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ARRL Letter

 

***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 24, No. 30
August 5, 2005
***************

IN THIS EDITION:

* +Amateurs commenting heavily on FCC's Morse proposal
* +Hams swing into action as convention forced to evacuate
* +Astronauts install PCSat 2 on space station
* +Radio amateurs cooperate in maritime rescue
* +FCC questions applicant about identity discrepancies
* +Amateur Radio volunteer dies installing antenna
* +A "new" ham satellite is in the offing
*  Solar Update
*  IN BRIEF: 
     This weekend on the radio
     ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration
     Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course registration
    +New IARU Region 2 Monitoring System Coordinator appointed
     Changes announced for ARRL International EME Competition
     Australian BPL-related submissions express concerns
     DXCC Desk approves operation for DXCC credit

+Available on ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> 

===========================================================
==>Delivery problems (ARRL member direct delivery only!):
letter-dlvy@arrl.org
==>Editorial questions or comments: Rick Lindquist, N1RL, n1rl@arrl.org
===========================================================

==>HUNDREDS FILE COMMENTS ON FCC MORSE PROPOSAL

Hundreds already have filed comments via the FCC's Electronic Comment Filing
System (ECFS) on the Commission's recent proposal to eliminate the Morse
code requirement for all license classes. Dozens more--most brief, some
detailed--are showing up daily. A formal 60-day comment period starts once
the FCC's Notice of Proposed Rule Making and Order (NPRM&O) in WT Docket
05-235 appears in the Federal Register, but the FCC will accept comments
filed now. Issued in response to 18 petitions for rule making--including one
from the ARRL--the FCC's July 19 NPRM&O dealt only with the Morse
requirement and turned away all other proposed rule changes. A random
sampling of the more than 360 comments filed as of August 2 suggested the
tide is running firmly in favor of the FCC's stance. Some even praised the
Commission.

"The FCC has finally come through," commented Doug Durrett, KC7DJI, a
Technician class licensee. "Hats off and thumbs up to the 05-235 proposal.
Get it done ASAP."

Others, such as Jesse T. Franklin, K9GO, were just as adamant that Morse
code should remain a licensing requirement for those desiring HF access.
"Morse code has been the foundation of the Amateur Radio Service since the
very beginning," he asserted. "I feel doing away with the Morse code testing
would only weaken the service."

Many pro-Morse postings raised the specter of impending chaos on the ham
bands if the requirement goes away, with some suggesting that eliminating
Morse testing would be "the beginning of the end for Amateur Radio." As one
commenter put it, dropping Element 1 would mean "continuing down the
slippery slope of 'dumbing down' the Amateur Radio Service." Another
contended that passing a Morse code examination contributes to better
on-the-air discipline. Still others called Morse an "important tradition," a
"universal language," a "vital tool" useful in emergencies and--in the words
of Jan Smoller, KC2CT-- "the one sacred bastion left to preserve the history
and continuance of the Amateur Radio Service." William R. Ogden, W2WO,
suggested that Morse code creates a sense of community among radio amateurs.

A relative handful of commenters appear to favor keeping the 5 WPM Morse
examination for Amateur Extra applicants only. Others asked the FCC to
revisit the notion of creating a new entry-level license class--something
else the ARRL and others sought--as well as the recommendation to stop
making question pools public.

Several licensees who'd gone through the old three-tiered system of Morse
examination elements indicated they'd like to see the requirement disappear.
"I support the removal of the Morse code requirement, even though I had to
pass the 5, 13 and 20 WPM," wrote Brent Crier, N9BC, whose comments were
fairly typical of that group. "CW is not going to go away like some think.
If new operators want to use that mode they will learn it."

Robert A. Johnson, K3MQ, was among those characterizing Morse code as
obsolete, even though he says he operates CW. "Requiring amateurs to learn a
system which is antiquated meets no public service need," he remarked. "I
personally use and enjoy Morse code but feel it should be an option for
those interested--not a requirement." Advanced class operator Marvin B.
Smith, WA5PSA, said it's "time for Morse code to stand or fall of its own
accord as a mode."

Many, like Thomas J. Miller, W2HVK, said eliminating the Morse requirement
would breathe new life into the Amateur Service. "The US could certainly use
more trained radio operators considering the post 9/11 world we live in," he
said. "Additional roadblocks (like CW) to upgrading to HF make no sense
today."

Based on a random sample of 135 comments filed by August 2, approximately 60
percent favored the elimination of the Morse code requirement for all
license classes, while approximately 30 percent asked the FCC to retain the
requirement. Another 10 percent endorsed keeping the Morse code as a
requirement to obtain an Amateur Extra class license. The ARRL random
sampling was not scientific. By week's end, the number of comments filed had
nearly doubled, with comments supporting removal of the Morse requirement
continuing to predominate. 

The comment period extends for many more weeks; an official comment deadline
has not yet been established. The FCC then will consider all comments in
developing a Report and Order (R&O) that spells out whatever new rules the
FCC finally adopts and set an effective date. That's not expected to happen
before year's end at the earliest.

A copy of the NPRM&O is on the FCC Web site
<http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_docume
nt=6518023930> To file on-line comments in this proceeding, WT Docket
05-235, or to view others' comments, visit the FCC Electronic Comment Filing
System (ECFS) site <http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/> and click on "Submit a
Filing" or "Search for Filed Comments."

In either case, type "05-235" in the "Proceeding" field. Be sure to include
the hyphen--but not the quotation marks. Directions for filing comments,
which can be in the form of an attached document, are on the ECFS site.
Click on "Getting Started" to learn more.

==>HAMS BECOME "FIRST RESPONDERS" AS CONVENTIONEERS FORCED TO EVACUATE

Radio amateurs attending the ARRL Rocky Mountain Division Convention July 30
in Bryce Canyon, Utah, were among the first to respond when release of a
noxious substance felled more than 50 people. Utah ARRL Section Manager Mel
Parkes, AC7CP, and other hams swung into action to assist after
conventioneers and other guests near an inside pool adjacent to the
convention area at Ruby's Inn lodge began complaining of nausea, headaches
and difficulty breathing sometime around 11 AM. Parkes himself later
suffered the effects of the substance--now believed to be pepper spray--and
was among those treated at the scene before being taken to a hospital.

"It was fantastic to see people go into emergency mode," said ARRL Sales and
Marketing Manager Dennis Motschenbacher, K7BV, who was representing the
League at the convention. "The calmest people there were the hams." 

Convention attendees helped to evacuate victims and direct traffic as
emergency crews arrived on the scene. Among those helping to coordinate
activities was Utah Section Emergency Coordinator Jerry Wellman, W7SAR.
Motschenbacher said several Amateur Radio Emergency Service members grabbed
their "jump kits" and rendered assistance to those suffering from the fumes.

Ironically, the incident occurred as Wellman's forum, "Emergencies: What
If?" was under way. When notified that he had to clear the room because of
an emergency, Wellman says his first reaction was that someone was playing a
joke. "Then the fellow said, 'This is the real thing, you have to evacuate,'
so we ended the seminar quickly."

At first, neither the substance nor its source were known. It was later
determined that someone had apparently smeared pepper spray on the wall of a
room in the lodge, and the fumes got into the inn's ventilation system.

"As the gas began to migrate out of the initial release area into the
hamfest area, more and more people began to be affected," Motschenbacher
recalled. "By this time a mass evacuation was in process. Eventually the
entire central complex was evacuated and roped off." In all, some 300 guests
were relocated into other facilities at the inn complex.

The incident "totally disrupted the convention," Motschenbacher said, but as
things began to calm down that afternoon, some presenters conducted their
forums outdoors. An evening banquet was also held outside and away from the
affected area.

After several hours, Parkes and others returned to the inn, but because
authorities had confiscated their clothing for analysis, they were attired
in garb donated by a local charity. "Everybody just pulled together," said
Motschenbacher, who reported suffering a sore throat but did not require
medical treatment. "All the authorities were very complimentary about
Amateur Radio."

==>PCSAT2 INSTALLED ON ISS DURING SPACE WALK

The PCSat2 <http://web.usna.navy.mil/~bruninga/pcsat2.html> Amateur Radio
package has been installed on the exterior of the International Space
Station (ISS) as Materials International Space Station Experiment 5
(MISSE5). 

Astronaut Soichi Noguchi, KD5TVP, unfolded the suitcase-like Passive
Experiment Container (PEC) holding PCSat2 and other experiments mounted atop
the ISS P6 truss structure August 3 during a space walk with Astronaut Steve
Robinson. Noguchi deployed the "tape measure" antennas by pulling up a
couple of Mylar strips that allowed the antennas to pop out. PCSat2 is not
yet available to users.

Built by US Naval Academy students under the guidance of APRS guru Bob
Bruninga, WB4APR, PCSat2 will operate in cooperation with the Amateur Radio
on the International Space Station (ARISS) program
<http://www.rac.ca/ariss>. It will provide a 10-meter PSK31 multi-user
transponder, an FM voice repeater for possible use with ISS crew members and
an AX.25 packet system for use as a UI digipeater and for telemetry,
command, control.

Bruninga says the PSK31 transponder will not be turned on for general use
until ground controllers have a better understanding of its thermal and
power load. But it was enabled on August 5 over the US for a test, and the
FM downlink (435.275 MHz) displayed the signal of a station transmitting on
29.402 MHz.

The NA1SS/RS0ISS ARISS equipment was powered down during the PCSat2
installation, but it was back up August 4, when STS-114 crew member Andy
Thomas, KD5CHF/VK5MIR, made some terrestrial contacts while the ISS and
Discovery were passing over his native Australia.

Bruninga says PCSat2 may be ready for use within a few days, but he asks
that stations not attempt to use the system until it's been checked out and
an announcement made. In the meantime, Bruninga has invited well-equipped
ground stations to help capture early telemetry on the alternate downlink of
437.975 MHz. By week's end, some Earth stations were already reporting
telemetry from PCSat2. Telemetry is at 1200 and 9600 baud. E-mail telemetry
files to pc2@grc.nasa.gov. Bruninga says the UHF downlink is only 1 W and
will require a gain antenna to copy.

Bruninga also has asked 1200 baud IGates or SATgates to monitor 437.975 MHz
and feed the global APRS system live telemetry page
<http://www.pcsat2.info/PCSat2Web/RealTime.jsp>. 

PCSat2's primary downlink frequency is 435.275 MHz; the packet digipeater up
and downlink frequency is 145.825 MHz. More information is on the USNA Web
site <http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/pec/pc2ops.html>.

==>RADIO AMATEURS AID IN PACIFIC MARITIME RESCUE

"Mayday, Mayday, Mayday! This is the sailboat Enamorado. Mayday, Mayday!"
That's what Wisconsin radio amateurs Ed Toal, N9MW, and Ralph Henes, W9CAR,
heard during a casual Sunday morning net July 24 on 14.238 MHz that also
involved Dick Mannheimer, K6LAE, in Los Angeles. Toal and Henes were able to
contact the operator, Ken Saijo, KC6ORF--a California retiree--who confirmed
the 35-foot sailing vessel was in trouble and needed help.

"All social chatter immediately stopped, and we declared an emergency in
progress on frequency," Henes said. Then, while Toal gathered information
from the operator aboard the Enamorado, Mannheimer and Henes both called the
US Coast Guard to relay the boat's situation and position, which turned out
to be in Mexican waters. Henes said the Coast Guard relayed their
information to the Mexican Navy. Henes and Toal were able to copy KC6ORF
well, although Mannheimer could not, and they maintained contact with the
disabled boat.

The Wisconsin hams learned that that Saijo was accompanying the boat's
skipper, Ken Scheibe, on a trip from California to Costa Rica when they ran
into a storm. As a result, the vessel lost its engine and steering and both
men were injured, neither seriously. Before putting out distress calls on 20
meters, Saijo had tried without success to raise help via the vessel's VHF
marine radio.

Mannheimer noted that Art Rowe, K7HA, in Washington, and Tom Miller, K4IC,
in Arlington, Virginia, initially kept the frequency clear. They were
subsequently joined by a host of other stations in the US and Canada, some
of whom were able to copy KC6ORF and help relay as needed.

Toal had to leave after a couple of hours, but Henes and Mannheimer remained
on frequency. About three hours into the incident, Henes again called the US
Coast Guard to see if it had heard back from the Mexican Navy. It had not,
so he called the Mexican Navy himself and, after what he described as "a few
tense language-barrier moments," he was connected with someone who spoke
English and Spanish and told that a rescue boat and helicopter were on the
way.

Henes also got the Mexican Navy vessel to come up on 20 meters. "Within
minutes, they were on the frequency calling the stranded boat," he said.
Unfortunately, neither Saijo nor Scheibe spoke Spanish fluently enough to
understand the communicator on the Mexican Navy vessel.

Enter Jorge Lira, XE1JP, who volunteered to serve as translator. He was able
to relay the foundering sailboat's coordinates to Mexican authorities. "He
saved the day," said Henes, who reports he was able to hear the rescue
helicopter in the background on Saijo's transmission. Saijo and Scheibe were
plucked to safety from the distressed vessel, which the Mexican Navy towed
to safety.

Henes said he later received an e-mail from Scheibe thanking him and the
other radio amateurs for helping. Toal said later, "To me, we were just
paying our dues for the right to be hams."

A TV station and a newspaper in Madison, Wisconsin, were among the news
media reporting the incident and Amateur Radio's role in coming to the
rescue.

==>FCC ASKS OHIO APPLICANT TO EXPLAIN IDENTITY "DISCREPANCIES"

"Apparent discrepancies" regarding the identity of an Ohio man has prompted
the FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) to set aside two
applications it had granted. The WTB referred the matter of Joseph W.
Hartmann Jr of Youngstown to the Enforcement Bureau, FCC Special Counsel
Riley Hollingsworth said in a June 21 letter to Hartmann.

In one instance, the WTB indicated, Hartmann filed in October 2000 to
associate his FCC Registration Number (FRN) with amateur call sign K3GUX,
issued to Joseph V. Hartmann Sr. The FCC's Universal Licensing Service shows
a Delaware mailing address for the senior Hartmann. Hollingsworth said FCC
records indicate that Joseph V. Hartmann Sr's birth date is in 1919, while
the younger Hartmann indicated on his application that he was born in 1969.
Hollingsworth asked the younger Hartmann to provide justification for
obtaining an FRN in the name of Joseph V. Hartmann Sr. 

The FCC said Joseph W. Hartmann Jr subsequently filed applications to change
the licensee name and address for K3GUX. Hollingsworth asked Joseph W.
Hartmann Jr to justify filing applications requesting the FCC to change
Joseph V. Hartman Sr's name to Joseph W. Hartmann Jr, and the senior
Hartman's address to that of the younger Hartmann.

Hollingsworth said Joseph W. Hartmann Jr told him that he was trying to
correct errors in his licensee record in the FCC's database.

In another matter, the FCC Enforcement Bureau notified Wayne Spindler of
Encino, California, on June 21 that the WTB had set aside his Technician
license grant, KG6ZBU, on its own motion on May 13. That call sign no longer
appears in the FCC database.

"That action was based upon complaints about unlicensed operation of your
station prior to filing an application," Hollingsworth told Spindler. "In
view of the action by the Wireless Bureau, your application reverts to a
pending status, and you have no authority to operate." The FCC had granted
Spindler's application April 21. 

Hollingsworth told Spindler that the FCC would contact him for additional
information "we may need in order to make a determination as to what action
to take in this matter."

==>RADIO AMATEUR LOSES LIFE INSTALLING EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS ANTENNA

An Ohio radio amateur died July 30 while attempting to perform a public
service for his county's RACES/ARES program. Preble County RACES Radio
Officer Robert W. "Bob" French II, N8EHA, of Eaton was on a tower at the New
Paris fire station installing an antenna for the RACES/ARES program when an
element came into contact with a power line. The shock knocked French from
the tower, and he reportedly fell some 40 feet to the ground. French's son
Aaron, KA8VUS, Al Stone, KB8RPO, and other members of the work party
administered CPR to no avail.

"Bob started back up the tower, pulling the antenna up by the feed line as
he climbed," Stone recounted in a message shared with ARRL by Ohio Section
Manager Joe Phillips, K8QOE. "At one point Bob thrust his hand upward to
grab another rung of the tower, with the feed line in his hand. The antenna
began swinging, and when he went for that last rung, the antenna came in
contact with [the] power line." Stone said the ham volunteers were
installing two antennas on the New Paris fire station's tower as part of a
project to equip every firehouse in the county with an antenna and ham radio
for emergency backup communication.

French, 51, belonged to the ARRL. He was a founding member of the Preble
Amateur Radio Association and very active in the club. "He was one of the
biggest advocates for Amateur Radio I have known," said Gary Hollenbaugh,
NJ8BB, who eulogized his friend at an August 3 service. "His leadership,
organizational skills, knowledge and enthusiasm cannot be easily replaced."

Hollenbaugh says French was wearing a safety belt but not a fall restraint
harness. "He was still climbing the tower and not able to secure off," he
said, conceding that his friend did not follow several safety rules. He also
questioned why the tower was sited so close to power lines.

ARES District 3 Emergency Coordinator Ron Moorefield, W8ILC, represented the
ARRL at French's service. Survivors include his wife Cathy, KA8RWX, and
their daughter and son. The family invites memorial contributions to the
Preble Amateur Radio Association, 7810 US Hwy 35 E, W Alexandria, OH 45381.

==>AMATEURS TO GET "NEW" SATELLITE

PO-28 (POSAT-1)--Portugal's first satellite, launched 12 years ago--will be
turned over to Amateur Radio use in the very near future. That was the word
July 30 from AMSAT-UK Secretary Jim Heck, G3WGM, during the AMSAT-UK
International Space Colloquium in Guildford, England. 

Launched September 25, 1993, the satellite operated as a packet
store-and-forward BBS (9600 baud FM FSK) on Amateur Radio frequencies for
several weeks in early 1994. Over the years, PO-28's primary usage has been
commercial, although plans have called for eventually shifting its operation
to ham radio use. G3WGM reports that following lengthy negotiations it has
been agreed that the satellite can be switched permanently to amateur
frequencies. The changeover is expected to take a couple of weeks. 

The Portuguese satellite was built at the University of Surrey as part of a
collaborative satellite technology program that involved industry and
academe. Uplink frequencies will be 145.925 and 145.975 MHz. Downlink
frequencies will be 435.075 and 435.275 MHz. More information on PO-28 is on
the AMSAT Web site <http://www.amsat.org/amsat/sats/n7hpr/po28.html>.

==>SOLAR UPDATE

Ra the Sun god Tad "Let the Sunshine In" Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington,
reports: Average daily sunspot numbers rose by more than 68 points this week
to 83.7 compared to last week's numbers. This is four weeks after the recent
large number of sunspots around the beginning of July, which corresponds to
the rotation of the sun relative to Earth. That area of the sun is now back
in view, but with sunspots diminished.

The reporting week began July 28 with heightened geomagnetic activity, but
it quieted down. Prediction for the next few days is for solar flux to
remain above 100, which is expected until August 10. Current geomagnetic
conditions are slightly unsettled, but after August 10 are predicted to be
quiet. Barring an unexpected solar flare, expect good conditions--at least
relative to recent HF propagation at this lower spot on the solar cycle.

The overall trend for the remainder of this sunspot cycle will be down, and
it becomes more obvious when we average the numbers over a long period.
Currently we are looking to reach solar minimum around the end of 2006.

Sunspot numbers for July 28 through August 3 were 29, 69, 62, 110, 102, 112
and 102 with a mean of 83.7. 10.7 cm flux was 95.8, 103.7, 105, 109.7,
111.2, 110.2 and 108.9, with a mean of 106.4. Estimated planetary A indices
were 28, 19, 16, 9, 16, 12 and 11 with a mean of 15.9. Estimated
mid-latitude A indices were 18, 14, 11, 10, 18, 9 and 6, with a mean of
12.3.

__________________________________

==>IN BRIEF:

* This weekend on the radio: The North America QSO Party, (CW), the ARRL UHF
Contest, the TARA Grid Dip Shindig, the 10-10 International Summer Contest
(SSB), the National Lighthouse Weekend QSO Contest, the European HF
Championship, the RSGB RoPoCo 2 and the SARL HF Phone Contest are the
weekend of August 6-7. JUST AHEAD: the NAQCC 80/40 Straight Key/Bug Sprint
is August 10; the NCCC Thursday Sprint is August 12 (UTC). The WAE DX
Contest (CW) and the Maryland-DC QSO Party are the weekend of August 13-14.
The NCCC Thursday Sprint is August 19 (UTC). 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 Technician Licensing course (EC-010) remains open
through Sunday, August 7. Classes begin Friday, August 19. With the
assistance of a mentor, EC-010 students learn everything they need to know
to pass the FCC Technician class license examination. 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 (EC-002)
on-line course opens Monday, August 8, at 1201 AM EDT and will remain open
until all available seats have been filled or through the August 13-14
weekend--whichever comes first. Class begins Friday, August 26.  Thanks to
the United Technologies Corporation (UTC), the $45 registration fee paid
upon enrollment will be reimbursed to students who complete the course
requirements and are upgraded by their mentor to "Passed" within the 8-week
course period. 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.

* New IARU Region 2 Monitoring System Coordinator appointed: Bill Zellers,
WA4FKI, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, has been appointed as the new IARU
Region 2 Monitoring System Coordinator. He succeeds Martin Potter, VE3OAT,
who stepped down in 2004. IARU Region 2 President Rod Stafford, W6ROD,
announced the appointment this week. "Bill is excited about taking on the
duties and responsibilities as Monitoring System Coordinator for Region 2
and assisting in the effort to keep the Amateur Radio bands free of
intruding signals," Stafford said. "Join me in congratulating Bill on his
appointment and wish him luck in his efforts in his new position." The IARU
Monitoring System (IARUMS) is a worldwide service that works primarily to
identify and initiate the necessary steps to remove from the Amateur Radio
bands any non-Amateur Radio signals that are causing harmful interference
through improper use. IARUMS also conducts surveys of amateur band
occupancy, among other tasks. Potter says Zellers is eager to become fully
engaged in his new post, supporting and coordinating the various national
intruder watch programs in IARU Region 2 and working together with the
IARUMS Coordinators in Regions 1 and 3.

* Changes announced for ARRL International EME Competition: The ARRL Program
and Services Committee has approved the addition of a Single Operator
Assisted (SOA) category for single-band and multiband ARRL International EME
Competition entries. Under SOA, one person performs all operating and
logging as well as equipment and antenna adjustment and alignment. The use
of spotting assistance or nets (operating arrangements involving other
individuals, DX-alerting nets, packet, etc) is permitted. The new category
will be in play for the upcoming 2005 contest season, although it was not
approved in time to make the contest announcement in August QST. This change
means that single-op single-band and multiband EME event participants now
may compete as unassisted or assisted. Certificates will be awarded for the
new category. The EME competition cover three 48-hour weekend periods (0000
UTC Saturday through 2359 UTC Sunday). Dates and designated bands for 2005
are September 24-25: 2304 MHz and Up, and October 22-23 and November 12-13
50: MHz through 1296 MHz. For more information contact ARRL Contest Branch
Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, n1nd@arrl.org. 

* Australian BPL-related submissions express concerns: The Australian
Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) says the majority of the 275
submissions to its BPL Discussion Paper
<http://www.acma.gov.au/ACMAINTER.2163012:STANDARD::pc=PC_9240> show a high
level of concern regarding BPL interference and its management. More than
220 of the comments came from radio amateurs. Others were from
telecommunications companies, broadcasters and government agencies. One
commenter, telecoms provider Optus, recommended a "cautious approach" and
expressed concern over potential BPL interference to its cable services as
well as over the issue of regulatory and competition certainty. Broadband
cable and DSL provider Telstra worried about interference to its broadband
and HF radio services saying its calculations indicate "ubiquitous BPL could
have serious consequences for cable modem networks" and could lead to
"significant degradation of VDSL in cases where power and telecommunications
lines are in close proximity." Commenting through their industry
association--the Personal Emergency Response Services Association (PERSA),
medical alarm providers concluded that electromagnetic interference from BPL
to PERS is potentially severe, continuous and widespread. "BPL interference
could prevent a call for assistance in a life-threatening situation,
resulting in death or injury," PERSA asserted. Not surprisingly, submissions
from the BPL industry recommend less-onerous management techniques, although
power company Bytecan did acknowledge interference to various services and
devices during its tests. Others commenting included CB radio, model
aircraft enthusiasts, outback radio users and equipment suppliers.--Phil
Wait, VK2DKN/Wireless Institute of Australia

* DXCC Desk approves operation for DXCC credit: The ARRL DXCC Desk has
approved this operation for DXCC credit: T6EE, Afghanistan, from September
19 until October 16, 2004. For more information, visit the DXCC Web page
<http://www.arrl.org/awards/dxcc/>. "DXCC Frequently Asked Questions" 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/>.

=========================================================== 
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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==>Editorial questions or comments: Rick Lindquist, N1RL, n1rl@arrl.org
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860-594-0384

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email" to temporarily stop all e-mail deliveries.) Then, click on "Submit
modification" to make selections effective. (NOTE: HQ staff members cannot
change your e-mail delivery address. You must do this yourself via the
Members Only Web Site.)

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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