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ARRL Letter

 

***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 25, No. 21
May 26, 2006
***************

IN THIS EDITION:

* +ARRL President Harrison says ham radio has not lost its magic
* +Access to BPL database now unfettered
* +DARA grant will rejuvenate League's Community Education Project
* +"Lighten up," FCC's Riley Hollingsworth tells Dayton forum
* +Three ARRL sections choose new Section Managers
* +New England ARES/RACES/SKYWARN volunteers stand down after rough weather
* +Guess when SuitSat-1 deorbits and win!
* +National Hurricane Center's WX4NHC announces annual station test
*  Solar Update
*  IN BRIEF:
     This weekend on the radio
     ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration
     ARRL EXPO 2006 Passport prize winners announced
     Handihams volunteer Rex Kiser, W0GLU, SK
     DXCC Desk approves operations for DXCC credit
     Correction

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

===========================================================
==>Delivery problems: First see FAQ
<http://www.arrl.org/members-only/faq.html#nodelivery>, then e-mail
<letter-dlvy@arrl.org>;
==>Editorial questions or comments only: Rick Lindquist, N1RL,
<n1rl@arrl.org>;
===========================================================
NOTE: ARRL Headquarters will be closed Monday, May 29, for the Memorial Day
holiday. There will be no W1AW code practice or bulletin transmissions that
day. ARRL Headquarters will reopen Tuesday, May 30, at 8 AM EDT. We wish
everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend!
===========================================================

==>THE MAGIC OF AMATEUR RADIO IS STILL THERE, LEAGUE PRESIDENT SAYS

Amateur Radio has not lost its magic, says ARRL President Joel Harrison,
W5ZN. Addressing the "ARRL: Main Street USA" forum at Dayton Hamvention,
Harrison said the Amateur Radio community needs to recognize and acknowledge
that "Main Street USA" has changed, and with it the pool of potential radio
amateurs.

"We have to keep that in mind as we're going out and recruiting people,"
Harrison suggested. During the ARRL forum, Harrison asserted that the
"Average Joe" today has far less time to pursue avocational interests such
as ham radio than 30 or 40 years ago, when many older Amateur Radio
operators got their first tickets. As workers' productivity has increased,
so has the number of hours one spends on the job. Youngsters today already
have heavy activity schedules, he said.

"We have a more competitive market for people's time," Harrison said. He
conceded that while Amateur Radio might not possess the "gee whiz" factor it
did decades ago, the "magic" is still there for today's hams. "I don't care
how advanced we get, it all boils down to getting a signal from Point A to
Point B magically," the League President told the audience. Even with
today's plug-and-play transceivers, "people still have to put up an
antenna." As an avid VHF/UHF and microwave operator, Harrison has
considerable experience in that area.

Attracting young people into Amateur Radio is a harder sell, Harrison
allowed. "The more we integrate computer technology into Amateur Radio, it
helps to attract [younger people,]" he said. Promoting Amateur Radio
contesting to the younger generation could be another route, he suggested,
given the increased interest in competitive sports.

"How many times can a kid compete in an international tournament from home?"
he asked rhetorically. "Every weekend," someone in the audience piped up.

Harrison also pointed out that the current Technician ticket doesn't give
newcomers the means to sample the HF spectrum. At the same time, the FCC has
so far turned away proposals to create a new entry-level Amateur Radio
license for the likely no-code environment of the future. But, Harrison
maintained, giving new licensees "a little taste" of HF is important to
attracting newcomers and maintaining their interest.

He also predicted that the FCC would "take the path of least resistance" and
eliminate the current 5 WPM Morse code requirement for HF access.

Harrison's "Main Street USA" comments generated a lively discussion among
forum participants who offered their own suggestions on how to ensure a
bright future for Amateur Radio. One Virginia radio amateur suggested that
public service has become a big draw for newcomers in his rural community.
Val Rose, N8EXV, of Michigan said rude on-the-air behavior is a deterrent to
attracting new hams.

Deed covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs) are another issue that
more and more hams--newcomers and veterans alike--are facing, another radio
amateur noted. "That's a serious, serious matter affecting Amateur Radio
now," Harrison agreed.

Bill Klykylo, WA8FOZ, of Cincinnati, agreed with Harrison's view of Main
Street USA. He suggested that one answer to piquing interest in ham radio is
to piggyback on other hobby activities and interests. Be he also stressed
the need to follow up with newcomers once they're licensed.

Harrison concurred on the importance of mentoring or "Elmering" newcomers.
"We've stopped Elmering," he said. "Let's face it. We've stopped Elmering."

Harrison said the League's interest is in getting Amateur Radio promoted.
"I'll take ham radio operators from any age group," he said.

"There are hundreds and hundreds of things we can do in ham radio."

==>PUBLIC BPL DATABASE ACCESS RESTRICTIONS REMOVED

United Telecom Council (UTC) has removed all restrictions on access to the
BPL Interference Resolution Web site. In cooperation with the United Power
Line Council (UPLC), UTC administers the database, which FCC Part 15 rules
mandate be "publicly available." Ever since the database debuted last
October, the ARRL has taken strong exception to access constraints UTC had
imposed. These included limiting searches solely on the basis of ZIP code
and rationing the number of allowable searches. In February, the League
filed a formal complaint with the FCC, demanding the Commission order UTC to
"cease its arbitrary limits" on access to the database. ARRL Chief Executive
Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, said the League was happy to hear that UTC now
has eliminated search limits and posted all BPL system information.

"We are pleased that UTC finally has seen the merit of our arguments in
favor of making the database truly accessible," Sumner commented. "This
can't possibly hurt, and can only help everyone focus on the real issue: the
avoidance and prompt correction of harmful interference to
radiocommunications from BPL."

The UTC BPL database still offers the ability to search by ZIP code.
Somewhat less prominent is a link to the entire database in ZIP-code order.

The League also has complained to the FCC that the BPL Interference
Resolution Web Site database contains inaccuracies and is incomplete,
although UTC has made some improvements since the ARRL raised the issues.
That complaint is still pending.

The UTC's decision to modify its BPL database came two days after its
representatives and a representative from Duke Power met May 17 with FCC
Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) staff to address "changes to the
database concerning the search limits." ARRL representatives recently
further discussed the League's perspective on the same subject with OET
staff.

UTC Director of Regulatory Services/Associate Counsel Brett Kilbourne on May
19 informed Acting OET Chief Julius Knapp that it was revising the BPL
database "in the interests of resolving the complaint without further
dispute." UTC asked the FCC to dismiss the League's complaint "without
further action."

==>ARRL TO REJUVENATE COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROJECT, THANKS TO DAYTON ARA GIFT

A generous $15,000 grant from the Dayton Amateur Radio Association (DARA)
will enable the ARRL to rejuvenate its Community Education Project (CEP).
The program, which ran for 12 months during 2004 and 2005, aims to educate
community leaders about Amateur Radio as a public service and emergency
communication resource. DARA President Michael Kalter, W8CI, presented a
check to ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, during ARRL EXPO 2006 at Dayton
Hamvention?, which DARA originated and sponsors. Kalter says DARA is
concerned that word of Amateur Radio's commitment to public service in
disasters and emergencies, the joy of experimentation and the development of
new means of radiocommunication is not effectively reaching the general
public.

"In today's climate of possible terror attacks and natural disasters, DARA
feels it is urgent to educate the public on the importance and relevance of
the Amateur Radio Service," Kalter commented. "As Amateur Radio operators we
not only need to educate others about Amateur Radio, we must set a high
standard--operating with integrity and courtesy. We can draw talent to the
service through example and education."

DARA worries that today's younger generation views Amateur Radio as "an old
person's hobby," Kalter said. "If we do not educate the general public and
our youth, Amateur Radio will surely die, and this great national treasure
will be gone forever."

ARRL Chief Development Officer Mary Hobart, K1MMH, says the program
resurrected by DARA's support will address sectors of the community that are
generally unaware of Amateur Radio's value. These could include local
government and business leaders as well as such entities as food banks,
homeless shelters, utility companies, faith-based groups, schools and the
media.

"In this renewed CEP effort, we want to further spread the word to the
non-ham community that Amateur Radio can strengthen a community's ability to
respond in an emergency or a disaster," Hobart said. "Many community
resources remain unaware of what Amateur Radio can provide, and we hope the
CEP can rectify that."

Hobart says the new CEP plans to work through the ARRL Field Organization of
volunteers to propagate its message. The League will refresh and supplement
materials shown to be effective during the earlier CEP. Those for the new
program will bear DARA's logo.

A Power Point presentation plus print and CD-ROM "leave-behind" materials
will cover the basics of Amateur Radio and its role during emergencies and
disasters. The program also will provide resource information for local use.
The CD-ROM will include recent Amateur Radio public service announcements
targeting broadcast outlets as well as the Amateur Radio Today video
narrated by Walter Cronkite, KB2GSD. ARRL will organize downloadable Amateur
Radio video and other materials on a single area on the ARRL Web site
bearing the DARA logo.

Kalter says DARA views its contribution as "a first step" in getting out the
word on Amateur Radio's value. "It's our opinion that the ARRL is best
suited to lead this effort," he said, noting the enormity of the task ahead.
"DARA is pleased to support the ARRL in this effort, and we hope that others
will join in and assist," he said.

Hobart expressed appreciation for DARA's vote of confidence. "Thanks to
DARA, we hope to bolster the League's ability to support the ARRL Field
Organization that's so crucial to disaster response," she said. A grant from
the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) funded the initial
CEP.

==>RILEY HOLLINGSWORTH TO AMATEUR RADIO COMMUNITY: "LIGHTEN UP!"

FCC Special Counsel for Enforcement Riley Hollingsworth advised those
attending the FCC forum at Dayton Hamvention 2006 to try kindness instead of
confrontation when problems arise on the bands. Hollingsworth spoke May 20
to a nearly full house at Hara Arena, and for the most part he praised the
behavior of the majority of Amateur Radio operators, especially those who
volunteered in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina last year. But, he noted,
radio amateurs still could be more courteous and less inclined to fly off
the handle at some perceived on-the-air offense.

"You need to lighten up and not embarrass the Amateur Radio Service,"
Hollingsworth advised. "All of us make mistakes, especially with the new
features you have on radios today. It's very easy to make a mistake, to be
on the wrong frequency or be operating split and not know it--there's a
hundred ways to make mistakes." Hollingsworth said experience has shown him
that at least 75 percent of the interference complained about is absolutely
unintentional.

In Hollingsworth's view, radio amateurs all too often are hypersensitive and
rude. "We have a radar going to detect offenses at all times, we assume the
worst in people, we rarely give people the benefit of the doubt," he said.
He joked that if there were three amateurs in a town, there would be two
Amateur Radio clubs.

"And there'll be two hamfests with 20 people each, because they wouldn't
dare consolidate them," he added.

Hollingsworth acknowledged that "certain problem operators" remain, but the
real troublemakers are rarely the newcomers to Amateur Radio. "If there's a
downfall in Amateur Radio, it won't be caused by no-code Technicians or
codeless anything else," he said. "It'll be caused by the microphone--no
doubt in my mind." He advised his audience to ignore the troublesome
operators and not give them the attention they crave by engaging them on the
air.

"Now, think about it: If what you're hearing annoys you, or angers you or is
stupid, use the 'stupid filter,' which is that big knob--that VFO that will
take you somewhere else," he quipped. "It's the largest knob on the radio."
He recommended moving to another frequency or even another band altogether.

Hollingsworth praised the Volunteer Examiner program as "outstanding" and
noted there had not been a single complaint in the past year stemming from
an examination session. He also said the Amateur Radio community should have
a greater appreciation for what the ARRL is doing on its behalf.

"Most of you have no idea how much work is done in Newington for you and the
Amateur Radio Service generally," he said. "I see it every day, but I think
you have no idea of the hard work and dedication that comes out of that
office up there, and I don't think we would be there if it weren't for [the
League]."

"This country's communications infrastructure needs Amateur Radio,"
Hollingsworth emphasized, praising Amateur Radio's overall performance
following Hurricane Katrina. "You have a tremendous amount to be proud of."

He also suggested that radio amateurs have an obligation to stay informed
about what's going on in Amateur Radio that might affect their activities.
"You have to not only keep up, you have to lead the way, because it's in
your charter," he said, pointing to §97.1 of the Amateur Service rules.

Hollingsworth noted at the start of his talk that he could not address any
questions dealing with the FCC's long-awaited decision on the Morse code
requirement (Element 1), because he works in the Commission's Enforcement
Bureau. "We don't meddle in rule making," he explained, but added that he
didn't expect CW to decline if the FCC does drop the 5 WPM Morse requirement
for all Amateur Radio license classes as it's proposed to do.

The FCC Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) handles Amateur Radio rule
makings, Hollingsworth noted, including the "Morse code" proceeding, WT
Docket 05-235, and the so-called "omnibus" proceeding, WT Docket 04-140. The
WTB has said it will rule first on the omnibus proceeding, then tackle the
Morse code proceeding, but it has not indicated when to expect either Report
and Order.

No representative from the WTB was at Dayton Hamvention this year.

==>NEW SECTION MANAGERS ELECTED IN THREE ARRL SECTIONS

The votes are in, and three ARRL sections will have new Section Managers
starting in July. Ballots were counted May 23 at ARRL Headquarters in four
contested races. Incumbent SMs in four other sections were re-elected
without opposition.

In the Illinois Section, Thomas Ciciora, KA9QPN, topped Ronald Morgan,
KB9NW, 902 to 726 to succeed incumbent Sharon Harlan, N9SH, who did not run
for another term. Ciciora, who resides in the Lake Holiday community near
Sandwich, has been a radio amateur for nearly 25 years. He's spent more than
30 years in emergency management, the last four as director of his local
emergency management agency.

One of his stated goals during his campaign was to help lead the Amateur
Radio community to become "an integral part of every emergency operations
plan for every jurisdiction" in the Section.

In the Northern Florida Section, incumbent SM Rudy Hubbard, WA4PUP, won
another new term, outpolling challenger Dale Sewell, N4SGQ, 630 to 541. A
resident of Milton, Hubbard has been SM since 1990.

"The long success of Northern Florida Section objectives is primarily due to
the excellent team effort," Hubbard says. "Our recent accomplishments
include the administration of the State of Florida Tracker System to manage
and deploy our operators for the hurricanes in 2004 and 2005."

In the Oregon Section, ARRL members elected a new SM in a three-way race
that included the current SM. Bonnie Altus, AB7ZQ, topped the field with 398
votes. She'll succeed incumbent SM Randy Stimson, KZ7T, who got 346 votes. A
third candidate, Kevin Hunt, WA7VTD, picked up 315 votes.

Licensed since 1997, Altus, of Sheridan, has been active in ARES and the
National Traffic System and served as president of the McMinnville Amateur
Radio Club in 2000 and 2001. She has professional management experience in
the fields of information systems, telecommunications and medical records.

In the Santa Clara Valley Section, ARRL members chose challenger Bill Dale,
N2RHV, over incumbent Kit Blanke, WA6PWW. The tally was 353 to 302. Dale,
who lives in Milpitas, has been an Amateur Radio operator since 1993 and is
active in emergency communication. He's served as the ARES Emergency
Coordinator and RACES Radio Officer for Milpitas, and in 2001 helped form
the Milpitas Amateur Radio and Electronics Society.

Incumbent SMs in four other ARRL sections faced no opposition this election
cycle and were declared elected for new terms: Jim Sellers, K9ZBM, Indiana;
Bill Woodhead, N1KAT, Maine; Paul Gayet, AA1SU, Vermont, and Don Michalski,
W9IXG, Wisconsin.

Two-year terms for all successful candidates begin on July 1.

==>NEW ENGLAND AMATEUR RADIO VOLUNTEERS WRAP UP AFTER FLOODING

Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) volunteers this week began wrapping
up response-phase operations in the wake of major flooding earlier this
month in New England. They also assisted with damage assessment. The
flooding in southeastern New Hampshire and northeastern Massachusetts has
been called the region's worst in 70 years.

On May 18 and 19, the Massachusetts Bay Red Cross Chapter requested Amateur
Radio communication support for damage assessment, and on May 20, the
Northeast Massachusetts Red Cross Chapter requested ARES support for
vehicle-to-vehicle communication to help facilitate distribution of clean-up
and care kits to coastal communities north of Boston.

Amateur Radio volunteers utilized repeaters in Gloucester and Danvers. Some
20 ham radio volunteers took part, under the leadership of North Shore ARES
District Emergency Coordinator Eric Horwitz, KA1NCF, and North Shore ARES
Emergency Coordinator Jim Palmer, KB1KQW. For portions of the operation, net
control was established at the Bridgewater EOC.

"We are lucky to have a strong relationship with the Bridgewater EMA and to
have the EOC as a hub for Eastern Massachusetts ARES Emergency
Communications when required," said Carl Aveni, N1FY, ARRL Eastern
Massachusetts Assistant Section Manager and South Shore ARES District
Emergency Coordinator Aveni said. Herb Lemon, KC1ZW, is Bridgewater's
emergency management director.

Just as flood operations began winding down, the first widespread severe
weather outbreak of 2006 began the evening of May 21. Recounted Eastern
Massachusetts Section Emergency Coordinator Rob Macedo, KD1CY: "The incident
happened so quickly, we self-activated our nets and fed reports of damaging
winds and large hail via the spotter line and the Web." Once things started
happening, Macedo, who's also SKYWARN coordinator, said there wasn't time to
activate the ham station at the National Weather Service (NWS) office in
Taunton, Massachusetts. SKYWARN nets took to the airwaves on almost a dozen
repeaters in the region.

Reports of downed trees and wires, including some that had fallen on cars
and houses, were received in eastern and central Massachusetts. Penny to
quarter-sized hail was reported in communities in northern Connecticut,
Rhode Island and central and eastern Massachusetts along with scattered
power outages. Waterspout were reported off Portsmouth, Rhode Island, and a
over a lake in Hardwick, Massachusetts. A brief but intense F2 tornado was
reported in Hampton Falls, New Hampshire.

Four injuries were reported in the NWS Taunton warning area as a result of
the severe weather May 21.

==>SUITSAT-1: ROUND AND ROUND IT GOES, WHEN IT'LL DROP, NOBODY KNOWS

The sky is falling! Well, not really, Chicken Little, but the now-silent
SuitSat-1--the Russian Orlan spacesuit cum Amateur Radio satellite--is
likely to fall into Earth's atmosphere and burn up in a few weeks. Launched
February 3 from the International Space Station, SuitSat-1 was a project of
the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program.
Identifying as RS0RS and transmitting voice greetings and an SSTV picture,
SuitSat-1 remained operational for more than two weeks, easily outlasting
initial predictions that it would transmit for about one week. The only rub
was that its signal was far less robust than its sponsors had expected.

"The orbit life is dependent on the atmospheric drag that the satellite
experiences," ARISS International Chairman Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, explained
when SuitSat-1 was launched. An analysis done prior to its deployment
predicted a 70 to 120-day orbital life for SuitSat-1, meaning the end should
come sometime in early June on the outside.

The mission continues to capture imaginations around the world as well as
attention in the popular press. To keep the momentum going a bit longer
ARISS and AMSAT are sponsoring a "Chicken Little Contest,"
<http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/ariss/suitsatContest.php> in which
participants pick the date on which they believe SuitSat-1 will drop out of
orbit.

The winner will be the individual who picks the date closest to SuitSat-1's
actual re-entry. Enter by filling out the online entry form on the AMSAT Web
site <http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/ariss/contestEntry.php>.

The SuitSat-1 "Chicken Little Contest" has three entry categories:
Kindergarten through grade 8; high school (grades 9-12), and adult. Contest
rules permit one entry per person. Certificates will go to winners of each
group.

==>WX4NHC HURRICANE SEASON 2006 STATION TEST SET

The National Hurricane Center's WX4NHC <http://www.wx4nhc.org/> will conduct
its "Hurricane Season 2006 On-the-Air Station Test" Saturday, June 3, from
1300 until 2200 UTC.

The annual station test provides an opportunity for WX4NHC to check out all
of its radio equipment, computers and antennas using as many modes and
frequencies as possible. It's also a chance for RFI monitoring of NHC
equipment and to conduct some operator training. It is not a contest or
simulated hurricane exercise.

WX4NHC will operate on HF, VHF and UHF. Phone frequencies will be 7.268,
14.325, 21.325 and 28.525 MHz. CW frequencies will be 14.035, 21.035 and
28.035 MHz. PSK31 will be on 14.070 MHz. Look for WX4NHC on the DX spotting
networks as well. WX4NHC also will be on the VoIP Hurricane Net
<http://www.voipwx.net/> (IRLP node 9219; EchoLink WX-TALK Conference) from
1700 until 1900UTC. WX4NHC also will operate on South Florida area VHF and
UHF repeaters and on FM simplex.

When working WX4NHC, report your call sign, signal report, location, name
and a brief description of current weather conditions (eg, "sunny," "rainy,"
"windy"). Nonhams may participate by submitting their actual weather
conditions using the On-Line Hurricane Report Form
<http://www.wx4nhc.org/WX-form1.html>.

QSL cards are available for an SASE to WX4NHC Assistant Amateur Radio
Volunteer Coordinator Julio Ripoll, WD4R, 14855 SW 67 Ln, Miami, FL
33193-2027. Do not QSL directly to the National Hurricane Center. Due to
security measures, no visitors will be allowed at NHC during this test.

==>SOLAR UPDATE

Substitute solar sage Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA, Ft Wayne, Indiana, reports:
The past week has been relatively quiet. Solar activity was very low, and
geomagnetic field activity was quiet to unsettled, with the planetary A
index staying below 10. There were some sunspots this week, but they weren't
very active.

The forecast for the next several days (Memorial Day weekend) is for
continued low solar activity and quiet-to-unsettled geomagnetic field
conditions. The probability of major flares or significantly elevated K
indices is low. As a result, there shouldn't be any major propagation
surprises.

This weekend is the CQ World Wide WPX Contest (CW). The format for this
contest is everyone works everyone, with prefixes as multipliers. Although
the QSO point structure favors DX contacts, the fact that prefixes are
multipliers means domestic contacts--and propagation--can play an important
role. At this time of year, the probability of sporadic E on 10 and maybe
even on 15 meters for domestic contacts is quite high. We've already had
some good sporadic E propagation on 10 and 6 meters in the past week or two.
Look for sporadic E openings around the late morning hours and early evening
hours.

For more information concerning propagation and an explanation of the
numbers used in this bulletin see the ARRL Technical Information Service
Propagation page <http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html>.

Sunspot numbers for May 18 through 24 were 0, 15, 29, 30, 32, 48 and 44,
with a mean of 28.3. 10.7 cm flux was 73.3, 75.3, 76.2, 77.5, 83.1, 84.2,
and 83.7, with a mean of 79. Estimated planetary A indices were 16, 8, 7, 7,
8, 7 and 4, with a mean of 8.1. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 11, 7,
5, 4, 6, 4 and 3, with a mean of 5.7.

__________________________________

==>IN BRIEF:

* This weekend on the radio: The CQ World Wide WPX Contest (CW), the
VK/Trans-Tasman 80-Meter Contest (CW), the ARCI Hoot Owl Sprint and the
Michigan QRP Memorial Day CW Sprint are the weekend of May 27-28. The
Thursday NCCC Sprint Ladder is June 2. JUST AHEAD: The SEANET Contest, RSGB
National Field Day, IARU Region 1 Field Day (CW) and the QRP TAC Sprint are
the weekend of June 3-4. The RSGB 80-Meter Club Championship (Data) is June
5, the ARS Spartan Sprint is June 6, and the Thursday NCCC Sprint Ladder is
Jun 9. 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 remains open through Sunday, June 4, for these ARRL
Certification and Continuing Education (CCE) Program on-line courses:
Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level 2 (EC-002), Amateur Radio
Emergency Communications Level 3 (EC-003), Antenna Modeling (EC-004), HF
Digital Communications (EC-005), VHF/UHF -- Life Beyond the Repeater
(EC-008), and Radio Frequency Propagation (EC-011). Classes begin Friday,
June 16. To learn more, visit the CCE Course Listing page
<http://www.arrl.org/cce/courses.html> or contact the CCE Department
<cce@arrl.org>;.

* ARRL EXPO 2006 Passport prize winners announced: Congratulations to the
six ARRL EXPO 2006 Passport prize winners! ARRL President Joel Harrison,
W5ZN, drew the lucky tickets from more than 1000 entries during Dayton
Hamvention. John Hudson, KO4XJ, won the "big prize," an Icom IC-7000
HF/VHF/UHF all-mode transceiver, while Ward Kuhn, N8WK, took home an Icom
IC-PCR1500 PC-controlled receiver. George Brown, N3IKO, is enjoying a new
Kenwood TH-F6A 144/220/440 MHz handheld transceiver. Randy Love, WF5X, and
Bonnie Viele, N8MCX, each picked up an AOR DS3000A wideband discone antenna,
and Tony Fanska, KC0SJU, has a new Alinco DJ-C7T 144/440 MHz
micro-transceiver to stick in his pocket. Dubbed "the ultimate convention
scavenger hunt," Passport players had to record numbers from 15 of the 23
participating Hamvention exhibits and activities. ARRL thanks Icom America,
Kenwood, AOR USA and Alinco for generously providing this years ARRL EXPO
Passport prizes. Contact ARRL Membership Manager Katie Breen, W1KRB
<w1krb@arrl.org>;, for prize redemption; tel 860-594-0297.

* Handihams volunteer Rex Kiser, W0GLU, SK: Rex Kiser, W0GLU, of Edina,
Minnesota, died April 1. He was 82. A World War II veteran paralyzed as the
result of a combat-related injury in 1944, Kiser became a Courage Handihams
<http://www.handiham.org/> volunteer in 1972. Unwilling to let his injury
keep him from enjoying life and helping others, he contributed nearly 14,000
hours of his time over more than 30 years in the Handihams workshop
repairing and adapting radios and related equipment for people with
disabilities. An ARRL member, Kiser also served as net control station on
the Wednesday PICONET and was active in the Disabled American Veterans and
the Minneapolis Radio Club. Survivors include his wife Miriam and two
daughters. A memorial service was held April 6. The family invites memorial
donations to Courage Handihams or Disabled American Veterans Minneapolis
Chapter #1.

* DXCC Desk approves operations for DXCC credit: The ARRL DXCC Desk has
approved these operations for DXCC credit: 4W6AAB – Timor-Leste, current
operation effective May 22, 2006; ZV0F – Fernando de Noronha, operation
March 30-April 4, 2006; 6O0M – Somalia, operation from April 7-24, 2006;
S01R – Western Sahara, operation April 11-21, 2006; YI9NS – Iraq, operation
January 5-March 28, 2006; YI9HU – Iraq, operation May 18-June 5, 2005; HN0Z
– Iraq, operation March 27-28 and May 29-30, 2004; A6/OD5TX – United Arab
Emirates, operation October 5-November 5, 2005; TT8WL – Chad, November 19,
1996-March 8, 1997; J5DOT Guinea-Bissau, operation April 25-May 5, 2006. 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.

* Correction: The story "ISS Astronaut Fields Questions from Elementary
Schoolers In Japan" in The ARRL Letter, Vol 20, No 20 (May 19, 2006)
contained an incorrect name for the control operator for the ARISS school
contact. The control operator was Yoshio Maekawa, JG3RWX.
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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/>. Joel Harrison, W5ZN, 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

The ARRL Letter is available to ARRL members free of charge directly from
ARRL HQ. To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your address for e-mail
delivery:
ARRL members first must register on the Members Only Web Site
<http://www.arrl.org/members/>. You'll have an opportunity during
registration to sign up for e-mail delivery of The ARRL Letter, W1AW
bulletins, and other material. To change these selections--including
delivery of The ARRL Letter--registered members should click on the "Member
Data Page" link (in the Members Only box). Click on "Modify membership
data," check or uncheck the appropriate boxes and/or change your e-mail
address if necessary. (Check "Temporarily disable all automatically sent
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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