*************** The ARRL Letter Vol. 22, No. 40 October 10, 2003 *************** IN THIS EDITION: * +Broadcasters express BPL concerns * +It's Round 2 in the Morse code debate * +3C0V DXpedition ends abruptly and mysteriously * +Concerted effort to track down unlicensed 10-meter operations continues * +73 Amateur Radio Today ceases publication * +Legendary DXpeditioner Danny Weil, ex-VP2VB, SK * Solar Update * IN BRIEF: This weekend on the radio ARRL Emergency Communications Course registration ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration ARRL to sponsor ARECC/ARES seminar in Minnesota +Florida group poses "Tampa Bay Challenge" to raise funds to fight BPL ARRL Recognizes Special Donors Attention clubs! Time to check your ARRL affiliation status Vote on QST Cover Plaque Award +Available on ARRL Audio News =========================================================== ==>WORLD'S BROADCASTERS JOIN ANTI-BPL CHORUS A subcommittee of an International Telecommunication Union (ITU) <http://www.itu.org/> panel of technical experts responsible for terrestrial broadcasting issues has joined a growing chorus of concern about the interference potential of power line telecommunication (PLT)--better known in the US as Broadband over Power Line (BPL). ITU Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) Sub Working Group (SWG) 6E1 expressed the view that interference produced by systems employing PLT as well as by Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) equipment and short-range devices, would compromise broadcast reception. "SWG 6E1 is of the opinion that any increase in the amount of noise due to these systems is unacceptable," said a statement from the group's chairman to the chairman of Working Party 6E (WP 6E). "In particular, broadcast services should be protected from unwanted emissions from PLT systems," the panel asserted, "as these emissions are a byproduct of a system that is not itself a user of the radio spectrum." The panel recommended the formation of a group representing all users of the radio spectrum "to coordinate development of limits to be imposed on the radiation from these systems." WP 6E says it will continue to study the effects of PLT/BPL, ISM equipment and short-range devices on terrestrial broadcasting and send the results to ITU-R Working Party 1A, which is responsible for spectrum engineering techniques. WP 1A is scheduled to meet in Geneva October 30 to November 5. ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, expressed strong support and appreciation for the SWG's conclusions and the ongoing efforts of parent Working Party 6E to study the issue. "If BPL is a problem for broadcasters," Sumner said, "it's easy to see that it would be a disaster for us." Broadcasters themselves also have exhibited increased concern about the potential of PLT/BPL to prevent their signals from reaching listeners. The Research and Development branch of the highly regarded British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has released a White Paper <http://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/pubs/whp/whp067.html> reporting on a brief trial in Scotland. The two competing PLT/BPL systems in operation in the town of Crieff both interfered with HF reception. Tests were conducted at four locations. "The forms of access PLT that were tested in Crieff were found to have demonstrable potential to cause interference to indoor reception of broadcasting in relevant bands," the White Paper concluded. Significant interference even occurred in one residential area with an underground power distribution cable. BBC engineers described the interference as varying between "annoying" and "a level sufficient to make the broadcast completely unintelligible." Before commercially licensing PLT, the report advised, regulators need to undertake further study of other PLT systems and, among other issues, look into possible ways to make the PLT systems compatible with radio reception. A report prepared by the Australian Communications Authority (ACA), Broadband Powerline Communications Systems--A Background Brief <http://www.aca.gov.au/radcomm/frequency_planning/spps/0311spp.pdf>, concluded that "a potential risk to HF radiocommunications services from the widespread use of broadband powerline communications systems" appeared to exist. Citing BPL trials in the US, Europe and Asia, the ACA brief said, "The results of these trials have not alleviated concerns over the potential interference risk to radiocommunications." ARRL's comments <http://www.arrl.org/announce/regulatory/et03-104/>, reply comments <http://www.arrl.org/announce/regulatory/et03-104/reply-comments-index.htm l > and technical exhibits filed with the FCC in response to the Commission's Notice of Inquiry (ET Docket ET 03-104) are available on the ARRL Web site. See also the article "BPL is a Pandora's Box of Unprecedented Proportions, ARRL Tells FCC" <http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2003/07/08/1/>. Additional information and video clips are on the ARRL "Power Line Communications (PLC) and Amateur Radio" page <http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/>. To support the League's efforts in the BPL fight, visit the ARRL's secure BPL Web site <https://www.arrl.org/forms/development/donations/bpl/>. ==>FCC INVITES COMMENTS ON ADDITIONAL MORSE CODE-RELATED PETITIONS The FCC has sounded the bell to begin Round 2 of the Morse code debate by inviting public comment on another group of seven Morse-related petitions for rulemaking. The FCC put the petitions on public notice October 8, and comments are due by November 7. Members of the amateur community may make their opinions known on any or all of these filings using the FCC's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) <http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/>. The petitions are RM-10805 through RM-10811. To summarize: * Charles L. Young Jr, AG4YO, asks the FCC to delete the 5 WPM Morse code test (Element 1) for Technician-plus-Element 1 privileges (formerly "Tech Plus"). Designated RM-10805, his petition would retain Element 1 as an examination requirement for General and Amateur Extra applicants and give Technicians limited HF SSB privileges. * Describing CW as "the purest, most accurate, efficient, reliable and economical form of radio communications ever devised," Frank Napurano, K2OKA, requests that the FCC retain the 5 WPM Morse requirement "in the interest of public safety, the preservation of a radio art and as a tribute of support for a prized and respected avocation." The FCC designated his filing as RM-10806. * A petition by Robert G. Rightsell, AE4FA and Harry A.M. Kholer, N0PU, designated RM-10807, would continue Morse testing but give applicants up to 24 points of exam credit according to their success on Element 1. The final exam score would be the sum of earned Element 1 points and the written test score for a possible total of 100 points. Their petition also calls on the FCC to consolidate the Novice and Technician and the Advanced and Amateur Extra licenses, boost the number and range of written test questions and give new Technicians CW and data privileges. * Joseph Speroni, AH0A, seeks to have the FCC delete Element 1 for applicants who want to operate phone on HF but retain Element 1 at 5 WPM for applicants who want to operate CW. Designated RM-10808, his petition would restructure the Amateur Radio testing regime to require specific knowledge of "RTTY, data, image, spread spectrum, pulse/test, RACES/ARES and space communications only for those wishing to operate these modes." Under Speroni's plan, applicants would be under no obligation to pass mode-specific examination elements for mode privileges they don't wish to operate. * The Puerto Rico Amateur Radio League (PRARL) asks the FCC to delete Element 1 for Technician and General classes but to increase the rigor of the written elements for those two license classes. The PRARL would keep the 5 WPM Morse exam for Extra applicants. The PRARL also would eliminate same-session retesting and require 30 days between retakes. The petition is designated RM-10809. * James Roux, W4YA, proposes in his petition, designated RM-10810, that the FCC cut the number of license classes to two--General and Amateur Extra--and the number of written examination elements to one--at the General level. Roux's petition would eliminate the 5 WPM Morse code exam for General but require Extra applicants to pass a 15 WPM test. Roux also would give Generals all currently available amateur privileges except the Extra-class CW subbands. * A petition filed on behalf of FISTS CW Club <http://www.fists.org/> would delete the requirement to pass Element 1 to obtain Technician plus Element 1 (ie, "Tech Plus") HF privileges. Designated RM-10811, it would merge Tech and Tech Plus into a single class, emphasize technical content, including digital modes, on written examinations and extend digital mode privileges within Novice/Tech Plus subbands. It would not provide additional HF phone privileges for Technicians, however. The FISTS petition would retain a 5 WPM Morse exam for General applicants and raise the Morse exam to 12 WPM for Amateur Extra applicants while increasing the technical level on written examinations for both classes. The FISTS CW Club petition had attracted more than 230 comments by week's end. In all, the FCC had recorded a total of approximately 500 comments on the seven petitions as of October 10. Interested parties may file comments on any or all of these petitions using the FCC's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) <http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/>, which also permits users to view all comments on file. To file a comment, click on "Submit a Filing" under "ECFS Main Links." In the "Proceeding" field, type the full RM number and complete the required fields. "RM" must be in capital letters, and you must include the hyphen between "RM" and the five-digit number. You may type your remarks into a form or attach a file. ECFS also accepts comments in active proceedings via e-mail, per instructions on the ECFS page. To view filed comments, click on "Search for Filed Comments" under "ECFS Main Links" and type in the complete RM number, including the hyphen, in the "Proceeding" field. "RM" must be in capital letters. ==>ANNOBON ISLAND DXPEDITION SHUT DOWN The Annobon Island 3C0V DXpedition <http://personal.telefonica.terra.es/web/ea5yn/> ended abruptly October 4. Local officials reportedly ordered the operators to shut down and vacate the tiny, mountainous South Atlantic island. The Daily DX <http://www.dailydx.com/> reports that at least three of the 3C0V operators have left Annobon--a part of Equatorial Guinea and located in the Gulf of Guinea off Africa's west coast--while one remained at last report. The Daily DX Editor Bernie McClenny, W3UR, got word of a very brief telephone call October 6 from the DXpedition to pilot station Gaby Mardiros, OD5NJ. "Gaby received a 10 second phone call from EA5BYP, Elmo [Bernabe], who reported that 'the military soldiers allowed only the three operators to go back to Spain,'" McClenny said, adding that it appeared that that Franz Langner, DJ9ZB, Victor Polo, EA5FO, and Vicente Pastor, EA5YN, had been released but that EA5BYP--the team leader--would be remaining on the island. McClenny said the telephone call was cut off before Mardiros could obtain additional information. At week's end, The Daily DX reported that Langner was safely back in Germany, but there was no word concerning the other three operators. Some initial reports indicated that local authorities had given the DXpeditioners 24 hours to pack up and get off Annobon "or else," McClenny said. The details surrounding the shutdown remain a mystery, however. The 3C0V operation took to the air September 26. Although struggling with technical, antenna and weather issues, it was expected to remain operational until October 11. The team had managed to log numerous contacts on 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10 meters but had not yet activated the lower bands. Also known as Pagalu, Annobon was the site of the 1999 3C0R DXpedition <http://web.jet.es/lynx/annobon/annobon.htm> in which EA5BYP and EA5YN also participated. ==>PUSH TO IDENTIFY UNLICENSED 10-METER OPERATORS CONTINUES A concerted effort begun last spring to monitor for and possibly identify unlicensed operators on 10 meters will continue through October. The FCC already has asked the ARRL Amateur Auxiliary/Official Observers <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/org/oo.html> for assistance. Now, FCC Special Counsel Riley Hollingsworth is inviting hard information on suspected interlopers from all amateurs. "If I don't receive reports, we'll have to conclude that unlicensed operation on 10 meters no longer is a problem," Hollingsworth said this week. Hollingsworth's initial request to beef up monitoring came in the wake of complaints from the amateur community that rose to the level of a major enforcement headache. He's expressed some disappointment, however, that the number of solid reports received so far has been few, although he's aware that a problem exists. Hollingsworth asks amateurs to be specific in what they report. "Everybody should police their own neighborhood," he suggested. "Turn on the radio, and take a listen on the band. If you hear a loud signal that's obviously an unlicensed interloper, see if you can track it down." Hollingsworth said that in the case of a suspected unlicensed trucker on the highway, amateurs should try to get the license plate number of the tractor--not the trailer--or at least the company name and, if possible, the DOT number. The FCC does not require direction-finding data but would appreciate, where possible, names and addresses of alleged or suspected operators. Audio recordings of apparently illegal transmissions also can prove helpful. Individual amateurs with solid information on alleged unlicensed operation on 10 or even 12 meters should report it to the FCC via e-mail <fccham@fcc.gov>. Official Observers should file their reports through normal ARRL channels. ARRL Field and Regulatory Correspondent Chuck Skolaut, K0BOG, says the FCC wants to pin down specific areas where unlicensed operation is prevalent in the US. He and Hollingsworth concede, however, that not all illegal 10-meter operation is of domestic origin. The FCC's initial request last May request was made in accordance with the Communications Act and a longstanding agreement between ARRL and the FCC regarding the use of Amateur Radio volunteers to assist in enforcement. ==>73 MAGAZINE SAYS "73 AND QRT" After completing 43 years of publication, 73 Amateur Radio Today magazine is calling it quits. Plans to publish a joint October/November issue fell through this week, and the September 2003 issue was the magazine's last. According to self-proclaimed "El Supremo and Founder" Wayne S. Green II, W2NSD, it was a simple matter of economics. "After failing a last minute effort to collect on some larger accounts receivable we decided yesterday to throw in the towel--that the September issue will have to be the last," Green told ARRL October 9. "SK after 43 years of publishing." The first issue of 73 was published in October 1960 from what Green--a former editor of CQ--once described as "a small, dingy apartment" in Brooklyn, New York. Since the summer of 1962, 73 has been based in Peterborough, New Hampshire--Green's home state. The magazine was a pioneer promoter of SSB, FM, solid-state, easy construction projects and the marriage of personal computing and Amateur Radio. His interest in microcomputing led Green in 1975 to found Byte, a magazine devoted to the then-nascent and largely do-it-yourself computer hobby. At the peak of its popularity in the 1970s and 1980s, individual issues of 73 totaled more than 300 pages of ads, articles and commentary. Heading each issue was Green's inimitable "Never Say Die"--some would say never-ending--editorial, in which he rarely missed an opportunity to tweak the ARRL and his magazine competitors for their perceived shortcomings. QST Editor Steve Ford, WB8IMY, says 73 published his first article in the 1970s. "I was saddened to hear that 73 has ceased publishing," Ford said. "Wayne's excitement about the growing amateur FM repeater phenomenon at the time was infectious." Green's 73 editorials and regular round of personal appearances originally concentrated on Amateur Radio and his ideas to improve, advance and grow it. In recent years, however, they've veered into conspiracy theories, cures for cancer, AIDS and other ailments and Green's proliferation of book titles on those topics. Green says he'll continue his essays on his Web site <http://www.waynegreen.com/> "for those subscribers who mainly bought the magazine for them." He told ARRL that no definite arrangements have been made yet about how to handle outstanding 73 subscriptions. CQ Publisher Dick Ross, K2MGA, said he takes no joy from the passing of 73. "The loss of any publication serving Amateur Radio leaves all of us a bit poorer," he said. "Thank you, Wayne, for 43 entertaining, informative, sometimes infuriating, and always interesting years of 73. We'll genuinely miss it." ==>LEGENDARY DXPEDITIONER DANNY WEIL, ex-VP2VB, SK DXer Danny Weil, ex-VP2VB, of YASME fame died October 3. He was 85. The British-born Weil was active under a variety of call signs in the 1950s and early 1960s while sailing one of three YASME yachts. His adventures inspired a generation of Amateur Radio DXers as he operated from various exotic ports of call. Late last year, Weil suffered a stroke and had been living in an extended-care facility in San Antonio, Texas. The DXploits of Weil and of Lloyd and Iris Colvin, W6KG and W6QL, are the subject of the book YASME, The Danny Weil and Colvin Radio Expeditions <http://www.arrl.org/catalog/?category=&words=Yasme>, by James D. Cain, K1TN. Commissioned by the YASME Foundation <http://www.yasme.org/> and published by ARRL, the book became available for the first time last spring at the International DX Convention in Visalia, California. A veteran of the Royal Air Force and inspired by Thor Heyerdahl's Kon-Tiki voyages of the late 1940s, Weil completed his first solo crossing of the Atlantic in 1954, landing in Antigua. He came to appreciate the potential value of Amateur Radio as a means of communication on future voyages and at one point contacted the ARRL about getting a ham ticket. As it turned out, Weil--a watch and clockmaker by trade--ended up largely teaching himself the radio theory and Morse code he needed to know to obtain a British Amateur Radio license. As Cain's book relates, among Weil's early ham radio acquaintances was Dick Spenceley, KV4AA--an Amateur Radio legend in his own right--who mentored Weil during his studies. It was Spenceley who also first appreciated the potential benefits for Amateur Radio if Weil could get on the air from various rare spots as he sailed the globe. Spenceley--who died in 1982--eventually secured the ham gear that Weil would use on the first YASME voyage, which began in 1955 and took him to the South Pacific. Weil personally described some of his adventures in his only QST article, "Yasme II to Aves Island," which appeared in the December 1958 issue. He operated from a tent on the beach as YV0AB. One of the original inductees into the CQ DX Hall of Fame, Weil eventually gave up Amateur Radio. In the 1960s, he married an American--his wife, Naomi predeceased him--settled in Texas and became a US citizen. A memorial service was held October 8 in San Antonio. Memorial contributions are invited to the Wild Animal Orphanage, PO Box 690422, San Antonio, TX 78269. More information about Danny Weil is available on the Danny Weil, VP2VB, page <http://www.qsl.at/common/weil.html>. ==>SOLAR UPDATE Propagation prognosticator Tad "Hey, Mister Sun" Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington, reports: Average daily solar flux and sunspot numbers dropped this week. The average daily sunspot number was 86.7, and the average daily solar flux was 115.8. This week also represents the second in a row in which geomagnetic indices have dropped, indicating a quiet and stable Earth environment for HF radio propagation. Currently we are within a solar windstream, but a north-pointing interplanetary magnetic field keeps geomagnetic activity to a minimum. Current projections from the US Air Force show stable geomagnetic conditions over the next few days, with planetary A index around 10 from October 10-12. Following this weekend on Monday, it shows planetary A index rising to 30 for October 13-14. Predicted solar flux from the Air Force is 105 for October 10-11, 100 for October 12, and 95 for October 13-14. Following this is a rise in solar flux, passing 110 around October 16, 120 on October 18, 130 on October 21, and 135 on October 25-26. These are rough estimates based upon the last solar rotation. Sunspot numbers for October 2 through 8 were 75, 104, 89, 101, 93, 76 and 69, with a mean of 86.7. The 10.7-cm flux was 124.8, 120.1, 119, 109.6, 112.1, 111.9 and 113.3, with a mean of 115.8. Estimated planetary A indices were 9, 16, 9, 9, 10, 13 and 9, with a mean of 10.7. __________________________________ ==>IN BRIEF: * This weekend on the radio: The North American Sprint (RTTY), Oceania DX Contest (CW), Autumn Sprint (CW), Pennsylvania QSO Party, FISTS Fall Sprint, Iberoamericano Contest are the weekend of October 11-12. The YLRL Anniversary Party (SSB) is October 15-17. JUST AHEAD: The JARTS World Wide RTTY Contest, the ARCI Fall QSO Party, the Worked All Germany Contest, the W/VE Islands QSO Party, the Asia-Pacific Sprint (CW), the RSGB 21/28 MHz Contest (CW) and the Illinois QSO Party are the weekend of October 18-19. 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: Registration opens Monday, October 13, 12:01 AM Eastern Daylight Time (0401 UTC), for the Level II Emergency Communications on-line course (EC-002). Registration remains open through the October 18-19 weekend or until all seats are filled--whichever occurs first. Class begins Tuesday, October 28. Thanks to our grant sponsors--the Corporation for National and Community Service and the United Technologies Corporation--the $45 registration fee paid upon enrollment will be reimbursed after successful completion of the course. During this registration period, approximately 50 seats are being offered to ARRL members on a first-come, first-served basis. To learn more, visit the ARRL Certification and Continuing Education (C-CE) <http://www.arrl.org/cce/> Web page and the C-CE Links found there. For more information, contact Emergency Communications Course Manager Dan Miller, K3UFG, dmiller@arrl.org, 860-594-0340. * ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration: Registration for the ARRL Antenna Modeling (EC-004) course opens Monday, October 13, 12:01 AM EDT (0401 UTC), and remains open through Sunday, October 19. Class begins Tuesday, October 21. Those interested in taking an ARRL Certification and Continuing Education (C-CE) course in the future can sign up receive advance e-mail notification of registration opportunities. To take advantage, send an e-mail to prereg@arrl.org. On the subject line, indicate the course name or number (eg, EC-00#) and the month you want to start the course. In the message body, provide your name, call sign, and e-mail address. Please do not send inquiries to this mailbox. To learn more, visit the ARRL Certification and Continuing Education <http://www.arrl.org/cce/> Web page <http://www.arrl.org/cce> and the C-CE links found there. * ARRL to sponsor ARECC/ARES seminar in Minnesota: The ARRL will offer a free Amateur Radio Emergency Communications seminar Saturday, October 25, in conjunction with Hamfest Minnesota <http://www.hamfestmn.org/index.htm> at the Wilkins Auditorium at River Center in St Paul. The seminar will not include the Level I course itself. This program is designed to explain in greater detail the duties of all Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course participants and how their volunteer efforts are essential to the ARES field organization. "This seminar will explain the importance of every team player with emphasis on using lessons learned to effectively move Amateur Radio emergency communications to the next level," said ARRL Emergency Communications Course Manager Dan Miller, K3UFG. All ARES volunteers, ARECC course participants, and ARRL field organization leadership are invited. Course participants at every ARECC level--mentors, certification instructors, certification examiners and current students--will be encouraged to come and share with everyone their experiences with the ARECC Program. "We will focus on coordination between ARECC volunteers and students, and their integration into the field organization, helping us to provide the community impact stressed by CNCS for Year 2," Miller added. The seminar will be held from 12:30 to 4:30 PM on Saturday, October 25. Seating may be limited. Those planning to attend should contact Dan Miller <k3ufg@arrl.org>, 860-594-0340; fax 860-594-0259. Seminar attendance does not include hamfest admission. * Florida group poses "Tampa Bay Challenge" to raise funds to fight BPL: The Florida Gulf Coast Amateur Radio Council (FGCARC) has voted to donate $1 to the ARRL's Broadband over Power Line (BPL) Defense Fund <https://www.arrl.org/forms/development/donations/bpl/> for every person attending the West Central Florida Section Convention (Tampa Bay Hamfest) <http://www.fgcarc.org/> on December 6-7. "The theme of the hamfest this year is 'In protection of Amateur Radio,' and the entire back of each ticket will be dedicated to this donation and the need to raise money for the BPL Defense Fund," said ARRL West Central Florida Section Manager Dave Armbrust, AE4MR. The Council has issued a challenge to all other major hamfests to make similar pledges. Armbrust said he anticipates the donation from the FGCARC to be in the vicinity of $2500. * ARRL Recognizes Special Donors: ARRL's Development Office held its second donor recognition event of the year September 15 at the Kellogg Conference Center of Gallaudet University in Washington DC. ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, and host, Robert Weinstock, W3RQ, were among those on hand to greet donors and the guest of honor, US Rep Mike Ross, WD5DVR, of Arkansas. Ross is one of two Amateur Radio licensees serving in Congress. The other is Rep Greg Walden, WB7OCE, of Oregon. In his remarks, Ross talked about the importance of Amateur Radio while he was growing up in Prescott, Arkansas, where, he said, he learned two things: How to ride a unicycle and how to be a radio amateur. Among the 680,000 voters Ross represents are many hams, whom he encounters as he tours his district, covering up to 5000 miles each month. Ross also discussed his commitment to education, based on his parents' careers as teachers, a message that resonated with attendees, some of whom are contributors to the ARRL Education and Technology Program ("The Big Project") that funds Amateur Radio in some 50 schools across the US. Ross also expressed his dedication to advocating on Amateur Radio's behalf and to working with ARRL to expand the reach and voice for Amateur Radio in "Official Washington." * Attention clubs! Time to check your ARRL affiliation status: It's time for ARRL-affiliated clubs to check and update their ARRL affiliation status. Don't let your club affiliation lapse! To report changes in club data, visit "The Affiliated Club Annual Report Form" page on the ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/club/forms/fsd2/>. Follow the instructions under the heading "How to submit an update for your club records." ARRL will update its club affiliation database as soon as it receives new data, and updated listings typically appear on the ARRL Web site within 24 hours. Renewing Special Service clubs should complete Form FSD-7--Application for Renewal as an ARRL Special Service Club <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/club/forms/fsd7/renewal.html>. For more information, visit the ARRL Club Companion Web page <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/club/> or contact Margie Bourgoin, KB1DCO, kb1dco@arrl.org; 860-594-0267. * Vote on QST Cover Plaque Award: The winner of the QST Cover Plaque Award for September was H. Ward Silver, N0AX, for his article "Amplifier Care and Maintenance." Congratulations, Ward! The winner of the QST Cover Plaque award--given to the author--or authors--of the best article in each issue--is determined by a vote of ARRL members. Voting takes place each month on the QST Cover Plaque Poll Web page <http://www.arrl.org/members-only/qstvote.html>. Cast a ballot for your favorite article in the October issue of QST. Voting ends October 31. =========================================================== 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 <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. ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> is a weekly "ham radio newscast" compiled from The ARRL Letter. 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