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ARRL Letter

 

***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 22, No. 22
May 30, 2003
***************

IN THIS EDITION:

* +ARRL upgrades "Logbook of the World" beta software
* +Astronaut talks to hometown kids from space
* +Major ARRL donors honored at pre-Hamvention event
* +Hamvention PR forum attendees play "Millionaire," win fabulous prizes
* +Maine governor praises Amateur Radio, says he'll study for ticket
* +Ham-pianist almost halfway to goal in run
* +ARRL seeks computer-based presentations, videos
*  Solar Update
*  IN BRIEF:
     This weekend on the radio
     ARRL Emergency Communications course registration
     ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration
     ARRL to sponsor emergency communications course seminar in Texas
     Gerald G. Schmitt, KK5YY, SK
     Digital Communications Conference issues call for papers
     Echo satellite a no-go for 2003 launch
     Ham radio exempted from Texas tower legislation
     Two-man ISS crew easing into operational routine
     Ham-meteorologists win NOAA Administrator's Award
     Newfoundland club promoting interest in LF work

+Available on ARRL Audio News

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

==>ARRL RELEASES UPDATED "LOGBOOK OF THE WORLD" BETA SOFTWARE

"Logbook of the World" (LoTW) beta testers for the most part have reacted
positively to the latest version of ARRL's secure electronic
contact-confirmation system, but some users have run into difficulties.
Responding to problems encountered by some early beta testers, the League
has released an updated beta version of LoTW that should resolve these
issues. Beta testers are encouraged to download the new version of the
software, 1.02beta, from the LoTW page <http://www.arrl.org/lotw/>.

"While most installations and subsequent e-mailing and uploading of log
data have gone flawlessly, as expected there have been problems," said
ARRL's Dave Patton, NT1N, who's been a part of the LoTW project from the
start. He says the LoTW server software failed to recognize many of the
new digital mode designations, such as MFSK-16 and JT6M. This caused fatal
errors while digitally signing logs.

Patton says the beta update allows users to "map" any mode designation to
one of the four main Amateur Data Interchange Format (ADIF) mode
categories--CW, phone, image, and digital--without changing the actual log
data. He said the beta upgrade also will correct other log data problems
that caused fatal errors in signing a log, including allowing the signing
process to complete the "good" parts of a log without crashing.

Beta testing got under way May 15. So far, the 1300 or so beta testers
have uploaded upward of five million contacts to the LoTW database. Once
it's ready later this year, LoTW will provide a way for amateurs worldwide
to qualify for awards such as DXCC or WAS without having to first collect
and submit hard-copy QSL cards.

One beta tester from Brazil lavished praised on the LoTW project. "I
applaud the creators of LoTW," he wrote. "This will be, for sure, the
salvation of DXing and award collecting. Please keep up this essential
work!" For now, log data are limited to contacts made no more than five
years ago (on or after January 1, 1998) to get a representative sampling,
Patton explained.

Patton promised "many more bells and whistles" over the weeks ahead. One
of those will meld LoTW with DXCC. He noted that a major DXCC software
revision, now under way, will need to be completed first.

Logging software developers now can get documentation and a Windows DLL
library--as well as complete source code for the TQSL software--at the
SourceForge Web site <http://sourceforge.net/projects/trustedqsl/>.

To join the beta testing program, visit the Logbook of the World--Getting
Started site <http://www.arrl.org/lotw/getstart.html>. The beta testing
period wraps up in mid-July.

All QSO data submitted to LoTW will be deleted when the beta test period
ends, and users will have to obtain new digital certificates to submit log
data to LoTW once it 'goes live.' As part of the security process for the
live system, passwords will be mailed to US licensees at the address that
appears in the FCC database. Users should make sure the FCC has their
current mailing address.

Amateurs can modify their address online or via US mail by using
instructions available on the FCC Web site
<http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/amateur/licensing/changingaddress.html>.
ARRL members may submit license modifications or renewals through the ARRL
VEC <http://www.arrl.org/fcc/forms.html>.

==>ASTRONAUT THRILLS HOMETOWN YOUNGSTERS VIA AMATEUR RADIO

NASA ISS Science Officer Ed Lu, KC5WKJ, told youngsters at his hometown
alma mater via ham radio this week that zero gravity (G) feels a bit like
going over the top on a roller coaster. The May 27 Amateur Radio on the
International Space Station (ARISS) contact with Klem Road South School in
Webster, New York, was the first for a member of the two-ham ISS
Expedition 7 crew and for Lu, who had attended the kindergarten through
grade 5 school some three decades ago.

"If you've ever been on a roller coaster and you go over the top of the
roller coaster you feel that feeling like you're kinda light--you're
floating up on your feet," Lu explained. "It's almost exactly like that
but a lot stronger." Weightlessness "feels great." After some time in zero
gravity, however, "it feels like your legs weigh a ton," he added,
describing his own post-space shuttle experience.

Lu told the youngsters that while he was speaking to them from NA1SS, he
was floating--and relaxing--about a foot above the floor and about to have
a lunch of lamb, a chicken omelet and cookies for dessert. "I like the
food up here a lot," he remarked later. Most of the current cuisine is
Russian, he said, but he anticipated some Chinese and Hawaiian fare to
arrive aboard the next Progress supply rocket. The ISS crew typically eats
three meals a day, he said.

The lack of gravity does make it necessary to secure everything, including
eating utensils, so they don't float off. Another downside of zero G is
that the astronauts aboard the ISS must exercise regularly. "If you don't
exercise, all of your muscles get smaller, and that includes your heart,"
he explained in response to one boy's question.

In all, Lu answered about a dozen questions, although apparent signal
dropout and noise plagued the last minute or two of the QSO, rendering his
replies barely intelligible. Lu advised the youngsters that, while
expertise in science and math was most important to becoming an astronaut,
skills and specialties vary among those in the Astronaut Corps. "The
common thing among all of them is that all of them did pretty well at
whatever it was they chose to do," he said.

With the ISS was over Hawaii at the time, radio contact with NA1SS was
established via Nancy Rocheleau, WH6PN, in Honolulu, who arose before 3 AM
to serve as control operator for the QSO. An MCI teleconferencing circuit
linked the school with WH6PN. ARISS is an international program with
participation by ARRL, AMSAT and NASA.

==>ARRL RECOGNIZES MAJOR DONORS

The second-annual ARRL Donors' Recognition Reception afforded those
assembled the opportunity to meet an architect of US naval policy--and a
fellow ham. The event was held May 15, just prior to the start of
Hamvention 2003, at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base officers' club in
Dayton, Ohio.

After a welcome and Maxim Society presentation by League President Jim
Haynie, W5JBP, ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, introduced the keynote
speaker, retired US Navy Vice Adm John Scott Redd, K0DQ. In 36 years of
active duty, Redd commanded eight organizations, led the recommissioned
Fifth Fleet and held several senior policy positions at the Pentagon.

"We were very lucky to have Vice Admiral Redd as our speaker," said ARRL
Chief Development Officer Mary Hobart, K1MMH. "Scott captivated the guests
with amazing stories of his service to our country." Redd also discussed
the importance of the ARRL Education and Technology Program-"The Big
Project"--to the future of Amateur Radio.

Also honored for their generosity were ARRL Vice President Kay Craigie,
N3KN, and her husband Carter, N3AO. The Craigies were recognized for their
lifetime support of ARRL with membership in the Maxim Society. The Maxim
Society is made up of those who have made more than $10,000 in lifetime
contributions to ARRL programs. "Their extraordinary generosity is
reflected in all areas of ARRL fund raising," Hobart said. "ARRL is
pleased to have the opportunity to thank all of our major donors who have
supported all of our efforts to support Amateur Radio so generously."

==>HAMS ON THE "HOT SEAT" AT ARRL HAMVENTION PR FORUM

Attendees at the ARRL public relations forum at Hamvention 2003 enhanced
their knowledge of Amateur Radio public relations and had a lot of fun in
the process. The forum May 18 was organized by members of the League's
Public Relations Committee. Several members of that panel also were on
hand to participate.

For the "fun" part, the group developed its own version of "Who Wants to
be a Millionaire?" Audience members volunteered to sit on the hot seat to
answer a variety of PR-related questions and compete for prizes.
Contestants collected "Hiram Bucks" for continuing to come up with correct
answers.

Three lucky forum attendees walked away with hand-held radios generously
donated by ICOM and Yaesu. Several ARRL products were awarded as door
prizes.

PR Committee members also set up a question-and-answer panel discussion.
Among other pieces of useful information, attendees learned which photo
formats media outlets prefer, how to get local coverage during a major
disaster and how to encourage media reporters to cover Amateur Radio
events.

In opening remarks, ARRL Media Relations Manager Jennifer Hagy, N1TDY,
talked briefly about the League's public relations program and her duties
at ARRL Headquarters. PR Committee Chairman Jeff Reinhardt, AA6JR,
moderated the forum. Participating committee members included David Greer,
N4KZ, Gary Pearce, KN4AQ, Gary Johnston, KI4LA, Rich Moseson, W2VU, Sherri
Brower, W4STB, and Jim McDonald, KB9LEI.

==>MAINE GOVERNOR GETS A TASTE OF HAM RADIO

Maine Gov John Baldacci praised the dedication and value of Maine's
Amateur Radio operators as he met April 24 with members of the Ellsworth
Amateur Wireless Association and other amateurs. He also checked into a
75-meter traffic net during his visit and promised to renew efforts--begun
a couple of years ago--to get his ham ticket.

The governor assured the group that the Maine Emergency Management Agency
(MEMA) relies on Amateur Radio operators to support the statewide
communications system. Baldacci pointed out that communication will be the
most difficult and expensive part of the state's homeland security
strategy. While some federal money has been provided for basic protective
equipment needs, the governor said Maine would rely on Amateur Radio
volunteers if primary telecommunication systems go down.

Baldacci also pledged to squelch any legislation banning cell telephone
use by motorists that also prohibited hams from talking on microphones.
Such a bill was soundly defeated in the Maine Legislature two years ago,
but there's a similar bill in the current legislative session. On the
other hand, Baldacci was not very receptive to the idea of free or
discounted amateur call sign vanity plates, which now cost $35. Like many
states, Maine is dealing with severe budget problems, he explained.

The Ellsworth Amateur Wireless Association presented Baldacci with a
Certificate of Appreciation for his support of Amateur Radio during his
tenure as US Congressman. ARRL Section Manager Bill Woodhead, N1KAT, also
gave the governor a Certificate of Merit from the ARRL for his support.

Woodhead also provided Baldacci with the latest edition of the ARRL
Technician study guide, Now You're Talking. Baldacci said he'd add the
goal of getting his ticket to his to-do list and would rely on the
encouragement and help of Maine's hams to achieve it.--Phil Duggan, N1EP

==>HAM-PIANIST CLOSING IN ON HALFWAY POINT IN RUN

Concert pianist Martin Berkofsky, KC3RE, is closing in on the halfway
point in his CelebrateLifeRun <http://www.celebrateliferun.com> from Tulsa
to Chicago. A cancer survivor and an ARRL member from Northern Virginia,
Berkofsky set out April 9--his 60th birthday--on an 860-mile jog to
celebrate his recovery from cancer and to raise money for research into
the disease. Berkofsky--who has ham gear, including APRS, along with
him--was 380 miles into his journey and some 20 miles south of Hermann,
Missouri, as of mid-week.

Berkofsky reports he's made many new ham radio friends in his travels, and
he's hoping for an invitation to operate Field Day with an Illinois ham
club group. "So far he has found local folks--sometimes Amateur radio
enthusiasts, sometimes cancer survivors--to put him up for the evening or
drive him to his next base camp," said Joni Shulman, assistant research
director of the Cancer Treatment Research Foundation in Tulsa. "Thanks to
the generosity of total strangers, Martin has spent only two or three
nights in motels." The CTRF will benefit from money raised during
Berkofsky's run.

Berkofsky has scheduled some benefit concerts along his route, including
Rolla, Missouri, May 30; June 2 in Hermann, Missouri; and June 12 in St
Louis (at Webster University). "St Louis will mark halfway through the run
with my target arrival in Chicago 11 August," Berkofsky told ARRL. "I have
managed to always keep a few days ahead and to run a few extra miles most
days, weather allowing." Follow his progress via the Internet
<http://www.celebrateliferun.com/route.cfm>.

==>ARRL SEEKS COMPUTER-BASED MULTIMEDIA PRESENTATIONS, VIDEOS

ARRL Field and Educational Services (F&ES) is seeking Amateur Radio
presentation programs or slide shows that utilize Microsoft PowerPoint or
similar computer-based slide-viewing software. F&ES also is interested in
VHS and digital video programs to add to materials F&ES offers hams
through the ARRL Video Series
<http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/materials/videos.html>.

Topic choice can be any Amateur Radio topic of interest to hams or
targeted for a non-ham community, including demonstrations and tutorials
on various topics. The ARRL Web site's Multimedia Frequently Asked
Questions page <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/materials/visuals.html> has
further information. The League's video library needs media in forms that
are easily portable, easily presented and up-to-the-minute. As file size
and download speed may be an issue for downloading submissions from the
ARRL Web site, F&ES wants to offer the best submissions by topic
collection in CD-ROM format.

Presentations and slide shows submitted should be placed on disc or CD-ROM
(file zipping is acceptable). Videos should be in VHS or DVD format and
not exceed 20 minutes in length. Submissions must contain original
material and should not use music, video clips or copyrighted materials
owned by others without appropriate permissions.

Submissions should include a cover sheet describing the program, system
requirements and file sizes and noting any use of materials used with the
permission of others. Submissions accepted for use and distribution by
ARRL will require the signing of a release form provided by ARRL. CDs
selected for distribution would be made available to clubs and interested
individuals for the cost of duplicating, shipping and handling.

Send presentations or slide shows on disc, CD-ROM, VHS tape or DVD to
Multimedia Project, c/o Mary Lau, N1VH, ARRL Field and Educational
Services, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111. For further information on
this project, contact Mary Lau, N1VH, mlau@arrl.org.

==>SOLAR UPDATE

Sun watcher Tad "I See the Light" Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington,
reports: While this bulletin is being written Friday, May 30 at around
0600 UTC, a severe geomagnetic storm rages. For the past three reporting
periods (three hours each), the planetary K index has been 8, indicating
extremely active conditions.

A late forecast at 0359 UTC on May 30 shows the projected planetary A
index for May 30 through June 2 as 60, 40, 25 and 20, followed by an A of
30 for June 3-5, 35 for June 6, and 30 again on June 7.

On May 29 Earth was hit by coronal mass ejections at 1215 UTC and 1900
UTC. A third coronal mass ejection may hit Earth May 30. Rather than
working HF, now seems a good time for 6-meter operations and observing
aurora. Solar flux over the next few days (May 30 through June 2) is
predicted at 145, 140, 135 and 125.

Sunspot numbers for May 22 through 28 were 110, 87, 84, 51, 65, 116 and
116, with a mean of 89.9. The 10.7-cm flux was 118.4, 117.9, 116.8, 121.1,
125.1, 128.8 and 130.2, with a mean of 122.6. Estimated planetary A
indices were 25, 21, 22, 22, 18, 26 and 36, with a mean of 24.3.
__________________________________

==>IN BRIEF:

* This weekend on the radio: The Six Club World Wide Contest and the Great
Lakes QSO Party are the weekend of May 31-June 1. JUST AHEAD: The VK-ZL
Trans-Tasman Contest (CW), the IARU Region 1 Field Day (CW) and the QRP
TAC Sprint are the weekend of June 7-8. 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 Emergency Communications course registration: Registration opens
Monday, June 2, 12:01 AM EDT (0401 UTC), for the on-line Level I Emergency
Communications course (EC-001). Registration remains open through the June
7-8 weekend or until all available seats have been filled--whichever comes
first. Class begins Tuesday, June 17. Thanks to a United Technologies
Corporation grant, the $45 registration fee paid upon enrollment will be
reimbursed after successful completion of the course. During this
registration period, approximately 200 seats are being offered to ARRL
members on a first-come, first-served basis. A new service now allows
those interested in taking an ARRL Certification and Continuing Education
(C-CE) course in the future to receive advance word of registration
opportunities via e-mail. To take advantage, send an e-mail to
prereg@arrl.org. On the subject line, include the course name or number
(eg, EC-00#). In the message body, include your name, call sign, e-mail
address, and the month you want to start the course. To learn more, visit
the ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Web page
<http://www.arrl.org/cce/> and the C-CE Links found there. For more
information, contact Emergency Communications Course Manager Dan Miller,
K3UFG, dmiller@arrl.org; 860-594-0340.

* ARRL to sponsor emergency communications course seminar in Texas: The
ARRL will offer a free Amateur Radio Emergency Communications course
(ARECC) seminar Friday, June 20, in conjunction with the ARRL National
Convention at HamCom in Arlington, Texas. The seminar will not include the
Level I course itself. This program is designed to explain in greater
detail the duties of volunteer certification mentors, instructors and
examiners of the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications courses and
provide additional information for those considering these volunteer
positions. The seminar will be Friday, June 20, 1-5 PM, Room M5. Seating
may be limited. If you plan to attend, contact ARRL Emergency
Communications Course Manager Dan Miller, K3UFG, k3ufg@arrl.org;
860-594-0340; fax 860-594-0259. For registered CMs, CIs and CEs who
attend, mileage may be reimbursable up to $35. Seminar attendance does not
include admission to the convention, June 20-22. For more information on
the 2003 ARRL National Convention, visit the HamCom Web site
<http://www.hamcom.org>.

* Gerald G. Schmitt, KK5YY, SK: Jerry Schmitt, KK5YY (ex-KC5EGG), of Los
Alamos, New Mexico, died unexpectedly May 23 after an apparent heart
attack. He was 60. Schmitt was especially well-known within the AMSAT and
APRS communities and was the designer and primary promoter of the portable
Arrow antenna used for satellite work; he also had a hand in developing
antennas for AO-40. "Jerry was a very good friend of AMSAT's," said AMSAT
President Robin Haighton, VE3FRH. At Hamvention 2003 Schmitt assisted at
the AMSAT booth and did a live ham satellite demonstration. "He was just a
great guy all around and full of humor," Haighton said. "We're all going
to miss him." An ARRL member, Schmitt served as a net control operator for
the New Mexico Swapnet and took part in providing ham radio communication
during the Cerro Grande fires in New Mexico. In 2001, Schmitt managed
Earth-station duties during an Amateur Radio on the International Space
Station (ARISS) school group contact from the New Mexico Museum of Natural
History and Science in Albuquerque. He was nearing retirement from Los
Alamos National Laboratories and planning to move with his wife, Barbara,
KD5CGU, to Alaska. Arrangements are pending.--Brian Mileshosky, N5ZGT,
provided some information for this report

* Digital Communications Conference issues call for papers: Technical
papers are solicited for presentation at the 22nd annual ARRL-TAPR Digital
Communications Conference set for September 19-21, 2003, in Hartford,
Connecticut. Papers also are needed for publication in the conference
Proceedings, published by the ARRL. Presentation at the conference is not
required for publication. The deadline to submit papers is August 5.
Submissions go to Maty Weinberg, KB1EIB, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT
06111, or to maty@arrl.org. Paper submission guidelines are available on
the TAPR Web site <http://www.tapr.org/dcc/>.

* Echo satellite a no-go for 2003 launch: AMSAT-NA President Robin
Haighton, VE3FRH, says launch of the ECHO Amateur Radio satellite now
under construction will be delayed about six months, so the satellite will
not be launched this year as previously hoped. "This is not an AMSAT
delay, but we have learned that the launch organization does not have a
primary payload for their fall launch," Haighton said in this month's
"President's Letter" via AMSAT News Service. "On the positive side, it
gives us a few more months to complete the work on ECHO, complete the
software and complete the tests. It may also slightly reduce our overall
launch costs."--AMSAT News Service

* Ham radio exempted from Texas tower legislation: Hams in Texas are
breathing a sigh of relief after lawmakers exempted Amateur Radio
licensees from Senate Bill 1261, also known as the LeClair-Jennings Act.
The measure relates to proposed construction, marking and location of
wireless communication towers. The Texas House of Representatives this
week passed SB 1261--it earlier had gained Senate approval--and it now
goes to Gov Rick Perry <http://www.governor.state.tx.us/> for his
signature. The text of the legislation is available on the Texas
Legislature Web site <http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/>.

* Two-man ISS crew easing into operational routine: Now a month into their
Expedition 7 mission, the crew of the International Space Station has
moved beyond an orientation and familiarization schedule and into an
agenda of operations that reflects the range of activities they'll pursue
during the remaining five months of their flight. Expedition 7 Commander
Yuri Malenchenko, RK3DUP, and NASA ISS Science Officer Ed Lu, KC5WKJ, last
week completed various maintenance tasks. This week, Malenchenko and
Lu--the first two-person crew to stay aboard the ISS--will replace a
storage battery in the Zvezda Service Module. As training for a
contingency space walk, Malenchenko and Lu will practice getting into--and
out of--their American spacesuits, a task they typically had help with
during training on the ground. No spacewalks are planned for this
increment, however. On May 21 Malenchenko and Lu discussed mission
progress and scientific research with the BBC World Service and with
WHEC-TV in Rochester, New York, near Lu's hometown of Webster. The
following day, they answered questions from students gathered at the Adler
Planetarium in Chicago. On May 27, Lu spoke via Amateur Radio with
students at the Klem Road South School, his home town alma mater (see
"Astronaut Thrills Hometown Youngsters via Amateur Radio" elsewhere in
this issue). More information on the Expedition 7 crew's activities is
available on NASA's Human Spaceflight Web site
<http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/>.--NASA

* Ham-meteorologists win NOAA Administrator's Award: Scott Mentzer, N0QE,
who's the meteorologist in charge at the National Weather Service's
Goodland, Kansas, office, is a recipient of this year's NOAA (National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Administrator's Award. The award
cites "major achievements in strengthening the relationship between the
National Weather Service and volunteer Amateur Radio (ham) operators
involved in hazardous weather communications throughout the United
States." Former Goodland NWS Office meteorologist Dennis Hull, KB0NYC, now
of Pendelton, Oregon, is another award recipient. While at Goodland, he
was warning coordination meteorologist and worked closely with ham weather
spotters. Mentzer called the ARRL "a great supporter and cosponsor of the
national SKYWARN Recognition Day each December," which Mentzer has helped
organize and develop. Mentzer and Hull will be treated to an expenses-paid
trip to Washington, DC, to pick up their awards.

* Newfoundland club promoting interest in LF work: The Marconi Radio Club
of Newfoundland is promoting interest in low-frequency (LF) work on 136
kHz The club reports it's breaking new ground on the long waves by
conducting experiments aimed at assisting Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC)
<http://www.rac.ca> to acquire a 136-kHz amateur allocation and promoting
interest in LF work. The RAC has endorsed and Industry Canada has approved
an experimental license proposal drafted by club member Joe Craig, VO1NA.
Since then, an LF transmitting station--the first in the
Newfoundland-Labrador Section--has been on the air at 135.830 kHz as MRCN
members conduct various experiments including crossband contacts. Signals
from the station have been copied by W1TAG near Boston and by G3NYK in
England. The FCC recently decided against granting the 136-kHz allocation
for US amateurs that ARRL had requested and the FCC had proposed granting
in 2002. Visit the MRCN Web site <http://www.ucs.mun.ca/~jcraig/mrcn.html>
for further information.

===========================================================
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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Material from The ARRL Letter may be republished or reproduced in whole or
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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.

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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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