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ARRL Letter

 

***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 24, No. 37
September 23, 2005
***************

IN THIS EDITION:

* +Amateur Radio volunteers brace for Rita response
* +The "CC&R bill" is back in play in 109th Congress
* +New ham gear and SuitSat arrive at ISS
* +Hurricane Ophelia prompts North Carolina hams into action
* +FCC checking into repeater interference complaints
* +Ham radio community contributes gear for Katrina relief
*  Solar Update
*  IN BRIEF:
     This weekend on the radio
    +Bill Seabreeze, W3IY, SK
    +Short stories on most memorable contact due October 1
     ARRL renewing memberships of those affected by Katrina
     New W0 QSL Bureau manager, address announced

+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
===========================================================

==>AMATEUR RADIO RESOURCES READY FOR RITA

As Hurricane Rita continues on course for landfall sometime early on the
morning of September 24 along the Gulf Coast between Texas and Louisiana,
Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)/Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service
(RACES) and other Amateur Radio groups are at the ready. The Hurricane Watch
Net (HWN) on 14.325 MHz has announced plans to remain active until 0300 UTC
or as long as the 20-meter band is available--whichever comes first. ARRL
Headquarters is maintaining regular contact with Section Managers and
Section Emergency Coordinators in the Gulf Coast region as they muster their
own volunteer resources, some of whom already have been deployed to
emergency operating centers and other strategic sites.

"Once again, the entire ARRL organization--including our volunteers in the
field, our Headquarters staff and our members--are gearing up as Hurricane
Rita approaches to provide needed emergency communications when all else
fails," said ARRL Chief Operating Officer Harold Kramer, WJ1B. He has
announced that Maxim Memorial Station W1AW will be staffed throughout the
September 24-25 weekend to monitor emergency nets and assist as needed. W1AW
also remained available through the weekend after Hurricane Katrina struck
the region in late August.

As of 2300 UTC on September 23, Hurricane Rita was a strong Category 3 storm
with maximum sustained winds of nearly 125 MPH with higher gusts. Although
further weakening was anticipated, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) says
Rita was still expected to come ashore as "a dangerous hurricane."

The HWN announced plans to reactivate Saturday, September 24, at 1300 UTC
and remain in session until Rita is downgraded to a tropical storm.
"Obviously, among our priorities will be to listen for people in the
affected area who might have emergency or priority needs," said HWN Manager
Mike Pilgrim, K5MP. "Otherwise, we seek observed and/or measured weather
data which can be used to supplement other input for forecasters to create
and/or validate their forecast projections." The HWN will work with WX4NHC
at the National Hurricane Center to relay the information to forecasters.

The West Gulf ARES Emergency Net on 7.285 MHz (days) and 3.873 MHz
(evenings) has activated for the latest weather threat. The net also will
utilize 7.290 MHz (days) and 3.935 MHz (evenings) for health-and-welfare
(H&W) traffic. Briefings on the West Gulf ARES Emergency Net are taking
place daily at noon CDT (7.285 MHz) and at 7 PM CDT (3.873 MHz). Local
resource nets are opening up on various VHF-UHF repeaters as well.

The Harris County, Texas, emergency operations center (EOC) activated
earlier in the week and already was receiving requests for Amateur Radio
support. EOCs in other counties and cities in the potential strike zone will
have Amateur Radio operators on site--some around the clock.

The American Red Cross has established its headquarters for the Hurricane
Rita emergency in the Texas capital of Austin, and the ARC's W5KA already
has checked into the West Gulf ARES Emergency Net.

ARRL South Texas Section Emergency Coordinator Jerry Reimer, KK5CA, reports
the Red Cross opened nearly two dozen shelters and seeks Amateur Radio
communication support. Reimer and his counterparts in the Gulf Coast region
are currently recruiting Amateur Radio volunteers from within the region or
from outside. One problem, Reimer noted this week, is that radio amateurs in
coastal counties were under mandatory evacuation orders.

Alabama SM Greg Sarratt, W4OZK, told ARRL Headquarters that he's holding
some volunteers who reported for Hurricane Katrina duty for quick deployment
in the wake of Hurricane Rita. He notes that the Montgomery, Alabama,
American Red Cross volunteer marshaling center where he's been stationed for
more than three weeks continues to supply Amateur Radio volunteers to
hard-hit areas of Mississippi--especially Hancock and Harrison
counties--where he expects they'll be needed at least until month's end.
Louisiana SEC Gary Stratton, K5GLS, is maintaining a similar holding
pattern, although he reports that most ham radio activity in his section
associated with Hurricane Katrina has wound down for now.

Prospective volunteers may sign up for possible deployment in the region via
the Hurricane Rita Disaster Communications Volunteer Registration & Message
Traffic Database <http://rita.ab2m.net/>. Only volunteers who are willing to
travel into the disaster area should indicate their interest in this
database. Prospective volunteers should not self-deploy.

Elsewhere, The Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN) Net on
14.265 MHz announced plans to activate in emergency mode at 0000 UTC
Saturday, September 24. "SATERN will run its two-pronged operation, handling
as first priority emergency communication and as second priority
health-and-welfare traffic," said SATERN National Director Pat McPherson,
WW9E. The National Radio Emergency Net (NREN) will be working with SATERN
during the Hurricane Rita response, maintaining liaison with SATERN's 14.265
MHz operation and providing alternate routes for operators handling
emergency traffic on CW. NREN operations will be on 14.050 and 10.115 MHz
days and 10.115 MHz and 7.050 MHz evenings.

Amateur Radio stations not involved in the Hurricane Rita emergency are
requested to give all HF emergency net frequencies a wide berth of at least
5 kHz on either side. The FCC is aware of all emergency frequencies in use
during the Hurricane Rita emergency.

==>AMATEUR RADIO ANTENNA "CC&R BILL" REINTRODUCED IN CONGRESS

New York Congressman Steve Israel has reintroduced legislation that could
make it easier for radio amateurs living in communities with deed covenants,
conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs) to erect suitable antennas. Arkansas
Congressman Mike Ross, WD5DVR, signed aboard as an original cosponsor of the
"Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Consistency Act" (HR 3876). ARRL
Hudson Division Director Frank Fallon, N2FF, attended Israel's public
announcement of the bill September 19 on Long Island.

"Unfortunately if all new housing developments contain deed restrictions
forbidding outside antennas there will probably come a time when there will
not be enough ham radio operators to help their neighbors and countrymen,"
said Fallon. He believes Israel's bill will help to ensure that Amateur
Radio will continue to be able to provide emergency communication should a
disaster occur.

Fallon, who heads up the League's grassroots lobbying initiative, noted the
bill's introduction comes in the immediate aftermath of positive media
coverage of Amateur Radio's response to the Hurricane Katrina disaster. He
was on hand for Israel's public announcement, which took place at the home
of ARRL New York City-Long Island Emergency Coordinator Tom Carrubba, KA2D.

The one-sentence measure is identical to the text of the CC&R bill that has
been introduced in the last two sessions of Congress: "For purposes of the
Federal Communications Commission's regulation relating to station antenna
structures in the Amateur Radio Service (47 CFR 97.15), any private land use
rules applicable to such structures shall be treated as a state or local
regulation and shall be subject to the same requirements and limitations as
a state or local regulation." The measure would put private land-use
regulations, such as homeowners' association rules, on the same legal plane
as state or local zoning regulations under the FCC's PRB-1 limited federal
preemption. PRB-1 now applies only to states and municipalities.

ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, this week encouraged League members to
write their elected representative and ask that they cosponsor and support
the bill, especially given two hurricane emergencies in short order.

"Amateur Radio is certainly a part of this nation's communications
infrastructure," Haynie said. "What we're asking for is just a fair shake so
we can put up antennas and help our fellow citizens." While the League has
ramped up its efforts to educate members of Congress about Amateur Radio,
Haynie said lawmakers respond best to individual members.

HR 3876 has been assigned to the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Information about the bill and a sample letter to use when contacting your
representative are available on the ARRL Web site
<http://www.arrl.org/govrelations/hr3876/>.

In his formal announcement this week, Israel said that "often unsung"
Amateur Radio volunteers were instrumental in helping residents in the
hardest hit areas in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, including saving
stranded flood victims in Louisiana and Mississippi.

"State and local governments, as well as disaster relief agencies, could not
possibly afford to replace the services that radio amateurs dependably
provide for free," said a statement from Israel's office. "However, the
hundreds of thousands of Amateur Radio licensees face burdensome regulations
that make it extremely difficult to provide their public services."

==>SUITSAT, NEW ARISS SSTV GEAR ARRIVES AT SPACE STATION

An unpiloted Russian Progress cargo ship that docked with the International
Space Station (ISS) earlier this month carried two new Amateur Radio on the
International Space Station (ARISS) systems among its 2.5-ton cargo of fuel,
food and supplies. Onboard were the SuitSat Amateur Radio hardware and the
Slow Scan Television (SSTV) hardware and software.

"The successful docking of Progress to ISS on September 10 culminates the
successful design, development, certification and delivery of these two
ARISS Projects," said ARISS International Chair Frank Bauer, KA3HDO. The ISS
Expedition 11 crew of John Phillips, KE5DRY, and Sergei Krikalev, U5MIR,
will unpack the gear and make it available for installation, use and
deployment by the Expedition 12 crew of Commander Bill McArthur, KC5ACR, and
Flight Engineer Valery Tokarev. They're set to launch to the ISS October 1
from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in a Soyuz transporter.

The SuitSat Amateur Radio gear and a school artwork project are to be
installed inside an outdated Russian Orlan spacesuit. SuitSat then will be
deployed from the ISS during a spacewalk.

During its limited lifetime, SuitSat will beam down special messages and an
SSTV image as it floats in space. SuitSat's radio system will allow hams and
students to track the suit and decode special international messages,
spacesuit telemetry and a pre-programmed SSTV image through its
specially-built digital voice messaging system and Amateur Radio
transmitter. SuitSat will have transmit-only capability and will run on the
spacesuit's battery power.

As part of the SuitSat project, the payload will also include a CD with
hundreds of school pictures, artwork, poems, and student signatures. Two
identical CDs were flown into space, Bauer said. "One will go in the suit,
and the other will be for the crew to review. Using the crew CD, we hope to
downlink these images using the SSTV system that will be located inside the
Zvezda Service Module once it is operational." The CD contains some 300
items from all over the world.

The ARISS-Russia team headed by Sergei Samburov, RV3DR, first came up with
the idea for SuitSat, and the concept came in for extensive discussion
during the joint AMSAT Symposium/ARISS International Team meeting in October
2004. The project--called Radioskaf or Radio Sputnik in Russia--is being led
by project manager A. P. Alexandrov and Deputy Project Manager A. Poleshuk
from RSC Energia. On the US side, AMSAT member Lou McFadin, W5DID, has
headed up the hardware project development.

Due to the challenging development time constraints, the SuitSat design
concept matured and evolved quickly in the past 11 months. "In a very short
timeframe, the ARISS International Team designed, built and tested a simple,
yet fully featured system that we hope will inspire hams and students around
the world," Bauer said.

The new SSTV system will be installed inside the Service Module as an
integral part of the ARISS ham radio station, NA1SS/RS0ISS. It will transmit
and receive JPEG still images from the ISS. When fully operational, the SSTV
system will be able to send up to 480 images per day from the ISS as well as
receive images from earthbound radio amateurs.

"This system will utilize the already installed Kenwood D-700 radio and the
ARISS antennas mounted on the Service Module," Bauer explained. He said the
SSTV equipment flown on the Progress 19P flight includes the SpaceCam
software, a radio/computer interface module and data cables. A dedicated
laptop for SSTV operations will be launched on a subsequent Progress
vehicle.

"On behalf of the ARISS International team, I want to congratulate the
SuitSat hardware development team and the SSTV development team on a job
well done," Bauer said. "We look forward to future operation of these
systems on ISS, inspiring the next generation of space explorers."

ARISS <http://www.rac.ca/ariss> is an international educational outreach
with US participation from ARRL, AMSAT and NASA.

==>NORTH CAROLINA HAMS RESPOND TO HURRICANE OPHELIA

Amateur Radio Emergency Service/Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service
(ARES/RACES) teams along the North Carolina coast took no chances September
14 when Hurricane Ophelia threatened. They went on alert as the meandering
and undecided storm approached landfall, packing winds of from 80 to 85 MPH.
North Carolina Section Emergency Coordinator Bernie Nobles, WA4MOK, said the
Eastern Branch emergency operations center (EOC) in Kinston established
radio contact with the counties likely to be the hardest hit by
Ophelia--Brunswick and New Hanover.

"All operations went smoothly, and the participation was great," Nobles said
afterward. "We had more emergency coordinators (ECs) on HF than ever before,
and I would like to stress the importance of having that capability. I would
like to see all ECs become General class licensees for that reason." He also
recommended that all National Weather Service field offices have HF Amateur
Radio capability.

The Eastern Branch EOC used 3.927/7.232 MHz on HF and the Brunswick County
repeater on 147.315 MHz. ARES/RACES HF operation was on the Tarheel
Emergency Net.

Nobles said a lot of activity took place on North Carolina's coastal linking
system, which permits communication with the Outer Banks. "Richard Marlin,
K4HAT, at Cape Hatteras fed us information about the storm's effects, and
several messages were given to the eastern branch EOC director," Nobles
said.

Along the Outer Banks, an evacuation order was issued for Hatteras Island,
and visitors were told to leave Ocracoke Island. The National Park Service
also closed Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and the Wright Brothers National
Memorial in Kill Devil Hills. In addition, schools closed in coastal
communities, and more than 100 residents took refuge in a shelter set up in
Wilmington.

Ophelia was the 15th named storm and the seventh hurricane of the 2005
Atlantic hurricane season, which began June 1 and ends November 30.--Some
information from The ARES E-Letter

==>INTERFERENCE COMPLAINTS PROMPT FCC QUERIES TO CALIFORNIA REPEATER OWNERS

Following up on separate interference complaints, the FCC recently contacted
two repeater owners in California to request additional information. Letters
went out from FCC Special Counsel for Enforcement Riley Hollingsworth August
19 and September 1, respectively, to Jeffrey A. Stouffer, K6JSI, of Vista,
and to H. R. Dixon, WB6NIL, of San Diego. The letters enclosed complaints
that the two licensees were operating uncoordinated UHF repeaters said to be
causing interference to coordinated machines on the same frequencies.

"The complaint indicated that you have been made aware of the interference
and the apparent lack of coordination but that you have declined to resolve
the interference," Hollingsworth told both licensees in the separate
letters. As he's done in past such cases, Hollingsworth pointed out that
§97.205 of the Amateur Service rules says "the licensee of the uncoordinated
repeater has primary responsibility to resolve the interference."

Among other things, Hollingsworth asked Dixon and Stouffer to produce copies
of their coordination documents and if either had received complaints
regarding the operation of their repeaters. Copies of interference
complaints accompanied both pieces of correspondence. Hollingsworth said the
FCC's letter to Dixon was not deliverable to his address on record at the
time in Oakhurst. He said the letter has been remailed to Dixon's current
address in San Diego, which was updated in the FCC's database September 22.

In other enforcement news, Hollingsworth wrote Gary A. Jaworske, KB8ZNS, and
Zachary J. Jaworske, KB8YYG, both of Strongsville, Ohio, August 19 to tell
both licensees that the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) had
referred their renewal applications to the Enforcement Bureau for review.

"That action was taken based upon a complaint filed against you alleging
that you are marketing non-certified radio transmitters and that you are
modifying certified radio equipment to cause it to operate on unauthorized
frequencies and at power limits that violate Commission rules,"
Hollingsworth told both licensees. The Jaworskes have the same address but
their relationship is not known.

Both Jaworskes are Technician licensees. Zachary Jaworske's license expired
on April 19, while Gary Jaworske's ticket expired May 17, 2005. Since their
renewal applications were timely filed, both will be permitted to continue
to operate, despite the fact that their renewal applications now are in
"pending" status.

Hollingsworth said the complaint, if valid, "raised serious questions
regarding your qualifications to retain an amateur license." He asked each
to respond to the complaints within 30 days. Hollingsworth said that he's
heard nothing from either licensee to date.

The FCC also wrote Anthony J. Lomenzo, ex-KD4DVW, of Sunrise, Florida, on
September 1 citing "monitoring information" indicating that Lomenzo had been
transmitting on various 2-meter repeaters in the Sunrise area. Lomenzo did
not renew his license before it expired in 2002. Hollingsworth noted that
FCC records indicate that in 1999, Lomenzo received a Warning Notice
regarding interference to repeaters in the Sunrise area.

==>AMATEUR RADIO COMMUNITY STEPS UP TO THE PLATE FOR KATRINA RELIEF

Nearly three dozen members of the Amateur Radio industry and individual
radio amateurs have contributed equipment for use in the Hurricane Katrina
relief effort. The disaster wiped out the Amateur Radio infrastructure in
many US Gulf Coast communities. The donations were made as gifts to ARRL,
which is redirecting these resources as needed to the disaster zone. Some
donors have offered valuable services and supplies.

"The ARRL would like to thank everyone who has generously donated Amateur
Radio equipment, accessories and supplies," said ARRL Chief Operating
Officer Harold Kramer, WJ1B.

He said some of the equipment already on hand has been or soon will be
deployed to assist relief agencies such as the American Red Cross as well as
state and local emergency managers. The ARRL will hold in reserve equipment
not needed in the Katrina response to aid volunteers in future disaster
situations.

Here's an a list in alphabetical order by contributors, as of September 23.

Acom                         Antennas and amplifier
Array Solutions              Antennas
Bushcomm Pty Ltd             Antennas
Gregory Boots, N4MKG         Amplifier and antenna tuner
Cable X-PERTS Inc            Assembled coax and barrel connectors
Degen Designs                Offer to make antennas
Tony Drake, KC4OBY           AA batteries from Squad Technologies LLC
Duracell                     AA batteries
DX Engineering               Vertical antennas and radial kits
Ensinger Research            Offer of Yagi antennas
Handey's Electronic Ctr      Coax cable
Heil Sound Ltd               Headsets
ICOM America                 VHF and HF transceivers
Innergy Power                Portable solar panels
Kenwood Communications       VHF and HF transceivers
LDG Electronics              Antenna tuners
Long's Electronics           AA batteries
M2 Antenna Systems Inc       Yagi antennas
McKesson Corporation         AA batteries
MFJ Enterprises              Power supplies
NCG Company                  Base antennas, masts, tripods
Nifty! Ham Accessories       Offer to supply quick reference guides
OPEK Technologies            Antennas
R&L Electronics              Antennas
Samlex America               Power supplies
Sharp Mfg Co of America      Offer to supply solar modules
Squad Technologies LLC       AA batteries
Bob Wallace, K4YNT           Amplifier and antenna tuner
The Wireman Inc              Assembled lengths of coax
Timewave Technology Inc      Offer of technical support and hardware
West Mountain Radio          DC power products
Yaesu USA (Vertex-Standard)  VHF mobile and handheld transceivers

Cash donations are also being accepted by the ARRL to support hams in the
field assisting with emergency communications and relief efforts in Alabama,
Mississippi and Louisiana in the aftermath of Katrina. These funds will be
used to provide reimbursement for personal expenses incurred by hams as they
volunteer in the field. To make a donation go to the secure ARRL general
donation form <https://www.arrl.org/forms/development/donations/basic/> and
select "Ham Aid."

==>SOLAR UPDATE

Astral aficionado Tad "I Live for the Sun" Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington,
reports: Solar activity quieted down this week after a recent tumultuous
period marked by aurora and geomagnetic storms. Average daily sunspot
numbers dropped to 46--more than 25 points below the previous week. Average
daily solar flux declined by more than 9 points to 100.3.

Sunspot numbers are expected to stay low, rising again after October 3.
Geomagnetic conditions should also stay low, with unsettled conditions
possible around September 27-29. Geophysical Institute Prague predicts quiet
to unsettled conditions September 23-24, quiet September 25-26, active
conditions September 27 and unsettled conditions September 28-29.

Fall has now begun. Despite the low solar activity, conditions are more
seasonally favorable for HF propagation. The lower geomagnetic activity is a
plus for HF conditions.

Sunspot numbers for September 15 through 21 were 77, 51, 59, 50, 43, 23 and
19, with a mean of 46. The 10.7 cm flux was 119.4, 112, 103.9, 102.2, 91.1,
87.8, and 86, with a mean of 100.3. Estimated planetary A indices were 43,
18, 12, 12, 8, 6 and 5, with a mean of 14.9. Estimated mid-latitude A
indices were 22, 11, 10, 8, 8, 3 and 3, with a mean of 9.3.

__________________________________

==>IN BRIEF:

* This weekend on the radio: The CQ Worldwide DX Contest (RTTY), the Tesla
Cup (SSB+CW), the Scandinavian Activity Contest (SSB), the Texas QSO Party,
the AGCW VHF/UHF Contest (144+432 MHz) and the UBA ON Contest (6 m) are the
weekend of September 24-25. JUST AHEAD: The Fall QRP Homebrewer Sprint is
September 26. The 222 MHz Fall Sprint is September 27. The California QSO
Party, the TARA PSK Rumble Contest, the Oceania DX Contest (SSB), the
International HELL-Contest, the EU Autumn Sprint (SSB), the PRO CW Contest,
the UBA ON Contest (SSB) and the RSGB 21/28 MHz Contest (SSB) are the
weekend of Oct 1-2. The German Telegraphy Contest is October 3. The YLRL
Anniversary Party (CW) is October 5-7. the 432 MHz Fall Sprint is October 5
and the SARL 80-Meter QSO Party is October 6. 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.

* Bill Seabreeze, W3IY, SK: Well-known VHF-UHF and microwave enthusiast
William B. "Bill" Seabreeze, W3IY, of Sterling, Virginia, died September 19
of cancer. He was 54. First licensed in 1965 as WN3EIY, Seabreeze soon
gravitated into the realm of VHF and microwave operation, which became his
lifelong passion. "Virtually every VHF operator on the East Coast knew Bill
as a friend," James Ahlgren, W4RX, said in comments posted to several
reflectors. "Throughout his life he Elmered up-and-coming VHF operators. His
laboratory was always available to help solve our technical problems and to
get our equipment working." Seabreeze was a member of the ARRL and of the
Potomac Valley Radio Club, and he regularly participated as a "rover"
station in VHF-UHF events. ARRL Contest Branch Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND,
said Seabreeze was a good sounding board. "His wit and wisdom were always
good to have when discussing VHF/UHF/SHF issues," Henderson said. "Even
during his illness, Bill was committed to helping make the ARRL's
VHF/UHF/SHF contest program an asset." Seabreeze contributed contest results
articles for VHF-UHF-microwave events for QST and the ARRL Web site.
Professionally, he was vice president for engineering of Microcube Corp in
Leesburg, Virginia. Survivors include his wife Kathy and a son and daughter.

* Short stories on most memorable contact due October 1: The deadline is
Saturday, October 1, to submit short stories (150 words maximum) about your
most memorable contact. Summaries should include who was involved, when it
happened and why you haven't forgotten it. The events described must have
actually happened, and you can include a photo if you wish. Details are in
September 2005 QST, page 20. Send your story via e-mail to qst@arrl.org or
via the USPS to 10 Best Stories, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111.
We'll publish the 10 best stories--according to the judges--in an upcoming
issue of QST. Each winner will receive a copy of the latest ARRL Repeater
Directory.

* ARRL renewing memberships of those affected by Katrina: ARRL Circulation
Manager Kathy Capodicasa, N1GZO, says ARRL is renewing, for one year, the
memberships of those living in the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina. "For
now, we are renewing the memberships for those whose memberships expire
between now and the end of this year--a total of 80," she explains. Since
the US Postal Service has suspended delivery for Periodical Class mail (the
way QST is mailed) to a number of ZIP codes along the Gulf Coast, QST is not
being mailed to those areas. "We are monitoring the postal suspensions very
closely to determine when we can again mail issues to these areas,"
Capodicasa added. She asks that members changing their mailing address or
requesting replacement copies of QST contact the Circulation Desk,
860-594-0338; <circulation@arrl.org>;.

* New W0 QSL Bureau manager, address announced: The W0 Incoming QSL Bureau
has a new manager and a new address. Effective immediately, Norm McCourt,
AC0N, will take over the volunteer position from Rick Barnett, KB0U. The new
address is W0 QSL Bureau, PO Box 907, Florissant, MO 63032. ARRL Midwest
Division Director Wade Walstrom, W0EJ, expressed thanks to Barnett, the
Kansas City DX Club, and "the host of sorters" throughout the tenth district
for their dedication and hard work in making the bureau a success for the
past 15 years. "We wish Rick the best as he starts a new job in Washington
state," Walstrom said. "Also, thank you to AC0N and the Mississippi Valley
DX and Contest Club for stepping forward to take over the bureau operation."
For more information on US QSL bureaus, visit the ARRL Incoming QSL Bureau
System page <http://www.arrl.org/qsl/qslin.html>.

===========================================================
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.

==>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

==>How to Get The ARRL Letter

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The ARRL Letter also is available to all, free of charge, from these
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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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