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ARRL Letter

 

***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 26, No. 18
May 4, 2007
***************

IN THIS EDITION:

* +FCC "Smart radio" order good news for ham radio
* +Scarborough Reef DXpedition draws a crowd
* +Space station construction activity will affect ham radio operations
* +FCC ends hearing, denies application in license hijacking case
* +Motorola puts its Access BPL system on back burner
* +ARRL Foundation contribution to boost ham radio in space
*  Solar Update
*  IN BRIEF:
     This weekend on the radio
     ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration
    +Armed Forces Day Crossband Radio Communications Test Set
     AMSAT announces Dayton Hamvention activities
     FCC posts Amateur Radio enforcement correspondence
     Amateur Radio on display during ITU disaster relief conference
    +Texas radio amateur is among 2007 NOAA Environmental Heroes
     David A. Rosenthal, N6TST, SK

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

===========================================================
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<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>;
===========================================================

==>ARRL FINDS WELCOME NEWS IN FCC "SMART RADIO" ORDER

In a recent Memorandum Opinion and Order (MO&O)
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-66A1.pdf> on
cognitive or "smart radio" systems, the FCC has affirmed its favorable
policy toward the regulation of amateur software defined radios (SDRs). A
cognitive radio system is an SDR that can adapt its operating parameters by
interacting with its RF environment. The FCC's April 20 MO&O was in response
to petitions seeking clarification of the Commission's March 2005 Report and
Order (R&O) in ET Docket 03-108. In that proceeding the agency declined to
adopt any new regulations for cognitive Amateur Radio transceivers or for
digital-to-analog (D/A) converters. ARRL Chief Technology Officer Paul
Rinaldo, W4RI, says the April MO&O indicates that the FCC intends to treat
Amateur Radio SDRs the same as any other Amateur Radio equipment.

"This is welcome news from the FCC as it clarifies the matter of
certification of amateur equipment," Rinaldo remarked. "It applies not only
to terrestrial amateur equipment but also to amateur satellites, which
increasingly are using SDR in their designs."

AMSAT-NA has announced it's revamped the design of its Project Eagle
satellite to take maximum advantage of software defined transponder (SDX)
technology.

The "cognitive radio" proceeding is emblematic of the FCC's ongoing struggle
to address thorny regulatory issues to keep pace with cutting-edge
technology. In its 2005 R&O, the FCC concluded that neither software
programmable amateur transceivers nor high-speed D/A converters "present any
significantly greater risk of interference to authorized radio services"
than conventional hardware radios.

April's MO&O was in response to petitions from Marcus Spectrum Solutions
(MSS), owned by Mike Marcus, N3JMM, a former FCC staffer and a member of the
ARRL Software Defined Radio Technology Working Group, and from Cisco
Systems. While the League was satisfied that the FCC's 2005 R&O had exempted
Amateur Radio SDRs from its certification requirement, MSS felt the Order
was ambiguous and sought further assurances.

In response, the FCC said it "did not intend to impose any new certification
requirements for Amateur Radio equipment" in its 2005 R&O, including SDR
equipment that may be modified by someone other than the manufacturer. The
Commission noted, however, that external RF amplifiers operating below 144
MHz and marketed for amateur use "will continue to require certification
before they can be marketed."

MSS also requested a Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making with respect to
digital-to-analog (D/A) devices. Marcus predicted that if high-power,
high-speed D/A converters with antenna-like connectors ever became readily
available, it could bypass the entire FCC equipment certification program
and open the door to D/A-equipped computers capable of operating on any
frequency. The FCC declined to act on Marcus's request, saying MSS did not
"demonstrate any current need for regulation of D/A converters."

The FCC reiterated that it "may revisit the issue of the certification of
amateur equipment with software modifiable features in the future, if misuse
of such devices results in significant interference to authorized spectrum
users."

ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, expressed confidence that it would
not prove necessary for the FCC to revisit the issue, however, "as no misuse
of amateur SDR technology is anticipated." For the FCC to impose any
limitations on amateur SDR equipment "would be contrary to the goals
enunciated for the Amateur Radio Service in §97.1 of the FCC's rules," he
added.

Cisco had asked the FCC to revise its rules to better specify those classes
of devices that do not require SDR certification. It also wanted the FCC to
establish a policy that software that supports security measures not be made
public if doing so could compromise security or enable illegal operation.

In response, the FCC revised §2.1(c) its rules to state that only radios
with software "designed or expected to be modified by a party other than the
manufacturer" -- such as downloading from the Internet -- and that would
affect frequency range, modulation type, maximum power output or the
circumstances under which the transmitter operates legally, would have to be
certified as SDRs.

The FCC said it anticipates Commission requests for software source code
would be extremely rare. "It would not be burdensome for a manufacturer to
request confidentiality for software source code in the event we request
it," the Commission added.

==>SCARBOROUGH REEF BS7H OPERATION SHUTTING DOWN THIS WEEKEND

If you haven't already snagged BS7H on Scarborough Reef
<http://www.scarboroughreef.com/>, there's precious little time left to put
the world's most-wanted DXCC entity into the log. The BS7H DXpedition has
announced operation will cease by 0000 UTC on May 6. The Daily DX
<http://www.dailydx.com/> reports the BS7H team plans to keep two stations on
20 meters around the clock. Earlier this week, Wolf Harranth, OE1WHC, of
Documentary Archives Radio Communications in Vienna interviewed BS7H team
member James Brooks, 9V1YC, via satellite telephone. Brooks explained that
the team has been operating from wooden platforms mounted atop each of the
reef's four rocks that are exposed during high tide.

"Basically, we're like little birds perched on a small rock in the middle of
the ocean," Brooks told Harranth. "It's a very dangerous reef," he went on
to say. "There's lots of hazards. There's rain, there's wind, there's
lightning, there's piracy."

The coral is also very sharp, and most of the team members have suffered
cuts and scrapes. Changing shifts three times a day has been difficult and
time consuming, and Brooks says the individual stations have barely been
able to see each other during daylight.

Brooks said the DXpedition team was visited by several fishermen from the
Philippines who asked for fuel and water. Visit the Dokufunk Web site
<http://www.dokufunk.org/index.php?ID=2094#A2094> and click on the "BS7H
Scarborough Reef 2007 -- Interview" link. The interview also is available
from the BS7H DXpedition Web site.

The most difficult path from BS7H has been to the US Northeast, although
many stations have been successful in the past few days in working the
DXpedition on 30, 20 and 17 meters, and signals have been reasonably strong.
Not everyone was thrilled with the extremely large pileups, however. On 20
meter SSB, the pileups often extended 50 kHz or more up the band from the
BS7H transmitting frequency and interfered with other activity.

Stations trying to work BS7H should exercise courtesy and make sure they
have a clear frequency before transmitting, to avoid interfering with
ongoing communications unrelated to the DXpedition.

Judging from anecdotal information, stations in the Eastern US should start
listening around 1100 UTC. One station in Florida reported hearing BS7H on
20 meter CW from 1130 until 1630 UTC, The Daily DX reported. Brooks
explained to Harranth that Europe, Japan and Oceania are easy to work most
any time of the day, however.

The first QSO was made on April 29. As of 1400 on May 2, BS7H was operating
four stations from four separate rocks, with two stations dedicated to 20
meters. All stations now are running 800 W, and activity has been on 10
through 40 meters. Substantial QRN on 40 and 30 has prevented the operators
from hearing most stateside signals, however.

In part because of high winds, the team by week's end had not launched the
helium-filled weather balloon to support an antenna for 80 and 160 meters.
On the other bands, BS7H used vertical antennas, taking advantage of the
salt water for a ground plane.

==>UPTICK IN ISS CONSTRUCTION TO AFFECT HAM RADIO OPERATIONS FROM SPACE

In a recent Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS)
<http://www.rac.ca/ariss> progress report, ARISS International Chair Frank
Bauer, KA3HDO, addressed some questions regarding ARISS operations and
equipment upgrade and repair. Bauer says that with the successful space
shuttle return to flight, ISS construction again has shifted into high gear.
Delivery and assembly of two new ISS modules now are on the near horizon.
But that activity's not without a downside for Amateur Radio activity from
the ISS.

"If all goes well, the new European Columbus module and Japanese Kibo module
will be installed on the ISS in the next 12 months," Bauer told the ARISS
team. "This substantial workload on the crew is impacting ARISS operations
directly."

Bauer explained that the launch of any new or replacement ham radio gear or
computers to support ARISS operations "has been significantly curtailed due
to the extremely limited 'upmass' capability." That's NASA's way of saying
the cargo weight limits on construction flights are very tight.

"There are just too many higher priority activities from an international
space agency perspective, and frankly we are a lower priority," he
continued. "The extra workload on the crew has taken its toll on ARISS --
they have had very little extra time for Amateur Radio activities beyond
school contacts."

Bauer concedes that while these developments are "somewhat frustrating" both
to the ham radio community at large and to the ARISS International Team,
ARISS nonetheless is pleased that space station crew members have "been able
to speak so often with youth groups worldwide, piquing their interest in
Amateur Radio, science, technology, engineering and math."

One hoped-for fix during the recent flight of civilian space traveler
Charles Simonyi, KE7KDP, was that Simonyi would be able to restore the
Kenwood D700 ARISS Phase 2 transceiver to full functionality after it was
inadvertently reprogrammed during Expedition 13. That has kept the packet
system off the air.

"The ARISS team worked diligently with the Simonyi team to get Charles
licensed, trained, and prepared to perform the Kenwood reprogramming," Bauer
explained. "Unfortunately, the ARISS team hit a major hurdle a few weeks
before Charles's launch."

Bauer said ARISS learned at the eleventh hour that additional software
certification would be required to allow Simonyi to reprogram software to be
used on the ISS computers.

"Through heroic efforts by the team, final software certification was
successfully completed," Bauer reported this week. "Unfortunately, this was
completed only a few days before Charles' return from space." As a result,
there was not enough time for Simonyi to reprogram the D700.

"This last minute hiccup in software certification was not predictable,"
Bauer allowed, "so there was no way the ARISS team could have better
prepared for Charles' flight."

Bauer says that at this point, it appears that reprogramming the D700 to get
it back to its normal ARISS configuration "will require a substantial,
concerted effort with full cooperation from our international colleagues and
the Russian and US space agencies." This means identifying, purchasing (if
necessary), certifying, testing and flying the components necessary to
ensure the reprogramming is successful, he pointed out.

Given the challenge of weight restrictions on shuttle payloads devoted to
transporting construction materials, Bauer said, the process "will likely
take several months to accomplish, as the team will have to begin from
square one."

ARISS meanwhile is looking into some partial, temporary workarounds. In the
near term, ARISS will request the crew do some investigative analysis of the
Phase 2 station. "This will enable the ARISS team to determine if the radio
can be partially restored to provide some of the unattended operations that
it once provided," Bauer said. "With Charles's successful landing, we have
started down this new path."

Despite the setbacks, Bauer vowed that ARISS will continue working
aggressively on the issue. "While our plans to have Charles reprogram the
radio were thwarted, we were happy that he could speak to so many hams
around the world during his short stay, and capture the imagination of
students around the globe," he said.

==>FCC TERMINATES HEARING, DENIES APPLICATION IN "HAM LICENSE HIJACKING"
CASE

The FCC has terminated with prejudice a hearing proceeding involving a case
of apparent ham radio identity theft. The FCC has said its evidence suggests
that Joseph W. Hartmann Jr of Lansing, Michigan, "intentionally submitted
fraudulent administrative updates" to obtain the privileges associated with
the General class license of a Delaware radio amateur with a very similar
name. In a Memorandum Opinion and Order (MO&O) released March 23
<http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_docume
nt=6518915438>, the FCC further ruled to dismiss with prejudice Hartmann's
pending new Amateur Radio license application, which he filed after the FCC
questioned his attempts to change the Delaware ham's record in the Universal
Licensing System (ULS). After several apparently unsuccessful attempts to
deliver a Hearing Designation Order (HDO) to Hartmann and even affording him
more time to file a written appearance, Hartmann sent Presiding
Administrative Law Judge Arthur I. Steinberg three identical e-mail
messages.

"Mr Steinberg I am writing you in regards to this letter. I do not have the
resources to obtain legal counsel for this hearing nor have the resources
for driving to hearing in Washington.D.C," the FCC quoted Hartmann, noting
that capitalization, punctuation, spelling and spacing were reproduced as
they appeared in Hartmann's e-mails. "is there another way we can please
have a phone conference in regards to this matter. please write back with
your reply."

Several pieces of Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested to Hartmann came
back to the Commission as unclaimed, the FCC recounted in its March MO&O.
"Interestingly, neither of the regular First Class Mail envelopes sent to Mr
Hartmann's Lansing, Michigan, addresses has been returned," the Commission
noted.

The FCC had put Hartmann's January 2006 application for an Amateur Radio
license on hold while it was looking into why he'd filed a half-dozen
administrative updates during 2005 seeking to change the name and address of
Joseph V. Hartman Sr, K3GUX, of Oceanview, Delaware, to his own name and
address.

In its March MO&O, the FCC declined to accept Hartmann's e-mails to Judge
Steinberg as a proper written appearance, because he did not file in
accordance with FCC rules. Consequently the Commission dismissed the hearing
proceeding and Hartmann's pending Amateur Radio application with prejudice
"for failure to prosecute."

The FCC had scheduled a hearing on Hartmann's January 2006 Amateur Radio
license application after deciding that his alleged actions had raised "a
substantial and material question of fact as to whether he possesses the
requisite character qualifications to be a Commission licensee." In its
December 2006 HDO, the Commission said Hartmann's repeated attempts to alter
licensee information for the call sign K3GUX from Joseph V. Hartman Sr's
name and address to his own name and address also raised "substantial and
material questions of fact as to whether Hartmann Jr made false
certifications, misrepresented facts to the Commission, and/or demonstrated
a lack of candor."

==>MOTOROLA SUSPENDS POWERLINE LV BPL DEVELOPMENT

Less than two years after announcing its Powerline LV Access BPL product,
Motorola has decided to suspend product development and to devote its
resources to more promising markets, industry sources say. Motorola
reportedly has decided to focus on a product called Powerline MU, which is
for use within multiple-unit dwellings. The decision to stop work on its
Access BPL product reflects declining interest in residential broadband
service delivery among utilities coupled with more immediate demand for
in-building BPL systems. Motorola has indicated that it's not scrapping
Powerline LV altogether, however.

Powerline LV united Motorola's Canopy wireless broadband Internet platform
with enhanced ham band-notching HomePlug technology, drastically reducing
BPL interference potential by restricting the application of high-frequency
RF to the low-voltage side of the power transformers serving customers'
homes, not the medium-voltage wires that line many residential streets. As a
result, Powerline LV avoided the system architecture that poses the greatest
risk of BPL interference to radio communication -- radiation from the
medium-voltage power lines.

ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, expressed appreciation for
Motorola's approach to the thorny issue of radio interference from BPL
systems. In an effort to minimize interference, particularly to the Amateur
Radio bands, Motorola designed its Powerline LV system in close cooperation
with the League's technical staff, Sumner noted. A test stand Access BPL
system was in operation briefly at ARRL Headquarters. Measurements and
subjective listening tests on the ham bands showed that Powerline LV was
Amateur Radio-friendly.

"As one would expect from a company with such a distinguished record in the
field of radio communication, Motorola acknowledged at the outset the
seriousness of the interference problem," he said. "Motorola's system
architecture influenced other vendors, raised industry awareness of the
interference issue, and demonstrated the value of working with the ARRL to
find positive solutions."

==>ARRL FOUNDATION PROVIDES SECOND DONATION TO ARISS COLUMBUS PROJECT

The ARRL Foundation has granted an additional $2000 toward the cost of
constructing and installing Amateur Radio antennas and equipment on the
International Space Station's Columbus module, set to launch later this
year. The ARRL Foundation earlier contributed $5000 to the project.

Columbus will house an additional Amateur Radio station, including the first
digital Amateur Radio TV (DATV) station in space as well as a ham radio
transponder. Funding to finish and install ham radio antennas on the
European Space Agency (ESA)-built laboratory module has been uncertain,
however.

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Vice Chairman
Gaston Bertels, ON4WF, says donations from various sources covered a payment
of 9000 Euros -- approximately $12,000 -- in March. A second payment is due
this fall. Bertels says the IARU Region 1 Executive Committee also donated
2000 Euro to the project.

The antennas have been manufactured and will be tested for acceptance at the
European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) before delivery to
Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, where a silicon dioxide coating
will be applied before the antennas are installed on the Columbus module,
Bertels explained.

"Their development and manufacturing cost is now nearly covered, but not yet
the cost of certification tests," Bertels told ARRL.

Other donations have come from AMSAT-NA and AMSAT-UK, among other
organizations, as well as from many individual donors.

The yet-to-be-built Columbus Amateur Radio gear will make it possible for
ARISS to establish wideband and video operations for the first time and
allow continuous transponder operation.

AMSAT-Belgium has set up a bank account to receive additional donations for
the Columbus project. Details are on the ARISS-EU Columbus Web page
<http://www.ariss-eu.org/columbus.htm>. Click the "Donate" button in the
left column.

==>SOLAR UPDATE

Solar sage Tad "Sunspot Baby" Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington, reports: The
string of zero sunspot days ended Wednesday, April 25, and -- relative to
the bottom of the solar cycle -- sunspot numbers over the past few days have
been quite an improvement. Average daily sunspot number jumped from the
previous week by 23 points to 25.1, and average solar flux increased over 14
points to 84.8.

This modest increase in sunspot activity may noticeably improve propagation
compared to weeks with no sunspots.

For the near term, the US Air Force Space Weather Operation predicts a
planetary A index of 5 for May 4-5, 8 for May 6-7 and 5 again for May 8-18,
so the expectation is for quiet geomagnetic conditions. Based on the last
period of higher geomagnetic activity, April 28-29, the 27.5 day solar
rotation probably is what led to a prediction of 25 for the planetary A
index on May 25.

Geophysical Institute Prague predicts quiet geomagnetic conditions for May
4, quiet to unsettled on May 5, unsettled May 6-7, and quiet to unsettled
again on May 8-9.

Sunspot numbers for April 26 through May 2 were 17, 18, 20, 18, 38, 32 and
33, with a mean of 25.1. The 10.7 cm flux was 80.5, 82.7 84.9, 84.8, 87,
86.3, and 87.4, with a mean of 84.8. Estimated planetary A indices were 6,
16, 26, 23, 20, 8 and 3, with a mean of 14.6. Estimated mid-latitude A
indices were 4, 10, 20, 16, 13, 5 and 1, with a mean of 9.9.

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

__________________________________

==>IN BRIEF:

* This weekend on the radio: The New England QSO Party, the MARAC County
Hunter Contest (CW), the 10-10 International Spring Contest (CW), the
Microwave Spring Sprint, the Seventh Call Area QSO Party, the NA High-Speed
Meteor Scatter Spring Rally, the US IPARC Annual Contest (CW and SSB), the
Portuguese Navy Day Contest (CW/SSB and PSK31), the Indiana QSO Party and
the ARI International DX Contest are the weekend of May 5-6. The RSGB
80-Meter Club Championship (SSB) is May 7. The ARS Spartan Sprint is May 8.
The SKCC Sprint is May 9. The NCCC Sprint Ladder is May 11. The
Military/Amateur Radio Communications Tests to celebrate Armed Forces Day
(see below) and the Nevada Mustang Roundup are May 12. The SBMS 2 GHz and Up
WW Club Contest, the VK/Trans-Tasman 80-Meter Contest (phone), the CQ-M
International DX Contest, the VOLTA WW RTTY Contest, the Mid-Atlantic QSO
Party, the FISTS Spring Sprint, the EACW International Contest, the 50 MHz
Spring Sprint are the May 12-13 weekend. The RSGB 80-Meter Club Championship
(Data) is May 16. The NAQCC Straight Key/Bug Sprint and the QRP Minimal Art
Session are May 17. The NCCC Sprint Ladder is May 18. 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, May 22, for these ARRL
Certification and Continuing Education (CCE) online courses beginning Friday
June 1: The ARRL Ham Radio License Course (EC-010), 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). These courses will also open for registration
Friday, May 18, for classes beginning Friday, July 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>;.

* Armed Forces Day Crossband Radio Communications Test Set: The US Army, Air
Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard will co-sponsor the annual
military/Amateur Radio Communications Tests to celebrate the 57th Armed
Forces Day. Although Armed Forces Day falls on Saturday, May 19, the 2007
Armed Forces Day Military/Amateur Crossband Communications Test will take
place a week earlier, on Saturday, May 12, to avoid conflicting with the
Dayton Hamvention May 18-20. The annual celebration features military
station-to-amateur station crossband tests on SSB and copying the Secretary
of Defense message via digital modes. Full details on participating
stations, times and frequencies are available on the Army MARS Headquarters
Web site <http://www.netcom.army.mil/mars/docs/ARMEDFORCESDAYFinal.doc>.

* AMSAT announces Dayton Hamvention activities: AMSAT-NA invites Amateur
Radio satellite enthusiasts to its events and activities during Dayton
Hamvention 2007 <http://www.hamvention.org/>. A pre-Hamvention pizza party
takes place Thursday, May 17, 6:30-10 PM, at Marion's Piazza, 1320 North
Fairfield Road. The AMSAT booth will be open Friday, May 18, 9 AM-6 PM,
Saturday, May 19, 8 AM-5 PM, and Sunday, May 20, 8 AM-1 PM, Eagle area with
operating components, and outdoor satellite demonstrations; the AMSAT Forum
is Friday, May 18, 11:15-2 PM in Room 1, Hara Arena; the IMAX movie "Space
Station" is Friday, May 18, 5-5:45 PM at the Air Force Museum; the
AMSAT/TAPR banquet is Friday, May 18, 6-10 PM, at the Air Force Museum.
AMSAT booth volunteers are welcome. Contact Gould Smith, WA4SXM
<wa4sxm@amsat.org>;, if you can help, indicating the hours you're available.
AMSAT needs volunteers for two-hour shifts Friday, Saturday and Sunday as
well as volunteers to set up Thursday afternoon and tear down Sunday
afternoon. The "AMSAT at the 2007 Dayton Hamvention" Web page
<http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/hamvention/Dayton2007.php> has additional
information and directions. -- AMSAT News Service

* FCC posts Amateur Radio enforcement correspondence: The FCC has posted new
Amateur Radio enforcement correspondence on its "Amateur Radio Service
Enforcement Actions" page
<http://www.fcc.gov/eb/AmateurActions/Welcome.html>. Special Counsel in the
FCC Spectrum Enforcement Division Riley Hollingsworth sent a Warning Notice
to Anthony M. Amato, KR4UQ; a Warning Notice and request for station
information to Edib Zildzo, K2AAW; and a Warning Notice and request for
station information to John C. Kimbrough, WR3S. The FCC also has posted a
Memorandum Opinion and Order (MO&O) in the case of Joseph W. Hartmann Jr,
and a Forfeiture Order (NoF) to Parker Construction Inc. Direct all
questions concerning the Amateur Radio Service Enforcement Actions Web
postings via e-mail only to Riley Hollingsworth <fccham@fcc.gov>; in the FCC
Spectrum Enforcement Division.

* Amateur Radio on display during ITU disaster relief conference: Egypt
Amateur Radio Assembly (EARA) <http://www.qsl.net/egyptham> operators
attending an International Telecommunication Union (ITU) joint disaster
relief and information technology conference in mid-April logged more than
1000 contacts from special event station SU8DRM (QSL via SU1KM). The
Regional Joint Conference on Disaster Relief and Management (DRM) --
International Cooperation and Role of Information and Communication
Technology (ICT) took place April 14-17 in Alexandria, Egypt. The
conference's primary objective was to promote awareness of the important
role that Amateur Radio plays in disaster relief communications. In his
presentation, "Amateur Radio as a First Aid and a Tool of Emergency
Communications," International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Region 1 EmComm
Coordinator Seppo Sisättö, OH1VR, told the gathering that World
Radiocommunication Conference 2007 this fall could serve to augment
emergency communication opportunities for the Amateur Radio Service if there
are proposals to establish a 300 kHz worldwide Amateur Radio allocation on
40 meters and a worldwide 60-meter band. EARA said the special event
operation introduced many conference delegates to Amateur Radio and what it
has to offer in disaster relief situations.

* Texas radio amateur is among 2007 NOAA Environmental Heroes: Charlie
Campbell, KC5EZZ, of San Angelo, Texas, was among ten 2007 National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Environmental Heroes. NOAA says
Campbell organized a repeater network to transmit "timely severe weather
reports from NOAA National Weather Service SKYWARN-trained storm spotters to
cover longer distances without degradation." The annual Environmental Hero
awards commemorate Earth Day by recognizing individuals and organizations
that volunteer their time to help NOAA carry out its mission. Meteorologists
at the San Angelo National Weather Service office nominated Campbell for the
national award, presented April 20 in Washington, DC. NWS Warning and
Coordination Meteorologist Hector Guerrero, KC5BRB, also organized a
gathering in San Angelo to recognize Campbell.

* David A. Rosenthal, N6TST, SK: QST author, DXpeditioner and photographer
David Rosenthal, N6TST, of Ridgecrest, California, died March 16 after a
long illness. He was 58 and an ARRL member. Between 1989 and 2002, Rosenthal
contributed to QST on several occasions. He received the February 2006 QST
Cover Plaque Award for his article, "Polar Bear Portable." During his
military career, Rosenthal served as a combat helicopter pilot and as a
photojournalist. During the Vietnam War, he earned two Distinguished Flying
crosses and a Purple Heart. He worked for more than 30 years at China Lake
Naval Weapons Station. Earlier, he worked an engineer for Hewlett-Packard.
He also was a science reporter for CNN and a science correspondent for Radio
Nederland. A world traveler, his photographs appeared in several regional
and national publications, and he documented his adventures and
accomplishments on his Web site <http://www.ridgenet.net/~n6tst>. A memorial
service was held in March. Survivors include his wife Donna, KF6ZVE. The
family has invited memorial donations to the Wiseman Cancer Research
Foundation, 201 S Alvarado St, Suite 321, Los Angeles, CA 90057.

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

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==>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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