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ARRL Letter

 

***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 22, No. 41
October 17, 2003
***************

IN THIS EDITION:

* +President Haynie says letters are key to legislation
* +Ham yields license following alleged police radio interference
* +New, two-ham crew ready to take over ISS reins
* +Brazil will host next WRTC
* +More details released on 3C0V team's ouster from Annobon
* +First statewide SET in Florida deemed a success
*  Solar Update
*  IN BRIEF:
     This weekend on the radio
     ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Communications course registration
     ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration
     JOTA! JOTA! JOTA!
     Papua New Guinea latest to drop Morse requirement
     Hams honored at Montana forest fire volunteers appreciation picnic
     DCC Proceedings available from ARRL
     Ham radio news is as close as your cell phone

+Available on ARRL Audio News

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

==>HAYNIE: LETTERS=VOTERS=SUPPORT ON AMATEUR RADIO LEGISLATION

ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, says the good news is that the number of
House cosponsors for the Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act, HR 713,
has topped 50. The Senate version of the legislation, S 537, now has eight
cosponsors. The downside, Haynie says, is that the Spectrum Protection
Bill as well as the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Consistency
Act, HR 1478, will need many more cosponsors if either is to succeed.

"I'm frustrated," Haynie said this week. "Neither one of these bills is
ever going to see the light of day unless we get more cosponsors." While
thanking those who already have done so, Haynie again encouraged ARRL
members to not only urge their senators and representatives to cosponsor
the bills but to write and ask them to actively support them.

"It's going to take 10,000 letters, it's going to take 50,000 letters or
contacts," Haynie said. "To me, this is a no-brainer. This is something
that's important to the future of Amateur Radio."

Sponsored in the House by Rep Michael Bilirakis (R-FL) and in the Senate
by Sen Michael Crapo (R-ID), the Spectrum Protection Act would require the
FCC to provide "equivalent replacement spectrum" to Amateur Radio if the
FCC reallocates primary amateur frequencies, reduces any secondary amateur
allocations, or makes additional allocations within such bands that would
substantially reduce their utility to amateurs.

The latest House members to sign aboard HR 713 include representatives Jo
Bonner (R-AL); John Peterson (R-PA); Albert Wynn (D-MD); George Nethercutt
(R-WA); Jim Ramstad (R-MN); Barney Frank (D-MA); Todd Tiahrt (R-KS); and
Fortney "Pete" Stark (D-CA). The latest Senate members to sign aboard S
537 are Carl Levin (D-MI) and Christopher Dodd (D-CT).

HR 713 has been referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the
Internet. In June, Haynie testified before that panel, telling lawmakers
that that hams have lost more than 100 MHz of VHF and UHF spectrum over
the past 15 years and that another nearly 360 MHz of VHF and UHF spectrum
"has been substantially compromised." S 537 has been referred to the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

The Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Consistency Act, HR 1478--known
informally as "the CC&R bill"--would require private land-use regulators
such as homeowners' associations to "reasonably accommodate" Amateur Radio
antennas consistent with the PRB-1 limited federal preemption. PRB-1 now
applies only to states and municipalities. Introduced by Rep Steve Israel
(D-NY), the bill has been referred to the House Commerce Subcommittee on
Telecommunications and the Internet and now has 29 cosponsors.

Among the latest to get onboard HR 1478 are JD Hayworth (R-AZ); David
Price (D-NC); Rep Mike McIntyre (NC); Anna G. Eshoo (CA-14); and Mark
Udall (D-CO). No equivalent bill yet exists in the Senate.

Haynie says that if ARRL members value Amateur Radio and want these
proposals to succeed, they'll make the time to write letters or send
e-mails pushing for support of the three measures. "Peoples' own words and
their own expressions are what's going to count, not some canned letter
from Newington," Haynie said, while conceding that a form letter "is
better than nothing." Haynie said a personally crafted letter or e-mail
"adds a lot of weight."

Sample letters on the ARRL Web site for the Amateur Radio Spectrum
Protection Act of 2003
<http://www.arrl.org/govrelations/arspa.html#sample> and for the Amateur
Radio Emergency Communications Consistency Act
<http://www.arrl.org/govrelations/hr1478/sample-letter.html> cite Amateur
Radio's role in public safety and emergency communication.

"We'll do our part to get more organizations to support these bills,"
Haynie said. The League has been contacting other organizations involved
in public safety that have firsthand knowledge of the value of ham radio
to the public and advocating their support. But, Haynie said, letters from
individual voters get the most attention.

Cosponsorship is important while a bill is in committee, and Haynie
suggests that a representative or senator who gets 40 or 50 letters from
on a topic is going want to sign on to that bill.

"I can't emphasize enough the importance of that contact to the member of
Congress from the constituents out there in the district," Haynie
concluded, "because that's the ticket."

For guidance on the best methods of contacting your members of Congress,
see "Communicating with Congress," by Derek Riker, KB3JLF, on the ARRL Web
site <http://www.arrl.org/news/bandthreat/0304046.pdf> or in the April
2003 issue of QST (p 46).

Additional information--including the bills' texts and information on how
to write your congressperson or senators--is on the ARRL's "The Amateur
Radio Spectrum Protection Act of 2003" Web page
<http://www.arrl.org/govrelations/arspa.html> and on the "HR 1478, The
Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Consistency Act of 2003" Web page
<http://www.arrl.org/govrelations/hr1478/>.

Those writing their lawmakers on behalf of either bill are asked to copy
their correspondence to the League via e-mail: Spectrum Protection Act, HR
713/S 637 <specbill03@arrl.org>; or Amateur Radio Emergency Communications
Consistency Act, HR 1478 <ccr-bill@arrl.org>;.

==>AMATEUR TO TURN IN TICKET IN POLICE RADIO INTERFERENCE CASE

The FCC says an Indiana amateur has agreed to relinquish his Amateur Radio
operator license for two years as a result of allegations that he
interfered with local police department radio transmissions. FCC Special
Counsel Riley Hollingsworth outlined the terms of the agreement in a
September 23 letter to Technician licensee Justin L. Whaley, KC9DCP, of
Columbia City. According to the letter, the FCC notified Whaley last March
that close-proximity direction finding evidence indicated that the
licensee had interfered with the operation of the Columbia City Police
Department radio system early this year.

The agreement--which Whaley had not yet signed as of this week--calls on
him to resolve the enforcement issues he faces by relinquishing his
Amateur Radio operator license for two years. Whaley also must agree not
to maintain an amateur station nor to use anyone else's station.
Hollingsworth said that since Whaley shut down his station last March 28,
the agreement would remain in effect until March 28, 2005. Hollingsworth
requested that Whaley sign the letter and return it to the FCC along with
his Amateur Radio license.

The FCC meanwhile is seeking additional information from three other
licensees who allegedly used ham gear to transmit on police or emergency
frequencies.

Hollingsworth wrote General-class licensee Tom L. Christman, KB2NAV, of
Albany, New York, on September 22 regarding a complaint from the Albany
County Sheriff's Department's Office of Professional Standards. The FCC
asked Christman, a sheriff's department maintenance worker, to respond to
allegations that he used his ham radio transceiver to make transmissions
on sheriff's department frequencies last December "without a legitimate
purpose." The sheriff's department has requested that the FCC suspend or
revoke Christman's amateur license.

Hollingsworth also wrote two North Carolina Technician-class
amateurs--Daniel E. Buchanan, KF4LNE, of Montreat, and Joseph S. "Shannon"
Hutchins, KG4SXD, of Swannanoa--concerning complaints from the Black
Mountain Police Department alleging that both had transmitted on police
frequencies last February. The transmissions apparently were made using a
handheld transceiver while Buchanan and Hutchins were in the same vehicle.

Documents from the Asheville/Buncombe County District Attorney's Office
assert that the Black Mountain police channel had experienced "numerous
transmissions" earlier this year on a police frequency (156.01 MHz)
"including verbal profanity and racial slurs." A police officer who
questioned Buchanan and Hutchins said they admitted transmitting on police
frequencies. They later voluntarily signed statements to that effect in
which each blamed the other for making the racial slur.

The District Attorney's Office statement said that one transmission last
February 8, while police were attempting to respond to an auto accident
involving multiple injuries, "prevented officers from communication with
dispatch or each other."
Hollingsworth this month also heard from amateurs in the Los Angeles area
that some repeater owners are shutting down their machines due to alleged
ongoing interference from Jack Gerritsen, formerly KG6IRO. The FCC
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau set aside Gerritsen's license in 2001 a
few days after granting it after learning that he'd been convicted the
previous year on state charges of interfering with Los Angeles Police
Department radio transmissions.

Imprisoned, paroled and imprisoned again after breaking parole for
allegedly having and operating radio equipment without a license,
Gerritsen was released early due to jail overcrowding.

Hollingsworth said the FCC continues to work the case, but he expressed
frustration that Gerritsen was let out of prison again with no conditions
or restrictions "even regarding radio, which is what he was in there for
in the first place."

==>NEW TWO-HAM ISS CREW SET TO HEAD INTO SPACE

The International Space Station (ISS) crew is getting ready to have
company and to head back to Earth. Aboard the ISS since April, Expedition
7 Commander Yuri Malenchenko, RK3DUP, and NASA ISS Science Officer Ed Lu,
KC5WKJ, this week have been preparing for the arrival of their
replacements--the Expedition 8 team of Mike Foale, KB5UAC, and Alexander
Kaleri, U8MIR. This week, the Expedition 7 crew also took time to extend
wishes for good fortune to China's first astronaut, Yang Liwei.

"That is very good news. It's nice to see this happen," said Lu, during a
conversation with ground controllers in which he also expressed wishes in
Chinese that Yang Liwei "have a safe journey" in space. "From one
spacefaring nation to another, we wish them congratulations." After
sharing space with the ISS for 14 orbits, Yang's Shenzhou V space capsule
landed safely in Mongolia October 16.

Foale, Kaleri and European Space Agency Astronaut Pedro Duque, KC5RGG, are
set to head into space themselves Saturday, October 18, at 0538 UTC aboard
a Russian Soyuz transporter. They'll launch from Baikonur Cosmodrome in
Kazakhstan. After docking with the ISS on October 20 and a week of
crew-change activity, Malenchenko, Lu and Duque will return to Earth
aboard the Soyuz vehicle that's now attached to the ISS.

While Duque is onboard the ISS, he will attempt Amateur Radio on the
International Space Station (ARISS) <http://www.rac.ca/ariss/> school
group contacts October 23 with Ceip Seixalbo School and October 26 with
the Casa de las Palabrabas museum, both in his native Spain. Duque will
use the special event ED4ISS call sign issued to him by his native
country.

The English-born Foale, 46, will serve as the Expedition 8 commander and
NASA ISS science officer. Kaleri, 47, will be the Soyuz commander and ISS
flight engineer. Both are Mir veterans with long-term spaceflight
experience.

With the NASA shuttle fleet still grounded for another year, two-person
crews will be the rule. The Soyuz, which carries three passengers, will
remain the prime crew transport system. Russian Progress rockets will
transport needed supplies. Foale and Kaleri will spend approximately six
months aboard the ISS.

ARISS Russian delegate Sergej Samburov, RV3DR, completed final Amateur
Radio training with the Expedition 8 crew on September 29 in Russia.
Several US amateurs recently enjoyed casual contacts with NA1SS, as
confirmed by Lu. They included KF4LGA, WB8OTH, N8DZM, and KG4IIE.

==>BRAZIL TO HOST NEXT WORLD RADIOSPORT TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

The next World Radiosport Team Championship (WRTC) will be held in 2006 in
Brazil. That announcement came October 11 from the World Radiosport Team
Championship Sanctioning Committee, the Liga de Amadores de Radio Emissão
(LABRE) <http://www.labre.org/> and the Araucaria DX Group (GADX)
<http://www.inepar.com.br/araucaria/radio.htm>. Steve Morris, K7LXC,
chairs the WRTC Sanctioning Committee.

Last held in Finland in July 2002, the WRTC is a competition among
two-person teams drawn from among the world's top Amateur Radio contest
operators. This event brings competitors together in a single geographical
area.

The on-the-air portion of the event is held in conjunction with the
International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) HF World Championship
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/announcements/rules-iaru.html>, although
WRTC rules differ in some respects from those of the IARU event, and
scoring is done separately.

WRTC stations run 100 W and have comparably modest antenna
systems--typically a dipole for the low bands and a triband Yagi for the
higher bands. The idea is to minimize the variables associated with radio
contesting, thereby emphasizing each team's operating skills.

The WRTC 2006 competition will take place in the vicinity of
Florianopolis, capital of the state of Santa Catarina in southern Brazil.
"This event is open to everyone--competitor and spectator alike," said Oms
Atilano, PY5EG of GDAX. "Everyone is invited to attend WRTC 2006." Atilano
said a WRTC 2006 Web site is in the offing.

The contesting duo of Jeff Steinman, N5TJ, and Dan Street, K1TO, took home
the WRTC gold for the third time in the 2002 event in Finland. Steinman
and Street also topped the field of some 50 teams in WRTC 2000 in Slovenia
as well as at WRTC 96 in the San Francisco Bay area of California. There's
no word yet on whether they plan to compete in WRTC 2006.

==>3C0V TEAM WAS GIVEN JUST HOURS TO LEAVE

The Daily DX <http://www.dailydx.com/> reports this week that the Annobón
Island 3C0V DXpedition <http://personal.telefonica.terra.es/web/ea5yn/>
team was given just a few hours to leave October 4 after the island's
military commander reportedly objected to the Amateur Radio operators'
presence. The 3C0V operation commenced September 26, and--until its abrupt
and unceremonious termination--intended to continue until October 11.
Before the shutdown, the four-member group managed to log numerous
contacts on 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10 meters. The Daily DX Editor Bernie
McClenny, W3UR, spoke October 12 with team member Franz Langner, DJ9ZB,
now safely home in Germany.

"Franz says the 3C0V crew first met with the governor of the island and
the head of the military on their arrival there," McClenny reports. "At
that time they had the approval to operate from both of these officials.
Gifts were even presented." McClenny says the group had a "proper license"
and a landing permit good for two years.

"On Saturday [October 4] at 10 AM local they were told they had two to
three hours to take everything down and be ready to leave," McClenny said,
adding that the demand came from the military commander of the island. A
news update on the 3C0V Web site said military authorities frequently had
interrupted the DXpedition.

After dismantling the equipment and antennas and leaving nothing behind,
all four operators boarded a plane to Malabo, the capital of Equatorial
Guinea. A part of Equatorial Guinea, Annobón, is located in the Gulf of
Guinea off Africa's west coast. The other 3C0V operators also have since
returned home and are reported to be okay.

The 3C0V logs reportedly are safe and expected to eventually be loaded
onto the 3C0V Web page. The DXCC Desk has not yet approved the 3C0V
DXpedition for DXCC. EA5BYP kept open the possibility of a future attempt
to activate Annobón Island.

==>HUGE POWER OUTAGE IS SCENARIO FOR FIRST STATEWIDE FLORIDA SET

For the first time, Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) members in all
three Florida ARRL sections participated in a Simulated Emergency Test
(SET) October 2-4. Appropriately enough--given the August 14 power outage
in the Northeast--the scenario was a three-day statewide electrical power
outage. A QNC ("All net stations copy!") went out to all Florida amateurs
October 2 to advise of the SET. Also sent was a request from the Florida
State Warning Point--which monitors for major incidents and
emergencies--for status information from all Red Cross chapters in
Florida.

"With no advance warning as to the nature of the emergency, amateurs
across the state quickly responded to the requests," reported ARRL West
Central Florida Section Manager Dave Armbrust, AE4MR. "Special nets were
called and scheduled with checkins from stations operating on emergency
power."

Armbrust said he was impressed by the number of stations that had
emergency power capability. "A large number had generators and large
quantities of fuel on hand," he said. "There is no question in my mind
that if we had a statewide power outage, it would not mean that Amateur
Radio would be off the air."

Armbrust said the SET clearly established that many Florida amateurs
consider it essential to continue to be able to communicate when
conventional power fails. "They have, at great expense to themselves, set
up stations that will remain on the air in all but the most extreme
circumstances," he said. "They will be there when we need them the most."

Armbrust reported "exceptional cooperation" among the three
sections--Northern Florida, Southern Florida and West Central Florida. "We
clearly proved that all ARES and National Traffic System (NTS) members in
the state can work together as a single large team if a statewide disaster
would require us to do so," he concluded.

==>SOLAR UPDATE

Sun watcher Tad "Who can make the sun shine, on a cloudy day?" Cook, K7RA,
Seattle, Washington, reports: Solar flux and sunspot numbers were lower
this week, but the planetary A index was higher. In general, we like to
see the reverse for favorable HF propagation. The planetary A index was
low for October 9-12, but on October 14 and 15 conditions were quite
stormy. This is because a coronal hole on the sun was spewing a strong
solar wind, and the interplanetary magnetic field pointed south, leaving
Earth vulnerable. Planetary A index was 48 and 42 on October 14 and 15,
and Alaska's high-latitude college A index was 65 and 71.

When the sunspot count went to 24 on October 14, this was the lowest
sunspot number since May 10 of this year, when it was 22. We should expect
more days like this as the solar cycle declines.

Over the next few days, sunspot numbers and solar flux should rise, with
solar flux values peaking around October 25 at 130. Solar wind over the
next few days should cause more geomagnetic upset, with the October 17-22
planetary A index pegged at 25, 20, 15, 15, 30 and 25.

Sunspot numbers for October 9 through 15 were 68, 79, 77, 35, 25, 24 and
29, with a mean of 48.1. The 10.7-cm flux was 110.8, 111.8, 105.8, 97.8,
94.4, 92.4 and 95.9, with a mean of 101.3. Estimated planetary A indices
were 8, 5, 5, 6, 13, 48 and 42, with a mean of 18.2.

__________________________________

==>IN BRIEF:

* This weekend on the radio: Jamboree On the Air (JOTA--see below), the
JARTS World Wide RTTY Contest, the ARCI Fall QSO Party, the Worked All
Germany Contest, the W/VE Islands QSO Party, the Asia-Pacific Sprint (CW),
the RSGB 21/28 MHz Contest (CW) and the Illinois QSO Party are the weekend
of October 18-19. JUST AHEAD: The CQ Worldwide DX Contest (SSB) and the
10-10 International Fall Contest (CW) are the weekend of October 25-26.
The ARRL November Sweepstakes (CW) is the weekend of November 1-2. 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, October 20, 12:01 AM Eastern Daylight Time (0401 UTC), for the
Level III Emergency Communications on-line course (EC-003). Registration
remains open through the October 25-26 weekend or until all available
seats have been filled--whichever comes first. Class begins Tuesday,
November 4. Thanks to our grant sponsors--the Corporation for National and
Community Service and the United Technologies Corporation--the $45
registration fee paid upon enrollment will be reimbursed after successful
completion of the course. During this registration period, approximately
50 seats are being offered to ARRL members on a first-come, first-served
basis. To learn more, visit the ARRL Certification and Continuing
Education (C-CE) <http://www.arrl.org/cce/> Web page 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 Certification and Continuing Education course registration:
Registration for the HF Digital Communications (EC-005) and VHF/UHF--Life
Beyond the Repeater (EC-008) courses opens Monday, October 20, 12:01 AM
Eastern Daylight Time (0401 UTC). Registration remains open through
Sunday, October 26. Classes begin Monday, October 27. Registration for the
ARRL Antenna Modeling (EC-004) course remains open through Sunday, October
19. Those interested in taking an ARRL Certification and Continuing
Education (C-CE) course in the future can sign up to receive advance
notification of registration opportunities. To take advantage, send an
e-mail to prereg@arrl.org. On the subject line, indicate the course name
or number (eg, EC-00#) and the month you want to start the course. In the
message body, provide your name, call sign, and e-mail address. Please do
not send inquiries to this mailbox. 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
Certification and Continuing Education Program Coordinator Howard Robins,
W1HSR, hrobins@arrl.org.

* JOTA! JOTA! JOTA! The 2003 Jamboree On The Air (JOTA)
<http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/jota.html> begins Saturday, October 18, at
0001 local time and ends Sunday, October 19, at 2359 local time. JOTA
gives Amateur Radio operators and clubs a chance to let Boy Scouts and
Girl Scouts (Cub Scouts, Brownies and Girl Guides are welcome) share
experiences over the air with other scouts. It's also an opportunity to
take part in a worldwide scouting tradition that's now in its 46th year.
Maxim Memorial Station W1AW will be on the air for JOTA the afternoon of
October 18. ARRL Educational Programs Coordinator Jean Wolfgang, WB3IOS,
points out that ARRL has revamped the JOTA survey/log form
<http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/jotalog/>. JOTA participants are
encouraged to complete and submit the form on the Web. Last year, more
than 10,000 Scouts from around the US took part in JOTA. Details are on
page 46 of the September issue of QST. Also see "Jamboree On The Air 2003
is October 18-19" <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2003/09/21/1/>. For
additional information, contact Jean Wolfgang, WB3IOS, jwolfgang@arrl.org.

* Papua New Guinea latest to drop Morse requirement: Rick Warnett, P29KFS,
reports that the Papua New Guinea Telecommunications Administration
(PANGTEL) has deleted Morse code as a requirement for HF access. The
decision came on October 6 and will be formally announced in the next few
days, said Warnett--the International Amateur Radio Union representative
for the Papua New Guinea Amateur Radio Society. "Some 30 to 40 new 'full
calls' will now have access to HF radio and the international
communication possible," Warnett said. In addition, Ireland, Switzerland,
Belgium, the UK, Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, Austria, New Zealand,
Australia, Luxembourg and Singapore have moved to drop their Amateur Radio
Morse testing requirements. A recent Radio Amateurs of Canada survey
<http://www.rac.ca/news/mresults.htm> indicated that two-thirds of the
Canadian licensees responding to the survey want their country to drop the
Morse requirement. In the US, the comment period on another seven separate
Morse code-related petitions for rule making--some of which would
altogether eliminate Element 1, the 5 WPM Morse test, from the Amateur
Service rules (Part 97)--ends Friday, November 7. US amateurs may comment
on the petitions--RM-10805 through RM-10811--using the FCC Electronic
Comment Filing System (ECFS) <http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/>. See "FCC
Invites Comments on Additional Morse Code-Related Petitions"
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2003/10/08/1/> for more information.

* Hams honored at Montana forest fire volunteers appreciation picnic:
Amateur Radio's role in Montana's forest fires this past summer got
official recognition this month when the US Forest Service and Helena-area
businesses and organizations hosted an appreciation picnic. The event
honored firefighters, law enforcement officers and community
volunteers--including Amateur Radio operators--who assisted with
firefighting efforts in Lewis and Clark, Powell, Jefferson, and Broadwater
counties this summer. Individual hams recognized included Rollie Fisher,
KC7WBP, and Jim Haslip, W7CK. Fisher set up at Lincoln's Hooper Park every
day during the Lincoln Complex fires, providing current information to
residents and visitors. He and his wife, Eenie KC7WBO, were among the many
families forced to evacuate their homes because of the fire danger. Haslip
has been an aerial fire spotter for 40 summers. Amateur Radio's support of
Red Cross and other relief agencies during the fire emergency also
received recognition. Lewis and Clark County Emergency Coordinator Bob
Solomon, K7HLN, accepted a plaque on behalf of the Amateur Radio Emergency
Service and the Capital City Amateur Radio Club. An estimated 300 people
turned out for the event at the Lewis and Clark Fairgrounds. Dignitaries
on hand included Montana Gov Judy Martz, Montana congressional staffers,
county commissioners and others. Volunteer fire departments, county, state
and federal fire and law enforcement agencies, and supporting agencies
were recognized and awarded plaques that read, "United by Fire. The 2003
Montana fire season was marked by volatile fire behavior and overwhelming
response. We faced these challenges jointly as community members,
volunteers, fire and law enforcement officials. With our collective and
individual sense of pride, may we commemorate our efforts and remain
united."
* DCC Proceedings available from ARRL: So many amateurs contributed papers
to the 2003 ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference the
Proceedings--at 248 pages--was among the largest in the history of the
event. Copies of the Proceedings of the 22nd ARRL/TAPR Digital
Communications Conference now are available for $20 plus shipping via the
ARRL on-line catalog <http://www.arrl.org/catalog/?item=9086>.

* Ham radio news is as close as your cell phone: With many major cellular
telephone calling plans largely eliminating roaming charges and offering
"free nights and weekends," ARRL Audio News dial-up Amateur Radio news
service now is more available than ever. Using your cell phone, you can
keep up with Amateur Radio news even if you're someplace where you don't
have Internet or e-mail access. Amateur Radio news is as close as your
cell phone! Have a few minutes while you're waiting for the train, bus car
pool or connecting flight too? Just call 860-594-0384 to stay informed.
ARRL Audio News remains available on the ARRL Web site
<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/>.

===========================================================
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
interest to active amateurs. The ARRL Letter strives to be timely,
accurate, concise, and readable. Visit ARRLWeb <http://www.arrl.org/> for
the latest news, updated as it happens. The ARRL Web site
<http://www.arrl.org/> offers access to news, informative features and
columns. ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> is a
weekly "ham radio newscast" compiled from The ARRL Letter.

Material from The ARRL Letter may be republished or reproduced in whole or
in part in any form without additional permission. Credit must be given to
The ARRL Letter and The American Radio Relay League.

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860-594-0384

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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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