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ARRL Letter

 

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The ARRL Letter
Vol. 28, No. 28
July 17, 2009
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IN THIS EDITION:

* + New Vice Directors Visit HQ in Advance of Board Meeting 
* + HR 2160 Gains More Support in Congress 
* + WRC-11 Is Now WRC-12 
* + Companion Bill to Senate Radio Spectrum Inventory Act Introduced in House 
* + Space Shuttle Endeavour on Its Way to ISS with Hams on Board 
* + ARRL Membership Newsletters, Bulletins and Notifications 
*   Solar Update 
*  IN BRIEF: 
      This Week on the Radio 
      ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration 
    + W1AW to Add New Digital Modes to Transmission Schedule 
    + AMSAT to Mark First Lunar Landing 
      Jim Mullin, W8KKK (SK) 

+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 <k1sfa@arrl.org>;
===========================================================

==> NEW VICE DIRECTORS VISIT HQ IN ADVANCE OF BOARD MEETING

Just prior to the ARRL Board of Directors 2009 Second Meeting <http://www.arrl.org/announce/board.html>, three newly appointed Vice Directors made their way to Newington for a day of orientation. Pacific Division Vice Director Jim Tiemstra, K6JAT, Southeastern Division Vice Director Jeff Beals, WA4AW, and West Gulf Division Vice Director John Thomason, WB5SYT, came to learn the "ins and outs" of the ARRL Board and ARRL Headquarters operation. The 2009 Second Meeting is scheduled for July 17-18 in Windsor, Connecticut.

According to ARRL Chief Operating Officer Harold Kramer, WJ1B, "The new Board members came to Newington to learn not only how the Board functions, but to see what each department does and how it interacts with and serves both Amateur Radio and ARRL members, through our five pillars: Public Service, Advocacy, Education, Technology and Membership. I am pleased they came to see how we support Amateur Radio each and every day here at ARRL HQ."

One of the highlights of the group's visit to Headquarters was a tour of the Membership and Volunteer Programs Department. Dave Patton, NN1N, explained the function of the department and its staff. "We showed them how we support Amateur Radio and our members through our Field Organization, Ham Aid Program, emergency communications support, operating events and awards," Patton said.

Beals, the former Southern Florida Assistant Section Manager, was appointed Vice Director upon the death of then-Vice Director Sandy Donahue, W4RU <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/06/04/10865/?nc=1>. "I haven't been to Headquarters in about 15 years -- I'm just amazed at how much things have changed," he said. "It never ceases to amaze me how much we give our members for their membership dollars. What's available to them, the services, the functions we perform for the members, it's just incredible. I think if more hams out there could see what we do here, we'd double our membership in about 5 minutes."

Thomason, the former Oklahoma Section Manager, was appointed Vice Director <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/01/24/10586/?nc=1> when then-Director Coy Day, N5OK, resigned and David Woolweaver, K5RAV, moved up to Director from Vice Director <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/01/20/10574/?nc=1>. "It's been quite a day -- it's been long, but it's been good," he said. "We have had the good fortune to see so many wonderful League staffers and to get together to help plan for the future. Departments here at Headquarters were able to share some of the things they have done on behalf of our members. It has definitely been a good day and it will only get better."

Tiemstra, the former Section Emergency Coordinator in the East Bay Section, was appointed to his position in June after then-Vice Director Andy Oppel, N6AJO, submitted his resignation <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/06/16/10889/?nc=1>. "When we got to Headquarters, we found that we had a full day planned," he said. "We saw all aspects of the Headquarters operation and it is quite an impressive operation -- much larger and much more complicated than I expected. I am really looking forward to the Board meeting on Friday. I am so fascinated by all the things that the League is doing these days. I think that it will be a tremendous learning experience and something I will probably never forget."

A report on the July meeting of the ARRL Board of Directors will be available on the ARRL Web site and in The ARRL Letter.

==> HR 2160 GAINS MORE SUPPORT IN CONGRESS

This week, four more Congressmen -- John Boozman (R-AR-3), Bob Filner (D-CA-51), Dennis Moore (D-KS-3) and David Wu (D-OR-1) -- pledged their support for HR 2160, The Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Enhancement Act of 2009 <http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.2160:>. This brings the total number of cosponsors to 18.

Introduced by Representative Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX-18) in April <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/04/30/10792/?nc=1>, if passed, HR 2160 would "promote and encourage the valuable public service, disaster relief, and emergency communications provided on a volunteer basis by licensees of the Federal Communications Commission in the Amateur Radio Service, by undertaking a study of the uses of Amateur Radio for emergency and disaster relief communications, by identifying unnecessary or unreasonable impediments to the deployment of Amateur Radio emergency and disaster relief communications, and by making recommendations for relief of such unreasonable restrictions so as to expand the uses of Amateur Radio communications in Homeland Security planning and response." The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

If enacted into law, HR 2160, would instruct the Secretary of Homeland Security to undertake a study and report its findings to Congress within 180 days. The study would spell out uses and capabilities of Amateur Radio communications in emergencies and disaster relief. The study shall:

* Include recommendations for enhancements in the voluntary deployment of Amateur Radio licensees in disaster and emergency communications and disaster relief efforts.
* Include recommendations for improved integration of Amateur Radio operators in planning and in furtherance of the Department of Homeland Security initiatives.
* Identify unreasonable or unnecessary impediments to enhanced Amateur Radio communications -- such as the effects of private land use regulations on residential antenna installations -- and make recommendations regarding such impediments.
* Include an evaluation of Section 207 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-104, 110 Stat 56 [1996]).
* Recommend whether Section 207 should be modified to prevent unreasonable private land use restrictions that impair the ability of amateurs to conduct, or prepare to conduct, emergency communications by means of effective outdoor antennas and support structures at reasonable heights and dimensions for the purpose in residential areas.

The Secretary of Homeland Security shall utilize the expertise of the ARRL and shall seek information from private and public sectors for the study.

"HR 2160 presents the Amateur Radio Service with a unique opportunity -- but also carries with it the important responsibility of making your voice heard," said ARRL Regulatory Information Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND. "HR 2160 stands as the first step in trying to address the long standing problem of extending the protections afforded Amateur Radio operators under PRB-1 <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/PRB-1_Pkg/prb-1.pdf>to deed restrictions and covenants. To be clear, passing HR 2160 is not going to achieve that goal right away. But it will help lay the ground work by assessing the impact such restrictions have on our ability to train for and respond to disasters and other emergencies."

HR 2160 is also sponsored by W. Todd Akin (R-MO-2), Michael Arcuri (D-NY-24), Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD-6), Madeleine Bordallo (D-Guam), Bart Gordon (D-TN-6), Brett Guthrie (R-KY-2), Michael Honda (D-CA-15), Mary Jo Kilroy (D-OH-15), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-16), Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO-9), Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI-11), Charlie Melancon (D-LA-3), Bennie Thompson (D-MS-2) and Peter Welch (D-VT).

Check the ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/05/12/10818> for information on how to encourage your Congressional representative to sponsor HR 2160.

==> WRC-11 IS NOW WRC-12

The ITU Council, the 46-nation administrative oversight body of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), has agreed to move the next World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) to 2012. Originally scheduled for October 24-November 18, 2011 in Geneva, Switzerland, the Council has proposed January 23-February 17 as the new dates <http://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-r/oth/0C/04/R0C040000030001PDFE.pdf>.

According to ARRL Technical Relations Manager Brennan Price, N4QX, the full ITU membership is now being consulted on the dates; responses are due by August 3. "The ITU Council had previously proposed dates for fall 2011, but various scheduling conflicts and the lack of available facilities during some weeks made this schedule impractical," he said.

Held approximately every three years, these periodic conferences of the Member States of the ITU consider allocations to the various radio services -- including the Amateur Radio Service -- and evaluate what new technologies and applications should be addressed by future conferences.

The agenda for WRC-12, developed by the delegates at the last WRC in Geneva in 2007 (WRC-07), was formally adopted by the ITU Council in 2008. There are 25 agenda items addressing potential new or revised spectrum allocations to existing services. Of most interest to amateurs is agenda item 1.23, "to consider an allocation of about 15 kHz in parts of the band 415-526.5 kHz to the amateur service on a secondary basis, taking into account the need to protect existing services."

"This agenda item is the highest item on my long term priority list," said Price. "We are fortunate that this upcoming WRC presents an opportunity for a new secondary allocation in the medium waves. While the outcome is far from certain, our experience in other bands -- most notably 30 meters -- indicates Amateur Radio's compatibility with certain other services as a secondary user."

Price said that some WRCs have posed great challenges for Amateur Radio, with blocks of spectrum potentially at risk. "This was the case at WRC-03 and WRC-07, which posed a very real potential reallocation of portions of the 40 meter band in Region 2 to HF broadcasting," he said. "The agenda for WRC-12 does not pose any threats to Amateur Radio as clear or as overt as those faced in prior years." Price and ARRL Technical Relations Specialist Jon Siverling, WB3ERA, are monitoring developments on a number of other agenda items that could affect Amateur Radio if they take unanticipated turns, including:

* Agenda item 1.14, considering requirements for and implementation of the radiolocation service (radar) between 30-300 MHz.
* Agenda item 1.15, considering possible allocations between 3-50 MHz for oceanographic radar applications.
* Agenda item 1.19, considering regulatory measures to enable software-defined and cognitive radio systems.
* Agenda item 1.22, examining the effect of emissions from short-range devices.

"Oceanographic radar is perhaps our biggest defensive issue," Price said. "Fortunately, its proponents have acknowledged that sharing with Amateur Radio would be problematic."

==> COMPANION BILL TO SENATE RADIO SPECTRUM INVENTORY ACT INTRODUCED IN HOUSE

In March, Senator John Kerry (D-MA) introduced the Radio Spectrum Inventory Act (S 649) <http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:S.649:> in the Senate <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/03/25/10725/>. Earlier this month, that bill passed the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. Last week, Representative Henry Waxman (CA-30) introduced a companion bill -- HR 3125 -- in the House of Representatives <http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.3125.IH:>; the bill has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. The bills, if passed, would mandate an inventory of radio spectrum bands managed by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Federal Communications Commission. The Senate version calls for an inventory of frequencies between 300 MHz-3.5 GHz managed by the two agencies, while the House bill would mandate an inventory of 225 MHz-10 GHz.

S 649
Senate Bill 649 states that the NTIA and the FCC would be required to inventory the spectrum no later than 180 days after the bill becomes law; after the initial survey, follow-ups would be required every two years. Both agencies would need to prepare a report listing the licenses or government user assigned in the band, the total spectrum allocation, by band, of each licensee or government user (in percentage terms and in sum) and the number of intentional radiators and end-user intentional radiators that have been deployed in the band with each license or government user.

Additionally, if the information is applicable, the report would be required to show the type of intentional radiators operating in the band, the type of unlicensed intentional radiators authorized to operate in the band, contour maps that illustrate signal coverage and strength and the approximate geo-location of base stations or fixed transmitters. The report would then be sent to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation and to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

The bill also mandates that both agencies create a centralized portal or Web site that lists each agency's band inventories. This information would then be made available to the public via an Internet-accessible Web site. Both agencies would also be required to make all necessary efforts to maintain and update the inventory information "in near real-time fashion and whenever there is a transfer or auction of licenses or change in allocation or assignment."

"Our public airwaves belong to the American people, and we need to make certain we are putting them to good use in the best interests of those citizens," Senator Kerry said when he introduced the bill in March. "Last year's 700 MHz auction resulted in $20 billion for the treasury and will create greater opportunity and choice for consumers and businesses that need broadband service. We also took a great step forward when the FCC established a way for unlicensed devices to operate in white spaces. These two initiatives are evidence of how valuable spectrum is and how it serves as fertile grounds for innovation. We need to make sure we're making as much of it available to innovators and consumers as possible."

HR 3125
Like S 649, HR 3125 calls for the NTIA and the FCC to issue a report on the inventory of spectrum no later than 180 days after the bill becomes law; after the initial survey, follow-ups would be required every two years. The House bill goes a bit further than S 634, however, calling for the two agencies to work with the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) <http://www.ostp.gov/>; this office advises the President on the effects of science and technology on domestic and international affairs.

The agency reports called for in HR 3125 would include the same information called for in the Senate version. Like the Senate bill, the House bill calls for the reports to be made available on the Internet and update the reports as needed. Both bills include an exemption for licensees or users if they can demonstrate that disclosure would be harmful to national security.

"The [bill] represents a significant step in making available more spectrum for commercial and wireless services. The more efficient use of our nation's airwaves will increase innovation for wireless products and services and improve the connectivity of the American people," said bill cosponsor Representative Rick Boucher (D-VA-9). "As more people use wireless devices and as advanced applications require higher data rates over time, additional spectrum will be needed to accommodate growth. Wireless technologies can also play a critical role in bringing broadband to more consumers, particularly in rural areas."

S 649 is co-sponsored by Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Mark Pryor (D-AR), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), John Thune (R-SD), Mark Warner (D-VA) and Roger Wicker (R-MS).

HR 3125 already has 17 cosponsors: Joe Barton (R-TX-6), Rick Boucher (D-VA-9), Steve Buyer (R-IN-4), Kathy Castor (D-FL-11), John Dingell (D-MI-15), Michael Doyle (D-PA-14), Anna Eshoo (D-CA-14), Bart Gordon (D-TN-6), Jay Inslee (D-WA-1), Edward Markey (D-MA-7), Doris Matsui (D-CA-5), Jerry McNerney (D-CA-11), Zachary Space (D-OH 18), Cliff Stearns (R-FL-6), Bart Stupak (D-MI-1), Fred Upton (R-MI-6) and Peter Welch (D-VT). Gordon and Welch are also cosponsors of HR 2160, The Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Enhancement Act of 2009 <http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h2160ih.txt.pdf>.

==> SPACE SHUTTLE ENDEAVOUR ON ITS WAY TO ISS WITH HAMS ON BOARD

After lightning strikes and thunderstorms delayed the launch of the space shuttle Endeavour (STS 127) this past weekend, the spacecraft launched into space at 6:03 PM on Wednesday, July 15. Endeavour's 16 day mission to the International Space Station (ISS) <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html> will feature five planned spacewalks and complete the construction of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory. Astronauts will attach a platform to the outside of the Japanese module that will allow experiments to be exposed to space <http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/362898main_STS127%20Mission%20Summary%20v4.pdf>.

Endeavour carries a crew of seven: Mark Polansky is commander and Douglas Hurley is the pilot. Mission specialists are Christopher Cassidy, Thomas Marshburn, KE5HOC, David Wolf, KC5VPF, and Julie Payette, a Canadian Space Agency astronaut. The mission will deliver Timothy Kopra, KE5UDN, to the ISS as a flight engineer and science officer and return Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata, KC5ZTA, to Earth. Hurley, Cassidy, Marshburn and Kopra will be making their first trips to space.

When Kopra arrives, there will six astronauts on board the ISS -- all but one are licensed radio amateurs: Commander Gennady Padalka, RN3DT; Flight Engineer Michael Barratt, KD5MIJ; Flight Engineer Frank DeWinne, ON1DWN; Flight Engineer Robert Thirsk, VA3CSA, and Flight Engineer Roman Romanenko.

While on the ISS, Kopra will help conduct scientific experiments on human physiology. "We're going to look at all the different components that correspond to the human body and the effect that microgravity has on [astronauts]," he said in a NASA pre-flight interview <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition20/kopra_interview.html>. "It's very critical because, if we're going to spend time on the moon, which has less gravity than the Earth, or transporting to Mars, which could be a very long trip and then time on Mars, we need to understand with a lot of detail what those effects will be. So we'll be looking at the cardiovascular system, neurological system, vestibular system and we'll also be looking at some of the behavioral aspects of living in space. What happens to your sleep, for example: Can you sleep soundly, because over time you definitely need to have sound sleep to be an effective crew member? Those are some of the examples of the things we'll be looking at that correspond to the human physiology side."

Kopra said he expects to "have a lot of fun" while on board the ISS: "I just spoke with the [current ISS] crew members on board recently, and after they had only been there for a couple weeks, you could tell that they're just real excited about all the work that they do on board. It's just like you talk to a kid about what they would like to do on space station, they might tell you, 'Hey, I want to float around, I want to look out the window.' You know, I intend to do a lot of both of those just as my crew members like to do."

Kopra, a 1985 graduate of West Point and a colonel in the US Army, was assigned to NASA at the Johnson Space Center in September 1998 as a vehicle integration test engineer. In this position, he primarily served as an engineering liaison for space shuttle launch operations and ISS hardware testing. He was actively involved in the contractor tests of the Extravehicular Activity (EVA) interfaces for each of the space station truss segments.

Selected as an astronaut in July 2000, Kopra began his initial training the following month. He completed two years of intensive space shuttle, space station and T-38 flight training. He then served in the Space Station Branch of the Astronaut Office where his primary focus involved the testing of crew interfaces for two ISS pressurized modules, as well as the implementation of support computers and operational Local Area Network on ISS. After completing a Russian language immersion course in Moscow, Kopra began training for a long duration space flight mission in July 2005. Since then, he has completed training at each of the international partner training sites and served as a backup crewmember to Expeditions 16 and 17.

Kopra will return to Earth on space shuttle Discovery (STS 128), due to launch this August. That mission will bring mission specialist Nicole Stott, KE5GJN, to the ISS. Discovery will carry the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module containing life support racks and science racks, as well as the Lightweight Multi-Purpose Experiment Support Structure Carrier.  -- Information provided by NASA

==> ARRL MEMBERSHIP NEWSLETTERS, BULLETINS AND NOTIFICATIONS

Did you know the ARRL offers more newsletters than just The ARRL Letter? One of the many ARRL membership benefits includes other newsletters, such as the ARRL Contest Update (a bi-weekly contest newsletter), the ARES E-Letter (sent monthly, containing public service and emergency communications news), the ARRL Club News and the ARRL Instructor/Teacher E-Letter and the VE Newsletter.

You can also elect to receive news and information from your Division Director and Section Manager (keep in mind that not all Divisions/Sections send notices), as well as W1AW bulletins that relate to DX, propagation, satellites and Keplerian reports. The ARRL also offers a free notification service to members, letting them know when their membership and license are due to expire.

Sign up for these newsletters, bulletins and notifications on the Member Data page of the ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org/members-only/memdata.html>.

==>SOLAR UPDATE

Tad "Glorious with the Sun's returning march" Cook, K7RA, this week reports: We saw a nice run of eight days with a large sunspot, but none have emerged in the six days since. Unlike other recent spots, this one did not appear just for one or two days and then vanish. Sunspot numbers for July 9-15 were 15, 13, 0, 0, 0, 0 and 0 with a mean of 4. The 10.7 cm flux was 69.1, 67.8, 68.2, 68, 67.2, 66.6 and 66.5 with a mean of 67.6. The estimated planetary A indices were 6, 7, 4, 5, 10, 8 and 5 with a mean of 6.4. The estimated mid-latitude A indices were 6, 7, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 3 with a mean of 4.7. Geophysical Institute Prague predicts quiet conditions for July 17-20, unsettled July 21, quiet to unsettled July 22 and back to quiet on July 23. 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/>. This week's "Tad Cookism" brought to you by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's "Sunrise on the Hills" <http://www.readbookonline.net/readOnLine/3237/>.

__________________________________

==>IN BRIEF:

* This Week on the Radio: This week, an NCCC Sprint Ladder is on July 17. The North American QSO Party (RTTY), the  DMC RTTY Contest and the CQ Worldwide VHF Contest are July 18-19. The CQC Great Colorado Gold Rush is July 19. The Run for the Bacon QRP Contest is July 20 and the SKCC Sprint is July 22. Next week, another NCCC Sprint Ladder is on July 245 and the RSGB IOTA Contest is July 25-26. All dates, unless otherwise stated, are UTC. See the ARRL Contest Branch page <http://www.arrl.org/contests/>, the ARRL Contest Update <http://www.arrl.org/contests/update/> and the WA7BNM Contest Calendar <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html> for more info. Looking for a Special Event station? Be sure to check out the ARRL Special Event Station Web page <http://www.arrl.org/contests/spev.html>.

* ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration remains open through Sunday, July 26, 2009, for these online course sessions beginning on Friday, August 7, 2009: Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level 1; Antenna Modeling; Radio Frequency Interference; Antenna Design and Construction; Ham Radio (Technician) License Course; Propagation; Analog Electronics, and Digital Electronics. 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/cep/student> or contact the Continuing Education Program Coordinator <cce@arrl.org>;.

* W1AW to Add New Digital Modes to Transmission Schedule: Effective August 17, W1AW, the Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station, will replace its AMTOR and ASCII transmissions with PSK31 and MFSK16, respectively. RTTY (Baudot) will continue to be the first digital mode used in the transmission schedule. The frequencies used by W1AW for all its digital transmissions will remain the same. "All regular 6 PM and 9 PM (Eastern Time) digital transmissions will begin with RTTY," said W1AW Station Manager Joe Carcia, NJ1Q. "PSK31 and MFSK16 will be sent as time allows. The Tuesday and Friday Keplerian data bulletins will be sent using RTTY and PSK31." The W1AW operating schedule -- complete with times and frequencies -- can be found on the ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org/w1aw.html#w1awsked>.

* AMSAT to Mark First Lunar Landing: AMSAT-NA <http://www.amsat.org/> will mark the 40th anniversary of the first manned lunar landing with a special event on AO-51 <http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/echo/>. AO-51 will transmit a message commemorating the event Monday, July 20 during evening passes in the US and Europe. The message will be transmitted on the 435.300 MHz FM downlink and will contain a Robot 36 SSTV image as well as a voice message. A special AO-51 QSL will be available to those who copy the downlink. Send QSL requests marked "Apollo 11" with a self-addressed, stamped envelope to AMSAT, 850 Sligo Ave, Ste 600, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

* Jim Mullin, W8KKK (SK): Jim Mullin, W8KKK, of Concord Township, Ohio, fell to his death from atop his 100 foot tower on June 6, reports Frank "Fritz" Hemrich, K8WLF, also of Concord Township. According to a post Hemrich made on QRZ.com, Mullin, 69, was in the process of dismantling his tower and antennas when his safety belt "parted at one of the seams and just let go." Hemrich recounted that Mullin had already been up on the tower twice that day: "It appears as if he was on his third trip up to re-position his gin pole to start taking apart and down the tower sections. His ground assistant had just finished taking some pictures of the tower and was putting his camera back in his car. As he turned away from the car he heard Jim hit the ground." A service for Mullin was held June 11.

===========================================================
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 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:

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Copyright 2009 American Radio Relay League, Inc.
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The ARRL Letter

The ARRL Letter offers a weekly summary of essential news of interest to active amateurs that is available in advance of publication in QST, our official journal. The ARRL Letter strives to be timely, accurate, concise and readable.

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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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