*************** The ARRL Letter Vol. 23, No. 44 November 5, 2004 *************** IN THIS EDITION: * +League unhappy with administration over new BPL rules * +Donating to Spectrum Defense Fund a win-win proposition * +Permanent ham radio presence in space marks four years * +Amateur community responding to ARRL holiday toy drive * +FCC imposes big fines in CB-related cases involving amateurs * +USTTI course a learning experience for teachers, students * +End reported near for UO-22 satellite * IN BRIEF: This weekend on the radio ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course registration Correction John Belrose, VE2CV, wins October QST Cover Plaque Award +Albuquerque to host USA ARDF Championship US Coast Guard Auxiliary special event set USS Salem to activate K1USN for Veterans' Day +Available on ARRL Audio News =========================================================== NOTE: Due to travel schedules, this week's editions of The ARRL Letter and ARRL Audio News are being distributed Thursday, November 4. The weekly Solar Update will be available on the ARRL Web site Friday, November 5. The normal distribution schedule will resume Friday, November 12. =========================================================== ==>ARRL DISAPPOINTED WITH ADMINISTRATION OVER BPL REPORT AND ORDER The ARRL has expressed its disappointment with the Bush administration's failure "to prevent radio spectrum pollution by BPL systems." In a November 1 letter to Secretary of Commerce Donald L. Evans copied to President George W. Bush, ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, recalled Evans' assurances on the administration's behalf earlier this year "that we are responsible and sensitive to valuable incumbent [radiocommunication] systems." Haynie told Evans the FCC's BPL Report and Order (R&O) in ET Docket 04-37--adopted October 14 and released two weeks later--suggests otherwise. "Despite excellent work conducted by the technical staff of your National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to document the extensive harmful interference that will occur if BPL systems are deployed at the radiated emission limits presently permitted by the FCC rules," Haynie said, "it appears that the NTIA concurred in the FCC's decision not to tighten those limits." The FCC maintains that BPL emissions are localized and at low enough levels to preclude harmful interference in the first place, and it has left the door open to possibly upping the limit in the future. Haynie pointed out that both international treaty and US law entitle licensed radiocommunication services to protection from harmful interference that unlicensed systems like BPL might generate. "Despite this," he continued, "the FCC has shifted the burden for initiating interference mitigation from the BPL system operator to the radio licensee." The NTIA's September 13 submission to the FCC shows that at FCC Part 15 limits, the probability of harmful interference is essentially 100 percent within 200 to 400 meters (approximately 660 to 1300 feet) of a power line carrying BPL signals--depending on the operating frequency. "Amateur Radio stations are typically located in residential areas, nearly always well within such distances," Haynie noted. "The FCC's Report and Order provides no assurance that when interference occurs--as it unquestionably will--it will be promptly eliminated." As part of the Commerce Department, the NTIA not only administers radio spectrum allocated to federal government users but advises the White House on telecommunications policy. On June 24, President Bush extolled BPL during a speech on technological innovation even while acknowledging interference concerns. Haynie said the League will continue efforts to improve the R&O. Calling the HF spectrum "a unique and priceless resource," the ARRL president expressed regret that the administration "is willing to squander such a unique natural resource in order to provide a short-range broadband connection that can easily be provided by several other non-polluting means." ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, echoed Haynie's concerns. The FCC R&O, he said, "shifts the burden to licensed operators to react to interference rather than adopting rules to prevent interference from occurring." The R&O advises locating "sensitive receiver antennas" as far as practically possible from power lines. Additionally, the FCC admonished ARRL that in cases where its members experience RF noise, "such noise can often be avoided by carefully locating their antennas." Reacted Sumner: "If a BPL system operator wants to meet its obligation by picking up all of the costs of relocating a licensee's antenna, it's free to make the offer." If interference occurs, the new Part 15 rules will require BPL system operators to employ "interference avoidance techniques" such as "frequency band selection, notching, or judicious device placement." Notches would have to be at least 20 dB--slightly more than 3 S units--below applicable Part 15 limits on HF and at least 10 dB below Part 15 limits on VHF--not much protection for weaker signals common in HF work. "We might be more optimistic if there had, to date, been a single instance when the FCC had ordered a BPL system to terminate operation for causing harmful interference," Sumner said. "The Commission continues to be in denial, despite hundreds of pages of documentation of ongoing interference." Sumner said the ARRL was gratified that the FCC R&O recognized that BPL devices have significantly greater interference potential than other Part 15 devices and that the Commission will require certification of BPL systems rather than the less-stringent verification. Additionally, Sumner said, the League was pleased that the FCC-mandated public BPL system database will require systems to be listed several weeks ahead of actual implementation so that amateurs and others have advance notice. ARRL officials continue to mull possible formal responses to the R&O. The ARRL Executive Committee already has okayed the filing of a Petition for Reconsideration. It further authorized ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, to "prepare to pursue other available remedies as to procedural and substantive defects" in the BPL proceeding. For more information on BPL, visit the Broadband Over Power Line (BPL) and Amateur Radio Web page <http://www.arrl.org/bpl>. ==>NEED FOR SPECTRUM DEFENSE NEVER ENDS While ARRL members often say that advocating for Amateur Radio's interests is the most valuable service the League can perform on their behalf, that advocacy carries a hefty price tag. So says ARRL Chief Development Officer Mary Hobart, K1MMH. Although she realizes it's a message ARRL members may be weary of hearing, Hobart says the cost of keeping abreast of today's changing regulatory and technological environment is essential to Amateur Radio's future. And while contributing to the 2005 ARRL Spectrum Defense Fund is a regular and ongoing obligation, it also pays back donors down the road. "Radio amateurs owe it to themselves to donate," she says, "no matter their license class or even whether they're ARRL members or not." Hobart reiterated the campaign kickoff comment of ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, who said, "Without spectrum, the license that we have in our pocket or hanging up on the wall is pretty much useless." Despite the FCC's recent adoption of new rules to govern broadband over power line (BPL) systems--the theme of the 2005 fundraising campaign is ". . . more than just BPL"--Hobart says spectrum defense remains just as important as ever. "ARRL's work continues--technically, legally, any way we can," she emphasized. "The bills keep mounting." But she also points to results. ARRL's persistence in the BPL proceeding, she noted, helped to put Amateur Radio's interference concerns on the FCC's radar screen and get them acknowledged--even if not yet adequately addressed--in the FCC's recent BPL Report and Order. Beyond BPL, "there will be other challenges down the road," Hobart says. "And--like the Boy Scouts--we need to be prepared." The cost of spectrum defense, which includes advocacy in "Official Washington," through the ARRL's Technical Relations Office, does not come entirely out of individual member dues. "Without these fundamental relationships in DC, when something hits, we simply wouldn't be ready," she said. Hobart called on "ARRL members regardless of license class, prior donors who haven't contributed this year, our generous Diamond Club members and Amateur Radio clubs and organizations" to give what they can. "All of these have an important stake in the success of our advocacy, whether it's BPL, spectrum access or an issue we don't even know about yet," said Hobart. She also thanked those who have already contributed. "A lot of people have given a lot of money so far, but the need doesn't stop," she said. In his October QST "It Seems to Us . . ." editorial, ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, pointed out that not all of ARRL's advocacy work is defensive. "Thanks to our persistent effort over more than a decade, last year's WRC [World Radiocommunication Conference] agreed to double the size of the worldwide 40-meter amateur band by relocating broadcasting stations elsewhere in the spectrum," he wrote. He also noted the authorization for US amateurs to use five channels in the 5-MHz band. Such significant victories, he asserted, would not be possible "without financial support from thousands of ARRL members like you." Radio amateurs may contribute online via the ARRL's secure donor Web site <https://www.arrl.org/forms/fdefense/fdefense.html>. Those contributing at or above the $50 level may request a gift as a token of the League's appreciation. For more information, contact ARRL Chief Development Officer Mary Hobart, K1MMH, mhobart@arrl.org; 860-594-0397. ==>PERMANENT ISS HAM STATION, HUMAN CREWS SHARE FOURTH ANNIVERSARY Four years ago this week, the Expedition 1 crew arrived aboard the International Space Station, home of the first permanent Amateur Radio station in space. Just weeks earlier, the FCC granted the station's distinctive NA1SS call sign. By the time William Shepherd, KD5GSL, Sergei Krikalev, U5MIR, and Yuri Gidzenko arrived on November 2, 2000, the Phase 1 or "initial station" Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) gear was already on board for the crew to install. Crew increments comprised of US astronauts and Russian cosmonauts have rotated duty tours continuously ever since, and ham radio has played a role in each crew's routine. "Every challenge for the International Space Station crews, flight control teams and management adds to the knowledge base we need to develop longer spaceflight missions to places like the moon and Mars," said International Space Station Program Manager Bill Gerstenmaier. "The work we're doing on station is directly connected to future exploration missions." ARISS International currently is mulling Amateur Radio's role in NASA's "Moon, Mars and Beyond" initiative. With NASA's shuttle fleet now grounded, crew increments have shrunk to two people, while duty tours have stretched from four to six months. Despite fewer hands on deck, NASA says the two-person crews sometimes have been able to do more with less--often improvising. The Expedition 10 crew of Commander Leroy Chiao, KE5BRW, and ISS Flight Engineer Salizhan Sharipov, arrived at the ISS just last month--aboard a Russian Soyuz vehicle, just as the Expedition 1 crew did, although other crews traveled via the shuttle. Over the years, in addition to visiting space shuttle crews, there have even been a couple of paying "space tourists" and other short-term visitors who took advantage of the ARISS gear onboard. More recently, Russian Space Forces Test Cosmonaut Yuri Shargin--who arrived with the Expedition 10 crew--completed two ARISS contacts with school groups in Europe. The Expedition 10 crew is not expected to begin its own series of school group contacts until the week of November 15 at the earliest. Unscheduled ham radio activity by crew members typically is suspended during crew changeover periods. As of November 4, the NA1SS FM voice repeater remained off and the ARISS Phase 2 equipment was back in packet mode under the RS0ISS call sign. This week marked a first when Chiao cast his vote in the November 2 presidential election while orbiting 230 miles above Earth. A law the Texas State Legislature passed in 1997 allows astronauts to vote electronically from space. Chiao submitted his electronic ballot to his county clerk's office via e-mail. Some statistics: Since the Expedition 1 crew carried out the first successful ARISS school group contact--with Luther Burbank Elementary School near Chicago on December 21, 2000--ISS crews have racked up 150 similar Amateur Radio contacts. Approximately two-thirds of them have been direct, 2-meter QSOs, while the rest were carried out via "telebridge" stations, where two-way audio was teleconferenced to the school via an Earth station convenient to QSO NA1SS directly. The crew holding the record for the most ARISS school group contacts was Expedition 3. Commander Frank Culbertson, KD5OPQ, answered questions via ham radio posed by students at 22 different schools. Culbertson also activated NA1SS during the 2001 Jamboree On The Air (JOTA) scouting event. NASA recently announced that after an extensive review, it's planning its return-to-flight shuttle mission, STS-114, for a launch window that opens next May. ARISS International Chairman Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, says PCSat 2--an externally mounted ham radio payload--is expected to fly on that shuttle flight, which also will mark the return of three-person ISS crews. "We will also be able to better negotiate the delivery of our computer, which is essential for the SSTV system," Bauer added.--some information from NASA ==>UNITED WAY REPORTS HUGE HAM RADIO RESPONSE TO ARRL HOLIDAY TOY DRIVE The United Way in Martin County, Florida, reports "a huge response" by the Amateur Radio community to the ARRL's call to support a holiday toy drive on behalf of the agency's "White Doves Holiday Project." The ARRL effort aims to provide toys for youngsters left homeless or displaced by a relentless string of hurricanes earlier this year. Carol Hodnett, who directs the United Way of Martin County's Volunteer and Community Resource Center (VCRC) says ARRL members from Maine to California have sent toys or money, and more are arriving every day. "Because of the overall strain on our state, we have been looking outside the area for help in supporting the White Doves Holiday Project this year," Hodnett said. "We are so incredibly thankful to the American Radio Relay League for thinking of the children in our area in planning its toy drive." Among the responses: Hodnett says a representative from an ARRL-affiliated club in Cary, North Carolina, is planning to drive a truckload of toys to the White Doves warehouse at the Martin County Fairgrounds next month. The ham radio club at Salt Brook Elementary School in New Providence, New Jersey, also is planning to contribute to the toy drive, she said. Ham radio operators maintained emergency communication operations in several Florida counties following hurricanes Charley, Frances, Jeanne and Ivan, Hodnett noted, and "they learned about the devastation firsthand or through their networks." ARRL Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, says that while severe weather affected many areas of the US to differing degrees, Florida was hit the worst, and thousands of families were left without a place to live. "For a child suddenly living out of a tent, or car, or someone else's home, the 2004 holiday season will be anything but jolly," Pitts says. "But hams are coming to their rescue in a new way." Hams across the country are encouraged to purchase an unwrapped toy for a boy or girl aged 1 to 14 and send it with a QSL card or 3x5 card displaying their call sign to: Ham Radio, The United Way White Dove Project, 50 Kindred St--Suite 207, Stuart, FL 34994. Monetary donations also are welcome. Send gifts and donations prior to Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 25. Martin County United Way has agreed to serve as the collection point and also coordinate distribution to the surrounding counties. "The thousands of hours hams spent in providing free emergency communications to the families hurt by the hurricanes is now being matched by the thousands of dollars in caring for their children," Pitts said. The first shipment of toys from ARRL Headquarters staffers should go out by November 8. Additional information about the ARRL holiday toy drive are on the ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2004/10/18/2/>. ==>FCC FINES CB OPERATOR-AMATEUR LICENSEE, CB SHOP The FCC has imposed large fines on a Washington CB operator who now holds a Technician class amateur license and on an Ohio CB shop that's run by an apparent amateur licensee. In an October 18 Forfeiture Order (NOF), the Commission levied a $10,000 fine on Robert A. Spiry, now KD7TRB, of Tacoma, for unauthorized operation on 11 meters that also involved the use of uncertificated equipment and the use of an illegal external RF power amplifier. The alleged violations occurred in 2002. Following up on "numerous complaints of interference to home electronics equipment" from CB transmissions, agents from the FCC's Seattle Field Office tracked the interfering transmissions to Spiry's home and vehicle. "The agent observed signal levels that appeared to be significantly higher than those expected from a legal CB transmitter," the FCC said in a subsequent Notice of Apparent Liability (NAL). The FCC says its agents conducted inspections of Spiry's station in April and November 2002 and determined that Spiry was operating uncertificated transmitters and using a linear amplifier attached to his CB transmitter in violation of Part 95 rules. The FCC said it advised Spiry that his use of unauthorized and non-certified equipment voided his blanket authority to operate his CB station, but he continued to operate anyway. The Commission said that when Spiry responded to the December 2002 NAL, he did not dispute the facts as the FCC had presented them. But, Spiry told the FCC that he had given up CB, removed his CB antenna and obtained an Amateur Radio license. Spiry's ham ticket was granted December 2, 2002. Spiry also said he didn't realize that the fine for such violations could be so high and that he is unable to pay it. The Commission says Spiry presented no evidence to back up that claim, however, and it's not persuaded that Spiry's "remedial efforts" warrant any reduction in the fine. In an unrelated case, the Commission issued an NOF October 21, fining Paladen Communications Inc, of North Jackson, Ohio, $7000 for "willfully and repeatedly" selling illegal CB external RF power amplifiers. During a July 2003 visit to Paladen, agents from the FCC's Detroit office reported observing a Palomar CB linear on sale for $250. The agents informed Arthur L. Dundorf, now apparently KC8ZQI, and Preston L. Dundorf, now apparently KC8ZKE, of Paladen, that CB linears could not be legally sold and, in October 2003, issued a Citation informing Paladen of the violations and penalties that could result. Both men obtained Technician tickets in April 2004. In a response, Paladen proprietor Preston Dundorf told the FCC that Paladen was unaware it was violating marketing rules and would not violate them in the future. But last January, the Detroit Office received a complaint that Paladen was continuing to sell CB linears. An agent who followed up on the report was offered a Palomar 100 W linear amplifier for $124. The FCC says Paladen did not respond to a May 2004 NAL alleging willful and repeated violation of the Communications Act and §2.815 of its rules. As a result, the Commission affirmed the forfeiture based on the information before it. The FCC gave Spiry and Paladen Communications 30 days to pay the fines. ==>USTTI COURSE STUDENTS SHOW SPECIAL INTEREST IN AMATEUR RADIO ARRL Headquarters played host to seven international students October 18-22 for the 2004 United States Telecommunications Training Institute (USTTI) <http://ustti.org/> Amateur Radio Administration course. This year's group of participants included three radio amateurs. Coordinated by USTTI and presented by ARRL Headquarters staff, the program covered--among other topics--the International Telecommunication Union and ITU regulations, the International Amateur Radio Union, spectrum management, disaster communication, digital communication, amateur satellites, electromagnetic interference, international licensing and the future of Amateur Radio. "This was the best class that I had the opportunity to teach in my eight years with ARRL," remarked ARRL Technical Relations Specialist Walt Ireland, WB7CSL, who taught the majority of the course. He said the students all were more interested Amateur Radio administration and ITU telecommunications rules, regulations and administration than in technical issues. All students were associated in some respect with their countries' telecommunication organization. Attending the 2004 session were Anthony Lynch, of Barbados; Cyprien Vagheni, 9Q1KS, of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; Benjamin Enyenze, of Kenya; El Alia Malainine, CN8YI, of Morocco; Murari Pokhrel, of Nepal; Leah Vengua, DU1LEA, of the Philippines, and James Ssekuuma of Uganda. ARRL Chief Technology Officer Paul Rinaldo, W4RI, provided an introduction to the ITU. In addition to studying rules, regulations and procedures, the trainees also constructed a simple 40-meter receiver in the ARRL Laboratory. "We learned a lot from the students," Ireland concluded, "and Headquarters support was outstanding, as usual." ==>USEFUL LIFE OF UO-22 SATELLITE APPEARS OVER According to AMSAT-UK, the UO-22 satellite is not in good shape, and its useful life may be over. "The SSTL [Surrey Satellite Technology Limited] Ground Station control centre at the University of Surrey have attempted several times in recent weeks to reactivate the satellite," AMSAT-UK reports. "After one attempt it did come back to life, but only briefly. Other attempts have failed completely." The SSTL ground control station may make further attempts to reactivate UO-22, "but it seems unlikely that they will be completely successful." The cause of the satellite's failure is not known for certain, but SSTL believes it may be related either to the spacecraft's batteries or to the fact that the satellite is very hot due to orbital precession, which has put it generally in full sunlight. The elevated temperature has been causing problems with the receivers as well as with the batteries. Launched on July 17, 1991, from Kourou, French Guiana, UO-22 has served for many years as the 9600 baud store-and-forward satellite for the Amateur Radio packet radio worldwide SatGate service, which linked packet radio networks in many countries. AMSAT-NA reports UO-22 as "non-operational." For further information on UO 22 contact Jim Heck, G3WGM <g3wgm@amsat.org>. __________________________________ ==>IN BRIEF: * This weekend on the radio: The ARRL November Sweepstakes (CW), the North American Collegiate Amateur Radio Club Championship (CW), the IPARC Contest (CW/SSB), the Ukrainian DX Contest, the High Speed Club CW Contest and the DARC 10-Meter Digital Contest are the weekend of November 6-7. JUST AHEAD: The Worked All Europe DX Contest (RTTY), the JIDX Phone Contest, SARL Field Day and the OK/OM DX Contest (CW) are the weekend of November 13-14. 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 Technician Licensing course (EC-010) remains open through Sunday, November 7. Classes begin Friday, November 26. With the assistance of a mentor, EC-010 students learn everything they need to know to pass the examination for the entry-level FCC Technician class license. To learn more, visit the ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Web page <http://www.arrl.org/cce/> or contact the ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Program Department <cce@arrl.org>. * Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course registration: Registration for the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level II on-line course (EC-002) opens Monday, November 8, 1201 AM EST, and will remain open through the November 13-14 weekend or until all available seats have been filled. Class begins Friday, November 26. 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. Radio amateurs aged 55 and older are strongly encouraged to participate. 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, cce@arrl.org; 860-594-0340. * Correction: The news brief "UK amateurs to get additional 100 kHz on 40 meters October 31" contained incomplete information regarding Region 1 countries that have authorized their amateurs access to the 7100-7200 kHz band segment. The list includes the UK and Ofcom-administered regions, the Republic of Ireland, Croatia, Norway, Iceland, Serbia-Montenegro and San Marino. Switzerland will make 7100-7200 kHz available starting January 1, 2005. The WRC-03 action to move broadcasters out of that band segment does not formally go into effect until 2009. * John Belrose, VE2CV, wins October QST Cover Plaque Award: The winner of the QST Cover Plaque Award for October is John S. Belrose, VE2CV, for his article "On the Quest for an Ideal Antenna Tuner." Congratulations, John! 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. * Albuquerque to host USA ARDF Championship: The USA Amateur Radio Direction Finding Championship will return to Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 2005. The Albuquerque Amateur Radio Club (AARC) has been selected to host the fifth annual USA ARDF Championship next August (tentative dates are August 1-5). The AARC sponsored the first USA ARDF Championship in 2001. ARRL ARDF Coordinator Joe Moell, K0OV, reports the 2-meter and 80-meter competition courses will be open to anyone--with or without a ham license. Competitors will be divided into five age categories for males and four for females, with medals for top finishers in each category. Winners may earn positions on ARDF Team USA to the 2006 World Championships in Bulgaria. The 2005 USA ARDF Championship organizers are now conducting an informal survey to get a preliminary head count of attendees for planning purposes. For more information and to indicate your interest, visit Moell's Homing In Web site <http://www.homingin.com/>. * US Coast Guard Auxiliary special event set: US Coast Guard Auxiliary Amateur Radio Stations across the country will be on the air Saturday, November 6, 2004 to commemorate the 65th Anniversary of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary (USCG) and mark the fifth annual International Search and Rescue (ISAR) competition in Portsmouth, Virginia, between US and Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary members. Details are on the USCG Amateur Radio Special Event page <http://www.cgaux.org/cgauxweb/NACON/SpecialEvent2004.pdf>. * USS Salem to activate K1USN for Veterans' Day: The USS Salem Radio Club will activate K1USN on Veterans' Day, Thursday, November 11, with operation from the museum ship berthed in the Fore River in Quincy, Massachusetts. A special event QSL card has been created borrowing the design of the official 2004 Veterans Day poster. K1USN will be active on most Amateur Radio bands on CW and phone, and packet spots would be appreciated. The USS Salem, a heavy cruiser commissioned in 1949, will be open to the public. K1USN will QSL all requests received. US stations should include an SASE with their QSLs to Harold "Pi" Pugh. K1RV, 78 Temple St, Abington, MA 02351 DX stations QSL via the W1 QSL Bureau. =========================================================== 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/>. You'll have an opportunity during registration to sign up for e-mail delivery of The ARRL Letter, W1AW bulletins, and other material. To change these selections--including delivery of The ARRL Letter--registered members should click on the "Member Data Page" link (in the Members Only box). Click on "Modify membership data," check or uncheck the appropriate boxes and/or change your e-mail address if necessary. (Check "Temporarily disable all automatically sent email" to temporarily stop all e-mail deliveries.) Then, click on "Submit modification" to make selections effective. (NOTE: HQ staff members cannot change your e-mail delivery address. You must do this yourself via the Members Only Web Site.) The ARRL Letter also is available to all, free of charge, from these sources: * ARRLWeb <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/>. (NOTE: The ARRL Letter will be posted each Friday when it is distributed via e-mail.) * The QTH.net listserver, thanks to volunteers from the Boston Amateur Radio Club: Visit Mailing Lists@QTH.Net <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/letter-list>. (NOTE: The ARRL cannot assist subscribers who receive The ARRL Letter via this listserver.)