*************** The ARRL Letter Vol. 25, No. 29 July 21, 2006 *************** IN THIS EDITION: * +BPL interference testing not performed as required, radio amateur says * +The nation's Volunteer Examiner Coordinators meet quietly in Gettysburg * +Failure to keep mailing address on file with FCC results in suspensions * +FBI cooperative program seeks alliance with Amateur Radio * +Newest DXCC entity Montenegro on the air in a big way * +Ohio teen is 2006 Young Ham of the Year * Solar Update * IN BRIEF: This weekend on the radio ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration Some call signs missing from DXCC Honor Roll in August QST +RAC seeks input on restructuring Amateur Radio in Canada +UK 5 MHz experiment extended to 2010, gains two new channels Discovery lands safely in Florida minus one radio amateur +Available on ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> =========================================================== ==>Delivery problems: First see FAQ <http://www.arrl.org/members-only/faq.html#nodelivery>, then e-mail <letter-dlvy@arrl.org> ==>Editorial questions or comments only: Rick Lindquist, N1RL, <n1rl@arrl.org> =========================================================== ==>MANASSAS RADIO AMATEUR TAKES ISSUE WITH BPL INTERFERENCE TESTING A Manassas, Virginia, radio amateur who has complained of BPL interference to his mobile operation has taken issue with how FCC-mandated interference testing was performed. Dwight Agnew, AI4II, told the FCC July 20 that a testing review, carried out July 14 by Columbia Telecommunications Corp (CTC), "did not represent the Manassas BPL system at peak system loading," as the FCC had required. "The BPL folks' unwillingness to bring the system to peak traffic load further illustrates a lack of openness and cooperation," Agnew wrote the FCC's Spectrum Enforcement Division. "It's ludicrous that a system operator would not keep track of system loading and deny the existence of any such reporting mechanism." Objective interference testing is impossible unless the system is loaded at peak levels, Agnew asserted. Responding in March to Agnew's interference complaint, FCC Spectrum Enforcement Division Chief Joseph Casey called on system operator COMTek and the City of Manassas to take measurements at locations Agnew cited in his complaint "during the hours of peak usage of the system by BPL customers." He reiterated that directive in June. Working with CTC's Lee Afflerbach, W3BRH, Agnew and other Manassas radio amateurs on July 14 reviewed testing done earlier by Product Safety Engineering (PSE) on behalf of COMTek and the city, which owns the power grid. The latest PSE testing responded to Casey's June 16 request. He'd ordered the city and COMTek to provide a detailed report on actions taken and progress made in resolving the interference complaint or reducing the emissions in the area referenced in Agnew's complaint to 20 dB below the Part 15 limit. In its reply to the FCC July 17, COMTek said remedial actions it and the city took "have successfully resolved Mr Agnew's complaint." Local radio amateurs did not witness the actual system testing. CTC reviewed the earlier test results at three BPL system test points picked by Agnew and the other radio amateurs. CTC subsequently reported in part, that while the BPL signal "was perceptible in at least one test location" the "very low amplitude BPL signal" did not impair reception of desired communications. BPL signals within the ham bands "were substantially attenuated" from BPL signals outside the ham bands, the report said. The CTC report, which Manassas supplied to the FCC as a supplement to the PSE testing analysis, suggested that some interference radio amateurs have attributed to BPL "may in fact originate from other sources." Afflerbach recommended that the Manassas radio amateurs employ "proven modern receiver technology" such as filters and noise-suppression to minimize the effects of interference, "including any from BPL transmission." PSE said in its report that Agnew confirmed "subjectively" that the remedial actions COMTek and the city had taken had "eliminated the BPL interference completely or reduced them [sic] to acceptable levels." Agnew said in his letter this week that monitoring un-notched BPL signals on 8 MHz indicated that system traffic during the post-testing review "was very low and did not represent peak or even normal system usage." George Tarnovsky, K4GVT, one of the hams witnessing the post-testing review, told ARRL that the interference "was right back" the day after CTC conducted its interference review. "They're trying to discredit the ham radio community," he charged, referring to COMTek and the City of Manassas. "When the system is active, you'll hear it." Tarnovsky says the post-testing review indicated to him that the BPL system had not been tested at peak loading. Agnew told the FCC that further testing without the system at peak loading would be a waste of time. "If the BPL folks are unwilling to share the peak loading data with us, I would like to recommend future testing of the Manassas BPL system be conducted by the FCC." To date, the Commission has not done any testing of the Manassas BPL system. ==>VOLUNTEER EXAMINER COORDINATORS GATHER IN GETTYSBURG Representatives of 11 of the nation's 14 volunteer examiner coordinators (VECs) met July 14 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, for the annual National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (NCVEC) <http://www.ncvec.org/> conference. NCVEC Chairman Tom Fuszard, KB9PU, presided. The session each year offers an opportunity for VECs to discuss issues facing the volunteer examination program and question pools and to meet face-to-face with FCC staff members. "Good news from Riley Hollingsworth was that for the second year in a row there have been no new cases of examination irregularity brought to his attention," said ARRL First Vice President Kay Craigie, N3KN. "The VECs represented at the conference were certainly not of a single mind about each and every point relating to licensing requirements, but all agreed that Amateur Radio has a bright future." Joining Craigie as part of the League's delegation to the gathering were ARRL VEC Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, Assistant Manager Perry Green, WY1O, and ARRL Affiliated Clubs/Mentor Program Manager Norm Fusaro, W3IZ. In his remarks Hollingsworth -- FCC Special Counsel in the Spectrum Enforcement Division and the point man for Amateur Radio enforcement -- noted that he has not required any license applicants to retake an examination since last year, when several individuals were called in for retesting following alleged improprieties at examination sessions in Yucaipa, California, a few years earlier. He credited the VECs for doing a better job in preventing exam fraud. "I reminded them that the FCC was still very enforcement oriented, and they should avoid getting on our radar screen," Hollingsworth told ARRL this week. Addressing an NCVEC conference for the first time was Michael Wilhelm, WS6BR, chief of the Public Safety and Critical Infrastructure Division in the FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB). Wilhelm said that of all the services WTB administers, Amateur Radio is the only one that's self regulated. He said Amateur Radio's best strategy for the future is to continue serving in disasters and emergencies and to "Elmer" new hams. He also lauded the ARRL's Amateur Radio Emergency Communications courses. Some discussion involved the work of the Question Pool Committee, especially in light of anticipated changes in licensing requirements still pending within the FCC. Craigie says FCC personnel were unable to predict when the Commission would act on various Amateur Radio-related rulemaking proceedings now before it. "We were assured that these proceedings 'are not on the back burner,' but that was it," she said. The Amateur Radio community is awaiting an FCC Report and Order on its proposal (in WT Docket 05-235) to drop the Morse code requirement for all Amateur Radio license classes. A Report and Order dealing with other Amateur Radio Service rule changes (in WT Docket 04-140) is still in the wings, and the FCC has indicated it will act on that proceeding before it releases a Report and Order on Morse code. QPC Chairman Jim Wiley, KL7CC, told the gathering the new Technician question pool that became effective July 1 has received both praise and criticism. He said the General class question pool, due to go into effect next year, is next in line for review and possible revision. After learning that the FCC could give no definitive prediction on when new rules might go into effect, Wiley said, the QPC decided to make few changes to the General class question pool at this point. He invited comments and suggestions from the VECs as to how the QPC should proceed. The NCVEC unanimously voted to create a new position of Rules Reporter to keep members up to date on pending FCC rule making proceedings. Fred Maia, W5YI, was named to assume that role. The NCVEC representatives re-elected Fuszard to a fourth term as chairman. Larry Pollock, NB5X, will continue as vice chairman. Michele Cimbala, WK3X, will be the new secretary, succeeding Steve Sternitzke, NS5I, who declined another term. Ray Adams, W4CPA, will remain as treasurer. Wiley will continue as QPC chairman. Committee members are Larry Pollock, NB5X, Roland Anders, K3RA, and Perry Green, WY1O. ==>FCC SUSPENDS HAM LICENSES FOR FAILURE TO MAINTAIN MAILING ADDRESS The FCC has suspended two Amateur Radio licenses because the holders had failed to maintain correct mailing addresses in the Commission's licensee database. Special Counsel in the FCC Spectrum Enforcement Division Riley Hollingsworth wrote Larry L. Smith, KC7LJR, of Middleton, Idaho, and Larry J. Maniag, KD7JTG, of Payson, Arizona, on June 28 to inform them the FCC was suspending their Technician tickets for the remainder of their license terms or until each licensee provides a valid mailing address. In his letter to Smith, Hollingsworth noted that on three occasions in late 2005, the FCC had been unable to deliver warning notices alleging deliberate interference to a 2-meter repeater system. He told Maniag that the US Postal Service earlier this year returned as undeliverable two warning notices alleging deliberate interference with several repeaters. Hollingsworth cited §97.23 of the Commission's Amateur Radio Service rules that requires each license grant to show the licensee's correct name and mailing address. The rule provides that "revocation of the station license or suspension of the operator license may result when correspondence from the FCC is returned as undeliverable because the grantee failed to provide the correct mailing address." Hollingsworth cited the same rule to an Ohio licensee apparently tempting a similar fate. On June 26 Hollingsworth afforded Robert D. Reckner, W8IQJ, more time to respond to complaints involving his service as MIDCARS net control. The complaint alleges deliberate interference as a result of his starting the net on top of existing communications on 7.258 MHz in April. A June 1 letter enclosing the complaint came back to the FCC as undeliverable, he said. In another failure-to-reply case, Hollingsworth notified William E. Kuth, KB2SGQ, of Utica, New York, on June 27 that his license renewal application has been designated for dismissal. That action effectively eliminates Kuth's Amateur Radio privileges, and Hollingsworth reminded him of that fact. In May, the FCC notified Kuth that his renewal application "could not be routinely granted" and had been referred to the Enforcement Bureau for review. That came in the wake of a Warning Notice for allegedly operating on 26.815 MHz without a license and causing interference on 10 meters. Additional complaints alleged that Kuth operated on 26.945 MHz. Hollingsworth said postal records indicate that Kuth received the FCC inquiry on May 5 but did not respond. The letter to Kuth noted that the address on his renewal application differed from his actual mailing address. Kuth's Technician license expired in November 2004. The FCC dismissed the upgrade application of Andrew O. Ojwang, KI4LTH, of Roswell, Georgia, based on the licensee's response to "numerous complaints about the operation of your station since the grant of your General class license," Hollingsworth wrote. Following the complaints, the FCC last October set aside Ojwang's General license and his renewal application, which reverted to pending status. "Pursuant to your response dated May 31, 2006, your General class application is being forwarded to the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau for dismissal," Hollingsworth informed Ojwang on June 28. Complaints regarding Ojwang's on-air operation would have to be resolved before the Commission would consider an upgrade application, Hollingsworth advised. The FCC appears to have renewed Ojwang's Technician ticket for a full 10-year term, however. Meanwhile, a Texas man, Billy J. Benefiel, W5BJB, turned in his amateur license rather than respond to complaints alleging that he was operating on frequencies not authorized to him as a Technician, and for causing interference. ==>FBI'S "INFRAGARD" PROGRAM COURTS AMATEUR RADIO AS ALLY Amateur Radio's value as one component in a cooperative effort to protect critical national infrastructure was the focus of an InfraGard "Communications Interoperability and Ham Radios" summit this week in New York City. An FBI program, InfraGard is dedicated to promoting dialogue between the private sector and the federal investigative agency "concerning critical infrastructure protection issues." ARRL Chief Development Officer Mary Hobart, K1MMH, and Affiliated Clubs/Mentor Program Manager Norm Fusaro, W3IZ, represented League Headquarters at the gathering, which featured a range of speakers. "This is the key to opening the door to a valuable model partnership," Hobart commented afterward. "They were very receptive. I think it was a good beginning." Hobart says Amateur Radio came up on InfraGard's radar earlier this year and got the nonprofit organization thinking of Amateur Radio as a possible partner, ally and service provider in emergencies. New York Metro InfraGard put together the one-day session July 17 at Cisco Systems' New York office as a way to get more familiar with Amateur Radio. "They understand that ham radio has 'been there' in terms of emergencies and disasters and is working to improve its ability to respond," Hobart said. She said New York Metro InfraGard President Joe Concannon "expressed his deep interest in Amateur Radio as a partner and a desire to learn more about our capabilities." Keynote speaker for the day-long session was Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Famer and New York Public Television CEO William Baker, W1BKR. Jeff Pulver, WA2BOT, chairman and founder of pulvermedia.com and cofounder of Vonage, also addressed the gathering. "This InfraGard meeting brought together a group of people who care about post-disaster communication preparedness, and a majority of the people in attendance were active members of the Amateur Radio community," Pulver observed later in a blog entry. "This was my first time in the post-VoIP era that I had a chance to talk to hams about my early experiences with VoIP and how my ham radio background has had a positive effect on the past 12 years of my life." Pulver said the InfraGard meeting provided "a great audience to speak to, since we shared a common passion for communications and common ground on a number of topics." He said that includes the need for coordination between the ham radio community and fellow communication enthusiasts "who want to volunteer their time the next time disaster strikes." In a presentation called "Radio Communications 101," New York City District Emergency Coordinator Mike Lisenco, N2YBB, spoke about the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and the League's role in emergency and public service communication and training. Allan Manuel, an attorney in the FCC Public Safety and Homeland Security Branch, indicated the Commission is willing to be more flexible in accommodating Amateur Radio during emergencies and disasters. The FCC wants to hear from the public by August 7 in response to an FCC Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) regarding recommendations of the independent panel that reviewed Hurricane Katrina's impact on communication systems (EB Docket 06-119). Some of the wide-ranging proposals in the NPRM include possibly amending the rules to permit automatic grants of certain types of waivers or special temporary authority (STA) in declared disaster areas. For their part, Hobart and Fusaro demonstrated the League's "Ham Aid" go kits of Amateur Radio gear that can be rapidly deployed to disaster areas where the Amateur Radio infrastructure has been lost or compromised. They also provided attendees with copies of the ARRL's Community Education Program brochures and materials. Hobart says Concannon envisions a model in New York City that other InfraGard chapters across the country could emulate. "I think it's an opportunity for Amateur Radio to align itself with a high-profile group with key federal connections," she said. ==>MONTENEGRO INTERNATIONAL DX FESTIVAL UNDER WAY Radio amateurs and equipment from all over Europe and from a few countries outside the continent converged this week on Montenegro -- the newest DXCC entity -- for the Montenegro International DX Festival. The event kicked off at noon on Thursday, July 20, with a salute to Montenegrin hams, the Amateur Radio Association of Montenegro and the country's telecoms authority and military. The three-week Amateur Radio event is aimed at putting the tiny, new Balkan nation on the DX map in a big way. Seven stations identifying as 4O3T will be on the air from various locations. Nineteen-year old Nikola Ilic, YZ6AMD, made the first 403T QSO to start the festival, working DF3IU. During the formalities, Montenegro Amateur Radio Union President Veso Babic, YU6A, and event organizer Ranko Boca, YT6A, welcomed all visitors to Montenegro. Well-known DXer Martti Laine, OH2BH, discussed some of the challenges facing ham radio as well as the opportunities for further talks with Montenegrin authorities. International Amateur Radio Union representative Hans Blondeel Timmerman, PB2T, promised to help Montenegro become an IARU member-society. Babic also reminded those on hand of Amateur Radio's valuable emergency communication effort following an earthquake in 1979. Nearly four dozen operators from more than 10 countries are expected to serve as 4O3T operators during the DX Festival, which continues until August 13. ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, and his wife Linda, KA1ZD, will join the event in progress. Look for 4O3NT on or about these frequencies: CW: 1826.5, 3522, 7022, 10,106, 14,022, 18,072, 21,022, 24,892 and 28,022 kHz; SSB: 3795, 7055, 14,190, 18,145, 21,290, 24,945 and 28,490 kHz; RTTY: 7035, 10,135, 14,085, 18,105, 21,085 and 28,085 kHz; 6 meters, CW/SSB: 50,106 kHz. An online searchable log will be available on the SRACG Web site <http://www.yu6scg.cg.yu/log-book-search.html>. Yaesu, SteppIR, Acom and the Northern California DX Foundation have supplied equipment for the event. Festival organizers have set the ambitious goal of 200,000 contacts for the event, which will use all HF bands. DX Festival activities also will include several basic courses on ham radio operating and CEPT license examinations aimed at new and less-experienced radio amateurs. There's still room for more operators, especially during the second and third weeks of the event. Contact Ranko Boca, YT6A <yt6a@cg.yu>, with a copy to Martti Laine, OH2BH <oh2bh@sral.fi>. QSL via YT6A. The United Nations admitted the Republic of Montenegro as its 192nd member on June 28, automatically making Montenegro the 336th current DXCC entity. Montenegro declared its independence on June 3 following a national referendum May 21. There are fewer than 100 native radio amateurs in Montenegro. The International Telecommunication Union has not yet assigned a distinctive call sign block to the new country, although current Montengrin radio amateurs have been using their YU/YT/YZ/4O-prefix call signs. ==>CATHY FERRY, NC8F, IS 2006 AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE YOUNG HAM OF THE YEAR For the third year in a row, a young woman has been named to receive the 2006 Amateur Radio Newsline™ Young Ham of the Year Award (YHOTY) <http://www.yhoty.org/>. She's Cathy Ferry, NC8F -- an 18-year-old from Silver Lake, Ohio. "Cathy was selected based on her long-term commitment to Amateur Radio, her work in public service and in promoting the hobby/service to others," the Newsline announcement said. The daughter of Bruce Ferry, AK8B, and the late Joan Ferry, Cathy was first at age 10 and received her Extra class license at 13. Currently an ARES Assistant Emergency Coordinator, she has been involved in numerous public service events since age 12. For the past two years she's served as a net control station for the Roadrunner Akron Marathon. An ARRL member, Cathy is secretary of the Summit County Red Cross Amateur Radio Club. For the past two years been the editor of the Cuyahoga Falls Amateur Radio Club newsletter. In 2004 the publication received an honorable mention in the ARRL Ohio Section Newsletter Contest. She has also overseen ticket sales for her club's annual hamfest. Additionally, she assists in teaching the club's Technician class licensing course. Cathy has promoted Amateur Radio at Cuyahoga Falls High School while maintaining a 3.5 grade point average. In addition to her interest in Amateur Radio, Cathy is an accomplished musician who plays bassoon. She currently is with the Cleveland Youth Wind Symphony, which recently performed a series of concerts in Australia. This fall, Cathy is planning to major in music at Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio. The 2006 Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year Award will be presented August 19, 2006, at the Huntsville Hamfest in Alabama. As the 2006 YHOTY Award winner, Cathy will receive -- courtesy of Vertex-Standard -- an expense-paid trip to the Huntsville Hamfest, along with a gift of Yaesu ham radio equipment. CQ magazine will treat her to an expense-paid week at Spacecamp Huntsville, and will present her with a variety of CQ products. She'll receive a commemorative plaque, underwritten by Dave Bell, W6AQ. The Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year Award goes annually to a radio amateur age 18 or younger who has provided outstanding service to the nation and community or helped improve the state of the art in Amateur Radio communication. ==>SOLAR UPDATE Astral aficionado Tad "Shooting Star" Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington, reports: Solar activity remains low. Average daily sunspot numbers dropped by more than 6 points to 19.4, and solar flux was down by more than 5 points to 70.7. July 13 saw the solar flux dip just barely below 70 to 69.9. During extended periods with zero sunspots, we will see solar flux around 67 or 68. The sun appears spotless, although the sunspot number is above zero. Expect continued low levels of solar activity. For the next few days expect solar flux around 70, rising to 75 after July 23. Geomagnetic indices should be quiet, with a planetary A index of five. The next period of higher geomagnetic activity due to recurring coronal holes rotating into view is some moderate activity expected around Tuesday, July 25, and then some higher activity centered on August 1. Geophysical Institute Prague predicts quiet conditions for July 21-24, unsettled conditions July 25-26, and quiet to unsettled July 27. For more information concerning radio propagation, see the ARRL Technical Information Service Propagation page <http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html>. Sunspot numbers for July 13 through 19 were 11, 15, 17, 20, 23, 26 and 24. with a mean of 19.4. 10.7 cm flux was 69.9, 70.9, 70.2, 70.8, 71, 71.2, and 71.1, with a mean of 70.7. Estimated planetary A indices were 5, 14, 6, 4, 4, 3 and 2, with a mean of 5.4. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 3, 10, 5, 2, 2, 2 and 2, with a mean of 3.7. __________________________________ ==>IN BRIEF: * This weekend on the radio: The VK/Trans-Tasman 160-Meter Contest (CW) is July 22. The RSGB Islands on the Air (IOTA) Contest and the ARS Flight of the Bumblebees contest are the weekend of July 29-30. JUST AHEAD: The North American QSO Party (CW), the ARRL UHF Contest, the TARA Grid Dip Shindig, te 10-10 International Summer Contest (SSB), the European HF Championship, the RSGB RoPoCo 2 and the SARL HF Phone Contest are the weekend of August 5-6. The NAQCC Straight Key/Bug Sprint is August 9. See the ARRL Contest Branch page <http://www.arrl.org/contests/> and the WA7BNM Contest Calendar <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html> for more info. * ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration: Registration remains open through Sunday, July 23, for these ARRL Certification and Continuing Education (CCE) online courses: Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level 1 (EC-001), Radio Frequency Interference (EC-006), Antenna Design and Construction (EC-009), Analog Electronics (EC-012) and Digital Electronics (EC-013). Classes begin Friday, August 11. The same courses will again open for registration Monday, July 24, for classes beginning September 1. To learn more, visit the CCE Course Listing page <http://www.arrl.org/cce/courses.html> or contact the CCE Department <cce@arrl.org>. * Some call signs missing from DXCC Honor Roll in August QST: The ARRL DXCC Branch Manager Bill Moore, NC1L, says a problem with the DXCC software caused a few call signs not to appear in the DXCC Honor Roll listing in August 2006 QST. "Although there were some errors in this computer-generated list, the online Honor Roll listing <http://www.arrl.org/awards/dxcc/listings/dxccHR.pdf> produced from the same database is correct," Moore assured. "We will publish a correction in October 2006 QST." Anyone who was on the Honor Roll between April 1, 2005, and March 31, 2006, and whose call sign did not show up in the QST list should contact Moore via telephone (860-594-0234) or e-mail <dxcc@arrl.org>. * RAC seeks input on restructuring Amateur Radio in Canada: Radio Amateurs of Canada is seeking input from the Amateur Radio community on possible future restructuring of the Amateur Radio Service, possibly by easing entry-level licensing requirements as other countries have done. The Committee on the Restructuring of Amateur Radio in Canada, chaired by RAC Midwest Director Bj. Maden, VE5FX, has designed a questionnaire to gather information from Canadian amateurs about their thoughts on the future of the service. "Your input to this questionnaire is critical to help the committee to determine the direction which Amateur Radio might take," the RAC says. The survey takes about 10 minutes. Canadian radio amateurs can visit the RAC Web site's "Restructuring in Canada" page <http://www.rac.ca/regulatory/restructuring.htm>, which includes a link to the survey and to an article on restructuring that appeared in the May/June issue of The Canadian Amateur. There's also a PowerPoint presentation, including presenter's notes, for club programs. * UK 5 MHz experiment extended to 2010, gains two new channels: UK telecommunications regulator Ofcom and the Ministry of Defence okayed extending the 5 MHz Amateur Radio experiment until June 30, 2010, and adding two new channels -- 5368 and 5373 kHz (center frequencies). Under the expanded plan, the UK and the US now will enjoy three center-frequency channels in common -- the two new channels and 5405 kHz. The UK experiment, which began in 2002, was to have concluded July 31. The Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) says the extension followed discussions between Ofcom and the RSGB. Current notices of variation (NoVs) issued by the Radiocommunications Agency -- the former telecoms regulator -- still expire July 31, 2006, however, and Full license holders in the UK who want to continue using the 5 MHz frequencies will have to file a new NoV application, available online from the Ofcom Web site <http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/licensing/classes/amateur/applicatio ns/ofw285.pdf>. Applicants must explain how they plan to experiment on the 5 MHz channels. * Discovery lands safely in Florida minus one radio amateur: The shuttle Discovery, with two radio amateur-astronauts aboard, landed safely at Kennedy Space Center in Florida July 17. In addition to Commander Steven Lindsey and Pilot Mark Kelly, the STS-121 crew included mission specialists Stephanie Wilson, KD5DZE, Lisa Nowak, KC5ZTB; Michael Fossum and Piers Sellers. A third radio amateur, European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Reiter, DF4TR -- aboard Discovery when it launched July 4 -- stayed behind to join International Space Station Expedition 13 Commander Pavel Vinogradov, RV3BS, and Flight Engineer and NASA Science Officer Jeff Williams, KD5TVQ, for the remainder of their duty tour and for about half of Expedition 14's -- six months in all, NASA says. His arrival on the ISS marks the first time since May 2003 that the space station has had a three-member crew. NASA astronauts Michael Lopez-Alegria, KE5GTK, and Sunita Williams, KD5PLB, and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin, RZ3FT, have been named as the 14th ISS crew. They will launch to the ISS in September. The July 17 landing marked the end of Discovery's 32nd flight. =========================================================== The ARRL Letter is published Fridays, 50 times each year, by the American Radio Relay League--The National Association For Amateur Radio--225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax 860-594-0259; <http://www.arrl.org/>. Joel Harrison, W5ZN, President. The ARRL Letter offers a weekly e-mail digest of essential news of interest to active amateurs. The ARRL Letter strives to be timely, accurate, concise, and readable. Visit ARRLWeb <http://www.arrl.org/> for the latest news, updated as it happens. The ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org/> offers access to news, informative features and columns. ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> is a weekly "ham radio newscast" compiled from The ARRL Letter. Material from The ARRL Letter may be republished or reproduced in whole or in part in any form without additional permission. 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