*************** The ARRL Letter Vol. 28, No. 7 February 20, 2009 *************** IN THIS EDITION: * + Hams in Australia Assist with Massive Bushfires * + Hams Can Still Help with Digital TV (DTV) Conversion * + "The Doctor Is IN" the ARRL Letter * + World Amateur Radio Day to Recognize Amateur Radio's Role in Disaster Communications * + John Kanzius, K3TUP (SK) * + Dieter Schliemann, KX4Y (SK) * Solar Update * IN BRIEF: This Week on the Radio ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration + Get Ready for the ARRL International DX CW Contest this Weekend +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: S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA <k1sfa@arrl.org> =========================================================== ==> HAMS IN AUSTRALIA ASSIST WITH MASSIVE BUSHFIRES In the Australian state of Victoria, Amateur Radio operators have been activated to provide communications links into towns that have had their normal communications destroyed by the bushfires that have decimated the state. Members of the Wireless Institute Civil Emergency Network in Victoria (WICEN (Vic)) <http://www.vic.wicen.org.au/> -- Australia's version of ARES -- were activated on February 8, with members being deployed to areas with loss of power and other facilities. According to the Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) <http://www.wia.org.au/> -- that country's IARU Member-Society -- authorities and resources in Victoria have been "stretched to the limit." WICEN has been on high alert since the fires started on January 28. On February 11, WICEN (Vic) Secretary Mark Dods, VK3XMU, said, "It now appears that WICEN's role in this emergency is going to be a long hard marathon over an extended period." The fires -- some of which are believed to have been deliberately set, while at least one fire began due to a lightning strike -- have so far claimed 201 lives, including one firefighter; local police say they do not expect the death toll to go much higher. Covering more than 1100 square miles, the fires have destroyed more than 1800 homes; officials estimate at least 7500 people are now homeless due to the fires. Victoria Premier John Brumby, in speaking about the bushfires, said, "Out there, it is hell on earth" <http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/index.php?option=com_mymedia&Itemid=29%C3 %83%C2%A2%C3%82%C5%92%C3%82%C2%A9=en&media_id=364&task=text>. On February 12, Dods said that "WICEN was given the task of establishing a link between Narbethong and the Municipal Emergency Coordination Centre in Alexandra. Initially, the Narbethong-Alexandra link will be on HF. The two WICEN operators that were on standby for deployment to Buxton have been dispatched to Alexandra to join a column that will be moving down the Maroondah Highway to Narbethong this afternoon. An extra WICEN operator is being deployed to the Alexandra MECC to assist the operator already there with expected extra traffic from Narbethong Three WICEN operators are now working 8 hour shifts at the Alexandra Incident Command Centre (ICC), operating CFA/DSE radios. We will be providing operators for this task until further notice." Dods said hams would make "temporary repairs" to VK3RTN, the 6 meter repeater on Mt Gordon that suffered damage during the fire, making it usable until they can get and install a new repeater. The Mt Gordon repeater is being used as a link between Alexandra and Narbethong. The WICEN station in Narbethong closed Saturday, February 14. "The Alexandra WICEN station will continue to operate after the closure of Narbethong," Dods said. "Their role includes guiding relief operators into the town, maintaining an HF link to Melbourne and a listening watch. Operators in the Alexandra ICC have reported increased radio traffic overnight and emphasised the need for concise, prompt and accurate handling of the traffic despite the sometimes tense environment." Dods recounted that there was what he called a "flurry of activity" on the evening of February 14: "WICEN received a request from DSE [Department of Sustainability and Environment] to provide operators at Woori Yallock ICC. We were asked to cover the night shift last night and the next four nights. Being a Saturday night, it was difficult to contact operators with many being not at home, and others having their mobile phones diverted to voice mail. Two operators agreed to be deployed at short notice, however. They travelled to Woori Yallock only to find that there had been an administrative foul-up and that they were not required. Those operators have returned home with my thanks and apologies. This false start at Woori Yallock does give us a 'heads up' that DSE and CFA [Country Fire Authority] resources may be beginning to stretch thin, and lead to more ICC deployments." On February 17, Dods said that two WICEN operators will be going to "McAdam's Hill, east of Lake Mountain, to provide health and welfare communications for the firefighters at a Base Camp being set up there. Initially, the primary operating frequency will be 3.6 MHz, so there may well be a need for stations monitoring that frequency to relay traffic. Deployment of a portable 2m repeater to support the McAdam's Hill station is under consideration." The WICEN HF Net continues to operate on 3.6 MHz at 1000 and 2130 hours (UTC + 11) daily. "As well as keeping a check on the welfare of operators in the field, the Net is being used to pass updated activation information, and also for amateurs in remote areas of the state to check their communications," Dods said. "It is reassuring to hear stations from all over the state and interstate on the Net, demonstrating that we can, if necessary, establish communications independent of hilltop infrastructure. It has been very handy to have other amateurs monitoring 3.6 MHz when they can to relay when fading occurs. Many thanks to those operators who have relayed traffic so far." Dennis Dura, K2DCD, ARRL Emergency Preparedness and Response Manager said: "The work the Australian hams have been doing and the issues WICEN have been facing are not unlike what ARES personnel encounter here. The long hours and duration of the disaster response and the dwindling availability of amateur volunteers take a toll. Yet Amateur Radio still is able to complete the mission. The flexibility we bring is key to meeting the emergency communications needs of those the amateur community serves. Our hearts go out to all those that have lost loved ones and whose lives have been forever changed by these fires. Our colleagues in WICEN make the Amateur Radio community proud in the work they are performing in these very difficult conditions." ==> HAMS CAN STILL HELP WITH DIGITAL TV (DTV) CONVERSION Even though the mandatory conversion date for television stations to switch from analog signals to digital has been delayed by four months <http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-09-9A1.pdf>, hams are still assisting the FCC and their communities by providing technical support to those who need assistance <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2008/12/10/10499/>. Although many TV stations won't turn off their analog signals until the new deadline, the law allows stations to apply to switch on the original date -- February 17 -- or any time before June 12. According to the FCC, there are nearly 1800 full-power televisions stations in the US. Of these, the FCC said that "220 will have terminated their analog signals before Tuesday [February 17] and another 421 will terminate their analog signals on Tuesday [February 17] before 11:59 PM, for a total of 641 stations, or about 36 percent of all full-power stations nationwide." The FCC has posted a list of stations making the conversion on or before February 17 on their Web site <http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-288530A2.pdf>. ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, said he has been getting e-mails and phone calls from Amateur Radio operators concerning the digital TV conversion, now set to take place on Friday, June 12. "People are asking what's happening with the DTV conversion -- especially now that it's been delayed -- and wondering what we as hams can do to help," he said. "There has been considerable confusion concerning the extension of the date, but the role of Amateur Radio is simply to be helpful to the people in our communities." Pitts advises those hams that are helping to provide technical educational assistance keep in mind the following troubleshooting pointers, provided by the FCC: * Check Your Connections Check that your digital-to-analog converter box (or digital television) is connected properly. Make sure that your antenna is connected to the antenna input of your digital-to-analog converter box (or digital television). If you are using a digital-to-analog converter box, ensure that the antenna output of the converter box is connected to the antenna input of your analog TV. If you are unsure of the proper connections, refer to your owners manual. Make sure that your components are plugged in and turned on. If using a digital-to-analog converter box, tune your analog TV to channel 3. You should see a set-up menu or picture on your screen. If you do not see this, re-check your connections. * Perform a Channel Scan Digital-to-analog converter boxes (and digital televisions) have a button -- usually on the remote control -- that is labeled "Set-up" or "Menu" or some similar term. Press that button to access the set-up menu. Using the directional arrow buttons on your remote, scroll to the option that allows you to perform a "channel scan." The channel scan will search for digital broadcast channels that are available in your area. If you are unsure how to do a channel scan, please refer to the owners manual for your converter box or digital television (whichever applies). Once the channel scan is complete, you will be able to tune to the digital channels received by your antenna. * Adjust Your Antenna As many hams know, small adjustments to an antenna can make a big difference; digital TV is no exception. If you have an indoor antenna, try elevating it and moving it closer to an exterior wall of your home. After adjusting your antenna, perform another channel scan to see if your reception has improved. While adjusting your antenna, it may be helpful to access the "Signal strength meter" on your converter box or digital television set to determine whether your adjustments are improving the signals' strength. You can probably find your signal strength meter via the "Menu" function on your remote control, and your owners manual will provide detailed information on how to perform this function. Remember to do another channel scan after you have adjusted your antenna. Make sure that you are using an antenna that covers both the UHF and VHF bands and that is connected properly (depending on what channels are in use in your area). Late last year, the FCC requested assistance from the ARRL in providing educational support to local communities regarding the digital TV conversion. "I really appreciate the willingness of the ARRL to actively participate in helping Americans with the transition to DTV and your helpful suggestions," said George Dillon, FCC Deputy Bureau Chief for Field Operations (now retired). "The DTV transition will be an historic moment in the evolution of TV. Broadcast television stations can offer viewers improved picture and sound quality and new programming choices. All-digital broadcasting also will allow [the FCC] to significantly improve public safety communications and will usher in a new era of advanced wireless services such as the widespread deployment of wireless broadband. Our goal is to engage the amateur community on a cooperative basis to help with the DTV outreach and to educate consumers." The FCC said that it is seeking to ensure that even where all or most stations in a market are terminating analog service, consumers who are unprepared for the switch will continue to have access to critical local news and emergency information. In a statement released by the FCC, the Commission "examined each market in which stations planned to end analog service to try to ensure that at least one affiliate of the four major networks -- ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC -- would continue broadcasting in analog after February 17. Many had such a station, but in those instances in which there would be no top-four affiliate remaining in a market, the FCC attempted to ensure that analog local news and emergency information would remain available -- generally through what is being called 'enhanced analog nightlight' service. Under 'enhanced analog nightlight,' the top-four affiliates must keep at least one analog signal on the air to provide programming that includes, at a minimum, local news and emergency information" <http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-288530A1.pdf>. FCC Acting Chairman Michael Copps said that the Commission is "trying to make the best of a difficult situation. While this staggered transition is confusing and disruptive for some consumers, the confusion and disruption would have been far worse had we gone ahead with a nationwide transition on [February 17]." For more information on the conversion to digital television, please see the DTV Conversion Web site <http://www.dtv.gov/>. ==> "THE DOCTOR IS IN" THE ARRL LETTER This week, ARRL Letter readers are in luck! The ARRL's very own Doctor, author of the popular QST column "The Doctor Is IN," answers a question from his mailbag: Scott McCann, W3MEO, of Queenstown, Maryland, asks: I am fairly new to SSB and CW on VHF and was surprised during the September ARRL VHF contest to have worked W2SZ, the RPI Amateur Radio Club station on Mt Greylock in Massachusetts. I was running 2 W CW to a homebrew four element beam 20 feet off the ground. The boys on the mountain were running a lot bigger station than I was. This station was well over the horizon. I wonder what propagation mode supports this beyond line-of-sight (LOS) communication? I worked several other stations that were also well over the horizon. The Doctor Answers -- The propagation mode is most likely troposcatter, in which VHF signals are scattered by the troposphere, the lowest region of our atmosphere extending about 7 miles to the border with the stratosphere. Troposcatter is in common use by the military and some commercial users for paths up to a few hundred miles -- generally using high power and high gain antennas. Troposcatter is also the mode that results in a commonly occurring type of long distance TV transmission. W2SZ -- the Amateur Radio club at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York -- uses big power and antennas from a fantastic location, making this mode a common occurrence. You can find out more about troposcatter and the other propagation modes supported by the troposphere at this Web site <www.oe1cwj.com/literature/troposcatter.htm>. Do you have a question or a problem? Send your questions via e-mail <doctor@arrl.org>; or to "The Doctor," ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111 (no phone calls, please). Look for "The Doctor Is IN" every month in QST, the official journal of the ARRL. ==> WORLD AMATEUR RADIO DAY TO RECOGNIZE AMATEUR RADIO'S ROLE IN DISASTER COMMUNICATIONS Each year on April 18, radio amateurs celebrate World Amateur Radio Day. On that day in 1925, 84 years ago, the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) was founded <http://www.iaru.org/>. In 2009, the theme of the event is Amateur Radio: Your Resource in Disaster and Emergency Communication. "It is not by coincidence that last year's meeting of the IARU Administrative Council (AC) <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2008/06/26/10186/?nc=1> chose this subject at this time," said IARU International Coordinator for Emergency Communication Hans Zimmermann, F5VKP/HB9AQS. "While the Amateur Radio Service has traditionally made its contributions to emergency and disaster response ever since its very beginnings almost 100 years ago, this role has gained a lot of importance just in the recent past." Citing the fact that natural, as well as manmade disasters are on the rise, Zimmermann pointed out that today's modern communication technologies are "increasingly complex, infrastructure-dependent and therefore also increasingly vulnerable. The Amateur Radio Service puts two equally valuable assets at its disposal for emergency and disaster prevention, preparedness and response: A large number of very flexible and mostly infrastructure-independent, local, national, regional and global networks, and a large number of skilled operators, who know how to communicate with often very limited means and to establish communications even under the most difficult circumstances." Zimmermann said that the tools available to Amateur Radio operators "range from the most robust means such as battery-operated stations operating in Morse code, to links through Amateur Radio satellites and interconnectivity with the Internet, in voice, text, image and data modes. They range from local VHF networks of fixed, mobile and portable stations to shortwave networks that span the globe. All these networks are operated on a daily basis by men and women who are thoroughly familiar with their technology and their intricacies." "Telecommunications have become a commodity that society takes for granted," Zimmermann stated, adding that "the sudden loss of that service is often felt in a similar way to the loss of shelter, food and medical support. When disasters occur in regions that do not have good coverage by public networks -- or when existing communications infrastructures have just been disrupted or destroyed by such events -- the Amateur Radio Service comes to the rescue. Amateur Radio operators provide communications for the rescuers and relief workers and their organizations and they help to provide communications for those affected by a disaster." Zimmermann continued: "In fact, contributions to emergency and disaster relief are a major argument for the preservation and the extension of the privileges the Amateur Radio Service enjoys in international and national regulations. This is one of the reasons why more and more Amateur Radio operators -- through their clubs and their national societies -- prepare very seriously for their role in emergencies; however, their skills can be put to use only if they are known by other first responders. Effective response to emergencies can only occur with the work of volunteers in all the various fields, from search and rescue to medical assistance and those who can provide food and shelter. Communication skills are a new, but equally vital commodity." ==> JOHN KANZIUS, K3TUP (SK) John Kanzius, K3TUP, of Erie, Pennsylvania, passed away February 18 in Florida from pneumonia. He was 64. Kanzius was best known for his research into finding a cure for cancer using radio waves, specifically 13.56 MHz. In 1966 at age 22, Kanzius came to Erie, Pennsylvania to work for JET Broadcasting. After 24 years as a broadcast engineer, he was appointed vice president and general manager of the company in 1980. After retiring, Kanzius was diagnosed with leukemia in 2002. He summarized his chemotherapy in a February 2008 article in QST as "Hoping we kill the cancer before we kill the person"<http://p1k.arrl.org/cgi-bin/topdf.cgi?id=109317&pub=qst>. In October 2003 -- thinking there had to be a better treatment -- Kanzius had the idea to kill the cancer cell with radio waves, not a new idea. But Kanzius went a bit further: Instead of using needles, as was currently used, why not "trick" the cancer cells into absorbing a metal target -- sent by RF -- into the inside of the cancer cells, leaving the healthy cells alone? In 2005, Kanzius teamed up with cancer researchers at M. D. Anderson (part of the University of Texas health system in Houston) and Rice University (also in Houston). Using nanoparticles -- metallic objects measured in billionths of an inch -- heated by RF using a machine that Kanzius invented, the researchers were impressed: "The research scientists at Rice were stunned to see that my device could heat nanoparticles at the 13.56 MHz frequency," Kanzius said. Kanzius credited his father for his inspiration: "Trying to build an array that would heat particles one billionth of a meter in length was challenging. But building equipment all of my life was inspired by my dad, W3NRE, who was licensed in 1934." Kanzius told ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, that if it were not for his Amateur Radio background, "and all the days of experimentation to improve my station, this new procedure for treating cancer, which continues to show such promising results, would probably not be on the cutting edge at the largest cancer center in the world [M. D. Anderson]." But Kanzius did more than just try to find a cure for cancer. In 1991, he was Top of Honor Roll in the ARRL DXCC program; at his death, he had 347 countries confirmed. In the March/April 1987 issue of NCJ, Tim Duffy, K3LR, described K3TUP as "a relatively new contest call," but said Kanzius had been DXing for many years: "As he has caught the contest bug, John has taken a station which was designed for busting DX pileups and converted it over to have the flexibility and brute force required to compete in Multi-Single contesting." Duffy described the station as sitting "situated on a high ridge that overlooks Lake Erie. The station is well secluded from city-type radio noise and the rural setting allows John to run several temporary beverages for low band receiving." Both Duffy and Randy Thompson, K5ZD, have operated from Kanzius's station. Pitts recalled that in 2007, he received an e-mail from a ham, asking if he was aware of the research Kanzius was attempting: "I looked at the attached video clip and I was skeptical. But I became more curious about this kitchen table tinkerer-ham and investigated the claims. I learned two major things: First, this was not a harebrained scheme -- it really worked (!), and -- even more important for me -- John Kanzius was a true gentleman. Bright, polite and enthusiastic without being overbearing, I liked him. Over the next months as I wrote the QST article about his work, I came to know him and his true desire to help other cancer victims. Since then, we stayed in touch by phone and e-mail. I enjoyed his delight as each step in the process of bringing his machine and concept to human use was proven by M. D. Anderson and other cancer research facilities. Some people just make your world better by being there. John was one of those people. Though I never met him in person, it was always good to hear from him and I enjoyed the friendship. Losing him makes the world a little colder. I will miss him." Kanzius is survived by his wife Marianne, two daughters -- Sherry Kanzius and Toni Palmer -- and two grandchildren. Calling hours are Sunday, February 22 from 2-5 PM and 7-9 PM at the Duskas-Martin Funeral Home <http://www.dusckasmartinfuneralhome.com/>, 4216 Sterrettania Rd, Erie, Pennsylvania. A funeral service is planned for 10:30 AM on Monday, February 23 at the Episcopal Cathedral of St Paul <http://www.cathedralofstpaul.org/>, also in Erie. Memorial contributions may be made to the John Kaznius Research Fund <http://www.kanziuscancerresearch.org/>, Palace Business Center, 915 State St, Erie, PA 16501. ==> DIETER SCHLIEMANN, KX4Y (SK) Dieter Schliemann, KX4Y, of Scottsboro, Alabama, passed away February 9 after a battle with cancer. He was 68. According to Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) <http://www.rac.ca/ariss/oindex.htm> International Chairman Frank H. Bauer, KA3HDO, Schliemann was instrumental in leading and supporting many key activities in AMSAT <http://www.amsat.org/> and on the ARISS program. "Those that knew Dieter recognized that he was a 'class act,'" Bauer said, "a great gentleman and colleague who will be sorely missed by all." Schliemann, an ARRL Life Member, was involved with ARISS, leading the school contact IRLP/EchoLink initiative. Through this Amateur Radio VOIP system, Bauer said Schliemann and his team "substantially extended our reach of the school contacts. And through his efforts, tens of thousands of school students and ham radio operators, worldwide, could listen to other school contacts, enhancing education and giving all a better understanding of what it is like to live and work on ISS. Dieter's diplomacy, teambuilding skills and attention to the details were impeccable and were well respected within the team. He rose to the challenge when I asked him to lead the IRLP/EchoLink team. At the time, there were strong, divergent opinions on the use of IRLP and EchoLink on ARISS. He singlehandedly developed a cohesive team that is producing great results and is enjoying working together." Bauer said that Schliemann had been fighting cancer for a few years: "A month ago, all of us thought he was on the road to recovery. Unfortunately, that did not come to pass. Through it all, Dieter remained the gentle, caring person that we all have grown to love. During his illness, he remained dedicated to his AMSAT and ARISS causes and responsibilities. When he received the surprising news from the doctors that he had only two weeks to live and despite being weak from a long hospitalization, Dieter got on e-mail and worked on a transition plan to ensure that IRLP/EchoLink capabilities on ARISS continues. What a great, compassionate, loving human being." Rosalie White, K1STO, fondly remembered Schliemann. "As team members reported on what a great person Dieter was, and the ways he had helped ARISS, more and more came to light regarding so many things he had accomplished without many others knowing," she said. "He shunned the spotlight, yet he quietly took the initiative, never shying away from solving problems. The ARISS Team will miss Dieter terribly -- a wonderful friend and dedicated volunteer." ==>SOLAR UPDATE Tad "Love comforteth like sunshine after rain" Cook, K7RA, this week reports: We saw a sunspot on February 11-13, then it was gone. Typical of sunspots recently, it was only seen briefly; this one was a relic of Solar Cycle 23, according to its magnetic signature. For at least a couple of years now, we've been expecting Solar Cycle 23 to bottom out and new Solar Cycle 24 spots to emerge, but the sunspot minimum drags on. Most projections are based on past cycle activity, so according to the timing of past solar minimums, we keep thinking surely soon there will be an explosion of new solar activity, but the Sun seems to tease us. Sunspot numbers for February 12-18 were 11, 11, 0, 0, 0, 0 and 0 with a mean of 3.1. The 10.7 cm flux was 69.7, 70.1, 70.1, 69.6, 69.5, 70.6 and 69.8 with a mean of 69.9. The estimated planetary A indices were 4, 3, 14, 10, 3, 1 and 2 with a mean of 5.3. The estimated mid-latitude A indices were 1, 2, 9, 6, 2, 1 and 1 with a mean of 3.1. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the ARRL Technical Information Service Propagation page <http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html>. To read this week's Solar Report in its entirety, check out the W1AW Propagation Bulletin page <http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/>. This week's "Tad Cookism" brought to you by William Shakespeare's "Venus and Adonis" <http://www.shakespeare-w.com/english/shakespeare/w_venus.html>. __________________________________ ==>IN BRIEF: * This Week on the Radio: This week, the ARRL International DX Contest (CW) is on February 21-22. The AM QSO Party and the REF Contest are also February 21-22. Next week, the Russian WW PSK Contest is on February 27-28. Look for the UBA Contest (CW), Mississippi QSO Party, North American QSO Party (RTTY), CQ WW 160 Meter Contest (SSB) and the CQC Winter QSO Party to be on the air February 28-March 1. The High Speed CW Contest is March 1. The North Carolina QSO Party and DARC 10 Meter Digital "Corona" are both March 1-2. All dates, unless otherwise stated, are UTC. See the ARRL Contest Branch page <http://www.arrl.org/contests/>, the ARRL Contest Update <http://www.arrl.org/contests/update/> and the WA7BNM Contest Calendar <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html> for more info. Looking for a Special Event station? Be sure to check out the ARRL Special Event Station Web page <http://www.arrl.org/contests/spev.html>. * ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration: Registration remains open through Sunday March 8, 2009 for these online course sessions beginning on Friday, March 20, 2009: Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level 2, Antenna Modeling, and Radio Frequency Propagation. Each online course has been developed in segments -- learning units with objectives, informative text, student activities and quizzes. Courses are interactive, and some include direct communications with a Mentor/Instructor. Students register for a particular session that may be 8, 12 or 16 weeks (depending on the course) and they may access the course at any time of day during the course period, completing lessons and activities at times convenient for their personal schedule. Mentors assist students by answering questions, reviewing assignments and activities, as well as providing helpful feedback. Interaction with mentors is conducted through e-mail; there is no appointed time the student must be present -- allowing complete flexibility for the student to work when and where it is convenient. To learn more, visit the CCE Course Listing page <http://www.arrl.org/cep/student> or contact the Continuing Education Program Coordinator <cce@arrl.org>. * Get Ready for the ARRL International DX CW Contest this Weekend: This weekend will be a busy one for CW operators as the 2009 ARRL International CW DX Contest takes center stage. First started in 1929 as the ARRL International Relay Party, the ARRL DX CW Contest is the longest running contest in Amateur Radio. Stations from all around the world -- from Australia to Zimbabwe -- should be active for this great event that takes place on 160-10 meters (no contest QSOs are permitted on 12, 17, 30 or 60 meters). Stations in the US and Canada work only DX stations (Alaska and Hawaii are considered DX for this contest), and DX stations only work the US and Canada. DX stations will be trying to make as many QSOs with all US states and Canadian provinces as they can. The contest exchange is simple -- US and Canadian stations send a signal report and their state or province, while DX stations send a signal report and the amount of power with which they are transmitting. The ARRL International CW DX Contest runs from 0000 UTC Saturday, February 21 through 2359 UTC Sunday, February 22, 2009. Complete rules and forms can be found on the ARRL Contest Web site <http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2009/intldx.html>. Electronic logs should be e-mailed <DXCW@arrl.org>; paper logs can be sent to ARRL DX CW Contest, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111. Logs sent via postal mail must be postmarked no later than 2359 UTC Monday, March 23, 2009. =========================================================== The ARRL Letter is published Fridays, 50 times each year, by the American Radio Relay League: ARRL--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 and general news of interest to active radio amateurs. Visit the ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org/> for the latest Amateur Radio news and news updates. The ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org/> also offers informative features and columns. ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> is a weekly "ham radio newscast" compiled and edited from The ARRL Letter. It's also available as a podcast from our Web site. Material from The ARRL Letter may be republished or reproduced in whole or in part in any form without additional permission. Credit must be given to The ARRL Letter/American Radio Relay League. ==>Delivery problems (ARRL member direct delivery only!): letter-dlvy@arrl.org ==>Editorial questions or comments: S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA, k1sfa@arrl.org ==>ARRL News on the Web: <http://www.arrl.org/> ==>ARRL Audio News: <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> or call 860-594-0384 ==>How to Get The ARRL Letter The ARRL Letter is available to ARRL members free of charge directly from ARRL HQ. To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your address for e-mail delivery: ARRL members first must register on the Members Only Web Site <http://www.arrl.org/members/>. You'll have an opportunity during registration to sign up for e-mail delivery of The ARRL Letter, W1AW bulletins, and other material. To change these selections--including delivery of The ARRL Letter--registered members should click on the "Member Data Page" link (in the Members Only box). Click on "Modify membership data," check or uncheck the appropriate boxes and/or change your e-mail address if necessary. (Check "Temporarily disable all automatically sent email" to temporarily stop all e-mail deliveries.) Then, click on "Submit modification" to make selections effective. (NOTE: HQ staff members cannot change your e-mail delivery address. You must do this yourself via the Members Only Web Site.) The ARRL Letter also is available to all, free of charge, from these sources: * ARRLWeb <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/>. (NOTE: The ARRL Letter will be posted each Friday when it is distributed via e-mail.) * The QTH.net listserver, thanks to volunteers from the Boston Amateur Radio Club: Visit Mailing Lists@QTH.Net <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/letter-list>. (NOTE: The ARRL cannot assist subscribers who receive The ARRL Letter via this listserver.) Copyright 2009 American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved