*************** The ARRL Letter Vol. 22, No. 45 November 14, 2003 *************** IN THIS EDITION: * +FCC Commissioner clarifies BPL comments * +ARRL hosts BPL gathering * +UO-14 is down for the count * +Spectrum Protection Act cosponsor list expands * +FCC reviews responses to interference complaints * +ARISS special event to commemorate Roy Neal, K6DUE (SK) * Solar Update * IN BRIEF: This weekend on the radio ARRL Emergency Communications course registration ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration +First US QSO above 400 GHz claimed Kentucky Section leaders lobby for PRB-1 declaration Two wildlife tracking projects under way Former HQ staffer George Hart, W1NJM, turns 90 Vote on QST Cover Plaque Award +Available on ARRL Audio News =========================================================== ==>FCC COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE CLARIFIES "BROADBAND NIRVANA" REMARKS The office of FCC Commissioner Kathleen Q. Abernathy <http://www.fcc.gov/commissioners/abernathy/> has expressed regrets that her remarks in a September speech may have failed to make Abernathy's concerns sufficiently clear about potential interference from Broadband over Power Line (BPL). "We regret that the Commissioner's remarks may have been interpreted as suggesting an absence of concern over harmful interference," said Abernathy Senior Legal Adviser Matthew A. Brill, responding to complaints from the ARRL and individual amateurs. From a policy perspective, Brill said, Abernathy is "keenly interested" in seeing multiple broadband platforms develop, but that she didn't intend to suggest that BPL "necessarily will emerge as a viable platform or that it does not present interference issues." In her speech to the United Powerline Council's <http://www.uplc.utc.org/> annual conference September 22, Abernathy expressed unabashed enthusiasm for BPL and suggested it was a step along the pathway to "Broadband Nirvana." Brill noted, however, that near the end of her remarks, Abernathy--referring to the FCC's approach to PCS regulation--said the Commission was "right to adopt strict interference rules to prevent competitors from externalizing their costs. The same principle will apply to BPL." Brill assured the ARRL that "ensuring that BPL and all new technologies avoid causing harmful interference to licensed RF users is a bedrock position for Commissioner Abernathy." He issued similar responses on Abernathy's behalf to several amateurs who had challenged her stance (see "ARRL Rebukes FCC Commissioner's BPL-Related 'Broadband Nirvana' Remarks" <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2003/09/25/100/>). ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, expressed delight at Abernathy's recent clarification. "Commissioner Abernathy's affirmation of this important principle as a 'bedrock position' is most welcome and reassuring news," he said. From the outset of the FCC's BPL Notice of Inquiry in ET Docket No. 03-104 last April, Sumner said, the League's goal has been to hold the FCC to its statement in the NOI that "each of these authorized services in the spectrum [including the Amateur and Amateur-Satellite services] must be protected from harmful interference." "Since that time the presence of harmful interference at BPL test sites has been thoroughly documented," Sumner noted, "confirming that our original concerns were well founded." ARRL's extensive comments, reply comments and technical exhibits are available on the ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/>. There are additional information and video clips on the ARRL "Power Line Communications (PLC) and Amateur Radio" page <http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/>. More than 5000 comments--many from the Amateur Radio community--have been filed in response to the FCC's BPL NOI and are available for viewing via the FCC's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) <http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/>. ==>ARRL SPONSORS BPL GATHERING FOR COMMUNICATIONS PROFESSIONALS The interference potential of Broadband over Power Line (BPL) to over-the-air radio services was the topic of an ARRL-sponsored meeting of 25 communications professionals November 7. The National Association of Broadcasters hosted the gathering at its headquarters in Washington, DC. "Listening to everyone introduce themselves and explain why they had come made the trip to Washington worthwhile all by itself," said ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, who offered opening remarks and guided the discussion. Sumner showed excerpts from the ARRL BPL field test videos, which graphically demonstrate that BPL's interference potential at HF is real, not just theoretical. During the meeting, representatives from the shortwave broadcasting, public safety, aeronautical and scientific communities joined amateur and amateur-satellite representatives to discuss the threat of BPL and possible avenues to combat its interference potential to licensed HF and low-VHF spectrum users. Military and consumer electronics representatives participated as observers. Coming the farthest was Chip Margelli, K7JA, who attended on behalf of the Yaesu Amateur Division of Vertex-Standard. ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, reviewed the status of last April's FCC's Notice of Inquiry on BPL and noted that more than 5000 comments were filed with the Commission--most of them from Amateur Radio operators. Imlay said that proposed FCC rules changes could come as soon as early next year. Imlay added that a number of non-amateur organizations support ARRL's position on BPL. Representing the National Association of Shortwave Broadcasters, George Jacobs, W3ASK, affirmed their strong support for the ARRL position. ARRL Technical Relations Manager Paul Rinaldo, W4RI, provided a technical review of BPL. BPL delivery systems would use existing low and medium-voltage power lines to distribute Internet and other broadband services to homes and businesses. Other points the group touched upon included: * BPL emission measurements by government agencies are under way, but the results have not yet been made public. The FCC denied an ARRL Freedom of Information Act request on the grounds that their test results represent work-in-progress. * A government representative observed that concerned groups should be wary of tying in the overused term "homeland security" with any anti-BPL campaign, since it could be spun back against BPL opponents. * Meeting attendees cited numerous and increasing instances of interference from Part 15 devices, suggesting that such instances only infrequently result in complaints to the FCC--and even less frequently in any FCC action. A follow-up meeting may be held early next year if it becomes clear that the FCC intends to release a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding BPL. Some attendees indicated a willingness to accompany ARRL representatives to meetings with federal officials to underscore that concerns about BPL are not confined to radio amateurs. "It's apparent that concerns about BPL run very deep and include nearly every over-the-air radio service," Sumner remarked after the meeting. "Now we can work together much more effectively to express our concerns both inside and outside of government."--Derek Riker, KB3JLF, compiled information for this report ==>UO-14 REACHES THE END OF THE TRAIL UO-14 has officially ended its long run as an Amateur Radio satellite, although it continues to transmit telemetry and respond to commands from Earth. The Mission Control Centre at the Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) Center for Satellite Engineering Research announced this week that the venerable and popular bird "has reached the end of its mission after nearly 14 years in orbit." Launched in 1990, UoSAT-OSCAR-14 pioneered the PACSAT communication concept as the first 9.6 kbps Amateur Radio data communications satellite, although it became best known in recent years as an FM "easy sat." "Since launch, UO-14 has completed over 72,000 orbits and as many charge/discharge cycles of its on-board NiCd battery," said AMSAT-UK Chairman Martin Sweeting, G3YJO. "However recently one of the battery cells has become exhausted and can no longer support continuous operation of the repeater." Sweeting said UO-14's transmitter shuts down shortly after it is commanded "on" due to undervoltage, so the microsatellite's mission has been terminated. "Thank you UO-14 for your long service!" Sweeting concluded. AMSAT-NA Board Member Bruce Paige, KK5DO, an enthusiastic UO-14 user, called the AMSAT-UK announcement "sad news." He said the loss of UO-14 leaves amateurs with SO-41 and SO-50 as the only two LEO FM voice satellites. He noted, however, that the planned 2004 launch of OSCAR-ECHO would help to fill the void. OSCAR-ECHO is set to launch next March 31. The popular and heavily used FM satellite's repeater quit working in August, but hope remained within the amateur satellite community that UO-14 somehow could be revived. Ground controller Chris Jackson, G7UPN, at one point was able to reset the satellite, but he later determined that UO-14 had suffered a primary power system failure that was causing the spacecraft to shut down during some eclipses. During its active lifetime, UO-14 served several roles. After some 18 months as a PACSAT, UO-14 was switched to non-amateur frequencies for humanitarian use by Volunteers In Technical Assistance, which used it for messaging into Africa. After the store-and-forward communications computer proved no longer able to perform that task, UO-14 was turned back to amateur use as a single-channel FM voice repeater. UO-14 again served a humanitarian role in early 2001 when hams assisting with earthquake relief operations in the Indian State of Gujarat took advantage of the satellite to provide communication from the stricken region. The beauty of UO-14 was that it required minimal gear to make contacts--typically 5 W and modest antennas would do the trick. Operators with dualband handheld transceivers and "rubber duckie" antennas often could make QSOs via UO-14. ==>SPECTRUM PROTECTION ACT COSPONSOR LIST TAKES A GIANT STEP Encouraging news this week from Washington: The list of House cosponsors for the Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act, HR 713, has reached 69. ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, says he's pleased with the progress since mid-October, when he'd expressed his frustration over a lack of cosponsors. Since that time, the list has grown by 17 representatives. The Senate version of the legislation, S 537, is holding at eight cosponsors. "I'm cheered up that we've got new representatives to sign on, but we can't just stop," Haynie said. "We gotta keep at it." He said the League has been concentrating its efforts on promoting HR 713 because the bill has the best chance for success of any Amateur Radio-related legislation now before Congress. Haynie continues to encourage ARRL members to not only urge their senators and representatives to cosponsor HR 713 and S 537 but to write and ask them to actively support them. "This is something that's important to the future of Amateur Radio," Haynie reiterated. Sponsored in the House by Rep Michael Bilirakis (R-FL) and in the Senate by Sen Michael Crapo (R-ID), the Spectrum Protection Act would require the FCC to provide "equivalent replacement spectrum" to Amateur Radio if the FCC reallocates primary amateur frequencies, reduces any secondary amateur allocations, or makes additional allocations within such bands that would substantially reduce their utility to amateurs. HR 713 has been referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet. Haynie testified before that panel in June. S 537 has been referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. For the convenience of those writing their representatives and senators to urge cosponsorship of the Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act of 2003, sample letters are on the ARRL Web site. For guidance on the best methods of contacting your members of Congress, see "Communicating with Congress," by Derek Riker, KB3JLF, on the ARRL Web site or in the April 2003 issue of QST (p 46). Additional information--including the text of the Spectrum Protection Act and information on how to write members of Congress--is on the ARRL's "The Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act of 2003" Web page <http://www.arrl.org/govrelations/arspa.html>. Those writing their lawmakers on behalf of the Spectrum Protection Act are asked to copy their correspondence to the League via e-mail to specbill03@arrl.org. ==>FCC MULLS RESPONSES TO COMPLAINTS ALLEGING INTERFERENCE The FCC is considering the explanation of a Maryland ham in the wake of complaints that he disrupted an Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) net in September during Hurricane Isabel. FCC Special Counsel for Enforcement Riley Hollingsworth wrote Charles E. Cox Sr, WA3AE, on October 16, enclosing complaints alleging deliberate interference to emergency communications conducted on 2 meters by W3AAC at the Anne Arundel County emergency operations center. "The allegations, if true, raise serious questions about your qualifications to be a Commission licensee and warrant enforcement action," Hollingsworth told Cox. The US Postal Service returned the FCC's certified letter to Cox as undeliverable. Commission personnel eventually tracked him down to a residence in Laurel, Maryland. In a handwritten note, Cox told the FCC that he was on the air, but he asserted that he was only trying to help and didn't believe he was interfering with the emergency net. "There is a major misunderstanding," Cox wrote, adding that he felt the situation was being blown out of proportion. Cox also said he would change his mailing address with the FCC. Several complainants--two off-duty FCC employees among them--tell a different story. A station identifying as WA3AE came on the net and uttered "irrelevant comments many times," according to one net control station, who also said that the operator was rude, "seemed intoxicated" and used inappropriate language. Cox told the FCC he has a speech impediment that makes him sound inebriated. The NCS contended that Cox ignored numerous requests to keep the frequency open for emergency communications, but Cox disputes that. Hollingsworth said the FCC has Cox's response to the complaints under review. The FCC also is reviewing a response from a California licensee. On October 15, Hollingsworth wrote Angel Carballo, KG6QKR, of Fremont enclosing a complaint alleging interference on 2 meters during a two-hour period. The complainant told the FCC that two repeaters in the south San Francisco Bay area "were being kerchunked." The amateur who complained said he was able to track the source of the interfering signal to an unoccupied vehicle sitting in a corporate parking lot. He said the transceiver appeared to be in cross-band mode, and he was able to spot the transceiver's display blink momentarily each time the repeaters were accessed. After the complaining amateur approached corporate security and threatened to report the incident to the FCC, security personnel asked him to hold off while they tried to "solve the problem internally." The complainant, whom the FCC did not identify, said security subsequently brought out a man who went to the vehicle and shut down the transceiver. The FCC apparently was able to locate Carballo through the license plate and vehicle description the complainant provided. In an October 25 reply to the Commission, Carballo told the FCC he believes he "made a mistake" setting up his radios and did not intend to maliciously interfere. He indicated that he had set up his mobile transceiver as a cross-band repeater on VHF and UHF frequencies--one of them 146.94 MHz--and monitored both frequencies from a handheld transceiver in his office. Carballo said his transceiver is not capable of transmitting on two frequencies within the same band, so he could not explain the interference to the 146.23 machine. He also offered his apologies and asked the FCC to extend them to the complainant as well. ==>ARISS ANNOUNCES ROY NEAL, K6DUE, ISS COMMEMORATIVE EVENT The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) <http://www.rac.ca/ariss/> international team has announced an on-the-air event to commemorate Roy Neal, K6DUE, who died August 15. Neal--born Roy N. Hinkel--chaired the Space Amateur Radio EXperiment (SAREX)/Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Working Group. ARISS has requested that the ISS Expedition 8 crew of commander Mike Foale, KB5UAC, and Alex "Sasha" Kaleri, U8MIR, communicate from space with earthbound radio amateurs during the November 29-30 weekend. In addition, stations contacting the ISS by voice (NA1SS) or packet (RS0ISS) through the end of December will be eligible for a special anniversary event certificate. "Our good friend and noted NBC news correspondent Roy Neal, K6DUE (SK), had a vision--to make Amateur Radio a permanent feature on human spaceflight missions," said ARISS Chairman Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, and Sergej Samburov, RV3DR, in making the announcement. A retired NBC News science correspondent, producer and executive, Neal was key to convincing NASA management to fly Amateur Radio onboard the space shuttle, Bauer said. He also cited Neal's involvement in forming the ARISS international team and moderating its gatherings. Human spaceflight took the first step to Neal's vision on November 28, 1983, with the launch of the first Amateur Radio station aboard the space shuttle Columbia. A few days later, astronaut Owen Garriott, W5LFL, became the astronaut to speak from space via ham radio. In October 1988, a Russian Amateur Radio team led by Sergej Samburov, RV3DR, and Larry Agabekov, UA6HZ/N2WW, launched and deployed the first amateur station on the space station Mir. During the AMSAT-NA symposium the following month, Leo Labutin, UA3CR (SK), communicated with cosmonaut Musa Manorov, U2MIR, aboard Mir. Amateur Radio communication from the ISS began three years ago this month. On November 13, 2000, Expedition 1 crew members Sergei Krikalev, U5MIR, and Bill Shepherd, KD5GSL, spoke with R3K, the Energia amateur station in Russia, and with NN1SS, the ISS ground station at Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. The successful deployment and use of the ARISS gear marked the first permanent Amateur Radio station in space--and the fruition of Neal's vision of some two decades earlier. "On behalf of the ARISS international team, we congratulate the international Amateur Radio community on these exceptional accomplishments and commemorate Roy Neal, K6DUE, for his vision and tremendous support to ARISS team," Bauer and Samburov said. Frequencies: Worldwide voice and packet downlink (RS0ISS): 145.80 MHz; worldwide packet uplink: 145.99 MHz; voice uplink (NA1SS) for Regions 2 and 3 (the Americas and the Pacific): 144.49 MHz; voice uplink for Region 1 (Europe, Central Asia and Africa): 145.20 MHz. ARISS request that participants in the special event keep all contacts short. A subsequent announcement will provide details on QSLing and how to obtain certificates. ==>SOLAR UPDATE Sun watcher Tad "I'm a Sol Man!" Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington, reports: With big sunspots rotating out of view, sunspot numbers and solar flux values have plummeted. The daily sunspot number was 330 on October 29. A little more than a week later it was hovering around 12. The average daily sunspot number two weeks ago was 201.4. The next week it was 171 the next week, and last week it has sunk to 32.6. Similarly, average daily solar flux numbers for the past three weeks have been 249, 195.7 and 94.8. On November 6, sunspot 495 was still visible. It disappeared by the following day, leaving a spotless disk. The sunspot number that day was 11. In the following days some tiny sunspots emerged--498, 499 and 500. Sunspot 498 was disappearing from view by November 13. Now on November 14 sunspot 484 again is emerging on the visible disk from its trip around the other side of the sun. It was very active when last visible, but is now smaller. Sunspots 486 and 488 should follow, and we should see a rise in solar activity. Based on the previous solar rotation solar flux and sunspot numbers should peak again around November 23-25. This weekend is the ARRL November Phone Sweepstakes. Right now, the interplanetary magnetic field points south, again leaving Earth vulnerable to flares and solar wind. A solar wind stream is currently affecting Earth, and this weekend should experience unsettled to active geomagnetic conditions with a slowly rising solar flux. Predicted planetary A index for Friday through Monday is 30, 30, 25 and 25. Solar flux values for those same days are expected to be 105, 110, 115 and 120. Sunspot numbers for November 6 through 12 were 12, 11, 29, 47, 47, 43 and 39, with a mean of 32.6. The 10.7 cm flux was 97.8, 91, 92.7, 93, 94.6, 95.6 and 98.7, with a mean of 94.8. Estimated planetary A indices were 14, 8, 10, 25, 30, 51 and 26, with a mean of 23.4. __________________________________ ==>IN BRIEF: * This weekend on the radio: The ARRL November Sweepstakes (SSB) headlines the weekend activity. The North American Collegiate ARC Championship (SSB) is held in conjunction with SS. Also, the All Austrian 160-Meter Contest and the RSGB 1.8 MHz Contest (CW) are the weekend of November 15-16. JUST AHEAD: The LZ DX Contest is the weekend of November 22-23. The CQ World Wide DX Contest (CW) is the weekend of November 29-30. See the ARRL Contest 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, November 17, 12:01 AM Eastern Daylight Time (0501 UTC), for the Level III Emergency Communications on-line course (EC-003). Registration remains open through the November 22-23 weekend or until all available seats have been filled--whichever comes first. Class begins Tuesday, December 2. 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 HF Digital Communications (EC-005) and UHF-VHF Beyond the Repeater (EC-008) courses opens Monday, November 17, 12:01 AM Eastern Standard Time (0501 UTC). Registration will remain open through Sunday, November 23. Classes begin Tuesday November 25. Registration for the ARRL Antenna Modeling (EC-004) course remains open through Sunday, November 16. Those interested in taking an ARRL Certification and Continuing Education (C-CE) course in the future can sign up to receive advance 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 (C-CE) <http://www.arrl.org/cce/> Web page and the C-CE Links found there. For more information, contact Certification and Continuing Education Program <cce@arrl.org>. * First US QSO above 400 GHz claimed: Microwave enthusiast Brian Justin, WA1ZMS, reports what he believes is the first QSO above 400 GHz in the US. On November 11 at 0215 UTC, WA1ZMS/4 worked Peter Lascell, W4WWQ, on a frequency of 403 GHz over a distance of approximately 1709 feet in Virginia. WA1ZMS set new North American records on 241 and 322 GHz last December, and he reports the pair used the same basic gear that had been put into service for their then-record-making 241-GHz QSO last year (recently beaten), but with new 30-cm parabolic dishes. * Kentucky Section leaders lobby for PRB-1 declaration: ARRL Kentucky Section Manager John Meyers, NB4K, and Assistant SM Fred Jones, WA4SWF, visited September 17 with Kentucky Gov Paul Patton. "We were trying to get the governor to enact a PRB-1 law by proclamation before he leaves office, which is legal in Kentucky," Meyers explained. PRB-1 is the limited federal preemption that requires local governments to "reasonably accommodate" Amateur Radio communication. "We still have hope, be it slim to none, that he'll still come through," Meyers said. He's encouraging Kentucky hams to contact Gov Patton by USPS mail (Gov Paul Patton, 700 Capitol Ave, Suite 100, Frankfort, KY 40601) or e-mail <governor@mail.state.ky.us> and "tell him what PRB-1 means to you as a ham and how it would be helpful." * Two wildlife tracking projects under way: Since 1998, ham radio and VHF monitoring volunteers have helped scientists track the movements of endangered and threatened species. ARRL Amateur Radio Direction Finding (ARDF) Coordinator Joe Moell, K0OV, says that hams and monitoring enthusiasts could make a valuable contribution by participating. "The biggest volunteer monitoring project to date is now under way," Moell said this week. He reports that Nick Myatt of the Arkansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research unit has radio-tagged 360 American woodcock in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. "The woodcock migration has begun, and he is seeking reports of tags heard so he can attempt to do pinpoint tracking from a fixed-wing aircraft," Moell said. Possible stopover and destination states for these birds range from southern Minnesota and Wisconsin to Louisiana and eastern Texas. Moell says that Dave Sherman, a biologist with the Ohio Division of Wildlife, also has requested monitoring assistance in tracking two radio-tagged sandhill cranes that are now part of a larger flock migrating from Ohio. Additional information, including frequencies, is available on the Homing In Web site <http://www.homingin.com/>. * Former HQ staffer George Hart, W1NJM, turns 90: Retired ARRL Communications Manager George Hart, W1NJM, celebrated his 90th birthday November 1. A Charter Life Member of the League, Hart spent four decades as a member of the ARRL Headquarters staff and continues to be an active amateur and regular participant in Field Day as a member of the Newington Amateur Radio League. First licensed in 1929 as W3AMR in Pennsylvania, he began his ARRL career in 1938 as a second operator at the then-new W1AW Maxim Memorial Station. He spent two years in the US Army during World War II, during which the government silenced Amateur Radio, and he retired in 1978 as communications manager. Hart has contributed hundreds of articles to QST over the years. Well wishers may contact him at 66 Highland St, Newington, CT 06111 or via e-mail <w1njm@arrl.net>. Happy birthday, George! * Vote on QST Cover Plaque Award: The winner of the QST Cover Plaque Award for October is Del Schier, K1UHF, for his article "The Ins and Outs of a Sound Card." Congratulations, Del! 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 November issue of QST. Voting ends November 30. =========================================================== 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. 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. ==>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/>. 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