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ARRL Letter

 

***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 27, No. 2
January 18, 2008
***************

IN THIS EDITION:

* + ARRL Board of Directors Annual Meeting this Weekend 
* + Motorola Completes Tender Offer for Yaesu's Parent Company 
* + "The Doctor Is IN" the ARRL Letter 
* + Tune In for the ARRL January VHF Sweepstakes this Weekend 
* + Order Deadline Approaching for Clean Sweep Mugs and Pins 
* + FCC Enforcement Actions 
*  Solar Update
*  IN BRIEF: 
      This Weekend on the Radio
      ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration
    + Hiram Percy Maxim II Passes Away at 72 
    + The 2007 ARRL Periodicals on CD-ROM Now Shipping 
      Stu Leland, W1JEC (SK) 
      Johnny Grant, WB6MJV (SK) 
      Lunar Echo Experiment looking for Amateur Radio Participants

+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: S. Khrystyne Keane,
<k1sfa@arrl.org>;
===========================================================

==> ARRL BOARD OF DIRECTORS ANNUAL MEETING THIS WEEKEND 

The ARRL Board of Directors holds their Annual January meeting today and
tomorrow in Houston, Texas. The two-day meeting was preceded by meetings
of the Administration and Finance Committee and the Programs and
Services Committee on January 17. According to Board Secretary David
Sumner, K1ZZ, "Much of what we do at a Board meeting has to do with
receiving and considering recommendations from committees, including in
this case the approval of the operational plan for 2008." 

One of the items on this meeting's agenda is the election of ARRL
officers and Director members of the Executive Committee. The offices of
President, First Vice President and Vice President, Executive Vice
President, Chief Financial Officer, International Vice President,
Secretary and Treasurer are elected by the Directors each even-numbered
year; members of the Executive Committee are selected by the Directors
to serve one-year terms. Joel Harrison, W5ZN, is completing his first
term as ARRL President.

The ARRL President appoints Board members to various committees -- among
them Administration and Finance, Programs and Services, and Ethics and
Elections -- at the January meeting. Some committees are led by Board
members, but have members comprised of ARRL members, such as Legal
Defense & Assistance, Electromagnetic Compatibility, Bandplanning and
the Historical Committees; the chairmen of these committees, as well as
their members, are also appointed by the ARRL President.

Other committees are led by ARRL members appointed by the President with
respect to their expertise in the committee's area: Public Relations, RF
Safety, DX Advisory, Contest Advisory, VHF/UHF Advisory Committees, as
well as the Amateur Radio Direction Finding Coordinator.

The President of the Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) Dave Goodwin,
VE3AAQ, is representing his organization at the meeting. The ARRL and
RAC have a long tradition of attending each other's Board meetings.

More information on the January meeting of the ARRL Board of Directors
will be available next week on the ARRL Web site and in the ARRL Letter.

==> MOTOROLA COMPLETES TENDER OFFER FOR YAESU'S PARENT COMPANY

On Wednesday, January 16, Motorola announced that its subsidiary, MI,
Inc, has successfully completed its tender offer to acquire a
controlling interest in Vertex Standard, parent company of Yaesu. The
tender offer period expired on January 15 with approximately 5.4 million
shares tendered and accepted. On November 5, 2007, Motorola launched the
tender offer, in cooperation with Tokogiken (a privately held Japanese
company controlled by Vertex Standard's president and CEO Jun Hasegawa)
with the intention of forming a joint venture to develop and sell Vertex
Standard products and develop select Motorola products. All regulatory
clearances required for the completion of the transaction have been
obtained. 

Starting on January 22, Motorola will have a total ownership stake of
approximately 78 percent of Vertex Standard on a fully diluted basis
(excluding certain stock acquisition rights that are scheduled to be
cancelled), following the settlement of the tender offer for
approximately 12 billion Yen (almost $112 million US dollars) in cash.
Through a subsequent restructuring process, Motorola will own 80 percent
of Vertex Standard, while Tokogiken will retain a 20 percent stake. 

"We are extremely pleased to team with Motorola, a global technology
leader that has been a leading provider and pioneer in 2-way radio
communication solutions," Hasegawa said. "With Motorola, Vertex Standard
will be stronger and better positioned to deliver new and innovative
2-way radio solutions for professionals and consumers." 

Dennis Motschenbacher, K7BV, Yaesu's Executive Vice President for
Amateur Radio Sales in North America, told the ARRL that he sees the
joint venture of Vertex Standard and Motorola as "a very good thing for
Amateur Radio in general and Yaesu customers in particular. I hope our
loyal customers will readily see this business venture for what it is,
an opportunity to make a solid 50-plus year old Yaesu company even
stronger and more formidable than is already the case. There is
absolutely no reason to have the slightest concern about equipment
warranties and the continuation of support for our products. I am really
excited to see what the joint engineering capabilities of these two huge
communications companies will bring in the way of new technology
advancement for the Amateur Radio Service." 

Motschenbacher continued: "There is a unique aspect of business that
comes with Amateur Radio. It's not just about a radio. It's the
relationship between the ham, the radio itself and the company that
makes that radio. This relationship in Amateur Radio is far different
than it is, say, between a buyer of a HDTV, the TV and the TV
manufacturer. The relationship in Amateur Radio is far more personal and
'bonding,' per se. I am certain that we will do our utmost to ensure
that Motorola understands this delicate bond. Since Motorola is leaving
the day-to-day management of Yaesu in the hands of my boss, Jun
Hasegawa, President of Vertex Standard, we can expect our longtime
relationship with hams to remain intact." 

According to Motorola, "[t]he joint venture is expected to expand and
develop a comprehensive suite of products to address the rapidly growing
demand for 2-way radio solutions. Vertex Standard's strength in the
amateur, marine and airband (avionics) segments provides Motorola with
access to new business opportunities. In addition, Vertex Standard's
solutions are highly complementary with Motorola's products and add
greater depth and breadth to Motorola's Government and Public Safety
business. The venture also provides additional engineering talent for
Motorola." 

Following the restructuring, which will be implemented after the
settlement of the tender offer, Vertex Standard will be de-listed from
the JASDAQ. The joint venture company will continue to be called "Vertex
Standard Co, Ltd" and will become a subsidiary of Motorola, with
headquarters in Tokyo. 

==> "THE DOCTOR IS IN" THE ARRL LETTER 

This week, ARRL Letter readers are in luck! The ARRL's very own Doctor,
author of the popular QST column "The Doctor Is IN," answers a question
from his mailbag:

Question -- Wilber Warke, N9RGE, of Lebanon, Illinois, asks: What
happens to a dipole or random wire antenna if end-insulators are not
used? Does it change the radiation pattern? What if the ends without
insulators are left hanging down? Does that change the radiation from
horizontal to vertical?

The Doctor Answers -- Wilbur, the insulators themselves don't change
antenna performance. The insulators are designed to provide a high
impedance path between the end of the antenna, usually a high voltage
point, and the support structure. If the support is metal, without an
insulator the current from the antenna will continue to the support and
that will become part of the antenna. The resulting performance will
depend on the size and shape of the support and how solid a connection
there is between the antenna and the support -- but often it will be a
poor and likely intermittent connection -- usually a recipe for a number
of different problems. In the more typical case of a tree or other
wooden structure, the impedance will be relatively high and it shouldn't
matter too much until it gets wet -- then you could easily have a very
unpredictable situation and likely be sending much of your power into
warming up the tree. Very dry tree branches also introduce the risk of
fire, especially if high power is used.


With respect to "dangling ends," they don't need insulators if they will
stay dangling in space. Whatever is holding up the antenna just before
the dangle suffers as above. Unfortunately, if the dangling ends aren't
secured, they have a tendency to get blown around and can get wrapped
around the antenna or other nearby objects. If a "random wire" has both
horizontal and vertical segments, each will radiate depending on the
magnitude of the current in each segment -- this generally changes from
band to band. Sometimes this can be used to good advantage. 

In the case of a balanced half-wave dipole, if both ends are dangling
the same amount, the vertical radiation will cancel in the direction of
the main horizontal radiation lobe. There will be a small amount of
vertical radiation, because the ends have less current than the center,
in the direction of the dipole ends.

Antenna insulators are not expensive, so why not use them just to be
safe. If you don't have a local source, consider making your own from
scrap PVC pipe, or couplings. Just drill a hole through both sides at
each end, de burr the holes and use them as insulators -- they are
pretty close to free.

==> TUNE IN FOR THE ARRL JANUARY VHF SWEEPSTAKES THIS WEEKEND 

Have you ever wondered how far you can communicate on VHF or UHF
frequencies? This weekend gives you the chance to find out, during the
ARRL January VHF Sweepstakes. This contest gives amateurs throughout the
United States and Canada the opportunity to work stations on 6 meters
and up. All licensed amateurs in the United States have privileges above
6 meters, and many of the new radios being sold today have at least one
VHF band built in. If you've never used the VHF or UHF bands on your rig
before, this is a great opportunity to explore new territory in Amateur
Radio. When conditions are good, amateurs are able to communicate up to
several hundred miles on VHF and UHF frequencies.

Most of the activity will be on SSB or CW, with horizontally-polarized
antennas. A dipole for 6 meters is only about 9 feet long, which is an
easy construction project. Activity will be between 50.125-50.200 MHz
for USB, and 50.085-50.100 MHz for CW. Between 50.100-50.125 is a "DX
Window"; US stations should avoid transmitting there unless calling a DX
station.

If you live in an urban area, you can also try FM simplex on 2 meters.
Many VHF contesters will be looking for extra contacts in the FM simplex
portion of the band.

The contest exchange is your grid square. Grid squares are geographic
areas two degrees of longitude wide by 1 degree of latitude high. For
more information on grid squares and how to determine what grid you are
in, you can visit
<http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/grid-squares/grid.html>. 

The 2008 ARRL January VHF Sweepstakes begins at 1900 UTC Saturday,
January 19, and ends at 0400 UTC Monday, January 21. You can find
complete rules on the Contest section of the ARRL Web site
<www.arrl.org/contests>. Get active on VHF SSB and CW and hear what
you've been missing!

==> ORDER DEADLINE APPROACHING FOR CLEAN SWEEP MUGS AND PINS

They're new! They're red! They can hold your favorite beverage without
leaking! And they're a collectible trophy of a great accomplishment:
Getting a "Clean Sweep" in the 2007 ARRL Phone or CW Sweepstakes. 

ARRL Contest Branch Manager Sean Kutzko, KX9X, said, "If you worked all
80 ARRL/RAC Sections to earn a Clean Sweep -- making confirmed contact
with each of the 80 sections -- in the 2007 ARRL Sweepstakes, either
Phone or CW, your time to order a mug commemorating your achievement is
running out. To order a mug, you must submit proof of working all 80
sections (a copy of your Sweepstakes summary sheet or a printout of the
first page of your electronically submitted Cabrillo log file will
suffice), along with a check for $12 per mug." 

Kutzko also said that commemorative pins are available for working 100
QSOs in either the Phone or CW Sweepstakes at $6 per pin (CW and Phone
Sweepstakes pins are separate items). Submit proof of making 100 or more
QSOs along with your check. 

Mail your summary sheets along with your check to: ARRL, 225 Main St,
Newington, CT 06111, ATTN: Contest Branch -- SS Mugs and Pins 

Please write how many mugs and/or pins you are ordering in the "memo"
area of your check. Orders must be postmarked no later than January 31,
2008. 

==> FCC ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS 

On January 15, Riley Hollingsworth, Special Counsel in the FCC's
Enforcement Bureau, issued a Warning Notice to David O. Castle,
ex-WA9KJI, of Evansville, Indiana. Castle's application to renew his
Amateur Radio license was "denied with prejudice" by an Administrative
Law Judge in August 2007. 

The current complaint states that "Monitoring information before the
Commission indicates that you have been operating portable radio
transmitting equipment on Two Meters in order to interfere with a local
linked repeater system on 146.835/146.250, and that you have provided a
portable unit for others to use in the same manner. You have no
authority to operate Amateur radio transmitting equipment on any
frequency. Such operation is a violation of Section 301 of the
Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. Section 301, and
carries criminal penalties including monetary forfeiture (fine) and
prison. Monetary forfeitures normally range from $7,500 to $10,000." 

==>SOLAR UPDATE

Tad "Give Me the Splendid Silent Sun with All His Beams Full-dazzling"
Cook, K7RA, this week reports: We've seen another seven days with no
sunspots. After observing the first sunspot of Solar Cycle 24, we hope
to see more and more of these, signaling the beginning of the next
sunspot cycle and the end of Solar Cycle 23. So what do conditions look
like over the next week? Expect quiet geomagnetic conditions through the
end of this month, with the next geomagnetic disturbance centered on
February 1. We may see sunspots return January 28 through February 3.
Geophysical Institute Prague predicts quiet to unsettled conditions
January 18-19 and quiet conditions January 20-24. Sunspot numbers for
January 10 through 16 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 and 0 with a mean of 0. The
10.7 cm flux was 75.7, 76, 75.7, 75.3, 75.6, 73.7 and 72.9 with a mean
of 75. Estimated planetary A indices were 3, 2, 9, 11, 16, 8 and 11 with
a mean of 8.6. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 2, 2, 4, 9, 14, 7
and 9, with a mean of 6.7. For more information concerning radio
propagation, visit the ARRL Technical Information Service Propagation
page <http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html>. To read this
week's Solar Report in its entirety, check out the W1AW Propagation
Bulletin page <http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/>. 

__________________________________

==>IN BRIEF:

* This Weekend on the Radio: This weekend, check out the ARRL January
VHF Sweepstakes January 19-21. The LZ Open Contest is January 19. The UK
DX Contest (RTTY), the Hungarian DX Contest and the North American QSO
Party (SSB) are January 19-20. The Run for the Bacon QRP Contest is on
January 21. Next weekend, the CQ 160 Meter Contest (CW), the REF Contest
(CW), the BARTG RTTY Sprint, the UBA DX Contest (SSB) and the SPAR
Winter Field Day are all January 26-27. See the ARRL Contest Branch page
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/>, the ARRL Contester's Rate Sheet
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/rate-sheet/> and the WA7BNM Contest
Calendar <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html> for more
info.

* ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration: Registration remains
open through Sunday, February 3 for these online courses beginning on
Friday, February 15: Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level 2
(EC-002); Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level 3 (EC-003R2);
Antenna Modeling (EC-004); HF Digital Communications (EC-005); VHF/UHF
-- Life Beyond the Repeater (EC-008), and Radio Frequency Propagation
(EC-011). Each online course has been developed in segments -- learning
units with objectives, informative text, student activities and quizzes.
Courses are interactive, and some include direct communications with a
Mentor/Instructor. Students register for a particular session that may
be 8, 12 or 16 weeks (depending on the course) and they may access the
course at any time of day during the course period, completing lessons
and activities at times convenient for their personal schedule. Mentors
assist students by answering questions, reviewing assignments and
activities, as well as providing helpful feedback. Interaction with
mentors is conducted through e-mail; there is no appointed time the
student must be present -- allowing complete flexibility for the student
to work when and where it is convenient. To learn more, visit the CCE
Course Listing page <http://www.arrl.org/cce/courses.html> or contact
the Continuing Education Program Coordinator <cce@arrl.org>;.

* Hiram Percy Maxim II Passes Away at 72: The grandson of ARRL
co-founder Hiram Percy Maxim, W1AW, died at home in Lyme, Connecticut
January 12 after a lengthy battle with prostate cancer. Hiram Percy
Maxim II -- called HPM just like his grandfather -- was 72. Not a ham,
Maxim told the Newington Amateur Radio League at an October 2002 meeting
that he doesn't feel he shares the inventive talents of his grandfather
and great-grandfather, who held many patents between them; Maxim's
great-grandfather invented the machine gun. He told the club audience
that his grandfather took on radio and filmmaking as diversions from
inventing -- an endeavor he considered extremely hard work. He also
thought of Amateur Radio as a means to "bring together" individuals from
distant locations and believed that communication was a key to better
understanding other people and cultures. The elder Maxim -- often
referred to as "The Old Man," or "TOM" -- was an amateur film buff, and
a highlight of his grandson's 2002 presentation was a short 16 mm film
that showed HPM and some of his friends working, relaxing and frolicking
on the grounds of the family's summer home in Lyme, Connecticut, where
HPM II lived until his death. His son, Merritt Maxim, told the ARRL,
"Even though he didn't have an Amateur Radio license, he was aware of
the importance of his family's role in founding the League. Through his
father, my grandfather -- an active engineer -- he continued to maintain
an interest in all things mechanical." A memorial service will be held
at the Lyme Public Hall at 11 AM on Monday, January 21. Burial will be
private. Memorial contributions may be made to the Lyme Public Hall
Association, 249 Hamburg Rd, Lyme, CT 06371 

* The 2007 ARRL Periodicals on CD-ROM Now Shipping: The 2007 ARRL
Periodicals on CD-ROM includes all 2007 issues of QST, NCJ and QEX --
every word and photo published throughout the year is included. Search
the full text of every article by entering titles, call signs, names or
any word. See every word, photo (most in color), drawing and table in
technical and general-interest features, columns and product reviews,
plus all advertisements. Print what you see, or copy it into other
applications. The CD also includes Section News and ARRL Contest
Results, including individual scores and Contest Soapbox. System
Requirements: Microsoft Windows and Macintosh systems, using Adobe
Acrobat Reader (included). Get your copy at
<http://www.arrl.org/catalog>. 

* Stu Leland, W1JEC (SK): Former ARRL Assistant Technical Editor Stu
Leland, W1JEC, passed away this summer in Hendersonville, North
Carolina. He was 90. Leland, who worked in the former Technical
Department, came to ARRL HQ in 1976, retiring in 1982. He edited the
"Hints and Kinks" column and QST technical articles every month, as well
as the Hints and Kinks books. Larry Wolfgang, WR1B, QEX Editor,
remembers "When I was hired as an Assistant Technical Editor in June
1981, it was to take over the 'Hints & Kinks' column with Stu Leland's
impending retirement. During my first half year or so at ARRL HQ, he
taught me the ropes of being a technical editor. It's hard to imagine a
kinder, more gentle soul than Stu. He was a great mentor, helping a raw
young editor fit into the Technical Department and teaching me how to
work with the many 'Hints & Kinks' authors who submitted their ideas --
some good and some perhaps not so good!" ARRL Graphic Design Supervisor
Sue Fagan, KB1OKW, remembered Leland fondly: "Stu was one of the
kindest, classiest individuals I had the pleasure to know. We checked in
with each other during the holidays, and my gift was the instant flood
of all the good memories I had of Stu back in the days when he was one
of my beloved Tech Department 'partners.'" Former ARRL colleague Paul
Pagel, N1FB, said, "Stu was a quiet, soft-spoken, gentle man, always
willing to help others and dedicated to ensuring the technical-article
material he was handling for QST was accurate. He had a good knowledge
of antenna theory. He liked operating CW most. He was a fatherly and --
to the younger coworkers -- a grandfatherly image." 

* Johnny Grant, WB6MJV (SK): Johnny Grant, WB6MJV, the "Honorary Mayor
of Hollywood," passed away January 9 in the Hollywood hotel suite he
called home. He was 84. "The city of Los Angeles mourns the loss of one
of its cherished sons, Johnny Grant, the indefatigable mayor of
Hollywood and its greatest icon," Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
said. "Angelenos will always remember Johnny as the heart of Hollywood
Boulevard, the dignified guardian of its gilded prestige and the human
shine behind every one of its stars. Even before he became the official
ambassador of Hollywood, he rose to what he saw as his duty -- to
country and to Hollywood -- to share his energy and enthusiasm on
countless USO trips to combat bases in Vietnam and Korea." He was one of
the original entertainers to make trips overseas to entertain US troops
in the field, making 15 trips to Korea and 14 to Vietnam. He is the lone
recipient of the Bob Hope Combat Entertainer Award from the
International Korean War Veterans Association for his entertainment
tours to the front lines. 

* Lunar Echo Experiment looking for Amateur Radio Participants: The HF
Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) in Alaska and the Long
Wavelength Array (LWA) in New Mexico are planning an additional lunar
echo experiment for January 19-20. Interested radio amateurs are invited
to participate in this experiment by listening for the lunar echoes and
submitting reports. On January 19, listen on 6.7925 MHz from 0500-0600
UTC, and on 7.4075 MHz from 0600-0700 UTC. On January 20, listen on
6.7925 MHz from 0630-0730 UTC, and on 7.4075 MHz from 0730-0830 UTC
(depending on frequency occupancy at the time of operation, it may be
necessary to adjust the frequency slightly). Based on previous
experiments, investigators believe it should be possible to hear the
lunar echoes with a standard communications receiver and a simple 40
meter dipole antenna. The format for the transmissions will follow a
five second cycle beginning on the hour and repeating continuously. The
HAARP transmitter will transmit for the first two seconds. The next
three seconds will be quiet to listen for the lunar echo. Then HAARP
will transmit again for two seconds, repeating the cycle for one hour.
In the second hour, this five second repetitive cycle will be repeated
at a different frequency. All transmissions from HAARP will be CW (no
modulation). Depending on ionospheric conditions, it may or may not be
possible to hear the HAARP transmission directly via skywave
propagation. Since HAARP will not be using any modulation, it will be
necessary to use USB or LSB mode on the receiver to hear HAARP and the
lunar echo. Investigators are interested in receiving signal reports
from radio amateurs who may be able to detect -- or not detect-- the
lunar echo or the transmitted skywave pulse from HAARP. Submit reports
via e-mail <mbreport@haarp.alaska.edu>;, and list your call sign and the
type and location of your receiving equipment and antennas.  --
Information provided by Ed Kennedy, K3NS, HAARP Navy Program Manager

* Crawlie F: 

=========================================================== 
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: S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA,
k1sfa@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
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The ARRL Letter also is available to all, free of charge, from these
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Copyright 2008 American Radio Relay League, Inc.
All Rights Reserved


 

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.

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