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ARRL Letter

 

***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 23, No. 44
November 5, 2004
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IN THIS EDITION:

* +League unhappy with administration over new BPL rules
* +Donating to Spectrum Defense Fund a win-win proposition
* +Permanent ham radio presence in space marks four years
* +Amateur community responding to ARRL holiday toy drive
* +FCC imposes big fines in CB-related cases involving amateurs
* +USTTI course a learning experience for teachers, students
* +End reported near for UO-22 satellite
*  IN BRIEF:
     This weekend on the radio
     ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration
     Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course registration
     Correction
     John Belrose, VE2CV, wins October QST Cover Plaque Award
    +Albuquerque to host USA ARDF Championship
     US Coast Guard Auxiliary special event set
     USS Salem to activate K1USN for Veterans' Day

+Available on ARRL Audio News

===========================================================
NOTE: Due to travel schedules, this week's editions of The ARRL Letter and
ARRL Audio News are being distributed Thursday, November 4. The weekly
Solar Update will be available on the ARRL Web site Friday, November 5.
The normal distribution schedule will resume Friday, November 12.
===========================================================

==>ARRL DISAPPOINTED WITH ADMINISTRATION OVER BPL REPORT AND ORDER

The ARRL has expressed its disappointment with the Bush administration's
failure "to prevent radio spectrum pollution by BPL systems." In a
November 1 letter to Secretary of Commerce Donald L. Evans copied to
President George W. Bush, ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, recalled
Evans' assurances on the administration's behalf earlier this year "that
we are responsible and sensitive to valuable incumbent
[radiocommunication] systems." Haynie told Evans the FCC's BPL Report and
Order (R&O) in ET Docket 04-37--adopted October 14 and released two weeks
later--suggests otherwise.

"Despite excellent work conducted by the technical staff of your National
Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to document the
extensive harmful interference that will occur if BPL systems are deployed
at the radiated emission limits presently permitted by the FCC rules,"
Haynie said, "it appears that the NTIA concurred in the FCC's decision not
to tighten those limits."

The FCC maintains that BPL emissions are localized and at low enough
levels to preclude harmful interference in the first place, and it has
left the door open to possibly upping the limit in the future.

Haynie pointed out that both international treaty and US law entitle
licensed radiocommunication services to protection from harmful
interference that unlicensed systems like BPL might generate. "Despite
this," he continued, "the FCC has shifted the burden for initiating
interference mitigation from the BPL system operator to the radio
licensee." The NTIA's September 13 submission to the FCC shows that at FCC
Part 15 limits, the probability of harmful interference is essentially 100
percent within 200 to 400 meters (approximately 660 to 1300 feet) of a
power line carrying BPL signals--depending on the operating frequency.

"Amateur Radio stations are typically located in residential areas, nearly
always well within such distances," Haynie noted. "The FCC's Report and
Order provides no assurance that when interference occurs--as it
unquestionably will--it will be promptly eliminated."

As part of the Commerce Department, the NTIA not only administers radio
spectrum allocated to federal government users but advises the White House
on telecommunications policy. On June 24, President Bush extolled BPL
during a speech on technological innovation even while acknowledging
interference concerns.

Haynie said the League will continue efforts to improve the R&O. Calling
the HF spectrum "a unique and priceless resource," the ARRL president
expressed regret that the administration "is willing to squander such a
unique natural resource in order to provide a short-range broadband
connection that can easily be provided by several other non-polluting
means."

ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, echoed Haynie's concerns. The FCC R&O, he
said, "shifts the burden to licensed operators to react to interference
rather than adopting rules to prevent interference from occurring." The
R&O advises locating "sensitive receiver antennas" as far as practically
possible from power lines. Additionally, the FCC admonished ARRL that in
cases where its members experience RF noise, "such noise can often be
avoided by carefully locating their antennas."

Reacted Sumner: "If a BPL system operator wants to meet its obligation by
picking up all of the costs of relocating a licensee's antenna, it's free
to make the offer."

If interference occurs, the new Part 15 rules will require BPL system
operators to employ "interference avoidance techniques" such as "frequency
band selection, notching, or judicious device placement." Notches would
have to be at least 20 dB--slightly more than 3 S units--below applicable
Part 15 limits on HF and at least 10 dB below Part 15 limits on VHF--not
much protection for weaker signals common in HF work.

"We might be more optimistic if there had, to date, been a single instance
when the FCC had ordered a BPL system to terminate operation for causing
harmful interference," Sumner said. "The Commission continues to be in
denial, despite hundreds of pages of documentation of ongoing
interference."

Sumner said the ARRL was gratified that the FCC R&O recognized that BPL
devices have significantly greater interference potential than other Part
15 devices and that the Commission will require certification of BPL
systems rather than the less-stringent verification. Additionally, Sumner
said, the League was pleased that the FCC-mandated public BPL system
database will require systems to be listed several weeks ahead of actual
implementation so that amateurs and others have advance notice.

ARRL officials continue to mull possible formal responses to the R&O. The
ARRL Executive Committee already has okayed the filing of a Petition for
Reconsideration. It further authorized ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay,
W3KD, to "prepare to pursue other available remedies as to procedural and
substantive defects" in the BPL proceeding.

For more information on BPL, visit the Broadband Over Power Line (BPL) and
Amateur Radio Web page <http://www.arrl.org/bpl>.

==>NEED FOR SPECTRUM DEFENSE NEVER ENDS

While ARRL members often say that advocating for Amateur Radio's interests
is the most valuable service the League can perform on their behalf, that
advocacy carries a hefty price tag. So says ARRL Chief Development Officer
Mary Hobart, K1MMH. Although she realizes it's a message ARRL members may
be weary of hearing, Hobart says the cost of keeping abreast of today's
changing regulatory and technological environment is essential to Amateur
Radio's future. And while contributing to the 2005 ARRL Spectrum Defense
Fund is a regular and ongoing obligation, it also pays back donors down
the road.

"Radio amateurs owe it to themselves to donate," she says, "no matter
their license class or even whether they're ARRL members or not." Hobart
reiterated the campaign kickoff comment of ARRL President Jim Haynie,
W5JBP, who said, "Without spectrum, the license that we have in our pocket
or hanging up on the wall is pretty much useless."

Despite the FCC's recent adoption of new rules to govern broadband over
power line (BPL) systems--the theme of the 2005 fundraising campaign is ".
. . more than just BPL"--Hobart says spectrum defense remains just as
important as ever. "ARRL's work continues--technically, legally, any way
we can," she emphasized. "The bills keep mounting."

But she also points to results. ARRL's persistence in the BPL proceeding,
she noted, helped to put Amateur Radio's interference concerns on the
FCC's radar screen and get them acknowledged--even if not yet adequately
addressed--in the FCC's recent BPL Report and Order.

Beyond BPL, "there will be other challenges down the road," Hobart says.
"And--like the Boy Scouts--we need to be prepared." The cost of spectrum
defense, which includes advocacy in "Official Washington," through the
ARRL's Technical Relations Office, does not come entirely out of
individual member dues.

"Without these fundamental relationships in DC, when something hits, we
simply wouldn't be ready," she said.

Hobart called on "ARRL members regardless of license class, prior donors
who haven't contributed this year, our generous Diamond Club members and
Amateur Radio clubs and organizations" to give what they can. "All of
these have an important stake in the success of our advocacy, whether it's
BPL, spectrum access or an issue we don't even know about yet," said
Hobart.

She also thanked those who have already contributed. "A lot of people have
given a lot of money so far, but the need doesn't stop," she said.

In his October QST "It Seems to Us . . ." editorial, ARRL CEO David
Sumner, K1ZZ, pointed out that not all of ARRL's advocacy work is
defensive. "Thanks to our persistent effort over more than a decade, last
year's WRC [World Radiocommunication Conference] agreed to double the size
of the worldwide 40-meter amateur band by relocating broadcasting stations
elsewhere in the spectrum," he wrote. He also noted the authorization for
US amateurs to use five channels in the 5-MHz band. Such significant
victories, he asserted, would not be possible "without financial support
from thousands of ARRL members like you."

Radio amateurs may contribute online via the ARRL's secure donor Web site
<https://www.arrl.org/forms/fdefense/fdefense.html>. Those contributing at
or above the $50 level may request a gift as a token of the League's
appreciation.

For more information, contact ARRL Chief Development Officer Mary Hobart,
K1MMH, mhobart@arrl.org; 860-594-0397.

==>PERMANENT ISS HAM STATION, HUMAN CREWS SHARE FOURTH ANNIVERSARY

Four years ago this week, the Expedition 1 crew arrived aboard the
International Space Station, home of the first permanent Amateur Radio
station in space. Just weeks earlier, the FCC granted the station's
distinctive NA1SS call sign. By the time William Shepherd, KD5GSL, Sergei
Krikalev, U5MIR, and Yuri Gidzenko arrived on November 2, 2000, the Phase
1 or "initial station" Amateur Radio on the International Space Station
(ARISS) gear was already on board for the crew to install. Crew increments
comprised of US astronauts and Russian cosmonauts have rotated duty tours
continuously ever since, and ham radio has played a role in each crew's
routine.

"Every challenge for the International Space Station crews, flight control
teams and management adds to the knowledge base we need to develop longer
spaceflight missions to places like the moon and Mars," said International
Space Station Program Manager Bill Gerstenmaier. "The work we're doing on
station is directly connected to future exploration missions." ARISS
International currently is mulling Amateur Radio's role in NASA's "Moon,
Mars and Beyond" initiative.

With NASA's shuttle fleet now grounded, crew increments have shrunk to two
people, while duty tours have stretched from four to six months. Despite
fewer hands on deck, NASA says the two-person crews sometimes have been
able to do more with less--often improvising.

The Expedition 10 crew of Commander Leroy Chiao, KE5BRW, and ISS Flight
Engineer Salizhan Sharipov, arrived at the ISS just last month--aboard a
Russian Soyuz vehicle, just as the Expedition 1 crew did, although other
crews traveled via the shuttle. Over the years, in addition to visiting
space shuttle crews, there have even been a couple of paying "space
tourists" and other short-term visitors who took advantage of the ARISS
gear onboard. More recently, Russian Space Forces Test Cosmonaut Yuri
Shargin--who arrived with the Expedition 10 crew--completed two ARISS
contacts with school groups in Europe.

The Expedition 10 crew is not expected to begin its own series of school
group contacts until the week of November 15 at the earliest. Unscheduled
ham radio activity by crew members typically is suspended during crew
changeover periods. As of November 4, the NA1SS FM voice repeater remained
off and the ARISS Phase 2 equipment was back in packet mode under the
RS0ISS call sign.

This week marked a first when Chiao cast his vote in the November 2
presidential election while orbiting 230 miles above Earth. A law the
Texas State Legislature passed in 1997 allows astronauts to vote
electronically from space. Chiao submitted his electronic ballot to his
county clerk's office via e-mail.

Some statistics: Since the Expedition 1 crew carried out the first
successful ARISS school group contact--with Luther Burbank Elementary
School near Chicago on December 21, 2000--ISS crews have racked up 150
similar Amateur Radio contacts. Approximately two-thirds of them have been
direct, 2-meter QSOs, while the rest were carried out via "telebridge"
stations, where two-way audio was teleconferenced to the school via an
Earth station convenient to QSO NA1SS directly.

The crew holding the record for the most ARISS school group contacts was
Expedition 3. Commander Frank Culbertson, KD5OPQ, answered questions via
ham radio posed by students at 22 different schools. Culbertson also
activated NA1SS during the 2001 Jamboree On The Air (JOTA) scouting event.

NASA recently announced that after an extensive review, it's planning its
return-to-flight shuttle mission, STS-114, for a launch window that opens
next May. ARISS International Chairman Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, says PCSat
2--an externally mounted ham radio payload--is expected to fly on that
shuttle flight, which also will mark the return of three-person ISS crews.
"We will also be able to better negotiate the delivery of our computer,
which is essential for the SSTV system," Bauer added.--some information
from NASA

==>UNITED WAY REPORTS HUGE HAM RADIO RESPONSE TO ARRL HOLIDAY TOY DRIVE

The United Way in Martin County, Florida, reports "a huge response" by the
Amateur Radio community to the ARRL's call to support a holiday toy drive
on behalf of the agency's "White Doves Holiday Project." The ARRL effort
aims to provide toys for youngsters left homeless or displaced by a
relentless string of hurricanes earlier this year. Carol Hodnett, who
directs the United Way of Martin County's Volunteer and Community Resource
Center (VCRC) says ARRL members from Maine to California have sent toys or
money, and more are arriving every day.

"Because of the overall strain on our state, we have been looking outside
the area for help in supporting the White Doves Holiday Project this
year," Hodnett said. "We are so incredibly thankful to the American Radio
Relay League for thinking of the children in our area in planning its toy
drive."

Among the responses: Hodnett says a representative from an ARRL-affiliated
club in Cary, North Carolina, is planning to drive a truckload of toys to
the White Doves warehouse at the Martin County Fairgrounds next month. The
ham radio club at Salt Brook Elementary School in New Providence, New
Jersey, also is planning to contribute to the toy drive, she said.

Ham radio operators maintained emergency communication operations in
several Florida counties following hurricanes Charley, Frances, Jeanne and
Ivan, Hodnett noted, and "they learned about the devastation firsthand or
through their networks."

ARRL Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, says that while severe
weather affected many areas of the US to differing degrees, Florida was
hit the worst, and thousands of families were left without a place to
live. "For a child suddenly living out of a tent, or car, or someone
else's home, the 2004 holiday season will be anything but jolly," Pitts
says. "But hams are coming to their rescue in a new way."

Hams across the country are encouraged to purchase an unwrapped toy for a
boy or girl aged 1 to 14 and send it with a QSL card or 3x5 card
displaying their call sign to: Ham Radio, The United Way White Dove
Project, 50 Kindred St--Suite 207, Stuart, FL 34994. Monetary donations
also are welcome. Send gifts and donations prior to Thanksgiving,
Thursday, November 25. Martin County United Way has agreed to serve as the
collection point and also coordinate distribution to the surrounding
counties.

"The thousands of hours hams spent in providing free emergency
communications to the families hurt by the hurricanes is now being matched
by the thousands of dollars in caring for their children," Pitts said. The
first shipment of toys from ARRL Headquarters staffers should go out by
November 8.

Additional information about the ARRL holiday toy drive are on the ARRL
Web site <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2004/10/18/2/>.

==>FCC FINES CB OPERATOR-AMATEUR LICENSEE, CB SHOP

The FCC has imposed large fines on a Washington CB operator who now holds
a Technician class amateur license and on an Ohio CB shop that's run by an
apparent amateur licensee. In an October 18 Forfeiture Order (NOF), the
Commission levied a $10,000 fine on Robert A. Spiry, now KD7TRB, of
Tacoma, for unauthorized operation on 11 meters that also involved the use
of uncertificated equipment and the use of an illegal external RF power
amplifier. The alleged violations occurred in 2002.

Following up on "numerous complaints of interference to home electronics
equipment" from CB transmissions, agents from the FCC's Seattle Field
Office tracked the interfering transmissions to Spiry's home and vehicle.
"The agent observed signal levels that appeared to be significantly higher
than those expected from a legal CB transmitter," the FCC said in a
subsequent Notice of Apparent Liability (NAL).

The FCC says its agents conducted inspections of Spiry's station in April
and November 2002 and determined that Spiry was operating uncertificated
transmitters and using a linear amplifier attached to his CB transmitter
in violation of Part 95 rules. The FCC said it advised Spiry that his use
of unauthorized and non-certified equipment voided his blanket authority
to operate his CB station, but he continued to operate anyway.

The Commission said that when Spiry responded to the December 2002 NAL, he
did not dispute the facts as the FCC had presented them. But, Spiry told
the FCC that he had given up CB, removed his CB antenna and obtained an
Amateur Radio license. Spiry's ham ticket was granted December 2, 2002.

Spiry also said he didn't realize that the fine for such violations could
be so high and that he is unable to pay it. The Commission says Spiry
presented no evidence to back up that claim, however, and it's not
persuaded that Spiry's "remedial efforts" warrant any reduction in the
fine.

In an unrelated case, the Commission issued an NOF October 21, fining
Paladen Communications Inc, of North Jackson, Ohio, $7000 for "willfully
and repeatedly" selling illegal CB external RF power amplifiers.

During a July 2003 visit to Paladen, agents from the FCC's Detroit office
reported observing a Palomar CB linear on sale for $250. The agents
informed Arthur L. Dundorf, now apparently KC8ZQI, and Preston L. Dundorf,
now apparently KC8ZKE, of Paladen, that CB linears could not be legally
sold and, in October 2003, issued a Citation informing Paladen of the
violations and penalties that could result. Both men obtained Technician
tickets in April 2004.

In a response, Paladen proprietor Preston Dundorf told the FCC that
Paladen was unaware it was violating marketing rules and would not violate
them in the future. But last January, the Detroit Office received a
complaint that Paladen was continuing to sell CB linears. An agent who
followed up on the report was offered a Palomar 100 W linear amplifier for
$124.

The FCC says Paladen did not respond to a May 2004 NAL alleging willful
and repeated violation of the Communications Act and §2.815 of its rules.
As a result, the Commission affirmed the forfeiture based on the
information before it.

The FCC gave Spiry and Paladen Communications 30 days to pay the fines.

==>USTTI COURSE STUDENTS SHOW SPECIAL INTEREST IN AMATEUR RADIO

ARRL Headquarters played host to seven international students October
18-22 for the 2004 United States Telecommunications Training Institute
(USTTI) <http://ustti.org/> Amateur Radio Administration course. This
year's group of participants included three radio amateurs. Coordinated by
USTTI and presented by ARRL Headquarters staff, the program covered--among
other topics--the International Telecommunication Union and ITU
regulations, the International Amateur Radio Union, spectrum management,
disaster communication, digital communication, amateur satellites,
electromagnetic interference, international licensing and the future of
Amateur Radio.

"This was the best class that I had the opportunity to teach in my eight
years with ARRL," remarked ARRL Technical Relations Specialist Walt
Ireland, WB7CSL, who taught the majority of the course. He said the
students all were more interested Amateur Radio administration and ITU
telecommunications rules, regulations and administration than in technical
issues.

All students were associated in some respect with their countries'
telecommunication organization. Attending the 2004 session were Anthony
Lynch, of Barbados; Cyprien Vagheni, 9Q1KS, of the Democratic Republic of
the Congo; Benjamin Enyenze, of Kenya; El Alia Malainine, CN8YI, of
Morocco; Murari Pokhrel, of Nepal; Leah Vengua, DU1LEA, of the
Philippines, and James Ssekuuma of Uganda.

ARRL Chief Technology Officer Paul Rinaldo, W4RI, provided an introduction
to the ITU. In addition to studying rules, regulations and procedures, the
trainees also constructed a simple 40-meter receiver in the ARRL
Laboratory.

"We learned a lot from the students," Ireland concluded, "and Headquarters
support was outstanding, as usual."

==>USEFUL LIFE OF UO-22 SATELLITE APPEARS OVER

According to AMSAT-UK, the UO-22 satellite is not in good shape, and its
useful life may be over.

"The SSTL [Surrey Satellite Technology Limited] Ground Station control
centre at the University of Surrey have attempted several times in recent
weeks to reactivate the satellite," AMSAT-UK reports. "After one attempt
it did come back to life, but only briefly. Other attempts have failed
completely."

The SSTL ground control station may make further attempts to reactivate
UO-22, "but it seems unlikely that they will be completely successful."
The cause of the satellite's failure is not known for certain, but SSTL
believes it may be related either to the spacecraft's batteries or to the
fact that the satellite is very hot due to orbital precession, which has
put it generally in full sunlight. The elevated temperature has been
causing problems with the receivers as well as with the batteries.

Launched on July 17, 1991, from Kourou, French Guiana, UO-22 has served
for many years as the 9600 baud store-and-forward satellite for the
Amateur Radio packet radio worldwide SatGate service, which linked packet
radio networks in many countries. AMSAT-NA reports UO-22 as
"non-operational." For further information on UO 22 contact Jim Heck,
G3WGM <g3wgm@amsat.org>;.

__________________________________

==>IN BRIEF:

* This weekend on the radio: The ARRL November Sweepstakes (CW), the North
American Collegiate Amateur Radio Club Championship (CW), the IPARC
Contest (CW/SSB), the Ukrainian DX Contest, the High Speed Club CW Contest
and the DARC 10-Meter Digital Contest are the weekend of November 6-7.
JUST AHEAD: The Worked All Europe DX Contest (RTTY), the JIDX Phone
Contest, SARL Field Day and the OK/OM DX Contest (CW) are the weekend of
November 13-14. 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, November 7. Classes begin Friday, November 26. With the
assistance of a mentor, EC-010 students learn everything they need to know
to pass the examination for the entry-level FCC Technician class license.
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, November 8, 1201 AM EST, and will remain
open through the November 13-14 weekend or until all available seats have
been filled. Class begins Friday, November 26. 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.
Radio amateurs aged 55 and older 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.

* Correction: The news brief "UK amateurs to get additional 100 kHz on 40
meters October 31" contained incomplete information regarding Region 1
countries that have authorized their amateurs access to the 7100-7200 kHz
band segment. The list includes the UK and Ofcom-administered regions, the
Republic of Ireland, Croatia, Norway, Iceland, Serbia-Montenegro and San
Marino. Switzerland will make 7100-7200 kHz available starting January 1,
2005. The WRC-03 action to move broadcasters out of that band segment does
not formally go into effect until 2009.

* John Belrose, VE2CV, wins October QST Cover Plaque Award: The winner of
the QST Cover Plaque Award for October is John S. Belrose, VE2CV, for his
article "On the Quest for an Ideal Antenna Tuner." Congratulations, John!
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. Voting takes place each month 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 November issue of QST. Voting ends November
30.

* Albuquerque to host USA ARDF Championship: The USA Amateur Radio
Direction Finding Championship will return to Albuquerque, New Mexico, in
2005. The Albuquerque Amateur Radio Club (AARC) has been selected to host
the fifth annual USA ARDF Championship next August (tentative dates are
August 1-5). The AARC sponsored the first USA ARDF Championship in 2001.
ARRL ARDF Coordinator Joe Moell, K0OV, reports the 2-meter and 80-meter
competition courses will be open to anyone--with or without a ham license.
Competitors will be divided into five age categories for males and four
for females, with medals for top finishers in each category. Winners may
earn positions on ARDF Team USA to the 2006 World Championships in
Bulgaria. The 2005 USA ARDF Championship organizers are now conducting an
informal survey to get a preliminary head count of attendees for planning
purposes. For more information and to indicate your interest, visit
Moell's Homing In Web site <http://www.homingin.com/>.

* US Coast Guard Auxiliary special event set: US Coast Guard Auxiliary
Amateur Radio Stations across the country will be on the air Saturday,
November 6, 2004 to commemorate the 65th Anniversary of the US Coast Guard
Auxiliary (USCG) and mark the fifth annual International Search and Rescue
(ISAR) competition in Portsmouth, Virginia, between US and Canadian Coast
Guard Auxiliary members. Details are on the USCG Amateur Radio Special
Event page <http://www.cgaux.org/cgauxweb/NACON/SpecialEvent2004.pdf>.

* USS Salem to activate K1USN for Veterans' Day: The USS Salem Radio Club
will activate K1USN on Veterans' Day, Thursday, November 11, with
operation from the museum ship berthed in the Fore River in Quincy,
Massachusetts. A special event QSL card has been created borrowing the
design of the official 2004 Veterans Day poster. K1USN will be active on
most Amateur Radio bands on CW and phone, and packet spots would be
appreciated. The USS Salem, a heavy cruiser commissioned in 1949, will be
open to the public. K1USN will QSL all requests received. US stations
should include an SASE with their QSLs to Harold "Pi" Pugh. K1RV, 78
Temple St, Abington, MA 02351 DX stations QSL via the W1 QSL Bureau.

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