*************** The ARRL Letter Vol. 22, No. 48 December 5, 2003 *************** IN THIS EDITION: * +ARRL BPL engineering study ready to roll * +Logbook of the World tops a million QSL records * +Expedition 8 crew may be on for special event * +ARRL says cooperation best approach at 2390-2395 MHz * +New General question pool released * +Ham antennas no danger to migratory birds, ARRL says * +Michigan hams win antenna victory * +ARRL member turns 100! * Solar Update * IN BRIEF: This weekend on the radio ARRL Emergency Communications Course registration ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration Survey seeks opinions on ARRL Continuing Education Course offerings Stephen E. McCallum, W2ZBY, SK Vote on QST Cover Plaque Award W4B to commemorate Wright Brothers' flight centenary Turtles vexing TO4E DXpedition Ed Giorgadze, 4L4FN, now active from Angola +Available on ARRL Audio News =========================================================== ==>ARRL'S BPL STUDY IMMINENT; LEAGUE TO SOLICIT BPL TRIAL INTERFERENCE REPORTS An ARRL-sponsored independent engineering study to accurately quantify the interference potential of Broadband over Power Line (BPL) is set to start in the very near future. In addition, the League soon will elicit interference reports from amateurs in communities where BPL trials are known to be under way. "We're contracting for an independent measurement of potential interaction between BPL and Amateur Radio," said ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ. The study--to be conducted under the auspices of certified professional engineers--not only will examine and document how BPL might affect HF and low-VHF amateur operation but how Amateur Radio operation could affect BPL systems. The ARRL-sponsored engineering study should be completed within a couple of months, Sumner said. The ARRL anticipates that the FCC could issue a Notice of Proposed Rule Making in the proceeding (ET Docket 02-104) early in 2004. The FCC's Notice of Inquiry in the matter, released last April, has attracted more than 5100 comments--many of them from the amateur community. At this point, while some BPL system trials are operating under existing Part 15 rules for unlicensed devices, other systems have secured FCC Part 5 experimental licenses that permit them to use higher power levels. In either case, however, FCC rules require BPL operators to cease operation if their systems result in harmful interference. In a related initiative, the ARRL will be contacting amateurs in about a half-dozen US communities where BPL field trials now are in progress. The League will ask amateurs to listen on the air for any increase in noise level that might be related to the BPL trial. Sumner says it's most important that hams in trial areas who detect noise first verify that it is indeed caused by BPL before they document and report their observations to the FCC. "It is important that each interference complaint be a valid case of actual harmful interference," an attachment to Sumner's letter says. "It is possible to misidentify other noise sources as BPL." Sumner says amateurs must carefully avoid "crying wolf" by filing invalid reports of BPL interference. The League suggests amateurs receiving the solicitation letters enlist the support of "a technically qualified observer"--an ARRL Technical Coordinator, Technical Specialist or local club interference committee--then submit a recording of the interference to the ARRL Laboratory for review and analysis. The ARRL's solicitation includes a form to document suspected instances of harmful interference from BPL. Sumner says the League hopes the effort will result in a "body of technical evidence that will protect the Amateur Service from this source of potential interference." In a related development, a California technology company this month wrote the FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology to refute ARRL assertions that BPL necessarily poses a severe interference potential. Corridor Systems <http://www.corridor.biz/> says its "breakthrough" BPL system, operated under existing Part 15 rules, uses frequencies in the 2 to 20 GHz range, will not interfere with HF and low-VHF reception and can provide up to 216 MB per second throughput. "Corridor Systems has demonstrated a BPL technology which is completely compatible with the Amateur Radio Service and, indeed, with all users of the HF-VHF spectrum," Corridor's Chief Technology Officer Glenn Elmore, N6GN, said in the "open letter" <http://www.corridor.biz/031201-fcc-letter.pdf> that was copied to ARRL. Sumner pointed out in responding to Elmore that ARRL only first became aware of Corridor's work in mid-October and that the League's comments were appropriate within the context of the FCC's definition of BPL systems operating in the 2 to 80 MHz HF and low-VHF spectrum. "The Corridor Systems approach deserves to be distinguished from the spectrum-polluting HF and low VHF systems, not only because of its much lower interference potential but also because of the higher data rates it can support," Sumner said. Additional information about BPL and Amateur Radio is on the ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/>. ==>LOGBOOK OF THE WORLD CONTINUES TO GROW The ARRL's Logbook of the World secure contact-verification database continues to grow. So far, reports ARRL Membership Services Manager Wayne Mills, N7NG, nearly 5000 users have uploaded logs containing some 25.4 million Amateur Radio contacts. This has resulted in more than 1 million QSL records. "The key is participation, and it doesn't cost a thing to get the software and upload logs," Mills pointed out. "We're encouraging all hams to participate in Logbook, whether the ham is a casual operator, contester, ragchewer or DXer." To further expand the database and generate more confirmed contacts for all LoTW users, Mills is calling on everyone to sign aboard and submit as many logs as possible. Once LoTW programming is complete, users will be able to redeem credits for ARRL awards without having to go through the expense and trouble of obtaining hard-copy QSL cards. Mills emphasizes that LoTW is not meant to replace paper QSL cards but supplements traditional QSLing. Signing up as a new LoTW user is simple. Visit the Logbook of The World Web site <http://www.arrl.org/lotw> and read the "Getting Started" document, Mills said. He advises new users to print it out to have the instructions handy. The "Getting Started" page offers step-by-step instructions for getting a secure digital certificate from ARRL and preparing and uploading logs. Mills noted that most new user problems result from failing to specifically follow the instructions outlined on the "Getting Started" page. Amateur Radio software developers are starting to include direct support for Logbook of The World in their programs. Most logging software allow users to export a log in ADIF format, which LoTW will accept. A few programs incorporate the ARRL's TQSL file-generation and digital certificate code, which simplifies the process of digitally signing logs and exporting them in a separate e-mail. For more information, visit the Logbook of The World Web site <http://www.arrl.org/lotw>. ==>EXPEDITION 8 CREW MIGHT BE ON THE AIR FOR ARISS ROY NEAL, K6DUE, EVENT Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) International Chairman Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, says a "very challenging schedule" kept the Expedition 8 crew from getting on the air November 29-30 for the ARISS Roy Neal, K6DUE, commemorative special event. Bauer says Crew Commander Mike Foale, KB5UAC, may attempt to be on the air from NA1SS on Saturday, December 6. "He requested that we make it clear that he would like to try again this weekend--on Saturday only--but not to get your hopes too high that he will be there," Bauer said. "He requested a single pass over North America and over Europe." Also onboard the ISS is cosmonaut Sasha Kaleri, U8MIR. Foale and Kaleri both were active on Amateur Radio during their tours of duty aboard the Russian Mir space station. ARISS has provided pass information (ISS pass times, below) to NASA to communicate to the crew. Bauer said ARISS put its list of passes in priority order starting with those offering the greatest ground coverage. He noted, however, that the top-priority North American pass occurs just about the time the crew typically retires for the day. "So it is not clear if this is a viable pass," he added. "We included it because it was a superior pass for North America." Among other distractions last week was a peculiar "crushing" noise heard November 24 in the Zvezda Service Module--the crew's quarters. Another onboard problem involved what Bauer called "serious issues" with the treadmill the crew uses to keep fit in zero gravity. Bauer expressed hopes that the crew would be able to be on the air from NA1SS this weekend as part of a month-long special event in memory of Neal, who served as SAREX/ARISS Working Group Chairman. Neal died in August. ARISS has requested that special event participants keep all contacts short to give as many stations as possible a chance to work NA1SS. Those contacting the ISS by voice (NA1SS) or packet (RS0ISS) through the end of December will be eligible for a special anniversary event certificate. Bauer advised those working NA1SS for the event to not request a certificate until ARISS releases QSL instructions. ARISS <http://www.rac.ca/ariss/> is an international project with participation and support from ARRL, NASA and AMSAT. ISS PASS TIMES IN PRIORITY ORDER: Saturday, December 6, (all times UTC)--North America: 1. 2128-2150, 2. 1953-2014, 3. 1818-1839 and 4. 1646-1703. Europe: 1. 1348-1415, 2. 1525-1554, 3. 1701-1726, 4. 1836-1854, 5. 2012-2026 and 6 1213-1235. ==>COOPERATION, NOT CONTENTION, THE BEST APPROACH AT 2390-2395 MHZ, ARRL SAYS The ARRL has told the FCC that it can support Amateur Radio sharing of 2390 to 2395 MHz on a co-primary basis with flight test telemetry stations. The Amateur Service has 2390 to 2400 MHz on a primary basis. Earlier this year, in a Fourth Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) in ET Docket 00-258, the FCC proposed permitting federal government aeronautical mobile and non-government aeronautical flight test telemetry to operate in the first 5 megahertz of the band. In reply comments in the proceeding filed December 1, the League told the FCC that it's agreed in principle with the Aerospace and Flight Test Radio Coordinating Council (AFTRCC) <http://www.aftrcc.org/> to develop coordination procedures. "ARRL believes and continues to believe that this will result in a harmonious arrangement that will not significantly disrupt ongoing and developing amateur operations," the League's reply comments said. The allocation shift is part of the FCC's efforts to accommodate users displaced from other bands reallocated for Advanced Wireless Systems. AFTRCC initially had called on the FCC to preclude "any new amateur use" of the 2390 to 2395 MHz segment and grandfather any existing usage on a secondary basis. At the time it commented, however, AFTRCC was acting on the presumption that amateur use consisted only of ATV. The ARRL noted that amateurs also are developing wideband data systems for the spectrum. In its comments filed November 3, the ARRL expressed confidence that the co-primary allocations envisioned for 2390-2395 MHz will, in the end, prove compatible, provided the FCC affirms the need for cooperative frequency coordination. The ARRL reiterated that position in this week's reply comments. "The need for active frequency coordination is especially compelling with respect to non-government flight test telemetry," the League said. The ARRL asserted, however, that 2395 to 2400 MHz "must remain an exclusive amateur primary allocation. ==>NEW GENERAL CLASS QUESTION POOL RELEASED The Question Pool Committee (QPC) of the National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators has released a revised and expanded Amateur Radio General class (Element 3) question pool into the public domain. The new question pool becomes effective July 1, 2004, and must be used to generate all General written examinations administered on or after that date. "The pool has been expanded to 432 questions," said ARRL VEC Manager Bart Jahnke, W9JJ, a member of the Question Pool Committee, who notes that all subelements grew slightly. "The largest increase in questions this time around was in our Operating Procedures and Amateur Radio Practices subelements," he said. The General class question pool does not contain any diagrams or symbols. The new Element 3 question pool is available on the ARRL Amateur Exam Question Pools Web page <http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/pools.html> in Adobe PDF and ASCII text format. It includes all questions and answers relating to Element 3. The Question Pool Committee now is turning its attention to developing an outline for an updated Amateur Extra class (Element 4) question pool, which will be revised over the next 24 months, Jahnke said. It will go into effect July 1, 2006. The deadline to submit input to the Amateur Extra question pool syllabus is May 1, 2004. In addition to Jahnke, members of the Question Pool Committee are Chairman Scotty Neustadter, W4WW, Fred Maia, W5YI, and John Johnston, W3BE. Commenters may address specific Element 3 questions as well as inputs to the Element 3 syllabus and question pool to the Question Pool Committee via e-mail <qpc@arrl.org>. ==>HAM ANTENNA SUPPORT STRUCTURES NOT MIGRATORY BIRD HAZARD, ARRL SAYS The ARRL has asked the FCC to specifically exempt Amateur Radio antennas and support structures less than 400 feet tall from routine environmental processing relative to their impact on migratory birds. In reply comments filed December 1, the League said there is no scientific evidence that antenna structures below that height contribute significantly to migratory bird mortality. An FCC Notice of Inquiry, WT Docket 03-187, released in August seeking information on the effects of communications towers on migratory birds, drew more than 250 comments. The League told the FCC that the migratory bird issue often arises at municipal land use hearings and in the drafting of ordinances regulating antenna structures. "At public hearings before city, town and county authorities, those who are opposed to communications antennas for aesthetic reasons typically raise issues such as migratory bird mortality as one of several arguments" against permitting antennas or limiting their placement," the ARRL comments said. "ARRL's research into the scientific literature reveals that communications towers below 400 feet are almost universally considered not to be contributors to bird mortality." The League said typical ham radio fixed antennas and support structures are located mostly in residential areas and range from 50 to 120 feet--although some may go as high as 200 feet. The ARRL said amateur antenna installations rarely go any higher than that because of FAA approval, painting and lighting requirements, not to mention cost and siting restrictions. "The comments in this proceeding to date support the conclusion that communications towers less than approximately 400 feet do not contribute substantially to migratory bird kills," the ARRL said, adding that no regulatory action is justified beyond what's already in place for aviation safety. The ARRL also pointed to FWS guidelines released in 2000 that urge communications service providers to utilize towers less than 199 feet above ground level. The FWS concedes, however, that "tower height alone may not necessarily be a critical issue that results in mortality" and that bird kills documented at tall TV towers might be due to the effects of tower lighting rather than height. Based on the record, the League concluded, "unlit Amateur Radio antennas cannot be considered candidates for regulation under any circumstances." ==>MICHIGAN HAMS WIN ANTENNA EXEMPTION VICTORY Amateurs in Troy, Michigan, scored a major victory for that community's hams November 24 after convincing the Troy City Council to reject the city planning commission's restrictions on the height of Amateur Radio antennas and antenna support structures. A Detroit suburb of some 70,000 inhabitants, Troy boasts an amateur population of more than 225. "When the time came for a vote, the original proposal of the planning commission was not even considered," reported Hazel Park Amateur Radio Club Director of Instruction Jeff Albrecht, N8WR. Instead, the council voted unanimously to accept the proposal drafted by Mayor Matt Pryor and HPARC President Phil Ode, AA8KR, that calls for an exemption of city regulation for structures up to 75 feet and compliance with federal preemptions regarding Amateur Radio. The planning commission had proposed to increase allowable antenna and antenna support structure height from 20 to 25 feet but wanted to impose additional requirements and final say on any application. Local hams originally banded together in August 2002 after HPARC First Vice President Murray Scott, KE8UM, was denied a variance to construct an antenna support structure. The amateurs convinced city council that the planning commission's restrictions would violate PRB-1, the limited federal preemption of local statutes that directs municipalities to "reasonably accommodate" Amateur Radio communication with respect to ordinances regulating antennas and antenna support structures. In their presentation, 10 hams from HPARC and the Utica-Shelby Emergency Communications Association used ARRL's "Antenna Height and Communications Effectiveness" study <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/local/antplnr.pdf> and ARRL's Amateur Radio Today CD presentation as part of its testimony. Troy Fire Chief Bill Nelson, KC8IWQ, also testified to the importance of Amateur Radio to his department's preparedness plans. Council ordered the city manager and city attorney to report back at the December 15 council meeting with an ordinance that would codify Pryor and Ode's proposal. Council further ordered that the ordinance not be subject to planning commission review or alteration. ==>ARRL MEMBER TURNS 100! The ARRL has conveyed its congratulations and best wishes to League member Cliff Fay, K7BQ, of Peoria, Arizona, who turned 100 this week. Arden Nelson, KA9WAR, reports that K7BQ still is active and recently checked into the Door County (Wisconsin) Amateur Radio Club net on 10 meters. "He belongs to the DCARC, and for many years has spent his summers on Washington Island," Nelson said. Although the big day was December 2, Fay's family reportedly celebrated the event November 29--the Saturday after Thanksgiving. NBC Today show weatherman Willard Scott included Fay among his list of centenarians December 2 and mentioned the fact that Fay was a ham radio operator and considered himself an active DXer. He's also a regular participant in the Lions Club's annual Hunting Lions in the Air contest. First licensed as 9ARG in 1919 when he was 16 and living in St Louis, Fay has held his ham ticket continuously since then. That means he's been an Amateur Radio licensee for 84 years! He's been an ARRL member for more than 35 years.--ARRL thanks Arden Nelson, KA9WAR, and Bob Reed, W2CE, for this information. ==>SOLAR UPDATE Solar sage Tad "That Lucky Ol' Sun" Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington, reports: Geomagnetic conditions have been quite stable this week. As a result, HF propagation has been good. Right now Earth is entering a solar windstream, and that could trigger auroras. The interplanetary magnetic field is currently pointing south, which means Earth is vulnerable to the effects of solar wind. The current forecast is for geomagnetic indices to rise over the next few days. Predicted planetary A index for Friday through Monday, December 5-8 is 20, 35, 25 and 20. Predicted solar flux for those same days is 115, 110, 105 and 105. Solar flux values are predicted to run between 105 and 110 and then reach a slightly lower minimum around December 12, then rise again toward a short-term peak around December 18-22. Petr Kolman, OK6MGW, is predicting active geomagnetic conditions for December 10-11, unsettled to active on December 5 and 9, unsettled conditions on December 6 and quiet to unsettled conditions on December 7-8. Conditions this weekend during the ARRL 160-Meter CW contest will be affected by any geomagnetic disturbance. Check WWV at 18 minutes after the hour (or check the WWV text on the Internet <http://sec.noaa.gov/ftpdir/latest/wwv.txt>) at 0018, 0318, 0618, 0918, 1218, 1518, 1818, and 2118 UTC for the latest mid-latitude K index. If the value is 3 or less, conditions should be good. Sunspot numbers for November 27 through December 3 were 154, 185, 177, 178, 159, 119 and 100, with a mean of 153.1. The 10.7 cm flux was 174.7, 167.7, 165.9, 152.8, 143.3, 139.3 and 123.8, with a mean of 152.5. Estimated planetary A indices were 10, 10, 9, 10, 10, 9 and 7, with a mean of 9.3. __________________________________ ==>IN BRIEF: * This weekend on the radio: The ARRL 160-Meter Contest, the QRP ARCI Holiday Spirits Sprint, the PSK31 Death Match, the TARA RTTY Melee and the TOPS Activity 80-Meter Contest are the weekend of December 6-7. JUST AHEAD: The ARRL 10-Meter Contest and the Great Colorado Snowshoe Run are the weekend of December 13-14. 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, December 8, 12:01 AM Eastern Time (0501 UTC), for the Level II Emergency Communications on-line course (EC-002). Registration remains open through the December 13-14 weekend or until all seats are filled--whichever occurs first. Class begins Tuesday, December 23. 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, December 8, 12:01 AM Eastern Standard Time (0501 UTC). Registration will remain open through Sunday, December 14. Classes begin Tuesday December 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. For more information, contact Certification and Continuing Education Program Department cce@arrl.org. * Survey seeks opinions on ARRL Continuing Education Course offerings: ARRL's Certification and Continuing Education program (C-CE) is asking members' opinions on a variety of new course topics via a members-only survey <http://www.arrl.org/members-only/cce/ccesurv.html>. The course topics in the survey are based on suggestions from members and participants in the current courses. Possible topics for future courses include troubleshooting, test equipment, basic electronics, computer software, Morse code proficiency, station grounding, radio design, APRS and operating procedures and etiquette. A short description of each course is offered, and survey takers can rate the likelihood that they would take the course. "As a result of input from members in a similar survey conduct ed in late 2002, Antenna Design and Construction (EC-009) and RF Propagation (EC-011) will soon be available for student registration," said C-CE Coordinator Howard Robins, W1HSR. Courses on RF Interference and an operating course called VHF/UHF: Beyond the Local Repeater were added to the catalog of available courses this past year, he said. Beta testing for EC-009 has been concluded, and EC-011 beta testing will begin early in 2004. An on-line Technician Licensing course (EC-010) is currently being tested. "The survey is very important as it provides us with direction from our members," Robins said. "It guides us into developing courses our membership wants and helps us prioritize our efforts, making the new course development process as efficient and responsive as possible." The survey will be available for 30 days. Information on all C-CE offerings can be found on the Web <http://www.arrl.org/cce/>. * Stephen E. McCallum, W2ZBY, SK: Former ARRL Kentucky Public Information Coordinator Steve McCallum, W2ZBY (ex-K4URX), of Lexington died November 30. He was 91. An ARRL Life Member, McCallum was first licensed in 1947 following a stint as a US Coast Guard radio officer. Following graduation from the University of Missouri, McCallum worked mostly as a journalist for newspapers in Missouri and New Jersey. During his years with General Electric, he edited the bi-monthly GE HAM NEWS. Former ARRL Southeastern Division Vice Director Evelyn Gauzens, W4WYR, said that when McCallum was K4URX and living in Key West, Florida, he always made himself available to help the League. "When he departed the area, he left large shoes to be filled," she added. Said ARRL Media Relations Manager Jennifer Hagy, N1TDY, "Steve was very enthusiastic about Amateur Radio public relations, and nothing seemed to slow him down. The League has lost a very dedicated volunteer." There's more information on McCallum on the Kentucky Amateur Radio Web site <http://www.qsl.net/kyham/news/w2zby/w2zbysk.html>. * Vote on QST Cover Plaque Award: The winner of the QST Cover Plaque Award for November is Ron D'Eau Claire, AC7AC, for his article "The Simple Superhet." Congratulations, Ron! 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 December issue of QST. Voting ends December 31. * W4B to commemorate Wright Brothers' flight centenary: The North Carolina Special Events Group is operating special event station W4B December 12-17 (UTC) to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Wright Brothers first flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. One station will be on 14.260 MHz continuously as propagation permits, while a second station will alternate between SSB and CW. For more information, visit the NCSEG Web site <http://www.ncseg.org/> or contact Robert Hamrick, WA4RH <wa4rh@ncseg.org>. The North Carolina Special Events group is a nonprofit organization that promotes historical and other events via Amateur Radio to increase public awareness of ham radio. Orville Wright was at the controls for the first successful flight December 17, 1903. The 120-foot flight lasted just 12 seconds. * Turtles vexing TO4E DXpedition: The Daily DX <http://www.dailydx.com/> reports the Europa Island DXpedition team was "a bit tired" after taking part in the CQ World Wide DX Contest (CW) the weekend of November 29-30. Operating as TO4WW for the contest, the crew put some 5 million points (and 4000 QSOs) in the log. DXpedition Co-organizer Rafik Djandji, F5CQ, reports that protected sea turtles have been a nuisance for the TO4E operation. Lowband antennas are installed on the beach, and each night, the turtles knock them over and destroy the radials on their way from the ocean to the top of the beach to rest during the night. This means the team then must repair and reinstall the antenna systems on a daily basis. The Clipperton DX Club is sponsoring the Europa operation. There's more information on the Europa 2003 DXpedition Web site <http://europa2003.free.fr/>. * Ed Giorgadze, 4L4FN, now active from Angola: Ed Giorgadze, 4L4FN--who made ham radio history with his P5/4L4FN operation from North Korea now is active from Angola as D2PFN on RTTY and SSB. QSL manager for D2PFN and P5/4L4FN is Bruce Paige, KK5DO. More information and an on-line log will be available on Paige's Web site <http://www.amsatnet.com/> (click on D2 Angola). =========================================================== 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. 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