*************** The ARRL Letter Vol. 24, No. 01 January 7, 2005 *************** IN THIS EDITION: * +Amateur Radio gains high profile in tsunami's wake * +FCC releases extensive BPL-related documentation * +Oklahoma, Brazil youngsters QSO the ISS * +Homeowners cited for interfering with ham radio * +ARRL public service announcement available * +Ham antenna bill in Vermont legislative hopper * Solar Update * IN BRIEF: This weekend on the radio ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course registration +Southern Florida SEC Jim Goldsberry, KD4GR, SK +Arkansas club announces Field Day 2A plaque, 2004 winners Club announces "Project Diana" special event +Available on ARRL Audio News =========================================================== ==>AMATEUR RADIO PRAISED AS LIFELINE IN SOUTH ASIA As the tsunami relief and recovery effort continues in South Asia, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has joined those paying tribute to Amateur Radio's ongoing emergency communication role. Director and Executive Vice Chairman S. Suri, VU2MY, of India's National Institute of Amateur Radio (NIAR), noted January 5 that the PM "was all praise for hams in India and the entire world who helped us in this hour of need." Suri said the administrator of hard-hit Car Nicobar Island has asked NIAR to keep on duty Rama Mohan, VU2MYH, and five other radio amateurs who have been providing communication with the island since shortly after the December 26 disaster. "The district administration chief of Car Nicobar Island spoke to me this morning to say even now it is only the ham communication that is aiding them for relief and rehabilitation measures," Suri said in an e-mail to Jay Wilson, W0AIR, of the Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response Association (DERA) and shared with ARRL. Mohan, who had received DERA training in the US, was part of NIAR's VU4NRO/VU4RBI DXpedition to Andaman and Nicobar Islands. When the earthquake and tsunami struck the region, DXpedition team leader Bharathi Prasad, VU2RBI, promptly shifted the operation to handle emergency traffic and health-and-welfare inquiries between the island and the Indian mainland. More than 20 Indian radio amateurs are said to be involved in providing emergency communication support in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Ironically, until the recent NIAR DXpedition the Indian government did not allow Amateur Radio operation from the islands. It's since cleared the way for all Indian hams to operate from VU4. In the disaster's immediate aftermath, Suri said, Mohan and other DXpedition team members risked their lives to alert the chief of administration on Andaman Island, since tsunami waves later overran the road they'd traveled. NIAR staff member Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, was providing emergency communication remote Hutbay Island. Now back on the Indian mainland, Bharathi Prasad has reported that the VU4NRO/VU4RBI logs are safe and at NIAR headquarters, and QSLing will commence once the emergency operation concludes. DXer Charly Harpole, K4VUD/HS0ZCW, now in Bangkok, Thailand, told The Daily DX <http://www.dailydx.com/> that QSL cards already are showing up at NIAR. Harpole, who was visiting the DXpedition in Port Blair on Andaman Island when the earthquake and tsunami hit, has since been helping to handle emergency traffic from Thailand, where his wife's family lives. "I have been listening to the traffic from VU4 back to the India mainland, and by now it is smooth as silk with lots of H&W and some government messages running almost constantly," he said in an e-mail made available by QRZ DX <http://www.dxpub.com/> Editor Carl Smith, N4AA. Harpole advised amateurs worldwide to avoid the primary emergency traffic frequency of 14.190 MHz. In Thailand, Harpole reports, hams have been using mostly 2 meters for their emergency traffic "and doing a huge job." He said he's heard very little from Bangladesh, and nothing from Sumatra and Burma (Myanmar). The earthquake's epicenter was some 100 miles off Sumatra, a part of Indonesia. Just three days after the calamitous tsunami, Radio Society of Sri Lanka (RSSL) President Victor Goonetilleke, 4S7VK, declared that "uncomplicated short wave" radio had saved lives. "Ham radio played an important part and will continue to do so," he said in an e-mail relayed to ARRL. Goonetilleke said Sri Lanka's prime minister had no contact with the outside world until Amateur Radio operators stepped in. "Our control center was inside the prime minister's official house in his operational room," he recounted. "[This] will show how they valued our services." Horey Majumdar, VU2HFR, in Calcutta, said improvisation was "the name of the game" in the emergency's aftermath. "Hams had to switch to good old CW and switch frequencies from 14.190 and 14.160 MHz to 7.090 MHz," he said. Majumdar noted that hams from all over "have been checking into the VU emergency nets and extending their fullest cooperation in the truest spirit of Amateur Radio." According to the latest estimate, more than 150,000 people died as a result of the tsunami, about one-third of them children. Although the US does not have third-party traffic agreements with any of the countries affected by the disaster, international emergency and disaster relief communications are permitted unless otherwise provided. While FCC Part 97 has not yet been updated to reflect revisions to third-party traffic rules at World Radiocommunication Conference 2003, FCC staff has told ARRL that if the government agencies responsible for the Amateur Service in affected countries do not object to their amateur stations receiving messages from US amateur stations on behalf of third parties, the US has no objection to its amateur stations transmitting international communications in support of the disaster. Additional information on Amateur Radio and the tsunami disaster is on the ARRL Web site. ==>FCC RELEASES HUNDREDS OF PAGES OF BPL TEST DATA, FILINGS The FCC has made public more than 650 pages of technical presentations, correspondence and filings that it says it used in making its decision on the BPL Report and Order in ET Docket 04-37. The Commission adopted new rules to govern so-called Access Broadband over Power Line systems on October 14, but they have not yet become effective. The ARRL subsequently filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request that called on the FCC to release any studies the Commission had relied upon in deciding to embrace the technology. Some information contained in the documents has been blanked out or redacted. "Certain portions of those presentations have been redacted, as they represent preliminary or partial results or staff opinions that were part of the deliberative process," FCC Office of Engineering and Technology Associate Chief Bruce Romano said in a cover letter releasing the documentation December 22. "Moreover, the redacted information was not relied on by the Commission in making its decision," Among the FCC Laboratory presentation charts the FCC redacted was one titled "New Information Arguing for Caution on HF BPL." The documentation includes presentations and graphs resulting from field tests of BPL trials in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York and North Carolina. The tests, conducted by the FCC Laboratory's Technical Research Branch, looked BPL technology by Amperion, Current Technologies, Ambient Technologies and Main.Net. The ARRL is continuing to review the extensive documentation in detail. ARRL Laboratory Manager Ed Hare, W1RFI, maintains that the FCC documents tend to back up assertions the League made in its filings. "The FCC reports clearly show that BPL operating at the FCC Part 15 emission limits generates a strong RF signal for long distances along overhead power lines," Hare said. "The FCC data showed noise that was many decibels above otherwise quiet ambient noise levels." Hare said that even in spectrum notched out by BPL system providers, the FCC-provided reports indicate a measurable increase in noise levels on amateur frequencies. Approximately 150 pages of the documentation consisted of technical material and presentations by FCC staffers. The remaining 500-plus pages include correspondence, technical reports and interference complaints from radio amateurs to the FCC. Falling into the last category is extensive correspondence involving the Alliant Energy BPL field trial in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. That pilot project was abandoned after difficulties in resolving interference issues with local radio amateurs proved insurmountable. The FCC just this week provided additional spreadsheet data to ARRL under separate cover. By releasing the information, the FCC made it part of the official record in the proceeding. Some, but not all, of the BPL-related material is on the FCC Electronic Comment Filing System under ET Docket 04-37. In an interview January 3, OET Deputy Chief Bruce Franca asserted there's enough spectrum to permit Amateur Radio and BPL to coexist. Franca, who heads the Commission's BPL Task Force, spoke with Broadband over Power Line World's Marc Strassman <http://www.etopiamedia.net/bplw/pages/bplw16-5551212.html>. "There are enough frequencies that amateurs can operate and BPL can operate in a compatible mode," Franca told Strassman. Franca also expressed confidence in technological solutions to any Amateur Radio-BPL interference issues that might arise. "I'm very optimistic at the end of the day," he said. "Technology is going to solve this problem." In another BPL-related development, Electric Broadband LLC reportedly has dropped out of the Cottonwood, Arizona, BPL field trial, and project oversight has shifted to Mountain Telecommunications Inc (MTI), which had been handling system operations for EB. The FCC issued a Part 5 Experimental license to MTI on January 3. On the same day, the Verde Valley Amateur Radio Association (VVARA) asked the FCC to hold up the swap and instead dismiss the pilot project's WD2XMB Part 5 license "with prejudice," alleging the operator had "failed to live up to the terms of the instrument." The VVARA also said it wanted the BPL field trial shut down. "Mountain Telecommunications Inc has been involved in the field with the Cottonwood BPL trial since its start and has not complied with the requirements of the existing license by promptly mitigating harmful interference on the 60 meter Amateur Radio band," VVARA Vice President Robert Shipton, K8EQC, told the FCC, noting that six weeks have passed since the interference report was filed. The Cottonwood Experimental license stipulates that the licensee "must establish and maintain a liaison relationship with the Verde Valley Amateur Radio Association" and respond to interference complaints "in a timely manner." ==>OKLAHOMA, BRAZIL YOUNGSTERS VISIT INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION VIA HAM RADIO Youngsters in Oklahoma and Brazil got a chance over the holidays to question International Space Station (ISS) Expedition 10 Commander Leroy Chiao, KE5BRW, about life in space. Both direct 2-meter contacts with NA1SS came off largely without a hitch, and Chiao answered all questions posed by each group. Sponsoring the contacts was the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program. Students in grades 3 through 12 from schools in Oklahoma and Texas gathered December 22 at the Tulsa Air and Space Museum (TASM) for their contact. "The kids were able to work in all 20 questions as well as wish the ISS crew a merry Christmas," said Tulsa Repeater Organization (TRO) President and ARRL Oklahoma Public Information Coordinator Mark Conklin, N7XYO. "Wow!" Participating students had attended TASM's summer aerospace camps. Among other things, the kids asked Chiao whether the G-forces from leaving Earth's atmosphere cause you to have little red spots on your face--G-measles, how far along the ISS construction was and the space station's expected life, and what are the benefits of civilian space travel. The museum cooperated with TRO and AMSAT to arrange the contact. TRO's Bill Griffin, NI5X, and AMSAT's Keith Pugh, W5IU, set up the Earth station at TASM. Pugh served as the control operator, and the station used the TRO WA5LVT call sign for the QSO. Among those looking on were several news media representatives, including three Tulsa TV stations, two newspapers and CQ magazine. On December 27, a Scout group in Brazil participated in the first ARISS school group contact with that country. Scouts from Rio de Janeiro and elsewhere gathered at the Forte de Copacabana military base where the contact took place. ARISS-Brazil member Tadeu Fernandes, PY1KCF, served as the control operator at PY1ERR. Chiao answered all 20 questions the scouts posed during the approximately 10-minute contact. The Expedition 10 commander took the opportunity during his answers to describe the beautiful view from the ISS. "The Earth looks wonderful from space," he told one Scout. "It is the most fantastic view, everything is very brightly colored and that's one of our favorite things to do--to look at the earth." The fact that space walks can be tiring is offset by the beautiful view of Earth, Chiao told another youngster. He also told the scouts that the crew enjoys viewing the stars--provided the ISS is pointed the right way. The sun is "extremely bright," but the moon is "very fascinating too." Chiao told another Scout that the crew had not yet spotted any unidentified flying objects yet, but he promised to keep looking. Some 50 onlookers and news media turned out for the occasion. More than 200 amateur stations around Brazil were able to listen in on the contact via HF and EchoLink outlets. ARISS is an educational outreach program with US participation by ARRL, AMSAT and NASA. ==>FCC CITES HOMEOWNERS FOR CAUSING INTERFERENCE TO RADIO AMATEUR Things aren't all that friendly in one Friendswood, Texas, neighborhood, where a dispute over interference from one couple's battery chargers to a neighboring radio amateur has resulted in an official FCC Citation to the couple. The December 10 Citation is the latest chapter in a long-running dispute that FCC Special Counsel Riley Hollingsworth has described as "an unfortunate neighborhood situation." The Citation sprang from complaints by ARRL member William Cooper, W5ZAF, that his next-door neighbors' battery chargers were interfering with his ham radio activities. The FCC concurred. "Investigation by the FCC's Houston Office revealed that on December 7, 2004, you were operating battery charging devices at your residence," the Citation said. "These devices were observed to be generating radio frequency pulses on various high-frequency radio bands. These radio frequency pulses were determined to be causing harmful interference to the Amateur Radio Service." Only after FCC agents visited the couple's home did the interference cease. The FCC did not make the couple's names public nor did it post the Citation on its Web site. The ARRL Laboratory has been working with the FCC and Cooper to help broker a resolution to the interference issue. FCC Part 15 rules regulating "unintentional radiators" require that the operator of such devices must cease operation upon FCC notification that it's causing harmful interference. "Operation may not resume until the condition causing the harmful interference has been corrected," the FCC said. Since it began about a year ago--when Cooper first suspected the interference he was hearing came from his neighbors' Christmas lights--the squabble has escalated beyond the interference issue. Both parties have hired attorneys, and volumes of correspondence have changed hands. Last September, the couple complained that Cooper's antenna support structure violated homeowners' association covenants. After notices from the FCC's Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau went unanswered, Hollingsworth issued warning notices to the couple last June and September alleging that the battery chargers--apparently used to charge some electric scooters--were causing interference. Cooper provided his neighbors with free toroid core devices that resolved the interference, but the couple subsequently removed them. The couple told Hollingsworth they'd initially been willing to work with Cooper but took out the filters after he allegedly made disparaging remarks about them to another neighbor and took photos of their house and property. Hollingsworth responded by emphasizing that it's the couple's responsibility to correct the interference--whether or not they accept Cooper's help. Simply unplugging the chargers when not in use--as they had suggested--was not an acceptable solution, he told them in his final Warning Notice. Cooper claimed the chargers had been operating 24 hours a day. The FCC Citation, which does not require a response from the couple, warned that subsequent violations could lead to fines, equipment seizure and even possible criminal sanctions. ==>ARRL MAKES RADIO PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT AVAILABLE The ARRL has released a topical public service announcement (PSA) for use by radio stations. The 30-second PSA may be downloaded free from the League's Web site in either .wav <http://www.arrl.org/pio/Allen-PSA0105.wav> or .mp3 <http://www.arrl.org/pio/Allen-PSA0105.mp3> formats. "Ham radio works when other communications don't," is its central message. Conceived, written and voiced by ARRL Media and Publications Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, the PSA focuses on Amateur Radio's role in emergency communication--including activity by South Asia amateurs in the wake of the devastating earthquake and tsunami. "It is directed at getting people who are community-minded to look into becoming hams," Pitts commented. He urged ARRL Public Information Coordinators and Officers to aid in distributing the announcement to broadcasters. The PSA invites anyone interested in becoming a radio amateur to contact ARRL via its toll-free number, 800-326-3942. For additional information contact Allen Pitts, W1AGP. ==>AMATEUR RADIO ANTENNA BILL RE-INTRODUCED IN VERMONT Radio amateurs in Vermont have renewed efforts to get a ham radio antenna bill signed into law in the Green Mountain State. Introduced in the 2005 session of the Vermont House of Representatives, the bill, H.12, would require Vermont municipalities to "reasonably accommodate" Amateur Radio communications with "minimum practicable regulation"--in line with the limited federal preemption PRB-1. It also includes a schedule of minimum regulatory heights for antenna structures. "Reasonable accommodation for Amateur Radio antenna heights shall be judged from the perspective of a particular applicant for a permit for an antenna structure," the bill states in part. It goes on to spell out what it means by "reasonable accommodation." H.12 further defines antennas and antenna support structures complying with the proposed statute as "an ordinary accessory use" and provides that applicants be granted a building permit upon application. "Antennas and antenna support structures shall not be subject to any conditions, special review, or other processes that may be applied on an exception basis to other types of permit applications," the draft legislation declares. ARRL Vermont Section Manager Paul Gayet, AA1SU, said the measure has three sponsors instead of one this time around. "I am so pleased to have the new legislators signed on this year!" Gayet said. "Having three representatives sponsoring the bill will give it more prominence." An identically worded measure failed to make it through the legislature last year. As drafted, H.12 would generally prohibit Vermont localities from restricting the overall height of an Amateur Radio antenna and associated support structure to less than 75 feet above ground level on lots smaller than one acre. On tracts an acre or larger, the measure would keep municipalities from restricting the height of an Amateur Radio antenna system to "less than that specified in 47 C.F.R. §97.15(a)"--which is where PRB1 is outlined within the FCC's Amateur Service rules. Presumably, that provision could permit antenna structures of 200 feet or more. While §97.15(a) does not specify a maximum height, it does require owners of structures "located at or near a public airport" to notify the Federal Aviation Administration and register their structures with the FCC if the structure will be more than 200 feet above ground level. Under the proposed legislation, municipalities could not restrict the number of antenna structures for any lot size. The measure makes provisions for a locality to accommodate amateur antennas in "a duly designated design control or historic district." In those situations, a municipal ordinance, bylaw, or rule could restrict amateur antennas and associated support structures to overall heights of less than 75 feet, but it could not prohibit them altogether. The bill also would grandfather all Amateur Radio antennas and support structures constructed prior to the effective date of the proposed law. If H.12 is approved by Vermont's House and Senate and signed by the governor, Vermont would become the 22nd state to enact such legislation. A copy of the bill is on the Vermont Legislature Web site <http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?url=/docs/2006/bills/intro/h-0 12.htm>. ==>SOLAR UPDATE Astral aficionado Tad "Shining Star" Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington, reports: Happy New Year! A week ago it looked like the solar flux would stay above 100 over the following 10-12 days. Now the last of sunspot 715 is disappearing around the edge of the sun, and it looks like solar flux should stay around 85 with sunspot numbers below 40 over the next week. Saturday, January 8, could experience some unsettled to active geomagnetic conditions, and January 13 could see unsettled conditions as well. Quiet days are expected January 10-11. Sunspot numbers for December 23 through 29 were 47, 42, 26, 16, 11, 27 and 27 with a mean of 28. 10.7 cm flux was 96.4, 97.2, 93, 91.7, 96.9, 105.2 and 98.5, with a mean of 97. Estimated planetary A indices were 6, 4, 12, 10, 7, 16 and 18 with a mean of 10.4. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 5, 2, 6, 9, 6, 12 and 16, with a mean of 8. Sunspot numbers for December 30 through January 5 were 34, 60, 51, 52, 43, 30 and 15 with a mean of 40.7. The 10.7 cm flux was 100, 98.5, 98.9, 100, 94.2, 88 and 88, with a mean of 95.4. Estimated planetary A indices were 15, 8, 15, 33, 22, 23 and 21 with a mean of 19.6. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 12, 5, 10, 20, 14, 16 and 11, with a mean of 12.6. __________________________________ ==>IN BRIEF: * This weekend on the radio: The North American QSO Party (CW), the ARRL RTTY Roundup, the WQF QRP Party, the Midwinter Contest (CW), the EUCW 160-Meter Contest, the NRAU-Baltic Contest (CW/SSB), the Midwinter Contest (SSB) and the DARC 10-Meter Contest, are the weekend of Jan 8-9. JUST AHEAD: The North American QSO Party (SSB), the Hunting Lions in the Air Contest, the LZ Open Contest, the Michigan QRP January CW Contest and the Hungarian DX Contest are the weekend of January 15-16. See the ARRL Contest Branch page <http://www.arrl.org/contests/> and the WA7BNM Contest Calendar <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html> for more info. * ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration: Registration for the Technician Licensing course (EC-010) remains open through Sunday, January 9. Classes begin Friday, January 21. With the assistance of a mentor, EC-010 students learn everything they need to know to pass the FCC Technician class license examination. To learn more, visit the ARRL Certification and Continuing Education <http://www.arrl.org/cce/> Web page 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, January 10, at 1201 AM EST and will remain open until all available seats have been filled or through the January 15-16 weekend. Class begins Friday, January 28. Thanks to our grant sponsors--the Corporation for National and Community Service and the United Technologies Corporation--the $45 registration fee paid upon enrollment will be reimbursed after successful completion of the course. Radio amateurs 55 and up 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, 860-594-0340; <cce@arrl.org>. * Southern Florida SEC Jim Goldsberry, KD4GR, SK: ARRL Southern Florida Section Emergency Coordinator Jim Goldsberry, KD4GR, of Sunrise, died December 27. He was 60. An ARRL Life Member, Goldsberry also served as an ARRL Assistant Section Manager, District Emergency Coordinator and Official Emergency Station. "Jim was an invaluable asset to the ham radio community in South Florida," said Frank Marques, KG4EQY. "His passing will leave a void that will be difficult to fill." Marques said Goldsberry worked long hours to ensure that the Amateur Radio community was fully trained and prepared to handle any emergency, especially during hurricane season. "This hard work was well rewarded this year, when Jim worked tirelessly to coordinate communication assistance teams to the west and east coasts of Florida in response to hurricanes Charley, Frances and Jeanne." Goldsberry assumed his first leadership role in Amateur Radio public service in 1990 when he became an Emergency Coordinator. Earlier this year, he stepped down as net manager of the 2-meter Southeast Florida Traffic Net, a position he'd held for some time. "Jim Goldsberry was always there whenever anyone was trying to find his/her place in the amateur radio structure," commented Ford Beach, KB4WBY. "Jim welded the SEFTN into a training and traffic net that became the envy of many who checked in from other areas." Beach said Goldsberry also encouraged members to upgrade and promoted Amateur Radio classes. A service was held December 31 in Sunrise. * Arkansas club announces Field Day 2A plaque, 2004 winners: The Batesville Amateur Radio Club in Arkansas has announced the 2004 winners of its W5VAE Memorial Trophy. The new award recognizes the highest class 2A ARRL Field Day score. The award honors the memory of Dr Myrlas Matthews, W5VAE, who died shortly after operating with the club during ARRL Field Day 2003. "Myrlas was an Elmer to many hams in Arkansas and a pioneer in many aspects of the hobby," said BARC President David Norris, K5UZ. "Myrlas loved Field Day, and we could not think of a better tribute and memorial to a great Elmer." The club presented the 2004 trophy to Joel Harrison, W5ZN, and Matthews' son Douglas, WB5OAQ. ARRL Contest Branch Manager commended the club for coming up with an outstanding way to honor a deserving member of the amateur fraternity. "I am sure Myrlas' love for the hobby will live on in part because of the club's efforts," he said. "Congratulations to all involved." * Club announces "Project Diana" special event: The Ocean Monmouth Amateur Radio Club (OMARC) in New Jersey will operate a special event station January 15-16 to commemorate "Project Diana," the first-ever successful moonbounce experiment, conducted January 10, 1946, by the US Army Signal Corps. OMARC will operate N2MO on CW, SSB and possibly other modes in the General and Novice-Technician subbands of 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meters. An article on the Project Diana accomplishment, "A DX Record: To the Moon and Back--How the Moon-Radar Feat was Accomplished," appeared in the April 1946 issue of QST. Special event QSL information and more on Project Diana is on the OMARC Web site <http://www.omarc.org/>.--Steve Hajducek, N2CKH =========================================================== 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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