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ARRL Letter

 

***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 23, No. 48
December 10, 2004
***************

IN THIS EDITION:

* +BPL field trial must work with ham club, FCC says
* +Georgia city legislates around CC&Rs for ham antennas
* +Long Island, Quebec students speak with ISS via ham radio
* +DXpedition puts rare Andaman and Nicobar Islands on the air
* +FCC slaps former California amateur licensee with second fine
* +SCAMP not just a conference topic anymore
*  Solar Update
*  IN BRIEF:
     This weekend on the radio
     ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration
     Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course registration
     ARRL holiday greeting cards still available
     Louis F. Linden, KI5TD, wins November QST Cover Plaque Award
    +Foundation For Amateur Radio solicits scholarship applications
    +FCC denies petition seeking to require licensed radio repairers
     Amateur Radio to have no role in 2005 Rose Parade
     Guinness World Records recognizes high-speed telegraphy achievement

+Available on ARRL Audio News

===========================================================

==>FCC REQUIRES ARIZONA BPL FIELD TRIAL OPERATOR TO WORK WITH AMATEUR CLUB

The FCC has required Electric Broadband LLC (EB), which is running a BPL
field trial in Cottonwood, Arizona, to maintain contact with a local
Amateur Radio club. The Commission granted EB a Part 5 Experimental
license WD2XMB for the company's BPL pilot on November 19, although the
ARRL earlier this year asked the Commission to withdraw its authorization
for the operation. Verde Valley Amateur Radio Association (VVARA)
<http://www.vvara.org/> BPL Committee Chair Robert Shipton, K8EQC,
believes it might be the first time the FCC has ever imposed such a
requirement.

"Our BPL committee in Cottonwood  was surprised to see this stipulation,"
Shipton told ARRL. "Time will tell if it really matters or not."

Under a "Special Conditions" section in the WD2XMB experimental license,
the FCC stipulated that the licensee "must establish and maintain a
liaison relationship with the Verde Valley Amateur Radio Association." The
Commission also required EB to respond to interference complaints "in a
timely manner." System operators indicated earlier this fall that they
would notch amateur frequencies, including 60 meters. Interference is
still being experienced in the 60 meter band, VVARA says.

Shipton said Mountain Telecommunications Inc, which handles system
operations, has worked with the VVARA and "expressed sincerity" in
resolving interference to any amateur frequencies affected by their
equipment. "Although progress with notching has been made, the
representative samples in a trial that is statistically too small in
geographical area will not demonstrate any significant results," Shipton
said. "Our club questions whether a buildout that involves many more HF
segments would be able to avoid the use of amateur spectrum."

EB and utility APS have been operating the BPL experiment at two Yavapai
County, Arizona, sites since June, and relations with the amateur
community have not always been so placid. The first Amateur Radio
complaint, filed in June, cited VVARA testing at HF that asserted BPL
interference was making attempts at ham radio communication useless. VVARA
submitted a lengthy and comprehensive report to the two companies and the
FCC in late July detailing interference issues.

In support of the VVARA effort, the ARRL has twice asked the FCC to shut
down the Cottonwood BPL field trial for interfering with Amateur Radio
communication. The League's own testing of the Cottonwood system this past
summer indicated "extremely high" levels of radiated RF energy on amateur
HF allocations--well in excess of the FCC Part 15 levels with which EB
told the FCC it would comply.

The League's second shutdown request, sent October 11, accused the FCC of
doing "absolutely nothing" to enforce its rules or to protect licensed
services from interference. The ARRL said the Commission should not
reinstate or extend the Special Temporary Authorization, under which the
EB system had operated until the STA's expiration in September, and "no
experimental authorization should be permitted for this system."

In an accompanying 12-page technical analysis, the ARRL also cast serious
doubt on the accuracy--and possibly the integrity--of the BPL system's
FCC-required six-month report, filed more than two months late.

The FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology, which handles grants
applications for STAs and Part 5 Experimental licenses, has yet to respond
to the League's assertions and requests regarding operation of the
Cottonwood BPL field trial.

Replying to FCC inquiries prompted by Amateur Radio interference
complaints, Electric Broadband has claimed to have spent "significant time
and effort" looking into interference complaints from hams, running tests
and "taking steps to mitigate any possible interference" the system might
be causing, and it invited the FCC to visit and see for itself.

For additional information, visit the "Broadband Over Power Line (BPL) and
Amateur Radio" page on the ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org/bpl/>. To
support the League's efforts in this area, visit the ARRL's secure BPL Web
site <https://www.arrl.org/forms/development/donations/bpl/>.

==>GEORGIA COMMUNITY TO ALLOW HAM ANTENNAS IN CC&R-GOVERNED SUBDIVISIONS

Tim Richardson, W4IOU, an alderman in Acworth, Georgia, reports that his
city has added language to its Residential Development Standards that
allows antenna installations for amateurs living in subdivisions governed
by deed covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs) and homeowners'
associations.

"While a special stipulation previously was added to each new residential
zoning request before the city, this incorporates the language directly in
the zoning and development standards," Richardson explains. According to
the language incorporated into the ordinance November 5, "Antennas for
amateur radio stations licensed by the Federal Communications Commission
will not be prohibited by Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and
Restrictions or homeowners' association, and the installation of such
antennas must be reasonably accommodated."

Richardson emphasizes that the CC&R restriction only applies to
residential development occurring on or after the ordinance's date of
adoption. "Any neighborhoods with existing CC&Rs will not be affected,
since those constitute a legal agreement accepted by the property owner at
the time of purchase," he said. Nonetheless, he called the city's action
"a step forward" and said he hopes other hams will work to get similar
provisions enacted in their communities. He had help in Acworth. Bob
Weatherford, KI4COP, also sits on the Board of Aldermen.

A city of some 20,000, Acworth is about 35 miles northwest of Atlanta,
and, Richardson says, one of the state's fastest-growing cities.

ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, said the Acworth ordinance was the first to
come to his attention. "Congratulations to you and the City of Acworth for
your vision," he told Richardson.

The ARRL has supported the repeated introduction of a bill in
Congress--"the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Consistency Act,"
designated HR 1478 in the current session--to require private land-use
regulators such as homeowners' associations to "reasonably accommodate"
Amateur Radio antennas consistent with the PRB-1 limited federal
preemption. Introduced by Rep Steve Israel (D-NY) the CC&R bill attracted
36 cosponsors during the current Congress, which is about to adjourn.

ARRL discusses a variety of amateur antenna restrictions on its Web site
<http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/antenna-restrictions.html>.

==>SPACE CHATS EXHILARATE LONG ISLAND, QUEBEC SCHOOLS

Teacher April Pokorny's fifth graders at Westhampton Beach Elementary
School on Long Island, New York, had reason to be grateful the day before
Thanksgiving. That's when they got a chance to speak via Amateur Radio
with International Space Station Expedition 10 Commander Leroy Chiao,
KE5BRW, at NA1SS. Secondary school students in Quebec spoke with Chiao via
ham radio on November 30. Both contacts were arranged via the Amateur
Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program. Pokorny said the
Long Island school's November 24 contact provided a connection between
classroom learning and real life.

"What could possibly be more exciting than talking to an astronaut while
he is in space," she told a reporter for TV Channel 12. In addition to TV
coverage, one radio station and two newspapers reported the event.

Among other things, Chiao told the Westhampton Beach pupils that the food
aboard the ISS was pretty good, that the orbit of the ISS could be altered
"a little bit," and that the 2003 shuttle Columbia tragedy, in which seven
astronauts died, did not deter his desire to go into space. "We're all
professional astronauts, and this is what we do, and we know what the
risks are" he said.

Chiao said he enjoys looking out the window and taking pictures, and he
sometimes spends his spare time watching movies. "I also like floating
around a lot," he said. Chiao told another youngster that it would be
easier to pitch a fast ball on Earth than in zero gravity.

Members of the Peconic Amateur Radio Club (PARC) set up the W2AMC Earth
station and made other technical arrangements to enable the contact. PARC
also assisted in a 2002 ARISS contact with Quogue School, also on Long
Island.

"Second time around was not as scary as the first time, but it was not
without the usual need for backup planning," PARC President Roberta Keis,
N2RBU, said. An auxiliary generator ended up running all the radio and
videoconferencing equipment after power at the school kept cutting out due
to damp, rainy conditions that day. PARC members also needed to make a
last-minute antenna controller repair.

"The after-contact comments were all positive," Keis said. "Words like
'amazing' and 'wow!' were mixed with tears of emotion and a general
feeling of floating on air."

On November 30, youngsters at the Fernand Lefebvre Secondary School in
Sorel-Tracy, Quebec, Canada, chatted with Chiao during a somewhat
curtailed contact. Calls by Earth station operator Luc Leblanc, VE2DWE,
were met with packet bursts during the first several minutes of the
10-minute pass. When Chiao's voice finally came through loud and clear,
"all in the auditorium started to breathe again," said ARISS-Canada's
Daniel Lamoureux, VE2KA.

Chiao told the students he had trained for about three years before going
into space in October. In response to other questions, Chiao again said he
enjoyed being able to float around, but that zero gravity did have its
downside.

"Everything's a little trickier in zero gravity because there's no gravity
to help keep things in their place," he said. "It's easy to lose things.
Just small, little things go floating away. You have to pay attention to
what you're doing and know where everything is."

Remarked Lamoureux afterward, "Despite the shortened contact, the ARISS
spirit was present, and all will remember the event for a long time."

Members of the Sorel-Tracy Amateur Radio Club, VE2CBS, set up the Earth
station for the contact. An audience of some 450 parents, teachers and
visitors looked on, and 1800 students outside the auditorium heard the
contact via an intercom link.

ARISS <http://www.rac.ca/ariss/> is an international educational outreach
with US participation from ARRL, AMSAT and NASA.

==>RARE ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS (VU4) DXPEDITION ON THE AIR!

The National Institute of Amateur Radio-sponsored DXpedition to Andaman
and Nicobar Islands (VU4) took to the air December 2 at 1831 UTC,
generating a lot of HF excitement. The five-member NIAR team, headed by
Bharathi Prasad, VU2RBI, will operate as VU4RBI and VU4NRO from the
capital city of Port Blair through the end of December.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands is considered among the top most-wanted DXCC
entities--some listings put it at number 1. While the DXpedition's first
and primary activity has been on 20-meter SSB, operation has begun to
expand to other bands and modes. As of week's end, numerous US stations
were still reporting trouble even hearing either VU4 station, much less
working them. DX spot comments such as "zilch in Ohio" and "nuttin in NNJ"
reflected the frustration of those witnessing the success of fellow
amateurs elsewhere. An opening to the East Coast December 9 eased the
pressure a bit. While some CW operation using the VU4 call signs early on
was apparently the work of a pirate, the DXpedition did start up briefly
on 15 CW on December 8.

The Daily DX <http://www.dailydx.com/> this week had reported that US
amateur Charly Harpole, K4VUD, might join the Andamans DXpedition as a
guest op, but things did not work out. On December 10, The Daily DX
reported Harpole would visit the DXpedition "as a tourist" to take photos
and video, but not to operate. "However there is nothing that will stop
him from listening, making suggestions or helping with any projects in
order to keep the operators QRV around the clock," added The Daily DX
Editor Bernie McClenny, W3UR.

McClenny, who also edits "How's DX?" for QST, said Dave Bernstein, AA6YQ,
has generated PropView short and long-path propagation forecasts between
each continental US call area and the Andamans
<http://www.ambersoft.com/Amateur_Radio/VU4>. The projections used are
optimistic, McClenny said.

VU4RBI and VU4NRO are the only call signs authorized from Andaman and
Nicobar Islands. QSL to NIAR, Rajbhavan Road, Hyderabad-500 082, Andhra
Pradesh, INDIA. More information is available on the NIAR Web site
<http://www.niar.org/>.

==>FCC PROPOSES ADDITIONAL FINE FOR FORMER CALIFORNIA AMATEUR LICENSEE

Fast on the heels of a $10,000 Forfeiture Order (FO), the FCC has now
proposed to fine Jack Gerritsen, ex-KG6IRO, of Bell, California, an
additional $21,000 for interfering with Amateur Radio communications.
Gerritsen has been the target of copious complaints of insistent
interference to numerous ham radio repeaters. The FCC affirmed the $10,000
forfeiture in October. The latest proposed fine stems from further
specific alleged instances of interference earlier this year.

"Gerritsen's threats against other operators and his abusive use of
amateur frequencies are the antithesis of good amateur practice and
engineering," the FCC said in its December 2 Notice of Apparent Liability
(NAL). The FCC concluded that Gerritsen willfully and repeatedly violated
§333 of the Communications Act of 1934 by maliciously interfering with the
communications of authorized Amateur Service users.

In 2001, the FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) swiftly
rescinded its Amateur Radio license grant to Gerritsen after learning of
his earlier state conviction for interfering with police communications.
His application remains on hold for now. As a result of the conviction,
which he's appealed, Gerritsen ultimately spent some time in jail. But he
continues to maintain erroneously that the FCC can't take away his
operating privileges without a hearing, and that he still has a ham
ticket.

The NAL cites three specific instances of interference attributed to
Gerritsen and mentioned several others in proposing the huge fine, which
includes an "upward adjustment" from the base forfeiture amount of $7000.
"Despite warnings and a prior NAL and Forfeiture Order, Gerritsen's
unauthorized willful and malicious interfering radio operations have been
ongoing for several months," said the NAL, signed by FCC Los Angeles
Office District Director Catherine Deaton.

In one instance in September, the FCC said, a complaint from an ARRL
Official Observer alleged that Gerritsen "deliberately and maliciously
interfered with the Young Hams Net" on a 2-meter repeater. On other
occasions, an individual identifying himself as Jack Gerritsen and/or
using the KG6IRO call sign, has monopolized various LA-area repeaters for
long periods, the FCC said, preventing other users from accessing the
machines.

Several times, FCC agents have tracked interfering transmissions to
Gerritsen's residence. Commission representatives have advised him that he
does not have authority to transmit on amateur frequencies and warned him
to keep off the ham bands.

Gerritsen has not been heard on LA-area repeaters for more than three
weeks now, and there's evidence he's staying south of the US border--at
least for the time being. The FCC gave Gerritsen 30 days to pay or appeal
the proposed fine.

==>SCAMP ON-AIR TESTING COMMENCES

The Sound Card Amateur Message Protocol--or SCAMP--is not just a
conference paper topic anymore. On-the-air testing of the digital
communication protocol began in late November, and the first
transcontinental communication using SCAMP occurred on December 4. SCAMP
is designed to eliminate the need for pricey external hardware for passing
e-mail traffic on relatively narrow-bandwidth channels. Rick Muething,
KN6KB, prepared a presentation on SCAMP for the ARRL-TAPR Digital
Communications Conference in September.

"SCAMP is an example of what is now possible with sound card, computer and
software technology using cooperative amateur efforts," he says. "SCAMP
and similar programs like DIGTRX for image transmission offer low-cost
alternatives to dedicated or proprietary hardware."

As Muething explains, SCAMP is intended for transmitting messages--text
with binary attachments--via 2-kHz bandwidth HF and VHF voice channels.
The program is compatible with Winlink2000. SCAMP uses the Redundant
Digital File Transfer (RDFT) transport layer, developed by Barry
Sanderson, KB9VAK, with the addition of Automatic Repeat Request
(ARQ)--the technique all "linked" modes use to ensure error-free
transmission--and message layer protocols that Muething developed. He says
SCAMP offers a moderate-throughput, error-free protocol that works using
conventional sound cards and modestly powered computers.

The RDFT utilities and documentation for the Windows and Linux operating
systems have been released under the GNU General Public License (GPL).

Muething says a dozen dedicated testers began initial on-air testing on HF
and VHF November 27 using the alpha version of a Windows-based SCAMP
client called Paclink SCD that he and Vic Poor, W5SMM, developed.

In addition to Muething and Poor, alpha testers included Scott Thile,
K4SET; Bud Thompson, N0IA; Bill Hickey, AB7AA; Howard White, VE3GFW; Dave
Wagner, WA2DXQ; Lor Kutchins, W3QA; Larry Trullinger, KB0EMB; Mike Burton,
N6KZB; Bill Kearns, WB6JAR, and Steve Waterman, K4CJX. Primary testing was
done on 40, 30 and 20 meters, and VHF testing was carried out on 2-meters
using both FM and SSB. Alpha testing will continue over the next several
weeks, and beta testing is set to crank up in February, Muething says.

The first successful transcontinental exchange of Amateur Radio e-mail
messages using SCAMP took place December 4 on 20 meters between N6KZB in
Temecula, California, and W3QA in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Each station
ran 70 W.

"Several other two-way exchanges were also made over the weekend as
operational and protocol bugs were fixed in the alpha software," Muething
reports. "The throughput of SCAMP adjusts to the channel quality, reaching
a current net maximum of about 4800 bytes per minute before compression
gains."

Muething says SCAMP doesn't require anything more than a 1-GHz class
Pentium or Celeron processor with a minimum of 128 MB of memory to reach
full throughput. Lesser systems may be used at reduced throughput.

The complete SCAMP specification is available and will be released under
the GPL as a blueprint for client developers to insure compatibility
across different implementations. Muething says further protocol
optimization continues to up system throughput and improve its robustness
in poor HF multipath channels.

He'd also like to see some band plan restructuring to "open up spectrum
for digital modes and encourage new experimentation and development like
SCAMP." The ARRL has sought comment from the amateur community on draft
proposals <http://www.arrl.org/announce/bandwidth.html> seeking to
regulate subbands by emission bandwidth rather than by mode. At this
point, the proposals remain a work in progress, and the ARRL has not
petitioned the FCC for any changes.

Muething has more information on SCAMP. Contact him via e-mail
<kn6kb@arrl.net>;. Information on RDFT is available on the Web
<http://www.svs.net/wyman/examples/hdsstv/index.html>.

==>SOLAR UPDATE

Astral aficionado Tad "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" Cook, K7RA,
Seattle, Washington, reports: This weekend is the ARRL 10-Meter Contest.
Conditions aren't great at this point in the solar cycle, but this can be
a fun single-band operating activity. Unfortunately, we may see a
recurrence of some unsettled to active geomagnetic conditions from the
last solar rotation.

Predicted planetary A index for December 10-13 is 8, 20, 30 and 12, so
that suggests some rough conditions on Sunday. The predicted solar flux
for those same days is 85-90, with the values rising gradually and peaking
around 105 from December 22-25.

Average daily sunspot numbers for this week were 46, down from 55.1 for
the previous week. Average daily solar flux dropped nearly 14 points to
97.

Sunspot numbers for December 2 through 8 were 62, 58, 43, 46, 47, 26 and
40, with a mean of 46. The 10.7 cm flux was 105.6, 100.8, 97.4, 95.9,
93.2, 89.7 and 96.5, with a mean of 97. Estimated planetary A indices were
4, 3, 1, 8, 19, 15 and 10, with a mean of 8.6. Estimated mid-latitude A
indices were 4, 1, 0, 7, 11, 9 and 9, with a mean of 5.9.

__________________________________

==>IN BRIEF:

* This weekend on the radio: The ARRL 10-Meter Contest, the Fall NA Meteor
Scatter Rally and the Great Colorado Snowshoe Run are the weekend of
December 11-12. JUST AHEAD: The Russian 160-Meter Contest is December 17.
The OK DX RTTY Contest and the RAC Winter Contest are December 18. The
MDXA PSK DeathMatch, the Croatian CW Contest, the Stew Perry Topband
Challenge and the International Naval Contest are the weekend of December
18-19. The RAEM Contest and the DARC Christmas Contest are December 26.
ARRL Straight Key Night is January 1, 2005 (UTC). See the ARRL Contest
Branch page <http://www.arrl.org/contests/> and the WA7BNM Contest
Calendar <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/> for more info.

* ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration:
Registration for the Technician Licensing course (EC-010) remains open
through Sunday, December 12. Classes begin Friday, December 24. With the
assistance of a mentor, EC-010 students learn everything they need to know
to pass the FCC Technician class license examination. To learn more, visit
the ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Web page
<http://www.arrl.org/cce/> or contact the ARRL Certification and
Continuing Education Program Department <cce@arrl.org>;.

* Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course registration: Registration
for the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level II on-line
course (EC-002) opens Monday, December 13, 1201 AM EST, and remains open
until all available seats have been filled or through the December 18-19
weekend. Class begins Friday, December 31. Thanks to our grant
sponsors--the Corporation for National and Community Service and United
Technologies Corporation--the $45 registration fee paid upon enrollment
will be reimbursed after successful completion of the course. Radio
amateurs 55 and up are strongly encouraged to participate. During this
registration period, seats are being offered to ARRL members on a
first-come, first-served basis. To learn more, visit the ARRL
Certification and Continuing Education Web page <http://www.arrl.org/cce>.
For more information, contact Emergency Communications Course Manager Dan
Miller, K3UFG, cce@arrl.org; 860-594-0340.

* ARRL holiday greeting cards still available: For the first time, the
ARRL is offering holiday greeting cards for those radio amateurs on your
list. It's not too late to order 20 cards/envelopes for just $9.95. These
colorful greeting cards feature a design based on the December 2004 QST
cover composed by ARRL Graphic Designer Sue Fagan. The Santa Claus
illustration and type design by Harry R. Hick, 1ESS, appeared on the
December 1954 cover of QST. The message on the front reads "Season's
Greetings to All." The inside is blank for you to add your own message or
personal greeting. Order Item # 9536 via the ARRL Web catalog
<http://www.arrl.org/catalog/?item=9536>.

* Louis F. Linden, KI5TD, wins November QST Cover Plaque Award: The winner
of the QST Cover Plaque Award for November is Louis F. Linden, KI5TD, for
his article "Winlink 2000 in the Jungle." Congratulations, Lou! The winner
of the QST Cover Plaque award--given to the author or authors of the best
article in each issue--is determined by a vote of ARRL members on the QST
Cover Plaque Poll Web page, http://www.arrl.org/members-only/QSTvote.html.
Cast a ballot for your favorite article in the December issue by December
31.

* Foundation For Amateur Radio solicits scholarship applications: The
Foundation for Amateur Radio Inc (FAR) <http://www.amateurradio-far.org/>,
a non-profit organization headquartered in Washington, DC, plans to
administer more than 55 scholarships for the 2005-2006 academic year to
assist radio amateurs. Awards range from $500 to $2500. FAR invites
Amateur Radio licensees now enrolled in or accepted for enrollment at an
accredited university, college or technical school to compete for these
scholarships. Preference in some cases goes to residents of specific
geographical areas or to those pursuing certain programs of study. FAR
encourages Amateur Radio clubs--especially those in Delaware, Florida,
Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin--to announce
these scholarship opportunities at meetings, in newsletters, during
training classes, on nets and on Web pages. Additional information and an
application form is available by sending a letter or QSL card postmarked
prior to April 30, 2005, to FAR Scholarships, PO Box 831, Riverdale, MD
20738. The Foundation for Amateur Radio is an IRS 501(c)(3) organization.

* FCC denies petition seeking to require licensed radio repairers: The FCC
has turned down a June 2003 Petition for Rule Making filed by Dale Reich,
K8AD, of Seville, Ohio, asking the Commission to permit only licensed
commercial radio operators to maintain and repair radios operating under
Part 90, 95 and 97 rules, which would have included the Amateur Radio
Service. The FCC's December 1 Order denied Reich's latest petition for
failing to demonstrate that such a requirement would be in the public
interest or that unauthorized radio modification is enough of a problem to
require such action. The Commission also deemed Reich's petition
"procedurally defective" because he failed to provide text for the various
modifications to the five FCC rule parts his petition covers. The FCC last
year denied a similar petition from Reich requesting the Commission to
require licensing of technicians who program frequencies for radios
operating under Parts 90, 95 and 97.

* Amateur Radio to have no role in 2005 Rose Parade: The Tournament of
Roses Radio Amateurs (TORRA) <http://torra.us/> will not be providing any
support for the New Year's Day 2005 Rose Parade in Pasadena, California.
The traditional event precedes the Rose Bowl college football game.
Although TORRA and the Tournament of Roses were unable to agree on 2005
Amateur Radio communication support arrangements, TORRA initially intended
at least to provide some Amateur Television coverage. Now, the group now
says the Tournament of Roses has decided not to use ATV either. A November
17 statement from the TORRA Steering Committee to TORRA members outlined
the chain of events that led to the eventual disconnect, beginning with
the Tournament's reallocation of building space after the 2004 event and
the consequent removal of TORRA's equipment from the net control position
and ATV storage facilities. While TORRA and Tournament personnel did sit
down to explore the role of Amateur Radio and changes necessary for 2005,
TORRA eventually concluded that "there was still too much to do and not
enough time to do it" for a successful operation. TORRA announced November
22 that ATV coverage was out as well. TORRA indicated it will meet with
Tournament officials in January "to restructure our role and the
communication services we provide." Amateur Radio has had a communication
support role in the Tournament of Roses parade since the 1970s. "We have a
longstanding relationship with the Tournament of Roses, and both
organizations wish to maintain that relationship," the November 17 TORRA
letter said.

* Guinness World Records recognizes high-speed telegraphy achievement:
Guinness World Records Ltd has recognized the high-speed telegraphy
achievement of Andrei Bindasov, EU7KI. "On 6 May 2003 Andrei Bindasov
(Belarus) transmitted 216 marks of mixed text per minute during the 5th
International Amateur Radio Union World Championship in High Speed
Telegraphy in Belarus," the Guinness database listing states. Witnessing
the accomplishment in Minsk were HST International Referee Oscar Verbanck,
ON5ME, Region 1 Executive Committee member Panayot Danev, LZ1US, and IARU
Region 1 HST Coordinator Oliver Tabakovski, Z32TO. Bindasov says he
received the official certificate from Guinness November 24. Bindasov also
sent 271 letters per minute and 230 figures per minute during those phases
of the 2003 HST competition <http://www.qsl.net/yo4kca/hstrules.htm>.

===========================================================
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/>. Jim Haynie, W5JBP, President.

The ARRL Letter offers a weekly e-mail digest of essential news of
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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.)


 

The ARRL Letter

The ARRL Letter offers a weekly summary of essential news of interest to active amateurs that is available in advance of publication in QST, our official journal. The ARRL Letter strives to be timely, accurate, concise and readable.

Much of the ARRL Letter content is also available in audio form in ARRL Audio News.

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 and The American Radio Relay League.

Back issues published since 2000 are available on this page. If you wish to subscribe via e-mail, simply log on to the ARRL Web site, click on Edit Your Profile at the top, then click on Edit Email Subscriptions. Check the box next to The ARRL email newsletter, the ARRL Letter and you will receive each weekly issue in HTML format. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Delivery problems (ARRL member direct delivery only!): letter-dlvy@arrl.org

Editorial questions or comments: John E. Ross, KD8IDJ, at news@arrl.org.

Plain-Text

The ARRL E-Letter e-mail is also available in plain-text version:

Outlook Express

1. From the Inbox view, select the Tools menu and the Options selection.

2. Click the Read tab

3. Check the Read All Messages In Plain Text box.  When you open the e-mail, it will be in plain text without images. Other e-mail programs may be able to make a Mail Rule for e-mail received from the address memberlist@www.arrl.org so that the plain-text-only display is selected automatically.

Outlook 2007

Use the same procedure as for Outlook Express, although the global option is under "Tools/Trust Center/E-mail Security".

Thunderbird

Use the menu item "View/Message Body As/Plain Text" or "View/Message Source" options.

OS X Mail (Mac)

Use the "View/Message/Plain Text Alternative" menu item.

GMail

Use the "Message text garbled?" link in the drop-down menu at the upper right of the displayed message block. pine, alpine Set "prefer-plain-text" in your ~/.pinerc configuration file: feature-list=..., prefer-plain-text, ...

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