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The ARRL Letter
Vol. 24, No. 20
May 20, 2005
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IN THIS EDITION:
* +ARRL, CAP to sign cooperative agreement
* +Morse code tops text messaging on national TV
* +Ham contact with ISS excites Japanese junior high kids
* +League to offer Amateur Radio credit card
* +Reputed jammer under house arrest after release from jail
* +WX4NHC sets 2005 hurricane season on-the-air test
* +ARRL Foundation scholarship winners announced
* Solar Update
* IN BRIEF:
This weekend on the radio
ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration
+Kentucky emergency communicators receive donation
Bill Smith, KO4NR, is April QST Cover Plaque Award winner
WRTC 2006 organizers to be at Dayton Hamvention
DXCC Desk approves operation for credit
+Available on ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/>
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==>Delivery problems (ARRL member direct delivery only!):
letter-dlvy@arrl.org
==>Editorial questions or comments: Rick Lindquist, N1RL, n1rl@arrl.org
===========================================================
NOTE: Because of Dayton Hamvention and the ARRL National Convention May
20-22, The ARRL Letter and ARRL Audio News are being distributed Wednesday,
May 18. See you in Dayton!
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==>ARRL SIGNING MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH CIVIL AIR PATROL
The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) and ARRL will sign a Memorandum of Agreement
during Dayton HamventionR, May 20-22, where CAP plans to field a major
presence. The agreement will spell out guidelines for CAP--the US Air Force
Auxiliary, and ARRL--the national association for Amateur Radio, to better
use and integrate their resources during communication exercises and
emergencies.
"Civil Air Patrol has one of the largest unified communications networks in
the nation," said CAP Lt Col Maurice Thomas, N3ADV. "Federal, state and
local agencies call on CAP members every day for communication support in
search-and-rescue missions and disaster relief." Thomas says CAP, which has
been in existence for more than 60 years, needs "implementers" for its
communication technology, and highly skilled ham radio operators are "a
natural resource."
Dayton Hamvention will play host to ARRL's 2005 National Convention,
featuring ARRL EXPO 2005 in Hara Arena's Ballarena. The League also will
maintain a retail booth and relaxation area at its traditional North Hall
location.
CAP National Commander Maj Gen Dwight Wheless, will join ARRL President Jim
Haynie, W5JBP, at Hamvention to sign the formal agreement. The ceremony will
take place Friday, May 20, during the "ARRL Goes to Washington for You"
forum at 10:15 AM in Room 2 of Hara Arena. Wheless called radio amateurs
"highly skilled and knowledgeable about the latest in communications
technology."
ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, points out that
volunteerism is an Amateur Radio tradition. "We look forward to educating
our members about CAP, and CAP members about ARRL," he said. "From Morse
code to high-speed digital, a wire up in a tree to satellite communications,
hams love to make it happen."
Pitts says the ham radio slogan "When all else fails . . ." is more than
mere words. "They know ham radio communication works again and again when
other systems fail," he said. "One way or another, hams get the message
through."
Radio communication plays a major role in all of CAP's operations
too--including homeland security, damage assessment, search and rescue, and
disaster relief. It was key in CAP's impact assessment missions during last
year's hurricanes in Florida, ice storms in Arkansas and New York, and
floods in Missouri.
Pitts notes that during the course of many emergency response situations,
Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), Radio Amateur Civil Emergency
Service (RACES), and other Amateur Radio emergency groups find themselves
working side by side with CAP members.
"This formal agreement between our two organizations will acknowledge that
in a disaster, we all work for the common good," he said.
During Hamvention, CAP members hope to educate radio amateurs about the
opportunities available to civilian volunteers through Civil Air Patrol. CAP
will occupy Booth 154-155 in the Ballarena. CAP's Wisconsin Wing will
display its new 35-foot state-of-the-art Mobile Command Center. The unit was
custom-built for CAP by Winnebago Corporation thanks to a US Department of
Homeland Security grant.
National Headquarters Chief of Communications Malcolm Kyser, KG4G, says CAP
maintains a dedicated nationwide HF and VHF network on federal government
frequencies. "We operate over 550 VHF repeaters spread across the country as
well as HF, tactical VHF/UHF, data and commercial satellite applications,"
he explains. "The CAP network is a 24/7 emergency services resource, which
we rely upon to support an almost unlimited variety of missions."
A nonprofit organization with some 60,000 members, the Civil Air Patrol
performs the vast majority of continental US inland search-and-rescue
missions under the direction of the US Air Force Rescue Coordination Center.
CAP volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and anti-drug
trafficking missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies.
CAP will hold its national conference August 17-20 in St Louis. Visit CAP on
the Web <http://www.cap.gov/>.
==>CW OPS WHIP WHIPPERSNAPPER TEXT MESSENGERS ON NATIONAL TV
It may have been Friday the Thirteenth, but it was a lucky day for Morse
code--and particularly for veteran CW contest ops Chip Margelli, K7JA, and
Ken Miller, K6CTW. During a May 13 appearance on NBC's The Tonight Show with
Jay Leno, the pair was able to pass a message using good old fashioned Morse
code more rapidly than a pair of teenaged text messengers equipped with
modern cell phones. The victory, which replicated a similar challenge that
took place recently in Australia, has provided immense encouragement to
Amateur Radio's community of CW operators, who been ballyhooed the
achievement all over the Internet. The text messaging team consisted of
world text-messaging champ Ben Cook of Utah and his friend Jason. Miller
said afterward in a reflector posting that the CW team won fairly handily.
"Ben was just getting ready to start entering the last two words when I was
done," he said on the Elecraft reflector in response to various questions
he's received following the TV appearance. "I already knew that 28-30 WPM
would easily keep us in front of even the current world [text messaging]
record holder, and also it is the fastest speed that I can make nice
readable copy on paper with a 'stick' [pencil]." Miller said it was decided
he'd be on the receiving end because he wasn't distracted by the noise in
the studio.
Margelli recalls that he was sending at 29 WPM. "I believe the goods were
suitably delivered," he told ARRL. "CW and old guys rule!"
What the viewing public didn't know was that Margelli and Miller had, in
Miller's words, "smoked 'em every time" during three pre-program rehearsals.
Even so, during the real thing, when Miller raised his hand to signal he'd
copied the CW message successfully, Jason's jaw dropped. None of the players
had any idea of the text they'd be sending, Miller noted. The message? "I
just saved a bunch of money on my car insurance."
As with many Tonight Show bits, this one involved a member of the audience,
a young woman named Jennifer who predicted--incorrectly as it turned
out--that text messaging definitely would top 170-year-old Morse code. She
walked away with a gift of restaurant tickets anyway.
Margelli says the CW team used Yaesu FT-817 transceivers--one of his own and
another owned by Dan Dankert, N6PEQ. Backup units--not needed--were provided
by HRO; Margelli's wife Janet, KL7MF, manages an HRO store. They ended up
using 432.200 MHz as an operating frequency in order to avoid RFI from the
plethora of TV equipment in the studio and to avoid interfering with NBC's
gear. They ran the little transceivers at their lowest power level and with
the antennas disconnected--although they were mounted on the back of each
unit--no problem given the close proximity involved. Margelli sent with a
Bencher paddle.
To add a little atmosphere to the affair, NBC producers attired Margelli and
Miller to look like 19th-century-era Western Union or railroad Morse
telegraphers. The costumes came complete with green visors, white shirts,
sleeve garters, vests and bow ties. The teenaged SMSers wore T-shirts and
jeans.
Cook told Leno that he'd managed to send a 160-letter message to his friend
using his cell phone's short message system (SMS)--the formal term for text
messaging--in 57 seconds.
A member of the Morse Telegraph Club and a QRP enthusiast, Miller said he'd
been using CW for 38 years. Margelli told Leno he'd been using Morse "for 43
years in ham radio," a phrase Leno echoed. That was the only plug Amateur
Radio got during the appearance on the show's "Dinner for 4" segment. Miller
says that during rehearsal, the pair had come up with a few lines to promote
ham radio and telegraphy, but they were cut during the final dress rehearsal
in the interest of making the segment fit its allotted time slot.
During the Australian competition in April, a Morse team consisting of
93-year-old former post office telegrapher Gordon Hill--the sender--and
82-year-old Jack Gibson--the receiver--topped 13-year-old SMSer Brittany
Devlin. In that event, Hill spelled out the message in full, while Devlin
used text-messaging shorthand. In that competition, held at the Powerhouse
Museum in Sydney, Hill took 90 seconds to send the message, 18 seconds
faster than Devlin's message took to reach her friend's cell phone.
Miller encouraged all who enjoyed the CW-vs-text messaging segment on NBC to
contact The Tonight Show to let the producers know about it--with an eye
toward having the network schedule a more elaborate segment "next time."
"Thanks for the kind comments from all," Miller concluded, advising "let's
keep on having fun!--It is a hobby after all."
Commented Margelli to ARRL: "I completely agree with my fantastic teammate,
Ken Miller. It was a lot of fun, just like ham radio, and the show also
delivered an important, if subtle, message about the benefits of the 'basic'
communication infrastructure that Amateur Radio provides."
==>JAPANESE JUNIOR HIGH STUDENTS TAKE "GIANT LEAP" VIA HAM RADIO
A dozen junior high students in Japan used Amateur Radio May 9 to quiz NASA
International Space Station Science Officer and US astronaut John Phillips,
KE5DRY, about life in space. The contact between NA1SS in space and 8N3H at
Hosokawa Junior High School in Ikeda was arranged by the Amateur Radio on
the International Space Station (ARISS) program. Working in microgravity,
the training necessary to become an astronaut and food were the focus of
several of the more than 20 questions asked and answered. Phillips told the
youngsters that he was surprised at how beautiful the Earth appears from
space and that he never tires of watching the planet from the ISS.
Responding to another student's question, he nearly waxed poetic in
describing Earth's beauty.
"It's absolutely true that the Earth looks beautiful from space," Phillips
replied. "The blue of the oceans, the green of the forests and the white
snow of the mountains create a beautiful and continuously changing picture."
He told the next questioner that his first impression of space was that the
view was magnificent "and that I knew that I would like it up here and that
I would like to stay longer."
Questions about the diet of ISS crews are among the most frequent during
ARISS school group QSOs, and the Hosokawa students asked several. Phillips
noted that there is both American and Russian-style cuisine aboard--some
fresh, some dried and some in cans. "We eat very well up here," he stated.
He told another student that there was plenty of food aboard the ISS and
that he and crewmate Sergei Krikalev, U5MIR, were not in any immediate
danger of running low, as the previous crew had. He explained that there's
no refrigerator aboard the ISS, and the crew's chow is stored in metal boxes
in the kitchen and elsewhere aboard the spacecraft.
As for living and working in microgravity, he said it can be fun. "I feel
wonderful in space," he declared. "I can fly like a bird or like Superman!"
In addition, he told another student questioner, working in space is much
easier because "we're always floating" and can even work upside down if
necessary. But there are downsides. He explained that the lack of gravity
means the ISS crew members always have to keep untethered objects under
control, lest they float off and get lost. Phillips said dizziness and
"space sickness" are not problems he has encountered so far, but he added
that there are medications aboard the spacecraft should either arise.
Training for his mission aboard the ISS as part of the Expedition 11 crew
took three years, he said. He advised youngsters interested in becoming
astronauts to start by studying a lot of math. He noted that an astronaut
from Japan is scheduled to be aboard the next space shuttle mission.
At the contact's conclusion, Earth station control operator Junki Okuda,
JL3JRY, said the students were very excited by the experience of being able
to talk directly with an astronaut in space. "That's one small step for man,
one giant leap for children," he joked, paraphrasing the famous words US
astronaut Neal Armstrong spoke as he became the first human to set foot on
the moon in 1969.
On hand at the school for the event were some 300 students representing the
entire enrollment of Hosokawa Junior High, plus 100 parents and other
visitors and news media representatives. The ARISS-Japan mentor for the
contact was Satoshi Yasuda, 7M3TJZ/AD6GZ.
ARISS <http://www.rac.ca/ariss/> is an international educational outreach
program with US participation by ARRL, AMSAT and NASA.
==>ARRL TO SPONSOR AFFINITY CREDIT CARD
The League will unveil its new ARRL VisaR Card--an affinity credit card with
U.S. Bank--this week at Dayton Hamvention, which is playing host to the ARRL
2005 National Convention. U.S. Bank personnel will be on hand for the
launch, Friday, May 20, at the ARRL EXPO 2005 exhibit area with applications
for radio amateurs attending the convention who want to be among the first
to apply. The no-annual-fee card is available to ARRL members and
nonmembers.
"With every card issued and every purchase made, ARRL Visa card holders
support ARRL programs and services at no additional cost to them," says ARRL
Marketing Manager Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R. "This is a great way for members to
show off their support for ARRL and for Amateur Radio."
The card carries an attractive design with the ARRL logo. The words "Amateur
Radio Operator" appear prominently on the face of the card.
Basic information about the ARRL Visa card is available on the ARRL Web site
<www.arrl.org/visa>. This page includes a link
<http://www.usbank.com/affinitycreditcards/?loc=9507> to U.S. Bank's Web
site to learn more and to apply.
ARRL membership does not confer automatic eligibility to obtain a card.
While there's no annual fee, the ARRL Visa card carries a credit limit of up
to $15,000 and 0 percent APR interest for the first six months. Certain
terms and conditions do apply. U.S. Bank is the creditor, issuer and service
provider.
At least initially, call signs cannot be embossed onto the card, Inderbitzen
says. "We're working with U.S. Bank to find a suitable solution, but that
will most likely be further down the line," he explained.
==>GERRITSEN RELEASED ON BOND, REMAINS UNDER HOUSE ARREST
Reputed Los Angeles-area radio jammer Jack Gerritsen reportedly has
satisfied the requirements of a $250,000 cash or property bond and has been
released from a federal lockup. The US Bureau of Prisons indicates that
Gerritsen got out of jail May 17, although he reportedly remains under house
arrest at his home in Bell.
Acting on a criminal complaint, FBI special agents, accompanied by personnel
from the FCC Los Angeles Field Office, arrested the 69-year-old Gerritsen
without incident early May 5 at his home. Federal agents also seized his
radio equipment. According to terms spelled out by the US Attorney for the
Central District of California after he was taken into custody, Gerritsen
will be subject to monitored home detention and barred from possessing or
using any radio equipment. Additionally, Gerritsen's residence remains
subject to search. Unconfirmed reports say Gerritsen's passport has been
taken as well.
The criminal complaint said an FCC investigation revealed that Gerritsen
"often transmits his prerecorded political messages and real-time harassment
and profanity for hours at a time, often making it impossible for licensed
radio operators to use the public frequencies."
The FCC already has affirmed a $10,000 fine against Gerritsen for operating
without a license. It has proposed another $42,000 in forfeitures for
alleged interference-related infractions.
Five years ago, Gerritsen was convicted in a California court of interfering
with police radio transmissions and sentenced to 38 months in prison. After
his release, he applied for a Technician class amateur license and was
granted KG6IRO. The FCC promptly rescinded the grant when it learned of his
earlier conviction, however.
==>WX4NHC HURRICANE SEASON 2005 ON-THE-AIR STATION TEST SET
WX4NHC, the Amateur Radio station at the National Hurricane Center (NHC),
will sponsor the WX4NHC Hurricane Season 2005 On-The-Air Station Test
Saturday, June 4, from 1300 until 2200 UTC. This is not a contest or
hurricane exercise. The purpose of this annual event is to test all radio
equipment, computers and antennas using as many modes and frequencies as
possible. It also provides an opportunity to monitor for any possible RFI to
NOAA and NHC equipment.
"We will also be testing some new antennas and equipment that are being
installed for this coming season," says WX4NHC Amateur Radio Coordinator
John McHugh, K4AG. "Some operator training will also be conducted." McHugh
reminds participants that the hurricane season station test is just an
equipment and operator test, and WX4NHC will not activate any nets.
WX4NHC will be on the air on HF, VHF, UHF as well as on APRS on 2 and 30
meters. Approximate frequencies include: 7.268, 14.325, 21.325 and 28.525
MHz on SSB; 14.035, 21.035 and 28.035 MHz on CW; 14.070 MHz on PSK31. WX4NHC
also plans to be on the VoIP Hurricane Net 1700-1900 UTC on IRLP Node 9219
and EchoLink WX-TALK Conference and will be active on South Florida-area VHF
and UHF repeaters, 146.52 MHz FM simplex and 144.200 SSB.
Participants report call sign, signal report, location, name and a brief
weather report (eg, "sunny," "rain" etc). Nonhams may submit their actual
weather using the On-Line Hurricane Report Form
<http://www.wx4nhc.org/WX-form1.html>.
Send QSL card requests with an SASE to W4VBQ. Visit the WX4NHC Web site for
additional information <http://www.wx4nhc.org/>.
==>ARRL FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS FOR 2005
The ARRL Foundation has announced the recipients of 31 scholarship awards
for the 2005 academic year. Congratulations to these scholarship winners!
* The ARRL Scholarship to Honor Barry Goldwater--$5000: Kyle Graves, KY5LE,
Weatherford, Texas
* The Carol J. Streeter, KB9JBR, Scholarship--$750: Brian Poustinchian,
KB9TEH, Carol Stream, Illinois
* The Central Arizona DX Association Scholarship--$500: Gerica Rayas,
KD7WJR, Phoenix, Arizona
* The Charles Clarke Cordle Memorial Scholarship--$1000: Sylvia Richardson,
KG4OEG, Cumming, Georgia
* The Charles N. Fisher Memorial Scholarship--$1000: James Wenner, K6NSY,
Westminster, California
* The Donald Riebhoff Memorial Scholarship--$1000: Andrew Sowa, KB3EFQ,
Media, Pennsylvania
* The Dr. James L. Lawson Memorial Scholarship--$500: Timothy Jean, KB1FIP,
Swansea, Massachusetts
* The Earl I. Anderson Scholarship--$1250: David Lambert, KC9BLA,
Brownsburg, Indiana; Rasa Dovilas, W9RSA, Urbana, Illinois
* The Edmond A. Metzger Scholarship--$500: Charles McClish, KB9RGF, Kokomo,
Indiana
* The Fred R. McDaniel Memorial Scholarship--$500: David Darrow, KD5JLK,
Plano. Texas
* The General Fund Scholarships--$1000: Wendy Wigh, AE6RL, Kingsburg,
California; Jonathan Garrison, KG4GZR, Salisbury, California
* The Henry Broughton, K2AE, Memorial Scholarship--$1000: John McIntyre,
KC2JSJ, Rochester, New York; Lawrence Lin, AB2PS, Flushing, New York
* The IRARC, Joseph P. Rubino, WA4MMD, Memorial Scholarship--$1000: Gary
Fowks, KF4HEE, Saint Cloud, Florida; Leeds, David, KG4MQX, Hollywood,
Florida;
* The Irving W. Cook, WA0CGS, Scholarship--$1000: Evan Seiwert, KC0LET,
Viola, Kansas
* The Jean Cebik Memorial Scholarship--$1000; Thomas Campie, KC0PNH,
Camanche, Iowa
* The K2TEO Martin J. Green Sr Memorial Scholarship--$1000: Andrew Krumm,
KG4OTL, Greenbackville, North Carolina
* The L. Phil and Alice J. Wicker Scholarship--$1000: Yan Yan, KG4IHW,
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
* The Louisiana Memorial Scholarship--$500: Dustin Howell, W5CFI, West
Monroe, Louisiana
* The Mary Lou Brown Scholarship--$2500: Trevor Conroy, W7TDC, Newberg,
Oregon
* The Mississippi Scholarship--$500: Chris Abbott, KD5WCR, Vicksburg,
Mississippi
* The Nemal Electronics Scholarship--$600: William Fisher, W4WJF, Vale,
North Carolinia
* The New England Federation of Eastern Massachusetts Amateur Radio
Associations (FEMARA) Scholarships--$1000: Scott Jamieson, KO1W, Tiverton,
Rhode Island; Matthew Lape, N1XB, Francestown, New Hampshire; Jennifer
Moyher, N1ZZY, Stratford, Connecticut; Jake Stone, KB1INV, Stamford,
Connecticut
* The Norman E. Strohmeier, W2VRS, Memorial Scholarship--$500: Dana
Esposito, KC2NDL, Syracuse, New York
* The Paul and Helen L. Grauer Scholarship--$1000: Jack Short, KC0QIO,
Kansas City, Missouri
* The Perry F. Hadlock Memorial Scholarship--$2000: Brian Rautio, AB2MP,
Phoenix, New York
* The PHD Scholarship--$1000: Daniel Friedrichs, K0IPG, LeMars, Iowa
* The Six Meter Club of Chicago Scholarship--$500: Andrew Carter, KC9BOH,
Wilmette, Illinois
* The Tom and Judith Comstock Scholarship--$1000: Andrew Warner, KD5KZG,
Richardson, Texas
* The William Bennett, W7PHO, Memorial Scholarship--$500: Garrett Swanberg,
KD7MCS, Monroe, Washington
* The Yankee Clipper Contest Club Inc Youth Scholarship--$1500: Henry
Ferland, KB1HOY, Gardner, Maine
* The You've Got a Friend in Pennsylvania Scholarship--$2000: John Stratton,
AA3SL, Glen Mills, Pennsylvania; Amy Johnson, KB3HXF, New Castle,
Pennsylvania
Downloadable applications and instructions for 2006 academic year
scholarships are on the ARRL Foundation Web site
<http://www.arrl.org/arrlf>. The application period for 2006 academic year
awards begins October 1, 2005.
The deadline to submit applications with transcripts and SAT/ACT scores
affixed is February 1, 2006.
==>SOLAR UPDATE
Solar flash Tad "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" Cook, K7RA, Seattle,
Washington, reports: Things got quite exciting last weekend. On Friday the
Thirteenth at 1650 UTC, a tremendous explosion near Sunspot 759 blasted
toward Earth. The impact on Earth's magnetic field was felt at 0230 UTC on
May 15, producing an extreme geomagnetic storm. A geomagnetic storm is a
disturbance of Earth's magnetic field.
The planetary K index reached 9 on Sunday, May 15. This is huge!. The
middle-latitude, high-latitude and planetary A indices for Sunday were 44,
77 and 105 respectively--all very high values.
The A and K indices indicate the severity of magnetic fluctuations and, as a
result, the disturbance to the ionosphere. K indices of 2 or 4 indicate
unsettled or even active magnetic conditions--likely to be reflected in a
degradation of HF conditions. An index of 9 represent a major storm that
would result in an HF blackout.
__________________________________
==>IN BRIEF:
* This weekend on the radio: The US Counties QSO Party (SSB),
VK/Trans-Tasman 80-Meter Contest (Phone), the EU PSK DX Contest, the
Portuguese Navy Day Contest (PSK31), the Manchester Mineira CW Contest, His
Majesty the King of Spain Contest (CW) and the Baltic Contest are the
weekend of May 21-22. JUST AHEAD: The CQ WW WPX Contest (CW), the ARCI
Hootowl Sprint and the Michigan QRP Memorial Day CW Sprint are the weekend
of May 28-29. 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 Certification and Continuing Education course registration:
Registration for the ARRL HF Digital Communication (EC-005) and ARRL
VHF/UHF--Beyond the Repeater (EC-008) courses remains open through Sunday,
May 22. Classes begin Friday, June 3. Students participating in
VHF/UHF--Beyond the Repeater (EC-008) will explore some of the lesser-used
and more intriguing aspects of VHF/UHF operation. HF Digital Communication
students will learn to use a variety of HF digital modes. To learn more,
visit the ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Web page
<http://www.arrl.org/cce/> or contact the ARRL C-CE Department cce@arrl.org.
* Kentucky emergency communicators receive donation: The Kentucky District 7
Amateur Radio Emergency Team (KD7ARET) <http://www.ky7et.org/> has received
a $5000 donation from the John E. and Betty J. Meyer Family Foundation. The
funds will support the group's efforts to provide emergency communication to
served agencies during emergencies and disasters. KD7ARET most typically
supports police and fire departments, the National Weather Service and
emergency management offices. In addition, some of the money will be go into
a fund to purchase a mobile communication van with Amateur Radio
capabilities that could serve to back up local police and fire departments.
KD7ARET boasts more than 100 Amateur Radio volunteers from the nine-county
area comprising District 7 in Northern Kentucky. ARRL Kentucky Section
Manager John Meyers, NB4K, says the team plans to participate in ARRL Field
Day, June 25-26, at Mills Road Park in Independence, Kentucky. In the past
year KD7ARET has bought reflective vests for its members as well as radios,
antennas and coax for the Owen County Emergency Operations Center. "We are
in the process of buying radios, antennas and coax for the Transit Authority
of Northern Kentucky Regional Communication bus, the Campbell County
Emergency Operations Center and the District Office of Emergency Management
in Walton, Kentucky, as well as additional handheld radios and extra battery
packs for emergency coordinators," he adds. Since KD7ARET's incorporation in
January 2004, the group has received $10,000 in cash and more than $2000
worth of equipment to enhance local emergency communication capabilities.
* Bill Smith, KO4NR, is April QST Cover Plaque Award winner: The winner of
the QST Cover Plaque Award for April is Bill Smith, KO4NR, for his article
"A Low-Cost Remote Antenna Switch." Congratulations, Bill! The winner of the
QST Cover Plaque award--given to the author or authors of the best article
in each issue--is determined by a vote of ARRL members on the QST Cover
Plaque Poll Web page <http://www.arrl.org/members-only/QSTvote.html>. Cast a
ballot for your favorite article in the May issue by May 31!
* WRTC 2006 organizers to be at Dayton Hamvention: Atilano de Oms, PY5EG,
will head the WRTC 2006 Organizing Committee delegation to Dayton Hamvention
Friday through Sunday, May 20-22. Committee members will be promoting the
global Amateur Radio contesting competition held in conjunction with the
International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) HF World Championship. WRTC 2006
will take place July 7-10 in and around Florianopolis, Brazil. At Dayton
Hamvention and elsewhere, the WRTC-2006 Organizing Committee will be
attempting to raise the funds needed to support the event. Look for "Win a
free trip to Brazil for WRTC 2006" banners at Hamvention. Other WRTC 2006,
from buttons to T-shirts will be available too, plus there will be a drawing
on an Acom amplifier. WRTC representatives plan to frequent other
contesting-oriented events at Dayton Hamvention as well. The drawings will
be at the contest dinner Saturday, May 21, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in
downtown Dayton. There's more information on the WRTC-2006 Web site
<http://www.wrtc2006.com/html/web/en/home.asp>.
* DXCC Desk approves operation for credit: The ARRL DXCC Desk has approved
this operation for DXCC credit: T68G, Afghanistan, current operation
effective April 2005. For more information, visit the DXCC Web page
<http://www.arrl.org/awards/dxcc/>. "DXCC Frequently Asked Questions"
<http://www.arrl.org/awards/dxcc/faq/> can answer most questions about the
DXCC program. ARRL DX bulletins are available on the W1AW DX Bulletins page
<http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/dx/>.
===========================================================
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Material from The ARRL Letter may be republished or reproduced in whole or
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==>Delivery problems (ARRL member direct delivery only!):
letter-dlvy@arrl.org
==>Editorial questions or comments: Rick Lindquist, N1RL, n1rl@arrl.org
==>ARRL News on the Web: <http://www.arrl.org/>
==>ARRL Audio News: <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> or call
860-594-0384
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