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ARRL Letter

 

***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 25, No. 29
July 21, 2006
***************

IN THIS EDITION:

* +BPL interference testing not performed as required, radio amateur says
* +The nation's Volunteer Examiner Coordinators meet quietly in Gettysburg
* +Failure to keep mailing address on file with FCC results in suspensions
* +FBI cooperative program seeks alliance with Amateur Radio
* +Newest DXCC entity Montenegro on the air in a big way
* +Ohio teen is 2006 Young Ham of the Year
*  Solar Update
*  IN BRIEF:
     This weekend on the radio
     ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration
     Some call signs missing from DXCC Honor Roll in August QST
    +RAC seeks input on restructuring Amateur Radio in Canada
    +UK 5 MHz experiment extended to 2010, gains two new channels
     Discovery lands safely in Florida minus one radio amateur

+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>;
===========================================================

==>MANASSAS RADIO AMATEUR TAKES ISSUE WITH BPL INTERFERENCE TESTING

A Manassas, Virginia, radio amateur who has complained of BPL interference
to his mobile operation has taken issue with how FCC-mandated interference
testing was performed. Dwight Agnew, AI4II, told the FCC July 20 that a
testing review, carried out July 14 by Columbia Telecommunications Corp
(CTC), "did not represent the Manassas BPL system at peak system loading,"
as the FCC had required.

"The BPL folks' unwillingness to bring the system to peak traffic load
further illustrates a lack of openness and cooperation," Agnew wrote the
FCC's Spectrum Enforcement Division. "It's ludicrous that a system operator
would not keep track of system loading and deny the existence of any such
reporting mechanism." Objective interference testing is impossible unless
the system is loaded at peak levels, Agnew asserted.

Responding in March to Agnew's interference complaint, FCC Spectrum
Enforcement Division Chief Joseph Casey called on system operator COMTek and
the City of Manassas to take measurements at locations Agnew cited in his
complaint "during the hours of peak usage of the system by BPL customers."
He reiterated that directive in June.

Working with CTC's Lee Afflerbach, W3BRH, Agnew and other Manassas radio
amateurs on July 14 reviewed testing done earlier by Product Safety
Engineering (PSE) on behalf of COMTek and the city, which owns the power
grid. The latest PSE testing responded to Casey's June 16 request. He'd
ordered the city and COMTek to provide a detailed report on actions taken
and progress made in resolving the interference complaint or reducing the
emissions in the area referenced in Agnew's complaint to 20 dB below the
Part 15 limit.

In its reply to the FCC July 17, COMTek said remedial actions it and the
city took "have successfully resolved Mr Agnew's complaint." Local radio
amateurs did not witness the actual system testing.

CTC reviewed the earlier test results at three BPL system test points picked
by Agnew and the other radio amateurs. CTC subsequently reported in part,
that while the BPL signal "was perceptible in at least one test location"
the "very low amplitude BPL signal" did not impair reception of desired
communications. BPL signals within the ham bands "were substantially
attenuated" from BPL signals outside the ham bands, the report said.

The CTC report, which Manassas supplied to the FCC as a supplement to the
PSE testing analysis, suggested that some interference radio amateurs have
attributed to BPL "may in fact originate from other sources." Afflerbach
recommended that the Manassas radio amateurs employ "proven modern receiver
technology" such as filters and noise-suppression to minimize the effects of
interference, "including any from BPL transmission."

PSE said in its report that Agnew confirmed "subjectively" that the remedial
actions COMTek and the city had taken had "eliminated the BPL interference
completely or reduced them [sic] to acceptable levels."

Agnew said in his letter this week that monitoring un-notched BPL signals on
8 MHz indicated that system traffic during the post-testing review "was very
low and did not represent peak or even normal system usage."

George Tarnovsky, K4GVT, one of the hams witnessing the post-testing review,
told ARRL that the interference "was right back" the day after CTC conducted
its interference review.

"They're trying to discredit the ham radio community," he charged, referring
to COMTek and the City of Manassas. "When the system is active, you'll hear
it." Tarnovsky says the post-testing review indicated to him that the BPL
system had not been tested at peak loading.

Agnew told the FCC that further testing without the system at peak loading
would be a waste of time. "If the BPL folks are unwilling to share the peak
loading data with us, I would like to recommend future testing of the
Manassas BPL system be conducted by the FCC." To date, the Commission has
not done any testing of the Manassas BPL system.

==>VOLUNTEER EXAMINER COORDINATORS GATHER IN GETTYSBURG

Representatives of 11 of the nation's 14 volunteer examiner coordinators
(VECs) met July 14 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, for the annual National
Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (NCVEC) <http://www.ncvec.org/>
conference. NCVEC Chairman Tom Fuszard, KB9PU, presided. The session each
year offers an opportunity for VECs to discuss issues facing the volunteer
examination program and question pools and to meet face-to-face with FCC
staff members.

"Good news from Riley Hollingsworth was that for the second year in a row
there have been no new cases of examination irregularity brought to his
attention," said ARRL First Vice President Kay Craigie, N3KN. "The VECs
represented at the conference were certainly not of a single mind about each
and every point relating to licensing requirements, but all agreed that
Amateur Radio has a bright future."

Joining Craigie as part of the League's delegation to the gathering were
ARRL VEC Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, Assistant Manager Perry Green, WY1O,
and ARRL Affiliated Clubs/Mentor Program Manager Norm Fusaro, W3IZ.

In his remarks Hollingsworth -- FCC Special Counsel in the Spectrum
Enforcement Division and the point man for Amateur Radio enforcement --
noted that he has not required any license applicants to retake an
examination since last year, when several individuals were called in for
retesting following alleged improprieties at examination sessions in
Yucaipa, California, a few years earlier. He credited the VECs for doing a
better job in preventing exam fraud.

"I reminded them that the FCC was still very enforcement oriented, and they
should avoid getting on our radar screen," Hollingsworth told ARRL this
week.

Addressing an NCVEC conference for the first time was Michael Wilhelm,
WS6BR, chief of the Public Safety and Critical Infrastructure Division in
the FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB). Wilhelm said that of all
the services WTB administers, Amateur Radio is the only one that's self
regulated. He said Amateur Radio's best strategy for the future is to
continue serving in disasters and emergencies and to "Elmer" new hams. He
also lauded the ARRL's Amateur Radio Emergency Communications courses.

Some discussion involved the work of the Question Pool Committee, especially
in light of anticipated changes in licensing requirements still pending
within the FCC. Craigie says FCC personnel were unable to predict when the
Commission would act on various Amateur Radio-related rulemaking proceedings
now before it.

"We were assured that these proceedings 'are not on the back burner,' but
that was it," she said.

The Amateur Radio community is awaiting an FCC Report and Order on its
proposal (in WT Docket 05-235) to drop the Morse code requirement for all
Amateur Radio license classes. A Report and Order dealing with other Amateur
Radio Service rule changes (in WT Docket 04-140) is still in the wings, and
the FCC has indicated it will act on that proceeding before it releases a
Report and Order on Morse code.

QPC Chairman Jim Wiley, KL7CC, told the gathering the new Technician
question pool that became effective July 1 has received both praise and
criticism. He said the General class question pool, due to go into effect
next year, is next in line for review and possible revision.

After learning that the FCC could give no definitive prediction on when new
rules might go into effect, Wiley said, the QPC decided to make few changes
to the General class question pool at this point. He invited comments and
suggestions from the VECs as to how the QPC should proceed.

The NCVEC unanimously voted to create a new position of Rules Reporter to
keep members up to date on pending FCC rule making proceedings. Fred Maia,
W5YI, was named to assume that role.

The NCVEC representatives re-elected Fuszard to a fourth term as chairman.
Larry Pollock, NB5X, will continue as vice chairman. Michele Cimbala, WK3X,
will be the new secretary, succeeding Steve Sternitzke, NS5I, who declined
another term. Ray Adams, W4CPA, will remain as treasurer.

Wiley will continue as QPC chairman. Committee members are Larry Pollock,
NB5X, Roland Anders, K3RA, and Perry Green, WY1O.

==>FCC SUSPENDS HAM LICENSES FOR FAILURE TO MAINTAIN MAILING ADDRESS

The FCC has suspended two Amateur Radio licenses because the holders had
failed to maintain correct mailing addresses in the Commission's licensee
database. Special Counsel in the FCC Spectrum Enforcement Division Riley
Hollingsworth wrote Larry L. Smith, KC7LJR, of Middleton, Idaho, and Larry
J. Maniag, KD7JTG, of Payson, Arizona, on June 28 to inform them the FCC was
suspending their Technician tickets for the remainder of their license terms
or until each licensee provides a valid mailing address.

In his letter to Smith, Hollingsworth noted that on three occasions in late
2005, the FCC had been unable to deliver warning notices alleging deliberate
interference to a 2-meter repeater system.

He told Maniag that the US Postal Service earlier this year returned as
undeliverable two warning notices alleging deliberate interference with
several repeaters.

Hollingsworth cited §97.23 of the Commission's Amateur Radio Service rules
that requires each license grant to show the licensee's correct name and
mailing address. The rule provides that "revocation of the station license
or suspension of the operator license may result when correspondence from
the FCC is returned as undeliverable because the grantee failed to provide
the correct mailing address."

Hollingsworth cited the same rule to an Ohio licensee apparently tempting a
similar fate. On June 26 Hollingsworth afforded Robert D. Reckner, W8IQJ,
more time to respond to complaints involving his service as MIDCARS net
control. The complaint alleges deliberate interference as a result of his
starting the net on top of existing communications on 7.258 MHz in April. A
June 1 letter enclosing the complaint came back to the FCC as undeliverable,
he said.

In another failure-to-reply case, Hollingsworth notified William E. Kuth,
KB2SGQ, of Utica, New York, on June 27 that his license renewal application
has been designated for dismissal. That action effectively eliminates Kuth's
Amateur Radio privileges, and Hollingsworth reminded him of that fact.

In May, the FCC notified Kuth that his renewal application "could not be
routinely granted" and had been referred to the Enforcement Bureau for
review. That came in the wake of a Warning Notice for allegedly operating on
26.815 MHz without a license and causing interference on 10 meters.
Additional complaints alleged that Kuth operated on 26.945 MHz.

Hollingsworth said postal records indicate that Kuth received the FCC
inquiry on May 5 but did not respond. The letter to Kuth noted that the
address on his renewal application differed from his actual mailing address.
Kuth's Technician license expired in November 2004.

The FCC dismissed the upgrade application of Andrew O. Ojwang, KI4LTH, of
Roswell, Georgia, based on the licensee's response to "numerous complaints
about the operation of your station since the grant of your General class
license," Hollingsworth wrote. Following the complaints, the FCC last
October set aside Ojwang's General license and his renewal application,
which reverted to pending status.

"Pursuant to your response dated May 31, 2006, your General class
application is being forwarded to the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau for
dismissal," Hollingsworth informed Ojwang on June 28. Complaints regarding
Ojwang's on-air operation would have to be resolved before the Commission
would consider an upgrade application, Hollingsworth advised. The FCC
appears to have renewed Ojwang's Technician ticket for a full 10-year term,
however.

Meanwhile, a Texas man, Billy J. Benefiel, W5BJB, turned in his amateur
license rather than respond to complaints alleging that he was operating on
frequencies not authorized to him as a Technician, and for causing
interference.

==>FBI'S "INFRAGARD" PROGRAM COURTS AMATEUR RADIO AS ALLY

Amateur Radio's value as one component in a cooperative effort to protect
critical national infrastructure was the focus of an InfraGard
"Communications Interoperability and Ham Radios" summit this week in New
York City. An FBI program, InfraGard is dedicated to promoting dialogue
between the private sector and the federal investigative agency "concerning
critical infrastructure protection issues." ARRL Chief Development Officer
Mary Hobart, K1MMH, and Affiliated Clubs/Mentor Program Manager Norm Fusaro,
W3IZ, represented League Headquarters at the gathering, which featured a
range of speakers.

"This is the key to opening the door to a valuable model partnership,"
Hobart commented afterward. "They were very receptive. I think it was a good
beginning."

Hobart says Amateur Radio came up on InfraGard's radar earlier this year and
got the nonprofit organization thinking of Amateur Radio as a possible
partner, ally and service provider in emergencies. New York Metro InfraGard
put together the one-day session July 17 at Cisco Systems' New York office
as a way to get more familiar with Amateur Radio.

"They understand that ham radio has 'been there' in terms of emergencies and
disasters and is working to improve its ability to respond," Hobart said.
She said New York Metro InfraGard President Joe Concannon "expressed his
deep interest in Amateur Radio as a partner and a desire to learn more about
our capabilities."

Keynote speaker for the day-long session was Broadcasting & Cable Hall of
Famer and New York Public Television CEO William Baker, W1BKR. Jeff Pulver,
WA2BOT, chairman and founder of pulvermedia.com and cofounder of Vonage,
also addressed the gathering.

"This InfraGard meeting brought together a group of people who care about
post-disaster communication preparedness, and a majority of the people in
attendance were active members of the Amateur Radio community," Pulver
observed later in a blog entry. "This was my first time in the post-VoIP era
that I had a chance to talk to hams about my early experiences with VoIP and
how my ham radio background has had a positive effect on the past 12 years
of my life."

Pulver said the InfraGard meeting provided "a great audience to speak to,
since we shared a common passion for communications and common ground on a
number of topics." He said that includes the need for coordination between
the ham radio community and fellow communication enthusiasts "who want to
volunteer their time the next time disaster strikes."

In a presentation called "Radio Communications 101," New York City District
Emergency Coordinator Mike Lisenco, N2YBB, spoke about the Amateur Radio
Emergency Service (ARES) and the League's role in emergency and public
service communication and training.

Allan Manuel, an attorney in the FCC Public Safety and Homeland Security
Branch, indicated the Commission is willing to be more flexible in
accommodating Amateur Radio during emergencies and disasters. The FCC wants
to hear from the public by August 7 in response to an FCC Notice of Proposed
Rule Making (NPRM) regarding recommendations of the independent panel that
reviewed Hurricane Katrina's impact on communication systems (EB Docket
06-119). Some of the wide-ranging proposals in the NPRM include possibly
amending the rules to permit automatic grants of certain types of waivers or
special temporary authority (STA) in declared disaster areas.

For their part, Hobart and Fusaro demonstrated the League's "Ham Aid" go
kits of Amateur Radio gear that can be rapidly deployed to disaster areas
where the Amateur Radio infrastructure has been lost or compromised. They
also provided attendees with copies of the ARRL's Community Education
Program brochures and materials.

Hobart says Concannon envisions a model in New York City that other
InfraGard chapters across the country could emulate. "I think it's an
opportunity for Amateur Radio to align itself with a high-profile group with
key federal connections," she said.

==>MONTENEGRO INTERNATIONAL DX FESTIVAL UNDER WAY

Radio amateurs and equipment from all over Europe and from a few countries
outside the continent converged this week on Montenegro -- the newest DXCC
entity -- for the Montenegro International DX Festival. The event kicked off
at noon on Thursday, July 20, with a salute to Montenegrin hams, the Amateur
Radio Association of Montenegro and the country's telecoms authority and
military.

The three-week Amateur Radio event is aimed at putting the tiny, new Balkan
nation on the DX map in a big way. Seven stations identifying as 4O3T will
be on the air from various locations. Nineteen-year old Nikola Ilic, YZ6AMD,
made the first 403T QSO to start the festival, working DF3IU.

During the formalities, Montenegro Amateur Radio Union President Veso Babic,
YU6A, and event organizer Ranko Boca, YT6A, welcomed all visitors to
Montenegro. Well-known DXer Martti Laine, OH2BH, discussed some of the
challenges facing ham radio as well as the opportunities for further talks
with Montenegrin authorities. International Amateur Radio Union
representative Hans Blondeel Timmerman, PB2T, promised to help Montenegro
become an IARU member-society. Babic also reminded those on hand of Amateur
Radio's valuable emergency communication effort following an earthquake in
1979.

Nearly four dozen operators from more than 10 countries are expected to
serve as 4O3T operators during the DX Festival, which continues until August
13. ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, and his wife Linda, KA1ZD, will join the
event in progress.

Look for 4O3NT on or about these frequencies: CW: 1826.5, 3522, 7022,
10,106, 14,022, 18,072, 21,022, 24,892 and 28,022 kHz; SSB: 3795, 7055,
14,190, 18,145, 21,290, 24,945 and 28,490 kHz; RTTY: 7035, 10,135, 14,085,
18,105, 21,085 and 28,085 kHz; 6 meters, CW/SSB: 50,106 kHz. An online
searchable log will be available on the SRACG Web site
<http://www.yu6scg.cg.yu/log-book-search.html>.

Yaesu, SteppIR, Acom and the Northern California DX Foundation have supplied
equipment for the event.

Festival organizers have set the ambitious goal of 200,000 contacts for the
event, which will use all HF bands. DX Festival activities also will include
several basic courses on ham radio operating and CEPT license examinations
aimed at new and less-experienced radio amateurs.

There's still room for more operators, especially during the second and
third weeks of the event. Contact Ranko Boca, YT6A <yt6a@cg.yu>;, with a copy
to Martti Laine, OH2BH <oh2bh@sral.fi>;. QSL via YT6A.

The United Nations admitted the Republic of Montenegro as its 192nd member
on June 28, automatically making Montenegro the 336th current DXCC entity.
Montenegro declared its independence on June 3 following a national
referendum May 21.

There are fewer than 100 native radio amateurs in Montenegro. The
International Telecommunication Union has not yet assigned a distinctive
call sign block to the new country, although current Montengrin radio
amateurs have been using their YU/YT/YZ/4O-prefix call signs.

==>CATHY FERRY, NC8F, IS 2006 AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE YOUNG HAM OF THE YEAR

For the third year in a row, a young woman has been named to receive the
2006 Amateur Radio Newsline™ Young Ham of the Year Award (YHOTY)
<http://www.yhoty.org/>. She's Cathy Ferry, NC8F -- an 18-year-old from
Silver Lake, Ohio.

"Cathy was selected based on her long-term commitment to Amateur Radio, her
work in public service and in promoting the hobby/service to others," the
Newsline announcement said.

The daughter of Bruce Ferry, AK8B, and the late Joan Ferry, Cathy was first
at age 10 and received her Extra class license at 13. Currently an ARES
Assistant Emergency Coordinator, she has been involved in numerous public
service events since age 12. For the past two years she's served as a net
control station for the Roadrunner Akron Marathon. An ARRL member, Cathy is
secretary of the Summit County Red Cross Amateur Radio Club.

For the past two years been the editor of the Cuyahoga Falls Amateur Radio
Club newsletter. In 2004 the publication received an honorable mention in
the ARRL Ohio Section Newsletter Contest. She has also overseen ticket sales
for her club's annual hamfest. Additionally, she assists in teaching the
club's Technician class licensing course. Cathy has promoted Amateur Radio
at Cuyahoga Falls High School while maintaining a 3.5 grade point average.

In addition to her interest in Amateur Radio, Cathy is an accomplished
musician who plays bassoon. She currently is with the Cleveland Youth Wind
Symphony, which recently performed a series of concerts in Australia. This
fall, Cathy is planning to major in music at Baldwin-Wallace College in
Berea, Ohio.

The 2006 Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year Award will be
presented August 19, 2006, at the Huntsville Hamfest in Alabama. As the 2006
YHOTY Award winner, Cathy will receive -- courtesy of Vertex-Standard -- an
expense-paid trip to the Huntsville Hamfest, along with a gift of Yaesu ham
radio equipment. CQ magazine will treat her to an expense-paid week at
Spacecamp Huntsville, and will present her with a variety of CQ products.
She'll receive a commemorative plaque, underwritten by Dave Bell, W6AQ.

The Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year Award goes annually to a
radio amateur age 18 or younger who has provided outstanding service to the
nation and community or helped improve the state of the art in Amateur Radio
communication.

==>SOLAR UPDATE

Astral aficionado Tad "Shooting Star" Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington,
reports: Solar activity remains low. Average daily sunspot numbers dropped
by more than 6 points to 19.4, and solar flux was down by more than 5 points
to 70.7.

July 13 saw the solar flux dip just barely below 70 to 69.9. During extended
periods with zero sunspots, we will see solar flux around 67 or 68.

The sun appears spotless, although the sunspot number is above zero. Expect
continued low levels of solar activity. For the next few days expect solar
flux around 70, rising to 75 after July 23.

Geomagnetic indices should be quiet, with a planetary A index of five. The
next period of higher geomagnetic activity due to recurring coronal holes
rotating into view is some moderate activity expected around Tuesday, July
25, and then some higher activity centered on August 1. Geophysical
Institute Prague predicts quiet conditions for July 21-24, unsettled
conditions July 25-26, and quiet to unsettled July 27.

For more information concerning radio propagation, see the ARRL Technical
Information Service Propagation page
<http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html>.

Sunspot numbers for July 13 through 19 were 11, 15, 17, 20, 23, 26 and 24.
with a mean of 19.4. 10.7 cm flux was 69.9, 70.9, 70.2, 70.8, 71, 71.2, and
71.1, with a mean of 70.7. Estimated planetary A indices were 5, 14, 6, 4,
4, 3 and 2, with a mean of 5.4. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 3, 10,
5, 2, 2, 2 and 2, with a mean of 3.7.

__________________________________

==>IN BRIEF:

* This weekend on the radio: The VK/Trans-Tasman 160-Meter Contest (CW) is
July 22. The RSGB Islands on the Air (IOTA) Contest and the ARS Flight of
the Bumblebees contest are the weekend of July 29-30. JUST AHEAD: The North
American QSO Party (CW), the ARRL UHF Contest, the TARA Grid Dip Shindig, te
10-10 International Summer Contest (SSB), the European HF Championship, the
RSGB RoPoCo 2 and the SARL HF Phone Contest are the weekend of August 5-6.
The NAQCC Straight Key/Bug Sprint is August 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, July 23, for these ARRL
Certification and Continuing Education (CCE) online courses: Amateur Radio
Emergency Communications Level 1 (EC-001), Radio Frequency Interference
(EC-006), Antenna Design and Construction (EC-009), Analog Electronics
(EC-012) and Digital Electronics (EC-013). Classes begin Friday, August 11.
The same courses will again open for registration Monday, July 24, for
classes beginning September 1. To learn more, visit the CCE Course Listing
page <http://www.arrl.org/cce/courses.html> or contact the CCE Department
<cce@arrl.org>;.

* Some call signs missing from DXCC Honor Roll in August QST: The ARRL DXCC
Branch Manager Bill Moore, NC1L, says a problem with the DXCC software
caused a few call signs not to appear in the DXCC Honor Roll listing in
August 2006 QST. "Although there were some errors in this computer-generated
list, the online Honor Roll listing
<http://www.arrl.org/awards/dxcc/listings/dxccHR.pdf> produced from the same
database is correct," Moore assured. "We will publish a correction in
October 2006 QST." Anyone who was on the Honor Roll between April 1, 2005,
and March 31, 2006, and whose call sign did not show up in the QST list
should contact Moore via telephone (860-594-0234) or e-mail <dxcc@arrl.org>;.

* RAC seeks input on restructuring Amateur Radio in Canada: Radio Amateurs
of Canada is seeking input from the Amateur Radio community on possible
future restructuring of the Amateur Radio Service, possibly by easing
entry-level licensing requirements as other countries have done. The
Committee on the Restructuring of Amateur Radio in Canada, chaired by RAC
Midwest Director Bj. Maden, VE5FX, has designed a questionnaire to gather
information from Canadian amateurs about their thoughts on the future of the
service. "Your input to this questionnaire is critical to help the committee
to determine the direction which Amateur Radio might take," the RAC says.
The survey takes about 10 minutes. Canadian radio amateurs can visit the RAC
Web site's "Restructuring in Canada" page
<http://www.rac.ca/regulatory/restructuring.htm>, which includes a link to
the survey and to an article on restructuring that appeared in the May/June
issue of The Canadian Amateur. There's also a PowerPoint presentation,
including presenter's notes, for club programs.

* UK 5 MHz experiment extended to 2010, gains two new channels: UK
telecommunications regulator Ofcom and the Ministry of Defence okayed
extending the 5 MHz Amateur Radio experiment until June 30, 2010, and adding
two new channels -- 5368 and 5373 kHz (center frequencies). Under the
expanded plan, the UK and the US now will enjoy three center-frequency
channels in common -- the two new channels and 5405 kHz. The UK experiment,
which began in 2002, was to have concluded July 31. The Radio Society of
Great Britain (RSGB) says the extension followed discussions between Ofcom
and the RSGB. Current notices of variation (NoVs) issued by the
Radiocommunications Agency -- the former telecoms regulator -- still expire
July 31, 2006, however, and Full license holders in the UK who want to
continue using the 5 MHz frequencies will have to file a new NoV
application, available online from the Ofcom Web site
<http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/licensing/classes/amateur/applicatio
ns/ofw285.pdf>. Applicants must explain how they plan to experiment on the 5
MHz channels.

* Discovery lands safely in Florida minus one radio amateur: The shuttle
Discovery, with two radio amateur-astronauts aboard, landed safely at
Kennedy Space Center in Florida July 17. In addition to Commander Steven
Lindsey and Pilot Mark Kelly, the STS-121 crew included mission specialists
Stephanie Wilson, KD5DZE, Lisa Nowak, KC5ZTB; Michael Fossum and Piers
Sellers. A third radio amateur, European Space Agency astronaut Thomas
Reiter, DF4TR -- aboard Discovery when it launched July 4 -- stayed behind
to join International Space Station Expedition 13 Commander Pavel
Vinogradov, RV3BS, and Flight Engineer and NASA Science Officer Jeff
Williams, KD5TVQ, for the remainder of their duty tour and for about half of
Expedition 14's -- six months in all, NASA says. His arrival on the ISS
marks the first time since May 2003 that the space station has had a
three-member crew. NASA astronauts Michael Lopez-Alegria, KE5GTK, and Sunita
Williams, KD5PLB, and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin, RZ3FT, have been
named as the 14th ISS crew. They will launch to the ISS in September. The
July 17 landing marked the end of Discovery's 32nd flight.

===========================================================
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
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<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> is a weekly "ham radio newscast"
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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
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letter-dlvy@arrl.org
==>Editorial questions or comments: Rick Lindquist, N1RL, n1rl@arrl.org
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==>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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