*************** The ARRL Letter Vol. 21, No. 38 September 27, 2002 *************** IN THIS EDITION: * +HR 4720 cosponsor list continues to grow * +Ham-Congressman tapped for key US House panel * +Astronaut, nieces chat via ham radio * +Amateurs assist as Isidore comes ashore * +Prose Walker, W4BW, SK * +W3ZZ to take reins of "World Above 50 MHz" * +Newest Handbook sports slightly different name * Solar Update * IN BRIEF: This weekend on the radio ARRL Emergency Communications course registration opens October 1 Correction/clarification Job opening at ARRL Laboratory ARRL requesting JOTA activity registration ARRL International DX Contest phone results now available Lester E. Kendall, W1ABE, SK Paul Knupke Jr, N4PK, SK Argentina to get 136-kHz band Western States Weak Signal Society schedules VHF/UHF conference +Available on ARRL Audio News =========================================================== ==>COSPONSOR LIST FOR CC&R BILL, HR 4720, CONTINUES TO GROW Four new cosponsors have signed aboard HR 4720, the bill in Congress aimed at providing relief to amateurs faced with private deed covenants, conditions and restrictions--CC&Rs--in erecting antennas. The latest additions make a total of nine new cosponsors in the past month alone. HR 4720 has been referred to the House Telecommunications and Internet Subcommittee. To date, 27 members of the US House of Representatives have agreed to cosponsor the measure. The list includes two amateurs--Oregon Republican Greg Walden, WB7OCE--one of the two original cosponsors of HR 4720 with Texas Republican Pete Sessions--and Arkansas Democrat Mike Ross, WD5DVR. Walden and Ross are believed to be the only Amateur Radio licensees in the US House of Representatives. Arkansas Section Manager Bob Ideker, WB5VUH, credits the Fort Smith Amateur Radio Club with influencing one of the most recent cosponsors--Arkansas Republican John Boozman--to sign onto the bill as a cosponsor. A third Arkansas congressman, Democrat Marion Berry, also is new to the list. "Three congressmen from Arkansas down, one to go!" exclaimed Ideker. Other recent arrivals include representatives Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Constance Morella (R-MD), Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD), Mike McIntyre (D-NC), Michael McNulty (D-NY), and Neil Abercrombie (D-HI). On Capitol Hill for a visit September 19, ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, said his meetings with members of Congress and their staff in general and with House Internet and Telecommunications Subcommittee members in particular were very favorable. "All my work on The Hill on HR 4720 was extremely encouraging," Haynie said. "I felt real good about it." New York Democrat Steve Israel introduced HR 4720--the "Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Consistency Act"--on May 14. The measure would require private land-use regulators--such as homeowners' associations--to "reasonably accommodate" Amateur Radio communication consistent with the PRB-1 limited federal preemption. PRB-1 now applies only to states and municipalities. For more information, visit the HR 4720, The Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Consistency Act of 2002 page on the ARRL Web site, www.arrl.org/govrelations/hr4720. The ARRL requests those writing or e-mailing members of Congress--whether or not they are supporting this legislation--to copy ARRL on their correspondence--via e-mail to ccr-bill@arrl.org or via US Mail to CC&R Bill, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111. Correspondents should include the bill number, HR 4720, as well as their name and address on all correspondence. ==>HAM-CONGRESSMAN APPOINTED TO KEY HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE Oregon Republican Congressman Greg Walden, WB7OCE, has been appointed to fill a vacancy on the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet. Walden is one of two amateurs in the US House of Representatives, and his appointment to the key House panel is considered good news for the amateur community. Walden's appointment was announced by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Billy Tauzin, a Republican from Louisiana. "With his extensive background in broadcasting, Greg has a world of experience and expertise in telecommunications issues," Tauzin said. "His knowledge of the issues will help the Subcommittee address digital television, spectrum management, broadband deployment and other telecommunications matters." For his part, Walden said he was elated to become a subcommittee member. "I intend to work diligently to help invigorate the economic engine in Oregon and across the country," he said. "I am anxious to roll up my sleeves for Chairman Tauzin and Chairman Upton and work hard under their very effective leadership." Walden, who represents Oregon's second congressional district, was elected to Congress in 1998. Within the amateur community, he's best known as one of the original cosponsors--with Texas Republican Pete Sessions--of HR 4720. That's the bill pending in Congress aimed at providing relief to amateurs faced with private deed covenants, conditions and restrictions--CC&Rs--in erecting antennas. ==>NIECES QUESTION "AUNT PEGGY" DURING ARISS SCHOOL CONTACT Two of astronaut Peggy Whitson's young nieces were among the youngsters at St Mary's School in Martensdale, Iowa, who got to ask questions of their Aunt Peggy via Amateur Radio on September 19. Kelsey and Megan Whitson each got a chance to ask two questions apiece during the contact, arranged via the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program. At one point, Megan Whitson asked her aunt if she would return to space again if she had the chance. "Yes, Megan, in a heartbeat. I would go again," came back the reply from Peggy Whitson, KC5ZTD, who--as part of the Expedition 5 ISS crew--has been in space since early June. Whitson said she's most looking forward upon her return to seeing her husband and taking a shower. The reply drew laughter from the youngsters at the kindergarten through grade 6 school. Kelsey Whitson wanted to know how her aunt was going to get back to Earth. "Kelsey, I'm gonna come down on a shuttle in November, so I'll see you then," said Whitson, who that same week was named by NASA as the first International Space Station science officer. Whitson holds a doctorate in biochemistry from Rice University. Another youngster, Michaela McIlravy, asked about doing laundry and bathing aboard the ISS. "Once our clothes smell bad, we throw them in the trash," Whitson said. Blasts from the onboard Amateur Radio packet system punctuated the contact and covered an occasional word. Whitson saved what was perhaps her most eloquent reply for Dustin Loyd's question about what it was like to take a space walk. "As much it is absolutely phenomenal to be on the space station, going outside was even more impressive," Whitson responded. "Being in the spacesuit is like being in your own little space ship, and it's just around you and your body, and being outside made me feel like I was flying over the Earth like a bird. It made me feel like I had wings." The contact with St Mary's was handled via Nancy Rocheleau, WH6PN, in Hawaii. Two-way audio for the contact was provided courtesy of a WorldCom teleconferencing circuit. Earlier in the month, Whitson completed a successful ARISS contact with students at Glen Waverley Secondary College in Melbourne, Australia. Despite the evening hour of the September 12 QSO, more than 130 people turned out for the occasion. ARISS mentor Tony Hutchison, VK5ZAI, noted "a few antenna problems" in the hour before the contact, but Whitson managed to answer 13 questions put to her by the students. Their questions reflected concerns over the cost of the space program as well as curiosity about the physical effects of living in space and the prospects of space tourism. "The event was well followed by Amateur Radio operators in several states of Australia," said Joe Magee VK3BKI, of the Eastern and Mountain Districts Radio Club, which assisted with the contact. "Many were listening to the downlink, and the contact was the major point of discussion on the Melbourne VHF/UHF repeaters for many hours after the event and the next day." ARISS is an international project, with US participation by ARRL, AMSAT and NASA. ==>AMATEURS ASSIST IN ISIDORE RESPONSE Amateurs in Mississippi rallied to help deal with the effects of former tropical storm Isidore, which came ashore September 26. According to Mississippi Section Manager Malcolm Keown, W5XX, Isidore dumped at least nine inches of rain on the state and caused power outages, tree damage and lowland flooding. Keown said Louisiana, Mississippi and South Texas joined forces according to a previous agreement and, earlier this week, activated the West Gulf Amateur Radio Emergency Service Net (7285 kHz in the daytime and 3873 kHz at night) in preparation for the storm's arrival. The net remained in operation all week. Jackson Metro Emergency Coordinator Ben Jones, AC5SU, organized an Amateur Radio Red Cross net, and all five Red Cross shelters in the area were equipped with ham radio communication and prepared to keep in touch with one another as well as with the Red Cross Emergency Operations Center in Jackson. "Red Cross officials were very excited about this" Keown said. At week's end, the FCC rescinded a general communications emergency that had included Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. "Amateurs may resume using the frequencies 3873, 3965, 7247 and 7285 kHz (plus or minus 3 kHz)," said Joe Casey, deputy chief of the FCC Enforcement Bureau. "The Federal Communications Commission wishes to thank everyone for their cooperation and dedicated amateur service." On September 25, Jackson County Civil Defense/Emergency Management Director Todd Adams, KD5POK, requested activation of the local ARES/RACES team to support the American Red Cross and Jackson County government agencies. Jackson County EC and RACES Officer Ira Groff, NN5AF, says the Jackson County Emergency Net was called up on a local VHF repeater, and 24 ARES/RACES members and 11 other operators checked in to provide support. Meanwhile, Sheryl Mathieu, KB5ZIB, Groff, and his wife, Evelyn, KB5ZIA, staffed the emergency operations center in Pascagoula. "We were in direct communications with the National Hurricane Center in Miami and the National Weather Service in Slidell, Louisiana, on HF," Groff said. Thanks to the fact that Adams is a certified meteorologist, Groff added, the Mississippi amateurs were able to provide vital weather data to the NHC and the NWS. The Red Cross opened four shelters in the county, and some 180 people took refuge during the emergency. Seven amateurs were deployed to support shelter communications, while two others maintained contact from at the American Red Cross building in Pascagoula, Groff said. The emergency activation wrapped up around 7:30 AM on September 26. Northern Florida Section Emergency Coordinator Nils Millergren, WA4NDA, reported this week that ARES members were activated in three counties and on standby in another. ARES members staffed both the EOC and two shelters in Okaloosa County and one shelter in Walton County. ARES was active in the EOC in Escambia County and remained on standby in Santa Rosa County. The Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) <http://www.hwn.org> and W4EHW <http://www.fiu.edu/orgs/w4ehw/> at the National Hurricane Center in Miami secured September 26 after eight hours effort in support of tropical storms Isidore and Lili, neither of which developed into hurricane status as had been predicted but did produce heavy rains and serious flood threats. ==>FORMER FCC OFFICIAL A. PROSE WALKER, W4BW, SK Former FCC official A. Prose Walker, W4BW, the man some consider the godfather of the so-called "WARC bands"--30, 17 and 12 meters--died August 8 following a brief illness. He was 92. Word of his death reached ARRL Headquarters this month. Walker, who headed the FCC Amateur and Citizens Division from 1971 until 1975, made the initial proposal for three new amateur allocations at 10, 18 and 24 MHz during an International Amateur Radio Club (4U1ITU) meeting in Geneva in 1972. Later, he organized and chaired the US preparatory committee for the Amateur Service--the Advisory Committee of Amateur Radio--which took the initial steps to turn the idea into reality at the 1979 World Administrative Radio Conference. The committee also included former ARRL General Manager Richard L. Baldwin, W1RU, who said this week that he was greatly saddened to learn of Walker's passing. "One of my fondest memories of WARC 79 was the pleasure and the challenge of working with Prose in preparing for that conference," Baldwin said. "He was a stalwart supporter of the Amateur Service, and few amateurs realize how very much they owe to him." Walker's most recent recognition came at Dayton Hamvention 2000, when he was recognized with a special achievement award, an honor his daughter, Helen Herman, said he coveted among many other more prestigious awards. The award recognized his work in obtaining the new amateur allocations more than two decades earlier. An ARRL Life Member and a licensee since the 1920s, Walker was an enthusiastic amateur who remained quite active on the air until shortly before his death. Only a few months before he died, he bought a state-of-the-art transceiver and reveled in becoming acquainted with its many features. Walker's favorite operating mode was CW, and he was a frequent visitor on the bands he'd helped to create. A native of Ohio, Walker's career took a number of turns, including a stint as a high school teacher, but his primary contributions were in the fields of communications and engineering. He did two tour with the FCC and also worked for the National Association of Broadcasters and Collins Radio Company. During his career, Walker earned a global reputation for participation and leadership within the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). He was the leading member of the US delegation at more than 20 international conferences. ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, knew Walker and occasionally encountered him on the air. "The careers of some radio amateurs are so long and so rich that they bridge generations," Sumner said. "Prose was among these." Walker retired to Florida, but after his wife Ellanie died in 1999, he moved to Rochester, New York, to be near his daughter, Helen. A memorial service will be held later this year. ==>W3ZZ, TO BECOME NEW "WORLD ABOVE 50 MHZ" EDITOR A venerable QST institution is getting a new editor. Starting with the December issue, Gene Zimmerman, W3ZZ, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, will take over the reins of "The World Above 50 MHz" from Emil Pocock, W3EP, who has handled the column for the past 10 years. "The VHF and above area has been an interest of mine since I was first licensed," says Zimmerman, a ham since 1956. Among other accomplishments, Zimmerman has logged several national top-10 finishes in the ARRL November Sweepstakes (both modes) as well as a second-place North American finish in the CQ World Wide CW event (from VP2MDD). He's also bagged several national top-10 finishes in ARRL VHF parties and in the ARRL VHF Sweepstakes. After his forays into HF DXing and contesting, Zimmerman returned to VHF in the early 1980s. Operating from his home in Maryland, he's progressed to a setup that covers 6 meters through 70 cm with full legal limit amps plus gear for 903 MHz through 10 GHz--"when it all works," he quips. Even in "the world above 50 MHz," Zimmerman says he's more of a DXer than a contester. He holds VUCC on 50 through 1296 MHz with more than 800 grids confirmed on 6 meters alone and 250 on 2 meters. He's also a frequent participant on the VHF convention scene. A Life Member of ARRL, Zimmerman has served on the ARRL Contest Advisory Committee, edited the VHF contesting column for CQ Contest magazine during its five-year lifespan and was director from 2000 until 2002 of the CQ VHF Contest. QST Editor Steve Ford, WB8IMY, credited Pocock, the retiring editor, with popularizing VHF operating for the non-VHF community. "Emil used his column as a forum to encourage interest among beginners," Ford said. He also broadened the column's scope to embrace activities not often described in the amateur press and described propagation phenomena in a way that all hams could understand, he added. ==>NEWEST ARRL HANDBOOK EDITION SPORTS A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT NAME Sharp-eyed QST readers will notice a slight difference in the title on the cover of the 80th edition of The ARRL Handbook. The 2003 edition of the famous reference book, dubbed "the most respected communications resource for hams, engineers and technicians since 1926," is advertised for the first time on page 7 of the October issue of QST and is now available for ordering. Starting with the 2003 edition, it's now officially called The ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications. "The name change from The ARRL Handbook for Radio Amateurs epitomizes the Handbook's known appeal in non-amateur circles," says ARRL Marketing Manager Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R. "The book remains largely written by radio amateurs for radio amateurs." Inderbitzen notes that for many years, the Handbook has enjoyed broad appeal among electronic technicians and engineers, instructors and students, and even government and private researchers, whether or not they also happened to be Amateur Radio licensees. "We hope the small name change will make it easier for users in our non-traditional markets to locate this excellent ARRL resource," Inderbitzen said. The cover of the 2003 Handbook sports a photograph of the high-power, automatic "EZ-Tuner" project by Jim Garland, W8ZR. The project, which also won the QST Cover Plaque Award for the April 2002 issue, is among those included in the 2003 edition. Among other things, the 2003 edition of the Handbook includes updated and comprehensive chapters on modulation sources--including digital voice--and on digital signal processing (DSP) technology. Other changes include a revised chapter on safety practices. The ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications (2003) now is available for ordering via the ARRL Web catalog <http://www.arrl.org/catalog/>. The softcover edition <http://www.arrl.org/catalog/?item=1921> is $34.95; the hardcover edition <http://www.arrl.org/catalog/?item=1948> is $49.95 and available in limited supply. Orders are expected to ship in mid-October. The Handbook CD for Radio Communications (2003) Version 7.0 <http://www.arrl.org/catalog/?item=1956> is $39.95 and includes the entire 2003 edition of The ARRL Handbook as a fully searchable, easy-to-use CD-ROM. It will ship in November. ==>SOLAR UPDATE Solar seer Tad "Dancing in Sunshine" Cook, K7VVV, Seattle, Washington, reports: Over the seven-day period September 19-25 conditions were quiet with no real geomagnetic activity except some unsettled conditions on the September 19. The sun has also been quiet. Average sunspot numbers were down slightly for the past week and average solar flux was down quite a lot. Solar flux over the past two weeks has declined from more than 200 toward 150. Over the next few days it is expected to go below 140. After October 3 sunspots and solar flux are expected to rise, based upon the previous solar rotation. Flux values are expected to reach 200 again in the second week of October. Currently holographic images show no substantial sunspots on the sun's far side. We are now in the fall season, a great time for HF DX. Openings are better and longer, particularly on the higher bands. Although solar activity is still fairly high, we have passed the peak of the sunspot cycle, and this fall will probably be far better for HF propagation than next fall. The 10 and 12-meter bands now are open to parts of the world that were unheard a couple of months back. For most of North America 10 and 12 should be open in the middle of the day toward Europe, during all daylight hours toward South America, and to Asia and the Pacific late in the afternoon to early evening. Twelve meters will generally open earlier and close later than ten meters. For the CQ/RJ Worldwide RTTY Contest this weekend expect good conditions with no radio blackouts or solar flares likely. Sunspot numbers for September 19 through 25 were 206, 237, 217, 218, 209, 240 and 230, with a mean of 222.4. The 10.7-cm flux was 165.3, 164.4, 158.6, 160, 153.8, 157.9, and 153.4, with a mean of 159.1. Estimated planetary A indices were 13, 6, 9, 9, 5, 6, and 6, with a mean of 7.7. __________________________________ ==>IN BRIEF: * This weekend on the radio: The CQ/RJ Worldwide DX Contest (RTTY), the Scandinavian Activity Contest (SSB). the Alabama, Louisiana and Texas QSO parties, and the Anatolian DX Contest are the weekend of September 28-29. JUST AHEAD: The SARL 80-Meter QSO Party is October 3. The TARA PSK31 Rumble, the Oceania DX Contest (SSB), the EU Autumn Sprint (SSB), the California QSO Party, the QCWA QSO Party, the Pro CW Contest and the RSGB 21/28 MHz Contest (SSB) are the weekend of October 5-6. 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 Emergency Communications Course Registration Opens October 1: Registration opens Tuesday, October 1, 4 PM Eastern Daylight Time (2000 UTC), for the ARRL Level I Emergency Communications course (EC-001) supported by the recent federal homeland security grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). This class is reserved for up to 200 ARRL members who now hold official ARRL field appointments (ie, ACC, ASM, BM, DEC, EC, LGL, NM, OBS, OES, OO, OOC, ORS, PIC, PIO, SEC, SGL, SM, STM, TC or TS). Members who hold an informal Assistant Emergency Coordinator (AEC) appointment will be eligible if registered by their respective ARRL section managers or section emergency coordinators. Registration will remain open until Monday, October 14, or until all 200 seats have been filled--whichever comes first. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Students taking advantage of Level I emergency communications training under the CNCS grant program will be asked to pay for the course via credit card during registration. Upon successfully completing the training and certification, students will be reimbursed the $45 fee. For more information, visit the ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Course Syllabi Web site <http://www.arrl.org/cce/syllabus.html> or contact Emergency Communications Course Manager Dan Miller, K3UFG, dmiller@arrl.org; 860-594-0340. * Correction/clarification: The correct link to the ICOM Digital Voice system Web site mentioned in the article "Digital Aficionados Turn Out for 2002 ARRL/TAPR Conference" in The ARRL Letter, Vol 21, No 37, should be http://www.tapr.org/tapr/dv/DStar%20brochure.pdf>. The audio sample file mentioned is available on the ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2002/09/16/1/audio.m3u>. * Job opening at ARRL Laboratory: The ARRL Laboratory has a job opening for an RFI/EMC specialist. The successful candidate will work at ARRL Headquarters in Newington, Connecticut, on a variety of technical projects and programs relating to radio-frequency interference and its effect on the Amateur Radio Service. An Amateur Radio license and experience is required for this position. This job is a unique opportunity to work with ARRL members, the FCC, industry groups and standards organizations to make a real difference in this critical area for Amateur Radio. Some additional duties of this position are: Works with amateurs to find solutions to RFI problems; maintains and improves ARRL's RFI information; writes articles, book material and papers about RFI; and develops and maintains a database for tracking and documenting RFI problems. Send a resume and salary expectations to Bob Boucher, Personnel Manager, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111. Resumes may be sent via e-mail to rboucher@arrl.org. No telephone calls, please. ARRL is an equal opportunity employer. * ARRL requesting JOTA activity registration: Scouting's annual Jamboree On The Air (JOTA) takes place Saturday October 19 through Sunday October 20 (local time and always the third weekend of October). For the first time, ARRL is requesting that any club or individual planning to be active during the 2002 JOTA activity register on the "Youth Skeds" page on the ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/youthskeds/>. (Set the expiration for the day after JOTA, October 21.) The idea is to provide a database of scheduled JOTA activity in advance of the event to help more scouting groups to participate in JOTA 2002. Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Brownies and Venture Scouts soon will take to the airwaves in an effort to communicate with each other via Amateur Radio. As many as 400,000 Scouts, scouters and other youth have participated in JOTA in the past, and it's become the world's largest scouting event! JOTA provides another way to expose youth to Amateur Radio by showing them a great time as well as helping them to meet new friends, share stories of past scout experiences, and, ultimately, to light the spark that inspires them to pursue their own Amateur Radio licenses. For more information, visit the JOTA page on the ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/jota.html>. * ARRL International DX Contest phone results now available: The ARRL has posted the results of the 2002 ARRL International DX Contest (Phone) event, held last March 2-3. The results are now on the ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org/contests/results/>. Some of the information--such as an Adobe PDF document of the QST contest article and the search database--is accessible only by ARRL members, nonmembers are able to access the online Soapbox. The QST contest article will be available to all in about one month. * Lester E. Kendall, W1ABE, SK: One of the ARRL's oldest members has died. Lester Kendall, W1ABE, of Newport, Rhode Island, died September 1. He was 100 years old. Last March, The Newport County Radio Club honored Kendall on his 100th birthday. Kendall was licensed in 1927 and still held his original call sign 75 years later. * Paul Knupke Jr, N4PK, SK: Paul Knupke Jr, N4PK, of Largo, Florida, died unexpectedly September 24. He was 31. The cause of death has not been determined. An ARRL Life Member, Knupke was an Assistant Section Manager and Webmaster for the West Central Florida Section. He also was president of the Tampa Bay Hamfest, president of the Florida Gulf Coast Amateur Radio Council and District 4 Director for the Florida Repeater Council. He was a past president of the Clearwater Amateur Radio Society and served as its secretary, Webmaster and newsletter editor. "He was an active contester and had a real passion for Amateur Radio," said West Central Florida Section Manager Dave Armbrust, AE4MR, who called Knupke "one of Amateur Radio's shining stars." Survivors include his father, Paul E. Knupke, K4PEK. Knupke's family invites contributions in his memory to the Paul Knupke Jr Memorial Scholarship Fund, care of Alan J. Pickering, 720 N Shore Boulevard NE, St Petersburg, FL 33701-2623. The James Reese Funeral Home <http://www.reesefuneral.com> is handling arrangements. A funeral mass will be said October 1. * Argentina to get 136-kHz band: Radio Club Argentino <http://www.lu4aa.org> President Roberto Beviglia, LU4BR, reports that Argentinian amateurs will be the next to gain access to the 136-kHz LF band. As a result of a rule proposal the club made to federal officials, he reports, a portion of the 136-kHz band has been allocated to the Amateur Service on a secondary basis in Argentina. The segment 135.7 to 137.8 kHz will be coordinated by the Radio Club Argentino until it is finally assigned on a primary basis within a year. * Western States Weak Signal Society schedules VHF/UHF conference: The Western States Weak Signal Society will host a VHF/UHF conference October 12 at the Cerritos Sheraton, 12725 Center Court Drive, Cerritos, California. Activities will include demonstrations of weak-signal operating on Friday, Oct 11, as well as a swap event on Sunday, Oct 13. The Saturday evening banquet will feature ARRL First Vice President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, a long-time VHF/UHF enthusiast. ARRL Southwestern Division Director Art Goddard, W6XD, also is scheduled to be on hand. More information and a registration form are available on the Western States Weak Signal Society Web site <http://www.wswss.org>. Proceedings will be available via the ARRL online catalog for $20. Order Item 8748. =========================================================== 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. Jim Haynie, W5JBP, 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 at http://www.arrl.org for the latest news, updated as it happens. The ARRLWeb Extra at http://www.arrl.org/members-only/extra offers ARRL members access to informative features and columns. Material from The ARRL Letter may be republished or reproduced in whole or in part in any form without additional permission. 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