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ARRL Letter

 


***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 26, No. 15
April 13, 2007
***************

IN THIS EDITION:

* +Youth in the spotlight for World Amateur Radio Day 2007
* +Billionaire space traveler on the air from space
* +Andrea Hartlage, KG4IUM, wins the 2007 William Goldfarb Scholarship
* +FCC invites public comments on two ham radio-related petitions
* +Arizona's chances of ham radio antenna legislation dim
* +President recognizes California radio amateur's volunteer service
*  Solar Update
*  IN BRIEF: 
     This weekend on the radio
     ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration
    +ARRL HQ seeks Assistant Editor
    +Swains Island DXpedition logs available
     FCC Amateur Radio enforcement correspondence posted
     Dayton Hamvention contesting-related activities noted

+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: Rick Lindquist, N1RL,
<n1rl@arrl.org>;
===========================================================

==>WORLD AMATEUR RADIO DAY 2007 SPOTLIGHTS YOUTH

Wednesday, April 18, is a special day for radio amateurs around the globe.
That's when the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU)
<http://www.iaru.org/> and its member societies representing more than 150
countries around the world celebrate World Amateur Radio Day 2007,
commemorating the founding of the IARU 82 years ago. The theme for this
year's celebration is "Amateur Radio: Allowing youth to connect the world."

Despite the Internet and cellular telephones, Amateur Radio continues to
attract people worldwide by providing free international communication and
friendship. Because it does not rely on, nor need, established
telecommunication infrastructure, Amateur Radio can reach every corner of
the world -- and even into space!

The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS)
<http://www.rac.ca/ariss> program offers an opportunity for students to
experience the excitement of Amateur Radio by allowing them to converse with
ISS crew members about their scientific research, the space station, the
human spaceflight program and everyday life in space -- a unique educational
experience. With the help of Amateur Radio clubs and individual operators,
orbiting astronauts and cosmonauts speak with young people around the world
via ham radio, showing schools, teachers, students, parents and communities
how Amateur Radio energizes youngsters about science, technology, and
learning.

IARU member societies, Amateur Radio satellite organizations and a sizeable
contingent of Amateur Radio operators -- including those from clubs at
Johnson Space Center, Goddard Space Flight Center and Marshall Space Flight
Center -- work behind the scenes to make these educational experiences
possible.

Youth programs also are available through Scouting, as many thousands of
Scouts in the US and elsewhere get together over the airwaves each year
during the third weekend of October for Jamboree On The Air (JOTA)
<http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/jota.html>. Participating Boy and Girl
Scouts and Guides from all over the world speak to each other via Amateur
Radio, offering these young people the exciting opportunity to make friends,
exchange experiences and share ideas with their peers in other countries,
sometimes without leaving home.

Since 1958 when the first JOTA took place, millions of Scouts have met each
other through this event. Many JOTA contacts foster pen-pal relationships
and links between Scout troops that last for years. Numerous scouts and
leaders hold Amateur Radio licenses, while others participate in JOTA at
stations provided by local Amateur Radio clubs and individual radio
amateurs.

Young radio amateurs also form organizations of their own. One example is
the World Wide Young Contesters (WWYC) <http://www.wwyc.net/>, made up of
radio amateurs under age 30 who enjoy participating in international
contests. Several members of the club qualified to compete in the World
Radiosport Team Championship last July in Brazil.

While radio amateurs have been in the news repeatedly for providing
communication during disasters and emergencies, the lion's share of their
activities remains the excitement and joy of contacting distant and remote
areas of the world, learning directly about each others' regions and lives
and trying different ways to contact other hams in far-flung places. In
addition, some leading engineers and technologists have cited lessons
learned through their practical, hands-on experiences as Amateur Radio
operators for inspiring their career paths.

MK QTC, the Polish Radio Amateurs' Journal, sponsors the international World
Amateur Radio Day Award with the support of PZK, the Polish Amateur Radio
Union -- that country's IARU member society. Radio amateurs qualify for this
award by making at least 10 QSOs on HF or 5 QSOs on VHF between 0000 and
2400 UTC on April 18.

Send a log extract, including a list of QSOs, to The Radio Amateurs' Journal
MK QTC, Suchacz-Zamek - Wielmozy 5b, 82-340 Tolkmicko, POLAND, by June 30.
Include $5 (US) or 5 Euros. Shortwave listeners may obtain this full-color
award by submitting the same numbers of reports.

Since 1925, the IARU has been instrumental in coordinating and representing
Amateur Radio activities around the world. Learn more by visiting the IARU
Web site <http://www.iaru.org/>. -- The IARU E-Letter

==>CIVILIAN SPACE TRAVELER ALREADY MAKING HAM RADIO CONTACTS FROM SPACE

After less than a day in space, civilian space traveler Charles Simonyi,
KE7KDP/HA5SIK, was already making contacts with the earthbound ham radio
community from NA1SS. The billionaire software pioneer and aviator arrived
April 10 at the International Space Station with the Expedition 15 crew of
Russian cosmonauts Fyodor Yurchikhin, RN3FI, and Dr Oleg Kotov. The trio
launched two days earlier in a Soyuz spacecraft from Baikonur Cosmodrome in
Kazakhstan. Ron Hashiro, AH6RH, in Honolulu was among the lucky ones. He
tells ARRL that after putting out a blind call, he spoke not only with
Simonyi but with Expedition 14/15 Flight Engineer Suni Williams, KD5PLB.

"I mentioned to her that I had listened to her earlier contact with the
school in India and it was a thrill to speak with her directly," Hashiro
recounted. "She said that Hawaii was her favorite place and had some
relatives in Hawaii." Then, Hashiro says, Williams told him someone else was
interested in talking with him, and Simonyi came on a few minutes later.

"I welcomed Charles to ham radio and asked him if he was the author of the
"Hungarian notation" of Windows programming, which he acknowledged," said
Hashiro. He told Simonyi that he was involved in Windows programming more
than 20 years ago, and was glad to meet its creator. Hashiro deemed the
occasion "a fabulous and eventful evening."

Flying under contract with the Russian Federal Space Agency, Simonyi also
has been running through a list of four scheduled Amateur Radio on the
International Space Station (ARISS) school contacts, including one with a
school in his native Hungary.

On April 12, Simonyi responded via Amateur Radio to upward of 30 questions
posed by students at Fairborn High School in Ohio, telling them he's
enjoying microgravity now that he's become used to it. Simonyi also talked
about why he wanted to go into space.

"I wanted to make a contribution to civilian space flight and assist in
space station research, and also to have a fantastic experience," he said.
As to why he flew with Russian cosmonauts and not with NASA, Simonyi said,
"NASA doesn't fly space tourists yet, so the Russians are the only game in
town." Simonyi paid a reported $25 million for his space adventure.

While in space, Simonyi will do some maintenance on the ham radio gear
aboard the ISS as well as testing to isolate an antenna problem, and he'll
reprogram the Phase 2 NA1SS transceiver to correct a configuration problem.
He'll also conduct some research before returning home April 20 with the
Expedition 14 crew of Michael Lopez-Alegria, KE5GTK, and Mikhail Tyurin,
RZ3FT, who have been in space since last September. Williams is scheduled to
return home this summer on the shuttle Endeavour.

Frequencies in use for ARISS general QSOs: Voice and packet downlink: 145.80
MHz (worldwide); Voice uplink: 144.49 MHz for Regions 2 and 3 (the Americas,
and the Pacific) and 145.20 MHz for Region 1 (Europe, Central Asia and
Africa). All frequencies are subject to Doppler shift.

==>GEORGIA TEENAGED HAM WINS 2007 WILLIAM GOLDFARB SCHOLARSHIP

Seventeen-year-old Andrea Hartlage, KG4IUM, of Grayson, Georgia, is the
winner of the prestigious William R. Goldfarb Memorial Scholarship for 2007.
The ARRL Foundation Board voted unanimously to name Andrea, who will
graduate from Grayson High School next month with a 96.05 grade point
average. Awarded to one high school senior each year, the Goldfarb
Scholarship enables the recipient to receive a four-year undergraduate
degree in engineering or science or in the medical or business-related
fields. Andrea says she was "excited, honored and a little surprised" to be
this year's Goldfarb Scholarship recipient.

"More important, winning the Goldfarb Scholarship has motivated me to be
even more involved in Amateur Radio and the ARRL," she said this week. "My
desire to live up to the expectations of Mr. Goldfarb gives me all the more
reason to excel in college while remaining as involved as possible in ham
radio. Now, more than ever, I am particularly thankful for all of the hams
who have mentored and, in a sense, helped raise me."

Licensed since 2000 and an Amateur Extra class licensee since 2003, Andrea
is the daughter of Scott (KF4PWI) and Lisa Hartlage. She plans to attend
Georgia Institute of Technology this fall to pursue an undergraduate degree
in aerospace engineering. She hopes to co-op with NASA with a long-term goal
of working for the space agency and perhaps joining the Astronaut Corps. Her
academic plans also include graduate school. She hopes to be active in the
Georgia Amateur Radio Club if her schedule permits. 

The fifth Goldfarb Scholarship winner, Andrea, an ARRL Life Member,
continues the tradition of prior recipients, demonstrating superior academic
performance, outstanding leadership and extraordinary Amateur Radio and
community service.

For the past few years, Andrea has been an ARRL contributing editor,
responsible for the "Youth @ HamRadio.Fun" Web column
<http://www.arrl.org/news/youth/>. ARRL Georgia Section Manager Susan
Swiderski, AF4FO, has appointed Andrea as Georgia Assistant Section Manager
for Youth. But that's only the tip of the iceberg! She also boasts an
impressive resume of Amateur Radio honors and accomplishments.

In 2003, the ARRL Board of Directors honored Andrea by naming her to receive
the ARRL Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Award; the following year, she was
Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year (YHOTY). Andrea coordinated
youth activities and the Youth Lounge for ARRL EXPO at Dayton Hamvention in
2005 and 2006, and also was a forum presenter and participant. She also
coordinates youth activities for the Georgia State Convention.

She's active in two Amateur Radio clubs, operating CW and phone on HF during
contests whenever she can. Her emergency training includes CPR
certification, CERT and SKYWARN training as well as three FEMA courses. Over
the past two years, Andrea has logged more than 400 volunteer community
service hours. She participates in Simulated Emergency Tests and Field Day.

In addition, she volunteers for the Georgia Teen Institute and as
Administrative Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Response Team Leader for
Gwinnett County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES). She is a member of
her radio club Hamfest Committee and volunteers as a communicator for
parades, walks, marathons and other events.

Despite her hectic schedule, she still finds time to prepare her Web column
for ARRL and to serve as editor in chief of her school newspaper and on the
Youth Leadership Conference Youth Advisory Board. She also has served on the
National Association of Teen Institutes Board of Directors and on the
Governor's Cooperative Agreement Advisory Committee for Youth Substance
Abuse Prevention.

For more information about ARRL scholarships, visit the ARRL Foundation
scholarships Web page <http://www.arrlf.org/programs/scholarship>.

==>FCC INVITES "OPPOSITIONS" ON TWO "MORSE PROCEEDING" RECONSIDERATION
PETITIONS

The FCC has invited opposition comments ("oppositions") to two petitions for
reconsideration filed in the wake of the Commission's Report & Order (R&O)
in WT Docket 05-235. That R&O altogether eliminated any Morse code
examination element to obtain an Amateur Radio license. One petition calls
on the FCC to reinstate the 5 WPM Morse code requirement for Amateur Extra
class applicants. The second cites problems with the FCC Electronic Comment
Filing System (ECFS) and seeks to have the Commission reopen the proceeding
for an additional round of comments. Oppositions are due April 27 (comments
in support of either petition are not welcome). Replies to oppositions - ie,
comments on the opposition comments - are due 10 days later. Petitioner
Anthony R. Gordon, KG6EQM, of West Covina, California, contends that
"significant national security implications" require that the Commission
take another look at the issue.

"As a federal government agency during the ongoing War on Terrorism, it is
only prudent that the critical skill of Morse code telegraphy be kept as a
hedge against unanticipated national security events and for emergency
communication requirements, even if the consensus view or technological
trend is in the opposite direction at the present time," Gordon said in his
petition, filed February 23. He characterized Morse code proficiency as a
"core competency" of the Amateur Radio Service.

In its R&O last December 15, the FCC cast aside arguments that Morse ability
was advantageous in emergency communication situations. "The Commission
previously addressed the essence of this argument and concluded that most
emergency communication today is performed using voice, data, or video
techniques," the FCC said. Gordon asked the FCC to restore the Element 1
Morse code examination element for Amateur Extra class applicants.

In a second petition the FCC put on public notice earlier this month,
Russell D. Ward, W4NI, of Nashville, Tennessee, argued that the FCC
"improperly deleted and suppressed comments received by the e-mail system of
the FCC, ECFS." Ward said the FCC was "arbitrarily deleting and suppressing
public comments" on the basis of the sender's e-mail address - especially if
it contained an Amateur Radio call sign - and charged that the Commission
"is discriminating against radio amateurs." 

As a result, he contends, the process of commenting on the FCC Notice of
Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) in WT Docket 05-235 "was flawed," in part
because the Commission did not have the advantage of all comments members of
the public may have attempted in vain to post.

Ward's petition, filed February 12, asks the FCC to do one of four things:
Stay WT Docket 05-235, fix the "flawed ECFS," reopen the proceeding for
comment or reconsider the "after a valid comment period." The FCC received
more than 3500 public comments in the Morse code proceeding.

Neither Gordon nor Ward addressed the issue of how the FCC should deal with
licensees who qualified for Amateur Extra under the new "no-code" rules that
became effective on February 23.

Both petitions are on the FCC Web site: Gordon's is at
<http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_docume
nt=6518808553>. Ward's is at
<http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_docume
nt=6518808784>.

Interested parties may file oppositions and replies on these petitions for
reconsideration via the Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS)
<http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/> and by serving a hard copy on the petitioner
at his current mailing address. Comments supporting one petition or another
are not welcome, however.

Instructions for filing electronic comments are on the ECFS page. Under
"ECFS Main Links," click on "Submit a Filing" and type "05-235" (without the
quotation marks) in the "Proceeding" field, being sure to include the
hyphen.

All statements must be specific to one or more arguments in the
reconsideration petition with which the person filing disagrees. They should
not simply say, "I oppose this petition." Only individuals who have filed
oppositions may file replies to oppositions.

==>POLITICAL MANEUVER DIMS CHANCES FOR ARIZONA HAM RADIO ANTENNA LEGISLATION

A political maneuver has ended chances that Arizona lawmakers will adopt an
Amateur Radio antenna bill that was in play this session. Proponents of "the
Emergency Communications Preservation Act," House Bill 2595 (HB 2595)
haven't given up, however. They're still trying, as one put it, "to pull a
rabbit out of a hat" and have the bill's language attached to another piece
of legislation. HB 2595 called on both municipalities and communities
governed by deed covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs) to
reasonably accommodate Amateur Radio antennas. It passed the Arizona House
on a 56 to 2 vote. An eleventh-hour bid to keep HB 2595 alive failed,
however, after Senate Government Committee Chairman Jack Harper (R-4),
declined to move the bill forward for consideration, effectively killing it.
During an e-mail exchange with a bill supporter, Harper attempted to explain
why he derailed the measure.

"I just cannot allow the radio operaters [sic] to put up 40' towers over the
objection of their neighbors," Harper told Dustin Deppe, K7DTD. "They were
not open to negotiating the height, so I could not allow the bill to go
forward. Jack." April 3 was the cutoff date for bills to be heard this
session. Harper has not responded to an ARRL request to explain why he held
the bill.

HB 2595 did not specify any particular minimum height beyond saying that
homeowners' associations (HOAs) in CC&R-governed communities "shall provide
for reasonable heights and dimensions for accommodation of amateur radio
station emergency communications antennae and structures."

City of Page Mayor Dan Brown, NA7DB -- perhaps HB 2595's biggest supporter
-- and former state representative Ted Downing, W7KEY, are in the forefront
of the effort to pull off the magic trick. Brown has advised Arizona radio
amateurs not to send "hate mail" to Harper, however. "It's important to
educate," he said, not get angry. If the effort isn't successful, he says,
bill proponents will return better prepared next session.

Amateur Radio antenna bills in Maryland and Oklahoma also failed to gain
approval of lawmakers. In Maryland, essentially identical bills were under
consideration in both legislative chambers: House Bill 941 (HB 941) and
Senate Bill 68 (SB 68). "Our bill was voted down by the Senate committee,
and we had it withdrawn from the House committee," ARRL Maryland-DC Section
Manager Jim Cross, WI3N, told ARRL. "We will introduce it next year." The
bills would have required local zoning authorities to comply with the PRB-1
limited federal pre-emption calling on municipalities to "reasonably
accommodate Amateur Radio communication." Their provisions also would have
applied to homeowners' associations (HOAs) that had not already enacted
antenna restrictions by the time the bill became law.

In Oklahoma, House Bill 1037 (HB 1037) moved out of the General Government
and Transportation Committee with a "do pass" recommendation, but it failed
to be placed on the House calendar for a vote. Eddie Manley, K5EMS, who
tracks FCC and governmental actions for the Oklahoma Section, has told ARRL
the measure is likely dead for this year, although he left open the "very
remote possibility" that it could be attached to another bill.

In North Carolina, an Amateur Radio antenna bill has been introduced in the
state Senate this session, and a House bill is "in the works," ARRL North
Carolina Section Manager Tim Slay, N4IB, told ARRL. "We're hoping to make
some headway on it this year."

To date, 23 states have adopted PRB-1 legislation. While PRB-1 requires
reasonable accommodation, it does not specify a minimum height below which
local governments may not regulate. Four states -- Alaska, Wyoming, Virginia
and Oregon -- have legislation in place that specifies antenna support
structure heights, below which municipalities may not regulate.

==>PRESIDENT RECOGNIZES RADIO AMATEUR'S DEDICATION TO VOLUNTEER SERVICE

President George W. Bush has honored ARRL member Randy Hatfield, AG6RH, of
Victorville, California, with the President's Volunteer Service Award. A
volunteer with the City of Victorville Community Emergency Response Team
(CERT) and Emergency Communication Service, Hatfield met briefly with the
president April 4 to receive the award. President Bush honors local
volunteers as he travels throughout the United States. When a call came from
the White House, Hatfield at first thought he was the victim of an April
Fool's Day prank by ECS Coordinator Robert Barton, W7OES, who nominated
Hatfield for the award a few days earlier.

"Friday, March 30, I was contacted by a woman saying she was calling from
the White House, and I was interviewed over the phone," Hatfield recounted.
"I thought Robert was pulling a very elaborate joke!"

A year earlier, Hatfield had volunteered to help Barton rebuild the ham
radio communication group for ECS. "He didn't really know me that well but
decided to give me a shot," Hatfield said of Barton. "I told him I would do
everything I could to assist him in getting ECS going. My condition was that
I not be made a leader of anything. I was to remain in the background."
Barton, in turn, believed Hatfield should be recognized for his successful
efforts.

On April 1, Hatfield got another call from the same White House staff member
telling him he'd won a Presidential Service Award. "I was nice to her and
played along but knew this was a prank," he says. Nonetheless, he went to
the airport meeting place at the appointed hour on April 4 and learned it
was for real.

Hatfield greeted the president as he disembarked from Air Force One.
President Bush shook Hatfield's hand and presented him with an award pin.
Then, they chatted for a few minutes while photos were taken. He'll receive
the official award document and a signed photo of their meeting in a couple
of weeks. 

"I'm supposed to be the behind-the-scenes guy," protested Hatfield, who has
logged more than 500 hours of volunteer service over the past 12 months.

The award recognizes his volunteer work with CERT, a Citizen Corps program
that trains volunteers in basic response skills such as fire safety, light
search and rescue and disaster preparedness. In his volunteer work with ECS,
which uses Amateur Radio volunteers to assist city and county personnel in
the event of a disaster or emergency, Hatfield has taught ham radio classes
to community members. Over the years, Hatfield estimates, he's helped some
350 individuals to get their ham radio tickets.

Hatfield says he and his wife have been active with the Victorville CERT and
ECS for a little more than a year. The couple had been involved in CERT
previously when they lived in Marysville, Washington.

In his nomination letter, Barton praised Hatfield for inspiring others by
example to also volunteer their time and receive CERT and Amateur Radio
training. 

"His classes provide hands on and practical applications to the materials
taught," Barton said. "Randy has made service to his community a priority in
life by volunteering his time and talents," Barton concluded. "He is always
there when needed to provide support and resources to accomplish any task
requested."

==>SOLAR UPDATE

Spotmeister Tad "Saved By Zero" Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington, reports: So
far this month we've observed nine days in a row with zero sunspots. Based
on predicted smoothed sunspot numbers, if this month and the next are truly
the solar minimum, we should probably see several weeks in a row with no
sunspots.

The prediction for the next period of unsettled geomagnetic conditions is
for around April 20, with an expected planetary A index of 20. After that, a
planetary A index of 25 is predicted for April 28. This same forecast (from
the US Air Force, via NOAA) shows solar flux of 70 until April 16, when it
rises to 75. This is a small shift, but it may signal the period during
which we could see another sunspot, April 16-27.

Sunspot numbers for April 5 through 11 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 and 0 with, a
mean of 0. The 10.7 cm flux was 70.9, 71, 71.2, 71.1, 69.9, 69.4, and 69.1,
with a mean of 70.4. Estimated planetary A indices were 4, 4, 3, 3, 9, 7 and
4, with a mean of 4.9. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 3, 2, 2, 2, 8,
6 and 3, with a mean of 3.7.

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

__________________________________

==>IN BRIEF:

* This weekend on the radio: The Georgia and Montana QSO parties, the JIDX
CW Contest, Radio Maritime Day, and the EU Spring Sprint (CW) are the April
14-15 weekend. The Run for the Bacon QRP Contest is April 16 (UTC). The 222
MHz Spring Sprint is April 17 The RSGB 80-Meter Club Championship (data) is
April 19. The NCCC Sprint Ladder is April 20. JUST AHEAD: The TARA Skirmish
Digital Prefix Contest, the Holyland DX Contest, the ES Open HF
Championship, Kids Roundup, the EU Spring Sprint (SSB), the Michigan and
Ontario QSO parties, the EA-QRP CW Contest, the YU DX Contest, and the SKCC
Weekend Sprint are the weekend of April 21-22. The 432 MHz Spring Sprint is
April 25. The NCCC Sprint Ladder is April 27. See the ARRL Contest Branch
page <http://www.arrl.org/contests/> and the WA7BNM Contest Calendar
<http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html> for more info.

* ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration:
Registration remains open through Sunday, April 22, for these ARRL
Certification and Continuing Education (CEC) program
<http://www.arrl.org/cce/> online courses beginning on Friday, May 4: The
ARRL Ham Radio License Course (EC-010), Amateur Radio Emergency
Communications Level 1 (EC-001), Radio Frequency Interference (EC-006),
Antenna Design and Construction (EC-009), Analog Electronics (EC-012) and
Digital Electronics (EC-013). These courses will also open for registration
Friday, April 20, for classes beginning Friday, June 1. To learn more, visit
the CCE Course Listing page <http://www.arrl.org/cce/courses.html> or
contact the CCE Department <cce@arrl.org>;.

* ARRL HQ seeks Assistant Editor: The ARRL is accepting applications for the
position of Assistant Editor. The successful candidate for this full-time
position at ARRL HQ in Newington, Connecticut, will prepare material for
publication in QST, other print publications and the ARRL Web site, and will
write material for publication. Paid work experience and a college degree in
a related field preferred. Ham radio license and on-the-air experience
required. Send resume and cover letter to LouAnn Campanello, c/o ARRL HQ,
225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111, <lcampanello@arrl.org>;. ARRL is an Equal
Opportunity Employer.

* Swains Island DXpedition logs available: The Swains Island N8S DXpedition
logs now are available online
<http://logsearch.de/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=73>. As of week's
end, the N8S crew was approaching 100,000 QSOs, most available via the
online log search engine. In the "Online-Logsearch" window, click "Search"
and scroll down to N8S (the site provides access to the logs of many
DXpeditions). Click "Search" a second time, and at "Online Log: N8S" you'll
be prompted to enter your call sign. FYI: The DXpedition reports that due to
a power failure, QSOs made April 7 between 0856 and 0938 UTC on 17 meters
SSB were lost. YT1AD will handle cards for N8S. The DXpedition is set to
shut down Sunday, April 15.

* FCC Amateur Radio enforcement correspondence posted: The FCC has posted
new Amateur Radio enforcement correspondence on its "Amateur Radio Service
Enforcement Actions" page
<http://www.fcc.gov/eb/AmateurActions/Welcome.html>. In mid-March, the FCC
Enforcement Bureau began publicly posting such correspondence -- with some
exceptions -- on its own Web site. Special Counsel in the FCC Spectrum
Enforcement Division Riley Hollingsworth sent letters to William F. Crowell,
W6WBJ, Diamond Springs, CA, and Kevin M. Bednar, K2KMB, Newton, NJ, on April
3. Direct all questions concerning the Amateur Radio Service Enforcement
Actions Web postings via e-mail only to Riley Hollingsworth <fccham@fcc.gov>;
in the FCC Spectrum Enforcement Division.

* Dayton Hamvention contesting-related activities noted: Contesters planning
to attend Dayton Hamvention <http://www.hamvention.org/> won't want to miss
these activities and social gatherings: Wednesday-Saturday, May 16-19,
Contest Super Suite at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, hosted by Contest University
(don't forget the midnight pizza parties Thursday, Friday and Saturday).
Thursday, May 17, all day, Contest University
<http://www.contestuniversity.com/> at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Space is
limited. Friday, May 18, 2:30-4:45 PM, Antenna Forum, Hara Arena, Room 1,
Tim Duffy, K3LR, moderator/presenter with Dave Leeson, W6NL, James Breakall,
WA3FET, Ted Rappaport, N9NB, and Dean Straw, N6BV, presenters. Saturday, May
19, 11:15 AM-1:45 PM, Contest Forum, Hara Arena, Room 1, Doug Grant, K1DG,
moderator, with Atilano Oms, PY5EG, Randy Thompson, K5ZD, John Laney, K4BAI,
Charlie Wooten, NF4A, Dick Norton, N6AA, Champ Muangamphun, E21EIC, and Tim
Duffy, K3LR, presenters. Saturday, May 19, 15th annual Dayton Contest Dinner
<http://www.contestdinner.com/>, Crowne Plaza Hotel, hosted by the North
Coast Contesters. Space is limited. See the Hamvention Web site
<http://hamvention.org/alternate.htm> for more information about alternate
activities. -- The Daily DX <http://www.dailydx.com/> via Tim Duffy, K3LR

=========================================================== 
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: Rick Lindquist, N1RL, n1rl@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:

* ARRLWeb <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/>. (NOTE: The ARRL Letter will be
posted each Friday when it is distributed via e-mail.)

* The QTH.net listserver, thanks to volunteers from the Boston Amateur Radio
Club: Visit Mailing Lists@QTH.Net
<http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/letter-list>. (NOTE: The ARRL
cannot assist subscribers who receive The ARRL Letter via this listserver.) 


 

The ARRL Letter

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

Much of the ARRL Letter content is also available in audio form in ARRL Audio News.

Material from The ARRL Letter may be republished or reproduced in whole or in part in any form without additional permission. Credit must be given to The ARRL Letter and The American Radio Relay League.

Back issues published since 2000 are available on this page. If you wish to subscribe via e-mail, simply log on to the ARRL Web site, click on Edit Your Profile at the top, then click on Edit Email Subscriptions. Check the box next to The ARRL email newsletter, the ARRL Letter and you will receive each weekly issue in HTML format. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Delivery problems (ARRL member direct delivery only!): letter-dlvy@arrl.org

Editorial questions or comments: John E. Ross, KD8IDJ, at news@arrl.org.

Plain-Text

The ARRL E-Letter e-mail is also available in plain-text version:

Outlook Express

1. From the Inbox view, select the Tools menu and the Options selection.

2. Click the Read tab

3. Check the Read All Messages In Plain Text box.  When you open the e-mail, it will be in plain text without images. Other e-mail programs may be able to make a Mail Rule for e-mail received from the address memberlist@www.arrl.org so that the plain-text-only display is selected automatically.

Outlook 2007

Use the same procedure as for Outlook Express, although the global option is under "Tools/Trust Center/E-mail Security".

Thunderbird

Use the menu item "View/Message Body As/Plain Text" or "View/Message Source" options.

OS X Mail (Mac)

Use the "View/Message/Plain Text Alternative" menu item.

GMail

Use the "Message text garbled?" link in the drop-down menu at the upper right of the displayed message block. pine, alpine Set "prefer-plain-text" in your ~/.pinerc configuration file: feature-list=..., prefer-plain-text, ...

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