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ARRL Letter

 

***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 25, No. 44
November 3, 2006
***************

IN THIS EDITION:

* +League wants FCC WRC-07 support for 150 kHz band at 60 meters
* +Two DXpeditions set to activate rare Lakshadweep Islands
* +ARISS "Contingency Network" put on alert for first time
* +Amateur Radio volunteers on duty in California wildfire response
* +FCC solicits comments on Amateur Radio petitions
* +IARU observers to attend ITU Plenipotentiary Conference
*  Solar Update
*  IN BRIEF:
     This weekend on the radio: ARRL November Sweepstakes (CW)!
     ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration
    +ARRL extends deadline for member input on "omnibus" Report and Order
    +ARRL Foundation scholarship application window open
     KPH to mark International Radiotelegraph Conference centenary
     Jersey Shore DXPO set for November 11
     DXCC Desk approves operation for DXCC credit

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

==>LEAGUE SEEKS FCC'S WRC-07 SUPPORT FOR 150-KHZ 60-METER AMATEUR ALLOCATION

The ARRL wants the FCC to throw its support behind a Draft Proposal seeking
to have World Radiocommunication Conference 2007 (WRC-07) delegates consider
a worldwide, secondary Amateur Radio allocation from 5260 kHz to 5410 kHz.
The ARRL included the request in comments
<http://www.arrl.org/announce/regulatory/WRC07/WRC-07-Comments-10-27-06.pdf>
it filed October 27 in IB Docket 04-286, "Recommendations approved by the
Advisory Committee for the 2007 World Radiocommunication Conference." WRC-07
Agenda Item 1.13 will review allocations to all services between 4 and 10
MHz. The League told the FCC that a contiguous band of frequencies in the
range of 5 MHz is an important goal of the amateur community -- domestically
and internationally.

"There are times when the propagation at 5 MHz bridges a significant gap
between the Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) when the MUF is below 7 MHz, but
the Lowest Usable Frequency (LUF) is above the next lower Amateur Radio
allocation at around 3.8 MHz," the League said, citing the Draft Proposal.
"For reliable communications, an Amateur allocation in the vicinity of 5 MHz
is the solution."

Originating with ARRL, the Draft Proposal from Informal Working Group 4
(IWG-4) follows up on disaster relief-related changes to Article 25 of the
international Radio Regulations made at WRC-03.

"The amateur services provide emergency communications on a local, national
and international basis as an adjunct to normal communications, and in many
cases provide the first information about disasters and serve as the only
communications link when communications infrastructures are destroyed," the
IWG-4 Draft Proposal background information notes.

Several countries -- including the US, Canada, Finland, Iceland, Norway and
the UK -- already have permitted Amateur Radio operation on spectrum between
5250 and 5450 kHz, the ARRL said, citing the Draft Proposal. "It notes that
there is a successful history of amateur secondary use of bands in which
incumbent primary users are present," the ARRL said, mentioning 30 meters as
one example. The ARRL said the five 60-meter channels have been in regular
use by US radio amateurs since 2003 "without any instances of interference
reported by primary users."

The League took issue with remarks contained in the ITU Conference
Preparatory Meeting (CPM) draft report with respect to Agenda Item 1.13 that
suggest otherwise. Among "disadvantages," the Draft CPM Report asserts, an
allocation such as the League suggests "would increase congestion and
potential interference to fixed and mobile services at 5 MHz." It argues
that compatibility between amateur and fixed service systems in the vicinity
of 5 MHz "has not been shown" and a decision to create an Amateur Service
allocation there "could seriously affect reliable 24 hours [sic]
communication capabilities of the fixed and mobile services." The Draft CPM
Report also takes note of the advantages to the Amateur Service of such an
allocation.

The proposed allocation is "well within the scope of existing resolutions
from WRC-03," the League said. It reiterated that amateur use of the five
current 60-meter channels "has not resulted in any apparent compromise in
the use of the band" on the part of primary Fixed and Mobile services. "To
the contrary, that use has demonstrated compatibility with primary users
over a reasonable period of time," the ARRL said.

The ARRL's request in its IB Docket 04-286 comments is unrelated to the
League's October 10 Petition for Rule Making (PRM)
<http://www.arrl.org/announce/regulatory/5MHz/5-MHz-Improvement-Petition-09-
2006.pdf>, in which the ARRL asked the FCC to expand operating privileges on
60 meters and to swap one existing channel for a new one.

While the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)
has indicated it's okay with the ARRL's October 10 petition request, it also
said it could not support a request for a 50 kHz-wide domestic secondary
allocation. The NTIA oversees spectrum allocated to federal government
users, which includes the present 60 meter allocation.

Both the FCC and the NTIA provide input toward positions the US delegation
ultimately will take on various WRC-07 issues. Should WRC-07 delegates
eventually consider and agree to the international allocation at 5 MHz that
ARRL proposes, it still would be up to the FCC -- in conjunction with the
NTIA -- whether to authorize such a band for US radio amateurs.

==>DUELING DXPEDITIONS? TWO GROUPS SET TO DESCEND ON RARE LAKSHADWEEP
ISLANDS

The second most-wanted DXCC entity, Lakshadweep Islands (VU7) may host two
separate DXpeditions during December. A team sponsored by the Amateur Radio
Society of India (ARSI) -- the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU)
member-society for India -- will operate as VU7LD
<http://arsi.info/vu7/index.html>. A second group, under the auspices of the
National Institute for Amateur Radio (NIAR), has announced plans to operate
as VU7RG <http://www.vu7.in/>, in honor of the late Indian Prime Minister
Rajiv Gandhi, VU2RG. While the two DXpeditions would have multiple stations
on the air simultaneously on various HF bands and modes for at least the
first part of December, the Web sites for the respective DXpeditions do not
mention the other's planned operation. The Daily DX and QST "How's DX?"
Editor Bernie McClenny, W3UR, has cautioned that the two highly competitive
organizations carefully coordinate their on-air activities to avoid chaos.

"It is possible that up to six or more stations between the two teams may
operate at the same time on the same band and mode," McClenny pointed out in
the October 26 edition of The Daily DX <http://www.dailydx.com/>. He said
both teams are aware of concerns within the DX community and on the part of
potential DXpedition sponsors regarding the possibility for confusion caused
by overlapping operating frequencies that could decrease the efficiency of
the operations as well as opportunities to get into the VU7LD and VU7RG
logs.

"With this in mind, it will be important for some kind of frequency
management (ie, to assign strict frequency slots for all modes and bands to
all operation sites of both groups)," McClenny advised. "This will ensure
well-regulated and trouble free operations." He says members of the two
groups need to work out an agreement before their DXpeditions begin. The
NIAR says all of its VU7RG sites "will work closely together to avoid
multiple stations in the air using overlapping frequencies."

ARSI's VU7LD DXpedition will run from December 1 until December 30, while
NIAR's VU7RG DXpedition is set for December 1 until December 10. A three-day
hamfest and conference will kick off the NIAR DXpedition. Earlier NIAR
announcements had set the event for the January 15-25, 2007, time frame, but
ARSI's announcement that it would mount its own VU7 DXpedition reportedly
drove NIAR to reschedule.

Questions remain as to whether the Indian government has authorized NIAR's
VU7RG DXpedition, but event organizers called these "rumors," and assured
that the VU7 licenses "are getting processed in a regular way." Earlier this
year, the NIAR organized and sponsored a successful DXpedition and
hamfest-conference in the Andaman Islands (VU4).

Fifty or more hams from India and elsewhere -- including a number of
well-known DXers -- are said to have signed on to fill the VU7RG operating
positions. Approximately two dozen radio amateurs from India will handle
VU7LD operations on CW, SSB and digital modes.

Part of the Laccadive Islands, Lakshadweep -- the smallest union territory
of India -- is located in the Arabian Sea some 200 to 300 km off the
southwestern coast of India. The territory marks its 50th anniversary this
year. The VU7LD team will operate from Kavaratti Island, while the VU7RG
DXpedition will take place from sites on Agatti, Bangaram and Kadmat
islands.

==>ARISS "CONTINGENCY NETWORK" IMPRESSES NASA

When Russian flight controllers encountered difficulties during a recent
International Space Station cargo rocket docking, NASA called on a special
-- although little-known -- Amateur Radio team to stand by if needed.
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Ops Team "ISS Ham
Contingency Network" volunteers around the world immediately swung into
action. Within 15 minutes of receiving the call from Johnson Space Center,
Kenneth Ransom, N5VHO, reported the ISS Ham Contingency Network was ready to
provide any necessary communication support.

"The ARISS teamwork was very effective," ARISS Secretary-Treasurer Rosalie
White, K1STO said. "Its members learned a great deal, and they impressed
NASA with how quickly the system was brought up."

During the October 26 Progress docking, NASA says, Russian flight
controllers were unable to confirm whether an automated antenna on the
rocket had retracted as commanded. If still extended, the antenna could have
interfered with the final latching of the supply ship to the ISS. To avoid
disturbing the softly docked cargo ship and to aid the crew with docking
maneuvers, the ISS orientation was allowed to drift freely.

During free-drift mode, however, the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite
System (TDRSS) -- which handles communication between the crew and Mission
Control in Houston -- can be lost. That's because the station's solar arrays
may not directly face the sun, causing a drop in onboard power.

Awakened at 2 AM, ARISS Australian team member Tony Hutchison, VK5ZAI, put
out a blind call on VHF to the ISS crew, although no answer was needed at
that point. Others available to cover later passes included Gerald Klatzko,
ZS6BTD, in South Africa; Gaston Bertels, ON4WF, at ON4ISS in Belgium; Dick
Flagg, AH6NM, and Nancy Rocheleau, WH6PN, at Sacred Hearts Academy in
Honolulu; and Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, and Mark Steiner, K3MS, at the Goddard
Space Flight Center's WA3NAN. Each of these Earth stations has a track
record of being able to sustain reliable communication with the ISS.

The call-up marked the first time that NASA had asked for such Amateur Radio
assistance since the initial crew came aboard the ISS in November 2000.
Ransom says that by remaining available to ensure solid communication while
Mission Control staff dealt with the docking issue, the ISS Ham Contingency
Network provided Mission Control with an additional layer of security.

Once the antenna retraction problem was resolved, the contingency network
stood down, but NASA's request and the ensuing ham radio activity did serve
as a valuable drill, ARISS said.

NASA says Expedition 14 Commander Mike Lopez-Alegria, KE5GTK, and flight
engineers Mikhail Tyurin, RZ3FT, and Thomas Reiter, DF4TR, opened the hatch
to the supply ship October 27 to unload supplies.

==>ARES/RACES ASSIST IN ESPERANZA FIRE RESPONSE

Amateur Radio volunteers under the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)
and Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) banners in late October
assisted the American Red Cross response to California's Esperanza Fire,
some 90 miles east of Los Angeles.

"We are very proud of all of our Amateur Radio operators who were called in
to assist not only with communications but other needed areas," ARRL Orange
Section Manager Carl Gardenias, WU6D, said.

Authorities believe an arsonist ignited the deadly blaze early on October
26. Before it was declared 100-percent contained October 31, the fire had
burned over some 40,200 acres and claimed the lives of five firefighters.

The Salvation Army provided canteens for firefighters, while the Riverside
County Red Cross opened shelters to house and feed those displaced by the
flames. The Esperanza Fire destroyed 34 homes and 20 outbuildings, and the
Red Cross said many residents were forced to flee with nothing.

Via the 3965 kHz RACES net, Gardenias says, Riverside County Red Cross
issued "a big thank you" for Amateur Radio support to its shelters.
Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN) members supported that
organization's relief efforts, he said. The California Department of
Forestry and Fire Protection said more than 1800 fire personnel were
involved in battling the Esperanza Fire.

==>FCC INVITES COMMENTS ON TWO AMATEUR RADIO RULE MAKING PETITIONS

The FCC has invited comments on two Amateur Radio-related petitions for rule
making. Both petitioners seek changes in the FCC's Part 97 Amateur Service
station identification rules, specifically §97.119(a). That rule now
requires stations to identify "at the end of each communication, and at
least every ten minutes during a communication . . ."

RM-11346, filed December 9, 2005, by Murray Green, K3BEQ, would raise the
required ID interval to 30 minutes as well as at the end of each
communication. Green argues in his petition that while he has no problem
with the Commission's requirement that Amateur Radio stations identify,
"less frequent identification should not hinder the Commission's enforcement
of Amateur Radio regulations, as demonstrated by the station identification
requirements for other radio services." He suggests the current 10-minute
requirement is a result of "an abundance of caution" on the FCC's part.

A second petition, RM-11347, filed May 19, 2006, by Glen Zook, K9STH, would
revise §97.119(a) to more closely resemble the old FCC §12.82(a)
Transmission of call signs rule. The FCC's Amateur Radio Service rules were
under Part 12 prior to a revision that put them under Part 97.

In what he calls "a minor but important change," Zook proposes requiring
radio amateurs to transmit the call sign(s) of stations with which they are
in communication plus their own call sign at the start and end of each
single transmission or of a series of transmissions between stations in
communication "each transmission of which is of less than three minutes'
duration" (operators could omit the ID at the end when the entire series is
less than three minutes), at least every 10 minutes during a series of
transmissions between stations in communication, and at least every 10
minutes during any single transmission more than 10 minutes long.

"Unfortunately, too many Amateur Radio operators, especially when using FM
repeaters, do not identify during their first transmission," Zook asserts in
his petitions. "In fact, a considerable number of these operators never seem
to get around to identifying even after 10 minutes of operation and a 'fair'
number never seem to get around to giving their call sign at all."

Zook believes his suggested changes will "clarify the existing regulations
and to help eliminate problems with station identification in the Amateur
Radio Service" and actually legalize some commonplace on-air station
identification behavior.

Comments on these petitions are due by November 29. Interested parties may
file using the FCC's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). In the
"Proceeding" field, commenter should enter the full petition identifier with
"RM" in capital letters followed by the hyphen and the five digit number.

==>ALL EYES ON ANTALYA: ITU PLENIPOTENTIARY CONFERENCE TO CONVENE IN TURKEY

The top event in the world of telecommunications this month is the
International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Plenipotentiary Conference in
Antalya, Turkey. The "Plenipot" opens November 6 and concludes November 24.
Some 2000 attendees are expected. For only the second time, International
Amateur Radio Union (IARU) representatives will be among the Plenipot
observers. Turkey's IARU member society, Telsiz ve Radyo Amatörleri Cemiyeti
(TRAC), has organized a demonstration station and exhibit of Amateur Radio
emergency communications capabilities adjacent to the conference site.
Attending on behalf of the IARU are Vice President Tim Ellam, VE6SH, and
International Coordinator for Emergency Communications Hans Zimmermann,
HB9AQS/F5VKP. Each will be present for half of the conference.

The Plenipot is the ultimate authority in the ITU. Every four years,
representatives of ITU member states meet to consider proposed changes to
the organization's constitution and convention, adopt strategic and
financial plans and elect senior management.

Incumbent Secretary-General Yoshio Utsumi is not eligible to run for another
term. A new secretary-general will be elected from a field of six candidates
that includes current Deputy Secretary-General Roberto Blois of Brazil and
Telecommunication Development Bureau Director Hamadoun Touré of Mali. They
are also term-limited in their present positions and so must move "up or
out." The other candidates are Marc Furrer of Switzerland, Matthias Kurth of
Germany, Montasser Ouaili of Tunisia, and Muna Nijem of Jordan.

ITU-Radiocommunication Bureau Director Valery Timofeev of the Russian
Federation is eligible for re-election and is unopposed. There are four
candidates for each of the other three senior posts: deputy
secretary-general, director of the Telecommunication Standardization Bureau,
and director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau.

Among the candidates for the 12 seats on the part-time Radio Regulations
Board is Robert W. Jones, VE7RWJ. He served two terms as director of the
Radiocommunication Bureau and later as a consultant to the IARU at World
Radiocommunication Conference 2003.

In addition, 46 member states will be elected to the ITU Council. The
council meets annually and supervises the overall ITU management and
administration between Plenipots.

The delegates in Antalya and those whom they elect to carry out the work of
the ITU over the next four years face significant challenges. In recent
years member states have been unwilling to increase their financial
contributions to the ITU.

IARU Secretary David Sumner, K1ZZ, observes that normal increases in
expenses and the costs associated with simultaneous interpretation and the
translation of documents into the ITU's six official languages have limited
the ITU's ability to keep up with the rapid pace of telecommunications
development and led to staff reductions, lowering morale among those who
remain.  Because ITU bureau directors are elected by the member states
rather than appointed by the secretary-general, outgoing Secretary-General
Utsumi has complained of having responsibility without authority.

Plenipot delegates will even be called upon to consider changing the name of
the ITU! A Common Proposal submitted by several Arab States would make it
the "International Telecommunication and Information Technology Union."
Whatever the fate of this specific proposal, it reflects a growing belief
among member states that "telecommunication" no longer adequately
encompasses the scope of the ITU's responsibilities.--IARU
E-Letter/International Amateur Radio Union

==>SOLAR UPDATE

Solar flash Tad "I Live for the Sun" Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington,
reports: Sunspot numbers rose over the past few days. Although the average
sunspot number for the past reporting week (Thursday through Wednesday) was
about the same as for the previous week, the emergence of sunspots 921 and
922 brought the daily sunspot number from October 29 through November 2 to
0, 15, 34, 46 and 59. This number will probably rise through the weekend,
when the ARRL November Sweepstakes (CW)
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2006/novss.html> takes place.

A new spot is emerging on the far side of our sun. It should rotate to face
us around November 7. Attribute it to the many large short term variations
we see in solar activity during any cycle.

For the ARRL November Sweepstakes (CW), conditions should remain quiet
through the weekend, with increased sunspot numbers. Many contesters would
rather see those conditions on a DX contest weekend, but we can't complain.
The predicted planetary A index (lower numbers indicate more stable
geomagnetic conditions), for November 3-9 are 8, 8, 5, 5, 5, 5 and 20.
Geophysical Institute Prague predicts unsettled conditions for November 3,
quiet to unsettled November 4, quiet conditions November 5-7, quiet to
unsettled November 8, and unsettled to active November 9.

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>.

Sunspot numbers for October 26 through November 1 were 0, 2 14, 28, 0, 15,
34 and 46, with a mean of 19.9. The 10.7 cm flux was 71.9, 72, 74.7 , 73.3,
75.7, 80.1, and 86.7, with a mean of 76.3. Estimated planetary A indices
were 1, 2, 14, 21, 9, 4 and 6 with a mean of 8.1. Estimated mid-latitude A
indices were 1, 3, 12, 13, 6, 2 and 5, with a mean of 6.

__________________________________

==>IN BRIEF:

* This weekend on the radio: The ARRL November Sweepstakes (CW), the North
American Collegiate ARC Championship (CW), the IPARC Contest (CW/SSB), the
PSK63 Sprint, the Ukrainian DX Contest, the High Speed Club CW Contest, and
the DARC 10-Meter Digital Contest are the weekend of November 4-5. The ARS
Spartan Sprint is November 7. JUST AHEAD: The Worked All Europe DX Contest
(RTTY), the ARRL EME Contest Part 3 (50-1296 MHz), the JIDX Phone Contest,
the OK/OM DX Contest (CW), the Kentucky QSO Party and the CQ-WE Contest are
the weekend of November 11-12. The NAQCC Straight Key/Bug Sprint is November
16. The YO International PSK31 Contest is November 17. 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, November 19, for these ARRL
Certification and Continuing Education (CCE) <http://www.arrl.org/cce/>
online courses beginning Friday, December 1: Amateur Radio Emergency
Communications Level 1 (EC-001), Radio Frequency Interference (EC-006),
Antenna Design and Construction (EC-009), Amateur Radio License Course
(EC-010), Analog Electronics (EC-012) and Digital Electronics (EC-013).
These courses also will open for registration Friday, November 17, for
classes beginning Friday, January 5, 2007. 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 extends deadline for member input on "omnibus" Report and Order: The
ARRL has extended the deadline to receive members' input concerning the
FCC's "omnibus" Report and Order (R&O) in WT Docket 04-140, released October
10 <http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-149A1.pdf>. The
ARRL is specifically seeking member guidance on how the changes the R&O
mandates will affect current operating activities on 80, 40 and 15 meters
(see the current ARRL band plans
<http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/bandplan.html> and an ARRL FAQ
<http://www.arrl.org/announce/regulatory/wt04-140/faq.html> that includes a
chart showing the band changes.) The R&O takes effect 30 days after
publication in the Federal Register, and ARRL will accept members' comments
until one week after Federal Register publication. The publication date is
not yet known. A summary of the "omnibus" R&O appears on our Web site
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2006/10/11/100/>. Submit comments by
e-mail <bandplan@www.arrl.org>;. All e-mails will be read and considered, but
individual responses are not possible. Thank you for your assistance and
cooperation!

* ARRL Foundation scholarship application window open: The application
period for ARRL Foundation scholarships
<http://www.arrl.org/arrlf/scholgen.html> remains open until February 1,
2007. The ARRL Foundation has announced the addition of three new
scholarships for the 2007 awards: The Zachary Taylor Stevens Scholarship,
The Richard W. Bendicksen, N7ZL, Memorial Scholarship and The Gary Wagner,
K3OMI, Scholarship. These new scholarship awards bring the total number of
ARRL scholarships to 44 -- some providing multiple awards. Following an
evaluation of all applications, the ARRL Foundation Scholarship Committee
will announce the 2007-2008 academic year ARRL Foundation scholarship
recipients next spring. IMPORTANT: Applicants must include high school or
college academic transcripts with scholarship applications. Those applying
for the four-year William R. Goldfarb Memorial Scholarship
<http://www.arrl.org/arrlf/goldfarb.html> must include a Free Application
for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and a transcript.

* KPH to mark International Radiotelegraph Conference centenary: The
Maritime Radio Historical Society (MRHS) <http://www.radiomarine.org/> will
join others around the world in marking the 100th anniversary of the
International Radiotelegraph Conference. Delegates to the 1906 gathering in
Berlin designated 500 kHz (600 meters) as the international distress and
calling frequency and SOS as the distress signal, and they signed the
International Radiotelegraph Convention, which eventually became the
International Telecommunication Union Radio Regulations. MRHS's KPH, which
began operation in 1905, will activate at 0001 UTC on Saturday, November 4,
on 500 kHz and on its working frequency, 426 kHz. "KPH will send special
messages and marine information using 500 kc as frequently as possible,
keeping in mind that other stations share this frequency," says the KPH
Chief Operator Richard "R.D." Dillman, W6AWO. "Longer bulletins will be sent
on 426 kc after an announcement on 500 kc." Dillman says KPH will monitor
500 kHz at all times for calls from ships and will observe the silent
period. KPH ops also will listen between 505 and 510 kHz for stations
operating as part of the ARRL WD2XSH experimental group
<http://www.500kc.com/>, although Dillman adds that contacts between those
stations and KPH will not be possible. MRHS Amateur Radio station K6KPH will
monitor 3550, 7050 and 14,050 kHz for calls from radio amateurs wishing to
submit signal reports. To obtain a printed confirmation of KPH reception,
send reports to D.A. Stoops, PO Box 381, Bolinas CA 94924-0381 USA.

* Jersey Shore DXPO set for November 11: The South Jersey DX Association
(SJDXA), the Old Barney Amateur Radio Club (OBARC) and Yaesu will sponsor
Jersey Shore DXPO 2006, Saturday, November 11, Ocean Acres Community Center,
Manahawkin, New Jersey (near the Garden State Parkway). Doors open 11 AM,
and programs run from noon until 5 PM, with a social hour and buffet dinner
to follow. There will be DXCC card checking, and the program agenda covers a
wide range of topics that include presentations on several DXpeditions and
DX contest sites, 6-meter DXing and more, plus an update on the December
DXpedition to Lakshadweep Islands (VU7). Some of the top DXers will be on
hand and among the presenters. Bob Allphin, K4UEE, will keynote the dinner
with his "3Y0X DX-perience Show." Full information is available on the DXPO
2006 Web site <http://sjdxa.org/jersey_shore_dxpo.htm>.--Bob Schenck, N2OO

* North Carolina county commissioners commend Amateur Radio volunteers: The
Orange County, North Carolina, Board of County Commissioners has commended
Amateur Radio volunteers as well as volunteer firefighters and rescue
squads. At its October 17 meeting, the Board recognized the county's
volunteer emergency responders, including Amateur Radio operators, for their
continuing service, and presented plaques to the Orange County Radio
Amateurs (OCRA) -- an ARRL-affiliated special service club -- as well as to
each volunteer fire department and rescue squad. OCRA President Dave Snyder,
W4SAR (left in photo, holding plaque), and Orange County ARES Emergency
Coordinator Skip Fisher, N6LUZ (right in photo), represented the county's
amateur community. The inscription says: "Presented to the Orange County Ham
Radio Amateurs in appreciation of your service and dedication to the
citizens of Orange County."

* DXCC Desk approves operations for DXCC credit: The ARRL DXCC Desk has
approved these operations for DXCC credit: ZA/IK7JWX (Albania), July 10-30,
2006; 3V6T (Tunisia), July 5-15, October 22-31 and November 22-30, 2006;
3V7A (Tunisia), May 22-31, 2006; 9G5UR (Ghana), current operation effective
September 22, 2006; 9M0/9M2TO (Spratly Islands), June 9-12, 2006; 9Q1NT
(Democratic Republic of the Congo), current operation effective September
22, 2006; C91TL (Mozambique), June 29-July 13, 2006; FO/F8UFT (Clipperton
Island), March 1-31, 2005; OJ0LA (Market Reef), September 9-15, 2006; ZL9BSJ
(Auckland & Campbell Island), September 12, 2002.  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
<http://www.arrl.org/awards/dxcc/faq/>.

===========================================================
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
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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
==>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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