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ARRL Letter

 

***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 27, No. 6
February 15, 2008
***************

IN THIS EDITION:

* + Astronauts Work on Columbus Lab on the ISS 
* + New ARRL Volunteer Examiner Manual Now Online 
* + W1HQ Comes "Back to Life" at ARRL HQ 
* + Florida Hams Help Out When NWS Goes Dark 
* + California Ham to Face Administrative Law Judge 
* + FCC Enforcement Actions 
*  Solar Update
*  IN BRIEF: 
      This Weekend on the Radio
      ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration
    + FCC Changes "Lockbox Bank" for Vanity Call Sign Payments 
    + Ducie Island Logs Now Online 
      From the DXCC Desk 
      Notes for Amateurs Visiting Australia 
      Solar Report Contest Winners Announced 
      ARRL Headquarters Closed in Observance of President's Day 

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

==> ASTRONAUTS WORK ON COLUMBUS LAB ON THE ISS 

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station complex are focusing
on getting the new Columbus lab up and running. Columbus, the laboratory
built by the European Space Agency (ESA) and host of two Amateur Radio
on the International Space Station (ARISS) antennas, was launched into
space on February 7 aboard the space shuttle Atlantis, arriving three
days later. According to NASA, Columbus' activation process has been
running a little behind because of computer problems, but flight
directors believe they've fixed the glitch. 

In 2007, the ARISS antennas successfully passed electrical and SWR
tests, with one of the two antennas, Antenna 42, going through a final
test -- a thermal test under vacuum. 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. The
yet-to-be-built Columbus amateur gear will facilitate operation on new
frequencies that will make it possible for ARISS to establish wideband
and video operations for the first time and allow continuous transponder
operation. 

According to ARRL ARISS Program Manager Rosalie White, K1STO, "The
ARISS-Europe Team has been holding meetings to determine what the ARISS
International Team should have for a station in the Columbus module. The
Europeans will need to begin fundraising for the multiple sets of
equipment, such as the on-orbit equipment, the required back-up on-orbit
equipment and the test equipment. Some portions of the equipment system
can be purchased, but much of it would need to be built. Once the team
purchases or builds the equipment, it will need to undergo special
testing for space and getting the equipment certified (probably by ESA)
and finally manifesting the system for launch. All of that will take
many months and help from ARISS volunteers from many countries."

The mission, STS-122, brought seven astronauts to the ISS: Commander
Stephen N. Frick, KD5DZC; Pilot Alan G. Poindexter; Mission Specialist
Rex J. Walheim; Mission Specialist Stanley G. Love; Mission Specialist
Leland D. Melvin; Mission Specialist Hans Schlegel, DG1KIH, of Germany,
and Mission Specialist/Expedition 16 Flight Engineer Leopold Eyharts,
KE5FNO, of France. Flight Engineer Dan Tani, KD5DXE, already on board
the ISS, will depart when Atlantis returns to Earth; Eyharts will stay
behind on the ISS and take his place.

Atlantis will remain at the ISS until February 18; touchdown is set for
February 20, making for a 13-day flight. 

==> NEW ARRL VOLUNTEER EXAMINER MANUAL NOW ONLINE 

The ninth edition of the ARRL VEC/VE Manual
<http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/vemanual/> is now online on the ARRL Web
site. The manual, the most complete source on the Amateur Radio
Volunteer Examiner Program, has everything you need to know in order to
be an ARRL Volunteer Examiner. 

"We're really excited about the new Manual," said ARRL VEC Manager Maria
Somma, AB1FM. "We've put a lot of work into it, taking suggestions from
Volunteer Examiners all over the United States. It's very comprehensive,
yet easy to understand." Somma said the manual is full of new and timely
information, taking into account the licensing rule changes that went
into effect last year.

"One of the biggest changes to the ninth edition is the deletion of all
the procedures having to do with Morse code testing," Somma said. As of
February 23, 2007, the FCC no longer requires those upgrading their
license to be tested on Morse code. Somma said that more than 80 percent
of the Manual's content has been revised. 

The Manual, written to help guide amateurs through the VEC program, is
also a guide for those aspiring to be Volunteer Examiners. "Any General,
Advanced or Amateur Extra class license holder is eligible to be a
Volunteer Examiner," Somma said. "It's a simple process to become a VE
-- just complete the ARRL VE application form and pass a 40-question
'open book' test and you're set! If you're an active ham radio operator,
you probably enjoy giving back to the Amateur Radio community, be it
through public service or as a Volunteer Examiner. Many hams fondly
remember their first license examination experience." 

Information in the Manual includes how to become an accredited Volunteer
Examiner and how to participate in the Amateur Radio examination
process, as well as real-life experiences from current Volunteer
Examiners. "It's really a reference manual with tons of details. The
real-life experiences in the Manual will help current and future
Volunteer Examiners know how to deal with those pesky situations that
sometimes pop up," Somma said. 

For more information on the ARRL Volunteer Examiner Program, please see
the ARRL VE Web site <http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/index.html>. 

==> W1HQ COMES "BACK TO LIFE" AT ARRL HQ 

Since the mid-1930s, W1INF, the ARRL HQ Operators Club, has been
available to ARRL employees. During the flood of 1936, W1INF handled a
great quantity of flood relief traffic after the headquarters station,
W1MK, located at Hartford's Brainard Field, near the Connecticut River,
was destroyed. At the time, W1INF was located at the League's West
Hartford headquarters.

In 2002, former QST Managing Editor Laird Campbell, W1HQ, became a
Silent Key; with his family's blessing, W1HQ became the Laird Campbell
Memorial HQ Operators Club, replacing W1INF as the employees' club
station. According to ARRL Lab Supervisor Ed Hare, W1RFI, who serves as
trustee for both W1INF and W1HQ, W1INF is now used by the ARRL
Laboratory staff for on-the-air operations and tests, while W1HQ is for
ARRL employees to enjoy during non-work hours. Both call signs are
housed in a station adjacent to the ARRL Lab. "Employees are free to use
their own call sign while operating W1HQ, or they may use W1HQ," he
said. Of course, employees are not allowed to use the station during
their working hours, but may use it on their free time, such as lunch
hour and weekends. 

Breathing new life into W1HQ, ARRL Contest Manager Sean Kutzko, KX9X,
and Membership Manager Katie Breen, W1KRB, gave the room a much-needed
coat of new paint. Hare put his woodworking skills to use and
constructed all-new desks and cabinets. Building Manager Greg Kwasowski,
W1GJK, installed new carpet and ceiling tiles and Test Engineer Mike
Tracy, KC1SX, and Lab Assistant Anthony Nesta, AA1RZ, ran new antenna
cables to the roof and rewired the entire room with a new antenna patch
panel to accommodate all the new antenna feed lines. Lab Engineer Mike
Gruber, W1MG, built a trap vertical. 

W1HQ provides ARRL employees who do not have an amateur station of their
own a place to get on the air. "I'm thrilled to have this station here,"
said Kutzko. "I live in an apartment and can't put up antennas outside
at home. W1HQ gives me a way to chase DX and be active in contests on
both HF and VHF." 

Breen said, "I live in a condo and don't have a lot of availability to
get on the air at home. With the revitalization of W1HQ, it's now a
homey, comfortable place to get on the air. I've had my license nearly
two years, but in the last two months I have finally been getting really
active on the air, working on my Worked All States and chasing DX. It's
inspired me to study more to upgrade my license and learn CW." 

W1HQ is equipped with transceivers that were brought over from W1AW.
Mike Mertel, K7IR, of SteppIR, donated a 3-element 20-6 meter Yagi to
W1HQ that was placed on the roof of the Headquarters building in
November 2007. Bob Heil, K9EID, of Heil Sound donated two new Pro Set 4
mic/headsets, a PR781 Proline microphone and a topless boom to the
station. Nemal Electronics Inc and Times Microwave Systems jointly
donated two 500 foot rolls of LMR-400. 

==> FLORIDA HAMS HELP OUT WHEN NWS GOES DARK 

On Tuesday, February 12, a tornado touched down in Cocoa Beach, Florida.
Unfortunately, National Weather Service (NWS) alerts failed due to
problems with phone circuits. Dennis Decker, Warning Coordinator
Meteorologist with the NWS in Melbourne, said two of their four
transmission lines went down that afternoon around 3:30, but were back
up five hours later. Messages are carried to towers via telephone, he
said. 

"That's a big issue when the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) weather alerting radio is not working," said
Brevard County Emergency Management Director Bob Lay. The county went
into backup mode, using the volunteer emergency alert system. The NWS
activated Amateur Radio operators to help get the word out about the
tornado warning. "We have ham operators to tell us when they see
something," Decker said. 

Dan Fisher, AI4GK, of Palm Bay, Florida, said he tried to tune into a
weather frequency on his radio, but said, "I couldn't pick up anything.
The [station out of] Melbourne has a loud hum on it and nothing else."

Fisher and Emergency Coordinator for the Platinum Coast Amateur Radio
Society John Weatherly, AB4ET, said the group participated in an
emergency drill just last week that involved a tornado scenario. "We're
there when we're needed," Weatherly said. "We give the meteorologists a
warm and fuzzy feeling of what is really happening."

Although Tuesday's storms were dwarfed by the massive 2005 hurricanes,
transmitters were rendered useless in both situations. Dave Jacobs, Data
Acquisitions Property Manager at the NWS office in Melbourne, said that
when problems do occur, it is usually something to do with the telephone
lines. "It's our Achilles' heel," he said. Jacobs oversees the radio
system for Melbourne, checking its transmitters three times daily to
ensure they are working.

Weather Service officials in Melbourne know the alert announcing the
first tornado watch at 2:25 PM went out across the radio system. At 3
PM, when another weather alert went out, officials determined they had a
problem with the Melbourne and Orlando transmitters. Jacobs said he had
just listened as the computer system read the entire message in the
Melbourne office, a stage in the alert process that occurs before the
message reaches phone lines. He then received a telephone call from a
county official saying only half of the second weather alert was
broadcast.  -- Information provided by Floridatoday.com

==> CALIFORNIA HAM TO FACE ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE 

On February 12, the FCC issued a Hearing Designation Order (HDO)
<http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-08-361A1.pdf> to
William F. Crowell, W6WBJ (ex-N6AYJ), of Diamond Springs, California to
determine if his application for renewal of his Amateur Radio license
should be granted. The HDO stated: "The record before [the FCC]
indicates that Crowell has apparently willfully and repeatedly engaged
in and continues to engage in unlawful Commission-related activities,
including, but not limited to, intentionally causing interference and/or
interruption, transmitting music and one-way communications, and using
indecent language on amateur frequencies. Based on the information
before us, we believe that Crowell's apparent past and continuing course
of misconduct raises a substantial and material question of fact as to
whether he possesses the requisite character qualifications to be and
remain a Commission licensee. Accordingly, we hereby designate his
application for hearing." Crowell initially filed his renewal
application February 28, 2007. 

Pursuant to Section 309(e) of the Communications Act of 1934, as
amended, the FCC is required to "designate an application for
evidentiary hearing if a substantial and material question of fact is
presented regarding whether grant of the application would serve the
public interest, convenience, and necessity. The character of an
applicant is among those factors that the Commission considers in
determining whether the applicant has the requisite qualifications to be
a Commission licensee. Violations of the Communications Act and/or the
Commission's Rules are predictive of licensee behavior and directly
relevant to the Commission's regulatory activities." 

The HDO informed Crowell that Section 333 of the Act and Section
97.101(d) of the Commission's Rules provide that "no person shall
willfully or maliciously interfere with or cause interference to any
radio communications of licensed stations. Section 97.113(a)(4) and (b)
of the Commission's Rules specifically prohibits transmission of music,
obscene or indecent words, and one-way communications on amateur
frequencies. Section 97.113(a)(4) of the Commission's Rules and Section
1464 of the Criminal Code also prohibit transmission of obscene,
indecent, or profane language."

Since 2000, Crowell has been warned by the FCC to refrain from
intentionally interfering with and/or otherwise interrupting radio
communications, transmitting one-way communications and music and using
indecent language on the air. "Notwithstanding these warnings, the
evidence before us indicates that Crowell has and continues to engage in
such activities in flagrant and intentional disregard of the Act and the
Commission's Rules. We find that Crowell's apparent past and continuing
course of conduct raises questions as to whether he possesses the
requisite character qualifications to remain a Commission licensee.
Crowell's history of FCC-related transgressions and apparent contempt
for the Commission's regulatory authority are patently inconsistent with
his responsibilities as a licensee and belie any suggestion that he can
be relied upon to comply with the Commission's rules and policies in the
future.  Consequently, we will commence a hearing proceeding before an
administrative law judge to provide Crowell with an opportunity to
demonstrate whether his above-captioned application should be granted,"
the HDO continued.

The issues to be put before an Administrative Law Judge concerning
Crowell include:

* To determine whether Crowell willfully and/or repeatedly violated
Section 333 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and Section
97.101(d) of the Commission's Rules, by intentionally interfering with
and/or otherwise interrupting radio communications.

* To determine whether Crowell willfully and/or repeatedly violated
Section 97.113(b) of the Commission's Rules by transmitting one-way
communications on amateur frequencies.

* To determine whether Crowell willfully and/or repeatedly violated
Section 97.113(a)(4) of the Commission's Rules by transmitting indecent
language.

* To determine whether Crowell willfully and/or repeatedly violated
Section 97.113(a)(4) of the Commission's Rules by transmitting music.

* To determine, in light of the evidence adduced pursuant to the
foregoing issues, whether Crowell is qualified to be and remain a
Commission licensee.

* To determine, in light of the evidence adduced pursuant to the
foregoing issues, whether the Amateur Radio license renewal application
filed by Crowell should be granted.

Crowell has until March 3, 2008 (20 days from the mailing of the HDO) to
respond to the HDO. "If he fails to file a written appearance within the
twenty-day period, or has not filed prior to the expiration of the
twenty-day period, a petition to dismiss without prejudice, or a
petition to accept, for good cause shown, a written appearance beyond
the expiration of the twenty-day period, the Presiding Administrative
Law Judge SHALL DISMISS the captioned application with prejudice for
failure to prosecute," the HDO states. 

==> FCC ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS 

Todd E. Daugherty, N9OGL, of Taylorville, Illinois, received a follow-up
Warning Notice from the FCC, alleging Daugherty "operat[ed] an
unlicensed radio station on, among other frequencies, 6.950 and 13.556
MHz. The information indicates that the signal strengths of these
transmissions exceed the power limit of Part 15 of the Commission's
rules for unlicensed transmitters." In November 2007, Daugherty received
a Warning Notice from the Commission, giving him 20 days to respond to
allegations regarding his operating practices. The FCC also wanted to
know if he has used the name Todd O'Dochartaigh, N9OGL, and if so, asked
him to describe the circumstances under which he used it and the dates.
Dougherty was warned that the FCC "will use all relevant information
before it, including information that you disclose in your reply, to
determine what, if any, enforcement action is warranted in this matter.
Such action may include license revocation, suspension of your operator
privileges or monetary forfeiture (fine). Fines normally range from
$7500 to $10,000." The FCC, in response to Daugherty's replies, said,
"Your response to the Enforcement Bureau received on November 6, 2007
was insufficient and contradictory, and indicates a misunderstanding of
the Part 15 power limits for unlicensed stations. For example, you
stated that your power levels were in compliance with Part 15 of the
Commission's rules, yet in statements made in 2006 and 2007 describing
your shortwave station 'Omega One' you stated that you were operating at
5 watts, then 10 watts and later 50 and 100 watts." Daugherty was warned
that "Such unlicensed operation would be a violation of Section 301 of
the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 18 U.S.C. S: 301, and would
subject you to a monetary forfeiture (fine) or imprisonment, or both."

Travis L. Maltese, AD5CT, of Edna, Texas, received a Warning Notice from
the FCC to stay off of the W5DSC and K5SOI repeaters, both licensed in
Victoria, Texas. The Warning Notice stated, "The trustees of the W5DSC
and K5SOI repeaters have requested in writing that you refrain from use
of the repeaters. The letters were issued as a result of your failure to
follow operational rules set forth by the licensee/control operators of
the repeater systems for their users. You were previously requested
verbally to refrain from using the system, but have apparently ignored
both verbal and written requests." Maltese was told that he was expected
to "abide by the requests to stay off the W5DSC and K5SOI systems and
any other such requests by repeater licensees, control operators or
trustees. If you use these repeaters again after receipt of this letter,
we will initiate enforcement action against your license, which may
include revocation, monetary forfeiture (fine) or a modification
proceeding to restrict the frequencies on which you may operate AD5CT.
Fines normally range from $7,500 to $10,000." 

Joseph Goldberg, MD, of Tavernier, Florida, received a Warning Notice
from the FCC regarding his alleged unlicensed radio transmissions on the
20 meter amateur band. He was warned "that operation of such radio
transmitting equipment without a license 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
imprisonment. Monetary forfeitures normally range from $7,500 to
$10,000. This is the last warning you will receive regarding such
operation."

==>SOLAR UPDATE

Tad "He who kisses the joy as it flies lives in eternity's sun rise"
Cook, K7RA, this week reports: No sunspots appeared this week. Solar
flux was about the same as last week. The 45-day outlook for solar flux
and planetary A index from NOAA and the Air Force on February 10 was
predicting a flat solar flux of 70; the following day, this was revised
to show 72 for February 12-18, then 70 after that. On February 12, this
changed to show 72 solar flux for February 13 through the rest of the 45
days. Sunspot numbers for February 7-13 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 and 0 with
a mean of 0. The 10.7 cm flux was 70.8, 70.9, 72.2, 72.6, 72.1, 72.1 and
70.5 with a mean of 71.6. Estimated planetary A indices were 5, 4, 2,
18, 17, 11 and 12 with a mean of 9.9. Estimated mid-latitude A indices
were 6, 3, 2, 13, 16, 6 and 10 with a mean of 8. 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: The ARRL International DX Contest CW is
February 16-17. Look for the NCCC Sprint on February 15 and the Feld
Hell Sprint on February 16. The Run for the Bacon QRP Contest is
February 18, the AGCW Semi-Automatic Key Evening is February 20 and the
RSGB 80 Meter Club Championship (CW) is February 21. Next weekend is the
NCCC Sprint on February 22. The Russian PSK WW Contest is February
22-23. Look for the CQ 160 Meter Contest (SSB), the REF Contest (SSB),
the UBA DX Contest (CW), the Mississippi QSO Party and the North
American QSO Party (RTTY) on February 23-24. The High Speed Club CW
Contest is February 24. The North Carolina QSO Party is February 24-25
and the SKCC Sprint is February 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 24, 2008 for these online course sessions
beginning on Friday, March 7, 2008: Technician 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). 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>;.

* FCC Changes "Lockbox Bank" for Vanity Call Sign Payments: As of
February 14, 2008, U.S. Bank has replaced Mellon Bank as the lockbox
bank for all FCC programs (with the exception of auction-related
payments). Applicants who manually file FCC paper applications via mail
-- usually for new vanity call signs or for renewal of vanity call signs
-- will need to send payments to U.S. Bank. Amateurs filing paper
applications for a new Vanity Call Sign Applications need to submit FCC
Payment Form 159 and the FCC Regulatory Fee
<http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/vanityfee.html>, along with the FCC Form
605 and FCC Form 605 Schedule D. After completing all required forms,
mail them along with the payment to the address of the Commission's new
lockbox bank: Federal Communications Commission, PO Box 979097, St
Louis, MO 63197-9000. When submitting fees, payments or applications to
the lockbox bank, filers should specifically reference the Government
Lockbox number - 979097 -- on the 159 payment form. U.S. Bank will
accept hand-delivered filings or courier deliveries at their office
located at U.S. Bank, attn: FCC Government Lockbox Number 979097,
SL-MO-C2-GL, 1005 Convention Plaza, St Louis, MO 63101. According to
ARRL VEC Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, "The FCC has also established a
45-day transition period that began on February 14 to mitigate the
transition's impact and to provide time to resolve any reconciliation
and change-over discrepancies." The FCC strongly encourages the use of
their electronic filing and payment options. Electronic payments can be
submitted through their secure Web site
<http://www.fcc.gov/fees/feefiler.html>. Electronic payments allow for
faster processing of applications. Further info can be found on FCC Web
Site <http://www.fcc.gov/fees/lockbox.html>. 

* Ducie Island Logs Now Online: The DXpedition to Ducie Island, VP6DX,
is well underway and the DXpedition crew has now posted its logs online
<http://ducie2008.dl1mgb.com/onlinelog/index.php>. Have you worked VP6DX
yet? Check and make sure you are listed in their log. There are 21 band
slots in three modes (CW, Phone and RTTY) that can be worked. Their Web
page also lets you know when the optimum times for working VP6DX are.
Depending on weather and other considerations, VP6DX will go off the air
on or around February 27. For more information, please see the VP6DX
information page <http://ducie2008.dl1mgb.com/index.php>. 

* From the DXCC Desk: ARRL DXCC Manager Bill Moore, NC1L, reports that
the following operations have been approved for DXCC credit: the 2008
J5C DXpedition to Guinea-Bissau; the 2007 VK9WWI DXpedition to Willis
Island, and the current YI9PT operations in Iraq. "If you had cards
rejected for this operation, please send an e-mail <dxcc@arrl.org>;to the
ARRL DXCC Desk to have your DXCC record updated," Moore said.

* Notes for Amateurs Visiting Australia: According to the Australian
Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), Amateur Radio operators
traveling to Australia who wish to operate in that country do not need
to apply for an Australian Amateur Radio license. This new policy,
effective February 15, 2008, allows amateurs who hold a non-Australian
Amateur Radio license to operate up to 90 days under a Class Licence
<http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_1311 >; licensees who will be
in Australia for more than 90 days will need to apply for an Australian
Amateur Radio license.  -- Information provided by Roger Hickey, W6MSC

* Solar Report Contest Winners Announced: In last week's ARRL Letter, we
asked readers to identify the source of the quote that comes within
author Tad Cook's, K7RA, name. If you are a regular reader of The ARRL
Letter and the Solar Report within the Letter, you might notice that the
quote, referred to as a "Tad Cookism," changes weekly. Last week, 23
readers correctly identified "Let not the Sun go down and disappear into
darkness" as coming from Homer's Iliad and will receive an ARRL 2008
calendar. Congratulations to the first 10 hams who correctly identified
the quote: W6LX, WB4FSV, AA1WZ, KG6ZI, K2PS, K9BZ, N9VO, KB7QFE, WA3ZBJ
and WA0JLY. Look for this contest again in a future ARRL Letter. 

* ARRL Headquarters Closed in Observance of President's Day: ARRL
Headquarters will be closed in observance of President's Day on Monday,
February 18. There will be no W1AW bulletin or code practice
transmissions that day. ARRL Headquarters will reopen Tuesday, February
19 at 8 AM Eastern Standard Time. We wish everyone a safe President's
Day holiday. 

=========================================================== 
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!):
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==>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

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

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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