target area. VOA Ukrainian routinely comes up in the polls as the most trusted source of news among Ukrainians. The Service is often the medium of record regarding policy pronouncements by U.S. officials. Since its establishment in 1949, VOA Ukrainian has been a vital source of news, information, and analysis of major international and regional affairs. Serving as a model of balanced, credible and impartial coverage, the service has had a major influence on the development of the Ukrainian media market since Ukraine gained independence in 1991.
Established: December 1949 Target Area: Ukraine Weekly Audience TV and Online: 7.4 percent of adults 15+ (2.4 million people) TV Programming: 2.25 hours per week Programs and additional features available at: www.ukrainian.voanews.com Facebook: holosameryky Twitter: @holosameryky
Today, VOA Ukrainian’s daily TV broadcasts, special TV interactives with affiliates, weekly programming and web output are carried by more than 50 national and regional TV stations. VOA reports are reprinted in major Ukrainian digital media sources. Through its regular and ad hoc interactives, VOA Ukrainian serves as a “Washington Bureau” for many major media players in Ukraine.
Youtube: holosameryky Instagram: holosameryky
VOA Ukrainian actively engages its audiences on the web and all major social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.
PROGRAMS AND FEATURES
Global Audiences Turn to VOA
VOA’s television programing includes:
As the Russian invasion of Ukraine got underway at the end of February, audiences in Eastern Europe and around the world turned to VOA’s television, radio, websites and social media sites for factual, on-the-ground reporting.
• Chas-Time — A daily 15-minute TV news and information program broadcast nationally by Channel 5 Monday through Friday. It features international news, stories on developments in the United States, and newsmaker interviews on U.S.-Ukraine relations. • Studio Washington — A daily five-minute news segment broadcast. • TV Interactives — VOA Ukrainian produces special reports and live interactives for major TV affiliates in Ukraine. The service’s Chas-Time and Studio Washington TV programs, as well as its numerous special live TV reports, are carried by over 50 national and regional TV stations throughout Ukraine. • VOA Briefing — A social media show, 5 days per week, twice a day for 30 to 45 minutes on Facebook and YouTube.
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The response from VOA’s audience has been extraordinary. Since the beginning of the invasion on February 23, VOA Russian reports nearly 17 million video views on social platforms, a 159% increase from the previous period, while VOA Ukrainian reports 5.7 million video views, an increase of 87%. VOA Russian garnered more than one million engagement actions across its social media platforms in that time. Traffic to both websites has soared, with VOA Russian’s site growing 146% and VOA Ukrainian’s site increasing 94% since the invasionShortly after VOA Russian set a oneday traffic record across all platforms on February 24, Russian regulators announced their intention to block VOA and other independent news outlets. As a result, www.radioclubofamerica.org
mission, VOA is providing the people of Ukraine and Russia, as well as all its worldwide audience, reliable news in this critical time in history.”
VOA UKRAINE RESISTS SHORTWAVE BROADCASTING A grassroots funding effort is underway to raise money to transmit VOA programming into Eastern Europe through shortwave radio, a more dated form of technology that can circumvent Russia’s crackdown on tech companies. To date, the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the parent agency for VOA and Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) has chosen not to transmit the programming in the region through shortwave radio. But organizers behind a crowdfunding campaign have already secured one station in Florida to share VOA’s daily English programming about Ukraine within days of the effort’s launch.
VOA television services are available on multiple platforms.
not only did the use of circumvention tools suddenly soar in Russia in recent days, but golosameriki.com set another one-day site traffic record on March 3.
Shortwave radio may not be the most popular way for the public to gain information in the digital age, but supporters of the effort said that during a crisis like the war in Ukraine, it’s critical to use a method that can break through the Kremlin’s obstruction of outside media. “In times of crisis if the content is compelling, the audience will go where they know the information is,” said Gerhard Straub, the former director of the broadcast technologies division at USAGM. Straub, who retired from the USAGM last January, has been providing technical assistance to supporters looking to transmit VOA and RFE programming into the Eastern European region.
Interest in the invasion of Ukraine is not confined to just these two countries. Other regions where VOA broadcasts that are typically disinterested in news from the region are suddenly transfixed. Since the beginning of the invasion, the story has generated 178 million video views and more than 18 million engagement actions, across VOA’s hundreds of social media accounts. For example, reporting on the subject in Africa has generated more than 17 million video views on social media on an account that typically averages about 125,000 views in a similar period. Across Latin America, interest in the story drove the vast majority of the 12 million video views on social media platforms used by VOA Spanish since the invasion, an increase of 125%.
Within two days of launching an online fundraising campaign, the supporters of the group “Shortwaves for Freedom” raised $2,495 of the $10,000 goal and have transmitted VOA programming through a station in Florida. Since VOA material is public domain, it can be downloaded off the website or listened to during live broadcast at 4 p.m. ET through the Miami Radio International station. Jeff White, the general manager at Miami Radio International, said after “Shortwaves for Freedom” reached out, his station started playing VOA’s “Flashpoint Ukraine” program. There are also plans to expand the transmission and play programming in Ukrainian.
This historic growth is due to the extraordinary work of VOA journalists in covering this story. Responding to the critical need for timely and accurate information, VOA Ukrainian expanded its programming, featuring twice-daily live briefings and dozens of live interactives. As the Russian troops were crossing into Ukraine, VOA Russian was live on the air with two special digital programs featuring reports with people at risk and experts providing analysis. A special edition of Current Time America, and a live feed from the U.N. Security Council generated more than 3 million views on VOA Russian’s Facebook page alone, with the service’s website garnering nearly 2 million views. Since the Russian invasion, both language services deliver critically important programming daily, including live coverage with simultaneous translations of remarks by President Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, U.S. lawmakers’ reactions, special live discussion shows, and reports from Ukrainian diaspora protests in New York, Washington, Los Angeles, Seattle, Miami and London in support of Ukraine.
The effort began after a number of current and former VOA staffers became frustrated that existing infrastructure wasn’t being turned on to reach people in Russia, Ukraine and Poland through shortwave radio, a veteran VOA staffer told The Hill. The staffer compared shortwave radio to a flashlight in a blackout. “As long as your electricity is on and your lights are on, you don’t need that flashlight. But when the electricity goes off, that flashlight becomes something very critical,” the staffer said.
“The Voice of America offers audiences in eastern Europe accurate reporting from the ground and access to a balanced, comprehensive coverage on how the conflict resonates in the U.S. and around the world” says Acting VOA Director Yolanda Lopez. “True to its history and
Kate Neiswender, a California-based lawyer involved in organizing the crowdfunding campaign said it was a “logical step to take.” “It’s just such a logical step to take. Until the VOA and its various entities decide to move forward, we’ll be there doing this shortwave or medium
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wave transmission as long as necessary.” White said the station is committed to keep up transmissions, whether the money is there or not. “We’re not doing it for the money, we’re doing it because it needs to be done,” he said. “It can’t be stopped at borders, it doesn’t need permission, it can’t be cut off like a satellite. It’s the only medium that’s really direct communication from the transmitter to the listener, wherever they may be,” White said.
RFE/RL in Ukraine
Quick Facts Website and Apps: 112.5 million visits; 153.6 million page views; 55.8 million unique visitors Facebook Ukraine: 304 million video views; 49.4 million engaged users; 765,000 followers
VOA has a history of using radio to spread information dating back to World War II, and It expanded the use of shortwave during the Cold War. Even as it has expanded into digital mediums, USAGM still has the capability to transmit through shortwave if it chooses to do so, Straub said. There’s a transmitter in Greenville, N.C., that was designed with the capability to broadcast to Ukraine and Russia, he added. Globally, the VOA is still using shortwave broadcasting and even expanding it across parts of Africa, he added.
Crimea: 76.1 million video views; 10.4 million engaged users; 124,000 followers Youtube: Ukraine and Crimea – 275 million views; 1.1 million subscribers Instagram: Over 856,000 video views; 7.3 million IGTV views; 124,000 followers TV programs, whose high impact reporting on corruption among Ukraine’s political elites has informed official investigations, led to high-level dismissals, and promoted greater public accountability in Ukraine.
A spokesperson for VOA referred The Hill to USAGM for comment. USAGM spokesperson Laurie Moy said USAGM content currently reaches audiences in Russia, Ukraine and the region through TV, FM and medium wave radio, digital and direct-to-home satellite. “We have and continue to expand transmissions to bring unbiased information to light at this crucial time. Any grassroots effort to enhance the distribution of our programs affirms the work our journalists do,” Moy said in a statement. Moy also said USAGM determines transmission strategies based on audience research and delivers programming on the platforms “where it will have the highest impact.”
The Service’s Crimea.Realities website, launched in 2014 following Crimea’s illegal annexation by Russia, is one of the peninsula’s only independent news sources and is unique in reporting in the Ukrainian, Russian, and Crimean Tatar languages. In 2020, it received on average 2.5 million monthly visits. • Radio Crimea.Realities can be heard on nearly the entire Crimean Peninsula on 648 AM frequency.
Unlike VOA, the BBC resumed its shortwave broadcasts in Russia after its websites were blocked in the country. VOA and RFE’s sites were similarly blocked by the Kremlin.
• The Donbas.Realities unit provides exclusive reporting from the frontlines of the territories held by Russiabacked separatists in eastern Ukraine.
“People see shortwave as being an obsolete form of communication. The fact is, it’s not obsolete. It’s out there. It’s useful. It’s easy to fire up an old shortwave transmitter and be able to receive information in this fashion,” Neiswender said. “It’s very much a doable thing. And when people in Russia find out that this information is out there, they’re going to start pulling their short waves out of their attics,” she added.
Reporters with the Ukrainian Service work at enormous risk. RFE/RL contributors Stanislav Aseyev and Oleh Halaziuk, who were released in a prisoner exchange in December 2019, were tortured and held virtually incommunicado for over two years by Russia-backed separatists in Donetsk. Crimean contributor Mykola Semena, whose conviction was vacated in January 2020, spent 2 1/2 years under house arrest after a Russiabacked court found him guilty of “separatism.” Members of the Schemes investigative team have been subjected to assault, doxxing, and online threats.
RFE/RL’S UKRAINIAN SERVICE: RADIO SVOBODA Meanwhile, RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service, known locally as Radio Svoboda, continues to operate, providing accurate and balanced coverage of local, regional, and national news and events. Operating out of a bureau in Kyiv with a reporting network that extends to the front lines, it is available on its website, social networks, radio, and TV.
Following the armed attack on Ukraine by the Russian Federation on February 24, 2022, the Partner Organizations to the Safety of Journalists Platform have been documenting attacks on journalists and other media workers, as well as other efforts to restrict coverage of the war. As of April 6, 2022, at least seven journalists and media workers have been killed while covering the war or because of their status, and at least ten have been injured. At least three journalists and media workers have gone missing or been taken hostage.
Radio Svoboda is among the most cited media outlets in Ukraine (Fall 2020 survey) and has earned a high level of trust from its audience. One in 5 Ukrainians report watching the Service’s reports on popular Ukrainian TV channels. The Service is distinguished for its investigative
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SOURCES
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The Hill website, Grassroots effort uses shortwave radio to broadcast VOA in Ukraine, Russia, Mar. 8, 2022, https:// thehill.com/policy/technology/597411-grassroots-effortuses-shortwave-radio-to-broadcast-voa-in-ukraine-russia/.
David P. Bart, KB9YPD, is Executive Vice President of the Radio Club of America, Chairman of RCA’s Publications Committee, a Life Member, and Fellow. He is also a Life Member and Director of the Antique Wireless Association. He is treasurer of the IEEE History Committee and former vice president of the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty website, RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service: Radio Svoboda, https://pressroom.rferl. org/rferl-ukrainian-service-radio-svoboda. Safety of Journalists Platform website, Safety of journalists and media freedom following the armed attack on Ukraine by the Russian Federation, https://fom.coe.int/ pagesspeciales/detail/1. U.S. Agency For Global Media website, Global Audiences Turn to VOA for Coverage on Russia’s War on Ukraine, Mar. 5, 2022, https://www.usagm.gov/2022/03/05/globalaudiences-turn-to-voa-for-coverage-on-russias-war-onukraine/.
Save the Date 2022 TECHNICAL SYMPOSIUM AND 113 TH AWARDS PROGRAM SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2022 ATLANTA
Voice of America website, Mar. 2022, https://www. insidevoa.com/p/6433.html#:~:text=VOA’s%20 Ukrainian%20service%20is%20employing,%2C%20 health%2C%20science%20and%20technology.
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RCA NEWS
RCA Scholarships Program Moves Forward in 2022
The Radio Club of America’s Scholarship Committee underwent a significant overhaul beginning in 2021 to modernize and increase the efficiency of the committee’s processes. The effort resulted in an exciting new scholarship fund, and revitalization of one of RCA’s premier legacy programs.
Finch was born in Birmingham, England, on June 28, 1897. He came to the United States in 1906 and attended high school in Cincinnati. He took courses in electrical engineering and radio communications at various institutions, including Columbia University and the University of Cincinnati. He completed the Radio communication course, Marconi Institute, New York City, 1917, and he completed special course radio engineering and patent law, Columbia University, 1923.
RCA SCHOLARSHIP FUND RCA Scholarship Committee acts under direction from the RCA Board of Directors to oversee contributed funds that are provided for the benefit of students in the wireless arena. The funds total approximately three-quarters of a million dollars, and the annual income from those funds of approximately $15,000 is distributed with board approval in annual grants to students.
He was licensed as an amateur radio operator in 1912, 8MK and 8IE. He entered the U.S. Navy in 1913 and remained active until 1945. As a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy in 1932, he conducted successful tests of his radio teleprinter aboard the U.S.S. Reuben James with Navy stations along the East Coast. In 1934, he became Assistant Chief Engineer with the Federal Communications Commission and Chief Engineer in the Federal investigation of common carriers (telegraph and telephone). During that period, he developed black-and-white and Color Fax systems. Many broadcasting stations used this system as they experimented with Radio Newspaper. He later served as a radio engineer and an editor and as Vice President and Chief Engineer in charge of radio operations with the International News Service, a Hearst company. He established the first radio-typewriter press circuit between New York and Chicago and the following year between New York and Havana. He founded his own company, Finch Telecommunications, Inc., in 1935.
These grants all support students who are studying wireless at U.S. colleges and universities. The institutions were either designated by the original donors of the scholarship funds or they met selection criteria for their wireless communications programs. Over fifty years ago, wireless pioneer and inventor, Captain W.H. “Bill” Finch convened the first meeting of the RCA Scholarship Committee. Those discussions began a history of support that RCA has eagerly provided to people studying in field(s) related to wireless communications. Finch was a radio engineer who in the late 1930s who pioneered the development of facsimile transmission of printed matter and photographs. He founded Finch Telecommunications Laboratories and held hundreds of patents in radio communications.
During World War II he was a communications officer in the Navy and retired from the Naval Reserve in 1957 with the rank of captain. During the war, he was directly in charge of research, development, and design of counter-measures electronic systems (Electronic Warfare) Buships, Navy. He was a member of Counter Measures Committee of the Joint Communications Board, Joint Chiefs of Staff. He was Assistant Chief of Office of Naval Research and Chief of Patents and Patent Council of the Navy when he retired.
W. H. FINCH W. H. Finch founded Finch Telecommunications Laboratories in Manhattan. He held hundreds of patents for inventions in radio communications, including the design of a machine to send printed matter and photographs by radio, known as radio facsimile. He also developed W. H. Finch (RCA Proceedings, a process for a “talking Oct. 1976) newspaper,” that would produce a printed soundtrack on newsprint that used a device to allow a reader to reproduce the sound at home.
Finch received more than 180 patents on Fax and Communication Systems. He was actively working on new inventions up to his death in 1990 at age 93. He was a long-time member of RCA and other radio and communication organizations. Finch received RCA’s Armstrong Medal in 1976 and the DeForest Award in 1984 for his contributions. He was a Fellow of RCA and a Fellow of IEEE, and he held or received many other positions and honors during his life. Trade catalogs from Finch Telecommunications, Inc. can be viewed at Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History, Behring Center (Record ID: SILNMAHTL_14928).
In 1938, Finch received a patent for his method of sending color photographs over telephone lines to a device that would reproduce them. The advent of World War II and the subsequent development of television dampened interest in his process.
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RCA AND FINCH’S LEGACY
INDIVIDUAL SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS
Today, Finch’s legacy continues through RCA’s scholarship programs. The Scholarship Committee chair, Alan Spindel, AG4WK, together with committee members Dr. Jim Breakall, W3FET and Dr. Julio Urbino, have spearheaded a consolidation and overhaul of RCA’s scholarship program. RCA Counsel Chester B. “Barney” Scholl, K3LA, RCA Treasurer Ron Jakubowski, K2RJ and RCA President John Facella, K9FJ, have also been active participants in the committee’s recent work.
The following list summarizes the individual RCA Scholarship Funds and how they originated. Each of these organizations have procedures in place to award 100% of RCA’s grants to specific college students in need of tuition assistance.
RCA Board of Directors approved actions to consolidate RCA’s legacy scholarship funds under a single name, the Captain Bill Finch RCA Legacy Scholarship Fund. The Scholarship Committee also created a new fund, the RCA New Century Scholarship Fund, that is focusing on assisting students training for a wireless career in vocational, international, graduate, or secondary institutions.
• Barone-DiBlasi-Facella Fund — established by the Barone, DiBlasi, and Facella families to honor the memory of Sal Barone, RCA Fellow, and John DiBlasi, RCA Fellow and former RCA Treasurer and RCA Vice President.
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AND INDIVIDUAL FUNDS
• Biggs Fund — established by his widow in memory of member and Fellow Biggs.
RCA considers the Scholarship Program to be one of its most important missions, focused on the FUTURE of the Wireless Industry. RCA’s efforts provide support at the middle school and high school level and at the college/ university level.
• Brownson Fund — established by Bernie Brownson. • Buller Fund — established in 2006 by Eileen Buller in memory of her husband, Patrick Buller.
Each year, RCA awards many scholarships to students studying engineering, broadcasting, or allied subjects at colleges and universities across the U.S. Our goal is to encourage and help create the next generation of wireless innovators, engineers and designers, and executives. These students find these scholarships of immense assistance at a time when tuition costs have become very expensive. In the attached link you will find letters from students all over the country who have benefited from our scholarship program. They are attending such diverse schools as: Capitol Technology University, Cooper Union, Georgia Tech, Michigan Technological University, Montclair State, North Dakota State, State University of New York, Virginia Tech, and University of Texas.
• Dettra Fund — established by John Dettra, an RCA Director for more than 35 years and Chair of the RCA Scholarship funds for several decades • Finch Grant-In-Aid Fund — started in the early 1980s by Captain Finch (USN). • Grebe Fund — started by Alfred Grebe II in memory of his father. • Gunther Fund — started by Robert Gunther for Frank Gunther.
Please note: RCA does NOT decide which students get the scholarship funds at a particular college/university – the university decides this. If students attend one of the colleges/universities participating in RCA’s Scholarship Program, students should apply to that school to be selected for an RCA scholarship, NOT to RCA.
• Goldwater Fund — established in honor of Barry Goldwater while he was still alive. • Link Fund — established in memory of Fred Link • Meyer Fund - established in honor of Stuart Meyer
YOUTH ACTIVITIES SCHOLARSHIPS
• Meyerson Fund — established in honor of Lou Meyerson.
RCA operates a highly successful Youth Activities Program to foster school aged youth interest in wireless communication technology, and encourage their future career in wireless. To pique the interest of youth, RCA’s Youth Activities Program uses amateur radio as a vehicle to introduce wireless concepts. The Youth Activities program is chaired by RCA Director Carole Perry WB2MGP and has
SPRING 2022 PROCEEDINGS
• Poppele Fund — established in memory of Jack Poppele and Bill Endres by the Poppele family • Somers Fund — established by Richard Somers for his devotion to the Club.
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HOW TO ESTABLISH A SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Richard Somers, Stan Reubenstein, Gordon West, Ernie Blair, and Charles Kirmuss as committee members.
If you would like to establish a Scholarship Fund, either in memory of someone or in honor of someone, please contact the RCA Scholarship Committee Chair Alan Spindel at email ag4wk73@gmail.com.
The Youth Activities Program also awards scholarships to deserving youth. The Richard G. Somers Youth Scholarship Fund was established in 2009, through a generous donation from the fund’s namesake, to encourage and support educational, technical, ham radio and related activities of young people through high school.
The Scholarship Committee is exploring other avenues to create other new RCA Grant-in-Aid programs that could possibly benefit students with family members who belong to RCA. If you have ideas and if you have an interest in participating, please contact Alan Spindel at ag4wk73@gmail.com.
Young Achiever Scholarships are also awarded each year to qualified students in vocational, secondary, college, or graduate school for educational purposes. To qualify, applicants must submit a completed and signed application form and at least two letters of reference from a teacher, employer, or RCA member. Applicants cannot be a relative of an RCA member and they must demonstrate that they are intending to pursue or are pursuing a career in the wireless industry. Scholarship recipient checks can be made out to an educational institution, or to another entity to provide for the student’s required educational supplies or resources. Checks may not be made out to the student or the student’s parent or guardian.
If you would like to make a donation, please contact Alan Spindel at ag4wk73@gmail.com or Amy Beckham at amy@radioclubofamerica.org.
SOURCES Armstrong and Sarnoff Awards, Proceedings of the Radio Club of America, Vol. 50 No. 2, Oct. 1976. Obituary, William Finch, 93; Held Many Patents In Radio Technology, New York Times, Nov. 17, 1990.
Information about RCA’s Youth Activities Program scholarships can be found at https://www. radioclubofamerica.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_ id=500767&module_id=410508.
RCA NEWS
William George Harold Finch, Biographical Encyclopedia, https://prabook.com/web/william_george_harold. finch/372015.
Print Version of RCA Proceedings Is Available!
Several years ago, the Radio Club of America moved to an online, email delivery format to distribute the Proceedings of the Radio Club of America, our premier publication for more than a century. This was intended to achieve two goals: flexibility and cost savings. Our approach permitted RCA to considerably expand the publication from approximately 30-40 pages to 70-80 pages, and even more than 100 pages on special occasions. It also permitted more flexibility in managing our production and publication deadlines by eliminating the time associated with printing and mailing. This provided us with more time for content development and preparation, which typically have long lead times. Finally, RCA saves considerable expenses that benefit our members by not subjecting everyone to the significant, industry-wide cost increases that have, and are continuing, to be incurred for printing and mailing. We have received many compliments about the electronic version of the Proceedings, including the ability to zoom-in and enlarge the pages and the interactive search capabilities. Nevertheless, in the past few years, RCA has received requests to provide print copies of the Proceedings. Thanks to the Sapphyre Group, RCA has now introduced a print option that is available for those who desire it. Beginning January 2022, RCA is offering print copies of the new issues of Proceedings for $48/year. Those interested can sign up on the RCA website to pay separately for this option. It is as simple as 1, 2, 3 — see the RCA website and either (1) scroll down on the home page, or (2) click to the News Menu and Publications Tab, and then (3) simply click the button to place your order today. SPRING 2022 PROCEEDINGS
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Congratulations
to Everyone for Providing RCA’s Online Programs
The Radio Club of America continues to provide online interviews and member networking events with leading people in the radio/wireless fields. We congratulate all who have already participated, and we look forward to more programs. Thank you to former RCA President Tim Duffy for setting up these wonderful programs!! Some of our past featured interviews and networking hosts are shown below. Stay tuned for more online events!!
Jeff Bratcher Chief Network and Technology Officer at First Responder Network Authority (FIRSTNET)
Dr. Ted Rappaport NYU Wireless
Ellen O’Hara Board Chair and President, iCert and Zetron
Robert Bell Space Satellite Professionals International
Nick Tusa Communications Consultant and Founder of Tusa Consulting
Cheryl Giggetts CTA Consultants, city/county/ multi-jurisdiction regional/ statewide systems
Angel Vazquez Telescope Operations Head/ Spectrum Manager, Arecibo Observatory, Puerto Rico
Marilyn Ward Executive Director of the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC)
Chief Harlan McEwen Member Networking Event, law enforcement communications
Margaret Lyons, P.E. Wireless Industry Pioneer, IEEE
Ken Claerbout Acting Chief of the Broadcast Technologies Division for Global Media (USAGM)
Alan Tilles, Esq. Member Networking Event, FCC regulations and trends
John Facella RCA President, career spanning over 35 years in wireless
Dr. Nathan, “Chip”, Cohen Member Networking Event, FRACTAL Antennas
Geoffrey Mendenhall Member Networking Event, former VP of Harris Broadcast
Jim Graci KDKA historian
Rob Lopez, PE, RLA Communications Engineering LLC, and Greg Glenn, Power Pulse, panel presentation
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John Facella, Frank Donovan, Tim Duffy, 1921 Transatlantic Test Centennial
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RCA NEWS
RCA’s Women in Wireless in the 21st Century
Beginning March 17, the Radio Club of America commenced a virtual networking program called Women in Wireless in the 21st Century, designed to facilitate conversations among women who are leading the way and breaking glass ceilings in the wireless industry. The goal of these meeting is to provide opportunities for discussion, networking, and mentoring among the women participants. Initially, the forum is open to all women involved in wireless and technology – not just RCA members.
shared some of her experiences in developing networking skills and finding mentors during her 41-year career in wireless. She explained how she moved up in the corporate structure – and even after retirement – found that one of the most satisfying aspects of her career was guiding, mentoring, and Ellen O’Hara. finding opportunities for others – both women and men. Ms. O’Hara noted that during her years as a VP at Motorola, she was co-lead of the Women’s Business Council, one of several business councils established by the corporation to promote diversity within Motorola and support the women who were leaders in Motorola’s customer organizations. During that time, she worked to promote women in public safety careers (such as women fire chiefs) and helped expand women’s opportunities for career growth at Motorola.
Ellen O’Hara, former chair, CEO and president of Zetron Inc., hosted the initial meeting that focused on getting to know each other and sharing ideas about how to make the forum an interesting and useful program for all participants. She
The women attending were from widely varying wireless backgrounds, and they discussed their ideas for the new RCA series. Everyone had opportunities to introduce themselves and to contribute to the discussion. The session ended with a positive outlook for the program and plans to continue with a second virtual meeting in May or June.
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RCA NEWS
RCA’s Historical Committee Seeks Your Involvement
The Radio Club of America has maintained a Historical Committee for many decades. Currently, President Emeritus Carroll Hollingsworth is the Chair. Activities include coordinating volunteer efforts to collect, preserve, and protect historical artifacts from both RCA and its members. Over the years, this committee has performed research, authored RCA histories, compiled documentation, received donations from members, coordinated with outside museums and other organizations, and served as the primary link to our celebrated past. This effort requires the involvement of many dedicated volunteers.
TOP GOALS FOR 2022 This year, the Historical Committee is updating the RCA history documents that underlie the RCA Website, bringing our historical story up to date through 2020. We are also locating and taking possession of newly received donations of RCA materials and property to store in one location. We also plan to continue our regular evaluation and storage of all RCA historical property. Currently, we have RCA’s historical archive and other items located near Rochester, New York at the Antique Wireless Association, an RCA strategic partner.
Some of RCA’s historical Logos.
Of particular note, we have received many items from the estate of Vivian Carr, RCA’s former President and a renowned leader at Bell Labs and IEEE who broke many glass ceilings. Thanks go to Paul Gilbert for his efforts in dealing with this material.
WE NEED YOU RCA’s history is your history! The development of radio and wireless communications has been taking place for more than a century. Members who want their history preserved and who want to preserve the history of their involvement with RCA need to lend a hand. We need interest, artifacts, and volunteers. Please contact Caroll Hollingsworth for further information at carrollhollingsworthsr@gmail.com.
We also continue to receive material from Mercy Contreras, another former RCA president, who has delivered many shipments of materials over the years. Her collection included items from Fred Link and other historical figures in RCA’s past. Several years ago, Jerry Minter’s collection was retrieved from a house in New Jersey through a joint effort by volunteers from AWA and RCA.
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RCA WEBSITE The RCA website is the go-to place for RCA news and events.
TROUBLE LOGGING IN? Please email Amy@radioclubofamerica.org if you need a new password or have difficulty logging in.
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RCA NEWS
Dick Fijlstra, PA0DFN, Named 2022 Carole Perry Educator of the Year
The Radio Club of America has many members who participate in the annual Orlando HamCation. This past February, Orlando Hamcation recognized Dick Fijlstra, PA0DFN, as the 2022 recipient of the Carole Perry Educator of the Year Award. This award recognizes an outstanding contribution to education Dick Fijlstra, recipient of the and the advancement of 2022 Carole Perry Educator youth in amateur radio. The of the Year Award. (Courtesy award was first presented in ARRL) 2018 to its namesake, Carole Perry, WB2MGP, to honor her decades of work in teaching students about ham radio. Orlando HamCation and ARRL sponsored the 2022 ARRL National Convention, which took place February 10-13.
electronic projects, guiding groups of other hams to assist them to finish the projects correctly. He also has organized international school projects, including the Communication Helps International Progress (CHIP) program, with participating schools throughout Europe.
Carole Perry is a past Dayton Hamvention® Amateur of the Year and a recipient of the ARRL Instructor of the Year Award. She has moderated the Hamvention® Youth Forum for more than 3 decades.
SOURCES
Fijlstra is the Netherlands’ International Amateur Radio Carole Perry, receiving the 2019 Union (IARU) member-society inaugural Educator of the Year VERON’s Region 1 Amateur Award. (Courtesy, ARRL Radio Direction Finding Committee (ARDF) Working Group member. This ARDF Working Group focuses on the European Youth ARDF Championships with transmitter hunting activities and competitions. Fijlstra is also very active in ARDF.
ARRL News, Dick Fijlstra, PA0DFN, is 2022 Carole Perry Educator of the Year, Jan. 5, 2022. RCA News, Dick Fijlstra Named Recipient of 2022 Carole Perry Educator of the Year Award, Jan. 31, 2022
Dick Fijlstra is the first international winner of the Carole Perry Educator of the Year Award. He is a retired school principal who has worked for years to reach youth through the latest technology, including ham radio. At ham radio events, he helps groups of youngsters in building
RCA NEWS
ARRL News, Carole Perry, WB2MGP, is First Recipient of Award Named in Her Honor, Feb. 22, 2019.
Recent RCA Activities
The RCA Supply Chain Panel was held on 31 March. Five companies were represented and provided a number of interesting ideas about how small to mid-sized electronics and wireless companies can handle these issues. Go to LINK to view the 90-minute video which includes a slide presentation outlining the issues.
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Best Readings on Terahertz Communications and 6G is a new feature of our partner IEEE Communications Society; 6G promises to provide ever faster data speeds, but getting wireless networks to operate at terahertz frequencies is not trivial. For more information go to: https://www.comsoc.org/ publications/best-readings/terahertz-communications
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NEWS ITEM
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he Antique Wireless Museum, a strategic partner of the Radio Club of America, announced that ground-breaking is at hand on the new ham shack. The new addition is part of Phase III of the museum’s original planning concept. It includes 1,420 square feet dedicated to the ham shack and registrar’s office. It will be located on the east side of the Museum building, running north-south along the original museum building. Entrances to the addition are across from the Voice of America and Western Union displays and the international radio exhibit shelving. The addition will house a working amateur radio station, exhibits, and office/working space for the Registrar’s volunteer group.
AWA Museum Expansion Brings New Ham Shack
different “booths” that can be switched-on for operation of the AWA station. Multiple operating ham stations will be made available to licensed amateurs, similar to ARRL’s W1AW operating facilities. The exhibit space will feature fully functional equipment from significant decades of amateur radio as well as static displays. The new space will permit AWA to put James Millen’s W1HRX AM station back on the air after a long hiatus, with its transmitter and National HRO receiver, both from the 1930s. Other planned station setups include a military BC-610E transmitter and a Collins 51J or a BC-312 (World War II era) receiver, as well as the military T-368 transmitter with a Collins R388 receiver (1950s era). Modern receivers will also be operational as part of a “receiver wall” of six to eight interchangeable receivers, connected to a non-transmitting antenna system that will offer station users the chance to compare receiver capabilities. Plans anticipate that operable stations will represent eight or nine decades of technical progress, allowing licensed visiting amateurs to experience what a state of the art ham station was over the years. AWA is continuing to evaluate the individual pieces of equipment that may be deployed, but a sample of what is available by historical period includes:
SCALE OF UNDERTAKING Through the generous donations from over 200 AWA and RCA members and friends, AWA achieved its initial goal of raising $165,000. That is the good news! However, when the contractor updated the cost estimate, they found that the estimated cost had risen to $212,000 during the COVID pandemic. That was the bad news! But, the contractor and a few super-generous members made up the difference. That is the GREAT NEWS! Unfortunately, as the project moved through the building permit stage, and led toward groundbreaking, the costs continued to rise. Once again, AWA and RCA members stepped up to bring total commitments to $235,000!
• • • • • • • • •
1920s: 1930s: 1940s: 1950s: 1960s: 1970s: 1980s: 1990s: 2000s:
Hartley transmitter, Regenerative receiver. James Millen’s W1HRX station. HRO, Comet-Pro, HQ-120, SX-28. BC-610 transmitter, Collins 75A-1 receiver. Collins KW-1 transmitter, Hallicrafters S-28, Collins 75A-2, 3 receiver. TMC SBT-1K (DSB, SSB, RTTY). Drake 4 Line. Yaesu FT-1000MP. Icom 756 Pro, Alpha 77DX linear amp. Kenwood TS-2000, Kenwood TL-992 linear amp.
The “receiver demonstration” station, where a user can select between receivers from several decades utilizing a common antenna, will be used for all receivers so that the user may examine differences in performance characteristics. This station will include receivers like the following. AWA’s large inventory of ham radio equipment will enable it to periodically rotate different pieces in and out of the ham shack. Some of the initial items in the demonstration station may include: • • • •
Hammarlund SP600 Icom IC-R71A National HRO 60 Hallicrafters SX-100
• • • •
National 303 Collins 51J-4 Drake R4B Heath SB-303/310.
EXHIBIT CONCEPTS The ham shack has been a long-dreamed of-concept for the AWA Museum. It will house ham equipment covering many decades, in multiple exhibits, and many will be operational from
Location of the new AWA hamshack on the east wall of the museum.
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Location of the new AWA hamshack on the east wall of the museum.
JAMES MILLEN One of the prize pieces on display will be the Millen transmitter/receiver. James Millen, W1HRX - 2BYP (1901-1987), was among the early experimenters who learned radio on the ham bands around 200 meters. He studied mechanical engineering at Stevens Institute in 1922-1926, and simultaneously started making receivers as his first commercial enterprise. The October 1922 issue of Radio News magazine carried the original Millen Advertisement. He earning his M.E. degree and studied with or had as classmates: • • • •
Dr. Alan Hazeltine, designer of the Neutrodyne circuit, Paul Ware, founder of Ware Radio, Larry Horle of Federal Radio was on the staff, and Ted Smith, later of Radio Corporation of America was a fellow student.
The receiver and transmitter of the 1930s Millen Station at the Antique Wireless Association. (Courtesy The James Millen Society)
Millen fostered the concept of superior mechanical as well as electrical design that became a standard in the electronics industry. While at Stevens, he worked on the editorial staff of Radio Broadcast magazine, published by Doubleday-page Co. Also at Stevens, he decided to use his experience in consulting work and formed a company was formed. Working closely with companies that would become famous in the electronics field, including American Appliance Co (Raytheon a year later) the Ceco Tube Company and National Toy Company. RKO Studios became a customer when they came to New York City to make their first two “Talking Pictures.” One of his clients, National Toy, was attempting to break into the new radio industry and worked with Millen to launch them in the field. In 1928, he took over operation of National and recast the company as National Radio.
the higher frequencies. Better tubes, research and redesign overcame the hum problems and the bulky storage battery. Rectifying the power line voltage provided DC for the plate supply, but it “rippled” the CW signal signal from the receiver until power supply filtering techniques were perfected. The team thrived on challenges, searching for ways to make each model better, less expensive, or more universal. The SW-3 came after the SW-5. It was more compact, lighter (even suggested for use in aircraft) and required less current from batteries. The SW-4 and FB-7 evolved next, then came the classic National HRO, followed by the NC-100, NC-200, etc. The team included Dave Grimes, R.S. Kruse, and Zeh Bouck.
In 13 years, Millen’s work with National Radio, and later his own company, would take a dozen articles to adequately cover. He transformed the old National Toy Company into the country’s foremost ham and commercial radio manufacturer. When he joined National as Chief Engineer and general manager, his influence soon became evident in their fine products. His work on the SW- 3, 4 and 5 developed the HRO, and he designed its unique dial.
Millen authored Notes on Amateur Radio Transmitter Design in 1938, Radio Design Practice in 1935, and coauthored with Robert Kruse Below Ten Meters: The Manual of Ultra-Short-Wave-Radio. He sponsored the Radio Club of America and advertised in the Proceedings of the Institute of Radio Engineers and other journals and magazines, including sponsoring QST and underwriting ARRL’s first Radio Amateur’s Handbook. He also worked directly with John Di Blasi, helping to found the Quarter Century Wireless Association.
The SW-5 was originally a battery powered unit. Conversion to AC power seemed insurmountable. The filaments of the tubes caused a hum in the loadspeaker, and instability at
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established in his name. He is an inductee of the CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame, listed as “Product engineer, National Radio, developed HRO receiver and designed its unique dial; founder, James Millen Co.”
CONTACT INFORMATION AWA welcomes all to get involved with this tremendously exciting project. We are continuing to accept donations, and historical artifacts! For further information, please contact Bob Hobday at bobn2evg@gmail.com.
SOURCES 4–Antique Wireless Museum Phase III – Ham Shack And Registrar’s Office Donations Page, https://www. antiquewireless.org/homepage/product/4-awa-phase-iiiham-shack-and-registrars-office.
QSL card from James Millen, W1HRX.
Internal disagreements arose with National in 1939, when the company became a publicly traded corporation, and Millen decided to leave. He went on to form The James Millen Co. and built a successful business manufacturing precision radio parts. He developed a high-end receiver at Millen, DFP-201, that was far ahead of its time, but due to costs never succeeded commercially. Although the Millen factory originally started making components, they soon began the manufacture of electronic equipment. Millen designed and built Oscilloscopes for RCA and the first commercial two-way FM radio equipment for General Electric. Millen’s company pioneered the manufacture of custom and stock magnetic shielding for cathode ray tubes, photo multipliers, and klystrons. During World War II, the company worked with GE to produce the continuoustype of delay cable, and the necessary machinery for its production.
Breaking Ground for the Museum Ham Shack Addition, Antique Wireless Association News, April 2022. James Millen W1HRX, http://hamgallery.com/Tribute/ W1HRX/w1hrx.pdf. Millen Memorial Station, The James Millen Society, http:// www.isquare.com/millen/bio_rem/mmstn.html. Museum Ham Shack Addition, Museum Sparks, Antique Wireless Association, Oct. 2021, Vol. 5 No. 3 and April. 2022, Vol. 6 No. 2. B. Page, N4TRB, James Millen and the National Company, http://n4trb.com/AmateurRadio/National/Millen.htm. D. F. Plant, K9LAJ/2, Designed for Application: The Story of James Millen, W1HRX, CQ Magazine, July 1967, https:// www.qsl.net/jms/bio_rem/dfacq67.html.
James Millen is revered today with the James Millen Society. Many awards and scholarships have been
NEWS ITEM
Radar Technology Pioneer Merrill Skolnik Dies at 94
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SKOLNIK’S CAREER
errill Skolnik, radar pioneer, passed away at age 94 on January 27. Skolnik served as superintendent of the radar division of the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C. for more than 30 years. While there, he made significant contributions including helping to develop high-frequency, over-the-horizon radar; a system that can identify friend or foe during combat; and high-resolution radar techniques.
He began his career in 1955 at MIT’s Lincoln Laboratory. While there, he taught a course on radar at Northeastern University, in Boston. The course was the basis for his 1962 book Introduction to Radar Systems. Merrill Skolnik began his engineering studies at Johns Hopkins late in World War II and worked in the Johns Hopkins Radiation Lab on proximity fuses and electronic warfare countermeasures.
For his work in the field, he was named the first recipient of the IEEE Dennis J. Picard Medal for Radar Technologies and Applications, in 2000. Picard was chief executive of Raytheon and helped the company become a leader in tactical missile systems. Skolnik was the first recipient of the IEEE Dennis J. Picard Medal.
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He joined MIT’s Lincoln Lab in 1955, working on radar. At the same time he taught a course on radar at Northeastern University, the basis for his 1962 book The Instruction of Radar Systems.
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radar), Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) work, and ocean waves’ radar echo. In this interview, Skolnik explains that Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) technology originated as OTH radar for surveillance of the USSR, was adapted for strategic defense, and ultimately served as a tactical tool. In his IEEE interview (see Sources below), he describes military approaches to research and development, and compares the influence of the NRL with other service research labs. Skolnik also compares the approaches of the U.S. and the Soviet Union to radar research during the Cold War. Skolnik continued to work as a consultant for the lab after he retired in 1996.
IEEE INTERVIEW In his IEEE Oral History Interview, he assesses the evolution of radar research, and attributes the decline of radar funding in the 1990s to the retirement of WWII and post-WWII scientists, as well as to maturation of radar technology. Skolnik hails doppler weather radar as an unsung, recent accomplishment. He also identifies international achievements in radar research.
IEEE Life Fellow Merrill Skolnik served as superintendent of the radar division of the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., for more than 30 years. (Courtesy IEEE)
He left MIT in 1959 to join Electronic Communications, Inc. (ECI), now part of Raytheon. There he gained experience working on antennas, electronic warfare, and phased arrays. He then joined the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA), in Alexandria, Va. It provides technical advice to the U.S. Defense Department, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, and other government entities. ECI and IDA provided him experience with communications systems for spacecraft, antennas, phase arrays, penetrating ballistic missile defenses, and countermeasures. While at IDA, he did pioneering work on thinned arrays and self-phasing array antennas. He also contributed to the fields of bistatic radars and electronic countermeasures.
In addition to research and development, Skolnik continued his teaching and professional activities. Beginning in 1970, he taught a graduate course on radar at Johns Hopkins. Skolnik joined the AIEE, one of IEEE’s predecessor societies, in 1944 during his first year of undergraduate studies, transferring his membership to the IRE as a graduate student around 1947. He was on the Proceedings of the IEEE editorial board and edited the publication for four years in late 1980s. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees as well as a Ph.D. in engineering from Johns Hopkins University, in Baltimore. He was an IEEE Life Fellow.
In 1965 he became superintendent of the radar division at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), where he stayed until his retirement in 1996. He and his staff developed concepts for wideband shipboard air-surveillance radar with reduced susceptibility to electronic countermeasures; selfdefense radar; and space-borne radar for detecting ships. Research at the NRL during Skolnik’s tenure included overthe-horizon (OTH) radar, space-based radar, Relocatable Over-the-Horizon (ROTH) radar, Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar (adapting earlier periscope detection
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SOURCES J. Goodrich, Radar Technology Pioneer Merrill Skolnik Dies at 94, IEEE Spectrum: News, The Institute, Mar. 29, 2022. Merrill Skolnik: An Interview Conducted by Michael Geselowitz, IEEE History Center, Feb. 22, 2000, Interview #389 for the IEEE History Center, The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Inc. https://ethw. org/Oral-History:Merrill_Skolnik#About_Merrill_Skolnik.
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NEWS ITEM
FCC $35 Amateur Application Fee Effective Date Announced
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he FCC released a Public Notice on March 23, 2022, stating that the amateur radio application fees, including those associated with Form 605 application filings, would become effective on April 19, 2022.
calendar days from the date of the email to pay. After the fee is paid and the FCC has processed an application, examinees will receive a second email from the FCC with a link to their official license. The link will be good for 30 days. Additionally, the FCC stated that applications processed and dismissed will not be entitled to a refund. This includes vanity requests where the applicant does not receive the requested call sign.
The Federal Communications Commission’s authority to impose and collect fees is mandated by Congress. The $35 application fee, when it becomes effective on April 19, will apply to new, modification (upgrade and sequential call sign change), renewal, and vanity call sign applications. The fee will be per application. Administrative updates, such as a change of name, mailing or email address, will be exempt from fees.
The FCC published the notice in the Federal Register on March 23, 2022, stating that the amateur radio application fees, including those associated with Form 605 application filings, would become effective on April 19, 2022.
VECs and Volunteer Examiner (VE) teams will not have to collect the $35 fee at exam sessions. Once the FCC application fee takes effect, new and upgrade applicants will pay the $15 exam session fee to the ARRL VE team as usual, and pay the $35 application fee directly to the FCC by using the CORES FRN Registration system (CORES – Login). When the FCC receives the examination information from the VEC, it will email a link with payment instructions to each successful candidate who then will have 10
NEWS ITEM
SOURCE New Amateur Radio License Applications Fee To Become Effective April 19, 2022, ARRL Letter, March 24, 2022.
AMSAT Received $93,795 ARDC Grant for 3U Spaceframe Development
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MSAT announced in early March that it received a generous grant from Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) for the development of a 3U spaceframe with deployable solar panels. This standardized 3U CubeSat space frame will serve as the mechanical platform for AMSAT’s GOLF series of satellites as well as a new generation of low earth orbit FM satellites. The spaceframe design will be available to the public under an open access agreement.
While that requirement still stands and the development of the GOLF satellites moves forward, the AMSAT Board of Directors’ decision to approve an additional new series of Low Earth Orbit (LEO), named Fox Plus (Fox+), underscored the need for a more robust spaceframe that can support advanced educational and experimental payloads in LEO as well. The payload and power capabilities of such a spacecraft would serve as the platform for a series of higher-power satellites in LEO that would carry educational and scientific experiments in support of AMSAT’s Youth Initiative (KidzSat). This series of satellites, referred to as LOWER (Lower Orbit Within Everyone’s Reach) would be highly accessible to youth participants with the most rudimentary equipment.
Central to the development of the 3U spaceframe, AMSAT will build three flight-ready spaceframes for an upcoming series of satellites with potentially enhanced flight control, payload and communication capabilities. The need for a 3U spaceframe with deployable solar panels goes back to the original design requirements for the Greater Orbit, Larger Footprint (GOLF) satellites that would return AMSAT to Highly Elliptical Orbits (HEO). The benefit of this program will provide satellites with wider coverage and longer access times to the entire Amateur Radio satellite community worldwide.
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Robert Bankston, KE4AL, AMSAT President, commented, “This grant not only accelerates AMSAT’s efforts to fly satellites with greater communications capabilities
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at higher orbits, it supercharges our efforts to bring educational opportunities and engineering innovations to Amateur Radio satellite at all orbits to hams around the world. While our LEO satellites help entry level hams become enthusiastic about space communications, our HEO satellites give advanced users the opportunity to push the limits of technology. Both programs are important to AMSAT’s mission of education and scientific advancement.”
Buxton, N0JY, AMSAT Vice President – Engineering leads the development of the GOLF satellite program while Jonathan Brandenburg, KF5IDY, Assistant Vice President – Engineering leads the new Fox+ program. Both RF Engineers and Mechanical Engineers are sought to help bring these programs to fruition. Potential volunteers should refer to https://www.amsat.org/volunteer-for-amsat/ for more information on how they can become part of this exciting move forward.
“AMSAT is indebted to ARDC for helping to bring this effort closer to reality. Still, with this generous award, AMSAT must still fund an additional $231,000 for other hardware development and launch preparation costs for just one GOLF series satellite. Our continued effort to raise funds is essential if we are to Keep Amateur Radio in Space.”
[ANS thanks Frank Karnauskas, N1UW, AMSAT Vice President – Development, for the above information.]
SOURCE AMSAT Press Release, ANS-065 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins. Mar. 6, 2022.
As mentioned above, the new spaceframe is key to the development of the GOLF and Fox+ programs. Jerry
NEWS ITEM
Update from Arecibo
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n December 1, 2020, the 57-year-old 305-meter Arecibo Telescope structure collapsed after a series of failures of the supporting cables. The following news items update the status of salvage operations and public access.
OBSERVATORY STATUS Cleanup is complete. Scientists and engineers are onsite and continue to work on existing instrumentation, such as the 12-meter telescope, the optical facility and the lidar facility, and they are continuing to analyze and publish the large amount of data that already existed at the time of the 305m telescope collapse. In addition to the studies conducted on the single socket where the first failure occurred, there are two independent broader studies being carried out now. Findings are expected later this year.
management and the contractor managing the emergency cleanup activities to identify possible items of historic significance that could be found within the wreckage, to suggest which large sections of the structural framework to retain, and to make initial recommendations about conservation, display, and educational outreach aspects of the retrieved material. The AOSSC developed a database of high-priority items for the search, and catalogued the actual pieces collected during the emergency cleanup. The debris removal was documented from site surveys and drone footage to provide a record of the process and where possible, the condition of the wreckage around the recovered artifacts. Final committee recommendations include the need for action to protect the artifacts from further damage or corrosion, distribution of historic and technical information about the instruments and structural elements to museums and universities, and formation of a follow-on group to consider the long-term preservation and educational potential of the recovered material. A copy of the report is available at https://www.naic.edu/documents/ AOSSC_REPORT_FINAL20220325.pdf.
THE ARECIBO OBSERVATORY SURVEY SALVAGE COMMITTEE REPORT On April 11, the Arecibo Observatory Survey Salvage Committee issued its report. On December 1, 2020, the 57-year-old 305-meter Arecibo Telescope structure collapsed after a series of failures of the supporting cables. The suspended platform struck the ground and the side of the natural depression in which it was constructed, with most of the scientific instruments housed beneath the azimuth arm badly damaged. The University of Central Florida (UCF) and the US National Science Foundation (NSF) chartered the Arecibo Observatory Survey Salvage Committee (AOSSC) to work with the Observatory
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VISITOR’S CENTER REOPENS
of training scientists and engineers at the facility each summer. The Arecibo Observatory was one of the first astronomy REU sites and has been hosting the program since 1987, though AO has operated undergraduate internship programs onsite since 1972.
The Ángel Ramos Foundation Science and Visitors Center at the Arecibo Observatory reopened to the public on March 10. Visitors are welcome Wednesdays through Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. but must make reservations online.
• The Puerto Rican Initiative for Studies Using Meteor Radar (PRISMA) Meteor Radar arrived at Arecibo in February. PRISMA is a 24-months project to deploy the first Caribbean all-sky VHF Meteor Radar in the island of Culebra, Puerto Rico. PRISMA is funded by The Puerto Rico Science, Technology & Research Trust (PRST). The radar was previously operating at the Andes Lidar Observatory (ALO) in Chile. It was donated to the University of Central Florida / Arecibo Observatory by the University of Illinois. The radar is now being tested and prepared for transportation to the Remote Optical Facility (ROF) on the island of Culebra. A customized 10-foot by 8-foot container with all of the requirements to house and operate the radar has been prepared at Arecibo and will also be transported to ROF.
A new outdoor exhibit was added with artifacts recovered from the telescope and its platform. In addition, visitors will be able to access the observation deck and see where the telescope once stood. The rest of the AO facility remains closed to the public. A short public ceremony was held at 10 a.m. inside the Science and Visitors Center Auditorium. During the ceremony, some of the science investigations carried out at AO and the many educational opportunities available were shared. Visitors are welcome, but they must reserve a date and time to visit through the online store. Spaces are limited so an appointment is essential to secure your space. Guests will not be allowed to enter without an appointment. Visitors must also comply with the following guidelines:
• Arecibo has focused its 12-meter radio telescope on the Sun to monitor some of its energetic events, including changes that occur just before a solar storm. Exciting new results from the telescope, which resumed regular observations in January 2022 following several upgrades, show that active regions of the Sun are very bright at high-frequency radio wavelengths.
• Reservations must be made in advance at https://www. naic.edu/shop • Everyone 5 years-old or older must bring and wear a mask at all times • Guests must show proof of vaccination when they arrive • Use hand sanitizer
SOURCES
• Maintain physical distance during the visit
National Science Foundation/Arecibo Observatory website, https://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/arecibo/.
The temperature of each person will be taken at the entrance. Anyone with a temperature of 100.4F (38 C) or higher will not be able to enter, nor will anyone in their party. Anyone without a mask will not be allowed inside and no masks will be provided.
Arecibo Observatory Recent News, https://www.naic.edu/ao/ blog?style=masonry&sidebar=left.
The University of Central Florida manages the NSF facility under a cooperative agreement with Universidad Ana G. Méndez and Yang Enterprises, Inc.
CONFERENCES AND SCIENTIFIC WORK CONTINUES Arecibo continues to host conferences, events, and scientific research. Some items include:
Save the Date
• Arecibo will host the Upcoming 240th American Astronomical Society Meeting on June 12-16. • Arecibo will conduct the Single Dish Summer School between May 16 - 20, 2022. Programs include a series of lectures on the fundamentals of single dish radio astronomy and a variety of hands-on, guided research projects using the 12-meter radio antenna and the extensive data archive.
2022 TECHNICAL SYMPOSIUM AND 114TH AWARDS PROGRAM
• In March, the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program at the Arecibo Observatory has received funding from the National Science Foundation for the next three years, continuing its decades-long tradition
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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2022 | ATLANTA RADIOCLUBOFAMERICA.ORG
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NEWS ITEM
IEEE History Center Updates IEEE Historical Documentation And Creates A Post-1984 Living History
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he IEEE History Center has chronicled the post1984 years of IEEE history and the impact IEEE has had on electrical engineering in the 21st century. The History of IEEE Since 1984 is available on the Engineering and Technology History Wiki at https:// ethw.org/History_of_IEEE_Since_1984. Readers can learn how IEEE transitioned to electronic publishing, its efforts to expand its membership globally, successful standard development activities, and other topics. Previous historical accounts generally stopped in 1984, the centennial of IEEE’s earliest predecessor organization, the AIEE.
THE SHIFT TO DIGITAL HISTORY As digital technologies became more popular in the 1980s, IEEE worked to keep up with the shift from printed publications to digital versions, according to the document. Before the IEEE Xplore Digital Library, the organization experimented with an electronic index, launched in 1986, and CD-ROMs, which were introduced three years later. Using the index, members were able to order from their computer copies of articles published within a 12-month period. The CDs held about 200,000 documents including journal papers and conference proceedings.
A plaque was placed in the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia during the IEEE-Franklin Institute Centennial Technical Convocation in October 1984 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of IEEE. (Courtesy IEEE)
The history of IEEE previously was documented in two books that covered the organization’s first 100 years. The Making of a Profession: A Century of Electrical Engineering in America was written by historian A. Michal McMahon. Engineers and Electrons: A Century of Electrical Progress was written by IEEE Fellow John D. Ryder and past IRE president Donald G. Fink. PDFs of the books are available on the Engineering and Technology History Wiki at https:// ethw.org/w/images/e/ee/The_Making_of_a_Profession.pdf and at https://ethw.org/w/images/c/cc/Engineers_%26_ Electrons.pdf.
A TRANSITIONING MEMBERSHIP Membership in IEEE also evolved during the period. Before 1989, IEEE’s membership was mostly composed of engineers from the United States. But in the 1990s, the popularity of computers and their impact on society and the strong economy fueled global expansion. Today, the organization has more than 400,000 members in more than 160 countries.
A LIVING HISTORICAL DOCUMENT The “History of IEEE Since 1984” is a being treated by IEEE as a living document. Readers with an account on the Wiki can make comments and suggest edits. IEEE History Center staff members will review the comments and, if deemed appropriate, will include them. Individual memoirs of IEEE’s history can be added in the first-hand histories section.
The IEEE Standards Association made great strides in developing standards worldwide, according to the report. Its most well-known standard is IEEE 802.11, developed in 1997. It’s the official international standard for wireless LANs, operating at 2 megabits per second. Popular Mechanics magazine recognized the standard with its 2003 Grand Prize for Computing.
Beginning in 2009, the 125th anniversary of IEEE, then IEEE President John R. Vig advocated that it was time for a new book covering the subsequent 25 years, and he raised funds from IEEE organizational units to make it possible. The project was funded by the following IEEE societies: Aerospace and Electronic Systems, Circuits and Systems, Communications, Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation,
IEEE HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS Although the document’s main focus is IEEE after 1984, its first chapter covers the merger in 1963 of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers (AIEE) and the Institute of Radio Engineers (IRE), which together formed IEEE.
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Industrial Electronics, Nuclear and Plasma Sciences, Power & Energy, Robotics and Automation, Signal Processing, Systems, Man, and Cybernetics, Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Control, and Vehicular Technology, as well as the IEEE Council on Superconductivity and Sensors Council. Many Radio Club of America members are also members of IEEE, and the IEEE Communications Society, COMSOC, is a strategic partner of RCA. IEEE membership offers a wide range of benefits and opportunities for those who share a common interest in technology. If you are not already a member, consider joining IEEE and becoming part of a worldwide network of more than 400,000 students and professionals.
SOURCE J. Goodrich, A Deep Dive Into IEEE’s Recent History, IEEE Foundation: Focus, Sep. 2021.
Image of IEEE Xplore in 2000.The IEEE Xplore Digital Library, launched in 2000, provides members access to IEEE transactions journals, magazines, and conference proceedings published since 1872. (Courtesy IEEE)
History of IEEE Since 1984, Engineering and Technology History Wiki, https://ethw.org/History_of_IEEE_Since_1984.
NEWS ITEM
FCC $35 Amateur Application Fee Effective Date Announced
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he FCC released a Public Notice on March 23, 2022, stating that the amateur radio application fees, including those associated with Form 605 application filings, would become effective on April 19, 2022.
pay. After the fee is paid and the FCC has processed an application, examinees will receive a second email from the FCC with a link to their official license. The link will be good for 30 days. Additionally, the FCC stated that applications processed and dismissed will not be entitled to a refund. This includes vanity requests where the applicant does not receive the requested call sign.
The Federal Communications Commission’s authority to impose and collect fees is mandated by Congress. The $35 application fee, when it becomes effective on April 19, will apply to new, modification (upgrade and sequential call sign change), renewal, and vanity call sign applications. The fee will be per application. Administrative updates, such as a change of name, mailing or email address, will be exempt from fees.
The FCC published the notice in the Federal Register on March 23, 2022, stating that the amateur radio application fees, including those associated with Form 605 application filings, would become effective on April 19, 2022.
VECs and Volunteer Examiner (VE) teams will not have to collect the $35 fee at exam sessions. Once the FCC application fee takes effect, new and upgrade applicants will pay the $15 exam session fee to the ARRL VE team as usual, and pay the $35 application fee directly to the FCC by using the CORES FRN Registration system (CORES – Login). When the FCC receives the examination information from the VEC, it will email a link with payment instructions to each successful candidate who then will have 10 calendar days from the date of the email to
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SOURCE New Amateur Radio License Applications Fee To Become Effective April 19, 2022, ARRL Letter, March 24, 2022.
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NEWS ITEM
IEEE Global Museum Project Educates, Honors and Inspires
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or over a century, IEEE leaders have considered creating a museum to recognize the technical achievements of IEEE members, the organization’s evolution, and the bigger stories of technological milestones in its life-changing fields. But the challenge of housing the world’s ever-expanding accomplishments in electrical, electronic, and computer technologies and sciences has always overwhelmed that vision. Instead, IEEE History Center staff have created fixed and travelling exhibits on IEEE people and technologies, ranging from “Lines and Waves,” about the contributions of Maxwell and Faraday, to “Moon Dreams,” on space exploration in fact and fiction. Thousands of people in IEEE have enjoyed seeing and learning how its members have contributed to solving the world’s big and small problems, from travelling under the Hudson River in New York to the efficient selection of the music you want when you want it. The question is, how can we make those contributions familiar to the general public around the world, and educate people on IEEE members’ incredible, resourceful, and creative solutions?
Dr. John Impagliazzo examines some of the artifacts in one of the IEEE History Center’s historical exhibits. (Courtesy IEEE)
Thanks to a seed grant from the IEEE Life Members Committee and its chair, T. Scott Atkinson, the pilot year has been funded for 2022. One of the two pilot exhibits will be installed at IEEE’s office in New York City: a history of IEEE Spectrum magazine and its coverage of over fifty years of cutting-edge technologies. Inaugurated in 1964, Spectrum set a new standard for technical society membership publications with its full-color covers and informed, accessible articles on the full gamut of high tech and the people and organizations innovating them.
Inspired by Life Fellow Dr. John Impagliazzo, who has generously underwritten the IEEE History Center’s Historical Showcase Project, center staff led by the late Dr. Lisa Nocks found a solution. Using donations and loans of objects and documents, the answer is to partner in every IEEE Region with volunteers and museums, libraries, and other public spaces. Center staff and consultants will design, curate, and install exhibits that showcase member contributions to the history of the local area, region, or world. An online version of each exhibit will enable virtual visits by those who cannot attend in person, long after the exhibit itself is replaced by a new one.
The second pilot exhibit—about IEEE’s first Medal of Honor recipient, the radio pioneer Edwin Howard Armstrong— will debut in Region 5 (the south central U.S.). Assisted by a generous anonymous gift, the IEEE History Center is developing a public exhibit on his life and times, in which Armstrong invented practical circuits for regeneration of continuous wave wireless signals; superheterodyne tuning of radio frequencies; and wideband frequency modulation transmission and reception. The soft opening took place at the San Antonio Museum of Science and Technology (SAMSAT) in Texas, in conjunction with the February 2022 IEEE Board series. SAMSAT was being expanded for a public opening in March. With continued support from IEEE, its members, and the STEM/MINT community, the IEEE History Center looks forward to developing and circulating more exhibits around the world.
SOURCE A.Magoun, The IEEE Global Museum: Let’s exhibit around the world to educate, honor & inspire, IEEE History Center News, Nov. 30, 2021, with a shorter version in IEEE Foundation: Focus, Dec 2021.
Children on a field trip to a museum of technology. (Courtesy IEEE)
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NEWS ITEM
HamCation 2022 Displays Cutting-Edge Technology
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hile many ham radio show visitors come for the flea market and a chance to chat with the various vendors, at least a few come to display new technology of the sort that will become mainstream in the amateur radio community going forward. Michelle Thompson, W5NYV, the CEO of Open Research Institute (ORI) attended Orlando HamCation -- also the 2022 ARRL National Convention on February 10 - 13 -- to promote the breadth of projects from ORI. She says the door is always open for additional participants. Visitors to the ORI booth were treated to an update on ORI’s successful DVB-S2X digital satellite television standard modem work and progress on the end-to-end demonstration of the entire satellite transponder chain. “At Open Research Institute, it doesn’t work until it works over the air,” Thompson told ARRL. “The Phase 4 Digital Multiplexing Transceiver [satellite] project is on budget, on track, and highly likely to succeed. The return on investment is high.” She notes that the team continues to work toward innovating, publishing, and enabling high-tech space and terrestrial amateur radio work.
The satellite demonstration in the HamCation parking lot.(Courtesy ARRL)
Thompson was also among the presenters participating in the ARRL Technology Academy, which was one of four allday workshops organized for the ARRL National Convention program held on February 10. Her talk on Digital Communications Technology was met by a “a positive, enthusiastic, and engaged audience” and she hopes that ARRL will continue sponsoring similar events. She invited M17 principals to speak about their work, and opened the floor for questions and comments from the many highly competent and curious technical hams that were in attendance. Subjects covered ranged from asynchronous computing to concatenated coding.
The M17 Project booth right next to ORI’s represented “the future of amateur radio,” Thompson said. M17 is developing a new digital amateur radio protocol for data and voice. “Ed Wilson, N2XDD, and Steve Miller, KC1AWV, from M17 brought working hardware, firmware updates, and also demonstrated several different software implementations throughout the weekend,” she said. “M17 held their weekly net on Friday live from the booth, gave away stickers, magnets, and pins, and captured the hearts of all who visited.”
Thompson recognized ARRL for its attention on amateur satellites throughout the convention. “ARRL set the pace this year for satellite talks and satellite demonstrations, with a video providing practical examples of amateur satellite operations,” she said. In the video, ARRL members Tom Gaines, Jr., KB5FHK, and Sloan Davis, N3UPS, lead viewers through making an amateur satellite radio contact from the fairgrounds parking lot. One of their satellite contacts was with Patrick Stoddard, WD9EWK, who gave a tutorial on amateur satellite operations in the ARRL Hands-On Handbook workshop.
AmbaSat-1 “re-spin” was another frequent topic of conversation, Thompson. The project is a crowdsourced Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite program. AmbaSat-1 is a tiny space satellite kit that you assemble and code yourself. “The five AmbaSat boards from ORI, which operate at 70 centimeters, have been distributed to the firmware team, and they have begun development and are seeing success in university and hobbyist labs,” she reported. “The goal is to create a compelling application, put the hardware on a sounding rocket, apply for a launch license, and send this project into space in a way that makes the amateur community proud.”
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Thompson said ORI is looking forward to returning to in-person events, such as the well-attended DEFCON in August. The next virtual event for ORI will be the QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo, March 12 - 13. “We will have a wide variety of work and projects represented at our booth,” she said.
SOURCE Cutting-Edge Technology on Display at HamCation 2022, ARRL Letter, Feb. 24, 2022.
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NEWS ITEM
AWA Installs New Exhibit Dedicated to Tom Peterson, RCA Member and Award Recipient
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he Antique Wireless Association opened a new exhibit dedicated to Thomas Peterson, Jr. Mr. Peterson served for 22 years on the AWA Board of Trustees and 17 years as AWA Director. Under Tom’s leadership, AWA has achieved international recognition as a premier, communications, historical organization with a world-class museum. Tom led the way to develop the Thomas Peterson AWA Campus which includes 4 buildings on five acres. Tom’s leadership and support made that possible. Tom Peterson passed away in February 2021. He was a gentle man, inquisitive, quick to laugh, and brilliant.
MIT’s involvement with Rosetta, a joint European Space Agency-NASA mission that visited a comet in 2014. He also served on the Visiting Committees of the Deans of the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Medicine with Case Western Reserve University. He is one of the founding donors to the Bridge Project, a collaboration between the Koch Institute and the Dana-Farber/ Harvard Cancer Center.
EXHIBIT The Peterson family generously donated some of Tom’s collection to AWA to create a memorial exhibit in his honor. Tom received the Radio Club of America’s Ralph Batcher Award in 2017 for significant work in preserving the history of radio and electronic communications.
TOM PETERSON Mr. Peterson attended MIT. He returned to Cleveland to run the family business, Preformed Line Products Company (PLPC), a manufacturer of components for the energy and communications industries. He spent 10 years at PLPC and rose to executive vice president. Then, he launched his own company, Motion Picture Sound Inc. (MPSI), a firm that produced sophisticated audio for movies and television. His clients included the Pentagon, PBS, NASA, and Disney World. He was in business for 20 years before turning his love for invention into three electrical technology patents. He retired from MPSI in 1987. He pursued research on his own and developed international patents for a method to measure a previously unknown permanent electric charge density in dielectric substances that was presented at the 7th Scientific Assembly of the International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy, Buenos Aires, 1993. He also edited journal submissions by colleagues on Russian/ Japanese earthquake prediction.
SOURCES Museum Exhibits: Thomas Peterson Exhibit, Museum Sparks, Antique Wireless Association, Dec. 2021, Vol. 5 No. 4. Radio Club of America Announces 2017 Award Winners and Fellows, Radio Club of America Press Release, Aug. 4, 2017. Spotlight on 2017 RCA Banquet Awards, Proceedings of the Radio Club of America, Fall 2017.
Tom has dedicated his time and resources to preservation and education about the history of electric and electronic signaling and communication. He established the Thomas F. Peterson, Jr. Conservator Fund in the MIT Libraries and is funding the Vail Access Project, which will restore and catalogue the rare books in the MIT Libraries’ Vail Collection that focusses on electrical and electronic history. He funded the creation of the Thomas F. Peterson Gallery at the MIT Museum and funded the MIT 150th anniversary displays. He served on the McGovern Institute for Brain Research’s Leadership Board and the Corporation Development Committee. He has supported groundbreaking research on human perception and magnetic studies of rock from the Moon, Earth and Mars. He established the Peterson Nanotechnology Materials Core Facility at MIT’s Koch Institute for Cancer Research to both characterize and image nanomaterials. He funded the Thomas F. Peterson Gallery and served on the MIT Museum’s advisory board. He supported the work of MIT’s Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, including a pledge that enabled
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AWA Museum, Tom Peterson exhibit.
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NEWS ITEM
IEEE Global Museum Project Educates, Honors and Inspires
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or over a century, IEEE leaders have considered creating a museum to recognize the technical achievements of IEEE members, the organization’s evolution, and the bigger stories of technological milestones in its life-changing fields. But the challenge of housing the world’s ever-expanding accomplishments in electrical, electronic, and computer technologies and sciences has always overwhelmed that vision.
IEEE Global Museum Project.
Instead, IEEE History Center staff have created fixed and travelling exhibits on IEEE people and technologies, ranging from “Lines and Waves,” about the contributions of Maxwell and Faraday, to “Moon Dreams,” on space exploration in fact and fiction. Thousands of people in IEEE have enjoyed seeing and learning how its members have contributed to solving the world’s big and small problems, from travelling under the Hudson River in New York to the efficient selection of the music you want when you want it. The question is, how can we make those contributions familiar to the general public around the world, and educate people on IEEE members’ incredible, resourceful, and creative solutions?
Dr. John Impagliazzo examines some of the artifacts in one of the IEEE History Center’s historical exhibits. (Courtesy IEEE)
Inspired by Life Fellow Dr. John Impagliazzo, who has generously underwritten the IEEE History Center’s Historical Showcase Project, center staff led by the late Dr. Lisa Nocks found a solution. Using donations and loans of objects and documents, the answer is to partner in every IEEE Region with volunteers and museums, libraries, and other public spaces. Center staff and consultants will design, curate, and install exhibits that showcase member contributions to the history of the local area, region, or world. An online version of each exhibit will enable virtual visits by those who cannot attend in person, long after the exhibit itself is replaced by a new one.
fifty years of cutting-edge technologies. Inaugurated in 1964, Spectrum set a new standard for technical society membership publications with its full-color covers and informed, accessible articles on the full gamut of high tech and the people and organizations innovating them. The second pilot exhibit—about IEEE’s first Medal of Honor recipient, the radio pioneer Edwin Howard Armstrong— will debut in Region 5 (the south central U.S.). Assisted by a generous anonymous gift, the IEEE History Center is developing a public exhibit on his life and times, in which Armstrong invented practical circuits for regeneration of continuous wave wireless signals; superheterodyne tuning of radio frequencies; and wideband frequency modulation transmission and reception. The soft opening took place at the San Antonio Museum of Science and Technology (SAMSAT) in Texas, in conjunction with the February 2022 IEEE Board series. SAMSAT was being expanded for a public opening in March.
Thanks to a seed grant from the IEEE Life Members Committee and its chair, T. Scott Atkinson, the pilot year has been funded for 2022. One of the two pilot exhibits will be installed at IEEE’s office in New York City: a history of IEEE Spectrum magazine and its coverage of over
With continued support from IEEE, its members, and the STEM/MINT community, the IEEE History Center looks forward to developing and circulating more exhibits around the world.
SOURCE A.Magoun, The IEEE Global Museum: Let’s exhibit around the world to educate, honor & inspire, IEEE History Center News, Nov. 30, 2021, with a shorter version in IEEE Foundation: Focus, Dec 2021.
Children on a field trip to a museum of technology. (Courtesy IEEE)
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NEWS ITEM
IEEE History Center Updates IEEE Historical Documentation and Creates A Post-1984 Living History
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he IEEE History Center has chronicled the post-1984 years of IEEE history and the impact IEEE has had on electrical engineering in the 21st century. The History of IEEE Since 1984 is available on the Engineering and Technology History Wiki at https://ethw.org/History_ of_IEEE_Since_1984. Readers can learn how IEEE transitioned to electronic publishing, its efforts to expand its membership globally, successful standard development activities, and other topics. Previous historical accounts generally stopped in 1984, the centennial of IEEE’s earliest predecessor organization, the AIEE.
THE SHIFT TO DIGITAL HISTORY As digital technologies became more popular in the 1980s, IEEE worked to keep up with the shift from printed publications to digital versions, according to the document. Before the IEEE Xplore Digital Library, the organization experimented with an electronic index, launched in 1986, and CD-ROMs, which were introduced three years later. Using the index, members were able to order from their computer copies of articles published within a 12-month period. The CDs held about 200,000 documents including journal papers and conference proceedings.
A plaque was placed in the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia during the IEEE-Franklin Institute Centennial Technical Convocation in October 1984 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of IEEE. (Courtesy IEEE)
Making of a Profession: A Century of Electrical Engineering in America was written by historian A. Michal McMahon. Engineers and Electrons: A Century of Electrical Progress was written by IEEE Fellow John D. Ryder and past IRE president Donald G. Fink. PDFs of the books are available on the Engineering and Technology History Wiki at https:// ethw.org/w/images/e/ee/The_Making_of_a_Profession.pdf and at https://ethw.org/w/images/c/cc/Engineers_%26_ Electrons.pdf.
A TRANSITIONING MEMBERSHIP Membership in IEEE also evolved during the period. Before 1989, IEEE’s membership was mostly composed of engineers from the United States. But in the 1990s, the popularity of computers and their impact on society and the strong economy fueled global expansion. Today, the organization has more than 400,000 members in more than 160 countries.
A LIVING HISTORICAL DOCUMENT The “History of IEEE Since 1984” is a being treated by IEEE as a living document. Readers with an account on the Wiki can make comments and suggest edits. IEEE History Center staff members will review the comments and, if deemed appropriate, will include them. Individual memoirs of IEEE’s history can be added in the first-hand histories section.
The IEEE Standards Association made great strides in developing standards worldwide, according to the report. Its most well-known standard is IEEE 802.11, developed in 1997. It’s the official international standard for wireless LANs, operating at 2 megabits per second. Popular Mechanics magazine recognized the standard with its 2003 Grand Prize for Computing.
Beginning in 2009, the 125th anniversary of IEEE, then IEEE President John R. Vig advocated that it was time for a new book covering the subsequent 25 years, and he raised funds from IEEE organizational units to make it possible. The project was funded by the following IEEE societies: Aerospace and Electronic Systems, Circuits and Systems, Communications, Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation, Industrial Electronics, Nuclear and Plasma Sciences, Power & Energy, Robotics and Automation, Signal Processing, Systems, Man, and Cybernetics,
IEEE HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS Although the document’s main focus is IEEE after 1984, its first chapter covers the merger in 1963 of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers (AIEE) and the Institute of Radio Engineers (IRE), which together formed IEEE. The history of IEEE previously was documented in two books that covered the organization’s first 100 years. The
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Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Control, and Vehicular Technology, as well as the IEEE Council on Superconductivity and Sensors Council. Many Radio Club of America members are also members of IEEE, and the IEEE Communications Society, COMSOC, is a strategic partner of RCA. IEEE membership offers a wide range of benefits and opportunities for those who share a common interest in technology. If you are not already a member, consider joining IEEE and becoming part of a worldwide network of more than 400,000 students and professionals.
SOURCES J. Goodrich, A Deep Dive Into IEEE’s Recent History, IEEE Foundation: Focus, Sep. 2021. History of IEEE Since 1984, Engineering and Technology History Wiki, https://ethw.org/History_of_IEEE_Since_1984.
Image of IEEE Xplore in 2000.The IEEE Xplore Digital Library, launched in 2000, provides members access to IEEE transactions journals, magazines, and conference proceedings published since 1872. (Courtesy IEEE)
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BOOK REVIEW Surfing (DXing) The Web by David Bart EDITOR’S NOTE: The following items have been suggested as interesting reading or as a useful resources. The following information does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by RCA. We welcome suggestions and recommendations from RCA’s members regarding books and media to share with RCA’s membership. The scope can include technical, regulatory, or other subjects. We encourage you to send your suggestions to David Bart at jbart1964@gmail.com for publication in a future issue of the Proceedings.
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he Proceedings of the Radio Club of America frequently includes book reviews. In this issue, we touch on a few internet offerings that may be of interest to our readers. In radio parlance, DXing is the hobby of receiving and identifying distant radio or television signals or making two-way radio contact with distant stations in amateur radio, citizens’ band radio or other two-way radio communications. Many DXers also attempt to obtain written verifications of reception or contact, sometimes referred to as QSLs or veries. The name of the hobby comes from DX, telegraphic shorthand for “distance” or “distant”. In this issue, we stretch the DXing idea into the internet space.
main/activity/transatlantic-tests/, Antique Wireless Association’s https://www.antiquewireless.org/ homepage/history-1921-12-11/, and RCA’s https:// www.radioclubofamerica.org/transatlantic-testcentennial. Documentation is also available from https:// worldradiohistory.com/ and www.transatlantic.org.uk/.
ATLANTIC CABLE PK PORTHCORNU https://pkporthcurno.com/pk150-connected-collections/
The following sites may be of interest, and are presented in alphabetic order:
1921 TRANSATLANTIC TEST RESOURCES The Fall 2021 issue of the RCA Proceedings included a special section dedicated to the centennial of the 1921 radio tests, where radio amateurs in the U.S. and Canada transmitted messages across the Atlantic Ocean to the U.K. and France using short waves of less than 200 meters. See that issue for websites and other resources, including Antique Wireless Association’s http://1bcg.org/1BCG/, the American Radio Relay League’s www.arrl.org/transatlantic, the Radio Society of Great Britain’s https://rsgb.org/
K Porthcurno, in the U.K., operates a museum and archive of Cable and Wireless’s global communications history based in the Wilshaw station building outside Penzance, Cornwall. PK Porthcurno’s archives were combined with the “2021 Citizen Curators,” students at Exeter University and overseas to create the PK150 Connected Collections of online maps, videos, blogs, and reports on the relationships between telegraphy, gutta percha, imperialism, and shipworm, among other subjects.
ATLANTIC CABLE HISTORY https://atlantic-cable.com/ AWA member Bill Burns has developed a leading resource on historical technologies, especially cable telegraphy. Among other resources, he also curates a superb collection of online primary sources.
AWA YOUTUBE https://www.youtube.com/c/AntiqueWirelessMuseum The Antique Wireless Association has a YouTube page with recordings of presentations from its annual conferences and other presentations. Featured topics range from early telegraph to the iPhone, electronic espionage technologies, early electrical meters, wireless, and many presentations about early radio history, including 126 years of innovations in high-frequency amateur radio technologies and techniques.
RCA President John Facella re-enacting the first transatlantic test. SPRING 2022 PROCEEDINGS
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BBC HISTORY
MEDIA HISTORY DIGITAL LIBRARY
www.bbc.co.uk/historyofthebbc/
https://mediahistoryproject.org/
The BBC, or British Broadcasting Company, has compiled a website dedicated to unpacking the History of the BBC in celebration of its centennial. Articles with photos and document scans as well as clips from digitized oral and video histories, interviews, recordings, and programs going back nearly ninety years are included.
The Mary Pickford Foundation recently allied with the American Council of Learned Societies to revise and expand the online Media History Digital Library. The MHDL is part of the Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. It hosts millions of pages of magazines and books that are viewable and searchable for free. The site contains substantial collections for U.S. radio and sound recording industries, film, and Global Cinema. The collections include technical journals, books (1873-1979), broadcasting and recorded sound, and early cinema.
COMPUTER HISTORY MUSEUM (CHM) https://computerhistory.org/publications/ CHM maintains a growing collection that encompasses areas beyond digital technology. Electronic technologies had applications in biology and medicine; television techniques, radio and other technologies were applicable to many other sciences.
NIST www.nist.gov/nist-museum/nist-history/history-publications The United States’ National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), formerly the National Bureau of Standards (NBS), provides resources for historical study. It offers PDFs about the history of the institution that cover the years from 1901 through 1993, as well as scholarly and newsletter articles on NIST/NBS activities.
Two engineer/collectors from Ohio, USA, have been documenting their collections of unusual solid-state and electron tube devices at Industrial Alchemy (Vintage Technology: Electronics Esoterica): http:// www.industrialalchemy.org/index.php. Professionally photographed and accompanied by thoughtful, brief commentaries, a large array of indicator, display, imaging, and counting tubes and LED circuits fill a Museum section, while the Articles feature a variety of related do-it-yourself projects and esoteric discussions.
SHOT https://twitter.com/Mercurians1 The Society for the History of Technology’s special interest group the Mercurians focuses on communications technology. It is managed by IEEE outreach historian and Mercurians chair Alex Magoun.
CRYPTIANA http://cryptiana.web.fc2.com/code/crypto.htm Satoshi Tomokiyo, member of the Physical Society of Japan and a prolific cryptographic historian when he is not working in a patent office, posts his articles on codes and ciphers from the 16th to the early 20th centuries in western Europe, Russia, the United States, Japan, and China.
WORLD RADIO HISTORY https://worldradiohistory.com/ WRH, compiled by David Gleason, is a fabulous resource for those exploring radio history. Copies of journals, magazines, and other publications are searchable and downloadable. Topics include amateur, shortwave, DXing, clubs and associations, broadcasting, advertising, music, electronics, technical and reference items, training manuals, retail and servicing information, etc. This list is large. A complete list of publications is alphabetically indexed and linked. The site also contains links to other websites of interest at https:// worldradiohistory.com/Links_Master.htm.
CRYPTOLOG http://vtda.org/pubs/NSA_Cryptolog/ The U.S. National Security Agency’s internal historical serial, Cryptolog, is available online from August 1974 to Summer 1997. Be forewarned, there are redactions. Nevertheless, it does include author/keyword/title indexes for the first nine years, and each issue’s contents list articles by title thereafter.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ETHW
David P. Bart, KB9YPD, is Executive Vice President of the Radio Club of America, Chairman of RCA’s Publications Committee, a Life Member, and Fellow. He is also a Life Member and Director of the Antique Wireless Association. He is treasurer of the IEEE History Committee and former vice president of the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago.
https://ethw.org/Main_Page Operated by the IEEE History Center, the Engineering Technology History Wiki is a virtual treasure trove of information about all sorts of technologies. The site includes materials from partner organizations, including the UEF, AIAA, AIChE, AIME, ASCE, ASME, AIST, IEEE, SME, SPE and SWE. It holds thousands of articles, first-hand accounts, oral histories, milestones, archival documents and lesson plans pertaining to the history of technology. SPRING 2022 PROCEEDINGS
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SILENT KEY Silent key is a term of respect for a deceased amateur radio operator. The key in the term refers to a telegraph key, the instrument that all early amateur radio operators, as well as many contemporary amateur radio operators, used to send Morse code. The term SK is used in telegraphy to indicate an end of transmission. Today, the term is commonly used within the radio community as a sign of respect and condolence, regardless of whether the deceased was an amateur radio operator.
ARCHIBALD COLVILLE DOTY JR. March 28, 1920 -January 27, 2021. Former RCA Board Member, and RCA Fellow
CARL MATHIS Carl Johnson Mathis passed away on the evening of June 8, 2021.
In the Fall of 1939, Arch brought radio to Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT with his tiny homemade AM transmitter broadcasting under the self-assigned call letters WES. Over 80 Years later, WESU FM remains one of the oldest and the longest continually operating student radio stations in the country.
In recognition of his importance to the field Carl was recognized by the Radio Club of America as a Fellow in 2001. He also served as the Chairman, President and Director of Manufacturer’s Representatives Educational Research Association and the Institute for Professional Advancement. One of Carl’s favorite things to do was travel, whether in the United States or internationally. One of the items on his bucket list was to travel to all seven continents. He had successfully visited all of them minus Antarctica.
Arch had many interests. He was a life-long IEEE member and had numerous patents, the latest was in his 90’s. He was an intrepid world traveler. He always had a garden. He loved to learn and loved his well-trained dogs.
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Despite his travels abroad, he always looked forward to returning to the United States, the country he loved and exclaimed was the greatest place in the world. Before he passed, Carl was content and accepting of what
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ORIGIN OF THE WORD “RADIO” By David Bart EARLIEST USES
In response to an inquiry made to the Radio Club of America, I have researched the origin of the word “radio” and share the following with our members…
The word “radio” is derived from the Latin word “radius”, meaning “spoke of a wheel, beam of light, ray”. It was first applied to communications in 1881 when at the suggestion of French scientist Ernest Mercadier, Alexander Graham Bell adopted “radiophone” (meaning “radiated sound”) as an alternate name for his photophone optical transmission system. However, this invention would not be widely adopted.
The word radio, as currently and most often used, is a synonym for a form of “electromagnetic radiation”. It first came into use before Heinrich Hertz’s proof of the existence of radio waves. After the discovery of Hertzian waves, it would take almost 20 years for the term “radio” to be universally adopted.
SPARKS AND IDEAS The concept of electrical discharge and detection dates back at least to the 1780s, with George Adams’ discovery of sparks discharging between conductors in Leyden jars and Luigi Galvani’s famous experiments with frog legs. By the mid-19th century, Joseph Henry, Samuel Varley, Thomas Edison, David Hughes, George Gabriel Stokes and others were all interested in electromagnetic induction and the propagation of electrical sparks and possible applications. James Clerk Maxwell published his famous theoretical basis for the propagation of electromagnetic waves in his 1871 paper to the Royal Society, “A Dynamical Theory of the Electromagnetic Field”. No shortage of famous researchers and inventors, and their supporters, would start to use the word “radio”; and many have debated who discovered various aspects of radio first, making claims about the use of “waves” to transmit and receive energy. Indeed, Jagadish Chandra Bose, Eduard Branly, Oliver Lodge, Guglielmo Marconi, Alexander Stepanovich Popov, and Nikola Tesla are just a few (in alphabetic order). But what about the actual word “radio”? Where does it first show up?
Following Heinrich Hertz’s discovery of the existence of radio waves in 1886, a variety of terms were initially used for this radiation, including “Hertzian waves”, “electric waves”, and “ether waves”. The first practical radio communications systems, developed by Guglielmo Marconi in 1894 - 1895, transmitted telegraph signals by radio waves, so radio communication was first called “wireless telegraphy”. Up until about 1910, the term “wireless telegraphy” also included a variety of other experimental systems for transmitting telegraph signals without wires, including electrostatic induction, electromagnetic induction and aquatic and earth conduction, so there was a need for a more precise term referring exclusively to electromagnetic radiation. By this time, the idea of “radio” as distinct from “wireless” was taking hold, and various new organizations were forming around “radio” as a new field of study.
(L-R) Heinrich Hertz, Eduard Branly, Ernest Jules Pierre Mercadier, Alexander Graham Bell. (Courtesy Wikipedia)
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USE IN ELECTRONIC PUBLICATIONS Originally, “radio” was a general prefix meaning “radiant” or “radiation” — hence “radio-activity” for the alpha, beta, and gamma rays emitted by decaying atoms. In Europe, some of the persons investigating Hertz’s discovery began to employ the “radio-” prefix to describe the new phenomenon. For example, in 1890, Edouard Branly, writing in his native French, called his coherer-receiver a “radio-conducteur”. This usage spread to other languages. Thus, a December 29, 1897 Electrical Review report on “Hertzian Telegraphy in France” noted that “Mr. Branly... calls these receivers ‘radioconducting tubes’.” Other compound usages soon followed. A letter in the January 21, 1898 issue of The (L) Front cover of the program produced for the dinner given by the Submarine Electrician (London) suggested that the Telegraph Companies at the International Telegraph Conference of 1903, and (R) term “radio-telegraphy” might be preferable front page of the Radiotelegraph Convention produced at the International Radioto “wireless telegraphy”, and the October telegraph Conference of 1906 in Berlin. (Courtesy ITU) 24, 1902 issue included an article titled One of the first persons to popularize this new term in “The Radio-telegraphic Expedition of the the United States was Lee DeForest. In early 1907, he H.I.M.S. ‘Carlo Alberto’”, while “The Wireless Telegraph incorporated the DeForest Radio Telephone Company, Conference”, in the November 20, 1903 issue of the and in a letter about the need for government oversight same magazine, included numerous references to “radiopublished in the June 22, 1907 Electrical World, he telegrams”, “radiograms”, “radiographic stations” and warned that “Radio chaos will certainly be the result until “radio-telegraphy”. such stringent regulation is enforced.” A report about Belgian marine applications in the But it was the Navy that did the most to publicize the new November 19, 1904 Electrical Review noted that word in the U.S., which added “(Radio)” to the title of the “radio-telegraphy has entered into the domain of current 1913 edition of its Manual of Wireless Telegraphy (Radio) practice”. The 1906 Berlin Radiotelegraphic Convention for the Use of Naval Electricians by LCDR S. S. Robison. helped spread use of this new term to the United States, This well-known resource had been in publication since and the November 10, 1906 issue of Electrical Review 1906. The Navy also published its Naval Radio Service reported this conference had dealt with “the growing use Handbook of Regulations in 1913, describing message of wireless telegraphy -- or rather, radio-telegraphy -- as handling procedures, commercial practices, and other we suppose we should say now, since this new designation subjects. was adopted by the conference”. There was some skepticism about the change. In the preface to the 1910 edition of his book Wireless Telegraphy and Telephony, William Maver, Jr. wrote: “This author is aware that the authorized designation of wireless telegraphy and telephony is radio-telegraphy and radio-telephony, but for present has adhered to the earlier appellations.”
ONLINE ETYMOLOGY DICTIONARY The Online Etymology Dictionary notes: • radio (n.)…”wireless transmission of voice signals with radio waves,” 1907, abstracted or shortened from earlier combinations such as radio-receiver (1903), radiophone “instrument for the production of sound by radiant energy” (1881), radio-telegraphy “means of sending telegraph messages by radio rather than by wire” (1898), from radio- as a combining form of Latin radius “beam” (see radius). Use for “radio receiver” is attested by 1913; sense of “sound broadcasting as a medium” also is from 1913.
Eventually, compound terms such as “radio-telegraphy” and “radio-telephony” were shortened to just “radio”, with perhaps the first example in English being the British Post Office’s December 30, 1904 “Post Office Circular”, which included instructions for transmitting telegrams that specified that “The word ‘Radio’... is sent in the Service Instructions”. This practice was adopted internationally two years later in 1906 by the Berlin Radiotelegraphic Convention, which specified that “Radiotelegrams shall show in the preamble that the service is ‘radio’.”
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• radio (v.)…”transmit by radio,” 1916, from radio (n.). Related: Radioed; radioing. An earlier verb in the same sense was Marconi (1908), from the name of Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi (1874-1937), pioneer of wireless telegraphy. 57
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January 2, 1909 Minutes of the first meeting of the Junior Wireless Club, later renamed as the Radio Club of America (Secretary Book).
October 21, 1911 Minutes where the Junior Wireless Club renamed itself as the Radio Club of America (Secretary Book).
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Frederick Lewis Allen described the onrush of the word in Only Yesterday: An Informal History of the 1920s, published in 1931. “In the winter of 1921-22, radio came with a rush. Soon everybody was talking, not about wireless telephony, but about radio. A San Francisco paper described the discovery that millions were making: ‘There is radio music in the air, every night, everywhere. Anybody can hear it at home on a receiving set, which any boy can put up in an hour.’ In February, President Harding had an outfit installed in his study, and the Dixmoor Golf Club announced that it would install a ‘telephone’ to enable golfers to hear church services.”
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The Reading Eagle, in Reading, Pennsylvania, stated in March 16, 1924, “It is not a dream, but a probability that the radio will demolish blocs, cut the strings of red tape, actuate the voice ‘back home,’ dismantle politics and entrench the nation’s executive in a position of power unlike that within the grasp of any executive in the world’s history.”
SOURCES
As early as July 1921, the New York Times was calling it wireless telephony, and wireless remained widespread until World War II, when military preference for the word “radio” firmly established it as the word. The word “radio” was used as an adjective by at least 1912, “by radio transmission;” meaning “controlled by radio”. It continues as the proper name of a particular radio station or service, “radio station or service from ___” since at least 1920, as in a radio shack as a small outbuilding housing radio equipment.
“Radio Conferences” and “Telegraph and Telephone Conferences”, International Telecommunication Union (ITU) website, https://www.itu.int/en/history/Pages/ RadioConferences.aspx?conf=4.36 and https://www.itu. int/en/history/Pages/TelegraphAndTelephoneConferences. aspx?conf=4.24, respectively, accessed April 15, 2022.
From Hertz to Ham Radio to iPhones, the most interesting thing to me is that the public has lost touch and does not realize it is using “radio” in its everyday lives. Radio is now a disconnected topic. Younger people (under age 50) have gone “digital”, and they no longer seem to realize that their cell phones are, in fact, radio transmitters and radio receivers. It is up to us to remind them of the celebrated history of radio and to reinvigorate their interest in the ongoing technology that is serving everyone so well in the radio spectrum.
D. Bart, Comprehensive Index to the Proceedings of the Radio Club of America for 2013-2013, Radio Club of America, 2013. Invention of Radio, Wikipedia, Invention_of_radio, accessed April 15, 2022.
Radio (n.), Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www. etymonline.com/word/radio, accessed April 15, 2022. Radio-Etymology, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Radio#History, accessed April 15, 2022.
Thus, “radio” came to be.
E. Walsh, E. Lilian Todd: Lawyer, Inventor, and the Unlikely Co-Founder of the Radio Club Of America, Proceedings of the Radio Club of America, Spring 2021.
RCA AND “RADIO” The Radio Club of America was founded in 1909 as the Junior Aero Club, and was immediately reconceived as the Junior Wireless Club, Ltd.; co-founded by a group of teenaged boys who were fascinated by wireless, the inventor E. Lillian Todd, and some of their parents. The new Junior Wireless Club operated separately from its predecessor, The Junior Aero Club. In 1911, the Junior Wireless Club changed its name to the Radio Club of America (RCA).
T. White, Word Origins, United States Early Radio History, https://earlyradiohistory.us/sec022.htm, accessed April 15, 2022.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR David P. Bart, KB9YPD, is Executive Vice President of the Radio Club of America, Chairman of RCA’s Publications Committee, a Life Member, and Fellow. He is also a Life Member and Director of the Antique Wireless Association. He is treasurer of the IEEE History Committee and former vice president of the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago.
RCA is the world’s oldest radio communications society, or club. By 1912, two other organizations, The Society of Wireless Telegraph Engineers (SWTE) and The Wireless Institute (TWI), had also formed, and merged, to create the Institute of Radio Engineers (IRE) as a professional association dedicated to the new fields of wireless telegraphy and radio. Two years later in 1914, the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) was established to promote the interests of the growing number of amateur radio operators. Today, the IRE’s legacy continues in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), following IRE’s 1962 merger with the American Institute of Electrical Engineers (AIEE).
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CANADA CELEBRATES MARCONI EXPERIMENTAL STATION XWA By Ghyslain Gagnon, Denis Couillard, David Bart On December 17, 2021 in Montréal, the École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS) – Université du Quebec together with Ultra-Montreal marked the completion of an important end-of-study project aimed at commemorating the centenary of the first commercial radio broadcasts in Canada. Matthieu Dugal, from the SRC/CBC radio show Moteur de recherche, hosted a panel discussion at ÉTS on the future of telecommunications. The panel was also broadcasted live on the radio and internet from a special event station XWA-1 as part of a graduation project aimed at replicating the technical feat achieved by the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company of Canada 100 years ago.
THE PROJECT ÉTS trains 25% of all Québec engineers and ranks second in Canada for the number of undergraduate degrees granted in engineering. In late 2019, Ultra and ÉTS initiated the student project together with Carleton University and support from Communications Research Center Canada (CRC), Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), La Société Radio-Canada (SRC i.e. the French language CBC). The ambitious project, which celebrated the 100th anniversary of radio broadcasting in Canada, mobilized six teams of senior engineering students over two years to design, build,
COMMEMORATIVE EVENT Denis Couillard from Ultra Communications (formerly known as the Canadian Marconi Company) and Ghyslain Gagnon from ÉTS Montreal coordinated activities. Parks Canada canceled their participation, including a guest appearance from a government minister, the night before the event due to rapidly rising COVID-Omicron cases across Canada in the first weeks of December. ÉTS, Ultra and their other partners regrouped that same night and went forward with the event. The group wanted to recognize completion of the student project that started two years earlier, and wanted to allow engineers and radio-enthusiasts to commemorate the December 1919 broadcast programs of XWA. Event activities were located just a few hundred feet from the actual site of the Marconi station’s December 1919 regular test broadcasts.
A 1918 Gramophone supplied by Musée des Ondes Emile Berliner played 1918-20 records to provide ambiance and also music for the XWA-1 RF and IP broadcast. (Courtesy ÉTS)
Special event temporary exhibit featuring posters and radio artifacts (operational vintage AM receivers from 1930s to 1970s and a military grade RF diplexer). (Courtesy ÉTS)
ÉTS Dean of research Ghyslain Gagnon presenting the Ultra-ÉTS student project with a short video clip featuring, among others, Ultra’s Director of Solution Development Denis Couillard. (Courtesy ÉTS)
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Ultra-ÉTS student project video presentation from junior Engineer Slam Layouni. (Courtesy ÉTS)
Video clip showing junior Engineer Alexandre Péllerin in front of the 5m antenna his team calibrated for the project’s AM transmitter. (Courtesy ÉTS)
test and deploy a 99W AM radio broadcast transmitter in downtown Montreal.
Berliner, a local Montreal Museum dedicated to the protection and interpretation of audio and radio waves heritage.
December 17, 2021 marked the completion of this unique project; which showed how resourceful, highly motivated students could undertake and successfully complete a very demanding engineering project, despite severe interruptions, obstructions and constraints imposed by the COVID crisis. Several ÉTS and Ultra engineers and technicians directly supported this effort which culminated in the radio and IP broadcast of the project on XWA-1, an AM1350 station conceived and built by students. The XWA-1 station 5m high antenna was installed on the main ÉTS building roof, and the broadcast was received by the vintage AM receivers on-site and distributed live to a larger audience via the Internet streaming system set-up by the students for the event.
IEEE MILESTONE The IEEE has since approved the installation of an IEEE Milestone Plaque, proposed by Ghyslain Gagnon and Denis Couillard. The Milestone process involves a proposal application, research and compilation of supporting documentation, and working with experts to prove and support the merits of the achievement, which are ultimately reviewed and approved by the IEEE board of directors. David Bart on the IEEE History Committee served as the IEEE History Committee Milestone Advocate. Dr. Marc Raboy, Beaverbrook Professor Emeritus in Ethics, Media and Communications Department of Art History and Communication Studies McGill University Montreal, Quebec, Canada was one of the experts. James Kreuzer, the Librarian and Assistant Curator from the Antique Wireless Association, served as the second expert. Both David Bart and Jim Kreuzer are long time members of the Radio Club of America, and they enjoyed this opportunity to support Canadian recognition of Marconi’s achievements. Parks Canada intends to install the plaque later in 2022. The plaque will read:
THE COMMEMORATION On December 17, 2021, in commemoration of the December 1919 first, regular, radio broadcast, test programs of the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company of Canada’s XWA experimental station, a special event station XWA-1 broadcasted music from a 1918 gramophone and held a discussion panel moderated by Matthieu Dugal, a well know SRC/CBC radio host. The well attended Panel was entitled “Telecommunications of the Future” and included the Ultra Director of Solutions Development Denis Couillard, SPARK Systems founder and ÉTS Professor Frédéric Nabki, and ÉTS Professor and National Research Chair Annie Levasseur. Other participants to the celebration included François Gagnon (Director General of ÉTS), Ghyslain Gagnon (Dean of Research at ÉTS), Alain Cohen (President of Ultra Communications), Keith Blanchet (Vice-President Sales & Marketing at Ultra), an Ultra company field technician who had supported the students, and many professors, students, and radio enthusiasts. The event was hosted at ÉTS and included an exhibition of radio technology history and innovations that Ultra and ÉTS had jointly created.
Milestone: Emergence of Radio Broadcasting with Experimental Station XWA, 1919 Location: Montreal, Canada Citation: By December 1919, from this site, licensed experimental station XWA (later named CFCF) was broadcasting regular programs of recorded music and news, helping to establish commercial radio. On 20 May 1920, XWA broadcast a live radio event, reaching an audience assembled in Ottawa, 170 km away. The Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company of Canada used a 500W YC-3 military transmitter and adapted wireless telephony technology for this achievement. Information: https://ieeemilestones.ethw.org/MilestoneProposal:Emergence_of_public_radiobroadcasting_with_ experimental_station_XWA,_1919
The activities were a success and provided everyone a chance to network afterward at a wine and cheese gathering courtesy of the sponsor Musée des Ondes Emile SPRING 2022 PROCEEDINGS
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factory on William Street (Griffintown). XWA experimented with radiophones and explored new commercial applications of the technology as early as March 1919, months before the end of the war (June 28, 1919) and before the formal Canadian government restrictions to nonmilitary use of the airwaves were lifted (April 15, 1919). Starting in spring 1919, XWA engineers conducted numerous AM voice transmission tests over water and land in the Montreal area. Local radio amateurs and ships in the vicinity participated with the tests. Test broadcasts in fall 1919 on a more powerful 500W transmitter including gramophone recordings received an enthusiastic public response that convinced MWTCC that commercial broadcasting might be a viable business opportunity. In fall 1919, the company sets-up its new Scientific Experimenter, Ltd. branch at 33, McGill College Avenue to manage the sales and promotion of its radios and radio components to the general public, thus facilitating the acquisition of radio broadcast receivers by amateurs. Regular audio broadcasting test programs started on December 1, with XWA broadcasting news, weather forecast, recorded music and even live music performances on Monday and Saturday afternoons and on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday nights. By January 1920, the original idea of using broadcasting as a means to significantly increase sales of radio apparatus took hold, and MWTCC managing director A.J. Morse eventually decided to gamble on this opportunity.
December 17, 2021, panel on the Telecommunications of the Future. (L-R) SPARK Systems founder ÉTS Professor Frédéric Nabki, Ultra Director of Solutions Development Denis Couillard, ÉTS Professor and National Research Chair holder Annie Levasseur and SRC/CBC radio moderator Matthieu Dugal. (Courtesy ÉTS)
MARCONI STATION XWA This IEEE Milestone commemorates the invention and practical implementation of radiobroadcasting as a viable industry. The early pioneering years are not always well documented, and some achievements were accomplished in similar timeframes in Europe and North America. Montreal and its XWA experimental station played a significant role in defining the new path for radio and creating a new industry. Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company of Canada licensed its XWA experimental station at the end of 1914, carryingout radiophone transmission tests as early as March 1919. XWA established regular broadcasting test programming on weeknights in December 1919, broadcasting news, weather, recorded music and live music performances with a 500W transmitter for its Montreal audience.
On May 20, 1920, under the technical leadership of MWTCC Chief Engineer J.O.G. Cann, a national broadcasting event was organized between XWA Montreal and the Royal Canadian Society assembled in Ottawa and supported by the Canadian Naval Service. That night, a series of speeches, music recordings and live music performances were broadcast over more than 160km (100 miles) in both directions. This grand Montreal-Ottawa two-way broadcasting demonstration took place almost one month before the celebrated June 15, 1920 broadcast by the Marconi Chelmsford Works radio station in England.
XWA transitioned to permanent programing with a 100 miles range “national” Montreal-Ottawa broadcasting event that captured the Canadian public imagination on May 20, 1920. The pioneering work of MWTCC and XWA engineers led to the establishment of a significant number of commercial French- and English-language radio stations in May 1922 that brought live music, sports, theatre plays, social discussion, and political debates into homes, significantly changing how Canadians consumed information and entertainment. As the industry continued to expand in the 1930s, these commercial stations provided the initial infrastructure for national radio and formed the basis for the public broadcasting system in Canada.
MWTCC’s earliest production of commercial receivers emerged around this time, with MWTCC’s Model C designed at the William Street factory that same year (1920) and offered for sales to the general public in 1921 and 1922. It consisted of three separate boxes, a passive tuner, a detector and a 2-tube amplifier. When complete with tubes, amplifier, antenna and batteries, the Model C was offered at 195 $CAN which at the time represented more than half the price of a new Ford Model-T car. Montreal-based Northern Electric Canada also offered a regenerative radio receiver kit (“Coupled Circuit Tuner with Tuned Feedback”) for amateurs in 1921.
Unlike many other commercial stations of the era, XWA conducted various tests and transmissions during World War I since it was granted an experimental station license in late 1914 to help provide technical support and wireless operator training to the Canadian Army and Navy. Owned and operated by the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company of Canada (MWTCC), XWA was first located at the company’s Rodney Street factory in Montreal, before relocating in 1918 to the upper floor of the company’s new SPRING 2022 PROCEEDINGS
CLOSING The work by the MWTCC and XWA engineers between March 1919 and May 1920 led the way to establishing many commercial stations and to the subsequent emergence of the public broadcasting system in Canada. 62
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on strategic technology management and holds two U.S. patents in electronic attack and protection. Denis is currently Director, Solutions Development at Ultra Electronics TCS in Montreal. Formerly known as the Canadian Marconi Company. David P. Bart, KB9YPD, is the National Director of Restructuring and Complex Litigation at Baker Tilly US, LLP. He is Executive Vice President of the Radio Club of America, Chairman of RCA’s Publications Committee, a Life Member, and Fellow. He is also a Life Member and Director of the Antique Wireless Association. He is treasurer of the IEEE History Committee and former vice president of the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago. David has published extensively on radio and electrical communications history.
Marconi Experimental Radio Station XWA, Montreal, during its famous Montreal-Ottawa broadcast on May 20, 1920. MWTCC Engineer J. Argyle is seating on the left with Chief Engineer J.O.G. Cann on the right. (Courtesy Historical Society of Ottawa)
In subsequent years, XWA, operating from 1919 to 1922, later became 9AM, CFCF (originally sharing time with CKAC), CIQC and eventually CINW, a now-defunct radio station in Montreal. CFCF is considered Canada’s first commercial radio station, and one of the first radio stations in the world. The station left the air 90 years later, on January 29, 2010.
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We look forward to the installation of the IEEE Milestone later in 2022, and hope to see everyone at another live event to celebrate these achievements.
We had a record number of new members last year help us continue this momentum by spreading the word about why you belong to the oldest, most prestigious group of wireless professionals in the world! Direct potential members to the Why RCA? page of the website to learn what sets us apart.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS Professor Ghyslain Gagnon obtained a bachelor’s degree (B. Ing.) in electrical engineering (2002) from ÉTS, and a doctorate in electrical engineering (Ph.D.). from Carleton University (2009). He has been a professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at ÉTS since 2008, head of the LACIME research laboratory on wireless communications and microelectronics, and is currently Dean of Research. Highly inclined toward research partnerships with industry, his research aims at microelectronics, digital signal processing, and machine learning with various applications, including health care, media art, and building energy management.
Signing up for RCA Membership has never been easier! Use the new online membership application to submit your information in a matter of minutes.
Denis Couillard is a graduate in Electrical Engineering (B. Ing.) and Technology Management (M. Sc. A.) from École Polytechnique de Montréal. He has been active in the telecommunications industry for over 35 years, including the development and launch of several radiocommunication products and innovations. Denis is the author of a book
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HAS YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION CHANGED? If you have recently changed your address, email, or phone number, please login to your membership page on our website to update your information, email amy@radioclubofamerica.org or call (612) 405-2012.
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Editors Note: The following article is reprinted with permission of the authors and Fortify. It is provided to our readers for their interest, without any actual or implied endorsement by the Radio Club of America.]
WHITE PAPER
APPLICATIONS GUIDE TO 3D PRINTED LOW-LOSS DIELECTRIC STRUCTURES ADDRESSING MICROWAVE/MMWAVE CHALLENGES
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1
INTRODUC TION
2
DIELEC TRIC RESONATOR ANTENNA S (DR A S) AND DIELEC TRIC REFLEC TARR AY ANTENNA (DR A ) [5]–[15]
3
DIELEC TRIC B L ADE ANTENNA S [8], [10], [16]–[19]
4
REPL ACEMENT PRO CESS FOR DIELEC TRIC FOA MS IN MICROWAVE/MILLIME TER-WAVE ANTENNA AND R AD OME APPLIC ATIONS [20]–[24]
5
DIELEC TRIC WAVEG UIDES FOR UPPER MILLIME TER-WAVE & THZ APPLIC ATIONS INCLUDING SUBS TR ATE INTEG R ATED WAVEG UIDE COMP ONENT S [25]–[31]
6
CUS TOM WAVEG UIDE AND TAILORED WAVEG UIDE PROPAG ATION CHAR AC TERIS TIC S WITH DIELEC TRIC LOADS INCLUDING WAVEG UIDE FILTERS [32], [27]–[31], [33]–[36]
7
FL AT/PANEL ANTENNA S/LENSES FOR S ATELLITE AND UNM ANNED VEHICLE (LOW-PROFILE) & COLL AP SIB LE ANTENNA ARR AY/ S YS TEM [37]–[42]
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CONCLUSION
FORTIF Y / R F A PPLI C ATI O N S G U ID E WHITE PA PE R
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1
1
INTRODUCTION Dielectric materials are both electrically and mechanically significant in virtually all Microwave/ millimeter-wave (mmWave) components and devices. For nearly all cases with the exception of integrated circuit (IC) technologies, Microwave/ mmWave dielectrics have historically been fabricated from planar sheets, traditionally machined, or molded. With planar dielectric sheets, such as PCB laminates, making complex 3D dielectric or mixed dielectric/conductive structures requires layering or complicated 3D assembly that suffer from tolerance and repeatability challenges. Though traditional machining, such as CNC milling/ lathing, can result in extremely tight tolerances and small feature sizes, subtractive manufacturing methods such as these have limited degrees of freedom, especially in concern to internal cavities, without stacking of machined parts. Furthermore, creating molded dielectric parts requires the high expense and long lead-time of having a mold fabricated and is generally only justified if many thousands of the same part will be manufactured. These legacy approaches to manufacturing Microwave/mmWave dielectrics can also suffer from material property limitations, especially with lowloss and low-dielectric constant material choices. Historically this has also been the case with additive manufacturing methods, such as fused deposition modeling (FDM), stereolithography (SLA), or digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing. There are a wide range of plastic and resin materials that exhibit good printability profiles, but ultimately lack the necessary low-loss (loss tangent, or tan Δ) and low dielectric constant properties for Microwave/ mmWave applications.
Recently, 3D printable resins with desirable Microwave/mmWave characteristics and 3D printing processes have been established that enable 3D DLP manufacturing of both low-loss and low-dielectric constant material that are viable for prototyping and production scale manufacturing [1]–[4]. These new 3D printing processes can yield structures with 10s of microns of resolution (100s of microns feature sizes/wall thickness) with a base material dielectric constant of 2.8εr for a polymerbased dielectric, and base dielectric constant of 8εr for a high purity Alumina (HP-A) ceramic material. Using such a 3D printed polymer resin process, a lattice dielectric structure with good mechanical features can be designed and fabricated with an effective dielectric range from as high as 2.8εr to as low as 1.15εr. The lowest achievable effective relative permittivity depends on the design of hollow to filled spaces and feature sizes.
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2
The feature size limitations of this process are a result of what is necessary for the finished part to maintain structural integrity during the printing, post processing, and use case environmental scenarios. Though the DLP print bed size effectively limits the size of a single printed dielectric structure, a much larger structure could be designed from parts that are precision indexed to assemble into that larger structure. There are also potential processes being developed to fully metallize, or even selectively metallize the resulting dielectric structures. Hence, this new dielectric fabrication process unleashes an unprecedented degree of freedom for manufacturing high performance Microwave/mmWave dielectric structures and potentially even fabricating complete antennas, lenses, waveguide, filters, or other components.
3D printed GRIN (Graded Refractive Index) lenses on the FLUX CORE printer, a DLP 3D printer built to print viscous and filled photopolymers.
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DIELECTRIC RESONATOR ANTENNAS (DRAS) AND DIELECTRIC REFLECTARRAY ANTENNA (DRA) [5]–[15] Unlike traditional metallic antennas, dielectric resonator antennas (DRAs) are formed of dielectric material, and hence do not suffer the same conduction losses and skin effect losses intrinsic to metallic radiators. DRAs are radiating dielectric resonators that transform the guided waves output from an antenna feed to unguided waves using the resonant structure of the dielectric itself. Typical patch, dipole, and monopole radiators used in antennas or antenna arrays for Microwave/mmWave applications can be designed to be compact, low weight, and relatively low-cost, but suffer from low radiation efficiency and narrow impedance bandwidth unless advanced design techniques and materials are used. DRAs are a solution to these challenges, as DRAs can be designed to exhibit good radiation efficiency and a wide impedance bandwidth even into the high mmWave frequencies. Early DRAs were typically realized using ceramic materials, as the size and performance characteristics of DRAs are proportional to the wavelength of the resonant frequency divided by the square root of the effective relative permittivity of the dielectric material. This means that DRAs can be implemented at a fraction of the size of metallic radiator antennas, given that the dielectric constant of the material is high enough. Moverover, the loss of a DRA is directly related to the loss tangent of the dielectric material, so low-loss materials result in high radiation efficiency DRAs. As there are some low-loss dielectric materials that can operate into the hundreds of gigahertz, DRAs implemented using comparatively low relative permittivity materials can be made that exhibit desirable characteristics where metallic radiator antennas may not be viable at these high mmWave frequencies due to frequency dependent losses.
For higher operating frequencies, ceramic dielectrics are not necessary, and polymers with lower dielectric constants, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) have been demonstrated to realize effective DRAs. Though the size reduction benefits of having a higher relative permittivity are sacrificed somewhat with polymers compared to ceramics, very low-loss of 3D printable polymer resins can enable high efficiency DRAs with enough fabrication degrees of freedom to implement a wide range of various DRA design techniques. The freedom to implement these techniques can allow for enhanced control of key DRA performance characteristics, such as gain, bandwidth, and polarization properties. Additionally, 3D printed DRAs can be made in such a way that the entire structure, including the feed and ground plane if a selective metallization process is used, can be realized using 3D printed technology. This can allow for integration of lenses or other antenna/antenna array features to be designed and integrated into a single manufacturing process, which may allow for improved yields, repeatability, and quality control. Many DRAs are made using high frequency laminates or sheet metal, which may not be needed with a 3D printed DRA.
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A Dielectric Reflectarray antenna is essentially a hybrid design that uses a sub-wavelength grid of metastructure unit cells with variable reflection phase and individual feeds as an alternative to a traditional parabolic dish antenna. In this way the benefits of high gain achieved with parabolic antennas can be achieved with a low-profile array antenna that may also accommodate beamsteering depending on the design. Reflectarray antennas can be realized in a variety of ways, of which using planar laminates or metallized sheets with patch antenna or other planar antenna typologies and layered dielectric sheets is common. Much like with Dielectric Resonator Antennas, Dielectric Reflectarray Antennas could be fabricated using 3D printed low-loss resins, along with metallized sheets/antenna feeds. Using a unit cell that is 3D printed with high precision DLP techniques can result in highly precise and repeatable unit cells with tight control of the variable reflection phases of the array units.
(A) exploded view of the uniaxial anisotropic DRA where the grey parts of the dielectric resonator represent the isotropic zirconia walls (a = b = 25.80 mm, d = 25.20 mm, Lg = 110.87 mm lp = 12.60 mm, dp = 1.23 mm, xp = 5.29 mm, and yp = 8.29mm) picture of the 3D-printed DRA Source: [11]
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DIELEC TRIC BL ADE ANTENNA S [8], [10], [16]–[19] For applications, such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), that require high performance communication and sensing technology but also aerodynamic designs, blade monopole antennas have become increasingly common. A blade monopole antenna is a modified planar monopole in the shape of an aerodynamic blade, which exceeds cylindrical monopoles in bandwidth and drag coefficient, and therefore are more desirable for UAVs and other aeronautic applications. Due to the extreme environment in which these blade antennas are placed, they are necessarily protected from that environment with a protective dielectric shell, known as a radome. Some blade antennas are fabricated using metallized planar laminates, such as high frequency PCB materials, and hence require three design steps. The first step is the design of the antenna, and then another step is the design of the radome, and a third is to optimize the radome/blade antenna designs.
The ability to 3D print low-loss dielectric structures could enable the design of more capable antenna or even antenna arrays in an aerodynamic blade shape without the limitations of traditional wide-band planar monopole designs. Moreover, it is possible, given the right materials and protective coatings, that a 3D DLP printed dielectric blade antenna could function as a dielectric antenna/antenna array and radome. Internal lattice structures, such as gradient refractive index (GRIN) lenses could further be used to enhance the gain of antenna elements within the blade to provide enhanced communication and sensing performance. With selective metallization or custom design metallic components, assembly and secondary processing of such an antenna could be minimized while enhancing repeatability and yield compared to conventional blade antennas composed of several components in which the assembly tolerances are critical.
The fin, fan, or blade shape of these antennas, as well as the environmental ruggedness requirements of the radome and antenna lead to significant design constraints. This is likely why the majority of blade antennas appear to be single-element or complex dual/multiband designs in a signal blade housing, with the exception of a commercially available dual-band bland antenna array [19] that uses a two blade system with some quadrant direction finding radiation pattern capability.
Photographs of the fabricated antenna prototype:back, top, and bottom views. The fabricated radome and the antenna pedestal as a fixture are also shown. Source: [16]
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REPL ACEMENT PROCESS FOR DIELEC TRIC FOA MS IN MICROWAVE/ MILLIME TER-WAVE ANTENNA AND R ADOME APPLIC ATIONS [20]–[24]
In the case of upper microwave/mmW antenna and array antenna, dielectric foams are often used as a support structure for metallized antenna components, feeds, and as a circuit board material. These foams are made of low-loss and low-Dk dielectric material filled with air pockets to further reduce the high frequency losses and impact on the supported metallic structures. An example of the use of these engineering foams is a sandwiched lamination of a foam board with metallized multilayer laminate material patterned with capacitively coupled patch antennas on the top and bottom sides. Additional subtractive manufacturing may be used to remove any additional foam/ laminate material to further drive down the effective relative permittivity and high frequency losses. Currently, there aren’t any mainstream solutions for creating plated through holes with this technology, and designs are limited to planar structures or require other methods of routing signals between layers.
During lamination of these engineering foams, the foams themselves are crushed somewhat, which can be planned for and is part of the design considerations, but does add some level of error to the assembly process and creates the potential for repeatability issues. These materials must also be subtractively manufactured, typically with a mill, which adds other tolerance considerations and often substantial material waste. A 3D DLP printing process with low-loss and low-permittivity material could be used to print either unit cells or an entire antenna/antenna array, depending on the size of the construction. Following the previous example, a 3D printed version could be printed to use minimal material, only that which is necessary to support the surfaces, feeds, and circuit structures that need to be metallized. With an adequate metallization process, such a 3D printed antenna/array can be fabricated in fewer steps with greater control of process variables. Potentially, the 3D printed hollow or lattice structure structure (with air-filled voided space) may nearly match a milled foam/laminate structure in the effective dielectric permittivity, and likely provide greater degrees of freedom. An example of this would be to 3D print an antenna/ array on a curve, or fin/blade structure, which would be exceedingly complex using planar laminates and engineering foams boards.
A, Schematics of the proposed radome 9units:mm). B, Schematics of the proposed radome integrated with antennas C, Photographs of the proposed antenna module Source: [20]
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DIELECTRIC WAVEGUIDES FOR UPPER MILLIMETER-WAVE & THZ APPLICATIONS INCLUDING SUBSTRATE INTEGRATED WAVEGUIDE COMPONENTS [25]–[31]
There has been substantial interest over the past decade to develop terahertz (THZ) communication and sensing technologies for a wide variety of applications. Technologies to roughly 100 GHz and beyond 10 THz (light) have been well developed, but there is a gap in capabilities between commonly used microwave/mmW frequencies and optical frequencies. Unlike optical transmission or sensing methods, THz technologies could have the benefits of operating through some common materials, such as wood, plastic, and fabrics. Conversely, THz technologies could enable much higher resolution sensing and higher bandwidth telecommunication capability, albeit at shorter effective ranges, than commonly used microwave/mmWtechnologies. A challenge with THz technologies is that the size of structures in this frequency range scales with the wavelength. Hence, THz structures are very small in size, and a THz waveguide is on the scale of mm to micrometers. Traditional microwave/mmW conductive structures, such as metallic waveguides, are difficult or otherwise infeasible for these frequencies of operation. However, the unique nature of electromagnetic energy at these frequencies does allow for the use of dielectric waveguides and waveguide components. The use of dielectric waveguides is often performed for optical applications, such as visible and infrared light waveguides on semiconductor substrates. Given the relative wavelengths of THz, dielectric waveguides can be made with precision machining, such as the use of CNC milling of transparent HDPE polymers for upper microwave devices.
A caveat to this is that subtractive manufacturing of THz waveguide interconnect and components severely limits the degrees of freedom in design, often requires multiple layers or parts to be assembled, and suffers from repeatability issues. Moreover, subtractive manufacturing systems, such as CNC mills are often designed to work with metals and require special setup and expertise when machining various non-metallic materials, such as low-loss/low-dielectric constant plastics. 3D printed resin materials that are both low-loss/ low-dielectric constant can be used as dielectric waveguide interconnect, components, and even entire assemblies. Waveguide components, such as splitters/combiners, attenuators, filters, and other waveguide components could be designed in the same structure as dielectric waveguide interconnect. If a selective metallization process is available, it could be possible to fashion complete passive systems, including antennas/arrays using 3D printed dielectric waveguide interconnect and components. This process could further be used to fabricate substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) components and interconnection allowing for low-profile and high customizable SIW processes.
Top view of the experimental setup. Transceiver (upper left) and recover have both attached a horn antenna. A waveguide is placed inside the horns (end-butt coupling) and mounted on a blade using one of the tin supports. Source: [26] FORTIF Y / R F A PPLI C ATI O N S G U ID E WHITE PA PE R
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CUSTOM WAVEGUIDE AND TAILORED WAVEGUIDE PROPAG ATION CHAR AC TERISTICS WITH DIELEC TRIC LOADS INCLUDING WAVEGUIDE FILTERS [32], [27]–[31], [33]–[36]
Typical microwave/mmW waveguides are fabricated using folded and brazed/welded sheet metal with brazed/soldered flanges, extruded stock with brazed/ soldered/welded flanges, or if the component or section is small/complex, machined (CNC or lathe) parts may be assembled using bolts and even precision laser welding. Given the tight tolerances and need for a smooth surface finish, waveguide interconnect and components are often plated with gold and other highly conductive and corrosion resistant coatings. Traditional waveguides are often machined from brass stock, or other engineered metals chosen for their corrosion resistance, conductivity, and machinability.
Proposed waveguide resonator: metal rings milled from a copper sheet are enclosed within a 3D printed thermoplastic holder to form an insert that can be put inside a brass waveguide housing. Source: [31]
As there are limitations to bending/flexing of a waveguide interconnect for complex routing, traditional subtractive machining limits the degrees of freedom of design significantly. Hence, many organizations, including NASA, where weight sensitivity, flexible design, and cost constraints are critical, are developing methods of 3D printing microwave/mmW dielectric structures that can then integrate with conductive materials or be plated to realize waveguide components and interconnects [32]. Recently available low-loss and low-dielectric constant 3D DLP resins have been demonstrated to provide enhanced microwave/mmW performance compared to other high frequency FDM filaments, polymers, and resins [1]–[4]. With surface plating or selective plating technology, complex metallic and dielectric structures could be fabricated with the new processes that aren’t constrained by traditional waveguide interconnect routing limitations or internal machined waveguide cavities. With the ability to fabricate regions of varying dielectric constant based on infill, such as with gradient refractive index regions or lattice regions, waveguide interconnect, combiners/splitters, filters, and attenuators could all be made in relatively few stages. This process can enable minimized risk of misalignment, weight/material use optimization, and greater degrees of design freedom to fit in confined/complex areas compared to traditional waveguide components.
Photographic of a) 3rd order filter insert with asymmetrical holder and b) complete filter with removed waveguide to coaxial adapters. Gained texture of the bottom part of the sample is due to low infill percentage. Source: [31] FORTIF Y / R F A PPLI C ATI O N S G U ID E WHITE PA PE R
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FL AT/PANEL ANTENNA S/LENSES FOR SATELLITE AND UNM ANNED VEHICLE (LOW-PROFILE) & COLL APSIBLE ANTENNA ARR AY/SYSTEM [37]–[42] For a variety of space, ground station, satellite, and unmanned vehicle applications there is a desire to reduce the weight, size, and profile of the sensing and communications systems. These goals also coincide with the demand for more capable sensing and communications systems. This is especially true for New Space satellite applications, which are striving for both small and low-profile ground station and satellite hardware. The beamsteering capability of antenna arrays and potential for a relatively flat profile are particularly attractive for these applications compared to traditional parabolic dish or waveguide horns antennas. (a)
However, typical planar antenna structures tend to have limited gain/directivity. The gain/ directivity of these planar antennas can generally be improved using dielectric lenses. The constraints of size,weight, cost, and profile placed on dielectrics in these applications can greatly limit their value in enhancing gain/directivity. Leveraging 3D printing techniques to fabricate dielectric lenses enables more optimal use of the available volume for the lens, and 3D lattice structures (such as GRIN lenses) can result in dramatically reduced weight of dielectric material.
Photographs of the fabricated Mikaelian lens antenna prototype (a) Perspective view. (b) Front view. Source: [41]
(b)
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CONCLUSION
Recently available 3D DLP printable materials and technology has enabled a new realm of dielectric structures for microwave/mmW applications. With how recent these advances are and the government and military use cases, there are still few publicly disclosed uses of this technology. Given the rapid ability to iterate designs with 3D printing technology, the promise of this new way of designing and fabricating dielectrics is already starting to yield viable prototypes and even production parts in a fraction of the time needed for traditional machining and often with much more optimal capability.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Colby Hobart is an experienced Radio Frequency Engineer in both the design and applications engineering areas. WIth 18 years of experience in the field, he has held positions with several subcontractor suppliers to the military prime contractors, performing work on various passive components for radar systems. New to the additive manufacturing market, Colby brings his breadth of experience in RF and radar to this space. His main focus in the RF Applications role is to bridge the gap between the type of RF design engineer he has worked with for years and the enabling technology that brings relevant low-loss RF materials to the additive manufacturing market. He very much enjoys the excitement of demonstrating to customers the enhanced antenna performance they can achieve through additive technology.
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Wireless Communication Systems Solutions Provider
YOUR AD HERE Would you like to be listed in the next issue of the Proceedings? Contact RCA at (612) 405-2012 or Amy@radioclubofamerica.org to reserve space.
INFINITY ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES/WORLDWIDE TECHNOLOGIES DIRECT A DIV. OF KIRMUSS & ASSOCIATES, LLC, SINCE 1979
Charles Kirmuss, Founder, Principal 51 West 84th Ave., Suite 301 Denver, Co. 80260 PHONE: (303) 263-6353 ckirmuss@frontier.net www.wwtechnologiesdirect.com
BLUE WING Andy Maxymillian, PMP, Principal Consultant 235 Summer Hill Drive Gilbertsville, PA 19525 PHONE: (610) 473-2171 CELL: (610) 316-2660 FAX: (610) 473-2536 andrew.maxymillian@bluewing.com www.bluewing.com
Consultant Services
KIRMUSSAUDIO DIV OF KIRMUSS & ASSOCIATES, LLC Charles Kirmuss, Founder, Principal 51 West 84th Ave., Suite 301 Denver, Co. 80260 PHONE: (303) 263-6353 FAX: (303) 862-7170 ckirmuss@frontier.net www.kirmussaudio.com
Radio pioneer, Director of RCA and Rampart Search & Rescue: Custom solutions & products for the Public Safety, Search & Rescue and Military markets. Proud supporter & sponsor of RCA’s Youth Program.
LEONARDO
PANTHER PINES CONSULTING
William P. Fredrickson 11300 W. 89th Street Overland Park, KS 66214 PHONE: (913) 495-2614 CELL: (913) 909-4492 Bill.fredrickson@ leonardocompany-us.com www.leonardocc.com
John Facella, P.E., BSEE, MBA, Principal PHONE: (978) 799-8900 pantherpinesconsulting@gmail.com www.pantherpinesconsulting.com
Communications & Management Consulting
Land Mobile Radio Manufacturer: DMR, P25, Tetra
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BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL
DIRECTORY RADIORESOURCE MEDIA GROUP
RFI AMERICAS
Paula A. Nelson-Shira, Owner 7108 S. Alton Way, Building H Centennial, CO, 80112 PHONE: (330) 792-2390 x112 FAX: (330) 792-2391 pnelson-shira@RRMediaGroup.com RRMediaGroup.com
Sean Johnson, President 2023 Case Pkwy Twinsburg, OH, 44087 PHONE: (330) 486-0706 x302 CELL: (330) 541-6585 FAX: (330) 486-0705 sean.johnson@rfi.com.au www.rfiamericas.com
Information leader on wireless communications since 1984.
Manufacturer of antennas and RF conditioning equipment for LMR
ROYAL COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL, INC. Maggie Lynch, President 3135 Coachman Ct. Oceanside, CA 92056 PHONE: (760) 529-9518 sales@royal-communications.com royalcominc.com
Specializing in the sales and service of Barrett High Frequency, Single Sideband transceivers that are dependable and easy to use.
TWR Lauren Libby, International President 300 Greyson Drive Cary NC 27511 PHONE: (719) 331-7051 llibby@twr.org www.twr.org
RF and Digital Content to 190 Countries in 230 languages every day
RLA COMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERING, LLC Robert A. Lopez, P.E., President 8305 Bergenline Avenue #9 North Bergen, NJ 07047 PHONE: (973) 449-5249 rlopez@rlacommunications.com www.rlacommunications.com
A communications engineering consulting company serving public safety and commercial wireless industries.
TOWER INNOVATIONS, INC.
TSR CONSULTING ®
Bruce R. McIntyre, President 107 Dunbar Ave., Suite E Oldsmar, FL 34677 PHONE: (813) 818-8766 CELL: (727) 439-3683 FAX: (813) 925-0999 bruce@towerinnovationsinc.com www.towerinnovactionsinc.com
Dr. Theodore S. Rappaport, P.E., Ph.D PO BOX 888 Riner, VA 24149
Technical consulting, engineering and design services in the field of wired and wireless communications systems, equipment and devices.
Wireless consulting, Communications structures
MASSIVELY BROADBAND ®
UTILITY TELECOM CONSULTING GROUP
WIRELESS TOWERS, INC.
George R. Stoll, President 9850 S. Maryland Pkwy Las Vegas, NV, 89183 PHONE: (303) 840-2878 CELL: (303) 475-0414 FAX: (303) 840-1129 george.stoll@utcg.com www.utcg.com
Larry Shaefer, President 115 N. Walker St. Angleton, TX 77515 PHONE: (713) 522-7000 CELL: (713) 526-8000 Lshaefer@sbcglobal.net www.wireless-towers.com
Texas Tower Site Leasing
Consulting Engineers
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RCA CALENDAR
EVENTS
CALENDAR
Visit the event calendar on the RCA website for the most up-to-date event information.
RCA EVENTS
INDUSTRY EVENTS DAYTON HAMVENTION May 20–22, 2022 Xenia, OH
2022 RCA BANQUET AND TECHNICAL SYMPOSIUM November 19, 2022 Atlanta
APCO INTERNATIONAL August 7–10, 2022 Anaheim, CA
CONNECTIVITY EXPO May 23-26, 2022 Denver, CO
AGL VIRTUAL SUMMIT June 2, 2022 September 15, 2022 November 10, 2022
AWA ANNUAL CONVENTION October 4–8, 2022 Henrietta, NY
IWCE 2023 March 27–30, 2023 Las Vegas, NV
Save the Date 2022 TECHNICAL SYMPOSIUM AND 113TH AWARDS PROGRAM SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2022 ATLANTA RADIOCLUBOFAMERICA.ORG
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OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT RCA The Radio Club of America provides many opportunities to support the organization and its activities. Sponsors can make specific requests or provide funding for general operations.
INDIVIDUAL SUSTAINING DONATIONS Make a difference in how quickly we progress with our many initiatives for young people, young wireless professionals and those in established careers. We encourage any member who is impressed with the operations of the club to make a tax-deductible donation earmarked to sustaining operations. Donations to support our day-to-day operations are critical to our future as an organization. You can also select RCA as your full or partial beneficiary on an IRA, so funds are tax-free to RCA, or set up a monthly donation through a credit card or ACH withdrawal.
CORPORATE SPONSORSHIPS AT SPECIFIC EVENTS Networking is a key reason many of our members get involved and stay active with RCA. Breakfasts, cocktail parties and other social events can be underwritten by sponsors who receive promotional considerations for their donations and heightened visibility to the membership.
3 YEAR SUSTAINING CORPORATE SPONSORS There is a unique set of advantages to corporate sponsors who participate in our three-year program. See our summary of benefits by level of sponsorship.
SCHOLARSHIPS Donate to an existing scholarship fund or create your own and you will be supporting university students pursuing wireless communications as a career.
YOUTH ACTIVITIES The Youth Activities program brings the excitement of learning about amateur radio and vivid lessons in science, math and electronics to middle and high school children in this unique and innovative program sponsored by RCA.
HOW YOU CAN APPLY YOUR DONATIONS A variety of funds are available to support specific goals of the initial donors and RCA operations. Please contact RCA for more information on these opportunities. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
General Club Operations (unrestricted) Archive Preservation Barone-DiBlasi-Facella Biggs Brownson DeMello Award Continuing Education Dettra, Finch General Grants in Aid Goldwater Grebe Gunther Legacy Fund Link Meyer Meyerson Poppele Tom Sorley Memorial Fund to RCA Youth Activities Richard G. Somers Youth Edu Fund
RCA is classified as a 501(c)(3) organization under IRS rules. Contributions may be tax deductible in the United States depending on a person’s individual tax situation.
HOW TO SPONSOR/DONATE The RCA donations form is on the website. Please contact our Executive Secretary, Amy Beckham, for more information on any of these opportunities. She can be reached at 612.405.2012 or amy@radioclubofamerica.org.
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SHARE YOUR RCA STORY
SHOP AMAZON & HELP RCA
We had a record number of new members last year help us continue this momentum by spreading the word about why you belong to the oldest, most prestigious group of wireless professionals in the world! Direct potential members to the Why RCA? page of the website to learn what sets us apart.
Amazon has a program called Amazon Smile, through which Amazon will donate .5% of a qualified purchase to a charitable organization of your choice. To designate proceeds towards RCA, go to smile.amazon.com and use your Amazon login. You will be asked to select a charitable organization (Radio Club of America) and start shopping. It is an easy way to help the Radio Club and at the same time get a great deal on amazon.com. If you are an Amazon Prime member, you will continue to receive the benefits of your Prime membership.
Signing up for RCA Membership has never been easier! Use the new online membership application to submit your information in a matter of minutes.
HAS YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION CHANGED?
HEADQUARTERS OFFICE ADDRESS: 7042 E. Fish Lake Rd Maple Grove MN 55311
If you have recently changed your address, email, or phone number, please login to your membership page on our website to update your information, email amy@radioclubofamerica.org or call (612) 405-2012.
PHONE: (612) 405-2012 EMAIL: amy@radioclubofamerica.org WEBSITE: www.radioclubofamerica.org
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