*************** The ARRL Letter Vol. 25, No. 24 June 16, 2006 *************** IN THIS EDITION: * +FCC tells BPL system to resolve hams' interference complaints * +First named storm of 2006 hurricane season "a false alarm" * +ISS Field Day pass times announced * +South Pole to be on the air for Field Day * ARRL Kids Day is Saturday, June 17 * +Take your handheld to work June 20! * +DXCC announces rule change * +New York ARRL member marks 100 years and counting * Solar Update * IN BRIEF: This weekend on the radio: Kids Day is Saturday, June 17! ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration +Courtesy urged on 6 meter "DX window" "Zulu stations" stand down in Indonesia San Diego SM Tuck Miller, NZ6T, stepping down Amateur Radio CubeSat launch postponed Ukraine soccer star is radio amateur QST "Old Radio" editor honored +Available on ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> =========================================================== ==>Delivery problems (ARRL member direct delivery only!): letter-dlvy@arrl.org ==>Editorial questions or comments: Rick Lindquist, N1RL, n1rl@arrl.org =========================================================== ==>FCC DIRECTS MANASSAS BPL SYSTEM TO RESOLVE AMATEURS' INTERFERENCE COMPLAINTS In two strongly worded letters, the FCC's Enforcement Bureau has directed the Manassas, Virginia, BPL system to take appropriate steps to eliminate harmful interference to Amateur Radio operators. Several hams in the Manassas area have complained, some repeatedly, about severe interference from the BPL system, operated by COMTek on the city-owned power grid. The FCC minced no words in detailing what it wants the city and BPL operator COMTek to do to ensure its system complies with Part 15 rules governing BPL systems and even hinted that it may shut down all or part of the system. One of the FCC letters followed up on a complaint from Dwight Agnew, AI4II, of BPL interference to his mobile operations. FCC Spectrum Enforcement Division Chief Joseph Casey told the city and COMTek June 16 that within 20 days he wants a "detailed report on the actions you have taken and the progress you have made in resolving the interference complaint or reducing the emissions in the area referenced in Mr Agnew's complaint to 20 dB below the Part 15 limit," a level the FCC maintains generally is sufficient to eliminate BPL interference to mobile operations. Additionally, Casey said the Commission wants to know "the specific steps you will take to inform customers of a cessation of service in the event you are directed to cease operations, either in part or system-wide." ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, said the League is "especially gratified" that the Enforcement Bureau's Spectrum Enforcement Division has ordered the City of Manassas to take steps to prepare for a cessation of BPL services. "Clearly, the FCC has lost patience with COMTek's reliance on misleading news releases as a substitute for meaningful solutions to the ongoing interference," he said. In an April 7 news release COMTek Vice President Walt Adams called the Manassas BPL system "a real success story" and said its testing showed "an almost identical" level of interference whether or not the system was in operation. It made a similar claim to the FCC in Agnew's case. COMTek has indicated it expects emissions can be reduced to 20 dB below the Part 15 limit once second-generation BPL equipment is in place along the Virginia Business Route 234 corridor by the end of July. Casey said that's not good enough. "We note that a failure to respond until the end of July to any complaint alleging harmful interference in an effort to determine if the new equipment resolves the matter is not sufficient," he pointed out in a footnote. Casey said Manassas and COMTek must address and "reach a resolution" with regard to Agnew's interference complaint "as soon as practicable." Based on the engineering reports the FCC received from the city and COMTek in response to the Agnew complaint, Casey said, "it appears that the BPL system is not in compliance with the Commission's emission requirements at several frequencies," although none were in the amateur bands. Manassas and COMTek must detail within 30 days steps taken to clean up the system as well as any additional actions necessary for the system to remain in compliance with Commission rules. In a second letter, Casey requested Manassas and COMTek to examine and address specific longstanding interference complaints from George Tarnovsky, K4GVT; Donald Blasdell, W4HJL; Bill South, N3OH; Jack Cochran, WC4J, and Arthur Whittum, W1CRO. Manassas and COMTek must "take appropriate remedial steps to eliminate any instances of harmful interference" or reduce emissions in the areas cited in the complaints to 20 dB below the Part 15 limit, he instructed. He also reiterated his call for system compliance. Casey said the FCC wants a report within 30 days on steps taken to address the five radio amateurs' specific interference complaints and eliminate excessive emissions. Tarnovsky said the complainants are encouraged by the FCC's response to COMTek's reports and are looking forward to the results of the Commission-directed testing. "I think I can speak for all parties in saying that we're looking forward to a BPL interference-free Manassas," he said. ==>ALBERTO PROVIDES TRIAL RUN FOR AMATEUR RADIO WEATHER NETS, VOLUNTEERS While Tropical Storm Alberto didn't turn into a hurricane as first forecast, the first named storm of the 2006 hurricane season did serve as a valuable trial run for weather spotters, weather nets and ham radio emergency communication volunteers. In the early going, the Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) <http://www.hwn.org/> anticipated activating June 12 on 14.325 MHz. When it became obvious that Alberto was losing strength with no potential to intensify prior to landfall, HWN Manager Mike Pilgrim, K5MP, told net members they could relax for the time being. "Thank you all for your assistance as we attempted to gear up for our first test of the year," Pilgrim said. "Thank goodness it was a false alarm." The HWN works in cooperation with WX4NHC <http://www.wx4nhc.org/> at the National Hurricane Center (NHC) to gather real-time, ground-level weather data during storms. NHC forecasters use the reports to help fine-tune their predictions of a storm's behavior. Amateur Radio emergency communication volunteers in northern Florida also stood by as Alberto approached landfall on the Gulf Coast. The storm came ashore the afternoon of June 13 at Keaton Beach. Apparently not taking any chances, the NHC maintained a hurricane warning along the Florida Gulf Coast until late that same morning. ARRL's North Florida Section Emergency Coordinator Joe Bushel, W2DWR, notified District Emergency Coordinators June 12 to put Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) jump teams on alert and to advise all Emergency Coordinators to pay close attention to the storm. No nets activated, however. North Florida West Central District Emergency Coordinator Dixie Steinberg, K2BEV, reported that shelters for possible storm evacuees were set to open in Citrus, Hernando and Sumter counties, and ARES and RACES personnel, as well as CERT and SKYWARN teams, were standing by. West Central Florida SEC Neil Lauritsen, W4NHL, said Pinellas County had three shelters on standby. Rob Macedo, KD1CY, the director of operations for the VoIP Hurricane Net <http://www.voipwx.net/> says his organization activated Monday evening on predictions that Alberto would attain Category 1 hurricane strength. "The net was a good dress rehearsal for more significant tropical systems later in the 2006 hurricane season," Macedo said. Alberto's maximum sustained winds peaked out at almost 70 MPH with higher gusts--not quite a Category 1 hurricane--but decreased to about 50 MPH as the storm hit the coast and dropped even further as it passed over land. Nonetheless, it generated coastal storm surge flooding along Florida's Gulf Coast and spawned torrential rainfall as it passed up the southeastern US coastline. The storm came just weeks after the State of Florida's annual Emergency Management Hurricane and Terrorism Exercise, May 22-26. The exercise scenario was a hurricane-spawned F4 tornado striking a power plant. ==>NASA RELEASES ISS NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA PASS TIMES FOR FIELD DAY NASA ISS Ham Radio Project Engineer Kenneth Ransom, N5VHO, has released a list of International Space Station Field Day pass times for North and South America (see http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2006/06/15/1/ for pass times and any updates). The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Phase 2 ham station will be in crossband repeater mode over Field Day weekend, June 24-25. The chances of actually talking to one of the crew members appear to be minimal, however. "Keep in mind that these are not scheduled times for the crew to be active," Ransom points out. He says crew members Jeff Williams, KD5TVQ, and Pavel Vinogradov, RV3BS, may work some stations personally, but they're already booked pretty heavily during FD weekend. "They will try to participate as time permits, but the pass times for North America are not favorable," Ransom noted. The crew should be on its normal sleep schedule of 2130-0600 UTC during Field Day weekend. When they're awake, however, Williams and Vinogradov will have their hands full preparing for the arrival of the Progress 22 supply vehicle on Monday, June 26, when the crew will deactivate the crossband repeater. The crossband repeater uplink is 437.800 MHz. The downlink is 145.800 MHz. Ransom says the crossband repeater should be up and running sometime after 1900 UTC on Thursday, June 22. He said this will give stations a couple of days to practice working through it and learn how best to deal with the Doppler on the uplink, which can be considerable. The crossband repeater will be available only to low-power (QRP) stations following AMSAT criteria, Ransom said. A QRP station may run no more than 10 W to a vertical or handheld antenna. US pass times are not especially ideal for contacts with the crew members. The only one on Saturday, June 24 (UTC) - over Mexico and the Eastern US - falls during the crew's sleep period. Passes on Sunday, June 24 - from 0046 to 0105 UTC and from 0708 to 0728 UTC over the Central US - may offer a better opportunity. Stations in the US Southwest might look for crew activity on Sunday from 0844 to 0900 UTC, while those in Hawaii should check Sunday from 1152 to 1200 UTC and again from 1327 to 1335 UTC. If Williams or Vinogradov do find time to get on the air, Ransom says, they also will use the crossband repeater mode. Williams will give a report of "NA1SS, 1 Alpha ISS," while Vinogradov will give a report of "RS0ISS, 1 Alpha ISS." Contacts made via the ISS crossband repeater count as satellite contacts for Field Day bonus points. Contacts with the crew do not count for Field Day bonus points. AMSAT is making its ECHO (AO-51) satellite available for Field Day. One of AO-51's FM transponders (145.880 MHz up/435.150 MHz down, no CTCSS tone needed) will be QRP only (10 W) for Field Day. Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, says PCSat2, which is mounted on the outside of the ISS, will be in packet mode and operating on 145.825 MHz simplex over Field Day weekend. ==>ANTARCTICA'S KC4AAA TO BE ON THE AIR FOR FIELD DAY KC4AAA at Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, Antarctica, has announced plans to participate in ARRL Field Day 2006. The station's Satellite Communications Technician Robert Reynolds, N0QFQ, will head up the effort. Operations from KC4AAA will commence at 1800 UTC on June 24 and continue through 2100 UTC on June 25. Experience has shown that the best opportunity for North and South American stations to contact KC4AAA appears around 2300 UTC on the Eastern Seaboard, moving westward with time until the window closes around 0400 UTC. Given South Pole's location right under the auroral oval, propagation can make South Pole intercontinental HF radio communications a challenge, so listen carefully! The primary operating frequency will be on or about 14.243 MHz. KC4AAA operators will monitor and exploit other bands, but 20 meter SSB will be the primary operating mode. South Pole will operate as a "home" station with supplied power (Class 1D). Reynolds plans to have a team of up to 10 operators staffing the station, most of whom are in a ham radio licensing class at the station. KC4AAA will be running 1 kW and will mainly use a pair of log-periodic antennas aimed toward the US. KC4AAA plans to upload its Field Day log to Logbook of The World (LoTW) <http://www.arrl.org/lotw>. QSL cards will go out later in the year. For more information, contact Nick Powell, NH6ON, <nick.powell@usap.gov>. ==>ARRL KIDS DAY IS SATURDAY, JUNE 17 The next opportunity to bring Amateur Radio into the lives of young people is Saturday, June 17, when ARRL's second Kids Day of 2006 takes place <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/kd-rules.html>. "It's their special day, so make the most of it," says ARRL Education and Technology Program Coordinator Mark Spencer, WA8SME. "Why not join in the fun and invite some kids to experience the 'magic of radio' in your shack June 17?" Kids day begins at 1800 UTC and continues until 2400 UTC. There's no limit on operating time. Suggested exchanges are first name, age, location and favorite color. Call "CQ Kids Day" to elicit contacts. Suggested frequencies are 14.270 to 14.300 MHz, 21.380 to 21.400 MHz and 28.350 to 28.400 MHz, plus local VHF repeaters with the sponsor's permission. Licensees should observe third-party traffic restrictions <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/io/3rdparty.html> when making DX contacts. These apply when unlicensed individuals communicate via ham radio. More information on Kids Day is in June QST, p 53. The Echo AO-51 satellite will be available for Kids Day with an uplink of 145.920 MHz FM voice (67 Hz CTCSS) and a downlink of 435.300 MHz. The digital transponder on 435.150 will be turned off. ==>SECOND ANNUAL "TAKE YOUR HANDHELD TO WORK DAY" SET FOR JUNE 20 The ARRL apparently struck a chord in 2005 when it initiated "Take Your Handheld to Work Day." Radio amateurs who participated last year report they were able to introduce many new people to Amateur Radio. Whether any of those co-workers became hams themselves as a result isn't known, but this simple activity offers a great opportunity to demonstrate and describe Amateur Radio to others and to talk up its benefits. So, the League is doing it again this year. "On Tuesday, June 20, we encourage every ham radio operator across the country who owns a handheld transceiver to take their little radios to work if they can," says ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP. "By wearing it on their belt, setting it on a desk or just making your radio visible, the goal is to have co-workers ask, 'What's that?' In this way, the hams will be able to share about the fun they have with Amateur Radio." Pitts encourages hams not only to show the capabilities of their handheld radios, but to invite co-workers to actually give them a try -- under the licensee's supervision, of course -- as the Amateur Radio rules allow. ARRL member Ted Homan, WB8WFG, says he tried the idea on his own about 15 years ago. One of his co-workers, Pete Engel, saw his handheld-an Icom IC2-AT--and "had to have one," Homan said. "Now he is N8OGW, and several members of his family are also hams now. In addition, Homan reports, several inactive hams at his workplace were inspired to get back on the air. "This is a very good way to show off Ham Radio," he concludes. "Take Your Handheld to Work Day" is a chance to have a lot of fun, recruit new hams, invite people to Field Day, get publicity and show off Amateur Radio," Pitts points out. "Many people would like to have the capabilities of ham radio in a crisis, but don't know where to start. The best recruiter is another ham. I hope you have fun and make the most of it!" A heads up: On June 20 between noon and 1 PM in your local time zone, be on the lookout for surprise messages from ARRL. By using modern digital radio technology, EchoLink and a few other tricks, random participants from locations around the country might be spotted on the air by W1AW and win a prize. ==>DXCC ANNOUNCES RULE CHANGE The ARRL DXCC Desk has announced new language to replace the wording of a previously removed DXCC rule pertaining to political entities. The change adds a Paragraph 1(c) under Section II, DX List Criteria, in the DXCC Rules. "Upon request of the Programs and Services Committee (PSC), the DX Advisory Committee (DXAC) has studied the impact of a change to the DXCC rules," said the announcement. The DXAC, the Awards Committee and the PSC have concurred in the rule change, which became effective June 15, 2006. The new text at Section II, Paragraph 1(c) reads: "The Entity contains a permanent population, is administered by a local government and is located at least 800 km from its parent. To satisfy the 'permanent population' and 'administered by a local government' criteria of this subsection, an Entity must be listed on either (a) the US Department of State's list of 'Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty' as having a local 'Administrative Center,' or (b) the United Nations' list of 'Non-Self-Governing Territories.'" The DXCC Desk says Rule 1(c) is intended to recognize entities that are sufficiently separate from their parent for DXCC purposes but don't qualify under Rule 1(a) or Rule 1(b). "The new rule will cause certain geographic separation entities to be reclassified as political entities," ARRL Membership Services Manager Wayne Mills, N7NG, explains. This, in turn, will reduce the mileage for a first separation for these entities from 800 km to 350 km. QSOs with any new entity resulting from this rule change will count for credit only for contacts made on or after the start date for that entity. In no case will QSOs made prior to the date of this notice be considered for credit for any new entity created as a result of this rule. Applications for DXCC award credits resulting from this change will be accepted on or after October 1, 2006. ==>WESTERN NEW YORK HAM MARKS 100TH BIRTHDAY ARRL Member Horace Staley, KA2HDO, of Walton, New York, turned 100 years old on June 6. ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, took note of the occasion to extend best wishes on behalf of the League. "Congratulations on reaching the one-century mark with your birthday on June 6," Harrison, said this week in an e-mail greeting to Staley. "Your enthusiasm for life and your dedication to amateur are a great example we can all admire and be proud of. CU on the bands!" A longtime member of the Walton Radio Association, Staley is an active ham, and he continues to run the Walton Radio Association Monday evening CW net. His decades of experience make him a wonderful mentor, says his friend John Hampel, AB2IC. Staley answers questions that club members e-mail, and he checks into the club's 2-meter net every Wednesday evening with well-thought-out questions or solutions, he said. A widower, Staley lives independently, is in good health and still drives a car. While the ARRL does not keep statistics on the oldest radio amateur in the US or even the oldest League member, Staley likely would be at or near the top of the list. The Walton Radio Association staged a surprise birthday party for Staley on June 4, complete with a birthday cake bedecked with strawberry slices. He took the opportunity to talk about his life, starting with his time in China and continuing through the last 75 years he's lived in New York. "It was fascinating; all were amazed," Hampel said. "It is an honor to be his friend." ==>SOLAR UPDATE Sun watcher Tad "Let the Sunshine In" Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington, reports: Solar activity continues at very low levels, wit sunspot numbers in the 70s. We're probably not at the bottom of the cycle yet, however. During long periods of zero sunspots at solar minima, we observe solar flux values in the mid-60s. Wednesday, June 21, is "the longest day of the year" in the Northern Hemisphere, as we transition from spring to summer propagation. A couple of things you might notice: 40, 60 and 80 meters will be open for shorter periods due to fewer hours of darkness. You can also look forward to long-distance 20-meter openings later into the evening. These effects become more noticeable at northern latitudes. Six meters remains hot. ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, reports he worked 123 Japanese stations in one recent evening. He says ARRL Vice President Rick Roderick, K5UR, worked 130 JAs in the same day recently. For more information concerning propagation and an explanation of the numbers used in this bulletin see the ARRL Technical Information Service Propagation page <http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html>. Sunspot numbers for June 8 through 14 were 67, 42, 46, 46, 32, 23 and 35, with a mean of 41.6. 10.7 cm flux was 80, 77.6, 76.1, 74.4, 74.2, 77.1, and 75.3, with a mean of 76.4. Estimated planetary A indices were 20, 10, 8, 5, 4, 3 and 7, with a mean of 8.1. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 18, 9, 7, 4, 2, 2 and 6, with a mean of 6.9. __________________________________ ==>IN BRIEF: * This weekend on the radio: ARRL Kids Day (see above), the Council of Europe Radio Club 20th Anniversary Challenge, the All Asian DX Contest (CW), the SMIRK Contest, the West Virginia and Quebec QSO parties, the AGCW VHF/UHF Contest and the DIE Contest are the weekend of June 17-18. JUST AHEAD: The Run for the Bacon QRP Contest is June 19 (UTC). The RSGB 80-Meter Club Championship (SSB) is June 22. The Thursday NCCC Sprint Ladder is June 23. ARRL Field Day, the ARCI Milliwatt Field Day, the His Majesty the King of Spain Contest (SSB) and the Ukrainian DX Digi Contest are the weekend of June 24-25. The Marconi Memorial HF Contest has been cancelled. The Thursday NCCC Sprint Ladder is June 30. 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 Friday, June 23, for these ARRL Certification and Continuing Education (CCE) program on-line courses: 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) CLASSES BEGIN FRIDAY, JULY 7. To learn more, visit the CCE Course Listing page <http://www.arrl.org/cce/courses.html> or contact the CCE Department <cce@arrl.org>. * Courtesy urged on 6 meter "DX window": Radio amateurs taking advantage of recent openings on 6 meters are advised that the ARRL 6-meter band plan <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/6m> designates the segment 50.100 to 50.125 MHz as the "DX window." The idea behind this unofficial designation, which reflects a consensus of longtime band users, is to keep that area of the band clear for US-to-DX contacts on "The Magic Band." Veteran 6-meter operators report hearing many US stations working each other when the band is open. Such complaints arise each year when the band first opens, says ARRL Field and Educational Services Manager Dave Patton, NN1N. "Frequently the newcomers learn where to operate quickly enough, and often the veterans can be heard gently coaxing them up the band for a nice chat, at the same time making them aware of the band plan," he added. US stations are asked to keep stateside operation above 50.125 MHz (the "SSB calling frequency") as a courtesy to those attempting to work DX during band openings. * "Zulu stations" stand down in Indonesia: The Amateur Radio "zulu stations" activated to handle emergency communications in the wake of the magnitude 6.3 earthquake in late May Indonesia's main island of Java, have now stood down. Indonesia's International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) member-society, the Organization of Amateur Radio for Indonesia (ORARI) coordinated an emergency communication network comprised of zulu-suffix emergency communication stations on HF and VHF. Radio amateurs involved with the emergency effort now say West Java provincial emergency managers have declared the emergency phase at an end and that a recovery or "rehabilitation" phase has begun. Wyn Purwinto, AB2QV, an Indonesian native who's been keeping tabs on the Amateur Radio response, says all "zulu stations" that have been supporting the emergency response effort in the disaster areas of his home country were deactivated effective June 12. The action includes YE1ZAB, a zulu station that had been supporting the provincial health department's disaster relief unit. Purwinto says all emergency radio volunteers who came to hard-hit Yogyakarta area following the quake will return home, although local club stations and emergency volunteers will remain on standby. * San Diego SM Tuck Miller, NZ6T, stepping down: ARRL San Diego Section Manager Tuck Miller, NZ6T, of National City, California, has announced that he's resigning his post effective July 1. Miller suffered a massive heart attack June 11 and now is recovering from surgery. He says he's stepping down to take control of his health. Miller previously served as San Diego SM from 1998 to 2002 before being elected ARRL Southwestern Division Vice Director. Earlier this year, he was re-elected as San Diego SM and took office April 1. In consultation with ARRL Southwestern Division Director Dick Norton, N6AA, ARRL Field and Educational Services Manager Dave Patton, NN1N, has named past San Diego SM Pat Bunsold, WA6MHZ, of El Cajon to complete the remainder of Miller's term, which ends in April 2008. * Amateur Radio CubeSat launch postponed: The launch and deployment 13 Amateur Radio "CubeSats," originally set for June 28, has been postponed until July 26 (UTC), reportedly due to a technical issue during launch vehicle preparation. The backup date is July 27, one CubeSat group told ARRL. A Dnepr-1LV rocket is scheduled to carry the CubeSats into space from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. A fourteenth satellite in the package will not carry an Amateur Radio payload. The CubeSat project is a collaboration between California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo and Stanford University's Space Systems Development Laboratory. All of the CubeSats were designed and built by students at various universities in the US and elsewhere in the world. Twelve of the satellites have downlinks in the Amateur Radio satellite allocation between 435 and 438 MHz, and one will operate on 145.980 MHz. None of the spacecraft will carry a transponder. Transmitter power outputs range from 10 mW to 2 W. * Ukraine soccer star is radio amateur: If you've been following FIFA World Cup football (soccer) matches from Germany, you may know the name Sergei Rebrov, a midfielder on the Ukraine team. What you might not know is that Serge, 32, is UT5UDX and an active CW contester and DXer when he's not on the playing field (he wears number 11). Although Spain beat Ukraine 4-0 in their June 14 match, Ukraine is still considered a favorite to advance from Group H. Rebrov and his teammates next face off against Saudi Arabia on June 19 at 1800 CEST. Rebrov also has operated as M0SDX, TA2ZF and other call signs.--thanks to Osten, SM5DQC; Michael Keane, K1MK * QST Contributing Editor John Dilks, K2TQN, honored: QST Contributing Editor John Dilks, K2TQN, has received the Marconi Memorial Award from the Veteran Wireless Operators Association (VWOA) <http://www.vwoa.org/> "for his persevering efforts over the past 15 years in collecting, restoring, displaying and demonstrating the operation of vintage radio equipment," the award plaque reads. "His published writings of radio history preserve the memories of all radio and wireless pioneers." VWOA President Alan Ehrlich, WA2GDQ, presented the award to Dilks on May 20. Dilks has written the popular monthly "Old Radio" column <http://www.eht.com/oldradio/arrl/> for QST since January 2000.--Mike Shaw, K2LRE =========================================================== The ARRL Letter is published Fridays, 50 times each year, by the American Radio Relay League--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 news of interest to active amateurs. The ARRL Letter strives to be timely, accurate, concise, and readable. Visit ARRLWeb <http://www.arrl.org/> for the latest news, updated as it happens. The ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org/> offers access to news, informative features and columns. 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