*************** The ARRL Letter Vol. 23, No. 38 September 24, 2004 *************** IN THIS EDITION: * +FCC to consider BPL R&O in mid-October * +Here we go again: Hurricane Jeanne heads for US * +Astronaut Mike Fincke, KE5AIT, is an international ham radio hit * +FCC warns more trucking companies about unlicensed operation * +W1AGP is newest ARRL HQ staff member * +New ARRL Section Managers learn the ropes * Solar Update * IN BRIEF: This weekend on the radio ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course registration +"Intruder signal" on 40 meters disappears +Bill Cornelius, K8XC, SK AMSAT announces board election results DXCC Desk accredits DX operations +Available on ARRL Audio News =========================================================== ==>FCC POISED TO ACT ON BPL REPORT AND ORDER IN MID-OCTOBER The FCC Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) will present a draft broadband over power line (BPL) Report and Order to the full Commission when it meets October 14, the ARRL has learned. More than 6100 comments have been filed on the topic since the FCC released its initial Notice of Inquiry in the proceeding, ET Docket 03-104, in April 2003 and a subsequent Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM), ET Docket 04-37, in February of this year. The ARRL so far on this round has taken its concerns regarding Amateur Radio and BPL to three of the Commission's five members. In a meeting this week with FCC Commissioner Jonathan S. Adelstein, an ARRL delegation again asserted that the FCC is pushing the proceeding to a predetermined conclusion with little regard for technical issues. "Because the FCC has been unwilling to release for public review the results of its own tests and observations of BPL systems, the ARRL has no confidence that the draft Report and Order will be based on sound engineering and believes the rush to adoption is unwarranted and premature," ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, said in a follow-up letter to Adelstein. The letter reiterated the League's key points that, it said, "represent the minimum protection" that should be incorporated into the BPL Report and Order prior to Commission adoption. "Without adequate safeguards, the deployment of BPL systems will result in the pollution and degradation of the unique natural resource of the high-frequency radio spectrum," Sumner said. The League argued that the R&O include a reduction in the radiated emission limit. The ARRL wants the limit set 30 dB below current Part 15 requirements, which, it says, were established with narrowband point-source radiators in mind. "The record in this proceeding clearly establishes that BPL is not a point-source radiator," the ARRL's letter asserted. The ARRL pointed out that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has concluded that at the current Part 15 limit, interference is "likely" to receivers in land vehicles 75 meters from BPL-connected power lines and to fixed stations 460 meters from such power lines. "Given the number of amateur stations and the fact that they almost invariably are located near power lines, the areas of potential interference at the existing Part 15 limit are clearly too large to permit case-by-case resolution of interference issues," Sumner said. "Based on experience with the very limited test deployments of BPL systems to date, notably in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Southern Wake County, North Carolina, and Cottonwood, Arizona," the ARRL told Adelstein, "widespread BPL deployment at the existing Part 15 radiated emission limit will result in an unmanageable incidence of interference." The only way to reduce these areas of potential interference is to reduce the radiated emission limit, the ARRL maintained. Mandatory "notching" of the amateur bands by 30 dB would reduce the probability of interference to amateur stations sufficiently that the remaining interference cases might be resolved on a case-by-case basis. "However," the League added, "such notching would not solve the problem for other radio services." The ARRL contingent, which included Sumner, ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, and ARRL Chief Technology Officer Paul Rinaldo, W4RI, decried the FCC's lack of response to issues Sumner raised two months ago regarding a North Carolina Amateur Radio interference complaint. The ARRL representatives carried copies of correspondence questioning a July OET report that essentially gave the Progress Energy Corp BPL field trial a clean bill of health despite continued interference on amateur frequencies. The League delegation suggested to Adelstein that the OET has swept the North Carolina BPL interference case under the rug and has attempted to discount interference issues in general while overstating the FCC's ability to address them. Other points the ARRL has stressed in its meetings with Commission members include: * consider including the NTIA's recommendations to standardize measurement procedures and to require that Access BPL systems be certificated, not merely verified. * requiring independent confirmation of rules compliance before a BPL system is placed in operation. * the need for advance public notification of BPL system locations and characteristics, something not included in the NPRM * performance standards for interference mitigation that would require that interference be terminated immediately upon notification to the operator; and meaningful penalties for non-compliance, including fines. * require BPL marketers to "give clear notice to potential customers that licensed radio services have priority and that the delivery of broadband service via BPL cannot be guaranteed." In addition to Adelstein, ARRL representatives have met so far with Commissioners Kevin J. Martin, and Michael J. Copps. The League hopes to meet with the principal advisors to Chairman Michael K. Powell and Commissioner Kathleen Q. Abernathy before the October 7 cutoff for ex parte communications in the proceeding. ==>HURRICANE NET ACTIVATES FOR HURRICANE JEANNE As Amateur Radio support for the Hurricane Ivan relief and recovery in Florida, Alabama and Mississippi wound down this week, the Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) <http://www.hwn.org/> found itself on alert for yet another storm. The HWN activated September 24 on 14.325 MHz as Hurricane Jeanne continued on a course that could again send damaging wind and rain into the already storm-battered Florida Coast. The National Hurricane Center--home of WX4NHC <http://www.wx4nhc.org/>, which typically activates with the HWN--has urged interests on the Florida peninsula to "closely monitor the progress" of Hurricane Jeanne, now a Category 2 storm. "It is anticipated hurricane Jeanne will cross Great Abaco Island and Grand Bahamas and then will be along the Atlantic Coast of Florida sometime Saturday night," said HWN Manager Mike Pilgrim, K5MP. He said the HWN would remain active September 24 until the band closes, reactivating the next day at 1200 UTC until band closing, then repeating the cycle as required beyond that. At week's end, a hurricane warning was in effect for the northwestern Bahamas. A hurricane watch was in effect along the east coast of Florida from Florida City to St Augustine, including Lake Okeechobee. Many Florida communities are still cleaning up and recovering from the devastation of previous storms during what's turning into a very active hurricane season. When the HWN took to the air, Hurricane Jeanne was some 250 miles east of Great Abaco Island, moving toward the west at nearly 12 MPH and packing maximum sustained winds of nearly 100 MPH with higher gusts. The NHC said rainfall totals of from 5 to 10 inches were possible along its track. During hurricanes, the HWN works hand in hand with WX4NHC to gather ground-level weather data and damage reports from Amateur Radio volunteers in a storm's path. The net relays these to forecasters via WX4NHC, which regularly checks into the net and also disseminates weather updates. Meanwhile, the former Hurricane Ivan--a tropical depression by week's end--continued to cause trouble this week. ARRL South Texas Section Manager Ray Taylor, N5NAV, reported September 23 that the Texas Office of Emergency Management had requested activation of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service Net (7285 kHz days/3873 kHz evenings) in anticipation of Ivan. The main threat was flooding, some of which did occur, Taylor said. There were some evacuations as well, he added, and some tree damage. "We had a great turn out of hams to help," he added. After spreading rain across several sections of the Eastern US, the apparently tenacious storm eventually weakened over southeastern Texas. The National Hurricane Center once before attempted to close the book on Ivan, which rejuvenated after coming ashore in Alabama and the Florida Panhandle a week earlier. The Hurricane Watch Net Web site <http://www.hwn.org/> includes comprehensive hurricane and tropical storm forecasts, graphics and other information. ==>ASTRONAUT THRILLS AUDIENCES IN JAPAN, GERMANY VIA AMATEUR RADIO NASA International Space Station Science Officer Mike Fincke, KE5AIT, told youngsters at an elementary school in Japan September 17 that he's been so busy during his duty tour in space that it's hard to believe it's almost over. Fincke spoke via Amateur Radio from NA1SS aboard the space station with fifth and sixth-graders at Aoyama Gakuin Elementary School near Tokyo. The contact was arranged by the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program. Fincke answered the youngsters' questions in both Japanese and English. "Because we are working so hard, it seems that the time goes by very, very fast," Fincke said. "We are already five months into our mission, and it feels to me that we started yesterday." Fincke and ISS Expedition 9 Commander Gennady Padalka, RN3DT, will wrap up their six-month stay aboard the ISS in mid-October. Fincke told the students that the two have gotten along well during their time aboard the ISS by exercising "a lot of patience." One Aoyama pupil asked Fincke if his stay in space had made him more religious. Fincke answered in the affirmative. "Because this is very dangerous, and I have had a chance to think about things, and I think I should thank God every day for letting me have this opportunity and for keeping me safe," he said. Control operator of 8J1AGE at the school was Kuniori Togai, 7M4NEK, who once attended Aoyama Gakuin Elementary School and now is a junior in high school. In all, Fincke answered 13 questions during the approximately 10-minute contact. On hand at the school were nearly 200 visitors, including reporters from four television stations, one radio station, four newspapers and a monthly magazine. Among those taking it all in was Japan Amateur Radio League President Shozo Hara, JA1AN. The following day, an Amateur Radio conversation with Fincke was a main attraction of "The Long Night of the Stars" event held at the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt, Germany. Some 175 institutions, observatories and organizations in Germany, Switzerland and Austria joined forces for the occasion. During the direct VHF contact between the Center's DL0ESA and NA1SS, Fincke extended greetings from Padalka and himself. In a lengthy monologue, Fincke outlined what he and Padalka have been doing aboard the ISS in recent days. Recent tasks included installing antennas during a space walk for the automated transfer vehicle or ATV, a European Space Agency project. "It was very exciting for us to step outside into the cosmos with only several millimeters of fabric and a little bit of metal between us and the entire cosmos," he said. Fincke said he was looking forward to the future when all humans can explore the stars, "not just through a telescope, but to venture there together. We're working hard at the International Space Station toward that goal." Rolf Maarschalkerweerd, DK7FU, was the ground station operator at DL0ESA for the ESOC contact with NA1SS. The entire conversation was broadcast live throughout the Center. "It was a nice late summer evening, and the sky was clear," said ARISS Europe Chairman Gaston Bertels, ON4WF. "The crowd followed the ARISS contact on the big screen outside, and at the same time could see the ISS crossing the sky as a bright moving star. Quite an experience!" Some 1200 visitors and 150 staff members were at the ESOC for the occasion. Another 500 visitors at nearby Mannheim Radio Observatory also listened in on the conversation. An additional 120,000 witnessed the contact at participating observatories and institutions in the three neighboring countries. The event also attracted the attention of 28 journalists and their associated staff members from 11 newspapers and magazines, four news agencies, the Hessen TV station--which relayed the contact to its main national channel--and four radio stations. ARISS is an international educational outreach with US participation by ARRL, AMSAT and NASA. ==>FCC WARNS ADDITIONAL TRUCKING FIRMS ABOUT UNLICENSED 10-METER OPERATION The FCC has issued warning notices to five more trucking companies asking them to respond to allegations that their drivers may have transmitted illegally on the 10-meter amateur band. The alleged violations, based on "information before the Commission" as opposed to FCC monitoring, are said to have occurred in North Carolina, Pennsylvania and California. "While many truckers use Citizens Band radio equipment, please be advised that operation of radio transmitting equipment without a license is a violation of Section 301 of the Communications Act of 1934," FCC Special Counsel for Enforcement Riley Hollingsworth wrote the five firms in late August. The letters were made public September 18. Hollingsworth warned that violators, if caught and convicted, are subject to fines or prison time as well as seizure of their equipment. In three of the cases, the frequency involved was 28.085 MHz--in the CW band--while the other two cases cited transmissions on 28.215 MHz and 28.315 MHz. Hollingsworth asked Teaberry Trucking LLC, United Van Lines, Dowell Express Inc, Con-Way (CWX) Trucking and K&K Cartage to contact him to discuss the matter. In general, trucking company and courier services have responded promptly and positively to similar FCC warnings, indicating that they would warn drivers to refrain from unlicensed use of amateur frequencies. "UPS does not condone using any radio equipment that violates FCC rules," said a statement that went out to its drivers earlier this year after the FCC issued a Warning Notice to the package delivery service alleging unlicensed 10-meter operation. "Employees continuing to use radio equipment that violates FCC rules and UPS policy may be subject to appropriate disciplinary action along with fines or penalties owed to the FCC." UPS also admonished its drivers regarding the use of CB power amplifiers and transceivers capable of operation on both 10 and 11 meters. UPS said violating FCC rules also ignores the terms of its collective bargaining agreement with the Teamsters Union. A New Jersey trucking firm that received an FCC Warning Notice last spring promised to look into the allegations and "immediately remove all illegal equipment" from the truck in question. Gaffney, South Carolina, trucking company J Grady Randolph Inc wrote Hollingsworth earlier this year to say it had also received an anonymous report citing allegations similar to those in an FCC Warning Notice to the firm. Director of Human Resources and Safety W. O. Brown said Grady Randolph immediately advised all of its drivers that it is against the law to operate Amateur Radio equipment without a license. "We feel the problem with 10-meter radios is very widespread in this industry, since most truck stops have them for sale," Brown added. "We will continue to police our trucks in an attempt to prevent future incidents of such violations." While it's uncertain that these and similar admonitions have translated into fewer instances of alleged unlicensed operation on 10 meters by truckers, no further allegations have been raised involving operators of firms, such as UPS, that already have received FCC warning notices. ==>ARRL HEADQUARTERS WELCOMES NEW MEDIA AND PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER Allen Pitts, W1AGP, is the newest member of the ARRL Headquarters staff. An Amateur Extra class licensee who lives in New Britain, Connecticut, Pitts came aboard September 20 as the League's new Media and Public Relations Manager, succeeding Jennifer Hagy, N1TDY, who was a member of the HQ staff for 10 years. As Pitts sees it, he's arriving at the League at a critical juncture for Amateur Radio. "I know of no time in history that our service has been under greater threats, nor any other time in which we have so many opportunities to shine," he said. Pitts emphasizes that while he takes his public relations role most seriously, he also wants it understood that he's an active radio amateur and "not just a PR person." Pitts comes to the ARRL after a three-year stint as executive director of The Box Project Inc--a national, member-based charity that matches volunteers with families needing help. For eight years prior to that, he directed a multi-program human services agency that, among other things, was responsible for emergency shelters, transitional living, a court alternative sanctions program, emergency food services and an AIDS respite program. A radio amateur for five years, he's no stranger to the ARRL Field Organization, having served as an ARES District Emergency Coordinator and later as Connecticut's Section Emergency Coordinator. He's also an ARRL Assistant Section Manager. Pitts holds a bachelor's degree from the University of South Carolina and a master's degree from the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary (he served congregations in Kansas and Connecticut in the 1970s and 1980s). He and his wife, Donna, have three grown children and six grandchildren. They're currently "raising" an English mastiff named Dozer, who, Pitts says, "believes the radio room couch belongs to her." Pitts is active on HF, VHF and UHF. Although primarily a phone operator, he says he tries to keep up at a "basic level" on CW whenever he can. He holds DXCC. In addition to his interest in Amateur Radio, Pitts is an active member of the Society for Creative Anachronism and has gained "notoriety"--as he put it--as an expert with medieval crossbows, holding top state and national rankings. ==>ARRL HOSTS 2004 SECTION MANAGERS WORKSHOP Ten ARRL Section Managers visited ARRL Headquarters over the September 17-19 weekend for a Section Managers training workshop. The annual event, sponsored by ARRL Field and Educational Services, is designed to offer new SMs a chance to get better acquainted with ARRL programs and services, share ideas, explore common problems and learn more about their responsibilities as ARRL Field Organization leaders. "This was also a good opportunity for the Section Managers to meet with ARRL Headquarters Staff and see the facilities and to operate W1AW," said ARRL Field Organization/Public Service Team Leader Steve Ewald, WV1X. Discussions covered a variety of topics ranging from leadership to administrative details and emergency communication. Several ARRL Headquarters staff members pitched in to present portions of the workshop program. Amateur Radio Education and Technology Program Coordinator Mark Spencer, WA8SME, outlined the scope of "The Big Project" and how it relates to a Section Manager's activities. ARRL Emergency Communications Course Manager Dan Miller, K3UFG, discussed the emergency communication training classes and the grants that have subsidized tuition reimbursements for those taking the courses. Additionally, ARRL Regulatory Information Specialist John Hennessee, N1KB, discussed issues surrounding FCC rules and regulations and the services that ARRL provides. Field and Regulatory Correspondent Chuck Skolaut, K0BOG, focused on the Amateur Auxiliary/Official Observer program. The new SMs also heard from Affiliated Club/Mentor Program Manager Norm Fusaro, W3IZ, and ARRL Marketing Manager Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R. Eastern Massachusetts Section Manager, Phil Temples, K9HI, lent his perspective and experience as a veteran SM. "Steve and the staff have once again, performed a splendid job in bringing us together and equipping us with the skills necessary to perform our Section Manager roles," Temples said afterward. "My hat is off to all the staffers who took precious weekend time from their families to instruct us." Some attendees already had SM experience under their belts. Among them was Sacramento Valley SM Jettie Hill, W6RFF, who had not been able to attend the workshop until this year. Also on hand was San Diego Section Manager Pat Bunsold, WA6MHZ, who was returned to office earlier this year after serving as an SM for two terms in the mid 1990s. Skip Jackson, KS0J, who begins his term as Minnesota Section Manager October 1, expressed enthusiasm about his workshop experience. "The highlight for me was sharing the time and experience with so many fine people; both the League folks and the other SMs," he said. Maxim Memorial Station W1AW was open for operating after the workshop sessions, and several attendees took advantage of the opportunity. Section Managers were among those operating W1AW on September 18 in conjunction with ARRL's Amateur Radio Awareness Day. ==>SOLAR UPDATE Propagation maven Tad "Staring at the Sun" Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington, reports: Fall is here, and with the new season typically come better HF conditions. This week sunspot and solar flux values are down, however. We went from a daily average sunspot number of 77.6 for the September 9-15 reporting period to 52 during the September 16-22 reporting period. Average daily solar flux also dropped from 119.1 to 101.1 over the same two weeks. Solar flux is expected to remain around 90 for September 24-28, and then rise to 100 by October 1. Geomagnetic activity should remain low over the same period, with planetary A indices in the single digits until October 4, when we may see a rise in activity due to returning solar wind. Sunspot numbers for September 16 through 22 were 80, 76, 50, 42, 59, 33 and 24, with a mean of 52. The 10.7 cm flux was 108.3, 104.5, 102.7, 105.2, 100.5, 94.9 and 91.4, with a mean of 101.1. Estimated planetary A indices were 17, 20, 16, 5, 13, 9 and 16, with a mean of 13.7. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 14, 15, 16, 4, 8, 6 and 12, with a mean of 10.7. __________________________________ ==>IN BRIEF: * This weekend on the radio: The CQ World Wide DX Contest (RTTY), the Tesla Cup (SSB), the Scandinavian Activity Contest (SSB), the Arkansas, Texas and Alabama QSO parties, the AGCW VHF/UHF Contest, the Tesla Cup (CW) and the UBA ON Contest (6 meters) are the weekend of September 25-26. The Fall QRP Homebrewer Sprint is September 27, and the 222 MHz Fall Sprint is September 28. JUST AHEAD: The TARA PSK Rumble, the Oceania DX Contest (SSB), the EU Autumn Sprint (SSB), the California QSO Party, the UBA ON Contest (SSB), the RSGB 21/28 MHz Contest (SSB) and the German Telegraphy Contest are the weekend of October 3-4. The ARS Spartan Sprint is October 5. See the ARRL Contest Branch page <http://www.arrl.org/contests/> and the WA7BNM Contest Calendar <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/> for more info. * ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration: Registration for the ARRL HF Digital Communication (EC-005) and the ARRL VHF/UHF--Beyond the Repeater (EC-008) courses remains open through Sunday, September 26. Classes begin Friday October 8. Students participating in VHF/UHF--Beyond the Repeater (EC-008) will enjoy exploring some of the lesser-used and more intriguing aspects of VHF/UHF operation. HF Digital Communication students will learn to use a variety of HF digital modes. To learn more, visit the ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Web page <http://www.arrl.org/cce/ > or contact the ARRL CCE department <cce@arrl.org>. * Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course registration: Registration for the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level III on-line course (EC-003) remains open through the September 25-26 weekend or until all available seats have been filled. Seniors (age 55 and older) are strongly encouraged to participate. Class begins Friday, October 8. 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, seats are being offered to ARRL members on a first-come, first-served basis. To learn more, visit the ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Web page <http://www.arrl.org/cce>. For more information, contact Emergency Communications Course Manager Dan Miller, K3UFG, dmiller@arrl.org; 860-594-0340. * "Intruder signal" on 40 meters disappears: The odd and unidentified signal that had been reported showing up on the 40-meter phone band on or about 7238 kHz has disappeared just as mysteriously as it arrived earlier this summer. Numerous amateurs in the western US and Canada had reported hearing the signal over a period of a few weeks. The FCC's High Frequency Direction Finding Facility in Maryland, which had narrowed down the signal's source as somewhere east of Prescott, Arizona, was unable to hear it at all during the day and evening watches on September 16. Earlier FCC monitoring had indicated the "buzz" was centered on 7238.1 kHz with a bandwidth of about 1 kHz and consisted of a series of discrete signals spaced about 90 Hz apart. According to an FCC HFDF staff member, a radio amateur in Camp Verde, Arizona, who had reported hearing the signal at nearly 40 dB over S9 a week earlier said it suddenly disappeared, and no one in that area has heard it since. The signal's presence reportedly generated a lot of discussion on a local repeater, however. The FCC offered no firm opinion as to the signal's source. Stations with information on unidentified signals in the amateur bands are asked to report them via e-mail to International Amateur Radio Union Region 2 Monitoring System Liaison Chuck Skolaut, K0BOG, <cskolaut@arrl.org>. * Bill Cornelius, K8XC, SK: ARRL member William J. "Bill" Cornelius, K8XC, of Henderson, Nevada, died unexpectedly September 21. He was 67. "This is indeed sad news," said ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, who had worked with Cornelius at the ARRL's National Association of Broadcasters convention booth in Las Vegas. "Bill was a kind and gentle man. He was always the best of hosts." Gary Hartman, KK7LV, called Cornelius "a mainstay here in the Las Vegas Valley" who would be missed. Dale Porray, AD7K, said he received word of Cornelius' death from his wife, Carolyn, K9XC, who said her husband appeared to have succumbed to a massive heart attack. For a number of years, the Corneliuses have organized and managed the ARRL's presence at the NAB convention each April with the assistance of volunteers from the Las Vegas Radio Amateur Club of which he was member. Cornelius also belonged to the Las Vegas Repeater Association. * AMSAT announces board election results: AMSAT-NA has announced the results of its 2004 Board of Directors election. Tom Clark, W3IWI, Lou McFadin, W5DID, and Paul Shuch, N6TX, were the top three vote getters, earning new two-year seats on the AMSAT-NA Board of Directors. Shuch displaced Bruce Paige, KK5DO, who becomes first alternate; the second alternate is Steve Diggs, W4EPI. Clark and McFadin were AMSAT Board incumbents, while Shuch is new to the Board. Other AMSAT-NA Board members include President Robin Haighton, VE3FRH; Executive Vice President Rick Hambly, W2GPS, Gunther Meisse, W8GSM, and Barry Baines, WD4ASW. AMSAT-NA holds its 22nd Space Symposium and Annual Meeting and October 7-10 in Arlington, Virginia. * DXCC Desk accredits DX operations: The following DX operations have been approved for DXCC credit: 4W4JEG, Timor-Leste, October 7, 2003-June 30, 2004; T6RF, Afghanistan, July 1-August 31, 2004; TT8KR, Chad, September 7-14, 2004; 5X2A, Uganda, August 3-22, 2004; 5X4CM (5X4/KH9AE), Uganda, September 6, 2004-September 1, 2005. For more information, visit the DXCC Web page <http://www.arrl.org/awards/dxcc>. A new feature, "DXCC Frequently Asked Questions <http://www.arrl.org/awards/dxcc/faq/>," can answer most of your questions on the DXCC program. Current ARRL DX Bulletins are available on the W1AW DX Bulletins for 2004 page <http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/dx/>. =========================================================== 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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