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ARRL Letter

 



***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 25, No. 32
August 11, 2006
***************

IN THIS EDITION:

* IARU Region 3 elects new leadership
* Amateur Radio license of convicted felon in jeopardy; hearing pending
* MARS to support US Transportation Security Administration in emergencies
* Greek space campers converse via ham radio with German astronaut
* ISS ham radio "go-to" guy earns NASA's Silver Snoopy Award
* ARRL on-line auction gearing up
* ARRL HQ volunteer tour guides on the job
*  Solar Update
*  IN BRIEF: 
     This weekend on the radio
     ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration
     ARRL HQ phone system to be disrupted August 16
     New CQ WPX Award manager announced
     Thirtieth Annual Tokyo Ham Fair August 19-20
     Donald R. Newcomb, W0DN, SK
     Robert M. Richardson, W4UCH, SK
     Cliff Buttschardt, K7RR, SK
   

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===========================================================

==>IARU REGION 3 ELECTS NEW LEADERSHIP 

 The 13th Conference of IARU Region 3 was held in Bangalore, India August
7-11. IARU Region 3 <http://www.jarl.or.jp/iaru-r3/> consists of the
member-societies of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) in the
Asia-Pacific area. There were 13 IARU member-societies represented in person
with another five represented by proxy. Representing the ARRL, which has
Full members in Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa, were
International Affairs Vice President Rod Stafford, W6ROD, Chief Executive
Officer and Secretary David Sumner, K1ZZ, and Chief Technology Officer Paul
Rinaldo, W4RI. The IARU International Secretariat was represented by Vice
President Tim Ellam, VE6SH. All four also will attend a meeting of the IARU
Administrative Council in Bangalore on August 12-14.

Conference arrangements were made by an outstanding team of volunteers of
the Amateur Radio Society of India (ARSI), the IARU member-society for
India. 

The conference considered more than 60 input documents containing reports
and proposals from Region 3 member-societies, coordinators and committee
chairmen, as well as from IARU Regions 1 and 2. The conference documents are
available on the Web <http://www.jarl.or.jp/iaru-r3/13r3c/docs/docs.htm>.

Two Working Groups dealing with policy and operational issues met in
parallel. A third Working Group to consider constitutional issues met when
the other two Working Groups were not in session. Proposals to amend the
Constitution that had been proposed in advance by member-societies were
considered, and modest amendments were adopted. Recommendations were adopted
addressing a wide range of Amateur Radio issues, including the 2007 World
Radiocommunication Conference, BPL/PLC interference, international
licensing, development of Amateur Radio in the Pacific Islands, interference
from unauthorized non-amateur stations operating in the amateur bands,
emergency communications preparedness, and signal reporting for digital
modes. 

A new slate of Directors was elected to manage the affairs of the Region
between conferences. They are Michael Owen, VK3KI, who also was elected
Chairman of Directors; Shizuo Endo, JE1MUI; Gopal Madhavan, VU2GMN; Peter B.
Lake, ZL2AZ; and Prof. Rhee-Joong Guen, HL1AQQ. The contributions of
retiring Directors Y. S. Park, HL1IFM, Chandru Ramchandra, VU2RCR, Yoshiji
Sekido, JJ1OEY, and K. C. Selvadurai, 9V1UV were noted with great
appreciation. Keigo Komuro, JA1KAB, continues as Secretary of the Region.

The 14th Region 3 Conference is planned for Christchurch, New Zealand in
2009. -- David Sumner, K1ZZ

==>AMATEUR RADIO LICENSE OF CONVICTED FELON IN JEOPARDY; HEARING PENDING

The FCC has initiated a hearing proceeding against Robert D. Landis, N6FRV,
of Atascadero, California, who was convicted on two felony counts in 1991,
fined $10,000 and sentenced to 11 years in prison. The hearing will
determine whether Landis will be allowed to continue to hold his Advanced
class license, which is due to expire on November 1. The Order to Show Cause
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1570A1.pdf>
released August 1 was in response to a complaint pointing out Landis's
conviction for lewd behavior involving a minor. For several years now, the
FCC has applied character standards once reserved for broadcast licensees to
Amateur Radio licensing and renewal cases. 

"Thus, felony convictions, especially those involving sexual assault on
children, raise questions regarding an amateur licensee's qualifications,"
the FCC said in this week's Order. Section 312(a)(2) of the Communications
Act provides that the Commission may revoke any license if conditions come
to its attention that would warrant refusal to grant a license on the
original application, the FCC noted.

"The foregoing makes plain that Mr Landis's felony convictions raise serious
questions as to whether he possesses the requisite character qualifications
to be and to remain a Commission licensee and whether his captioned license
should be revoked."

The FCC ordered Landis to show cause why his authorization for an Amateur
Radio license should not be revoked, although the Enforcement Bureau will
bear the burden of proof with respect to the issues raised. An
Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) presides at such hearings, at which evidence
and witnesses may be presented and heard. 

If Landis fails to respond to the Order within 30 days or otherwise waives
his right to a hearing, the ALJ will issue an order terminating the hearing
proceeding and certifying the case to the FCC.

The FCC served notice July 14 on two other Amateur Radio licensees that
their respective applications would be designated for hearing. Both cases
involve apparent misrepresentations to the Commission. Special Counsel in
the FCC Spectrum Enforcement Division Riley Hollingsworth told Gordon D.
Young, WB6NKJ, that his Amateur Extra upgrade application would be
designated for hearing to "determine whether you are qualified to remain a
Commission licensee, and, if so, whether your Extra class application should
be granted."

The FCC alleges that Young made misrepresentations to the Commission
regarding repairs to his transmitter after he received a Warning Notice for
allegedly operating on a frequency not allowed to Advanced class licensees.

The Commission plans to designate the Amateur Radio Technician class
application of Frank C. Richards of Mooers, New York, for hearing because of
unresolved circumstances surrounding his 2004 filing of applications to
change the address and call sign on a license that apparently belonged to a
man of the same name in Florida.

After Richards submitted the license for KG2IJ for cancellation in June
2004, the FCC said it contemplated no further enforcement action. The
Commission said, however, that it would review the circumstances of the
applications should Richards ever apply for an Amateur Radio license in the
future.

Richards passed the Technician exam last March and applied for a license in
late June.

==>MARS TO SUPPORT US TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION IN EMERGENCIES

Amateur Radio operators who are members of the Military Affiliate Radio
System (MARS) will provide back-up communication for the US Transportation
Security Administration (TSA) under a formal agreement announced in July by
Army MARS Chief Kathy Harrison, AAA9A. Protecting airports during the
hurricane season will be the immediate focus, she said, adding that the new
MARS-TSA collaboration "is likely to expand to other Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) areas" in the future.

"This is an extensive area and will require member support across the
continental United States," Harrison said in a broadcast announcement to
Army MARS participants. "We will need many volunteers to man teams assigned
to specific geographical areas, starting with airports throughout the
hurricane corridor." She called for "physically capable" Amateur Radio
operators to volunteer for the assignment.

The first airport emergency support teams will be located at four airports
in the Florida hurricane belt: Miami, Ft Myers, Jacksonville and Pensacola,
Harrison said. She added that recruiting will immediately follow for nine
additional potential hurricane targets from Washington, DC to Houston. In a
later phase - but as soon as possible - additional teams will be recruited
for other hurricane locations including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands,
and after that, the remainder of the continental US.

The emergency support teams - each consisting of four members of MARS - are
being assembled under joint sponsorship of MARS and the TSA, with deployment
assignments determined by the TSA when and if the government's communication
systems fail. "Volunteers should be within a reasonable traveling distance
to the airport. It will be their responsibility to get to the site when
activated," said Harrison.

The Memorandum of Understanding, which is already in place, calls for using
MARS networks, personnel and equipment to maintain communication during the
first 72 hours of incidents involving aircraft, mass transit and pipelines.
Seventy-two hours is considered the maximum time needed for federal response
organizations to deploy internal emergency communication systems.

The MoU spells out the most extensive MARS support mission since the
development of the Essential Elements of Information (EEI), which date to
the 1994 Northridge earthquake that devastated parts of California's San
Fernando Valley. EEIs are alerts to the Pentagon of a natural disaster or
other incident that might require a federal response.

In a memo to MARS personnel, Harrison included the following points:

.  The Navy-Marine Corps and Air Force MARS organizations are included in
the call for volunteers, via their separate chains of command.

.  Army MARS state directors will be responsible for formation of the joint
teams.

.  All deployments will be by team, each with a combination of equipment and
operator capabilities and members ready to work 12-hour shifts. Some
locations may ultimately require more than one team.

.  Required equipment for each team will include HF and VHF radios with
voice and digital capability, Pactor/Airmail digital messaging, phone
patching and emergency power.

.  Some locations may have TSA radio gear and emergency power supply to
augment the hams' personal equipment.

A particular MARS responsibility will be to provide communication
interoperability with local, state and national networks, such as the Radio
Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) and Shared Resources (SHARES). A
separate web of national and regional HF radio networks, SHARES links
federal agencies under the DHS's National Communications System (NCS), of
which MARS already is a primary participant.

The pact calls for a reliable back-up solution "to ensure the continuity of
TSA's command and control function during the first 72 hours following any
incident interfering with normal communications channels and to provide
local, regional and nationwide TSA communications during that time." The
existing Army MARS emergency communication network offers such a solution
immediately and at no additional cost to the TSA, the MoU points out.

Under the MoU, the TSA agrees to provide MARS volunteers with access to its
facilities and space for radio equipment. It further agrees to integrate
MARS capabilities into its emergency planning and exercises. The Army's
commitment includes providing "volunteer MARS radio operators, equipment,
and use of the MARS radio networks" and developing "alert procedures and a
communications support plan" that "will identify specific frequencies, call
signs, and radio operator level duties." Harrison stressed that the decision
to volunteer rests with the individual. "The Army has no liability over a
member who reports to a disaster site; members will be responsible to TSA
personnel."

Harrison told the Army MARS membership that she's "very excited" about the
new agreement. "This will be a fast-moving recruitment/development action,
and I request your support in filling these teams."

The chiefs of Air Force and Navy-Marine Corps MARS also are onboard with the
new agreement and have messaged their respective memberships to signify
their participation and cooperation with Army MARS. Air Force MARS Chief Don
Poquette, AGA3C/KE9XB, has pledged his members' support. "AF MARS will
assist to accomplish this mission," he said, pending working out logistical
details.

Harrison says she and her headquarters staff met recently with TSA and DHS
representatives to formalize the details of the cooperative arrangement. She
said MARS area coordinators will provide specific requirements to state MARS
directors to recruit members and equipment capabilities to support TSA.

Signing the MoU on behalf of the Army was Col Mary Beth Shively, chief of
staff, Network Enterprise Technology Command/Ninth Army Signal Command.
James Schear, General Manager, Operational Plans and Programs, endorsed it
for the TSA. Headquartered at Ft Huachuca, Arizona, the Ninth Army Signal
Command oversees the Army MARS mission. -- Bill Sexton, N1IN 

==>GREEK SPACE CAMPERS CONVERSE VIA HAM RADIO WITH GERMAN ASTRONAUT

It was a truly international event July 29, when a Greek official and two
youngsters attending a European Space Agency (ESA) space camp in Patras,
Greece, spoke with German astronaut Thomas Reiter, DF4TR, aboard the
International Space Station. 

The radio contact was performed by an ARISS ground station at Sacred Heart
Academy, Honolulu, Hawaii, operated by Nancy Rocheleau, WH6PN. Signals were
relayed to Greece by telebridge courtesy of Verizon Teleconferencing. 

Participating in this ESA-organized event was Mrs Marietta Giannakou,
Minister of National Education and Religious Affairs, who asked the first
questions, inviting Reiter to address a message to the youth and to comment
on experiments that are being conducted onboard the International Space
Station. 

Thomas said there is so much we can gain for the benefit of mankind by going
to space and exploring other planets. He encouraged young people to engage
in careers related to space flight. One of his experiments is to study the
behavior of fluids of different densities in microgravity. 

Answering students' questions, Thomas insisted on the importance for
candidate astronauts to first study hard and acquire a solid background in
sciences such as biology, physics or medical science. About future space
exploration, he predicted that we will go back to the Moon within a few
years and possibly to Mars 25 years from now. 

The Patras event was highlighted on Greek national TV evening news and
publicized widely in several newspapers. 

The ARISS school contact was also distributed on EchoLink and IRLP. 

ARISS is an educational outreach with US participation by ARRL, AMSAT and
NASA. -- tnx Gaston Bertels, ON4WF

==>ISS HAM RADIO "GO-TO" GUY EARNS NASA'S SILVER SNOOPY AWARD

NASA has honored ISS Ham Radio Project Engineer Kenneth Ransom, N5VHO, with
its prestigious "Silver Snoopy" Award
<http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/sfa/snoopy.html>. Ransom was tapped to receive
the award for his role in helping International Space Station Expedition 12
Commander Bill McArthur, KC5ACR, complete and confirm Worked All States
(WAS) and Worked All Continents (WAC), including Antarctica, from NA1SS, as
well as logging some 130 DXCC entities. McArthur's duty tour ended in April.

"I am honored to have received the award and honored again by Bill
McArthur's thoughtfulness at selecting such an Amateur Radio-appropriate
Silver Snoopy," Ransom told ARRL. He explained that every Silver Snoopy has
flown on a space mission. "The one that was awarded to me was flown on
STS-58, which was Bill's first shuttle flight." The STS-58 mission, he said,
not only was a SAREX (Shuttle Amateur Radio EXperiment) flight but
McArthur's introduction to Amateur Radio from space. SAREX was the
predecessor to the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS)
program <http://www.rac.ca/ariss>.

In his role as ISS Ham Radio Project Engineer, Ransom helps ARISS arrange
opportunities for students to speak via Amateur Radio with the space station
crew at NA1SS. He also coordinates with the ISS crew on the configuration
and operation of the two ham radio stations aboard the space station.

At some point during Expedition 12, Ransom realized that McArthur had
already logged 25 states, and he figured, "Why stop there?" Pretty soon, he
was lining up contacts for McArthur in the other 25.

"It was an, 'I know a friend who knows a friend who knows a friend' sort of
thing," Ransom explained. "There are a lot of folks eager to talk to an
astronaut."

And the feeling was mutual.

"Different crews do different things as pastimes," Ransom said. "Bill
enjoyed talking on the radio. It gave him someone else to talk to besides
CAPCOM, the voice of mission control."

By the end of the mission, McArthur not only became the first astronaut to
earn WAS from space but put lots of DX -- routine and exotic -- in the NA1SS
log on both VHF and UHF. Overall, he made more than 1800 contacts during his
approximately six months in space. He also established a new ARISS milestone
by completing 37 school group contacts.

"None of that would have been possible without the work Kenneth did,"
McArthur said. "He alerted radio operators in some pretty obscure places --
places that rarely have contact with the space program."

To show his gratitude, McArthur recently presented Ransom with the Silver
Snoopy Award -- a silver lapel pin featuring the famous "Peanuts" comic
strip character Snoopy in a spacesuit. NASA's Astronaut Office presents the
award to those who have significantly enhanced the space agency's goals for
human exploration and development of space. Fewer than one percent of the
space program's workforce receives it annually.

McArthur is still working to confirm DXCC from space. So far, he has
approximately one-third of the necessary contacts confirmed.--NASA provided
some information for this report

==>ARRL ON-LINE AUCTION GEARING UP

A big "Thank You" goes to the hundreds of ARRL members who have already
contacted us about the first ARRL On-Line Auction, expressing their support
for and interest in this exciting event. We have already begun receiving
some very generous donations that will surely make the first ARRL On-Line
Auction an event to remember. 

The auction will run from Monday, October 23 through Friday, November 3.
Individuals who wish to participate will need to register on-line
approximately one week prior to the event. An update announcement will
appear on the ARRL Web site when the ARRL On-Line Auction site "goes live." 

==>ARRL HQ TOUR GUIDES ON THE JOB

Now when you arrive at the ARRL for a tour, your host will be one of our new
Volunteer Tour Guides. It might be Bob, or it could be Bob -- depending on
the day, you might just luck out and get Bob! 

No, we're not re-creating The Newhart Show; our first three Volunteer Tour
Guides, while not brothers, are all named Bob! 

On July 28, ARRL Chief Operating Officer Harold Kramer, WJ1B, along with
Membership Manager Katie Breen, W1KRB, and Sales and Marketing Coordinator
Jackie Cornell, presented framed certificates recognizing their volunteerism
to the three new Volunteer Tour Guides: Bob Allison, WB1GCM, Bob Burke,
KA1KOV, and Bob Stanwood, KB1EYZ. 

"We are very thankful and appreciative of your enthusiasm for Amateur Radio
and the League. I know our guests will enjoy their visit to Headquarters
even more now because of you -- thank you!" said Breen. 

And just who is the "Trio Bob"? Bob Allison, WB1GCM, has been a ham for 32
years; he holds an Amateur Extra class license. His Amateur Radio hobby led
directly to an education in electronics and a 27 year career in broadcast
television and radio. "Ham Radio opens many doors in life, and I've had the
opportunity to help people through this wonderful hobby," he said. Bob and
his wife, ARRL staffer Kathy, KA1RWY, reside in Coventry, Connecticut. Bob
also enjoys sailing and working on Model A Fords. "It's a privilege to be
able to volunteer here at ARRL HQ," he said. "I am pleased to be your tour
guide!" 

Bob Burke, KA1KOV, got into Amateur Radio, as he says, "by accident." When
he was Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 29 in the early 1980s, another Scout
leader had heard of a Novice class starting at the Newington Amateur Radio
League (NARL). Since the Scouters had to travel to New York for their
license upgrades, it was a long time between Tech and General, but Bob now
holds an Amateur Extra class license, is a Volunteer Examiner, as well as a
past president of NARL. 

Bob Stanwood, KB1EYZ, has been involved with Amateur Radio since building a
crystal set when he was 10 years old; it led to his discovery of short wave
radio and experimenting with TV antennas in high school. After earning two
degrees in electrical engineering from Cornell University and four years of
piloting C-130s for the US Air Force, Bob was hired by Pratt & Whitney,
eventually in program management. He retired 13 years ago and worked another
four years as a consultant, and in full retirement, turned to Amateur Radio.
Since earning his Technician license in 2000, he has progressed to Amateur
Extra, continuing to build antennas and participating in public service
events. He and his wife Peggy have been married 42 years, and have two adult
children and two wonderful granddaughters, aged four and seven. In addition
to his family and Amateur Radio, Bob also volunteers at the New England Air
Museum. 

Tours are given every day the ARRL HQ is open, at 9, 10 and 11 AM, and 1, 2
and 3 PM. Part of the tour includes W1AW, so be sure to bring a copy of your
license, as you are encouraged to operate. While tour reservations are not
necessary, large groups should notify Jackie Cornell at 860-594-0292.

==>SOLAR UPDATE

Heliophile Tad "Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying" Cook, K7RA, Seattle,
Washington, reports: On four days this week the sun was spotless, so the
average daily sunspot number for the week dropped over 11 points to 8.6.
Sunspot numbers are now recovering and climbing, from zero on Monday to 12,
25 and 37 on Tuesday through Thursday. Sunspot numbers and solar flux should
continue a modest recovery through next week. When the sunspots were zero,
the solar flux (a measurement of 10.7 GHz energy from the sun, observed at a
station in British Columbia) was below 70. Now solar flux is expected to
rise in the short term to 85 or more. Rising sunspot numbers and solar flux
mean higher MUF (Maximum Usable Frequency), although not a lot higher.

Sunspot numbers for August 3 through 9 were 23, 0, 0, 0, 0, 12 and 25 with a
mean of 8.6. 10.7 cm flux was 71.3, 69.6, 69.5, 69.5, 69.8, 71.4, and 74.1,
with a mean of 70.7. Estimated planetary A indices were 6, 3, 4, 4, 32, 12
and 9 with a mean of 10. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 5, 2, 2, 2,
19, 10 and 9, with a mean of 7.

For more information concerning radio propagation, see the ARRL Technical
Information Service at http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html. For a
detailed explanation of the numbers used in this bulletin, see
http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/k9la-prop.html. An archive of past propagation
bulletins is at http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/.

__________________________________

==>IN BRIEF:

* This weekend on the radio: The WAE DX Contest (CW) and the Maryland-DC QSO
Party are the weekend of August 12-13. The ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest, the
North American QSO Party (SSB), the SARTG World Wide RTTY Contest, and the
New Jersey QSO Party, as well as the International Lighthouse/Lightship
Weekend are the weekend of August 19-20. The Run for the Bacon QRP Contest
is August 21. 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 begins Friday, August 11 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, October 6. To learn
more, visit the CCE Course Listing page
<http://www.arrl.org/cce/courses.html> or contact the CCE Department
<cce@arrl.org>;.

* HQ telephone service to be disrupted August 16: On Wednesday, August 16,
after the close of business (5 PM EDT), the ARRL HQ phone system will be
taken off-line for up to a couple of hours so critical upgrades to the
software running the system can be installed. During that time, anyone
calling an ARRL HQ number will hear a ring tone, but the call will not be
answered. We regret any inconvenience this may cause to our members. 

* N8BJQ is new CQ WPX Award manager: Steve Bolia, N8BJQ, has been named to
succeed Norm Koch, WN5N (ex-K6ZDL), as manager of the CQ WPX Award program,
CQ Publisher and President Dick Ross, K2MGA, has announced. The WPX awards
are issued for confirmed contacts with stations having different call sign
prefixes. Koch is retiring after 25 years in the position. "We thank Norm
for his many years of devoted service to the WPX program, to CQ and to
Amateur Radio," said Ross, "We wish him all the best in the future." A CQ
Contesting Hall of Famer and Contest Committee member, Bolia was CQ WPX
Contest director from 1982 until 2003. He holds CW, SSB and mixed Worked All
Zones awards, is on the DXCC Honor Roll (mixed and CW), and holds 5-Band
DXCC, RTTY DXCC and 160-Meter DXCC. He's also made several DXpeditions. The
September issue of CQ will include updated address information to submit
award applications.

* Donald R. Newcomb, W0DN, SK: Don Newcomb, W0DN, of Henderson, Nevada, died
July 27. He was 71. Newcomb founded the Butternut Company, manufacturer of a
series of highly regarded antennas, and he held several patents in antenna
design. A bit of a renaissance man, Newcomb also was an accomplished
musician, held a doctorate in French and was a university professor in
Minnesota before he started Butternut in the late 1970s. In 1994, Newcomb
sold Butternut to Bencher, Inc and retired to Nevada. -- tnx Bob Locher,
W9KNI

* Robert M. Richardson, W4UCH, SK: Robert M. "Bob" Richardson, W4UCH, of Ft
Lauderdale, Florida, died June 29. He was 79. An aviation executive, fighter
pilot and inventor, Richardson contributed several articles to QST and to
Ham Radio magazine between 1959 and 1986. He also authored The Gunnplexer
Cookbook, published in 1981 by Ham Radio Publishing. Following World War II
service as a fighter pilot, he was assigned to work on "Operation Ivy"
hydrogen bomb test in the Marshall Islands. He holds several patents
including one for a "battery-free remote radio transmitter," a precursor to
today's RF identification tags used in retail security and inventory
control. He also holds a patent for the first bacteria-powered radio
transmitter, an accomplishment featured by Life magazine in a 1961 article,
"Will Bugs Generate Our Future Power?" In 1962, Richardson's contribution
"First Biological Cell Application Powers Six-Meter Transmitter" appeared in
QST's "Technical Correspondence." The family invites memorial donations to
the Robert Merz Richardson Memorial, Chautauqua Foundation, PO Box 28,
Chautauqua, NY 14722.

* Cliff Buttschardt, K7RR, SK: Long-time Project OSCAR and AMSAT member
Cliff Buttschardt, K7RR, of Morro Bay, California, died July 30. An ARRL
Life Member, he was 75. Just days before Buttschardt's death, the Project
OSCAR Board of Directors awarded him its Lifetime Achievement Award - its
highest honor -- for contributions to Amateur Satellite Radio. "In March of
2006 the Board of Project OSCAR voted to recognize Cliff with an award for
his achievements and his lifetime of contributions to amateur satellite
programs," said Project OSCAR Vice President Emily Clarke, N1DID. "Over the
years Cliff contributed much to Project OSCAR and AMSAT, and was one of the
guiding forces behind the CubeSat program at Cal Poly, where he has been
working quietly behind the scenes as an advisor." Unfortunately, a
much-heralded attempt to launch 14 university CubeSats -- one renamed in
Buttschardt's honor -- failed July 26. It is requested that in lieu of
flowers a contribution to AMSAT or the ARRL be made in Cliff's name.

=========================================================== 
The ARRL Letter is published Fridays, 50 times each year, by the American
Radio Relay League: ARRL--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 and general news
of interest to active radio amateurs. Visit the ARRL Web site
<http://www.arrl.org/> for the latest Amateur Radio news and news updates.
The ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org/> also offers informative features
and columns. ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> is a
weekly "ham radio newscast" compiled and edited from The ARRL Letter. It's
also available as a podcast from our Web site.

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/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
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==>ARRL Audio News: <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> or call
860-594-0384

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* The QTH.net listserver, thanks to volunteers from the Boston Amateur Radio
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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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