*************** The ARRL Letter Vol. 23, No. 34 August 27, 2004 *************** IN THIS EDITION: * +League seeks members' input on draft "bandwidth" petition * +ARRL will take part in National Preparedness Month * +Balloting to decide ARRL director, two vice directors * +Coordinator adopts "all tone, all the time" repeater policy * +On-air Maxim Birthday Anniversary celebration set * +New Section Manager elected for Minnesota * +Bruce Muscolino, W6TOY, SK * Solar Update * IN BRIEF: This weekend on the radio ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration +AMSAT Lab building is Hurricane Charley victim Site, host sought for fifth USA ARDF Championships Robert R. Adams, W8BKO, SK Alexanderson SAQ station now on UNESCO World Heritage List QCWA-suffix call sign to mark convention special event +Available on ARRL Audio News =========================================================== ==>ARRL SEEKS COMMENT ON DRAFT "BANDWIDTH" PETITION The ARRL wants members' comments on a planned petition to the FCC seeking to regulate amateur subbands by bandwidth rather than by mode. The ARRL Board of Directors adopted the petition's guiding principle--to create a regulatory environment more accommodating to newer technologies--two years ago, and it wrapped up its review of a draft petition in late July. "The main objective is to make appropriate provision for digital modes in the HF amateur bands, while preserving amateurs' prerogatives to use the traditional modes," said ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ. "Regulation by Bandwidth" is the title of Sumner's "It Seems to Us . . ." editorial in September QST. The draft petition represents expert input from the ARRL Ad Hoc HF Digital Committee. ARRL staff also provided an interim report, and the Board reviewed a draft petition when it met last January. An ARRL Executive Committee review followed. The EC decided to make a synopsis and explanation of the petition available to ARRL members before it goes to the FCC. "The regulation of emission modes in Amateur Radio Service allocations is a limiting factor with respect to Amateur Radio experimentation," the petition synopsis concludes. "It leads to attempts to put new technology into a regulatory framework that was designed only to deal with older analog emissions." To implement digital technologies, an underlying assumption of the League's draft petition is to provide for an intermediate bandwidth--between what's needed for the legacy CW and phone modes--in the middle of certain bands. As drafted, the ARRL's bandwidth petition would preserve double-sideband AM unchanged, but it would stop short of opening the phone bands to digital and other modes of the same bandwidth. FCC rules now permit RTTY and data emissions throughout the HF CW subbands, although informal agreements typically keep RTTY and data signals out of those parts of the CW band generally used for CW. The ARRL's petition proposes to limit bandwidth in the CW subbands to 200 Hz, which also will accommodate data modes such as PSK31. In addition, the League's proposal would limit bandwidth in the existing "RTTY/data subbands" to either 500 Hz or 3 kHz, with phone emissions specifically prohibited in certain subbands where 3 kHz would be permitted. Under the proposal, these would include 3650-3725, 7100-7125, 14,100-14,150 and 21,150-21,200 kHz. "The reason for this is to encourage the development of higher-speed data communications in these subbands by preventing them from becoming de facto 'expanded phone bands.'" Sumner explained. The new proposals take into account the ARRL's prior "Novice refarming" petition to expand some HF phone bands, included in the FCC Notice of Proposed Rule Making in WT Docket 04-140. Amateurs typically won't have to be able to measure the bandwidth of their signals, Sumner says, since the bandwidths proposed are more than sufficient for "clean" signals using traditional HF modes. The ARRL proposal would eliminate bandwidth restrictions in the 222-225 MHz band--beyond a requirement to keep signals confined within the band. Sumner encouraged ARRL members to review the synopsis of the petition and the specific rule changes the League plans to propose <http://www.arrl.org/announce/bandwidth.html>. Direct questions or comments--favorable or otherwise--via e-mail <bandwidth@arrl.org>. ARRL staff members will respond to any questions, while comments will be forwarded to your ARRL division director. Members also are welcome to comment directly to their ARRL directors <http://www.arrl.org/divisions/>, also listed on page 15 in QST. ==>ARRL TO PARTICIPATE IN NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH During September, the ARRL will be among dozens of organizations and agencies participating in National Preparedness Month. "The Ready Campaign," produced by the Ad Council in partnership with the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is aimed at making citizen preparedness "a priority for every city, every neighborhood and every home" in the US. The League is an official affiliate of Citizen Corps, a DHS initiative to enhance public preparedness and safety. ARRL will combine its role in National Preparedness Month--which starts September 9--with its own "Amateur Radio Awareness Day" on September 18. "The two events offer great opportunities for Amateur Radio to showcase its valued service to the nation," said ARRL Field and Educational Services Manager Rosalie White, K1STO. She encouraged ARRL-affiliated clubs and Field Organization volunteers to use the occasion to set up public demonstrations of Amateur Radio and to present or even demonstrate--under the banner of National Preparedness Month--the free services Amateur Radio provides to communities. ARRL Club/Mentor Program Manager Norm Fusaro, W3IZ, suggests that while displays should be informative, they also need to be neat and simple. "This is also an excellent opportunity to recruit prospective hams for licensing classes that clubs may be forming for the fall," he added. In addition, ARRL encourages all Amateur Radio operators to have a family emergency communication plan in place in case of an emergency, such as a severe weather event. "Get Ready Now" brochures are available. Visit the Ready.gov Web site <http://www.ready.gov/> for more information. On Amateur Radio Awareness Day, September 18, W1AW/90 will be on the air from 10 AM until 10 PM Eastern Time with ARRL staff members, new Section Managers in town for the annual Section Managers' Workshop and volunteers from the Newington Amateur Radio League as operators. White encourages amateur groups to invite public officials, representatives of served agencies and first responders to visit their public displays to discuss plans for their Simulated Emergency Test (SET), typically in early October, or other drills. Some clubs already have jumped on the National Preparedness Month/Amateur Radio Awareness Day bandwagon, Fusaro notes--in some cases by taking advantage of already scheduled events during September. The Middletown Amateur Radio Club--W2MAR--in New Jersey will take part in Middletown Day activities September 18 with a public ham radio display, information table, traffic handling and ARES/RACES displays. The club expects some 3000 visitors in town, including state and local officials. In Illinois, Amateur Radio Awareness Day falls on the same weekend as the three-day Peoria Superfest 2004 Amateur Radio and computer show. The Peoria Area Amateur Radio Club will have an all-day demonstration at the Exposition Garden Fairgrounds on September. The Space Park Employees Association Amateur Radio Club (W6TRW) in Redondo Beach, California, will have its emergency communications team (ECT) van at the Northrop Grumman Space Technology open house September 18. The ARRL has printed materials available for ARRL-affiliated clubs, ARES groups and others to use for public exhibits and ham radio demonstrations. Brochures may be downloaded free of charge from the ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org/htdig/?method+and&words=brochure>. For a small shipping fee, exhibit kits also are available. Contact Linda Mullally, KB1HSV, <lmullally@arrl.org> to order. The League also offers a sample news release <http://www.arrl.org/pio/handbook/sample-news-release.html> that clubs and groups can customize to help spread the word. More information about National Preparedness Month or Amateur Radio demonstrations in general is available from ARRL <clubs@arrl.org>. ==>TWO DIRECTORS TO STEP ASIDE; BALLOTING SET IN THREE DIVISIONS Two members of the ARRL Board of Directors are not seeking new terms this fall, and there will be an election to fill one of the vacancies. Southwestern Division Director Art Goddard, W6XD, who's held the seat since 2002, announced earlier this year that he would not run for the 2005-2007 term. Rocky Mountain Division Director Walt Stinson, W0CP, also has decided not to seek another term after serving since 1998. "We will miss Art and Walt, who have contributed enormously to the League's success during their tenures," said ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, who is secretary of the Board of Directors. Seeking to succeed Goddard is Southwestern Division Vice Director Tuck Miller, NZ6T, of National City, California, who will face off against Dick Norton, N6AA, of Topanga, California. A DXer and contester, Norton competed at the 2002 World Radiosport Team Championship and is a pioneer in computerized contest log checking. Rocky Mountain Division Vice Director Rev Morton, WS7W, of Casper, Wyoming, is unopposed to replace Stinson in the top job. Brian Mileshosky, N5ZGT, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, also had no competition in his bid to succeed Morton. Mileshosky, who turns 25 in October, will be the youngest person in recent memory to serve as an ARRL Vice Director. He was the 1999 winner of the ARRL Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Award. Edward J. Stearns, AA7A, of Scottsdale, Arizona--a DXCC Honor Roll member and past chair of the ARRL Contest Advisory Committee--is unopposed for the Southwestern Division Vice Director's seat that Miller is vacating to run for Director. Stearns and Miller faced off for the seat in 2001. In the Southeastern Division, while 25-year veteran Director Frank Butler, W4RH, faces no opposition for a new term, there is a contest for the division's second slot. Incumbent Vice Director Sandy Donahue, W4RU, faces a challenge from Southern Florida Section Manager Sherri Brower, W4STB, of Vero Beach. Donahue, a former Georgia Section Manager who lives in Atlanta, was elected in 2001. In the West Gulf Division, Director Coy Day, N5OK, of Union City, Oklahoma, has no opposition for a new term. Vice Director Dr David Woolweaver, K5RAV, of Harlingen, Texas, faces a challenge from Doug Loughmiller, W5BL (ex-KO5I and W5DAL), of McKinney, Texas. A past AMSAT-NA Board chairman and the author of more than a dozen QST and QEX articles on amateur satellites, Loughmiller's interests include VHF-UHF work, moonbounce and low-power operating. In the Pacific Division incumbent Director Bob Vallio, W6RGG, is unopposed in his bid for a new term in his own right. The Castro Valley, California, retiree took over the director's chair in February 2003 following the unexpected and untimely death of Jim Maxwell, W6CF. Vice Director Andy Oppel, N6AJO, of Alameda, California, also is running unopposed. He was appointed in 2003 to replace Vallio. Ballots in contested seats will be mailed by October 1 to all full ARRL members in good standing in the three affected divisions as of September 10. The votes will be tallied November 19 at ARRL Headquarters. Three-year terms for successful candidates begin January 1. ==>REPEATER COORDINATOR OKAYS MANDATORY REPEATER TONE POLICY The Southeast Repeater Association (SERA) Board of Directors has approved an "all tone, all the time" policy for the repeaters SERA coordinates. SERA provides voluntary frequency coordination for amateur repeaters in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi and parts of Virginia and West Virginia. The Board okayed a motion to amend its coordination policy and guidelines to require CTCSS or DCS receive and transmit tones on all new FM voice repeaters. Existing voice repeaters will have until July 1, 2006, to comply. The SERA Repeater Journal reported the move in its August issue. Repeater Journal Editor Gary Pearce, KN4AQ, said a need to relieve interference complaints led to the Board's decision. "The point is to stop the ongoing complaints and skirmishes between co-channel neighbors running carrier-access repeaters," Pearce explained. "The vote was unanimous, but SERA recognizes that tone isn't universally popular nor is it a cure-all. And it causes new problems, particularly for travelers." South Carolina ARRL member Laurie Sansbury Jr, KV4C, would agree with Pearce on that score. He also has taken issue with SERA's new policy and with Pearce's Repeater Journal "SquelchTale" editorial, in which Pearce said he had "little sympathy for the ham whose radio doesn't have a tone encoder" and "Radios are cheap today." "Not for the senior on a fixed income they're not," Sansbury retorted in an e-mail copied to ARRL. "Not for a teenager--the future of ham radio--they're not." ARRL South Carolina Technical Coordinator Marc Tarplee, N4UFP, said he believes an important consideration of SERA's tone policy is its potential effect on emergency operations. "The Amateur Radio Service is expected to provide emergency communications," Tarplee said. "How does broad CTCSS implementation enhance or hinder our ability to deliver those communications?" SERA has no plans to automatically decoordinate repeaters that continue to operate without tones, but "SERA would not entertain an interference complaint from the owner of any repeater who chooses to remain carrier access," the Repeater Journal said. If a carrier-access repeater owner getting co-channel interference complains to the FCC, SERA would tell the Commission that the complaining repeater's owner was opting to operate outside the conditions of coordination. "SERA would expect that to be interpreted as a 'no,'" the Repeater Journal report said. "If a repeater owner wants to complain about interference, they'll have to incorporate tone first," Pearce said. ==>AMATEUR COMMUNITY INVITED TO CELEBRATE MAXIM BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY Members of the amateur community are invited to help celebrate the 135th birthday anniversary of the League's co-founder and first president Hiram Percy Maxim, W1AW, who was born September 2, 1869. ARRL Life Members and the League's extended family of elected and appointed volunteers and officials are eligible to identify by appending /135 to their call signs. The complete eligibility list <http://www.arrl.org/qst/2004/09/field-positions-135.html>(or see Sep QST, p 40) also includes ARRL Headquarters staff members as well as past and present ARRL directors, presidents, vice presidents and honorary vice presidents. Maxim Memorial Station W1AW will be on the air for the 135th birthday anniversary event. While W1AW has been appending "/90" to its call sign to mark the ARRL's 90th anniversary, it will go with the /135 identifier during the birthday celebration period. The object of the 10-day event is to work as many HPM/135 stations as you can. Putting at least 25 in the log will make you eligible for an attractive certificate, designed especially for this occasion and endorsable in increments of 25 contacts up to a maximum of 100 (but don't stop there). The HPM/135 event begins at 0000 UTC on Thursday, September 2, and concludes at 2400 UTC on Sunday, September 12. Stations may be contacted for credit on any band or mode--including repeaters. HPM/135 stations transmit signal report, appointment (or position) and name. All others transmit signal report and name. To obtain a certificate, submit a log extract including date, time, band, call sign worked and exchange for each /135 contact. HPM/135 stations are eligible for certificates too. Include your name, call sign and address and indicate how many HPM/135 stations you worked. Entries go to HPM/135 Celebration, c/o W1AW, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111-1494. Entries may be submitted on a floppy disk or CD in text format. Include a check or money order for US$5, payable to ARRL. Entries must be postmarked by October 16, 2004. ==>MINNESOTA ELECTS NEW SECTION MANAGER The ARRL Minnesota Section will be getting a new Section Manager. Richard H. "Skip" Jackson, KS0J, of Inver Grove Heights, received 646 votes to outpoll Chuck Gysi, N2DUP, of Rochester, who got 332 votes. Jackson will succeed SM Randy "Max" Wendel, KM0D, who has served as Minnesota's SM since 1993 and did not seek another term. First licensed in 1955, Jackson cites 40 years experience in technical management and electronics among his primary assets. In recent years, he says, his primary Amateur Radio focus has been on emergency communications and public service. Jackson pledged during his campaign to appoint a management team to help him to guide the section during his tenure. The Minnesota SM slot was the only contested race in the current SM election cycle. Incumbent SMs in eight other ARRL sections ran without opposition for new terms. They are Betsey Doane, K1EIC, Connecticut; Doug Rich, W7DVR, Idaho; Kent Olson, KA0LDG, North Dakota; Joe Phillips, K8QOE, Ohio; John Thomason, WB5SYT, Oklahoma; Sherri Brower, W4STB, Southern Florida; John Ellis, NP2B, Virgin Islands, and Scott Bauer, W2LC, Western New York. Two-year terms for all successful candidates begin October 1. Since there were no candidates for Puerto Rico SM, the League will resolicit nominations for that position. ==>WELL-KNOWN QRPer BRUCE MUSCOLINO, W6TOY, SK Bruce J. Muscolino, W6TOY, of Silver Spring, Maryland, died August 20. He was 64. First licensed in 1956 as K8BAL and well-known within the low-power operating (QRP) community, Muscolino was one of the founders in 1996 of the popular "Four Days in May" (FDIM) QRP convention and symposium sponsored by the QRP Amateur Radio Club International (QRP ARCI) each spring to coincide with Dayton Hamvention. He also was the first QRP contributing editor to the ARRL Web site. "QRP with W6TOY" ran for a year in 1999 and 2000. In its first installment Muscolino maintained that QRP was just part of the bigger picture of ham radio. "I don't see QRP as special, just another fun mode; however, it really makes you use the best parts of your equipment," he wrote. One legacy of Muscolino's Web column is the QRP Kit Matrix <http://www.arrl.org/news/features/1999/11/15/1/qrpkits.pdf> he developed to offer readers a snapshot view of the equipment available to low-power enthusiasts. He also authored a couple of antenna articles in QST and was a regular contributor to the QRP ARCI's QRP Quarterly. Unfortunately, chronic health problems often curtailed his ability to enjoy Amateur Radio and to attend hamfests and conventions. An ARRL Life Member, Muscolino played a significant role in the revival of the Tuna Tin 2 QRP transmitter. After ARRL Laboratory Manager Ed Hare, W1RFI, had located the original Tuna Tin 2 built by the late Doug DeMaw, W1CER (later W1FB), at a hamfest, he called on Muscolino to restore it "to its former glory," as W6TOY put it in his Web column. Members of the QRP community--including some who had only corresponded with Muscolino via the QRP reflector and had never met him--this week offered words of praise. "He was always very helpful to me and graciously offered his knowledge and experience on a number of issues," said Ken Hoglund, KG4FGC, in a message to the QRP reflector. Hoglund suggested that friends remember W6TOY by making a memorial contribution to an ARRL fund <http://www.arrl.org/development/memorial.html>. Curt Milton, WB8YYY, who met Muscolino when he did a QRP presentation at a Maryland hamfest, praised Muscolino's enthusiastic make-do approach. "He also frequently reminded us, as a QRP subculture, not to distance ourselves from other amateurs," Milton said. Denny Payton, N9JXY, called W6TOY "a voice of experience who was always there and always willing to help." Well-known Cuban amateur Arnie Coro, CO2KK, said Muscolino several times mailed him information on how to build low-cost QRP gear, carefully limiting the required parts to what was available in Cuba. Coro said W6TOY helped many QRP newcomers. A service was held August 26 in Rockville, Maryland. The QRP ARCI will hold the QRP SK Memorial Sprint <http://2hams.net/ARCI/Memorial Sprint.htm> Saturday, September 4, from 1800 to 2100 UTC, CW only. The event will celebrate and honor "the QRP luminaries who no longer answer CQs," the club's announcement said. ==>SOLAR UPDATE Solar swami Carl "Seasons in the Sun" Luetzelschwab, K9LA, is subbing for Tad Cook, K7RA, this week: Solar activity was at very low to low levels throughout the entire August 20-26 reporting period. The largest X-ray flare observed was a C2.8 flare on August 20. Solar activity is forecast to remain at low levels over this weekend. Geophysical activity over the period ranged from quiet to minor storm. There were a couple of Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) observed toward the end of the period, but these didn't appear to be Earth-directed. Geophysical activity is forecast to be quiet over the weekend. Based on the forecast solar activity and geophysical activity, we shouldn't have any major surprises in propagation over the weekend. Sunspot numbers for August 19 through 25 were 60, 85, 88, 102, 93, 55 and 60, with a mean of 77.6. The 10.7 cm flux was 120.6, 121.4, 120, 115.2, 109.5, 104.9 and 100.4, with a mean of 113.1. Estimated planetary A indices were 7, 14, 17, 13, 7, 5 and 7, with a mean of 10. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 3, 9, 14, 8, 10, 3 and 3, with a mean of 7.1. __________________________________ ==>IN BRIEF: * This weekend on the radio: The Ohio and Hawaii QSO parties, the ALARA Contest, the TOEC WW Grid Contest (CW), YO DX HF Contest, the SCC RTTY Championship and the SARL HF CW Contest are the weekend of August 28-29. JUST AHEAD: The All Asian DX Contest (SSB), the Russian RTTY World Wide Contest, the Wake-Up! QRP Sprint, IARU Region 1 Field Day (SSB), RSGB SSB Field Day, the AGCW Straight Key Party and the DARC 10-Meter Digital Contest are the weekend of September 4-5. The Michigan QRP Labor Day CW Sprint is September 6-7; the ARS Spartan Sprint is September 7 and YLRL Howdy Days are September 8-10. 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 ARRL RFI (EC-006) and Antenna Design and Construction (EC-009) courses remains open through Sunday, August 29. Classes begin Friday, September 10. Antenna Design and Construction students will, among other things, learn about basic dipoles and the ground planes and how to assemble combinations of these into more complex antennas. Students also will learn about transmission lines, standing wave ratio, phased arrays and Yagis. Students participating in the RFI course will learn to identify various interference sources. Prospective C-CE students, please note: As of September, the starting day for all C-CE classes, including Amateur Radio Emergency Communication courses, will move from Tuesday to Friday. 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>. * AMSAT Lab building is Hurricane Charley victim: Structural damage to the airport hangar housing the AMSAT Laboratory in Orlando--caused when Hurricane Charley made its way across Florida August 13--has led authorities to condemn the building. The storm, with winds of 100 MPH or greater, passed directly over the Orlando Executive Airport, which is home to the Lab. AMSAT now must begin a search for a new facility to support development of the Eagle satellite project. On the plus side, the Lab's equipment and inventory are in good shape, and AMSAT members in the vicinity weathered the storm with relatively minor damage. On the minus side, AMSAT has little time to move out and find temporary storage for its belongings so the building can be razed, and its insurance does not cover the costs of temporary storage or moving to another facility. AMSAT--a 501(c)(3) organization--invites tax-deductible donations to its "Hurricane Fund" to get the AMSAT Lab back in operation as soon as possible <http://www.amsat.org/>. Photos by Lou McFadin, W5DID, are on the AMSAT Web site <http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/lab/>.--Rick Hambly, W2GPS, via AMSAT News Service * Site, host sought for fifth USA ARDF Championships: ARRL Amateur Radio Direction Finding (ARDF) Coordinator Joe Moell, K0OV, says the search is on for a location and an Amateur Radio club to play host for the fifth annual USA ARDF Championships next year. "If your club is interested in hosting this event in the summer of 2005, I need to hear from you by September 15," Moell said this week. "If your club has ever hosted a large hamfest or ARRL Division Convention, it probably has the necessary resources to host the USA ARDF Championships." He says it's also important that those heading up the event committee be knowledgeable about the rules of ARDF competitions. Beyond having suitable sites for 2-meter and 80-meter ARDF--or foxhunting--courses, there's a lot to consider, including insurance, a Web site, registration, housing, meeting rooms, handling and accounting for funds, awards, T-shirts, transportation, meals, and officiating. For more details about the USA ARDF Championships, visit Moell's Homing In Web site <www.homingin.com>. It has information on ARDF rules as well as reports on previous championships and links to their sites. Moell <k0ov@homingin.com> says he's also eager to hear from clubs that might consider hosting the USA Championships in 2006 and later. * Robert R. Adams, W8BKO, SK: Robert R. "Bob" Adams, of Columbus, Ohio, died August 10, He was 87. ARRL Ohio Section Manager Joe Phillips, K8QOE, said Adams made valuable contributions to emergency communications during his many years as a radio amateur. "Bob in his quiet manner was a powerful voice to emergency communications," said ARRL Ohio Section Manager Joe Phillips, K8QOE. "Bob rewrote emergency communications, and his program in the 1950s in Franklin County ARES served as model for the rest of Ohio." For his work, Adams was named the first Ohio Ham of the Year in 1992, an honor later renamed the Allan Severson, AB8P, Memorial Award. A well-known DXer and ARRL member, Adams was a leader in metallurgical and nuclear engineering projects for the US Department of Defense for 43 years. Survivors include his wife, Jane, a daughter and a son. A graveside service was held August 14. * Alexanderson SAQ station now on UNESCO World Heritage List: Varberg Radio SAQ at Grimeton, Sweden, has been added to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage List. The only remaining pre-electronic transmitter for transatlantic work, SAQ is maintained in perfect working order. On 2004 Alexanderson Day July 4, the 80-year-old 200 kW Alexanderson alternator--with its multiple-tuned antenna--transmitted a celebration message on 17.2 kHz. The message was copied in Europe and on the East Coast of the US. Return channels included Amateur Radio station SA6Q at the Grimeton site and the Internet. UNESCO said the 1920s-vintage radio station in southern Sweden is an exceptionally well-preserved monument to early transatlantic wireless communication. The site includes the transmitter equipment and its associated antenna system, comprised of six 127-meter (approximately 417 foot) steel towers and staff housing. There's more information on the SAQ Web site <http://www.alexander.n.se/>.--Carl Henrik Walde, SM5BF * QCWA-suffix call sign to mark convention special event: Industry Canada has authorized Quarter Century Wireless Association (QCWA) National Capital Chapter 70 to use the special event call sign VE3QCWA from September 17 until October 17 in recognition of the QCWA International Convention October 15-17 in Ottawa. National Capital Chapter 70 is hosting the event, which is open to all radio amateurs. QSLs for VE3QCWA go to Jim Dean, VE3IQ. =========================================================== 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/>. 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