IN THIS UPDATE . . .
ON-LINE VANITY CALL SIGN FORM TO BE AVAILABLE SEPTEMBER 23

There's good news and bad news about the FCC's plans to provide for electronic filing of vanity call sign requests. The good news is that an electronic version of the Amateur Station Vanity Call Sign Request Form 610V will be available starting at 12:01 AM EDT on September 23, 1996. Applicants can access the form on the Internet at the Federal Communications Commission Wireless Telecommunications Bureau home page, http://www.fcc.gov/wtb, under Amateur Radio-Interactive Vanity Call Sign. Detailed filing instructions are available by clicking on the item number on the Internet form.

The bad news is that electronic payment is not yet available. The FCC said that applicants must mail a completed FCC Form 159, FCC Remittance Advice, with payment to Federal Communications Commission, Box 358994, Pittsburgh, PA 15259-5994. Note that this is a different Post Office box and ZIP code than for vanity requests and payments using hard-copy forms.

For technical assistance, call the FCC Technical Support Group at 202-414-1250. For general application assistance, call the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Consumer Assistance staff at 800-322-1117.

SHUTTLE ATLANTIS CARRIES THREE HAMS INTO SPACE

Three hams are aboard space shuttle Atlantis, which was launched at 0854 UTC Monday morning. Astronauts aboard include Jay Apt, N5QWL; Carl Walz, KC5TIE; and John Blaha, KC5TZQ. Blaha will spend 120 days as a resident on the space station Mir, replacing Shannon Lucid, who has been living on Mir for the last six months. The shuttle docked with the station on Thursday to make the exchange and to pick up and drop off materials and equipment at Mir.

STS-79 is carrying the Shuttle Amateur Radio EXperiment (SAREX) payload in configuration M. Configuration M is voice-only operations on a downlink frequency of 145.84 MHz FM. Voice uplinks are on 144.45 and 144.47 MHz. Packet radio is not on Atlantis this mission.

Alan Crowder, KC7KCG, in Seattle, Washington, reports making the first 2-meter contact with N5QWL while in his car using a half-wave vertical running 25 W. Reports were 59 on both ends. Other hams have also successfully contacted N5QWL and the other hams aboard.

The crew has three prearranged contacts with schools: Andover Middle School in Andover, Kansas (September 20); Immaculate Conception Elementary School in Celina, Ohio; and the Royal School For Girls in Haslemere, Surrey, England (September 22). The students have been preparing for their contact for several months. These contacts will occur after the shuttle has docked with Mir. Random contacts will also be made with the ham community.

Amateurs should check W1AW bulletins and AMSAT SAREX bulletins for Keplerian elements and information about possible random contact opportunities. SAREX operating frequencies and additional information can be found on the ARRLWeb SAREX page, http://www.arrl.org/sarex/.

GOOD WEATHER, CROWD MARK NATIONAL CONVENTION IN PEORIA

Clear, cool weather and a good turnout highlighted the 1996 ARRL National Convention September 13-15 in Peoria, Illinois. ARRL Executive Vice President David Sumner (at podium) and ARRL President Rod Stafford, KB6ZV (behind Sumner) fielded questions at the ARRL Forum. Popular topics included the new FCC RF safety standards and the future of Morse code as a requirement for HF privileges. NASA Astronaut Dr Charles Brady, N4BQW, was a huge hit at the SAREX Forum and at the banquet.

HAMS CHARGED IN PHONY "PIZZA DUDE" POLICE CALLS

Three ham radio operators from Mesa, Arizona, have been arrested and charged in the wake of a nearly year-long spree of false distress calls and profane transmissions on police, fire and ham radio frequencies. One of those interfering with police calls had identified himself on the air as "Pizza Dude." The trio, reportedly led by a 16-year-old former Mesa Police Explorer Scout, faked reports of bomb scares, carjackings and robberies, and officers in distress, according to an August 20 report in The Arizona Republic of Phoenix. Investigators said they also played music on emergency channels and harassed police dispatchers. "They taunted us for months, saying they wouldn't get caught," the newspaper quotes police Sgt Ben Kulina as saying. On some occasions, police dispatched officers in response to the false calls.

Members of the Arizona Repeater Association's Local Interference Committee located the troublemakers and helped police and FCC officials to obtain enough evidence to make the arrests. In late July, the Committee heard reports of abuse of the 911 emergency system on two local repeaters. Serious interference to one Mesa machine was occurring almost nightly. Similarities between the repeater interference and what Mesa police had been experiencing for nearly a year led to a cooperative arrangement between the ARA and authorities. Lance Halle, KC7FVX, chairman of the Interference Committee, reports that within a couple of days, two of the perpetrators were located (using DF equipment) and the information relayed to Mesa Police. The police--with help from city communication officials, the FCC and local hams--started keeping an eye on the suspects, monitoring, recording and DFing. "The FBI was brought in for voice-print analysis to insure an airtight case," Halle said. When enough evidence was gathered, the arrest warrants were issued.

Taken into custody and charged were 20-year-old Christopher R. Johnson, KC7QPJ, and two 16-year-olds, Brad E. Shelley, KC7JQY, and Joshua D. Cavender, KC7JGH. Johnson and the teenagers were charged with interfering with public safety frequencies, impersonating a police officer and false reporting. Halle said the suspects' radios, computers and telephones were seized. The trio also may face FCC sanctions.

The Local Interference Committee is an ARRL-recognized organization within the Amateur Auxiliary Program. All members of the ARA Local Interference Committee are ARRL Official Observers.

SOLAR ACTIVITY DIPS

Solar prognosticator Tad Cook, KT7H, of Seattle, Washington, reports that solar activity was down from September 5 to September 11, with the sunspot numbers below the 90-day average of 71 on every day of the period. Solar flux was down an average of more than 4, and sunspot numbers were down an average of 11 compared to the week previous. Solar activity was down again during the period September 12 to September 18. Average solar flux was down about a point, and average sunspot numbers were down about 3.7. Every day except September 12 had no visible sunspots. The daily solar flux was below the 90-day average of 71 on each day over the past week. Solar activity is expected to increase over this week, with solar flux to peak in the mid 70s around September 24-16. Geomagnetic conditions are expected to peak around September 25 with A indices around 25 and K indices as high as 5. After October 1 solar flux should drop below 70. Geomagnetic conditions should get unstable again around October 7-13.

The days are growing shorter, and the fall equinox will arrive September 22. Because of less daylight 20 meters is becoming more of a daylight band.

Sunspot numbers for September 5 through 11 were 0, 0, 15, 15, 0, 0 and 0, respectively, with a mean of 4.3. The 10.7-cm flux was 70.3, 69.7, 69.5, 68.2, 67.9, 68, and 67.6, respectively, with a mean of 68.7. Sunspot numbers for September 12 through 18 were 11, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 and 0, respectively, with a mean of 1.6. The 10.7 cm flux was 67.8, 67.3, 67.1, 66.4, 68, 69, and 68.9, respectively, with a mean of 67.8.

ALABAMA HAM PLATES GET NEW LOOK

 Lawrence Thompson, KE4RPX, holds Alabama's new ham radio license plate bearing his call sign.

No more same ol' same ol' for Alabama hams who want to display their call signs on their vehicles. New ham radio license plates in Alabama will clearly indicate "Amateur Radio" below the owner's call sign, thanks to the efforts of Lawrence Thompson, KE4RPX, of Montgomery, Alabama. Thompson--a former Kentucky lobbyist turned Anglican priest--serves as the state government liaison for the Alabama Section. Section Manager Tom Moor, KL7Q, approached him about the subject, and Thompson got on the phone. Three calls later, he had an appointment with the state official responsible for license plates. "One hour later, I met with this man in his office," Thompson relates. "Twenty minutes later, I had his approval to begin designing a new Amateur Radio license plate." Thompson, himself, took on the task of designing the distinctive ham radio plate, after the Motor Vehicle Division granted his request and dissuaded him from holding a design contest. The Amateur Radio legend is in red across the bottom of the new plates, which also display a tower on the left-hand side.

The official told Thompson that, in 26 years of working at the division, no one had even asked him about the possibility of a new design. Alabama has 10,000 hams, but fewer than 20% of them have ham radio license plates, which cost an additional $3.

Thompson reports that Alabama was the first state to permit ham radio license plates, passing the legislation in 1951.--Alabama Section News

PROLIFIC QST AUTHOR CELEBRATES 80TH BIRTHDAY

O. G. "Mike" Villard, W6QYT (ex-W1DMV) of Woodside, California, celebrated his 80th birthday September 17. Between 1941 and 1994, Villard authored or co-authored more than two dozen articles for QST. His first contribution was "Operation from Three-Wire Power Lines" in June 1941. Most recent was "Simple Equipment for HF Fox Hunting," in August 1994.

"The 53-year record is virtually unchallenged in the history of QST, and is striking for the variety of subjects that have attracted our interest for in-depth investigation," ARRL Executive Vice President David Sumner, K1ZZ, wrote in a congratulatory letter to Villard which concluded, "When can we expect the next article?"

HAM-ASTRONOMER HONORED

Dr James M. Moran, K1AKE, has been awarded the 1996 Karl G. Jansky Lectureship by Associated Universities Inc and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory. The Jansky Lectureship is awarded for outstanding contributions to the advancement of astronomy. Moran, a professor of astronomy at Harvard University, is best known for his application of the techniques of very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) to the study of astronomical masers. Masers are the radio equivalent of lasers. VLBI allows astronomers to image celestial objects at a level of detail unmatched by any other technique. In a recent spectacular result, Moran and his colleagues used VLBI observations of a rotating disk of masers near the center of the galaxy NGC 4258 to show that the galaxy's center contains an enormous black hole with a mass 36 million times that of the sun.

Moran credits Amateur Radio with starting him on his career path. Encouraged by his father, James M. Moran Sr, W1QUO, Moran was first licensed at the age of 13. The senior Moran is a longtime amateur, and his son still vividly remembers being shown a wood-chassis transmitter with a 35T tube that his dad had built in the 1930s. At his dad's suggestion, Moran decided to build a radio telescope for a high school science-fair project. He bought a World War II surplus military 430-MHz downconverter that provided input to his Hallicrafters SX-100 HF receiver. The results were recorded on a chart recorder. With this rig and a 6-foot-long helical antenna, he detected radio emission from the sun and won the top prize in the science fair.

Moran is a graduate of Notre Dame and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. A staff member of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory since 1970, he also is a professor of astronomy at Harvard University. He lives in Concord, Massachusetts, with his wife, Barbara, an Episcopal priest. The couple has two children. Moran holds a private pilot's license and also enjoys squash, tennis, hiking, camping, photography and windsurfing. He still maintains a weekly CW schedule with his dad on 20 meters.

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a facility of the National Science Foundation, operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities Inc.

VERNARD RIPORTELLA, WA2LQQ, SK

Former AMSAT-NA president and QST columnist and author Vern "Rip" Riportella, WA2LQQ, of Warwick, New York, died September 13, 1996, of an apparent heart attack. He was 52. A former US Air Force officer, Riportella was the third president of AMSAT-NA and served from 1984 until 1987, and he's credited with being a prime mover behind OSCARs 10 and 13. "Rip" served for a time as the editor of QST's "Amateur Satellite Communications" column and wrote several articles for QST on satellites. He also founded the AMSAT Satellite Report (now the OSCAR Satellite Report).

In more recent years, he was involved in the installation and upgrading of packet radio equipment aboard the Russian space station, Mir. Services will be private. His wife, Ellen, survives. Condolences may be sent in care of the Strong-Basile Memorial Chapel, 75 Main St, Warwick, NY 10990 or to the family's mailing address, Box 177, Warwick, NY 10990.

In Brief . . .
  • Help wanted: The ARRL Washington Office has an opening for an electronics engineer (BSEE or equivalent experience) with spectrum-management experience. Duties would include representing the interests of Amateur Radio to US government agencies, the ITU and regional organizations. Public speaking ability, professional-quality writing and the ability to deal with people from other countries are essential. Spanish language skills are a plus. Send resume and salary expectations to R. Boucher, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; fax 860-594-0298.

  • New Kansas SM: Mike Brungardt, WA0SXR, of Newton, Kansas, is the new Kansas section manager. He succeeded Gary Bliss, NZ0M, effective September 16, 1996.

  • Quote of the month? FCC Chairman Reed Hundt, in London offering his "Seven Commandments" for telecommunications competition: "How many licenses should be auctioned? As many as can be found in the airwaves. What if the spectrum is already lightly used? Allow auction winners to relocate the existing users at no cost, so that the market can clear spectrum. How should the spectrum be used? Any way the auction winners want: no restrictions; no rules; total flexibility."

  • Hams to be honored: The Radio Club of America will honor three well-known hams November 22 at its annual banquet in New York City. Carole Perry, WB2MGP, will receive the Barry Goldwater Amateur Radio Award; Frank A. Gunther, W2ALS, will get the Frank A. Gunther Award; and Fred. M. Link, W2ALU, will receive the President's Award.

  • Thanks! Fred Hammond, VE3HC, has donated a number of equipment racks and other items that will come in handy as the ARRL Lab renovates its screen room. Test Engineer Mike Gruber, WA1SVF, will be installing the equipment this month.

  • Info on older Kenwoods: Kenwood is offering FTP access to many Kenwood service bulletins and application notes via the Internet. Visit the Kenwood FTP site from Kenwood's Web page, http://www.kenwood.net/ (click on What's New at Kenwood) or directly at ftp://ftp.kenwood.net. The FTP site includes Kenwood equipment bulletins and notes dating back to 1975.
The ARRL Letter

The ARRL Letter is published by the American Radio Relay League, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax 860-594-0259. Rodney J. Stafford, KB6ZV, President; David Sumner, K1ZZ, Executive Vice President.

Electronic edition circulation, Kathy Capodicasa, N1GZO, e-mail kcapodicasa@arrl.org.

Editorial, Rick Lindquist, KX4V, e-mail rlindquist@arrl.org.

Visit the ARRLWeb page at http://www.arrl.org.

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